#definitely didn't suffer for decades

[dovewingkinnie]

part 9 for the stitched au part 8

[pythonmoth]

cw: implied torture. body harm mentioned. reader thinks of price as a father figure. reader is unreliable and inconsistent. military inaccuracies.

» conviniences bc this is a fanfic. unimportant oc, don't ask me background. oc is a plot device, never mentioned again, probably. it's just for fun.

× framed traitor f!reader x lt ghost. poly tf141.

Part 5

Surely, if you asked him, he wouldn't even blink and would tell you it was an order. He couldn't do anything. Had his hands tied. He's sorry it happened to you.

Because it was easier.

In this line of work, he's seen half of his teammates die because they were reckless, because there was an idiot who thought knew best and ended up getting killed, or decided to sell out the others for money. Also killed, or in jail.

There's no such thing as a good or bad side when the guns and the bombs go off for both. There's only dead or alive, and you must kill whoever is against you for you to survive. That's how it's always been.

You don't matter in the battlefield if innocents are in danger back home. You do that for them.

Price fought fiercely for his nation. He had passion, he loved defending it with his blood and sweat, but he was nothing. Just another number in the end.

What he could do was try to be someone for his team. These men needed him. And he couldn't fail them.

After so many years in this world, he realized it's easier to just accept orders.

So when the higher ups sent him information and evidence, he clenched his jaw and spent the whole night going through it.

You've been part of the team for years. Nearly a whole decade he's worked with you, saved your ass, and you've saved his. He remembered every single one.

He didn't want to believe it, but the order had been given, and he couldn't refute the evidence. Not when it was slapped to his face like this and he had nothing but his instinct.

For the first two hours, he'd been pissed to his core. You've been everybody's confidant since day one, always listening. You knew secrets.

When he found out you were dating Ghost, he couldn't deny that he thought you wouldn't last, that it would be messy. Ghost's a troubled man, filled with secrets not even you could unveil, but Ghost was completely smitten by you; not that you were any better. He didn't even want to think how Johnny was added to the mix.

He'd seen so many things already, that it just made him blink and nod. It was nobody's business, anyway.

And it was an entertaining pleasure to witness.

However, now it just felt like he's been a fucking idiot. Opening up to somebody wasn't a good idea, he knew this, but if he couldn't trust his team, who the hell was he supposed to trust, then?

His cigar wasted away while he stared at the evidence in front of him. It was too easy, too... fitting, but it was impossible to ignore.

"Make sure she confesses. That's your order" they told Price. Just that. Simple as that.

According to the evidence, you've been selling information on other teams' missions, making copies of documents and entire files. They had your fingerprints somehow, but he couldn't buy it. Price had insisted they continued the investigation at first, because why were you the only person involved? Where were the people that definitely helped you? Why not sell information on your team as well?

"Shut the fuck up and do as we say" they ordered. "Your career is in our hands".

Pretty much.

He genuinely despised the higher ups, taking shitty decisions from behind their desks and fancy suits. Still, orders are orders. He couldn't ignore them or the whole team would suffer from it one way or another.

Price had to think.

If he couldn't just ask you, because, goddammit, he's not stupid, he would have to force it out of you.

How the hell was he supposed to do that?

He couldn't possibly cut your fingers off, or cover your body with permanent scars, because he really didn't believe you were a traitor.

But he could not be accused of insubordination.

And you could very well be lying. You could be making a fool out of everybody.

With a heavy sigh, he rubbed his face, exhaustion making his shoulders slump. He grabbed his cigar from the ashtray and took a long, deep drag from it. His lungs burning, he made up his mind.

Nails grow.

They would be raw for months, but it would not make you lose your normal mobility forever and, if he was right and there was something else going on, he could give you a temporary discharge so you could recover. Away from them.

Or you would be rotting in jail. One or the other.

Price put his cigar down again and stood up from his chair, tapping the desk with his fingertips; a big plan was forming in his mind and he didn't like it.

If you were truly a traitor, he was following orders. If you weren't, he was also following orders. Still, he had something he'd learned a few years ago, when Johnny first started hanging out with Ghost and you.

Johnny had a big mouth when drunk, and he had told Price you were scared of the ocean after a few drinks. He didn't mention a reason, but that didn't matter. He would have to use that.

He couldn't take risks.

He was fond of you, but if there was evidence that could be used against you, he could not afford to hesitate. Not for you. Not for anybody.

For the team's sake, he had to do as he was told.

Price prepared the basement himself.

It made his stomach wrench with guilt, but he kept reminding himself he had no right to ignore orders. He knew you, but...

Obey orders.

That's been drilled into his mind. And he had given an oath.

He knew you could understand that. Every soldier could.

The salty water, the disgusting rags and that bloody chair was ready by the time the sky turned of dark ink. Soon the sun would come out, but he had yet another decision to take.

He knew what had to be done. He knew the best option for you. Still, it was not going to be even a little bit pretty.

All or nothing. They would have to understand.

He came out from the basement, the stairs seemingly infinite for a moment, and quickly ordered Ghost and Johnny to be called in to his office.

He forced himself to imagine it wasn't you. He pictured a different face, a different person begging and screaming in the chair.

He knew Ghost would ignore his command. He was smart enough to ignore his ridiculous order of making you suffer longer than necessary. He was counting on it.

Price couldn't tell Ghost, and he couldn't tell Johnny. No matter what he did, he couldn't put them at risk.

If this went wrong for him, he would be the only one paying the consequences. Nobody else would be involved but himself.

He regretted kicking you the day before, but he got too into his own head, into the character he forced on himself, that only when he was back in his office did he realize what he'd done.

To see you passed out on the chair after enduring so much pain was really just a breaking point for him. He had stormed out and gone straight to his office.

Just as he reached out to grab the phone and call the higher ups, to yell at them to do a fucking proper investigation, to do their job and leave his team alone, someone opened his door without knocking. He was so upset that he actually flinched in surprise.

"Sergeant Garrick" Price said, his eyebrows furrowing, standing up from his chair.

