#apparently this man just likes talking about himself

[bloggerspam]

Val is angrily pumping a jack to lift a car up when Jay comes running into the garage.

"Val!" She ignores him, unfastening the wheel with rough, jerky movements.

"Val, listen to me—" Jay starts, laying a hand over her shoulder in a bid for her to turn to face him.

She slaps it off, tossing the punctured wheel away with a grunt and a bang. She takes a deep breath.

"You have some nerve," Val shuts her eyes, "to fuck this up so badly."

"He's not answering my texts." Jay paces back and forth behind her, even without seeing it's apparent in the way the air starts shifting abruptly, how his voice travels to her left and right. "I was in the middle of something, a, a family thing and couldn't really answer with a full explanation."

Val focuses on taking deep, calming breaths. She knows that it was a misunderstanding, she does. It was probably a Bat thing, he was probably knee deep in some kind of fight.

"I basically passed out after," Jay continues, pacing and pacing and pacing, "Didn't really fully understand what I sent, I-I—"

That doesn't mean she will play nice when Danny was hurt by it all night, enough to throw himself through the apartment boxes and set everything up, enough to work through the night on that stupid new bike he'll have to build in the Realms, the way it's turning out.

"I texted to, to explain, but he hasn't replied and—"

"Just," Val cuts in, silencing the man and stopping him in his tracks, "shut up."

"I don't know if it was a Red Hood thing," Val starts, voice low and putting up a hand to stave off what no doubt is some kind of exclamation about her knowing, "But if you weren't of sound mind or, I don't fucking know, were in the middle of a shootout—"

"Ninja assassins," Jay breathes out, "I was, uh, getting chased by ninja assassins.."

She pauses, shakes her head.

"If you were in the middle of getting chased by ninja assassins," She growls out, finally facing her wide-eyed boss, "then why didn't you just wait until after to text him back?"

'I…" Jay's face goes that splotchy red again, "I don't…really like to make Danny wait if I can help it."

There's a long silence.

The garage is actually empty, or she wouldn't have brought up Red Hood at all. The other mechanics went out on lunch, staggering their breaks. Melissa called sick, and there's only a couple cars anyway, light load for a summer day so Val's on her own for another hour.

"You're so fucking stupid, are you fucking kidding me?" Val throws up her hands, groaning as she goes to detach the second tire. The angry clanging echoes through the garage.

"Yeah," Jay slumps, flinching when she tosses the old tire with an irritated yell, "Yeah I deserve that."

"He was up all night, unpacking and working on schematics." Val spits out, hefting two new tires up in each arm to attach to the car and finish her up. "His phone was dead, and Sam and Tucker were forcing him to bed when I left an hour ago."

"Okay," Jay breathes out, slow, relieved. "Alright."

"We just got Anita's Mazda, banged up and in need of some TLC." Val tosses a nut at his head. "Work on that, let Danny sleep for a while before you storm our apartment with whatever sappy shit you think will make up for it."

Jay rubs his head, where the nut had hit him, huffing. But he takes off his jacket, heads towards the locker room to no doubt grab some coveralls, mumbling.

"What was that?" Val starts letting the jack down, ready to test the air in the tires.

"I said," Jay pouts, "That we will be talking about the Hood thing later."

Val rolls her eyes. "You are not fucking subtle."

"Red Huntress says what?" Jay snarks, disappearing through the door.

And you know what? That's fair.

Mechanic!Val AU, but make it gay and sapphic.

ya'll can thank the HH discord for this one. Specifically the menace known as @clockwayswrites (and @impyssadobsessions for the art that inspired the damn thing)

Dead on Main and with some future Val/Steph >)

also @belfry-ghost did a doodle for this AU and everyone should go love on his art. Val's so unf.

===

Val’s pretty sure her new boss Jay is actually a crime lord.

She’s pretty sure he’s The Crime Lord, actually. She’s like, 98% sure she works for Red Hood now, and she’s low key mad about it. She squints at the man now, with his white streak and almost imperceptible green sheen to his eyes. 

The problem is that Val did perceive it. Because she used to date a guy whose baby blue eyes changed ever so slightly in the same way. Thinking about Danny makes her even madder.

To be clear, she’s not mad about Red Hood himself. 

She’s just mad that, of all the mechanic shops in all of Crime Alley, she just had to work for her ex-boyfriend’s third place Hall Pass pick. It also makes her miss her friends way more, and Val is hardly what one would call a well-adjusted woman, so she’s mad about it.

She huffs as she lifts the hood of the second car she’s working on today. Being a mechanic wasn’t really on the docket for Val’s life goals, nor was being in Gotham, but she got a full ticket ride on Wayne Foundation scholarships, and honestly? 

Gotham is Amity Park Lite: Gargoyles and Furries Edition. 

Between a full ride to Gotham U and being stuck at Elmerton Community College? The choice was easy. 

So here she is, working for the resident Crime Lord in his civvies. 

Jay pays good, teaches her what she needs to know, and bonus: he sometimes helps with her English Literature class. He’s flexible on hours, and she’s even got rudimentary insurance. 

All in All?  It could be worse—she could still be working for Vlad, after all. 

It's the little things.

[changbinsboobs]

Can you do Felix as husband next ? If you're not going in order? <3

Sure:)

Husband Series: Felix

OK FIRST OF ALL i love this energy, this is my 3rd Husband reading and for now he's definitely my fav.

He's clingy, possessive & protective.

He's easily hurt, has a very kind approach and expression towards his partner and if they don't match that he can get upset very easily and even begin doubting himself.

He's eager to do well, there's even a certain anxiety i feel in him about pleasing his partner and being a good husband. That seems very important to him.

He also might easily get overwhelmed with "husband-responsibilities" and despite doing his best it not always being...good...man i feel for bad reading about that. But i feel like he might've failed at a thing or two (failed is very strongly said but thats how he would describe it). Small things, like booking an appointment for something or forgetting to pack something important. But those mistake stuck with him apparently and he feels like a failure every once and again, which eventually becomes into self-sabotage where he eventually really begins failing at things much more often.

Overall im seeing the traditional husband role being too much or not really for him, so im seeing a more modern dynamic in the marriage where its either masc and fem is very balanced between the two or even where he takes more on the "fem responsibilities".

He's a very charming husband, keeping the romance and fire very well alive, continuously flirting with his spouse and seducing them. Im getting a very fun & playful energy. Mundane life will be very pleasant.

And while talking about mundane everyday life, i think he'll spent lots of time with his spouse. Im seeing them sharing hobbys and trying new things out together, truly being partners and sharing their lives with each other. Im also seeing keeping their inner children happy and alive, being comfortable with one another and just being their silly little selves🥰 so cute🙌🏻

[candyeager]

𝐁𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐇 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝐕𝐄𝐈𝐋

— gojo satoru x fem!oc

CHAPTER ELEVEN 2.8k words

short synopsis. in which her marriage to Satoru Gojo, the world's most arrogant and untouchable sorcerer becomes both a chain and a cure. warnings. graphic violence, murder, blood mentions, disorder eating, implied sexual threats, suggestive themes. tags. gojo x fem!oc, arranged marriage, angst with happy ending, eventual fluff, heavy pining/yearning, emotional detachment. oc is an empath.

previous chapter / masterlist / next chapter

Satoru

Satoru's eyes lazily scanned the crowd beyond the café window as he leaned back in his chair, sunglasses pushed up on his head. He'd started doing this more often—whenever he was in the city, he found himself instinctively looking for her.

