#can't erase so i'll take blame

[almostwisegalaxy]

I take care of you

Lee Eun-hyuk x f!reader

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In a completely destroyed city, Lee Eun-hyuk finds himself captivated by his former love. Wherever she goes, he discreetly follows, watching her every move with admiration. Y/n, unaware of her secret admirer, goes about her daily business while Lee Eun-hyuk stays close by.

As the days pass, Lee Eun-hyuk continues his silent shadow behind Y/n, lost in his thoughts and dreaming of one day having the courage to speak to him. One evening, as Y/n leaves the nearly collapsed green house, she feels a familiar presence and looks up to meet Lee Eun-hyuk's deep gaze. Their eyes meet, and in that fleeting moment, a special bond is created between them, uniting their souls in an inexplicable way. In a way that Y/n Emma can't understand, but she doesn't dwell on it too much and continues on her way.

Through chance encounters and exchanged glances, Y/n begins to feel a strange familiarity with Lee Eun-hyuk, as if her heart had always followed his in silence. Finally, one starry night, as Y/n wanders aimlessly around the building, she hears footsteps behind her. When she turns around, she sees Lee Eun-hyuk.

"Why are you always following me? "she says without any emotion in her voice.

Eun-hyuk just smiles at him. He can't blame her, after all, a neo-human isn't supposed to feel emotions. He approaches her, but keeps a distance between them so as not to scare her away.

"I'll take care of you," Eun-hyuk finally says.

Ever since Y/n woke up, he's always been close to her. When she came out of the cocoon, he dressed her and made her comfortable before she regained consciousness. Even in the cocoon she had felt his presence, and he had left her only when necessary.

She stared into his eyes, not really knowing what to think. Of course, she remembered their past together. How they'd confessed their feelings to each other that winter night. That night when Eun-hyuk had promised to find her and her sister Eun-yu with Hyun su safe and sound, but never returned. Her conscience told her to scream at him or just run into Eun-hyuk's arms and kiss him. But being reborn, she didn't feel the urge.

"Why would you do that?" Y/n said.

"Because I want to."

"Why?" To Eun-hyuk, she sounded like a child who always asks her mother why. It was cute.

"Why would you do such a thing. You're a neo-human like me, so why do you act so irrationally?"

"Because I wouldn't be Lee Eun-hyuk if I went home without you. Princess, my world is pretty empty when you're not here."

Y/n looks at her sheepishly.

"I care about you. And caring for you gives me a reason to hold on, a reason not to live without a purpose, because my purpose is you".

"But you gave up again..." she says, disappointment clearly in her voice. Regret paints Eun-hyuk's face. He approaches her, his arms slightly raised in a gesture of appeasement. "I made mistakes and failed to keep my promise."

"Forgive me," he asks without anger. He knows he can't erase what he's done with a few words, but he feels the need to apologize anyway.

I understand your reasons, but that doesn't erase the suffering we went through waiting for you. You didn't see your sister cry. You didn't feel the fear we feel every day in a hostile world.

Lee Eun-hyuk said nothing, but continued to walk toward her.

"You're telling me that taking care of me is your reason for living," Y/n murmured, her eyelids fluttering as if she had to absorb what he'd just said. She clenched her head slightly, frowning with a hint of confusion.

"I... I don't understand. How can I be your reason for living?"

Eun-hyuk smiled slightly, his gaze tender.

"It's simple," he replied, as if explaining something absurd. "My life is empty without you. When you're here, when I see you, when I know you're okay, everything seems to make more sense. It's like the world regains its color."

"I can't love you on the road. I don't... I don't know how to do it," she says.

"I will teach you," he says now in front of her. He tenderly strokes y/n's cheek. At first she flinches from his touch, then she comes back under his caresses. She looks at him sheepishly, not understanding why this gesture warms her body.

"Did I scare you?" She nods.

"Well...It would be a shame to scare the person I love " and he smiles.

Y/n looks at him fascinated.

"Will you teach me that too?" She refers to his smile.

"I'll teach you anything you want."

Then Eun-hyuk took him in her arms. The longer the moment lasts, the more Y/N feels that this is where she belongs. In Eun-hyuk's arms.

Every touch of skin resonates with infinite softness. Hands search for each other, find each other, squeeze each other with infinite delicacy, as if each caress whispers a silent "I love you". Hearts draw closer, synchronize, and in that intimate moment, the whole world fades away to make way for their vibrant, eternal love, sealing their bond in an embrace that transcends time and space.

..................................................................................

Bonus :

Y/n is sitting on the roof when Eun-hyuk comes to sit next to her

“do you have any plans for today?”

"yes, world domination"

"ok, that’s ambitious” a silence settles between them before y/n continues

“you are my world”

Lee Eun-hyuk took a while to understand "oh... OH"

She kisses him on the cheek, smiles at him before finally leaving him alone blushing

[insolentgod]

reminder extremely tough and maybe a little harsh.

a lot of folks gotta work themselves to death just to have a halfway comfortable life, some don't even have the basics. many will have to do crazy stuff for money and others dream of giving their loved ones a good life but can't. some will only be able to see luxurious lifestyles on phone screens or in other people's TikTok accounts. and others don't even have the money to pay for internet to see that.

lots of people will spend years hating themselves, hating their appearance, personality, social life, social status, skills, everything about themselves. many live with insecurities, feeling like a supporting character in their own story, some have things that bother them but it's "impossible" to change them so they'll just have to live with it. others spend a fortune on surgeries or treatments to change something about themselves, and many die because of it.

many people will have to live trying to recover from traumas and bad things that hit them, without knowing how to simply erase them from their lives, and unfortunately, some prefer to end their own lives so they don't have to live with those burdens.

many people will have to face horrible diseases, some they simply can't get rid of and others that are incurable. suffering, waiting for a miracle to free them from this torture.

some folks may never achieve their personal goals and dreams, out of fear, lack of opportunity, lack of means, or because they think it's impossible for them. so consequently they will have to surrender to a mediocre life that they hate.

many people will have to spend years in shitty relationships without knowing how to get out, others will see the love of their life being happy with someone else, others will think that love only serves to deeply hurt them, and others will accept horrible things from their partners because they think they don't deserve anything better.

a lot of folks unfortunately live out there lonely, without love, without a good social circle, without friends, with an abusive family, with people who don't want the best for them, with people who only hurt them and make them think that's what they deserve.

you might think I'm a jerk for talking about such harsh examples and I'm sorry if I hurt anyone, but damn..

all these examples I mentioned are really sad and they leave us with a heavy heart thinking that a lot of people go through this. I think everyone deserves a dignified and happy life, you deserve a dignified and happy life. you don't deserve to be like those people in the examples I mentioned, and you're not. because you have a key in your hands. it's like life is a damn game and you have all the hacks and cheats to simply WIN and do whatever you want, while other people don't even dream of that or are too skeptical to try.

but you know what's funniest about this? it's that this shit ain't just any game, it's your life. it's literally your damn life and you're there playing with the law? saying "oh I can't" "oh persisting is too hard" "I think I'll never have my desires".

girl, I'll kill you if you keep thinking like that.

there are folks who just don't take the loa seriously, and that's why they never fulfill their desires!!!!!!!!!!!! and they won't have anyone to blame for their failure but themselves!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

the LOA community is very small, discovering about it was extremely lucky. so tell me a good reason why you know about it and simply can't manifest? exactly. there isn't one! you can and you should.

I'm not here to judge your difficulties in manifesting (even if I judge everything and everyone), because having difficulties and keep trying is one thing and simply giving up and saying "I can't manifest" is another.

it was a blessing from the universe, God, higher power, whatever you believe in. you discovering LOA was the damn greatest blessing of your life, don't you see that? don't you really see how blessed you are? maybe in the past you've been through hell, but now, my love, the sun is shining for you, you just have to want to shine. unfortunately a lot of people will never have that luck, there are people who would kill to be blessed like this. so please, I beg you... use this tool and have the damn happiest life you can, enjoy it and stop playing with the law.

tell me what do you really want? a true and light love? have a look that would never make you feel insecure again? being the pride of mommy and daddy and having their love? having that beautiful house and a happy family? finally healing from depression or other mental disorders and finally being able to live to the fullest? friends who really care about you? want to meet that idol you've been a fan of for a long time and that everyone thinks your passion for him is silly? want to live in that country far away from everyone? want to stop feeling that guilt or any other bad feeling that has been tormenting you for a long time? want to be truly happy for the first time in your life? want to be rich, a millionaire, billionaire, trillionaire? or just have enough money to lead a comfortable life and never have to work again? go ahead, tell me what you want. you can have it.

stop suffering, you don't deserve to suffer. enough torture. take what's yours and move on. you're strong enough for that. the game ain't over for you, you can't just give up like that. the game is yours, it obeys you, and it ends when you decide. take freaking control.

i suffered a lot in life, i hope one day i have the courage to tell you about my success here. and I simply don't know what I would do without finding out about LOA, just thinking about it fills my heart with gratitude. I feel like a winner. you deserve to feel this peace of having won too.

God bless you. take care of yourselves and put your head to work.

i ain't that selfish. if you need some backup, im here for you, babe. I wanna see you win. 🌟

[threepandas]

Bad End: Happy Wife

Thirteen servants were dead; Two estates on fire.

I never even made it to the gates.

The smell of smoke lingered in the air. Clung to his hair and skin, even after bathing. Because no amount of scented oils, scrubbing, could erase his sin. The scent of iron and cooking flesh. Cruel scents of ancient houses ablaze. Innocent people being slaughtered. For... for the crime of trying to help me.

It was all my fault.

Last time, I had escaped alone. Or... more laughably, he had let me escape.

So he could hunt me through the forest like a brightly colored deer. Some pretty prey to stalk and torment. Letting me exhaust myself. Run and run until I could no longer, before casually strolling up to come collect me. As though letting me get it out of my system. A man, merely humoring his wife's tantrums and overly dramatic, willful ways.

I never should have accepted help. No matter have lonely I was. How desperate my despair. Because... because-!

"I'll get you new ones. Don't be upset, Love." The monster that was my husband, said idly. His voice a low rumble like thunder, his so called 'sweet' tone. "Servants that can't obey their lord, can't be trusted. Shouldn't be kept. They were scum. I'll get you better ones."

Ha ha... more like, servants that obeyed him. Feared him. Had no shred of mercy or honor, left in their bones. Gods... I... I had condemned thirteen good souls. All for trying to help me. Save me. Just for trying to get me out of this hell and away from this man.

I would never forgive this life's sperm donor, for handing me over. Because... because after a betray like that? After I had begged? Begged and screamed, rioted and tried to run? And STILL he handed me over? He was no kin of mine. I had no family.

Not in this life.

My family may not have been perfect. May have been flawed. But they would never have handed me over to a psychopath. Sold me to the highest bidder, like chattle. And... and honestly? I would take them at their worst, over these bastards at their best.

I never should have read that STUPID book. Yeah, maybe, it had nothing to do with anything. Maybe, all it would have done is left me ignorant on top of being stranded. But? I had to blame something. Or I'd go insane. So it was the fucking book's fault.

Recommend by an internet friend. Historical fiction. Lots of complex characters and some spicy yandere. How FUN. Court intrigues! Poisonings! Bastards and hidden births! Great to read... literal hell to live through. Everyone wanted everyone fucking dead, and all I wanted? Was to marry far, FAR into the countryside. Live a boring ass life.

But apparently I blinked funny. Or was standing in the wrong place at the wrong time. Wore the wrong fucking dress (well, not dress, but you get the idea). Because next thing I knew? Yandere Sr., of Yandere and Yandere, is looking at me! And not in that "oh, what an interesting bug" sort of way! Look looking!

I didn't know shit about him! Yes, his son. But him? Nothing!

Well... aside from the fact he was a VERY convenient Widower. Like... the SECOND he got a kid out of his arranged wife. It was all very "everyone suspected but no one could prove shit" Sort of thing.

And? Said son? Becomes a major antagonist in the book. Until he "embarrasses" his Father by going too far. Implied gruesome end to follow. Plot moves on. Which? Is all well and good FOR THEM. But what about me?! I had nothing to go on! Aside from "Aaah ha ha ha! Run." Which? Didn't fucking help, in the end! Still... s-still ended up married.

Though, my new "son" ended up dead, in relatively short order. Apparently wasn't too pleased to have a step-mom. Tried to do something about it. Disappeared between one day and the next. And now no one is allowed to so much as talk about him. But hey! It's apparently fine! Because at some point? We're gonna make a better one!

"Your thoughts are far away, Love. Should I help you concentrate?" Husband muses, from the edge of the bed. I jerk back as I jolt violently to the present, focusing on the threat. He looks pleased. "Better~, this wife should focus only on her Lord. And yet... once again she's wandered. Tried to run. This lord wonders what he should do, hmm?"

Scrunched up in a ball on the bed, I hoped the answer was fucking "nothing". Or maybe, perhaps, "leave". Inching backwards, like the hunted animal I felt like, I wasn't fast enough to avoid the hand that shot out. Capturing my ankle in shackle strong grip.

