#also the bit about the nosebleeds absolutely true

[whiskeyswifty]

.

[justporo]

A/N: So a little while back on a Discord server something came up about nosebleeds and my head immediately went: haha, Astarion would surely lick that off his partner face no matter that it's kinda disgusting. So have creechur Astarion and also my first official piece for my babygirl Fox!

Pairing: Astarion/Fox(Fem!Tav) Wordcount: 1,2k Warnings: blood and Astarion being a little weirdo about it

Nosebleeds

The fight had been vicious. Everyone in the group had taken a good beating but this time Fox had gotten the worst of it. When Shadowheart had been struck down she had had no other choice but to move from her ranged position to help her friend - resulting in having been beaten and sliced by one of the several Bhaalites the group had been fighting.

At least now it was done with no major losses. Fox looked a little worse for wear but she insisted that she had been roughed up worse before on the streets of Baldur’s Gate as Karlach helped her up and she tried to rub some of the grime and gore off of herself.

It was no help though: blood and dirt was all over her and her red brown hair and she was holding her side - obviously more hurt than she wanted to acknowledge.

Astarion quickly rushed over to her, catching her in his arms before she could stumble to the ground again. There was honest concern in his eyes. The rest of the group took a step back - they very graciously gave the fresh couple their moment. Although - as some of them seemed to say with their glances - they got these moments fairly often.

“Darling, are you sure you can keep going like this?” the vampire asked with an arched eyebrow. Fox scoffed at him and immediately tried to brush him off. She was used to hiding pain and weakness as growing up as an urchin on the streets of this city.

And it was a habit that died hard even with a bunch of people around her caring about her. Too deep ingrained were the manners of acting like a lone survivor.

Astarion rolled his eyes a little, knowing how his beloved absolutely hated being told what to do - and knowing it was even harder for her to accept help.

But she definitely needed a break and maybe Halsin would have to patch her up a little as well. So he would have to resort to other options to convince her. Thankfully by now Astarion had a bit of experience on how to make her take an offered supportive hand.

“My heart,” he began again, cupping Fox’s face and running his thumbs over her cheeks and the freckles there, “you’ll scare all of our targets right off if you keep walking around looking like this.”

“Looking like what?” Fox immediately responded, squinting silver eyes at her vampire, pursing her lips.

Astarion clicked his tongue and waved one hand up and down her form with a pitiful look on his face: “Disgusting, darling.”

Fox swatted his arm - hard - with almost all of her remaining power. “That’s no way to talk to a lady,” she scolded the vampire, sticking a finger into his face but a grin already played on her lips. Somewhere behind her Lae’zel could be heard moaning at the interaction between the two lovers.

“Usually you do the best to claim that you’re anything but a lady, my sweet. You can’t just choose to be and be treated like one whenever it pleases you,” Astarion said and clicked his tongue, lifting one eyebrow again in judgment.

“Tsk, you’re just afraid to be seen with me like this,” Fox gave back a little more weakly. Her injuries really were draining her, it was easily seen now. Astarion tightened his grip on her slightly. His haughty expression dropped, allowing for true and honest concern to fill his crimson eyes. Carefully he moved his hand to brush back a single strand of hair out of the smaller wood elf’s face. She smiled back at him at the gentle gesture.

But there was still a little mischievous sparkle in his crimson eyes. He leaned his forehead against Fox’s.

“Maybe I am,” he whispered and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. (More moaning from Lae’zel.)

Fox heaved a dramatic sigh after the vampire broke the kiss. “Well then,” she said “can’t have the lovely nobleman walk around with a miserable, disgusting wretch on his arm, eh?”

“Ah, thank you so much for understanding, Fox my love,” the vampire responded and cupped her cheek again to press another kiss onto her lips while he wrapped his other arm around her, allowing her to kind of melt into him.

This time though it was interrupted when Fox felt something warm and wet run down her lip. Her nose had begun to bleed. Probably another consequence of the vicious fight that had just ended.

Fox tore away from Astarion, immediately going to wipe her face with the back of her hand as she felt blood already run down her lips and chin. But with his roguish dexterity Astarion was much quicker: he grabbed hold of Fox’s wrists then moved in again as if going for another kiss. But in fact he licked up the fresh blood running down her face - making a little show of it too. Making sure not a single drop of fresh blood went to waste.

Lae’zel’s moaning turned into outright retching noises - joined by some cackling from Karlach and Halsin and comments on how the vampire should keep his gnarly tongue in his mouth by Shadowheart. Gale and Wyll just looked a little startled by what they had to observe out on the open street.

Astarion ended by licking over your lips, making it a lot more lascivious than it had to be and thereby drawing a playful smile from his partner. He ended the whole act with another kiss which Fox quickly deepened, tasting her own blood on the tip of the vampire’s tongue when she pulled him a little closer. Astarion gave a little content hum, intrigued by how the smaller elf had quickly become prone to very public displays of affection - she had learned terribly quickly from him.

She drew back after some more heartbeats. “Maybe a bath and some rest would actually be nice,” she murmured and smiled at Astarion in a way that was clearly asking if he would be joining her.

The vampire’s face lit up knowing he had broken her defiance to a much needed rest. Astarion gave her a smile that answered her unasked question as well as being filled with love and affection.

But before she could turn away so they could make their way back to the Elfsong, the vampire grabbed her face again.

“Wait, love, you still have a little something there,” he murmured and leaned back in to run his tongue over her face again, catching another streak of blood - directly under her nose.

Fox’s nose scrunched up as Astarion now licked the rest of the blood off her rather as if he was a cat trying to clean a kitten. She softly struggled against it but the rogue had her face firmly in his hands and he made sure nothing was left behind.

“Astarion! For someone who just called me disgusting you really have double standards,” the wood elf moaned and pushed her vampire off her finally with her fingers splayed over his face. But it was too late anyway: Astarion ran his tongue over his lips and teeth, fangs glistening before he laughed and and carefully looped an arm around his injured partner.

“Don’t worry, darling, we can be dirty and disgusting together as soon as we are in the privacy of a tub at the Elfsong,” he lewdly promised in a low voice.

Fox laughed and bumped him with her hip. The rest of the group simply were in different stages of burying their faces in their hands for having to put up with the two love doves.

[emoelrics]

Neon Genesis Evangelion Episode 7 Rewatch

we have an ominous phone call with gendo and some unknown individual. elusive as always gendo.

i love the daily routine between shinji and misato that grows as they continue to live with each other. misato is always a complete disaster in the morning in contrast with her serious and focused personality that she displays at work. in the episode, misato starts off her morning a disheveled mess and cracks open a cold beer. classic. what a way to start your morning! and also oops turns out she slept through breakfast. sorry about that!

yet she shows up to school elegant and refined, a total babe. all the horny teenage boys practically have nosebleeds with how excited they are. kensuke and toji are practically drooling with how obsessed they are with misato. they tell shinji he is so lucky to live with her. i'm sure they have this image of misato in their head, the put together misato that she shows the world.

but shinji knows the real misato. the one she doesn’t show the outside world. he knows what she’s like under that airhead and cheerful facade. she’s a slob, she’s immature, irresponsible, and ridiculous. however, he still enjoys living with her despite her shortcomings. that’s a true bond right there. that’s truly caring and loving somebody. i know gendo wanted to bring human instrumentality so people would be free from the AT fields that separate them. but loving somebody despite the walls that separate you is truly beautiful. to break down somebody's walls and get into the core of shows how much you genuinely love someone. you are willing to put in the effort of getting to know them. you're willing to be patient and to slowly peel back all the layers of who they are.

i like this segment where shinji stares at the eva and wonders what the hell is the mechanical, grotesque robot that he pilots. the cockpit feels like blood. and you know shinji that’s because the essence of your mother is in the robot. essentially the robot is basically a womb and the LCL is amniotic fluid. yeah. crazy stuff shinji! good thing the adults are keeping you away from that information. but it's still so utterly terrifying that shinji was forced to pilot this robot with absolutely no knowledge of what it is, where it came from, and how it came to be. he's left in the dark about so much despite how important he is to NERV.

the contrast between shinji questioning the eva and the adults coldly talking about business is excellent. shinji is just a child caught in the elaborate world of adults. adults lie. adults withhold information. adults can be awful and here shinji is completely helpless and at their whims.

we start with a classic shinji and misato routine. the fun and perky music. shinji eating toast just like always and pen pen eating his fish. then the vibe completely changes. it’s dark and serious. misato has to attend to some business for work. no longer than ditzy facade. she has to get down to business. the way that misato can change her persona is incredible. she is extremely multi-faceted and highly emotionally intelligent. i think a lot of people reduce misato's character to a bimbo who loves beer and erm does some questionable things. but her character is so much more complex than people give her credit for.

we have ritsuko and misato on a business trip. ritsuko asks a bunch of hard-hitting questions and isn’t taken seriously. a glimpse of the sexism that women face in the science field. when the scientist says “like a woman in hysterics,” in response to the robots NERV deploys, it always pisses me off. women are often said they can’t be rational because you know they experience hormonal changes once a month but this doesn’t mean they can’t think critically. women are able to withstand a lot. they can go through all this pain and emotional changes and still be tough and capable.

in this segment, you can also get a glimpse of gendo’s plan in this bit. with this “you’re saying that science and human heart will tame the beast.” i think a lot of times in this anime the strength of the human heart is diminished. it’s seen as fickle and weak. but the human heart can withstand so many things - heartbreak and grief. and yet these feelings make it more resilient. the strength of the human heart and genuine love is what allowed shinji to stop the third impact. the power of the human heart.

love this female rage moment!

just as this arrogant man touts his own creation, things go awry. the so called perfect robot goes berserk just like unit 1. and who’s left to help them solve this crisis? yeah. misato. girlboss! who’s hysterical now.

here comes shinji and misato. but now the cheerful dynamics of home are no more, misato and shinji are in business mood. there’s no goofiness. there’s no light-heartedness. this is misato’s captain persona. the one most of the world sees. she’s firm, straightforward, and precise. she extremely calmly puts herself in danger with shinji pointing out how crazy her plan is. and it’s really nice to see how shinji looks out for her. i really like that about misato. she’s resourceful and creative, always coming up with brilliant solutions in a crisis.

even after all that heroism on misato’s part, we return to our typical morning with misato returning to her usual chaotic and sloppy self. shinji groans as he heads to school, utterly disgusted with how misato presents herself.

toji and kensuke fangirl over how lucky shinji is to live with misato once again. and shinji puts his foot down. living with misato is no idyllic walk in the park. she’s a walking disaster and a complete slob who can’t even cook for herself. why would the two of them want to live with her?

i love the note that we end this episode on. shinji as we know is not so well versed in human connection despite how perceptive he is. so kensuke plainly points it out to him. the misato shinji sees on a day to day basis is the real misato. the masks she dons left to the wayside and the only thing left is authentic self. that’s family. that’s love. someone seeing you for who you truly are.

[steely-eyedmissileman]

The Vampire Diaries, Ep. 2x08

Rose

what is this doctor who in two thousand and five??? (fun fact: i am watching doctor who as i type this.)

we begin this episode in a random field on an entirely too nice day. i've been around the block a few times: weather this good means something bad is going to happen.

oh yeah, elena got kidnapped. forgot about that one, a bit. the guy in the car elena didn't come from refuses to be out in the light. he's a vampire without a daywalking ring.

meanwhile, jeremy has realized elena never came home last night. caroline has done a very good job covering for tyler, but damon insists that she not tell tyler about her. he has the ability to kill vampires, so it's important that he not know about them. i'd argue that tyler doesn't want to kill caroline right now and it would be better to trust him and ensure that that remains the case. damon instinctively distrusts everyone, but there can be a better world. once again, tyler deserves all the information so he can make his own decisions.

why don't we ever see ht at school anymore? i miss him. jeremy and stefan have figured out that elena went missing last night.

we see where elena is being held, and the vibes on this place are colossally bad.

is this guy gonna be hot? i can't handle another hot man. i also can't handle another white man. i can barely keep track of the ones we've already got. he's a vampire. this girl that he's with has interesting hair. it's still a bad vibe here.

damon and stefan are going to rescue elena. bonnie and jeremy are going to hang out and try to help from a distance. jeremy really wanted to go rescue elena, but he would only be a liability. the brothers got weapons from ht, though we don't see him.

caroline did a good job of covering to tyler. i'm very proud of her. i don't think he believes her, through no fault of her own. tyler's just too damn suspicious.

who is elijah? he sounds ominous.

bonnie's going to do a tracking spell. she needs jeremy's blood and he cuts himself on the palm again. because everyone on this show seems to think that that's the best way to draw blood even though it's fucking not! the map is exciting, though. greensboro?! winston-salem?! i love winston-salem! historical winston-salem is so lovely! bonnie gets a nosebleed doing the tracking spell.

damon has big crazy eyes these days. he's obviously going with stefan to save elena because 'it's elena.'

caroline is gaslight gatekeep girlbossing it up.

stefan is trying to get damon to talk about his feelings for elena. they have one of the funniest conversations i've ever heard about it. damon: 'can we not do the whole road trip bonding thing? the cliche of it all makes me itch.' stefan: 'oh, come on damon. we both know that you being in this car has absolutely nothing to do with me anyway.' damon: 'the elephant in the room lets out a mighty roar.' stefan: 'well, it doesn't have to be an elephant. let's talk about it.' damon: 'there's nothing to talk about.' stefan: 'that's not true. i'm sure there is. just get it out. i mean, are you in this car because you want to help your little brother save the girl that he loves? or is it because you love her too? hmm? i mean come on, express yourself. i happen to like road trip bonding.' damon: 'keep it up, stefan. i can step out of helping as easily as i stepped in.' stefan: 'no, you see that's the beauty of it. you can't.'

meanwhile, bonnie and jeremy are going to send a message to elena. jeremy reveals that the gilberts just keep a random candle in their bathroom. bonnie doesn't say anything audible when she casts the spell, which is disappointing because i wanted to judge the fake latin. bonnie passes out because she's doing too much magic.

meanwhile, the vampires are refusing to tell elena why they kidnapped her. until she knows too much. now they are relatively open with the information. they mention 'the originals,' which i happen to know is the name of a spin off of this very show. we also learn that elena is 'a petrova doppelgänger. you're the key to breaking the curse... the moonstone breaks the curse. the sacrifice is what breaks it... in order to break the curse you're the one who has to die.'

tyler thinks that caroline is also a werewolf. she then freaks out and vamps out a bit. 'i'm not a werewolf, okay.' she laughs so much. i love caroline.

katherine is the first petrova doppelgänger, apparently.

bonnie's mom left and her dad doesn't want to acknowledge her powers. if jeremy and bonnie kiss, i am going to be so upset. they're bonding over being emo.

stefan reveals to damon that he's been drinking human blood. damon asks, 'elena know you're drinking blood?' stefan replies, 'i'm drinking hers.' damon then fondly remembers stefan in his first days of being a vampire. 'what happened to that guy? he was a hoot.'

i feel like these two new vampires are going to die. elijah is british. how is there working electricity in this house? elijah is zooming around the room. he has to smell elena to confirm her identity. he could be more normal.

damon and stefan have another nice conversation outside the house. damon: 'are you sure you want to do this?' stefan: 'yeah, i'm certain i want to do it.' damon: 'because if we go in that house, we may not come back out.' stefan: 'alright, then i won't come out.' damon: 'so noble, stefan.' stefan: 'i can't think of a better reason to die, but if you want to stay here, i'll totally understand.' damon, of course, follows him into the house.

inside, elijah slaps the vampire man's head off. he takes elena's vervain necklace off to get her to reveal the moonstone's location. elijah gets shot through the hand. he's not european; he's just weird. he made a big fuck off stake by breaking the hangers off a coat stand. elena throws a vervain grenade, which is super exciting! damon stakes elijah. hell yeah, damon! elijah is dead.

damon's face lights up because elena looks so happy to see him. but she's looking at stefan behind him, and damon's little face falls.

stefan apologizes for forcing damon to turn into a vampire. stefan: 'i'm sorry... for being the guy who made you turn 145 years ago... i've never said it out loud. i guess i just need to say it and you need to hear it. i'm sorry. what i did was selfish. i didn't want to be alone. i guess i just needed my brother.' it's such an important moment for them. i hope it brings a new peace to their relationship.

caroline and tyler are bonding. 'how can you be a vampire?' 'how can you be a werewolf?' these two are going to get together? tyler's scared about his new identity, which is super fair.

rose reveals herself to stefan because she knew lexie. she reveals that elijah wants elena for klaus.

damon goes to elena's room to give her back her necklace. first, though, he confesses his love and kisses her on the forehead (not her lips, thank god). he cries, and then he erases her memory and returns her necklace

elijah's not fucking dead. fuck

[the1975attheirverybest]

I’m so proud of them. Two sold out nights at MSG. Tons of other dates nearly sold out. I’m going to the Charlotte show and somehow managed to get GA on Wednesday, but tried again today to get an extra ticket so I wouldn’t be going alone, and all that’s available are a handful of platinum lower bowl tickets that have to be bought in pairs ($600-800total), club seats that have to be bought in pairs ($500+ total), or nosebleeds in the last 10 rows. 

Idk, I’m oddly emotional about this. I absolutely hate that they opted in to platinum and dynamic pricing, but other than that, I think these sales went pretty well. 

Also controversial opinion: I’d love to see them do a stadium just one time. I feel like they could sell out a one night only type of show depending on the area.

Oh yeah, for sure. I think when they first announced the tour all that Twitter nonsense started floating around about how embarrassing it’s gonna be when it doesn’t sell out, lmaooo. The boys are real famous, now. Which is AMAZINGGGG. This is the success that they’ve always deserved. They work their asses off. All of them.

I think what Matty loves to say about the fandom is generally true. They’re more of a cult following band than a mainstream band. Like, they DO fill seats, but they mostly fill seats with hardcore fans. Not a whole lot of “casual listeners” you know? Like if you know the 1975 you’re probably a fan. Not a “oh yeah they’re alright but I don’t really know all their songs.” Or whatever.

I think that might be changing a bit now that more and more people know of them. But on the whole, they’re a fandom band and they’ve expanded their fan base over the years to where they’re easily filling arenas and it’s beautiful to see. Especially for those of us who knew them before. They deserve all of this and much more. Bless them. They really put their all into what they do. 🥹💗💗

[colourshot-draws]

Aww I feel so bad for Drayton and his brothers I just wanna hug them and comfort them :( I wonder what more sad headcanons you have on Drayton/the rest of the brothers and if so could you tell me a bit more about them? ;-; Thanks and have a wonderful day! :)

Ahh I feel a similar way! I'm sure they'd be happy to receive some comfort :]

And I absolutely do have more and I can definitely tell you about them (although every time I'm asked about my ideas, I immediately forget them...I should write them down properly).

•

One of my main ideas for the brothers - and this is something I've definitely mentioned before - is that they do care for one another but the gap between them all is already so big, that bridging it feels impossible. How is Drayton supposed to express that he cares after all he's done, especially to Bubba? That'd he'd done it out of love or fear? Perhaps a mix of both? It may be true but that doesn't really change the damage he knows he's done, he can see the way Bubba cowers away from him when he enters a room. The Sawyers kind of have to be a close family, only looking out for each other and all but still, they don't exactly strike me as the kind of family to sit down and have in-depth discussions about past grievances. So they have arguments, words are exchanged and both parties leave bitter and upset - never really finding their way back to each other, never really resolving any hurt. They just move on and act as normal as they all can.

At least that's how I see it!

Now I'll just rattle off some quicker, random headcanons I have about the brothers:

I don't think Drayton eats nearly as much as he should, mostly out of stress. He always cooks and provides for his family but after a long day at the gas station, the smell of bbq making him feel a little ill, he's not really in the mood for much food.

One of my friends headcanons that I adopted as my own is that Bubba gets nosebleeds when they're stressed. Drayton really knows he's gone too far with his yelling when Bubba's nose starts bleeding.

Another one inspired by a friend and expanded on together was that Chop knew something was wrong with Nubbins before he even got home. That he had a sense his twin was no longer around...because y'know, twin stuff.™ And maybe Nubbins knew that Chop had been injured as well. Chop is lucky it isn't fatal but of course, Nubbins never finds that out, he just has an awful feeling up until his last moments.

I also think that Chop would get sick of seeing Nubbins in himself when he looks in the mirror. Perhaps he decides on a bit of an appearance change because of that.

One I haven't given much thought to at all and really only came to me while I was working on an animatic (which is a wip, hopefully coming soon 🤞), was the idea of it being Chop who decides to deal with Nubbins's corpse in that way. I know it seems pretty standard for the Sawyers to keep dead family members around but a part of me couldn't help but wonder if Nubbins was a little different. He was young, much too young and it wasn't supposed to happen like that. It wasn't supposed to happen at all and Drayton just couldn't stand it, refusing to acknowledge any mention of him for a while. He's not exactly thrilled when Chop starts lugging Nubbins around but 'if it gets him outta his damn room once 'n a while, suppose it's fine.' 🤷‍♂️ No idea if like that idea at all HAHAH, it's really not something I've given much thought so disregard this one if you wish (I mean you can also disregard all of them if you want...obviously).

Those are all that spring to mind right now, thank you for your wonderful asks 😊 I hope my answers are somewhat entertaining!

I'm well aware I'm taking these characters (at least Chop) perhaps more seriously than they may have been presented at first but that's the fun of headcanons, ain't it? There's always room for goofy fun stuff as much as there is for the sadder sides. - 🐊

[charlotteswriting]

I enjoyed sally's mask ask with sdr2 cast can i have same but with ndrv3 cast?

Here you go, anon! I hope you enjoy this — you also requested this with THH cast so I’ll be writing that today, too! :D -Mod Kaede

Shuichi Saihara

He is aware of your boundaries so he won’t pressure you about it but he is really curious of your face!

The first time he met you he thought you were wearing it because you lacked confidence but when he found out the real reason he felt sorry for you

If you were to take your mask off in front of him, he wouldn’t look away though he’d be shocked but also happy that you trust him enough—he gets really emotional🥺and sweet🥺

He doesn’t really mind your appearance. He fell in love with you because of your personality and he still thinks you’re the (most beautiful/handsome) prettiest person in the world!!

