#also there is 5 of them on the team I just like calling them the S4 lol

[chrissieshauntedbones]

This is not the slightest bit true.

Maybe for some corporate offices / corporate based retail chains & the like where you are just a number, then MAYBE this could be true... but in today's world, this doesn't seem to hold up, or, it at least hasn't been my experience.

I have worked in some form of management role between three different jobs over the course of 7 years prior to the car crash I had been in, back in 2023. When I had interviewed for each position prior to getting them, I had been my genuine and authentic self.

For context, I was an assistant manager, then was promoted to a store manager, and managed two different store locations for a retail CORPORATE store. I was, however, being underpaid, so I had requested a review and raise, and though my review went spectacularly, they could not offer me the pay I wanted, and I left to work in a Doctor's office. I got weekends off and had great health insurance, and the latest I would be home would be 7pm most nights vs 9pm, so it was a no brainer to leave.

When I worked in the Doctors office, I climbed the chain fast, and went from a front desk worker, to a site supervisor, before being promoted to the front desk manager for all SIX locations. A few months later COVID hit, and I lost a lot of my staff. I HAD to work, I couldn't afford to stay home... So, I got worn down real fast, and wound up butting heads with the practice admin. She was honestly awful. There was no way I could come to any sort of compromise with this woman, so, when I received a job offer from a friend, I left to work in a construction based field doing office work...

After 5 months in my most recent job i had been promoted to the office manager/service manager, then was relieved of the service manager position, but was given the sales manager title that way my skills could be better utilized.

In every role I applied for, I had been honest, polite, attentive, and I asked questions. I didn't try to pretend to be anything I wasnt, and wound up getting the jobs.

In these management positions, I was responsible for interviewing, hiring, and training new staff members, as well as doing my own job duties, which usually went hand in hand with whatever my team was responsible for.

In every field I had been working in, when I went to interview someone, depending on the role I was hiring for (receptionist, cashier, scheduler, customer service rep, etc) the criteria obviously changed slightly to fit the role, but overall, I looked for people who had experience with the position I was looking to fill, and I looked for people who could show an overall level of basic competency.

I also always looked for:

Empathy

Compassion

Kindness

Responsibility

A sense of humor!!!

The ability to work under pressure

The ability to work as a group or on their own

The ability to ask questions (you would not believe how often people are afraid to ask questions about all sorts of things in fear of being judged)

The ability to take constructive criticism as well as give constructive criticism

I actually called prior employers to confirm employment dates, and would just ask how they were overall. I never asked for specifics. Just how they were seen in their role, and if they had any issues that needed coaching, or caused write ups (it would not be held against the applicant, just so that way I could understand a separation from the previous job better).

I almost always hired people based off of their personalities, and their eagerness & willingness to work (as long as the experience was there).

I worked with my employees, and constantly trained, offered help and support, and did what I could for them.

I would always want someone to be honest with me at an interview, because spewing information at me isn't going to prove your ability to do a job or work with a team... It's just going to prove that you can read, which I suppose is important, but there are far more important qualities people have which make them valuable employees.

remember that interviews are not about giving a good and honest first impression that they'll carefully consider. interviews are about saying the special words and phrases they're looking for that give you points and when they tally those up whoever earned the most job points wins

[irndad]

Christmas Wrapping- a.h.

a/n: i'm back and this is sad (no, really, it's a sad christmas fic. merry crisis!! also writing this made me think of @hotchfiles lol- lari i hope u like it <3 summary: 2 years ago, hotch broke up with a lovely but eccentric woman, and is thinking about this while attending a christmas party.

It’s Christmas, and it’s New York, and Aaron doesn’t want to be here. 

He always feels guilty when he misses Christmases with Jack, and it’s painful to admit that it’s happened more than once. He’d been understanding, but Jack is almost ten now, and the resentment in his voice is subtle, but sometimes Aaron could swear he could hear Haley’s voice in it. 

This dinner wasn’t optional- a director that was above him mentioned that if he wanted his career to advance, he couldn’t afford not to attend events like tonight. Which as far as thiny veiled threats go, is one of the lease concealed ones he’s received in a good bit. 

New York always makes him think of her. Even though their relationship ended two years prior, she sticks in his mind like a song, the melody never quite getting to be grating. She’d loved being called his girlfriend, and Aaron had loved the way she loved it. She was younger than him, by a little over a half-decade. But still, she’d worn it better than he had. He still remembers the sight of her, meeting him at his office (never inside, lest the team tease him endlessly), in her green shoes and multicolored scarf, hair in a clip that had been lazily thrown up, and a smile that dazzled him. 

“Are you ready, Mr. Hotchner?” he remembers her saying, on the other side of a memory lit in warm, glowy lights. 

“I don’t think I can endorse whatever you have planned for me.” He’d replied back in jest at the time. 

The walk from his hotel to the host of the party’s home is cold. He think it might be colder in Quantico, but his memory feels colder and seeps into his bones. 

He might’ve married her, Aaron muses to himself. It all feels so silly to think about. But she was hard not to think about when she was his to ponder over, and she sticks in the back of his mind even after he had made he decision not to. 

She’d been generous with him, the entirety of it all. Gentle with him when he mentioned that he wasn’t ready to tell the team, even if she’d known that he hadn’t waited eight months with Beth. More than that, she was beautiful. not just in her appearance, which was lovely in and of itself, but in how she carried herself. Warm, and kind- Jack would’ve loved her. 

He thinks of her laugh, how she’d picked off all of the salmon roe on their fancy 5 month anniversary dinner, and eaten the meal without it- how she booked Amtraks to visit family, because it gave her more time to read on the way, and no one would make her drive once she got there. How she traced hearts into his wrist when  she could tell he was anxious, read him like a book he never gave anyone permission to see. Loving her was a pleasure, an indulgment. An expensive wine sipped with leisure. 

A honk of a cab shakes him out of his memories, but it doesn’t stick. She’d loved Brooklyn, loud cabs and overpriced brownstones all the same. Sometimes, when doing monotonous paperwork, he’d fantasize about buying her one, a new home in her dream city, Jack and maybe a sister. 

The way it had fallen apart was one of the least proud moments of his life. Because she was different- not polished, or withdrawn in how she carried herself. It was what made her a pleasure to know- she smiled with her whole face, hugged people like she knew they might need it, wore her favorite colors because she wanted to see them whenever she passed a mirror. And he was a behavior analyst. 

“Could I meet your friends?” he’d frozen, when he’d heard it. Her voice was soft, like she was nervous. “I know you were wanting to wait, but you know- you’ve met my graduate school friends. They were thoroughly impressed.”

He didn’t feel impressive to them, and he suspects she might be being kind in this moment. 

“I just think you wouldn’t like them, honey.” He feels rotten lying to her, but the idea of it- of the team knowing that she is the person he loves- it feels like a magnifying glass under the sun. 

“I find that hard to believe, Aaron. And either way, I’m telling you, it would mean the world to me to know them.” 

