#Why is sol in the hospital

[headcanonthings]

Sol: I’m Hickey's emergency contact. Nurse: So you’re here to pick him up? Sol: I’m here to be removed as his emergency contact.

[eljeebee]

"Good evening," Louie said when they were let in by Bernie. He waved around. "It's nice to meet you!"

Sid smiled, "Good evening."

"Good evening," Margaux said. "Welcome."

"Sid, hello!" Julie waved.

Seamus greeted as well.

"Seamus, you're rocking that goatee!" Louie exclaimed. "That looks awesome on you!"

"Thanks, man," Seamus chuckled.

"My goodness, Penny, look at the girl," Bernie whispered, elbowing Penrose. "Doesn't she look like Jane Swanson?"

Penrose swore under her breath. "Oh my Watcher, you're right. Act normal, Bernie."

Julie turned to her family, "Everyone, they are our friends."

Louie clasped his hand together, "I'm Louie Davis! So happy to see all of you."

He shook Margaux's hand.

"So happy to see you too, Louie," Margaux said. "Margaux Vanderburg."

"Hello, uhm..."

"Just Margaux," she smiled.

"How about Aunt Margaux?"

"Oh, that sounds better," Margaux giggled.

Sid introduced herself next, "My name is Sidera Harper. Thank you for inviting us here."

"Such a lovely name," Margaux said as she shook her hand.

"Thank you Aunt Margaux," Sid giggled.

Julie turned to the private secretaries.

"This is Bernard Braxton, Mum's private secretary."

Louie and Sid shook his hand.

"Glad to be acquainted with you, children," Bernie nodded, smiling.

"And this is Mummy's assistant private secretary, Penrose Walters."

Penrose eagerly shook their hands. "Just Penny, Rosie, Rose, whichever you prefer!"

"You must've been starving," Julie said. "Come on, let's eat!"

They led Louie and Sid to the dining room, while both Penrose and Bernie stood in the foyer.

"But why is the girl Harper and not Swanson?" Bernie whispered.

Penrose elbowed him, but it hit his stomach, making him groan. Rolling her eyes, she said, "Gosh, Bernie, don't twist your knickers. We'll investigate later."

She left for the dining room.

Bernie let out another groan before following suit, "Young people are quite strong these days..."

previous | next

[piratesexmachine420]

> be me > dumbass > barely graduate high school > decide to enlist in the army 'cause I don't know what to do with my life > spend six weeks in training, then immediately deployed to Europa > shitshitshit.jpg > it's exactly as bad as you think it is > war is hell and hell has frozen over > get dumped into this trench complex in Arran Chaos defending a big ice harvesting operation > "p-something ice extraction and research"

> founded by some big tech guy on Earth apparently > most of us are stationed around their big office building instead of the ice fields > whatever at least it breaks up the horizon > nothing around but ice and rocks and our trenches and the other guys' trenches and bodies and stars > can't even see Jupiter > fuckingcomeon.ogg > they've got this big sign with their logo a hundred yards or so from the entrance > just a bunch of big metal letters > theyre like two feet high each > that's where they've got me and this dude kyle camping out > only thing between us and the...*other guys* are some sandbags and the aforementioned bigass metal letters > plus my MA-75 and my heatsuit and kyle and his heatsuit and his MA-75

> not that the heatsuits are worth much > coldasfuckhere.xlsx > can't even stay above 280 kelvin > i think that's something like fifty degrees fahrenheit > feels like thirty > whatever at least we just have to sit here and not get shot > direct quote from the lieutenant > nobody is willing to leave their trenches so it's mostly just sitting around waiting to get sniped > not much to really do but shoot the shit complain about the cold and eat the mres in our heatsuits > so we do > kyle is cool > i like kyle > we alternate twelve-hour shifts so we only chat when the other is supposed to be sleeping

> but sleeping is hard and talking is easy > kyle deployed the week before me > was stationed here alone until i showed up > begs the question why we're defending this fucking sign if they know its worth leaving unguarded half the time > why the hell aren't we out in the ice fields > why the hell are we fighting over ice in the first place > sign's probably more valuable by weight > kyle laughs > we talk about our home lives for a while > neither of us did much interesting > kyle's mom was really into astrology apparently > we start trying to name constellations > i'm no good at it > he tells me hes gonna finally try to get some shuteye > and leans into me > for warmth, probably

> the heatsuits don't conduct much but it feels good anyway > start to doze off myself > fuck this sign and fuck this building and fuck this moon i'll do whatever i want > set down my rifle and wrap my arms around kyle > for warmth, probably > fall asleep > dream of california and beach volleyball > wake up groggy > really groggy > something hurts > my head?

> something...a sound > theres a loud sound > it keeps going and going and... > fuck > its the heatsuit's oxygen alarm > struggle to sit upright > something heavy on me > its kyle > he's not moving > take stock of my surroundings > shrapnel everywhere > don't see oxygen tank > or our umbilicals > heatsuit's switched to a backup but it's leaking > there's this film of red ice everywhere > ... > kyle...

> i roll him over and there are so many holes > glance over the sandbags > see a glint from a distant trench > duck down and hear something hit the ice behind me > fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck > FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK > rage > grab my rifle and start spraying over the barrier > no response > probably didnt hit him but id like to think i did > oxygen is running out > goodbye hell world > close eyes for second time today > dream of nothing > wake up groggy again > in field hospital

> goddammit > whole thing was captured by a satellite > so they sent a patrol to go recover our equipment > im lucky to be alive they say > sure > end up spending a sol in the hospital > they ship me back to the sign after that > same rifle and even the same heatsuit > bastards didnt even clean it off its still got his blood on it > still not sure what the objective of this post even is > alone > freezing my ass off > too cold > cant sleep > too much blood > spend a couple sols half-awake sprawled face-down in the ice > not gonna hit me again

> eventually rotate back to the fob for a sol > sign is unguarded the whole time > what am i even doing here > skulk around the barracks for a while > overhear that a big inspection of the ice company's facilities is coming up in the next couple sols > gonna be a big push among the grunts to clear out the snipers so the bigwigs can check the place out > everybody is writing letters home for when they dont come back > i, of course, am being sent back alone to the fucking sign > lieutenant tells me that if my station isn't up to spec they're sending my ass to callanish to die painfully > direct quote

> fine > decide im sick and tired of being so goddamned cold out there though > talk to the fob quartermaster about taking a heat lamp into the field > he tells me its too dangerous with all the thermal optics the enemy is using > i tell him he can have my next ten sol's pay > he hands over the lamp > hell if im gonna last that long out here

> rotate back to the sign > heat lamp makes things more tolerable but its a big battery-powered thing so i cant keep it on all the time > spend another sol lying flat on the ice > pick out a star near orion and name it kyle > maybe ten minutes before the inspectors show up i just wig out > start yelling and throwing things > knock over part of the sign > the big letter 'I' > fuck it and fuck the ice it stands for and fuck me > calm down > inspectors are gonna be here any minute now

> fuck i dont wanna go to callanish > i dont wanna die > i dont wanna die > i dont wanna die > i dont wanna die > i dont wanna die > try to stand the sign back up > wont stay upright > shitshitshit > hide the letter under a tarp > look around for something to replace it > grab the heat lamp > MFW I'm Pixar

[rainiishowers]

Solomon: You were stabbed. Do you remember anything?

