#because he lost his job (I know he resigned but still - his life changed)

[dribs-and-drabbles]

So the curse ended up being self-prophesising: A lie that was invented to keep 'troublemakers' in line - to fear that something bad would happen to them during an eclipse - and that was perpetuated by Chadok, Akk, and Thua (and Namo to some extent) to dissuade The World Remembers group and others from causing trouble. In the end, it was the the two real 'troublemakers' (Akk and Thua) who had something bad happen to them during the eclipse - by getting suspended and condemned by their peers.

[nathaniel-underwood-is-an-intj]

Looong rant about chapter 16 Ptolemy's Gate and how being passive can add to the cycle of ab*se.

oof so I just read when Nat goes to see Ms Lutyens and I can't help but be absolutely furious at her??

I know that's maybe a little bit unfair given she's frightened of him as a magician and is obviously angry when she finds out the department he's responsible for, but honestly it kinda brings up the problem with inadvertent bystanders to child ab*se in my mind.

And I'm definitely not blaming her solely for who Nat becomes but it makes me think of all those people in huge child ab*se cases who give interviews to press about all the things they noticed that were wrong but they just...never do anything?

She stood up for him against Lovelace, and when Nat thanked her- "I wanted to say that I know you were trying to save me, and-"

''Yes, and I'm sorry I didn't" Like girl be for real did you really think that alone would undo the years of indoctrination and abuse he's already suffered and prevent years worth of the same in the years to come? And she won't take responsibility - "My job is with children, not the adults they become" and again while it seems harsh to blame her for who Nat becomes, it's so much easier to pass the blame to people who are more directly responsible rather than acknowledging you also play a part.

I think it hurts so much more because it's her specifically- Nat goes to her in sheer desperation, it almost seems like a goodbye- he wants to thank her, tries to set her up in a job that will pay well and struggles to communicate he's trying to help. At this point he thinks Bartimaeus has been summoned by another magician and his birth name will be revealed. He's sure he's about to die and if not he'll be stood on trial and lose everything.

He goes to her because she represents the peaceful moments from his childhood when he got away from his master. He's scared and feeling lost and really it's call for help; but he doesn't ask for anything he just wants to make her feel proud of him- he's looking for that validation that he's been chasing since childhood.

And that shows he still does have that little bit of childhood innocence in him; he thinks she will be proud, thinks she'll see him as the same little boy in the garden gazing up at his teacher in adoration. He can't quite grasp why she's separated the man stood before her from that little boy. Because in that moment the child inside Nathaniel is seeking comfort AND THAT'S WHY it makes me so angry. She's completely given up on him when he's at his lowest ebb, because she doesn't want to be associated with the magician he's become. As if it isn't a massive step in the right direction that he saught her out in the first place- what other magican would bother? I wonder if that's why she reacted so strongly to seeing him again? Before that moment she could go about her life wondering if /pretending her attempt to protect him was enough, and now she realises it wasn't, of course it wasn't, and the image she had of Nathaniel's childhood innocence is completely ruined in her mind.

Or was her contempt for him even grater than Nat realised? She was naturally disgusted by the rhetoric he'd started to repeat from a young age, and gently tried to correct him although she was clearly angry- was she just resigned to the fact that there is little else she could do to change his future? I always thought- couldn't she have looked for him? The Underwood house fire was in the papers and they mentioned the apprentice was being searched for. Did she ever worry about him? Surely something must have been in the papers since- an announcement of new ministers, ANYTHING! Look at how much research Kitty did to find out about Bartimaeus and Ptolemy. I just don't think Rosanna Lutyens cared enough, realistically Nathaniel wasn't hard to find- but he was no longer her responsibility so she could turn a blind eye.

And sadly it's not just her- I know everyone loves Martha Underwood including Nat; but I think her submissiveness to her husband has a negative effect on Nathaniel as well. In AOS when Nat is locked in his room for ages after setting the mites loose, and is forbidden to have any contact with anyone and she won't talk with him. I know she's been told by Mr. Underwood she can't, but it still boils my blood. She's an adult and going along with ignoring Nathaniel because her husband told her to...I can't even begin to imagine the psychological damage that would do to a 10 year old child. (It could be argued she's frightened of the consequences if her husband finds out she's disobeyed him which is fair, he could always be watching through magic- but this is Arthur Underwood we're talking about. He's lazy, oblivious and weak I doubt he'd expend all that energy each day to check up on her.)

And It's even more painful that Nathaniel is often described as fiercely loyal to her and I think to Ms Lutyens as well- he doesn't expect to be treated well by Arthur Underwood but he loved Mrs Underwood and Ms Lutyens so much he started to view them through a rose-coloured lense. He never feels betrayed by either of them, even though they absolutely let him down, because the pedestal he's put them on is too high AND THAT ABSOLUTELY DESTROYS ME.

Would things with Nathaniel have been any different if Mrs Underwood hadn't died? I don't really think so. Do you think she'd see Nathaniel's temper at 14 years old and be reminded of Arthur Underwood? He was awful, absolutely awful to Nat and to her; but he was under so much stress in an underfunded departement, where pressure was being put on him by superiors to accomplish far more than they knew him to be capable of, and he took it out on the easiest target. Nathaniel ends up in exactly the same place and he starts to take it out on the only person around him- Bartimaeus. Would he snap at Mrs Underwood all the time if she were still there? Because he's learnt that behaviour from his father figure, and subconsciously learnt from his mother figure that she'll put up with it. He learnt from the woman he loved so deeply, that if you don't resist, people will walk all over you. So you have to maintain control even if it ends up hurting people you care about because no one will step in to stop the suffering no matter how much you love them, no matter how much you want them too.

It's easy to blame Arthur Underwood and Simon Lovelace and the magicians that actively hurt Nathaniel but I just feel like it's a bit disingenuous not to acknowledge the role of those doing passive harm. It's really mean to say it but even Bartimaeus plays a role- he knows Nat is clinging on to him because he can't 'bring himself to break this last connection' (to his childhood) but instead of bringing it up properly he 'taunts' Nathaniel- a boy who has been taunted for his weakness by his master for years. And even in AOS when Nathaniel tells Bartimaeus he was beaten for the mites incident Bart just kinda shrugs it off. Like I get it, why should Bartimaeus do anything, he's suffered way worse due to the system so he doesn't owe Nat anything right? But from Nat's point of view this is the first and only time he's mentioned to anyone what has happened to him and nothing changes. It's like another lesson learnt: telling someone about it doesn't help. Another nail in the coffin.

And I like all these characters, I feel bad for them. They're all victims of the system, I think the chapter with Ms Lutyens is just the straw that broke the camel's back for me. All of those little opportunities that are insignificant to the narrative over all; the commoners have it worse, Nathaniel is in a privileged position in society, exerting control over others. He's very morally grey, crossing over into objectively bad person territory but I love him with my whole heart and all of those insignificant moments would have been massive to him whether he was conscious of it or not.

And it goes all the way back to the beginning with Nat's parents giving him up to the magicians at 5 years old. I can't get the image of that little boy sat crying all alone in the government building. And he's not going somewhere safer, or somewhere he'll be happier and more loved. Giving your child over to a total stranger, oh he'll be totally fine won't he? He'll grow up to be a magician and far richer than you'll ever be, he'll be happy and comfortable and be grateful he got to grow up in luxury. There's no way a stranger you've never met, who the majority of society is terrified of would ever hurt a vulnerable little kid right? And if they do? Well you aren't responsible anymore, how could you know? What could you possibly do against the magician taking care of him?

Every little thing is another grain of sand tipping the scale. Did anyone else have to analyse An Inspector Calls in school? It feels like that to me- those BIG moments and all the little moments in between that add onto the pile.

And it goes on to cause problems in wider society too- ab*se is so normalised to the magicians, they casually ask Underwood if he hits Nathaniel like it's nothing. Because to them it is nothing, they've all grown up in the same circumstances and are repeating what they've learnt as children. I can't help but feel a little sorry for them all, especially when they aren't looked at through the black and white lense of 'argh these people are the evil arseholes look at how they treat everyone around them, screw these guys.' When we see those little glimpses of humanity like Simon's anxiety with the amulet; looking to his master and father figure Schyler for reassurance, and what's sad is that Nat is "reminded...of his own master's cold impatience" It's clear Simon looks up to his master, wants to make him proud and loves him. But it seems like Schyler has just trained Simon up so he can get power through him later on. I love the little hints of similarities between Simon and Nathaniel; the anxious mannerisms like fiddling with his hair that Nathaniel starts to develop, the way their master's talk to them. Even though they're actively working against each other in AOS and Simon is placed firmly in the baddies category and Nat in the goodies category at this point in the series; these things always hinted to me they had similar childhoods, how was Simon treated? When he had the imp beat Nat into unconsciousness, was it because he'd had the same punishment used against him? Did he know the magicians in the room would do nothing to stop him because no one stopped it from happening to him? Did he ever have a teacher stand up for him only for it to change nothing in the end because all the negative influences were so much stronger? Is the reason he loves Schyler like a dad because he's almost developed Stockholm syndrome? It looks like love because he's never known anything else.

And Arthur Underwood- who doesn't think his upbringing, and being taken away from his family ever did him any harm- doesn't realise the harm done is that he doesn't even know another way of raising Nathaniel, because he was never shown another way. His childhood may also have been filled with people who hurt him and the people that didn't do enough to intervene.

There are so many psychology studies that show children copy everything they see the adults in their life doing. Nathaniel copies the magicians behaviour towards spirits and on a subconscious level I think he copies all the submissive people in his life. How many times does he end up upset and frustrated with the fact he seems to be going nowhere and how many times does he just hope things will be different rather than taking postive action.

I dislike the actions the magicians end up taking but I also find them fascinating to analyse. I tend to prefer villains in media because they're usually slightly more complex individuals and I love to think about how they ended up that way. They can all be seen as victims of their circumstances in a way, despite all the power and privilege they have had terrible and traumatic childhoods, and if the commoners had no valuable worldy possessions at least they had a sense of togetherness; of love and understanding and selflessness. I wonder if the magicians hated them at least partly because of that. Because out in the sea of faces of the commoners talking about nothing important, doing nothing great and noble- could be the parents that abandoned them. And when your life is on the line daily because of working with spirits, and your colleagues want to stab you in the back, sometimes not being responsible for anything important looks good. But you can't leave your life as a magician, it would be too difficult; you have nowhere to go, no real friends, no one who really loves you. So it's better to stay and be a submissive bystander in your own life because it's so much easier.

Doing nothing is doing something- being passive can be just as harmful.

[ricflairdrip20]

Can I request another one in which the reader is dating David and he later finds out that Ryan tried hitting on her and he is livid as he reacts by confronting Ryan about it later on?

David Protecting You (David Wallace x Reader)

You went to the table to grab a drink of water, before filling your plates with fruits and some veggies. Like Angela, you’re not a fan of meat due to your veganism. So filling up with fruit and vegetables is the ideal choice for your company Christmas party.

It has been over a year since you got an accounting job at Dunder Mifflin corporate. The previous accountant resigned due to family matters and David is quick to offer you the job. Not just by familiarity but for your work skills that is a great asset to the company.

It was also right around the time Ryan got hired to take over Jan’s old job as Vice President of Sales, which is puzzling because prior to that, he was just a temp who just happened to get Jim’s job as salesman in lieu of expiring out his contract. Despite working in a different department, you knew that sales isn’t Ryan’s strongest skill set.

“Hey, Y/N,” you were interrupted by a familiar voice while you were eating your kiwis. You looked up to see Ryan standing there with almost an egotistical smile on his face. Another thing you noticed about him since transferring to New York, his change in attitude. He went from a shy temp to someone who let the power go to his head from the job that he shouldn’t even be having due to lack of qualifications.

“Oh, hi, Ryan,” you waved to him. Despite his behavior, you were still nice and cordial, because that’s how you were raised.

“Enjoying the party?” You nodded.

“I do, actually. I just wish they had more vegan stuff instead of meat. It’s not fair to the animals,” you sighed and mentally questioned people’s “morals” at their choice of meals at the expense of the creatures.

Ryan smiled warmly at your compassion. He had a crush on you since his first day of Dunder Mifflin. Kelly noticed and since then, gave you a stink face every time she sees you—highly stemmed from her insecurity—which is something you were a little confused about. You knew Kelly likes him a lot, until one day she saw Ryan sitting next to you and talking to you at the break room. Which explains her attitude towards you. Odd girl.

“That’s really kind of you, Y/N. Um, Y/N? Can I tell you something,” he asked, almost shyly. You nodded.

“When I look in your eyes, I see a very kind soul.” That sentence made you blush, but you had to put it aside because you have your eyes on someone else.

“Thank you,” you replied, but he kept going. The next thing he said caught you off guard.

“You’re like a fine wine. The more of you I drink in, the better I feel.” You started to get a little uncomfortable as Ryan kept talking, at this point wishing he’d shut up and/or somebody showing up.

Your wish came true as you saw your boyfriend David approaching the two of you. He must’ve noticed the look of discomfort on your face while talking with Ryan, because he asked you if he was bothering you, to which you said yes.

“He’s hitting on me and saying these weird pick up lines,” you added. You were glad that the man you’ve been dating for a few months came to your rescue.

David sighed and looked at Ryan.

“Ryan, may I speak to you somewhere private?” David asked before walking to a more secluded area.

Cut to Third Person

“That woman is my girlfriend, Ryan! You know we’ve been dating yet you have no sense of respect and decency in other people’s relationships. Have you lost your mind?! Because I’ll help you find it!” David was yelling at Ryan as he stammered on his words, trying to lessen the blow.

“I’m sorry- Okay- I’ll stop…”

“…Won’t be able to help you if you don’t stop hitting on my girl!”

Cut to Ryan’s talking head

“David yelled at me tonight. That was one of the most frightening experiences of my life.”