Kaito Momota

He’s so noisy about it LMAO

Constantly begs you to take it off and he acts like literally a child—i ain’t joking😌😌

Though he knows his limits and will stop insisting once he senses it annoys you-

If you trust him enough to take your mask off in front of him, he’ll be more than excited

Once you take it off he’ll give you A HUG because he wants you to know he APPRECIATES it

If anyone dares to hurt you or judge you he’ll back 🤺 them 🤺 off 🤺 grrr

Not on his watch😌

Ryoma Hoshi

He’s a member of “Appearance? More like Personality ✨✨” Squad

Seriously though, he isn’t even gonna ask you to take it off. If you felt confident enough about it, you would and he knows that

Doesn’t pressure you not even a bit🥺

If you were to say something like “You won’t probably like it,” he’ll disagree as soon as you say that. He’s like: Not in my house.

He wouldn’t be against the idea of you taking off your mask when you two are spending time alone.

If you took your mask off in front of him, he wouldn’t think pity, he’d just feel sorry that you’ve had gone through something so harsh.

Gonta Gokuhara

Gonta, being the gentleman he is, won’t let anyone or anything hurt you🥺

He’s probably the most understanding one bahahah

He’s the type that will caress your wounds and will tell you how amazing you are if you’re having struggles or looking down on yourself

Just stoooooop. Gonta thinks you’re amazing and you don’t deserve this!

Gonta won’t judge you if you were to take your mask off in front of him—he wouldn’t mind your appearance—he’s the type that will compliment about it!!

But he means it. You’re pretty/beautiful/handsome just the way you are!

Kokichi Ouma

Aaww, he’ll do anything to see what’s behind that mask of yours!

He’s asking you many questions and messing with you—simply does anything for you to take off your mask (didn’t pass the vibe check)

But I feel like he’d stop if you told him to- THANK GOD

He’d be reaaaally impressed by your appearance and if you were to look down on yourself—well, let’s say you’ll be receiving LOTS OF KISSES AND LOVE

“You look stunning and that’s no lie, S/O!”

He thinks you’re so charming, literally flawless. Tell them, Kokichi 😌

Still a perfect match, hehe

Korekiyo Shinguji

Same people different fonts

He’s already blinded by u!! If you were to take off your mask you’d just make him love you more bahahah 💀

Nothing really changes, he just admires you

He doesn’t mind if you decide to wear your mask, he’ll let you know he’s gonna accept you anyways,

He’s ready to tell you nice words and show his affection if you’re feeling insecure

“S/o, I can’t believe you were hiding this from me. You’re still breathtaking.” ajjejtjrkgfgk he’s cheesy like that<3 kthkyhhjj he’s just being sweet

Your appearance don’t really matter to him since he fell in love because of your personality and your beautiful nature🥺🥺

Rantaro Amami

He’s a chill guy but when it comes to you I can say he’s the sweetest one around <3

He’s so easygoing and will not hesitate to tell you how beautiful you are needed or not aejtkktg

He’s like your biggest supporter!!!

You taking off your mask around him means so much to him because it basically means you trust him enough to do that and he holds back his tears all the time:(

Fuck it. Not only that, you trusting him itself means the world to him😩💞💞

Rantaro, you guys have been together for a long time now lmao why’re you so surprised-

Let him have his happiness

K1-B0 (Kiibo)

He. 🥺

He kiNd oF wants you to know that you’re the prettiest human he has ever seen

And if you’re having a hard time accepting this absolute TRUTH, he’ll take that as an insult

He’s reaaally curious of your face but he doesn’t know how to bring it up and always stutters and embarasses himself so do a favor for him and tell him it’s okay

When you first took off your mask he,, screamed because he thought you dropped your mask and didn’t do that intentionally😤

He stared for a sec,, then looked away because he didn’t want to make you uncomfortable, pff:(

But if you assure him it wasn’t a mistake, he’ll tell you the sweetest words you’ll ever hear🥺

Kaede Akamatsu

I kin her sm omg

She thinks you’re a literal sunshine and you didn’t deserve this

Neverthless she LOVES you and will let you know that anytime or anywhere!

She’ll support you and will tell you nice things about you if you’re seeking support 🤧

Respects your boundaries but can’t help but wonder about your face, too

So when you took it off for the first time she was so hyped about it!!

She thinks you have an angel’s face, it’s such a shame you had to go through that

Insists on keeping your mask off when you two are alone, if you say yes she’ll gonna be so happy about it aah

Tenko Chabashira

She couldn’t help but imagine how you looked like behind that mask of yours

You had to scold her multiple times for daydreaming too much, ugh

She thinks you still look stunning! You’re her S/o, there’s no way you’d look otherwise!

And she means that.

The first time she saw you she stared you for way TOO MUCH and you had to ask if anything’s wrong ajtkgrerkhhk

And she just says it’s because you look so pretty without your mask rkykyyjhjj 💍🧎‍♀️

She’ll ask for you to take off your mask more often

So you keep it off just to see her reactions and she boosts your ego with her kind words

Just kiss already smh 🙄

Tsumugi Shirogane

Okay but she was fangirling over you?? Before even you took off your mask??

Yes, your personality was what mattered to her the most. She loved how sweet, how nice you are to her🥰

If you were to call yourself mean things, she’d immediately disagree! “But how could you, S/o?... I think you’re really pretty...! With or without mask.”

If you’re having insecurities she’ll be there for you—her easygoing nature and kind words really helps you!

The first time you took off your mask...? *Fangirl Tsumugi noises* She had a nosebleed lmao

“You’re so beautiful/handsome, S/O!!!”

Maki Harukawa

She won’t ask you to show your face unless you mention it

She acts cool

But inside, she’s begging you to take your mask off so she can see your blessing face😤

Won’t admit but she already knew you looked cute under it, pff

“S/o, why you still bother to wear it? You know, you don’t have to when it’s just me and you,”

Bahahahah she’s finding excuses just to see your face-

If looks could kill, she’d die from your beauty but will she ever tell you that? Nope.

Also will kill anyone that dares to attempt hurting your feelings, I mean how could they?

She feels sorry for you and understands you. As her S/o, you’re someone she can open up to and is actually grateful you can open up to her as well🥺

Angie Yonaga

You didn’t even have to take off your mask in the first place because she was already ready to accept you!!!

She thinks you’re already perfect

If you were to take off your mask she’d have a big smile on her face and would give you cute compliments about it just to express her happiness

“S/o, even Atua thinks you’re breathtaking!” Yeah, and by compliments I mean she conveys compliments told by Atua.

They’re her true thoughts

She thinks you’re so precious you even inspire her to do more art ✨✨ Whenever you are around she feels herself filled with passion

Since you make her feel at her best, she’ll do the same for you. Her favorite thing to do is planting kisses on your face.

Himiko Yumeno

At first she might look as if she isn’t really interested about your appearance

But that’s just her nature. She’s actually curious in her own unique way but doesn’t know how to bring that up

Even though compliments from her are rare, they always make you feel better about yourself because they’re coming from HER

But how she wants to see your face? She’ll probably say stuff like her magic can cure your face or something like that lmao

But when you actually take it off, she just forgot her words

“Your face doesn’t need my magic, S/o. It’s already perfect.”

You’re like: 💆‍♀️

But at the same time: 🥺

Kirumi Tojo

As the amazing person you are, your mood being as amazing as you are is one of her priorities

So if you’re feeling down, she’ll be there for you until you’re feeling better

Holding you, cuddling, telling you nice words etc.

You’re someone she can be relaxed around, so she wants you to feel the same

So she’ll politely ask you to take off your mask when she’s around you, which you’ll agree after thinking a little about it

She doesn’t judge you and she’s down to do anything to tell you she appreciates your existence

Which makes you feel a lot better about yourself

“S/O, please know that I’m here for you anytime. And know that you’re pretty.”

Miu Iruma

Hahahah this girl

This girl wanted to see you so much that she literally kneeled down and cried to you

Seeing her like this, you played along a bit more, it was fun seeing her cry like that

“Okay, okay, stop. But don’t freak out, okay...?”

She didn’t get what you exactly mean. Did you look bad??

When you took off your mask she was even more confused. Because there stood you that looked as much as pretty as her???

No! She can’t drool over you now!

“What?! You’ve been hiding this from me? What’s wrong with you, S/O? You’re so hot!”

And she boosts your ego like that even when you don’t need it

If nobody got you, Miu got you, amen

Aahhh this took so long aıekfgkrkfgkkhj REQUESTS ARE OPEN!!! And you can always dm me if you want!! :) -Mod Kaede

[wicked-hg]

Love, The Weasleys || g.w.

Day 12 of @jamilelucato and @whack-ed Very Harry Potter Christmas.

George Weasley x muggleborn!reader

Prompt: Writing Christmas cards

Summary: George never knew about Christmas cards until you.

A/N: This ended up being more about Christmas cards in general than writing them. Hope you all enjoy! I’m thinking about maybe writing more.

WC: 2.3k

Y/H/C- your hair color ; Y/L/N- your last name ; Y/H- your house (except Gryffindor. Sorry. I didn’t realize my mistake when writing this. You’ll understand at the end. Forgive me.)

First year George wasn’t expecting anything from you during Christmas break. You were a muggle-born he had met one day running away from Filch after getting separated from Fred. You two became friends as you became a silent partner and helped with their escape plans. George didn’t realize you had an owl. 

George opened the envelope and stared at the strange letter that had a picture on the front with reindeer pulling a fat man in red robes in a red cart. The front read “May all your wishes be granted”. George curiously opened the strange letter. A still photo of your family stared up at him. He moved it to the side. Printed inside was “Happy Christmas with lots of joy!” Signed underneath was The Y/L/N Family. On the opposite side was a note from you. 

George,

I hope you have a Happy Christmas with your family! I’m sorry I didn’t get you anything in time. I promise to have something for you on the train. Miss you lots dear friend!

Sincerely,

Y/N

“Mum, Dad,” George asked. “Do you know what this strange letter is? My muggle-born friend sent it to me.”

“That’s a Christmas card,” Charlie piped up. “We learned about muggle Christmas traditions before break. Muggles send cards out to family and friends during the holidays. Sometimes they send pictures and longer notes to catch up with people. It’s just a way to celebrate the holidays. Professor Quirrell didn’t really understand them.”

George nodded and stared at the card. He looked over at the picture of your family. You were in the middle with a giant grin and a red sweater. Peeping up from the bottom of the photo, he swore it was the beginning of a gold G. “I like these strange letters. Christmas cards you say, Charlie?”

———————

George stared out of the window in hope. Fred watched his twin while he sat on his bed and worked on pranks for their shop. “She doesn’t even know we’re here, Georgie. How can you expect Y/N to send you a Christmas card when she doesn’t know where you’re staying?”

“She will!” George argued. “She always does.”

“You didn’t tell her, did you George? It doesn’t matter that she is finally your girlfriend after you both finally got it through your thick heads.”

George shook his head. “I didn’t tell her. She knows we are not at the Burrow. She thinks we’re staying with Aunt Muriel. I told her to send the letter to the Burrow. Errol is there waiting for the trade off. Told her it was too far for Sova to fly the whole way.”

Fred shook his head. “You’re letting Errol deliver your happiness? Oh Georgie. You’re doomed.”

George stuck his tongue out at his twin before turning back to the window. Soon, he thought, Errol should be here soon. As if by magic, the shadow of Errol appeared in the distance. George scrambled to grab the owl treats he had waiting on the window sill. 

“Cmon, you stupid old owl. Come get the treat and give me that letter,” George almost shouted. Fred shushed him. The last thing either of them needed was for someone to wake up and discover what they are both up to. “Incoming, Freddie! He’s coming in hot!”

Fred quickly stumbled out of bed and grabbed a pillow as George made the window wider and grabbed another pillow to go under Fred’s. Errol blasted through the window and hit the pillow at Fred’s chest before falling onto the pillow George held underneath. George laid the treats next to the owl and snatched the letter. This year glittery snowflakes adorned the front with “May your life be full of flurries of happiness”. The inside read similar like every year with something about having a happy Christmas, the family signature, and the family picture. Just like always too, there was a note from Y/N. 

Darling George,

Give my love to your family. I do hope your father is okay and recovering well. I also hope that the hag of an aunt you call Muriel is treating you all well too. It was a bummer to end term without you, but alas I know I’ll be doing it once more. One of us has to have a diploma, even if I will end up working with you. Don’t throw a fit, my darling George. I know I can do more with my life, but this is what I want. I already made that clear to my parents. They’ve accepted my choice. Back to end of term. It was okay. It would have been better if Umbitch wasn’t there. She did leave me alone though...unwillingly. Somehow she kept getting fed your nosebleed nougats and lost quite a bit of blood. Hmmmm. Who knows how that happened. I certainly don’t, and neither do Peeves or that elf Dobby your brother knows. Mum and Dad and those idiot brothers of mine say hello. They’re all glad I finally officially have you as mine. Apparently they’ve always known too. Perhaps I should tell them the truth about our Yule Ball last Christmas and we went as much much more than best friends. I’ll give you your present on the train back. Take care, darling. Do enjoy your break. Miss you tons, but I love you more. 

Love always,

Y/N

George grinned at the card. “She’s brilliant, Freddie. Absolutely brilliant.”

——————

George was nervous as he handed Fred the card. It was still early in the morning. The Hogwarts express had gotten back the day before, which meant the holiday rush will be hitting soon. Y/N was managing the store with Verity while George and Fred were going over some inventory in the back. Fred stared at the envelope before gingerly opening it. He smiled at the card with a fireplace wishing him a warm and festive holiday. “Well finally, Georgie boy,” Fred grinned. “I was wondering how long it would take for you to tell the Y/L/N to include me in their list of Christmas card receivers.”

George didn’t say a word and just motioned for his brother to open it. Fred opened the card. Staring back at him was a muggle photo of Y/N and George. Both were grinning in the midst of pine trees. George’s arms were wrapped around Y/N and she was leaning into his chest. Fred moved the picture to be greeted with the typical Y/L/N family picture, but he very quickly noticed his twin was a part of the family photo. Moving the photos he saw the card was signed by The Weasleys, but it was in Y/N’s handwriting. On the left side of the card, Fred was greeted with the familiar sight of George’s writing. 

Forge,

Y/N told me I didn’t have to write you a note updating you on my life because we live and work together and see each other every day. But where is the fun in that? I want you to have a true Christmas card experience! We’ve been through so much this year, Freddie. I’m just glad I got to experience it with you along the way. As you can see, I’m a part of the Y/L/N Christmas cards now. Y/N is my everything. I have to thank you. Thank you for giving me the pushes to make her mine. It’s no lie written in the card, Forge. She’s gonna be a Weasley. Will you be my side as I celebrate my new life? There’s no one else I’d want. Let’s celebrate Christmas with a bang. 

Gred

Fred immediately looked up. “You serious, Gred?”

“Absolutely, Forge. There’s no one else for me, and with the war and her being a muggle-born. It’s just going to be a quick muggle ceremony. Once the war is over, we’ll do the real thing.”

“Why muggle?”

“She’s read about wizard tradition. She wants to experience that and have her family see it too. Besides, if we did a quick magic ceremony, her family wouldn’t be allowed to come. With a muggle ceremony too, if anything happens she can easily blend right in and be taken care of.”

“You sure about this, George? I’m not talking you out of it. I know she’s perfect for you, but I want you to be happy.”

George smiled and hugged his brother. “I am, Fred. I have everything I want right now. Her. You. The store. I just want to make her as permanent in my life as you are.”

Fred chuckled. “Well I am amazing. It’s only a given. But George, have you told mum and dad yet?”

“They’re getting a Christmas card from Y/N and I. All the family is. They also got one specifically from her family.”

“I meant do mum and dad know you and Y/N are getting married?” George stayed quiet. “Oh Gred. What have you gotten yourself into?

————————

George found you at the kitchen table writing a list. “Making a list and checking it twice, darling?” George joked. 

You smiled and kissed him. It was good to hear those little quips from him. When the war hit hard and Fred was killed, you worried he wouldn’t laugh again or joke. You feared the store would stay closed and layers of dust would settle over the products. It took George a few months, but they got the store up and going again. You knew he wouldn’t be the same without Fred, but it was good to see him somewhat the same again. “It’s what he’d want, Y/N,” he told you when working on cleaning up the store. “He wouldn’t want me to give up everything we’d ever hope for.”

“Very funny, George darling. I’m making a list of who we need to send Christmas cards too. My mum called and said the prints were in. Which reminds me, you need to make a list of which friends and extended relatives you want cards to go to and get their addresses.”

“We’re still doing this?”

You gave him a funny look. “Of course, darling. Why else would we have taken pictures with my family and gone to Selfridges to buy cards and some decorations?”

“Well I knew your family would still send cards out and that’s why they needed us there,” he answered. “They haven’t gone through a war.”

“But isn’t that why we should do this?” You asked. “So many people have gone through pain and sorrow this year. Let’s give them something to smile about, George darling.”

George gave another weak smile. “Fred loved the cards,” he whispered. “He always got excited when I got them and started bugging me 3rd year that he wanted to be in on it. He was so excited when I gave him his first card. I don’t know what I’ll do this year.”

You brought George closer to you. “You can still write him a Christmas card, George. The box is down stairs that you guys started your business out of. You can keep all the Christmas cards you write to him in there. It might sound weird, but I think it’ll be good for you. Include the pictures too. What do you think, darling?”

George kissed your cheek. “You’re an angel. You know that? You don’t think it’s weird?”

You shook your head. “I wouldn’t have suggested it if I thought it was. I think it’ll be good for you, George. It’ll be therapeutic in a way.” You pushed a card and envelope towards George. “This can be his. Why don’t you go grab your coat. We can go pick up the photos and then grab some lunch at the fish and chip shop down the road.”

“Maybe on the way back we can stop at that bakery by Flourish and Blotts,” he suggested. “I saw you looking at those cauldron cakes and strawberry trifles the other day.”

You grinned and kissed him. “Of course, Georgie darling.”

———————

“Y/N!” George shouted. “Where is the box? I have Fred’s card done.”

“Check the office, darling!” You answered. “I put it there so we didn’t lose it. I’m off to the station now. I’ll be back in a half hour.”

George entered his office and found the orange box he stored Fred’s Christmas cards in. A mouse wearing Christmas tree sunglasses and a Santa hat. He stuck the picture inside the card before putting it in the box. No longer was the photo of Y/N’s family included when sending out cards. Instead the photo was of George and Y/N wearing their Weasley sweaters. In front of them were two smaller red heads and a light haired Y/H/C also wearing their Weasley sweaters. 

George smiled as he put the box back on the book shelf. “Until next Christmas, Forge.”

———————

Dear Forge,

It’s been a crazy year. The last of this Weasley clan has joined Hogwarts. It’ll be interesting to see if the twins follow in our footsteps. Anya is in Gryffindor and Fred is in Y/H. Part of me is glad Fred isn’t in Gryffindor. It would’ve been cool, but this way I hope he will be able to forge his own path. Forge. Hah! Get it? Clara is studying for her OWLS this year. I found some of our old charms, defense, herbology, transfiguration, and potions notes. I let her into our little secret that we are quite smart but just never turned our assignments in. She was thankful. She’s definitely my daughter. She acts like me so much, but she’s definitely loud like you with that Gryffindor bravery. I miss you, brother. Y/N was right though; this has definitely helped me. Hopefully you get these wherever you are. Happy Christmas, Freddie!

Love, Gred and his Weasleys

[thelazyhermits]

Stoking the Fire

As I mentioned in this post, I wanted to write a drabble focused on Fortune having a vision about the All Might vs AFO fight since I figured out a way to make it happen so there wouldn’t be any extra wariness among the heroes about the summer camp.

This takes place after TABF chapter 29 but before the Two Heroes fic. I hope y’all enjoy it! ^-^

Your Quirk is very troublesome in many ways.

For starters, you have no control over it when it comes to receiving visions, so they always happen at random which can be really inconvenient at times. Although, there are also times they happen just when you need them, so you suppose you shouldn’t complain too much on that end.

One of the most annoying aspects of your Quirk is the fact that it comes with so many drawbacks. It’s seriously ridiculous how much suffering your Quirk constantly puts you through.

Sure, it somewhat makes sense when you consider how powerful your Quirk is since great powers like foresight normally come with limits, but you think your Quirk has way too many. 

It’d be one thing if you only had the drawback that prevented you from revealing the contents of some of your visions, but to also have a drawback that causes you to take the pain someone would have felt if you hadn’t intervened on their behalf and prevented them from getting injured? Truly ridiculous.

Not only that, when you use your Quirk for offensive purposes, you can only use it for a select period of time. Otherwise, you risk overworking your brain, which could result in seizures as well as horrible migraines and nosebleeds. 

A truly troublesome Quirk indeed.

And unfortunately for you, there’s one other troublesome aspect of your Quirk that you oftentimes forget about since it doesn’t happen very often.

Sometimes, for reasons unknown to you, your Quirk gives you visions while you’re asleep.

The reason this is problematic is because sometimes it’s difficult for you to tell if you had a vision or if it was just a dream. Not only that, you never can tell when exactly the events of these particular visions occur unlike how you usually can with the visions you get when you’re awake.

While it’s not unusual for you to not be able to tell the exact date and time an event will happen, you can usually tell if it will be a few days or months away, but when it comes to visions that occur while you’re asleep, you can’t tell what the timeline is at all for whatever reason. 

That’s why you hate getting those kinds of visions since it drives you crazy knowing that something is going to happen but having no idea when it will occur, especially when the events of said visions are very worrisome.

Like what you see in the vision you get a week before summer break starts. 

                                                       -------------

As soon as the vision comes to an end, you wake with a loud gasp and quickly pull yourself into a seated position. While you take a moment to calm down, you brush the back of your hand against your forehead to wipe away the sweat clinging to your skin. 

Once you’ve steadied your breathing and your heart is no longer pounding frantically in your chest, you mentally go over what you just witnessed while you were asleep. 

It was a battle but not just any kind of battle. It was a fight between All Might and All For One himself. 

There’s no way that was just a dream. It had to have been my Quirk at work.

That’s what your gut is telling you, so that’s what you’re going to believe since you can’t afford to write off something as important as this. 

You drag a hand down your face. Unfortunately, that vision didn’t give me a lot to go on since it didn’t even show me the full battle, just bits and pieces of it. I couldn’t even tell where those two were since I didn’t get a good look at their surroundings. It just looked like a typical battlefield that came to be after a section of a town got torn apart thanks to the fighters’ Quirks.

So, not only do you not know when this battle will happen, you have no idea where it will happen. Great, just great.

