#also yes rose should still take care of lian

[ohlookitsthearkhamknight]

*Rose is babysitting Lian*

Rose: “I have to go to the store and get a few things. Dad your in charge please for the love of god dont let me see you on the fucking news.”

Rose *turning around*: “okay lian be good for me ok and when i get back we can watch a movie ok?”

Lian: “Okkkkkkk”

*Rose turning back to face Slade* : “I’m watching you and dont think for a second i wont call jason or kori over here”

Slade: “please rose i know what im doing. We”ll be fine ive did this before. Kinda.”

Rose: “okay fine be good i gotta go”

*Rose leaves*

Slade: “okay li- Lian?!?!”

*Slade running down the hall*: “LIAN?!?!?”

*Slade runs into his office where his suit and weapons are*

*Lian holding his sword*: “oooooooo whats this?”

*Slade picking lian up and taking his sword away from her*: “okay rules, no touching anything thats sharp okay???? Also this room is off limits ok!?!?!”

Lian: “okie dokie” *skips away*

*Slade running his hand over his face*: “this is going to be harder than I thought”

2 hours later

*Lian playing with some toys*: “uncle ollie can be stupid sometimes and grandpa batman is always angry”

Slade huffing : “tell me about it”

Lian: “everyone doesnt like auntie rose because of what she does and because your her dad. Just like they dont like mama.”

*Lian looking down*: “At least you dont think im going to grow up and hurt people”

Slade: “who the hell thinks that!?!?!?! YOUR A KID”

Lian: “they act like i cant hear them but i can. I heard them talk about daddy too and mama. Uncle jaybird says to ignore them but thats hard.”

Slade: “who your parents are has nothing to do with who you become. Your a good kid lian. Your not like us. Your better. Dont listen to them. They’re probably just jealous they dont have cool aunt and uncles like you do”

*Lian giggling*: “hehe no they dont. They are just mad they dont have a cool grandpa like you”

Slade.exe stops working

*Slade smiling but also maybe crying a little*: “yeah they dont. Wanna go get some ice cream kid?”

Lian: “YEAH AND WE CAN TAKE BAD GUYS DOWN TOO”

*Slade nodding his head in agreement* : “yeah we can take bad guys down too”

A few hours later

*Rose walking thru the hallways when she hears slade singing and stops to look into her room*

*Slade humming an old lullaby*

*Lian drifting off to sleep*

Rose: “and here i thought you were going to call me panicing”

Slade: “i almost did but i think i got the hang of it”

Slade: “shes a good kid.”

Rose: “yeah she is. I just wish roy was here. I know what it feels like to have one dead parent and one incompetent parent. No offense but still”

Slade: “yeah I understand. But she isnt alone. Shes got all of you guys to take care of her. She has a good family. She has you.”

Rose: “and you”

*Slade chuckling*: “everyday you remind me more and more of your mother. I might have messed up at being a parent but she didnt.”

Rose: “you werent all that bad. I mean look at you. Lian trust you. Something she doesnt give out willingly.”

*Rose smiling*: “your a good grandpa”

Slade: “i try my best”

*Rose sighing*: “thanks for this. she needed something to cheer her up”

Slade: “well ice cream has always worked for me when i get down. I honestly didnt do much.”

Rose: “you know thats not what i mean. Thank you for making sure that she knows shes good. I know what it feels like for people to talk behind your back about you when your parent isn’t exactly your average textbook good guy”

Slade: “i tried my best. But seriously you ever find who was saying shit tell me. No one is going to talk about her. Not if im still breathing.”

Rose: “dont worry i will. Now come on i have groceries to put up.”

Slade: “ill make dinner”

Rose: “no uncle billy is coming over and hes cooking. He doesnt trust you since last time”

Slade: “oh come on that was one mistake.”

Rose: “yes one mistake that ended with me having to buy a new oven”

Slade: “ok ok ill keep my hands away from be oven”

*Lian suddenly appearing in the living room*: “i cant sleep. I want to watch a movie now”

*Rose slowly turning towards slade*: “when did you give her ice cream”

*Slade nervously turning to face rose*: “maybe right before she was supposed to go to bed”

Rose: “damnit dad”

Lian: “ooooo A DOLLOR IN THE SWEAR JAR”

Rose: “and who did you get that from?”

Lian smiling: “grandpa alfie”

Slade and rose: “of course you did”

[hauntedbythefanficsofmypast]

The Different Group Chats part 1

{Part 1} [Part 2]

Diamonds:

BlueDiamond- Marinette 

BrownDiamond- Mireille

GreenDiamond- Marc 

Cheng Main Family:

MamaOrso- Sabine

TopChef- Wang

Matriarch- Nuba (Their Grandmother)

Heiress- Lian (Marc’s mother)

Tiāncái- Mei (Mireille’s mother)

Adrinette/Girls GC:

PinkBean- Rose

PurpleBean- Juleka

BossFox-Alya 

TrueBeauty-Lila

WhyAmIHere- Alix 

LoveBug- Mylene

A group chat AU I thought of this will involve only the Miraculous Ladybug show, with very minor mentions of other shows. Some backstory information I feel are important. Marinette, Marc, and Mireille are cousins in this through their mothers; Sabine, Lian, and Mei. Marinette is Chinese, Italian, and French, Marc is Chinese and French, and Mireille is Chinese, Japanese, and French. This is not Adrinette, I decided to give Lukanette some love!

                                                   Diamonds

                                                    10:46 am

BlueDiamond: Do you think I could get away with it?

GreenDiamond:????

GreenDiamond: Mar? Get away with what?

BrownDiamond: Depends. Are you doing it by yourself, with us, or are you going to call Bāchan’s right hand?

GreenDiamond: Mir? Wait why would Mar call Fengge? 

                                                  11:07 am

GreenDiamond: Hey! You two respond already!

BrownDiamond: Calm cousin, calm. Mar is contemplating taking care of Lila Rossi, you know the girl that threatened her in the bathroom.

GreenDiamond: Oh.

GreenDiamond: WAIT!!!1!

GreenDiamond: No fair! She can’t call Fengge I called dibs on ruining Rossi!

BrownDiamond: Mar gets the final decision, after all she is the one being targeted.

BlueDiamond: I am not calling Fengge, I don’t want her dead, I just want to ruin her future. Besides Fengge would call Nonna, and I’d rather not take the chance of us being pulled out of school.

BrownDiamond: Very true, but I doubt Bāchan would pull us out. Lila is only a minor threat and she knows we can definitely handle her. If the snake goes too far however, she will step in.

GreenDiamond: Tru…

BrownDiamond: Stop butchering words or else.

GreenDiamond: Common little cuz be traught.

*BrownDiamond took a Screenshot of chat*

BrownDiamond: I am showing my Kachann.

BlueDiamond: She did warn you.

GreenDiamond: D’: NooOo dont message auntie!!!1!!

BrownDiamond: Already sent.

GreenDiamond: You hate me.

                                                  Cheng Main Family

                                                            11:38 am

Tiàncái: First, return to your lessons. Second, Marc the penthouse at 4 exact. After reading those texts I’ve decided you need a two hour lesson.

BrownDiamond: Yes Kachann.

BlueDiamond: Sorry Auntie.

GreenDiamond:Understood Auntie.

TopChef: How bad was it?

Tiàncái: Worse than you fake butchering other languages to mess with others.

MamaOrso- My Marinette was not a part of it correct?

Tiàncái- No just our nephew sister.

Heiress- Why am I not surprised, at least he is only doing it with his cousins.

Matriarch- My Diamonds know that they are not allowed to butcher languages like their Great Uncle in front of others. I would not worry too much, my darlings. Now all of you return to work. I have a meeting to attend.

MamaOrso- Yes Māmā

Tiàncái- Understood, have a good meeting.

Heiress- I will see you later Māmā.

TopChef-Talk to you all later my girls.

                                                  Diamonds

                                                     1:13 pm

BlueDiamond: Juleka and Rose are sitting with me in the back now.

BrownDiamond: Oh?

BlueDiamond: Yes they came up and apologized to me during lunch. They both asked for a chance to earn my trust again.

GreenDiamond: And your decision Mar?

BlueDiamond: I am giving them a second chance, both apologized and explained why they didn’t choose sides. No information about Lila too, she is making big promises. For instance she told Kitty Section she’d introduce them to Jagged Stone.

BrownDiamond:...Isn’t Juleka Jagged’s daughter?

BlueDiamond: Yes.

BrownDiamond: Oh no.

BlueDiamond: What?

GreenDiamond: This is Miss Mendeleiev both of you return to your lessons and put your phones away.

                                                  1:28 pm

BrownDiamond: Nice job Marc, next time control your laughter.

BlueDiamond: Really?

                                                  2:49 pm

BlueDiamond: Mir go out for ice cream? We can go find André.

BrownDiamond: Well I don’t have to be in the studio today and was only planning to hang out with friends. Can we invite some others?

BlueDiamond: Oh definitely! I’ll ask Rose, Juleka, and Luka!

BrownDiamond: I am just going to invite Aurore and Jean.

BlueDiamond: Hoping to get complimentary cones cousin dearest?

BrownDiamond: Shut up I just like his face.

BlueDiamond: Don’t you lie to me. You have attended every single magical show he has done, and even promoted him once on MAC’s Twitter.

BrownDiamond: Shut up, your one to talk Mar. Who do you have a crush on, Model boy or Guitar boy?

