#but ste killed his character

[robertsugden]

i shouldn’t laugh at james getting blown up on his way to tell ste he doesn’t actually have a brain tumour but

[vanilkaray]

ANTI-TMNT

What are they? … Turtle or a killing machine created by alien creatures? … But after all, what is the real purpose that is hidden under that face?

They were experiments, the children raised by Shredder himself to carry out his intentions, who knew what other plans he was hatching... Meanwhile, Splinter and his daughter Miwa Hamato are on a fateful path that they did not know when they began their journey to reclaim the creature

——————————————

-Other character/information -

> Splinter

> Casey Jones

——————-

->Dream?

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TMNT: OPPOSITE

«Summary: Basically Oroku saki and Yoshi Hamato switch their role and the turtle is opposite from the original

- New desgin!!!

- Oroku Saki

-The story teller

-The Owner of The Battle Nexus

—————

-The Past

-The beginning

——————-

TMNT: Reborn from Dust

Summary: A clan that seemed to be extinct, will that clan be reborn from the dust?

-> Ask blog: https://www.tumblr.com/tmntrebornfromdust/763471899962556416/greetings-welcome-to-my-lair

—————-

Main cast

-> Hamato Michelangelo

-> Hamato Donatello

-> Oroku Hamato Raphael

-> Hamato Lenore

————

Timeline

Chapter 0: The beginning of it all

——————

-> Mutagen: https://www.tumblr.com/vanilkaray/763603380048461824/mutagen

-> Red

—————-

Comic:

-> #1: I feel disappointed about my self

[upsidedownmvnson]

dungeons and douchebags | eddie munson

where eddie munson kills your dnd character out of spite & you end up in the hospital in the same day. eddie, of course, blames only himself.

full fic of this blurb :)

AN: i named the third guy keith bc he needed a name, and if his role was pre-established im SORRY but hes a mage. a lot of the dnd stuff im sure is wrong and doesnt work but let me live

also i love this so u should to

also also I KNOW ITS A SHITTY THING FOR A DM TO DO - thats the point

Eddie’s annoyed with you when you’re not on time for Hellfire.

You know he’s sensitive about starting on time, but still you were running late again, even though this time you promised it would be different, and you would even be early.

And Eddie had foolishly believed you again. It hurt especially, because even though you were just friends, Eddie was so painfully in love with you. All day every day, he was pining, yearning, longing. You were on his mind all the time, and you... you couldn't even bother to be on time for Hellfire.

When he begged you to be on time earlier in the day, he had made sure to mention that it would mean a lot to him if you were on time. And he thinks that if you love him back, you'll definitely care when he communicates something like that.

He knows he shouldn't let himself feel like this, but every Friday he's reminded that he's not special to you. He's not the one person you're always on time for. Eddie thinks, somehow, that if you're on time for Hellfire, well then maybe you like him too. It's silly, but it's what he does. It gets more painful as time goes on and you're still not there.

The mood slowly shifts to something tense as time ticks on. You’re always a couple minutes late but nearly an hour? Eddie is painfully frustrated, and his feelings are hurt. Eddie has overthught himself to a dramatic conclusion that you've decided you're above Hellfire.

While the party chats on totally unaware, barely even recognizing that they still haven't started, Eddie thinks you've looked in the mirror and recognized that you're better than them. That you can, and should, have everything and everyone you want. He thinks you'll want to be with a jock. Or maybe a cheerleader. He thinks you've decided not to love him.

In a fit of self pity and rage, he decides to leave your character behind, so the party left you alone, sleeping in a cave.

"Attention," Eddie says, "the sun is rising. It's time to pack your bags and move on."

Dustin looks confused, "where's y/n?"

"Who knows?" Eddie tries to look unamused to hide his pain, but it slips, and ends up just looking angry.

Eddie rolls a perception check for you to see if you wake up. He rolls an 18. And with your build you would've noticed the group leaving without you. Eddie is still think about you in the arms of a jock. "She fails." Eddie looks at the group with an evil grin. "You leave the camp unnoticed."

As the game goes on, Eddie feels crappy. He's never cheated like that before. Like, sure, he's changed a roll or two to make the plot better, or to not totally kill one of his players because some random NPC got a nat 20. That was his right as DM. But... leaving you like that was less than cool.

But even worse, when they return to the cave later, you're stuck in a bandit situation. Eddie really, truly, genuinely expected the party to save you. Except, one thing led to another, and you were stabbed through stomach, making you bleed out. Normally, this is where you'd roll your life saving throws.

It wasn't really supposed to play out like that. But he didn't expect the party to roll such terrible throws, all of them accidently leaving you defenseless. Eddie kinda feels bad, but you hurt him first.

What he doesn't expect is Steve Harrington bursting into the drama room, looking frenzied, just a few moments later. The party halts. The last thing happening in the game was the party finishing off the last bandit, and running to your aid. But now, they were all just staring at Steve. Eddie approached his friend, worried about the look in Steve’s eyes.

Steve stood up straight, and cleared his throat. Weakly he says, “something terrible happened.”

And then Steve tells them all about your car accident, and Eddie feels sick. His knees buckle, and Steve has to hold him up. He’s totally disoriented by this news. He feels his heartbeat pounding behind his eyes, and his ears ring loudly, barely registering the panicked talking going on around him

“They're alive,” Steve was shouting, but because people weren’t letting him talk, he had to keep shouting it over the hundred questions. They wouldn't be able to handle it. Not again. Not when Max still hasn't woken up. “Eddie? Can you hear me buddy?”

But Eddie was in shock. He was blaming himself. He killed you.

“Can you walk? I'll drive you,” Steve says, as Gareth searches Eddie's pockets for the keys to the van. “Dustin, get over here, help me get Eddie to the car.” Eddie overhears Jeff tell everyone to meet at the van.

As soon as they get moving, the adrenaline starts pumping through Eddie’s body. He was suddenly able to break free of his friends' aid and pick up his pace, and the three of them ran through the school and into the parking lot. The dim light Steve parked by was flickering, putting a weak spotlight on Eddie as he tugged the door handle on the passenger seat

“Let me unlock it,” Steve snapped, fumbling the keys in his hand. He dropped them, the pressure of Eddie’s stare was kinda terrifying. He got the door open and unlocked the others.

When they were in the car, Eddie was finally alert, if anything overaware.

“What the fuck is going on?” he snapped.

No one said anything. There was nothing they could say that would make Eddie feel better, or calm down. Steve sped out of the parking lot, blowing the stop sign. He really shouldn't have, given the whole reason you were in the hospital.

Eddie squeezed his eyes shut. This wasn't happening. He was wrong. He was being petty and he was hurt because he thought you were being a dick but you were - he was gunna throw up - you were somewhere bleeding. While he was busy killing you, you were actually laying on the asphalt after a violent car crash. And he was thinking you're an asshole

“Their character died,” Eddie said, “I've killed them.”

“It's not gunna happen,” Steve said, gripping the steering wheel. It was a statement he couldn't back up.

At the hospital, Eddie barely waited for the car to stop before he was running inside, tripping over his own feet as he rushed to get to you. dustin was hot on his trail and steve was parking the car.

Eddie saw Nancy with Jonathan over by the nurse's station, and when Nancy saw him, she came hustling over, putting her hands on Eddie's arms. Dustin spoke quietly with Jonathan in the background.

“Relax,” she said, “please breath. They’re okay right now, they’re in surgery, and it's going really well, okay?”

“Wheeler?” Eddie asked, eyes filling with tears he had no control over.

“It has to be fine,” Nancy said, “sit with me.” Nancy Wheeler was not going to lose another friend today. Not again.

And with no other options he listened, following Nancy to an uncomfortable plastic chair that squeaked when he sat. Nancy held his hand over the stiff arm rests, but he didn't find any comfort. He didn't think he would until he was with you again.

Jonathan sat beside Nancy, giving her a sad smile and handing her a bitter coffee. He sat quietly, letting Nancy give Eddie her attention. Dustin sat on the other side of Eddie, also opting to stay quiet. What was anyone supposed to say?

Honestly, the only thing Eddie wanted to hear was your voice.

Nothing changed for the first two days. But on the third day, the only change was in Eddie. He went from sitting quietly by your side to scribbling stuff in a notebook like a crazy person. He would also dip out to go use a library computer, or "check on some things," as he explained to Nancy.

Her and Steve were mutually concerned about Eddie's state. He was constantly babbling about saving you, and how he's figured it out they just have to succeed.

Everyone else got a chance to be worried when they got a call Tuesday saying there was a mandatory Hellfire meeting and anyone not in attendance would be left behind, and unwelcome for the rest of the campaign. He couldn't risk a single missing member. Not with the stakes...

Tuesday evening, Gareth, Jeff, and Keith are the first to arrive. They are curious as to what the hell their bandmate had cooked up, but they were more worried than excited. Eddie hadn't exactly been himself the last couple of days.

They don't expect a set up even more elaborate than usual. The lights are red and blue, making the room feel eerie, and small.

"Welcome to Hell," Eddie said, grinning and holding his arms open wide.

Gareth and Jeff exchanged a look, but were too nervous to speak. Eddie didn't want to explain the objective twice, so he waited for the rest of the party to arrive before he said anything, but the look in his eye feels sinister. His friends suddenly realized how truly fucked Eddie would be if anything happened to you.... like... for keeps.

When the rest of the party is there, they look to Eddie expectantly, but he just continues to smile like a maniac and tells everyone to take their seats. Dustin is confused to see Steve Harrington sneak into the room and lean against the wall.

"I cheated," he says when he has the attention of the flock, "y/n didn't fail the perception check, and therefore their death wasn't fair. However, death is death. So we're going to have to bring them back."

Dustin notices that Steve Harrington's presence is not explained.

Nancy sits at your bedside like she has for the better part of the last four days. She holds a book in one hand, and the other rests casually beside you, near your hand. She looks at you, and then her hand. She gets a supernatural chill.

She puts her book down, and speaks your name quietly, looking for any sign of life from you. One more day of your glass features and she was going to crumble. Nancy shakes the bizarre feeling from her head, and pats your hand.

She shocked when you're ice cold to the touch. She recoils, pulling away fast. But after the initial shock fades, she touches you again. There was no way that was right, right? You were freezing. What the hell was that about? Nancy starts a search for a blanket to warm you up.

A mage freezes your body. The party scavenges for anything that can help and then leave the cave, your frozen body in tow. Another player can't make life saving throws for you, so they were thinking outside the box. They would take you deep, deep into an ancient necromancer's lair, and steal the resurrection stone from around his neck.

Nancy returns with a simply grey blanket, and a very friendly nurse. They had gotten to talking, and Nancy has simply explained how cold you had been, having not thought too much of it. The nurse, Sophie, had decided to come check it out too.

"Oh my gosh," Sophie says, feeling the ice cold skin. "Oh my gosh, she's like ice!"

And leaves Nancy feeling a little worried as she scurries out of the room. It was like she'd never seen anything like it. Nancy feels uneasy, and makes a quick phone call from your bedside phone. Jonathan picks up, and as soon as he hears the concern in her voice, he's on the way.

Nancy hangs up, picks the phone back up, and calls Steve. He picks up on the first ring.

"Something is like... actually happening over here," she whispers, shocked to even be saying it.

"No shot," he says, nearly laughing at the idea. He whispers the next part so the group doesn't hear anything, "I thought we agreed Eddie was just crazy, and this whole 'saving her character will save her' was just to show him that he didn't cause all this."

"I know we did," she said, "but y/n is cold as ice."

Eddie's voice booms as he narrates the perilous journey. After trap rooms, fighting devil dogs, two gargoyles, and a Molydeus that nearly killed Mike. They had made it into the inner sanctum, but had all failed to roll perception upon entering, and set off a fire trap. One that melted the spell on you, leaving you warm enough to die. "Hurry!" Dustin shouted, "engage the necromancer! Hit 'em with everything we got."

Nancy is already back into her book, Jonathan sitting on the floor beside her, leaning his head against the armrest, while she dangles a dainty arm over his shoulder, letting it lay relaxed on his chest. A single beep draws her attention. She notices something different, but she can't say what. Your cheeks are rosy.

Nancy brings her hand off of Jonathan, drawing his attention too. She puts a cool hand against your forehead, and is again shocked by how you feel. You're burning up. You're fucking hot. Like boiling. Nancy runs to find Sophie again.

The turn is Keith's, his mage more powerful than the others, but instead turns his attention to your character. "I cast flesh to stone on y/n!" the mage shouts. "She'll die if she stays like this." "Roll for it!" "18!" "Pass!" Your body is frozen again, this time encased in stone. Another stall, and Eddie knows the party is running out of time.

