#and that her motivation for back and forth is the same - it's always about what she thinks is best for her family in that moment
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stellamarielu · 5 months ago
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john mitchell x female reader
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summary: bloodlust and sexual desire have become one in the same to mitchell making it increasingly difficult to have a normal relationship. so when you find yourself frustrated by the lack of physical intimacy, he figures out a way to solve the problem
content: nsfw, 18+, cursing, mentions of blood, mentions of death, a little bit of angst, a sprinkle of fluff, a shit ton of dirty talk, mutual masturbation [kinda], basically mitchell just wants to watch you get off, fingering, squirting? [lord forgive me]
authors note: first mitchell fic let’s go!! so, I wanted to start with something more tame for mitchell since it was my first time writing for his character, but i did no such thing. this is just full speed no brakes very smutty so if that’s not your jam just keep scrolling! there is some fluff and a little bit of angst but other than that it's just filth
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It had been nearly a month since you learned the truth about Mitchell. What started as innocent interactions and flirtatious jokes turned into the two of you regularly going for drinks at the local pub. Before you knew it, your casual little dates led to you joining him and his roommates for movie nights at their home which always ended with you both cuddled up next to each other on the couch. 
Mitchell tried not to let you into his complicated life but failed miserably after the first time he felt that warm fuzzy sensation in his chest when he saw you. You had him wrapped around your finger in a way no one ever had, so much so that he started referring to you as his girlfriend, which of course made George and Annie annoyingly giddy. They absolutely adored you and thought you’d be good for Mitchell, someone to motivate him– to ground him. It all happened so quickly but you couldn’t help it, neither of you could. You were completely infatuated with one another; it was almost sickening. 
But of course, along with the fresh adoration of a new partner also came their baggage. It was something you expected. What you weren’t expecting however, were the skeletons in Mitchell’s closet to be so literal.
He had gone back and forth about telling you the truth and of course Annie had convinced him to be honest with you.
“If your feelings for her are real and you want a genuine relationship you have to tell her Mitchell.” 
He knew she was right, but it didn’t stop the anxiety weighing on his chest at the thought of rejection. It was terrifying. The possibility that you would run screaming kept him putting it off day after day until one night the two of you were having dinner at your apartment and it just kind of stumbled out of his mouth. 
“A Vampire?” 
The words slipped from you in a giggle, your face full of amusement at his confession. You figured he must’ve been trying to make some kind of stupid joke until you noticed his dead serious demeanor.
When he refused to meet your tickled expression with a smile of his own, your brain started running laps around itself trying to piece together the last few weeks of your life. Confusion and fear filled your senses and for a split second it felt like you were sitting across from a complete stranger. Despite your inner dialogue telling you to run, you didn’t leave. You didn’t even get up from your seat. You just sat and waited for him to explain himself further. 
So he did. He told you everything.
It took hours of explanations from him and hesitant stares from you, but after a night of discussing his condition you were sure he was telling the truth, and you were also somehow open to it. 
Mitchell was surprised by how understanding you had been about the whole thing. After the initial shock, the two of you laid on your couch until the sun came up and you interrogated him about his supernatural lifestyle.
he answered every last question. 
You learned about the different cities he’d lived in, the people he had known throughout his long life, who he once was, who he still longed to become. You admired his desire to live differently than the others like him. 
Even after listening to the man next to you give hour’s worth of evidence proving he was a bloodthirsty killer, you still managed to fall asleep in his arms. At the end of the day, it was still Mitchell; Mitchell who mopped floors and made crude jokes, Mitchell who was always there to give you a comforting smile or lighthearted wink when you were having a rough day, Mitchell who you had fallen head over heels for, Mitchell who wanted to be human so badly that he was attempting sobriety from the very thing his body craved most. Nothing could change the way you felt for him and so you held it together when he told you a secret about himself that he was sure would have your relationship unraveling.  
Only he didn’t tell you everything. There was one little detail about his life that he left out that night. He told you about the countless people he killed– about the guilt that ate away at him as he remembered their faces. He even confessed to you that he had given in to his bloodlust not long before you met. All the grim details about his murderous tendencies were true, but he made sure to leave out the part about how he killed them. 
You knew that he drank away their lives, that he consumed their blood until there was nothing left of them. But he couldn’t bring himself to tell you that it so often started by seducing a woman- getting her naked in bed, writhing and vulnerable underneath him. He hated that he’d weaponized sex for so long that he could no longer differentiate his longing for blood and his desire for sexual release– the two had become synonymous. It was so bad that anytime he found himself in a heated position with a woman he couldn’t tell if the passion he felt burning in his veins was actual yearning or just a desire to feed. This made his relationship with you extraordinarily difficult. 
You were so handsy. Of course you were. The two of you had been dating for nearly three months and the furthest you’d gone was a clothed second base. 
At first, Mitchell told you he wanted to take things slow, a little odd maybe, but you respected his boundaries and kept the physical touch to a minimum. But time went on, and the restraint you had both practiced began to falter. You started getting little tastes of what it would be like to have his hands on your body and his mouth on your skin it was driving you insane. Every time he kissed you, his lips lingered on yours and there was a certain hint of impatience that always peeked through. You could sense the hunger in the way he would crash his lips on you, his mouth molding to yours and his tongue tracing your bottom lip. Sometimes he would even let his hands find your hips gripping you tightly and pulling you into him as close as possible. Not to mention the little groans that would slip from him when you tugged on his hair. Those little grunts made you want to drop to your knees in front of him and see what other sounds you could pull from his mouth. 
You were constantly reminding yourself to take things slowly, but it was so hard when there was such a strong sexual tension tying the two of you together– or at least you thought there was; but based on the way Mitchell would break your kisses and take his hands off of your body like he just burned them on a stovetop, you were beginning to think maybe he wasn’t craving you in the same way.
Only there was no doubt in his mind that Mitchell wanted to fuck you. He was obsessed with you. He thought about what you looked like naked at least once a day and dreamed about hearing the little whimpers that you’d make when he was finally able to get between your legs. he wanted you, but he was terrified of possibly putting you in danger, so he tried to keep his hands to himself, Just for a little bit. 
At least that’s what he told himself at the beginning. He would work his way up to having sex with you. Like little practice runs, he would let himself give in to the temptation, a make out session here and there, maybe even some heavy petting- but he would always put an end to it before it went any further.
He had to pace himself with you. He needed to be able to control the blood driven part of him that had most of his hookups ending in red stained sheets. You deserved the best part of him. The part that he was convinced was still human. The part that could take his time and indulge in the intimacy of knowing another’s naked body. He knew that part of him still existed- he knew because you brought it out of him. With every touch of your hand to his cheek or the feeling of your sweet lips on his, he felt it. Hell, even when you had your fingers intertwined in his hair, pulling at it while you attacked his neck with kisses, he could feel a deep appreciation for the way you loved him. It was an innocent kind of love. It was pure and gentle and all-consuming and the last thing he wanted to do was ruin it by pushing things too far. He wouldn’t ruin this- ruin you. 
But then you were straddling him on his bed. Your legs spread on either side of his hips as he grabbed onto you, guiding your movements as you slid your fully clothed center over his, your lips meshing in a messy kiss.
The house was empty other than the two of you who were now involved in a very heated make out session in his bedroom. His hands were splayed across your thighs, holding them hungrily and his mouth chasing yours. Neither of you were showing any intentions of holding back, so you took it upon yourself to take things a bit further. 
You let your hands fall to the button of his jeans–undiscovered territory that you were determined to explore at the feeling of his obvious arousal beneath you. Just as you were fumbling with the zipper of his jeans, Mitchell broke your kiss and took a hold of your wrist in an abrupt attempt to stop you. 
You looked down at him, trying your best to hide the defeat you felt from yet another rejection. His eyes looked almost remorseful before he averted his gaze downward to where your hands met, he was tracing little circles on your wrist. 
You were out of breath, chest heaving, and thoughts jumbled. You were trying not to read into it, but this whole situation was so confusing to you. Was there something you didn’t know? He seemed to be enjoying himself just moments ago; so why was he stopping? Did he ever intend to have sex with you? 
“Mitchell, are you attracted to me?” The words flew out of your mouth as you leaned back, still sitting on his lap. 
“What?” 
His expression was a mixture of confusion and amusement which only frustrated you further because what on earth did he have to be confused about? 
“Seriously. I get it if you want to take it slow, but It’s been weeks and I’m starting to get scared that you don’t actually want to have sex with me.” 
He was watching as you spoke, a small smile curling on his lips. He couldn’t help it; you were so cute and flustered sitting on top of him talking about how badly you wanted to have sex. How could he not be attracted to you? How could you think something so utterly insane? 
“Why are you looking at me like that?” 
You were questioning him and teasingly shoving at his chest so that his back sunk further into the mattress beneath him. The only response coming from the man laying under you was a low chuckle. 
“Mitchell, talk to me.” Your voice softened.
You were serious now; Mitchell could hear it in your worried tone and see it in the unsure gaze holding his own. 
He sat up with an audible sigh and you took that as a sign things were taking a more serious turn. 
You carefully moved off his lap, opting for a seat next to him and plopping down on the bed. You sat facing him with your legs folded underneath you and your hand gently resting on his thigh. 
Everything about you was inviting his awaiting admission; your body language, the gentle smile encouraging him to go on, the way your eyes fell on him in an already understanding gaze. You were too good for him– too kind. Here you were willing to accept every last part of him and he was getting ready to tell you he uses sex to aid his homicidal affinities. 
“I did want to take things slow- I do.” He started with his eyes glued on you.
”I just, I don’t want to hurt you.” He spoke slowly, still searching your eyes for any changes to your expression.
“And you’ll hurt me if we have sex?” You were trying to clarify and make sense of what Mitchell was saying.
“I used to-“ He began but stopped himself. 
He looked down at your hand on his leg. Your touch so sincere. 
“I used to use sex as a method of getting women alone and vulnerable so I could- you know...”
He was still staring down refusing to look at you as he spoke. He couldn’t stand to watch the inevitable look of fear on your face. 
“It was just so easy. The first time I had sex after I turned, it was such a rush. Everything was intensified; her heart rate, the blood rushing through her veins, how much control I had. I didn’t even realize what I was doing and then she was just...” 
His words were trailing off yet again, he couldn’t bring himself to say it out loud. That he was a manipulative evil monster who prayed on women and got off on killing them.
 It wasn’t true though. That side of him was something else entirely. It was someone he didn’t even recognize when he was with you. 
His thoughts were interrupted when he felt your delicate hands cupping his face, bringing his eyes up to meet yours. Instead of a look of terror, your face held nothing but forgiveness and warmth. 
“So you’re scared you’re going to kill me if we sleep together?” Your words were point blank as you stared into his eyes. 
“No.” His response was instant, but then quickly followed by a correction, 
“Well maybe. I don’t know, it’s complicated.” 
He paused.
“I never want to hurt you. I know that much.” 
The look in his eyes was so gentle, begging for the forgiveness you’d already given.
“There’s just this part of me that I can’t control, and I’m so scared that I’ll get too caught up and won’t be able to stop myself.”
“Have you ever had sex without-“ 
You began to ask but Mitchell finished your question for you.
“Killing someone?”
He looked away again, unable to come to terms with his own sinful memories.  
“Yeah, but it’s been a long time.” He confessed.
You leaned back on the bed creating a bit more space between your bodies. You had a million thoughts running through your mind but the only one that mattered was the realization of how much Mitchell had come to mean to you in such a short time. Everything felt right with him. You were immersed so deeply in his world that this new piece of information just felt like a little blip on the radar of your lives. You would figure it out together. All of it. 
“Well okay then, we’ll just keep doing what we’re doing until you feel ready.”
As soon as the words left your mouth his eyes were back on yours. He was giving you the most hopeful smile, it nearly melted you. God- you’d do anything for him. 
“And if you never do, then I’ll just invest in a really good vibrator.”
You were joking to help lighten the mood. You didn’t want Mitchell to feel like you were judging him or disappointed in the new information regarding your sex life. 
Your comment had Mitchell cracking a smile for the first time in last five minutes and the sight of it warmed your heart. You were both just sat there looking at each other with silly little grins plastered on your faces, the dark tension in the room slowly dissipating. 
The silence between you lasted for a few seconds, Mitchell looked as if he was contemplating something before he finally spoke.
“Is that how you’ve been surviving this whole time?” There was a hint of laughter dancing in his words.
“My sweet girl gettin’ so frustrated she has to run home to relieve herself?”
His head was now cocked to the side as he probed you with a follow up question. He was smirking, clearly enjoying the effect his words had on you. If he couldn’t see the goosebumps on your skin, he sure as hell could hear your heart racing. 
“I’m sorry baby, you shouldn’t have to take care of yourself like that.” 
Mitchell’s voice was low, and he was moving his body closer to yours. He was hovering over you as your back rested against the warmth of his comforter. The sound of your heartbeat was amplified in his ears by the sudden closeness. 
This was new, you thought. 
Mitchell had never been this bold with his words. It was so filthy– so tempting.
“Do you think about me when you touch yourself?”
His eyes were heavy and his jaw tense as he awaited your response.
You thought about him every single time you touched yourself, which was more often than you’d like to admit given the current circumstances of your relationship. You had come up with one hundred different scenarios that involved you and Mitchell naked in his bed to aid you in your self-induced pleasure. 
But instead of divulging all of that to him, you just nodded your head in a simple reply to his question. 
“Show me.” His voice was dripping with desire, and you thought his eyes might burn a hole through you with how hard he was staring. 
“Mitchell…” 
You suddenly felt so shy. Just minutes ago, you were grinding down on his lap hungry to unbutton his jeans. Now he was asking to watch you touch yourself and your confidence was wavering. 
“C’mon baby. I wanna see how you get off.” His tone was so sultry, you were nearly slipping your pants off at sound of it.  
“Let me see baby.” He was intertwining his fingers in your hair and pulling you in for another messy kiss. 
“Fuck- I think about it all the time. What it would be like to watch you cum.” His hands were now trailing down your body, his touch was more rough than usual, but you didn’t seem to mind. 
“I touch myself thinkin’ about you too baby.” His gaze was scorching, as he watched you fumbling with your jeans in such hasty desperation to get them off. 
“Always so worked up from not being able to touch you the way I want to. It drives me fuckin’ insane.”
Now he was assisting you; pulling your jeans down your thighs, just as needy to see your body freed from them. 
Mitchell’s hands instantly found the exposed skin of your thighs as soon as your jeans came off. He was basking in the feeling of your warm skin, memorizing the way you felt in his hands as he gripped and kneaded the flesh of your upper leg all the way up to your hips. 
You were pulling him back down in a frenzied kiss when you felt his hands at your sides teasing the material of your underwear. His fingers were hooked in the waistband of your panties, and you found the kiss getting sloppier the closer you got to being half naked on Mitchell’s bed. Your lips were moving in a chaotic harmony when he pulled back to speak again. 
“Is this okay?” 
It was as if he was breaking character for just a second. The dirty words of primal desire were replaced with a tender whisper. The man who was just ripping your jeans from your body was now searching your face for approval before going any further. 
“Mhmm.” You were humming and nodding your head simultaneously placing your hands over his on your hips and helping him peel your underwear from your body. 
“Jesus- fuck.”
Mitchell couldn’t help the profanities that fell from his mouth as you looked up at him with such an innocently sensual gaze while you guided his hands down your legs. You looked so desperate for him.  
You were kicking your panties from your legs and instinctively closing your thighs, partially for the friction but mostly due to the nerves of your sudden vulnerability.
 Mitchell could sense your brief hesitation and wanted nothing more than to make you feel comfortable. To tell you how fucking hot this was- because it was. He hadn’t had sex in so long he thought he might just cum in his pants from the sight of you like this. 
He kissed you once more, deep and passionate while his hands found their place back on your thighs. He was running his fingers over your skin and grabbing each of your legs slowly pulling them apart as he situated himself between them. Then he broke the kiss and sat back on his knees to get a better view at your body all sprawled out on his sheets. 
“Fuck you’re so perfect.” His voice was close to a groan as he gazed down at your exposed center. He was in a hypnotic state at seeing you spread open all for him, so wet and ready; he was losing his mind.
“I wanna see you baby.” 
His fingertips were tracing your inner thighs, and you almost had to shut your legs again at the sensation; his touch causing you to let out a shaky breath. 
“wanna see how you play with yourself when you think about me.” 
You were closing your eyes and letting your hand trail down your stomach until it reached your core. If it weren’t for the fact that you were so pent up with sexual frustration from all the nights you had to leave Mitchell’s house after make-out sessions that led nowhere, you might have been more embarrassed by how quick you were to oblige with his directions. You were eager to finally get some sort of relief from him, even if it came in the form of his eyes on your body and his foul whispers in your ear. 
Your fingers were circling your clit and the sounds that came from the man above you were utterly carnal. 
“fuckkk.”
In a long, drawn-out groan Mitchell was releasing pent up frustrations of his own while watching your hand between your legs. 
He had envisioned you like this a million times but not one of those images even came close to what he was witnessing right now. He’d intended on trying to keep his composure but as soon as your fingers met your cunt, he couldn’t contain himself. 
“That’s it baby.”
Mitchell swooned, his body practically shaking as he watched you. All he wanted to do was replace your hand with is. He wanted to feel you. Needed to show you that the little scenarios of him you had conjured up in your head weren’t even comparable to the real thing. 