And, like clockwork, he spotted her again. Kurai. She was standing out even more than usual, wearing a short skirt and an oversized tee. She must have ditched whatever her clan had forced her into the moment she slipped away from home. There was no way the elders would have allowed her to wear that, not with their rigid, traditional mindset. It made him smirk a little.

She looked... cute. In a weird way. The skirt was way too short, though, which gave him pause. 

She looked like... what was it?

His thoughts were interrupted when Suguru leaned over, noticing his friend's distraction. "Oi, Satoru. You're spacing out. What's got you so distracted?"

Satoru didn't even bother to look away from the window, maintaining his casual tone. "Nothing."

Shoko glanced at Suguru, then back at Satoru before following his gaze. She raised an eyebrow when she noticed the girl in question—Kurai, surrounded by a group of guys. Shoko's lips twitched into an amused smile. "A girl, huh?"

Suguru leaned over, following their line of sight. His eyes caught Kurai's figure. "Well, well. Didn't think we'd catch you staring at anyone, Satoru."

Satoru clicked his tongue, leaning back in his chair. "It's not what you think."

Shoko, always one for stirring the pot, smirked as she took a sip from her drink. "Sure it's not. But she's cute, though. Kinda like one of those old-school dolls."

Satoru blinked, processing Shoko's words. A doll. That was it. That's what Kurai looked like. She had that blank, expressionless face that made her look almost delicate—like one of those traditional Kokeshi dolls he'd seen before. Her long, straight, raven hair only added to the effect. Pretty, but eerily so.

Suguru leaned back in his seat, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Is that your type now, Satoru? Didn't know you had one."

Satoru crossed his arms, keeping up his usual, laid-back front. "Well, I've got range."

Shoko wasn't about to let up. She grinned, resting her chin on her hand. "Oh? Maybe you're just getting soft. Satoru Gojo, caught staring at a girl? What's the world coming to?"

"Very funny." Satoru's voice was dismissive, though a ghost of a smile played on his lips. He glanced back toward Kurai. "It's nothing like that. Don't get weird about it."

Shoko raised an eyebrow. "Right, sure. You're the picture of disinterest."

Suguru chuckled softly, shaking his head. "You do realize you've got a fiancée, right? What's with the wandering eyes?"

At the mention of his fiancée, Satoru's smile faltered for just a second before he rolled his eyes. "What is it with you and the fiancée talk, Suguru? It's not like we're getting married tomorrow, y'know."

Suguru, always the moral compass, tilted his head with a small, disapproving smile. "Still. Not a great look, man."

Satoru just smirked. "What can I say? I've got other things to focus on."

Suguru raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, like girls in short skirts, apparently."

Shoko let out a bark of laughter, and Satoru rolled his eyes again as he leaned back in his chair, clearly unbothered.

As he glanced one more time at Kurai, who was now walking away from the group of guys, Satoru felt that flicker of curiosity again. He couldn't quite put a finger on why she always caught his attention, but for now, he wasn't going to bother figuring it out. He had plenty of time.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed something unusual—a black crow perched on a distant rooftop, its beady eyes locked onto him watching like silent sentinels.

He immediately knew what that meant. Mei Mei.

The rest of the day passed quickly, and by the time they returned to Jujutsu High, Satoru had already prepared himself for the inevitable encounter. Sure enough, as he walked through the courtyard, he crossed paths with Mei, her silver hair catching the afternoon light.

Satoru, hands in his pockets, approached her with a nonchalant grin. "What's with the crows, Mei-san? You following me?"

Mei smiled coolly, her voice as calm and disinterested as ever. "Orders from the clan elders. Don't take it personally—it's purely business. They're offering quite a generous sum, after all. Hard to say no."

Satoru raised an eyebrow behind his sunglasses, intrigued. "Oh yeah? How much?"

Mei tilted her head, clearly amused by his sudden interest. "Why? Thinking of buying me off?"

Satoru leaned in slightly, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Maybe. How about I double it? There are better people for you to follow."

Mei Mei's smile widened, her eyes sparkling with the allure of profit. "Oh? Now you're starting to sound like the next clan head, Satoru. Go on."

Satoru barely hesitated. "Kurai Sanzu."

A brief flicker of surprise crossed Mei's face before she chuckled. "The girl you're going to marry? Interesting choice."

"Yeah." Satoru sighed, his tone nonchalant as ever. "She keeps running away from home. She's got a talent for getting herself into trouble."

Mei smirk, folding her arms. "Doesn't that remind you of someone?"

Satoru smirked, giving her a sidelong glance. "Yeah, except I'm a genius. She's just... an idiot. She's not even strong enough to take care of herself."

Mei's laughter was soft but genuine. "So, you want me to babysit her when she sneaks off?"

Satoru shrugged, his tone casual but hiding the smallest hint of concern. "Only when she sneaks off. That's it."

Mei tapped her chin thoughtfully, the corner of her lips curving up. "Sounds like a lot of work."

Satoru rolled his eyes, knowing exactly what she was hinting at. "Fine. I'll make it triple."

At that, Mei smiled turned predatory, clearly pleased with the offer. "Deal."

Satoru watched her walk away, already preparing herself to monitor Kurai's reckless escapades. He wasn't entirely sure why he even bothered, but something about Kurai's constant rebellion—her inability to stay out of trouble—nagged at him. Maybe it was because, in some distant, twisted way, he saw a bit of himself in her.

But he'd never admit that.

One year later / Year 2007

Satoru sat on the riverbank, legs stretched out as the water gently lapped against the rocks. The sound should've been calming, but his mind was anything but. The strong breeze pushed his white hair around, but his expression remained blank, lost in thoughts that seemed to stretch beyond the horizon. The Strongest. A title everyone had started throwing at him, but right now, it felt like a cruel joke. If he was the strongest, why couldn't he stop Suguru from leaving?

Why couldn't he do anything when it mattered?

He should've seen it coming. He should've been there. Maybe if he wasn't so wrapped up in his own missions, his own problems, he could've done something. But Suguru's defection had blindsided him, and now, everything felt... wrong. And when the higher-ups had sent him to kill Suguru... he couldn't do it. How could he? That was his best friend. The one person who had understood him in a way no one else could.

He came back to Jujutsu High empty-handed, and Yaga hadn't said anything. No reprimands, no blame. Satoru wasn't sure if that made it worse. 

His thoughts were interrupted by a familiar presence—Mei Mei. He didn't turn to face her, but the slight rustle of her crows and the distinct sound of her steps gave her away.

"Bad time?" Mei Mei's voice cut through his haze, soft but carrying the usual air of detached professionalism.

Satoru's gaze didn't shift from the river. His voice was low, drained of its usual cockiness. "Depends on what you're looking for."

Mei Mei regarded him for a moment before speaking. "It's about Sanzu."

Satoru tensed. That girl. Kurai. He really didn't want to hear about her right now. Not when his mind was a storm of grief and guilt over Suguru. Come to think of it, wasn't it her fault, in a way? Ever since he'd started keeping an eye on Kurai, he'd been distracted—his attention divided. Maybe that's why he hadn't noticed the cracks forming in Suguru. Maybe if he hadn't been so focused on the girl, things could've been different. Maybe Suguru would still be here.

His jaw tightened. The anger simmered beneath the surface, looking for something, someone, to latch onto.