                                                  3:10 pm

BrownDiamond: Mar?

BrownDiamond: Did I upset you?

BrownDiamond: Marinette?

BlueDiamond: Sorry

BlueDiamond: No you did not upset me. Lila pointed out I was texting and Bustier started lecturing me on being a good role model.

BrownDiamond: Sorry, my locker in five?

BlueDiamond: Mhm, see you soon.

GreenDiamond: I got my phone back!

GreenDiamond: Unfair! You guys can’t get ice cream while I’m stuck in lessons!

BlueDiamond: [Image.png]

GreenDiamond: Why’d you send me a picture of you and Mir looking around???

BrownDiamond: Trying to find the fucks we give…

GreenDiamond: ༼ ༎ຶ ෴ ༎ຶ༽

BlueDiamond: Ew. Stop.

GreenDiamond:༼ ༎ຶ ෴ ༎ຶ༽

BlueDiamond: Ugh.

Private Messaging

Nathaniel and Marc

                                                  3:11 pm

LifePartner: Marc can we talk today? It’s about Marinette.

Rainbow: …

Rainbow: I have a two hour lesson starting at four. Meet me on the Pont Des Arts at 6:30.

LifePartner: I’ll be there Rainbow, see you later.

                                            Diamonds

                                               4:20 pm

BrownDiamond: Not.A.Word.

BlueDiamond: Burnt caramel for his eyes, and cotton candy for his unique tricks~ Blackberry for her beautiful hair, and black walnut for her unusual connections.

BrownDiamond: One, perhaps we should be concerned with what André seems to know about us.

BrownDiamond: Two, Blue moon for his hair and eyes, and super madness for his crazy life, Blackberry for her hair and cherry with chips for her secret.

BlueDiamond: Mmm André is a meta I wouldn’t worry his love is ice cream and bringing soulmates together.

BlueDiamond: Luka has confessed to me though, I told him I wasn’t ready.

BrownDiamond: Still stuck on Adrien?

BlueDiamond: No

BlueDiamond: I thought he’d take my side when he said that we were in it together. The moment he didn’t speak up when I was expelled pretty much made that crush, crash.

BlueDiamond: He is sweet but he has been too sheltered, he is trying to treat Lila like she is a tabloid.

BrownDiamond: You are not wrong. So...Luka?

BlueDiamond: Yea, I’m thinking Luka.

                                           Private Messaging

                                           Jagged and Luka

                                                    4:24 pm

Luka: Dad how did you get Penny to fall in love with you?

Jagged: I ask myself that every single day kiddo. Every single day.

Luka: I’m screwed.

Jagged: Marinette?

Luka: Marinette.

Jagged: Penny says to just be yourself! My rockstar Mari is a smart girl and her crush on the Agreste boy has slowly disappeared...yes it would be very rock an roll to have her as a daughter-in-law. That’s it Luka! You have to win Marinette’s heart over!

Luka: You’re not helping Dad.

                                      Private Messaging 

                                       Penny and Luka

                                               4:47 pm

Penny: Stop asking him Luka.

Penny: Just be yourself, Marinette would never want you to change yourself. Give her a little more time and just be there for her.

Luka: Thanks Penny, how did Dad win you over anyway?

Penny: ...I have a thing for loud sometimes idiotic men.

Luka: Awe, I am never telling him that.

Penny: I’m joking, I’m joking one night he rolled over and was just barely awake. He didn’t know I was awake, he whispered that I was the love of his life and that he wished his mom had a chance to meet me.

Luka: Awe. I’m telling Marinette that.

Penny: Oh, definitely would get you brownie points, she loves sweet love stories.

                                                    Adrinette

                                                     6:39 pm

Group name changed from Adrinette to Girls GC

Lila Rossi added by BossFox

BossFox changed Lila Rossi to TrueBeauty

BossFox: Hey girls I decided to make this the drama free girls group chat.

PurpleBean: Drama free???

PinkBean: Why not create a new group chat than Alya? Also if this is the girls group chat where is Marinette?

BunnxXx changed name to WhyAmIHere

BossFox: Like I said drama free girls

TrueBeauty: Awe Alya! You added me to a group chat where I don’t have to worry about upsetting Marinette!

TrueBeauty: That’s so sweet!!

WhyAmIHere: Alya this is our get Mari with Sunshine boy gc.

TrueBeauty: Alya you haven’t told them yet?

BossFox: Don’t worry Lila I just wanted you to be here when I did!

BossFox: Girls we are canceling Adrinette.

LoveBug: What? Why?

BossFox: I was telling Lila about all our attempts and how ‘in love’ with Adrien Marinette is. Well Lila pointed out that everything she is doing are red flags for a stalker!

LoveBug: What?! But Marinette would never!

PinkBean: Are you serious?

WhyAmIHere: Oh boy.

TureBeauty: No listen please, I’m not lying!

TrueBeauty: Alya told me everything she has done! She has his entire schedule, pictures of him all over her wall, one he doesn’t even know exist! She has stolen his phone before and is constantly trying to get alone time with him! Not to mention she has planned out their life with two kids and a hamster!

TureBeauty: She is stalking Adrien and convinced you guys to help her!

LoveBug: Oh my gosh 

LoveBug: I can’t believe 

LoveBuv: All this time Marinette has been

WhyAmIHere: Alright ya-no I’m so done.

WhyAmIHere: First of Marinette HAD a crush on Adrien. One that you blew out of proportion Alya.

BossFox: What?!

BossFox: I did not!

WhyAmIHere: You were constantly trying to force her into telling Adrien when she clearly wasn’t ready, and always dragging us into helping set up ‘dates’

WhyAmIHere: Two Marinette is a fashion designer. Have you seriously never noticed all the pictures are right above when she works on designs? They are a part of her fashion board Alya.

WhyAmIHere: Also the part with the phone, I’m hello? Marinette has always been like that, she does it when she’s half asleep most of the time. But in the end she always returns the person's phone before the end of the day!

WhyAmIHere: Also we have all seen those photos, if Marinette was seriously stalking him don’t you think the pictures would be inappropriate? They are either from magazines or from class outings.

LoveBug: Alix you have to admit it is a little weird that Marinette has gone this far

LoveBug: Lila is a model too and she knows so many famous people. I have no doubt she knows more about stalking than we do.

WhyAmIHere: srs.

TrueBeauty: Alix you have to listen to me! Marinette is sick and she needs help or else she’ll be a danger to Adrien and us!

WhyAmIHere: No. I’m done. Marinette is just a teenager with a CRUSH and you are just blowing it out of proportion.

Alix Kubdel has left Girls GC.

TrueBeauty: Rose Juleka you believe us right?

TrueBeauty: Please Mari really needs help!

PinkBean: No we don’t…

BossFox: WHAT!?

PurpleBean: We don’t believe you. Besides, Marinette barely has a crush on Adrien anymore. I’d ask if you’ve seen her room but she stopped inviting you up Alya.

PinkBean: And she doesn’t like Lila so Lila has never even seen her room.

BossFox: It isn’t like you guys would actually know anything! Just after school today Marinette threatened Lila to stay away from Adrien! And she got physical!

LoveBug: oh gosh! Lila are you okay?

TrueBeauty: Alya! I didn’t want anyone to know!

BossFox: But they need to know Lila especially since they keep siding with her!

PinkBean: Really?

PinkBean: When after school?

TrueBeauty: She attacked me around 4 today!

PurpleBean: oh rlly?

PinkBean: That doesn’t make sense though because Marinette was with us today at four. We left the school together.

TrueBeauty: This is what I was afraid of! Marinette has twisted you two into lying for her! See Alya this is why I didn’t want anyone to know!

BossFox: Don’t worry I’ll handle this girl.

Juleka Couffaine was removed by BossFox.

PinkBean: Alya?! Really?!

Rose Lavillant was removed by BossFox.

BossFox: Alright girls we have to help keep Adrien safe from his Stalker!

LoveBug: I’ll tell Ivan, I’m sure him and the other boys will be more than happy to help!

TrueBeauty: oh I don’t know what I would do without you girls!

                                                   Diamonds

                                                    8:15 pm

BlueDiamond: Alix just showed up at my house with Calendula Pink Surprise.

GreenDiamond: Oh? Tikki must be in love.

BlueDiamond: She is, hasn't left the plant since I placed it in my room. I’d send a picture but she obviously wouldn’t show up.

BrownDiamond: Pray tell cousin dearest why did she gift you with flowers?

GreenDiamond: Mir is having another Pride and Prejudice movie marathon…

BrownDiamond: It is a gift to the world!

BlueDiamond: Yes yes one of the best books out there we know.

BlueDiamond: She apologized for everything, also, she may know I’m Ladybug.

BrownDiamond: Well duh, Calendula? Ladybugs love those flowers.

BlueDiamond: She told me that she honestly just thought it was a little rivalry between Lila and me. That is until Alya made a group chat purposely excluding me.

GreenDiamond: Really?

BlueDiamond: Mhm, she said it would be their ‘drama free’ group chat. Not the beat part though.

BrownDiamond: Go on, I've got my movie paused.

BlueDiamond: Apparently I am stalking Adrien and they need to protect him from me.

GreenDiamond:...

BrownDiamond:...

BrownDiamond: My god Marc I can hear you from my room, breathe! 

BlueDiamond: I thought the penthouse walls were soundproof?