“So pretty for me.”
His words were only pushing you further into the lust filled abyss that threatened to swallow you whole. Your fingers were working faster in tight little circles and moans were forming in your throat and fighting to fall from your lips. 
“Look at me baby.”
You followed his command, looking up at him. He was going back and forth between looking into your eyes and watching the hand between your legs. He felt the familiar simmer of heat in his chest and the buzzing in his head– sensations that often came with his inability to stop himself from indulging in his deepest desires. He was teetering on the edge of losing all control when he found your eyes again, your tender stare bringing him back to reality. 
“Do you wish it was me touchin’ you like that.” He kept talking, hoping it would help tether him to his humanity. 
The low growl of his voice had you feeling brave enough to bring your hand lower, dipping a finger into yourself and whimpering out in pleasure at the thought of it being his touch instead. 
“Bet I could make you feel so good with my fingers- fuck.” 
The second he saw your hand venture lower he could feel his cock swelling in his pants. There was absolutely no way he would be able to keep his hands to himself now. Not while he watched you slipping your delicate little fingers into your cunt- something he had quite literally dreamed of doing for months now. 
“Oh sweet girl I need to touch you.”
You watched as he palmed himself through his jeans, the look on his face was so needy it made you bite down on your lip to muffle the obscene sound that fought its way to your mouth. 
“need to fuckin’ feel ya baby.”
And with that his lips were crashing into yours, your chests touching and moans mixing. You felt his hand on your inner thigh and nearly jumped when it skipped to your soaked core, his finger already pushing into you. 
“So wet for me huh?.” He was gathering your arousal and spreading it at your opening as he easily added a second finger along with the first. 
His head dipped down and his lips came in contact with the nape of your neck and you flinched. 
Your earlier conversation was still fresh in your mind, and you couldn’t help the involuntary recoil. Having Mitchell so worked up and putting his mouth on your neck startled you.  
He halted, every single one of his movements pausing as he drew his head back just enough to lock eyes with you. He had every intention of kissing down your neck, just wanting to envelop you in the feeling of his lips on your sensitive skin. He wasn’t even thinking about sinking his teeth into the flesh there, but once he felt you shrinking away from his touch, he felt awful. Shit did he scare you.
“Hey.”
He was searching your eyes, his expression full of worry. 
“I won’t hurt you.” A flip had switched, and his voice was now soft and reserved. 
“You’re safe.” He was reassuring you and now you felt bad for overreacting. 
You pulled him back to you in an affectionate kiss. 
“I’ve got you, I promise.” With that he was slowly moving his fingers inside you again. His thrusts were gentle, and he kept his eyes on you. He was being so careful, it was endearing. 
He had never felt so in control. It was a strange feeling, to be physically intimate with someone and not have a single hunger driven thought. While he had plenty of unsavory thoughts about you running through his mind, not even one had to do with his thirst for blood. All of them centered around hearing the cute little sounds you were making and watching you cum all over his fingers. 
He could sense your body relaxing under his touch and he watched your eyes flutter closed as his fingers curled into you. He was taking advantage of your comfort and switching to a faster pace. 
You had to squeeze your eyes shut completely as his fingers worked faster and depper. You were doing your best to keep quiet, scared that maybe someone would come home and be able to hear you, but with the way Mitchell was touching you, you finally let go of your worries. A lengthy moan fell from your lips, and had him groaning in response. 
“That’s it baby, don’t hold back.” 
He was encouraging your noises of satisfaction as he brought his lips back to your neck. Only this time, instead of flinching from the sudden attention, you tilted your head to the side to give him better access. You could feel him smirking against your skin. 
He was placing sweet kisses behind your ear while his fingers worked harder sliding in and out of you. His movements were perfectly executed, each thrust of his digits curling into you at the perfect spot and causing whispered profanities to form on your tongue. He knew exactly what he was doing, and it almost shocked you how close he had you to an orgasm already. 
“You feel that baby?” His voice was a mumble against the crook of your neck.
You were whining out a pathetic “yes” as he kept his pace, not holding back. You could feel your release building higher and higher, Mitchell’s fingers getting deeper alongside it. The exposition to your climax felt more intense than you’d ever experienced, and you were reaching for Mitchell’s forearm attempting to steady his movements, but all you were doing was pushing him on further.
“Let it out for me baby.” His voice was shaky, and it sounded as if he was holding back moans of his own.
Hearing him get so aroused by talking you through your pleasure only added to the pressure building in your core. 
“C’mon sweet girl I can feel you. So fuckin’ close.” 
You were writhing below his touch, whimpering and allowing yourself to give into the feeling of Mitchell’s fingers as he deliberately made sure each stroke hit the right spot. The sensation forming in your belly was almost too much to bear. 
Your relief was surging closer to release, like a wave it just kept building and you weren’t sure if you could handle it. And then, with Mitchell pushing into you, whispering little praises into your ear, you were coming undone. The floodgates were opened and your release was crashing over you, intense and all consuming. You were speechless as you felt yourself gushing over Mitchell’s fingers still deep inside you. He was coaxing you through your release, watching as you soaked his hand.
“Mmm look at that baby.” his voice was seeping with lust and he was looking between your bodies in a trance by the mess you were making beneath him. 
“Good girl.” He was growling and slowing the movements as he watched you come down from your high.
You were out of breath and in a state of pure bliss as you stared up at Mitchell. 
“Good fuckin’ girl.” With him looking back at you, you could see the look of pride in his expression, a smug smile on his lips.
“God I’m never gonna be able to get enough of you.” He brought his mouth down to you, locking his lips with yours in a hungrily passionate embrace.
You couldn’t bring yourself to care about the mess on Mitchell’s sheets or the fact that you didn’t think you could form words at the moment. All you wanted was to keep going, to make Mitchell feel just as good as he had made you feel. 
You were pushing yourself onto your elbows and making every effort to find your way to the obvious erection in his jeans. 
As much as Mitchell wanted to spend the entire night fucking you in every way imaginable, he knew it was too risky. Hell, he had almost lost his control before he even laid a finger on you.
While he felt excited by his newfound ability to venture further into this territory with you, he still wanted to take it step by step. He wanted to make sure he could trust himself– that you could trust him. 
“next time.”
He was grabbing your hand and bringing it to his lips, sealing his promise with a kiss to your palm.
You were pouting, but also inwardly thankful for his guarantee of future sexual escapades. 
“Don’t wanna bite off more than we can chew, yeah?” 
He was grinning to himself and leaning down to place a quick kiss on your forehead before hoping off his bed and searching for a towel. 
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yannisdesk · 8 months ago
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On Arcane & Antivillains
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One thing I really enjoy about Arcane is how it handles antivillains.
For one, most of the characters (main ones) would actually fall into the category of antivillain at one point, or in the case of our two protagonists, become one. Arcane is arguably ripe with them.
An antivillain is essentially the opposite of an antihero. Simplified, antiheros do good things out of selfish or questionable motives, antivillains do things that are objectively bad or evil, but for noble reasons or for a greater cause. Another term for them is "sympathetic villain" however that term is too vague (there are villains out there who are sympathetic, but are none the less traditionally evil and therefore do not qualify as antivillains), and "antivillain" is a much better term mirror to "antihero." A common thread I've noticed among antivillain characters is some level of a Machiavellian approach to achieving their goals - the ends justify the means type of philosophy is something you'll always find characters that fit this category. At the very least, they dabble with it. In their eyes their actions are always justified because they're fighting for a good cause.
To put things into perspective, I'll use two examples. Harley Quinn shifts around, but she is frequently an antihero, take her depiction in both Suicide Squad movies. She does take down bad guys, however she's not doing so out of a sense of altruism, but to get a reduced prison sentence. Very cut-and-dry example of antiheroism.
On the flip side you have Magneto. Now from what I've seen (I've dabbled in the comics, but haven't dived in all the way) in the comics he gets very dark with the antihuman action. But in the Xmen movies, he definitely does some down right villainous stuff, but his intention remains the same - he wants mutants to live in a world free of bigotry and he's willing to do anything necessary to achieve that, including committing atrocities.
Now if this sounds very confusing to you and you swear you've heard these terms interchangeably or that you can think of several characters that are labeled as type A when they should be type B or vice versa, that's pretty normal. These aren't archetypical heroes and villains we're talking about, so it can be hard to categorize them, and honestly most characters in general will go back and forth or shift at one point or another, so all you need to know is that those definitions are the ones we're working with in this post.
Here are the characters from Arcane that I think suit this label, and others that I think will.
Disclaimer: this is not me hating on the characters. I love all of these characters for this layer to their character. This is not a "oh, look, this character is bad actually," post. If anything, consider it a celebration of their gray morality and how well its explored in the show.
Silco
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Duh. Silco is objectively pretty evil. Setting up a drug empire that destroys your own people, getting in-cahoots with corrupt cops, killing kids, and aiding in destroying a young girl's mental health is multiple levels of foul. However, for him, all of this was part of an elaborate plan to liberate Zaun, which is being aggressively oppressed by Piltover. They were necessary sacrifices made to the cause, and worth it because it will bring forth better days for him and his people. Now obviously, a lot of his actions definitely have to do with his own ego, however the only time Zaun isn't prioritized is when it comes to Jinx, who is like a daughter to him, and even that realization comes to smack in the face late in his arc.
Sevika
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I'd argue she's even more noble than most since she truly is rooted in the cause for Zaun. Not only is she willing to do some pretty bad things for the "greater-good", she's even willing to betray people who she views as unfit or incompetent. And what's even more telling is that she doesn't do this for power (which is arguably a part of Silco's prerogative). Sure, she's his #2, but he doesn't exactly show any favoritism. And Sevika seemingly isn't even trying to become the new leader of Zaun after Silco's death from the season 2 clips, but will support Jinx, despite the fact that she probably could dethrone her. She's no true blue hero, but she's not a megalomaniac either.
The Entire Council of Piltover (Minus Mel & Jayce)
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As obnoxious as they are, none of them are mustache-twirling villains. As we see with characters like Sheriff Grayson (not a council member, but they share the same sentiment), they legitimately think they're protecting the city with their neglectful leadership and oppression of Zaunites. Yes, this includes Heimerdinger, who seemingly only started caring about Zaun once he was booted out of the council, so that places him firmly in antihero territory in my opinion.
Why did I exclude Mel and Jayce? Their plots are actually upward in terms of morality, especially Jayce who by the end is closer to being a traditional hero by prioritizing peace and progress over the status quo or war, and actively makes the first move of trying to right Piltover's wrongs. Mel's arc has also moved this direction as well, as she went from arguing that Jayce and Viktor should build Hextech weapons in case of war with the Zaunites, to fully embracing peace. You could argue that Mel wanting the weapons means she was at some point an antivillain, and I might agree, but as it stands, she's firmly in the clear.
So, why are the rest of the council still considered antivillains? Honestly, we just don't know much about their motivations to say. They ultimately did a good deed in voting for peace, but you know, one good deed doesn't wash-out the bad and vice versa. They're not even on thin ice for me, they're still fighting for the surface.
Marcus
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Questioning your actions does not mean you can't be an antivillain, and Marcus is a good example of that. He's is kind of like Caitlyn if she were way less compassionate and very incompetent. Marcus does not think his actions are evil, according to show runners he only places Vi in Stillwater to protect her from Silco; he gets involved with Silco because he wants justice for the building explosion and it goes out of hand. That said, he also threw a child into a dangerous prison with no charges and with the intention of keeping her there for life, and worked with a kingpin who was actively antagonizing his own people while reaping benefits from an abusive system. So yeah, Marcus falls more into being an antivillain than full-blown villain, he's still firmly an antagonist though.
Ambessa
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I know it's very popular in the fandom to call Ambessa a traditional bad-guy type of villain, but she is actually very nuanced. For one - she does not see her actions as evil, nor are her motivations behind doing them rooted in it. Ambessa, as she states in Mel's flashback, was raised in the Noxian way. Her grandfather literally made her search the dead bodies of the people they massacred when she was a youth, and she was indoctrinated to believe that this was in the best interest of her family and the Noxian people. By showing strength and ruthlessness, she's telling the rest of the world: "Stay away from House Medarda and Noxus." Hence, why Kino's death wrecks her, because she values herself over how effective she is at warding people off from messing with her family. Her main reason for getting involved with the war between Piltover and Zaun will 100% be because Mel's life was nearly lost due to Jinx's bomb, and this is coming straight off of her son's death mind you. So, while Ambessa may definitely be one of the most ruthless people on this list, she is not at Palpatine levels of evil yet, not by a long shot.
Jinx
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You guys saw this coming, right? This barely needs an explanation. Jinx grew up in the Lanes, was a victim of Piltover's oppression multiple times throughout her youth, was willing to fight for their freedom as seen in episode 2, and in the end, that desire, along with her being adopted by Silco, manifested in her doing multiple acts of violence, including terrorism against Piltover, which frequently hurt people who weren't guilty of anything. (No, blowing up the building in episode 3 doesn't count as one of her evil deeds because it was an accident.) We understand completely why Jinx does what she does, even though it hurts to see her slip farther and farther into this mindset.
Vi
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Way more subtle (for now) but I'd argue she's there come episodes 8 and 9. Hell, you could argue that her arc is about her sense of morality breaking down due to realizing how impossible the situation between Zaun and Piltover is, and embracing an "ends justifies the means" type mindset that Vander tried to sway her against back in episode 2. Wanting to stop a kingpin from using this new dangerous drug to destroy your city and sister? A noble cause, indeed. Not really caring that (or being passive over the fact that) children die in process because of their approximation to said bad guy? Yikes. [EDIT: Since we're on this topic: here's a link to where I explored this aspect of her character. I did this a while ago, but I thought it best to include it here too for added context). Now, I know what some of you are going to say - how is this any different from, say, Steve Rogers telling Wanda Maximoff that sometimes there's collateral damage when doing hero work? The difference is that Steve didn't argue that those people had it coming because they're associated with the bad guys/or in their way, which Vi does. That's some dangerous conviction right there, and we'll probably see that elaborated on in season 2 given that she's becoming an Enforcer which is a position that lends itself to abuse of power (and if it goes anyway like things do with her game counterpart, she will engage in police brutality and not see an issue with it, but given that Arcane's Vi is way more well, nuanced, than her game counterpart I don't think it will go on for long). While we're on the topic of Vi, according to her prison records, she had a notorious reputation while doing time to the point that I find it funny Silco didn't put 2-and-2 together that the girl with short pink hair beating the shit out of and attempting to murder all of his goons that went to Stillwater was possibly the same girl that wiped the floor with those same goons the night Vander died.
Potential Antivillains of Season 2:
These are characters that I predict will become antivillains at some point during season 2 based off of where their season 1 arc left and clues from season 2 teasers and clips. This is not me saying for sure this will happen, only a prediction. But if it does come true, I will gladly collect $5 per accurate plot point.
Viktor
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Two words: glorious evolution.
We all love Viktor. We all love good-guy Viktor, and we will also more than likely love not-so-good-guy Viktor due to how complex that arc will be. If it will go anything like his game-lore (which I suspect it will) his noble intentions will never leave him, just simply evolve to include some less-than-heroic actions and justifications. He still wants to improve the undercity, and well, humanity overall, with hextech, motivated by the injustices he's been put through his own life and his illness, but he will go about it in some very unorthodox ways, and his arc in Arcane is about him confronting if he wants to "evolve" his morality for the sake of his ultimate goal, which is progress. Viktor would definitely agree with the sentiment expressed by Gloria Steinem (character depiction, not a real quote) in Mrs. America - "Revolutions are messy, people get left behind."
Caitlyn
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I'm pretty sure she actually will become apart of the antivillain roster in season 2, but noting is for certain. Caitlyn is perhaps the saddest version of this there is, because we see where she starts out. She doesn't want to be like everyone else in her circle, she tries to break free and be better. She wants to do good by both Piltover and Zaun. She has hope, gentleness, and doesn't place herself above even those who occupy the lowest levels of Zaun. She puts herself, her status, and her life on the line to discover the truth, and comes out her time with Vi steadfast in wanting to help heal Zaun. She can be a little naive and ignorant, but she never does so with malicious or ill intent. She is the kindest person in Arcane.
But, given that her mother was killed in a terrorist attack set off by the new Head Zaunite in Charge, things will change. As we see, Caitlyn becomes a sheriff on the Enforcer squad, and now her goal is no longer to sow peace between Zaun and Piltover, it's to avenge her mother by assassinating Jinx. Of course, this will be due in part that Caitlyn thinks snuffing Jinx out will solve the problem, which will be ironic and hypocritical because she told Ekko that getting revenge on Silco won't solve anything in Zaun, but now that she's in the same predicament, the tables have turned and now diplomacy is off the table. She still has that hero-complex, as she lives by the lessons of Sheriff Grayson, but now it's with a twist. The idealistic Caitlyn who believed in giving peace a chance through reform is gone, and she now believes that there's little to no cost too great for her to achieve this, even if that (possibly - again season 2 hasn't come out yet, so we shall see) means hurting innocent Zaunites. And what's scary is that Caitlyn has the intelligence, dedication, talent, and efficiency to pull it off. Truthfully, I believe we won't just be getting Sheriff Caitlyn in season 2, but also Dictator Caitlyn.
