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Do you have any idea when/if ARCS will come out hiatus?
and I love all you pods and audio dramas they are so amazingâ€
thank you so much, I'm so glad you love all of them! Arcs is sadly over for good as far as I know, though if Jordan ever wanted to revive it, I'd be there in a heartbeat! and, actually, I did recently dig up some unedited sessions on an old drive, so the atypipals have access to a few more episodes than were ever released.
#lauren answers things#arcs#pals#it should also be noted that the original podcast itself only currently exists on spotify#as when we moved hosting services again#it didn't come with - so eventually probably the pals feed will be the only place it exists#which I honestly prefer anyway as its incomplete and therefore kind of like a bonus thing!#I really do miss it though!
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another casino thingy with john price, bc why not?
cw: nsfw. masturbation, fingering, implicit exhibitionist price?, f!reader. idk shit about poker. 2 | more casino!141
you go to the casino again. not to gamble though.
at first, you were reluctant on showing up. it was nice of John to give you money for your services that night, and you couldn't deny the instant attraction lingering on your brain, but you didn't want to feel like a token, a four-leaved clover he picked out of the grass. also, you were convinced that your luck was a one-time thing, so why bother trying again? he surely found another charm to put in his pocket by now.Â
however, those thoughts vanished from your mind when you heard a sharp knock on your door.Â
you look through the peephole and immediately recognize the person standing in your hallway â mohawk guy. how did he...? your first instinct is to ignore him, but curiosity wins the fight against logic and you open the door.
"hello, bonnie." he smiles, "Price's waiting for ye," he blurts out before you can even ask anything. he's waiting?
for a minute, you don't think. your body moves on auto-pilot, scouring your closet for a decent outfit and smoothing down your hair to look at least presentable, as a stranger â Johnny, you learned â paces in your living room.Â
the next thing you know, you're in the passenger seat of his car, one hand resting on your leg and thumb edging the hem of your skirt, driving downtown. you couldn't help but shudder at the tingling sensation of his fingers on your skin, and he just snorts at your reaction, amused. are they all this touchy?
thankfully for you, Johnny is a talker, so you don't have to do much work to pass the time. he tells you that John is actually the owner of the casino and that every friday night he hosts a poker game with some of his friends. that he and the boys â Simon and Kyle â help Price with the management and with making sure no one creates trouble, and that John hasn't stopped talking about you.
your eyes widen after his last words, earning a chuckle out of the scot and nearly making you forget the question that first popped into your head when you saw him at your door â how in the hell did he know where i live? but at this point, you're not sure you care.Â
the light squeeze on your thigh alerts you that you've arrived, hopping out of the car and walking inside. the place is as packed as ever, but he leads you directly to the back, the same door as before.Â
"there she is." John grins, already tapping his lap for you to sit, "now we can start." this time, you don't hesitate, happily obliging to his request even when a part of you cringes at your eagerness. you accept the glass of bourbon, neat, that Kyle hands you, and despite being too strong for your liking, you don't bother. probably tastes like John.
the first few rounds were tame, with low bets, but soon enough you see the flying 5000 chips landing on the table and hear the laughs getting louder, as he traces circles on your hip. you don't know if it's the alcohol coursing in your veins, the softness of his touch, or his hot breath on your ear, but warmth starts pooling in your stomach and your legs clump together to ease the tension.
John notices your squirms and devilishly smirks, enjoying your desperate attempts to forgo the desire building in you. "here, kiss it for good luck, Ace." Ace? his left-hand holds a chip up, as the right one sneaks between your thighs and pry them apart again, making you gasp.Â
you timidly lean forward to press a quick kiss on the chip and instantly feel the heat creeping up your cheeks when his hand reaches your underwear. "you're so wet, Ace," he whispers, pulling your damp pants to the side. god, what is he... oh.
you try your best to be calm, not let the sensation of his fingers grazing your folds cloud your mind, but it's too much. your head tips back onto his shoulder, and any word that threatens to come out of your mouth and stop him gets caught in your throat. there's people around. everyone can see how much of a mess you are. and they... don't care?
his thumb gently rubs your clit as his middle finger toy with your entrance in an agonizingly slow manner, soft sighs escaping your mouth and eyes embarrassingly glossy focusing on the table. the game is still going, there's at least eight other men in this room, counting the players and the boys, fuck i'mâ you bite back moans, gripping his forearm to keep him in place and to stop yourself from writhing in his lap.Â
"easy, love," he murmurs, finally pumping his digit inside you, "such a greedy cunt." his tone is low, syrupy, dripping like honey over you and nearly making you cum at the sound of his voice. you nuzzle your face on his neck, muffling your whimpers and drowning in the scent of his cologne. "what's keepin' me from throwin' you on top of this table and takin' you right now, hm?"
"Johnâ" you breathe out, coil on your belly tightening when he inserts another finger, hitting the spongy spot you were never quite able to reach, making you mewl with pleasure. his beard brushes on your neck and his warm lips trace your jaw, leaving an underlying burning on your skin that drops straight to your core.Â
through half-lidded eyes you see the dealer finishing distributing the cards and the subtle twitch in John's mouth when he glances at his hand. your mind is too far gone by the point when they place the bets, too lost in the feeling of his frantic thrusts, velvety walls instinctively clenching around him to enhance the bliss.
the knot inside of you snaps and you cry out, limbs trembling in his hold and pure electricity travelling under your surface; it's intense, ripples through your core, heavenly overstimulating every corner of your body and sending your mind to outer space.Â
you float back to earth and taste the metallic flavor in your mouth, bottom lip sore from biting too hard to prevent your screams. John nudges you back to reality with a kiss on your temple, "such a good girl, love." he flaunts his cards in front of your eyes, and after a few attempts to refocus your vision, he gloats, wide smile and lustful eyes directed only at you, "just won me thirty grand, Ace."
i'd love to write more of this casino universe but i'm very much lacking in the ideas department lol
#captain john price#john price#price cod#john price x reader#john price x you#casino!141#captain price smut#price smut#ghost cod#gaz cod#soap cod#cod mw#cod mw2#cod mw3#fem!reader#price x reader#price x you#casino au#nyx writes âŸ#midnightarcheress
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Hi friend! I had an idea that perhaps you could bring to life. Its an azriel x reader. Where shes a seamstress for Rhys, she makes all his suits and all the beautiful gowns and dresses for the girls to wear. She even makes their leathers for fighting. I imagine one of them or maybe a few of them make a comment on how she's no one important and kinda belittles her work cuz shes just a seamstress. Rhys brings all 3 males to be measured for suits and azriel is getting flushed as readers kneeling to measure the length of his pants and the slit for his wings. Rhys sees Azriel blush and gives him a stern look shaking his head like "not this one." She doesnt look them in they eye, and rhys doesnt tell azriel anything about her. Like shes rhys best kept secret. Reader feels like the IC is so much better than her and thats why they sometimes say mean things (maybe someone asks elain where her dress is from and she just scoffs like "this old thing") but its actually a protective rhys trying to keep her safe cuz she reminds him so much of his deceased sister. Bond snaps but readers so insecure she wants to decline. Sorry this was so long. Lol. Just trying to get the jist of it out. Non important seamstress reader, flushed azriel, brother like rhys. The end. đ€Łđ€Łđ€Ł
a/n: I really hope that I did your request justice! It was so cute writing a shy Azriel
Unnoticed
You sat at the front desk of the shop to place your order for your inventory, sighing to yourself as your eyes momentarily moved around the small store that you owned. It wasnât anything special and was small compared to the many others in the city. There were so many other places that would be preferred by the citizens but this was your passion and refused to give up on it. The bell on the door rang and you looked up with a hopeful smile that turned into a grin when you saw who was striding in.
âHey!â you started happily, thankful to see such a familiar face. âIt feels like forever since Iâve seen you.â
âI will make it a top priority to come visit when it isnât just for your services,â he chuckled.
âAnd what is it that I can do for the all mighty High Lord?â A giggle at his playful frown escaped you. âIâve been looking forward to the new things that you always request.â
âWe have a visit to the Day Court and it would be nice to have some new attire for the ball that Helion will be hosting.â
âThat sounds so nice,â you sighed dreamily. âThe same sizes as last time?â
âThe females, yes.â He gave you a smile that was full of love and admiration that nearly brought tears to your eyes. âHowever, Azriel and Cassian will need to be measured since they usually do not wear this particular form of attire.â
âJust let me know when youâre ready and Iâll have everything set up.â You searched through the files under your desk to pull out the Inner Circles information. âI can go ahead and get what you have in mind so I can get it done in time.â
Rhysand gave you a small smile, the adoration still shining in his eyes. You were never sure why he looked at you in such a way but you appreciated it anyway. He was the only thing that came close to a friend since there were times where he would stay with you and talk for hours before departing again. You had no family since they were lost in the war but you were thankful that you had been able to take refuge in Velaris.
There were times when the High Lord would try to offer to move you into a larger store in a better part of the city. It was a sweet offer but you felt as if it was charity and you didnât want any pity. The Night Court black that was used was always beautiful to you and your friend seemed to like the little details that you added to make it stand out a bit more while still fitting his court.Â
Your store stayed in business simply because of Rhysandâs orders for his family because you made everything for them. He always assured you that they loved their dresses and gowns but there was always an emotion in his eyes that you couldnât place when he did so. Despite that, you always put everything that you had into it. His family was important and special. All of them were nothing like you. Just a little nobody that had nothing but your little shop to keep you busy.
It wasnât until three hours later that the High Lord left did you realize just how alone that you truly were. You wished that you had a family like he did but you forced your mind to remember how happy that you were for him. There were so many that you had come across in your life that only had half of what he did and even then, there wasnât much happiness in it.
The next day, you made your way out to begin your search for the things that you would be able to find in town when you saw someone you recognized. It was one of the High Ladyâs sisters but you werenât sure which one it was. You did your best to not be noticed as the female spoke to another one but you were pretty sure that you wouldnât be.Â
âWhere did you get your dress, Elain?â the female asked.
âThis old thing?â Elain looked down at her dress, one that you had made, with her nose scrunched in distaste. âIt came from some nobody seamstress. Rhys has never told us anything else.â
âWell, I think itâs beautiful.â The femaleâs head tilted slightly with a raised eyebrow. âIt seems like you donât like it.â
âItâs definitely not my favorite,â Elain huffed, scrunching her nose in the process.
Unable to hear anymore of the conversation, you turned and darted back to your shop. So many feelings had hit you all at once and you werenât sure where to start as you began sobbing once you were in the safety of the building that you also lived in. You began doubting yourself and the work that you loved while also wondering if the male that you considered your friend has been lying to you all of this time.Â
Even though you had cried yourself to sleep in the early afternoon, you were still unable to pull yourself out of bed the next morning. You could barely hear the knock on the front door but you ignored it. You had already felt like no one of any importance but the words that you had overheard only proved it. Not only was it from a customer but also from someone who would be able to destroy what tiny bit of name that you had for yourself in the city within an instant. Facing Rhysand again would be one of the hardest things that you had to do in a long time but you refused to let him down.
You allowed yourself to mope in bed for the remainder of the day in hopes that you would feel a bit better the next day. No sooner than you opened your store, the bell rang and you felt the High Lordâs power throughout the entirety of the small building.
Azriel had felt a bit frustrated when his brother dragged him out of bed and rushed him through his breakfast. He wasnât sure what the hurry was, not seeing the big deal in getting fitted for new suits and leathers. In truth, he did need them but he felt as if it couldâve waited until a bit later in the day. His High Lord had a hint of eagerness to him that wasnât so present unless it came to his mate or son.
He was only annoyed further when they arrived at what he could swear was the smallest shop in the entire city and there was no answer even after Rhysand had all but beat the door down. The store couldnât even be considered to be in the district where most of the stores were but he was somewhat relieved because he was able to spend the rest of his day as he wanted.
Rhysand did the same thing the following day which had both him and Cassian grumbling about doing the same thing two days in a row. Thankfully, the store was open and his brother walked in as if he owned the place with a small smile on his face.
âIs everything alright?â Rhys asked the female at the front desk hesitantly, a hint of worry in his voice. âWe came by as planned but there was no answer.â
âI had some business to take care of,â you muttered, causing him and Cassian to glance at each other in confusion.Â
Neither of them knew who you were nor even knew of the business that was being run here. He watched carefully as you gathered what was needed and even though you carried yourself in a confident manner, you kept your eyes downcast. It was as if you didnât have it in you to look them in the eyes. You had obviously done so with his brother but it appeared as if it wasnât the case today.
From what he could see, he could tell that you were beautiful but what would confirm it the most would be some form of eye contact. He watched you carefully as you started with Cassian, fully committed to doing your job to perfection. You started with his other brotherâs legs for his height and he only saw a smirk pulling on Cassianâs lips that he was trying to hold back. For reasons unknown to Azriel, it had him frowning and almost bristling at the sight.
You continued on with your work in silence except for a hum here or there when the High Lord asked you questions as if you didnât want to speak to any of them. It wasnât until you moved to him did he truly pay attention to you. He wasnât sure why but the sight of you on your knees in front of him, with your notebook in hand, had heat creeping onto his face. The quietest snicker came from Cassian who had moved behind him. When he turned to glare at him, he noticed a stern look on Rhysandâs face that had his eyebrows furrowing.
Azrielâs body stiffened when your fingers brushed lightly against him to take other measures. He sucked in a quiet breath when you moved behind him to measure the slits for his wings and your fingers just barely grazed them. It sent a jolt of what felt like electricity through him. He cursed himself silently because it wasnât the first time that his wings had been touched but there was something about yours that nearly had him wanting more of the contact.
He was slightly disappointed when you were finished too quickly for his liking and moved to Rhysand. You still kept your eyes downcast from all of them and it seemed to have the slightest frown tugging at the High Lordâs lips. Cassian continued to watch as if he too was wondering what was going on.Â
âEverything should be ready in three weeks if thatâs alright,â you said, giving Rhysand the briefest glance before returning to your desk.
Rhys ushered them out quickly and was unusually quiet. If he didnât know any better, heâd say that he was brooding. Neither Cassian nor himself knew anything about you so they werenât sure what to say but his own curiosity got the better of him.
âWho is she?â
âNo one for you to be concerned about,â the High Lord answered. âAnd you will stay away from her.â
He was given a stern glance but he could note the protective fondness in his eyes. It only caused him to wonder more but he kept quiet on the matter.
You were thankful for the time being that you didnât have a lot of customers. The work of making suits and gowns for seven people would take a while but you were thankful that it gave you a break from your thoughts. You didnât waste any waking hour, putting your greatest effort into it all in hopes that the gowns would be appreciated more.
A week had passed faster than you had originally imagined that it would and the only break in your concentration was the bell to your shop opening for the second time during the time. You shouldnât have been surprised to see Rhysand before you, a small frown on his face as he looked down at you.
âAs promised, I have come to spend some quality time with the most beautiful seamstress that I know,â he said with a grin that contradicted the caution in his eyes.
âYou come to visit or check on my progress?â you asked, eyeing him for a moment before returning your work.
âAs I said, Iâve come to visit,â he repeated gently. âAre you alright? Youâre acting differently.â
âFine,â you answered a bit too quickly to be believable.Â
âI apologize when I say that I do not believe you.â There was a worried frown on his face that made your heart clench and tears almost formed in your eyes. âTalk to me.â
âI just..â You trailed off, unsure what to say or how to say it. âWhy does it matter? Iâm just trying to balance everything.â
It was a lie and they both knew it. There was worried determination on his face and you knew that he wouldnât let it go but you couldnât bring yourself to tell him what happened. It could possibly cause a divide or rift between the family that you thought so highly of and you couldnât have that.
âYouâre evading,â he replied flatly before his face softened when he gripped your chin lightly to keep your attention on him. âI donât like seeing you like this.â
âYour family is very important,â you muttered. âI just want to be sure that I make everything perfectly. Thereâs so many ideas going through my head and Iâm just trying to be sure to keep it all together.â
âYou are no less important than any of us.â His matter of fact words paired with his gentle smile had a small one forming on your face as well. âAs a matter of fact, you are just as important if not more so than my entire family combines.â
âWhy?â You moved out of his grip and stared at him flatly. âLook at m-â
âI do see you. Every single time I come in here.â Rhysand continued with a charming smile that caused you to huff. âThere is nothing wrong with you.â
âThen why-â You stopped short, reminding yourself to not give into your emotions. âI have Feyreâs gown completed and this one that Iâm almost finished with is for Nesta. Do you want to see?â
He nodded with a grin and followed you to a separate room in the back where you kept the outfits that you made. You watched him carefully for his reaction as he stared at the gown and then blew out a silent breath of relief at the genuine smile on his face.
âItâs beautiful,â he said, turning to grin brightly at you. âShe will love it and this just may become her new preferred gown.â
âPromise?â you asked tentatively while you tried to decipher if he was lying or not.
âOn my mateâs life,â he answered as a look of adoration etched into his features once again.Â
âIs there anything that I should change about Amrenâs, Morâs, Nestaâs or..â You swallowed hard, the action not going unnoticed by the High Lord. âElainâs? I want everything to be absolutely perfect for everyone for such an important event.â
âNo.â He shook his head but the certainty in his eyes was answer enough. âI look forward to seeing what the rest look like.â
âIâve made these my top priority so the leathers-â
âCan wait until youâre finished with these,â he replied. âWhat they have now will work until later.â
âOkay,â you whispered, gripping onto the kind reassurances to push you through your self deprecating thoughts before he pulled you into a tight embrace.
âI wish there was a way to make you realize just how special you are,â he muttered, squeezing tighter to emphasize it. âYou remind me so much of my sister.â
Your eyes filled with tears immediately because it was no secret about what happened to his mother and sister. The fact that had such a high opinion of you that he would compare you to someone so important to him had you sobbing. He simply held you until your tears finally ceased and stayed with you for a few hours before returning to his court duties.
