#and can they fully form memories out of nothingness
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random plot
#from that dumbass thing i sent cy about antarctica#basically#fucken#a bunch of researchers get pulled into interrogation about a corpse found at their lab#and everyone has a different explanation or lack of for why it’s there#come to find out it’s some bs horror shit where some overarching company is trying to test suggestion on memory#and can they fully form memories out of nothingness#i’ve been watching too much outlast lore videos probably#but it seems like a fun thing that i’ll also never write#s: operation neith
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Prompt: Gym Shorts (Discord Drabble)
Eddie secures his black bandanna on his head and licks his lips in anticipation.
He thinks he should probably do some star jumps or something.
That's what jocks do, right? Get all pumped up and possibly too sweaty and exhausted before a game of good ol' fashion Laundry Baskets?
That's right, he's here to... He gulps up at the basketball hoop... Play a round of baskets with Steve.
He glares at the hoop – hanging there all mockingly over his head like the Sword of Fucking Democles as his mind conjures up images of Steve sweating, what usually makes Steve sweat when Eddie has anything to do with it –
" – You ready?"
His opponent sounds rightfully cocky and Eddie remembers his worry, his nerve endings twisting up as his pea-brain melts into a swirling vortex of memories of gym class.
Jocks yelling at him... Coach Summers and that dumb whistle of his (Eddie did tell the asshole where he could shove it on more than one occasion)... The awkward rituals of the locker room – the fine line between trying to keep to himself and not being too isolated and weird about it... Sticking close to Jeff, who at least had the cred of being on the Swim Team...
But those thoughts quickly fall onto the scorching-hot asphalt of the Harrington's driveway when Eddie turns around and is confronted by Steve's shorts.
They are teeny-tiny, like a pair of green hot-pants that have been painted on. Eddie is sure his eyes pop out of his skull and burst into nothingness like he is some sort of Looney Tunes character as he looks down, further down and fully takes in... well...
Steve isn't exactly looking all that modest in these life-ruining, heart-exploding shorts, is the thing.
In fact, Eddie can see the outline of his boyfriend's dick.
"What the fuck are you wearing?" he blurts as his attention snaps back up to Steve's face.
He presses the back of his hand to his clammy forehead, his stupid bandanna doing nothing as the summer heat overwhelms him.
Steve smirks, "Just my gym shorts."
He puffs out his chest, which is covered by an equally form-fitting yellow tank top.
"Oh, really?" Eddie is supposed to sound annoyed, but it comes out a little more like he is gasping for air. He folds his arms and adds, "And you always wear this very ensemble for a casual game of Sporting Ball?"
"Mhmm," Steve nods emphatically, a glint twinkling in his gorgeous brown eyes.
Eddie purses his lips and tucks his balled-up fists in his armpits, folding in on himself as he succumbs to his –
Steve props a hand on his hip and turns around, popping out his ass as he goes. Twirling like a goddamn model and revealing a back view that showcases a bottom sliver of his plump, biteable cheeks.
"Screw this," Eddie splutters, throwing his hands in the air before he launches himself at his partner.
"Huh?" Steve grunts as Eddie crashes into him.
He places his upturned palms square on each cheek with a little smack and squeezes. Steve pushes back into his touch, grinding against him.
"We are going back inside," Eddie whispers through gritted teeth.
"Awww..." Steve tuts, all high-pitched and far too obscene for the great open doors, "Thought you were gonna play baskets with me?"
#steddie#steve harrington#eddie munson#steddie ficlet#lilys drabbles#stwgdailyprompt#👕🧥#sportsball eddie 🏈
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Why the "Prime Energy?"
In Echoes of Wisdom, we encounter the Triforce for the first time in a long time (in its usual state, anyway). But something that stood out to me (and a lot of people, I'm sure) was the title it went by: The Prime Energy. It's not something we've heard before, so we have to wonder: why? I obviously can't give a "canon" answer, but I do have some ideas.
Energy in Echoes of Wisdom
Throughout EoW, we collect little blue crystalline shapes called "energy." This replenishes the gauge that allows Zelda to use her swordfighter form. These crystals are found throughout the Still World and appear tied to Might Crystals, which also appear from the rifts (but only when they close). We use them to upgrade the sword and bow themselves.
There are two safe assumptions we can make about Energy:
Might Crystals are the "purified" form of energy or something close to it (its resemblance to bismuth "crystals" seems to hammer in this implication).
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"Energy" is the essence we see Null consume in Din's tale. It appears on its own even before land and sky are built around it. Because of this and the association to might and vitality, this essence must be that of life itself. (Perhaps Zelda's role as a Priestess is what allows her to use this energy in its raw form and gain that supernatural state, unlike Link?)
How may the Triforce relate to this idea of energy?
We know that Din, Nayru, and Farore go on to create the land of Hyrule (or what would become MANY Hyrules over time) to seal Null and prevent its destruction of all life. In A Link to the Past, Ocarina of Time, and Skyward Sword, we are told the Triforce is left behind in the wake of this world's creation (creation over the void, in the context of EoW).
The Triforce has the ability to judge those who use it (even going as far as to prevent deities from using it) and its essence speaks to Link in ALttP. Although it may not be "alive" in the same way most mortal characters are in the series, it has a will. This will knows not of good and evil, only of the traits each piece is meant to embody.
We also know that the Triforce has dominion over said world and beyond, being able to shape realms by its wish-granting and power-giving abilities. Hence, the idea of "prime." And, in Lorule of A Link Between Worlds, we can see just how much the rest of the world depends on the Triforce's existence for its energy to be sustained.
EDIT: Don't forget the Force Gems in FSA! They further emphasize the ideas above in the same way!
It's also worth noting that the Tris are tied to the idea of threes, and they are the idea of "existence" to Null's "nothingness." They reinforce the idea of the Triforce's embodiment of "being."
The "Prime Energy" is the Triforce's true name and original state - its intended title. "Then," You may ask, "Why have we called it the Triforce up until this point?"
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Why the Triforce?
It is after the three leave that Hylia is brought into existence with the sole purpose of protecting the Prime Energy. But there's an important detail many overlook:
Hylia doesn't know the purpose of the Triforce.
Not fully, anyway.
Yes, Hylia knows how it works - her whole plan to defeat Demise revolves around it - but she still has questions. Even with all of her memories restored, the first Zelda states that she doesn't know why the Triforce was left behind. She guesses that it was to give the people of the world Hope (perhaps even against world-destroying entities like Null, should he break free...). Even then, it's only a guess.
Doesn't it stand to reason, then, that she wasn't even given its name? After all, she was only created to understand and protect the golden power; perhaps even as an "extension" of its being, given her often implied powers over light and time magic (but that's just a personal headcanon). Perhaps "Triforce" is simply what she took to calling it, as she still could recognize that it was something beyond the nature of the mortal world. (Also, I see it reasonable that she could see Tris - she probably saw them patching rifts and drew a connection between them, which influenced the name).
And, in the thousands of years to follow, wars become waged over the Prime Energy as it is understood only as a relic: a relic meant to give ultimate power to the one who touches it.
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Conclusion
The Prime Energy is the true name of the Triforce, and it is the core to the many realms of Hyrule. Its nature has been misunderstood by many throughout its existence, but none of these ideas are truly false; it holds dominion over time and space while simultaneously keeping it together. It is an essence of the very concept of "life," and as such holds a sort of "will" of its own. It is the ultimate state of the Energy we see everywhere else in Echoes of Wisdom, and Hylia may not be far off - despite being a neutral force that begins and ends wars, it may just be personification of the idea that life will prevail. Although the worlds in this franchise may be scorched and healed, they are never meant to fade into nothingness like Lorule once verged. They are simply meant to be.
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to those who may have scrolled to the bottom because this is unnecessarily long, it's basically just what its name was supposed to be when the three created it but then they just sort of forgot to tell hylia that or anything else lol. also it may just be a personification of existence like the fittingly-named tris.
I love love love solving little Zelda lore puzzles, I may do this again. :) I just HAD to lore dump when a friend asked me about it
#major spoilers#spoilers#echoes of wisdom spoilers#eow spoilers#eow#echoes of wisdom#nocturne's rambling#missing lore#album of hyrule#nocturne's headcanons#mini(sh) details#hyrule's gossip stones#the lore of hyrule#the beauty of hyrule#legend of zelda#loz#tloz#the legend of zelda#wise heart of hylia#zelda#triforce#the prime energy#the triforce#eow headcanons#eow tri#hylia#eow null#zelda hylia#skyward sword#a link to the past
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KISSES FROM THE DARK ─── chigiri hyoma × fem! reader
about. from one injured soul to another, there came the unending hershey's kisses as a love language. angst, mentions of death, minor mentions of religious themes. family issues, reader is a basketball player. wc of 3000+
notes. im very close to taking my wattpad oneshots and slapping it onto tumblr ( those angsts ) not proofread, try your best to ignore any spelling or grammar mistakes.
CHIGIRI HYOMA in that moment, felt like complete trash that was supposed to be taken to the main facility for further destruction. never had he felt such humiliation and dirty embarrassment in front of millions of people before.
the boy who everyone thought was going to be a star that would take over the history of japan's football. the prodigy who excelled in speed. the star football player that managed to make a name for himself in such a short time.
all of the image of victory had cracked and crumbled into millions of tiny pieces. memories of his successful days were shoved into a void of endless darkness.
like a broken doll that was abandoned at the corner— left to forget into nothingness, chigiri laid on the hospital bed, his deep pink eyes locked to the ceiling.
his emotions were all over the place, haunting him to the core of his soul. anger, frustration, devastation, regret, and so on. so much that he didn't exactly know what to feel, but he knew he felt like complete trash.
alone in this dark room with no one else to look at his broken state, chigiri was at the least.. glad. that no one would see him like that. in this pathetic little state.
that is… until his hospital door swung open and a group of people walked in. there was a doctor accompanied by two nurses. one holding files and the other pushing a girl on a wheelchair.
“chigiri hyoma-kun, you will have a roommate from today onwards,” the doctor informed the redhead just as he looked at the girl seated on a wheelchair.
honestly, the young footballer’s sulkiness momentarily disappeared, until the immediate thought of another soul living in the same room brought it back. what if the girl knows who he is? what if the girl calls him pathetic? what if the girl couldn't match with him? all these questions swirled around in his mind, giving him more anxiety than usual.
but, it felt like chigiri hyoma was there alone. no other presence around other than him. even when the doctor and nurses went out, the room was completely pin-drop silence. not even the breathing of the girl at the bed beside him could be hard.
why is it like that?
well it's better if it stays like that. no one to bother him. no presence to tickle at his skin. no nothing in the same room with him to look at his pitiful form. chigiri hyoma goes to sleep in peace, with a faint uncomfortableness that lingers around him.
deep pink eyes glanced over the side of his curtain to the other patient as he put the spoon in his mouth, beginning to chew on his meal. from what he observed for a while, all you have been doing was sleeping. not even moving an inch or even shifting positions. like a deep slumber that can only be awakened by a kiss from a prince charming.
you wouldn't even wake up to eat your meals nor would you budge when the nurses came in to do your daily check-up.
that made the redhead somewhat uneasy. a practically corpse of a girl around his age is sharing a room with him, a fully alive and eating-healthy boy.
he went back to eating his food, his eyes and his thoughts traveling around all over the place instead of trying to think about you who sickly laid there like a lifeless doll. honestly, your state was worse than chigiri’s. seeing you unable to move had him feeling like his acl tears to which the pain has lowered just a bit. he still thinks everyone should eat their meals daily to get better.
so when you let out the quietest sob, chigiri dropped his spoon and stared at you, wide-eyed. your shoulders that moved up and down so quickly, silent sobs crying out for help. all the boy could do was watch as you cry, heaviness filled his throat at the scene.
you have made your presence known with your emotions.
to you, everything is crumbled. it has already crumbled. and more is crumbling. just like your entire life the moment the doctors announced that you are not to play basketball any more, for it might once again influence another microfracture in your right knee.
you cannot play basketball anymore, you cannot even stand on court anymore as the thought of just standing on polished maple wood simply terrifies you. you cannot jump or shoot the ball in the net anymore.
all day, you have been sulking over that sentence said to you by the doctors just before your microfracture surgery. it replayed in your mind over and over again like a broken music box and a broken ballet dancing figure in the center.
but in this moment, it is the doctor's words and you on a wheelchair, spinning around in a terrifying circle of ‘you cannot play sports anymore’.
you cannot play sports anymore.
you cannot play sports anymore.
you cannot play sports anymore.
how dark your life has become with just one simple sentence that would stain you for eternity.
you wiped your eyes and froze the moment you saw the colour pink sitting right in front of you. so there is some colour left after all. when you rubbed your eyes to get a clearer vision, just to see that a boy around your age is looking at you, his face stoic but somewhat held a soft expression that made you feel at ease in the slightest way possible.
“it hurts, doesn't it?” he softly asked, referring to your injury as you followed his fingers that pointed to your leg.
“if you're here to laugh or make fun of me, go away.”
chigiri’s eyes widened a little. you talk just like him. you think just like him. just like how he drove everyone he loved and knew away from him, during the first week of his injury. he felt sympathetic towards you very quickly.
“no, i understand you. pretty well actually,” he pointed to his own leg as you looked down. you didn't even notice that he is sitting on a wheelchair and that his knee is patched up. you looked at him with worry. “do you play sports? did the doctor say you couldn't play sports anymore?”
chigiri shook his head. “mine’s not that serious,” he gently touched his knee. “but if i play sports again, it will be.” the boy looked at you and handed you a box of tissue that was laying on his thighs. he handed it out to you and gave you a little smile. “you’ll get through this. i'm here to help you.”
“thanks.” you whispered and slowly sat up, wincing a little at the pain as you took the tissue box to wipe your tears while the boy watched.
“so, what's your name? which school do you go to?” chigiri asked when you finished wiping your tears and blowing your nose. so you told him your name and your school, which transferred into a long conversation between two young sportspeople who injured an important part of their career.
soon after, chigiri put his hands in his pocket and told you to hold your hand out. he dropped two items in your hands, telling you to open it.
“hershey’s kisses. i know we can't eat chocolate, but it's impossible to finish them alone if i have a whole stack from my classmates visiting and giving me chocolates for valentine's day.”
you looked at the palm of your hand, eyeing the blue wrapping that sat in your hand. you could feel a smile and a blush slowly crawl up your cheeks at the chocolates. colours just might be slowly returning to you from the presence of chigiri hyoma.
“who's the girl? is she your new roommate?” mother of chigiri asked as the young chigiri nodded, popping a sliced apple into his mouth as his deep pink eyes glanced at your sleeping figure.
“she's got a knee injury while playing sports too.”
“ah so you've spoke to her. what's her name?”
“y/n. y/n who loves hershey's kisses.”
it has been about four days since you transferred to this room and became chigiri’s roommate. four days the chigiri family were absent because of a business trip where chigiri insisted that he could handle everything alone. so, the girl sleeping in the next bed is new to them.
there is one thing that chigiri hyoma noticed in those four days. nobody came to visit you. at all. you never even talked about a family member or even about your parents at all. not a word about any loved ones spilled out from your lips.
could it be possible that you are all alone in this world with no one to lean on at your darkest times?
if that's the case, that would be sad. depressingly sad.
chigiri’s mother placed a container of freshly cut apples by your table along with some healthy goods. “it's for her. i can't wait to talk to her when she wakes up,” the woman smiled down at you and adjusted your hair neatly.
the football player scoffed at his own mother for being affectionate with you even if you're sleeping. but deep down, he's grateful for his mother and her kindness showed to his new friend.
so when chigiri’s mother left, you awaken and saw that there are packets of breads and a container containing apples as you immediately looked at chigiri.
“who—”
“my mother. she wants you to get better.”
“ohh. thank you,” you slowly sat up and carefully take the apple.
chigiri paused the television and once again glanced over at you. “where are your parents?”
….
they have been absent for most of your lives.
there wasn't even a single memory you recall ever being fun or even nice with them. you were raised by your aunty who never seemed to care. but at the same time, she kind of did, for she paid for everything that you needed and wanted for. or was she just some wealthy lady that had to bear the responsibility of raising her sister's child? how cruel the world is.
“we do not talk about families in this room.”
that was all you told chigiri and not a single word about your family comes out from his mouth ever.
perennial ryegrass against the cleats of the young chigiri as he ran and ran, the ball in the grasp of his legs. he kept running like there was no end. but, the goal seemed to keep getting further and further away from his reach.
he's running, but it felt like he's running in the other direction where he could never reach the goal even with his speed and agility.
why was the goal so far away from him? why was it not in his reach and at a distance where his legs could carry him?
right.
he tore his acl. how could he forget? it was his own injury. chigiri is on the field, wearing expensive cleats and there is a ball around his legs to play with. at the end, the ball rolled away, his cleats broke, and instead of his feet touching the perennial ryegrass, his entire body lays on it.
the world is cruel to chigiri hyoma. perhaps even God is cruel to him. he doesn't know which one it is. but he sure despises that moment where it kept repeating in his head over and over again, even in his dreams where the memories would never stop haunting him.
“your injuries are mild, but if you keep playing football, it will become serious.”
eyes shot opened immediately after hearing those words. fearful sweat broke out and gathered to flow down the skin of chigiri hyoma.
“it's okay,” a voice stole his attention away from the recall. chigiri looked to the side and found you staring at him from your bed while laying down. it was as if you had been watching him sleep all day long.
“just a bad dream,” chigiri held his hand up and covered his eyes with his arms. “i freaking hate the same dream happening over and over again.”
“i feel you, hyoma. i understand you fully.”
your voice calms him down for some reason. actually, it has always been calming him down since the first time you spoke to him. he seeks solace in the sound waves of your voice. he could also connect with you through the same pain that you are facing that he also faces.
he doesn't need to say much or do anything, but he believes that the heavens has sent you to him so he could have someone to get through this together with.
you held your hand out to reach the boy who moved his arms away from his eyes to glance at your stretched out arms.