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intheemptymirror · 3 months ago
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if you have short hair kai wants you !
idol!huening kai x idol!fem!reader
SUMMARY: turns out hyuka does have a bit of a type.
GENRE: fluff
WARNINGS: reader is said to previously had long hair but now has short hair (right above the shoulders/bob length), you’re born the same year as kai, reader is wearing makeup, lowkey unserious and also ass writing, super unrealistic but this is fanfic how realistic can it be 💀
A/N: “if you have short hair weston wants you” - kalynn koury, i based this off of the thing hyuka said a few years ago about him preferring short hair over long hair. i think he even said recently that hadn’t changed so here we are. this was a bit self indulgent as i have short hair and am a huening bias (//∇//) but this is my account i can do what i want and im sure there’s other short hair ppl out there that’ll appreciate this fic. this is a bit short and honestly im not all that satisfied with it but i just wanted to get it out
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this was weird. the way your hair moved when you looked from side to side, the way you could feel the cool breeze of the ac on your neck better, the way it felt when you ran your hand through your hair only to have the feeling of your hair on your fingers stop faster than you were expecting. it all felt weird.
for your whole idol career you always had long hair. the shortest it ever was was a few inches below your collarbones and even then it wouldn’t really be considered short. well, until recently that is. your company had decided that for your next comeback, an image change might be good for you. well, good for bringing in attention.
it’s not that it looked bad or anything, just very, very new. a significant amount of length was cut off, your once waist long hair now stopping right above your shoulders. your hand came up to gently grasp the ends of your hair, rolling it back and forth between your fingers. “y/n,” you hear one of your members call your name from behind you where they’re currently sitting on the couch trying to get a few minutes of rest in before you go on for your stage. you drop your hand from your hair and meet their gaze through the mirror. “you okay? is it about the new hair? it’s a big change.”
you shift in the seat to face your member, an unsure smile plastered to your face. “no, no. it’s good.” you nod and try your best to not let nerves get the best of you but one look from your group leader makes you immediately drop the act. you sigh out as your shoulders slump, your gaze going to the ground to avoid looking at your members. “it is, really, but… i don’t know. i’m just not used to it. i’m nervous about what the reaction to it will be.” you turn and look back into the mirror as if you haven’t looked the same the past nineteen times you checked and that maybe the twentieth time will be the one where something has changed.
your leader comes up behind you with a soft smile, pressing her hands on your shoulders as she leans her face right next to yours, your cheeks pressed against hers. “well in my opinion you look great. this hair really suits you,” her hand comes up to play with the ends of it. “and i’m sure the fans will go crazy for this new look you have too.” she shakes your shoulders as you both laugh softly. she stands up straight, the movement drawing your gaze from the mirror to her face. she smiles softly at you and pets your head— gently so as not to disturb the style your stylists had spent so much time on, but with enough pressure to soothe you.
she opens her mouth to say something more— probably some prolonged motivational speech like she always does— but one of the managers calls her name before she can. she offers you one last smile as a silent reassurance and pats your shoulder before going off to tend to her duties. you watch her leave before turning to watch yourself once more. you thought back to all the reactions you got when you showed people your new look.
“you look so chic! short hair has been in recently you know? i bet your members will be so shocked.” the hair dresser had said after shampooing and drying your hair after the original cut.
“wow! you look so pretty! i’m sure the stylists are gonna adore dressing you up your new look.” your manager had said when she came to pick you up from the dorms to take you to the studio.
“oooh, the hair dresser did so good cutting your hair! it really suits your face. i bet the fans will love it!” your members had said when you walked into practice the next day.
you appreciated their words, you really did, but there was just one thing they all got wrong.
you weren’t worried about the opinion of your stylists, or your members, or even the fans— though you did still hope they liked how you looked now.
you wanted kai to think you were chic and pretty and to love it.
you had met hyuka not too long after your groups debut. you were both born the same year and your groups had repeatedly crossed paths given that txt had debuted not too long after you, so it just made sense that you guys would connect and become friends. and you were happy to make a new friend, especially one as kind and funny as kai. at least until his laugh started to make butterflies spawn in your stomach and the thought of his pretty eyes and sloped nose made you smile involuntarily and his mere presence made your heart want to claw it’s way out of your chest and to him.
in other words: you had fallen in love with kai.
which also meant that, naturally, you wanted him to like you back— or at the very least think you weren’t ugly. he had only ever seen you with long hair, which you knew you looked good with, but he had never seen you with short hair, so the thought of him seeing you and disliking it made you a feel little nauseous.
a light knock at the door of your dressing room snapped you out of your thoughts, your attention turning to the door before you glanced at your band mates for an answer as to who would be at the door. all you got was a shrug in response before your leader got up and answered the door. the way the door opened meant that the person waiting there was blocked from your vision, so all you had to go off of was your leaders expression. her eyebrows raised in surprise before she glanced over to you, her expression morphing into something you couldn’t quite put your finger on but it made your stomach churn with anxiety anyways.
“y/n,” she called, her tone in a song-like lilt. “it’s for you.” you slipped out of the stool you were sitting at and padded over, your member sending you a knowing smile as you took her place in the door frame. you furrowed your brows at her expression before you turned to see the broad form of hyuka standing there expectantly. ah, so that’s what that was about.
“kai!” you exclaimed in surprise, stepping forward to nudge him into the hall and shutting the door behind you for some privacy from the prying eyes of your members. your eyes drift down to the small bouquet of flowers in his hands before looking back up into his eyes. oh, his eyes— no! not the time. “what are you doing here?”
“i came to wish you luck on your comeback stage. these are for you.” kai smiles oh so sweetly at you as he hands you the gift. you blink in surprise and tentatively take the bouquet from his hands, twisting it this way and that to look at the pretty arrangement of flowers from every angle. you can feel your face heat up, your weight shifting from foot to foot as you try to not completely melt into a puddle on the floor— would be an inconvenience for the janitors.
“your hair…” his voice cut through your thoughts, forcefully dragging you back down from your love-sick fantasy and into your short-haired reality. you were so focused on the flowers kai brought you and how kai had brought you flowers and how your heart had to be damaging your ribcage somehow with how hard it was beating that you hadn’t seen his eyes drift from your face to your hair. in fact, you had nearly completely forgotten about the hair cut at all until kai said something about it. your hand instinctively came up to feel your strands, your palm patting around your head as if that would stimulate your hair follicles and magically grow it back to your original length.
“o-oh! right, haha, my hair! um, the company made me do it. looks a bit weird right? looked better longer i think, but i don’t really know, maybe it looks better now. everybody has been saying it looks great so i guess it does, but i don’t know,” you rambled on and on, the words spewing out of your mouth before you could even think about stopping them as you adamantly avoided eye contact, too scared to look at kai’s face and see disappointment.
your word vomit came to a screeching halt when kai stepped closer and took a strand of your hair between his fingers. your breath hitched in your throat and your hand fell from your head as you clutched the flowers close to your chest, your eyes watching him while he watched your hair. your head spun from the proximity, his broad shoulders cornering you against the door. you could smell his cologne and feel his warmth radiating off of his body and it made you dizzy.
he didn’t say anything, simply picking at your hair here and there before tucking a lock behind your ear and finally looking back at you.
“it looks good on you.” he said.
“really?” you whispered.
“really.” he echoed. “did i ever tell you i have a thing for girls with short hair?”
what.
“what?” you stared at him like he had just grown a third head right in front of you. kai let out a soft laugh and shook his head gently. you could’ve sworn you saw his eyes drift down to your lips for a moment, but you had no time to evaluate that before he backed out of your personal space and started to walk backwards down the hall.
“good luck on your stage, y/n. fighting!” kai shook his fists in support, sending you one last smile before turning and walking back to where he came from. you think you forgot how to breathe, your mouth gaping like a fish with your eyes burning holes into kai’s back as he walked away.
your lungs only started working again once he was out of sight, a shaky sigh filling the otherwise silent hallway. your eyes fluttered as if trying to blink away the flustered haze clouding your mind. your hand came up to gently brush against the lock of hair kai had tucked behind your ear. a soft smile grew on your lips as your other hand tightened it’s grip on the stems of the flowers.
well, you suppose you can live with the short hair for a while longer.
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bluemoviegirl · 3 months ago
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UNDER THE SAME SUN CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 2 CHAPTER 1
joel miller x reader, enemies to lovers
wc: 6.8k
tw: death, blood
summary: we finally get to know a bit more about your past, and another thursday with Joel!! Though you and him just can’t get along, even when you try really hard.
a/n: there'll be more interactions with joel soon guyz, right now they just really despise eachother <3. also, thanks for all the likes!! this chapter took a bit longer cause i'm super duper busy rn but honestly i'm just motivated to get them together. no rushing it though i love a good slow burn xoxo lmk what u thought i loveee getting comments 🩷
happy reading!! <3
It’s been 2 days since the repair job. It had upset you a lot more than you anticipated. That day had triggered the anxiety you thought you had stuffed so far down it would never dare come up again. And that was weird, you were tough. You’ve been tough. So what? A man got killed in front of you? You’d seen it many times before, you’ve been the one holding the gun so many times.
But the way you were dismissed, the way your presence meant nothing to him. How helpless you felt, your emotions had gone back in time. A time you had tried so hard to forget. The way Joel looked so unbothered by it all, he had looked more bothered about you yelling than the actual murder. It made you feel sick. It made you think of Dane.
10 years ago.
You weren’t supposed to be friends, not really. At first, you weren’t even sure you liked Lois. She was loud, brash, and a little too quick to joke in moments where you thought it wasn’t appropriate. But in a world like this, what else were you supposed to do? Sit in silence and wait to die?
It started like this: the first time you met her, it was over a stolen bag of chips. You were hiding out in a small, abandoned building, just trying to keep your head down. You had a decent stash of food, and you were about to enjoy your first real meal in days when you heard movement behind you. Your hand quickly went to your knife, but before you could even make a move, you saw her—Lois—grinning like she’d just hit the jackpot.
A girl your age, long brown hair put in a braid and thick straight eyebrows moving with every word she spoke. The same way your brows always speak before your mouth does.
"Those for me?" she’d asked, eyes twinkling, like she hadn’t just come out of the shadows like a damn ghost.
"Yeah, right," you muttered, not trusting her one bit. "Find your own."
But she was persistent, and after a few back-and-forths, you found yourself sharing what little you had. Lois didn’t have any food to offer, but she did have something else: stories and jokes.
She talked about her life before all of this—what it was like to have a family, a home, a normal life. It was strange to hear someone speak about it so casually, as if the world hadn’t completely changed. For a moment, it felt like the world was just… normal again.
"You know," Lois said, chewing slowly as she looked out the window, "I used to hate rain. Could never get my hair right."
You snorted, a little caught off guard. "Sounds rough."
She laughed, leaning back against the wall. "Yeah, you’re right. Now? I’d give anything for a real storm. Some kind of normal weather. Anything that doesn’t feel like it’s out of a nightmare."
The conversation drifted naturally after that, with you both talking about small things. Things that, at the time, felt impossible to care about, but talking about them somehow made the world feel just a little more bearable. You didn’t become best friends that day. Hell, you didn’t even like her that much. But she wasn’t the worst person to share a tiny room with.
The next few days passed in much the same way. The two of you stuck together by necessity—safety in numbers and all that. Lois was always the first to crack a joke when things got tense, always the first to break the silence with something silly. Even if it was just the smallest thing, she had a way of making you forget how miserable everything else was. She brought out the social butterfly in you.
One morning, as you huddled together near a fire, she offered you some of her dried fruit. "This is better than nothing," she said, tossing a piece toward you with a little smirk.
"Better than a bag of chips," you replied dryly, smiling despite yourself.
"Hey, don’t knock it. It’s survival food. It’s what’s keeping us alive." She leaned back, her eyes scanning the horizon. "We got this."
And maybe you did. You didn’t know how you’d survive this world, but you knew you couldn’t do it alone.
Over time, you began to learn the little things about her. How she would always tap her foot when she was thinking, or how she tucked a lock of hair behind her ear when she was nervous. A habit you had started doing too. The way she fidgeted with her necklace when she was nervous. The way she would keep you on your toes with her sudden, random bursts of energy or the way she could make even the worst situations feel manageable with a laugh.
You’d never admit it out loud, but it became clear to you: You depended on Lois. In a world where it felt like you could lose everything in an instant, Lois was a constant. Someone who made the emptiness of everything else feel just a little less overwhelming. She became your reminder that maybe, just maybe, you weren’t alone in all of this.
And even if you didn’t say it, the bond was there, growing deeper each day. You shared a glance, a small nod of acknowledgment, and in those moments, you knew—no matter what happened, you could make it through as long as you had her by your side.
One day, you were surrounded by infected. There was no way to get out of it alive unless you had help, and it was as if your prayers had been answered. Before you know it, the infected are getting shot down, beheaded, stabbed, name it and they did it.
This group, led by a man named Dane, had come to your rescue. He was a tall, broad man, dark hair cut short. You two owed him your life. He led a group of around 15 people. He seemed like a good man, promising to keep the two of you safe. You and Lois both knew you were capable of keeping yourself alive but it was nice to have a community. It was nice. Until it wasn’t.
It started off well, Dane welcomed you two like you were going to be part of the family. They actually had a base, a protected fort if you will.
“Our help’s gonna cost ya though,” Dane said, leading you both past the rusted gates. The metal groaned as it shut behind you, sealing you in.
Lois didn’t hesitate. “Of course! We’d be more than happy to help you guys out. After all, you saved our lives.” After a moment of waiting for you to say anything, she nudged your side, expecting you to back her up. You nodded stiffly, but something about the way Dane was watching you made your stomach knot.
“Don’t worry, we don’t bite.” His grin –flashing a silver tooth--was meant to be friendly, to ease your discomfort.
 It didn’t.
Lois had taken your hand in hers and squeezed it lightly. Her way of saying you’re okay.
It was somewhat normal the first week. You’d been given chores like cleaning the dining room, washing clothes and cooking. When you first started preparing plates, Dane’s right hand Silas told you to watch the portion control.  Dane and a select few eat better meals than everyone else. The rest get scraps. When you point it out, they joke, “Rank has its privileges.”
Lois had thought it was a bit weird but she brushed it off quickly. She adjusted fast, you couldn’t blame her. You’ve endured so much fear, you know what she’s lost and what you two had been through. Of course she’d jump at the option to be protected. You still thought you two were more than capable of protecting yourself. And you certainly didn’t need Dane to be the one to protect you.
Every night you’d have trouble sleeping but you kept telling yourself, you’re just paranoid. You’ve been with just Lois for so long, these aren’t bad people.
Dane was superior, to the rest of the group. No one ate before he did, no one dared to sit in the chair he sat at, Dane had the final say in everything. Everything you owed, they owed. Someone liked your jacket? It was theirs.
“I get that it’s scary being with all these strangers, but I’d never want to put you in any harm. I truly believe this is a good place. Yeah their rules are a little weird, but we have weird rules too. Like our rule that we can never refuse a snack one of us offers? Even if we’re not hungry? Isn’t that silly too?” Lois had replied softly when you finally built up the courage to talk to her about it.
You dropped it and didn’t speak up about your discomfort anymore. It was obvious, Lois wanted to stay here. Who were you to drag her away from all this? And so far, they had actually been good to the two of you. Nothing crazy but you got shelter and food.
As you tried to adjust after being here for 4 months, you managed to actually make another friend here. His name was Jonnie. He was about 5’5, a bit younger than you and had the cutest snort when he laughed. His curly blonde hair always falling before his blue eyes. The thing you loved about him the most was how he still had that pre-apocalypse softness many people had lost. Including yourself. He brought that out in you. He had this innocence to him, like even in this world, he wouldn’t harm a butterfly.
You and him were on cleaning duty, every night after dinner you’d clean up the dining room together.
“You’ll never believe what I have.” He said, his hands behind his back.
You try to peek but he turns away each time. “What is it? Tell me Jonnie!” You chuckle.
He quickly brings his arms forward, revealing a little cassette player.
Your eyes widen and jaw drops.
“Your mouth’s open.” He snorts.
“No freaking way!!” You grab it from his hands, observing it closely. It was old, had a lot of wear and tear. You always said how much you missed music and now Jonnie had managed to get a cassette player? He was truly an angel.
“I’ve never actually seen these things before the world ended.” You chuckle. “Wait but, do you even have any cassettes? Else this thing is pretty useless..” You look up at Jonnie, who’s already holding in a big wide grin.
He reveals a cassette. “Of course I do. I don’t do half-ass surprises.” He takes the cassette player from your hand and pops it in. “Warning though, it only plays one song.”
“It better be amazing then.” You wait for the music to start playing.
The tune starts playing, you immediately recognizing it. You eye Jonnie as he eyes you, both pairs of eyes twinkling.
“We’re talking away. I don’t know what I’m to say..” The grainy sound of the cassette filling the empty room.
You burst out into laughter as you grab Jonnie’s arms and start dancing. More like just jumping around, but it’s still considered dancing in your book. “Take on meeeee” “Take on me!”
You’re carelessly spinning around, arms wide, cheekbones aching. Jonnie’s clapping along, completely off-beat but grinning so widely it doesn’t even matter.
Your dance party is cut short when you hear the door opening though. Jonnie quickly turns off the music. It was Silas.