"You have to feel her head," Nancy says, speed walking with the bubbly nurse hot on her trail. Sophie complies, and gasps.

"It's not possible," she says quietly, "I'm getting the doctor. There's something strange about your friend."

Nancy looks down at you, and jumps out of her skin when the machines start beeping wildly. All of them making different noises, all of them loud. Sophie rushes back in, with more staff behind her. Nancy and Jonathan are ushered out of the room by a woman who explains that you're in a code blue, which means they have to resuscitate you.

Nancy looks around the white hallway. She's overwhelmed and underpaid.

"Stay here," she tells her boyfriend. "This is crazy!"

But she runs off before she explains anything else. She's after a phone, which she finds with no trouble. She fishes a quarter out of her pocket, and uses it to call Steve again. He picks up as fast as last time, desperate for something other than watching dnd.

"Whatever they're doing, tell them to hurry up!" she's shouting, drawing the attention of patients and staff around her. "Something's happening! She's not breathing!"

The necromancer stands injured. The party cornering him, making him cower. He trembles, and begs for his life. He explains that the party came to his home, killed his people, and now wish to rip off the very thing that keeps him alive. "I stab him through the heart, and I take the necklace." Dustin says. As he looks at Steve, he thinks he understands what's going on. "Roll." "For what?" "Dexterity." Dustin rolls his die. The table is silent. The little D20 lands. the group erupts when they see the Nat 20 he rolled, effectively grabbing the necklace and throwing it around your neck from a metre away like horseshoe. As it lands on you, the ground shifts under the party's feet. Everyone stares in silence, both in the campaign and real life. Your character opens her eyes, coughs, and rises.

The party roars to life at the table, cheering at a job well done and slamming hands on the table in excitement. But the cheers are short lived, silence coats the room but this one is different. It's serious, eery. They can see that Steve looks worried, and he's trying to get Nancy to answer him, but he's getting nothing. looking at Steve expectantly. Apparently, everyone had figured out what the plan was. They all knew they were trying to wake you up. Steve says nothing. Just hangs up the phone, looking up with a disappointed frown.

"The line went dead."

Steve is once again driving Eddie to the hospital. And he's a nervous wreck. You're like schrodinger's cat. Eddie doesn't know if you're alive or not. He chews on the side of his thumb during the entire ride. The rest of the club was waiting patiently in the drama room. Eddie and Steve promised to call as soon as they knew anything.

Eddie can't fucking breath as he sprints down the hospital hallways, ignoring every sign and person telling him not to. He doesn't care. He has to get to you.

Wheeler is outside your room talking to a doctor, but with her back to him he couldn't see the bright, beautiful smile on her face talking excitedly about your miraculous recovery. Eddie runs right passed her to your room, and uses the doorframe to propel himself in, scaring both you and Jonathan who had been sitting quietly.

You look pale, and there are bags under your eyes. But you're sporting a weak smile, shaky hands holding a cup of lime jello. Eddie can't help but smile. You're awake, sitting up, and smiling at him. He has to laugh at the like, ten empty jello packages. Jonathan slips out the door without a word, and Eddie takes his seat by your bed.

"I was so fuckin' scared," Eddie says, tears falling from his eyes before he could even process it. He hadn't realized.

You hold your hand out for him and whisper, "Eddie," and he looks up, puppy dog eyes glossy with lingering tears, and heartbreaking to see. He takes your hand. "You didn't do this."

And he cries harder, leaning down and holding your hand to his forehead and begging your forgiveness anyway. "I did," he cries, "out of spite and jealousy, I tried to hurt you, and I did. I let them leave you alone. I made them and I cheated-"

"-Eddie-"

"-and you should've seen the party-"

"-Eddie, seriously-"

"-leaving because you totally passed the, ow, hey!"

You had flicked him on the nose, his babbling giving you no other choice, but as usual he was being dramatic, you hadn't actually hurt him at all.

"Eddie, stop, and listen to me," you say, "you didn't do this. You're not actually all powerful, you know that, right?"

"But-"

"But nothing," you say, smiling. "But Nancy told me that you saved me so no hard feelings."

Eddie smiles back at you, letting you wipe the tears leftover on his flushed cheeks. He leans into your touch and your heart swells. In your mind, you beg him to kiss you. You beg and plead and hope that this will be the time he makes a move.

He knows this is his chance, he leans closer to you, slowly, gauging your reaction. "Is this okay?" he whispers, when he's just an inch from your lips. You feel his breath as he speaks and you can't resist, pushing yourself forward to close the gap. And he kisses you like he's kissed you a hundred times before. Like he already knows everything you will like, even before you do. His lips are so fucking soft against yours, all plush and warm and taking over your senses.

"Well, I guess I can tell the others that you're fine," Steve says, and Eddie pulls away from you. His sudden absence is cold.

"I saved her," Eddie says, grinning. "Nancy said so."

the hair on the back of will's neck having a disco party during this entire fic

[thisblogisaboutabook]

Wicked Felina (The Girl That I Love)

Part 1 - El Paso

Azriel x Reader - Angst - Smut - MDNI

The darkness within her became his obsession. She was his. Didn’t she know? When Azriel spies his wicked mate with another male, when he kills that male, what he knows as life shifts eternally. No longer is there life. No longer is there death. There is only Felina. Felina who has many secrets.

Series Masterlist - Part 2

Warnings: threat of self-harm/suicide, assumed character death (you’ll see), implied rape/non-con (some gross, shitty males discussing it in a tavern), dub-con, violence, obsession, dark themes, sexual content

One hour ago

Rhysand

All Rhys knew was that when Azriel returned from what was supposed to be a short inspection of the Illyrian war camps, he was different. His shadows whirred violently; his eyes… there was a darkness in them that he’d not seen even within the depths of harrowing interrogations; and while his scent remained his usual cedar chilled mist an iron tang tinged it.

“Az?” Rhys asked cautiously, trailing his brother up the stairs

“Not now.” Azriel growled, clenched fists shaking, pupils blown wide, sweat beading his brow.

Rhys said nothing more, following the frantic male to his room. Well- until Azriel slammed the door shut in his face.

Message received.

A few minutes later, Azriel re-emerged into the living area, a packed duffel bag in tow.

“Az? Talk to me.” Rhys pleaded. Fighting against the urge to dive into his mind. Azriel’s shields were ironclad but Rhys could break through them if absolutely necessary.

“Just stop. I’m fine.” Azriel growled.

He sure as shit didn’t look fine.

“I need to go handle some personal things. I have never asked for leave for anything. Can you please just allow me a couple of weeks?”

The High Lord’s brows creased, voice raising “Weeks? With no provided reasoning?”

“I said that it was personal.”

“As your employer, I can accept that it’s personal. As your family, Az, come on. What happened?”

“I’m leaving whether you grant me this or not.”

Azriel and Rhysand had many battle-of-wills over the years but this was different. Rhys could feel it in the very marrow of his bones.

And Azriel’s demeanor - Fuck, he’d always been dangerous but he was outright predatory in the moment.

Rhys shook his head. “I should kick your ass for talking to me like this but fine - go. Two weeks, Azriel, and then you’re back here or I tear the world apart looking for you. You aren’t abandoning us without reason. I will not accept it.”

Azriel’s only response was a tick of the jaw before stepping out the front door and launching skyward at breakneck speed.

Rhys spent the next hour nursing a glass of whiskey, fighting an internal battle of leaving his brother be or going to find him. Just when he began to lose that battle and head out searching, Cassian burst through the door. His hair disheveled from the wind and caked with blood, his eyes puffy and red as if he’d been crying the entire flight.

Rhys froze in his tracks at the sight of his brother who took a few steps forward before falling to the floor, knees giving out as he let out a deep, world-shattering scream.

Rhys sent his darkness to caress his mind, gently prodding for what could have left Cassian in such a state only to be met with crushing waves of grief. Rhys pushed his consciousness with great effort to cut through the viscous surge of emotion desperate for any sense of clarity.

He’d almost reached his own daemati limit when he was abruptly greeted by flashes of memory. Snow painted bright-red with blood. Azriel laying limp. Ash arrows littering his body. Lifeless hazel eyes. Long dark hair. Red lips. Eyes darker than night. Sounds of a female voice screaming. Tears falling onto blood coated hands.

Suddenly Rhys was thrust from Cassian’s mind as he fought against the induced slumber. Cassian’s body shuttered as tears broke free once again. His words slurred as he tried to communicate within his half dazed state, “Go. Ste-steppes.” Another broken sob. “Az is d- Oh gods!” He cried out. “Dead. And s-she’s”

“Who?” Rhys’ mind flashed to the female crouched over Azriel, screaming.

“Oh fuck, R-rhys. Go!!!”

Cassian fell back into his dream state before Rhys could press further.

Rhys willed himself to remain as calm as possible. Fighting to keep his mental voice steady before the grief could overtake him as he called for Amren and Feyre.

Elain, who had been in the garden, would stay with Nyx. Amren would keep an eye on Cassian and throw additional wards up, while Feyre retrieved Nesta from the House of Wind. Once Feyre returned she would be able to soothe his mind.

Feyre’s mental voice wavered, heartbreak surging through the bond at the news, but she agreed to keep details private until Rhys understood exactly what had happened.

——————

Three weeks ago

Azriel

War Camp inspections had a way of bringing out the worst in Azriel. As if his tolerance level for Illyrians was not already at a miniscule level, these inspections always seemed to inflate the egos of the Illyrians. Camp Lords and their cronies marching into meetings with puffed out chests and mouths spewing hatred particularly grated on his typically infallible patience.

Azriel had been staying at the River House for some time now, carefully avoiding Elain as much as possible, and trying his best to avoid giving Rhys anything to pull rank over. And fuck, he was so tired after a day of negotiations. With nothing but tension awaiting him at home and overwhelming fatigue, he found himself at a shitty Inn in the Illyrian Steppes.

He’d seated himself at a small corner table, shrouding himself in shadow as he observed the belligerent patrons of Rosa’s Cantina, a shoddy tavern attached to the Inn.

“Witch.” He heard a group of males call her. Their eyes fixed on a stunning female swaying her hips in time to the music flowing from a rickety piano at the front of the bar.

Remaining silent, the Spymaster listened to the ruddy males lecherous conversation.

“I wouldn’t mind being under her spell.”

“You’ll sooner find your balls nailed to a stake than completion - even with tits like that it’s not worth it.”

Azriel snarled to himself. Even outside of the Illyrian camps, the males in the Steppes were abhorrent. Backwards in every way. The woman continued twirling, her raven-black hair flowing with each movement of her supple body.

“Not if I tie her down first.” A burly male chimed in, his slurred voice gruff.

“I’ll bet you five marks that you won’t survive the encounter with all of your appendages.”

“Look at what the whore is wearing. She wants it whether she knows or not.”

The brute of a male stumbled up to her and Azriel sighed to himself, he really didn’t want to get into it tonight. But….

The male put his greasy hands on her and Azriel instantly jolted upright, preparing to step in. She tried pulling away as the male yanked her into him. The female whirled in his arms, looking up to him like a lover. The male immediately dropped his arms, palms in the air as if placating a wild animal, he began stepping away slowly. When he turned around, Azriel noticed the blood drained from his face as he threw gold marks on the table and immediately left the cantina. The males only laughed and went back to their drinking.

“Wicked Felina” they called her.

“Eh? How much money have you won off the males she scares away now?” One of the patrons chimed in.

“Enough to cover these boys.” The male slapped the new pair of leather boots adorning his feet.

Azriel hadn’t seen what the male saw in her face when she looked to him but his shadows whispered to him.

“Darkness”

“Like calls to like”

“Look”

And maybe it was the stale mead he’d downed but he did. He strode right up to the female and could have sworn he felt time stand still as the patrons of the bar watched.

He didn’t touch her, only spoke in a low tone, “May I have a dance?”

The female whirled towards him and Azriel had to fight to keep his footing steady. Before him stood the most breathtaking female he’d ever seen.

Her eyes met his and his heart sputtered as he stared into the depth of them. Blacker than night, constellations and blood and something “other” swimming inside of them. He could sense her darkness and instead of his typical urge to question, it drew him in like metal to a magnet.

As she took him in, he heard her heart skip a beat for only a moment, before that darkness invaded his senses once again. No, it wasn’t darkness to run away from at all. It was alluring, captivating, dangerous. And he wanted to drink it all in.

“You are a brave male.” She spoke with a slight, unfamiliar accent. So similar to those of Velaris but with something else mixed in.

Azriel’s shadows whirled around the female, winding through her hair and between her fingers. She didn’t balk from them, she only remained intensely focused on him.

Her scent surrounded them and he couldn’t breathe the female in deeply enough.

