#To have a chance to be not just on the guys level

[kjhbsies]

hey, here i am cause 500 celebration! (btw, congrats)

sooo, im gonna request James Potter with the prompt "'how do i look?', 'slightly stunned', 'no, i mean, how do i look?', '...beautiful'."

and maybe with London (because london boy) but i think it fits more with Paris 🤔

hope ur okay! 🩷

Elevated Feelings

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join my 500 celebration!

James Potter x reader

synopsis: She was dressed for a date. He was dressed to ruin it— again. But getting stuck in an elevator with the one guy she can’t stand (and maybe kinda likes) wasn’t part of the plan. Turns out, the only thing falling faster than the elevator… was her.

wordcount: 2, 128

note: Prompt: “How do I look?” “Slightly stunned.” “No, I mean, how do I look?” “…Beautiful.” + London: trapped in an elevator. Thank you for the request, and I'm doing great right now. thank you for asking ^^. I was actually giggling and kicking my feet while writing this UGH I LOVE HIM SO MUCH. Modern James again. REQUESTS ARE OPEN!

Yours and James's relationship is... complex. You two lived in the same apartment complex. He lives in the penthouse, just above your floor, and you two always run after each other from being in the same building. You know James. Everyone knew James. He was the friendliest and most talkative guy in here. Everyone likes him. Hell, even the janitors were fond of the guy. Especially Eric. But you weren't.

You hated his guts.

You two go to the same university. And though both of your college buildings are different, he still managed to infiltrate your whole being. He'd often greet you in corridors, wink at you when you two see each other, and even worse, annoy you every chance he gets.

To you, he's just a typical rich guy who gets everything he wants. A luxurious car, expensive watches, and a lifestyle that anyone would die to have. And even though he’s got so many resources and so many things that he should be doing, he always finds the time to annoy you. It’s like his lifeline. Like he couldn’t live without making you mad.

Not to mention that he always has a knack for wrecking your dates. You don't know he does it, but every time you go out with someone else, it doesn’t end well. And James Potter was always in the scene of the crime.

You would be lying if you said you didn't find him attractive. The truth was, he is very handsome and charismatic. You just had to… contain yourself because, knowing James, he wouldn't shut up if you knew about your little crush you had with him. So, in order to properly hide it, you were going out on a date. Again. You said to yourself that this was going to be the last attempt in your dating life. And if it won't go well, then you might just go check in yourself at the nearest mental asylum.

Looking like an absolute perfection yourself, you smiled at the mirror while staring at your reflection. With one last whiff of your perfume at your wrist, you walked out of your apartment with confidence and started going to the elevator.

And the last thing you needed on your third, and final attempt at a love life was to be stuck in a small metal box with the man whose face you wanted to slap in equal measure.

James Fleamont Potter.

You swore you could smell the smugness on him the moment the elevator doors slid open and revealed his perfectly disheveled hair, a shirt that was neatly ironed, and the world's most punchable smirk. You, meanwhile, had just spent the last hour curling your hair, doing your makeup to a near level delusion, and picking out the best outfit in your closet.

And, of course, he had to see you now.

"The private elevator broke down," James said once you stepped in.

You raised a brow. "Tragic."

"That's why I'm here." He said, tapping the elevator button repeatedly even though you were already here and the thing was already moving. "Taking the main elevator. Like a common folk."

You nodded, expression blank. "Such a man of the people."

"I don't want you to think that I'm stalking you or anything."

"Oh, I didn't," You said cooly. "Until you said that."

His face twitched like he was going to explain himself, but he decided against it. Instead, he put his hands in his pockets and kept sneaking glances at you out of the corners of his eye.

"You... uh, going on a date?"

You gave him the slowest, most soul-draining side eye known to mankind. "What gave it away? The dress? The perfume? The fact that I'm wearing heels and haven't been verbally assaulting someone in the last five minutes?"

James smiled at you. "I think you look gorgeous."

Your mouth hung open for a few seconds. Your heart skipped a goddamn beat.

You bit the inside of your cheek and looked away so fast. James noticed. Of course he did. Because your entire existence was his personal reality show, and he never missed a damn episode.

He shifted closer.

"Don't try to ruin this one out, James. I won't forgive you this time."

His hands flew in mock surrender. "Me? Crashed your dates? Since when?"

You gave him a look.

"That was all coincidental!" He argued.

"Oh, really? Coincidental that the guy I went to dinner with vanished into thin air, and you just so happened to show up and take me out instead?"

"He had a weak bladder and probably locked himself in the restroom. I just don't want you to go home on an empty stomach after he bailed. I was just being polite."

"Right. And what about the movie date with the guy I met on the internet? You brought your three obnoxiously loud friends and sat next to us."

James had the audacity to look offended. "He was being creepy! He kept putting his arm around you like he was claiming territory. I was just looking out for you."

"You're stalking me, admit it!" You rolled your eyes.

"You're pushing it, woman." He muttered.

Blush was creeping up his cheeks now, betraying the confident act he had been displaying. You didn't have the chance to respond— because the elevator suddenly let out a loud creeaakkk that sounded suspiciously like it was holding for its last breath.

Then, the lights flickered.

And one tragic thunk made you realize that the elevator suddenly malfunctioned.

"Oh, for f—" You started.

"We're stuck," James said brightly, almost... relieved?

You pressed every single button in there like a madwoman while James just stood there, watching you with a grin that made you consider murder.

"No, yeah, it's fine. Third time's a charm, right? Nothing says finding a potential love in here while getting stuck in a metal box with a human version of a migraine."

James laughed. LAUGHED. "Come on, don't be so dramatic. It's not that bad."

"Not bad?!" You faced him, absolutely fuming. "I'm stuck in an elevator with you. There's no air. There's no escape. And— AND— you're wearing a cologne."

"It's Tom Ford," He said proudly. "Do you like it?"

"I like silence."

You backed yourself into the corner farthest from him, trying not to breathe too deeply because his scent was filling your nose, and you thought it just made your brain short-circuit. James leaned against the wall, arms crossed, with a stupid smirk intact.

"So... what are you still doing after this?"

"Throw myself out of this building."

He chuckled lowly. "You're so cute when you're mad."

"I'm cute always, thank you very much." You crossed your arms. "And don't flirt with me. It won't work."

"It won't?" He challenged you.

You threw your head back dramatically, wiping the sweat from your forehead. "I swear to God, if we die in here, I'm haunting you."

"Is that a promise?" He winked.

You were going to scream. Or kiss him. Possibly both.

You groaned once again, feeling irritated as the humidity started kicking in. "I have a date! A date! Why does the universe have a knack for punishing me in times like these? Does it not know that this is very important for me!" You tried pushing the emergency button repeatedly, but it didn't work.

James tried to bite back a grin. "Oh, yeah? Well, maybe it's the universe's way of telling you that he's not the one."

You turned to glare at him. "You've been so noticeably happy for this, James. Do you not understand that I have a date?!"

"Oh, yeah, sure. Blame me for the architectural failings of this building," He threw his hands up. "I was just existing, woman."

"Exactly!" You groaned, trying to fan yourself. "I should've known this would happen the moment I saw your face. You're like a romantic curse on my romantic life."

James gasped, dramatically putting a hand on his chest. "What's with these baseless accusations thrown at me?"

"Baseless—? Every time I'm on a date, there you are. Hovering. Lurking. Annoying. Like a cockroach that drives a Porsche."

"That's rich coming from a girl who always scowls the moment she sees me!"

You ignored him, mainly because he had a point.

"I'm just saying," You ranted, gesturing vaguely around the two of you. "This— this is all your fault."

James turned to you, eyes ablaze. "Well, maybe, it's fate telling you not to go out with guys who won't treat you better than I can!"

Dead silence.

The words hit the two of you.

Your jaw dropped. His eyes widened. Both of you looked at each other like someone had dropped a pop quiz on Sunday.