To make matters worse, All Might didn’t appear to be looking too good in that battle. Of course, you suppose that’s to be expected, considering he no longer has OFA and is only fighting using the remaining embers of his old Quirk.

However, despite that and All For One’s taunts, the number one hero didn’t look like he had any intention to give up. No, he was still fighting hard for the sake of everyone who was counting on him to win this all important battle. 

Unfortunately, All For One had a trick up his sleeve to shake All Might’s resolve.

“Shigaraki Tomura is Shimura Nana’s grandson.”

When All For One dropped that bombshell, you had first thought he was lying, but you quickly realized that that was something the villain would absolutely do. So, you’re sure he was telling the truth no matter how much you don’t want to believe it.

Poor All Might looked absolutely devastated by the news, not that you can blame him. His mentor was someone who was near and dear to him, so of course, it would hurt to hear that All For One was able to find her grandson and use him in his evil schemes. 

Fortunately, that news didn’t break All Might like All For One was aiming to do, so even though your vision didn’t show you how the battle ended, you’re sure that All Might continued to fight his nemesis with all his heart and soul.

That’s why you’re not worried about the outcome of the battle, because you know All Might will win. You have complete faith in him. There’s no way he’ll lose. 

Still, you do think you should tell him about your vision, so he’ll be prepared for what’s to come. A warning probably won’t do much in the grand scheme of things, especially since there isn’t much you can actually tell him that would be useful to him, but you still think you should let him know what’s in store for his future.

And maybe if you tell him the news about Shigaraki, you can give him the time he needs to come to terms with that information, so All For One can’t use it against All Might in their fated battle.

Just that alone would make telling All Might about your vision worth it since there’s nothing more you’d love to do than to throw a wrench in All For One’s plans. 

Your hands clench into tight fists. I won’t allow you to hurt All Might like that and use his suffering for your gain, All For One. I won’t let you do as you please.

That’s a promise.

                                                  -----------------

After homeroom, you contact All Might and ask for him to privately meet with you, so the two of you can discuss the vision you had last night. 

Briefly, you had considered asking Aizawa and Nedzu to also join the two of you, but you figured you should talk to All Might first and foremost. And you wanted to do that privately because of the matter with Shigaraki since you’re sure that’s what All Might would prefer.

That’s why you later find yourself in a private room, sipping tea with All Might who returned to his true form once the coast was clear. 

“To request a meeting like this, you must have seen quite the vision.” Yagi remarks, “Is it pertaining specifically to me, or is it about Young Midoriya?”

“It’s just about you.” You answer before later adding, “And All For One.”

His expression darkens. “I see. In that case, I can only imagine that you’re here to tell me that I will fight against that man again.”

As expected of the number one hero, he’s incredibly perceptive, which is to your benefit since it saves you time explaining things. Although, ironically enough, this is the one occasion where you don’t actually need that kind of help since this vision is apparently one you can talk about without having to worry about your drawback., probably because you don’t actually have any worthwhile information that could result in changing the future.

You nod, “Unfortunately, I had this vision while I was asleep, so I can’t tell you when the two of you will have your fated battle. For some reason, I’m never able to provide a timeline for those particular visions.”

A sigh escapes you. “I also don’t know where that battle will be since my vision didn’t really show me much of your surroundings. It looked like you were in a part of a town that got destroyed by the battle, but it could literally be anywhere.”

“I can’t even tell you how the fight turns out since my vision only showed me certain parts of the battle and didn’t even let me see the end of it.”  You frown, “I’m sorry, Yagi-san. I wish I could be more helpful.”

He reaches across the table to pat your shoulder. “You don’t need to apologize, Y/N-kun. It is not your fault that your Quirk picks and chooses what it shows you.”

“Even if I don’t know when or where the battle will happen, I still appreciate the confirmation that such a battle will occur within the next year since I knew it was only a matter of time.” Yagi adds.

The corners of his lips curve upwards. “Your news is actually encouraging since, if you couldn’t tell who the clear winner would be, that means that I will be able to put up a good fight despite no longer possessing OFA.”

Your eyes widen. “I see what you mean. The more time passes, the less likely you’ll be able to continue using OFA since you’re currently just using the remaining embers. So, since you were still able to hold your own against All For One, then…”

“Then, it’s likely the battle won’t be a full year from now.” Yagi picks up where you left off. “While I intend to hold out for as long as I can for the sake of the public, I know it would be foolish of me to truly believe I can continue as I am with mere embers of my former Quirk for a long period of time, even though I would like nothing more than to remain the Symbol of Peace until I can pass along my mantle to Young Midoriya.”

Remembering the state he was in in your vision, you frown, “Unfortunately, I don’t think you’ll be able to continue working as All Might after that battle, Yagi-san. It’ll push you to your very limits - to the point where you won’t even be able to maintain your muscle form.”

The blond sighs, “I can’t say I’m surprised, considering how strong All For One is and how I am not as strong as I was during our last battle.”

His expression turns determined. “But I am alright with that result as long as I can stop All For One once and for all. If my last act as a pro hero is defeating him, I will have no regrets.”

Yagi clenches his hands into fists. “I failed to stop him last time, but I won’t this time. No matter what it takes, I will put an end to his tyranny once and for all.”

For some reason, when you hear him say, “No matter what it takes”, you get an uncomfortable feeling in your chest. 

Probably because, to you, it sounds like, “Even if it costs me my life.”

At that moment, you suddenly find yourself thinking back to the vision you had of the events following All Might’s last battle with All For One. You remember seeing his worn out appearance and how Nighteye had tried to get the number one hero to retire. 

You recall how Nighteye foresaw All Might’s death, and that painful feeling in your chest grows stronger. What if...What if….?

What if the vision you had is of the future that Nighteye saw?

You give yourself a quick mental shake. No, there should still be some time before the events that Nighteye foresaw happen. Considering Yagi-san will be strong enough to fight All For One, it’s doubtful that a full year will pass before that battle, and Nighteye predicted that the future he saw should happen within one to two years from now. So, there’s no way he’ll die in the battle I saw.

…right?

 “Y/N-kun? Are you alright?”

It’s the sound of Yagi’s concerned voice that draws you out of your worrisome thoughts.

Immediately, you lift your gaze to meet his, and as soon as you do, you ask, without thinking, “Does ‘no matter what it takes’ mean that you’re willing to die if necessary?”

Yagi freezes at your words before quickly averting his gaze. Rather than say anything, he just goes quiet as he tightly clasps his hands, but you don’t need a verbal response since that reaction is all you needed to see to know what his answer to your question is.

Of course, you’re not surprised since the number one hero is no stranger to self-sacrifice. Ever since your Quirk started showing you visions about All Might, you’ve witnessed firsthand how many times he has sacrificed his time and wellbeing for the sake of others, because he felt it was his duty as the Symbol of Peace.

It’s a trait of his that you both admire and hate, because, while he only ever has good intentions, it hurts you to see him treat himself with so little regard. Why must he constantly put such burdens on his shoulders? Why can’t he allow himself to get the rest he deserves?

Why does he have to do everything alone?

At that moment, your thoughts suddenly turn toward Midoriya who is sure to follow in his mentor’s footsteps since he’s so much like the number one hero. Honestly, you’d say your student is even worse when it comes to self-sacrifice because of all the years of bullying which led to him having such low self worth.

If Midoriya was in All Might’s shoes right now, you have no doubt that he wouldn’t hesitate to throw away his life if he thought it would be for the “better good”.

And that terrifies you more than words can describe.

That’s why you can’t let this horrible cycle continue. You have to do something for Yagi’s sake and for Midoriya’s.

So, that’s exactly what you do.

“You can’t die, Yagi-san, not when you still have so much to teach Midoriya.”

Briefly, Yagi looks at you in surprise, and then, his expression becomes pained. “The last thing I want is to leave Young Midoriya without a mentor, especially so early in his journey to become a hero, but-”

“But nothing!” You cut him off. “If you want to guide him, then do it! Don’t let anything get in the way, not even death!”

Your hands clench into fists. “Midoriya still needs you, Yagi-san, not just as his hero but as his mentor. You need to be there for him since there are things that only you can do for him. Your role in his life is irreplaceable.”

“So, please don’t accept dying so easily!” You plead with tears in your eyes. “Not when you have a successor who’s depending on you and so many people who care about you, not because you’re the number one hero but because you’re you! Please treasure yourself more!”

His eyes widen. “Y/N-kun…”

As you’re scrubbing your eyes, Yagi takes a moment to consider your words, and then, his expression softens. “I’m sorry, Y/N-kun. You’re right. Death is not an alternative that I should be so willingly to accept. That’s unfair to you, Young Midoriya, and everyone else who I have been so fortunate to receive love from.”

“I’m no longer just All Might the hero. I’m also All Might the UA teacher and Young Midoriya’s mentor.” He continues, “As Principal Nedzu has told me in the past, I cannot give one job more attention than the rest. I am equally responsible for all of them, so it would be remiss of me to forget that just for the sake of defeating All For One.”

His eyes gain a determined glint as his hands clench into fists. “That’s why, if death tries to sink its claws into me in this upcoming battle, I will fight back with everything I have. I won’t allow Young Midoriya to lose his mentor, especially when I still have so much to teach him, and I won’t cause you, my other students, or anyone else undeserved pain with my death. I’ll keep fighting no matter what.”

Relief washes over you like a tidal wave, causing you to slump back in your seat. Seeing this, Yagi gives you an apologetic look. “I’m sorry, Y/N-kun. I always seem to be causing you a lot of undeserved stress.”

“If you don’t wanna cause me stress, then take care of yourself, so I don’t have to worry about you.” You huff, “And make sure Midoriya learns how important that lesson is too. Honestly, you’re both way too self-sacrificial…”

He sheepishly rubs the back of his neck. “I suppose you make a fair point. I promise to be more careful on that end for both my sake and Young Midoriya’s since the last thing I want is to be a bad influence.”

Considering how Midoriya currently is, you think the damage has already been done, but you don’t say as much since there’s still time for things to change for the better.

Instead, you just reach for your teacup and drink the rest of your tea, which has unsurprisingly gone cold due to you completely forgetting about it during your and Yagi’s discussion.

That’s why Yagi decides to pour a fresh batch of tea for the two of you. As he’s doing this, you remember that there’s still something else that you need to tell him. 

“Shigaraki Tomura is Shimura Nana’s grandson.”

You’ve been putting it off since it’s not an easy subject to bring up, and you honestly would rather talk about anything else. However, for Yagi’s sake, you need to do it.

Finding your resolve, you take a deep breath and slowly release it. “As I mentioned before, I didn’t see the whole battle, just bits and pieces, so there wasn’t much to glean from my vision. However, there is one particular moment that stood out to me.”

When Yagi’s curious gaze falls on you, you clench your hands into fists. “All For One revealed something horrible that he did, something that will only cause you pain to know about, but I thought if I told you now that he couldn’t use it against you in the battle like he did in my vision.”

A deep frown forms on his lips. “It must be quite horrible indeed for you to look so upset. Although, I can’t say I am surprised since that sounds just like something All For One would do.”

“It’s worse than anything you could imagine, Yagi-san.” You bite your lip. “All For One really hit where he knew you would be hurt the most.”

After the number one hero gestures for you to continue, you take another deep breath before quietly revealing, “Shigaraki is your mentor’s grandson.”

Just like in your vision, Yagi completely freezes as horror slowly dawns his features. “No...it can’t be…”

“I wanted to believe it was a lie just as much as you, Yagi-san,” You sadly reply, “but we both know this is just the kind of thing All For One wouldn’t hesitate to do. That’s why I think he was telling the truth.”

Yagi lets his face fall into his hands. “Yes, you’re right. That’s just the kind of diabolical thing he would do.”

“Master had hidden her son away specifically to avoid this from happening, but it would seem her efforts were for naught.” Yagi trembles. “I’m so sorry, Master. If only I had known…”

Your expression softens. “It’s not your fault, Yagi-san, and I’m sure your mentor would agree. After all, she was the one who asked you and Gran Torino not to go looking for her son, right? You were just respecting her wishes.”

“Even so, I deeply regret that decision.” He sighs, “I should have considered the possibility of All For One finding a way to track down her family and made arrangements so that they would always be protected from him. I should’ve known better than to assume that All For One wouldn’t be able to find them.”

Unfortunately, it looks like you won’t be able to absolve Yagi of this guilt despite how much you want to. No doubt this will be something that will remain with him for the rest of his life.

As you frown at that thought, Yagi pulls his hands away from his face. “Thank you for telling me about Shigaraki, Y/N-kun. I’m sure it was a subject you would have preferred to not discuss, but you did it for my sake, which I am very grateful for. Like you said, it’s far better that I learn this horrid truth here rather than on the battlefield. ”

You frown worriedly. “Will you be alright?”

He forces a smile. “Yes, you don’t need to worry about me. It’s true that this news was a horrible blow, but I won’t let myself give in, especially not after I just promised to overcome everything that’s thrown my way.”

His smile falls. “Dealing with Shigaraki from here on out will not be easy, but for my master’s sake, I won’t fold. I won’t allow him to continue down the path All For One set him on. I will do everything I can to ensure he cannot commit any more crimes.”

Hopefully, things won’t come to that since you know fighting Shigaraki would be incredibly painful for Yagi. That’s why you think it would be better if another hero was in charge of stopping Shigaraki, especially considering how much the villain hates the number one hero.

Of course, you don’t say as much. Instead, you just keep those thoughts to yourself and enjoy the fresh batch of tea that Yagi later pours for you once it’s ready.

As you’re both enjoying the tea, you provide as many details about your vision as you can that you think could be helpful, which mostly entails talking about All For One’s Quirks in hopes that that’ll help Yagi in the long run.

Once that discussion concludes, you decide to take advantage of this private time with Yagi to ask a question that’s been on your mind for a while now. “Yagi-san, do you ever intend to tell Midoriya about the future Nighteye foresaw?”

Yagi quickly averts his gaze. “I didn’t think that would be necessary….”

A sigh escapes you. “As I thought. Honestly, you keep way too many secrets from him. It’ll come back to bite you one day, you know.”

You wag your finger at him. “As your successor, Midoriya has a right to know about those secrets, especially the ones about your predicted death and Togata Mirio. Those are not the kinds of things he should be learning from anyone but you.”

He awkwardly rubs the back of his neck. “I suppose you make a good point, but if we can avoid him finding out at all…”

“Fat chance of that happening.” You huff, “He’ll find out everything eventually, Yagi-san. It’s only a matter of time.”

When he remains unconvinced, you add, “Just give what I said some thought. I’m not saying you have to talk to him right now, but at least, consider doing it in the near future.”

The blond reluctantly nods, “Very well. It is true that you make an excellent point, so I should, at least, try to give the matter some more thought.”

Once that matter is addressed and Yagi returns to his muscle form, the two of you decide to leave the room, so you both return to your regular duties.

As the two of you are walking, you remember one last thing you need to say to the number one hero. “All Might.”

When he turns to look at you, you smile, “I believe in you with all my heart. I know there’s nothing you can’t do if you set your mind to it, so if you say you’ll win, I know that’s exactly what will happen.��� “That’s why I couldn’t bring myself to feel as worried as I should have when I saw that vision.” You add, “Because I could tell just from looking at you that you had no intention to lose despite everything All For One was putting you through.”

Your smile grows. “Someone like you could never lose to someone like him. No matter what he says, he’s no match for you. I’ve always believed that and always will.”

Surprise briefly dawns his features before that trademark grin of his that you love appears. “Thank you. I promise I will live up to those high expectations of yours.”

“I know you will.” You fondly reply, “You always do.”

[who-am-i-no-one]

Emma. (2020)

I watched this movie in late January. After multiple viewings and re-reading the book, I have a lot of thoughts about this adaptation.

It seems rather strange, given that Emma is part of my holy trinity of Austen novels, that I didn't watched the most recent adaptation earlier. I think it was mostly due to my initial impression that Anya Taylor-Joy's otherworldly looks didn't quite match what I had in mind for the titular character. I decided to give this version a try after watching Queen's Gambit. Not sure that Anya's looks will ever grow on me, but she did impress me as a young actress who seemed to have a maturity beyond her years.

Long story short: really wished I had seen this movie earlier! It is absurd and heartfelt at the same time, imo, the version that best imbues Austen's humor. It is now my favorite adaption, with the possible exception of Clueless, and I'm not quite sure how much of that is just nostalgia.

From the casting to the direction to the script to the costumes to the set to the soundtrack, I could tell the creative team really put a lot of love into this project. It's always a joy to watch something that's made with love and made well.

Direction

Autumn de Wilde's directing is quite good. I would never have thought this was her first feature. She certainly has a unique and colorful style, which is probably to be expected for such a famous photographer.

Funnily, while watching the movie I kept thinking it reminded me of early Hollywood romantic comedies like Bringing Up Baby (incidentally one of my favorites) or The Philadelphia Story, and then reading interviews and seeing that she had tried to bring in some of that style of humor made me feel rather validated. Also the servants' reactions were awesome!

Absolutely loved the fact that they decided to show that Knightley and Emma were in love with each other very early on in the story, with Knightley more aware of it. I've read some people complaining about the surprise of Emma's being in love being ruined. But come on, did anyone reading two chapters into the book think it wasn't going to be the two of them together in the end?

Loved how much of Knightley's point of view we got in this movie. This is one repressed pinning man. I can totally see this Knightley riding ventre a terre from London in the rain because he thought Emma was heartbroken.

The only gripe I had was the lack of Frank and Jane's subplot. As it seems they shot some scenes for that, I assume it was the director's discretion to take them out. I remember thinking while watching the movie that they must have expected the audience to be familiar with the story because some things just didn't really get explained or extrapolated on a lot. If you hadn't read the book it'd be 30 minutes or more into the movie before you put two and two together and figured out why Mr. Knightley is always at Hartfield.

Script

The script takes most of the dialogue directly from the book, which is awesome. I love Austen's writing because there is a certain musicality to it and retaining that in large part for the movie really made it better for me. The deftness with which Eleanor Catton moved dialogue from one scene in the book to a totally different one in the movie was quite brilliant. Everything flowed so well.

The scenes that differed from the book were also excellent - namely, I really loved the Jane/Knightley duet, the infamous nosebleed and first kiss scenes. 💖 I thought the screenwriter used those changes to quickly establish plot points and character arcs well.

Costume/Hair

Not a Recency expert so can't say much about the costumes and hair as far as period correctness but from reading other reviews it seemed like they were very true to the period. Obviously appreciated them taking the time to show the audience how men got dressed in that time (purely for research purposes obviously 😜).

Emma's dresses were all quite beautiful. I especially loved the black evening dress, the pink one with the roses and the proposal dress. Also loved the little pop of red shoes that went with the proposal dress. As someone who wore red shoes with her wedding gown I heartily approve.

Absolutely loved how Emma's curls unwound as her life unravels. Similarly think they must have done the same for Knightley to a lesser extent. His hair during the card playing scene at the Westons was quite terrible.

Set

I! Loved! Hartfield! It looked just like a doll house. Really most of the sets looked good enough to eat. So much pastel. Reminded me of French macarons.

I liked how everything in Donwell Abbey was shrouded in Holland covers. Makes a good point that Knightley barely lives there at all, that his home has been with the Woodhouses for quite a while now. Which, of course, makes his sacrifice at the end just a little bit less of a sacrifice?

Soundtrack

Isabella Waller-Bridge's music really meshed well with the tone of the entire film. The male and female opera singers, sometimes sounding as if they are bickering with each other and other times seeming to be in duet, was a brilliant touch. The folk music was a little jarring at first but really grew on me.

Johnny Flynn's end credits song "Queen Bee" is amazing. I love that we get Knightley's perspective at the end with a song written and sung by Knightley. It's a lovely coda to the movie. And now, if the next Austen hero doesn't write one for his SO I'm going to think him a very poor sort of lover.

Cast

Anya's Emma was really great. I'm glad they allowed Emma to be her bitchy self. Lol. I haven't watched the 1996 and 2009 versions in a while but I distinctly remember them making Emma too nice. I recall writing after watching the Garai version that Emma was actually mean and they should have let her be mean! If she's not a brat in the beginning, how will we see her change for the better later on? I love what a snob and how manipulative this Emma was and so assured of her place in her little society but still had the vulnerability of almost an imposter's syndrome which I feel most people can relate to.

Her chemistry with Johnny Flynn's Knightley was off the charts. Pretty much every scene they had together I half expected them to reenact the library scene from Atonement lol.

Mia Goth was a wonderful Harriet. She really captured Harriet's inexperience, naivete and diffidence. The orgasmic sounds she was making during the gypsies attack scene were awesome. Although, I could probably have forgone a few of Harriet's scenes for more Frank and Jane.

Not sure why they made Mia go brunette since the book specifically mentioned Harriet was fair? Perhaps having all three leads as blondes was just a bit too much. I'm also not sure if I liked Harriet's ending as I really don't think Emma, even in her most contrite mood, would invite further friendship from a tradesman's daughter and soon-to-be her husband's tenant farmer's wife. This seems a piece of modern day wishful thinking on the part of the creative team.

Bill Nighy was so good as Mr. Woodhouse. He made it so believable why everyone would do everything in their power to accommodate his whims. The gag with the screens was too funny. He was able to sketch out a lonely quirky old man who is afraid to lose those close to him in very limited screen time. Absolutely loved the scene where Emma was heaping blame on herself and he just sat with her in sympathetic silence.

Miranda Hart's Miss Bates was excellent as well. She has long been one of my favorite British comedic actresses but she can also do drama well. Her reaction to Emma's teasing on Box Hill and her forgiveness of Emma later brought me to tears.

Josh O'Connor's Mr. Elton was deliciously creepy. The carriage proposal scene was at once a little scary and hilarious. I actually liked the portrait scenes a little less because I found the acting there slightly affected and veering into 1995 Mr. Collins territory. But as Austen described Elton as having "a sort of parade in his speeches", this was much more forgivable. Really loved Mr. Elton's determination to eat cake during the Eltons' visit to Hartfield.

Tanya Reynolds was an excellent Mrs. Elton and in very little screen time was able to bring to life this meddlesome nouveau riche. Adored her little shimmy during the ball.

Amber Anderson's Jane really looked as if she were in a decline. Callum Turner did a good job as a slightly restless, mischievous and immature Frank Churchill. I did feel his looks were a bit too modern but that's just my personal view.