BrownDiamond: They are.

GreenDiamond: cant breathe

BlueDiamond: I’ve done it.

BlueDiamond: I’ve killed our cousin.

BrownDiamond: Sometimes I wished you’d live here with us Mar.

BlueDiamond: I am thinking about it.

BlueDiamond: Mama and Papa have told me before I can, and it’ll be much easier to avoid Alya.

BrownDiamond: [Image.png]

BlueDiamond: oh my gods breathe

BlueDiamond: is that..

BlueDiamond: Is that Nathaniel’s hoodie?

BrownDiamond: he has rolled over and hid his face in his pillow.

BrownDiamond: Should I tickle the information out of him?

BlueDiamond: hmm permission granted

BrownDiamond: [Video]

BlueDiamond: Awe Marc!!

BrownDiamond: I am outraged he has been dating you for so long and never asked our permission!

BlueDiamond: Mireille give Nathaniel a break, besides not many people know that we are cousins

GreenDiamond: Actually he didn’t know until tonight that we are. Also Mar, expect something from him soon, he knew the truth but didn’t know how to apologize to you.

BrownDiamond: So he is the reason you left the penthouse so quick after your lessons!

GreenDiamond: Shut up Mir!

BlueDiamond: Get some sleep you two, I’ll talk over moving to the penthouse with Mama tomorrow.

BrownDiamond: Goodnight Mar

GreenDiamond: Wait really?!

GreenDiamond: Mar!!

GreenDiamond: You torture me so!

BrownDiamond: Go to sleep Marc.

GreenDiamond: Fine I’ll just ambush her tomorrow.

[spockandawe]

Okay, I want to pull together more detailed thoughts at some point, I think, because the sheer amount of material means I have about ten billion thoughts to sort out. But I’ve read all three of the mxtx novels now, and loved all of them, in different ways. Though I already tried to figure out if I can pick a Favorite, and tbh, I can’t. I love them all in ways that are too distinct to let me rank them easily. And... man, it’s lucky for my friends that social distancing is in place, or I’d be hassling them shamelessly to give these novels a try.

RIGHT. So.

The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System: Shen Yuan goes to bed full of rage directed at a trashy webnovel with a grimdark blackened hero who conquered the world and collected hundreds of women into his harem.... and wakes up in novel, while that hero is still an innocent youth. As the hero’s abusive teacher. Who is doomed for a horrifying death unless he can somehow turn things around.

I think I had the most fun with this one. I really enjoy self-referential stories, and stories poking fun at certain genres, and I’ve run into the concept of transmigration before (the idea being a person enters a fictional world, a la lost in austen), though I’m blanking on any media like that I’ve actually consumed. This was chronologically the first book mxtx wrote, and it has less of a sprawling cast with complicated relationships than the other two books, but it definitely has the thing where she lays early groundwork for later revelations that shatter my poor heart. 

And there may be fewer relationships to play with, but my GOD, do I love the relationships we got. I’ve been rolling around in svsss fanfic since I finished the book, even more so than mdzs or tgcf. There’s a lot of good crunchy relationship content with the 79 ship (they destroy me, all day every day), Liu Qingge owns my whole-ass heart, and Luo Binghe makes for a fascinating love interest. I love that even at his best, he remains a needy, needy, manipulative boy, who’s so smart and strong and nEEDY. I don’t love how the book handled moshang, but mmmm the fan content is Good. And Shen Qingqiu does the unreliable narrator thing that is usually not my jam, but works so WELL in these books, in that his unreliable narration is hugely skewed towards not giving himself nearly as much credit as he deserves. Xie Lian takes this to UNBELIEVABLE heights in tgcf, but in Shen Qingqiu’s case, it’s done on such a casual, immediate, personal level that I’m fascinated by everything he does. 

And, since Shen Yuan/Shen Qingqiu is a millennial fan of trashy romance webnovels who gets yanked into the universe of a novel he hates, into an old-timey xianxia setting, the prose is SO COOL. You swing between modern slang and old school high society courtesies at the drop of a hat, and I’m honestly awed that the translators were able to catch so much of that. Like, in-setting, I love all the nuance you can get in ‘qi-ge should give his a-jiu the scroll’ vs ‘yue-shixiong should give this teacher the scroll’ vs ‘you should give me the scroll’. But then it adds a whole new layer when the person ALSO has modern-day casual speech bouncing around in their head. It makes for a fascinating, fascinating reading experience.

The Grandmaster Of Demonic Cultivation: Thirteen years ago, Wei Wuxian died. And then he wakes up! In someone else’s body. I’m not going to try to summarize the premise of this one, go look up The Untamed if you want someone to do a better job of this than me XD

Ahhh, this was the book I read first. I still haven’t watched the show (only clips) and I’m not sure I ever will, because adhd is a hell of a drug. But it’s hard to purely evaluate the prose when there’s also this gorgeous, beautifully-acted visual adaptation all over my tumblr to bias me in its favor. I think this book benefits a lot from the MYSTERY of it all. From the very start, there’s the question of ‘what the fuck is up with this goddamn arm’ that the characters pursue, even as that takes them through flashbacks and other arcs within the story. It gives a thrust to the novel that I think isn’t exactly there in tgcf, though I’m torn on which one is “better.” This gave the story momentum, yes, but it also meant I was much more impatient in yi city and the 3zun flashbacks, because this isn’t what I was focused onnnnnn this is cool but how much longer will we BE HERE--

That being said, I think I’ll be more patient with those flashbacks on my next time through the book, now that I have a better picture of where everything is headed. I think the balance and structure of the book worked really well, I was setting myself up for self-sabotage because of the pace I was plowing through the thing. My reading habits didn’t lend themselves well to the nonlinear storytelling, and it speaks to the story’s strength that it held up that well despite me. And the CAST. My GOD. I went in not caring about anyone but Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji and maybe the jackass nephew, but... that Did Not Last. I didn’t intend to care about 3zun? Nope, too bad, you care so much now. Who cares about Xue Yang? Me. I care. Way too much. HECK!!!

And something that happens in this book and tgcf that was much less of a thing in svsss is that there are some meaningful holes in the story that I’d like to be filled, and I really care about filling-- and the story doesn’t go there. But it doesn’t leave me unhappy, it leaves me cheerfully scrabbling around in the throwaway details trying to piece together a picture of what happened when I wasn’t looking. What happened to Wei Wuxian in the burial mounds? How did Hua Cheng take control of the ghost city? Idk, but let us Rummage and theorize and roll around in ideas and have a fantastic, speculative time. Svsss might hook me more than the other stories from an au+shipping perspective, but mdzs and tgcf do a great job of making me want to roll around and create within the bounds of canon.

Heaven Official’s Blessing: 800 years ago, Xie Lian ascended to heaven. And fell. And rose again! And fell again. Now he’s ascended for the third time, and things are Awkward.

God, I just finished this, and I’m still reeling. This is the LONGEST mxtx book, that’s for sure. I also think it’s the most tightly edited translation. All the translators did an unbelievable job, I could never even approach what they accomplished, but I am genuinely stunned that a book this long was edited so well. I blew through this in about 3.5 days (if not for work, i could have made it in three dghsafdsgf) and my brain was cooking in my skull by the time I was halfway through, but I couldn’t STOP. I was ENCHANTED the entire time! I was reading so much my head was destroying me and I still sulked so HARD every time I had to put my phone down and sleep.

This book sprawls the hardest, I think, because it involves a cast made of mostly immortal/immortal-adjacent people, so time and space get... flexible. And I feel really bad saying this, because Lan Wangji is DEVOTED, but this is seriously the book with the most attentive and adoring and respectful love interest. Hua Cheng is..... god. I truly don’t think I’ve EVER read a character quite like him before, and I am so, so sad, because I don’t know how I’ll find one who lives up to these heights ever again XD I recommend reading this book just for the Hua Cheng experience, if nothing else. I was making audible noises at literally flailing at multiple points in the story, but most often, it was because of him. 

Shipping is what usually drags me into a fandom hardest, and all of these books do pretty well for themselves, all of them have a nice selection of fluffy and crunchy ships to choose from. And this one... goddammit. I just realized, that the best, most crunchy ships are too spoilery for me to be willing to talk about them here. Hell. Goddammit. But I think tgcf has the crunchiest ship of all, even better than xuexiao. I was so invested, and then there were Reveals, and then I was like OH NO THIS IS TERRIBLE BUT MY INVESTMENT HAS EXPONENTIALLY INCREASED. 

And something that I really, really appreciate, is that across the mxtx books, even though a lot of characters fit into strong archetypes, there’s nobody that is blurring together for me, either within or across the books. Liu Qingge isn’t Jiang Cheng isn’t Feng Xin. They’re all blunt, fighty boys, but all super distinct in my head, and what I want for each of them is distinct and character-driven. I want Liu Qingge to be properly cherished and I want Jiang Cheng to relax with his brother and nephew and I want Feng Xin to [goddammit i don’t want to spoil this book AGH]. It’s something I appreciated in the other books too, but I can really FEEL it in this book, with how long and luxurious it is. 

