#but they’re also your friends. and even if nick is in the clear. i cannot for the life of me imagine being betrayed like that | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

tgmsunmontue · 5 months ago

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Upon which our souls touch 2/?

Hangster Fantasy!AU

SUMMARY

Tradition and the stories have been the same for thousands of years. Until Bradley and Jake came along and broke all the rules without ever speaking a word to one another...

PART ONE

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PART TWO

Bradley is carrying out a harvest of his herbs in the moonlight when he senses a dragon land in the meadow nearby. He keeps it clear and empty for that reason, not that it is common for him to have visitors arrive by dragon. However the dragon-kind themselves seek him out, seemingly content to allow him to touch and check them over even without their bonded-companion present. He wipes down the silver blade carefully and wraps it in a piece of soft leather and walks toward the clearing calmly. Haste can rile them, even when they’re waiting for him, not that this dragon would ever hurt him.

The colors of his mother’s green and orange-dappled dragon are muted in the moonlight but he’d recognize Flurry anywhere. He prances playfully when he sees Bradley, nothing wrong there then. He’s reminded again how much Flurry casts him to a sunny day in early fall, when the leaves are just starting to turn from green to red, the day cool and crisp in the morning but still like summer at the peak of the day. His favorite time of year, although he can find perfect days in every season if the features are right.

His mother is dressed for travelling. He doesn’t know if it is for the trip here, or whether she intends to continue travelling. She is over a thousand years old, the most travelled of everyone he knows, and even some of the elders say she is the most knowledgeable of the far-flung races, her smile and demeanor making friends wherever she goes. He also knows his lifetime is the longest she has spent in one place.

“Hello sweetness…”

“Momma…”

“Oh Bradley. My little early bird. Come here.”

He feels the tension bleed out of him as she wraps her arms around him and even though he now towers over her he still feels like a small child safe in their mother’s embrace, protected from the world. He lets her fuss over him a little, not that she does it too much anyway, just comments on the length of his hair braid and how it indicates how much time has lapsed since she last saw him. He can pick that something is wrong, she is herself but she is also not, and he’s always been more attuned to the health of people he cares about the most. He cannot pinpoint what it is though.

“I’m sick sweetness…” Her words confirm his senses, but he still feels a flare of larger concern that he still can’t tell what it is.

“What can I do? What is it?”

“You cannot help with this. Not with this… my soul is heart-sore.”

“What?” Bradley asks, looks back toward Flurry, who is now pouncing on the nightlight bugs as they flitter around the meadow.

“I believe your father may by even sicker than I am.”

“He’s alive?” Bradley asks, because he had always just assumed he’d died, and that was why his mother was so sad, had returned to her village to raise him.

“Oh Bradley. I’m so sorry… yes. Of course he’s alive.”

“You never told me.”

“It… it was never my intention to make you believe he had passed… Oh. My two-world walker…” she murmurs quietly, hand pressing over the two sigils on his chest and Bradley looks at them with renewed interest.

“Which two worlds?”

“Your father’s and mine of course…”

“And you’re soul-bonded with him?”

“You wouldn’t have been possible if we weren’t… Your father is a Skiftandra. They are a shapeshifting race. His name is Nicholas. Nick. He is a beautiful soul Bradley. He can change into a Griffin. It's how I first met him. Up in the sky, flying.”

“Shape shift?” Bradley asks, because he remembers the stories she used to tell when he was small, had believed they were only that, stories. He doesn’t know what a Griffin looks like, but it can obviously fly. Something both his parents can do while he is affixed firmly to the ground.

“Yes. They were all different. Unique. Your father’s people have never needed to bond with the dragon-kind. He found it amusing that we did. Their dragon kind is different from ours as well… so strange but so beautiful at the same time.”

"Why did you leave? If you were soul-bonded with him and he’s alive?"

"To protect you, sweetness."

"From what?"

"Your father had enemies. They would have used you to get to him. They would have used me to get to him."

“You’re going back to him…” Bradley realizes, her travelling clothes and equipment now making more sense.

“I need to know what is going on. We have been apart far longer than we should have been.”

“I can come. You don’t need to protect me anymore. I’m not a babe in arms. I can fight my own battles. Protect you.”

“You think you can, but you are still a babe by their standards, and only just of age to ours.”

He grits his teeth, reminds himself that she is his mother and will never believe him capable until she sees he is with her own eyes.

He strokes the sigils on his chest.

“You called me two world walker...”

“Yes.”

“I have walked and know one of these worlds. I wish to know the other.”

She nods her head then, a single bow to acknowledge she has heard him and agrees with his request, he lets out a quiet breath of relief. He’d have hated to go against her wishes.

“We can leave in the morning. Once you’re packed.”

He returns the same single gesture, deeply respectful but looks up at her delighted laugh.

“You father is going to be delighted to see you again.”

“Tell me about him?”

“Of course my early bird…”

His mother talks as he finishes his harvesting and ties the herbs to the drying racks. Even if he is leaving tomorrow there are tasks to be done. He packs his travelling healing kit, smells each vial carefully and replaces those with newer and fresher bits from his main stores. He listens as she describes his father’s animal form and all he can envision is a very odd-looking dragon-kind. But he will see it with his own eyes soon enough.

Carole's chest sigil

PART THREE

#Top Gun Maverick AU #Fantasy AU #Hangster #sereshaw #upon which our souls touch #you can thank my kids for badgering me into writing this today

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you-are-my-king-now-cariad · 1 year ago

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Context: I wrote a ‘quote analysis’ for my English class. It’s basically a challenge where you pick a sentence or quote and write as much about as you can in a given amount of time.

I chose “You have always been the Scion of Arthur, and neither of us can afford to forget it.”

And oh boy I had thoughts.

1. This feels VERY interesting. It feels like it’s going back to Sel Who Doesn’t Care About Anyone, but at the same time… Bree says it’s ‘almost an accusation.’ She nearly starts crying. I think it’s much closer to ‘You are the Scion, and I am your Kingsmage, and anything else is forbidden on every level.’ Yes, at this point they’re barely flirting. But Sel is infuriatingly careful, and this is also probably a self-reminder.

2. Saying that neither of them can forget it seems particularly poignant seeing that Sel knows what happens when Arthur’s Scion does abandon their post. I don’t think Nick is a bad person, to be clear. (I don’t like him either, but still.) No matter what you think of him, though, he walked away from his responsibilities. We don’t know if-had he been Called while he was still AWOL-he would have fought. I doubt it. And that is dangerous.

2a(?). It’s bad that Bree’s absent… But not only do the other Legendborn know that she’s still fighting, she is at the very least trying. She doesn’t get it right all the time. Hell, she probably doesn’t get it right half the time. But she is giving her all to being the best king possible-a title she doesn’t want, one given to her by violence and prejudice. And I think everyone can see that. Even when she breaks down, it’s not ‘I want to quit’ or ‘I can’t do this anymore.’ Maybe it’s ‘I wish I wasn’t the one doing this,’ or ‘I’m not strong enough,’ but she’s almost always more worried about just letting her friends down, about someone getting hurt! That is a true king. You’re allowed to have bad days, you’re allowed to be selfish. But you cannot quit when (I’m not gonna count them rn) people and potentially literally the entire world is depending on you.

I’m doing these analyses every class apparently so I might have more if this was even comprehensible, see y’all later!

#legendborn #selwyn kane #the legendborn cycle #sel kane #bree x sel #you are my king now cariad #i live for selwyn kane #bloodmarked #bloodmarked spoilers #legendborn community #legendborn spoilers #literary analysis #quote analysis #nicholas davis #nick davis

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phantomrose96 · 3 years ago

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Why Won't You Go Home

Disclaimer: I still don't go here.

...

It is exceptionally kind of Chat Noir to help with the search.

Maybe kind isn’t the right way for Marinette to think of it. Maybe it’s expected. Maybe it’s mundane. Maybe it’s rote, ordinary fanfare for a superhero of the city to lend his hand in a crisis. This search is just a normal superhero job for him. It isn’t personal to him like it is to her. She can feel it in the slow and stiff and disconnected way he picks through the rubble of the Agreste family mansion.

He looks up, and he catches her staring at him.

“M’lady?” he asks.

Marinette blinks. She’s short of breath. She shakes her head, and smooths her fingers over her black-dotted mask, and turns, and crouches to continue sifting through the scattered remains at her feet. “Nothing.”

“M’lady…”

She sweeps away a layer of ash—the pulverized remains of brick and stone and wood. Shards of dinner plates breathe in the open, blue-pattered rims chipped away. She lifts a piece, and it crumbles to ash in her numb and nicked hands, her fingers covered in bandaids from all the wanton cuts from glass she’d dug through so earnestly in the first three days after the collapse.

A hand falls heavy on her shoulders. She flinches. “M’lady…”

“It’s nothing, Chat.” She bats his hand off. “You take the eastern wing. I’ve got the kitchen.”

His presence remains beside her, heavy. “I went through the eastern wing this afternoon.” He crouches, attempting to force eye contact. “…And you’ve done the kitchen already.”

“I didn’t search hard enough.”

“You’ve searched enough.”

Marinette twists away from him. She dips her hands back into the rubble, silkenly demolished, grated down like fine beach sand so near the epicenter of the destruction.

Chat Noir’s hand grips hers, and he stills it.

“He’s not here,” Chat Noir says.

The jolt seizes Marinette by the throat. Tears she thought had long dried up well up unbidden. She blinks to clear her vision. She cannot speak through the knot in her throat, so she shakes her head, and pulls her hand away.

“His bedroom,” she answers, as the only words that can bubble out.

Chat shifts, until he is right in front of her, crouched to her level. “Carapace searched his bedroom already. Rena did. You did.” He grips her shoulder. “I did… He’s not there.”

“I’ll search again.”

“You need to go home.”

“There were 12 bedrooms in the mansion. Four floors. Dining and recreation rooms on every floor. A home theater. …Hawkmoth’s basement. We haven’t searched everything.”

“We have.”

“We haven’t.”

“You need to sleep.”

“I don’t.”

“Ladybug.” He takes her chin. “Look at me. Please just look at me.”

She has little choice. She’s staring into his green eyes, his tinged sclera. Chat’s brow is creased with worry, his eyes lined with exhaustion.

“I know you have a family, Ladybug. I know they have to be worried. Don’t do this to them. Don’t do this to yourself. You’ve done everything you can. There’s nothing more you can do.”

She pulls away from him.

“My family’s fine. I’m fine. What about you? Why don’t you just go back to your own family if you think they’re more important than Adrien?”

Chat’s tired eyes hold hers. His expression remains firm, blank, unwavering.

“Adrien’s gone, Ladybug.”

And it would have hurt less had he slapped her firmly across the face.

Marinette bounces to her feet, teetering unsteady, face flushed and eyes wet. She’s still blinking through tears, fists tight at her side, and it takes restraint to not try to deliver that pain back to Chat Noir. “Easy for you to say. You didn’t know him! You never met him! He was just some kid to you. You don’t care, do you? Maybe this was all some victory to you, huh? Hawkmoth is dead and his base is demolished and you just don’t care that Adrien was—”

“Clearly I do care. I’m still here. I’ve been here. I wouldn’t still be here if I didn’t care.”

“You DON’T care. You search like you’re barely even trying to find him. You’ve given up! Everyone else has given up except me! You don’t get it!” Ladybug slams a hand to her chest, palm open, feet spread, and the words erupt from her throat. “I LOVED him. And I never told him! Don’t tell me he’s dead, Chat! Don’t tell me I couldn’t save him in time. Don’t tell me I couldn’t tell him in time, and I couldn’t—I couldn’t…” Marinette’s resolve wavers. Her body is fizzling with static, light and numb. She tilts, and slowly lowers herself back to a crouch before her balance can fail her fully. “…You can’t tell me he’s gone. He can’t be gone…”

There’s an agony that rips across Chat Noir’s face, one which he holds, and then stifles, and then buries, to the point that Marinette may have only imagined it in the first place. His stance goes looser. His eyes dip, until he’s staring down into the sand-fine rubble of the Agreste manor whose ash has coated him nearly fully gray.

“…I’m sorry, Ladybug…” he says, and he means it. “I shouldn’t have said it like that.”

Silence lingers on the wind between them. Every which way it blows, it smells of demolition.

“No I’m… I’m sorry for yelling,” Marinette mutters, face buried in her drawn-up knees. “I shouldn’t be yelling at you. You’re helping. …You’re the only one still helping. I’m so tired, and I’m so scared, and there’s no one else left helping.”

“You shouldn't blame the others for leaving. The search was called off a full day ago.”

“I don’t blame them.” Marinette lifts her head. “…But I just can’t leave.”

Chat pushes himself up from the ground, rising to full height from his crouch. He extends a hand for Marinette to take. “If you’ll go home, Ladybug, I’ll stay. He won’t be left alone if I’m staying here.”

Marinette blinks as Chat’s hand swims in and out of focus. She processes his words. “…Then what about you? If I leave, and you stay, then you’ll be alone…”

“Worry not, M’lady.”

“…And what about your family then?” She extends a shaky hand. Chat clasps it, and carefully, gently, he lifts her up. She’s eye to eye with him again, her vision darting from his one pupil to the other. He is the only pillar across acres of leveled land, decimated to nothing. “You haven’t left yet either, have you? You’ve been here just as long as me. You haven’t left. They must be worried about you.”

“No one in my family is worried about me, it’s fine.” His grip on her hand tightens. “My friends… are worried. But that’s because they’re good friends. They’ll be fine.”

“Chat…”

“I’m right, aren’t I? You haven’t been able to go home because you can’t leave him alone here… I’ll stay then. I’ll keep searching, I promise, as long as you promise me you’ll go home to your family for tonight, and shower, and eat, and sleep.”

"And you?"

"Hmm?"

"Why haven’t you left yet…?”

Chat lets out a simple chuckle, and he offers her a smile that doesn’t reach his eyes. “Just worried about you, M’lady. It’s that simple.”

Marinette blinks, and rubs her eyes through the mask. The sensation of grit digs into her knuckles. It’s coated her entirely. She blinks again, and her vision, her balance, is still hazy. She’s just now feeling the weight pulling so heavily on her chest, and protests die in her throat. “…Okay. Okay then, Chat. …Thank you. Thank you, I’ll—I’ll go home, okay Chat.” She looks up. “But I need you to promise me something too.”

“Anything.”

“When I get back, then you’ll go home and rest.”

Chat’s smile lingers, the dead and plastic one. His worn eyes hold hers, and Marinette realizes for the first time since the search began that there’s something uncomfortable nested deep in them, something staring at her like she’s the last thing holding him together.

“…Chat?” Marinette asks again.

“Hmm?”

“When I’m back, you’ll go home.”

He reaches a hand out, and he ruffles her hair. “You’re very tired. M’lady has been awake for far too long. The sun’s setting now. You should get going.”

“Chat.”

“I’ll only need a quick cat nap, M’lady, once you get back. I needn’t go anywhere.”

“That’s… no, Chat.” Marinette shakes her head. She pushes his hand away. “You also need to shower, and eat, and sleep, and see your family and friends, Chat. Promise me you’ll do that. Promise me that’ll happen once I’m back tomorrow.”

She’s staring deep into his eyes, watching that restrained and uncomfortable something bloom closer to the surface. She’s staring into glassy pools that are slipping harder to recognize, and Chat’s plastic smile remains on a face so absent. His eyes refuse to see her no matter how directly she stares into them.

“We’ll talk tomorrow, Bugaboo.”

“Chat.”

“Please.”

“Chat.”

“Tomorrow, I promise.”

“Chat—” She grabs his shoulder, and pulls him a fraction closer, in hopes that his glassy eyes might finally see her back.

“Yes, M’lady?”

“Why won’t you go home?”

He is covered in ash and soot. His face is uniformly streaked with dust, and it mangles into his hair, soaked four days deep. And his four days sleepless eyes stare through her. He hitches his plastic smile higher until the corners of his mouth waver. He opens his mouth to say something, to say something, to say something.

“Sure then. Tomorrow. As soon as you’re back. I’ll go home. I promise to give my pillows a good few extra fluffs for you.”

And his face is unrecognizable by the time the words leave his mouth.

Marinette tugs him closer, until he is pressed against her. She wraps her arms around him and squeezes. Hesitantly, he returns the hug, with a force that presses the air from Marinette’s lungs, until he clings to her like she were the last thread holding him up above a chasm.

Then all at once, he releases her.

“Go. Go, Ladybug. Go home.”

She breathes deep, and her ribcage stutters. She nods.

“Tomorrow. Early. I’ll be back. Then it’s your turn.”

“Naturally. In the meantime, I’ll check the bedroom again, alright? I promise to leave nothing unturned.”

She backs away, and turns, and lingers. And somehow, even with the way her body stutters and stalls, she’s still gone faster than Chat realizes. He’s left alone with the setting sun tinging all the leveled debris orange. He exhales, shudders, and wills himself to not breakdown on spot. Not until he’s sure Ladybug is far away.

He moves, as promised, to the bedroom, taking the phantom trace of demolished hallways and doors out of habit. He stands at the center, and shifts ash with his toe, and silence falls around him like a blanket.

He sets his hands to the air, clasped around a pocket of nothing. He bounces his palms closer, once, twice, fluffing the air, and fluffing it again, so as not to break his promise.

