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mono-dot-jpeg · 4 years ago

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having a sweet but hot-tempted s/o - k. akabane, n. shiota, c. ryuunosuke, i. yuuma

a/n: im rewatching the series and god i love them ✨✨ i need to make content of them NOW-

karma akabane

Now you were usually a very sweet and nice person but when Karma found out about your hot tempered side, he liked to bring that side of you out a lot. The class was usually worried that you would really snap at him one day but you never did. Sure, you got mad at him but you never got too into your anger.

But he won't deny, he liked your sweet side. I mean who wouldn't? You were really nice to everyone but you stood up for yourself when you needed to and you had a fire in your eyes. He liked that.

He loved you a lot, he would admit that gladly. He liked seeing you mad everytime he teased you. It was pretty cute to him.

"Oh, y/n!" He sung teasingly as he sat on the couch lazily. "Come out, we made a deal!" You can practically see devil horns grow on his head.

"I hate you for this, Karma!" You huffed as you walked out of your room. "Why do you even have this?!" It was a maid uniform.

"Why not? Got it just for you, babe!" He stuck his tongue out, winking at you. "You look pretty cute! I wonder what the class would think about this." You can see him pull out his phone to take a picture of you.

You quickly climb onto him to grab his phone but it's just out of your reach. "Karma! Don't you dare!" You kept trying to grab the phone but no success. You hadn't realized but you were right where he wanted you. His free arm wraps around your waist pulling you close to him. "Karma! What are you doing?!"

"Having fun in teasing you, of course." He chuckled. "I'm kidding. Just wanted a cuddle." He said with a false innocence to it.

“Yeah right! You’re just enjoying every second of this bet!” You yelled at him, hitting him though it didn’t do anything. He laughed while he held you tight. “Let go of me, you idiot!”

“Aww but I wanted to hold you a bit longer!” He smirked as you huffed, crossing your arms over your chest.

“I hate you..”

“I love you too!”

nagisa shiota

Nagisa had always been close to you, even before you started to date, he often saw and seized your hot tempered side. He often got called the “y/n Tamer” since he kept you in check and kept you calm. Though you sometimes got called violent, Nagisa knew there was more to that than your hot temper.

He liked both sides of you. He kind of wished that he was as assertive as you could be. You were usually the one protecting him than him protecting you. It took a small stab at his pride but you always reassured him that you liked him the way that he was.

He never liked seeing you mad but he did like when your cheeks went red as you get flustered by Karma teasing you.

“y/n, what are you doing?” You can see Nagisa watch you worried as you’re glaring at a bully from B Class that had just made fun of you and Nagisa.

“Can I please beat him up?” You asked him, pulling at the sleeves of your uniform roughly.

“Please don’t do that.” He dropped a sweat at your question, holding your hand to hopefully calm you down.

“Nagisa!” You dragged out his name, nearly whining. You heard another insult from the bully, quickly glaring at the bully. “What do you have to say now, coward?! Fight me!” You challenged as Nagisa is already trying to tug you back towards the E Class classroom. “Let me fight them!” You huffed as he continued to tug you away.

"y/n, I love you but please don't fight anyone.." He said as you both arrive at E Class. "As much as I appreciate you standing up for me, I would like to just ignore them. We have each other and that's okay!" He smiled.

"Nagisa, you're so cute!" You smiled brightly at him, hugging him tightly.

chiba ryuunosuke

Chiba never understood you at first with your sweet yet fiery personality. It nearly scared him during PE classes since you got fired up easily. But curiosity killed the cat but satisfaction brought it back. He ended up falling for you. It took a lot to confess to you but he did. When you were around the male, you were so...quiet and sweet.

The class would’ve thought you were just shy but not until PE classes started. It was no mercy for everyone including Chiba. But in a way, that made him feel respected. You acknowledged his skills and he acknowledged yours. Neither of you went easy on each other just because you were both dating.

He never saw you off-the-rails mad but it was somewhat entertaining to watch you get a little mad at some trivial thing.

“Fight me, Chiba!” Now your classmates would’ve been worried if it wasn’t for the fact that this was a daily thing. “I’ll get you this time!” You swore as he silently chuckled at your antics. “Don’t laugh at me!” You huffed.

“Okay, okay. I’ll fight you.” He says softly.

“When you say it like that, I don’t wanna fight you! I want some energy from you, Chiba!” You tell him as you prepare yourself to fight. Before you could even say anything else, he got you down on the ground quick with an anti-Koro knife under your neck. “Hey! I wasn’t ready!”

“An assassin is always on guard.” He mutters to you.

“I want a rematch!”

“Let’s not get carried away, y/n.” A few rematches later and you still lost all of them.

“Chiba! You’re too good! Come on!” You huffed. “I totally was gonna win one today!” You sat on the grass as class was coming to an end. He laughed a bit before wrapping his arms around your waist and easily picking you up. “Hey! Give me a warning next time, Chiba!”

“Class is ending, y/n. We have to get back to our next class with Koro-sensei.” He gets you right back into E Class as you mutter complaints. “I love you, you big baby.”

“I’m not a big baby!”

isogai yuuma

Isogai never seemed bothered by how you got angry often. Professor Bitch was kind of like that in a way. He was used to it. He knew you for a while too, how people made rumors about how violent you were which was a complete lie. For someone who got angry often, you couldn’t even hurt a fly sometimes. He found some entertainment in that. Isogai was definitely the y/n Tamer like Nagisa.

When he first found out about your hot tempered side, it was when you heard people making fun of E Class. Karma was supposedly at the scene as well while he watched you tell off the arrogant students. He decided to make friends with you since you joined E Class not long after Isogai himself had joined.

He never wanted to see you very burning mad and sometimes he didn't wanna deal with your hot tempered self a lot. But let's be real, he still loves you nonetheless.

"Yuu-kun!" You call out to him, using your nickname for him. You had decided to visit him at work, quickly ordering what you normally do.

Unfortunately for him, Asano and a few of his lackeys were here as well. They kept Isogai's job a secret so at least E Class and A Class weren't on full rival terms, but it didn't mean both classes were friends.

The lackeys had started to poke fun at Isogai while he was busy. You were a booth behind the A Class students, biting your tongue back from yelling at the dumb lackeys. But they just kept talking bad about Isogai and E Class. You had enough.

"Can you just shut up!? We still work just as hard as you guys do. You don't know what goes on in our lives! Don't judge a book by its cover!" You tell them.

"y/n, please calm down.." Isogai sighed whilst he placed your order on your table. "It's not worth wasting your time to say things they won't listen to."

"They're just so frustrating!" You mutter as you adjust yourself to sit properly. You started to eat a little bit while your boyfriend left to get out of his work uniform. He came back sitting across from you. "I thought you had work until 6."

"I wanted to spend some time with you. And also I need to keep you in check."

"I can handle myself!" You puff your cheeks out, causing Isogai to chuckle at your antics. "Thank you for the food.." You mutter to him softly.

"I love you too, y/n."

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alchemabotana · 3 years ago

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Horoscopes for New Moon in Cancer July 9th 2021

Horoscopes for the New Moon in Cancer

July 9th 2021

By Antonina “Little Thunder” Whaples

@whaplesantonina

If you find these horoscopes useful, please consider voting for me in the Muscle and Fitness Hers front cover competition for 2021′s Ms. Health and Fitness: https://mshealthandfitness.com/2021/antonina

Digital painting by Antonina Whaples

Still steaming in the energy of the overarching solstice sun rays, this New Moon in cancer will have you blissfully forgetting any of the struggles of the very conflicted Capricorn dominated conversations of the last Full Moon. In the wake and bake of the solstice, our Yang energy gets an overdrive that manifests in contrasting ways. Looking at your focuses on this way down the epic landslide of energy will open up gates of knowledge to understandings about your true identity. With Saturn coming into center with Aquarius soon, and Jupiter hitting retrograde in Aquarius on July 28th, your inner databanks are getting a major makeover Queer Eye style.

Much of this reorganization will center around how we collectively feel about ourselves individually, our responsibilities for our words and actions in our communities, and how we plan to make real-time changes to our “Ways” in order to contribute to grand legacies. Legacies themselves will undergo a transformation of definition. We can thank good old Venus opposing Saturn in Aquarius for this. But, unlike the “tower of babble” moment, the scenarios brought up by this New Moon will have your communication systems recalibrating towards epic achievements of the mind/body/spirit varieties. It’s all about Love, your memories of it, the ways you’ve embodied it, and the sacrifices made for it. Some of those sacrifices are coming full circle, and in the New Moon, this will be mostly felt by the Yin collective consciousness as a major relief. If you’re feeling unbalanced on the 10th, try to focus on activities that bring you comfort and ease your mind. This act may feel like a true moment of spiritual rebellion.

There’s a lot of hope in this moon, cradled by Cancers’ warm and loving waters. The “Home” is pivotal to this Moon’s inherent cleansing cycle, which may bring up dust and twigs swept under the rug. The idea of responsibility for our actions is heightened. We will all be challenged to face our own idiosyncrasies and dualities. This appears to be a long standing theme we’re all checking in and out of repeatedly until Neptune stations direct in Pisces on December 1st 2021. This very slow moving energy feels like a drum out of rhythm with our daily lives. Individually we are learning to tune into deeper vibrations of our own, and tune out wavelengths disruptive to our growth. This moon is a good time to move your body to healing sounds that help you manifest the emotional experiences attached to your not yet manifested dreams, hopes, prayers, and altar work.

Aries:

My fiery frequencies have been running too hot. I find places to release my steam that are quiet, dark, and all my own. Whether in the outside world, or my inner mind palace, I find slices of shade are my delight. I desire a type of self-synergy that can only be activated in the realms of the subconscious, and I make time to rest in the ways that make these new synapses happen. I want to learn and grow, and I’m giving myself the space to honor the eternal internal scholar within myself.

Taurus:

I’ve been typecasting my own archetype for some time, and I’ve realized those imprints have become outdated. I do not fear the revelation of my Cosmic Face to my own self, but rather look forward to the introduction of myself to Myself. I find ways to greet my emerging identity by balancing my time with friends and family. I take the time to meditate on what I am agreeing to when I go along with the herds. I respect my self sovereignty enough to reject projections on my personhood. I take responsibility for my own reflections on others, and these actions allow me to accept myself in any situation. I release all concepts of my empathic or psychic nature as negative, and allow the gifts I have been given to garnish me with life’s abundances.

Gemini:

I’m preparing for my mic drop moment. I’ve been writing bars and aiming for the stars, and I feel it coming. Not sure what, not sure when, but this moon is bringing mojo. I sense the message I was meant to embody is being written deeply inside me by a host of ghosts and ancestors ready to protect my destiny. Things are feeling extra cosmic, and I can almost feel my future touching me from time to time. I let myself enjoy my dreaming time, and this New Moon gives me a place to hide my secret poems and self reflections. There’s a softness coming over me, and I feel comfortable allowing myself to relax into the knowledge that my creative genius isn’t just valuable, it’s real.

Cancer:

The cycle of filling and emptying feels extra powerful under this New Moon. Elevated by this lunation, I use this dark moon to focus on the moments in-between. In this meditation, the world opens up a new concept of Time to me. In this knowledge I am able to reconstruct my psychological leanings away from worst-case-scenario and anxiety -laden secret self conversations. I don’t need to look outside myself for cues from the pack, and I am comfortable asserting my authoritative genius when applicable. This acknowledgement of my self-worth and efficacy gives me awareness that assists my community and gives others much needed moments of Hope & Joy.

Leo:

Things feel saucy in the right ways this new moon. Yin and Yang are focused on balancing my section of the sky’s influences this lunation cycle. Sometimes I feel the tug of my shadow side urging me to use my head AND my heart. Although I feel driven by the power of my heart center, and the emotions of my inner oceans, I find time to stop and ask myself “is this what I really want?”. When I allow myself to acknowledge the influences beckoning me to overspend my creative and sexual resources, I am able to find my personal zen. I discover new secret distractions in the everyday experience of relating and existing in community and friendship. I’m learning to tune my volume to the right settings, and this allows my audience to hear me clearly. Clarity has become increasingly important to me, as discernment makes me feel centered. This moon I use the dark hours to clear my mind, and calm my heart.

Virgo:

The quiet emptying of this New Moon secretly invites me to advocate for my silent needs in ways that feel safe to me. I practice self loyalty regularly, and renew my vows to my internal compass under the protection of the current skies. I know that moments like this aren’t always accessible, so when they are, I congratulate myself for my good luck. Spending time with private projects makes me feel centered and focused in ways that empower me. I use this darkened moon to look at my private world with a gentle eye. I know that my goals are just an echo of desires I’m learning to advocate for. Finding words for my journey helps me understand myself the way I wish to be understood.

Libra:

I am allowing myself to be seen and appreciated by myself. When I take the time to be in relationship with myself, my moods, and my memories, I find a special center. I’m manifesting a reality where my sense of self is solidified and appreciated by myself first and foremost. Through my self manifestation work, I am becoming aware and knowledgeable of the long history and sacrifices of those who came before me. I use this awareness to build gratitude within my heart center for myself and anyone else who shares in my archetype. My focus on self-healing is a radical step in my generational efforts in this timeline. I am an important person, and I tell myself so often.

Scorpio:

I am quietly waiting for new moments to try out my newfound knowledge. I’ve been watching and observing, but now it is my time to act. I take the reins of my destiny, and I do not apologize to the previous carriage driver. I know the power of an apology, which is why I know when one is owed or not. I do not need to struggle with power games that play in the psychopomp of the collective, and am my own sovereign spiritual space. I trust that my future is held in love & beauty and is supported by the generations of ancestors present on all planes. I am using this dark moon to get in touch with my essence and knowledge of my true self.

Sagittarius:

This New Moon I am shedding responsibilities that have become recognizably not-mine. With this awareness has come the revelation of what is mine to control, and what is mine to let go. I accept the blessings of my responsibilities as the reason I am able to hold space for myself in my own life. I do not allow others to speak on my behalf, and use my voice to set the story straight. I use my energy for higher purposes and don’t have space this lunation to be dragged into any conflicts. I use my arrow to draw solid lines in the sand about which energetics I’m willing to play with. I promise myself to treat myself with compassion daily, especially as I outgrow scenarios and scenes that just ain’t me.

Capricorn:

I’m learning how to define karma for myself, and this New Moon is giving me a lot to think about. I understand that if I wish to heal, I must practice kindness towards myself. When I notice the mean monsters arrive in the darkness of night, I use my practical wisdom to ward them off. I’m noticing that fear doesn’t have as much power as I once imagined, and I’ve been slaying small demons like candycrush. This lunation I allow a space for the internal/external conflicts to find a cease-fire, and I find myself enjoying new mental quiet. I’m learning to trust the process of letting go, and this small cycle feels like the period at the end of a sentence.

Aquarius:

The labyrinths of my inner circuit board are asking me if I’ve tried turning it off and turning it back on again. When I consider my own off/on switch, I contemplate who I give access to it. When my triggers are alarming, I respect myself enough to take the time to respond carefully to my own messages. I acknowledge the wiring of the ancient ones, and use the ancient technology of this Moon to allow my power centers to upgrade. My dreamtime is especially sacred to me in these moments, and I use this lunation to discern important inner truths. I do not need to fear when I have premonitions, but instead, refocus that awareness on trusting my own intuition first and foremost.

Pisces:

This New Moon I let out a deep sigh of relief. In the feelings of stuckness and frustration, I’ve discovered hidden patterns of life. As I discover which patterns benefit me the most, I learn to recalibrate my channels to an easier stream. This work opens me to timelines I may not have previously considered when vision-boarding and manifesting dreams. I thank the spiritual abbacus for working out ancient calculations this New Moon. I give gratitude when my supplies are distributed exactly how, where, and when they will make the greatest impact for my ultimate visionings.

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valwrite · 4 years ago

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the rock between us; andre layton

masterlist

summary: the train changes everything: faces, futures, feelings.

warnings: angst, hints of infidelity.

fic style: drabble.

word count: 968

author’s note: okay, hear me out, there is not nearly enough andre layton related fics out there and it bothers me. so, i’m writing a seven part andre layton series and this drabble is a little peek into what the dynamic between andre and the reader will be. please know that the actual series will deal with dark themes such as murder and trauma, there will also be a theme of infidelity throughout the whole fic, which will be told from andre’s point of view for the most part and will alternate between the present time on snowpiercer and the past before the planet froze over. anyways, i’m excited to share the series soon but, for now, please enjoy this drabble. as always, any feedback is appreciated.

There’s an unusual quiet that’s fallen over the Tail, a place where the poorest souls of the surviving humanity are so often yelling and hollering for a chance at a better life. Tonight, it seems like the only things yelling are the train’s wheels as they squeak along the ice coated tracks below, shaking the cabins.

In this moment, she’s thankful she doesn’t deal with motion sickness.

A cringe takes over her features as she hears the unmistakable sound of some of the Tailies, the more sinister ones, chewing away at whatever comrade had overstayed their welcome. Andre brought it up last week- she thinks it was last week but, really, it’s becoming hard to tell the difference between night and day- and she has to silently praise him for it. He's the only one brave enough to bring up their monstrous behavior.

Erik would have never brought it up.

The dull pencil moves in her hand at it’s own will, branding the scrap of crumpled paper with swirls and lines and shades of gray. She knows she’s drawing a face- a man’s face - yet she carries no recollection of when it had even started to take shape. When her eyes flicker over her work in progress, she notices the little things about his face that have changed since the cold struck: his hair has grown out; the bags under his eyes have become more noticeable; he’s lost the softness of his cheeks, the drastic decline of daily meals taking it’s effect; his wrinkles are a little deeper when he frowns.

She used to draw him before the cold, too. When the dim light of a hotel room or the flickering bulb of the station kitchen was all that illuminated them both, he’d let her sketch him a portrait of what he looked like right then and there. The station sketches were always prim and proper, his badge peeking at the bottom of it and his so called “serious detective” stare encapsulated his eyes. The hotel sketches were more free, more messy. She’d sometimes add the tiniest detail of herself into them: her hand on his bare chest, her naked thigh draped over him, the tips of her hair splashed across his pillow. He always loved the hotel ones best.

“I see Miles gave up some of his paper, huh?”

Her eyes strip themselves away from the drawing of his face to his actual face. He’s waiting for her to invite him to sit next to her and she’s never appreciated his gentleness more. Maybe that’s why she pats the empty space next to her.

Maybe that’s what she tells herself to avoid the fact she’s missed being so close to him.

“He’s a sweet kid.” She doesn’t know what else to say. Conversation between them just doesn’t seem to come as easily as it once had. They always worked best when there was a case to work on or clothes to rid each other of.

“Sweet, my ass.” He grumbles jokingly and it almost makes her laugh. God, she misses laughter. “He’s got a crush on ya.”

“What can I say? The boy’s got good taste”

“Sure does.” The deeper meaning behind his answer isn’t lost on her but, what would she have to gain from acknowledging it? “Listen, I wanted to thank you. For earlier, with the rest of the Tailies.”

