#boy that fantasy goes away real quick the first time you go to the hospital | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

consultingsister-aa · 4 years ago

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five times kissed / bash ( any verse )

this meme for: @theasteriae verse: happy verse

Celia has never seriously dated before. There were boys but they had little to no interest in getting to know her. They just wanted to fuck her. People were always saying she was too pretty for her own good and she was starting to think that was true.

Only Basher Moran didn’t seem that bothered about how pretty she was. Although she assumed, that was what drew him to her in the first place. It was silly and unrealistic to say otherwise and she certainly fancied him from the moment she saw him. It had nothing to do with her laugh and everything to do with his jawline. It wasn’t true anymore now.

It had been one of the best summers of her life. She could hardly believe she had been tempted to turn Alex down, to return to Surrey, alone and melancholy. Sherlock has said he would come up but would have likely cancelled last minute. Cee has never spent so much time with people apart from at school and it took a while to get used to all the sibling and cousin dynamics. It was like something from one of her books; The Chronicles of Narnia or The Famous Five. They all had inside jokes and pet names and moved around each other like a choreographed dance. She knew her bothers well enough but she rarely had to deal with a cramped kitchen and sharing bedrooms. They knew each other differently than the Morans.

It had been a fantasy of hers to live like this. When she was young and it was just her alone in that big house, she would daydream about having lots of brother’s and sister’s and cousins to play with. Adventures at the beach; caves and pirate treasure. She imagined herself into their childhood and al of a sudden, felt a lump in her throat. It was more than jealousy; it was something like grief. Greif for that lonely little girl who would always aways be alone.

“What’s up?” Bash interrupted her thoughts. Clearly, her state of mind has shown on her face.

“Nothing. I’m just a little sad to go back to school after all this.”

Bash sighed knowingly, turning back to look out over the water. Even though she had come with Alex, Celia was spending more and more time on the beach with Bash. They sat in the dunes, a blanket around their shoulders, watching the sun fall into the freezing water. Even in the height of summer, the water was freezing. “Yeah, I’ll miss the beach,” he agrees.

She turns to look at his profile, shoulder bumping into his. “I’ll miss you.” She didn’t quite mean you individually, she meant you as a family, but she was glad he took it that way.

He turned to look at her and then leant in to kiss her for the first time, both their heads moving in the opposite way so they didn’t bump noses, as if it has been rehearsed. Cee had never been kissed like that before but it was almost exactly how the songs and books and poems described it. It was like seeing fireworks. But perhaps more wonderfully, when he kissed her like that, she didn’t feel so alone.

II.

It had felt like a long time since that first kiss, although it has only been seven years. In the prospect of a lifetime together, that was short. But she couldn’t help but think about that moment, as she stood at the waters edge, champagne glass in hand, breathing deeply in the cool evening air. Behind her, her specially built carnival glows, reflecting in the dark waters.

She’s changed from her wedding dress into a short ballet style tutu skirt, which stopped a little north of where her father, new husband and aunt-in-law might have liked. Long legs end in bare feet and she lets the water lap up against her ankles.

“Hey, Mrs Moran-- there about twenty million people wanting to see you back there.”

She turns back with a smile, just in time to see Bash - messy hair, jacket long gone, shirt sleeved rolled up - before he wraps his arms around her from behind, pressing a kiss into the side of her face. “There are not twenty million people, you’re such a drama queen.”

He laughs. She does too. Then they relax into silence and both watch the waves. After a moment, Cee begins to cry.

“Hey, hey,” Bash moves to turn her round, concern on his face. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing-- I’m just-- I’m just so--”

“What? Oh god, you’re regretting it already. I said, if you weren’t ready, that we could--”

“Happy!” Cee interupsts him with laugh, “Bash, I’m happy. I am so happy.”

He looks so relived, it only makes Cee laugh again; more happy tears spilling onto her cheeks. He pulls her close, a deep kiss, just them. Maybe the big party was too much. She was danced out; talked out; laughed out. She just wanted this. And the best bit was, she had it, and she had it forever.

III.

“Twins!?”

“Are you fucking serious?”

Cee can tell the nurse wasn’t expecintg that reaction from her, but she couldn’t care less. One more baby was enough of a shock, but two more? She looks over at Bash, who’s grinning and offers a look as if to say ‘what are you smiling about, you bastard’.

“I am very serious Mrs Moran. You can see one heart beat here,” the nurse points to a black mass on the monitor, “and the second,” another black mass, “here.” Cee will just have to take her word for it. She got very upset when she couldn’t see what the nurse was talking about with Beua but she’s over it this time. She’s already over being pregnant this time and now it’s just going to be two times worse? Well, it was always two times worse but now she knows about it. “I’ll leave this up and give you a minute,” the nurse smiles at the parents and leaves the room, closing the door behind her. Cee’s face is full of panic.

“What?” Bash moves into the side of the hospital bed, taking Cee’s hand in his.

“What do you mean, what? Bash-- I can’t handle three kids. You’re away all the time. I didn’t even know if I could do two but three babies? I’m out of my depth here.”

“So what are you saying? You want to-- not--”

“No, no, I’m just-- it’s a lot, Bash. Twins. That’s twice the baby!”

“And you,” now he moves his hands to her face. Eye contact is key with Cecelia, pyshical contact and looking her in the eye. “Are twice the woman. You can do this. You can do anything.”

Cee takes a calming breath and nods. “I love you,” she manages and leans forward to kiss him softly, just in time for the door to reopen. They never get a moments peace anymore.

IV.

Celia closes the bedroom door very gentle behind her. It feels like having babies again; a house full she doesn’t want to wake up. Bash just smiles up at her, taking off his glasses. He’s only been in the job four hours and he’s already bringing work to bed.

“Do they love their new rooms?”

Celia pulls an apoletic look, pulling off her dressing gown. “Immy says she wants to go home.”

“To Suffolk?”

“Yeah.”

“She’s knows she’s now living in Downing Street, right?”

“You know that a ten year old could not care less, right?”

Bash just laughs, laying his arm out over her pillows so she can snuggle in next to him. For a moment, they just sit there, head leant back against the headboard, drinking it all in. They had been working towards this for over ten years and now? The real work was just beginning. She can already feel her eyes getting heavy. “You’re happy here though, right?”

“Mm,” she hums. She’s not sure yet. Suffolk is her home, more than she ever though it would be. It was where the boys all grew up, their childhood rooms even though they were all grown up and out the house now. It was where Immy was born, where they played capture the flag and five aside football when the rest of the family came over.

Downing Street might be a symbol of how far they had come, but it wasn’t home and she doubted, no matter how long they were here, it would ever feel like one. She already had plans to nip back to Suffolk the first weekend they could. “Yeah, this is what we’ve wanted for so long. We just need to settle into it.” Cee looks up to Bash, smiling at the fine lines already marking his face. But his eyes look the same as they did when he kissed her for that very first time on the beach. He’s so good to her, always.

She kisses him, the sort of kiss they haven’t had in a while. Five kids, two demanding careers and a whole country wanting his attention tends to lead to pecks of affection and quickies whenever they can get it. But they have a moment now. “I’m so proud of you,” she whispers, lips still touching his. “I’m so proud of us. For everything, not just this job. I love you.”

They had been in rooms like this so many times over the years. The bad lighting, the round tables, the stage. Only, rarely for her. She had, happily, she wanted to add, taken a back seat for most of her life. Her skillset was better suited to a life of support and planning; organising and committing herself to the task at hand. Whether they was her husband’s career, or her children’s lives. How could she call them children now though? Immy sat next to her, one arm lazily draped across her own baby bump, the other reached out to hold her mother’s hand.

All heads had turned to the stage as a larger man in a ill-fitting suit took to the podium. His welcome speech was short and sweet, something Cee appreciated. She had told anyone who she could that she wasn’t bothered; even to be nominated was an honour but she was bothered. Her stomach swam with anxiety in a way it hadn’t done in years.

“And the winner, of the twenty-forty-eight Booker Prize goes to... Cecelia Holmes.”

The table around her, well dressed and well mannered, rose with celebration; clapping together hands together and whooping. Immy kissed her cheek, Beua was quick to follow but she wouldn't get around them all. Although, she couldn’t forget one of them.

Bash had sat across from her for most of the night. Although it was her night, it was also the first time in months all the family had been together in one place. Well, not all the family. You could fill the whole room with all the family. They were on stand-by, waiting for the news. They could have a party anyway, Immy had said, but they’d take down the banners if she didn’t win, though she suspected they wouldn’t have to. That had made Cee laugh. All the family tonight mean the six kids. Beua, Cass, Edmund, Perc, Immy and Hugo, ranging in ages from early forties, to twenty-two. Her children. Fuck the books, these wonderful, clever, funny, thoughtful kids were the best thing she had ever done with her life. And it was all thanks to Bash. They had caught each others eyes all night and it had made her feel young again. Like when they used to catch each other eyes over the dinner table at Nettle Cottage.

She was aware there was a room full of people waiting for her but she was hungry for the kiss. Her hands reached for his face and she wasn’t that surprised to see a tear in his eye. “I’m so proud of you,” Bash managed, although years of shouting in Westminster had left his voice a little hoarse. She kissed him again, although she could feel the ever secible and dependable Beua trying to take her arm towards the stage.

“Of us,” Cee corrected him, before allowing her oldest son to resort her to the edge of the stage. She hadn’t prepared a speech but she thought she might mention that first kiss, under a tartan blanket, on a beach in Suffolk that inspired a lifetime of literary work.

#theasteriae #( i. message )#( i. save )#( vi. ceebastian )#( v. happy verse )

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iluvsexyvoltageguys · 5 years ago

Text

A Very Merry Christmas

Fandom: Mr. Love Queen’s Choice

Pairing: Lucien x Reader

Warning: NSFW

This is a Secret Santa story for @mythiica Merry Christmas! 🎄🎁

"You want me to wear this?" You hold up a red lace corset trimmed in faux white fur. "I'm not sure that you've been good enough to deserve it. I only rewards good boys."

"Oh, I've been good," he pulls you up against the length of his body. "Last night you were telling me exactly how good I am. ‘Yes Lucien. Keep stroking it right there. Fuck, that feels amazing’ Did I dream it or was it some other woman who was moaning and screaming her pleasure in my bed." His eyes sparkle with mischief.

"It had better not have been another woman," you frown as you nip his ear, one hand stealing down between your bodies to cup him. "You're mine."

He's hard and eager; you stroke the length of him through the fine fabric of his trousers. You had been out at the annual Christmas benefit for the children's hospital.

You looked beautiful tonight in your silver blue sheath dress. Your hair was gathered up in an artful pile on the top of your head. A few tendrils have been left free to tumble down and accentuate the graceful column of your neck. He wants to nibble at the vulnerable skin just below your ear, you always moan when he flicks his tongue over just that spot.

"I'm definitely yours," he affirms. "So maybe you should reward me for all that good behavior tonight. I was a model of restraint despite your attempts to lead me astray you wicked woman."

"Me?" You protest with fake innocence.

"Yes, it was definitely you. You had your hand between my legs under the table. I don't know how you managed to carry on a conversation the whole time as if nothing was going on. Teasing me like that, I wanted to push you up on the table and fuck you right there."

"Poor Lucien. Were you having a problem with your control?" You smirk at the memory. "Are you saying that you can't handle it?"

"I'm saying that you were driving me crazy and there was nothing I could do about it because we were surrounded by three hundred other people. But now we're alone and I'm calling in the debt. You owe me _______."

"Oh, do I?" Heat fills your eyes. "I'm not sure that I do."

"Put it on," his voice is a low rumble.

"What will you give me if I do?" You challenge him.

"I'll give you the best night of your life."

His words stir dark passions. Your pupils dilate at the promise, deep black pools of desire. Without a further word you turn on unsteady legs and walk into the bathroom, the red lingerie clutched firmly in your hand.

You unzip your dress and let it fall in a heap at your feet. A quick flick undoes the front clasp and your black lace bra joins the dress on the floor. The corset slides over your head and you pull it down into place.

Your reflected image in the mirror shows red half-cups barely covering your breasts, the fur tickling your already stiff nipples. The long garters hang over the tops of your thighs, no stockings tonight but the effect is still sexy with your black thong peeking through the straps. The fit is perfect, but that's not too surprising given how well he knows your body.

You reach up to pull the pins from your hair. He's going to cum when he sees you, you look like a playboy fantasy and you know it. With one last look at your reflection you go in search of the man who's responsible for it.

He's already in bed by the time you walk back into the bedroom. His chest is bare and the sheets are pulled up to his waist. The look that comes over his face when he sees you is priceless; a mixture of lust, adoration and primitive possession. “______," that's all he whispers but it sums it up completely.

You lean back against the door frame, letting him look his fill. The arch of your back presses your breasts even higher so that they threaten to spill out of the red lace. He can hardly believe his luck. No matter how many times you’ve shared his bed it can still surprise him that this gorgeous creature wants him.

"Merry Christmas Lucien. So, how do you like your present?" You ask him as if it was even a question.

"I love it."

You smile as you stalk towards him, there's a sense of power that comes from knowing exactly what you do to him. "I'm glad you like the packaging but you know that presents are meant to be unwrapped." You trail your hand down the valley between your breasts, fingers skimming over your stomach and coming to rest on your waist, your thumb hooking under the elastic of your thong. "Do you want to unwrap me Lucien?” You’re standing right in front of him now, close enough for him to reach out and touch all that creamy skin.

"Oh god yes, and I've got a present for you as well," his mouth curves into a cheeky grin, his eyes crinkling with humor as he deliberately looks down at his erection.

"I think I have a pretty good idea of what it might be," you slip your hand under the blanket and flip it back. The sight that is revealed causes you to dissolve into a fit of giggles. It's what you expected and at the same time it's not. Tears of mirth stream as you clutch your belly to control the laughter. "I can't believe that you wrapped it!"

His erection stands up eagerly; a very pretty red bow is tied neatly at the base with a sprig of mistletoe attached.

"Well it is Christmas, so I thought we should get into the spirit of it."

"It’s very like you to do something like this," you grin at him. "Does this mean that you want me to kiss it?" You flick the mistletoe.

His eyes widen at the offer, he hadn't intended the greenery to be a suggestion but if you’re offering then he'll take it. His girlfriend has an amazing mouth, wicked and knowing. The thought of you going down on him, using that tongue over the plump head and swallowing his shaft into your wet mouth is enough to make him weak in anticipation.

"Yes," his voice barely a whisper and he coughs before trying again. "Yes please. I want you to suck me off," he says in a lower, manlier tone.

You throw a leg over so that you’re straddling him; your mouth consumes his in one deep kiss before you start moving south. There are stops along the way. A pause to flick at his nipples, a wet circling around his navel with your tongue, and a playful nip of his abs before you finally hone into the most sensitive area.

Your fingers lightly touch him as you undo the ribbon; the barely there pressure is torture. He wants you to take a firmer grip but you pull back when he tries to grab your hand.

"Nuh-uh. We're going to do this my way," you shake a finger at him. "Hands by your head and keep them there."

You’re going to rip his control to shreds, tease and torment him until he goes mad. He can tell by the gleam in your eyes and the grin on your face. It might be more than he can take and it's going to be sooo worth it.

"Ok," he grips the pillow under his head with both hands. "Do your worst."

Your evil chuckle forces warm puffs of air over his straining cock as you hover just above him. "Relax Lucien, I promise I'll be gentle with you." True to your word the first lick is a feathery caress around the tip, he can feel his cock throbbing with each pass of that wet tongue. One hand is wrapped around the base of his cock while your other hand plays with his sensitive balls.

You open wider, letting him go as deeply as you can take him. He's too long to swallow fully, barely more than half way in before you feel him hitting the back of your throat. Your warm hand tightens around the rest of the shaft, it gives the illusion that he's fully encased in the wet heat of your mouth.

He has to fight to stop his natural inclination to buck his hips, especially when you start sucking. The way your mouth grips his cock feels so good. Your head bobs up and down as you milk the length of him. The wet suckling sounds that you make are as much of a turn-on as the feel of your lips around his cock.

You’re amazing. You’re mind-blowing. You’re a goddess.

"_____, I'm so close. I'm going to cum," Lucien warns you. He wants to spill his seed inside your mouth but he leaves the decision up to you.

You make a small sound to acknowledge that you’ve heard him but you don’t slow down or stop. You can tell exactly how close he is by the way his muscles are all tensed under you. Your mouth works even harder, creating a stronger pull as your tongue caresses him and he can't hold back any longer.

The first spurt fills your mouth with a salty taste, it's musky and heady and uniquely Lucien. You swallow, lapping up every last drop and staying with him right until the end. You let him go with a final lick; his softening cock falls to rest against his thigh. When you lift your head to look up at him there's a look of awe on his face. "That was amazing ______."

"Good. I'm glad you enjoyed it," you smile.

As if to prove his point he wraps his arms around you and with one deft move he's flipped you over and reversed your positions. Lucien braces himself on his elbows as he looks down at you. You’re still wearing the lingerie and he decides to leave it on you. The hints of skin that show through are as erotic as if you were totally nude.

"Where to start?" he murmurs as if he were contemplating his options. "Maybe here." His hand pulls down one cup just enough to expose the stiff tip of a breast. It's achingly sensitive and you can feel yourself get wetter as his mouth latches on and his tongue plays with the nipple. His mouth works in a rhythmic sucking motion, mimicking your earlier actions on his cock. Did it feel as good for him then as it does for you now?

The way that he's playing with your breast pulls something tight inside of you. You squirm, unable to keep still because of the pressure building between your legs. One hand is massaging his scalp, encouraging his ongoing attention as your other hand snakes down so that you can finger yourself. You only get one flick in before his hand is pulling yours away, frustrating you before you can get any real friction going.

"No, it's my turn now. We're going to do this my way," he echoes your earlier statement.

You glare at him, it's not as much fun being on this end of the teasing. He laughs at the way you’re pouting like a little girl being told no, it's so incongruous with the sex siren appearance. You may not be happy but it's a mark of how much you trust him that you obey and pull your hand back to a neutral area.

"Get on with it Lucien," you growl, foreplay is nice but you want an orgasm now!

"Whatever the lady wants." He moves further down so that he's eye level with your cunt. You lift your hips to aid him as Lucien pulls your panties off, they're embarrassingly wet and his smile is purely masculine as he rubs his fingers in the evidence of what he does to you. "And it would appear that you want me."

Lucien hooks one arm under your thigh and lifts it to rest over his shoulder. The position causes your legs to spread even further apart so that he can see every last detail. He bites the skin of your inner thigh, sucking hard enough that he's going to leave a mark. He loves it that he's left a visible sign of his possession on your body, a secret that only the two of you will know about. He is smart enough to do it only in places that won't be visible.

You might complain about it sometimes but secretly you love it as well. There are times when you’ll cross your legs at work just to feel the slight discomfort from the bruise; it's a tactile reminder of your last bout of sex. You could be sitting innocently in front of your coworkers or taking a coffee break and you’ll be fantasizing about his sweaty body rubbing up against yours.

He places a gentle kiss over the marked skin and then he's moving north and more centrally. His fingers spread your lips to expose the nub with its little hood of flesh. Such a small area and yet your whole body is focused on that one spot, just waiting for him to touch it.

The first flick of his tongue causes your hips to arch. He keeps rubbing over the bud, an up and down motion that has you moaning and thrashing about in no time. The friction over your clit is just right, you can feel your pussy clenching in anticipation of the climax that is building. And then just when you’re about to go over the edge he pulls back, a teasing feathery touch that is nowhere hard enough to satisfy you.

"No!" You protest.

You can feel his chuckle against your skin; he's enjoying inflicting his revenge for your earlier actions at the benefit dinner. "Having problems with your control?" he taunts you.

"You're going to have problems walking in a minute if you don't finish what you started," you growl.

"Oooh, threats!" he smiles with glee. "I love it when you play bad. We both know that you're too fond of my cock to do me any harm. But if it will make you feel better, I'll let you spank me later." His laughter booms out.

Your eyes narrow as you glare at him. That particular part of his anatomy might be safe but his ears are still fair game. He must have sensed your intention because his hands capture your wrists before you can twist his ear. Lucien's still laughing but he accedes to your demands. His mouth captures your clit again and this time the pressure is firm and unrelenting as he works you up to a peak again.

"More," you demand. That one word is all that you can manage as his tongue has robbed your breath away. Fortunately he knows exactly what you need and he slides two fingers into your tight wet pussy. He works them in and out, imitating the way his cock normally thrusts into that wet channel. The feeling of your pussy being stretched in combination with the stimulation to your clit has you screaming as you come hard. You’re a mindless mess in his bed and you couldn't care less as long as he just keeps touching you there.

You rest in the curve of his body, the little spoon to his big spoon. He finally took the corset off you and your bare back is pressed against his chest.

"That was awesome. The best Christmas present ever," he says.

You turn so that you face him and wrap your arms around his neck as you lean in for a kiss. "Yeah. A very merry Christmas indeed Lucien."