Given how many scenes they had I thought they used the time they had pretty well with furtive glances and sly smiles at each other to establish the relationship.

Connor Swindells was such a love sick puppy as Robert Martin. Did this role ever get cast in other adaptations? I don't seem to recall at all.

Special shoutout to Oliver Chris's John Knightley. Absolutely had me in stitches.

And last but never the least, Johnny Flynn's Mr. Knightley:

To preface, I will never not fall for Mr. Knightley in any version that I watch. And really, get yourself a good looking enough actor with good enough chemistry with Emma and good enough acting chops and you should have a fairly successful Knightley.

I judge all my Knightleys by the Box Hill scene. And up to that point in the movie, I really liked Johnny Flynn's Knightley. He was playful and sexy and jealous and slightly bitchy as well. The duet scene was lovely because I always appreciate a man who can play instruments and sing well. The sexiness and chemistry of the dance scene was off the charts. That's all well and good. And like I said before, given any well cast actor, I probably would have liked them in those scenes as well, just as I've liked Northam's and Miller's Knightleys.

But, the Box Hill scene absolutely blew me away. To make sure I was not just biased towards the last Knightley I saw on screen, I did go back and compare each version's Box Hill scene and I am, actually, even more blown away. Some of it is a credit to the directing and script, but a large part of it is Johnny Flynn's acting in that scene.

As far a script and directing, the set up to the fight scene was fantastic. Loved Anya's expression changes after she makes the joke. Loved Miranda Hart's Miss Bates as she realizes what Emma meant. The silence that followed. Knightley's shocked face and how sympathetic he was to Miss Bates. Can probably write a whole thing just about this scene alone.

I loved the fact that Knightley had an internal struggle as to whether or not to approach Emma and reproach her for her behavior. I know the book has him tell Emma about his struggle but that just doesn't work as well for me on screen.

During the scene you can just tell how frustrated and disappointed in her he is even though he tries to keep his voice low. But the way he reprimands her does not at all feel lecture-y and I feel like part of it is because it seems like he starts to lose control a little bit as well. His voice starts to crescendo as she stubbornly refuses to admit she was in the wrong and culminates in "badly done, indeed!" with actual fingerpointing. Yikes.

Then he losses steam and looked regretful, almost devastatingly so, at his own outburst and perhaps felt that he was losing her by giving this speech and looked as if he would have said something more - an apology or some words of comfort to soften the blow? - but didn't.

This remorse and the struggle at the beginning really bookended the scene for me.

Absolutely loved his Knightley, and, really, him as an actor after that.

The proposal scene as well was very good. His delivery was just really good. The way he said "If I loved you less then I might be able to talk about it more." with some regret and then closing his eyes as if he can't believe what he just said. Soooo good. Also, he cries very pretty, lol.

The delivery of the three "yes" during the kiss scene as Emma asked for confirmation that he really was ok with giving up his house to come live with them was also brilliant. It just kept getting softer and softer but he never breaks eye contact. Absolute chef's kiss. His closed eyed little smile of content after Emma kisses him just made me melt into a puddle.

Yup, overall I'd say I rather liked his interpretation of Mr. George Knightley. 😜

I did wish they hadn't giving him such sideburns but after watching some Emma interviews I can totally understand. If he didn't have the sideburns there'd be more complaints about how young this Knightley was. He's got such a baby face.

...I seemed to have written an entire essay on this movie...yeah, I just have a lot of feelings and thoughts about this version...

[xpao-bearx]

《This story series is also on my AO3 acc @ Paoloca》

SUMMARY: The bachelors of Selphia conjure up a plan to decide who truly deserves the beautiful princess' heart...if Frey can only choose one of them, that is.

PAIRINGS: Frey x Vishnal, Frey x Kiel, Frey x Doug, Frey x Arthur, Frey x Dylas, Frey x Leon (Polyamorous Ships)

RATING: Mature/18+/Romance & Smut. Please bear these in mind if you are uncomfortable and do NOT report!

NOTE: I have been an avid fan and lover of the Rune Factory series for a looong fooken time now and with RF 5 coming up (who else can't wait?!?!) along with my bursting inspiration, I decided to do something a lil special~ 💖

This story is actually one I wrote--or at least TRIED to write as I didn't finish it--many years ago on my old Wattpad acc (I have a new one now). As such, I'm taking the basic plotline from the original idea I had and simply making it a bit better especially now that I'm older + more mature (pfft yeah sure "mAtUrE" xD).

I sincerely and deeply love ALL of the amazing bachelors on RF 4 and as someone who absolutely ✨A D O R E S✨ reverse harems, I really *personally* don't think that Frey has to choose! And so, here's a naughty + sweet story that'll kinda just delve into my--and I'm sure others'--fantasy ;)

I hope ya lovelies will enjoy this story series and your wonderful support is always very much appreciated! 🥺💕💕 Also, feel free to fangirl/fanboy with me anytime~

P.S. Please forgive mah pathetic ass in advance if I ever portray any of the characters wrong, I promise to do my best!!

"The Princess' Harem"

Part 1: The Game

☆ALL CREDIT GOES TO THE TALENTED ARTIST☆

Summer 1, the dawn of a sweltering season. But most of all...

Beach Day!

Ah, yes, a most wonderful holiday to take a dip in the refreshing water and don the most attractive swimsuits that perfectly hugged one's form! And while it was understandable for the gentlemen to gawk and admire the lovely ladies, it seemed that all the bachelors of Selphia were completely ensnared by one warrior princess in particular...

Frey's tinkly laughter carried in the air as she happily swam around in the lake with the other girls. It was certainly a gorgeous day, yet none could quite rival the turquoise haired beauty's radiant smile.

"Haa... The princess is SO beautiful~" Vishnal sighed dreamily, his violet eyes turning into hearts.

"A goddess among mere mortals!" Kiel piped up cutely.

"You guys are so lame! But, uh... Y-Yeah, I agree, I guess." Doug conceded, face flushing as scarlet as his hair.

"I am a man, after all. Therefore, I must say I agree as well." Arthur cleared his throat, propping his glasses.

"You are all perverts..." Dylas grumbled, though he couldn't help but shyly sneak a peek at Frey.

"My, my~ You're such a bad liar, horsie. Calling us perverts when you, yourself, are one~" Leon chuckled, smirking.

"Who're ya calling horsie?!" Dylas snapped, but couldn't start an argument when all of them heard a splash and saw Frey emerge onto shore.

"Princess!" Vishnal beamed, not wasting a single second as he dashed towards her with a towel much like an excited puppy. "Are you done swimming?"

Frey gratefully took the towel, wiping her drenching body with it. "Yes, I am! And once I change into my clothes, I'm going to be checking the requests."

"You're ever so diligent, Frey. I truly admire that about you." Arthur smiled as he and the rest of the boys approached their beloved girlfriend. Arthur's glasses then flashed as the sun reflected on them, and he quickly grabbed that splendid opportunity for his gaze to drop and hyperfocus on Frey's nearly naked body. He barely managed to suppress it as he almost shamelessly licked his lips, fully taking in and very much appreciating her wet and fit physique.

"Oh, it's nothing! I'm only doing my duties." Frey giggled, embarrassed as her cheeks tinted pink. "But other than that, how come you guys aren't in your swimsuits? It's boiling!" She frowned worriedly.

"Why, is milady that eager to see me in all my glory?" Leon purred, standing in front of her in a flash. His teal eyes sparkled mischievously, as one of his hands reached forward to run his fingers through her long hair. "If you want to see me that badly, I'd rather 'perform' a private show for you tonight~"

Frey became as red as a ruby, opening and closing her mouth repeatedly like a fish out of water. She tried to speak, but no words came out as she could only stare up with eyes as wide as dinner plates at an amused Leon who was enjoying this situation far too much.

"Oi, knock it off!" Dylas growled, wrapping a protective arm around Frey as he glared sharply at Leon. "She's gonna go fishing with me after she's done, anyways!"

"WHAT?! No fair, you can't hog her all to yourself! If you guys are going fishing then I'm going, too!" Doug huffed, snatching Frey away from Dylas.

"No way, you dumbass dwarf! You're not invited!"

"Well, I am now, you fucking nag!"

As the two handsome idiots bickered like an old married couple and fought over Frey, she could only release an exasperated sigh. Honestly, she loved them both, but there was really no use trying to talk any sense into them. The best anyone could do was just wait it out until they inevitably get tired.

But as Doug and Dylas were yanking Frey from one side to another like a ragdoll, they suddenly stopped. It seems that everyone else halted, too, and the air blew bitter cold. Frey, oblivious, could only raise a brow before she finally realized--or more like felt--what all the boys were staring at.

She looked down, Doug and Dylas' hands accidentally cupping each one of Frey's breasts. All of the boys were a thousand shades of crimson, and Vishnal even started to have a nosebleed.

"ACK! S-Sorry..!" Doug and Dylas exclaimed in unison, abruptly pulling their hands away as if they were burned.

"O-Oh, uh, it's f-fine..!" Frey stuttered, not being able to meet anyone's gaze. "I-It was just an accident, after all!"

"Are you sure you're alright, Frey?" Kiel asked, holding her hands into his gently as he studied her face in concern. "These lowlifes didn't hurt you, did they?" It was rare for Kiel to be angry let alone badmouthing anyone, but it was clear from his tone how upset he was. Honestly, Doug and Dylas were a little scared...

"Y-Yes, I'm alright!" Frey nodded vigorously, smiling brightly. "Seriously, guys, don't worry about me! I'll see you all later, okay?" She hurriedly gave each one of them a chaste peck on the cheek before making her way back to the castle.

"So..." Leon began, a fake smile plastered on his lips as his eyes held no emotion. "I wonder who the true perverts are now?"

"H-Hey, it was an accident! Besides, it's all this moron's fault!" Dylas retorted, pointing an accusatory finger at Doug.

"MY fault?! If you just invited me in the first place, none of this would've happened!" Doug shouted furiously.

"You guys...touched...the princess' b-b-breasts..." Vishnal muttered, totally lost in his own world as he was slowly deteriorating from existence.

"Oh, my..." Arthur let out a heavy exhale. "I'm sure you two already know this, but as soon as Frey is done with her tasks then you both must apologize to her again. Accident or not, it is completely unacceptable for a man to touch a woman without her consent."

"Hey, y'know, I've been wondering..." Kiel cut in. "Do you guys ever think if Frey is just being strung along by us?"

"What do you mean?" Doug frowned.

"Like, didn't we confess to Frey at different times? And at every confession, she rejected all of us. And later on, it was only then we found out that we all shared the same feelings for her."

"So, what's your point?" Dylas pressed.

Kiel sighed, staring pointedly at the taller man. "Don't you find it a bit weird that now, we're all in a relationship with her? I know that being in a polyamorous relationship with Frey was something we all consented on from the very beginning, but why the sudden change of heart?"

"Isn't it obvious? Being in a polyamorous relationship means that Frey likes all of us at the same time, which is fine. Maybe she was just too shy at first to admit it." Leon shrugged.

"That may be true, or...what if she's only with us out of pity?" A wave of realization washed through everyone, and a certain pang of sadness settled in their hearts. "Frey is such a nice person, it's possible she only agreed to be with us since she felt bad for rejecting us. And now, she doesn't know how to break up with us for fear of hurting us even more."

"There's also one other possibility..." Arthur spoke up. "What if she actually likes one of us, but can't exclusively date that person?"

Dead silence. Only the faint sounds of the lake thrashing and birds chirping, before Vishnal was the one who first woke up back to reality.

"So... What are we supposed to do?" He questioned softly. "I feel so terrible... If what you're saying is true, then I don't want to continue on like this. I love Frey, but I can't ever bear the thought of hurting her!"

"How about a game?" Leon suggested.

"Now's really not the time, foxy." Doug rolled his eyes.

"No, no. You've misunderstood." Leon shook his head. "I'm talking about a game to see who Frey truly likes or doesn't like. And that way, we won't have to be hurting her and suffering like this anymore."

"Hmm... An interesting proposition." Arthur hummed thoughtfully. "I don't quite like referring to this as a 'game', but colour me intrigued. What's your idea, then?"

"Alright. So, we each get one whole day to spend with Frey. Completely alone, and no one is allowed to bother anyone else. As long as Frey is okay with it, then we can do whatever we want with her. Going on dates, exploring...you get the idea. Finally, by the end of the week, we'll all ask her how she feels and who she had the most fun with. Her answer will then determine what will happen afterwards."

"Hmph. Okay, that sounds good." Dylas nodded, agreeing for once. "How can we settle who goes first and last, though?"

"I think it would only be fair if we go in the order that Frey met us. So it's Vishnal, me, Doug, Arthur, Dylas, and then Leon." Kiel offered.

"All in favour?" Arthur asked, and everyone collectively voiced out their approval. "Good. It's settled, then. May the best man win!"

"Speaking of, I forgot that the castle is undergoing construction! So please excuse me, I'll have to get going now!" Vishnal grinned, disappearing in a blink of an eye.

"Wait... I just visited Ventuswill earlier with Granny Blossom." Doug furrowed his brows before gasping. "That bastard..! He went to go have a headstart with Frey!" He immediately chased after the conniving butler, but not before his shoulder got bumped hard by Dylas.

"If anyone's gonna get a headstart, it's me!"

"Oh, shut the hell up, HORSIE!"

Arthur sighed deeply, rubbing his temples stressfully as Kiel only chuckled sheepishly. Leon simply watched the scene, his fan hiding his smirk.

'There is a saying: Save the best for last~' Leon thought satisfyingly to himself.

[stones-x-bones]

Faeted Choices || Mina and Bex

TIMING: Current (After this) PARTIES: @drowningisinevitable and @inbextween SUMMARY: After Rio brings Bex home, her and Mina have a disagreement. CONTENT: Domestic abuse mention, Head injury mention, Memory loss mention

After Rio left, Mina just started pacing Bex’s room, grateful that she’d been the one to answer the door. She didn’t know what happened; all she knew was that Bex had done magic and passed out. So, lovely, that explained so much, and she was just thrilled to have this plethora of information at her disposal. At least she could lie to herself. She stopped, took a deep breath, started pacing again. She’d been having a bad time, recently, thinking about the hunter, about her lack of agency, about humans that attacked humans even when they weren’t supposed to, when they were taught not to. She rubbed at the bandage on her wrist. It hurt. She didn’t mind. Breathe in. Hold. Breathe out. She was fine. Bex was fine, too, just sleeping off… whatever she’d done. And Mina was just… pacing. She heard the sound of rustling and jerked her head to look at Bex, torn between being grateful that she really was fine and being apprehensive. But she walked over to Bex and sat down beside her. “Hey,” she said, her voice quiet.

The last thing Bex remembered was being in the alley, so when consciousness came back to her and she felt the soft give of a bed mattress, she was relatively confused. Her eyes snapped open and she moved to sit up, but immediately fell back down, grabbing her head as the world above her spun on an axis. A wave of nausea accompanied the spinning, but there was little in her stomach to heave back up, so she just put her hand over her mouth until it passed. Someone said her name and she snapped to attention, squinting through the blurry haze of a swirling room to focus in on the three different versions of Mina staring at her. At least two of them were transparent, so it was obvious which was the real one. She felt something warm on her lip and reached up to wipe away a trickle of blood. “Mina?” she asked through the haze. “Where am I?” Where was Rio? And the man? She wanted to swivel her head to look around, but wasn’t ready to face another wave of nausea yet, so she just kept her eyes as focused on the Mina’s as she could, hoping they’d all go back to being one soon.

“Hey, no, please don’t move too fast.” Mina reached out a bit before hesitating, trying not to startle Bex when she clearly seemed a little out of it. “You-- you apparently did a lot today,” she murmured. She didn’t know what to do, now that Bex was awake, especially when Bex didn’t quite seem to be aware of what was going on around her. “We’re at the house. Rio-- Rio brought you back after-- after.” What did you do? What happened? She swallowed tightly, managed to smile a bit. “If you keep getting into things like this with him, I really might get jealous, you know.” And the words were a bit acrid because they weren’t quite true. “But it’s okay now. It’s alright.” She just wanted to know what happened. That’s all. But she didn’t know how to ask, and, really, at the moment, at least, she didn’t know if Bex was capable of answering any questions that she might ask.

Bex ruffled her brow. ‘A lot’ was a strange way of putting it. She really hadn’t actually done that much today, it was just the one thing, that she’d done only a few-- minutes? Hours?-- ago that made her pass out. “I’m fine,” she said, pushing herself to a sit as she kept her eyes trained on Mina. “Really. Nothing happened to me. I just-- used too much,” she said, shaking out her hands as they began to tingle back to life. She looked at the red of her palm and wondered if it would go away. She glanced around the room, then, as more blood dripped from her nose and she watched it fall onto her jeans. Reached blindly for the tissue box she knew she usually kept by her bedside. Pressed one to her face and took a moment to breath. At least she could breath proper again. Geez, Nell hadn’t warned her it would be this bad using too much magic. She coughed again. “Where’s Rio? Did he go home?” she asked, then, wiping the rest of the blood away and looking over at Mina expectantly, as if none of this was strange or terrifying or unknown.

“Pinch your nose and keep your head tilted forward, if it’s still bleeding,” Mina said. She was well-versed in the art of dealing with nosebleeds. “You might have to hold it for a few minutes.” She’d been so worried when Bex had come home a few days before, covered in dust and bloody and bruised, and she’d been afraid that this was going to become a thing for them. Of course it was. She just didn’t expect it to be constant like this. And she was so frustrated, too, because of course Bex was treating this like it was nothing, like she was fine when her nose was bleeding and she seemed to be having trouble sitting up, and she’d used too much, as if Mina was supposed to know what that meant. Nothing good, apparently. She was worried. She was so worried. She couldn’t even find the words to express how worried she was. “Yeah, yes, he went home.” He didn’t tell me what happened. I just want to know what happened. She had to ask, she needed to ask. Mina picked at the bandages on her wrist again. She could feel the way they rubbed against the still healing burns. “What happened? If nothing happened to you, then-- What happened?”

Bex did as she was told and held it for a moment. She could taste the coppery iron in the back of her throat and she swallowed thickly. Gross. Gross. Next time, she’d be more careful. Live and learn, right? Isn’t that what Nell had said? She took in a deep breath through her nose after a moment and found it not so bad anymore. She looked back up at Mina and found, as well, that the world had stopped spinning and there was now only one Mina, blurry and pale, staring at her with such a heavy look of worry, Bex felt a pang of guilt over it. “I saw him,” she started out slowly. No matter what angle Bex took this from, she knew Mina wasn’t going to take it well. But she couldn’t lie to her, not when she was looking at her like that and they’d promised to try and be better and be more open and careful. “The hunter.” She nodded at Mina’s arm, eyes flaring with anger again for a moment. Remembering all the things the man had said, how he’d laughed at Mina’s pain. Her knuckles turned white as she gripped the sheets. “He won’t hurt you again,” she managed to stifle out through a clenched jaw, “or anyone.”

It felt like ice had developed and spread throughout Mina’s chest, making her cold all over. The hunter. Mina could see him, and he was standing over Rio, shoving the boy’s head under the water with his hands gripped tight around his neck, only that was replaced with Bex, and Mina didn’t have to imagine it, not really, because she already knew what Bex looked like while she was fighting for her life. “What do you mean you saw the hunter?” And then Mina was overthinking again. “No, no, I said not to-- You can’t possibly-- He’ll kill you, Bex. He didn’t care about Rio, he didn’t-- he just wanted to kill. He didn’t care how.” She stood up, then, moving away from the bed, looking away. “How can you know that? How can you possibly know that when-- You prom--” But Bex hadn’t promised anything. Mina almost always refused to let her promise anything. “We both said we’d run, if we saw him. You didn’t say that you’d see him by yourself.” But Bex wasn’t by herself. She was with Rio, someone who knew what the warden had looked like. The ice was still spreading. Mina turned back to Bex. “You didn’t just see him, did you? You-- you sought him out.”

Bex looked up, startled, when Mina started pacing. “I didn’t promise anything,” she mumbled, eyes falling to the floor, to her feet, her shoes. She remembered the look in his eye, the way he’d smiled into her face when he thought he’d had the upper hand. The sound of his nose breaking as her skull collided with it. She bit down on the inside of her cheek. There it was. Mina was smart enough to figure it out without Bex having to say it, and even though she could hear the worry in Mina’s voice, and that tinge of hurt, she didn’t feel bad about it. She wasn’t going to take it back or say she’d done the wrong thing. She knew she’d done the right thing. She lifted her eyes to meet Mina’s. “Yes,” she answered, holding her gaze, “I did. And I know because I took them from him. His memories of you. And Rio. And all the people he hurt. He doesn’t-- he doesn’t get to just do that! He doesn’t get to-to hurt people and have absolutely no consequences! People don’t get to keep hurting you just because-- because you’re--” Something you won’t tell me. Bex snapped her jaw shut and looked away, shame finally tinging her cheeks. “I’m not apologizing for what I did. And I don’t think Rio would, either.”

“I know you didn’t.” Mina was trying to do that thing where she pushed all of her anxieties down, all the way down, so far down that she didn’t feel them, but it wasn’t working that well for her. She’d never been able to do that particularly well, not for things like this. Not for most things. She crossed her arms and drummed her fingers against her arm instead, working out the nervous energy. It wasn’t much. It’d have to do. “He’d have killed you,” Mina said, and the truth of it burned worse than any lie. “You took his memories of--” Did you see them? Did you see me? Why would you do that? “Why would you do that?! That’s not-- Bex, that’s not just using magic to stop a possessed doll or explode a cockatrice.” And it was more than just Mina being worried about what Bex might have seen. It was the fact that Bex had hurt another human being like that, and for what? What was the point of it all? It was needless, unnecessary. She gritted her teeth. “What he did in the woods the other day, that was wrong.” Going after Rio had been wrong. “But he’s also just someone that was doing his job. If he was going to be dealt with, he should have been dealt with by other hunters.” She couldn’t believe that she hadn’t thought about that, hadn’t thought to tell Adam or even Kaden. “You could have died. Rio could have died.”