“Oh, yeah, no problem.” She’s folding the paper over now, hoping he’s not aware of her artwork. She knows, deep down, that he noticed it the second he arrived. “S’not a problem at all.”

“I know they all think we should leave the whole cannibalism issue alone. Think it’s easier because they haven’t killed us yet. But, I mean, it’s only a matter of time, right? Guess we’re the only two that get that.”

She thinks of how, when he was giving his big speech to the group, he seemed so much like the detective he’d once been. All self-righteous and justice seeking. If she hadn’t been missing him before, she certainly is now. “Sorry about Erik, by the way. You know he can be a little, y’know, quick to anger.” She misses speaking comfortably with him, as if there wasn’t constantly a pair of extra eyes on them. She wonders if Andre misses it too. Misses her too.

“I can handle Erik, don’t you worry.” He could handle Erik, and then some. “I know it can’t be easy to speak against your own husband. So, thank you, again.”

She knows that he’s focusing on that word just as much as she is. Husband. But, of course, there’d been a time where she was going to separate herself from Erik, in the same way that Andre was going to separate himself from Zarah. Unforeseen circumstances came in the way of their happiness.

She couldn’t help but feel it was karma for all the harm their little secrets would cause.

“Are you happy, Y/N?” It’s been so long since the last time she’d heard him say her name, as if he were fearful of using it. “With Erik, I mean.”

Zarah left the Tail a while back, and it wasn’t like her and Andre had been getting along before she’d left. There’d been a point in their history where she would have jumped at the opportunity to be with Andre. But there was Snowpiercer now, that was their life. A life where Erik would always exist between them, for better or for worse.

“As happy as I could be.” She swallows, fearing the disbelief for her own words will seep into her voice. “On Snowpiercer, of course. Erik’s just, uh... He’s my rock.”

“We all need rocks, don’t we?” Andre’s eyes are burning as they stare into her own. She’s always loved how he was so passionate. “You’re lucky, Y/N.” She bites back a plea to hear him say her name again.

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excitedlysuffering · 5 years ago

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hey can you do the headcanons collection thing for shikamaru pls ?

I love this boy honestly like I’m obsessed lmao

I’m also surprised but happy the HC collection is becomin a thing XD

Shikamaru Headcanons Collection

What He Looks For In An S/O~

• Shikamaru is a laid back person, and he’d definitely want an S/O who is chill

• This boy is a GENIUS so he’d be bored with someone who couldn’t hold an intelligent conversation

• I’ve already said it, but someone who’s CHILL, Shika can’t handle a wild S/O

• He would prefer someone more on the homebody side, he doesn’t want to be dragged on adventures all the time ever

• He probably wouldn’t care if they were a civilian, he’d always wanted a plain life anyways

• Shikamaru wouldn’t want your relationship to be scheduled and busy, he’d prefer someone who didn’t mind simple things or spontaneous things

• A patient S/O is mandatory cause do you know how many hours he spends doing nothing and being quiet? He’ll need a saint

• He needs someone who has a passion for things they love, the way he is with his friends/teammates and shogi

• An accepting S/O, someone who doesn’t try to change him, whether it’s his laziness or his smoking

• Shikamaru can be pessimistic and snarky sometimes, so he’d do well with someone who has a thick skin

• They need to get along with Choji. Calling him fat is NO NO bros before hoes

Relationship With Shikamaru Stuff~

• Alright, alright we all know the basic stuff. He’s going to nap, watch clouds, and play shogi with you, that’s old news.

• Shika is not clingy and doesn’t crave constant physical affection in the way that he won’t for the most part look at you like ‘I just wanna hold her’

• He’s (obviously) very perceptive, however, and if he knows you want to cuddle or something he will usually indulge you (with some complaints of course)

• If you don’t mind smoking once in a while, great! If not, he’s very considerate and won’t do it when you’re around

• Shika is not really the ‘let’s go out on a date’ type, he’s more lowkey and prefers to just spend time with you in private

• Surprisingly, he’s a big fan of pillow talks, so, please indulge him

• He enjoys journaling, it’s a way for him to process everything he took in during the day it’s hard being a super genius and he would love if you did that together

• Sometimes, when he’s in a good mood he’ll do little things that he thinks are childish, but how could he say no when you’re so cute?? He ends up loving pillow forts

• Massages will be a big thing between you, he’s often stressed and that really helps him, but he always feels obligated to return the favor

• He’s really like an adorable pessimistic teddybear

• Sometimes he finds the need to rant about whatever and if you’re willing to listen, you’ll have his heart. On the flip side, he’s a great listener, even if he doesn’t have much to say, you know he cares

• Oh, he’ll remember your anniversaries/birthdays, etc, but don’t expect him to make a big deal. At most, he’ll get you a small gift and pay extra attention to you

• Definitely the kinda guy to avoid you on your period, not because he thinks it’s gross or anything, he just doesn’t have the energy to deal with mood swings. He will, however, grab supplies so he can help without being within your range of emotions

• Not that competitive, and if it’s anything other than Shogi he might just let you win cause he doesn’t care that much

How To Lose/Annoy Him~

• I’m 100% sure trying to make him do things is a given, but I’ll say it louder for the people on the back :)

• If you are constantly pestering him and interrupting his peace, he will quickly get fed up

• Please do NOT play hard to get or make him jealous. He’ll immediately know what you’re doing, but things like that just make him frustrated

• He hates mixed signals and dropped hints, so if you have something to say, just say it

• If you try to change him and constantly nag at him to be more productive, he will quickly lose interest

• Talking just for the sake of talking, and not having anything real to say will grate on his already thin patience

• As crazy as this may sound, there is a limit to how much lazy Shika can take. Even if he complains, he always completes his duties to the best of his abilities. If his partner can’t even do that much, he will lose respect for them

• The opinion of people he’s close to is a big deal. If his teammates, Asuma, or his family genuinely think something’s off about you, he will proceed with caution and probably be more scrutinizing of you

• He really has a short temper so be mindful of that, try to refrain from bothersome pranks and annoying him just because

Soft Shika Things~

• Even though he isn’t the softest person you’ll ever meet, he has his moments

• This side of him usually comes during naps/cloud watching

• He doesn’t mind cuddling up with you at these moments and he might even ask for it

• Shikamaru is a believer in the little things, so if he sees you’re insecure he might drop little compliments here and there.

• He’d die if you ever told anyone, but sometimes if he has nothing better to do, he’ll paint your nails, especially if they’re beginning to crack. He loves to experiment and see how different colors go with your skin tone

• The first time he saw you wearing something of his, he had no idea what to think like didn’t you have clothes?? He quickly got past that and actually enjoyed seeing you in his clothes. Not in a sexual way, but like ‘wow she’s really my girl??’

• He actually wouldn’t mind getting a matching couple thing if you were into it. Nothing like a shirt or an outfit, but probably something like a matching stud earring or lighters

• If you ask and no one’s around he might take his hair down around you, but he isn’t really fond of it being touched but what’s the point of having great hair if it can’t be played with??

• Has the worst spring allergies and is SUCH a BABY please take care of him, he needs it

Random Shikamaru Facts~

• Shika has an almost perfect photographic memory, and it can be overwhelming to remember everything so he started doing nothing to reduce the stimulus to his mind, but actually started to reallyyy enjoy being lazy

• He’s actually an insomniac because he feels like his mind never stops and he loses a lot of sleep

• His love language is acts of service all the way

• Shikamaru definitely ends up with a tattoo at some point in his life, it’s something small but significant

• This boy is loyal to a fault, whether you’re his S/O or his friend, he has your back forever

• If he’s close to you he has so much trust in you like he won’t really think about you hurting him, so if you were too he’d be deeply hurt

• He hates the rain or any kind of weather that keeps him inside

• He has spring allergies, but he refuses to acknowledge them so he’ll pop an allergy pill and that’s that

• He sucks at taking care of himself when he’s super busy please help him

• He’s not at all religious, he doesn’t believe in fate, destiny, or karma. He’s really the classic man of science stereotype

• He has traditional views on male/female relationships, but if he meets the right woman who challenges him, that could easily be rearranged ahem Temari

Little Things~

Favorite:

• Place to kiss- Your lips; he’s a simple man really, he’d much rather kiss your lips than anywhere else

• Way to hug- Not a huge hugger, but he likes one-armed hugs where he holds you close to his side for the most part

• Things to do with you- He loves to have deep conversations with you

• Cuddle Positions- He likes when you’re sitting up and he can lay his head on your chest or in the crook of your neck

• Type of date- Outdoors, usually just lazing around under the sun, or if you’ve been apart for a while, he’ll treat you to BBQ

This or That:

• He loves fall, the beautiful changing colors, and the calm atmosphere

• He’s an afternoon person (Idk if that’s a thing) he likes to be productive in the middle of the day, the morning and the night are his personal time

• He can’t cook anything past basic, he never thought he’d need to

• He likes to read strictly nonfiction but might be persuaded to try lighter reading per his S/O’s request

Conflict Happenings~

• Will avoid it at all costs, so if he has to avoid you, so be it

• Thinks it’s a waste of energy to argue when you could be discussing

• It’s pointless anyway. Unless you have a flawless, foolproof argument, he will find a hole and your argument will fall apart

• He hates beating around the bush and would expect his S/O to be more mature than that; so if you have a problem or if he upset you, he wants you to just say it

• He will make subtle efforts to appease you if you’re mad at him. He might be open to cuddling and might take you for a real date

• He doesn’t care to hold grudges so once you apologize and it’s sincere, whatever happened is out of sight out of mind

• On the flip side, he doesn’t appreciate people bringing up past mistakes as leverage if he’s apologized and already paid the penalty

• Yelling doesn’t phase him, he’ll wait until you’re rational and calm before discussing the problem with him

• He doesn’t have a short temper, but certain things make him go from 0-100 real quick

• Once something petty starts, he won’t physically leave, but he will probably mentally tap out

• Would 120% prefer for the two of you to be at peace so if it’s something small he is apt to concede just so things can go back to normal

Modern Shika~

• The quiet genius, because he doesn’t want to have tutor someone or have things expected of him

• Is that one guy you never really like at but once you do you’re like ‘was he always that cute??’

• He is not really invested in appearances, he’ll probably wear jeans and turtle necks or sweatshirts. Somehow he always looks good even though he hardly tries??

• Probably switches from smoking to vaping, assuming he ever used cigarettes in the first place

• He has a car, but most people would never know cause he’s always walking places

• Has popular friends, but doesn’t care to be the center of attention in the slightest

• The one person to probably be ahead in school work

• He always comes up with the most clever ways to cheat but he’s so smart he never needs them

• For studying, he’ll glance over the material no more than a week in advance and be done all hail photographic memory

• He’s down for a good party every once in a blue moon, if he knows the people there

• Would probably be offered money to write essays, but he’s too lazy to do it

• Perfectly okay with being a teacher’s pet (sometimes) if it means he gets special privileges

• CEO of sauntering in the door the second the bell rings

• Never really had the rebellious stage, he doesn’t care that much for showing out but he does like to be out of the house as much as possible

• I can see him with a mid-low maintenance pet like a cat or a gerbil

• He’s that one naturally aloof guy that has this aura that gets him all the girls??

• He doesn’t date around, but I could see him with a no strings attached friends with benefits

• Shika isn’t overly fond of decoration or extra things no matter where he’s living so his living space is mostly clean due to lack of things to make a mess with

• He probably would only have a roommate if finance was an issue and even then he’d probably be a little salty over it

• He’s an extroverted introvert (stay with me) he doesn’t mind socializing, but he needs time to himself to prepare and wind down

• He would definitely have minimal social media, probably only a phone number and maybe Instagram, though he’d rarely post

• At the end of the day, I belong to this sexy genius XD

Masterlist

#shikamaru x reader #shikamaru #headcanon #requested #naruto scenarios #naruto shippuden #property of the nara clan #naruto #shika

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diardiarmylove · 4 years ago

Text

If my OC (Amane) was the current Master of Chaldea (Part One cause I haven’t finished Mist City yet :))

Hi it’s me again. I’m very very sleep deprived and within it was my urge to just write what I felt while playing FGO, which so far is an amazing fuckin roller coaster, like bless the writes.

So this is a somewhat vent/headcannon as to what would happen if it was my OC instead of Gudako, whom is more acknowledged of her magic, which allows her to summon anything with a blade on it. Also yea she can shift anything metal into weapons. Will be mentioned as you read through

OOC I know but eh. I’ll try to sleep now (10:45 AM) bye.

I kinda wanna punch The Director, is it a bad thing?

I know, I know. She’s just hard headed because of the duty pushed to her. But me too! And I was inside the building for a day and half when this shit show happened.

Cú, I demand you stay away from Mash before I slam your kneecaps to pieces.... why are you looking at me that way, what makes you think I can’t?

Lev. You just went from 0 to a hundred, rEAL fast.

I know I could’ve said we needed a tank, but Mash, I love you and I’m gonna make sure you get some desserts when we get back. Remind me.

We are not gonna talk about how overextended the First Singularity is, all we know is we had fun, we got the Singularity fixed, we have a grail secured, I got up close with Jeanne d’Arc, Queen Marie, and Mozart himself, and I loved the entire time we were there. I forgot to hug Siegfried, though.

I came for a gunfight, but it’s quite refreshing to hear wisdom from them, really changes your view of things. (this is me bowing on how good they wrote the characters)

Remind me to bring my Dimensional Box, filled with a variety of blades, when we face actual Demon Gods, I might be useful instead of being at a safe corner, relying on command seals.

Lev, you swollen cunt, pushing your work to others.

Nero, lemme just hug before we go. I appreciate you, thank you very much.

Drake, please don’t give me a gun, or I might shift it into a sniper rifle and shoot Blackbeard myself in the head. Yes, I can.

I am so gonna pay for Asterios and Euryale’s wedding when I summon them to Chaldea.

Blackbeard is definitely a neckbeard that never left his mom’s closet.

Yeah, I’m talking about you! You weaboo kinky fuckin pedophile. Even those two are nodding with me! Imagine being betrayed when other explain to you WHAT YOU ARE and your men agrees along WITH IT.

Darn, I never got to punch the guy.

Orion be Smol tho. As for Artemis. Damn woman, you’re brighter than my hopes and dreams.

Jason you pussy, I bet you can’t throw hands with those skinny arms that’s probably more limp than your small dick!

Another demon god, great.

NOW THIS IS WHAT MAGIC IS SUPPOSE TO BE USED.

Too meta? Nah, I mean look at that hunkin bitch. Right, sorry David. But just collect yourself a jar of money for every time I swear, least I can do is actually acknowledge what’s left of savings to control my mouth. Yes you can do what you want with it, maybe even donate it back to Chaldea just to get the place fixed and hire with what is left of humanity.

If rank 30 was easy I wonder how 1 is? Wait is that asking for Karma? .. Right...

#FGO #Fate grand order #fate #f/go #caster cu chulainn #rider francis drake #archer david #berserker asterios #fate grand order #i’ll be here for a while #archer euryale #archer orion #mash kyrielight

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socksual-innuendos · 5 years ago

Note

All the OC asks that end in '2' for an oc of your choice please?

Okay so I’m doing all these for both Emilia and Camila so, here we go. Under cut because boy howdy its long

2.) What is the color (and qualities) of your OC’s eyes/hair/skin?

For Emi: Her eyes are brown. Neither very dark or very light, they’re just a midtone brown. When she was young, her hair was a very dark auburn, although now its lightening as she greys out. It has a thick texture and is naturally wavy/curly and she prefers it long and pulled back into a half ponytail. Emilia wasn’t thrilled when she was shaved bald in OWB, but she wears a fade now and her greying is more obvious. Her skin is brown, lightly freckled, and she has a few moles. Although I don’t draw her with them (Due to my indecisiveness on what and where they should be) she has tattoos covering a large portion of her body, and her skin is tough and dry from her travels.

For Camila: Her eyes are still a dark brown, although ghoulification is causing them to have a cataract/hazed look to them. She use to have very thick black hair that she would wear in short styles and while it had natural waves, it wasn’t as much as her sister’s. When her hair started falling out she had Emi chop it and would brush it over much so the rest would fall out. Camila preferred no hair to the patchiness, but she continues to wear her hair bands to fashion herself up. While travelling, she will wear headscarves to keep the sun off her. Her skin was never particularly tough and because of such she would often bruise or get cut easily. This quality carried over to her ghoulish self, although her skin is much more fragile now.

12.) What is your OC’s relationship with his/her father?

While Emilia has plenty of strong opinions on being raised fine without a father, not having needed a father, or anything relating to a need for ‘two parents’, she actually has no real feelings for her father as a person. He wasn’t around for her and he left her mother. These are the only things she knows or cares to know about him and she doesn’t blame him for either. She grew up fine with what she had, her mother, although heartbroken at the time, never truly suffered because he left. Life just happened, as it always does, and even if selfish people have their reasons for doing things. However, because she never knew him or cared to know of him, she only keeps her mother’s surname. Although her mother had planned on having a conversation about Emilia’s father once she got older, she had died when Emi was 9 and never had the chance. Xiomara, Emi’s abuela, refused to acknowledge the man and that was fine by Emilia.

Camila had known her father and for a while he was able to stay with her. There’s a lot vague here as I haven’t committed to specifics, however I know he’s forced out of the picture in some fashion. He was a good father to Camila and while he tried extending the kinship to Emilia, she wasn’t interested and he wasn’t going to force it. I would like to say that Camila was anywhere between 5-12 years old when her father left the picture, however much of this is uncertain. Cam has many fond and happy memories of him, however the uncertainty with him leaves me with ways to juggle how her adults self feels about him. She does miss him, and in certain endings she wonders if he’s still alive, but in all she keeps his name, and her full name (as of now) is Camila Espinosa Vazquez.

22.) Who is/are your OC’s closest friend(s)?

Raul is probably as close as a person can get to Emilia. They share everything with each other and both appreciate having the other. Although she really does appreciate that he’s willing to take care of Camila once she dies, part of Emilia wishes he could come adventuring with her. Much of her healing comes from being able to open up to someone else, and they both find this in a mutual aspect. The trio can often be seen together when Emilia is home, and in later life are inseparable.

Cass is another relationship Emi appreciates. Both sort of offer and fulfill roles the other wasn’t aware they wanted. For Cass, she gets an assholish, morally bankrupt questionable not quite parent figure, and for Emilia she gets a never-admits-to-it not-daughter figure that enjoys causing mischief but nags her about staying on the good side of karma.

Arcade and Emilia have a very strange relationship. I should actually get around to fleshing it out more, but between him and Camila they give Em a reason to stay and fight for Vegas. Its another odd relationship that Emi wasn’t expecting to find in the Mojave, but she’s grateful for him nonetheless.

