#because aiden actually treats me like a human

[harukaluvr]

[hiya-im-mary]

In Light Of Girly Teengirl

So,We’ve all seen the talk about Girly Teengirl from SpongeBob and how she deserved better,right?? And I agree!! We all love Girly Teengirl,and I hope she’s doing alright in Farawayville right now-!!

But while we’re on the topic of fictional girls who deserve so much better than what they were handed,I wanna give another example to the world-!!

THIS GIRL!!!!! She has no actual name,but I’m gonna call her Becky. Say hi to Becky,everyone!!

You probably reconise her from the Girlfriend music video…in which was pretty much a whole video dedicated to making her day a living nightmare (Aswell as Avril clips too)

Let’s start from the beginning.

Becky and her…honestly really douchey boyfriend (Let’s call him Aiden) are on their way to have a date at some sort of activity centre!! It’ll be a lovely day for the both of them,right?

WRONG BECAUSE THIS GIRL IS EXISTS!! Let’s call her Jade.

And Jade has decided to go out of her way to ruin Becky’s day and love life. Because she wants her dream emo boyfriend and considers preps as sub-human.

The moment Becky and Jade cross paths,things go downhill immediately. For Becky,anyway.

Let’s review the various acts of meanery Jade has enacted on Becky!

Made her crash during the car racing event (That might’ve been in the rules,but it was so she can test Aiden’s Will to cheat)

Forcefully threw Becky out of the PhotoBooth to snag some photos with Aiden,as well as her lacky friends blocking the entrance for Becky. (Let’s just call them Ray and Shay. Have fun guessing who’s who! )

As Becky and Aiden were reenacting the famed noodle kiss scene from Lady And The Tramp with a churro rather than a spaghetti noodle…Jade rudely interrupts and steals the churro for herself,clearly rubbing it in Becky’s face. There was good money payed for that churro?? Did Jade even eat it afterwards?? That’s a perfectly good churro put to waste :(

During golfing,one of Jade’s lackey friends notice Becky **GASP** Actually enjoying herself??? HOW DARE SHE?? So Jade tries to shoot her Golfball to go Spesifically for the readhead’s,well…head. And it works! It sends Becky tumbling into the water,and they all laugh at her misery! Full out,pointing as they laugh cackling!!

And to finish it off…Jade swoops in. She gets all personal with Aiden…and they kiss. They do the cheating. Much to Becky’s understandable rage! Which unfortunately goes no where as her attempt to tackle Jade doesn’t work.

So,I think you get my point!! Jade is a meanie head. She was aiming to get her grubby hands on Aiden and pull her out of Becky’s hands if it’s the last thing she’ll do-!!

But what’s even worse…Aiden was into it

It’s quite clear in the music video that Aiden is not very good at boyfriending for Becky. If he was,the moment Jade started her antics,he’d pull out the “Woah,chick!! I have a girlfriend who I’m happy with!!” card!! But NOPE

He was definitely enjoying Jade’s advances more than he was than being with Becky. He was clearly gonna go with goofing around in the PhotoBooth with Miss PunkRock rather than have a churro with his BORING prep girlfriend

He wasn’t even attempting to help Becky get out of the water when she fell in!!

And of course…he cheated.

He had not a care in the world for Becky. Who cares about some preppy redhead who gets happy for doing the easiest golf hole ever??

He’s no heartthrob!! He smells like disloyalty and 10 cans of Monster Energy!

It’s Potrayed as all fun and goofy in the music video,but you gotta take it into view!

Realistically,what did Becky even do?? Yeah,you maybe can say her body language and acting Potrayed her as a “mean girl”,but I think she was moreover just increasingly ticked off by Jade and her punk pal’s treatment of her and her boyfriend’s disloyalty!!

So what am I getting at??

I just want to see how many people agree with me!! I’ve been thinking about that music video a lot…I REALLY hated how Becky was treated XD

Well…Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk!!

[catgirl-catboy]

Oh my god! I know he was the traitor! I felt smart now. For now I call CC Robin because of his deceit and ways of preventing the hurt reminded me Robin Hood. So hello there, Robin. I felt always suspicious about you.

Oh my god.. Mika and Valerie's relationship is way more tragic than Ishimondo in a way.. Do they have feelings for eachother or just Mika have one sided crush on her? Because I think Mika seems bit.. lovesick.

And fuck I didnt expect her to be culprit in chapter 3 but chapter 3 is always the key part of the story to resolve other secrets, isnt it?

Bob killing Aiden made me ship them. I'm a mess for killer x victim ships!

And oh my fucking god? Mika's life was horrible and only thing who makes her sane taken away from her like that? This is.. cruel!

I adore it!

What happened to the amnesiac boy?

Honestly, thats up for debate since Val was all "I've never thought about romance before due to only living for my SHSL, but now that I've gonna die maybe I should kiss someone". I don't think she was interested in Tom much as a person, but that could change.

As for Mika, I don't think she's self aware enough to understand if she's feeling romantic feelings or platonic feelings or familial feelings. She just feels something positive, and goes "hmm. thats unusual." Her parents told her that Val would start looking down on her if she told the truth, while Val was insecure when she measured herself up against the "nothing bothers me and I do not fail" image Mika presents. Val asked Mika to be more open about his plans, but when Mika did that in Ch2 she was shocked and thought him heartless for having a hand in the death of his own dad.

I don't think he's a good character morally, but he turned out a lot better than his parents, and some of his "wtf" behavior makes slightly more sense. He doesn't get why they're complaining, since for him this is just a Tuesday. His mom treats human life like a puzzle, so he tries to too, but gets mad upset when its a person she knows. And, of course, she was never really in it for herself.

As for Bob x Aiden, Aiden totally told Mika to lay off Bob a couple of times, for shipping crumbs. And Aiden is the sort thats nice to everyone, (he wants to make friends) while Bob was a semi-harmless Cukolander until he snapped.

As for Mika, in Ch4 she does a Reverse Taka and puts on a pretty impressive mask of sanity and "nothing bothers me", as she does. This causes more people to target her (as is her plan >:)) Val told her to save everyone (well, she said to try to save everyone, but same thing) so she will.

The amnesiac is still quite attached to Celene, and trying to figure out what kind of life he lives. He hit it off with the male figure skater, due to them having similar personalities, and plan to learn skating when they escape. (the skaters are a mirror to Val and Mika, if they had slightly better communication. They learn to be less codependent, while Val and Mika just imploded, almost taking everyone down with them.) He had one of the lower murder idea counts in Ch3, which he shrugs off as not being affected by the motive. To an extent, he's a somewhat neutral party.

He becomes highly relevant in Ch4, actually! Alas, he dies.

[weevil-mastermind]

You’re right. We should look at things in their proper context. What follows is very important context for what the moderator said:

J. D. Vance has spent months railing against “illegal” immigrants from Haiti in Springfield, Ohio. Recently, he claimed that they’re eating people’s pets. (They are not, and even after he learned the story was false he continued to spread it. The best proof his team could come up with was the police report of a woman who found her cat alive and conspicuously not eaten by Haitians a few days later.) He claimed they were “dumped” in the community by Joe Biden, when in reality the large influx of Haitians in the town is because a bunch were recruited by local companies and news of available jobs spread by word of mouth. He claimed that the Haitians were spreading disease and increasing disease rates in the county. The disease rate in this county is actually decreasing. (“Vance has also added to his claims about Haitians, saying on social media that communicable diseases have been on the rise in Springfield because of the Haitian migration… Information from the county health department, however, shows a decrease in infectious disease cases countywide, with 1,370 reported in 2023—the lowest since 2015.” https://www.wsj.com/us-news/springfield-ohio-pet-eating-claims-haitian-migrants-04598d48 The Wall Street Journal is a conservative paper too!)

He claimed that a Haitian immigrants murdered a child named Aiden Clark. In reality, the boy died in a car crash. One of the drivers was from Haiti, but most people would consider leaving out the fact that he died in a car crash to be dishonest. As you say, we shouldn’t omit key details to twist the narrative, but that is exactly what Vance did. Aiden Clark’s grieving father has begged Vance to stop exploiting his son’s death just to demonize Haitians, yet Vance continues to do so.

The Haitian community in Springfield, Ohio, may not be voting citizens yet, but they are still residents of Ohio, and this means they are Vance’s constituents. They are the constituents he is supposed to serve and he is lying about them for political gain. To achieve power. Since Trump and Vance started lying about Springfield, the community has had to deal with many bomb threats. Haitians describe living in fear in interviews. These are his constituents, his own fellow human beings, and he made their lives hell in the name of power.

All of this is very important context for these screenshots.

The moderators pointing out that the Haitian illegal immigrants that J. D. Vance has spent months lying about aren’t actually here illegally is the bare minimum. They should be going much farther to set the record straight.

There was a time when I was willing to engage in good faith with J. D. Vance, even if I strongly disagreed with nearly everything he believes. (I actually read his book several years ago.) After this debacle with the Haitians, I can no longer do so. It is clear that J. D. Vance is not acting in good faith. He is a serial liar like his boss and should be treated as such.

However, I am willing to engage with you in good faith, so if there are longer video clips than the ones I saw on social media, and you believe those change the meaning of this exchange, please share them with me. (Alternatively, the timestamp in the full debate where this exchange occurred.) You claim the moderators were spewing lies and J. D. Vance corrected them. What lies are you referring to?

[witcher-and-his-bard-archive]

Locked Out

winter prompts day 10 ❄️ lost in a storm

 If Jaskier was a stupider man, he'd be confused about the sheer amount of times he and Geralt seem to be getting stuck places together. But he and Geralt had been the first to arrive and these things only started happening after both Eskel and Lambert had reached the keep. Jaskier can put two and two together and come to the conclusion that none of this is an accident.

Unfortunately for him, Jaskier also knows why it's happening. Witchers can smell all sorts of stupid, inconvenient shit, one of the more prominent (and most inconvenient) of those being the changes in human emotion. Meaning that if Jaskier wants to keep his feelings to himself, he has to try very hard to do so. And he discovered almost as soon as the other Witchers showed up that he is terrible at it. The only conclusion he can come to is that between the four of them, they've come to the (albeit correct) conclusion, that Jaskier is hopelessly in love with Geralt, and set themselves to the task of getting together.

What they don't know, is that Geralt barely tolerates Jaskier at the best of times and getting them together is a lost cause. He wants to confront them about it, but he rather likes the time he gets to spend alone with Geralt, whether they're cooking or cleaning or chopping wood. Geralt is different up at the keep than he is on the Path and Jaskier likes this friendlier, more open side of him. So, as long as no one is getting hurt (himself notwithstanding) he decides there's nothing wrong with their little game. They think they're solving a problem and Jaskier gets to spend some time with his friend in a place that's comfortable for him.

Then, one day, they're all gathered in the main hall. Vesemir has long grown tired of Geralt and Lambert's bickering and has retired to his room or the library or wherever it is he goes when he's had enough. Jaskier is once again left alone with the younger wolves and Aiden and he's enjoying the conversation, but he finds himself tuning out more and more often tonight, wondering what it was like to grow up in a place like this.

He knows it was very different then, that there were many more Witchers who called Kaer Morhen home, but he doesn't dare ask more than that. He's gleaned enough from the little bits and pieces from Geralt to know that his childhood was not a happy one and if he's happier here now, Jaskier doesn't want to stir up bad memories.

Jaskier doesn't realize he's staring at Geralt until Lambert nudges him. He shales his head and turns around to a very smug look.

"Aiden's gonna grab drinks," Lambert says, "why don't you and Geralt go get more firewood while we settle up in here." Jaskier nods obediently, casting a quick look in Geralt's direction to see if he suspects anything. Geralt just sighs as he rises to his feet. Jaskier follows suit and traipses after Geralt toward the large doors.

They've only been outside a couple of seconds when Jaskier hears the doors click shut behind them and the sound of the lock being slid across. He spins on his heel immediately and Geralt takes a few steps back, pressing on the door, to no avail.

"You can come back in when you figure your shit out!" Lambert calls through the door. Jaskier can hear them mumbling afterward, but it's too quiet to hear properly. Geralt sighs and rolls his eyes.

"Idiots," he mumbles and turns back to Jaskier. He seems surprisingly calm, but Jaskier feels immediately guilty. This is his fault. He shouldn't have let the game go on for so long and now they're stuck out in the cold until, well, until Lambert and his cohorts decide that they've figured their shit out - something Jaskier knows won't happen.

Fuck. He should have talked to Eskel when he had the chance. He knows Eskel would have listened, that he wouldn't want to force Geralt into something he's uncomfortable with. He might have even talked to Lambert and Aiden about it, gotten them to call it off as well, but Jaskier had been greedy. He had wanted too badly to spend time with Geralt that he hadn't considered things might get out of hand, and now they have.

