#but more like he doesn't use her as a mirror so the stakes aren't the same

[cosmicjoke]

as a big life is strange fan and reading tsuki no uras post levi absolutely picked humanity over erwin

i am not good at explaining my thoughts but ill try

id we only focus on erwin the chpice that levi has to make is more simillar to when max has to choose where to help a chloe in an alternative universe to help "kill" her because she was already dying after a car accident (from what i remember her respiratory system was starting to fail)

so when we only focus on erwin levi choice is choosing to keep someone alive for a selfish reasons or let them rest

and imo armin was still a better choice for humanity and levi saw that clearly

because erwin wouldnt have been the same

and armin was able to abandon his dreams for the sake of humanity on his own without a help from levi like erwin had to

people also say that armins dream was get to the sea but it was much more than that

what he wanted to do was to explore the outside world

Well, first, I'll just say that whatever Isayama drew inspiration from isn't meant to be seen as a 1:1 comparison to his own work, or as analogous to his work. Isayama drew inspiration from multiple sources for AoT, but AoT itself is still an original work unto itself, and needs to be examined separately on its own, and only within its own context, to be properly understood.

Using some other, different work of fiction to inform you of the intent or meaning behind the events, plot or actions of the characters in AoT is a good way lose sight of the actual story itself, and what it's conveying. AoT isn't "Life is Strange", and the events that take place in AoT aren't meant to exactly mirror or convey the same message or meaning as the events of "Life is Strange", or any of the other, numerous works that Isayama drew inspiration from when writing AoT. The only way to properly understand and analyze AoT, or any work of art, is to analyze the work itself, without regard to outside material. People that focus and rely on Isayama's comments in interviews about what inspired him while writing the story only ever do so because they're looking for evidence that doesn't exist in the narrative itself to support whatever biased view they hold about the story and its characters. Isayama saying he was inspired by that scene from "Life is Strange" doesn't mean he intended Levi's choice to 100% mirror or match the meaning or circumstances of that scene. It just means the drama of the scene was something he wanted to capture and convey in his work. He wanted the weight of Levi's choice and the significance of it to come through in the same way. Because there was something just as great at stake as the fate of the world in Isayama's scene, but it wasn't a literal copy of the circumstances of the scene in "Life is Strange". The fate of the world didn't rest on Levi's choice. I'll get into what did rest on Levi's choice in a moment. But the scene from "Life is Strange" is very literally an "end of the world" scenario, in which Max, if she chooses to save Chole, will doom the world to total destruction. If I remember it correctly, the world literally gets torn apart by some super storm or something to that effect. That wasn't what was happening in the scene between Levi and Erwin. It wasn't a "doomsday" scenario, in which, if Levi didn't bring Erwin back to life, the world would be destroyed.

This is what I mean when I say you can't correlate the works Isayama draws inspiration from with the actual events that transpire in his story. They're two, separate things. Further, it doesn't even make sense, because by saving Chole's life, Max destroys the world, whereas, the conceit that some people like to claim with Levi's choice is, by letting Erwin die, Levi "doomed humanity", and this somehow is meant to prove Levi's love because it "places Erwin over humanity". Except, Levi's choice doesn't doom humanity at all. It's the literal preservation of humanity.

What these people don't want to acknowledge, what they can't acknowledge, because it undermines their entire claim that Levi somehow saw Erwin's life as more valuable than all of humanity, is that Levi's choice, at it's core, wasn't about personal love or personal desire, but rather, it was about a rejection of cruelty. It was an entirely selfless act of human compassion. Levi let Erwin die because he refused to place ideological belief over human decency, and that's what truly motivated him in that moment. It wasn't a question, then, of putting a single person over humanity in the name of love, it was a question of not allowing himself to be made cruel in the name of an ideological cause. It wasn't even really about Erwin, in the end, but rather about Levi's own, moral conscience, and doing what he felt in his heart was right. As Levi says again and again, making the choice he'll regret the least. He couldn't bring himself to drag Erwin back into the world, because he knew it would cause him immeasurable suffering, and Levi determined in that moment that no cause, no ideological or philosophical belief, was worth more than any, individual life. That it wasn't the lives of his comrades that had to prove their worthiness to the cause, but the cause that had to prove it's worthiness to those lives. Because there is no such thing as an ideal, Utopian world in which human compassion is absent. If all human compassion is cast aside in the pursuit of an ideal world, then what, exactly, is that ideal world worth? What good is it, really, if in its realization, we lose our humanity and become monsters? Then it's not an ideal world at all. It's only the facade of an ideal world which, at its core, contains an ugly rot.

Levi wasn't willing to give up his humanity for a cause. That's what his choice really boils down to. He wasn't willing to become a monster in the name of an ideology.

And when you understand his choice within that context, you realize that he didn't "doom humanity" with his choice, but rather, he saved humanity. With his choice, he preserved what it means to be human. The great, human capacity for compassion, empathy and mercy.

And Armin himself is also a reflection of that preservation of humanity.

Armin represented, within the narrative of AoT, humanity's hope. And what expresses and encompasses the idea of hope more truly than the concept of compassion?

Compassion and hope are the same thing. There is no hope for humanity without compassion. Humanity isn't worth saving if, in order to do so, all empathy and pity has to be crushed.

Armin's innocence and purity, and his ability to see the world the way it is and yet still believe in its beauty and worth is a reflection of that hope. That he hadn't lost his humanity, that he hadn't become cruel, that he hadn't been corrupted by a dream, all of those qualities, again, represent humanity's hope. They encompass, truly, what humanity needed in order to have a future worth saving. Without compassion, humanity can no longer be defined as such. It doesn't even exist, then.

That's why during Levi's monologue at the end, when he's reflecting on his choice, and he says, "Erwin, I didn't choose you, and I have no regrets about that. I entrusted the future to that kid, because he had the same look in his eyes as all of you.". He literally says it. He entrusted the future to Armin. He trusted in Armin as the right choice. Because of the look in Armin's eyes. Because he saw in Armin's innocence and purity the thing that should define humanity. Not a world without titans, or some idyllic, Utopian society where nothing ever goes wrong. But an ability to see the world as it is, and still believe in its beauty. An ability to see the world as it is, but still believe in its worth. And, most of all, an ability to see the world as it is, in all its brutality and cruelty, and still believe in compassion. To still retain compassion in a cruel world.