"What is it this time?" His words came out cold, sharper than he intended.

Mei didn't seem fazed. "Another kidnapping attempt. Seems like the rumors about her being your fiancée are spreading. People are getting bold."

Satoru inhaled sharply, the tension in his chest coiling tighter. That again. He clenched his fists, unsure of where to channel the frustration. At Suguru, for leaving? At Kurai, for being a constant source of trouble? At himself, for letting it all slip through his fingers?

"Let her handle it," Satoru muttered, bitterness lacing his tone. "She should learn to deal with things on her own for once."

Mei raised an eyebrow, her voice calm, almost indifferent. "So that's what it comes to? I seem to recall you saying you'd protect her."

Satoru's jaw clenched as the anger surged again, irrational but overwhelming. "She's not worth it anymore."

Mei let out a soft, almost patronizing chuckle. "Is that so?" She tilted her head, watching him carefully. "Funny, I thought you were different. Guess I was wrong. You're just like any other guy. Walking away when things get hard."

Satoru remained silent, but the sting of her words was palpable.

Mei glanced over her shoulder, turning to leave. "You're lucky she's not totally helpless. In all the time I've been keeping tabs on her, one thing's clear... She never waits for a man's rescue."

Satoru watched in silence as Mei's figure receded into the distance, her crows trailing after her like shadows. 

She was right, wasn't she?

He knew the anger he felt towards Kurai was misdirected. She hadn't asked for any of this—hadn't asked to be dragged into the mess of his life, or for the weight of the Gojo name to loom over her. But still, he couldn't stop himself from blaming her. Not entirely. Not when his heart ached with the loss of Suguru, and his mind searched for any excuse to make sense of it all.

He stared out at the water again, feeling more alone than ever. For the first time in a long while, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was failing. Not just Suguru. Not just Kurai. But everyone.

Satoru sprinted through the streets, the city blurring around him as he pushed his body to its limits. He could've teleported—he should've teleported—but something inside him refused to take the easy way out this time. His mind was racing just as fast as his legs, replaying everything from the last few hours. 

Kurai wasn't in the city. Not in any of her usual hiding places, not in the shadows or cracks where she'd sometimes disappear. 'So where the hell is she?' His mind raced, his Six Eyes scanning for any sign of her, but there was nothing but the blur of buildings rushing past him.

His heart pounded in his chest, frustration simmering beneath the surface as his sore legs burned with each step. His mind screamed at him to stop, to be smart, to think, but Satoru wasn't the kind of person to sit still when someone—his someone—was missing. Kurai was out there, and he would tear the world apart to find her if he had to.

"At this point, I'll just search the entire country," he muttered to himself, his voice low, strained. He ran faster, pushing himself beyond what most people would even consider human. The world around him seemed to slow down in contrast, but the urgency in his heart only grew. He'd just returned from a mission, he was exhausted, but it didn't matter. Not now.

He pulled out his phone, trying Mei Mei again. No answer. The line clicked, went dead. Either something was happening, or she was deliberately avoiding him. A part of him thought Mei might be playing her usual games—testing him, perhaps—but this wasn't the time for that. He had no choice but to move forward, his mind flashing back to their earlier conversation.

"You're just like any other guy. Walking away when things get hard."

He had hated how right she was in that moment. He had walked away from Kurai, hadn't he? Pushed her aside, convinced himself she wasn't worth the trouble. 

The thought of losing her—after everything with Suguru—tightened his chest in a way he wasn't used to. Kurai was his fiancée, his responsibility, and even if he hadn't wanted the title, he couldn't deny it now. He had failed to protect Suguru, hadn't seen the signs until it was too late. He wouldn't let the same thing happen to her.

As he neared the Kurai clan estate, his vision sharpened, catching the black sleek car parked outside the gate. He came to an abrupt halt, his breath ragged as he took in the scene.

The car door swung open, and Kurai stepped out, wrapped in a towel. Her long hair, usually neat, hung in disheveled waves around her pale face. There was a slight swelling on her cheek—evidence of a slap, perhaps—but otherwise, she appeared unharmed. A few attendants hurried to her side, quickly ushering her inside the house, ensuring she was safely out of harm's way. 

From his position in the shadows, Satoru exhaled deeply, his chest heaving as he fought to catch his breath. His gaze lingered on her retreating form, a faint, almost imperceptible smirk tugging at his lips.

'Kurai,' he thought, watching as she disappeared into the estate. 'Always causing trouble, huh?'

Years later, the memory remained vivid in his mind, a constant reminder of the chaotic whirlwind she had always brought with her. Now both twenty-five, married, and bound by a promise neither could escape, Satoru found himself staring across the table at her.

It was the first time Satoru had joined her for a meal, though it had been at his insistence. Kurai hadn't protested or argued—she didn't care. She simply carried on, indifferent to his presence, barely acknowledging him. Satoru, on the other hand, silently observed as she ate her meals, as if studying her from a distance, even when he was right there. His own food sat untouched in front of him, forgotten. 

Kurai, as perceptive as ever, didn't miss his gaze. She paused mid-bite, her expression unreadable. 

"Why are you staring at me like that?" she asked, her voice flat, as if she was merely tolerating his presence.

Satoru blinked, shaking his head slightly. "Nothing." He offered no further explanation, no playful quip or teasing remark. Just a single word and silence.

But inside, the words from their last conversation echoed in his mind, playing on a loop like a broken record. 

"If that's the case, shouldn't you be the one protecting me, husband? Not some crows."

He hadn't responded to her then. It had stung—more than he would ever admit—but now, as he sat across from her, the weight of her words bore down on him. She had challenged him, questioned his role in her life, in their twisted relationship. 

'She doesn't know,' he thought, watching her as she resumed eating, completely indifferent to his presence. 'She doesn't understand how protective I've been all these years.'

It wasn't just care, not the way others cared for each other. No, it was something much darker, something selfish. He knew it now, even if he hadn't admitted it to himself before. She was his wife, and that fact alone had planted a seed of possessiveness deep within him, a need to keep her close, to protect her from the world—even when she resisted. Especially when she resisted.

Satoru's fingers curled into a fist under the table, the frustration bubbling beneath his calm exterior. He hated the idea of losing her—not in the way one might fear losing a loved one—but in the way one fears losing something that belongs to them. Kurai wasn't just a person in his life. She was his wife. His responsibility. His.

And if he had learned anything after losing Suguru, after watching his best friend slip through his fingers, it was that he couldn't afford to lose what belonged to him anymore.

'You're mine,' he thought, the words never leaving his lips, yet loud in his mind. 'And I'll protect you, even if you hate me for it. Even if you think you don't need it.'

Kurai glanced up at him briefly, her eyes flicking over his expressionless face, before returning to her meal, dismissing him as if he weren't there. 

But Satoru remained, locked in his thoughts, the tension hanging in the air between them. He wouldn't lose her. Not like he lost Suguru. Not like he lost anyone else.

Because she was his. Nothing more. Nothing less.

< chapter eleven ends >

taglist. @brailsthesmolgurl @osunism @junslay @certainduckanchor @lastsubstance @local-mr-frog @misslovingpearl (comment below if you'd like to be added to the taglist!)

© CANDYEAGER. do not copy, repost, modify, or translate my works in any other platforms.