He’d been backed into a corner, he’ll tell himself, later. This will be a lie, and it’ll be a lie he knows, even as he tells himself it. 

“I just think we shouldn’t do that until we’re sure about eachother.”

The silence that had followed felt chasms wide. She’d been silent in front of him before- when he’d come to her apartment too tired to speak but still needing to be held, and she’d lit a candle and massaged his hands, easing the carpal tunnel from writing paperwork. Or when she held his hand waiting for Jack’s results, when he’d gotten a fever they hadn’t been able to shake. This silence was different. Long and dissapointed, and Aaron felt like he couldn’t breathe under the shame of it. He watched her wipe a single tear from her eye, and grab her novel that had been sitting on his coffee table for the last six months. 

“I can’t make you sure about me, Aaron. I don’t really want to try.” 

It had ended like that. Reminiscing on the whole affair had made the walk feel short, although he could feel a tear welling in his eyes. His body knew her absence, and still does. Even now, walking to this party he doesn’t want to go to, he imagines what it would be like to have the shape of her pressed into the side of it. 

Aaron thinks to himself, before buzzing into the building, that he wasn’t ashamed of her. He’d wondered since the end of the first relationship he’d felt held in, if he left it because he was ashamed. But he wasn’t. He was unwilling to submit to the plain, unmediated joy of her touch. 

He was almost done ruminating on this, until he knocked on the door, and there she was. 

Aaron- he almost wonders if he’s hallucinating, because there she is. And she’s fucking gorgeous. She always is, but she’s so lovely tonight. Maybe it’s the fact he hasn’t seen her in so long, or maybe it’s just that she is that lovely, but the warm light of the party and Christmas Wrapping playing in the background- she looks like vision plucked from a movie. 

She’d kissed him at midnight to this song, once. 

Now, she’s beaming at him, opening her door to welcome him as a stranger into a party. 

“Aaron! Is that you?” it’s a physiological response, the jump in his chest, when she says his name. “My god, it’s so good to see your face!” 

She hugs him, and she still wears the same perfume. Her arms are warm and her face is in his chest, and even though it’s less intimate than all the ways she’s held him before, it feels kind. 

“It’s so good to see you too- what are you doing here?”

It’s a blunt question, but she doesn’t seem to mind, as she ushers him into home. It’s a family apartment, old-school and clearly well-loved.

“My husband liasons with the FBI, actually! His boss said they needed a get-together space, and so we offered up our apartment. It’s cute, right?” she’d walked him right up to a man, wrapped her arms around his middle, before turning back to Hotch. “Peter, honey, this is my old friend, Aaron Hotchner! He works for the BAU.”

Husband. She has a husband. She is a beautiful woman, who he has had the honor to love, to run through the rain while laughing with, who is known and seen and loved by someone else. Hotch takes a look at her, really drinks in the sight. She’s got on a green sweater, new- he can tell by the shape of it. Earrings that seem like they’re gifts, and her hair’s pinned up lazily despite the occasion. 

She looks happy. 

“Oh hey! I’ve heard so much about you- I’m glad you were able to come!”

Peter has a wedding band on hsi left wrist, and Aaron can’t help but analyze him. He’s wearing an ill-fitting dress shirt and slacks, and Hotch thinks he might not have had too much choice in hosting. Owning real-estate is uncommon in New york, and your boss knowing you have a place to use might have been enough to strong arm him into using it. it’s a relative’s clothes, and it’s casual in a way that would suggest ease and friendless. An arm rests on the small of his wife’s waist. 

The whole rest of the night is a blur. Jealousy doesn’t feel like the right word for it- it feels uncanny, to see her so open and warm with a man who so unashamadly loves her. There’s engagement photos on the walls, and Aaron studies them like he’ll be tested. Maybe he’s testing himself. They’re not real photos, just a photobooth they’d gone too, her ring in the foreground of all of them. Peter is a wiry, thin, dark-haired brown-eyed man who is younger than Aaron, and a year older than her. 

He hears someone say they met in high school, and Hotch dimly wonders if he ever had a shot with her. He thinks this, while looking at a photo of the two of them at prom together (but not together). It’s self-comfort, he knows. Because she’d asked him, to take her seriously. 

She’s drinking grape juice, instead of champagne. Aaron thinks he knows why, from the way she runs a gentle hand over her stomach when she thinks no one’s looking, and how Peter’s eyes are always trained on her midsection.

He wishes he didn’t know how to be this observant. 

When the night ends, and Aaron comes back to Quantico, and people asks him how the party went, Aaron tells them it went well, and says that he saw an old friend who he’d missed a great deal out there. 

He figured it’s probably better to admit to loving her in some way, at some point. Even if it’s far, far too late. 

[ravioliage]

I'm still not over the people who called the Veilguard crew unprofessional under my post then called the Inquisition team more professional and then made a post about how everyone in Inquisition is filled with liars.

Look I do hold love for the DAI crew but like, if I had them as coworkers for a world-ending event I think I would chew my arm off until the anchor is completely gone and leave them to their own devices.

Love them as people though. I do. But the problem with DAI is that only people you need to close the breach are Cassandra, Solas, Dorian depending on the route, and the Advisors. Rest of the team are nowhere as vital to the mission as the full Veilguard team is.

I think this is also the first BioWare game where every companion is insanely vital because all of them contribute something to success that would lead to critical mission failure if you hadn't recruited them. The one that comes closest second is Mass Effect 2. That game is one of my favorites of all time but it doesn't have moments like

1) Taash luring out the dragon with their expertise and offering vital information about how to deal with the dragons that are fucking shit up

2) Neve and Bellara teaming up to break Elgar'nan's Rook's #1 Simp Hold (and Bellara getting the fade bubble to come down, and Bellara repairing the Eluvian)

3) Despite how it ended, you needed Davrin to stab an Archdemon.

4) Lucanis, the best of the best assassins, stabbing Ghilan'Nain. No, your Rook doesn't come close to having the training for that.

5) Rook stuck in jail forever were it not having someone with insane fade expertise like Emmrichs

6) Harding being one of the reasons we even found Solas in the intro, and Warden contacts and more

And many more that would make this post way too long. ME2's thing was more "helping your companions unlocks upgrades for your ship that will ensure that people will avoid a brutal death on the way to the final boss, we know it's garbage, just go with it.". You can complete the game with all of your teammates dying and that's a major design flaw of that game imo.

Anyway if you think that wasn't clear in DAV, you probably played the game with a stream on another monitor. Or you suffer from insane Main Character Syndrome. Or both.

[ray935sworld]

Christmas time and children's laughter

Rosquez dealing with the de-aged academy kids during the winter

24.12 winter writing - Merry christmas everyone

based on this AU

"PAAAAPAAAA!!!!"

Vale couldn't help but laugh when Pecco ran to him, his little face covered in snow. The neck of his jacket and the scarf around his neck was covered in white as well.

"Andrea threw the ball in my face!" he complained, his lip slightly shivering. The other boy audible cracking up in the background.