#miraculous ladybug #ml #chat noir #ladybug #mlb #ml fanfiction #long post #angst #wwygh

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sgt-seabass · 2 years ago

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Hi sweets!

So I wanted to start off by telling you how much I'm enjoying your Clockwork AU and your latest chapter "I don't even care about you"

It's been such an amazing journey so far and you've created such an in depth and incredible world.

I know we got a little glimpse into Nick's past this last chapter and I love that (you make it easy to fall for him even though he does what he does) and I was wondering if you wanted to share anything on the backstory of how he met some of the other alphas/omegas that work with and for him. You write them all so well and they are all distinct in their duties and personalities, which I love, so I'm just thinking...does Nick have favorites (I have some ideas of my own).

I hope my question is clear! I'd love to hear what you have to say at your leisure and I'm looking forward to more of all of them when you're ready to share!

Thank you! Lots of love to you! ❤️

First off, holy shit thank you so much. You’ve made my month with this ask. Knowing that you’re interested enough about the Clockwork AU to ask about it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside. I honestly cannot thank you enough for reading and engaging. You’re amazing, and you deserve the world. 💙

I’d love to share more with you! I’ve got a lot of the background planned out, as it helps frame the pieces.

Drabble below the cut (it's a bit long haha)

Nick's favourites are Mace, Beck and Steve (Kemp). Nick met Steve while in university. Steve was studying medicine, and Nick was studying finance. They were in the same fraternity. Also in their fraternity were Ransom (studying book publishing), Charles (studying real estate) and Ari (studying business management). They’re all good mates, so when Nick invested well in the stock market and made millions, they quickly invited him into their inner circle.

Nick never came from money like the others, so it wasn’t until he became self-made that he was invited to the more rich-established events.

At a fundraiser for ex-military alphas, Nick met Mace, who wasn’t sure what he wanted to do with his life now that he wasn’t a serving member. Nick offered him a job. A purpose. To work with him as he built his empire. It was an offer Mace couldn’t refuse.

Beck was at the same university as the others, studying a double degree in aerospace engineering and medicine. He dreamt of being an astronaut. Unfortunately, it wasn’t until partway through his degree that he discovered he was colourblind, meaning he couldn’t go on space expeditions. Dreams crushed, he fell into a deep depression. He still attended his medicine lectures, where he became friends with Steve. When Steve told Nick of Beck’s situation, Nick decided to take Beck in. Like Mace, he offered Beck a purpose.

Both facing the offer of a prime alpha, Mace and Beck weren’t really in a position to say no. And Nick treated them well. As both a friend and employee.

None of the other alphas work for him. Charles, Ransom, Chase, Lee, Robert, Ari, Hal and Lloyd all have their own professions. However, as Nick is the only prime alpha among them, they hold a level of respect for him, and they value his business relationship. So, when Nick asked for a favour, they accepted. Plus, seeing as the favour was to fuck with his omega, it was not much of a pain on their part to participate. They need Nick’s business, seeing as he runs the largest omega trafficking ring in the country, so they’ll do what they have to to maintain that positive relationship.

As I will reveal as I explore each alpha (and beta if you count Steve), they are all cogs in the clockwork. Each of them is different and has a different role to play. Yet, they all meld together to create a malicious storm for any omega unfortunate enough to come across them.

Thank you again for this ask. It was so much fun to answer! 💙 I'd love to hear more of your thoughts if you were feel like sharing 💙

#ambs answers #cherished anons #i love you #clockwork au #sebastian stan #chris evans #nick fowler #james mace #chris beck #steve kemp #ari levinson #charles blackwood #ransom drysdale #chase collins #lee bodecker #robert pronge #hal carter #lloyd hansen

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idio-cies · 4 years ago

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Jatp- Perfect Harmony Dissection

Holy Moly this show has taken me by surprise in the best possible way.

I forgot how good Kenny Ortega is... and omg the dynamics in this show are just *chefs kiss* anyway that’s for another post

All of these songs left an impression with me, but Perfect Harmony just got the cogs working in my brain so I wanted to dissect it because I can’t stop thinking about it.

This will be long but I hope people will bear with me.

I found out that Madison and Charlie wrote this one together for the show, so that’s cool. So, even if this is Julie’s fantasy/daydream, it objectively also has “Luke’s” input as well, considering Madison and Charlie were writing with the characters in mind.

The lead up to this song is Julie realising she is falling for Luke, and has Luke on the brain, so she slips up with calling Nick, Luke yadayada significant to say her crush has changed as well blah blah blah.

I first thought it was strange that they are all in black? They weren’t performing for anyone other than for merit. However Black is of course associated with death, mystery etc, but in this context ,with them being “fancy” it deems them as more elegant than anything. I like using this site for colour reference. Please make of it what you will, but I’m sticking with classy and mysterious with this performance.

Then I noticed how Julie and Nick are the centre of attention, plus Nick and Julie seem to improvise? They aren’t doing as the others are. Whether they are meant to or not. I think this is meant to draw parallels, with Nick sliding on the floor and Luke tumbling, then also the lift, how here it’s short and sweet, yet with Julie and Luke there are two and the second is drawn out and more meaningful etc.

I think she must be dancing normally in reality throughout this, but I’ll come back to that later.

So let’s get into this song.

“Step into my world”- I find this interesting because Luke is the one stepping over into hers, but also this is like some “in-between” that they're in; significant of the Limbo that the guys are currently stuck in and also the fact that Julie is the bridge. The world is probably metaphorical for music as Luke helps re-establish it in Julie and is also the guy where music is his whole world, as he lets all of his emotions out and connects with people. It’s a running theme being called up again. However, you cannot deny the possible connotation of Julie potentially stepping over with them. It’s also ironic as Luke “steps” into Julie’s world “I’m sorry we came into your life” - Luke, ep 1, and literally steps over here.

“Bittersweet love story about a girl”- undeniable. Their story is bittersweet. Impossible to be together; yet have a connection that runs so deep.

But now we see the scenery, and it’s all monochrome and the candles just scream romance, but also to me, of serenity.

I mean even the dancefloor reflects to make it look as if they are dancing on water or in an in between world. The reason why I point out monochrome gives the intention of “black and white” there is a lack of complexity, it is clear about how true their bond is, and to them it isn’t complex. Also I can’t help but think of yin and yang which can also be included here as they balance each other out. Julie yin, Luke yang. This is ironic considering Julie is always symbolised with light and Luke the contrast with a dark and being, you know, dead.

I also came across a gifset of the parallels to dirty dancing that Perfect Harmony dance had, and again, the colours are flipped with the pair which is just... interesting in this instance.

“Shook me to the core “Voice like an angel, never heard before”- pretty simple, Luke has always been amazed with Julie’s talent, plus a metaphor commonly attached to Julie, being called an angel. He is also calling her unique. Passage of touch.

But then we get the touch. So I think this whole hand passage thing is reflected in the time they tried to hold hands, then the last time and they could then touch. In this instance though it’s like Julie is the one being resurrected. Again, this could be another metaphor of his hand in helping her find her music again, but you cannot overlook the other implications.

So here is where they dance. I am no dance expert, but dance does have it’s own language that I think everyone can interpret, but I will try my best to explain. I also think “harmony” can be a way to express dance partners as well.

“Here in front of me”- I do think this is in reference being able to touch them, but the drawing up to her hands is so interesting because of the eye contact and draw. It’s more intimate.

Then they go into something similar to what the routine is meant to be in reality, but instead they make it like a pulse on the line “they’re shining so much brighter”

I point out a pulse because it’s “living” and it just juxtaposes with who Julie is talking about; the guys.

A twirl and lift on “than I have ever seen”- This is Julie talking about the guys. Ray calls them angels and then at the end of season they literally freaking glow so... (also pronoun change to collective when Julie starts singing)

“Life can be so mean”- ep 8, after Luke told him their demise would be one of three ways, Julie was going to be hurt all over again. Julie and Flynn had an understanding that the world was being cruel when they were discussing it. Also I just feel their dance here is like they are interpreting a rough ride/rollercoaster. They swing arms then tuck and twist.

“But when he goes, I know he doesn’t leave”- Luke will be in her heart, like she found with her Mum. She did let them go, and she understands she will have to do that, but they will live on in her heart.

Also hand over heart, as she “falls” into him and he doesn’t let her fall. That’s just cute.

“The truth is finally breaking through”- either their feelings or just what will be revealed to us. Though they are parted and Luke does the spinning on the ground so I expect a pitfall somewhere along the way (probs Caleb)

But he rolls right back to her

“Two worlds collide when I’m with you”- Well, the fact that they are the living and the dead.. so. Plus in-between. Don’t know how to interpret the dance here, I just like the swishy steps

“A voice is rising so, so high”- how Julie comes out of her shell. Also can’t help but link to the angel motif. Plus, Julie is lifted up, she is the catalyst, she is rising up in fame really. Luke is one of the people who helps her soar as well.

“We come to life, when we’re in perfect harmony”- Julie always being told she looks “alive again” when she’s doing music again. Music and playing with Julie is what makes Luke and the guys feel alive. I gotta say, Charlie and Madison do exhibit some good harmonising.

The lift that happened is like the improv that Nick and Julie do, but then Luke and Julie here make eye contact as she comes down again, but goes back to similar to the dance she is meant to be doing. Until she reaches up on the line “We say we’re friends”, he also helps lift them up.

“We play pretend”. I mean, they kinda do. Luke tries to pass off his feelings with the guys, but that boy is WHIPPED.

“You’re more to me”- right off the bat, I like it. Arms out and a hug. YES. Also just look at that bliss on her face, bless her.

“We create” well yes they create “the perfect harmony”

The cut off is abrupt as Julie snaps back to reality. Then she looks in the mirror and realises Luke isn’t there and that she must’ve gone insane. This is what gets me. I think this is the moment that she realises that her feelings for Luke are deeper than she realised and I think she truly thought that they may have been dancing together in the end.

Is this just an extremely vivid daydream, because she had one of these when she mentally performed “I got the Music” and she must’ve done something during that time as she took someone’s drumsticks during her little renaissance. So what happened in real life? Did she just dance around a little, humming a bop? I just... I imagine that this is just a very lucid daydream, which is fair enough, relatable, but it just interacts so much with real life rather than actually just being all in her head. I just find it interesting.

The full version has some lines that I also want to point out. In the second verse there are these lines:

”You set me free”- Luke sings this line which can mean that she will set his soul free- she is a part of his “unfinished business”

“You and me together is more than chemistry”- Julie sings this line. We know that chemistry was pointed out by Alex and Reggie to Luke, and I believe Flynn also says about them being an appealing pair when performing. But they are more than chemistry. I mean they do work well together and they care about each other deeply, but I also can’t help but think of the “signs” her mother was giving her, and believing that the guys were sent to her.

“Love me as I am, I’ll hold your music here inside of my hands”- This is sung by both of them. They already do this, but holding their music in each other’s hand is interesting. I guess this is saying about trust and that they will do it together. I also think this relates to being able to finally hold hands. It’s like the saying “Whatever’s mine is yours”. They share pain, they share lyrics, their passion for music etc.

Then in the bridge we have the lines “I feel your rhythm in my heart”- I have a feeling that they are in sync with each other, they can immediately click and tune in with a melody. It’s also ironic as Luke doesn’t have a heart.

“You are my brightest burning star”- Luke sings this line. It makes sense. As I have said previously, Julie is this beacon of light, Luke clearly is in awe of her and inspires him. He also straight up calls her a star in ep 9 as well

“I never knew a love so real”- oh man, the irony. Their connection is pure and true, it’s just so annoying that he’s a ghost

“We’re heaven on earth, melody and words”- again with the metaphor of the middle ground where I suppose Julie sits. I understand the idiom and the bliss that they feel, and the connection they have and share with people. It’s just interesting as at the moment earth is currently Luke and the guys’ afterlife.

Anyway, that has been my dissection of Perfect Harmony. Thanks for reading if you’ve gotten this far 😅

PS. the lack of visual aids is because Tumblr hates me, I apologise

#jatp #julie and the phantoms #juke #julie molina #luke patterson #jatp julie #jatp luke #jatp meta #jatp analysis

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gold-and-rubies · 4 years ago

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Fallout’s Use of Dead Wives For Companions

So this isn’t a full on essay, but I want to take a look at the dead wife trope in Fallout New Vegas and Fallout 4, I haven’t played the others so I won’t make a comment on them. These are my opinions on it. I am not a professional at analysis, I just want to clear out my head. I will be talking about Boone, MacCready, Deacon, Valentine, and Longfellow. I thought about talking about Doc Mitchell, but I don’t really see people bring him up. Probably because it’s just used to explain why he has a female vault suit. I’m not going to talk about M!Sole Survivor, because in my opinion that is a different conversation. I talk more about Boone and MacCready, since I am explaining why it works for them. I don’t think many would argue with me that the others could use some alternatives though. Anyway, everything is below the cut.

So let’s start with Boone. He definitely is not the first, but he is the big one. If Bethesda did not overuse this trope in Fallout 4, I don’t think people would go off on him as much, but then again I am relatively new to the fandom. Overall, I think he is the best execution for two different reasons.

I already made a small post about it, but I want to expand on it. When people talk about how focused he is on Carla’s death, I don’t think most people realize that it was recent. It happened while they were living in Novac, and when you meet him he says he has been living there for a year. Meaning that at the most she’s been dead for a little over eleven months, but I think it is way less than that. I think if it had been that long, Boone would have already figured out who was responsible. He’d probably be long, long gone. I wouldn’t be surprised if it is as recent as a little over a week. Not only is it recent, but he’s the one who did the deed. And he hates himself for it. He knows what he did was wrong, but it was that or let her and their unborn child become slaves. That’s another thing I don’t think a lot of people know. Carla was pregnant, and I’m pretty sure they were planning on keeping the child. He was given a choice that consisted of two very dark shades of grey, and he had to figure out which one was just a little better. Not only is it very recent, and tragic, but it genuinely has a very deep affect on him. It is apparent from the beginning that it isn’t just something that is supposed to make the player feel bad for him, it is an important part of his character.

The second reason is that this isn’t the only thing affecting him deeply, though he is the slightest bit more open about what happened to Carla. His participation in what happened at Bittersprings, and how that affected his relationships and how he views Carla’s death make him a deeper character. It serves to show the horrors of war, how willing people are to turn on each other when afraid, and it makes Boone a deeply traumatized character. Unlike other things, it isn’t just some cheap grab at pain. It’s made clear that he isn’t getting over her anytime soon, or maybe he might not at all.

Let’s look at MacCready next, shall we? I think he is the second best execution of this in this group, and by far the best one in Fallout 4.

I think this is because while Lucy’s death was incredibly sad, and affected him deeply the focus is more on Duncan and how he mirrors the Sole Survivor. A parent with a dead spouse who desperately wants to save their child? They’re practically twins. But jokes aside, unlike the others in Fallout 4, Lucy’s death provides substance and cannot be easily switched out for another person.

While twenty-six is a young age to have experienced all that Boone has, twenty-two is even younger. MacCready lost Lucy in a horrific way and became a single parent at quite a young age. We know that he met Lucy after leaving Little Lamplight, and she obviously died after Duncan was born. We know she’s been dead for a least two years because MacCready says she’s been gone for a few years. That means he lost his wife, the person he trusted the most and became a single parent when he was likely still a teenager. And despite this he has arguably the healthiest relationship with the death. He still blames himself for it, but he has come to terms with it the best he can.

It serves as the reason as to why he is a single parent, which I think has more of an affect on him as a character than her actual death does. Growing up in Little Lamplight, and being in charge of it for a bit likely forced him to grow up faster than is healthy, but having a child at such a young age with no one to lean on but your partner who died sent that into overdrive.

Yes, the final affinity talk is about Lucy, but given this is when you are able to pursue a romantic relationship with him, it makes sense. But here is why I think it makes sense that she died, and didn’t walk out on him, which could be seen as an alternative. He says that he never got the chance to tell her who he really was. She died believing he was a soldier and not a mercenary, which seriously messed him up. Part of him feels like she might have not loved him if he had told her the truth. It not only adds to the grief he feels, but also the joy he feels when Sole tells him they love him, because they truly do know him for who he is.

They could have gone in about a million different ways with his character in Fallout 4, but with the way they went what happened makes sense.

Then there’s Deacon, who I have mixed feelings about. Him being violently against synths before joining the Railroad makes for an interesting story, and a good reason as to why he is the way he is, but I’m not fond of how Barbara fits into the story. I understand that there would have to be some sort of redemption in order for him to join the Railroad, but I don’t think Barbara’s death was the best choice.I mean a death of someone he is close to makes sense, but it didn’t have to be his wife. Unlike Boone and MacCready where it makes sense for them specifically to be dead, it doesn’t for Deacon. Her death is just seen as retribution for the pain he caused. They could have very easily have just made it a close friend. While it makes sense for him to have such a dark history, they could have gone with anything, as the specifics of what happened don’t play a large role in who he is as a person.

Now, Valentine. Yes, Jenny was his fiancée not his wife, but close enough. Unlike Deacon, where they could have done anything for his background, it makes sense that someone had to die to make sure Nick was well and truly invested. The thing here is that it absolutely did not not have to be his fiancée, his professional partner dying could have achieved the same effect for him. Now, what’s different here is that her death isn’t really the sad or important part, it’s his identity crisis and justice that are. It is the Original Nick’s memories that spur him on, but justice for her death specifically isn’t the takeaway. It is the desire to do the right thing, and your actions being your own are.