Kyle's face was visibly angry, expression hard. It took Price a moment to realize the sergeant was dragging someone unconscious by their ankle like a sack of potatoes.

"What's the meaning of this? Who the hell is that?" Price questioned, walking over to Kyle, staring down at the man on the floor. "Weren't you supposed to be back tomorrow?"

"Finished earlier. Got here like five minutes ago" Kyle explained, waving his free hand as if to dismiss Price's questions. "He was sneaking out from the storage room. I asked him what he was doing, and he tried to gut me so I put him down. Interesting things in his backpack" he said, letting go of the man's leg. Kyle crossed his arms and looked at Price.

"What things?" he asked, moving to take the backpack from the passed out man, and quickly torn it open. A scoff left his chest. Copies of documents.

"I was gone for five days and all I heard on my way here is that you're going insane and that the Lieutenant wants to gut you. What the hell is happening?"

It had been a goddamn mess.

The man confessed when he woke up, no resistance at all. A soldier Price hadn't seen much before because he wasn't under his command, but as soon as he heard his last name, he knew they were absolutely fucked.

All it took was a call not even five minutes later and Price had to let him go.

Of course the higher ups wanted you to confess. Of course they ordered Price to make you confess, not bring out names of buyers nor more traitors.

That's why there wasn't a proper investigation.

Price stood there as the soldier raised an eyebrow at them, amused, and walked past Price and Kyle, soldiers from another team escolting him away.

Deployment. To South Korea.

A slap on the wrist for the son of one of the higher ups.

It wouldn't take a day for the rumors to fly, so they announced his deployment quickly. The fact that he had tried to gut Kyle apparently wasn't important, either.

Price didn't receive a single call after that. He understood the order to be silent and pretend that never happened.

Couldn't they have done that since the beginning, instead of making you go through this? Maybe it was time to retire.

This only left him with a much bigger problem, though.

He felt guilty for making Kyle work when he had just gotten back, but he asked him to go and make sure the medics were prepared to receive you, while he gave himself a little pat on the back as encouragement, and told Ghost and Johnny to come on up to his office.

He didn't stop Ghost from punching him. He knew he deserved that punch.

It had been his fault to be so careless. If he hadn't thought you could be the traitor, he would've continued with the rags and the gagging instead of hurting you. He had orders and he let them get to his head. And that was his mess to deal with.

"Garrick caught him trying to escape" Price raised his voice again, doing his best to be heard over their yelling. "He's been detained and already confessed. The problem is that—"

"I don't fucking care!" Simon snapped, gripping his desk hard enough to break it in two. "Bring him here, goddammit. I'll put a bullet through his brain".

Johnny was quiet, staring daggers into his head. Price growled deeply, rubbing his face tiredly. "I'm trying to explain why I fucking can't do—"

"The fuck am I here for, then? I'm done with this fucking shit hole" he yelled, not interested in whatever Price had to say anymore.

Johnny and him rushed downstairs, leaving him alone. He didn't leave his office, the heels of his hands digging into his eyes.

In his need to protect the team, he'd fucked up. If Ghost didn't want to listen to him, if Johnny was so angry he seemed ready to stab his guts, he could only rely on you.

It was unfair, he knew. But it was his best shot.

The rumor of the son of an important man causing trouble for Price's team quickly spread, but nobody would dare saying anything out loud. Not properly, at least.

As far as Price knew, it didn't leave the base.

For the whole two days it took you to wake up, Price let the men cool off. He knew it would be useless to try and talk to them when they wouldn't leave your side, and visiting you was out of the question with the two of them guarding you so jealously.

Besides, you weren't awake yet.

He heard the commotion from his office. He knew you had woken up, if Ghost and Johnny's hurried footsteps was anything to go by, so he got up and walked directly to the infirmary, his arms crossed as he waited outside.

He heard Ghost trying to talk to you, your laughter, then your sobs, and he didn't miss the way Johnny was staring at him. As if waiting for a moment to strike.

"Spit it, MacTavish" Price said, sighing deeply. He didn't turn to him, didn't want to meet Johnny's eyes.

"You fucked up, Capt'n. This wouldn't have happened if you—"

"It's not an excuse, but I had orders. You know damn well how this works" Price reminded him, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I'll explain everything later".

"Fuck this, I'm going in" Johnny mumbled, moving towards the door, but they both froze as Ghost came out.

Ghost looked defeated. His shoulders slumping, his eyes downcast, his balaclava hastily pulled over his head. The wet spots on the mask were easy to catch, but Price decided he would never mention that.

"Simon? How's she?" Johnny whispered, reaching out to grab his arm.

Price gave them a little moment and looked inside the room. He noticed you were on the floor and the sight made him close his eyes tightly for a moment. He didn't give himself a moment to think and walked in.

Ghost didn't try to stop him.

You flinched when you saw him, your eyes wide as he gently shut the door behind him. You didn't start sobbing as you did when Ghost was inside, so he took that as a good sign.

"Morning, lass" he mumbled, speaking softly. Not wanting to scare you, he slowly sat down in front of you, a respectful distance between the two of you. "Isn't the floor cold?"

"No".

"Are you hungry?"

"No".

"Do they hurt?" he asked, nodding at your hands.

"Yes" you mumbled, looking down at your bandaged fingers, then your feet. "Both".

"I know, lass. How about we get you to the bed then, hm? The floor is cold".

He didn't move until you looked up at him and nodded. He made slow, big moves. Price gripped your arms and managed to get you to sit down on the bed without much but a hiss from you. He grabbed a chair and sat in front of you so you could look down at him.

He's had his share of dealing with traumatized soldiers, so he decided to let his soft, parental side take the lead.

"Are you scared of Simon?" he asked you gently. Your shoulders tensed but you shook your head. "Of Ghost?"

"Yes".

"Are you scared of Soap?"

"... Yes".

"Are you scared of me?"

"Yes".

No "John", no "Captain Price". Him. As a whole.

"Do you want me to leave?"