"Awe, poor bambino" he said, kneeling down and lifting him up. He hold him close and kissed his cheek. The skin was soft and cold on his lips.

When his face was next to Pecco's ear he whispered. "Okay, don't tell your dad but you need to stay low. Don't immediately jump back in the fight. Make a snow ball in secret. Then you call out for him and when he turns around you're going to throw it right in his face, understood?"

And with that the kids face lit up. He looked at Vale with a cheeky grin and nodded.

"But don't tell your dad!" he quickly added as he set him back down to which the small curly headed child just yelled "YEEEAAAAH!" as he ran off again.

"Good. Or else in spending christmas on the couch" he added silently to himself as he watched his kids play.

Migno, Franky and Pecco were busy doing a snowball fight. So far Pecco was definitely losing. Poor kid, getting tag teamed by the two. His face got completely washed.

After a few more minutes, Vale decided that if he didnt intervene Marc would give him the 'no fucking for a month' treatment. And he didn't want to risk that.

So he kneeled down, hearing his knees crack for a moment but uncaringly starting to scrape up a few snow balls.

As soon as he was ready, he throw the first one at his oldest sons back and giggled when he saw his confused expression as he turned around. Next was Migno.

"Come on!" he yelled with a smile "Or are you too afraid?" He throw one of the balls he had formed up, caught it and threw it up again. He grinned daringly.

It was when his 3 boys looked at each other with the same expression, a stern look they shared, before giving a small smile and a nod, that he knew he fucked up.

"GET HIM!" Migno screamed before they were running towards him, each a small bundle of snow in hand.

"Shi-" Was all he managed to say before the kids decided to shower him completely in snow. It was surprising how much impact the little bit of snow had that they managed to fit in their palm when they seemed to have a natural rotation system.

While the two 5 years old threw their snow rather uncoordinated, 7 year old Franky got some pretty good hits, right in the face. They also managed to silently work out a system in which one is always distracting Vale with new hits while the others starts scrambling snow together and then swap.

After a few minutes of that, while the adult barely manages to land a few good hits, he decided that this was not worth it.

"OKAY!" he screamed, lifting his hands up. "Okay! Okay! I surrender! Mercy! Mercy!" He was hit with another snowball right in the face.

Surprised he spit the snow out his mouth, looking at them with a faked angry expression when Franky screamed "Now we accept your surrender!" and his two brother started giggling.

He was glad to see them happy. It was a relief that they didn't understand the chaos that was the world around them. It was like the ranch was an invisible island for them to flee to, where none of them had to face any worries or consequences.

He remembered taking the boys on a little walk. Luca had been sitting on his shoulder, Cele on his hip and Pecco on his hand.

They were looking at the Christmas lights. It had been late evening. Marc and the rest of their little chaos gang were a little bit left behind since Bez and Franky had started a sword fight in the forest with sticks and refused to stop before one had won.

Andrea was cheering for them. Marc had stayed behind to make sure they didn't accidentally stabbed their own eyes out.

Luca was currently pointing at a particular house that was lighting up with lights in every color when they were approached by Isabella, an elderly woman.

"OH look at you, Vale!" she had laughed. "Being the caretaker of a few kids. Well, hello. Who are you, my little darling?" In that moment the older rider had felt a cold sweat run over his whole body.

If anyone else found out - He refused to think about it.

"Family" he had answered quickly. "They are part of mine and Marc's family-" which technically wasn't a lie but somehow they had managed to keep the fact that the whole academy had been de-aged a secret and he wouldn't break that now.

"OH how lovely..." she smiled but then tilted her haid. Her eyes were locked on Luca who - with the curiosity of a 4 year old - returned her gaze. "Yes, now that you mention it... He does look excatly like your brother when he was young. He looks like Luca, down to every detail. And he used to sit on your shoulders during your walks too"

"Must be a family trait" he said. "But I am-" The little one started so Vale quickly made a move to indicate that he had to head home. "And you know - eh - genetics. Sometimes kids look very much alike. I see you around. I don't want the little ones in the cold for that long"

Before she - or worst one of the kids - could make another comment, he quickly continued.

"Papa, why didn't you tell her that Luca is Luca?" Cele asked, leaning his small head against his chest. He was tired from their long walk and blinked with heavy eyelids. He looked like he was about to fall asleep.

"Or introduced us?" Pecco supplied.

"Yeah. Are we secret?" Luca asked and suddenly Vale felt very cornered. He wanted to say no but the answer was yes. He wanted to deny it and embrace them, prove them that he would never deny that they are his kids - even if there wasn't a biological connection.

"Of course not" he replied with a fake smile and guided them back home.

Home.

The ranch.

The place where it felt safe for them to just ran around and have fun like children were supposed to.

Franky was already riding. He had a small mini dirt bike. The first time he had seen it, he had screamed and jumped around like they had never seen before. He had jumped on Marc and Vale, hugged them, thanking them.

Watching his ride - even if it was barely more than 15km/h - nearly gave Vale a heart attack. He just wanted to run after him, holding him tight and safe to make sure he didn't fall and got hurt.

Marc looked more secure, but still had an anxious hint in his eyes. He had grabbed Vale's hand. "Don't worry" he whispered, kissing his cheeks. "He'll be safe"

He had squeezed his hand. Maybe as a reassurance. Maybe as a way to make sure that Vale wouldn't end up running after him.

After all Franky had already proven he had the talent to become a world champion and even a runner up for the motogp title.

Luca and Pecco were still on the mini bikes. It was slightly better to watch them drive their circles but still -

But now, they were just running around, in the snow, laughing and being happy. There was no danger around. They were safe. Safe and happy.

"Come on!" Vale decided and reached for his boys. "How about we go inside and check if we'll get you kids a hot chocolate. Does that sound good?" "YES!" they all screamed.

The older Italian couldn't help but smile as he watched them run over the large garden back towards the door. "I'll be first!" Migno screamed as they ran, but got quickly over taken by Franck who had the advantage of longer legs.

"WINNER!" he yelled with a triumphant smile. He wasn't far behind them so he quickly yelled "But im the only one with keys!"

He then unlocked the back down and watched as they put their shoes off - some more careful then others - and then moved on to the jackets.

Whiel Pecco and Franky hand them up, Andrea let his fall to the floor. He was already about to turn around when Vale gave him a scolding look.

"Andrea" he said. "What did you forgot?" "Eh..." helplessly he looked at Franco. Because - of course Franky would be able to help. And really, he leaned over and whispered "Hang our coats" "Hang ourself!" the other repeated louder and with a few more mistakes.

Vale stared at him for a split second. He didn't know if he should laugh out loud or not. He decided to smile and slowly point at his coat that had fallen of. "Hang our coats. If you're already repeating Franco, please do it correctly"

"Sorry" he muttered with a little eye roll. "Did you just roll your eyes at me?" Vale asked. "NO!" Migno screamed and started running, Pecco immediately close behind him. "Papa! We're baaaack!" he yelled. "Ey! Wait for me, I've got little legs"

Shaking his head, while Franco ran behind them and Vale followed his 3 boys in the direction of the kitchen.