All at once, he realizes the only way to solve this is to own up to his own feelings. Maybe it will make Geralt uncomfortable for a little while and maybe he won't want to travel with him any longer, but it's his fault for not saying something earlier. Now, it's the only thing he can do to fix this.

He turns to try to explain to Geralt, but when he does, Geralt is smirking back at him.

"Bastards," he mumbles, "what do you say we beat them at their own game?"

Jaskier, stunned, just looks at him.

"I-" if that's what Geralt wants, how could Jaskier turn him down considering this is his fault. "Alright, what do you have in mind?"

"Find somewhere to hide out until they come looking for us," Geralt smirks. Jaskier finds himself at a loss. Ever since coming to Kaer Morhen, he's been continuously surprised about how much fun Geralt really could be when he was comfortable enough to let go. He finds himself agreeing without even thinking through what a terrible idea this could actually be.

"Come on," Geralt says, "we'll head up to the old watchtower and watch them from there."

It's a great idea in theory. In practice, Jaskier will be oblivious to whatever Geralt is watching and he's already wondering why he agreed to this. They barely make it down the hill before it starts to snow and Jaskier sighs to himself. He doesn't quite understand why he's feeling so bad about all of this because Geralt seems to be having a perfectly fine time with it and regularly Jaskier would be thrilled to (team up) with him, but tonight, he's still feeling a little guilty about everything.

A part of him is even hoping Geralt will turn around when the snow starts, but he doesn't and it only starts to snow more heavily. Jaskier does his best to keep up but finds he's falling behind and eventually gives up when he loses sight of Geralt altogether.

"Geralt!" he shouts and for a moment there's no response. Great, he was stupid enough to keep playing along with this and now he's going to die for it, lost and frozen in the middle of fucking nowhere.

He drops to his knees in the snow and is almost immediately hauled back up to his feet. Geralt's arm wraps around his shoulders and suddenly Jaskier is being walked forward through the snow. He has no idea if they're going in the same direction or if they've turned around, but he trusts Geralt to keep him safe.

He doesn't know how long they walk before coming upon a partial structure, half-buried in the snow. Jaskier is pushed inside and Geralt follows shortly, brushing the snow off of himself and then Jaskier. Before he can stop to consider his options, Jaskier is being tugged down into Geralt's lap and bundled up in his arms. He squirms but Geralt holds him close.

"Just... let me warm you up. You're nearly frozen." Jaskier wants to point out that it's Geralt's fault he's nearly frozen, but he's feeling more miserable than bitter.

Reluctantly, he lets Geralt hold him and hopes that he's considered warmed up sooner rather than later. He relaxes into it after a moment, but he's hyperaware of every place they touch. Geralt's hands are warm and comforting, but when they slip under the hem of his shirt, Jaskier pulls away.

"I'm sorry," he whispers, "I can't let you do this."

"Do... what?" Geralt asks. The expression on his face is a combination of hurt and confusion and Jaskier hates it, but he knows this is for the best.

"Treat me like this," he mumbles. "It's my fault we're in this place."

"Jaskier, I wasn't going to force you through the snow-"

"I don't mean here in this little shack, Geralt. I mean locked outside the keep in the first place." At this point, Geralt looks at him like he's speaking a whole other language and Jaskier sighs. His shoulders slump and he braces himself, but he supposes it was bound to come out at some point. It's been twenty years, after all.

"You know what they're doing, right?" Jaskier asks and Geralt shrugs.

"Being idiots."

"No." Jaskier pauses, but he can't bring himself to look up at Geralt. He's imagined telling Geralt how he feels time and time again, but he never expected it to be an apology. "Geralt they're trying to get us alone together on purpose. Because of my- because of the way I feel about you. Witchers can smell feelings or whatever, right? And I'm not as good at hiding it as I thought I was, so they've obviously figured it out. And I know they're just trying to help, but they don't realize that you don't-" he chokes on the words He's thought they dozens of times, but knowing Geralt doesn't feel the same and saying it out loud are two different things.

"Jask?" Geralt says softly and when Jaskier looks up, he's moved closer and he's smiling softly at him. "Is that why you think they're doing this?" Jaskier nods and Geralt sighs and shuts his eyes. "Jaskier, come here."

"Are you sure?"

"Jaskier."

"Okay, okay." He shuffles closer again, letting Geralt's arms wind around him. He tries not to press into him, but the hut is cold and Geralt is so warm and he smells wonderful, like leather and smoke and home and Jaskier is so worried about being so close that he doesn't realize Geralt is talking until he rests his chin on Jaskier's head.

"Did you hear anything I just said?"

"Uh. Yes?" Geralt sighs and does something that Jaskier can only assume is nosing at his hair.

"I didn't know about your... feelings. I thought they were just fucking with me." His arms close in a little tighter and Jaskier is too confused to fight against it. Geralt chuckles softly and Jaskier is fairly certain he's actually imagining things when he feels soft lips press against his head. "If I'd known you were amenable, I would have kissed you a long time ago and gotten them off our backs."

At that, Jaskier is certain something is wrong. Geralt doesn't just say things like that. He pulls out of his arms, turning to face him.

"Are you sick?" he asks and Geralt tips forward, swiftly closing the space between them and catching Jaskier's lips in a soft kiss.

Jaskier's mind goes entirely blank and he forgets what he's supposed to do with someone's mouth against his own. Then, Geralt's thumb comes up to brush against his cheek and when Geralt deepens the kiss, Jaskier moans softly and his reflexes take over, leaning into the kiss and wrapping his arms around Geralt's shoulders.

Without hesitation, Geralt winds his arms around his waist, hauling Jaskier up into his lap and leaning back against the wall. The kiss seems to last an eternity and no time at all and when Jaskier pulls away it's only because he's abruptly aware that he still needs to breathe.

"Oh," he breathes and Geralt smiles at him, reaching up to brush a stray strand of hair back behind Jaskier's ear.

"I've wanted to do that for a long time."

"Me too. I suppose this means we'll have to thank the other?"

Geralt chuckles as he curls a hand around the back of Jaskier's neck and draws him close for another kiss. "Not a chance."

[jaskiersvalley]

Lambert as a special unicorn xD I loved the 'charmed carrot' idea. The rainbow capsule fic still has me cackling, I'd love to see what you'd do with him as an actual unicorn

Jamie, you are an enabler and a delight. Have I mentioned recently that I love you. Here's some unicorn Lambert just for you. It was going to be mildly serious but then...Lambert happened!

This was the last time Lambert tried to do anything "healthy". If only he hadn't listened to Aiden and his spouting the virtues of a balanced, varied diet. But, damn Lambert and his stupid mind, he had been lonely on the last few months of the Path before returning to Kaer Morhen and eating healthier had been a reminder of Aiden. So he'd tried, he really did. It didn't make him feel any closer to Aiden but it was a reminder that they would be wintering together which was enough to keep Lambert trudging through his days. They'd been friends for a couple of years but something more was bubbling under the surface. Stolen glances, lingering touches, a strange warmth in Lambert's chest that had nothing to do with the heat of the summer. It sure looked like Aiden might want more too. They'd talked about it. Actually, they didn't because this was Lambert. But they teased and giggled, Aiden insisting that he be properly pampered on their first time together, dancing out of Lambert's reach. Well, the joke was on Aiden now because Lambert was going to Kaer Morhen but there was a complication.

Seriously though, who the fuck just leaves an enchanted carrot discarded by the side of a path?

Lambert had thought he'd gotten lucky when he spotted the thing, was gleeful that he could have something more to stick in a pot than just snow, squirrel and the remaining crumbs of dried herbs he'd still had. He'd made dinner, started eating and the world began to swim. Blinking, he tried to shake his head but all he did was slump over, the world bursting with rainbows. The next thing Lambert knew, he had four legs and the world looked very different. Finding a frozen over stream, he'd let out a neigh of horror as a black unicorn stared up from the reflection. Bolting, he struggled on four legs, getting them tangled and he landed in a heap. And they said unicorns were meant to be graceful.

Back at his camp, he noted that his belongings were, for the most part, gone. He had to really hope that it was the spell because he could only carry a single bag in his mouth. Trudging up the path to Kaer Morhen, Lambert learned to master his additional legs and valiantly ignored the urge to run, trot and, when he saw a breath taking view, to prance. Eventually, he made it to Kaer Morhen and walked into the courtyard, determined to be as composed and regal about his situation as possible.

"Look!" That was a child's delighted voice and he backed away as Ciri ran towards him. However, one look at her and Lambert was filled with a warmth and lightness he couldn't identify. She was so pure, so good, he couldn't resist lowering his head to softly greet her.

From behind Ciri approached Geralt and Jaskier. They did not fill Lambert with the same joy and he snorted, hoof pawing at the ground to keep them at a distance.

"Unicorns do like children and the pure," Jaskier sighed with a giggled and swatted Geralt on the backside. "It won't like us."

If Lambert didn't like Geralt and Jaskier, they had nothing on Eskel who reeked on a spiritual level of...actually, Lambert didn't want to know. Even Vesemir was coated in an aura of something though it was older, faded but no less there.

The old witcher took one look at him and snorted. "Someone found the carrot."

At least Eskel had the grace to look sheepish. Before Lambert could do anything as silly as charge in revenge, another figure appeared in the courtyard. Aiden' was radiant and Lambert abandoned Ciri in favour of leaning against Aiden.

"Lamb?"

There was a snicker from Jaskier. "You've got to be shitting me."

For a moment Lambert didn't understand. But a glance at Aiden's reddening face, his shrug and mumbling something about wanting to have something special had Lambert's eyes widening. He nickered in question and got a shy nose rub in reply.

"I understand if you'd rather not now," Aiden muttered. "I'm sorry. I should have told you."

It all made sense now, the hesitancy, the desire for something special. Lambert quietly made a vow to himself. As soon as he was back in human form, he was treating Aiden right, making it a first time to most definitely remember.

[ryanclaremont]

augustcastle​:

August snorts out a small laugh because…he really never would have figured. The only other human Aiden’s ever paid special attention to was Cece in New York. He has no idea whether she’s alive now or if that even matters. He’s sure Aiden is keeping tabs, but, Luci must be something special if he’s taking the time to know her, date her, whatever. It’s more than just blending into Mystic Falls. 

“Irony,” He says and smiles before looking out at the woods. There’s some trees below them from their spot on the boulder, the colors beginning to change. 

He nods, running a hand through his hair even though that stubborn curl never moves. He supposes he gets latching onto something. He tried to do that with a woman named Rose after Ryan. That ended disastrously. 

“I’ve never loved anyone except you,” He admits, “No one that was outside of family.” 

Well, that was Ryan’s problem. How do you attempt to give your all to someone when you know you can’t? When you’re waiting for someone else to come along? It’s not fair and Ryan knows she wouldn’t want to be treated like that either, a second choice. Henry was perfectly fine, someone she could hold a conversation with and they go on really well. He was surprising and actually cared too. And yet,

“Every time I would walk around a corner I’d wondered if you’d be there,” she tells him. “Doesn’t matter where I was or what I was doing. Maybe it’d be this corner, or maybe you’re four rows ahead of me on the bus.” Ryan shakes her head and smiles a bit to herself. “Guess that is kind of pathetic, waiting around and seeing if I could find you. Dumb love.”

[fizzabelwritesrambles]

For that one anon :) Trust me there's way way way more backstop where Dave is also the step-dad's enemy but boy that would take some explaining!

P.S androids exist in this universe

---

It had been a few weeks since Ben had taken Dave to hospital, he still wore his cast because of the damage to it and wore it to school, but now that it was a two week holiday mid-term, Dave returned to the run down house to keep doing it up. Aiden, his boyfriend, came over after school to help out or stay the night, but his dad was sometimes quite strict on him being home since he still had school to go to.

Dave didn't tell him, but he was struggling. After paying his dad more rent to stay there, and last time he accidentally spent most of his money on tools to fix the place, he was still low. His cast meant he couldn't do the same job he did near his boarding school, so his hours got reduced to the point he couldn't afford anything. Train tickets and taxis were expensive!

At the moment it was mid afternoon, he and Aiden were cuddled up on the sofa under a blanket watching TV. "Your dad texted you at all?" Aiden asked, looking down at him.

Dave shook his head. "He didn't even ask if I got off the train okay. I bet Ben put him up to all this.. I'll learn my lesson if I distance myself."

Aiden groaned. "Just forgive him already! Seriously.." Dave didn't answer. "I don't get it anymore, my dad says everyone deserves second chances. Ben ought to get one, especially since he's still treating your dad right."

