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agent371 · 4 months ago

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This is just a post, so my best friend can read what I've done of my story so far (not much).

Feel free to ignore it.

1st arc

introduction : Lila (main character) is tied up and has had her blindfold taken off (its shown to be on the side so people know that she needs it), she has her hands tied but still gets up and fights back the gang who had her, because she has her blindfold off she can hardly see but still fights and gets her ties cut off that's when she finds her blindfold and kicks ass she gets very injured in the fight and just limps out.

Cut to at home where Lila gets her injuries patched up by Marley where he calls her kid and she calls him dad (quickly establishing their relationship), then have Lila, Marley, Zuri and Tamar on the sofa chilling and chatting (establish Lila and Zuri are very close friends and Zuri has a crush on her). Tamar questions something on the news as it's the 20 year anniversary of something on earth, have Zuri explain ‘Wipeout’ (this explains universe lore, sets up a new storyline and establishes Tamar hasn't been on earth for long).

Marley, Zuri,Tamar and Lila team up on a mission where they were hunting down the people who kidnapped Lila and overhead that there was going to be an assassination attempt, the gang didn't know much but did know the name in what they gave up after some pressure (Shade) this leads to a flashbacks to Lila's backstory.

Flashback: Kidnappers talk about how her family died and how they took her. Then show them mid experiment, and the files they looked also show Shades file, during this Wolf breaks In and saves Lila, the person hes with then shows him Lilas files and then shows that theirs more victims in this organisation show of Shade but also have Raijin and a note that that building burned down.

-2nd mission to stop assassination fails and Shade escapes in a chase sequence and he's then seen disappearing into a wall of roses and the team suspect he has help(Rick)

-On 2nd mission Marley sees another crime and leaves the chase to the others so he can stop the robbery where he meets Ace, Ray and Dia. He catches Ace but the other escape

-Ace gets put into juvie and Marley makes a deal with Ace and police that as a licenced hero he can take Ace in and help him, Ace will be with Marley for Friday-Tuesday and his at home with a ankle monitor for Tuesday afternoon to Friday morning and has to go to school with monitor as well. Ace is shown eger to agree and when he gets out he tells Marley he only agreed so he could see his friends (Dia and Ray) again and doesn't really care for helping people and Marley tells him that he won't give up on Aces potential and trying to make him a hero

Tiger goes looking for Rick and finds him at an empty house she's trying to get information from him. In the fight she cuts off the lights to get the advantage and then takes off her blindfold that then lets her see perfectly in the dark, then corners him, this is where he uses his magic 1st time to the audience and traps her in the vines while running away the magic takes a big toll on him and he falls so he hides and he let's her out, she runs out but quickly gets blinded as during the fight the police were called and the lights were too bright for her as she didn't have the blindfold on, Rick uses this as a distraction to escape.

-After this there is a bath scene where Rick is drinking wine and examining his scar. He thinks back to when he was young and did magic recklessly, in his reckless pursuit a more experienced magician tells him how dangerous he's being and he brushes him off.

↳ meanwhile Tamar and Zuri hunt down Shade, learn she was sent to kill Lila by ? They take them to the prison system that's set up to hold people with powers

↳ at the same time Marley and Ace were looking for clues about the 2 villians like who they are and where they would next be, they learn that Shade and Rick were being paid by the same account (they couldn't trace account) and that there was a meet up the next day with the buyer the keep ? Updated with what was going on

-After the fights all 5 of them sit down to talk about all the information they've got, they come to the conclusion that Shade and Rick were sent by the company that experimented on Lila as Shade got his powers by the same place, they also make a plan to ambush the meet up

-The 5 of them wait at the meet up spot but only Rick shows up and waits impatiently for the buyer after no one else arrives and Rick starts to leave and then the 5 attack.

Final fight:

Lila is the 1st to attack and Zuri, Tamar and Marley make themselves known but Ace hangs back.

Rick uses his magic and imitate goes to take down the whole building - if he can't escape then neither can they- Zuri uses her powers to keep the building up and stop crumbing.

During the chaos reinforcements for Rick came in (? Knew about the ambush and set one up as well).

Where are they now:

Lila is fighting Rick

Tamar and Marley are fighting the reinforcements

Zuri is holding the building together

Ace has disappeared

Tamar and Marley are getting run thin as they get out numbered and Rick has taken his and Lilas fight to the roof as the goons were getting in the way of the fight. Zuri is still struggling to hold things together.

Cut to Ace who is seen walking away from the fight self dialogueing ghat he's not a hero and just wanted to see his friends again but during this dialogue he starts feeling guilty because Marley put faith in him and his skills and Ace just left. Nobody had ever had that much faith in Ace and his potential and he starts to question if he could actually be a hero and if what Marley said was true. This got him to turn around and when he got back to the building he helped Tamar and Marley out and the 3 of them managed to win.

Cut to Lila and Rick fighting, Lila is struggling against the magic and the building that's still being destroyed and Rick is struggling trying to fight while the magic is attacking his body, another flashback to Rick's past where he if purposely showing off his magic in a fight to impress a girl watching, the person he was fighting got mad and placed a curse on him that everytime he uses Magic he'll pay the real consequence and can see that magic isn't just fun in games and needs to be used very sparingly as its very powerful. After that he falls from a sharp pain in his foot where he sees the vine scar start to form.

A small timeskip in the flashback: Rick is using magic to protect the girl he was previously impressing from a group of guys, he fights them off but sees how the scar grows, then the very pregnant girl hugs him in reassurance that he did the right thing.

Then Zuri is saying she can't hold the building together and to get everyone out. Marley, Ace and Tamar start cleaning out the goons at the bottom.

At the top both are fighting to stand upright against the crumbing building, Lila is still beating him with questions like why was he being paid to take her out, names of the people and where they are and he was refusing to answer, but he told her that the guy who wants her dead was blackmailing him with his kids safety and that he had to do this, not for him, not for the money but for his kid he hasn't seen in years.

Rick's mask at this point is off and he uses more magic to hold him up and attack Lila, this extends his scars to his face and discolours his hair then the magics that's holding him up starts climbing up the scar marks and he panics, Lila is trying to get to him but can't reach, the magic then starts piecing his body, Lila yells out for him as he falls of the roof.

By this point Zuri has climbed the building to get Lila out of there and takes her waist and uses her powers to take them out of the area.

Once the building had completely fallen Lila goes back trying to find Rick's body but fails to find it and believes he was already dead from the magic and that it took him completely.

End of the 1st arc

Motives:

Shade- has been after Lila for years as the people who gave him powers wanted her dead as she was their experiment, the one that got away. They failed to find her and gave up and became a merc. Then got paid by ? to take her out, after failing once he got help this time.

Rick- was in dept to ? as ? Helped his kid in the past (after that Rick gave his kid up), So when Shade requested help ? put Rick on the case. Rick has been trying to get away from this life as the curse consumes him but was threatened by his unnamed kids safety by ? And was blackmailed into helping.

Ace: Was dragged into it at first but now he recognises that he can be good and wants to redeem himself for Marley

Lila: Saving people (learned by Marley and she initially got into hero life for revenge)

Marley: to help people

Zuri: To give hope to people

Tamar: for adventure

Arc 1 overview

Protagonist: Lila kay

Side Characters: Marley Kay, Zuri Molfe, Ace Hadley, Tamar

Antagonists: Rick Miciele, Shade

Notes:

Have the 'wipeout incident’ in the news in background to set up next arc, mention it in casual dialogue how the 20 year anniversary of the wipeout incident is coming up and have Tamar question it -it's her 1st year on earth she doesn't know what it is- and have them tell a story how 20 years ago there was an attempted alien invasion that started in England, the hero's won but only 6 came out alive and the 6 have since retired.

The Curse:

Everytime he uses magic it travels up his leg and makes it harder to use his limbs. The magie takes the form of roses and rose vines, and this makes the scars appear as a rose vine.

#shit post #writing

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flamingfalcon3 · 2 years ago

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Why Mike lying in his monologue would destroy his character

So the idea of Mike lying during his monologue has been an almost universal theory among a certain group of shippers. I get the impulse to write it off, as the monologue was pretty damning for their ship. I’ve seen the theories about the lightning, and the vines tightening, and the screenshot about the writers not believing in love at first sight, but I’m not here to discuss whether the monologue is real or not. I might do that another time.

I want to discuss the implications of the monologue being a lie, as I believe it would decimate Mike’s character and put his treatment of El on par with Brenner’s.

Throughout season 4, we get a glimpse of El’s time in the lab; how she was forced to compete with her brothers and sisters in order to earn childhood commodities like candy or extra time playing with toys. This struck me, because in previous flashbacks we’ve mostly seen her being punished for not accomplishing tasks. However, on a second rewatch of season 1, I noticed other moments where Brenner “rewarded” El for doing what he wants. One moment where he gave her a plant before she went in the sensory deprivation tanks, and, more importantly, the moment where El kills the two guards who threw her in the dark closet. This time, however, instead of giving her a physical reward, he cupped her face in his hands and called her “incredible.” This was the first instance where we saw Brenner act as a “father-figure” towards El instead of an emotionless scientist. We can conclude from these handful of scenes that affection was something El was supposed to earn. Love was conditional, and she had to use her powers to earn it.

Mike, from the very start of the show, was portrayed as the foil to Brenner. While Brenner rewarded El as it benefited him, Mike showed compassion to El before he even knew her name. It would’ve been easier to leave her out in the storm. He did not know about her powers or that she could help him find Will. He was also incredibly defensive of her when they found out she did have powers, and ridiculed Dustin when he treated her powers like a fun dog trick. He was the first person to ever treat El like a human being, and she fell in love with him for it. With Mike, love wasn’t something she had to earn.

Skipping ahead to season 4, El was at her lowest point. She believed that she was a monster. That her boyfriend had fallen out of love with her. The powers that she’d been trained since birth to associate with love and affection were gone. She’d started to regain a sense of self after standing up to Brenner, coming to terms with the fact that he was the one who caused all the pain and suffering in the world, not her. Vecna tries to shake this newfound confidence El had during their confrontation, reminding her that she was the one who made him into what he was, as well as letting him back into the world. We’ve seen that El is at her strongest when she feels loved. Vecna knows this, and uses her insecurities against her to make her feel like a monster again, which in turn makes her feels unlovable.

Mike’s monologue assures her that she is loved. More specifically, she’s loved by the person who’s seen her at her worst and who she feared stopped loving her because of the things she’s done. Again, she’s being reassured that love isn’t conditional. That Mike’s love isn’t conditional.

If Mike lied during his monologue, and by extent the whole relationship, he would’ve been acting like her abusers. He would’ve been manipulating her emotionally in order to get something out of it. He did not have to tell her that he loved her. He could’ve said anything else because he didn’t know that love was what gave her strength. The implication that Mike lied during his monologue means he used one of El’s biggest insecurities in order to make her more powerful so she prevent the apocalypse. You can argue that El did not believe him, but you cannot argue that it wouldn’t have been a despicable thing to do regardless. Trying to manipulate someone to that degree is bad even if they didn’t fall for it, especially someone like El.

If you want to theorize Mike as some master manipulator then that’s one thing, but what baffles me is the group that believes Mike was lying in his monologue should be with their favorite character. Why would you want a character who emotionally manipulated his girlfriend for years to be with another heavily traumatized character? It would be so much easier to just have his feelings be genuine and have El break up with him regardless.

Idk how coherent this is, but I can’t stand it when people spend so much time trying to prove that Mike was lying in his monologue without considering the horrible implications it has for him as a character and I wanted to bring some light to that.

#I should write about why i believe mike was telling the truth in his monologue next #mileven #stranger things #el hopper #eleven #mike wheeler #mike x eleven #stranger things 4 #stranger things season 4

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chaos-le-mieux · 2 years ago

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Error Flowey: Profile 1

Well, considering he's somewhat part of the Error Chara's story, I figured I'd shed some info on him. And since his role in the main story is somewhat minor, I'll be giving more information on what he can do, since there's a good chance I'll never need to use any of it. Just for reference sake, if anyone is curious. Back Story: He comes from a Classic Universe, one of the Undertale Game worlds. As Omega Flowey, the Player in control of Frisk was never able to free the six souls, and they gave up. And Never Came Back! But Nobody Came... (This actually happened to one of my IRL friends a few years ago). Being stuck in a sub void of nothingness, in a game where he cannot interact with anything, he got desperate. Since he was able to create a dimension with a dummy save file and save states, he figured he could modify and edit values of his world. After six months of solitude, of messing around with the games code, he began to mess with his own. And after some trial and error Error ErRoR ERROR... his world... was no more. Emerging in the void, all his memories in tact and a new colour pallet, he would wonder. Looking for anything to hold his interest, to perhaps give purpose to his uncaring existence. Appearance: He has near Black skin, rich Blue petals, Purple stem and leaves, and White floaty "Error" messages that hovers around him. His eye sockets are White and Hollow, unless he closes them around his pupils. His pupils are Magenta, though he can hide them making his eyes look Hollow and White. Stats: ATK: 66? DEF: 6? LV: 20 EXP: 99999Error Attack strength is high due to two factors, High LV and being an "Error" (what ever that means) Defense is still technically high compared to regular monsters, but not ground breaking. Though, with strong attack stat, and high HP pool, plus glitchiness, I don't think it matters to much. Level of Violence is 20, a.k.a. Max due to not caring. He's incredibly distant from anyone and everyone (almost) that he can easily bring himself to harm others. Execution Points are overclocked because of all the AU's he's destroyed on a whim. Special Abilities: Substrate Burrow: Can burrow into any surface (unless a coder, hacker, or creator puts barriers in place), including the void floor. This is how he's able to get information across the void. He's able to spy on any target and stay out of sight. And he's a curious one, remember, he's read every book, he's burned every book. Plant Tendrils: These operate similar to the coding strings of other Errors, but are vines instead Friendliness Pellets: They're bullets, let's not kid ourselves Transformations: Depending on how many Human Souls, or Monster Souls Equivalents, will determine what level he can transform into. Soul Level: 0: Error Flowey 1: Error Asriel (Young - similar to how he looked in flashbacks) 2: Error Asriel (Pre Teen) 3: Error Asriel (Teen) 4: Error Asriel (Young Adult Similar to how he looked during phase 1 of the final battle) 5: Error Asriel (Adult) 6: Error Omega Flowey 7: Error of HyperDeath As Error Asriel he will also don a Golden Heart Locket. He also hates being in his Asriel forms, while much stronger, his compassion and emotions eventually start flooding back in. And lets just say he has a lot of baggage he wishes not to have emotions for. Error Flowey's Goal!? Aside from battling boredom, he does have a personal goal, that's more or less a curse on him. Whenever he see's a Chara that reminds him of his own, he feels obligated to help them achieve their goal. The reason for this is in his mind he has failed his Chara three times. First time is the buttercup incident. Second time is letting them both die at the hands of Humans. Third time is destroying his home world, making His Chara's sacrifices all in vain, as monsters can never be set free in a destroy and erased world Relationships: 6 Human Souls: In his travels though the void he encountered 6 souls that reside within his inventory. Bravery, Justice, Kindness, Patients, Integrity, Perseverance. These souls all come from corrupted worlds where they felt cheated and wanted a second chance to set things right. They act as a council of sorts. Guiding Flowey to help him make informed decisions as to not just destroy everything he sees as an inconvenience. Though most of the time they just sleep. Error Chara: Even though he knows this Chara is not His Chara, he still feels something familiar about them. To the point where he can track them down no matter where they are. He knows their plan involves uniting Sans's and Chara's across the multiverse, and despite also thinking the plan is stupid and destined to fail, he will provide as much information as they need. He will also try to keep distractions away from Error Chara so they can stay focused on their goal. Enjoy~

#Error!Flowey #Errortale #Error #Flowey #Undertale #OMG #Why did I write so much #I think I spent more time writing the Bio then..#okay #maybe not #I did spend a long time drawing this #o 3o

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freetobeeyouandme · 2 years ago

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Mike’s Monologue (Actually Romantic Version)

Hey y'all! So, a lot of the analyses I've seen about the monologue and things I noticed about it myself as to why it sucks ass were kind of just easily fixable things related to the editing of the scene. And because I have an editing software and thought it would be a fun way to practice...I fixed it. So here's what Mike's Monologue could have looked like if they had wanted it to be actually romantic.