Joshua Graham is also a very strange case for Emi. She doesn’t trust him in the least and she absolutely is determined to be the one to kill him, yet there’s a specific fondness for him. He’s one of the few she’s met that she sees as an equal in certain, dark ways which both intrigues her and makes her cautious. Both are religious and both highly value the community that comes with that, and while she never wants to consider him as close, by the end of their story she considers him a good friend. They end up teaching each other a lot, and regardless of how things end they do appreciate each other.

For Camila, most of the companions made easy friends with her. This was very welcomed after years of not being allowed anything permanent. Arcade sees her as bit of a ditz but teaches her what he can about ghoulification care, medical, and technical sciences. His grumpiness reminds her a bit of Emi, but she knows she can play him better than her sister and she often gets her way. He introduced her to Julia Farkas, and between the two Cam learns plenty.

Her and Veronica got along like peas in a pod and absolutely had girl’s nights and fawned over fashion. Although Emilia prioritizes Camila when she brings back clothes or accessories, Cam is more than willing to share and the two often doll up together. Those two made fast friends with Sarah from the Vault hotel and the three are absolute gossips. This comprises much of Cam’s social life, outside of the friends she has at The Aces.

Although they were easy friends at first, Raul became a big part of Camila’s life later game. At first, neither Cam, Raul, or Emi were aware of how he’d fit into their lives, but once Camila realized he was going to be Emi’s ‘replacement’ things got a bit rough. She wasn’t mad at him but she wasn’t thrilled about his willing participation, especially since Emilia and he agreed to things before even consulting Cam. Plenty of talking was done, and eventually understandings were reached, and the three were ride or die since. While they never considered each other as replacement siblings, they readily see each other as family.

32.) What subjects did your OC excel at?

Emilia is very athletic. Her agility is a solid 10, and she uses it to her advantage. She can lockpick just about anything and break out of (or into) most facilities. She has a quick mind, and can improvise on the spot. Basically, if you need something stolen, killed, or broken into she’s your gal. She also plays guitar very well and has a good knowledge of music theory. This often leads her to getting excited when hearing live sets, and once she riled she can’t stay still. Emi can also cook fairly well too. She generally doesnt get too experimental with it, but she can work up a must-go easily.

Camila on the other hand didn’t have very many skills growing up. She was very sickly as a child, which kept her bed ridden most of the time. Emi did teach her guitar, although she isn’t as good with music theory. She can sing very well, and Emilia and her father helped shape that. Later in life Arcade teaches her how to work computers and she gets quite good at it. She has the patience for just about anything, which really helps later on when she gets jobs in Vegas.

42.) What makes your OC happy?

Emi is very easy to please. She just wants an exciting mark and a whole lot of havoc to make in the process. In reality she’s just happy to have her freedom with little obligation outside Camila. As long as she doesn’t have a routine to wake up to, she’s alright.

Camila on the other hand has a lot to desire, although she’s content where she’s at. She’s provided for, but even then she wishes she had someone to talk to while Emilia was away. That said, when Emi came home she would sometimes bring an accessory or some fashionable item for Camila. This would always make her smile, and she treasured each. Come end game, shes actually quite happy having a few jobs and a social life. People knowing her by face and name is enough to make her light up, and she’s very pleased with being able to assert her own future.

52.) What are some of your OC’s motivations?

Emi’s very motivated by money, but she’s also motivated by chaos. As a hitman, she likes causing trouble and in dramatic ways. If there’s someone or something she can screw over in a fabulous way, she will do it. But what motivates her most is family. Camila and Rosa kept her sane and kept her loved, she’d quite literally do anything for them, and she is always one to keep promises.

Cam needs very little to get her motivated. She’s use to being holed up or too ill to enjoy the day, so if she wakes up in a good mood and right mind she’s ready to tackle anything. Chores? Turn on the radio and open the windows, house work is still something. A walk around town? She may not be able to get to know people, but she still enjoys the small interactions, besides she has the energy for a walk right now. Emilia is likely coming back tonight? Whats a few more hours of staying up.

62.) How emotionally/mentally vulnerable is your OC with other people?

Emilia’s vulnerability is nonexistent. She absolutely refuses to open up, to even her sister in some cases, and it can cause a frustrating guessing game on how to make Emi feel better. She does let down her walls, just a bit, later on in her life. Raul and Camila see the most of this, but Graham has the privilege of seeing her be vulnerable for a moment. Its not something she likes doing, but its not always within her control.

Camila on the other hand longs to have someone to talk to about feelings. Most of her life she remained cooped up in hotels, unable to make real friends due to her constant moving. Despite Emi trying (I use the word loosely) to be emotionally available for her sister, Rosa was really the only person Cam had to be truly open to, and once she was lost Cam really had nothing. Give her a night out on the Strip and a hard enough day and she might blather your ear off about feelings, even if you’re complete strangers.

72.) What is your OC’s favorite kind music (and song if there is one)?

Emilia loves just about anything upbeat. Give it percussion or brass and she’s unable to sit still. A proper rock movement would have done her in and she would have loved every moment of it. She also like swing and folk. Give her a guitar and she will join in the round, as she is especially fond of meeting other musicians on the road.

Camila also likes upbeat music, although she prefers more jazzy genres. Both generally agree on music, but Cam prefers more pop and things she can sing to.

#Anonymous #emi #emilia vazquez #camila #cam #camila espinosa vazquez

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hysterialevi · 6 years ago

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Legend pt. 2

Author’s note: Sorry about the long wait for this one. I got a bit stumped for a while, but it’s finally finished and I hope you enjoy the end result. Thanks for all your support, and as always, love you guys. Stay awesome.

From Bruce’s POV

WAYNE MANOR

THE NEXT MORNING

John let out an astonished gasp upon entering the manor, his jaw dropping open as he viewed the inside with an amazed expression.

“Wow, Bruce!” He exclaimed as he observed the chandeliers hanging above, craning his neck backwards. “I knew you were rich, but...but this...!”

John spread his arms out and twirled around like a top, laughing vigorously to himself.

“This is...INCREDIBLE! Hehehe!”

I smiled gently at the man, adoring his eccentric display of joy from a distance while he explored his new home.

With the Agency and police constantly trying to arrest John, I agreed to let the man live with me for a while in hopes of protecting him. It was too risky to leave him alone during these times, and the last thing I wanted was for someone to catch him while I wasn’t looking.

Aside from Alfred, John was all I had left. He was my closest friend, my partner in fighting crime, and one of the few people I knew I could trust for sure. He had been with me through thick and thin, and always had my back no matter what. I needed him by my side.

If Waller or anyone else wanted to take him away from me, they were going to have to put up a fight. And a damned good one.

“I’m glad you like the house, John,” I said, strolling up to him. “As much as I appreciate the solitude, I have to admit it does get lonely here sometimes. It’ll be nice having you around.”

John put a dramatic hand over his heart and wiped away a fake tear, tilting his head at me in a touched manner.

“You are truly the kindest man I’ve ever met, Brucie. I might just shed a tear.”

I grinned at that, slipping my hands into my pockets. “You’d be the first to say that in a while. I’ve almost forgotten the days when Gotham didn’t hate the Waynes. So, any idea where you want to sleep?”

The clown shrugged, slightly confused. “Um...in the bedroom...?”

A chuckle escaped me. “Well, yes, but which one? There are seven of them.”

John’s eyes popped open. “You have seven bedrooms?”

“Yeah,” I confirmed, “along with two kitchens, a library, a gymnasium, a basketball court, and a movie theater. And there’s obviously also the Batcave.”

The other man clapped happily and rubbed his hands together out of excitement, unable to contain himself.

“This is unreal, Bruce. It’s like I’m in paradise. I went from living in an abandoned subway station...to the fanciest manor in Gotham! Ah, it’s so nice having all this...space! Not to mention that Bane and Harley aren’t here to argue about nonsense all day long. We have to arrange a move night sometime! Tell me, are you more of a beef jerky or corn bites guy?” John shrugged. “Ah heck, I’ll just bring both! Hehe!”

“Just be sure to keep a low profile,” I reminded him. “The Agency can’t know you’re here. Otherwise, they’ll tear the place apart brick-by-brick, and take you back to Arkham. Or worse -- slap a collar on you like the rest of the Pact. If you ever want to leave the house, there’s a another exit through the Batcave that will draw much less attention than the front door. And try not to go out by yourself, got it? I wanna make sure you’re safe.”

John nodded, giving me a thumbs-up. “Got it!”

“Great. Now, why don’t you go set up your room?”

He smirked at me, picking up his bags. “Oh, I’ve been so excited for this moment, Brucie! Decorating my own room in Wayne Manor,” John sighed in satisfaction. “This is a dream come true. You and I -- we are gonna have so...much...fun!”

Hurrying up the elegant staircase with his belongings, John practically glided to his room as Alfred passed him on the way down, giving the clown a subtle gesture of acknowledgement before making his way to me.

Despite the smile on the butler’s face and his straightened posture, I could still tell something wasn’t quite right, and as soon as John’s echoing cackle disappeared down the corridor, the old man broke his charade, voicing his concerns.

“I mean no disrespect towards your friend, Bruce,” he said lowly, “but are you sure it’s a good idea to have him stay here?”

Alfred and I wandered over to a more secluded corner of the manor, hoping to keep out of earshot while I explained the situation to him.

“I can’t just let John roam around Gotham by himself, Al. He’s not exactly the type of person to lay low, and the Agency’s been keeping an extremely close eye on him lately. One wrong move, and he’ll be behind bars. I have to watch him.”

The butler didn’t appear convinced.

“...Well, perhaps that’s not such a bad thing,” he argued. “I know you care for him, but in the end, John is a criminal. And he must be brought to justice. We can’t ignore that, Bruce. Batman can’t.”

I paused for a moment, unable to deny that Alfred had a point.

Crossing my arms, I checked to make sure John was still out of sight.

“Look, I know John’s made mistakes--”

“--He’s murdered people.” Alfred corrected.

“--But...” I continued, “I don’t think he’s beyond saving. Not yet, anyways. You said it yourself, Alfred. He’s my friend. I can’t just give up on him and toss him in jail. He’s...he’s all I have left. I mean, Tiffany’s with the Agency, Lucius is gone, and now Waller’s threatening to take John away, too. I have to at least try to help him.”

Realizing that there was no way he was going to sway my mind, Alfred let out a defeated sigh and dropped the subject, evidently anxious about what would come in the future.

“...Very well, sir. I trust your decision, but please...proceed with caution. Soon, the time will come when you must choose which is more important: your friendship with John, or your duty as Batman -- and I don’t want your judgement to be hindered.”

I gave him an assuring nod, heading upstairs to check on my friend.

“Don’t worry, Alfred. As much as I care about John, I’m not blind. If I think he’s fallen beyond repair, Batman will be the first one to step in. But he’ll be brought to justice the right way. I won’t let Waller lay a finger on him, no matter what happens.”

From Oswald’s POV

THE STACKED DECK

“The hunt for the Joker continues,” Jack Ryder reported, his voice barely audible over the rock music filling up the bar, “and the police are desperate to find any leads that could help them find the perpetrator. Fortunately for Gotham, the Joker seems to have gone underground recently and has even ‘vanished’ according to some. In the past few days, there have been no reports of any Joker-related crimes, and the green-haired clown hasn’t been spotted by anyone. Normally, a moment of peace such as this would be appreciated, but one can’t help wondering if the reason the Joker has disappeared...is he’s planning something bigger. But of course, we will keep all you viewers out there informed with any updates. I’m Jack Ryder, and you’re watching Gotham TV.”

I softly chuckled at the news and glanced downwards at my beer bottle, happily taking a sip as I watched the chaos unravel in Gotham’s news. At this point, I wasn’t even upset by all the mayhem slowly tearing down this city, and a part of me was even thrilled.

I had learned enough about Gotham to know that its citizens were far from innocent, and the ones who were died ages ago. The only people who survived in this godforsaken place were men in suits, and those controlling them from the shadows. As far as I was concerned, Joker’s hell-raising rampage was nothing but some well-earned karma, and I couldn’t help but laugh. I only hoped that karma also hit Bruce Wayne.

I was still having difficulty imagining that billionaire pretty boy as Batman. Not only did the two of them act nothing alike, but they were also on complete opposite ends of the spectrum.

The Waynes hurt people; killed them, even. Anyone who was brave enough to oppose them got murdered or thrown in Arkham by Thomas...and yet, his son grew up to become a vigilante. Someone who fought against people like his father. Why?

Maybe this was Bruce’s way of making amends? Maybe he knew the truth about his dear, old dad all along, and wore the mask so he could do more good for the world without risking his reputation. Like he did when Joseph bullied me as a kid.

Pft. I didn’t know whether to admire or condemn him.

All I did know...was that I had to kill him. And quickly.

Ordering another drink, I suddenly sensed a presence walking up behind me as the bartender waltzed off, causing me to glance over my shoulder.

Standing not too far away from me, there was a young woman dressed in a neat, grey blazer and high heels, and her brown hair had been tied into an elegant bun. She was equipped with an advanced pistol that hid just beneath her jacket, and in her hand, she held a clipboard. I guessed this woman must’ve been with the Agency. She had that...look.

“So you’re released from prison after an entire year on the inside,” she said, “...and this is the first place you visit? I...guess I see the appeal.”

I paid no mind to her comment.

“I was in Blackgate for quite a while, love. I’d say I deserve a drink.”

The woman stepped closer. “Just make sure you don’t overdo it. I need your senses to be alert.”

Putting the beer down for a moment, I gave her an irritated glare and casually stood up from my chair, approaching the agent.

“And just who the hell are you?” I questioned. “I’m working on assassinating Gotham’s favorite vigilante for you people, yet your lips remain tighter than the security at Blackgate. Can I get a code name, at the very least?”

Surprisingly, the woman reacted in a more-than-friendly manner and held out her hand, smiling warmly at me.

“Agent Iman Avesta,” she introduced. “You met my partner yesterday. Vernon Blake.”

I didn’t return the handshake, and went back to my stool.

“You can call me Oz,” I replied, “but I assume you know that already. The Agency seems to know a lot ‘bout me. So, what, you here to keep an eye on me?”

Avesta took a seat next to me. “Something like that. Waller just wants to make sure you don’t do anything too...rash. I’m sure you understand.”

I quirked a brow. “If she don’t trust me, then why’d she hire me to do the job?”

“Waller has absolute confidence in your skills,” the agent explained, “but that’s the extent of her trust. Not that I blame her. After all, you were associated with the Children of Arkham. It’d be foolish to let you act alone. It’s nothing personal, of course. The Director watches all her ‘allies’ very closely.”

I scoffed. “You mean like the Pact? I know they’re working for her.”

Avesta seemed impressed. “Well, well. Looks like we’re not the only ones who are good at learning secrets. Waller made a good choice, hiring you for the job. I look forward to accompanying you.”

Finishing my drink, I placed the empty bottle aside and turned to the agent.

“...And how exactly does Waller want me to approach this mission?” I asked. “Any rules I should know about? Any lines I can’t cross?”

Avesta shook her head. “Aside from deserting the mission itself, no. The Director has granted you full permission to do anything it takes to kill Batman. And she means anything.”

Slightly nodding in approval, I separated myself from the bar and prepared to leave, Avesta tagging along with me as we strolled outside.

“Well, all right then. If that’s the case, I think I know just what to do for our first step. But I’m gonna need your help finding someone.”

She appeared intrigued. “Oh, really? And who would that be?”

I smirked, eager to get down to business.

“...Ever heard of a man named Joseph Hunt?”

#telltale games #telltale batman #the enemy within #bruce wayne #oswald cobblepot #john doe #joker #cobblebats #batjokes #fanfic #story

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royal-writer · 6 years ago

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If it looks like a snake...

Oohh look at this dusty old thing I found sitting behind the shelves. Welp, this’ll do I suppose.

Another night on the cold hard ground, Essätha regarded with a gloomy sigh. She barely shimmied herself off of the cart and to her feet; which felt wobbly from bouncing on the road, when the groans from some of her comrades began. Speaking her internal dialogue, the faces of her friends all were droopy with abhorrence at the idea of sleeping outside yet again.

Ravamora was the first off the carriage to claim a spot, flopping herself over the nearest worn log at the campsite. She sighed, hiding her face as Aylin hovered to occupy a seat close beside her. His hand patted her head with poised elegant sympathy. His gloved hand almost appeared to be eaten by the dense bounce of her curls.

“I’ll work on pitching tents,” Abernathy grumbled, hopping off the drivers seat. He extended a hand out to Adela, who accepted with smile as he guided the pink Tiefling delicately down the foot board.

“I’ll help,” Sulhadur piped up. His tone by far remained the cheeriest still of them all as he clamored out of the back. Beneath each scaly plated arm, he had the wrapped canvases of their shelters.

“Guess I’ll work on finding firewood,” Essätha mumbled, placing a hand to her aching back. Her eyes flickered ahead of them, to where the Briarton Lord stood. Already ahead of the tasks at hand, the nobleman was walking Maestro to tie her off to a tree a few yards out from camp.

With a sage nod in her direction, Abe turned to look upon Penimra as he purred, “Would you mind aiding Sul and I, mister Korvis?”

“I’ll pass.”

“This one would be willing to help, nister Abe!”

A worn smile reflecting the day’s uncomfortable ride shone upon the Yuan-Ti woman’s face. She offered a look of support to the rounded eyes of the golden bug as they stepped forward. The cleric may be tiny in status, but they were mighty in power.

“Thank you, Pri’cha, your help is always appreciated,” Abe stated warmly, beaming upon them. He turned his eyes to the sulking elf, changing his tone to a slightly firmer implication as he rumbled, “Penimra, perhaps you could instead help by unhitching the horses and tying them off over where Amon is? Rava and Aylin can see about gathering foraged goods to go with the remains of the deer we have. And if you wouldn’t mind also helping in looking for firewood, Adela…?”

“I wouldn’t mind,”she acknowledged, flashing teeth in a lopsided grin.

The elf-man groaned, waving an arm dramatically in the air. His breathy tone gave a tut-tut sound as he replied, “I don’t want to do such a tiresome, mundane job with smelly animals and an old man!”

Curling her lip, Essätha let out a warning hiss in the masked warlock’s direction. “You’re an elf. Doesn’t that mean you’re old? And quit whining; it’s a simple task, Pen. Surely even you know how to tie a knot.”

“I am not old! I’m a respectably age for an elf. Humans age differently, what with their creaking joints and old bones,” he stated, pretending to shake his limbs like a feeble old man.

“Besides, you don’t get to pick sides, Essätha. You’re snogging one of them.”

Her cheeks aglow with a radiant pink, Essie stuck out her slightly forked tongue in response. A very mature response. Totally not at all childish or sassy.

“Don’t be jealous I’m in a committed relationship and you aren’t, Pen.”

“Me? Jealous of you?” Penimra gawked. “Don’t make me laugh.”

She smiled to herself fondly, ignoring the snotty pride in the high-elf’s words with a shrug. She’d only had a go at him in light teasing, but in truth, she’d be jealous of herself if she was, well, not her. Knowing what Amon was like now, understanding the currents of his ocean depths and how they changed, it was exhilarating. She got to experience intimacy from a gentleman who was classy and refined, but who also knew plenty of interesting techniques to have fun.