It wasn't crushing. Left no bruises. Yet the touch felt scalding, as his hand imprisoned yet cradled my ankle. Dragged my leg free of my curled up little ball of self. I froze, as I felt his other hand gentle running the tips of his fingers up and down my shin. Up and down, up and down. As though just feeling my skin.

"Should he make sure his wife can not run?" This grip tightened, nearly bruising. His other gripping farther up my leg. As though casually preparing to snap bones. "Or perhaps, he should chain you away? Hmm? This Lords wife is a troublesome girl. Causing trouble as she does... ah~, what to do with her..."

Terrified, sat froze. Mind numb. Please. Gods. Please, please, please! D-Don't. I was shaking. Could feel tears starting to build. Watched, helplessly, as he examined me. Something pleased, satisfied even, creeped into his expression. And without breaking eye contact, he lifted my leg towards his face, to gently kiss the skin right above my ankle bone. It could have been tender... if it didn't feel like a threat.

"This wife is so very lucky, that this Lord loves her so. That he would never."

It was almost mocking, in how sweet the words curled. As though suggesting that because this one thing was too far, he was a good man. As though suggesting that he would do far worse to others, in my place. But don't worry. You won't be hurt. See how benevolent he is?

"But come, let us not discuss your punishments tonight, hmm?"

Like a predator, stalking his prey, he crawled up onto the bed. Closer and closer. There was no where to run. Was this it? W-was this the day he... he-? Looming, on his knees, above my curled up ball of fear, he effortlessly worked his arm in and around my waist. Dragging me closer. All but into his lap.

"You are tired. Upset. Have made such messes for this husband to clean." He murmured, face pressed close. Breathe ghosting against my neck, my ear. All I could smell was rich soaps and smoke. "We can deal with this tomorrow. For now, it's time for bed. So go ahead, rest sweetly in my arms, Love.

"It's where you belong."

[howi99]

A knight second chance 16

Cinder: *re-reading the information she was sent by Watts* It doesn't make sense! His entire childhood was completely mundane, he never trained and he falsified his transcripts!? This can't be the same Jaune Arc!!!

Mercury: Maybe he was trained secretly?

Cinder: *pointing the medical papers* He hadn't unlocked his aura during his latest check up... Which was just before he enrolled!

Emerald: *looking at his photos* ... Weird, his hair... They were still blonde when he arrived at Beacon and changed to white the day after initiation.

Mercury: So? Maybe he dyed his hair?

Emerald: *smirk* Trust me, it would be a lot more visible. They are naturally white, no dye at all.

Cinder: *pensive* I see... Could he have been replaced?

Emerald: I've re-watched their initiation multiple times, and it doesn't seem like it.

Cinder: (So mysterious... I wonder who you really are, Jaune Arc...)

_ next morning _

Cinder: *Being pushed against the wall, her eyes locking with Jaune's* W-what!? *Blushing furiously* What are you-!?

Jaune: *Serious* I can give you what you want, Cinder.

Cinder: *Blushing even more* J-Jaune, i m-might find you attractive, b-but that's a bit too quick!

Jaune: *confused* ... Oh right, you did mention- *shake his head* Wait, no, that's not the subject!

Cinder: *sounding a bit disappointed* O-oh...

Jaune: *looking around, seeing no one* ... *Unsure of himself* Look, i know who you really are, Cinder. Better than you can even imagine- *blocking her hands in his, so that if she wanted to use magic, she would hurt both him and herself* Hm... That's not going to work...

Cinder: *panicking* (Why is he so strong!? It really doesn't make sense! And he knows my weakness!? Does he work for Ozpin!?! Does he-) *sees a flash of light*

_ _ _

*as the world was being erased, only two persons remained*

Cinder: I just wanted to be free... To have friends... To have a normal life... *Smile, trying to hide the pain* I even had a crush on you, you know?

Jaune: *sigh* Cinder, this is the end. There's no reason to lie.

Cinder: I'm being honest here. *Sigh, looking at her hands who slowly fades away* maybe it's because i'll soon disappear that i don't mind sharing the truth anymore...

Jaune: *scratching the back of his head* Then i guess you can tell me everything. I'll probably forget it anyway.

Cinder: I never wanted to kill anyone. My first victims were my adoptive family, who tortured me every day of my life. And yet, it was an accident.

Jaune: Is that so?

Cinder: A man gifted me a sword and my two "siblings" tried to take it away. The sword slipped, killing one on the spot and the second tried to strangle me and... *Sigh* ... I broke her neck by accident. I wasn't thinking straight, i had an aura and not her...

Jaune: ...

Cinder: And after that? It was self defense. The madame tried to kill me and so i defended myself, then my mentor arrived and blamed me and tried attacking me. He didn't want to, but he had to... That night, i should have been the one to die...

Jaune: ... *Pat her back*

Cinder: ... *Chuckle* My dream, when i was a kid, was to become the Rusted Knight apprentice. I guess i became his arch-enemy instead, right?

Jaune: *nod* As if i would have wanted a devil like you as an apprentice.

Cinder: *sigh* I know, i-

Jaune: *smirk* I would have adopted you, and changed you for the better.

Cinder: *looking at Jaune, feeling herself disappearing* ... *Smiling, closing her eyes* Knowing you, you'd probably have been a great dad.

Jaune: You think so? *turning his head towards her* Cinder- *seeing the particles of light floating away* ... I'm sorry it had to be this way...

_ _ _

Cinder: *blinking the memory away* What was- *sees Jaune fighting with her Grimm parasite* !?

Jaune: *stomping repeatedly on the despicable abomination, killing it*

Cinder: *panicking* WHAT DID YOU DO!

Jaune: *smiling* I gave you your freedom!

Cinder: I-

Jaune: And i can give you the power you seek to. *Grin* You wanted to be the rusted Knight apprentice, right?

Cinder: *horrified* THAT WASN'T AN ILLUSION!?

Jaune: Nope! *Grab her hand* Now, come with me and i promise you that everything will be fine!

_ _ _

Ozpin: ... *Looking at the awakened Amber* And you are sure you have no memories of who attacked you?

Amber: *shake her head* No, nothing at all.

Ozpin: I... See.

_ _ _

Cinder: *crossing her arms* I can't believe you made me give up my powers. I feel so... Weak!

Jaune: *roll his eyes* Relax, there's someone who would be glad to give you her powers. A guy i know is trying to find her as we speak!

[enhafilthandfiction]

Enhypen kissing you during a argument!🥹

Enhypen Kissing you during an Argument

A/N : This is literally so sjsdksd 🤭🤭 Anywaysss, I hope you enjoy and I don't disappoint this anon :))

Pairing : Bf!Enha X Fem!Reader

Warnings : Arguments, some swearing, crack, kisses.

Word Count : 2,130 Words (About 300 words each)

Masterlist

» Lee Heeseung «

"I already told you Heeseung! You can't get mad at me, your girlfriend, for interrupting your stupid game!" you yelled, anger laced in your tone. He's been too obsessed with that game he's playing that you can't even talk to him or he'll scold you for 'distracting' him.

"It's not stupid and hey- It doesn't really matter okay?" he tries to defend his game but you won't stop until you've proved your point.

"No, it is in fact stupid, it even makes you stupid!" you let out, scoffing.

He sighs out and rolls his eyes "Look, why are we fighting over this damn game anyway? I won't scold you next time" he promises.

"I know for a damn fact you will Hees-" he cuts you off, gently placing his palms on your cheeks as he pulls you in for an apologetic kiss. He hates how this game is getting between you, and he knows he's to blame on the most part.

He pulls away, looking at your dumbfounded face before explaining "Look, I'm sorry, maybe I do get mad at you when you interrupt me, but from now on it won't happen anymore okay?" he declares.

You sigh and offer him a sheepish smile, not fully sold on his statement. "Yeah, we'll see how that goes" you say rolling your eyes.

"Pinky pwomiseee" he says in a sweet tone, holding out his larger pinky. You intertwine pinkies with him, staring him dead in the eye. "Scold me one more time and I'll erase you game" you threatened, watching as he physically gulps.

» Park Jay «

Jay was spending too much time in the dorms lately, and it was making you worried. The amount of time he was spending in there made you think he was cheating on you or something.

"Y/n, I promise you, I just had to take care of the members" he assures, trying to calm your worried state.

"Jay, you weren't even coming home these past days!" you point out, your voice coming out higher than intended. You were just worried. He places his palms on the counter to hold himself up as he sighs, watching you from behind the counter. "What do you want me to tell you Y/n?" he asks, not really knowing how to get out of this situation.

You look back at him, eyebrows still furrowed as you shrug, not knowing what you want from him yourself. You lift your eyes from the floor when you notice him making his way over to you, his eyes on yours.

When he's close enough, he leans down, pressing his lips onto yours. You realised that he didn't need to say anything, telling you everything through the kiss. His hands find your waist, lightly squeezing.

When he pulls away he offers you an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry for spending too much time in the dorms. Thankyou for looking after me, but the boys really needed me this week" he explains, caressing your cheek.

Your expression softens as you slowly smile up at him, kissing his thumb, making him chuckle. "I'm sorry for yelling, Jay"

» Sim Jake «

"What the fuck was that about Jake?" you spat at him once you came back home. He looks at you with his eyebrows knitted in confusion.

"What?" he asks, trying to think of what he did wrong.

"You literally didn't acknowledge me the whole time we were with your friends, you literally invited me to come along and then not even look at me the whole night!" your voice starts to get higher as you let out your frustration, referring to how he kept laughing with his friends and literally ignored you.

You felt like you were overreacting, or like you were needy for attention and with the way he remained silent, you thought he was judging you. As tears started brimming your eyes, he sat down next to you on the couch, sighing before wrapping his arms around you.

"I'm sorry I didn't notice baby, I was just too focused on what they were saying" he explains, knowing he messed up.

"What do you mean you were too focused on them?" you ask, trying to get away from his affection. Before you can yell at him more, he turns to his side, looking at you before capturing your lips with his, making you melt in his touch.

"I'm really sorry for being a dick, I swear I'll make it up to you" he promises when he pulls away, moving your hair out of your face and attempting to dry away your tears.

You avoid his gaze and look down at the floor, giving him the silent treatment. He rolls his eyes and chuckles, grabbing a hold of your hands and swinging them. "C'mon Y/n, will you let me show you how sorry I am?" he asks, flicking his eyebrows up and down.

Now you couldn't deny him anymore.

» Park Sunghoon «

"Hoon, you were literally flirting with her!" you let out your frustration the second you arrive home. He sighs for the millionth time.

"Y/n, I already told you, she's just my friend!"

"Yeah, just a friend that you're extra close to" you spit, rolling your eyes "I mean, c'mon, anyone who doesn't know you would've guessed you were dating!" you exaggerate a little, crossing your arms.

"Just because I bought her a drink and laughed along to her jokes doesn't mean she's my girlfriend" He chuckles in disbelief "I was just being kind!" he explains himself, waiting for your reply.

"Whatever, I'm sleeping on the couch tonight" you declare, heading to the living room.

"No you're not" he says in a softer tone, gently grasping your hand before you can get out of his reach. "You're sleeping in bed with me because you're my girlfriend. Not her"

You huff as he brings you closer to him, his face inching closer to yours, before he presses a soft kiss to your lips. You don't kiss back at first, making him smile at how stubborn you were.

"She was actually kind of annoying me to be honest" he admits, giggling. Seeing his eyes turn into lines and his dimples on display, you couldn't be mad at him anymore.

You get on your tiptoes and kiss him back. "You're a dick Hoonie" you say, this time wriggling out of his reach. "But I'll still sleep in your bed"

» Kim Sunoo «

"You've got to be kidding me" you whisper to yourself as you open your expensive body scrub which you bought just last week. It wasn't even smooth anymore, someone had dug their hands in it. Your boyfriend.

"Kim Sunoo!" you yell, your voice booming out into the corridor, reaching his ears. Shit, he messed up. He hesitantly makes his way over to you, taking cautious steps to the bathroom before peeking his head inside.

"Y/nnn" he begins, not sure what he did wrong.

"Did you use this?" you ask, shoving the little tub in his face. He gulps and admits that yes, he did.

"You used up like the whole thing!" you exaggerate, a frown visible on your face. As you continue to rant, he just tries to tell you that it's fie because he can buy you like a hundred more if you want. "It was so expensive too!" you cry out.

"Y/n," he begins, placing both palms on your cheeks before he leans in for a kiss, shutting you up. "I'll buy you a new one" he assures after pulling away.

You stare at him for a quick second, still not wanting to forgive him for using your product without even asking first and literally emptying it.

"Let's go today" he says, trying to make you smile, which you unwillingly do.

"Fine, let's go before I scrape that body scrub off your face"

» Yang Jungwon «

You wanted to curse Heeseung for starting Jungwon's obsession with legos. It's like everytime you two went to the mall he'd come home with a new lego set and start building it excitedly.

You'd always watch as he gets lost in the piece he's building, eyebrows furrowed in concentration of this complex piece he way building.

You were always very cautious around his legos, until you weren't. You were just walking around the kitchen counter before involuntary knocking over one of his pieces, watching as it shatters on the ground, lego pieces decorating the whole floor.

As soon as he heard the noise, you stop shocked in your tracks as he runs to the kitchen to see what happened. "Y/nnn" he whines out annoyed when he sees his newly built masterpiece on the ground.