“Why!? Seriously!?” Bex stood up from the bed and wobbled, collapsing back down. “You’re really going to ask me why I did it?” Was it not obvious? Was it not clear? Did Mina not understand that she was everything to her? “He tried to kill you, Mina! And from the sound of it, he was going to try again! How was I supposed to not do anything while knowing that? Was I just supposed to wait till he found you a second time, and this time you came home with a broken leg or a broken collar bone or, fuck, a broken neck?” She pressed her palms against her head, feeling the dizziness trying to return. She fought it back. She inhaled deeply and held it before letting it go. “His job?” she wheezed, lifting her head to look at Mina bewildered. “You’re kidding me, right? His job!?” She shook her head fiercely. “No one’s job should entail killing other people!” That must’ve been where they disagreed. Bex would never understand that. Bex would never understand the need for a force that kills people unbiasedly, simply because of who-- what-- they are. She heaved with angry breath, red, hot tears in her eyes suddenly. “No one was going to deal with him, Mina. You know that. Rio knew that. Even I knew that!” she scrubbed her hand across her eyes, trying to make the tears go away. “I’d gladly die for you,” she huffed, “if it meant protecting you, I’d do it in a heartbeat.”

“Yes, I really am!” Mina said, throwing her hands up in the air. “There’s no reason that you should have put yourself in harm’s way like that.” She could see why Bex did it, and she was blatantly refusing to ignore it. Of all the ridiculously, awfully, horrifyingly irresponsible things that Bex could have done, doing something so reckless and potentially dangerous for Mina of all people was, by far, the worst. “Yes, he tried to kill me! He might have tried again. Hell, someone else might try to do it, too! This is apparently my life now!” This was how things were going to be without her dad, now that she was actively getting out, trying to live her life, trying to protect people. “No, next time I wasn’t going to try and reason with him. I was just going to run, and it would have been fine, and I’d have still come back.” She looked at Bex and then looked away, her eyes feeling prickly and hot even though she still felt overwhelmingly cold. “Fine, not his job. I’m sure he had some nine-to-five job in corporate America or something equally as mundane. His duty, then. Because that’s what he was supposed to do. He was supposed to get rid of monsters, to keep people safe! And maybe he wasn’t doing that right, but that’s still what he was supposed to do.” She looked back at Bex and, oh, damn, she was crying, then, wasn’t she? “No. No. No, don’t say that. Please don’t say that. Please don’t, I can’t-- Please.”

“It was for you Mina! The reason is you!” Bex stood up again, this time holding herself taught enough to stay standing. She didn’t want to be sitting for this. Her body was itching, vibrating with the want to move. To run. She hated arguing, she hated yelling. She hated being so angry her eyes burned with tears. “Oh, yeah, sure, cause he seemed like such a reasonable guy! Especially when he was talking about killing you slowly, or ripping out Rio’s tongue or shooting me in the chest! Very reasonable dude right there,” she snapped. “I had the chance to stop it from happening again. Why wouldn’t I take that opportunity? Rio wanted it just as much as I did. We just wanted to make sure he didn’t come after you or anyone else innocent ever again so I’m finding it really hard to understand why this is a bad thing!?” She paced away from her bed, over to her vanity, and put her palms against the cool, wood surface. It felt relieving in a room that suddenly felt so suffocating, so hot. “Duty is bullshit. That’s all just bullshit.” If hunters were the kind of people that went after Mina, then, Bex decided right there, she hated them. All of them. Even Dani, even Adam. She hated what they did. “You’re not a monster, Mina! The cockatrice was a monster. The spawn from the alley was a monster. The possessed doll was a monster. You are not a monster. You’re just-- You’re just--” she turned to look back at her, “--you’re just you. He has no right to decide those things. No one does. Born for it or not, no one does.” She blubbered through angry, unfamiliar tears, wiping them away as fast as they came and yet there were always new ones on her face. “You are a person. You’re a person and I need you and I’m not going to let someone take you from me.” She felt her knees going weak again, as she gripped the edge of her vanity. She could just barely see the wetness in the corners of Mina’s eyes through her own underwater gaze. “I’m saying it because I mean it and you can’t-- you can’t make me take it back.”

Wrapping her arms tightly back around herself again, Mina snapped back, “I’m not worth that. I’m not worth you doing that. I’m not worth any of that.” She felt white hot with rage, though, at Bex saying how the man talked about shooting her in the chest. That was why Mina didn’t want Bex doing that. She didn’t want Bex getting into situations like that where she couldn’t protect her, where she knew that she would have actively hunted that man down like he’d wanted to do to her if he’d even considered harming Bex. But apparently she didn’t need to because Bex could just rip his bloody memories right from his skull. “And what if it had gone wrong? Do you think this only goes one way, Bex? Do you know what I would have done if something happened to you? What if you and Rio had actually gotten hurt by that man. What if you hadn’t been able to stop it? What then? Do you think I’d have just been okay with it?” Mina clenched her jaw, rubbing away at a few of tears that had managed to slip out. She was trying not to cry, not to get too emotional, but she felt it building behind her eyes. Deep breath. In. Hold. Out. “Sometimes duty is all that some people have.” Sometimes it’s all they had drilled into their head, and it was the only thing that comforted them, and then it was taken from them, and they were left to try and find something else, anything else. You don’t know that I’m not a monster was on the tip of Mina’s tongue, but she held it back. “And there’s no legal system in this world. If there weren't hunters, there would be a lot more deaths of innocent people.” She walked over to where Bex was but hung back a bit. “I’m not going anywhere, but you know it applies to you, too, right? Bex, I don’t want to lose you, either. I don’t want-- I can’t-- And you say things like that, and-- I don’t want you to die, Bex. Not for me, especially not for me.”

“You don’t get to decide that!” Bex nearly shouted and she was sure if she’d had any magic juice left, her vanity mirror wouldn’t have stood a chance. Her knees grew too weak to hold her and she collapsed onto the stool that sat in front of it. “You don’t get to decide how much you’re worth to me! I get to decide! Me! No one else.” She was sure she sounded like some sort of petulant child, but everything in her life had been dictated for her up until a month ago. Their value, their importance, their worth. It was her turn to decide. She wanted that control. “I couldn’t-- I couldn’t not try. I couldn’t. He hurt you and I knew who he was and where he would be and I couldn’t just not do anything.” Not when Rio had told her exactly what that man had done to Mina. Not when she’d seen the aftermath of his “duty” scratched out on broken bones and angry burns on Mina herself. She put her face in her hands and shook her head. Duty. She hated that word. She hated it so much. She hated that she understood-- at least enough-- about why it hurt so much to reject it. She hated that Mina had been told that her duty was to die for someone else, probably someone she didn’t even know, simply because that’s the way things were. Mina wasn’t even a hunter, why did she have to succumb to their regime? Why did she have to suffer their duty? “I’m not saying they shouldn’t exist. I’m saying they don’t have the right to decide people deserve to die based on their own shitty opinions. There are plenty of fucking monsters out there they can go kill, they don’t need to go after people like you or Morgan or Kyle.” Her head shot up. “You don’t know that! You don’t know that you’re not going anywhere! Not when-- not when things like this keep happening! He could have taken you from me, Mina,” she was sobbing now, unable to hold back her tears, the truth that had stuck itself inside her heart finally tearing its way through her sternum. “He was going to take you from me. People keep trying to hurt you and I just wanted it to stop.” 

And she heard her own voice in her ears, commanding the hunter. Stop. Stop. The keyword in all of it. Stop. She wanted it all to stop. The hurt, the injuries, the worry. The pain. She had just wanted something nice and it all kept happening and it was all so much. She just wanted one good thing, one good thing. Bex put her head between her knees and hooked her hands behind her neck, trying to breathe through the swell of panic. She was spiraling and she knew it. “I just wanted him to stop and I had the power to do it. I finally have the power to make it stop. I don’t care if it hurts me or tears me apart from the inside out or kills me. I just wanted it to stop.” And it hadn’t even done that, had it?

“And you don’t get to just throw your life away over me!” Mina said, matching Bex’s tone, her volume. I am nothing! I am nothing, and I am incapable, and I’m not worth this! This shouldn’t even be an argument. She didn’t even know how it had gotten to this point. “And I’m grateful that nothing happened to you, to Rio, because of this, I am, but this could have just gone so wrong, Bex! He could have hurt you, or you could have hurt yourself, and how would I have even known?” She felt controlling and out of control. Mina tried so hard. She didn’t make Bex promise to tell her anything, even when the younger girl had said that she would. She didn’t try to force conversations, except for this one, which was going monumentally wrong. She just wanted to be able to protect Bex, but instead she just kept finding more and more ways that she couldn’t. What if they ended up in a situation where she was there and she still couldn’t protect Bex? What if she couldn’t make a decision? What if Bex got hurt because of her, trying to protect her, of all things? What if she somehow ended up hurting Bex herself? She couldn’t live with that. “You can’t possibly seek out every person that hurts me. It’s not possible.” She rubbed at her wrist again, fingers flexing. “Sometimes there’s really no choice but to go after monsters that look like people, especially if they’re dangerous. That’s the point. That’s what hunters kind of exist for.” Mina saw the look on Bex’s face and immediately moved forward, getting on her knees in front of Bex and looking up at her. “Hey, I’m not going anywhere,” she said again, more resolutely. She was absolutely crying, tracks of it running down her face. “Please, Bex, it’s okay, I’m not going anywhere. Please. Please, don’t say things like that. I can’t lose you, too. I can’t. It doesn’t stop if you rip yourself apart or die for me. Please.”

“I’m not throwing my life away!” Bex said back, feeling her chest heaving with something she didn’t want anymore. “And I know it could have! I know. But it was-- you are--” she felt the words bubbling in her throat, burning her tongue, “you’re worth it. You are. I know you think you’re not and I hate that, but you are. It seemed worth it. Even if he’d hurt me or put that gun to my head, it was worth it.” And she hadn’t even been scared and she knew she should have, and she knew Mina had wanted her to be-- but she wasn’t. She wasn’t. Fingers clawed through her own hair. “I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t know how you would’ve known, but it didn’t happen so it-- it doesn’t matter. It didn’t happen.” She kept repeating it, as if that would make any of this better. She reached out as if to take Mina’s face in her hands but pulled back, sitting up instead and curling her arms around her stomach. “I’d do it again. And again. And I can try. I can try because this is something I can do. This is something I can do.” She almost laughed. Almost. Instead it came out as a hollow gurgle and she shook her head. “No it’s not. You said it yourself-- your duty was to protect people. Not hurt them, not kill them. That’s nobody’s job. That shouldn’t be anyone’s job.” She leaned back forward and finally met Mina’s eyes. They were red and puffy, too, and there were blotches of them on her cheeks. “I can’t help it,” she finally admitted quietly, “I can’t help it. People keep hurting you. And it’s not fair. It’s not fair. They don’t get to-- to do that. They don’t.” She unfurled her arms and held out the hand of which palm was still a burning red, she assumed, from the magic overdose. “I’d do it again. I need you to know that I’d do it again. I won’t stand by and let people hurt you like that.” 

“If this had ended poorly, then you would have!” Mina said, moving to sit on her heels. She had to take a second, gritting her teeth so hard that it hurt, that she could taste her own blood in her mouth from biting down. She managed to calm down, though, her voice much lower in volume as she said, “No, I’m not. I promise I’m not worth it. No one is worth you dying for them.” Not even me. Especially not me. And then there was the mention of the gun, and Mina can fight off a lot, but she couldn’t fight off a bloody gun, and she felt like she was spiraling all over again, unable to do anything at all as she thought about all the what ifs and might’ve happeneds and, “It still matters, Bex! Of course it still matters. You not getting hurt matters. You fucking matter.” She shook her head. “But you don’t have to! You don’t have to try, and you don’t have to break yourself apart doing this for me because I can handle myself! I can take care of myself, I can get myself out of these situations, I worry more about you when you do things like this than I’m worried about myself because I can handle it!” It was like Bex just refused to hear anything that she was saying. Was she even speaking? “My duty is to protect people. Mine. And I’m very lucky I haven’t had to kill because of that duty, and because I see things differently, and because I spend most days rethinking a lot of what I was taught growing up, but not all hunters are like that. They see the world very black and white and there’s no room for error, no room for them to question how dangerous something is. If it’s dangerous, even just potentially, then it has to go.” She reached out for Bex’s hand, for the palm that looked like it had been burned, before she put her hand on Bex’s wrist instead, too scared to cause any more injury. “I’ve never needed protecting, Bex.” It had never really been offered to her before. She didn’t know what to do with it, except for the fact that she couldn’t let Bex get hurt because of her. “I don’t want you to do it again. Not because of me.”

“No, stop it-- don’t say that,” Bex blurted, shaking her head again. She could smell the blood in her nose again. “I don’t accept it. I don’t accept your promise. Don’t say that.” She could see Mina spiraling again, but she couldn’t stop it. Couldn’t even stop herself. They were yelling about things that didn’t even need to be yelled about. They were arguing about who was worth more and the truth was that it didn’t matter, they both did. But Bex couldn’t see that truth through her pain, through her sorrow, even if she knew it, in the back of her mind. She fought it because digging it up from the recess of her mind meant digging through twenty-years of being told she was worth nothing if she was not a certain way, and she couldn’t be that way. She couldn’t. “I know I don’t have to! I want to! I want to because you-- you--” she choked on her own breath and coughed through it, a hand over her mouth. Speckles of blood splattered her palm and she clenched her fist closed. Too much, she’d used too much. “If that’s true, if they kill dangerous things, then should I be killed, too? I’m dangerous. I hurt people. Is it only different because I’m human? Because that’s bullshit.” She wiped the blood on her jeans. “I know you can take care of yourself, I know. I know you’re careful, capable, it’s not that I think you can’t--” Another coughing fit cut her short. She looked down when Mina grabbed her wrist and remembered how the hunter had easily moved her own, how easily he must have snapped Mina’s. “I know you don’t need protecting…” she said, quieter, her voice strained. “But I want to. If I can make any difference in it, I want to do it. I won’t just stand by and let the people I care about get hurt. And I--” and she what? Had liked it? Feeling that powerful? Knowing that she could stop someone who boasted superstrength, superspeed, superhealing? Maybe she’d like it too much. “I was so angry, Mina.” Another wave of sobs overtook her for a moment, freezing her heart and her insides. “I was so angry at him. I wanted to hurt him like he’d hurt you, like he’d hurt Rio. I wanted him to know how it felt and he just made me so angry. He doesn’t get to hurt people like that. Just because you’re different. They don’t get to hurt people just because we’re different.”

“Okay! I’m sorry, okay!” Mina said frantically, trying to stop whatever was happening as Bex started to bleed more, cough more. And she thought that Mina was worth this? Mina felt sick. She needed Bex to calm down before it got worse. “I just don’t want you to get hurt because of me. That’s it. Can’t you see that? I don’t want you to get hurt at all, but especially not for me, and this-- this is hurting you.” And she could do even less about this than she could a man with a gun. She couldn’t force Bex’s body to stop hurting her. “You’re human,” she said, quietly. “That’s what matters, that’s what counts to hunters. You can be dealt with by human authorities. Who’s going to put an immortal being in a cell? That’s what it’s about, really.” What human authority could stop creatures that could rip a man apart without trying? Still, in the back of her head, she asked herself who could possibly stop someone that could rip thoughts from people’s heads. But she wasn’t there to question spellcasters. That wasn’t what she was taught. “I just… don’t want you to get hurt because of me.” She leaned forward as soon as Bex started sobbing and wrapped her arms around her. “It’s okay now. It’s okay. It’s-- He can’t hurt anyone else, can he? And-- and I’m okay, and so is Rio, and so are you.” She just didn’t want Bex to get even more stressed, even more panicked. It wasn’t doing anything good to her.

“Isn’t that-- isn’t that just the world we live in?” Bex managed to choke out. She pressed into Mina’s arms, but didn’t reach out herself. Her body was trembling uncontrollably now and she couldn’t tell if it was from the exhaustion or the anger or the stress. She put her face on Mina’s shoulder. “He was going to hurt you again, he told me. He told me he was going to kill you and I couldn’t let that happen. I wasn’t going to let him try. Even if you could get away, even if you can take care of yourself, I wasn’t going to let him even try.” She tried to calm herself down-- in for three, out for five-- and catch her breath, but all she could taste was copper and all she could hear was the desperation in Mina’s voice. “If that’s true, then why are there witch hunters? There’s one in town. Morgan told me about her. How is that fair? I didn’t ask for this. You didn’t ask for this. None of us asked for this.” She couldn’t believe how tired her body felt. Her bones were lead, her muscles were stone. She shivered. She was destroying herself and she didn’t even realize it. “I’m sorry I upset you, but I w-won’t take it back. What I s-said. What I d-did. He deserved it. He can’t hurt anyone ever again.” She exhaled heavily, deflating against Mina. “He can’t hurt you anymore.”

“It shouldn’t be,” Mina said bitterly. She stroked Bex’s hair, and she couldn’t even be mad that Bex didn’t hug her back. At this point, Mina just wanted to hold her. “Well, he can lie, you know. He wasn’t going to kill me. If he’d tried, it wouldn’t have worked. I wouldn’t have let him kill me.” Not when she had people, now. Not when there was a lot she was realizing that she didn’t want to lose. She stilled, her hand frozen in Bex’s hair at the mention of a witch hunter. “Witch hunters aren’t a thing. I mean, they are but they’re… not like other hunters. They don’t have special abilities. They’re just humans who hate other humans. They’re awful.” She pulled Bex even closer, though, kissing Bex’s hair. “Okay, okay. You don’t have to take it back. You don’t. I just… I don’t want you to hurt yourself like this. Something-- You’ve never bled like this before, have you? This isn’t good.” And Mina had only made it worse, hadn’t she? She was trying not to make it worse.

“He wasn’t lying,” Bex wheezed, “I saw in his head. He wasn’t lying.” She’d seen how he wanted to twist Mina’s arms until they snapped off, or crushed her throat until she sputtered for breath, or stab her until her blood ran free over his hands like a fountain. She hated that she’d seen it, but she had. She could still see it. This was her price. She’d done too much too soon and this was the price. She would’ve done it again, too, if given the chance to do it over. “They’re not always human,” she mumbled, her sails deflating, her body sagging with the weight of her burden, “enough humans hate me already.” Maybe she hated humans, too. She didn’t know yet. If they did this to the people she loved, then maybe she hated them, too. “No, it’s...not good. I did too much,” she murmured, tasting the iron on her tongue. “I couldn’t-- I was so angry. I didn’t want to stop.” Because it wasn’t that she couldn’t stop, but that she hadn’t wanted to. She wanted to make him suffer. “I’m sorry,” she finally managed to say, “I won’t-- I won’t go this far again. I won’t.” The words rattled in her chest. She said them, but she couldn’t promise them.

“He would have had to catch me first.” Mina pulled back, wiping at Bex’s face. “I wasn’t going to let him hurt me again, not after last time. But you-- you took care of it.” Bex had ripped a man’s memories from his head. What did that do to a person? What did that leave him as? What did that even feel like, anyway? If Bex was suffering this bad, and she was the one to do it, then She supported Bex’s weight as much as she could. “I know. That makes them worse,” she murmured. “I wish they could see how amazing you are. I’ve always been baffled by just… how some people target other people like that. I don’t get it.” She closed her eyes, nodded her head. “You did too much,” she agreed. She didn’t know what else to say. Maybe she needed to start learning more about magic, about Bex’s limits, to make sure that this didn’t happen again. Maybe she needed to offer to train Bex so that she didn’t have to rely on this kind of power all the time. Maybe she should make Bex promise to actually not do this again. Sometimes that seemed like the only way she might possibly be able to get her to listen. But Mina didn’t want to bind her into anything. She’d made promises to Bex, some big, most small, but she didn’t want the younger girl to feel obligated to her. She didn’t want to take away Bex’s agency like she’d had hers taken from her. Mina just wished she’d tell her things. She knew that made her a hypocrite. “Maybe just-- just don’t do something this big until you have more experience, okay? That’s all. I just want you to be okay.”

Bex remembered Mina’s broken ribs and lifted as much of her weight from her shoulders as she could. She was still shaking, but it came in waves, like the chills during a flu. She felt cold and hot all at the same time. “I didn’t want him to even try again,” she admitted into the space between them. She couldn’t tell how Mina felt about all of this, if she was okay with what Bex had done. Bex wasn’t even sure she was okay with it. She had torn a man’s memories from his head, scrambled his mind. Was that what her power was? Was it this? Could it not do good? Was she tainted? She turned her head so she could look at Mina. Her eyes were blank, tired versions of their usual glint. “You get that...that sounds the s-same, right? I don’t want people going after you, e-either. I just thought I could help. I could s-stop the fighting before it even b-began.” And she’d done it. And she wasn’t sure she’d worked through anything at all. They’d yelled and cried and collapsed and what had any of it solved? She pressed her palms to her eyes. She’d do it again, but that wasn’t what Mina wanted to hear. “People think I’m-- I’m s-something fragile. A-and I’m n-not. They don’t know how much I’ve endured, they don’t u-understand. I just wanted to be strong, too. I can be s-strong, too.” Slowly, she slid onto the floor with Mina and finally reached her arms out to circle around the other’s girl’s waist. Gently. She was still bruised, she was still broken. Mina could heal fast, but she was still fragile right now, while her breaks were fresh. “I want you to be okay, too. I w-want just a week. Can we just have a week? Please.” Her body sagged. “Please just one week.” 

It was almost more confusing and painful when Bex pulled away than the bruises, though Mina did realize why. She was unused to people being careful with her. It was a strange feeling. “He won’t,” she said quietly. Bex made sure of that, she realized. If the effects of Bex’s magic were even worse on the person that she targeted, then he definitely wouldn’t target Mina ever again. “I… know what it sounds like,” she murmured, but it wasn’t the same, not really. “You… you ripped out a man’s mind for me,” she choked out, the reality of the situation fully reaching her. No one had cared that much about her to blatantly attack someone that hurt her. That had never happened before. “I would say that you helped, that you stopped it.” She moved in closer as Bex joined her, and she rested her head against Bex’s. “You’re not, I know. You’re just not used to this world, to these dangers. I don’t think you’re fragile, Bex. I think you’re very strong. I just-- I worry that you’re going to do too much.” She felt like she was shaking, all of the anxiety and nerves in her system still trying to work its way out. Or maybe Bex was shaking. Or maybe they were both shaking. She didn’t feel any better from this. A part of her still felt like Bex hadn’t heard her at all. “I’d like for us to both be okay, and I’d like a week, and I’d like to just enjoy you.” Mina had just gotten her, and she didn’t know how long good things were supposed last, but she didn’t want this to go away. She’d like to keep it as long as she could.