He was an easy man to love. You fell right into it, without realizing it was there. The gentleness in his touch, the steady calm of his words. He had a strength in his will that made all other things seem brittle and weak by comparison. Amon was dependable in every way; from his wit to his strength to simply just being, and being there come rain or shine.

While the composed orc-elf tried to haggle their whiny magus into manual labor, Essie strolled past the wagon and in the nobleman’s direction. A much more enticing company that beckoned her like a heart fire after a day out in the cold.

Not that they’d be having a fire tonight if she didn’t gather any kindling and fuel to burn. It could wait a few minutes. The darkness wasn’t imminent, and she would be brief.

The dark bay mare’s tail lashed irritably to swat at stubborn horse flies as she approached. Caesar sat obediently at his master’s side where he was most frequently sighted. One long rolling tongue hung out the side of the furry giant’s maw that made it almost hard to believe the dog was meant for hunting. Almost being the word, having seen the mastiff rip open the throat of prey and take a hefty bite out of crooks in their travels.

Caesar perked up first to lift his head and look at her. The heavy wrinkles of his face rose up with his enormous goofy dog-grin and lolling tongue. A subtle swish of his tail turned to excitable thumping; stirring dirt like a miniature whirlwind. It didn’t alert Amon however; even as the beast let out a soft ‘arf’ in the back of his throat, who was accustomed to his companions excitability.

Pressing a finger to her lips in a sign of silence to the pooch, Essätha crept over to the other side of the equine. It snorted at her, tossing their head back and counting a hoof in the dust as the scaly woman reached up to caress the creature’s side.

“Oh come now Maestro, don’t act like that. You like me.”

The horse whinnied in response, shifting closer to where Amon stood on the beast’s opposing side. He lifted his head with the lead still wrapped around his knuckles to glance over at her. He grinned instantaneously as their eyes met. It was irresistible, and made her impulsively craft one of her own in response.

“What are you up to, pretending to sneak up on me like that?” he questioned lightly, pausing to pat the large horse’s to settle her nerves.

Essie reached out, stroking Maestro’s neck as she leaned over to whisper: “If I was sneaking, I wouldn’t have spoke up, and you wouldn’t have caught me until it was too late, m’lord.”

“Really?” Amon drawled, focusing on the binding knot he was making for a time. He paused to glance over his shoulder again, offering a considerate hum. “And what would you done with me, if you’d prowled up unseen?”

She dropped her hand, blowing off horsehair to to acknowledge while beaming proudly, “Captured you into a tight embrace, and submitted you to a shower of kisses. Something like that.”

“That doesn’t sound like a very devious plot, my dear.”

“Who said anything about being devious? If I was feeling a little wicked, I could always deny you the privilege of kissing me back.”

Amon chuckled, dropping the free end of the rope as he finished the knot. He turned back to gaze at her. His dark eyes were lit up with adoration, and his smile had grown so it rounded his cheeks and squinted his eyes with gaiety.

“Now that would be an awful punishment,” the Illiad heir confessed.

“Oh m’lord, no,” she cooed, reaching over the broad animal to caress the tight whiskers at his chin with a tender smile. “You might get a bit antsy, but I assure you, the pleasure of my company would be worth it.”

Her teeth flashed a wide grin as he stared at her, mystified as she finished in a sultry whisper, “I’m sure I could get you to sit down, release your tensions, and allow yourself to be an eager follower for a change. No work, no need to take the reigns, just let it be about you. Sounds nice, hmm, m’lord Amon?”

The nobleman visibly swallowed. His eyes moved over her face in quick flashes as his adam’s apple bobbed. Meeting her gaze, then moving to her mouth. Studying the shape of her cheeks and tresses of hair trying to hide her mocking smirk and examining the fire in her golden brown gaze, or the suggestive quirk in her brow.

He cleared his throat finally, taking her hand from his chin to rest his lips against the edge of her scales and skin. Not a kiss, but the brush of his mouth in a feather-light softness that sent tingles racing up her arm.

“I think you should save that idea, for a more private setting,” he reflected hoarsely, the corners of his lips pulled up.

“Oh, I intend to,” she laughed breathlessly. “I just came over to let you know to be patient with Penimra. I’m sure he’ll try swindling you into unfastening the steeds from the cart to tether, since that’s what Abe’s trying to convince him he’ll be doing.”

The wanton expression diminished from the nobleman’s face swiftly, and he grimaced. “Wonderful.”

Taking her hand back as Amon loosened his grip, she jabbed a thumb in the direction behind her. “I’m picking up firewood. Would you mind throwing bag in our tent, please?”

Creases softened the edges of Amon’s eyes as he murmured, “Like you needed to ask.”

“You’re the best, and I looovvve you,” Essie joyously sang. She placed a kiss in her palm as she stepped back, tossing it gently Amon’s way with a private smile of pure sweetness.

He pretended to catch it in both hands, and placed them against his chest directly over his heart. The spread of the smile on his face meant just for her. Burning with fondness; dazzling like rays of sunshine warming her from the inside out.

“GET A ROOM!”

“BOOF!”

Whipping her head around, Essätha snickered to see Penimra glowering with narrowed eyes of disgust beneath his mask their way. She didn’t get a chance to gloat though, as Caesar came bounding towards the loud-mouth elf in search of attention at his squealing tone. His karma was hilariously immediate, as he shrieked and tried to flee the excitable dog seeking a little attention and affection. Chasing him around the wagon, barking that deep bellowing bork with each bounding step.

Gods bless that dog. What a wingman.

“Caesar!” Amon tried to scold, but his voice broke with amusement.

“Oooh let him have a bit of fun, m’lord,” Essätha giggled, turning for the wood. “He’s getting some exercise, and keeping us all young. Can you blame him for trying to lighten our moods?”

“Don’t make excuses for his behavior,” the nobleman’s voice carried after her, though it lacked any affliction of warning. In fact, he still sounded like he was trying to hold back laughter, as a chorus of other voices chortled and crooned at the sight from the campgrounds.

She rolled her eyes with a grin, and disappeared into the wooded surroundings on her search.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The scaly woman returned with a bundle of sticks and logs in her arms. Some of them rugged, others smelling of faintly dark magic on their freshly cut ends. The earthy aromas of the outdoors seemed to mask the usual aura of sweet honeysuckle and morning dew on her skin, and that of sweat.

Her eyes scanned those surrounding the fire that Abernathy was already tending too. The young elfling and her lackey appeared to be missing, she noted. The soulful bright eyes the rugged nobleman met hers, and lit up like divine moonshine breaking clouds.

She returned the eager grin on her face with one of her own. It hurt her cheeks. He seemed puzzled by her reaction, and it caused the glee written on his features to dilute rapidly. Maybe there was something wrong with her hair? Or something wrong with her outfit? No, she was sure everything was alright.

“Oh ho! Those look like some good burning logs Essätha. You didn’t need to go through all the trouble chopping them up.”

Dropping them in the pile that was already set up, she dusted off her arms and shirt of pieces of bark. “No trouble Abe, it was good practice.”

“Practice?” chimed in Adela. “Feeling out of touch, Essätha?”

“Well,” she mumbled, nervously shrugging her shoulders. “You know, accuracy is very important. After that acid blob I threw splashed on Sulhadur…”

“Please don’t remind me,” a familiar voice called out from their tent.

Adela snickered, trying to hide her face in her hand to avoid the deep scowl she cast the woman. With an enormous huff; knowing she simply had to make due with the mockery, she made her way over to the log that the Protector of the Emerald Expanse sat on. The lines of his forehead were furrowed with a look of concentration as she joined him, examining her once more.

She timidly brushed a self-conscious hand over her clothes. “Did I pick something up, is something on me- Oh-”

Caesar stepped closer, tilting his head slightly towards her. His tail gave a stiff waggle back and forth while he snuffled his face against her leg. The moment she reached out to him, he flinched and took a step back.

Pouting, she curled her fingers to the dog in a gesture for him to come closer. He lowered his head, belly low as he crept forward. As she reached out, her fingers mused along the top of the canine mastiff’s head until he was giving that stupid grin of his, wagging his tail eagerly into the dirt.

“Silly,” she breathed, patting him atop his head.

“Arwoof!”

Her eyes moved back to Amon, and the blank face he wore. It made her heart skip a beat.

“M’lord-?”

His hand reached for her, and she froze. Holding her breath, her tongue darted out to lick her lips. She half expected him to caress her face, but instead, he pulled a small leaf out from the lengthy curls making curtains on either side of her cheekbones.

With a faint smile, he tossed it aside.

“There, much better.”

Sighing with relief, she allowed herself a tight smile. The brush began to shift behind her, and she nearly jumped out of her skin before laughing at herself, recognizing the figures of the muscular Drow and high-spirited elfling.

“We’re back! And we found mushrooms, wild cherries, elderberries, bird eggs, and some onions!”

“Well save the berries for after dinner,” the eldest paladin advised. “And away from Essätha, so she doesn’t eat them all.”

“Hey!”

Rava gazed at her from the corner of her eye, opening her mouth to reveal a cherry pit she spat into the dirt. The little show-off monster.

“Hand them to Pri’cha,” Adela added, giving the rogue a parental Look. “I’m sure you had enough on the walk back to satisfy for a while, Rava.”

“We may have had to return to pick some more,” Aylin agreed calmly. “Since we found the onions after, and once digging them up, realized we were out of cherries…”

“Greedy hairball,” the scaled woman joked, sticking her nose up to the child as she offered her goods to the Thri-Kreen. The young elf stuck her tongue out at her in reply before looking away.

She watched with comfortable calm as the others went about taking apart and cleaning the mushrooms, piting the cherries, and breaking apart the onions to add into the pan on the fire. Her butt shimmied across the age-smoothed wood of the log and closer to Amon, so their thighs brushed close. He wrapped an arm lightly against her waist as she rested her head to his shoulder, sighing. Her eyes upturned to stare up at his face, but it was impassive and focused on the flames and crackling pan of vegetables and meat.

Must be hungry, she mused with a yawn while cuddling up against his side. A good meal would do her some good. Get some rest, wake up to some leftovers, and get them all out and moving in an orderly fashion.

It should be a piece of cake.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Stretching, the scaled woman smacked her lips as she sat down the empty mess kit tin she’d been feasting out of her. Her tummy felt warm with the meal. It wasn’t too bad, Aylin had added some herbs he’d found and the peppery taste wasn’t too bad. The onions were strong though, no amount of cooking had broken down the sharp aftertaste it left on her tongue.

“Ugghh I missed the taste of breakfast,” she remarked. “The eggs might have been chewy but they were better than Sul’s pheasant a few days ago. I could use something sweet though; maybe a danish, or-”

“PANCAKES!” the tiny elfling shrieked at the top of her lungs, raising both arms in the air.

Penimra winced, shoving the child off her seat with an elbow while clasping a hand over each pointed ear.

“I’m right beside you, kid. You don’t need to yell.”

“She’s just excited to get moving,” she defended, giving a sympathetic smile to the child as she scrambled back over the wood. Her expression was irate, but Aylin’s visor turned to black holes of rage as he glowered in the Gibbith follower.

Grabbing hold of her mess kit, she dunked it in the nearby bucket of purified water to rinse off before wiping it down. She was on her feet quickly with a grunt, wiping it down with a rag as she walked through the campsite, straight on through to where Amon was adjusting the bags on Maestro’s saddle.

“Good morning, m’lord!”

The nobleman jerked with surprise. He looked over his shoulder at her, with a still glazed look in his eyes. Not enough sleep, she surmised easily. She reached out to the pony as she stepped past, and it turned its head to her. A vacant and bland look of an unintelligent creature, its teeth chewing on some feed it picked up from the ground.

Amon was silent, fixing the straps so not to be too lose or too tight on the beast. It lowered its head as she ran her fingers through its mane, snatching up another mouthful of whatever grassy weed it found suitable to eat at the moment.

“Good morning, Essätha.”

“Don’t look so down. If we don’t take too many long breaks, we should reach the rest point town on to our next destination,” she pointed out. “That means actual bedding, and a homecooked meal from real cooks. Sounds good, eh?”

He gave her a weary smile of tiredness, nodding his head.

“I suppose you’re right,” he agreed, patting Maestro on the neck.

She beamed at him, and went to skip back to the camp. Her bag still needed to be repacked, and thrown into the wagon.

The nobleman looked from his mare to her with unease before going back to tugging the leather straps into place.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It was a lengthy day ride, with only enough stops for bathroom breaks. She tried not to be too chatty, but everyone was interested in babbling today, so she entertained and dabbled in conversation here and there. They laughed, they groaned, people rolled their eyes and everything went smoothly. Well, with the exception of the ride itself, as they rocked and bounced along the road.

She could see the glow of lanterns in houses and outdoor street lamps as they rode on through the path towards the tiny town. Her smile grew wider the closer they got. A thrill in her chest, nearly bubbling over the edge.

As they came to a halt, nearing the stables, Amon was the first off his horse. She remained where she was near the front, whipping her head around and snorting. In the most courteous of fashions, he hurried to the back of their wagon to offer out a hand to her.

Quirking a partial smile in response, she accepted.

Her boots thudded to the ground, and with violent suddenness, she was yanked around. A shout of alarm alerted the others, who turned their appalled faces towards the commotion so fast their necks probably got whiplash. She tried to struggle, but her arms were restrained behind her back in a tight grip and a blade was close to her throat.

A threatening voice bordering on hate rasped close to her ear, chilling her to the core.

“Where is Essätha Meduza?”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Their mouths hung open with shock. Amon couldn’t understand what their astonishment was about, unless they were more stunned by their own ability to see the truth before them. How could they stare upon this imposter, and think she was their Essie?

“But how did you know?” Pri’cha whispered with awe, looking up at him.

From behind the priestess, he could make out Penimra muttering, “She must have kissed wrong.”

He remained silent, looking down at the brunette glaring up at him. All she could do was glare daggers at him behind dark brown eyes, with her arms bound and voice muffled beneath the improvised wrappings to keep the casters from hexing them. She was admittedly close in stature to Essätha, which helped her illusion, but she still was not Essie. Not quite as thin, no where near as ethereal.

He hadn’t kissed her. Not once. It wasn’t a kiss that alerted him. He didn’t need a kiss to know.

“We need to get to the theater immediately,” he growled, raising his eyes to the others. “Before they realize their ruse has ended, and they do something to the real Essätha.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He dropped his sword. Not bothering to wipe the glistening blood off, or even sliding it back into its scabbard. It clattered to the floor beside the dead guard as he rushed across the room in a haste. His boots caught up on the uneven carpet, but he saved himself from tripping over it or the furls of his cloak as he made his way over to the shackled figure kneeling beside a desk.

Amon’s hands shook as he reached up to her, gingerly examining a knot her forehead. She shied away nervously from his touch with rounded eyes. Speckles of dark brown stains; dried blood he realized, were on her clothes as well as the gauzy dirty fabric they’d wrapped around her mouth and throat.

“Just sit still a moment longer,” he muttered, reaching around her head to find the gnarled knot. He leaned around her to work on it, realizing how it was entangled in her tangled locks. Flecks of dried blood came off her roots and onto his fingertips as he worked the material loose. In a few careful loops and rips, he managed to unravel the cloth to unwind it from around her face.

Essie coughed weakly as fresh air hit her dry lips. Amon hovered, his hands splayed out but not quite touching her. He went to reach for a dagger at his hip as another hand appeared in his peripherals, before realizing it was Abernathy’s hand. He turned his eyes shamefully away for a moment, as the teal man grazed his fingertips to her shoulder to expel a wash of healing light over her bruised form.

“Here,” Sulhadur offered, holding out a waterskin. He accepted it with a grateful nod, and pressed it into the Yuan-Ti woman’s shaky hands.

Her face grew splotches of discolored flush with embarrassment at her weakness. He looked from her shameful eyes to her hands, and gently took the water back. He uncapped it and sat up higher on his knees, offering her the drink with a steady hand.

The eyes of their friends turned away. Some respectfully; not wanting to ogle at the dilapidated state of their comrades. Others were more sheepish to see such an act of open love and devotion. Careful not to spill a drop, or tip too far despite the rapid gulps of her parched throat.

When the container was out of water, Essätha gasped dizzily for air. She tilted forward uneasily, right into Amon’s awaiting arms. The metallic smell of blood was in her hair, mixed with sweat. Her face nested against his upper chest with a god-awful tired sigh of gratitude.

"How did you know she wasn't me?" Essätha echoed in a belated echo to their friends, a ghost of a smile on her face. She peered up at him beneath lengthy dark lashes, just barely leaning back from his torso for him to properly see her expression. His worn hands glided along his sides gently, up to her shoulders in slow circular motion.

"They were pretty convincing. Even to me, it was like looking in a mirror. When she jumped me in the forest, I couldn’t believe I was fighting… me."

Amon offered a quiet scoff. His fingers; already knotted in the ringlets on the side of her face, stroked along her cheeks as his forehead pressed to hers.

"She didn't have your eyes," he murmured, observing the rush of pink dust over her features. "Or hold her smile, the same way you do. Or laugh; lacking your giddiness and charm. And she wasn't nearly as lovely and witty as you."

The cast of color grew darker as he spoke, until she was nervously glancing from him. Her hands; the palms he recognized for their gentle ways, laid over the hands he rested to her cheeks. The rounded edges full in his hands as she smiled. A gentle, nervous smile that he could recognize a mile away. Oh that fiendish mole had thought she'd pulled the wool over their eyes; having spied on them so long, gathered her intel damn near to the letter but he was not so easily blinded. She'd lacked the character and depth just as much as she had the tell-tale cues of her body language.

There was only one Essätha. And now she was right here, safe in his hands, staring up at him and away with all the bashful, squirming timidness of a woman who was so used to not being seen for who she was inside.

But oh, how he knew her. No magic or makeup could ever make him forget this splendid face. All the layers and spectrums she had; each one more stunning and wonderful as the last. She was unique; unparalleled, a one-of-a-kind you could not simply steal the vision of a face of and become. He would recognize her anywhere in a crowd of false deceivers wearing the same illusion; his darling Essätha.

He knew the truth the moment he saw the fake. Even prior to Caesar’s odd reaction, or Maestro’s careful curiosity. They had sensed the change in a way the rest of them could not but he could be blinded, and still feel the wrongness in the air and in the tone of the stranger. He had to be sure though, when to lead them on and when best to strike.

Now they had deconstructed at least part of a cult out to manipulate and destroy them from the inside, in one swipe of the blade.

Not that that mattered an inkling to the gravity that was having his Essie, safe.

Amon released the flawless perfection of her face, to wrap his arms carefully around her. She squeaked with alarm as he hoisted her up princess style. Her body leaned into him as he rested her against his chest, where she scrunched up tightly to grasp the fur lining of his cloak in both hands. A vibrant and pleading light glimmering in her butterscotch eyes. A look that simply couldn’t be faked, couldn’t be replicated, and was brimming with shyness, affection and appreciation.