And last thing I have to say, I think, is that tgcf is so long. It’s so, so long. But I would FITE if anyone tried to pare it down at all. I can’t think of anything I’d be willing to sacrifice. I enjoyed every last piece of it so much, and it was all ultimately SO well-constructed and interlocking, that any piece I can think of snipping out would take away significant emotional impact from what was left. It’s a nonlinear story, like mdzs is nonlinear, and I loved mdzs a lot! But the construction here is so, so, so elegant. I’m just in AWE of how well it was assembled. I was in Agony as reveals happened, because oh no no no no, now that they’ve told me this, that casts this whole other scene in a brand new light! The one I read hundreds of thousands of words ago! Literally, I need to go start the book over so I can savor the shitty teens in new ways, given [redacted] as revealed in like, the last twenty percent of the book. The book was a fun experience, but there’s so Much here that I know I haven’t even absorbed yet. I loved the other mxtx books a lot, and in many ways, they were easier to get a grasp on than tgcf was, but even before I finished tgcf I was already despairingly trying to figure out how easily I could fit a full reread into my life, and I think that says a lot

[geneshaven]

A Slap To The Forehead

Here is my fic for the first theme, Revelation, of the Olicity Hiatus Fic-a-Thon 2018.  It is that moment at the end of 206 when Oliver finally realized that he did indeed have feelings for Felicity.  And that those feelings were a game changer between the two of them.

 Felicity stared at her screen, but she could make no sense of the data she was looking at or for. She only had one thing on her mind at the moment. It was only three days since they came back from Russia, since John and Lyla had been reunited and put back into each other’s arms. The whole mission could have gone bad---breaking into a Russian gulag was a bold move, but Felicity had participated in dozens of such moves since she had joined Oliver and John in their crusade to save Starling City. She knew all about the risks they took out in the field, of how the possibility of harm was just part of the whole package of being heroes.

But now that they were back, whenever Felicity closed her eyes, she saw Isabel slinking out of Oliver’s hotel room. She saw the sheepish look on Oliver’s face as he greeted her in the open doorway. Felicity tried to keep herself contained, even attempting to make the situation fickle by telling Oliver what happens in Russia, stays in Russia. To her, it changed the whole emotional impact of the mission, and maybe it also took her off her game for a couple of reflective moments.  In their bought extraction vehicle, she tried to let her feelings out, but she did not expect Oliver to explain his choice of the woman he slept with. True to his character, when she asked him why, he gave an answer that perhaps seemed self-protective when he replied by asking if they weren’t doing the whole when in Rome thing, or in this case, still being in Russia.

Oliver’s footsteps came toward her, as he left his office and came to her with seemingly only business on his mind. Felicity wondered if he had spent as much time as she has, reflecting on his actions, if he had given much thought to how, if any, harm was caused and if their growing bond had been overshadowed when he invited Isabel into his room.

Oliver came up to her desk and asked her if she would deliver some sort of company correspondence to Ms. Evil intentions. He did not appear to have any kind of remorse or guilt over what he did. He turned away and headed back to his office. Felicity suddenly could not contain herself and asked him why her.

There might have been a flicker on his face of taking responsibility for putting Felicity into the tail-spin she was in over all this. But he tried to assure her instead, telling her sleeping with Isabel was spur of the moment, that it didn’t mean anything to him. Felicity felt disappointment that he would try to casually explain his impromptu choice in sleeping partners. He told her because of his vigilante status, he could not really let himself care about someone he could truly let into his heart. Felicity was still not convinced, and as she rose to carry out Oliver’s task, she shook her head, as if clearing away ugly truths rampaging in her heart and mind.

Then she stopped herself, feeling the need to let Oliver know that despite his off-putting explanation, she still needed to let him know that he deserved better than Isabel. He looked at her as if she had given him something new to think about. Was it too much? Should she have kept her quiet dreams to herself and try to move away from the fact that it was her he deserved. Isabel was only a distraction, a metaphorical dipping of his toes into still waters, a way to release tension and let his responsibility to John and the whole reason they were in Russia take a backseat to his upcoming mission. Felicity wanted to reverse the tension between her and Oliver by opening up to him and showing him how much she was on his side, how much she cared for him. Working side by side as close as they have going on two years now, Felicity put herself out there and tried to let Oliver know that in spite of sleeping with Isabel, he was the man she wanted to be with, even if her feelings were only implied; at least to Oliver they would seem that way. The man was not stupid; he knew when someone or something was getting close to him. With the villains he took on every night, Oliver was in his element, but with matters of the heart, he was still drifting in the aftermath of his five year, soul-stripping experiences on Lian Yu.

Then Felicity turned away and left Oliver standing in front of her desk, a look of perplexity on his face as she moved off to help him keep up his appearance as CEO. Her skin almost crawled as she headed to Isabel’s office, as if she was going into an awkward confrontation.

*

Oliver watched Felicity walk away, and as she quietly moved further away from him, he could still feel her words plunging into his heart like a surge of truth. He saw in her eyes, when she told him he deserved someone better in his life, a bittersweet shine filling the beautiful blue gaze she gave him as she spoke her declaration. as if some kind of inner light had come on and shined out on Oliver, bathing him in luminescent feelings.

Did Felicity want to be that person? Was she having the same sort of issues in keeping pent-up feelings safely inside, lest they come bursting out and change everything between them? Oliver had to admit to himself that there had been some times over the last year and a half when he looked at her in that light. She was really the first woman in his life who took him in with tolerance and acceptance, letting him know that it was okay to sometimes miss the mark when it came to self-expression. She was his background, his voice of reason whenever he lost his way. Because Oliver was still learning, or being taught, that it was easier on his violent lifestyle to let his feelings out once in a while, he suddenly understood Felicity’s dismay over Isabel and why his actions would hurt her.

It was a brief epiphany as he stood by her desk and watched her walk away. Love can sometimes be more powerful than any weapon he might use out in the field. He never let himself be fully overpowered by its touch. Maybe Laurel moved him closer to it. Sara and Shadoe were also examples of how opening his heart was not a vulnerability. But he shattered that reality when he invited Sara along on the Gambit’s voyage, when he let Shadoe die because he could not make the impossible choice Ivo forced Oliver into making. Yes, he loved his mother and his sister, but that was safer than taking a chance by letting someone who did not know him as well as they did come inside. Oliver was still feeling the echoes of horror moving through him from his experiences on the island, and his later involvements with Amanda Waller and the Bratva. But what Felicity put out there just a few moments ago, her insight into what Oliver really needed in his life---it plunged him deeper into his thoughts and feelings and toward a revelation he felt was beginning to open him up to the possibility that maybe he could love Felicity. Maybe she was right. Maybe he did deserve someone in his life who was going to have his back, as well as his heart.

Oliver made himself move away from Felicity’s desk and headed back to his office. On the way, he took a taste of the sudden yearning to tell Felicity how he felt, and that those feelings were only for her.

It tasted like honey. And he was suddenly smothered by its promise of sweeter things to come.

@thebookjumper @hope-for-olicity @memcjo @almondblossomme @it-was-a-red-heeler @cruzrogue @olicityotp-always @wordslovedreams @bandanab310 @gabriellamarie97 @mylittlesimba @olicityinmyheart @tdgal1

[bluboothalassophile]

Could you do a fic where Raven and Jason are deciding who to invite to there wedding and they get an unexpected guests or guests

Hello,

I don’t know if this turned out how you want, but I had fun writing it and I hope you enjoy it! =)

Families of the Bride & Groom…

“Okay, so you have the Bats, I got Harley & Ivy,” Ravensaid.

“We’ll keep them separate,” Jason suggested.

“Mmm, which of us is getting Constantine?” Raven askedlooking up from the guest list. She and Jason had sorted out the guest list oftheir wedding weeks ago. Somethings were obvious, like the Bats were Jason’s family,Roy his best man; she had Harley, Ivy, Victor, and her family.

Others were a bit more challenging, like Constantine. Constantinewas like Jason’s uncle, and he was like her dad. No, Constantine wasn’t givingher away; that honor went to Victor Stone. Still, Jason and she had friends insimilar circles.

“You get him, he’s your dad,” Jason said.

“Are you sure, I mean, I know how much he means to you,”Raven pointed out.

“Yeah, I get Chas though,” Jason decided. “Zed already toldme; way before I even met you, how my wedding would be divided,” he shrugged.

“She didn’t leave you a master list, did she?” Raven asked.

“No, because I laughed at the mere thought of gettinghitched. When I asked who would be dumb enough to marry me, she threw hersketch pad at my head. She also told me I wasn’t marrying an idiot,” hegrumbled.

She smirked. “Zed at least knew I wasn’t an idiot.”

“Are you kidding little bird, pretty sure she saw you comingleagues away before we even crossed paths,” Jason chuckled looking wistful. “Soyeah, I was never getting Constantine, I get Chas.”

“Alright, maybe he and Vic can sort out who’s giving meaway,” Raven decided.

“Good luck,” he snorted.

She groaned as her head rested on the table. At theinsistence of her aunt, her uncle, and her grandfather, this wedding had turnedinto a circus event. A big Catholic wedding (Of course this was after Damian hadspilled the beans on her and Jason’s original wedding plans. So now they werehaving a family wedding at Uncle Jack’s insistence it was going to be a CatholicCeremony, else it’d be Jewish, at Alan’s insistence; Raven had found the middleground by just saying, Catholic wedding, Jewish party), Lucifer was paying, andhe had even selected the church. Yes, God was invited to this wedding, thoughRaven was praying he didn’t show.

“So, I have; Alice, Jack, Alan, Mary-Beth, Billy, Jessica,Mazikeen, Lucifer, Gabriel, Amenadiel, Azrael, Timmy, Teether, Melvin, Harley,Ivy, Constantine, and Vic; think God shall smite us or come to the wedding?”Raven said looking up from the papers.