MC: Only the ambulance ride to the hospital.

Solomon: That wasn't an ambulance, I drove you.

MC: But I heard a siren.

Solomon: That was Mammon.

Mammon: Sorry, I got nervous-

——

Belphegor: If we put Solomon and Barbatos in a room, who would come out crying first?

Diavolo: The room.

——

Barbatos: Where's Satan..?

MC: Doing stuff.

Barbatos: I don't like the sound of that. Where's Lucifer?

MC: Trying to stop Satan. from doing the stuff.

Barbatos: And Asmodeus?

MC: Trying to stop Lucifer from stopping Satan. from doing the stuff.

Barbatos: I see. And what are you doing here, MC?

MC: I'm supposed to stop you from stopping Asmodeus from stopping Lucifer from stopping Satan, from doing the stuff.

——

Mammon: You can trust me! Let's not forget who pulled you out of the river when you were six.

Levi: let's not forget who pushed me in

——

Lucifer: You don’t want MC to die

Simeon: Right.

Lucifer: And I don't want MC to die.

Simeon: Right.

Lucifer: So we just have to make sure MC doesn’t want MC to die.

Simeon: Wonderful plan, but have you met MC?

——

Asmodeus: Do you think I’m ugly?

Solomon: It’s not about looks, Asmodeus. What’s valuable is on the inside...

Asmodeus: Aww.. Sol...

Solomon: For example, someone's heart.

Asmodeus: Aw... Stop it-

Solomon: It could be purchased for more than a million dollars, you know.

Asmodeus: Seriously, stop it.

——

Diavolo: Words ending in 'ie' just sound so adorable. Like cutie, sweetie, cookie-

MC: Eyy, homie!

Leviathan: But then there's cootie...

Belphegor: Die.

——

Lucifer: Who broke the toaster?

Satan: It was Mammon.

Asmodeus: It was Mammon.

Beelzebub: Mammon broke it.

Mammon:

Mammon: ...yOU PROMISED-

——

Luke: Everyone thinks I'm this soft cute person but I'm not!

Simeon: Luke, you cried for an hour after stepping on a bug yesterday.

Luke: It had feelings! It was probably going home to dinner and I killed it!

Solomon: ...It was a bug…

Luke: It was a BEETLE, and its wife is definitely worried sick, wondering where it is, and I really don't get why you all think I'm so sentimental because I'm not!

Solomon: ...

Simeon: ...

Luke: Stop looking at me like that!

——

Asmodeus: Wow, this parking is as straight as I am.

Lucifer: I know I should be focused on the fact that you just came out, but HOW DARE YOU INSULT MY PARKING!

——

Mammon: I'm not that stupid!

Lucifer: Mammon, you literally ate the wax from a babybel.

Mammon: BELPHIE TOLD ME IT WAS EDIBLE!

——

Mephisto, referring to MC and Mammon: Those guys are dorks.

Lucifer, insulted: Yes, but they’re my dorks.

[natalievoncatte]

4. Garden

Kara waited as long as she could. Taking to the air, she lifted herself to cloud-height, ignoring the bite of the upper-atmospheric chill as the high winds snapped at her cape. Hovering in the air, she took a moment to unbind her senses, expanding her awareness to let in the cacophony of sounds she usually suppressed through years of focused willpower and concentration.

She rocked in the air, shocked by the sensitivity of her own ears. Jeremiah and then Eliza had taught her this, made the world in its vastness small enough that she could live in it.

Clark had taught her to reach out, to hear, as well as see and smell and taste and feel, beyond. Sol’s gentle kiss did more than expand her awareness and multiply her strength, it activated pathways in her brain itself, giving her a control over her senses that she could never match under a red star.

It took only moments to sift out the quiet sounds of Lena’s pulse and her gentle, hissing breaths as she fought back sobs.

Air folded around her as she shatters the sound barrier, flying high enough that the boom that followed her would be a mere puff to the ground. Another trick she picked up from Clark, using the earth’s rotation to speed her flight.

Kara touched down at a familiar but foreboding place: the Luthor estate.

All that had been the property of her family was hers now, a gift and a curse. Lena had talked about making it an orphanage or a long-term care hospital or a new children’s medical campus, but the building itself had held her back. What malevolent secrets had Lex left behind? Booby traps? Sentinel robots hiding in the walls? Caches of weapons or Lexosuits?

A Kryptonite bomb, to spit death at her for hate’s sake?

Kara hesitated, but Lena was here and upset. She went inside.

It was immediately obvious where Lex had reinforced walls and lined rooms with lead. Kara listened for Lena, finding that the trail of sound led her outside.

She had to use her x-ray vision.

Lena was kneeling in an hidden place, a walled off section of the formal gardens. Kara found the entrance cleverly disguised, a section of wall where one slipped through a gap and turned left then right and came out in a tiny, overgrown courtyard.

Kneeling, Lena was surrounded by pruning shears and garden implements, dressed to work outside. She looked so out of place it was almost a little silly to see, but there she was.

Kara could see that Lena had already been working on cleaning and clearing. She knelt before a small plumeria plant, resting in a well kept pot.

“Lex let it all die,” said Lena. “He knew it was here. He could have kept it for me, but he didn’t. I suppose I’m lucky that Lillian didn’t rip it up and install a septic tank.”

Kara walked over, standing next to her.

“My father built this. It’s a replica of my mother’s garden. We had a little walled garden next to the cottage where I lived with her before I came to live with the Luthors.”

Kara said nothing, instead brushing a lock of Lena’s now-curly hair back from her shoulder.

“He never showed it to me.”

“Why?”

“My parentage was his dirtiest secret. Lillian didn’t even tell me until she thought she could use it.”

“Do you think he loved her?”

“I have no idea. He loved me, I think. He loved Lex but in a different way. I don’t think he even liked Lillian.”

“You’ve never told me about him.”

“It wasn’t easy being his child. He drank too much, neglected the company, and drank more when things went badly for us. The family was actually in trouble until Lex turned it around. He started managing things when I was in grade school. By the end, he’d spend all day in his study and I’d spend half the night sitting with him while he talked and told me stories. Lillian hated him for it.”

“You miss him.”

“I miss them both. I miss Lex. I miss him so much. I mourn him every day.”

“I know,” said Kara.

“My mom died, my father died, my brother went insane.”

“Lena…”

“Is it me?”

“It’s not, you know it’s not.”

“Is it my witch blood? Am I cursed?”

Kara knelt beside her, pulling her cape across Lena’s shoulders to fight the autumn chill. Lena leaned into her.

“What if it is a curse? What if it gets our little one too?”

Kara put her hand on Lena’s belly, spreading her fingers. There was no bump yet. Kara listened intently, eagerly awaiting a moment she would never forget, when a second heartbeat joined Lena’s. It hadn’t come yet but it would.

“Nothing is going to get our baby,” said Kara. “Their moms are Supergirl and Lena Luthor. We can do anything.”

“It’s going to be a children’s hospital,” said Lena. “The house. A lot of the grounds are going to be torn out, but I’m keeping this garden. I’m going to give my mom a memorial. I think I might put one in for my dad, too.”

“I love you,” Kara murmured. “I love you so much.”

Lena leaned into her and Kara sat down to pull her in.

They sat for a long time, and listened to the wind that shook the leaves.