As the group scattered, most moving to leave while a few stranglers inspected the room for anything they might have missed, Amon glanced down at the heart-melting warmth of the smiling face, looking up at him.

“Let’s take you out of here, and get you somewhere safe to clean up, eat a hot meal, and get some rest.”

Puzzled, Essie’s smile faltered a little before reigniting. She unfurled her fingertips from one hand digging into the bear fur to reach up, and cup the side of his face.

“I am safe,” she whispered. Her head shifted against his shoulder; eyes darting around to catch sight of the figures of the strange gaggle of people moving around before meeting his regard once more.

“I’m safe and I’m home, because I’m with you.”

Amon sucked in a startled breath of air, his arms clutching tightly to the maddening grin of a woman so utterly beautiful, she made him speechless. And he most definitely in that very moment, was speechless. Searching her stunning face, wondering how in the world he got so lucky to have someone so gentle and kind in his life. Not for the first time, but the unwavering dedication and boundless love was more than he ever deserved from any woman, let alone to have one in his life that he once had raised, and now one who looked at him like he put the stars in the sky.

Swallowing the lump in his throat, he leaned in to rub his nose against hers, listening to the charming melody of her elated giggling he knew so fondly. He squeezed her close, his voice a thick rasp spoken in a billowing softness to her.

“Then let’s go be at home, together.”

#eci artz #Essie rw #amon illiad #essamon ship

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tmnt-veelicious · 6 years ago

Text

Across the Stars - Ch.10

Oooohh myyy goooood, sorry for the long delay guys !! I kind of had a slight writer’s block right in the middle of this chapter and it was frustrating >:’Y !! But now it’s done and I can’t wait to get to the next chapter :) THERE’S A LOT OF CUTENESS IN THIS AND LOTS OF FEELING (my kokoro is brokoro) Have fun reading ! If there’s errors I’m sorry~ I’ll try to fix them soon :’D

First Chapter --> HERE Previous Chapter --> HERE Next Chapter --> HERE

Vee woke up to the sight of the blanket fort still hanging above, the white and purple fairy lights placed at the room's ceiling still shining faintly through the fabric. She smiled lazily, stretching her naked body, tangled in covers. She felt something on her torso, bringing up the necklace Donnie gave her last night. The amethyst was of a nice purple shade, its teardrop shape delicate and not too extravagant. She wondered if the mutant had assembled it for her, musing about the fact that amongst gemstones enthusiasts the amethyst was said to possess stress relieving properties. As well as being her birthstone, she laughed internally at how much of the opposite she was, plagued with anxiety. She glanced to the mutant still sleeping at her side, rolled on his stomach, face half-hidden into the pillow. Her heart sank at such sight, tempted to roll over to him, but her gaze caught on the purple mask laying slightly above, forgotten in bed. An idea crossed Vee's mind, smiling playfully as she grabbed the clothe, carefully wrapping it around her head, placing the opened spaces above her eyes. She next got a hold of her phone, turning the camera on and getting a glimpse of her new look. Purple wasn't one of her most favorite colors, but she had to agree that this shade wasn't too bad, nicely bringing out the green hues in her eyes. It didn't take long before she started taking selfies, some serious, smiling, others goofy, quiet giggles escaping her. ''What are you doing?'' asked Donnie's tired voice. Vee gasped, her body slightly jolting, causing her to drop the phone on her face as she was laying on her back. She bursted into laughters, pushing the device aside and rubbing her hurting features. When she looked back at the turtle she could notice an amused smile on his face, the woman trying to look pitiful in return, although that failed. ''It's my birthday today, I can do what I want,'' she said, her giggles betraying her. Donnie moved, bringing the other in his arms and playfully giving kisses all around her features. He took advantage of this new position to take the woman's phone and bringing it up high so she wouldn't steal it from his hold. He got a look at her pictures, either laughing or stating that he wanted her to send him this or that one. ''You look good in purple,'' he commented sweetly. Vee snorted, blushing as she hid her face shyly. As she felt the turtle give some kisses on top of her head, she did not realize that he was taking pictures at the same time, soon trailing down to her lips. He put the phone down after a few more shots, finally back to hugging Vee properly. A small sigh left him before he attempted to say: ''Bonne fête, mon amour.'' (Happy birthday, my love) Vee's eyes snapped open, suddenly throwing back her head and laughing harder. ''Oh my god, no! Your accent is adorable!'' she commented. ''Hey, at least I tried!'' grinned the other. ''And it is highly appreciated,'' added Vee, leaving a quick peck on Donnie's nose. *** She barely exited Donnie's room that she was greeted by large handfuls of confettis, the colorful paper pieces provoking a yelp from the woman. She was next playfully yanked by a strong hand, twirled around as a plastic crown was placed on top of her head, crazy-looking sunglasses over her glasses and a large hand-knitted purple scarf around her neck. When she was finally released, trying to stand still but her dizzyness making it hard, she heard a camera, its flash blinding her for some seconds. ''Like a real queen of the ball,'' chuckled Raph's voice. ''More like a freak!'' started Vee, lifting the sunglasses off her face. ''What the fuck just happened?'' she laughed next. ''Your birthday, that's what's happening, angelcakes!'' cheered Mikey. ''That was just the beginning.'' ''Oh no, no, no,'' scolded Vee in amusement. ''I must warn you all, karma's a bitch and whatever you do today to me will come back to you worse times ten!'' She next felt Leo's arm go around her shoulders, grinning as the group made their way towards the kitchen. ''Oh please, we would never do anything bad on such a special day,'' said the leader, sly. ''That sounds shady as fuck, you're not helping your case.'' ''Nonsense,'' added Mikey, catching her gaze. ''We just wanna make sure that you're not missing anything today.'' She knew he was trying to divert her eyes from something else... She was suddenly turned around, seeing Raphael holding a small cake. ''How 'bout something sweet?'' he asked with a grin, bringing the dessert to meet with Vee's face. All three turtles started to laugh as they saw Vee's surprised face, gasping, her features covered in icing and cake. She eyed the three brothers, trying to look mean, but smiling nonethless. ''It'd be too bad if I didn't share!'' she suddenly said, grasping some remains of the cake, throwing it first at Raph and then the others. Things changed for a friendly food fight, laughters never stopping. They didn't see Donnie coming in, intrigued by all the noise, until he received a projectile of icing right in his glasses. Everyone stopped, looking at him, until Vee laughed again, hilarity invading her regarding this whole scene. Donnie smiled in turn, removing his glasses, setting them aside on a nearby counter. He didn't know who threw that, but he prefered to put the blame on the woman, swiftly going to her and rubbing more of the dessert on her face. ''I hate you all!'' laughed Vee, her sides hurting from all the fun she was having. So far, this beat all her previous birthdays, that's for sure! *** After a quick clean-up, Vee and Donatello were back at the kitchen, the woman sitting at the table as the other insisted he'd cook breakfast. She knew the turtle was no culinary prodigy, but at least he knew how to cook eggs! Vee took that time to mindlessly look at things on her phone until a message popped up, this one being from her mother. At first she froze, frowning, until a long sigh escaped her, leaving the device to rest on the table in an ungraceful let down. That motion and sound grabbed Donnie's attention, curious as he saw Vee cross her arms before her, a slight displeased look on her face. ''What's wrong?'' he asked, adding the final touches to the plates. A new sigh came out, Vee taking off her glasses, rubbing her face, trying to change her mood perhaps. ''… It's my mom,'' she started. ''She's wishing me a happy birthday, okay, cool … but then she has to bring the same subject over and over again.'' ''Which is?'' Donnie added, sitting down and setting the food on the table. He didn't even ask for more as he grabbed her phone, opening it, only realizing at the last moment that this was probably a breach in privacy. But he only felt like he was staring into a void as the message was in French. ''She asked me if I want to go back home,'' answered Vee, her gaze looking down, somehow angry. ''She says I have no future here, that what I'm trying to do is useless and a waste of time, energy and money. … And everytime I tell her she's wrong, she gets mad and I don't know what to do.'' She tried to contain her tears, rubbing the corners of her eyes in order to prevent any leaks. ''… I'm so tired, Donnie. I'm tired that not even my family wants to give me a chance. I want to do so many things but I don't know where to look. I feel trapped and I want to scream, … but nothing gets out and it hurts inside.'' She didn't even need to look up to know that he was staring at her. A hiccup escaped her as she hid her eyes, ashamed. She felt like she was ruining everything, knowing the day had started on such a good note. She only heard the mutant's chair slide, then feeling his form walking to her, kneeling down so he could be at her level. He said nothing, gently bringing Vee into an embrace, the woman finally giving up as some soft cries escaped her. ''I-I don't want to leave,'' she sobbed. ''I want t-to be with you. My life is here.'' ''Shh, you're not leaving, you're not going anywhere,'' reassured Donnie. He let her pour her feelings for some moment, knowing this was the only good thing to do. … Vee rarely spoke about her family. He knew she didn't have a strong attachment, but to him the idea of fleeing your loved ones was kind of a foreign concept. Of course he and his brothers had arguments at times and he did wish he was left alone … but Donnie knew he'd never be able to go on his own way and leave them behind. For this reason he had respect for the woman. He thought she was strong, even if he didn't know the whole story. When he felt that she was starting to calm down, the turtle slightly tightened his embrace, sighing as he left some kisses on top of her head. ''Don't let this matter bring you down. Everything you do has its worth, believe me,'' he murmured, nuzzling her. She hated herself. She hated her mind, her creative strength. Oh how many times had she wished to be blessed with another life path. Vee tried to hush her thoughts, knowing voicing them would only create more tears or problems. Her tears had stopped, eyes closed to end the burning sensation. She calmed her breathing, burrowing her face in the other's neck. ''… I'm sorry. Y-you're right. I shouldn't break down because of that, I-'' ''It's not about me being right,'' cut Donnie. ''It's about acknowledging what's important for you!'' He backed her gently, cupping the bottom of her face and erasing the remaining wet trails. ''You want to be an artist? Go for it,'' he continued. ''I will support and root for you because I know that's what makes you happy. I love the way you look whenever you sing. I love how calm you are when drawing or practicing the piano. And I love how passionate you are about everything you do... We need artists in this world so they can remind us how beautiful and poetic life can be. I see billion of stars in your eyes … and oh how do I hate when I see their light flicker whenever you're upset.'' Vee was unable to answer, her breath choking, a smile appearing on her lips as some new tears came rolling down, touched by his words. She could feel his thumbs at work again, Donnie showing a faint smile. ''… There you are,'' he said calmly. ''You look wonderful, sublime, amazing, dare I say divine?'' ''You're going to make me cry again, you dorky poet,'' lightly laughed Vee. ''I can't help myself. Ever since I laid my eyes on you, you kept inspiring me...'' He left a soft kiss on her forehead, a low churr escaping him, his whole self trying to recomfort the woman. ''Today is going to be a wonderful day,'' added the turtle. ''I will treat you like royalty and make you forget about everything wrong in this world.'' ''You already treat me like royalty!'' giggled Vee. ''I won't forget how you call me 'princess' sometimes.'' Donnie showed a cocky grin, winking playfully. '''Cause I can't deny the truth when it's right in front of me!'' The woman's answer was a renewed hug, glad he could have shift the mood around. She couldn't help leaving some light kisses on his skin, whispering ''I love you''. How he could easily calm her anxiety was still a mystery to Vee, but it wasn't unwelcomed. For a long time she thought she could never find peace … yet here it was now in her arms. She glanced at the table after a while, smirking. ''I think we should get to breakfast before it gets cold,'' she murmured with a faint laugh. ''Wouldn't want to waste the rare opportunity of you cooking.'' *** As the evening settled in, Vee was surprised when Donnie told her they'd be taking the van to a certain destination. The woman couldn't contain her excitement, knowing it'd be the first time she'd be on the road with him She didn't even questionned how he learned to drive, she simply knew he'd be good at it. Vee did notice some stuff at the back of the van, but she gave it no real care, too eager for the adventure that was ready to unfold. Music playing, a hand holding the other's, the trip began, Donnie forever silent about their final destination, his smile never fading. Soon enough they were out of the city, lights fading, giving sight to a sea of trees and a black sky. The driving seemed endless, but Vee could care less, joy forever printed on her features, her eyes scanning the surroundings, an idea somehow growing in her mind. When they went off road, into a manmade path that led deep into the woods, Vee knew. She knew he remembered... Everything was dark, both of them finally alone in the world. The woman could easily see some stars glistening above, welcoming her into this new year of her life. When Donnie stopped the van, they were in the middle of a small clearing, the trees distanced enough to let them see the sky. The turtle left a kiss on top of Vee's hand, grabbing her attention right then. ''There's a meteor shower tonight,'' he started. ''I thought you'd like to see it.'' ''Like it? Donnie, I'd LOVE it!'' beamed Vee, her grin never faltering. Excitement pushed her to rush into his arms and lap, covering his features in kisses. Her joy was contagious as the mutant couldn't help showing the same smile. Soon they were both out, Donnie grabbing what he had brought in the van. He placed his telescope near the side of the vehicule, the side doors opened so he could place various blankets around the van's floor, creating makeshift seats. He also brought out a bottle of red wine, grinning in amusement, knowing this was a reminder of their date on the rooftop. The surroundings were plunged in darkness, except for the faint green fairy lights found in the van, which brought a sort of surreal air to the scene. As he turned around to offer a glass to Vee, he noticed how she was already occupied at the telescope, observing the night sky, a faint smile on her lips. He came next to her, a soft, happy sigh leaving him as he studied her form. Then he glanced up to the sky, appreciating how he could see much more stars compared to when in the city. ''Do you know why I love space?'' started Vee, still looking through the lense. The turtle looked down to her. ''Do tell,'' he answered. The woman stood back up, her eyes still fixed on the sky. She seemed serene and glad, finally at peace... ''It reminds me how problems can seem insignificant at times. We are nothing more but a tiny spec in a vast universe and what seems like mountains to us are just small bumps in the void... When things go bad in my life, when I feel like it's the end of the world, I try to remind myself that I'm just an ant on this ant mill we call Earth. There's so many things bigger than us, so many things undiscovered, so many wonders to find. … I can't stop myself when facing a petty problem. I need to go forward.'' She finally glanced at Donnie, her soft smile still present. ''Sometimes things are hard, life's a bitch, but what hurts me makes me feel alive. I see my anxiety as an overdose of that feeling; it's my body's way of telling me that I need to stop and think. Wonder where's my place in all of this, in this universe. … It may never be big nor important, but I may choose where it leads and how it can affect my life and the one of those around me.'' She moved towards him, next taking the glass out of his hands, the turtle's eyes forever fixed on her. ''When I see you,'' she added, calm. ''I see a future; something grand, something more. I can finally dream, I can believe! … You're the greatest gift I could ever have.'' The ghost of a smile went over Donnie's features, visibly touched by her words. For the rare occasion, he didn't know what to say. He often felt this way when around Vee, her whole self mesmerizing him. She had that wise aura he could never cease being in awe of... He had unconsciously closed the final thread of distance between them, cupping her face oh so gently and simply leaning down so he could leave a kiss on her lips. He loved her. So, so, much. He wanted to keep her close, protect her, tell her that his life seemed so much brighter ever since she appeared... She was his star, forever shining in the sky, forever warming him. ''My love...,'' he whispered, still close. Vee kissed him back again, tenderly, loving the feel of his lips against hers. As the feeling was growing, a beeping sound suddenly stopped them, Vee's eyes wide with surprise and confusion. Donnie straigthened up, looking at a device on his wrist, turning the alarm off. He grinned, pointing the sky. ''Good thing I thought about that alarm! It's about to start.'' Vee's smile was as big as his, both of them next getting to the van, sitting at the edge of the opened space. The woman was seated in-between the other's legs, Donnie next bringing a blanket around them and their shoulders, leaving enough space for Vee to be able to drink from times to times. Their eyes were glued to the sky, eagerly waiting for the celestial show to begin. … A bright line painted itself across the sky in a quick gesture, soon followed by two and three more, never stopping. Vee couldn't hide her amazement, sighing in delight. ''Best birthday ever...,'' she mused, leaning against her lover's torso, appreciating his heat. Donnie seemed to remember something, moving an arm out of the blanket, reaching for a bag. ''I still have something to give you!'' Vee faked being shocked: ''Stop spoiling me!'' ''Never!'' scolded the other in an amused tone. He got a small wooden box out, presenting it before the woman. The design wasn't too extravageant, some ornemental carvings found on the top lid. Vee set her glass down, intrigued. She gently took the box, looking around it until the other told her to open it. It was empty, but as soon as the lid was opened, a sweet melody started playing. It didn't take time for Vee to recognize the tune as Debussy's Clair de Lune, the woman staying still as she listened. She did observe that something was engraved on the interior of the top lid: ''D + V'', with some hearts surrounding the letters. It was cheesy, but she loved it. ''Did … did you make this?'' asked Vee, somehow choking up on her feelings. She felt Donnie's arms around her waist, the turtle nuzzling her hair, smiling. ''Indeed,'' he answered sweetly. ''… I had to ask Raph some pointers about carving, but I assembled pretty much everything. Getting the music was the hard part. … But for you, it was worth it.'' He left some kisses around before adding: ''… Put things that remind you of us in this box, so that whenever you feel sad and I can't be around, you'll have something to smile to. It's maybe not much, and I wish I could always be by your side, but I can assure I poured all my heart into this...'' Vee sighed, closing the box and leaning against the turtle once more, her smile glued to her features. ''Why are you perfect?'' she mused, keeping the wooden box in her arms, close to her torso. ''Nothing is perfect in this world,'' snickered Donnie, his gaze going for the sky, observing the on-going shower. ''Well, to me you are, especially compared to my exes...'' His attention snapped back to her, knowing she had never really mentionned her previous relationships. He knew she had some, but that's the only detail he ever had about them... ''… What were they like?'' he dared ask. Vee puffed a small laugh, grinning in amusement. ''Oh, you know, at first they seem like the perfect gentlemen, but then they tend to take you for granted and give you no attention whatsoever... The first one never really made any efforts for me, thinking he'd only need to show his face from times to times for me to stay by his side. And then my second, and previous one, fell into a routine. Our chemistry was already thin, but with time it hardly hanged by a fragile thread. I was left alone, only used for pleasure.... It was a nightmare and I knew I had to run from it.'' She sighed, closing her eyes for a moment. ''I've never asked for much. I want to be valued for who I am, what I am. I don't want to be a trophy nor a tool. … I want to be a partner. Too many times people have misjudged me and on many occasions they have regretted it.'' She could feel Donnie's hold tighten around her a little, nuzzling her hair. ''People don't know what they're missing, that's all,'' he started. ''… Meeting you was probably one of the greatest thing in my life and, to be honest, I've never connected that much with someone before.'' He took a pause, somehow uneasy all of a sudden. ''But Vee … you do know that I can't always give you attention? I mean, with patrols and the stuff I have to work on, sometimes things get out of hands.'' Vee straightened up, looking up to the mutant. ''Oh gosh, Donnie, please don't think that I'm insinuating anything with what I said! I am perfectly aware of your lifestyle and your family's role in the city. I have such respect for you and your brothers. … The fact that you can find some moments to be with me, it's highly appreciated.'' She nuzzled his neck, sighing. ''You're so much different than these two others, believe me. … I too never connected that much with anyone and I can't believe I'm this lucky to have you by my side.'' Her eyes met his, the world suddenly silent. Her voice became a whisper, only for him to hear. ''I feel like I've been on a long journey and only now have I found its ending goal: you.'' They were now close, one of Donnie's hands in the woman's hair, forever gentle. They were studying eachother's features, always in awe of one another's beauty... ''I could travel amongst galaxies only to find you,'' continued Vee, her voice still soft. ''The love of my life, my everything... my soul.'' She could notice some traces of water in Donatello's eyes, touched by her words once more. He closed them though, smiling weakly as he left his forehead against the human's, the woman closing her eyes in turn. ''That's not fair,'' said the turtle with a faint chuckle. ''It's your birthday, I'm supposed to be the one to shower you with nice words!'' Vee's answer was to kiss him tenderly. They didn't know if time had stop or was simply lingering, but everything felt so slow and yet so perfect at this very moment. Their hands trailed around eachother's skin, translating their love, forever grateful to be together... They felt like their hearts were bursting with every ounce of love they ever had, feeling oh so complete with one another. As the kiss ended, they were back to observing the meteors, staying close. Donnie was slightly surprised though as he started to hear a melody being sung by Vee, the human looking calm and simply happy. ''Poets often use many words To say a simple thing It takes thought and time and rhyme To make a poem sing With music and words I've been playing For you I have written a song To be sure that you known what I'm saying I'll translate as I go along Fly me to the moon And let me play among the stars Let me see what spring is like On jupiter and mars In other words, hold my hand In other words, darling kiss me Fill my heart with song And let me sing forever more You are all I long for All I worship and adore In other words, please be true In other words, I love you Fill my heart with song And let me sing forever more You are all I long for All I worship and adore In other words, please be true In other words, I love you.'' Oh how he loved whenever she sang, her voice forever filled with a multitude of emotions. He could only keep her close, whispering sweet words in her ear, telling her how insanely in love he was with her. Forever his princess, his love, his muse. Nothing and no one could ever bring him this much bliss... *** Ever since that meteor shower, Vee had never felt that much more alive. Love was giving her a renewed energy she had long sought, her creativity going wild, often found drawing or practicing the piano whenever she'd be at the lair. She was inspired to create so many things, polishing her portfolio and putting more energy into searching new job opportunities. She was always smiling, that positivity not escaping Donatello's attention. He couldn't help his own smile as he was working on his computer, hearing Vee playing nearby, practicing some melody. His attention shifted though as he saw Leonardo come to his desk, the leader softly clearing his throat as if to chase away some uneasiness he had. ''Hey Donnie.'' Something somehow felt off... ''Hey!'' greeted back the purple clad turtle, swinging his chair to face his brother. Leo folded his arms before him, slightly biting his lip for some seconds, thoughtful. ''… I was wondering if you could help me?'' Donnie raised a brow, confused at his brother's behavior. ''Uhm, yeah sure, you want me to fix something?'' ''No, it's not about that... It's about someone.'' Both could hear Vee's playing suddenly stopping, the woman showing a smile as she was looking in their direction. ''Did I hear that well?'' she started, amused. She got off from her seat, going towards them. ''Did you meet someone?'' she asked Leo, grinning. ''Well, we meet lots of people, Vee,'' pointed Donnie. ''I don't see how that's out of the ordinary..'' He stopped, frowning, looking back at the leader. ''Unless.... How's that someone special now?'' Leo let out a faint chuckle, somehow timid. ''Her name's Mikasa,'' he started. ''I first met her back in november and we've been meeting ever since. … Now she wants to visit.'' Vee's grin had never been bigger, already eager to hear more about this Mikasa. Donnie on his part was pensive, a billion questions popping in his mind. ''Then why do you need my help?'' asked the tall turtle. ''Is there something special that needs to be done?'' ''I just want people to be around,'' said Leo. ''I- … I dont want this to be awkward. I feel so nervous when she's around.'' ''Oh my god, Leo, are you in love?'' dared ask Vee, still smiling. The blue clad turtle suddenly blushed, slightly grimacing. He let ouf a quick sigh, pinching the base of his nose, trying to calm his thoughts. ''No! I mean, maybe. I don't really know... It's a bit complicated right now.'' He glanced up to Vee. ''I was wondering if you and April could be here too? I guess I'd need some human input to know if she's alright or not...'' ''Goddamn, Leo, you're not bringing her to court and right before a jury!'' laughed Donnie. ''Why do you need her to be judged and all that stuff?'' ''Because I value my family's opinion! If they think something feels off about her, I'll simply stop everything.'' ''Don't you trust your own judgment?'' asked Vee, curious. ''… Yes and no. I've done things I'm not proud of and now I don't want to do that same mistake again.'' Vee and Donnie frowned, glancing at eachother. Both shrugging, they decided to drop that intriguing case, the purple clad mutant joining his hands, somehow trying to look professional. ''Want me to do a background check before she comes?'' ''If it's not much trouble, yes.'' Donnie chuckled, adjusting his glasses: ''Oh please, don't underestimate my skills.'' That brought up an amused smile on Leo's face. He knew he shouldn't feel this hesitant, but the very idea of bringing someone new here always played on his nerves... He wanted everything to be perfect.