[haveyouseenthisskeleton]

Can I have Emperess Undyne ending where the skeleton are forced to join the Royal Guard to prepare for the war to come?

Undertale Sans - He understands his brother wants to prove to Undyne he's more than worthy to enter the guard, but that's his dream, not Sans'. Sans is not a soldier, and many hours of training won't change that. He doesn't want this war anyway. The kid made some mistakes, sure, but that doesn't mean all of humanity has to die. He prefers to disappear and goes to live with Toriel in the Ruins. At least she doesn't want to commit genocide.

Undertale Papyrus - At first, he was excited! Undyne is finally noticing he has the skills for the job, and he's doing very good in training, to the point she thinks of promoting him as captain. But... You know, annihilating an entire species just because of old legends and what Frisk did to some of his friends seems a bit extreme. He tries to reason Undyne at time goes by, but when he realizes she's too far gone, he decides to drop his position. He doesn't want to become a mass murderer or die stupidly because Undyne has no idea how many humans there are outside. When she starts calling Sans a traitor for refusing to fight, that's his limit. Papyrus decides that if she wants to arrest his brother, she'll have to arrest him too. Between his family and his best friend, he will always choose his family, even if it hurts.

Underswap Sans - Blue is agreeing with Alphys plan. He's too angry at Chara to be reasonable at this point, and Alphys makes sure he doesn't change his mind by manipulating him. In months, he becomes one of the best warriors of the Underground, but he has to sacrifice his relationship with his brother in the process. Honey can't understand. Unfortunately, by the time he realizes he has lost his brother, Alphys already convinced him it's for the best.

Underswap Papyrus - He's devastated and lost. He's not a fighter. He hates fighting. He's dragged into training, but he hates every second of it, slowly giving up on everything. When he tries to reach his brother to make him understand how wrong all of this is, he realizes Blue completely falls under Alphys' influence. Powerless, he could only watch as his brother completely gave up on him as well. Not so long after, disgusted, Honey fled the army, becoming a war criminal. He found a welcoming home in the Ruins, with Asgore, who assured him he made the best choice in this situation. He's still bitter. He hopes his brother will soon realize how wrong he is.

Underfell Sans - Like hell, he's going to fight. Now that Asgore is dead, he refuses to be dominated by another monster ever again. For someone who wanted to change the Underground, her little plan sounds awfully familiar to Asgore's one, and that's bullshit. Red keeps going with his life, completely ignoring the letters asking him to show up for training. He gets arrested a few months later, and then executed. He doesn't even care in the end.

Underfell Papyrus - He wanted to help Undyne, but then she executed his brother behind his back. This is over. Edge doesn't trust her anymore, and he refuses to serve a Queen who pretends she doesn't even know she made her brother get executed. On the first occasion, Edge tries to assassinate her. He doesn't care if he fails or not.

Horrortale Sans - Lol. She just made a massive hole in his head, like hell he's going to follow anything she says. She can still try to force him. He'll show her the skeleton she left for dead but still knows how to fight. He already took half of her face, he's not scared of her anymore.

Horrortale Papyrus - He can't say he's not surprised that after the famine and everything that happened already, Undyne decided to start a war. That's the moment Willow realized he lost his best friend for good. Undyne is too far gone, there's nothing to be done anymore. He has to resign himself to do the right thing, for the Underground, even if it's not easy. Undyne has to go.

Swapfell Sans - Alphys soon realizes that Nox is loyal to the Queen. But he is certainly not loyal to her. As a general he has a better view than she has on the situation: it's suicide and he doesn't want anything to do with her stupid plan. He has enough years of service to retire anyway. Good luck with that, he's done with the Royal Guard.

Swapfell Papyrus - He's grateful his brother didn't follow Alphys. He's not either. He joins the resistance instead, to find another way out of this. He's sure starting a war won't help anyone, and he prefers to die a traitor than some dog slave she's going to send die for her.

Fellswap Gold Sans - Alphys is clever and knows she has no chance to convince Wine to join her. She knows also that if he can find a way to take her throne, he will. So she tries to assassinate him. It fails miserably as Wine obviously knew already she was going to do that. He goes to challenge her in a fight and kills her instead like a true warrior should.

Fellswap Gold Papyrus - Well, nothing changes for him. Wine is still protecting him from the world. He can tell something bad is happening, but when he tries to know what's going on, Wine blocks the way. Maybe it's for the best. Even though not knowing is stressing him out, finding out about the situation would make him freak out even more.

[umseb]

(extremely long interview that i fed through google translate under the cut)

Life at the limit was yesterday, after retiring Sebastian Vettel got to know each other again. But Seb is back in competitive mode. It's just not about the World Cup now. But around the world.

When he retired at the end of last season, everyone was suddenly good friends again with Sebastian Vettel, the racer that so many colleagues had lost their teeth over for years; who had become world champion four times with Red Bull Racing, then moved on to Ferrari and finally Aston Martin and after 299 F1 starts, 53 wins and 122 podiums, it was good. "Love you, man," said Lewis Hamilton at the end, Mick Schumacher and Lando Norris described him as an "inspiration", Checo Pérez, Daniel Ricciardo and Nico Rosberg in unison as a "legend".

Other things had become important in his life, and in some cases he let us take part in them as an active participant: when he rode his bike to the paddock or drove a historic 1992 Williams with synthetically produced, climate-neutral fuel, it was clear what one of the most intelligent pilots of the present.

Yes, Sebastian Vettel is committed to the environment. And yes, he enjoys driving fast – still. We'll soon be able to see him in action again: at Red Bull Formula Nürburgring on the legendary Nordschleife. He will tackle the 73 corners at the wheel of his no less legendary RB7 - dubbed "Kinky Kylie" - and will do so in a climate-neutral manner thanks to e-fuels. "It's important to me to show that racing cars can drive just as well and quickly with CO²-neutral fuel." Seb sets an example of how to do without a little, be happier and do your part to not burden the world more than necessary.

SEBASTIAN VETTEL: The first few months passed quickly and it was nice to be able to enjoy the freedom to organize my time. Many factors went into my decision to resign. I didn't stop because I didn't like the sport anymore, was too slow or really wanted to do something else. Resignations are very individual. For me, time was one of the determining factors: the many races; knowing how much effort it takes to do the job properly, in my opinion. At the same time I have small children at home. That time will not come again. To answer the question: I enjoyed the driving, the competition, right up to the end. When you only have one shot left in qualifying and it has to hit the mark. racing duels. These are the moments I miss the most.

But? I no longer wanted to make certain compromises. Plus: My children have a right to me being there for them more. I must have outgrown a bit of a world that I used to think was great. Things that I once saw as pure white had been given a certain tint.

In what way? In the context of our time. This is related to interests outside of motorsport that I have developed. Anyone who does not close their eyes perceives social developments. Although F1 has taken up a large part of my life, it is not central to the people of the world. If you think outside the box, you can see the signs.

How are the environment and climate changing? Environment is the issue of our generation. We are in the decisive decade for the climate, and everyone is needed. We have to pull together. I'll take a look at my own nose first. This attitude comes from sports.

What did you do specifically? A few years ago I started measuring my carbon footprint. Car kilometers written down, every flight, every overnight stay. Seeing that number compared to that of the average Joe blew my mind! After that I took action to get the value down.

Do you want to name these numbers? I started with 400 tons - only in connection with the F1. In the end I was down to 60 tons. (Note: The average in Germany in 2021 was about 8 tons.)

How did you do that? Most of the reduction was the elimination of flights. With the exception of Silverstone and Budapest, I drove to all of the European races last season. I don't want to dictate to anyone or portray myself as an angel, but that's how I started with myself. This step didn't feel like giving up anything, but completely logical - like all the other smaller ones that I had taken in parallel. I felt very satisfied.

Because you experienced travel again as being on the road and not as a purposeful movement from A to B? Absolutely! As a teenager, your driver's license was your ticket to freedom. In motorsport, I used to drive a lot at first and soon got tired of driving long distances on the road. That's how the plane came into play, and later the private plane, because the time savings were extreme. But the step back felt good. Plan things better, take things into your own hands. Sure, I couldn't have sailed to Australia, otherwise I would have missed the race, or at least the one that followed. But whenever I could, I enjoyed being back on land and seeing things I would have missed on a plane. I noticed that the supposed loss of time is not actually a loss. Okay, cars are more environmentally friendly than planes, but there's a wide range when it comes to four wheels. What cars do you drive? Porsche Taycan, i.e. electric, and a VW bus with a combustion engine. The bus has the advantage that everything fits in, from bicycles to children. But I think that a decisive factor in the – very exciting – current mobility discussion is missing. Many ask themselves: What am I not allowed to do anymore? The more important question is: How could things look better in the future? When I look ahead, I see more livable cities than today. When I imagine that public transport will be denser and more fluid if the alternative rail is better than it is today, the question of car or plane may no longer arise. As soon as the offer is right, the majority will go along with it. Many lack the vision of improvement. That it will be good. Change scares them at first. It takes imagination how things will be better in the future than they are today.

As an example of improvement that was unthinkable for years: Working from home means fewer commuters, means less CO² and cleaner cities… Like that? Exactly. Change should be perceived as something positive. The change started a long time ago. It's not a question of if, just a question of when. There is no longer any doubt. The majority understands that too. Now it's time to design and make. It might be a bit more difficult, but it takes courage to try something. Like work at home.

How do you determine this change? In my generation, significantly more young people got their driver's license than today because the car is no longer such a central topic. In the fathers' generation, it was still completely clear that you get a driver's license and own your own car. change happens. There were already skeptics when switching from horse-drawn carriages to cars.

What new technologies will help us shape the future the most? In the big picture: artificial intelligence. In mobility, the change to e-mobility is the first step - due to the currently unbeatable efficiency. Hydrogen is super exciting. In general, I don't believe in a single solution, but in a combination of many building blocks. As far as I know, the transition to electric in the aviation industry is not as imminent as in the case of cars. Therefore, a different way of thinking is needed here. Without wanting to restrict freedom: Do you have to fly to New York for three days? Yes, there are actually people for whom this is necessary. But just for fun? I'm the last person who wants to ban anyone from anything. But if you are aware of the bigger picture and know how many people are already suffering from climate change, you probably no longer have to ask yourself this question.

Do you sometimes drive around the area just for fun? Yes, sometimes with my old bikes. That still gives me a lot of pleasure. On the other hand, I understand people who see the climate catastrophe as an existential threat to themselves. I personally work very hard on this balancing act of not letting myself be guided by fear and being able to enjoy the moment. Again: I think it's important not to talk about bans and waivers, but to emphasize the alternatives, and they often already exist. Motorcycles can be operated with synthetic fuels. They still produce pollutants, but only as many as were previously bound. I'm not a fan of biofuels. Land is used here to grow fodder to produce fuel - not so great. We can do better. Cars and motorcycles are cultural assets. A lot of good has come of it. We should not abolish them, but keep them alive. In any case, there is no need to explain to motorsport fans how great it feels when a V8 is fired up. You can feel something there. We just have to make it better.

Okay: The 20 F1 cars will be CO²-neutral from 2026. However, the large production of pollutants happens through the arrival of the spectators. In this respect, motorsport is no different from other major events such as football games or concerts. Aren't 20 CO²-neutral racing cars just greenwashing? F1 has always been at the forefront of technology. The current question is how relevant the highly complex and exciting current drive technology is for series production. More could be done here. But electric drive will not be suitable for F1 in the foreseeable future. The races are too long for that and the required power output is too high. Weight always plays a major role in F1, which is another reason why electric drive is not practical. Synthetic e-fuels are therefore indispensable in the short term. It’s good that this will happen from 2026 – now would be better. But yes, it is even more important to get the emissions under control: How do the teams get to the track? Of course it would be great if everyone came by bike. But it would take far more to put the calendar in order. Flying all over the world and flying to Europe for a few days in between makes no sense and is no fun either. How do the fans get to the track? What is consumed there, which ideals are lived? Water, in my opinion, should be something that is available to everyone at all times. Are these plastic cups needed everywhere? I think organizers of major events have an obligation to ask themselves these questions. You start with the big things and end up with the small ones.

What do you think of the theory that you F1 drivers are like kids who got too much chocolate and ate your fill? Cue Nico Rosberg, who was at Fridays for Future, or Lewis Hamilton, who cleared beaches of plastic. I don't know. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that we are very privileged as representatives of a global sport. We experience a lot, see a lot, earn a lot. For a long time, the belief in our society was: the more, the better. Our role model culture also aims to do this. Perhaps the chocolate comparison is correct insofar as the equation itself is often incorrect. More of everything doesn't mean more happiness. Even role models often have major challenges in everyday life, even the seemingly ultra-successful ones. Many of them are not happy, on the contrary. Nevertheless, a large part of society is chasing a goal that does not result in satisfaction: more, faster, nicer, further, richer. My experience in F1 certainly helps me to put things in perspective. Still, I think you can understand them even if you don't have a full bank account.

You mean because you've seen a lot... … I realized that things are going well for us in Central Europe. I have experienced parts of the world where it was completely different. Families who live in cardboard huts and also run a hairdressing business there. Uniform palm plantations where last year there was still a jungle. Seeing all of this not just on TV but with your own eyes triggers something, at least for me. I see it as a responsibility to share these impressions and question our role model culture. I find constant optimization dangerous. Much and many remain on the track. Nobody looks like they do on social media. There are photos of me where I look really good. But I know exactly what I really look like when I get up in the morning.

How do you measure happiness? I can walk up the stairs and don't have to take the elevator. For people after accidents, such trifles are a long way off. There will always be people who are better off - and many more who are worse off. An important thought: to classify how you are doing.