Levi's choice was a choice of humanity. It didn't doom anyone. Instead, it refused to sacrifice the one thing that would ensure the survival of humanity as a concept. Because there is no humanity without compassion.

[tinysnailtales]

Thoughts from reading Yona of the Dawn Ch. 7

Ch.7 in summary: growth for both Hak and Yona as the Wind Tribe is pressured/targeted by the Fire Tribe to push Mundok to accept Soo-Won as king, with Hak stepping up and accepting responsibility as chief and Yona expanding her care for others.

We love competent Hak being good at his job. His adeptness probably enables him to poke fun at others so much (and previously shrug off his duties?), and while I love how reliable he is, he could probably use some more flaws for character exploration.

"I heard my brother was getting paid to protect the princess" "Why else would I do it?" – here perhaps we have his main "flaw": he's a liar who lies and denies and makes light of things to hide deeper parts of himself. Becoming more open and forthright might be part of his journey. But also– I want to see a powerless Hak, what does he do when he can't protect people?

Sorry, can't help it. Hak and Yona (and HakYona) are too nice to look at. I enjoy them being in sync too much.

MUNDOK! Such a beautiful moment. And more of Yona not being as alone as she might have thought.

"The people of the Wind Tribe are like you. They're full of warmth. I feel peaceful here" – more emphasis on the love and care Yona has received from the Wind Tribe (and how it mirrors young Yona recovering from being sick).

She's being exposed to a different way of life and is glowing from it.

"They killed Han-Dae!" "I'm not dead...not quite" –Tell me why this running gag amuses me so much.

"This is a warning from the Fire Tribe...They want Lord Soo-Won to become king...It appears they're trying to put pressure on me since I refused to approve Soo-Won's accession"

"Soo-Won murdered my father...and now he's going to rule our nation?!"

"Acknowledging Lord Soo-Won as king would mean acknowledging the accusation that Hak committed regicide." "They...they think Hak_?!"

This is all a shock back to reality for Yona, an interruption of that "peaceful" feeling she was describing. The visuals help make it clear how it brings her back to the state she was before, at least a bit, indicating that she can't completely escape it. It (and Soo-Won) will follow and hang over her.

She is also getting to see how every day people of the Wind Tribe (and Hak!) are being negatively affected by all the politicking/what has happened.

And here we get an even clearer example of what Hak disliked about nobility and royalty– Tae-Jun treating people as pawns for his personal agenda. This, coupled with the Fire Tribe's actions towards the Wind Tribe, shows the land and people being used as an arena for the whims and goals of those with power. Like a (strategy) game.

The Fire Tribe overall acts for larger goals, but Tae-Jun is also individually motivated to get personal revenge on Hak. For something that happened years ago, no less!

"What's going to happen to these people?" –Yona's care for others, for the people of the kingdom, has been planted. Her priorities are shifting and she's finding something new to care about and live for.

"Young Chief! Why aren't you saying anything?! This isn't like you, Elder Chief!" – both Hak and Mundok have their hands tied considering what is at stake. I think Hak formulates his ultimate plan to leave here.

"The Fire Tribe is being backed by the Sky Tribe– the royal family! If the Wind Tribe resists, they won't get off lightly! No...! I don't want to see anyone else die!" – Yona's care for these people and desire not to see them suffer really solidified here. She also feels she is partially to blame and not only does not want them to suffer, she specifically doesn't want them to die after witnessing the death of her father.

And with that, Hak makes his decision.

"I'll figure out a way to handle this. Trust me. Be patient. Those are the orders of Son Hak...Chief of the Wind Tribe" – Hak is fully stepping up and accepting his role and doing a great job at it! And with that little smile of his, he also seems to be thriving.

"Do you hear that?! The young chief's giving us orders." "Lord Hak never wanted the hassle of being a general! That's amazing, Lord Hak! This is great!" – Exactly, exactly. Hak is accepting the role and responsibility he rejected. GROWTH

But meanwhile, Yona can't join the almost celebratory determination of the Wind Tribe. Though relieved, she feels powerless.

"Hak...um...is there anything I can do...?" – despite feeling useless, Yona wants to help. Her hesitation/awkwardness in asking to help shows this feeling of uselessness but also her determination and desire to be of use. Hak seems slightly taken aback by her initiative and offer but also expresses a soft happiness before settling into typical Hak behavior.

We get teasing/changing the subject/making light of the situation Hak and boooo.

I suppose Hak goes for something he know will distract Yona. He doesn't want her to worry and he knows where her line of thinking will lead...to his plan to leave and take the fall.

"You don't have to do anything. Just live a quiet life...here in Fuuga" – this moment is not just addressing her question but functions as a goodbye! His "you don't have to do anything" functions as a "just be you" and he expresses his greatest desire: for her to be safe and happy.

The joking around to seriousness from Hak also encapsulates their relationship pretty well.

"If you'd been alone...you would've charged into the palace with a single spear. Right?" "Kid...you're one to talk" – Hak takes after Mundok. They have such a sweet relationship.

"Do me a favor, will you? Give Soo-Won your support. Y'see...I'm leaving the Wind Tribe in the morning. I won't carry the name 'Son' anymore. I want you to focus on protecting the tribe. The Fire Tribe won't do anything else if you agree to their demands." – Hak continues to accept responsibility and chooses to sacrifice himself, taking the fall and leaving it all behind to protect his tribe.

I hope he learns he is more than something to be sacrificed for others. It's very big of him to do this for his tribe, but it is also very in character in a way that doesn't push for growth when it comes to valuing himself.

"Are you going to leave her highness behind?"

"She's finally started to smile a little. I'm glad I brought her with me. One more request. Hide her from the palace. Let her live out her life...here in Fuuga...as a member of the Wind Tribe." – Hak has seen how Yona has taken to the Wind Tribe and wants to keep protecting her along with his people. Again–he wants her to continue to be happy and safe, his greatest wish. And he's willing to remove himself from her life, even though he wants to be with her, in order to make it come true.

There is some pain to his expression, all of this affects him more than he tries to show.

"I won't do as my grandson asks...But...I would have to obey an order from the tribe's chief" – AWW Mundok must be very proud of Hak, acknowledging how far he has come, specifically in regards to being chief. Such a tender moment, feels like an expression of respect, regard, and love.

"This is my final order...as Son Hak, chief of the Wind Tribe" – I am eMoTIonal. It was lovely seeing you as chief, Hak. Hopefully this isn't really the end of that path for you.