He heard their mixed voiced before he even arrived and smiled.

He entered and a joyix feeling overcome him.

He saw Marc, standing with the back to him, working on something. Franky and Migno were standing next to him, touching his arm to show them how cold their hands had gotten.

Pecco had shuffled to the oven were a bunch of Christmas cookies were baking. He was holding his hands out, warming them, while Cele sat next to him. There was a little bit of flour left on the top of his nose and on his shirt.

Marco was sitting opposite of Marc. He wore a Christmas head. He looked like he was in deep concentration. His forehead was laying in deep folds and his tongue was sticking out at one side.

Luca was sitting next to him, almost as focused. His head was tilted to the side and his nose was scrunched up. He wore the antlers of a reindeer. Something told Vale that it had been Cele and Marco who forced Luca to wear them.

"Papa!" Bez exclaimed when he looked up. He had a big grin on his face. It looked excatly like the one big Bez always had. "LOOK!" he said and showed him a cookie he had been decorating.

It was Christmas tree colored in yellow with edible pearls all over it. "That's your tree! Cause it's yellow" "Wow, thank you, Marco" he replied with a smile. "It's very nice"

With a satisfied smile he continued his work. There was a whole bunch of colored cookies already he noticed as he approached them.

It felt familiar. Domestic. It felt like the most perfect moment of home.

And to completely the moment he sneaked up behind Marc, pulling him close. He pressed himself against him, putting his head on his shoulder. He hugged him, refusing to let him go.

"I love you" he whispered and felt Marc's hand coming up to feel over his cold cheek. "Love you too" he replied.

He turned around on his arms to face him. Vale still hold him close but now he was able to look him in tbe eyes. For a moment they just looked at each other. Both clearly happy and in awe about their new life and situation with the kids.

Even if the little ones sometimes almost bought them to insanity and they had crashed on the couch in exhaustion, more than once, they were happy. They wouldn't trade it for anything.

And they were in love. So Marc leaned in to kiss his lover. He felt his lips on his and just as he was about to deepen the kiss he heard in unisono a 6 voice strong "IIIIIIIGGGGGHHHHH!" that somehow made the moment perfect.

[little-miss-fandom-freak]

Bad Chemistry

Summary: A new inmate has arrived and joins Task Force M on their mission; everythung about this new member confuses, yet intruiges Dr Phosphorus and is determined to find out why

A/N: Idk if I want to make this an X Reader or a Canon X OC so I'm leaving it up to interpretation for now :)

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

Flag watched as his new "team" hit the floor from an electric shock, directly admitted from a device Waller held. "Meet Task Force M; 'M' for Monster. Also known as the Creature Commandos. " Waller said as she tossed Flag the device. She walked out of the room with him trailing behind. "There is one more member who will be arriving shortly."

"Arriving? Why aren't they in Belle Reve with the others?" He asked as he pocketed the device.

"Let's just say The Batman and I had a long chat before I had to agreed to keep her in Arkham." Waller and Flag stopped in front of a glass wall; behind the wall was a pair of doors that slid open. An unconscious woman on a dolly was pushed into the room. Flag watched as a doctor with surgical gloves came out from behind her with a large needle in hand. He peeled back her eye light and injected its contents into her eye. Flag cringed as the woman - now conscious - screamed in pain.

Waller spoke over the cries. "Meet Android 10; or as the Joker called her, The Ten of Spades."

"Wait, The Joker?"

Waller nodded. "Joker wanted a group of Androids who would do his dirty work. 20 Androids were created, only 5 made the cut for his "Royal Flush Gang". Each one was built with a different set of abilities. Ten was given super strength, intelligence, and aviation."

"A real triple threat, huh?"

"Indeed." Replied Waller. "It's taken me years to convince Batman to take her to Belle Reve, so use her wisely Flag."

The two watched in silence as Ten regained her composure. As she stood up, her piercing red eyes glared into Flag's. Her eye was red and tear-filled from the shot, and there was nothing but hate and anger behind them.

"Good afternoon, Ten. My name is Amanda Waller. Welcome to Belle Reve."

Ten charged at the glass, slamming her fist against it. "I demand to speak with Batman. I demand to know why I'm here."

"That's a lot of demanding for someone trapped in a cage. Unfortunately for you, he's not here. And you won't get to speak to him again unless you comply." Ten's teeth grinded as she kept her glare on Waller; when she realized the woman wouldn't back down, she sighed.

"What do you want from me?"

"That is on a need to know basis. And all you need to know for now is that you'll be taking orders from General Rick Flag Sr." Waller said, gesturing to the man beside her.

Ten crossed her arms as she examined Flag. Her face read that she was unimpressed when she scoffed. "Emphasis on the 'senior' bit." She mumbled.

Flag let out a sharp chuckle. "Real spit fire, isn't she?"

"Ten, for this mission, I will need you to play nice with your new teammates. We don't want a repeat of the last time." Flag watched as Ten's cocky, confident demeanor shift for a split second. Her eyes flickered down before meeting Waller's once more.

"So, when do I meet me new team?"

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

When the rest of the team emerged from their cells and out to the landing pad, a few of them were puzzled by the woman standing beside Waller and Flag.

Waller greeted the group as they stood in frontof her. "Task Force M, I'd like for you all to meet your new teammate, Android 10."

Ten took notice of their unimpressed looks, but in her opinion, they weren't anything special either.

"Do we really need another member?" The Bride complained. "There's already enough brainless fools on this team.

"I can assure you Bride, this one is anything but brainless." Waller spoke as she walked away from the team. "General Flag will give you the run down before you enter Pokolistan."

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

Phosphorus didn't know what to think of the new girl.

Taking subtle glances at the robotic woman beside him (one of the few times he was thankful for not having actual eyeballs), he tried to get a read on her. She kept to herself; avoiding the banter the rest of the team shared and ignored any and all questions or comments directed at her. He tried taking glances at her exposed skin, trying to find the creases in her joints or the screws that would keep her together, but he found nothing.

Phosphorus had let himself get too wrapped up in his thoughts; his head turning half of an inch too much, caused Ten to take notice. She turned her head, making deep eye contact with the skeleton beside her.

"Got something to say, Skelator?" Her voice rumbled in his ears. He was taken back by her sudden question, but like always he doesn't stay shocked for long.

"I was just thinking." He said, keeping her in suspense.

"About?"

He paused for a moment, deciding if he really wanted to known. "What's so special about you that they kept you out of Belle Reve?"

Ten looked away, bringing her attention back to her boots. "That's none of your concern." She said quietly.

"I think it is." He said, leaning back. "We are a team after all; how am I supposed to trust you if I don't know you?"

"The only thing you need to know, is that I won't kill you simply because there's a shock chip in my brain that I'd rather not trigger."

Before Phosphorus could continue to pry, Flag addressed the group.