Notes and process under the cut.

- Everything I used (except flashbacks) is from the original ~4 min sequence from them pulling El out of the water to her sending Henry flying (I’ll reblog with a link in a second)

-My version is ~3 mins long, shaving off a whole minute from the og. I did that by cutting out everyone else who intrudes on the scene, which is Will and Max but also shots of Lucas, Hopper, Eddie and Dustin in distress after the bulk of Mike's speech

-The ending is super interesting because El looks at Max and then frees herself, but as she does so we leave the mindscape and Surferboy’s: We cut to Max irl, getting her bones broken, Lucas beating Jason to go stand and look at Max dying, a shot of Hopper with a snarling demodog on top of him, Eddie getting eaten and Dustin calling out for him, and then back to Max and Lucas. Only then do we cut back to Mike still yelling "fight!" and El falling off the wall sending Henry flying. Which imo emphazises that this isn’t the kind of romantic love saves the day scene that it should have been if it was meant genuinely. It’s El remembering Max is in danger that pushes her to fight, not Mike, which is why we see all of her friends in danger as she frees herself. It’s not just Will between them in this scene, it’s everyone.

-Cutting all that was relatively easy because at this point Mike just keeps repeating "fight, El" so no dialogue was lost and I didn't have to futz with the audio

-Similarly cutting Will's prompting Mike was also so easy to cut, which just shows how unnecessary it was. Which, in turn, just hammers home how suspicious it is

-I simply covered Will and Jonathan's reactions to "hurt more" with a reaction shot for El, eliminating further intrusions on the scene by others

-The montage includes 15 different clips of memories, which is more than El has when she restarts Max's heart (10) and about the same as Max during Running Up That Hill (16).

-Making the montage made me realize how jarring the constant back and forth between Mike and El becomes, especially towards the end of the monologue, after that first memory: During Running Up That Hill we focus solely on Max after the boys put on Kate Bush, only cutting to them once when Max starts to float and even then Max is still in the picture, because we're in her head and need to see how she feels and how she's escaping. I tried to imitate that with my montage, but it's interesting that in the real version we get dragged back to Surferboy's and see Mike talk, making the scene not just about El and her fight to escape but also about Mike performing (when he should become just a guiding voice like the song)

-El's reaction in the montage except for the laugh after the t-shirt mention are all from after the monologue

-The most immediate and drastic change imo was when I changed the background music. Even without the montage the cut already works so much better with "Unambigious True Love" playing instead of "You're The Heart"

-I didn't have to do anything fancy to make the new song work. I simply underlaid UTL so the track lined up with the fade to black and it fit basically on the first try. The length spans the entire monologue, slowly building up and then cresting during the montage and falling as Mike calls for her to fight and the vines fall away. It would literally have been the perfect track to use instead of making up a new one and then naming it after Will's feelings.

-There are still a couple of things about the monologue that I couldn't fix, such as lighting, shot composition (Will is still visible over Mike's shoulder for example) and the actual text, which is still a bit weird, but overall doing this was very interesting because it made me think about what we should have seen if they wanted this to be genuine and the difference between what I ended up creating and what we saw on screen is stark.

In conclusion: They’re bones

#Byler #anti mileven #stranger things #stranger things 4 #mike wheeler #eleven hopper #video edits

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unluckyhoneybee · 2 years ago

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The handsome artist. 10. (Daniel Ricciardo)

Dew on the Vine. A part from Daniel's past comes back and it hits like a tsunami. MASTERLIST. Moodboards and Playlist. Previous part: The Ricciardos. Listen to: Dew on the Vine by Bear's Den. Really, listen to it. It's awesome.

Note: is this the first angsty part? I think so. This has been written for ages and patiently waiting on my drafts. Warning: mentions of a horrendous ex and kind of unwanted babies. Consumption of alcohol as the main plot.

"Nah mate, I told you I am taken" I told Pierre.

"You aren't dating her" He insisted. There was a blonde girl he wanted me to meet. He said she was his friend and have been asking about me the whole night.

"Yet, Pierre. Yet."

After seeing her around my family, mum's words, the kids adoring her... I was even more sure than before. I wanted her. I liked her way too much to let her go. I needed her in my life.

"It won't hurt anyone."

I rolled my eyes at the French and drank from what was my 4th beer.

"Who are you and where is the Danny Ric I know?"

"He is right here. He just likes a girl and doesn't want to be with anyone else at the moment"

"Why?"

"Because it feels weird even thinking of it."

"Have you fucked her?"

I looked at Pierre and swallowed.

"No?" He asked with surprise on his face.

"No"

"Then?"

"I won't, Pierre. Tell your friend I'm not interested" I tried to sound as polite as possible, but he was irritating me.

I grabbed my beer and walked away. I couldn't even think of anyone else. During my lonely nights, it was Abi who appeared on my mind. At first I thought I was being weird, I thought about how I shouldn't. Then one night I just let go and I had been lost since then. It was only her in my mind now. Of course I found others pretty. I hadn't gone blind. But I only had eyes for her.

I found Michael and Blake and sat on a stool with them. 4 beers became 5 then 6 and 7 and soon I was a bit tipsy.

"Hey, I'm gonna take some air" I said grabbing Mike's arm. "I have a couple of appointments tomorrow"

"Fine. Well wait here"

As I walked outside and the humid air hit my face, I felt slightly better. The pub's heat was suffocating me. Also, it wasn't a good idea to go all hungover to tattoo some dudes. I took deep breaths and leaned on Piarles' front wall. I pulled my phone out and saw it.

Abi🌼: have so much fun, see you on monday❤️

It brought a smile to my face. She had asked how the family had arrived in Australia. She told me to send them lots of kisses. Then, we had only been talking about coffee. I had only suggested meeting on a break from work. Maybe something between tattoos or deliveries. She had sent a smiley face and a yes and that was enough to keep me happy. I wanted to

I lift my head and thought about something to send. Something sweet. But I saw a face. A very familiar face.

No, no, no. She was supposed to leave. Why is she here? She was gone. She can't come back now that everything is fantastic.

I tried to walk back inside.

"Danny!"

I felt a wave of nausea hearing her saying my name. Stupid me, unable to be a jerk, I turned around.

"Holly"

She was way closer than I thought. It took me by surprise when she went and hug me.

I closed my eyes for a second and tried to not push her away.

Flashback.

Holly was in front of me. She was crying and I hadn't even told her anything. Just a we need to talk.

Michael was right. She was no good, she was toxic and manipulative. And I had just realized that, after more than a year and a half, I wasn't happy with her.

"Holly... I... I'm really sorry. But... I think we should break up"

Her eyes opened like plates and she tried to grab me. But I pulled away.

"No, Holly."

"Danny, we... We can talk, we can figure it out. Don't give up so easily, baby"

She cupped my cheeks and I closed my eyes. I didn't want to see her. I couldn't look at her in the eyes.

"I can't do this anymore. I-It's no good for any of us"

"It's not! It's perfect! Can't you see we are made for each other? Can't you see you mum loves me?"

"No... Don't say that"

It wasn't true. It was mum the first one who warned me.

"It's over"

I pulled away from her.

"It can't be! I'm pregnant! I'm having your kid!"

I felt dizzy for a moment. It was as if someone had dropped frozen water in me.

Pregnant with my child?

"What?"

"We are going to be parents, Daniel" She walked to me and hugged my waist. I felt as if her skin pushed needles on mine.

"How?"

"I thought you knew..." She said with a cheeky smile and then went to kiss my lips.

But no. I moved my head to the side.

"I always use protection, you are on the pill"

"I suppose it failed."

I closed my eyes and pinched my nose.

What's the probability of both methods failing?

"Danny... Please. Just... Let's give it a try. You always talk about how you want kids. You are wonderful with Isaac and Isabelle. You are the best uncle and will be the best dad. Just try. For this baby" She touched her flat stomach and grabbed my hand. "Please. Let's give it a try for our son"

"Son?"

"I think it will be a boy. Mother instinct"

She was right. I wanted nothing more than having my own kids. I wanted nothing more than being a dad. But I also wanted to break up with her. She was no good for me. She was no good for anyone.

"Danny? Think about how happy your mum will be! She will be a grandma again!"

And I believed her. I gave it a try. I laid my hand on her belly and closed my eyes. My kid was there. I'll do it for them.

End of the Flashback.

She let me go and kissed my cheek, way too close to my lips for my liking. I wanted to vomit.

My chest felt tight and I had a knot in my stomach.

"I missed you so much, Danny. You look so good. You have been taking care of yourself, eh"

I simply nodded.

"What are you doing here, Holly?"

"I came to visit my mum. She told me your family was over! How is Grace? And the kids? I miss those little rascals so much."

No, no, no. Don't talk about them.

Holly had been sweet to my family in front of me. She had been the best aunt, the best sister and daughter in law. She had been awesome and made me feel she was the one. Then behind my back, she had gone and talk shit to my mum. She had gone and insult my dad. She had made the kids fight between them, she had made toddlers fight between them. She had left my sister out of the house. She had been shit to them while I thought they were just exaggerating.

"They already left"

"Oh, I could have just gone and say hi if I had known" She took my hand and I was unable to pull away. "Tell me, Danny. How is everything going? How is the studio?"

"Fine"

"I'm so sorry we finished things like that. But maybe we can meet, have a coffee and talk about it."

Flashback.

I walked to the door slowly. Holly was there talking to her cousin.

"He knows nothing yet."

I pressed my ear to the door.

"He is not that intelligent. He is just a man after all, right?" She laughed. "Yeah, how can't he even notice my stomach is not growing? We fuck like every day. It's not that I'm hiding"

I frowned. Her stomach?

"Yeah. I will fake an abortion or something. I'll say it was spontaneous. Shit happens. He is going to Australia soon. A wedding or something. I will do it then so when he comes I will be out of the hospital. There won't be anyway he can notice. He hasn't even notice I'm not really pregnant. Then I will have some kind of dreppesed state, then another. If the man is something, it's loyal. He won't break up with me in such a state. After loosing my baby and all... "

I felt my head turning. I hadn't heard all of that. It was just a bad dream. I would wake up on my bed, next to her. Next to a pregnant Holly growing my child. Child I already loved even when I just wanted their mum away.

"He is a fucking prick, but there is money, good sex, parties... And that friend of his. Michael? Yeah. I will try. I'm sure I can get him to fuck me"

I grabbed the handle and opened the door so hard it hitted the wall and came back to me.

She looked at me and her eyes showed only panic. I swear I had never been more disgusted to see a face. I just hated her.

End of the Flashback.

"Don't touch me, Holly. I have nothing to talk about with you"

"OH, baby..."

She tried to touch my face but I walked back.

"Mummy!"

Goosebumps ran over me. Was it...

A man, maybe ten years older than me which meant probably 15 years older than Holly, was walking to us with a kid on his arm. A very young kid.

I looked down at her. Why did it hurt so much? Why? She only made my life miserable, she tricked me, she lied in the worst possible way. Why was I feeling all this pain?

"How old is he?" The boy was clearly theirs.

"He is two."

Some quick maths and yes.

"You went right after... Right after what you did and got pregnant. With someone else kid? Right after?"

"Danny... I..."

"No. Tell me the fucking truth." I took a step closer to her, raising a over her and making her look small. I didn't feel pity for her.

"I... I... I tried to... I didn't want it to be a lie... I want it to be real so... I..."

Gears worked in my head and it finally made sense.

"You couldn't get pregnant with mine. I didn't stopped using protection."

Her eyes watered and I felt rage.

"Danny..."

"You tried to get someone's else and then tell me it was mine." I spit and my breath got more ragged. "Tell me!"

"Hey dude"

The men pushed me away.

"If you talk to my wife like that again..."

I lift my hands and turned around. I couldn't look at her anymore. I couldn't see her again. That woman hadn't enough with one lie. She hadn't enough. She just couldn't stop. I walked away fast, I was having some kind of tunnel vision. I needed a drink or two. I needed to get her out of my mind.

Where to go or to hide, You're only worth your old lies Confiding in your own mine, Caught in the cold lie, I thought you were better man I thought you were better man

A slip step on the tight rope, Freaked out by a false hope That things could be alright No they're not alright

So I found a bar. A dark one. The people inside was creepy. Lonely big men drinking alone and in silence with some hard metal on the background. The bartender looked at me.

"Whiskey?"

I nodded.

She was back in town. Would she stay? Would I watch her usually? Would she try to reach for me again? Would she learn about Abigail? Would she try with her what she did with anyone else?

The whiskey cup kept coming and the bill kept growing. I couldn't care less.

"Hey! You drank too much, why don't you go and take a walk?"

I didn't knew what time it was. I only knew that the bartender was pushing me.

So I just let him push me out of the bar. I found myself on the street, not able to walk in a straight line and definitely not remembering where my car was. So I took my phone out.

15 missed calls by Michael.

7 missed calls by Blake.

I couldn't face them not like this. They would only hate me. They would only get angry at me for falling this low.

I called the only person I wanted to see now. I wanted the only one I wanted to be with now. Call me if you need me, she said. And fuck. I needed her so bad.

Dramatic and short. But hey! Some of Danny's past!!!

Next part: Warm shower.

#daniel ricciardo #dr #the handsome artist #fic #angst #f1

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0ruguitas · 3 years ago

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Some Encanto series episodes ideas

Part 2

Also feel free to use these as prompts! Just credit me please!

- Bruno is suspiciously eager to take the kids out for a day of fun. He begs the parents to let them take the day off and takes them around the Encanto, indulging them all as much as possible, but Mirabel starts to notice that it Bruno seems stressed and isn't having fun. Bruno confesses that he still feels guilty for leaving the family for so long and is desperately trying to make up for lost time.

- A day in the life of Felix and Agustín and what they do around the house when the rest of the Madrigals are out helping the town with their powers.

- The rest of the kids (mainly Camilo) help a nervous Dolores prepare for her meeting Mariano's family. Camilo acts out the whole dinner party, shape shifting into different members and seemingly not taking it very seriously, much to Dolores's frustration.