[the-glorious-evolution-fanart]

It's crazy how cringe Arcane S2 Viktor is. He's a Machine Herald without the "machine". It's just like calling Mordekaiser as the "Iron Revenant", and taking away the "revenant". It makes no sense at all, and destroys the whole character. It's like making Jhin with his face visible, when everything that makes Jhin himself is the anonymity of his face.

Suffice to say, I'm disappointed, and if they choose to make Arcane Viktor as the in-game one with the VGU & Rework, I'll quit playing Viktor. I don't want to play as another corrupt mage like Brand or Xerath. I want to play as a cyborg man from Zaun. Closest we have is Urgot, but even then, he's not a ranged character. Camille? Again, close range character, and from Piltover. And they're not quite the same as Viktor, who is fully set on prosthetics, and helping people, and being a scientist who builds golems.

It's like Viktor will become a completely different character, and I'll continue to prefer his current LoR version as the in-game canon since I love that version of him right now. Welp, guess the only place where we can play as his original version will be LoR. Such a shame.

The whole plotline of "Piltover-Zaun becoming one against Viktor's and Noxus' armies" makes me cringe so hard, you have no idea. Weren't we supposed to have an animation series about Piltover and Zaun? When did it become about "Noxus vs Piltover and Zaun"? But I liked Jayce. He's become Giga Chad, basically. Sure, doesn't fit his S1 character, but which character stayed loyal to their S1 versions? I didn't like S1 too because it didn't set up the base for Viktor becoming the Machine Herald at all (not into robotics, no comment on human emotions, etc.), or for Jayce to be an arrogant guy who's very hard to work with. No, instead we had their "better" versions. It makes me so angry. 😭 I'm not even starting with what kind of abomination they've turned WW into. He's supposed to talk. Not act like an animal %90 of the time and just speak one word the whole season.

Swain crows and Mel allying with LeBlanc was cool, ngl. Doesn't make a lot of sense as to why Swain doesn't move a finger to stop Ambessa and her army whatsoever, but whatever. Also what was the "subtle foreshadowing" they did on the last episode? Geez.

Ambessa fighting scene is literally what happens in every movie: the guys who are shooting all the time suddenly stop and let the main character(s) kill them. What a classic.

Betrayal wasn't expected but didn't surprise me.

Viktor model is just outright cringe. Mask looks ridiculous. Hair looks ridiculous. Cane? A whole another level of ridiculous. Voice not at all Machine Herald's. Human face still visible under Reddit Upvote button, disgusting. Halo of runes(?) behind his head, forced Biblical stuff. Has magical husk slaves like Evelynn in LoR who has the ability to fly and infect, apparently. SUS. He also has gone to the full "people shouldn't have control" mind-set, which I don't appreciate since even the Convergence Comic Viktor at the start was hating the cult, blaming them for twisting his ideology for their own sick beliefs. His third arm just looks like a horrid monster from S.O.M.A. game, but in a really bad way. Also wow, Viktor now apparently has the power to telekinesis.

Wow, apparently Caitlyn is such a powerful and lucky(!) character that she can fight while being stabbed by a dagger. Wow. Not plot-armor at all.

I appreciated how Ambessa's men literally do nothing to help their commander, which should have happened since Noxians use any and all means necessary to win. They used Singed's chemical weapons during the invasion of Ionia. Guess they forgot about their own principle: "Guile" 💀

WW can teleport now?! Wtf. Also impenetrable skin. They're really going for that "Shuriman Ascended WW", huh? Everyone can fly now, apparently.

Wow, galactic god Viktor. So cringe. Old Viktor. Viktor paradox. How worse could it have been?

Aaand, "happy" ending because why not. 💀

Jinx using herself as a bullet? Now that's a first. Was Jinx's death supposed to be sad? Sorry, I was cringing over every other thing wrong with the act that I couldn't find it in myself to feel bad.

What I didn't understand is how did Orinna came to be??? Hello??? Can we get an explanation please??? Because she's not the Orianna we know at all.

NOOO THEY'LL DESTROY NOXUS NEXT!!! NOOOOO 😭😭😭

^^^ it's over.

Orianna got injected with Viktor's and Warwick's blood I guess, so now she has 3 dads!

[tobiasdrake]

Ranma 1/2 01x08 - Darling Charlotte

Charlotte? Wait... Hang on... Isn't that... Is she supposed to be here this early?

Oh, no, it's THIS girl. My mistake.

Okay. Yeah. I completely forgot she even existed. My memory was conflating her with the... with that one.... You know who I'm talking about....

...

*google google*

Akari. I was thinking of Akari. For some reason I thought Akari was the "CHARLOTTE!!!" girl, and I remember Akari is like endgame late introduction. But she's not the Charlotte girl.

Apparently these guys are named Shingo and Kiichi according to their photos.

The stuff in brackets isn't anything interesting. It's just quoting the dialogue they deliver here.

The two Ranma photos are Saotome Ranma, but an interesting note is that the pair have different names. They're both Ranma, yes. Both of them are 早乙女 Saotome. Which, fun fact, means "young maiden responsible for planting rice". Have fun with that, Transfem Ranma headcanon team.

But the girl Ranma is named らんま Ranma in Hiragana while the boy Ranma is named 乱馬 Ranma in Kanji. Ranma's name, incidentally, means "chaos".

When P-chan hears Akane call out to him, the kanji in his eyes flip from 気絶 kizetsu meaning "faint" to 起床 kisho which means "getting out of bed".

Wait, that's who the Charlotte girl is? I remember this guy. This is the ice skater bro who Ranma and Akane have to do a doubles match against, with him and some girl.

I completely forgot that the Charlotte girl was that girl. ...and thought she was Akari instead. Wow, my memory of this series leaves a lot to be desired.

"...they're what now?" ~Junko Enoshima, intrigued.

Look at that happy smile. Azusa really wants to bean him with that table. This is her second time reaching for it.

FACT CHECK. Let's check out the replay. Aaaaaaaaand:

Oh yeah. Without a doubt. Ignore Akane's squealing gal pals and the romantic flowers in the background and just look at that face. Akane is half a second from splitting him crotch to throat with a fucking ice skate.

Ranma's challenge fish cake saved Mikado's life.

You know what's fucking hilarious about this?

1 - It would actually make more sense for Ryoga to be Akane's partner than Ranma. Like Akane, Ryoga is very invested in Akane winning the contest and getting to keep P-chan. He doesn't want P-chan going with Azusa any more than Akane does, while Ranma's kinda rooting for the enemy team.

2 - However, despite having a compelling reason for replacing Ranma in this contest, Ryoga can't actually present that argument. The only reason to let him replace Ranma is because he is P-chan. Without that context, this is a wild-ass out-of-left-field demand for him to suddenly burst out of their bathroom and issue.

3 - But if he did explain that context to Akane... he still wouldn't get to replace Ranma, because the entire purpose of even competing in this match would be instantly voided. P-chan wouldn't be welcome in her room anymore.

So he's just. Fucked. He's just fucked. His tangled web of deceptions has left him powerless to participate in something that really matters to him.

Try not to live your life like Ryoga.

So begins the era of Ranma weaponizing his curse in order to escape the pressures of his own interpretation of masculinity. He turned himself into a girl because men shouldn't be bad at ice skating. I like that Akane's a little bit offended when she finds out why he switched.

Akane: I'm not impressed! I can do that too!

The 100-man spar is a cool demonstration of how talented these two are at ice skating as a martial art. But also, this is just a typical weekday morning for Akane.