MLQC Masterlist

#mr love queen’s choice smut #mr love queen’s choice lucien smut #mlqc smut #mlqc lucien smut #mr love queen’s choice #mr love queen’s choice lucien #mlqc #mlqc lucien

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portableusbstick · 5 years ago

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Ya girl’s at it again! This is my first reader insert fic lol, you can read it on ao3 or here (though I recommend ao3) It’s a crossover between persona 5 and the garden of words (makoto shinkai)

The fic will be under the cut

Once, not long ago, where the rainy season ensued, two people were longing for the rain. Bright grins broke out whenever the sky cried, hurried steps to take an umbrella, moving through the crowds, these all happened upon stormy days. But perhaps, the rain was just an excuse. An excuse to meet once more. The rain was how they met, and the rain is how they will depart. Now, let's begin the tale, shall we?

-----

The sky was crying.

Soft tears that fell from the heavens.

A hand reached out to feel the droplets softly falling from the sky.

"Rain..."

You loved the rain; it felt like it was a part of you. The droplets were like an old friend, its rhythmic beat acted like a comforting hand on your shoulder. The palliative pitter-patter of the rainfall would always ease your worries.

But you didn't have time to waste staring at mother nature's tears; the train departed in 15 minutes, and one couldn't afford to miss it. Grabbing your bag along with a clear umbrella, you went outside to catch the train.

The streets of Shibuya were always busy with crowded people and heavy air. To tell the truth, it made you quite nauseous. The bitter smell of newspaper and wet hair was never your cup of tea. The train departed in 4 minutes, but your feet took you to someplace other than the station.

'I brought my notebook...so I might as well go there.'

The mere thought of visiting your sanctuary was enough to bring excitement.

'Class can wait.'

Tucking a lock of hair behind your ear, you switched your destination to the national garden. You looked forward to a moment where there wouldn't be teachers with their overly saccharine voice or classwork that had no value. No, today would be just a time for you to relax, at least for the first period of class.

The bustling crowd slowly dispersed, leaving you at the entrance of the grand conservatory. The vines and foliage created some sort of safe space away from humanity. It was still raining so there was seldom if any people, perfect for relaxing without any worries. Yes, this was your sanctuary. A place where one could escape the fast-pacing world to take a breather.

"Meow."

You abandon your peaceful thoughts and turn to see... a cat? In a bag?!

'Is that even safe?' You wondered.

Your eyes shift from the peculiar animal to the potential owner, a boy with floofy hair and thick glasses, intentively reading a book.

"Meow."

"You're not slick, Morgana."

"MeOw!"

Okay, maybe not too intensively.

You sweatdropped at the scene playing out. A boy quarreling with... a cat...

'This...' You thought to yourself as a smirk crept up your lips, 'is perfect writing material!'

Indeed it was. A boy and a cat arguing would certainly get views, but you were a writer, and this was a perfect scenario for your two characters to meet in a rom-com situation!

You bring out your notebook and start furiously jotting the scene before your eyes.

"Meow."

"How many times do I have to tell you? Girls aren't romantically into-"

The boy's dialogue abruptly stopped as he noticed you.

'Oh, crap...'

"G-Goodmorning."

'Abort, abort, abort mission.'

"Were...were you talking to your cat?"

The silence hung in the air as the fencepost three feet away suddenly looked very interesting.

"Don't...Don't we all?" He played off the bizarre scenario as if it were something to brush off as easily as, say, a stray piece of paper on the floor.

"Y-yeah but...not like...not like that." You decided to give up on this conversation before a passerby decides to take both of you to a mental hospital. And with a quick glance at your phone told you that you only had 30 minutes left until your next class began.

Sighing as you wished for something to drink, you sat on the bench as the tip of your pencil began scritching the surface of your notebook, trying to get past your writer's block.

The serene mix of your pencil scribbles, the boy's page turns, along with the pattering of the rain truly gave a stereotypical melodrama film feeling.

The boy was too engrossed in his novel to notice that his cat had gotten out of his lap and swatted away your pencil, creating a long pencil slash across your words. You didn't mind, though. Writer's block kept you from creating astounding ideas anyways.

"Morgana!" The boy scolded as he returned your pencil.

"Thanks."

When he gave your writing utensil back to you, you discovered that upon closer inspection, he had cherry blossom petals stuck in his hair. His eyes were sharp and held dark grey irises along with long eyelashes. Deciding to stop being a creep, you tried to make some small talk.

"So, is your school closed?"

You expected a casual answer; something along the lines of 'yeah lol its a teacher faculty meeting day' or something like that.

The boy answered without looking up from the book.

"Kinda, my physical education teacher got arrested for harassing minors and abusing students, so they let us out early."

Okay, you didn't expect that.

'what...what the actual heck? Is this guy for real?? Saying that with such a nonchalant expression,' you checked your phone once more, ' and it's only 9:00!'

You slightly feared the adolescent beside you as he didn't even blink when stating the fact.

"What? Did you expect that my school had a faculty meeting?" He saw right through you. "What about you?"

"Uh...No...I just decided to skip...Seems a little underwhelming compared to yours, huh?"

"Yeah, it's a little hard to top my school's shenanigans, little miss delinquent."

You ignored the unnecessary comment.

'What school is he even from?'

You glanced at his uniform.

'Shujin... and a second-year?'

Before you could tell him your school, your alarm goes off, signaling the start of the second period.

"Ah, I should go."

The boy adjusted his glasses and smirked, "Back to class, little Miss delinquent?"

"Don't call me that, Hanabira-san."

"Flower peta-?"

You cut him off by removing one of the flower petals from his hair, rubbing the fragile material betwixt your two fingers.

"The rainy season blows the cherry blossoms away, so it's like it's raining petals. It's quite majestic, isn't it, Hanabira-san? Almost like a scene from a fantasy..."

To your surprise, he gave a chuckle.

"Funny, because another girl told me how she hated the rainy season for the exact same reason, except she didn't find it beautiful."

You took out your clear umbrella once more but had trouble opening it.

"Here."

He opened it with ease, rubbing the salt on the wound.

"Well, thanks, Hanabira-san."

"See ya, Tsuyu-chan."

___

"Tsuyu-chan..."

The name meant 'Morning Dew' in Japanese.

You smiled fondly at the memory as your teachers droned on about capitalism.

'I like it...'

#persona 5 #amamiya ren x reader #akira kurusu x reader #rain #fanfiction #garden #of #words #drama #reader insert

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sugar-coated-saphic · 4 years ago

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Erica Yurken-bisexuality or compulsory heterosexuality (part 1)

(Spoiler warning!)

So I found myself really thinking about this character and this film, and how she interacts with the characters in the film. Namely various women and her designated love interest, Barry Hollis (who wasn’t originally a love interest in the book mind you).

For a while I headcannoned Erica as bisexual, the haircut and especially her interactions with both women and Barry at the time seemed to point to bisexuality. I definitely see Erica as lgbt, she is clearly not straight and I’m not the only one to see this. But then I began to dig a little deeper and analyse a bit more, was it my shipping lenses which made me think she was bi (even if she’s not into him, it was at least a well written and natural relationship progression and Barry seemed to genuinely like her) or was she actually bi? I’m here to analyse that based on what I’ve found.

To start off, the link provided and many others is what I used to base my assumptions on, you can find more by searching compulsory heterosexuality on tumblr. This is the link I’ve used. Within the first 5 minutes of the film, were introduced to miss Belmont, and she asks Erica her name. The children begin to make fun of her and miss Belmont tells them to be quiet, which Erica then tells her, her name. The exchange goes as follows ( 5:14-5:48)

Miss Belmont: “Erica, is a very beautiful name. Do you know that it means great heroine?”

To which Erica then faints and says

Erica (monologueing): “miss Belmont made me feel so special, I was in heaven..”

Very early on its made clear that Erica sees women differently, almost as if she is in love with some and very much enjoys female attention. However, with men this doesn’t seem to be the case, as with the first proper exchange between Erica and Barry (2:18-2:31)

Miss Belmont: “Erica, I know I can rely on you to show Alison around.”

Erica (rather excitedly and enthusiasticly)” sure miss Belmont!”

Enter Barry, who is also in the hall

“Yeah I’ll come too, after Erica gives you the freak show, I’ll show you the good stuff.”

During this, Erica is quick to pull Alison away and ignore him, while Alison seems to show interest in him. Erica is quick to dismiss him however.

Erica: “Alison, this is Barry Hollis. My stalker.”

Also something that’s worth pointing out Is when Alison is first introduced to the class and Is seated next to Erica, not only Erica is constantly staring at Alison once she sits down, but how she describes her (0:30-0:37)

Erica, gazing at Alison with amazement and infatuation (monloguing): Alison ashley was the most exquisite thing you ever saw. It was like she cast a light over everything around her”.

It’s made clear at this point that Erica has a clear interest in women, Alison especially. But Is quite dismissive in regards to men and their advances.

Another romantic interest in women is shown when Alison and Erica are discussing the school she wants to attend (Kyle grammar). The scene goes as follows (here)

Erica (monologueing): “I would have loved to go to a school like that, beautiful girls thinking beautiful thoughts. Was where I belonged.”

Once again, this very much comes off as romantically as opposed to jealousy. She clearly shows interest in women more so then men, speaking of which.

Fast forward to halfway through the film, when the bus breaks down and everyone is forced to get off. It’s been Made clear to the audience that Erica’s aspirations In life are becoming a great actress and a good place for her to start would be the camp play, Romeo and Juliet. Here’s an example of compulsory heterosexuality in the link provided:

“I’m constantly testing my attraction to men. I pick one or more conventionally attractive men in the room, and try to force myself to be attracted to them.”

Let’s see how this scene matches up to the description given (3:39-3:55)

Erica, looking at all the boys standing outside in front of her (monologueing): “ I decided to spend the time casting my Romeo, but things looked bleak they were all such repulsive options. Least Barry Hollis was a tall repulsive option, and there was no other choice for Juliet, was there.”

She then smiles, rather awkwardly, though it’s unclear if it’s forced. Comparing the scene with the example show above, gives off strong vibes that Erica doesn’t actually like Barry, but rather tolerates him. Not even calling him the exception to the rest of the “repulsive options” , instead as the least repulsive option. Like she’s picking whom she can tolerate most rather than feeling actually attraction to someone. Something to note is even though she fantasises about acting in the play Romeo and Juliet, when an actual romantic gesture happens on Barry’s part...Erica’s reaction is quite interesting (8:00-8:17)

Erica is sitting on a bench outside, thinking yo herself (monologueing): “ alisons kimono was perfect, it looked perfect, it felt perfect, just like everything else about her”.

Barry quietly comes up behind her and puts his hand on her shoulder, then leans in to kiss her. Erica responds by standing up, startled and pushes him away.

It’s interesting to note how even with jealousy, Erica still regards Alison as perfect. This scene is interesting, as even with how there has been jealousy towards Alison liking Barry (which I will get to in part 2), once Barry actually makes a move, she gets incredibly uncomfortable and backs off, tying in with another symptom of compulsory heterosexuality

“I like the idea of being with a man, but any time a man makes a move on me I get incredibly uncomfortable.”

When Erica is not dismissive or uncomfortable near Barry Hollis, she can be quite quick tempered with him and physically violent; hitting him when he sneaks up on her private phone call to her mum (4:18-4:24) or slapping him very hard after he upsets her by giving her the harsh reality that she can’t act (2:01) [howver as mentioned in the audio commentary, Barry’s intention was not to humiliate her, but to tell her the harsh reality because he loved her and cared about her to some extent]. Throughout this, even despite the major conflicts Alison and Erica are going through, the attraction to her and women seem to be much more realistic than those to men.

Here is one of the last scenes between her and another woman which is clearly shown to be romantic (save for Erica staring lovingly at Alison towards the end of the film and gently wiping her tear away, as well as helping her and being overall soft and gentle with her).

Erica is sat down at a bus stop, after a confrontation between her and Allison occurs in which she decides its best to give up on her dreams of being an actress and tries to escape camp. She then begins to have her last fantasy sequence in the film, wherein she is laying on a hospital bed and presumable dying, with her fellow teachers playing role of the nurses. Soon in the scene, miss Belmont ( dressed as a nurse) begins to stroke/caress Erica’s hair, while Erica makes this face, blushes and gazes into her eyes.

What’s interesting to note is that this doesn’t actually happen, this is what Erica imagines. She actively thinks about women in a romantic way, and even fantasies about her teacher miss Belmont in a homoerotic way (she might be her teacher but nothing comes of it and it’s one sided-making this not creepy). This seems to very much contrast how she views real interactions with men vs any interaction or view of women, real or in her imagination.

The last moment between Erica and Barry is after the play is finished. There is some small talk before something happens (5:51-5:57)

Barry Hollis: look about the other night...next time, I’m sticking the tongue in (implying he would like to perhaps date her)

Erica then responds with this face

It’s somewhat ambiguous as to how Erica feels about this, the expression on her face is that of a slightly uncomfortable smile or confused genuine delight? With how she has responded to things like this in the past, I feel compelled to agree with the former. One could make the argument that she is only 14, so things like this seem very big for her and mature, and it’s also a possibility.

Conclusion: Erica Yurken gives off many vibes that she may only be interested in women, and that her attraction to men is only a result of compulsory heterosexuality. However I am not done with this topic, tomorrow I will be dabbling into why Erica may be bisexual and discuss those too. Scenes which were purposefully left out here was so I can compare tomorrow and see how they fare. As here I only wanted to focus on compulsory heterosexuality and wlw/same sex attraction

Thank you for listening to my ted talk, I am extremely tired so I’m going to sleep, goodnight. Part 2 will be up sometime tomorrow (this was written 31/8/2020)

#hating alison ashley #robin klein #erica yurken #alison ashley #barry hollis #lesbian #lesbian?#lgbtq+#headcannons #compulsory heterosexuality #comp het #compulsory heteronormativity #lesbian woman #lgbtq community #same sex attraction #same sex relationships #my post

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jacksgreysays · 5 years ago

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Fake Fic Summaries 26/?, the Five Ways Love Hurts edition (2020-04-20)

A/N: I would like to preface this be reiterating the shameful fact that I still have yet to consume any canon BnHA. All of my knowledge is entirely from fanfiction, the occasional wiki-ing, and various meta analysis posts.

I mean... I don't think that really matters considering these are all fake AU/recursive ship fics, but I just feel like it's something I should warn people about?

Anyway, here we go!

1) clockwork hearts (the too many gears remix)

Or, when you're in love with an android because he's so human, but that android loves some other human entirely...

... and that other human hates your beloved android because he's not the real thing.

Aka, I read clockwork hearts by OneshotPrincess and thought to myself, how do I make this beautiful and sweet fic dramatic and sad? Throw some Bakugou into the mix!

Okay, so, I would highly recommend the fic--it's beautiful and sweet and pretty quick and also this next bit is spoiler-y/won't matter much if you haven't read it.

Anyway, clockwork hearts is a TodoDeku fic in which Izuku is an android, and Todoroki is a rich boy completely enamored by this android who seems so human.

And while I cannot say whether or not it's because the android IS based off a human Izuku in the original fic, I can say that's the situation in this little brainstorm because what if that was true? And so because android Izuku is based on human Izuku that would mean android Izuku loves (whether platonically or romantically) Bakugou.

But that means Bakugou knows (and maybe loves?) the human Izuku so android Izuku is like... a despicable artificial mockery in his eyes.

So I guess first I have to figure out what the BakuxHuman!Izuku side of this fic would be--like, is who/why does Human!Izuku have an android version of him? Is he in some way incapacitated or or missing/presumed dead or actually dead?--and then, second, I would have to figure how the TodoxAndroid!Izuku path crosses with the BakuxHuman!Izuku path.

I mean, if Human!Izuku is missing then maybe Android!Izuku has the clues to find him so Bakugou is like "hey, I need your shitty robot to find my [beloved] childhood friend" to Todoroki because he doesn't even think of Android!Izuku as being sentient and Todoroki's just like, wtf no, but Android!Izuku does kind of love Bakugou and is just like. "He needs my help! Even if it's to find Human!me."

And then it becomes a begrudging trio road trip to either a) find Human!Izuku or b) give Bakugou closure on Human!Izuku's death PLUS c) fall in love???

I just love drama!

2) Becoming Real (not too shabby)

Katsuki has long ago put away his childish things, but Izuku's not one for giving up.

Or, in which Izuku is one of Katsuki's childhood toys and wants to become Real.

(aka, a Velveteen Rabbit/Pinocchio AU)

Vaguely reminiscent to the above brainstorm, although I don't know if this would be weird to make romantic or not. Given the whole Izuku starts as one of Katsuki's childhood toys and all.

I'm trying to figure out in this journey to become real, if Katsuki's life is just normal BnHA world (minus Izuku as a human) so he goes to UA and there are quirks etc etc. Because that would mean I couldn't make some of the other toys/beings on Izuku's journey to Realism be the Dekusquad. Like. The idea of Iida and Uraraka and Tsuyu as other toys/Jiminy Cricket equivalents trying to help/guide/keep Izuku from doing something nuts is very fun. But then would that mean they're not in class 1-A anymore? Or is this a weird Wizard of Oz situation? Or are the League of Villains obstacles for Izuku instead of being actual Villains ruining the UA students' lives?

Or... is this somehow a Izuku is actually human with a quirk but long ago something happened to Inko so he turned himself into a toy as a weird quirk defense mechanism and Katsuki took him home and both of them/just Izuku forgot how to turn back? So the answer all along is to get to Aizawa? ... but that one's kinda weird and horrifying, so I'm going to say no.

I don't know, I just thought. Velveteen Rabbit = Izuku was easy to connect but there's not much of a plot to follow through on?

3) Bakugou Katsuki's Guide To House Husbandry and Domestic Bliss

It's just a Way of the House Husband AU but with retired pro hero Ground Zero instead of a former yakuza. That's it.

Weirdly enough I have more semi-angsty backstory for this fluffy nonsense than actual fluffy nonsense, presumably because I was trying to figure out a feasible set up for the fluffy nonsense? So it's something like:

When Izuku and Katsuki are six years old, they are attacked by a villain made of sludge.

This is after Izuku's quirk has failed to appear, after he has been branded as quirkless and useless, but before the words become pointed and suffocating and bitter.

This is after Katsuki fell and Izuku leaped after him hand outstretched, after a false sense of inequality has been wedged between them, but before it can permanently shape a dynamic of confused conflict.

This is after their lives have been tied together, for better and worse, but before it can be horrendously tangled and frayed.

When Izuku and Katsuki are six years old, they are attacked by a villain made of sludge and saved by the number one hero All Might--it changes both everything and nothing of their futures lives.

Because Katsuki will turn this horror into determination, will become a hero that always wins--and better than All Might, he vows, staring wide-eyed at the curled form of his best friend in All Might's arms as he run, run, runs to the hospital. And Izuku will still help people with all he can give, even quirkless and one hand short.

And two decades later, as they move in together, this still stays the same: Katsuki is far and away the better house husband.

... and it's basically Izuku is some kind of engineer/doctor/physical therapist and at the top of his industry same as Katsuki who is Ground Zero and who is on some kind of injury related sabbatical and who has decided to be the Best House Husband ever.

I had some more thoughts about how, even though Izuku still admires All Might and doesn't at all blame him for the loss of his hand, that his mentor/goal in this world is the engineer/doctor/physical therapist that helped child Izuku with his prosthetic (and I came up with a name and a non-work related quirk for them, too, Akahana Tonakai who can make their nose glow and that's it. Quirks do not make them great, etc. etc.) And also some angst about how the hand that Izuku lost was the hand that he reach out to Katsuki when they were younger (should've take it when you had the chance!! he sometimes thinks, before shaking that thought away)

I don't have anything concrete tho, so... that's it.

4) Legend of... ???

Power, Wisdom, Courage...

Even without the great calamity, the princess of legend, or the hero of time, the triforce still remains in Hyrule waiting for those who would wield them.

Or, Katsuki was always going to be a hero, he just has no idea what to about with the weird forest spirit that has the other half of his sword.

Basically... Deku = Deku Tree from Legend of Zelda? Not that Izuku is that big old tree, but, like, maybe he was raised in the forest? Maybe it's the only name that non-forest dwellers know? I don't know. I've literally only played Breath of the Wild and, like, 20% of Majora's Mask so... the lore is not strong in me.

I kind of had an idea of, like, mixing the "canon Fantasy!AU" (which is, frankly, bewildering that that's a term that both applies and makes sense) but I don't really know the full lore of that either? I mean, maybe All Might was a powerful hero who had managed to unite all three pieces of the TriForce (at expense to his health) and when his sword was split in two and one ended up with Katsuki while the other was SUPPOSED to be waiting for its other half in the forest protected by the Deku Tree but instead Izuku was like. Hey. I can wield this to protect people and off he went and now it's kind of this chasing me, chasing you type adventure?

I was also trying to figure out the whole Power = Bakugou, Courage = Izuku, Wisdom = ??? thing. Because while I would normally be like, ah, yes, the Big Three would be Bakugou, Izuku, and Todoroki, I wouldn't necessarily say Todoroki is Wisdom? So... *shrugs*

5) i dream of flowers (the always fading remix)

Or, how to take a yearningly sweet and slightly melancholy fic and turn that sad dial up to eleven!