“Evening.” He says, his finger tracing a table as he checks it for dust. By some miracle he hadn’t heard the music.
You and Jonnie are stood next to each other, hands behind your back, as if you’re some soldier.
“Don’t mind me, I’m just here for a late night craving.” He brushed past the two of you, grabbed some food and disappeared again.
You two both let out a breathe of relief.
“Thank the gods, I don’t know what would’ve happened if he caught us like that.” Jonnie says softly, obviously a bit shaken. “He creeps me out.”
“Yeah. Me too.”
The following clean ups were the one thing you looked forward to every day. You’d start the evening off with a dance party and would have the song on repeat the entire night.
Jonnie and you spent a lot of time together. You’d seek each other out at dinner and of course clean together. You didn’t expect to find one best friend during an apocalypse, let alone two.
One evening, you and Lois are sat with Dane and his select few around the campfire.
“I think it’s time we celebrate our newcomers. You two have been here for 6 months. Really proven that you’re of use.” Dane said, a beer in his hand. You noticed that when he grinned, you could see a broken yellowed tooth. Yuck.
Lois nodded happily.
“You’re a tough nut to crack though.” Dane’s eyes met yours. You felt shivers down your spine.
“Do you like it here?” He took another sip.
You were quiet for a moment before speaking. “I do.”  You lied.
“Are you dedicated to us? To me?” His gaze darkened and his voice was deeper.
You were taken aback a bit, why is he asking this crap? You furrowed your brows a bit. Lois could read you like a book, she could tell you thought Dane was a total idiot.
“She is. We are.” Lois chimed in, smiling as she interlocked her arm with yours.
He huffed out a dry chuckle, his eyes showing no sign of amusement. “Show me.”
“What?” She asked, as if she didn’t hear right the first time.
“I want her to show me.” Dane said, looking firmly at you and not Lois.
You felt your stomach drop, what the fuck does he mean?
Before you could even think about what it meant, Silas arrived, dragging a guy with him. He threw the guy on the ground in front of you. His hands and ankles tied, head facing the floor but you could recognize those curls anywhere.
Jonnie.
Your eyes widen as you feel your stomach drop. For a moment, the world was in slow motion. Dane’s laugh sounded slowed down as Silas kicks Jonnie, flipping him over as Jonnie squeals in anguish.
Lois is frozen, as are you.
Your eyes scan Jonnie’s battered body. He’s been beaten to hell. His clothes are soaked in blood, his face nearly unrecognizable. His left eye is swollen shut, his entire right side bruised. Blood stains his blonde eyebrows and drips from a split lip.
You tried to get any words out, to stand up for Jonnie. But you freeze when Jonnie’s eyes met yours and a tear rolled over his cheek. That moment of eye contact told you everything, he was terrified.
Dane suddenly pushes a gun in your hand. You look up at Dane, who sits back down. He’s.. He’s actually grinning.
“Kill him.”  Dane nudges his head towards Jonnie. “W-What?” You stammered, a tear rolling over your cheek that you quickly wiped away.
A moment of silence is broken when Dane throws a cassette player in front of you. Jonnie and yours cassette player.
“He doesn’t respect our rules. We share here. Yet, this boy thinks it’s acceptable to keep things to himself. You know our rules right?”
You shakily nod. “Say it.”  Dane folds his arms as he manspreads.
“E-everything you own, we own. We- we share everything.” You quietly said, breathing heavily.
“Speak. Up.” He snapped back, his voice raising. It shook you.
“Everything you own, we-“ You choke up. “-own.” You stammered through the tears you could no longer hold back.
“Good. You know the rules. Calm down, let’s make this atmosphere a little less hostile.” Dane snorts as he leans forward to grab the cassette player. He presses play.
The sound of the song startles you. The song that you and Jonnie used to love and dance to every night, was now being played at Jonnie’s possible last moment.
“Takeee onnn meeee.” Silas murmurs with a wide smile.
Lois furrowed her brows as she was no longer holding onto you. You glanced at her, almost afraid to meet her eyes. She had tears welling up but she attempted to blink them away.
“Good. He didn’t respect that rule. Frankly, I don’t know if he’s ever really been of use here. Don’t even know the boy’s name.” Dane chuckles, his eyes showing nothing but evil. “Now, kill him. I won’t tell you again.”
You tremble as you look down at Jonnie, he’s crying too. You had never felt so weak before, afraid your knees might buckle any moment. You stood up before Jonnie, weakly lifting the gun to him but you immediately lower it. You can’t do this. Jonnie’s your friend. Jonnie’s innocent, he got that cassette player for you. You should be paying for this. And as his eyes meet yours yet again, you feel like you might throw up. He’s pleading. Jonnie’s pleading for his life with that look in his eyes.
“I- please Dane-“ You beg, you plead but Dane shows no sign of you getting out of this.
Suddenly the gun gets taken out of your hand, Lois takes it. You look at her, her eyes don’t show sadness and fear like yours are. Her eyes show determination. Like she’s turned off her personality. She raises the gun to Jonnie’s head.
“Lois!” You yelp, your voice cracking.
But she ignores you and pulls the trigger, blood splattering on your face as your tears try and clear your vision. The only thing visible is the light from the fire reflecting off of Lois’s gold locket hanging around her neck.
After that, there’s a moment of silence. Silence filled with that stupid song still playing.
--
You blink, snapping out of that horrible memory, it’s like you could feel the blood splattering on you again. Your stomach turns. Now you’re sat on your couch, zoned out staring at Joel’s gloves you’d forgotten to return after you stormed off. Even the painted wall felt stupid and the fact that Joel was the one who helped you complete it. Get your act together, you thought. You’re over Dane. Dane isn’t Joel. Joel isn’t Dane. It’s completely different.
And the thing is, you knew it was. You knew it was different. You knew Joel had meant you no harm, not the way Dane had always meant harm. Not the way Dane had harmed Lois- So you convince yourself to at least get dinner at the dining hall today. The dry bread and cans of vegetables weren’t cutting it anymore.
You step outside of your apartment, the cold air breezing through your hair. The feel instantly bringing you shivers. It’s a bit of a walk from your apartment to the dining hall and you happened to run into Selene. Selene was your neighbor, one that had chosen to befriend you in the first two months that you arrived. You’d been cooped up in your place for the first two months but as soon as you were out and about, she came running. She was a tall woman, taller than you were. Her curly auburn hair always put into a bun with pieces sticking out. After those two months you guys talked often. You knew she had a boyfriend, Aaron. He was the opposite of her. She was very loud, very witty and social, while Aaron was quiet, nerdy and very to himself. It was honestly a cute match.
“Hey! Finally I caught you.” Selene said, pacing up her steps to match yours. “Are you headed to the dining hall?” She twirled her hair pieces.
“I am yeah. Haven’t been in a while.”
“Yeah, thought I hadn’t seen you out in a couple days! Everything okay? I get that the change can be tough, I had just the same thing. When my boyfriend and I just arrived here, we didn’t leave our place for two weeks..” She rubbed the back of her neck as she felt a pink tint creeping up, her realizing you didn’t leave your place for two months. “I guess it’s different for everyone.” She chuckled a bit awkwardly.
“I’m doing good, thanks for asking. I just felt like staying in. How are you and Aaron doing?” You smiled reassuringly.
“Oh we’re genuinely fantastic. Okay, don’t tell anyone-“ She leaned in closer to you. “I think we might be expecting..” She smiled widely.
You wanted to be happy for her but it was hard to hide the frown on your face. Who would get pregnant in a world like this? You want to bring more people into this scary world?
She noticed the look on your face and her smile immediately dropped. “I get it.. A baby, in a world like this. It’s crazy. We certainly didn’t plan on it, but I just can’t hide the excitement that I actually get to bring life in a world that takes so much of it.”
to bring life in a world that takes so much of it.
“That’s beautifully said, Selene. I am happy for the two of you, I hope your baby gets your curls.” You smiled, the conflicted feelings fading at the idea of Selene being a mother. You didn’t know her super well or anything, but you could tell she’d be a great mom.
“I sure hope so! Not Aaron’s bald patches.” She snorts and nudges your arm playfully.
You laugh, a genuine laugh.
When you two finally arrive at the dining hall, you were going to sit alone but she urged you to join Aaron and her. With a tray in your hands containing a bowl of stew, a piece of bread and a glass of tea, you sit down, your eyes scanning the room.
 Your stomach drops for a second when you see Joel sit at one of the tables, further down. He’s sitting with a girl, looks to be about 14? Joel is a dad? And he’s laughing? Well, it’s a minimal laugh, a tiny chuckle. But you’d never seen it before.
“Isn’t that Tommy’s brother?” You suddenly hear Selene cutting through your thoughts as she leans closer to you. Your eyes snap back to Selene.
“What’s his name?”
“Joel.” You say before stuffing your mouth with bread, not wanting to talk about him any further. Selene doesn’t seem to get that hint though.
“Joel. He’s cute.” Aaron shoots her a look, raising his brows as she said that. “Oh come on, I’m having your baby,” She mouths the word baby. “I’m not leaving you.” She whispers, laughing. He gets a bit red as his eyes shoot to you, not sure whether you knew.
“Yeah I told her.. As soon as I saw her. I actually couldn’t hold myself back. She practically guessed it.” Selene quickly says even though you didn’t even have the faintest suspicion of her being pregnant. You grin.
“So you and Joel? I’ve seen him around, always brooding.” Selene continues, smirking.
You exhale sharply, already over this conversation. “Absolutely not.”
Selene shoots a look back at Aaron before returning to you. “Why not?”
“’Cause he’s world’s biggest asshole, that’s why.”  
“Damn, what did he do to you?” Aaron says, intrigued.
“Yeah, spill. There’s not nearly enough gossip in this place.” Selene picks at her curls again.
You shoot them both a look. “I’m all for a little gossip but honestly, this man is just an asshole. I do repair jobs with him and let me tell ya, they are not fun.”
“You have to elaborate!! Come on, we’re super duper curious.” Selene nudges you.
You chuckle a bit, Selene reminded you of Lois in some way, they were completely different yet so the same. The way Selene rambled was the way Lois would ramble too.
 “It’s just that, he completely dismisses me. Thinks I’m some weak link that has no understanding of the world outside of these walls.” You start ranting.
“He acts like I don’t know what the hell I’m doing. Like I’m some clueless idiot who’s never set foot outside of a QZ or here. He doesn’t listen, doesn’t take me seriously. It’s like he’s already decided exactly who I am, and nothing I do or say changes that. I can tell him one thing, he does not have me figured out. And just—” You realize you’re rambling. “Sorry.” “Oh please, don’t apologize. He sounds like a real jerk.” Selene says, Aaron nodding in agreement.
“Yeah, and I may have been a real jerk to him too. So we’re not on the best of terms.”
Your thoughts go back to the man he killed and the look in his eyes afterwards. Your eyes glance back to Joel across the room. Your stomach drops when you see he was already looking at you. You quickly turn back to the table.
“Oi, you know who I say leaving Julian’s apartment this morning?” Selene grins widely, teeth baring. She’s tapping her hand on the table to get your attention.
“Who?” You can’t hide the smile that’s building on your face as your brows knit together in curiosity.
“Nevermind.. You’ll actually just never believe me.” She fakes looking frustrated as she sighs dramatically before the grin reappears on her face.
“Tell me!” You poke her.
“Okay okay, if you want to know that badly.” She comically rolls her eyes before slapping both hands on the table and leaning forward. “Sasha.” Selene covers her mouth with her hand as she giggles.
Sasha was one of the people who frequently worked at the Workshop, she was always annoyed and honestly, a real bitch. You remember the first time you made your way to the Workshop and asked for a notebook. She had looked you up and down and just scoffed as she walked off. You waited for 5 minutes before realizing she wasn’t going to bring you one. She weirded you out to say the least.
Julian on the other hand, was such a nice guy. He was around 42, fully grey hair and always laughed so loudly it would make anyone else laugh too. So the two of them together, is definitely surprising.
“You’re kidding???” You reply.
“No! I’m not! Aaron, you saw it too right??” She looks at Aaron, who’s just about to take a spoonful of stew. He nods. “Yeah only cause you dragged me out of bed to see that.” He says before eating.
“I actually couldn’t believe my freaking eyes!! How can miss grump fit with mr sunshine?!”
“You have such a way with words, Selene. But I agree. It’s like a perfect book trope.” You grin.
After dinner, you tell Selene and Aaron you’re taking a little stroll. Before you got up you had glanced over to where Joel was sitting but he and the girl had already left. You bring your tray back to the counter and make your way outside.
The stroll is nice. The sound of people chatting, kids playing, the lights on inside the house making you only see shadows of people through the curtains, the smell of campfires burning. You couldn’t believe you were at such a peaceful place. That was, until you were hit with a snowball. Right in the face.
“Jesus-“ Your hands wipe the snow out of your face. “Oh shit! I thought you were someone else!” A girls voice yells as you hear her coming closer.
You blink out the rest of the snow as your vision clears. It’s the girl Joel was sitting with.  You smile at her, feeling a tad awkward after being attacked with snow.
“It’s okay.” You’re about to start walking again before she speaks up.
“You gotta admit, that was a pretty good shot.” She laughs. You smile back at her. “Yeah great shot, thanks.” You chuckle.
 “I feel like I’ve seen you around.” Her eyes scan you.
“That’s possible.” “You’ve done repairs with Joel, yeah?” She asked but it was more of a statement.
“Yeah—I do actually. You’ve seen me with him or Joel tell you about me?” You asked, for some reason curious if the asshole had talked about you.
“Oh I’ve seen you two coming back, I sometimes wait at the gates around the time your job ends.”
Of course he hadn’t spoken about you, not that it mattered. “Right. Your Joel’s kid?”
She laughs and scoffs. “"Hell no. Do I look like I have his grumpy-ass genes?”
“No, you do not.” You chuckle.
“He’s something like that, not my dad though.”
“Ah.” You nod.
“I’m Ellie.” She looks you over.
You introduce yourself to her. “It’s nice to meet you-“ “Ellie? Christ, I was lookin’ for you.” A voice cuts in from behind you. Joel’s. Ellie’s eyes widen a bit.
“Shit, now my sneak attack didn’t fucking work!” She says.
Joel comes closer, before realizing who Ellie is talking to. You look at him as he stands next you. His brows pulled together a bit as he looks back at Ellie, not saying a word to you.
“I hit her in the face with a fucking snowball. My aim is crazy good, I thought you were coming round the corner but it was her-“ Ellie says, proud of her aim and also a bit apologetic about hitting you in the face. “Language.” Joel mutters.
“Right, I should get going. It was nice talking to you Ellie.” You smile shortly and start making way. That’s put to a halt when Joel suddenly grabs your arm. It’s a light grab. You shiver. Your head shoots back to him and he lets go.
“Y’still got my gloves.” He says, his voice gruff with a hint of irritation, his eyes not even meeting yours until he’s done talking.
“Oh right. I’ll get them to you, if you think I’m capable enough for that.”  You say flatly before walking off. Joel sighs sharply.
“Geez, what was that about?” Ellie snorts.
--
The next day you had made it your task to get the gloves back to Joel. Having to see him every Thursday was enough, so you really hadn’t looked forward to this.
It was early in the morning, you hadn’t really slept well. Rolling around in bed all night, thinking about the past never worked for a good night sleep. So as soon as it was a bit more of an appropriate time to drop by someone’s house, you made your way to Joel Miller’s place.
The town was quiet, a couple birds chirping in the distant and that fresh morning breeze blew through your hair. Mornings like these made the world feel at peace. You never thought you’d become a morning person as much as you are a night person, but nights grew more unsettling while the comfort of daylight made mornings provide a sense of safety.
Joel’s porch creaked under your boots as you debated just leaving the gloves by the door. That would be easier. Less talking. Less looking at his permanently scowling face. You were just about to set them down when the door suddenly swung open.
You barely had time to step back before Joel barreled into you, shutting the door behind him with his back to the world. He mutters a curse under his breath as he turns, his eyes widening slightly at the sight of you.
“Jesus Christ-“ He exhales sharply.
Your brows knitted together. “You don’t think to check if anyone might be on your porch?”
“You don’t think maybe I don’t expect anyone at the crack of dawn?” He shoots back as he looks at you, his usual frown on his face.
You’re quiet for a moment, he’s right. You are really early. After a moment you roll your eyes and press the gloves forward. “Returning your gloves.”
Joel glances at them, then back at you, like he’s debating whether this exchange is even worth his time. Finally, he reaches out and takes them. His fingers graze yours for just a second—just enough for your stomach to twist in frustration.
The way he looks at you, like you’re beneath him.
Joel just raises the gloves a bit before walking off the porch. “Yeah, thanks.” He mutters before walking off. Leaving you standing on his porch.
“You’re welcome, asshole.” You quietly mutter.
When it’s time for lunch, you decide to head into the dining hall with Selene. Aaron was on patrol so it was just a simple girls moment for the two of you.
“I can’t believe Joel just walked off like that! Maybe he’s just that into you that he gets all nervous and stuff.” Selene giggles.
“Right, that’s totally it. It’s not the fact I called him out on being a monster cause his loved one died.” You say, silencing Selene completely as she turns red. “Yeah.. Cold.. Maybe he’s not into you.” She quietly replies before taking a bite of her sandwich.