“what are you doing?”
“maybe holding hands will ease you a little,” you suggested, not putting your arms down.
“that's odd,” chigiri commented. “but maybe it would ease a bitm” the boy held out his own hands and held your fingers. he couldn't hold your hands fully so he can only hold the tip of your fingers for now. and your fingers alone did the trick of easing his worries a little.
“it's gonna be okay,” you whispered as chigiri held your fingers tightly, humming in response.
it will be okay.
right…?
“it seems there was a huge bone failure in your knee,” the doctor said, shutting his eyes at the bad news just as your eyes, in the slowest of motions just as time all around you slowed down.
“but wasn't the surgery a success?! it has been a month too! there was no way something could've malfunctioned!”
the doctor remained silent.
“can't... can't you do another surgery…?” you said, barely even a whisper. just a voice of a mere middle-schooler who had lost hope a second ago upon realising the fate that she has.
there was a huge and thick lump around your throat, making it difficult to breathe and most definitely a terrifying experience for your weak body.
“aunt doesn't care anymore, does she?” with a shaky breath, you asked, very softly, the doctor nodding in guilt. of course he would feel guilty. he just confirmed the cruelty of an aunt to a mere girl who doesn't really have much going on for her in the near future. it pains and breaks his heart on the inside to even announce that a screw has come loose in your knee and that surgery would be pricey.
he is sure that this would scar him for his entire life. not because of the cruel treatment, but because you already knew that you cannot walk anymore.
you will be crippled your entire life.
because of a mere loose screw.
tears poured out your eyes from the harsh reality that you have to face from now on. all alone, with no one else in the world other than a collection of chocolate hershey’s kisses at your bedside table. you weren't even sure if you're going to see them anymore, or even receive them.
the boy who keeps gifting them to you is currently rehabilitating and trying his hardest to attempt a stable balance in his feet. while you are here, sulking over everything.
hershey's kisses chocolate in the flavour of cookies and cream. chigiri knows that it is one of the flavours that you love most, from your stories talking about oreos or just cookies and cream in general. it's also the flavour you like collecting the most when he gives you hershey's kisses.
so when he didn't get to deliver cookies and cream to you, he dropped the entire packet on the floor and hurried to any doctors in the same room he used to refuge in just before he was discharged.
“y/n? her aunt came to take her back,” the nurse at the register said before remembering one important factor. “she left these, however.” the woman brought out a plastic bag full of all the chocolates chigiri has shared with you in your darkest times together. and a note was left.
thank you for all the kisses from the dark.
y/n.
when chigiri hyoma counted the amount of chocolates there were, not a single of them were missing. you have left every single chocolate behind, untouched. you didn't leave any messages of why you were leaving them behind. hell, even leaving the damn hospital without any notice.
chigiri tried getting a contact number, but every time he asked, they'd reply to him with a “her information is private, it cannot be shared.”
over and over again, he attempted to find a lead on you, on where you might've been just so he could give you hershey's kisses again. perhaps he could slowly return to you the kisses you've left behind in the hospital room, but by the time he finds you, the dark kisses have already gone bad.
and you have already ceased to exist.
the boy, now seventeen, places a cookie and cream hershey’s kisses packet onto the stone of your tomb. not even that religious of a young man he is, he prayed for you like he believed in religious acts.
“i will never stop saying this every time i come here. i am sorry for not being there at your lowest, y/n,” chigiri, now a football player of project blue lock, frowns.
“i miss you. i miss giving you hershey’s. i miss your smile. i miss holding your fingers and listening to your voice and having you just beside me. i miss you, y/n.”
chigiri hyoma then silently wailed, just like how the girl did back then, when she first got her first chocolate kisses from the dark.
© SENEON 2024 ♰ do not repost, alter, or translate.
#﹙🗝️ .𖥔 ݁ ˖ 𝐰𝐫𝖎𝐭𝖎𝐧𝐠﹚#chigiri hyoma#chigiri x reader#bllk chigiri#blue lock chigiri#hyoma#hyoma chigiri#hyoma x reader#blue lock#bllk#bllk x reader#blue lock x reader#blue lock x you#blue lock x y/n#bllk x you#bllk x y/n#bllk x female reader
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I Just Need You
fem*Reader x Felix
*WARNING*
It contains fluff, mentions of insecurities, stretch marks, kissing, and shower intimacy. I'm sure I missed something; let me know in the comments.
Prompt: “If I could, I would kiss away all of your scars.”
WC: 714
****
You’ve never been ashamed of your scars. You knew you didn’t have any control over the way your body reacted to change, but every now and then, you would stare in the mirror, seeing how the stretch marks all over your body moved along your hips. They painted your skin like a painter's canvas. You traced your finger delicately along one prominent stretch mark. It went from your hip line all the way to your side. It was the worst out of all of them.
You never cared for your marks, and you would love to change them, but you’ve grown to just…get used to them. There's no better way to put it. So there you stood, in front of your bathroom mirror, in nothing but a pair of panties and your sports bra, ready for your afternoon hot shower.
“Baby?” a slight knock at the door made you jolt out of your head.
“Y-yea?”
“Can I come in? I think I left my phone in there,” Felix called.
“Yea, baby,” you giggled.
With your confirming sound, he opened the door, revealing your bare form. He saw you in front of the mirror, ready for a shower. “Hey, my love,” he floats into the small bathroom.
“Hi baby,” you whisper back.
Felix sees his phone right away and grabs it behind you, sliding it into his pocket.
He comes up behind you, holding your waist close to his body. He gently moves your hair away from your shoulder, letting his chin rest there. He pauses for a moment when he realizes what you’ve been staring at all this time.
“If I could, I would kiss away all of your scars”. Tears swell in your eyes at his words, and he places a gentle kiss on your uncovered shoulder. The feeling of his soft lips on your skin makes you shiver, but not before a single tear escapes you, gliding down your cheek.
“I don’t need you to,” you turn around to face him. I don’t need you to make things easier for me….I just need you.”
You both exchange a warm smile, the kind that lights up your eyes and fills the air with an unspoken connection. As he leans in, you feel the soft brush of his breath against your skin before his lips meet yours in a gentle kiss. He is patient and attentive, allowing you to lead, your heart racing as you set the pace. You explore the kiss slowly at first, savoring the sweetness of the moment, feeling the warmth build between you as the world around you fades away.
His hands guide you down to your hips and he leads you away from the counter to the shower. You can feel his smile against your soft lips as he presses you up against the tile. “Still need that shower?” he whispers against your ear before hooking his thump into your panties and trailing them down your thighs.
You bite your lips as you stare down at him, watching him lick his lips at the sight of your bare cunt. One hand rubs delicate circles on your thigh while the other sneakily wanders to the shower faucet, turning the water on.
You gasp loudly as the water spurts to life, cascading down both of your bodies. Felix is still fully clothed while the water makes the fabric stick to his skin. “Felix!” you laugh once you see his bright smile. He quickly trails kisses from your leg all the way up to your lips.
In moments like these, it's as if the world fades away, and all your insecurities dissolve into nothingness because you know deep down that you were right all along. You might carry the weight of shame over various things, but Felix has a remarkable way of sweeping those feelings aside. With every shared smile and playful banter, he fills your heart with an undeniable warmth, leaving you with memories that linger long after the moment has passed.
“You know I’ll never stop loving you, right?” he smiles against your skin.
“Right back at you, pretty boy,” you smirked, kissing his lips one more time.
#skz#smut#story#stray kids x reader#stray kids smut#stray kids#limbo#skz smut#short story#fem reader#felix x reader#felix stray kids#felix smut#stray kids felix#lee felix#skz felix#skz x reader#skz stay#fluff#felix felix smut#felix fluff
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Royal Flowers Chapter 12
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pairing: anakin skywalker x f!reader
series summary: A long, long, time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, a certain Jedi by the name of Anakin Skywalker meets you, the current Queen of Naboo and adopted cousin of Padme Amidala, and is tasked with protecting you by pretending to marry you. As a spy, you’ve infiltrated the Separatist ranks and are close to finding out the mastermind behind all of it. The fate of the galaxy is in your hands.
warnings: minors dni. masturbation scene (m), but other than that nothing too spicy.
a/n: come get y'alls juice. also i can't find the gif i was using of anakin so just like. remember what he looks like i guess. he's pretty if that helps
When you wake up, you feel like you’ve swallowed a stone. You remember everything— every excruciating detail, each moment that his skin was pressed against yours. You try your best to recollect everything that was said yesterday, but it feels fruitless. Your mind has already rewritten each word ten times, translating and shifting and switching until the meaning is entirely different. Did Anakin say “I need you” or “I need this”? If he had said “you”, did he mean anything by it, or were you the first person that he could trust with this? The only? Something strange and all-too familiar crawls out from your stomach.
Guilt. You’re not even sure if Anakin wanted you the way you wanted him, and the words he first spoke to you scream themselves loudly in your head. I love Padme, and I’ll love her til I die. You were just a means to an end, and you’re sure that you should have known that as you took pleasure from his touch on your body. You’re no stranger to desire, to the heat of another’s body, but it’s never been someone you’ve wanted as much as Anakin.
And at the same time, you understand fully that it wasn’t just you. What you and Anakin have is bigger than just what happened last night; it’s been working up for months, an ocean of desire eroding your reasons to resist until you caved, gave into the sweetness of his mouth on yours, sweeter and softer than you could have ever imagined. The way that fell in the force of his desperation to something all-consuming, something that carved away a piece of your soul and kept it in the confines of the night, sacrificed at the altar of your memory. Your self-indulgence feels rotting, pushing unease into your throat and you can no longer lay here with your tattered dress cocooning your body. No matter what it is, you’ve never been faithful to the driving force within you. It’s a foreign feeling, one that you don’t like. You never thought that doing what you wanted would inspire such guilt.
You push yourself out of bed, turning to look over your shoulder at Anakin’s peaceful form, allowing yourself another moment of indulgence as your heart weeps. Your movement has shifted the blanket away from his shoulders, and as quietly as you can, you reach over to adjust it back over his shoulders. Your heart’s corruption rules you for only a moment longer when your hand skates over his jaw. Not quite touching him, no; you can’t allow that in the bright clarity of the morning. It was just sex, you remind yourself. Then you’re gone, swept away in the mirrors and meticulousness of your morning routine.
The peace allows you to sit with your thoughts for a moment longer— to remember your purpose, to remember your role in a story that is so much greater than the microcosm of you and Anakin. You’re here because you’re the queen of Naboo, and you have a responsibility to your people. For just a moment longer, you loathe what has become of your life. All you are now is a vessel for the needs of others, and it hurts to know that you’ll have to give and give until there is nothing left of you, until you can fade into nothingness with no one having truly known you, and yet having been so largely involved in the universe’s fate. You swallow your bitterness, resting your chin on your hand as you stare at the mirror before you, steam clouding the surface. The reflection that looks back at you feels otherworldly, a woman that you’re not sure you’ve ever been and yet one that you know you must be. Your face crafts a perfect smile, the hollowness within invisible to even you. Don’t forget your role, your reflection whispers at you.
Your fingers drum against the surface of the counters as you collect yourself, carefully calculating every diplomatic advantage. Naboo is economically powerful at this time, putting you at a position where you can safeguard from famine with the right connections. Lothal, you should corner the representatives of Lothal. They’re just a backwater, in essence; a backwater planet that you’re positive you can strike the right deals with. Agricultural aid in exchange for a hefty deal, put them in a good position with the economic boost Naboo could get.
Your mind starts to wander as you get dressed. You feel a sense of clarity that’s been absent from you for some time— your guilt sharpens itself into a weapon, holding you at its blade to force you to think deeper, think clearer. Why hadn’t the Separatists told you of their plan? Why did you need to find out from elsewhere? All paths lead to one singular conclusion; they want to get rid of you. It makes total sense, doesn’t it? Install a puppet ruler to get away with whatever you want, and at the right moment, cut the strings. They’d step into the void of power, gaining total control of the planet and thus, giving the Separatists a new stronghold.
But at the same time, you understand the injustice caused by the Republic to many. Its neglect of many systems is not unknown to you, you’re not so foolish to think this is a one sided coin. By pushing the Separatists into a coerced acceptance of the Republic’s governance with militant force, the galaxy is only further polarized by loss. Perhaps… Perhaps the only solution is to allow self-determination. That may not filter out the splinter sections of Separatists, but at least it would be a start.
All you know now is nothingness. You don’t know the solution, but you suppose it doesn’t matter; not if you’re going to end up dead at the end of this all. And doesn’t it make sense? For them to kill you now, blame it on something else and drive Anakin into further madness and desperation? The ultimate form of control. Even if you live, you are leverage against the most powerful weapon in the galaxy. You hate thinking of Anakin like that, but it’s true; even you, removed as you are from the Jedi Order, understand that he is the chosen one.
Your fated doom lingers on your being, shadowlike, but you won’t let this keep you here. For however long you’re in this life, you’ll serve your purpose as best you can. You push the thoughts of your inevitable self sacrifice into action, an agenda spinning into order: you’ll talk to the Lothal representatives, strike up a deal. You’ll have food shipped to Naboo’s moon, allowing safe transport of the food to Naboo so that it doesn’t get blown up on arrival. It feels more like bandaids than a solution, but you’ll figure it out. A solution, that’s something that you’ll have to talk to Padme about. The way you see it, she’s the galaxy’s out— under her leadership, she could bring clarity, a new direction. Which means if you’re aware, so is Palpatine. Or Sidious. You don’t know what to call him now, really.
She’s in danger. But maybe she always was.
~~~
When Anakin wakes up, the only thing he feels is hunger. Clawing out from inside of him, stretching and breaking from his skin; a beast that he had buried, now awakened, that only desires you. He feels it eating at his skin, a certain kind of pain that he almost delights in as he thinks of last night. The hedonistic indulgence of giving in, Dionysian in its call, had only served to fuel his thirst, not quench it. And you’re not here, why aren’t you here?
He thinks back to every moment from last night. Had he pushed you too far? He hadn’t meant to, he hopes he didn’t, but the pain was messing with his head. He couldn’t think clearly with his entirety ripping at the seams. Anakin wants to make it better, wants to kneel at your side and take your hand like it’s a lifeline, but that option isn’t his to take. He doesn’t belong there. Anakin is the Chosen One— something that he would have understood in another lifetime, but now it’s just a label with constraints that he’ll never understand. He can’t have you, and yet… now that he’s given in to the Dark Side, things are different. It’s not quite the same story that he was used to. Now, he’s constantly fighting himself. He wants to pursue you openly, fully, yet he can’t. Why can’t he? Because of some arbitrary rules? But those rules are the ones that have dictated his entire way of thinking. He doesn’t want to give it up so soon. He swings between two extremes, a pendulum of moral inconsistency, hearing the voice of the Jedi Council, Obi-Wan, Shmi, encouraging him to let go of his hunger; Sidious, to feed it.
Anakin knows he has to look past what he wants right now. You’re counting on him for something bigger, and he knows that he needs to figure out what exactly would happen if he exposed Sidious. It’s something you’ve brought to his life: the rationality that he was always expected to have. As a spy, though, you’ve shown him that the guns-blazing approach sometimes will not work, that he has to take his time, collect his information. How deep is the Chancellor’s control? What is the endgame, if he’s already the Chancellor? None of it makes sense to him.
Long, slender limbs are forced out of bed as Anakin stretches, gritting his teeth at the thought of having to face the day. He winces slightly at the sticky feel of sweat on his skin. He needs to wash up, he realizes, and the quick jump to why he has to wash up has his face flushed. He grips himself tightly, eager for some relief from the aching in his cock as he thinks of you. You, with your warm body, your eager responsiveness to his touch, the taste of you on his tongue. Anakin wrenches his hand away in shame, feeling much like a dog panting for a bone as he salivates over you. He mourns the fact that he didn’t take his time and get you fully naked, rather than tearing the clothes from your body, as he pulls his own garments fully off. He wants to give you a better experience, he realizes; he wants to worship your body with his hands, then his tongue, spend hours with his head buried between your thighs as you grind on his face in pursuit of pleasure. Anakin wants more than the quickness that came from sinking to the hilt into your heat brought the night prior— no, he wants the aching, the throbbing in his loins as he makes you see stars.
Cool water pelting across his back isn’t enough to deter his fixation on all the filth he hopes to cause to you. Anakin’s cock still stands at half mast, and it doesn’t take much thinking for him to wrap his fist around it, fucking his tight grip as moans escape. His metal hand claws at the wall as his flesh unites in a perfect pursuit of pleasure. He wants you to hear this, fantasizes about you walking through the bathroom door, sinking to your knees, and sucking the soul out of him. He’d grab your tits, squeeze them, play with them. Anakin doesn’t think he could fuck your pretty face, wants to treat you far too gently for that to happen but he thinks of your hands under his, guiding you to stroke him just how he likes it. It doesn’t take long after that for him to cum, sticky pearls collecting on the bathroom tiling before it washes away.
Anakin gets dressed in an afterglow that’s still focused on you, imagining what it would like to get ready with you. He’s never really done that, has he? Not like this, not in the morning, not with this gentle sweetness blooming in his chest. But his blood turns to ice when he catches his eyes in the mirror, flashing that shade of yellow that he knows to be true to the Sith.
He needs to find Palpatine.
~~~
Anakin finds Palpatine after an assembly, towering over the rush of senators that flow past him. He locks eyes with Palpatine easily, the deceptively meek-statured man smiling at Anakin from where he waits at the doorway. Anakin feels sick at the mere sight, swallowing down his bitter fury to walk towards him. Padme had told him about a myth, a mere story, really, from Naboo; a legend that detailed a king who had put his trust in a bastard son, defending him against any opposition, but finding his life cut short at the end of that very son’s blade. And you, Brutus? He’d said. Anakin feels that way when he looks at Palpatine: that painful, bitter betrayal. It wasn’t fair. But nobody said it ever would be.