This would be a real sad remix of i dream of flowers (and they're always sad) by Seeress

The idea I have is going to be spoiler-y and it's not worth the spoiler so PLEASE read that first. Trust me, it's worth it. Actually, all of Seeress' fic is so *chef's kiss* if you're into BakuDeku. Anyway, the rest of the brainstorm is under the cut so as not to violate spoilers.

I really just wanted to lean on that ANGSTIER AMNESIA. So the remix is more... in which they can only be together when Bakugou is "Ground Zero" because Izuku's brain is literally incapable of holding memories of "Bakugou Katsuki" after the hanahaki surgery. So not only did the surgery cause retrograde amnesia (in that, all of Izuku's memories of Katsuki were taken out along with his feelings) it also causes anterograde amnesia in that, Izuku can't form new memories surrounding the person he knows as "Bakugou Katsuki." Kind of like a vaccine... or, so as to maintain the flower vibe/analogy, it's like selective herbicide.

BUT (and here's where it gets deliciously angsty) he can still form memories of the hero "Ground Zero" he just can't connect that Ground Zero = Bakugou Katsuki. Which is especially fun given that in the original fic they meet up again and Ground Zero is trying to reconnect with/date Izuku. It's not quite the level of Fifty First Dates, because Izuku CAN keep memories of Ground Zero (and like in the original fic, Izuku has been a fan of Ground Zero for a couple of years) it's just whenever Katsuki tries to say his real name that the memories/connections fail to form. Like the two identities must be kept compartmentalized. So they can have a perfectly functional relationship so long as Katsuki only ever stays Ground Zero to him.

I don't know how to get to a resolution though, or if there even is one? Because on the one hand, I guess I would love Katsuki mildly suffering in order to be with Izuku for infinity, but Izuku is also real smart and I feel like even amnesia wouldn't stop him and he's not really one to be stuck in a dilemma when he can just resolve it through sheer force of will... *shrugs*

#jacksgreyson #boku no hero academia #izuku midoriya #katsuki bakugou #shouto todoroki #fake fic summaries #brainstorm #links #rant #bakudeku #tododeku #fic remix

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those-pink-specs · 5 years ago

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So, um, yeah … I finally finished my great long rave about the Klámstrákur video … make of it what you will …

Maybe this is a load of hot garbage, but my starting point was what they’ve said about self-image and toxic masculinity.

But I reckon that if your toxic masculinity shows up in a latex crop-top and corset, there’s probably something interesting going on.

I had a quiet Sunday a couple of weeks ago, so I watched it really, really slowly and overthought the hell out of it.

Sssooo … tl;dr (because the bit after the cut is really long).

What if ..

· the lighting and colours (and costumes) have consistent meaning, and are part of the storytelling?

· it’s basically all an attack of angst in a bathroom: an internal power struggle with no clear winner?

· everyone who appears is part of that person’s own psyche (except Einar, who is a memory)?

I’m definitely not saying that any of my thoughts are a ‘right’ interpretation, or especially original for that matter. It was just fun to fit all the bits into a nice pattern that makes sense – at least to me.

[Even I’m quite surprised by how much I had to say about this in the end...]

Klámstrákur

The toxic-masculinity-in-a-corset interpretation

*TW: low key for discussion about anxiety and gender angst. Nothing heavy, but, hey, I know how easy they can be to set off at times …*

So, this thing is Art and it can mean basically anything you want it to.

Most people see a narrative around sex work. The lyrics make it hard to get away from, in fact (though could be a metaphor for queerness – but never mind that). Anyhow, while I agree that sex work is the background, in my overthinky way, I don’t think the song is about that, precisely.

I like to overlay it with the idea that the two voices are the same person, and we’re mostly having a tour through his angst. This works okayish for the song on its own, but it’s much better in the video (or so I think).

Anyhow, we start in the bathroom. The scene is saturated in a deep, velvety red light. (I’m going to talk about lighting a lot.) A choir hums gently in the background. Our lad stumbles in, washes his face and has one of those ‘is that really me?’ moments in the mirror.

He shakes his head, as though trying to dispel bad thoughts – and that’s where we immediately go … and stay.

Bad thoughts.

We get a flash of Einar alone in a theatre. Then three nearly subliminal flashes of Matthías as we see him at the end. Only with his head in hands like this:

(Sorry for the shitty screen shot. Perfect gifs of this bit do exist, just not here.)

This has got to mean something, surely. It’s not there by accident. I pause to mention it now, but I’ll come back to it later…

00:25 – … on stage…

A curtain brushes aside and we’re on stage. My interpretation is that the stage is his perception of the outside world and/or memory of the recent past.

Why? Because that’s where Einar is – and it’s the only place we see him. Einar is the only ‘outside’ person we see. So he’s being recalled and thought about as an audience. It’s a perfect metaphor for playing a role, as the outside world looks on. As I flippantly said on another post – Einar is the ‘male gaze’ on this rather ambiguous body. (I wrote it as a weird academic joke [‘male gaze’ is a feminist art theory thing], then went … oh wait … what if he is?)

And then … there’s that red light bathing everything in the theatre. I think the red represents (or reinforces) a concept. Possibly desire … for sex, sexuality, submission, androgynous or feminine expression … money, whatever – anything except the accepted norm for a nice cis-het bloke, basically.

We’re just 26 seconds in at this point – and our lad is recalling stripping off and dancing on his pole for Male Gaze Einar. But the recollection is starting to make him feel guilty, ashamed, anxious and sick (or just more so than he already was). He starts to panic, and think he’s dying – as you do. But he’s not really dying: it’s anxiety.

His thoughts start to circle. There’s a nightmarish hospital trolley – that he’s literally chained into (perhaps by the anxiety if we want to really push the metaphor – or at least by those serious-looking girls in catsuits). And then there’s the theatre where he’s dancing like the sinful, slinky mink he accuses himself of being.

The first time we see the trolley (at 0:59), it’s in a blue corridor –the first real change from the red – but as the other three in the scene approach, the trolley swings slowly back into a red corridor. Then, just as we get to the end of the intro … ég sé að deya (1:16)… back onto stage.

Don’t worry – I’m not going through the whole thing this slowly. In fact, for the first verse – where we’re hearing about what a degraded, weak little smut addict he considers himself to be – it’s mostly visual escalation. We cut between him being strapped tighter into the trolley in the red corridor, the stage, and a few shots of Male Gaze Einar starting to look … frisky…

At the end of the verse, it’s crisis time, because we get our first, momentous: Þú ert klámstrákur!!! … and so enters Matthías properly.

He’s mostly lit with blue. He’s wearing some very important pink specs (ahem) and a lab coat. And he is most certainly playing the part of ‘toxic masculinity’ as in internalised shame, guilt, and a self-hating need to conform to society’s expectations of maleness. He’s a part of our pole dancer’s psyche, though. Not someone else shouting at him: just his own desire to be someone else, to be another way. To be in control of himself. To not be gay or gender-bendy or a pole dancer … or whatever.

So I see something implied in the settings and lighting: red scenes, desire and immersion in the klámstrákur lifestyle; blue scenes, self-loathing and a need to control, purify and conform. And it’s a real tussle with … I think … no clear winner.

01:45 … The spin out

I particularly like the next little bit.

Don’t look now, but between one bellow from Matthías and the next, we’re back on stage. And Einar has got a bit over-excited and is clambering over the seats. As in a dream, the pole has transformed into a chair full of pole dancer, and in one of the most memorable snippets, we get fingers tenderly/sexily making their way down Klemens’s chest.

Let’s enjoy a crappy screen shot of that for no reason at all:

[… oh my …]

And then that fabulous chair spin from the red stage to the blue clinic room (screen shots do not do it justice, so please just replay that bit in your head … I’ll wait …)

… Now how about this?

When he stumbled into the bathroom at the start – he was just starting to get anxious. And that bit with Einar was what set him off. Desire for some stranger. A touch. Something too gay or too … something … for his self-loathing part to handle. He panics, spins out and goes into cold self-hatred (blue clinic) needing to regain control, and to conform and purify.

And from the two minute mark – right through the next bit of verse where he lists all the things that ‘sometimes’ happen – that’s what’s going on. The list maybe be factual, or his fantasies, or angsty exaggeration, or some of each. It doesn’t matter, he seems to think he needs or deserves the treatment he’s getting, and submits to it wholly, like a góður drengur.

But – as I said at the start, that toxic masculinity in control of the situation is dressed a wee bit less masculine than you might expect. I mean – when you think about gender-panicky homophobes IRL, you don’t usually think latex crop-top and corset. But maybe it’s more about domination and control. This is the part of the psyche that seeks and exerts those things – so dominatrix chic may be just the ticket.

Anyhow, he’s bathed in the purity of that blue light, busily head-massaging away the gay, while screaming at himself for being filthy and disgusting.

[This is so fucking camp … why am I like this?]

02:30 – ambiguity – or who’s the anxious one here anyhow?

From here on, things get really ambiguous and therefore really interesting.

New setting: this is a chamber with a nice pole in it, and windows so the Matthías character (now in a nice fluffy red coat that just screams ‘pimp’) and the serious girls in catsuits can watch at a safe distance.

And our pole-dancing boy is released from captivity for observation. And what happens then?

This …

Followed by this …

This little backward glance. An implied moment of eye contact.

What do you see? Is porn boy anxious? Unsure? Obedient?

Well, maybe.

But I like my queer boys a bit bolshy, so I see defiance. A look that says: ‘Think you can control me? Well game on, bitch.’

Because he really goes for it on the pole after that. Surely that lightning-quick crotch grab at 02:43, when he’s being called ógeðslegur karlmaður is a very clear ‘fuck you’!

[Really though?

Well why not?]

It’s easy to listen to the Eurosonic version and hear the Klemens voice suffer and panic, and just assume that he’s a victim. There’s no real story line to the lyrics, but the Matthías voice gets the last word, so we naturally suppose that our poor little filthy boy is somehow lost, or fighting a losing battle for survival.

But to me, the video evens things up a lot.

One of the reasons that I thought that both voices might be the one person even just in the live versions, was that the name-calling is so over-the top it seems kinda panicky. The video reinforces that – with the shouty voice being so obviously controlling. And the need to control is an anxious need. Internalised homophobia as a fear. So, Mr Shouty in the crop-top is as much an embodiment of anxiety as the filthy boy. Maybe more.

Because if they’re both inside the head of a lad having a panic attack in a bathroom, then it’s Mr Shouty who has caused it. He (Matthías) desperately needs to control his impulses (Klemens), maybe because he’s afraid of what will happen if he doesn’t.

[Does that make sense? I hope that makes sense to someone besides me.]

Anyhow … back to the action … it’s game on, and the next bit (02:45 to 03:00) is a lot of shouting about filth and a whole lot of arse.

Uhm …

[well … quite …]

The battle pushes to-and-fro until we’re suddenly back here:

What is this? Opening his pores? Who knows, but it’s a very cool effect. It definitely looks like punishment/purification (so very like opening one’s pores). The light is blue – just as hard and bright as before. No red in sight (there was a lot of red in the observation chamber – such was the power of the filthy boy’s wiggles). So control is seriously asserting itself again.

The struggle is real.

Now, from 3:02 – the really difficult bit – the couch:

The couch is long and low, lit blue and red at opposite ends with a homoerotic / bondage picture partly obscured by curtains. What does it signify?

The messages are really mixed, even just with Mr Shouty. He’s in his pimp coat screaming about his disgust, sometimes lit blue sometimes red – but he’s got filthy boy by the leash now.

So what is it? He hates himself, but he kinda gets off on being a slinky-mink pole dancer? It’s the same mixed message as the clinic outfit: ‘I’m your need to be a normal bloke – but I’m rocking this crop-top and corset look.’

Well … at risk of overdoing it by trying to fit everything together too neatly – what if the couch bits are about balance? Getting over the attack with a little give and take between the warring selves. Or something like that.

In the last minute, the war between clinic and pole is fierce – with interludes of couch.

When we see the couch we also see:

Porn boy’s leash being held, him dancing obediently and wearing more clothes. So less impulsive – under some control. The purifying ‘treatment’ has worked a bit. Pores cleansed.

Control freak still shouting but, as I said, he’s not looking like a dominatrix anymore – more like a pimp. So arguably, he’s secretly enjoying porn boy’s show while calling it filthy and disgusting. I think that’s the point – which I guess means that toxic masculinity also makes one a moralising hypocrite (‘that type: making a scene’ – though that’s not the official translation, sadly!). However, for now he seems comfortable watching – and he’s no longer trying so hard to control his filthy-boy self.

But, of course, the war isn’t over. How could it ever be, for an androgynous pole dancer with internalised homophobia and gender panic?

[Sounds horrible and I don’t recommend it. Just be a happy slinky mink and a cheeky sinful seal, that’s my advice.]

So lastly …

This whole emotional-breakdown-in-a-bathroom theory would have been greatly assisted if we had even the tiniest throwback to the bathroom right at the end. But we (probably) don’t.

What we have instead, however, is a throw forward from those flashes of Matthías on the couch at 0:24 (I said I’d come back to that!). If I’m even vaguely right, then those flashes show the balance breaking down. The visual is of Matthías’s shouty half of the psyche – head in hands. What’s he feeling?

Our pole-dancing lad is staring at himself in the mirror at that moment, thinking of that excited audience member. His inner control freak, who had been moderately at ease with the dancing, and sitting on his comfy couch, is suddenly overwhelmed by guilt and flickers into breakdown … and it begins where it ends.

So it’s a cycle. Maybe.

Or maybe this is a load of hot garbage.

#endless rumination on music videos #hatari #also i enjoy overthinking things so this is basically catnip to me #seriously this is how i enjoy myself with good content #klámstrákur #i've been threatening to do this for a while haven't i?#well i finally when and did it #hot garbage #with sprinkles

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bts-ficrecs · 6 years ago

Text

So I’ve read quite a lot of stories ever since my re-entering the fanfic community (after 3420 years) and I’ve reblogged a lot of them to remember and recommend as well. And of course, like with all things, there are some special ones that slithered their way into the crevices of my heart. These are the stories that my mind comes back to every once in a while. These are the stories that made me laugh, cry, yell, and blush - all times 3000. Yes I went there. Cry with me.

These are the stories I hold dear :“) I hope anyone who happens upon this post enjoys the stories I listed below just as much as I did (and still do).

I will update whenever I find a new favorite!! :”) Also be forewarned, there are over 40 fics under the cut 😅😂❤

➢ Butterfingers by @seokkbuns ⠀ ✎ Summary: He had you at the very first pebble he gave you. ⠀ ▸ fluff, hybrid AU, teacher AU ⠀⸙ notes: i. swear. to. glob. this. is. the. most. ADORABLE. STORY YOU WILL EVER READ !!!!!!!111111 I am absolutely smitten and refuse to shut up about it!!! Just. GO READ IT!!!! Cute and clumsy teacher!! Who loves kids!! I just cannot deal.

➢ Duck and Cover by @versigny ⠀✎ Summary: There were two things you never dreamed would become your biggest worries with your new job: Kim Namjoon, and that god damn camera. ⠀ ▸ fluff, idol AU ⠀⸙ notes: absolute fluff. minor angst. secret relationships~~ ooh la la

➢ For All The Petals by @rosaetae ⠀✎ Summary: A story in which you met him in the spring, fell in love with him in the summer, but he left you in autumn and how you missed him in the winter. ⠀⠀▸ angst ⠀⸙ notes: AUHGHHAKJGRL you don't know how many tears i spilled reading this. does soft heart ache even exist???!? like. it wasn't a punch-in-your-gut kind of attack but more like a i’ll-tell-you-i-love-you-every-day-and-then-disappear-forever like of attack..... hahahaha wow now that i think about it, that hurts even more than a punch in the gut. lmao. good luck with the emotions when you read this!

➢ Intro: Her by @jamaisjoons ⠀✎ Summary: You enter Namjoon’s life in the most unexpected of ways, but will you be able to stay, especially when he comes with three adorable but chaotic children, even more chaotic best friends and a bitch of an ex-wife? Not to mention your own emotional baggage. ⠀⠀▸ fluff, angst, smut, ongoing series ⠀⸙ notes: I fell in love with the characters and the story line so fast. And so will you.

➢ Obligated by @underthejoon ⠀✎ Summary: Married by obligation, weighed down by circumstance. Except for those nights when you’re both drunk, falling into bed with one another and realizing you’re human. Occasionally this happens, occasionally you fuck. Until your life changes and you realize Namjoon, the very man you’re obligated to, might just be the very man that you crave. ⠀⠀▸ angst, smut, fluff, arranged marriage AU

➢ Out of The Ordinary by @njhsmoon ⠀✎ Summary: One of your mage students is extremely gifted and her human father is beyond overwhelmed so you take it upon yourself to tutor her outside of school. ⠀⠀▸ fluff, mage AU, teacher AU, single parent AU ⠀⸙ notes: SOBS. I JUST. I LOVE THIS TOO MUCH. can you imagine a human Namjoon extremely overwhElmed with his magical little girl with no one to help him!! and then a magical woman teacher appears and! saves the day!! and his life!! askjfaef YO UWILL LOVE THIS I RPOMISE YOU. OK OK ALSO THERE’S A DRABBLE FOR THIS CUTE ASS FIC!!! READ IT!!!!!

➢ Pages of Petals by @sodoyouknowbts ⠀✎ Summary: A change in the weather stirs a sweet encounter between a florist and a bookshop owner, where one begins to learn the language of flowers. ⠀⠀▸ fluff ⠀⸙ notes: soft namjoon + flowers. what more could you ask for? asaskdjflka <333333

➢ The Take Home Test by @versigny ⠀✎ Summary: In which your mission to deliver homework to Kim Namjoon goes very, very, wrong. ⠀⠀⠀➥ 3 extra drabbles ⠀⠀▸ dirty smut, college AU ⠀⸙ notes: IT'S DIRTY. BEWARE THE ARMPITS.

➢ Through the Phone by @imaginethisbts ⠀✎ Summary: The sexual frustration is real when Namjoon goes on a month long business trip, halfway across the world. So when the chips are down and the tides get rough, and you can’t actually get to one another… what do you do? You go to the next best thing of course - phone sex. ⠀⠀▸ smut, smidgen of fluff ⠀⸙ notes: i’ll just say one thing. and that is that i love it when random moments of fluffy romance happens after the dirty :”)

➢ Tigerboy by @joonbird ⠀✎ Summary: You, a docile rabbit hybrid, have been waiting a long time to meet the mysterious tiger hybrid, Kim Namjoon. ⠀⠀▸ smut, hybrid AU

➢ Try Me by @jjkfire ⠀✎ Summary: You wanted nothing more than to leave behind your old self when you graduated from high school and moved on to college to play rugby but when you see your high school classmate, resident fuckboy and captain, Kim Namjoon, at the rugby department orientation, you feel like everything might fall apart. ⠀⠀▸ fluff, rugby AU, ongoing series

➢ By Your Side by @sodoyouknowbts ⠀✎ Summary: Jin is somewhat arrogant, overly confident and a tease. All the things you find infuriating in a man and he also happens to be your roommate. It’s a wonder how you two can live together without killing each other…but it’s not like you’re anything more than friends. Right? ⠀⠀▸ fluff, angst, smut, roommate AU, complete series ⠀⸙ notes: UM. this was so incredibly amazing and heart wrenching and frustrating to read. hahahaha. the friendship dynamic that changed over time throughout this series was incredible to read. both characters had a lot of growing up to do and grow up they did. i enjoyed every moment of it.

➢ Edge of Tomorrow by @thedefinitionofbts

⠀✎ Summary: No matter the amount of rain that falls, what the unrelenting darkness erases, or how many times we are reverted back to the past, I’ll definitely save you. ⠀⠀▸ angst

➢ Ephemeral by @donewithjeon ⠀✎ Summary: As your eyes fluttered open, you were met with a familiar white ceiling and the sound of steady beeping coming from beside you. A quick scan of the surroundings confirmed your suspicions—you were in a hospital room. ⠀⠀▸ ANGST, patient AU ⠀⸙ notes: I almost never reread things much less sob each time that I do. I wish I was exaggerating lmao this fic makes me such a crybaby. It's great. I love pain <|:o)))) [insert clown meme]

➢ Let Me Be Yours by @glassbangtan ⠀✎ Summary: How did people just get into relationships? Friends getting married at such young ages, inviting you to weddings left, right and centre – it definitely left room for you to feel like shit about your own love life. After getting stood up, you decide to treat yourself – and it is during this coping-shopping spree that you come across a fellow lonely person like yourself, Kim Seokjin. ⠀⠀▸ angst, fluff ⠀⸙ notes: This fic just... hits a different way than all the others listed here. I relate a lot to this story. That’s all I can really say. This is special to me.