By the time that the door shut behind him, you felt a bit better but knew that you would never compare to any of them.
Azriel wasnât able to keep his mind off of you while they waited for their new suits and gowns for the upcoming ball. He wasnât sure why but despite his High Lordâs orders, he walked past your shop every so often to simply get a glimpse of you. Only once did he get a full view of your face and it took his breath away as he saw you smile at the only customer that he had noted that you had.
It was reaching the three week mark that you had given his brother and he was itching to ask the High Lord if he would let him retrieve the order. His gut told him that Rhysand wouldnât allow it. He wasnât sure why you were kept such a tight secret from all of them but Azriel knew that his brother meant it when he had given the order to stay away from you.Â
âI canât go with you today.â Azriel stopped just outside of the study, listening to Rhys as he spoke to Cassian. âI have to leave in a couple of hours to pick up our outfits for our trip to Day Court.â
âI donât understand why none of us-â
âAs Iâve said,â the High Lord growled, his voice low and almost deadly. âYou need not worry about her.â
âYea but she-â
âIs not a topic of discussion.â
The snappy tone of their brother had Cassion falling quiet on the topic but Azrielâs curiosity about you wouldnât let him sit idly by. It was almost as if he was being pulled towards you and he couldnât ignore it. He slipped out as silently as he had come in and disobeyed Rhysandâs orders. Even though the plan had already been arranged, Azriel wasnât bothered with the anger that would surely ensue about him taking the initiative that was purely personal.
The bell on your storeâs door sounded as he entered but you were so focused on your work that you didnât notice his presence until he cleared his throat. You jumped from your stool, startled from the noise before you finally looked at him. It felt like the entire world stopped when you both made eye contact and he felt the one thing that he was beginning to believe that he would never have.
Your eyes went wide and you stumbled backwards, tripping over your stool and fell to the ground in surprise as the golden thread connected the two of you. He rushed as fast as he could through the small area, his wings knocking some items over even though his wings were tucked in tightly behind him. A breath of relief escaped him when you didnât recoil from him when he reached to help you up.
âI- I donât- What?â you gasped through heavy breaths as you stood.
âIâm- Iâm sorry,â he stuttered, unsure what to say since he didnât know what you were thinking.Â
âNo. Donât be. I just..â You took a deep breath before fully looking at him again. âI wasnât expecting that.â
Your words barely registered in his mind as he stared back at you, your beauty captivating him the longer that he did so. There were so many things that he wanted to say but at the same time being unsure since he didnât know you. No sooner than he could open his mouth to reassure you, the front door opened and he felt the High Lordâs power filling the store. His brother was angry beyond belief with him.
âY/N, would you mind stepping outside for a moment while I have a word with my spymaster.â
Azriel could feel the uncertainty and anger flowing off of you but you nodded after swallowing audibly. Once you were out in the streets, Rhysand had him by the collar of his shirt and shoved him harshly into the wall. There was nothing but pure, unadulterated anger on his brotherâs face.
âDid I or did I not tell you to stay away from her?â Rhys growled.
âYes but-â
âBut what, Azriel?â he snapped at him. âAre you simply attracted to females that I insist on you staying away from?â
âIt isnât like that,â he tried. âWhy are you so insistent on no one knowing about her? None of us even knew that she existed until now.â
âBecause I want to protect her.â Azriel was released before Rhysand took a few steps back. âShe reminds me too much of my sister and I refuse to let anything happen to her. If that means keeping all of you clueless to her existence then that is what I will do.â
Azrielâs thought began flooding in all at once, making it hard to keep up with what his shadows were whispering and the things that he wanted to say. He understood now what his High Lordâs motivations were but there was no way that he could let his mate go. Not after finally finding it after the centuries that he had waited for it. As he went to explain what had happened, the door opened again and it had your scent filling the room.
âI donât want to be the reason that thereâs trouble,â you mumbled as you looked at your feet.
âYou are not-â
âWeâre mates,â Azriel said, interrupting Rhys.
The High Lordâs eyes widened when he swirled around to look at him. There was uncertainty in them while he stared at him before looking back at the female that he held in such high regards. For the first time in a long time, his brother was speechless and Azriel was honestly shocked.Â
âI donât deserve it,â you continued, finally looking up with tear filled eyes. âI donât deserve someone as special and amazing as he is.â
âWhy?â he asked in a raspy voice.
âYou- All of you-â You paused, taking a deep breath. âYouâre all so much better than me to the point that some of my dresses arenât even liked.â
âWhat do you mean, Y/N?â
Your eyes switched between Rhysand and himself before stopping on the former. The tears that began flowing down your face made him unable to not go to you, placing his hands on each cheek in hopes of calming you.
âI heard Elain telling someone that she didnât like-â
âScrew her and her opinion,â he growled before apologizing when your eyes went wide.
âThere is a dress in particular that she isnât the most fond of,â Rhys answered and you looked around him to gaze at the High Lord. âIt is the only one and she simply doesnât care for certain parts of the style. It has nothing to do with you or how amazing that your work is. It is simply a personal problem.â
âShe said I was a nobody,â you sniffled, the words causing his body to shake slightly in anger.Â
âThatâs my fault.â Your brows furrowed at Rhysâs words. âYouâre an amazing female and I didnât want to risk putting you into danger by letting all of them know who you are.â
âBut I-â
âGive us a chance,â Azriel whispered, pulling your eyes back to his. âPlease.â
âWhy donât we start with the upcoming ball?â Rhys gave you a small smile when you looked at him cautiously. âItâd be a high honor for my shadowsinger to have you by his side.â
âIt would,â he agreed.
Your bright smile in return for his words sent his heart fluttering and a rare, genuine smile adorned his face. He knew right then and there that there was nothing that he wouldnât do to keep that smile on your face.Â
It was the start of something new that he couldnât wait to see unfold.
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Hello there! I'd like to request a Sonic x reader x Shadow if you will but if you can't then Shadow x Reader is fine! But basically since it's almost valentine's day, they have like a day together on Valentine's day just being all couple-y n stuff? Thank you take care! â€ïž
A/N: Ahh! Iâm going to give the 3 person one shot a go. I really hope I do your request justice <3 I tried to stick with something pretty wholesome and cute <3 Enjoy!
Valentine
Pairing: Sonic x Reader x Shadow C/W: none Genre: Wholesome, cuddling, fluff
âWell, here we are!â
Sonicâs voice cut through the loud noises of the city around you as you stood before a colorful building dawning all sorts of Chao memorabilia. Sonic had been going on about this new Chao Garden cafe for weeks and the grand opening just happened to be on Valentineâs Day. Shadow insisted that it was an elaborate marketing ploy and that you all should go after the hype had worn off. Sonic wasnât one to wait for anything, though.
Crossing his arms over his chest defiantly, Shadowâs voice rose about the loud honking of cars and chatter of the long line formed around you, âdid you get a reservation?â
âSonic the Hedgehog doesnât need a reservation,â Sonic declared, putting his outstretched thumb into his chest for emphasis. âWatch and learn!â He turned on his heel and headed toward the staff outside directing foot traffic. Each staff member looked horribly stressed, each wearing a forced smile when approached in between obsessively checking their clipboards. Marketing scheme or not, you felt awful for them and only hoped that the crowd would have mercy on them.
Sonic approached one of them confidently, interrupting their frantic preparations, âhiya! Iâm Sonic the hedgehog and I-â
âLook, mister, Iâm sorry but if you donât have a reservation I canât help you.â
Taken aback by the abrupt answer, Sonic tried again with an earnest tone, âAha- right. Well, canât you make an exception to the rule? What with me saving the world constantly and whatnot?â
You had to give Sonic credit for trying. The worker, however, was none too pleased. Exasperated by the interaction (and probably the line that wrapped around the building far from view), they answered firmly, âno reservation, no service.â
Returning to you, Sonic shrugged and smiled sheepishly, âthey must of lost my reservation!â
âTypical,â Shadow shook his head, pulling his phone from his quills and typing something. âLetâs go.â
âWhat about lunch?â you asked, your stomach reminding you of your pitiful breakfast that morning. You had overslept and had to rush out the door in order to meet Shadow and Sonic here. All you managed was a granola bar and a breakfast shake, which had held you over enough to take the train here. But now, it was time for real food.
âI had a feeling Sonic might have dropped the ball, so I made reservations elsewhere.â
Sonic hung his head in comical defeat as you all started off to where Shadow led you. The walk over wasnât incredibly far, thank Chaos, but the difference between the previous location and this was drastic. You stood before a small door leading inside a tall building, the windows having their blinds drawn to block out the sun overhead. On the door in small, neat print read âChao Baoâ. You reached out to turn the knob, pushing the door with some force to release it from the stuck frame.
An older gentleman stood behind a server stand, greeting you all as you entered, âwhy hello! Good afternoon!â He peered down at the page before him, sliding his long finger down the page until stopping abruptly. âShadow?â
âYes.â
âAh! Right on the dot! Right this way, please.â
You followed him back into the building, moving between pillars and separating walls. As you walked down the hallway, you took note of the private rooms on either side of you. Muffled sounds of laughter sung behind each closed door until you all reached the one the host directed you into.
âYour waiter will be there momentarily! Make yourself comfortable.â
You all entered the room one after the other, taking in the sight of the private space. You found your way over to one of the intricately carved chairs, sitting gingerly at the large rosewood table. Within minutes of getting settled, you had all ordered and waited on your food.
âMan, Shadow, you really had to show me up,â Sonic pondered aloud, glancing around the room, nodding his head in approval.
âYou say that as if it is difficult to do,â Shadow scoffed, a playful smile tugging at his lips.
âIâm just happy we get to spend the day together,â you offered. You genuinely felt so lucky to have these two goof balls in your life. Your relationship with them was unique, sure, but they made you happy in ways you didnât know were even possible. Shadow offered a great deal of stability in most things and Sonic added spontaneity to the mix. Even though their bickering was the most of your worries after years of squabbles, they both worked well together to take care of you as their partner.
Rounds of bao were delivered onto the table alongside various other items that you couldnât concern yourself with before digging in to sate your aching stomach. Sonic matched your pace, groaning after a short while as he rubbed his distended belly. Shadow thanked the servers before standing to leave. âLetâs get moving, we have more to do.â
You glanced at Shadow, giving him a quizzical look, âoh? Does it require much energy? I think Iâm due for a nap after that.â
He smiled at you sweetly, moving over to you to offer a hand to stand you up. You placed your hand in his, the warm of his palm sending a tingling sensation down your forearm.
Sonic got up to join you both, stretching his arms above his head as he went. âAre we heading over to-â
âYes.â Shadow answered curtly, narrowing his eyes at Sonic. âDo you not know the meaning of the word surprise? Now shut it.â
Sonic laughed loudly, giving you both a grand thumbs up before you went on your way.
The two had planned the most elaborate day of fun and doting you could have imagined, showering you with love and gifts that you showed endless appreciation for. It was far too soon when night crept over the city, signaling the time for your departure. Each of them kissed your hand before waving you off on your train. You had wished to spend more time with them, but with their insane work schedules, you understood their reasons for not entertaining late night hang outs.
However, upon entering your apartment, you found them both lounging on the couch, as if they were summoned by your very thoughts. You stumbled over your words, trying to piece together a coherent thought.
âYou didnât think it was over, did ya?â Sonic winked, grabbing your hand and leading you to the spot on the couch between them. They had done everything you hadnât ever considered to be done to prepare for a lovely night in; rose petals were strewn about, candles had been lit, various sweets awaited you on the coffee table alongside a large bowl of popcorn and your favorite cup had been filled with your favorite drink. You felt an overwhelming sensation to tear up as each hedgehog took each of your hands into their own.
Images of your favorite film flashed on the screen, scenes playing out as you munched on your gifted snacks and cuddled between Shadow and Sonic. As the film neared its end, they each kissed your hand once more.
âHappy Valentineâs Day, love.â
#shadow the hedgehog#sonic the hedgehog#shadow x reader#sonic x reader#shadow x reader x sonic#sonic x reader x shadow#sth#fanfic#writing requests#anon ask#â§*Ì„Ë requests *Ì„Ëâ§#fluff#valentines day
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Bucky Barnes x Reader - Part Three
Word count: 7.4k
Warnings: none, fluff as always and some angst
Part One | Part Two
Masterlist
As you step through the door, balancing the warm pie in your hands, a flurry of laughter and chatter greets you.Â
âMiss Y/L/N is here!â Elizabeth shouts excitedly and grabs your free hand, practically dancing you inside.Â
âHey!â Steve appears from the kitchen, giving you a welcoming smile and takes the pie from your hands. âGlad you could make it.â
Before you have a chance to reply, Elizabeth pulls you further into the gathering, introducing you Sam, Natasha, Clint, and Bruce, all gathered around with warm smiles and friendly greetings. Bucky hovers a little ways back, hands shoved into his pockets, his shoulders a touch tense. His eyes meet yours, just for a moment, and he gives you a small, slightly shy smile before looking away.
As you all move into the living room, the groupâs easy chatter and laughter fill the air. You find yourself among a mix of friendly faces, each one seeming to bring something special to the room. Sam, ever the conversationalist, quickly pulls you into a story about an âepicâ camping trip that had apparently ended with him rescuing Bucky from a raccoon, much to everyoneâs amusement.
âTrust me,â Sam says with a grin, âBucky here might look tough, but get him in the woods, and heâs toast. Isnât that right, Buck?â
Bucky, leaning back with his arms crossed, rolls his eyes, clearly amused but trying to hide a smile. âIâd like to see you handle it any better, Wilson,â he mutters, shaking his head.
âOh, come on,â Sam says, his gaze sliding toward you with a gleam of mischief. âHe talks a big game, but you wouldnât believe how much heâs told us about you.â
You feel a surprised blush creeping up, and Buckyâs expression goes from mildly amused to visibly embarrassed in seconds. âSam,â he warns, his voice low but lacking any real bite.
Sam just smirks, clearly having too much fun. âWhat? You canât spend weeks talking about someone and then get shy now that sheâs actually here.â He turns back to you with a wink. âHonestly, we were starting to wonder if you were even real.â
Everyone laughs, and you canât help but join in, glancing over at Bucky, whoâs now rubbing the back of his neck, avoiding your gaze but clearly fighting a smile. âDonât let him get to you,â he says, half under his breath, still looking anywhere but at you.
âItâs nice to know I made such an impression,â you say lightly, hoping to ease his nerves.
Natasha chimes in, leaning forward with a teasing smile. âOh, heâs told us plenty. All good things, I assure you.â
Buckyâs face reddens slightly, and he shakes his head, mumbling something you canât quite catch. You smile, touched by how endearing his shyness is. Thereâs something reassuring in knowing he might have felt the same quiet, lingering thoughts about you as you have about him.
You excuse yourself, wanting to say hi to Peggy, who you havenât seen for a while for school pickup.Â
In the cozy warmth of the kitchen, there is Elizabeth and Peggy, who is finishing up the last touches on dinner. The scent of roasted vegetables and warm spices fills the air as Elizabeth stands on her tiptoes, carefully sprinkling fresh herbs over a dish. Sheâs focused, her little hands steady, but when she sees you step into the kitchen, her face lights up.
âCome help!â she whispers, gesturing you over with a small wave.
âOh hi Y/N. Itâs so good to see you again! Elizabeth is so excited to have you over.â Peggy smiles brightly as she pulls you into a hug quickly.Â
âI really appreciate the invite. Can I help with anything?â You offer your service up. You always hate showing up empty handed or standing around while the hosts do everything.Â
âElizabeth, why donât you help Miss Y/L/N set the table?â Peggy hands her napkins while gesturing to the remaining dishes on the counter.Â
You follow Elizabethâs lead, handing her each item as you arrange the table. Elizabeth glances around to make sure no one is paying attention, then leans close, her voice low.
âGuess what?â she whispers conspiratorially, a mischievous twinkle in her eye. âUncle Bucky likes you. He told me youâre his favorite friend.â
The comment catches you off guard, and you feel a blush creeping up your cheeks. You look down to hide it, but as you lift your gaze again, your eyes meet Buckyâs across the room. Heâs leaning against the doorway, hands in his pockets, watching the two of you with a gentle expression. The second he realizes youâre looking back, his eyes widen slightly, and he quickly shifts his gaze to the floor, looking like heâs been caught.
You try to laugh it off, but you canât help glancing back at Bucky. This time, heâs watching you more openly, his gaze soft and unguarded, as if heâs allowing himself to hope. The rest of the room fades for a moment, and in that shared look, a quiet understanding passes between youâa feeling unspoken but undeniable, settling in the spaces between words.
Elizabeth tugs your sleeve gently, breaking the spell. âSee?â she whispers with a grin. âI knew he liked you.â
The table is soon filled with food, and everyone finds their seat. You end up across from Bucky, who seems even quieter than usual, his gaze flicking between his plate and the people around him. When your eyes meet across the table, he gives you another brief, tentative smile before focusing back on his mashed potatoes.
As everyone digs into their food, Natasha catches you up on a few funny stories about Steve, who rolls his eyes but laughs along. Clint chimes in with his own antics, earning a lighthearted smack from Natasha, and the easy laughter fills the room, warming the space around you. Bucky seems to relax as he listens to them, glancing your way every so often but always looking away just as quickly.
As dinner progresses, youâre drawn into lively conversations with the others around the table. Bruce, sitting to your left, asks about your work, genuinely interested, his warm smile making you feel right at home.
âSo, how long have you been teaching?â Bruce asks, leaning in as the others pass around dessert plates.