Would today's Sebastian still advise his 16-year-old alter ego to become a Formula 1 driver? I don't want to miss anything in my time. What would I do differently, better? I would have liked to have become more aware earlier. The themes that are dominant today were already there back then, but not as present. Second: I would use my voice more for the positive. I wasn't too aware of the power involved at first, and I felt a little uncomfortable raising my voice. In terms of sport, it was a mega time. The up shaped me as much as the down. Both were important.

Where do you find your fun after your F1 career is over? This question has occupied me for a long time. I was very well prepared when I made this decision. But one unpredictable factor remains. I like doing sports outside. As of today, there is nothing that pushes me to the limit like F1. That's what I miss the most. I have to put the brakes on myself here, because that's exactly what I wanted to get to know about myself: What happens when I'm not in competition mode? At some point, this adrenaline rush of a career at the top of the world will come to an end, whether freely chosen or forced - for example due to injuries. Then it's all about moving on, taking the thrill and tension into the next section. I'm not saying it's easy or saying I've done it. I'm searching, and this process itself is exciting.

Do you want to make the world better? The primary goal is to be there for my family. The dynamic at home is different because I'm present. This is new for me and also for the rest of the family. In general, I look ahead. This comes from my time in sport: How can we improve? I'm way too small to go and save the world, and the world is way too big for that. But I find tasks that excite me. Hopefully I can take other people a little bit with me.

Are you still interested in F1? Very! The first race was a bit weird, but now I really enjoy watching it. I know the sport inside out, I still love it. Maybe I see things differently, but I don't feel sad when I look at ex-colleagues, not at all.

Not even when the green car is performing so well? The first reaction of many people was: The fact that the Aston Martin is so fast this season must frustrate you? Okay, maybe it would be easier if the car was total garbage, in the sense of: I'm not missing anything anyway. No, I'm primarily happy for the team. And I'm happy for Fernando Alonso. For many years he had no car in which he could show his driving skills. Now he can and is up there. Red Bull Racing dominates, and I still have a lot of friends and acquaintances there. I'm really happy when they win.

[tsuyoiqueen]

‼️ SEASON 2 FINALE SPOILERS ‼️

i'm having trouble articulating my thoughts but it just hit me how much change loki has brought into mobius' life.

that conversation they had in the past, when mobius told him about how he spared a variant and his partner had to do the pruning instead, got high praise for it and became a judge... i don't know, you can tell he doesn't regret it but he's so resigned. he knows that he isn't as trustworthy in his co-workers' eyes since he made that "mistake" — that his empathy, his showing mercy, his "heart of gold" isn't appreciated at the TVA. it never was and it never will be. he was demoted from his job and transferred to the department of analysts, fated to get buried under paperwork and never really seeing his purpose as anything but a heavy burden.

and then loki shows up, someone that mobius already admires, someone that he has been watching in the sacred timeline for at least a while, and in spite of all the signs pointing to trouble he chooses to trust him. a decision that, at first, feels like another error in his judgement, another failure added to the list, when loki bails on him in season one, but turns out completely different from what he imagined.

loki isn't just mobius' friend, loki represents hope. he's the only living proof that mobius' kindness isn't a flaw because loki appreciates that in him! he trusts his leadership and listens to him unlike anyone else in the TVA has ever done. but more than that, loki doesn't expect anything in return, there's no hierarchy, no give or take, they just make sense together. it's the first relationship mobius has ever had where there's no stakes, he doesn't need to be anyone's favorite analysist to have a place in loki's heart. loki just likes to be around him, whether they're working on a case or simply eating pie and chatting. point is: they make each other happy.

so at the end of season two, after loki steps through that portal and doesn't look back, mobius is grieving. he hasn't just lost his best friend, someone he deeply cares about; he's also mourning the loss of his hope, his purpose. so much so that he's grasping at straws to keep himself afloat.

you see, in season one, if mobius could go anywhere he would've gone to find himself in his own timeline. but when loki asks him about it in season two, he says that he's not even curious about it because that isn't his life, the one he has at the TVA, with loki and the rest of his friends, is. that's why when he's starting to lose hope that loki will come back, left alone at his desk, he decides to look for his file and see that other life. everybody else is moving on, so why doesn't he?

that's when i realized how much he loves loki because even when he's there, faced with a life he could only dream about (he even tells sylvie that his house is the best in the block and he likes the front yard. please, he loved it) he still hesitates. he doesn't want to move on, he wants to wait, if there's even a small chance that loki might come back to him.

to me, that's where we're shown that they're equals. we start the season getting introduced to a loki that's desperately slipping through time in search of mobius, running straight to him as soon as he's finally recognized. then midway through, we understand how much mobius, the TVA and the other characters mean to him and just before the season finale, loki stares into mobius' eyes and tells him "it was about what i wanted."

now, we're watching the same exact scenario. mobius probably tried to look for loki but couldn't go far as he doesn't travel through time like him, so he resigned himself to wait until it got to the point where he was aware he needed to move on. and yet, he can't. it's not about what he should or need to do, it's about what he wants and that's beautiful. it's such a relief that loki finally found someone that perfectly matches his devotion, after all the heartache and loneliness. i can't wait to see what they do next, that ending was nothing like i expected but heartbreakingly beautiful nonetheless.

[canonicallyanxious]

some assorted gay chicken show thoughts:

(i put a cut bc this got so stupid long i'm so sorry lol)

i think Earth has a really tough task with this role but imo he is totally nailing the restrained longing of it all and the undercurrent of wistful regret for lost opportunities in everything he says and does. the way he's not necessarily unhappy with his lot in life but doesn't think there's any value in it or what he provides for his community. the way he's resigned himself to loneliness but still can't help but want something more in a part deep inside of him (the shot of him looking at the moon in ep 1... I Am Thinking). i think it's really easy to see how bold and open Wen is with his feelings and be swept up in that bc the way Jim expresses his attraction is a lot more subtle but I think Earth does an amazing job of conveying that longing through the tiny shifts in his microexpressions, the way he looks at Wen when he thinks no one is looking (it KILLS me his expression when he sees how gentle and kind Wen is to his cat), the way he orients himself around Wen without thinking - it seems like he always has to consciously pull himself away in scenes like when he's dropping Wen off at the main street or at the end of ep 2 when Wen almost kisses him and i like the way Earth carries himself in scenes like that, he makes it easy to buy into

i really like the more meandering conversations that establish characterization and relationship dynamics. one example that comes to mind is when Jim and Wen are talking about the DVD. Full disclosure I'm not familiar with the movie referenced but judging from the title and the cover and the way Jim described it as "classic" I'm guessing it's some sort of romance. But then, "i haven't watched it in a long time. The disc is probably damaged." and then, when Wen says he can stream it if he wants, he says "that's okay, i don't want to watch it anymore." i like the way this dialogue hints at his history with love and ideals. "I don't want to watch it anymore", implying that he did at some point in his life want to watch it. The disc is probably damaged, but he can't bring himself to check to be sure. it's better to leave it alone and in the past. but in the past it was something he wanted to watch, an ideal he wanted to believe in; what changed? (who hurt u uncle jim i just want 2 talk)

the contrast between day and night life in this show ugh ugh ugh. the intimacy and vibrancy of the night, but also how lonely it sometimes can be; how harsh and uninviting the reality of daytime can be, but also how chatty and bustling. it's getting late and i'm sure way smarter people have already said much smarter things about it but just know this is a theme that always gets me and it is getting me now so fuckin hard.

and again i'm sure much more intelligent things have already been said about the relationship between Jim and Li Ming but I am fr LOVING it so far, not least of all because it reminds me so viscerally of my own teenage relationship with my parental figures skdjfnskdjfnskdjf but also the conflict between them just feels so well drawn and realistic, the way Jim is just trying to do what's best for Li Ming but doesn't know how to show that, the way Li Ming lashes out when at the end of the day all he really wants is for Uncle Jim to understand his point of view. it's some good shit u know

i do think imagining this whole situation from Li Ming's perspective is incredibly funny. like imagine it's one in the morning and you are in your room just minding your own business when a completely wasted man you've never met before wanders into your room, doesn't say a single word to you, and then when your emotionally distant uncle ushers him out he doesn't say anything to explain either he's just like "k sorry bye" and yeets himself out of there to go have shockingly tender sex with a man whose name neither of you know. and then like a month later you come into work only to find said drunk man is now your COWORKER at your UNCLE'S RESTAURANT. Li Ming doesn't get paid enough to deal with this shit. Uncle Jim wants us to think he has his life together so bad but he's just as messy of a bitch as anyone else on this show bless his heart

i'm really into the progression of the last part of ep 2, the subtle shift of the power dynamic, the way Wen so casually paying off the couple flows into Jim watching him work and understanding that they come from vastly different worlds flows into Jim telling Wen he's not fit to be anyone's home. and yet he still wants this closeness, as much as he tries to deny it; he made the choice to buy the second beer at the convenience store, he made the choice to offer it to Wen, he made the choice to let Wen rest on his shoulder if only for a little while. unstoppable force (Jim's yearning for closeness borne from a very deep loneliness) v immovable object (his abysmally low esteem of himself and his life)

as well i'm a huge hoe for glass metaphors so you know when Jim let himself want closeness with Wen by buying the beer only to come back and see him behind the window (like yes there is jealousy in that scene of the man Wen was talking to but there's also a distinct sense of never actually being able to reach Wen in his world; the reality is he stands behind the glass) a bitch was completely weak for it. it's me i'm bitch

obviously i love everything about the conversation at the end of ep 2 (a bitch is weak for a person as a home!!!) but something that especially interests me about it is what it tells us about Wen's relationship with Alan and the way he feels when he comes back to their apartment. i'm gonna be honest at this point i'm very confused about what's up with that whole clusterfuck lol but the implication that the place he lives in doesn't make him feel any of the things he described that he wanted from a home... home where someone waits for me, home where all my tiredness is gone and i have peace of mind, home that's more than just a place to sleep... how much he yearns for it that he's willing to pursue it with a man he only recently met... it paints a picture of a very lonely person and it does make me feel for him (even if I think it's really bizarre how completely casual he's being about cheating on his presumably long term partner not just with himself but with his friend who clearly knows the both of them skdjfnsdbfskdjfnsdjkfsn)

what i like most about this show so far is how at the core of it everyone just wants someone to see them and understand them. this, the aching loneliness everyone feels but in such different ways, is the driving force behind so much of the conflict and the drama and the interactions between characters. tonally it's exactly my kind of shit, i'm really looking forward to seeing how it builds as the story continues

[tobiasdrake]

Here we are. No employees, no jobs, and the mafia shaking us down for rent money. I'm surprised Yakou even made it to Blank Week.

Don't mind me. I'm just having a long, poetic depression at the spot that will one day become the location for the submarine I'll be so proud of, symbolizing how far I've come from this moment. Well, my homunculus will. I don't actually know if I'll get the sub before or after I'm torn to pieces in gruesome, apocalyptic violence.

I hope he enjoys it.

If you're the coroner, you should know that you're a day early. I still have until the end of the day to get the mob boss his cash, so you and I won't have business until tomorrow.

D'aww, is this going to be the story of how Yakou and his wife met? I thought it'd be the story about how she died, but I like this better. We know enough about how she died. I want to hear about how she lived.

What I'm hearing is that if you turn out to be a sketchy fucking bastard and I decide, upon knowing the facts, not to solve this case out of spite, I still get paid a cool 100k.

That's a good deal. Given the look of you, your stern-sounding voice, and the context of being an old man hiring a P.I. to hunt down a young woman without explaining anything about who she is, what her relationship to you is, or why she's ghosting you? I'd say there's a strong chance of this being sketchy.

Like. Best case scenario, this guy's her dad who she bailed on because he's a domineering prick. Worst case scenario, he's a romantic stalker who she ghosted because he's a gross asshole who won't take no for an answer. Maybe it's more complicated than that. Maybe she stole something of value from him or something. I dunno. But those are the immediate kneejerk assumptions that leap to my mind.

There are very few good reasons for wealthy old men to go to these lengths to track down young women that vanished from their lives. He's gonna pay Yakou a million shien to un-ghost this woman. That's not a great sign. We should look into him as much as we are looking into her.

Yakou, of course, smells nothing out-of-place with this business transaction because a) he's desperate and b) his values are too patriarchal to even consider anything amiss about this. It just doesn't occur to him.

He even knows her place of business, but can't approach her himself. He wants her brought to him.

We're literally taking on the role of a paid thug.

RED FLAG

Yeah, this guy's definitely the bad guy here. Yakou's going to have a change of heart when he meets her. You can feel it.

And when he does, we still get paid 100k! ~( ˘▾˘~)

WHAT THE FUCK IS OUR RENT!?

I'm sad now. ._. If a million only covers six months, then that 100k won't even cover one. The math doesn't work out to that.

Maybe, if we play our cards right, we can trick the mob boss and the client into murdering each other.

Wow, he found her fast. To be fair, this is his specialty. He's highly trained in tracking down lost pets and cheating spouses, and both of those vocations offer skills that are transferrable to finding a "missing" person that's just out living their life.

The hard part's going to be convincing her to come with us. I'm pretty sure the client is expecting us to simply club her over the head and stuff her in a van. But you know Yakou's going to talk to her instead. As he should. This is sketchy as fuck.

Good man. Get her perspective before you decide what to do with the case.

ABORT. ABORT. YOU HAVE FAILED THIS SOCIAL INTERACTION.

It's such a... rare treat for Kanai Ward! A ha ha ha ha I'll leave you alone forever now.

There we go. Coming right out with it.

There's no subtle way to bring up in casual conversation, "Do you know why someone might hypothetically want you dragged in front of them against your will?" Especially as a stranger. If we want her story, this is the only way to get it.

She's surprisingly chill about this. Is this encounter more harmless than I'd suspected? Or is this simply the resignation of someone who has been harassed multiple times and is used to it by now?