[mrinafria]

[contains spoilers]

I'm an eternal digger of good narrative techniques. A decent story becomes great in my eyes if the narrative is done right. And it's one of the hardest things to do really, since there's no one-size-fits-all rule for what technique works well with a particular story and what doesn't. One of the primary reasons I keep obsessing over Lovely Runner is its' narrative technique. In all honesty, if it had a linear, singular narrative, I would not be hyperventilating over it on a constant basis (I still would just a certain amount, because both Byeon Woo Seok and Kim Hye Yoon deserve awards for what they are doing). One reason it has managed to knock it out off the park and take the top spot in my forever-favorite list is how wonderfully well the narrative is done.

The primary perspective used in this show is Im Sol's. It's through her we're introduced to the story. Her perspective gives shape to the plot, the characters, because we learn things through her. Her perspective is absolutely critical for exposition. Without her thoughts and way of viewing things, you would never realize why saving Seon Jae means so much to her, or why she would bend the rules and bulldoze ahead when it comes to his safety (exhibit A, her leaving home on the day of the accident, despite knowing about her fate). She'd rather have him alive than have him in her life. Without her narrative, you'd think it's really all about a fan saving her idol (thanks to everyone who'd rejected the script listening to that pitch by the way, I'm grateful we have BWS and KHY as the leads because of that, I would not change it for anyone else). With Im Sol's perspective, you realize, she is not just a fan: she's an ardent admirer, a cheerleader, a well-wisher, a protector, an invisible friend trying to support her friend any way she can, someone who respects Seon Jae, sees him as an idol but also as a human, someone who wants to give back to him the same kindness, empathy and love she had once received from him over a radio call. To her, Seon Jae is first a guardian angel and then an idol, the angel who changed her view of life, made her appreciate things even amidst all that could be wrong with the world and her life. He saved her. Not just on that day at the hospital but every time she struggled and faltered since then, he was there, as invisible as it may have been. So this time, she wants to save him, no matter the price.

Then comes Seon Jae. Oof. If Im Sol's perspective gives the story its beautiful, beautiful shape, Seon Jae's perspective breathes literal life in to the body of the story. The show wouldn't be what it is today if not for his perspective. Without his view into things, Im Sol appears as a fangirl going to extreme measures to save her idol, clinging onto him like a monkey (yes I mean the poster) embarrassing the heck out of herself, making you cringe (in a good, enjoyable way) throughout. Then you reach the end of episode 2 and it knocks the breath out of you because WHAT DO YOU EVEN MEAN. It all clicks.

All this while we kept thinking Seon Jae was caught off guard and just kind enough to tolerate her antics, and maybe he'd slowly fall for her now, only to realize we were completely oblivious to a whole different side of the story. If Im Sol's narrative draws you in and keeps you hooked, making you root for her to succeed, it's Seon Jae's narrative that makes you irredeemably fall in love with them and sincerely, genuinely, desperately hope they get their happy ending together after all the storm.

And the motifs. Walking/running, for instance. I'll focus on just one scene here. I recall seeing a bts where KHY is discussing the OG 2008 accident scene, and it explains how she has to slow down, while running away, for just a moment, only to be hit by the taxi driver. Have you ever been in a situation of absolute panic, desperation and stress, then suddenly found a familiar face or a name or a thing you could connect to, and felt a wave of relief rush through you? She sees Seon Jae, a person who is calling out her name. Even if she didn't know him back then, the fact that he knew her (and that he had his uniform on), gives her a sense of safety she badly needed that moment. That momentary relief, so visible in her features, then overtakes the crippling fear she felt running in the middle of nowhere with no one in sight in the dead of the night. Her body, already exhausted beyond anything, responds to the relief she feels for those few seconds, slowing down her steps.

And that is when she is caught off-guard and hit. That also might have added to Im Sol's anger at the hospital when she is screaming at Seon Jae, her internal anguish that if only she had not paused seeing Seon Jae, and kept on running, then maybe she wouldn't be hit, wouldn't fall, wouldn't lose her ability to walk. It's one thing to have tropes and symbolic things, but it's a very different thing to know how to use them effectively so they elicit very specific types of emotions/reactions out of people. Lovely Runner excels in that. All kdramas more or less have 'things' that take on different meanings for the couples/viewers. It's the way motifs are used to narrate the story in this one that has me going back over and over again to all the episodes aired so far. These are not just their 'things', these are 'things' that drive the plot forward, tell you about their characters, their personal motivations, what they mean to each other and so much more.

This is getting longer that I intended it to be so will end with this. I feel valued when watching Lovely Runner. And I've seen people saying the same thing. It feels like they respect your critical thinking skills, and your ability to infer, so they don't spoon-feed you everything from the get-go, and you can't predict much despite it being primarily a rom-com. You'd be pulling your hair out (again, in a good way) trying to figure out what they will show next, and you will be somewhat or very far from the truth, which will compel you to think further about the story, the characters, long after an episode has aired...I can't remember the last time it happened with a drama. I love this storytelling.

[sweetestlamb]

Remember Me

Author's note: I can't believe it's almost over. I'll miss them so much 😭😭 I've been meaning to write but life is lifing and I never have time so I quickly got this out and hope to post something else tomorrow.

Summary: I was made to love you in every universe.

It's like learning to breathe again after being submerged in water for too long, his lungs burn from the strain but his body knows what to do.

Inhale. Exhale. Remember.

Her smile on the rainy day and the way his heart stopped just for a moment to take her in.

The ache in his chest as she cried desperately lashing out in the hospital and the guilt that threatened to suffocate him.

How deeply he loved her and how full he felt when she finally loved him back, she never said the words but he felt her love all the same.

It was all erased without his permission and then suddenly it was pressing down on him until he could barely breathe. Memories. Not fantasies, or dreams or even hallucinations but memories from a life the he doesn't recall living but his heart does, it feels so real to him, so much so that he can't stop the tears from begin to pour from his eyes.

How could he forget her? How could she let him?

"Sun Jae? Are you in pain? Are you okay? I'll get the doctor."

He blindly grabs at his manager's hand stopping him before he can leave him.

"No. I need you to get Im Sol. I need to talk to her, right now."

"What? Why do you need to talk to her? You need to let this crush go! You almost died tonight, I was so worried about you!"

It doesn't make sense, nothing does anymore and he doesn't even know where to begin in explaining to Dong Seok, he just knows that he has to see Sol. He's never wanted anything more in his whole life, or lives.

"Please. Just get her."

He hears a deep sigh and then it's quiet again and now he just has to wait and hope that she'll come.

That she can help make sense of the mess in his head.

Although he tries to fight it, sleep is a worthy opponent and he loses the battle.

But at least in his sleep she finds him again smiling so beautifully that it's hard to believe that he could have ever forgotten her.

He remembers her laugh, the touch of her hand on his, and every kiss plays like a movie of someone else's life and it ignites a burning in his chest that he's only ever felt since meeting Im Sol.

I was made to love you.

He watches himself whisper those words to her and the gentle smile that forms on her face as she leans over to press their lips together.

But before they can touch he feels himself being shaken from his sleep and he almost rumbles, annoyed to be pulled from a memory so sweet but when he opens his eyes it's not Dong Seok that he sees but her.

His fate.

"What happened? Why are you here? Why are you hurt? You're not supposed to be hurt, I did all of this so you wouldn't ever get hurt!"

