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syrupfog · 2 months ago

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Zoro wakes up to the scratchy feeling of a note beneath his haramaki.

“Cook’s name is Sanji.

You fight every day. He hates you. He knows your favorite foods. You loved him.

Hanahaki got bad again. You took the pill.

No. of times this has happened: [a number of scribbles] 11”

The note looks like it’s been through the ringer, crumpled and bloodied. Zoro reads it, folds it up, and sticks it back in his haramaki. He assumes he’ll need it again.

The cook— Sanji— is hard to get along with. He yells at Zoro, fights with Zoro, complains about Zoro. He’s terrible.

Living alongside him is like breathing.

It feels so natural, slotting into place next to him. Zoro knows instantly why the disease keeps coming back. It’s hell.

Robin knows. Nami knows. Chopper doesn’t seem to, and if Usopp did then Sanji would. And Sanji doesn’t seem to know.

Thank god Sanji doesn’t seem to know.

It’s only a few weeks before Zoro’s coughing up petals again. Small and blue and fragile.

They’re on an island and it’s autumn and the town’s harvest festival is happening. There’s a cult or possibly just a really zealous group of farmers. Zoro doesn’t know; he got lost and ended up at an old woman’s cottage on the outskirts of town.

His theory circles back around to *cult* when he ends up prone on her floor after some apparently drugged mulled wine. She stands over him and rants about something or other— he doesn’t care what she has to say, he’s preoccupied with the way the drugs coursing through his system are making it hard to cough, and the flowers in his throat are sticking to his insides.

It’s gross. He doesn’t cough them up so much as pukes them out.

The old woman also thinks it’s gross. She kicks him, but she’s old. He doesn’t really feel it.

Anyway, it’s a whole thing. The problem is that the woman wants to drag him somewhere to be a sacrifice to the great pumpkin or something, but Zoro’s too heavy and she can’t move him. But when she opens the door to find a neighbour to help—

Sanji’s there.

(Or, as Zoro has taken to calling him recently, Curly).

(Nami told him after he started that he often ends up at that name).

Sanji lays on the simpering to the old woman for all of about two minutes, asking if she’s seen some lost moss and then going on about her hair care. But eventually he does notice Zoro there on the floor behind her.

Slipping around the woman, who seems to be somewhat at a loss, Sanji starts ranting to Zoro about how he shouldn’t drink so much if he’s going to puke it all up, and how he stinks now— and to be fair, Zoro’s shirt is covered in puke and wilted flower petals. But then Sanji starts pulling his shirt off of him while Zoro’s still struggling to get up, and as he does so, the note— The note slips out of his haramaki.

And Zoro can’t grab it.

(He still can’t REALLY move, although he suspects that puking the flower petals did get some of the poison out).

But he cant stop Sanji. His weak “fuck off, give that back” falls on deaf ears as Sanji unfolds it. Frowns at the state of it. Reads it.

Fuck.

Then, fast as anything, Sanji stands up and punts Zoro hard enough that he flies across the room, hitting the far wall and sliding down to the floor with a grown.

Awesome. Great. Good to know how Sanji feels.

He hears the click click of his dress shoes as Sanji hurries out. And then he’s alone with the old lady, who seems truly at a loss for what to do, but that’s okay. Zoro’s too busy coughing up whole branches to notice.

Zoro is retrieved by Robin and Usopp not too long after that. By the time they’re back at the ship he’s regained a fair amount of his mobility. Whatever was going on in town, Luffy took care of it. Or Usopp did, depending on who Zoro asked.

It doesn’t matter.

Zoro coughs up petals and licks his wounds and starts searching for those pills. And probably it’s too early this time, but he just—

He wants to forget this.

He can’t find the pills, though, and he remembers too late that Sanji kept the note. He needs that.

But he’s a coward. He waits until everyone should be asleep before sneaking into the galley to see if he can find the note in the trash or something.

He miscalculates, though, and runs straight into Sanji, smoking in the dark.

“Eleven times?” Sanji asks him, staring resolutely at the wall next to Zoro.

“Apparently,” says Zoro.

Sanji laughs. Humourlessly. “Can’t wait to make it a twelfth, can you?”

“Listen,”growls Zoro. “It’s not my fault you read the fucking note. Just pretend you never found it.”

Sanji grits his teeth around his cigarette. “Is it that fucking horrible?” He asks. “The idea of having feelings for me is so fucking repulsive you’d rather rip me out of your life entirely?”

Zoro goes to say something, but there are petals squirming their way up his throat.

He coughs, hacks, spits them into his palm. Delicate blue petals splattered with blood. “You asshole,” he says, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “What, would you prefer I wallow in rejection and suffocate on a fucking plant? I don’t plan on dying here.”

Sanji goes still and quiet.

“You hid the pills, right?” Zoro continues. “Give them back. I’m done here.”

“No,” says Sanji. Quietly. “I— Moss, you can’t believe that.”

“Who else would it have been?”

“No, I mean— yeah okay, I threw your pills overboard. But that’s not—“ He swallows. “Zoro. You can’t possibly think I would reject you..?”

Zoro scrunches up his face in confusion. “Uh, yeah,” he says. “You flirted with that old woman who drugged me. You’ll flirt with our literal enemy before even looking at me.” He blinks. “And then you threw me into a wall!”

“I was caught off guard!” Sanji shrieks, jumping up. “Anyone would have done that after reading that note!”

“THAT’S AN INSANE THING TO THINK!”

“WELL MAYBE I’M A LITTLE INSANE RIGHT NOW.“

They’re suddenly at each others’ throats. Zoro grabs Sanji’s collar as Sanji grips his shoulders. He’s grimacing, face inches from Zoro’s, cigarette smashed on the floor.

“You don’t get to DECIDE WHAT I THINK and then HURT YOURSELF OVER AND OVER AGAIN,” Sanji yells.

“I’m FINE, COOK,” Zoro yells back. “I was HANDLING IT.”

And then Sanji smashes their faces together.

It’s a terrible kiss. Someone’s nose is bleeding and Zoro thinks it’s his. He thinks Sanji’s broken it.

Pulling back, Sanji says, “You didn’t have to handle it.” He pushes his forehead against Zoro’s. “That’s the fucking problem.”

Zoro purses his lips because his eyes are damp. “Shut up,” he says. “How was I supposed to know?”

Sanji’s hands are still on his collar and he pulls Zoro impossibly closer. “Just. Don’t forget me again.”

Zoro closes his eyes. “Fine,” he says. “Eleven was enough.”

#zosan #my writing #sorry i know i put this in at least some format on here already #but i wanted to put it all together #and under my tag #so IF YOUVE SEEN IT BEFORE MY BAD

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melkyt · 1 year ago

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Modern BG3 Idea

Astarion: Lawyer Intern in a super prestigious law firm, functions on coffee and spite. He has never known sleep and doubts he will ever. Because of this, when research for a big case is thrown his way, he doubles down, gets even more exhausted, and messes up.

Gale: Self-proclaimed scholar that "dropped out" aka kicked out of a quite prestigious college just before completing his degree after a bad time with a Proffesor who was his mentor since he was a kid. Now he is not sure what to do, is depressed and scrambling to get his life together.

Wyll: He is part of a corps that travels the world and helps people anywhere they can. His father wanted him to join the military, and Wyll was well on his way but got involved with some unsavory people and landed in legal trouble. His volunteer work, while something he would anyway, is also the price he pays for a certain youthful indiscretion

Mizora: a lawyer working for Zariel, who runs at least half the city. With high ambitions, she is always looking for a way to get an edge in any way possible as long as it is within the law. Though sometimes the law can be changed in her favor, and she makes full use of it. Always sends Wyll obscure asks and sends him on errands to strengthen her position.

Raphael: the rich kid who does not get along with his family but uses the wealth and pleasure such connections provide to the fullest. He is disatisfied that his father is content to sit back and not get involved in controlling the city. Mephisto is the oldest and most influential party in the city with a net of information brokers that he does nothing with as far as Raphael can see. So Raph breaks away to start his own dealings in the business of information and is quite successful but is still insecure that his success is only because of his father.

Karlach: is an orphan who grew up in the lower city. She got involved with one of the three criminal organizations in the area as that's just what one did. She got close to the leader of one of them until he double crossed her and dumped a lot of his debt onto her. Debt that she is still paying off by playing mercenary and killer to Zariel. It's been a decade, and she is almost out. at least she hopes so.

Halsin runs a clinic in the lower city where he takes in any and all orphans, homeless and people just down on their luck and gives them odd jobs. His place is considered a neutral ground in the chaos of those streets. This started when he saw someone very important to him die, and there was nothing he could do then. So he promised never to let anything like that happen again. It is wildly known that if you need help, Halsin will help regardless of who or what you are within the intricate power struggles of the city. Though the man does have his limits, and nobody is looking forward to finding them. He discovers a plot that would directly affect the sabctuary he has built and take it on himself to discover what's happening.

Kagha takes over. She is an ambitious woman but with not as much vision for good as Halsin. She has for a long time wanted to make the clinic more official and within the lines of the law but that means anybody who is not 100% legal due to being a refugee or any other reason, will have to leave and many of them will die because of her actions.

Zevlor is a veteran who volunteers around the city. He was once part of the same corp as Wyll under Zariel but saw how corrupt it could get and broke away, which destroyed his life. Anyone spurned by Zariel will not have much of a life and be forced on the streets. He regrets that some of his team followed him in the choice. They are hiding out in the city, hoping to bring down Zariel, and all of them can't legally be in the country as they joined from all different places.

Shadowheart just finished studying to be a doctor to set up an operation within the biggest hospital in the city by order of her cult leader. This cult is small in the city but wants to expand, so they have been working on putting their members in positions of power. She has a mission and will let nothing stop her, and her actions while not getting her caught are on someone's radar. Not to mention now that she is in the outside world experiencing how everyone else lives, she is starting to get some doubts.

Lae'zel - She is a soldier who came to the city from the same place as Shadowheart. Her organization fights to prevent cults from starting up and succeeding. This is painted as a noble pursuit. Yet the reason is that their leader wants to wipe out any and all competition. Lae'zel believes in her cause and seeks to root out the conspiracy. So she gets a job as a security guard in the hospital where Shadowheart is working.

Now to the criminal element 😎

Gortash: Weapons dealer for every organization in the city. His public company has defense contracts and a myriad of production dealings that focus on innovation and war. On the other side he provides arms and men for the other two factions.

Orin has only recently taken over as leader of a vast network of assassins and killers for hire after the very unfortunate murder of her sibling. Everyone knows she killed them as she is quite proud of the kill. Under her leadership, the organization is slowly collapsing, and she is scrambling to keep it together before someone turns on her in the same way that she did on the previous lead. Her father, who had supported the organization, turns away as soon as things start collapsing, as he has no interest in failure.

Ketheric is old money that secrety ran the city, was raising his daughter to take over as he tired but she had run away after cracking from the pressure. News eventually reached him that she had died. So he gave up for the most part in everything. This opened the way for Orin and Gortash to rise up and fill the gaps. Before Orin's sibling died, they were angling to take over as Ketheric's successor and were very close. Gortash tried to pick the pieces, but Ketheric hates the young man and does not see him as someone who can lead. Tensions are getting high between the three factions.

---

That is the scene for this AU.

Now Astarion as the linchpin to get this whole thing started. The case he fumbles with due to exhaustion is something Raphael's father had set in motion decades ago under the noses of everyone. He was biding his time while everyone fought within the city to use his net to take over. That seemingly falls through and leaves a vaccum in the powerstruggle over the city. This empty space can be filled and give the winning faction power enough to control everything.

Astarion runs away as the information he holds is valuable enough to kill and while he took alot of abuse from the higher ups, he would rather not die. He has nowhere to go but decides the lower city is the easiest place to dissapear so he comes to Halsin's clinic.

Now say the Durge survived the murder attempt by Orin thnks to Halsin and is an amnesiac doing odd jobs around the area. Living their best relaxed life away from the drama of their old life.

They are cleaning up at night in the clinic and Astarion runs into the room in a panic. Assassins/Hunters after him. He is out of breath, clutching the information from the case to his chest.

The Durge acts on instinct, not to protect but to kill. At the end they are standing in the middle of the clinic covered in blood and terrified of the memories that suddenly break through the blood fog.

Astarion just a tad terrified of them but also grateful he found a place to rest for the time being.

The Durge cleans everything up on autopilot, and then they talk. So starts their journey navigating all the factions in the city while trying not to die xd.

(I may write this as my next fic, hehe)

#baldurs gate 3 #bg3 au #astarion #astarion/durge #gale #wyll ravengard #shadowheart #karlach #halsin bg3 #lae'zel #mizora bg3 #raphael bg3 #bg3 zevlor

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missbuckyhellfire · 1 month ago

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This Will Be My Year: Eddie Munson

Part Six: Tutoring Mr.Munson

Warnings: Some Language, Jason Carver, Flirting, No Smut or NSFW content.

PREVIOUS PART

Even though it was an awkward encounter a few weeks ago, Audra still hung out with Hellfire. She had shrugged off the encounter with a drunk Eddie Munson as it was probably for the best that she didn’t start anything. She did not want to go down that path anytime soon, but she did not mind the flirting.

Audra had her hair in a messy bun as she looked out of the window of her English class as it began to rain. Her teacher, Mr. Hauser had been handing out the papers from their last assignment and Eddie was sitting next to her. His feet were up on the desk and his arms behind his back.

“Think you should have known better Munson, this is your third repeat of 12th grade English” Mr. Hauser had mumbled under his breath passing the “F” graded paper to Eddie. There was only a soft chuckle under his breath.

“Thought third times a charm teacher”

“Yea, but you need to put effort into your work! Miss. Wheeler here was a top graded student for this assignment. Maybe talk to her and see if you can get help.” Mr. Hauser had snapped his fingers to the jock “You too Carver, that C will only be passed once before your kicked off the team.”

Audra did not need to turn around to feel the tension between Eddie and Jason. She knew that she was going to be flooded by her Dungeon Master and local fuck boy for tutoring, something she is not looking forward to. Her shoulder was tapped by Mr.Hauser who gave her the paper, and flashed her a smile.

“Have fun tutoring, I am aware that this won’t be a life or death situation, but I give extra credit to those who tutor” He turned and pointed his finger at Eddie “I mean it, another F and you will definitely fail my class.”

Eddie had rolled his eyes but took his words seriously. He did not want to be here for life, but he also did not want Carver near her again. He smiled at Audra when she made eye contact with him. He did remember what happened, he was confused but it did feel right with her. But he understood why she backed off as her cousin and friend were in the car.

Jason on the other hand had thought this was an opportunity to talk to Audra again.

***********************************************************************

After class, Audra grabbed her books from her desk and they were immediately met with larger wider hands.

“Hey let me help you with those.” Jason said, taking the books from her before she could respond.

Eddie had scrunched his nose at Jason. He was not stupid and he is not going to have it. He stood up quickly and glared at him.

“Sorry, didn’t know you were getting help with your books Audra.” Jason mumbled as he flashed a smile at Audra. “Let me walk you over to lunch, I wanted to talk to you about something.”

“Talk or fuck her?” Eddie had blurted out which had gotten the attention of the rest of the students, including Mr.Hauser who kept his eyes on the three students.

“I won’t do such a thing, Audra is a top student, I was only going to ask for tutoring to boost my grades and she is really smart.” Jason eased the conversation and the teacher and students had looked away. “Plus rather pretty.” He tried to reach for her but she took a step back.