It didn’t take long for you to become close friends with Selene. She was a social butterfly and you like to think you also were one. So you quickly started confiding in each other, gossiping and chatting about anything and everything. The only thing you just kept to yourself was your past. She didn’t talk much about hers either, so you took it as a topic that was off limits for the both of you. You preferred it that way.
“I do regret saying it. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely despise how he behaved at the outpost. But still, I stooped down to his level. I acted cold and that’s just so unlike me.” You picked at the crust of your bread.
It was true, you regretted saying what you said. It took you a moment to understand how you could say such cruel things. You’ve always been really empathic but Joel had triggered memories of Dane. It made you want to be cold, it made you want to hurt him. To hurt Dane. To turn off the overflow of emotions. You did hate Joel though, no matter how much PTSD you had, the way he had handled the situation was awful.
“What’s done is done. Honestly, don’t even give it too much attention. He’s obviously an ass. Maybe it’s good he heard it from someone. He looks like the type of guy that doesn’t get a lot of back talk.” Selene says before taking a bite. “I know I’d be too scared to give him back talk.”
“You’re right. I’m going to go do the repair job Thursday, completely nail it, no pun intended and I’ll show him he can’t bother me!” You whip your hair as you laugh.
“Mhm, atta girl!” Selene chuckles.
--
As Thursday comes around, you’re ready and settled on your horse before he even arrived. You wanted to make sure there would be no possible reason for the two of you to speak unless it was absolutely necessary.
As the snow crunches below the hooves of your horses, sounds of birds chirping and the wind whistling was enough to fill the silence that you’d usually attempt to fill with your small talk. You had glanced over at Joel a couple of times, he’d be unreadable staring straight ahead.
It wasn’t often anymore that someone filled you with so much anger, it’s like every little thing he does ticks you off. The way he taps his heel against his horse every so often, the way he held the reins ever so slightly more to the left cause he knew the horse had a tendency to walk more to the right, and especially the way he always furrowed his brows. Always furrowing those damn brows.
“Quit starin’ at me.” He speaks up.
You blink, not realizing you had zoned out looking at him. “I wouldn’t dare.” You scoff as you roll your eyes.
You look ahead of you. The quiet really making you think. Yeah sure you’ve thought about apologizing to him. You’ve thought about it often, about how much you didn’t want to do it. He should apologize to you. The way he pulled the trigger so easily- the thought of it brings you shivers. That day just keeps replaying in your head, the gut dropping feeling you felt.
Lately everything has been reminding you of Dane and Lois and you blamed Joel for it. Hated him for it. Despised him the way he despised you. It worked out in your favor, making that cold remark to him that day. He obviously felt no need to see or speak to you more than obligated and neither did you.
As the two of you arrive at the outpost, you’re very displeased to see that the wall had caved in on the side. It takes everything in you to not grunt out loud. It’s worse than you thought—wood splintered, nails bent out of shape, snow from last night’s storm piled up against the debris.
“How did that even happen?” You exhale sharply. This meant you’d be on the job even longer.
“Christ if I know.” Joel murmers as he walks inside, he looks just as annoyed as you are.
“We need more wood,” you finally say, hating that you have to acknowledge him at all. “And nails. Probably some new support beams too.” You sounded like you actually knew what you were talking about. You felt a little proud cause of that.
That moment was shot down quickly though.
Joel lets out a humorless chuckle. “Real sharp observation.”
You glare at him. “You got a problem?”
“Nope.” He grabs an axe from the supply crate, inspecting the dull blade. “Just wonderin’ how long you’re gonna waste time statin’ the obvious before actually doin’ somethin’.”
Your blood boils. “Oh, I’m sorry, would you like me to just shut up and blindly follow your lead? ‘Cause we both know how well that worked last time.”
“Worked out just fine.” Joel replies before walking off toward the trees.
You stand there for a moment, fuming. The way he always had to have the last reply, or the better reply. If it was possible, there would be actual fire and steam coming out of you right now.
After an hour of working and not communicating, the only sound between you is the crack of splitting wood, the dull clang of nails being hammered in, and the occasional huff. The air is freezing, your breath visible as you work. Every muscle in your arms aches from chopping, lifting, and hammering.
And yet, somehow, the worst part is still him.
Your mind just keeps going back to last week. To that comment you made about his loved one. You hated him, you did. But it was just in your nature to apologize. It literally wasn’t you.
You decide to speak up, you part your lips to say something but it takes you a few more attempts to actually say something. “Hey um, about what I said last week-“
“Don’t.” Joel cuts you off, his voice sounding flat.
Your brows knit together a bit. “I just wanted to apolo-“
“Don’t.” He states firmly, leaving no room for arguing. You just blink a couple times, very confused why he’s not taking your apology. Did it hurt him that deeply? Surely other people must’ve said similar things right? This just makes you feel worse.
“Joel I am sorry about what I said. Don’t get me wrong, I hate what you did. But I’m still sorry.” You decided to push your apology further, not letting him shut you down like that.
It’s quiet for a moment, like Joel is unsure of how to respond. But when he turns to you, it’s obvious he’s bothered.
“I don’t care about your apology.” He turned to you. “Your words mean nothin’ to me.”  He said, it genuinely seeming as if he didn’t care, but you knew better. His response to it last week told you enough.   “Right, sure seemed that way.” You sigh, annoyed he can’t just take the apology.  
His eyes shoot to yours as you said that, he looks angry again.
“You just always have to have a big mouth on you, don’t you?” His voice raising slightly.
“Maybe you just can’t stand someone finally telling you how it is.” You step forward, if he wants to argue, that’s what he’ll get.
He chuckles dryly, shaking his head as he looks you up and down. “Yeah, that must be it.” His back towards you again, not engaging in this argument.
“Dickhead.” You mumble as you continue. His eyes glance towards you for a second, to make sure if you actually said it. He decides not to respond and just slightly shake his head.
Why can’t he just take the apology? He makes your blood boil. You wish you never took this stupid repair job, you literally volunteered to have fights with Joel Miller. The guy everyone moves out of the way for, the guy people rarely look in the eye. You weren't afraid, if you had something to say, he'll hear it.
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ninii-winchester · 1 year ago
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Unveiled Sorrows (Part 1)
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Dean Winchester X Reader, Sam Winchester x Reader (platonic)
Word count: 3k
Other Characters : Sam Winchester, John Winchester.
Warnings : spoilers for s1-5, heavy angst, canon violence, foul language, implied smut.
A/n: This series follows canon plot line but some scenes might happen differently or be completely changed. Check the warnings for each part before continuing.
I DO NOT GIVE PERMISSION TO COPY MY WORK, TRANSLATE IT OR POST IT TO ANY OTHER PLATFORM. REBLOGS ARE APPRECIATED.
Bad luck follows the Winchesters like the plague, they can't seem to outrun it. If someone asked Y/n to describe who the Winchesters were to her, she'd only have one word to say. Family. She wouldn't mind having bad luck on her tail if it meant staying with her family. Besides even if they can't seem to outrun it, they always fought it. And they always kicked ass.
Y/n was a solo hunter, a badass one at that, she never believed in partnering up with other hunters, because every hunter has a different motive and motives change. She's never trusted a hunter and she never would but that all changed a few years back when she met the Winchesters.
Now, typically one would think she'd dropped her guard because its 'The Winchesters' but she didn't. It was far from that. She met the two brothers when they were looking for their father. She told them to not waste their breaths since the man didn't want to be found. The two boys were curious as to how she knew about their father. She told them that she knew the man enough to know his intentions and that is, he didn't want to be found. The boys were intrigued by her and asked her to join them, help them find their father.
"I don't chase dead ends boys nor do I trust hunters."
That was the last thing she said before she walked out on them. The next time they met was in Manning, Colorado, Y/n was hunting the same vampire nest that the Winchesters were.
“I see you found daddy dearest.” Y/n said leaning against the Impala after they cleaned out the nest.
"I see you've met my boys, Y/n." John smiled.
"Yeah well they've been all over the place looking for you, kinda hard to miss." She smirked. Dean chuckled at her comment.
"You're a great hunter." Sam commented, a small smile gracing his lips. She nodded her head and she raised her beer bottle towards him.
"Alright, now my works done here so I'll be heading out." She said. "Later boys."
"Wait." Y/n turned to the owner of the voice. "I need your help."
"Did I hear it correctly? John Winchester asking for help I must've gotten hit pretty hard." She laughed. "What is it?"
"I need you to stay with them. We need all the help we could get." John said. "You're one of the best I know." Dean's brows furrowed at that, his dad complementing someone is big.
"And what makes you think I'd stay and help? I don't trust hunters. As if you didn't know that already. John." She gritted her teeth.
"I know but it's out there and you know it." John said knowingly. His sons looked back and forth between their father and the young girl.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Y/n." She knew what he was talking about, the yellow eyed demon. The one that killed her parents when she was a baby. The fire in the nursery when she was exactly six months old. Just like Sam. The Winchesters are obsessed with the yellow eyed demon and they wouldn't stop at nothing to kill that thing.
"It has nothing to do with me." It was the second time she walked away from them.
The yellow eyed demon killed her parents, she had been chasing the demon for years, it's what that made her the great hunter she is, that's how she met John in the first place but now she knew getting revenge wouldn't bring her parents back, it wouldn't bring her peace either. She needs to move on and focus on whatever life she has left. It may sound weird for a twenty two year old girl but that's how she thought.
But as if it was destiny. Y/n watched a truck crash into the same Impala she leaned on a few days back. She jumped out of her own car before calling 911.
"Damn it you boys." She slammed the car door as she got back in her car and followed the ambulance back to the hospital.
After John died, she decided she'd stick around Sam and Dean considering it their father's last wish. And the rest was history. If you'd ask her she wouldn't be able to tell when Sam Winchester became her best friend in the whole world. It might've been the fact that they share the same trauma or maybe that Sam compensated for Dean being a dick. Dean didn't like Y/n joining them, he didn't hate her per se, but he hated the fact that his father asked her to help them rather than telling them what he knew. They butted heads alot, both being stubborn and filled to brim with trust issues. They had a hard time around each. It took a while but they warmed up to each other.
Now for Y/n, the Winchester Brothers are her family. To them it's her. They've never hesitated to kill for one another and wouldn't hesitate to die either.
Sam and Y/n were deeply troubled when Dean started acting strange after a run in with a Djinn. Sam tried to coax it out of Dean but he remained unsuccessful.
"Hey, you." Y/n sat beside Dean as he tinkered with the Impala. He turned to look at her. "Mind telling me what's going on up there?" She gestured towards his head.
Dean froze for a second. He didn't know what to say. He couldn't tell her what the Djinn showed him. How was he supposed to tell her he saw her being his wife, them living the white picket fence life. The life he so desperately wanted yet couldn't have. She wouldn't understand. Nobody could. Even he couldn't understand why he saw her. Dean didn't love, as in committing in relationships. Dean loved, as in I would die for you but I'd never tell you that I love you.
"Nothing sweetheart, Its nothing." He smiled like he usually does. Y/n knew better than to push him. So she walked away.
The trio hunted down all sorts of supernatural beings. They stuck through everything together. Y/n was there when Dean stupidly made a deal to bring back Sam, she was there when the doors of Hell opened. She stuck by Sam when Dean was dragged to Hell. She even went up to the crossroads to sell her soul in exchange of Dean's. Clearly she was refused. When Dean came back from Hell, Sam and Y/n welcomed him back with open arms.
Everything was awful. It sucked but alteast they were in this together. They had each other and that's what all they needed. Y/n was there when they found out Dean broke the first seal in Hell and she was there when Sam broke the last. Y/n was there for the Winchesters when the apocalypse hit and she had hoped they would be together when it ends. They had been trough Hell and back together, literally, and she hoped her family would be by her side. But little did she know.
Dean hasn't been the same ever since he came back from Hell. Everyone noticed. He hadn't been sleeping, he kept drinking. He kept telling everyone that he doesn't remember what happened down in the pit. But he does, and little does he know, Y/n knew too. She could see it on his face that something is eating him away but she knew Dean, and she knew it would be a waste to ask because he wouldn't tell. She'd hear him scream at night, waking up from nightmares, she'd watch him drink himself to self to sleep only to be woken up by the nightmares, again.
The trio had turns sharing rooms while being on hunts, with whatever money they had they could only afford one room but when they could get two, they would. Y/n always shared with one of the boys since they don't want to risk her safety, clearly knowing she can handle herself but it helps them sleep at night.
"You know you can talk to me about anything right?" Y/n walked up to Dean as he poured himself another glass of whiskey.
"Sweetheart its 3am. What're you doing up late?" He ignored her comment.
"I could ask you the same thing." She shrugged.
"Its.." he started.
"Nothing." She finished for him. "I've heard it."
The two of them sat in silence as the clock ticked. Dean stood up from the the chair he was sitting on and made his way towards his bed. He dropped on it with a sigh.
"Dean." Y/n called out and he turned his face to look at her. "You don't have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. It's not your responsibility." She said softly.
"Isn't it though?" He asked sitting up.
"It isn't." She said firmly.
"You don't even have half the idea...-"
"Then tell me. Tell me what's bothering you, tell me we can get through this together." Dean shook his head at her words. "Like we always do."
"I started a goddamn apocalypse Y/n, I don't think there's anyone else to blame. Sam may have broken the last seal but I broke the first one. I..." Tears gathered in his eyes which made Y/n scared, if it was bad enough to make Dean cry, it was bad. She made her way towards her bed and sat infront of him.
"I know you broke the first seal Dean. You keep saying so but you never tell us what is it."
"Dean."
"They offered me to....they said they'd take me off the rack if i did the torturing. Time works differently there than here, for you it was four months but there it was forty years. They'd cut me up to nothing and then I'd be whole again and it'd start all over again. I held on for thirty years. But then I broke. I agreed and i did. And the most fucked up part is that I enjoyed doing it."
"It's okay Dean." She went to sit beside him and held him close. "You tried you best, you held on for thirty years Dean." She held back her own tears. "It's not your fault. If anything, I should be blamed equally for letting Sam fall for Ruby's trap. I should've been careful."
"No you're wrong if only I hadn't been so weak, if only i didn't break." He shook his head. "It was the first seal, a righteous man shedding blood in hell. I broke the first seal." He cried. She held him close hoping she could make him realise that it wasn't his fault.
"Now the refusal makes sense." Y/n mumbled under her breath.
"What refusal?" Dean sat up and stared down at her.
"Nothing." She avoided looking at him.
"Y/n." He said calmly but his tone was stern. "Tell me." Y/n looked away completely as she stood and turned away so she didn't have to look at him. "For the love of God tell me Y/n don't test my patience."
"I went to the crossroads demons but they refused. They said they had you exactly where they wanted, I didn't why back then, but now it makes sense."
"You did what?" Dean yelled and grabbed her arm to make her look at him. "You tried to sell your soul?"
"Dean."
"Don't Dean me.!! God damn it." He yelled and Y/n wondered how the hell Sam didn't hear them for the thin motel walls.
"Yes i tried to sell my soul so what huh? You're not the only one who cares okay? I wouldn't have minded giving my soul to bring you back." She yelled back.
"You can't go around doing stupid shit like that." Dean exclaimed clearly on the verge of losing his mind.
"Why do you get to deci-..."
"Because I can't lose you." Dean snapped cutting her mid sentence. He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her closer. He cupped her cheeks in his hands. "I can't lose you, sweetheart. I'd happily go back to hell if it means keeping you safe." He said resting his forehead on hers.
"Dean..."
"Please, promise me you won't pull another stunt like that. I can bear those scratches and cuts on you from hunts but this is where i draw the line."
"Dean this isn't fair." She cried.
"There's nothing fair in this life, sweetheart. I've got angels on my ass asking me to say yes to being another angel's bitch. Do you think that's fair?" He chuckled a bit. Y/n shook her head. "Cmon darling, I'm waiting on that promise."
"I promise I won't try to sell my soul. But that's it."
"I can work with that." Dean looked at her teary eyed face as she looked up at him. "If you keep looking at me like that, my resolve will break." He said huskily.
"What're you talking abo-.."
"I really can't take this anymore." Dean mumbled before smashing his lips against hers. He knew he shouldn't have done that, he blamed the alcohol in his system, he tried to pull away as soon his brain registered what he had done but she snaked her arms around his neck and pulled him closer.
His hands immediately went to her waist and picked her up. He gently laid her on one of the beds and hovered above her.
"Please stop me right now or I won't be able to." He murmured against her neck, as he placed soft kisses against her skin.
"I don't want you to." Y/n pulled him up for another kiss. She tugged at his tshirt which he gladly removed. Their clothes were thrown around haphazardly. The two of them continued to bask in pleasure and euphoria as the night progressed they ended up falling asleep in each others arms.
The sun shone through the window of the motel room. Dean had woken up from his slumber as he felt Y/n stir in her sleep. He looked at her sleeping figure and smile appeared on his face. The ringing of a phone made Y/n open her eyes.
"Good morning, sweetheart." Dean pecked her lips and grabbed his phone from the nightstand.
"Morning." She snuggled closer to him.
"Sammy." He answered the phone. "Yeah, uh huh... yeah no, she's still sleeping.." He waited for Sam to finish speaking. "Alright see ya."
"Remind me again, why're we here?" Y/n yawned sitting up, clutching the sheets to hear chest.
"Here as in my bed or here as in this town." Dean grinned as he pulled her into his chest. Leaving kisses on her neck.