"You really think that? You think my dad wants three babies that aren't his running around the house? The parent living with him? He's just too stupid to realise Ben is manipulating him just like everyone else he's dated! He can't leave because he'd be poor again. He's given up and Ben is playing games with him."

Ben, the richest man on earth, met Dave's dad William on a one night stand. As a child, Dave's mum left and they were penniless so his dad became a prostitute to get money, often bringing back strangers who weren't too kind. Child services nearly took Dave away due to an unsafe home environment just a year ago, when Ben stepped in and offered to marry him so that William could keep custody.

Coincidentally, Ben and William fell in love. Ben's history is...unknown. He doesn't like to talk about it. His actual name is Jun-ho, from Korea, but he changed it when moving to the states to leave his old life behind. His habits didn't leave though, he has a butler named Sam who was an android. Ben accidentally made them sentient when they were simply a roomba in his childhood, and over the years developed into a human-type android body, capable of anything. Literally, anything.

Dave had been living with Ben in his mansion for a few months at the time, but was scared of him. His fear produced itself as anger, so he would often yell at him or try and hit him. Something he used to do to his own dad due to his childhood. It was only made worse when Ben's abusive aunt visited, and mysteriously disappeared. Dave's theory was that Ben had killed her, and while he was right, Ben would never tell him that.

To try and improve his behaviour and mental health, Dave transferred away from Aiden's school to a boarding one some hours from home. He loves it, he has friends, and he stopped using drugs. ..Until the news hit. His dad texted him that Ben had a confession. He'd secretly been having sex with Sam, which had started before he grew feelings for William, but now he had feelings for both and was too afraid that Will would reject him. But the pregnancy..

Ben came clean. He was polyamorous without even knowing it, which Will was shocked by as it was an affair but had since forgiven him. Sam was pregnant with triplets, three girls. Will said he will help raise them, as their own. Dave.. hadn't been so keen. Ben had been friendly to him, gave him new clothes, an art studio, warm food everyday.. and this ruined it.

In Dave's eyes, Ben was a traitor. Just like all the sleazy men his dad used to bring home. Just like all the rest, he'd call him, a worthless man that his dad didn't deserve. He wanted them to divorce, he didn't want to legally be his child so he idolised his 18th birthday when he would be able to totally detach himself. He called his dad deluded for staying with such a horrible person, and if he couldn't convince him to leave him then he'd simply abandon him too.

So he did, he wanted to go back to his real home. The house with rats, broken taps, a dead boiler, chipped floors, and moldy walls. His dad figured Dave had gone too far and made Dave pay him rent to teach him a lesson. So he picked up a job at a café near his school to pay it and to fix it.

Only problem.. his dad was right. Everything he said Dave couldn't do. He couldn't look after himself, the project was too big.. but it was still better than living with Ben!!! ..right?

The first few days were great, he and Aiden bought supplies, had a take away, and he was fixing the house. Unbeknownst to him, Ben had installed security cameras; not to stalk, only to be careful. He heard what was going on from Will and was worried; he cared about Dave, he wanted to call him his son. They'd almost gotten Dave to behaving and he ruined it by knocking up Sam.

One afternoon Dave was up a ladder to paint the walls, but he fell and broke his arm after landing on top of a paint can. His hip and leg were bruised so badly at the time he couldn't get up and his phone was out of reach. Ben saw him and rushed over, taking him to hospital. He was discharged the same day, but after one night in the mansion Dave returned to the house.

It messed up his perception about Ben, which is why even Aiden was getting frustrated with him. His anger wasn't even justifiable anymore, Ben was doing everything he possibly could to apologise and Dave did nothing to thank him. "You wouldn't get it' Dave muttered.

The topic was dropped and they kept watching TV. Dave's stomach growled. With so little money, he did what his dad used to do, and that was stretch pennies as far as he could. He hadn't eaten since Wednesday, and it was currently Friday evening. He chose to pay for WiFi rather than food. Bad idea. "Someone sounds hungry" Aiden commented, unaware

"Only cus I'm jealous that you're going to a party and I'm not."

"Well make sure you eat later then. Otherwise all the photos of the buffet will make you starve!" He chuckled.

Oh boy it would. His friends arrived about an hour later to pick him up so they kissed goodbye and Aiden left. Dave turned off the TV and the lights to save electricity, just sitting wrapped in two blankets on the sofa scrolling through his phone. The boiler had been broken for years and he certainly couldnt afford to fix it now.

At 9pm his stomach began to cramp with hunger pains so he went upstairs and got into bed, wearing his thickest pyjamas and two layers of socks. He stared out the window, watching snow begin to fall. No wonder it was so cold inside! There were drafts in almost every room, he'd tried fixing them with some kind of sealant, but clearly it hadn't worked too well.

His mind began to wander back to what Aiden said, and all the things his therapist at school told him. It was always Ben. Everything was about stupid Ben. With his cotton suits that he'd call his casual wear, or the button up pyjamas that he claimed was totally normal to wear.. his big kitchen always full of food, or the cinema room and popcorn machine. The pool. The studio.. the heating turned on to whatever temperature he wanted.

Dave curled up as small as he could. He was ignoring Aiden's photos, he knew it would only make his stomach hurt more. It was painful, shivering in the cold, his body so tense that he was getting a headache. Empty and broken cupboards, paint stains on the carpet, broken bathroom tiles..

He cried.

He ugly cried.

He used his pillow as a tissue, unable to stop his sobbing. He wanted help, he wanted to go home, but he didn't have one anymore. He wanted someone to tell him it was okay. He wanted a chocolate biscuit.

Sitting up in defeat, he saw his cycle helmet on the floor. Maybe.. he got out of bed. He pulled on a random coat and a pair of shoes from the end of his bed, shoving the phone into a pocket. It took a lot of squirming to get his cast through since his elbow was permanently bent at the moment, but he managed. Then he put on his cycle helmet, managing to do up the clasp with one hand.

Still mid crying, though less severe as he was concentrating, he went downstairs and picked up his bike, wheeling it out the house. There was nothing worth stealing, but he locked up anyway.

He had cycled with no hands before so one was fine. He leant forward so his cast arm could rest on the bars while his good hand controlled the steering and brakes.

He cycled off into the night, the bitter cold wind turning his tears and snot into frozen streaks on his face. The adrenaline stopped him feeling the cold despite his hands quickly turning white but he'd either make it to his destination or die trying and right now he didn't mind which outcome it was.

Avoiding black ice he managed to make it outside of the city and down the darker roads. No cars came by. After over half an hour later he began cycling along the familiar brick wall, approaching the iron gates. He cycled smack into them as he couldn't break in time and fell sideways. "Shit!" He yelled, but he whined rather than grumbled

As he was standing up, a familiar voice sounded through the intercom. "Dave..?" It was Sam.

Dave kept his head low, feeling ashamed. "Please.. let me in."

"Of course.." The gates opened up. "Do you want me to wake your dad?" Dave didn't move. He shook his head. "Do you want me to wake Ben?" He nodded. "Okay.."

Dave dragged his bike through and up the long driveway for over five minutes, then dropped it by all the cars parked out front. He walked up the steps and the front doors opened automatically. Sam had connected themselves to the entire house, usually only being in the house rather than android form before the affair started.

The lights were on low, but enough to see. He stood there, but Ben was already rushing down the stairs. "Dave..!"

He stopped a few paces in front of Dave, confused. Why was he here, and why did he ask for him and not his dad? Except- "Dad..." Dave whispered and burst into tears all over again, throwing himself at Ben and hugging him.

The tip of the helmet jabbed him in the ribs but he didn't care, he bent over and squeezed Dave tight. This was.. the last thing he expected in the middle of the night. "It's..  okay. I'm here.. what's wrong?"

Dave just kept sobbing, burying his face in Ben's chest. "I'm.. I'm so.. hungry.. and cold.."

"Oh son.." That made him sob harder. "You can have whatever you want here." He gestured for Sam to go and get some blankets. "What do you want to eat?"

Dave tried catching his breath. "A chocolate biscuit.."

"Of course." They slowly let go of each other and Ben took off Dave's helmet, helped with his shoes, and his coat. He pulled a handkerchief out his pocket and wiped Dave's face clean.

Sam came back and wrapped a blanket around Dave, offering him slippers. "Go and sit down in the blue living room, I'll bring you all the biscuits you can eat."

Dave nodded and walked away, Sam following him. Ben went to the kitchen and got out a tray, getting out biscuits and displaying them on a plate. Nothing pretty, he doubt Dave cared about the presentation. Then he put some fruit and meat on there as well in case he wanted more proper food. Hopefully this meant he would stay... should he wake William?

He carried the tray down the hall to the living room and placed it on the table in front of Dave. "If there's anything else you want then you tell me, okay? I'll get it for you, or order it for you."

Dave nodded and reached forward for the biscuits, taking one and shoving the whole thing in his mouth. He moaned at how good it tasted, everything was always so much more delicious when he was hungry. He took a couple more and leant against Ben, his feet tucked up underneath a pile of cushions. Ben wrapped his arm around him, gently rubbing his side. He wanted him to feel safe.

He ended up finishing most of the plate before going quiet, still focusing on his breathing. A couple minutes passed and Dave's body completely relaxed, asleep.

[jaskierswolf]

Song Prompt: “Degenerates” - A Day to Remember. Requested by @sharinalein

I liked the song! But it gave me Lambert x Aiden feels. So... that’s what we have!

_________

Lambert swore as he shielded his face from the onslaught of rocks being thrown at his face. The fucking humans had refused to pay him for slaying their local killer werewolf and now they were blaming him for killing their blacksmith, aka… the werewolf. He’d only taken the contract because he’d been passing through the run down village and seen the notice. He hadn’t even been that short of coin. He’d just finished up clearing some wraiths for some noble pricks who’d paid him a bucketload, but he was a witcher and the village needed help.

He fucking regretted it now.

“Oh fuck off!” He yelled as a rock caught him on the shoulder and another one narrowly avoided his head.

“Murderer!!” A villager yelled.

“He was a fucking werewolf!” He snapped back. “You paid me to kill him!” He ducked under a well-aimed stone and heard a yell from behind him. He grinned as he spun round. He knew that voice. “You’re getting slow, kitten!”

Aiden grumbled and fingered his now bleeding temple. “I was going to try and get you out in one piece, wolf. Now I’m not so sure.”

“Oi! That one’s a mutant too!” Another villager threw a rock and Aiden.

Lambert laughed. He wasn’t even sure how they still had rocks to throw. Did they keep them in their pockets? Aiden hissed at the nearby villager and unsheathed his sword. That was Lambert’s cue to pull them both out before there was a repeat of Blaviken. “It’s not worth it!” He yelled to Aiden and grabbed his wrist. “Come on. Let’s get out of here.”

Aiden glared at the villagers as he was pulled away. Lambert was almost tempted to let him go back to slaughter the humans. Almost. When they’d first met a few months ago Aiden had saved Lambert’s life from a very similar situation, less rocks and more daggers. They’d travelled together for a few weeks before parting ways. It was hard enough for humans to trust one witcher, two was just too much.

He hadn’t expected to see the cat witcher again so soon but he fucking delighted! Aiden had become one of Lambert’s best friends. He wasn’t a stick in the mud, like Geralt, Vesemir or Eskel and he actually laughed when Lambert came up with a stupid idea. It wasn’t the wolf school’s witchers’ fault. He was the youngest witcher and they often treated him like a little brother or problem child as a result.

Aiden treated him like an equal. He actually encouraged Lambert’s more chaotic and slightly murderous plans, and the company on the path had been something he’d never realised he wanted. So he’d been sad when Aiden had skulked away.

Once they were a safe distance away, Lambert let go of Aiden’s wrist and pulled the other witcher around to face him. He glared at the blood dripping from Aiden’s temple. “Are you alright?”

Aiden shrugged. “Better than the time I got stabbed saving your arse, darling.”

Lambert cackled. “Hey they tried to torch me in that last town when you almost murdered the mayor!”

Aiden sighed and wiped the blood from his temple. “Why do we tend to hurt one another, wolf?” He asked with smirk.

Lambert hit him in the arm. “Oi. This one is not my fault. I ducked, you were just too slow.”

Aiden cupped his cheek and he felt the last of his thoughts flying through his ears. Why was Aiden so close all of a sudden? Had he always had such pretty eyes…. they were the most vibrant blue. “Too slow?” Aiden purred in his ear. Lambert shuddered as Aiden’s lips brushed over his cheek.

Lambert nodded. “Yeah.”