I appreciate how forthright Yakou's being here. Laying all the cards on the table. If the job's harmless then I'll see it through but if this is shady then please tell me and I'll bow out. That's his position, and it's exactly what he's conveying with no room for misunderstanding.

It's. Refreshing to see such clear and open communication happening in a story.

Alright, that's a fair reason. By "rival organization", she's probably referring to the Unified Government's own homunculus research lab. We're five years after both labs began their experiments but two years before UG's lab will create their first successful homunculus, and Huesca will manslaughter the entirety of Kanai Ward trying to keep up.

Oh, I hope she is an unparalleled visionary in the field of homunculus research. Just for the bitter irony of Huesca having her killed and then dumbassing the experiment so hard that he killed himself and everyone else in the city.

"An ass" is underselling how awful Huesca is. It's nice to know that even before this became a fascist police state, Amaterasu was still just as awful as--

HOLY SHIT SHE'S WEARING PANTS.

Y'ALL. Y'ALL.

SHE'S WEARING PANTS.

I. Think. This might be the first female Kodaka character in history to wear pants. This DLC is a momentous occasion.

Still doesn't have a name, though. She may have had to trade her name for pants.

[acatalystrising]

Finally, at long last, here is chapter eight of consequences! This WAS supposed to be the last chapter, but alas, I want to pour more into this story, so I will start working on chapter nine! GAHH there were so many emotions here, I just…anyway, enjoy!

(This chapter has me both shrieking and swooning, I hope you know…)

Pairing: Boba Fett x (F)Reader

Rating: Explicit 18+

Trigger warnings: angst, angst, and more angst…mourning a lost loved one, fluff, and feels 🥹

Series synopsis: Backstabbed and betrayed, you knew there was a bounty over your head - but when you’re captured by the infamous Boba Fett, it becomes abundantly clear that your fate is as mysterious as your captor.

Chapter eight: Aliit Ori’shya Tal'din

Pain, panic, terror…

Boba felt it, the acid slowly eating his skin. It bubbled up under his helmet even as he struggled to break free - unforgiving spiked tentacles curling around him, locking him in place. The darkness was solid, unforgiving…

Alive.

He heard them somehow - the voices of the sarlacc’s past victims. They echoed in his ears, an amalgamation of emotions: fear, regret, anger, guilt, resignation…

They may have been long dead, but somehow, they still lived on in this beast. How, he didn’t know. Nor did he want to think about it for long…he could already feel the creature trying to warp his mind. The limbs curling around him tightened, nearly snapping his bones. But even then, as he faced an agonizing death, his panicked thoughts drifted to you.

You, the one person who had made his life worthwhile. Who had changed him, impacted his life. Who’d truly seen him and inspired him to become something more. But he’d been stubborn, too focused on revenge, a job, to see what treasure he’d already had.

Perhaps if he’d stayed with you instead of choosing to pursue vengeance, he wouldn’t be in this predicament. This was his own doing, his bloodlust coming back to bite…but even still, he didn’t want to die. Didn’t want to give up.

Didn’t want to abandon you like everyone else had.

Kriff.

He hadn’t come this far, with this much rage fueling him, to let this be the end. Even then, he could hear your voice in his head, as if you were there, embracing him instead of this damn beast, urging him onward. Pleading for him to try.

And so he pulled on his rage. His anger at being in this situation. His pain of abandonment. His sorrow of his father’s loss. His drive to return to you.

Boba Fett fought back.

-

Five years later

You lowered your rifle closer to the burning sand, hoping the cloth you’d wrapped around the barrel would block the sun from flashing on the dark metal.

You peered through the scope, a grimace twisting your lips, gaze following the three guards patrolling past the palace gate. Kriff. There were always too many. Your comlink crackled to life, and you held it close to your lips as the voice on the other side sprang to life.

“There’s too many guards, at least ten on my end.” The feminine voice was twisted with concern. “They’ll shoot us the moment they see us.”

“I know, we’ll pull back. Regroup. Ta’na, meet me at the rendezvous.” You slid down the dune on your hands and knees, careful to not disturb the wafting sand on its crest. “Fortuna is a paranoid bastard.”

“You’re sure he’s got it?” Ta’na’s voice was soft, hesitant. “‘Cause this is a big risk for a shoddy piece of intel.”

“Yeah…I’m sure.” You slid to the base of the dune and stood, brushing the sand off your clothing and slinging your rifle over your shoulder. “The greedy fool has it, I just know it.”

Silence fell on the other side of the comlink, and you sighed, picking your way across the desert to your speeder’s hiding spot.

“Listen…” Ta’na spoke again, and you could sense her hesitation, even through the channel. Not this again… “You’ve been a good friend to me. And I’m only helping ya because of it. But this obsession with Fett…it’s gonna get you killed if you’re not careful.”

“I’m getting his ship back, Ta’na,” you tried to keep your tone neutral as you pulled your speeder from behind a rocky outcropping, sitting with a small sigh. “I know it sounds crazy, but I’ve never lied. Jabba’s foolishness took everything from me. I’m just…trying to get any piece of him back that I can. If I have the Slave 1, it’ll feel like he’s not so far away, you know?”

A sigh crackled over the line, but there was no further argument. “Fine, fine…get over here before your tears flood the desert.”

You rolled your eyes, revving your speeder to life, and drove away from the palace. Away from your past. Away from the last link you had to your love.

-

Ta’na was waiting for you, scarred arms crossed, her wiry build leaned against the cantina’s back wall. The Twi’lek regarded you with a small frown as you brought your speeder to a stop, a cloud of sand wafting between you. She was barely noticeable in the dark, her green skin blending with the shadows cast from the afternoon suns.

“I deserve to be paid,” she arched a brow as you dismounted the bike, still shaking the sand off your clothing. “I almost got caught, ya know. I’m a mechanic, not a mercenary. If I die, my girlfriend’s gonna make you pay for my funeral.”

“I know, and I’m sorry,” you leaned against the wall beside her, taking a swig of water from your canteen. “I wouldn’t have asked for help if I could do this on my own.”

“Sure. Well, what are friends for?” She squinted in the sunlight, tilting her head slightly to the side, scarred lip twisted in a small smirk. “I’ve known you a good four, five years at this point, yeah?”

“Sounds about right,” you clipped the canteen on your hip, ignoring the pain of loss that flared in your chest like the dull ache of an old wound. “How’s it been that long?”

“Time,” she smirked, wryly laughing at her own sarcasm, as always. She tucked her hands in her grease-stained brown overalls and kicked a rock with the toe of her boot. “I’ll never forget the first time I met you. You looked like a half-dead womp rat, wandering around all lost like that.”

“Hey, I was a resilient womp rat,” you crossed your arms in mock offense, but a chuckle slipped past your lips despite your heavy mood. “Honestly I don’t know how long I would have survived if you hadn’t taken me in like a stray loth cat.”

“Hey, I may be an asshole but I’ve got a bleeding heart, in fact-“ Ta’na’s words were cut off when her comlink crackled to life. She glanced at you and answered, hand drifting to the blaster holstered to her hip. “Yeah? Who is it?”

“‘Na, you guys need to get home.” You recognized Ta’na’s girlfriend immediately, but the concern in her tone sent chills down your spine. Something was wrong. “Baby, you need to listen. I just heard that Fortuna’s been killed. Some new guy just took his place.”

“What? You’re serious?” She glanced at you, worry creasing her brow. “Who?”

“I don’t know, but everyone’s talking about it. This could be bad.”

“Gotcha, we’re coming.” Ta’na cut off the comlink and turned to her speeder, glancing at you over her shoulder. “I’m sorry, but I think you’re gonna have to kiss that ship goodbye.”

You followed her out of the lot and onto the road, noting that it did indeed seem quiet for a often busy afternoon in Mos Espa. But a new daimyo was the least of your worries at the moment. It seemed that life never made anything easy, presenting yet another roadblock between you and any connection to Boba Fett.

But you’d come too far to give up now.

-

“You’re absolutely crazy, you know that?” Ta’na leaned back in her chair, one leg crossed over the other, regarding you with a frown. “We don’t even know who this guy is. He hasn’t even been there a day and you already want to try to rob him?”

“Yes. And I’m prepared to go alone.” You paced the small living room, too lost in thought to sit, mind spinning. “The sooner I strike, the less it’ll be expected. I’m sure the idiot will want his tribute, but I’m taking my own. Look, I know it’s just a ship. But it’s-“

“I know what it means to you. I get that.” She sighed and shook her head, green eyes narrowed. “But are you ready to die for it?”

You finally sat, a weight heavier than iron resting in your chest. You met her gaze with a sigh, feeling your pain threatening to burst back to the surface.

“I lost him, ‘Na. The only person I’ve ever loved.” Your gaze dropped to the carpeted floor, shoulders slumping. “I’m honestly shocked I’ve made it as far as I have. But…I need to do this. I at least have to try.”

Ta’na pursed her lips and shifted in her seat, crossing her arms with a sigh.

“Look, not everyone has the same fond memories of that man like you do. If it was anyone else talking like this, I’d call them a liar.” She picked up a wrench and twirled it in her fingers with a sigh. “Sometimes I still don’t believe you, and I’m not sure if I wanna. But you’re my friend and I do care…”

“I know, I do. I’m not going to pretend he didn’t have a reputation for a reason,” you shrugged, feeling that weight of grief tugging harder. A tear slipped down your cheek and you sighed. “But…he loved me, ‘Na. I saw him change. And I want to honor that, even if no one else will ever understand.”

“Blast my bleeding heart,” she met your gaze, albeit harshly, lips twisted in a small frown. “I’ll help you one last time. If this doesn’t work, you’re either gonna have to find someone else, OR find something else to focus on. You can’t stay stuck here forever…okay?”

“Gods, thank you,” you nodded, relief washing through you as you went to stand. “We’d better get planning. Timing will be everything.”

“I mean it though.” Ta’na’s frown deepened as she also stood, arms still crossed. “We’ve been looking for your ghost ship for over three years. As much as you don’t wanna hear it, Fett’s dead. He’s not coming back. And I don’t think he’d want you to die too.”

You hated that truth rang in her words. You knew, deep down, that she was right. But stars…you didn’t know how to move on more than you already had.

You hadn’t had a chance to say goodbye, but perhaps, if you had his ship, you’d be able to finally let go.

-

The night was dark and windy - thick clouds nearly blotting out the moonlight above. It was perfect for your purposes, sheltering you as you slipped toward the palace that loomed ahead.

You had to be quick, no delays whatsoever.

You slipped toward the palace’s side, swallowing down your dread - moving along the stone wall as quietly as you could. It was odd, you’d noted, that neither you or Ta’na saw many guards. The new daimyo must’ve killed them all in his struggle for the throne, and you almost smirked. The man was clearly an idiot.

No matter, it only made things easier for you. And speaking of easy…the metal grate that was your ticket inside was already cut open.

You knew you should have felt alarm, considering that someone else had clearly already broke inside. But as long as they weren’t there for the ship, you could care less what they robbed.

“I’m going in,” you kept your voice a soft whisper as you slipped past the broken bars and crawled into the vent beyond.

“Okay. I’ll guide you through, but when you get to the hangar, you’re gonna have to figure out a way to open the gate.” Ta’na’s voice was soft, but the noise made you flinch. You crept down the tunnel, wrinkling your nose at the smell, until you came to a fork in the path.

“Take a left. Right is to the kitchen.”

You cut the turn and ambled down the passage as quirky as you could, distinctly aware of every sound, every shuffle, that could betray your presence. You couldn’t help but feel afraid. This place had a bloodstained history, one that you didn’t want to linger in. You didn’t want to die here, as much as you felt trapped in your life. You’d tried to live for him, and consequently yourself…but you hadn’t been able to shake the lost, empty feeling that took residence in your chest where love had lived.

You finally came to the end of the tunnel, peering through the slanted grate with a frown. The hangar was dark, and you didn’t see any guards.

You took a shuddering breath. It was time.

“Okay, going in.”

“Good luck…I mean it. Don’t die in there.” Ta’na’s concerned voice rang in your ears as you pocketed the comlink.

The grate squeaked as you pushed it open with trembling fingers, stepping out into the dark room. It was surprisingly empty, all things considered, but you felt exposed and far too out in the open as you moved across the room, heart hammering so loud in your ears you worried it would trigger an alarm. There wasn’t a soul to be seen, the hall that led further into the palace also unguarded. And to make things worse, it was silent as a tomb. It was odd, too odd, and you worried you were walking into a trap.

But the moment your gaze fell on the familiar shape of Slave 1’s hull, you couldn’t stop the tears that pricked your eyes, all concerns for your safety tossed aside.

Sure enough, despite all your doubts, it was here.

Stars, you’d know that ship anywhere. Your legs nearly shook as you approached the spacecraft with bated breath. It looked to be in surprisingly good condition despite the years it had been here. Anger flared in your chest at the thought of someone other than Boba piloting her. You slipped around to the ramp, wondering if the key code was still the same. You shot another glance over your shoulder, but still didn’t see anyone.

You stepped up on the ramp and felt a wave of emotions hit you, nearly making you lose your footing. Damn…it had been so long. There were so many memories here…

Breath snagged in your throat, you shakily typed in the key code, feeling an old warmth blossom in your chest when the door slowly opened. Stars…you were here. You were doing this. You stepped inside, greeted by a sight so familiar and yet, so foreign.

Nothing appeared to have changed.

You remembered the day he’d captured you, rescuing you from a horrid fate, unbeknownst to you - setting you on a journey you never, ever, could regret. Even if it ended in tragedy, you wouldn’t have changed it for the world.

You crept down the path you had walked so many times. Saw the inner workings of the beautiful ship you’d called home. You made your way to the cockpit, trying your best to keep your emotions in check. But gods…

The last time you were here, he’d been with you.

“I’ll be right back, little one. I promise.”