“Yeah,” Bex said at the quiet realization, “I did.” And she’d do it again. And again, and again, if it meant getting to keep Mina around longer. If it meant not having to receive messages in the middle of the evening about her having been hurt, or broken something, or been attacked by someone. Nothing felt settled. She just knew she didn’t want to argue anymore. Bex wanted to tell Mina not to worry, but she’d done exactly that, hadn’t she? She’d done too much. She was doing too much. She was too much. “I’m sorry,” was all she said, “that I worried you like that.” She didn’t know what other words to offer to console her. She wouldn’t promise to not do it again, because she knew in her bones that she would. And then they would argue again, wouldn’t they? She wanted it over for now. “I just want to be a part of your world,” she admitted, “I...want to fit in somewhere.” Isn’t that what she’d always wanted, her whole life? Just somewhere to fit in, somewhere to be. Have someone to keep. She’d just gotten Mina, she didn’t want anyone to take her away. “I did too much this time, but next time-- I won’t. Okay? I won’t. I--” she wanted to say it, but knew she’d never keep it. She closed her jaw and settled her head on Mina’s shoulder. “I’m sorry I yelled. I just-- I care about you so much sometimes it hurts. It hurts when I know you’ve been hurt. I hurt when you hurt and I-- I want you to be happy. That’s it, that’s all.” Was it really that simple? It was that simple and that easy, she decided. It was. “Starting now,” she murmured, “we can have that week starting now.”

Mina couldn’t help it. She held on tighter and buried her face in Bex’s neck, and she was crying again, shuddering with it softly, and the only time she remembered crying like this was after Morgan saved her. It was equal parts fear and relief; fear that she could have lost something, and relief that she didn’t. Maybe a bit of gratitude that someone would do something like that for her. “I’m going to worry regardless,” she mumbled against Bex’s shoulder once she finally managed to not be so choked up. She took a shaky breath, trying desperately to not cry anymore. It didn’t really matter if Bex apologized, did it? Just like it didn’t really matter when Mina did it. It still hurt, and, with the ways that things were going, it was still going to happen again, even if neither of them wanted it to.  She leaned back, finally, looking at Bex. “You’re already a part of this world, my world.” A dangerous world, where Mina was just never going to stop worrying, probably. A new kind of worry, deeper that the worry that someone would discover what she was or that she’d fail her duties. “Just… be more careful, please. I’m sorry I yelled, too. I was scared. I’m scared.” It hurt her, too, how much she liked Bex, how much she cared and worried about and would do for her. She didn’t know what to do with it. “I feel the same. And I just want to know that you’re safe.” She breathed in, held it, breathed out. “Okay. Starting now.”

It was a terrible sound, Mina’s shuddering breaths. More terrible so because Bex knew she had been the cause of her tears. And she was aware that Mina’s ribs were still healing, but she held onto her tighter through them because she couldn’t remember another time this had happened. If she’d cried when Bex was bleeding to death in that alley, she hadn’t seen it. Mina’s voice was soft against her shoulder. It was so quiet, so small. Bex dug one of her hands into Mina’s hair as she held her, feeling her shake under her own trembling fingers. “I know,” she mumbled back. And this was just how it was going to be, for both of them, wasn’t it? No amount of worrying or promising or fighting was going to change any of it. One day, one of them wouldn’t come home, and then what? She held on tighter at the thought, reluctant to let go when Mina leaned back. “I’ll be more careful,” she reassured. She could do that. She could try. She wasn’t sure she could stop herself if another hunter went after Mina. “And I’m safe. See?” She brushed the hand in Mina’s hair down her cheek. “I’m safe.” And tired and her head felt heavy and she could still taste copper in her throat, but she was safe. “I’m here with you.”

All Mina wanted to do was ask Bex to promise to never hurt herself like that again. It was bad enough to worry about possessed dolls and falling houses and out of control werewolves. Those were things that were outside of Bex’s control. But this was her own power that was hurting her, and Mina knew she wasn’t worth that. She wasn’t worth the hurt. But she also knew that she couldn’t ask Bex to do that. Because it would take away Bex’s will. Because she wouldn’t like the answer. Really, she knew this was something that wasn’t going to stop, not really. She saw the look in Bex’s eyes, the more she learned about magic, about the supernatural. And Mina couldn’t fault her for that, as much as it pained her to think about. Maybe this was why her dad had never gotten attached to anyone; it was reckless to give so much of yourself to a person so quickly, especially when there was the risk that someone could probably die at any given moment. She felt stupid. She felt weak. She pressed her cheek into Bex’s hand before turning her head and kissing her palm. “You look tired,” she murmured. 

Bex wished she could know what was going on behind Mina’s big, hazel eyes-- she probably could, she realized, but she would never do that to Mina. Never invade her mind like that. Her eyes were still puffy around the edges and blotches of skin had turned red around her cheeks as well. “You really are an ugly crier,” she murmured, brushing her thumb over her cheek as she kissed her palm. “Your poor face.” She leaned forward and pressed her lips gently to Mina’s cheek, letting her hand fall down to find Mina’s and tangle their fingers. “I am,” she admitted, words soft as her breath. “I’m so tired.” And she was so tired of it all, not just because of what had happened. She was tired of worrying and wondering and panicking, just hoping that the next day wouldn’t bring disaster. She thought by doing this she could’ve prevented all that, but she’d just made it all happen, hadn’t she? Master of her own design, and all that. Cause of her own fate. She rubbed her eyes one last time, wiping away the last of the tears that had caked onto her cheeks. “Do you…” she started as she glanced back at the bed, “...do you want to lay with me? I-- understand if not. I think I need to...rest for a bit, though. I feel like I might pass out.” And she hoped what she’d done hadn’t changed anything, and worried, suddenly, that it had.

Mina managed to choke out a laugh. “You don’t have to comment on it, you know. This is why I don’t cry a lot.” But it made it seem less serious that way, like this wasn’t that bad, like they hadn’t been yelling at each other minutes before. And Mina had never gotten into a screaming match about being worried, of all things. Mina had never really gotten into a screaming match with anyone at all. At least she couldn’t feel the telltale prickle of scales across her skin. She was getting better about that, at least, more in control. Sometimes, more recently, it almost felt natural, switching between both forms. She didn’t really know how she felt about that; it was weird, with the hunter attacking her, to feel like she was becoming more and more Fae. She did, however, like that she didn’t constantly feel like she was about to go inhuman every time she was on the verge of being overwhelmed, which was all the time. She definitely felt overwhelmed, sitting there with Bex. Still, Mina nodded her head and squeezed Bex’s hand. “Yes, I want to,” she said. She wasn’t going to sleep. She was exhausted, but her mind was too wired, too stressed for her to even consider leaving. And she was upset, still, but she wasn’t upset with Bex. Or, at least, she was upset with the idea of Bex doing something ridiculously stupid, all because of Mina. She didn’t want that. She didn’t think she’d ever get Bex to realize that. She stood, instead, tugging on Bex gently with her good hand. “I want to stay.” And she’d brace herself if Bex started to fall forward, if she couldn’t make it to the bed. She’d stopped crying. She’d stopped shaking. She could be stable enough for both of them.

“Oh, but I do,” Bex said, laughing herself, though it was choked in her throat through the rumble of tears that still threatened to come. “If I’m the pretty crier, then you’re the ugly one. We compliment each other.” It was a tease, mostly, to try and lighten what had just happened between them. Bex didn’t yell a lot, if ever. Her parents yelled. They yelled and screamed and hurt, and she’d never wanted to be like that, but the anger that had built inside her stomach-- had been building, since Mina was first attacked a week ago, by that selkie-- had overwhelmed her, even in the presence of Mina. And she was afraid of it. Afraid of herself. Afraid of what she’d done, but she couldn’t understand that yet. She couldn’t. She wanted so much to believe she couldn’t be like them. She wasn’t them. Shaking still, she stood on jello knees and tried not to lean too much on Mina, hands still clasped together. It felt the same and yet all different. She wanted to cry again. She didn’t. She walked over to the bed and yanked her shoes off and her jacket and she almost wanted to pull her jeans off, too, but that felt like too much effort for arms that had simply dissolved into a numb tingle. Her fingers burned. She remembered how it felt, taking his memories from him, it was still in the skin of her hands. She swallowed and looked at Mina. She had nothing left to say. She needed to think of something to say. Instead, she saw flashes of the hunter’s memories, burned into the back of her eyes. “You know you can cry whenever you need to, around me,” she said quietly, reaching back over to brush her thumb over Mina’s cheek. “I don’t mind if it’s ugly. Not everything has to be pretty. And, for what it’s worth,” she tried to smile, crooked and tired, “I think you’re still beautiful.”

“You’re bruising the little amount of ego that I have,” Mina said, but she managed a smile. It was nice that Bex was teasing her, even if there wasn’t much heart to it, even if they were both not really in a teasing mood. She could hear it in Bex’s voice, still. Neither of them had their heart in it. But that didn’t change that Mina still wanted to be there, with Bex. She couldn’t really imagine anything changing that anymore. She sat on the bed and waited for Bex, tightening the wrap on her wrist. It was throbbing a bit, not so much hurting as it was aching. It was fine. She was fine. When Bex put her hand on Mina’s cheek, she leaned into it again. She wondered how a person went about ripping memories from the mind, what it entailed, if it hurt. She imagined that it hurt. “I know I can.” And she did. Theoretically. But she also knew that she couldn’t cry, shouldn’t cry, had no real reason to cry. She felt almost, but not quite, embarrassed about crying so much in the first place, as if someone was going to appear and call her weak or give her something to actually cry about. She hadn’t cried over bloody broken ribs. Why had she cried over someone caring enough to hurt someone for her? She felt a bit ridiculous. Still, she moved forward and pressed a kiss to Bex’s cheek. “I appreciate that. Lay down before you pass out, please.”

Bex softened just a little as Mina pressed into her palm. Despite everything that had come after, it had been worth it, she decided, because she got this. Maybe next time, she could get to them before there were any broken wrists or ribs or cuts or burns. Maybe she could spare Mina the pain. That was all she wanted, really. To spare her that pain. Any pain, all the pain. She’d take it, if she could. She wished there was magic in the world that let her take Mina’s pain for herself. She wished she had been given healing magic instead of dream magic or mental magic. But wishes, she’d been reminded, didn’t always come true. Not a single star she’d wished on as a child had ever come true. Her lesson had been that, if she wanted something done, she had to do it herself. And so she would. She would fight to keep Mina, for as long as possible. Just a little longer, just a little more time. She let out a long breath as Mina’s lips pressed to her cheek. She wondered if it was still salty from her tears as she leaned back at her behest, and tugged-- gently-- on her good arm to follow her down. She didn’t know if she deserved to be able to hold her tonight, but she wanted to. She couldn’t sleep if she wasn’t in Mina’s arms, even as exhausted as she was. She nestled close, but kept a small distance, in case Mina didn’t want to be too close. Her red palm stuck out between them, and she turned it away, clenching the sheets. “Is this okay?” she asked quietly. 

“Of course it’s okay,” Mina said, and she closed the distance between them, careful not to disturb Bex’s injured hand, before wrapping an arm around the younger girl. “I-- I’d like to-- I mean, it’s nice to know you’re here. I like being able to tell that you’re here.” She liked that she could feel the heat of Bex’s skin through her clothes, and she liked that she could hear the sound of Bex’s breathing as she fell asleep. She liked how solid this was, how grounding, and how this was always the best sleep she got, being next to Bex, in or out of the water. There wasn’t any way that this wouldn’t be okay, to her. She wasn’t mad at Bex, not about what she’d done, not really. She was scared and worried and so panicky that it could make her sick, but she wasn’t mad. And she was feeling better about being scared and worried and panicked. At least, she felt that she was doing better at keeping that to herself as she kept her breathing even, her heartbeat slowed, her eyes soft. All the negatives only existed in her mind, at this point. Mina couldn’t lie with her words, but at least she didn’t have to constantly wear her thoughts on her sleeve. “Please rest, Bex. I promise I’ll still be here when you wake up.” Still awake, too, but that hardly mattered. She didn’t think she was going to sleep for a while. 

“I’m here,” Bex said, grateful when Mina moved closer and tucked her in tight. That was where she wanted to be, anyway. After everything they’d said, Bex wasn’t sure she would fit in right, but it was so obvious that she did. That nothing could change that now. She found herself so quietly surprised at the thought, letting her breath slow as she tried to calm her pounding heart. The ache in her muscles dragged her eyes closed as she lifted her hand to bury her fingers into the cloth of Mina’s shirt, resting against her. She could hear her heartbeat. Steady and rhythmic, like the ticking of a clock. If Mina was still upset or worried or anxious, her heart did not give her away. Sometimes Bex wished it would. Sometimes Bex wished she would just let herself feel. The promise settled into her chest. She didn’t need her to promise that, though. She knew. She knew she’d be there when she woke, because she always was. Even after the yelling. “I’m here,” Bex repeated, even as she felt herself drifting away to sleep. She wanted Mina to know. She was there. She was safe. They were okay. They could be okay.

[shhhlikeme]

“Losty Aone” / “Losty Mountain Man🏔” Series:

🎉🎊 Special Birthday Outtake Part One 🎊🎉

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A/N: HAPPY 25th BIRTHDAY to our mountain man! Everyone keeps saying how underrated the man is, well NOT ON THIS BLOG, NO MA’AM! WE CELEBRATE KINGS OVER HERE.

I tried to get to everyones prompts for this special collection so let’s go!! (There are two parts, but this can be read as a STAND ALONE fic).

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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August 1st

One sunny summer day, you and your new boyfriend Aone were sitting on a patio having sushi for lunch in downtown Tokyo.

You scooted your chair closer to his and rested your head on your wrist, looking up at him quizzically.

Aone who was in the middle of chewing, slowed down as his heart picked up. The prettiest girl in the world was staring at him, and he knew you well enough to know that that look meant you were up to something. He swallowed hard and took a sip of his water.

“Yes? What is it?” He asked finally.

“Oh, just thinking about the fact that I don’t know when your birthday is.”

Aone tried not to roll his eyes. “Y/N....”

“Don’t Y/N me, Takanobu.”

Aone really did roll his eyes then. He didn’t know why you needed to know when his birthday was. He didn’t really like celebrating it because he isn’t a flashy guy, meaning only Kenji and now Kogenagawa would just go to the movies or something. His parents were divorced so he’d usually do something small twice with both or them too. His parents would usually gift him with a lot of money towards carpenter school so he was never in need of anything. Sure, in first and second year when Aone blew out his candles all he wished for was that you could maybe notice him, but look at him now. He didn’t want you to get him anything and stress when the best gift he’d ever and could ever receive is you being his.

brb crying

Aone shook his head. “I do not want to tell you. I feel like you’re going to do something extravagant.”

True. You pouted anyway.

“I won’t if you don’t want me to! We’re dating. You have to tell me. If you do, I’ll tell you mine.”

Aone flushed internally because you saying such a thing reminded him that he had to have that talk with you soon about the fact that he knew when your birthday was before you knew his name. Not only that, but tell you that he actually gifted you a cupcake last year on it, and wanted to gift you more than that. (but that’s for another outtake time).

“I’ll tell you on a later date then.” He tried reasoning fairly, but alas his spunky girlfriend was having none of that.

“No! You’re going to tell me now. You can’t deprive me of this, Aone,”

Aone continued to eat, picking up your favourite roll with his chopsticks and directing it towards your mouth for you to eat.

You frowned, crossing your arms.

You stared at your gorgeous white haired beauty of a man as he continued eating—your mind trying to figure out how you’d get the information out of him..... soon you got distracted because You were thinking about how sexy he looked in aviator sunglasses with the sun glowing his slightly tanned skin when suddenly, it hit you.

💡

How could you forget?! As you’re thinking about how sexy your boyfriend is and he’s trying not to look at you— you forgot that your boyfriend also finds you sexy, but unfortunately for most boys who have been crushing on a girl for years, the manner in which Aone found you sexy kind of made him literal putty for you.

😈

You decided to pull out the medium guns, taking a strand of your hair in your finger to twirl it.

“Pleaseee, baby?” You asked in your cutesy voice. You place a delicate hand on your boyfriend’s knee and fluttered your long eyelashes at him before he even looked at you.

Feeling your hand on his knee made his heart race like any time you touched him, so he turned to you. When his eyes met yours this poor baby dropped the sushi roll he was about to put in his mouth on his plate. One look at your begging-expression and this simp couldn’t even hold out for another second.

“August.” He admitted quickly, awestruck. You were just so hot.

You gasp. “THAT’S THIS MONTH, AONE! YOU WERE GOING TO LET ME MISS IT!” You growled. “Now tell me the day.”

Takanobu looked away, refusing to look at you as an act of defence, in case you used that sexy hair-twirling trump card again.

“No, Y/N.”

You smiled and decided not to twirl your hair but this time take advantage of the fact that he wasn’t looking at you. You leaned in closer to your boyfriend.

“Pretty please, my love?” You sing sweetly. Aone tried his best to keep it together because lord knows he was pre-programmed to give you anything you wanted, and he was actually doing a good job since he wasn’t looking at you.

“No.”

You leaned in immediately, pressing your soft lips to his cheek, pressing them into his stubble in a way that meant maybe this wasn’t just an innocent kiss. This was a kiss could either mean let’s hold hands or let’s fuck, and Aone knew it.

Like usual with your longer kisses, all the blood rushed from mountain man’s brain to his groin.

“13th.” He said almost automatically, no longer using the head above his shoulders but the one he wanted to stick inside your dripping cunt. “August 13th.” He clarified, wanting to please you by telling you, but also wanting to please you in more ways than one.

You jumped out of seduction-mode and squealed, pulling back and clapping.

“Yay! Thank you, baby!”

Aone’s heart soared at you calling him pet names. He remembers the jealous stares he always gets from other men and guys at school whenever you called him that, and it made him feel even better upon hearing it.

When Aone realized he’d been powerless to you using your sexiness to get what you wanted from him for the 5th time this week (second time today) he sighed.

“I do not like birthdays, Y/N. Just so you know.” he explains softly, praying that you won’t go all out.

You scooted your chair even closer to your boyfriend. Leaning in to tell him something in his ear. Knowing your bf wouldn’t admit to how much he loved when you did that—you whispered seductively,

“Oh, Aone, I promise you’ll love birthdays after I’m finished with yours....”

you made sure your lips grazed his ear the tiniest bit and that your voice was dripping with sex again.

Fuck, Aone hated that you knew what you did to him. With a blush, Takanobu reached out to grab a napkin quickly......... wiping the evidence of his nosebleed.

———————————

August 7th - Day 2 out of 7 - Jealous Mountain Man @ The Miyagi Prefecture Summer Training Camp Hosted by Date Tech | Also Date Tech Cheer Team Training Clinic

You and your boyfriend Aone were ecstatic to be at training camp together!

Even though you barely got to see eachother because the cheerleaders were training outside and the volleyball players were in the gym, you had lunch together which meant you could run to your boyfriend and kiss him when you got to see him in the caf excitedly.

However, the boys’ volleyball coaches strictly prohibited any fraternizing outside of lunch time because the boys were always a bit too distracted by the hot cheerleaders.

That type of limitation just made you that much more jumpy to see your man—who was on cloud nine every time you gave him attention. He pointed you out to his friends from other schools like Hinata and Kyotani who were very nice to you (well as nice as mad dog gets).

“That cheerleader.....is your............. girlfriend.......?” Kageyama asked as his eyes followed you into the cafeteria. Let’s just say a lot of volleyball players eyes were following you.

Aone nodded. “Yes. I understand it’s hard to believe. I catch myself not believing it either, most days.” He spoke proudly, unknowingly straightening his shoulders and puffing out his chest. He was so proud to finally be able to call you his. He knew you were way out of his league and it just made his entire day when he was reminded that you chose him.

From where you were standing by the doors, you searched the full lunch tables and spotted your mountain man. You got on your tippy toes and waved at him, blowing him a kiss.

“She’s really good looking.” Kags finished, nodding at Aone with a slight blush.

Aone nodded back while returning your curt wave. “Extremely.” Your boyfriend added, getting excited because you’d soon come over to say hi like you always did at lunch.

“Yeah that’s Y/N! I met her yesterday, she’s really nice. She is like a 10/10 on the pretty scale and even her friends are pretty! Is the stunning taller one—the captain I think—that’s your girlfriend, right Futakuchi?”

Sitting beside Aone and across from the quick attack duo, Futakuchi choked on his food, coughing. Aone patted his back while trying to hide a smile.

“Not my girlfriend.”

Kags looked confused. “Really? She sure acts like it—“

“I said not my girlfriend.” He repeated, making them drop the subject.

Aone stopped patting Futakuchi’s back because he seemed healthy enough, but also because he saw you approaching some guy at the Wakutani South High’s table. Aone felt something weird in the pit of his stomach as he watched you chat enthusiastically to the one player from that school. Aone knew him as Takeru.

Aone’s heart sunk because you never spoke to strangers that happily, you barely noticed them.

“Y/N-chan knows Takeru Nakashima?” Hinata asked innocently, stuffing his face with food & watching you. Kenji and Kags looked over too.

Aone felt himself stop breathing when you leaned in to whisper in the captain’s ear, causing Nakashima to turn red all over.

Aone wanted to throw up.

“I wasn’t aware.” Mountain man responded, his shoulders stiff.

Now, Mountain Man trusted you, yes, that much is true. He could practically read you like a book. But he absolutely hated the way Takeru’s eyes lit up like a fucking Christmas tree when you approached, talking only to him as if you were on some sort of secret mission.

Sure, all the guys at this tournament checked all of the cheerleaders out—asking out Katana and Kusa almost 4 times a day—but Kenji made it pretty clear to everyone he spoke with to spread the word that Y/N is taken, so Takeru definitely knew.

Kenji has been through too much with y’all already lmao

That didn’t stop Takeru from admiring you though. And being absolutely flabbergasted that you randomly wanted to speak to him, of all people, today.

As he watched from so far away, Aone was reminded of how much he hated the feeling he got when seeing you happily give another guy who’s clearly interested in you your attention. It was a familiar feeling that he’d felt when you were seeing that baseball player last year, but the feeling was justly multiplied now, since Aone did have some level of claim on you now. He wasn’t just wishing he had a right to be jealous like he did back then—You were his girlfriend now. The best thing that’s ever happened to him.

“Maybe they know eachother from somewhere,” Kenji lightly elbowed his best friend on the arm. “You should ask her.”