- a Flashback episode(s) on how Pepa and Julieta met and fell for Felix and Agustín.

- Christmas with the Madrigals! There are a lot of Colombian traditions that would be so fun to explore, namely the competitive Juegos de Aguinaldos¹ which would have all the families in the frenzy and on guard during the last 9 days leading up to Christmas since the games are on going and are all about catching your opponents off guard (think like "you just lost the game"). The Madrigals using their powers in different fun ways to get a leg up on each other would be fun to see!

- Isabela is nervous about hanging out with all of her adult married friends after the fiasco with Mariano, and it manifests in an invasive crawling vine that won't stop growing and following her around.

- Agustín fumbles through trying to plan an anniversary gift for Julieta, but of course with him anything that can go wrong, does.

- Camilo encourages Antonio to get into the art of performance and start a one man act with his animals. Antonio has fun at first until Camilo gets a bit too controlling and becomes a pageant mom. Antonio learns that Camilo misses being the "baby" of the family and simply wanted to relive being the center of attention through Antonio.

- Luisa has a secret admirer and Mirabel and Isabela are determined to figure out who it is! Luisa feels that she is far too busy for love.

- Felix and Camilo switch roles for the day after arguing over who has it harder. Camilo is only allowed to use his powers to be Felix for the day while Felix wears a poorly made Camilo costume and is forced to improvise many more costumes through out the day to mimic Camilo's shape shifting abilities.

- Dia de los Inocentes² comes around and Mirabel is tired of the rest of her cousins and siblings using their gifts to out prank her, so she enlists Bruno's help so she can always be one step ahead of the rest of them. Mirabel unknowingly wears out her tío, as he remains silent about how too many visions can seriously wear him out.

- It's the first time the Triplets get to celebrate their birthdays since Bruno's return, and Alma and his sisters are determined to make it their best yet and make Bruno feel celebrated and loved. The only problem? Bruno is no where to be found. Unbeknownst to them and the audience, Bruno is planning his own surprise for his sisters.

- Dolores thinks she overhears Luisa talking to the donkeys about wanting how tired she is of the Encanto, and assumes she means she wants to leave. Dolores rushes to tell her family to that they must do everything in their power to make Luisa feel love and appreciated.

———

¹ Aguinaldos Games are a set of games played on the last 9 days leading up to Christmas in which the players are given various little challenges to keep each other on their toes. One example in the game Tres Pies or Three Legs in which one person must try to sneak their leg in-between the other person's legs from behind, so you must be sure to never have your legs too spread around other players so you don't give them the opportunity to catch you. The winner is typically owed a gift or money from the loser.

² Dia de los Inocentes is the equivalent of April Fool's day in Colombia, celebrated on December 28th

———

CLICK HERE FOR PART 2

#encanto #bruno madrigal #pepa madrigal #mirabel madrigal #julieta madrigal #camilo madrigal #dolores madrigal #isabela madrigal #luisa madrigal #antonio madrigal #agustín madrigal #alma madrigal #agustin madrigal #Félix Madrigal #felix madrigal #0.txt #0.writing

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vynegar · 3 years ago

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vyn RRG card story, part four

just... prepare yourself

same disclaimer and notes from part one.

youtube link to Hikari Sherry Gaming‘s video of the card story

links to other parts: one two three

do not repost

[PART FOUR]

(25:50)

Perhaps because I was suddenly in an unfamiliar environment, I had difficulty sleeping that night.

MC: I was on the train for so many days that I really want to rest, but why am I still unable to fall asleep…

MC: Please don’t let me have dark circles under my eyes tomorrow when I see Dr. Richter…

I dejectedly climbed out of bed and suddenly saw that the lights were still on in the distant greenhouse.

MC: I don’t know how my and Dr. Richter’s grape vine is doing…

(26:05) Spring Greenhouse

Right when I entered the greenhouse, the servant who was checking the condition of the plants quickly welcomed me.

Servant: Miss, did you come here to see you and sir’s grape vine?

MC: N-no. I just couldn’t sleep and took a walk, and I saw the lights were on here so I came.

MC: Am I interrupting your work?

Servant: Of course not, please do as you wish.

Servant: The estate has soothing herbal tea that helps with sleep, shall I prepare some for you?

MC: Yes please, thank you.

Servant: Please wait for a moment.

Servant: Ah yes, we’ve just installed the nameplate for the grape vine that you and sir planted, you can go take a look.

He gave me a slight bow, then left.

MC: I said I didn’t come here to specifically look at the grape vine…

Even as I muttered this, my feet involuntarily walked toward where Vyn and I had planted the grape vine sapling during the day.

Just as the servant had said, there was already a sign installed in front of the sapling. On the silver plate were my name and Vyn’s name, closely interlinked.

“Albert & MC Forever”. (1)

(27:00 flashback to the daytime)

Vyn: With the proper methods and meticulous care, it is certain to grow better than any other grape vine out there. I guarantee it.

(back to the present)

For a moment, the words Vyn said that day appeared in my mind.

I frantically patted my burning cheeks, trying to calm myself down.

MC: O-oh right! Speaking of that, all the previous people’s grape vines are planted here too!

MC: I didn’t see them during the day, and since I’m already taking a walk to pass time before I can fall asleep, I can look at them one by one!

I walked to the most verdant, flourishing grape vine nearby, and only saw that written on the sign in front of it was –

“Eirik · Haspran & Zijin · Mo 2003”. (2)

MC: Planted in 2003. It’s already been 27 years, no wonder it’s growing so densely.

MC: This couple’s bond must be great, maybe they’re like the Feilus from that year…

I couldn’t help but think back to my and Vyn’s grape vine.

MC: Hopefully my and Dr. Richter’s grape seedling can also…

Just as I was getting lost in thought, the glass door to the greenhouse was opened once again.

MC: Has he finished making the tea? That was fast.

I walked towards the door, but halfway there, I heard the voices of Vyn and Raphael.

Vyn: That bottle of wine is something he asked you to give to me?

Raphael: Yes. Previously, your father came to the winery to discuss financial matters with my father.

Raphael: Since he was at the winery, he of course came here to check his grape vine. For a moment he began to reminisce, talking about you and your mother.

Raphael: We’re old family friends, and he’s also my senior, I couldn’t refuse your father’s request.

Vyn: So you’re trying to convince me to return home and visit my family?

Raphael: He did ask me to, and moreover, your father and I are of the same opinion about this.

Raphael: I don’t want to have to deal with that greedy, foolish woman either.

Raphael: Your father is the same way. His only cherished son, and recognized heir, is you.

This wasn’t something I was supposed to hear, but it was already too late to say anything.

I hastily turned around, deciding to leave as quickly as possible under the cover of the greenhouse plants. Because I was afraid to make noise, I could only walk very slowly.

The sound of the two men’s voices continued.

Vyn: He may think that way, but he’s still feigning civility with those church people.

Vyn: “A leopard cannot change its spots”. He really hasn’t changed one bit since the past. (3)

Vyn: Hesitant in times of decision, clumsy in handling affairs.

Raphael: The church has immense power and influence, it’s inevitable that your father would worry.

Vyn: All transformations come with risk. Moreover, if he had been watchful that year and made preparations early on, the church wouldn’t be holding him back right now.

The two people behind the foliage didn’t speak for a while. Fearing that my footsteps would be heard, I was forced to stop along with them.

Raphael: Your father also said that you went to Stellis after leaving Svart, and changed your last name to “Richter”…

Vyn: Did he think I did that because of my mother? (4)

Raphael: Of course I don’t think you would simply be swayed by emotions, but your father has his own beliefs.

Raphael: Oh right, how should I explain the grape vine that you and Miss MC planted together today?

Raphael: Once your father knows that you visited here, he’s certain to come again. If he finds out that that year, you and he –

Before Raphael could finish speaking, the glass door to the greenhouse was pushed open once more.

The servant walked in with a tea set on a serving tray.

Raphael: Herbal tea? I didn’t ask anyone to prepare this.

Servant: Young master, this is for the miss.

Raphael: Miss?

The servant looked around, and from where he was standing, it was easy to spot me.

Immediately, I could hear a series of footsteps from behind the dense foliage.

Vyn’s figure quickly appeared from behind the thickets. He looked at me with an indescribable expression.

MC: Dr. Richter… I…

I didn’t know what to say, my heart was thumping wildly in my chest.

Raphael raised his hand and signaled for the servant to set down the tray, then gently said a courteous goodnight to us and left with the servant.

In an instant, only Vyn and I remained in the greenhouse.

MC: Dr. Richter, I’m sorry… I…

I tried to stutter out an explanation, but Vyn smiled at me softly.

Vyn: There’s no need to apologize. It wasn’t like you were intentionally listening, right?

MC: But…

Vyn: You’ve been standing for a while, are you tired?

He walked back to the tea table and pulled out the chair, indicating for me to sit down.

After I sat down, Vyn poured out a cup of tea and handed it to me.

Vyn: Lavender tea? Did you go for a walk in the greenhouse because you couldn’t sleep?

MC: Yeah…

Vyn: The tea is still quite hot, do you want to hear a story to pass the time?

Vyn paused for several seconds, then slowly began to speak.

Vyn: Twenty-eight years ago, a Svart…

MC: Dr. Richter, you don’t need to…

Feeling anxious, I spoke in a hurry.

MC: You don’t need to explain everything to me just because of what I accidentally overheard. This is your private –

Vyn: You’ve misunderstood.

Vyn quietly interrupted me, his tone gentle and calm, yet firm and resolute.

Vyn: Actually, for a long time I’ve been wanting to find a suitable opportunity to tell you this story.

Vyn: I just hope you don’t mind that this story might take quite a bit of your time.

Vyn: Are you willing to hear me tell it?

MC: Of course, of course I am.

Vyn’s face broke into a smile.

Vyn: Twenty-eight years ago, a Svart aristocrat happened to encounter a woman from a foreign country during a trip to Barosk. It was love at first sight for the two of them, and they fell head over heels for each other.

Vyn: Shortly after, they promised to spend the rest of their lives with each other. Just as they were making preparations for the wedding, they found out they had the ultimate manifestation of their love.

Vyn: They named the child “Albert”, meaning bright and noble, just like the child’s golden eyes.

Vyn: In that moment, the aristocrat felt as though he was the happiest person in the world.

Vyn: He brought his wife with him to visit Feilu Winery, and together they planted a symbolic grape vine and swore to love each other for eternity.

As Vyn spoke, he looked toward the flourishing grape vine not too far away, his mouth curling into an indescribable smile.

MC: (That grape vine…)

I suddenly remembered the sign in front of that grape vine – “Eirik · Haspran & Zijin · Mo 2003”.

Vyn: But soon after, the aristocrat received a message.

Vyn: Svart Church ordered his fiancée to be baptized and convert to Svart’s religion in order to marry him.

Vyn: The aristocrat’s fiancée was from a long line of scholars from a well-known family in the East, and naturally wouldn’t go along with such a crude demand from the church.

Vyn: After the woman’s categorical rejection, the church made a decree that if the aristocrat ignored their doctrine and married someone of a different religion, their marriage would be illegitimate and null.

Vyn: The interests of the aristocrat’s family would also clash with their political opponents because of this.

Vyn: The aristocrat tried to accommodate for both love and politics, but it was precisely this indecisive attitude that caused his crushing defeat in his struggle with the church.

Vyn: In the end, the woman detested the aristocrat’s weakness. She resolutely left Svart, completely abandoning their love.

Vyn: The aristocrat never recovered from that, and all day long he used alcohol to numb himself, becoming an alcoholic.

MC: …

Vyn: Until many years later, with psychological intervention, he slowly recovered.

Vyn: Seeing a depressed alcoholic be able to become an illustrious individual, his son began to develop an interest in psychology.

Vyn: But studying psychology was seen by the Svart Church as a branch of theology, and the church vigorously opposed this subject being offered at colleges.

Vyn: The country’s aristocrats and their heirs were even more strictly forbidden by the church from studying psychology.

Vyn: Facing interference from the church yet again, the aristocrat tried to challenge them, but he was overly cautious in his actions. Careful to a fault, lacking in resolution.

Vyn: His son had never had an interest in ranks of nobility, and simply used this opportunity to free himself, and leave Svart.

Vyn reached out his hand and felt the teacup, gently handing it to me.

Vyn: You can drink the tea now.

The tea was warm and gave off a thick aroma, but I had lost my appetite.

His tone when telling the story had been indifferent, as though he was totally unmoved by it, but in my heart I felt an indescribable ache.

Vyn: This isn’t a happy story. I shouldn’t have told it right before bed. But I was worried that if I didn’t explain things now, you’d have even more difficulty sleeping because of self-blame.

Vyn: It’s very late, I’ll send you back to your room.

MC: I…

Vyn: Stop blaming yourself. Have a good night’s sleep, and if you have any questions, I’ll answer them all tomorrow.

At a time like this, the only thing he was worried about was whether or not I’d be able to sleep?

Vyn: Also, what you lose at sunrise, you gain at sunset. (5) For the aristocrat’s son, leaving his home country was a new, wonderful start for him.

Vyn: He’s doing very well, and is happy.

His soft voice was sincere and deeply affectionate, causing my heart to pound in a way that was difficult to describe.

I reached out and grabbed Vyn’s wrist.

MC: Dr. Richter…

I didn’t want to leave him by himself, I wanted to keep him company. In that moment, that was my only thought.

MC: I… I have trouble sleeping in new environments, can you keep me company?

Vyn: …

Vyn was stunned, but quickly, his mouth curved into a smile.

Vyn: Okay. What do you want to do? I’ll stay with you.

MC: I… I don’t know. Dr. Richter, do you have anything you want to do?

Vyn thought for a moment.

Vyn: We’re making wine tomorrow, aren’t we?

Vyn: The winery has many experimental wines that are made specifically from the greenhouse grapes. How about tonight we try them together, and choose a flavor that we like?

MC: Okay.

[END PART FOUR]

[PART FIVE]

(1) All in English (except possibly MC’s name, depending on what you set it as)

(2) All in English; also, remember what Vyn’s Chinese name is?

(3) Vyn literally translated the English phrase to Chinese; I think it is specifically indicating this phrase, since there are other phrases of similar meaning that seem more “native” to the Chinese language. Note that this idiom originates from the Bible (Jeremiah 13:23)

(4) Originally, Raphael said “莫” (Mo), not “Richter”. Think back to the name Zijin Mo from the grape vine. I waited until this line to translate Mo as Richter since I felt like it would be too unbelievable for MC to not make the connection earlier between the name “Richter” and 27 years

(5) An idiom (失之东隅，收之桑榆). Even if you lose out initially or temporarily, in the end you will get compensation for it.

#tears of themis #vyn richter #tot vyn #mo yi #tot translation

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porgthespacepenguin · 3 years ago

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The blueprint: looking back on episode 2.1

While researching episodes for my other posts, I ended up rewatching episode 2.1 entirely and let me tell you, my fellow Qcard gremlins: did you know they’ve been toying with us the whole time?