Finally, we have Old Longfellow. This one is going to be super short. Old Longfellow is old by human wastelander standards. While I understand they want to provide a proper explanation as to why he dislikes the Children of Atom, him just being around for a long time and seeing and hearing everything would be reason enough. Hannah, that was her name if you didn’t know, I had to look it up, dying does the opposite of what the writer’s want. Instead of gaining sympathy for him it pushes players away, making her death the most unimportant one. You can’t even tell that that’s what is affecting him. They should have just focused on the thing with Shipbreaker. That would fit both his character, and the whole aesthetic of Far Harbor very well.

#craig boone #maccready #Robert Joseph MacCready #nick valentine #deacon fo4 #deacon fallout 4 #old longfellow #fallout 4 #fo4 #fallout #fallout new vegas #fallout nv #fnv #new vegas #death tw #death trigger warning #tw death

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doyoufancyathought · 3 years ago

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Through The Utility Closet Part 2: An Unexpected Visitor

Y/N looked up from where she had landed on the floor. There was a table of open mouthed individuals, and one very confused presenter, looking down on her. Whoops, this is something she'd have to text her best friend about when she got home.

"I'm so sorry," Y/N stood up and dusted off her apron. "I had no idea there was a second door in the closet, and I couldn't find the light switch, and-"

And she was cut off. "Where did you come from?" The presenter asked.

Y/N motioned to the closet she had just spilled out of. "The storage room?"

"That's a coat closet. And we don't even keep coats in it. How long have you been hiding in there?"

"I'm so sorry," Y/N started to back up, not liking the route her evening had taken. "I swear I wasn't hiding, I was just in the room to put a box on the shelf, I was only in there for a minute, I swear."

He looked confused, as did the people seated around the table. "We've been here for 20 minutes, and there's no way you snuck past us carrying a box."

"Oh, there must be a different door that I came through, then. I'm so sorry, I'll be going now."

"Wait a minute," the man walked over and blocked her from getting back into the closet. "This is my coat closet, and I want to investigate where you came from. Rogers, come here please."

A hulking blonde man stood up from the opposite side of the table and started walking towards our heroine. He said a quiet "Hi, 'scuse me." and maneuvered past her and joined the other man in the room.

"Tony, there's no other door, just the one right here." The blond man said.

I suppose it's important to establish that it's not normal to have secondary doors to coat closets unless you live in a haunted Victorian home full of ghosts that have already plotted 63 different ways to kill you by Tuesday.

"I know, Steve!"

"Then where did she come from?"

"I don't know! She certainly didn't sneak in since we've been here!"

The two men in the closet bickered back and forth for a few minutes. Meanwhile, Y/N turned to the room full of strangers who were observing both her and the argument in the closet in equal amounts. She caught the eye of a massive brunet, and gave him the classic smile given to those you wish to scootch past in the grocery store. He looked away, and a man who I could have sworn had just had a red complexion rose from his chair to stand beside Y/N.

"I do apologize for our manners. My name is Vision, what's yours?"

"I'm Y/N."

"Lovely name. And where are you from, Y/N?"

This gave her pause. She assumed that she was from the same place as they were, the town they were all in at this very moment.

"I'm from here?"

"And where exactly do you think here is?"

"What, you think this door teleported me? I'm in (hometown) of course, same as you!" Y/N chuckled as she looked around the room. She caught the rest of the group exchanging looks, and sighed. "Right?"

Vision gently patted her shoulder. "I'm so sorry to be the one to tell you this, dear, but you're not in (hometown) anymore. You're in New York."

Y/N looked between Vision and the others. "What? That's crazy! I'm not - there's no way. You guys are crazy." Y/N looked over her shoulder to see the two men in the closet peering out at the rest of the room. "Did you find the other door? I really should get back to work, and I'm sure you all should get back to your meeting."

They shook their heads and moved out of the closet, although it was a battle between who entered the doorway first.

"I'll find it, and I'll be on my way." Y/N charged back into the closet, and crossed the foot and a half wide floor with one step. Surely she'd be better at finding a mysteriously elusive door than two men, right? She ran her fingers over the walls, looking for a hinge or a handle or even a bump to indicate an opening of any kind. She'd even pull an Alice in Wonderland and crawl on her hands and knees through a hole in the wall if she must.

Still, no luck. The wall was as smooth as a baby's bottom, which were usually quite smooth. So, Y/N returned to the boardroom with her arms crossed.

"Alright, this joke is very funny, but I'm really ready to go back to work now!"

"We're not pulling a prank here, I promise, we're just as surprised as you are."

"Seriously? Who paid you to do this? I don't know anyone who could pay you to pull this off. Who did it?"

"Seriously, lady, there's no joke here. We're not pranking you."

"Then," Y/N paused and licked her lips. "Hey, man, where did you say we are?"

Vision told her that she was in New York now. It was too much. Between the heat and the stress and the exhaustion, Y/N's brain couldn't take it any longer. Steve barely had time to leap back over the table and catch her in his arms before she crumbled to the floor.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When Y/N woke up, she was still in the boardroom, laid out on the floor, surrounded by good looking strangers. Weirdly, her life was looking better than it usually did.

"What happened?"

"You fainted, dear." A man with a goatee spoke up. "Don't worry, you weren't out for very long. I'm a doctor, by the way. Doctor Stephen Strange."

"That's, well," Y/N searched for a better word to describe her situation. "Strange." The man frowned down at her. "Not you, I'm sorry, just, I don't faint, I'm not really the damsel in distress type. Where am I?"

"This again?!?!" Y/N recognized the man from before, Tony. "You're in New York! Where did you come from?"

"I came from work, in (hometown). I don't just wear this apron around for fun, you know!" Y/N gestured to her apron, which conveniently had the company logo on it. She sat up and rubbed her eyes. "So, I'm in New York. And I came out of your coat closet. And before that, I was at my job in (hometown), just going about my day. How did I get here?"

"Well," the man called Vision came back into the room. "I'm not quite sure, but if I had to guess, which I don't do often, you've just come through an inter-dimensional portal."

"A what now?"

"An inter-dimensional portal. You've travelled through space, clearly, possibly time as well, and I would guess you've also travelled across different planes of reality since you seem to have no comprehension of who we are. Thus, you've crossed into a different dimension that the one you usually reside in."

"That totally makes sense."

"Oh, really?" The blond giant from earlier asked.

"No, absolutely not. That did not make sense at all, Vision. I thought portals only existed in sci-fi, like Star Trek or stuff like that!" Y/N was, indeed, very confused.

"I think the science might be a little beyond your understanding, dear." Vision said. "But it appears to me that your storage cupboard was a doorway to this universe, to this reality. Sometimes these things just pop up, you know."

Y/N looked at Vision. "No, I don't know that these things just pop up! Pretty sure I would have heard about it on the news." Everyone sat for a moment, pondering their next steps. "So does anyone have any ideas on how to get me back to my world?" Y/N looked around hopefully.

The group of people around her all looked at each other, and Tony, Vision, and Dr. Strange looked thoughtful.

"I think that between the three of us we can probably figure out how to get you home." Dr. Strange finally said.

"And how long will that take? Like a couple of hours maybe?" Y/N asked from the floor.

"Uh, no." Tony stood up and started clearing off a whiteboard. "Inter-dimensional portals cannot be figured out in just a few hours, strange lady. It'll take a few days, at best. You got somewhere to stay?"

"Tony, she's not going to have anywhere to stay, she's not from here." Steve explained.

"She can stay with us!" a dark man with a buzz cut offered. "I've got a spare room in the basement still, she can stay there until we figure out how to get her home. I'm Sam, by the way."

"Hi Sam, I'm Y/N. You don't have to take me in, I can just stay in a shelter if there's one nearby."

"Hang on, I'm calling Fury." Tony dialled a phone, and pointed at me while it was ringing. "You're not staying in a shelter."

"No, it's fine, I'm sure it won't be too bad."

"They're terrible, you're not staying at a shelter, you're coming with me." Sam said.

"And why would I stay with you? I don't know who you are, why should I trust you more than some homeless shelter?" Y/N was standing now, and crossed her arms.

"We're the Avengers! You can trust us."

"I don't think you understand how little that means to me. Who are you?"

"The Avengers."

"And what is the Avengers? Sounds like either a league of superheroes or a terrible pop group."

"We're superheroes."

"Oh shit really?" Y/N blushed. "You're superheroes, for real?"

The group around the table nodded.

"So who's got the laser eyes?"

The group looked mildly confused, because none of them had laser eyes, but fortunately they didn't have a chance to answer, because Fury answered the phone, and Tony set it to speaker.

"What can I help you with, Stark?"

"Well, see, here's the situation. We're just sitting here, having our meeting, and the closet door pops open and this girl comes flying out onto the floor."

"Okay, so you have a spy, you know what to do with that."

"I'm not done yet. We thought she was a spy, but we've come to the conclusion that she actually just came through an inter-dimensional portal."

"So you have an alien in your conference room?"

"She's not an alien, Mr. Fury." Vision interjected. "I've scanned her, and she seems to be perfectly human."

Y/N frowned. She didn't like the thought of being scanned without consent. And how could Vision tell that she was human anyways? And did this guy think she was an alien? Were aliens common in this world?

The man on the other end of the phone sighed. "Is she there?"

"Yeah, she's been here the whole time. You're on speaker." Tony responded.

"I'd like to speak to her."

"Talk away, she's right here."

"Hello, what's your name?"

"I'm Y/n." she said, moving closer to the phone.

"Hi, well welcome to Earth. I'm Nick Fury, director of SHIELD. Welcome to Earth."

"Thanks, but I'm already from Earth, I don't really need a welcome."

"Ok, we'll brush past that for now. Have they explained the inter-dimension portals to you yet?"

"They tried, but if I'm being honest that's a little bit out of my league."

"Fair enough. You're in good hands there; we have the best scientists in the world at those labs. As you might imagine, it's not really an exact science, these portals, so it might take our team a while to figure out how to get you home."

"So are you guys like the men in black? Do you have that movie here?"

"Yeah, we have that movie here. I'm guessing that your world is very very similar to ours, so we're going to be taking you down to one of our labs and running a few tests so we can better determine where you're from. In the mean time, I'll let the Avengers take care of you, they don't have any other pressing matters at this time, and just in case you're a violent alien, they're best equipped to deal with you going rogue."

"Uh, well, I guess that sounds good. I promise I'm not an alien though."

"We'll see about that." Fury hung up and I looked around the room.

"I should make introductions, pardon my manners." Vision stood up from his seat (he kinda seemed to float, but maybe he was just hella graceful).

"This is Steven Rogers, you might hear him referred to as Captain America." The blond man who had earlier joined Tony in a closet gave a quick wave and a smile. He seemed very friendly.

"This is James Barnes, he's very quiet, so don't take offence if he doesn't say much to you. He means no harm." Vision pointed to the brunet I had locked eyes with earlier, and he gave a small smile, but didn't wave.

"This is Sam Wilson, as you know. He, Steve, and James all live together in Sam's house, and I suppose you'll be joining them. I'd offer you our couch, but my wife Wanda and I," here he pointed to a lovely brunette woman seated beside him. "are in the middle of renovations, and I'm sure a spare bedroom would be more comfortable for you than a dusty couch."

Y/N nodded. She was going to have a bit of trouble keeping track of everyone's names.

"This is Bruce Banner, this is Natasha Romanoff, Scott Lang, Clint Barton, Stephen Strange, Tony Stark, and of course, I am Vision." They all waved as their names were said.

"Wait, what's your last name?"

"I don't have one, dear. I'm a computer."

"Oh?" Y/N was shocked, understandably so.

"Yes."

"We don't have that in my world."

"Yes, it's uncommon here as well. Are you ready to go do some tests?"

"Um, I guess so. Nice to meet you all."

Vision and Y/N walked out of the meeting room and started down the hallway.

Tony decided to pick up from where they left off. "So as I was saying,"

"Tony!" Steve yelled at him. "What are you doing?"

"Getting back to the meeting we were having?"

"We just had a girl pop through a portal in our closet, and you want to go back to the meeting?"

"Um, yeah. Vision's got her."

"Aren't you curious?"

"Not really."

"The first time something pops out of a portal and doesn't try to kill us, and you're not interested?" Sam asked.

"Yeah, why?"

"Dude, you're crazy. I'm going down to the lab to watch the tests." Scott jumped up from his seat and started making his way to the door.

"Yeah, me too." Steve and Sam stood up, and Bucky followed suit.

Soon enough, the whole team was exiting the conference room and following the path that Y/N and Vision had taken down to the labs. Tony eventually decided to follow them, because he didn't want to be alone.

They got down to the labs, and found Vision waiting in the hallway.

"They sent her to get changed," Vision explained as the team assembled. "If she's staying here for a while, we're going to have to get her some more clothes. I'm sure she doesn't want to stay in her work clothes the entire time."

"Yeah, I'll get Pepper to make arrangements." Tony said.

After a few minutes, Y/N stepped out of a room just off the hallway. She was wearing grey shorts and a black tank top, and nothing on her feet. She frowned as her bare feet hit the cold tile floor.

"Ugh, so cold. Alright, let's figure out where I'm from."

A nurse came and got her, and led her into another room just off the hallway. There was an observation window, and the team gathered around to watch the tests. They watched her as she jumped up on the table, and smiled at the nurse as she began to hook up wires and prep for a blood draw. Soon they would figure out just who this unexpected visitor was.

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levisnackajack · 4 years ago

Text

The Wrath of War

Hi there. Thanks to anyone who’s read up to now. This chapter is pretty long, so I have decided to post the story both here on my Tumblr, as well as on AO3.

The link to the story is here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/28919136/chapters/70952145

Please check it out if you can!

Much love.

Chapter Four

Captain Levi Ackerman.

This was the title owned by the man who had swooped in and saved Eden’s life like a damsel in distress. She felt sick to her stomach. How stupid was she to risk her life like that?

Questions like that rolled through her mind, painfully wrecking her brain for the past couple of hours. The battleground had quietened; but Eren was ripped out of Mikasa’s arms as soon as the Scout and Garrison regiment both got their hands on him.

Armin managed to grab Mikasa by the wrist as they led Eren away; but Eden was quick enough to avoid Armin and sprint after him; eyes lit with a fierce flame. Someone grabbed her by the shoulder and spun her around violently- making Eden lose sight of her weakened friend.

She huffed irritably; hazel eyes widening at the realization that Captain Levi had gripped her tightly. His expression blank, intimidating dull grey eyes staring down at the girl in an irritated way. Eden bit on her tongue to suppress the snarky remark resting in her mouth.

“You seem to like proving how big of a pain you are, Cadet,” Levi began, his cool and monotonous voice causing realization to boil within the girl. The man standing before her was the leader of the Survey Corps’ Special Operation Squad. His reputation has gifted him with the title of being “Humanity’s Strongest Soldier”.

Being so close to him, Eden could barely figure out how old he was. He had a deceptively youthful face holding a chiseled jawline and narrow, grey eyes with dark circles under them that betrayed his possible insomnia.

After all the things he has probably seen; how could he be able to sleep soundly at night?

“Sir, I’m only making sure that Eren is safe,” Eden said in a meek voice, mentally slamming her head against the wall. She didn’t want the frightening captain to feed off of her uneasiness.

Whether Captain Levi grew satisfied knowing he instilled fear in people with a mere question would truly stay a secret. His physiognomy never betrayed his thoughts.

He tipped his head to the side ever so slightly, clicking his tongue. “Not that I owe you an explanation or anything, but he’s staying with us for the time being. Don’t want him going on a rampage because he couldn’t keep his emotions intact now, do we?”

“It’s not like that...” Eden muttered out, hands balling into fists until her knuckles were painted white. That was when she began deeply regretting her reckless behavior.

The Captain stepped closer, cape flowing rapidly behind him; his now lethal expression barely concealed by the loose raven strands of hair.

He jabbed his finger into Eden’s collarbone; making her swallow a hiss.

“Oh, apologies, I suppose we should all trust you and the miniscule amount of common sense you seem to own by the way you’re backtalking. What is your name, cadet?” He said in an uncomfortably calm manner; eyes never leaving Eden’s pale face.

“Chiasa. Eden Chiasa, sir.” She forced herself to salute him, using that as an opportunity to step back from him. Levi glared at her in annoyance.

“Well, Chiasa, learn some manners before opening that mouth of yours. I’m assuming you’re itching to join the Scout Regiment by the way your eyes sparkled once we took over?” He paused, lips pursing in disgust as though the idea of her yearning for a spot in his Regiment made him nauseous. He stepped forward once more, his words completely throwing her over the edge as she basked in embarrassment, cheeks glowing red.

“Let me tell you something; we’re not looking for idiots who can’t even watch after their own backs. We’re also not looking for brats thinking their filthy attitude will impress their superiors. I suggest you think before you make up your choice about where you truly belong.” With that, Levi turned his back to the freshly-graduated cadet, striding off in the direction Eren was dragged to.

Eden stood there; eyes trained to the ground as she begged herself not to cry. She didn’t mean to offend the Captain; she was just looking out for her friend. She begged for a titan to pop out of nowhere and tear her to shreds. Levi’s first impression of Eden was that she was a snotty brat who couldn’t keep her mouth shut.