“Master,” Anakin calls him quietly. A false name, one that should only have ever belonged to Obi-Wan, or Qui Gonn. Palpatine is nothing to him, a snake laid in wait only to strike at his most vulnerable. “You said you’d help me save my wife.” The din of the crowd is loud enough to diminish the volume of his words, but not the urgency. Palpatine, however, just smiles in response.
“Anakin,” Palpatine says, clasping two hands behind his back. From this angle, he almost looks paternal, like the perfect replacement for an empty slot that Anakin’s had for so long in his life. “I see the concern you have for her. Of course, it is natural. But…”
“But what?”
“I fear you’re simply not strong enough yet. Not ready, you see.”
“Tell me how to be strong enough, then.” Anakin isn’t fooled by his own rationality. He knows that he can pretend this is somehow linked to his infiltration, but he knows it’s his own indulgence in you that drives him. He wants to keep you safe, no matter the cost.
“It’ll cost you,” Palpatine says, walking into an empty sideroom. One that’s often used for business discussions, Anakin recognizes. From in front of him, Palpatine tugs his hood on, and by the time he turns back to Anakin, the physical change is apparent. Instantaneous. The lines on his face are deeper-set, the glow in his eyes inhumane. Sharp, piercing, they see right through him. For a moment, Anakin is fearful that his own treachery will be uncovered. But his fear of losing you drives him further, lets him keep going. Anakin thinks he understands the cost when he sees this.
But he’s wrong.
“Every single member of the Jedi Order are what stands in the way of your realization, your… enlightenment. All the Jedi, padawan or master, including your friend Obi-Wan. They are a threat to the Republic, to peace in the galaxy.”
Anakin feels his heart fall. And he thinks of Obi-Wan, of the warmth of his hug, the crinkle of his eyes when he smiles. The pride, however restrained it may have been, would make his face glow whenever Anakin defeated him in sparring, or when he would laugh at Anakin’s struggles with Ahsoka, telling him they mirrored his own experiences. Sidious was wrong. Obi-Wan wasn’t just his friend, he was greater than that— he was like a brother, like a father, like a part of Anakin that he hadn’t realized had been so significant until he had every single belief he had of right, wrong, of morality itself, put into question. Killing Obi-Wan would be akin to losing the only arm he had left. He isn’t clouded by lust, by love, to even think of the idea.
But then…
He thinks of you. The nightmares of your breath leaving your body, the warmth leaving your physical form. Of the beauty of your laughter, the way you fit his soul so perfectly, pushing him, challenging him and everything he thought he knew. And you did it so sweet, so addictive, making him something else. Making him something that he recognized in himself only once before.
Only when he loved Padme.
And this side of him, the only part of him that Darth Vader hadn’t killed in order to exist, wants nothing more to listen to Sidious. To watch his brother, his Jedi master, die at the end of his saber. It would be fitting, wouldn’t it? The very man he created would bring forth his doom. He’d make it painless, he promises. He wouldn’t dream of bringing him pain. All he wants… is to save you.
It’s not as though the Jedi Order is indestructible, either. Nor is it without its flaws. He’s seen countless villages ravaged by the battle between the Separatists and the Republic. Anakin knows the Jedi are not innocent in the crime of staining the ground they fight for with innocent blood.
Anakin himself, he hadn’t felt free until he was with you. For the first time in his life, away from the Order, away from the dictation of what was wrong, what was right, how to think, eat, dress, breathe, he had a choice now. And you let him have that choice. Wouldn’t it be wrong to pull away? Wouldn’t it be wrong to let you fall, when you had done so much for him?
He loves you. He had told Padme, what feels to him a lifetime ago, that love is what drives a Jedi, to hold compassion that is rooted in none other than love. His loyalty is with you, not Sidious— his religion, his worship, with you also. This is what’s good, what’s right. This is what the Force wants him to do. Anakin understands now, doesn’t he? His whole life, he’s been pulled towards this. Towards you, to love you, to keep you safe.
No matter the cost.
~~~
Lothal’s representatives are easy to find after the general assembly. You don’t know what it is, exactly, but they look lost, like they’re playing a game that they hardly know the rules to. You approach them with poise and grace, your head held high as you zero in on them.
“It’s an honor to be in your presence, your grace,” One of them stammers out. He’s handsome, you think, but not nearly as much as Anakin. Comparing the two is like comparing a candle to the brightness of a sun, anyways. You smile gently, unfazed as you tilt your head in acknowledgement of their greeting.
“As it is for me to be in yours, representatives of Lothal.”
“Denon, milady. I am the senior-most representative of our planet. I assume you do not stop by purely for the purpose of making our acquaintance,” Denon replies. Senior-most. You almost want to laugh at the declaration. He seems boyish still, the innocence in his eyes betraying his youth. You flick your eyes around, assessing your audience quickly before you offer your arm to Denon.
“Not here,” you murmur, strolling arm-in-arm to the nearest room. You’re quick to step away from him once the doors are shut, taking a seat at a table as he mirrors you awkwardly. You’ve done your research, you have no reason to feel nervous, and yet your hands still tremble before you lay them flat on the table.
“Denon, I’ve done my research. The financial sector of Lothal has expressed its frustration at the insufficient funding of the planet— simply put, your planet is not… prosperous. I do not need to explain the subsequent effect of this: how this insufficiency results in a multitude of disasters. The workers on your planet work diligently, and yet the imports to the planet are, by-and-large, inaccessible. Why? I believe, Denon, that your planet’s work is undervalued, understated, and Naboo has a simple answer to your question.”
You sigh quietly, a crafted noise, meant to draw their attention in further. They’re watching you attentively, they know you’re their saving grace and Maker, they’re ready to take it.
Good.
“Naboo will outbid your current agricultural contracts in order to be the primary recipient of your crop. I offer billions of units to your planet, with few caveats; Naboo will maintain anonymity until the length of our contract is finished, and the delivery will be to our moons, not to our direct ports. In the meantime, this will leave fewer supply for the remainder of your contracts. It’s simple economics; your supply will diminish, but the demand will remain the same. I offer nothing but a fair compensation for the labor of your peoples, and a promise that my actions will drive others to do much of the same.”
Denon looks at you, looks to his fellow representatives, then to you again. Then he blinks, opens his mouth as though he wishes to say something, and closes it again.
“Any questions?” You ask, drumming your hands on the table. You need them to take this, but you can’t show how desperate you are. They might be naive, but anyone knows desperation is a flaw to be exploited, even representatives from an outskirts-planet like Lothal. You still hold power, and that will not be mistaken.
“Why? Why now?” One man pipes up from next to Denon.
“Naboo wishes to establish strong diplomantic ties with supporters, like Lothal. This is as much a political move as it is economic, Representative.”
“We’ll take it,” Denon says. He seems starstruck, like it’s too good to be true. Denon stands from the table and offers his hand to you, which you take as you stand up.
“Brilliant. I’ll draft up the terms and have my Ministers send the plans to you.”
“Milady, your offer is most gracious. If there’s anything we can do…”
“I’ll let you know, Representative Denon. Thank you.” Denon drops to a bow, kissing the back of your hand as you hold back your discomfort. You’ve never really been great with all of this pageantry, but you’ll put up with it well enough.
But timing is not on your side. The door swings open to reveal Anakin, whose face betrays his rage as he sees your hand in Denon’s.
“What business do you have with my wife?” He demands callously, striding closer to Denon as his emotions escape his control. You’re careful to watch him, seeing the glint of yellow in his eyes as he sizes up Denon, ready for a fight.
“My love, we were—”
“I did not ask you. I asked the man who dared to touch my wife,” Anakin seethes. You scoff at his arrogance, grabbing his chin to tear his gaze away from Denon.
“Representative Denon, you may take your leave. I will continue my communications with the planet of Lothal at a later time.” You keep your eyes locked on Anakin, watching his form visibly relax as they shuffle out of the room awkwardly. It only angers you further.
As the door shuts, Anakin reaches his hand to your wrist, calling your name softly.
“No. That was unacceptable, Anakin. That might have been acceptable with Padme, but certainly not with me. Do not forget our arrangement, General Skywalker,” you bite out. You see hurt flash in his eyes as you refer to him by his title, but you’re infuriated, and Anakin is the reason why. “Don’t ever barge into my diplomatic meetings and question me or anyone else what our intentions are. We are nothing other than allies to each other, Skywalker, do not let a night of passion delude you.”
“Is that all I am to you?” Anakin asks. You’re unable to look at him, so you allow yourself to let go of his chin, but he keeps his hand on your wrist. “Answer me. Is that all I am to you?”
Anakin’s heart is in his throat. No. He’s seen this before, he knows how it plays out, and he isn’t the victor. In any scenario, he loses you. He can’t lose you. He’s given up so much for you, hasn’t he? Why would you abandon him? You couldn’t. He’s sure you’re bluffing, but there’s still that dryness in his mouth, that dizziness as he looks at you.
Please, let him be more to you.
“That’s all we are to one another,” you whisper.
Anakin lets go of your hand.
#my writing#distortionbobble's fics#anakin skywalker x reader#anakin skywalker#reader insert#anakin x reader#star wars fic#anakin skywalker fic#anakin#angst#anakin skywalker fanfic#royal flowers#royal flowers series
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𝐈𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐬𝐨𝐧-𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬:
𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐈
Miguel O’Hara x fem!Reader
𝐀𝐎𝟑 ★ || 𝐌𝐲 𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐬 ✎ || 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭
𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 2.5k
𝐓𝐖 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐖: Hospital setting, memory loss, angst, emotional Miguel, married couple, wife!reader.
𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: After waking up from a year-long coma, you find yourself in the hospital with the tender embrace of your husband sitting beside you. You have no memory of your marriage nor the life you shared together. As you try to navigate the scattered memories, Miguel becomes your guiding light through your journey of transcending memories.
𝐀/𝐍: It’s been a hot minute since I posted my writing on here. I’ve been working on my other series that’s AO3 exclusive so making this post in this layout brings back old memories. Anyways this is a two chapter story so enjoy getting your heart ripped from your chest :)) twice :D
You couldn’t remember how you got here nor could you remember how it even happened. For the longest time you’ve been surrounded by darkness and floating into nothingness. You felt disconnected from your surroundings and your physical realm though for some reason you would always hear a voice, echoing in the background occasionally.
“Por favor. Por favor, mi amor”
The voice would always sound distressed, almost begging for your attention that you couldn’t give. It served as a reminder that you were still alive but not fully present. You wanted desperately to reach out for that voice and see where it was coming from but you felt trapped, suspended in midair like an astronaut in space with no control over your body and no anchor to pull you down. You lost track on how long you have been like this but today, you felt a sensation on your fingertips. You started twitching your fingers, a sign that you finally had the ability to move your muscles on command.
Your senses were coming back now and you could feel the darkness fading away from your vision. You slowly fluttered your eyes open but they burnt momentarily against the sudden bright light that illuminated the new room. You started to take in your surroundings and the first thing you noticed was the tang of disinfectant and antiseptic that was woven in the cool, controlled air. You shifted your gaze from the bright ceiling to your side and was met with a man beside your hospital bed you were laying on. You couldn’t see his form but his skin was tanned with big arms and his hair was dark and pushed back. The most prominent feature was his sharp jaws and his red eyes that stared at you. You locked eyes with him and you could see his face light up when he saw your own eyes finally open.
“Mi amor? You’re awake!” Your heart clenched when you heard him speak. It was the same desperate voice you heard in your comatosed state, the voice that was pleading for you to wake up and now you could see who the voice belonged to.
“Awake?” You could only echoed back in confusion.
“Yes, sweetheart. You’ve been in a coma for a year. You’ve had a terrible accident but… Ay dios mío, you’re awake now and I can finally talk to you and hear your sweet voice.” He stood up from his seat and hovered over you as he spoke with a relief smile spread across his face. You could now see his physique in this position. He had broad shoulders and a muscular frame. He hesitantly held your fingers and rubbed the knuckles with his thumb. His fingers felt calloused yet his strokes and touches were gentle, almost like you were thin glass and would shatter at any sudden movement.
You tried to rack your brain and remember who he was. His name, it was on the tip of your tongue. You could feel it just about within your reach. “M-Miguel…” That was all your mind could remember.
“Yes. It’s me, Miguel. I’m here mi amor.” He said ecstatically, still maintaining a connection with you but you couldn’t reciprocate no matter how hard you tried. You couldn’t bring yourself to feel the same amount of happiness as Miguel, not when you couldn’t remember who he was. You must’ve been so deep in your thoughts trying to remember with a blank expression that Miguel's face dropped, the sparkle in his eyes now diminished. “Mi amor, what’s wrong? Do you not remember who I am?” He asked with concern laced in his voice. He still held onto your fingers as he spoke, afraid to let you go.
“I’m sorry…. I remember your name but…. I can’t identify who you are.” You could almost hear his heart crack after he heard you say that, but he still held onto your fingers, almost as if his touch will somehow reignite your memories.
“I’m your husband…we’ve been married for three years! Do you not remember that? Do you not remember us?” He croaked. The weight of the situation was crashing down on him like a violent storm, too fast to comprehend.
“I’m sorry… should I?” Your chest tightened. You just woke up from a coma and you were already causing so much pain.
“Yes you should. We’ve shared a life together. We’ve made so many memories. Mi vida please… I don’t want you to forget me.” He sank back into the seat beside the bed, his hands now shaking and his grip loosened.
“I wish I could understand what you’re talking about Miguel but my mind is blank.” Your gaze at him softened and all you could do was witness your husband’s torment as he tried to grasp onto straws.
“It’s like I’m losing you all over again…. You’re here but you’re not you.” He squeezed his eyes, tears threatening to fall.
“I wish I could comfort you right now. I want to believe you and I want to be that person you need but…I’m just so lost right now.” You found yourself caressing his fingers now in a feeble attempt to comfort his anguish.
“Then let me guide you in this darkness…Do you trust me, mi vida?” He held his gaze on you again, his eyes full of faith - faith to rebuild your relationship again which made you nod in agreement to his promise. You were lost in a sea of confusion and you didn’t have anyone else to trust right now and Miguel was the only one patient enough to help you. He was your anchor. “Do you remember my surname mi amor?” You thought hard about that. The answer was there but it wasn’t easily reachable as his first name.
“Uh-O…” you fumbled through your memories making Miguel gaze softly at your attempt to answer.
“It’s O’Hara. Miguel O’Hara. You know, you’d always used to call me Miggy and it would always brighten my day whenever I heard you say it.” He smiled at you again and you started to grow a fondness for it.
“O’Hara? So does that make me Mrs O’Hara?”
“Yes. We’re Mr and Mrs O’Hara.”
“Do we have children?” You started to panic a little. The thought of your children having a mother that didn’t remember any of them made your heart sink. You already caused pain on your husband from your memory loss - you didn’t want to pass it on to your children too.
“No, we don’t but we always did talk about it.” You thought how building a family with Miguel would be like, the man whose love for you was so strong, he waited a year for you to wake up from your coma and still withheld his patience to rebuild what you've lost. Even if you couldn’t remember anything about your husband, you could already tell he was an incredible man and would make an amazing father. “Is there anything I can do for you now, hermosa?” Your heart swelled at his concern over you. He wanted to make sure you were content and comfortable.
“I’d like some water please.”
“Sure. There’s a water fountain out in the halls so I won’t be long. I’ll be back okay?” As soon as he got up from his seat and left for the hallway, you took this opportunity to take in your surroundings again.The air felt still as if the room seemed to hold its breath after Miguel left. The sound of the cardiac monitor that was resting beside your bed was beeping rhythmically with tubes and wires that snaked around the digital monitor. You could hear distant footsteps and murmurs from outside your room along with a few nurses walking past. The blinds were closed but you could see through the gaps that outside was dark - it must’ve been late. The disinfectant scent that was lingering in the air had faded now. You noticed your hair was pretty long, reaching your waist and your nails grew significantly. You’ll definitely need to trim both. Before long, Miguel came back with a plastic cup.
“Here.” He handed you the cup with cold water. You glimpsed at his big arms that were in close proximity now and felt your cheeks warm a little before you took the cup from him.
“Thank you.” You quickly dismissed your thoughts and took small sips from the cup. It took a little effort for you to swallow. Your throat was dry from the lack of fluids and the sensation was a little overwhelming at first since your body was now readjusting to the water intake after ages. The water was starting to relieve the parched feeling in your throat and your mouth felt more refreshed and cold.
“How does it feel?” Miguel asked you, he could see you were struggling to intake your first few sip of the water.
“Good… just taking some time getting used to the feeling of the fluid in my throat.”
“I can imagine. Just take your time, okay?” He said reassuringly. You looked back at him again and your eyes fixated on his big arms that crossed over his chest as he watched you. Your face heated again but this time, Miguel noticed and gave you an amused look.
“Something caught your eye, hermosa?” There was a teasing glint in his expression, startling you from your deep thoughts.
“Oh no, n-nothing I was just…” you stammered, trying to come up with an answer without embarrassing yourself.
“Just what, mi amor?” He cocked his head to the side in curiosity. He knew where this was going and your flushed face only added to his amusement.
“Your arms… they’re really well-defined.” You murmured with the cup near your face, trying to hide your cheek.
“Oh you noticed hmm?” He shifted closer to you which didn’t help with your flustered state.
“Uh yeah… kinda hard not to, you know.” You took another sip of water before you spoke again, carefully choosing your next words without making yourself look like you weren’t just gawking at him. “So, do you work out? Is it for your job or just to keep in shape?”
“A little bit of both” he replied, his teasing tone changed to something more affectionate and genuine. “My job can be physically demanding but I also work out to find peace of mind and to find solace.”
“Physically demanding? What is your job exactly?” You could see the hesitation in his expression, almost like he was debating if he should tell you or not and there was something else from the look of his eyes that you couldn’t quite place - like he’s holding back something from you.
“It’s a little complicated… it’s not something I can easily explain. We’ll discuss it later, for now let’s focus on your recovery.”