(We’ve been played, and we’ve been played good. )

Episode 2.1 is essentially the blueprint for season 2, and I can prove it. With a very, very, very long post.

Buckle up, folks, and let’s jump in.

(Some spoilers for 2.9 and 2.10 under the cut)

Warning: since this episode foreshadows almost the whole season, I’ve touched on many topics already in previous metas, so instead of repeating myself I’ve sometimes linked to the posts in some sections.

But before we start, I also want to remind you that in a production like STP, every single detail you see on screen has been specifically chosen and approved. Song choices, props, camera angles -- nothing is left to chance.

Time is on My Side

Right off the bat, we begin the episode with some solid madness. After the cold open and the intro, there’s a long scene of Picard and his friend from work Laris during the harvest.

As they’re picking ripe grapes under the sun (AHEM), a song is playing. And it keeps playing for a long time. A very long time.

1 minute and 22 seconds, to be precise (and yes, I timed it). For a TV episode, might as well be an eternity.

The song? “Time’s on my side”, by Irma Thomas.

Note that there are two slightly different versions of the lyrics; here are the ones in the episode, in all their heavily abridged glory:

Time is on my side, yes it is

Now you always say That you want to be free But you'll come running back I won't have to cry no more

Oh, time is on my side, yes it is Time is on my side, yes it is Remember, I'll always be around And I know, I know Like I told you so many times before You're gonna come back, baby 'Cause I know You're gonna come back knocking Yeah, knocking right on my door Well, time is on my side, yes it is Time is on my side, yes it is ' Cause I got the real love The kind that you need

Okay. So. That happened. They chose this song for Picard’s intro, while he’s working the vines at La Barre.

Under a bright shining sun.

Now who, exactly, has time on their side and is waiting for their wayward lover to wisen up and knock on their door? Because they have the deep love they really need?

Exactly. And trust me, we’re barely getting started.

Also remember how I said there are two versions of the lyrics? The other one, also by Irma Thomas, was later sung by the Rolling Stones and is vastly more popular. By a spectacular margin.

But the new version doesn’t have the following lines, and clearly the writers wanted them in:

Just like I hoped you would, baby You'll come running back (to me)

I know that you're searching for good times But just wait and see One of these days, baby (You'll come running back) Oh, and it won't be long

And indeed it isn’t long at all: less than a day later, Picard rushes out of the house toward adventure... and Q.

Choices were made, is all I’ll say about it.

A Life in the Stars

Later, we find Picard and Laris enjoying a glass of wine after a long day’s work.

They end up talking about Zhaban, and how much they miss him, then Laris makes a pass at Picard.

I actually ended up covering this part in details in my thoughts about the 2.10 trailer, so I encourage you to read it if you haven’t already.

But suffice to say, this is the first of three face touches in the season, and it fails -- naturally.

(Oh hey, look, it’s our good friend the rule of three!)

A Rose by Any Other Name

After Laris’ failed attempt at seducing Picard, the two look at each other until Laris makes her excuses and departs, leaving Picard reeling.

Awkward.

Anyway, there’s a flashback of Baby!Picard running through the house, inexplicably wearing 1930′s clothing, and then we find the older Picard walking into his mother’s solarium, dusty and abandoned.

As we now know, the solarium is the exact place Jean-Luc’s heart was broken as a boy when his beloved mother died. And of course, it’s also the place Jean-Luc and the love of his life will likely have a fateful conversation in 2.10.

Kneeling down, Picard picks up a shard of the painted window, as his mother says, in a voiceover,

“There’s magic here.”

(Oh, foreshadowing, how nice of you to join us. Come in, come in.)

Wait, what’s that on the shard?

A red rose?

What you may not know or remember, is that in the very first scene of episode 1.1, Picard is playing poker against Data in a dream. Eventually, Data plays an impossible hand: five queen of hearts.

Guess who is officially represented as a Queen of Hearts card in the early season 2 trailer?

Oh hello, Q!

And do you know what the Queen of Hearts holds in her hand in the French deck?

Oh yeah. It’s a red rose, all right.

Incidentally, the roses make another appearance in episode 2.4, as “Je ne regrette rien” plays (more on that later).

The camera lingers lovingly on the painted roses:

Anyone who has seen Tapestry before will remember the red rose bouquet Q brings Picard, naturally...

Anyway, back to our flashback. Maman comforts Jean-Luc, who is mightily displeased at moving to the countryside,

“Might as well have sailed straight off the edge of the world.”

His mother is certainly amused at his grumpiness:

Dramatic? Now there’s a word more often used to describe Q. And yet we get here a lovely, heartbreaking glimpse of who Jean-Luc was as a boy, before his heart was broken and he locked the door on half of his soul.

(Hopefully, this dramatic, wild side will reappear in the future...)

Maman then tells him,

“Look up at the stars, Jean-Luc.”

And together they look up at the starry night sky.

Search for Spock

The next morning, Picard goes through his library, frantically looking for a book. A very specific book. A book written by Spock.

He’s literally searching for Spock.

And the title of the book?

"The one and the many.” You read that right: a Wrath of Khan reference.

You know, the movie that introduces the Kobayashi Maru and in which Spock gives his life to save Kirk and the Enterprise.

(It’s not that they’ve given up on being subtle, folks. It’s that they started out with no chill whatsoever, and just kept going.)

Well, that’s awkward

Laris comes into the library, holding a cup of...

Poor Laris: all she can bring to Jean-Luc’s life is lukewarm tea, when the man is craving the warmth of a sun.

(Somewhere in the galaxy, sipping a cocktail with a tiny pink umbrella in it, Q looks on, and shrugs. Can’t relate.)

Apparently, Picard has been difficult to find,

“There you are. I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

She has, but Picard clearly hasn’t been looking for her in return.

They’re out of sync, a pattern that will hold true for the rest of the episode, and which foreshadows early on what will likely happen between them.

After giving Picard roughly 8 hours or so to consider her romantic overtures, Laris is clearly hoping Picard has changed his mind. To her obvious disappointment, the good admiral is more concerned with finding Spock’s book.

She does find it, and hands it to him. Is this foreshadowing her letting him go after Q in season 3? Hard to say. Time will tell.

The whole scene is painful to watch. Picard takes a step toward her, she steps back, putting the table in between them:

Again, they’re out of sync.

Picard tries to apologize,

“Last night, I was...” “You.”

The way Laris says it make it sound like Picard being Picard is, well, a bad thing. It’s clear she was expecting something different from him. She doesn’t love him, she loves the idea of him, of a romance with him.

(It’s never a good sign when a potential LI wants to change the hero. Just saying.)

Anyway, Laris then decides that she’s done. And when I say done, I mean done. She definitely implies that she may just... leave?

“Nothing has to change.”

“It’s too late for that, Jean-Luc. (...) Going forward, it’d all be too awkward. And I’m too old for awkward.”

So, what? She’s moving out? They’re not going to be friends anymore? After 20 years?

Wow, Laris, maybe take a breath or something.

Look up

Later, Picard gives an inspiring speech to Starfleet cadets, and I’ve covered this part in a previous meta already, so I wont go over it again in details.

What matters: the speech frankly screams ascension to me.

Including this little gem Picard ends his speech with,

Same words, same posture, same colors even. What a coincidence!

OR NOT.

(Anyway, another one for the potential season 3 foreshadowing pile. And the AGT reference pile. There are many piles.)

Holographic integration

We skip over to Seven on board Rios’ old ship. She’s still struggling with her Borg half, unsurprisingly, and seems to have left Raffi behind for now.

This scene foreshadows multiple elements that will come back during the season:

Seven’s difficulties with her Borg heritage;

Her equally complex problems with emotional intimacy;

The fighting capabilities of the holograms (brought back in 2.9)

But the most important point? The hologram.

That’s right, the hologram. Hear me out.

In season 1, La Sirena was equipped with a multitude of holograms replacing a crew, all based on elements of Rios’ personality. The holograms have now been combined into one integrated personality.

This foretells the central theme of the season: the integration of the self.

Trust comes from the heart

Next, we meet up with Soji and Agnes, attending a diplomatic dinner on a fancy planet. Soji has completed her journey in season 1 already, more or less, which is why she doesn’t end up tagging along like the other ducklings in season 2. She doesn’t need it.

This scene is absolutely, extravagantly essential for Qcard later on. I talk about it a little in my Trios-Qcard meta, but we ought to take the time to analyze the scene on its own.

Soji has been touring the galaxy for over a year, as a sort of goodwill ambassador for the newly-legal androids, and she has learned something very important,

“You can’t ask for trust through an interpreter. “

This sentence felt quite random when I first watched the episode. But loss of trust through failed communication is actually another defining theme of the season.

We see it happen to all the characters, with varying intensity. But Q and Picard are in a class of their own: In fact, from 2.2 all the way to 2.10, Q and Jean-Luc don’t speak to each other, except through third parties: first Soong, then Guinan.

No wonder things go from bad to worse for them.

Soji continues,

[Trust] needs to come from here...” Soji points at her heart. “Through here.” She points at her lips.

(Okay, if she’s not foreshadowing a Qcard kiss after a love confession, I don’t want to live on this planet anymore. But we did get the exact same scene with Trios, so I have great hopes.)

And finally, the last nail in the subtlety coffin,

“True connection can only be forged when the heart has spoken.”

If this isn’t 2.10 Qcard, I’ll eat my hat.

The rest of the scene is mostly Agnes spiraling, despairing of ever finding true connection.

We learn that she has broken up with Rios, and that she thinks herself unable to sustain relationships, foretelling her future desire to belong to the Borg, and foreshadowing the end of her tenure as a Picard duckling:

“I have a feeling you’re going to be just fine without me.”

The Legacy

Agnes beams aboard the Stargazer, which is on its way to the anomaly,

“Get us there as fast as you can short of flying us through a sun.”

(Subtle, subtle.)

Rios makes a joke of emulating Picard (”Make it so”), and Agnes remarks wryly,

“Oh, the pressures of legacy.”

Remember this word: legacy.

It pops up everywhere late in the season, and also in the season 3 trailer, so it’s critically important. And that it starts here, with Rios, is probably not a coincidence.

Although until now, Picard has been holding them at arms’ length, Agnes and Rios both canonically see Picard as their father figure,

Picard and Agnes’ journey is certainly the most obvious one: their interaction on the Stargazer locks everybody else into a causal loop of epic proportions, after all.

But Rios and Picard’s journey is also fascinating. In 2.1, Rios does already “inherit” part of Picard’s legacy: the new Stargazer, a new ship named in loving memory of the old one.

But this was Starfleet’s decision, not Picard’s, and I think this aspect of their relationship will deepen in the future.

Anyway, we’ll come back to both Rios and Agnes later on.

The Q-bayashi Maru

Speaking of lovely homages, we hear about a few nostalgically-named starships: most importantly, the Grissom and the Excelsior.

The original USS Grissom was destroyed in Search for Spock, and in the same movie, the USS Excelsior was sabotaged by Scotty so it couldn’t catch up with the Enterprise.

(All together now: season 3 foreshadowing, season 3 foreshadowing...)

Anyway, chatting with Raffi, Picard then drops this little bomb of a line,

“I’m considering an update to the Kobayashi Maru.”

It could have been anything else in the curriculum, but no, it’s the freaking Kobayashi Maru (which was introduced in Wrath of Khan, incidentally). You can read more about the Q-bayashi Maru theory here. All I’ll say is Picard may end up regretting his words.

Picard and Raffi continue to chat, trading friendly barbs about their respective shortcomings, and we learn more about Saffi’s current difficulties, which of course they will work on during the rest of the season.

Raffi sighs,

“She has me hoping for something more.”

Picard also hopes for something more: that’s what held him back with Laris.

The man wants more than cold tea, and can you blame him?

Raffi then compares Picard to Seven: both ostensibly self-sufficient, both happiest in the stars...

“Hell, I wonder if either of you even get lonely.”

Lonely, eh? Let me see, who else is called lonely later on, through the mirror of Maman?

"Did you know that space is so vast, so infinite, it takes billions of years for that tiny pinprick of light to make that lonely journey from its star to our eyes?"

Picard is terribly lonely, Raffi. So is Seven and so is Q. Everybody’s lonely this season, what can I tell you.

Absolute Candor

Picard meets up with Elnor, who’s been assigned to the Excelsior, along with Raffi.

The book Picard had been looking for, almost making him late for his speech, is a gift for Elnor, who is struggling with integrating his Kovat Milai ethics with his Starfleet training:

“It’s paradoxical.”

(NO, THIS EPISODE IS NOT SUBTLE.)

Picard then quotes Spock at him:

“Exhilaration enhances the absorption of knowledge.”

Another major theme of the season: the heart and the brain do not have to be in conflict. Emotions and logic working together bring you wisdom.

(Doesn’t hurt that Picard is later symbolized as the brain, and Q as the heart; much like his father and his mother, respectively... More onto the pile.)

And, because the writers are sarcastic little gremlins, Picard drops this wonderfully ironic line:

“In other words: live a little.”

Take your own advice, admiral. Trust us. You won’t regret it.

(Well, you will. But only temporarily, so that’s okay.)

Before moving on, we get one last little cheeky line from the writers:

“Hmm, they’re playing my song.”

PLAYING A SONG, EH?

Wonder if a song is going to play a significant role at the end of the episode or something. Nah. I’m just being paranoid.

Anyways, Picard gazes wistfully at a commemorative plaque for the old Stargazer...

Help us, Picard

... and we cut right back to the new Stargazer.

The anomaly starts broadcasting, and the computer doesn’t know what to make of it. Of course, it’s Agnes who is able to decrypt and understand the message, because she’s the one who sent it, see.

The message is a mix of multiple languages, all working together to carry a simple message:

A Cheating Heart

Meanwhile, said Picard, in dire need of advice, has beamed to Los Angeles to visit an old friend. Again, I’ve covered this in a previous meta, but it’s worth spending time on. You’ll see what I mean.

As Picard walks into Ten Forward, “Guilty as Charged” starts playing, and the camera makes a point of focusing first on him, then on Guinan, for a very long 15 seconds.

The exact time needed, in fact, for us to hear the following lyrics,

“This road is paved with good intentions There’s something ‘bout me I forgot to mention I’ve got a cheating heart…”

To rephrase: Picard, still thinking about what happened with Laris, comes to Guinan for love advice, and so the writers give us a song about a cheating heart.

It bears repeating that nothing in a show like STP is a coincidence. Somebody chose this song, somebody chose the camera angles, somebody timed the lyrics to match. On purpose.

So the message is clear: Picard didn’t kiss Laris, because to do so would have been cheating. But on whom? If this were a romcom, the right love interest would eventually pop up out of nowhere -- oh wait, he does. At the end of the episode.

(Bloody unhinged, is what it is.)

In passing, love how we get a snarky call-back to Laris’ lukewarm tea:

(”911, I’d like to report a murder please.”)

But see, the thing is, Picard is not in the mood for tea at all. What does he want?

“Something stronger.”

You don’t say.

Guinan makes a quip about their age, and as Picard remarks that El-Aurians age very slowly, she mentions in passing,

“I noticed that humans don’t like to be reminded of their mortality, so I try to keep up.”