Being part of the Scout Regiment was her reason to live. She ached to belong with that Squad. But now, the somber feeling of knowing that she forever fucked up her chances of ever being able to join them made her want to give up entirely.

She viciously chewed on her bottom lip; shrugging Armin’s gentle touch off of her shoulder. He backed up, having witnessed the girl’s conversation with the profound Captain.

"We need to go. Eren will be brought before the military tribunal. They’re deciding his fate...” Armin echoed, Mikasa darkly staring into oblivion beside him. Eden nodded, following her friends; eyes trailing back to the path Levi and Eren took.

Swallowing hard, she stopped in her tracks and went exactly the opposite way of the military courthouse. Eden followed her instincts, assumptions leading her to believe that they would most probably keep Eren underground since they were in fear of him and his powers. She hid in the shadows, her tiny body concealed by the darkness as soldiers passed her, unaware that someone had broken into the temporary prison.

She followed the deep voices, heart sinking with relief when she heard Eren’s distinct- somewhat whiny- voice. Just as she was about to turn and walk into the cell; Captain Levi walked out of the room with a taller man who’s blond hair was slicked and parted to the sides.

Eden held her breath as they continued walking in the opposite direction; talking in hushed, gruff voices.

Once they were out of sight; she slipped into the jail-room and held onto the bars; gently calling Eren’s name. He looked up, eyes widening in horror.

“Eden, what the hell are you doing here?”

“I needed to make sure you’re okay. Have they told you where they’ll be taking you next?” Eren stared back at the determined girl, swallowing thickly as he gave her a tight nod.

She nodded in response, eyes softening at the sight of her friend behind bars. “Whatever happens Eren, just know that we are beside you. I will not let them slaughter you out of fear, okay? Just stay strong, this situation will soon be over and done with...-”

“Who are you?” A deep voice snapped at Eden, causing her to yelp in surprise. She turned to meet the sky-blue eyes of the tall, blond man from before. His thick, bushy brows were knitted together in confusion; a parallel to the lethal death glare the shorter man who stood stoically beside him sent Eden.

She saluted them both formally. “My name is Eden Chiasa. I am a cadet from the 104th Southern Division and I was just making sure Eren was alright, sir!” She spoke in a loud, clear voice that echoed through the jail cell. The taller man looked surprised and Levi cringed, his blank eyes twitching ever so slightly.

“Eden Chiasa, huh? Part of the top ten graduates of the Southern Division, I heard. I’m Commander Erwin Smith, leader of the Scout’s Legion. Who told you to come here?” His eyes were much warmer than Levi’s; although it was probably because the latter man looked an second away from throwing her into the cell with Eren.

“I-...no one. I was on my way to the military courtroom but I decided to follow Captain Levi after knowing that that was the path Eren was led through. I have no excuse for coming here uninvited and I completely understand if you feel like it’s necessary to remove me from the Cadet Corps...” Eden trailed off, ignoring the resentful “tch” that slipped through Levi’s thin lips.

“I see. Are you two close friends then?” Commander Erwin inquired in the most nonchalant tone. It was as though they were acquaintances getting to know each other over a cup of coffee. He walked closer, eyeing Eren who sat looking as uncomfortable as ever.

“We grew up together, sir. Back in Shiganshina.” Eden paused as she watched both men’s stares darkened at the mention of her home. “After the Titans broke through, we vowed to join the Scout Regiment and help claim back what was stolen from humanity. Please understand that Eren is not a monster. If you allow them to execute him; it would be a far greater loss than a win,” Eden trailed off, hands trembling at her sides.

“We have a strategy, Eden. Plans that will be greatly disrupted by Eren’s demise. Though I cannot promise miracles, the Scout Regiment agrees with you,” Erwin remarked as two guards walked into the cell and pulled Eren to his feet. Eden watched as they silently dragged him out.

The Commander stared at the young girl watching her friend exit. He was certainly impressed. Perhaps it was the exhaustion of leading one war after the other that made him more lenient in this instance. He pursed his lips as he raised an arm towards the exit.

“Shall we then?”

Eden shifted uncomfortably as she took a seat beside Captain Levi in the courtroom. Hushed voices and spitting insults were thrown at Eren as they shackled him in the center of the room.

Levi snapped at her once after she accidentally kicked his boot, her blood turning into iced water under his hooded stare. Mumbling a quiet apology, she watched as the Supreme Commander silenced the entire courtroom.

After some time had been wasted on throwing disrespectful and vulgar sneers from one side of the courtroom to the other; Pastor Nick ruthlessly ordered for a gun to be pointed towards the handcuffed Eren. Before Eden could release the breath she had been unknowingly holding in; the Captain beside her had risen from his seat, striding towards the prisoner. Instead of jumping up and defying the merchants and the pastor; Levi’s boot met Eren’s jaw with such shrill force, the crack of his neck echoed through the silenced courtroom.

Eden sat in shock; her whole body petrified as she watched Levi beat Eren to a pulp. He towered over the boy menacingly before kneeing him in the face countless of time.

“In my personal opinion, pain is the greatest tool for discipline,” Captain Levi seethed in an unnervingly composed voice before grabbing Eren by the hair. Eden flinched and Levi’s eyes snapped to the side.

That seemed to provoke him because his fingers flexed in a way where Eden could visibly see his grip grow tighter.

“You’ve fallen so low to the point where it’s easy to kick you around.” He kicked him again and again until Eren choked on his own blood, shaking as he lifted his eyes to meet the Captain’s dead ones.

He slickly conversated with the Military Police and the Pastor; feeling obligated to ensure they know how useless they were. Out of fear, they wanted to dissect Eren and then dispose of him.

Raising a hand, Erwin intervened, proposing that Eren was placed under Captain Levi’s command; kept under constant surveillance until the Scout Regiment could figure out whether he was a pawn worth investing in.

Levi stared at Erwin as he spoke. His bored eyes jumped from the Commander onto Eden and his frown grew deeper as her hot glare hoped he would burn. He scoffed, completely disregarding her as the Supreme Commander voiced his final decision.

Eden shoved through the people seeping out of the courtroom, fuming at everyone and everything. Naturally, she was relieved that her friend would live another day; but to treat him like some experiment was sickening. Yes, she vowed to partake in the restoration of humanity; but to what avail?

The girl nearly missed Commander Erwin’s beckon directed towards her. She turned and walked back, saluting him; completely overlooking the man beside the tall man.

“Albeit being impulsive; I can see you have Scout traits burning inside you. Will you join the Special Operation’s Squad and accompany them on their upcoming mission overseeing Eren?”

Eden’s mouth swiftly parted, eyebrows rising slightly as the breeze ran cool fingers through her short, inky waves of hair. Her eyes dripped with the color of melting honey as they landed on her future Captain; who stared down at her in a detached manner; clicking his tongue and walking back to his horse as soon as Eden’s head began bobbing in affirmation.

She was one step closer to achieving her goal; but one step further from impressing the man in charge of her new Squad team.

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ghostiesblog · 3 years ago

Note

happy 100 followers!!!!!!!!! could you write a small flarrie secret admirer drabble? if not that’s totally ok!! congrats again!!!

Thank you anon!!! This is NOT a small drabble lmao I have no concept of doing anything in moderation. Might even edit it a bit in a while and post it on ao3. Thank you for the awesome prompt. Here ya go:

I'm not magical, I can't read your mind

Pairings: Flarrie | Warnings: none

There’s a rose on Flynn’s desk. There’s a rose on Flynn’s desk. And she has no idea who put it there.

Well- she does know who put it there, she knows that it’s Nick’s job this year to distribute the Valentine’s Day roses and messages, a school tradition that Flynn normally despises and mocks to no end. But someone must have bought the rose, addressed it to her and handed it in and Flynn absolutely cannot fathom who would do that for her.

Definitely not the person she wishes this was from. But now is not the time to think about that.

Almost frantically, she scans the rose for an attached message, or at least an indication about who the sender is.

Nothing. In fact, it looks like the cardboard tag has been ripped off, leaving only the corner with her own name, attached to a piece of string.

“Ooh”, Julie says, waggling her eyebrows, when she spots Flynn puzzling over her flower. “Who’s this from?”

“No idea”, Flynn says, dragging her thumb across the jagged edges of the destroyed tag. “No idea…”

Later in the hallway, Flynn tries her best to stealthily transfer the rose from her backpack into her locker. She fails, obviously, because she when she looks around she catches Carrie blatantly staring at her from a few feet away.

“What?” she snaps, irritably. Yes, Carrie has very clearly been trying to be nicer to both her and Julie, but Flynn is still weary of this new found peace.

She also might be a bit annoyed simply because she got a rose and it isn’t from Carrie.

Immediately, something in Carrie’s posture changes and her face scrunches up.

“Nothing”, she says. “Just wondering who’s stupid enough to send you a rose.”

Flynn feels like she’s been punched in the chest. “What’s that supposed to mean?!” she says incredulously.

“Don’t you hate valentine’s day?” Carrie asks and now Flynn is just confused. Why does she still remember that?

“It’s anonymously”, Julie chimes in unhelpfully. “From a secret admirer”

She sings those last words teasingly, like she’s done all the way through English lesson. Like she has any room to talk with the songs Luke and her write about each other on the daily.

Carrie raises an eyebrow, seemingly unimpressed.

“Someone sent you a rose and didn’t even write their name? That’s so stupid.”

“It’s not-“, Flynn starts and then breaks off. Why does she suddenly feel defensive over this anonymous sender?

“Sounds like a coward to me”, Carrie says with a sickly sweet smile before turning away. “See you in music”, she calls and disappears down the hallway.

“What has made her revert back to demon today?” Julie says, sounding as confused as Flynn feels.

Flynn doesn’t expect any follow up after the rose on Valentine’s Day. It has been fun coming up with more and more wild theories with Julie and the band (the latest being that it’s a ghost who has fallen for Flynn when they saw her setting up the lightshow at the Orpheum), but to Flynn at least it is clear that that was the end of it.

So when she finds a small envelope on her desk the next morning, it takes her a bit to figure out what’s happening here.

Inside, she finds a small piece of paper with, curiously enough, words clearly written by a real typewriter on it.

To: Flynn

I’m sorry I’m a mess,

But you simply make me speechless.

I couldn’t let you go without a note,

After I trashed the first one I wrote,

So let me just say, though this is nothing new,

I seem to have hopelessly fallen for you.

When Carrie catches Julie and Flynn pouring over the poem during lunch while walking past their table, she scoffs.

“A bit cliché, don’t you think?”

Flynn scowls and hides the note with her hand. “Go away Carrie”

“The meter’s off”, Carrie says haughtily before stalking off.

“How did she spot that so fast?” Julie exclaims incredulously.

The next note shows up in Flynn’s bag while she’s working on a Spanish presentation with Nick and Carrie.

Roses are red,

Violets are blue,

I like your music,

And your rapping too

“Now that’s just tacky”, Carrie says, while spying over Flynn’s shoulder.

Flynn rolls her eyes.

Flynn,

No poem today, just wanted to say that your smile made my day.

“They’re not even trying anymore, are they?” Carrie mocks.

With your gentle soul and your kind eyes,

You chase away the clouds in the skies,

Never met a person, so loyal and strong

And anyone who had you, would be a lucky one.

“Skies? This sounds ridiculous!”

Flynn curses the fact that Carrie keeps seeing these.

I’d write you a song, but no melody is beautiful enough to fit you.

Even Julie calls that one cheesy but for once, even though she sits right there with them, Carrie has nothing to say.

Flynn looks on confused while Carrie scribbles into her notebook with a pinched expression on her face, pen gripped so tightly that it looks like it might break any second.

“She needs to finish this new Dirty Candy song by tomorrow”, Nick explains.

“Yeah and I hate everything I write the second it’s on the page!” Carrie growls, clearly completely lost in whatever she’s dealing with.

I try to tell you every day,

But you just take my breath away

These rhymes seem silly and never enough

Forgive me, I am blinded by love

“Coming on a bit strong there.”

And she’s back.

Hi Flynn,

I think I’m giving up on the rhyming- It’s a bit strange, isn’t it? Also I swear I’m not a stalker! Just a girl who likes you a lot and is too scared to tell you.

You looked so pretty at the dance yesterday, and you were awesome as a DJ- you always are.

“Surely you must be fed up with this nonsense by now?” Carrie asks, when Flynn passes her on her way out of the classroom, the newest note folded neatly in her hand.

The thing is- Flynn is annoyed. But not exactly by the letters. Her secret admirer is sweet and earnest, seems to love music as much as Flynn and all of her friends do and the little poems always brighten her day.

What’s annoying is that she still can’t figure out who this mysterious person with a crush on her is. And that the person she wishes it was is intend on mocking the whole thing to the best of her abilities.

Every time a new note shows up, Carrie is there, ready to tear it into pieces with pointed words and vicious critiques.

Flynn tries to not let it affect her too much. Otherwise, Carrie has been perfectly civil, friendly even and it feels like a bit of their old friendship is restoring, slowly, piece by piece. And what she says about the letters is mostly directed at this person that none of them really know, not at Flynn herself.

It still feels personal, somehow.

Flynn,

I had a bad day today, but you were really nice to me. It made it all a bit better. Thank you.

It’s when Carrie one day snatches one of the notes right out of Flynn’s hand to call it “embarrassing”, “awkward” and “clumsy”, that something in her just snaps.

“You know what Carrie”, she says, loudly, almost shouting it even, “can you, for once, just keep your unnecessary comments to yourself?”

Almost immediately, Carrie’s arrogant smile falls and Flynn uses the moment of surprise to steal back her piece of paper.

“You’ve been so mean to this person. I don’t know what your issue is here but I need you to back off on the attitude. I might not know who this is from, so I don’t even know if I like whoever is writing these but I like the letters.”

Carrie looks absolutely shocked, completely frozen in place, her jaw clenched tightly. Good.

“Yes, they might not be perfect”, Flynn barrels on, “but they’re honest, and raw and so, so kind and I can tell that they come from the heart and isn’t that the most important thing?!”

Without waiting for an answer, Flynn picks up her bag that she leaned against the lockers when she discovered the note and brushes past Carrie. She knows she’s a bit too worked up, but it has been a trying week.

Only a few moments later she realizes that she saw tears forming in Carrie’s eyes.

In Spanish class, Flynn notices the glaring absence of Carrie in the seat in front of her and a little bit of guilt starts building up inside of her. She has no idea what’s going on, but something clearly is up so after their teacher finally lets them go, Flynn goes on to try and find Carrie.

The music room is one of the first places Flynn thinks of and sure enough, she can hear gentle piano notes and Carrie’s voice singing very quietly drifting through the slightly cracked door.

Before barging in, Flynn stops short when she recognizes parts of the lyrics. Is that- one of the poems she received only a week ago?

Slowly, she tiptoes into the room. What she sees is Carrie, cross-legged at the piano, bent over her notebook full of scribbles that she’s clearly reading from and that somehow contain parts of the poetry that has been a big mystery to Flynn and all of her friends for so long. Just now Carrie’s singing the words that are undeniable not just poems, but song lyrics, and she has added onto them and-

Flynn doesn’t understand anything anymore.

“Carrie!” she says, before she can stop herself. Carrie flinches and bolts away from the piano, the chair clattering down to the floor in the process.

“Flynn”, she breathes, looking terrified.

“I-“, Flynn stutters, “What’s going on? Is this some kind of prank?” She doesn’t think she could take that.

“No!” Carrie yells and immediately winces at her volume. “No, I would never do that to you”

“Then why-“, Flynn is getting more confused every second, “you wrote those? I thought you hated- the notes, I though you hated the notes”

To her horror, Carrie is now actually crying.

“I do hate the notes, I mean I feel so stupid, you hate Valentine’s Day and then I send you a rose, but I just- I like so much and I didn’t know what to do and I wanted to tell you but I couldn’t and then I wrote you those notes but they always sounded so stupid to me”

Carrie is full on panic rambling now and Flynn is barely processing all this new information that is thrown at her.

“I just couldn’t stop myself and then you said you actually like the notes? But I know you’d never like me, as a person, I mean I am awesome as a performer but horrible as a friend, let alone as a girlfriend and-“

“Carrie-“, Flynn tries to intersect, “Carrie!”

Carrie stops and finally looks at her, wide eyed.

“I do like you, as a person”, Flynn says. Her heart is beating out of her chest but she is not letting this go.

“I- what?” Carrie looks as confused as Flynn felt just a minute ago. “You do?”

“Yes”, Flynn says and now she can’t stop the smile on her face, “I really like you. Actually, I always wished those notes were from you.”

Carrie blinks. “You. Okay. Okay. Um- I really didn’t-“

Flynn laughs. “Deep Breaths Carrie.”

“I don’t really know what to do with this now, I’m not good at all this”, Carrie says, waving her hands around but she’s smiling too now, wider with every moment.

“How about a date? Milkshakes?” Flynn asks and she doesn’t even feel afraid anymore.

“Yes”, Carrie says, her eyes sparkling with happiness. “I’d love that.”

#jatp #julie and the phantoms #flarrie #flynn jatp #carrie wilson #fic #writing #prompts

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i-am-the-balancing-point · 3 years ago

Note

multiples of 5 + gigi xx

thank you 🥰😙😙

5. What’s their outfit (transportation) like?

Apart from walking/hiking/running Gigi likes her pickup truck :) it’s not hers actually. it’s also not a single one. she just keeps stealing peggie trucks. this even is beneficial sometimes bc then peggies won’t necessarily recognise her or her companions by their vehicle. she also likes to take their beloveds on dates when she’ll pull the car up on some remote clearing and either lay on the truck bed to stargaze or blast music through the radio and use the bed as a dance floor.