➢ Long Live The King by @remembeo ⠀✎ Summary: Long live the King, and may he reign forever more. ⠀⠀▸ smut, angst, fluff, fantasy AU, prince AU

➢ Off Limits by @floralseokjin ⠀✎ Summary: You’ve been lusting after your brother’s best friend for a while now, ever since you met him at a house party, flirting it up a storm as you failed to realise who the other was. That was months ago now and things are still awkward, but you can’t ignore the sexual tension that’s simmers between the two of you…and it keeps getting worse… ⠀⠀▸ smut, angst, fluff, complete series ⠀⸙ notes: you want PAIN? you want NASTY? you want FUZZIES? this series has got it ALL i tell you!!!!! adfhklafh yeah. i . yeah. do yourself a favor and just read it.

➢ Sehnsucht by @johobi ⠀✎ Summary: An embarrassing run-in with your new boss is only the start of your destructive infatuation. ⠀⠀▸ smut ⠀⸙ notes: W H E W !!!!!111

➢ Seven Seconds in Heaven by @jimlingss ⠀✎ Summary: In the moment of your death, Heaven drops the hammer of punishment; making him travel back in time to relive memories that can never be changed. Seven memories. Seven minutes in each. Seven seconds before they are ripped away. ⠀⠀▸ angst, fluff, little bit of smut ⠀⸙ notes: WOW. YEAH. TALK ABOUT GETTING A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE. UUMMMM. I don't want to say anything else in case I spill the beans so I'll leave it at that. Read it.

➢ The Leather Loafers by @jimlingss ⠀✎ Summary: Yes. You went to the ball. Yes. You ran into the prince. Yes. The shoe fits. BUT-! You aren’t that Cinderella bitch. THEY’VE GOT THE WRONG PERSON! ⠀⠀▸ fluff, Cinderella AU ⠀⸙ notes: yeah...there's some crack involved but c'mon. it's Jin we're talking about. minor angst. Great adventure :"))

➢ Untimely Confessions by @jjungkooked ⠀✎ Summary: Your friendly neighbor finds his way into your (very unsocial) heart. ⠀⠀▸ fluff, neighbor AU ⠀⸙ notes: CUTE NEIGHBOR AU WHat more can I say TTT0TTT

➢ Untitled by @oh-hey-tae ⠀✎ Summary: It's been a week since you last talked, three since you saw him in person. You miss him terribly... so you call him despite your nerves. ⠀⠀▸ fluff ⠀⸙ notes: when i first read this, i was in incredible need for a soft jin fic. and this was it. this is it. an incredibly soft jin fic. giving him. ALL. THE. LOVE. HE. DESERVES.

➢ Burn by @dreamscript ⠀✎ Summary: Love is a powerful force; You and Yoongi defy nature itself and burn down the barriers. ⠀⠀▸ angst, fantasy AU ⠀⸙ notes: don't let the short length mistake you into thinking it's not gonna hurt. because. it's. gonna. HURT .

➢ Cobalt and Charcoal by @tayegi ⠀✎ Summary: In just ten minutes, he has ruined everything that you and Yoongi have worked for in the past year. It's terrifying to realize that a stranger could have such an impact on you so quickly... except he's no stranger. He's your other half. The only person who will ever own your heart. ⠀⠀▸ smut, angst, soulmate AU, feat. Jungkook

➢ Intoxicating by @versigny ⠀✎ Summary: You go clubbing and get drunk to spite your annoying, stonecold roommate. ⠀⠀▸ angsty fluff, roommate AU ⠀⸙ notes: se xual tens ion + drunken mistakes. that's all i gotta say.

➢ Jilt by @taesthetes ⠀✎ Summary: Forever was only temporary. ⠀⠀▸ angst ⠀⸙ notes: don’t underestimate short fics.

➢ Koi No Yokan by @oh-hey-tae ⠀✎ Summary: The boy on the bus could work on his bedside manners. ⠀⠀▸ fluff, idol AU ⠀⸙ notes: discovering this fic was an absolute MIRACLE. i swear to glob. i'm so glad i went hunting for this fic after finding out the person i originally read it from was an imposter. and then i got to shower the true writer with loving words. and this story definitely deserves so many loving words.

➢ Miss Dial by @versigny ⠀✎ Summary: [11:31] You: okay so i’m texting you now like I promised instead of drunktexting yoongi and telling him how badly i want his cock tonight. Arent you proud? [11:32] unknown number: this is yoongi, hi ⠀⠀▸ smut, fluff, university AU, ongoing series ⠀⸙ notes: //CCOOUGGHHSSS// THIS. This is the fic. My baby. I'm so freaking attached. This. Is the story that basically started it all for me. I had only just started dipping my toes back into the world of fanfics when I encountered this. And wow did I get pulled in so quickly. It holds title for many firsts. I have so much affection for this series and I will for sure shed a lot of tears when it ends. My forever favorite. I love you Kappy and Nat for having brought this to life.

➢ Monochrome by @chimchimicorn ⠀✎ Summary: The world is black and white until you meet your true love. ⠀⠀▸ angst, soulmate AU ⠀⸙ notes: this is not a Tumblr fic but a story posted on ARMY Amino (ARA). No worries, you don’t need an account to read it! ⠀⸙ notes: it will hurt.

➢ Play With Me by @thatonegirl ⠀✎ Summary: Your world is breaking and you and Yoongi struggle to push through the pain. ⠀⠀▸ angst ⠀⸙ notes: another story found on ARA

➢ Please Be Naked by @floralseokjin ⠀✎ Summary: You find it’s easy to become addicted to a distraction… ⠀⠀▸ smut, angst, fluff, complete series

➢ Candy Hearts by @puppetwritings ⠀✎ Summary: He starts dropping candy hearts on your desk. ⠀⠀▸ fluff

➢ Delicate by @bluesxde ⠀✎ Summary: After being effectively dumped by your fuck-buddy, your attention is unexpectedly drawn towards your womanizing friend and fellow dance major, Hoseok. ⠀⠀▸ smut, angst, fluff, college AU, fuckboy/fuckgirl AU, friends with benefits AU ⠀⸙ extra notes: what a ride. *wink wonk* i loved on this story so much. i have a weak spot for fwb!AUs. and y/n constantly trying to! pull! him! in! and! him! constantly! trying! to! resist! the danger. the fun. spicy~ i love this story so very much.

➢ Fetish by @versigny ⠀✎ Summary: Hoseok is the sweetest boyfriend. Even in bed. But you want him to be more dominant. So you tell him. ⠀⠀▸ fluffy smut ⠀⸙ extra notes: the fluff is so overpowering I barely paid attention to the sex. But the sex was still great 👀

➢ Misconceptions by @yoongihime ⠀✎ Summary: In which your roommate bails out on you last minute and you’re forced to share an apartment with this gorgeous a f human but, no worries, he’ll never see you that way… right? ⠀⠀▸ fluff ⠀⸙ notes: s e x u a l t e n s i o n .

➢ Transference by @jeonjagiya ⠀✎ Summary: During a routine visit to the local bakery, you stumble upon an intriguing business card and figure, what the hell. ⠀⠀▸ smut, angst, therapist AU, complete series ⠀⸙ extra notes: the Hoseok series that took BTS Tumblr by storm, lol. And for good reason!! The character development!! The rawness and vulnerability from both characters! The naughty goodness! Just wowowow, a great Hoseok series that definitely deserves the hype it received :')))

➢ Written on Our Veins by @army-author ⠀✎ Summary: You and Hoseok are sick of spending the holidays soulmate-less while your friends enjoy Christmas as couples… tired of waiting for fate to make a move, you decide to take matters into your own hands. ⠀⠀▸ fluff, angst, soulmate AU, complete series ⠀⸙ extra notes: if you want a story that will give you lovely feels and then RIP IT AWAY FROM YOU only to give it back (with extra goodies), this is the story for you :") I absolutely enjoyed watching Hoseok and Y/N get themselves into what they thought would be innocent fun for the holidays only to find out that maybe... it wasn’t such a good idea... but maybe it was? :”)))))

➢ Azure Blue by @jimlingss ⠀✎ Summary: You set off on a journey only to be joined by Jimin: the boy with elegant, azure blue wings. ⠀⠀▸ fluff

➢ Beneath the Water by @jungshookz ⠀✎ Summary: His legs were sparkling. You looked up from his face slowly and towards his legs, your head tilting in confusion when you were met with the sight of… well, it certainly wasn’t a pair of legs. What the fuck? ⠀⠀▸ fluff, smidgen of smut, mermaid AU ⠀⸙ extra notes: I think this was my first mermaid AU?@?@?@ but oh my goossshhhhh asdfj;alje yeah. that’s all I can really say. I’m in love with mermaid Jimin. I thirst for morrre from this AU afaaa;kls don’t mind me as I spazz all over my keyboard once more :’))))

➢ Cordially, Jimin by @kpopfanfictrash ⠀✎ Summary: When you start work in your new office, the last thing you expect is a distraction. Especially not one as cute, witty and impossible to handle as Park Jimin. A story told through correspondence. ⠀⠀▸ fluff

➢ Desires by @nightbts ⠀✎ Summary: It wasn’t your place to worry for him, you shouldn’t, it wasn’t good for you. But since the day you saw him that hurt, you couldn’t help it. ⠀⠀▸ angst, fluff, bad boy AU ⠀⸙ notes:

➢ The Blue Notebooks by @inktae ⠀✎ Summary: You meet Park Jimin after a particularly rough landing. ⠀⠀▸ angst, fluff, time traveler AU ⠀⸙ extra notes: I didn't think a fanfic could affect me so much. Even now as I write this, without having to reread to refresh my mind, my heart thumps painfully. It feels like I only read this a few days ago. It's one of those stories that doesn't rip your entire heart out in one go but slowly tears a few slivers out and continues to do so even when you're done reading. The pain is never ending. No, no one dies. No, there isn't an ugly break up. It's one of those "what if" stories. To me, anyway. I can't reveal anything more or else I'll spill the story lol I don't know what's up with this fic. But I'm never ok when I think about this story. My rambling doesn't do this story justice. Just read it.

➢ Away From the Sun by @inktae ⠀✎ Summary: You leave your home in search of your brother.. in search of answers.. but you end up making a slight detour. ⠀⠀▸ angst, fluff, soulmate AU ⠀⸙ extra notes: this was. a. journey. i kid you not. 20k story. i lived every moment of this - that's how good the story is. i felt the respect and fondness y/n felt for the eccentric taehyung. i felt the confusion of the "what next?" phase in y/n's life. i felt that hard. an amazing story beyond romance.

➢ Amaranthine by @rainwards ⠀✎ Summary: In which the sun loved the moon so much that it died every night just to let it breathe. ⠀⠀▸ angst, reincarnation AU ⠀⸙ notes: :-)))))))))))))) don’t read if you donut wanna be SAd.

➢ Give Me Your Hands (I Will Pick the Stars for You) by mindheist ⠀✎ Summary: I miss you like the moon misses the sun, destined to chase you until the end of time. ⠀⠀▸ angst, historical fantasy AU, feat. Jungkook ⠀⸙ notes: ur heart will heart. i can promise u that.

➢ laser tag AU by @kpopfanfictrash ⠀✎ Summary: You go laser tagging with the boys and come face to face with Taehyung. ⠀⠀▸ s e x u a l t e n s i o n but it's PG ⠀⸙ extra notes: I have never been so invested in a drabble I swear. The amount of times I've fantasized about this lasertag!Taehyung and Y/N's story is almost embarrassing to admit, hahaha.

➢ Rent-A-Boyfriend by @jimlingss ⠀✎ Summary: Are YOU lonely? Need someone to cuddle at night? Do you want love? If you said ‘yes’ to any of the questions previously mentioned then we have a service for you! RENT-A-BOYFRIEND TODAY! ⠀⠀▸ F L U F F

➢ Seoksanhwa by @gukyi ⠀✎ Summary: May you keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Watch your back, keep to the wall. Always be ready to attack. Do not let your guard down, for it will be the last thing you ever do. The game of love is cruel and treacherous, the obstacles high and the stakes even higher, and the royal family never did play fair. ⠀⠀▸ fluff, angst, smut, prince AU, joseon AU ⠀⸙ notes: r u ready to cry ur fcking eyes out :-)

➢ Song of Sunrise by Fable ⠀✎ Summary: Late at night, as dawn started painting the horizon, a night elf was running, his thin silhouette shining in the moonlight, the sound of his light steps resonating in the leaves of the silent, silent trees. That elf’s name was Tae. And Tae was heartbroken. ⠀⠀▸ fluffy angst, fantasy AU ⠀⠀▸ platonic Taehyung x Jimin ⠀⸙ extra notes: another story on ARA

➢ All's Fair by @goldenscript ⠀✎ Summary: Sometimes people can surprise you and do absurdly kind things, even the ones you least expect… even your rival, Jeon Jungkook. ⠀⠀▸ fluff, enemies to lovers AU, baseball AU ⠀⸙ extra notes: this fic made me blush a whole lot. just a lot of wholesome fluff. :")

➢ A Piece of the Moonlight by @jimlingss ⠀✎ Summary: For your loved ones, the people who are waiting at home, the people who have died - you will fight. And sometimes to fight means to sacrifice: who you really are and the person you really love. ⠀⠀▸ ANGST, mulan AU ⠀⸙ extra notes: this is the fic that led me to KNOW WITH STRONG CONVICTION that there are some fanfic writers who are unbelievably talented way beyond the world fanfics and deserve so so much joy and success if they decide to pursue writing as a career. This is it. This is one of them. If ((((jimlingss)))) ever decided to make this into a full fledged book with her own OCs, there's no doubt it'll be even more A M A Z I N G than it already is. I just love this story so much. It moved me to tears. And not just tears -- but legit ugly crying. Do yourself a favor and read this masterpiece.

➢ baby!Jeon drabble series by @an-exotic-writer ⠀✎ Summary: A series of drabbles and scenarios about (Not-So-)Baby Jungkook, his 6 older brothers, and you. ⠀⠀▸ F L U F F !!!!!! ⠀⸙ extra notes: 6 GROWN MEN. 1 GROWN WOMAN. 1 LITTLE BABY. SO MUCH FLUFF. AFJALEJGAJFAE. 60k+. this is 2 years worth of writing, y’all. so much fluff. so much luv.

➢ Blue Orchids by @inktae ⠀✎ Summary: You were eighteen years old when Jimin’s name showed up on your hand. ⠀⠀▸ angst, fluff, implied smut, hanahaki AU, soulmate AU

➢ Date in a Box by @jimlingss ⠀✎ Summary: If you’re in a hurry then we’re here to help you! Everything you need in a box. Delivery less than five minutes. Upgrade and we can personalize your date even more! Guaranteed 100%! Don’t fret, we’re here. ⠀⠀▸ F L U F F !

➢ Heat Wave by @iq-biased ⠀✎ Summary: The air conditioner breaks during the hottest week of summer and you have to figure out how to stay cool. ⠀⠀▸ smut, fluff, roommate AU ⠀⸙ notes: the title is accurately named bc reading this will definitely make you warm. very warm.

➢ Five Dates by @kpopfanfictrash ⠀✎ Summary: “Ten dates,” he nods, smile tugging at his lips. “Ten dates, to decide if you want this – want me – or want me to go. Ten dates to get to know me. Ten dates,” he says, oddly soft, “to fall in love with me.” ⠀⠀▸ fluff, smut

➢ Hiraeth by @thedefinitionofbts ⠀✎ Summary: We are always yearning for someone, even if that person may not exist in this tangible realm. ⠀⠀▸ fluff, angst, smut, college AU, soulmate AU

➢ Human Error by @gardentulips ⠀✎ Summary: Jungkook is your latest creation, and so much more... ⠀⠀▸ fluff, angst, robot AU

➢ Mamihlapinatapai by @tayegi ⠀✎ Summary: You reunite with an old flame. ⠀⠀▸ angst ⠀⸙ extra notes: it's not a happy story. i'm sorry. but it is a definitely good painful story. so i'm not sorry.

➢ Orange Tulips by @kainks ⠀✎ Summary: You’d remember Jungkook with every life you lived. Only he’d never remember you, never recall how your fates were written in the stars since the beginning of time. ⠀⠀▸ angst, fluff, smut, soulmate AU, reincarnation AU

➢ The Swirling Ways of Stars by @inktae ⠀✎ Summary: He feels like the thrill of the unknown and the unexplored, like that hesitant feeling of a new sensation under your fingertips. He’s like the first taste of a newly discovered flavor, one that hits your tongue and quickly spreads through your body from head to toe. ⠀⠀▸ angst, fluff, fantasy AU

➢ Tea and Ice Cream by @blackcatkuroi ⠀✎ Summary: It’s the small moments that truly shine. ⠀⠀▸ platonic OT7 ⠀⠀▸ fluff ⠀⸙ extra notes: another story on ARA. Super cute story that briefly illustrates the close bond between these guys.

Random notes: (cause I just LOVE to blab even when no one cares hahahaha) 1. Not surprising that JK has the most, lol. People just love writing him... and I'm okay with that :"))) I am surprised by the amount of Namjoon fics though, I didn't think it'd be that many! I guess I'm lowkey Namjoon biased................. no scratch that. I'm SO Namjoon biased. Lmao. 3. I realized quickly on that I'm very picky about Taehyung fics I read thus I have few Taehyung favorites :"( I need more. Also I really need to read more Hoseok and Jimin fics. Also I'm whipped for Yoongi. What can I say. He my Master 4ever. And of course I read a lot of Jin fics considering he is my UB, so I have a lot of favorites :"))) 4. Haven't read found very many OT7 fics. I would very much like to find more stories that explore their amazing brotherhood/bond!!

#fic recs #bts fic rec #bts #bts fanfic #they're all gold #believe me #g recs

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nightingveilxo · 7 years ago

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Unless otherwise indicated, fics have an Explicit rating, and John is in (Sugar)Daddy, Captain, Top and/or Dom, Alpha, One In the Know, etc role.

Daddy and Sugar Daddy John Watson

A Sherlock In Pink by TheSherlocked (yes, me) Ch: 4/? Words: 12,839

John Watson is invalided home after his time in Afghanistan, a broken man with no real prospects, and a dwindling bank account. Former colleague Mike Stamford introduces him to the most unusual young man John has ever met, a tea shop owner that looks more like a runway model than anything else, but with a mind like a steel trap. An AU meeting, where John comes back into his own, and Sherlock learns some of the most valuable of life lessons. [This is going to be 6 chapters I think, and then ficlets for certain additional elements.]

Everything You Need by Sexxica Ch: 1 Wods: 6,272

Sherlock is the shy little thing that successful and wealthy Doctor Watson’s dreams are made of. Luckily, Sherlock could really use a Daddy in his life and a good bit of looking after.

Sugar Daddy John (series) by Sexxica Works: 7 Words: 22,504

The very best of Sugar Daddy John and his boy, Sherlock.

To A Tee by lookupkate Ch: 14 Words: 15,321

Sherlock receives a text from an unknown number. The man is under the impression that he needs a sugar daddy. After careful consideration…well, he could be right.

Follow Me Down by 221BeStillMyHeart (HighTimesWithHiddles) Ch: 10 Words: 67,725

Sherlock Holmes is a 23 year old genius working as a forensic analyst at Bart’s hospital. John Watson is a 38 year old army captain just back from war, working as the lead surgeon in the trauma ward. A chance meeting brings them together, and no one is ever the same.

A Kept Man Isn’t A Weak Man by Elphen Ch: 1 Words: 20,429 A/B/O

Sherlock is just out of university, but due to drug habits acquired at said college, Mycroft has cut him off, hoping to put a stop to it that way. Instead, Omega Sherlock struggles doubly, both with his cravings and with finding a job that will not bore him to death and support him financially. Then, when he is on the verge of being completely destitute, he finds several hundred pounds ticking into his account for no apparent reason. He thinks it’s Mycroft, but instead he receives an email from someone who promises to send him more money every fortnight and put him up in a flat rent free, on two conditions; he will stop taking drugs and he will occasionally be asked to be a companion for someone. He does not want to be bought like some toy, but what choice does he have?

A Suitable Stain by vitruvianwatson (keepyoueyesfixedonme) Ch: 1 Words: 7,647

John imagines what they must look like–the young, gorgeous university student, naked as the day he was born, draped over the well-dressed older doctor, the muscles rippling in Sherlock’s back as his slim hips roll that beautiful arse up into the air and back down again, his spine curving beneath John’s hand as he moves it to the small of Sherlock’s back to feel the movement. The hard outline of Sherlock’s cock slides back and forth across John’s body, dampening his clothes with precome, and John moves both hands down to Sherlock’s arse, squeezing and pulling him in harder.

Bespoke by consultingbluebell Ch: 1 Wods: 5728

Sherlock is not at all happy about having to wear a suit for an upcoming party, but he might just change his mind when he meets successful and talented tailor John Watson.

A Little Sugar Never Hurt Anybody by beautifullyheeled Ch: 3/? WIP Words: 11,223

Sherlock’s search for a quiet place to study gave him a whole new learning opportunity.

Breck Verse (series) by orphaned Works: 4 Words: 22,363 (Last story never completed, but doesn’t effect the completion of other stories.)