Funny, I wonder what other ageless entity is going to tactfully do the exact same thing in about, oh, 20 minutes:

“There, now we’re even.”

Probably just a coincidence.

Anyway, Guinan and Picard settle down for a chat with a bottle of hooch. Saurian brandy, which is as powerful as it is sweet.

(I give up.)

They start talking about love, and Guinan points that while Picard has known love, he’s only allowed himself to feel it shallowly:

“Only with those who would only be temporary. (...) So that you’d never have to fear any of them taking root.”

The first time I watched the episode, I remember pausing the video, because the phrasing puzzled me.

By definition, all mortal relationships are temporary. That’s part and parcel of well, being mortal. If Guinan had said, for example, “never anything long-term”, that would have made a lot more sense.

But they wanted the word temporary in the dialogue, because the opposite of temporary is forever.

(I lied, I won’t ever give up, this is insane. Also, taking root? Like... a rosebush, perhaps? UGH.)

Guinan continues with her usual brilliance,

“The problem isn’t time. It’s you.”

Now, if you know me at all, you also know I love these six words enough to have essentially based an entire fic around them.

Because they’re essential.

Later, they will play a significant role when Picard meets Guinan in the 21st century: they’re what convinces her that he’s not crazy.

Oh, yeah, and incidentally, they describe the entirety of season 2: the problem isn’t that they’re trapped in the past; but that Jean-Luc is trapped in his head.

(Given the show’s propensity for playing around with the rule of three, I wouldn’t be surprised if they come back again in 2.10 or in season 3.)

They keep talking about Picard guarding his heart, and then this happens:

“There are worse things than being dead.”

You know what’s worse than being dead? Being alive when the love of your life isn’t, because they gave their life for yours.

Guinan is dropping truths left and right in this scene, and I’m here for it, but that line is brutal in hindsight.

She then asks what is holding him back, and when Jean-Luc doesn’t answer, asks him why he went to the stars in the first place.

Interesting juxtaposition, by the way: what’s holding Jean-Luc back is stars-related.

There are so many possible layers to this:

His mother’s death, predominantly (”Look up”);

His love of exploring space as a Starfleet captain;

And yeah, a specific lonely dying star we shall not name.

Sensing weakness, Guinan goes in for the kill,

“The only place you have ever been afraid to explore...”

(What’s another AGT reference between friends, I ask you.)

Guinan then drops the million-dollar question,

“What happened in there, that you and I have never talked about?”

And now, as we approach the season finale, we finally know. Jean-Luc opened the door, and his mother killed herself. Since them, the door has remained closed, and his heart along with it.

Until Q helped him find the key again, allowing him to remember.

The scene concludes with Guinan dropping yet another truth,

“I think your answers are not in the stars, and they never have been.”

She’s right: they’ve been in his own heart all along. Q, the proverbial star, does not give him the answer he seeks. He gives him the means to find it himself.

Picard’s future though? It’s absolutely in the stars:

“Because I think there’s one final frontier yet to come.”

(Oy, who threw a BRICK at my face?!)

The Stars Come Calling

Speaking of stars, Starfleet drops by at La Barre with interesting news: a strange new space anomaly has been found, and it wants Picard.

And it wants to join the Federation. That too. But mostly Picard.

As Admiral Whitley puts it,

"An unknown entity that can open and close a hole in space-time wants to join the Federation, and apparently will only talk to you about it."

Oh, look, it’s the call to adventure!

(Also, a powerful, time-altering entity that will only speak with Picard? Tell me Picard didn't think it was the Q Continuum for at least a second.)

Out of Sync

Picard accepts the call, of course. And now we get to a particularly unhinged moment in the episode, that to me, seals the end of Laris as a viable LI.

Picard exits left, and a few seconds later, once he’s out of frame, Laris enters right.

Leaving aside the fact that they are, once again, completely out of sync, the stage direction of the entire scene is shockingly full of meaning.

The distinction between left and right wing dates back from Roman theater, where for practical reasons only one set was generally used, and the audience needed a shorthand to understand where the actors were coming from, or running to.

The left wing represented the farther distance: leaving the city, or even the country; while the right wing represented closer scenes: staying in the same street but changing houses, for example.

This convention persists today, in different forms. In modern theater jargon, exiting stage left means,

“To exit or disappear in a quiet, non-dramatic fashion, making way for more interesting events.“

Picard is leaving stage left to follow his destiny, which isn’t in La Barre, and never has been. He told us so in episode 1.3:

"I tried my best, to belong to this place. But I don't think I ever truly felt at home here."

Laris, meanwhile, enters stage right, and stays there, symbolically bound to La Barre, and to Earth. She cannot follow where Jean-Luc goes.

From the moment Picard leaves the frame, the camera stays on Laris. We hear the shuttle taking off, but we don’t see it:

The scene is now from her perspective only. There's no shot of Jean-Luc looking around for her before he leaves, nor of him looking down at her through the shuttle window. He didn’t even leave her a note.

Nothing.

Because, just like the camera angle, Laris’ feelings are one-sided.

Just to twist the knife a little more, the writers then show us Picard’s shuttle as it approaches the Stargazer to dock. This scene takes 10 whole seconds, and they couldn’t spare two of them to include a quick close up of Picard looking conflicted about Laris. Nope. Shuttle was clearly more important.

(And that, my friends, is what they call “show, don’t tell”.)

The Stargazer

Picard meets up with Seven aboard the Stargazer, and we learn (or are reminded) that the old USS Stargazer was Picard’s first command,

“Being here... it feels like my life has come full circle.”

(*whispers* It’s free foreshadowing.)

But the new Stargazer isn’t just a nostalgic call-back to the old days: it’s the first of its kind, a harmonious blend of Starfleet and Borg technology.

(Much like Seven herself at the end of the season, actually... Or Agnes.)

Old prejudices die hard, and Seven feels out of place aboard a Starship vessel,

“There are still many who fear the Borg. (...) My presence is increasing historical tensions and paranoia.”

Oh darling, if only you knew.

(By the way, here’s a free season 3 prediction for you: Captain Seven. Let’s hope they make it so. She deserves it.)

Picard!

Picard addresses the anomaly directly, and the Borg finally come out to play. Clearly, they had been waiting for him.

A gigantic Borg vessel comes out of the anomaly as the bridge looks on in dismay.

Pretty soon, many Starfleet ships join them in support, including Raffi and Elnor’s ship, the Excelsior.

(”We come in peace.” “RED ALERT.”)

Historical tensions and paranoia? Let’s say, about sky high.

“Right now, you’re the tip of the spear (...) and the devil is calling your name.”

Note how martial Rios’ words are. Him, and through him Starfleet, are readying themselves to fight, although he hopes for a diplomatic solution.

At this point, Picard is actually still resisting his fear. As he points out,

“That out there, could be the very point at which history turns.”

And it is, in more ways than one, as we learn later on in season 2. It’s potentially a defining moment for the Federation and its future.

Seven, on the other hand, is already ruled by her fear:

“The Borg consume. They assimilate. They don’t ask to be assimilated.”

She’s not wrong, and considering her own experience, and the Borg’s entire history, it’s hard to judge her for it.

Still, she speaks for the side of fear and is adamant that the Borg be treated as hostile until proven otherwise. Rios leans towards the same conclusion, but more reluctantly, driven more by facts than pure fear. Only Agnes advises caution,

“We could be putting a bullet into the greatest ally the Federation may ever know.”

Her words fail to convince them. Seven concludes, coldly:

“If I’m wrong, we destroy a Borg ship. But if I’m right, and we do nothing, then today is the beginning of the end of the Federation.”

The Queen

Meanwhile, the Borg are running out of time (keeping the anomaly open must be requiring tremendous amounts of energy) and decide to send an emissary to negotiate with Picard: Queen Agnes herself.

Agnes has learned from Soji, back at the beginning of the episode, that trust can only be achieved directly, and so she puts herself at risk to be able to talk to Picard face to face.

And to their surprise, their shields aren’t able to stop her from beaming aboard.

Driven by fear, Seven continues to advocate violence,

“Rios, don’t wait until it’s too late. Fire.”

Still symbolizing Starfleet, Rios remains mostly neutral, ordering his crew to arm up, but also not to fire before it’s necessary.

The Queen beams aboard, and immediately states her intentions,

And then, everything falls apart as the Queen announces she also needs power, and starts to take it.

(My guess is that opening the anomaly fully took a huge amount of energy, and she needs to replenish her levels. Most likely we’ll know more in 2.10.)

Fear rises, choking.

Seven gives in to it, and opens fire on the Queen.

The rest follow suit, and soon the entire bridge is shooting at her. She defends herself, shooting at them in turn.

It’s not yet too late, but the point of no return is coming ever closer.

Still resisting his own fear, Rios orders the crew to stop firing, with mixed results.

Seven, for her part, finally notices that the Queen is only stunning the crew, not killing them. But even that fact is not enough to assuage her terror.

The Queen starts to redirect the bridge controls, evidently needing something from the Stargazer. This, of course, raises assimilation fears for the bridge crew.

Yet we know that Queen Agnes is different: the new Borg offer choices, and don’t assimilate without asking. So something else is going on. But what?

As the countdown rises, so does the fear on the bridge. The situation is spiraling rapidly out of control. Seven reminds Picard of what could happen if they fail to act.

And Picard makes a fateful decision:

“Computer activate auto-destruct sequence.”

Je ne regrette rien

As the computer confirms the auto-destruct, awaiting the final command, a song starts to play.

“Non, rien de rien...”

And not just any song. A very important song, which holds special meaning to Picard:

It was the song his mother would play whenever he was scared, comforting him and helping him get past his fear.

When we learn about this in Picard’s flashback in 2.4, the show specifically focuses on two lines, cutting out the rest of the verse,

Balayé pour toujours Je repars à zéro

Which in English, translates to:

Swept away forever I'm starting over

“Starting over” is pretty clear in context: Picard is getting a second chance to make the right choice on the Stargazer. To unlock the trauma of his mother’s death and heal from it. To save the future.

“Swept away forever” though...

Not ominous or anything, no sir.

We hear this song a second time in the corrupted La Barre, after Q lashes out at Picard in 2.2. Technically, we’re overdue for a third one.

Let’s pause for a moment and take a dip into a truly galaxy brain possibility. Remember this absolutely mind-blowing moment from the 2.10 trailer?

The third face touch, the one that succeeds, the one that may lead them into a kiss.

I know, I know.

But let’s reach for stars here, for a second.

What if, as they are kissing, “Je ne regrette rien” suddenly starts to play, and Picard finds himself right back on the Stargazer, at the exact moment we heard the song the first time?

Starting over, while Q is swept away into nothing.

(I would start screaming and probably never stop again.)

But of course, this time around, Picard confirms the self-destruct and seals all of their fates: the Borg’s, Starfleet’s, his friends’, Q’s and his own.

As they stare at each other in stunned horror, the Queen calls him softly,

“Picard. Look up.”

Picard’s eyes widen in sudden realization, but of course, it’s too late.

And everything blows up.

Agnes in Aulis

But it’s not simply the future of a peaceful Borg that Picard destroys. It’s also the life of his own daughter figure: Agnes.

Like Agamemnon before him, Picard sacrifices his daughter on the altar of his fear. An unforgivable sin, as Q points out in 2.2,

“[You can] attempt, like Macbeth, to wash the blood from your hands. But I assure you, Jean-Luc, it’s unwashable.”

In killing Agnes, Picard has killed the future.

No wonder Q is furious. No wonder Picard must atone, in order to gain forgiveness for this grievous symbolic sin.

A Dark Chateau

There’s a flash of white light, ostensibly Q’s intervention, and Picard wakes up in his mother’s solarium, as bare and deserted as it is in the real chateau.

Immediately, he looks up, but the stars, or the sun, are nowhere to be seen,

Pulling himself up, he finds himself staring at his broken reflection in the unpainted windows:

The theme of the season is the integration of the self. Right now, Picard is as dissociated from himself, from his heart, as he’s ever been.

Picard tentatively explores this strange version of La Barre. Outwardly, the chateau is bright and clean, but a closer look immediately shows us the darkness lurking underneath, like rot under a thin layer of veneer: the decorations are martial in nature, the lights dimmer than normal, the portraits disturbing (to say the least).

Distraught, Picard calls out for Laris...

But of course, she’s nowhere to be found.

Unsurprising, considering the circumstances, but I wonder if this is also not yet more foreshadowing of things to come.

@essence-stealer very smartly remarked that by the time Picard comes home to La Barre 2.10, Laris might be gone already.

She had expression the intention to leave earlier on in the episode, pleading the awkwardness of the situation, and Picard for his part left her without a backward glance. Not knowing what has truly happened in between, Laris is likely to have packed up her bags and left.

La Barre isn’t Jean-Luc’s home, it never has been. Part of his journey includes leaving the chateau behind, and while Zhaban and Laris remained, Picard couldn’t let it go. But now Zhaban is dead. If Laris truly has left, then nothing tethers him to the house anymore.

Actually, it’s a beloved headcanon of mine that Rios will one day inherit Picard’s earthly legacy as well as the spiritual one (being the captain of the new Stargazer).

Perhaps moving in to La Barre and raising his children there, painting colorful murals like Jean-Luc used to with his own mother:

(Surely, surely, a coincidence.)

It would make sense if this happened in season 3, actually, as all of Picard’s ducklings have now completed their journeys: Soji, in season 1; and now Rios, Seven and Raffi in season 2.

Since the TNG crew is coming back as the main cast in season 3, it makes sense that the ducklings would move on with their lives: Rios as the father he wants to be, Seven and Raffi happy and in love, the three of them in Starfleet where they belong. And Agnes, of course, leading the new Borg.

Enter the Sun

An android servant appears, telling Picard,

Solar shields? Preventing the light from getting through? No wonder this is a cursed place: this is a world that sunlight literally cannot touch.

Speaking of the sun, unsurprisingly, he makes a dramatic entrance,

Note how Q calls Picard, “mon capitaine”: a habit he, like Guinan, has never dropped.

And of course, like almost everything in this episode, this comes back into play later, in episode 2.7, specifically,

And indeed, Guinan and Q are Jean-Luc’s closest friends, the two beings in the whole universe who know him the best, and love the whole of him, in spite and because of his flaws.

“How I’ve missed you,” Q says, with pure honesty.

But Picard is still in the throes of his fear, his anger, and Q makes a convenient target: how much easier to cast Q as the villain, than to open his eyes and realize where the blame truly lay.

He’s not ready to face himself, let alone the consequences of his actions.

Q knows it all too well. Smiling, he casually drops the key to the next few episodes, and the rest of the season:

“You’ve been talking a lot about second chances. Well my friend, welcome to the very end of the road not taken.”

And, scene.

( If you’re interested, I’ve already discussed at length the reasons behind Q’s actions in season 2 in a different meta.)