You didn't answer. You looked at him, as if torn between saying yes or not, swallowing thickly. Price sighed and leaned back, giving you space.

"I'm gonna explain what happened, won't miss a single thing. Then, you'll decide. Deal?"

"Okay".

Explaining how he'd fucked up, how he'd followed orders he didn't want, blaming himself for the situation and owning it up, was not something he learned from his superiors. Before, his superiors would stand in front of him and wouldn't even blink, would tell him it was an order. They couldn't do anything. Had their hands tied. Would tell you they were sorry it happened to you, if you were lucky.

When he became a captain to the team, he refused to be like that. Even if he knew it would be easier, even if he lied to himself and promised he'd be ruthless and tough... this was his team. In a way, they were his kids.

Ghost was just ten years younger than he was, but fuck, that reckless, stupid idiot was like a son to him. And he failed him.

He'd failed them all.

By the time Price was done explaining, up to the point of that cocky bastard walking out free, now getting his little things to go on a little trip to South Korea, his throat was dry.

You were silent as he explained how he had to force Ghost and Soap's hands, how Simon and Johnny were completely against it and how Simon had punched Price for making Ghost and Soap hurt you.

They all had orders, and even if they didn't want to hurt you, they did.

His eyes didn't leave yours for a moment, barely blinking, not paying attention to the way his eyes would water from time to time, and was heavily aware of the way you just sat there, staring at him.

"What now?" you questioned after a few minutes of being silent.

"I'll see that you get a discharge for temporary disability. You need to heal first" he assured you. "That's what matters right now".

You nodded.

For a long moment, there was silence again, but he realized it wasn't so bad. You were calm, so he didn't push you. He sat there for nearly half an hour, both of you just processing it all. Until the grumbling in your stomach made him look up at you.

"Hungry now?"

"Yes. A little" you mumbled, sighing as you used the heel of your hands to rub your face.

"I'll ask Dr. Wilson to bring you something" Price offered, standing up from the chair. He didn't miss the little flinch in your shoulders, but you didn't move away so he decided not to mention it.

He turned around, his hands on his sides at all times. As he gripped the door handle, he turned back to you. "Listen, I... can't ask you to give Ghost and Soap a chance, but I can promise you they will do anything you ask. You like cats, right? Tell them to bring you one. They'll make sure to sneak one in, Wilson be damned".

You cracked a small smile, looking down at your hands. After a heartbeat, you looked up at him. "I'm angry, John".

Price turned properly, giving you his full attention again. It took all of him not to flinch at the way you said his name. No teasing, no smile.

"I feel like... I can't trust any of you. I don't know if I can keep on working with you".

He understood. He really did. Still, it would be easier to bear if you were screaming at him instead of looking at him as if there was nothing. As if you hadn't accidentally called him dad more than once, for fucks sake.

In the back of his mind, his eyes burned.

"Do you want to be transferred?" he asked anyway, not voicing his discomfort. "I can't promise you the request will go through, considering they were using you to cover their arses, but there should be something I can do, if that's what you want".

You looked down at your hands, staring at your bandaged fingers. "I don't know yet".

Price hoped you'd stay. He didn't want to lose someone who added so much to the team, and someone so dear. He'd rather go to hell than try and convince you to stay if you couldn't trust them anymore, but he wanted you to stay.

"That's okay" he reassured you. "Tell you what. I'll tell Garrick to bring you something to eat, and I'll work on getting you that discharge, for now. Deal?"

"Deal".

Price saw your lips trembling slightly, moving as if you had something else to say so he waited. Then, you sighed.

"When I get better, I'm gonna wipe the floor clean with you. I'm pissed at you and I'm tempted to kill you myself. I can't believe you put me through that shit, and didn't trust your instincts. Could've talked to me" you snapped, the words flowing from you.

Maybe it was because it was easier to swallow down the misery than to keep on dwelling on it, but you looked relieved after all the explanation he did.

Price's lips trembled slightly, but he didn't interrupt.

"I've been in this long enough to know the higher ups are bastards, but your decisions were poor, and if you try to convince me to forgive those idiots I swear I'm gonna stab you in your— are you fucking smiling?"

Price couldn't help himself, his eyes nearly falling shut with how big he was smiling. He raised his hand gently, not wanting to startle you, and placed it on top of your head.

"You have to forgive no one, sweetheart. I will live with this for the rest of my life, and it will be something that's gon' keep me up at night, same with the other two" Price mumbled, his smile slowly dimming down into a soft glare. "But this is, unfortunately, something you'll have to heal on your own".

Your eyes were wide, your lips tightly shut. Price was struck once again with how much he genuinely cared for this team.

"You don't owe us anything. Not your forgiveness towards us, nor the situation being forgotten in general" he added, his hand gently gripping your head, his eyes warm. "You have my explicit consent to stab me, even if that doesn't change how you feel".

"Deal".

Price couldn't help but laugh, glad to see you crack another smile.

He gripped your shoulder firmly and walked out of your room. Ghost, Johnny and Gaz were there, the three of them standing up immediately.

"Sergeant Garrick" he called, surprised to hear how actually happy his voice was. "She's hungry. Would you mind bringing something? She's okay with you being there".

Garrick nodded and gave the other two a sympathetic pat on their backs before rushing to find you something to eat.

Price turned to them and sighed again, scratching his mustache. "Well... give her time. I explained the whole situation, and I'll give her a discharge for temporary disability".

"Why is she okay with you, and not me?" Ghost asked directly, his voice rough. Johnny was silent, probably going through a few things in his mind.

"My guess? I didn't actually physically hurt her" Price told them, his face suddenly serious. "She said she's scared of Ghost, and Soap. But not Simon, or Johnny".

"What?" Johnny asked, his expression falling.

"It's a trauma response, you know this" Price reminded them, rubbing the back of his head. "Give her time. She's gonna be okay".

"But what am I supposed to do then?" Ghost grumbled, his eyes tormented behind the mask.

"Leave her alone" Price ordered. "You need to leave her alone".