You swallowed hard, tears threatening to spill, and kept going, following the ship’s interior until you made it to the top.

You saw the empty pilot’s seat and nearly collapsed to your knees, the symbolism of the moment so heartbreakingly real. Sniffing, you turned, and saw the entrance to the cabin. You swallowed the pain down as much as you could, forcing yourself to move - to walk into that hallowed space.

It was exactly as you remembered.

You weren’t sure what was worse, seeing that pilot’s seat so barren, or the bed coated in dust. It all was too much - mere ghosts of memories long gone, a life ended, and a love that still dwelled in your heart.

You collapsed onto the bed, dust flinging into the air around you, as a broken, choked sob erupted from deep within your chest. You curled into a ball, tears staining the cover even as you desperately tried to get a catch of his scent - anything, that made you feel closer to him.

Suddenly, you heard something - a muffled feminine voice.

“…came from the vent. They can’t be far.”

You stiffened, terror locking your knees, and you tried to stifle your sobs. Shit, shit, shit. You hadn’t closed the ramp. You inwardly cursed, terror seizing your limbs to near paralysis. If anyone came inside, you’d be trapped.

“You check the ship.” The female’s voice was fading as she moved away, sealing your fate. “I’ll patrol the parameter.”

That meant there was another.

Heavy footfalls fell on the ramp, and you flinched as the intruder came down the hall. Panicked, you fumbled with your blaster, lifting it in your shaking hands and aiming it before you. If you took them by surprise, perhaps you could get away…

You were so panicked, you almost missed the distinctive clinking of spurs as the person approached.

Ahh, so now you were hearing things. Perhaps you’d truly lost it, and this was the poetic end that fate had for you. You couldn’t stop your tears, even as a shadow fell in the doorway, your enemy only a few paces away. They stepped into the room, pausing for a moment, before turning and walking into your line of sight.

Everything in you froze.

No. This couldn’t be. You were hallucinating.

A man stood before you, clad in dark green beskar. HIS beskar. The flight suit was different, black instead of tan, and the armor looked like it had been repainted, but you saw the mandalorian sigil on his left shoulderplate.

He was still as a statue - that helmet you knew so well trained on you, masking his identity. His hand fell from his blaster as if stunned.

“You…monster,” you tried to choke out words between sobs, still leveling your shaking blaster at his face. “H-how dare you. How dare you wear his armor. You…you’re not Boba. That’s not yours.”

He flinched, an odd reaction, you noted. Stars, he even looked like him - that broad build and hulking frame. He stepped forward and you flinched, backing against the wall, blaster quaking in your grasp.

“P-please, don’t hurt me; I’ll go.” You met his unseen gaze, a shudder running down your spine. “I just…I just had to say goodbye.”

When the stranger spoke, he said your name.

You blinked, shock rippling through you, when your recognized his voice. Stars, you’d know it anywhere. It carried a rasp you didn’t remember, but that didn’t matter. You slowly lowered your blaster, more tears slipping down your cheeks as you spoke the name that you’d carried for so long in your heart.

“Boba?”

“How…” he slowly approached, as if he himself didn’t believe what he was seeing. He sat at the edge of the bed, helmet tilting slightly to the side. “Is it really you?”

“Yes, it’s me,” you scooted toward him, vision still blurred with tears, jaw quivering as you took in his armored form. “How can you be alive? Gods, it’s been so long…”

“I thought I lost you,” he opened his arms, a gentle beckoning, “come here, little one.”

You whimpered, not needing to be told twice, and closed the distance between you both - wrapping your arms around him. He curled his arms around you, holding you close to his armored chest, and you closed your eyes, inhaling his familiar scent.

“Gods Boba, I don’t know if I should be happy or if I need to punch you,” you held onto him as if he was your only lifeline, burrowing your face in his chest. “If you’re here, then why…”

“That’s a long story, mesh’la, one I’ll gladly share if you wish.” His voice was tender, oh so tender. He tightened his grip on you with a deep groan. “Stars girl, I’ve missed you.”

You felt a smile slip onto your lips, and you looked up at his visored helm, tentatively placing a hand in its smooth surface.

“Listen…” his head dipped, a nearly defeated lilt in his tone. “The Sarlacc, it scarred me. I’m not…”

“You’re beautiful, Boba,” you pressed a kiss to his visor, meeting the dark patch where you knew his eyes were. “I love you no matter how you look. I’m just glad you’re here.”

He nodded, gingerly lifting his hand to his helmet and slowly lifting it off his head. The moment you saw his face, you released another whimper and hugged him tight, tears streaming down your cheeks. Scars didn’t matter. Scars didn’t define a soul. He was the same man you’d fallen in love with, and that wouldn’t ever change.

He was here. He was alive.

“That bad, huh?” His voice held mirth, but also, hesitation.

You looked up and met his gaze, those same amber eyes watching you with such depth and love you felt you were drowning.

“You,” you leaned forward, daring to kiss his cheek, “are perfect.”

He groaned, pulling you closer into a kiss, his lips still soft and gentle despite the hell he’d gone through. You kissed him with all the passion you’d held. All the memories you kept. The love that never died. And you knew, even then, as he deepened the kiss and the world faded away, that he felt the same.

When he finally parted for a breath, you pressed your forehead against his, briefly closing your eyes. Damn. So this was how it felt to be home.

“I am so glad you’re here,” he touched your cheek, lifting your chin to meet his gaze. “But why did you sneak in? You could have simply knocked. I am the daimyo now, after all.”

“I…didn’t know it was you,” you smirked, heat crawling into your cheeks. “I thought some dammed idiot daimyo was stealing your ship. So…I came to steal it back.”

“You were going to steal my ship?” He chuckled, pulling you into another kiss. “Stars alive, this is why I love you.”

The kiss became more heated, and you found yourself straddling his lap, legs hooked around his back, when your comlink chirped. His followed, and you both groaned. He motioned for you to answer yours first, and you nodded.

“Where the hell are you? Did you die?” You recognized Ta’na’s voice and smirked. “You better answer, dammit. I don’t wanna get caught too, this daimyo is a slacker but still.”

Boba’s chuckle rumbled through you, and you blushed. You couldn’t help but laugh despite the roller coaster of emotions you’d been through.

“I’m okay, promise. Do me a favor and come to the front gate.” You met Boba’s gaze and smiled when he kissed you on the cheek, dragging his lips along your jawline, making you shudder. “There’s someone I want you to meet.”

-

Next chapter

Taglist: @ladyfallohide @justarandomfamdomblog @die-herzlos-engel @tortor-mcgee @ididsingupforthis @mxkyrie @ceapa-mica @everythingyouwanted @freerangesweets @deewithani @tranace-con

[addictedtostorytelling]

Hey, I'm a big fan of your CSI analysis! I've been wondering for a while what you think about this - when Grissom confessed his feelings for Sara to Lady Heather in Immortality, do you think he knew or hoped Sara would eventually watch that tape? (I couldn't see anything you've already written about it, hopefully I haven't missed it)

hi, anon!

i personally don't think he does.

as i talk about in my "immortality" shipper's guide,

by this point in the finale, grissom has convinced himself that he has lost his chance to be with sara again—that he probably doesn’t have the right to ask her for another chance, that she has built up this life that doesn’t have room in it for him anymore, that she is too hurt to ever forgive him for leaving her, etc., etc. he delivers his whale speech to the suspect not because he feels that it will change the situation or bring sara back to him but because he is reconciling himself to what he views as the sad truth: that sara will never understand that everything he’s done, he’s done because he loves her, and so he will “[die] off, forever alone,” bereft of her love and companionship. the whale speech is grissom admitting defeat and resigning himself to the fact that he has lost sara forever. —but then he and sara walk away from the house, and suddenly she’s looking at him as if she is seeing him anew. his heart recognizes that soft depth and intensity in her eyes as love, but his head tells him that she can’t feel that way about him anymore, that he’s imagining things, seeing something he wants to see that isn’t actually there. god, that’s how she used to look at him right before she would kiss him. so he says, “what?”—not sure what to make of her look, given the situation (i.e., given that he believes that sara will never want him in her life again). it’s not that grissom is rejecting sara’s affection because he doesn’t want it; it’s that he’s dismissing the possibility that she might still feel affection for him because he believes that he has lost her. he wants nothing more than for sara to return his love and want to be with him again, but he can’t dare to hope that this might ever be the case, not after he has broken her heart and hurt her so badly, not when she is about to embark on this new chapter in her life that his presence would only complicate, not when so much time has passed, and he has made so many mistakes... when sara ends up taking the job, that’s proof to grissom that she doesn’t want him back. when grissom doesn’t speak up or make any moves upon learning that she has taken the job, that’s proof to sara that he doesn’t want her back. both parties walk away from each other not because they want to but because they lack definitive evidence that the other person wants to be with them, and they’re both too scared to make their own feelings known without assurance that those feelings will be reciprocated. so they go back to the lab, each one resigned to what they view as their inevitable parting. ecklie makes sara the lab director, and the two of them greet the press together while grissom looks on, beaming with pride and admiration for sara, even as his heart is breaking because he knows he has to leave her. in his eyes, there is no one who could deserve the job more than she does; there is also no one he would trust more with “his lab” than her. he is happy that she’s gotten what he believes she wants most—he just wishes that there were some way that her promotion didn’t have to coincide with him losing her again, for what feels like the thousandth and final time... [when he later helps to "process heather out" at the end of the investigation, he does so in an attitude of defeat.] he seems relieved to have told someone what he’s feeling—even if it’s too late to do anything, even if it doesn’t make a difference, in the scheme of things. it’s clear that he means every word that he’s said: that sara is his one true love, the person who taught him to believe not just in humanity as a concept but in his own humanity; who made him feel fully human, perhaps for the first time in his life. there’s a sweet, almost boyish quality to him when he talks about her, but there’s also real heartache. he’s lost her forever, and he has no one to blame for it but himself. his only solace is in thinking that maybe now she has some closure and can be truly happy without him.

i don't believe he ever thinks that she will watch the video, firstly, for practical reasons—that lindsey willows has to nudge sara toward watching the video indicates that doing so is not something that would be part of her regular responsibilities as the lab director, even if she was the lead investigator on the case—and, secondly, because when grissom is brokenhearted, he tends to be pessimistic.

he cannot dare to imagine that his "love song" will ever be heard by his intended mate; like the 52-hertz whale, he thinks that his call will go forever unheeded by her.

he says what he does to heather not because he has an secret hopes that sara might listen to the confession later on and realize that he is still in love with her but rather just because he wants to unburden his heart to a friend who might in some way understand just how profoundly he has been changed by the experience of love, as well as perhaps empathize with (what he supposes will now be) his lifelong loneliness in its absence going forward.

to me, that's why he is so awestruck when sara appears on the pier in marina del rey: because he had convinced himself he'd never see her again, but then suddenly there she is, and it seems like an actual miracle to him. he can't figure out the how or the why. all he knows is that he feels like he's been given a second chance at life in a way he didn't believe was possible.

i imagine that when sara later broaches the topic of the tape—while they're lying tangled in each other's arms in the cramped berth of the ishmael—he is somewhat astounded to think that she actually heard what he said; not at all displeased, of course, but definitely surprised.

anyway.

that's my take. ymmv, of course.

thanks for the question! please feel welcome to send another any time.

[meistoshi]

⏳ they want to know more, satoshi

lore time.

❛ — well, whenever you're given the green light on the comeback, let me know, or give the heads up to professor kukui & he'll sort it out. i know they'll be entering the final stretch soon but i'd like you to squeeze as much experience from the internship as possible. with the people, at least. overseeing this kind of project's not really typical champion work but ... the communication & paperwork involved are. ❜

it's all a bit exhausting, & satoshi's always been happy to leave majority to the professors & rotom, but, it's part of the job. satoshi had only been aware of the more active parts of it, & only because of encounters with other champions. but he hadn't really known what he was getting himself into.

a slightly wistful smile plays on satoshi's features. ❛ you really are so lucky ... ❜ in so many damn ways ... he almost wonders if houou hasn't gone to visit ree in recent years as well. he wouldn't be surprised.

❛ ... y'know how i'm also the orange archipelago's champion ?? ❜ do they know that ?? he's sure he's mentioned it. it's a pretty public thing, too, he's been informed his wiki makes note of it, but the victory was over a decade ago by now. so maybe they don't " y'know " . he continues anyway. ❛ technically that's just an honorary thing. haven't even been back there since i won the title ... ❜ yeah, not his proudest admission.

❛ only reason i went there in the first place was 'cause professor ookido wanted me to deliver something to another professor. found out about the league there when i arrived. i was fresh off losing in probably the most humiliating way ever in my first ever league, & i wasn't a hundred percent sure i could do much, but ... i wanted to fight.

❛ i was twelve ; thinking back on it, i probably just wanted to prove to myself that i still could, that i could do better than kanto. ❜ wanted to prove to his team that he could be a worthier trainer. wanted to prove to his friends that what faith they'd placed in him was not unfounded, that they hadn't wasted months of their life traveling at his side.

❛ i beat a champion who hadn't lost in ten years. ❜ satoshi grins as he says it, still proud of this feat, & equal amounts amused at the fate of repeating such a feat another decade later ( he wonders if leon knew about the deja - vu that satoshi was experiencing ... leon was a champion by the time yuji lost. might have. ) . ❛ of course, i had no idea what i'd won. i knew i got my name & photo in the hall of fame, knew my team got its prints set in clay under it. but i hadn't thought far ahead enough about what winning the title of champion would mean for me. i won a league i'd only learned of a few months ago in a region i'd never heard of before. i was totally in over my head. ❜

a soft shake of his head, & he looks away, resigned smile on his features as he brushes a hand through pikachu's fur on the table.