"Dean.."
"Well Sammy thinks this girl killing another girl in a school bathroom is our kinda gig. He called to ask if you wanted to tag along to the mental hospital for interrogation i told him you're asleep."
"I see. Breakfast?" She turned to look at him.
"Sure sweetheart." He caressed her cheek. "Shower together? You know it'd save time." He smirked.
She rolled her eyes and went inside the bathroom but she didn't close the door. Dean understood and immediately joined her. To no one's surprise, they just showered together. Dean might've stolen a kiss here and there but that was it.
After shower the two of them got ready and met up with Sam. Y/n sat in the backseat of the Impala as they waited for Sam. As Sam told them what he found out Y/n spoke,
"I don't know if this is our thing Sammy, high schools can be brutal."
"You sound like Dean." Sam retorted.
"You're calling me dumb Sammy?" Y/n fake gasped.
"Sweetheart I'm offended!" Dean feigned hurt.
"Shut your trap you two. Im telling you she said she felt like she was possessed."
"Fine." Y/n groaned and they decided to check out the school.
Truman High School.
"Didn't you say you two went here for a while?" Y/n said as they walked down the hallway.
"A week." Dean replied.
"Reminiscing huh." Y/n teased nudging Sam with her shoulder and he rolled his eyes.
It did turn out be their kind of thing. First they found it was Sam's friend's spirit that was haunting the halls of the high school. After Salt and burning his bones they found out that Sam's friend's bully was messing around too.
"You just had to surround yourself with shitheads didn't you.!" Y/n exclaimed to Sam as they tried to find the piece of hair that kept Dirk's spirit connected to this world.
"I do keep you around so.." Sam shrugged with his famous bitch face making Dean laugh. 
Dirks spirit appeared at and lunged at Y/n who was standing the gate of the bus. He grabbed her in a chokehold while she tried to elbow him. Sam immediately shot him with his shotgun making him disappear but he appeared again. He grabbed Y/n by the arm and threw her at the nearest tree, knocking her out cold.
While Sam tried to wrestle the spirit Dean found the hair, burning it making the ghost disappear.
"Y/n." The two boys rushed to her side and helped her up.
"Hey hey...sweetheart you hear me?." Dean patted her face.
"Im alright." She wheezed before sitting up. "Son of a bitch." She groaned. "Is he gone?"
"For good." Sam replied.
Tags:
@spnfamily-j2 @galway-girlatwork @queensilber
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ribread03 · 1 year ago
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Are We Still Friends? C.S.
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AN: "took" [asked to use] this request from @6ix9inewiturmom but turned into a Chris fic because I feel like I have no Chris stuff so yeah. I tagged her version at the end so go read it after you do this one! Also this took me like months to write bc I had no motivation so yeah.
Content: use of y/n, smut, fluff, sub chris [kinda], unprotected [don't be silly wrap your willy], pet names, riding
Getting ready for bed in Chris's room because you decided that you wanted to spend the night with the triplets and Chris asked you to stay the night with him, which you had no problem with since you've had a crush on Chris for a little while now.
The TV is playing some cartoon in the background as you step of the bathroom in you sleep clothes. Plopping down on the bed next to Chris. He doesn't look up from his phone which is odd. You nudge Chris on the shoulder and he just groans. "Chris what's wrong with you tonight, I feel like we haven't talked at all." You've felt like this the whole day, he's been acting all shy and not talking which is not normal for him.
"Nothing y/n" He mumbles out. Not bothering to look up from his phone to answer you. You just roll your eyes and decide to just go on your phone.
About 20 minutes into your scrolling on tiktok you feel eyes on the back of your head. Sitting up from how you were laying on your side. Looking at Chris you meet his eyes, his face instantly turning a deep shade of pink.
"Chris?" You question. Sitting up more you turn to face him. Slightly giggling at the fact Chris was staring at you.
"y/n?" He questions back in the same tone as if he wasn't just staring right at you.
"I felt you looking at me Chris..." You say a slight blush coming over your face now. "Do you just really like the back of my head or.."
"I was just..." He trails off as he thinks. "I was just zoned out for a sec that's all, Sorry." He says softly. You know Chris is lying, he's a very bad lair and always plays with his hair more when he does.
"mhm, okay Chris." You tell him and scoot closer to him. "Your a bad lair you know." You whisper into his ear. You then go to roll back over when Chris speaks up again.
"Okay fine, I was staring at you..." Chris whispered.
You heard him but wanted to tease him a bit. Sitting up some more and turning to him. "What was that?"
"I was staring at you, okay?" He finally admits. Clearly flustered
Trying to hide your blush-your crush was looking at you because he wanted to- it wasn't working well. "That's what I thought" You spoke seductively and moving closer to him.
"I-" Chris starts but you cut him off before he can even start.
You place you hand on his arm, "its okay Chris I don't mind." You say with a slight giggle. "I stare at the back of your head sometimes to." You shamelessly admit to him.
"Really?" He ask, surprised that you stare at him to.
'Mhm' You hum back, now moving your hand up and down his arm.
"Oh" Hes still flushed from you catching him and is at a lost for words. "Well I guess I should tell you something then." He starts but trails off.
"Go on." You edge him on wanting to know what he wants to tell you.
"Well, what I want to tell you is that I've had a massive crush on you for a few years now..." He says avoiding eye contact with you, looking everywhere but you honstly.
"Oh" you hiccup out. "I should tell you that I like you to then." You say with a shrug of your shoulders acting as if its something everyone already knew.
"Huh?" Chris lets out a quiet squeak at the end of his word.
"Yup" You say with a straight face, turning a slight shade of pink now.
"I don't get it... You, y/n, like me?" He says pointing back and forth between you and him.
Shaking you head you lean in and kiss Chris. He's shocked at first but kisses you back as soon as he realizes what is happening. You pull back slightly "That help any?" You ask cheekily, a smirk painting you face.
"Yea" He whispers against your lips, going back in for another kiss. Chris' lips are soft on yours. His hands going to your waist pulling you onto his lap, never breaking the kiss. Your hands trail to the nape of his neck, lightly playing with the hair there.
"Chris?" You mumble into his lips.
Chis humming in response pulling away from you lips, now leaving sloppy wet kisses along your neck.
"I need you chris" You whisper tilting your head back so more of your neck is exposed.
"I need you to y/n" Chris pulls back from your neck and looks you in the eyes. "Are you sure you want this? like for real sure, once we do this there's no going back to before." Him asking if you are really sure turns you on even more.
"Yes Chris, I don't want things to go back." You say now kissing down his neck making sure to leave love bites. You slowly start to grind down on Chris, soft whimpers leaving his lips.
"Ke-keep doing that" Chris moans out.
"What do I get if I keep going?" You ask him, not wanting anything in return-your happy to be doing this- you still ask him just to tease a little. Chris answers with little whimpers and moans, you stop when words dont come out of his mouth. "I asked you a question pretty boy." You say bringing your hand up to his face, rubbing your thumb across his cheek.
"I- please y/n" Chris pleads griping your hips moving them himself, you grab his hands and take them off of your hips so he cant move them. "Anything, anything you want y/n" With his word you continue your movements, pressing down a little harder.
"Fuck" You moan out in-between kissing his neck. Your hands toy with the bottom of his shirt, pulling it up over his head. Your taking off your shirt almost immediately after his. You feel Chris' eyes on your exposed tits. "Like what you see?" You ask.
Chris shakes his head yes. You grab his hands you bring them up to your nipples, letting your head fall back when he plays with one. Your hands fall down to the waist band of his pants. "Can I?" Chris hums a response nodding his head slightly leaving wet kisses all over your chest.
Pulling his pants and boxers off his erection springs free. You let yourself stare for a minute. "Like what you see mama?" Chris uses your words against you. 'mhm' you hum back, letting your hands travel down to play with his tip.
Chris is now a whimpering mess under you, bucking his hips up when you start to move your hand up and down his shaft. Sliding your shorts and panties down you go back up to his face to kiss his lips, resting your burning heat right above where you both need it the most.
"I don't have a condom" Chris tells you in-between kisses.
"Its okay" You tell him. Aligning his tip with your entrance you slowly lower yourself onto him. Wincing at the stretch, biting your lip to detract yourself. Once you bottom out on him you sit there getting used to his size. Once your ready you start to move up and down on him.
"S-shit, so t-tight" Chris keeps praising you, as you bring both of you to your climaxes.
“Fuck- I’m close” you moan out as you continue to bounce up and down on him. His hands continue to play with your nipples, only making you move faster on him.
“Me to mama, please let me cum.” He’s begging you, his words push you right over the edge making you cum on his cock.
“Inside me” You pant out, still bouncing on him riding out your own high. Soon after Chris reaches his orgasm.
“Fuck” He breathes out, overwhelmed with the feelings going on in his head right now.
You slowly slide off of him, whimpering at the empty feeling. “That. Was. Amazing” Your still catching your breath as you complement Chris, falling to his side.
“You’re amazing” Chis shoots back at you, making you blush. “Blushing now are we” He lets out a slight chuckle.
“Are we still friends?” You asking this question throws Chris off guard, causing him so sit up on his elbows.
“I don’t think we can go back to just being friends after that” He says patting your hair down, laying a soft kiss on it.
“I don’t want to” You whisper softly, sitting up to face him. His hand finds its way to your cheek, his thumb rubbing your face.
“Good because me neither” He pulls you into a kiss, soft and slow, showing you that he means what he just said.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AN: hey guys, I wrote the end of this like 3 months after I started it so if it kinda changes styles that’s probably why, but I’m going to link the Matt version right here! So go read Gabs, she did so good with it! OKAY BYE LOVE YOU!!
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tanoraqui · 1 year ago
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Dungeon Meshi Liveblog: Of Ghosts & Griffins
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What do they worship? The Winged Lion, whom they mistake for a god?
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It's so interesting how Izutsumi's cat is dominant in this place. I don't understand enough about soul magic or the spell that maintains this to know why. It FEELS right - this is a place for monsters, and that's the part of her that's a monster? But I bet there's worldbuilding that explains it...
WAIT, OR: that couple pages I reblogged with hte werewolf clearly implied that Izursumi isn't a human with a cat spirit put in her, she's a cat with a human spirit put in her. So maybe whatever enchantments shield and maintain the Golden Country bring the cat spirit to the fore as part of their preservative properties, doing their best to remove this curse upon the poor cat? Izutsumi doesn't change shape, just mind, because the souls are so mixed and/or the human soul is so much stronger than hte cat.
Who the fuck took a human soul and put it in a cat. Why would you do that I wonder if we'll ever know.
(The question of the comic is thus, of course: did Falin's soul get put inside a dragon's, in which case she'll be stuck with a dragonoid body at best, or did the dragon's get put inside Falin's, in which she should be able to shift back and forth at will once the Mage isn't forcibly holding the dragon's soul dominant?)
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This is the most hobbitly we've seen Chilchuck. I keep expecting him to start talking about how his old gaffer used to drink down at the pub.
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shadkjsh Chilchuck get your mind out of the gutter!
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These would unironically do numbers at the right Met Gala. I unironically really like the middle, floral one. And specificially the crossed-antlers brassiere on the third.
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They're dead! They're under a spell (a curse) of immortality so they can't change and they can't leave and nobody knows they exist and they can't make an impression on the world and nobody even really knows they did exist, not as individuals beyond a vague collective legend; and most of all they don't hunger, they don't want for anything in their bucolic life (except freedom or death) and they don't hunger for food, they don't eat and even if they do eat it they can't enjoy it, because they're immortal but in every single way that matters they are d e a d !
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Alright my current theory is: this kingdom always venerated a winged lion deity, for whatever reason. Myths happen. Then one day, a demon slipped in from wherever demons slip in and disguised itself as the winged lion in order to be easily trusted by the populace. It started offering the fulfillment of desires in exchange for the consumption of other desires.
It tricked the Mage somehow, so that by their powers combined they turned the populace of this city into a feeding pen for the demon - safe and happy forever! being slowly drained of all their desires.
But as the people's desires started to run truly dry, until they were functionally dead, the demon grew hungry - and maybe greedy. So it sent the villagers this "prophetic dream" about one who would save them, motivating Delgal to get to the surface - probably with the demon's help, covert so the Mage wouldn't know; still pretending to be a god if Delgal himself knew. It let the dungeon be opened, drawing all sort of greedy and desperate people down into its feasting range.
...whatever trick/bargain it made with hte Mage, it's probably going to try to do much the same with Marcille, with her terror of loss.
:D
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P.S. I love how Yaad keeps calling him "Sir Laios" like he's a knight, instead of just some guy with good intentions who thinks monsters are neat. Also, Chilchuck literally just shaking his head at Laios.
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Needless to say, the contrast between Laios's blind panic at being told he's a prophecied hero and king and Kabru's "If I had the ability to take over this dungeon and kingdom, I'd fix absolutely everything and no one would have any problems ever again" is hilarious and wonderful.
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Laios basically just told that orc chieftain that he'd think about what he'd do as king, right? ...Well, I guess it's time for him to think about it.
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THEIR HANDS ARE COLD BECAUSE THEY ARE D E A D.
Btw in a just world, Yaad would be a woman. Princess in a Tower vibes off the charts. Thank you for coming to my ted talk.
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I'M FINALLY PAST WHERE I GOT IN THE SHOW!!
I see this translation is calling the Mad Mage "Sissel." Just as its decision to call her the "lunatic magician", I deem this to be a stupid-ass decision and have elected to ignore it in favor of "Thistle", which is a much better name for a weird elf orphan turned mad mage.
Ah, damn, they corrected to he/him pronouns. So much for women's wrongs... I STAND BY it making perfect sense in-universe for our protagonists to get it wrong from their first, confusing meeting, though!
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Takin' a moment to appreciate Thistle's fucked up pupils, which I'm given to understand indicate the demon's influence. I'm having so much fun! Are you having fun? I'm having fun.
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...does the famous dwarvish sense of direction derive in part from secret dwarvish trail markers that they put in all dungeons and mines and never tell other species about? That's great. That's so good. They clearly do ALSO have sensitive inner ears, and secret cultural practices.
Btw I adore every time someone calls Chilchuck "Chil." NICKNAMES ARE A SIGN OF LOVE.
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SEEING SENSHI IN DISTRESS MAKES ME IN DISTRESS, AND THEN YOU DROP HIM LIKE THE FOOTBALL ON A CHAPTER CLIFFHANGER?! JAIL! JAIL FOR AUTHOR! JAIL FOR 1000 YEARS!!!
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This map is 10/10 desired detail. I want to know the difference between dwarf-style, gnome-style, compound and I bet elf-style dungeons so bad.
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Marcille just cut off one of her braids for Senshi! She didn't hesitate at all! Her hair!!!
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And they're risking basically all their food on this! (Man I love how all life, including revivification and creating familiars, literally requires heavy caloric input. I love love love how this comic starts with the simple premise "food is essential to life" and says it over and over in infinite ways.)
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This is just very cool art to represent what's happening. I don't like looking at it, it makes my eye hurt.
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This visual is just so good.
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Brotp: In-Laws on a Mission
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unironically this panel fucks so hard. I need to name something after this. I also need to watch this episode just for the intense energy of this whole sequence.
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(I Love how they're just squeezing and re-shaping these things like playdoh. Good familiars best friends just to tolerate this shit.)
Btw I also really like that, while Marcille has started teaching Laios some simple healing spells, that's kept clearly distinct from this sort of advanced magic. Multiclassing takes levels just like the rest!
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TWO-SHOT KO ON A GRIFFIN! Have I mentioned how fun it is that these guys are fucking good at their jobs? We love a little competence porn on the side.
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CHILCHUCK WAS THE FIRST TO START TALKING ABOUT HIS PAST! Yes, of course, he had to be. He's the one who's most aggressively closed-off about it, as opposed to passively closed off like the rest. Mulitple good panels here fo Chilchuck being the emotionally intelligent one, too.
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oh my god Senshi's story.
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I'm so glad she keeps putting them in full-body animal suits.
(And I feel Hiromu Arakawa's cowsona in the Chili's tonight...)
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P.S. OH, LAST MINUTE EDITION as I open the next chapter: They all changed species before they stepped in hte circle of change-your-species mushrooms!! Oh man I can't wait to see a) shenanigans and b) how this gets woven into the ongoing subplot of interspecies conflict, and any other greater themes. Fuck me uuupp Ryoko Kui! (...tomorrow, bc I have to go to bed now :( )
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mjbarrosart · 6 months ago
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My Dragon Prince Boards season 7, episode 705, part 1
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It's time to talk about my boards for episode 705 of the last season of The Dragon Prince. I did a lot of stuff in this episode, so instead of going in order, I'll divide my work differently for this one, we will talk by group of sequences and not in order of appearance.
Let's start with the sunfire elf side of the plot. As a lot of you know, most of my work in this show was related to the Sunfire elves, and to be honest Janai and Amaya are two of my favorite characters of the show, so every chance to work with them is always a bless.
I did all the scenes of Karim talking with Amaya in this episode. It is hard to explain how I feel about Karim, he is such an idiot, but I am also kinda fond of him because I spent so many hours working on him thinking about his mannerism and motivations. I am fond of him, but I also hate him, hahahaha.