-ˋˏ✄——————————————————

Masterlist | Part 6

Buy me a coffee

am I projecting my own needs on Price bc I have a rocky relationship w my father? mhm. if you cry, let me know.

» where was gaz? on a secret mission. do I know what he was doing? no. it was v secret. /lh

» we're back to reader's pov in the next part. ♡

taglist: @euphoricn @lilg101010 @enfppuff @carolchaotic @silas-fanfic-favs @nina-from-317 @an-ever-angry-bi @kittygonap @dorothy-rainbird @adventurerabby @defronix @sheepispink @iambuttwodaysold @blackhawkfanatic @remus-holt @malevolentghoul @thriving-n-jiving @literallegendicon @echo9821

[jewishvitya]

There is no harmless form of Zionism. It's possible to fantasize about, but it could never exist in reality. There was never going to be a way to establish a Jewish state without destroying Palestinian life.

I see the sentiment that non-Jewish people made Zionism into a bad word, and they really didn't. The Zionist movement did that, Israel did that, all through actions.

There's the quote "the purpose of a systen is what it does." It's been decades, generations of Palestinian suffering and struggle, if this was not the intent we had time to change course. But somehow judging Zionism through the reality it created and continues to maintain is misunderstanding it. Don't look with your eyes, listen to my sweet gentle definition of it.

And even with the gentler definitions, I keep thinking about an ask I saw a Palestinian person getting, probably around a year ago (yes with Gaza being bombed), where the anon said "but you have to understand why Jewish people would want their own place" and it hit me so hard that they're essentially saying "you have to understand why they want a reality where you don't exist and can't be in the way." Those definitions just focus on the desire and not on the actions that are required to achieve it.

[talaok]

Like a Virgin

Pairing: Joel Miller x reader

summary: It's been a really long time since Joel has felt the feel of anything else besides his own fist, and once you remind him how good the real thing is... let's just say it's hard for him to live up to his full potential.

warnings: smut| unprotected p in v sex, premature ejaculation, very touch-starved Joel, and allusion to oral sex (f receiving)

a/n: I don't know what to say lmao this is a thing for me ok, don't judge (and also you can't tell me this isn't accurate, like this man hasn't gotten laid since the moon landing probably, and you expect him to last? no way babe). Also I'm sorry about the title it's funny to me lol

Now this wasn't like him.

He hadn't done this in a long time.

The last time he had sex with a woman he'd just met (or any woman to be completely honest) he was 25 years younger and the world hadn't gone to shit yet... so yeah, a long time indeed.

But you were so fucking beautiful, such a pretty face with such pretty eyes, and god but that mouth of yours-

And plus you were new to Jackson, you didn't know yet about all the scary stories folks liked to tell about him, and you were kind and funny, and... did he mention hot already?

Just one night of letting loose, that's what he'd told himself, and then he was gonna go back to his old closed-off self, but for now... for now, he was too busy throwing you on his bed to think about anything else.

You were getting rid of your clothes and he followed your lead more than willingly, almost ripping the buttons off his flannel in the rush.

He bent down to kiss your neck as his hands hurried to your tits.

God, he'd forgotten how good it felt to touch a woman.

And when you let out a little whimper, he swore he had ascended to another universe.

"Joel please"

Fuck him, but he wasn't inside of you yet, and he was already feeling far too close to coming.

Guess fucking his own fist for two decades really does something to a man.

"need something?"

He was acting wayy too smug for someone who was feeling like a virgin all over again.

"Please- I need you inside me, Joel"

fucking damnit- he shouldn't have asked that, his dick was now really suffering the consequences.

He didn't risk saying anything else as he got rid of his boxers, but of course, you just had to come out and say:

"oh wow, you're big" with the sexiest fucking voice he'd ever heard.

"want me to stop?"

For some reason, those words elicited a criminally hot smirk on your lips  

"Definitely not"

You were looking at him like a starving woman and he had to look down to where he was moving his tip to your entrance to get away from you and your dangerous, dangerous gaze

He pushed into you slowly and god fucking damnit but the sounds that you made... those sweet little moans and whines you let out as your warm pussy stretched around him and hugged him better than anything he'd felt in years... he had no words for it- no coherent sounds could make it out of his mouth except for a few groans coming deep from his chest.

"Good christ"

that's the only thing he managed to murmur as he bottomed out and had to take a break to try not to bust his load right there.

"fuck you feel so good" you moaned, as your hands gripped his sheets "please move" you begged, your voice breathy and pleading, and godfuck he should have really thought about it before doing this.

"Joel please-"

"I just need a moment darlin'" he explained, closing his eyes to try and remember how he used to manage to last and coming up completely empty.

He could feel your expectant eyes on him so even if he sure as hell didn't feel ready, he did as you asked and started to move.

The regret reached him extraordinarily fast as he felt your walls tightening around him and as you cried out for him like an angel sent straight from heaven.

"fuck-" you moaned, looking up at him with doe eyes that made him wonder if you really just knew what you were doing, if you actually enjoyed torturing him like this

"god you're so deep"

Yeah, you definitely knew

"and so big-" you cried

He gripped your waist to try and ground himself as he thrusted into your fucking perfect cunt.

"oh my god-yes!" you moaned, your back arching from the bed as his thrust got harsher in the hopes that that would make you talk less.

"just like that Joel- oh-" 

And Joel was tough in a lot of ways and he wasn't one to give up easily, but shit you were making it hard for him.

"Please don't stop- fuckfuckfuck" you begged, shutting your eyes close at the feeling.

And that was it, he couldn't do it anymore

"please stop talking" he breathed, his eyes resuming their tour of your eyes, mouth, and bouncing tits.

"why?" 

"nothing it's just-"

And before he could answer you had grabbed his shoulder and forced him to bend down to meet your mouth with his.

Goddamnit.

"you just feel too good Joel" 

"fuck." he groaned, not able to stop his hips from moving no matter how much he wanted to "shit"

"what is it?"