âQuite awhile now, almost eight years,â you reply, glancing over at Elizabeth, whoâs absorbed in a chat with Peggy about the cookies they baked together earlier. âItâs challenging, but itâs worth every bit of effort. Kids like Elizabeth make it all so rewarding.â
Across the table, Bucky catches your eye. Heâs been quiet throughout the meal, but thereâs a look in his eyesâa mixture of admiration and something deeperâthat makes your heart skip a beat. He gives you a small, almost shy smile, as if heâs only just realizing how much he appreciates having you here. You feel a warmth settle over you, a silent exchange that says more than words could.
âSo, Y/N,â Natasha says from down the table, her voice pulling you back into the moment, âyou seem to be handling our chaos well.â
âOh, itâs definitely been entertaining,â you laugh, glancing around. âBut in a good way. I think I could get used to this.â
Natasha grins, raising an eyebrow. âWell, if youâre sticking around, maybe youâll be here long enough to see us all argue over board games next,â she says, her tone mischievous.
Steve chuckles, setting his fork down. âCarefulâNatâs competitive streak knows no bounds. She once beat Clintâs winning streak at Uno, and Iâm pretty sure he hasnât forgiven her yet.â
âRematch is on the agenda,â Clint interjects with a dramatic sigh, giving Natasha a pointed look. âJust wait until tonight.â
âSee?â Sam says, throwing you a wink. âIf youâre up for some cutthroat board gaming, youâre in for a real treat.â
You smile, settling back into your chair, and your gaze drifts back to Bucky. Across the table, his expression softens as he watches you, his thumb absently rubbing along the rim of his glass. Thereâs an unspoken connection building between you, and you can feel it more clearly with each shared glance, every gentle smile that passes between you two.
As the evening begins to wind down, you find yourself surrounding the coffee table with the others as an intense game of Uno is being played. Youâve practically given up at this point as Sam has conveniently played all his pick twos and fours on you.Â
âUNO!â Clint yells as he holds one card in his hands, staring Natasha down. Natasha actually looks nervous and annoyed by the five cards in her hands.Â
âOkay you suck Barton. You got lucky.â Natasha tosses a card down, then Bruce, Peggy, Steve, Sam and finally you, until it gets to Clint again, who plays his remaining card, winning the game.Â
Clint grins triumphantly, leaning back with his arms crossed, basking in the groupâs groans of defeat. âWhat can I say? Skill like this canât be taught,â he teases, earning a playful nudge from Natasha.
âOh, enjoy it while it lasts,â she retorts, narrowing her eyes at him with a smirk. âIâm coming for you next round.â
As the group resets the cards for another round, you glance around the room, only to realize that Bucky and Elizabeth are no longer there. You hadnât noticed them slip away, but the absence of their presence makes you suddenly curious.
Excusing yourself, you rise from the couch and quietly make your way down the hallway, glancing into a few rooms before pausing at Elizabethâs bedroom door. Inside, you spot them: Bucky, seated cross-legged on the floor, and Elizabeth, eagerly arranging a circle of dolls in front of him.
Elizabeth is chattering away, explaining the intricate backstory of each doll, while Bucky listens intently, nodding with the utmost seriousness. The sight is both heartwarming and a little amusingâBucky, who so often keeps to himself, fully engrossed in this imaginary world with her.
â...and sheâs the queen, so she makes all the rules,â Elizabeth says firmly, placing a doll in a paper crown in front of Bucky. âAnd you have to be the king. Thatâs the rule.â
Bucky lifts the doll she hands him with gentle fingers, studying it with a small, genuine smile. âThe king, huh? Whatâs he supposed to do?â
âHe has to make sure everyone is safe,â Elizabeth replies, glancing up at him with an adoring look. âAnd be brave.â
You feel yourself smiling, charmed by the way he goes along with her game without a trace of reluctance. Leaning against the doorframe, you clear your throat softly, and Buckyâs head snaps up, surprised. His eyes meet yours, and for a moment, thereâs something unspoken thereâan almost shy warmth that makes your heart race.
âOh, hi!â Elizabeth says, beaming when she sees you. âDo you want to play, too?â
You step inside, kneeling down beside them. âI wouldnât want to intrude on your royal council,â you say with a grin, looking between them.
âNonsense,â Bucky says, giving you a playful look as he scoots over to make room for you. âEvery kingdom needs a trusted advisor.â
Settling in beside them, you pick up a doll, and the three of you quickly fall into an easy rhythm, building an imaginary world that feels as warm as the room around you. At one point, your hand brushes against Buckyâs, lingering there for a moment, and he glances at you with that same gentle, quiet smile. Thereâs something comfortingâand thrillingâabout being here like this with him.
When Elizabeth leans forward to adjust the queenâs crown, Bucky catches your eye again, his gaze lingering, filled with a depth you hadnât quite noticed before tonight. Thereâs a silent understanding between you, one that promises more than either of you have said aloud yet.
And for now, thatâs enough.
As the evening winds down, the group gradually disperses, the air filled with laughter and a lingering warmth that only a night with friends can bring. One by one, the others begin saying their goodbyes, each of them giving you a warm smile or a quick hug, leaving you feeling more at home than youâve felt in a long time.
Elizabeth, exhausted from the excitement, gives you a sleepy smile as Peggy ushers her toward her room. âThanks for playing with us,â she murmurs, her eyes heavy-lidded. You smile and squeeze her hand gently.
âAnytime,â you reply softly. âYou were the best queen tonight.â
Elizabeth beams at you, her face lighting up for just a moment before she stifles a yawn and allows Peggy to lead her away. You watch her disappear down the hall, feeling an unexpected warmth in your chest.
When you turn back to the living room, Bucky is there, his hands tucked into his pockets, a soft smile on his face. The others have mostly gone, leaving just the two of you in the quiet, cozy glow of the dimmed lights.
âLooks like youâre about to head out too,â he says quietly, his voice low and slightly raspy from the night of talking.
You nod, glancing down for a moment before meeting his gaze. âYeah, itâs getting late,â you say, trying to keep your tone light, though your heart is racing a bit.
He steps forward, hesitating for just a moment, his gaze lingering on yours with that same softness thatâs been there all night. âThanks for coming. Elizabeth had a great time tonight,â he says, his voice warm. âAnd⊠so did I.â
The two of you stand in silence for a beat, neither one of you quite ready to break whatever has been building between you since dinner. He opens his mouth, as if to say something else, but stops, looking at you with a quiet intensity that makes you wonder if he feels it too.
You reach out and gently touch his arm, giving him a small smile. âThanks for having me over. I really enjoyed tonight⊠and seeing this side of you,â you add, a hint of playfulness in your voice.
He lets out a soft chuckle, his cheeks flushing slightly as his gaze drifts to the floor, a faint smile on his lips. âMaybe, um⊠we could do this again sometime. Just, you know, without the whole crew.â
Your heart skips a beat at the suggestion, warmth spreading through you. âIâd like that,â you say, meeting his eyes and holding his gaze for a moment longer. âHere, put your number in and we can talk more about it later.â You grab your phone with shaking hands, flustered from Buckyâs presence.Â
Bucky types his name and number, saving it. As you tuck your phone back into your pocket, Bucky glances at you, his blue eyes holding that same softness from earlier, now laced with a spark of anticipation.
âGuess Iâll, uh, see you soon then,â he says, his voice barely above a murmur, as if not wanting to break the fragile quiet around you both.
âYeah, soon,â you reply, your voice coming out softer than intended, carrying all the unspoken things you want to say but arenât quite ready to.Â
Your smile grows as he helps you pull your coat on, and just before you turn to leave, he gives your hand a quick, gentle squeezeâa touch so brief that if you hadnât been paying attention, you might have missed it.Â
âGoodnight, Y/N,â he says softly, his voice wrapped in that low, comforting tone that youâre starting to find so familiar.
âGoodnight, Bucky,â you reply, your voice lingering a little longer than it should, letting the silence stretch between you both for just a breath more.
You step out into the cool night, the air feeling sharper after the warmth of the evening, but your mind is buzzing too much to notice. As you walk down the quiet street, you can still feel the gentle brush of his fingers, the look in his eyes, and the quiet promise hanging in the air between you.
The next day, you find yourself reaching for your phone, unable to resist the urge to text Bucky. After a little mental back and forth, you type out a message and hit send:
You: Morning, Bucky đ Hope you and Elizabeth got some rest after last nightâs big feast!
It doesnât take long before he replies:
Bucky: Morning. We definitely didâshe practically passed out the second she hit her pillow.
You smile, picturing Elizabethâs sleepy face and tousled hair, and quickly type a reply.
You: Well, she was a very busy queen last night! Hope you got some rest, too.
Bucky: I did. Kept thinking about how much fun she had with you, though. I think sheâd keep you around full-time if she could.
You: It was a perfect end to Friendsgiving! Are you sure youâre up for a repeat next year?
Bucky: Only if you promise to sit across from me again. Iâm not sure I could handle it otherwise. đ
You feel your cheeks warm at the subtle flirtation, and you canât help but lean into it a little.
You: Oh, so it was my company that kept you going? Iâm flattered, Barnes.
Thereâs a pause, and then a new message pops up:
Bucky: Speaking of⊠I was thinking about next weekend. Iâd like to take you somewhere, if youâre free on Saturday?
Your heart does a little flip. You can almost hear his voice through the words, steady but with a hint of anticipation.
You: Definitely. Iâd say I could survive another night of your charm.
Bucky: Oh, youâre in trouble now. Iâve been told Iâm even more charming one-on-one.
You: Is that so? Guess Iâll have to brace myself.
He calls suddenly, interrupting your next message, and you pick up, a little caught off guard but excited.
âHey,â you say, trying to sound casual, but thereâs a definite smile in your voice.
âHey,â he replies, his tone warm and familiar. âThought Iâd call before I accidentally type a novel. Or break my phone trying.â
You laugh. âHonestly, I was ready to read the whole thing.â
âNoted,â he says, a hint of amusement in his voice. âGuess Iâll have to brush up on my typing skills.â
âI donât mind this though,â you reply softly. âHearing your voice instead of reading texts.â
Thereâs a comfortable pause before he speaks again, sounding a bit more relaxed. âIâm looking forward to Saturday⊠any food preferences, by the way?â
âNothing fancy,â you say. âJust good companyâand maybe a view?â
âCompany Iâve got covered. And I know just the place with a great view,â he promises, his voice softening. âIâll make sure itâs perfect.â
Your heart skips a beat, and you canât help but smile. âIâll hold you to that.â
âGood,â he replies, his tone warm. After a beat, he adds, âThanks for giving this a chance.â
âThanks for asking,â you reply, the warmth in his voice settling around you like a blanket.
Thereâs a comfortable silence, neither of you quite ready to say goodbye, as if each shared word and laugh has deepened the connection even further.
âWell,â he finally says, his voice quieter, almost reluctant. âIâll see you Saturday, then.â
âLooking forward to it,â you reply, a smile on your face.
Itâs been a busy week, and the anticipation of your date with Bucky tomorrow has kept a quiet excitement buzzing through you since this morning.
You say goodbye to the students as their parents pick them up. Elizabeth is the last one out running down the hall with a shout of a goodbye to you. You laugh at her eagerness to get to Bucky and you canât blame her. Youâd do the same.Â
As you lock up your classroom and exit the school doors, you immediately spot Bucky, leaning against his car parked by the curb, Elizabeth sitting in her carseat with her tablet, watching her favorite Barbie movie.Â
Bucky is leaning against his car, looking as relaxed and calm as youâve ever seen him outside the school. Heâs dressed in a deep red henley and dark jeans. It's the small bouquet of flowers in his hands that catches your eyeâa simple, elegant arrangement of red roses.
You stop in your tracks for a moment, heart skipping a beat. As if he senses you, he looks up, his face breaking into a grin when he sees you.
"Hey," he says, pushing off the truck slightly and onto the sidewalk with one glance toward Elizabeth to make sure sheâs still okay. "I hope you donât mind. I figured Iâd bring you these... thought it might be a nice way to kick off the weekend."
You feel warmth spread through you as he offers you the flowers, and you canât help but smile. "Bucky... these are beautiful. You really didnât have to."
He shrugs, a soft laugh escaping him. "I wanted to. Plus, I figured Iâd start things off right before our date tomorrow."
You raise an eyebrow, the teasing smile playing on your lips. "Are you trying to set the bar high already, Barnes?"
Bucky looks a little flustered, his cheeks flushing slightly, but thereâs a twinkle in his eyes. "Well, you know, Iâve gotta keep up with any other contenders to make sure I stay on top." His voice drops a little as he adds, "And I just wanted to make sure you knew Iâm really looking forward to tomorrow."
âI can assure you, there is no other competition.â Your heart melts just a little at the sincerity in his voice. "Iâm looking forward to it too," you reply softly, brushing a stray strand of hair behind your ear.
Bucky's gaze softens as he watches you, the faintest smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Good. Because I think tomorrow's gonna be a lot of fun."
Before the moment can stretch into something heavier, Elizabeth's voice cuts through the air from the car, her high-pitched excitement unmistakable. "Uncle Bucky! Look! Barbie's going to the beach!" she announces proudly, waving her tablet in the air as if itâs a trophy.
You both glance over at her, and Bucky chuckles under his breath, shaking his head. "She's really into that movie lately," he says, a touch of amusement in his voice.
You laugh, watching the little girl practically bouncing in her seat. "Well, Barbie certainly knows how to make an impression."
Bucky smiles at the comment, but there's a soft, almost nostalgic look in his eyes as he watches her. He leans in toward you, his voice quieter this time. "Sheâs been asking about you, you know. Keeps asking when youâre going to go back over to her house again."
Your heart flutters at the thought. "Sheâs such a sweetheart," you reply, the warmth in your chest spreading. "Iâm glad she likes me."
Buckyâs smile widens, but there's a subtle vulnerability in his expression that makes you pause. "I think sheâs kind of hoping youâll come hang out with us more. I canât say I blame her."
"Well," you begin, trying to keep the mood light, "itâs hard to say no to such a persuasive little one."
His gaze softens and for a brief second, thereâs a quiet intensity between you, the world around you seeming to fade for just a heartbeat. "Alright then. Tomorrow it is," he says with a small nod, his smile growing.
"Definitely," you reply, a smile tugging at your lips as you watch him climb into the driverâs seat of the truck, Elizabeth already turning the volume up on her tablet.
He waves at you through the window before pulling away, and you watch them drive off, feeling that same buzz of excitement filling you up for what tomorrow might bring.
As you make your way to your car, you canât help but replay the quiet exchange in your mindâthe warmth in his eyes, the sincerity of his words. Tomorrow might be the start of something even better than youâd imagined.
The sun is beginning to dip lower in the sky as you finish up your preparations for the evening. Itâs Saturdayâyour first real date with Bucky, and the nerves youâve been feeling all day are only now settling in. Youâre nervous, but itâs a good kind of nervous. Itâs the kind of nervous that comes with looking forward to something new, something exciting.
Youâre just finishing up a last-minute check in the mirror when you hear a knock on the door. Your heart skips a beat.
You open it to find Bucky standing there, his familiar grin lighting up his face. Heâs dressed casually, in a deep green button-up shirt, sleek dress pants, and a leather jacket, his usual relaxed style elevated with a subtle touch of sophistication. Somehow, tonight, it all seems to make your pulse quicken in a way you didnât expect.
âHey,â he says, his voice warm and easy, though thereâs a slight hint of nervousness in his eyes as he holds out his hand. In it, heâs holding a small bouquet of white daisies. The simplicity of the gesture has your heart swelling.
âHi,â you reply, your smile spreading across your face as you take the flowers from him. âTheyâre lovely, Bucky. Thank you.â
His expression softens as he watches you, and a small blush tints his cheeks. He steps back slightly, glancing toward his car parked on the curb. âReady to go?â
You nod, feeling your heart flutter a little as you step outside, the cool evening air brushing against your skin. The night feels alive with possibility, and as Bucky opens the passenger door for you, you slide into the seat with anticipation, your nerves buzzing. The butterflies in your stomach donât seem to quiet down as you settle into the car.
Bucky slides into the driverâs seat beside you, his hands gripping the wheel for a moment as he gathers his thoughts. You both fall into a comfortable silence, the soft hum of the road and the low music from the radio filling the space between you. The air feels easy, though you can sense a shared nervousness underneath it all. Neither of you speaks for a few moments, but the silence is pleasant.
After a beat, Bucky clears his throat, his voice a little rough as he glances over at you, his hand adjusting the steering wheel slightly. âYou look, uhâreally beautiful.â
The compliment catches you off guard, but in the best way. Your heart skips a beat, and you feel a slight flush spread across your cheeks. You meet his eyes for a brief moment, your smile soft and sincere. âThank you. You look very handsome tonight too.â
At your words, Bucky visibly relaxes, his shoulders dropping a little as if heâs relieved. His lips twitch upward in a shy smile, but there's a quiet warmth in his eyes that makes your chest tighten in the best way. The drive continues, but now thereâs an added sense of comfort, like the space between you both is slowly closing, becoming more intimate with each passing second.
âYou know,â Bucky says after a while, keeping his eyes on the road, âIâm really glad weâre doing this. Iâve been... kind of nervous, actually. But in a good way, you know?â
You smile, your eyes drifting back to the road as you consider his words. âI get it,â you say softly. âIâve been nervous too. But Iâm glad weâre finally here.â
The tension that lingers between you both starts to fade with each passing mile, and the drive feels easier, more natural. Bucky doesnât seem quite as tense now, and the silence between you becomes less heavy, replaced with small talk and laughter.
When you finally reach your destination, Bucky parks the car near a secluded spot. Itâs a quiet overlook on the outskirts of the city, surrounded by tall trees and the soft sound of wind through the leaves. The view is stunningâthe sprawling city lights twinkling in the distance, the stars just beginning to pierce the night sky. Itâs peaceful, private, and you immediately feel a sense of calm wash over you.