"I'm so sorry Won, I didn't mean to" you try to explain, kneeling at the floor to pick up the little plastic pieces. He huffs out and gets on the floor too, helping you out.

"Maybe you should be more careful" he spits, rolling his eyes "Now I have to rebuilt this all from scratch" he huffs.

"Hey, it's not my fault it was right at the edge of the counter!" you try to defend yourself, having had enough of his bullsh already. "I'm sick of your stupid legos and your obsession with them!" you sigh out angrily, standing up and refusing to help.

He grabs your hand just in time, standing up too. "Oh, so I'm gonna have to pick up the mess you made?" he asks in sarcasm.

"It doesn't matter! They're just colourful blocks anyway!" you let out "You can always rebuild it" you try to reason, but he wasn't having it.

"Yeah, but I've already spent hours building it and now I'm gonna have to spend more time rebuilding it!" he explains back, trying to get his point across.

You sigh out at how blinded he was by these bricks but as you tried to walk away again, he wouldn't let you.

"Hey, I'm not gonna let legos make us fight" he says in a much softer tone, finally giving up his legos. "I prefer you way more than the legos anyway"

You finally listen to him, crossing your arms and watching as he comes closer to you. His eyes have softened as he sighs, brining his face to yours and placing a gentle kiss on your lips.

Your arms loosen up and by the time he pulls away, both of you are smiling. "I'm glad you don't pick the legos over me" you try to keep up the act, but fail a little. "Maybe I can help you rebuild it?" you ask hopefully, watching as his face brightens.

Even if it took another hour rebuilding it, Jungwon didn't mind, he spent more time with you and his beloved legos.

» Nishimura Riki «

You knew Riki was overworking himself in the studio, always trying to be perfect with his moves and never accepting mistakes. You scolded him so many times whenever he came home really late from the studio, but you only wanted what's best for him.

Today was another one of those days when he came back home way after dinner time. He sighed and rolled his eyes the second he stepped into your shared apartment.

There you were, arms crossed in your pj's, with a tired yet annoyed expression on your face. "Where have you been?" you asked already knowing the answer "Oh right, let me guess, at the studio"

He tries to ignore you, "I'm not in the mood to argue" he says under his breath, getting past you to go shower.

"No, but you promised you wouldn't stay in the studio late again!" you try to get your point across, not wanting this to happen again.

"Blah blah okayyy" he whines, completely ignoring your statement and getting his things for the shower.

"Riki!" you try to get his attention. He looks back at you and shouts back jokingly "Y/n!"

"You're literally ignoring me when I'm trying to care for your wellbeing" you reason, glaring at him. "I literally told yo-"

He shuts you up by pressing a quick kiss to your lips, making you melt under his touch as he places his hands on your hips. "I know and I'm sorry, I won't do it again okay? I appreciate you taking care of me but I'm really not in the mood for a scolding" he admits after pulling away.

You sigh and look up at his taller figure, nodding understandingly. "I know, I'm sorry Riki, I was just worried" you look down, feeling his hand beneath your chin. He lifts your chin up "Promise me you won't stay there late again?" you plead.

He smiles "Promise" he even steals a kiss too. "Don't sleep yet, I'll shower quickly" and he does, joining you in bed shortly, kissing you and cuddling you just to make it up to you.

Thankyou for reading! I hope it was good :) Have a good day/night and remember that ily! <333

[the-cat-and-the-birdie]

I think Hobie brown is the one character I've seen written completely out of character the most

Like, he would NOT say that

He definitely is. I see people write Miles and Gwen as spot on (pun unintended). Miguel and Pavitr are usually butchered for linguistics reasons

But with Hobie, him being a punk - one from a very specific time - adds a whole new layer of difficultly and honestly. At this point, I can't even blame people.

I think Hobie's mischaracterization is caused by two primary things, one purposeful, and one not. Please allow me to rant.

Hobie Brown, Mischaracterization, and the Sanitization of Punk Culture

I think Hobie's characterization is the perfect example of the way media purposely deminished and trivialized the punk identity in order to erase it's political connotations.

In other words, people misunderstanding Hobie shows how the media warped and censored the definition of 'punk' in the last 50 years.

And that's on purpose.

Let's take the hippies for an example. When you think of them, what beliefs comes to mind?

Peacefulness, usually. Pot smoking. Music loving. And Anti-war. They love peace. The phrase 'Make Love, Not War' make come to mind.

But it's easier for the media to historically display hippies as people who were opposed to war - rather than people who were openly oppossed to the Vietnamese War.

As in, they weren't just opposed to war - which they were. They were also specifically opposed to the United States government crossing borders in order to push a capitalist agenda in Vietnam.

It's easy to say hippes loved communes - then to say 'Hippies were Communist'. With a couple words switched around - sanitization.

Punk is just like that.

It's easier to focus on the response rather than the source. It's easier to look at Hobie singing than to consider what he'd be singing about in those songs.

I feel like in the past 50 years the media has purposely centered the outrage of punk around music - as a targeted distraction, and a method of silencing. This goes from the outward hatred of Sex Pistols - to a President's wife literally taking a metal band to court in order to get the 'Explicit Content label' instated for the first time.(crazyyyy long story- crazy interesting. Google 'Mary Gore vs Twister Sister' - the videos of the band in court is hilarious)

But anyway the outrage of punk music in specific and the silencing of the message behind it kinda changed the way people viewed punks.

Media very much wanted to make punk something about senseless rebellion towards everything, the same way they tried to turn anarchy into 'unending chaos that never stops', when neither of those things are true.

Basically saying 'Oh, those people over there? They aren't angry oppressed people screaming and forming a community based around resilience, those are teeennagerrs. theyre just screaming cause theyre mad at their dads or something PLEASE dont look at them PLEASE PLEASE DO NOT CHECK IF WE'RE TELLING THE TRUTH'

And so people are presented with someone like Hobie, they see the loud music, but not picking up what he's saying if you get my drift.

And the other thing I'll try to keep short.

It's not purposeful, but I think it matters.

The Internet - Subculture vs Aesthetic

I don't think this is something that's been talked about yet.

But I feel like a lot of people misunderstand what a subculture is. So when they see Hobie, they see fashion, and music taste, and attitude. They instead perceive him as an aesthetic. Not someone who participates in subculture.

Subculture is a way of life. It encompasses not only your fashion and music tastes, but it can and usually extends to things like your morals, your behaviors, the spaces you exist in, etc.

Goth, Punk, Vegans, hell - even Nudists - are all subcultures. Because they effects the persons lifestyle. Subcultures are lifestyles.

Aesthetics are not.

An aesthetic is a (usually) visual ambience that is meant to evoke a specific emotion.

Aesthetics can extend to fashion, decor, and music taste - but not your morality or behavior.

E-girls, Emos, Hipsters, what have you - all aesthetics as they do not encompass morals, or behaviors.

And because of that - there are things that do or don't make you a punk. But there aren't really things that do or don't 'make you emo'.

Aesthetics don't have conditions, but subcultures do.

You have to be anti-government to be punk. You don't have to hate your life to be emo.

(Which is why when people bring this up, people are quick to call 'gatekeeping!' Because in the context of aethetics gatekeeping is seen as unneccesary, whereas in subcultures 'gatekeping' is more so protecting the underlying beliefs and motivations of the movement. People who see Hobie as an aesthetic will find these conditions odd because they're not seeing his punkness as a subculture.)

Today on the internet, it's a lot more common and easy to engage in an aesthetic. It's not uncommon for someone to purposefully pick an aesthetic - and go all out - simply because they like it. It's great. I engage with an aesthetic all the time.

But because of that, when people see Hobie it's easy to immediately be like 'oh okay hes doing it out of fashion hes doing it because he vibes with it cool.'

They look at Hobie the way they would look at an eboy (do those still exist).

______________________________________________

Sooo mixing the censored image of a punk along with the modern-day instinct to perceive something as an aesthetic rather than a way of life kinda causes.....this.

A Hobie tag were a lot of people completely misunderstand who he is as a person and his motivations as a superhero outside of 'I hate the establishment'.

Plus add in a dash of people just being totally blank on 70's politics. The Vietnam War, Margaret Thatcher coming to power, the IRA, etc. - all of those things I think tells us a lot about Hobie. I'm currently on a piece about that and an explainer of most of those events. Or if you want a brief rundown please feel free to ask, I'll do my best.

If you wanna know Hobie more - don't listen to punk music. Go read the lyrics, if you get what I mean. They truly do have something to say.

Hope this made some sense, thanks for reading if you made it this far :) also no proofread we die like kings but ill most likely do it later and delete this note.

[triangularz]

ZORO- FORGIVENESS

sfw- last line nsfw, maybe 700 words, soft zoro, est. relationship, wisely waiting to be forgiven, reader envisioned as blk/f, enjoy and imagine your thing! many of my fics are really "dense fanfictional narrative character studies" or something like that. Working on including more dialogue

Zoro's apologies are total like his sweet, unyielding love, seeping from his bone marrow, from every red blood cell- earnest, absolute, lived. Never burning or suffocating, each moves like convection heat from him to you- always warm, always healing. He has no need to search for you when he's caused distance, or use haki to sense your aura- instead, he draws on what he deeply and so accurately understands about you, and drains every drop from his stores of intuition to see beyond your rough exterior, passed your strained smile- notice your rigid movements or one too many blinks to hold back hot tears you hope he won't witness.

To fix and fuck the feelings away- shit that's all he wants; he hates it, hates it, but these are his consequences, to wait and refrain and respect, to fight his will, to conceal his impatience while pensive and in pain.

He refuses to weigh you down, won't allow you to become the comforter because of his own self-pity, scrambling to assure him you won't leave, that you do love him, that he isn't a horrible man. He'll own and absorb his mistakes, bow and honor you. So he makes no promises to placate you, doesn't bargain with you or swear on his life he won't do it again. To do those things would be to erase or medicate your pain without healing the wounds he's caused, and the promise would be a lie; perfection doesn't exist. He might- he will speak too harshly, ignore your needs, act selfishly... apologize again. But the coin's other side pisses you off and is hard for him: He won't take your upper-handed shit while he waits, allow you to be manipulative or lash out in ways he knows you'll regret; he gently pushes back. Later, you can't thank him enough for it- having calmly stood his ground with such love.

When you forgive him, he recognizes that hurt or anger or sadness may not dissipate right away, and he'll gladly wait longer, quietly processing how best... to be better. He stands on the edge of your universe, making his way towards your galaxy, then your solar system, then your planet and eventually back to you when you signal readiness for it. It feels like an age to him, but it's never long before you extend your hand and walk him home to your heart.

This perspective, this agony- he's stumbled to learn it in ways grievous to you both, after raging, fists through the side of the crow's nest, blame and defense, bewilderment. Shit you've also inflicted heinous wounds- but what happens in it (he, with a smidge of advice from Sanji and Nami) really is as beautiful as it is messy, your roots together growing deeper and stronger, better handling drought.

▪️

This morning, he scribbles a note on torn cartography paper before joining Jinbe at the helm: I know you'll have a good day. Don't let me spoil it. I'll miss you. Challenging for him to write, but a small thing you can choose to throw away, maybe smile about. Instead you cry, experiencing every little word and recalling a moment yesterday- his sorrowful eyes, his restraint and clenched fists when full of anger you left to wander the ship:

"Heading out."

"Okay. Whatever you need." Not me. I know.

*

The bed dips now with his weight; he'd first hovered near the bedroom while you showered and changed, giving you space before you sleep.

"This ok?" His hand rests tentatively on your hip.

"Yeah." You struggle with ambivalence- an urge to punish him and your own desperate need to reconcile.

"Thanks... I'm so sorry. I mean it," he whispers. Gratefulness to touch you again and a precious few words he always means; they melt away the last of your angst. You gently grab his hand and nestle it on your chest, interlacing his fingers with yours, and he cautiously plants a kiss on your shoulder- you aren't delicate, but he recognizes the kiss should be. It's automatic after a few minutes, to cuddle closer to you when he thinks you're asleep. His soul relaxes, but he doesn't, every muscle flexing to keep you close, aroused and fine with it, expecting nothing. You're wide awake, and just as he's found contentment, your back melts into his chest and your ass presses against his cock, heart pounding. You're repaired. He fucks you through tears, both relieved, and roots stretching longer into nutrient-rich earth.

▪️

[oliversrarebooks]

The Rare Bookseller Part 58: Edgar's Pocket Watch

Prev > Masterlist > Next

tw: kidnapping, mind control, hypnosis, assault, stabbing, eye whump, rat-based horror, possessive behavior adult referred to as boy

September 1905

It had always been hard for Fitz to wake up, but usually not this hard. His eyelids felt as if they were made of concrete, and he had an uncomfortable headache to boot. As he forcibly dragged himself back to consciousness, he realized he was being moved at an alarmingly rapid pace.

He had just managed to return to reality a second before he was tossed onto a hard wooden floor, thankfully landing mostly on his backside and not hitting his head. His head was pounding quite enough already.

"Is there any need to be so rough? You'll damage the thrall," said a smooth voice.

"That little pig spit in my face, he deserves it." Shit, that was most certainly Jameson, by no means a voice that Fitz wanted to hear under the circumstances.