“Hmm.” Aiden’s eyes flickered down to Lambert’s lips and Lambert felt like he was on fire.

“Yeah.” He mumbled, feeling himself leaning in.

But before he could press their lips together, Aiden had kicked him in the back of the knees and he crumpled to the floor, landing on his arse. Aiden cackled and winked at him. “Oh my darling wolf, speed isn’t everything.”

Lambert felt himself blush and he crossed his arms in front of his chest. “Fucking cat.” He mumbled.

“Oh you wish.” Aiden purred as he squatted down next to Lambert.

Lambert glared at the cat witcher for all of two seconds before deciding he’d had enough of his teasing. He lunged forward and pulled Aiden into a kiss, knocking him backwards onto the path. It didn’t take Aiden long to kiss back and thread his fingers through Lambert’s hair. When they pulled apart Aiden was laughing which only made Lambert glare more.

“Well it took you long enough, wolf.”  Aiden smirked and gazed up at him with a sparkle in his eyes.

Lambert groaned and buried his face in Aiden’s neck. “Shut it, kitten.”

[crowleyellestair]

Headcanons on how the wolves + Jaskier would react to a s/o who is due for their period soon and thus very testy/wheepy? I have just been an atomic bomb this month and it’s driving me and everyone else nuts 😖

AN// I’m sorry it’s rough right now, I feel you 100% I hope you can relate and feel just a touch better through this by laughing or feeling some fluff

 The thing about the boys at Kaer Morhen is that they weren’t really aware of what was happening. Triss had explained it a winter prior due to Ciri’s first cycle, but that hadn’t meant that they were used to it. Sorceresses don’t have these problems, and that was the type of women they were around most of the time. Close friends were always invited to the keep, and when Y/n was invited, it stirred the castle into territory most people wouldn’t think it would go.

Vesemir was the first to notice, being the soft dad he was

-Being as old and as trained as he his, he could simply tell

-He had been quite the gentleman as a young wolf, and was familiar with what to do in general

-Not wanting to truly treat you differently, he still asked for certain chores to be done, keeping you up and walking, but not having to move too much

-Honey and black tea would be specially made for you in the morning, as well as having your seat warm by the time you came down for breakfast

-He made certain your clothes were washed separately and more frequently, wanting to help you feel as clean as possible. The scent of sweat or musk never helps on that front

-Since he also cooks, as well as take care of laundry, he plates your food before taking the large pots to the table. The others thought it was because you became his favorite, and while that was true, he made sure to add extra ginger as that helps with cramps. He had regrets for not growing fennel this season, but he was glad to know that his ginger stock can help make you feel comfortable

Lambert was the first to experience it

-There were pranks to be had between you two

-While Jaskier can take what has been dished, his revenge pranks were never as funny

-He was the one who wasn’t afraid to be rowdy with you, and he found out the hard way that you weren’t up for it

-The witcher had been stalking you through the rafters, waiting until he could pounce

-Cramps weren’t necessarily terrible when approaching time, but you had stopped to rub your lower stomach for a moment, trying to sooth anything before it started

-That was the cat-wannabe’s time to strike

-He slid down the wall behind you, though close enough to whereas he landed, his arms wrapped around your shoulders and he wrapped his legs around your torso in a piggy-back formation

-You immediately went off, turning and falling against the wall

-He evacuated before he would be smashed and as he rounded to the front of you, smirk plastered on his face, you cuffed him as hard as you could

-The tears didn’t come, but the unnecessary adrenaline mixed with the already foul mood

-“Not today, Lambert, I swear to Melitele.”

-His eyes went wide, and he truly felt bad.

-You had never raised your voice, even after that one time he glued your mug of ale to your hand

-He threw out a quick sorry and practically flew down the hall in the direction you had just come from

Geralt had noticed next

-It had been the smell

-Not that you smell, but with the extra mutations, he could sense something

-It had been a familiar thing with Ciri, but he simply couldn’t place it

-He walked in on it as your room was on the way to his

-You had a plant, one Vesemir entrusted you to grow, but unbeknownst to you, it wasn’t really important. He just thought you might like a little life in your room. The plant began to wilt however, and leaves started to fall. You were in mourning, resting and crying against the wall

-The White Wolf stepped in to ask if you were ok, not realizing the situation before, but quickly stepped out when the real water works started. You clutched the plant to your chest and wept

-He made a swift and silent exit, trying to not interfere with your grief nor the scent in the air

Eskel, the soft soul, hadn’t noticed anything

-The brunette had either been held up in the library trying to fit his new finds into the shelves or he was with Lil’ Bleater

-You had made contact with him in the area where the goat roamed, fawning over the dear

-He had simply thought you shared the same kind of bond with the animal as he did

-It actually pleased him thoroughly to see it, a small grin plastered on his face

-You even went as far as picking the lil’ guy up and holding him

-He hadn’t noticed it then, but looking back, you were certainly too into it

Jaskier found out through the three younger witchers asking

-“You’re fully human, so what’s happening?”

-“What do you mean?” The three other men sitting him down in the main hall’s table. Lambert looked hurt and uncomfortable, and in the smallest voice any of them had ever heard from him, he said,

-“She yelled at me.” Geralt nodded, also noting the difference in behavior

-“Her smell is different. Not bad, just off. I also found her with a plant, crying.” His tone was rough and almost angry, upset with himself for not knowing what was going on, nor knowing how to fix it

-“Now thinking about it, she did seem aggressive in her coddling with Lil’ Bleater.” Eskel’s hand flew to his scarred cheek, a habit he developed whenever he thought something was very wrong

-It took the bard a moment to think of ideas, but the realization still came quickly

-He felt confident in his knowledge, though he had certainly been lucky in his life, never really being in contact with the disastrous side of a period

-Being dramatic, but also very out of his depth in this area, he told the men to leave it to him

-He shouldn’t have

-Jaskier ended up on his ass for trying to give you a massage and for making a mess of your bed by putting frozen wildflower petals over it

-Vesemir stepped in finally, overhearing the conversation, and explained that it wasn’t a voluntary thing. That Geralt could sense the intense shift in hormones, and you were lashing out, but not because you wanted to. He, being logical and a great dad, exaggerated how much you didn’t mean it, and how you most likely felt bad. Subtlety was needed for the situation, and no one needed a grand gesture. It was simply another week in the life of someone with ovaries, and you shouldn’t be treated too differently than usual, simply with a little more care.

The boys understood, but still felt bad for whatever reason. Jaskier was the first to think of a discrete apology, realizing a surprise massage was definitely not the way to go about it. He had come up to you late the same night, a hot rock wrapped in the nicest towel he could find, in hand. His same bubbly atmosphere stayed with him as he gently handed it to you. There wasn’t an actual conversation between the two of you, but he explained somewhat,

“I’ve heard that heated pads where better than massages anyways.” He knew that when he received a soft smile that it was okay.

Eskel was the next to think of something you might appreciate. He had a favorite book, despite reading many titles over his time. Embarrassingly enough, it was a smaller romance novella about a noble woman falling in love with a dwarf that worked in her families mine. You didn’t need to know it was his favorite, but he left it in your spot as an offering, knowing how he becomes so wrapped up in the book that he looses a sense of reality while reading it. He simply wanted you to lose yourself or whatever you felt, even just for a moment.

Geralt had become spoiled on his travels with Jaskier and Ciri. He fell in love with chamomile oil and honey exfoliation soap. The scent wasn’t overbearing, and the small grains in it from the oat really made one feel clean. There was a bathing order for everyone, his lining up right before yours. Geralt had extra bars, leaving one for you one night. It was like the others, just with a hint of orange zest. He knew you wouldn’t smell or sense what he could, and again, it wasn’t bad, but he knew how you appreciated feeling clean before this.

Lambert was the last to think of something. This had been traumatic for him, the young witcher taking a liking to you more than he had with someone since Aiden. He never thought he had to apologize for anything, nor has he ever had to come up with something to make someone more comfortable. Of course, he knew he didn’t have to, but he truly cared, and wanted to do something nice. And that came in the form of fur a week after the boys’ realization.

He was always freezing, and always wrapped in fur blankets. He had made sure he had the best furs, scratchy furs being uncomfortable. His favorite was a black and grey wolf pelt he had taken from this overly large wolf he found in the Skellege mountains. No matter where he dragged it, how many times he washed it, or overused it, it continued to be the softest thing he’s felt. Lambert would be spotted frequently at night being wrapped in said fur as he would pad down to use the bathroom. The fur had been cleaned and placed on your bed one night, though when you ventured to his room to ask about it, he was hidden. He was watching of course, and only relaxed when he watched you shrug and wrap the blanket around your shoulders. They all wanted your pain to leave as you mattered to them. They all wanted you safe and secure, but none of you can help it. They all swore they would try their damndest to make you comfortable in caring ways

[muffins-are-ok-i-guess]

Nobody asked for this but given the boredom some people may be facing, I'm going to reccomend a few of my favorite games in no particular order in case anyone wants to try them.

1. Life is Strange.

Awesome story about friendship, love, mystery and time travel in a port side town. Lots of fun details to find. Definitely fun but not necessary to reply. Characters can be a little cringey but thats kind of what makes it fun. Unique mechanics and I like how the decisions you make have consequences.

2. Oxenfree

Super creepy but fun game. About a group of kids exploring a haunted island but get stuck in a time loop. Again, your dialog and decisions have consequences that may even carry through to the next playthrough of the game. Which i highly reccomend multiple playthroughs for both enjoyment and better understanding of the ins and outs of this insane story.

3. Prey

If you like first person shooter games with cool graphics, SPACE, and story then you are in for a treat. The monsters are super spooky and i love it. Did i mention SPACE?? This game imvoles stragey, mostly free exploration, and a crafting system.

4. Beyond Two Souls

This has near movie like graphics in my opinion. I like to play in chronological order but all over the place is fun too as you piece together the story of Jodie and her "friend" Aiden as they run from the goverment, fight spirits and get traumatized over and over. Your choices and actions matter and there's multiple endings.

5. Heavy Rain

You play as multiple characters, who could all die for goodsies if you pick the wrong choice. Each character is trying to solve the case of a serial killer and each character has different motives and approaches. Timing means a lot here so be ready for QTEs and other fast time decisions to make.

6. Detroit Become Human

Ever wonder about the possibilitu of AI evolving? Thats this game. Its an interesting reflection on similar current events while also portraying a future that could possibly happen irl. You play different characters and your actions and choices matter a lot here too. Even just watching the game is like a movie.

7. The Walking Dead

The style of these games is awesome. Very like the comics and cool cameos from both other game characters as well as characters from the live action show. Love the story but im not great at the quick time events so beware.

8. Uncharted 4

So i played these out of order but the Uncharted series is like a more funny tomb raider but just as fun. I didnt even feel lost playing the 4th one first.

9. Until Dawn

Put yourself into a classic "snowy mountain in the woods teen slasher" esque film as a game. Examine everything and be careful which relationships you nurture in this game. The end reveal is crazy and i love it. Discovery in this game can be your savior or your downfall.

10. The Last of Us

A neat take on a zombie apocalypse game. The story ro get from A to B has a lot of twists and turns and that sweet sweet found family trope between snarky kid Ellie and grizzly "I'm not you dad" Joel. Just because i suck at the fighting doesn't mean you shouldn't try.

11. The Wolf Among Us

Imagine if your fave fairy tale characters lived in New York. And were kind of assholes. And suddenly the Big Bad Wolf is kinda attractive. Welcome to the Wolf Among Us. Based on the Fables comic series, this comic stylized game involves choices that determine your progress as you try to solve more than a regular murder case.

12. Minecraft.

So I may be new to the Minecraft scene. Its not a new game. But its fun! Its simple and charming and relaxing even if you dont actually make any progress like i do. But catch me in my huge tower like Rapunzel, only hiding from Creepers and Endermen.

13. What Remains of Edith Finch.

A walking playthrough of a girl revisiting her abandoned childhood home and confronting the dark secrets and mysterious deaths of her family. Is it all coincidence or are there supernatural forces at play?

14. Little Misfortune

As the game tells you, Misfortune is a wonderful girl from a not so wonderful family. Follow along as this little, silly, and sweet girl goes on a journey to find Eternal Happiness. She is led by a strange voice that can talk to you, the player as well as Misfortune the character. Help her game play out by making choices and observations.

[ofmythsandmadness]

MY THOUGHTS ON TUA SEASON TWO: PART TWO (spoilers)

So...I finished season two.

I’m putting ALL my thoughts under the tab so please, don’t click unless you’ve seen it all, and/or you just....like don’t care about spoilers? But please if you’ve not watched it, watch it first ‘cause it deserves all the hype and attention.