An hour later he found himself driving into her. Her breasts bouncing so beautifully that he nearly came from the sight alone. He’d spent so long fisting his cock as he fantasized of Elain that he’d forgotten just how glorious the feel of a tight cunt wrapped around him felt. And this female, Felina, her moans were like a sirens call, drawing him so deeply into her that he didn’t know where she ended and he begun.

He would have gone slowly with her, tenderly, worshipped every centimeter of cool, exposed skin, but she had begged him so prettily to fuck her until she forgot what she was. Who was he to deny a female who knew exactly what she wanted. He’d never fucked a female so hard and still she pleaded for more, sensing that he was holding back. When he finally let go of his restraint, he had to dig his nails into her moonlight pale flesh just to keep her from sliding away. She bit her lip and held his gaze through every thrust. Those damning eyes looking at him like she could read every fucking tendril of his own inner-void.

When she came, he came with her. The Inn shaking with the intensity of their combined orgasms. As he came down from the high, the darkness in her eyes banked momentarily a deep, blue flashing in them before once again overtaking them. He gasped sharply as a snap yanked in his chest. Gold tethering him to her.

“Mate” his shadows sang

“Our mate, our mate.”

Azriel’s breathing grew frantic. She climbed out of the bed, her exposed backside red from the slaps he’d pressed to her round ass. “Did you feel that?”

She turned her head over her shoulder, those eyes meeting his again. “Feel what?”

Azriel’s heart sank. “Nothing.”

“Hm.” She shrugged. “Intresting.” And poured a glass of water from a pitcher on an oak dresser with nonchalance. As if they hadn’t just had life-altering sex, like the ground itself hadn’t shook with the force of their coupling.

Her mouthwatering breasts bounced with each step toward him, her lightly toned abdomen baring silver, faded scars.

“Who gave you those?” Azriel asked.

“I’m as willing to talk about them as you are about those.” She nodded toward his hands.

Touché

“Curiosity can be a dangerous thing.” She stated before bringing his head to her chest and running delicate fingers through his hair until he drifted into a deep slumber full of darkness and a golden thread.

When he woke, she was gone.

And he would have thought he’d dreamt it all, had it not been for the nearly-healed crescent moon imprint of her nails littering his body. He hummed in satisfaction at the sight.

He only hoped that next time she’d leave marks deep enough to scar. He should have staked his claim on her too.

——————

Two weeks ago

Azriel

He searched for her, frantically, day in and day out but she was nowhere to be found. How could he have found his mate and been so foolish to lose her in such a short period of time. He hadn’t even told her his name.

Eventually, he had to take pause, and venture into the camps due to a couple of missing Illyrians. Through his questioning, he’d found that the males were shaking, reporting a fanged creature that swept from the trees and picked off several of their men, one by one. When they returned to reclaim the bodies, all that was left were scattered body parts. Fingers, tongues, and cocks mostly.

He remembered the whispers in the taverns of “Wicked Felina.” Surely it was just paranoia.

Azriel returned to the tavern each night, hiding outside within his shadows. She was never there.

His patience was infallible, no amount of space or time would deter him. He would find his mate, he would embrace that pit of darkness dwelling within her - even if she were the creature the men were speaking of. She hadn’t hurt him, she’d only awoken something within him. His Felina may be dark but she is not the villain. She couldn’t be.

He pushed the sight of the ghostly pale brute running away from her at Rosa’s far into the back of his mind.

——————

One week ago

Azriel

Something tugged at him that night, urged him to find her again. Felina had become the focal point of his thoughts, consumed with her 24/7.

He was a desperate male, he wanted - no, needed - to know every piece of this dark anomaly. Mind, body, spirit. He’d sought someone whose light cast upon his obsidian soul for so long - finding hope in the radiant enigma that is Mor and the gentle, sweet presence of Elain. But all along the mother knew he needed someone who could step into his shadow and find solace. When Felina stared into his eyes, he knew she saw it, saw home. He saw it in her too.

She was so new to him and yet so familiar.

His brothers would tell him he was infatuated, that this was just another Mor, but they would be so far from the truth. This was a need, as essential to him as water or air. He thrummed with desire for his Wicked Felina.

She was the other half of his soul and he would not lose out on the opportunity to make her his.

Tonight was the night, she’d be there, he felt it deep within.

And she was.

Not inside. No, in a dark corner of the alley adjacent to Rosa’s Cantina. With a silver haired High-Fae male, nearly as tall as Azriel, muscled, well-groomed.

And she - her back was pressed against the wall. Her head flung back from the crook of his neck it where her face had been burrowed, pure ecstasy written all over those seductive features. A moan escaping her plush lips.

And then he saw it. Blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.

No.

No.

This couldn’t be.

He HURT her. She didn’t want this. Didn’t she know that he was her soul-bonded mate? She wouldn’t fuck someone in the dark corner of an alley willingly.

Didn’t she know she was better than that? Didn’t she know she was everything?

Visions of the scars on her abdomen and of the male who joked about tying her down to have his way with her came to mind.

No. Not his Felina. Nobody would harm her now that she was his.

Azriel didn’t think further as he barreled for them, unsheathing truth-teller and slitting the males throat before he could even lock eyes with him.

Felina let out a quiet inhale of shock, onyx eyes blown wide.

“No. No. No.” She dropped to the male. Her nostrils flaring at the sight of him, his bloodied neck, checking for a pulse.

There was none.

Felina looked up to him with near-black, pleading eyes. “Azriel.”

And despite the peril of the moment, the fact that he clearly misread the situation, his name rolling off those pretty red lips made it all worth it.

Until the thought occurred to him. He’d never told her his name. “How?”

“Az….” Her voice cracked, the slightest bit of silver lined her eyes before darkness began radiating from her, rage filling those deeper than night eyes. Her voice became cold, deadly. “I told you that curiosity was dangerous.”

Shouts from bystanders rang out, creating panic among the villagers.

“You need to go now. They’ll recognize you.”

He paused, mouth gaping as she looked to him. He knew what she was saying but remained frozen in place.

“Azriel, please!” She cried.

There it was. His name again. Had she been as taken by him as he was by her? Had she sought him out too?

It was then that she unsheathed a dagger and held it to her own throat. “If you don’t leave, I will end it all right now.”

If he’d have looked closely, he would have seen the way her hand shook, the way she couldn’t quite touch the blade to her pale skin.

“I will find you again, Felina.” He vowed - threatened - Don’t even think about escaping me. You’re mine.

“Go.” She mouthed.

——————

Four hours ago

Azriel

Staying away for days was impossible. When she’s wander at night, he’d watch her from afar, remaining unseen. The small village mourned the dead male, apparently the esteemed ruler of this shit hole place. He caught glimpses of a mourning Felina. He felt something in the bond but he couldn’t quite make it out.

Resentment, perhaps? Jealousy? Longing?

And despite the black apparel she donned through the village, her face remained neutral with only a tinge of sadness.

Villagers whispered as she walked by. She paid them no mind.

He imagined they likely suspected the death was over her. Azriel’s shadows reported he had a wife. Why would his Felina sleep with a married male? If he was willing to cheat on his wife with her, he couldn’t have been a good male. Azriel did right by the females for eliminating him from the picture, right?

It was then that a flash of auburn appeared. The male’s wife with several large males behind her carrying torches. “Whore!” She spat. “Only fucking my husband wasn’t good enough, was it?”

“You had to sleep around with another male, one you surely had under your spell, just as you had with mine. You vile witch! And now my husband is dead because some enchanted soul grew jealous over you. You will burn for this!”

Suddenly she was placed in shackles, his shadows zooming into her vision. She must have noticed them as she whipped her head searching for him. She mouthed “no”, shaking her head in the direction his shadows raced off to. They came back.

“Blue not black. Blue not black.”

“Still beating. Still beating.”

“Mate. Mate. Mate.”

It was then that wings burst out of her back. Like Illyrian wings but white, the light casting a holographic range of gentle hues of blues and purple, and pinks. Talons emerged from her nails, but her lovely face remained impassive.

His shadows stirred aggressively.

“Alike. Alike. Alike.”

Another shadow shot back to him, beginning to report something when Azriel saw the pyre lighting in town as the villagers threw obscenities in her direction.

Felina held her head high, accepting her fate so easily.

The fire grew and Azriel once again acted on instinct. They couldn’t take her from him. And to burn her? Rage roared within him.

Azriel flew in, obliterating the large males jerking her toward the fire.

“The Shadowsinger!” someone cried out. Azriel saw nothing but Felina and the rising flames. Never would his mate be subjected to licks of flame marring her flesh. She was far too precious to burn.

Anyone who tried to lay hands on he or Felina were eviscerated. “The key!” She cried, pointing to a dead male. She ran toward it. Azriel launched in front of her, his speed overtaking hers as he retrieved it. She caught the key but her talons made it impossible to unlock the chains quickly. Azriel grabbed the key, unshackling her, the talons and wings disappearing.

“We have to go!” She shouted. Azriel caught her, launching skyward, right as an arrow shot toward them, and straight into Azriel’s back. He fought through it, he had to get her to safety. Another arrow flew through the air, narrowly missing Felina. The attempt on his mate triggering a knee-jerk reaction in Azriel who turned to send a blast of power at the bastard shooting the arrows.

He was struck in the side as another arrow met him. Azriel shot another blast of power in the direction that it came from.

Azriel could feel power rumbling under Felina’s surface. “We don’t have time! You’re hurt.”

Azriel bit back a cry at the pain radiating through his body, the blood not slowing as it should. He began feeling faint, fevered. He struggled through it, needing to make it as far away as he could but his vision began to blur as his body weakened. Felina was crying out something but he couldn’t hear her. All there was was pain and the cool press of her body against his. Gods, she was so cold.

“We need to land, Azriel! You can’t make it further.” She commended. He felt the sting of her palm on his face. “Wake up! Land!”

The slap along with her frantic voice roused Azriel enough to land them, very roughly. He crashed down on top of her.

“Felina….” He rasped.

“Shh.” She hushed him. “Save your breath. I’m okay.” Reassuring him through staggered breaths. “We need to get you to help.”

Azriel placed a hand on hers. “Too far. There’s nothing.”

“There’s got to be something!” She choked out.

Commotion erupted from the trees as a group of males from the village drew toward them. Their torches lighting the night and their bows drawn and ready.

Azriel used the little remaining might he had to push himself up. Felina throwing herself on top of him, her hands coated in his blood.

“I’m sorry for this, Azriel.” She spoke and ripped the poisoned arrow out of him, stabbing it right into her bicep. “Fuck!” She cursed. Suddenly the talons and wings were back. Her scent shifted into something so fucking familiar that it made Azriel’s heart ache, and screams echoed as she shot bursts of power at them. The range was short and the damage limited but it slowed them.

A commotion distracted the group of males as flares of red shot from the brush. A large winged male approaching from the night.

“Cass.” Felina whispered in awe.

Azriel’s vision went dark again, his conscious only picking up on words as the males screaming became less and less with each blast of power from Cassian and Felina.

A light caress came over Azriel’s mind, stroking it into submission, his pain easing. This was it. He wasn’t going to make it out of here.

And at that moment the caress broke free, Felina releasing a piercing scream. He tried moving, tried to console his mate, but the arrow that had just lodged in his heart was too much.

Azriel fought to see her one last time, her darkened eyes now shining like the night itself.

“Mate.” He whispered.

“I know, Azriel. I know.” She sobbed. Caressing his face with those delicate, chilly hands.

All Azriel remembered was the darkness embracing him once again. The pain easing as he heard Cassian’s voice.

“How?” Cassian’s booming voice cracked.

“Later, Cassian. He needs help.” Her voice was so pitiful. Broken.

Azriel’s breathing grew so shallow, that sweet darkness lulling him, even his shadows were silent. All he saw in his mind was her but she was fading. Her touch no longer registering to his senses.

He tried fighting it but there was no use as Azriel took his final breath.

“He’s dead, Cassian.”

——————

Two hours ago

Cassian

Cassian had never flown so fast in his life.

Oh gods, his brother was dead. The female, she refused to leave his side until he left to get Rhys.

His mind roared at him that he should have brought her with him. But why? Who was she?

Who was she to Azriel?

All he could remember as the tears flowed freely was that his brother was dead. That he heard the call for help from the village, that the Shadowsinger had gone mad, only to find a group of men on the attack and his brother incapacitated.

He had to get to Rhys quickly and let him know about Azriel, about the female.

——————

Present

Rhysand

Rhys winnowed to the vicinity of where Cassian had been in the memories when he’d held his mind. He flew until he found the bodies of several men. This was the clearing Cassian had been in and in the center of the clearing was caked blood.

Caked blood and no Azriel. No female.