#chapter #fanfic #fanfiction #tmnt #tmnt donatello #tmnt leonardo #tmnt raphael #tmnt michelangelo #oc #selfinsert #fancharacter #tmnt 2014 #tmnt 2016

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writinalexx · 3 years ago

Text

Jale's Journey/post four

I apologize for the lack of posts! Dog had medical issues (he's okay now) and I have been off of most social media this week. I will get back on schedule now though!

"Commander, we're ready to move. Is Sire good now?" James asked, breaking away from a conversation.

Jale nodded. "Yes, he should be good for a few hours. We'll take a break at the river on the edge of the forest, which should only take about five hours to reach."

His second in command nodded and turned to relay the message while Jale brought the horse to the wagon. With some snaps and grunts, he hooked the heavy wooden harness to the beast. Then connected the metal chains to the vehicle before giving him a comforting pat.

"Carry us far."

The tall man took a moment to inspect the wheels, grey wooden rims fitted against silver metal rungs. They seemed to be in good shape, which was relieving.

"Alright, we move. Sah, I want you up front with me, James I refuse to let you ride in the back today. Lucas, Derik you two can start the cycle." His commands silenced the group with ease.

A few of the men gave verbal acknowledgments and the others nodded. Once in position, Jale urged his steed on and the cart rolled forward.

They hadn't made it far down the road before the prisoner spoke up, not uncommon for someone facing his fate. Usually, they begged to be freed into the unforgiving lands or even to be killed before facing their torture. But this one was different, he didn't do any of that. Instead, the man asked a question.

"Think the Divinities will end the drought soon?"

Silence hung in the air, the guards not rewarding him with a conversation.

Unphased, the ginger tried again. "They can't keep the rain away forever, right? Unless they want this to become a desert, but that seems unlikely, the forest isn't as bad."

Still, no one responded, but the words made the commander think. This man had a point, unfortunately.

The sting of the air got worse as they traveled with the rambles, but not in a normal sense. Jale felt chills spreading over his body, and he reacted by glancing around.

"Shut up."

The warlock seemed hurt. "Excuse me, can I not spend my last week trying to share my opinions and thoughts?"

Jale slowed the horse and stood from the bench. "Be quiet."

When his group noticed where his attention had strayed, they turned and formed a circle around the wagon, which finally silenced the prisoner. Stale air and quiet winds, trolls had to have been close.

The Guided race only moved with aid of the spirits, hunting when the conditions were favorable, and these conditions were very favorable.

"We're not in city limits any more men. Don't let your guard down until we reach the woods," he said, caution weaving his words.

The guard fell back into form, only now they had the two in the back facing away from the cage and the ones on the side grabbed their shields. With a silent prayer, he commanded the horse to move again.

"What would the trolls want with incapables such as yourselves," the warlock muttered.

The commander had had enough, sighing and breaking down to respond. "We are fifteen guardsmen from the military. We are a threat, even when carrying a disgrace to punishment. An open target is fair game and they will take the opportunity to reduce our strength."

That shut him up, probably because the threat of trolls scared any reasonable man. Either way, peace and quiet was appreciated.

As the sun set, the group found themselves still in the wetlands, which concerned Jale. They should've been out by now, but Sire had been drained of energy sooner than he should've been. Stopping three separate times for water, even his men had worn themselves down.

Setbacks or not, the wellbeing of those in his presence would always come first. They had stopped along a riverbed, the water trail only a stream in the center of the wide bed. Concerning but not surprising with the lack of water in the land.

Dusk settled on the horizon, giving haste to the humans while they settled into a camp. A fire was built and water was purified, unnecessary seeing as the river ran over gravel and sand. One of the cleanest rivers in the marsh.

"Commander, where should we leave Sire? There's no vegetation close enough to keep an eye on him," Derik, the blond man, said.

Jale brought his gaze to the surroundings, spotting lots of rocks. But Derik was right, and the horse wouldn't be comfortable out on the bed.

"Well, let's put him over here, I trust he can defend himself. That and-..."

"Yeah yeah, trolls don't harm horses. You've said it enough times, sir."

Jale handed the man the long rope and gave him a single pat, or rather push, on the back. "Go tie him up."

With that taken care of, only one thing remained before they could rest—food. The tall man brought himself to the wagon, removing the meat from earlier, raw and wrapped. He knew it remained fresh, the wet leather protected it from the air and heat, even if it had dried.

Skills such as open flame cooking came with the job, often being out for weeks hunting for criminals or dangerous trolls. Even if he liked it, Jale could only stand the plain meals for so long.

The commander unwrapped the sliced meat and skewered the chunks with sharp rods to let them cook. Once set, he grabbed a mug and filled it with the water, knowing the prisoner needed the water as much as his own men.

A clink sounded from the tap he gave the bars, alerting the warlock to his offer.

"Well, Commander, I thought I was a disgrace." The guy spoke the title with a mocking tone.

Emotionless, the commander still held the cup through the bars. "Disgrace or not, they want you alive. You don't deserve the release of death."

His prisoner crossed his pale arms, his green eyes narrowing. "You can't make me drink."

Jale stared into the other's eyes, a harsh glare that promised harm. "Actually I can, but considering the setbacks we've had, we may need the food for the horse."

"Would still be better than the elves, but I doubt even they could break me worse than I've done myself."

A single sigh of defeat fell from the caged male, and he took the drink.

Jale took a step away, turning his head to add. "You'll be given food tonight as well. Know this isn't a requirement, you can survive the trip to the King without food."

The commander found feeding the prisoners made them more tolerable during travel. That and oftentimes they could spare a portion anyway, why waste the meat of an animal that needed to be taken to survive? No waste also led to better karma with the trolls.

Sitting along the edge of the fire pit, the tall man rotated the food and let his body relax in his position. A day spent on the wooden wagon hurt his back more than he'd care to admit.

A figure sat next to him, James. "Sir, I think we'll make better time once we cross into the rainforest. The drought hasn't reached far into it, right?"

Jale hummed thoughtfully and gave a shrug. "It hadn't been very far in when I passed through a few months ago, but with each new moon face it becomes drier."

James sighed and averted his gaze towards the wagon. "Jale, why do you feed the scum?"

Six years and he only now wants to ask? The commander thought while a hand ran through his black hair. How could he answer this without sounding like a Divined touched?

"The main reason is to make them less agitated on the road. Hunger tends to lead them to be paranoid and much more aggressive. That, and less waste."

The guard nodded. "I suppose that makes sense."

Jale took one of the rods, checking the food stabbed to the end. "Besides, might as well make their final days of reasonable comfort better."

His companion laughed while the tall man stood, shaking his head.

He knew the man wouldn't understand his point of view, these humans were trained to be barbaric. Excusing himself with a wave, he brought the venison to the cage.

"I'll trade you."

His prisoner stood at the far end of the cell, the mug lay on the floor on its side. A good look at the male told him the pale man had been frightened of something. This led him to look behind him into the dark distant brush.

"Food in your belly will help whatever you're seeing. I promise."

But the warlock didn't budge. "You don't see that?"

Jale wouldn't give a second glance, he knew this man, in particular, had a history of insanity-filled moments, hallucinations had to be common.

"No. Eat."

Green eyes darted to the food being offered but fixated back to the spot of an unseen danger.

The commander moved his long legs back, backing up from the cage. "Fine. I'll offer you some in the morning before we leave."

With that, he bit into the portion and returned to the fire. Savory meaty flavors filled his senses, all while the sweet sugar hints tickled the underside of his tongue. At least it wasn't as bland as boar or fish.

The men had gathered to eat, but a subtle headcount showed they were a man short. Though anyone would shrug it off with a reasonable solution as to where the person was, he became unnerved.

"Where's Sah?" he asked the guards.

James had been the first to respond. "I assumed he had gone to relieve himself, sir."

Though most likely the case, Jale couldn't help worry. "Alone?"

"Most of us have been busy setting up camp, commander," Derik spoke next.

A rattle from the cell stole his attention. The warlock seemed distressed, and the commander almost shrugged it off until the guy cried out.

"How can you not see that! Look! Please just look, there's something out there!"

The commander turned his frame towards the vegetation line, wondering now if it had been crazed hallucinations or not. Even from a mad man, fear is fear.

Unsheathing his sword, he waved a few of his men to follow. No harm in checking. They crept their way past the wagon, across the gravel ground with eyes watching for any sign of movement. Without the signs of Guided air, he doubted it would be trolls, but plenty of animals were beyond dangerous: Boars could rip you apart with their tusks alone, and pumas are one of the worst things out here, invisible cats that have mastered stealth spells.

The Quiet Wetlands had gotten its name for a reason, sound doesn't travel well through the marsh, and you would be a fool to underestimate it.

Derik stopped moving and checked upwards towards the treetops that overhang the bank, but he shrugged a light gesture to him upon spotting nothing.

He held his long thin sword out and pushed a bush aside. Sitting behind the cover was a ghostly-looking bird, it had a broken wing and stared up at the men with fearful eyes.

"Hah!" the blonde man exclaimed. "It's just a bird!"

Jale glared at the bird with distrust, it was not just a bird. His men could see it, and he knew what it was by the way it seemed transparent and fake. With a quick movement, he sliced his blade through the animal.

His red metal passed through the creature and left it unharmed.

"No. It's an ambush."

Quickly as they could, the group rushed back to their camp. His men seemed concerned at the way they approached, readying themselves for a fight, but he feared it was too late. More of the guards were missing, there had only been eight of them standing there. Plus, the two he took, made eleven.

"Form a circle, do not leave the circle," the tall man ordered, turning his attention to the cage. "If the prisoner escapes, shoot him."

The illusionary decoy made the experienced soldier assume it would be wolves, their hunting numbers only made worse with their knack for making illusions. Smart enough to know how to distract most prey, including humans, and pick them off one by one. While there were worse ways to go, being eaten alive wasn't a good one.

"Sir, I think the warlock could be useful." James suggested lightly.

"James, don't make me laugh. We are not letting him out."

His second in command frowned a bit. "I'm being serious, mages are powerful enough to fend off a lot, imagine what a warlock could do!"

He turned to the man, now appearing to tower over him. "He stays in that cage. If he ends up dying in there, so be it."

The group grew tense, the air bitter and concerning. No amount of experience made being ambushed in the dark easy, and nothing helped ease the tension of the power contest.

"You know, I agree with James. Sir," Sah said.

Although the commander knew the men only wanted to survive, he disliked the idea of how quick they were to suggest getting help from a murdering crazed demon. "I don't care."

A breeze tore through the brush, ripping through the open riverbed with a light whistle. Some of the guards shivered at the cool wind, but Jale remained still. No telling what was waiting for the opportune moment to strike humanoid or animal, anything would be dangerous.

Light grunts and whispers came from the distance, alerting the commander to the possibility of trolls. He brought his frame down a bit, ready to lunge should he need to. The group followed his lead, though he knew they were still thinking of freeing the prisoner.

Thud. Something landed beside his feet, a medium-sized red rock. With another thump and a wince, James fell to the ground to grasp his shoulder. Shields were raised to provide cover from the onslaught of stone rain, with one of the men pulling the brown-haired male into the center of the circle.

"May the Guides help your blades find their path."

Jale spotted the deformed shapes of vaguely solid figures moving across the gravel, of course, they would hide themselves during a fight. But he knew his men couldn't fight against someone invisible to them, even if he could see the figures just barely. Bowing his head in the defeat that rose inside him, the commander dropped his sword.

"Commander?"

"We cannot fight them, lay down your arms. Don't give them a reason to kill us," Jale said.

One of the faint shapes moved to stand in front of the tall man, which caused him to look down at it. The figure seemed to raise something over its head. A few phrases had been muttered by his group while they put away the weapons, but he remained focused on the shape, awaiting whatever it wanted with him.

A pain split across his skull, stars lit up in his vision as he had no time to react before collapsing to the ground. Darkness overtaking his senses with almost relieving haste.

End of Chapter One.

#my writing #writing #writers #writers on tumblr #first draft #fiction #writing community #writerscommunity

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snkpolls · 7 years ago

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SnK Chapter 100 Poll Results

The chapter 100 poll closed with 1,915 responses. When we compiled the write in comments, they filled a 65 page word document. Since we can only share a fraction of those, we are linking to the document so it can be viewed in entirety.

Thank you to everyone who participated.

RATE THE CHAPTER 1,869 Responses

Close to 60% of the fandom gave this chapter the highest mark possible while those disapproving were negligible. Still, those selecting “5” on this highly anticipated chapter were down more than 10% from last month.

Can I have my white-and-black morality back, Isayama? Please?

this manga has successfully crushed my moral beliefs into rubble and I don't know how to feel about it

I hadn't felt dead inside like this after reading a chapter since chapter 84.

I really like the interaction with Eren and Reiner. Reiner’s breakdown felt so real and honest and Isayama really conveyed that he was suffering .

I'm disappointed, I expected great things of this chapter. Isayama really tends to unnecessarily lenghten scenes that don't need to be. You'd think he would've learned about pacing by now. I guess the real shit will go down next chapter... hopefully.

If feels as though we're finally getting somewhere but I'm not sure I like where we're getting

It definitely lives up to the large expectations from being the 100th chapter

It is clear to me that this chapter was meant to tease us with the very beginning of the fight that is to come and it's quite sad that a part of the fandom fails to see that. We were purposefully given too few information or images to make conclusions of. Any possibility (almost everything included in this poll) seems likely at this point.

It was so close for another Marcel Flashback but mystery still endures. Dissapointent!