“Look I don’t help or fuck boys like you.” Audra abruptly said. “I seen people like you before at my old school, took my last love from me too. So no, unless if my friends were wrong about you. Prove them wrong.”

“I only been with a few girls that’s all…” Jason began. “But your different.”

‘That’s what my last love told me.” Audra stated. She wanted her books back and just leave this tense situation.

“You heard Audra, give her the books back”

“Why freak? You going to sacrifice me in your cult or sell me a bad batch of drugs?” Jason snarled. He was going to say something else before Mr. Hauser had cleared his throat behind him.

“Give Audra her books back Jason” Mr.Hauser stated. “ Thought better of you Carver.”

The teacher watched as Jason Carver had given the books back to Audra, who then had them taken away from her by Eddie. Jason scoffed at Eddie before he turned around and walked away. Mr. Hauser then followed suit.

Jason is just going to have to try again without Eddie around. Maybe ask her out to the upcoming Halloween dance.

Now it was just Eddie and Audra alone in the classroom. They awkwardly looked at each other and smiled softly. Eddie nervously scratched the back of his head.

“So uh, I am needing some help, can you help me?”

“You, who has been calling me a nerd and a goodie two shoes want help from me?” Audra had batted her eyes.

“Yes, I don’t want to be here for any longer than I have to.”Eddie sighed.

“I guess I could take a little bit of time out of my day to help a dungeon master in need” Audra chuckles as she nudges Eddie. Oh, she was going to have a challenge and fun time tutoring Eddie Munson in English.

“Great, I guess we could hang out at my place after school I guess?”Eddie shrugged trying to not make a big deal out of what was going to happen. He was going to try to at least make it a bit smoother than it was last time. He was going to try to not get wasted in front of her again.

“Guess it is a date” Audra shrugged. It was a figure of speech, but Eddie had glanced at Jason who was at the door way and slightly turned his head to overhear. Eddie was hoping this was going to end Jason’s conquest. A small smirk formed at the corners of Eddie’s lips in response.

************************************************************************

After class, Audra waited by Eddie’s van with her books in hand. She was a bit nervous tutoring Eddie as she had only tutored younger students and a few her age. But older students than herself kind of intimidated her. She did get a bit sweaty as she waited for him but she cooled down when she had met eyes with Eddie.

He had his hands full of books both educational and DnD lore. A few papers of notes were lost from the gust of wind from the weather and his eagerness to prevent her from waiting much longer than she already had.

He also was thinking about what the group said earlier at lunch when he slipped that he was going to get tutored by Audra, a goodie two shoes who a lot of intelligence and could be doing something better.

“You can’t be serious about that! You can’t be getting tutoring from her! What about Dustin and I!?” Mike had insisted. “We need her too for help!”

“Well your going to have to study harder” Eddie had shrugged. “She said that she will help me and I am sure that she will have time for you too”.

“Time!? You need a lot of help!” Mike muttered.

“That’s why I need your cousin to help me get rid of this concern!”Eddie snapped back.

“Whatever, I just don’t want to see any hickeys on her neck afterwords” Mike shrugged as the rest of the group laughed at Eddie’s cheeks turning a light shade of red.

“Yea, don’t fuck her, don’t want things to get messy here” Gareth added as he shook his head. “Remember your crush on Chrissy? You don’t want that again do you?”

Eddie does not. But he has a feeling that Audra is going to stick around and the almost kiss last month was a lot for him. He felt something with her, he didn’t know what it was, but he felt something.

The dungeon master had gotten out of it when he had realised the girl heading infront of him. She had herself covered up with a red plaid top that hid her frame but it was warm enough for her.

“Hey,” Audra mumbled as soon as she guessed he was close enough to hear her. He glanced up and flashed her a wide grin.

“Hey gonna grab a pizza for us before we head back, Wayne won’t be home tonight till late so figured we should grab something” He blandly said as he grabbed her books at put them at the back of his van.

“Sounds good Eds,” She hopped into the van looking down at her feet thinking about what Robin and Nancy said to her earlier in Art class.

“You know people are going to talk now, especially with you talking back to Carver.” Nancy said as she stroked a splash of blue onto her painting.

“Let them talk, not like anyone is going to care, everyone knows he’s a fuck boy” Audra shrugs as she adds from purple to her own painting of the evening sky.

“We know, but just saying your going to be in trouble with the football players if you keep this up. Plus tutoring Eddie? You are asking for trouble.”

“I don’t help people who are fuck boys” Audra repeats herself.

“I know that you wont but it is important to make sure that you know what your getting yourself into” Robin added.

NEXT PART

#eddie munson #eddie munson fanfic #stranger things costumes #eddie munson smut #eddie munson imagine #eddie munson x reader #stranger things fanfiction

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masterqwertster · 6 months ago

Note

For the hurt/Comfort class list, how about rouge scout with Ashton and Chetney?

Subclass Hurt/Comfort Prompt Rogue Scout: Going on a rescue mission and seeing something they’d really rather not have seen. I'm skipping out on the "rescue mission" part of the prompt, mostly because the interesting "rather not have seen" thing that hit me didn't really play nice with that bit. Should still be very fun though.

"You sure about this?" Chetney asks from where he's crouched amongst the rubble, looking back at Ashton. "It might not be what you're looking for."

A sigh. "I'm not looking for a specific answer, old man. I just– I wanna know if they meant to do this and botched the landing, or if it was a fucking accident that was 'fated' to happen. There's no right fucking answer, just what actually happened."

Chetney nods, accepting their answer.

"Alright then. Time for some Pock O'Pea magic!" he declares, rubbing his hands together before slapping them down on the ground of the long abandoned Hishari ritual site.

Magic rushes through Chetney's cursed (by wolf and by Bane) blood, resonating with the stone beneath his hands and the tragedy they bore witness to.

There's just the feelings of pain, fear, and disappointment.

"Shit. Sorry, I'm not getting much out of it," Chetney says, shaking his hands out as he stands back up. "Just impressions of pain and fear and shit."

"Fuck!" Ashton hisses, kicking a rock and wandering away to further curse their luck out and kick more rocks.

Chetney feels a little bad about failing to get anything that Ashton didn't already know out of it. Kid knew shit went bad, so the emotional impressions aren't any help. And fuck if they don't deserve some answers that aren't tilted through the lens of someone who helped set this shit up. It's why they haven't gone back to Evontra'vir, or sought out other survivors of Hishari. (Well, they're also avoiding other survivors at the moment since Ashton doesn't want them to potentially try to revive the fucking cult around him. Which apparently the one he had met during Bells Hells' involuntary solstice separation seemed ready to do even without knowing a titan shard was sitting in front of her)

"What if I gave you a little Guidance and you tried a different spot? Do you think you could maybe get something then?" Fearne softly asks, doe eyes flickering between Ashton's tense form and Chetney's relaxed one beside her.

"Dunno. Worth a try though, I guess," Chetney quietly answers with a sniff.

"Hey, rock for brains! Think you can pick out where you were standing for this shit? Might be worth trying to take a read there," Chetney shouts at Ashton's slightly distant form.

The glare he gets is grumpy and insulted, of course. But there's also a faint flicker of hope in those gemstone eyes too as they motion Chetney and Fearne over.

It takes them a little while and some wandering before Ashton hesitantly decides they've found the right spot.

"A kiss for luck?" Chetney asks, batting his eyes and looking to Fearne for that Guidance she'd suggested. And gets surprised when a kiss lands on each cheek at the same time.

Chet's not gonna lie, it's pretty hot.

"Didn't think you were interested, Ashton," Chetney preens. What? The barbarian is hot and Chetney's not dead (yet).

"You're trying this because of me, so since you wanted a kiss, figured I might as well pay up," Ashton answers with a shrug, neither confirming nor denying their actual stance.

Chetney huffs, slaps his hands to his kissed cheeks, rubs them together to get the juices going, and then presses them to the ground, magic thrumming through his veins once more.

And fuck does it work.

His vision washes red, and when it clears, there's people dressed, and getting dressed, in ceremonial garb and leathers rushing about, a frantic excitement to them. A glowing gateway sparking in the center of all the activity as what he can only guess are ritual materials are spread out around it, symbols and sigils being marked upon the ground. Like they hadn't planned for the moment to be now, but had some wherewithal to be ready to begin anyways.

And Chetney catches a glimpse of the only child among the preparations, held close to a woman's side. Ashton. With soft, tan skin and dark, actual hair.

"It begins."

And there is a crystal that Chetney knows must be the Shard of Ka'Mort that now rests within Ashton, held in an elven man's trembling hands, his bones audibly cracking in Chetney's wolfen ears from the force it exerts. He walks it towards the gateway as chanting around them crescendos–

The elven man flies through the air, limbs fluttering like cloth as every bone within him seems to be shattered. The Shard rests upon the ground. Earth that heaves and quakes under the touch of primordial power. The child (Ashton) rushes forward, having slipped free of the woman's restraining hold. They try to pick up the crystal, maybe to attempt continuing the ritual, maybe to bring it to what Chetney knows is the corpse of Hishari's leader (Ashton's father).

But the Shard crumples inwards, shattering. And Ashton screams.

The earth roars, jagged rocks breaching the ground in rugged spikes. Shudders and shakes as cracks and chasms spider out from where the child version of Ashton has hit their knees, still crying out.

Some of the gathered Hishari rush towards Ashton, only to lose their footing to the quaking, splitting earth, crushed by the grinding stones. Others make it closer to Ashton, only to be flung back by the sheer magical force pulsing out from him, their bodies bonelessly flying through the air along with shattered rocks.

And Chetney watches as the woman that held Ashton close pushes forward. How their tear stained face turns to her pleading for comfort, child to mother (Ashton had mentioned before that she was here this day). And he sees sorrow and determination in her eyes as she gathers magic in her hands, incantation spilling from her lips. They vanish, leaving aftershocks to rock the region and claim more lives.

Chetney gasps as he comes out of the vision.

That– Fuck. It's– Fuck.

He can tell Ashton that Hishari hadn't meant to make him titan-blooded. That's easy. It's half expected. They either meant to make Ashton that way or they didn't, you know?

But the destruction that happened. How it happened. Chetney's not sure how well they'll handle that. Fuck. He kind of wishes he didn't know about that. Ashton was just a kid. They didn't ask for it. Probably didn't even know what was really happening, much less have any ability to control it. That unfortunately didn't change that a lot of people had died that day and Ashton could, kinda sorta, if you were a little too literal, be blamed for those deaths.

And knowing Ashton, they would blame themself. Because they were trying to be all responsible and shit about how their own actions dug their hole. But again, this really wasn't something that should be pinned on Ashton, so it would probably be easier to just... not tell them.

"Well?" Ashton demands, just a little unsure note to his voice.

"They didn't mean to make you," Chetney reports with a shrug. "And a lot people died in that mess."

"Could you tell what they were actually trying to do?"

"Not really. They seemed to be scrambling just to get setup, so it's not like I got to see an opening speech or anything. Just a guy holding what I'm pretty sure was the Shard walking toward a portal or some shit before everything went to shit."

Ashton nods, not pressing for any more than that. Though Chetney can see the glint in Fearne's eye that says his decision to omit some details has been clocked.

But that's fine. Chetney can trust her to help him bring this to Ashton in the right way, if at all.

Did some rolls for this. Set a DC10 for a vision, DC 15 to get some for more. Chet's first attempt at Grim Psychometry was a 6+3 (the other d20 was a Nat 1 😥), so fail on both counts. Second roll was a Nat 20(+1+3), so lots of speculation on my end for what happened with the ritual. So. Ep34 there was a description of a glowing gateway and that everyone was basically scrambling to get the show on the road. I'm presuming Hishari was waiting for this portal to happen to get on with their ritual, but didn't know exactly when it would appear. Otherwise, why the rush? Why weren't they doing it nice and steady? Next, according to Evontra'vir, Efterin didn't know he was meant to make Ashton titan-blooded, and honestly it sounded like Efterin tried to be the Heir of Ka'Mort himself. So whatever the Hishari needed that portal for as part of their ritual, Efterin was doing it. Until he wasn't. Ashton had to get from the sidelines to somewhere in there somehow. And then somebody or something had to teleport Ashton out of Hishari and to the Hellcatch Valley. It probably wasn't Ashton, since he didn't have any space skills yet and isn't really a titan thing. So I made it his mom. Either her body is buried in/by the sands and stone of the Hellcatch, or she managed to drop Ashton where no one else was in the splash zone while getting out herself and never got back to him. Not really sure which way to swing. Ashton doesn't remember because ~trauma~

#MQ&A #MQfic #subclass hurt/comfort prompt #ashton greymoore #chetney pock o'pea #fearne calloway

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thirsty4villains · 1 year ago

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Bound | A Loki x Reader Fanfic - Chapter 22

Rating: E

Warnings: Smut, human sacrifice, mentions of torture, blood and injury, violence, angst

Tags: slow burn, romance, smut, fix-it, canon divergence of Avengers Infinity War/Endgame, AU, humor, limited use of Y/N, action, sharing a bed

Read on AO3 | Wattpad | Previous chapters on Tumblr | Patreon

Summary:

A year has passed since the Snap. As you look to find a fresh start in life, you end up in the wrong place at the wrong time. A small cult dedicated to the newly revitalized Norse religion chooses you as a sacrifice with the belief that this will give Thor and the other gods the strength to undo what Thanos has done. What you don’t know is that human sacrifices come with a powerful magic — those who are sacrificed become linked with the god they have been given to.

It’s been a millennia since a human was sacrificed to one of the gods. You’ve been bound to Loki.

CHAPTER 22

The following week Agents Hill and Coulson stood by their word and came by your apartment to take the actual statements on Thanos. Loki stayed in line… for the most part. You had to remind him to be good on multiple occasions. After two hours of question after question, the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents took their leave, promising that was the end of it unless more questions came up later. They also reminded the two of you that you were being closely monitored.

You definitely wouldn’t, that was for certain. And as you said, Loki was a changed man. He was adapting to life on Earth. It wasn’t easy but he was willing and that was what mattered most. And with the learning curve came some bumps.

One day the both of you were in line for food at a busy restaurant and a man blatantly cut the line, scissoring his way in front of you. He was about forty years old and had a rather punchable face. He looked around briefly to see if anyone noticed. When no one said anything, he looked down at his phone. But you and Loki saw, given that he cut right in front of you.

“Excuse me,” Loki said to the man. “Excuse me, sir.”

The man looked up after the second time. “Yeah?”

“I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I will help enlighten you. There is a line here, and you’ve cut us and about twenty other people.”

“No, I didn’t. I’ve been here the whole time.”

“Oh, not just a cheat but a liar too. I saw you do it.” Loki crossed his arms, looking down at the man.

“Look, buddy, I don’t know what your problem is. I’ve been here the whole time, I just went to the bathroom and came back in line. This is my family.” He gestured to the people beside him, who gave no look of recognition. A teenage boy shook his head at Loki.

“They clearly have no idea who you are. Get out of line or I will assist you.”

“Assist me?” the man asked, raising his voice.

“Loki, go tell a manager or something and they can kick him to the back,” you said.

“A manager won’t teach this liar some manners,” he replied, teeth gritted.

“I’ll teach you to mind your business, asshole,” the cutter replied.

He rolled up his sleeves. Loki just watched and allowed the man to take a swing at him. He punched the god in the stomach decently hard, but Loki stood there as if nothing happened.