"...What?" You whispered.

James cleared his throat, suddenly very interested in the floor. "You heard me."

You blinked at him.

James Potter. Rich boy. University's menace. Full-time flirt, part-time hearthrob— likes... you?

You sat down first, because your knees felt jelly. James followed, legs outstretched, pretending he wasn't panicking internally. Inches apart on the cold metal floor, the silence buzzed like the fluorescent light above.

You both spoke at the same time.

"You should go—"

"No, you should—"

James sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Look, I meant what I said. I like you, Y/n. Wasn't I being obvious even before?"

"I thought you were just being annoying." You muttered.

He laughed. A low, warm sound that sent your heart beating too fast. "Yeah, that too. But have you seen your face when you're mad? It's kind of my favorite."

You glared at him again.

"There it is!" He beamed. "Gorgeous."

You tried not to smile. Really. You did. But he was grinning like a dog who just got his favorite treat, and somehow— somehow it was charming.

"Were you always this..."

"Captivating?" He said with a wink.

You scoffed. "Infuriating."

James chuckled, that same laugh that made your legs weak. He started scooting closer, closing the gap between you two. And now, both of you were shoulder to shoulder. You tried not to notice how warm he was, how good he smelled, or how his eyes flicked to your lips every now and then.

"Ditch him." He said suddenly.

"Hm?" You turned to look him in the eye.

He reached for your hand and intertwined your fingers with his. "Ditch him and go out with me."

You squeezed his hand, lifting a brow. "What makes you think I want to go out with you?"

He grinned, cocky as hell. "A little birdie told me you have a crush on me."

"I do not—!" You slapped his chest, and his fake gasp only made you laugh.

"Oh, really?" He challenged you, grabbing your waist and pulling you onto his lap. "Because Eric told me you've been looking at me with those eyes."

"What eyes?" You asked, placing a steady hand on his shoulder.

"The 'I'm so in love with this guy I'm gonna scream' eyes."

"Oh, my god. You're so conceited!"

"Just being honest, love." He asked, his hand on your chin now to lift your face. "So... was he right?"

You opened your mouth to argue— but then sighed. "Yeah."

His grin widened. And before you could blink, he dipped his head down and kissed you. Slow, sweet, like he'd been waiting for it for forever. Then it turned desperate. Your hands were now tangled in his curls. His arms were locked around your waist, pulling you impossibly close. You felt yourself melt against him, completely forgetting the fact that you two were in a broken elevator.

That is, until it dinged open.

"Ahem."

You froze.

James froze.

You both turned your heads and saw Eric— the janitor— standing there with a mop, eyes wide, and absolutely mortified.

"I was, uh... checking if it worked now." He said awkwardly.

You scrambled off James's lap immediately, adjusting your dress and fixing your hair.

James stood, casual as ever, and pressed the button to his penthouse. "It's working now. Thanks, Eric."

Eric just nodded and walked away slowly, clearly rethinking his life choices.

Once the doors closed again, you exhaled sharply. “God, that was so embarrassing.”

James was grinning again. “That was the hottest thing I’ve ever done.”

You glared at him. “You’re shameless.”

“You love it.”

You rolled your eyes, fixing your hair in the elevator’s mirror. “So… how do I look?”

“Slightly stunned.”

“No,” You said, gesturing to yourself. “How do I look?”

James softened. “...Beautiful.” His voice dropped low, devoted. Then he leaned in and kissed you again, stealing your breath like a thief who had every intention of giving it back.

Somewhere above, the penthouse dinged.

But for once, James Potter wasn’t in a hurry to get there.

©kjhbsies

[satrs]

Requested by anon ↳ ❝ [..."how would each lads guy react if you come up to them and adjust their collar saying "You got no one to do this for you?" ] ¡! ❞

✎ A/N;LUVVVV THIS NONNIE!!! MY GOSHHHH OK SO LISTENNNNN

"You got no one to do this for you?"

-‘๑’-

Okay so XAVIER will be confused at first, saying smt along the lines of "..No...? Do I... need to?", but will take it for grated from that point onward.

When he's at your place getting dressed in his work attire, he'll walk up to you with his collar undone, blankly staring at you until you repeat your service from the first time.

You're not even safe when your in the shower, he'll half scare you to death as he slides the curtain open, standing before you like a lost puppy.

That's it. You're his personal collar adjuster now. But don't be mad at him when he bursts into the room while you're sleeping, craning his head to your level as he watches you fiddle your hands on his collar with that grumpy expression on your face!

You've done this upon yourself!

ZAYNE The moment your fingers touch his collar, Zayne stiffens.

His muscles tense, like he’s about to pull away on reflex. He'll spurt out something like "What the hell are you doing?" is sooo embarrassed.

He'll probably want to return the favor somehow. He'll watch you put on your hunter gear, eyes scanning for something to help you out with.

It'll be so forced and obvious that he wants to pay you back for that small gesture you offered him, that you almost regret doing it in the first place.

"Oh here, your hair-tie."

"Zayne, my hair is already tied up."

"Wait. Did you drink enough water? Ate enough?"

"Sighh. Zayne, we literally just had breakfast together."

RAFAYEL is insufferable. In capital letters. Bold. Underlined.

There's a fat grin plastered on his face and you just know you'll never hear the end of it ever again.

He lets you do your thing, standing completely still, but you can feel his stare boring into you. Intense, amused, obnoxious. He tries—tries— to cover his flustered expression with that damn smirk, but the way his ears tint the faintest pink gives him away.

"Hm. So attentive, should I be flattered?"

He'll also bring it up any chance he gets, especially when your mad at him.

"Oh yeah? you're mad? But didn't you adjust my collar the other day?"

"Rafayel, that was two weeks ago."

He shrugs, completely unbothered. "And? Still happened."

Arghhh, he’s so childish.

Now SYLUS... my god.

He's so ridiculously smooth with it, quick to turn the tables on you.

"Hm, you're offering?" he'll edge you into a corner, loosening his tie again on purpose. "Because if you are, you can take care of more than just my tie."

His voice is smooth, honeyed, but there's a wicked glint in his crimson eyes— one that tells you he’s already enjoying this way too much.

He dips his head, his voice turning hushed, silky-smooth. "So? Gonna fix me up again, darling? Or would you rather..." His fingers brush just under your chin, tilting your face up ever so slightly. "...let me keep coming undone for you?"

Oh he lovesss teasing you.

CALEB's heart will skips a beat. He'll fall in love all over again.

After you've fixed his tie and maybe even placed the hat onto the colonel's heads, you're met with his awestruck expression, heart-eyes staring you down with an agape mouth.

No snarky remarks, no smirk, nothing. Just his empty faces staring holes into you.

"U-uhhhhh..."

"Caleb you have to go, you're five minutes late already."

"Uh-huh."

He's still stuck, as if his mind short-circuited (it probably did).

©︎𝙎𝘼𝙏𝙍𝙎 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐝. Do NOT plagiarize, copy, modify, republish, or translate my work in any way!

[w-40-k]

First of an addition to my previous post (I forgot about);

The son who was the inside help to steal the panacea, participated in the conflict to free the lion,

(partially in an attempt to redeem (read atone) himself, but also what is basically a suicide mission from the rest of the honour guard

[bit of a sink or swim thing, if he lives great! If not, well thats one less hazzard to deal with, (the conflict to free the lion is *brutal*)])

and he is gravely *injured*, but surrives to see the lion freed by Mortarion.

(*Dying* is easy, it's what he's bred and raised to do; *living* with the knowledge that you are part of the reason for all of this suffering on the other hand, now *that* can break a man.

'I didn't *die*; this is a sign from the Emporer that i am to do do my penance by living'

[he's banished from the home guard by the sons and would've also never again be allowed to set foot onthe 500 worlds itself too, if not for the intervention of Guilliman.