"Now look team, I know you all aren't exactly enthusiastic about this mission," he started. The Bride and Ten rolled their eyes in unison." But-"

"General I think you've read us wrong." Phosphorus cut in. "We're delighted to be here and delighted to serve our country."

"Are you smiling?" The bride asked quizzically. Phosphorus hummed with acknowledgment. "Sarcastically?" "Yeah." He said with a shrug. Ten scoffed at his childish behavior, but Phosphorus took it as a chuckle, which boosted his ego a tad.

Ten blocked out the rest of the conversations, just wanting this mission to end already so she can get back to her lovely cell back in Arkham. A place that would drive most people insane, acrually brought her a sense of peace. The isolation from people was just what sher needed, especially since her life has been nothing but chaos sinc ethe day she woke up. But her cell wasn't the only thing about Arkham she missed...

The shake of the plane landing ripped Ten from her thoughts. The team was lined up, waiting for the ramp to lower. When ut did, it revealed rows and rows of silver-clad soldiers with their general in front.The general lead them all to the military vans that would take them to the castle. Ten regeted mentally complaining about sitting close to Phosphorus and The Bride; the van was 10x smaller and more compact than the plane had been, with everyone pressed against each other in some way. The close contact with Phosphorus only got worse when Weasel began to piss on the seats.

"Is he pissing?! Oh my God he's pissing!" Phosphorus cried as he tried to scoot as far away from Weasel as possible.

"Ugh! Get off of me, Glow Stick!" Ten grumbled as she tried to push Phosphorus off of her. She could feel The Bride tense behind her as he pressed the three of them together more as he cried. "Oh dear God, it's on my leg! Did no one think to take him out for a walk after a long trip?" He asked the group, his head facing twords Bride. "You better not be looking at me." She gritted.

Phosperpus turned his "gaze" to Ten. His sarcastic words died on his tongue when he realized how close their faces were. 'Were her eyes always that color?' 'Her hair has a nice shine to it, is it real?' 'Is that lotion I smell? Do they just give out scented lotion in Arkham?' While his mind was whirling with questions, Ten grew irritated by his emotionless stare.

"What? You think it's my job to care for that thing?" She spat, snapping him out of his daze. "I'm not a dog trainer."

Before he could think of a witty comeback that would save him from this situation, the van stopped. Phosphorus straightened himself as they filed out one by one. 'What the hell was that?'

Upon entering, the first thing everyone noticed was the... "incestuous-looking" royal family portraits. Phosphorus snickered at each one, Ten couldn't help herself but smirk in disbelief.

"You can really tell they're a close family." Phosphorus joked to no one in particular; but Ten was the only one who heard it, trying hard to suppress a chuckle. Her quiet sounds drew him in. Her began to observe her as by they waited for the Princess to arrive.

This android - this "woman" was a total mystery to him, an enigma of sorts. Belle Reve held the worst criminals in the world, being held there for Waller's twisted Task Forces; team that are expendable, where no one would care if you lived or died. No one outside of Belle Reve was ever added to a Task Force (at least to his knowledge); so why was she here? What can she do? What are her strengths? Her weaknesses? Her limits? Can she feel emotions like a human? Being the man of science he was, Phosphorus was determined to find the answers to his questions.

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

Ten watched in disgust as the people around her tore apart their meals like cavemen. She didn't know about the conditions in Belle Reve, but she had too much dignity to engage in the "monster" idea that people held for her. Next to her, Phosphorus was devouring the steak in his hands.

Ten rolled her eyes as she picked at her meal. The final straw was when a piece had ripped off and flew at her, hitting her cheek. She was disgusted. "You know they gave you a fork, right?"

Phosphorus stopped his movements to look at her. Gulping down the food in his mouth he chuckled. "Sorry princess, am I too messy for you?"

Ten groaned in disgust.

"Don't try and sit there like you don't want to tear that chicken of yours to the bone." He said, gesturing to her untouched meal. "I've spent a short time in Arkham, highly doubt they've improved their meal plan. Go on, enjoy yourself! Who gives a shit anymore?"

She scoffed. "Just because I've lived off of prison food doesn't mean I need to act like some barbaric monster."

"Hate to break it to ya sweetheart, but we're all monsters here, even you. You can try and hide behind that synthetic skin and fake hair, but your not human. Your just as much of a monster as me."

A fork was slammed into his plate, splitting the steak and cracking the glass plate beneath. The room went silent at the shake of the table, their attention drawing to the end of the table. Ten leaned in close, his green heat reflecting off of her skin.

"I'm nothing like you. You are nothing more than a murderer and a freak who knows nothing more than bloodlust. Don't ever act like you know shit about me because I can assure you, you will never know anything about me."

She shoved herself off of the table and stormed out of the silent room. Flag cleared his throat, trying to break the alward silence. "Uh, sorry about that, Ilana."

"Will she be okay? I can send someone-"

Flag raused his hand, polierly silencing the princess. "She'll be fine. I think she just needs space from a certain someone." Flag turned to glare at Phosphorus, who wasn't paying attention at all.

His gaze was still on the door Ten had exited from when The Bride began to speak. "The hell did you say?"

"Nothin'. She's just being dramatic." He said with a shrug. Turning back to his food, he couldn't help but be even more curious than before.

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

That night, Phosphorus slowly snuck out from behind the door of his room. When the door silently shut, he felt a hand on his shoulder. He jumped with fear; turning around, he slammed his enflammed fist into the face of the person behind him. It took him a second to realize his fist had been caught; behind him stood Ten, casually holding his fist with her bare hands. He jumped back, concerned that the hall wpuld now smell like melting flesh.

"What the hell!? I could've killed you!" He quietly exclaimed.

Ten scoffed as she dropped his fist and crossed her arms. "Yeah, okay." She replied sarcastically.

He sighed and pinched the bridge of his "nose". "Look, I don't have time for this. So whatever you have to say just say it so I can go."

"Go where? We're not supposed to leave the grounds. Hell, we're not even supposed to leave our rooms without permission."

"I'm not leaving the grounds I'm-" He stopped himself from sharing too much of his plan. "Just get on with your business!"

Ten sighed, her gaze going from him to her feet. "Sorry about my freak out. Shits been tough since leaving Arkham, it's just stress."

Phosphorus didn't know what to say. Apologizing wasn't a thing he's been accustomed to, with himself or from other people. He just... stood there. Giving her a dumbfounded look. "Are you serious?"

Ten raised her brown. "Excuse me?"

"You don't apologize!" He said, his arms flinging outward. "We are literally war criminals, who the fuck apologizes for possibly hurting someone's feelings?!"

"Look man I could give two shits about your feelings!" Her voice began to rise. "I was just trying to be a mature adult and try to make up with my teamate-"

"Temporary teamate." He corrected.

Ten scoffed. "Ugh! You are so immature!"

As Ten and Phosphorus argued, their voices began to get louder until they weren't even whispering anymore. Phosphorus stopped mid sentence when he saw a light around the corner.

"Shit!" He grabbed Ten's wrist and tugged her into his room and threw her against the wall.