“What the..?” the man said.

“Was that supposed to hurt? That was a bit ticklish, if anything.”

Then Loki grabbed the man by his shirt collar and lifted him off the ground. He shrieked, kicking his legs. The chatter in the restaurant picked up and some of the people in line witnessing began to cheer.

“Put me down!”

“Loki, come on!” you shouted.

You casted a spell and the man’s feet were back on the ground. He gasped and coughed a few times, pulling his shirt collar.

“Fine,” Loki conceded, his fists knuckled white.

He exited the line and came back with a manager.

“You, back of the line,” the manager said. She was a woman with blond hair pulled back into a bun.

“He tried to kill me!” the man sputtered.

“You punched me in the stomach,” Loki said calmly.

The family the man claimed to be a part of backed Loki up, telling the manager that they saw everything. The woman pointed to the back of the line, threatening to call security if he didn’t move.

“Screw all you people,” the line cutter shouted. He walked to the exit and slammed the door behind him. A few people clapped, jeering at him on his way out.

“You did good,” you said to Loki after the chatter settled down.

“Back on Asgard a person like that has every right to be punished by receiving a swift kick to their rear,” Loki replied. “But thank you.”

“That guy was a major dick and he deserved it, but remember we’re being watched, and I don’t think an agency like S.H.I.E.L.D. is bluffing. I don’t want anything to get ruined for you.”

“Yes, you’re right.”

—------------------------------

They came over twice a month, sometimes both and other times one or the other. Each time the agents had more questions. Some pertained to the Infinity War, others about your relationship to Loki, some about Loki’s behavior. They never said Loki had been placed on parole but it sure felt like it. But there was no other choice, it’s not like the two of you could fuck off to Asgard or Vanaheim or some other realm. Not even another country protected from S.H.I.E.L.D. So Loki would be on his best behavior and show them he wasn’t the man who tried to subjugate Earth.

And he wasn’t that man. For such a long time you worried that your feelings for Loki were false, emboldened by the bond. Almost nearly from the beginning you felt attraction to him, and it grew. It grew so fast that it felt like a freight train hit you. Some days you didn’t know what to do, when you’d see him, those feelings came back and you wanted to hit the god of mischief or hide. You refused yourself from getting close to him because what if it was another one of his lies, what if his bond was lying to him? But now it’s gone and you can carry on with life. You know now that every second the bond pulled you to him that, yes, it was lust spurred by magic, but they were mixed with your true feelings, too. It was an enormous weight from your chest and off your shoulders not having to doubt yourself any longer. You loved him with every ounce of your being, and he you. The S.H.I.E.L.D. agents were but an obstacle that the two of you could deal with.

Thor visited when he could, sometimes Valkyrie tagging along when she got bored. Loki and Valkyrie didn’t exactly get along, they had more of an antagonistic brother-sister relationship, but you acquainted her enough that you would consider her a friend.

Usually when Thor came it would be for lunch or a brief date. It was really nice getting to know Loki’s brother. Of course you knew him from when he saved the world a few times, but knowing him on a personal level was entirely different. He was very sweet and considerate, often when he visited he’d bring gifts for you. You wondered if he was always like this or if it was a way of thanking you for being Loki’s companion. He let you know many times how grateful he was that you were in Loki’s life.

One day, however, Thor came to visit, and it wasn’t on normal terms. With him was Clint Barton, Sam Wilson, Bruce Banner, and agents Hill and Coulson.

Loki’s demeanor changed instantly. His shoulders tensed and eyes narrowed. You patted his arm and greeted everyone at the door. Most everyone said hello back, save for Clint and Sam who were busy glaring daggers back at the god of mischief.

“To what do we owe the pleasure?” Loki said, his question dripping with sarcasm.

“Loki, please,” Thor said. “This is good news we are here for!”

“Good news, as you deliver it with some of the most powerful people on the planet behind you?” he retorted.

Thor’s grin disappeared. “Brother…”

Bruce spoke up. “It is good news, Loki. If you’re willing to hear us out.”

Loki looked to you. You nodded gently.

“Fine then,” Loki said, stepping aside and gesturing inside your apartment. “Come in.”

The heroes and S.H.I.E.L.D. agents filed in. Bruce had to squeeze through the door and duck while walking so as to not bump his head on the ceiling. You led everyone to the living room where everyone took a seat, save for Coulson and Maria Hill, who stood in the threshold.

“The reason we’re here today,” Clint said once everyone became settled. “...is because there’s an opportunity for you, Loki.”

Both you and Loki quirked your eyebrows, but said nothing. Clint nodded to Sam.

“S.H.I.E.L.D. and we have decided to extend an offer to you to join the Avengers.”

Loki’s cackle pierced the room. His pearly white teeth flashed as a rupture of laughs washed over him. Sam and Clint’s expressions soured, as did the faces of everyone else.

Thor laughed nervously. He clapped a hand heavily on Bruce’s shoulder.

“Ow!” said the scientist.

“I’m sure Loki is just jesting, isn’t he?” Thor turned his head to his brother. Through gritted teeth he asked. “Isn’t he?”

Loki winded down and his eyes widened. “Oh, you’re serious?”

“I told you guys this was a waste of time,” Clint said, sinking into the couch.

“This is great news,” you said as you got over the shock. “I’m just… a little confused. I didn’t think in a million years you would offer something like this to Loki.”

“Believe me, neither did we,” Hill said from the back.

“Well, I shall be declining,” Loki said. “Now if you will all vacate my home.”

“Come on, Loki,” you whispered. “Hear them out.”

He stared at you, then sighed.

“Was there more to this… opportunity?”

“Let me lay it all out for you,” Coulson said.

He moved from the entrance of the living room to the other side of the coffee table, pulling up a chair to be eye level with the god of mischief.

“You have two options here, Loki. Join the Avengers and help save the world when it needs heroes, or decline and be put to trial for the hundreds of crimes you committed against humanity.”

“And with the Avengers, I’ll not be surveilled any longer?” Loki asked, sitting back. His arms crossed and he pursed his lips. “I highly doubt that.”

“Yes, you’ll still be kept under surveillance. However, with the Avengers keeping an eye on you, if they continually make good reports on you, we’ll loosen the leash. We will also count you helping the world as time served, and if you remain good, you will not be put to trial.”

Loki’s lips pursed even further out. The contempt was palpable. “Sounds fun.”

Coulson leaned forward, his hands clasped together. “Listen here, smartass. You tried to take over our planet, just because you saved it doesn’t cancel out the crimes – the war crimes – you committed over a decade ago. Hundreds of people died, do you understand me? You’ve had it incredibly easy and we can’t have you wandering around doing whatever the hell you want, the only reason you’ve been allowed such a privilege is because your brother lives here on Earth and he’s been advocating for you.”

“Is this true?” Loki turned his head to the god of thunder.

Thor grew sheepish. “Yes, brother. You did a great thing to stop Thanos, but you also did a terrible act to Midgard. They wanted to throw you in a cell and let you rot there. I almost had to beg them not to and to give you a chance to see how much you really have grown.”

Loki’s demeanor loosened a bit. His lips unpursed and his eyebrows turned upward. The god cleared his throat. “I was… completely unaware.”

“What? Did you think we’d just let you live here?” Sam asked.

“I suppose I just didn’t think about it. A lot has happened these years. I have endured much strife and trials never before presented to me. The present is the first time I’ve been allowed… peace.”

Clint, agent Coulson, and Bruce nodded their heads.

“So, I have no other choice then,” the god said.

“You have a choice,” Coulson replied. “But I can tell you right now that if you are put to a trial, all eight billion of Earth’s inhabitants have a reason to hate you, and no jury would be free of bias against you. You would be found guilty, there is no doubt about that.”

“You’ve put me in a cell once. What makes you so sure I wouldn’t escape again?”

Bruce put his face in his hands and let out a light groan. Sam and Clint’s eyebrows drew together.

“Loki…” you and Thor whined.

“That a threat?” Hill said from the back.

“A jest. You Midgardians are so uptight.”

The tension in the room didn’t dissipate much. Coulson was adding some kind of note to his phone.

“It is settled then,” Loki broke the silence. “I shall become…” he grimaced as he said: “an Avenger.”

Thor rose from his seat violently. “HUZZAH!”

He yanked Loki to his feet and drew him in for his signature bear hug. Loki let out not the most dignified of yells.

“Thor, please, this is hardly something to celebrate,” Loki choked out. “Put me down.”

The others rose from their seats. “I’ll need that in writing,” Coulson said. “Then, we’ll give you a week to pack your things up and you’ll be moved to the new Avengers compound.”

Loki snapped his head. “A week?”

“And what about me?” you asked.

Coulson smiled. “We weren’t quite sure what to do about you. Loki taught you how to use magic, but you have no negative record of any kind. You have the potential to be dangerous but there’s nothing we can do, and frankly, I don’t think there is anything to do. You seem like a decent person to me. If you want to move in with Loki, you can, but your life will change drastically. You’ll have to sign about thirty NDAs, most of which are punishable by revocation of rights, imprisonment, or even death if broken.”

Sam and Clint left your home first, muttering amongst themselves on their way out. You and Loki signed a document, then the two agents excused themselves.

“Welcome to the team,” Bruce said. A light fist bumped Loki on the shoulder. “See ya, Thor.”

Thor was the last to leave. He stayed, voicing his excitement. And you couldn’t help but be excited too. Loki, on the other hand, was still processing and mourning his decision. You did feel for him; he barely wanted to work with you initially and now he was going to work with a team, and some of these were the people whom he attempted to kill in New York.

The god of thunder took the three of you out to dinner as celebration. Loki grumbled every time his name and the word “Avenger” were used in the same sentence, but you were sure Loki appreciated Thor’s brotherly love and care. He kept Loki out of prison! Not just any prison, but interplanetary war criminal prison. Loki was certainly indebted to Thor. At the very least, he consumed his food and drink gratefully.

When it was time to go, Loki did the unexpected. He pulled Thor in for a hug.

“Thank you.”

Thor rested his hands upon his brother’s back. “You are my little brother. I am always here for you.”

They broke apart.

“And I am glad that we will be fighting alongside each other once again,” Thor said with a grin.

Loki smiled back. The god of thunder gave you a swift hug, then with Stormbreaker he ascended to the skies to return to New Asgard.

Back in your own home the two of you settled down for the night. Your lover found a book to read, and you went to take a shower before bed. You gathered your night clothes and set them on the bathroom counter, leaving the bathroom door a crack open. It was just you and Loki here, you did not feel the need for privacy. After undressing, you stepped into the shower, turning the knob slightly to get that perfect temperature.

With the shampoo you lathered your scalp, massaging your skin. The water and bubbles cascaded down your head and body. You opened your eyes and jumped upon the sight of Loki in the shower with you.

“Ah!” you yelped. “Ow… you made me get shampoo in my eye.”

You began to rub your eye with the towel hanging over the shower wall hoping to abate the stinging.

“Allfather, you are a sensitive creature,” the god said.

“You scared me!” you retorted, unable to hide your smile.

Loki’s face mirrored your own, the corner of his mouth upturning. You let go of the towel and rinsed your hair and head of the product, white soapiness gathering around your feet and floating toward the drain.

“That better?” Loki asked.

“Yes, no more shampoo in my eye, thank you for nothing,” you teased.

“Perhaps I may make it up to you?”

You hummed. “And how’s that?”

Loki took the bar of soap and lathered it in his hands until they were thoroughly covered in suds. Then he raised them and began to clean you. He massaged your arms first, your back, your ass. You gasped as he took a generous handful and squeezed. A pleasurable tingle shot up your body.

“How does that feel?”

“More like you’re seducing me than cleaning me,” you said with a sly smile.

“Can I not do both?”

“Of course you can,” you said, looking up at him.

You bit your lip and moved your palm to his half-erect penis. Instantly, he hardened, blooming like a flower. He kneaded your breasts with his soapy hands, staring into your eyes like it was a game, while you attended to his manhood. Your body began to submit to him; your nipples peaking, blush forming upon your skin, and breaths shuddering. No, you didn’t want him to win. He always won when you played these games. You removed his hands from your body, shifting to your knees so that your lips were level with Loki’s head. Fingers wrapped around his cock, you leaned forward and planted your lips atop it.

Loki, usually composed, stiffened. His body blocked the majority of the water flow but occasionally a drop of water sprayed your face – also the shower was also a bit cramped. It was a little awkward, but having Loki submit to you and pleasuring him with your mouth was a gift well-worth putting up some discomfort for.

You brought him into your mouth, letting his shaft hit your tongue. Despite the water having cleaned the two of you, you already tasted the salty sensation of his pleasure beading at the tip of him. As you sucked him off, one of his palms buried themselves into your hair, tugging lightly. A jolt of electricity shot through your womanhood as he pulled your hair, reestablishing his power over you. You maneuvered your mouth and lips around him, feeling him grow harder with each ministration. He controlled the pace with your hair now in his hands, slowly but deliberately fucking your mouth, his hips rocking into you.

Every once in a while you looked up to meet his gaze. Those bright green eyes never left your person – full of want, domination, and always: mischief. He took immense pleasure in the sight of you on your knees.

You sucked more vigorously, taking him deeper and deeper into you. He glided down your tongue and your hands made sure to grip him tightly as to let him know that he wasn’t going anywhere, not until he spilled his precious cum into you. The rocking of the god’s hips became faster and faster, the occasional sweet moan spilling from his lips indicating that your job was being completed satisfactorily. He fucked your face until his cock rumbled. Loki’s seed followed a low groan, shooting out in thick ropes into your mouth. He pulled himself away and grinned, watching as you swallowed his gift to you.

“I say we did a fine job of cleaning up, you especially. Thank you.”

Loki turned the knob for the shower to cease, grabbing a towel for himself and handing one to you. The two of you stepped out and began drying up, until Loki suddenly snatched you up and placed you on the bathroom counter.

You giggled. “What are you –”

“I relish the sight of your pretty lips wrapped around my cock. It is right where you are meant to be. But it was not enough; you look so delicious half-wet and naked, water droplets spilling down your breasts… It is maddening.”

His fingers touched your entrance. You flinched as the feeling of pleasure spread through you under his fingertips, then he pulled away. “So wet still. Did you enjoy pleasing me?”

You nodded. “Yes.”

He knelt down on the tile floor, spreading your knees and began to feast upon you. You placed your hands on either side behind you and leaned back. All of you became exposed, and Loki’s silver tongue lapped and flicked at you until you became a stuttering mess. You felt the sweet gates of release but then he stopped just before they would open.

Loki stood up, his cock fully erect again. Drops of water dripped from the ends of his hair and onto his chest, and you watched the rise and fall of his breast guide the drops downward. He reminded you much of the swimming hole under the waterfall back on Folkvangr, and how you could barely look him in the eye. You really stood no chance even back then, did you? How you wanted him.

And oh, always, did you indeed want him.

With naught warning but a kiss, Loki plunged himself into you. You moaned into his lips as his cock stretched you and began fucking you on the bathroom counter. It was messy, loud, rough, and a little slippery. Bottles of product crashed onto the floor, barely hiding your moans and pleas for release. Every time, he rutted into you as if it were the first, as if he was starved of sex for a millennia. It caused you to claw into his back and cry his name over and over, and you loved it. He filled you to the brim and then you clenched around him. The acoustics of the bathroom echoed your moans back and the floodgates released, as did his own. Some of you and him dripped onto the bathroom counter, evidence of the love you created.