Well, friends, this was a truly epic post to write, and I hope you’ve enjoyed reading it. ❤️

#star trek #star trek picard #star trek spoilers #qcard #qcard meta #star trek theories #star trek speculations #star trek picard spoilers #jean luc picard #q of the continuum #q star trek #porg has qcard thoughts

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bnha-more-like-bnh-gay · 4 years ago

Text

Hello, I am projecting again, so have some Todoroki/todoroki centric headcannons, my fellow touch starved dorks with daddy issues:

Every time before he has to go home, holidays, school breaks, etc. he is anxious the entire week beforehand

He often has a hard time sleeping, getting panic attacks/nightmares/PTSD flashbacks/etc.

He has recently gotten into memes and vines just to annoy endeavor, and quotes vines as much as he can around him, often leaving Endeavor in a confused stupor

He purposely calls every other adult “dad” in front of Endeavor. Midnight? Dad. Aizawa? Dad. Nezu? Principal dad sir.

After being introduced to social media by his fellow classmates, he makes several accounts for his various conspiracy theories, that all gain quite the cult following

Originally it starts as an accident, but eventually he takes immense joy in watching the varying emotions of his classmates as he delivers puns and dad jokes, with the most expressionless face

We all knows he’s touch starved, it’s not even just a headcannon at this point, but I still feel the need to put it here. But after spending a long time with class A, and the Izucrew in specific, he’s come to really like hugs and cuddling

He has started to consider using makeup to cover his scar. Also just using it in general to make his sperm donor father mad

He has one specific playlist that he listens to, and it’s titled “my old man is a scumbag” filled with trauma leaden songs and spiteful songs. However, he also made a playlist for endeavor, willed with songs like “f*ck you,” “set me free,” “ok boomer,” “monster,” “choke,” and “parents”

That being said, he also makes playlists for people with songs that remind him of them. Emotions are weird, and music makes them easier/more evident

One time Present Mic punched Endeavor in the face. Present mic is now Todoroki’s favorite teacher, and claims that that, along with the time he and the ozucrew spray painted “endeavor sucks” on the side of his agency, are his two favorite days

Once when he was in the car with his father, he played “daddy issues” by The Neighborhood, out loud, on repeat, for a half hour; all while staring at him

The izucrew got him to seek therapy

He might not be good at understanding emotions, especially his own, but he’s gotten good at helping people with their own. He’s very blunt, and people often need that when trying to sort out their feelings. He helps in that arena.

He has switched the sugar and salt before, just to watch the pure disgust on endeavors face after realizing he put salt in his sugar

Someone once told him that he was, “really mature for his age” to which he responded, “thanks, it’s the trauma.” The person has not spoken to him sense, and Midoriya made him another appointment with his therapist.

The class has gotten him loads of plushies after learning about the severe lack of plushies during his childhood. Even his teachers have participated in this

He did not understand praise for the longest time, and still doesn’t really know how to take it. He mostly just stands there awkwardly. The Izucrew is trying to get him more accustomed to, and comfortable with praise and compliments

He really likes animals, especially soft and fluffy ones

Much like Izuku, he has very little self regard or self preservation. He and izuku are being hypocritical and trying to help each other with that

Again, fairly hypocritical, but in ways that he won’t even notice. Like, he’ll run into one of his classmates who have woken up from a nightmare, and he’ll talk them through it and get them tea (...) or ice cream to help them feel better. But then when he wakes up from a nightmare, he’ll sit there trying to talk himself down from a panic attack

Even after endeavor starts “trying to make a change” he still doesn’t feel safe around him, if trust him, and still has nightmares about him, but keeps invalidating himself. One time, he ran into Izuku after this happened, and izuku told him that he did the same thing with nightmares of bakugou (I’m writing a fic about this, and felt the need to basically include the summary I guess?)

Todoroki has never done anything fun before going to UA. The izucrew makes it their mission to go somewhere/do something every month, that Todoroki missed from childhood: going to the zoo, an aquarium, an amusement park, the arcade, etc.

He has a pretty low self esteem thanks to endeavor’s A+ parenting, the Izucrew is trying to help him with this. That being said, criticism does sometimes get to him

Sometimes when he wakes up in the middle of the night, or just when he can’t sleep, he’ll text the group chat with random conspiracy theories. He will record the varying responses and takes them evidence and/or collateral

Class A has tried to teach him the art of sarcasm. They are now unsure if he still doesn’t get it, or if he does understand and is just pulling on their leg and being sarcastic

I will add more as I continue to project. Have a good day

#bnha #mha #mha todoroki #izucrew #anti endeavor #bnha shouto #todoroki shouto

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portraitoftheoddity · 4 years ago

Note

What do you think the avengers watching atla would be like

Tony: Initially scoffs at it but keeps wandering back into the room. Total Sokka stan by the end of it -- “LOOK, THE KID IS AN ENGINEER!”

Thor: Digs lightning-bending, but is sad only evil people seem to do it. Keeps looking sad during Zuko & Azula scenes. Loves the Earth Rumble and watching Toph wipe the floor with people, and keeps comparing the Kyoshi Warriors to the Valkyries.

Natasha: Team Kyoshi Warriors, but also Team Ty Lee and Mai. Loves the Chi-blocking. Tells Clint she wants a Shirshu for Christmas.

Steve: Loves the show’s approach to morality and attempting to maintain your humanity during war. Looks wistful through a lot of it. Hums “Leaves from the Vine” while washing dishes the next day, but no one calls him on it.

Bruce: Has to leave the room during the flashback with Ozai and the Agni Kai. Doesn’t come back for a whole episode, but ends up very fond of Iroh, and makes everyone Jasmine tea to drink while they watch.

Clint: SO GODDAMN MAD THE YU-YAN ARCHERS WERE ONLY THERE FOR 1 EPISODE???

Sam: Declares himself the Avengers’ Team Airbender by the end of it. The Northern Air Temple episode is his favorite. Says Tony should build him a glider.

Wanda: The next day Natasha wanders in on her trying to figure out how to incorporate the movements from bending styles into her hex field manipulation -- she now has about 20 tabs of youtube videos of martial arts styles open for “research”

Carol: HOLY SHIT kids’ TV animation got so good? Has Monica seen this? She really hopes Monica got to see this. How old was she when this came out?

Rhodey: Sighs because they’re all sitting around watching a children’s show, but makes sure the closed captioning is on so no one misses anything when people keep talking during it. Is NOT crying when Yue dies, shuddup Tony.

#Anonymous #avengers #avatar the last airbender #kinda pulled the avengers roster from end of AOU plus Carol for this #silliness #lena headcanons

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one-boring-person · 4 years ago

Text

When It's All Over.

Alan "Dutch" Schaefer (Predator 1987) x reader

Warnings: swearing, mention of injury, mention of death, blood, mention of gun violence, MILD SPOILERS

Context: The reader is a part of Dutch's group, and is one of the only survivors left behind. This takes place during their preparation for the final fight.

A/N: This is my first time officially writing Predator stuff, so please don't get angry if it's a bit out of character, but I really wanted to write something! Dutch is an absolute favourite of mine, and I want to write more for him in the future 😅

Masterlist

"That's the last of the traps I can rig." My voice startles the filthy major as I climb up beside him onto the raised area he's selected for his makeshift workshop. His hand instantly reaches for the nasty-looking knife at his belt, grey eyes widening slightly as they fix on me.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you." I apologise, holding up my hands as he breathes out and relaxes again.

"Don't worry about it. I'm just...on edge." Dutch reassures me, his gruff voice somehow calming my own nerves slightly.

"For good reason, I guess." I muse quietly, sitting down opposite him, watching as he continues what he's doing, "What're you making?"

"Explosive arrows. They'll throw that bastard off, and will hurt it, too." He clarifies, gesturing to the opened shells lying beside him, the powder inside just visible.

I nod appreciatively, knowing that his expertise far outreaches mine, the veteran having had a lot more experience than it looks like I ever will. Silently, I watch him work, enraptured by the deft movements of his hands, his bare muscles bulging with every twist, his grimy skin somehow still showing through under the layer of dirt that hasn't quite rubbed off yet. We'll re-paint ourselves with the stuff soon, but for now we're simply preparing in the reprieve we've been gifted by the ruthless killer that is hunting us down. My hand instinctively goes to the wound on my upper arm, the hastily-bandaged injury still throbbing with every movement, though I've long since learnt to deal with pain. With the reminder comes a flashback of something Blain said to me before he met his end, back in the guerrilla camp.

"I ain't got time to bleed."

At the time, I'd laughed it off, finding his callous yet brotherly antics reassuring after the chaos of the attack on the camp. I miss him already, just as I miss the rest of them, the tight-knit group having become my family in the years I've been part of it. A bitter laugh escapes me again as I think over how bad my luck with families is.

"What?" Dutch's question snaps me from whatever trance I was in, his hands having slowed again as he watches me closely, head tilted to the side.

"Huh? Oh, I just remembered something Blain said to me." I reveal, sitting back against the tree trunk behind me, making eye contact with the major.

He chuckles, going back to what he was doing.

"That's quite general, (Y/n). He says- said, a lot of things." He corrects himself, grimacing at the reminder of what happened to his friend.

"I guess so."

Falling back into silence, I take out my knife and check the blade, waiting for Dutch to finish up with his job, making sure the weapon is sharp enough for me to use.

"What do you think it's doing right now?" I mutter, glancing up at Dutch curiously.

Shrugging, he places down the arrow he was working on, taking up the longbow he's fashioned out of a branch and fibre from a vine.

"Honestly, I'd rather not think about it. We've just got to be ready for when it comes back." The veteran confesses, plucking at the string of the bow experimentally, smiling triumphantly when it makes a satisfying twanging sound.

"Fair enough." I nod, replacing my knife in my belt and standing, stretching out my sore muscles.

After a moment, he also climbs upright, leaving the bow where it is as he comes to stand beside me, looking out over the clearing. Absentmindedly, I allow my eyes to roam over the particular spots where I know there are traps hidden, each one of them hidden precisely, the action having taken me most of the time we've had in this sudden lull of the hunt. A pit of dread had managed to work it's way into me, my mind slowly convincing itself that we may as well be dead already, our little show of traps and bravado probably not going to help us much. Swallowing, I turn my gaze down to my feet, clenching my fists at my sides, trying to fight off the feeling.

Silent beside me, Dutch seems to notice my body language and turns to face me, watching me as I keep my gaze averted.

"I'm scared, Dutch." I finally reveal to him, ashamed of this as I feel a blush come to my cheeks. I am confident that I can tell him this, but I still feel stupid admitting it, as if I'm giving in to what the creature wants.

"I know." He murmurs, placing an hand on my shoulder, "And so am I, but we can do this together. We'll beat that bastard into the ground."

Looking up at him, I allow a small smile to cross my face, before I find myself enveloped in his muscular arms, my smaller figure pulled into his massive body. Grateful, I wrap my own arms around him, inhaling the mix of scents that shroud him deeply, the smell reassuring me even as his tight grip does, the feeling of his corded body under my hands grounding me. Neither of us care if we are covered in mud and gore, only caring that we have this last moment together before all hell breaks loose, my heart throbbing as he presses my head into his chest with a hand, burying his face into my hair.

"I'm glad that I don't have to do this on my own, (Y/n)." Dutch murmurs into my scalp, rubbing my back gently with his one hand, the other playing with my hair.

"Me too, Dutch." I mumble in response, my voice muffled by his chest.

Pulling away, the major presses one kiss to my forehead, smiling down at me as we part, bodies aching to be back with each other again, still feeling the residual heat from each other. He takes my hand in his briefly, before we split off and start caking ourselves in mud, doing so in companionable silence. We coat ourselves thoroughly, making sure to cover every inch of our bodies, knowing this may well be what gives us the upper hand against our opponent. Finishing, we come together one last time.

"You ready?" The veteran asks me softly, taking up the currently unlit torch from the floor.

"No, but I'll do my very best." I respond, watching as he shoulders his bow, admiring the movements of his bulging muscles.

He smirks, gesturing for me to go.

"Get into position. I'll see you when it's all over." He commands me, brushing some of my filthy hair from my face.

"Yes sir." I salute him, grinning as I scramble to get into position, climbing down the rocks into a small alcove we found nearby, crouching down behind a conveniently placed boulder. From my position, I can just about see Dutch stride out to the centre of his walkway, halting at the end with the torch held aloft, an orange flame blazing at its tip.

Shooting one last look my way, Dutch releases a powerful roar, the sound clearly a war cry, or challenge to the predator hunting us, the force behind it making it resonate around the clearing, his grief and anger giving it strength. Throwing down his torch, the veteran moves back to solid ground, taking hold of a vine and swinging to the opposite end of the clearing, having grabbed his bow and arrows at the same time. Once he is in position, I recover the last shotgun we have left from under the nearby leaves, cocking it as I kneel down in the mud, holding myself stock still.

Silence falls as we wait for our attacker to arrive.

#predator 1987 #predator #Dutch Schaefer #arnold schwarzenegger #predator imagine #Dutch Schaefer x reader #Dutch Schaefer imagine

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nostalgic-pancakes · 4 years ago

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F is for friends who do stuff together - the awake at 2 AM remix

Joan needs a swear jar, Talyn's a lightbulb, Valerie is tired and valid, and Thomas+Sides are very confused)

Summary- Thomas has had his sides around for... a long time. That's for sure. And he knows that nobody else can see them (except maybe Lilly, but she has sides too, so).

Pairings- Pintroverts, Thomas and friends, Thomas and Sides

Read on AO3

Word count- 2666

Warnings- It has character!everyone, and NOT their real life counterparts. Please remember this.

Other notes- AU where instead of Vine, c!Thomas left chemical engineering for signing with a really dope theatre company with his friends. He still meets Nico at the mall, but Nico's a new writer for the company! All the sides are friends too! Enjoy!

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Look, the first time was an accident, okay? Joan was tired and a bit incoherent and what was Thomas supposed to do?!! Leave them be? No! So Joan ended up staying the night.

Except, the next morning was when everyone had entered the courtroom together and they'd gotten WAY too dramatic over whether to lie to them about a text they'd made like… two days ago and that Thomas had only seen after combing through a barrage of memes and that Joan probably wouldn't remember, come to think about it. But that was hindsight and after the utter nightmare that was a whole day (A whole day!!) with Aunt Patty the day before, Virgil and Patton were absolutely freaking out, probably giving Deceit (Who, in hindsight, Thomas knows as Janus) a little extra leeway into the conversation that day.

Either way, Joan had stayed the night in order to recover from the utter sleep-deprivation that they'd been going through, and Thomas had forgotten about the fact that Joan was even there for most of the morning, only seeing them after the entire courtroom spectacle (and a suspiciously dire warning from Virgil) at breakfast, and them leaving to see Talyn a little after (with plenty of hugs involved, duh).

Then Thomas told Joan the truth over the call, and Joan had said The Line (as Roman, Virgil and Janus call it with an oddly cryptid-like voice) and Thomas felt himself go frigid.

Since when did Joan know that Thomas talked to his sides?! Had they learned their names? Figured out that Thomas might just have a few extra screws loose than they might have initially thought?

"Maybe they even hate us now because we got so crazed over one little text and--”

“Virgil. Not helping!” Thomas yelps, and Virgil catches himself in his spiel of worst case scenarios, looking a bit sheepish. Patton and Thomas smile at him reassuringly (he hopes) and Logan clears his throat, causing everyone to turn to him.