But the blood, there was so much. He couldn’t have survived.

Right?

——————

Two hours ago

Azriel

The darkness on Azriel’s mind eased only slightly. The crippling pain too much to bear.

He opened his eyes to his version of heaven, to his mate’s face. The arrow removed from her arm.

He was in so much pain only managing to rasp out, “Can’t leave you.”

“You have to make a choice now.” She cupped his hand. “There was no other way.” She spoke to herself more than him. “There’s no way Cassian could have made it back in time.”

She was trying to convince herself. His decision was already made.

She shook her head, bracing herself for his response. “You have only a few moments left.”

The black fog cleared from his mind, every ounce of pain returning, but his eyes opened.

“Look at me, Azriel.”

He blinked and where her canines had been were sharp fangs. “I can save you but I can’t guarantee this existence is worth it. I am still figuring it out for myself.”

To his credit, Azriel didn’t balk. A chance to be with his mate… his Felina. He groaned as he turned his head, exposing his neck to her.

“Azriel, if I do this. You are bound to me. I know I’m your mate but you don’t know me. What if I’m… too much? Can you bare that?”

He tried to speak. She would never be too much. He only kept his neck exposed, a warning rattle escaping his chest.

“I’m sorry.” She whispered, as she pressed her fangs into his neck.

Blinding light erupted through him along with the worst pain he’d felt in centuries. Tears fell from those otherworldly eyes of night onto his neck.

He fought through the pain, biting back screams. He would be strong for her.

As she drank, she caressed his hair. A slight whimper and the scent of arousal escaping her. She tensed as she recognized the scent. And he could feel a hint of shame from her end of the bond.

Azriel had only heard legends of vampyr’s. Stories told in the camps to scare children who were prone to wandering off and now here she was feeling shame for her own body’s response to having him at the most intimate level.

As she drank, little gulps escaping her, he felt his strength returning. He raised a hand and grabbed her breast, massaging it as she lapped at his blood. A silent communication that whatever she was feeling did not frighten him, was not unwelcome.

Her body relaxed only slightly but he could sense her relief.

The pain began subsiding and Azriel’s strength had already returned in full, in excess, even.

Her drinking slowed and she fought against the urge to keep drinking, the greedy need for blood raging through her.

Azriel raised his hand from her breast to her face, stroking his thumb across her cheek. She leaned into it, grounding herself.

Suddenly she pulled herself off, gasping. Her chest heaving. Pain filled her eyes as she stared up at him. But he felt… incredible. Euphoric.

And there his mate was, reeking of sweet arousal. Chest heaving. Trickles of blood dripping from her mouth.

“You have to go now, Azriel. Get what you need and come back to me.”

He could hardly think. His need to be inside of her overwhelming every sense.

“Azriel. Listen!” She spoke firmly. “You have a couple of hours at most. Go home, get any healing tonics or sedatives that you may have, clothes, and blankets and come right back here.”

“I don’t-“ he started.

“You will. Can you still winnow?”

Azriel nodded. Had he winnowed in front of her before?

“Go. Now. Before Cassian gets home and bombards you with questions.”

Azriel didn’t want to leave, growing irate at the thought of it.

“I know it’s hard for you to leave. It’s a culmination of our newly tethered bond and likely the mating bond, Azriel.”

He stayed in place.

Finally she approached him. Staring straight past his eyes and into the depths of his soul as the urge to obey her taking overtook him. “Go now.”

Without another word, he left, winnowing directly to the River House, collecting a bag, and leaving Rhys with far too many questions. He prayed to the mother that he wouldn’t track him.

——————

One week later

Azriel

She’d begged him not to take her but she was declining far too quickly. They’d spent the past seven days in a daze. He had quickly gone from euphoric to delirious once returning from the River House.

And just as he’d made a life altering choice to be eternally bonded to her when she’d turned him, Felina made the choice to accept the mating bond by allowing him to feed off of her.

The combination of blood lust and the mating frenzy sent him into a spiral. They barely talked in the past few days, they’d have eternity to do that. He spent more time inside of her than out but she… she refused to feed off of him, citing that it was too risky with his newly turned state. When he wasn’t rutting into her, he was hunting for game but the blood wasn’t enough for her. He cursed himself for taking so much of her blood in his frenzied state.

She repeatedly asked that he not take her to his family but they would understand. It was the only option at this point. Her scent began shifting into that strange familiar aroma again, the darkness of her eyes swirling with flecks of blue. That “other” aspect to her diminishing slightly.

As she fought her consciousness, she barely managed to whisper “There’s more.” before going unconscious.

He’d waited so long to find his mate.

She’d saved him.

He didn’t want to go against her wishes but her condition was deteriorating rapidly. Her fever raising, her once-cool skin now burning as whimpers escaped her lips.

He did the only thing he could and prayed to the Mother that Felina would forgive him.

He flew her home.

They landed on the River House lawn in the middle of the night. Rhys appeared with a crack of thunder to confront the threat that breached his wards. Feyre, Elain, Cassian, and Nesta rushing out behind him, their eyes wide with shock.

Rhys shuddered, falling to his knees before his brother. “Azriel. Thank the mother you’re home.” He sobbed.

Felina let out a pitiful moan. Sweat beading on her brow. Her cool skin now radiating waves of heat. She slowly, weakly opened her weary eyes, the swirling black now bleeding into a blend of ultraviolet blue.

Rhys approached the female in his arms, Azriel tightening his grip on her. Time stood still as Rhys gently touched her face, carefully turning her head toward him. His face of relief crumpling into something earth shattering, the mountains quaking as he fell to his knees.

Azriel started, “This is Felina, my m-“

Rhys interrupted shaking his head as let out pained, joyous laughter. “No, Az.” He choked out. “Not Felina.”

Fighting to regain composure, Rhys clarified. “That’s Y/N.”

Azriel gasped as those now violet-blue eyes peered up into his, his jaw dropping as he carefully went to his knees with her in his arms.

That scent. Those eyes of night. Azriel’s mate was-

Rhys gave a disbelieving smile his voice again breaking at the sight before him.

“My sister.”

——————————————

A/N: Thank you for reading! For now, this is a one-shot. I have left openings in the story with the potential for it to become a series or at least part two with an explanation but have not yet decided.

This fic is loosely inspired by an old-western song called “El Paso” that I listened to growing up with my grandmother. The song is where I chose my pen name of “Felina” from. You may also recognize “Wicked Felina” as the title of the final episode of the show “Breaking Bad”

ACOTAR general tag list: @lilah-asteria

[shinystealingbirb]

Some thoughts on Yanqing

I don’t quite know how or if Yanqing was shown in Honkai Impact, but I’d like to talk about my understanding of him.

Biiiiiiig cut.

I assume many think he’s a flat character. He’s a child prodigy who arrogantly took on two immortals leagues more powerful than himself, and couldn’t get over his loss. Right? Who went out seeking some strange person, who Jingliu almost treats like an amusing pet, who tried to shortcut his way to total mastery. Who desires a title of a championship rather than the art itself. That’s the mark of a flat character- no displayed motivation, and traits we’re told, rather than shown, exist.

This is what the game explicitly tells us. In fact, it takes pains to push this narrative, and in my opinion, it’s specifically because he’s never in our party. To Stelle, or Caelus, or whoever you play as, Yanqing will always be on the other side. He faced Dan Heng and Blade, who we controlled. He duelled Stelle and Kafka. Faced us under the voluntary control of a heliobi. The only time we control him is when Yanqing battles Jingliu, and even then, he was canonically alone. To the Trailblazer, he is a child. An irritatingly strong one, but a child nonetheless, ultimately a footnote in their journey.

So that’s what the game says. But I want to talk about what the game doesn’t really put out there as much, but becomes more obvious the more we encounter Yanqing.

It’s a little hard to explain- I got a kick in the balls when I went through the Fyxstroll Garden quests and got to Yanqing, but I’ll explain that in a moment. For now, allow me to begin with a brief explanation of his character in the way I see it, rather than what the game has taken pains to show us.

He’s a winner- all he’s done is win, and he is young. It’s all he’s known, training and success. He’s showered with praise that he easily tires of, and the General is the only one he spars with that consistently defeats him. This praise is the expectation, the norm. You must win can be a hell of a motivator.

So when he loses to Dan Heng and Blade, it rocks his fucking world. He had no idea where he was in terms of power- really, the only thing he had to compare himself to was Jing Yuan, and the gap there is enormous. He got a taste of a true life-or-death scenario, as opposed to the competition he’s accustomed to, and according to the heliobus, the two immortals- who are way out of his league- left him teetering on the brink of death.

In an attempt to discover his prowess, something outside of the meaningless praise and predictable spars with Jing Yuan, he was absolutely ripped apart by an undead Hunter and a reborn Elder. The worst part? The heliobus in the Fyxstroll quest says he would’ve died “if the hunter’s blade pierced him,” which could quite possibly mean Blade was holding back. Given he was in a rush to beat the shit out of Dan Heng, I doubt it, but it is a possibility that would add salt to the wound- being defeated without being cut once by Blade, only using the flat side of his sword to almost kill him?

So he’s aching from that loss. He got fucked up and knows exactly where he stands, and that’s the single greatest defeat he’s suffered in his life.

For some children, for those who began or became skilled, who build and build and gather ourselves, trying to fight good to become great, a fear we have to overcome is failure. And failure is the single more horrifying concept to a gifted child, the absolute worst outcome.

A normal person fails. Oh well. Time to move on with life.

A competitive or gifted child fails, it means something. It means the effort put in, every single move spent in our lives, every thought, every moment of practice or rest, even if not working on that skill specifically, was a waste of a life, and as failures, that child, too, is a waste. Failure is like death. The way I can best describe the feeling… your heart clenches. Cold sweat, a sudden mental blank. A spider crawls up your throat, and with every step your throat grows tighter, the sense of dread closer and closer until the spider has made its way up to your stinging nose, your tearing eyes, and you are humiliating yourself with those tears.

It’s hard for people who do not understand this to be empathetic. To these people, a loss like this is just a loss. Things like “you’ll get them next time” or “they were out of your league” are said, and these things will never be consolations.

We, the Trailblazers, do not understand why Yanqing goes back to it in his thoughts so often, why it is a pivotal moment for him, why it appears in his character lines, and why he speaks about that battle so ruefully. It was inevitable, we think, that he would lose, isn’t it?

Shouldn’t he know he would never have beaten him?

Of course he knows.

But Yanqing is a child. For all his power, all his cheer and skill, he is a child. He’s gifted, and loss stings really fucking bad if you’re gifted, if you’ve won and won and already realized that praise is false and results are king (his trace voiceline sounds so sarcastic when he speaks of praise.)

Now: we can go over Jingliu and Stelle’s battles if you wish- more salt in the wound, to twist the knife just a little more(loser, loser, loser)- but by far our most interesting encounter with Yanqing is in the Fyxstroll Garden quest.

He’s possessed by a heliobi who claims- and delivers- that he can teach any weapon and advance the soldier to a warrior beyond compare. Despite the memory-wiping effects of the heliobi after possession, I believe said possession- at least for this one- is voluntary.

After all these losses, Yanqing finds a spirit who pushed a Cloud Knight into something lethal, and the spirit tells him, “I have seen your losses, I see them inside your head. Offer me your sword; offer me your allegiance, your body, and I will make you great.”

Knowing he was almost killed for his naivety, knowing he has been painted as the enemy, knowing he has won and won for his entire gifted life, right up until he hasn’t… why do you think he takes it? Of course he’s desperate, of course there’s a nagging doubt, a painful needling that tells him hes not enough anymore, nothing is enough. Of course he allowed himself to be possessed.

After all, praise is empty. Results are king.

The real kicker comes when Jing Yuan gets there.

I think Jing Yuan’s reaction to Yanqing’s possession says a lot. He’s not surprised it was him, nor how easy it was to get into his head. He knows these things, understands they are part of growth and motivation. He is only disappointed because Yanqing has allowed himself to cheat, to find the shortcut.

He arrives at the island, and so calmly he says “Yanqing would never lift his sword against me.”

Yanqing raises his blade. And then he turns to the heliobi and demands a duel. He proceeds to rip the false Yanqing apart with all the speed and precision that Blade and Dan Heng dueled him with.

I’ve seen people talk about how Yanqing was put in a loaded situation. That his choice was made based on disappointing one teacher over the other. It’s not an unreasonable claim, but a shallow one, i based on the surface teacher-student dynamic and taking nothing the heliobi or Yanqing said into account.

It comes down to the choices he has: in that example, his choices are loyalty to a heliobi he only just met, or a teacher he’s known since he was a little kid. In this perspective, the choice is obvious.