She also ABSOLUTELY LOVES borrowing ATVs but cannot keep a straight face while driving them. Gigi just enjoys it so much, she‘ll giggle and grin, even for some time after dismounting. It’s the same with Jetskis so she only uses those if she’s up for a joyride.

Flying is something she hates though. She didn’t love it before the helicopter crash but after it’s just completely off the table. Nick once joked about moving plane Carmina as he worked on it at the hangar while Gigi was sat on the wing and caused her to have a full blown panic attack.

(as a side note: can you imagine how much BETTER this game would have been if it had bycicles? John asks you to, not fight him in the air, but tosses you a bike — like, literally tosses it towards the deputy — instead and just speeds off on his stupidly expensive road racer.)

10. How about Dutch? Do they get along with?

Dutch is family! I imagine Gigi to sort of unconsciously seek parental figures for herself all the time so naturally she immediately “adopts” him. He is the one who she got her hat from and checks in with her via radio periodically. They don’t see each other that often though as dutch likes to lay low on his island and Gigi is busy but she’ll drop by every now and then and bring him ammo or whatever produce Hope County can actually spare rn. He’s set with rations for the rest of his life and then some but some fresh stuff occasionally won’t hurt.

please don’t tell him Gigi does the devil’s dance with pretty much everyone in the County btw he’s become her dad by now

15. From Fall’s End which person they get along with?

Mary May 👁👄👁

She’s friends with everyone there but her and Mary May are especially close. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

20. How do they feel about Jacob?

Ambiguous. He scares her, she hates losing control during the trials, he has done unspeakable things to her friends. And yet the Seeds manage to fuck enough with her that at some point she falls for them. Gigi still hates their guts but she’ll also sneak into their homes to let them hit it and will do some real cheesy lovey-dovey shit. Is it the stress? Is it stockholm syndrome? We don’t know but we can relate.

25. Which two of the GFH make up their dream team?

Sharky and Jess. The banter is top notch and they’re a good mix of melee-, mid-range and long distance fighters. She and Jess will remind Sharky to leave the flamethrower for his shotgun a lot though… But he’s okay with it as he doesn’t wanna accidentally BBQ Stinky, plus an intense boner is not an ideal thing to associate with fighting Peggies.

30. What’s your character’s ending? (Can be one of the canon game endings or from your own canon)

This is such a good question!

Honestly, I have not really thought about an ending for “my canon” yet. I am unhappy with the bunker ending, even if modified, because it kills so many beloved characters — which is a heartache, to be quiet sincere, neither I nor my deputy could survive — but I also find the prospect of bunker time for her and the siblings, or just one of them, super interesting. That could maybe be an AU?

The leave ending offers the potential of having everyone survive at least. Gigi doesn’t necessarily have to kill the others in the car with her, she could be overpowered or taken down before being able to critically injure anyone but I also wouldn’t want to expand on the aftermath.

Gigi is very happy being in Hope County with her friends. It could all be so idyllic and easy if not for the project but that’s a luxury the are not granted. Joseph could never give up what he has built and I couldn’t kill him off either so my canon will forever remain in a limbo of constant battle between peggies and resistance, probably stuck in 2018/19.

#big fat kiss for you #thanks again for asking #far cry 5 #my dep #faithchel #answered asks

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leverage-ot3 · 4 years ago

Text

notable moments from The Ice Man Job

leverage 2.08

Hardison: Jim Kerrity III. He took over Kerrity Diamonds four years ago after his old man retired, and in that small amount of time, he drove the business straight into the ground by living way beyond his means.

(Parker is restless on the couch and Eliot pushes her away from him)

Hardison: I'm talkin' drugs, booze, women.

(Parker continues to moves restlessly)

Hardison: According to his credit card statements... What? Why? What are you doin'?

Parker: What?

Eliot: What?

Parker: What?

Eliot: It's distracting.

Parker: The couch is feeling a little empty.

Nate: Eliot, will you please sit next to Parker.

Eliot: No, I'm sittin' here now.

Nate: Guys, guys. We all miss Sophie. I, we just have to adapt.

Hardison: I got this. Move, go.

(Hardison sits next to Parker on the couch)

Hardison: You happy? (picks up keyboard)

parker can’t get comfortable because she misses sophie. she’s never had friends/close family before (minus archie but that’s irrelevant) and sophie was one of her people and she doesn’t know how to cope properly when she loses them

the ot3 sitting together as they should

- - - - -

Nate: You know what, the thing about this that people don't understand is insurance fraud, it's a lot of red tape, and with a big claim like this, it'll take a year before Kerrity sees any money, and the bill collectors are not gonna wait around. He's gotta fence the diamonds.

Parker: He can't. (grabs the remote and changes the monitors)

Eliot: What do you mean?

Parker: His diamonds are GIA certified, VVS clarity, all about two carats.

Hardison: That's my clicker.

Parker: Who stole the Polar Star? (raises her hand) Who stole the Gem of Gibraltar? Damiani raid? Me. I know diamonds, and our bad guy can't fence those diamonds because stones that size have an ID number laser-inscribed on them.

Eliot: So it’s like a stolen car. Gotta clean the VIN before you can sell 'em.

Nate: How do you get that ID number off?

Parker: With a special laser. But only three guys can do it. Antwerp, Dubai, Tel Aviv

SHE KNOWS HER DIAMONDS

- - - - -

[Flashback]

Parker: Hi.

Man: Hello.

Parker: Buy me a drink?

Man: You got it. (gestures to the bartender and puts his hand on Parker’s knee) So?

(Parker grabs his fingers and breaks them, then picks up a briefcase and hits him in the chest before heading away, almost falling)

we LOVE to see parker not tolerating slimy men and hurting them when they touch her

- - - - -

Parker: Yeah, I'll be fine.

(later Parker is crouched behind the counter talking on the phone)

Parker: I will not be fine. I stabbed that guy with a fork.

[London Bar]

Sophie: Parker, Parker, relax. It's fine. Listen. Go to Nate's cupboard and you're gonna find a sexy little mini-dress and my emergency Jimmy Choos.

[Leverage HQ]

Parker: Jimmy who? You have a body in Nate's closet? (she looks excited)

[London Bar]

Sophie: Shoes, Parker. Didn't I teach you any...? All right, listen. This is the important bit. Do you still have the Rosalind Diamond you stole in Perth?

[Leverage HQ]

Parker: Yes.

[London Bar]

Sophie: Wear it. The diamond will speak for you. You won't have to say a word. This is the key to the grift. You just trust the character. Say nothing, trust the diamond.

[Leverage HQ]

Parker: I can do that. Don't tell Nate I called.

[London Bar]

Sophie: I won't.

- - - - -

bruh parker is SO HOT in that blue dress with her diamond that she stole I’m-

- - - - -

Hardison: All right. Lay the arms down, brother. He's cool.

(Eliot lets Kerrity go)

Hardison: You have to excuse my bodyguard. He's touchy. It's 'cause he's a mute.

eliot looks ready to beat hardison’s ass for a hot second

also I LOVE eliot’s little braids in his hair

- - - - -

Kerrity: What kind of thief calls himself a thief?

Hardison: An uncatchable one with a brilliant reputation. You've seen my work in Perth. The Polar Star? Nicked it. The Gem of Gibraltar? Nicked it. The Damiani raid? Distraction while I nicked everything in the vault next door. Big stones, trust me.

(behind Hardison, Parker is pacing angrily)

eliot gives her a Look™ when she looks like she’s going to interrupt hardison because he KNOWS how pissed she is

- - - - -

(Parker is at the kitchen bar, locks and picks spread out in front of her. She’s focused on picking a lock)

Eliot: Ice Man?

Hardison: Hey, I put a lot of work into that character. No, no. No, I bought new clothes, ugly as hell, too.

Eliot: This always happens when you go on the grift, Hardison.

Hardison (*): I put stories on the website.

Eliot: You go too big.

Parker: Sophie told me to say as little as possible, let the character do the work.

Nate: When did, uh, Sophie say that?

Parker: A long time ago. Maybe last Christmas. I don't even think it was Sophie.

Nate: I'm gonna go put more pressure on Kerrity. I want you guys to be on the clear-out. Ice Man, play it cool. That's just an awful, awful name.

Hardison: Genius.

Eliot: See?

Hardison: It's genius.

Eliot: When you get in too deep on this, I ain't bailin' your ass out.

Hardison: I don't need you to bail me out. I'm the Ice Man.

Eliot: Not. Gonna. Help

parker picks locks when she’s upset/annoyed/distressed and I love that continuity for her in the show

also eliot you buffoon you’ll always help hardison you’re fooling literally no one

- - - - -

Guard: There's a Mr. Sterling here from the insurance company.

LMFAO NATE YOU DIDNT

- - - - -

Eliot (on phone): I know. He's driving me crazy. How, huh? I'm backup, they can't rely on me. All right, all right. Hey, thanks. Don't tell Nate I called.

Parker: Who was that?

Eliot: Cable company

eliot is more upset than anything because he’s been put into a position where he can’t protect them as well. THATS what he’s mad enough about to call sophie about it.

also this picture meme describes the situation perfectly

- - - - -

Eliot: Whoa! Whoa! What are you people doin' here?!

Woman: We work here. Who are you?

Parker: We're with OSHA.

Eliot: We issued a class-one evacuation notice for this facility effective 24 hours ago.

Parker: This place is on lockdown for chemical exposure.

Eliot: Nobody read the memo?

Parker: Did nobody read the memo?! You, cough!

(Parker holds a pad to the woman’s mouth and she coughs into it)

Woman: What chemical?

Eliot: Given the set-up for this place, it could be a matrix of solid phase sulfates, uh, nitrates.

(Parker shows a blackened pad to the woman)

Woman: That's inside me?

Eliot: Honey, your lungs are a parking lot, sweetheart.

Parker: And in that parking lot, the diagonal lines are painted with poison.

(parker turns and looks at eliot, who shakes his head slightly in exasperation)

Eliot: People, move towards the door, all right?

Parker: Do not inhale unless you are 50 feet from the entrance. Yeah.

(all the workers leave the room)

eliot just sighing at parker’s antics is beautiful

- - - - -

Nate: All right, nice work, guys. Tomorrow, when he shows up with the diamonds, the state police will be there.

[Exterior Street]

Eliot: Why, so they can arrest Hardison's ego?

Hardison: Be cool, baby. Ice cool. Hey, who wants to go for a spin?

Eliot: Can't believe you rented a Ferrari.

Hardison: Rented?

Parker: I'll get a ride home with Eliot.

(Eliot and Parker move away and get into his truck before driving away)

Hardison: Y'all are just jealous. Oh, they just jealous, baby. Don't worry about that. Look at ya. Lookin' better than green-

okay so now we know hardison in canon owns a red ferrari convertible

- - - - -

Hardison (makes call): Yeah, yeah. Sheila, not makin' it in tonight. Yeah, work thing. Bugger all.

[Interior Van]

Sophie: Hardison? Are you calling me in character?

[Russian’s Office]

Hardison: I told you, butternut. It's work. I can't get out of it.

[Interior Van]

Sophie: What accent is that? Ooh. Ooh, you've been nabbed.

[Russian’s Office]

Hardison: Afraid so.

Sophie: Is it the mark?

Hardison: No. No, muffin, no.

[Interior Van]

Sophie: It's the goons. You oversold the part.

[Russian’s Office]

Sophie: You fell into the trap of the overzealous henchman.

[Interior Van]

Sophie: Don't worry. It happens all the time. As long as they're not Russians.

[Russian’s Office]

Hardison: It's gonna be a bit of a problem.

Sophie: It's the Russians? I'm gonna have to phone Nate.

Hardison: Uh, leave it off, crumpet.

[Interior Van]

Sophie: No, no, no, listen. Hardison—

[Russian’s Office]

Sophie: --you cannot talk your way out of Russians.

[Interior Van]

Sophie: I mean, you can stall them maybe for a bit, but whatever you do--

[Russian’s Office]

Sophie: --do not tell them you can do anything else. (hangs up)

Hardison: Smooches. Love her. (puts down phone)

- - - - -

Eliot: I had courtside seats, man. Tell Hardison if he makes it out alive, I'm gonna snap him in half.

Nate: Uh, Eliot says hi.

again, eliot, you ain’t foolin no one

- - - - -

parker sitting on the dining table,,, I love it when she perches herself on things

- - - - -

eliot is wearing a checkered/white plaid shirt with flowers on it it’s adorable

- - - - -

(Kerrity is placing a necklace on a woman’s neck)

Kerrity: Wow, that looks beautiful. Three hundred thousand dollars on your neck. (Nate knocks on the door) Oh. Amy, I'm gonna meet you at the bar, sweetie, OK? You'll earn that later. Let's go. Excellent. This had better be important.

y’all nasty

- - - - -

we love to see eliot knocking people out with one punch

+ him apologizing to the unconscious guard after

- - - - -

(Parker lays a magnetic strip over the two halves of the sensor)

Parker: This will hold them together.

Eliot (hands her a screwdriver): Electric's faster.

Parker: Vibrations will set off the seismic sensor.

(Eliot leaves the vault as Parker moves the sensors to one side and replaces them with false sensors. She then works on getting the combination)

- - - - -

Eliot buzzes Hardison in. Hardison fakes punching Eliot, who goes down. Hardison continues to fake beating Eliot up)

Eliot: Next time, I'm playing the thief.

Hardison: I'd like to hear you do an accent.

Eliot: I'd like to hear you do an accent.

Hardison: I went to Second City in Chicago.

(outside the Russian and his men watch Hardison beating Eliot)

[Vault]

(Parker writes the combination to the vault on the handle in what looks like invisible ink)

Eliot: When’d you find time between that and karate at the Y?

Hardison: You know what? Just shut up.

Parker: Shut up, guys

chaotic ot3

- - - - -

(Parker hangs on to the vault door as it swings shut, then jumps to an overhead pipe)

[Kerrity Diamonds]

(Eliot watches Parker move across the vault in a security monitor)

Eliot: Stuck it

this is cute okay, his proud lil face

- - - - -

hardison also carries a black light on his keychain ???

- - - - -

I’m sorry, I’m but a simple wlw and parker hanging upside down doing her thing is beautiful

- - - - -

[Flashback]

Hardison: Shh! Do you hear that? Diamond Jim's comin' down here. You go and stop him while I nick the diamonds.

(the Russian and his men turn to the vault doorway. Hardison backs away. Parker steps out of one of the larger boxes and pulls Hardison into it)

Hardison: Thank you, and I mean thank you, but how are we gettin' out of here?

(Parker pulls out some sort of electronic device)

Hardison: What is that?

Parker: Shh! Pull your arms in.

(the device beeps as Parker enters a code. After a moment, an explosion collapses the floor beneath them and they fall into the tunnels below where Eliot helps Parker to her feet)

Eliot: Det cord.

eliot helping them off the ground? domestic ot3

- - - - -

Eliot: What are you smilin' at? You still screwed it up.

Hardison: I'm smiling 'cause you said if I got in trouble, you wouldn't help me.

Eliot: Parker made me.

Parker: No, I didn't.

Hardison: Come on, man. Let's hug it out.

Eliot: I'm not huggin' it out, Ice Man.

Hardison: Just hug it... Just a little man love.

(Hardison puts his arm around Eliot’s shoulders. Eliot tries to push him away)

Eliot: I'm not huggin' it out with you. No...

Hardison (stands to move closer to Eliot): It’s not—

Eliot: Sit down in your stool.

Hardison: Don't make this awkward.

Eliot: What are you doin', man?

Hardison: This is uncomfortable now.

(Hardison lays his head on Eliot’s shoulder as Eliot continues to try and push him away)

Hardison: Get in the pits.

Eliot: I'm gonna break your frickin’ arm.

parker shuts eliot down immediately because eliot needs to step up for his actions

ALSO, ELIOT LEANED HIS FOREHEAD IN FOR ONE (1) SECOND. HE TOTALLY SECRETLY LOVED IT

also this meme sums up the entire episode

* sorry the script said something wrong and I don’t feel like going back to check lol

#leverage #leverage 2.08 #leverage 2x08 #the ice man job #leverage season 2 #season 2 #notable moments #mine

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ziracona · 4 years ago

Note

hey zira, what are your hot takes on all of the fo4 companions?

Haha, I don’t know how hot they are, but I can give you a speed run! (Also I am very excited to get this. FO4 was the first open world game I ever played and just the concept of that and the hugeness of the world and branching story & sudden feeling changes towards me in companion characters totally blew my mind, & it still lives rent free in my heart).