“Well, Joan seems to be aware enough of the fact that you speak to us, but mostly considers it as you, as they had said, ‘talking to yourself’, and besides, you didn’t name-drop us too many times, anyways. And while it’s not really...ideal, that Joan thinks you talk to yourself for this long-”

“You can say that again, Stephen Hawk-Nerd”, murmured Roman. Logan winces, and Thomas kind of wants to hug him, so he does.

“Yes, Roman, and as bad as that nickname is, note that this is not, in fact a worst-case scenario. This can be put down to the fact that Thomas has some strange personality quirks-”

“Did you just do some wordplay there, kiddo?” Patton beams at the implication, while Logan, currently being shared by Thomas and Virgil, just groans and descends further into the contact.

“No, I did not, Patton, but what I am saying, is that this is not too bad. We can talk about it as a general personality quirk. This is fine.” Logan finishes, and becomes a heap in the total hug-pile of Thomas and Virgil, flopping over. Huh, he (as usual) has a point. Maybe this can work.

The second time was a pretty near miss, but once again, it was unexpected! He and the sides were just watching Mulan together as usual! They were piled up together, blankets in hand, and yeah, it might look weird to anyone who can’t see the sides, he guesses, with the blankets stretched out in places that have nothing to stretch onto, but once again, he wasn't expecting someone to come over! But anyways- whatever happens, happens. He's trying to be better about it.

It really doesn't stop Janus from pulling out all the stops (teaming up with Virgil, even!) when it comes to having to come up with an alibi to Terrence over why the blankets are arranged so strangely, even though there is literally nothing keeping it afloat. In the end, it's not the most believable lie, but Terrence is busy with Valerie just after, so he probably doesn't really think about it too hard. Besides, Thomas has always been a pretty quirky guy! ("Which could be an insul--" "Jack and Sullen, we love you very very much, but please, for the love of all things Disney, please breathe and take out your fidget cube..") So hey, what was a new quirk when added to everything else?

Meanwhile, Terrence is trying to figure out what the fuck he just saw, because he's pretty sure that there were more than one Thomas there, and Thomas only has two other brothers. Also none of them dress like twenties mobsters or are semi-transparent.

Nico was having a good day. In fact, he still is!

He and his (amazing) boyfriend were sitting on the couch- though more draped on top of each other than anything while binge watching ELITE and Tiny Pretty Things, while also being pleasantly high (as opposed to stoned).

Things only entered strange territory when during one of the flashback murder-y scenes in Tiny pretty Things, a strange man who looked like an even more chaotic Thomas with some grey hair on him entered the room from seemingly nowhere, and proceeded to occupy the sparse space on Thomas’s lap with his head, essntially just napping on his boyfriend’s lap while also being kind of see-through (???!!!???AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH). Thomas noticed, waved a small wave and started playing with this weird guy’s hair.

Nico is now a little high from the bong that he and Thomas had shared, but not enough to hallucinate, especially since, when the high was pretty much gone, the guy was STILL THERE. MIERDA. At this point, he’s just going to call it ghosts. Thomas doesn’t seem to mind too much anyways, so they must not be harmful. Nico decides to table this for another day and go back to binge watching crazy maniacs with his very soft and warm boyfriend, and let the remainder of the high coast along.

"We have to talk about the Thomas thing." Is the first thing Joan says without any bullshit, as soon as everyone except Thomas himself, Gavin (because it's two AM) and Quil are packed together in Thomas's living room, where he just binged Parks and Rec with everyone. They've all finally managed to shove Thomas and Quil back to their respective areas of sleep after 42 hours without said sleep, and nobody was allowed to talk loud enough for them to wake up.

"The… Thomas thing?" Asks Valerie. Oh that sweet summer child. Joan once again quietly calls everyone's attention by asking Talyn to shake their hair around like a neon-coloured alarm bell. This was especially effective in the otherwise dark kitchen where they were trying out glow in the dark hair dye.

"Well, as of lately, we've been seeing a lot, and I mean a lot of really weird shit coming from Thomas. Everyone, recount your experiences." Joan says in the most serious voice they've got. "I'll go first."

They wave their hands like Matt Mercer, as if they were setting up a dope DND campaign. Quietly, of course.

"Well, about a month ago now, I was cleaning here, at Thomas's, because I was sleep-deprived and would have crashed and died if I'd tried to go back to mine and Talyn's. So most of the night goes normally, as one would expect, but when I wake up in the morning…" Joan readjusts their beanie. "I hear Thomas in the living room, talking to people called Logan, Roman, someone called Pat, Virgil and 'deceit'. And this debate becomes an ordeal, alright? He re-enacts a whole entire ace-attorney style courtroom scene with these imaginary people? I called him out on it over the phone when he apologized for some random thing- I don't remember, and he kind of just… admitted that he talks to himself? And moved on.

Everyone absorbs this new information. Camden keeps braiding Talyn's hair.

"But that's not too big of a deal, right Joan?" Whispers Camden, tying up the elaborate mini fishtail plait in Talyn's hair. "I mean, thanks Thomas we're talking about. He could have been rehearsing or something- isn't he JD in the next production of Heathers?"

Terrence speaks up next. "Yes, this would have been all well and good, had the Blanket Incident ™ not occured."

Valerie shakes her head. Why are her friends like this? Oh wait. They’re all theatre nerds, queer and D&D players.

"In the blanket incident ™, I was walking past Thomas's room, as one does. HOWEVER, while he was watching Mulan, I noticed something wrong with his blanket pile!"

"What, that they don't have any Vetal Miking references on them? Because that's the true tragedy here."

"Nope, sorry Tal, the weirdness here was not about Vetal Miking references, but the fact that parts of the blanket were freaking floating, in thin air! I have discreet pictures!"

"What the fuck, Terrence." whispered everyone in a strange, haunting unison that could only be possible at two AM as they saw the very strange pictures.

"And that's not it!" Pipes up Talyn, who is now realising that they are very close to becoming too loud for 2 AM kitchen chats, and makes an effort to quiet down.

"At breakfast today, Thomas's waffles were making themselves- Thomas can't cook, y'all. And he can't even use is fucking waffle iron. And he was on the other side of the room! Talking to Quil!" After Quil left, he told the waffle creator to chill out because the stack was getting too tall!"

"Is this about Thomas's ghosts, guys?" Asks Nico, the new cute boyfriend and new theatre company writer as he plops down in Quil's usual spot. Nico's nice- everyone likes Nico except maybe Nico, to which, well, mood. ALSO- ghosts?!!

"Nico what the fuck do you mean by ghosts, you serial killer in training?"

"One, just because I have to write a serial killer in this new script and I'm enjoying it, it doesn't mean I'm gonna be a serial killer, you tonte. Two: yeah, the ghosts that follow him around and look just like him? They seem nice enough." At everyone's super unspoken request to elaborate, for fuck's sake, he takes the hint and does.

“Oh! So the first time I saw them, I was at the mall. You know, where Thomas and I met?” everyone nods, and Talyn readjusts their braces.

“So there was this guy in a hoodie- Virgil, as you said, and the Disney prince. Roman, I think. And they were just kind of… there? Roman was holding Virgil’s shoulder affectionately, and that’s about it. They were only really visible after about three or four hours of us talking, though.” Some of the people hum.

“Then, we were watching a movie and these two guys who also look a lot like Thomas just kind of lounged? On the couch? They were pretty faint, like if their brightness was decreased to about thirty percent in Photoshop.”

“Hey, same!” says Terrence.

“Yeah, so those guys- the one in the green t-shirt that has the legs on the bus meme- so weird- kind of just stretches onto Thomas’s lap and stays there, while the twenties mobster just… curls up to his side? And thomas is probably like, used to this because he kind of just lets it be and curls the meme shirt-”

“I think it’s Remus.”

“-Remus’s hair absentmindedly and moves on.”

“Fuck.” Whispered Joan very softly, but with great feeling.

“So what do we do about it?” asks Camden. There, finally, someone asks the real questions.

“Well,” puts forward Talyn. “They’re not harming him, right? And he’s had them around for a long enough time, right? So what’s the harm? Thomas is just haunted and will probably be on Buzzfeed Unsolved: Supernatural at some point when he dies but hey, if he’s cool with it, we are too.”

Everyone seems to agree with that, and they’re in comfortable silence, until Valerie asks everyone to go the fuck to sleep, we’re still doing the Heather’s costume rehersals and Death Week starts in two days. With groans and cracked joints from Talyn, everyone hobbles off to their respective rooms in the duplex.

Meanwhile, a certain white-streaked side and his hoodied companion are listening through the wall, far away from what anyone can see, and they both visibly sigh in relief. That didn’t go too badly. The question remains: what do we do now?

“They KNOW????” exclaims Thomas, the next day in the (thankfully empty) breakroom, in between rehearsals- Candy Store is being run through and that means that everyone else is outside.

“Yes, Thomas, they know. Or they somewhat know, I suppose.”

“Yeah, because they think we’re-Thomas is being HAUNTED!!’

“Are you not haunted, then?” comes a voice, and Thomas turns around, forgetting to let the sides dissipate in his surprise. It’s Nico, with Talyn and Valerie close behind, who are clearly taking in the six other guys in the breakroom. Well, fuck. The cat’s out of the bag for good, he guesses.

“Could you get everyone else during lunch break? I’ll explain then.” Talyn nods and leaves with a smile, telling him that they’re not mad at him, while Nico asks, voice farther away “So are you haunted or not?”.

“So they’re… aspects of your personality that you’ve been able to manifest since you were a kid?” Camden asks, a bit disbelieving, even as Logan, Roman, Patton and Janus drape themselves over Thomas on one of the beanbags in the breakroom, filled with other nerdy gay young adults. Logan pushes up his glasses, ready to go on another tangent. Go wild, you funky little dude.

“Well yes, that’s exactly what we're saying. I myself am the embodiment of Logic- every fact that Thomas has ever learned, and his, and these are his words, not mine, ‘the only braincell’. He makes the air quotes to go with the expression, but is also smiling fondly.

“Classic Thomas.”

“Yes, Valerie, I am inclined to agree. However, this is not specific to Thomas. Other people can, in fact, do what Thomas is. Lilly Singh is one of them- the reason that she and Thomas are even friends is because in high school Thomas caught her talking to one of her sides in the art room.”

“So wait-- we can summon sides too?!” asks Nico, and he and Camden look genuinely excited, but Thomas knows the answer to that question.

“Unfortunately no, not really. You have to have an extremely active imagination, and also be ‘innocent’, as society would put it. I’d say näive.”

“For example, I couldn’t make any more sides after i was fourteen, because I watched the news by then.” pipes in Thomas. Joan seems to process this first, nodding and grinning sardonically. “Ah yes, the news. Wrecking childhoods since forever.” everyone nods in gay syncing, because gay minds think at the same time.

Valerie suddenly speaks up; “So how many sides do you have, Thomas?”

Thomas perks up, because his sides are possibly his favourite metaphysical beings (as narcissistic as that might sound) “I have six! My logic, morality, both creativities- Kids and Family and PG13-and-up, anxiety and deceit! I have two creativities because of catholic guilt and my mind’s inherent need to cause chaos, I guess.”

“Valid” replied Valerie.

The rest of break passed by pretty smoothly, with questions being passed back-and-forth about what the sides truly were, considering they clearly were not just Thomas, and Virgil even felt okay enough to come in later! So that was good. Though he kind of wishes Remus had made fewer Heathers jokes- Camden was starting to look squeamish, even as Nico frantically took notes of gorey facts to use in his script.

Honestly, Thomas thought to himself. What was I scared of?

Irrational things. And rejection, replies Virgil in his head. He laughs and pulls him in for a hug, and tries as he might to deny it, Virgil is looking pretty chuffed.

#sanders sides #sanders sides fanfiction #character thomas #nico flores #nico flores x thomas sanders #pintroverts #not rpf #do not repost #ts virgil #ts logan #ts remus #vee's writing #2021 #f is for friends verse

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peralta-guaranteed · 4 years ago

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Romantic epiphanies are dope

At what point, though, had she decided that it was Jake of all people who would disrupt her calendar so completely, while also fulfilling the dreams she didn’t dare write down on it?

After all, if 11-year-old Amy had been asked to create a binder on her future husband - Jake would have not even been mentioned in the footnotes. If she could’ve wished for a partner back then, she definitely wouldn’t have specified that he had to be dorky and clumsy, constantly making bad jokes, living on a diet that would send any other person to the hospital for malnutrition, obsessed with action movies and cop heroics, spending his free time and money on the most useless things anyone could think of, and pranking and bothering her to his heart’s content.

-*-*-*-

On the evening of their engagement, Amy wonders about her own romantic epiphanies and what made her decide that Jake was the person she was going to spend the rest of her life with.

Read it on AO3

“What about you?”

The scene at Shaw’s bar had settled down a bit after the united ring of the squad had broken down into their own little groups as they always did. Gina was busy admiring Terry’s biceps from a corner booth, phone in hand as always, while he played a game of darts with Jake, who was shooting glances over to Amy every few seconds as if they had been apart for months again instead of just a few minutes. Charles was extolling the virtues of some new restaurant to Captain Holt, who definitely looked like he was preparing to leave ever since he’d stepped foot into the bar. Hitchcock and Scully were… well, somewhere, either asleep or eating, probably.

And Rosa was sliding onto the barstool next to Amy, a cocktail glass - Moscow Mule, her favourite, Amy had learned after literally a year of sleuthing - in her hand and a curious glint in her eye that didn’t quite fit the usually stoic face.

“Hmm~?” Amy gave her a quizzical look - she was not yet anywhere on her scale of drunkenness, still holding the beer she’d used to cheer during today’s round of toasts. She didn’t want to get drunk tonight - she wanted to remember it all, forever. The little diamonds of her wonderful new ring were shining just perfectly against the dark brown bottle.

“What about you, Santiago. When was your romantic epiphany? Knowing that you’ll say yes if he asks?” Rosa raised an eyebrow and schooled a more appropriate, serious look on her face. “Because let’s be honest, as sweet as Jake is, his’ was pretty lame. You do cross word puzzles like, every night.”

“Oh, I see.” Amy gave the label on her beer a good scratching, peeling off the edges slightly. “I guess-” she started, but nothing else came.

While Rosa usually enjoyed drinking in silence far more than anything, right now she was on the level of inebriated where she would actually let loose enough to, ugh, chat . And she wanted to chat with Amy, of all people. Well, she supposed, maybe that wasn’t quite so strange, considering she was one of her best friends. Actually, her best friend. Girl-wise, next to Jake. It was still a struggle to admit to herself that these two absolute dorks were far more than just co-workers to her, sometimes even more than just simple friends.

But Amy was still silent, staring at her drink as if it held the answer to everything (which it definitely didn’t if it turned her into Spacey Amy on drink 1).

“It’s fine if you don't have one, you know. S’not always like the movies.”

“No no, it’s just- it’s kinda-” The beer’s label was peeling some more, and the bottle was almost empty after another sip.

It was just kinda… the fact that Amy had always been split down two very different sides concerning marriage.