Fitz cracked his eyes open just enough to see a pair of expensive dress shoes. There was a cloth gag in his mouth, and ropes binding his ankles together and his hands behind him.

"If a dog bites you, do you blame the dog, for acting on its instincts?" said the first one, who Fitz now recognized as Edgar. "Or do you blame the master who trained the dog poorly and fails to control him?"

"I think they both should get what they deserve. You're going to erase him, aren't you?"

"No, I don't think I will."

"But you said --"

"Now that I have him here, I can clearly see how he's built for obedience. He'll look and smell so fine in a mindless daze, standing by my chair or kneeling at my feet, serving my every whim. A thrall like this deserves that obedience, not to be chained in some filthy pen."

Fitz squeezed his eyes shut, trying not to tremble. He should have let Lex bring hime home, instead of trying to prove… whatever it is he was trying to prove. Now, he was caught between two vampires with the worst of intentions for him. He had no doubt that Lex would rescue him, but would it be too late for his mind?

Jameson huffed. "Do what you like, then, as long as I get to see the look on Alexander's face."

"I thought you'd see reason. I won't be able to enthrall him permanently by the time his keeper arrives, of course, but I can give him a taste of how much improved his thrall would be. And then, of course, I'll have to run the poor little vampire back home. I can't have him getting ideas about taking his treasure back, not when he's treated his thrall so poorly."

Fitz heard footsteps getting closer, and then he was lifted up and sat upright on a soft chair.

"Open your eyes now, boy," said Edgar. "I know you aren't still sleeping."

He stubbornly kept his eyes closed, not foolish enough to get caught in Edgar's hypnotic gaze so easily. Ears straining for some clue as to what was happening, he heard a soft noise he couldn't place.

"Ah, so you think you're being defiant, do you?" The commanding voice whispered in his ear. "Don't worry, I'm not going to harm you. Deep down inside, you know that you want to submit to your betters. It's in your nature."

Fitz felt the gag being untied. "Alexander's going to make short work of you when he finds you, sir," he said as soon as he was free.

Edgar laughed. "Boy, do you really think I would have taken you if I feared your so-called master? I have a healthy respect for his sire, of course, but that hardly extends to Alexander. I'm not impressed by his party trick of enchanting a room of weak-minded thralls."

As much as Fitz truly did believe in Alexander, he couldn't help starting to be worried. What if he wasn't found in time? What if Edgar's confidence was warranted? Feeling that Edgar was behind him, he opened his eyes just enough to see where he was. Through blurry vision he could see an opulent drawing room. It looked like many of the parlors he had spent his youth around -- ostentatious, full of wealthy objects with no particular meaning other than bragging rights, resisting any personal touch that would make it look as if people lived there.

"I'm sure your master will like you better once I've tamed you," said Edgar. "Ah, you've opened your eyes. Are you ready to accept your place?"

Fitz screwed his eyes shut again. "My place is with Alexander, sir."

"Oh, then I suppose you'd prefer if I enthralled you like he does, with a little song." Edgar sang a lullaby into Fitz's other ear. "Go to sleep, don't resist, you will obey, sweet little thrall…"

His voice was nowhere near as enchanting as Lex's, but it held enough hypnotic power that Fitz felt his mind begin to fuzz against his will.

"Ugh, how long is this going to take? It'd be faster if you just erased him," Jameson complained.

"I'll take as long as I please mesmerizing this thrall to my standards. It's truly a shame you can't appreciate the unparalleled joy of breaking in a willful thing like this. But if you're that bored, feel free to help yourself to one of the cigars on the side table."

"Don't mind if I do."

"And as for you, boy, you're going to open your eyes while I talk to you."

"The hell I will, sir," Fitz scoffed.

"That was a command, not a request." Fingers snapped next to Fitz's ear. "Open your eyes. Focus."

His eyelids flew open, and to his momentary relief, he wasn't looking into Edgar's eyes. Instead, he was staring straight into a golden pocketwatch with ornate carvings of flowers and birds, perfectly polished glass, smooth mechanisms, and a quiet, rhythmic tick-tock.

"Focus," Edgar said again as the watch began to sway before his eyes. The movement was slow. Heavy. Fitz couldn't stop himself from following it, couldn't tear himself away. A weak protest died in his throat.

"Yes, that's it, watch the pocket watch as it swings back and forth… back and forth…" Edgar's voice seemed more mesmeric now, dangerously so. "You long for a taste of power. You crave obedience. I can see it written on your face. You'll be a good boy and focus now."

He needed to look anywhere but this, needed to ignore Edgar's words dripping into his ear like honey.

"Every slow swing of the watch draws you deeper into my control. Every slow swing of the watch draws you deeper into obedience." The watch swung to the left. "Deep." Right. "Mindless." Left. "Obedience." Right.

"No… stop…" He could feel the trance taking hold as his eyes helplessly swept back and forth.

"Deep, mindless obedience. The obedience you need, the obedience you crave. A perfect, submissive thrall, eager to serve my every whim. Everything is slipping further and further away. Your mind will sleep deeply in my will, and you will obey without question."

Fitz struggled again, trying to keep the words from sinking in. He imagined himself, blank and empty-eyed, kneeling at this vampire's feet. He imagined Lex coming to rescue him, finding him in this embarrassing, compromised state. And for a fleeting moment he imagined Lex approving of it, bringing him back home to be a handsome ornament in his library, Fitz fawning helplessly over his master --

"That's it, boy, keep watching and listening. You know very well that you're just a silly little thing who craves the guidance of a strong and dominant hand. You often make poor decisions, don't you?"

"No, sir," Fitz objected, even though he felt Edgar was more than a little correct. The watch looked so heavy as it swayed in front of his face. His eyelids felt heavy, too, and it was becoming so hard to think.

"Oh, I think you do. I think your impulsiveness and foolishness was on full display for everyone when you shamed yourself in front of Lord Jameson here," said Edgar, still swinging the watch in perfect rhythm. "Wouldn't it be so much easier to let a superior mind make those decisions for you? You can let go, and let your mind sleep, and obey without question. Don't you want to serve?"

"I… want…"

"Yes, that's it."

"I… only want�� to serve… Lex," Fitz managed. Something stirred in him, a spark of defiance lighting his way before he was swallowed by the dark. He didn't want to provide for or obey anyone but Lex, he knew that for certain. That was where he truly belonged, and no mere pocket watch could change that. The realization washed over him like waves crashing against the shore, and he opened his eyes fully, forcing his gaze away from the fatal watch.

"Ha! You see, you can't even control him properly," Jameson crowed.

Edgar wasn't remotely fazed. "He's a bit stubborn. It's a good sign. Stubborn ones always fall so much harder once they're brought to heel." He stroked Fitz's cheek with his hand even as Fitz flinched away. "Tired of fighting, exhausted from making decisions. The stubborn ones only resist because they're frightened of how badly they crave the obedience. This boy is no exception."

The gentle hand suddenly grabbed Fitz's chin and wrenched his face upwards. "Focus," he hissed, and Fitz was staring into his eyes again, twin pools of darkness. "Deep into my eyes. Deep into obedience. No more resistance now, no more fighting. Your thoughts are too slow, heavy, and docile. You've already sunk too deep into trance."

Fitz tried to shake his head, to look elsewhere or close his eyes, but he was trapped in Edgar's gaze, his powers slowly but surely draining Fitz of his willpower, returning him right back to entrancement.

"Yes, that's right, no need to fight. Only obedience and submission now. You will submit to me. Say it."

The words came out of his mouth before he could stop them. "I will submit to you, sir."

"You will obey me."

"…I will obey you, sir."

"You're completely under my control."

"I…"

"Say it, boy." Edgar's eyes sparkled with malicious glee.

"I'm completely under your control, sir," said Fitz, eyelids drooping and voice growing dull.

"Good, very good boy. Now repeat that as you become drowsy and docile."

"I will submit to you, sir. I will obey you, sir. I'm completely under your control, sir," said Fitz, helpless to stop himself, the words becoming more true as he spoke them. "I will submit to you, sir. I will obey you, sir. I'm completely under your control, sir…" His eyelids were closing down, down, down, as he reinforced his own hypnotized state.

"Sleep, now," said Edgar. "Sleep and submit to my will. Sleep and receive the precious gift of my command. Sleep and fall into a dream of docility. Sleep."

"I will… sleep… sir…" Fitz muttered as his eyes closed and his head pitched forward. He struggled for one more fruitless moment before his consciousness fell into an abyss.

"Very good, thrall. And now you don't need to think any more. All you need to do is listen."

Fitz felt Edgar sit down next to him and whisper into his ear, but he was too deeply hypnotized to do anything but absorb his suggestions and commands.

"…two, you will open your eyes but remain deeply entranced. And on three, open your eyes and obey."

Fitz's heavy eyes blinked open easily. He felt strange, his head foggy. It was hard to think. The room he was in looked familiar, but he couldn't remember what it was or why he was here. He stretched his wrists, which felt oddly stiff, as did his legs.

"Ahem."

Fitz looked up to see a vampire in a sharp suit, lounging imperiously on an overstuffed armchair, and he was consumed with the deep need to serve, to do anything he commanded. The small tug of wrongness in his thoughts was snuffed out as Lord Edgar beckoned him forward, and Fitz felt himself falling to his knees in front of this strong, powerful vampire. His superior.

Lord Edgar reached forward and pet his head with a condescending smile. "There you go. Don't you feel so much better?"

"Yes, sir." It would be easy and effortless to serve. There was nothing he wanted more. And those vague, nagging thoughts he had were difficult to focus on and hurt his head. This vampire would do the thinking for him, as was his right.

"Such a good little thrall. So calm and obedient. Not a scrap of fight left in you. Isn't that right?"

"Yes, sir," said Fitz, swallowing hard as he looked into Lord Edgar's captivating eyes.

"Do you see now, Jameson? He's so much more agreeable like this. With a little time and conditioning, he'll be a masterpiece."

Jameson scoffed. "If you say so. Of course this is an improvement, but I still think he'd be better erased."

"And that's why quality thralls are wasted on you." Lord Edgar pet Fitz with a gesture that might have seemed affectionate if not for the malice in his eyes and smile. "Hm, how shall I have you serve me? Why don't you polish my shoes?"

Lord Edgar tossed a little black bag at Fitz, who fumbled it in his dazed state. He picked it up and opening it, revealing shoe polish, a horsehair brush, and several cloths. Pleased to have been given a task by a vampire, he got straight to work brushing the dust and dirt off from every crevice of Lord Edgar's exquisite dress shoes.

"Don't you dare miss a spot," said Lord Edgar with amusement as Fitz began to rub the polish in, treating the vampire's shoes with more care than he had ever treated his own.

"I'm finished, sir," he said meekly, once the shoes were shining bright enough to show Fitz his reflection.

"Passable work," said Lord Edgar. "Now you can be my footstool. I expect your former master will be here any minute. Don't you want him to see what a good, obedient thrall you are?"

Fitz's face burned with both shame and pleasure as he got on all fours in front of Lord Edgar's chair, allowing the vampire to prop his feet on his back. The thought of Lex -- a powerful vampire, his superior, his true master -- seeing him reduced to this state…

He hoped that Lex would approve of how well he could serve.

As it turned out, Fitz didn't have to wait long. Just as his hands were becoming sore from pressing into the floor, the door to the drawing room was flung open, and a familiar feeling swept over him like a rush of water. Fitz craned his neck to see Lex standing there, ringed in fury.

"Finally, there you are. Come to collect your trash?" said Jameson.

"Now, now, this thrall certainly isn't trash. He just needed some fixing." Lord Edgar bent down and pet Fitz's head as he would a dog. "Do you like what I've done to him, Alexander?"

"Get your hands off of my thrall immediately. This is your only warning." Lex's voice was a low rumble of thunder, a storm brewing over the ocean.

"Oh, dear, I don't think I can do that. I've already become quite fond of him. I don't think I could in good conscience release this thrall to someone who doesn't take proper care of him."

Lord Edgar lifted his feet off of Fitz and beckoned him upwards. As if floating, Fitz found himself rising back into a kneel. "In my lap, thrall." Fitz helplessly rested his head on Lord Edgar's lap, allowing the vampire to caress him gently.

"What have you done to him?" Lex demanded. "Fitz, are you all right? What has he done to you?"

"I --" Fitz started.

"I molded him into a better thrall, as you can very well see," said Edgar. "Of course, this is just the beginning of his necessary conditioning, but you can see how well he's already taken to it. All of this time, you've been depriving this poor thrall of the control he truly needs. I'm doing both of you a favor."

"I did warn you." Lex pulled out a silver knife that gleamed in the flickering gaslight.

"Come now, even you're smarter than that. I have your precious thrall entirely in my grasp. If you even consider attacking me -- well, you wouldn't want something to happen to Fitz here, would you?" Lord Edgar tilted Fitz's chin up to look at him. "You don't want Alexander to do something he'll regret, do you?"

"No, sir."

"So I thought. Now why don't you put the knife down and --"

There was a flash of light and a horrible wet sound, and cold, inky blood was gushing down Edgar's front and soaking his shirt, dripping onto Fitz. Fitz looked up to see the silver knife sticking out of Edgar's right eye, as the vampire gasped and choked. Lex was still on the other side of the room, and Fitz realized that he must have thrown the knife with pinpoint precision.