Who, whilst disquieted by the fact that the gambit can be exploited like that, sees that the son (I propose that he's named Archillies; for how his one weakness was exploited) is genuinely remorseful for his actions and so finds Archillies a suitable task to accomplish that keeps him out of the sons way (there are those within the home guard, who hold the opinion, Archillies should've died in the Liberation of the Lion)])

On the Emporer;

The emperor isn't actively *malicious*, just suffering from a case of 'my way or the highway' in addition to thinking he knows whats best for humanity (and also having been around long enough to witness every single single combination of fuck up).

He was also very much on a *time crunch*, with the human webway project as his his no. 1 priority.

Love or hate the guy, he just plain doesn't have *time* to care about anything that doesn't involve his plan for humanity.

(The horrors beyond your comprehension are very much out to *get* you and they would love nothing more then to see you fail [and will help *make* it so if given half a chance])

Also 'carring' from the perspective of an imortal (perpetual) who's additionally also made up off like a million spykers is going to be different to that of your average (trans)human.

(YMMV on if the emperor rid himself of parts of his humanity over time to better focus on his plan without distractions. Because if he *did*, that means he literally *can't* care about the fates of individuals.)

'Oh Angron is sad about his friends and he also has *literal* nails in his head? Can he still do what I tell him to though? Yes? Great. Moving on to issue no. 1,687,777'

On interactions between the trio;

That's going to be a dozy.

Because you've got lion, who *looks* the oldest but is actually the youngest in terms of actual *lived* experience.

(YMMV on how the warp fucked with how long the infant primarchs spent in the warp and on their planets prior to being found by emps.)

And Lion and Guilliman are going to discuss things that happened ten millennia ago like they recently happened (because to them it *is* recent) and Mortarion can only go 'huh, I guess that *was* a thing that happened back then'

Mortarion who has, for the most part (because warp), actually *lived* through most of the past ten millennia, get's to occasionally fill in blanks in the other two's knowledge with first hand accounts of events.

In general things are going to be *akward*.

You have Guilliman; whom he killed (in a very gruesome manner even. oh and because of his eideitic memory he remembers *every second* of it ), and who actively has to suppress his fight or flight instinct when they interact.

And Lion whom he freed (from a very long time of improvement) but who also wants to show solidarity with Guilliman.

(Lion and Guilliman have some very long conversations, because they each other are the only people (on the same level as a primarch) who *gets* what they went through.

The wide open sky, suddenly narrowed to just a window, the knowledge that there's nothing you can do to change it *either*. The sheer bloody difference of being able to do *everything* to suddenly *not* fucks with them the most.

In addition to the broken trust for Guilliman and the knowledge that this could happen again to the *both* of them.)

But Mortarion is an older, male figure who has been around the block and knows this galaxy like the back of his hand. He's turned over a new leaf (both to free his sons and for the hope of a brighter future) and he is *reliable* because he has an incentive to do so.

That's to say he is someone who can watch *over* the other two,

(Guilliman has conflicted feelings on this; is his death at Mortarion's hand *worse* then feeling of betrayal he felt when the sons enacted their plan to collar him?

The feeling of helplessness at decaying alive in real time without anything to do about it [primal fear of death] vs helplessness at having that collar forced on him out of a twisted sense of love from the sons [primarch reduced to just a man]

And Mortarion may be gruff, but in his own way he's making an effort to acomodate Guilliman's needs.

He does this partially out of practicality;

Guilliman is more useful if he can actually focus on the task in front of him. But also because, seeing another primarch -a demigod for all intents and purposes- acutely try to *suppress* his fight and flight instinct, unsettles something deep within Mortarion.

Mortarion does not regret what he did to Guilliman [godblight] itself, but now he is confronted with the active consequences of his actions and decides he wants to do something about it.

[The person who caused you so much pain, also being the one to try and ease it, is the most conflicting for Guilliman; it would be easier to deal with, if Mortarion would be cruel or even indifferent]

He offers lion similar accommodations, but since there's less bad blood [read trauma] between these two it's... easier.)

almost like the emperor, if he actually *cared* (YMMV on if the emperor has the capacity to care, re: discarded humanity).

Also speaking of Mortarion;

Now that he's with the Emporer and out from under Nurgle's thumb, he's (also the DG to a degree if were honest) probably going to have a midlife crisis at some point.

Because he had ten millennia to grow (no pun intended) and settle into the person he is now.

Detangle the mess of what is actually him and what is Nurgle's influence on him (because deamon princes shift over time such, that their desires and wishes align with those of their patron)

Figure out what parts of himself he wants to keep and what to get rid of.

Figure out who he wants to be as a *person*.

(Boy's got *alot* of introspection to do, but at least he has his sons, who are in the same boat.

Though he doesn't tell them that,

[bit of a conflict between, happy he isn't alone in this and wishing his sons wouldn't have to go through this, even as he's *glad*, his sons are finally *free* of Nurgle and have the choice to be anything that they want to be (well, within reason, those are *still* astartes)])

All of that in addition to the at mimimun severe body dismorphya he (and the DG) deals with now.

(That's to say, even if the emperor *only* gets rid of the millions of diseases he carries in addition to the actual rotting bits

[just to the point that it is *safe* for your average baseline to exist in Mortarion's general vicinity]

that's still a *huge* adjustment to get used to! [actual *acceptance* is a separate matter *entirely*]

Because whilst those changes [Nurgle] were forced on him, they've been a part of him for long enough that they became *him* [Mortarion].

The emperor also can't draw the process of removing them out for *too* long, because of the eventuality that Mortarion actually needs to fight *alongside* baselines, who would very much prefer *not* decompose on the spot [like Guilliman (also this is would be terrible for Mortarion's and the DG already less then *stellar* reputation)])

Now that I think on it this would actually gain him some newfound sympathy towards his sons and astartes in general.

(The process of turning a baseline into astartes and also astartes into primaris [also, dreadnoughts] are some pretty drastic changes that most don't get to have a lot of say in. And those changes fundamentally *change* you up to the *molecular* level.

That's at a minimum some pretty severe body *dismorphya* if not outright body *horror*.)

On Lorgar;

OK, I wrote that bit about lorgar's vision to essentially be lorgar seeing that vision at some random point and going 'huh, neat. Anyway moving on' but now that you mention the possibility of redemption...

The emperor has his fingers in many pies and with the chaos god distracted (angron dead, morty a turncoat) he was able to manipulate the warp such, that lorgar saw this vision of a future that was not to be.

(more like lorgar sees fragments of *something*, gets curious and investigates [i imagine lorgar to be similar to the religious scholars of the islam during the middle ages, religious but also a man of learning] only to see the whole thing for himself in the end)

This (lorgar) was the emporer's back up plan in the eventuality that Mortarion would've either hesitated to long or outright *refused* the emperor's offer (morty *didn't*, but it never hurts to be prepared)

Also this would've been a plan in the making for a *very* long time (relatively speaking, because warp). For the emporer knows a vassal, who you can convince and agrees with you, is more loyal then one you brought to it's knees by force.

(None of the deamon princes, sans *maby* lorgar have actually been properly *seduced* to join chaos and the emperor *knows* and can *exploit* that. So lorgar gets the *propper* seduction treatment.

But like, for our purposes, imagine lorgar as a deamon who gets seduced by whats essentially an angel [biblical accurate angel].

Also Lorgar is *the* religion guy; would be a missed opportunities if we *didn't* take advantage of some classic themes you know?)

In general I don't know a huge amount about lorgar, so any corrections are very much appropriated (do right by your favorite guy).

However anykind of redemption would include only lorgar and exclude the WB (what with faith and your personal approach to it beeing a pretty *intimate* thing, like, say with the Anchorrite.)

Speaking of the Anchorrite;

That reunion would go over relatively well I imagine. With the Anchorrite gladened that his father finally, at last has returned to the light (no pun intended).

Pherhaps there might be something of an exchange of roles for those two; with the Anchorrite taking on the role of a guide for newly returned lorgar.