Loki nibbled your ear and retracted himself.

“I may as well jump back in the shower after that,” you teased. But then you snapped your fingers. The counter as well and your womanhood instantly became clean of Loki’s seed.

“Don’t act like you didn’t love it,” he said slyly.

—

Now clean and dry, the two of you settled in for bed.

“How are you feeling after today?” you asked Loki.

“Uncertain. I am indebted to my brother for his actions to keep my freedom, but as for this Avengers nonsense…” he waved his hand irritably.

“I think you’ll be a great Avenger. Maybe they’ll even make you into an action figure.”

Loki scoffed. “I certainly hope not, most of those are cheaply made and do not resemble the hero they represent whatsoever. I would rather not look like my face is melting.”

You giggled. “Well, you’re not wrong there.”

The room fell silent. Loki returned to his book he’d been reading earlier before he came into the shower. You spent that time scrolling through your favorite social media apps on your phone, occasionally interrupting Loki’s read to show him a silly meme or some other post that caught your eye. Most of the time he just rolled his eyes or said nothing, every once in a while engaging with the content. It was a calm, pleasant evening, whiling away the hours of the night before sleep.

Loki shut his book and placed it on his nightstand. “I must say something.”

You looked up from your phone. “What’s that?”

He pierced your soul with those emerald green eyes of his. “Thank you.”

“For what?” you said, caught unawares by the sudden earnestness.

“My darling, for everything. When we first met I was such an ass. Little did I know my soulmate was brought to my doorstep. I assumed since you are naught but an earthling you were insignificant. But you extended me patience and compassion – things I did not deserve – in my time of struggle.”

“Naught but an earthling?” you said.

Loki cleared his throat. “I did not mean it like that, I –”

“I’m yanking your chain. I know what you meant. We’ll kick that superiority complex out of you one of these days.” You smiled.

Loki made a face and shook his head. “What I am trying to say is that you saved me. You have made me take a second glance at life.” He spoke your full name and your heart fluttered. “You… you are my everything.”

Tears welled in your eyes. “You didn’t have to thank me for all of that.”

“I’ve wanted to for some time now. Your kind soul has thawed my cold, Jotun heart and without you, I would not be here right now.”

You grabbed and pulled him in for a kiss. When you parted, you looked Loki in the eyes, smoothing a lock of his hair between your fingertips.

“I love you, Loki Odinson,” you said.

“And I you, mortal woman.”

“To add to your point, Thor helped, too. You wouldn’t be here without him either,” you said.

“Please do not ruin the moment by mentioning my brother. I am not trying to court him.”

You snorted, breaking out into a cluster of laughs. Loki looked as serious as the grave.

“Sorry,” you said, the last of your giggles letting out. Then your voice fell to a whisper. “Loki, I’ve never heard you refer to yourself as a Jotun… not like that.”

He shifted. “It is what I am.”

“I would like to see him again someday. I would like to see you.”

Suddenly, you felt a chill come over you. Where your skin touched his it grew icy cold and a shiver wracked your body. You watched as Loki’s pale, fair skin darkened to a deep, saturated blue. Ridges rose upon his forehead and arms like small canyons being molded into being; these were a slightly darker blue. The sapphire color spread throughout, disappearing through his hair and encapsulating every inch of him. Lastly, his eyes turned entirely red, with the iris and pupils dark as blood.

“Will tonight suffice?”

Your nerves reacted instantly, retreating your palm at the sudden cold feeling. You placed it on his cheek again and gazed upon the blue god of mischief. He was unequivocally beautiful. Staring into his eyes, you noticed a change in his demeanor. A hint of insecurity crossed his face along with doubt, uncertainty, and worry.

“You’re divine, Loki,” you said, looking deep into those ruby red eyes.

“Am I?” he asked, as if in disbelief. He looked about ready to crawl into a hole, or perhaps knock down the nearest vase.

“Yes. And I’m so proud of how far you’ve come.” You proved it to him with a deep and passionate kiss.

The sex was slow at first – deliberate and unsure, but over time as you made love the Loki you knew and desired took over. You cried in ecstasy under touches of icy yet burning hot, shivering for more reason than one. He enveloped you in all of him; the outcast jotun prince now redeemed and accepted. The two of you moved fervidly under the covers, finding release once again in the night.

The god of mischief and you, the mortal slept soundly that evening, nestled in close embrace. You felt protected, sated, and most of all - loved. Where once you wished you could get far, far away from Loki but could not, now it was nigh impossible to imagine a life where you were not at his side. The irony was not lost on you; fate is funny that way, particularly where it concerns gods and heroes.

Although you weren’t bound anymore by the constraints of the barbaric old magic born of fear, desperation, and loss; you, the human and he, the god of mischief forged a new bond – this one ever-stronger.

A/N: That's the end! Thank you so, so much everyone who has been a reader - either long-term or if you just found this story. This was a passion project of FOUR YEARS! There were bumps in the road: hiatuses taken, writer's block, life stress, but here is Bound, all finished. This is my first and only novel-length story I've written and I'm so happy I pushed through and this WIP is now a fully formed WORK! Thank you all for your patience with updates and your kind words and insights to the story.

I may write an epilogue but until/if then the story will be marked and treated as complete.

Thank you again, and I hoped you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing :)

#bound #loki x reader #loki fanfiction #loki #loki odinson #loki x you #loki x y/n #loki fanfic #loki fic #fanfiction #fanfic #fic #mine #loki romance

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popculturebuffet · 3 months ago

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American Pop Review: All Those Dreams, All Those Sons (birthday review for Brotoman.exe)

In Loving Memory of Ron Thompson 1941-2024

Hello all you happy people and it's time to kick off your shoes i'm breaking the news as it's time for a LONG delayed look at American Pop. So as a bonus my patrons get, in addition to a 5 dollar review a month for 5 dollar or higher patreons, a review on their birthday. As a gift for their support. I forgot to ask about Brotomans and gave him his late... and even later as some delays kept hitting this poor thing and I kept feeling awful about it. Thankfully we're FINALLY here and talking about Ralph Bakshi's American Pop.

While most of you seeing this probably know who Ralph Bakshi is , a quick refresher for those who don't: Bakshi was an animator, and one of the rare ones who focused on animated films geared at adults. He'd branch out on occasion, doing the Hobbit, the Lord of the Rings and in his mind and no one elses Wizards for a family audience, but he primarily stuck to tales breaking down society and being filled with sex and drugs. It's remarkable to me he could do this and saddening we don't have more people trying to make animated films for adults. And I love children's animation, I do, but ther'es some stories you simply can't tell and also have kids come see the movie. Sometimes i'ts because you want to have a cat do drugs, sometimes you want to have a man fuck a cartoon, sometimes you want to write a riveting generational saga about a families constant all too real tragedies.

If that last one sounds like a bit of a departure, it is. After making Lord of the Rings Bakshi wanted something more down and earth, a musical fable with more relaistic characters, pushing rotoscope as far as he could. The result was.. only a million more than it's budget, but still resulted in a critical darling and cult classic among animation fans. It probably didn't help it was promoted as a rock n roll epic.. when only half the film , if that, has rock in roll in it. The rest is a stark generational saga of failure, loss, and dreams and it slaps. So come see what I mean under the cut.

Production wise I don't got much that I haven't already said and the few bits I do are best so let's get cracking.

American Pop is, as mentioned, a generational saga following 4 diffrent men from boyhood to manhood. It's not an easy watch as only one of these stories has a happy ending the rest all being some form of tragedy as the shortsighted choices and passiveness of these men destroy them and damage their children. It's a hard saga yet anchored by moments of joy humor and music and a triumphant ending, and to tell it properly i'm going to break it up into 4 sections, one for each main protaganist. Now some of our protaganists spill into their kids sections, as you'd expect but it's pretty clear when their story ends and their child's begins. It's a neat sweet spot between anthology film and a narrative film: the film is still essentially one long narrative, but each protaganists story has a clear ending bleeding into the next generation.

Zalmie

Our story begins with Zalmie, a small child as he and his mother prepare to flee russia during one of it's many porgoms, targeted riots designed to wipe out the jewish people that resulted in many lost lives and immigrants. It's a genocide I didn't honestly know happened till this movie and should be talked about more, as it's all too chillingly familiar to the kinds of tactics we see used against minorties today. The porgoms are also the inciting incident for Don Bluth's american tail.

So our hero and his unnamed mother come to New York, where the bulk of our stories take place and the love of Bakshi's life. Most of his films are set in New York. The only one's that don't are his 4 fantasy films and Cool World, which chooses Vegas again. It's clear the city is in his bones and every frame we see of it is lovingly drawn.

That's one of the films strengths: It's backgrounds: only a few characters are rotoscoped to life, a process where ink is drawn on real photos of people to help get thier movements down. Bakshi seemed to use this a lot using it for his tolkien duology and this film. For the backgorunds he uses photos resembling cartoons from the time or historical photos, giving us nice impressionist faces in the crowds. He'll also frequently use live action stock footage to segue scenes which is less effective to me , but I get the budget wasn't that high so you have to make do.

The rotoscoping itself looks pretty good. It can look uncanny valley in places as this was long before they could easily edit it digtially, and even then as we've seen modern equilvents can still look really weird, see in a scanner darkly (Which I need to watch) or polar express (Which is still really good). But it mostly works here.. the teeth never look right and shots with a lot of teeth can look hilarously bizzare, but for the most part it allows some nice flexible expression on the faces they gently edited the best they could and for the big bombastic emotions to really pop.

Zalmie gets into the music scene and begins a generational love of the craft via a burlseque club he happens upon. He's quickly hired by Louie a man with big ears, and a bigger mouth and who takes the kid under his wing, with some minor reluctance but it's clear while he tries to put up a wall he takes to the kid and his talent at handing out chorus sheets for the crowd to sing along to. Sadly back then David Byrne wasn't born yet to summon perfect choruses with his telepathic powers, you had to make do.

Zalmie's mom isn't super happy with his new life, but accepts a gift of a banana he got from an organ grinder.

Sadly.. we don't see his mom for much longer as next scene.. she dies. And it's a historic incident too, thank you wikipedia as I otherwise woudln't of known as they link to it in the plot summary for the film, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire. So in the film you see women banging on locked doors.. and it's real. Employers locked the doors to stairwells to prevent unathorized breaks. I don't have a gif for that as it's so inhumane and horrifying to basically lock your workers inside a possible oven I can't joke about this. it's just.. my god. Thankfully this nightmare lead to better saftey standards.. but also cost 146 people their lives in truly horrifying ways... and in this reality Zalmie's Mother was one of them.

In a truly moving scene though without saying a word... Louie takes him in, putting an arm on the kids shoudler. While he tries to deny he's bascially Zalmie's new dad, it's very clear he is.

So cut to puberty which isn't good on our hero: While Louie had him as a singing act puberty's cutting into it homer simpson style. Unlike Abe instead of wrining his hands Louie is TRYING to keep his adopted boy afloat and assumes it'll change back.

Tragically.. it never gets the chance. Zalmie gets drafted into world war one. The good news is he gets uso duty. He ends up as a horses ass, figuratively, and wants to sing again, to get back out there, but it's still not bad... till the planes raid and a stray bullet hits im in the throat. For the rest of the film Zalmie has a deeper voice and it's clear the impact leaves a mark on more of his neck. Louie once again shows he's a stand up guy by showing up at his bedside. Awww.

So later Zalmie's become a deep voiced clown.

And I really like Zalmie's voice, that raw rasp to it. He's played by Jeffery LIppa whose wikipedia article is basically "he exists". That underlies his talent as Zalmie undergoes a bit of a transformation as the movie goes on. But we'll get to that for now Zalmie meets Doris, a stripper working at the club he's working at and is immeditly in love. With Louie's encouragment he goes after her and we get a really charming scene. He goes to her dressing room, she invites him inside and they just stare lovingly at each other as they strip down. While I try my best words really can't do this justice, it's just this look of pure love and attraction between two people. The proof that sex can be romantic in the right context even if we don't get this far because rotoscoping sex would be awkward as fuck.

So instead we cut to some time later as Zalmie's trying to encourage Doris to be a singer, having heard her voice and knowing she has talent.. but while I never have any doubts he actualy cares for doris... I have just as little doubt this is more for him. He could sing, he's badly wanted this, and now he can't so he's projecting onto his wife. He's already shown to be a pretty good manager in Louie's stead, an organizer, he could be happy with that. But he WANTS the big lights, the fame, and even if it's just through his wife it's something.

So they try it.. but let's say 8 months later they've hit a brick wall: Doris has talent but is heavily pregnant and Zalmie is forced to have her perform anyway as he can't afford to marry her. Enter Palumbo, the local mob boss who Louie introduces Zalmie too.. and he'll help both with Doris' career and the wedding.. if Zalmie delivers a few packages for him.

So Zalmie does reluctant at first.. but over a few scenes he settles into the life: his wife is performing in the top clubs, his son is by his side , a young boy at this point, and he has everything he could want. He's gone from hating what he has to do simply to get by.. to welcoming it while Delores is clearly more uneasy when their now having regular poker games at her home.

Sadly Delores.. dosen't get much fleshing out. SHe's mostly there to love Zalmie, be a tad reluctant.. then die horribly, stuffed in the fridge.. or in this case given the wrong package meant for Zalmie that winds up with her exploded off screen. She just dies to create angst for Zalmie and his son Benny, and in general the women in this film are more plot devices than genuine characters. The film does a good job giving the major romances belivieable chemistry, so it dosen't harm the film, but it's noticable as fuck that not a single one really gets to speak and are mostly shuffled aside.

So with Delores sad death.. we move on. Zalmie's story gets to continue the longest, spreading out across three chapters, but he's no longer the focus after that. No the POV shifts to

Benny

It's the late 20's early 30's at this point and when we see Benny next we've time skipped: It's something very common in this film, with big time jumps happening fast. It feels like a biopic in that regard, if for people who never existed: it has to cover a VAST swath of time but unlike a biopic isn't bound by real life so it can pick and choose what we see easier without feeling like it's cutting important stuff out. It still does here and there but most of the time skipped is stuff there wasn't a story for or we get the gist of anyway after we jump ahead.

So Benny is a young man now, working in a dive club with a do-wop act and denying his father's attempts to get him a better job, a conversation that feels well lived in, like this is far from the first time. It's also made clear, if not said WHY Benny refuses: he knows what his dad's up to, having been playing the piano, his talent and calling, when his mother died. He dosen't want any part of the Palumbo family.. which is unfortunate as Salmie needs him to marry Palumbo's daughter. He's resistant till he reads between the lins and gladly agrees knowing his dad probably can't say no and live long.

So we have a suprisingly charming wedding, with Palumbo and Salmie declaring each other brothers and everyone goofing around and Louie is there.. and Louie has not aged. I can't honestly tell if this is a pact with the devil thing or a John Stamos thing.

And.. the two hit it off.. we ge ta deeply romantic scene in their new mansion where again despite teh female characters mostly being props.. bakshi and his actors pull of honest to god chemistry. He makes something that should be schmaltzy, two people crammed together by their parents genuinely falling in love, and make it feel earnest and cute.

So some time later we're back where we started.. while Benny's performing in a much more upscale place, Zalmie is berating him... but this time.. it's because he thought about the army and Zalmie said son you fucking high. His reasons are also clear: if he makes it out of the war, he can support his family... and get away from THE family. As the next stretch will make clear his wife also isn't too keen on mob life and Benny likely dosen't want to fall for the trap his dad in: Getting in deeper due to debt and having to do worse and worse things that could get his family killed in the crossfire. Zalmie seems dead to it, accepting of what he lost.. but Benny remembers.