"Hell!" Jameson cried, leaping from his seat, a second silver knife narrowly missing him.

Edgar slumped over almost on top of Fitz, and Fitz felt his mind begin to clear a bit. As he tried to shake himself free, he felt something tickle his ankles, and let out an undignified scream as he saw a swarm of rats swirling around him. Rats were filling the room, almost thick enough on the ground that he couldn't see the carpet, climbing his pant legs. They were everywhere, squirming and chittering, climbing Edgar's legs and up the chair. The gaslight was reflected in their beady eyes as they crawled closer to Fitz's face.

"Fitz!" Lex cried out. "You --"

"Come any closer to me," said Jameson, "and my rats are going to eat your thrall's eyes."

Any bravery Fitz had mustered was out the window as he tried to scramble away from the rats to no avail. They were clinging to his shirt, clawing steadily upward.

Lex hesitated, and that was enough for Jameson to kick him square in the chest, sending him reeling backwards into a curio. Ceramic ornaments shattered against Lex's body, covering him in shards. Before he could get back to his feet, Jameson had grabbed him by the front of his shirt, delivering blow upon blow to his face.

Fitz tried to get up and help, but he was still dizzy from enthrallment and adrenaline and the rats were all over him. He couldn't see what was happening. He could only hear awful noises, catch a flash of movement out of the side of his eye. The rats were everywhere, and he couldn't help but shut his eyes in a futile attempt to protect himself. There was a shout, and then an eerie silence, and Fitz thought his heart would burst from anticipation.

"Shoo! Get away!" It was Lex, drawing closer. The sound and smell of rats began to recede, and Fitz cautiously opened his eyes again. He was hauled upright into strong arms, and there was Lex, his handsome face a bruised and bloody mess. "Fitz, are you hurt?"

Fitz couldn't help but laugh to keep himself from crying. "How can you even ask me that, when you're…"

"I've had worse. It will heal."

Fitz could see Jameson on the ground, bleeding from multiple wounds including a nasty gash across his stomach. He grew lightheaded, and thought he might faint or vomit or both.

"Easy, I've got you," said Lex, gathering Fitz up into his arms and letting him rest his head on his shoulder. His grip was too tight. "They took you, I can't believe they took you and touched you and --"

"Did you kill them?"

"No. I'd have to put the silver knife in their hearts for that," he said. "A certain amount of violence is accepted in vampire society. This incident will blow over, particularly since neither Edgar nor Jameson will want the story to circulate. But killing other vampires, particularly powerful ones… Edgar's friends and allies would never rest until I'd been taken out."

"I see," Fitz said shakily, ashamed that he was so weak, that Lex had seen him happily serving as the footrest of a different vampire. "Lex, I…"

"He got in your head," said Lex, furiously. "What did he do to you?"

"Lord -- I mean Edgar mesmerized me. He made me obey him, and… well, you saw the results. I should have fought it harder, I should have --"

"No, it isn't your fault. As conditioned as you are, I wouldn't expect you to be able to hold out against Edgar's power. You did the best you could. I have no doubt." Lex's eyes were terrifying. "Stabbing him in the eye is too good for him. I should teach him a lesson he'll never forget. I should…"

The tension in Fitz's chest was rising. "…We should have left the ball when I got myself into trouble the first time. I thought I could handle it, and now you're…"

"I'm not upset with you, Fitz. I'm upset with myself. I should have kept closer watch on you. I didn't expect them to steal you in the middle of the crowd, during the dance… the sheer audacity of it."

"I should have been able to take care of myself!"

"You can't fully protect yourself against vampires, no matter how clever you are. No human can. That's why I'm the one who is meant to protect you, and I failed," said Lex, drawing Fitz even closer, so that he could hardly even breathe. Fitz could smell Lex's blood, but also his familiar scent of woodsmoke and book bindings, and he was suddenly so exhausted. He couldn't keep himself from collapsing into Lex's embrace, kissing him softly on his neck.

"Fitz. My Fitz," Lex murmured into his ear. "I should've never allowed anyone but me to lay hands on you."

Fitz felt so utterly vulnerable. He'd been so easily subdued by Edgar's spell, his mind so willing to go along with the idea of a strong vampire taking over his difficult decisions. Was that truly all mesmerism, or something deep within him?

If it had been Lex coaxing him into his lap and caressing him like a pampered dog…

"Ugh, my sire is surely going to hear about this," Lex was muttering to himself. "Edgar won't want it spread around, but my sire find out anyway, with so many partygoers. I'm going to need to speed up my acquisition of hunters, possibly take a risk…"

Fitz no longer felt comfortable with himself. He'd been fooling himself to think that he and Lex were equals, that Fitz could easily handle whatever the supernatural world had to throw at him. Now he knew that he'd been nothing more but a naive lamb among the wolves, only allowed to frolic at their mercy. Edgar could have taken his entire mind so easily, had Lex not intervened; Lex could take his mind whenever he wanted, and Fitz might not even realize it.

The words of the first strange vampire he danced with bubbled up in his mind. It's just the cutest thing when vampires let their thralls think they're so independent.

He hadn't tried to escape since arriving at the manor. He spent his evenings fawning over Lex, trying to get his master's attention, and anticipating feedings. He slept soundly in his master's bed each day. He rarely even thought of the stage.

He was losing himself among the vampires.

"Are you still under his spell? You have a strange look on your face," said Lex. "Even if you weren't enthralled long, it still may take some time to wear off. I'll make sure it's all washed out of your head when we get home."

More enthrallment, more control, and Fitz did crave it, just as Edgar had said. Exhausted as he was, he craved the peace and bliss of Lex's song more than anything. He knew as soon as Lex opened his mouth to sing, he'd fall completely for its spell, floating in a deep trance where Lex's words were the only thing that mattered, and he wanted it.

"Fitz? Let's go home, okay?"

Fitz nodded. "Yes, sir."

Prev > Masterlist > Next

Next week: the vampire hunter who defies all vampires.

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[ghostofashina]

months after rings of power season two, i have to be honest. they tried so hard to appease the so called hardcore fanboys by erasing, sidelining, killing non-white characters they shot themselves in the foot.

this is will be a long rant, but mind you: i do not hate nor am i an anti-rop. quite the contrary: i loved the show. and especially because i loved it, i am TRULY disapppointed with what they did this season.

first things first, what the actual fuck did they do to arondir? and please, do not blame it on bronwyn's actress leaving the tv show. let's face it as it is: incompetence from writers.

they had a whole vengeance arc right in front of their faces. they had all that ent-wives scene that would've worked wonders with a vengeance arc. and they chose to do nothing with it.

they sidelined arondir to the point he was basically a babysit to isildur and his new girlfriend — fine, he felt responsible for theo, but theo himself was also wasted. you only had arondir coming to scenes to show up some cool tricks and gone for the entire season.

where's the weight of his loss? where's the impact of this loss on his character? there's nothing. nothing. the character is empty. they did no justice for a character who spent the entire season fighting to protect people he lost!!!!

and yeah, what about his entire arc with adar, the main antagonisty and biggest conflict? oh yeah, they gave it to galadriel. :D

i am sorry but that ""alliance"" between adar and galadriel meant nothing to me, it spoke nothing to me, because that wasn't her arc. it was arondir's. if we wanted to bring adar close to the main cause in defeating sauron, arondir was the best choice. he faced adar as an equal, he earned his admiration, they've built an entire connection throughout season one and you want me to care about his union to galadriel?

and yes, their union would've worked better with arondir between them. because unlike galadriel, he had the nuance to see adar as an equal since the start even when they were enemies.

and it's so fucked up that the whole conflict they settled up since season one meant NOTHING. like, if you were not gonna make the whole forgiviness thing REAL, than at least make the vengeance real. they faced each other ONCE in the entire season and it's so fucked up, so rushed, arondir is deadly injured in one second and the next he's totally fine, as if nothing happened.

where does it make justice to that character? where is the justice to his development? you take his whole arc and give it to another character, and now you can't even give him a proper ending to his conflict? you can't even build a decent continuity?

i could make a whole other dissertation of how adar also felt flat because his arc was attached to galadriel that way, with no weight with the development of their connection. and how that betrayal was not only rushed, but it showed how galadriel wasn't made for that union — she had zero fucks to give about him in the end.

and i'm not gonna even bring valandil to the conversation, because he is another non-white character that they just discarded at the first opportunity. they acted as if valandil always knew isildur was alive, for the amount of no fucks he seemed to give. once again, no weight for the loss those characters faced.

this is so awful i feel like the first season with all its problems is still better than the second season with all its glory. and not only that, but as someone who truly enjoyed that show, it killed my entire hype and joy in watching it. i'll give another chance when season three arrives. but i'll not trust it. i don't think they'll do it any more justice.

[sashimeyay]

last month

Larissa Weems x fm reader

FIRST OF ALL English is not my first language. so am sorry if this is a little bit cringe or something, and this is my first written hope you guys like it💋🥺

ANGST!!!

----------------------------------------------------------

"Please...please don't hate me, darling i know I've done terrible things, hurtful things i know I've broken your trust in me and i know that I don't deserve your forgiveness, but..... but I still love you i still want you, more than anything else in the world."

Larissa can see the anger and hurt still in your eyes, can see the pain and the distrust.

But deep down, buried beneath the layers of hurt and betrayal, she can still see the love and affection you have for her, the memories and feelings you've shared together that even this betrayal hasn't erased completely.

"what will you do if you found out that am cheating on you?"

i look at her with tears still flow down my face.

Larissa flinches at the question, the thought of you betraying her like that, cheating on her, filling her with a mixture of hurt and horror.

But she answers honestly, her voice low and shaky with emotion.

"I...... I would be devastated. I would be heartbroken, betrayed, angry. I would feel like I've lost a part of myself, like there's a hole in my soul that can never be filled again."

"that is exactly what i feel"

Larissa nods, her heart breaking even more at your words, at the knowledge that she's caused you so much pain and heartache.

She reaches out slowly, her hand hovering just above yours, wanting desperately to touch you, to comfort you, but afraid of crossing a line, of making things worse.

"I don't blame you for hating me,"

she continues, her voice thick with emotion, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"I don't blame you for never wanting to see me again, for wanting to push me away and never look back."

"no.....you are wrong, later I'll still can see you but you can't see me"

Larissa looks at you in confusion, her heart pounding in her chest. She doesn't understand what you mean.

"What..... what do you mean?" she asks, her voice filled with trepidation."

" I don't have much time. "

"Don't....don't say that." she wishpers, her voice trembling and tears welling up in her eyes.

"Please don't say that, you...you can't!"

"i need to tell you something"

"what is it, my love?"

"I was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, the doctor said I only had a month left, riss"

Principal Weams feels as if the world is falling out from beneath her, her heart shattering into a million pieces at your words. One month.

"No" she whispers, choking back a sob, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"No, darling, it...it can't be true."

She feels as if she can't breathe, can't think, can't process what you're saying. The thought of losing you

losing the love of her life, is more than she can bear.

"There...there has to be something we can do," she stutters, her voice thick with emotion. "We...we can find a different doctor, get another opinion, we-"

"we can't...... I've tried, and nothing is work...its useless"

Principal Weams shakes her head stubbornly refusing to believe it, refusing to accept it. She clenches her fists tightly, her jaw set in determination, her heart aching with a mixture of love and despair.

"It can't be useless," she insists, her voice raw and trembling. "We can find a way, we have to. I'm not going to lose you, do you understand? i will find the best doctor, i will cross all the-"

"hey hey baby, calm down." i take her trembling hands and hold it tight

"I've forgive you....I've forgive you for cheated on me"

Larissa looks at you in surprise, her heart swelling with a mixture of relief, hope, and joy. She can't believe you've forgiven her, can't believe you're willing to do that even after everything that's happened.

"You...you've forgiven me?" she asks, her voice barely above a whisper, her eyes filling with yet more tears.

"yes, i forgiven you"

"Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou" she whispers, her voice shaking with emotion

"Thankyou so much my love, i don't deserve it. i don't deserve you but......thankyou."

"I have to forgive you because we don't have much time and i want to spend my last month with you"

"we will make the best one last month in my life memorable and happy"

Larissa nods, her heart breaking at the thought of having just one month with you, but determined to make the most of it.

"Yes," she whispers, her voice shaking with emotion.

"We will. And I...I won't waste a single moment, I promise you that. I'll make sure these next few weeks are the best of your life."

Larissa pulls you into a tight embrace, her arms wrapping around you like a vice, her body shaking with suppressed sobs. She buries her face into your neck, her tears dampening your skin as she clings to you, desperately trying to memorize the feel of your body against hers, the sound of your breathing, the smell of your hair.....

"when am gone, please take care of yourself and our baby girl Ellie"

"I will,"

she whispers, her voice thick with emotion.

"I'll take care of myself, and I'll take care of our baby. I...I promise I will, but....its going to be so hard," she says, her voice shaking and the tears streaming down her face even more.

"Losing you..... i don't know how I'll manage"

Larissa takes a deep, shuddering breath, trying to compose herself, her heart aching with a mixture of love and despair.