“Hm.” Aone grunted, crawling back into his minimal communication shell that he always went in when he was hurt.

Kenji was concerned because Aone hadn’t gone back to that since that night at the bowling alley.

Still watching you, Aone saw you lean in to hug Takeru and then skip over to his table. To him.

“Hi baby!” You exclaim, happier than usual. Aone couldn’t help but frown because were you happier because you spoke to that other guy? Did Takeru increase your happiness?

“Hi,” said Aone kindly, opening his arms for a hug. If Takeru got one, then bby mountain man wanted one—too.

childish jealous bby. I luv

You walked straight into your boyfriend’s perfect embrace as you stood and he remained seated. You felt him hug you tighter than usual, pressing his ear to your chest and running a caring hand up and down your back with his big beefy hands. This wasn’t the usual hug he gave you in public at all, it was more like how he hugged you when you two were cuddling and watching a movie at his house.

Muddled, you raised your eyebrow at Kenji for a silent explanation and Kenji just shrugged, not willing to tell on his friend for being jealous. After 10 seconds, Aone still wouldn’t let you go, closing his eyes while he relished in the feel and angelic smell of you so close to him.

“Uhhh.......you okay, sweetie?” You asked him, raising your hands to gently play with the hair on the back of his head. Aone nodded into your chest again—too jealous to realize that his head was pressing on your pillowy tits that he drools over.

A lot of boys were very jealousssss seeing you two, wishing they were Aone right about now.

“Do you know him?” Aone asked, his eyes still closed as he felt like sleeping on your booby pillows.

“Who?” You asked, lost as usual.

Kenji groaned. “Who do you think? Nakashima. Do you know him?”

“Ohhhhh!” You laughed. “No. I just met him right now. I wanted to uh....say hi.”

Aone’s frown deepened. He had no issue when you always spoke to your male friends at school, but even so, they always sought you out friendly. You basically never went up to anyone but the cheerleaders. Takeru is getting special treatment.... because Why didn’t you want to do that to him during the two years he day dreamed about you? - pondered mountain man.

“Want to go on a walk with me, Aone baby?” You asked Aone, not clueing in that he felt any type of way at all. “Some of the girls are getting ice cream just up the road. I want you to come.”

Aone nodded quickly, but he didn’t make any motion to leave this comfortable boob-hug yet.

“You just gonna hug me until Katana is ready to go?” You giggled.

Baby nodded.

“Okay.” You respond with a smile, continuing to run your hand through his short hair soothingly the way he likes. You just begin chatting to Hinata.

Aone felt reassured by your loving actions in front of the whole camp, but unfortunately..... that reassurance was short lived.

***

———————————

August 9th - Day 4 out of 7 of Training Camp

Throughout the camp, Aone watched everyday as you made what you did the other day a routine. You’d come into the caf with the other pretty cheerleaders, looking the prettiest, wave at your boyfriend, walk over to talk to Takeru Nakashima: sometimes bringing him out in the hall for something, then come back to kiss and greet your wonderful boyfriend.

Kenji, Kogenagawa, and especially Aone didn’t fucking like it.

“Want me to teach Takeru a lesson about boundaries?” Kogenagawa asked Aone at lunch a couple days later, cracking his knuckles like he would actually do something (he’d be too scared looool). Aone shook his head firmly. “No,” he answered, feeling hurt watching you smile brightly at something Nakashima said.

Kenji said his piece, “It’s Y/N that keeps approaching him, big boned setter. It’s not like Takeru really does it back, plus, I reminded him that that’s my best friend’s girl during outside hitter drills yesterday. He was really understanding, he seems like a really good kid.”

Kogenagawa nodded. “Great. I definitely don’t think Y/N is doing it on purpose though, she used to be way more flirty with that baseball guy or with Aone-senpai—but I just wish Takeru didn’t always look like Christmas came early whenever Y/N comes around.”

Kenji nodded. “That’s true. I may not know why Y/N wants to talk to him so badly, but I definitely know that Takeru is loving every second of it. He wouldn’t do anything because I’ve learned he’s a pretty stand-up guy, but man..... no offence Aone but Y/N needs to understand how fuck-hot she is. And that some guys will like her enthusiastic cheerleader personality a bit too much.”

Aone’s heart dropped as he listened to his honest friends. “I do not blame Nakashima....” Aone started, feeling his blood start to boil a bit because Takeru couldn’t help but stare at your fine ass in tight practice shorts when you walked away from him and toward Aone. Aone growled deep within his chest territorially.

As if he heard the growl but more likely probably just feeling menacing eyes on him, Takeru’s eyes flicked to Aone’s. Startled by how angry and scary Aone looked because he caught Nakashima staring at his girlfriend, Nakashima quickly diverted his eyes. Looking anywhere else but at Y/N for the duration of the day.

“I don’t blame Nakashima...” Aone continued his thought. “....I had and still have the same feelings for Y/N as she is very desirable. And besides, surely I don’t blame Y/N either. It’s not her fault she is attractive. A man’s actions toward an attractive woman is NEVER the woman’s fault. (A/N: KING!) And she is only talking to him, I shouldn’t be so envious.”

Kogenagawa nodded again. “That’s the spirit, Aone-senpai.”

“Easier said than done,” Kenji muttered before taking some gulps of his sports drink, knowing his best friend better than anyone else.

———————————

August 11th - Day 6 out of 7 of Training Camp

As previously mentioned, your boyfriend trusted you, but he also knew that you were absolutely lost when it came to knowing when a guy has a crush on you (how in the world do you know that Aone? Hahahaha) and it was pretty damn obvious that Takeru Nakashima was falling fast and hard. Pissed and annoyed, Aone watched you go chat with him day after day and then come over like nothing happened. It was obvious you didn’t like the kid in a romantic way, but Aone still wanted to know why you wanted to talk to him so much and why you even gave him the time of the day that Aone so desperately wanted from you before you noticed him. Maybe he was a little bitter and a lot jealous of Takeru’s ability to get your attention.

Takanobu wanted all your attention on him. Without knowing it, this big baby slowly got more and more clingy and pouty to his beautiful girlfriend.

When he was walking down a hall with you and Takeru happened to turn down the same hall with his team, Aone would pull you in close to his side and basically shield you from his view.

When you two would say bye after lunch and Aone noticed Nakashima was watching, he’d lean down to kiss you maybe a bit more passionately than usual (not that you were complaining, your boyfriend’s passionate kisses made your knees weak)....

Aone even somehow convinced you to wear his Date Tech jacket during lunch, because according to Aone the air conditioning was way too cold for the tiny practice outfit the cheerleaders had to wear, and he didn’t want you get sick.

bullshit, Aone😒 lol

But again, you weren’t complaining! You loved the smell of your boyfriend and having the feeling of his arms being around you because you were wearing his gigantic sweater just made you the happiest cheerleader ever!

But, unfortunately.... Even with all of that—just as Kenji predicted—that didn’t really keep Aone’s jealously under wraps:

Currently, you two were sitting beside eachother on a bench waiting for Kenji and Kanji to finish talking to the coach so you all could walk home together since you were going to your boyfriend’s. Everything was good as you two spoke and enjoyed each other’s company. Then, this boy just had to ruin a great moment.

Seeing Takeru approach; his shy eyes stuck on his girlfriend, Aone didn’t hesitate to put his arms around you and pull you on his lap with ease. His horny side didn’t even freak out that your ass was on his dick.....much. He was too focused on shooting daggers at your approaching admirer that you seemed to like very much.

Hesitating because he picked up on Aone’s protective message, Takeru flushed in fear before finding the guts to walk up to you anyway. Mountain man was not impressed.

Takeru stared only at you nervously. Good choice.

“Hey uh........Y/N. can I uh.....a-ask you something....?”

Furious that anyone would try it with him right there, mountain man poked the inside of his cheek with his tongue.

You moved to get off of your boyfriends lap, about to answer with an exuberant ‘sure!’ but that was until your boyfriend’s strong arms held you on his lap and he answered Takeru for you.

“You may ask US something.” He corrected Takeru, venom evident throughout his tone.

Your jaw dropped, turning back to who you thought was the sweetest boy you’ve ever met incredulously.

“Babe! That is so not nice!” You scolded.

Aone looked down at you, immediately cowering under your gaze because you looked disappointed in him. He never wanted you to be disappointed in him! Mountain man released his tight grip on you and apologized sincerely under his breath.

Still a bit unhappy with him, you just got off his lap to walk away with Takeru.

Aone sighed.

———————————

August 12th - Final Day of Training Camp

“Hello, Nakashima-senpai. Do you mind if I speak to you for a second before you get on your bus?” Aone bowed politely to the upperclassmen.

Taken aback by the giant middle blocker’s new kind behaviour toward him, Nakashima nodded, a bit frightened.

Aone pointed toward the empty bench that he was sitting on yesterday with Y/N when he’d been so rude to Takeru.

Takeru nodded and called over his shoulder for the team to keep packing up the bus, he would just be a few minutes. Takeru followed the mountain man.

“Uh.....you’re not going to beat me up, um, a-are you?” Takeru asked while using one hand to awkwardly massage the back of his neck.

Aone shook his head stoically, taking a seat on the bench then inviting Takeru to join him. He did.

“Y/N does not know I am doing this, so I want you to know this is completely genuine.” Aone turned to face the 5’8 captain. “I’m very sorry for the way I have acted toward you this entire training camp, Nakashima-senpai.”

Takeru nodded slowly.....

Aone continued. “I was admittedly jealous of the fact that my girlfriend noticed you so easily and always wanted to talk to you....especially since I’d wanted her to notice me in such a way for years and she never did.” Aone sighed. “It made me feel insecure. But that is no excuse. Kenji-san says that you respected our relationship all along, and um, my behaviour yesterday was undeniably unacceptable and for that I am sorry!” Aone stuck out his hand as emotions caused his voice to raise at the end of his apology.

Takanobu chuckled, shaking the big guy’s hand. “Hey, no worries, I accept your apology, Takanobu-san. Don’t worry about it. For what it’s worth I don’t know how you do it—what with having such a gorgeous girlfriend and dealing with guys like me who develop pathetic, spineless, hopeless crushes on her.....”

Aone’s eyebrows furrowed at the outside hitter’s confession.

Takeru gasped when he realized what he said, red as a tomato. He rushed to explain.

“S-sorry! N-not that I would ever act on those f-feelings!” He tripped over his words, but Aone was calm. Again, he couldn’t blame another man for falling for someone as incredible as you—he did. Takeru relaxed when he realized the middle blocker wasn’t going to break him in two.

“Aone, I mean it when I say it’s a hopeless crush because that girl.....Y/N.....she’s really in love with you. You’re all the she talks about, to be honest. And trust me, she didn’t ‘notice’ me out of no where..........um.........well I’ve said too much already.”

Aone stopped listening after hearing someone else say that Y/N is in love with him... he couldn’t believe other people could tell, solidifying to him that this wasn’t a dream anymore, and that you were his for keeps. It made him so confident.

Takeru cleared his throat which brought Aone back down to the present and out of Y/N-dreamland. Takeru was being called to the bus by his coach.

“Looks like I have to go, but......I just want to s-say that..........Y/N is a really good girl, Aone. You are the luckiest guy I know to have a girlfriend like her, and I’m not just talking about her looks. She really loves you, like a lot, and I hope you two last, because she deserves to be as happy as you make her forever. I don’t blame you at all for acting the way you did. I think I’d do worse. Thank you for the apology, though.........YES COACH IM COMING.....gotta jet. I wont be playing this year but I’ll see you from the audience. Good luck!” With some walking backwards and talking, Takeru waved to Aone and then jogged to his bus.

Feeling relieved, Aone packed up and went home.

***

Later that night after his night time routine, mountain man texted you before bed. You hadn’t spoken to him all day for the rude behaviour he exhibited yesterday (or for some other reason wink wink) and it made your boyfriend just give you your space anxiously. But he couldn’t go to sleep before letting you know how sorry he was:

Aone: I miss you. I’m extremely sorry about yesterday. That wasn’t like me. I hope you have a perfect sleep

You: 💖💖💖 Takeru said you apologized???????

I forgive you baby 💘🏔

I hope you have a perfect sleep & a perfect wake 2 🤫😉

Not really understanding what your last part of the text meant but too tired from training camp to figure it out, Aone closed his eyes and drifted off into romantic and sexy dreams starring his unbelievably gorgeous girlfriend.

———————————

Taglist: @crushzone @galagcica @chaichai-the-weeb @nairobiisqueen

Special Birthday Outtake Part 2 (NSFW): CLICK HERE🎉

[aion-rsa]

Invincible Episode 7 Improves Upon Its Already Great Source Material

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This article contains spoilers for Invincible episode 7.

Amazon’s animated adaptation of Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker’s comic Invincible was always a great idea. The property has just about everything that streaming services and their audiences are looking for currently: superheroes, ultraviolence, and jaw-dropping twists. 

One big question facing the series, however, was how could one show possibly fit in all the story of the comic’s lengthy 144-issue run? Invincible episode 7, “We Need to Talk,” is the first season’s penultimate installment and it reveals how the show is set to approach this logistical challenge. With so many comic book issues of plot to get through, Invincible seems perfectly happy to accelerate through that plot as efficiently as possible. To that end, “We Need to Talk” features a truly staggering number of climactic moments.

This might actually be the most charmingly chaotic and jam-packed episode of TV this year (at least before next week’s finale). So much happens in “We Need to Talk” that it runs the risk of overwhelming the viewer. With that in mind, let’s break down the important plot points of this hour and examine the major ways in which they differ from (and even improve upon) the comic.

Robot’s True Identity

The reveal that the entity known as “Robot” isn’t who he claims to be might be the most shocking Invincible twist thus far. And that’s saying a lot for a show whose first episode concludes with the story’s Superman equivalent straight up murdering the rest of his Justice League.

That Robot (Zachary Quinto) is really a malformed genius named Rudolph Conners isn’t a surprise to comic book readers, but its positioning this early in Invincible’s story is a surprise. Robot’s work with the Mauler Twins to create a new body for himself doesn’t happen until after the events of Omni-Man’s confrontation with Mark in the comics (more on that later). The show, however, shrewdly decides to present this moment in the same episode as Omni-Man’s fall – just so there’s never really a moment for viewers to catch their breath. 

But now the truth has finally arrived. Robot, the orange hunk of metal with a fixedly bemused expression, is actually a machine being operated remotely by Rudolph Conners. Rudolph, or Rudy, is a small, damaged man whose body isn’t capable of surviving Earth’s environment. For many years Rudy was content to exist in his own life-giving tank of fluids while operating his superheroic “Robot” remotely. Everything changed, however, when he met the hero known as Monster Girl.

Rudy couldn’t help but identify with Monster Girl (Grey Griffin), a fellow soul who has made the best of a flawed body. Everytime Monster Girl transforms into a monster, her human form de-ages several more weeks. Theoretically at some point Monster Girl will become an infant and then waste away into nothingness. Before any of that happens, Rudy wants to fix her…and he wants to fix his own broken body so that the pair can be together.

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To that end, Rudy sprung the mad genius villain team The Mauler Twins from prison to create a cloned body for him to transfer his consciousness into. What makes this whole thing even stranger is that the genetic material Rudy chose for his new body belongs to his Teen Team and Guardians of the Globe colleague Rex Splode. The new Rudy appears to be played by Rex Splode actor Jason Mantzoukas with his voice altered to sound younger. 

Does that mean Zachary Quinto is no longer a part of the series? Let’s certainly hope not as he may have been the best performer of the entire cast. And why did Rudy choose Rex’s DNA (and without Rex’s consent, it must be said)? Because Rex is hot, basically. Rudy chose a human form that Monster Girl was already comfortable flirting with. 

This is…a lot. And the fact that Rudy has to introduce himself to his teammates while they’ve all gathered for an “apocalyptic event” just adds to the madness. But what of The Mauler Twins? The disappointment of Rudy’s double-crossing doesn’t last long. For, after Rudy is forced to abandon his efforts to reincarcerate the Mauler Twins to return to the Guardians home base, the twins get back to their important task at hand. And that leads to the return of another important Invincible character…

The Immortal is Immortal After All

Back in Invincible episode 1, Mark Grayson’s dad Nolan a.k.a. Omni-Man (J.K. Simmons) made short work of the Guardians of the Globe. Darkwing? Dead. War Woman? Dead. The Immortal? De….wait a minute. How can someone called “The Immortal” die? 

Well, it turns out that death for The Immortal (still voiced by Ross Marquand) is only temporary. Omni-Man removed The Immortal’s head, which is pretty much universally lethal across all genre stories. But The Mauler Twins theorized that if The Immortal’s head were returned to his body, he would spring back to life. 

Sure enough, that’s exactly what happened once The Immortal’s noggin was reattached. Unfortunately for The Mauler Twins, their dreams of forming any sort of alliance with the resurrected hero are quickly dashed as he immediately flies off to confront the man who killed him. 

Omni-Man v. Cecil Stedman

And that takes us to Omni-Man. In the comic, Omni-Man’s confrontation with The Immortal is what leads Mark Grayson (Steven Yeun) to discover that he’s got a Darth Vader situation on his hands. The show borrows that moment from the comic because any time you have the opportunity to make a character watch his father tear a Wolverine-looking dude in half, you’ve got to take it. That comic book moment is surprisingly abrupt though. In one panel Omni-Man is doing his usual Omni-Man thing and saving a group of citizens from a faulty roller coaster and in the next panel, The Immortal is all over his ass.

The Amazon Prime series dramatically improves on what is already a pretty great moment simply by drawing it out and building serious tension. Nolan’s wife Debbie (Sandra Oh) and the entire Global Defense Agency led by Cecil Stedman (Walton Goggins) are already well aware of Nolan’s treachery and have decided to finally take action. In speaking to Den of Geek and other outlets prior to Invincible’s premiere, Kirkman (who’s onboard as a writer and producer for this adaptation) revealed that Cecil Stedman would be getting an expanded role earlier on in Invincible’s story. 

“Cecil Stedman is a character that we get to know a little earlier in the show and definitely we get to do more with him,” he said. “I think that’s a lot of fun. There’s definitely some differences to his character and working with Walton Goggins on him has been great.”

Cecil really is a fascinating tool for Invincible. Many superhero stories have a Jim Gordon-style government liaison for its heroes to interact with. This person usually represents the interests of the planet’s “normal” citizen and is particularly impressive for being able to cut it in the world of the super-powered. By having Debbie and the GDA uncover Nolan’s guilt first, Invincible creates a wonderful opportunity to display both Cecil’s competence and depict the absolute horror of we puny humans trying to keep a super-powered god in check. 

Many times throughout Invincible episode 7, Cecil admits that there is nothing they can do to stop Nolan. The best they can do is slow him down for a bit until Mark is able to intervene. The first roadblock that Cecil presents is the explosion of an entire suburban city block with Nolan at its epicenter (R.I.P. Donald). 

“Best it will do is maybe knock him on his ass for an hour or two,” Cecil says. Then when the smoke clears to reveal an unharmed Omni-Man, Cecil grimly adds “Or maybe not hurt him at all.”

Cecil then throws the “hammer” at Nolan, which is a powerful blast from a weaponized satellite.

“$400 billion for the world’s most expensive nosebleed,” Cecil quips when Nolan takes the weapon out with ease. 

Then we get a sense of how many moral shortcuts Cecil is willing to take to keep the Earth safe. Mad scientist D.A. Sinclair’s (Ezra Miller) wounds from his confrontation with Invincible haven’t even healed yet but Cecil already has him using his evil technology for noble purposes. Sinclair’s “Reanimen” technology is now being used to reanimate recently dead U.S. soldiers, who are sent in to slow down Omni-Man. Unfortunately, that is also unsuccessful.

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Finally, Cecil is forced to head out into the field armed with nothing but a teleporter to confront Omni-Man himself. When that inevitably fails to slow Nolan down, the GDA sends a monster that Nolan already conquered, only this time it’s been robbed of its weaknesses and fear. And that’s where Mark finds his father, just in time for The Immortal to arrive and deliver one hell of a surprise. 

There’s something to be said for the suddenness of the comic’s Omni-Man moment with Mark. Mark witnessing his dad’s evil act truly comes out of nowhere even though we know it’s inevitable as Nolan has been practicing this conversation all issue. 

What the show does with the moment is a masterstroke, however. By centering the focus on the human characters of Invincible’s world, we get a chilling sense of just how terrifying this all is. Omni-Man’s heel turn doesn’t just have personal implications for Mark, it means that Earth’s unbeatable protector now seems to hate Earth. More terrifying than that is that the only person we think can defeat him is Mark Grayson…who, it must be said, has done nothing but had his ass absolutely handed to him by lesser enemies over and over again for the past three episodes.

Amber and Mark

It probably feels anticlimactic to address Mark and Amber’s lover’s spat after breaking down Omni-Man’s reign of terror. But it’s necessary to see how far-reaching the changes (and in this case improvements) are in episode 7 in comparison to its original text. 

Mark and Amber’s relationship thus far has been all about frustration. Mark is facing an annoying problem with a seemingly easy solution. Amber (Zazie Beetz) is upset with him because he is absent in their burgeoning relationship. He’s absent in their burgeoning relationship because he’s a superhero. Therefore, the quickest, easiest solution to this dilemma is to tell her that he’s a superhero. 

So in this episode, that’s exactly what Mark does. He gets suited up and flies right through Amber’s window to deliver the exciting news. The problem is – she’s not that excited.

“Ugh, I know you’re a superhero,” Amber says. “I’m not an idiot, I figured it out weeks ago.”

This is not how things go down in the comic. That version of Amber is a bit more…let’s say “bubbly” and when confronted with the fact that Mark has lied to her for weeks she responds with an excited “My boyfriend is a superhero?!?!?”

The show, however, is smart to not let Mark off the hook so easily. Of course Amber knew that Mark is Invincible. Because, like she says, she’s not an idiot. Anyone who spends an inordinate amount of time with him is bound to figure it out sooner than later. So what Mark thought was a problem with an easy solution becomes yet another difficult lesson on his path to maturation. 

“I think that Amber is important in terms of holding Mark accountable,” Beetz told reporters prior to the show’s premiere. “Mark is still struggling with what his identity as a super person is. And she shows him that (powers) are not what make you good or special ultimately, it’s what’s in your character.”