Tragically it's this heroic impulse, wanting a better mob free life for his family.. that leads to Benny's end. What happens to the poor guy in WWII is easily the best scene of the movie: Benny is inflirtrating a town when he spots a piano, playing it. Maybe he misses his art, maybe he just knows he dosen't have long to live. But this one moment of simply wantin ga break.. costs him as a German soldier sneaks up behind him... and even knowing he's going to die and leave his family behind... Benny plays. He plays soulfully from the heart, his last performance and his best... and he dies for it. the Soldier letting out a thankful danke.. before savagely murdering him. A reminder war knows no peace, no freinds.. and no hope. He leaves behind a wife greving her father forces to get remarried and a son...

Tony:

Tony grows up comfortably in the suburbs like his dad and thus catchs the end of his grandfather's story: Zalmie is brought before the senate to testify and while Palumbo is confident he won't talk.. he does. Zalmie's story ends here as he lays out why: his son died leaving him a wreck, he got thrown in prison, and Palumbo's assurances h'ed get out slowly stopped coming. Zalmie's story.. is a heartbreaking one: a kid with all the talent and potetial who slowly lost his parents, his wife, and his morals, and despite everything still lost his son. All he has left is the truth: he knows he probably won't live long.. and dosen't care. And given Palumbo dosen't come up after this it's safe to say he probably did go down. Did Zalmie go with him? We'll never know. Tony didn't find out, so neither do we.

Instead Tony becomes a beatnik, adoring poetry slams and really getting into it. Thus he's a bit pretentious and jokey, but a good kid and my faviorite of the four, with Ron Thompson giving a standout performance. Thompson originally auditioned for a bit part, but his delivery of "GREETINGS PIZZA MAN" got Bakshi's attention, he asked who he was then cast him as Pete, our Finaly Belenski and eventually Tony. As a result he got top billing thanks to Tony having a sizeable role and Pete getting used in all the promotion as the modern star.

But we'll get to him later.. for now the focus is on Tony who hammy as he is feels isolated at home, his sisters and brothers ignoring him and his mom and step-dad both not really paying attentoin. So he steals his step dads car and books it for California. It's also a large part of why I think Palumbo went down: while Tony's Parents never came looking his grandpa would've gotten pissy over what he saw as an insult. So without him around Tony gets a clean slate. We neve rfind out what happened to his family or his poor mother who already lost her husband nad, no matter how lax she might've been it's left unclear, lost a son.

So Tony heads to the wild cornfields of Kansas, doing dishes for a night and meeting a waitress named

While they have the standard Belenski starring at each other adorably we've come to expect, with him giving a fun monlogue about she's the prize in the box of cracker jacks we call life. Which yeah, is pretenious as it sounds, but also cornily sweet and fits given Tony's likely still 17 at this point. What Teenager isn't a tad corny? It's what makes the character works: he goes into operatic rants and what not, but he comes off like any overdamatic teen and tends to be funny in the process.

So Tony can't convince the waitress girl to go with a strange man she just met to california. It was the 50's, they didn't know how bad that sounded. So they have a one night stand as represented by a train going through a tunnel

And we cut to tony i'm guessing a year or two later, washing dishes in a dingy club. He clearly WANTS to be on stage but his boss points out he can't sing and he can't play guitar.. even though there's a wide wooly world of insturments. He quits after a rambling monologue about dish washing, that again is funny because we're clearly not entirely laughing WITH tony, and frankly given the boss is a douche and thinks there's only one insturment in the world, I support this.

Tony then gets lucky... metaphorically this time, as he plays the harmonica, Benny's harmonica likely recovered from his body, and his sweet groove attracts Frankie Hart, the lead center of a six piece band and her guitarist also notices and invites him up in the 60's sense of piece brotherhood and passing the joint around, which he gladly takes. To the films credit it dosen't portray weed as the reason some of these guys get into hard drugs later or evil, just something done casually which for 1981 is progressive as hell. We weren't to just say no YET, but it was coming.

Bennie can't sing, though guitar man poitns out the obvious EVERYONE can play guitar, and his harmonica skills aren't exactly prime. He can WRITE though and eagerly takes them up on their offer to read some running home to get it and making some on the way home. For this segment a lot of real 60's songs are used and if I haven't covered the soundtrack it's not becaause it's bad, more because I don't recognize a lot of the songs and they play breifly. Music is at the heart of this movie.. but it's only mildly a musical. It still counts as there are music numbres and several factor into the plot, as well as a load of montages, it's got music in it.. but it's all brief and mostly lisecned. IT's still good and Tony's chops get him a regular gig with them.

Tony still wants to perform.. but is happy to soak in his music being sung. He's honestly fine being simply a part of things.. at first. But a later performing session shows two problems: The first is a drug problem: Frankie has one and Tony's been knocked down to her suplier, the second issue being she dosen't seem to value his music or at least acts like it. She still invites him on stage for a performance.. but after he'd done some acid kool aid leading to a truly trippy rendition of don't you want somebody to love you that really works. The songs been used a fuckton for promotoin and stuff by my time, but it works well thematically her.e

Tony fall down and go boom and it's here his story really gets tragic: his grandpa fell to his ambition, his dad fell to simply wanting some peace... Tony's fall.. is drugs. He gets addicted to painkillers and starts to spiral, seprating with the band for two months , feeling they don't need him in his stupor and thinking they fired them. We think that too.. till he returns to the studio and instead has simply been misisng, mildly butthurt Frankie married the drummer for all of two weeks. His spirit returns when she shows up and slaps the shit out of him... and says she needs him.

The relationship.. is about as healthy as it sounds. The two are happy together.. but also feed into each others addiction and by our next time skip while Frankie and co's album is a huge hit and they've got jimmi hendrix opening fo rthem, with an awesomely animated stand in of him. And while usually I feel Purple Haze is overplayed as it gets used in pop culture all the damn time as the stock "I'M DOING A DRUGS" song, it works here.. for basically the same purpose but also to contrast Hendrix at the height of his powers.. and to have them ironically opened by someone who'd also die far too soon from too much drugs. Tony and Frankie are burnt out at this point, and clearly out of their mind.. and have a guest. A young blonde haired blue eyed boy. Their in kansas. And like you Tony quickly connects the dots and freaks out a bit over it.. and the heroin in his system.

He dosen't have much time to react as after she sings for the kid.. we cut to Frankie dead. And while over the top.. tony's reaction is utterly heartbreaking, his face broken as he clings to her. Their relatinoship wasn't healthy.. but he still loved her.

Tony decides to get out of music and take his son Pete with him. Tony is... no less stable, spending most of their time dealing drugs and selling drugs and yells at his son for buying cornflakes and taking care of the groceries and you know.. being the parent in the relationship. I'ts heartbreaking: Tony was a mild ass.. sure.. but he was just a wide eyed kid who could've gone far , as could've frankie had he not got hooked on drugs and she not died from it. INstead h'es just a washed out wreck of his old self, heavy bags under his eyes, not even THAT much older. It's a truly heartrending end and a sign of what heavy drugs does t oa person and it's not pertty.

Eventually things hit their breaking point on a park bench: Tony wants to sell Pete's guitar, pete obviously does not and reveals during the argument he knows Tony's his father.. and it's why he's been protecting him. Tony's eyes go wide.. and he realizes both that his kid has been trying his damndest to save him.. and that he's beyond it. He dosen't want to get clean and won't.. and being around his kid is forcing the poor kid to take care of him when ther'es more to him. Granted his solution of pawning the guitar and telling a random passer by to tell him goodbye is... something, he coudl've gone to his family, but the fact Tony got as far as "shit I need to leave before this poor kid ends up like me" is still something. And as tony fades into the abyss, to never return... we move on to our final scenes

Pete: Pete gets the least screentime. Techncially I consider the start of pete's story to come at tony's end but they overlap heavier than Zalmie with his son. At any rate Pete really only gets about 20 minutes of screentime, 10 of which are purely focused on him and not entertwined with Tony's tragic end.

Pete has done okay for himself but not great. On one hand he's got bitching shades, a love of music like his papa, and a slick purple jacket I really want. He also has a cool tendnecy to drop his shades when he sees something musical and intresting. Despite having a short runtime we do get a sense of who pete was: someone whose cool, has swagger.. and deals drugs to get by, but learned from his old man's horrifying example to not do them himself as far as we can tell. He also has a girlfriend. She sure exists.

He's tired of dealing though having the good sense to get out of crime his grandpa had his great grandpa learned too late and his father never learned so when dealing to a band he knows asks to play. They shoot him down and the exec says they can find anothe rdealer if he refuses... but when he almost walks out the need for drugs is too strong and the lead singer makes a compromise: they'll play ONE song. not recording it. Pete agrees and dosen't throw away his shot.

It's here he sings, or rather a recording of Bob Seger sings, night moves, a song I truly love and is awesome, a simple song about a first time.. fitting how his parents met and what his mom told him. Thing is.. that's not what bakshi wanted. Bakshi wanted Freebird, which fits the father son angle more, even if it's sung to a lover instead of a child. Me I prefer Night Moves as a song and feel it still fits.. but agree Freebird fits better tonally.

No matter the song the band and label is impressed and we end with Pete singing a medly of songs as he rises to rock stardom... and the film rises to batshit insanity, using green colored footage of the actors singing and performing, splices in bits of Pete's family history he likely dosne't know about, and in general being what I assume acid feels like. Ralph Bakshi would know. But i'ts a solid finale and I like the lack of finality: We know Pete made it but we don't know if that holds, if he stays sober unlike his old man, if he ever finds said old man or any of his family. Learns more about them. We just know for one breif moment, after over 70 years of strife, a belinskiy reached his dream.. and that just has to be enough.

American Pop is excellent and if this hasn't convinced you to watch it I don't know what will. At the time this article was pubished it's free to view with ads on youtube and I strongly recommend doing so: It's a tragic yet joyous tour through parts of music I hadn't really carred to look into before but might now. A love leter to music, new york, america and those who didn't quite make it. It's a wonderful film and well worth your time

thanks for reading

#ralph bakshi #american pop #bob seger #night moves #animation #the 80s #film #music #jimmi hendrix

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hbyrde36 · 1 year ago

Text

Chapter 7!

ao3 link

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6

Steve Harrington: Vampire Hunter

CW character death, canon typical violence

Steve returned to the center at 8:55pm. He was once again forced to enter the building unarmed, due to their security. You would think being attacked at a place in broad daylight would exclude a guy from those types of measures, but apparently not. Granted, Steve had taken the attacker out with his bare hands. Maybe the powers-that-be assumed he could do it again if necessary, or maybe they were the kind of people who didn’t expect two bad things to happen in only one day. Oh to be so blessed.

Thankfully, there was a different receptionist on duty at the desk this evening, so he wouldn’t have to deal with Andy asking after Robin because he’d forced her to stay home. It was a young girl. She looked nervous as Steve approached and he couldn’t blame her. Surely she’d have heard what happened there earlier in the day. Honestly he was surprised the place hadn’t canceled its programming for the night.

“The order welcomes you.” She said, with a tight-lipped smile. “How can I help you today?”

“I’m here to see Jason Carver.”

She nodded, checking something on her monitor.

“Right this way Mr. Harrington.”

She waved him through a side door that led to a set of offices, the largest of which bore a placard that read, Order Leader Jason Carver.

Steve pushed the door open, revealing a young man with blonde hair sitting behind a modest oak desk. Carver may have appeared to be the same age as Steve, but he knew for a fact that the vampire before him was quite a bit older than he looked. His boyish face screamed innocence, it was the perfect camouflage for a blood sucking predator. Steve suspected it was also what allowed him to amass a following of this size without being officially accused of starting a cult.

“Harrington.” Jason greeted him with a curt nod.

“Carver.” Steve replied, holding the other man’s gaze for a long moment before taking the seat across from him.

Jason quirked his head to the side like a curious dog. “I have to say, waking up to find your name in my appointments was quite the surprise. I didn’t think you’d ever grace us with your presence without the police being involved.”

“I may not be here on official business today, but that doesn’t mean this is a social call.” Steve snapped. Unable to keep his disdain for the man out of his voice.

“Why are you always so hostile towards me, Steve? What have I, or my people, ever done to deserve that?” Carver asked, frowning. He looked for all the world as if his feelings had actually been hurt.

Steve raised an eyebrow. He didn’t buy the act, and could think of many things that creatures like Jason Carver and his followers had done to earn his bad opinion of them. His body was littered with scars, real physical evidence of the harm vampires could cause. Of course, lately, because of Dustin, Steve had begun to accept the fact that maybe not all of them were inherently bad. The jury was still out on Eddie, as far as he was concerned, but the dark haired vampire had helped Steve as much as he was able, and that counted for something. However, he wasn’t ready to extend those new feelings of good will towards a prick like this.

When Steve remained quiet, Carver continued. “I can understand, because of your line of work, why you would be predisposed not to trust my kind, but I can assure you none of my people attack humans or feed from them without consent. Not once they join the order. That is not our way.”

“How can you be sure of that? What happens to a member if they do break the rules? Are they punished? Kicked out? Do you report them to the police?” Steve asked, genuinely curious. The order was very popular and their membership grew larger every day. As the leader, and a master vampire, that meant Jason was in charge of them all. How was he maintaining control?

“I am not here to mete out punishment or treat my followers like children. That’s the problem with the old ways. There is no free will or middle ground when it comes to vampires. If you’re not on the top, you're on the bottom, and at the mercy of whatever your master wishes. I am trying to do something different here. So no, I don’t torture or threaten my people into following the rules. Every vampire or pre-transition human, upon joining the order, signs a moral contract. It is a binding promise between them, and whatever higher power they believe in, to cause no harm, and to only feed in a manner that respects the gift that is being given, among other things.”

Steve snorted. “Right, because no one has ever broken a contract before, or, y'know, lied.”

“That is how free will works, Harrington.”

It was almost admirable, Steve thought begrudgingly. It was a nice idea, in theory, what Jason was trying to accomplish, but It was also completely unrealistic. Steve might be willing to accept that there were a few good vampires out there, but he still believed that the majority of them were decidedly not good, and needed someone to hold their leash.

“So you can’t actually assure me that none of your people have ever stepped out of line. You wouldn’t know, per se, if any of them had something to do with the vampire murders?"

“Ah, so the reason for this little visit becomes clear at last.” Jason actually had the nerve to laugh. “What would make you think my people had anything to do with that? We are non-violent. That doesn’t exactly go hand-in-hand with murder.”

“Non-violent. Right. Does that mean you have no idea that your followers carried out a protest that looked more like a riot at a freak party last night? Guns were fired, Carver. People were hurt.”

Jason’s face twisted in disgust. “The order takes quite an issue with the freak community, and the way they sexualize what we are, and what we consume to survive. It’s sickening. Depraved.”

Steve felt a flash of shame, realizing that not long ago he would have agreed with this man. Now he scowled, thinking of Chrissy and of the others who had been so nice to him at the party. They didn’t deserve that kind of judgment and hatred.

Carver kept going, unaware of Steve’s inner turmoil. “There is a small faction of my followers that have grown tired of waiting for the courts to rule those types of get togethers illegal, and have taken matters into their own hands. While I may agree with them, I do not condone their actions. I’ll see what I can do to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

It wasn’t anywhere near good enough, but Steve would take it over nothing. “And the murders?” He prompted.