âYou wanna head up?â Bucky asks, motioning to the small path that leads up to the overlook. âI, uh, packed a little something. Thought we could hang out up there.â
âYeah, sure,â you reply, trying to act casual, but your heartâs racing as you follow him up the path. You try to ignore how nervous you feel, focusing on the quiet hum of the world around you, the rustling of leaves in the wind, and Buckyâs presence next to you.
When you reach the top, you see that Bucky has set up a small blanket on the ground, with a basket beside it. There are candles in mason jars lining the edges, casting a warm glow on the area around you. It feels cozy, intimate, and itâs clear that Buckyâs put a lot of thought into this.
âI wanted to make it special,â he says, looking a little shy as he sits down on the blanket. âI donât really know how to do dates like this, but I thought maybe a quiet place would be... nice.â
You sit down beside him, your fingers brushing against his briefly, and you canât help but smile at how sweet this all is. "I love it, Bucky. Itâs perfect."
The two of you fall into a natural silence for a moment, both of you unsure what to say next, but the quiet is comfortable. The only sounds are the occasional rustle of the trees and the soft hum of the city below.
âSo...â you start, glancing over at him. âHowâs, uh... howâs everything been for you lately?â
Bucky takes a deep breath, looking out over the city, his voice thoughtful. âItâs been... different. In a good way, I think. Iâve gotten used to the quiet in my life, but sometimes it feels like Iâm missing something. Like Iâm waiting for something, you know?â
You nod, understanding more than you expected. âI get that. I think sometimes, when life gets a little too quiet, you start wondering if somethingâs missing. Like... maybe you need to take a chance on something, even if it feels a little scary.â
Buckyâs gaze shifts toward you, his expression softening. âYeah,â he agrees quietly. âThatâs kind of how I feel right now. Taking chances. But with you... with Elizabeth, it feels different. It feels right.â
The sincerity in his voice makes your chest tighten. You feel the connection between the two of you deepening, a quiet understanding that neither of you has quite been able to put into words.
For the next hour or so, you talk about everything and nothingâyour pasts, your dreams, the things that scare you, and the things that make you feel alive. Thereâs an ease between you now, a comfort that grows with each passing minute. You talk about your favorite books, childhood memories, and what you hope for in the future. Bucky shares stories of his time in the army, of the people heâs loved and lost, and thereâs a quiet vulnerability in his voice that makes your heart ache for him.
âSo,â you start, breaking the silence with a small smile, âwhatâs one thing Iâd never guess about you?â
Bucky thinks for a moment, his brow furrowing slightly. âHmm... I donât know. I guess people always think Iâm just a tough guy, you know? Like, I donât know, all muscles and no heart.â He chuckles softly, the sound warm, but thereâs a touch of vulnerability beneath it. âBut Iâm not like that. I can be... sentimental. I keep things, little reminders of people or moments that meant something.â
You nod, your smile softening as you listen. âI can definitely see that about you. I think we all hold onto things in different ways. I'm kind of a book hoarder. Iâve got shelves full of them.â
Bucky raises an eyebrow. âReally? Whatâs your favorite genre?â
You shrug, thinking for a moment. âI guess mostly fiction. I love stories that take me to places Iâve never been, things I could only ever wish to experience myself.â
He leans forward slightly, genuinely intrigued. âI get that. Some days I wish I could escape into something else for a while.â
You look at him, sensing a deeper layer beneath his words. âWhere would you go, if you could? Somewhere far away, I mean.â
He leans back, arms circling his legs, eyes distant for a moment, like heâs picturing it. âI think... maybe a quiet place. Somewhere with a view. Maybe a cabin in the woods or on a mountain. Somewhere peaceful. Iâve spent a lot of time in chaos, in places that were loud and demanding. I donât think I realized how much I missed silence until I had some time away from it.â
Thereâs a softness in his voice as he talks, something that makes your chest ache just a little. âThat sounds... really nice. I think we all need quiet sometimes.â
Bucky glances at you, a smile tugging at his lips. âWhat about you? Where would you go?â
You pause, your thoughts drifting. âI think Iâd go somewhere similar. Iâve always loved nature and the coziness of rain. Iâd like to go somewhere that gets cold but not too cold. Iâd like to spend time dreaming up my own stories or just think.â
Bucky nods, seeming to understand. âThat sounds good, too. Sometimes being alone with your thoughts is the best way to find clarity.â
You nod, the quiet between you settling comfortably again. After a moment, you break the silence, wanting to know more. âYou mentioned before, in passing, that you were in the army along with Steve and Sam. What was that like?â
Buckyâs expression shifts, and you notice a subtle change in his posture. His shoulders tighten slightly, and he stares down at the ground for a moment before meeting your eyes again. âIt was... a lot of things. Good and bad. You meet people who become your family, and you see things you wish you didnât have to. But you learn a lot about yourself, too. What you're capable of when it really matters. But... you lose people along the way. Some of them were like brothers to me.â
His voice softens, and thereâs a quiet ache in his words. âItâs hard to talk about sometimes. I donât always know what to say.â
Youâre silent for a moment, letting the weight of his words settle between you, but thereâs no rush to fill the space. You donât push him. Instead, you simply say, âI canât even imagine what that must have been like.â
Bucky gives a small, quiet smile, his eyes distant again. âItâs not something you ever get over. You just learn to live with it, you know? Keep going, because thatâs what they would have wanted.â
You nod slowly, absorbing his words. âI think thatâs really brave. I donât know if I could be that strong.â
Bucky meets your gaze, his eyes serious but with a tenderness that makes your heart flutter. âYouâd be surprised. Strength isnât always about big things. Sometimes itâs the small moments, the ones that nobody else sees. Like... showing up for someone when they need you. Or just listening when they need to talk.â
Your heart swells at his words. You didnât expect to find such depth in a conversation so early, but it feels easy, like youâve both always been able to talk like this. You swallow, your voice quiet but sincere. âIâm glad youâre here, Bucky.â
His expression softens even further, and he leans forward slightly, his voice low. âIâm glad Iâm here too.â
You both fall into a comfortable silence, but itâs different this time. Thereâs a deeper connection between you now, a shared understanding, as if youâve both opened up in ways that most people never do. And it feels rightâlike this is exactly where youâre meant to be.
Finally, Bucky clears his throat, breaking the silence with a small chuckle. âSorry, I got a little heavy there. Didnât mean to bring down the mood.â
You smile, shaking your head. âNo, not at all. I like hearing about you. All of you.â
Buckyâs eyes twinkle, and he grins that soft, easy grin of his. âWell, I guess Iâll have to tell you more sometime, then.â
You laugh, the sound light and free between you. âI look forward to it.â
As the evening starts to wind down, you realize how much time has passed. The stars are fully out now, the city lights dimming beneath the vast sky. The two of you are sitting closer than before, your shoulders brushing every now and then, and you both seem reluctant to leave the spot.
âDo you wanna head back?â Bucky asks, his voice soft, though you can hear the hesitation in it. âI donât want this to end yet, but I also donât want you to feel uncomfortable.â
You smile, a little shy. âNo, Iâm good. Iâm really glad we did this. Itâs... itâs been nice.â
Bucky stands, offering his hand to help you up. âWell, Iâll take you home then. If youâre ready, that is.â
âYeah, Iâm ready,â you say, slipping your hand into his as he helps you to your feet. You both make your way back to the car, neither of you speaking for a moment, just enjoying the peaceful quiet around you.
When you arrive at your apartment, Bucky parks the car in front of your building. âI had a really great time tonight,â he says, turning toward you with a soft smile. âThank you for... you know, giving me a chance.â
You look up at him, your heart full. âIâm glad I did. I think we have something good here, Bucky.â
Thereâs a moment of silence as you both just look at each other, and before you can say anything else, you surprise yourself by offering, âWould you like to come inside? I could make us some tea.â
Bucky seems caught off guard for a second, then smiles softly. âIâd like that. I think Iâd like that a lot.â
The two of you walk inside, and you get to work making the tea. The conversation flows easily between you, filled with laughter and small moments of silence, as the next couple hours slip by unnoticed. You talk about your favorite childhood memories, your first jobs, your biggest fears. Each topic somehow leads into the next, like you're both unraveling the little threads of who you are, but it doesn't feel rushed.
You laugh at something Bucky says, brushing a stray piece of hair behind your ear, and he catches the movement, his gaze softening for a moment.
âYou know,â Bucky says, his voice a little quieter now, âI never thought Iâd be here, doing this... with anyone. Not after everything.â
You glance at him, curiosity piqued. âDoing what?â
He shrugs, a small smile on his lips. âJust... talking like this. Being open. Letting someone in. Iâve spent so much time keeping people at arm's length. Itâs easier, I guess, to just... not let anyone get too close.â
You feel your chest tighten, the words hitting you in a way you hadnât expected. You lower your gaze, trying to hide the way your heart swells with sympathy and understanding.
âI think I get that,â you say softly. âIâve kind of built my own walls over the years, too. Not because I didnât want to let people in, but because... I donât know. Itâs easier to be alone sometimes.â
He looks at you, and for a long moment, neither of you speaks. Itâs as if the weight of your shared vulnerability is lingering between you, hanging in the air.
Bucky leans forward just a little, his gaze never leaving yours. âI donât want you to think that... Iâm not interested in letting you in,â he says quietly, his voice barely above a whisper now. âBecause I am. I donât know if itâs the right time or the right place, but I want you to know that I am.â
Your breath catches, heart pounding in your chest. Thereâs a rawness in his voice that makes the air between you feel thick, heavy with unspoken words. You hesitate for a moment, before speaking.
âIâm not going anywhere, Bucky.â Your voice is soft, but certain. âIâm here. Iâll always been here, just... sometimes I think I don't know how to say it.â
Thereâs a quiet, tender moment that passes between you. His lips part slightly, and he leans in just a fraction more, as if testing the space between you.
And thatâs when the tension shifts, palpable now, crackling in the air. You both seem to feel itâa pull, something that draws you in, something that makes the moment stretch, and the space between you disappears. For a breathless second, everything else seems to vanish.
Your lips are so close now. His eyes flicker down to your mouth, then back up to meet your gaze, searching for permission, for a sign that you feel what he does.
You feel the warmth of his breath on your face, the closeness, and your pulse quickens. The intensity between you is almost too much, but you donât pull away. Instead, you let it hang there, both of you caught in the moment.
And then, just as it feels like the gap might close between you, Bucky exhales sharply, pulling back slightly as if snapping out of it. He runs a hand through his hair, awkwardly clearing his throat.
âSorry,â he mutters, voice tight. âI didnât mean to make it weird.â
You laugh softly, trying to ease the tension, though your heart is still racing. âItâs not weird, Bucky. Itâs... nice.â
He looks at you for a long moment, his gaze searching yours again, a bit of uncertainty there. âI donât want to rush anything,â he says, his voice steadying. âI just... I donât know. I really like being with you.â
You nod, a gentle smile tugging at the corners of your lips. âI like being with you too.â
The tension in the air lingers for a while longer, but the moment passes, and you both settle back into the comfortable rhythm of conversation again. You talk about small thingsâsilly anecdotes and favorite songs, and the connection youâve built feels stronger now than it ever has before.
As the conversation winds down, your eyes begin to flutter, exhaustion finally catching up with you. You let out a soft yawn, leaning back against the couch. Bucky watches you, his eyes soft, but thereâs something almost reluctant in his gaze.
âI should probably go,â he says quietly, standing up and stretching. âI donât want to overstay my welcome.â
You sit up, still a little drowsy. âYou donât have to leave,â you say, your voice a little more vulnerable than you intend. âI... I donât want you to go.â
Bucky hesitates, his expression conflicted as he looks at you. âI... I donât want to leave either,â he admits, his voice low. âBut I donât want to make things awkward either.â
You smile softly, trying to push the sleepiness from your eyes. âItâs not Bucky. You donât have to go if you donât want to.â
After a long pause, he sits back down beside you, though his body is tense. He watches you closely for a moment before finally settling in. âAlright. Iâll stay. But just... just to keep you company. And because I donât want you to be alone either.â
You feel a warm flush spread through you as you nestle deeper into the couch, the quiet between you comforting and safe. Bucky lies down beside you, careful not to get too close, but still there. You fall asleep, your head on his chest, and for the first time in a long while, you feel at peace.
Bucky lies awake beside you, his eyes staring up at the ceiling, trying to ignore the thoughts that swirl in his mind. He doesnât want to leave, doesnât want to wake you, but the weight of his pastâthe nightmares, the fearsâkeeps him from fully resting. He stays awake, just listening to the sound of your breathing, hoping that his presence wonât disturb your sleep.
Itâs the first time heâs ever felt this way with someoneâso close, yet so distant, fighting the demons inside. He wonders, for just a moment, if heâs ready to let someone in completely.
Part Four
Thanks for reading! Please reblog & comment <3 would love to hear how you enjoy it and feel free to send in requests!
#bucky barnes#bucky barnes x reader#bucky barnes imagine#bucky barnes imagines#bucky barnes x y/n#bucky barnes x you#Bucky Barnes fluff#bucky barnes x female reader#Bucky Barnes fanfic#Bucky Barnes fanfiction#bucky barnes angst#bucky x reader#bucky x you#bucky barnes x reader angst#bucky barnes x reader fluff#Sebastian Stan#Sebastian Stan bucky Barnes#bucky barnes smut
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i was just (re)reading your "reheat" oneshot and one part that stood out to me was izuku apparently "making a show" of him rolling up his shirt sleeves because reader finds it attractive. but my question is how did he find that out???????? did reader tell him that they find it to be alluring??? i need answers (just please dont do it nsfw, i'm not really into it lol) đđ
(btw i love your writing<3)
Ahhhh I'm SO glad someone caught this! I'm a sucker for the little details, and you found one of my favorites đ„°đ„° SFW it is~
And truly, it honestly shouldn't be such a saucy thought, Izuku rolling up his sleeves... It's a pure and simple fact that you love every bit of Izuku, whether he's dressed up or down. What's not to love? But here we are, and I'll tell ya exactly why.
How you came to enjoy this harmless little show was the sum of many 'harmless' moments, though they all have one thing in common:
Acts of Service.
Reheat shows it best, but here's how our darling Izuku reckoned it was a solid plan of distraction...
Pairing: Midoriya x reader
Reheat: ORIGINS
Izuku is an extremely thoughtful person, as we all know and love. He'll be in your corner to listen, tell you just what you need to hear, and do it all with a smile on his face. He'll also be the first to step up and offer his best if it would help make your life easier.
The first time you watched him do it was a night he came around while you were in a self-imposed baking marathon-- and were quickly running out of surface space in the kitchen. Once setting down his workout bag down at the dining table and shucking off his coat, he'd immediately come in reporting for duty...
'How can I help' chirps off Izuku's lips without missing a beat, and before you could even make mention of washing the dishes as you go (to help expedite the process later), he was already rolling the cuffs of his hoodie to keep the ends from getting absolutely soaked. When he catches you staring from he oven range at what he's doing, he assumes it stems from feeling guilty about putting him to work, or refusing the idea that he'd tidy up for you. It's such a high pile that's filling both sides of the sink already, and it's threatening to topple over onto your tray of still-cooling macarons.
He sees it as a stellar trade off: you cook, he cleans. It's a no-brainer in his book!
The next time he does it, you're visiting him at UA while he's hosting some late afternoon office hours (in case some students wish to stop by for some pre-exam help). It's a slow afternoon, and when he complains about it over text, you surprise him with a little green tea boba pick-me-up. By the time you arrive, he's on the phone with some insurance company about a rate change that he's been meaning to call about.
He's a bit grumpy over it. Why they keep hiking prices like this, he'll never fully understand, but would kill for some transparency in billing, y'know?
"No- I'm not interested in upgrading the policy, it's covering everything I need it to -back at my starting rate. No, no dependents. No secondary vehicles either-- maam, I rent an apartment; I don't even own a home yet- why would I need a byline for acreage protection?!"
Poor Izuku's brows are tented as he navigates the skin sufferable conversation... But all the while, he's flexing -a flick of the wrist in each movement- as he cuffs his sleeves towards his elbows.
You don't realize you're staring until he stops moving. Looking up to his eyes again, they're more confused at you now, with a built shoulder precariously balancing his phone to his ear.
'What's wrong?' he mouths to you.
You immediately shake your head, and just motion for him to carry on. You rest your chin in your hand when he continues, but he doesn't say more on the topic when the woman returns from the other end of the line with more bad news.
"-b-boating protec-?? Ma'am, may I be perfectly real with you? I-I am on a teacher's salary! Can I please just revert back to what I was paying before so I don't have to auction off my AllMight limited editions??"
So firm, so capable... so stupidly attractive doing such a small thing... Izuku maybe a bit preoccupied at the moment, but he's starting to catch onto you, for there's gotta be something behind your interest in his forearms.
Finally, it all clicks into place. In Hatsume's Tech Lab, where you're picking up Izuku from after an off-site field trip of sorts for his support course students does Izuku finally get what's going on.
He's taken up some elective classes for their class route, in addition to his hero course homeroom. In the R&D department, he's trying on some gloves and explaining their features to you in excitement for its intended recipient, his good friend Shoto Todoroki, while his students all bound off elsewhere.
"He even came up with the design; pretty stylish, I'd say! Much better than his first costume, less bulky as well. Mei says we're the same size so I could try for fit before she ships them out to him- hhhnr... well- still kinda hard to- c'you hold this one, baby? here, lemme get them on for real.."
Setting the gloves to your waiting hands, your eyes double in interest. Tongue wets your lips slightly. And shockingly, your mouth moves before you can stop yourself.