In fact, Akane's actually more impressive because this is choreographed as shit. These guys are wearing jerseys with the number of their engagement on them. They attack in sequence so Mikado and Azusa can take down 01 then 02 then 03 then 04 and on and on until they hit 100.

This is a performance, not a brawl. Most generously, it's a training exercise to help them work on specific maneuvers. A very complex and multi-person version of practicing your kata. But it's not a real fight, where Akane's version always is.

YOU PICK THAT UP RIGHT THE FUCK NOW

I mean, the collar is actually adorable and I'm kinda with Azusa on that. It's way better than P-chan's shitty neck-rag that probably smells like three months of unwashed wandering.

BUT THAT THING IS MADE OF STABBING AND THERE'S LIKE A DOZEN OF THEM FOLDED INTO ONE

DO NOT LEAVE THAT LYING ON THE RINK FOR ANYONE TO FALL ON.

The way Ranma reacts to Mikado's advances is... honestly fascinating.

We saw Akane earlier. She was a moment away from breaking this sex pest in half. We talk a lot about Flight or Fight response, and Akane has a well-honed Fight response to sexual harassment. It's. Kind of. Been a thing for her for a very long time, both the harassment and the Fight response.

But an oft-overlooked response is the Freeze response. Both times, when Mikado moves in on Ranma, his response is to Freeze. Freeze is an involuntary stress reaction that temporarily suspends both Fight and Flight.

Once the deed is done and Ranma's able to form conscious thoughts again, then we see Flight.

Until he can reassert his masculinity, and only then does he react with Fight.

Which is itself very interesting. Not just for how it speaks to Ranma's internalization of gender norms; That he reacts with Flight when female and Fight when male. But there's more than just that going on here.

Ranma doesn't just flee from the rink. He flees to the public bathhouse and throws himself into the hot bath. He's not fleeing Mikado. He's not fleeing Akane or the situation.

Being violated in this way makes Ranma flee from femininity. His immediate kneejerk reaction when his brain retains the ability to make conscious decisions is, very emotionally and very powerfully, that he desperately wants to stop being a girl now.

A tragic choice that many women don't get to make.

Not only was Akane the only person on the rink that was able to keep up with the action here - with possible exception of Mikado but explicitly not Azusa - but she was even able to count how many hits Ranma landed.

This fight establishes that Akane and Ranma are actually more formidable than Azusa and Mikado. Like, if this were a street fight, they'd trash these suckers, no problem. Pound for pound, they're tougher.

It's only because they have to compete in Azusa and Mikado's arena that this is going to be difficult. Azusa and Mikado have the home field advantage, in a contest where mobility is intensely challenging and must be mastered and controlled in addition to the fighting.

He says while wearing the fucking collar. XD

This family needs a TV. XD

[crowdedimagines]

All My Friends Say - Bradley Rooster Bradshaw

hi y’all, it’s been a minute!! i was listening to the song all my friends say by luke bryan and got a lil inspired

2.8k of ANGST❤️‍🔥 masterlist

Rooster should’ve left the second she walked through the door. He knew that. His friends knew that. She was the last person he could’ve ever expected to walk into the Hard Deck. Y/n, the one that got away. She walked in with a smile on her face, a tan radiating off of her like she had spent the day at the beach. Her smile is what pulled Rooster in in the first place all those years ago. The thing that was truly pulling his attention this time was the man she walked in with. He didn’t think she would ever date another Navy man after him. In fact, he was pretty sure she swore it.

“Is that?” Coyote doesn’t finish his thought, he knows that Rooster knows who he’s referring to. The whole group all turns away from the pool table they surround to see the familiar face he’s already spotted. Rooster simply nods, lacking any words to form a response. Instead he just gulps down the rest of the beer in his hand.

Y/n looks around the place she once was familiar with. It was a just under a year ago that she was a regular at this bar, mainly due to her boyfriend. Her now ex-boyfriend who’s eyes have remained on her since the second she stepped in the bar. He loved it here, always did. His whole group would frequent the Hard Deck, which meant that Y/n did too. When she said yes to a second date, this is not where she pictured them ending up after dinner.

She should’ve known better than to date a Navy man. Apparently the lesson needed to be learned again.

Rooster turns back to the game of pool he should’ve been focusing on. Trying to focus on anything other than her or all the attention the group is giving them. Phoenix squeals loudly passing off her cue to Bob walking over to meet Y/n at the bar. They were always close while he had been dating Y/n, and Phoenix hasn’t mentioned if they’ve kept in contact.

“Y/n?” She asks, causing her to turn at the name. Rooster watched her eyes light up leaning down to hug Phoenix before he forces himself to look away. The last thing he needs is for her to catch him staring. Hangman happens to love giving Y/n attention, so it doesn’t surprise him when he moves to join them at the bar.

The man who came in on Y/n’s arm orders drinks for the two of them while Rooster tries to ignore the huge hug Hangman is giving her in the corner of his vision. He could hear her laugh over the music which finally gets him to glance over again. Y/n looks over Phoenix’s shoulder taking in the rest of the bar when her smile falters. She finally sees who else is at the Hard Deck tonight. They both take a few too many seconds before looking away. She breaks first, finally pulled back to the people she’s standing with when a drink is placed in her hand.

“It’s been way too long! Where have you been?” Phoenix excitedly asks, while subtly trying to figure out who the man she’s on a date with is.

“Still in the area!” Y/n smiles, focusing back on her friend. Rooster decides to follow her action and ignore her by continuing the pool game that is still ongoing, “What brings the crew back to town?”

Phoenix begins to explain that some top gun graduates were called back to Fightertown for a specific mission. Hangman explains that they’re all stationed here permanently now that it's been completed. It drives Y/n crazy not knowing how long they’ve been in town. How many near misses have there been that she would have run into Bradley? Would he have inevitably reached out?

Rooster can’t keep his eyes off of her for long. He’s straining to hear whatever the four of them are all talking about. There’s too many people here for him to be able to hear much of anything. She looks good, everyone in the bar can see that. Her hair is longer now, and her smile seems brighter than the last time they saw each other. He can’t even focus on the pool game in front of him as hard as he tries. He sets down his cue causing Coyote to complain before he steps closer to join the group gathered by the bar.

“I gotta hear this.” Bob gets up from his stool and the rest of the group follows suit wanting to hear this too. Rooster has to weave between a few people but walks right up to them, setting his empty beer down at the bar.

“How ya been, Y/n?”

Rooster interrupts their conversation, not really caring about the look Phoenix is giving him. She’s cutting him obvious daggers, worrying that he would scare away the girl that she hasn’t been able to catch up with in a while. Now that Y/n’s looked up at him, he can’t break eye contact. He can smell her shampoo from here, still the same. Her eyes still look as enchanting as ever. His heart started pounding a little harder than it was before he had her full attention.

Y/n’s breath falters, not expecting Bradley to be so forward, she expected awkwardness and maybe a nod in each other's directions. Now that he’s standing in front of her she can finally give in and take in how he looks. He looks better than she wants him to. Taller. Broader. Maybe he’s just standing straighter? Does he have something to prove?

“I’ve been good, Rooster.” Calling him by his callsign hurts, Hangman lets out a low whistle when he hears it. Everyone knows why that has a little kick to it. To Y/n it felt almost too personal to call him by his first name, but when they were dating she had a rule that the callsign wasn’t for her because everyone called him that. His actual first name was much more rare to hear and that made it more special. The group had always teased her by calling him a name they so rarely heard. They all knew this and how intentional it was now.