Jason leveled him with a challenging stare, which he returned, only flinching when the other man moved to grab his wrist where it rested on the desk between them. The action was a blur, so fast that Steve’s mind barely knew what was happening, yet still he managed to get out of reach in time.

“What are you doing?” Steve accused.

“Testing a theory.” Carver said, casually. “Do you even realize that you’ve been looking me in the eyes this whole time?”

Steve hadn’t realized that actually, and it was a dumb move on his part for a lot of reasons. Namely, that he couldn’t afford getting used to this new level of ability when he planned to do whatever he could to get rid of this thing with Eddie as soon as possible.

“I have some natural immunity, and it's not as if you are trying to bespell me.” Steve deflected.

The vampire narrowed his eyes. “Yet you’ve never trusted that fact before. What’s different now?”

Steve kept his mouth shut. He felt like this was a test. Like Carver already knew something and was just waiting for him to give it away.

“Not to mention the fact that you came here to accuse, or at least heavily imply that me and my people are murderers. Seems like an odd time to relax your stance on eye contact.” Jason considered, studying Steve’s face. “Who do you belong to?” he asked, finally.

“Myself.” Steve declared. The answer came naturally and without hesitation.

“If you truly believe that, you are living in serious denial. I would say you’ve been given at least the first mark. I can’t deny being curious about who could have convinced a vampire hunter to tie themselves to one of us.”

Steve blinked, again unsure of how to respond. Apparently his face had done it for him.

“Oh. You didn’t agree to this, did you?”

“It’s complicated.” Steve said, defensively.

Jason gave him a knowing smile. “I’m sure she’s very pretty, but if you find yourself in need of assistance with the situation, the order would be happy to help”

He would never be desperate enough to take Carver up on that offer, and honestly, Steve couldn’t help pushing. He resented the assumption, and just had to know if the poster boy for vampire purity was also a homophobe.

“While he is very pretty, this was done to save my life, and I have the situation handled. Thanks for the concern.”

Jason frowned again. “Attending freak parties and bonding yourself with a male vampire, I wonder what your father thinks of all this. He must be terribly concerned about you.”

It wasn’t quite the gotcha move Jason thought it was. He wasn’t surprised to find out Carver was acquainted with his father, and Steve already knew he was the family disappointment. This would change nothing even if it did get back to his dad. Still, he’d reached his limit of bullshit for the evening.

“Enough of this, Carver. I didn’t come here to talk about my private life. Multiple master level vampires have been murdered in this city, all of them belonging to Billy. Not a single victim has been from your organization. You can't say that isn’t suspicious.”

“How do you know the perpetrator isn’t human? You yourself have killed, how many vampires now?”

Steve shook his head. “I’ve seen the bodies, no human has that kind of strength.”

“I would know if one of my people had done such a thing.” Carver stated, sounding so sure of himself.

“Maybe you do and you’re trying to protect them.” Steve speculated. “Or maybe you yourself gave the order. I haven't learned much here tonight, but I bet if I took that little theory to Hopper, he’d be more than happy to shut you down for a while and give things a thorough investigation.”

Steve didn’t really think Carver had the balls for something like this, but he did think it was more than possible that someone connected to his organization was involved.

Carver stiffened. “No need for threats, I will talk to my people.”

“What good would that do?”

“I have.. ways to know if they are being truthful. I promise to pass along any pertinent information to you, as long as you don’t send the police to my door.”

Steve nodded, and rose to leave, knowing that was the best he would get tonight. Before opening the office door he turned back to Carver. “You should know, I was attacked today in your lobby. Someone doesn’t want me to solve this case, and they knew I was here.”

It wasn't until Steve was walking back down the hall that he felt his phone vibrating in his pocket. He scrambled for it but didn’t manage to pick up in time. The screen told him it was the 3rd missed call from Dustin in the last few minutes. Shit.

He quickly hit the call back button and raced out of the building towards his car. Dustin answered on the first ring.

“Steve? Steve! You gotta get over here quick. Billy has Chrissy. It’s…it’s bad.” He sobbed, dropping his voice to a whisper as he continued. “They hurt her.”

“Where are you?” Steve asked, frantic.

The only reply he got were the sounds of a struggle on the other end of the call. He screamed into the phone, “Dustin! .. Dustin!”

After a long stretch of silence he was greeted with the sound of deep male laughter.

“Oh, Stevie-boy.” Billy crooned. “Maybe if you’d spent more time investigating the murders, like I asked you to do, and less time helping my people betray me, it wouldn’t have come to this. But, here we are! Come to the coffin, if you dare, and see what I've done to your pretty little bitch.”

“I’ll kill you, you son of a bitch!” Steve growled into the phone, but it was no use. Billy had already hung up.

Steve double parked in front of the theater, not willing to waste even one second looking for a parking spot. They could tow him for all he cared, none of it mattered right then. He left the gun where it was, locked in the car. It would take too long to retrieve and he doubted they would let him keep it anyway. He did take half a second to shove a knife down the side of each of his boots before walking to the front door of the venue, though.

There was a show going on that night and the place was crawling with civilians, humans. A girl approached him at the entrance, she wore a name tag that said her name was Heather. It took him a moment to recognize her as the brunette who had been hanging all over Billy at their first meeting. Had that really only been a few days ago? So much had happened in such a short time, Steve thought it felt more like weeks.

She led him through the crowd and into a backstage area. He knew, sort of, where he was going from here. He wanted to blow past her, start screaming Chrissy's name and find her before it was too late, but he still didn’t know what this girl was, and if he’d be able to take her easily or not. It wouldn’t do Chrissy any good if he was hurt or killed before he could reach her. For that reason alone he just barely managed to keep his composure.

When they reached the under stage area and turned, Steve had a feeling he knew exactly where they were headed. He was proven right when they reached the door to the same basement room he’d been kept in.

The door opened and Steve sucked in a sharp breath.

Chrissy was bound to the far wall opposite the wooden steps. He couldn’t tell if she was dead or just unconscious, but she sagged in her chains, eyes closed. She was covered in blood and over half a dozen fresh bites. Billy and Neil stood on either side of her, red smeared around both of their mouths and dripping onto their bare chests. He ran down the steps and tried to rush to her side but Billy stepped in his path.

“Why are you doing this?”

“You only have yourself to blame for this one Stevie-boy.”Billy said, smirking as he licked his lips clean.

“All I’ve done is what you asked me to do!” Steve shouted directly in his face.

Billy grinned. “So bold in the face of me and my father, even as we have your girlfriend chained to the wall like a fucking animal. Does Eddie truly inspire this much bravery?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Why are you doing this. What are you talking about.” Neil mimicked him, laughing. “Have you always been so pathetic? I cannot fathom why my kind are afraid of you, Harrington.”

Steve wasn’t aware that he was well known enough among the vampires to be feared. It would be an interesting idea to think on if he weren’t far too busy worrying about his friend at the moment.

“I’m not an idiot. I figured out your play, and let’s just say I'm not impressed.” Billy said.

“I still don’t understand.”

“Let’s go discuss things in a more..comfortable environment.”

“I’m not leaving this room until you let me see her.” Steve hissed through clenched teeth.

Billy sighed. “God, you're so tedious. Knock yourself out. We’ll be waiting outside.”

Steve didn’t wait for the three of them to leave before going to Chrissy. He cradled her face gently, using two fingers to check the pulse in her neck. It was strong and steady. She was still alive, for now, and if he had anything to say about it, she would remain that way.

He smoothed the hair off of her forehead, trying to gently rouse her. “Chrissy?”

Her eyes blinked open, they swam with fear, then confusion, before finally settling on recognition.

“Steve.” She said, voice hoarse.

“I’m so sorry.” He sobbed, letting a few tears fall from his eyes. She looks so small and hopeless. He couldn’t stand it.

“It’s not your fault.”

It certainly felt like it was, after what Billy had said.

“I’m going to get you out of here.” Steve promised, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead.

Tears fell down her cheeks and Steve swiped them away. She gave him a watery smile “Sure Steve.”

“Times up” Heather called loudly from behind him. Steve hadn't realized she was still in the room, and apparently waiting for him at the top of the stairs.

He didn't know what else he could say, and making Billy wait even longer wasn’t going to earn him any favors. So, with one last look back at Chrissy, he made his way up the stairs and out into the hall. Heather once again led the way, ushering him into another room.

Steve immediately rounded on Billy where he sat in a high-backed chair. “What do you want from me?”

“Eddie Munson should be growing weak, rotting inside his coffin. Care to tell me how it is that he is still strong and healthy?”

“How should I know? Why are you hurting Chrissy?” Steve asked, puzzled.

“She needed to learn her place, as did your little friend Dustin. Don’t worry, I have him trapped in his coffin for now but I'll let him out eventually. I took her partially to punish you, and maybe add some extra incentive for you to pick up the pace in your investigation.”

“Why punish me?”

Billy truly looked him over then. “Do you really not know?” He hummed, considering. “Heather, baby, come here for a second.”

The girl complied quickly, coming over to sit on his lap. Like that was a normal thing to do mid interrogation.

Billy placed a hand on her thigh and squeezed hard enough to hurt, but she just smiled as he asked, “What do you think, does he really not know?”

She giggled, the high bright noise sounding out of place in the moment. “Yea. He doesn’t seem like he’s lying. Maybe he’s just not too bright.”

“Well, I'll be damned.” Billy said, leaning back in the chair and shoving her unceremoniously off of his lap. “I didn’t think Eddie had it in him to do something this devious. Two marks on a human who doesn’t even know what it means? That’s low.”

It wasn’t shocking to hear, Steve had suspected it, he just didn’t quite understand what it all meant and why Billy was so pissed off about the whole thing.

“Heather here is my human servant, has been for.. How long would you say?” He asked, directing another question at her.

“90 years give or take.”

Steve’s heart started to race at the implications. “But you look 20, you're not a vampire..”

Billy smiled, basking in Steve’s sudden panic. “I’ve given her all 4 marks, she’s still technically human, but she’ll live as long as I do.”

“No, Eddie wouldn’t…”

“He must have been very desperate, there's no way to reverse the process once it’s started. The second mark allows him to feed energy off of you to sustain himself, you’ve been helping him all this time.”

Steve didn’t want to believe it. He hadn’t admitted it to himself before now, but deep down he had hoped that Eddie would turn out to be a good guy. Good guys did not force an irreversible bond on you, no matter the reason. He couldn’t worry about that now, he had to find some way to salvage this, to save Chrissy.

“But I didn’t know I was doing it, how can you blame me for that?” Steve reasoned.

Billy ignored the question. “Eddie has supporters among my people. Those who'd rather see him in power over me. I could kill him outright, but that would make him a martyr. If however, I kill someone he has given his protection to, it might go a long way in showing that he is not worth their loyalty.”

Steve knew what that meant for Chrissy, and it made his blood run cold.

“No!” He shouted, pleading with Billy. “You don’t have to do this!”

“I would think this was a lesson you’d have learned by now, Harrington. You can’t save everyone. Sometimes, you can’t save anyone but yourself.” With that, Billy gave a nod to Neil, who disappeared from the room in the blink of an eye.

Steve ran after him, Billy didn’t even try to stop him. Both of them knew Steve would never make it in time, but he had to try.

Steve skidded to a stop at the open doorway, staring down. Neil stood there, eyes glittering and covered in even more blood than before. Behind him, Chrissy’s head sat at an odd angle and he knew she was already gone. The bastard had torn into her throat with his fangs and broken her neck for good measure.

Steve screamed wordlessly as he ran down the stairs. When he reached the bottom he bent down, pulling the knife from his right boot without missing a step, as he barreled towards the piece of shit that had just killed his friend.

He wasn't fast enough, and Neil spun out of the way before he could sink the blade into his body. As Steve readied himself for another go at the man, Billy arrived..

“I can’t let you kill him for this, Steve.” Billy said, as he descended into the room. He sounded almost apologetic about it. “If you want to avoid a similar fate I suggest you start learning who your real master is.”

“Fuck you.” Steve snarled.

Billy was suddenly in front of him, having crossed the room too quickly to see. He held Steve off the ground and up against the wall by the throat. “One way or another you will learn respect.”

Steve tried to raise the arm holding the knife, but found himself unable to move, frozen in place. He had no chance now that Billy was touching him. He did the only thing he could manage, and spit right in his face.

Billy growled, face contorting with anger as he released his throat. Steve stumbled as his feet hit the ground, but still he raised the knife, knowing he only had a fraction of a second to do any damage before Billy would be back on him. He shoved upward with the blade and it sank home in the vampire's lower stomach. It was nowhere near his heart, and wouldn’t accomplish much more than pissing him off further, but Steve felt a sick sense of satisfaction in knowing he had made the other man bleed.

Steve was shoved back with a shoulder, hard enough to knock the wind out of him. Billy twisted Steve's head to the side, and for a moment he thought he was about to die the same way Chrissy had, but the vampire had other plans.

Steve realized what was coming only a second before he felt the sting of sharp teeth in his neck, and he could do nothing but fade into the quiet dark that washed over him as Billy fed.

Chapter 8

#steddie #steddie fanfic #stranger things #vampire eddie munson #vampire hunter steve harrington #steve harrington #eddie munson #fanfic #ao3 link

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allnightbatman · 2 years ago

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Batwoman x Reader ! Platonic

A/n: Hello y’all! This is just a quick lil something I thought of and whipped up and this is a two parter! I thought that would make more sense as too not make things feel too cramped or rushed. Not much of a romantic fic just something fun and interesting. Also I feel like I might write with too much spaces/paragraphs but I feel like it makes it easier to read?? I’m definitely always trying to improve so please let me know what y’all think. Much love hope you enjoy!

Landing on top of the roof with Batman, “Why does it have to be so cold?”

“It’s winter”

“Well then why don’t you warm me up?” Turning to him you pressed your body against his, wrapping your arms around his neck.

“Y/N, focus.” You place your hand on his cheek and stick your tongue at him, making him smirk.

Kneeling at the edge you take out your binoculars, looking through a window seeing a group of men sitting around a large table.

“There y’all are.”

You were investigating the Falcon Crime Family and a shipment of guns and grenades that were about to enter Gotham. The only problem was you weren’t sure where and how. It could be through the docks or masked as a delivery of semi-trucks. Either way you decided to pay a visit and ask the man himself.

After rustling a few known thugs that work for the family, their words are proven to be true as you watch Carmine Falcon enter the room.

You told Bruce your plans for the night and he decided to tag along. You didn’t mind, he would still let you keep all the glory you always love to bask in. Plus it wouldn’t hurt to have some backup. Letting you still take the lead you two made a great team not stepping on each other's toes, and although both stubborn you two were always thinking the same thing for any conflict to arise.

As you saw the room settling down you had everything right where you wanted but right when you were about to move in you saw a red dot landing itself right on Carmine Falcon.

Quickly following the line you see someone on another edge propped up with a sniper. Immediately you reacted, grappling over, standing front of the gun, and kicking it down the building.

A punch coming right for your face but you blocked it just as quickly as they jumped up and threw it at you. Grabbing the front of their neck you harshly push back till you hit a wall holding them there while they claw at your hand. This is when you got a good look, she had bright red hair, a mask as if Batman made it for just her with those pointy ears then right in front of your face a bright red, just like her hair, bat symbol on her chest. Now that confused you.

Guessing you both took this moment to identify each other because you felt her relax a bit so you let go of the grip you had on her neck as she stood there looking at you.