"Oooo, my lucky day~ Roll 'em up, babe~"
"that's the problem with this tech. There's safety resistance in the cuffs: they're great for compression, but it's a bit tight for tryin' to get over-- w-wait. What?"
Izuku chances a look at you in that one, thirsty moment.
"Do you-- like this?"
"Mhm~"
".. just- rolling up my sleeves? Like this?"
"Mhmmm~"
Though you've solidly convinced Izuku that his scars are to be worshipped just as much as his heart, he can't believe your starry-eyed look while he does this.
Cheeky, Izuku thinks surely you're messing with him, "Goodness the way you're looking at me, you'd think I was showing you my six pack..."
"Eh, that's nothin'," you tease, "impressive, don't get me wrong, Mr. Midoriya- but anyone can work out. This.. takes finesse."
Izuku sprouted a warming blush over his ears, wrenching a calm exterior into place despite your loving teases.
"Finesse, huh?-"
"Slower, babe," you sink onto a palm again, batting your eyes again, "you look good like this."
"Y-You're a mess..."
"I'm your mess now, handsome."
Izuku peeks up and out towards the hall having just settling his right cuff into place. Then, he's looking back to you all mushy at what he finds there. Complete love. It's earned you a kiss -to affirm his feelings for you, of course!- but also to get you to stop fawning over him where anyone could see.
Your fingers will trail over the sensitive undersides of his wrists while he cups your cheeks into place. Any insecurity he may have once held about his scarring has been snuffed out by you a long time ago, but Izuku now realizes it's not just an accepted sight, but a welcome one.
"Good to know this is a sure method to get your attention, honey," he'll whisper between kisses.
It's the preemptive motive that gets you:
Izuku is so ready and willing to help anyone at a moment's notice, to take charge and get things done: to the point where watching him prep to get his weathered hands involved is an attractive sight. He's the first to go the extra mile for you, no ask too big or favor too small.
It might be a quick adjustment to his outfit for comfort, but the look suits him so well. So yes, even as he rolls up his shirt sleeves, you find him insanely, unfairly handsome.
#izuku midoriya#izuku x reader#midoriya x reader#mha midoriya#mha izuku#izuku midoria x reader#mha fanfiction#my hero academia#boku no hero academia#mha x reader#bnha x reader#mha#bnha#izuku fluff#izuku imagines#izuku headcanons#fic asks#thanks anon
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It's been a few days since I completed the Veilguard and I am going feral about the dynamics between Mythal, Solas and Lavellan...
It's just a bittersweet kind of pain when I think of them and I want to get my thoughts out before I am overwhelmed by them. Also, this post took way longer than expected to write!
Detailed deep-dive under the cut (to avoid spoilers)
Colour-coded because my brain is weird like that!
Also this is a loooooong post... you have been warned!
On Mythal:
It is clear right from the start (of when we discover the memories of the Dread Wolf) that Mythal is an integral part of who Solas was... Or should I say, who Fen'Harel was/is.
Solas, as a spirit had no desire to take a body and took one for the love of Mythal.
And when I say love, I do not see it as something purely romantic... It goes above and beyond that and not always in the right way.
She sought to mould him into someone she could use. She saw it as Benevolence (the attribute that her spirit is supposed to represent), but I think her purpose had been corrupted even then, even before Solas gets his body at her behest.
The reason I believe it's so is because, true Benevolence doesn't discriminate and denotes a desire to do good for others. Compassion is that desire enacted.
Mythal's benevolence was conditional. Her benevolence came at the cost of suffering for the Titans. So, there was a sliver of selfishness to her purpose. This isn't necessarily bad but this means that she is no longer truly what her Spirit was supposed to depict, not completely. And this sliver of selfishness is what permeates the entire relationship she has with Solas.
We, as the player, have only ever seen Mythal either through the very rosy lens of the Elvhen who worshipped her very much like the way Solas does, or through Flemeth. The latter is no longer the Mythal that Solas knew. She is a fragment of the original who has gained the wisdom and experience of millennia through the hosts she inhabited.
The truest depiction of what Mythal must really have been like is the fragment we encounter in the Crossroads. She honestly, isn't as likeable as Flemeth/Morrigan was/is.
She is openly haughty, expecting her petitioners to convince her of the dangers to the world outside, and sounds almost bitter that her most ardent devotee hasn't visited her once since she was killed and the remnant of her essence was extracted from the dagger to reside in the Crossroads. She faults Solas to an extent for her fate, and clearly doesn't hold him as beholden as he does her.
So, it felt weird to me that she would be so willing to release him from her service, even more so if you had to fight her for the fragment (as I had to).
The only way I can see her being moved to help convince Solas (especially if we fought her in her dragon form) is that she was observing the world outside the crossroads when she is in Rook's possession, the way Rook interacted with Solas, and even more so the way the Inquisitor speaks of her friend/vhenan.
On Solas:
Solas... the man, the myth, the legend! Where do I even begin to unravel the mess that he is!
Originally, a spirit of Wisdom, tied to Mythal in a way that has him put through the thumbscrews of War and Strife, so much so that I see his transformation into Pride as something like a callus that forms over skin that has been rubbed a few times too many.
His love for Mythal was the start of his doom, and right there, his purpose was changed from Wisdom. Because, wisdom would have remained a Spirit.
Now, the nature of that love is up for debate. Again, I don't see it as something that is purely romantic. Though, I think the way he feels for her is different from the way Mythal feels about him. There is more devotion on his side. He says that he will follow wherever she goes and takes on a physical form for her.
And then, slowly, one step after another, he strays away from the path of wisdom - crafting the Lyrium dagger, making the Titans tranquil, allowing the other Evanuris to claim godhood, letting Mythal persuade him to each of these steps, his regrets have her face.
Remember the following dialog he has with the Inquisitor after they drink from the Well of Sorrows? When he asks them how they will ensure the Inquisition doesn't fail, and when the following dialogue ensues...
Let me present you with evidence on how much he was hurt by that.
INQUISITOR: I trust my friends.
SOLAS: I know that mistake well enough to carve the angles of her face from memory.
We had already posited that the 'her' in the dialogue above was about Mythal. But back then, we had assumed it was because of the trust Mythal had in the evanuris that caused her death. What if it wasn't so? What if he was speaking of the trust HE had in HER?! He trusted Mythal to stand by him as he had stood by her. And she had failed him.

It could be that this is after her death, but something tells me this was before. Because Felassan's response to Mythal not joining them would be different if it was because she was dead.
So, we've established just how hung up he is about Mythal, because he has this vision of hers that might not even be true. He views her through the lens of adoration and worship that ends up putting her on a pedestal rather than view her as the flawed person she is. He could never be truly free unless he sets aside these feelings he has for her.
I also found it interesting that he has refused to visit the fragment of Mythal that was stuck to the dagger when she was killed. That fragment is the truest version of his friend as she was when she died. He refuses to acknowlege Flemeth and even Morrigan as Mythal.
Even in the end, it is this fragment of Mythal that he knows and remembers that releases him from her service. Because he wouldn't accept it from anyone else!
And with that established, let's move to the final part of this triptych.
The Inquisitor is a tricky one to analyse because they can be so many different things depending on the player. But for this essay, I will be focussing on Lavellan who romanced Solas and sought to change his heart.
On the Inquisitor:
She is everything that Solas believes is wrong with the veiled world his actions resulted in. A shadow of his people, tranquils with no connection to the Fade (especially true if Lavellan is not a mage). He also begins to believe that the anchor is what makes her who she is. That has to be the case, because any other explanation would make his future plans questionable!
But then, she walks into his life, curious and bright, kind and caring, asking him questions with an open heart! The first thing she does is assure him she would protect him from prosecution. She changes everything!
He tries to justify his feelings for her by assuming that the anchor has changed her. But nope! She shoots that down as well. She is truly herself, with or without the anchor. A rare and marvelous spirit.
Lavellan sees him for who he truly yearns to be seen as. Wisdom. She seeks to understand him and asks nothing in return. She is ready to help him whenever he asks for it, and even when he doesn't. She tells him he does not need to mourn alone, when his spirit friend passes!
His one true fear: Dying Alone... and she allays it by promising to be with him, no questions asked.
He almost decides to give it all up and stay with her... as just Solas. To be with the one true person who truly saw him beyond the cool and collected mask he wears. But he doesn't... In another world perhaps but not this one.
And so, he leaves her in the end, because his regrets are too much to be set aside so easily. He also sees bringing down the veil as an act of self-sacrifice, now more necessary than ever because this would mean She would live on happily in a world where his mistakes don't exist anymore. Also, he doesn't want her to see what he would become.
But she perseveres. Every time he pulls away, she reaches out. The parallels between the Solas/Mythal and Lavellan/Solas relationship is just *Chef's kiss*!
She represents Hope for me. And I'd say, she is true to her purpose that way. Even when things don't go the way she wishes it did, she still hopes. Her Hope springs eternal. And that is what saves her, Solas and the entirety of Thedas!
So, towards the end, her Hope burns bright against his Regret. But he is unable to see it until he sets his own regrets aside. And for that to happen, he needed Mythal to release him.
Mythal was his past. But Lavellan is his eternal future. It was up to him to move from one to the other.
Once he was free from that bondage, he could look towards Hope.
Only then could he truly see it... that she had seen him as he truly was, and she loved him... that she loves him still.
In the end, her love did endure, and how!

'Var lath vir Suledin' indeed!
#Dragon age the veilguard#deep dive analysis#Mythal#Solas#Lavellan#solavellan#implied Solythal??#da4#dragon age 4#Veilguard spoilers#Dragon Age Essay#Seriously long post
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Social Media Update: January 6 2022
The first post for the collective in 2022 to their socials was about their first cover of a magazine, Metal Hammer issue 357, that went on sale this day.
Behold, an expression of Worship from the @MetalHammer publication. Consume - http://bit.ly/buyhammer
[X]

Additional photos from the article, by Andy Ford.



Words by RICH HOBSON. Article can be found here: [Link]
Sleep Token are a Mystery
Anonymous members, no interviews and sold-out shows: Vessel et al have become a modern metal phenomenon. We followed them on tour to try and find out more.
The view from 2022
As Vessel doesnât talk, we predict the next 12 months on his behalf
What are his New Yearâs resolutions?
To ensure a Sleep shrine in every home in the UK, perfect for accepting His offerings. Also for Vessel to kill fewer people using his telekinetic abilities (see: the video for Alkaline) and to use them for something more constructive instead, like whale conservation.
Sleep Token vocalist Vessel stands in front of 1,500 people at Birminghamâs 02 Institute, and the room falls silent. All eyes are fixed on the masked and cloaked singer for a sign â any sign â that might betray some message or hidden meaning behind the bandâs mystique.
Whatâs going to be the biggest thing in metal in 2022?
âWe love you!â cries a young woman. Finally, the spell is broken, and the crowd erupt into cheers that Vessel politely acknowledges with a slight nod. Then he moves, and the church-like quietude falls again. Leaning towards the mic, for the briefest of moments it seems Vesselâs five years of almost total silence will end, with Birmingham about to receive gospel from one of metalâs most enigmatic forces. Instead, he clenches his hands together in a sign of gratitude, saying everything by saying absolutely nothing â and everyone loses their minds.
Sleep Token will engage in a holy war with Ghost, ultimately triumphing and ending the line of Papas. Satan will convert to Sleep worship, rendering the whole âsatanismâ thing redundant. Deicide will become door-todoor missionaries, converting people to the Sleep cause. Black metal musicians will end up switching to country, singing about the good olâ days when you could burn churches and burn inverted crucifixes into your head.
Weâre at the second night of Sleep Tokenâs eight-date UK tour, and since emerging in 2016, theyâve maintained an iron grip on their anonymity: they obscure their faces, they donât talk onstage, and they have only ever done one interview â with this very magazine in 2017. The closest comparison is Ghost, but even they had âNameless Ghoulsâ who acted as regular spokespeople until Tobias Forge eventually broke cover, a decade into the band. Itâs all very impressive â but who the hell are they?
What event or issue will define the world in 2022?
Hereâs what we know: in that 2017 interview, Vessel told us that their music is all in service to âSleepâ, a mysterious deity whose roots stretch back centuries.
Sleep Token will make history by hosting the first livestream to be beamed directly into your dreams. A bit like with U2 and Apple, the whole thing will cause a massive fuss but ultimately blow over. Mastodon will try to do the same and end up falling through space/ time like a live-action replication of Crack The Skye.
âHow we got here is as irrelevant as who we are â what matters is the music and the message,â they said. âWe are here to serve Sleep and project His message.â And⊠thatâs about it. Cheers for the insight, pal.
Despite â or perhaps because of â their secrecy, Sleep Token are fast becoming a cult sensation. While the lore is centred around Vessel, Sleep Token describe themselves as a collective, suggesting a collaborative effort between seasoned musicians, all feeding into the art. That may go some way to describe their fluid approach to genre, pulling elements of everything from tech metal and alternative to pop and R&B â part of a new breed of heavy bands who arenât afraid to embrace multiple genres, as well as nontraditional ways of working.
In 2019, they drip-fed a series of singles that eventually became their debut album, Sundowning, rather than going ahead with a straightforward release. Even though they couldnât tour during the pandemic, last Septemberâs This Place Will Become Your Tomb charted at No. 39 in the UK, and this current run will conclude at Londonâs 2,000-capacity Shepherdâs Bush Empire. Itâs no small feat.
âSleep Token are an expression of where metal is in the 2020s,â says Ihsahn, co-founder of black metal legends Emperor and pioneering avant garde solo artist, whoâs on the same label as the collective. âFrom the first time I heard them, I was completely intrigued â the way they mix modern metal elements with very dark moods, but also very clear, modern R&B-style production values.â
Sleep Token are by no means the first anonymous collective in metal, but their symbol-emblazoned masks, dark body paint, and use of everything from Nordic runes to Hindu symbology in their artwork have piqued the curiosity of metal fans and fellow musicians.
âItâs similar to what we had with the black metal scene, with the masks and mystery that helps to raise it all,â Ihsahn explains. âEmperor wouldnât be where they were without that theatricality, because we needed to do something to distance ourselves from the spotty teenagers we were!
âIt creates a clear distance and space between the art and the artist,â he continues. âIâve always appreciated artists who created that distance â going back, you can watch all these interviews with David Bowie but it never feels like you knew him. The art he created was an offering and you just had to try to understand it.â
Of course, with Vessel itâs even more difficult. Our attempt to get answers in 2017 was like grasping at mist: when we asked why they wished to remain anonymous, Vessel turned the conversation towards what he thought was truly important â the art itself. âOur identities are unimportant,â he said. âMusic is marketed on who is or isnât in a band; itâs pushed, prodded and moulded into something it isnât. Vessel endeavours to keep the focus on His offerings.â
When asked what the future held, Vessel simply replied: âNothing. Lasts. Forever.â Does that mean thereâs a time limit on the band? What the fuck is going on?
Itâs tinfoil hat time. Outside of live performances, Vessel has only appeared in music videos. His first onscreen appearance came as a shadowy, grasping figure in the 2016 video for Thread The Needle, before appearing maskless in the 2017 video for Calcutta â albeit with Slipknot/Before I Forget style editing that only showed his mouth, cheek and eye. Heâs become more prominent in recent videos â even telekinetically taking out a room of hazmat-suited goons in the video to Alkaline â but still no obvious, overarching narrative has emerged.
Elsewhere, his mask has made its own separate appearances. In the video for Fields Of Elation it floated free in a body of water, and in Nazareth it appeared standing alone in the videoâs final moments, before appearing in blink-and-youâll-miss-it moments in Jaws, where itâs worn by the videoâs star.
Which raises the question: is Vessel the man behind the mask, or something the mask brings forth?
Sleep Tokenâs acolytes have been searching for clues. In a Discord server set up by Coventry-based fan Chris, they pore over the bandâs lyrics, album artwork, music videos and merchandise in an attempt to decipher hidden meanings, like a metal take on The Da Vinci Code. âIt was actually through Metal Hammer that I got into the band,â
Chris tells us. âReading the interview with Vessel on the website, I wanted to find out more. I took to Reddit to see if there was a community for the band and at the time there wasnât, so I decided to create it.â
Now numbering more than 900 members, the group have become adept at deciphering codes left by the band. They discovered that a string of numbers featured on a t-shirt design were coordinates for a âwhale fallâ â an event where a whaleâs carcass falls to the ocean floor and becomes a source of nourishment for an entire ecosystem. When This Place Will Become Your Tomb was released, Benjamin, one of the admins, even took on the semi-joking role of Keeper Of The Lore, maintaining and steering discussions for each new song.
âI loved the hidden identities and world-building the band was presenting,â he explains. âThere was a whole experience outside of just the music. The new album features heavy imagery of a decomposing whale and the animals that would feed on it; a representation of life in death âa topic lyrically discussed by Vessel frequently â and eternal recurrence.â
The Discord continues to provide fascinating insights into what the band may â or may not â be exploring through their art. But without any form of âofficialâ statement on their theories, and with a potential fixed end point for Sleep Token, couldnât the fanatics be setting themselves up for disappointment down the road?
âNothing lasts forever â until then we Worship,â Chris says matter-of-factly.
Aside from discussions on mythology, the Discord has also become a social club that binds people together. âThe Discord community is amazing,â says New York-based fan Veronica, aka BluKittie. âThere are people from all over the world and we share the same love and passion for the band. We are always there for each other. Last year my father passed away and the members of the community helped me through that rough time, and still do. I am just happy to have found friends there.â
An hour before Birminghamâs 02 Institute opens, the queue is already snaking down the street as far as the eye can see.