Dr. Watson, world-renowned cardiac surgeon, accepts an invitation to be keynote speaker at a medical conference in Breckenridge, Colorado, a ski resort town in the Rocky Mountains. He meets a sexy young bartender at the opening dinner then spends the week making his baby happy.

Wrapped Around Your Finger by MojoFlower Ch: 4 Words: 27,308 (There is a bit too much top!lock at the end for my taste, but the beginning is good.)

Virgin!Sherlock, 18 and just out of school, is in Morocco in the early 1900’s to learn about the ways of the world. Dr. John Watson, lately of the British Army and invalided out at age of 36, picks him up in the market place. Lessons (you know what kind) are taught and absorbed. Inspired by the song Wrapped Around Your Finger by The Police. I’d say PWP, except there’s a soupçon of plot, given that it’s a story worked around the lyrics of the song.

Captain John Watson

Command Structure by 221b_hound Ch: 16 Words: 49,034 (I’ve read this one several times.)

Sherlock Holmes returns from his hunt to destroy Moriarty’s network. He comes home to John, and at long last they start this thing between them that couldn’t begin while Moriarty threatened them.

But Sherlock has returned fractured and suffering anxiety attacks. He thinks he needs discipline - the whip - to help him focus and be strong. But his problems are deeper and run back to a childhood of neglect.

John Watson is prepared to be Sherlock’s Captain, but he’s a doctor too. His command style isn’t about pain and subjugation. It’s about care and responsibility: and those concepts go in both directions in Captain Watson’s command structure.

Across Every Universe - Green Eyes at Rainbow Corner by Pmzilla Ch: 18/21 WIP Words: 21,505 Based on a prompt I created about the WWII song Green Eyes

Sherlock Holmes goes undercover as a Naval Lieutenant at American Red Cross Club in London, Rainbow Corner to find out whether the plans for the D-Day Invasion have been compromised by an American Colonel. Whilst investigating, he meets the captivating Capt. John Watson, who finds himself centre stage in both the dance club and Sherlock’s investigation.

Captain, My Captain (Part I of The Stripper Diaries series) by twistedthicket1 Ch: 1 Words: 7,845

Sherlock Holmes walks into a strip club for a case. He winds up leaving with more than he bargained for…

Captain Watson

by Sexxica Ch: 1 Words: 5,144

Sherlock is bored and it is driving John insane. Time for Captain Watson to take charge.

Surrender (Part II of the Unwind series) by illwick Ch: 3 Words: 13,506

Sherlock and John take a stab at negotiating a kink. Three rounds of filthy smut ensue. (Includes gunplay)

AU Dom!John/sub!sherlock

A Little Help from my Friends by Ttime42 Ch: 28 Words: 140,776

In a world where everyone identifies as either a dominant or a submissive, Sherlock is having a rough time moving on from a bad relationship and has sworn off doms forever. John has recently returned to London from war and has a fortuitous run in with an old friend in a park. Sherlock and John’s lives are changed forever because of that chance meeting, and they’ll both find their way through life with a little help from their friends.

Shames and Praises by s0mmerspr0ssen Ch: 7 Words: 51,919

Unable but desperate to find a dom who will put up with him, Sherlock swallows his pride and turns to Mycroft for help. Shortly after, John Watson steps into Sherlock’s life.

Library Lock

Collection of Clues by ianavi Ch: 1 Words: 8,922 (I’ve read this one several times.)

There was no sleeping that night. And not due to the awkward stammering in the stacks of the library. Or the phrasing of what felt as a sudden dismissal. All Sherlock could think about was John’s gaze on his neck, lips, reddening cheeks. How heated he felt under that gaze, how alone when John left. He was itching with desperation to not just be looked at but also touched. It was juvenile fantasy. But he was alone in his bedroom, it was past midnight, and he could indulge. He imagined John’s hand reaching to touch his cheek, his fingers brushing his lips. He buried his head into the pillow and groaned. Could John ever see him like that, ever want him?

A Study In Flirting by GubraithianFire Ch: 1 Words: 5,885

Sherlock is the new librarian at the university library. John is bad with pick-up lines.

Quo Fata Vocant by prettysailorsoldier Ch: 1 Words: 18,115

Sherlock is enamored with one of the employees at the university library, wiling away hours of his days just to catch a glimpse of the dynamic John Watson: captain of the rugby team, event manager for the LGBT society, and third-year medical student. Of course, being only a first-year, it’s unlikely John will ever notice him. At least, until fate (and a little well-intentioned meddling) intervenes.

Careless by lookupkate Ch: 15 Words: 23,652

Sherlock is an eighteen year old student working at a library. John is an army medic sent back to London after an injury. He’s spending a lot of time at the library working on his PhD. Sherlock decides he wants to fuck this mystery student, so he initiates a sexual relationship. He doesn’t really do emotional attachment anyhow, and if he tells John he’s twenty three, what’s the harm? It’s not like he’ll want John to stick around. Right? Right?!?

Sherlock done fucked up.

360.5 by justacookieofacumberbatch (buffyholic) Ch: 6 Words: 18,761

One would think that working as a page at the university library would be relatively peaceful, but what John spies through the gap in the shelves changes his mind.

Arranged Marriage or Domestic Situation

The Bachelor’s Handfasting by Jberry Ch: 20 Words: 20,625 (Sherlock is the smolest gay baby in this one, John is an older widower, and I have probably read this fic a dozen times.)

After her son is caught in a compromising position, Victoria Holmes must make arrangements for a quick marriage between Sherlock Holmes and John Watson.

A Human’s Prize by clearinghouse Ch: 2 Words: 22,232 (Sherlock is a smol merman, John is a bamf!, and I’ve read this one several times.)

Prince John is a well-travelled man of the world, and yet even he is taken aback when a beautiful merman is delivered to the doorstep of the castle. Despite the helpless creature’s fear of him, John resolves to be the best host he can be for his adorable new guest.

Il Traviato by kedgeree Ch: 18 Words: 68,809 (It’s much like Pretty Woman, but Sherlock and John are very in character. Moments of switchlock.)

A down-on-his-luck ex-soldier meets a wealthy businessman in need of a short-term companion

Northwest Passage by Kryptaria Ch: 27 Words: 95,159 (Another I’ve read several times.)

Seven years ago, Captain John Watson of the Canadian Forces Medical Service withdrew from society, seeking a simple, isolated life in the distant northern wilderness of Canada. Though he survives from one day to the next, he doesn’t truly live until someone from his dark past calls in a favor and turns his world upside-down with the introduction of Sherlock Holmes.

“The essentials of their relationship distilled through solitude.” –review by Alicat

A/B/O

Siege by PlainJane Ch: 17 Words: 55,410

In 1415, English archer John of Kenilworth is sent by Lord Mycroft Holmes from the field of victory at Agincourt to protect a remote French castle. Cherinfourde is under some dark cloud and John means to get to the bottom of it, in his lord’s name. If only he could stop thinking about the most unusual omega he has ever met.

Loving Care by Elphen Ch: 3 Words: 22,124

AU, Omegaverse, Modern times with Edwardian social structure. Omega Sherlock, out of options for another job, goes into the traditonal Omega occupation of male nurturer. His very first job is taking care of 16-month-old Hamish, son of the highly respected, socially connected widowed doctor, Alpha John Watson. He grows to love the kid very quickly, which he hadn’t expected, nor did he expect to fall for the Alpha quite so hard. Much as they hit it off, though, and whatever behaviour John exhibits, Sherlock knows that they are too far apart socially, even without John still being in love with his wife. His time is limited. Isn’t it?

Night Song (Niht Drēam) by Bashfulbunny (Aequoreavictoria) Ch: 15/? WIP Words: 15,579 soft A/B/O

Battle hardened alpha John’s self-discipline is tested by his overwhelming attraction to Sherlock, a young prisoner-of-war omega in need of his protection and care.

Historical AUs (That don’t fit the categories above)

Basically anything by Holly Sykes (Artemis8147)

This Man’s Heart by ellie_hell Ch: 24 Words: 72,991

In the latter part of the 19th century, a peculiar solitary man and an ex-army doctor disfigured at war live in a small village, surrounded by breathtaking landscapes. When they first meet, they have no idea their lives are about to change forever and, over the months, they will form an unusual friendship, discover more about each other and themselves, and maybe fall a little in love along the way.

Against All Odds by ravenscar Ch: 34 Words: 126,088 (Read three times, and the quick summary does not do it justice.)

When a Crusader crosses paths with an enigmatic young Briton in the Holy Land, their lives are changed forever.

TSR81 Collection on AO3 for all categories.

Still being regularly updated, but here is the current rec list as its own page: http://221bloodnun.tumblr.com/reclist

Making it rebloggable :) @221beesplace @meta-lock (for credit on Capt Watson fic) @yorkiepug

If anyone else wishes to be tagged, let me know and I will add you to my list.

#sugar daddy john Watson #sugar daddy john #alpha john #librarylock #captain watson #top!john #bloodnunlock

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djavoll · 8 years ago

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have some trashy, post-midnight sprint, self-indulgent intro to the hybrid universe i hope to actually write and publish one day. (unedited unbetad etc etc u know the drill)

pairing: pre-yoonkook + established vmin (vague hints at vminkook and taegi bc that’s how i roll)

rating: pg-13

length: 1.4k

summary: jungkook turns 21. his surprise party is less ‘here’s a stripper!’ and more ‘we adopted a cat hybrid under your name. happy bday bro!’

Jungkook expected a lot of things out of his twenty-first birthday. He expected to get so shit-faced drunk that he might have to visit the hospital for a quick, casual, run-of-the-mill stomach pump. He expected a sloppy blow job from an eager friend. He expected a customized cake of a favourite video game. He expected to magically turn cool and confident and mature and totally look like A Man the way Jimin and Taehyung already do, and no, he's not jealous. A lot of people say his baby face is a charming point, actually. Lots of them. So he expected a lot from his birthday, yes, but you only turn twenty-one once in your life. From thereon it's all downhill; a mess of living up to your childhood expectations, getting an Adult Job, doing adult things which involve not being the world's brattiest younger sibling. He's not really prepared for all that. Twenty-one on the dot is perfect as is. He expects twenty-one to be his lucky year. Funny thing about expectations, though, is that they're rarely ever met. Jungkook walks away from his birthday celebration free of poisoning of any sort (yawn), only reasonably high from the nug Hoseok brought to the party, and holding the official documents for the adoption of one human-feline hybrid named Min Yoongi. But let's backtrack a bit. All of it, like all the bad ideas Jungkook gets dragged into, starts with Jimin and Taehyung. Jimin and Taehyung, god bless their beautiful, perverted hearts, have been pioneering human-hybrid companionship in their little circle of friends for a few years by now. It all started rather simply: Taehyung was deemed unsuitable for the market (read: for sale) due to a number of health reasons and his undesirable lack of post-human genes. He ended up being let go of the corporation (read: kicked out), forced to make a living on his own, and ended up on the steps of the Park family restaurant weeping, begging on his bare knees to be granted a job. Anything. Even as a dishwasher. He had worked there for a total of six months when Jimin came over for a visit from university and after one glance, fell deeply in love. Took him back to his apartment in the city. Introduced him to all his friends. Signed him up for online classes. (Became his best friend and boyfriend for years to come). It was a lot to take in at first, but neither of them have been shocked by the presence of hybrids for many years now. Taehyung fit right in, standing among them as an equal in all terms. A friend, a boyfriend, a brother. Jungkook could handle that. Jungkook can handle a lot. He definitely can handle a hybrid. "Jimin, I can't handle a hybrid." "Yes, you can! I know you can," Jimin groans again, throwing his head back on Taehyung's shoulder, on whom he's seated. "You're Tae's friend, too. You practically live at our place. You can totally do this." "Yeah, Kook, seriously. What are you so scared of?" Taehyung asks, voice muffled against Jimin's neck. Nuzzling gently, as if to leave his scent behind. "I don't know, man. This is a lot to dump on someone without their prior agreement." Jungkook whines and whines, clutching the official document in is hand like he can't believe it's real. That this is really, actually happening. "I don't even know anything about this hybrid." Namjoon wolf-whistles from where he's laid on the couch, face down, drooling steadily into the pillows. "Dude, so hot. Such a babe. Eleven out of ten." Taehyung tosses a flip-flop on his head, "shut up, that's not the intro he needs." Namjoon goes to toss it back, but witnessing Jimin's menacing glare, he reluctantly puts his hand back down. Closes his eyes again. Continues drooling. "His name is Min Yoongi, he's twenty-five years old, a feline hybrid like Taetae," Jimin lists off his fingers, face scrunched up, "oh! and he's also from Daegu. Tae has met him before, at event briefings way back. Tell him about it, babe." Perking up from a light scratch behind his ears, Taehyung smiles encouragingly. "Yep, I know Yoongi from a long time ago. We just mostly reunited in glances when Jimbles and I were going through the adoption process, so I haven't really spoken to him in years, but," he sighs, fond, "Kook, he's so cute. If I get mistaken for a canine hybrid a lot, then Yoongi is a fucking teacup kitten. I love him." "Show us some photos, maybe?" Hoseok plops his chin on Taehyung's knee, wriggling his brows. "Ooh, I have something!" Jimin chirps, pulling out his phone. He scrolls through his photo album manically, the sound of his thumb tapping the screen loud in the quiet room, face contorted in concentration. Taehyung stares over his shoulder ready to tell him when. "Ah! There it is!" Then he's leaning down to show it to Hoseok, who 'oooh's loudly and lewdly, captivated by the screen, apparently watching a video. "That's kinda hot, I'm not gonna lie." "What is it? What are you showing him?" Jungkook's never been good at controlling his impulses, even when it comes to feigning nonchalance. He's always been a bit of a hedonist. "I wanna see. Let me see." he babbles as he trudges his way to the front couch, tripping over blankets and pillows, then snatches the phone away. He ignores the plights of protest in his wake and presses play, wide eyes and lower lip bitten. A split second later all he has is regret. "Oh, fuck." he mumbles. "Fuck, yeah." Hoseok echoes. So, the video. He expected it to be a lot of things. A cute video of him smiling. Yoongi man wearing something revealing. Lots of expectations. Funny thing about expectations. The video loops and once again he's met with the image of Jimin and Taehyung's bed - unmade and soft in the afternoon light - and on it Taehyung making out sloppily with a much smaller, paler man. And oh, boy, is it hot. Ghost pepper hot. 'I-will-not-lose-a-noodle-challenge' Jeon Jungkook level of hot. "Oh, fuck." "You already said that." someone chortles. Jungkook pays it no mind and lets the video play again. The man - Yoongi, his name is Yoongi - is sat forward facing Taehyung with just his knees resting on top of Taehyung's thighs. His shoulders are fairly broad but he's otherwise small, fucking tiny, in a simple black tee and ripped jeans, and oh my god-- the softest mop of black hair and little black ears. He's a dream come true. He's Jungkook biggest fucking fantasy in the flesh. He's perfect. Jungkook had popped his fair amount of boners over Taehyung (Jimin and him are unaware of things such as boundaries or privacy), so he doesn't really mind his presence. Quite the contrary, the contrast is really something else. Taehyung's golden tan skin, plush red lips against the pale pink of Yoongi's smaller, poutier mouth. It's poetry in motion. Yoongi's jawline is sharp and he moves so leisurely against Taehyung, with all the practiced ease in the world, like he was born to suck faces. He makes wet, smacking noises whenever he pulls in and out of the kiss, and Jungkook is fucked. He's fucked even more when just a hint of a small, red tongue peeks out from between his and Taehyung's mouth. God, he wonders if it tastes as good as it looks. He's three seconds into his tenth replay when the phone is yanked out of his hands. "Alright, that's enough perving over my boyfriend. We can talk more about this tomorrow." Jimin waves him off, much to Taehyung's amusement. That goddamn bastard. He knows exactly what he does to him. "Let's all go to sleep." Namjoon and Seokjin are deep in slumber when Hoseok announces, begrudgingly, that it is indeed late. Half past five in the morning, in fact. Jungkook goes to sleep with an awkward, overly-excited boner, thinking of all the possible ways he can fuck this Yoongi dude sideways once he gets to his place. Happy fucking birthday to him. (Spoiler alert: as all predictions done by one Jeon Jungkook, this one fails, too. Turns out Yoongi's dick game is just as good as his bubble butt and cute tongue. Jungkook learns to bend over any way he wishes.)

#fics #yoonkook #vmin #the grand hybrid universe #2am shitposting #*fic

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bartsugsy · 8 years ago

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The Robron Break-Ups : A Definitive Guide (Part 2/Infinity)

*** UPDATED BECAUSE I LEGITIMATELY ALREADY MANAGED TO MISS ONE. I AM A HUMAN DISASTER. SO. NOW IT’S ACCURATE. YAY. ***

Part One / All

In this, the second part of the Robron Rejection Compendium, we look at the next 5 break-ups, even more honourable mentions and I start to cry about feelings, just a little bit. Go get yourself a cup of tea and settle in, because this part is way longer than it has any right to be.

(Also, to throw in a quick serious moment before i start cracking manslaughter jokes again, thank you so much for your kind comments and tags and likes etc for part one. I was kind of completely overwhelmed by the fact that people even took time to read it, because I wrote it half giggling to myself at how no one would be able to make it to the end of the thing. So, yes. I mean this with every bloody ounce of sincerity I have in my entire body - thank you so much for taking the time to read it. You all kind of made my evening.)

Anyway, on to Part Two and an honourable mention to kick things off…

Part Two: Pre-Manslaughter (continued)

Honourable Mention #2: 9th December 2014

The next honourable mention isn’t even slightly a break up - the opposite of one, actually, but this is my post and I’ll do as I please. This scene features Rob, strolling into the Woolie back room like he owns the place and confronting Aaron about the money Aaron is charging Chrissie for Robert’s car (mostly because he’s panicking about the fact that he’s somehow managed to start up an entire bloody affair with Aaron in the space of four days). The boys spend the whole scene arguing and Aaron is doing his absolute level best to wind Robert up and it’s working, but they’re also literally talking about how they’re absolutely without a doubt going to keep hooking up? This scene is just really underrated, basically, so I’m just casually dropping it in here.

Besides, it would absolutely sound like it would qualify, given how dismissive and rude they are to one another, if not for the fact that, I repeat, this whole snippy, agressive conversation exists for them to talk about the fact that they’ve just had some pretty spectacular angry sex and agree that it’s definitely going to happen again.

6. 15th December 2014

At number 6, we have Robert and Aaron, hanging around awkwardly in Bar West. Robert is upset about Andy melting Jack’s wedding ring - and also, it turns out, deeply uncomfortable about being in a gay bar. Aaron is unsympathetic, Robert is generally horrible and they argue - it gets vicious, and it feels like a big bright sign warning of the horrors to come. It all ends when Robert tells Aaron to ~have fun with his friends~ and flounces off. Rob goes home and makes some more terrible decisions about Katie and Andy’s rings. Exactly no one is surprised.

How long did it last? I mean, they don’t share a proper scene for two whole days but let’s be honest, they were probably already thinking about boning again by that evening.

Who came crawling back first? Robert tracks down Ross and Aaron two days later to warn them about Chrissie calling the police and Robert touches Aaron’s chest and Aaron looks down at Robert’s hand and my heart goes all googly and squiggly and this is basically what boy sex is, isn’t it? idk I am just a poor lesbian

How little did they mean it? 3/5. Both angry, but have no intention of stopping, because hate sex is fun and early robron are all about the hate sex. (Or at least highly annoyed at one another sex)

7. 23rd December 2014

Aaron’s been hiding out in Brighton for a few days. He rocks back up into the village and he and Adam jump right into planning a new business over a pint. Robert (eavesdropping, because he literally wants to be up in Aaron’s business at all times 24/7 by this point) helpfully decides to invest, because what’s a spare 10k between illicit lovers? Aaron goes up to the bar to order another drink and Robert tries to charm Aaron into also buying him one, in his overdone, smarmy way, before immediately taking it all back and offering to buy Aaron a pint instead. Robert uses his soft, intimate, ‘Aaron’ voice and it’s just great. Aaron does not think it’s quite as charming as I apparently do and tells Robert that he doesn’t want anything from him. Again. You’ll hear that phrase a lot as we journey through this relationship together, dear reader. A lot. It’s always a lie.

How long did it last? Two days. This was a big one. Hoo boy. Two entire days.

Who came crawling back first? Robert basically disregards what Aaron says immediately because two seconds later, he’s talking to Adam about investing in their as-yet-to-be-decided business. Adam mentions this to Aaron, who seems very wary and just generally Not About It. Two days later (Christmas Day, time for giving, time for family, etc.), Aaron has another pop at Robert, after listening to Vic cry over Rob’s fight with Andy the night before. Something Aaron says clearly strikes a chord with Robert, because he goes back to his family and apologises, talks candidly about his feelings and about Jack. Robert says “you had [Jack] more than I did in the end” to Andy and I CRY LIKE THE SAD AND EMOTIONAL HUMAN I AM, because I have Robert Sugden feelings and also because millie keeps posting jack/robert headcanons and they’ve all ruined me.