Taking a step back but not breaking eye contact, you asked Batman knowing he was right behind you. “Is this a friend of yours I should know about?”

“I’m not a friend of any of you people.” She interjected sternly.

Squinting your eyes at her, “Clearly.”

Looking at the red bat symbol on her chest again you laughed a bit, “You sure do like to dress up just like us though.”

“Just because I wear this,” she places a hand over it, “doesn’t mean I’m a part of your little cult.”

Sighing at her, “Well I have business to attend to and I suggest you step out the way, you wouldn’t want to get on my bad side.”

As you walked away she threw back at you, “Oh yeah, I’d hate to see what would happen.”

Watching her glide away off the roof top you rolled your eyes. Fully turning around to look at Batman, he was looking at you amusingly making you scoff.

“What are you looking at, old man?”

Returning home, your mission was a success even with your small encounter with the masked bat woman.

“I can’t believe you took her gun Y/N.” Bruce spoke up chuckling at you.

“I can’t believe she left it. I have no plans to use it just gonna see if it gives me a clue as to who she is.”

“Sure she wants you to know that?”

“Well if she didn’t she should be more careful.”

Throwing the sniper down onto a metal table and taking your cowl off, you got right to work.

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academiaipromise · 2 years ago

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everything i want everyone to know about the return of true tv pt 2 (riverdale season 7 episode 2)

jughead (who of course no longer remembers the present storyline) submitted a story to a comics company and they STOLE it i get it jughead i really do

oh thank god we’re having a sock hop this week

fun fact about this comic book theft storyline is that every person i know (including me) who works in creative industries has a story like this. i feel like someone in the writers room is taking out some frustration. protect your work!!!! no one else will.

i forgot to say last week but betty and kevin are dating in this timeline...so i’m sure that’s gonna go well. i wrote this comment about kevin famously being a flaming homosexual with no regard for his own safety but i am watching archie and betty dance together and they actually might be the more immediate issue

ETHEL “WE’RE GONNA BE A SHIP” MUGGS IS BACK (good for shannon purser i guess?)

“we’ve been dating for months and we’re not even going steady yet...you haven’t even pinned me yet.” i’m in PAIN.

they introduced clay walker in this episode, who is kevin’s husband in archie comics. eat your heart out mcu film bros i am an easter egg master.

ARCHIEKINS has made its first appearance in the 50s timeline

i somehow missed how toni moved here an episode ago and joined a gang. sorry to those who rely on me paying enough attention to follow this but there’s a lot going on. anyways, she is threatening the sock hop! so cheryl has narrowed in on her enemy (to lover, obviously)!

archie coming out in his suit that doesn’t fit is very high school musical 3 to me. no further comment.

“ah jeez mom” AGAIN 50s archie is oddly endearing.

archie writing a poem for veronica but then giving it to betty to read...i never said the writers weren’t plotting.

VERONICA INVITED ALL OF THE POTENTIAL DATES OVER AT THE SAME TIME?! perhaps i am anti girlboss i’m sorry to admit this during the week of barbie supremacy

“what if we went together?” “like...for kicks?” [i am on my 50s jughead canonically ace agenda i don’t have time to get into it here but this made me laugh]

molly ringwald is kind of chewing her dialogue a bit good for her she really called her son simple (affectionate)

maedchen amick is also...kind of terrifying in this episode. i support the older riverdale cast just doing whatever the hell they want at this point

....is the show. implying that hal cooper was also gay in the way kevin is gay. or am i reading too much into that dialogue. anyways, we don’t have time to get into this.

is ethel still in a cult in this universe or did everyone get a blank slate? perhaps she’s just still creepy

betty clearly on her way to ask archie to the sock hop now that veronica is no longer taking him only to be stopped by kevin to give her this PIN so that they can GO STEADY genuinely makes me kind of sad like there is no way for this to end well. pinning someone won’t fix your problems kids!

ethel muggs didn’t show up for the detention she got for drawing her illustrations for jughead’s story and hurray! they got the job! take back ownership of your work kids

fangs breaking out into tutti frutti really got my “watched grease/other 50s-setting content as a kid” fight or flight instinct

damn if my principal singled me out to wax homophobic righteousness i think i would have to resort to something drastic

well okay cool yeah happy the creepy music following ethel around went somewhere (the sock hop episode ended by implying ethel killed her parents).

important follow-up: again, the episode ended with ethel, covered in blood, saying “something terrible’s happened.” this was the immediate trailer for the next episode:

youtube

anyways. who’s excited for veronica’s make out party??? (my eye twitched writing this)

#riverdale #riverdale spoilers

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davekat-sucks · 2 years ago

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Have you played pokemon scarlet & violet/ know the overall plot etc.?

I have, yes. I will be the one to admit that I was around and there when the roms for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet were leaked on 4chan too. So I know the mons that were there and the plot before the release. Penny's story is fine. Would still have school shooting jokes in mind, Pumped Up Kicks in all. But still think Team Star still is not as great compared to Team Skull. They just fill the same role of being minor villains as the true bad guys are behind the scenes. I miss teams that actually fuck shit up. Whether it is reasons like making money, ecoterrorism, cult-like activity, or straight up genocide...those sound more awesome to face than some shitty fanclub for this one loli or delinquent group that doesn't go too far against the school because they are in a kid's game (even when death and other mature topics are still in the game in other forms like dex entries and what happens later to one of the major characters). Give credit for Team Skull for having some influence of causing shit to others in Alola and having succeeded in taking over a secluded town as their hideout. Arven's side, I can give my sympathies to the guy. I didn't think much of him, but later on, he turns out to be really sweet and one of the only well developed characters out of the entire cast. Especially knowing about his backstory connected to the true plot related to the exclusive Paldea mons exclusive to their version. Sort of understood why they wanted to do that twist based on a secret Gen 1 fact that didn't make it in final game, but I am on the side that says Kukui did it better and didn't have to repeat the same "lame team is minor villain and true big bad was hidden in plain sight", like they did with SwSh because of Sun and Moon. Sun and Moon's execution for it was also better compared to SwSh and ScVi. Ending of it all has left to be desired when it involves Arven too and how he handled all the events when following MC. Because you know Gamefreak is gonna make you pay $20 DLC to have a true post-game content. It sucks that this is what they are doing. Overall, plot is still hit and miss depending on where you ask. DLC is gonna happen to expand the true plot and it is just reminding us that someone is purposely doing this crunch and releasing the game just to only make money. They have to do the yearly releases instead of taking time to clean the game up. Modern Pokemon games suck because of it. You're better off playing fangames like Pokemon Clover, Pokemon Xenoverse, Rocket Edition, Emerald Rogue, Gold and Silver 97: Reforged, and other romhacks and fangames. The fan community are the only good ones left. Check out even Palworld too, the gang who made Xenoverse have plans to make their own original game too in monster collecting genre.

#Pokemon #Pokemon Scarlet #Pokemon Violet #Pokemon Scarlet and Violet #Gamefreak #Palworld

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cryptometaphor · 4 months ago

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(Discussing le'religion and it's place in politics because armchair communists can't decide on shit)

Admin whose name is also Sarah but imma just call her Arab: Marx said religion is the opiate of the masses.

Me: Y'all always leave out the part where he says the sigh of the oppressed immediately afterwards.

Sarah: Are you saying we should pity religious conservatives like how you pity incels?

Me: Perhaps... But it's more than that. It is the natural state of man to seek God. Sometimes man finds Him, sometimes he doesn't. He'll either cope, seethe, or dilate. As with all things.

Sarah: LOL WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN?!

Arab: I'm seething. I'm not gonna feel sorry for people who wanna restrict contraceptives and ignore working class...

Me: That's not why people seek religion. That's people groomed into another ism.

Arab: It's religion. Yes. Ideology and religion are interchangeable, but like...

Me: Lemme ask you. What would you do if YOU were God?

Arab: What do you mean?

Me: Like Bruce Almighty. Morgan Freeman says ok Persian cat lady, you're God. Now what?

Arab: Kinda racist.

Sarah: Good question though. I mean obviously I'd do the necessary stuff first. Reverse climate change.

Me: How?

Sarah: Oh wow, you're actually applying some debate pressure on me instead of buttering me up? lol

Me: No I mean I'd like details of what that would entail. I can butter you up afterwards lol

Sarah: lol ok. I mean like... Well for one, repair the ozone layer. The temperature drops back down, uhh... Reconfigure how carbon dioxide operates so we can run on coal and oil without it hurting the planet.

Me: The planet don't give a shit either way. We do. I mean maybe a lot of animals do too... So basically in a roundabout way. You want justice for the living.

Sarah: I suppose.

Arab: That has fuck all to do with justice. You're just using nice words and pretty thought experiments to deflect from the fact that...

Me: So than what would you do Ham-ass?

Arab: Ok that was SUPER RACIST am I gonna have to kick you?

Me: You could just out debate me. Sarah over here is making the world a better place as God. She just solved climate change, made our most monopolized source of energy go green... Go on. Impress me.

Me: Which btw, under the pretext of communism this makes the job ten times worse.

Sarah: How so?

Me: You've just given the bourgeois of coal and oil to produce indefinitely. Assuming they don't fuck it up somehow, now they'll really control the means of production.

Arab: Actually that is true.

Sarah: WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON LOL

Me Bale voice: I'm on the side of justice...

Sarah: Sure you are lol

Arab: Ok fine, I Thanos snap all the rapists off the planet. How's that? Snap, poof, they turn to dust.

Sarah: Based

Me: Is it?

Arab: OH GOD HERE WE GO SOME MANSPLAINING

Me: Yeah I mean, by what merit of rape? What you consider to be rape I hope. Not like, reddit...

Arab: I mean rape rape. Not creepy behavior LIKE YOU DO I mean actual assault. I'm being literal, I'm helping women everywhere, bad people gone.

Me: Sure sure... The families of those rapists are gonna be sad doh.

Arab: Oh well.

Me: The sudden departure of so many lives without even a rational explanation, they all just disappeared means more people are gonna become religious too.

Axel: Is this a thought experiment or did you just start a dungeons and dragons campaign and being a dick DM?

Arab: No, he's right. But see... That's why religion especially Christianity sucks. You see a miracle happen before your eyes, so like... Stop making child brides and assaulting women.

Me: Well you're gonna have to make things more abundantly clear for people than. If you just snap your fingers and they disappear, that sounds like a Rapture. Gonna be 4chan rape-cults in your name.

Sarah: Also based.

Arab: Shut up Sarah lol. But ok fine, they scream in agony as they disappear. I make it perfectly clear you do this thing, bad shit gonna happen to you.

Me: And you don't think people will still misinterpret it? Like we know clearly how you defined rape. But reddit does not. More redditors, yaaaay. Now their dumbass hot takes are laws and shit.

Arab: Oh well

Sarah: You suck as a god lol

Arab: YOU SUCK lol

Axel: This is why women can't have power

Both of them: Fuck you Axel

Arab: What would you do smart guy?

Me: I...

Arab: If it involves Sarah I will kick you right now lol

Me: Darn you, ok let me think for a moment lol

Arab: FUCKING HELL

Sarah: Based. Arab: Stop saying based. Sarah: Make me

(gets kicked)

Me: Ok that's where I'd start.

Arab: What? Me: Well add her back first.

Arab: She can rejoin, I was just being a bitch lol

Me: Something so innoculous as when someone goes to kick someone from a call or a mod goes to ban someone, a sharp and noticable pain pierces through their head. Enough to notice it's in this particular action.

Arab: That sounds incredibly vague and useless

Axel: So pretty much everything Jim says anyway

Arab: Basically

Me: Y'all think too small. This subtle nudge changes how we interact. Doesn't mean no one would ever moderate, but deep down they'd know it's wrong, it comes with consequences, undoubtedly people would do it anyway. As they do any awful thing.

Axel: Isn't that life now?

Me: It is... And that's why people seek God. Seek to know God, be God. Not huff the opiate of the masses praising God for miracles that cannot be confirmed or denied like Sarah's actions, not a sigh of the oppressed like Arab Sara's where we establish lore, trying to justify to ourselves God's existence. Undoubtedly if Arab Sara's Thanos snap thing was permanent, over centuries what is God's will would just become scientific fact and they'd use efforts and coping to justify how science makes it possible. Nietzsche even said science would replace religion.

Arab: So instead you just choose not to care. Typical liberal

Me: We're all acting in accordance to selfish desires all the time. Deep down nobody can know how we truly feel but ourselves. The pain and joy alike is a mystery, does God regret? Does God celebrate? Can we measure perfection at all in such imperfect conditions? Or can we only determine what's better for our sake?

Sarah: So solipsism.

Arab: Narcissism.

Me: People are inherently irrational agents and do awful and dumb things. The competing interests of our will, our instinct, and our greater good. Three as one trying to operate here and now.

Axel: Yeah, you could interpret Freud's ego, Id, and super-ego as the trinity

Sarah: So is that why Buddhism says to experience ego death? To essentially resurrect it as a new self?

Me: See, now you're getting into Kabalah and Neville Goddard.

Arab: I could've gone my whole life without you ever mentioning that name again lol

Me: Only when the three selves agree can we ever experience goodness.

Sarah: As a rational agent, I do wonder what the implications of some rash decision like ending global warming would ensare

Me: Hence the conflict. The man is conflicted with the spirit.

Axel: Wouldn't the Id be your man as the flesh and impulses of your genetics?

Me: I'll give you that. Id can be man, but the mind is soul. It's how we know ourselves and navigate, but the spirit, the reason we do anything, is above words for the soul or comprehension of the body. Albeit most often your instincts are correct. Your body's top priority is to keep you alive. Whether or not it can guide you to happiness and fulfilment is up for debate. Even if it could, we are not that in-tune.

Arab: Ok but what does any of this have to do with religion making people into magatards?

Me: Everything. Religion isn't getting in touch with God. Rarely do I see someone open up a Bible and say "how does this benefit me"? Typically when that happens, someone is backed into a corner from a life or death experience.

Sarah: That is true.

Arab: Well all this yapping does not justify Christians acting the way they do and imposing their will on others.

Me: You're still not getting it... YOU'RE the Christian.

Arab: Nunh-unh lol

Sarah: Jim literally doing the homer meme in a robe smoking a cigar "everyone is stupid except me..."

Me: Yeth. I mean, you're not stupid either.

Sarah: BULLSHIT I can hear it now. You're thinking in your head "she's a total retard, but she's cute, HEHEHEHEHE I'M DOING MY MR. KRABS VOICE she has no idea I think she's retarded SPONGEBOB AXEL ME BOY you're retarded too..."

(everyone laughs, that actually reels in donations)

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dankusner · 9 months ago

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Starck opening — invite [with Stevie Nicks...]

Some kind of mischief

The Starck Club: Memories of ecstasy, lifelong friendships and what went down in those famously large bathrooms

The Starck Club was a Studio 54 for a city still shaking off its reputation as the home of J.R. Ewing.

A warehouse in the West End designed by French architect Philippe Starck, the place came to define the decadent mid-’80s before AIDS struck and ecstasy became illegal.

In anticipation of the sold-out Starck Club 40th Anniversary Reunion today at the Kessler, we spoke to two people who were there, captured in this photo from 1987.

George Baum, 21 (now 58)

I was one of the few straight guys who worked the door.

I was dating a server there, but every night I was covered in lipstick.

I’d get pocketfuls of paper with people’s names on it.