"But I...I will persevere," she says firmly, her voice filled with determination, even as the tears continue to fall. "For you, and for our daughter. I won't let either of you down. I promise."

"i don't want to die riss...... i don't want to leave you and our baby"

Larissa pulls you back into her embrace, her arms wrapping tightly around you once more, her body trembling with the force of her emotions. She buries her face into your hair, her tears soaking your skin as she holds you as close as she possibly can.

"I know, my darling,"

she whispers, her voice cracking with pain and sorrow. "I know. I don't want you to leave me, either. I'm...I'm going to miss you so much. But...but you have to know that I will always love you. Always. Even when you're gone, I will love you. And...and I'll make sure that our daughter knows just how much you loved her, too."

~~~~

The last few weeks fly by in a whirlwind of love and tears. Principal Weams does her best to make every moment count, to cherish every second she spends with you, but she can feel the weight of the impending loss hanging over her, the countdown to the end looming ever closer. And yet, she tries to put on a brave face for you, hiding her own pain and sadness behind a facade of strength and determination.

She spends every waking moment by your side, holding your hand, feeding you, bathing you, watching you sleep. She reads to you, talks to you, sings to you, trying to keep your spirits up, even though her own heart is breaking into pieces.

One evening, Principal Weams sits by your bedside, holding your hand, watching as you sleep. She can see the paleness of your skin, the way you're getting thinner and weaker each day, and the grief and terror of losing you is almost too much to bear. She can feel the tears streaming down her cheeks, the silent sobs shaking her body, but she doesn't make a sound, not wanting to disturb you.

"Ri-riss"

At the sound of your voice, Principal Weams's head snaps up, her eyes meeting yours as you stir awake. She swallows hard, trying to compose herself, but the tears well up in her eyes again as she smiles down at you.

"Hey, darling," *she says softly, her voice thick with emotion.* "How are you feeling?"

"worse"

Larissa's heart clenches in her chest at your reply. She can see the pain and exhaustion etched into every line of your face, and it kills her inside to see you suffering like this.

"I'm sorry," she whispers, her voice cracking a little. She squeezes your hand tightly, her thumb rubbing circles over your knuckles.

"I'm so sorry, my love."

"I love you so much Larissa....... I'm sorry i can't stay with you forever as i promised"

Principal Weams swallows hard, her eyes filling with tears at your words. She shakes her head, her grip on your hand tightening.

"Don't apologize," she whispers, her voice thick with emotion. "None of this is your fault. I...I just wish we had more time, that's all."

Larissa leans in and gently kisses your forehead, her lips lingering on your skin for a long moment, as if trying to memorize the feel of you. Then she straightens up, her eyes still locked on yours as she continues to hold your hand.

"can you bring Ellie to here?

"ofcourse my darling, I'll get her right away."

Larissa walks quietly but quickly to Ellie's room, her heart heavy with emotion. She gently picks up the sleeping baby and cradles her in her arms, her body shaking slightly with the weight of her emotions. She takes a moment to look down at the sleeping baby, her heart hurting at the unfairness of it all. But she steels herself and walks back to your room.

Larissa enters the room and carefully walks over to the bed, clutching the baby close to her chest. She lays Ellie down gently beside you, so you can both see her, she watching as you look down at your daughter with a mixture of love and pain in your eyes.

"Hello Eleanor Roosevelt Weems, am sorry i can't keep my promises, am sorry i can't watch you grow, am sorry i can't catch you when you fall, am sorry i can't watch your first school........ but remember you have Mami Larissa, she will take good care of you, she will love you just like i love you"

She can see the pain and sadness in your eyes as you speak to Ellie, and she knows there are no words of comfort she can offer to ease that suffering. All she can do is stand by your side, offering silent support and love. She glances down at the baby, a wave of sadness washing over her as she watches the two of you together for what will no doubt be the last time.

"I......I promise you that I'll take good care of Ellie. I'll love her no matter what happens. She'll never want for anything, never be without love and support. And...and I'll make sure she knows how much you cared for her, how much you loved her."

"i know you will, my love"

Larissanods, a tear slipping down her cheek. She swallows hard, trying to keep herself together in front of you and Ellie, but it's difficult. Her heart feels like it's being torn in two, the grief and sadness almost overwhelming.

"I'll make sure she grows up knowing how much you loved her," she repeats softly.

"I'll tell her stories about you, about how wonderful and brave and beautiful you are."

"can we sleep together now? three of us?"

Larissa nods, swallowing hard past the lump in her throat. She knows this is going to be the last time you all sleep together like this, and she wants to savor every moment.

"Of course, my darling," she whispers, her voice thick with emotion. "We can sleep together. As a family."

Larissa carefully climbs into the bed beside you, making sure to not disturb Ellie too much. She lays down behind you, her body molding against yours, her arm coming around your waist to pull you close to her.

She buries her face into your hair, inhaling your scent, committing it to memory. She can feel the warmth of your body against hers, the slight rise and fall of your chest, the sound of your shallow breathing. It's all too familiar, and yet she knows this is the last time she'll experience it like this.

"Goodnight Larissa Weems, I love you so much..."

"Goodnight my love. i love you to, With all my heart"

~~~~~

The next morning, Larissa wakes up before you. For a moment, she forgets everything, her mind still mired in the blissful state of sleep. But then she lifts her head and looks at you, and the memories come flooding back. The pain, the grief, the knowledge that this is the last moment like this they will ever share together.

but suddenly......

Larissa feels when it happens. It's a subtle shift, the rise and fall of your body against hers coming to an abrupt stop, the warmth of your body suddenly growing cold. She pulls back a little, her eyes wide with horror as she looks down at you. She already knows what she'll see, but she can't bring herself to accept it. She reaches out shaking fingers and touches your shoulder gently, as if hoping against hope that it's all been some terrible dream and you'll wake up any second.

"D-darling?"

she whispers. Her voice is shaky, her heart thundering in her chest.

"Darling, please...please wake up." She already knows you won't wake up. She can feel it, deep in her soul, a heavy numbness spreading through her body. Her eyes fill with tears, her whole body shaking with grief and sadness. She wants to scream, to cry, to rage at the universe for being so cruel.

Instead, she just sat there, staring at you in silent shock. She can barely comprehend what's happened, her brain refusing to process the reality of the situation. You're gone. You're really gone. The realization hits her like a ton of bricks, and she feels like she's suffocating, like she's drowning in grief and sadness and despair.

Tears stream down her face, her body shaking with silent sobs as she leans forward and presses a gentle kiss to your forehead.

She can taste the saltiness of her tears on her lips, mixing with the faint, bittersweet taste of your skin. It's all too much, the pain and the grief almost too much to bear.

She buries her face in your hair, taking deep, ragged breaths, trying to calm herself down. But it's no use. The grief is too overwhelming, too all-consuming. She lets out a broken, anguished cry, wrapping her arms around you tightly, as if by holding onto you she can somehow keep you there with her. But she knows it's hopeless.

You're gone,

and you're never coming back.......

emmm okay guys so that was my first written, i hope you guys like it and tell me if you want the next chapter xxxx💋

[thalunalovegood]

I’m on my Gwynriel era (been here since 2021 🤓)

So, I’m here thinking about them, and how they will challenge each other, make a lot of bets, make inside jokes, they have so much potential to grown together and heal together.

Look at this, they are so beautiful 🥹

[I hope the artist don’t mind, I found the fanart on Pinterest]

So here a few things that I think will happen, or I would like to see/read in their book.

I said here once, but I would to see that the shadows talk to Gwyn, I know we don't have evidence yet, but I think when Gwyn ask Az if he can sing it was because maybe she heard something, and the way she smiled to them (you can't tell me the shadows aren't the captain of the ship, and don't give me "it's good for Az if they left him", it's BS, the shadows are part of him)

Bets. We know they both are competitive:

Gwyn asked Az, her teal eyes bright, “What do we get if we finish the course?” Az’s shadows danced around him. “Since there’s no chance in hell any of you will finish the course, we didn’t bother to get a prize.” Boos sounded. Gwyn lifted her chin in challenge. “We look forward to proving you wrong.”

“Az had let his brother boast. Especially since Azriel had been planning his own victory for a year now.”

Encouraging. They will push each other to their best version, to recognize that they both deserve good things.

Chemistry. All their interactions are so good, and funny, they have a really strong set up. If they talking it's like this, can you imagine they flirting to each other?

“I blame Cassian for this. He's too busy making eyes at Nesta to notice such mistakes these days. Azriel laughed. — I'll give you that. Gwyn smiled broadly. — Thank you.”

Opening. Gwyn is comfortable around Az, he isn't self-conscious around her, so they will be able to talk to each other without their past, traumas get the best of them. [Don't give me the "she is a SA survivor speech", she is, but she isn't her trauma, and she can have everything she likes, she reads smut books, and she isn't a child.]

Spying together. Az is the spy master, and Gwyn showed abilities to become one.

She smiled crookedly at Nesta. “I kept to the trees the first two nights, watching the beasts, and I spotted that horrible male and his companions this morning. Saw they’d found my nightgown and displayed it, and I knew they were hunting for you. I thought I’d take them out before they could find you.” “You led the beast right to them.” “I learned where the beasts sleep during the day,” Gwyn said. “And that they get very angry when awoken.”

Gwyn and Az have so much potential, if you see the details, the songs references, the spark, the glow, all of this is used to describe a match bond, anyway, I'm here for them, I can't wait to read their story.

Something sparked in Azriel's chest, but he only nodded his thanks and left. He could picture it, though, as he ascended the stairs back to the House proper. How Gwyn's teal eyes might light upon seeing the necklace. For whatever reason… he could see it. But Azriel tucked away the thought, consciously erasing the slight smile it brought to his face. Buried the image down deep, where it glowed quietly. A thing of secret, lovely beauty.

[jumpywhumpywriter]

Villain's Coffee Shop part 42

Warnings: rough recovery, heading off to battle

I managed to combine several anon requests into these next few parts I'll be posting soon:

Anon ask #1

Anon ask #2

Villain must have dozed off, because when he woke up again he found Hero restlessly pacing around the room, and the hallucination of Superhero was gone.

"Hero? Is something wrong?" He asked, slowly sitting up. Mocha meowed in annoyance as he was displaced.

Hero jumped, startled, looking at him guiltily. "Sorry, it's just -- I watched the news this morning," she blurted.

"And?" Villain prodded, raising an eyebrow meaningfully.

Hero nervously wrung her hands together. "And... apparently Superhero has launched a massive search for me, seeing as I never returned to Agency after you got me out. And he has a lot of resources at his disposal---"

"---Which means it likely won't be long before he finds us," Villain finished the thought. "How unfortunate." His lips twitched into a frown. "We should work on a plan, find a way to catch Superhero by surprise and take the fight to him first."

"But does it really have to come to a fight?" Hero shuffled uncomfortably on her feet. "Can't we just expose Superhero's corruption to Agency and let them handle it?"

Villain shook his head grimly. "No. Violence is the only way to end this. You've seen firsthand how vicious Superhero can be, especially after what he did to me -- the only way to win is to match that kind of energy with our own. A fight is inevitable."

Hero stared guiltily at the floor, avoiding his gaze. "On the news report--they labeled me as an unpredictable criminal," she whispered, half to herself. "Superhero knows I knew you were Villain. He's pinning all the blame on me and wants me arrested as a traitor to the hero Agency."

"Exactly my point," Villain scoffed in disgust. "Superhero will lie, manipulate, and do anything to swing things to his benefit. There's no 'talking it out' with that kind of person. Violence and deceit is the only form of communication they understand. And with Superhero's mind-bending powers... he can just erase the memories of anyone who dares stand against him. He's a tyrant."

"...So what do we do?"

Villain oddly exchanged a brief glance with Mocha. "...I think I might have an idea."

-------------------------------------------------------

Villain explained his plan, and re-explained it whenever Hero got lost in the details. It was kind-of-simple-but-not-really. He wanted to send a message to Superhero, set up a place to meet and 'talk', which was apparently code for 'fight it out'. Now they just needed to figure out the where.

"You know that giant bridge that goes over the river running through this city?" Villain said. "We should stage the fight there. It's far away from civilians and it'll minimize casualties and damages. I imagine this fight will be messy."

"Good idea," Hero agreed somberly. "I still wish it didn't have to come to this though. It feels... wrong."

"After all the things Superhero's changed in your head, I'm not surprised you're still attached to him. He's forced you to adore him all this time. Who knows the lasting damage it's had on you." Villain shrugged, then got off the couch with a grunt of effort, trying his legs out for the first time since he'd been injured. His balance was wobbly at first, but he managed to stay upright. He smiled triumphantly.

"I'm almost battle-ready myself thanks to Supervillain. I've got a burner phone you can use to set up the meet point with Superhero --- in the meantime I'll work on making some visor to protect us from his freaky mind control. Deal?"

"Yeah... deal," Hero muttered unenthusiastically, picking at the loose threads in her jeans. Even knowing everything Superhero had done, all the ways he'd manipulated her and invaded her thoughts, she still couldn't fully bring herself to hate him.

But despite being heavily conflicted, Hero still gave Superhero a call.