“Sorry I didn’t mean to pry. I let my curiosity get the best of me.”
“It’s natural to be curious especially in your situation when you’re trying to piece things together. Speaking of recovery though…” Miguel got up from his seat as he continued to speak, “I should probably call a nurse now so they can see if everything else is okay with you.” Moments later a nurse came into your room. She checked your records and made a note on everything. Throughout the examination you were feeling a little unnerved and your heart was racing with anticipation with a new person in the room but Miguel’s presence gave you the reassurance you needed. The first thing the nurse did was check your heart rate with her stethoscope, moving it across your chest. The cold metal on your skin made you shiver. However, you particularly didn’t like the blood pressure monitor squeezing your arm, but you endured it, waiting for it to be over while focusing on Miguel steady breathing beside you. Miguel gave your fingers a gentle squeeze, a silent sign of his presence. You let out a sigh of relief when the cuff released its grip and gave out your blood pressure readings.
The nurse followed up by asking you a series of questions about your medical history and what you remembered during the accident. There was evidence that you were struggling to answer her questions, not giving her solid replies. Miguel decided it was time to explain the current situation.
“Nurse,” the nurse turned her attention to Miguel. “My wife has experienced significant trauma. She doesn’t remember anything before the accident.” Miguel explained. You smiled in relief knowing that Miguel was still by your side and the weight of your unspoken fear has been acknowledged.
“I see,” she replied, her expression was unreadable but she still carried the gentle spirit. You didn’t like not knowing where this was going to go next. “Memory loss is common after such events. I’ll be sure to put that on her records. Other than that, her pulse is stable, her blood pressure is okay and her oxygen level is in normal range.” The nurse told Miguel.
“Do you know how long she’ll have to stay before she can be discharged?” Miguel asked, concern evident in his tone, you could tell he was desperate to take you home.
The nurse expression softens in understanding. “We’ll still need to run more tests to monitor her condition and evaluate her neurological status so I believe she’ll have to stay for a day or two.” The nurse's words carried weight that seemed to hang in the air. You watched the conversation exchange between your husband and the nurse and came to terms with the fact that this was your new life now, your new reality. Miguel’s eyes fixated on you again, reflecting hope and loss. Just as the nurse was about to leave, you finally spoke up, your voice quivering in uncertainty.
“Do you know why I might’ve lost my memory?” The nurse stopped in her tracks and looked back at you, her gaze seemed to soften.
“I’m sorry Mrs O’Hara. It’s hard to say now but my guess is it might be some sort of head trauma. It is a complex case and we’ll still need to run some more tests.” You sighed in disappointment at her response even though you didn’t expect her to give you a straight answer. This was going to take more effort to come to a conclusion.
“Thank you,” you said. The nurse gave a brief nod before she left, leaving you and Miguel alone again. Miguel turned back to you and sat back on the chair beside you. He reached for your hands and intertwined his fingers with yours, giving it a gentle squeeze.
“We’ll get through this mi vida, we’ll find the answers no matter how long it’ll take.” You leaned your forehead on his, tears spilled out of your eyes which Miguel wiped with his thumbs. A still silence settled around you but it wasn’t the suffocating kind. It was filled with hope and promises with whatever the journey would lay ahead.
Part two here!!!
#miguel o'hara#miguel o’hara x reader#miguel o’hara spiderverse#atsv#spider man: across the spider verse#miguel spiderverse#miguel o’hara x y/n#miguel o’hara fanfiction#atsv miguel#miguel spiderman#across the spiderverse#spiderman 2099#spiderman 2099 x reader#★— ayrus writes
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Fine Line
summary: Forgetting his first love is easier said than done as memories of his best girl are the only things that Steve thinks about during the days leading up to his wedding. Not once did he think of Peggy even as she walked down the aisle or when they were pronounced husband and wife or when she refused to let him go throughout the celebrations. He hoped that with time she would leave his every waking thought but time would prove to be a cruel mistress and would not grant him such luxuries. A decade and one failed marriage later, she still hasn’t left his mind.
pairing: Mob!Steve Rogers x Reader
warnings: angst, the feels
word count: 3.3k
Tag list: @vickie5446 @cakesandtom
Dial Drunk - part 2 & Cocaine Jesus - part 3
a/n:��SURPRISE! I’m not fully back but I missed you guys so I’m giving you Fine Line early. Everything else will resume on 7/7 like planned. Also I’m torn between making this a series or keeping it as a one shot. What are y’all thinking?
masterlist
disclaimer: credits to original creator/poster of image/gif. found on Google/Pinterest
Falling in love was supposed to be the greatest accomplishment for a person. The rush of emotion, the butterflies in one’s stomach, the flush when one’s lover is near, the feeling of complete joy and fulfillment. Falling in love was supposed to be the happiest moment in one’s life. It’s meant to last forever, the eternity that a couple walks on this earth. It’s meant to persevere through any and all hardships that life throws in their way and strengthen the bond they share. Love, true love in its purest form, is meant to be the greatest healing force that nature has to offer and will provide a couple with an endless supply of cures for any ailment. Love is the one thing that people seek out the most in any and all forms but the love that is found in the arms of a lover is the most sought-after. Love is meant to be a good thing until it is not.
When love sours and turns into resentment, hatred, pain, and angst, it destroys. It becomes the ruination of once strong and powerful people. It becomes a weakness that anyone can expose, one that anyone can exploit when needed. When love fades away into nothingness, the hole that is left is permanent. It will never be filled, will never shrink, will never heal. The hole that loves leaves is a stark reminder of what was meant to be and what actually happened. It’s filled with what-ifs and theories of what could’ve been, questions left unanswered and will continue to go unanswered. When love is lost, the two lovers change and something new becomes of them. In the case of Steve Rogers, an entirely new man was forged from the fires of lost love.
At barely 22, he was faced with a decision he’d hoped would never come. Being the son of a crime boss and the natural next pick to lead, it was his duty to pick a suitable partner to support him when his time came. Of course, some standards and stipulations accompanied his decision but he quickly learned that there was a predetermined pick already in place. He had no choice, no free will to decide his own future, and with that, he would have to leave behind the love he had known since they were children.
“You can’t be serious, Dad,” Steve’s hands shook with anger as he held back the urge to smash something, anything at all.
“The Carters are very good friends of ours and Peggy is a sweet girl. She’ll make for a lovely wife,” Joseph Rogers, the current leader of the Rogers crime syndicate, explains while not batting an eye at his son’s aggression and continues to eat the roast his wife made.
“You can’t just force me into this. Mom,” he turns to Sarah who is sitting quietly at the kitchen table, “please there has to be something else, anything else.”
She only shakes her head, eyes downcast on the dark wood of the table where they’d been eating dinner as a family moments ago. Joseph spares her a very brief glance to ensure that she isn’t going to give in to her son’s pleas for help.
“What’s done is done. You will marry Peggy Carter at the end of the week and that is the end of this conversation. I do not want to hear another word about it, am I clear?” The authority in his tone forces both his wife and son into a quick nod and ‘yes sir’ as the only other sounds that fill the room are those of him cutting the meat on his plate.
Another stern look from his father has Steve returning to his seat but not without one last question, “What about…”
Joseph slams his hand on the table, rattling nearly everything and everyone as he cuts Steve off, “I said not another word and as for that girl, you will break it off and forget about her.”
Easier said than done as the thought of his best girl and leaving her are the only things that he thinks about during the days leading up to his wedding. Not once did he think of Peggy even as she walked down the aisle of the grand catholic church in her expensive white gown or when he briefly pressed his lips against hers as they were pronounced husband and wife or when she refused to let him go throughout the celebrations. Not once did Steve stop thinking of his true beloved his entire wedding day or night when he begrudgingly commenced their marriage. He hoped that with time she would leave his every waking thought but time would prove to be a cruel mistress and would not grant him such luxuries.
She inhabited every corner of his mind for the next 15 years and nothing could shake the memory of her tear-stricken face when he told her that they were done. To spare her the real pain of the truth, he lied and said that he had been seeing Peggy the entire time they were together. Whether or not a cheating revelation was really better than an arranged marriage was lost on him and he regretted every word the moment they slipped out. Of course, she hadn’t believed him, he would never do something so horrible as cheating on her. She knew him better than that, she knew him better than he knew himself so lying to her would never be successful. Yet she accepted it and didn’t pry any further, knowing that if he was lying, there was clearly something far worse happening.
He watched all love drain from her face and tears wet her skin when the lies filled her head. Everything they had built together over the last year had been ruined with two sentences; It’s over. I’ve been cheating on you with Peggy and we’re getting married.
15 years later and only God knows he would be able to make up for those lost years and cruel parting words. Rain storms around him and soaked his thick black outer coat as he stands in front of the blue door. The thunder drowns out the sound of his blood pulsing in his ears as nerves start to take over him. Should he really be here? Would she open the door for him? Hell did she even live here anymore? All sorts of questions scatter any rational thought he has. However lucky for him, the door opens and reveals her standing there and everything completely leaves his brain at the sight.
“What are you doing here?” her voice is calloused and devoid of all emotion as she stares up at him.
“H… Hi,” he stutters, his chest constricting as it works to breathe. In and out, in and out.
“What are you doing here?” she repeats.
“Can I come in?”
“It depends. Is someone dead or are you just here to reminisce?”
His hand strays from his pocket to scratch the back of his neck, an old nervous habit his father had tried to break for years.
“Either way, I don’t want you here so leave,” she says, going to close the door on him and everything that might blossom from this moment but the stray hand blocks that from happening.
“Please, I just want to talk.”
“No. Just go,” she tries again to push on the wood alas she is no match for the strength he has built up over the years and she lets out a defeated sigh.
“5 minutes. That’s all I ask.”
“You’re not going to take no for an answer, are you?”
The smile she had only dreamt of for years finally becomes real again as it stretches across his short stubble covered face, “Not a chance in hell, honey.”
The woman steps back but only enough for him to squeeze past and invade her no longer safe space. She knew when the sleek silver car pulled up that any sense of safety would go. His showing up at her front door made her a target for any and all of his enemies after she’d spent years trying to erase any memory or sign of him from her life.
He glances around the room, taking in every detail it had to offer from the various books that lined the brick walls to the pictures of family and friends on the countertops. One, in particular, halts him. It’s a small polaroid from the first night they’d since each other since childhood tucked into the corner of a mirror that’s amidst the books. In it are two much younger versions of them smiling drunkenly with fireworks in the background.
It had been the fourth of July the year he moved back from college. Sarah, his mother, insisted that they throw a late welcome home of July party since this was the first time in four years he had been back. The college had been an escape from the greed and foulness of his father’s world but his tranquility had to be shattered when he was presented with the prophecy of him taking the Rogers family business. Sure he knew it was going to happen but being faced with the reality of it proved to be too much for him. He’d spent the afternoon sneaking away to take shots in between his beers because he needed to be drunk to not remember a thing to survive this night.
It was probably around the 5th secret shot when his sweet honey had shown up, stumbling upon him looking for the bathroom. There she stood in her cutoff Levi shorts and white tank top that showed off the red bikini top she’d worn to the lake earlier. He should’ve heard her coming down the hallway given that she was wearing flip-flops but the deafening effect of the alcohol must’ve kicked in.
“Oh shit, I’m sorry,” she stutters, frozen with embarrassment, “I’m sorry but where is the bathroom?”
Coughing from nearly choking on his shot, he wipes at his mouth both physically and metaphorically, “Um it’s across the hall.”
“Thank you, Steve,” she whispers while closing the door.
“Wait how do you know my name?” his voice halts her and she cringes when she hears it.
“Oh uh… I guess you don’t recognize me,” she says, pushing her hair back, “I’m Y/N L/N.”
“Oh, OH,” it suddenly all clicks into place and he feels immensely guilty for all of the thoughts that had run through his head, “I should’ve known. It’s been uh… a crazy week.” “It’s all good. I’m sure your parents have paraded you around like a circus animal. Ya know, the prodigal son returns and all,” the sound of far-off laughter has her checking over her shoulder, “Anyways I should go. It was nice seeing you.”
“Yeah it was nice seeing you too,” he trails off, too caught up gawking at how short her cutoffs were and how if anyone dared to look her way, he’d been cut their eyes out.
He’d made it his mission that night to watch over her and make sure that no one got close to her. Of course, this was unbeknownst to her and any attractive guy that showed up quickly disappeared, refusing to even go near her. About 4 guys in, she’d spotted the reason for her bad luck leaning against the sliding glass door with his arms crossed over his chest. Even though she couldn’t see his eyes from behind his sunglasses, she could tell by the way his jaw was set that his death glare had scared off any and all men that approached her.
“Is there a reason why you’re ruining my chances at finding a guy?” she asked him as she came to stand at his side.
He briefly glanced at her from the corner of his eye before readjusting his arms tighter over his chest, straining his white button-down.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he finally settled on but she doesn’t buy it for a second.
“You know exactly what you’re doing and I want to know why.”
“And what do you think I’m doing?” “Being a bitch and not asking me out yourself so you’re resorting to giving everyone the stare-down.”
He scoffed at the suggestion but deep down he knew that she was right.
“The fact that you didn’t even try and defend yourself proves I’m right so are you going to man up or pout?”
“I’m not pouting,” he tried to defend himself but it was too late and she gives him an annoyed look, “Want to go inside?”
She pushed off the door, took his hand in hers, and dragged him inside, “I thought you’d never ask.”
She clears her throat, drawing his attention back to the present and he hesitantly looks at her through the mirror. She doesn’t look exactly pleased that he had seen the last photo she’d held onto but she doesn’t let her bothered attitude show and gestures for him to sit at the kitchen island.
“Why are you here?” she asks him while getting things to make iced coffee. “I wanted to see how you were,” he lies, taking a seat in the tall wicker chair she’d thrifted a few months before.
“You had 15 years to do that. Why are you really here?”
“We got divorced.”
She freezes for a moment but continues to make herself a cup and offers him one. He shakes his head, awaiting her response.
“Oh?” is all that comes out of her as the rain drones on outside.
“It had been a long time coming.”
“I’m sorry,” her body language tells another story that is the opposite of her words. The indifference is clear as she passes him a cup made to his exact preference anyways. Feeling his bright blue eyes burning holes into her skull, her own eyes flicker up and meet his, “You can’t expect me to care. You cheated on me with her and dumped me the same week you married her.”
“No, you’re right. I shouldn’t expect you to feel bad for me,” he says, taking the cup from her hands.
“But here you are; showing up at my house and begging me to open the door to what? Talk? Talk about what? You didn’t come here just to tell me that so what is it?” she pries, leaning against the sink behind her to keep as much distance as she can between them.
He takes a sip and savors the thought that she absentmindedly put into it before answering her question, “I wanted to set things straight.”
She merely raises an eyebrow but allows him to keep talking.
“My dad arranged my marriage to Peggy and forced me to break it off with you. It was… I never…. I never cheated on you.”
Eyeing him from her place, she takes a long drink from her cup to think over his revelation. Half of her laughs at him and how stupid he must be if he thinks she is really going to believe that. The other part tenses at the idea that maybe they could have been together after all if they had run away like they planned.
“I lied because I thought it would be easier than telling the truth but it made everything worse and I’m sorry, honey.”
“Sorry doesn’t change anything regardless if you lied or not. Now you’ve said what you needed to, so leave,” she tells him, pointing at the door with the cup in her hand. He can see the scar on her hand from when she broke through a window after she’d locked herself out trying to sneak back in. A smile breaks onto his face which frustrates her even more.
“Really, Steve, you need to go.”
“Is this it? Is this how it ends?”
“Are you being serious right now?”
He holds up his left hand in his defense and the carved-out space where his wedding band once sat causes her breath to hitch slightly.
“I’ve spent the last 15 years thinking about YOU and what we could’ve had. You can’t tell me it hasn’t crossed your mind at least once?”
She drops her gaze to her cup, unable to look at him and the anguish clear on his beautiful features, “What does it matter? It didn’t happen. You got your perfect life and I had to make my own way.”
“You were always a part of what I wanted my life to look like and what I got with Peggy was all fake. I never wanted her or any of it for a second, I just wanted you,” the lull of his voice tempts her to look up again but if she does that, she’ll break. She can only imagine the way his brows pull together from stress or how his jaw clenches to stop the emotions from overtaking his senses. She can only imagine how he’d slowly blink with that sad smile of his when she would make eye contact or how he’d lower his voice to say her name in the softest tone he could manage.
“Go.”
“Honey please look at me.”
“Go,” she tries a little louder, her grip on the cup growing tighter as she struggles to keep her composure.
“Look at me first.”
“Go,” she says one more time, “Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go”
Each go grows more and more desperate as her composure slips away from her and everything she’s suppressed from the night he left comes rushing to the surface as lava does when its volcano starts to erupt. The cup shatters under her death grip, sending pieces of glass and iced coffee everywhere. Neither of them flinch at the sound, having grown used to much worse noises thanks to his business. However, the dam within breaks, and tears slip down her nose as she spaces out on the wreckage of her anger at her feet. Steve quietly stands from the island and gathers her into his arms, pulling her away from the mess on the floor. She doesn’t fight it, wrapping her arms around his bicep as she cries into it. The comforting words he whispers into her hair go unheard but she can feel the rumble of his voice in her chest and that provides all the comfort her body craves.
Feelings of fulfillment and joy fill him as he finally holds her in his arms again but it doesn’t last long when she starts to speak.
“You shouldn’t have come here.”
“What?”
“You shouldn’t have come here.” He pulls away a little to look down at her, “I don’t understand.”
“You shouldn’t have come here,” she repeats for the third time, “Things were different when we were kids but we’re grown now and too much has happened. You’ve done too much, I’ve done too much for us to be together. This won’t work.”
“We weren’t kids though,” disbelief fills his voice with uncertainty causing it to wobble.
“Yes we are,” she persists, “You were 22 and I was barely 18. We were stupid to think it was anything more than a fling.”