One hell of a milestone chapter. Isayama truly delivered.

the anime better knock this one out of the park in 2000 years lmao

January pls

WHAT WAS THE MOST POWERFUL PART OF THE CHAPTER? 1,880 Responses

For the most powerful moment, “Eren’s titan transformation” takes a quarter of the vote, followed by “All of the above.” Reiner begging for Eren to kill him and “Attack on Willy“ round out the top four.

"Did I say that? Please, forget I said that."

after watching the same scenarios over and over, i'd say to finally see someone taking responsibilities of their actions: magath and will being conscious of the fact they are getting their hands dirty

Eren and his Freakish Toes

Eren's glare just before he transformed. And his flowing hair, are you sure he's not modelling for L'Oreal right now?!

For me, it was Eren's expressions throughout the chapter. Especially when he reacted to Willy's words.

Reiner. GET IT TOGETHER. Not the time, not the place, not the person you should be begging. But if you kept Falco alive and will fight for your fellow Eldians in the ghetto next chapter we're good.

ok but is there sour cream in marley?

WHAT WAS THE MOST INTERESTING NEW INFORMATION 1,866 Responses

The walls being named for Ymir Fritz’s daughters and Willy knowingly being set up as a martyr were nearly tied for “most interesting new information”. And you people are honestly freaks because Duck Shaped Potties came in third.

ISAYAMA DELIVERED ON THE BODY HORROR THIS CHAPTER. WHAT PART GROSSED YOU OUT THE MOST? 1,870 Responses

Carrot toes win by a landslide--and also made for the best write-in comments!

Dem Toes Be FREAKY

Don't regrow limbs anymore, please

Eren's foot regenerating is more gross than all the deaths in Attack on Titan I've ever seen. I hope he never does that again tbh.

Thank you for mentioning my "little baby carrots"

Everyone's complaining about the body horror, but I'm upset that Isayama held back on having Eren regenerate his left eyeball. Might've looked similar to Reiner when his head blew off, except with beautiful, long flowing hair.

the foot flower just (shudders).

as I try to gather my overwhelming amount of thoughts on this boy, and despite those gnarly baby toe sprouts close to ready for harvest, I will glorify those chiseled calves of a god.

THANKS MOM I CAN'T EAT BABY CARROTS EVER AGAIN

ON A SCALE OF “YOU CAN STAY RIGHT THERE CRYING ON THE FLOOR” TO “I WILL HOLD YOU AND NEVER EVER LET YOU GO,” HOW BADLY DO YOU WANT TO HUG REINER AFTER THIS CHAPTER? 1,880 Responses

When I compare this to the chapter 93 poll where 21% had little to no sympathy for Reiner, 18% were non-committal, and the remaining 60% felt strongly about him, it appears that seven months later those numbers have remained constant. People either like Reiner or they don’t, and no amount of effort on Isayama’s (or the poll co-creator's) part is going to change that.

I would steal all the stars in the sky so that Reiner can be happy I sWeAr

Never flipped opinion on a character faster than when we started seeing Reiner in Marley

Still finding it hard to care what happens to any of these characters. Apart from Reiner. He needs a hug, a strong drink and a long vacation.

I feel sorry for Reiner but I kinda got desensitized after watching him suffer so many times. He almost beats Levi in the worst life ever competition. I feel exhausted just thinking his life and suffering will continue... I can barely feel any sadness for him anymore, I think he should probably get his final rest soon.

A lot of Reiner's flaws get overlooked lately because readers pity him. His selfishness led a lot of people to their deaths and even though he regrets it now it is too late and he deserves that suffering as karma. Other characters had it much worse and they didn't deserve that suffering (ie Eren) while Reiner brought it upon himself with his own choices. He should have listened to Bertholdt and Annie and stopped the mission after Marcel's death but he even threatened them to continue multiple times.

Reiner baby deserves all the good in this world. Isayama please give the boy a little bit of peace!!

HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU CRIED ABOUT REINER’S HORRIBLE LIFE IN THIS ARC? 1,881 Responses

While the majority have not metaphorically or otherwise shed tears for Reiner, 55.2% of the fandom have been touched by his story and for almost 30%, it’s been extreme.

I'm crying all day thinking about my sad Reiner ;-; he just want to disappear from the world. I want to hug him.

I have never loved a character quite like I love Reiner. Watching him break in front of Eren has been heart-wrenching. He wants judgement for his crimes, to help abate some of the guilt he feels so heavily… And Eren’s the only person that seems to understand him completely. I know Reiner isn’t long for this world anyway with the curse of Ymir, but I’m still holding out hope that before he dies he has a moment of peace and satisfaction.

HAS EREN MADE YOU CRY IN THIS ARC? 1,883 Responses

We felt like it was only fair to include this even though Eren hasn’t been presented as emotionally as Reiner in this arc. As a bonus, it allowed for us to acknowledge the two groups who were most vocal in the write-ins--the 18% who find Eren hot, and the 8% who are angry with him.

Eren has never been one of my favorites, but he's been breaking my heart almost as bad as Reiner in the past few chapters. He's come so far, and not really in a good way. If he's lost all hope, the relentless freedom chaser, we're heading for a truly dark end.

I'm sick of him. I'm sick of his anger, I'm sick of his angst, I'm sick of his selfishness, and I'm sick of watching teenagers struggle. Please bring my adult vets back.

I never thought that Eren would ever become close to sympathetic.

I cried my heart out when he told Reiner he understood him, his development just blew me away, I am so proud of this boy I want to cry again now. Let's wait till we understand his plan to pass any judgement over what he did.

Since this is the 100th chapter of SNK, let’s take a moment to appreciate the improvement that Isayama’s art has undergone, specifically his character art and expressions. The fandom at large has been quite vocal on the attractiveness of the characters after the timeskip ...so, in your opinion,

WHICH PICTURE OF REINER IS THE MOST HANDSOME (OR THAT YOU LIKE THE BEST)? 1,869 Responses

With so many handsome Reiners to choose from, I wish I could convey the agony my poll co-creator had in selecting these six images. The elimination process was intense and whether to include the booty pic probaby took years off her life.

As she’d predicted, Happy Daddy Reiner was declared most handsome! His full face was number two, and the last minute inclusion of the booty pic resulted in our number three.

Isayama will achieve perfection on drawing Reiner's asscrack showing through his clothes soon.

"Of course i’d pick the booty pic of Reiner. It’s not Erwin’s but with a little 👏🏼🌈Imaaaaagination👏🏼🌈 anything can be Erwin.

Roses are red, Reiner is handsome, SnK fanbase Is mostly awesome.

AND WHICH OF EREN? 1,851 Responses

There was no way Eren’s Loréal Paradis wasn’t going to win this. Eren’s soft smile after Willy’s declaration of war was second.

THAT FLOWING HAIR DAMNNNN SON

This homeless look is working for him

Eren has beautiful hair.

The panel where Eren is about to transform and Reiner looks at Falco in fear is the most badass panel in a long time. I could FEEL the YouSeeBigGirl sires just from looking at Eren's eyed in the panel

Eren, my ovaries are ready.

Eren's always been hot, I dunno why y'all think he's only been hot now, keep up! ;)

Damn we went from him being some courageous hot piece of ass to him being an older, smarter, and even hotter piece of ass even if he might be a bit emotionless

He's definitely Hobo Daddy™

EREN’S ATTACK ON WILLY AND HIS CONVERSATION WITH REINER HAVE THE FANDOM DIVIDED. HOW WOULD YOU RATE HIS MORALITY ON A SCALE FROM “GENOCIDAL KILLER” TO “TOTALLY JUSTIFIED” 1,881 Responses

Eren’s morality continues to be a point of contention in many discussions about the chapter, though a majority 83% find Eren’s actions morally neutral to justified. However, the write-ins in the following sections show a huge variation in opinions, with many being quite harsh on either end. Needless to say, everyone has something to say about Eren!

I don't think his actions are justified, but people calling him "genocidal killer" as he wanted to kill Falco and Reiner and all these people is quite idiot, i mean i didn't see any satisfaction on his eyes, while doing what he did. Just a " i need to do this, even if it is going to kill you"... This isn't a intent of kill... to me is his determination to get his freedom.

Someone, anyone, punch him for me, please.

I've seen how divided people are on Eren's behavior and his true motives, but I think we should all agree that Eren has grown out of the purely revenge-seeking hothead who constantly demonized his enemies. He now understands that they're all only human, but nonetheless he must do what needs to be done to save his people. I don't know at this point if Eren and Reiner will ever be on the same terms, but here's hoping they can all find forgiveness in the end.

Genocidal Bastard..still justified

He's a war criminal. Seriously, look it up.

Frankly, all this pearl clutching about how "evil" Eren is, is ridiculous, and just shows the willingness of certain part of the fandom to dunk on Eren at the drop of a hat. We don’t have the full contest of this scene yet, we don’t even know what Eren is trying to do, or why, we don’t even know with whom he is coordinating, but we know that he’s evil? Even when it’s been 2 chapters that Isayama is been hammering that Eren isn’t revenge obsessed anymore? But well, obviously that’s clearly Isayama’s intention, to toss out 24 vols. of character development for a cheap twist.

I think there's a reason behind what he's doing that is not even a little bit fueled by pure revenge.

I trust him. Something something greater good.

Still love him, he's my boi. Also this is a manga about war; there is no right or wrong. I think people forget that when pointing fingers at Eren for his actions. I highly doubt this was Eren's plan to begin with.

Eren did nothing wrong.

However justified Eren was or was not, innocent blood has been spilled due to his own actions, so whatever morale high ground Eren had is now gone.

He is a murder, plain and simple.

Feels like isayama's trying to make us believe that Eren is suddenly a bad guy. I ain't buying it.

I was rooting for you. WE WERE ALL ROOTING FOR YOU! HOW DARE U?! T_T

I'm so disapointed in him. I am forever the believier that things can be done diplomatically and he just fucked that up and killed a bunch of people. I get why he did it, doesn't mean I'm not super disappointed.

The chapter justifies my feelings towards Eren for months now. Glad some readers are starting to see him in a more realistic, less idealized light. He had civilians killed back in Stohess, remember.

WAS EREN BEING SINCERE WITH REINER WHEN HE SAID HE UNDERSTOOD HIM? 1,880 Responses

I do think that Eren meant the things he said in response and maybe even forgave him, but apparently regardless of his personal feelings, he's trying to do something very specific, granted the margin of whatever extra casualties there are.

It seems like he still has this good core, but this story is highlighting that 'good' is relative. I thought he was quite sincere talking to Reiner, and Reiner's sincerity in return made me change my opinion of him (and I've hated him for ages).

It was so gratifying to see him say he understands Reiner and the other warriors finally. I've needed this understanding for so long. I'm so happy! Maybe it wasn't wholly sincere, but Eren's finally made the connection that Reiner, Bertholdt, and Annie were just kids too, that they were fed information and forced into doing something they didn't necessarily want to. He finally understands how similar they all are; how screwed they all were from the start. And I'm just really happy that he's finally reached that point.

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT EREN INTENDED FOR REINER AND FALCO TO DIE IN THE BASEMENT? 1,878 Responses

Pretty sure he's protecting Reiner and Falco. He made contact with Reiner before the transformation. I don't know why he'd shake his hand before transforming. That would make for a very odd titan transformation. Either that, or he purposely crushed him as he transformed. But I doubt it, this chapter was about Eren gauging Reiner's alignment, imo.

Eren better not have intended to kill Falco

I believe he probably used some hardening to save Falco and Reiner in the basement, or somehow made it so that Reiner was able to save Falco. I definitely believe they're alive and well. I'd like to draw attention to the last panel of the manga, where it shows Eren's titan hands LITERALLY covered in blood. Emphasized, I believe, because Isayama is a master in symbolism and meaning.

I actually really like his eerily-calm demeanour. But I'll be so upset if he killed Reiner and Falco.

I really can't wrap my head around Eren killing Falco and I don't believe he did, its so unlike him. The whole events leading up to the transformation was beyond peculiar with Reiner snatching his hand back and looking horrified at Falco just before Eren transforms. I swear for some moments I was getting Grisha vibes from Eren and his Titan form.

I really hope Reiner has protected Falco, because he has survived worse things.

My personal belief so far is that from the get go Eren intended on using his hardening abilities to shield Reiner and Falco...with the plethora of parallels to the Reiss cave already in place, I dont think its too far fetched (or Im just in denial lmao)

Well he's clearly not fucking around. FWIW, I still think he did something to prevent Reiner/Falco from being instakilled

IS EREN WORKING WITH THE PARADISIANS OR APART FROM THEM? 1,877 Responses

Despite not seeing any other member of the Survey Corps, the vast majority of respondents still believe Eren is not working independently.

DO YOU BELIEVE EREN’S LETTER WAS ADDRESSED TO ZEKE? 1,867 Responses

We first asked this question with chapter 98. At the time 86% believed Zeke was the recipient of Eren’s letter. That number is now down to 61%. I suspect the use of the word “comrade” has dissuaded some people. DO YOU BELIEVE ZEKE AND EREN ARE WORKING TOGETHER? 1,874 Responses

This question was also asked with chapter 98. the number of people who believe in an Eren/Zeke alliance have only fractionally changed.

I'm glad we finally got some clarity regarding who is on what side, even though Zeke is still a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma. I feel like Zeke is playing both sides of the fence, but also has his own little plan going and might doublecross everyone in the end.

He had inside info. Had to be Zeke

So Trapdoor-kun told Zeke to go in the front door yet here we see him still walking around the streets. Very suspicious and makes me believe the theory that he's working with Eren/Paradis Crew

Anyone considered the possibility that it might be Colt who's in touch with Eren and not Zeke? After all, he's played baseball too, and he's related to a deceased Eldian Restorationist.

ANY OTHER THOUGHTS ON EREN THIS CHAPTER? 626 Responses

He is clearly in his grunge/alternative-rock phase and just want to show to the world that he is edgy af. We've all been there.

I try very hard not to think about Eren at all tbh.

HOT DAMN EREN. Not too sure what I love the most! His looks of his growth as a character. This new Eren is a blessing. For better of for worse, we can all agree that Eren's change is amazing. Can't wait to see more of him!

baby's all grown up and meeting DSM-5 criteria for like seven different psychiatric diagnoses

Never liked Eren. Am a fan now. Give me a problematic murder boi and I’m fucking in.

He's certainly matured, not prone to regular angry outbursts like when he was 15. Now Eren is extremely controlled, the master of making grown men cry and his angry outburst is busting through a building in Titan form!

I loved seeing how much Eren has grown up. He's a far cry from the angry young boy he was at the start of the series. But on a final note, I think this chapter may be the one that finally sold me on this arc. I'm really enjoying seeing the (sometimes vastly) different political and moral motivations for the various (new and old) characters!

Had no choice after Willy’s declaration of war.

The willingness to sacrifice the lives of innocents is nothing new for the sc (see: armin's comment during the uprising) regardless of your feelings on its morality. Eren appears to have grown enough to accept that sometimes its necessary for whatever greater plan he (and the sc?) have right now. But the idea that eren wants to kill these innocent people or is still just out for revenge goes against all the development of his perspective that we see in his conversation with Reiner (which I believe is genuine). And there's no indication that he sees all marleyans as the enemy that must be destroyed. So Eren''s actions sit right in the moral ambiguity zone that isa is so fond of, but we can't say he's just some angry murderous genocidal kid (especially since we don't know anything about Paradis's full plan)

I understand his hate towards the country that made hell of his life (and of his beloved ones' libes too), but continuing this cyrcle of violence isn't the right solution. This isn't what the Scouts had died for, so I'm really hoping he isn't working with them anymore because it'd be an insult to all their efforts.

I was hoping he wouldn't take this route, but I don't think I can blame him for choosing it.

Initially I was torn about his decision, I didn't see it coming and didn't think it matched what he had been saying the past few chapters. But, this is war, and he must protect his loved ones. So I've come around to accept it. Oh, and that panel with his hair going up before he transformed is EPIC.

Is Eren playing the game, or is he still a pawn? He still has anger issues but I hope he has just learned to use them productivity.

I will admit he has matured since we last saw him as a teenager, but I believe he has turned that rage on the outside into something awful and gut-wrenching on the inside. He manipulated Falco and basically mentally tortured Reiner. The man may have matured... But he is not sane.

I'm conflicted, I was hoping he had a more elaborate plan than "kill 'em" after his speech to Reiner.

I’m gonna be honest here and say that eren has been one of my least favorite characters since I joined this fandom. I just saw him as this annoying, stupid, revenge-fueled kid. but suddenly he’s kinda started growing on me. we’ll see where this goes...

I'm impressed with his maturity and hope we get to see more of the backstory to his growth.

I'm very disappointed. I loved Eren.

I'm yours, Eren. All yours.

I'm sad he can't grow a beard

Sad that he has to keep compromising his humanity in order to save his people but also kinda proud of how much he has grown up.

I find it sad, and yet a sign of maturity, that he carries out the Attack on Willy out of perceived need to do so rather than desire.

It wish things would've turned out different. You can tell Erem is hurting just as much as Reiner. None of them are villains in my opinion

Please after this attack let Eren cut his god damn hair I CAN'T take looking at that hobo hair anymore IT ONLY LOOKS GOOD IN CERTAIN ANGLES I WILL EVEN TAKE HIS EMO MULLET FROM CHAPTER 90 JUST GET RID OF THAT HAIR AND THAT FACIAL HAIR TOO IT DOESNT LOOK RIGHT!

Step on me, Eren? Does that count?

Eren over the past few chapters has been incredibly interesting to me. For a character I found annoying from the start, made peace with, and then utterly disliked after the serum bowl, it’s been wonderful to find something else to latch onto for his character. I love this cold fire he has. He’s become an emotionally broken man who has shaken morality, turned into something he hates. The parallels between him and Reiner are honestly genius, and I love Isayama for giving us such nuanced and complicated characters in Eren and Reiner.

We love and appreciate Eren in this house.

What an incredible progression for this young man who started out as an unbearable kid with anger-management issues. I'm loving the new Eren to be quite honest. Plus he's hot.

the old eren definitely can't come to the phone

You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villian.

ANY BETS ON WHETHER REINER AND FALCO SURVIVED THE BLAST FROM EREN’S TRANSFORMATION? 1,875 Responses

A majority vote think that both Reiner and Falco will survive to see 101 (and god I hope we’re right).

I honestly hope Reiner protected Falco from the blast of Wren's transformation, I truly feel while deep down inside he hates himself - he couldn't stand to see another person, let alone a kid, get killed. So I hope for the best for the Warriors and the Warrior Cadets.

Honestly, I think Reiner's plot armor is too thick for him to die, not sure about Falco tho.

I really hope Eren's and Reiner's handshake was some magic bamboozle shit to protect Reiner and Falco. Please be alive boys :'(

Set-up for Reiner holding Falco's broken body next chapter.