❛ i kinda ran away from it. champion yuji took pity on me & agreed to split the title, so, his position remained unchanged, while i got to keep my victory as a badge & keep traveling. honestly, i'd barely changed when i won alola's first league. i still hadn't thought that far ahead. i was still in over my head. ... still kind of am, though i hope i've been doing better. ❜

the smile fades fraction by fraction, & with it his voice is quieter too. ❛ i wonder how many kids have fought for a title they don't understand ... probably millions at this point ... ❜

at the back of his mind, he hears champion alder's voice, asking him & his friends what they will do upon reaching their present goals. he hears himself struggle for an answer along the rest. he hears shigeru asking him what's next after becoming world champion. he hears himself hours later thinking out loud in the canopy - shade, wondering, what now ?? what now ?? what next ...

always looking ahead, yet never thinking beyond it.

satoshi hopes for no other would - be champion to have the same issue. so he looks back to the screen with care, speaks to ree while also speaking to his twelve - year - old self.

❛ take every chance at experience you've got, yeah ?? ask a gazillion questions, be greedy with curiosity. be a kid, think about the future. think a lot. you'll thank yourself for it sooner than you might think. ❜

[throughhighsandlows]

Life update

Honestly, I can’t remember how many times I tried to write this. I might keep this in my drafts, but if I’ll be able to finish and post this, I hope this will serve as a reminder that: (1) We are nothing without God. (2) God isn’t redirecting us because we failed, but because He has a greater purpose that would touch the lives of His children. This is not the most beautiful and articulate letter and probably the messiest letter you’ll be able to read, but I want you to know that everything written here was from my heart—raw and messy.

It all started when my family had financial trouble last year. As someone who’s in my last year at University, I had this desire to provide and help my family. And since most of the schools are held online, I decided to find a full-time job while I do my thesis at night. I can still vividly remember how I begged God to give me this job I needed. I made a promise that I would be a good servant and a soldier of His kingdom. To cut a long story short, God gave me what I wanted.

Everything went smoothly. My family recovered and everything felt good. I had a well-paying job, my parents received their retirement pay, and I finished Uni. It was great, until reality hit me so hard. God gave me everything I asked Him, but I failed to do my promises to Him. I was too engrossed with work that I started neglecting Him—I stopped my devotions and I stopped talking to Him. I was so distracted by these beautiful things to the point where I forgot where these beautiful things came from. I was ashamed.

The shame I felt grew to resentment. I was so disappointed to myself because I can see myself distancing from God—afraid that He would be mad at me. I was very jaded to the point that the enemy started to control me. I developed this bad anxiety that greatly affect my decisions at work and I always find myself crying before going to work because I feel so lonely and unworthy. I thought God is punishing me from disobeying Him. I thought God is punishing me because I broke my promise to Him. The guilt ate me.

I was so tired. Lost. Everything became black and white. I was drowning and I couldn’t breathe. One night, I tried to reach out to Him. Knowing that He abandoned me, I tried my chances, hoping He would still hear me. I poured my heart and cried everything to Him like a child denouncing the unbearable pain caused by my disobedience. I was shattered but relieved that I already surrendered from the battle I was in. And for the first time, I slept peacefully. One day, I woke up with a tear-stained face. I looked horrible, but I dragged myself from the bed. I went to work and the next thing I did shocked me. I submitted my resignation letter.

It was a tough decision. With no plans in the future and no idea to do, I bravely left the job that God gave me. I walked out from the door that God opened for me. At first, I thought I did that because I’m a rebel child, but as time went by, I realized that God allowed me to leave that job. He could’ve stopped me in a thousand different ways, but surprisingly, He let me out. After months of battling and reconciling, I realized why God let me out, He’s redirecting me. I remember I begged Him for this job because I know it would financially help my family. And now that my family already recovered, He gave me a moment to rest. To figure out what I really want for myself… Not what my family needs, but what I need for myself.

Lo and behold, God really turned the bad into good. After I left my job, I spent my time with my family. I got a chance to try new things and new hobbies that I really enjoyed. Slowly, I can see myself smiling. Before, I’ve been avoiding mirrors, but now, I can bravely look at myself without remorse. I can still see the scars, the brokenness, but at least I’m moving forward. I still cried when I remembered how a single prayer changed things. It proves that my prayers don’t need to be organized or repetitive. You just need to be honest to Him and to yourself. Admitting that I had done wrong helped me to reconcile with God. He really humbled me down and I think that was His way of letting me know that He still hears me. That even though I disobeyed Him, He will not abandon me.

It's been months. I’m still actively looking for a new job, and I know it is a new battle. But this time, I’m doing this for myself. For my own happiness. I hope He will direct me to the path where I’ll flourish. I might become impatient during this phase, but I know that God will give me the things that I truly deserve because I already experienced the biggest turnaround even with the tiniest hope in my heart.

[sasquatchboobs]

I think I always held out hope that he would grow up, find his passion or drive, or at least have goals of some sort. He seemed to when we met, at least.

I asked him about his future plans the other day, and he said "I have none. I used to have savings goals but that has never worked out," and I'm angry and sad at the same time. I'm angry because he promised me we would build a life together. I thought that meant growing together, accomplishing things we talked about in the early days. I feel like he's giving up on that.

I'm sad because we don't really dream out loud anymore about the future. Our future. It seems he's lost hope that there is anything more than this. Dirty apartment, always high, always tired, work sucks, let's watch a show and fall asleep on the couch. He brushes off my annoyances with the neighbors because he's resigned to never having a home.

Maybe he's depressed. He wouldn't respond to that last time I brought it up. He said he does not plan to get help for his porn addiction/cheating desires. He "already knows what they're going to say" cause he's such the expert on everything in his mind, there is nothing anyone else could help him with. That's why he doesn't share his feelings I think-- he doesn't think I can help nor does he expect me too.

Maybe that's why he seeks other women; he thinks his sexual frustration and insecurity are his problem, so he deals with them alone, "sparing me" (his words) from his actions. He doesn't believe he deserves my love so he doesn't even think to reach out for help, rather than hurt me; he's already accepted that he is a terrible person so why not prove that? Almost like he wants me to leave him just to prove him right, that he was never good enough for me. Is he going to try and sabotage this every time he feels insecure?

Does it even matter what he's done in the past, when what I have to consider now is whether he is the person I want to hitch my future to? I don't mean that the cheating doesn't matter, I mean that even if he hadn't betrayed me, would I still want to be with him?

I don't think so. I think my life could be so much more if his passive pessimism wasn't weighing me down all the time. I think I'd rather be alone to have the space to grow authentically into whoever I become. Because I feel like I have so much personal growth I'm finally ready for, and he doesn't want to change anything.

E.g. he says he wants to go to the gym, has been saying that for a loooooong time. Doesn't though. Says he needs to cut back on sugar or he'll die young of diabetes. Still makes sure to have at least a soda per day plus always stocked on candy. Says he needs to eat better, doesn't want to do my healthy meals and would rather get take out.

He has lots of "thoughts" but very few "ideas". I want to make the world better. I want to make lives better. I want to improve the environment. He... has no real ambitions like that. He did want to help people, before he became an EMT. I don't think he sees himself as having agency in the world because he never considers that he could change his circumstances.

At first I envied his "zen". But I realized he accepts things way too easily. Job sucks? Oh well, no use looking for another one (cause that will probably suck too), better just accept that this is life now, and I'll always be tired with a sore back and feet. Shrug, nothing to be done about it anyway. Can't save up money for a vacation? Oh well, guess we just can't afford to take trips, that's our life now.

He seems to see my stubborn optimism as naive or silly. But I've learned that being downtrodden and pessimistic will not improve your circumstances. You must fight for what you want your life to be, even if others think you're delusional for it.

I will continue to buy books about natural energy-efficient home building, even if he doesn't believe we'll ever own a home in our lifetime. Because this is my future, damnit, and I won't let him sell it short.

I think we're much more different than I originally thought.

[a-libra-writes]

GoT Imagines - When You're Engaged to Someone Else

Woooo this is a doozy and I'm including new characters, mostly book ones! because i both love my followers and have lost my marbles.

In this preference, you'll be pining with: Ned Stark, Robb Stark, Sansa Stark, Jon Snow, Benjen Stark, Jory Cassel, Mance Rayder, Eddison Tollett, Pre-Reek!Theon, Yara Greyjoy, Victarion Greyjoy, Daenerys Targaryen, Jorah Mormont, Missandei, Grey Worm, Tywin Lannister, Tyrion Lannister, Jaime Lannister, Cersei Lannister, Sandor Clegane, Bronn, Jaquen H’Ghar, Petyr Baelish, Robert Baratheon, Stannis Baratheon, Davos Seaworth, Margaery Tyrell, Brynden Tully, Edmure Tully, Brienne of Tarth, Ramsay Bolton, Roose Bolton, Oberyn Martell, Doran Martell, Arianne Martell, Tyene Sand

Ned Stark

He’s already an expert in suffering in silence, so this should be no different. Although he’s very surprised at the sudden arrangement, and while he isn’t a man to throw his rank around… He wonders if he can’t convince your family to reconsider. If it’s simply impossible, Ned would resign himself to having to stop the relationship. He’s too honorable to ever consider an affair and he’s not a man to start a duel or cause trouble, especially since it would negatively affect your reputation. The heavy combination of missing you, pining after you all over again and feeling like he didn’t do enough is hard. Some days he entertains the idea of still having a friendship, but it doesn’t seem like a good idea. He doesn’t trust himself.

Robb Stark

The young wolf tries to accept it, even if his feelings become more and more angry each day. Robb never threw his name around, but… he was going to be Lord Stark. Wasn't that good enough for your family? For you? He tries to be the bigger man, but if you're miserable with your spouse and they don't treat you well, he can't keep his temper in check. Expect him to have a sudden outburst at a feast and cause a scene. The only thinking keeping him from an outright duel are his parents and his worry about your reputation. But if he was pushed to it….

Sansa Stark

She should've known this would happen. It's the fate of all ladies, yet there's a bitterness that tugs at her when she hears the news. Sansa tries to bury her feelings around others, but she's never done that with you. She expresses her disappointment and sorrow, and swears she'll help if your spouse turns out to be awful. She doesn't want them to be, but she doesn't want you beginning to prefer their company, either. She wonders if her affection for you would wane if she just pined from afar and tried to keep her feelings to herself.

Jon Snow

Ah yes, once again his bastardry is hitting him straight in the gut. Jon knew it was going to happen eventually, he already felt like the relationship was on a timer, and now it’s finally ended. He’s convinced there’s no getting out of it, because even if you did - you’d never be able to be with him in the open. It makes Jon glad he’s going to the Wall; hopefully the distance and cold will dull his feelings. In spite of that, sometimes he’ll tell Sam about you, and he speaks so mournfully it makes Sam think that distance hasn’t done all that much to help Jon’s pining.

Benjen Stark

He should be the bigger person and accept that this is for the best. He’s sworn to the Wall, and you two shouldn’t have been sneaking around. He should be relieved neither of you were caught. None of these thoughts are comforting. Ben tries to cope by making not-so-joking jokes about you running off to the Wall too, or perhaps he should take Yoren’s job and find his way to your court once in a blue moon. Then there’s no joking, and it’s just bitterness. He removes himself from your life after that, not wanting to hurt you with his own negative thoughts. He’d rather you keep the happy memories.

Jory Cassel

He accepts it, not that it brings him any pleasure. Jory's always been proud of his service to the Starks, but he's long understood that his landed seat is not a valuable one. Whenever he married, if he did, it wouldn't be someone as lovely as you. The announcement still hits him in the gut and he dejectedly tries to break it off (though it's easier on him if you do it). If he was in charge of guarding you, he'd switch shifts immediately and begin avoiding you, thinking it'll make things easier.

Eddison Tollett

This relationship already seemed too good to be true, so it’s abrupt end is not surprising. He’s sworn to the Wall and you both were sneaking around to begin with, so this should have been expected, but… it just makes him feel even more tired and dumb. Sam and Jon notice how little he sleeps and that he’s begun to skip meals, and he doesn’t have to explain why. They can do the math. Edd at least doesn’t try to bury any sad feelings or memories. It’s too exhausting to actively try, and it’s something to keep him company while he works. Maybe the feelings will fade… eventually.

Mance Rayder

It's one more reason for him to leave the "South" and go past the Wall. He knew a proper relationship with you wasn't possible because of his vows, but watching you go through this sham of an arranged marriage is just depressing. He'll comfort you best he can until he has to go back to the Wall, though he won't make promises he can't keep. Having to separate from you weighs heavy on him for a long time, and is one of many reasons he abandons the Watch.

Theon Greyjoy

What the hell is this? Hearing the news ruins his whole day, worse if he wasn’t able to hear it directly from you. He’s the heir to the Iron Islands, and his interest in you was clear as day! No, he hadn’t proposed yet… but he was getting to it! Now some mainlander beat him to it? Theon is absolutely seething. He’d prefer to duel your spouse to teach them a lesson in front of everyone, but he’s open to more boring methods like reasoning with your family. If he wasn’t able to change the engagement, he’d be bitter, and more than willing to carry on an affair behind your spouse’s back. He ought to just go the Ironborn route and kidnap you for himself.

Asha (Yara) Greyjoy

When you give her the news and you’re clearly distraught about it, Yara considers carrying you off to her ship right there. If you’re non-Ironborn, you’ll be her saltwife -- and if you’re Ironborn, she wants to have a discussion with whoever the hell planned this when everyone KNOWS you belong with her. You hadn’t expected this possessive behavior, but now you know Yara’s willing to fight for you as soon as someone takes you. No surprise, she’s more than willing to sneak around with you behind your husband’s back - maybe she can goad him into a duel. That would certainly solve a problem, wouldn’t it?