You can read part one to this here.

FIVE HARGREEVES…

I deadass thought he was gonna die.

I thought throughout the entire show that he was going to die, and ESPECIALLY at the end, I thought that was it. I guess I’m glad though that he didn’t die of course. But I was convinced, and glad he didn’t and that there was no shock-value death of a major character. 

(though like maybe one of them should have gotten hit by a bullet in one of those final scenes?? I mean….there were bullets EVERYWHERE. By SO many guns. How did they miss every time????)

Aiden Gallagher did a terrific job with the character. I don’t agree with the things he personally has done but I am convinced on his acting abilities, I mean JEEZ. He sold the act and alongside Diego/David Casteneda, was really one of the best actors on the show. I am thoroughly impressed. I didn’t really like him much in Season One, but he’s sold the role to me now and I’m very impressed.

That being said... I kinda hated Five. That’s it. I liked him in general but some parts, I was so pissed off and just didn’t like. He was an asshole and I know he IS an asshole but it was beyond just being a grumpy old pisspot. And I don’t know really how to feel, because I know being 45 years alone and lost and then becoming the world’s best assassin or whatever will fuck your head up, so it makes sense. I just think there were points where he lost most of his humanity, and then he’d flip-flop back to a more caring being. I sort of just wished there was a clear definition to all of his thoughts and emotions on it all.

But at the same time his character makes sense so I don’t know how to feel??? Maybe I’m just pissed on how he treated Diego and shit. But I’m very very glad he’s not dead!! 

ALLISON HARGREEVES…

Okay, I thought she was REALLY dead in that scene. You know the one I’m talking about.

Holy shit.

I was so scared. And also it was so sudden (and a little cool admittedly how Lila just threw it back at her like that - HOW DO I WORD thAT NON-SEXUALLY) and I was so fucking worried they’d kill her off, because I find sometimes her character comes off a little disposable. Not because I want her gone, more that the show finds her an afterthought and pushes her with someone or ‘silences’ her.

But overall I loved her storyline. I didn’t know if I’d like her just being married, it felt again like an afterthought and she was being pushed to be with someone, but the civil rights movement plot was really well done, in my eyes. I loved too the agony of having such impressive powers, but scared of the effects of doing so and also not wanting to be the person she was before. I felt for her and I was so impressed with her separating herself from her past, trying to push away from being the one who had it all and trying to be her own self. I think that this season did that really well, with all the characters and finding themselves, and I just...I want her to be happy, and successful and I want to see her find a way to use her powers without causing pain to herself or others.

And not be with Luther. Please, anyone who can do a thing about it reading this, do not make her and Luther a thing.

(also - emmy raver lampman is in general so goddamn talented and beautiful and i wish her the best. i just heard her rendition of satisfied and me oh my, that gal deserves so much more love, i hope this show catapults her career even more forward)

VANYA HARGREEVES…

Literally invented cottagecore.

Also, I love her.

I was so impressed with the way they handled her queer storyline. I was so worried about it, admittedly because television shows have a history of handing out stereotypical plotlines and not caring about the depth of them but dear FUCKING heavens, I loved this one. I cried like a baby, and yet I was left almost happy, at the end? Not happy, because they’re apart and Sissy’s stuck in a world that she can’t be herself in, but there was a beautiful bittersweetness that I adored about it. And it was realistic, and they didn’t just follow a trope and leave it there to wither up and die.

Vanya was adorable in this season and while I normally hate the amnesiac storyline, I think it’s an easy way out, I liked it here! Because yeah it was I guess an ‘easy way out’, but it worked and it made Vanya be able to be here and actually start over. I didn’t want to see her so burdened with who she had been and who she was forced to be, I wanted to see her smile and dance and love her siblings and she could and I couldn’t be happier. I mean, when she was just saying how she loved her family and her family was amazing...obviously it’s funny cause the family’s so messed up, but she meant it and I just want so much good for her.

I just love how they naturally developed the idea of the Hargreeves genuinely liking each other. This season really brought them together but unlike the first, it wasn’t necessarily because they had to, but because they wanted to. And I think Vanya did that for them. 

Basically...I don’t know how to put it all into words without making this a 70-page thesis essay. But I love her and want the best for her.

(side note - I really also was impressed with Harlan. I was scared that somehow they were going to do something stupid with him, but he was adorable and I loved him. his character made me tear up a little, too. as someone who has close family with severe autism, it’s rare to see a show that doesn’t make an upsetting and non-accurate portrayal out of someone on the spectrum. but he was so precious and smart and good and Sissy loved him and dammit, I would die for that little family)

I’m ALSO curious if Vanya’s gonna visit Sissy ever? I mean I thought she would have at the end but obviously the cliffhanger didn’t leave room for that...idk know though because I think with multiverse theories and whatnot, she wouldn’t even know her but...eh.

KLAUS HARGREEVES…

I don’t actually have much to say on him, which is shocking because in Season One, I could have written a whole book on his character. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t love him! He’s still one of my favourites, and I wish I could just take away his pain because that boy deserves at least a kernel of good in his life. But truly, there’s just not much I know to say about him??

The scene in the restaurant with Dave and his uncle though hurt. What hurt more though was his nonchalant nature about it, because he’s been through that so many times and he almost expected it, which hurt. It’s expected and I knew he couldn’t just waltz up to Dave and confess his love and they’d be dandy, but as a queer person, it was a punch to the heart just watching him go through that.

I just want him to be happy someday, and bond with his siblings because there’s a deep sadness that lurks with Klaus, and maybe it’s from the actor too but there’s a melancholy that I relate to, which I hate because that melancholy is a heavy burden to carry. A worthlessness, and a deep depression that he’s seemed to have fallen into that’s a bitch to climb out of and I’m scared that he won’t be able to. He covers it up in funny gestures and vices but it’s still destroying him. Even the cult - he lacks any real love and he finds it in meaningless places, never remembering their names or anything about them and coming off as an asshole when really, he’s just looking for someone who truly cares about him, who he is on the inside and listens to him without yknow, becoming brainwashed and treating him like a god.

I’m interested to see where the show takes his character.

BEN HARGREEVES…

This show really said fuck my feelings on this one, huh???

EPISODE NINE MADE ME SO NUMB AND SAD AND JUST - FUCK.

I cried so hard when he got to save the day. He finally could do more than just follow Klaus around, and he finally got to be more than their dead brother. For so long, Ben was just an idea, a memory and I can only imagine the pain of having to deal with that. They touch on it in the show but it’s so much deeper than just being alone with only Klaus to talk to - I mean Ben was literally nothing, to any of the others, aside from being their dead brother. And when he finally got to save them, and save Vanya and fucking HUG HER AS HE PASSES ON TO THE AFTERLIFE….when I tell you I sobbed....

And his hug with Diego, how HAPPY they both were….the way that they both just….:’((

And that scene with young Klaus and Ben....Netflix when I said I wanted more Ben content I don’t know if I meant THIS.

At the same time...it was beautiful and bittersweet because he was happy, almost, moving on to his next life. He was able to do what he needed to and move on and that was beautiful. And, he got to say goodbye to at least some of his siblings, and so I can’t truly be sad about his passing. Even though it made me sob like a newborn babe.

But also...what the fuck was that ending?

And by that I mean, who the fuck signed off on that stupid lil’ haircut??? HUH???? WHY DID HE LOOK LIKE HE WAS WEARING FUCKING FAKE BANG-CLIPONS AOIHWGOIHWOIWHOIGWH

IN CONCLUSION. Fuck Reginald Hargreeves and also just FUCK.

In conclusion, I really loved this season. It ended happier than I expected and that makes me happy, so much more happy then I thought I would have been. TUA has been one of my favourite shows, and I’ve over the past while waiting for S2, developed several strong loves for these characters. More than I’ve ever cared about others. And for the most part, they were given the justice I hoped they would be.

Overall, I am happy. And I hope we get season three, almost entirely just so I can figure out if Ben Hargreeves is wearing fake-bang clip ons or not. And also...like for everything else.

Also, what the fuck is a Sparrow Academy? Whomst??? And where’s miss Lila?? And are they technically related and if so HUH?? And also...no rights to Mr Reginald.

This is such a messy summary, lmao.

But let me know what you think! I’m going to rewatch it soon, probably tonight and I’m so excited to fall even more in love with it. (and them)

[yourdeepestfathoms]

The Grey Palace

So this a book I’m really hoping to actually finish! It’s a horror slasher story, but it’s set on a cruise ship. I’m posting the first chapter for my followers to read if they’re interested in following along with the creation and storyline! Feedback is greatly appreciated!

----------------------------

A sleek grey seagull was perched on the wooden guard rail around the churning green ocean. It shifted from foot to pink foot, ruffling unruly feathers, and squinted beady black eyes up at the giant ship looming above it. It looked suspicious of the vessel, and even more suspicious of the people boarding its mass.

The Grey Palace was the greatest cruise ship to ever exist--or so all the Yelp reviews claimed. It included casinos and spas and waterparks and food! But only if you pay for it, because it’s not like you already paid $425 for a single ticket for your four person family. 

It was a colossal sea beast, made out of the finest and toughest extra-strength steel plates and boasting the largest size of a cruise ship in the whole world at a staggering 1,854.25 feet in length and 265.74 feet in height. It had a tonnage of 230,000 gross tons, outweighing every other ship in the business. Its hull could shatter icebergs, its bow could split the sea in two, its propellers were more powerful than any jet or rocket in the entire world. Luxurious lounges and steamy spas promised the best relaxation, the waterpark and Kid’s Club proclaimed full entertainment for children, and the restaurants provided the best food on the seven seas. It got its name from the lustrous grey color it was painted, reflecting rainbows all across the body of the ship. 

Everybody wanted to board the floating Palace, and only a select few got the invitation into the Aquatic Kingdom.

But in this case, a “select few” meant 8,700 people.

The boarding dock was clamored with passengers. Families that made the mistake of keeping their luggage on them instead of turning it in to the porters, families that trying to keep all their kids from running off, families already bickering over what they were going to do first, all packed into one area that was treacherously close to the ocean and a giant ship that would easily be able to sweep a fallen victim underneath its mass. One woman had her toddler on a child leash like it was a dog, tugging on the rope every once and awhile when the kid tried to run off. Another mom was herding her family in close to take a selfie, earning disgruntled noises from the children when they had to squint and smile up into the sun. A man was loudly talking to a video camera he was holding, most likely making a vlog for YouTube that would only probably get 67,000 views and 1,230 likes. Worryingly close to the edge of the dock was a pair of kids, pointing into the water and calling out what they saw while their parents obliviously chatted with some other people. Several porters were furiously helping everyone board, sweat beading their brows as they worked diligently. 

The seagull watched them all, raising its beak in a haughty manner. It seemed miffed by the intrusion of so many humans in its territory, but didn’t have the strength or size to do anything about it, so it just gazed judgmentally from a distance. Its dark eyes shifted over to the girl looking back at it, then screeched in surprise when she was shoved, jerking open its narrow wings and leaping away into the air.

  “Come ON, Violet!!” Ethan shrieked.

Violet staggered to the side, nearly tottering into someone behind her while she attempted to regain her balance. She clenched her fists, growling softly in her throat for a moment before letting her anger dissolve away.

  “I’m coming,” She said.

  “You’re being SLOWWWW!!” Aiden yelled, earning a few glances from other people because of his volume.

  “Sorry,” Violet muttered, hunching her shoulders in.

Her family bustled across the port, getting closer and closer to the gangway with each, but before they could cross the threshold, a ship photographer jumped into their path, wearing a painfully cheery grin and brandishing a bulky camera.

  “Would you like to take a family photo before boarding?” She asked, waving an arm to a photobooth set up. The backdrop was of The Grey Palace sailing.

  “Can we, Mama?” Felicity asked Deandra eagerly, tugging at her arm.

Deandra smiled down at her. “Of course, dear!”

They hustled over to the backdrop. Violet attempted to follow, but Tobias stood in her path and firmly said, “Not you.”

Violet backed away obediently, not bothering to argue.

She watched as the seven of them posed for a photo, the epitome of a white, rich family. Deandra was fifty-four, but she was constantly being praised for how good she looked for her age. Unblemished, glowing ivory skin, clear of any wrinkles, and dyed champagne blonde hair. Her neck and wrists were loaded with jewelry, but her hawk-like amber eyes were sharper and brighter than the diamonds she wore, always locating every one of Violet’s flaws.