This one is not an incorrect perspective, merely an incomplete one. I think the complete choice was as follows: Instant power from an unpredictable, harsh master, one who is asking strange things of him- attack your friends, attack your previous master, don’t you want power?!- or turn back to the training he feels he’s outgrown, mentored by a man who he holds in such high regard and, if his voice lines are any indication, would trust with his life in an instant.

He’s braver than I am for choosing Jing Yuan’s side. Yanqing’s been shown to have an honorable teacher, but we have not seen him put in a situation where he has to prove it. We couldn’t confidently say what he’d do.

This quest displayed his desperate side. The heliobi had already exploited it, promised and delivered power. The heliobi proved it could be trusted, for that at least. Jing Yuan is a trusted mentor, almost a father figure, but those methods led to failure at the most critical of times. This undoubtedly crossed his mind- it certainly crossed mine as I played through that quest- and I genuinely thought I’d have to fight him again.

Frankly, I’m astounded he chose Jing Yuan, and that surprise made, at least to me, made him feel complete.

Yanqing is a child, with a child’s complex emotions and weaker understanding. He is cheerful and confident, a trait easily confused with arrogance. He is competitive. His worth is based on his prowess with a sword. He knows praise is empty and results are king. He is desperate, but more than that he is loyal beyond his own desires, honorable to a fault, which is more than I could say about most adults, much less myself.

He’s flawed and requires a certain prerequisite to understand. Yanqing feels childish in a different way than Hook and Clara, in motivations rather than actions. He feels human, and I really like his character

[maeral33n]

Was it Worth it? (Velvet and Veneer Angst)

Description: What if Brozone couldn't save Floyd in time? How will the twin handle the consequences of their actions? Is a sibling's bond strong enough to forgive murder? Authors Note: Yeah, I was feeling some stuff today, and writing angst is cheaper than therapy. That being said, forgive me if characters seem a bit ooc and feel free to leave feedback.

They did it.

They are officially the most famous Mount Rageons in the past decade.

Velvet and Veneer's rise to fame skyrocketed over night after their award-winning performance at the Rage Dome. Tickets for their performance sold out almost within the hour they were available, and yet people still demanded to buy tickets even if there were no more seats available.

Their beatiful faces were plastered everywhere. In the malls, on the streets, on billboards, and if that wasn't enough, various programs on television were constantly reminding you that these two were the top dogs of the industry.

From the glittering city to the humble suburbs, to the slums of the undercity, everyone knew their names.

And all it took was one troll.

One dead troll.

Veneer stared at him, Floyd, still in his diamond prison. He lay lifeless and colourless. No, not colourless...translucent.

He's heard of discoloured trolls before, he's aware that troll can lose their colours due to trauma, but...it never occurred to him what would happen when a troll died.

Veneer felt life he was going to vomit.

Velvet was practically bouncing with joy as, yet another news anchor showed clips of their two during their performance last night. Her hands fanned her face as she fought back tears of joy, Veneer was trying to hold back his own, but for completely opposite reasons.

Velvet grabbed her brother by the shoulders, shaking him and pointing towards the screen. "Look Ven, we did it! They love us!"

He didn't look at the TV, his eyes were on Velvet in utter disbelief, at no point after their performance did, she even acknowledge that she was practically carrying the small corpse of a troll. Even now, she's pretending like Floyd never existed.

He shoved his sister away, causing her to stumble a bit. She turned to him, brows furrowed in confusion, "What was that for?"

That disgust that churned in his stomach bubbled into something far more ugly than Veneer could have ever possibly imagined as he practically spat. "You killed him."

"What?"

"You killed Floyd!"

Velvet recoiled slightly at her brothers raised voice. Veneer never raised his voice to her, or to anyone really. She rolled her eye and sighed, "Well, maybe if his brothers actually bothered to rescue him, we would have had to kill him."

Veneer groaned into his hand as he rubbed them down his face, he started pacing around the room, an annoying habit of his when he was getting antsy. "Are you even listening to yourself?" He exclaimed, "You don't even CARE!" Now the tears were falling, and there was nothing he could do about it.

Velvet huffed, "Jesus Ven, stop being such a baby." She grabbed his arm, stopping him from pacing, her grip tight. "Look, how about we go on a bit of a hiatus, hm? Y'know, travel a bit, go to Vacay Island or somewhere and relax. And then when we're done with our hiatus, we can find some more trolls and get back to work-"

Veneer practically ripped his arm away from his sisters grip red crescent mark were left where his fingernails dig into him. "Don't fucking touch me!" He snapped, then his eyes widened when her words sank it, "Wait...did you say we'll find some more?"

She scoffed, "Yeah, duh. You didn't think that we'd stop at the Rage Dome, did you?"

He stumbled over his words, trying to form a single coherent thought but failing. His sister spoke up again, "Last night was just the beginning. We may be famous now, but that won't last for long if go into an early retirement. I want us to go global, and to do that, we're gonna need more songs...more trolls."

Veneer was hyperventilating, his shaking steps brought him to Floyd, his tears hitting the diamond surface of cage. Floyd was a person, and Velvet was treating him as a tool, a sacrificial lamb for the offer of fame and prestige. Floyd was someone to somebody, he had a family who loved him, he had a long life ahead of him. And now all of that was gone because of some sick twisted idea some teenagers had one day.

Veneer began to sob.

"Oh god stop being so dramatic Ven," Velvet groaned.

Veneer turned his body around and approached her, his hands balled into fists, his face contorted with anger and contempt, Velvet took a step back. "You're a murderer," he hissed as he now stood face to face with his sister.

Fury flashed in her eyes as she mirrored his stance. "And you're a murderer AND a coward."

He blinked at her, "What?"

She jabbed her finger into his chest, "Don't play dumb. You point the finger at me and call me the murderer, but you forget that you were the one that helped me capture that troll in the first place."

Another jab into his chest, this time, much harder. "You were the one who used his talent first."

She started raised her voice, and jabbed at his chest on last time, this some so painful and Veneer had to grab her wrist and pull it away from him. "And that you had every chance in the world to expose us."

"...What?"

She sneered at him, "Yeah, you could have ended all of this as soon as it started, you could have gone to the police and told them everything we did, and we would be behind bars by now...but you didn't."

His lips quivered as fresh tears fell down his face.

"So that makes you, a murderer and a coward."

Veneer shoved his sister away from him and stormed into his room, Velvet followed him, her heeled boots clicking against the marbled floor. "Where are you going?!"

He didn't answer his, simply grabbed a bag and started shoving anything he could fit into it. Some clothes, shoes, his phone, his wallet...would this even be enough?

"What are you doing?" Velvet growled as she watched her brother walked around his room.

He still didn't answer her, he was crying so hard he could barely see what he was shoving into his bag.

"I said, what are you doing?!"

"I'm leaving!"

Velvet stood still for a moment at the entrance of his bedroom, for once, she had nothing to say. All she could do was watch her brother pace back and forth, growling in frustration as he struggled to shove in another pair of shoes into his back, giving up in the end.

This wasn't supposed to happen. Not like this.

She felt her face grow hot, her emotions overwhelming her. "You don't mean that."

He turned to her as he shrugged the heavy bag over his shoulder, "Yes I do, Velvet. This has gone too far." He pushed his way passed her and made a beeline to the front door.

"Fine then, leave. You'll be back." She spoke coldly this time; whatever fire had been in her voice before was gone now. And that had always scared Veneer.

His hand was on the doorknob, and he spared a single glance over his shoulder. His sister stood in the middle of the room, her arms crossed, her face neutral. She was his best friend, his confidant, his partner in crime...literally.

The he flicked his gaze over to the diamond bottle, the one that held Floyd's dead body. He squeezed his eyes shut as he felt another sob rack through his body. How did it come to this? They couldn't go to prison; he knew he wouldn't stand a chance...and he didn't want to think of what Velvet would do.

Velvet was right, he was a coward.

He rubbed his eyes and looked at his sister again.

"Don't bother calling me."

SLAM!

Velvet stood in the middle of the room, everything was silent, save for the advertisement on TV for a new car model. Despite the silence, her mind was screaming.

He'll be back...he'll be back.... he'll be back...he always comes back.

They've had arguments before, and they've always made amends. Well...she gives him the silent treatment, and he eventually apologies to her. They'll get through this.

She stepped towards the table where the diamond perfume bottle sat atop of. The translucent body of the troll...of Floyd...lay still.

"He'll be back."

(2 Weeks Later)

She had called him over thirty-six times, all of them went to the same prerecorded message of Veneer's voice that he made years ago.

"Hello, you've reached the voice mail of Veneer. If you're getting this message, it's probably because I'm dead or suuuppperrr busy. Anyway, leave a message after the beep....BEEEEEEP!"

Velvet hasn't had a good night sleep since her brother left, and not once did she sleep in her own bed. She'd spent most of her days moping around the living room, going back and forth between channels on TV that might have anything on Veneer's whereabouts to her social media.

She had been absolutely bombarded with fans praising her for her performance and asking if she plans to make more music. She had even received calls and messages from popular news outlets and interviewers to be featured on their shows.

She had declined them all.

She couldn't do it without her brother.

She let out a quiet sob as she sank to the floor in front of her couch.

"....Come back...."

[rileychester]

Though I do think it's mostly a soap causing drama and they are just having Lucas be a call back to what angry teen Ste was like.

They do with a lot of children of legendary characters. And they did find an actor who looks a lot like Kieron did at that age.

I'm honestly not surprised that teen Lucas "suddenly" has all this anger. Sure Leah always was the drama and the diva for the most part growing up. Also, Lucas really wasn't given attention because the writers don't really pay attention to small kids. So he could be whatever they wanted. And soaps love to have messy and angry teens make messy and drama-filled storylines.

But they grew up poor and struggling, there was some time that Ste wasn't around. Then there were the multiple stepdads on Ste's side that left for multiple reasons. Then there were new grandparents, aunts, and cousins to get to know. Only for the show to kill them off, with only Leela and Peri left.

Then there was Ryan who was with both their mom and dad. Who killed their mom because she found out he was gay and killed a bunch of other people. But during that time people thought that Ste, then Harry killed Amy, and the kids almost lost Ste when Amy's mom shot him. Ryan tried to go on the run with Ste and the kids but then died.

Oh yeah, I forgot about the multiple times that Ste almost died, that is hard on any child. They already lost their mom at a young age. Along with MANY other family members on both sides of their parents.

Not to mention Ste's multiple messes, his drug addiction, being HIV positive, the whole Far Right BS, and his multiple careers to provide for them.

All that makes a complicated childhood and complicated emotions for any kid.

So in many ways, it's not really that hard to believe that Lucas would be a very angry young man who is dealing with a lot of emotions.

Plus they did say that Lucas was going to have a storyline about his sexuality (though who knows if that will actually happen with HO) but even though Lucas grew up with an out-and-proud dad. Even in an accepting home, a person (especially a young person figuring themselves out) is going to have their own issues with coming to terms with any kind of differences they have about their own bodies and lives that is new and confusing.

Basically, he's been through a lot and he's probably processing a lot more and so he's not handling it well. And that's not even adding on James or Dillon.

Then there is James as a new stepdad (who Lucas sees as a stuck-up jerk) who wants little to do with Leah and Lucas. James wants Ste all to himself. Leah and Lucas love their dad and they are close. That can't be easy either, a new stepfather who looks his nose down on you and wants to take your father away from you to have him all to himself.

And who knows what is going on with Dillon and Lucas, it seems complicated there.

Honestly, with all that going on, I'm not surprised Lucas is a volcano constantly erupting and causing problems.

[meljwrites]

My theory is Rex isn’t Blue but he is working for him. I think Dave is Blue and he is playing the long game. Rex said to Ste he went after Freddie to throw him off the scent so maybe he was lying about framing Ethan to throw him off the scent too, Dave would never let his brother take the hit. Dave met Rex in that hotel room, ‘got beat up’ and disappeared for a week before showing up again like nothing happened. I think he made a deal with Rex to take Warren down and they planned all this while he was away since he was hinted at as having a dark past before. With the 500k Dave has debts and loan repayments and he probably would have to give Rex some as part of a deal. I think Rex is going to turn out to be the son of Sean Kennedy, the first character Warren ever killed off years ago. While Dave’s agenda is to mess with Warren and kill someone he loves to get back at him for killing Lizzie I think it will be Rex that stabs Warren as revenge for his father. Apparently Blue is called that because of their ‘piercing blue eyes’ and Dave fits that. Unless they want to make it somebody random like Clare Devine or Marie who both have connections to Warren

oh my god.

Okay so yes this works with all of the theories that have been going on in the discord I think you have actually like cracked the code. As someone who knows very little (comparatively) about this show, there was a lot of talk about Dave and it is interesting that he is one of the only characters that actually has a concrete connection with Rex so far. And of course the first bit lined up with what we got in today's episode.