Ada, Old Longfellow, and Strong I /still/ haven’t maxed despite having too many hundred hours to want to list on this game—the former bc they were DLC, Strong because honest to god I left him at a nice settlement and then completely forgot about him and remembering that I am the energy in this Ryan O’Flanagan video but abt leaving my super mutant in a tiny settlement alone. I will get there! To max affinity I mean. But anyway, I don’t truly know those three, so my takes are incomplete. So far though, I really like Ada. She is a good girl just trying her best. Fucks me up I can tell her to self destruct. Even though I feel sure she would ignore me, I cannot imagine ever saying that to her. It was really sweet she was willing to forgive the Mechanist and move on with her life. A good girl. Longfellow I am maxing rn (was last time I played anyhow). I enjoy him. Gruff grumpy old man but he seems quite decent and I like his idle banter and when he sings to himself a lot. Seems like he’s had it rough. Strong I liked. He’s wild, and I loved how insane meeting him was, and am worried about him eventually understanding poetry and how that might mess up his sense of world understanding. But he’s a chill dude in his own way and I am glad they gave us at least one nice super mutant.

For the companions I actually do know like the back of my hand, the speedrun:

Nick Valentine: Best man on earth. One of two fictional characters I ever called husband. I would die kill or live for him. I want to be 1/4th the man Nick Valentine is. One of the best characters ever period and I adore literally everything about him. It fucked me up early in game where right after he offered to basically risk destroying his mind to help a stranger look for her son, he asked me how I was doing. First character in the entire game to do that. His first companion dialogue is abt how you’re doing TuT. The man is very kind and forgiving and fair, but knows when the draw the line and take no shit. Emotionally mature, kind, caring, longsuffering. Incredibly damaged and broken by life, but holding on and living kindly and to help others anyway. One of the four most marryablen fictional men I’ve ever seen.

Preston Garvey: Brave, kind, sweet man. I would defend him with my life. He really just wants so bad to make the world better and life has been so hard, but he’s still trying. A beautiful and underrated companion and I would throw hands for him on sight. I adore how he whistles. A true and gentle and loyal friend. Take him to Quincy and let him get his justice it’s what he deserves. People who hate him because he tries to get help helping civilians in that game are weak. I love him so much... please give him enough time to reach max affinity he’s so worth it.

Deacon: *To the tune of You Are My Dad* You are my friiiiend! You’re my friend! (Boogie woogie woogie). Initially, he pissed me off bc he lies all the god damn time, but after we got close enough he actually trusted me, he stole my heart and I would also die for Deacon. He’s a really good person who thinks he’s shit because of who he was on his past. Also him 🤝 Preston: massive survivor’s guilt. They should be friends. Poor Deacon has been the last member of the Railroad like four times, and it’s awful. Help him. Give him love and support. He’s one of my all time faves. Also, Railroad hands down best faction and if you kill them for any reason other than like a walkthrough route video and I ever get the chance I would 100% clock you in the face as hard as I can, like going for losing teeth, and feel no guilt. I know it’s a game and that’s wrong, and I’d be wrong, but I’d still do it. Also, Ryan Alosio (his VA) saw me do cosplay for Deacon once and told me it was great and it filled me with even more love. Anyway Deacon is great. Also, his whole “There are other organisations out there. And, in time, I'm sure they're going to spoon-feed you their own patented form of bullshit. Ignore the verbage and look at what they're doing. What they're asking you to do. What sort of world they'd have you build and how they're going to pay for it.” Is one of the like, two most iconic quotes in all of FO4 & just super good in general.

Hancock: Hardcore badass man but also a good dude and a champion for the people. Man really puts his money where his mouth is and you gotta respect that; another favorite companion for sure. Big fan of the way he stabs a guy for you upon meeting, and is a cool leader who organized his crime and does a decent job actually leading. He works hard to help people and bites back hard. Social justice advocate, dangerous man about town, not afraid to cosplay a revolutionary war hero 24/7 & u gotta respect the no fucks given attitude. A chill dude. Like that he fights the institute, hates the Brotherhood, helps the Railroad, and is friends with Nick. He’s legit af. Also, his VA gives a different answer every time someone asks him about the voice he did for hancock and they’re funny af.

Piper Wright: A cool spunky lady. Lois Lane on the case, kicking butt, and taking name. She’s nice but also hardcore and smart, supportive, fun. A good person. You always get points if you like Nick (which most companions do), and they’re good friends. She’s funny and I love her. A good heart.

Codsworth: He’s great. He’s family. He’s like my...weird brother. Getting to max affinity is heartwarming and also makes my heart go :’-] . Great early-game companion bc he kicks ass and doesn’t need stims to heal. I love getting called by my name and think that was a great feature (well, my PC’s name). He’s a wonderful funky little robot dude and I am so glad he likes me.

Dogmeat: Amazing. A good boy. Doggo of the year. His actor deserved the game award she won. Cute, full of love, and plays with a teddy bear if you give him one. 100/10z

Cait: I like her a lot. She’s been through so much shit, and it makes sense she is how she is. I like they actually gave her an emaciated and messy (though still pretty) design, since she is a drug addict. And that they make her main quest about taking that seriously and wanting to get help, and that she’ll call out the player if they fuck around and do drugs in front of her after she gets rehabilitated. Her relationship to the PC if good is really sweet, and I am a fan. I like that while she’s not sympathetic to synths and thinks they aren’t people, she forgets that every time Nick walks into a room and is like “Oh hey Nicky : )”. She’s a good girl who has been through a lot and still needs time to heal and find herself, but she’s making great strides.

Robert Joseph MacCready: Human disaster (loving). Homeboy a goddamn /mess/ but I love him. He tries so hard to be cool. I love he makes you pay him to come with, then chickens out and gives it back lol. A fool ball of anxiety and bad decisions and what he thinks brovado is. I wish he, Preston, and Deacon would quit fighting, bc I am always like “ :’-] </3 Boys Please” when they swap out, but I love them just the same. He’s doing his best, he’s just stupid and a fool. Like Philip J Fry. Keeping his goddamn soldier toy, which somehow is listed as junk instead of sent to Misc with quest items where it would be fine, safe?parylizes me with fear. I’ve lost 2 hours of gameplay reloading an old save bc I accidentally lost it.

X6-88: A more complex one to answer about. He’s bad, but like, I’m pretty sympathetic to how he got that way. He was created in a lab and had his emotions mostly dragged out of him in intense psychologically damaging training so he would be a weapon and view himself as an object. I was relieved he chose me over the institute even if he wasn’t a fan of the chocie, and think that means there’s a lot of hope for him. Wish he’d chill the fuck out and quit intimidating civilians for 6 god damn seconds, but I like him. I bring him fancy lad snack cakes home from travels all the time, bc Synths are supposed to like them. Really like that he’s the /most/ sympathetic companion towards Danse in Blind Betrayal, even though he should not be programmed for that, and Danse hated him and made it clear any time they interacted.

(EDIT) Curie: I FORGOT HER BABY IM SO SORRY. I like Curie a lot, despite the fact I temporarily forgot she existed. I stg I thought she was in here. Uhhh, okay. Curie: like her character and personality, HUGE un-fan of both the way her desire to get a synth body is to be ‘more real,’ as if Codsworth isn’t a fully realized person while the same robot type she is, instead of just like. Because it would make her happy. ALSO hate how much of a Born Sexy Yesterday she is, even intentionally in not-determinate affinity talks. It’s gross. But her herself, I like a lot. She’s my daughter and I will protect her. She works at The Castle right now as their on-site medic.

Paladin Danse: I know I’m gonna take heat for this but honestly? He didn’t do much for me. I like that he looks and sounds kinda like Buzz Lightyear, and that’s fun, but idk at all why people think he’s so hot. He’s very boring & generic looking to me. Like you’re valid! Taste all be different. But he doesn’t do it for me personally in looks or personality. I don’t at all like, hate him. Or even dislike. Tbh I am fairly neutral on him. It was funny making affinity with him though. Every other companion I had maxed, I liked more and more with each affinity talk. They’d be like “So my dad was a minuteman and died and I want to honor him” or “I just want to really feel like I’m a person, for real, myself, and I am glad I met you, because the good we have achieved together is ours, even if I can’t be sure of anything else,” or “My brother threw the cultural minorities out of our city for clout bc the rich citizens were all racist, and I tried to help—I snuck them food to the unsafe ruins they set up in for weeks, but eventually, they just vanished, and I still bear immense guilt and self-hatred over not having stopped that.” And Danae’s would be like “One time a buddy of mine got kidnapped by super mutants. They turned him into one of them, and they’re all abominations, so I killed him and it made me really sad.” And I was just like “...Oh danse. I really wanted to like you more. But what the fuck.” His relationship to Haylen is sweet though. And ofc I saved him in Blind Betrayal. I blew up the Prydwin so he’s safe now too, and he lives in the garden by my house and tells me how glad he is we’re friends, and I’m p into that. Overall, my feelings on him are not strong at all though.

Porter Gage: Not a fan. Like, I appreciated he helped me kill the old boss, sure. And bc I owed him for that, I went to max affinity to see what there was to him as a person. And like, as far as raiders go, he was okay. But he wasn’t deeply sympathetic, and he’s a slaver, and if you try to liberate the slaves he and the others own, he /will/ turn on and attempt to murder you immediately, no matter how close you were, so he made his choice, and it was to be a bad person and an asshole to the last. Really enjoyed the VA’s work a lot on him tho.

And there you have it 👈👈😎. Thanks for asking!

#ask #anonymous #fallout 4 #fo4 #god I love them so much. I was really proud I kept all the OGs too. everyone but Gage. who had to go but it’s his own choice and fault 🤷🏻‍♀️#GOD far harbor was a good dlc. it’s like the main quest choice again but way more condensed and twice as f ked up. my poor MC had only #come to terms just before with all the lives she took & started healing #doing bad things she did not want to do & knew he would know about and think less of her for doing. but she did them. 😔 bc of course she did #then she had to choose between letting the dude she loved be hurt in a way he wouldn’t recover from & torpedoing her relationship to him by #she loves Nick and if it’s him or her it’s always gonna be her #I was SUFFERING. a lot. but I also loved it #don’t come into my inbox and clown about liking Danse please or Gage. idc at all #like you are welcome to your opinion I’m not gonna try to convince you /not/ to like him. plz do me the same courtesy & respect my right to #have an opinion u may not like

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youngbounty · 4 years ago

Photo

I was bored, so I decided to post a meme. I saw someone do this same kind of meme before, but I have a different opinion on the Narumitsu ship. Nothing against thinking differently, but I wanted to share my take. I will explain my reasons for choosing these from top to bottom. But first, I want to make it clear why I placed Asexual for Miles Edgeworth's sexuality instead of gay or bi. He has shown time and time again that he feels no sexual attractions towards the female masses or even males. I also consider sexuality more hormone based. I'm not going to expect Edgeworth to be going home and fantasizing about naked men or a naked man, even if he's in love with him. Also, I believe that you can fall in love with someone that would not fit your sexual preference. It might make the marriage difficult to stay together, but not impossible. Also, just because someone is asexual, that doesn't mean they'll never feel affectionate once in a while. Anyways, now for the choices/preferences for these two:

1. Miles Edgeworth is not one for pet names and never has been. Even despite his relationship with Phoenix, he's always called him "Wright" professionally. The closest he may get to giving Phoenix a pet name is maybe "Nick" behind closed doors. Even then, he'd have to be in a really good or affectionate mood.

Phoenix Wright is the king of pet names. He called his ex girlfriend "Dollie" and loved it when she called him "Feenie." He even has called Trucy "sweetheart." If he was to ever date Edgeworth, he'd be going for any pet name he can get away with. Not to say he'll call Edgeworth one that he won't like or do so at times that may embarrass him, except maybe in front of friends that will keep it quiet, but if he can get away with it, Phoenix will do it.

As far as when either one of them call each other pet names, Phoenix will likely only use them often in private or in front of friends to tease Edgeworth. He won't do it in public, since he knows Edgeworth gets embarrassed about doing PDA or any affectionate stuff in public. Edgeworth will definitely feel embarrassed and awkward at first, but once he gets used to the pet names, he will enjoy them. He may decide to be affection ant to Phoenix and call him "Nick." He's trying.

2. Miles Edgeworth has so much self-loathing and low self-esteem that he will not feel worthy of Phoenix's love. This especially doesn't help that he is asexual and does not have any desire to see him naked or have sex with him. As someone who is asexual, I know that it is disheartening to have feelings for someone without any desire to go to bed or do perverted things. There will always be the fear you will never give your loved one the romantic pleasure they deserve and I cannot see Edgeworth not feeling this way. He certainly has proven to feel disheartened by the fact he has no experience with falling in love, finding that special someone he'd spend the rest of his life with or do the impossible to save that loved one, unless it was his dog. Sometimes people wait to be confessed to, because they feel unworthy of their crush's affections and this is how I see Edgeworth feeling about Phoenix.

Phoenix Wright is the kind of person to proclaim his love to the world. He did that with Dahlia/Iris by wearing the necklace given to him on the first meeting, refusing to take it off and showing it to his friends. The only excuse I've heard about why Phoenix couldn't fit Confess First is because it's been 10 years and he hasn't. My argument is that Narumitsu isn't canon or shall not be treated as such by me and, who is to say there aren't any obstacles in the way? During the first three years, Edgeworth was avoiding Phoenix, then taking off to study abroad. By the time he got back, he was busy with the Yatagaratsu Case and dealing with the P.I.C. Afterwards, Phoenix was disbarred and had an extra mouth to feed. By the time Trucy was older and Phoenix was back being a Defense Attorney, he was still busy working on a major case and dealing with stuff in Khura'in. Even then, who is to say Phoenix has never confessed already? Perhaps he has confessed, but Edgeworth either has never responded, rejected his advances or they just never got around to setting up their relationship. Either way, I don't consider ten years of nothing happening being a reason for Phoenix not being the first confessor or the kind that wouldn't scream to the heavens that he's in love.

Now, I don't consider this to have anything to do with their relationship as much as maybe starting it. I'd argue that neither have to confess before starting a relationship. They could just naturally start becoming boyfriends without a single confession or kiss. Either way, as far as confessions go, I see Phoenix being the first confessor. As to if their relationship goes anywhere, I suppose it would depend on their situation and if both parties would be willing.

3. Miles Edgeworth would certainly not care which spoon he is. He's not the most affectionate person on the planet, so if he is affectionate, he will go for either or. It may depend on his emotional state or if he's out and about, though it would not really matter and the idea of a preference would feel rather silly to him.

Phoenix Wright also doesn't care which spoon he is so long as he gets to love on his significant other. Though, if he had to choose, he'd prefer being big spoon, because he just loves giving affection.

Since Edgeworth would most certainly get embarrassed in showing affection and PDA in public, spooning would only be done behind closed doors, unless they're married. If married, Edgeworth will allow arms around the waist around family and friends, but that's it. As far as who will be the big or little spoon the most, it's a switch. Even if being big spoon is Phoenix's preference, neither man really care which spoon they are. Phoenix will equally love being the little spoon as much as he loves being the big spoon. Besides, spooning isn't Phoenix's preferred way of being affectionate to Edgeworth and he will likely not remember if he was the big or little spoon that day or if they did spoon.

4. Miles Edgeworth often does favors when it comes to wanting to show his feelings about someone. Whether it would be helping Phoenix get back into law or Kay solving the Yatagaratsu Case, for Edgeworth, doing favors takes more effort and shows how much you're willing to do for this other person out of love. Because of how rich Edgeworth is, just giving gifts isn't enough. Though, it isn't to say he won't give gifts occasionally. Edgeworth also knows that gifts can show sentimentality. He'd just probably give gifts to his lover, if he feels obligated to, such as the holidays, birthdays or anniversaries.

Phoenix Wright will always do favors above all else. Not to say he'll never receive gifts or thinks it'd be too shallow to give gifts. After all, Dahlia gave him a heart-shaped necklace and he accepted it wholeheartedly. Though, Phoenix returned that love by keeping that necklace and showing it to his friends. For Phoenix, actions speak louder than words. If he does give anything to anyone, it would often be against his will such as Maya getting burgers off his tab or allowing Edgeworth to borrow his badge and magatama to defend Iris, because he's too sick and bedridden to do it himself. So, if Edgeworth is about to walk in the rain without a raincoat or umbrella, then he will lend one to him, but giving isn't Phoenix's forte. He'd much rather do favors for people than give them anything he owns or buys, and that would include giving gifts to his lover.

Neither Phoenix or Edgeworth would give gifts to each other, outside of necessity or special occasions. If they do, it won't be anything special. Maybe just cards, money or flowers. I think the most special gift Phoenix would give Edgeworth is a toy for Pess and for Edgeworth to Phoenix, a gift card to Eldoon's. Edgeworth would much rather take Phoenix out on a romantic getaway and Phoenix would rather throw a party or cook for Edgeworth. Both would rather do favors out of gift-giving, so it works for the both of them.

5. Miles Edgeworth is a big time introvert, so he will prefer not going out in public or anywhere for a date. He'd rather not go out on a date at all. He'd much rather just spend time with his lover through shopping, walking his dog or just hanging out at home and ordering take-out. I will go more into that introvertedness later, but to Edgeworth, going out on a romantic getaway or fancy date would be too stressful and tiring. It isn't to say he wouldn't be willing, but that wouldn't be what would make him romantically affectionate and bubbly, if that was possible. Even going to a private resort or hotel would be stressful.

Phoenix Wright absolutely LOVES romantic dates and getaways. The more romantic and extravagant it is, the happier and wooed he will be. He will likely dream about candlelit dates under the stars and kissing behind fireworks. Of course, he will enjoy hangouts too, but they will feel too much like something he does with his friends. He will get bored after a while.