Tobias was like her toy, even though he was older, bigger, and burlier than she was. He was as nicely dressed as his wife, clad in a tweed jacket despite the summer Whittier heat and expensive jeans and a gold watch that cost more than all their tickets combined, but he still had the face of a lizard, dull blue eyes, and brittle, greying hair that he would slather with enough gel to start a fire. But he was rich, being one of the top congressmen in the state, and had a sharp-tongue that pleased Mother, both audibly and physically, and was very easy to walk all over. Violet guessed that was why Mother even kept him around.

Carly was their pride and joy. She had a supermodel body, thin and tan, with long, luscious blonde hair and the bright blue eyes of Father. She was pretty, but cruel, like a diamond wrapped in barbed wire. Her words were always loaded with venom, manipulative and cunning and bearing no mercy or guilt over what she said. She was harsh and cold, which was probably why she still wasn’t married at twenty-seven, and when Violet told her this after her favorite paints were stolen, she beat her into unconsciousness. Violet still had the long, winding scar across her left side from when she had been lashed with the sharp edge of a broken flower vase. 

Tobias Jr., or just Toby, was the exact opposite of the man he was named after. Out of all her siblings, he was Violet’s favorite. He was a coward and a boot-licker, but he was genuine and had a good heart. He got Violet into The Walking Dead and once cleaned off her back when Father whipped her with his belt after she talked back over something controversial, but provided little help against her mistreatment, being just as scared to stand up to their parents. Still, it was a step up over everyone else. His dark amber eyes were doe-like and his brown hair was always unruly no matter how much he brushed it. In a way, he almost reminded Violet of the seagull, watchful and cautious.

Felicity was Mother’s mini me and Father’s little princess. Her wavy hair showed the natural hue of Mother’s, honey blonde, but her eyes were the deep blue of Father’s. She was incredibly slick and deceptive, as well as exceptionally greedy, always able to get whatever she wants whenever she wants it. She was dripping with as much jewelry as Mother was, maybe even more, and looked at everyone else with great disdain, disgusted at how ugly they were compared to her. Her voice was like the squeal of a pig, and she often preened herself in any reflective surface that could serve as a mirror. At age eleven, she already thought she was the queen of the world.

Aiden and Ethan were nothing but imps. Violet didn’t even know why Mother and Father had them; there was no point in their existence. They just lived to take up space and time and money, but their parents treated them like they were heirs to the throne. They were near identical, with dirty blonde hair in a mushroom-like shape around their heads and eyes so dark they looked brown instead of amber. All they seemed to know how to do was eat food and cause chaos, often forcing themselves into Violet’s personal space just to annoy her. 

That was the Nicotero family. The rich, flawless Nicotero family, perfectly happy without the illegitimate child chained to them by blood.

Violet, the kid who the congressman cheated on his wife to have on accident, named after a flower because her father couldn’t think of anything better than the plant he saw squashed on the side of the sidewalk when he was fleeing the scene after stealing her from her mother’s breast mere days after being born.

Violet, the girl with weirdly pale grey eyes that no one else in her family had and hands that never seemed to stop fidgeting with things and an overly anxious mind that contrasted with a bursting internal temper.

Violet, the library for all the should have’s-could have’s-would have’s, an encyclopedia of everything that shouldn’t have happened, an example of what her siblings were not supposed to be.

Violet, the fifteen-year-old with vibrant petals curled towards her family, but poisonous roots lying beneath, just like her name’s sake.

  “Say ‘cruise ship’!”

  “CRUISE SHIP!!!”

The camera flashed and the photo was taken.

Violet blinked her eyes; they were sore in the sunlight. She shifted from foot to foot as she waited for her family to finish up at the photobooth. She wondered if they would put it on the fridge like all the other photographs she wasn’t a part of. They never put up the things she was in.

  “Come on! Come on! Come on!” Felicity yipped, pulling on Father’s arm. “I wanna get on already!!!”

  “We’re coming, we’re coming,” Father chuckled. He somehow had all the patience in the world when dealing with the squealing Felicity, but once yelled at Violet for taking too long to tie her shoes.

The Nicotero family pushed their way through the crowd to the closest gangway, shoulder checking other people and trodding over feet without pity in the process. Violet did her best to apologize to anyone they disturbed, seeing as no one else was, so she walked down the walkway and glass doors slightly turned around, and when she faced forward again, she got her first glimpse of the place where she would be spending the next one hundred days.

The main atrium was a giant room with a high-vaulted ceiling and looked like it had been carved out of glass; every surface was shiny and spotless. There were spiral staircases and grand steps and visible catwalks coiled around the walls, all bursting with activity. A marble fountain with intricately designed leaping dolphins was burbling softly in the center of the room, and King the Silver Polar Bear, the mascot of The Grey Palace, was standing in front of it, waving to passengers as they came in and occasionally taking photos with kids who came up to him. Violet must have been staring for a bit too long because he spotted her and pointed, then waved her over. Violet shook her head and said, “No thanks” but Felicity shoved her over with a shrill, “Go say hi, Violet! Someone actually wants to see you!”

Violet staggered forward, feeling that sensation of rage bubble up inside of her again, but, like before, it dissipated rather quickly, as there was nothing she could do. She merely sighed and looked up at the large grey bear now looming over her.

  “Umm… Hi.” Violet said awkwardly. What were you even supposed to say to the mascots? Especially when you have to talk to them against your will?

King waved cheerfully. The head of the suit was set in a petrified, open-mouth smile and the eyes were permanently wide and glowing with glee. It was almost unnerving in a way. Was the person underneath the mass of grey fur as happy as the skin it was wearing?

  “Uhh… Sorry, I don’t really know what to say.” Violet said, cringing internally. Her cheeks felt like they were on fire. 

King made a dismissive hand gesture, then pat her head. The action felt profoundly awkward, but Violet was polite and said goodbye before shuffling back over to her family with her head ducked. Felicity and the twins exploded into high-pitched giggles.

  “Violet. Don’t run off.” Mother said sharply, staring down her nose as Violet.

  “Yes, Mother,” Violet muttered.

Carly suddenly looked up from her phone. “We should go get drinks. The rooms probably aren’t ready yet.”

Mother nodded. “Good idea.”

She led the pack through a wide hallway, whisking by other passengers like she was the queen of the Aquatic Kingdom. On the way, Toby shuffled over to Violet.

  “I don’t like those people in costumes,” He said. “Gives me the creeps.”

Violet peered up at him. “How old are you?”

  “Oi! Rude!” Toby elbowed her gently. He never tried to purposely hurt her. “So… What do you think?”

Violet gazed around the hallway. It was lit up brightly, casting colorful shadows across the painted walls. 

  “It’s nice,” Violet said. “Nicer than any place I’ve been to. Aside from the house, of course.”

She had been shocked when Mother told her about the cruise a week before her freshman year ended. It was going to be a big family trip, and she was actually invited. Usually she was left out of these things. Being alone at their mansion for a week or so at a time while the rest of her family was out travelling or on vacation had been a normal affair ever since she was eleven.

Toby frowned for a moment at that, then quickly said, “It’s gonna be fun.”

They passed through a set of glass doors and entered onto one of the many decks. Surprisingly, there weren’t too many people out yet, as everyone was probably still getting checked in or exploring. Mother glided over to a canopy bar and began ordering. 

They probably spent an hour at that bar, sipping brightly colored cocktails and chatting avidly over their plans for the trip. Violet stayed out of it, of course. She sat at the smooth wooden counter, twirling a pink drink umbrella and scrawling mindless thoughts in a small purple notebook to pass the time. 

An elbow as pointy as a dagger jabbed into her back at one point, making her pen streak across her page, leaving a permanent black like through the written words. She clenched her jaw and turned around.

  “Yes?”

  “Come ON!” Felicity said. “We’re going to go eat!”

  “Didn’t you hear us talking?” Father squinted at her.

  “Sorry. I must have dozed off.” Violet said.

Carly scoffed. “You shouldn’t even be here.”

Nobody said anything against this. Violet didn’t, either. 

They went to the buffet where lunch was waiting, and Mother grumbled about how many people there were, but they eventually sat down to eat, their plates piled with food. Violet got more than she intended, but ate everything, just now realizing how hungry she was. She got judgemental looks from her family, but she did her best to just ignore them.

After lunch, they finally checked into their cabins. They got the suites, of course.

Mother, Father, and the twins got the largest room, one with a queen bed and bunk beds for Aiden and Ethan. Carly and Felicity room together, while Violet stayed with Toby. It was fine with her, really. She rather be with her older brother than any of the others.

The rest of the day was spent preparing for the trip. Toby took the twins and Felicity to get signed up for the Kid’s Club, while Carly hooked up with some friends also on the cruise, Mother went to make reservations for the spa, and Father already began drinking. 

Violet stayed in her cabin, writing away in her notepad while listening to the TV drone on. She finally got up and went out when the sun began to set, unknowingly stumbling right into a departure party on the main deck.

Music blasted as thousands of bodies writhed around together. Several people were in the pool, splashing around loudly, while others were watching the entertainment shows with great interest. Violet couldn’t stand all the noise, so she ventured to the back of the ship and watched as the land slowly disappeared on the horizon. 

A man leaned against the railing a few feet away from her as the golden-orange sunset was starting to turn a bright red color. After he blew out a wisp of smoke from the lit cigarette he had, he said, “This is gonna be one hell of a trip.”

As the first firework was set off at the deck, Violet replied, “You can say that again.”

[asterekmess]

S3A - E7

So, I’m starting this episode right after finishing the last one, and I’m still kinda riled up from that bullshit. Let’s get to pissing me off and breaking my heart then. Blood/gore mention warnings for this episode.

Exercise your eyes! Read More!

Let’s just jump right in:

Starting right off with forcing myself into putting the tag in. Scott literally just listened to his mother say that giving this woman something to lessen the pain of her injuries could complicate things and make it harder to treat her. This is like an important medical thing. While yes, it’s really upsetting that she would need to keep being in pain, she needs to be able to identify and explain what exactly she’s feeling to the doctor who is going to be arrive really soon (though I have no idea why the nurses aren’t able to get these people set up. That’s what they did with me? I didn’t see a doctor for like an hour, but they didn’t make me sit in the fucking waiting room before dealing with the blood.) Her pain level will have a direct effect on how quickly she’s seen. This moment is meant to show Scott being soft-hearted, but with the doctor only ten minutes away, he could literally be making this woman’s life a whole lot worse by taking away her pain right now. There is a reason why after I was given pain killers for my surgery I wasn’t allowed to be near any heavy objects. Her pain is keeping her from irritating her wound. She could fuck herself up if she stops responding to the signals her body is trying to send her. This is not the right way to make Scott look kind. He looks like an idiot who doesn’t even listen to his nurse mom.

WHo the FUCK would keep driving with a bunch of bugs in the car? She’s not even on the interstate! PULL OVER IDIOT.

I’m actually agreeing with Scott on this one. I have no idea how medically accurate what melissa just did was, but it look pretty damn cool.

WHat the hell is this conversation? First off, Ethan, you made VERY clear in the last episode that you want to bite Danny even after he said no. Even if that was the possession talking, it was based on what YOU wanted. Danny’s not safe with you. Second, what is this bullshit about knowing Lydia is the important one? Important to Stiles and ALlison maybe. Scott literally never talks to Lydia. THIRD how exactly did you guys come up with that idea when you went after them on the FIRST DAY? You sniff him on them? cus’ if so your noses are damaged.

what...what is with this ghost car shit? She was in the middle of the city, more than ten minutes away from the hospital and behind the traffic caused by the ten car pileup. How did the car drive itself ALL THE WAY here?

Ethan. you’re an alpha. you have night vision. You shouldn’t need to ask what the fucking MOTH in the middle of the driver’s seat is.

HI NOAH! I’ll be honest. I missed you. You’re a really good actor and you just make me feel all safe. WHich is weird bc I hate father figures and I hate cops. Linden Ashby is just too good, I guess.

It’s so frustrating watching Deucalion walk around with humans pretending to be blind. Because he is. He is Pretending to be blind. He’s already proved like a dozen times that he can see just fine when he turns on the Alpha eyes. Which doesn’t make SENSE because Deaton said his iris’ were permanently damaged. He doesn’t have two different sets of eyes! And it sucks, bc they put in these little things that it would’ve been awesome to see if they included an actual blind person properly. The casual use of the cane, taking someone’s elbow and the trust that implies, and even this. Having (that looks like ethan’s coat) Ethan explain what’s in front of Deucalion, describing the scene to him.

DEREK YOUR SECURITY SYSTEM SUCKS. HOW DID THEY DO THAT WITHOUT YOU WAKING UP? WITHOUT CORA NOTICING?

Also, Cora, you look amazing, can you please be my friend and can I hug you? I love your shirt.