“If he shows I’m punching him.”

She snorted, “Luci will probably pay money to see that.”

“You got them, I got Alfred, B, Cat, Dick, Mar'i, Jake, Tim,Steph, Cass, Babs, Duke, Damian, Terry, Helena, Roy, Lian, Chas, Artemis, Bizarro,Kyle, Donna,” he started.

“No, you can’t have Donna,” Raven said looking at her list. “Donna’smy maid of honor, you know, because…” she shrugged.

“Ah, right,” he nodded.

“You want Linda?”

“No, Linda’s with Lucifer, you have Linda,” he said.

“Hm… how about Garfield?”

“No.”

“He’s coming to the wedding.”

“Why?”

“Because he’s my friend.”

“He’s an ex!”

“Jason, two words: Rose Wilson!”

“So not even close to the same thing,” he muttered.

“You invited Rose, she invited Joe, and if you can have RoseI’d like Gar there.”

“Fine you can have Garfield,” he sighed.

“And Garth.”

“Why don’t we just invite the entire hero and villain community,shut off this list debate?” Jason suggested.

“No!”

“This was so much easier before we had to have a wedding!” Jasongroaned.

Raven sighed in agreement. Because their plan was simple,they would take a few family and friends to the courthouse, get married, thenhave the party with friends and family. Apparently though, that wasn’t allowedwith Damian Wayne; nope, the little Arabian Prince had gone overboard andannounced that this union would be proper with all the family there. No one inthe Bats had seen Damian so insistent on that point; honestly, he was the lastperson anyone expected to care about this matter.

Their door was thrown open which had Raven and Jason lookingup as Damian walked in, he was looking mighty haughty about something. Whichhad her eyes narrowing.

“I see you are going over the reservations for the guests,”he deduced.

“I hate this, what was wrong with our wedding plans!?” Ravendemanded sharply.

“Too simplistic, and this is a long awaited union.” The teensnapped with an authority he didn’t have.

“What Wait!?” Jason and she shouted. It wasn’t like theywere Bruce and Selina who had danced around each other for decades! And she andJason hadn’t been ducking each other, they were just friends first. The datingthing was a fluke that had accidentally worked out to this point. But the demonspawn (not her) had decided they needed a wedding; a big wedding since Jason proposed.

“You two imbeciles had avoid this for years,” Damian snapped.

Raven glared at him.

“Now, I came to request that I be allowed a plus one,” hestated.

“And who are you inviting!?’ Jason sputtered.

“A date.”

“Who!?”

“You will have to see, but as father said I was too young Icouldn’t have a plus one, so I have come to ask that you adjust the plans.” Damianlooked a bit bashful then.

Jason groaned as his head fell back. “Fine, fuck, fine!”

No shenanigans at this wedding Damian,” Raven warned.

“I would never!” he sputtered. Raven rolled her eyes.

“So, this plus one, add it to your side of the aisle Jay,”Raven decided.

“Why couldn’t you just take the Bats? They like you more,”he grumbled.

“You want Lucifer?”

“I’ll take the Bats.”

“I thought as much,” she sighed.

“You two have not finished the guest list?” Damian scowled.

“We’re at the divide and conquer phase of this,” Jason countered.

“Tt, should have finished this weeks ago,” he chided.

“You are welcome to sort this out for us!” Raven snapped.

He actually balked before hurrying out of the apartment.

“So, I got the demon spawn’s plus one, do you have God onyour side or not?”

“Yeah, I’ll take God if He shows. And damn that sounds weird.”

“The Supers, why are we inviting the Supers?”

“The same reasons the Flash and Arrows are coming,” Raven answereddryly.

“Fuck this was easier when it was just you and me to thecourthouse.”

[onceuponanolicity]

Still trying to catch up with this story. This chapter is for week 13 of the Olicity Hiatus Fic-A-Thon, for the prompt, Sleepless. 

                                                                                                   Determination Is…

           Determination was all about being resolute. Firm in your purpose. It was something that kept Oliver alive through the five hellish years he was away. It was what made him come home and deal with the people on his father’s list. It was that straight line thinking that made him sleepless most nights.

           However, last night the restlessness that kept him awake had everything to do with Tommy’s grin and shrug when Oliver had asked, for what had to be the hundredth time, if Felicity had called to confirm her attendance at the gala. He needed to see her. His peace of mind rested on that.

           “Are you sure you want her here?” Diggle asked as he shrugged into his suit jacket. “We don’t know exactly what the chief knows. And she still isn’t moving very quickly with her broken ankle.”

           “She’ll be fine, Digg.” Oliver said that to him more to reassure himself than his partner. “Between the two of us, we can keep an eye out for her.”

           “Even if things go south?”

           Oliver shuddered slightly, but tried not to let his friend see. He did not want to think about the fact that he might have put Felicity in danger. It was a fireman’s gala to raise money. What was the worst that could happen?

           It was later that Oliver reminded himself not to ask that again. Felicity had only just arrived when Oliver saw his opportunity to talk to the chief. Oliver led Laurel over determined to keep it short and to the point so he could make his way over to Felicity’s side.

           Only Garfield Lynns interrupted everything. He began to set the place on fire slowly. Everyone ran away panicked. That left things up to Oliver to calm down the situation. Only he would have to do it as The Hood, if he expected things to fall his way.

           Diggle seemed to be handling the evacuation. Laurel and Tommy were safe. What happened to Felicity was unknown, but she had been close to the door, so Oliver had to hope that she was one of the first ones out. It was with the thought of her on his brain that drove him to dress faster than he ever had before. He could only hope everyone, including Felicity, were safely outside the building, so that he could concentrate on getting Lynns to back down on his vendetta.

           Racing back up the stairs with his bow clenched tightly in his hand, Oliver found the place empty save the chief and Lynns. Oliver disregarded the fact that his club was burning in favor of trying to diffuse the situation that laid before him. Lynns didn’t seem like he would be happy until the chief was dead.

OQFSOQFSOQFS

           Felicity rushed over to Diggle when he came out of the building. She had been looking for him since people began to evacuate, but she knew he’d be one of the last to leave. He was not just Oliver’s partner, he was a bodyguard. Keeping people alive was his business. And from what Felicity knew of the man, he was good at his job. Look how well he had been handling Oliver so far. If Diggle could keep Oliver alive with all the crazy stuff he did, Felicity had hope for everyone else.

           “Is Oliver okay?” she asked as he reached her side.

           Diggle shrugged his wide shoulders. He grabbed her by the elbow and moved her to the side of the crowd so that their conversation would less likely be heard. “Last I saw him, he was heading downstairs.”

           “Who was that guy?” Felicity asked him, genuinely curious. “Was he on the list? Because I don’t remember…”

           Diggle sent her a look, but disregarded her trailed off statement. For now. “Garfield Lynns. He was a fireman years ago.”

           Felicity’s brows crunched together as she tried to recall who he was. Then it hit her. “Isn’t he supposed to be dead?”

           “He’s not as dead as most people would like to believe.” Diggle’s eyes caught on something over her shoulder. “I have to talk to Tommy. Hang tight. Oliver will take care of this. You might want to head home for the night. Everyone else will be going as soon as the investigators and police arrive to take their reports.”

           Grabbing his arm, Felicity had one more question. “At what cost? Last time Oliver went after someone he almost lost his life.”

           Diggle only shook his head leaving her there with dread hanging heavy over her heart. Yes, Oliver had already made a place there. Felicity hadn’t wanted to admit it even to herself because the last two men who had a place there left her. They had devastated her world. Considering the dangerous stuff that Oliver kept jumping into on a nightly basis, Felicity could see him leaving her too. Much more like Cooper had than her father. That thought did not make it any easier.

OQFSOQFSOQFS

           Oliver left his house after his family was assured of his safety. They tended to hover even more if he didn’t. But that was not where he wanted to be. He was pretty sure there was someone else who needed to see him, almost as much as he needed to see her. He wouldn’t be able to sleep at all tonight if he didn’t.

           Only a phone call from Laurel sidetracked him. Oliver was going to have to meet her. Pocketing that phone, Oliver pulled out his personal one. His finger hovered over the call button. No, he had to meet Laurel first before he committed to anything else.

           If Oliver had any clue it was a trap set up by Quentin Lance, he would have gone with his gut instinct and went to see Felicity. But, his distraction had faded his instincts. Maybe having Felicity around was dulling him. Then again, it was the thought that if he was caught that something might happen to her that made him run faster, jump further and escape. Because his other gut instinct told him that Felicity being together with Mercant wasn’t an unhappy accident.

           However, after Oliver had put Laurel in danger, in order to escape her father, he felt the need to circle back and check on her. Laurel still held a piece of him that he’d never lose. She was his first love and his friend. More than that, he had hurt her horribly when he invited Sara aboard the Queen’s Gambit causing Sara’s tragic death off the shores of Lian Yu.

OQFSOQFSOQFS

           Felicity snuggled down into her couch with a heavy throw on top of her. Her television was on but she stared through it. The night before had been chaotic enough. When she awoke that morning she had not felt like leaving her house. She was still in the pajamas that she had put in on the night before after washing off the smoky smell that had permeated her body from the fire.