I really think that this is all going to be true, great detective work!!

[fnaffersblog]

Hee Hoo

Spoilers for 'Eclipse is DYING in VRChat' below!

(TW for: Swearing, as per usual)

Oh he does NOT sound good

Eclipse has been through the fuckin ringer. He needs a break too. Shit.

NEW COMPUTER LETS GO collecting them like shiny rocks

Okay, so is he building/ creating new bodies and they keep wearing out? Or is he still using Solar Flare's body and it's failing? Because the idea of him making bodies and them just decaying under the weight of the star's power to the point that he's racing to make new forms to sustain it sounds REALLY cool to me.

Oh.

Never mind. ;-; lol

"What's stopping the thing from going? I can do it, just tell me what it is."

I have thoughts about this line. It's very...

Like, the way he

He's dying. He's in pain. He's on the ground, because he's exhausted. But when the AI tells him there's a problem, he pulls himself up anyway. He's still insistent he can do everything himself? It was almost desperate sounding.

I dunno. I kinda, like,

It reminded me of Sun. A little bit.

So way the heck back, right after Eclipse 'killed' Solar Flare, there was this really tiny moment where Solar Flare broke through again and Eclipse was like 'I'm still working on eradicating his code completely. It'll be finished soon or something.' but we never really 100% got confirmation that Solar Flare died died, so I'm not super surprised they're back. I won't say I anticipated it, I forget about Solar Flare a lot (poor dude got five minutes of screen time rip) but I'm not surprised because that small moment explicitly left it up in the air that they were probably alive.

Good for them. Good for Solar Flare. This is a concrete attempt at taking Eclipse down and one of the most solid attempts I've seen so far. Taking Eclipse out while he's weak. Solar Flare is stuck in Eclipse's body, scattered and ruined but still kicking, and they're gonna make that Eclipses problem. They got handed a short end of the stick but by god their gonna make sure to use what they got.

We got so little of Solar Flare, for meta and lore reasons alike, so this feels like a vindication for the character. A 'Your time to shine was taken from you unfairly for reasons out of your control, so this? This is for you.'

Good shit.

He's nervous about confronting Solar Flare. He's unsure of himself, which is so cool to see from a character like Eclipse who is usually so self-assured in the way he talks, in the way he carries himself. He's running on empty, time is running out, and he KNOWS it. He's fumbling.

Which changes completely when he turns and starts talking to the AI! Before he goes into his mindscape.

That annoyance! That bravado! That smooth talking confidence! IS he working himself up to talk to Solar Flare? Is there some other reason he's nervous? It was a very distinct change in demeanor.

One one hand, I like specific numbers. I'd like to know how many uses Eclipse has out of the star.

On the OTHER hand

ANY use of the star could be his last. So now we, as the viewers, are sitting here waiting to see which Jenga block is the one that topples the fuckin tower and isn't that just SO MUCH MORE ENTERTAINING??

Also, quick aside, what IS Eclipse doing with the Star? Like, we've only seen him use it a couple times right? We've seen him teleport, he wiped everyone's memories of himself and Sun and Moon and replaced them and he's teleported other people. He's GOT to be doing something else with it if he's at the point that he's right at the edge of irrevocably damaging himself. Right? Or is the star really just that draining?

Insert various quotes about the prodigal son.

It's been THREE MINUTES Faffers sit down and watch the damn episode already!

He's banking on being scary. He HAS to be scary. IT's all he has, but Solar Flare can read him so easily.

Solar Flare is interesting. He started gaining self consciousness at the point he was 'killed'. but he was also still very much a product of his programmed functions. We left off with him taking the first steps towards full self-functionality like the rest of the animatronics but he never quite got the chance to fully blossom into his own person beyond being a robot. If... any of that makes sense.

It's cool that he's STILL THERE in terms of growth. He's been stagnated all this time inside Eclipse. He's still a robot, built for a coded purpose (protecting Killcode), still teetering on the verge of becoming more than that.

ECLIPSE IS SO FUCKIN BITTER OVER BEING BETRAYED

He's so upset about being fucked over by his creations. He's got so much hatred for them.

It's

Like.

I don't know WHY Eclipse needs Sun and Moon alive.

But he is a creation of there's whether he sees it as an intentional creation or not.

I wonder if he's jealous that he needs them but his creations don't need him?

Good Shit

Good Shit

Good Shit

Good Shit

Good Shit

Eclipse has fucked over a LOT of people.

But I'd say, more than anyone, he's fucked over Lunar and Solar Flare.

Watching one of the major victims of his torment stand up and say, 'You do not scare me anymore. You do not have power over me anymore'

If ANYONE gets to make Eclipse face his actions, however that comes about, it should be those two.

Mutually assured destruction, with no hesitation it's so fucking good this whole thing is fucking great im going insane

Good Shit

GOOD. SHIT.

'It's like talking to a goddamn brick wall with you!'

Eclipse

Honey

Please

(like father, like son hmm?)

That's not a very good deal bro.

Like, Solar Flare literally just explained WHY he wasn't going to let Eclipse go into his own body.

Eclipses response was literally just, "But what if did anyway?"

And he didn't even offer anything like bro that was such a shitty deal my duuude

I am adopting 'piss ant' into my vocabulary of insults

I was literally in a call with other people when he said that and I started laughing and we agreed that that is such a CHILDISH insult

I'm getting

"But you won't"

"Bitch"

Vibes from Solar Flare. Lol

Seriously now.

What is he using the star for?

He could build a new body, eradicate Solar Flare, and do so in a way that prevents any damage to himself. Continue using the star, experimenting until he figures out how to use it completely, like Lord Eclipse from the other universe. He could wipe Sun and Moon from the face of existence, eradicate even the memory of them, subject them to their worst torments for eternity for his amusement, tear apart worlds to fit his image, torment those who oppose him or even those who just perturb him. The star has always been upheld as this object of ultimate power and Eclipse has it IN HIS HANDS! ANY problem he has could be solved with the power of the star SO WHAT IS HOLDING HIM BACK??

Is he.. really just that incompetent? Or have I just misunderstood the actual power of the star at this point?

There HAS to be something else. Right? Like, there HAS to be??

'Who taught you to cuss?'

'You did.'

LOL

He gets read like a book at the end and tries to bare his teeth in response and Solar Flare shuts that shit down.

He's so reliant on being scary, on being in control, that even when he's turning tail and leaving, he's still acting like he has any hold over Solar Flare. Because he needs it. He's wrestling for ANY sense of control right now.

He's been so affected by the people around him betraying him

His creators abandoned him. So he made others to love him. But they betrayed him because of who he was. And now he's worried everyone will. It folds into his plans, so much so he's afraid the AI he made to serve him will turn on him too.

I'm excited to see how he's going to give them 'false hope'.

Oh hey, I just noticed Eclipse has these little spikes on the back of his upper arms, that's cute.

[hollyoaksmusings]

Please tell me what’s going on in Hollyoaks!! I stopped watching in like 2015 but I still love the 2007-2013 era so much. I just saw Hannah came back what!? Also where do you watch all these old episodes

hi! I think I also stopped watching around then so I’m pretty rusty and just catching up myself.

right now, the major storylines are:

- carter shepherd is the new headmaster at hollyoaks high. he is also freya’s father - she is a student who was paralyzed by john paul’s drunk driving bus crash. john paul has been struggling a lot with the guilt from that crash and reckoning with sobriety after i think about a year of being in a relationship with an abusive partner, pc george kiss. sally killed george when he was about to attack theresa who confronted him about his abusing john paul.

carter is also a religious leader, leads gay conversion therapy under the guise of self-help sessions for men, and has a following. john paul at first leaned into his therapy sessions because they were about getting control back, battling his inner demons, etc - and he was particularly moved because both carter and freya forgave him for the accident. when he clocked that it was gay conversion, he tried to disrupt the sessions and talk carter out of holding them, when carter revealed he himself struggled with his sexuality. naturally they start falling in love. john paul has been urging him to stop gay conversion practices and start accepting his sexuality, but one of his followers gareth saw carter and john paul kissing and (possibly) heard them having sex in the dog’s bathroom (i think this could be someone else though) and is blackmailing carter about it - trying to get him to go back to practicing what he preaches and leaving john paul alone.

carter is also publicly dating maxine.

- mercedes is pregnant and was getting married to a character named felix who just learned that she cheated on him with warren. they just had a car crash with all three of them. i think the storyline here is that mercy is going to have that situation where she has twins where each child has a different father.

- sally is working with carter at the school again, helping with accounting stuff.

- ste and james are in a rough place - james struggled with parenting lucas who lashed out at him, said some hurtful things, so james hit him and locked him in a shed overnight.

- leah got alcohol poisoning at a rave and called ste to pick her up - when he was driving her to the hospital he had a near-miss with mercedes/felix/warren’s car and it is insinuated he ran over and killed ella. her boot was in his front wheel and you see his car jostle while he’s driving and not paying attention to the road. warren thinks felix killed ella.

- cleo is back and wants to reunite with joel who is seeing leela right now. she has a boyfriend though and he seems like he might be like a controlling stalker.

- lucas is struggling with his sexuality - he’s falling for a classmate named dillon but lucas doesn’t want to be like ste, or affiliates ste’s hardships with being gay so he is pushing back. there were also a few weird scenes where they were super heavy handed of ste being like LUCAS AT LEAST YOU’RE NOT GAY BECAUSE IT’S NOT EASY LET ME TELL YOU lol.

- peri, romeo, hunter, prince and their friend group are all embroiled in a whodunnit murder of romeo’s abusive ex.

- nancy is back, working at hollyoaks high again. hannah is staying with her and darren with the kids.

- hannah… brought darren and suzanne’s twins to hollyoaks to “meet” darren. this is all very silly because i was just rewatching 2013/2014 clips and they literally talk about darren visiting the twins so idk why they think we’d buy he doesn’t recognize them or they don’t know who he is. emma rigby is signed onto the show for at least a year. she reunited with john paul, overheard carter and gareth talking. she also seems to have something fishy going on as she’s nervously screening calls.

- yaz and tom are together. yaz works at the school and is struggling with early menopause.

- oh sienna was going to marry this wealthy guy named rafe who was faking terminal illness, but he was conspiring with a character named dilly (who he said was his sister, but is actually his wife) who has some affiliation with patrick that we don’t fully know. anyway in true blake fashion dilly tied rafe to a radiator in a basement on the night of his and sienna’s wedding and he died.

I think that’s most of it - sorry to the families i’m missing. I think it’s mostly just fallout from the car crashes rn.

I’m American so the past year of episodes is on Hulu. For super old clips, like earlier John Paul storylines, I look for uploaders on YouTube or Dailymotion. Sometimes searching the full date of episodes helps.

[sorenkingsley]

Hollyoaks killing of james tonight. What a waste his character has been since harry died.

They clearly never knew afterwards what to do with him, so he just became ste's boyfriend. Yukkie!!!

Wish he'd have jump of that bridge, james died that day anyway....

Can't believe we lost jarry for all that followed. They should have been forever.

RIP James Nightingale. He deserved so much better.

[watching-tv]

I’m going to watch all the British soaps this week (8/26-8/30) without having watched them in a very long time or ever. Here are my thoughts for the episodes on Monday. I’ll do the different parts for each day

Side note: I’ve watched hollyoaks before and a bit of emmerdale (Aaron & Robert’s storyline & the Jackson stuff) I haven’t kept up with either since maybe 2018 or 2019. + I’ll skip things if I find them too much or uncomfortable

Day 1 - August 26

Hollyoaks

Has the best title sequence

Where I was watching it muted when there was music so I didn’t get to watch the scene with sienna. The last scene wasn’t muted but I didn’t understand what was happening with Patrick and the other woman (who I think I know but can’t remember)

I didn’t like the Cleo story

I didn’t fully understand the stuff with kitty and that man but ngl I was kinda siding with him if kitty killed his daughter and someone named beaux went to prison for it but he seemed to want to keep beaux in prison so I think I needed more context there

My favorite story of this was the James and ste stuff. I read James is sick so I’ll probably start fast forwarding that now. But I liked the part with Leah, Lucas, and Dillion. I think the acting from whoever plays ste and James were great today! James especially did really well I think. I was a bit shocked at how good his acting was ngl

Emmerdale

It was a lot easier to follow hollyoaks right off the bat because I knew a lot of the characters. From this ep, I only knew Cain, Chas, Moira, and jai

I’m a bit confused with this stuff with dawn. And are her dads wife (Kim) and dawns mom played by the same person?

I’m obsessed with Mack! He’s hilarious

Is Moira having a mental breakdown?