I HATE THIS BITCH. Fuck you Julia.

uhh....why is an English teacher filling in for a chemistry/geometry teacher? That’s not how substitutes work. Making a joke out of it doesn’t make it make any more sense. SHe shouldn’t be doing that, especially if Harris has been missing for a while.

So your office can keep werewolves out, but not darach? Okay, let me go full conspiracy theorist here. we only know Deaton saw the moths because we see it. He just tells Scott that he’s going to be taken. This is a story that Scott is telling, so he couldn’t know that deaton saw the moths unless deaton told him. Julia is currently teaching a class. Are you seriously saying she doesn’t need to be involved at all in order to do these kidnappings? She can just put them on a timer and let the autmoatic spellwork do the job for her? OR Is deaton lying about being taken, and this is just a test he came up with to force Scott’s “True Alpha”ness to the surface? JUlia clearly had other plans for her sacrifice. I don’t think Deaton was a ‘distraction’ to keep Scott from finding the actual sacrifice. I think it was Deaton using the situation to his advantage.

why does deaton have a canine acupressure chart on his wall? I’ve never seen a vet’s office have that. Does he do alternative medicine for dogs??

BOYD. ISAAC. MY BOYS. I can’t tell you how much I love this. It’s so sneaky and annoying and so pack-ish I just love it so much.

BOYD YOU ARE A GENIUS BOY AND I LOVE YOU.

I swear, like ninety percent of what the ‘adults’ in this show say is ‘go back to school.’ ‘shouldn’t you be in school’ yadda yadda. Like, they want so badly to write the teens as though they never have to go to class, so they just make them constantly skip and ignore that these are fucking teenagers who would never be able to get out of school that easily, and they handwave it with someone occasionally going ‘hmm, weird that they aren’t in school’ and then just ignoring it? Truancy is like a THING that you can get in major trouble for. At least Boyd and Isaac called in sick. You know how you could have avoided all this class bullshit? PUT THE FUCKING SEASON DURING THE SUMMERTIME DUMBASSES.

It just hurts seeing Stiles beg for Scott not to make him tell his dad, and then turn right around and admit that it’s not okay for him to let other people suffer just because it scares him that he might lose his only parent. Like, he walks into that sacrifice with eyes wide fucking open and it hurts.

I’m not talking about these dumb sex scenes anymore. I’m so tired of them.

OKay, can we talk about the fire alarm thing though? It sounds like a jokey kind of thing with Aiden teasing Lydia about wanting to leave during the fire alarm but... Remember how Lydia was haunted by Peter’s burnt corpse? How she can hear the cries of the dead, and how she went wandering into the crumbling remains of the Hale house? There’s every chance that Lydia remembers the fire through Peter’s eyes. I wouldn’t be surprised if she was forever freaked by fire alarms.

Man, Cora and Lydia, together? The sass involved? If I didn’t ship Allydia so hard, I’d totally ship Cora and Lydia.

ONce again, I wanna point out that AIDEN IS A MURDERER. Literally all it would take is someone Explaining to Lydia that he is serial killer and she’d never touch him again.

Cora and Stiles together? I’m loving it. I just, wanna point out that when Scott showed up Cora couldn’t have given less of a shit. But here....Cora doesn’t remotely question Stiles’ authority here. She immediately goes along with it and when he tells her to let go of Cora she does. Even though she has no real reason to. When she asks about the spirit board, it’s a legit question and she doesn’t argue or make fun.

PLus there’s the whole ‘Well do you know any spirits” which straight up just confirms for me that ghosts and shit are real in this universe. I trust the Hales as lore sources and Cora’s matter-of-fact tone is good enough for me.

jesus christ i wanna get deucalion and Peter in a room together and watch them just...monologue random facts and trivia at each other endlessly. “Lacrosse was originally played by Native Americans.” “Do you know what a metronome is?” Guys. come on.

Exasperated Stiles is literally my favorite Stiles. “We’re trying to save lives here for the love of god” “YOU”RE SOMETHING, OKay? JUST put out your Hand” It’s so fucking good.

Someone EXPLAIN TO ME how Scott learned to do fucking gymnastics. WHEN DID HE LEARN THIS? I hate this bullshit “I’m a werewolf, so I can do anything” shit. Especially since it’s LITERALLY just Scott they let do it. Everyone else has to actually do the work to learn it.

So...how exactly does Deucalion know where Deaton is? This literally just supports my theory that Deaton set the whole thing up.

ALSO, since I already have the tag I feel no shame in pointing out that Scott didn’t even HESITATE when he learned Derek was going to die. He immediately asked about Deaton. Yeah yeah, Deaton is a father figure to him, but if that’s an acceptable excuse for Scott to use now, then it should count as an acceptable one when it’s STILES” FATHER BEING THREATENED (but I digress, we’re not there yet.)

How did I never notice that Lydia’s Left handed?

andd.....how did Lydia know that? How did Scott know that? What did Deucalion say that even remotely hints at Danny? Scott doesn’t know about Danny’s paper...what?

Fuck yeah, vengeful Boyd. I dig it.

uh....why couldn’t allison just stand next to Scott in the closet. you know, like she did while he was getting in? Also, why was Allison hiding with him anyway? It’s HER HOUSE and HER BEDROOM.

um....okay, i know that we all like the sterek fics where they have to hide in the closet and one of them pops a boner...but I’mma be real, it’s a lot more uncomfortable when I know she broke up with Scott and they’ve been in there for like ten seconds. Plus there’s the whole knowing that she DEFINITELY has enough room to move away and so does he. *shrug*

Side note: Allison where the fuck do you get these clothes? THey’re both awesome and...kinda weird? Did you buy that dress in france?

okay, i’ll admit it, i do actually kinda like the camera angle through the map, with the blacklight lighting up the symbols (though the symbols flash on and off a little too fast). It’s kinda cool.

uh, how would taking the picture help? You don’t have the blacklight over it? None of the markings are visible anymore

why does Chris keep walking in and out? AND WHY DIDN”T ALLISON DO THAT THE FIRST TIME?

Stiles in plaid and Converse? Yes. Yes. please. That’s so my aesthetic I’m so fucking jealous. He looks COMFY.

This whole interaction is just so fucking weird XD

But like, why would Stiles know to go through Danny’s stuff instead of just asking him why he might’ve been targeted??

HOW WOULD THEY KNOW TO CUT THE POWER? THIS DOESN’T MAKE SENSE. Why does the ALpha pack keep showing up with way more information than they should have? It’s so annoying! It’s one thing if Morrell is feeding them information, but she wouldn’t have KNOWN about this! This was a good plan and there’s NO REASON the Alphas should’ve known what Boyd, Isaac, and Derek were doing! What the fuck?

....god i love Derek’s red eyes.

....god i hate that I know where this is going.

....god i wish he’d just let them tear her apart.

I know that it’s meant to be setting up the cora/stiles thing, but I love that she doesn’t hesitate to touch him, and that when she stops him it’s with a very quiet “stop.” She’s really gentle with him, which is just fucking nice. Werewolves taking care to be gentle with Stiles is like...nice.

Since when did Scott know about the plan with Boyd and Isaac? Since when did Stiles know? Is Boyd seriously texting Cora while Derek and Kali are fighting, or did he text her as soon as the power was cut?

is this the first time we see a werewolf bounce off the mountain ash? I mean, I think so, but we also see Peter in S1 try to get past some. There’s no glowing when he comes into contact with the shield. It’s the same with Isaac and Erica in s2. I mean...I guess they’re just trying to upgrade the ash stuff? I gotta say though, I kinda prefered when there were no special effects. It seemed cooler when literally the only thing making it work was belief and having this totally invisible barrier that Peter couldn’t cross. It was cool.

....i think i’m procrastinating seeing the end of this fight. I’m gonna fucking cry.

Why...why does Isaac turn and yell ‘wait’ to Boyd when he was the one running forward to Julia? I am confusion.

Dude, if Alphas could break through mountain ash barriers then Talia Hale WOULDN”T HAVE DIED. THE HALE PACK WOULDn’T HAVE DIED.

I wanna point out here, that this fight between Derek and Kali makes sense for once. Him losing makes sense. We know that the Alphas are much older than they look, or at least Kali, Deucalion and Ennis were. Aiden and Ethan don’t show up in that flashback. ANyway, Kali’s probably in her thirties or forties. SHe’s much older than Derek and she’s been fighting for a lot longer, not to mention fighting to kill.

Seriously, someone get my boy a quarterstaff to knock her feet away.

I really really don’t understand this stuff. Why is it whenever people (I mean Derek, because it’s literally always Derek) get forced to use their werewolf claws/teeth (because again I cannot believe this is happening more than once) he for some reason can’t just...shift back? Retract his claws and fangs? Derek has amazing control, he should totally have been able to do it. With the venom it made sense, he was paralyzed. But now??

What exactly was the fucking point of having Scott break the mountain ash barrier, just to have the sheriff show up and shoot Deaton down? That was literally useless.

also, Noah is an amazing shot. Hot damn.

ALSO. LIterally all this info about true alphas is being whispered to Scott when he’s all alone? How the fuck am i supposed to trust that deaton even ever said that shit to Scott? He could totally be lying about it.

WHAT KIND OF TOTAL BULLSHIT BACKWARDS ASS PLOTLINE IS THIS? After half the season being about Deucalion attacking Derek and trying to get him into the pack, suddenly “Deucalion isn’t after Derek, he’s after you” WHAT? THat’s the STUPIDEST LAZIEST SHIT I’VE EVER SEEN.

and to end my rant BOYD SHOULD NOT HAVE DIED. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? PETER STUCK HIS ENTIRE HAND THROUGH DEREK”S CHEST IN SEASON 1 WHIL IN HIS ALPHA FORM AND THREW HIM INTO A WALL AND DEREK SURVIVED JUST FINE. WHAT IS THIS NONSENSE???

Final Thoughts: No. No, no, no no, no, and no. The ‘plotline’ of this episode is literally like fifteen things that have nothing to do with each other.

Admittedly, there were a few nice moments. Cora, Lydia, and Stiles was an awesome trio. Boyd, Isaac, and Derek was an awesome trio. The sheriff? Amazing. Melissa? A fucking hero. Danny, a genius saint.

All in all, I’m going to tear this episode to shreds in order to rewrite it. Get fucked, Davis.

[mordoriscalling]

48 Weeks (1/4)

Throughout the 48 weeks that Geralt and Jaskier spend apart, their relationship develops.

Aka, part 3 of the Singer and the Sailor AU no one asked for but I wrote anyway. The events of this story happen after Stay or Sail Away but before Homecoming. Warnigns: some sexual content ahead! 

Weeks 1-12

Week 1

The memory of everyone he left behind is still fresh in his mind. He clearly recalls how he embraced Ciri and Yen for the last time. The hugs were short but his daughter and ex-wife know that he needs to grow distanced before deployment. It hurts less this way.

Jaskier was there to say goodbye too, but it was different with him. He has no idea how all of this works, and they only had mere three weeks to enjoy each other’s company. They tried to make best of it but Geralt still wanted to detach himself in the last week. Jaskier reacted with panic and kept asking if he’d done something wrong.

The only wrong Jaskier’s ever done was to appear in Geralt’s life just like that, waltzing past his walls and defences with laughable ease. Jaskier is loud and bright, almost unbearably so, and everything is suddenly too dark and quiet when he isn’t there.

Geralt didn’t use to mind dark and quiet. He rather enjoyed them, in fact. Now, as he waits for Jaskier’s first video call, he’s vaguely annoyed that he allowed Jaskier to influence him like this in such a short period of time. The change is small but significant and he shouldn’t have let it happen, not so fast.

But then Jaskier’s face appears on the screen, his face lit up by a brilliant smile, and any negative thoughts suddenly fly out of Geralt’s mind.

“Hi, handsome,” Jaskier purrs.

“Hello,” Geralt replies.  

“I must say,” Jaskier goes on in low voice, “the sight of you in the uniform does certain... things to me.”

Geralt looks down at his clothes with a bemused frown. He’s wearing a white, long-sleeved shirt with shoulder pads showing his rank, a black tie and black trousers. It’s nothing special. He has no idea what Jaskier sees but what he does know is that Jaskier’s gaze on him is distracting, so Geralt decides to change the subject. Clearing his throat, he asks, “How are you?”

Jaskier beams as if he asked the best possible question.

Week 2

“How the first two weeks on the ship have been?”

“Busy,” Geralt answers truthfully.

“And?” Jaskier prompts, after a moment of silence.

Geralt sighs, irritated. “And there’s a lot of work to do and some chaos, like always at the beginning.”

Jaskier chuckles. “This will have to suffice for now, but know this, White Wolf: I will get all your stories out of you.”