"What the hell are yo-" He slammed his hand over her mouth, though it was a little harder to do since she was taller than him by a good few inches. When she tried to fight him off, Phosphorus pointed at the light shining against the door. That shut her up quickly. The two of them stayed frozen against each other, trying to keep their breathing down as they waited for the light to pass. After a few moments, the two sighed with relief as the guard left. They leaned against the wall, regaining their composure. Ten chewed the inside of her lip as she turned to Phosphorus.

"Let me help you with... well, whatever it is you're planning on doing." She offered.

He raised as non-existent eyebrow. "You wanna help? Why?"

She shrugged. "Can't sleep. I'm bored. And I guess if you won't accept a verbal apology, maybe my actions can speak louder."

Phosphorus chuckled in disbelief as he stood straight. "Alright. Deal."

Phosphorus and Ten crossed the hall to the room Flag resided in. Picking the lock to his room, Phosperpus quietly cracked it open.

"Keep watch out here, make sure no one comes by." Ten nodded as she readied herself.

Phosperus snuck into the room and softly knelt in front of Flag's dresser. He carefully moved things around, searching for the device that activated their chips. When he found it, he had a silent victory before he heard footsteps behind him. Turning his head, he was face-to-crotch with Flag.

"Uh.... hey-" Flag slammed his foot against Phosperpus, sending him back into the wall. Ten heard the thud and went running for the room. When she slammed open the door, she watched as Flag chased after Phosperpus in a room lit with flames.

"What the hell Doc?!" She yelled over the flames.

Flag stopped when he heard her voice. "Ten?! The fuc-" Flag stopped when he was forced to dodge Phosphorus' flaming fist charging at him. He threw Phosperpus to the wall and attempted to punch his face, but was quickly met his the intense flames of the doctor's skull.

"Hey Arkham?! You were supposed to keep watch!" Phosphorus yelled as he dodged several of Flag's swings.

"You told me to keep watch outside, asshoel!" Ten yelled even louder as she danced around the flames. Fly out if Flag's hand, the device caught Ten's eye, but when she went to grab it Phosphorus slammed his fist down to the ground. Flames surrounded the three if them. With one step, Phosphorus froze as he heard a creak beneath them.

Ten groaned with annoyance. "You idiot- AAAHH" The floor caved in and by they went tumbling down. The three of them landed in the kitchen below them. Without any thought, the two men went right back to fighting, the device bouncing back and forth between the two of them. Exhausted from the impact, Ten simply sighed before she made her way to the stove where a bottle of wine stood. She leaned against the wall, drinking it as she watched the men fight.

Flag eventually gained the upper hand, kicking Phosperpus across the floor so he could grab the device. His thumb hovered the red button as Phosperpus tried to attack him once more. Ten's attention was redirected, remembered that she too will be shocked.

"Phosperpus, you idiot!" Flag exclaimed. "You think Waller would give me the only remote? You'd be hopping around like a Mexican jumping bean for days if you escaped. Or, if i told her about all this! I'm not here to torture you- any of you." He said, looking at Ten. "We're supposed to be on the same damn team." Phosphorus looked down in shame. It was stupid to even try but he had to. The feeling of being set free just to be tied down again was taunting him, making him go insane.

Ten sighed, tossing the bottle aside she made her way over to the men. Grabbing Phosperpus by the shoulders and hauling him up, she stopped for a moment and made eye contact with Flag; the two had a silent understanding before she helped Phosperpus limp to the nearest bathroom.

At one point he came to his senses and shoved himself off of her, limping the rest of the way to the bathroom. He set himself down on the toilet seat and held his head in his hands. Cautiously, Ten kneeled infront of him and began to run a scan.

"The hell are you doing?" He asked, feeling uncomfortable under her stare.

"Scanning for any other injuries. I'm going to have fix your-" Ten watched as Phosphorus grabbed the back of his leg and cracked it back into place. She stared at it, a wave of confusion, concern, and pure disgusting rushed over her features all at once.

"Oh.... didn't know you could do... that..."

Phosphorus chuckled at her choked up reaction. "No injuries, babes. Just a bruised ego..."

Ten shrugged. "You gave it a shot. It's not entirely your fault, Waller is just freaky when it comes to being prepared. Guess she was right about doing it though..."

"Yeah..." He trailed off, losing himself in his thoughts.

The two sat in the bathroom in complete silence. Ten leaned her back against thw wall as she picked at the grout. Phosphorus watched her, like he had been, but this time he was actually able to see her.

He didn't mind what he saw, finding a strange sense of peace when watching her mindlessly pick at the floor. Maybe he cpuld get used to this...

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

There is no better feeling than finally being able to write the fanfic you've been thinking about for days. It's not the best, but it's been a long time since I've written anything, so I'm pretty rusty. I realized in the middle of writing the the character I "kinda" came up with is basically just Android 18 from DBZ lmao. Thanks for reading!!!

EDIT: There will be multiple parts!

[bwat5-blog]

Who Made Jinx

**Spoilers For All Of Arcane**

"Vi choosing Caitlyn over Jinx when she is the reason Jinx is who she is to begin with is disgusting"

"Vi made Jinx"

"Vi looks like that watching Jinx and Isha because she realizes what Jinx could have been if she'd been a better sister to her"

"Vi doesn't deserve anyone to dry her tears, she caused Jinx's"

I have written extensively about both Jinx, and Vi. And have discussed in detail their relationship as well as Silco's transforming of Powder into Jinx after Vi is taken. I continue to see these absolutely bizarre takes regarding the two sisters, and so have returned to you now, to once again address the question, who made Jinx?

_________________________________________________________

Basic Timeline Of Periods In their Lives:

Bridge Of Progress Massacre- Powder age 5, Vi age 9

Six Years With Vander- Powder age 5-11, Vi age 9-15

Period of Vander's Death (Season 1 Act 1)- Powder age 11, Vi age 15

Seven Years Apart- Powder/Jinx age 11-18, Vi age 15-22

Season One Act 2 & 3- Jinx age 18, Vi age 22

Bridge Of Progress Massacre-

Vi- 9 years old

Powder- 5 years old

Summary: We open the show with the sisters, only little girls at this time walking hand in hand on the bridge while Enforcers slaughter their people around them. Vi stands tall holding Powder's hand, and even shields Powder when Vander initially approaches. When Vi falls to her knees seeing their parents dead, Powder shields her with her body.

Fan Observation Regarding Impact On Powder: This is the first time we see the "glitching" we will come to associate with Jinx instability. We see it first in the face of the Enforcer stalking through the smoke, and then just in the environment as we hear her voice until eventually we settle on the sisters. We are seeing the beginning of that trauma starting to manifest. This deeply traumatizing incident is only the beginning for both of them.

Vi: We see a caring, protective and loving older sister trying her best to shield Powder

Six Years With Vander:

Vi- 9 years old to 15 years old

Powder- 5 years old to 11 years old

Summary: We of course do not see this period. This is the time where Powder and Vi are being raised by Vander alongside Mylo and Clagger.