At the bandâs request, weâre not allowed backstage lest we see their faces, but we do speak to their support act, solo artist AA Williams. Like Sleep Token, sheâs found an audience with metallers even though her music spans alternative, pop, soul and metal âa sound weâve previously tagged as âdeath gospelâ.
âI think we work pretty well together,â she says. âItâs great to see an artist who is able to explore both pop and really heavy music without the need to hold back or overcompensate on either element. The shifts in dynamics really come to life live, and their crowd utterly lap it up â itâs like going to church.â
Are there any difficulties that come from playing with such a secretive act? Has anyone tried to get her to reveal Sleep Tokenâs identity? âWell, itâs not like weâve had to sign NDAs or anything,â she says. âAt the same time, you do want to make sure youâre not impinging on their privacy, and respecting their choice to present their art in a particular way. If anyone asks who they are, I think Iâll make up a celebrity â itâs Robert De Niro. Next question â ha ha ha!â
Tonight AA commands rapt attention, but thereâs no competing with the headliners. All chatter is silenced as the room plunges into darkness. Moments later, Vessel strides onto the stage alone to cheers of approval, his mask the only thing visible against now-muted lighting. He tinkles the ivories for Atlantic and the crowd are soon singing along to every word, even though the album has barely been out two months.
AA WILLIAMS
For 90 minutes, Sleep Token hold attention in a way that defies logic. How can a band that donât speak be so damned expressive? Compared to the stagecraft of bombastic arena bands such as Iron Maiden or Sabaton, Sleep Token are low key, but Vessel radiates gravitas, his twisting and grasping movements bringing to mind the theatrics of interpretive dance, where each flick of the wrist could be conveying some hidden meaning. The fans are utterly enraptured, moshing and singing along with religious fervour, lending credence to the bandâs social media descriptions of their shows as âritualsâ.
As it was in Birmingham, so it is in Glasgow, Sheffield, Dublin and beyond. By the time the tour arrives at Londonâs sold-out Shepherdâs Bush Empire, itâs clear that, much like Ghost before them, Sleep Token are fast outpacing their status as a cult phenomenon, smaller academies no longer able to contain their rapidly growing fanbase.
If Birmingham was about reverence, London is outright revelry â an irrepressible crowd engaging in a bacchanalian frenzy that has little to do with the extortionate bar prices and everything to do with the explosive performance unfolding onstage. And then, a couple of lads start Cossack dancing in the middle of a circle pit. Sleep help usâŠ
Not to be outdone, Sleep Token bring out their own dance troupe for Fall For Me. Not that they need any help capturing peopleâs attention: here, Sleep Token are preaching to the converted, a cult threatening to spill over into the mainstream.
No one knows what direction Sleep Token will go in next, and itâs not as if theyâre about to tell us. But then, thatâs how things have always been with the band â each release a mystery that fans canât wait to unwrap. âWhen I heard the second album, there was no indication of where they were going, so in my mind it just had so many seeds of development,â Ihsahn says. âThereâs more maturity and thereâs clearly something they are building towards, though exactly what that is, is impossible to sayâŠâ
Perhaps the stock answer from Vessel, five years on, would still be ânothing lasts foreverâ. Will they push their sound even further? Will they start conducting interviews? Will they ever unmask? Right now, anything is possible â and thatâs what makes Sleep Token so exciting.
#sleep token#sleep token archive#social media updates#metal hammer issue 357#sleep token focused articles
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Happy Pride Month! đłïžâđđłïžââ§ïž As a webcomic publisher and service provider run by LGBTQ+ staff, Hiveworks takes pride in supporting LGBTQ+ creators and sharing unique stories that resonate with our community. We host dozens of comics with diverse casts of characters, all free to read right now.â â Here's a spotlight on just a few of our queer titles!
Ride Or Die by @marsoid
After finding a car once owned by his mother, Lucky and his childhood-crush Vick are launched into the world of street racing in an effort to learn more about her. But what they don't know is something's lurking under the hood of the car, something fueled by revenge...and gasoline. Itâs Christine meets Ghost Rider meets Fast and Furious but gayer!
Alice and the Nightmare by @mishacakes
Alice and the Nightmare is a comic heavily inspired by Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. It follows the story of Alice Heart as she attends the prestigious Phantasmagoria University, where Wonderlandians like her train to enter and collect the dreams of sleeping humans. The comic features magic, dark fantasy elements, and plenty of sweet tea time treats!
Nix of Nothing by @mleelunsford
Nix of Nothing is the story of Nix, a demigod, who was given the opportunity to live however they wish. But with some unknown divine force targeting them, their life has suddenly become a lot less free. Now they need to travel across a strange land full of danger and mystery to try and find peace once again. The main character Nix (and the author) are both non-binary, and the comic will also feature many more LGBTQ characters!
Lies Within by @byelacey
Lysander lacks direction in his life⊠though he seems to be the only one who doesnât mind. Heâs content to live rent-free under his sisterâs roof, get high, watch monster movies, and canoodle with Simon, the new neighbour who moved in a few months ago. When Lys is attacked one night by a strange intruder in his kitchen, itâs soft, quiet Simon who comes to his aid. In the process, he exposes Lys to a deadly secret: Monsters are real, and theyâre tired of living humanityâs shadow.
#queer comics#webcomics#comics#lgbt comic#lgbt series#nix of nothing#alice and the nightmare#lies within#ride or die
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My honest review of PART 1 (that nobody asked for but I wanna talk about it)
âŒïž SPOILER FOR S4 pt.1 (obviously but still a fair warning) âŒïž
After watching the entirety of part one I have to admit that I am a bit confused by my own reaction âcause there are so many little things that I loved and missed about the show and we finally found back, but at the same time on the overall it kind of disappointed me a little how much time was taken away from the important things and going straight to the pointâŠit was mainly ruined by Topper and Sofiaâs storylines, both incredibly boring, repetitive and totally unnecessary.
I gotta say I LOVED episode 1 and episode 5 and half of episode 2, they had me hooked and got me really into the Outer Banks feels from S1 both in terms of adventure and Pogues dynamics, but I feel like half of episode 2 and episodes 3-4 nothing really big happened and there was just a lot of filler scenes, in terms of plot and storyline for the treasure hunt all that happened in 4 episodes is that they found the necklace and lost it, just in episode 5 they actively move forward.
There was so much unnecessary stuff that felt like plot fillers, probably gonna get a good portion of the fandom against this statement âcause I know the character got so many fans, but Rafe? The amount of scenes he got with Sofia repeating the same thing over and over was too much in my opinion, it felt like fan service just to get Drew on screen as much as possible. The whole Sofia character and storyline is actually insane to me how much screen time and attention got, no offense butâŠwho cares? Itâs kind of crazy that we got scenes of Sofiaâs home, family, relationship, insecurities and background BEFORE WE EVEN GOT CLEOâS!
Too much screentime and too much attention to background characters (IMMENSELY background) that the audience could not care less about, especially when it came to the expenses of the main characters story and depth. This goes for Sofia just like Topper and quite frankly also Terrance.
Sofia is a character that we barely saw one season ago for a total of probably 2-3 minutes, now sheâs taking up minutes upon minutes and various scenes IN EACH EPISODE and to repeat the same thing over and over againâŠI feel like one scene would have been enough to understand she doesnât fit in with the Kooks and therefore she turns on Rafe, also there hasnât been no built ups whatsoever neither over her or her relationship with Rafe. As i said we barely ever saw this character, why or how is the audience supposed to care or empathize with her? Why is the audience supposed to care all of a sudden about Rafe and Sofiaâs relationship? It went from 0 to 100 out of nowhere, from the most irrelevant thing last season to now apparently being the entire storyline for Rafe. There would have been so many more interesting things to see about Rafeâs behavior after his fatherâs death, how he lost it, how heâs reacting and clearly trying to become the man Ward was, but no it was just âgotta invest and be good for me and SofiaââŠnone of the things he cared for (and literally went psycho for) were explored with any depth: his family, the gold, the familyâs property at Tanny Hill he wanted to keep, how he said heâd seek revenge if anything happened to Ward etc.
Topper as wellâŠdid they not get the memo last season of how tired the audience is of his repetitive storyline? He comes, insults the Pogues, digs at John B about Sarah and blablabla, still WHO CARES? And who cares he got a girlfriend or that he has something to prove to her? Who cares that he hosts parties and who cares he was there surfing and causing problems with the Pogues? Who cares about this Ruth girl suddenly beefing with Kie? This has been done and over for 4 seasons now, we couldâve just seen him talk to Rafe once and impress his girlfriend about the investments on the land which is the only relevant thing for the plot.
And Iâm probably gonna sound like a bitch here but Terrance as well, was it necessary? I mean, the only good thing about it is that we FINALLY got a tiny little minuscule bit of backstory for Cleo but even that was sooooo superficial. Once again they wanted the audience to empathize with something that was portrayed so minimally. Terrance reappeared out of nowhere without any explanation, told Cleo to comply and diedâŠdamn we couldâve at least seen a little more of that bond he and Cleo had, have him be there a little more for a couple of episodes, see him look out for Cleo and save her to empathize a bit more with his death and even find out more about Cleoâs upbringing since itâs something related to one of the main characters, but no.
Sofia, Topper, Ruth, Terrance and Iâm sorry but Iâm gonna include even Rafe in this list, are all characters that have no relevance anymore for the show and might as well not be there at all, they donât add anything valuable to this story and just take away time from the plot with irrelevant and marginal scenes that no one cares about.
I guess my overall disappointment is that a lot of the Pogueâs storyline got put too much on the side and brushed off way too quickly for the sake of irrelevant characters who got way more screentime than needed to the point it started getting boring/irritating.
Barely saw Sarah and John B mourning their fathers, not even slightly explored the evident fear of John B turning into his dad that was just blurted out of nowhere by Pope, Popeâs family thatâs been a constant in this series is nowhere to be seen, Kiaraâs family dynamic and storyline is brushed off ENTIRELY with a 3 seconds flashbacks and with her parents suddenly being at the ceremony without a clue on what happened in between, Cleoâs backstory that was promised to us was just a quick show up in one episode of an old character and one line âhe raised me since I was 13ââŠand can we talk about JJâs reunion with Luke?
It was probably the most anticipated plot and one of the things the audience cared the most about and it felt so anticlimactic, same thing for the discovery of JJâs parents. A MASSIVE PLOT TWIST in the main storyline of a main character blurted out like that so casually? Solved in one episode in a handful of minutes of screentime? I was actually getting really excited about the build up towards JJâs past âcause I feel like they were doing a pretty good job with the hints and the subtle way it was getting anticipated that JJâs mom was the woman who died and then Luke comes back without any type of suspense and in two minutes of screentime âI gotta tell you I am not your father and that wasnât your motherâ just like that, as if the Maybanks storyline isnât what defined the entirety of JJâs character and personality. There was so much more depth that couldâve gone into their reunion with mixed emotions and there couldâve been waaaay more pathos about JJ discovering his true identity. It was just thrown out there after 3 minutes on screen with his dad.
Even all the couples and ships, we saw more of Rafe and Sofiaâs relationship than we saw JJ and Kiara (perhaps the most anticipated ship) or Pope and Cleo.
I feel like even the whole treasure hunt was moving so slowly and got put in the background, the only real high was in half of episode 2 with the scuba diving portion and in episode 5 when they actually go do something and they are in the catacombs, Iâd include Cleoâs kidnapping but once again it got done and solved so minimally and once again interrupted by scenes with Rafe, Sofia and Topper when we couldâve been on the suspense for Cleo.
Personally I think that what people really missed about S1 ans S2 was the Pogues dynamic (which I ADORED so far in part one and this is something that to me made the whole season dear to me, finally theyâre back with their essence) but also how action packed the show was EVERY EPISODE, back then it was almost as if each episode was its own mission for every discovery and every adventure they went on, it was a constant âonto the next moveâ and so high on adrenaline and action around the treasure hunt and I donât know, it overall felt so slow this time and like they did so little discovery except the necklace and the crown (which was just mentioned).
And I gotta be real here, the reason why I say episode 1 and 5 (and half of 2) were my favorite was indeed because it was PACKED with the Pogues, the catch up to their story, their dynamic, moves being made in the plot with the treasureâŠand MOSTLY because they had the least interruption from all that Sofia and Topper boring stuffs that just kept breaking the flow of the story with irrelevant scenes.
I know that at this point Iâm sounding so negative and believe me, the first person saddened about this is me. I was so excited for this season AND I STILL AM but I gotta admit, I really loved a lot of things (and Iâll probably show my excitement during the wait for part 2 with a lot of things I want to rewatch, theorize about and obsess over) but also I couldnât get past my annoyance over the superficiality the main characters personal storylines suffered from compared to the excessive importance it was given to background characters.
And once again Iâm sure my excitement over the episodes I just watched will probably build up in the wait for part 2 but itâs because Iâll be able to control where to direct my interest and attention concentrating more on the things I liked and found interesting, but I gotta say that my gut reaction on first impact while watching for the first time is that something kept breaking the flow of the storytelling so far (what I just explained about the excessive irrelevant subplots).
Get more screentime and more depth to our Pogues feelings and personal storiesâŠWE DONâT CARE ABOUT SOFIA AND TOPPER!!
#outer banks#obx#obx netflix#outer banks netflix#obx4#obx s4#john b routledge#jj maybank#pope heyward#sarah cameron#kiara carrera#cleo outer banks#jarah#jiara#cleope#rafe cameron#topper thornton
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[Translation] Shylock Sonatina 2025 SSR Card: Let me serve you
The event is crazy lol. Enjoy seeing Shylock almost makes himself killed by Oz-- Characters: Shylock, Oz, Akira Event: Sonatina of the Perverse and Intoxicating Service
Card Story: Whispered words, sweet and deep.
Episode 1
Akira:Â Oz, could you help me move that case over there? It's a bit heavy...
Oz:Â Understood.
The lounge of the "Selfish and Capricious Servants" is being hosted by Shylock.
After a hugely successful business day, we are preparing to return to the Magic Manor.
Akira:Â Shylock, is this stylish bottle of juice something we should take back to the Manor?
Shylock:Â No, let's drink it here. Would you like to join me for a break?
Akira:Â Wow, really? Then I'll gladly accept...
Oz: .âŠâŠ..
Shylock:Â Lord Oz, please join us if you'd like.
Oz:Â No, I...
Akira:Â I won't force you, but I'd be happy if you could drink with us, Oz.
Oz:Â ...If it's a request from the Sage.
Shylock:Â Then please, both of you, sit here.
Akira:Â ...Thinking about it again, "Selfish and Capricious Servants" is quite a theme, isn't it?I IÂ also received a request from a customer, but when it came time to do it, I became flustered...
Shylock:Â Fufu, I think to the customers, your naivety was also part of your charm. Donât you think so too, Lord Oz?
Oz: âŠYou did your best. There's no need to worry.
Akira:Â You two... thank you! If there's another time, I'll do my best!
Shylock:Â In that case, instead of waiting for another time, how about we have a little role-playing now?
Akira:Â Huh, now?
Shylock:Â Yes, I'll play the role of a customer, and you can freely play the role of a "selfish and capricious servant" in your own way.
The special liqueur honey that overflows from your action will surely have a special taste that no one else can create.
A special taste... That is proof that we were able to satisfy the customers who visited this lounge.The magical tool for storing the honey is now empty and sits at the back of the counter.
Akira:Â (Offering something to Shylock is nerve-wracking, but since it's a good opportunity, let's do it.)
Encouraged by Shylock's words, I quietly turn my gaze to Oz, whoâs standing at the counter seat.
Akira:Â Um, if you'd like, Oz...
Oz:Â I don't intend to play house.
Akira: Ah, of course, you don't have to be a servant! I just thought it would be nice if I could serve various customers when I had the chance. It's okay if you just stay as you are...
Oz:Â ...In that case, I will accept.
Shylock:Â To think that the day would come when I would sit next to Lord Oz as a customer... I'm a little nervous myself.
Oz:Â There is no need for customers to interact deeply with each other.
Shylock:Â Fufu, yes, I'll keep that in mind and enjoy myself as well.
Episode 2
Oz:Â ...
Akira:Â (I wonder if I can manage this with Oz and Shylock...)
While I nervously wipe the glasses, the door bell rings with a "chime."
Shylock:Â Hello. Are you open?
Akira:Â ...! (Shylock is acting like a customer. Then, I should act like a selfish servant...)
Akira:Â Wha, what are you here for?
Shylock:Â Haha, what am I here for? To drink some wine, of course. Excuse me, sir, would you mind if I sit next to you?
Oz: .âŠ..
Akira:Â (Heâs talking casually to Oz! It's so refreshing...!)
Shylock:Â You're a very polite servant. Are you new? And... I don't think I've seen you before either? Perhaps you're a traveler? I'd love to hear some stories.
Akira:Â (He's putting his hand on Oz's shoulder... He's being quite pushy, I wonder if it's okay?)
Oz: .âŠâŠ
Akira:Â (Oh... I guess it didn't work...)
Just when I feel Oz's quiet anger and my back turns cold, Shylock smoothly moves closer to Oz and whispers something in his ear.
Shylock:Â Please forgive my rudeness. It's all part of the act to entertain Master Sage.
Oz: .âŠâŠ ...There won't be next time.
Shylock:Â Thank you for your understanding. Now then, little servant. I'll have a red wine. And you, traveler?
Oz:Â I'll have the same.
Akira:Â (Oz went along with it? I don't know what happened, but... Okay! Now itâs my turn...!) I'm not in the mood. Both of you, don't give me orders.
After saying those powerful words, both of their gazes turn towards me.
Akira: (Uh oh⊠I hope I didn't make them feel bad... It's harder than I imagined to be selfish while still entertaining them...)
While frantically searching for my next line, I suddenly meet Shylock's eyes.