It turns out that the people close to you don’t appreciate being lied to. Though human beings all look like particularly vulnerable ants from Mark’s perspective high up in the sky, we certainly don’t appreciate being treated like insects to be protected and manipulated by the powerful among us. 

Mark and Amber’s relationship is an excellent indication that nothing will come easy for Mark Grayson on this show. Every decision has an equal and opposite reaction. It’s important that he learns that lesson before he enters into what is sure to be the most stressful and morally confusing moment of his life next week.

cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "106e33c0-3911-473c-b599-b1426db57530", }).render("0270c398a82f44f49c23c16122516796"); });

Invincible’s season finale will be available to stream Friday, April 30 on Amazon Prime.

The post Invincible Episode 7 Improves Upon Its Already Great Source Material appeared first on Den of Geek.

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[rosethornewrites]

Fic: the thing with feathers, ch. 15

Relationships: Lán Zhàn | Lán Wàngjī/Wèi Yīng | Wèi Wúxiàn, Wèi Yīng | Wèi Wúxiàn & Yú Zǐyuān, Jiāng Fēngmián & Yú Zǐyuān, Jiāng Yànlí & Wèi Yīng | Wèi Wúxiàn, Jiāng Chéng | Jiāng Wǎnyín & Wèi Yīng | Wèi Wúxiàn, Lán Zhàn | Lán Wàngjī & Wèi Yīng | Wèi Wúxiàn, Jiāng Fēngmián & Wèi Yīng | Wèi Wúxiàn, Lán Qǐrén & Wèi Yīng | Wèi Wúxiàn

Characters: Lán Zhàn | Lán Wàngjī, Lán Yuàn | Lán Sīzhuī, Wèi Yīng | Wèi Wúxiàn, Jiāng Chéng | Jiāng Wǎnyín, Yú Zǐyuān, Yínzhū, Jīnzhū, Lán Jǐngyí, Jiāng Fēngmián, Jiāng Yànlí, Lán Qǐrén, Lán Huàn | Lán Xīchén, Mèng Yáo | Jīn Guāngyáo

Additional Tags: Transmigration, Alternate Universe - Time Travel, Time Travel Fix-It, Illnesses, Family, Scars, Memory Loss, Angst, Crying, Music, Nosebleed, Fear, Recovery, Nightmares, Sharing a Bed, Flirting, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Good Parent Yú Zǐyuān, Referenced Sexual Slavery, Blood and Gore, Monsters, Sexual Tension, betrothal

Summary: Wangji speaks for himself. Wei Ying wakes. Communication ensues.

Notes: I might be wrong on this, but when I rewatched The Untamed with my mom, it seemed the town was named Lotus Pier and the sect grounds and Jiang home were named Lotus Cove, which is why I’ve been differentiating the two here. Even though yuanfen is often associated with the red thread, it isn’t always associated with romance. It’s not even fate, really, as that implies a higher power. It’s simply fateful coincidence and often simply associated with good or bad luck. In this case, it’s a potential relationship—whether friendship or more, Lan Wangji isn’t really thinking about right now. He just believes that his second meeting with Wei Wuxian means they are meant to have import in each other’s lives, and he wants very badly to protect him.

AO3 link

Chapter 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14

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Wangji felt like he had been in a daze since Wei Ying had abruptly gotten a nosebleed and panicked when he was talking to an older Jiang disciple. When he had tried to take his friend to the healer, he insisted on being taken to Madam Yu instead. 

As improbable as it seemed, Wei Ying’s vision of a monster yao had apparently been correct, the adults had informed him when they returned. And it put him in danger.  

He was disappointed to have missed the practical lesson shufu had given on the proper disposal of yao corpses, but he would rather be at Wei Ying’s side. 

Wei Ying was still unconscious, and Wangji was aware of the conversations happening around him despite the daze, as they tried to determine how best to protect him—if he truly had precognitive visions, Madam Yu argued, he would be seen as an asset to acquire by certain other clans.

Madam Yu’s arguments regarding his protection made sense, particularly official adoption, and though shufu was balking and displeased with her second idea, it too was truly logical, could throw off any suspicion from the Sun that saw all, could protect Wei—or rather, Jiang Ying. 

And what if Wei Ying’s dream of being cast into Luanzang Gang… What if that was a premonition? The place was warded and managed by the Wen sect, after all. If they wanted him and could not have him, would that be the result? 

If he could do anything to prevent that from coming to pass, he would. 

Shufu was turning angry colors, seeming to be too overcome to speak properly, starting and stopping and sputtering when Madam Yu countered his half-formed objections, completely unruffled. 

“I agree,” he said firmly—during a pause, so as not to interrupt. 

“Wangji!”

Shufu looked outraged, and Wangji wondered if he had been expected to stay silent on the matter. Madam Yu, on the other hand, looked pleased. 

“I want to help him,” Wangji insisted. “I wish to help prevent his nightmare from coming to pass.”

He could see from the stricken look on the adults’ faces that they knew what he was referring to. Wangji was glad he didn’t have to elaborate further, and that they understood the gravity of his concern. For a moment, there was dead silence as they digested the idea, but he was also unsurprised when his uncle spoke again against the idea of betrothal. 

“You’re too young to—”

“A-Li has been betrothed since she was a toddler,” Madam Yu cut in swiftly, what little patience she had spent. “I only hope her betrothed doesn’t grow to become as egregious a pig as his father. I trust my sworn sister will do her best with him.”

Wangji couldn’t help but gape, unused to gossip in general and absolutely shocked to hear such words about a major sect leader. 

“A-Ying is kind and intelligent,” she continued, unfazed. “Don’t tell me you disapprove of him because the mother he doesn’t even remember once shaved your beard off as you slept.”

The statement seemed to hang in the air. Shufu was turning an alarming color, and Wangji couldn’t help contemplating what he would look like without his beard. 

All told, it was probably for the better that they were interrupted by Wei Ying waking, though the fact that he woke with a scream and immediately started sobbing was more than a little upsetting. It took time for the Jiangs to calm him down, for Madam Yu to assure him no one died, that he had done the right thing telling her so they could take down the yao without anyone being hurt. 

“Perhaps you should tell us what you ‘saw,’” shufu said once Wei Ying was calm. 

“It was big, and like a dragon, but not like a dragon,” Wei Ying started. “Like a snake, maybe?”

He remembered only that about the creature. His san-shixiong had grabbed him and Jiang Wanyin, propelled them to shore with a burst of spiritual energy, and had been promptly eaten by the yao.

“It bit him in half,” Wei Ying said, his voice trembling. “And then it started killing the others.”

He lapsed into silence, his jaw trembling. 

“I ordered the disciples out of the water,” Madam Yu told him. “Your shushu and I battled it with Jinzhu and Yinzhu on the river. San-shixiong is fine, as is everyone else.”

She patted him on the shoulder, clearly trying to comfort him. 

“You did the right thing, A-Ying,” she said. “You kept them safe. Now we need to keep you safe.”

Wei Ying blinked, his eyes darting as he processed that. 

“Because I saw,” he said eventually. “People will want that.”

Madam Yu nodded, looking pleased that he understood. 

“I’m sorry for bringing trouble, shenshen.”

The smile disappeared, her face tight and downcast for a moment. Wei Ying’s words hurt her, but Wangji didn’t understand how. 

“A-Ying, you can trust that your shushu and I will handle any trouble. You are not at fault.”

The boy nodded, but still looked uncertain, as though he wasn’t sure whether to believe it wasn’t his fault. 

Jiang Fengmian seemed to sense that, and patted Wei Ying’s head.

“A-Ying, we decided the best way to protect you is to officially adopt you into the Jiang clan.”

“As our son,” Madam Yu added. “And A-Lian as our daughter.”

“It won’t be unfilial?” Wei Ying asks softly after a moment. “My mama and baba… Would they be mad at me?”

The Jiangs looked startled at the question, but Wangji understood. 

Shufu almost fulfilled the role of a father for him, but his true father was still alive, though he’d never met him that he could remember. So to refer to shufu as such would be unfilial; even if his father was dead, it could be unfilial. 

“Your father,” Sect leader Jiang started hoarsely, and had to clear his throat before continuing. “Your father was my sworn brother, and I loved him as though he was my blood brother.”

“If you would be more comfortable continuing to refer to us as shenshen and shushu, rather than a-niang and a-die, you may,” Madam Yu told him. “Legally you would be our son, to protect you, but we wouldn’t be replacing your mama and baba.”

Wei Ying nodded, biting his lip. 

“It’s just… I forgot them—everything about them. I don’t want them to be hungry ghosts.”

Yu Ziyuan gathered him to her, and he let out a soft sob. 

Wangji couldn’t imagine forgetting his mother, who had been one of the brighter points of his life until her death. Wei Ying, as a homeless orphan in Yiling, had smiled so much like her. Back then, he could remember his parents. Now they were lost to the void where his memories once were. 

“You didn’t lose your memory on purpose,” Jiang Yanli offered softly. “I’m sure they wouldn’t blame you for that.”

“They will not be hungry, A-Ying,” Madam Yu murmured to him. “Their tablets are in the ancestral hall for you to leave offerings and burn joss paper whenever you wish. We are not replacing them. Fengmian and I can tell you stories of them, if you wish. And Lan Qiren was acquainted with your mother and may be willing to share stories as well.”

“The stories may help you remember,” Wangji added.

“Maybe a-die and a-niang can draw them, too,” Jiang Cheng said. “I bet that would help.”

Wei Ying sniffled and nodded, his nose running as he seemed to fight the urge to cry. Wangji pulled a cloth from his sleeve and handed it to him and received a watery smile.

That seemed to remind Yu Ziyuan of the other part of the plan. 

“It’s possible this is just the effect of the resentful energy still in your mind,” she said. “Learning the songs of the Lan and further help from them might make it fade. To avoid suspicion about why you will spend time in Gusu, you will be betrothed to Lan-er-gongzi.”

“When you are older it can be dissolved,” shufu added.

Wangji watched for Wei Ying’s reaction, feeling oddly uncertain—after all, it was an unusual arrangement, and he might not welcome it—but when Wei Ying turned to him, it seemed like his own uncertainty was reflected back. 

“I don’t want to prevent you from meeting your fated one, Lan Zhan,” he said softly. “You don’t have to if you’re uncomfortable.”

“I already agreed. Our meeting again was yuanfen, and I wish to help protect you,” he assured him. “It is no burden.”

He knew Wei Ying often saw himself as a burden, or at least referred to himself as one. He always seemed conscious of how much he was relying on others, always seemed to try to make up for it. Wangji wanted him to know he was not a burden, not trouble, not anything other than worthy of protection. 

“You’ll let me know if it is?” Wei Ying asked solemnly. “Like Lan-xiansheng said, we can dissolve it later.”

“It will not be a burden,” Wangji insisted. “But if I am wrong, I will tell you. But you also must tell me.”

Wei Ying smiled, strangely wistful. 

“Ah, Lan Zhan. You’re so good.”

“W—Jiang Ying is also good.”

It was hard not to think of him as Wei Ying, but Wangji would do his best to adjust. His friend looked startled at the name, then smiled almost bashfully. 

“You can call me A-Ying,” he said softly. “If it’s easier.”

Wangji knew friends often referred to each other, and he nodded, happy that he considered them close. 

“Then you may call me A-Zhan,” he said. 

No one aside from occasionally xiongzhang called him so informally, but he thought it would be acceptable if it was A-Ying. 

Shufu, he noticed, watched their exchange, stroking his beard thoughtfully. 

“Madam Yu’s idea is that the two of you will act as second in command to both sects, according to the betrothal contract,” Lan Qiren says. “Half of the year in Yunmeng, half in Gusu.”

“Thus you will have an excuse to receive further treatment in Gusu and to learn more musical cultivation that may help,” Madam Yu added.

Jiang Fengmian reached forward, patting A-Ying’s arm. 

“We will negotiate the terms, but only if you’re okay with it, A-Ying,” he said. “People may say rude things.”

A-Ying seemed surprised to be asked, but he nodded. 

“I know people might be weird since it’s a cutsleeve betrothal, but people find something to be weird about all the time. I’m fine with it if A-Zhan is.”

“I am,” Lan Zhan said. 

“Excellent,” Madam Yu said, looking pleased. “We will discuss this with your uncle and draw up terms. But first we will perform the adoption rites and announce you and A-Lian as Jiang.”

Wangji understood she meant letters would later be sent out to the rest of the gentry later about their betrothal. Though he preferred not to be the object of gossip, he understood the betrothal announcement would concretely ally Gusu Lan and Yunmeng Jiang and serve as protection for A-Ying. He would manage somehow.

A soft knock on the door prevented any further conversation, and Madam Yu dispelled the silencing talisman. She opened the door to reveal a servant, and the scent of food wafted in, making his mouth water. It was long past dinner now.

The servant bowed.

“Madam Yu, the townspeople learned of the yao. Some witnessed the battle. The businesses came together and delivered food as thanks. We are serving the disciples as well.”

Several more servants entered the room, efficiently clearing the table and setting up far more communal dishes than normal. It was clear that the food was from both restaurants and the Lotus Cove kitchen, and so the array was much more varied than most meals. He did notice that there were far fewer dishes from the Jiang kitchens, and realized the yao attack had likely even interrupted dinner preparations by the servants, making the gift from the townspeople all the more apt and appreciated. 

Sect Leader Jiang murmured about reimbursing the restaurants to the ranking servant who had knocked, and the rest of the Jiangs moved to the table while he did. Wangji offered a hand to A-Ying to help him out of bed, and they went together.

Many of the dishes were heavy with spice, but Jiang Yanli was already putting together a bowl of rice and lesser-spiced dishes, which she handed to him with a smile. Xiongzhang and shufu were filling their own bowls in a similar manner, while A-Ying filled his with a base of noodles almost fiery-looking with spice and other dishes that were tinted red, orange, and yellow with spice, then settled on a cushion a little away from the table.

Aside from the sound of utensils on porcelain, the room was unusually silent, everyone focused on eating after so much energy was expended on the yao. Where normally the Jiangs chattered during supper, the meal was almost as quiet as those in Gusu. It felt odd, as Wangji had become accustomed to listening to the conversations around him, even if he didn’t participate in them.

Wangji settled beside him to eat, quietly considering what should be done to make A-Ying comfortable in his visits to Gusu, and the first thing on his list was acquiring spices and spicy condiments from the Lotus Pier market. His friend would find the fare at Cloud Recesses entirely too bland, but he wanted him to enjoy Gusu as much as he had come to enjoy Yunmeng.

Perhaps he should ask Jiang Yanli to teach him recipes, as well.

Mind set, he focused on eating, taking comfort in the warmth of his friend beside him.

[lady-griffin]

Emma. (2020)

So, I just saw Emma. with my parents and we absolutely loved it.

It was absolutely fantastic. The costumes, the acting, the tension and drama of Emma and Mr. Knightley and just the sheer opulence and indulgence of all the wealth. Just everything.

But especially the costumes, they were mwah!

Emma is my mom’s favorite Jane Austen book and she just loved this movie to pieces. I think this movie has become her favorite adaptation of Emma, which is saying something.

Autumn De Wilde did an amazing job with this. She really did!!!

Such a great modern adaptation of the story without it actually being modern in its setting. 

Here are some (ha!) of my thoughts and feelings for this movie 

Spoilers Below

I have always felt that slight connection to the story and the character, because I was literally named Emma because of the book. And I think some of Emma’s flaws and strengths are similar to my own.

Anna Taylor-Joy did such a truly wonderful job as Emma. You knew all the faults and flaws of Emma right away, but you can’t help but like her, sympathize with her and just be charmed by Emma.

In that way, I think the audience truly sees things from Mr. Knightley’s perspective despite him not even appearing on screen until a bit later on.

Taylor-Joy’s portrayal of Emma breathes new life into the character.

Box Hill Scene

I think that’s why the Box Hill scene felt so awful in this adaptation. My parents and I gasped, even though we all knew it was coming, and maybe I just haven’t watched an adaption in a while, but you feel it.  

You really feel it.

You feel so awful for Miss Bates and the awkwardness of the entire situation and of course you’re angry at Emma, but also feel so bad for her, because she feels so bad for her comment. 

Of course, Miranda Hart’s portrayal of Miss Bates is another factor to why this scene punches you in the gut.

You want Emma to apologize to Miss Bates, but you also want to comfort her.

It’s really done well. 

Frank Churchill 

Interestingly, this movie made me strongly dislike Mr. Frank Churchill.

In other adaptations and if I’m not mistaken in the book as well, it really is Emma misreading and misinterpreting Frank’s friendliness.

But in this one, he’s definitely putting on a show with his relationship with Emma for the single purpose of misdirecting people away from Jane and him.

When Emma feels that initial attraction to him when they meet, it certainly does seem like he is leading her on and it’s not just simple friendliness. 

And there does seem like the easy interpretation that he’s worried that Emma (especially since she brings up Jane Fairfax in their first meeting) might figure out their engagement, so he wants to misdirect her/ I don’t know how true that is or even the intention of the movie, but the thought crossed my mind when watching. 

In other adaptations, Jane and Frank feel like a good match and all that and I’ve always been curious to their own romantic story going on in the background. 

Here, I couldn’t help but think (despite we didn’t get a whole lot of Jane) that he’s the one who is so lucky and fortunate to have her and less so the other way.

He’s not sinister or anything and you get his motivations, but at the same time you kind of want to slap him or at the very least I did.

Especially in two particular scenes.

 1. The scene where he talks about how he doesn’t see himself as prosperous and privilege (they use another word but I forgot, but that’s the main gist)

He felt super unaware of reality, particularly since this adaptation highlights the ostentatious wealth and the ridiculousness of it all. Emma rolled her eyes and I was just like, “Bitch Please!” 

2. After Emma insults Miss Bates, he becomes standoffish and completely ignores her.

Only Emma is responsible for what she said, but yet I couldn’t help but be miffed at Mr. Churchill, because he’s the one who insisted on the game and “egged” on the scene out of boredom before the moment happens.

There is a shot of Emma looking at him and he’s in the foreground taking a bite of an apple and just…

This movie did a particularly good job of making Mr. Knightley’s dislike of him feel very valid and warranted. And I don’t think I’ve really ever had such a negative reaction or opinion of Frank Churchill as much as I did in this movie.

He’s not the bad guy like Mr. Elton, definitely not, but Mr. Knightley’s assessment of him is more accurate than in other versions.

Emma and Harriet 

I loved the friendship of Emma and Harriet. I felt the movie really pulled off their entire relationship from Harriet starting out as a “doll to play with” for Emma to a genuine and close friend.

At the end, Harriet tells Emma she’s engaged to Mr. Martin and she quickly side steps Emma. 

And you think that Emma’s earlier meddling is the cause, but Harriet reveals her father has revealed himself to her. He not some gentile gentlemen and she’s so worry that Emma won’t be her friend now because she isn’t the daughter of a gentlemen, which Emma suspected.

And the relief she feels when Emma tells her that she should of course bring him to Hartfield was just everything. 

Also, the fact that Harriet is clearly shown as being the best way to get to Emma – from endearing yourself to her to hurting her is just perfection.

The scene where Mr. Elton refuses to dance with Harriet, you just feel the pain of both Harriet and Emma. He wants to hurt both of them and he succeeds. 

And then of course Mr. Knightley saves the day when he offers to dance with Harriet. 

Mr. George Knightley 

Johnny Flynn did a fantastic job. He truly did. Just him being the critic Emma needs, to acting superior to her and learning to be better, to him being a disaster of a man who suddenly realizes he’s in love with Emma and cannot handle it in the slightest. 

Emma and Mr. Knightley

The Dance!!! The Dance!!!

From Emma not wearing gloves, to it starting out as just friendly/platonic to them both realizing they have feelings for the other. I loved it. I absolutely loved it!!

Their bare hands were touching -- the sexiness and tension of it all. 

And of course, the confession scene between Emma and Mr. Knightley. 

From Emma thinking/worried he’s going to confess feelings about Harriet to him thinking that Emma is heartbroken over the news Frank Churchill and Jane Fairfax.

And the nosebleed.

Probably a bit different for me and my parents in its significance and relevance to us, just becauset that throughout my life I’ve had random (and severe) nosebleeds. A random and extra connection, besides the shared name.

I just loved that their big romantic confession scene was Emma’s nose bleeding and her ugly crying and Mr. Knightley being so awkward. It was just perfection.

Particularly since, while not said, you could feel (or at least I thought this) Mr. Knightley’s annoyance and antagonism for Mr. Churchill at its height.

Because as much as he likes Jane as a person, I couldn’t help but think Mr. Knightley was thinking “You could’ve been with Emma and you chose not to!!! How stupid can one man be?!!!”

And of course, there were so many other scenes where you fell in love with these two.

- Emma thinking that Mr. Knightley might have sent Jane the piano and might be in love with her. The sheer panic and spiraling on her face alone was amazing. 

- Harriet getting hurt and Emma thinking she’s in love with Churchill so she requests that he stays and Mr. Knightley go and the palpable dejection and hurt from Mr. Knightley was just everything.

- Mr. Knightley saying that the only woman who will invite guests to Donwell Abbey will be Mrs. Knightley and until she exists, he will do it himself.

I don’t know why that scene in particular stuck with me, but it did.

I think because in that moment it seemed like Emma just realized that there could be a Mrs. Knightley for her Mr. Knightley and now that she is aware of her feelings, she does not like that in the slightest.

- Mr. Knightley undressing and collapsing on his floor due to his feelings for Emma and thinking she’s in love with Churchill (also the servant entering and just leaving the room)

Just everything okay. I loved everything.

Major Highlights

-- Bill Nighy as Mr. Woodhouse was just an absolute treat.

He feels a draft that no one else feels and it’s absolutely hilarious and great.

Also, his ‘distraught’ of losing his eldest daughter and Miss Taylor to marriage and the prospect of losing Emma to him purposely giving Emma and Mr. Knightley some privacy in the end. Just my heart.

-- The scene where Mr. Elton says it’s supposed to snow that night and he says it so casually and calm and you think it’s just awkward small talk and then it suddenly turns into pure chaos. Amazing. Sheer cinematic gold!

-- Josh O’Connor did a great job playing Mr. Elton. From the ridiculousness of him to him just being the worse. 

-- Mr. Martin having like at most 2-3 lines. And yet still makes such an impression, well done Mr. Connor Swindells.

-- The costumes were truly stunning, they really were.

I highly recommend you go and see this film. I just loved and adored it.