She wails at him, his chest tightens as he watches her cry again. Always crying for him.

"Sol. I missed you."

And that makes her freeze her eyes wide and glossy with unshed tears as she stares at him. He stares right back, lifting himself up into a seated position. He needs to sit for this conversation.

"What do you- I shouldn't have come here. I should go."

This time he takes her hand and refuses to let go. He's never letting go ever again. Even if it means he dies, death is worth the touch of her hand.

"Stop running away. I know you want me to live a long life but I can't be happy without you in it."

"What are you talking about? I wasn't talking about you when I said that I was talking about....uhhhh I meant-"

He lets her fumble trying to find a way to end her sentence but words escape her and he's done being without her.

" It's me. It's always been me and for me, it's always been you."

Her breath hitches and he reaches across to brush away the tears slowly trailing down her cheeks.

"How?"

"I remember everything. I know why you pushed me away and I know why you're scared to be around me."

For a moment it's like she's frozen in time and then everything erupts and she cries like a child, like her heart is broken and she's lost everything precious in this world, like a weight has been lifted and she's gained everything she's ever wanted.

"Come here." He draws her closer hugging her tightly, healing them both.

He rocks her back and forth as she weeps in his arms and he hums soothing words into her ears.

"You did good. I'm sorry I forgot you, I'm sorry I left you all alone."

Those words make her pull back and she shakes her head viciously.

"I wasn't lonely. I was fine. Everything was fine, I did what I had to do and I'd do it again."

And he takes offense. Anger so hot it burns rises up in his chest.

"Do you love me?"

His words are hard, they bite the air and smack her across the face.

It's an accusation. And he sees her anger form right back like clouds before a hurricane.

"Do I love you?! You remember everything and you're still asking me that?"

"Yes! You're still lying to me. You'd be fine without me? Well I wouldn't be fine without you! I need you, more than life."

"If you stay beside me then you'll die!"

"And if I don't then I won't live!

He grabs her face as shouts his final plea, baring his entire heart to her on a platter. He's always been consistent.

"Do you understand? If I don't have you then life isn't worth living, Sol. I was made to love you and only you. In every universe. That's my fate."

"Why? Why can't you love someone else? Why can't I save you? Why is fate so cruel?"

That he has no answer to. He's never had to watch her die but she's endured that pain too many times and he knows that's what held her back.

But it's different this time. He's not going to die.

"Nothing's going to happen. They got him. He's never going to hurt anyone ever again."

"Are you sure? He's.. Really..."

She stutters in disbelief and he nods, "Your friend got him. He saved my life too."

"Thank goodness. Thank goodness."

She collapses onto his bed and he tries to suppress the tinge of jealousy that flares. It's not the right time and she loves him, he's seen it through space and time.

"So, stop pushing me away. Please."

There is only silence and then there's sobs and she's gripping his hand just as tightly.

"I..... didn't want to. It hurt everyday. To watch you and know that I couldn't have you, to know that I'd never hear your voice or feel your arms around me or be there to comfort you. I cried every night. I wasn't fine. It felt like stabbing myself in the heart a million times. I-"

"Shhhh. It's okay now. Just give me all the love you've been hiding. I'll take it all."

"Can I?"

She sounds so young and sixteen year old Sol flashes in his mind.

"You can."

She squeezes his hand before bringing it to her mouth and placing a butter soft kiss on his skin.

Then she leans closer and reaches up to caress his face. She stares at him as if she's drinking him in and she says as much, "This beautiful face. I should have enjoyed it more when I had the chance."

He blushes, not used to being called beautiful but he doesn't contradict her. Who is he to deny a compliment?

"Enjoy it now. You can even take a picture."

Her giggle is music to his ears.

"Your ego got bigger."

"Hmmm that's not all that got bigger." He fires back straight faced and then he smirks as her tell tale blush colors her face a vivid red.

"Where is your mind right now? What are you thinking about Sol? Hmmm?"

"Nothing! Shut up! I wasn't thinking about anything dirt-!"

And he probably shouldn't do what he wants to because those other timelines weren't truly them, or were they? It's all so confusing but ever since he watched himself kiss her it's all he's been able to think about. He wants to kiss her desperately, hungrily.

He's too impatient to wait for her to catch up. He kisses her hard, then soft then hard again and it's everything. A taste that he forgot that suddenly takes him over and it's all he can remember now. He twists his head remembering that she liked that, then swipes his tongue in a move that used to make her moan.

"Sunjae.." she moans into his mouth.

Still makes her moan.

"You know he's still recovering you really shouldn't be sucking his face off quite yet." A voice rings it loudly breaking the tension in the room.

She bolts away from him but he doesn't loosen his hold on her. Instead he turns his head to glare at the intruder.

"Get out."

"No. You'll have a scandal if I leave, who knows how far you two will go..." Baek Inhyuk replies with a salacious wiggle of his brows.

It's probably for the best.

There's so much he wants to do with her, and he doesn't want an audience.

He just wants Im Sol.

Now, and forever.

[girlgenius1111]

how is the relationship that sol has with mapi different to the one she has with ingrid?

like when would she go to a certain person over the other and would ingrid/mapi (particularly ingrid) understand why she went to the other rather than both of them?

I absolutely adore this whole universe you’ve created and want to know everything about it lol so no pressure to answer this :)

also hope you’re doing well post-op!

i loveeee this question.

sol feels generally very safe with ingrid and mapi.

i would say the times that she prefers mapi to ingrid is anytime she thinks shes in trouble. she's never really experienced mapi getting mad at her but ingrid was so strict with her when she first arrived in spain, she's still a bit traumatized for that. it's getting better with time, but her instinct when she's done something wrong is to go to mapi, who will always assure her that even if ingrid is mad, it doesn't mean either of them love her any less.

also, ever since she broke her wrist for the second time, mapi has been her go to for doctor's appointments. she really appreciates how protective mapi is with her, and she remembers so clearly how good of a job mapi did taking care of her and keeping her calm when she had to go to the hospital. she liked ingrid to be there too, but for some reason, if she had to pick, it would be mapi.

sol wants ingrid when she's anxious. from very early on in her life, ingrid was the only one to bring her comfort when she was anxious, and sol hasn't ever really felt very comfortable letting anyone else see her in that state other than ingrid. sol knows that ingrid knows exactly what to do to help her, and its nice for her to just have to listen to ingrid and not figure everything out herself.

she also goes to ingrid is she's feeling depressed. not at first, because she isn't sure how it will be received, but after a few months she figures out how to communicate what she's feeling to her sister, and when that happens, she just wants to be with ingrid. sitting in silence, probably sleeping, but with ingrid.

i wouldn't say that the relationship is super different because it very much is a sisterly relationship for sol and ingrid and sol and mapi, but i think what she needs from them is different. ingrid is comforting and kind and safe, and mapi is protective and calm and safe.