Eastenders

Are the guy in the blue button up and the guy in the white shirt a couple? They are either a couple or brothers right?

I like how they film the street scenes

I’m LOVING the diversity! Everyone looks different

I find the flow a bit odd. Everything seems like a stage play to me

Sydney cheating on ian with junior is wild. They don’t care like at ALL

The guy breaking into that other guys house and nothing even happened. He also admired to murder so casually. This show is so unserious 😂

The casting for penny and Amy is good. I think they look the sisters

Not that one girls friends leaving her and not even realizing she didn’t go in when she was the one who wanted to go 💀

Wow this is a mess. Hopefully penny loses her business because so much went wrong here.

Coronation street

This one is a bit long. I thought it would be around 20 minutes like the other 3

It’s too long for me I think

A cult storyline? Gotta love it

END IT WITH HER? They are together? Nick and toyah what are you doing? This is insane. Leanne deserves better!

Nick seems familiar to me. Idk why

AMY DONT GIVE THEM YOUR INHERITANCE

What did mason do to Dylan?

[harmonytheme]

I recently thought of Summer as he killed her dad, she wanted to be the one to kill Brody as well and Warren robbed her of that. I think it got to be someone who hates Warren. Maybe someone linked to one of the people his killed. like he killed Sean, Louise, Bart, Brody etc. other theories Grace or Clare Devine, One lol theory was Brendan (but I don't see it) another thought was Dave as it was hinted of having a dark side which was dropped Ethan come in as this big bad too. I think it got to be a past character tbh but might not be. No idea tbh.

the brendan theory might be basically impossible but the insane part of my brain is holding out the teeniest tiniest shred of hope that it's him hahahaha.

there are just so many possibilities. i don't think we have enough clues yet to make a definitive guess. they could pull a gossip girl finale and have it be ste sending himself texts and getting himself out of his crimes the whole time. who knows! certainly not me

[hollyoaksloversx]

Is Kieron Richardson leaving Hollyoaks? Because how can Ste get away with killing Ella even if it was due to saving his daughter? The amount of lies and covering up Ste has done will be found out eventually surely this is going to end with him going to prison if not then he’s getting killed by Warren once he finds out. Ste will need to do a runner if Warren finds out.

I'm wondering if they're now going to go down the 'shock twist' route and say that Ste didn't hit Ella after all. It's pretty much the only way out of this that keeps the character.

[aceofthegreenajah]

No-spoiler notes for wheel of time episode 2.7

Judging by the *previously on* all of our main characters will be in this episode. Busy times.

Ooh Moiraine looks so happy AAAA

brb watching that opening again

They look so young and innocent!

And back in the present... wives are fighting ( ╯□╰ )

THERE IS A GUARD RIGHT THERE WHO CAN HEAR EVERYTHING ARE YOU KEEPING NO SECRETS NOW RAND&LAN

By now she knows yeah

So intricate stes and clothes (in rand&siuan meeting)

Siuan is amused I love her expressions *★,°*:.☆(￣▽￣)/$:*.°★* 。

Mat coming to bust Rand out somehow? Oh. No then. Um. What.

Falme really has a yellow filter on huh

Aww poor Maigan over there

Loving Yassica's clothes here 👌

Liandrin what's up

My platonic best buddies are fighting too ( ╯□╰ )

Love Loial. Love Nynaeve. Love Elayne being so cheered by this.

Ishy are you actually whittling or not? Couldn't have given him something to fiddle that would actually look good instead of this shapeless cracked piece of wood?

If min's stabbing vision only comes true in a past life vision that is some cheap bs I must say (luckily no)

What does Ishy's shirt have on the back? Carapace? Is it a seanchan shirt?

More yellow filter scenes but also more Aiel ❤

Handtalk maidens Aiel music what more could one want

Is this beatdown because the death was somehow her fault?

Love Mat's fidgeting

Does this tea do what Ishy says it does or is this manipulation or lies from THE FATHER OF LIES

Well something is happening

WTF

I kinda see where Siuan is coming from but I don't agree

Love my faves co-operating but don't hurt Leanne

Barthanaes reveal? (note from later: I expected this to amount to much more. I expected him to actually achieve something. Wonder if he's around or dead next season.)

Of course there would be listening holes in a CAIRHIEN NOBLE HOUSE

Ishamael has collected selfies with all his 3 ta'veren boys now. I was waiting for him to finish the collection.

Lanfear can do it, Rand. What will you pay for it?

White looks good on you girl ❤👌 girl power kicking ass and killing innocents

Why are so many scenes so dark. Seriously. What kind of super bright screens do the editors have. Can they not afford lights.

Why does the sul'dam walk so stiffly

Renna speaking themes yet not seeing how vile the things they do for their 'greater good' are

Verin is the most clever ❤ don't get into trouble my girl

Also good that there was no need to hurt Leanne 👍👍

Now for the ways? Yeah.

Alanna is in on this?

Moiraine getting released now???? Excellent

A little clumsy writing, everything is always 'a legend that somehow survived 3000 years' when they need to infodump something

WTF Siuan

Don't destroy them 😫

Lanfear and Rand and Moiraine and Lan? Is it my birthday?

[sjsmith56]

To Die For - Chapter 9, Finding Jade

Summary: Jade’s father continues his assault on her until he is shot. Bucky fights two cult members while Ma treats Jade. After Jade is taken to hospital they learn the extent of the cult’s influence.

Length: 4.4K

Characters: Bucky, Jade, Ma, Steve, medical personnel.

Warnings: Deliberate assault by father against daughter, death by gunshot wound, description of abuse, knife fight causing injury.

Author notes: Even with the violence this is one of my favourite chapters as it shows Bucky in action. It reveals the extent of his love for Jade and the open affection between him and Ma.

<<Chapter 8

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As her father approached her with the knife Jade began to panic, trying to pull herself out of the strong hands of the two men who held her impassively.  They lowered her to the floor and one held her legs down as the other sat on her left arm while stretching out the right.  Without hesitation her father inserted the tip of the knife into her right arm and pressed the blade into it.  The pain, the white hot pain, seared itself into her brain.  It was much worse than what she had experienced in the dreams from Bucky's memories and she screamed both in her mind and with her voice.  As he told her more of his warped plans her father cut into the artery and she felt the blood spurting over her face.  There was nothing left in her, nothing but despair and disbelief that a man would do this to anyone much less his daughter. 

She never even registered the sound of a rifle, or the spray of blood that bloomed at the back of her father's head.  The look of surprise on his face would always stay with her but as he fell forward onto her she became aware that the two men who had held her down were suddenly fighting hand to hand with someone.  She tried to look but whoever it was moved too fast for her to concentrate.  Then two soft hands were under her arms,  pulling her away from under her father's body and off to the side and she heard her mother's voice.

"That bastard," she cried, looking over Jade from above.  "He hurt my baby.  I had to kill him, he was hurting you.  Hold on baby, I have to put a tourniquet on you, fast."

She raised her head and had a better look at the fighting now.  It was Bucky in a knife fight with both men.  He had a knife in each hand and was whirling and twirling the knives as if he were a circus performer.  His skill was incredible and as hurt as she was she felt awe and pride that it was her man, her love that was fighting for her.  Her vision started greying out and she felt fuzzy in her mind until a sharp pain on her arm drew her attention back to her mother who had ripped her shirt off to use as a tourniquet to stop the bleeding in her arm.  The sharp pain was her twisting the shirt tight to stop the artery from bleeding her out.  Running to a bathroom Ma grabbed a towel and brought it back to apply to the wound itself, protecting it from further trauma.  Together they both watched Bucky do an impossible horizontal roll in the air and slice one of the men's Achilles' tendon with his outstretched knife in hand.   That man went down screaming in agony, holding his leg with both of his hands.  The other man succeeded in planting his knife in Bucky's shoulder as he fell to the floor but he just ignored it and actually pulled it out, throwing it away, before flipping back up and attacking the remaining fighter.  The man on the floor tried to pick it up but Steve and Clint had arrived by then and aimed their guns at him.

"Steve," yelled Ma, seeing him at the door.  "She needs a hospital now!  He cut her brachial artery."

Steve nodded and used his comms to call Sam, who came crashing through the doors of the balcony within seconds.  He picked Jade up and ran out the doors flying up into the sky.  Steve came around and pulled his jacket off so Ma was covered.  Together they watched Bucky and the second man continue to fight.

"Shouldn't you stop him?" asked Ma.

"No," said Steve.  "He won't kill him, just hurt him really bad.  Actually, he's kind of playing with him right how.  He just needs to get it out of his system and I have no problem with it.  We have control of the estate.  Excuse my language but these fucking people didn't think what they did was wrong.  Is that a mummy on a throne?"

He pointed at the mummy of Elder Abraham and Ma gasped.  "He's dead?" she exclaimed.  "John's been using a dead man to take people's money and live like a king.  Why did he need Jade?"

Bucky climbed up the second man's body wrapping his thighs around the man's head and neck putting him into a choke hold and held him until he was unconscious and fell onto the floor.  Then he released the unconscious fighter, shoving him away, and sat there on his knees getting his bearings back.  He was barely winded, looked around and when he didn't see Jade he started to panic.

"Sam has taken her to the hospital," said Ma.  "Her dad cut her arm open and hit the artery.  Why would he do that?"

Bucky stood up and put his arms around Ma.  "I don't know," he said quietly, whatever fury that had been fuelling him in the fight obviously gone.  "Let's go to what passes for a hospital here and find out what Jade has to say."

"Take one of the cult vehicles," said Steve.  "They have a full garage of electric vehicles.  They lived like kings while people were struggling.  I'm going to see the sheriff and find out why he let this shit show go on."

I want something good to die for

To make it beautiful to live.

Go With The Flow by Queens of the Stone Age

In one of the rooms of the residence they passed on the way to the garage there was an open closet full of women's clothing of various sizes.  Bucky pulled a tunic out of one of them and gave it to Ma, turning his back so she could put it on.  She told him to grab a T-shirt for Jade, size small, to replace the one that was covered in blood.

"You're such a gentleman," she said.  "I'm not like Jade, I actually wear a bra.  She never would."

"I noticed that," he said.  "It was a bit disconcerting at first.  Not that I mind.  I can't believe I just said that to her mom."

She patted his hand.  "You're a good man," she said.  "You might have noticed we aren't embarrassed by talking about sex.  I grew up in a strict religious household, and married a religious man.  But it brought nothing but shame and fear into my life.  After I was cast out and found Jade I made the decision her upbringing would be the opposite of mine.  Free of shame over the greatest gift God ever gave us.  Jade decided the same for Ben."

"He is a very direct boy," said Bucky.  "Takes some getting used to but I like him."

"Good, he likes you, too," said Ma.  "When you and Jade get married you adopt him."

He smiled, slightly embarrassed.  "I still have to ask her.  Come on, let's go try out one of the electric vehicles."

They found what they were looking for in a garage with six vehicles.  A row of electronic keys were on hooks in front of the vehicles.  Ma unplugged the cord as Bucky took the first set of keys and opened the door for Ma.  He sat in, adjusted the seat and started it.  The lack of an engine sound was disconcerting at first but when he pressed the pedal and it moved he was impressed.  They drove to the hospital where Sam was arguing over payment.

"They're treating her but they want payment before they let her go," he said.  "What a world we live in."

Ma reached inside her jeans pocket and took out the little bar of gold.  It was slightly smaller than the shape it started out as Bucky had taken some to make Jade's ring.  She held it up to the clerk who pulled out a scale and weighed it saying it would more than cover the expenses.  How did she want the change?

"In gold," replied Ma, with a bit of disgust in her voice. 

"You're money is no good here," said another woman coming out from a mirrored office behind the clerk.

It was the front person for Dr. Wells who had given Bucky a vial of broad spectrum antibiotics after he took out the two traffickers during their provision run.  She picked up the bar of gold and gave it back to Ma.

"Is it true you killed that Langford fellow?" she asked.  "He was a real piece of work."

"I killed him," said Ma.  "He was carving my daughter's arm up.  He was my ex to boot."

"I don't know how many of their kids we had to treat for injuries because of their discipline," the woman said with revulsion.  "Our sheriff sure didn't seem interested in dealing with him.  Is it true he was living like a king?"

Ma nodded while Bucky just stood and observed the interaction.  He didn't know the woman was involved in the hospital.  She looked up at him.

"We're trying to make a go of it here," she said.  "But it's hard to compete with the black market to get equipment and supplies.  The trades we make on market days are what keeps us going.  You've always brought us quality materials, Bucky, and taking on those two traffickers that day impressed the shit out of Dr. Wells, after I told him.  He treated your girlfriend.  Room 4B, just down to the left.  Thank you for your service, and say thanks to the Avengers for taking care of that cult."