“Yeah, you look good.” Rooster admits, his heart racing. Bold. Bold to say something like that to an ex girlfriend and even more bold considering he’s saying this to her date’s face. Being this close to her again makes it feel like old times. He has to fight the urge to pull her right into his chest. He doesn't get to do that anymore. It looks like that privilege belongs to someone else now.

Y/n’s face flushes red for a second and she turns to look at her date who isn’t looking pleased. Looking to break the tension Phoenix clears her throat, still looking shocked at Rooster for being so forward.

“So, who’s this?” Phoenix questions, looking at the man who is also in service uniform like the rest of them. The slight difference is the amount of badges that sit on his chest.

“This is Will.” Y/n introduces to the group, she finds it hard to meet Rooster’s eye now as he takes in the man who has her all wrapped up. His fingers wrap around the side of her waist, keeping her close.

“Captain Bennett?” Bob speaks up, recognizing his former Captain now that they’re in a large group. Bob wasn’t around when Rooster and Y/n were dating, but he’s heard a lot about it since. Bennett was his captain for a few months when he was overseas.

“Bob!” He shakes his hand, they step off to the side to catch up. Y/n doesn’t know who Bob is but it seems he’s a part of the group Rooster is with. Y/n takes a long sip of the beer that Will had bought for her. If she’s going to stay in this bar she’s going to need something a lot stronger to get through the night.

“Did he say Captain?” Hangman echoes, a smirk growing on his face and he turns to look at Rooster and let out a laugh.

“That sucks, man.” He pats a clap on his chest and that Rooster brushes off.

“I need a drink.” He mutters before turning away from the group, the group shifts back to the area around the pool table so there’s more room to talk.

Y/n makes her rounds of hugs to everyone who she hadn’t seen in a long time, introducing Will to them as she does. They catch up for a bit while also keeping a watchful eye on Rooster who is slamming back drinks at the bar. He seems to be drinking this away. Y/n watches him throw back another shot before slowly walking back to join them.

“-so I actually graduated early with honors.” Will answers with a smirk, Y/n can’t even remember the question he was asked that led to him rattling off his accomplishments, she was hardly paying attention to him at this point. Her mind racing over seeing Rooster again. They didn’t end on the best terms, and it seems like it might stay that way

“Oh fuck off” Rooster laughs, sitting back down to join the group. He brings a wave of whiskey with him, the hard liquor definitely taking an effect in the last ten minutes.

“Excuse me?” Will questions, raising his brows to the man he’s hardly met.

“Tell us one more time about your marksman scores, I don’t think I heard you the first two times.” Rooster jabs, getting a couple of laughs out of the men around them. Maybe Will was talking louder than she thought, she hardly noticed. Her face plainly goes red at the sudden outburst.

“Rooster, don’t.” Y/n cuts, her eyes serious and tone threatening.

“What?” Rooster shrugs, his inebriated shoulders slouch with drama. “Did you feel a need to come show off your shiny new Navy boyfriend, Y/n?”

Everyone is quiet taking in Rooster’s out of character bitter tone.

“Do you have a problem?” Will asks, unsure of why some guy he’s never met has such a problem with him.

“No problem here! Seems like Y/n is a fan of navy men, so good luck with that.”

“Rooster-” Phoenix tries to stop him.

“What, Nix? She brought a date here? Don’t try and tell me I’m in the wrong on this.” He finishes off the rest of his drink, setting it down on the pool table before leaning against it to face the couple. He knows if Penny looks over she would chew him out, but he’s too drunk and pissed to care right now.

“It’s only our second date Rooster, we haven’t had the ex-boyfriend talk yet. And for your information, not that you deserve it, I didn’t pick the place. I don’t know if you noticed but this is the first time I’ve been back here in a year.” She bites back defending herself. Managing to stay composed and it pisses him off even more. How is she this calm?

“Right? And I should believe that?”

“Wow, you’re really on one tonight, aren’t you?” Y/n laughs but her anger is showing on her face more now. “Is this making you feel better?”

“Maybe we should go sit somewhere else.” Will clears his throat standing up, placing a hand at the back of her waist.

“I think that's a good idea.” Y/n agrees, they get up to move to a different spot in the bar.

“I’m never gonna love again, that shit isn’t worth it.” Rooster says while shaking his head softly. His words felt quiet enough to think only the guys closest to him will hear, but the drinks he’s consumed are convincing him he’s quieter than he actually is.

She stops in her tracks the second she hears the words he mutters to himself.

“You can’t rewrite history, Rooster. Why don’t you leave? You’ve always done it better than me.”

Rooster’s heart pangs with guilt. She’s right, and that’s part of why he’s let alcohol take over since she came in.

It’s true, he can’t rewrite their history. He can’t change the fact that he was always leaving and finally she had enough of that. Couldn’t blame her for dumping him after two and a half years together when he left on a boys trip less than a week after his return from a nine month deployment. He didn’t even know why he did it, he knew it was gonna crush her for him to leave without her by choice for another week just to spend time with guys he had just been deployed with. Granted, all of his friends didn’t have anyone to come home to, something that he had taken advantage of. He was still in shock to come home to a half empty apartment when he came back from the boys getaway.

Captain Bennett leads her away and Rooster turns back to the pool table to make himself stop watching. The guys rerack to start a new game and he can feel Phoenix glaring at him.

“What?” He turns to look at her, he might as well have a tail tucked between his leg with how he’s avoiding eye contact.

“That was ugly, Rooster.” She crosses her arms over her chest.

“What, and going on a date with someone else here isn’t?” He defends himself.

“Yeah, and it’s not like you’ve spent the last year hung up on her, right?” Phoenix huffs sarcastically checking his shoulder before breaking away to walk up to the bar.

“The one that got away.” Handman laughs, shaking his head at his somewhat friend.

“Can it, Hangman.”

“No, actually I think I’m finally not the one leaving someone hanging out to dry tonight.” He pats Rooster’s chest mockingly as he steps around to the other side of the table.

Rooster sees Phoenix approach you and your date at your new table standing there talking. He takes a seat and watches the team continue on playing their game but his mind is elsewhere. He manages to get ahold of another shot, and another beer which is the last thing he needs right now. Phoenix eventually returns from speaking with Y/n but her icy attitude towards Rooster hasn’t faded.

Rooster stands to join in the next game, his knees buckle a little when he sees your previous table now vacant. He can’t tell if he stumbles because you left or from all of the drinks.

“I think you need some fresh air.” Y/n states, taking in his sloppy state. She didn’t leave? He looks to his side to see her standing next to him, arms crossed over her chest. Anger is still rolling off her in waves. He was too focused on scanning where she went to see her pop up right next to him.

“I think that you don’t get to tell me what to do anymore.” He fires back, “Where’s Mr. Perfect?”

“Alright, let’s go.” Y/n rolls her eyes before roughly grabbing the arm of his shirt and dragging him out of the bar to the back deck. She knows that he’s going to get an earful tomorrow from the rest of the squad for letting you drag him out on his ass.

The breeze is nice and cool. She doesn’t let go until she can plant him down at one of the tables outside. The noise from the bar is still loud, but quiet enough to hear the waves too. He sits, leaning his back against the table behind him but she doesnt move to sit.

“You’ve been a real prick tonight, Bradley.”