I just have to shout-out MVP Han-Dae!!! Taking care of Yona and calming everyone and patting Yona's head and all the work he did this chapter for his tribe! Truly a star.

[wintereign]

Just a few headcanons. Well, I say a few but there's like ten. Also content warning for abuse, although I don't specifically go into detail? But just figured I'd put a warning out anyway, since there are a few headcanons that dive into it a little bit. Just remember the Schnee family isn't exactly a healthy family dynamic! Especially when it comes to Weiss and her relationships with her parents.

Will put them under the cut so y'all can read if you'd like!

Despite the age difference between Weiss and Winter, Weiss has always looked up to her and would go to her for help and advice. Some advice Winter has given her is to carve her own path. Don't always listen to their father and what he tells you. Her rebellious nature is partly because of Winter's influence and the fact that she knows it would piss her father off.

Before attending Beacon, Weiss has always been taught to care about her appearance. Be mindful of what she wore, what she did and how she acted. Always having the best manners wherever she goes. But since Beacon, she’s realized that all of that isn’t important. There’s more important things at stake than having the fanciest clothing item, putting makeup on and how one wears their hair.

Due to the injury sustained during the battle with the Arma Gigas, she doesn't have complete vision in her left eye. It doesn't hinder her natural abilities to fight nor daily life. (this isn't technically anything I came up with, I've seen some people in the fandom have this and it's something I agree with, tbh. This is the only thing I've ever really paid attention to, tbh)

After her tenth birthday, birthdays were never really celebrated in the Schnee household. Whitley would still celebrate his birthday, often doing things with their father. But as for Weiss or Winter? They didn't care for their birthdays. (elaborated more on a different post)

Her father is the reason why she doesn't often allow people to touch her or to give her hugs. She's also not a big fan of when people yell. Whenever someone raises their hand or even their voice, she is reminded of her father and she panics. She's constantly having to remind herself that her friends are not him.

Since her mother took to drinking, she's never once stood up for her children when they are under Jacques wrath (in this case, usually Weiss or Winter. Whitley was always the golden child in their fathers eyes). She will enable his behavior by throwing in her own snide comments or refusing to do anything to stop him, even when Weiss asks.

Weiss's views used to mirror that of her fathers. And that's only because she didn't know any better. She was young, naive, and her father was trying to paint her in the same image as him. But as Weiss grew older she realized that wasn't right. She's discovered things about the world, the people in the world, like the Faunus, that she realizes aren't true. And wants to help by any way she can to change things.

Klein is like a father figure to Weiss. Jacque didn't do much to raise her, hiring Klein so that he could focus on what really mattered. The Schnee Dust Company (and other matters). Klein knows all of what goes on in the household and every time Weiss is physically harmed by her father, he always informs Winter of the situation.

Like Winter, Klein is the other person that she will go to for advice, or if she's feeling lonely and sad. He knows how to cheer her up. Often bringing her hot coffee and trying to get her to smile or laugh.

After the fall of Beacon, the moment Weiss was given to her father, he made her give up her scroll. Not allowing her to communicate with her friends, in hopes to regain control. 

[synthient]

15th Doctor Season 2 predictions

Spent this morning mapping out a vague direction of where I think the show is going (more on the level of "themes" and "emotional stakes" than specific plot beats, which I mostly handwave as "meanwhile, alien antics ensue"). Because I love to look for Patterns and Signs and things of that nature :)

Christmas special:

This is what I wrote in my notes app on the train this morning, before I even knew about the comic-con trailer:

We see "what the Doctor gets up to when he's alone." Which, I predict, mostly consists of him trying to convince himself that he doesn't need companions and he's fine on his own, while being obviously miserable.

And I think the trailer basically confirms this lol. Joy is a Doctor mirror. Her efforts to mask her loneliness under a plucky attitude are exactly what the Doctor is doing.

Anyway, at some point during or after the Joy-Doctor bonding session (if she's not going to be a companion, then hopefully nothing happens to her that reminds him why he was trying to be alone ☹️):

The Doctor runs into the new Varada Sethu character. He notices that she looks like Mundy and goes "oh weird! this is an impossible girl situation, just like Clara" (the intitial seeding of Clara-exposition for new viewers, a la the Doctor-Donna stuff or the Toymaker's puppet show. This Is A Surprise Tool That Will Help Us Later).

The mystery offers him a self-justification to bring her along (maybe he's not even endangering her! maybe she's already tied up in some supernatural shenanigans, and his presence could protect her, if anything. Is that why he agreed to bring Ruby along, when he thought she was at the center of a mystery? And is that part of why he left her as soon as he realized she wasn't?)

S2 E1:

Meanwhile, Ruby is becoming disillusioned with her ordinary, post-Doctor life. She's working a thankless customer service job. Her bio parents aren't as perfect as she always dreamed they'd be. She has new, more complicated family dynamics to navigate (and probably has to face the uncomfortable truth that, in the rush of finding her "real" mom, she hasn't been treating Carla great).

Some crisis bring the Doctor back to 2020s London. Ruby is thrilled to see him - but then, when she realizes he replaced her with another companion almost immediately, hurt and resentful. She thought they were best friends. She thought she was special. Are his human "friends" just interchangeable props to him?

A mid-alien-crisis emotional confrontation ensues. The Doctor tells Ruby that it's because he cares about her that he left. When he doesn't push people away, they get hurt. Clara is brought up as an example. (She's still fresh on his mind from the Impossible Girl/Mundy lookalike thing. More exposition is fed to new viewers).

Ruby declares that she cares about the Doctor too much to let him push her away, even if it's for her own good. And she loves their adventures enough for it to be worth the risk. With mixed feelings, the Doctor lets her back onto the tardis team.

(The Ruby/Sethu Companion dynamic becomes ?? Are they friends? Are they still competing to be the Favorite Companion? Will Mundy Sunday happen as foretold?)

Next few episodes:

Our Three Heroes set out on a series of one-off adventures. I won't try to predict the details, but I'm guessing the episodic stories won't have much literal connection to the Main Plot, but will tie in subtextually and thematically.

In S1, there were two big thematic throughlines: 1) abandoment issues, and 2) cultures that echo Gallifrey. Ruby was a Doctor mirror on the abandonment issues front. So my prediction is that Sethu Companion will somehow be a mirror on the "Doctor re-evaluating his relationship with his home" front. We have no idea what time and place Sethu Companion will be from - but Mundy's "soldier indoctrinated into an ideology that was all a violently-exploitative lie" background certainly tracks.