As far as how Phoenix's and Edgeworth's dates would go, it would depend on who the planner is. If Edgeworth wants to spend time with Phoenix, he will take him out on a romantic date with candle lights, rose petals and the whole shebang, because he knows that's what Phoenix loves. Though, it will be a matter of planning the date. If Phoenix misses Edgeworth and wants to spend time with him, he will ask what he's doing and just go off and join him. Phoenix knows Edgeworth doesn't like going out anywhere and it's much easier on his budget if he just drops by at Edgeworth's office during lunch, take a walk with him while he's walking his dog, help him with his shopping or just spend the night. Even though hangout dates seem boring and too much like something he does with his friends, if it's with Edgeworth, it is never boring and they are already friends anyways. Knowing that Phoenix can always hang out with Edgeworth like when they were kids gives him comfort to know that nothing has to change between them just because they're romantically involved. Even Edgeworth would prefer being the one to set up any romantic date, so him and Phoenix get the best out of their relationship. Phoenix's best dates he'd give Edgeworth would be a place that reminds them of their childhood like an old treehouse or the park they went to after school. Edgeworth's best dates he'd give Phoenix would likely be a cruise or experiencing a new place Phoenix has never been to.

6. Miles Edgeworth is a big time introvert, just as I said before. Most people tend to think of introverts as people that love being alone and, while there is truth to it, that isn't what being an introvert is. It means that they prefer to not socialize. For every introvert, the idea of socializing and talking with people stresses or tires them out. Not to say they wouldn't, but it will likely be with friends or if it's part of their work, if any socialization was to occur. For Edgeworth, he's only ever been social with his colleagues or friends. Even just talking to witnesses would add another layer of stress. It's likely why he's much more stressed and tired as Chief Prosecutor than High Prosecutor. Edgeworth doesn't want to talk with anyone. He just wants to shut himself from everyone and the world, so he can finally relax and concentrate. He will socialize or plan a social gathering, but only if he feels like he must.

Phoenix Wright is the opposite. I've heard people consider him an introverted, because he isn't very good with socialization and that's not accurate. He doesn't feel weak, stressed or tired from socializing. If anything, he enjoys spending time with people and his friends. The reason Phoenix became a Defense Attorney was to help other people he didn't know. Does that sound like an introvert to you? It doesn't to me. Introverts would rather shut themselves out from strangers. He's an extrovert, which would be someone that gathers strength from socializing and only become stressed and tired from being alone. The moment Phoenix is alone, he falls into pieces. When Maya left during Turnabout Goodbyes, Phoenix was so drained that he couldn't take any clients and had almost declined Ema's offer. When Phoenix was disbarred, he said that Trucy was the only sunshine in his life and, even then, he showed signs of Depression and turned to alcohol, if you read pass the comical censorship. It was only once Apollo started joining that Phoenix started getting some of that valor back. In fact, he is much stronger with Apollo, Trucy and Athena working under him. It's clear that Phoenix is a big time extrovert.

Introverts and extroverts ironically attract like magnets. Phoenix and Edgeworth would do well with one being an introvert and the other being an extrovert. Phoenix will be the one to encourage Edgeworth to spend time with him and their friends, while Edgeworth will allow Phoenix the space he needs when needed. Even extroverts need some time to themselves once in a while, just like introverts need a little socializing to not feel alone. Of course, if Edgeworth feels overwhelmed, Phoenix will give him his space and if Phoenix feels the overwhelming need for company, Edgeworth will provide it. Neither one of them will ever want the other to be hurt by being too lonely or overwhelmed by socialization. They will give each other the right amount of balance for alone and social times.

7. Miles Edgeworth is not one to be affectionate by words. He won't even use pet names. He shows his love through action alone. This goes from returning Phoenix back into law, to taking Kay to Jammin' Ninja Conventions, to paying for Maya's bail when she was arrested for Contempt of Court, to helping Phoenix save Maya from De Killer, to helping out Blackquill, to helping Raymond Shields solve the IS-7 Case. It isn't to say he won't use words to express his feelings, but will only do so if they're the only things he has. He expresses Phoenix's actions and how they affect him in AAI 1 and 2, because Phoenix had affected him to the point where no action he did could express how grateful he is to Phoenix. When Edgeworth expresses love for someone through words, he means them 100%. Edgeworth knows words effect people greatly, so he chooses to use them when he needs to.

Phoenix Wright will go either or when it comes to showing affection through action or words. He had changed his career to save Edgeworth, so it's clear actions mean a lot to Phoenix. Though, words mean just as much. When he says he will protect Maya with his life, he means it from his mouth and actions. When he said he believed in Edgeworth and Larry, never including Maya in the group, he meant it with his whole heart. He trusts Maya, but he trusts his friends much greater. His actions prove it just as much. Speaking of words. Phoenix also said that he considered Kristoph a friend in Turnabout Trump and often dined with him. Kristoph's biggest mistake, in my opinion, was mistaking Phoenix's words and actions for lies. When it comes to the heart, Phoenix is not one to lie about his heart towards someone through action or words. It's not to say he's never lied before, but when it comes to love, it's always going to be truthful through his actions and words.

Affectionate actions will certainly be the core of Phoenix's and Edgeworth's romantic affections, but Phoenix will be the one to include affectionate words. Because it is Phoenix, Edgeworth knows that he means it. Phoenix is fine with Edgeworth not being affectionate with words, because his actions will always do the talking. It isn't to say Edgeworth will never tell Phoenix "I love you" or "you're beautiful," but will use those words sparingly. Like all the other times, Edgeworth will only use words to describe his feelings if there is no other way to show them through action. Words will be the ones that Edgeworth and Phoenix will cherish the most out of each other, because they are a rarity in their relationship.

8. Miles Edgeworth is always serious and being in a relationship will be no different, especially since he's asexual. He doesn't want the relationship to end in failure. Once it starts, he wants it to grow and mature. He expects responsibility on both ends. Of course, experience will teach Edgeworth to not have too high of expectations, but there will be expectations. The longer Edgeworth stays in the relationship, the more mellow he will become, but will still expect himself and Phoenix to be responsible. This includes dating, keeping contact and getting married. Even saving his virginity for marriage may be part of the deal.

Phoenix Wright also wants a serious relationship, but wants to enjoy it too. He may even consider moving in with Edgeworth or starting a relationship right away without considering how this would affect Conflict of Interest. Phoenix thrives off of affection, but also knows that it comes with responsibility. If Larry Butz has taught Phoenix anything, it's that chasing after love without considering the consequences can lead to disaster. Phoenix also experienced getting his heart broken, because of his reckless actions. Phoenix will still want to enjoy his romantic relationship, but will know that with great love comes great responsibility.

Both Phoenix and Edgeworth will want a serious relationship, but Phoenix will be the one to encourage the fun that comes with it. Of course, Edgeworth will have too high of expectations for Phoenix in the relationship, at first, and that will annoy him greatly. It may even make Edgeworth jealous at how carefree Phoenix will act about their relationship, since he worries about it all the time. Though, after some time of Edgeworth mellowing down, he will enjoy Phoenix being carefree and enjoying their romantic times together. Edgeworth may even find himself enjoying it too and seeing that even enjoying their romantic times together is part of their responsibility of loving each other. The care-free vs serious part will be the rockiest part of their relationship, but not one that can't be worked out. This will just take some time and experience together.

9. Miles Edgeworth would rather be affectionate when no one is looking. This is because he cares too much about what other people think of him and the fact he gets overwhelmed by people looking at him. It's part of his introverted nature. If he does get publicly affectionate, the most he will do is handholding and, once married, maybe a hug, a peck and a kiss on the hand. Even so, it's only because that was how far his former mentor, Manfred Von Karma, was towards his wife. Manfred Von Karma and his wife are the only examples of a married couple Edgeworth has had in his life. Even if his father was affectionate towards his mother, since they both passed away when he was young, he will barely remember their affectionate times. Of course, when alone, Edgeworth will be more open and affectionate and that will only increase as time passes.

Phoenix Wright is the king of public affection. He was very affectionate towards Dahlia/Iris when in public. To Phoenix, if he is to show his love to his lover, it will be out in public whether his lover likes it or not. Phoenix is an open book when it comes to his feelings. He's not one to hide, at least not all the time. It's not to say he isn't capable of keeping things behind closed doors. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Phoenix will certainly not talk about his sex life and he understands the idea of keeping things personal. Though, when it comes to showing how much he loves and cares about his lover, he will hug, kiss and say sweet nothings in front of the whole world. Of course, that won't keep his colleagues, especially Apollo, from shouting, "get a room!"

As far as affections go, most of them will be done in private and Phoenix will spend the first of the longest time without being allowed to be as close and affectionate as he wants. This is because Phoenix understands that Edgeworth is very self-conscious and believes that respecting your lover's space is more important than his own personal needs. Edgeworth will also know that Phoenix would much prefer using PDA to show his love. He will eventually allow a few displays of affection such as holding hands and maybe a kiss on his hand or cheek, but anything more than that will have to be saved for marriage. Even during marriage, he may allow a few more things to slip by such as lip or neck kissing (no hickeys or tongues touching), long hugs and spooning. Most of Edgeworth's limited affections were because of Von Karma's influence and, if Phoenix could change Edgeworth's thinking from his mentor's teachings, Phoenix can do the same for Edgeworth on romantic affections.

10. Miles Edgeworth being a slow burn is obvious, but that is mostly because of his asexual nature. He feels no desire to be with anyone sexually, even his lover. He may eventually grow to want that, but not out of pleasure and even the sexual pleasure will only be to make his lover happy. At the same time, he did like and befriended Phoenix from the first time they met and, even though they had known each other for less than a year as children, Edgeworth still cared about him so strongly that he wanted to protect Phoenix from DL-6. Arguably, Edgeworth may've tried to save Phoenix in his own way when he was arrested for murder, thanks to Redd White. I can't say if it's love at first sight, but Edgeworth is capable of feeling love and care for someone within the span of a single moment such as with Phoenix and even Kay Faraday. Though, those moments are saved in small doses.

Phoenix Wright is definitely a love-at-first-sight type of guy, if his romance with Dahlia/Iris isn't proof of anything. He often will grow very close with people in the span of a moment to a day. Him and Kristoph were already hitting it off literally after he voted Phoenix innocent at the Bar Association. Phoenix and Apollo also hit it off pretty quickly, including with Trucy, Larry, Maya, Mia, Pearl, Athena and every client he's ever had. That being said, it isn't to say Phoenix won't start peddling back, if the ball isn't rolling. He's not stupid and he has been hurt, because of his quickness to trust and love someone. If Dahlia and Kristoph had taught Phoenix anything, it's that you don't always know someone in the span of a day or moment. He didn't even know Larry was the one that stole Edgeworth's lunch money during school, which became what started their friendship, for 15 years. So, even if Phoenix may feel love towards someone in the span of a moment, he also knows to not leave himself completely open. After all, it did take time for him to completely trust Maya and, even after knowing her for a full year, he said he trusted Larry and Miles without including Maya. So, for Phoenix, trust is more along the lines of something earned rather than given in a single moment or day.

Some people have theorized that Phoenix had fallen for Edgeworth first, while Edgeworth would've fallen for Phoenix after they reunited. For me, I believe their love for each other, platonic or romantically, were always on an equal spectrum. Phoenix was one of the few people in Miles' life that he grew to love and care for in a single moment. Even when Phoenix was angry at Edgeworth, he still trusted and cared about him. Unlike with Dahlia, that trust and love never left him. Even though Phoenix had claimed in Justice For All that Edgeworth was already dead, it was clear he was lying to himself. He was even shocked by the fact he trusted Edgeworth in Farewell my Turnabout, while Mia said, "yes, you do," like it was the most obvious thing in the world. The reason is because Edgeworth had already earned that trust. Even with Iris, you could argue that Phoenix's trust towards her was already earned too, because he knew that the Dahlia he was in a relationship with and the one in court couldn't have been the same person. Even if Edgeworth is more of a slow-burner and Phoenix is more of a love-at-first-sight guy, their love and trust will always remain the same on equal par from beginning to end.

11. I think this speaks for itself and I don't need one separately for these two. Both use cheap flip-phones and prefer talking, calling or writing letters to each other. Neither Edgeworth or Phoenix are the most well versed in the latest smart phone the world has to offer. Even if they used a smartphone, it would only be for work purposes. If they did text, it would be short, simple and straight forward. Of course, it isn't to say Phoenix won't shorten the words of his texts, but that's only because his phone is so cheap and it would hurt his thumb to just press the same number three to four times to get his text. Edgeworth may be pickier with using the right words with the right spelling. Though, in truth, both would rather just not text at all and, if they do, it will be straight forward.

12. Miles Edgeworth was the most difficult to decide if he was a lender or borrower of people's clothes. The only time he's ever given any piece of clothing is when Kay cried on his cravat and he gave it to her. With borrowing, the only time he borrowed anything from anyone was Phoenix's badge and magatama. Edgeworth is not a free lender or borrower. So, for this one, I had to think outside the box or turn my thinking around. Perhaps instead of looking at when he borrowed or lend someone's clothes, I should focus on what could be considered borrow or lending and what would keep him from doing so normally. One of the things I do notice about Edgeworth is that, while he doesn't borrow anyone's clothes, he does borrow their style or gestures. As a child, Edgeworth dressed very similar to his father with the gray suit and shorts with his red bow matching the color of his father's tie. When he first became a prosecutor, his uniform and gestures matched perfectly with his mentor, Manfred Von Karma. Even when he grew older five years later, his suit and gestures were closely based off his mentor's, including the theme song. After AAI2, as a Chief Prosecutor, he began adding some stylistic choices that resembled his father, such as the glasses and longer tail to his coat. Even the ways he solved cases in his spin-off games were based off Phoenix Wright. None of the attorney characters I knew base their style of clothing from their mentors. It occurred to me that maybe Edgeworth was a borrower and seemed to not be borrowing anything from anyone in canon, because he's rich and wouldn't see the point in it. If he was dating or married, he'd likely borrow clothes, since their belongings would belong to the both of them equally. He may even be seen one day on the couch in his lover's house pants and night shirt. Though, he will also lend someone a piece of clothing, especially his lover, if he has extras such as a dress shirt.

Phoenix Wright is 100% a lender of clothing. Unlike with Edgeworth, this one wasn't hard to figure out. Phoenix's stuff gets jacked all the time. Maya's always like "buy me burgers" and he will do it, even though it's milking his money for all his worth. He doesn't often like it, but he'll do it. If one of his friends, especially lover, is seen with one of his shirts or pants, it'll just be another day in paradise. For Phoenix, lending his stuff isn't anything new and it happens to him every single day. It's because of this, he loathes the idea of borrowing someone else's clothes or stuff. He will, if he has to, but the fact he lived seven years caring for a child without stopping by at Edgeworth's place and saying, "hey, think I can crash in at your place and live here, since you'll be going to Europe most of the days anyways?" shows he's not one to freeload off of his friends or anyone.

While Edgeworth isn't someone that will take or borrow someone else's clothing, if it's his husband, it's possible he may. Phoenix may wake up one day and find Edgeworth in the living room with a piece of his clothing watching Steel Samurai. Though, for Phoenix, it will just be another day, another loved one jacking stuff from him. I doubt Phoenix will be all lovey-dovey over it, but he won't object to it either. On the same note, if Phoenix doesn't have enough white dress shirts, Edgeworth would not object to lending one to him, if he has a ton of them. This goes for socks, briefs and what-nots. Lending or borrowing the other's clothing won't be considered romantic to either of them. Not everything in the romantic cliche list won't always be considered romantic to these two and I think it makes their relationship more unique. Lending and borrowing clothing would just be considered one of those.

This is my interpretation of the ship. I don't consider it to match anyone else's interpretation. Feel free to give your thoughts.

EDIT: blank template - https://twitter.com/SouOrtizArt/status/1157721908470800384

#ace attorney #NaruMitsu #Wrightworth #phoenix wright #miles edgeworth #meme

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13-reasons-ideas · 4 years ago

Text

Can’t Go Back Part 8

A/N: I apologize for the delay on this chapter. I had issues writing their second date.

Our ice cream date on Wednesday was great. I didn’t realize Monty could be so… fun. He was kind of a goofball when he wasn’t with his friends. It started with a funny look when I asked for a spoon with my ice cream cone. “Doesn’t that defeat the purpose of an ice cream cone?”

“No, it mostly just makes it easier for me to steal bites of yours.” I teased.

“Oh-ho, I see. This date was all a ploy to get extra ice cream.” He smiled. I shrugged and scooped a bite of my chocolate ice cream. I licked it off my spoon and felt a smile spread across my face.

We walked around for a bit, making our way to the docks, where it was less populated. We aren’t hiding. It’s just easier to not have to explain whatever this is for now. Trying to be discreet when we found a place to sit, I leaned over and scooped a sliver off of his cookie dough ice cream off, quickly sticking it in my mouth. He pretended not to notice. I sat against a tree with my legs stretched out in front of me. I leaned on his shoulder while we watched the ducks in the lake. There was a baby duck that was straggling at the back and the mama duck was not having it. Montgomery laughed quietly when mama swam around to the back and seemed to give the duckling that look every mother gives their kids. With him distracted, I snuck another sliver of ice cream. Once again, he pretended not to notice.