Help proppely aquaint lorgar with the imperial cult, smooth over tension between lorgar and others of the faith (show him the ropes so to speak).

Also Lorgar (after figuring out how to fit his personal views on religion and emperor into the established canon of the imperial cult that is) will be *fascinated*, at a *minimum* from a religious scientific standpoint, in regards to how the imperial cult diverged from his original scriptures over time (because scholar).

And after he has had time to prove his mettle, I could see specifically the adepts soriatas taking a shine to him.

(faithful, zealous and with a scholar focus for lorgar that would gel pretty well with the branches that have a greater focus on the *nun* aspect of the sisters.

I'm now also remembering that the sisters actually respect the imperial guard quite a bit and *that* in turn reminds me of the repentias and penal legions in general.

Say, lorgar becomes to be regarded as something of a patron for the rempetias and penal legions (everyone who does penitence). Because if something as *wretched* and *corrupt* as a *deamon prince* managed to find the light, then *surely*, *they* can as well?

On training between the trio and apologies;

Frankly, I think it's too early for anyone to even be willing to give the people, who might feel inclined to offer an apology, the time of day to listen to.

Let the *traitors* prove their mettle, who knows if they won't just turn turncoat *again* at a critical moment.

(Lion and Guilliman make an *effort* to to not have anyone call those formerly aligned with chaos that to their *face*, but they very much understand the sentiment, even if the duo disproves on the basis that name calling is pretty disadvantageous from a unit cohesion standpoint)

And because of the eventuality of them fighting on the same battle field is a fact that happens regardless of the preferences of those involved,

(far way in case of Guilliman and sons because of the trauma they have because of Mortarion, also to a lesser extent lion and sons in regards to lorgar [who wasn't *personally* a part of the fighting, but very much *orchestrated* the whole thing].

The are also countless numbers of imperial citizens, who *suffere*d at the hands of lorgar and Mortarion in some fashion, directly or otherwise)

training *needs* to happen, because the Imperium *needs* every ally it can get and it cannot afford anything but *absolute* cohesion if they want a *chance* at standing against any of the millions of foes constantly asaling them from all sides.

'Oh, you have trauma from this honestly very fucked up thing that happened to you? Well to bad! The thing trying to eat us isn't just going to wait for you to pull yourself together. If you falter and slow us down, we are *all* going to be screwed!'

In regards to the sons (UM and DA) I could pherhaps imagine some pretty extreme form of exposure therapy beeing employed to get a lid on the gambit (they cannot afford to be distracted trying to murder their allies when the tyranid swarm in front of them wants to eat that hive over there)

Like, start out by put singular DG behind glass walls so the sons can't murder them and thus to get used to their cousins presence.

Guilliman (accompanied by lion) forces himself to have polite conversations with Mortarion face to face (first a distance away and slowly reducing the distance over time, then at some point escalate to unarmed sparring.)

But this is very much a long term plan that needs to be enacted in an unfortunately short amount of time.

Interestingly, some of the fallen would secretly (deathwish if that comes out) hold some measure of admiration for Mortarion for returning their father to to them. Also because if someone like a deamon primarch can find the light then surely they can *too*

(Specifically Mortarion because, he turned turncoat in the hope for a brighter tomorrow and to safe his sons, oposed to lorgar who was outraged at future that was not.

Morty's slightly more approachable in that his motives are viewed as somewhat more *selfless*, compared to the somewhat more *self-centred* motives of lorgar)

On lion forest walking and corvus;

OK, from what I understand the lion's forest walking thing is just him able to enter the warp, but with a caliban flavored aesthetic because lion's the one perceiving things and the warp (made of emotions, dreams ambitions works on *concepts*) accommodates.

Corvus would probably want to keep an eye(s because he's more warp entity then primarch at that point) on lorgar. He'd probably have an easier time just shadowing (no pun intended) lorgar on his quest of the truth (lorger during the time he's still a deamon prince and given hints of a vision from emps), as oposed to having to actually track down lion in the warp (neddle in a haystack essentially).

I think corvus might prefer to stay independent from the Imperium (not join emps, because emps is very much both a god-but-not and in the end a *tyrant*, something corvus very much doesn't gel with), but would assist if called upon. He takes on something of the role of a guidance counsel in regards to lorgar (emps puts corvus on the task, but corvus was planing to do that *anyway*)

Lastly, a point in general;

With Angron dead, Morty and Lorgar turned turncoats (and Corvus being Imperium-aligned), this puts chaos at a pretty *severe* disadvantage.

(Chaos; Fulgrim [EC], Perty [IW], [WB], [NL], (AL), [BL/SoH], Magnus [TS] = 10

Imperium; Guilliman [UM], Lion [DA], Mortarion [DG], Lorgar, (Corvus) [RG], [S], [IF], [IH], [SW], [WS], (AL) = *15*)

This isn't just a numbers issue *either*;

Without morty and Angron that's two chaos gods without a deamon primarch(prince), in *addition* to the knowledge morty and Lorgar have on chaos that the imperium can use to it's advantage.

That doesn't only mean strategic advantages but also a loss of *faith* in chaos

(also from an in universe, meta perspective the imperium is seen as *winning* and the warp *thrives* on meta.

That's going to weaken the influence of the chaos gods as a *whole*, but also *specifically* Nurgle and Khorne. In turn this actively *strengthens* the Emporer, who can more easily intervene because of this)

And as fun as it is for our little guys to win for once, we need to even the playing field.

(Wouldn't really be 40k if the Imperium isn't bearly skidding by *just* by the very skin of their teeth you know)

[I also had this whole spiel about how chaos makes for an excellent *personal* antagonist.

Because corruption is very *intimate* and there's a whole spectrum of motivations for *why* a person can be corrupted (Erebus to Archillies) and whilst there is a ton of other foes for the Imperium to fight, a guardsman Turing traitor for the tau vs getting corrupted by *chaos* will always just hit different [*literal* alien life form vs actually *eldritch* abominable]

The closest a faction gets to that aspect are the gene steelers, but there it's more about *generations* as oposed to actual *individuals*]

[I would like point out that i didn't set *out* to give khorne and Nurgle replacements, but it kind of just worked out that way!

Also this is very much playing on the seductive, manipulative nature of chaos]

Then I remembered that fun little tidbit about how Russ vanished trying to find the fruit of life, in an effort to restore the emperor to life.

The fruit of life which is theorised to be related to Isha (eldar goodness of healing), or located to be within nugles garden.

So, say Russ actually managed to find and gain entrance to the Garden but he has been lost within it's maze like depths.

Russ is stubborn and above all *loyal* but in the face of a *god* he is but a man.

It begins with small things (wispered hints about clues if only he would listen during moments of respite, the last words of some corrupted wretch who despite everything still clings to it's former self before he cuts them down) and slowly but steadily increases over time.

And Nurgle has all the time in the world.

Russ knows this, for as much as he excelled at playing the brute he is far more *intelligent* them many would give him credit for. Thus he decides to pick his battles whilst he still *can* and makes a *choice*.

The fruit of life safly delivered to the Alfather to restore him to life in exchange for Russ' loyalty and soul.

Nurgle -gladdended by a plan coming to fruition and the prospect of another child to embrace his ways- eagerly agrees.

The bargin is *struck* and all comes to pass as was agreed upon.

The fruit is delivered within the emperor's very own throne room and would indeed restore the emperor back to life.

However; such would be life by the definition of an alien god. Who does indeed love all his children equally, but does not differentiate between a microbe and a human.

Russ for his part knows only that his journey is at it's end, glad to have sentenced himself to an eternity of damnation if it means the Alfather restored to life.

(Ok, so in my mind russ knows everything within the garden is corruption itself, so he basically subsisted of off stubbornness and pride, still alive *only*, because his nature as a primarch allows him to draw on the warp.