[sunlighthroughthe-ashes]

wow, this episode was wild from start to finish — the makgeolli scene was ludicrous, sol's elder brother is annoying, and HOW DARE they end it on such a cliffhanger!!!

that said, i LOVED the parallels of sol switching the fan on for sunjae while he was sleeping just like he did for her in previous episodes (it was such a lovely, subtle bit of cuteness) — him unconsciously covering her hand with his own was an added bonus.

that boy is aware of her EVEN IN HIS SLEEP.

i think it's a testament to byeon woo-seok's acting that he's able to communicate the tenderness of his feelings for sol so well with just his eyes — i keep mentioning this, but there's a literal reverence in his gaze when he looks at sol that's simply uncanny. his whole face just softens when he looks at her!!!

kim hye-yoon matches this well with the way her face lights up when she's watching sun-jae — her smile is pure RADIANCE when she's looking at him.

there's such genuine respect and adoration in her expression that it just warms my heart.

sunjae confessing his feelings all in a rush was such a bittersweet experience for me — first love is often so sweet but also overpowering and bewildering — you can see from the beginning of the story how helpless sunjae is in the wake of his emotions for sol.

he put her into music and made her memory eternal!

having said that, i was NOT a fan of the way sol rejected sunjae at the hospital. i understand her reasons (since she's uncertain over her fate after the day of her accident / her having to return to the future) but she didn't have to be that harsh.

the poor boy even said "don't be so cold" 🥺

and the fact that she realized she was his first love and the song was about her — only to get kidnapped right after: EVIL move on the writers' part.

i think she'll manage to get out of this without getting paralyzed again (maybe with sunjae's help) — that's why the promo showed her walking in the future.

i know a little about the webtoon, so i'm pretty sure sunjae DOES remember her, he's just behaving coldly because she rejected him / or because after the accident past!sol returned and didn't remember him and he distanced himself ever since then.

either of those reasons would also explain his refusing not to do the movie that sol's presumably directing.

as far as sol trying to stop him from coming to the bridge — she probably realized something to do with his death. it might be related to her (and the taxi-driver) so she's trying to stop sunjae from meeting her and putting everything into motion again.

i think the first time she went into the past, it was to remember sunjae, the second was to prevent her accident, and the third will be her finally stopping sunjae's death.

hate to say it, but i think sol will have to go through sunjae dying again before she goes back into the past for the third and final time (probably when they're in university) and saves him at last.

she better save him and make sure they have a happy ending, otherwise this viewer is going to become a LOVELY HATER. XD

NOW HOW WILL I SURVIVE UNTIL NEXT MONDAY??? 😭

[class1akids]

do you think in the end bkdk is romantically implied?

I'll answer these together:

I think that the Final Chapter was very carefully curated to ensure that all the significant shipping communities in the fandom get something, but everything can be interpreted in whichever way you want. The scenes are all pretty neutral on purpose (the purpose being is to keep the ship-centric fans hooked as they are the biggest spenders on the franchise especially once the manga/anime ends. They become the heart of future sales).

So there are bones/crumbs for almost every single shipping group that they can dress up and fill with romanticism but all of them are also just things that you can interpret as totally nothing romantic:

Eri & Kota - I feel like they are trying to appeal to the Damian x Anya kind of shippers since their handhold (cute kids - make up your own story of orphans -> childhood friends -> classmates)

Erasermic - popular ship - (perfectly angsty set-up to murder husbands getting a repeat of mourning Shirakumo's death)

Endhawks - Enji's final scene in the franchise is not with family, but with Hawks (Look at Hawks still hanging out with Enji. Rei is there if you don't like this ship.)

Spinnaraki - Spinner wrote his book! Look, wonder what's in it? (-> write your own SoL of the LoV with any ship combination that floats your boat)

Kiribaku (and Bakusquad crumbs, but Deku is also there now -> write your on fic of best bros supporting Katsuki's recovery. Any ship conbination is fine).

Izuocha (-> date? Could be. Or not. You choose).

This scene works for Togachako, Tsuchako, Iidachako, MomoIida and Izuocha shippers equally (as Ochako's mask is somewhere between Iida's and Deku's)

Todobaku confirmed chasing each other in the rankings for a decade is a beloved trope. But Deku talking fondly both about Bakugou and Todoroki can please the Bakudeku and Tododeku shippers or even the tdbkdk enthusiasts. (-> write your own fic of Deku wistfully watching his besties rise in the ranks thinking they are too busy to hang out with him while they are busting their asses off to buy him an ironman suit. Also do you think TDBK shacked up together to save on rent? Why not? And then they were ROOMMATES!!! Do they help out at Midoriya sensei's combat classes while having a crush on the cute teacher? Hell yeah! )

Bakudeku - a generous gift from Bakugou = a generous gift to the biggest shipping community. It fits all Cinderella / Forever and ever / Sugar-daddy fantasies, depending on where your romanticism lies, but it's carefully curated to fit into the platonic Dadmight + Bakugou & Deku canon storyline, it works with Bakugou's atonement / redemption and his angsty question of "what did I do to you?" in the hospital. (Did he do it as a final step to set things right for the bullying or did he do it because he can't live without Deku by his side? As a friend or a lover? Does Deku take his hand? Are they hero partners? Just the two of them or a bigger agency? - this is all up to you!)

But it's also developed by Hatsume and Melissa (if you like straight ships) and in fact a joint contribution by Class A - (So yeah - let your imagination run wild. I did. )

Ghost Tenko!!! - this is not as popular as TogaChako because of the age gap - but look!!! now they are both adults! They could be a ship if you wanted them to be?

Final panel - the big dilemma of where to place Deku?

BKDK? - maybe it would be too much and alienate other ships.

Ochako? - no, can't risk losing the bkdk crowd. (But she can look at him)

I know! TDDK - they are still a pretty popular big ship but also just sweet friends. Very inoffensive. Chill. Both Bkdks and Izuochas can breathe a sigh of relief and TDDKs can get a nice little crumb.

(Hey, why not also make this a Kacchako crumb and MomoJirou crumb and ....look it's Class A - we all love them!!!!)

Anyways, maybe I'm too cynical, but it seems to me that this ending was carefully curated by the marketing team to ensure that there is one resounding message here:

Dear Fans! The manga ended, but the franchise lives on. Whatever your ship is, please keep buying merch!!!!

[sol-y-yam]

[Video ID:

Sol is holding her camera, and is in a hospital gown, sitting in a hospital bed.

"Hey guys", she says, wincing as she speaks, "I uh... I slept for like ... a whole day, apparently. I... I don't remember much of what happened. I remember... I remember finding the tomb and I- I know I fought one of the Treasures."

She takes a moment to catch her breath, "My uhh... haah.. my chest hurts a fuck ton... apparently they had to go in and fix a rib back in place... I- I'd show you guys the bruise, it's crazy, but I'm not exactly wearing much beneath the gown..."

"Um, my parents were here, they've just gone down to the Cafeteria to get food for themselves... I hadn't seen them in like a month cause I've just been so busy, b- but I mean hey we're all back together again... heh... Yeah Is' was here too. I- I uh... she came by earlier, brought me some more soup... I'm starting to think that's the only thing she knows how to make hah..."

"Umm- I- I've got- well I mentioned this already, but I've got a broken rib. That sucks. Uhm, a concussion, and bruising up and down my legs from that thing's vines. Speaking of which, I did catch it! The ball is- well Mint picked it up- eh- somehow... and put carried it with him. I got it!! I- I did it. I- I don't know what I'm gonna name it, and admittedly I still don't like it, I mean look at the state I'm in, y'know? But I- did it. The quest is finished..."

She chews on her thumb, and looks down towards her lap. "What do you name something like this though..? It- I- A name like ... Skull-crusher feels... like- like I'm trying to hard? But then a cutesy name feels too... cliché? I dunno... I'll figure it out..."