He can’t ignore the fact that this is the first time all night she’s actually used his name. He missed hearing it.

“I didn’t expect to be best friends or anything after our breakup, but I didn’t think you would completely lose it and turn into someone unrecognizable. What’s wrong with you?”

“I don’t think that most ex-boyfriends are too thrilled to see their girl on a date with someone else in their favorite bar.”

“Your girl?”

“Fuck, you know that you’re my girl. Everyone knows that! At least until you broke up with me!” Bradley shouts loud enough to turn his face red. “You’re the one that got us here.”

“I broke up with you because you were never fucking here, not because I stopped being yours! You left! You always fucking leave! That is never going to change.”

“What and another navy man is going to be around?”

“You and I both know you were gone more than when the Navy needed you.”

A knife to Bradley’s chest.

“I’m sorry.”

“That’s great, you’re sorry and I’m done. I’m going home.”

“Y/n wait-“ He stands, a little dizzy but holding himself up.

“I don’t wait around anymore, Bradley.” She gives him one last look before opening the door to go back in the Hard Deck, “You taught me that.”

Bradley lowers himself back down to sit when you disappear back into the bar. How did he end up here?

do we need a part two?! lmk 🫶🏼

[guhamun]

HAD HE SAID SOMETHING inappropriate? Jiyan was so silent that he was beginning to wonder if he should apologize for his previous words. Honestly, interactions like this one were…not his specialty, so he might have clumsily said something he shouldn't have, suddenly making things awkward when such was not at all his intent. He was a man of primarily business, his relationship with his Ghost Hounds, and with others, often reflecting this. Thus, sitting with someone and talking to them in the same manner he did with Jiyan was exceedingly rare, so…perhaps somewhere along the line he –

     That thought dissipated.

     As those golden eyes met his own, he found his brows furrowing slightly, confusion felt and growing with each uttered word that passed the other’s lips. ‘No one has ever elicited these reactions from me before.’ Calcharo wasn’t quite sure what to make of that particular statement. He wasn’t special in the slightest. There was nothing that he did or said that should affect the other to the extent that reflected in both the other’s expression and in their tone. Yet, a part of himself understood…in a way, what Jiyan spoke of. Things did feel different with him as well. Why that was, he couldn’t say. Apparently, the general couldn’t either. For a brilliant mind like his to be so perplexed, well – what was he to say to that as well? Calcharo listened, not saying a word, but his gaze had not moved from Jiyan’s features. Despite how impassive he might have appeared on the surface, there was much and more going on beneath what was shown. The subtle movement of his eyes as they feel upon increased scales; the red that still lingered upon cheeks that would have surprised anyone to see.

     Apologies were heard, although this was not his focus. Still saying nothing, he merely reached out, gloved fingers brushing against scales and wondering if they would be cool to the touch had his hand been bare. Then again, maybe they would feel as warm as he was sure their skin felt. None had made him this curious about them before aside from the Rover, and at times, Aalto. Even so, his curiosity in regards to Jiyan was wholly different still. It was in a category all its own. It was only after a moment that he spoke, breaking the quiet that had lingered before. ❝What is it about me that makes you feel this way? Explain it to me. Doesn’t matter how abstract and nonsensical it might sound. Just speak whatever comes to mind.❞ A free flow of thoughts and words – honest, and spoken without further influence.

'A little' they said, but Jiyan felt like Calcharo took every opportunity to make him turn bright red and trip over his words. And they did it so effortlessly that it made him wonder if he actually was an 'easy target' for teasing, or if Calcharo just had a natural affinity for these things. But, as expected, he didn't get a straight answer from them. Calcharo was a straightforward man most of the time but, for these things, they really liked to keep him guessing, didn't they? "Since I'm directly affected by it, I believe I shouldn't be kept in the dark about these-" But then he realized that this was another way of teasing him, which made him groan. If he wasn't partially hiding his face on their shoulder, he would've bumped shoulders to hopefully throw them off balance... and maybe summon qinglong to produce a strong wind current to knock them over. Revenge wasn't a term he was familiar with, but Calcharo made him want to do these 'petty and childish' things at times. Really... he has been part of Solaris-3 for 23 years but, only now, because of this impossible man, he's discovering new things about himself.

He couldn't linger on those thoughts, as what the mercenary leader said next completely caught him off guard. It wasn't the first time he was called something along those lines. Back when he was a combat medic, when his uniform was too big for his frame, he would pout and cross his arms whenever the other rangers called him a caring and endearing kid. It took years for him to realize that their praise was genuine, and that they weren't teasing him for his young age. Years later, he would smile and snort a little whenever he overheard the new vanguards talking among themselves, expressing their surprise about what a caring and endearing man their general turned out to be. The recognition made him happy, and being called 'endearing' amused him greatly.

"..." But hearing these things from Calcharo felt different in many ways. Their words didn't bother nor amused him, but made his heart beat faster. They made him giddy yet timid in a way that made him happy. How did that even work? How did that make any sense? And yet, even though he couldn't find an explanation for any of it, he couldn't deny the whirl of pleasant and perplexing emotions inside him.

Jiyan was still blushing when he lifted his head to properly look at the other man. He didn't even have to touch his face to know that there were a few more scales appeared on his left jaw. "Neither did I. I wasn't like this, no one has ever elicited these reactions from me before, except..." You. It was rare for Jiyan to break eye contact first but, right now, meeting those icy blue eyes made him unable to string coherent sentences together, and he was already having a hard time thinking of what to say. "So it must be your doing." It was Calcharo's fault, all of this was, that was the only explanation he could think of. "I'm aware I'm making no sense, so feel free to laugh if you wish, but it's different when it's you. Spending time together, learning more about you, your words and actions, they make me feel..." Everything. "I didn't even know being teased could make me so... happy." Again, he felt that overwhelming sensation that made him want to say something, anything, try and find the words he's been scrambling for.

But there also was the urge to excuse himself and flee, the need to make things 'normal' again. "I realize I may have spoken too much, and this is neither the time nor place to discuss these topics, so I apologize."

[vaggieslefteye]

HUSK, Hotel Bartender & Concierge | 1x04 - Masquerade

"Oh, I FORGOT — you're the wise-old bartender who's seen it all! Get the fuck over yourself and pour me a real drink."

[shigarakins]

i remember when the bodysnatching happened and how hardly anyone else in the fandom (or what i saw of the fandom) seemed to find it as horrifying as i did. then the same thing happened again with the mind invasion. and yes the fact that the mind invasion happened at all and not even the story gave much of a fuck about the fact that it did is still one of biggest gripes with the finale

[gxlden-angels]

Love when fundamentalist christians call other fundamentalist christians a cult like I can accept telling children they'll go to hell if they don't hug the parent that spanked them and smile, but I draw the line at suggesting barcodes contain the mark of the beast

[elysbrax]

"of course they will." elys spoke with a cool, smooth confidence, as though the reach's ships were of no more consequence than gnats gathering around a picnic. it was an issue that sounded as though it were in hand. if arron had dominon over the western waters in his sights, elys did not doubt his ability to get it. he spoke as though it were a given. perhaps it was. arron spoke favourably of being bold, but it took a certain type of man to turn boldness into legacy. in that, at least, the two of them had a common cause.

and perhaps it was that which encouraged him, which let his inherent boldness shine through. "what do i see a need for?" he repeated, a low, throaty chuckle escaping him. he leaned forward, as though he was sharing a secret that only arron could understand. "me."

in truth, there was little he could offer tyland lannister beyond that. the king had wealth, had power, had authority. in the face of it, it was a meagre offering - if elys had not presented it with the quite confidence of a man who knew his strengths, and knew what he could be. he believed there was none like him, not in the westerlands, not in the entire kingdom, with the unshakeable assurance of a man who had found himself tested before, and rose to the challenge, each and every time.