Superhero was furious, demanding she return to Agency for correctional punishment, but eventually she got the message through about the time and place she wanted her and Villain to meet him -- but left out Villain's name. She didn't want him knowing his enemy was still alive.

Superhero begrudgingly agreed to show up at the meet up point, three days from now. Hero had done that intentionally to give Villain some more time to fully recover before facing his greatest nemesis.

And as it turned out, three days was precisely the amount of time the two of them needed to prepare. By day three, Villain had crafted two visors to block Superhero's powers. One for him and one for Hero. And after thoroughly reviewing their plan, they finally headed off to the bridge, where the final fight would take place.

And there they found Superhero, already waiting patiently for them standing in the middle of the bridge.

But... he wasn't alone…

⏪️ Back Next ⏩️

Masterlist

@scoundrelwithboba @lumpofsand @isikedmyself878 @iamheretohurt @fleur-a-whump

@ay5ksal @otterfrost @sausages-things @togzy

@whump-till-ya-jump @cravesunconditionallove @whumpwritinglover222

@f1sh-bone @everynameistakencarrots @snaillamp

[catras-breakup-song]

Soo hope your not bothered by this ask, if you are you can ignore it

Your take on catra "sexually harassing" adora in the dance between them scene by the antis?

Also your take on the antis saying catra used hurtful mind control on adora (in episode: white out) just like prime's own mind control abilities?

hang on for a bit while i process...

WHAT IN THE WORLD ???

i can at least understand the controversial argument that catra was abusive because... well, she was. she perpetuated the cycle (that only goes up to S2 but it gets the point across). as adora said, she hurt a lot of people before becoming a better person and improving her relationships.

but i cannot for the life of myself fucking get behind sexual assault accusations... are they serious?! that just comes across as lesbophobia at such a point. the only moment i can assume they're talking about is this one:

and that is adora's leg placement, her own doing. adora's body was supported from falling flat on the floor not because she lifted her leg up, but because catra's arms were held around her back. literally just search up on google "prom dip pose" and under the images section you'll find the partner kicking their leg up like that. alternatively, if adora hadn't done that and simply leaned back without lifting anything, the posture still would've been the same.

not to mention, adora later does practically the same thing anyway:

i hate how people pretend like there wasn't mutual desire between catradora as if their impulsive fights and angry tussles weren't homoerotic as hell, and not just on catra's end being the one to initiate them. the audience is hooked on the coding within their subtext for a damn good reason. for the record, someone wrote a super long essay about how their sexual desire for each other was written, including this exact scene from princess prom.

EDIT: this post is perfect specifically for adora’s role in their song-and-dance there!

as for the other part about the first ones' tech virus, i covered it briefly on another blog after an anti commented on my post, which i'd rather not link so i'll paraphrase and add on:

it's strange that this moment was focused on specifically when it was so brief and didn't seem to affect adora herself (seeing as the second the sword was detached from her hand she detransitioned) aside from passing out for a little while but otherwise being totally fine, let alone in the long run. even then though, i genuinely wonder if it was more from the freezing cold considering she didn't bring any winter wear due to planning on staying as she-ra the entire time, or even exhaustion from chasing after targets ─ then again though, i wouldn't be surprised if it was just the corruption since catra didn't have any trouble recovering from being half-erased and splitting reality apart herself. i would imagine regardless, she-ra is much more immune to physical weaknesses & obstacles, compared to the wielder. the point is, either way, it clearly wasn't traumatizing the way prime's chip was shown to affect catra even many episodes after STC. for example, she continued to rub the back of her neck in "an ill wind", which was five episodes after.

the disk, however, never needed to be brought up again, but if it had been, it'd be unfair to say long-lasting consequences were entirely to blame on catra when the exact same thing had happened in dryll where she hadn't been present. the only real difference was that catra, knowing what could happen (not would obviously, as she hadn't planned to be put in the spotlight like that), fully intended to destroy she-ra unless she could weaponize it (but notably not adora in her default state), which i can't defend her for. it was a malicious choice, but it's reasonable to say it wasn't out-of-order while they were active enemies. at least she ended up realizing she was paying the price by being nearly killed, as she had been so used to adora going easy on her before the events of the portal-opening took place.

[queen-of-deans-booty]

O Brother Where Art Thou?: Final Part

Pairing: Dean Winchester x Female!Reader

Word Count: ~2.2k

Warnings: canon angst and violence, extra angst, feeling broken and utterly helpless to the point of depression

Summary: Amara tries to get her brother's attention but gets you instead. She makes you see that it doesn't matter how strong you get, she will always be one step ahead of you. Meanwhile, Sam and Dean go to Hell with Rowena and Crowley to talk to Lucifer who might be the answer to their biggest problem.

Season Eleven Masterlist

Author’s Note: I do not own anything from Supernatural. All credit goes to their respective owners. I love seeing any and all comments <3

x

You turn and see Amara wearing a long black dress and all grown up, like when she first came to you after being released. Your phone keeps ringing but you can't move to answer it.

"You felt my presence. That's why you came here."

She touches your arm and suddenly, you're not in the park. You're in the middle of a field. Where, you're not exactly sure. You could be in the same state or halfway across the country. You look to the right and see beautiful mountains and a lake in the valley between them. Wherever you are, you're not in Kansas.

"You grew up," you say and face Amara.

"Yes."

"This is you now?"

"Me before you. Once I claim my vessel, I'll be complete." You take a step back from her and she sighs. "You misunderstand my purpose on Earth."

"What about the people you murdered in that church? Do I misunderstand them?"

"I had to get His attention." She sees the look of confusion on your face. "God. I tried praying and calling out in need. He ignored me. He forced my hand. I had no other reason than to harm his chosen. My issue is with my brother, not his creation."

"I don't care what the deal is between you two. I don't care who threw the first punch or whoever was Daddy's favorite--"

"There was no Daddy," she cuts you off. 

"--I don't care. That mess is your mess. It's between you two. You're killing people. You're taking their souls!"

"I consumed their souls. They aren't gone. They're a part of me and, in that way, they live forever." You scoff. "I see the wariness in your eyes, the mistrust. I don't blame you."

"I'm glad," you roll your eyes.

"It's incredible. He was so threatened by me, fearful that I would make a more perfect creation than He. So, he exiled me. Virtually erased me. Passed on stories that I was a threat. He encouraged religions as monuments to his ego and promised the fearful safety if they'd adore Him. His way or the highway."

"Some people find comfort in that. It is His universe. His rules."

"What if there were no rules? No pain. No prayer. Just bliss. For everyone. Forever."

"What is it that you want, Amara? What do you want from me? When you make the world of bliss and peace, what's in it for you?"

"What I deserve," she answers.

"Which is?"

"Everything."

"I'm gonna need you to be more specific."

"I was the beginning and I will be the end. I will be all that there is."

"That would make you God."

"No, God was the Light. I'm the Dark."

Blue magic pours from your hands and all she can do is laugh in amusement. She doesn't think you can beat her. Maybe not. But it'll be fun to try.

"Then what?"

"That's all you need to know for now."

You know this isn't going to work but it'll work as a distraction. You send a blue ball of magic at her but she dodges it easily. She sees your attack coming from a mile away. She storms over to you and grabs you, but you disappear right in front of her eyes in a mist of blue magic. You reappear right behind her and shove a sharp blade of magic into her stomach. She gasps and stumbles forward, having been caught off guard.

She turns and looks at you with a deadly glare. Your magic mists away and she composes herself. You're about to attack her again when she grabs your throat tightly and pulls you into her. You struggle against her hold but it's no use. Even with your magic, she's stronger than you. Tears threaten to fall but you can't let her see just how broken you are. She opens her mouth and sucks a bit of your magic from you. She only takes a second's worth before smirking.

"Try that again and I'll suck every bit of magic from you, and that includes your soul. I need your magic. I don't need you." She shoves you away from her. "You had to know that was pointless. I know that you're a warrior and your instinct is to resist, but I can't be resisted."

You stumble away from her and cough violently. You let the tears fall now, not caring if she sees them or not.

"If you want my magic, then take it. I don't want it anymore."

She laughs. "Yes, because of the Scarlet Witch, right?"

"I've hurt people with this magic. If you want it so badly, take it from me."

"No, I don't think I will," she smirks. "You're the one who freed me."

"I didn't do shit."

"Oh, right, I forgot. Your boyfriends did. Regardless, it was destiny. You and Dean bore the Mark. I am the original Mark." She moves the strap of her dress to the side to show her Mark. "Either I take Dean or I take you, and based on your decisions over the years, you won't let me go near him."

"No, I won't let you near my family," you cry.

"It's so simple, Y/N. We will become one. Why wouldn't you want that?"

"Amara!" You two look to the right and see three angry angels with angel blades. "You're going to surrender to us and the judgment of Heaven."

"Why ever would I submit to anything of God's creation? Tell your master to come fetch me himself."

"All of Heaven's on high alert. If you resist, each and every angel in the skies will smite you, in a single unified blow," the middle angel says.

"Not even you could survive it," the third angel says.

As much as Amara scares you, if she dies, so does all of creation.

"Okay, why don't you take a step back, okay? If you take her down, a whole bunch of people are going to die."

"We're at the point where sacrifice is inevitable."

Amara raises her hand just as the first angel steps forward to attack. The angel stops and shakes from whatever Amara is doing to him. A white light shines from his mouth and eyes, and his grace explodes from his body as he dies. The middle angel steps forward only to be stopped by Amara. He takes the angel blade and points it toward his chin. It seems like he's not the one forcing him to do that. Amara, using her powers, shoves the angel blade through his chin and out the top of his head, killing the angel immediately. The final angel takes one step and is disintegrated immediately by Amara.

"What have you done?" you ask, horrified.

Lightning flashes overhead, signaling that more angels are coming. Thunder claps loudly across the valley, and the clouds darken and swirl into an angry storm.

"They're coming. They will smite you."

"Maybe now, He'll hear me."

"You don't need my magic, Amara. Look at what you just did all on your own."

"Whether I need it or not isn't your concern. I am coming for you, and you better be ready when I am."

Suddenly, you're put back into the park you were in when you were waiting for Amara to show. She's not there, but she's not really on your list of concerns right now. You have to get to Sam and Dean before something bad can happen.

Dean tries calling you but you won't answer. They have the means to get to the Cage, and Rowena grows impatient just waiting for you.

"Sam, everything is in order. Fergus is coming. We can't keep waiting."

"I promised her I'd call," Dean says and tries you again.

"I promised Lincoln a fun night at the theatre. Things change. It's now or never."

"Dean, she'll be fine. We should do this now," Sam says.

"Fine," Dean sighs.

With Crowley's help, he takes the brothers and Rowena down to Hell. The path to the Cage is lined with high brick walls and flaming torches to light it. Crowley looks nervous which Rowena picks on.

"Flop sweat sonny? Dread of what's to come?"

"Can it, Mother. Your barbs may amuse your circle of hags, but you have no idea what you're tampering with; what Lucifer is capable of."

"Well dear, if you can't stand the heat, get out of Hell." Sam looks around nervously, uncertain of what's to come. "I must say it's not as scenic as I'd expected."

"We are in the furthest reaches of Hell, or Limbo, where I send unruly souls for a timeout."

"This is where I meet with Lucifer?" Sam asks.

The four of them come to an empty cage in the middle of a circle of torches. Thunder sounds throughout Limbo and a bit of lightning shows in the distance. Rowena starts to paint sigils on the cage, ones that will allow Lucifer to talk to Sam.

"It makes your flesh crawl, doesn't it Moose? I get it. I'm the King of this place. It's still not my cup of tea."

"I don't know, Crowley. I'd say it suits you. Dark. Empty," Dean comments.

"Fascinating; the utter contempt, when I'm in the midst of saving the Winchester's bacon, again."

"The point of this is to save everyone's bacon, including yours. Let's just hope she knows what she's doing. This cell won't hold shit if the warding is not right," Sam scoffs.

"Don't you worry about me, Samuel. I'm a professional," Rowena rolls her eyes.

"Are you certain you can do this without actually opening the Cage?" Crowley asks.

"We are about to find out, aren't we?" Rowena starts to chant the spell and the sigils on the cage illuminate. A fire springs to life, surrounding the entire cage. "Now, let's have a go at that Cage."

The thunderstorms still rage overhead. Dean looks at his brother who looks downright terrified. A silhouette of someone appears in the cage but it's no secret who it is. The eyes are bright red, and he is surrounded by smoke so that the only thing they can see are his eyes. He steps closer to the bars and his eyes return to their normal color. Lucifer grins and leans against the bars nonchalantly.

"My old friend, Crowley."

"A mere acolyte, carrying your torch."

"You're too kind... to yourself." Rowena gasps softly and gazes at Lucifer in adoration. "What do you want of me?" Sam and Dean emerge from the shadows, and Lucifer's grin only deepens when he sees his vessel. "Sam Winchester. My old roomie. Hug it out?" They don't respond. "I gotta say, I'm a little in the dark about this meeting. Am I up for parole? Time off for bad behavior?" Lucifer laughs. "I don't really get visitors."

"If it weren't for the crisis top-side, you wouldn't be getting one now."

"Crisis?"