Geralt rolls his eyes and asks, “How are you?”

There’s that smile again.

Week 3

“How are you?”

Jaskier’s grin is blinding as he answers, “Honestly, Geralt, you’re just so sweet.”

Geralt grunts. Jaskier has to be mentally challenged in some way, to think that the basic human decency which Geralt displays is some kind of special gesture. (Or have had unpleasant experiences with past relationships but that doesn't seem right. Who would treat Jaskier like that?)

He only asks Jaskier about how he’s doing the first moment he can. It’s not much but Jaskier appears to think it is. Geralt’s not going to correct him, not when it makes Jaskier smile like that.

Week 4

“I wrote you a song.”

Geralt doesn’t know what to say to that.

“I’ll send you the recording, just tell me what you think.”

He only nods. As he listens to the song after they hang up, he can’t find any words to describe it. The beautiful lyrics tell a story of lovers camping in a forest, and Jaskier’s voice conveys so many emotions that Geralt’s chest aches.

Before the knows it, he listens to the song every evening, then it keeps replaying in his mind at all times. Jaskier’s voice is there with him, luring him towards thoughts that he shouldn’t entertain, and it all affects him in a way he struggles to express.

Week 5

“Thank you, siren.”

It’s the only words he’s found. Somehow, they seem to be enough for Jaskier.

Week 6

Jaskier is leaving on tour tomorrow, his first international one. He has a lot to say, but not necessarily on that topic.

“It turns out my agent and your ex-wife are friends from uni. I hate it, Geralt. I don’t want them to get along. I have a feeling I’m gonna have little say in my own life from now on.”

Geralt acknowledges Jaskier’s despair with a grunt that is barely noticed because Jaskier chatters on, “The only thing I’d hate more would be you knowing Triss too.”

Geralt frowns. There’s only one Triss he knows. “Triss Merigold?”

There’s a stunned pause and then, “What the fuck, Geralt –”

Week 7

Jaskier is in Europe now and Geralt is somewhere on the Atlantic but he can’t say anything else. Jaskier seems tired but Geralt finds out that it doesn’t make him any less talkative.

“I’m still not over the fact that you were right there the whole time –”

“Jaskier –”

“ – just two introductions away!” A huff. “Hey Jaskier,” he pitches his voice high, imitating how a woman would sound rather well, “do you know my friend Yennefer? Oh, and here’s her ex-husband, who’s gonna ruin you for other men, women, and everyone in between and outside of that spectrum.”

Geralt snorts.

“I could’ve had you for so much longer,” Jaskier laments, “But actually, I wouldn’t have, because it seems I’d have had no idea about your existence at all if not for Lambert? Those two introductions were possible for five goddamn years that Triss has been my agent but apparently, that’s not enough time for it to happen –”

“Jaskier,” Geralt sighs. He needs some sleep and rest. He misses home, already.

“Yes, dear?” Jaskier asks.

Geralt does want to tell him to shut up but Jaskier’s eyes are too distracting, so what comes out of his mouth is, “Sing something.”

Jaskier obliges with the brightest of smiles.

Week 8

“We can’t –”

“I know,” Jaskier replies, “but that’s the thrill of it, don’t you think, darling?”

Geralt clenches his jaw, breathing heavily. The temptation is so strong he almost trembles, like a bloody teenager. Memories don’t work in his favour now – he still remembers Jaskier’s scent, how his skin, mouth and cum tastes. It sets his nerves on fire, and it takes every ounce of his self-control not to start palming himself through his trousers as Jaskier keeps talking in that damned husky voice.

“You know... your moans are the sexiest thing I’ve ever heard.”

He bites down at his lip, hard.

“Moan for me, Geralt.”

Geralt does.

Week 9

It’s been more than two months and gloomy silence hangs between them as they stare at each other through the screen.

“Tell me something funny,” Jaskier says.

Geralt searches for any memory of the kind in his mind. When he finally finds it, he launches into the story, “There was that time when me, Eskel and Lambert went out and got so drunk that we blacked out. Next thing we know, we’re in some stranger’s flat, and Lambert’s wearing actual handcuffs, his hand tied to the guy’s ankle.”

“What?!”

“Yeah. We couldn’t find the keys to uncuff them anywhere and we couldn’t pick the lock either. Me and Eskel had to get clippers to set them free. We still have no idea how we got there.”

Jaskier starts chortling.

“That’s how Lambert met his boyfriend Aiden. They’ve been together for seven years now.”

Jaskier keeps cackling. When Geralt realises that listening to that – probably the most inelegant sound he’s ever heard in his life – warms him to his very core because it’s Jaskier’s laugh, there’s only one thought on his mind.

Fuck.

Week 10

“Another song?”

“Yes,” Jaskier admits, looking almost embarrassed, “I hope you like it.”

“Hmm.”

He knows he will. When he listens to the recording, he quickly finds out he wasn’t wrong. The song is more lively and dramatic than the first one, expressing the wonder of watching your lover move, and it feels like a promise. It makes Geralt look beyond the sea.  

Week 11

“Thank you for the song, siren.”

Jaskier sighs in a love-sick way. “I wish I could kiss you right now. Have got the slightest idea what I’d do to you?”

Geralt smirks. “Why don’t you tell me?”

Jaskier moans and goes on to describe his fantasy in vivid detail.

Week 12

Geralt toys with the gold wolf signet as he waits for Jaskier’s call and tries not to drown in grim thoughts.

Being away from his family starts getting hard. The worst period of deployment begins – he hasn’t been away from home long enough to forget but just enough to miss his loved ones terribly and not be able to get over it. The very second his thoughts wander away from work at hand, he remembers Ciri’s laugh, Yen’s smile, his brother’s embraces and father’s gruffness.

Then there’s Jaskier, with his bloody bright smiles, charm, quick wit and endearing... everything. He makes it so much harder.

They should’ve just parted ways, Geralt muses. They shouldn’t have exchanged their “engagement rings” for safekeeping to give them back to each other after Geralt returns like it’s some ridiculous romance novel.

Jaskier’s ridiculous like that, though, and Geralt’s still hasn’t learnt to say no to him.

When Jaskier greets him cheerfully and asks him about how he’s doing, a smile tugs at Geralt’s lips as he answers, “Better now.”

Part 2

***

A/N: you can also read this on AO3. 

The first song that Jaskier writes is in Icelandic IRL (and it’s so goddamn beautiful) but even the English lyrics are just so stunning, I can 100% imagine Jaskier singing that:  This night is ours, spring in the forrest air Let’s pitch our tent among the berries over there. Lead me, my dearest, to the grove of yesterday Where the brook kindly whispers and the birches sway. Light locks in motion, lingering emotion A rose scented breeze from the Fae Dew drops glitter, the dale is quiet and fair Dreams coming true for lovers sleeping there Heather blushing in the evening sun’s last ray The cool quiet night comes after a perfect day Light locks in motion, lingering emotion A rose scented breeze from the Fae

[jaskiersvalley]

We have @ohnomybreadsticks and @hailhailsatan to blame for this. I messaged them about a new BroTP potential, what with Vipers being in the South and Vicovaro too. So it stands to reason the first Witcher Cahir met was Letho. Which could have some funny consequences. Being the enablers my friends are, this is the result.

Not Impressed

Either humans were getting braver over the years, or Geralt had a knack for picking up the most peculiar ones. First there had been Jaskier who he couldn't drive off, no matter how hard he tried. It had taken a few years for Geralt to accept his noisy presence in his life. But it did help when Geralt had to make peace with another human doggedly insisting on accompanying. Initially, Geralt had tried to scare Cahir off too, he already had one human to worry about, a second one was really not needed. Alas, no amount of posturing, threats or tussling could send Cahir packing. The intimidation was met with a flat, placid stare, the threats with a disbelieving hum while Geralt could swear Cahir actually enjoyed their clashes, seeing them as something akin to some fun training; especially given how he'd go "good bout" at the end of it, even if Geralt's sword was against his neck while he was on his back in the dirt.

There was nothing for it, Geralt returned to Kaer Morhen that winter with two guests. He could only hope that Lambert and Eskel could help knock some sense into Cahir. They couldn't. Lambert was quickly besotted after a few sharp exchanges where Cahir insulted everything about him except for his existence as a Witcher. All hope rested on Eskel who bristled at the human until their first training session. It seemed Cahir had no qualms about joining in, uncaring of Eskel's bulk and signs. He looked Eskel over once before raising his sword. No amount of posturing seemed to intimidate him and Geralt was close to despair. Especially when his plan went so askew, Cahir wasn't just not worried about Witchers. He ended up bedding both Lambert and Eskel. Even Vesemir looked a little resigned after that particular revelation.

The year passed quickly somehow and Geralt was back at Kaer Morhen again. This time, in addition to those from the previous year, a Cat had joined them too. There was a bit of a confusion over who found who and when - something about Lambert knowing Aiden fiirst but thought him dead or whatever. To be honest, Geralt didn't care. He took one look at the four idiots and decided he was giving up. Plus, he did have better things to do, like figuring out why Jaskier seemed so intent on pestering Lambert about creating some kind of alchemical solution which was viscous and slippery but wouldn't dry out soon. It didn't sound like something practical for lutes (he later found out it wasn't for lutes at all).

Third winter, this time Geralt only had Jaskier with him because Cahir was off doing something with Aiden in the South. They had some plan hatched that Geralt felt better off not knowing about. It was unlikely to be anything he approved of, probably going against his Witcher Code, not that any of the others ever followed it. But that was beside the point. He and Jaskier got to Kaer Morhen and found they had another visitor in the form of Letho. It was very rare to find a Viper for far up north but Geralt wasn't going to turn him away. A fellow Witcher was a fellow Witcher. They all needed a safe haven. And maybe, for once in his life, Cahir would respect and fear a Witcher. Geralt was more than happy to admit that he would like to see that, just a hint of common sense in the man. Even Jaskier was wary of the other Wolves to start with.

Slowly the others trickled in. Lambert and Eskel arrived and promptly crashed out in the nearest bed in a pile. The year had evidently been tough on them. A few days later, when they were all up and about, they could hear laughter from the path leading up to Kaer Morhen. How Aiden and Cahir could possibly have the energy for that was beyond them all. But there they were, playfully pushing each other and bickering like they hadn't just climbed The Killer. Letho lumbered out to watch too, curiosity getting the better of him. Geralt saw the moment Cahir noticed Letho and he wanted to grin. Disbelief, surprise, happiness then annoyance all flitted across Cahir's face in quite a show of emotions.

"You!" Cahir charged past everyone, only to stand in front of Letho and poke him in the chest. It was a bit like watching a mouse nibble at an owl. "You bastard!"

Geralt's jaw was slack with stunned despair. No respect. No fear. In fact, Cahir seemed intent on picking a fight which, knowing Letho, would not last long and would have a very bloody end. At which point Lambert, Aiden and Eskel would be up in arms and then it would be a Witcher civil war. Fuck. Before Geralt could intervene, Cahir carried on yelling.

"I can't step foot in Thurn because of you!" Large hands grabbed Cahir around the waist and lifted him like a rag doll. Even up in the air, Cahir kept up his tirade. "You bastard stole my bed, made me sleep on the floor. That bed was not big enough to share you brute! Then, come morning, I wake alone with nothing but a headache and a massive tab to my name!" Open handed slaps rained down on the bald expanse of Letho's head. But they were all noise and no pain. "That is not how friends treat each other."

"Witchers don't have friends," Letho rumbled, still holding Cahir aloft but he was grinning. He got a poke to the middle of his forehead for that.

Which was the perfect moment for Jaskier to pipe up, "Oh look Geralt, another sourpuss like you." Dropping his voice he did an awful impression of a Witcher. "Witchers don't have friends."

"Will you let me down you brute?" Cahir kicked idly but didn't connect with Letho at all, he just swung his legs to make himself a more difficult weight to hold up.

"Nah." Letho tucked Cahir under one arm. "Just like old times. But you're not drunk now."

Cahir bit the arm holding him and grumbled "not yet" while Letho laughed.

Slowly, Geralt sat down on the ground, realisation dawning on him. No wonder Cahir behaved the way he did. If Letho was the first Witcher he encountered and decided wasn't much to cry home about, that explained everything. He watched as Letho nodded at Aiden, Cahir still under an arm and looking relatively calm.

"Come on kid," Letho rumbled, ruffling Cahir's hair roughly. "Get some food in you. Then you're telling me how you fell in with this bunch of miscreants."

"Not a kid," Cahir growled and smacked Letho's leg and only got laughed at. Watching them, Geralt closed his eyes. They were in for a curious winter.