My yellow dress had ridden up slightly and my knee was exposed. He placed his hand on it and squeezed absently. Soon after the duckling was given crap by mama duck, they hopped out of the water. They walked in a single file line around the shoreline. “Awe. They’re so cute.” I said more to myself than to anyone.

“They are. Danger Duck seems to have fallen in line.”

“Danger Duck?”

“Yeah. The one at the end.” Awe. He has a soul. I didn’t acknowledge that he named the duck. Instead, I decided to nick another bit of his ice cream and mix it in with a bit of mine. “My ice cream good Addy?”

“Mhmm.” I answered through my mouthful of ice cream. He laughed again. His laugh is so nice. “Very.” I said after finishing my bite. We had both gotten near the end of the cones, and it had begun to melt. I wasn’t sure if our silence was because we were comfortable or if we just hadn’t figured out what to talk about yet. Growing tired of the quiet, I leaned forward to stretch. I felt his eyes on my back and turned my head to peek back at him. He quickly looked away and pretended he wasn’t looking. I shrugged and turned my head back. Soon after, I could feel his eyes on me again. I turned again, catching him watching me. I stuck my tongue out at him and he smiled. His smile is so nice. I wish he did it more.

Finally, the silence was broken when I leaned back again. “How did your English paper go?” he asked.

“It was okay. I read The Book Thief for fun a couple of summers ago. It made it easier to find the literary devices and things, so I didn’t have to hunt through the book again when I was done reading it while I wrote.”

“Did you get the grade you wanted?”

“Yeah. I could have done better but it wasn’t like I did bad or anything. How was your physics test?”

“It was okay. Mr. Brown tests fairly easily though so that isn’t surprising.”

“I cannot explain how glad I am that I don’t need to take physics. I hated the physics unit in science class. I’m much more of a chemistry or biology person.”

“It’s not really that bad. He can at least make it interesting.”

“I guess. I just don’t really have the brain for it. I’m more of a memorizing things person than a mathematic formulas person.”

“Is that why you’re friends with Zach?”

“No. I happen to like Zach. Sure, he can be kind of an ass sometimes, but he’s not bad when you get to know him. And we aren’t best friends or anything, just see each other sometimes outside of school. I don’t tell him things very often. Having a study partner isn’t a bad thing either.”

“That’s fair. Is that why you keep Foley around?”

“Yeah, he’s my best friend. Justin is the person I talk to about things. We’ve been friends for as long as I can remember.”

“You talk to him about everything?” He asked, with a playful wiggle of his brows.

“Depends how it goes. I do stick to basics though. You know, if it was good or not. No specifics.”

“I see. So, you aren’t the virginal queen he makes you seem like. Interesting.”

“No. And I’m not telling you who it was so don’t even bother asking.” He shrugged, as though he would get it out of me eventually.

“Will you talk to him about me?”

“That depends on if I have anything to tell him.”

“You might. How do you feel about movies in the city?” We had begun walking back to our cars by now.

“I don’t do slasher flicks. I think they’re dumb.”

“Not because you’re scared?”

“No. It’s because I can’t justify paying for bad acting like that. If I wanted to watch that bad of acting, I would go on incognito and watch the before sex part of porn.”

“Oh! She’s got jokes too. That’s fair though. If you are scared though, that’s what you have me for. Action?”

“I’m down for that.” I nodded.

“Saturday? Pick you up at four? We can take a drive into the city.”

“Sure. Meet me at the end of my street?”

“You got it Addy. I’ll see you at school.” I nodded and leaned up to kiss him softly.

I arrived home a short time later and found my mom sitting in the kitchen at the desk. “Hey Mom. What are you up to?”

“Just looking at some recipes I can copy onto note cards. I finally decided to go through Nan’s box of cookbooks we brought home from Boston.”

“Sounds fun. Need any help?” I asked, walking towards her and grabbing a pen.

“Sure. You can start with Mastering the Art of French Cooking. You did your homework at the library, right?”

“Yeah. It was mostly just some reading comprehension stuff. What recipes do I do?” I made my way to the island with the large text.

“I tabbed them off. Some will need more than one note card.” I nodded and set to work.

A while later, I had written out five recipes and took a bit of a break to stretch my hand. “While I’m thinking about it, Justin and I are going to a movie in the city on Saturday night.”

“Okay. I’ll let your father know. Maybe we can have a date night or something.”

“You’ll let me know what?” My dad asked, coming downstairs.

“Addison is going to a movie Saturday night.”

“That’s nice.” Was all the response he could muster on the topic. “I’m sure the two of us kids can find something to do for the night.” He said, leaning down to kiss my mom’s temple, lovingly. She beamed up at him like it was the first time she was seeing him. It was really sweet to watch. “You’ll do the dishwasher before bed, right Addison?”

“Yeah.” Satisfied, my dad went to the living room to watch one of his shows. Open concept may look pretty, but it can be distracting.

Once I had called it quits on recipes for the day, I quickly did the dishwasher. I made sure to mark dishwasher packs on the grocery list before I went upstairs to get ready for bed. Upstairs, I checked my phone for the first time since I had gotten home. I saw that I had a few Instagram and Twitter notifications. I cleared those away. I had a couple of texts from Justin and a few from Monty. I opened Justin’s texts first.

Didn’t see you after school. Everything okay? Followed by, Mom is out of it for the night again. just a few minutes ago.

I answered him quickly. Hey sorry, I just checked my phone since getting home. Everything is good. I just had some stuff to do. Are you okay? Do you want to come over?

With that handled until I got a response, I checked the texts from Monty. I got home okay. That’s normal enough. I read the other two quickly. Had a great time today. Followed by How did you lose it by the way?

I rolled my eyes before responding. Sorry. I was helping my mom with some stuff. Glad you got home okay and I had fun too. I assume you know how Monty. I went about my nighttime business while I waited for the boys to respond to me. While I was brushing my teeth, I got a text from Justin. Seth is back. I’ll be over in fifteen.

Window will be open. Unless you want me to let mom and dad know?

Sure. It’ll be easier to come in the front door.

Okay, door will be open. See you in a few. “Mom? Dad?” I called, poking my head out the door.

“Yes?” Dad answered.

“Justin is coming over for the night. His mom isn’t feeling very well and doesn’t want him to get sick.”

“K. Whatever.” I raised my brows and rolled my eyes as I closed my door. I threw on my pyjamas and ran down to unlock the front door. A cup of hot chocolate was then set in the microwave to heat up, along with some leftovers. I knew he probably hadn’t had dinner.

Ten minutes later, Justin knocked on the door and walked in.

“Hey, thanks for letting me come over.” I watched as he placed his gym bag on the floor near the stairs.

“Of course. You know you’re always welcome here.” I watched as he walked over to me in the kitchen. I searched his face to see if Seth had done anything. His face seemed fine and he walked normally. That’s good. The microwave dinged as he got over to me and he jumped a bit. “I put some cocoa in for you. There’s also whatever leftovers we had from today. I wasn’t home for dinner.” He nodded and hugged me. I held him close for a few moments until the microwave beeped again and I heard his stomach rumble. We both laughed quietly. He grabbed his plate and mug and sat at the island.

“You weren’t home today?”

“No. I had stuff to do, like I said Justin. By the way, my parents might ask you about plans on Saturday to go to a movie. Just agree.”

“Um… okay.”

“Enough about me. What’s going on with you and Hannah Baker?”

“I don’t know. She’s pretty cute.”

“Do you like her?” I asked, cheekily.

“Maybe. She seems nice.”

“Okay.” I left it at that.

“Why do you need me to agree with your parents about plans Saturday, Addy?”

“I just have some stuff to take care of Justin. Don’t worry. Nothing really major.”

“Uh-huh.” He didn’t seem to believe me but didn’t press on. I think he was just tired.

“Ready for bed?” He nodded and placed his dishes in the sink.

We made our way upstairs to get him ready for bed for the night again. His varsity jacket was hung on my door rack and his bag was placed beside my desk. “Did you want me to take the floor tonight or did you want to sleep together?” i asked, as I ushered him into my bathroom.

“Together? It’s been kind of a long day.”

“Of course.” While he got ready for bed, I grabbed his pillow from my closet and switched it out with the one on my bed. I was doing a touch of reading for English when he climbed into bed beside me. He curled up beside me, almost immediately falling asleep, and I kissed his head softly. “Good night Justin.” I whispered into the darkness.

The next morning, I was able to rope Justin into helping me pick an outfit. We settled on a pair of black leggings and a longer red tank top, paired with a light grey cardigan and black flats. Downstairs, we made a quick breakfast of cereal and toast. “Hello Justin.” My dad greeted from his seat.

“Morning Brooks.”

“Morning dad.”

“Morning.” He half grunted to me. Justin glanced at me and I shrugged.

“Good morning Justin. How is your mum feeling?” Mom asked.

“Morning Margot. She’s feeling okay now, I think. Probably another stomach thing.”

Mom eyed me, knowing it wasn’t a stomach bug. I grimaced in response. “Well I hope she feels better soon.”

“Me too Margot. Me too.” He muttered. Surprisingly, they didn’t ask him about our “plans” Saturday. I suppose it wasn’t that surprising though, as I had never really given them a reason not to trust me before.

I drove us to school and we walked to his locker together. “I’m just saying. Maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad thing to you know, talk to her. She is totally into you.”

“I wouldn’t even know where to start.”

“Really? You’re Justin freaking Foley. You can just say words and she will fall at your feet. She’s already seen you shirtless.”

“That was different.”

“Right, right. Different.” At his locker, he was once again beckoned by Bryce.

“I swung by your place this morning to see if you wanted a ride. Didn’t look like you were home.” I rolled my eyes.

“Yeah, I was out last night. It’s fine.” Bryce’s eyes went back and forth between the two of us.

“You smell like strawberries.” Monty added. I tried to hide my blush and bit back a giggle.

“Do I?” He sniffed himself. “You said it wouldn’t be that strong Addy.”

“Yeah, it’s not. If you use a normal amount. You used more shampoo than I do. I wasn’t going to say anything about it though.” He made a face and I caught Monty’s eye. I smiled politely back at him, trying to keep appearances and all. “I’m sure you could ask Jeff for some of whatever makes him smell like that.” The group of boys looked at me with slightly wide eyes. “You want to deny that he smells good?” A few shrugs and head shakes were the answer. I turned when I heard him laughing with Clay and Leah. “Speak of the saintly devil. Hey Jeff Atkins.”

“Addison Hawthorne, what can I do for you today?”

“Justin smells like girl and apparently that’s a bad thing now.”

“It is when I smell like you.”

“Hey. I smell nice you jerk.”

“I know you do. But I don’t want to smell like you.”

“Ah. You need body spray. Come to my locker and I’ve got you. You coming, Addison?” He’s the only person who uses my full name and doesn’t sound like I’m in trouble. Maybe Monty will sound nice using it.

“Yeah. I’m headed that way for French anyway.” He nodded and the five of us made our way to his locker, Monty’s eyes boring into me as we went.

I was sitting in the library working on some homework during my free period, listening to a playlist on Spotify, when I was interrupted by someone dropping their bag on the table. “Jesus Christ.” I exclaimed. I looked up as my- my what exactly? -Monty sat in the chair across from me. “Oh, it’s just you.” Mystery solved; I went back to my homework.

“Sorry.” He mumbled as he leaned back. He appeared to be making himself comfortable.

“We are at school you know.”

“I noticed that, yeah.”

“People might notice you’re sitting with me.”

“We share classes. You’re friends with someone on the football team. Not going to cause that much of a stir.”

“Alright. Since you’re here and we share classes, did you finish the chemistry assignment?”

“Yeah. Need to copy some answers? Am I rubbing off on you already?”

“No, I just want to make sure I did question seven right.” I heard him hum and then dig around in his bag, looking for his assignment. “Is your bag also where things go to die?”

“Maybe.”

“Is that a boy thing?”

“Definitely. Here you go.” I compared the answers we had and the work we did. Seeing that it looked right, I nodded.

“Did you actually want something or are you just here to look pretty?” I asked after a while of him sitting and watching me.

“Why does Justin smell like you?”

“He spent the night last night and needed to shower this morning. We ran out of his regular soap and I haven’t had a chance to go to the store to replace it.”

“Why?”

“Why did he stay over? Or why does he have no more soap?”

“Both.”

“His mom was sick, and she didn’t want him to catch anything. He has no more soap because he didn’t tell me he was out until he was going to shower this morning.”

“He has soap at your house?”

“Yeah. He showers at my place when he spends the night and doesn’t always want to smell like, and I quote, ‘girly soap with frilly names’.” He hummed in response. It didn’t seem like he was too impressed with my explanation. Oh well. Before he could voice his displeasure, the bell rang. “I’ll see you tomorrow Monty.” I muttered as I gathered my things and walked away, leaving him to brood by himself.

Saturday came around and we had a fantastic time on our movie date. He gave me some playful crap about my movie snack choice. We drove around for a bit afterwards, just listening to the radio and enjoying each other’s company. He had his hand placed on my thigh, as though it was made to fit in his grip. It felt like the natural place for it to sit. We didn’t really want to call it a night just yet. But we also didn’t know what to talk about. Our superficial conversations flowed easily. The issue came when we had deeper things to talk about. It felt like to go any deeper, we had to define what we were first. That didn’t seem like the kind of conversation to have after a movie date, at this time of night. It was past ten when he dropped me off. I crept into the house quietly. My dad was sitting in the living room watching tv. He didn’t even acknowledge that I had gotten in. I didn’t really care anymore, since I was used to him paying little to no mind to me.

Upstairs, I changed into my cat pyjama bottoms and an old t-shirt. I was ready for bed shortly after. I cracked my window open some to let in some fresh air and spent some time scrolling through Instagram under my blankets. I liked some of my friends’ posts and commented on others. I lost track of time when I started watching videos and was brought back to reality when I heard what sounded like my name being called quietly outside. Thinking it was Justin coming over unexpectedly, I stood up and opened my window all the way. I motioned for him to climb the ‘decorative’ ladder I had my parents install. It does fit the house better than lattice. I was startled once again, when Monty poked his head up in my window. “Monty? What are you doing here?”

“Hey. I couldn’t sleep. Can I come in?”

“Yeah, sure. You’re up here now.” He nodded and I watched as he climbed and then fell through my window, extremely ungracefully. The accompanying thud did little to make the situation better. “Fuck Monty. Make some more noise why don’t you? I don’t think the people in Tibet heard you.” I glanced at my door and waited a minute. When no knock came, I let out a breath.

“Sorry. I’m sure I could knock a thing or two off the shelves while I’m here though. Oh, by the way, you should really look before inviting people in through your window. I could have been an axe murderer.”

“Please don’t. I thought you were Justin. He comes over unannounced sometimes.”

“Still.” He sat on my bed and took in his surroundings, now that I had turned on my lamp. “Cute room. Very much what I pictured.” I sat next to him and tried to put myself in his place as I looked around. I examined the cream walls. The black and white furniture. The books piled on my desk neatly. The fresh lilacs on my dresser between pictures of my friends and me. My jewelry holders in the corner of my dresser. The mirror on my closet door. He’s not wrong. It’s what I would have pictured too.

“Not that I’m upset about seeing you again, but what are you doing here Monty?”

“Told you. I couldn’t sleep. I needed to see you.”

“Alright. Uh… were you planning on staying or…?”

“I could stay if you want. Or I can go in a while. It’s your room.”

“If you stay, you have to be gone out the window in the morning.”

“That sounds doable.” He leaned back and made himself comfortable. Okay then. I mean, not opposed to him sleeping in my bed, but it’s a little early for that. I shrugged and crawled in beside him. I felt him pull me closer into his side and rolled over to face him.

“I wouldn’t have pegged you for a cuddler.”

“What can I say, I’m full of surprises.”

“Clearly. The first one was that I make you nervous.” I giggled.

“And why is that surprising?” he smirked back at me.

“Because you don’t seem like the type to get nervous around girls. And don’t say you weren’t nervous.”

“I wasn’t.”

“Bull. But whatever helps you sleep at night.” I smiled. “Are you going to sleep in your jeans?”

“Do you want me to take my jeans off?” he asked, smirking slightly.

“It just seems like it would be uncomfortable to spend the whole night in jeans, is all. Don’t be getting any ideas, you.”

“I said nothing.” He laughed. I smiled and rolled my eyes at him.

“You thought it. I know you did.”

He shrugged. “Maybe I did, maybe I didn’t. No rule that says I can’t think that about my girlfriend.”

“Girlfriend?” I squeaked. We hadn’t defined what we were. I wasn’t expecting this conversation to happen for a while yet, if at all.

“Yeah. Did you think I just ask anyone on dates?”

“I mean, I guess not…?”

“I don’t.”

“Okay.” I nodded, before resting my head on his broad chest. After a few beats of silence, I spoke up. “Hey Monty?”

“Yeah Addy?”

“Can… would it… could we keep this between us for now?”

He paused for a minute, “yeah. If that’s what you want, then we can keep it quiet for now.”

“It’s just that I don’t want to deal with people’s opinions or anything, you know?”

“By people’s, do you mean your friends?”

“And other people. You know how the kids we go to school with can be.”

“That’s true. They’ll run with this.”

“Yup.” It was quiet for a time again, while we just listened to each other’s breathing. “Monty?” I whispered.

“Yes?” he whispered back.

“Good night.”

“Good night. I’ll wake you before I leave in the morning.” I kissed his chest softly before drifting off to sleep.

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