           Oliver had never called. Never been in touch. Never bothered to make sure she was okay or let her know he was. Which told her exactly what he thought about the two of them. Felicity was no better than any other woman in his life, despite his words at Verdant the last time she had talked to him. Diggle, on the other hand, had sent a quick text to let her know things were fine. It had been the only communication she had.

           After the fire, Felicity had huddled off to the side of the crowd wondering, waiting. The fire chief had come out announcing The Hood saved him but not one person spotted his green hood. Diggle had disappeared, probably inside to check in with Oliver. That left her alone with a large group of people who she didn’t know. She had asked for her cab to return later that night, but the party had ended sooner than anticipated. In the end, it had been Oliver’s best friend and his ex who drove her home.

           Laurel had seemed confused by the situation. Tommy only smiled and assured Felicity they were fine going slightly out of their way to drop her off. He had been the one to make sure she had shown up after all. Felicity saw some level of responsibility in his eyes. One that should have at least landed on Oliver’s shoulders.

           Reluctantly, and with one last glance toward Verdant, Felicity had left with the pair. She slept that night with her phone clenched in her hand. It wasn’t until half way through her day that she received Diggle’s text. At least someone cared enough to let her know something. Too bad it hadn’t been Oliver.

           A throat cleared from next to her and Felicity jumped and yelped in fear. There was someone in her apartment. Her eyes shot over to the intruder. Oliver stood there decked out in his Hood gear. Even his bow was present in his hand. None of that mattered. He was safe.

           Felicity ran, okay limped quickly since her ankle was almost healed, over to him and flung herself into his arms, hugging him tight. His own arms came around to encircle her. She felt him toss the bow toward her couch and she looked up at him. “You’re okay?”

           “I’m fine.”

           Pulling back slightly, Felicity slapped him as hard as she could on his chest. His eyes narrowed and he yipped in pain. “What was that for?”

           “Because you’re fine.” Felicity walked away and sat on the edge of her couch crossing her arms. “You couldn’t call or text?”

           “I…” Oliver pulled back his hood so she could see his face. “You don’t know how many times I almost did.”

           “Diggle did.” Her accusation hung in the air between them.

           “I would apologize,” he told her honestly, “but I don’t think that’s what you are looking for.”

           “No, it’s not.” Felicity rose and went over to poke him in the chest with one of her fingers. “A text takes like three seconds. You couldn’t even spare me that.”

           “I needed to see you. To make sure you were okay. I figured you’d want the same.” His eyes softened as he eased her finger from his chest. “Your own text wasn’t good enough for me. I couldn’t breathe until I was here seeing you sitting there.” Oliver indicated the couch she abandoned, where his bow now rested.

           He sounded so lonely and tired. Yet, he also sounded resolute in what he was saying. Felicity had no choice. She had to believe him. “I missed you. And I worried all day long.”

           Oliver inclined his head. It was as if he knew, but more than that, it was as if he understood because he felt the same. She knew he’d never say it. He wasn’t that kind of person. Felicity had to search out the signs. She could only hope she didn’t read them wrong.

           He stepped closer. His eyes darkened while his head lowered. Felicity pushed up on her good leg meeting him halfway. Their lips touched softly. It was not a lustful kiss or even a romantic one. It was a kiss that satisfied their need to know the other was there, feeling the same way. A comfort to know that they were safe and together. Felicity could hug him until the world ended and it wouldn’t have been the same as that kiss.

           “I can’t lose you,” Oliver whispered against her lips.

           “Then stop pushing me away.” Felicity lowered to the ground and brought a hand up to sweep against his cheek. His eyes closed briefly at the contact as if memorizing the feel of her hand.

           Oliver’s eyes opened, the blueness of them penetrating her. “This is dangerous.” Oliver’s hands brushed up and down over his body, indicating his outfit. “I’m dangerous.”

           “You’re not,” she told him. “Not for me.”

           A smile tugged at the side of his mouth while he took a step back. “That’s just it. I’m not for you. You deserve better.”

           Felicity placed a hand on her hip and glared at him. “That’s not what I meant.”

           “I know, but it’s no less true.” Oliver walked around her and went to pick up his bow. “There’s a darkness inside me. You haven’t seen what I’m capable of. I’m a killer. A monster.” He turned back to face her. “That’s not for you.”

           Crossing her arms again, Felicity let her own anger show. It frustrated her that he honestly believed that. Like she could not make up her own mind on how she wanted to proceed with whatever relationship they pursued. “But it was for Laurel? For Helena?”

           Oliver snorted. “Helena has her own darkness.”  

           “And Laurel?”

           “I was in love with Laurel for a long time.” Oliver fell heavily onto the side of Felicity’s couch, his bow between his legs. “I thought maybe once I came back… That maybe I could be with her, but I can’t.” His eyes rose to hers. “I’m not sure if I deserve to be with anyone.”

           Felicity let her arms fall heavily to her sides. He was serious. Oliver honestly believed he was destined to be alone. She walked the few steps that stood between them. She lowered herself to her knees next to his bow and gripped his legs, squeezing them while she maintained the eye contact they established. “What you deserve is to be happy. Everyone deserves that. No matter what they may have done in the past.”

           “Not me.” His voice was dejected, hallow.

           Rising quickly, Felicity took Oliver off guard when she shoved his shoulders with all of her might. He fell back onto her couch. Oliver sputtered, dropping the bow from his hand onto the floor with a clatter. She had to step over it as she came around the couch. He was just pushing himself up when she sat next to him.

           “What the hell was that for?” His expression held utter disbelief that she had even tried.

           “Because you’re an idiot.”

           “Thanks.” One of his eyebrows rose as he tried to figure out whether she was being sarcastic.

           Felicity shook her head at him. She couldn’t do much more than that. Oliver was obtuse. Rising slightly so he could shift his legs, she lowered herself onto them than her resuming her previous position next to him. His eyes grew wide at the boldness of her action.

           “What are you doing?”

           Wrapping her arms around his neck, Felicity shifted closer so she could be comfortable on his lap. “Proving you can be happy.”

           “I’m not having sex with you.” His voice was gruff and deep, but his hands came up to rest on her hips.

           Felicity would have laughed if she was not slightly offended. Oliver sounded like he was trying to talk and swallow his tongue at the same time. “You don’t want to…” Felicity began to scoot back but his hands held her there, locking her into place. “I’m not… I mean sex would be nice… I’ve thought about it,” Felicity stammered, blushing. “But, happiness is not just sex.”

           “I more than thought about it,” Oliver admitted softly. His hips shifted up and Felicity felt exactly what he was talking about. “God, Felicity. You’re going to kill me.”

           His forehead fell against hers. Oliver’s eyes shuttered. His face somehow managed to soften and tighten at the same time. He was fighting a war that raged within himself. His hands ran up and down her bent legs that surrounded his own briefly stopping as they brushed over the cast she still wore. If he didn’t want to have sex he sure as hell was going about this the wrong way.

           Before she had another thought, Felicity was flipped over on her back, flat on the couch. Oliver lay over her, but not one inch of him touched her. His hands were uneven as one lay next to her hip and the other on the back of her couch. His toes on the edge of the couch where he once sat kept him in that position. His body didn’t even tremble at the effort as he held himself like that above her. Oliver’s eyes took in every inch of her. She’d be lying if she said she did not do the same to him.

           “You’re beautiful.” It was his voice that trembled. The only sign of weakness in his taunt state.

           “So are you.” She had not meant to say that out loud. Felicity didn’t regret that she did because it was what led him to finally relax and settle into her.

           “My boots are on,” he said by way of apology after a mind drugging kiss.

           “I don’t care.” Felicity wrapped her arms around him.

           He nodded. That was it. That was all the permission Oliver needed before he let passion sweep over him. Felicity was here. She was in his arms finally. She wanted him as much as he wanted her. It didn’t matter whether he came to her as Oliver Queen or The Hood. Felicity was one of the few people who accepted him. Him entirely. The good and the bad. The only other person who had done that was Diggle. Not even Helena had been capable of it.

           Oliver felt Felicity’s hand hesitantly rest at the zipper of his jacket. He gently pushed her hand away and jerked the zipper down. Oliver needed her to touch him. To see him. He half wondered in his fog of desire how she would react to his scars.

           There was nothing to worry over. Felicity barely took notice. Oh, he knew she knew they were there. Her small hands skimmed over them, but it was like they didn’t matter anymore than his eye color. Oliver had never felt so open and vulnerable, and Felicity just lay there and accepted him, flaws and all.

           Slashing his lips over hers, he surged forward so he could feel what she did to him. Oliver felt safe and sheltered here in her arms. Never had he felt like that while having sex, or really ever before, save in his childhood. All his other sexual experiences were more about getting off. There had been a few instances that it meant more, but it had not been like this. Never fully a give and take, where he cared more about the person he was with than himself. Felicity allowed him that. She’d allow him so much more if he wanted it. He knew that in his bones. But he felt no need to take advantage of that fact. Felicity was much more important.

           Maybe that was what love was about. If it was, Oliver only now realized he had never felt it before. Not like this. Which made him come to one reality that shook him to his core. He was in love with Felicity Smoak.

@almondblossomme @thebookjumper @olicityhiatusficathon @memcjo @miriam1779

[babewith-abow]

RULES. Repost, do not reblog! Tag 10! Good luck! 