What is The Main Plot?

Again, I won't hazard many specifics. I'm going more for Themes than the exact way those themes are executed. But the big two reveals I'm gambling on are:

1. Rogue is the Master

2. We get a long-delayed payoff for why Missy introduced Clara to the Doctor (something to do with the hand that picked up the tooth?)

And with those two reveals, we unify our main themes: 1) The cycle of abandoment (the Doctor is abandoned by his parents, abandons the Master, abandons Susan and his future companions). 2) Re-evaluating his relationship to Gallifrey. And 3) What kind of relationships should the Doctor have with his friends? How much closeness can he afford? Is he a bringer of death? Of life? Of joy? What's the right time, and the right way, to say goodbye?

Not to get too Clara centric, but I am getting a little Clara-pilled re Mrs. Flood? I think it'd be fun if Clara spent a few centuries adventuring, eventually figured out how to undo the frozen heartbeat thing and start aging again, and came back to see the Doctor, with their old person/young person dynamic now reversed. Her Missy-coding fulfilled via an ominous, convoluted, yet twistedly-loving way of expressing her friendship. But I think there are multiple answers to the Mrs. Flood question that could still fit The Themes. Any timelord would work, for example

I'm also kind of leaning toward the "big bad" being not Mrs. Flood, not Missy or Rogue-Master, but Rogue and the Meep's boss. Who's some third party we can't really hope to predict, any more than we could've seen Sutekh coming. Assuming there's one at all - maybe Sutekh already met our "big bad" quotient, and we'll get more heaven sent-style personal stakes this time?

Entirely possible that there's some storyteller trying to craft a narrative out of the Doctor's life, put "perfect companions" in his path, etc. Mrs. Flood is the obvious suspect....but too obvious? What if the Doctor is subconsciously narrativizing his own life, and his story "ending in terror" is actually something Mrs. Flood is trying to disrupt

If Susan shows up, I think it'd be really funny if she was trying to parent-trap her two grandpas

Anyway, I think the biggest hole in my analysis is that the cue at the end of S1 was to look into Clara, Missy, and Romana. And I still haven't started my Romana Studies. Gotta get Romana-pilled

[zorilleerrant]

I really feel like Knight Terrors: Robin didn't work because like. why put Jason and Tim together? I mean there are thematic elements you could use to tie their stories together, but they... didn't. so it's two separate stories that don't seem to have a lot to do with each other? which is a shame because time looping Jason's death is something he's been through before so it's ripe for a nightmare story. and then instead of knowing right away, they could be talking to each other through each loop and slowly come to a joint conclusion. or like. you could play on the whole "my best friend died I couldn't save him" thing they both have going on, which didn't even come up. and the enemy designs could be based on Roy and Kon (or Steph).

but I really think it would've made more sense to stick Jason with Steph and Cass, and they could all three have joint nightmares about their villain dads, and even have to fight them together. Steph and Cass would realize there was a lot they weren't saying to each other, and they and Jason would realize they have a lot more in common than they realized. you put Damian in with them if you want evil!Talia or evil!Ra's, or you could have Damian in with Babs and he could fight Heretic and she could fight JJ and they could not really know what to do with each other because they don't hang out much and aren't good at talking out trauma. easy to make the parents much larger than the heroes for both childhood physics and emotional magnitude reasons. the sibling thing you'd probably have to go with mirror, mirror style eerie similarity what with the clone bit, but Babs seeing herself in her brother wouldn't go amiss.

meanwhile Tim should be in with Dick as they watch their parents die together and Duke watches his parents get infected, and then you can keep the nightmare versions of the villains. or you have Tim with Dick and Damian as they relive Batman's disappearance and have no idea whether it's real even though they're in a dream world, but now with different interpersonal dynamics. and the nightmare is shaped like an obvious fake Batman (probably Jason's version but more exaggerated). or you have Tim and Babs with the identity change thing, and Tim's not sure whether he can even have a standalone identity and doesn't know what to do with his life, while Babs is reliving being forced into the role of Oracle because she wanted to help and her choices were cut off (not that I necessarily trust the writers to handle that gracefully). and they could talk each other through feelings of guilt and inadequacy. and the villains are an idealized version of their first appearances. or even have Tim and Kate dealing with homophobia together.

I mean, you could group them by who's died and use their death trauma, but that would still leave Jason and Steph and Cass and Damian fighting through the horrors of hell and unable to tell if they're really dead again or whatever. and meanwhile Dick and Tim are stuck where they know they aren't dead but everyone else thinks they're dead, and then you could use the isolation from each other to underscore that. and then I think Babs and Duke would have some kind of survivor's guilt storyline or like the looming terror of the inevitable or something but that's probably too abstract for the current crop of writers to handle.

this whole thing feels like it needs to be driven by an emotional arc and coming to terms with that kind of thing but all the writers are bored by the emotional implications and want to get to the plot. except the plot is very boring and relying so much on being mysterious about it just makes the stakes seem irrelevant. so far Poison Ivy is literally the only one that gave me what I wanted out of a nightmare villain arc putting them in bad dreams. a) dreams thematically relevant to the story being told, b) actually used a fear Pam would have and that hasn't been explored a lot, c) presented the fear in a way that's genuinely unsettling, and d) self-contained story that followed the emotional arc of the character.