At some point he falls into a bog and has to crawl his way out on hands and feet. During which he turns into a bit of a bog mummy [complete with red hair; a nod to the old red haired russ designs], not yet *fully* mummified but *definitely* on his way towards one.

After he strikes the bargin he turns into a full bog mummy but with tons of moss and other wet land plants growing on him

[Growth and renewal as oposed to morty's theme of death and decay)

Basically he turns into something akin to mummified ganondorf from the second breath of the wild game in terms of looks [id reccomend watching a trailer for extra spooky] but with more plants.

At this point the SW in general, but especially any of the Rune priests (SW version of spykers) feel a *disturbance* in the force. And even without a stomach Bjorn the Fell Handed, get's the phantom feeling of a sinking feeling in his gut, like something is seriously *wrong*. This actually awakens him and spooks whoever happens to be close by.

The emperor for his part sees the fruit, puts the pieces together what his loyal son *did* and orders the caretakers to relocate the fruit to the vaults beneath the imperial Palace [the place he keeps everything powerful and dangerous enough that he doesn't want people to have.]

Russ himself even post bargin isn't just going to become a deamon prince or champion, no that needs to be something he *ears*, but the influence Nurgle has on him now could make it so that Russ might one day become that.

[For the purposes of this au let's say he won't, but in the event of the emperor's *return*(to life) this might be reconsidered.])

After Russ I *also* remembered a comment under a YouTube video discussing the possibility of Dorn's return.

The commenter wrote that a returned Dorn would be *disgusted* by the state of the current Imperium and want nothing to do with it. Then they went on to write, that they would want a returned Dorn to play into the disgruntled soldier aesthetic.

So let's do just that.

Rogal was last seen fighting abord a traitor ship during M31 and is presumed to be dead or missing. [YMMV but I'm going with the version of him missing with only his hand recovered (in posession of the IF and treated as a chapter relic)]

So, say he's been fighting all this time, pherhaps alongside a small group of various individuals,

(human or otherwise, because frankly, if there's *deamons* the actual *alien lifeform* isn't so bad now [at least *those* actually *stay* dead when you kill them))

fighting to surrive, to pherhaps some day get out of here (warp) and back into the *realspace* itself.

(You wish and you shall receive)

During a long winded conflict, Rogal Dorn and his Companions actually manage to enact a highly dangerous plan with a great chance of failure that let's them transition to realspace successfully!

They are out!

Except they are confronted with a large scale battle in which they are immediately forced to defend themselves from because the vessel they arrived in happened to be of xeno orgin.

After another harrowing conflict that they managed to escape with their lives only by the very skin of their *teeth*, they take refuge in what for all intents and purposes is a pirate heaven (xenos and human).

They have but a moment to breath before they are pressganged into joining one of the many pirate crews.

Dorn, for the sake the Companions who he has surrived and fought alongside with bears this though unhappily, for truly, this is still an improvement in comparison to the horrors they faced in the warp.

They once again bide their time, adjusting to existing within the materium once more. Taking a moment to just finally *breath* and truly take in that they are *out*.

However what is harder to adjust to is the sheer *cruelty* and *inefficiency* they encounter at every point. Dorn, who still remembers a time when enlightenment and reason where the bulwark of the Imperium takes this the hardest.

But they endure for they cannot do anything else.

They slowly work their way up the ranks, the resourcefulness and craftiness as well as the bond of their little band shares not going unnoticed (as well as primarch charisma).

After long enough that their time within is not so fresh anymore they, though a combined of stubbornness, competency and sheer *reasonableness* gained enough connections and loyalty to take the heed of their very own small fleet.

They set out determined to bring about the future Dorn remembers he must have laid the foundations for.

Yet whilst they succeed in some minor endeavours, many more times they are stymied and undermined at every point. Where they go to offer aid on one front, three others are over run.

An ambush from an ally who has no choice but to betray them.

A corrupt offical taking more then his cut and thus forcing good men and women to turn to more desperate means.

The incompetence of an overseer which sees those in his charge make mistakes and face punishment as a result.

Warfronts that begin to resemble mass graves rather then battle fields because of the delayed survival of supplies.

Dorn -stalwart, reliable, *patient* Dorn- may have a long memory and hold the might of a primarch but there is only so much he will take before he decides 'enough is enough' and turn to more drastic measures, because if every attempt at employing reasonable means *fail*, unreasonable means *will* be taken.

He is a builder and he knows sometimes the only way is to tear everything to the *ground* and build *anew*.

(Ok, imagine the competence and reasonable attitude of caiaphas cain, but with the luck of the lamenters mixed with general 40k nastiness.

And dorn in this embodys the last part of the proverb; 'there are three things all wise man fear; the sea in storm, a night with no moon, and the anger of a gentle man.

Whilst i wouldn't nessecarily describe Dorn as gentle per say, he is someone who's honest, patient, competent, reasonable and *compassionate* who tries to do the right thing in a time that, more often then not, actively *punishes* that.

And whilst he is stoic this doesn't make him unfeeling, moreso akin to a very deep still lake.

He tried for a *very* long time, but at some point even he recognises he's fighting a lost cause.

[A bit like a child who is outraged to discover that the world is cruel, but instead of accepting that, he is determined to change things so the world *becomes* kind, like the way he *knows* it can and *should* be.]

Khorne in this, would *love* to have Dorn as a deamon prince. Because in a universe as cruel as 40k, Dorn will never run out of things to *fight* [a fundamental clash of interests].

So whilst he knows Dorn would never make a pact with him (knowingly), that isn't going to stop Khorne.

Whilst he *prefers* a good, straightforward fight, this doesn't mean he can't be either underhanded or patient. He is a god of *war* and as they say, 'all is fair in love and war'.

So, khorne's been taking a page out of thzeench's book and working things from behind the scene, organising the pieces so that Dorn for the most part only sees the worst of things in all of their ugly, cruel, petty *glory*.

And he doesn't ever have to interact with Dorn (directly) to slowly turn him on his side either.

Have some wretch inform Dorn of some injustice or another with a sufficient target on the other end, and Khorne doesn't even need to lift a finger to point in the direction.

Khorne cares not from whence the blood flows, only that it does.

[In general, Dorn doesn't ever become a propper *worshiper* of chaos (deamon prince or otherwise) but he battles and that's enough for now.

Dorn wants to tear down *everything* and rebuild from the *ground* up. (Bit like how the emperor might [if he hadn't been put on the throne that is])

Looks wise Dorn rocks a beaten down uniform and pieces of something that *migt* at some point have been part of his armour; a mishmash of whatever they managed to get their hands on and because of all of the fighting he's become very lean and unkempt, like he doesn't take care of himself (his Companions *try* but there's only so much you can convince a stubborn demigod to *listen*) and doesn't sleep (primarchs can *theoretically* function on no sleep, but that's going to have an effect)])

Got an angsty idea:

-In Short-

Yandere ultramarines binding/caging/disabling Guilliman at all costs for his own safety. Even if they must hurt him, even break him to do it. No more fulgrim/mortarion incidents.

-In Long-

Basically, what if after witnessing his reckless personal behavior towards personally fighting his brothers and his "death" at the hands of fulgrim as well as his LITERAL death at the hands of Mortarion (regardless of the fact he was brought back, he fucking DIED), the Ultrabois just fucking go full Yandere and try to keep him out of battle and under watch as much as they possibly can to ensure his absolute safety from ANY harm, even himself? And what if this desire, this NEED to keep their primarch, their FATHER, safe went to the extreme as he inevitably tried to get back to business, including personally fighting? He's a primarch after all, weapon first, human second, and his duty is to guide and safeguard the Imperium...

My brain basically had an idea of a gilded bird-caged and bound Guilliman and spun a background around it. Some mental images even include a blindfold and gag for the Ultrabois benefit cuz you know Guilliman's words are some of his best weapons (best way to talk them out of it- to a point).