“A fling?” he drops his arms from her and takes a staggered step back as if she shoved him.
She turns her back to him to spare herself the look of utter hurt he wears, “Please. Just go.”
Receding footsteps mix in with the rain as he does what she asked and leaves. Her front door slams shut and the shutter shakes the house as well as her. Dropping down to her knees on the sticky floor, the tears fall now like a tidal wave and the sobs rack through her body as she blindly tries to clean up the glass shards.
Love is not meant to feel this way.
#mob au#mafia steve rogers x reader#mob steve rogers#mafia! steve rogers imagine#steve rogers#steve rogers x y/n#steve rogers x reader#steve rogers imagine#mafia steve rogers#marvel imagine#marvel#marvel fanfiction#steve rogers fanfiction#steve rogers fanfic#mafia au#fine line steve rogers
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hi :) can i request a Morpheus x reader where reader is having a really bad nightmare, she's completely terrified, until she calls for Morpheus, who sends the nightmare away. He's worried about her, he feels guilty for letting that nightmare hurt her, he thinks she's angry at him for not protecting her right away. On the contrary, reader runs right in his arms, thanking him. Morpheus is surprised by her reaction but she reassures him, telling him "it's fine. you're here now.” Thank you <3
Wolf
A/N: this popped out of my head fully formed like Athena did to Zeus and I shall probably never have such writing clarity again xD also partially based on a nightmare of my own from a few weeks ago. Enjoy! tagging @fangirlmary
WARNING: implied/referenced past verbal abuse
~~Requests for Morpheus and the Doctor (9-13) are open~~
The darkness didn’t frighten you, but what lurked in the inky blackness most certainly did. You knew that voice; it had haunted your daily life for over a year, but it was distorted by the realm where dreams and memories collided. The words were warped and growled, slithering across your skin.
You shuddered- this was definitely a nightmare, but too much time had passed for him to cow you so easily. Even still, the familiar knot of choking anxiety and helplessness curled in your stomach, the foggy dream-panic clouding your mind. The blackness surrounded you on all sides, there was nowhere to escape: your only choice was to weather the storm.
After what seemed like hours, the blackness faded to the dark gray of thunderclouds. There were clear barriers now, defined by what looked like decrepit cement walls. The temperature had dropped, the air cold and wet on your skin. Gooseflesh pebbled your arms, and the distorted voice of your tormentor laughed in condescending triumph. Tears welled in your eyes, but you refused to let them fall.
His words were muffled, warped, unintelligible, but their meaning was clear: it was every hurtful word he had ever said, every backhanded compliment, every seemingly innocent conversation you had to navigate by tone and body language to avoid the pitfalls. You shuddered again, tears of pure panic dripping from your eyes, Your hands covered your ears, you turned away from that voice, but there was no relief.
Footsteps now, but not his. They were too light, and there were too many. Soft and padding, with the soft click of claws on concrete. Cautiously, you uncovered your ears and peeked over your shoulder.
A massive white wolf was stalking towards you on eight legs, standing as tall as a semi. Its fur was wild and untamed, greasy and matted with dirt. A dark liquid that looked suspiciously like blood dripped from its sharp teeth as the mouth contorted around the words it spoke. Green flames the size of street lights burned in its eye sockets.
You cowered away, taking cautious steps back as the beast advanced, stalking slowly with the confidence of a predator who knew their prey had nowhere to run. There was no wall to put your back to, nowhere to hide. Your breath came in short pants, the blood rushing in your ears like the ocean almost drowned out the words of your tormentor that were spat from the creature’s jaws.
You tripped and stumbled backwards, landing hard on your back, staring up at gray nothingness. In that moment, the beast had covered the scant distance that separated you without a single sound, and now hovered menacingly over you. A massive paw placed itself over your entire body, refusing to budge no matter how you struggled. Choked whimpers and pleas for mercy pushed their way past your lips.
The beast said nothing more, instead it began to apply pressure to your body, pressing down, crushing you beneath its foot like an insect. Your cries and struggles became more desperate as it pushed harder. The ground was soft at your back, yet unyielding, as if you were being pushed into a mattress.
Your mouth opened in a silent scream as it continued to push you down, down- your chest was tight with agony, you couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe-
“Enough. You go too far.”
The weight on your chest immediately vanished with a rush of wind, the pain fading as you took deep, gasping breaths. You sat up, and to your great surprise, the giant dog was bowing its head to you. Or rather, the figure behind you.
He appeared to be a man, pale and dressed in black, towering regally over you and staring down the dog, who looked decidedly nervous. The hands that were almost at your eye level were wrapped into loose but tense fists. You knew him the same way a barista knew their regulars- bumping into each other with noticeable frequency, more than acquaintances but not quite friends, almost intimately familiar without knowing much about the other besides names.
“Dream-“ you gasped softly from the floor. His eyes quickly flitted down, making sure you were unharmed before once again focusing on the dog. He swept by you as he spoke, the end of his long coat brushing softly over your arm.
“My lord,” the creature rasped, “What an unexpected surprise-“ Morpheus held p a hand, immediately halting its speech.
“Be still. You have overstepped your bounds, Skylos." His voice carried through the grayness, soft and commanding with the slightest edge of anger. "Your purpose as a nightmare has never been to cause dreamers physical pain, only to create a space for them to face their fears.” The creature, Skylos, bowed even lower, looking somewhat ashamed. Dream stepped closer until he was near enough to touch its blood-stained maw if he so desired.
“You are new to this role, and still have much to learn. For that, I am willing to show leniency. But, should you commit such a transgression again, there will be consequences. Am I understood?” Skylos carefully met the Dream Lord’s gaze.
“Yes, my lord,” it growled. “I will take this lesson to heart. Thank you.” Dream nodded once.
“Then go, there are dreamers for you still to visit.” It bowed again and left, vanishing into the gray.
After a breath, Dream turned to face you. You were still laying on the floor, supporting yourself on your elbows. Your breaths were still shaky, but no longer burned your chest. “Are you alright?” he asked in a voice that was deep and comforting as the night, the anger having softened. You nodded, not trusting yourself to speak, as you moved to stand.
Dream offered you his hand. Carefully, you placed your hand in his, the coldness of his touch sending a shiver down your spine. With easy and unnatural strength, he pulled you to your feet, making sure you were steady before letting go. Tears burned your eyes again; your brows furrowed and your entire face scrunched up.
“Y/N, forgive me for not coming sooner.” His dark eyes were downcast, his entire being seeming to slump. His voice was even lower, a broken, choked growl. “Skylos was created only a short while ago, I should have kept a closer watch on him.”
You sniffled once and Morpheus tensed, as if bracing himself for a scolding. He was not ready for you to collapse into him, holding on as if he were your only lifeline. His coat and shirt were soft and warm against your cheek, and absorbed the few tears that leaked out of your eyes. “It’s okay,” you choked, “You’re here now.”
Seeing that you weren’t about to let go, Morpheus awkwardly returned your embrace, holding you closer to his chest. You stayed there for a few minutes, just breathing in everything that was Dream. You pulled away once you had regained your composure and swiped at your eyes. “Thanks for saving my sorry ass,” you choked with a laugh.
Dream’s lips twitched in a flash of a smile as he gently brushed a thumb over your cheekbone, wiping away a stray tear. He murmured, “You are welcome.” Without turning away from you, he waved his hand behind him. Immediately bending to his will, the gray nothingness changed to a bright forest, complete with birds singing, sun shining through emerald-leafed trees, and a pond of crystal clear water.
You let out a breath, finally completely relaxed. “I have other duties to attend...” he said as he lowered his hand. You casually waved him off with a genuine smile. “Don’t let me keep you, your majesty, I’ll be fine. See you around!”
Morpheus returned your smile as you turned to explore your new dream. “Goodnight, dear dreamer.”
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"Goodnight, Masters! Rest well!"
As you said goodnight to KUKULKAN, you drifted into unconsciousness.
Darkness. Nothingness.
Quiet... before the sound of footsteps.
Distant, yet near.
Not a dream, but a memory. Faded, but clearer.
Followed by a smell.
...The smell of blood permeated the air.
Corpses, slowly decaying away into data lay strewn across the streets, as bloodstained footsteps wandered forward. The source of the carnage came from one Servant.
An ASSASSIN, his blade drenched red.
He stepped in front of a glowing form.
The LAIR SERVANT.
The gaze of the LAIR SERVANT was intense. His voice tried to keep calm, but wavered ever so slightly.
LAIR SERVANT: "So, that's why you ended all of those lives? To draw me out?"
The ASSASSIN chuckled, the red glow from his eyes piercing the LAIR SERVANT.
ASSASSIN: "…'Lives'? These are a bunch of ones and zeroes that you're playin' dolls with. Killin' them was nothin' like killin' a person- twice as boring and nowhere near as hard. C'mon, you brought them back before-- do it again. I'll do it as many times as it takes, before you burn out your mana on that punk-ass Noble Phantasm of yours."
You could feel the hatred burn from the LAIR SERVANT as he raised a hand, a divine light shimmering from it.
His anger had reached its peak, and now the wrath of a Divine Spirit was imminent.
LAIR SERVANT: "This paradise… this Solar Cell… you Interlopers have come to selfishly destroy it. Destroy this paradise where nobody has to die! A place where I can forever develop the heights of my medicine, and create a true elixir of immortality!"
The LAIR SERVANT continued to burn, a divine flame sourced from a cursed bloodline beginning to leak out from his body. This was desperation. He had wasted his energy throwing wave after wave of Shadow Servants, and then reluctantly the undead corpses of the villagers that had been killed in a ploy to force the LAIR SERVANT's hand. It was an intense brutal strategy that resulted in plenty of wanton 'death', however- it was effective. And now the LAIR SERVANT, either too weak or too sentimental to conjure up the decaying data around them into more undead, was on his last legs.
However, it would be hard to tell with just a look.
ASSASSIN: "What a shame. I figured you'd have noticed by now. Thanks to my Masters, the more blood you throw at me, the more revitalized I become. Sorry."
The ASSASSIN took a step forward, fully unsheathing his blade. The mana around him distorted, burning with an otherworldly intensity. A faint form shimmer behind him, the intensity of two, burning Spirit Origins intertwining and fighting for the same cause, allowing his shine to match up against the divine light of the LAIR SERVANT.
This whole time, while the LAIR SERVANT had been trying to wear down ASSASSIN, the opposite had happened. ASSASSIN was growing stronger and healthier, staying in peak physical shape after each kill. …You're recalling something about ASSASSIN's condition…!
[ This is T-SUMMONING ] [ T-Summoning is a trait inherent to your Master status, due to the protocol you went through to reach the Solar Cell. Fusing two Spirit Origins together to create a more powerful Servant. The resulting Servant possesses the highest statistics of both fused Servants, however this power comes at an intense mana cost. This can either be ended once the Servant triggers their Noble Phantasm, runs out of mana to supply the boost, or can be stopped manually. However, either a contract needs to be made with both Servants, or a Servant's Spirit Core is captured before it's destroyed. Additionally, the maximum HP and MP is raised by 2! ] [ ASSASSIN is currently equipped with the 'PHANTOM COUNTESS' Spirit Core! ]
This was it.
The LAIR SERVANT was in your way, but once he was killed, that would be one more key- and one more path opened to the Solar Cell Core.
ASSASSIN: "Alright, Masters. Time to end this!"
( '5-option polls' function similarly to 4-option polls, with the fifth option usually involving triggering or cancelling a specific skill. If the 5th option doesn't win out, the voting percentage for that option will be evenly dispersed among the first 4, and then the success results will be calculated like if the poll had only 4 options. )
SERVANT: SLAYING ASSASSIN
T-SUMMONED: [PHANTOM COUNTESS]
Strength: C Endurance: D Agility: A (Raised from B) Mana: C (Raised from E) Luck: D (Raised from E) NP: B (Raised from C)
HP: 7/5
MP: 9/7
Maximum Damage (Strength): 7 (Increased due to the amount of blood present!) Maximum Damage (Mana): 7 (Increased due to the amount of blood present!)
Skills:
Man-Slayer (A) - A sword skill specialized in cutting down humans.
Mind's Eye (Fake) (C) - The skill to avoid danger through pure intuition.
Swordplay as Swift and Powerful as a Falcon (A) - The renowned, unmatched, unique swordsman style of ASSASSIN.
Torture Technique (A) - The deep understanding and precise execution regarding methods of torture, when using torture tools, the efficacy is increased.
Bloodsucking (C) - The act of absorbing another's blood to restore one's own vitality.
Bath of Fresh Blood (A) - This Servant becomes even more effective when drenched in blood.
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The Hotel Podcast Season 3 Analysis: Part 4 - The Hotel Herself
Today, we'll start to wrap up anything left to cover for the Owner's arc, then dig some more into the Hotel Herself, her character, and her relation to the Staff.
I have little in the way of fancy preamble this time, except for that I'll consider this my big treatise on the character of the Hotel Herself and I will be discussing more than just her presence in Season 3. I really can't talk about her without getting into...everywhen and where else.
This is also the longest post in the series, at 8 full pages long. Not that much longer than the other posts, I guess, but it feels long to me. Take breaks if ya gotta. Here's some links to Part I - The Manager, Part II - The Lobby Boy, and Part III - The Owner.
It is a joy for me to write this up and to share it with you. If you read even a little bit, I'm grateful. If you read all of it, I'll be over the moon. So I thank you very kindly for your time :-)
Let's get into it with 3.10 In Which We Burn. This episode is about both of them, all of them really. This is where we start to get into that whole, 'interconnectedness of the self within the Hotel' thing I put a pin in before. Strap in for the ride.
The Owner begins again in the void. There is nothingness all around him, yet he wanders forward to somewhere, something he can't quite perceive yet with only a vague idea of what he's going to do:
I would know if I was going the wrong way. Returning from somewhere to somewhere. I don't know where I'm going, but I know how to get there. I think there's someone there already. I think I'm going to kill them. No, that's not quite right. That's not it. But it's all I can think of as I walk thru endless endless nothing. "I'm going somewhere. Someone is there. Someone to kill." Over and over I repeat the words, trying to make them make sense. Trying to find the parts that stick out in sharp directions. Like a mountain crag that needs weathered down by time to dust.
...There's that mountain again. This is a version of the Owner reforming after his last death, one that strikes me as prototypal, almost. He exists in the void for what's implied to be a long time and seemingly has no memory yet of the previous episodes events? He has no memory of...anything. Just him and the endless darkness.
I think that the Hotel is forming him slowly here. Experiencing through him. The Owner doesn't fully exist yet, he's still baking in the metaphorical oven. Without any memory or experience besides the void, she seeps through into him as he fumbles for something.
"I'm going somewhere. Someone is there. Someone to kill."
Consider the creature versions of the Staff ala season 2 or 5, how they seem to have foggy memories that slip away until they settle into being whatever monster of the week they're going to be. This feels the same way to me. Compare the above line with the following from early on in 2.3 Mr Heavy Bones:
Something in me, not me, something separate, needs to kill them.
I also want to point out not just the similarity of those two lines, but how said lines could easily refer to the Hotel herself. Hear me out - If I wanted to describe how the Hotel operates in as succinct a way as possible, it'd be something like the above! Someone is there, somewhere. Someone to kill, someone needs to be killed...
He approaches, or perhaps the lobby approaches him as it comes into view. He's disoriented, the ceiling and the floors mixed up and everything is going by too fast, he's completely disconnected from the sense of time and space of the Hotel's shape. In a flash, he remembers and is immediately reset again. The Hotel instructs:
Watch it again. And pay attention this time.
On it boss!
The music has changed to The Hotel Herself's theme, Cosmic Heartbeat, and continues to play as the Owner goes through another run. The perspective is slowly starting to shift - although we're still seeing through the Owner's narrative eyes, understanding is on the horizon. The Owner goes again and looks at the Manager.
THE OWNER: She's already been killed. Is that what was sticking out? Is that what I needed to weather? I don't think so. I don't believe it, but I do as I'm told. Dying isn't easier the second time. THE HOTEL: (Yyyyyyyyou've) You've died much more than that. You've died again, and again, and again and again. Here comes another one, don't miss it or we'll have to start over.
She's responding not just to his words, but to his own internal narration. The line between them gets a tiny bit blurred, line by line ;)
So, then, if it's not the Manager he needs to see, maybe the Manager's murderer? He takes note of the gibbering creature, starts to remember more but the Hotel grows a bit frustrated with him. The Owner's not quite picking up on everything yet.
So we go back again for another round and the Owner grows more harried. With each death he sounds more and more ragged and I have to give huge props to Graham Rowat. Like I said last post, his performance as the Owner is always wonderful but this episode in particular has always stuck out to me as a high point. The Owner sounds so desperate here, so battered. He's lost and in pain and so afraid of dying yet still trying so hard...
He goes through again, makes it past the Manager and the gibbering creature and sees the Lobby Boy cowering in the corner. He's so overcome with disgust at the Lobby Boy he loses sight of what he's supposed to be understanding and the Hotel kills him again. He's getting lost in the details, not paying attention to the bigger picture. He needs to see beyond himself.
THE HOTEL: We have nothing but time here. (here here h e r e) Time (time time time) and pain(pain), if you want it. I already understand (everything)everything(everythgibber) WINGS FLAP THE OWNER: PLEASE! No more! THE HOTEL: But you don't understand yet. (don't don't don't understand yet ) Until you have an understanding you will receive only pain and time. AGAIN!
There's a bit of implication that this goes on for longer than just the exchanges we get in the episode. Now can see that the screams of his that echoed throughout the season, such as at the very very beginning and on the second floor, were the result of him witnessing these events again and again from his own jumbled perspective. I picture the Owner in my mind's eye falling, hurtling upside down through the Hotel, flying through time and space at Her direction.