Fan Observation Regarding Impact On Powder: As stated, since we do not see this time period, it is hard to say. It seems that life in the lanes is dangerous and Enforcers are an ever present threat as well. There are a few way by which we can make an assessment of what this time in their life was like:

"Wanna see how that ends?"- Vi is 15 and stares down someone who just attacked her, who is now carrying a knife and says this. Part of it of course is just Vi. But this clearly an environment filled with the sort of danger that makes a fifteen year old girl so tough.

Vi's stories to Powder at the end of episode one suggest history of running from and fighting Enforcers even in the undercity.

Vi: When we pick back up with them, they are extremely close. Indicating they have a very loving relationship.

Period Of Vander's Death:

Vi- 15 years old

Powder- 11 years old

Summary: This is the main story of season one act 1 for these sisters. They have grown extremely close. We se them conduct their heist on Jayce's lab, followed by the fallout leading to the eventual deaths of Vander, Mylo and Claggor, as well as Vi and Powder being seperated.

Fan Observation Regarding Impact On Powder: Powder displays immense closeness with Vi throughout this time, but is also the subject of constant teasing from Mylo, who calls her a Jinx, and routinely questions her value as part of the team and suggests she be left behind.

When Vi has her stay behind- Powder has what I will call a panic attack due to being left behind where she exhibits behaviors all pointing toward a more deep seated problem:

Hitting her head

Screaming

Throws her broken monkey bomb on the ground preparing to smash it

Discordant off-putting music

Hyperventilating and sobbing

*In the course of another document I found information suggesting Powder is possibly suffering severe Separation Anxiety Disorder born of her immense childhood trauma. I of course am not a mental health professional, so this is all just conjecture on my part. But I encourage you to look if you are interested*

Vi: It is during this period where we get our real look at how these two are as sisters. The amount of proof lies overwhelmingly in that Vi was a supportive and loving sister with whom Powder feels safe. With the one and only exception being the very last interaction between them-

Defends and encourages Powder when she is afraid during the heist.

Catches Powder when she doesn't quite make jump to Jayce's lab.

Immediately after fight with Deckard and his friends, Vi is first to notice Powder is gone

Vi assures Powder that she does not have to be a fighter when they get back to The Last Drop. But, she tells her she knows Powder's bombs will work one day, and that Powder is stronger than she thinks.

When preparing to turn herself in, Vi tells Powder "you know Powder, what makes you different, makes you strong"

Vi tells Powder to stay behind for the rescue. She has just seen Grayson and Benzo killed by the shimmer mutated Deckard. Additionally, she has been recently lectured by Vander regarding her responsibility to the other children. She does tell Powder she is not ready. But she also says "Your all I have left, I can't lose you" and gives her the famous flair.

The Falling Out:

So, when poor Powder comes around the corner eager for the big sister she looks up to to know she helped, and is instead met with horror, it is truly heartbreaking. Vi tells her she told her to stay away, punches her, grabs her face and tells her that mylo was right, she is a Jinx before walking away, after looking in horror at Powder's blood on her hand wraps. Powder screams and sobs, begging her sister to come back. Vi walks down the alley and slides down crying and having a moment. She looks again seeing Powder's blood on her hands, then sees Silco approaching Powder and tries to go to her, but is taken by Marcus. Leaving Powder alone and vulnerable for Silco to take as his own daughter. Believing that her sister truly left her, Powder proclaims Vi is not her sister anymore, and Silco says "we will show them all".

Vi- Fifteen years old: For perspective, using USA rules for average fifteen year olds let's look at a few reminders.

Can't drink

Can't drive

Can't vote

Has not graduated high-school

Can not serve in Military

Brain Development Still in Progress: The prefrontal cortex, responsible for decision-making, impulse control, and emotional regulation, is far from fully developed at 15. This makes emotional outbursts and impulsive actions more likely.Source: Steinberg, L. (2005). "Cognitive and affective development in adolescence." Trends in Cognitive Sciences.

Additionally when considering Vi's state of mind during this incident, we need remember the following:

She herself has been through every bit of trauma we have listed about Powder

Just watched Vander, Mylo and Clagger die violently.

Just successfully held off 11 armed adult thugs of Silco's protecting her family

Been injured after being grabbed the throat by Deckard and thrown. As well as being pinned under the door after the explosion.

Seemed like they were within seconds of freedom before the explosion that would not have happened if Powder had listened (not blaming the tiny child just giving the whole picture as to where Vi's mind is)

Conclusion:

So, we have two sisters, both of whom begin the story in a horrific and traumatic incident of loss and grief.

Vi is quite literally only shown as a positive and encouraging force in Powder's life right up until that last moment. And her behavior during that incident was that of a terrified, wounded, grief-stricken child, who even though she was kidnapped and wrongfully imprisoned still goes on to shoulder the guilt for leaving anyway.

Powder, was little girl who had been through terrible loss already for one so young, and was now violently confronted with the reality of having killed her family. Even though it was the furthest thing from her intentions. A young lifetime full of being teased and harassed by Mylo, and called a jinx, and now the "evidence" of her not being good enough lay in her adoptive father's corpse on the cold street. She had already exhibited signs of the trauma taking a toll on her mind, and now is living a truly hellish experience.

So the question becomes, to whom do we assign the blame for that little girl's mind being ripped apart, until only Jinx remained? The older sister who with the exception of one impossibly overwhelming moment spent a life protecting and loving Powder?

Or perhaps, perhaps it was the man who took her entire family away from her. The violent,murdering drug lord who claimed to stand for Zaun.

Deaths of Vander, Mylo, and Clagger all because of his actions

Promised her mother to make a safer Zaun for her children, tried to kill them both

Weaponizes her grief, guilt, fear and rage

Makes her part of his shimmer operations after teaching her to be a killer

When she questions him he asks "who raised you? who gave you a home? like he wasn't the reason she needed one to begin with.

When he finds out Vi is back he tries to have her killed to stop she and jinx from reuniting.

He and Sevika use Caitlyn's presence to turn Jinx against Vi

Last action as a living man is to try and kill his "daughters" last living relative, even though Vi was making no move to kill him and just wanted her sister.

Perhaps seven years as the daughter of that man without any form of healing for what she had been through broke her. People love to reference the last episode of season one as proof for the accusation that Vi made Jinx for two reasons.

Jinx speech

"What Could Have Been"

Regarding her speech, all you have to do is listen. "shadows in the street... prickles on the back of my neck.. your voice, picking me up when all the colors were black, your the reason I'm still alive". Note, she is not blaming or accusing Vi of something. Before telling Vi how she "made her" she is refuting Silco's belief that he did and mentions his speeches about strength and "your enemies fearing you". She is telling her older sister that she quite literally kept her alive. And we see in the moment earlier when Jinx is terrified and in agony, whose face does she hallucinate during Singed's treatment? Vi's. That is who brings her comfort, before the tainted specter of Caitlyn, born of Silco and Sevika's machinations poisons her mind yet again.