Very OOC, I know, but with the way the Ultrabois were willing to die in droves to get him away from fulgrim as he was dying AND to protect his stasis before his revival, it seems it could very easily become a possibility via Slaaneshi influence, Lord of Excess and all...

GOD I wish I could draw bodies or write 😭

[bighominiglo]

Episode 9 of handmaid's tale season 6 could not have been crazier and more hateful. The characters have become completely Flanderized.

Nick supposedly got all those Jezebel women killed and June can't forgive him. But behold Lawrence. A man who hated women so much he created women only concentration camps where they die slowly of radiation. You seriously have to be a next level misogynist to even think of such a system let alone implement it. This is actual Nazi behavior. AND YET. This man gets redeemed. I'm supposed to believe he's some wholesome chungus after this episode since he now randomly gives a shit about his psuedo daughter of 1 month and June? This man has more or less fucked June over at many turns due to his own callousness and disregard for her. What kind of message does that send to the fans?

Aunt Lydia and Serena are both abusers and haters of women. Serena literally raped June and tortured her and Aunt Lydia made a career of treating women like cattle, breaking their spirits, and mutilating them, just to send them off to get raped and have their children stolen. Serena tried to steal June's child many times and happily would have had her husband not gotten her pregnant. Yet both of these characters got redeemed, and again, what kind of message does that send to the fans?

June is more willing to stick her neck out to redeem even WHARTON than Nick, you know, the actual murderer of the Jezebel women. Her entire conversation with him reads like a scrapped Nick redemption arc. "Choose love" except you didn't, June! But ignoring that, she didn't try to kill him or escape when he lets her out, which she totally would have had he been any other Gilead man. She killed many people for far less in this series and yet she tries to redeem this guy??? And they don't even MENTION Nick? Wharton was such a stupid villain, the most convenient plot device that they pulled out of their asses just for season 6. Lawrence should've been the big bad, at least it would have some narrative backing.

Neither Serena nor Lawrence think of Nick or to contact him when June is in danger. Wharton doesn't mention Nick. Lawrence confirmed he hated Nick all along by just letting him die even though he could have said "June is outside, it's not too late".

And June confirmed his life meant nothing to her by saying nothing and letting him die after she did nothing but use him for personal gain since season 3. Unbelievable. This is not a love letter to fans, this is a hate letter!

Nick was so out of character, with absolutely insane lines that even season 5 Nick would never say. And he only had like 10 lines the whole episode. How in the actual fuck is that Max's "best work". His character traits have now been redistributed to all the evil characters and the character left by episode 9 formerly known as Nick Blaine is nothing more than a convenient NPC.

I honestly could tell something was off the second Nick smashed the Tuello communicator and was even remotely influenced by what Wharton said. The Nick we know would've dismissed Wharton as easily as Fred and never given up his best chance of being with June. In fact, he was a good guy who was against Gilead. AND NOT ONCE, writers, did June EVER ASK HIM TO LEAVE. That line was just pure gaslighting. June would have happily sent him to the gallows if it meant using him for her own gains or getting closer to Hannah. God I'm so upset, I don't think a show has done me this dirty since Lost and even that was somehow better.

For any Osblaine fans who haven't watched, just save yourself and move on as fast as you can!

[orangepeelknives]

Hear me out, for all that it looks like will left bc and the boys because he just plain wanted to move up to the big leagues, I think part of it was that he felt he had to. His team got the first overall draft pick after picking him, and they got macklin who will has known from across the ice for years.

I think will knew macklin wasn't going to wait to head to the nhl and he didn't want to get left in the dust, forgotten even as a 4th overall pick bc what's a 4th overall when your team has the 1OA?

I think will probably would have loved to stay with Gabe and Ryan another year, that freshman line hit too good, those are his best friends, but I think he knew if he was going to compete and prove he was worth the pick, he needed to leave before the world got over having him with Macklin now in the spotlight.

And it turned out better than he pictured, he's still kind of a second fiddle to mack sure, catered to playing on his wing instead of at center where he played his whole life, still kind of being shadowed when they're in public and mack gets recognized but he doesn't, but hes making the best of it, going along with it, because mack was willing to share the spotlight, talks will up any chance he gets, very clearly adores will which maybe subconsciously is what will needed to know he would have the most when he left his guys at bc.

Maybe their two personalities really did just fit so well together immediately and it did work out in the end, but I think it all started because will felt he needed to stay relevant.

yes anon i am picking up what you are putting down and i agree!!

also from a development standpoint, will could not get any better from another season in boston imho. he was already one of the best, and maybe he wouldve been THE best, but it would be a glory thing and a title thing, not the thing that's best for his dev. he needed to be challenged more and to be able to identify his weak spots.

and that BC line was magic, but its bc they knew each others games vvvv intimitely. gabe and leno could make up for wills weak spots and vice versa. another season of that and the habits would be even harder to break, its been a full nhl season and at worlds we can stillll see him fall back on bad habits that were okay in college with leno and gabe fighting his battles and being puck retrievers, but dont fly now at a higher level. will's game needs to be more quickly adaptable, more defensive, more well rounded, faster, ect, and he wouldve hit a ceiling at BC methinks.

also, completely agree w the mack stuff. now that hes spent a season developing w mack, theyre each others go to guys. future face of the franchise macklin celebrini who will likely be saddled w the burden of captaincy at some point! and his guy is WSH! theyre being looked at as a duo, and mack's game certainly elevates will's! he def does play second fiddle to mack a little, but imagine how much worse it would be coming in now, missing all that development, not being part of that narrative at all. and will is a group guy, will is a passer, and mack continuously hypes will up at every opportunity. i honestly think he isnt that bothered with the shadow, at this point in his career. or else he wouldve attempted to put some space between their images instead of gettinh more and more freakish abt eo at every given opportunity!!

[tribalauthor]

CHAPTER 6 •FAVORS• (2.7K)

previous chapter

"Lawyers' weekend?" Roman's teenage daughter looked confused when he explained her he will be away.

"I am as confused as you." he replied as he zipped his little suitcase.

"How did you even agree to this?"

"Richard signed us up without even asking." the dad explained half of the story.

"Who knows, you might become friends with the attorneys from the other companies." she said jokingly and Roman gave Josephine a skeptical look. "Or even a new fling."

"No chance. Me with a lawyer again?" he shook his head.

"Ey, mom doesn't count." she snapped back.

"She counts. Doesn't matter she didn't become one, I still take it." Roman hit the dad pose and started thinking if he is forgetting something.

"And now I gotta be with her and Oscar." Josephine looked unpleasant because of this fact.

"Is he that bad?"

"He is not a bad person but he is just so pretentious. Everything is a reference book for this guy, it's annoying. He is also very old." she added and Roman chuckled.

"He is just 5 years older than me...but he does look like a grandpa kinda." he continued with the taunting and Jo laughed as well.

"And sounds like it, oh my God. I don't know what mom likes about him. Not to mention that his sons are extra obnoxious. The young one thinks he was British in his previous live and speaks in British accent. It's so cringe." Josephine vented to her father about how weird that family is.

"Good gracious, are you kidding me?" Roman couldn't believe his ears and his daugher shook her head.

"Nope."

"I am sorry I am doing this to you, sweetie." he wrapped his hands around his daugher then kissed her on the head but she started coughing.

"You are wearing unhealthy amount of cologne, dad." she went away.

"Am I?" he started smelling himself.

"Yeah. Like is this a new technique to keep the women away from you?" she normalilzed her breath.

"Something like it." the father smirked slightly.

"Look. I think it's time to have the talk. Don't avoid women because of me. You know I am an accepting person. All I'm asking is for her to be normal and tolerate me. That's it." she spoke and Roman was taken aback by her level of maturity. "And not try to be my mom."