I also want to talk a bit about the Hotel's part in these exchanges, and on her broader relationship with the Owner. To my understanding, official word on season 3 is that it's the Hotel experiencing her own origin like a memory, but because time, self, etc. aren't separate concepts for Her, it's experienced in this weird distorted kinda way. But nevertheless, she is here, experiencing all of this alongside the Staff and alongside the audience. She's watching and reliving these events and the Owner seems to be a sort of...Dante, almost? Sort of. He's there to watch with her.
What is the Owner's role through most of the series? His very title the Owner is superfluous because he very obviously doesn't own anything. He has no authority whatsoever, only the costume of it. He holds the threat of replacement over the heads of the Manager and Lobby Boy, but he can't actually do anything to them. The only time he tries to do something during season 4, he gets his ass handed to him just as much as he beats the Lobby Boy. He has no real authority over the guests – he certainly scares them, but he doesn't build the rooms or check them in.
What is he tasked with doing, then? He is to observe the proceedings of the Hotel, observe the guests and the Staff, and file reports to the Hotel. Again, he has no meaningful authority. His reports are meaningless in terms of running the Hotel. She can and does do whatever she wants regardless of what he has to say or think about the matter. So what purpose does he serve to her? This is what drives the Owner fucking bonkers in a 'constant accumulating dosage of radiation over time' type of way. It's the main reason he has such a hangup about not being insignificant, it fuels his hatred (read: JEALOUSY) of the Lobby Boy, it's why he makes it his business to shout at everybody else for not doing their jobs right, it's why he breaks down in season 4, I could go on.
For her, his reports may not have a purpose vis-a-vis hotel operations, but that's not the point. He's her confidant, her right hand. To him, that's an ideal he must constantly strive to live up to and fulfill. To her, she enjoys the company. Someone to watch it all with her. The Owner is so different from her in temperament that in his unique position, I think he gives her fresh perspective, a way of seeing things from different angles. I'd offer this excerpt from 4.8 AJ, Taylor, and Wayne:
I know he wants to understand though, the Owner, for me. He's such a sweetie. Always thinking of me. He wants to do a good job on his "reports". I like his reports, I like hearing about his day, and hearing about the staff, and how they like it, and how he likes it, and if I can do anything to make it better for everyone. I can, of course. Heh, I can do anything.
In 4.11 The Owner - V she tells him:
Now wait just a damn minute. I know you don't like my Lobby Boy, but you have got to get it together. The floor staff are absolutely necessary to running the day to day, but you and I are supposed to support them, drive them forward to new fantastic heights!
The Owner responds, then the Hotel responds:
They were! They are! But it's you and me, kid. I really thought you and I were gonna be able to work together more closely on this. And it's supposed to be fun! You may be like them, one of them but when you come here you're on my level. I elevate you to singular significance, even if it is just to chat.
I know those are long excerpts, but I feel they're necessary here. The Manager and the Lobby Boy have each other. They improve each other and work well together. I strongly feel that their interactions fuel their character growths. The Hotel sees the Owner as the Lobby Boy to her Manager. It's the two of them, working together! He's beneath her, of course, everyone is, that's just how it goes. But they're a team!
The Owner very much doesn't see it this way. He conceptualizes himself entirely from his place in the hierarchy, his title as The Owner. He is above the other Staff and exists to further Her will. He's so god damned worried about running everything that he cannot see past this through to what the Hotel actually wants - his company. The Owner ties himself up in knots partly due to his internally and externally imposed isolation from the Staff. I wouldn't say it made the Owner the way he is, he did just kinda come out of the box like that, but it absolutely exacerbates his issues in a feedback loop. It drives the Hotel mad because she can't understand this. For all she says she understands everything, she struggles to get why the Owner gets so wound up. Something something divorce core or what have you.
...That, um. Got away from me a little bit.
Anyway.
Aaaall of that is to say, if the Owner isn't there to actively affect things, then he must be there to watch. That's been his role, to me, from all of his season 1 episodes to now. His role here, in season 3 specifically, is to watch and learn. And She watches through him, watches him watch, and he is the vehicle through which she makes meaning of Herself all over again through new eyes. Ties it all together.
[More could be said on this about this being the Owner's on-boarding - the exact word he uses to describe this later on in 4.11. But if I start up again I don't know where I'll stop so I need to move on for now.]
The Owner's arc is pretty much done here anyhow. He goes around again and eventually he starts to understand. Starts to! He sees himself in the Manager's place, dead on the floor. He sees himself as the Lobby Boy, cowering in the corner. He sees himself as the gibbering creature.
You're so close to understanding.
THE OWNER: No. No! As the lobby passes I see my own reflection at my feet. The Hotel begins pulsing rhythmically. THE MANAGER (echoing): I see her standing here in the void, fear carved into her face. THE LOBBY BOY (echoing): I see him, and the fear turns into awful understanding. THE OWNER (echoing): Killer and killed. Predator and predated. Ashes to ashes.
The Owner becomes them all one by one, and they, in death, become each other. Cycle through being each other, it seems. Here is the moment of understanding. They are all one in the same. None of them are separate from or above death. They are not separate from the Hotel – they are the Hotel, split into distinct parts which are separate yes, but inextricable from Her. A long silence passes before:
THE HOTEL: The mountain has been weathered. Do you see? MANAGER/LOBBY BOY/OWNER: Yes. THE HOTEL: My will. My purpose. You kill for me. MANAGER/LOBBY BOY/OWNER: Yes. THE HOTEL: You die for me. MANAGER/LOBBY BOY/OWNER: Yes. THE HOTEL: Darkness is the universes natural state. MANAGER/LOBBY BOY/OWNER: We are the light, one and separate, existing briefly, extinguished and anguished. THE HOTEL: Now, at the end, our work can begin. Front desk bell DINGS.
AaaaaAAAAA!!!!! AAAAAH!!! THIS. THIS IS MY TOP FAVORITE SEQUENCE IN THE PODCAST EVER. This is what got me. I already liked the series since I'd made it up to this point, but this is what made it feel special to me. The timewarp end-beginning stuff, the interconnected self, the cosmic nature and presence of the Hotel Herself, all of it resonated somewhere deep in me. This contextualizes the entire thing for me in one line I think about Frequently:
Darkness is the universe's natural state.
That is why I honed in so hard on the light/dark fire/death imagery. The implication that darkness, void, nothingness, death - that all of that is a resting point. The light is an aberration, something new and anomalous which exists for a time before resetting back to default.
The way I picture the Hotel is as a cosmic entity of, well. Cosmic proportions. Too vast to comprehend on a meaningful level. She's not the representation of death in general, she's simply a part of the universe that embodies some of the void. The space between.
After all, a hotel is a place between where you started and where you want to go, isn't it? You go there, you stay there, you leave there. A candle is lit, it burns, it dies. Leaving only cold, empty darkness behind.
It's the inherent contradiction that makes the Hotel Herself in my mind. She exists as an entity, yet is as a void. Symbolically representative of death, yet she contains life and light within her in the form of the guests and the Staff. From her void, she Becomes in infinite fractalling, spiralling shapes. Hotels and lobbies and rooms and doors. Something from an underlying nothing.
Note, I don't mean the terms 'empty' 'void' and 'nothing' as derogatory. She is not hollow (though she does contain hollows). In terms of symbolism, 'nothing' is as much Something as 'something' is. It's like...In art, you have negative space. It's defined by being the absence of something. The interplay of negative and positive space creates the artwork. That's what I'm getting at with the light/dark stuff here.
Another food for thought: How about 'light' in terms of seeing, or perception? Not only does the Hotel take on infinitely many forms in shape, but she also influences and manipulates how she is perceived. The guests, Staff, and New Crew all perceive the Hotel differently - I made a post about this subject a while ago that you can read, even! [That post is outdated now re: the New Crew stuff at the end, but I thought it worth including anyway.]
Incidentally, I think the Hotel does have trouble seeing back at the Staff. She knows them inside and out, don't get me wrong, and she can twist them any way she chooses. But they have gotten out of her grasp before. Her tensions with the Manager and the Owner in season 4 come to mind, she has trouble seeing things from their perspective and vice versa. The Hotel is above them, and that is its own position with its own perspective. The limitless is, ironically, limited.
Now let's talk about the Mountain.
The mountain has been weathered. Do you see?
It's the most predominant recurring motif of the season alongside the fire. I consider it complementary and even entwined with the fire. Firstly, on its own, I consider it to represent structure. The mountain is at once something to be scaled and something to be weathered. In both (contradictory) cases, it is playing within space. The painting process, as opposed to the proverbial color palette.
It directly represents the structure of the Hotel as, like, a hotel - the Staff's roles each represent a floor. The Manager is the lobby, the entryway, the ground/first floor. This is why she has to be the one to search for the place the Hotel will be in the forest, why she has to introduce the season and the series (she opens season 1, too!) while the Lobby Boy is already just kinda...there when his turn comes up.
Second floor is the guest floor, a horizontally infinite maze of hotel rooms, hallways and doors. This is the midpoint, the journey from life to death. Of course, the deaths don't have to happen here, but many do. This floor is a role of its own. It exists dedicated to this purpose. Then, there's the third floor. A dark office that is at once a void yet also filled with paperwork, desks, computers, so on. As I write this, I realize I said all this in the last post so I won't drag this out.
Point is, as we ascend, we zoom out more. The lobby is only ever the lobby. It's a personal, one-on-one entryway. The second floor is broader – there are many rooms for many guests. Only one may check in on a given night, but since time works differently here, all the guests are already there and already dying and already dead etc etc. The third office overlooks the floors beneath it, overseeing not just the guests but the Staff, too. What's above the third floor? Darkness.
These correspond directly to the Staff's roles and we've had PLENTY going on across this season that makes those connections as well. The Manager in 3.2 Hammering Bones experiencing the building of the Hotel first-person style or the Lobby Boy's whole thing kind of tying him to the burning rooms, for example.
[Stray thought: If I wanted to get real artsy with it I could talk about the hierarchy here not just a physical building structure and corporate structure, but also as structure of the human body - Starting from the ground, standing firm as the Manager does, going up to the hands which build, to eyes that watch, to the brain that is. well. everything. But thaaaaaat's leaning a bit too into my own personal projections as I see barely any canon basis for this so. Take or leave at your discretion. I just adore symbolic trios.]
Form and light. Mass and shape. The Hotel as a tiered yet deeply interconnected structure containing fire and light that exists in service of snuffing out the fires that enter her. Do you see my vision here?
Weathering the mountain is grinding down 'something' into 'nothing.'
When the Staff have all been weathered, they are Her again.
There's a little bit more to the ending of this episode, echoes of the old Managers, Lobby Boys, Owners, ending with:
THE HOTEL: …We hope you enjoyed your stay with us. Your Hotel for the night. We hope you'll enjoy all your nights with us. THE MANAGER/LOBBY BOY/OWNER/HOTEL: WELCOME! The Hotel theme plays over credits.
This is a lovely ending to the season and I like it very much. I apologize that I don't have much to say about it beyond that, I just got so lost in the symbolism sauce back there.
I still have more to talk about, actually, while I'm still here. Before I spoil and rot in this text post. It's been 7 long pages now but there's still work to be done before the skin sloughs off my bones. Because in all my talking about the Hotel as she exists, her how and her form and all that, I never really talked about the Hotel Herself, did I?
Maybe I did a little, here and there, but that's just not enough for me. The Hotel Herself is such a character and while she's always been here in this season, yes, we don't get a lot of her directly. And there are still questions that might arise from the whole 'the Hotel is also the Staff and they are all each other' thing that need answering.
Namely, why would she do this in the first place?
[Well, aside from the whole 'well there wouldn't be a story at all otherwise' thing]
The Hotel exists as. ah. the Hotel. Like I said earlier, she chooses that form for Herself, that's who and what she is! A hotel is that positive space 'something' and it has a structure, a prescription just like the archetypes of the Owner, the Manager, and the Lobby Boy do. She has many variations, from a cabin to a rental home, to a dingy roadside motel to the fanciest most elaborate 5 star resort, but these are all her own kind of instancing as defined in my previous post. The only difference is that she, at the highest level, exists simultaneously as all of these instances at once and thus has an eternal awareness of Herself that the Staff do not.
I draw a distinction between the Hotel Herself and Madam Hotel because of this. To me they are NOT interchangeable. Madam Hotel is a specific instance, a specific form that is her, but not all of her. Not fully. She seems more...cloudy, I suppose, as Madam Hotel. Everything is all new to her. Existing in a human body is new to her, seeing things from this perspective is new to her, and she lacks the cosmic clarity of the Hotel Herself in her vast endless entirety.
Still, she retains the same personality. And I really, really want to talk about the Hotel's personality. She's so fun!
She is endlessly curious, always excited for novelty. She likes watching the lights inside her twinkle and interact just as much as she likes putting them out. ALL of it is wonderful fun to her. There's an infectious enthusiasm about her in her season 4 narrations, where we see her fully in her element as Herself. Some excerpts:
[Stretching noise] MMMMMMMM-MM! Sometimes you just have to stretch out and take up some space, am I right? And we have THREE guests tonight! THREE! They aren't getting a room though, so I thought it would be okay to to relax a little, let it all hang out. Well, let some of it hang out, anyway. Really explore the notion of unwinding. My lobby is still rooted firmly, I mean we do have to meet the guests halfway you know. But tonight I just let myself unspool up and up and up and up up up up [giggles] ohhh it's really almost just like doodling. Filling in the fiddly-bits with scrabbly brick and twisted metal and I'm even experimenting with the windows tonight. Kind of greasy and yellow, I don't know, stained with nicotine or some other poison. Just one of those little subtle touches that's more for me than the guests. They don't notice almost anything. Sillies. They just see me as a normal old building, red carpet under an awning.
[4.8 AJ, Taylor, and Wayne]
I lay down, lounging on the side of a very green and bushy highway by an airport. I'm the kinda place people go when they don't have anywhere else to go. Or don't want anyone to know where they went. I fill my dull yellow paint with cracks, for character. The staff barely even have uniforms here, and they look pretty rough themselves. Gotta look the part, right? I put the Lobby Boy's Supply Closet around back this time. The lobby is pretty small, but the fresh air will do him good.
[4.11 The Owner - V]
Look at how much FUN she's having being herself!!!!!! I love her so much!!!! Each instance is an experiment and exploration in self-creation. Okay, hang on, let me have one more. I know the bonus episodes aren't canon, but The Garden has stuck in my interpretation of the Hotel Herself since it aired, let me have this.
My hands shoved knuckle deep into the cool, dark soil of the universe. I flex my digits and churn it into a place something could grow. I plant seeds there and nurture them best I can with water and food and little lights. There are things that live down there that suck up mud and chew on slime and help it all flourish. It's an entire ecosystem. Carefully balanced and tended too. I don't know anything about plants or gardening so I have to make up the rules as I'm figuring them out.
I won't rehash the whole episode but the whole thing really gets across that she is at once the garden and the gardener, every single part. The metaphor of the garden, of growing plants and flowers and hoping for the best, figuring it out as you go, feels SO in-line with what we see of her in the main episodes.
Back to my point, the Staff are integral parts of the Hotel. How could you have a Hotel without Staff to run it? They are instruments whose tones and timbres affect the sound of the night's composition.
They are her, but they are also themselves, too. The reason they can individuate is to allow for new variations, new shapes and forms, a new angle to look from or new idea to explore. I realize this paragraph runs the risk of getting meta very very quickly but I don't know how else to explain my thoughts here. In-universe, the Hotel Herself made these constructs, but if they were all the same, they'd be only darkness!
It at once excites and frustrates her when their tensions come to a head. She tries to bond with the Manager and the two ABSOLUTELY DO NOT see eye to...eye...The Owner goes completely off the rails in his breakdown. Even the Lobby Boy sides with the Manager and is starting to show signs now of getting a backbone.
The Hotel takes on her own roles, then, in responding to them. Becomes at once the workplace and the workplace CEO who is so obscenely rich they are effectively disconnected from reality and consequently the people working at the company. She is the matriarch of the family, for all of the good and bad that entails in her dynamic with the Manager. [This is why I kinda took the punishment angle in the first post of this analysis series. I don't view it that way anymore, not fully, but I feel this is an important part of their relationship as it currently stands.]
Through it all, even then, the constant push and pull is part of the fun! The contradictions, the interplay of something and nothing...I feel like I'm starting to repeat myself. On the one hand, I feel like I have so, so much more to say that I didn't even scratch the surface of yet. On the other...I feel like I've said the same things three times over.
Fitting, sure. But I'll have to end this post at some point. I'm getting tired. My vision is blurring. And on the metaphorical side, something something turning into a pile of rotten flesh on the floor something something.
One last, laaaast thing for now: I've gone over the cycle, the endless loop, the endlessness, all that good stuff. But the Hotel Herself also has linearity of her own. She goes from an it, from the Powers That Be, distant and impossible to understand, to the Hotel Herself, present and full of verve and energy and personality. She revisits her origin, but from a perspective of herself in time in which she already understands everything.
She's always been here, and all that. I just find that really poignant and I wanted to get into it more but couldn't find alllll the words I wanted.
I'd love to keep writing more stuff like this, it's been an absolute blast for me. Reading the transcripts, listening to the episodes, getting my little snippets in the word doc and writing about them...I hope you've enjoyed reading my work just as much. Like I said at the top, it means a lot even if you just, like, skimmed through. Thank you so much for your time and have a good one :-)
#the hotel podcast#the hotel herself#hotelpod analysis#if theres some weird formatting stuff please try not to worry too much about it#if there are any errors i will fix them a little later but#i Just finished writing this and im going to bed now#i hope this all is cohesive and makes any kind of sense aaaah#wanted to touch on the new crew a bit but couldnt find a good place to squeeze that in#sad. oh well guess ill just have to start writing new crew meta
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self indulgent fragaria memories post
waku waku! these are very messy notes that aren't linear at all! the first is just noir bouquet ep. 2 and what i would want out of it that I wrote a week ago
I like the idea that Tuxedo Sam’s kingdom has already experienced being attacked by SEEDs. Tuxam’s latent rule-making is more due to his paranoia mixed with his want to keep everyone within the kingdom safe.