Aaron is, handily, on hand (…I’m leaving that phrase in, leave me alone) to overhear Robert acting like a good and well-intentioned human being for the first time in… a while, probably. Of course, Robert’s terrible past decisions come back to bite him anyway and everything gets screwed up with Andy. Again.

Aaron, however, has already been won over by the fact that Rob didn’t just listen to him, but actually followed through and made an effort with his family. Aaron’s is all happy and impressed and they have THAT CONVERSATION IN THE SUITS WITH THE SWAYING AND IT’S BEAUTIFUL AND THEN THEY RUN OFF TO THE PUB TO MAKE SWEET SWEET LOVE and then get immediately interrupted by Katie because god hates joy, but not before having an A+ kiss.

Anyway, at some point during this day, Aaron accidentally goes from hating Robert to falling hopelessly in love with Robert and that’s pretty much it for Aaron. He just.. he falls in love with Robert and never looks back.

Robert also starts to fall in love with Aaron probably (but I’m not quite sure he realises, or recognises it, and if he does he is very afraid of it, because, again, he’s still deeply closeted. He’s still set on marrying Chrissie and living out all his rich and powerful fantasies). Rob is still very difficult to read, so we may never know for sure.

Anyway, there are probably mutual feelings involved, because they keep smiling at one another and it’s lovely and I’m crying softly just watching it. Just look at their love. Their beautiful, non-murdery love. Ah, some things never last.

How little did they mean it? 4/5. Aaron meant this break up. Robert found himself so eager to get back into Aaron’s good books that he started throwing money at him again (still hasn’t learnt) and then, in a beautiful turn of events, decided to instead to actually listen to him and lo, we are treated to the first instance of Aaron helping Robert better himself and I get emotional all over again because HE’S A REAL BOY NOW.

Honourable Mention #3: 1st January 2015

Aaron and Robert start hooking up in their barn and Rob invests his spare 10k purely as an excuse to see Aaron’s face on the reg. They have little flirty meetings in the coffee shop and all in all, it’s a nice little break from the drama. No arguments, no break ups. Just barn sex and lying to everyone. It’s wonderful.

Of course, this happiness does not last very long, because it’s a soap. Real life interupts and Robert is forced to stand Aaron up on New Year’s Eve (and ends up half moping around all evening because he knows he could be off at the pub getting laid, instead of schmoozing rich people) (can you believe Robert would rather be with Aaron than rich people? It’s love) and Aaron, who absolutely hates to seem soft and needy, but can be so soft and so needy sometimes (and I mean this in the gentlest way), especially when it comes to Robert, is sort of pissed.

When Robert tries to cancel another plan, Aaron basically tells him that he either shows up at the barn for sex, or they’re done. Now, I don’t know how much I believe that threat personally, because I’ve written 4000 words so far on how much they suck at staying away from one another, but Robert seems to believe it, and, without even pausing to think things through, makes the decision to meet up with his secret boyfriend rather than babysit with his soon-to-be-Step Son, Lachlan.

Anyway, Aaron and Robert meet up, argue, have sex and it’s just generally A+++++

What do you mean this doesn’t count as a break up? Pfft you write it.

(…ok fine it’s not a break-up, but they do talk about ending things after Robert gets married, so it counts. Not to be spoilery, but that works out about as well as we’ve all probably come to expect from these two. Not even murder can keep them apart.)

Oh and stuff happens with Lachlan blah blah

ETA: THERE IS A BREAK UP THAT I OH-SO CASUALLY MISSED (it happened during the ‘Lachlan blah blah’ part of the episode), so here we have it - a hastily made edit for you all, because I am a big, strong, adult person and I can totally own up to my mistakes.*

(*a bald-faced lie)

8. 1st January 2015

Lachlan’s in hospital and Robert is in some deep shit with Chrissie and Lawrence - mostly because he’s nowhere to be seen. On the other side of the village, Aaron and Robert are finishing up their literal tumble in the hay when Aaron casually asks Rob out for a pint. Robert chooses this exact moment to check his messages, sees what has happened and runs off to the hospital in a panic without even stopping to give Aaron an explanation.

While Rob is at the hospital being yelled at, Aaron goes to the pub by himself to mope. Rob shows up (having been kicked out of the hospital by Chrissie) and gets yelled at again, this time by Zak, who is worried about Belle. As Zak yells and Robert tries to defend the fact that he was too busy boning his secret boyfriend to babysit, Aaron quickly realises what exactly has happened. He and Robert meet in their favorite spot, the Woolie loos and Aaron tries to offer a sympathetic ear. Rob unfortunately has had just about enough and takes his frustrations and panic out on Aaron. They start to argue and Robert says that “whatever this is between us” (it’s love) is over. Surprising to zero people at this point, this turns out to not be true.

How long did it last? This is a pretty long one, as it happens. It lasts about a week. AN ENTIRE WEEK.

Who came crawling back first? It’s Robert, of course it’s Robert. The very next day, he goes to the pub and tries to get Aaron alone to talk about ~his investment~. It’s as if the words “we’re over” have literally no value when they’re coming out of Robert’s mouth and directed at Aaron, or something. Ah Robert, the world’s biggest drama queen.

Aaron really isn’t having it, however. In fact, after Lachlan and Belle almost become the first (but absolutely not the last) casualty of Aaron and Robert’s affair, Aaron remembers that Robert Sugden’s numero uno priority is still Robert Sugden (don’t worry kids, that will change). Anyway, Aaron is getting freaked out - but then, it’s been a month since they’ve kissed and they’ve already started an entire actual Honest To God Affair, managed to break up 8 times and now they’ve almost killed a child. So. No bloody wonder.

(There is a small moment on the 2nd January between Aaron and Chas, as they talk about her unease at Robert’s suspiciously big investment - because of course, Chas doesn’t yet realise that Rob is actually basically investing that money in his Little Rob. Chas mentions to Aaron that Robert seems committed to investing in the business, like he’s Aarons “guardian angel” or something. Aaron gets this little interested look on his face and I have sudden and visceral flashforwards to the multiple times Robert will actually and actively save Aaron’s life in the next few years, and I cry.)

Anyway, Robert goes to find Aaron at work a few days later and tells him that Lachlan’s going to be ok. Rob looks all happy and keen to get it back on, but instead, he gets another earful from Aaron, who quite rightly assumes that Robert cares more about protecting his own secrets than he does Lachlan’s life.

Robert then decides to send the infamous “kiss and make up” text that ends up basically killing Katie. Imagine. Death by smarmy text. What a piss-take.

How little did they mean it? 1/5. Robert came crawling back the very next day and Aaron literally buckled after a stupid text. Like. From all appearances, they basically did kiss and make-up. We don’t even see them make up, they just share a Look as they walk past each other in the pub (but boy howdy, is it ever a good Look) and in that instant, we can all tell that they clearly just jumped straight back into it. Words have lost nearly all meaning at this point. They just like the drama.

9. 7th January 2015

Katie’s been gossiping about the “kiss and make up” text and Aaron drags Robert in to the Woolie back room to warn him. Robert, as is his wont, panics and sort of… calls the whole thing off… for now. Maybe Robert has finally learnt that there’s no point in trying to stop their relationship completely?

Either way, Aaron’s not happy about this sudden stop to their sexy times and as Rob walks out the door, he gets that sad/angry look on his face and I sort of just want to hug him because son, you are in way too deep considering how tragically closeted and technically unavailable Robert is.

On the other hand, hindsight is beautiful thing and it’s all going to work out mostly fine for most people in the end. Sort of. Apart from all the deaths. Oh well, it’s 2017 now, who cares. You keep being helplessly in love Aaron. I’m into it.

How long did it last? This ‘we’re strangers, we’re not meeting up and we’re absolutely not boning’ thing lasts exactly two days. Barely that, to be honest, because despite what Robert says, he still ends up having a conversation with Aaron about their affair in plain daylight, in public, the very next day. But hey. Whatever.

Who came crawling back first? Aaron tries to talk Robert round the next day and inadvertently gives Robert the idea for an Evil Plan, which Robert quickly puts into play so that they can get back to “business as usual” (as they agree while standing in the bathroom, while I cry over their sizzlin’ chemistry) (how can two people have that much sexual chemistry while standing in front of a toilet?)

How little did they mean it? 3/5. I mean, Robert meant it, but he also did everything he could to make sure that it would only last as long as he could go without (i.e. two days)

Honourable Mention #4: 12th January 2015

Aaron and Robert are back at it - or they would be, if not for the fact that Cain is basically dying and so Aaron’s all sad and distracted. Rob, in an effort to cheer Aaron up (because he cares and he has human feelings and he wants Aaron to be less sad and he cares), makes Aaron a cup of tea and calms his nerves and then, when that doesn’t work, grabs him and hugs him. Aaron’s confused and overwhelmed face is an exact mirror of my own every time I watch this beautiful scene. Is this really our panto villain Robert Sugden?

….this is obviously an honourable mention because before this scene, Rob tries to get Aaron to come up to the barn for a quickie and Aaron turns him down. So. Totally counts.

Honourable Mention #5: 13th January 2015

Aaron tries to back out of the business, because he’s panicking about letting Robert down and potentially losing him. Robert is all sweet and comforting and says to Aaron, and I quote, “Don’t get cold feet. You’ll make me think I fell for a quitter.” and Aaron looks so bloody astounded that I struggle to breathe. Then, if all of this wasn’t enough to send me to A&E, Robert smiles and says “Good meeting” and literally everyone has to take a moment to collect themselves because what. the. hell. is. this. SORRY IT’S BEEN OVER TWO YEARS AND I STILL CAN’T COPE WITH THIS SCENE. It’s just… it’s amazing. They’re gonna love each other forever.

..WHAT DO YOU MEAN STOP TALKING ABOUT THE CUTE SCENES YOU STOP TALKING ABOUT THE CUTE SCENES DID YOU THINK I JUST WOULDN’T MENTION THIS SCENE WHO DO YOU THINK I AM YES THIS COUNTS BECAUSE AARON TRIED TO PULL OUT OF THE BUSINESS IT COUNTS leave me alone I’m just a human

10. 30th January 2015

Aaron and Robert are just about as happy as two people can be whilst sneaking around behind everybody’s backs (hint: so happy, so loved-up, just utterly enjoying one another’s company, plus no one’s died yet… honestly, everything is hum diddly). Aaron and Adam have a new portacabin, which Robert comes to check out (oh wait, no, why would he check out a portacabin when he could be checking out Aaron). Robert books a hotel room with a late check-out and then crawls around the bed in his underwear. It’s all just great.

Amidst this happiness, Aaron is intermittently reminded, however, that Robert is actually still very much with Chrissie, so we get to watch Aaron lurk moodily around the background feeling sad and jealous and honestly, suddenly the Aaron in more recent episodes starts to feel so much more familiar… Poor love.

Anyway, the boys are preoccupied with their own dramas for a bit (Aaron’s dealing with the scrapyard and Eric. Robert is dealing with the fact that apparently, in Emmerdale, watching porn is, in fact, the worst damn crime you can commit). They’re most likely meeting up for more barn sex while all this is going on, but hey. It’s not shown on screen. All we’ve got is our imaginations. Aaron pops up to tease Robert about the porn and they flirt in the coffee shop, Robert books another hotel and Aaron gets himself into a suit. It all ends in tears, though, as Katie and Chrissie arrive at the hotel, ruining Robert and Aaron’s hot night and thus, the calm before the real storm comes to a startling, abrupt end.

The next morning, Robert tracks Aaron down at the scrapyard to apologise. Aaron’s having none of it, knowing that Robert is getting married in a week and that they can’t carry on beyond that, but desperately wanting so much more (…clearly these boys haven’t been paying attention if they honestly think they can stop, but… we’re not getting into that just yet, we’ve got months of this ahead of us…)

Robert looks sad, Aaron is pissed off, threatens Robert with a broken nose and says “do one”. Rob rightly takes this as a cue to not follow Aaron into the portacabin. This gets Robert angry, so he goes off to confront Katie (because she ruined his dirty night away with Aaron with all of her completely correct assumptions and now Aaron doesn’t want to talk to him).

How long did it last? While Rob is busy distracting himself with a spot of casual arson, Aaron ends up sitting with Paddy, sad about Robert and beating himself up about letting himself get in so deep. He ends up sort of accidentally telling Paddy that he’s in love with Robert (well, he doesn’t use Rob’s name). Aaron, in this scene, essentially says that he’s incapable of just walking away from the affair, so it’s nice that at least one of them has some level of self-awareness. After a few days, Aaron comes to the decision that he’s going to let Robert stew.

Meaning this particular break up lasts more than 2 days.

In very loose terms, it lasts 5 days. 5 days of them playing games with each other, at the ultimate expense of Katie’s life and a bit of flooring.

In more realistic terms, this is the end of their relationship as they know it - this is, in fact, the break up that starts off a series of dramatic, tragic and unapologetically soapy events that will define their entire relationship for the next year.

Who came crawling back first? Robert drops in to see Aaron 3 days after their argument, but Aaron’s still having none of it. Rob leaves, sad and hurt and without a secret boyfriend. The next day, they bump into one another at the cafe and make some eyes at each other. Robert tells Aaron to meet him at their barn, which Aaron doesn’t do, so instead we get a shot of Robert sitting alone in their barn in the dark and looking Drama Queen levels of tragic.

Rob is… well, he’s onto Aaron and feeling kind of bitter about the whole thing, so when they meet up in the woolie bathroom later that day, Robert explains to Aaron that he’s had this Big Amazing Epiphany™ and that actually Aaron meant nothing to him and… nobody believes you tbh Rob, but you do you. As with all of Robert’s impulsive, emotional decisions, this has terrible consequences and pushes Aaron into deciding to blow the whole affair to Katie.

Literally the next day, Aaron asks them to start things up again (so that he can #Expose Robert to Katie) and Robert goes along with it pretty much immediately, ready to not just start things back up again, but also continue them after Robert is married. Because Robert has also long since realiseed that he’s not ready to let Aaron go and he’s done with the game playing.

How little did they mean it? 1/5. Yes, it lasted a while, but Aaron stayed away with the pure intention of somehow getting Robert to leave Chrissie, and Robert ended things to get back at Aaron for standing him up. And… ah. This emotional game playing does not work out for them. This absolutely does not work well for them.

…I mean, it does work, in the sense that they’re together now, in 2017, but… oh dear.

Next Up: The Real Dark Ages

#the robron rejection compendium #robron #ed

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transcending-chaos · 8 years ago

Photo

And he’s done! Biographical information under the cut due to length.

Name: Blayne Collins

-His un-Americanized name is actually Blaine O'Cuilleains, but as a majority of people cannot read and pronounce it correctly in Gaelic, he uses the Anglican form

-His username is TwinRavens, and his usual Tribe of choice is OverWorld as those were the cards given to him by his friends since they used a mix of the other three Tribes

Age: 16-19

-In keeping with the show’s style, he is ambiguously a teenager. His birthday is July 28, and he is a Leo.

Sex, Gender, Orientation: Male, male, asexual-panoromantic

-Blayne is fickle when it comes to romance: while he is easy-going and has no problem in revealing his own interest in someone else, he is quick to pick up on any advances made on him and immediately raises his guard. People have tried to take advantage of him before, so he is skeptical and often mistrusting of individuals trying to seduce, flirt, or be coy with him. He is not prone to feeling any real attraction to people at all, often just slowly falling in love with someone’s personality over a long span of time regardless of their gender or sex; he has no visual bias, so he is an even judge of character in this aspect, though voice will influence his opinion somewhat. Blayne does not lower his walls easily in this aspect, if one wishes to woo him, they must actually care about his personhood as he will sniff out any false pretense rather quickly. He’s blind, not stupid.

Biography (abbreviated version)

-Blayne is rather sanguine and friendly, an ENFJ personality type, and someone who loves to reach out and connect with other people. This forwardness often breaks the ice for him, as many people assume him to be quiet and passive due to his disability. It’s also led to one of his favorite greetings and gimmicks:

”Oh, sorry, I didn’t know you were blind!”

”Actually, my name is Blayne, but yeah, I’m also blind.”

His friendly nature had been a bit of a saving grace outwardly; he can laugh things off easily, he especially loves shitty puns, he’ll poke fun at his problems, and he tends to let things slide off of his shoulders well -at least that’s his norm. Blayne can only let things go on for so long, and while he is often proactive and civil in dealing with his problems, any provoked conflict will be dealt with severely. He does not like being angry as he’s been made aware that he can be terrifying, but so help him if it doesn’t put issues to rest when it needs to.

Another thing that is not readily recognizable is his patience when dealing with other’s repeated problems. Blayne understands hardships, he’s aware that everyone’s issues and struggles are relative yet relevant-

”It’s cancer and kidney stones; both are real, both are painful but both are really different in terms of what’s at stake and who could potentially suffer more. Even so, someone’s cancer doesn’t override the fact that you might have kidney stones -your pain is still real. And that said, your kidney stones aren’t going to be the same as their cancer. Everything is relative, everyone has shit to deal with, and everyone just needs to have someone listen every once in a while.”

-but he can only take so much of other people’s issues before he starts getting annoyed. This is a hard position for him to be in, as he naturally attracts people and has a calming, authoritative presence, so many trust and open up to him. It’s difficult for him to carry their emotional weight along with all of his own, as well as still functioning at the normative level of ability that society demands. Basically, he needs to set the rules and affirm that he is not Atlas, but this is complicated by the fact that many do not know that they are even being a problem in the first place. He can be easily overwhelmed by their problems and ignore his own, which can lead to a destructive spiral.

The final key piece of his personality is his stubborn attitude when people repeatedly point something out to him, specifically his weight or appearance. Blayne is underweight, and is actually recovering from an eating disorder spawned from his desire to not feel like a burden. He hates how people will take care of simple things for him, or take away his autonomy without realizing it. This in turn has created a deep sense of guilt and fear regarding asking for help or aid, and this will manifest in things like him not asking for food even when hungry. He will pursue food on his own, but as soon as someone mentions this, points out his appearance, or makes a comment, he looses all appetite and just tolerates hunger instead. It’s taken him a while to try and move past this, and although he’s gotten a little bit better, he still has a long way to go.

-Blayne is the single child born to his mother and father, who promptly split up when he was about three years old. He has always lived with his mom and predominantly knows her side of the family, which is across the Atlantic Ocean in Kilkenny, Ireland, where they raise sheep. His mother is a nurse in a nearby hospital and is usually busy, however, Blayne has strong familial ties and a loving home. Any antagonism comes from his father’s side of the family, who dislikes that his mother got sole custody, and disagrees with many of his mother’s family’s values in general. They’re not too friendly due to past circumstances concerning his parent’s divorce, but that hasn’t stopped some of that side of his family from reaching out in a friendly way; his cousin Connor moved in when Blayne was about 12, and the two were like brother before he graduated from his university and moved out on his own.

He follows a mix of Wiccan and Neo-Druidic beliefs, and loves folklore and fantasy; he often listens to audiobooks to pass the time when bored, connecting with the characters based on their empathetic qualities and mindset rather than a majority of description.

Schooling has never been too much of a challenge for Blayne, and while he was a little lonely throughout his elementary and middle school years, his high school experience has been quite pleasant. He attends an arts school where he is active in the music program. He can play the piano, the harp (a family tradition), and can sing very well (click here for voice claim). He has a tight group of friends (Macy, Ash, Ethen, and Sam) who all specialize in different studies of art as well. He often collaborates or aids in their pursuits, which has led to him being the guinea pig for many of Macy’s makeup exploits- he really doesn’t mind though.

His friends Ash and Ethan are the ones who got him interested in Chaotic, as they’d often just play the cards casually when the three boys would just hang out and Blayne would bullshit a commentary on their matches. Eventually they were determined teach him how to play and make the game accessible to him; this was ultimately reached by using small, different nail art stickers and tiny gems on the backs of his card protector sleeves. By making and memorizing a system, and also spelling out names in Braille, he can tell what card is in his hand. It took him a while, but Blayne eventually mastered it. His friends never expected him to play competitively, only giving him the ‘scraps’ of their card hauls, but Blayne is mostly a tactician and once familiar with the abilities and powers at his disposal, he can create a plethora of plans.

He is not well-versed in the physical Chaotic.

Blayne lost his first match, and many wondered if he’d just stop coming, yet his stubborn side kicked in and he stuck around. He does not take the typical kind of Scan Quests, instead, he often goes to villages and just sits down to take it all in. He is not hostile to any natives, and because he does not make problems, they are friendly in turn. Instead of Scanning Creatures with better stats, Blayne chooses to Scan those with a strong familiarity with their environments. As he cannot see even in Chaotic (if the offer was given to him, he’d still reject it as he would have to re-learn how to function, and it wouldn’t be fair to his other self that’d permanently be blind) neither do the Creatures he turns into during a match. He relies heavily on their senses of direction and elemental connection to the Locations, and as such, he is not a brawler or usual kind of fighter.

He loves traps. He likes using the playing field to his advantage, catching his opponents off guard, and ending the battle as quickly as possible. Usually the longer a match goes on, the less the chance of him winning. If his traps don’t immediately take someone out, his second favorite method is Coding by hanging, in which he manages to get them tangled and hung by either vines or other means.