"Jesus Christ I-"

"is there something wrong?"

"n-no just- fuck I'm sorry sweetheart"

And that's all he could say as he abruptly pulled out of you, his spend covering your stomach not even a second after as he growled so loud his neighbors probably thought he was getting killed.

"shit" again, he sighed, his forehead falling to your shoulder.

"oh" you couldn't help but smile as everything came together

"I'm sorry darlin'" he breathed, leaning away and standing up as shame filled every inch of him.

"It's just- It's been a long time since I've done... this"

You sat up, your legs still dangling off the bed, as you admired his handy work on your belly.

"And you... you're just real fucking pretty" he huffed a half-laugh "I'm sorry"

You looked up at him then, meeting his mortified expression.

"No hey" you smiled, placing a hand on his torso "It's fine, I understand"

"god this is embarrassing, I feel like a sixteen-year-old all over again" he shook his head

"stop" you cooed, gently caressing his skin, as a mischievous spark lighted in your irides "It's fine, really" you promised, "and besides..." you bit your bottom lip as you slowly spread your legs "you could still make it up to me, y'know?"

He groaned again, falling to his knees between your thighs

"that I can do"

[couldeatthatgirlforlunch]

Just a concept, Yandere!Dimensional traveler!Batman X Gn!reader X Platonic!Batfam, also wrote a one shot about this

Synopsis: Batman becomes obsessed with a spouse and kids that he never had.

Pairing: Yandere!Dimensional traveler!Batman X Reader; Batman X Reader; Platonic Batfam X Batparent!Reader; Yandere!Batman X Platonic!Batfam; Batman X Platonic!Batfam

Tw: English is not my first language; mentions of Alfred being dead; I'm quite new on the fandom so there might be some mistakes about facts of the original comics, but this is a fanfic so whatever; this piece is more focused on Bruce and the batfam while still mentioning reader; stalker and delusional Bruce.

Word count: 1,4k

Requested? No.

General masterlist | Ao3

Yandere!Batman who is very VERY, extremely, lonely, touch starved and grim. He’s also very unlucky apparently.

He never even met Dick. Sure, he heard about what happened to The Flying Graysons, investigated it even, but he's only seem him on pictures, videos or in passing, but he wasn’t there that night, he never talked to him, or maybe he did while stopping him from killing Zuko, either way, never adopted him, our boy went straight to orphanage and was adopted shortly after by a normal and loving family.

Actually this universe’s Bruce never met nor connected with ANY of his children, all he had was Alfred, and yet… Something happened and…

Safe to say it's been long, never ending harsh years.

The only thing this Bruce knows is pain, loneliness and misery. Don’t talk to him about Alfred. Maybe he can't even look at pictures. When he realized he couldn’t remember his voice anymore… He WON’T watch videos or listen to audio of him. Yes, Alfred being gone was one more trauma to the list of traumas he will carry on his tense and burdened shoulders for the rest of his helpless existence.

This Bruce is a loser, closer to madness than any version of Bruce (aside from Batman who laughs). His Gotham is nearing it’s doom. He didn't join the Justice League because of his level of emotional masochism, pride and lack of will to get back on his feet. He is so used to suffering he thinks it's possible to die if he doesn't have such bitter companion. Safe to say, he is depressed. And hyperfocused on saving a city he’s been working in for decades, too blind by his grieving to see that he is not doing the right things. There is no social projects on Wayne Enterprises or Wayne Foundation to help people, he neglected the company decades ago. He is almost becoming Michael Keaton’s Batman in The Flash.

Somehow, one day he is sent to another universe. It can be through some disaster like Crisis in Infinite Earths, or some villain who wanted different variants of heros to fight amongst themselves to death, doesn't really matter here, what’s important is that he (after years of being a hermit on his cave) interacts with people, more specifically, he interacts with himself.

Or definitely a lucky version of himself. Maybe the luckiest. He is jealous.

During the whole event they interact and imagine how he felt when he found out that this other Batman has an Alfred. And he is so successful that he is a billionaire who uses his money to help Gotham get better (or as good as we know Gotham can get). Oh, and he has a spouse. And children. Plural. So many he lost count. And pets. Two dogs, one cat, a cow (?), a turkey (a what now?) and a fREAKING DRAGON BAT (WHAT THA FUCK IS EVEN THAT????!?!?????!).

He is also more put together (looks like he showers and doesn't skip meals). And less temperamental.

Okay…

Bruce is confused. When he comes back to his universe, with a spark of hope in his heart, he does his research. He could start actually making effort on his company and thus helping Gotham, maybe even be good enough as a vigilant that he could join the Justice League and make some friends (even if the other Bruce was just as stoic, he was the only one who could see on his micro expressions while talking about them how fond he was of his colleagues, and how much he thrusts them, even with his trust issues).

He could find those damn kids and adopt them. Find the one who somehow managed to make him open up enough for a relationship.

(He could also just work on his company, philanthropism, do some therapy, make some new organic connections or whatever).

He is VERY disappointed to find out that some of those so called kids and are already adults, have lived their whole lives without him, maybe some have been arrested or even dead, they have their whole lives and families that have NOTHING to do with him. Some don't even exist (the only explanation for not a single clue in months of research). And his partner, Reader, is either living their own life that doesn't allow space for him or also dead. He lost his timing. He is old and lost his timing. He is alone. He shouldn't have hoped so much that he got blind by the improbability of the small chance. The other Batman did mention that his family started growing decades ago.

He just lost another family. This one he never got to have. He wishes he never knew about them.

He hyperfocused on them for months for nothing (hey, It was hard to find info on the ones that don't live a very civilian legal life, like Cassandra, or the ones that never even existed, like Damian, or the ones that are dead — again maybe Cassandra, or perhaps Jason. Maybe Jason joined a gang just for survival or something like that, life on the streets is harsh, and he is not very lucky. And I’m not even being specific on what could have happened to every single one of the batfam. Also Tim is probably a CEO right now). No connection and family will come from all of that. Especially because he is greedy, starved, he doesn't want bits and pieces, he wants it ALL. He wants that other Bruce's life.