Sol's mind races, her eyes dart around the room, looking for anything remotely interesting to talk about. Nothing. She sits in silence for an agonizing few seconds before taking a deep breath, "I- ... I read... and heard what I said about Josie... I- Arceus.. I don't know why I said any of that, I don't even remember saying it! I- I- I- I never- I wasn't-"

Tears well in her eyes, "I-", she takes a deep, shaky breath, "I'm- I'm so.. sorry... I never- I d- I don't know what came over me- I- I'm not gonna beg for forgiveness, I'm- I just- I don't normally say things like that, not even about people I don't like, much less... I- I- ... I'm sorry, that's all I can... all I have the strength to say. I'm... so fucking sorry, Josie. If- if you're out there, if you see this, if you're- still alive, I- I'm sorry. I should've done more to warn you. There's no universe where this isn't my fault."

"Alright. Th-", she lets out a shaky sigh, "That's all I- I feel like saying. Consider my physical pain atonement for... what I said, I- I guess. Bye."

End Video ID]

[thebirdandhersong]

DON'T YOU LOVE IT THAT FOR SUNJAE, SOL IS THE ONE WHO SEES HIS HIDDEN STRUGGLE AND REACHES OUT TO HIM WITH LOVE????? In all of his hidden pain, he gets to experience the kind of giving, gentle, tender-hearted love from Sol that sees to the heart of his struggle and selflessly offers him encouragement and support.

When they first meet in the first time leap and she runs at him, hugs him, and tells him she knows he's struggled so much in silence, he thinks she means his shoulder injury... His shoulder injury was so painful and involved so much physical therapy and hospital visits, and no one sees that, except (or so he thinks... we know she's referring to something else in the future) Sol...... even though it's bizarre to be hugged by your secret crush, wept over by her, and hear "I love you" from her all in one ago where the two of you have formerly never actually spoken, Sunjae is genuinely touched by what she says.

And now in the second future, the changed timeline where Sol works in the film production industry, she asks if he's tired and he says not really and she just goes on this RANT about how he shouldn't hide his true feelings and carry his burdens himself....... she TELLS HIM with such sincerity that if you're struggling, you need to let the people who care for you know, so that they can help you......... and Sunjae just sits there on the other side of the phone in stunned silence because that means something to him!! He's a celebrity now and people take what's on the surface as fact! There's so much that is pre-planned and staged and performed in his life, but Sol is concerned about what is real, and genuinely cares about and cares for the well-being of the person behind the persona!!! Which is why he sits there in absolute silence, and when she asks why he isn't saying anything, he simply says: "because I'm happy." READER, HE IS HAPPY. THIS GIRL CARES ABOUT HIM SO MUCH AND THIS IS ALL HE DREAMED OF FOR THE PAST FIFTEEN YEARS. HE KNOWS NOW THAT EVERY LOVELY GESTURE AND KIND WORD FROM HER WHICH HE'S PREVIOUSLY WAS ACTUALLY STEEPED AND INFUSED AND BRIMMING OVER WITH LOVE FOR HIM AND THAT THE LOVE WAS ALWAYS THERE, AND NOW ALWAYS WILL BE

[anonym-potato]

Nein Again - 2x12 "Midnight Espionage" + 2x13 "Lost & Found"

You thought I was busy last time? I'm doing two episodes in one to catch up! But I'm sure these episodes will be entirely uneventful and boring, with no long-term plot ramifications. Spoilers ahoy!

2x12:

I rate this Sam Riegel DnD Beyond ad a 4/10 I don't know who told Sam Riegel about F.A.T.A.L but they will pay.

Everyone roasting Travis for picking up his wife's dice superstitions/habits makes me smile.

The fact Laura can actually copy people's handwriting gives me a few questions.

Is Marion's wall safe behind a giant nude painting of her or something?

Fjord what in the dear sweet abyss is a "Dark Physician"? Did the orphanage send you to an evil doctor?

I wanna play a oneshot where everyone's a Level 1 Bard with ball bearings.

I do love that Caleb is now a measure of filthiness (something Americans something something Metric system)

I don't have anything to say about the Hospital Incident. I think it speaks for itself.

Getting in a pillow fight with a Tiefling sounds like a great way to rip open some pillows.

The sausage grease trick is very smart but also makes me wonder if someone's written a fic of the whole campaign from Frumpkin's POV. I'd read that.

Honestly bless Ulog for going along with this comedian bit.

"Why does it feel like you roll crappier when you're lower level?" It's this thing called Lower Proficiency Bonus.

Nott is so bad at being a Rogue at first. Thank you Matt for giving them another.

I think Travis snuck a Fnaf reference in there under his breath.

Okay but unironically Jester would've watch The Neverending Story like 50 times.

"Ulog is a little girl" and Dariax was born.

Here at Critical Role, we always support commiting to the bit when your character is paralyzed by holding a strange position for way too long.

HIGH PRESSURE WEIRD SHIT REPORT: Caleb has stolen a Sending Stone from Lord Sutan's home.

"Everyone thinks that Matt is managing three storylines right now, but there's actually a fourth that we don't even know about." Presented without comment.

The fact that the High Richter has forbidden smut is so funny.

Shout out to Fjord holding Caleb at swordpoint can't wait for it to be even gayer in the cartoon.

Oh the delightful irony of Caleb getting blown up by an anti-Imperial revolutionary.

2x13:

I rate this Sam Riegel DnD Beyond ad a 5/10 since I don't like Chicago.

Darkness is such a surprisingly meh spell. Unless you have Devil's Sight it's good for covering an escape and basically nothing else.

Oh yeah Nott is proficient in Persuasion I always forget that.

Echo Knights are so creepy at first, kudos to Matt for that.

Poor Travis is trying to hard to keep track of all the dangerous things on this man.

I'm surprised Molly didn't make any 'sailors and knots' jokes about Fjord right now.

Caleb has known these people for a week and he's already whipping his dick out we should've known he was a Whore.

Matt has already given up on getting these people to not say "Insight Check".

"Maybe you should stare at it some moooooore" Remember gang Jester has no bad ideas.

People have memed before about the Nein's improvised plan to steal the Beacon in the middle of the crowd being so much better than the heist they were just agonizing over. And my conclusion is that this means the Nein need a jazz soundtrack. Because that's how jazz works. I think.

The irony of Beau, noted kung fu/library school dropout, potentially telling someone to stay in school.

Oremid Haas totally keeps a bowl of lollipops in his office.

Also it's hilarious how fast they got obsessed with Pumat Sol they've visited him like every episode since they met him.

Marisha's little giggle when Nott calls Beau "the grumpy one" makes me smile.

Poor Claudia is just trying to lay low after her former countrymen perpetuate a terrorist attack.

"...Who are that?" Greatest delivery of the episode.

Lauren is Also Claudia isn't she

And Yorick is the best accent Caleb will ever do.

I love how Molly's argument here is clearly Circus Rules even before he says it.

Also him telling Nott she's not nearly as smart as she thinks she is is maaaaad projection on his part.

The exploding scroll case is so funny to me for no reason. RIP Schmidt we thank you for your service.

Does. Does Nott think Caleb wants to edubate with the Beacon.

Travis is so happy someone else is getting suspicious magical dreams.

I do wonder if they'll adapt Caleb's Beacon dream for the cartoon in some capacity. It's some juicy foreshadowing.