[ghstdoll]

the many kisses to her face makes a laugh leave her lips, blue eyes fluttering as a soft and sleepy giggle slips out before being cut off by his soft lips pressing up against her own, cupping her face in his warm and soft hand as he kisses her deeply causing a soft moan to vibrate into the kiss and leave her body. the night had not changed his love, if anything it seemed to have made it stronger and that makes her heart feel as though it's about to fly from her chest because of how real everything seems to be. she kisses him back slowly for a long while, not even thinking about how she hadn't brushed her teeth yet before he soon break the kiss.

she licks her lips a little as if to taste him as light colored eyes look up to meet his own. wouldn't it be heaven if she could stay like this with him forever? his sweet face so gentle and charming looking like a prince straight from a movie. her lips stay pulled in a loving smile as she nuzzles her nose against his once more. "if you kiss me like that everyday for the rest of our lives I don't think it'll be possible for me to ever be sad again." she teases with a hum, a deep sigh leaving her as she refrains from kissing him another time because she knows if she does then she's certainly going to be late for school and now she doesn't just have herself to think about but him as well.

he gets out of bed before her as she sits up tiredly, blinking the sleep out of her eyes as she starts to undo the loose braid in her dark hair, letting her silky hair undo itself as she brushes her fingers through the waves. regulus surprisingly takes a moment, as if he's really trying to think of what to dress her in which she actually finds extremely endearing because it's just school, nobody really cares about how she looked anyway but she allows him to get to work, eventually rolling out of bed too as she walks over to her dresser to grab underwear before walking towards regulus.

he finally pulls something out and her brows knit together for a second at the black dress with the flower hat. "oh that's lacy's she gave it to me because she said she got too many compliments." everyone loved lacy, head cheerleader and soon to be prom queen, she always had the cutest clothes. "I was going to use it for like a halloween costume or something like a witch or lydia deetz from beetlejuice...I don't think I could actually pull something like this off." she chuckles before looking up at him with that hopeful look in his big green eyes. he did put a lot of thought into it, and he seemed excited for her to say yes so how could she deny such a sweet face and so, with a sigh she gently takes the hanger from him a soft smile pulling on her lips. "I guess I could give it a shot." she says with a smile, leaning in to press a kiss to her fiancé's cheek. "but if I don't pull it off you have to pretend I do, that's a husband's job is to feed into his wife's delusions." she teases before walking over to her dresser and grabbing a pair of fishnets as well so at least her legs aren't completely bare.

"I'll be right back." she walks over to the bathroom to change, dressing from her pjs into the outfit her dear soon-to-be husband picked out just for her, stepping into the fishnets and then the dress he'd given her as blue eyee look at herself in the mirror to put on some light make up as well. she's not sure if it really suits her but it does look good, making her actually admire her own figure for a moment before sighing softly as she places the hat on top of her black curls to finish the look.

once she's dressed she walks back out into the bedroom where regulus waits for her a soft smile on her lips as she rocks side to side a bit anxiously for his reaction. "so? how do I look?" she asks with a shy hum, hoping he likes it as if he wasn't the one who just picked it out for her. "if the people from your time saw me in this would they burn me at the stake or what?" she says teasingly doing a playful pose and a soft giggle leaves her lips as she walks over to wrap her arms around his slender frame. he's still dressed in her kuromi pjs that are much too small for his body making her giggle softly because he still looks adorable, she leans in to press another kiss to his lips before pulling away.

"after school I'll stop by the mall and get you some actual clothes to wear, maybe something for that pretty hair of yours, I just got paid by the cinema I work at so it should be enough." she kind of hates the idea of having to leave him alone for most of the day, it makes her a bit sad how would he even take care of himself? but she knows she can't really take him out like this either, they had things they needed to take care of before regulus could become part of society. she reaches up, pushing a curl from his forehead a she sighs. "there's some snacks in the draw beside my bed if you get hungry and like a hundred books you could read, I should be back in a few hours okay? don't miss me too much." salem smirks a little at the end of her sentence. "and when I get home we can finally make our marriage official. maybe something else too..." she leans in to press a kiss to his lips one last time.

she seems to sleep soundly in his arms, even lacing her slender fingers through his, making his heart skip a beat. she’s warm and smells nice, her hair in regulus’s face throughout the rest of the night. he hardly shifts, only re-adjusting when he wants to cling to her more tightly, their bodies pressed together from head to toe.

he almost hates when the sun starts breaking through the curtains, illuminating her room with the glow of morning. the day would interrupt their love now, taking over all of her attention as she had to see to her usual duties. she had her education to think about, as well as her family (even though they didn’t deserve it, since they didn’t ever think of her).

the sound from what salem had called a ‘radio’ blasts through the room to wake her, so she reaches over and shuts it off. an adorable groan escapes her before she’s turning on her side to face him, a tired smile on her full lips. he smiles back without even realizing he’s doing it, reaching out to stroke her face with the back of his hand. her skin is soft, making him wonder if it would feel just as soft under his lips right now. 

he leans in, pressing a gentle kiss to her cheek, allowing his lips to stay there for a long moment. then he drags soft kisses down her face until he reaches her lips, kissing them sweetly, one hand cupping her other cheek. he cuts off her sleepy words a little, despite how cute they are, mouth locked with hers in a slow kiss. he moans quietly before their lips part, green eyes fluttering open to meet her blue ones as her hand touches his cheek too.

he shakes his head, because she doesn’t have to be sorry. he likes cuddling her, especially for hours into the night. pushing strands of dark her hair from her face, he strokes her temple and cheek with a gentle touch, admiring her slender, angelic features.

he’s tracing the pad of his thumb against her cheekbone as she leans in to kiss him on the lips again, making his heart race. a small smile tugs at the corner of his own mouth, unable to resist.

he then sighs a little dramatically at her words, not particularly wanting any of her family members to barge in. but he nods when she asks if he wants to help, reluctantly letting go of her to stand up.

going to her closet, which is cracked open a little, he slips between the doors. it’s dark, difficult to make out the different outfits on hangers. but he does his best, looking through everything she has and finding many articles of clothing that had him questioning if they were truly her style. not that she wouldn’t look beautiful in them– she would look gorgeous in anything. he truly believes she could wear tattered rags and look stunning beyond belief, still the prettiest woman who’s ever lived. but he wonders if she isn’t repressing her own fashion, ignoring her beauty because her family made her forget how special she truly was.

he finds something eye-catching in the back of the closet– a beautiful lacy black dress with a low neck line and flowing sleeves. there’s an accompanying hat hanging off the edge of the hangar, black with a pink flower tucked into it. pulling the clothing out, he turns and offers the selection to salem, who’s since gotten out of bed. his green eyes are shy and hopeful, wondering if he did a good job with his choice. he wonders if he should’ve gotten her underwear for her first, but then blushes at the thought.