Yandere!Batman is born. He drowns and gets drunk on the pit of his own madness and he can’t get out of it. Doesn't want to.

He could… He could get rid of the people on their lives, brainwash them and make them a happy family. They aren’t vigilantes, they don't have his abilities, they don't have his intellect, it won't be hard.

Of course, Batman doesn't kill, but this Batman is looking for a change.

But they aren't what lucky-billionaire-put-together Bruce had.

Don't get me wrong. He is not just petty and jealous, nor resents Bruce for his privileges and better decisions, or whatever.

Okay, maybe a little. Why? Just why ones life was perfect (hello? Didn't you hear the part where he told you his own problems? Not even about the DEAD RESURRECTED CRIME LORD SON?) while the others had to draw the short stick?

But majorly he is just desperate, foaming at the mouth for a happy ending, and projected all of that on that poor random bat.

Now, enough brooding, back to solutions.

He could clone them.

Could work. Not exactly easy but he could just hack onto Luthor archives until he found how he cloned Superman and made that Superboy, Superman, or whatever he goes by now.

Again, not the same as the original ones. The ones he craves. The ones he wants.

Alfred is screaming in his grave about how Bruce, please, needs to realize that no one will fill the expectations he puts on them, not even the “original ones”.

Another hard, but better fitted solution is to… Simply… Find a way to go to that other universe, or one similar enough, stalk and study their whole lives until he can perfectly replicate “lucky” Bruce’s persona, and just… Get rid of him and take his place. Hello Alfred, hello honey, hello kids, daddy’s home.

Looks like he finally got luck on his side, maybe the sun will rise tomorrow.

Yandere!Bruce won't just brush aside that he is rusty and definitely not a better Batman then the other one, but he's got time. He will developt patience. But can he learn enough to trick his perfect vigilant kids though? Is he seriously thinking straight? I mean, the batkids are dope though. They learned from the best. As a proud (wannabe) father he knows they will be better than him one day, perhaps already are.

How much of watching their lives, everything that he craves, can he take until he snaps? How much of watching Bruce's interactions with them can he take? He swears he won't take them for granted when he has them, he will take care of them, protect them, be a family, be happy.

Can he really keep his distance?

Looks like another supervillain just arrived in Gotham for the batfamily to battle against, he is quite persistent though.

Like, comment and reblog 🥰

[gu6chan]

NO WAY??????

caionard fans i need to hear your answers. remember: every vote counts . use yours wisely...........

[lesbianwyllravengard]

i still have yet to play bg3 so i still dont go here yet but Wyll seems literally like one of the most compelling characters of all time and im not even joking. I havent even played the GAME but his character arc haunts me /pos. people are literally just racist to say that he isn't compelling

LITERALLY. He's utterly fascinating. He is a folk hero, a legend, the fantasy equivalent of superman. He's a warlock who is secretly pacted to a devil. He hates devils. He's an incredible liar. He's incredibly sincere. He's silly. He unironically enjoys puns and clowns. He over-exaggerates his Blade personality because it amuses him. He sometimes doesn't know where The Blade ends and Wyll begins. His hero-ness is a performance; not to hide ill intent, but to hide a broken man, to hide weaknesses and fears. It's who he is. It's always been a distant thing, a mask. It's who he thinks he must be. He loves freely and openly and will let anyone know it. He's only ever wanted to know he's loved. He still thinks his father's inability to trust or believe in him was all his fault. He still thinks that every bit of suffering he's ever experienced was all his fault. He thinks admitting to suffering would be disrespectful to the lives he's saved. He thinks he has to suffer or else his sacrifices were worthless. He thinks it couldn't be a sacrifice if he didn't suffer for it. He would take any suffering if it meant lessening someone else's. He is the first person to stand up for someone's life and safety, the first person to defend someone's worth and autonomy. He is the last person to do so for himself. He is of the least importance to himself.

He needs to be needed, because if he's not needed then what good is his power and the soul he sacrificed for the pact to get it? And if he can't be needed then he throws himself into the fray without hesitation because his purpose has always been to sacrifice himself so others may live. His life has always been one of sacrifice. His life has been recompense since the second he was born and his mother passed as a result. He saves lives to make up for it. It will never be enough to him. It will always be everything to those he saves. He just wants to be seen for who he truly is. He thinks if no one can see him for who he is then maybe it isn't who he is, and maybe he's fooled them all, fooled himself into thinking he can be a better person, be the hero they need. He wants to be known by someone. He's terrified of someone looking deeper. He sees others for who they are. He's a monster hunter who does not hunt the typical definition of "monster", who knows that monsters are not the ones with fangs and horns in his group of friends but the men who look harmless yet cause endless death and suffering to others. Not even the threat of his life was enough to get him to harm an innocent.

He wants to be chosen. He cannot fathom that someone would choose him. He chooses others over himself every time. He has so much love for others. He thinks he must constantly earn love. He is shocked when someone simply loves him. He thinks he cannot love and lead at the same time. His only role model was a father who could never put his son before his city. He is capable of immense anger. He is capable of immense kindness. He purposefully chooses the latter; he works hard to not let his anger consume him. He's still angry over things that happened a near decade ago. He thinks feeling hurt is the same as being angry and so he can't be hurt. He's always hurting. He takes pride in his achievements and he does not underestimate himself. He's not religious. He devotes himself to his cause with the dedication of the most pious believer. He stands by his friends in any battle, against any struggle. He stands against them if they choose to threaten lives. He holds on to those he cares about with bloody knuckles and teeth bared because loss has always been the hardest pain for him to bear. He has lost everything. He gives every part of himself to others. He cannot lose anyone else. He thinks he can do anything because he refuses to believe any alternative. Because he could not survive any alternative. He thinks his intent is as important as his actions, and so he must always intend to do the right thing.