Oh yeah the one lady from the KoR works for the Gentleman. I know that one gag from Crit Recap Animated is a gag but also Matthew. You put in like seven hooks to get them in with the Gentleman. Which is understandable in hindsight but still hilarious.

"We should write Tusk Love and sell it on the store" Well YOU won't write it Sam.

Laura having an actual stress dream of Pumat betraying them is insane.

And today, Beau discovered she has an electricity kink, which considering who she marries is probably a good thing.

"Tenser's Floating Disk Pitch" is such a great little aside from Liam.

Beau trying so hard to smile is such a mood.

The Evening Nip has impeccably Sus Vibes.

And of course Cree's introduction is amazing.

COMPREHENSIVE EPISODE WEIRD-SHIT REPORT: The Nein have stolen the late Thuron's Waste Hunter Blade (which Molly is holding for Yasha) and Boots of The Vigilant (which are Beau's now). They have purchased an extremely non-magical but very relevant lead lined box from Pumat Sol, and Nott has also commissioned them to make a flask of neverending alcohol. Lord Sutan's Sending Stone is now being kept in Jester's Haversack. Also, they've stolen a weird magical 12-sided artifact, which Jester is also keeping in the Haversack in that lead-lined box. Wonder if that's important.

In conclusion: I am very tired.

[writing-whump]

Hi, Sol, our beloved host and provider. 🥰

I know this is your world and you will do what you want - and what you feel right for the story, but please, don't leave this hospital so quickly. 🥺 Let Isayah be stable at least, before you jump... somewhere else. 😉

Maybe Zaya's POV this time?

🐾.

After Surgery

Isaiah woke up to steady loud beeping in his ear. It was quite annoying. Could he have a moment of peace?

It was weirdly difficult to open his eyes. His eyelashes felt sticky, like they were glued together.

He turned his head slightly to follow the beeping noise to find...machines. Tubes were sticking out of different IVs, weird liquids, all leading back...to him.

He took a sharp breath from the panicked suprise, which had a stab of pain flaring in his chest.

Oh right. His chest. The gauze barely covering the gaping hole right to his insides.

His hand moved frustratingly slow as he reached towards his chest, only to find it covered in bandages. Maybe that's why he felt so stiff, trapped underneath the thick layers of white.

His mouth felt dry and after sand. There was pressure on his chest, the feeling like he couldn't breathe, and a flaring soreness in the center of his chest when he tried to move.

Isaiah looked at his hand, horrified how many tubes and needles were sticking out of it. Was there a part of him that wasn't hurt or pierced in some way?

"Hey, Zaya. You are awake." Matthew’s voice was hoarse with relief as his hand hovered just above Isaiah’s arm before he gently touched it. He sat on a chair on his left, making Isaiah take on the difficult task of turning his head towards him. There was no way he could acknowledge the gaping hole on his right.

Matthew looked...wrecked. Dark circles under his eyes and sickly paleness. Isaiah blinked a few times, the edges of his vision blurry, but he could see his best friend's expression just fine.

Finally. The first time he woke up everything was so confusing, the world coming in and out of focus, too many lights and colours attacking his eyes. This room was dimly lit and calm, aside the annoying machines.

Matthew's hand reached over to clasp his shoulder, his grip uncharacteristically hesistant. Careful.

"You...you look beat," Isaiah croaked, coughing against the raw sensation of his throat. There was a queasy feeling at the pit of his stomach, making him very aware where the organ was.

Matthew barked out a laugh. "Christ, that's just rude, man. Where are your manners?"

Isaiah had to smile at that. "S-somewhere off...with my suit. Have you...seen it...around?" He cringed at how strained his voice sounded, barely above a whisper.

Matthew's grip on his shoulder tightened though and the pained lines in his face relaxed. Some of the heavy feeling in Isaiah's chest eased at the sight too.

"Also could you tone...that thing down?" Isaiah rolled his eyes towards the beeping equipment. He took a shallow breath, trying not to aggravate the pain in his chest. "Trying to sleep 'ere."

Matthew laughed again. "I'll tell them you complained. No peace in the hospital, I'm telling you."

The word "hospital" seemed to have broken the spell. Isaiah felt his smile slipping away along with Matthew's surfacing frown. His stomach squeezed nervously at the reminder of where they were and what they had done to him.

The stupid machine started beeping more horribly at once.

"How...how long?" Isaiah asked, his voice barely audible, the effort making him dizzy.

"The first surgery was 5 hours long. You were in post op with that open...ehh chest...and then they closed it up. Been a few hours since the anesthesia started wearing off. Your shadow man, you should have seen it. You didn't come to and it was already healing you."

Isaiah’s hand twitched, trying to reach the bandages. “Then… why…?” His voice was so faint it almost disappeared, the question trailing off as another wave of pain made him shudder.

"It was rather deep, so it didn't heal all the way. Your shadow seems exhausted after too."

Isaiah nodded weakly, his head feeling too heavy to hold up. The nausea was getting worse, the tightness in his chest unbearable.

Another wave of queasyness swelled inside him. Isaiah took a deeper breath through his mouth, but that pulled at the little capacity of air his lungs were currently able to hold. His chest was a minefield of little stabbings and sores, muscles pulling at places he never registered before.

He coughed and winced as that aggravated the incision site further.

"Zaya? What's wrong?"

He gave Matt a tight smile. "Ahh...everything hurts. Nothing new." The pained grimace replaced the feeble smile attempt and he couldn't suppress a quiet moan.

Matthew brushed the hair out of his face, making him look up. "Should I get the nurse? You are on a pretty crazy mix of painkillers and antibiotics right now."

"Could you find out-" it was difficult to talk through the pressure getting stronger in his chest, "when I can go home?"

Matthew shook his head in exasperation. "When we can take care of you without the fear of killing you on accident, what about then?"

Isaiah scrunched his eyes shut, fingers digging into the thin sheets. "I don't feel right..." he murmured, each word a struggle, his fingers curling up in a desperate attempt to stay grounded.

Matthew was on his feet in an instant, the chair scraping loudly against the floor. "Zaya? Hey, hey, hey, what's going on?"

A harsh gag came out instead of an answer. His whole body shuddered in response, the pain in his chest shooting up to his back and arms. He gagged again, his body convulsing as the nausea peaked. Barely managing to turn his head before the dry heaves overtook him, his entire chest screamed in agony with each spasm.

Matthew grabbed a basin and held it under his chin, eyebrows knitting together in one thick line in the center of his forehead. Isaiah focused on it while his throat bobbed against his will.

There was nothing to bring up but bile. Isaiah spit a small amount of it, stomach still twisting painfully. He was drowning, trapped in the sheets while the nausea rose to his chest and throat. Another cough and a string of spit. It felt painful against how rough his throat felt.

He couldn't help another moan, shutting his eyes against the nausea and the pain it triggered, his whole body shaking from extertion.

Matthew put the basin away, his fingers carding through Isaiah's hair. "Okay. You are okay. Deep breaths."

"Can't-can't really," Isaiah protested. "Still...so...nauseous..." he gasped between breaths, his voice hoarse and strained.

"Yeah, I think they mentioned the mix of the meds and the anesthesia combo could do that." Matthew fumbled with the call button. "It's alright. They will give you something for it. Just a sec, man, hang on."