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There is not a lot to say about this sequences, they are pretty straight forward. While I can understand why Karim hates humans so much, that doesn't mean he is right about it, and this hate is starting to feel like pettiness, and well fits him, he is a really petty man.
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Let! Green! Say! Ass! hahahaha. Its always funny to board this kind of little jokes. I love Green and Amaya dynamics, they are such good friends, and I love how Green is always making sure that Amaya's bluntness is not coming out as "rude". But sometimes I feel he should just translate directly what Amaya is saying, because I don't think Karim deserves special considerations, haha.
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That little speech Karim does about how he and Amaya are not the same was interesting to board for me. I wanted him to feel aggressive and menacing, even if his hands were tied. Like he was trying to intimidate Amaya, but she will not bend, she can see thru his BS. I wanted him to trespass into Amaya's personal space, portrait him as the bully he is. He says that his faith comes from knowledge, while the truth is that he leads using fear. Such a pathetic little man.
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Another instance where is wish the rigs where able to translate between the expressions from the boards. I wanted him to spit his words trough his teeth when he says "humans are vermin, a plague", like his mouth is full of poison and hate.
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But the Amaya, who is mostly motivated by making sure that Janai doesn't regrets the decision of killing her brother, does the right thing and reminds him of the fact that Miyana is pregnant, that there is a future worth to live for. Karim shows some doubts, so Amaya leaves and Miyana enters the stage.
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I feel kinda bad for Miyana. I mean she deserves the punishment she got, at the end of the day she betrayed her people. But I feel bad for her, because I think that she honestly loves Karim. Imagine loving such a foolish man. And Karim can not learn a lesson, he keeps being an idiot. He is offered a second chance to be with his family, but the only thing he can see in Miyana is that she is carrying "his heir", and Miyana is right of being offended by that. But she wants to believe that he will made the right choice. And maybe for a minute Karim ponders it. I wanted him to loot vulnerable and maybe open in the final shot, so I made him kneel close to Miyana, laying his head on her belly, close to his child. We know how this will end for him, but for a moment there is maybe hope that he will change... no?
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My next scene in this episode is one I am really fond of. Is the one when Terry says that the only person who can stop Claudia is her mom, and Soren is really against that idea.
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First, is always fun to have a moment with Terry. I have really small ones during my work in the show, so this one was a blast. Second, I got to have another emotional Soren moment, and that is always nice, because Sores in my boy.
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The back and forth of this conversation is pretty straight forward too. What was important for me was what will be the moment that will make Soren change his mind, and support the idea. So I decided to use Corvus for this.
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Soren is struggling with the idea of bringing her mother back, even if that means they will have a real shot making Claudia stop. Corvus see his pain, and touch his shoulder. We talked before on how touching is a love language between this two, they don't need tons of words. Corvus is saying "I know that it's hard, but I am here with you". On my boards I had him giving Soren a little nod, they removed that for the final shot, and I think is ok. The nod is not necessary, Soren understand what Corvus means. With his support Soren can do it.
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So he gathers strength and gives the drawing to Ezran. I like that in the animation stage they kept Corvus hand all the time on his shoulder. For Soren the idea of facing his mom is one full of pain and conflicted feelings, but he doesn't need to face it alone, he has Corvus at his side (as a partner, friend, soulmate, brother, whatever you see them being).
I love them so much...
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The second part of this post is about the last sequence I did for this episode, it is a small one, but one that you could say... brings a "surprise"!
I will posted right away, so stay tuned!
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svtsilena · 5 months ago
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# 𓈒﹫ MAKNAE LINE RELATIONSHIPS! ★ꜝ
࣪ ⋆ ❪ 97 - 99 ❫ ࣪ ⋆
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✷ 𓈒 . . ﹫ SHIP NAME! dokyeom & silena ╱ jikyeom
✷ 𓈒 . . ﹫ POPULARITY! 78%
✷ 𓈒 . . ﹫ RELATIONSHIP DESCRIPTION! silena’s sunshine, baby, and happy place.
she loves dokyeom so much it hurts her heart. she calls her dk her baby, even though he is older. she loves his energy and how he can always have a smile on his face.
it’s always great energy with them. if you ever see them together, they’re always laughing or having a good time. silena and dokyeom are each other’s supporters. they would always cheer each other on it’s so cute.
dokyeom’s favorite part of seventeen is silena. he sees her as his little sister that needs to be protected from bad behavior. he never wants to see her upset because he believes she should be treated well. dk could never fail to put a smile on her face.
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✷ 𓈒 . . ﹫ SHIP NAME! mingyu & silena ╱ minlena
✷ 𓈒 . . ﹫ POPULARITY! 94%
✷ 𓈒 . . ﹫ RELATIONSHIP DESCRIPTION! my favorite roommates, silena do not like himmmm (jokes)!
she loves teasing mingyu a lot in a sibling way. she cannot go one day without saying a joke about him or just teasing him about something he did. but sil is the only one who can do that, no one else can say anything bad about him. but sometimes when mingyu say something back, she kinda be stunned, which makes them go back and forth.
and don’t put them on a team together! they’re really smart and when they put their brains together, mingyu and silena are unstoppable. the members hate when they team up on them because they’re supposed to team up on each other😭. and they’re really competitive, so it’s a downfall for others when they’re not competing against each other.
but mingyu is so protective over her, it embarrasses silena. especially because their roommates ( + wonwoo ), he would nag about where she’s going or she’s staying out for too long. but in a loving way though!!
overall, they’re everyone’s favorite rivals and loves their dynamic the most.
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✷ 𓈒 . . ﹫ SHIP NAME! minghao & silena ╱ jihao
✷ 𓈒 . . ﹫ POPULARITY! 85%
✷ 𓈒 . . ﹫ RELATIONSHIP DESCRIPTION! the only person who can keep sil sane.
silena describes minghao as a map in her life. if she loses it, she would be lost in life. when he first joined, she was iffy about becoming close to him. but when she learned they share the same language, she became really attached to him. and besides jun, minghao was really appreciative that they knew the same language because he was still new in a foreign country. she was his teacher for learning korean. and he is the only person who calls her jian.
he might be play the annoying brother role, but silena is minghao’s number person in seventeen. he think she’s like a light at the end of the tunnel. and it’s nothing he wouldn’t do for her and he keeps her motivated. they like to go on late night walks with each other, especially after a concert or schedule. when he sees she’s frustrated, he immediately finds a way to calm her down. silena is really fond of him, and wouldn’t change anything about their relationship.
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✷ 𓈒 . . ﹫ SHIP NAME! seungkwan & silena ╱ silboo
✷ 𓈒 . . ﹫ POPULARITY! 70%
✷ 𓈒 . . ﹫ RELATIONSHIP DESCRIPTION! part of silena’s babies, next to dk.
when i tell you she babies the hell out of him, it’s insane. i guess she always wanted to take care of him since pre debut. she always make sure he eats well, have enough sleep for schedules, and make sure he’s not always down on himself. seungkwan doesn’t know the reason why she does what she does, but he enjoys every moment of it.
but while she takes care of him, she loves gossiping with him. when she needs to talk about certain people or what happened, he’s one of the first she goes to. and seungkwan is a great listener, so he’s making sure he’s hearing her out and making little side comments.
they love each other so much and if seungkwan needs someone, silena would be there.
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✷ 𓈒 . . ﹫ SHIP NAME! vernon & silena ╱ versil or jaesol
✷ 𓈒 . . ﹫ POPULARITY! 90%
✷ 𓈒 . . ﹫ RELATIONSHIP DESCRIPTION! vernon is literally her bff.
i feel like they’re the same person, it’s just that vernon is more calm in a sense. silena could be calm, but not vernon calm. they usually share playlists with each other or just have a conjoined playlist which they add their song recommendations for each other. and they love having movie marathons!! it’s silena recommending a movie and vernon going along with it. or it’s him texting saying they should go see this movie.
and she loves vernon’s jokes (sometimes). she sometimes teaches him jokes she be seeing on twitter. and she loves sending him tweets and tiktoks about him. if silena sees something funny about vernon, she automatically sends to him even if they’re sitting right next to each other.
in their own way, their one of the best comedic duos in seventeen and fans love seeing them together.
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✷ 𓈒 . . ﹫ SHIP NAME! dino & silena ╱ jino or chanjae
✷ 𓈒 . . ﹫ POPULARITY! 97%
✷ 𓈒 . . ﹫ RELATIONSHIP DESCRIPTION! when i say they’re soulmates, nobody is competing with them for best duo.
chan and sil loves each other down! they would go to war for each other. that war being going against the members. they grew up together and doesn’t regret their decisions of becoming best friends. when i tell you they did everything together, they did everything. they went to the same school, graduated together, had their first drink together, and many more.
silena believes dino saved her life and she cannot imagine living without him. he is her person, her other half, and her family. everyone knows if something happened to him, sil would be the first person to do something about it. and chan loves jaein. he believes they were destined to meet. he never connected with a person like he did with sil. she was his first friend when he joined pledis because she was excited that she finally had a same aged friend.
fans love seeing them together. silena’s lockscreen is literally a selfie of her and dino from pre debut.
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DES SPEAKS !
theme layout ib svt-rosalie
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paarthursass · 6 months ago
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Of course everyone is entitled to their own opinions, stories will click differently with people depending on their experiences and preferences, etc etc.
However at this point I am going to be INCREDIBLY skeptical of anyone who tries to genuinely say that Nocturne is worse than the original Castlevania series.
As someone who deeply enjoyed the original Castlevania show, it was flawed. Season 2, though it had fantastic moments, was paced terribly. The show kept going back and forth with "Dracula's generals are plotting and arguing again" and "Trevor, Sypha, and Alucard are still in the library researching" for episodes on end. It ended on a high note, but god was the middle portion of that season rough.
Season 1 of Nocturne also had its pacing issues, but season 2 was so much tighter in comparison. While there were some lulls in certain plots, there was always something else to keep up the energy. While Annette, Richter, and Alucard were in transit, we were getting Drolta backstory and Maria was having her patricide moment. There was always something to keep the tension and momentum going.
I also think the relationship development in Nocturne is miles better than it was in Castlevania. I adore Trevor and Sypha, I do, but the show put very little effort into actually showing the development of their relationship. They bantered in seasons 1 and 2, and then season 3 we timeskipped ahead to when they were already in a relationship. I was fine with this, but I do wish the show had given them more development so we could see how that relationship came about. By contrast, the development of Annette and Richter was so good this season. Richter's unconditional support and unwavering in faith in Annette was incredible, and seeing him stumble over himself and be an absolute goober around her was endearing and cute.
And speaking of Annette, the development she, Maria, Drolta, Tera, and Erzsebet got was phenomenal this season. What's more, the narrative absolutely revolved around all of them. And while I adore Sypha and Carmilla and Greta, I will also be the first to admit that the original Castlevania show struggled when it came to the arcs for its female characters. Sypha was well-rounded and fleshed out as a person, but the show was never, really, about her. The big character arcs were saved for Trevor and Alucard, Sypha herself wasn't ever truly given the same narrative weight as them in spite of being part of that core trio. Carmilla also took a severe backseat after season 2, with the show never really going into any sort of depth to her motivations other than "evil girlboss." We get glimpses into her backstory, but no further depth is truly given. Compare this to what we were given with Drolta this season, which was incredibly fascinating. The show was able to make her a deliciously evil villain while giving her a sympathetic enough backstory that, while not excusing her, gave some fascinating insight into how she became who she is now.
None of this is to retroactively call the original Castlevania series bad of course; I still love it dearly and rewatch it frequently. However it did have its weak points, weak points that Nocturne has massively improved upon. As someone who went into this season with tempered expectations (based on previous seasons of Castlevania) I was absolutely blown away by the writing this season.
You are free to dislike characters, to prefer who they were in the games, or to prefer the cast of the original show. But at this point if anyone insists that Castlevania: Nocturne's writing is bad, I do have to wonder if they've actually been watching it.
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khvlani · 10 months ago
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alex cabot as a sapphic in law school
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when alex was in law school, she started to feel butterflies when talking about or with women which confused her. it took her quite some time to realize that having feelings for women can be normal.
on her third year of law school, she meets a freshman through a buddy-buddy system. she is tasked to try to help and guide her as a new student. alex does as told and ends up spending a lot of time working with this girl. overtime, she’s grown attached to her. alex would often sacrifice her alone time just to spend time studying with the freshman.
she loved spending time with the new girl. not only did alex help her but the other girl seemed to have helped the blonde as well, especially with her insomnia and anxiety. alex found comfort in her. during the new girl’s work hours (she’s doing part time to provide for herself as well), alex would often visit and spend hours reading and studying in the cafe. though, most of the time, she was there to admire the new girl.
for alex, she was a breath of fresh air. she was beautiful, smart, and kind. she could be a bit aggressive and clumsy but alex found these traits interesting and enjoyable. she was passionate about law, and she always had the goal of helping people and alex loved that about her. alex loved the idea that smiling and laughing felt so easy and so simple when she was with the girl.
alex understood that she was falling for the new girl.
overtime, the blonde has come up with ways to discreetly express her love for the other woman. when they study late nights, she would order the other woman’s favorite food to ease her stress. during a big test or an exam, alex would stick little notes filled with motivational sentences in between pages of her book which made the other woman happy.
alex has thought of confessing her feelings for the other woman but she was scared to lose the person she has grown attached to. so she kept on with expressing her love in small simple ways. she learned to repress her feelings for the other girl who overtime started to mirror the things alex did for her.
as time passed on, alex had thought the girl felt the same, considering how at this point, not only do they share gifts, and other things, but they would flirt with each other back and forth. constantly smiling and being heart eyes for each other. this gave alex hope.
alex walked around the campus one day, optimistic, hopeful to see the other woman, and maybe this time, confess her feelings. she felt a smile creep up her face as she sees the other girl with a big smile on her face. maybe this was the right time. the other girl was excited to see alex, rushing towards her to give her a hug.
“alex you will never believe what happened today!” alex was smiling at the thought that the girl she had a crush on, had the biggest smile on her face too. she loved seeing her happy. “what?” she asked, matching her tone.
“my boyfriend, charlie, he proposed to me!” the redhead revealed showing her hand with the ring on it.
alex felt her world fall apart. she could’ve sworn the redhead was single. the thought of a boyfriend, now fiance, never came up in the months they’ve spent time together.
“that’s amazing, case! i’m so happy for you!”
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a-bottle-of-tyelenol · 2 months ago
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little mark and cg nolan headcanons !!
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— requested by anon —
— cw mentions of abuse, apologetic nolan, and some vague spoilers for s3 —
✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
🎈 - nolan would probably find out about mark’s regression super late and it wouldnt be because anyone told him. it would’ve been something he learned because mark had a meltdown and regressed while debbie was away, making nolan the only one around. he doesn’t know what’s happening, obviously, but mark is crying and he looks so, so scared. when he was little, mark found comfort in his father, knowing that he’d always protect him. now, that isn’t really the case and it takes nolan over an hour to coax him out of the corner mark stuffed himself in.
💥 - nolan, despite his actions, does love mark and is very well meaning when he returns to earth. early on, however, he just couldn’t wrap his head around mark’s regression. it was yet another human thing that made them weak, that he simply could not understand. but, for him, his children grow up so quickly. he blinked and mark was a man, ready to set off on his own. sitting with mark, quietly playing with him while he’s regressed, feels like it’s slowing down time a little. realizing this is what really proved to himself that he’s changed and it only served to motivate him more to reconnect with his son.
🎈 - mark is actually really scared of his father when regressed. he’s scared of most men, really, besides william and cecil (on good days). but being the subject of his trauma and the reason why mark regresses, nolan is often the focal point of his nightmares and even just seeing him on a day where mark is feeling slightly vulnerable will cause him to involuntarily regress. it takes so long for him to even be willing to stand in the same room as nolan without sobbing to debbie. every single time, nolan sat on the floor and waited— just waited. he never expected mark to forgive him. he didn’t even expect the planet to accept him back (they haven’t, really, but he’ll take his wins where he can get them). so he just sits there and tries to make himself as open as a viltrumite possibly could.
💥 - mark is almost a carbon copy of his child self when he regresses and it fills both of his parents with such nostalgia. he’s excitable, he rambles non-stop about comic books and movies, and he loves sharing things with his mother. he gives her little gifts, tells her all about the trip he goes on with william and amber, and makes sure she’s involved in his bubble of childhood. since nolan returned, this is still true but it’s altered. he still ends up helping debbie more, even though he knows little boys don’t belong in the kitchen (he’s accidentally broken too many things using his powers while regressed), but he’ll sometimes offer to help nolan too with whatever home project the man has busied himself with (since he can’t be a hero anymore). mark still tells them both everything, but he’s a lot more reserved around his dad. debbie encourages him a lot and, with nolan genuinely trying, mark slowly lets him in.
🎈 - nolan’s favorite thing to do is watch little mark play with oliver. oliver doesn’t really understand but he loves mark and accepts him as he is, weirdness and all. he also really thrives as an older brother, happy to be able to take care of his family for once. nolan isn’t used to feeling such strong emotions, but nothing brings it out of him more like seeing his boys bickering back and forth over a hot wheelz. this is when mark feels most at ease around nolan too. there’s something that just feels different when mark has his brother with him, and it’s kind of nice being able to sit beside his father and pretend like everything is normal.