[headoverheelsforramsey]

Your Love Is Killing Me (Part 1)

Pairing : Dr. Ethan Ramsey x f!MC (Dr. Meera Bose)                                            Summary : A canon divergent take on the emotions Ethan and Meera face on returning from Miami, and what happens when Meera faints in the hospital atrium.                                    Category : Angst                                                          Warnings : A few swearings, PCOD and cardiovascular disease that comes with it, stress and anxiety                                                        Word Count : 1724

A/N : So this is my first fic,🙈 so please ignore some of the rookie mistakes, also please send in criticisms, I would love to improve. Got tired with clone Ethan and PB writers and the book 1 replay got to me so I thought torturing myself through angst will be a good idea. Happy Reading!  ❤

Meera shifts in her bed. Rolling over to face away from the window. It was another sleepless night for her. Where usually she used to be famished after coming home from work and all she desired for was her head to touch the pillow the last 5 days was completely different. These 5 nights she spent staring into the ceiling as a train of thoughts ran through her mind. Dr. Ramsey's words kept on ringing in her head "I need to be able to push you to your limits. To help you become the doctor you want to be. The one I know you can be." Lost in her reminiscence of that magical moment in the balcony of the Miami hotel, Meera didn't seem to notice the sky changing its colours from the dark starry blue to the first hues of gold, orange and red, signifying the beginning of a new day. She turned over thinking what went wrong, a calculation she was doing for the zillionth time and each time she came to a fruitless answer. Meera was interrupted by the sound of her alarm, one which was useless as she wasn't able to close her eyes for a single minute. 

She sat up in bed rubbing her eyes and catching a glimpse of herself on the full sized mirror. She was in her comfiest sweatpants, her uncombed curls sprawled over her shoulders and face. She removed her hair from her face and found tired eyes, deep dark circles and chapped lips staring at her from the mirror. She closed her eyes, hugged her knees close and rested her forehead on her knees as she thought about her plan for the day. For the past five days she had planned her days carefully so as to not run into the grumpy attending at any cost. She was on high alert. Any sign of him nearby and she always made an one eighty degree rotation in order to escape him. She went to meet the patient X to take his regular vitals and monitor required medicines on hours she was cent percent sure Dr. Ramsey was busy. She replied with lies and smiles to Dr. Banerji's unending question about the conference, Miami, Ethan and the sudden change in her behavior. Although she sometimes felt he could see right through her. 

Meera stood up from the bed and went into the shower. As soon as the cold water hit her skin she remembered how Ethan had abandoned her in the hotel in Miami. How she had been sitting there on the bed dressed in luxurious blue with her heart and bed cold as tears swelled up in her eyes. She remembered the awkward flight from Miami to Boston and the bare three sentences of exchange between her and Ethan. How she thought that the flight washroom was her safe haven and how she wished to spend the entire flight there. All these thoughts were such an emotional burden on her and she finally gave in to the inevitable. She double downed with sobs as she cried in the shower keeping as quiet as it was humanly possible for her so that her roommates won't get to know. After a few minutes she was finally able to compose herself. She stepped out of the shower a towel wrapped around her as she rubbed her hair dry. Meera got into a fresh pair of scrubs combed and tied her hair into a tight high ponytail. As she applied a generous amount of foundation to hide her dark circles and chapstick to moisturize her lips her phone beeped with a notification from her period tracker which notified that her period was 3 days late. She didn't think much about that as she had been dealing with PCOD since she was sixteen. She had almost defeated the disease with changes in her lifestyle and a few medicines, but after all there is no permanent cure. She had learned to live with it over the years. 

Finally she looked at herself in the mirror. She was now looking like Dr. Meera Bose the confident number one intern at Edenbrook Hospital. She forced on a smile to face her roommates outside her bedroom door and the world in general. This is what Meera's life looked like for the past five days. She was tired of putting on a happy show for the outside world and hence once she was inside her room with no one except herself her thoughts collided against each other and finally left her crying. She was tired of going through the same crescendo of thoughts and emotions again and again but there was no other way out because the only possible solution to end her pain, in Dr. Ramsey's words was "unethical and complicated."    

It was noon when Meera was already done with 6 cases. She also made it a point to check up on Dr. Banerji first thing in the morning when she was completely certain Ethan was in a board meeting. She was once again walking the crowded but motivated halls of Edenbrook navigating her way to her next patient's room. 

Meera felt a sudden piercing pain in the middle of her chest which slowly travelled to her left arm. It started as a mild one but quickly accelerated. From the corner of her eye she saw Ethan rounding a corner and walking towards her. It had been six days since both of them were in the same corridor. Before she was ready to process anything further she broke out into a sweat and started feeling tremendous trouble in breathing properly. All she remembers next is darkness and the sound of her charts slipping away from her hand and hitting the floor. In the last moments before her unconsciousness hit she felt someone holding her close and tight, the chaos of the hospital becoming silent to her as she tried with all her might to figure out if she had the opportunity to be in Ethan's arms once again like she was in Miami but she failed.  

 Ethan was very annoyed when he was held all morning in a stupid board meeting and wasn't able to finish any of his work. Ethan often doesn't listen to half of the things the board members say. He utilises those hours to mentally untangle the complications of the diagnostic team patient, something which he felt was much much more important than listening to entitled doctors who aren't even good as they think themselves to be. But today it was different. He was unable to concentrate at all. His mind wandered back to the one curly haired brunette intern. These past six days Ethan had immersed himself in work. Between the interns, the diagnostic team and Naveen's mystery illness his mind was pretty busy. He took on more cases than usual, pulled all nighters at the hospital and the little time he was at home he did find some article he needed to finish writing on his laptop. This was the only way he could keep her out of his head. Atleast this is what he believed, because work, patient care and her career was the only thing standing between him and her.

He was quickly making his way towards the diagnostic team office once he was finally freed from the conference room. He turned a corner and started walking through the corridors, pinching the bridge of his nose. That's when he heard a thud and saw a chaos forming around a patient who had just fainted, up ahead in the corridor. He picked up his pace ready to yell at the intern who was responsible for this. When he was merely steps away, he stopped in his track, completely recognizing that it wasn't a patient but an intern. The intern that topped the charts in the diagnostic team competition, the intern he was so keen on avoiding, and for the first time in years his doctor senses didn't kick in. He was looking at the intern, not as Dr. Ethan Ramsey but as just Ethan.

She was nestled in the strong arms of the Averio paramedic she was friends with. Ethan snapped out as the chaos became louder, a stretcher was brought and Meera was lifted into it. Surrounded by her intern friends and Dr. Delarosa, she was being rolled towards the ER. The immediate thing Ethan did was follow her, but that's when his pager beeped. It was a code blue from Baz. Ethan stopped once again evaluating his next step. He knew the diagnostic team was already understaffed and needed him, on the other hand Meera who- who- who was exactly what to Ethan he didn't know. Ethan did the same mistake he had done in Miami, he put his work, before her inspite of what his heart wanted.  