"I want to talk to Lucifer alone," Sam says.

Dean is about to respond but he sees the comment wasn't directed toward him. It was directed toward Crowley and Rowena. The duo leaves and heads up the small hill to watch the exchange from a distance.

"He's so alpha, isn't he? Probably not relationship material though." Rowena sighs with love-struck eyes.

"Mother, you're drooling. Get a hold of yourself."

"So, care to tell me why you came all the way out here?"

"I know you know who the Darkness is," Sam says.

Lucifer inhales sharply. "Yikes, that doesn't sound good. I'm aware of what she was, but that was eons ago."

"She's been released. Now, she's somewhere or everywhere on Earth," Dean says.

"How ever did that happen?"

"It doesn't matter. What matters is that she's a threat to everyone, including you."

"Hmm. That leads me to my next question. Where's the big burrito himself? Where's God in all of this?"

"We don't know," Dean says.

"What? Caught the fun bus out of town? Figures," Lucifer scoffs.

"Recently, he has reached out to an interested party."

"Who?"

"Me," Sam says.

"You?"

"He answered my prayers."

"Did he now?" Lucifer smirks. "What was Dad's suggestion?"

"To seek out you."

"Get outta town!" Lucifer laughs. "Seriously? Who'd have thought? I completely get why you came to me. You can't ignore God, right? God says jump, everybody says, 'How high?'"

"Does that mean you're on board?"

"Well, I did help Dad seal up the Darkness all those years ago. She's quite a force. Determined to take over everything, even back then. Prone to tantrums. I can see why Pop is lying low. Now that sis is here, God's not the only circus in town."

"Is she equal to him in power?" Dean asks.

"Raw power? Sure, but she's got none of the experience. God is a master strategist. That's why you're here. God needs me to help put the cat back in the bag." He laughs. "He can't do it by himself. I've seen that movie."

"What do you need?"

"I need a ride out of here. I mean, I look swell in here and everything, but I'd be so much smoke top-side."

"You want a vessel."

"Not just anyone. I want one who is strong enough to hold me, handy, and available now. Catch my drift?"

"No, not gonna happen. Like hell am I letting my little brother be a vessel for you." Dean looks at Sam. "Not gonna happen."

Did you really expect me to agree to this?" Sam asks, ignoring his brother for now. Lucifer nods and smiles. "So, what, I just disappear while you take my body and get set loose on the world again?"

Lucifer nods again. "I know, Sam. It's a lot to ask, but desperate times require desperate measures."

"That's not desperate! That's certifiable!" Sam yells.

"Okay, hold on there a second cowboy. Take a breath. You have been working with Crowley. You passed certifiable three off-ramps ago. Look, I'm no fan of the ruler of the Universe, but here I am, ready to pitch in."

Sam stares at Lucifer in thought.

"Sam! You're not doing it! We'll find another way."

"Sam, why do you think God sent you to me? To get my help, which I only now just offered. Sam, your visions were the Word of God. You can't say no to that."

"Sam, listen to what I'm saying. I'm not letting you do this. He is manipulating you. If you let him in, that's it. You won't get back out. We got lucky the first time, and I don't think we can just bring the Horsemen rings back," Dean says.

"So, have you thought about it, Sam? Do I have an invitation to look forward to?" Lucifer asks.

Sam looks at his brother who only holds concern for him. He looks at Rowena and Crowley who also look uncertain. They're not down here, but he can only imagine Lucifer's voice travels. The illuminated sigils on the cage begin to fade, and the fire around it starts to die down. Crowley panics but Rowena looks intrigued at the thought of Lucifer being released.

"What the hell is going on?" The fire around the cage is extinguished completely. "Why did the warding fail? What's happening?"

Lucifer crooks one finger at Sam for him to come closer but Sam won't move. It doesn't matter. Lucifer uses his powers and brings Sam into the cage with him without a second thought.

"Together again," Lucifer grins.

Sam, terrified, backs into the corner of the cage. Dean jumps and slams his hands on the bars, fearful for his younger brother.

"Get him out! Rowena!" Dean yells.

"Hey, Sam Winchester. Did you miss me? I bet you did." Sam is terrified but he swallows that down and keeps his calm composure. "I have to say, you're extraordinarily calm given the circumstances."

"It's pretty much exactly how God told me it was going to be. Guess I just have to go with it and play my hand."

"That would make so much sense if it was God that was doing the talking. You see Sam, when the Darkness descended the impact on Hell was massive. The Cage was damaged. Through the fissures, I was able to reach out. It wasn't God inside your head Sam. It was me." The fear returns to Sam's face. "So, you see, he's not with you. He's never been with you. It was always... just... me."

"No, you're lying," Sam whispers fearfully.

"I guess I am your only hope."

A tear escapes Sam's eye when he finally realizes the predicament he's in.

"It's never going to happen."

"Ah, well, settle in there buddy." Lucifer smiles. "Hey, roomie... Upper bunk? Lower bunk? Or you wanna share?"

"Dean! Get me out of here!" Sam pleads, looking at his brother with wide eyes.

x

Want to be tagged? Follow my library blog @aqueenslibrary​​​​​​ where I reblog all my stories, so you can put notifications on there without the extra stuff :)

[vesperxtine]

ooof. anyway. im okay! it hurts my heart that I had to lose someone so important to me, but I'm moving on. Its the only thing I really can do. I just hope he knows he can reach out to me whenever he wants if he genuinely wants to fix this. Plenty of people miss him, not just me. But plenty of people are also incredibly torn over what he's done, and I can't erase their voices for him and take the blame. I know people out there are hurt from me too, but I always try to do better for them, I just cannot understand why he cannot. thank you guys for being patient with me on this. it sucks. Especially after he lived with me for 3 months. He was so soft and nice when he wanted to be :( I guess I just miss the comfort and warmth he gave me before all of this happened. I really hope I'll find it again.

[animehouse-moe]

Mobile Suit Gundam - The Witch From Mercury S2 Episode 8: The End of Hope

So, last episode was violence on earth, and this episode is violence in space! What do we call that? A cycle! That's right. Good old Gundam, perpetuating violence through one sided fixations on the other's wrongdoings, which is perfectly personified through Shaddiq in this episode. Lots of stuff to talk about for sure!

This episode is interesting in that sense, it's less methodic and progress focused than the previous, almost catching you off guard as you shift from the norm towards combat. Regardless of that though, Shaddiq is a total piece of work through it all. It's pretty incredible.

The Earthian boy that allowed space to get to his head. Shaddiq was an orphan from Earth who worked his way up through Grassley to get a spot at Astacassia, and is now using it "to his advantage" to bring equality and power back to the hands of Earthians. What he doesn't, and will probably never realize, is that he's only serving to exacerbate it by perpetuating exactly what his adoptive forefathers did. In a terrible twist of fate, all Shaddiq is able to do is dirty the lives of others. He forces Guel to kill his own father to survive, he forces Miorine to dirty her hands because she doesn't want to be owned by Shaddiq, and he ruins the lives of such an innumerable amount of people that you can't begin to quantify it. All because he wants to bring peace and equality to Earth. But he can never understand his actions. He could never understand what it's like to kill your own father, what it's like to watch on as violence is incurred in your name. And this episode illustrates that incredible well, that Shaddiq is a Spacian, more than any of these other characters he despises, as his words completely betray him.

His entire existence is centered around his ability to bring their own lives back into the hands of Earthians, but he entirely misses the point. All he does is take advantage of. He takes, and takes, and takes some more, and offers nothing but hellfire and brimstone to the people that he wants to help. He brings oppression, violence, sanctions, all manner of terrible fates to the people he cares about, because the scope of his desire is so narrow. He wants to erase the past that he existed in, rather than focus on the future moving forward. In that sense, he plays a very solid second fiddle to Prospera (and raises up Guel even more, which I'll touch on later), as their foolish grasp on history blinds them to the atrocities that they commit in their names.

Just a quick little interlude here as the grounds of Astacassia are under attack during Guel and Shaddiq's fight. I thought this was a really great piece to appear in it. Miorine's tomato greenhouse was destroyed. Not by gundvolvas or even Norea herself, but someone defending Astacassia from her. What a sad, sad fate. A peaceful existence, quashed not by the enemy, but the people she might even call allies. Such a throwaway piece, but one that speaks to the boundless and senseless act of violence. To how inescapable it can be, to both sides of the conflict.

Anyways, back to Guel and his hubris. The sheer mockery that is his existence is palpable. "If you didn't get expelled from the school, if you didn't try to make things right and help out Plant Quetta during a terrorist attack, if you didn't try to thwart my plans, your father would still be alive, if you didn't fight to be a better person, my Miorine would still be clean.". Shaddiq embodies more selfishness than Guel could ever manage to muster in his existence. Even as the self-centered Holder of Astacassia, he could never stoop to the depths that Shaddiq inhabits.

And that's illustrated perfectly here. Shaddiq blames everybody around him for everything that has happened to him. Despite being the leading son of the Grassley House. Despite having the tools to change the world at his fingertips if he so wanted. He believes he needs to deliver power to the Earthians, through terror and violence that incurs the wrath of Spacians. Despite the peaceful approach that Gund-ARM desired, despite the wishes and fears of Guel, at each step he has refused to use his power, and relies on that of the group. He relies on their reactions to violence, he relies on the hatred of Spacians by the inhabitants of Earth. He only uses his power to take from those around him, and in turn drags them further into this abyss.

Then there's this moment. This line from Shaddiq. The sheer hubris of it is hilarious. And Guel destroys it right away.

The difference in wording speaks volumes. Shaddiq could only ever acknowledge what he's doing. He can sit and there and say, "I did some bad things for the sake of Earthians", and immediately, he absolves himself of it because of why he did it. Guel, on the other hand, chooses to carry that weight with him for the rest of his life. The inescapable burden of his father's death, of that girl dying in his arms, of his inaction and what it's led to. He refuses to justify his sins in the bigger picture. And that dissonance extends to the girls around Shaddiq, as they speak of "silver spoons" while piloting their top of the line Gundams, as they sortie from the incredibly exclusive and highly expensive Astacassia school ran by Spacians.

Then there's this last part from Guel is just outstanding. Given the context of Shaddiq and his crew being out for blood, Guel's effort in bringing in the Grassley House unharmed just further widens the ocean's width between the two characters. I especially love it because it speaks to exactly what I was saying so far about Shaddiq, and because it's Guel's version of the words that Suletta gave him.

And to finish off the Shaddiq content of this episode, we have Sarius. His forced passivity through this all, in concert with this comment, speak volumes to his feelings of it. He's lived through this before, he's experienced similar issues and challenges, and he knows where this path will lead to. But in the end, he remained powerless and oblivious to the plight of his son. It's rather depressing to see the resignation on his face at his failure in raising Shaddiq.

Now then, we can move onto Norea and Elan! What an interesting pair, I do think that Norea's character is a bit overblown than need be for he purpose, but there's still plenty of great moments. I really like how despite her hatred of mobile suits and Gundams, the only thing that she thinks she has left is to pilot them. Through her short life, all she could do at the end of it was fight, she could never find a way to run, to leave behind those feelings of hatred and resentment for the life that she was forced into.

And Elan can't help but intervene. The Elan that would only ever run away, only ever fight to preserve his own life, is drawn to Norea. Forced to pilot for the sake of others, relinquishing their chances at a normal life because of the selfishness of Spacians, the pair find common ground in losing their lives and passions to capitalist money machine that is the Benerit Group. I think it's a really great and emotional moment, to bring the puppet of a clone of Peil Technologies, and the child soldier of the Dawn of Fold together in their desire to flee their lives and discover something outside of their current existences. Sadly, this Elan has his chance, but Norea's fate has already been sealed due to her actions.

Finally, we arrive at the end of the conflict. A mass of rubble and bodies litter the ground from the conflict as we find Suletta on her own moving earth to try and help the people beneath it. I think it's a really important piece, both in regards to Suletta and the relations between Earthians and Spacians at Astacassia. Though they're meant to be cogs in the cycle of perpetuated violence and control, some of the students at this school have found ways to connect with one another past the boundaries of Earth and Space. Working together to defend Astacassia, or helping save injured students, or removing those trapped from the rubble. It speaks to the passion and desire to good that the Earthians aboard Astacassia have spread and infected those around them with. Alongside Suletta, they've broken the curse of Prospera's words, and in doing so, have helped free Suletta. Without Aerial, without her mother or Miorine or any of the other crutches that brought her this far, she remains in the dark, with bloodied and bruised hands, searching for life amidst the destruction.

It's an astoundingly good GWitch episode, and moves the characters forward in incredible ways. Shaddiq's hubris arrives at his doorstep as Guel find vindication in bringing him to justice, while Norea makes peace with the life that was stolen from her that Elan carries onwards, and Suletta and the Earth house continue their calling of peace and helping others even in spite of the atrocity that was committed in the name of their company.

The cycle of violence leaves nobody untouched, but it doesn't mean you must succumb to it. This episode speaks to that greatly. That you are justified in your hate and resentment for what life has done for you, but that you also hold the tools within your own hands to change that. To rally against it and make a difference, to speak out against those actions and to fight to find ways to break that cycle. Whether it's within the scope of the school you go to, or the whole of humanity.