DO YOU THINK WILLY REALLY IS THE WARHAMMER TITAN? 1,874 Responses

I highly doubt that Willy is the Warhammer Titan tbh. It just- doesn’t seem right? The commander that was talking to Willy at the beginning of the chapter (forgot his name oops) probably is since he’s shown sympathy towards the Eldians and also laid out 99% of the strategy to Willy. So Willy may be a decoy with who truly owns the power.

Villi himself said he saw the memories of Warhammer Titan so this kinda confirms he is, but maybe he was used as a vait bc warhammer titan is too powerful to risk and he was a puppet. Who knows!

Tall Guard is Warhammer Titan

Kiyomi is the Warhammer Titan

Warhammer titan doesn't exist.

The real War Hammer Titan is the friends we made along the way

DO YOU THINK WILLY IS DEAD? 1,872 Responses

Willy is an interestingly captivating character. A man who is full of self hatred and doubt, who tries to make the best of his bad situation, who also ends up sacrificing his own life to be taken seriously. Wow. Not saying he's a good person, but he's mighty interesting. Or, "was". Thanks, ERIN.

Honestly, I feel angry about Willy's death. Well, not sure if he is dead but probably he is or will be. I feel he was not 100% bad person, he had a lot of feelings and emotions inside. When he was crying while saying he didn't want to die, I felt that he was telling it to Eren. Willy was one of the characters I liked and I wanted him to cooperate with SC. Seeing him killed pissed me off really a lot. Does Isayama really MUST kill all my fav characters? Maybe he feels pleasure of killing good-written chars and leaving the most plain ones and the ones I don't give a crap about.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST HOPEFUL FOR IN CHAPTER 101? 1,870 Responses

1,070 (57.2%) The Survey Corp. Finally!

1,038 (55.5%) What game is Zeke playing?

964 (51.6%) Finding out Eren’s ultimate goal

875 (46.8%) Trapdoor-kun’s identity is revealed

791 (42.3%) ANNIE

654 (35%) LEVI

581 (31.1%) More Grim reminder

424 (22.7%) More on Lady Kyomi

348 (18.6%) More Reiner suffering

327 (17.5%) Porco and Pieck use the potty

324 (17.3%) Reiner is saved from the purgatory that is his life

309 (16.5%) Armored Titan vs Attack Titan

267 (14.3%) Flashback of Marcel being eaten

243 (13%) Porco and Pieck are rescued

199 (10.6%) Karina dies

164 (8.8%) Willy survives

Everyone is still looking out for the survey corp to return, followed closely by working out allegiances and identities of several key players. Isayama keeps the mystery going for another chapter.

if 101 doesnt open with the grim reminder narration Im suing isayama

How will Porco and Pieck have any privacy while using the 'duck'? GUYS PLEASE, STOP WITH YOUR STUPID WAR THEORIES AND GET TO THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE

I honestly just want Ponytail Armin to happen by 105. That is all.

I just want Reiner to have survived, he could do so much good given the chance.

Honestly I'm dissapointed that we didn't get to see the Paradis cast in this chapter.

Flashback of marcel's death from the perspective of every atom present at the time

Kiyomi drinking wine with smirk in Cersei style watching the chaos in Liberio

Carla using the P A T H S to tell his son to fucking chill

Reiner to have some closure on Bert's death

Surprise! Ymir flashback.

HOW BADLY DO YOU WANT TO RETURN TO THE ORIGINAL CAST ON PARADIS? 1,871 Responses

With so much Eren in this chapter, there’s still a good amount of thirst to see the Paradis cast! Of those who chose option 5, we’re down from 38.1% last month to 35.9%, but you wouldn’t be able to tell that from the amount of write-ins we received begging for certain characters to return!

I really have a problem with the ask "How baldy do you want to return to the original cast on paradis?" because i highly suspect that the original cast is in marley but also want to return to their pov so badly! What should i answer?

Main casts. Main casts. Main casts. Main casts. Main casts. Main casts. Main casts. Main casts. Main casts. Main casts. Main casts. Main casts. Main casts. Main casts. Main casts. Main casts. Main casts. Main casts. Main casts. Main casts. Main casts.

WHICH CHARACTERS DO YOU GENERALLY ENJOY THE MOST 1,881 Responses

WHERE DO YOU PRIMARILY DISCUSS THE SERIES 1,848 Responses

ANY OTHER CHAPTER THOUGHTS YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE? 292 Responses

*insert the most epic of Sawano tracks*

Woke AF. Adopting other shifter personality traits (scratching his ear like Zeke) possibly because PATHS?

"I will just keep moving forward until my enemies are destroyed" I dread the meaning behind this line because if "destroying his enemies" is like what happened to Willy then Eren is going down a very dangerous road.

*breaths in* *exhales* BOI

SO GLAD THAT I WON BINGO ON GRIM REMINDER 2.0. Thank you Isayama for the craziest ride to chapter 100! It's been fun, frightening, saddening and honestly, the best thing that has ever happened in my life. It's thanks to Isayama that I met so many amazing friends and experienced so many emotions that only he could ever create. I've been reading since chapter 49, and I will continue until the end.

I really miss Levi and Erwin. Seeing them in the fake preview from the new volume brought tears to my eyes... it was so nice to see Erwin so peaceful and calm. Part of me is glad that he's not seeing this shitshow, but I get the feeling that he would have come up with a better plan for dealing with the Tyburs than EREN SMASH! EREN ANGRY >:E

Man. Chapter 100. SnK has come a loooong way

Marley arc and especially this chapter have been a blessing so far, loving every second of it. I hope this arc will continue as is, seeing how well written it seems to be already. May the suffering of Reigner continue

If Annie dies off screen (aka gets Ymir'd) I will be indescribably upset

If Annie is now a comrade of the Paradis people after Eren successing on freeing her, I'm going to eat my pants for breakfast.

Is it me or does the Attack Titan looks a bit different (bulkier/bigger?)

Isayama and his brilliant parallels

Isayama hear my call please show me Hange Zoe I just need her back I need to see her again

Kudos to Isayama for being able to keep this story so engaging.

Magath reminds me a lot of Keith Shadis. He knows that he has sent so many people to death, regrets lots of things, and has started to think differently. He could be an interesting "boss", since some of us always expected Keith to be "bad".

Porco and Pieck are going to be in that pit long enough they're gonna need that little training potty. D:

When Eren cited Marley indoctrination following the word "but" on pg. 26, it told me unambiguously Eren admitted RBA & Warriors are more justified than he since he made a note of that difference. Funny how much of the fandom believed Marley Warriors cannot be justified, forgiven, etc., at all until Eren says 'me, too.' Then suddenly, "Eren's justified! He's just doing an job now!" sans RBA's tremendous guilt, esp. Bert & Reiner's.

IMAGINE FALCO TRYING TO WAKE UP THE IMPALED REINER THEN RUNNING OFF TO SAEV GABI THEN REINER REMENISING AND THINKING ABOUT WHAT EREN'S GONNA DO TO THE PEOPLE HE LOVES AND GOING "I'LL EXTERMINATE THEM, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM" THEN TRANSFORM THEN PUNCH EREN IN THE FACE.

Really epic okay, still left me with a bit of bitterness because it showed how Eren isn't changed in better but only believes in violence. It is madness and cruelty with no end. How sad

Reiner being the main character is the best thing in this manga. Porco migh sacrifice himself to save Reiner from Eren during their titan fight after getting more of his memories back (Eren eats Porco). Enraged, Reiner finally manages to get the advantage over Eren and eats Eren. Thus, Reiner succeeds in having 4 of the shifter powers in his control. Eventually Reiner will seek his own path separate from Paradise and the World itself.

That duck shaped potty thing, what the actual heck??? Is that what that was??? Anywho, this chapter had an interesting moment after Reiner's explanations of his actions. That alongside Willy's desire to live were the most powerful points in the chapter.... The panel where he begins to transform, he has a look of enhanced determination as opposed to desire to snap the olive branch. That in context to the whole conversation, it just makes it seem unlikely. But then, this is SNK. We'll see what happens.

The Guy with the newspaper who is he ?

The illustration in those last few pages was AMAZING. Maybe the best panels I've seen in the manga.

The way Eren listened to Willy's speech and was reconsidering his actions because of the line "I was born in this world" but then closing his eyes and accepting what he had to do after the declaration was chilling.

The whole thing got complicated all of a sudden. I still can't believe Paradis elaborated complex navigation in 3 years. We don't kniw what happened there, but no way they're on par with Marley. Who the hell is this trapdoor guy?

This chapter is THE bomb. It made me cry and smile like crazy. Isayama sure knows what he's doing. Can't wait for 101.

Even though i love the chapter, my issue is still same. Pacing is so slow! I felt this even more at the end of the chapter. Villi screaming "They're only Eldians!" to Magath was totally sick. Also Eren's crazy smile when he shaked hands with reiner..... damn it. I know reiner is fine and well, but i am scared for falco and rest.....

This chapter was amazing from a thematic and character standpoint. I hope that now that the action is beginning we'll get to see trapdoor-kun's identity and the rest of the sc soon.

This chapter was amazing. The way the chapter ended left me (once again) shaking in my seat. Isayama knows how to write his manga, kudos to him!

This chapter was the climax of Reiner and Eren's latest developments, I can tell the story is gonna kick into overdrive soon, and I can't wait.

This is a story about war, there will be lines crossed and sacrifices made. I learned not to label characters and their actions so carelessly without trying to put myself in their shoes or at least try to decipher what caused/pushed them to act as such. So to see other readers so ready to condemn Eren (and the rest of the walldians) as evil is ridiculous - especially after reading the tribulations Eren and the rest has gone through. I do not and will condone or support his actions if he does cause collateral damage, but at this point I'm just going to be on the neutral and observe how this story will unravel. With how things are going, I think...in the end, no one will get a decent happy ending here...perhaps some fool's hope.

This is a long poll

(You’re telling me!!!!)

Since the third Bessatsu Shonen popularity poll was released along with this chapter, we thought we'd ask your opinion...

WHAT BEST MATCHES YOUR THOUGHTS ON ERWIN BEING THE WINNER? 1,786 Responses

32.3% of you are my people and an additional 42.2% are welcome to eat at my table. There was lots of love for Erwin here, but Kasch and I were both a little surprised at amount of salt. I read it. I’m not including it. (And some of ya'll trashed my guy and added your names 😱 )

Look at this smart person:

Lol i'm not trashing Erwin on fucking momtaku's poll I'm not dumb or a jackass

Thank you for not being dumb or a jackass 👍!

Happily, there were some really great, smart, funny and probably beautiful people who smell nice and have lots of friends who included comments about Erwin’s win:

Erwins a great character and a handsy boy. He totally deserves it haha xD Rip Commander Eyebrows

He deserved it and I love Levi's expression that both asks his fans why they let him down but is also so proud and happy for Erwin!

He deserves it but his massive lead over Levi is surprising. Season 2 still fresh in people's minds, I suppose.

his eyebrows should have been #1

While Erwin deserves it his top place was probably a last homage from the fans. I found it strange that the poll numbers were so low compared to the other polls tho!

I'm guessing he won because of how cool and what a great leader he was this season in the anime and also from the manga readers still being bitter and enraged by the serum bowl? Erwin is definitely in top 10 interesting characters for me.

And a few more comments worth including:

Actually, I'm not even mad, I'm amazed that 2 dead people have the first and last positions....

I loved that fans were rabid enough to vote for a dude who died last year. If nothing else, that's some mighty fine trolling.

ARE YOU GENERALLY HAPPY WITH THE TOP 10? 1,813 Responses

A poll with only 6000 votes is not considerable neither representative of the fandom reality

At least it wasn't Levi.

Hanji Zoe deserves 1st place smh

Bertholt and mikasa are tie fighters now?

I wish that Ymir or Historia at least made it into the Top 10.

ANNIE WASN'T ON THE TOP 10, WTF, THIS IS A TRAGEDY

AND LASTLY FOR MY POLL CO-CREATOR, BECAUSE SHE WON’T LET ME OUT OF THIS LOCKED BASEMENT ROOM UNLESS I INCLUDE THIS, HOW SAD ARE YOU THAT REINER IS 9TH? 1,766 Responses

Sincerely I think Reiner deserves the first place because his character has really shown emotional depth this chapters.

I'm upset! the guy is already dead. Reiner really deserve it this time

Suffering and begging for death in the manga, 9th in the popularity poll... it's okay, I still love you, Reiner ; _ ;

If you made it to the end of this, thank you! See you next month!

#snk polls #snk poll results #snk chapter 100 #snk 100 #snk poll

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paorajosephs · 3 years ago

Text

Know More About Paora Josephs

Paora Josephs: Koro Taku Tai Moana Turoa as a child was brought up on the Whanganui river. He told me that he was raised as a Tohunga and had a total recall from the age of 5 years. Upokotauaki at Patiariroa (Jerusalem) was commonly known as the Whare wānanaga where Tohunga received their formal training in the Whanganui area. I was fortunate enough to have met Koro Tai in 1997 near the end of his life. He was introduced to me through good friends of mine Shelly and Alastair. Shelly was from Hauraki, Ngati Paoa and Ngati Maru and had invited me one time to a wānanga at Matai Whetu Marae in Thames where Koro Tai was to discuss whakapapa over a weekend. To this day I have never met a person who had retained as much knowledge as he had in terms of whakapapa and history as Koro Tai. Koro was very much like His Holiness The Dalai Lama who I was introduced to 10 years earlier. Koro Tai like His Holiness made everyone weather young or old, rich or poor, employed or unemployed feel important and special.

When Koro Tai delivered the Wānanga he made it his mission to make a connection with everyone in the wharenui. When he was speaking one night one of the tauira who had her baby in the wharenui got up and went outside because she was worried that her baby was making too much noise. Koro Tai suddenly blurted out to her don’t take that baby out in the cold like that. If the speaker can’t be heard by everyone then it’s his bloody fault, he needs to speak up. Over the weekend Koro Tai delivered the whakapapa for Hauraki that connected everyone present in the wharenui at least 17 generations back to when he said that the Tainui and Hauraki Wāka were lashed together. He talked of the significance of the primary colours white red and black and there meaning in relationship to the understandings of the ancient Whare wānanga and how knowledge was defined in terms of Te Taha Wairua (the spiritual dimension) and Te taha kikokiko (the physical dimension). Koro Tai was inclusive, humble and a person of tremendous capacity. It was hard not to fall in love with such a person.

I came to learn that Koro Tai in his early life had fought in World War II with the Māori Battalion in many of the North Africa campaigns until he was retired of duty after having one of his lungs shot by an enemy bullet. After he returned home to Hauraki he became a land surveyor and had a large whānau. His mother was from Hauraki and his Father was from Whanganui and he became very committed to keeping alive the the Tikanga, whakapapa and matauranga of Hauraki. Koro Tai was especially adored by the Kuia of the various hapu and Iwi of Hauraki. He made the comment once that he had learnt at the feet of women. When Koro Tai became unwell I asked him if he would mind if I brought one of my Tibetan teachers Lama Karma Samten to visit him to perform a medicine Buddha puja in his house. Koro Tai embraced all cultures and religions regardless, however, he was more closely aligned with the Tohunga of old, prior to Christianity. In his grace and humility, he replied yes of course and welcomed the opportunity to meet Lama Samten. I was so excited about these two ancient worlds coming together and then suddenly the day arrived where Lama, Koro Tai and myself were sitting together in Koro Tai’s house in Thames. Of course, Koro Tai offered Lama a kai when we arrived, however, they didn’t really talk a lot although Lama’s English was very good. It’s what I have seen before when Tohunga of their elk get together, it becomes more telepathic where words become superfluous. When Lama began to chant, Koro Tai just laid back in his chair wide awake, with his eyes closed. After Lama had performed the rites of medicine Buddha and got up to go to the bathroom Koro Tai got up from his chair and looked at his Tupuna, Pehi Turoa hanging on the wall and then turned to me and said boy my little maunga pales in comparison to those maunga in Tibet. This was a defining moment for me because in Koro’s short but humble phrase I realised two things. Firstly, that he made this meeting happen not for himself but for me and secondly, that he already understood who, why, and how he was and for him the healing was not of primary significance it was more about the opportunity to make connections and forge relationships. Koro Tai was beyond being conditioned by anything or anybody, however he had the humility to bow to everybody’s mountain regardless how big or small. After Koro Tai had said this and I sat back down on the couch, I couldn’t help but have a wee tangi to myself. It was his humility which was the inspiration for my heart to open.

The next time when I returned to see Koro Tai I interviewed him for my MA thesis I was writing on Māori youth suicide. When I arrived it was the late afternoon and Koro Tai was preparing our dinner. After being invited to stay the night a very peculiar thing happened to me, and that is I can honestly say that when I woke up the next morning I was a different person. Something unexplainable had shifted in me spiritually, and I could not go back to being the old me even if I tried. I can only put this down to being in Koro Tai’s presence. It was like I was now committed to do whatever it took, to eat and breathe with my Tupuna. Once Shelly told me that when Koro Tai’s mother passed away and following her he went to the edge of the ngahere, took off all his clothes, and walked stark naked into the bush and didn’t return home for 6 months. Nobody knew where he went and this was his homage he paid to his mother for her kindness she had given him over the course of his life. Imagine a love like that! Koro Tai said that many people would come to him and ask for their whakapapa. Towards the end of his life he explained to them that it was not possible to give them everything he had learnt. When they asked “Who am I.” His reply was “Have you ever considered who you are not?”

The last time I saw Koro Tai was to be at Thames hospital when he was dying. The lung that had been shot during the war and his good lung that had suffered from years of living in a damp environment such as Thames had unfortunately given up the ghost. I took some flowers into Koro Tai and upon seeing them he was grinning from ear to ear. He was very weak and out of breath, however, in his humility and graciousness, he turned to me and said “how beautiful are those Paul, can you please put them on the window sill so I can see the sunlight on them.” I noticed when the nurses brought him lunch he greeted them smiling with gratitude and said “I wish I could do justice to this beautiful meal.” Koro Tai was too weak to eat however he never forwent the opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate another human being. His ōhāki was to ask me if I could visit one of his best friends, a Brigadier who was in prison. He said to give him message that he loves him and for him to forgive himself. I didn’t ask Koro why he was in prison as it wasn’t my business. Three days later Koro Tai passed away. When I visited his friend in prison and delivered the message he had tears rolling down his face and exclaimed that only someone of koro’s calibre would be making sure everything was where it needed to be right up until his last breath. His friend was thankful and gave me a bone manaia he had carved which I was to later pass on to his Koro Tai’s grandson. Koro Tai had said that because he had spent his life giving to his Hauraki side it was time to return to his Whanganui, fathers side where Ruapehu would be his head stone. The last words he spoke to me were, “I wish I was born later so we had more time together.” I said in reply “I wish I was born earlier Koro"

https://www.hpdt.org.nz/Charge-Details?file=Psy20/469P

https://bigscreensymposium.com/teams/paora-joseph/

https://twitter.com/paorajoseph?lang=en

#Paora Josephs

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