I’d gone to a boys school in New England, and I’d met girls working in record stores, but nothing like this.

It was the greatest thing that ever happened to me.

We had a downstairs room that opened up on Sundays when the club was slower, and people entered through steps on the outside.

The stairwell was covered, but the steps led to open air, so those drips on the wall are probably rain.

There were drugs in the club, and probably every club in the ’80s, but it wasn’t a free-for-all.

People would pour cocaine on a table, and they’d get kicked out.

But there were bathrooms with these massive stalls.

You could have a party in there.

Did people have sex in the bathrooms?

I mean, it was a very stimulating place, and we were all young and didn’t have any worries.

Sex was at the top of everyone’s mind.

I remember Cheryl.

She was part of a regular group I liked a lot.

I think this picture is a friendly greeting.

She’s clearly telling me something, but I have no idea what.

I heard all kinds of things.

I worked at Starck until it closed in 1989.

It wasn’t making the money it had, and it was replaced by a terrible nightclub called DV8.

I worked for them, but you had to ask to go to the bathroom.

We had these comp cards to give to women, and they’d grade women on a scale of 1-10 and pay you based on that, which was disgusting even then.

Luckily, they shut down soon after they opened.

Starck was just an exceptional club: the philosophy, the people, the music, the creativity of the people. I’ve never seen anything like it since.

Cheryl Sharp, 20 (now 57)

I remember George being sweet and sort of shy, and I always gave him a hug.

I’m probably telling him some big secret in this picture.

My hair looks like a crimped curling iron nightmare.

It probably cost more than my rent.

That’s not my natural color, I can tell you that.

My roommate Truett Pool and his mother had dressed me that night in a little tankini from Contempo Casuals with bike shorts and stockings.

I was like, OK!

It was a Sunday fun day.

Truett was the first person I met from Starck.

He was on the dance floor with his mom, a hot little number in all leather, just adorable.

He introduced me to some of his friends, and I’m still close with those people to this day.

My college in Arkansas had been very preppy, very sorority-oriented.

I moved to Dallas that year because the economy was better but also because of Starck.

From day one, it felt like a place I belonged.

My mom used to say it was a cult, because every time I came home, I was wearing a Starck Club shirt, but it wasn’t.

Although I did leave one Christmas Eve and drive six hours to go to the afterparty.

I think ecstasy should be in the water.

Wasn’t it originally for couples’ therapy?

It changed my life.

It made me more open, happy and accepting, and I think that’s where our deep friendships came from.

By 1987, I didn’t see anyone selling drugs at the bar, but I did tip the bartender Mike $20 for water so I could be on his guest list.

It was a wild time, yes, but an inclusive, fun time.

The regularly bootlegged design for a Grace Jones performance from July 1989. Hynds says you can tell which shirts are fake because they have “Grace Jones” in black lettering instead of clear.

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genolover · 5 months ago

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IM BACK AND FEED LETS DO THIS

So narinder works on the ritual, shows it to his siblings and they're like, dude, this is literally fucking with the laws of nature. And he's like, ah yes, because being the Gods of War and Chaos is so natural. And they're like, what about her? *points to Forneus* Listen, trial and error are a part of the process.

So anyways, misunderstandings happen and nari is sealed away. So sad. Many years later, two babies pop up and for 2 seconds nari is like, oh sick I love kids. Then he realizes that kids really should not be here. Now he's got 2 children to raise and while he's done this before, last time he wasn't chained to one spot, had a whole cult to rely on, and had resources. Do you know how awkward it is to ask a vessel to bring you breast milk in the afterlife? 0/10 time.

Anywhozles he raises those kids the best he can. Reba would be proud. Then the lamb comes. Kills the bishops, kills nari : (, nari gets indoctrinated : ). He spends time healing from his wounds and kinda putters around the cult. Everyone is weary of him because, ya know, toww. Those who join later find him to be the weird hermit guy.

One day the lamb brings in an orphan. They're a busy cult leader/God so they tell the girl to wait while they get someone to watch over her. While they're gone, narinder waltzes up, asks if anyone is gonna take this, then doesn't wait for an answer. What's he gonna do, leave a girl oozing grief from her pores by herself? No thank you. She's like, you gonna kill me? He's like, I can but we gotta do some stuff before I do if that's alright. They go to make effigies of her parents to bury in narinders garden for closure and be sad together for a while. Meanwhile the lamb is freaking out because the kid they just rescued is missing and no one knows where she went. They start to think she just ran away. Imagine their surprise when they see her during a sermon a week later next to the local antisocial goth cat.

They find nari later and are like, hey where did you get her? Nari's like, grew her in the garden. Lamb goes, nah I'm pretty sure I brought her into the cult.

Well if you knew the answer then why did you ask? Loathsome beast.

This interaction clears up nothing for the lamb. Asking the girl directly brings the same thing (he found me growing out of the cabbage patch). They (as in everyone) finds out he's weirdly good with kids. They also found out the reason no one can find him for duties or chores is because he hasn't been home, he's been at another older woman's house. She volunteered to baby sit 2 children as she used to have some grandchildren of her own before she... found her way to the lamb. Word got around and she ended up with like 7. Some infants, some toddlers, too many for a single woman. Narinder heard the crying one day and was like, nope, we're not doing that. Came right in and started helping. He's literally been babysitting for, like, a year and no one noticed. Lamb should really work on the cult's situational awareness. No this doesn't count for them. Shut up.

When aym and baal come back they do the thing again (stork delivered me to him. Like a package. But better.) They kinda just look at her before baal gets happy.

Yay a sister!

And aym is upsetty spaghetti.

I knew you loved baal more.

You wanted a brother to replace baal, baal wanted a sister to add to the family. You are not the same.

Falsehoods!! Baal was going to replace me too!

Perhaps but I was subtle about it.

Oh crap, you all do that. I thought it was a creepy hermit thing.

Moving on from those dumb ramblings, eventually narinder becomes the cult's secondary babysitter. A lot of them are cautious of him but the kids love mister nari. By the time the narilamb is trying to kick off, the lambs biggest ops are not the newly revived bishops (we care not what you do with our treasonous brother, cur) but the gaggle of children who have varying opinions on whither or not the lamb, who they know fully well is their God, is worthy of their mister nari. Is narinder aware of these debates? He is too busy trying to figure out if this random child sleeping in his bed is supposed to be here or if he's gonna be accused of kidnapping again. Op, too late, the child is tucked in and various snacks are being prepared for when the child is awake enough to convey their dietary needs.

It took me several hours to type this up as the need to pace is all consuming. Feel free to ignore me.

Listen. I was over thinking at work again about narilamb. So many fanfics have narinder unsettled by/intimidated by/uninterested in having children and, like, great. Good soup. Will read the trope all day. But. I just always go "didn't he literally raise aym and baal?" Like he did that in a place not meant to support living creatures. And, like, he made the resurrection ritual for a reason.

I'm just saying I would 100% make a fic where he's still in his cult and it's made up of warriors and those tired and weary of life. Not many young ones, ya know. So when 2 devoted followers are like, "hey, we know this is a death cult, but can we have a kid?" He's like, "ye, sure, idgaf."

Then he sees the egg and he's like, wtf is this? Are we gonna eat it? There's a baby in there????? Are you sure? And he doesn't remember his original family and shamura and kallamar were older than him when they found him and heket was like him, young but relatively self-sufficient, and leshy was a baby when they found him but he also had a crown so he was weird. In other words, he is completely baffled by how babies work. What do you mean she can't eat this yet? How will she grow strong? Well leshy ate everything when we got him.

Then he grows unexpectedly attached to his kids. When the parents eventually die, he's unbothered. That happens. Whatevs. Then the first child dies of old age and he's like, oh. Oh no. Do not like that. And then he starts thinking that, ya know, he's learned a lot about how the other crown bearers worked and duality and such from shamura. Things are prone to change. If he's the God of Death then why can't he reverse it?

First successful resurrection doesn't go as planned. Yes, Forneus is back, but he definitely did something wrong with her lifespan.

I have to go because I've been working on this on and off since the end of lunch break and I need to go home now. Will be back with more overthinking.

#narilamb #narinder #cotl #the lamb #narindad #more fics of narinder being the best dad pls

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moemoemammon · 3 years ago

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yay! requests are open! y'know that thing where the s/o being so weak for their partner? I wanted to request the demon bros being weak for their s/o? does that make sense?

like, for example, MC would pout a little, and say 'pwease 🥺' and the demon bros would be like, 'yes, go on, what do you want from me? would you like my-' they'd just be so weak for mc.

I hope that makes sense! also, if it's too much characters, you can just do mammon and satan :) thank you ;3

Their One Weakness: MC!

(Feat. GN!MC and the Demon Bros)

✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦

Lucifer

Lucifer is known as the cruel eldest of the brothers. A sadist whose word is law, whose will can only be bent by Lord Diavolo himself. And yet since you came to the Devildom, all you ever seemed to do was the opposite of what he asked. Yet he still came to love you. He wonders if he spoils you too much...

Especially when you always seem to get your way one way or another. When you proposed the chaotic idea of a massive get together between the House of Lamentation and Purgatory Hall, Lucifer immediately said no. It’d be way too noisy and he had things to do.

But THEN... You fixed him with those damn EYES of yours.... The big eyes filled with sparkles and hopes that pleaded to him.... stop staring at him with them big ol eyes-

Lucifer REFUSES to acknowledge how cute you are when you look at him like that. Well, verbally anyway. You look like a kicked puppy...and he loves puppies...

"............I suppose if we prepare right now and get a dinner menu ready, it could be possible. And if you pout any harder you might pull a muscle, and I doubt I could explain that to Lord Diavolo. Now, go tell the others what you have planned."

Mammon

Mammon is practically the biggest MC simp in the world. You always occupy his thoughts any time of the day. 'Oh, MC would probably like one of these'. 'MC's always eatin' this for lunch. I'll grab one.' 'This would be way less borin' if MC were around...'

But as the Tsundere 🤢 king of the Devildom, there's no way he'll admit to any of that! So what if he's head over heels for you?! That doesn't mean he's gonna be all weak in the knees the moment you-

Wait, you're saying that because he lost a bet yesterday and promised he'd take you out to Ristorante Six and pay for the whole thing, now he's gotta pay up?!?! No way! He doesn't remember what you're talking about, and that voice recording you've got on your phone is clearly fake!

Mammon's dead set on weaseling out of his promise, until you freeze him in place with your pouty face... then you hit him with a "please..?" and the Avatar of Greed swears he might die right then and there.

"Tch..! Damn it, I ain't got a choice when ya look at me like that!!! What're ya playin' at, pulling' my heartstrings like that?! Hurry up and get dressed so we can go! A-and ya better eat your fill, too!"

Levi

The founder of the top secret MC Cult Fanclub, there's not much that could keep Levi from becoming putty in your hands. He's used to idolizing the objects of his affection, and you're no exception!

So when it comes to bending to your will, he's definitely the easiest. Except when it comes to n-...normie stuff...

Seriously, do you think someone like HIM should be going to The Fall?!?! No way! Not in a million, billion, trillion years!!!! You shouldn't get him to go to that crowded club even if you dragged him there!!!

Then... you hit him with the cute act... You declare your loyalty to him as his beloved Henry, fixing him with a pleading look that shoots him straight through the heart, and... GAH, HE'S GOT NO CHOICE!!!!!

"At... at least help me choose something to wear..! I don't know how I'm supposed to dress for normie stuff like this!!! Aaah... I wanna stay home, b-but when you say something like that, I just can't win-!"

Satan

Satan openly admits to how he likes to spoil you. It's cute seeing how big your grin becomes when he gives you something you wanted, and how happy you are when he takes you out for the evening.

But there are some things even he doesn't want to do, like when you suggest going to a chess tournament with Lucifer. You've been pressured by Lucifer wanting to attend, but figured it'd be easier to sit through with someone else. So why not Satan, who'd mentioned liking chess?

Yeah... he'd go if Lucifer weren't involved. As much as he'd love to go and pull some strings to ruin the match for the dear eldest, he's got something else planned involving a well timed glue bomb and Lucifer's study. So he'll pass.

Or so he thought, until you started poking your fingers together and mentioned how you'd hoped you could both enjoy it together. Kind of like a date..? Gah, his heart and its weakness for unconventional dates-!!!!

"...I... suppose I could go. It’d be nice to study how Lucifer plays, so I can finally beat him. Don't you think the look on his face will be priceless? And if you're there as well, I'll be able to stomach watching his face for an hour."

Asmo

Asmo LOVES you more than aaanyone!! There's no one who loves you more, you know? Why, he wants to involve you in every aspect of his life, and actively tries to do just that! He's even tried dragging you into the tub with him a few times...

And when it comes to spoiling you, he loves it! He's always the one being spoiled, so it makes him giddy when he can give a little back. If there's anything you want from him, just tell him and he'll make it happen!

Eh? You want to play fangol? With HIM?? Um... pass. You know he just got his nails done, right? Asmo's not really a fan of running around with a ball and getting knocked to the ground, so... no thanks! ❤️

Wait, don't make that face! What're you looking so glum for?? He'll kiss your sadness away, and- Eh?! You don't want a kiss?? You really wanna play THAT badly?????

"....You really don't have me mistaken for Beel, right..? You really want to play with ME? ...Haaaah, fine! I'll play one game with you, and in exchange, you have to spend all of tomorrow with moi! Sounds good, right~? Now let me see if Satan will let me borrow some of his clothes...urgh..."

Beel

As a 'go with the flow' guy, there's not much Beel won't do with you, even if it's not really something he's interested in. As long as he has you around and a surplus of snacks, he's fine with anything.

Until you suggest going to Majolish to try on some stylish outfits. You mention how Beel wears variations of the same thing all the time, so it's time for an update! He thinks you're spending too much time with Asmo...

Beel isn't really into tight, itchy, stiff fabrics like the 'stylish' things they sell at Majolish, and decides he'd much rather go to Hell's Kitchen instead. He's hungry. Are you hungry?

'Stop changing the subject'? Ah.. damn it 😔 Wait, now you're saying you just wanted to buy fancy outfits because you were planning to take him to Ristorante Six?! You can't tell if he's blushing over your consideration or the idea of food, but now Beel's looking through the clothes with earnest.

"I didn't know you were the winner of that 'all you can eat' coupon lottery. When I didn't win I was pretty upset, but I'm glad to know it was you. Even if these clothes are weird, I'll wear them. Can you pick something good for me?"

Belphie

Belphie likes to spoil you in more subtle ways, instead of simping as hard as his brothers. He's still as much of a sucker for you as they are though, much to his dismay. All you have to do is smile and you've got him wrapped around your gross human finger.

But when you mention wanting to go biking with Lord Diavolo and wanting him to come along, Belphie suddenly discovers that his ears don't work anymore. Anyway, goodnight-

Hey, stop poking him like that. Can't you see an deaf man is trying to sleep here?? And what's with that face..? You're pouting so hard you look like you're going to explode. It's cute, but Belphie can close his eyes an not see it.

But then you scoot into bed with him and hold him from behind, and the sleepy demon starts feeling his resolve crumble. You have some dirty tactics, huh..? Getting all cozy with him just because he's got a soft spot for you...

"...............Why Diavolo of all people..? I'd prefer anyone over him. Ugh... Hey, they still rent out those two person bikes, don't they? I'll only go if I can ride on that with you. I'll sit right behind you and cheer you on, okay? ..What's with that look? I'm joking...maybe."

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