(Tuxam receiving intel that a SEED is masquerading as a human and in turn, imposes all sorts of strict rules(?))
(It does raise concern to citizens, especially for Tuxam who has a reputation for unconditionally helping everyone no matter what)
But in all honestly—I wanted to implant the idea of a murder mystery where a SEED is mimicking the human form. Somehow Arupek, Chaco, Tuxam, the SEED, and a few innocent civilians are in a “the building is snowed in!” idea.
(They visit a cafe or restaurant, and while eating—a civilian approaches Tuxam who reports the abnormal snowfall)
Tuxam - “Remain calm everyone.” “It’ll be in my best efforts to remove the blockage and getting everyone safe and sound.”
(Power outage, someone disappears) (Furniture is reported to be loss, and people who were also trapped have also disappeared(?)) (If a SEED makes someone disappear, and the SEED is purified—would that disappeared person be dead? Like???) (Imagine a SEED disappearing you, and you appear in a weird void space)
(“WHERE AM I???”) (But you don’t remember what happened when you were absorbed by a SEED(?)) (I imagine being within a SEED’s stomach is like a black hole of nothingness) (Negative emotions intensify, and it’s a feeling of slowly dying despite not looking like it)
(I imagine SEEDs have a slow digestion, so it’s quite possibly to retrieve items or people consumed by a SEED)
(The SEED will feed off their paranoia in hopes everyone turns against each other)
(The culprit would be the one able to adhere to Tuxam’s strict standards, because even Tuxam would know no one can exactly follow him to a T!)
(“You dirty the pure soul of gentlemanliness!”)
And isn’t Tuxam based on Sherlock Holmes? I would say it’s the perfect plot if done correctly? ♡
SEEDs will attempt to mimic the human form, but unable to significantly change their color palette. Having to rely on concealing themselves, they will mimic inconspicuous outfits. (ie. a SEED wearing a cloak that covers the entire body, or a SEED wearing heavy winter gear(?)) (If that makes sense)
While they mimic the human body, their faces still look like the head of a SEED. (They’ll often wear things like hoods or brimmed hats to conceal their faces with shade.) I imagine these types of SEEDs are able mimic human speech, but incapable of understanding what they’re truly saying.
(But I imagine there are SEEDs fully able to mimic the human form(?)) (I wonder if we’ll ever see sentient SEEDs(?))
Things I Personally Want To See -
Chaco and Arupek get etiquette lessons by Tuxam! I also wanted the idea of Tuxam dressing them up in suits to look more gentlemanly!
yeah i couldn’t think of anything else
i am simple-minded and desire tuxam content
yeah i only made this so i could give context on the current lore and also brain dump about noir bouquet (edit: I wrote everything we know about fragaria memories lore above this note for context <3) (I should mention this is just a chunk from a bigger big note I write everything in...)
when they leave, i want arupek who insists to go ice skating or ice fishing (arupek: “let’s have some fun before we go!”) (tuxam: “are you taking this seriously…?”)
speak your English little guy!!!
Presumably that Tuxam joins the party, I want to add more world building in some shape or form(?))
(do you think chaco enables arupek because he finds his presence to be enjoyable?)
(When they take the brief moment to camp for the day, I want them to come across an abandoned village overtaken by SEEDs) (Likely abandoned by the SEEDs themselves, but the village is covered in a gross pollution covered in black)
(I imagine Tuxedo Sam’s Kingdom has taken in refugees that consist of people displaced by SEEDs)
(Tuxam - “(Sigh). It’s unfortunate for what had happened.”)
(Tuxam, who feels like he has a moral obligation to eliminate them) (I imagine Chaco and Arupek will also help in purifying the village)
(Even if this village is long abandoned, these houses were once someone’s home. The least Tuxam can do is eliminate the threat so someone’s personal history can be preserved!)
(i honestly don’t know how to write chaco yet, ill probably wait for translations ands see how he’s written and how other fans write him)
(i don’t know if hangyon and tuxam have met each other outside of intros and outros) (but i like the idea that after hearing they’ll be visiting hangyodon’s kingdom)
(tuxam screams into the rooftops “NOOOOOOOOOO”)
(but tuxam already sworn he’d join both arupek and chaco so he can’t back out)
(Arupek, who approaches Hangyon who recognizes Tuxam tells him) (“You got it all wrong! That isn’t Tuxam!”)
(Hangyon plays along) (“Ah~ My mistake, you look the same as a dear friend of mine~ You even have the same name!”)
(Tuxam - “Don’t play dumb, Hangyon…”) (Hangyon - “But I don’t know you at all?”)
(when i imagine going to keroppi kingdom, i want the group to be immediately attacked by drones)
(Chaco - “Ah~ I really don’t know how I got in this mess”)
(lovingly)
(Tuxam - “HEY… You weren’t scam, were you?”)
(Chaco - “A journey is the best thing money can buy. I wouldn’t say I was tricked.”) (“It’s more that I tricked myself.”)
Tuxam - “SO… You were scammed?” (Chaco - “Yes.”)
why did i get the mental image of tuxam as the father chaco as the mother and arupek as their child
it feels wrong to me to label 1 the father and 1 the mother
they either have to be both moms or both dads…? it just makes sense but i don’t know why????
(Tuxedo Knights are an order of knights that were mobilized during the formation of SEEDs taking place in Noir Continent)
(Adhere to a code of chivalry like Knights of Fragaria, they are personally managed by Tuxam himself!)
(Stationed throughout Tuxedo Sam’s kingdom and are always prepared to deal with SEEDs that could appear.)
Honestly, I wanted to add the detail that Tuxam previously lost people he cared about to SEEDs—but I’ll be getting into head canon territory where it does involve OCs <3
(The situation itself is already personal to him, especially a SEED in Tuxedo Sam’s kingdom that is able to mimic the human form)
(Previously lost a friend to SEEDs when they started to take root in the world of Fragaria.
(I only wrote a fragaria OC based on Chip who was a squire when he died) (Childhood friends troupe, Ichi became a knight alongside Tuxam!)
Childhood best friends to Chip’s Knight of Fragaria, Ichi, who was only a squire, around this time both Ichi and Tuxam were squires together. This was when SEEDs had started to take root within the world of Fragaria.
Alternatively—Ichi turned into a SEED and Tuxam doesn’t even remember this friendship anymore. He only knows he once knew someone. The guilt associated with once knowing someone, but unable to remember them. Tuxam who wants to desperately remember this friendship in his life, and blames the SEEDs for this.
“It’d be nice to honor your memory in some way. I’ve forgotten you. But not your existence.”
But a Tuxam, who remembers his friendship with Ichi—while he isn’t depressive with his thoughts, it has affected his life in having fun and he hasn’t found closure in his death.
I think it’s more of a, “…Is it really fine—if I’m enjoying this? Having fun?” “I’m a knight of my kingdom. It’s my duty to protect, not… Doing this.”
And while honorable, I imagine it’s more of having the leisure to finally relax—even for a moment. “It was moments like this that killed him.” “I can’t bare that… No—It’s not something that should happen anymore. I’ll be strong for myself, and everyone around me.”
In times of peace, Tuxam is the most unease because it feels too good to be true.
(I like to think Tuxedo Sam’s Kingdom, while more better than it was before—has abandoned villages and towns ravaged by the attacks of SEEDs) (While few have still survived, they’re mainly under the protection of Tuxedo Sam’s kingdoms or having to rely on foreign aid from other kingdoms(?))
(Referred as being “overgrown,” it describes places festered with the influence of SEEDs) (these places dye entire villages and environments into a dark pitch black similar to ink(?))
(it’s the bad remnants left from a SEED) (but these places are capable of being purified)
(important to eliminate because SEEDs can erupt from here)
(even a drop of their remnants can birth SEEDs)
(maybe overgrowth happens when a SEED takes an overwhelming amount of negative energy that it spills right out of them(?))
(a SEED that’s too full of negative emotions will plague their surroundings with intense sadness and hopelessness)
(it’ll take a while for them to ingest, and they cannot properly conceal themselves as they once could)
blue bouquet failed draft
Klarkstella - “Purified.” Kurode - “My head…” Klarkstella - “…” Kurode - “Where… Am I?” Klarkstella - “…” “Little Stars Kingdom.” Kurode - “Litt—Gh… I can’t seem to think straight.” “Light…I can’t bare to—” Klarkstella - “Can you stand?” (Kurode attempts standing up, but as he’s about to fall down, Klarkstella securely holds him up) Kurode - “…Thank you.” Klarkstella - “A symptom when being consumed by a SEED.” Klarkstella - “Drowsy. Sensitive to light. Reported to feel weighted and unable to move.” “Increased sensitivity to emotions…” Klarkstella - “No critical injuries…” “A necessary remedy will be rest.” (Kurode, who attempts to speak but seems pained to do so) Kurode - “Trou—trouble on the way here… But I, Gh— don’t remember a thing.” Klarkstella - “…” Kurode - “Uhm…” Klarkstella - “I’ll escort you back to the kingdom.” Klarkstella - “(Louter… Had I brought you, I wouldn’t had been burden with this responsibility… No. I wouldn’t push it on him.)” “(Myu…Something—No. He looks too young to put the responsibility of carrying him either.)” Klarkstella - “(It pains me to ask…)” “Here. On my back.” Kurode - “T—Thank you.” Klarkstella - “And your name is Kurode, correct?” Kurode - “Mhm.” Klarkstella - “Go rest.” (Kurode who listens, strangely at ease) (Quickly falls asleep) Myunna - “K…Klarkstella! Have you found him—” (Klarkstella stares at Myunna with a sleeping Kurode on his back) Klarkstella - “Sh.” Myunna - “Ah!… Myunna will stay quiet.” Myunna - “Is he hurt?” Klarkstella - “…” Myunna - “…” Myunna - “Great. I guess that was a no…?”
I like this, but this was only thrown out because this is under the premise that SEEDs already reached Little Stars Kingdom a while ago... Originally it was Myunna who came with Klarkstella (where they pulled sticks to see who would go and Klarkstella was picked) because he knows how to purify SEEDs, but I kinda want more Willmesh interaction instead?
(Myunna comes out of concern) (Willmesh who comes out of interest with Kurode(?)) (Klarkstella only comes because of a stick)
(I'll probably write it, just more modified and structured(?)) (This is only 1 part of the draft since everything but this part is okay)
the list of tuxam headcanons i accumulated over the months since tuxam was revealed I stopped at like February or march and all the spelling mistakes with badobarm's and hangyon's names... a lot of this was when we only had their appearances and voice lines
(Within the Noir Continent, Tuxam lives within the snowy region of Noir) (I like to imagine there’s a fresh population of fish within this area(?)) (Abundant with rich ores, though relies on imports for fresh produce) (There’s a reliance on fish for food, but some do hunt for their meals(?))
(Because SEEDS are physically more defensive in this region, Tuxam is skilled at magic than with swordplay) (Compared to his peers, he’s either mid-ranged or long-ranged when it comes to battle) (There are some regions uninhabited and said to have species of SEEDS considered dangerous or undiscovered species) (I imagine Pikero has interests over these regions, though Tuxam lets him be with some support and moderation) (Although they argue, the topic of SEEDS are a different topic that requires special attention)
(Especially busy during the Christmas season, and starts celebrations early and long) (Often hard to contact, and needs to be notified ahead of time to make changes in schedule) (Likely makes monthly )
ill be honest with you i just wanted to make 1 philippines reference
(Chip’s knight is a squire) (There’s a small age difference between Tuxam and Chip’s knight, though Tuxam received knighthood early) (Most don’t have a strong opinion on Ichi, but appears kind to others) (Less overbearing, but responsible as Tuxam) (I honestly don’t remember much about Chip, but I like to think Ichi was taken in by their lord) (“I want to see your dreams come true!”) (Childhood friends troupe) (Ichi is able to withstand Tuxam’s strict nagging, and actually appreciates him for it) (“Yes! I’ll absolutely do just that!”) (Most patient knight)
(The only person in the world that’s able to adhere perfectly towards Tuxam’s standards on a knight)
(They would hype each other up) (I imagine Ichi hasn’t allowed himself to promoted as a knight because he’s a perfectionist who doesn’t believe he’s made it(?)) (Is very much capable, but someone who compares himself with his peers)
(“Ichi” or “Chi” as their name for now(?)) (Ichi because that’s the only name that reminds me of Chip, or Chi because that can be taken away and still sound natural)
(When anybody from Noir, or other Bouquets come to visit, I imagine Tuxam provides way too many layers of winter clothes to ensure their safety) (Tuxam looking like a veteran taking care of pandas, as he escorts them)
(Resistant to the cold, and able to handle harsh temperatures even with a shirt and shorts on) (Like his Lord, he’s able to eat his fill) (Citizens within his region have a high respect for him, and Tuxam helps them daily) (Workaholic, doesn’t know when to stop) (Prideful about his position as a knight, and respects his lord dearly)
(Maybe it’s just for me, but I think everyone sees Pikero as the physically weakest member in Noir Bouquet) (Self-indulged image of Tuxam wrestling Pikero down) (You know that one image where A hugs B behind the back, but it isn’t sweet, and they just wrestle them?) (Like that) (I thought of Hangyun at first, though that’s more funnier)
(Easily embarrassed and overwhelmed when it comes to be complimented) (Though it’s also rewarding when Tuxam also gives praises to others(?)) (Can be surprising to hear them at first) (Someone who isn’t satisfied until he perceives something as textbook perfect(?)) (Even if it isn’t perfect to his standards, it’s more so satisfactory(?))
(Wants to uplift everyone and himself)
(I imagine everyone in Noir is competitive, but for Tuxam, he wouldn’t easily admit he’s competitive)
(I imagine Tuxam’s hometown is similar to a snow globe, as it has a protective barrier that protects against SEEDS, or any outside threats) (Warmer inside) (A centuries long spell that protects against SEEDS, and able to blow away snow from covering the barrier) (Honestly I don’t know why, but I have a weird obsession of making winter towns into snow globe themed places) (They’re just so cool) (What do you want from me)
i had a weird obsession with artic places having snow globe like cities, but it sounds really cool at the same time?!
(At first I wanted to say straightforward, but I imagine Tuxam explains everything with high detail and attentive to his surroundings)
(Admires Romalish as a role model to become a better gentleman, and wants to get closer with Halritt because of their Lords)
(Myunna, Rimicha, and Tuxam have a self-betterment group where they meet once or twice in a month to become more competent knights(?)) (Honestly thought of this idea because of being the shortest members in their perspective bouquets) (I imagine it more comedic than something that’s serious) (I imagine Myunna and Tuxam are committed to become even better knights, and Rimicha to a lesser degree and wants to have fun instead) (Knight Bootcamp to become even stronger knights!) (Sometimes featuring guest appearances of other knights) (Tuxam tries to take it seriously, but the situation always derails in some shape or form) (I think Myunna as someone who goes with the flow, though not in an Arupek-kinda-way(?)) (He’s willing to be serious yet also take it easy(?)) (If Rimicha and Tuxam were 1 end of extremes, Myunna is more the middle that goes left or right)
(Dramatic episode where Tuxam makes the sudden realization on if he’s being too overbearing on his admiration to his lord) (Because of misunderstanding, he avoids Tuxedo Sam more than usual) (Though under a sudden embrace by Tuxedo Sam, who jumps into a hug, Tuxam admits why he’s been avoiding his lord) (Story ends there) (Misunderstanding ends)
(Noir Bouquet getting so used to Tuxam’s nagging, that the day he decides to stop for a day, they all think he’s ill)
(Noir Bouquet subtly taking a little bit more work when the other seems down because mostly everyone is a bit prideful about doing it themselves (?)) (Maybe not everyone, and maybe unconsciously) (They wouldn’t admit it themselves, but will hide it under an excuse)
(I imagine Tuxam to be a good cook, and especially knows how to handle fish well(?))
(Does know when to stop nagging when someone appears upset) (Though doesn’t know how to cheer people up) (Probably goes out of his way to explain his actions(?)) (Very frantically) (Would unintentionally excuse himself by saying, “This is for your very good.”(?)) (Does care about others, but isn’t someone who can express that well(?)) (Maybe in a straightforward matter, but can go in detail about a person’s strengths and flaws(?)) (When I say that, I imagine Tuxam has more of an objective approach rather than relying heavily on opinion(?))
(Wears his heart on his sleeve, and cannot hold a poker face at all) (Familiar with English like his lord, and has studied abroad) (Maybe Halritt and him were enrolled in the same institute, or visited his hometown where he pursued his education(?)) (I like the idea that it was love at first sight for Tuxam, and for Halritt, he thought of him as a friend) (I kinda ship them?)
(I remember writing: “I think everyone can agree that Pikero is the physically weakest in Noir Banquet.” Or something close to that) (I still agree with that)
(Physical Strength: Pikero > Tuxam > Arupek > Chaco > Hangyoon > Badobam) (Stronger when it comes to magic, though he’s average to everything else) (Very resistant against cold temperatures) (When I say average, I think Tuxam who has the same running capacity as a normal person) (Slightly stronger than the average person, but when pitted against other knights, he isn’t too strong) (Still able to defend himself when having to fight close-ranged, though it isn’t his strong suit)
(I know this is Tuxam brain rot, but I imagine Pikero is unexpectedly nimble) (Can run especially fast when it comes to emergencies) (And by emergencies, I mainly referred to Hangyon)
(A character that I imagine he’s easy to tease and start arguments with) (Though I feel like that’s obvious)
(What’s the opposite of transfem?) (Whatever it is, I like that headcanon) (I remember seeing a head canon that Pikero did his top surgery himself) (lore accurate)
(It took me a week to remember, but it was transmasc) (<-it took me a week to remember it was transmasc...? </3) (but im gay???) (tuxam and tuxedo sam literally walk in the trans flag colors???)