Isaiah nodded, opening his hand. Matthew didn't wait long to take it, squeezing it with a lot less carefulness.

"Hey, Matt?" Isaiah said. Bone-deep tiredness joined the chorus of different pains, the nausea still thick at the back of his throat. But he had to ask, he had to make himself ask what he had been dreading since he woke up. "Where's Sel?"

[iboatedhere]

happy friday Rae! i'm a lil late so trying to think of one that might not have been used over and over all ready so

🎸 The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows - for wolfnichols plz

Also for @sol-arium126 :)

--

Josh is in the middle of his ten step skincare routine when Oliver presses his fingertips to the two inch scar just above Josh’s right hip. 

It’s not the first time he’s noticed, obviously, but it is the first time he’s been able to give it a good look without Josh’s lips on his neck or Josh’s hands on his own body to distract him. 

“When did you get your appendix out?” Oliver asks and Josh twists the cap back on his bottle of moisturizer. 

“When I was ten,” he says as he lifts his t-shirt to give Oliver a better look. “I started having pain on the way to my first little league game. My dad said it was nerves and I needed to suck it up. I collapsed at second base and woke up in the hospital.”

“That must have been terrifying,” Oliver murmurs as he traces the jagged edge of the scar and Josh shrugs.

“My mom was so mad at my dad…she let me stay up late and eat whatever I wanted for a week after I got home.”

“Silver lining,” Oliver says as he curls his hand over Josh’s hip and steps between him and the sink. 

“I still have two steps left,” Josh tells him and Oliver nods, understandingly, and tilts his head up for a kiss. 

–

After two tours in the Navy and more emergency surgeries than he can count—Josh confident that his fight or flight response is heavily attuned to fight. 

Don’t freeze up. Don’t panic. That kind of thing can get you, and everyone around you, killed. 

That’s why it’s such a surprise when he catches sight of the framed photograph on Wolf’s bookshelf and stops so suddenly the tea he’s carrying into the living room spills over the lip of the cup and onto his hand.

He swears and Wolf looks up from his book. 

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Josh answers, too quickly, remembering how he reacted when Dr. Nash found the photo of his father. “I spilled.”

Wolf narrows his eyes and Josh’s betray him as he looks back at the photo. Wolf follows his gaze and he heaves a sigh. 

“I thought I packed that away,” he mumbles as he grabs the photo and holds it out to Josh who exchanges the cup for the frame and sits down beside him. 

Josh doesn’t know what to focus on first—Wolf, with a toothy smile and cherubic cheeks, or Dr. Landon from forty years ago. 

“You’re adorable,” Josh says, knocking their shoulders together when Wolf huffs. “I’m serious. How old are you?”

“Six. We were on a field trip to the zoo. My father was supposed to chaperone but he…” Wolf trails off and Josh presses their shoulders together again. “It was the only time I remember my mother taking off from work.”

“You look like you’re having fun.”

Wolf smiles and slides his glasses off his face. “I didn’t have friends,” he explains, cold and clinical, “so my mother and I went off on our own.”

“That’s nice,” Josh says before he sets the photo down, not wanting to push. “How’s the tea?”

Wolf smiles again, softer now, and takes a sip. 

[ncfan-1]

Reading through The Acolyte: Wayseeker right now. I’m probably not going to make too many posts about this, at least not while I’m reading through (we’ll see about whether the book is something I’d want to talk about a lot after I’ve finished reading it), but there are two observations I want to make.

Under the cut, so anyone who doesn’t want to be spoiled can avoid spoilers:

And her [Indara’s] time before being a Jedi? She had been dropped at the Temple mere days after her birth, so there was no before the Order for her.

- Page 14

I remember seeing this in preview text we got a couple of months ago. My thoughts now remain as they were then: how? How was it that Indara wound up being handed over to the Jedi as a newborn? There’s no way I can think of that a newborn would be able to manipulate the Force in such a way as would get the attention of anyone, let alone the Jedi.

So there are implications to this, and some of them are potentially quite ugly.

This suggests that in either certain hospitals, certain planets, or potentially all throughout the Republic, people are screened for high Midichlorian counts at birth. Is this mandatory? Is it opt-in? Opt-out? Do they only do this with orphans or children surrendered to the custody of the state so as to relieve strain on the foster care system, or is it every child? And if a newborn presents with a high-enough Midichlorian count that it’s unlikely that they aren’t Force-sensitive, are the parents allowed to keep that baby without fuss if they want to, or are they “strongly encouraged” to hand their newborn child over to the Jedi?

I’ve long felt that even if surrendering children to the Jedi is something that is technically voluntary on the parts of those children’s families, in practice, it really isn’t. There seems to be a tremendous amount of societal pressure placed on those families to hand their children over, and if it is mandatory or “strongly encouraged,” a blood test for Midichlorian counts at birth would only reinforce that.

(P.S. My suspicion is that testing for Midichlorian counts at birth is reinforced primarily in the Core, where the lion’s share of the Republic’s wealth and resources is centered. Outside of the Core, not so much.)

When I [Vernestra] was promoted to master, I had some idea of the requirements of the rank, but I would be lying if I said that I was ready to step into the role with my whole heart. Teaching, I enjoyed. I’d even enjoyed instructing younglings, though they could be incredibly silly creatures. In addition, I’d had a number of Padawans over the years, each of them different and yet the same in their devotion to learning. And I’d enjoyed mentoring them, right up until my last Padawan, whom I’d failed in so many ways…

- Page 35

Okay, in context, her last Padawan has to be Qimir, right? But—timelines. I have questions.

Vernestra is mentioned as having been a Wayseeker for roughly a decade at the point that this novel is taking place, and this novel takes place before the survey team is sent to Brendok. I’m not sure how long exactly, not just yet—maybe the book will give some hint the further I get in—but it’s plainly at least several years before the survey mission. And so far, the text I’m reading indicates that whatever went down with Qimir was over and done with before Vernestra became a Wayseeker for her current stint.

The question of just how old Qimir is is one that has been open in the fandom for a while. I remember last summer a theory that his aging was arrested or at least drastically slowed as the result of Plagueis having used him as a lab rat for some sort of depraved Dark Side experiment. I liked that theory, because it would explain why Sol, who is apparently a close friend of Vernestra’s and who would presumably recognize her former apprentice even years after he “went missing” or “died” or whatever the story Vernestra gave the Jedi was, doesn’t recognize him—because this opens up the space for Qimir to have been before Sol’s time, for all of the business with Vernestra to have been over and done with before Sol was even brought into the fold as a child.

When this book was announced and we learned that Vernestra had spent some time as a Wayseeker, a lone operative out in the galaxy with very little oversight and effectively no direct supervision, it, depending on the timeline of her having been a Wayseeker, opened up another possibility. It seemed to me then that it was possible that Qimir had been her apprentice during the time she spent as a Wayseeker, that the reason none of the Jedi recognize him in spite of the fact that he appears to be no more than about five or six years older than Osha and Mae and it’s entirely possible that his failed Jedi apprenticeship overlapped with Osha’s is because he was never officially brought into the fold. Maybe he was a child Vernestra met while out and about in the far reaches of the galaxy, too old to become a Jedi officially but with such potential that Vernestra thought it would be too much of a waste not to train him.

But now, with this, I think the lab rat theory has legs again. Because this is suggestive that Qimir is a lot older than he looks.