"the west does not lack for vision or strength, or even wisdom." he drawled. that was not what was in doubt. "but that alone does not hold a kingdom together. i have been listening to what our recent visitors have to say about these lands. they scorn us as much as they fear us, and that is not inherently bad thing - but we cannot give them any excuse. no sign of any weakness in the armour."

he leaned back in his seat then, hands folding and coming to rest on his stomach in a pose that would seem relaxed, if not for the way his spine remained rod-straight. "the lannisters are not shy about surrounding themselves with those who have value. lefford, serrett. and brax." the addition of his own house was pointed, saying without words that he believed himself a man of value. "you do not need me to tell you that you and the king don't lack for what it takes to steer the westerlands into something even greater than it already is. and i am precisely the sort of man who can support the both of you in that."

"They are an ever present irritation." Those ships should have been his, he wouldn't beat around the bush. He wouldn't forget. Robbed by a crippled knight who found himself lucky enough to call the king cousin. He clenched his jaw and then smiled as he looked at the other. "But even those issues will find themselves resolved." These seas were his and he would need to prove it. Just needed to put the pieces in the right place.

Arron agreed with the other, nodding his head as he listened to her words. Loss left a mark on all. Arron felt something...he couldn't put it into words it was more than mourning the wife. There has been so much to mourn that Arron didn't know if he was using the right word any longer.

The west thrived on more than the skills of Tyland Lannister, they survived on the backs of strong and wise men, men who knew where their loyalties should lie and he worried of the growing Serrett influence around them. "There's no crassness to be found in speaking truthfully, boldly." His father once told him that the Gods favored the bold and so did the Lannisters.

The Lord mentioned Fair Isle and he understand him, nodding his head. "Fair Isle is Fair Isle, Elys." And it was his domain, the Isle needed him. "Fair Isle turns boys into men and shows what we're made of, always. And court could do with those who see things the way men like us see them." He smiled, slightly, "what do you see a need for at court?"

[merkerlerspeaks]

I am actively replaying mysme trying to get 7's route

But Zen is testing my patience.

[fightingdragonswithwho]

hate to be a hater on the main … but this season of ted lasso excels (once again) at team dynamic and the found family elements and i think the finale absolutely nailed that, i cried, i laughed, it was perfect on that. now as for the individual stories and relationships… yeah, let’s leave it at that

[perenlop]

what bugs me even more abt my animal literature final being so specific despite having whatever content we want to choose from, is that i do have sources where i could potentially have a case to say something interesting about the distance between humanity and animals, and we HAVE covered that through frank kafka’s work, so in a different class itd be up for grabs, but because we have to focus on a very specific thing instead (what a movie says that is teaching the audience how we should treat animals) i have to throw that out even though its way more interesting to me

[fingertipsmp3]

.

[weaselle]

i want to talk about real life villains

Not someone who mugs you, or kills someone while driving drunk, those are just criminals. I mean VILLAINS.

Not like trump or musk, who are... cartoonishly evil. And not sexy villains, not grandiose villains, not even satisfyingly two dimensional villains it is easy to hate unconditionally. The real villains.

I had a client who was a retired executive for one of the big oil companies, i think it was Shell or Chevron. Had a home just outside of San Francisco that was wall to wall floor to ceiling full of expensive art. Literally. I once accidentally knocked a painting off the wall because it was hanging at knee height at the corner of the stairs, and it had a little brass plaque on it, and i looked up the name of the artist and it was Monet's apprentice and son-in-law, who was apparently also a famous painter. He had an original Andy Warhol, which should have been a prize piece for anyone to showcase -- it was hanging in the bathroom. I swear to god this guy was using a Chihuly (famous glass sculptor) as a fruit bowl. And he was like, "idk my wife was the one who liked art"

I was intrigued by this guy, because in the circles i run this dude is The Enemy. right? Wealthy oil executive? But as my client, he was... like a sweet grandpa. A poor widower, a nice old man, anyone who knew him would have called him a sweetheart. He had a slightly bewildered air, a sort of gentle bumbling nature.

And the fact that he was both of these things, a Sweet Little Old Man and The Enemy, at the same time, seemed important and fascinating to me.

He reminded me of some antagonist from fiction, but i couldn't put my finger on who. And when i did it all made sense.

John Hammond.

probably one of the most realistic bad guys ever written.

If you've only ever seen the movie, this will need some explaining.

Michael Crichton wrote Jurassic Park in 1990, and i read it shortly thereafter. In the movie, the dinosaurs are the antagonists, which imo erases 50% of the point of the story.

book spoilers below.

In the book, John Hammond is the villain but it takes the reader like half the book to figure that out. Just like my client, John is a sweet old man who wants lovely things for people. He's a very sympathetic character. But as the book progresses, you start to see something about him.

He has an idea, and he's sure it's a good one. When someone else dies in pursuit of his dream, he doesn't think anything of it. When other people turn out to care about that, he brings in experts to evaluate the safety of his idea, and when they quickly tell him his idea is dangerous and needs to be put on hold, he ignores his own experts that he himself hired, because they are telling him that he is wrong, and he is sure he is right.

In his mind, he's a visionary, and nobody understands his vision. He is surrounded by naysayers. Several things have proven too difficult to do the best and safest way, so he has cut corners and taken shortcuts so he can keep moving forward with his plans, but he's sure it's fine. He refuses to hear any word of caution, because he believes he is being cautious enough, and he knows best, even though he has no background in any of the sciences or professions involved. He sends his own grandchildren out into a life-threatening situation because he is willfully ignorant of the danger he is creating.

THIS is like the real villains of the world. He doesn't want anyone to die. Far from it, he only wants good things for people! He's a sweet old man who loves his grandchildren. But he has money and power and refuses to hear that what he is doing is dangerous for everyone, even his own family.

I think he's possibly one of the most important villains ever written in popular fiction.

In the book, he is killed by a pack of the smallest, cutest, "least dangerous" dinosaurs, because a big part of why we read fiction is to see the villains face thematic justice. But like a cigarette CEO dying of lung cancer, his death does not stop his creation from spreading out into the world to continue to endanger everyone else.

I think it is really important to see and understand this kind of villainy in fiction, so you can recognize it in real life.

Sweetheart of a grandfather. Wanted the best for everyone. Right up until what was best for everyone inconvenienced the pursuit of his own interests.

And my client was like that too. His wife had died, and his dog was now the love of his life, and she was this little old dog with silky hair in a hair cut that left long wispy bits on her lower legs. Certain plant materials were easily entangled in this hair and impossible to get out without pulling her hair which clearly hurt her. When i suggested he ask his groomer to trim her lower leg hair short to avoid this, he refused, saying he really liked her usual hair cut.

I emphasized that she was in pain after every walk due to the plant debris getting caught in her leg hair, and a simple trim could put an end to her daily painful removal of it, and he just frowned like i'd recommended he take a bath in pig shit and said "But she'll be ugly" and refused to talk about it anymore.

Sweet old man though. Everyone loved him.