On the one hand, it had never really occurred to her. Her life plan, hanging proudly over her bed while she was living alone, now replaced by a movie poster of Jake’s that was luckily not Die Hard and the plan relegated to her little office corner, made no mention of it. She had plans for her career - many of them - and actually a few goals for her private life as well, to maintain a healthy work-life-balance as one should. But marriage? There had never been a date set on her wall for that. It was too risky, she’d reasoned even as a teen while drawing up her first plan. Unpredictable, since it involved a whole other person, and relationships couldn’t be planned and dated down to the day, which she hated to think about, and she wouldn’t have much time to date anyway if she was gearing up to be the youngest female Captain in NYPD history. And, if she was completely honest, it was sometimes too scary to think about as well - she knew she was a difficult person to be around, in some ways. Definitely difficult to handle as a romantic partner. What if she couldn't find a man willing to put in that work? And then see the dates on her calendar pass by, alone, or crying from heartbreak? No, marriage was not on her life plan at all, she’d decided at the ripe age of eleven in her pink and off-white bedroom while writing down all the big moments of her life to come.

On the other hand, it had always been an obvious yes. Having a husband, having a family - she could imagine nothing else, growing up with all her siblings, with her parents still being obviously in love with each other after all these years, with her tias and tios and abuelas and abuelos all around her. What would life even be like without that kind of family? Without people over at her place every holiday, without someone trusted by her side tag-teaming all the tasks and duties of everyday life, without that little group of people that she knew would always be there, would always be loving and caring for her the way she loved and cared for them. It was unimaginable. She’d seen the endlessly romantic scenes in films and read about them in her books, and while she was not easily impressed or swayed even as a teenager, she was definitely... expecting some of that in her own life. She wanted the romantic moments, the flashbacks to tell her children and grandchildren about, the beautiful proposal, the perfectly-planned wedding, the photo album of years and years together, of all the milestones a couple could have. Yes, marriage was definitely on her life plan, tucked into the back of her mind and ever present.

At what point, though, had she decided that it was Jake of all people who would disrupt her calendar so completely, while also fulfilling the dreams she didn’t dare write down on it?

Then again, that wasn’t Jake anymore - maybe it had been during their first few years as only co-workers, but he was constantly changing, growing up step by step, maybe a bit later than others, but definitely growing. He was always willing to learn, as much as he’d moan about it all. He was willing to get better, spurned on by competition, maybe, or by the desire to be the best -anything- he could be, not just best detective, but he was willing no matter the reason.

And then again, that wasn’t all that Jake had really been, ever - maybe on the outside, to the unknown onlooker, but not to those who really spent time with him. As careless as he was with his own health, he was always caring for everyone else in his own subtle and not so subtle ways. As ridiculous as his jokes and pranks were, he also knew exactly when they were not appropriate anymore, and he could lend a hand or a sympathetic shoulder just as seriously as he could stand guard for you if you needed a moment alone in the evidence lock-up. As much as he would boast about himself and throw jabs at everyone else, he would also turn into the ultimate hype-man for everyone on the squad at the mere mention of one of them failing or stumbling.

And if Amy had been given the chance to write a wishlist for the man she wanted to spend her life with at any point of her planning - that kindness, compassion and support would’ve definitely been on the top of it.

She realised she still hadn’t answered Rosa. Luckily, Diaz was exactly the kind of person who knew how to hold onto a weighted silence and give her all the time she needed without interrupting her. She simply sipped her heavy-on-the-vodka-please drink and waited.

“I don’t think I-” Amy started up again, realising that her beer bottle was now completely label-less, a small heap of paper on the bar counter next to her. “I don’t think it was one big moment, to be honest. I think it was a lot of little ones.”

“Like what, buying folders together to get his desk straightened out? The moment when he actually used a five-syllable-word right? The day he finally stopped mixing gummy bears with red vines and calling it ‘sugar bolognese’?”

“I know you’re making fun of it, but those were all milestones in their own way, okay?” Amy shot Rosa a little glare, which proved to be extremely ineffective against the other Latina’s taunting grin.

“But they weren’t the moments?” Rosa continued to poke her, turning her voice several octaves higher for the last words. “Where Jake turned into the knight in shining armour baby-Amy definitely used to draw into her diary?”

No, they weren’t. Sure, Amy was proud of Jake for all of them. But they weren’t the moments where she’d realised that this was it, that this person was her person. That there would never be anyone who loved her the way he did, and that she could never feel for anyone else what she felt for him.

She tried to think of something romantic, something big to throw back into Rosa’s face, make her stop the jokes and understand. Make her see that it wasn’t about the grand gestures or the perfect match that made Jake her one and only, as cheesy as that sounded.

They’d had many big moments, that was for sure.

When he went in front of the whole precinct here at Shaw’s to cryptically talk about how much just six days with her meant to him. When she knocked on his door to say screw light and breezy and his eyes lit up as if she’d just taken the weight of the world off of his shoulders. When he sat at the back of an ambulance, a bullet wound from her in his leg and the memory of Figgis’ gun still on his temple, and none of that seemed to matter because they were back in sync and he’d get to finally go back home with her. When he forfeited a bet, lost a collar and gave up his entire apartment for her happiness. When she was knee-deep in files at the precinct long after her working hours and her phone rang, an unknown number on the screen, and when she picked it up she heard his voice so far away and metallic and realised that he must’ve broken several rules and put himself into danger just to get a phone into prison to talk to her. When he spun an entire Halloween heist around today to get her to win it, all so he could give her that soft scared smile as she turned and saw him down on one knee.

Rosa knew about all of these. She’d witnessed them, or heard her drunkenly ramble about them during their weekly get-togethers. And they were all big moments, good moments, special moments she would re-tell to everyone who wanted to hear about her and Jake and their story.

But they weren’t all of it. They were the big plot points in their shared book of life, that was for sure. But they weren’t the kind of quotes she’d underline, the ones she’d write little notes into the margins for. The ones that made her love this book more than any other story she’d ever read.

Yet when she thought about those definitely underlined quotes that came up in her mind now, they all seemed so… trivial, compared to what you’d expect about romantic epiphanies.

Like the time she picked him up at the airport coming back from prison, when he leant back in his seat and took a deep, almost inappropriate sniff of her stupid little pinetree air freshener, telling her how unreal it seemed that someone could miss a smell like that, but that he’d longed for it for weeks now. That it wasn’t pinetree to him anymore, it was the comfort of Amy’s car, and their morning drive to the precinct when he was too tired to get into his Mustang, and Amy picking him up after a few hours too long working on a case, all wrapped up in one scent that he never realised he could miss. He was sniffing an air freshener, with his uneven beard scratching all over it, red eyes from an early flight and maybe a few tears they’d shed at the pick up area, and Amy was sure her heart could never ache as much for anyone else as it did for the tired man sitting in her passenger seat.

Or the time she’d come home from work on his first day off after they’d moved in together, expecting to see her prim and proper apartment turned into a slouchfest the way his old place had been. Only to realise that nothing had changed - safe for the take out containers next to the sink, which had enough left in it that they could share it for dinner. Only to realise that he had actually done all of the laundry, and folded all her socks and underwear exactly right, and even folded the fitted sheets properly, and put it all into the closet in the system she’d developed but never actually written down, because it came to her like second nature. Only to realise that meant that he’d watched her, every time she’d done it, to learn it all perfectly so he could do it for her. And she looked at him as he jumped up from the couch to heat the take out for her as she changed out of her work clothes, and realised that she never wanted to share her home with anyone else.

Or the time he’d first been invited to the big Santiago summer get together, and she’d stressed over it just as much he did, making information binders on her family and their quirks and their habits and what he could say and what he should absolutely not say. But when the party finally came, and he’d squeezed her hand so nervously stepping into the living room, he managed to remember every single brother’s, sister-in-law’s, niece’s and nephew’s name, made extra time for her abuela Claudia’s stories and waited for her tia Maria to translate everything someone yelled in Spanish for him, sat down at exactly the place on the table that would’ve secretly been reserved for him as a test, and slipped into dinner conversations and children’s games down at the lake as if he’d always been there, always been a part of her family. She watched him running from her nephews’ water guns and secretly rolling his eyes at her while talking to her brother David and offering his arm to her abuela Sofia on a walk the way he would usually offer it to her, and she realised that it fit so well because he should have always been there, that this spot in her family had always waited for him.

Or the time she’d started her period while staying over at his place for the first time ever, waking up to stained sheets and cramps and the rushing feeling of pure embarrassment, telling him she was so, so sorry and would buy him new sheets and probably better get home so she could deal with this and not bother him for the rest of the weekend despite the plans they’d made. And he’d simply gotten out of bed, rummaged through a cabinet in his bathroom and returned with painkillers, a hot water bottle, and a box of pads and tampons he’d bought after an awkward day at the academy when Rosa had lectured him about always being prepared for anything his fellow detectives could need. And he’d parked her on the sofa after she’d changed into one of his boxers, and the washing machine was already cleaning the sheets and her underwear, and he said be right back and returned from the bodega on the corner with ice cream and salt & vinegar chips and her favourite chocolate. And she looked at him as he sat down on the other side of the couch, remote already in hand to see what they could binge-watch this weekend, acting as if nothing was wrong and she hadn’t just completely inconvenienced him and weirded him out with her problems, and she realised that she hadn’t. That they’d been together barely a month and a half, and he was already so comfortable having her around that he was prepared for anything. That she could lay it all on him, without the fear of being embarrassed or rebuked as she had been with any other man in her life before him.

Or the time she cancelled what was meant to be their second date ever (after that awkward, chaotic, yet happy-ending first one) because she’d gotten sick. When he showed up that evening at her door, she’d been worried he hadn’t gotten her text (she was too stuffed up to speak properly on the phone, she’d realised when calling in sick to work). But he was wearing an old t-shirt and sweatpants instead of a date outfit, and carried a grocery store bag and a drug store bag, and then he made her take a bath with one of those cold-remedy bath salt sachets he’d found, and cooked her his mom’s sickly-soup (with store-bought matzoh balls, he had to admit, he never quite got those right), and let her pick any movie she wanted to watch while they ate their soup wrapped up under one blanket so she could steal all of his body heat. He’d been to her place as her boyfriend only twice before, but she realised as she snuggled into his arms under the blanket and blew her nose into one of the extra-soft tissues he’d bought that she’d felt so wrong being sick and alone at her home, that she’d subconsciously hoped he could be there to rub the vapo-rub on her back before she went to sleep that night, and that nothing felt more right than him already whistling in the kitchen when she woke up feeling slightly better the next morning.

They were all these little moments, these facets of life that barely even mattered to outsiders, that happened and re-happened several times a year. But they did matter, and they came into her mind every time her mom warned her on the phone not to be ‘too hasty’, every time her non-work friends asked her if she was really sure she was talking about ‘Peralta, the guy you used to moan about so much’, every time someone made a joke to Jake and her about her being ‘above his pay-grade’ or them being ‘an odd couple if they ever saw one’. It was these little moments that mattered so much more to her than any grand romantic gesture could, and that manifested in her mind that Jake was it, and always had been.

The bottle of beer in her hand was still label-less, but she noticed that it was also empty. She didn’t know when she’d transitioned into Spacey Amy, but looking up at Rosa’s face, seeing Gina next to her who’d apparently walked up at some point, she realised that she’d been talking, not thinking all of this.

“Daaaamn, girl.” Gina replied, but her voice was quiet, not even close to the usual mocking tone she’d take on for Amy. Rosa next to her was silent, blinking hard, and if she didn’t know her any better Amy would’ve almost believed she was fighting back a few tears. Which was ridiculous, because this was Rosa, and she’d only had six drinks, which brought her barely close to the emotional level she needed to even think about crying. Rosa’s drunk-scale started a lot later than Amy’s did.

Amy swept away a little tear from her own cheek while grinning awkwardly down at her bottle.

“Good thing that was one drink Spacey Amy and not two drink Loud Amy, huh?” She tried to joke, but Rosa only shook her head.

“Santiago, shit like that, you should shout from the fucking rooftops. Or at least into your fiancé’s stupid grinning face. Damn, I’m genuinely so happy for you two dorks, you’re so perfect. Don’t ever quote me on that, though.” Rosa had at least reached the swearing stage of drunkenness, the one where she’d wrap genuine emotion in as many rude words as possible to make it seem like she still didn’t care as much as she did.

Amy looked over at Jake and caught him looking away just as quickly. He’d been watching her again. He often did when he thought she wouldn’t notice, she’d realised that early on in their relationship. They’d be watching a movie, or hunched over case files, or simply hanging out at her kitchen counter nibbling on take away leftovers and discussing their day, and she’d look up and notice him almost flinching away. On the rare occasions that she woke up after him - once in a blue moon, when the night had been far longer than she’d planned, like tomorrow, probably - she would roll to the side and meet with his eyes, half-closed and shining and definitely, completely focussed on nothing but her.

It was almost unsettling to be the centre of someone’s attention like that, but in a good way. In a way that made her heart skip a beat, because she’d never expected to be anyone’s point of focus like this, ever.

Maybe, besides all the little moments and epiphanies, that had actually been the point of no return for her, love-wise - when she realised just what she was to Jake. Everything, he’d told her not just once during his more romantic moments, whispering in her ear and pressing a kiss to her temple. You’re everything to me, Ames, and sometimes I think you’re even a bit more than that.

“Hey.” She heard his voice next to her as he walked up from the long-forgotten dart board, where Gina was quick to jump in and challenge Terry to another round to see him flex his shoulders.

“Hey yourself.” She grinned back, one drink Amy still on the clock.

“Thought I should come over here to tell you something really important.”

“Oh, sure.” The serious tone in his voice made her steel herself almost as a reflex. “What is it?”

“I realised I’m absolutely, crazy in love with you. Is that okay?”

And there was this grin, this stupid wide grin she knew so well, that always looked a bit different when it was directed towards her than anyone else. Amy couldn’t help but laugh as she softly punched his arm.

“Yeah, you know.” She looked at the ring on her finger as she stroked over the space she’d only just hit. “I think that’s pretty okay.”

He leant down for a kiss, and they could both hear a gagging sound from the side.

“Knock it off, Diaz.” Jake shot Rosa a fake-angry look. “You’re not allowed to make fun of us today.”

“Alright, alright. I don’t need to watch it, though.” Rosa stood up from her bar stool, only to punch Jake into the other arm, definitely stronger than Amy just had. He grinned at her nonetheless, knowing full well that was as close and emotional as a tight hug would be from his old friend.

“Better take your fiancée home before she turns into two drink Amy, though. Think you’ve got some stuff to say that shouldn’t be heard from the whole bar.” She grinned again before walking off to beat both Gina and Terry at darts.

Jake followed her with his eyes before smiling back at Amy.

“My fiancée.” He repeated, and she could see how strange the word still felt in his mouth, strange and new and absolutely joyful.

“Your future wife.” She smiled back, and it didn’t sound strange at all. It sounded perfectly right. Because it had always, always been.

#B99 #Brooklyn 99 #Peraltiago #Jake Peralta #Amy Santiago #fanfic #my writing #my Q needs no more vowels

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