Regarding the song, yes it sounds like a direct call against whoever made her a "monster". But my friends, where does that rocket as the season closes and the last lyric fades.... it isn't at Vi. But at the symbol of oppression over the Undercity itself. Those who allowed chaos and bloodshed to flourish and men like Silco to rise and seize power. The Council of Piltover.

So with all of that to consider, I will ask the same thing I have asked many times. In what universe, will it ever make sense to blame the sobbing fifteen year old girl, kneeling over her father's broken body?

Thank you for reading, see yall next time!

[hauntingblue]

Stampede aka another episode of luffy turning haters into dick riders just with his kind and big heart

[i-wanna-show-you-off]

just started watching disventure camp today (finally) and I’m already on ep 6. I have (out loud) made the “you a baby quit cussing” joke like. Every single episode at least once. I have SO MUCH to talk about..

more in tags..like spoilers and stuff..

[abnormalpsychology]

thrilling sequel to my poll from back in January

[emrrys]

the worst part of my promotion at work is that i exclusively speak with only ppl from west virginia on the phone now and their accents make me so homesick for the appalachians

[mutalune]

really wish there was a tag that separated “I’m having Big Angry and/or Angsty Opinions about Star Wars” from “I’m goofing off with Star Wars I’m playing in the sandbox none of this is real so yes I will make my blorbo and this random glub shitto go on an adventure that makes no logical sense” posts because there’s too much of the former and not enough of the latter for my current mental state

[narwhalandchill]

also like . huge fan (not) of the way that hsr is having the worst endgame modes of all time . AND. at the same time. genshin Also gets whatever the fuck THIS abyss is like . what the actual fuck.

like u know its fucking bad when i take 1 look at the lineup and unanimously bench international 😭😭 ajax im so sorry but theres a limit to the cringe im willing to commit to enduring for a clear Even when its for u xx. like im sure i couldve figured out A Clear somehow but it wouldve cost my actual sanity wkjjfjkwjkwdkj

(putting the pyro lectors on 12-1-2 2nd wave not final wave feels. Actually SO personal against childe teams wtf. like extending childes melee so he solos their shields without worry for the CD bc its last wave anyway has been THE strat since those fuckers fucking released as enemies and now its like nah fuck you actually. what the hell hoyo)

(give him the narwhalpilled final form op alt already hoyo i WILL c6r5)

anyway. ended up going for the. easiest way out possible and i am Completely shameless on that one.

did aggravate and tazer to safely clean up that demonic 12-1 at first, realized 12-2 is also hell so then i just leave to double up on hyperbloom lmao. o7 truly

except unironically this shit had me crafting and leveling a second fucking prototype amber bc kokomi and neuvi had been sharing my R5 one before 💀💀 bc like. neuvi just wasnt doing enough dmg with that one fontaine event catalyst i usually substitute for either of them and i cant run prayers on him bc he will overcap crit but kokomi Also needed the pamber.... so now she has a 80/80 r2 one.

also i had ZERO patience for DMC energy issues btw thats a 4p deepwood build with SEVENTY crit rate 245% ER and R5 fav (=overkill much) . i love fa🅱️onius . DMC unironically still such a solid unit tho like. had a surprisingly great time using them after the longest time . theres some thinking around positioning ur lotus so it hits multiple waves more efficiently but with that figured out it was p kewl all things considered

ALSO WHAT THE FUCKKKKK i only. NOW. looked at my XQ gears since he was feeling rly Off in terms of ER on 2nd half despite my nahidas R5 fav and i.

I FORGOT I PUT THE LVL 90 ONE ON QIQI FOR THE CLORINDE TEAM 😭😭😭 and bc theyre both R5 its not like. i had any issue proccing the passive so That didnt clue me in to there being A problem. oh my fucking god i made this so much more cringe for myself than it actually wouldve been didnt i..................

[dbphantom]

maybe i should have gone into practical effects instead of computer science...

[bobzora]

acheron so good she makes me want to complete gold and gears to unlock erudition blessings

[glimblshanks]

.

[secondpersonpoetry]

hi! heard the released “Merry Christmas, Please Don’t Call” (which i’ve seen you’ve heard live, if i’m not mistaken!!) this morning and i don’t know if there’s really a particular vibe/dynamic/ship hrpf-wise (personally haven’t yet been able to put my finger on it) that quite relates but the lyrics have been rotating in my head all day and i was wondering if you had any thoughts? hope you have a good one! <3

OH ANON HAVE I EVER SEEN IT LIVE!!! and the second that song came out i zoomed it straight into my fic playlist and unfortunately there are so many guys this could be. right now the one that's resonating is, of course, the golden boy and his haunted ghost themselves: mcstrome.

i am thinking about connor, specifically, after the stanley cup final. that game seven. how angry he was, how loud the silence when they told him he won the conn smythe. how close he's come before and again and again lost. there's nobody else to blame but himself. he's in the empty room and he knows why (1)

at!! your best!!! you were magic!!! oh, golden boy. connor the anointed, of course. at the very beginning of his career we always knew he was something special and who wouldn't have fallen in love with him? weren't all of us a little bit dylan strome in awe of the generational talent? we were all bathed in radiant light just by being in the vicinity (2)

don't even tell 'em that you know me breaks my heart (3). in terms of building a narrative i think i've said before there is a universe where connor/dylan were together before the draft and to protect both of them, dylan breaks up with him. connor says i love you and dylan says i don't. because he doesn't, you know? he loved connor. he loved davo. he can't be in love with connor mcdavid, first overall pick of the edmonton oilers. i'd rather be hurt forever than have to watch us try to make this work and destroy us.

and after connor mcdavid left the otters, dylan strome captained them to a memorial cup win. what a haunted home, eh? to be captain of the team you and your best friend were on, only now he's left you? don't call me to tell me about your rookie season with the oilers--we both know about your broken collarbone. don't call me to tell about becoming the youngest captain in franchise history when i stepped into the shoes of your captaincy here. don't call me. (4)

narratively: dylan's the one who broke connor's heart and his own but by god it wasn't easy. we both know what happened, you went first overall. please don't make this harder on me. please don't call.

this verse can be about the weight of dylan having to live up to connor's standards and always being measured by him. i would just like to bring up the connor stepping stone chart for absolutely no reason as well (5)

we are, at long last, at the potential future of now: dylan strome, happy, smiling, thriving on the washington capitals. connor, on the oilers. i'm not yours, dylan can say. haven't been for a long time. it took some time but i made this. please don't call and ruin this for me, stay out of my life. i don't want you or need you (6)

[p.s. this took a while because when i received this ask i was a) immediately possessed to write this verse by verse breakdown i had never thought of before and then b) immediately plagued by the idea of making you a little graphic (above the read more) and finally got to do it after banging out all the actual lyric thoughts two (?) weeks ago. emerging two and a half hours later from the fugue state of GIMP with 37 layers in this bad boy hope you enjoy!!!]