Akira:Â (...How would Shylock handle this?)
I pick up a bottle with a stylish label that is on the counter.
Akira:Â Instead of wine, I'm in the mood for this juice right now. IÂ think we'll enjoy a different flavor than usual if we drink it together... Will you grant my selfish request?
Shylock:Â (Oh. This is... Fufufu) Of course, this is your bar after all. What about you, sir?
Oz:Â Yes. If that's what you wish.
Akira:Â (Great!)
I finally feel like I'm getting the hang of it. Feeling my tense body relax, I pour juice into the three glasses.
Akira:Â Then... to this encounter... Cheers!
Shylock & Oz:Â Cheers.
Episode 3
Thanks to the cheerful customer and the quiet traveler, time passes enjoyably--When the role-playing comes to an end, Shylock returns to the counter, and Oz quietly leaves the lounge.
Akira:Â That was... It ended up feeling like a drinking party towards the end, didn't it? Oz seemed to be drinking quite a bit too...
Shylock: Because it was Master Sage who was playing the role of the selfish servant that Lord Oz was able to watch over us warmly, I'm sure. I also got carried away and went a little overboard.
Akira:Â You certainly gave me a bit of a scare when you put your hand on Oz's shoulder...
Shylock: I apologize for making you worry. But I'm glad that I was able to deliver both thrill and pleasure to Master Sage.
Akira:Â I'm glad it worked out somehow. Actually, I based this performance on Shylock.
Shylock:Â Oh, really? So that means that from your perspective, I'm... "selfish and laid-back"?
Akira: What!? N-no!! I donât mean you're selfish, not at all! Shylock is always true to himself no matter who he's with... I felt that heâs very charming to talk to, so I thought it might give me some hints, so...
Shylock:Â Fufu, I'm just kidding. It's not my intention to make you uncomfortable. It was a very refreshing experience to be able to know how you see me.
Akira:Â Thanks god... hearing that makes me feel relieved. Speaking of refreshing, I was surprised that you weren't using honorifics, Shylock! Even though I knew it was acting, I was a little nervous...
Shylock:Â Oh, I'm glad you enjoyed it. However...
Akira:Â ......?
Shylock:Â .........
Akira:Â (Ah.........)
A bewitching smile approaches closely, making my heart jump.Then, as if toying with my heart, Shylock whispers sweetly in my ear.
Shylock:Â I wanted to see more of your own selfishness, not just imitating mine.
Akira:Â Sh-Shylock!? This is also part of the act, right!?
Shylock: ......Well, I wonder? I want to taste the honey created because Master Sageâs pleased with my words...
Akira:Â Huh, honey...?
Shylock: I'm more selfish than you think I am, you knowâŠ
Akira:Â !?!?!?
The last whispered words, sweet and deep, vibrate my eardrums-- Beside me, who was about to get dizzy, I heard the sound of a drop falling with a "plop."
Card Episode: In a natural and comfortable way
Akira:Â Good evening.
Shylock:Â Welcome. It's unusual to see you so late at night.
Akira:Â Actually... I took a nap and now I can't fall back asleep.
Shylock:Â Fufu, adorable. I was just hoping for someone to talk to myself. If you don't mind, would you keep me company until you get sleepy? Please, have a seat.
Akira:Â ...It's really different after all.
Shylock:Â Master Sage?
Akira:Â Oh, I'm sorry! IÂ was just thinking about how I imitated you a little while back, after we opened a lounge in the Western Country the other day. IÂ ended up acting pretty self-centered, but the real thing is completely different. Even if you're acting as you please, you don't make others feel youâre selfish, and you make them feel comfortable...
Shylock: You're a sinful one. Itâs you who makes me feel comfortable.
Akira:Â Huh?
Shylock:Â IÂ suddenly want a drink myself. Would you join me?
Akira:Â Of course!
Shylock:Â Thank you. I was hoping to put you to sleep as soon as possible, but... please allow me this selfish request.
=== Home-screen Voiceline ===
"Welcome, Owen. I had a feeling you'd come, so I prepared some sweet cocktail recipes. I have a wide variety to choose from, from refreshing fruit-based ones to rich, creamy ones. Please, help yourself to whatever you like."
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back on my "too many ideas when i already have enough" shit again... drabble/wip of ex-boyfriend soap x fem!reader [very wip/unfinished btw. also implied stalking? kinda?]
You sigh softly and settle into the couch while you wait for your boyfriend to get done washing up in the bathroom. It was going to be a great nightâjust you, your boyfriend, and some nice movies to spend your Friday night after a long and arduous week at work. Wrapping your blanket around yourself and tucking it in just so, you then grab the remote to open up the streaming service hosting your favorite movie.
Unfortunately, youâre rudely interrupted by a knock at your door. A bit strange considering how late it was, but you wouldnât want to be rude, so you reluctantly get up and pad over to the door. You straighten your night clothesâone of your boyfriendâs t-shirts and a pair of shorts that some would deem inappropriateâand take a peek through the peephole.
The sight that greets you is a very unwelcome one. Half of you wants to just ignore the person on the other side and move on, but you just canât help yourself.
âJohnny, how did you find me? I never gave you this address,â You hiss at him when the door is open enough for him to just see your face. The look on his face is almost pitiful; he looks like a poor little wounded puppy, staring at you with those bright blue eyes.
âWe need to talkââ
âWe donât need to âtalkâ about anything. Go away.â You start to close the door, but his hand sliding between the door and the doorframe halts you. âJohnny, seriously, leaveââ
He ignores you and pulls the door open wider, his strength winning out over yours. âIâm not leaving âtil you hear me out. JustâŠâ His words peter off into a sigh, and he looks at the ground. âJust let me in, yeah? At least for a little while.â
âNo. Get out of here, now.â You pull on the door, trying to close it against his grip.
The sound of footsteps coming down the hallway draws your attention away from Johnny and you turn to look at the source, your boyfriend. âBabydoll? Whoâs at the doorâitâs almost 9 o'clock.â His voice is gravelly, his exhaustion peeking through in his tone. This was the last thing you needed: your boyfriend coming into contact with your asshole ex.
âItâs no one, he was just leaving, actually. Isnât that right?â Your eyes narrow at the man standing in your front doorway, your frown deepening. Johnny isnât listening to a word you say, though, his gaze focused on your boyfriend.
âWho the fuck is this?â Johnny almost sounds offended at the very concept of you finding someone new to spend your time with. The hostility is mirrored in your boyfriend as he takes wide steps over to you, wrapping a possessive arm around your waist and pulling you to his side, a show of his claim over you.
âI could ask you the same thing,â your boyfriend practically growls, all of his sluggishness gone in an instant. âWhat are you doing on my doorstep, huh?âJohnny takes a step forward and squares his shoulders. âWhat are you doing with your hands all over my girlfriend?â
[is this anything. idk if i'm even going anywhere with this but we'll see? more soap on my masterlist]
#john soap mactavish#john soap mactavish x reader#johnny soap mactavish#johnny soap mactavish x reader#john mactavish x reader#soap x reader#soap mactavish x reader#john soap mactavish x fem!reader#soap mw2#soap mw3#soap modern warfare#soap modern warfare 2#mw2 soap#mw3 soap#mw2#mw3#modern warfare 3#modern warfare 2#cod mw2#cod mw3#cod mwii#cod mwiii
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Chapter: "The Dark Witch's warning"
The Dark Witch, they called her. Known throughout Hyper city for many reasons. Transformation services, potions, her eerie appearance, the tower in which she resides, but more importantly, her affinity for monsters.
Creatures of the night, eldritch horrors, spirits, the witch has a fascination with them all. Often labeled as dangerous just for existing, sometimes actually dangerous, but always interesting.
That witch is Iris. Iris is hyper city's transformation witch and has a Fondness of all things supernatural and arcane. One of the darkmage nugget system, famous for running a studio that houses a lab underneath. Years before Animal HRT hit hyper city, It was when the original owner of the body, Ashe offered herself as an experiment to the lab owner, the witch appeared. And the rest of us.
Ashe, the original host. Former human. Now kitsune. Runs the darkmage nugget studio. She now has the ability to change her shape at any time. Uses it to be a fox.
Iris, the dark witch with a skill for energy manipulation and transformation. Needs her magic to transform unlike Ashe. But now owns the body after Ashe couldn't feel connected to it.
Aqua, an elf with strong connection to the sea and a desire to write. Trapped in nightmares for 15 years before the experiments. Leaving her a walking shadow at times.
Chaos, a destructive gremlin hellbent on causing mayhem. Trouble find us and she is the first to step up to the fight.
Mira, A crystal fairy construct capable of multiplying herself up to 30 identical copies. Organizes things in our head.
Aria, former strong silent type, now basically a puppy with muscles. Sweet, but still willing to protect everyone.
We were always a presence in Ashe's head since she was young. But the experiments brought us to the front. 6 souls inhabiting the body of the dark witch. When we aren't in the studio, or around town, we reside in Iris' tower just off the park in hyper city. a round tower that sits in the middle of a small yard fenced off with stone. A witch hat made of bricks covers the top of the tower, that overlooks the city and the surrounding woods.
Iris in particular though, found herself with a curiosity she needed to satisfy. The monsters and mysteries of hyper city. Is there more too them? More than meets the eye? In some instances, she also found herself weirdly attracted by the monsters that roam the city. Finding beauty where the rest of the world shuns away. This led to her often interacting with those cast out. Those who aren't human. And hyper city was the perfect place to satiate that desire for the unknown.
A city in the center of realities, in the middle of all possibilities. Iris soon was going to make the possibilities hers. She was often seen making deals or helping out the various creatures and horrors she came across. Earning her the title of⊠"The Dark Witch" as most humans began to fear her. At least until they know her. Then they realize, magic aside, She's actually very friendly when she wants to be. And even helped in making the animal HRT her friends have utilized to transform their bodies to their will.
This though was the move that led to this encounter.
One particularly stressful day, Ashe had left the studio to head home. But was on her way to stop for some food and anything heavily caffeinated. (Required for all the things we do).
As she turned a corner she found her heart suddenly sinking. every nerve in her body in shock. Frozen in fear as the fur on her paws and tails stood on end. Something was coming. Quickly, Ashe began to call to Iris. This was her specialty after all. Iris quickly came to front. Taking a moment to make the body hers again as she wasn't used to using Ashe's paws or her tails. Summoning her staff, she questioned what was around that corner.
Only to see a sad looking eldritch creature. Keeping an ear out, she could hear people around calling the being a freak or hiding in fear. they looked ready to cry. A quick read of her energy and Iris knew she wasn't a threat. But to everyone else, She looked like the most horrifying thing they could see.
Not iris. iris had the ability to read aura's by concentrating on a person's energy. And hers was all over the place. But Iris recognized a small hint in the overwhelmingly powerful aura of fear. Some of that energy, was hers. Twisted and distorted by some outside forces, but this definitely the result of the Animal HRT tablets. But wherever she got these ones, they had very little of the original left, and it was extremely powerful.
"FREAK! MONSTER! get out of here!" was shouted at her from those she passed. And iris was growing quite tired of this. using her staff, gem glowing on the end strongly, she called on a circle with a single word.
"Mute" Iris said as the spell was cast. Suddenly, the sounds of the crowd were drowned out. All went silent. Though they still moved. A temporary effect, but just enough for them to take notice of Iris just there. A glare from the glowing yellow eye piercing the gaze of the crowd as they pieced together what had happened and ran.
"Hey. You okay?" Iris asked the horror before her.
No response as she was a bit confused as to what was happening. What was with this witch? even magical beings tend to fear her.
"Don't know where you are heading. But that had to get pretty annoying. I'm Iris. your name is?"
âŠ
She began to speak up. Looking to figure this situation out.
"Mars. Alright. What's your angle."
Not even realizing the distortion she was doing with her face and the accidental piercing stare with her eyes.
"I'm a witch who can see into your very being past the admittedly strong fear aura you emit. But beyond that, I have a pretty big interest both in what you are, and where you got your humanity removal treatment."
"WHAT!? How do you-" "My energy is all over that fear aura. but you definitely got that from somewhere i haven't given that info to. you don't have to talk here, especially with others watching.. But know I am someone you can turn to and want to support you."
Iris reaches into the air and snaps her fingers. in a small flame a card appears in her hands.
"My tower is just past the woods in the park. if you ever need help, look me up and use that card to come to my tower."
"I'll consider it. But for now, I need to get going. I'm running late as is." Mars responds. not knowing what to make of this conversation and wanting to leave it as soon as possible.
"That's fine. But I do need you to knowâŠ" Iris' eyes turn to mars her one eye showing more piercing than ever. "Something latched on to a spell i created."
Perhaps you know what happened to make it so, but there are probably eyes on you. The tower is blocked from all outside eyes. No matter how powerful. If you need help, Do not hesitate to seek it."
Iris then begins to walk away. Leaving more questions than answers with Mars. Iris did always like being a little cryptic. Not many know what is going on in her head. But one thing she always takes seriously is when someone messes with her spells.
End Chapter
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I wanted to do more to establish Iris. And Mars' ( @dawning-mars ) latest page brought a few ideas I've wanted to write down for a few days now. One moment of "Why would ancient texts spawn a modern pill bottle" thoughts later, this story was born. Had fun writing again as usual. ^-^
#plural#plurality#animal hrt#Hyper City#The Dark Witch#Writing#Chapter#short story#Iris#Ashe#Aqua Short story
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All FarmsâŠ
Javier Peña



Summary: Javier has to decide what to do with the ranch
Warnings/Tags: grief, loss, hurt (no comfort?), ranch/farm used interchangeably here.
Notes: I started this on Christmas after walking my grandparents farm which happens to be the same farm I lived on for the first 7 years of my life. My grandparents are getting older which has sparked a lot of conversation with what will happen to the farm when they're gone. Fast forward to now, I'm currently processing a lot of feelings this Easter weekend. I lost my step dad last year. He was a farmer too. After his cancer diagnosis, all of us kids (there are ALOT of us) came home for Easter. It was the last time I saw him look like himself and the last time we were all together before he died. In my processing, I started working on this piece again. It's one of those things I need to put out into the world for me. I hope for anyone else going through something similar, it brings you comfort or makes you feel not quite so alone.
Peep the cow picture. I took that one myself at Christmas :)
Words: 966
Author Master List
All farms have a graveyard. One of lost memories and stories. Typically along a ridge or tree line, piled-up equipment that was never sold or broken beyond repair sits in overgrown piles and sunken earth. The old family car. The beat-up sports car or pickup truck each son or sometimes daughter inevitably thought they could fix only to spend hundreds of fruitless hours with one glory ride before it went haywire. Scrap metal torn from barn roofs pile up. Every tire imaginable is half buried in the earth. No farmer dares to clean out the graveyard. The moment you do, youâll find use or need for the items thrown out.Â
The PeĆaâs graveyard sits between scattered trees at the bottom of the hill. Javier rarely makes his way to that side of the farm. They donât use that space for cattle since his dad downsized the herd. He pretends thereâs no reason for it, but itâs more than just broken down cars and scrap piles to Javier. Itâs a ghost town of memories.Â
Thereâs his momâs â62 Ford. The one she drove his whole childhood. The vehicle that took them across town, to Sunday services, and hosted their many road trips. Itâs where his Mom feels most tangible, her soft voice playing in his head singing to the radio.Â
His first truck. The one heâd spent months fixing up, he kissed Sally Jones on a Saturday night and done much more with Vanessa Reyes. Heâs proposed to Lorraine in that truck, driven past the church in it too.Â
Chuchoâs first American Harvester sits further back. His dad is so proud of that machine⊠or he was.Â
The ache grows in Javierâs chest as he stands at the edge of the graveyard. He begged Chucho for years to clean this up. His dad always waved him off, stating that he would get to it someday. Except, Chucho didnât make it to someday, and now it is Javierâs responsibility. Â
His fingers twitch, desperate for the feel of a cigarette between them. Nicorette gum sits in his breast pocket instead. Heâs working to quit again, picking the worst damn time to do it, but thatâs life.Â
He should probably bring the tractor down to pull everything out. Itâs overwhelming with no good place to start. Digging around down there will only dig up the memories. Javier canât deal with the memories right now, so he leaves the project for another day. He only needs to clean it up if he decides to sell the ranch.Â
The house is quiet when he walks through the door. Javier is used to the subtle sounds of life- the coffee pot going, the tv running on low, Chuchoâs boots on the linoleum, but it never comes. It wonât ever come again.Â
Javier kicks off his boots, lining them right next to his dadâs. He hasnât moved them. Heâs not sure he will.Â
He heads for the back of the house toward his room but stops at his Dadâs door. Itâs shut tight as he places a hand on the wood. Javier hasnât gone in there since picking out clothes. Itâs a strange thing to pick out clothes for a dead man. How does one pick out what someone will wear for the rest of eternity?Â
His hand lands on the knob, and it gives way with a squeak. The same squeak that used to echo down the hall, waking Javier up before the sun to let him know it was time for chores. Javier is flooded with the comforting scent of his father. It envelopes him, pulling tears into his eyes immediately. The bed is fixed just as Chucho had left it before he went out and started the chores just as he always did. Except that day, almost a month ago now, Chucho Peña didnât return to the house.Â
He collapsed in the field. He was already gone when Javier found him. He died alone and that hurt almost as much as the fact that he was gone.Â
A thin layer of dust covers the surfaces in the room. He should clean it, but would it lose its smell then? In here, Javier feels surrounded by his father. The closest he can get to him. His room, the one he shared with Javierâs mother, is perfectly preserved.Â
Javier dares to ease onto the bed and look at the world from Chuchoâs perspective every day as he woke up. On the dresser, thereâs a photo of his parents when they first started dating, and one from Javierâs high school graduation. On the bedside table, thereâs a book with a bookmark halfway through, a picture from his parentâs wedding day, and another of Chucho on the tractor with Javier in his lap. He couldnât have been older than two at the time. Javier traces it with his finger, wishes he could remember that moment, wishes he could go back in time and relive it all, even the bad days, and treasure it all, ask his dad more questions, called him more often.