He nodded and the three of them sought out room 4B.  Ma went in first and stuck her head out to say Jade was decent.  She was pale and sitting partially reclining on a bed.  She was in a hospital gown, hooked up to an IV, and her right arm was heavily bandaged from the elbow to the shoulder. 

"They gave me some of the good stuff so I'm feeling a little loopy," she said, slightly slurring her words.  "I'm going to have a nasty scar.  He was trying to cut my implant out but was in the wrong arm.  Sam, thank you for getting me here so fast.  Someday I would love to go up with you when my life isn't in danger."

"You're welcome," he said.  "I just flew.  I'm not the one who actually rescued you."

He looked at Ma and Bucky.  "I killed your Dad, Jade," said Ma.  "Not that he ever was much of a father.  I don't know what happened to him."

"Power," said Bucky.  "Some men get a taste of power and it's intoxicating to them.  But what he did to you..."

"You don't know the half of it," said Jade.  "It wasn't Abraham who wanted me to have his child.  It was dear old Dad.  He was the real Abraham, the evil behind it all.  I saw his mind.  He believed our child would have the ability to control the Others and with that he wanted to turn the whole world into a bigger version of the Children of Adam, with him at the head.  Fuck, my father was a madman."

"But your mother wasn't," said Bucky.  "She raised you right."

"So right that I tried to use the Winter Soldier to kill my father and Abraham," said Jade, her eyes starting to tear up.  "Didn't work.  He wouldn't do anything because Abraham was already dead.  He's probably still sitting in my mind somewhere waiting to be activated."

Bucky said the activation words in Russian but nothing happened.  "He's not there," said Bucky.  "That should have brought him out."

"My instructions to him were that after he completed his mission he was to disappear and never take another mission again," replied Jade.  "Maybe that's what happened when he saw both of them dead.  They want me to stay here for the night but I would rather go home.  Do you think you can talk them into it?"

"I'll see what I can do," said Bucky, leaning forward to kiss her tenderly on the lips.

Sam walked out with him.  "You know, there is a lot of good barter stuff in that compound and gold, "said Sam.  "Would do a lot of good to help people around here, including this hospital."

"Why don't you find the equivalent of a judge around here and see if you can make it happen," said Bucky. 

He found Dr. Wells at a desk filling in paper work and introduced himself.  The doctor, a middle aged man, stood up and shook Bucky's hand. 

"Jade's injury was quite severe," said Dr. Wells.  "I would like to keep her here tonight to make sure the sutures hold and to give her some blood, since she lost a fair amount.  She is O Positive, which I'm very low on so I'm hoping a donor shows up pretty quick."

"I'll talk to her mother," said Bucky.  "If she gets the blood can I take her home?  We do have Dr. Bruce Banner on our team.  He has been acting as an MD and knows his way around medical care.  We're also going to see if we can give you some of the cult's assets to help fund your hospital.  I wasn't expecting this level of care."

"Thank you," said Dr. Wells.  "We're trying."

Bucky had to go through the waiting room to get back to Jade's room and found almost everyone, including Ben, there.  He told them the hospital was low on blood and almost everyone agreed to donate on the spot.  Pulling Ben with him Bucky returned to Jade's bedside where her son gingerly hugged his mother, trying not to touch her injured arm.  He mentioned the need for blood and Ma joined the others to donate.  As they sat there Ben looked from Bucky to Jade.

"Looks like everyone is awkward around me again," he joked.  "I'm going to find Peter and bug him."

He kissed his mother again and left the two alone.  Bucky sat on the bed and held Jade's hand. 

"You're disappointed in me," she stated. "I fucked up."

"Yeah," he said.  "There's so much I could say that wouldn't help matters so I won't say anything except I'm glad we got to you before he hurt you too much."

"From your memories I felt the pain you felt when you fell," she said.  "I thought I could handle anything else but when he stuck that knife in me I wanted to die.  Oh Bucky, I wanted to die right then but I couldn't because if I'm going to die for something it's going to be for something worthwhile."

He gently pulled her into his arms and stroked her hair as she laid her head against his chest.

"I would die for you," he whispered.  "In a second, I would make that choice.  Jade... you know how I feel about you.  Would you...."

They were interrupted by a nurse bringing in a unit of O positive blood.  "Thanks to your friends out there we've built up our stocks a bit," she said.  "One unit of blood for you and then you can go home and take it easy, doctor's orders."

As she left Steve and Clint came in, Clint massaging his arm.  "It's not fair they won't take super soldier blood just because they don't know what's in it," he said.  "You big tough guys should always have to give blood.  How are you doing, Jade?"

"I've been better but I'm alive and relatively unharmed," she replied.  "What happens to the cult?"

"Well, I went to see the sheriff," said Steve, "and he has resigned after a quick petition was signed.  Seems the good townspeople felt he was being too easily influenced to look the other way.  One of his deputies, who started the petition, is taking over.  He has already arrested the two men who held you down and will be making more arrests of others associated with them including some traffickers.  Town council is making human trafficking illegal.  In the meantime they are seizing all assets and may be assigning them to cover the social costs the cult has brought with them.  Bucky, they have something they want us to look at.  They wondered if you and I would go over to the compound.  I said we would."

As he and Steve walked out of the hospital Steve looked at him.  "Did you ask her?"

"What, ask her what?" said Bucky.

"Marriage," replied his friend.

"Was interrupted by the nurse and then you guys," he replied.  "I'll get back to it.  Probably a good idea to let her get her head straight.  Oh, the Soldier isn't there.  She told him after he killed her father and Abraham he could disappear and never do another mission.  I tested it out with the words, no reaction."

The two men jumped into the electric vehicle Bucky had driven over.  Even Steve was impressed by its performance and lack of engine noise. 

"Howard would have loved this," said Steve.  "Right up his alley."

They pulled up to the compound which was swarming with people, police and parents looking for their lost children.  Both men curled their lips at the last realization that the cult didn't just buy people, they stole them.  The new sheriff nodded to his deputy to let them pass through. 

"Hi, Ed Peters, acting Sheriff," he said as he stuck his hand out to both men.  "Welcome to the shit show.  You're the closest thing we have to federal authorities here.  Could I show you some things?"

He led them into the residence then to a stairwell that led downstairs.  At the bottom was another door and they entered what looked to be a lab.  The smell was horrendous and the sheriff gave each of them a mask and a pair of latex gloves. 

"I went on a World War II history trip to Europe when I was in high school," he said.  "We went and visited gravesites and memorials but the places that always stuck with me were the concentration camps with their displays of experimentation on the Jews.  It gave me nightmares.  I think I'm going to have a similar reaction to this chamber of horrors."

On the tables arranged around the room were various bodies of the Others, at least they assumed were the Others.  It looked like all were in various stages of autopsy.  There was a door at the end of the room and he opened it to a cooler filled with about a dozen bodies of the Others.

"How did they get them?" asked Steve.  "Have you talked to any of them?"

"No one's talking," said the sheriff, "but I know when people are hiding something.  They were studying these aliens, trying to find out what makes them tick."

"How did they manage to get them away from their hives without being attacked?" asked Bucky.  "We were trying to lure just one away and when it was out of sight their sentries came looking for them.  We know they had plans to use the Others to control humans, to make them turn to the cult."

"That's messed up," said Peters.  "I know you have Bruce Banner around.  Do you think he would be up to having a look and figuring out what they were doing?"

"I think Wanda and Ma should get into their heads," said Steve.  "Do you have the people identified who were working in here?"

The sheriff nodded and Steve said he would bring people who could question them.  Pressing his comms he asked if Ma, Wanda and Bruce could come over to the residence.  The sheriff said he would send a squad car for them.  Then he led them to the garage.  Bucky told him about using the electric vehicle and he waved them off saying it was fine.  They walked through the garage and opened another door to a second garage full of motorcycles.  Both Steve and Bucky gasped at the sight of them.  They ran their hands over the handlebars and seats, kneeling down to look at the engines.  At one point they both looked at each other and smiled.

"These were already classics in World War II," said Steve.  "If the internet was still running you could probably auction these off and make a lot of money."

"Here's the thing," said the sheriff.  "Town council wants to do something for you Avengers.  You saved our asses a few times dealing with the Others and today with the cult.  If you want a bike, take a bike.  As for the other Avengers, we're still coming up with thank you gifts, and they are gifts, for each one."

"We don't do what we do for this," said Steve, gesturing at the bikes.  "Thank you but really, we can't...."

Bucky shrugged and said Steve was in charge.  "But if I did choose it would be the Norton," he said in a stage whisper.  "Steve would likely take the old Harley. Just saying."

Steve shook his head, smiling and the sheriff laughed.  Bruce, Ma, Wanda and Peter had just arrived in the squad car.  While Bucky took Bruce and Peter down to the basement lab, Wanda and Ma were taken to where the other cult members who were waiting to be interviewed.  Some looked at them curiously but others were quite hostile.

"They all have something to hide," said Wanda to Ma via thought.

"I see John's influence in this," she replied.  "It should have ended when I killed him.  There is another who is prolonging the illusion."

"Let's see if I can conjure a spell that will stop that person," promised Wanda.

Wanda faced all of the people and began an incantation while forming a red ball in her hands.  Then she released the red ball over to them where it exploded like a firework and rained glowing red particles over them.  Most of the people watched curiously as it fell on them and dissipated but one man jumped up, batting away invisible creatures that he said were biting him.  A deputy brought him out of the group and Wanda touched his face.

"Why were you cutting into the Others?" she demanded.

"To learn how their brains work so we could control them," he stammered, terrified.

"What did you learn?"

"That if we mimic the sound the queen makes they will listen to us," he replied, trying to take his eyes away from Wanda's.

"What is the sound?"

"It's recorded on the computers in the lab," he admitted.  "Password is Prophet26, with a capital P."

"Before I release you I am going to remove your ability from you," said Wanda.  "You will never be able to control people again.  At your trial you will tell the whole truth of what happened here in this building."

She removed her hand and he stumbled backwards, fear written on his face.  The others in the room looked like they had just awakened from a deep nap.  Ma scanned them and turned to Wanda.

"They were all duped," Ma said, then turned to them.  "John Langford had you under mind control but he is dead and Elder Abraham has been dead for years.  If you wish to see justice tell the police and any other authorities what you saw and remember.  You were all duped but you need to take responsibility for what you did in their names."

They both went down to the lab to give Bruce and the others the report of what they found.  As they put their masks and gloves on Wanda gagged.

"Enough of this," she said.  "I'm going to make a spell that we don't smell this.  I sure hope it doesn't get into my clothes."

She conjured up the spell and then took a breath, happy at the result.  "Prophet26 is the password for the computers," she told the others.  "They learned how to mimic the sound the queen makes and were planning to use it to control the Others."

Bruce inputted the password on a computer and searched for the audio files.  When they brought one up the men couldn't hear it but both Wanda and Ma begged them to turn it off.

"It's telepathic," said Wanda.  "It's a horrible sound.  I didn't understand anything.  Didn't you say Jade heard the queen?"

"Yes, she did," said Ma.  "I've heard the other ones, the drones I guess you would call them, but only Jade has heard the queen and understood it.  She needs to hear this."

They played another file and it was just as incomprehensible to them.  After much searching a flash drive was found and the sound files transferred onto it.  Steve instructed the police on the scene to leave the lab as is so that they could come back in the morning.

"It's almost 11 pm," he said.  "I don't want to stay in this building tonight but we should stay here, in Albuquerque.  It's too late to fly back in the dark.  Let's see if we can get some accommodation.  Bucky, Ma, take that flash drive to Jade, see if she understands it."

After speaking with the sheriff Steve was able to arrange accommodation for everyone.  Bucky and Ma said they would stay at the hospital, sleeping on the floor of Jade's room if they had to.  When they arrived back at the hospital they found the other Avengers had already been taken to their billets.  Ben was curled up on a chair in his mother's room with a blanket, lightly snoring.  Jade was also asleep.

"We received word you were both coming back here so one of you can sleep on the other bed and the other can have this recliner," said the nurse softly.  "It's not the best but it will do for one night."

Bucky sat on the recliner and extended it.  With a smile Ma put a blanket on him and a pillow behind his head.  On an impulse she kissed his forehead.

"I haven't been tucked in since I was a kid," he whispered, smiling.  "Feels kind of nice."

"I'm feeling very motherly towards you right now," she whispered back. "Even if you're more than 50 years older than me.

Jade stirred and the two stopped talking.  Ma quietly got on the other bed and pulled a blanket over herself.  She thought about what the day had brought them and wondered what the next day would bring.

Chapter 10>>

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