It took Ethan twenty minutes to handle the situation of the Diagnostic Team patient. After which he was on his way to the ER, determined to check up on Meera. He felt, him running after just an intern would stir up the hospital gossip. But did he care for it? He didn't, until he heard a few nurses huddled together talking in loud whispers. "I think she is pregnant, Mary told me she was feeling nauseous the other day." one of them said. "Are you serious?? Do you think it was Dr. Ramsey ?" another one asked. "I don't know, they spent two whole days alone in Miami, who knows what they were upto." the first one replied. "You know, I think you are right. Dr. Olsen told me that she wasn't even half smart and intelligent as he was and yet she is leading the competition. It's very clear Ramsey favours her." a third joined in. "Whatever it is, I don't know what he sees in her. I could be standing her naked waiting for him to fuck me, but he wouldn't budge." with this the group of nurses started giggling and moved towards the atrium their back towards Ethan. After this encounter he couldn't risk being found close to her. It's her career that was at stake. Something that he priced over his own feelings for her. Dejected, he made his way back towards his office, locking the door behind him and immersing himself in paperwork.

Thank you so much if you have read till here, it means the world to me. I will put up the second part as soon as possible, till then sending love and hugs your way! 💖

Tagging : @starrystarrytrouble @mm2305 @charisworld @choicesfanaf @potionsprefect @genevievemd

+@choicesbookclub   

Let me know if you want to be added or removed. 💜

Part 2 is up now! Read it here

[sebastianshaw]

RP Meme from The Lost Boys

I told you to stay off the boardwalk.

Hey, I liked that song.

I don't see any boogeymen or nasty guys.

Wait. That's from my era!

That's the ocean air.

Smells like someone died.

Looks like he's dead. No, he's just a deep sleeper.

If he's dead, can we go back to [PLACE]?

What's wrong with this picture? There's no TV. Have you seen a TV? I haven't seen a TV.

You're the only woman I ever knew who didn't improve her situation by getting divorced.

A big legal war wasn't going to improve anybody's situation.

Ouch. My hair.

Talk about the Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

We've got some rules around here. Second shelf is

mine. That's where I keep my root beers and my double-thick Oreo cookies. Nobody touches the second shelf but me.

There's another rule around here, and I want you to pay

close attention. Don't touch anything. Everything is exactly where I want it.

There are some bad elements around here.

You're telling me we've moved to the murder capital of the world?

If all the corpses buried around here were to stand up all at once we'd have one hell of a population problem.

I just like to read the TV Guide. Read the TV Guide, you don't need a TV.

I was so worried. Don't run off like that.

We were that age, too, once. Only they dress better.

You have a generous nature. I like that in a person.

So how may I help you this evening? We have it all.

I look that needy, huh?

You're chasing that girl, aren't you?

I'm at the mercy of your sex glands.

Don't you have something better to do than follow me around all night?

Just scoping your civilian wardrobe.

Listen buddy, if you're looking for the diet frozen-yogurt bar, it went out of business last summer.

That's a very serious book, man.

Only five in existence.

Where the hell are you from? Krypton?

Nobody drives this baby but me.

We have to let it warm up a little. Hear that sound? Just like a baby pussycat.

That's as close to town as I like to get.

It's a pretty cool place. If you're a Martian. Or a vampire.

Are you guys sniffing old newsprint or something?

You think you really know what's happening here, don't you? Well, I'll tell you something. You don't know shit buddy.

This is just our cover. We are dedicated to a higher

purpose. We're fighters for Truth Justice, and the American

way.

Think of it more as a survival manual.

There's our number on the back and pray you never need to call us.

I'll pray I never need to call you.

If you want your ear pierced, I'll do it.

I came this close to being called Moon Beam or Moon Child Or something like that.

I can't beat your bike.

You don't have to beat me, [NAME]. You just have to try

and keep up.

Just you! Come on! Just you!

That's what I love about this place. You ask, and then you get.

I can never sleep with the closet door open, either. Not even a crack.

Don't sneak up on people like that!

What, you don't like rice? Tell me [NAME], how could a

billion Chinese people be wrong? Come on!

You're eating maggots. How do they taste?

Sorry about that. No hard feelings, huh?

Drink some of this, [NAME]. Be one of us.

Give me those sunglasses.

You need sunglasses to talk on the phone?

Are you freebasing? Inquiring minds want to know.

Anything in here that might pass for after-shave?

Have a big date tonight, [NAME]?

Lose the earring, [NAME]. It's not you. It's definitely

not you.

All you do is give attitude lately.

Go take your bath.

What did you do to my dog, asshole?

I didn't hurt him. He bit me. This is my blood.

Why did he bite you, huh? What did you do to him?

He was protecting you.

Look at your reflection in the mirror. You're a creature of

the night, [NAME]. Just like out of a comic book.

My own brother/sister/friend/etc, a goddam shit-sucking vampire.

You wait 'til[NAME] finds out!

Just let me talk. Wait a minute! [NAME]!

You did the right thing by calling us.

Does the sunlight freak him out?

He wears sunglasses in the house.

He always had bad breath, though.

He's a vampire all right. Here's what you do.

I can't do that! He's my brother/sister/mother/friend/etc!

You better get yourself a garlic T-shirt, buddy. Or it's

your funeral.

I think we have to have a real long talk about something.

[NAME] help! He's coming to get me!

[NAME], help me! Open up! Help me! [NAME], open the window!

So what are you, the flying nun?

We're gonna work this out. We*re gonna work this out. Trust

me, okay?

I thought I saw something on my window, but I guess I got carried away.

I would like to have a personal life too.

Can I sleep in here with you tonight?

You smell like garlic.

What's happening to me, [NAME]?

I don't know how to help you.

Aren't we friends anymore?

Then let's act like friends. Let's talk.

We could talk about anything you want to talk about.

I have more serious things on my mind than girls and school. Things I'm dealing with.

Looks like I wasn't the only one who got lucky last night.

The dog chased my mom like the Hounds of Hell from Vampires

Everywhere.

We've been aware of some very serious vampire activity in

town for a long time.

[PLACE] has become a haven for the undead.

As a matter of fact, we're almost certain that ghouls and

werewolves occupy high position at City Hall.