"Why are you like this?" Roman dragged Josephine for a hug again and she held her breath. "So mature and well-mannered. Girls your age usually get crazy, they have boyfr-" as he was speaking, he put Jo away and looked at her in the eyes. "You don't have a boyfriend, right?"

"No." she replied immediately.

"Are you sure?"

"Dad..."

"Okay." he dragged her for a hug again. "If you have a boyfriend, he is dead.

"I can't believe you are gonna spend a whole weekend with hottie." Vanessa said as her and Monique entered in another botique to pick a dress.

"I can't believe that I agreed to this." the Italian woman shook her head.

"Yeah, you let him be inside of you God knows how many times but you are worried about a weekend with him, logical." the dark skinned woman rolled her eyes.

They were looking at the dresses but didn't like anything until they saw the dress.

Monique was waiting for Roman with her little black suitcase she stuffed with the dress, with a tracksuit, pajamas and sexy lingerie. Whatever the weekend brings her.

She still doesn't know why she agreed to all of this. Probably because of the money but thinking about it, how much is this man going to give her? And then almost half of it is for Samuel. She has no idea, however, that Roman made a deal with Samuel not to take a cent from what Monique earns this weekend.

The place they arranged to meet is in front of the cafeteria they accidentally met last week. Monique didn't want Roman to know her place of living.

So there she was - with her black sunglasses, tight, black top with deep cleavage and no bra underneath, slim fit dark blue jeans and black sandal heels. Her natural curly hair was styled in a ponytail and her makeup is natural.

Monique saw a black Porsche pulling up right next to her, the window rolling down and there he is - Mr. Lawyer who is wearing black sunglasses. Roman is completely mesmerised by this woman every time he sees her. No matter what she wears, how she styled her hair, Monique is almost like unreal to him.

"Are you lost, Miss Bambi?" he asked playfully but Monique didn't feel like joking and just got into the car without saying anything.

Then she buckled her seatbelt.

"So what do you want me to be? Arrogant? Obnoxious? Lovey-dovey?" she cut to the chase.

"I want you to be yourself. Surprise me." he shrugged and the stripper chuckled.

"I can't be myself. I gotta come up with fake profession and fake love story about us. So you decide, Christopher Nolan. What do you want me to be?" she asked again with even more attitude and Roman just started excessively blinking from that specific attitude from the woman then fired up the engine.

He thought about this a lot and by his assumptions, she was severely hurt by someone in the past. He could tell that.

"Let's say we met in a dance class."

"You in dance class?" Monique furrowed her eyebrows, trying to visualize a man like Roman dancing. "Okay, dance class." she gave up because he calls the shots - he is the director.

"Think about if you want to use your real name or something else."

"Monique is perfectly fine. You don't like it?" she raised her eyebrow at him.

"Okay. Monique." this is the second time she hears her new name coming out from Roman and he says it just so smoothly that it scratches her brain. "What's the last name?"

"Davis."

"Monique Davis." he repeated quietly and it scratched her brain again. The woman hates the effects Roman has on her, maybe that's why she behaves like this.

"What about you, big guy? What's the full name?" she finally asked him normally.

"Roman Reigns."

"Reigns." she nodded her head. "Okay and how long have we been dating?"

"A month. Oh, a little background information. I am 40 years old and a divorced dad of one."

"What?" Monique tried her best to keep a stone cold expression.

"Divorced." he repeated, underlying. "Long before we even met."

"Okay and what about the kid?" suddenly, Monique started to care. She loves kids, since she worked as a dance teacher in school.

"She is at her mother's who lives in her boyfriend's house." all of the sudden, Monique has a lot of questions about this whole situation but also answers.

This explains why he fucks her so good like he has something to prove. His wife probablh left him for another man and the nonchalant woman became curious why did this happen but of course, she didn't want to ask questions.

"I hope the kid isn't too traumatized." that's all she managed to say.

"She is not a kid, she is a full blown teenager." Roman sense with a note of bittersweetness in his tone.

"You are a girl dad?" Monique was rather shocked and looked at him up and down. "Couldn't have guessed."

"Well, it's hard to guess stuff like this while we do adult activities." the lawyer said in a matter of fact tone and Monique had no other choice but to agree with him cause he is right.

They stopped the car at the bus station. The appointment was for the lawyers to wait for each other there and they are going to travel to the hotel by bus.

"So extra and unnecessary." Roman groaned when Richard told him the setup plan the other day.

"Well, we are here. Get ready to meet people so dry, the Mojave desert doesn't stand a chance." Roman warned Monique and she started laughing.

He is funny, she thought.

"I can play dry and snobby too. I've mastered that role perfectly." the exotic dancer remarked, reminiscing about the days where she was Phil's girlfriend.

"Whatever you like. I told you. I have no preferences." Roman replied and she nodded, getting ready to get out of the car.

"Wait." he said and got out first then went to open her door. Monique got out of the car and suddenly, she became the hot chick from the rom-com movies. Getting out with such grace, revealing herself to the group of waiting people.

All eyes were on her because nobody expected Roman to appear with a woman and also because Monique is an incredibly attractive woman. In the meantime Roman grabbed their bags and then walked together to the big group.

"Hey, y'all." the Samoan man greeted them.

"So in mergers, you guys just merge with concept of time too?" one of the attorneys from Vires Law made aksed a sharp question.

"Correct." Roman replied nonchalantly. "Especially when you have a hot girlfriend to merge with." he replied and pulled Monique by her waist.

One woman was intensely staring at Monique from head to toe. Her name is Sarah and she is Willow's best friend from college, she works in TL Group. They still keep in touch.

"Hi." she approached the couple.

"Sarah." Roman greeted looking at the honey blonde woman with light brown skin.

"Didn't know you would bring company." Sarah spoke as she looked at Monique again. "Does Willow know about her?"

"No. It's none of her business." Roman shrugged.

"Nice to meet you, Sarah." Monique decided to include herself in the awkward conversation. "My name is Monique." the two women did a handshake.

"So when exactly were you planning to tell me you have a girlfriend, you fraud?" Richard was still surprised.

"How brazen of you to call me such names when you were the one who signed us for this absurdity without my permission." Roman replied to him but quietly since they were in the bus already.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to our little Law Trip." a rather young man came out at the podium. He looks not exactly like a rookie but like a person who has just a few years in the business. He is approaching his late 20s and he got that boyish look in him. "I know we are in Sin City but since we obey the law, we do not commit any sins. But tonight at the Canon Gala we can do whatever we want. Since we, Vires Law, are the hosts, we prepared some special things such as stand up comedy, karaoke battles and dance battles." Roman and Richard looked at each other with horror.

"These guys completely lost their minds." the Samoan man concluded.

"A lawyer doing a stand up comedy? Bet my butt he asked Chat GPT." Richard remarked and the group that formed laughed.

After the big group was accomodated in the beautiful, luxurious hotel, everyone started preparing for the upcoming gala.

Roman and Monique are in one room, of course and the woman feels a bit nervous from all of this. It's been a while she spent time with a man like that.

They took a shower separately. Monique went first and Roman was second. However, while he was in the shower, his phone was ringing and Monique couldn't help but peek at the screen and she saw the name Willow.

That must be his ex-wife, she thought.

"It's good to wash away the bad energy I collected in this fucking bus." Roman got out of the shower and the view is just breathtaking - his hair was all down and wet, his naked chest was covered in waterdrops, the signature big tattoo.

Monique's mouth slightly dropped. This man's beauty never fails to amaze her and now she knows why she jumped at him the way she did from the very start.

Any woman in her position would do the same thing.

Matter of fact, she feels like getting up, removing that towel and give him a blowjob but she has to keep her composure and tell him what's going on.

"Your phone was ringing." she spoke and looked away.

"Perhaps it's my little angel." he said and ran to check his phone. He got a big storm coming.

"What does she want?" Monique hear Roman murmur.

"Perhaps it's something with your kid. You better call her back." she decided to give him a wise advice and the second she said that the phone rang again.