This has earned him the unofficial nickname of “Blind Gallows”.

Trivia

-Blayne was originally made as a pun on the fact that Tom’s name means twin. I wanted to make a joke character that’d occasionally get mixed up with him, but this lil’ guy took on a life of his own and is now a fully fledged OC instead

-He has a swear jar at home, but manages his tongue better around peers. When angered, his slight brogue becomes more pronounced

-Blayne refuses to use Tribal leaders in his decks as he thinks their stats are ‘bat-shit broken’

-As he was born blind, he doesn’t understand color at all, so when people ask ‘do you see all light, or is everything dark’ he doesn’t understand what they’re getting at completely

-His go to Creature is Owis, and the two have met in person and became fast friends

-Some Creatures think he’s a witch, something he occasionally exploits for comedic effect

-He is a good story teller

-He has many sheepskin blankets at home as he has a tendency to get cold easily

-He loves soft fabrics and texture in general. He can sometimes be a little hands-y with close friends because he likes to try and figure out what they’re wearing. If you wear things like cable sweaters regularly, he will try and trace he cable patterns

-He is strangely adept at braiding hair except for his own

And that’s all I’ve got off the top of my head. If you have any questions, feel free to share because I will happily answer them. I will add more to this as needed, but I hope this give you an idea of who he is.

#chaos speaks #art #i guess this is my oc tag

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metawitches · 6 years ago

Text

Recaps of The OA Part 1 can be found HERE.

Welcome back, kids! Are we all ready to ride along with The OA as she questions the nature of reality and causes chaos in the world around her? Part 2 continues where Part 1 left off, with no time jump, though the extended opening segment introduces viewers to the new character Karim Washington, so it takes a while to find out what happened to the OA. Most of the rest of the original cast returns in some capacity.

While part 1 explored the interior of the mind, with themes of reality vs fantasy, the darkness inside, free will, captivity and willing sacrifice, Part 2 expands those themes, taking the dreams, visions and stories of Part 1 and turning them into an interdimensional reality where the boundaries between the dream world, the real world, and other worlds barely exist. It’s not quite as mind-bending as Part 1, but it’s still fun, with new ideas to ponder.

Let’s start with a quick video recap of Part 1, courtesy of Yiğit Sarı:

youtube

Recap

Angel of Death begins with the caption “7 hours 46 minutes earlier”, which refers to the time of Prairie’s shooting.

Pounding on a door can be heard, and a figure can be seen skateboarding at high speed on a rural road. The figure is lit from behind, as if a car is following closely with its headlights on. The skater passes a tall blonde woman wearing a red dress who’s standing off to the side of the road. It’s The OA. The skateboarder loses his balance and flies off the road, spinning through the air, out of control.

Private Investigator Karim Washington wakes up from the dream to answer the pounding on the door of his houseboat. It’s an elderly Vietnamese woman, who wants to hire him to find her missing granddaughter. He tries to send her to the police, but she refuses, because her granddaughter, Michelle, is invisible.

Karim doesn’t understand what she means, so he asks a friend to interpret. By invisible, the grandmother means they are homeless immigrants. The family was living in Michigan. Michelle’s father disappeared, and might have died. Her family was evicted and ended up in a shelter.

The literal meaning of saying Michelle is “invisible” is that the government has no official documentation for her, since she’s an illegal immigrant. In other words, she’s invisible to the government, and needs to remain that way, so the whole family doesn’t get deported.

But Part 1 also used the term “invisible self” frequently. It was the title of the final episode. Does Mrs. Vu also mean that Michelle has an exceptionally strong invisible self? Does she sense psychic sensitivity in Karim?

Michelle has been sending her Grandma money. She came to San Francisco because the money is better there. She was communicating with Mrs Vu frequently and sending money up until 2 weeks ago, then she just stopped. He grandmother came to search for her.

Karim asks to look at the texts, but they are in Vietnamese, so he can’t understand them.

We normally know Michelle Vu as Buck.

Mrs Vu shows them a photo of Michelle playing drums and says she’s a great drummer. Then she asks if Karim will look for her granddaughter. Karim asks if she has any money. She shows him that she has $31,000 in an Ether account, a form of cryptocurrency, like Bitcoin, but not as safe or established. Michelle sent the money just before she vanished.

Karim tells Mrs Vu that most underage girls who have been missing for more than 72 hours are either never found or found dead. Mrs Vu looks deep into Karim’s eyes and tells him to look for Michelle.

Karim starts by having an associate check police, morgue and hospital records while he and Mrs Vu take the train to visit the family Michelle was staying with.

Bao and Denise greet Mrs Vu warmly, while their your son Donald stands quietly off to the side. Karim asks Mrs Vu to wait outside. She refuses at first, but leaves when he threatens to drop her case. He keeps her phone and tells her he knows her English is better than she tells people.

Denise and Bao tell Karim that Michelle was quiet, shy and helpful. They took her in because the church asked them to. She wasn’t the type to sell her body or get into trouble. She gave them $50 twice to help cover her expenses.

Karim asks Bao to translate Michelle’s texts. They are what you’d expect, telling Mrs Vu that she wants to come home, that she’s trying to be strong, and that she’s trying to raise money so they can have a home again.

When Karim is done, he makes arrangements for Mrs Vu to sleep at Bao and Denise’s apartment, telling her he’ll call when he has more information. He stops to buy some M&Ms, then shares them with Donald when the boy walks by the store.

He asks what Donald wanted to tell him. Donald takes his hand and leads him to a big green house that’s a few blocks away. The mansion is abandoned, so Donald leads him inside and upstairs, then points at a set of double closet doors.

Karim opens the doors, and discovers Michelle has built a nest inside, with bedding on the floor, and drawings all over the ceiling.

The drawings are of math equations, religious and spiritual symbols, scientific and geometric patterns, and other figures. There is a labyrinth, and there are other shapes with repeating circles.

For a moment, Karim’s eye is reflected back at him by something in the wall, under the rose poster, as if another version of Karim is watching through the wall.

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Donald tells Karim that Michelle wasn’t doing bad things. She was making her money from playing phone games. She was making thousands of dollars from the game, but the game doesn’t have a name, so you don’t talk about it.

It’s the Voldemort of games.

Karim finds Michelle’s phone hidden in a niche in the wall, behind a poster of a red rose. The house has a stained glass red rose window in the attic.

Donald puts the code into Michelle’s phone and shows him the game. Green lines forming successive rectangles move within the screen, like doors toward the viewer, or the infinite line of doors that would appear when two mirrors were held up to each other.

As a screencap, you can see that there is something else attached to the rectangles. Are they trying to escape or trying to go through the doors?

Suddenly, a guy jumps Karim and Donald, then grabs Michelle’s phone. He’s filthy and emaciated. Once he picks up the phone and gets into the game, he begins ranting,”I’ve solved them myself. I’ve solved everything. My brain can hold all the brains. My thoughts can dry water. I’ve seen a million versions of myself… [Karim tries to help him.] These are mine. I did this.”

When Karim tries to rest a comforting hand on Liam’s shoulder, Liam panics and jumps out of a window, which had been covered by crumbling, old shutters. He lies on the sidewalk, bleeding from a head wound. Karim sends Donald to school, with the promise that he’ll visit Bao and Denise again later, and he’ll definitely find Michelle.

While the paramedics prepare Liam for transport to the hospital, the cops harass question Karim. He’s been harassed questioned by these cops before, and every word he says is viewed as arrogant backtalk, no matter how innocuous. It’s clear that the police aren’t going to be of any more help than they have been so far, whether it’s investigating Liam’s jump and what goes on in the house or finding Michelle. Plus, they take Michelle’s phone into evidence.

Karim draws a quick sketch of the game on his phone to show to others when he asks around. His next stop is a warehouse of computer nerds doing black market work. A deaf security guard explains that the game really doesn’t have a name, but the kids call it Q Symphony and the players are called Q-kids. He confirms that the players make money from the game, then tells Karim he can find Q-kids at a house called Big Blue.

We’ve had red and green color references, but the only blue references I’ve caught are the sky. Now the blue references are about to start, with a giant blue tarp covering the front of what looks like a crack house, but is actually a gamer house, full of kids so absorbed in games, they’re physically wasting away.

Instead of looking to the sky or other people to dream, these kids look to their screens. They don’t even look up or at each other the see if they recognize Michelle, a gamer like themselves. There is no loyalty among gamers.

Big Blue: Question the Answers

Karim and his trusty orange car.

Come back in a few episodes and reexamine the wire sculpture.

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Karim wanders through Big Blue, asking if anyone’s seen Michelle. No one has. In one crowded room, a kid sends Michelle’s photo to the rest of the kids in the room, who shake their heads “no” without looking up.

One guy does try to stop Karim, as he enters a room with handmade wire sculptures. Karim insists on entering, since he’s not a gamer. In fact, Karim hates games. The woman in the room, Fola (played by Zendaya), corrects him.

Fola: “It’s not a game. It’s a puzzle. A game is one side against another. There’s a winner and a loser. Puzzles don’t have losers.”

Karim: “Well, you lose if you don’t solve it.”

Fola: “No, you’re stuck if you don’t solve it. The designer wants the player to figure it out. It’s not a war. It’s a mystery.”

Karim, gesturing to the wire sculptures: “You built this?”

Fola: “We did, yeah.”

He pulls out the photo of Michelle, and explains to Fola that he’s looking for a girl who Made $31k playing Q Symphony. She immediately knows who he’s talking about, and tells him Michelle stopped coming to the house about 2 weeks ago- about the same time she stopped contacting Mrs Vu.

Fola: “Symphony doesn’t like people working together, and after a while, she did not need us.”

Fola doesn’t know where Michelle is, because Michelle surpassed her in the puzzle. Karim tells her he’s desperate to find the other girl. She explains that Karim will have to follow in Michelle’s footsteps, and “at a certain point, the game goes IRL- in real life.”

She takes him to a set of tall outdoor steps, decorated with a mosaic on the baseboards.

Fola: “The early levels on the phone are just about weeding people out. It’s really about getting here.”

Karim: “And that’s why Michelle came to San Francisco.”

Fola: “It’s why we all come.”

Karim: “How much can you make playing Symphony?”

Fola: “Well, there are five levels. Level one, it’s $50. Level two, 500. Level three, 5,000.”

Karim: “How many people do that?”

Fola: “Not many.”

Karim: “You?” Fola nods her head. “And they really pay?”

Fola: “Yeah, yeah, in ether. They want people to keep playing.”

Karim: “Why?”

Fola: “Level four is $50,000. I don’t know anyone who’s made it that far except for maybe Michelle. Level five is a million. Here. [Hands Karim back his phone.] Now that I’ve gotten you to this level, solve it.”

The first task is the solve the riddle “Above the sea, below the stars,” using a five letter word. The game turns Karim’s camera on and encourages him to view the world through the augmented reality it’s creating.

Karim tries “birds” then “plane”. Both are incorrect. Fola mentions that you only get three tries at the answer, then you have to wait a week before you try again. He realizes he needs to be more specific and gives the flight number of a particular flight he can see in the sky right now.

Possibly that serves to ground the player in this space-time?

He’s given the next clue: Three wise, man. To be solved with a six letter word.

Fola says that now he knows how good it can feel to solve the puzzle.

Fola: “Ultimately, a puzzle is a conversation between the player and the maker. The puzzlemaker is teaching you a new language. How to escape the limits of your own thinking, and see things you didn’t know were there.”

Karim: “Sounds like God.”

Fola: “Except it’s real.”

Fola tells us that this season, the game and puzzle makers will take the place of the gods and goddesses, like Khatoun, who guided the characters in Part 1. She assumes all puzzlemakers have a benign, selfless goal in mind for the player, and by extension, assumes that all gods and Goddesses do, too. Part 1 proved her wrong in that assumption.

Karim, on the other hand, always assumes the worst of everyone. He accuses Fola of helping him only so that she can advance in the game. She replies that she wants him to fall in love with the process.

Karim shows her a photo of Liam on the sidewalk after he jumped, and asks if that’s the way she wants him to fall in love. Fola replies somewhat coldly, saying that Liam was always unstable. If people climb mountains, some will fall. Something would have happened to Liam sooner or later.

The chance to find out what’s at the top of Puzzle Mountain is work the risk. She thinks Michelle won the game and her previous life doesn’t matter to her anymore, that’s why she hasn’t been heard from. They agree that only the people who’ve finished the game and the person who built it know what happens to the winners.

Pierre Ruskin sits in an expensive looking greenhouse restaurant and speaks with his fiance, Nina, on the phone. He speaks in English, she speaks Russian. Nina feels Pierre has betrayed her because of something that happened in a house. Pierre assumes that the woman who informed Nina has sent her photos or a video.

Nina asks how many were in the house and what he did with them. She says she can’t unsee the things she saw in that house. Pierre tells her to come to the restaurant, she’s still his partner in all things. Nina agrees to meet him, but she tells him that she’s not his partner anymore and she doesn’t want him near the house.

The scene shifts from the restaurant to a dock, where Nina Azarova is waiting to catch a ferry. When she turns her head, we realize it’s the OA, but not the OA. This is a different reality from the one the OA was born in. Nina hangs up and removes the ring from her ring finger as she walks toward the ferry.

As the ferry crosses San Francisco Bay, Nina looks back toward Alcatraz Prison and the Golden Gate Bridge. She hums the melody that Prairie frequently played on her violin, and fidgets with her keychain, which is decorated with a realistic looking blue eyeball.

Does she need to remember that she’s being watched? Or to keep her eyes open and notice everything?

Nina continues looking out toward the back of the boat, when she’s suddenly gripped by intense chest pain and collapses. She thinks she’s been shot, but a bystander tells her it’s a heart attack.

32:30 minutes into the episode, we transition to the ambulance which is taking Prairie Johnson, aka The OA, to the hospital, after she was shot in the chest during a school shooting 2 YEARS ago. Just in case you thought this was Nina/Prairie/OA’s story, you have now been informed that, in fact, she’s just a small cog in the machine.

I hope a few of you were smarter than me and fast forwarded to this moment, then went back later to watch the first half hour.

Prairie wills herself toward the light that is Homer, while Steve chases the ambulance, begging to go with her. Prairie flatlines, and a glowing light takes her spirit from this dimension.

Prairie: “They said it would be like jumping into an invisible current that just carries you away.”

There’s that word, “invisible” again.

Prairie gasps into consciousness in Nina’s body, her ears ringing intensely. She asks the paramedics where she is, they tell her San Francisco. Then Prairie has some unPrairie-like reactions and becomes upset because her hands and feet have nail polish on when she didn’t before.

The woman who was held captive and on camera in front of her captor for 7 years, who jumped dimensions on purpose, would be more clever than that in this situation.

Prairie wakes up some time later in a hospital bed. A nurse shows up within moments to test her sanity. She answers the questions correctly, except Joe Biden is president in this dimension, not Barack Obama, and she goes by Nina. The nurse lets her look at herself in a small mirror, and she realizes that her face looks like her, but not quite the same. She finally catches on that she must have jumped.

Prairie notices an orderly lurking nearby with a dose of a sedative for her. The nurse assures her that it’s just to calm her, but OA still has the same issues with doctors and medical care- namely, she gets panic attacks. The nurse won’t budge on the sedative, insisting it’s standard procedure for patients like OA, which I assume means patients who aren’t calm, cooperative and dignified at every moment.

The nurse tries to force the shot on OA, so OA tries to move away from her, then to run. The nurse calls out that she has a combative patient, a 5150. OA isn’t violent, just trying to avoid an unnecessary, unwanted medication, but she’s held in place by two huge orderlies and given the shot.

With that, we go to the opening credits, 38 minutes into the episode. Karim’s dream from the opening was 7 hours and 46 minutes before Prairie jumped into Nina. There’s still 30 minutes left in the episode.

It’s evening, and Karim plays basketball in the neighborhood with a bunch of computer types, so he can work them for information about the game. They immediately figure that it’s a recruitment tool. One woman, Tess, suggests that it could be about crowdsourcing a problem. She thinks sounds like something Pierre Ruskin would do.

She tells him that with his first company, Ruskin didn’t hire anyone. “Just posted a prize on some obscure message board. Five grand for the best low-cost carbon panel. Overnight, 200 people working for him, without a soul on the payroll.” She knows about this because, “I won the five grand for the best panel, and his name was on the check.”

Karim thanks her for the information. She says if he wants to thank her, to forget her name. She dribbles the basketball into the night.

Karim is on the phone before she’s out of sight, calling his associate for Pierre Ruskin’s address.

Piere Ruskin is trying to visit Nina/Prairie, his partner in all things, who isn’t easily swayed by spoiled men in any of her incarnations. The nurses fawn over Pierre, but Prairie declines his visit. He doesn’t take the news well, and trashes the waiting room. No one forces a sedative on him or puts him on a locked ward.

Next in line is Prairie’s newly assigned case worker, Melody, who has good and bad news. Prairie asks to hear the bad news first. Melody checked into Homer’s whereabouts for Prairie. There aren’t any in St Louis but she discovered there’s a psychiatrist in the Bay area with his name.

The good news is that Prairie’s other contact is waiting to speak with her on the computer- Prairie’s adoptive mother from her original dimension, Nancy Johnson. In this dimension, the Johnsons never adopted Prairie, so Nancy doesn’t recognize her and doesn’t know how to help her. She does answer Prairie’s questions, even when they get uncomfortably personal.

Prairie realizes that she never went to live with her Aunt Zoya in this reality, so Nancy and Abel adopted the baby boy they’d originally planned to in Prairie’s world. Prairie thanks Nancy for everything she did for her as a mother, even though it’s not the right Nancy. This Nancy seems to be feeling a connection to Prairie, just as her adoptive mother felt an immediate connection, but they aren’t allowed to continue talking.

When Prairie hangs up, Melody reveals that she now has very bad news. Prairie has been put on a 14 day psych hold. Prairie can’t bear the thought of another 14 days in that hospital, and insists she’s confused, not crazy. Melody explains they need to do this because Prairie threatened the nurse, but Prairie can go stay at a private clinic and it will be like a spa vacation. Prairie has no choice but to agree.

Melody’s bad news when she arrived to see Prairie was that Homer isn’t in St Louis. Then Prairie rebuffs Pierre Ruskin, he gets angry, and five minutes later, Melody has the hard news that Prairie’s on a 14 day psych hold. And, oh yeah, someone has pulled some strings to get her into a particular private clinic, Treasure Island. I guarantee that someone was Pierre Ruskin, who wants to hold her hostage until she cooperates with his control again.

Melody takes Prairie to Nina’s penthouse apartment to pick up a few things before they go to Treasure Island. Prairie can’t get her key to work, but the doorman, Al, is very kind and helpful. The penthouse is gorgeous. Prairie is overwhelmed that she’ll get to live there eventually.

Nina has a canary like the one OA swallowed in Part 1, and an aquarium, reminiscent of the one Homer found in his vision. OA examines Nina’s photos and realizes that her father and Nina were together until he was an old man. Melody tells her he died recently (shot in the bathtub). Then OA realizes that Nina wasn’t on the bus in Russia when it went off the bridge, so she didn’t go blind.

Melody reminds Prairie that they need to gather clothes and supplies for the clinic, so they look in Nina’s bedroom. Her closet is locked with a keypad and password that Prairie doesn’t know. Her clothing seems too formal for a clinic.

Karim has Pierre’s house staked out, and listens to an interview with one of his top executives, Bert Gabel. The interviewer says that the Wall Street Journal called Pierre “the prophet of the valley.” When asked how Pierre is able to accurately predict the next big thing, Bert says that Pierre knows where to listen and how to listen to the world, which is whispering its intentions all the time. Pierre hears things in a way that isn’t possible for most of us.

Karim gets a call back from his associate who does the research for him. She’s looked into the kids who are potentially playing the game and disappearing. We only hear Karim’s side of the conversation, which is cryptic.

Karim: “What did you find?… How many of them? Nationwide?… Those five kids in the Bay Area…. What do you mean f–ked up? All playing the game?… Yeah, but how many have a prior history of mental illness?… Yeah, so we don’t know it’s the game cracking them up… Yeah, cause there are like thousands of kids playing… High-strung, spectrum-y math types. How many would crack up anyway?”

He hangs up when someone leaves Rushkin’s house, and he follows them.

It sounds like she found some evidence that the game is messing kids up, but it’s hard to prove, given the types of kids who become obsessed with games and the societal prejudices against them. There were 5 kids in the San Francisco area that she took particular note of, but that’s all we know about them.

Now let’s take a scenic ride to Treasure Island. Two beefy orderlies escort Prairie inside. Her case worker isn’t invited in, which seems strange.

I think Karim’s soundtrack just went to Stranger Things for a second. That can’t be good.

He’s followed the car to a hidden, underground business called Curi. Michelle drew a picture of the sign in her closet, so Karim definitely wants to get inside. When a cleaning van passes behind him, Karim purposely backs into it. Once both drivers are out of their cars, Karim makes a deal to join the cleaning crew inside Curi for the night.