Javier lays down on his parents' bed. Chuchoâs scent is thicker here with Javierâs head on his pillow. Big, hot tears fall from the corners of his eyes dampening the pillow. He rests his hands over his chest, letting his eyes close. Javier can hear his voice now, his laughter, catches a hint of his motherâs as well. Itâs Javierâs job to carry on their legacy.
All farms have a graveyard. One of lost memories and stories. No farmer dares to clean out the graveyard. When a tractor kicks the dust or that farm use pickup can only be stripped for parts, Javier follows in his fatherâs footsteps. He lays them to rest between scattered trees at the bottom of the hill.
#javier peña#javier peña fanfiction#narcos#javier peña narcos#narcos fanfiction#pedro pascal#ppcu fanfiction#pedro stories#pedrostories
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Hewooo!! I really loved the oneshot of Collection of Overlords and I have an idea for part 2 if you don't mind! (I'm a different person btw) (I THINK THIS IS ALSO VERY LONG OMG)
A few weeks after reader moved in the hotel, Vox would occasionally try to challenge Alastor in stupid games here and there cause yk
It was amusing so Alastor just played along the stupidityness LOL
And while reader was doing their contract paperwork thingy, they call out Alastor's name and not even a second later Alastor appeared behind them and reader was going to ask about hosting a meeting between all the overlords, with reader present!
"Alastor, dear?
"Yes, my Liege? How am I of your service?"
"Would you mind broadcasting through the radio about hosting a meeting with me present?"
"Certainly."
And since Alastor is the Radio Demon, let's just say that he could control the whole radio system and the waves, so his broadcast would go through all the overlords' radios that are present, or device rather
The meeting usually takes place at Carmilla's place!
And Alastor was reader's escort, hooking arms and all
I'll let you decide on what they're going to discuss, but I think it's very serious because their Collector had to be present!
Alastor and reader had to arrive early for some reason, Carmilla was still setting up the projector and her daughters were placing tea cups on the meeting table
And ofcourse they immediately greeted with a deep bow, and reader was just happy to see them, after all Carmilla was one of reader's elite Collections!
And reader gives Carmilla's daughters each a hug! Stating that they're still fun sized! (Definitely not Lucifer's influence)
And soon one by one overlords started entering, they were earlier than expected too, each was greeted by reader happily and all
Rosie also brought a gift for her dear Collector, a box full of flesh and thigh parts and demon skin, Rosie knew reader's favourite flesh!
And when the Vees entered.. well,
Vox was apologizing over and over again that Velvette had to slap the box tv guy and made him glitch
And the whole time Alastor was giving him a smug smile
And reader had to state Valentino a small warning, because his position as an overlord was in vain and it sent chills down the month's spine
And then discussion of deep and serious stuff
Until someone said something that triggered Vox that triggered Valentino that triggered Velvette
And the bickering made everyone else fall silent, because the Collector had also fell silent
And they were like 'how foolish..'
It was until reader couldn't take it anymore and the atmosphere turned dark, your color of choice chains were on the Vee's necks in which reader tugged on
And reader just snarled something threatening, making the three hang their head in shame
Then reader let go and the atmosphere were light again
"alrighty! So where were we my darlings?"
They stated in a cheerful voice as if they never even literally just threatened the Vees at allđ€€
(kinda hot ngl, I'd like a y/n x reader) (I'm srs)
Aaaand then after the meeting, by the time Alastor and reader was back at the hotel, it was a coincidence that Lucifer had also just arrived and was unpacking because he was moving in the hotel as some kind of staff!
And Lucifer recognized reader the fastest way possible and literally just-
"gaspp! Is that you reader? It's been a while! How have you been holding up the overlords there huh?"
Completely exposed readers cover
ILL LET YOU DECIDE HOW IT ENDS HEHEHEHHEHE
Oops, almost forgot to send this out~
This was what I used as an outline for the recent story parts! Do check it out~
Collection of Overlords _ Part 5 = Requested
[Alastor x Soul Owner of All Overlords!Reader]
The next part should be how The Collector is viewed from the demons' perspective, like not Hellborns, so sinners and the like. But before that, I'm going back to {Unwanted Soul} since that has been left a while.
#Circe's Nighty Writings#alastor imagine#alastor x reader#alastor x y/n#alastor x you#hazbin hotel#hazbin hotel alastor#alastor headcanons#alastor fanfiction#alastor#hazbin hotel oneshots#hazbin hotel imagines#hazbin hotel fanfiction#hazbin hotel x reader#hazbin hotel overlord#Collection of Overlords#hazbin hotel rosie#rosie hazbin hotel#overlords#hazbin#zestial#carmilla hazbin hotel#hazbin hotel zestial#carmilla carmine#hazbin hotel carmilla#carmilla x reader#hazbin carmilla#hazbin hotel vox#hazbin hotel vees
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Taylor Kitsch and Josh Brolin on Shamans, Sweat Lodges, and Self-Transformation

Taylor Kitsch, photographed by Luca Bertea.
First, Taylor Kitsch moved to Montana. Then came a New Yearâs Eve spent with a shaman, and now, a television show at the top of Netflixâs charts. But letâs rewind a bit. For the past two years, the Friday Night Lights alum has been getting into character. He lost 25 pounds, tracked wolves, and visited the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming, all of which helped him embody the role of Isaac Reed, a Shoshone-raised white man whose contested past seeps through the cracks of history in the gritty Netflix Western American Primeval, set during the 1857 Utah War. âSome of the best work of my life is on the floor of this, and I think thatâs what I struggle with,â Kitsch told longtime friend Josh Brolin, who was on set for the making of the limited series. âYou were such a fucking champion for me, man.â After the showâs release, Kitsch called Brolin for moral support, again. This time, they talked about sweat lodges, shamans, and giving yourself over to a role.âEMMA STOUT
JOSH BROLIN: Tell me about your sickness and then weâll work our way up from there.
TAYLOR KITSCH: So New Yearâs Eve, I had this Native sweat lodge planned and I was hosting three of my good buddies. Jake Picking came in.
BROLIN: Really? Thatâs great. He seems so open to doing anything and everything.
KITSCH: His first Native sweat, and he needed it, too. I think everyone did. I had terrible back pain and these crazy headaches, but I rebounded long enough to be able to drive to the sweat lodge. Then I got home and it absolutely nailed me.
BROLIN: Do you think it was like whatever toxin living inside you and the sweat brought it all out?
KITSCH: I think so. Thereâs some energy I wanted to get out, obviously. But the shaman was like, âWe donât really have to read into this one. Whateverâs happening right now, itâsââ
BROLIN: Itâs coming out.
KITSCH: Yeah.
BROLIN: That energy⊠I assume I know what it is. And thatâs the idea of doing this limited series.
KITSCH: Yeah, you were there for some of it. Itâs been a tough one, man.
BROLIN: Tell me why.
KITSCH: Because I cared so much. Not that thatâs a problem, but itâs hard to let go. You have these idealsâyouâre serving the Shoshone communityâ and you put in all that work. But it did really help me, understanding that it was my journey and it wasnât. I put a little more responsibility on other people to service the same thing. That released a lot of tension because Iâve been torn up by it.Â
BROLIN: Itâs a very different subject. You and I did Only the Brave together, which meant a lot to me because I was a volunteer firefighter. I took that script to my chief, whoâs a firefighter in Tucson, Arizona, and I asked him, like you would a shaman, âDo you think I can do this?â And he said, âI think youâre the only person who can do this.â But the point is, I cared so much about it that I needed somebody who I respected in the nucleus of that world to tell me that I could represent it well. And nobody saw that movie, by the way. Thatâs one of those things where you go, âI still served and cared and gave myself 1000%.â
KITSCH: You really did.
BROLIN: Thatâs all you can do. I saw the first two episodes and it blew me the fuck away, which Iâll get into. You care, though. Thatâs the point. Youâre purging now because you care so much. You seem to be one of the most empathetic people that I know, way more than me.Â
KITSCH: I donât know.
BROLIN: Well, I give a shit about the role and the story and morale on set. But I think you take it super fucking personally, especially representing Native Americans. I had a whole relationship in my 20s with a shaman in Tucson that I was spending a lot of time with. I was doing sweats all the timeâ
KITSCH: Amazing.
BROLIN: It was amazing. Now, seeing you go through that, you seem like the most unapologetically vulnerable person that I know. When I hear about you tracking wolves in Montana, it makes sense to me. I go, âYeah, itâs Kitsch. Fucking out there, doing his thing with a camera.â You want to get as close to the experience as you can, and thatâs who I know you to be.
KITSCH: Man, when they asked for this interview, I was like, âThereâs only one person we can truly ask.â Obviously, you helped me a lot during the shoot and being there. But to represent this process, which was quite intense, it makes you go down that road again. You were such a fucking champion for me, man. I remember I was feeling pretty shitty, and you knocked on the door. I was like, âWho the fuck?â And it was you and the girls waiting to come in and hang out. How are they doing?
BROLIN: Theyâre amazing. Theyâre bigger personalities than I am. Theyâve taken over the world.
KITSCH: Thatâs a big feat, but damn.
BROLIN: Yeah, I know it was a tough time for you. You lost a ton of weight for the role. It felt like, âI donât want this to be just another role. I want this to mean something.â I just wrote a book, and itâs a very unconventional book.Â
KITSCH: Fucking right. I remember you reading a passage on the patio.
BROLIN: If youâre spoon-feeding people what theyâre looking for, you can sell a lot of books. But if you write like I do, or act like you do, youâre picking roles for reasons that are very personal. You want to bleed. You want to earn it. I know itâs a rarity, but without that, what do you have? So when I see you in that place, thereâs a part of me thatâs happy because itâs like, âThis tortured motherfucker, heâs fucking downward spiraling. But thank god you exist.â Tell me what the experience was like for you, because I watched it and I thought you were great. And Iâm pissed that I canât see more yet. Itâs chaotic, itâs visceral, itâs violent, itâs hard to watch.
KITSCH: I think it should be all those. Man, it was a fucking roller coaster. The Shoshone and learning a lot of thatâ
BROLIN: Learning the language.
KITSCH: Yeah, it changed my perspective a lot. Working with the advisors and the dialect coaches, getting an opportunity to do something so raw in a period where most fights ended hand to hand, I loved it. Thereâs no karate chopping, no spinning wheel kicks.Â
BROLIN: That fight that you have with that guy is fucking amazing. Youâre like, âOh my god, somebody must have gotten hurt.â And you donât get that a lot when you watch those movies.
KITSCH: No. I mean, when the Native jumps off that cliff, itâs so practical to just roll cameras. We paddedânot literal padsâbut just put more snow and cleared out the rocks in the little passage towards the river. He was like, âMake your way over to that riverbed.â
BROLIN: And thatâs it?
KITSCH: Yeah. I mean, that guy was huge too. He probably had 80 pounds on me. Big boy.
BROLIN: You had lost how much weight?Â
KITSCH: 25 [lbs]. I just wanted Isaac to outwill you. He wasnât the biggest guy. He kind of wanted to die, but had to honorably go. So thatâs why he fought the way he fought. It was more of his will than just his strength or knowing how to really fight. That was fun. Betty Gilpin is incredible, and Shea Whigham.
BROLIN: Shea is great. And whoâs the main girl? I donât know her very well, but I thought she was great.
KITSCH: Yeah, Betty Gilpin. A gamer whoâs just uninhibited and really prepared.
BROLIN: Are you happy the way it turned out?
KITSCH: I meanâ
BROLIN: Have you watched the whole thing?
KITSCH: Yeah.
BROLIN: Youâre still in it, man. If you said you were happy the way it turned out, I would be suspect. Thereâs only one movie Iâve ever done that Iâm happy it turned up.
KITSCH: Oh my god, really?
BROLIN: Yeah. And that was No Country [For Old Men]. I thought it was going to be a joke.
KITSCH: You know No Country is top three for me.
BROLIN: I didnât know that. But I want to take this in another direction because I donât know if people know what you do. You live in Montana, and you havenât lived in Los Angeles for a long time. Why?Â
KITSCH: I think itâs a little self-preservation. Knowing yourself well enough to know what you need. A lot of it actually goes back to what raised me, the things I know, with the ranch and everything. I was riding my moto through Yellowstone and I was like, âOh, I love this place.â Next year, we put it on the trip again. Iâm like, âOh, man, Bozemanâs a fucking cool town.â Then all of a sudden youâre in Austin, Texas, in your dream home and you feel like you should be there now. You just answer to it.
BROLIN: Thatâs where youâre differentâmost people donât answer to it. Most people go, âGod, I went to Bozeman. That was really cool. Iâd like to live there someday, but Iâll just keep doing what Iâm doing because itâs comfortable.â Going back to the stoics, itâs like, âComfort is your enemy.â You get complacent, you get lazy, and you start worrying about what the size of your trailer is.Â
KITSCH: Truly.
BROLIN: How do you represent humanity if youâre doing that? Because thatâs not humanity.
KITSCH: Especially with [American]Â Primeval, I met a guy who lost everything. His dad passed when I was playing a guy in mourning, which was kind of fucking crazy. But while I was prepping, it meant more. I was like, âThis is all they had.â Family was their education, their language, their heritage.
BROLIN: And thereâs no decision to even use that.Â
KITSCH: Right. I didnât need to. I had done all the work. I tell you, some of the best work of my life is on the floor of this, and I think thatâs what I struggle with. But to that point I made earlier, just because the world wonât see it doesnât mean you didnât serve it. I think I told you this, but I cried more in that one scene than I did when I lost my fucking dadâ
BROLIN: Yeah, you did.
KITSCH: The energy of the Shoshone and what theyâve gone through, I felt like they were with me. It was really a beautiful thing. But, I donât know, I go back and forth. When youâre prepping, you see it in your head. You see the arc, and you see these moments. Of course, thereâs going to be some beautiful ones that are unexpected. But when you feel your service didnât go towards something, it feels like, âI just gave up two years of my life, got this fucking bone cut out of my foot, did all this crazy shitââ
BROLIN: And you go, âFor what?â But thereâs no version of this, I think, that ever wouldâve gone, âFuck, Iâm psyched how it turned out. Itâs perfect.â It just doesnât work like that. I used to do this thing where people would say, âHey, I saw you in this.â And I would just shit on their reaction. After 40 years, I donât do that anymore. My business is to do what I do and care about it and give myself to it entirely. When itâs over, Iâve got to deal with my own demons. You donât know how people are going to be affected by it. I was affected. My wife, by the way, saw it with me, and she was super into it.
KITSCH: Betty, sheâs the audience.
BROLIN: What movies have you seen that youâve liked lately?
KITSCH: Fuck, Iâve been watching a lot of these true-crime docs. Itâs so hard not to get so invested in those. I just watched the Jude Law one with the white supremacist. Heâs terrific in it.
BROLIN: Really?
KITSCH: I like to see him just unabashedly fucking gritty. The Order, itâs called.
BROLIN: I was way behind on movies, and I saw a movie called Sing Sing last night.
KITSCH: I know that movie.
BROLIN: It takes place at Sing Sing, which is one of the oldest prisons in the United States, and itâs based on this guy who was in prison for robbery for 17 years. He started a theater community in the prison, so he wrote it. He plays a supporting part, and I met him on Jimmy Kimmel. I was bawling.
KITSCH: No shit. So why are you in London?
BROLIN: I left my family. I am just tired of it. I just want to be alone. You know what Iâm saying?
KITSCH: Youâre just in a white-out hotel room in London.
BROLIN: It was funny because I came in here to get my key and the guy goes, âCan I tell you something? The room youâre in is Ridley Scottâs favorite room.â I go, âI donât care, itâs my favorite room.â It was such a funny thing to impart. But Iâm filming Running Man with Edgar Wright.
KITSCH: Fucking yeah.
BROLIN: Itâs fun. I like him. Heâs weird, and I like weird.
KITSCH: Unreal, man. Congrats. Youâre there for a while then, huh?
BROLIN: Iâm here for three weeks, and then Iâm out.
KITSCH: I love it. Theyâre shooting you out.
BROLIN: Theyâre shooting me out, and I get back home.
KITSCH: You deserve that, by the way. Fucking right.
BROLIN: I got to get back to my motorcycles and my children. My children were going to be here and then at the last moment I was like, âFor real Iâm going to be working the whole time. Itâs super cold right now. Youâre going to be walking in the rain looking at parks and shit.â
KITSCH: Darkness. Are these sets just insane?
BROLIN: Insane. And I was just here doing Knives Out with Rian Johnson.
KITSCH: I met him a couple times now and I hear heâs fucking awesome.
BROLIN: Heâs literally my new favorite person. The most unassuming guy who has total control over his set. He sits there smoking a cigar every morning. And I go, âWhy donât you wait until night?â He says, âI donât know, I just like them in the morning.â Heâs completely his own self. But yeah, Iâve been working in London a lot, and I like it here. I love the culture, and I love fucking with the people. Itâs all good.
KITSCH: That Imperial War Museum is one of the best things Iâve ever done. Itâs just incredible there.
BROLIN: Yeah, itâs really something. I love you, pal.
KITSCH: Love you, man. Thanks for doing this.
BROLIN: I think you did fucking phenomenal. You continue to be amazing, and youâre one of those people that gives themselves entirely. Youâll be all scraped up and scarred up by the time you get to the end of your life, and Iâll be there laughing.
KITSCH: That means a lot.
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