💥 - nolan was always mark’s favorite to hug, even as a kid. he’s so big and strong! before his powers, it was just fun to squeeze his dad and have him pretend like mark was stronger than he was, but now he actually is strong enough that only nolan can handle him. it’s the thing that bonds them the most when mark regresses. he loves being held and he loves being picked up— it makes him feel so small and safe. the real proof that their relationship had improved came when mark started to toddle up to his dad, clearly small, and curled next to him— silently asking for cuddles. it became the new norm for them. nolan was the one he went to if he wanted uppies, or really tight hugs to regulate himself, and while debbie was still he go-to for everything else, nolan took this advancement as a badge of pride and did everything he could to be the perfect cuddler.
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kit04kat · 9 months ago
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Ranking the batfamily most to least likely to become a supervillian. (Plus all my ramblings about why I put who where [disclaimer, i have not read the comics due to me not having that kind of money]) I started thinking about this while reading a fanfiction where Dick, Jason and Tim were taken in by villians instead of Batman and it got me thinking. Anyways, let's get to the rankings.
1: Tim Drake. Starting off strong with our resident boy-genius with stalker tendencies. This may shock some of you, but I look at this human disaster and see a plethora of supervillian potential. You take away this man's adult supervision and the world may never be the same. What was happening with the league of assassins? And the fact that he tried to clone his best friend out of grief? Also I feel like we all skimmed over the fake uncle shenanigans too quickly. I once saw someone say something like Tim's moral code is copy-pasted off a house rules sticky note on the fridge and I agree.
2: Jason Todd. Seriously, we all saw this coming. Now, you might ask me, "but Kat, why is Jason at number 2? Didn't Red Hood already do the villian thing?" And to that I say, Ha! I am ranking them on supervillianiousness(???) Jason had his whole revenge plot and crime lord thing in Gotham but after that was done, he kinda settled out a little bit. So no, I don't think Jason has ever been a supervillian, just a villian, and after that he was more like an antihero/vigilante. That being said, I don't think he is incapable of being a supervillian, which is why he is number 2.
3: Stephanie Brown. Ok, I'm gonna be honest, I was really wavering on the order of the people in the middle. Also, I'm not gonna claim to know a whole lot about the adventures Steph has been through. That being said, I feel like she is just a tad bit more unhinged than the rest of the people in the middle, and therefore more likely to go insane. And if she had the proper motivation, she could totally be a badass supervillian. (Kind of reminds me of Jason in that way)
4: Damian Wayne. Alright, here's the thing. A lot of Damian's character development has been about him overcoming his heritage and learning that the things he learned with the league of assassins were bad. That being said, I don't think he will ever leave behind those ideologies as thoroughly as Cass and Bruce did. I think he sees the world in a lot more shades of grey than they ever will, and because of that, I've decided to put him forth on our list.
5: Barbara Gordon. I'm putting Oracle right smack dab in the middle. Not because I couldn't figure out where to put her, but because that's where she belongs. Listen, do I think she would ever become a supervillian? No, not really. However, if for some reason she had to become a supervillian, she'd be able to do it. If she ever turned to the dark side, it would be completely thought out. Calculated. And my girl doesn't do anything half-assed.
6: Duke Thomas. Now, Imma be honest, I don't know a whole lot about Duke, and I didn't really know where the best place to put his would be on this lineup. I put him in 6th cause I don't think he'd turn into a supervillian but he's more likely than the last three. He probably deserves to go further up the list, but oh well.
7: Bruce Wayne. I know some people will probably say he should be further up the list, but here is my reasoning. Batman's whole kinda thing is that he's always toeing the line. He's doesn't kill because he knows he wouldn't be able to stop. He is Darkness, Vengeance, the night, all that stuff. (It's why Batman needs a Robin) If he broke, he'd be broken. I don't think he'd be able to come back from that (I also disagree with myself a bit, cause there's no way his kill count is 0. I mean, he's been beating people up at night instead of therapy for decades) Anyways, that being said, man is stubborn and has been doing this vigilante stuff for a longggg time. I simply don't think he's gonna turn.
8: Dick Grayson. We are getting towards the bottom of the list here, to the people I think are least likely to become a supervillian. Dick has been through so much. With Renegade, Red X, Spiral, whatever was up with Ric, he took up the cowel and became Batman when Bruce was gone (which is something he never wanted to do), he's had so many of his friends die, family die, and that's not even all! He's been through a lot, but he's also the light to batman's dark. He's been through all that and still chooses to be good. There's no way he's ever becoming a supervillian (even if it is a very interesting plot in fanfiction)
9: Cassandra Cain. Last but certainly not least, Cass. I personally think she is the least likely to become a supervillian. She was raised as a weapon and taught to kill, but she has completely overcome that. She won't kill at all, much like Bruce, but she's also more emotionally sound. Her morals are strict, and she doesn't have to fight with herself to keep them. I love her so much, truly one of the best of us.
I'm gonna put Alfred as a honorable mention. He doesn't get to go on the list cause honestly, if he ever became a villian, it's over. He's have the world in his clutches before the week is over. Gotta respect him for having the patience of a saint.
This was so long! Anyways, feel free to add to this or tell me how you would rank them differently!!
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warrioreowynofrohan · 10 months ago
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LOTR Newsletter - September 21
Today's reading is very short, a single brief sentence, but the appendices of LOTR and "The Hunt for the Ring" in Unfinished Tales have more context on what is going on in the wider world.
The appendices tell us that Gandalf is still in Rohan attempting to tame Shadowfax.
The the same time, the Ringwraiths ride north from Isengard to the Shire. Saruman's deception of them is very short-lived, as they learn that that he did not just find out the location of the Shire from Gandalf, as he claimed, but has known it for a very long time.
But first, some context about Saruman's dealings with the Shire. Another interesting part of this section is that it shows that the Bracegirdle's (Lobelia's family; that's her maiden name) and the Sackville-Bagginses are already commercially involved with Saruman. It somewhat evokes a mercantile imperialism, where a foreign power gains local allies and clients because it purchases build of their wealth, and uses that as a foundation for intel and political power. His arrival in the Shire after the War of the Ring thus does not come out of nowhere, but builds on existing ties and existing power - the "ruffians" are available for him to use as a paramilitary force because they had already been being used that way by Lotho, but were always Saruman's people.
Saruman had long taken an interest in the Shire – because Gandalf did, and he was suspicious of him; and because (again in secret imitation of Gandalf) he had taken to the ‘Halflings’ leaf’ and needed supplies, but in pride (having once scoffed at Gandalf’s use of the weed) kept this as secret as he could. Latterly other motives were added. He liked to extend his power, especially into Gandalf’s province, and he found that the money he could provide for the purchase of ‘leaf’ was giving him power, and was corrupting some of the hobbits, especially the Bracegirdles, who owned many plantations, and so also the Sackville-Bagginses. But also he had begun to feel certain that in some way the Shire was connected with the Ring in Gandalf’s mind. Why this strong guard upon it? He therefore began to collect detailed information about the Shire, its chief persons and families, its roads, and other matters. For this he used Hobbits within the Shire, in the pay of the Bracegirdles and the Sackville-Bagginses, but his agents were Men, of Dunlendish origin. When Gandalf had refused to treat with him Saruman had redoubled his efforts. The Rangers were suspicious, but did not actually refuse entry to the servants of Saruman – for Gandalf was not at liberty to warn them, and when he had gone off to Isengard Saruman was still recognized as an ally.
So, Saruman already has agents going back and forth between Rivendell and the Shire. The Ringwraiths overtake one of those agents.
When the Black Riders were far across Enedwaith and drawing near at last to Tharbad, they had what was for then a great stroke of good fortune, but disastrous for Saruman, and deadly perilous for Frodo. Some while ago one of Saruman’s most trusted servants (yet a ruffianly fellow, an outlaw driven from Dunland, where many said that he had Orc-blood) had returned from the borders of the Shire, where he had been negotiating for the purchase of ‘leaf’ and other supplies. Saruman was beginning to store Isengard against war. This man was now on his way back to continue the business, and to arrange for the transport of many goods before autumn failed. [Footnote: The usual way was by the crossing of Tharbad to Dunland (rather than direct to Isengard), whence goods were sent more secretly to Saruman.] He had orders also to get into the Shire if possible and learn if there had been any departures of persons well-known recently. He was well supplied with maps, lists of names, and notes concerning the Shire. This Dunlending was overtaken by several of the Black Riders as they approached the Tharbad crossing. In an extremity of terror he was haled to the Witch-king and questioned. He saved his life by betraying Saruman. The Witch-king thus learned that Saruman knew well all along where the Shire was, and knew much about it, which he could and should have told to Sauron’s servants if he had been a true ally. The Witch-king also obtained much information, including some about the only name that interested him: Baggins.  It was for this reason that Hobbiton was singled out as one of the points for immediate visit and enquiry. The Witch-king had now a clearer understanding of the matter. He had known something of the country long ago, in his wars with the Dúnedain, and especially of the Tyrn Gorthad of Cardolan, now the Barrow-downs, whose evil wights had been sent there by himself. Seeing that his Master suspected some move between the Shire and Rivendell, he saw also that Bree (the position of which he knew) would be an important point, at least for information. [Note from Christopher Tolkien: Since the Black Captain knew so much, it is perhaps strange that the had so little idea of where the Shire, the land of the Halflings, lay; according to the Tale of Years there were already Hobbits settled in Bree at the beginning of the Third Age, when the Witch-king came north to Angmar.] He put therefore the Shadow of Fear on the Dunlending, and sent him to Bree as an agent. He was the squint-eyed southerner at the Inn.
This clarifies a lot of the later events in the first half of The Fellowship of the Ring. The southerner at Bree who is staying with Bill Ferny doesn't have immediately obvious significance in the book. How could he be a spy of Sauron, when Sauron has only just learned the location the Shire and has no presence in northwest Middle-earth? But if he was a spy of Saruman, why would he be helping the Ringwraiths? This passage solves the mystery - and shows how much Tolkien had plotted out even events that are completely left out of the book - by placing him as an agent of Saruman who had been captured and subverted by the Ringwraiths. Which also explains how the Ringwraiths knew to go to Hobbiton in particular, and how they knew where Hobbiton was. And they also learned that Frodo Baggins was moving out of Hobbiton.
If LOTR was a TV show and we were seeing all this happening simultaneous, this would be an intensely suspenseful part of the show, with the Ringwraiths on their way north, knowing where Frodo is, and Frodo still waiting at Bag End for Gandalf and not knowing that there any immediate urgency.
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lavenlady · 2 months ago
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Hello Lady, you can do, Yandere Spark Beat and Yandere Flash Vector in love with a Metal Cardbot female reader in Machina where they kidnapped her and forced her to get married and make her a housewife just like on Earth, the reader remains obedient to the deals they made her in Machina
Here you go! Enjoy!
✣ Obey ✣ | Yan!Sparkbeat + Yan!Flash Vector x Fem!Cardbot!Reader
You weren't aware you have acquired two stalkers on your home planet. You didn't think of yourself as special, you were quite ordinary. At least that's what you thought, untill they decided it was time to take you for themselves. You were doing your usual things, enjoying it as always, but suddenly you felt everything go black.
By the time you woke up, it was already too late. You were confined to their home with no freedom. You tried to escape, you really tried, but it was futile. Each of them had their ways to catch up and find you. You were slowly becoming hopeless, you didn't have anyone to seek help from.
Your mental state was deteriorating rather fast and you soon started following your captors' wishes. You were like a broken doll that didn't know any better. Simply following orders your beloved told you to fulfill. You were just a shadow, which had to be close behind at all times.
This continued even after annihilation of your planet - Machina. Your beautiful home was blaster to pieces that couldn't be put together, just like yourself. Your optics duller than before as you were stuck with your kidnappers, or as they preferred - lovers.
You were told to always stay back, hide yourself in every corner possible, squeeze in a hiding spot noone could find. You camouflaged yourself so good they forgot about you for some time, giving you freedom necessary to follow Jun and Peruru. There were other Cardbots, surely they will protect you from them, though you felt a pang of sadness when leaving your old life behind as well as fear. You never had disobeyed them on this scale before.
It would be an understatement that the team was shocked when they saw you pull up to the Auto Shop. You practically kneeled before the child, saying how good you will be as a sealed Cardbot, you would do everything he asked. This made them question your motives, but you refused to answer them, staring with sad, dull optics that now possessed a small spark of hope.
Jun, seeing nothing wrong with letting you join, sealed you and a new addition came to the team. They rose in numbers again and power thanks to you. The action in turn agitated your two former captors. Flash Vector tried to think of a plan on how to get you back and Sparkbeat was franticly pacing back and forth, gesturing his displease with a rather fast tempo.
You helped them seal next Cardbots and went along for the final fight. You were quite enjoyable to be around, maybe your paranoid behaviour was weird, but overall you were great. But you started crumbling when you saw what happened to your former lovers. They were controlled and so violent. It made you question their morales, why did they let that happen?
You managed to push through your fears and helped defeat them. You felt worry as they finally were reverted to normal. The very first thing they saw when they were released from the Metal Breath was you. Sparkbeat wanted to immediately run up to you and hug you, they found you! He was stopped by Flash Vector as he saw you shrink on yourself again, hiding behind the other Cardbots.
This made their core clench, their beloved was afraid of them? Why? They gave you everything you could ask for, except freedom. When it was time for departure, you couldn't bare their gazes as they asked for you to join them. You didn't want to, but at the same time your processor was so messed up, you though you were doing worse without them. Sky Gallop would be with you, so why not give them another chance?
They couldn't let you escape again, so they choose to change some of the thing they did and it brought positive results. You were so depended on them it was flattering. They got to keep you by their side and nothing could change that.
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greenplumbboblover · 6 months ago
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Lyra's Yearly Recap - 2024/2025
I actually forgot I did this quite a few times the last few years, but this year I wanted to look back of what I accomplished from my resolution list.
And then see if In can make some of that true this year! (and what else to add!)
2023/2024 Resolutions:
(See: https://greenplumbboblover.tumblr.com/post/738067930777059328/accomplishments-of-2023)
I'm not answering all of them, but I do want to set some record straight!
Finishing LISISV
Haha... yeah I misjudged that completely lol. I got to a point where I lost complete motivation on... well, everything. I had no motivation for personal projects, CC making (one of the reasons why some of my mods in this year were so riddled with bugs), playing games... hell, even interacting with others. Now you could call that depression, but I wasn't showing those symptoms properly either. I found myself in a weird place where, on the one hand, I felt guilty of that I just couldn't do those stuff that I wanted to do, and that then causing me to feel super overwhelmed... yet telling myself constantly that "adults don't feel overwhelmed on those tiny silly things!". I was pretty mean to myself this year, honestly... But all that sad stuff aside! I have made some personal changes in December that are helping me a lot already, before getting also some mental help for other things. But I'll save you from those details. 😉 --------------- The second thing that didn't help was that I would at some point feel a HUGE disconnect with the characters I had in my head and my actual writing. I would make impulsive thoughts, without realistically navigating how it would work out in the future. I would introduce characters, without really giving it a thought on how I wanted them to come across... how to fully tackle certain cases. So! I spent a majority of that time researching a lot of the ways writers actually attempt those issues and solving those. I was hoping to make a post to help others with that soon, since It's really awesome insight at times! And... then there was the whole posing. But I resolved that with the Pose Add-on IMO already! Chapter 10 however, is actually taking a long time because I do struggle a lot with the fact that I consider it my "old" way of writing, and I REALLY want to move on to my 'new' ideas and style. So the willpower is simply not always there.
LISIV PLANS:
Alright, now that we have all that out of the way, here are some of my plans for this year and the story: Splitting certain stories into sub-stories: My current personal problem I have with the story, is that there are some really cool characters, but with the current format, I can't explore their characters as intensely as I'd like to. I also know that I love to jump back and forth from one story to another.
How that would look like is:
Morgana will have her own "Sub-story"
I am pondering of doing the same for Dustin and Zelda.
We travel 5 years into the future, where I want to do more with Mortimer and Bella. But also the Landgraabs and the Alto's.
I am also thinking of making a separate (short) storyline for Gunther and Lolita. The moment I was making the flashbacks, I really have been wanting to write more about it.
Same as 4, but maybe for some other townies! They will be short, but I think it can be fun! :)
Figuring out what to do with Interests & Hobbies
The infamous mod of being delayed... again :p.
I guess you all are probably exhausted of me hearing "no wait! I will finish it!", and then another mod gets released, and another year passes... and personally I have that same thought.
So I am putting the mod entirely on ice. There might not be a chance that I even finish it ever.
However I do want to add something here:
I will be working much more with Stories be told
I am going to be making more hobby items in return! I have been craving that "small but cool" modding projects a lot the past few years. I just like to be ambitious and unrealistic I guess, lol
However, I will be modding WAY less this year due to other factors.
My 2024/2025 Resolutions:
I think I've mentioned this now a lot of times, but never properly done it...
Wanting to write more. Whether it's for the sims, or even personal!
Wanting to get more into 3D modeling. Mostly for myself, but here and there I could probably release some CC pieces! :)
Keep up with Simblr.cc of course!
Post more of my thoughts on LISISV and Character stuff (@nocturnalazure suggested this a while back, but the more I thought of it, the more fun it sounds!)
Doing more Sims photoshoots!
Either way! May this year be your year! Where issues get resolutions and love is all around you.💖
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