He does not tolerate his boundaries being pushed or his father being disrespected. He tolerates any judgment because he thinks he deserves it. He defends his status as the Blade of Frontiers. He thinks the fear caused by his devil form is a fault of his own that he must work to fix. He hates the patriars and their farce diplomacy, their lethal hypocrisy. He thinks his father is infallible. He does not hold himself to the same regard as he holds everyone else. He thinks its okay if it only hurts him. Anything is okay as long as it only hurts him. He has to keep fighting to prove he can be a hero. He is so, so tired. He cannot for one second admit to wanting for anything, because once he starts he might not be able to stop wanting. He cannot accept that he deserves to not suffer, too, because if he does he might not be strong enough to continue suffering so others might suffer less. He might not want to suffer. He thinks he cannot regret any decision he's made, he cannot regret his pact, because it would be a dishonour to the good he's done with it. He thinks that saying he regrets his pact would be saying he regrets every life he's saved with it and he would never regret saving lives so he cannot regret his pact. He's accepted that his freedom will always be the cost of saving lives. He desperately wants to be free. His life has never been his own, to him. He thinks every choice he's ever made was his own, alone.

He is very complex. He simplifies himself to be easily accepted by others. People fall for it easily. He just needs one person to look closer. He's afraid of what they'll find if they do. He doesn't keep his cards close to his chest, he meticulously chooses which cards to hold at all. Which parts of himself are worth losing if need be. How much of himself he has to keep close in order to keep being himself. He has seen the worst that the world has to offer. He chooses every day to be kind, to see the best in things, in others. He chooses to care. He holds onto his pain because it's proof that he cares. There are several pathways that don't connect quite right in his brain which you'll notice after a few conversations with him. He is wise beyond his years. He is my favourite guy ever

[bisexualbrainrots]

I've been thinking about these two, and like, it intrigues me how the weight of their experiences and some core elements (most likely) added to the breakup.

Like, just from canon alone I see that Tommy carries some weight on his shoulders from the person he used to be and his journey regarding his sexuality. He did hurt others by engaging in bigoted behavior in the past (and changed, which is good!). He probably spent at least a decade in the closet, figuring who he was and suffered from a comphet that made him almost marry a woman. Plus he's been out for less than 10 years and (possibly) didn't feel comfortable enough with himself until he got a clean slate. And he probably didn't have support when he came out, but that's a headcanon. I think this made him project that onto Buck, even if he didn't mean to.

And Buck's journey is nothing like Tommy's (from what we've seen).

Buck definitely carries wounds regarding his self-worth, he is somebody who thinks he's both too much and not enough. He didn't grow up in a supportive household, and the only person who did support him left. His sexual awakening, from what we saw, was a very different experience than what he's used too. He had people with him, he was immediately supported and told it didn't change how others saw him. The weight of his sexuality looks to be light, there seems to be barely any struggle, unlike Tommy. And I think it made Buck underestimate how bad it probably was for Tommy before.

Adding to that, there are also other elements to them that led to this mess.

Buck is impulsive, acts without thinking and doesn't grasp the consequences of his actions until they blow up on his face. And Tommy seems to act on self-preservation, he guards himself from danger and pain and acts on it. And it plays against them.

I think Buck's self-worth issues hit hard when he learned about the engagement, but not for that in itself.

I remember he actually looked intrigued when Tommy said he almost married a woman, and it wasn't until he knew it was Abby that he was put off and spiraled (side note: I hate the way they decided to canonize the Abby theory). It was that idea that if Tommy hurt someone Buck loved, then who's to say he wouldn't do the same to him, someone's who's "too much"?

I also think Buck's impulsivity set off Tommy's self-preservation alarms. Add that the (possible) projection he put onto him and it's no wonder Tommy ran, because, if he has hurt people before then who's to say Evan wouldn't do the same one day? If Evan's pace is fast then who's to say the relationship won't be too?

It's just, ughh there's so many layers I could peel off from this but it's also very much a stretch in my head.

Anyways, thanks for reading this? I don't know if it made any sense but hey, it doesn't really need to.

[thebindingofpillo]

Why can Azazel be goat. Why is this an option. (Sorry if this is worded meanie I have autism.)

Hi anon, here's the short version

As for the long version: I liked the idea of demons (and angels) being able to change their physical shape if they needed/wanted to, so the fact that he can turn into a goat isn't something only he can do. This is prime infographic material, I'll definitely make a post about it in the future.

Now, back to Azazel. He can turn into things other than a goat (as you can see if you click this link here), but he's already half goat in his normal form, so it felt appropriate he would feel most comfortable as one. The figure of Azazel in folklore and demonology is also referred to as a "scapegoat", while Satan and demons in general are usually associated or depicted as black goats! I promise there is thought behind this, it's not just because goats are my favorite animal lol.

Goatzazel has already appeared in the main comic (look at him in all his glory), and I'll tell you a fun fact: after being cast out of hell, Azazel spent a lot of time on Earth hiding in goat form because he was too afraid of getting attached to humanity again and didn't want to risk suffering again. He's spent around uuuuuh three decades masquerading as a goat before ending up in the flock of a certain someone (Judas) who at the time was busy following a certain oily man. Another fun fact, Yeshua (Jesus) immediately clocked Azazel as a demon but the two became friends. It's a nice story I promise.

During present times, all his loved ones know he can do this. It's why Maggie calls him "her little kid" lol

[adoregojo]

after decades, I finally write a fic about hiroi, even if it was a little short and mid at least it's something d: i love his character sosososos much even if he was a little hard to write mwah mwah i still love pretty boys. warnings: cussing. mention of needles. tattoo artist!reader, karasu being a third wheel. hiroi being a lovesick bastard, karasu basically suffering throughout the fic.