Victarion Greyjoy

He doesn’t understand at first. Victarion had made it clear that you were his, hadn’t everyone known that? No, he never made any sort of formal marriage, but not because he didn’t care. He felt like there was no need, hadn’t everyone known? If your family and spouse are Ironborn, he’ll immediately sail to their keep and raise all seven hells, and marry you right there in front of them. If you were sent away to the green lands, it would take the combined power of Balon, Yara and Aeron to keep him from sailing off immediately and just kidnapping you - preferably after killing your spouse. Victarion is pissed. Someone is going to pay for this.

Daenerys Targaryen

She’s just as mad at you as she is with whoever arranged this ridiculous match. Daenerys doesn’t often entertain arrogant thoughts, but… How could anyone think to match you with someone else, knowing your relationship with her? She feels she ought to be offended, though Daenerys knows this is hard on you as well, and you didn’t ask for it. She’ll think of some clever way to get you out of the arrangement, no way is this person getting away from stealing from her. And yes, that might as well be what it is! While she’s working out what to do, if she so much as hears murmurs of the possibility of your spouse hurting you… all bets are off. She’s taking you back with her, alliance be damned.

Jorah Mormont

The announcement of your engagement is a punch to his gut and a shock to his system. Jorah knew he wasn’t the best husband material, but he was planning to ask for your hand himself - then this happened. What’s worse, he knows as far as practical marriage goes, he has little to offer. He goes into a bit of a panic as he tries to think of what to do. There’s sensible choices, like trying to talk to your family with you. Then there’s not so sensible ones… Maybe running off, maybe just continuing the relationship behind your new spouse’s back, maybe dueling them… While Jorah is in emotional turmoil, he’d do anything for you. Even if you wanted to break off the relationship… or had a plan for him to follow. He’s nothing if not hopelessly devoted.

Missandei

… Oh. Maybe she shouldn’t have expected you to stick around for so long. As close as she is to Daenerys, she really has no fancy titles or things to offer. She understood why your family chose the match, it was a good one, politically speaking… but that does little to soothe her. Quite the opposite, a strong, desolate feeling overcomes her, one she hasn’t felt in a long time. She isn’t sure what to do, if it’s her place to stop the process. Perhaps if you asked her, she could try to make plans. Daenerys would help as well, considering how fond she is of you two, and how much she despises women being forced into arrangements.

Grey Worm

The sudden news takes him off guard, and sends him into a bit of an existential crisis. He was starting to see himself as a person, with his own name and a path he chose to follow… then this arrangement happens, and he’s forced to face what the rest of the world sees him as. It’s not that Grey Worm has a sense of ownership over you, but for once he was allowing himself all these happy feelings and memories with you, and now it’s gone. Of course he wants you back, but he feels paralyzed. What if he makes it worse? Does this have to happen? He starts to become even more withdrawn and distant, worrying Missandei until she decides to help. Grey Worm finally returns to his old self when he has you in his arms again.

Tywin Lannister

His steady composure is hit with such a rage at the news, the servant delivering it goes into a panic. His interest in you was obvious, so anyone doing this was trying to spite him. He doesn’t take the insult well. Perhaps before you’re even able to tell him the news yourself, threats will be delivered to both the spouse’s family and your own - Tywin is especially furious towards them, and won’t forget this - and incidents will be arranged. He refuses to be a man who pines after someone or covets another one’s wife, nor will he allow some lesser lord to take what he perceives as ‘his’.

Tyrion Lannister

The angst hits him like a ton of bricks, and it’s even worse if this came out of left field. It hurts less if he hears it from you, but only just. He should have known your family wouldn’t have accept any proposal he made - and gods know he was ready to do it - it’s just one more log to fuel his self-loathing and bitterness toward this world. But if you knock some sense into him, he’ll snap out of that spiral and begin to plan with you. There’s plenty of choices before the two of you - scandal? Running off? - but rest assured, Tyrion is going to investigate the hell out of this person. He’d never forgive himself if you got stuck with a brute.

Jaime Lannister

The fact he knew this was inevitable doesn't help Jaime's irritation. He can't believe your family arranged for that person to marry you. Seriously? You'd better keep Jaime at a distance from your spouse, because he can't help himself from making snide remarks and sarcastic comments. If he riles up the guy into a duel, all the better. He'll do all sorts of reckless things to begin with, and it's only worse when he's upset. He's also very willing to have an affair behind your spouse's back - you were with him first. You’ll probably have to scold Jaime about you two almost getting caught, but he’s above reproach. His stubbornness and jealousy gets worse the closer you two are.

Cersei Lannister

She’s absolutely infuriated with your family. You were her handmaiden, someone whose been with her for years - and they have the nerve to go behind her back like this?! It smells like a scheme of Tyrion’s, or perhaps Varys, but she’ll deal with them in time. For now, she’ll work out what to do about your spouse. She’ll try to keep you around as much as possible, and her possessiveness comes out in full. You can’t possibly be interested in such a worthless man.

Sandor Clegane

When you tell Sandor, he’s quiet for a discerningly long time before the anger and arguments come out. And then the quiet bitterness. The thing is, he knew this was coming for a while. He knew your time together was limited, he shouldn’t have things like hopes and happiness because it’ll just get taken away. And it is. Even if you explain you’ll try to break off the arrangement, that there’s still a way to get out, he has trouble believing it. He’s seen enough ladies get chained to useless fucking lords, he’d rather not see it happen to someone he cares about, thanks. Sandor will push you away as much as he can, but you could still attempt to convince him to have an affair… or perhaps leave King’s Landing entirely.

Ser Bronn of the Blackwater

He’s only mildly annoyed at the inconvenience. It’ll be a lot harder for you both to sneak around now, and forget about it if you’re having to move somewhere far away. Guess that’s the end of that ‘relationship’ - he should’ve expected it. Bronn is way more willing to stay close if you remain in King’s Landing, and he expects you both to keep fooling around. Now, if he’s actually started to develop feelings about you… he’ll start to act differently. You don’t actually like your spouse, do you? Wasn’t that just some arranged bullshit? He’ll throw smirks and subtle insults your spouse’s way, as if trying to goad them into a fight. More then once you two will almost get caught because he decides waltzing up to your window is totally acceptable, or trying to have a quickie in the middle of the day. A surprisingly jealous side will come out and he’s in total denial about any feelings he might have.

Jacquen H’ghar

This isn’t alarming to Jacquen at first. He knew he could never have such a union with you, and since this Westerosi society is so insistent on marriage, it would happen eventually. Still, your pain hurts him as well. Jacquen would have a variety of plans … anywhere from easily disguising as a guard or servant so he’s always beside you, or perhaps whisking you away somewhere. This isn’t the end of your relationship for him - it’s just a challenge to overcome. He assumes you won’t send him away or break it off.

Petyr Baelish

You being someone else’s wife makes no difference to Petyr, though he’s surprised in himself. Usually he stays out of such affairs, it only causes trouble… But he’s been intrigued by you, and quite frankly, he’s offended that this Lord Whoever from Wherever didn’t take his interest into account. No matter. Petyr has plenty of plans to deal with this pest, though he’s annoyed at his own jealousy whenever he sees you together with your spouse, even if you’re miserable. While he doesn’t want you unhappy, it certainly makes starting an affair and/or disposing of your spouse much easier.

Robert Baratheon

He’s furious and everyone is going to know about it. Robert will complain endlessly to Ned and Lord Arryn about how he found you first, how that useless shit of a husband won’t know what to do with you. Since he does little to hide his disgust, rumors will spread all over court. Hell, he’ll probably say even stupider things when he’s drunk, or he’ll do something stupider, like actually try to aggravate the guy into a fight or a duel. If you’re actually able to get him under control, he has no qualms about having an affair with you… but he may not be subtle about it. So that’s another thing to keep in mind.

Stannis Baratheon

It’s depressingly impressive how willing Stannis is to bury and deny his feelings once he hears you’re promised to someone else. He’ll try to extinguish all the happiness he had with you, bottle up all the memories and feelings that went along with it. This will be fine. He’ll be fine. This iron resolve is easy to maintain if Stannis rarely sees you. If you both are forced to interact even semi-often, it chips away at him, and he can’t help himself from making biting remarks about your spouse when you both visit. He hates feeling this way, he’s never felt it before, and he carries a deep grudge against your spouse and family for making it happen. It’s easier if you write to him, but then Stannis starts keeping those letters and punishing himself by reading them over and over. Eventually he stops entirely, deeming it inappropriate, even if that feels like cutting off one of his limbs.

Davos Seaworth

The old knight is understandably saddened by news of your betrothal and marriage, but it makes sense. Politics-wise, Davos believes he isn’t much of a prize, even when he’s risen to Lord. He should’ve expected this would happen. He’d wish you genuine happiness… But if you were miserable, Davos would feel awful and powerless. If you truly wanted to continue the relationship behind your spouse’s back, his biggest worry would be the secret getting out and your reputation being ruined. He wouldn’t be able to resist forever, but he’d still try to talk you out of it and try to convince you to forget about him.

Margaery Tyrell

She seeks you out the moment she finds out - and that was quickly, because she often keeps tabs on you. Her grandmother warned her about getting so close to her favorite, but it still comes as a terrible shock. Margaery holds you close and promises she’ll make it better, somehow. Maybe she and her grandmother can reason with her family, perhaps you can marry into the Tyrell family, so you both can be together. She’ll fix it, she swears. The thought of someone else being with you is terrible enough, she’ll be even more worried if the person is abusive. Margaery won’t stand for it, and might take a few rare risks for your sake.

Brynden Tully

This stirs up a lot of complicated feelings in the old knight. He knew his relationship with you wouldn’t last forever, that you’d have to marry eventually, and he never wanted to marry…. But he feels like this is his fault, especially if you’re miserable. He could’ve prevented this. Brynden knows he ought to break off the relationship, and he won’t blame you if you do… but he’ll also consider the idea of continuing the relationship. And if you have to go somewhere far away, he’ll still appreciate you sending letters and having a correspondence. The relationship may not be the same long-distance, but he cares a lot about you, and it hurts having you cut from his life.

Edmure Tully

Woe and misery. How much wine is in Riverrun’s stores? He may end up drinking a dent in it by the time the month is out. He almost didn’t believe the news until he heard it from several people, or just you directly. How could this happen? Wasn’t he courting you properly, taking all the steps just the right way? Wasn’t his interest obvious to anyone with eyes? Edmure approaches your family with a bit of a hot head, almost demanding an answer for why they chose whoever over … whoever your spouse is. Edmure doesn’t even care who it is, he hates their guts immediately. More likely than not, he’ll do something foolish, like start a duel. If all else fails, he’ll make sad eyes at you at all the feasts and galas and go into a bit of a depression.

Brienne of Tarth

Brienne is immediately distraught, but also believes she deserves it somehow. This happy relationship just had to come to an end, didn’t it? Well, you two had to be discreet about it to begin with, which didn’t please her … but this alternative feels worse. Brienne switches between trying to stay frosty to make it easier for you two to part, and being unable to hold back her affection and sadness. The best solution she can think of is to stay as your sworn sword, independent of your new husband’s house guards. And gods know, she will come at him with a vengeance if he even dares upset you or lay an unwanted hand on you. That means the relationship could continue, but she dislikes the secrecy even more when you’re married. While she doesn’t like the idea of running away from problems, maybe in certain circumstances, she’d be open to the idea…

Ramsay Bolton

Ramsay is irate, to say the least. Even if you don’t actually know him, you’ve just caught his eye, he’ll become possessive. If you both were romantic before the engagement news, his anger and possessiveness would be even more dangerous. Woe to your spouse if he lives close to the Dreadfort - leave it to Ramsay to think up some “accident” for them to be involved in. And if he finds out they’re involved in some sort of treason or crime, that’s all the better, no matter how flimsy the “crime” is. If he’s feeling especially reckless, he’ll just arrange their murder and take you back right away. Ramsay is a terrible loser, doubly so if it involves one of the few things he actually cares about.

Roose Bolton

On the outside he doesn’t react to the news beyond a silent glare. On the inside, Roose is furious. He had plans for you, plans that may have taken quite a while to get to this point, and now it’s been ruined by someone whose actively working against him… or too stupid to realize what a massive mistake they just made. Roose thinks up various ways to circumvent this and have you to himself. In the meantime, he’ll gladly continue an affair behind your spouse’s back, but that won’t necessarily save them from death. You’ll notice him become increasingly possessive and jealous, even if you have zero interest in your spouse, and you can sense he’ll be holding a deep grudge against whoever arranged this in the first place.

Oberyn Martell

As soon as he hears about the news, Doran has to talk him down from dueling the man…Half his daughters support it, the other half suggest something more subtle. Overyn feels insulted, for one - your affection for each other was obvious, yet your family still made this arrangement. And if he doesn’t get his duel, he will spread all sorts of unsavory, salacious rumors about your spouse, in hopes of creating a scandal that makes your family break the union. Or better, lead to the man dueling Oberyn directly! Oberyn doesn’t even consider continuing your relationship with him an “affair”. You both were together first, and a farce of a marriage you didn’t agree to won’t change that. You just have to make sure he can be discreet.

Doran Martell

While the news of your engagement is depressing, it isn't surprising. He's quite aware of the politics of Westeros, even if his own family doesn't believe it, and he had wind of this engagement. He just thought he could stop it in time. He hides his disappointment, but his family can tell he's withdrawing. Oberyn argues with his brother to go get you and fight, but Doran is a man of silent plans. He'll still love to correspond with you, and you can tell by his letters that he seems hopeful. Maybe he's thought of a way to break it off …

Arianne Martell

Well, isn’t this irksome? Arianne loved having you in her palace and keeping you all to herself, but then this foolish arranged marriage happened… She doesn’t hide her disdain, and she’s annoyed at herself for not doing more to stop it. The princess will spend no small amount of time being angry at the unfairness of it. Once she’s calmed, she doesn’t see why you both can’t continue the relationship behind closed doors. You’re both used to sneaking around, anyway. And Arianne can’t resist ferreting around for some salacious rumors about your spouse… Wouldn’t it be a shame if she found out something that led you to your family cutting the betrothal off?