"No need." he replied and picked up. "Hello." his tone changed drastically - it was a weird mixture between annoyed and cold.

"A girlfriend. When were you planning to tell me? Does Jo know?"

"No. Jo doesn't know about this but I see your source is faster than I thought." he replied and Monique immediately understood what is going on.

"When were you planning to tell me?"

"Whenever you were planning to tell me about your new fling which was never because I caught you, remember?" Roman clapped back at his irritated ex-wife, not caring Monique is listening. All the puzzle piecies start to come with her now. It's an ego crusher to be cheated on, especially if you catch this on 4K.

"She is young, I understood."

"She is younger than you, yes." he said and Monique felt extremely awkward.

"I wanna meet her." Willow declared.

"What?" Roman didn't expect this.

"I have the right to know about the woman you are going to bring in our home to our kid."

"Don't you dare call it 'our home', it's my home and Josephine's. You understand?" Monique felt the pressure and now she realizes the case is deeper than she imagined.

"You got me. I want to meet her. Think about when both of you are free. Let's do a meeting, you, her, me and Oscar."

"Oh my God." Roman rolled his eyes at the absurdity he is hearing.

"Or you are not serious. Is she just a one-night stand or what?"

"She is not a one-night stand. She is my woman. My ideal woman, by the way." he said and Monique looked at him with horror. She didn't like what she was hearing.

"Okay. Good for you. But I gotta meet her first and see if she can hang around with my kid that I gave birth to." Willow snapped back.

"I know you gave birth to her but it's 50/50, you know? She is my kid too."

"Pick a day." Willow said completely ignoring him.

"I gotta talk to Monique first and let you know. Also, don't you dare tell Jo. I am gonna be the one to say this." Roman warned her.

"Certainly I am not doing your dirty work, yes."

"Goodbye." Roman said and hung up then looked at confused Monique.

She heard everything she needed to know what's happening and by the puppy look in his eyes, she was certain he is gonna ask her another favor.

"No." she said.

"Please." he put his palms together in a praying position.

"Not a chance." Monique was certain.

"I'm gonna pay you double."

"Roman...it's not about the money. Let me get this straight, your ex-wife found out about our fake relationship, you had the audacity to tell her we are serious and now she wants to see me and you would want to pretend we are so in love."

"You should have heard her how she sounded, I got to make her even more mad." he giggled and then turned all serious again. "Please, Monique. I beg you."

The view of that enormous masculine man begging desperately, not even in a sexual way, turned Monique on a little bit.

"I hate lies, by the way. They can be very damaging but I will agree to play your little game, alright." she finally agreed and it was solely curiosity - to see how his ex-wife looks like and the man she left Roman for.

He better be Ryan Gosling or something cause it makes absolutely no sense to leave a man who fucks like Roman does, Monique thought. But then remembered that not everything is about sex.

"Thank you." he breathed out and threw himself on the bed. Now his muscular big body is lying there and the white towel hiding the magic wand that makes Monique feel out of this world.

"Should we do a little celebration?" she asked him as she slid her hand in the towel. Roman licked his lips, trying to surpress the wave of excitement that electrified his whole body.

[shinakazami1]

Late night Rhys thoughts but -

He never idolises Jack, at least not fully. He cared about the guy, was inspired, a fan, wanted to be him. But he called him out on being a maniac. He kept on calling out the man's behaviour. He could be scared of him, but at no point did he make him into what he wasn't. Only what he was made to believe.

Jack is great at crafting his image. Charismatic, probably unconsciously awkward, but he knows that brings him strength. After all, he needs to be in some way relatable. He can read a person so well, and if you follow him, its because he speaks to goals Rhys wants to go to. But he learns to respect the guy, to some extend at least. He knows the kid is smart, he knows he can give him snark remarks and get something he rarely got - just as snarky comeback.

They both see each other's flaws and try to use them. To different amount of success.

[typheus]

Clown time for grimm :)

[selfchiller]

what really chaps my ass, not as a sweeping statement bc I'm just one guy really, but like ONE time ever I insisted on accommodation, provided documentation and everything (because I was initially told they would respect my needs on an informal basis--after all, we're disabled too, we totally get it!--and they did not). I was retaliated against very harshly. Like to the point that I lost all income and had to move back home (SE Texas where I am too far to visit ANY of my friends without incurring major expenses). And why did they hate me so much? Because they were SO much MORE disabled than me and THEY did their jobs just fine and THEY didn't need any accommodations so just what the fuck was my problem? And the worst part? It was fucking true! They were! One of them had fucking MS! But also like why are you guys putting in 60+ hour weeks with no accommodations? Barnes and Noble isn't going to fuck you! I don't make a living wage and you BARELY make one! I didn't do that to you! Why are you riding so hard for BARNES AND FUCKING NOBLE?

Anyway that's why I kind of get my feelings hurt when people are running down the working disabled or complaining about "low support autistic bitches" or whatever. I even like agree and I get venting and I actively work to correct faulty assumptions and not to overly center myself.

But I guess on a personal level it feels like a reminder that no one will ever ever ever ever ever believe me. Not even disabled people.

[hauntingblue]

Rewatching act 2.... yeah ISHA WATCH OUT FOR THE CYCLE ISHA!!!!! NOOOOO

[leonw4nter]

Hi everyone!! Due to me being really busy with school and there being barely any time for me to write, I'm going in another indefinite hiatus because I'm not sure how long I'll be gone since everything is so fast-paced and confusing. It sucks that I have like, several ideas on what I wanna write but my time just refuses to let me focus on something other than academics which SUCKS, especially since... one of my fic ideas happened to me IRL and I have no one to scream about it to. Anyway, that's all and I hope you guys are going to be all fine and dandy while I'm gone :3 also fuck trump :3

[ros-sauce]

Y'know the longer I think about it, the more I think "To me, Mizuki is just Mizuki" or whatever it is that Ena said was Also a thinly veiled way of her saying "Ok well you're still a girl". Like I think the most glaringly obvious, not-behind-a-curtain-in-the-slightest line was when she pointed directly at "So are you like a guy too?" and correctly described that statement as an insult, but surprisingly, that line that pissed me off so bad, that line that really annoying people with limited ability to read have been parroting since the game dropped, might... actually be goated? A little?

Like. I don't know. Ena spent her whole friendship with Mizuki up to this point correctly assuming she was a girl, all she had wrong was the "cis" modifier. (And Cis Modifier isn't necessarily something she consciously thought of, because of the whole cis privilege makes you assume cis as the default and thus that modifier fades into the background thing.) Additionally, a hot fucking minute passed between Mizu5 and Ena5, long enough for Ena to ruin her skin with tears for her dead wife... And during that hot fuckin minute, the Ena5 4koma took place, where she straight up drew a lost girl while stressing about Mizuki. That whole gap between the events and what took place in the gap is very special to me... because the Girl Drawing combined with the Accurately Recognizing The Transmisogynistic Bullying As Exactly That really helps to make clear that Ena was confronting her "cis as default" way of thinking, and not anything else. I don't think she questioned Mizuki's girlhood even once, aside from maybe thinking "what the fuck are they on about" during her run-in with the bullies in Mizu5

[solitaireships]

My biggest piece of advice to people is to put down the ai chatbots and start writing. Does it take more time and effort to do that? Yes, but it’s 100% worth it. It helps you build a skill and it’s something that you can do entirely for yourself instead of having to depend on someone else. You can write in whatever style you prefer (entirely dialogue, more heavy on description, etc). Please just try writing more

[godsfavoritescientist]

well hold on, if we define a character flaw as any limitation a character deals with, regardless of whether it's something Morally Wrong With Them or not, then Ford's paranoia counts as a character flaw since it does in fact negatively impact him and the people around him. Let me use better wording here: I will die on the hill that Ford's paranoia is not a moral failing.

[front-facing-pokemon]

[mossterunderthebed]