(This has always been a personal thought of mind I always thought as funny, though I like the image of a tall person picking up a person who’s smaller in height) (Like a cat I mean) (By that, I mean I imagine Badobam picking up Tuxam out of annoyance)
(Tuxam keeps up with fashion trends, which can be unexpected of him to others) (Can do simple handicrafts, and a slow learner when it comes to sewing) (He wants to impress his Lord!) (And make bowties his Lord might wear) (I like to think everybody knows how to, to some extent) (Tuxam is a little slower and finds handicrafts hard to make) (It’s the thought that matters!)
(SORRY TUXEDO SAM HAS SERVED IN 8 NAVY BATTLES AND WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED????) (Kinda wanna write that Tuxam has maritime experience fighting SEEDS in the water) (Has a strong army that’s more specialized in handling winter terrains or cold temperatures) (Maybe Tuxam was inspired by Tuxedo Sam’s navy experience and vowed to become his knight because of his tales) (I like to think that’s apart of his admiration why Tuxam admires Tuxedo Sam) (There’s more to love about his lord!)
(When it comes to members of Noir Bouquet, I imagine they can easily carried get away during the moment) (If they’re really into something, then THEY’RE REALLY INTO IT, and have to see it through the end(?))
(It’ll take a lot of force or have to be reminded if they actually need to be stop) (For Tuxam’s case, I imagine this is the reason he adheres to a strict schedule)
(Probably eats ice cubes like its a normal snack) (And for flavor) (Douses water like its a sauce)
(Someone who insists to do everything himself, and won’t budge until its clearly overwhelming for him) (He’ll still insist to do it himself, but it won’t take long on when he accepts your help) (Finds it hard to ask for help, even when it’s clear he needs it)
(Easily scared when it comes to horror movies or haunted houses) (Probably afraid of roller coasters) (If there’s a jumpscare, he would scream)
(I imagine he’s a character who puts on a brave face when facing spicy food, or anything unappealing) (But if he had a chance, Tuxam would say no) (I think he’s a character who goes, “…It was adequate.” Despite that not being the case) (And the pain is visible to his face) (I would say, “Unless your dense or Arupek,” but is that discrediting Arupek?) (Sounds funny to me, but I hope not)
(How I see it, in my delusions:) (Badoham would taste test it, though is honest on how to improve it) (Badoham would finish because he doesn’t want to waste food) (Arupek eats half of the meal, and then proceeds to puke) (Tuxam says it’s good, though it’s obvious he’s lying) (Pikero goes into detail why it’s terrible) (Hangyon says its tasty, and is being honest to you) (Chaco isn’t even there, or refuses)
(I think Chaco would go “Nah~”) (Make a peace sign with a slight smile, and disappears right there)
(I first thought Chaco would instead force-feed it to you, and ask how it tastes? But I don’t know how accurate that is)
(Maybe he’s a character that has intrusive thoughts about doing that, but says no to your offer)
(Chaco, by his character design and vibes, gives me the impression of someone who thinks about beating up when he’s asked to do anything) (But still helps you at the end in order to appear reliable(?))
“(Huh? Aren’t you capable of doing the work yourself? I have other plans ahead of time.)” “Sure. I’ll be happy to help.”
(He keeps less of a front when around other knights from Noir Bouquet because they already know his act(?))
(“You want me to do what?”) (As he picks his ear)
(Although Tuxam is a character that’s very true to his beliefs, I imagine apart of him can be easily swayed by his emotions(?)) (But I imagine he’s a character that’s hard to convince unless provided with good reasoning)
(Possibly a pessimist, but stays positive in front of the face of others) (Wouldn’t want to burden others despite the clear emotions he expresses) (I imagine he can’t keep a secret for dear life, and easily shows destain when he feels it) (Someone who can’t lie)
(Before becoming a knight, Tuxam was a Tuxedo Sam fan and secretly keeps merchandise and collects plushies) (I feel like that’s everyone in Fragmem though) (They all would, whether or not if it’s kept secret or not) (Like drat! I can’t let anyone know I’m a big fan of my lord!) (But they’re all the same in different flavors) (And when it’s accidentally revealed, I imagine everyone has an individual understanding and keeps secret) (Some might be obvious fans about their lords)
(“Some might be an obvious fan about their lords,” and I immediately point at Hangyon)
(I feel like Arupek is an adjective to me)
(I imagine Tuxam as a character that unintentionally speaks loudly) (When someone asks him to speak quiet, as a gentlemen, he apologizes and listens to this request)
(Unless something troublesome happens, I imagine he raises voice yet again) (It’s something he tries but can’t always control)
(When teased for his height, he retorts that he’s at a respectable height!) (Tallness isn’t a requirement to be a good gentleman!) (But he does think about it) (He wears hats or heeled shoes to obscure his height) (That’s 1 of his reasons, not a major reason) (His current outfit looks good on him)
(I think he’s a little self-conscious when he’s teased) (But at the end of the day, he knows it isn’t serious at all) (Until he breaks down…)
(Someone who eats small portions because he wants others to eat more) (Though if you insist to eat more, he would oblige on your request before asking a few times if it’s okay) (He has a big stomach, but can’t seem to grow fat or muscle easily) (Though he does train hard)
(Pays attention to his eating habits, but has the tendency to eat less than needed) (He might have a plate full of the daily necessities, but not enough to keep him full) (Like he has a healthy plate, but not enough for a full stomach(?))
(Diligently follows the rules, but if he were to break one, it would somehow be unintentional) (He would reflect on it for a good while, and accept punishment) (“I…I apologize. I’ll do everything in my ability to reflect and not make the same mistake again.”) (He takes it to heart)
(Abides strict rules, but he’s someone who’s incredibly emotional and sympathetic to others)
Pikero - “You’ve certainly surpassed the definition of ‘food’ into ‘poison.’” “You have my congratulations. Even I can learn something new in this world.”
Arupek - “I…It was something! Yeah! Something!”
In the background, “plueehhhh….”
Hangyon - “Wow~ I never felt so moved!” “Is there more where this came from? I might want takeout~”
Badobarm - “Hm… There’s certainly ways you can improve on this.” “Here, if you do it like this—” (Finishes it all, and gives advise on how to do better)
Tuxam - “A gentleman should always be able to take gifts kind-heartedly!” (nom!)
“…” “How…How thoughtful…”
Chaco doesn’t say a thing. He stares at you. A disfigured face that once held a placid smile contorts into disgust.
or
Chaco looks at you. Smiles.
Chaco - “Nah~”
Makes a peace sign and disappears right there.
#im not tagging this because this was self indulgent#honestly i have like 2 drafts im currently working on and I really want to post them since they arent final products at all#i tried writing kuroklark...#it turned into blue bouquet ep.2 if it was inconsistent with ep.1 </3#i still want to write it though i just have to write kuroklark at a later point...#i wrote about a kuroklark date premise but only the idea not anything tangible#i doubt ill finish the tuxam/hangyon thing but i like what i wrote with it#hangyon and tuxam have a sleepover#Hangyon - “Tuxam looks very different when he isn’t wearing clothing at all~”#Tuxam - “You make it sound like something it isn’t… This is pajama wear not a birthday suit.”#i really want to write chaco but I don't know how to approach him as a character...?#the only thing i know is that he has noir bouquet's brain cells#that's why theyre the bouquet that dies in that 1 theory#but i havent read it months...
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Title: Reflections of Memories
Fandoms: 盗墓笔记 - 南派三叔 | The Grave Robbers' Chronicles - Xu Lei, 盗墓笔记重启 | The Lost Tomb Reboot (TV)
Relationships: Gen (Iron Triangle + Liu Sang)
Summary:
Just about everyone has heard stories about the Iron Triangle. They’ve been together for at least twenty years, back before there was a giant hole in the sky and before the Inquisition was formed to try and fix it. In those days Wu Xie was a travelling historian who roamed the continent looking for rare stories to fill his ever present notebook or items of historical interest so that they don’t get lost to the passage of time or the ravages of war.
Waking up isn’t the gradual process that regular sleep is. It’s almost like the snap of a finger. One moment he’s asleep, and the next he’s awake.
“Jinx, if you don’t wake the fuck up soon I’m going to—”
Liu Sang throws out a hand and erects a barrier before he’s even fully finished processing the fact that there’s now a fight happening around him. Pangzi is shooting fireballs and jets of flame in every direction, standing a couple of feet in front of Liu Sang.
Protecting him.
Liu Sang scrambles to his feet, grabbing his staff along the way. They’re not in the chamber they’d been in when he’d fallen asleep. He’s not sure where he is, in fact. But what he is sure of is that they are currently being attacked by what sounds like giant spiders. The Emerald Graves are renowned for them and at least they’re easy to kill. The problem is they don’t seem to be stopping.
“What happened?” he yells as he throws up another barrier when the first one fades into nothingness.
“Tianzhen, of course,” Pangzi snarls as he puts a wall of flame between the barrier and the spiders. “I don’t know what he touched but he definitely touched something. I think he’s opened a nest of these things.”
Pangzi is swaying slightly on his feet, clearly reaching the point of exhaustion. How long has he been standing here keeping Liu Sang safe? And where are Wu Xie and Zhang Qiling.
Those are questions for later. He grabs a mana potion from his pack and hands it to Pangzi who swallows it down with a gulp. He seems steadier now, which is good.
“Where’s the nest,” Liu Sang asks. “I can help!”
“Up ahead,” Pangzi replies. “Tianzhen and Xiaoge are trying to find out a way to close it or do something.”
This is something Liu Sang can help with. His magic isn’t particularly useful when it comes to fighting but there are other things that it is good for and not just visiting the past in his dreams.
“Cover me,” he says to Pangzi and darts forward before Pangzi can argue with him. There’s a rancid smell of charred spider corpses, some of them still twitching as they burn. The few that are still alive make a beeline for him as soon as they spot him, but Pangzi quickly takes them down.
Up ahead he can make out the shapes of Wu Xie and Zhang Qiling through the haze of fire and smoke.
“Move!” He yells. There’s no time for pleasantries. He’s already gesturing with his hands, gathering stone, wood and any other natural debris scattering on the floor with his magic. When he has enough materials all it takes is a flick of his wrist to erect a blockade which effectively seals the opening.
Read the rest on AO3
#my fic#dmbj#dmbj gen exchange 2023#iron triangle#liu sang#some vaguely implied pangsang#because it's me#you don't really need to have played the games to read this#dragon age au
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hewwo sa'un...
i no doin good :(
jus founded out dat my grampa is weawwy no doin good an dey tink... dey tink... i ca't eben say it wifout cwying :(
i stiw hav aww my gwanpas an gwamas so dis neber hapen before i dunno howta deaw wif it an i ca't stop cwyin n 'm weawwy widdle an ca't feew good 'gain
i scawed :(
-cosmo
C/TW - loss and d£ath
Hi cosmo, I'm so so sorry to hear this news kiddo :( I know how hard it is to lose your first grandparent, my grandfather passed when I was 14. It's a hard experience, but I want you to know first and foremost that you're not alone in this feeling. Sometimes when someone is close to the end, it's all you can focus on, but it's important to take these last moments to celebrate their lives and let them know they've made a difference in this world.
Death is different for everyone. We all have different after-life scenarios, some people believe in a paradise, while others believe in just cold nothingness. There are 7 billion different versions of what comes after life because it's unknown, but what we do know is that today, as we're alive, we can make things better for others and ourselves by being kind and loving eachother the best way we know how. If you're able to spend time with him, don't use it to wallow in his current state but to learn as much as you can while you can to keep his story and smile alive in your heart.
Personally, I have a philosophy based on the law of conversion of energy. Scientifically, energy can't be created or destroyed, only stored or in use. I personally believe that when our physical forms expire, our souls split up into new energy and life for the future. This isn't the place to fully explain my soulmate theory, but I do think when someone passes their soul is reused in multiple parts, becoming new life with old energy and creating the link that connects us all- love. He will be with you in the form of friends, of each beautiful day, of the changing leaves and the blooming flowers, always.
Although no one knows what comes after our passing, you can take whatever time he has left in this world and help fill as much of it as possible with love and joy. Learn as much as you can about him, write it down if you can, and keep him alive in memory. When his time does come, it will be hard to process- but if you find ways to celebrate him instead of mourn him, you'll find him in every flower and every passing airplane instead of being soaked in sorrow. If you need to cry, cry! If you need to scream, scream! Let it out, let it all go, all the fear of the unknown and what comes after. Don't hold it in. But once you've let it out, remember the good. Remember the smiles, the laughs, and who he was, and remember that his story is still alive with you.
If you need anything, my dm and askbox are both always open 💕 this is a hard change to deal with, but you're not alone. Star and I send the biggest hugs and most love possible, please remember that you're always welcome here 💓
Pippi Saturn
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Oh wow…! This is actually such a good comic what
So how it starts out is very trippy and kind of… Unusual. Like you’re standing face-to-face with an alien or something, or like you’re being hypnotized. Everything doesn’t feel real, I guess. And when it says “Human remains on the floor,” that’s when you realize something is wrong. You start thinking it’s cannibalism, as that would most certainly make you tired and hungry all the time. Then the quilt bit about the grandma really makes you realize that oh, this is a personalized list in someone else’s mind. This isn’t about me, it’s about this character. And you’re just immediately sucked into the rest of the comic.
From there, everything until the last few panels feels like an action-packed tv show. “Running on rooftops,” “When the change happens,” “The fear of prey,” it’s all so fictional and so unreal! Makes you feel like you’re on top of the world!
But then…
Then the exhaustion hits. And you slowly start to realize what this character has just done. You start to realize that none of this is good. The werewolf form begins to revert back to the original human form and all you can think of is the memory of the human remains on the floor as the character’s conscious fades into nothingness.
And then it reverts back to the beginning. Nothing feels real, you feel hypnotized in some way. You don’t fully understand anything and yet you completely understand everything all at once. The character shifts in their sleep, warm and cozy due to the quilt yet still cold from the chilly night air.
Then they wake up, and the cycle repeats.
GOD THIS IS SO GOOD I LOVE IT SO MUCH.
New Secret Knots comic
For more clickbait comics see also
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CONTEMPLATION OF COFFEE
You soak the amount of coffee grounds for one cup with the water for two cups, as if you want to drink two cups of ordinary water, but at the same time, it seems like you just want to drink one regular cup of coffee. So you pour the extra cup’s worth of coffee into the void, sipping the over-extracted coffee that’s left. The taste and flavor aren’t as good as you expected, but not worse either. You feel a kind of dull satisfaction, and after drinking, it doesn’t seem to make you feel any better than before. So you leave the remaining half of the coffee there and move on to do the next thing, which is just repeating the exact same process.
And now, you do want to do something, but as you rise from your seat and haven’t fully stood up yet, the moment you glance around your surroundings, you lose your sense of purpose. Everything around you appears in low-saturation colors. The view of the low-rise buildings and skyscrapers seems indistinguishable.
The place you’re in indeed embodies the concept of “nothingness.” It is neither something that transcends existence or non-existence, nor something that speaks of everything or nothing. It seems like a place where any action that occurs within it naturally leads to half-hearted outcomes. It represents a chaotic blandness, making people experience a sense of indifference without having felt much. It allows people to reach the end without needing to go through much, and to look back at all the paths they have never truly experienced but have already seen. Here, you feel as though you must make a choice, but your past does not think so. However, it will not tell you anything, for at this moment, your speech is already filled with all forms of denial and affirmation, logically fixing you at the midpoint of everything.
So you know that this choice is actually inconsequential, because no matter what, all choices will develop in the direction you expect. At this point, you have no expectations of any of it. Hope and despair only make you feel physically nauseous because you have already indulged too much in expectations.
So you simply stand here, or walk in various directions with the same feeling. Everything is just in flux, not giving you enough peace or intense turmoil; what you see is merely the eternal motion of the tides. You don’t care whether you are old or still young; you still feel weary, but not more or less than you did twenty or thirty years ago.
At the same time, you view the past that you have never reached from the future you have already arrived at. The colors remembered from the first six or seven years of arriving here still clash with the present. You seem to know that this is your homeland, the land beneath your feet now, but you are unable to make even the slightest connection to those memories. Yet you are indeed unchanged from how you were back then: everything outside of yourself continues to be as unpredictable as ever, while you persist in observing it all in the same unchanging manner.
You can indeed do anything you are capable of at any time, but it seems that this requires a reason. Yes, at least in the first six or seven years of memory, this reason was undoubtedly present. It still exists now, but it seems to have left you while you are still awake, though you often return to it, not out of boredom but because you no longer find it tiresome. Indeed, what you are weary of is the emptiness of either having or not having a reason — the reluctance when the reason is withdrawn and the dissonance when it returns. And it is within this weariness of having or not having that you come to or leave its presence.
You know that the reason has always been present; it is always in your field of vision, just that its color constantly changes. You see it as resembling the color you desire, so you start working with it, until one day its color contrasts with your work. At that point, you cannot recognize its color, and so you leave it, leaving your work behind as well. Indeed, you cannot recognize its color, just as you cannot distinguish colors outside of what you are currently focusing on. Apart from the colors you hold, other colors are always difficult to discern due to their low saturation. And by visually comparing them with the hues you are focused on, you bring those colors, which only seem similar, into your field of attention.
Thus, the colors you pay attention to keep changing. Your past becomes tinted with these ever-changing colors, and the entire strip of your past is just a series of snapshots in time — a ribbon of uneven, disorderly, random, or perhaps chaotic color patterns. Yet you feel that these have no more color than the colors of the air at this very moment; they seem indistinguishable from it.
Thus, the air reveals the haze that no longer exists, once tangible but now appearing before your eyes.
Only in the haze, does reality become truthful; colors might be overlooked in the contrast of saturation and instead be expressed through the contrast of grayscale. Saturation is perceived by us, who already faded in grayscale, and the depicted colors are less likely to appear as gray and white as a freshly finished painting. There seems to be something within, yet it is forever unclear. And the thought that you indeed lost something, but never desire to see it clearly.
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