Tyene Sand

She’s beyond annoyed at this outcome. You were her favorite, in more ways than one, and while she didn’t delude herself into thinking you’d be together forever… well, couldn’t you both have spent your days in court in service to the Martells, or perhaps left forever on a boat to Essos? Why did this have to happen so soon? She’s despondent, much as she tries to hide it, even with her sisters trying to comfort her. She begins to think of plans, just little things … a rumor here, a scheme there. She’ll feel much better if you remain in the Sunspear court, so she can stay close and your relationship can continue.

[sj-ficrecs]

fic rec 11!

just a random collection of what I’ve read and enjoyed lately. as usual, no specific order.

This is purely a fic rec blog, always reblogging fics I enjoy. usually Bucky x reader, sometimes Steve x reader, Chris Beck x reader, etc. So check out more I’ve reblogged on this page. :) See my past fic recs below:

PREVIOUS FIC RECS HERE! // Q & A

(divider by @bwbatta)

Bucky x reader:

Flashing Lights by @pellucid-constellations​ Paramedic!Bucky x reader

“Bucky’s worst fears come true when he’s called to a scene. If he’s the one with the dangerous job, then why is it your life that’s hanging in the balance?”

Operation: Freefall by @constantwriter85​ Bucky x reader

“When Bucky fell from the train in 1945, he didn’t just leave behind his family and friends. He left behind the girl he was going to marry, a girl he never stopped loving. Decades later, Bucky continued to search for her, only to find out that she had disappeared without a trace in 1955. But when Steve hands over the shield to Sam Wilson, he also has something for his childhood friend—a redacted S.H.I.E.L.D. file code-named Operation: Freefall, a file with more questions than answers. With Sam’s help and a handful of Pym Particles, the file sends Bucky on a trip to the past, trying to solve the mystery and save the woman he still loves.”

Recovery by @wicked-mind​ Biker!Bucky x reader

“After going through rehab and recovering, you move back to town to live with your mother as you sort out what to do with your life, but your mom has other plans that include hooking you up with a hot biker by the name of James ‘Bucky’ Barnes”

Teacher’s Favorite + Sharing My Sweetheart by @suitk0via​ Single dad!Bucky x teacher!reader

“You are first grade teacher and Bucky is a single dad who wants to be involved with everything his little girl - Elaine - does. He’s the dad all the parent’s and faculty drool over. You quickly become Elaine’s favorite teacher and Bucky’s just gotta meet you.”

Uninvited by @mymoonagedaydream​ modern!Bucky x reader

Reader is a close friend of Sam’s. Sam and Bucky are roommates, so reader spends a lot of time with them. Bucky becomes colder towards reader and they ask Sam about it - finding out Bucky, who is taken, is falling out of love w/ his gf because he has a crush on reader.

You Know Me Too Well by @nexusnyx​ Tattoo Artist!Bucky x reader

“there is a thin line between pain and pleasure. that line is real and palpable, except for the times when you sit in bucky barnes’ table and feel his hands holding your skin. his job demands him to hurt you, but the only problem is that you enjoy it. a lot.”

The Slip Up by @justkending​ dad!Bucky x reader

“After a last hurrah to graduating college with a future to be a family practitioner, a little slip up happens… Seven years down the road, just when things just now seem to be going smoothly, Y/N approaches that slip up from all those years ago. She’s not looking for anything right now. She is just where she wants to be in life. It seems the universe has a different idea though. One called James Barnes.”

Invisible String series by @dirty-holy-things​ Bucky x reader

“You were fairly certain that landing a date through court-ordered therapy was some sort of HIPAA violation, if not just an ethical one, but you couldn’t help but be intrigued by the mysterious storm cloud of a man who you shared the waiting room with every Thursday.”

Sacrifice by @wkemeup​ Bucky x reader

“In the midst of an attack, you’re dosed with an unknown chemical and your healing ability becomes compromised.”

Purgatory by @wkemeup​ Bucky x reader

“While on a mission, Bucky becomes dissociated into the Winter Soldier. But instead of becoming a threat, his instinct is to protect.”

Behind the Storm by @wkemeup​ Bucky x reader

“On a mission, you’re hit with a spell that takes away your ability to see. Bucky does what he can to make you feel safe.”

We Were Screaming in Color by @samwlscns​ Bucky x reader, soulmate au

“james buchanan barnes was your soulmate and you were his. despite everything the world threw your way, bucky always kept his promise to make his way back home to you. even if that meant having to lose him more than once.”

Bulova by @babycap​ Bucky x reader

“In the five years between the two snaps that changed it all, life had moved on, as life is want to do. In the aftermath of that final battle, you discover that time waited for no one (least of all you), and those you loved marched forward into it without you. Sam suggests you volunteer at the local retirement community to keep you busy, keep your mind from lingering on what—and who—you lost. In giving back, you find that time can be just as generous as it is cruel. A non-canon compliant, friends-to-lovers fic.”

And They’re Roommates by @golden-barnes​ Modern bartender/roommate!Bucky x reader, New Girl au

“Your boyfriend cheats on you, and now you have nowhere to go. So when you found an ad for a shared loft, you didn’t hesitate to say yes. Come to the realization that you will be sharing it with four guys. Four guys, one of them who is extremely hot and zero brain cells between any of them. What else could you ask for?”

Keep Me Cool by @chouettedubois​ Bucky x reader

“You and Bucky are on your third undercover mission acting as a couple. Things go awry when you fall ill. Cue caretaker!Bucky to the rescue.”

Love in the Workplace by @cxddlyash​ Gardener!Bucky x Receptionist!reader

Working at the same hotel, a new gardener is recently hired.

“Your breath hitches in your throat at the sight of the new gardener. 

“What is it?” Sarah asks you and you clear your throat before tearing your gaze from the man.

“Uh, nothing. I finally see the gardener that the hotel hired,” you mention while walking closer to the place.”

Dad Biker!Bucky being adorable with his kids blurb by @angrythingstarlight​ dad biker!Bucky x reader

dad biker Bucky and his kids making pancakes and breakfast for mom :)

Tap by @houseravenclaws​ Bucky x reader

“bucky never talked much. he fell in love anyway.”

Teach Me How to Love by @thefalconthatcriedwolf​ Godfather/single dad!Bucky x teacher!reader

“Natasha leaves behind her precious daughter, Yelena, and with her dying breath asks Bucky to look after her. You happen to have Yelena in your class this school year.”

To Build a Home by @buckyjamess-archive​ @buckyjamess​​ Mechanic/single dad!Bucky x single mom!reader

“a mechanic and a nurse walk into a schoolyard..both new in the single parent life, chaos arises when the two come together but they wouldn’t have it any other way.”

A Good Kind of Fire by @dolcezzasfantasy​ Modern!Bucky x reader

“Character A runs a flower shop downtown. Character B is terribly allergic to flowers.”

If I Could Fly by @ceeellewrites​ actor!Bucky x actress!reader, social media au

“Bucky Barnes is an actor with a small (just a tiny) celebrity crush on Y/N L/N, one of the industry’s well-known actress. Well, it’s just a celebrity crush, what could go wrong?”

The Rumour by @sidepartskinnyjeans​ Bucky x reader

“after a, mostly, chance meeting with Sergeant Barnes starts a rumour around the compound that soon gets out of hand.”

See the World the Way You Do by @vanderlustwords​ Bucky x reader, soulmate au

“You start to see colour when you meet your soulmate. Bucky thinks that soulmates are a one of a kind thing—you get one and that’s it. His world used to be colourful once and then he lost that. He’s resigned to see black and white for the rest of his life…until flashes of colours would appear from the corner of his eye. And it seemed to happen more and more as Bucky spends time with you.”

Crawl Home to Her by @nexusnyx​ Bucky x reader

“when bucky finaly returns from his mission, he finds you sleeping in his sofa and the apartment much different than when he left. much prettier, with a touch of home. apparently, while he was away you took his advice to “do what you want with the place, doll” seriously - or as a distraction - and now he got to come home to this.bucky’s heart takes a leap and he stands there for a second, frozen in his spot.”

Signed by the Author by @wintersfilm​ Bucky x reader

“on a mission to improve his conversations with sam, bucky wanders brooklyn and into a bookstore where he finds his new favourite book and the most adorable bookseller he has ever laid eyes on.”

Seasons of Love by @constantwriter85​ Army vet!Bucky x reader, modern au

“Bucky gets a service dog, but Winter’s only got eyes for the dog across the park…and her owner.”

One Single Thread of Gold (Tied Me to You) by @pietrotica​ Bucky x reader, soulmate au

“on your sixteenth birthday, the first words your soulmate will speak to you appear on your wrist. in a world where it’s quite common to get a simple ’hi what can i get you’ or common phrases, you’ve managed to get their name. that doesn’t make it easier to find him.”

Sunday is a Family Day by @lazyangeltreemoney​ Bodyguard!Bucky x rockstar!reader

“You’re stubborn, annoying and hot as hell which seems to be an awful combo to mix with Bucky Barnes. However one day he realises he got you all wrong and now there’s a little kid in the mix that needs both of your help.”

[genshin-scenarios]

Venti x soulmate traveler?🥺 like he's so old he never thought he find his soulmate but here they are from another world 😭

A/N: Anon I’m so sorry but I took “soulmate” and ran… pretty far away 😭 hope you’ll still like this though!! 

CW: Pretty heavy spoilers for the movie ‘Your Name’ or ‘Kimi no Na wa’, seeing as this is an AU based off it! This post is also probably easier to understand if you know the plot of the movie, but it’s not entirely needed!

Venti plays the role of Mitsuha; a highschool student living in the town of Itomori who works in his family’s shrine. Despite his easygoing attitude and willingness to endure the responsibilities handed down to him, a part of Venti wishes he was just another teenager in Tokyo instead and have more freedom.

You play the role of Taki; a highschool student in Tokyo who juggles a part-time job at a restaurant on top of your hobbies. Your everyday life takes a turn when you wake up one day to find that you’ve switched bodies with a stranger - only to figure out later on that this was not just a dream but real, based on the calendar dates that passed and questions from your friends.

You find a way to communicate with Venti through writing in your notebooks and phones, and try to establish a type of system so that you wouldn’t accidentally ruin each other’s lives. 

You got to know of Venti as a carefree and mischievous person, even getting into petty arguments with him because he was trying to meddle with your love life (helping you score a date with your crush). Though with time, you started to realize that those that knew him in Itomori seemed to have a slightly different impression of the student.

To them, Venti was easygoing and carefree, but also a little detached. It wasn’t hard to realize that he held people at a distance at times and kept his worries to himself. This truth especially struck you once when you were in his body, and his friends said that he seemed more relaxed these days; “Did something good happen?”

It made you start to grow concerned - he’d lectured you about your ‘bonehead’ decisions to stand up to his classmates in flashy ways (kicking over a table, loudly asking them if they found something amusing) - saying that it didn’t matter what they thought of his work at the shrine or his parent’s occupation.

At first, Venti was content with the little escapes that he’d have by switching bodies with you, but upon realizing that you were the type of person that faced things head-on, he’d resigned himself to the possibility that he’d just have to adapt to this. The winds change after all - it wasn’t like he could control the way you acted, nor did he have the right to.

He was a little glad for this, really. While Venti might use his family and the shrine as an excuse, he was also just holding himself back because he was afraid - the outcome of rebellion was uncertain after all.

What a bird needed was not the wind, but the courage to fly.

Well, he’d certainly gotten that courage after meeting you - or would being you be more accurate? Venti was cautious while he switched bodies with you (as much as he liked to tease, he didn’t actually want to mess anything up), but it also allowed him to try things that he never got to do before. 

Before he knew it, he started to act bolder when back in his own body - be more present, smile more genuinely.

Part of this was also because of his interactions with you; from day one, neither of you had any reason to hide your real personalities because of the urgency of it all. There was no time to keep up appearances when you literally lost control of your own body! You needed to get each other under control and set boundaries fast.

In the beginning, you couldn’t understand why Venti was so enamored by the cafes and sights in the city you grew up in, and scolded him for spending your money on random things or snacks - your part time job was a lot of effort after all, and living wasn’t cheap!

But after living in Venti’s shoes for a while, you started to understand why he had this childlike curiosity of the world. He appreciated the little things that you’ve grown to overlook. 

It wasn’t like his town wasn’t beautiful - the nature that surrounded it was amazing - but the responsibilities and expectations he had just as a highschool student? It was like trapping a bird in an aviary.

You grew an appreciation for the skills he had in needlework - heck, you weren’t even sure how to style his braids exactly the way he did every morning with those blue ribbons of his - but you also realized that he had really good people skills, as seen by how he maneuvered around situations whilst living as you.

He was responsible, albeit sometimes infuriating, and really observant too… For someone like that to feel trapped felt like an injustice.

…Venti did comment that you were too rash at times. But it was always easier to stand up for others than yourself, wasn’t it? Especially after getting a glimpse of his troubles, you couldn’t hold yourself back entirely.

When all was said and done (by the ending of the movie plot, where you managed to switch bodies with Venti one last time and save the townspeople), your memories of switching bodies began to fade from your memory.

You continued to live in Tokyo as usual, still retaining the lessons you’ve learnt, but not truly being able to recall why you felt so strongly about certain things, or why the sight of blue ribbons or shrines made you feel nostalgic.

Venti on the other hand, does remember it all - while the memory faded a little, important things still stayed with him. He couldn’t pin down your name, but he knew that you definitely were in Tokyo, and could briefly recall what you aspired to do after highschool.

He doesn’t immediately go to search for you (since he’s aware that there was some sort of gap between your timelines), but don’t worry! You’ll definitely meet again somehow~