Kill your brother/sister/boyfriend/aunt/best friend/etc, you'll feel better!

Look, it says here that if you kill the head vampire all half-vampires will return to normal.

Does he know who the head vampire is?

You'll have to kill him. And if you don't, we will.

Vampire require a daytime protector, a guardian to watch

over them as they sleep. Fierce dogs, the Hounds of Hell,

are often employed for this purpose.

Truth, Justice, The American way triumphs.

Smells good. When do we eat?

Are we gonna have company again?

Well, you are the man of the house and I'm not coming in until you invite me.

He promises to behave if you come back.

I didn't know you were having guests.

Our batting average isn't terrific, is it? Zero for two.

You're so sweet to him.

I don't know what got in to him. He's not like that.

If you ever want to see [NAME] again, you better come with

us now.

Initiation's over, [NAME]. Time to join the club.

Don't kill me, [NAME]. I'm basically a good kid, so just

don't kill me.

Just work with me and I can help you. You'll be okay.

Is she one of them?

You shut the window and lock your door.

She's one of them! And don't tell me it doesn't make her a

bad person, [NAME]!

Yes, and it's my fault. You would've not met me, if I

hadn't liked you. I tried to warn you.

You drank someone's blood? Are you crazy?

We're not them.

Why didn't you kill me last night?

You're supposed to be my first.

What are you doing here? What do you want from me?

Don't kill anybody until we get back to you!

I got connections.

The night crawler. The bloodsucker. El Vampiro.

I don't want you going down there.

Look, this isn't a comic book, [NAME]. These guys are

brutal killers.

Who'd you rather go down in with you? Them or me?

If something happens down there, I won't have the strength

to protect you.

This time I'll protect you.

Even though you're a vampire, you're still my brother/sister/friend/etc

If you try to stop us, or vamp out in any way, I'll stake

you without even thinking twice about it!

Where did you say you met these guys?

Don't you touch her. Stay away from her.

Flies and the undead go together like bullets and guns.

There must be coffins here someplace.

I thought they'd be in coffins.

That's what this cave is. It's one giant coffin.

Right now they're at their most vulnerable. Easy pickings.

Remember. You just have to kill the leader.

We don't know which one he is.

I guess we'll just have to kill them all.

What's that, a little vampire humor? It wasn't funny.

Good night, bloodsucker.

We blew it, man! We lost it!

We unraveled in the face of the enemy!

They pulled a mind-scramble on us!

We don't ride with vampires.

"Burn rubber" does not mean warp speed!

Your dog knows a flesh-eater when he smells one.

The sun goes down. They'll be looking for us.

[PLACE] is crawling with vampires

They're coming to the house as soon as it gets dark!

I'm gonna see [NAME] tonight, and you're trying to ruin it for me.

I don't know what you don't want me to see.

I'm not talking about [NAME]! To hell with [NAME]!

Good. That's just the way we like it.

We've got a date tonight?

They'll be coming for all of us.

It's just old memories coming back.

Why are you so jumpy tonight?

He seemed so sincere, but it's insane.

Tell me. I promise not to laugh. Honest.

I think I should warn you all when a vampire dies, it's never a pretty sight.

Some yell and scream. Some go quietly. Some explode. Some implode. But all will try to take you with them.

Don't go out there! Stop him!

I say we terminate them right now.

You're mine. You killed [NAME]

Try the holy water, dead breath!

I nailed one of them downstairs with a bow and arrow.

We trashed the one that looked like Twisted Sister.

We totally annihilated his night stalkin' ass!

Death to all vampires!

We are awesome monster bashers!

Holy shit! The attack of Eddie Monster!

Stop! Get away from him! Just stay away from him! He's just

a little boy.

You're afraid to face me, [NAME]?

I tried to make you immortal.

You tried to make me a killer!

Stop fighting me, [NAME]. I don't want to kill you. Join us.

It is too late, my blood is in your veins.

Don't let them see me like this.

What happened to your face?

I knew it. You are the head vampire.

You're the secret [NAME] was protecting.

Don't ever invite a vampire into your house, you silly boy/girl/etc.

It renders you powerless.

Has everyone gone crazy? What's the matter with all of you?

It was you I was after, all along, [NAME]

It was all going to be so perfect, [NAME]

Just like one big happy family.

Great. The bloodsucking Brady Bunch.

I still want you, [NAME]. I haven't changed my mind about that.

I didn't invite you this time, [NAME]

Don't you touch my mother/father/son/dog/etc

Don't fight, [NAME]. It's so much better if you don't fight.

How much do you think we should charge them for this?

One thing about living in [PLACE] I never could

stomach--all the damn vampires.

[leconcombrerit]

OH GOOD POINT

I think Dissaya and Ming would care less about Pa and Pran being friends because of projection. Here's how I see it :

Ming was trying to turn Pat into a younger version of himself (and for a while it kinda worked), so it makes sense that he'd want Pat to be better than Pran. It doesn't extend to Pa because he doesn't see himself in her, so the family feud applies in a more impersonal way there. And also yes, I'm not sure if he put as much effort in raising Pa anyway, I'd love to read your essays ! GO AHEAD I WOULD

And the same probably kinda goes for Dissaya. As far as she knows, Pat acts and looks like Ming. Pran probably didn't tell her half as much about Pa (eg he does tell his parents he fought with Pat), so she hates her for being Ming's daughter, but not for... Being a mini-Ming, basically. There's a dimension of fear and defiance in Dissaya's rules about the neighbors' kids, and what she's seen until now (fueled by both families in very vicious cycle *sighs*) kinda confirms her bias, so Pat's persona non grata X2 compared to Pa.

Not that she wouldn't have forbidden Pa and Pran from being friends, obviously she would, but... Maybe she would have come to terms with it easier I think.

you know pa’s role in the whole family feud is really interesting because obviously she was never actively pitted against pran, that was on pat, and it’s not like the siridechawats had another kid so she’s kinda just… there??? like she openly calls pran hot in the first ep and while her parents discourage it they also don’t seem super mad at her?? and like pran saved her so she’s obviously always cared about him and their friendship is just as much of a betrayal to pran’s mom (since she emphasized she didn’t want pran bringing home EITHER of the kids next door)… but it’s not really talked about at all? idk it’s just interesting. i could probably write a whole thing on how ming’s obsession with the feud and having pat and pran compete led to him severely neglecting pa if i wanted to like skdkdkd