Once inside, the Stranger Things rhythm returns off and on, so we know we’re in big trouble here. Karim finds computer monitors with sheep and trees as the screen saver. In another room, technicians analyze audio recordings for key words.

He spots a young woman being escorted downstairs and through a set of doors, but the doors lock before he reaches them. They have a keypad exactly like the one on Nina’s closet, leaving no doubt that Ruskin is involved in both instances.

Karim peeks through a window into the room and sees exposed air ducts in the ceiling. He climbs a utility ladder to reach the ducts, then crawls through the ducts, in another callback to Homer’s vision. There is an ambient red glow throughout this sequence.

Karim finds an opening in the duct so he can spy on the room below. A dozen or so women are either sleeping or speaking into microphones, recording their dreams. There are other people in the room with them, monitoring them closely.

Prairie makes a diagram on the wall of her room in the clinic, illustrating the similarities and differences between her life and Nina’s. Nina got to live in Paris with Papa and go to college, while Prairie was a blind orphan adopted by an abusive family who made her think she was crazy, then she was kidnapped, held hostage and tortured for 7 years.

Getting on that bus really was a huge mistake.

Footsteps approach the door. Prairie sits down and waits to see who it will be.

You can tell he’s a different person because of the beard.

It’s Homer!!! It’s Dr Roberts, the psychiatrist from this dimension with Homer’s name and face, but not his memories. He’s a third year resident at the clinic. The universe has played yet another cruel joke on the OA, and Homer has no idea who she is. She gasps out his name, shocking him, until he decides she read it on his name tag and instructs her to call him Dr Roberts.

They proceed to have a confusing, if brilliant, little walk and talk, in which everyone but Homer tries to figure out if they’re dreaming.

The rooms and halls are all institutional and white. Homer helps OA up, and they briefly stumble over who wants to be called what. Then, he begins his standard new patient speech as he brings her to meet the director of the clinic. As they walk by the other patients’ rooms, one by one, OA sees every single one of Hap’s other captives- Renata, Rachel, and Scott. They look as shocked to see her as she is to see them. They all seem sure they’ve entered a nightmare again.

Homer’s speech- you’ll appreciate it later:

“I’m taking you to meet the director. No, no, no. [Makes Prairie stop pawing him.] He’s a remarkable man. I’ve been studying under him for my entire residency. I first read his book back in med school. It’s actually the reason that I chose psychiatry. It’s okay. He’s had tremendous success with his patients. There’s really no one like him in the field. You’re in good hands. I’d like you to meet the head of the clinic- Dr Hunter Percy.

Hap turns around and says, “Hi.” He excuses Homer.

We’re all gonna die.

The Angel of Death has arrived.

Once they’re alone, Hap moves closer to OA. “It is you, isn’t it? Hello, Prairie.”

Prairie lunges at him.

Commentary

Karim said he hates games, but he seemed to enjoy the word game Fola gave him that was part of Q Symphony. I think what he hates are lies and manipulations, the games people play between each other in their “real” lives.

I quoted Fola’s entire description of the game levels and pay off because I have a strong feeling that the game is connected to the type of dimension hopping the OA was teaching the boys and Betty. If so, then that would suggest there are five levels involved with dimension-hopping. We are given a few clues: the game designer wants people to win but to do it on their own,without collaboration; and few make it to level five, but they receive a large cash payout when they do.

Are these the levels between heaven and h–l? Levels signifying travel expertise and ease or the number of possible lifetime jumps? Do they signify the steps toward self-actualization/finding the ideal self and an ideal dimension? It has to be significant that the person who has a counterpart that’s involved with dimensional travel, who has practiced the movements, is one of the few to get the farthest.

OA is held prisoner and labeled mentally ill, again, after replacing a wealthy woman who should have been able to buy and lawyer her way out of that situation. Where were Nina’s Russian mobster attorneys? How can Hap and an upstart like Ruskin outmaneuver her old money? Surely her father left her set up with protection.

The kid in Big Blue who asks everyone if they’ve seen Michelle initially asks Karim if he’s the plumber. It’s an odd question, since they’re obviously squatting. Do squatters call in plumbers?

That could be a veiled reference to Homer’s vision, where the bathrooms were flooding. It could also have something to do with the game.

Liam said, “My brain can hold all the brains. My thoughts can dry water. I’ve seen a million versions of myself.”

My thoughts can dry water.- Is he the plumber? Before he lost it, could he control the invisible current one uses when dimension hopping, drying the flow to leave the current and enter a dimension?

My brain can hold all the brains.- Multiple personalities? Or multiple minds from multiple dimensions?

I’ve seen a million versions of myself.- If we assume Liam’s condition has something to do with the game, then something at a point higher than Fola has reached, either level 4 or 5 or both, appears to open the mind to the vastness of the alternate dimensions. Liam says he’s seen a million versions of himself, and his brain can hold them all. Did he touch all of those dimensions and now those minds have all jumped into him? Was he just driven crazy by the thought of so many versions of himself? Was he taken to millions of dimensions using time dilation, then returned? What happened to Michelle, and the others?

youtube

Images courtesy of Netflix.

The OA Part 2 Episode 1: Angel of Death Recap Recaps of The OA Part 1 can be found HERE. Welcome back, kids! Are we all ready to ride along with The OA as she questions the nature of reality and causes chaos in the world around her?

#alternate realities #Angel of Death #Brit Marling #Emory Cohen #Jason Isaacs #Kingsley Ben-Adir #metacrone #recaps #review #science fiction #speculative fiction #The OA #Zal Batmanglij #Zendaya

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rebelthroughreading-blog · 6 years ago

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Silver Kiss by Annette Curtis Klause

With her mother’s worsening sickness, her father’s gradual distance, and her best friend moving, Zoë finds unlikely company in a boy is a vampire.

Quick Information

price: $9.99

number of pages: 224

ISBN: 978-0385734226

publisher and date: Dell Publishing 1990

author’s website: none

genre: juvenile fiction

main subjects: vampire, death, young adult, supernatural

Plot

Zoë’s mother has terminal cancer, she never sees her father anymore, and her best friend is on the eve of moving. In her loneliest hour, she looks for any company and purpose in her life and finds Simon, a beautiful boy with a dangerous past that has come to town with murderous intentions. Zoë and Simon must work together to save people from a dark force and find happiness where they could not alone.

Who’s reading it?

Written on a 9th grade level, high school students are most likely to enjoy and appreciate the story.

Why did I read it?

When I was younger, I read Blood and Chocolate, another book by Annette Curtis Klause, and was enamored. It changed the way that I thought about werewolves and supernatural. Of course, once I heard that she had a vampire book, I had to read it. So many people have regarded the story as one of the best in supernatural fiction, and after having read it, I agree.

Evaluation

Zoë’s life speaks to many young adult’s today. The loss of a parent, whether through death, divorce, or so other tragedy, the loss of a friend, through the same ways, and the loss of hope is so abundant that a book like this, that really captures that sense of despair crashing down. What the book also does is show that the possibility of regaining hope is possible. For Zoë, she is finally able to see that she can still be happy despite the sadness that threatens to overwhelm her. For Simon, having lost his brother first, then his mother through a brutal murder to later find out that was his brother, and then to watch as his brother continued his murderous ways until he, Simon, could stop the brother, is another kind of loss and inward battle. Yet, through the help that they could provide to each other, Zoë and Simon were able to find the happiness that they both sought, even if that meant finding a new kind of sorrow that comes with sacrifice.

Before they can get to the part where they have found hope, Zoë and Simon have to be in despair. Zoë wants desperately to see her mother, but she feels as though everyone is keeping her away. Her dad is never home to talk to her, often because he is at the hospital with her mother. She sometimes feels as though her mother no longer needs her and her father no longer loves her. She tries to prove her worth by being there for her mother but only proves how afraid she is and feels that may be the reason that she is not allowed to be at the hospital very long. Her best friend is moving, and she wants her to stay but knows that there is nothing that she can do. She is annoyed, because her friend is always talking about the move and feels as though the friend is not thinking of how it might make Zoë feel. We feel how conflicted Zoë is as she makes her decisions. She debates on whether or not to respect her parents’ wishes and stay away from the hospital despite how she feels. She is conflicted on how to treat her friend who she sees as both being unaware of Zoë ‘s feelings but in the right to have her own as well. She needs help but does not know how to ask.

Simon, several hundred years old, has lost his mother to a murder and has been turned into a monster by the monster that used to be his brother. He has spent his several life times just surviving, living day by day tricking and killing people to sustain himself, and later hunting down his brother to stop him from the murderous rampages on which he goes. He feels as though he has little purpose in life, especially knowing that even if he were to find purpose and happiness, he would outlive them. When he speaks to Zoë, he knows that if he allowed himself to find that true joy for which he had been longing for so long, she would quickly be ripped away from him too by her short lifespan. He needs help and also knows not how to ask.

It is Simon who reaches out. In the preface, we see Simon briefly come out of his despair when a cat reaches his heart. He remembers that he can love, but she dies and he is alone again, but this time, he understands that the compassion is necessary to survive. He cannot continue living through days so unhappy - hopeless - and destined only to end the lives of others. When he sees Zoë, he can feel that passion again. The audience can see the swell of hope that buds between the two characters. We long to feel the change in both of their lives.

The use of the supernatural gives the audience a barrier between the reality of the story and their personal reality. Like all great stories, it speaks of the problems of the real world, specifically with young adults. Murders by a bloodthirsty and deranged monster is easier than to think that someone might actually commit those crimes. The idea that you might immediately fall in love with someone is easier to think about if that person has magical powers that make him attractive. The supernatural is different enough from the real world to be attractive.

The Issues

supernatural

violence, specifically involving children

The Silver Kiss has far less “issues” in the way of its appropriateness than other books such as The Chocolate War or Thirteen Reasons Why. Within this story, we do not get the vulgar language or sexual implications like in so much of the young adult literature. Instead, we have vampires. Vampires are evil creatures that survive through literally draining the blood and thus the life of living humans, often in terribly brutal and graphic ways. In many cultures, the vampire or respective creatures murder for fun, like Simon’s brother Christopher. Christopher enjoys manipulating women and savaging them instead of just killing them. He loves the violence. He kills all ages without discrimination. The murder delights him. He can use his supernatural powers to control his victims. He can manipulate their feelings and their desires. He has superhuman strength and weapon-like fangs.

Simon too has these same qualities. He uses his powers on Zoë to make himself more desirable. He makes her want to kiss him so that he can have what he wants. He previous victims were all under his spell to both see him as attractive and then complacent enough for him to feed on them. The vampires can use these powers to completely render humans powerless and thus unable to defend themselves.

Simon is “frozen” at seventeen. Christopher was not even a teen when he became a vampire. Both were changed into monsters as children. Even if Simon’s change is more easily accepted as he was almost an adult, Christopher was still a young boy. He is a child murdering. An adult turned this child into a life-sucking monster who is committing the acts of violent serial killers.

So why should we read it?

The supernatural, specifically the vampire, is extremely appealing to young adults. There is something about the mystery of being slightly off from the normal person, the inherent darkness that resides within the monstrous beings, and the idea of a human overcoming that dark power that draws the attention of those most impressionable. What teenage girl does not love the tall, dark, and mysterious guy who could drain the life out of her, in the most provocative and sexy way possible, but does not because he loves her? Very few. I would wager to say that the majority of teenage girls at some point in their lives find that somewhat attractive, even if they do not want that to happen in their real lives. This does not mean that we are teaching our children to go hunting for the mysterious people that may cause serious harm to them and the world around them, but we are saying that those people exist. For comparison, the vampire is like Han Solo from the Star Wars series. People love Han Solo. They either want to be him or they want to date him. He is appealing, because he is the “bad boy.” Real people who have those bad boy characteristics are not the best people with which to be acquainted. Real people are not for whom they are looking. They are looking for that mystique that does not exist.

It is true. Children becoming monsters and committing acts of graphic violence out of the love of the fear and pain is terrifying. We would hate to live in a world where children murder for fun. The evil inside these monsters is the most terrifying thing we could ever imagine. These are stories where the innocent prey on the innocent; where our children are totally and completely corrupted. But in the real world, they are. In the real world, children murder people.

How can we use it?

So why do we let them read about that mystique? Because they are going to find it eventually anyway. They are going to find the mysterious older guy who may be harmful or may be lonely. They are going to see that other children and young adults mean harm to them and the world. They are going to have to face this in real life, so we should introduce it to them first through the eyes of more positivity. Do not start with “You are destined to suffer” instead we say “You may suffer, but you can always find hope again. Use this drastic leap from reality to fantasy to help teach our youth about the real world without them feeling the uncomfortable familiarity of their own lives. Let them deal with their losses by seeing that others too have been in the same places. That is always a great help in the grieving process.

Booktalk Ideas

Simon decides to die after his life has lasted so long and his purpose has been fulfilled. He finally found a possible source of happiness that he knows he will not have forever and still decides that death is the appropriate response. He ends his life knowing the pain that he is inflicting on Zoë. Is his death a suicide? Should we treat his death as a suicide or should we treat it like an elderly person passing when their time has come? Is his death justified even with the pain that he may have caused for the future?

The epilogue includes a passage where Zoë sees Grimalkin, who she had never met, and Simon, who had died. Both interact with her and discuss a life after death. Are their apparitions magical? Previous to this incident, though we know that vampires exist with supernatural abilities, are we assuming that this is the same kind of ability or something more meaningful? What is the purpose of Zoë having these visions? Are the readers unsatisfied until they know that Simon and Zoë can eventually find peace and each other?

What else can I read?

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

Look for Me by Moonlight by Mary Downing Hahn

Awards and Lists

1993 Sequoyah Young Adult Award

1991 Best First Novel

Professional Reviews

Alleen Pace Nilsen and Ken Donalsen (1991), English Journal - https://search-proquest-com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/docview/237282436?accountid=10361&rfr_id=info%3Axri%2Fsid%3Aprimo

Patti Spencer (1994), English Journal - https://search-proquest-com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/docview/237298601?accountid=10361&rfr_id=info%3Axri%2Fsid%3Aprimo

#annette curtis krause #vampires #vampire love #YA #young adult #supernatural #death #murder #fiction

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beyondforks · 7 years ago

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Book Review! When Smoke Rains Down by Cecelia Earl

When Smoke Rains Down (Kingdom Come #2) by Cecelia Earl Genre: Young Adult (Paranormal/Fantasy) Date Published: May 31, 2017 Publisher: Self

If only humans knew the invisible danger lurking around them...

In the aftermath of an explosion and Homecoming battle, Julia tries to form some semblance of a routine: work, study, and visit her brother who remains hospitalized. Unable to confide in anyone about her double life of being both human and angel, and fearful she'll bring more death and destruction to those she loves, she pulls away from her family and best friend.

When demons once again start to show up at every turn, seemingly bringing about her brother's deepening depression, she demands her sword from Nicholas. Ever the stern Guardian Angel, he forbids her from using it. Isolated, she takes protecting her brother into her own hands. But when demons show they have evils hidden within their weapons in addition to their ability to siphon souls from the living, Julia's not sure she knows the best way to handle saving him any longer. Especially when ash-colored lines begin to appear on humans, lines of demonic poison that travel through their veins toward their hearts and alter their moods.

Thrust into a dark world of conspiring demons, Julia is in more danger than she ever imagined possible. To stop evil from spreading and overtaking those she loves, she'll have to seek out the one person she mistrusts most--especially when a line appears on her own arm, and her apathy toward doing much of anything, including saving anyone, grows.

Enter a complex world where humans, demons, and angels collide, all battling to rule the Earth. For readers who enjoy young adult paranormal romance and dark fantasy. Fans of City of Bones, Hush Hush, Unearthly, Halo, and Hidden Wings will be captivated by this unique take on angels and demons.

When Smoke Rains Down is Book Two in the Kingdom Come series. Book Three, When Fire Rains Down, the final installment, will be out late 2017.

When Smoke Rains Down is the second book in the Kingdom Come series by Cecelia Earl. There is some intense spiritual warfare going on, and now it's gotten more personal for Julia as it's affecting her family and friends even worse than before. It was a little slow to start, but once it got going, it was to put down. There was a lot of building this time around... character building, plot building, world building, relationship building, and more. So much is going on within and around Julia, and she's still unsure of how to handle everything, even though she thinks she is. She comes such a long way within this book though. I truly enjoyed watching her progress and grow. There is some romance. It's a little tense and quite fragile, but I can see it going in any direction at this point. I wasn't ready for it to end, but I'm completely pumped for the next book!

When Smoke Rains Down by Cecelia Earl was kindly provided to me by YA Bound for review. The opinions are my own.

The smoke clears. A quick scan of the room proves no customers are disturbed, and this disturbs me even more than having to douse flames already this morning. Apparently, they're all so accustomed to Travis's daily mishaps it no longer fazes anyone. It’s like everything’s the same… except the part about me being part-angel. "Unplug the toaster, Travis," I tell him. "We don't need the place to burn down a second time.” His eyes fly up to meet mine, and his face reddens. "Oh, yup, got it." He yanks the toaster cord from the wall. He dares to handle the no-longer-inflamed pieces of bread with two fingers, tossing one after another into a trashcan. I sigh, hand him a pair of tongs, and clap him on the shoulder. "Save us from paying for your employee medical bills for burnt fingers, please." I hoist a tray up on my shoulder, steadying the mugs and plates, and notice the empty mugs in front of the customers at the counter. I pivot to grab a jug of regular coffee and pour, filling one mug after another. "Julia, let me do that. You're going to drop your tray." As if. "I've got it, Trav." "Really, that's a heavy load on your shoulder." "Nope. Thanks, though." And that's when two customers walk in wearing masks. I realize it's Halloween, but at their entrance, my wings threaten to emerge and my nerves go on high-alert. I’m pretty sure they’re not here for the coffee. Then, between their smiles distorting into fang-filled grins, and trying to keep my wings from flying out and knocking down every dish and appliance nearby, I jolt, and the tray and pot of coffee all go crashing down. I've still not figured out the trying-to-stay-a-transparent-human-angel thing, and I don't trust Nicholas's promise that it'll just happen on its own, but now I’ve disturbed the customers. Customers seated comfortably at our newly remodeled granite counter top upon newly purchased metal-backed swivel chairs jump up, shrieking. Probably burnt by scalding coffee. The entire place is in disarray. And the demonic-clad Halloween duo have disappeared. They weren’t wearing masks; they were real demons. To the other non-angel customers, they appeared to be just two men like any other that came in for coffee or a meal. If only humans knew the invisible danger that lurks around them. "Julia, I told you I'd help." Travis is now shaking his head at me disapprovingly. At me. And not the other way around. Mom comes rushing in from the kitchen in the back, faster than I'd like to see her move only weeks after her release from the hospital. "What happened? Travis, what did you do?" He throws his hands up innocently. "Nothing. It wasn't me. It was her." He points at me. "She was trying to handle a full tray and pour coffee at the same time." "Julia, you're not an island. It's okay to accept help." She looks around at the counter and floor, now covered in coffee and shattered glass. "In fact, you have to start accepting help. Don't try to do everything yourself all the time. It'll only end in disaster. Clearly." I sigh. There's no use explaining I would’ve handled everything fine had demons not come in to taunt and threaten me. For weeks, there'd been no sign of any angel or demon drama, but little by little in the past couple of days, I've started getting glimpses of that other world again. And my back pain has been acting up. It's like it's all starting to happen again. And Nicholas won't let me have access to my sword. "Go back and finish making the food, Mom." I grab rags and start mopping up the mess, starting with the customers. "I've got this." "Let Travis help you, for crying out loud." She tightens her lips, but heads back to her stove. "Is everyone okay?" I check over the customers waiting to return to their soon-to-be-dry chairs. "Steve? Monica?" "We're fine. Just got spooked," Monica says. She’s in her thirties and recently moved into town with her kids after being hired by none other than Mr. Luca Star. He's started up some new business and now employs half the town. And that's in addition to the business in which he offered me a job. And when I turned him down, he showed up at my high school dance looking less like a businessman and more like… the devil . While I mop up the coffee, Travis collects the glass pieces. It doesn't take long to get the place back in order. Perfectly toasted bread is served and coffee is poured in unbroken mugs. “On the house, everyone. I’m really sorry about the disturbance.” All is right with the world again, but I can't stop looking over my shoulder for warped faces and tar-dripping fangs every chance I get. I know trouble can't be far away, not with my wings twinging and the stone in my necklace blazing with heat. It's only a matter of time before everything goes awry again. Only this time, I will be ready. And nobody but the demons will be hurt.

Check out my review of the first book in this series!

Cecelia Earl graduated with a degree in education and has been teaching ever since. She’s a wife, a mom of three boys, and an owner of a magical laundry pile that never stops growing. She lives near enough to Green Bay, WI that her refrigerator is always stocked with cheese, and the first colors her children learned were green and gold. She’s a teacher by day, a mom always, and a writer in her sleep, but that’s okay because being an author is a dream come true. She writes angel books for young and youngish adults. If you feel young, she writes for you—whether or not you feel particularly angelic.

To learn more about Cecelia Earl and her books, visit her website.You can also find her on Goodreads, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter.

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