 Tagged by: @thebrokenrobin​ 

 Tagging: @biestmodus, @theredhoodoutlaw, @lucklessprincess, @billyandhismultiples, @eclairegrey, @redcladnerd, @bcrnentertainer

 BASICS. 

 FULL NAME:Artemis Lian Crock 

 NICKNAME(S): Artemis, Arty(Artie), Blondie, Tigress

AGE: 26

BIRTHDAY: May 29th (Ares)

ETHNIC GROUP: Mixed (Vietnamese and Caucasian) 

NATIONALITY: American 

LANGUAGE: Multilingual (English) 

SEXUAL ORIENTATION: Bi-sexual 

ROMANTIC ORIENTATION: Demiromantic  

 RELATIONSHIP STATUS: Single (getting over the loss of a love)/Verse Dependent 

 CLASS: Middle 

 HOME TOWN/AREA: Gotham City, New Jersey  

CURRENT HOME: House in Palo Alto, California 

PROFESSION: Vigilante Crimefighter/ Part Time ER Doctor

 PHYSICAL.

 HAIR: Long waist length fair amber blonde hair, with her ‘identity collar’ it shortens to shoulder length and turns jet black.

EYES: Dark Thundercloud Gray, with her ‘identity collar’ they turn almond shape but seem to retain the same shade of gray.

NOSE: Straight-Edge

FACE: Heart shaped 

LIPS: Full with a defined cupids bow.

COMPLEXION: Tanned 

BLEMISHES: Rare, usually stressed caused

 SCARS: Multiple and varies by verse, the most prominent one on her cheek from the dagger Harm attacked her and Zatanna with during her youth. In the verse V: Living a nightmare; she becomes reckless in life which results with more intense scars. in the verse V: Never saved; Her eariler scars are caused by her father or herself.

 TATTOOS: Verse dependent. Usually simplistic bolt of lightning or arrow on her rib cage.  

PIERCINGS: Verse dependent, but always has single simple first hole ear piercings . 

HEIGHT: 5′5″ 

WEIGHT: 138 lbs 

 BUILD: Slender, Athletic

FEATURES: Fiery ‘i dare you’ look in her eyes, the skin of one corner of her mouth is a fraction darker from it being torn open and force to heal naturally

 ALLERGIES: None

 USUAL HAIR STYLE: Pulled back in a low pony tail. 

 USUAL FACE LOOK: Slightly hostile or annoyed/bored. 

 USUAL CLOTHING: Archer uniform- A midriff-baring costume that highlighted her build. Its colored in various shades of green and consisted of a mask extending from the hairline to the cheekbones, a sleeveless top with a stylized arrow tip on the front, fingerless gloves, pants with black knee pads, and black combat boots. A black utility belt and pouch strapped on her left leg filled with assorted tools, a quiver along her back with a bow and a multitude of multi-purpose arrows. Tigress uniform- a predominantly burnt orange and black costume, with a hard orange mask that covers her forehead, nose and cheeks resembling a stylized tiger’s face. A black sheath behind her back which stores her sword and also wears a black belt to store her weapons.  Civilian clothing- A dark colored crop top adored with some colored (usually brown), slim, leather jacket and dark washed jeans with dark brown or black heeled boots.

 PSYCHOLOGY. 

 FEARS: Drowning, Losing her breath, Losing people to death, dying alone, being alone forever, ending up like her parents.

 ASPIRATIONS:  To make sure to bring good to the world everyday (find someone to dedicate the rest of  her life to).

 POSITIVE TRAITS: Empathetic, Kind-hearted, Loyal, Dedicated, Loving, Street and Book smart, Accepting

 NEGATIVE TRAITS: Stubborn, short-tempered, aggressive, forceful, closed off, envious

ZODIAC: Ares

TEMPERAMENT: Choleric 

 SOUL TYPE: The Warrior  

VICE HABITS: Biting her nails, pulling her hair, picking at her scars

 FAITH: She doesn’t know what’s up there but she hopes there’s something, there should be with all the crazy shit that she’s seen in life.

GHOSTS: Was skeptical until the day she met Greta, she still tries to visit her grave and leave her flowers.

 AFTERLIFE: She hopes, but doubts. 

 REINCARNATION: Anything is possible with the events she’s gone through in life  

ALIENS: Her best friend is a martian so yes. 

 POLITICAL ALIGNMENT: She barely had time for college never mind voting or keeping up with campaigns.

 ECONOMIC PREFERENCE: She lived in the same run down apartment in the same crime prone neighborhood for 17 years of her life, she doesn’t care. 

SOCIOPOLITICAL POSITION: She doesn’t care because she doesn’t care to get close to a lot of people

EDUCATION LEVEL: Master’s in Human Biology and Bachelors in Comparative Literature from Stanford University

 FAMILY.  

FATHER:  Lawrence Crock

 MOTHER: Paula Nguyen-Crock 

 SIBLINGS: Jade (Crock) Nguyen

 EXTENDED FAMILY: Lian Nguyen-Harper (Niece), Roy Harper (Brother in law)

 NAME MEANINGS: The true meaning is unknown and possibly related to greek words  αρτεμης (artemes) “safe” or αρταμος (artamos) “a butcher”

HISTORICAL CONNECTION: Artemis was the greek goddess of the moon and hunting, the twin of Apollo. 

 FAVORITES

 ANIMALS: Dog’s more so the big an medium built not the small breeds, Orca whales, African Wild Dogs and Hyenas

FAVORITE DEITY: Anubis the jackle headed deity associated with mummification and the after life in Egyptian religion or Athena the goddess of wisdom , craft, and war.

MONTH: Any month other then June

SEASON: Autumn 

 PLACE: Star City

WEATHER: Cool and Cloudy 

SOUND: Thunderstorms

SCENTS: Lavender, Singed clothing, Irish spring (Deodorant Soap), Amber, Ylang Ylang, ‘Dragon’s Blood’. 

TASTES:  Her mothers Pho recipie and spicy things

 FEELS: Friendship. Love. Hope. Acceptance.

 NUMBER: 12 

 COLORS: Rich Ocean Blues, Light and Emerald Greens, light yellows and dark purples

EXTRA. 

TALENTS: Expert Archer and Swords-woman, trained in multiple weapons handling and in improvising things as weapons. trained in numerous fighting styles. took art lessons.

 BAD AT: Letting people in, getting over things/forgiving, getting things done in a timely fashion, taking care of herself.

TURN ONS: People who can take what’s she’s giving (Arty loves being a dom though she is a great sub), hickies, surprisingly spanking

 TURN OFFS:  Uncleanliness/ Bad Hygiene

 HOBBIES: Traveling, conquering her fear of water by learning to surf, running, reading, archery, musicals, boxing.

 FC INFO. 

 MAIN FC/S: Natalie Dormer, Hayley Kiyoko

 ALT FC/S: Candice Accola 

OLDER FC/S:Blake Lively 

YOUNGER FC/S: Lily-Rose Depp

 VOICE CLAIM/S: Stephanie Lemelin

[wolforion20]

Love at the Aegean Sea follows a young musician who dreams of going to Greece. When her dream is actually realized, everything that can go wrong does. To top off the nightmare, two new men come into her life. One is a carefree man afraid of airplanes and police and the other is a rich man yearning for freedom and to escape his parents’ rigid control. Will something good come from the vacation from hell?

Guan Xiao Tong [South Korean actress Chae Rim] dreams that she is rescued at sea by a man whose face she cannot see. When she surfaces, the land of her dreams is before her eyes—Santorini, Greece. This dream is interrupted by the sound of an alarm clock ringing. Xiao Tong immediately springs out of bed as she realizes what day it is. As she busies herself getting ready she keeps calling for her older cousin to wake up. Hui Wen [Chen Zi Ying] shows no signs of moving. When Xiao Tong urges her yet again, Hui Wen complains of a pain in her stomach.

Xiao Tong struggles with her and her cousin’s suitcases as she heads to the hospital. There the doctor says Hui Wen is suffering from appendicitis. She can still travel right? Hui Wen then apologizes and the doctor says rest is needed for this. Ummmm, no. How can Xiao Tong not see through this as a blatant lie? Surgery is needed for appendicitis, not rest. Couldn’t they have chosen something else? Anywho, Xiao Tong is not happy. They’ve been planning this for months. Can Hui Wen try to suck it up and go? Nope. Besides, Xiao Tong will have Dong Da Wei [Wang Yu] and his friend to accompany her. This does not make Xiao Tong any happier.

When she arrives at the airport, Xiao Tong finds Da Wei practicing asking Hui Wen to be his girlfriend. She breaks the news that her cousin is not coming and Da Wei is crushed. Xiao Tong then asks after Da Wei’s friend. Where is he? Da Wei then breaks the news that he searched online for another male traveling companion. Xiao Tong is floored. So much for her free and easy vacation. The two wait in misery for their third party to join them. When he does finally arrive, he is carted in drunker than a skunk by his friends. They tell them that Li Yao Xiang [Taiwanese actor Peter Ho] is fearless…except when it comes to planes. He’s terrified of flying, so they accompanied him to drink all night to calm his nerves.

Xiao Tong unhappily takes his passport and stands in line to check in. When she asks for Da Wei’s passport he fakes looking for it and then said he must have forgotten it. Say what? He then abandons poor Xiao Tong to travel to Greece by herself with a drunk stranger that she knows nothing about. What is Da Wei doing? Seeking out his beloved Hui Wen, of course! I guess…at least he confirmed with Yao Xiang’s friend that he is a good person whose only vice is drinking…but can you really believe in someone you just met and let a strange man travel alone with your beloved’s cousin?

So, what is Xiao Tong’s cousin doing? She faked being ill and got her senior doctor friend to help her so she can be with her boss! She’s been working for him since she graduated and since he started his architecture firm. He just lost a big bid and is down in the dumps so she stayed to encourage and help him. Lu Liang Ping [Shi Da Sheng] is happy to see Hui Wen, but surprised. Why isn’t she on her way to Greece? She simply tells him that something came up. The people were blind that rejected him. Liang Ping says they were not. This time his plan was lacking. Next time it will be flawless. Hui Wen then takes him to the top of a building and starts mapping out all the wonderful things they will build together. She really like him even though he’s old enough to be her father.

On the plane, Yao Xiang vomits nonstop and Xiao Tong is forced to take care of him. He even throws up on her hand! Xiao Tong apologizes saying she just met him and had no idea he’d be like this. Once he stops vomiting, he apologizes for throwing up on her and then begins stripping. What a great start to their relationship, isn’t it? Can they survive travelling together alone in Greece? Later, Yao Xiang is dressed and everyone save the sleeping him are wearing oxygen masks. His head falls on Xiao Tong’s shoulder and she pushes it off.

Liang Ping drops Hui Wen off at home where a worried Da Wei waits. He comes with roses since Xiao Tong said her cousin wasn’t feeling well. He angrily scolds Hui Wen’s boss for forcing a sick person to work. This shames Liang Ping. If he had known she was not feeling well, he wouldn’t have had her accompany him and assign her work. He leaves and Hui Wen lights into Da Wei for interfering since she’s perfectly healthy. She calls him brainless and walks away.

In Greece, before we find our bickering travel companions, we meet another young man [Alec Su as Lu En Qi]. Is receives a phone call. Has it started yet? He assures the other party that he will not be late. We then cut to Yao Xiang and Xiao Tong. Yao Xiang is feeling refreshed while Xiao Tong is worn out. She didn’t get any sleep at all with the whole cabin reeking of Yao Xiang’s drunk stench. He looks taken aback but then says it happens when a person drinks. He then sees a pretty girl and exclaims over the bodies of the Greek women. Xiao Tong shakes her head and curses her luck. Yao Xiang finally realizes there is only two of them. Where are the other two? LOL.

At an auction, a jade dragon sculpture from the Ming Dynasty is brought out. Bidding begins as En Qi roars up in his convertible. He and another Chinese woman drive the bid higher and higher. The woman looks more and more nervous until she is finally outbid by a European man. As soon as the auction is over, En Qi rushes out and rides off. He gets a call from the woman who is his mother [Fu Yi Wei as Zhou Mei Ling]. He scared her to death when he got the bid up to 250,000 Euros. Luckily they were outbid. So what is her son up to now? He is getting a gift for Lian Yi Qian [Bao Yi Lin] who lent her name so that En Qi could participate in the auction. His mother praises him for his good sense.

On the bus, Yao Xiang starts yelling at a pretty girl out the window. This embarrasses Xiao Tong and she calls him a low class country bumpkin. Of course, when she catches site of the Acropolis, she acts just as unrefined as he did. They get off the bus uncertain of what to do next. Yao Xiang cannot read the map and Xiao Tong’s anger and intolerance goes up another notch. Yao Xiang admits this is his first overseas trip. Ok. Did he at least do his homework? Homework? This is a vacation, not some exam. Yao Xiang then scolds him for not understanding the meaning of a “free and easy vacation.” I mean, yes, preparations need to be made to go overseas, but Yao Xiang has a point as well, don’t you think?

Xiao Tong rushes off in the direction of ruins with Yao Xiang being the voice of reason. They haven’t found their accommodations yet. They should do that first. Xiao Tong ignores this and says they can just walk there (even though they don’t know where to go). She continues on towards the ruins when a group of children dressed in costume spit at her. What? Xiao Tong is upset. Yao Xiang tells her to calm down. It’s part of a carnival ritual where their spit is their good wishes. When the kids persist in wanting to spit at them, Yao Xiang returns the favor, but soon runs out of saliva.

We then cut to En Qi in a jewelry store looking for a present for Yi Qian. His eyes settle on a gold necklace called Plato’s Eternity. He chooses this. Meanwhile, Yi Qian is being pursued by men and Yao Xiang and Xiao Tong are really lost. Soon paths of these travelers will converge! Xiao Tong wants to ask the police for help, but that just freaks Yao Xiang out so he grabs her arm and runs which causes the police to give chase—only the guilty would run, right?

Yao Xiang and Xiao Tong are separated during this melee. He promises to come back for her and keeps running. In fact, he runs right into Yi Qian who was calling for help because of the men stalking her. The two me escape while poor Yao Xiang is dragged to the station. Meanwhile, Xiao Tong is crossing a road when her suitcase breaks. She bends to fix it and thus En Qi is not aware she is there and nearly crashes into her. While he does not hit Xiao Tong, her suitcase goes flying and her clothes break free. This is not her day. En Qi gets out of the car and checks on Xiao Tong. He finds her squatting in the road unharmed. He apologizes and she immediately lights into him for his driving. He apologizes again. Xiao Tong rushes over to her battered suitcase and starts picking up her things. En Qi again apologizes and tries to help, but Xiao Tong refuses. Her luck is just bad. She then tears up and cries that if Hui Wen jie was there, everything would be fine. En Qi seems to be at a loss when he sees her crying.

Meanwhile, Yao Xiang is released and leaves the station with Yi Qian who scolds him for running for no reason. Yao Xiang then scolds her for yelling for help. Now he’s also wasted his time and lost his friend. Where can he possibly find her? Yi Qian bids him farewell. He follows her to the street and wonders where in the world he is. Yi Qian is not unfeeling. She asks if he has the address for his guest house. He does. Yi Qian is certain his friend will make her way there, so she will see to it that he gets there safely, too. Yi Qian hails a cab and the two get in. The driver then stops to let in a woman, her son, and a giant dog. Yao Xiang is squished in the back seat getting drooled on. Another culture shock for him.

When they arrive at the guest house, Yi Qian asks if he needs help getting a room. He knows English, right? Yao Xiang declines her help. He can do this much himself. He asks for her name and then gives his. Yi Qian leaves and he practices a few phrases of simple English before confidently heading in. At this time, En Qi and Xiao Tong arrive in his convertible. She thanks him for sending her to the guest house and goes to get out accidentally stepping on the jewelry bag. She picks it up and dusts it off, apologizing as she hands it over to him. She gets out and drags her bag. Since it is busted, she must pick it up instead of wheeling it. En Qi feels guilty. He should really replace it since he broke it. Xiao Tong says she was at fault, too, so there is no need. She goes to head inside, but he calls out for her to wait. He then takes the necklace and gives it to her as payment. He heads off before she can give it back, promising to drive safer. She opens the bag and is shocked to see an expensive necklace. Too much.

Xiao Tong rushes inside when she hears Yao Xiang’s loud voice trying to communicate in a mix of Mandarin and English. Inside, Yao Xiang is having trouble communicating with the owner. Apparently she gave away their reservations since they were late. There is only one room left and Xiao Tong mercilessly claims it for herself telling Yao Xiang to sleep in the lobby. Harsh. These two just refuse to get along. Shakes head. The owner had to stop the two from arguing incessantly so she can get a word in edgewise.

Yi Qian is preparing an elaborate Greek dinner and apologizes to Mei Ling for it not being ready. Mei Ling waves it off as being okay since En Qi has not arrived yet. This disappoints Yi Qian. Mei Ling says he is running late since he is buying Yi Qian a gift. Really? That must be Aunt Mei Ling’s doing, right? Mei Ling swears it was En Qi’s own idea as a thank you for helping them. Mei Ling then asks if En Qi has contacted Yi Qian since arriving in Greece. She shakes her head no. Enter En Qi who is scolded for being late. He apologizes saying he was walking around an Yi Qian says he should have told her so she could be his tour guide. He promises to do so next time. Yi Qian tells him she made his favorite dishes. He says he will go upstairs first to freshen up and then join them.

As he unpacks later, his mother enters his room and asks after the gift for Yi Qian. En Qi lies. He almost hit someone in the road and completely forgot. I guess it would sound bad that he gave away her present to another woman as compensation. This earns him a scolding from his mother. She also criticizes him for wearing his shirt half unbuttoned. She starts buttoning it up and he stops her, finishing it himself. She goes to leave and then turns to remind him to get that present and treat Yi Qian well as Mei Ling has chosen Yi Qian as her future daughter-in-law. A very domineering mother. Yeesh. Don’t like her. En Qi is a grown man, let him make his own decisions already.

Xiao Tong’s attitude grates in the first few episodes, but you can’t completely blame her 100%. It is hard when things are turned topsy turvy and she really didn’t start off on the right foot with Yao Xiang. That said, since they are stuck together for the remainder of their trip, she should have tried a little harder to be nicer to him. He should have also tried to be more understanding and a little less clueless. He is rash, but ultimately a good person. Yi Qian is a sweet woman, but that doesn’t make it right for En Qi’s mother to shove the woman down En Qi’s throat.

Love at the Aegean Sea Episode 1 Recap Love at the Aegean Sea follows a young musician who dreams of going to Greece. When her dream is actually realized, everything that can go wrong does.