"what are we even doing here?" karasu's question goes upon death ears, suddenly he regrets tagging along in this.

it was like 8:49 at night, the crow head had his plans ready and set up just for hiori to barge in and drag him to a half hour drive to some tattoo studio on a an unfamiliar street he never stepped a foot on. this should consider kidnapping, he knew he should've screamed out of the window when he had the chance.

however he gotta admit the place didn't look half bad, it was well styled and didn't reek of smoke like expected, it even whiffed of fragrance. black painted walls and some hanged pieces of art, whoever chose them have a good taste. but being the smartass he is, karasu knew that whatever reason hiori was here for, was definitely not for a tattoo.

it was obvious even a blind one could get it, the cyan head had to take a few breathers out and in before opening the door. he didn't like that foolish smile that stayed glued to his face all the way here, and doesn't his cheeks hurt from beaming that damn long? like he didn't make the same remark of him smirking day and night, fucking hypocrite.

and what he didn't like most of all was how he kept overlooking him all that time, basically neglecting whatever doubts that pushed out his lips.

it's someone or something that was definitely dancing on his mind all night long. that explains why have he been coming to the dorms late at nights for the past weeks, he didn't even pat an eye to the class he missed. karasu was starting to think he was being hold hostage at once.

the crow male watch as he entered what he can guess it's where people sit on a chair and getting brutally needled by a an unbothered tattooer, that looked like it hurts like a bitch if you ask him. and when hiori sat down comfortably on a stuffed couch like it was his own home, he had enough.

"ye better answer me before i slam that stupid smile you have on ya face." karasu threat, showing his mettle and irritation just for his cyan friend to pat on the empty space beside him. karasu could feel his hair white, just what the hell was he getting on.

he sat down anyway, his hands deep in his pockets. the couch was awfully too comfy. he needs to ask for this brand, after beating hiori's ass of course. maybe he'll park his car in the place where birds shat on daily for a pay back, sounds like a plan.

"soooo, ya speaking or not, shithead?"

"be a good friend and shut yer yap, please?" that's the first thing he says tonight, and still with that put-off smile.

"yea, no wonder ya got only one friend." his remark was left hanging in the air. karasu had to physically clench his fist to a ball before he actually make hiori give the tile floor a very loving kiss.

his cyan hues were transformed to another direction, the path where a middle aged man was on the shelf of tears and the tattoo artist trying to hand them a piece of sooth. it was an embarrassing sight, and a situation to be put in. he had a knowledge of hiori being a little into drama but this better not be what he was brought up for.

however, that wasn't what hiori's eyes was on, if he looked closely, his sights were sat on the tattooist themselves, and that ogle was the definition of being absolute dotty and smitten, hiroi's ears were tipsy and he looked like he was about burst out the universe from his chest. disgusting is you asked karasu.

fucking hell, hirori had the fattest crush on the tattoo artist and he had to sit there and watch him grew enamoredly over them by the second.

you were literally in a misery of a situation, sweat running downhill your forehead, your locks were messy and out of place. and his friend over here eyes about to glow out in a shade of hearts like you were the only one to look at. he seriously wanted to throw up at this makeshift k-drama, he'd even throw tomatoes if he can.

he wondered what mistake he owned the university for to make him sit down there for the next hour with sniffing echoes throughout the walls and the annoying noises of that coil will definitely haunt him in his dreams. did he mention that he wasn't having a good time?

finally that man took his leave, mumbling apologies over and over his way before weaving over at you. this was the call of freedom, the door was calling him, seducing him with it blazing light to go through it and take his leave because he was dead serious when he say that he doesn't feel his butt no more.

"hiroi? is that you?"

have mercy on him.

you walked up to them, karasu doesn't know if it was hallucination taking over him but he could hear his friend's rabid heart pounding louder than ever by every step you take, he really thought another foot step would give a heart attack.

he doesn't think twice before standing up to greet you. "hi." hiori's reply came out clumsily, his eyes revolving around every corner of the room but your figure.

"hello, hello. did you finally decide to a get a tattoo?" you tilted your head slightly. he shook his head in response, "not yet, I actually came here for you." he admitted, you fix your posture quickly. playing with your fingers timidly behind your back, a failed attempt to hide the affect of his words.

"well, are you willing to wait a few hours before a finish this shift?" you asked jokingly, flashing your lashes rabidly. you could feel his gaze burning on you, drinking on your every move and every feature, detailed and craved to his mind.

"I'll wait for whatever long if that means seeing you." hiroi cooed, when did that girlish dude become a sappy one? as if he was finding pure joy in seeing you all red-faced and shrinking. you chuckle in response, raising your hand in attempt to places the hair locks back to it place. you definitely looked hideous right now, yet he kept his dreamy pairs on you only.

gently, he takes your hand his. slowly and timed in case you felt uncomfortable, it fitted perfectly, made for him to hold. the urge to lock your fingers together was tight. flipping your hand then he opened your gloved palm that was pained after the hour of holding the coil. hiori reaches for his pocket to site a piece of warped up candies. your favourites.

you stare at him, almost as if asking him without the need of words. "you mentioned that your jar run out of candy, so I brought you some. if you wanted i can refill it for you." he says, still looking at your still warped up in his hand. it bloomed him with unexplained warmth.

a burst of butterflies swirls in your stomach, he was close, almost leaning over your face that you could feel his suffuse mint breath tickling your skin. "that's so... thoughtful of you, hiroi. you're too kind."

"only for you."

what the fuck is he witnessing.

you two were literally making-out in front of karasu, and he was this close to bawling his eyes out. he seriously considered what on earth did he have done to deserve witnessing his friend being all lovey-dovey with a hot tattooist, is the consequence of him being friends with otoya finally catching him?

his blue bare of eyes sae as hiori pointed his finger at at him, "actually he wants to get a tattoo."

he was what now?

"wait wha-"

"and he'd like to do it anytime soon."

he couldn't actually believe this, absolute backstabbed. his what he considered a friend was basically setting him up just so he can spend time with his crush. just what the hell, what kind of betrayal is this, he got sat up brutally by the last person he expected from.

your eyes traveled to karasu's jaw dropped face. you didn't even notice him until hiori pointed him out. "oh, I'm sorry it's packed up today. i can set him for someone else if you want to." you suggested.

"no, i only trust you to do that." hiori didn't rethink before saying that, your eyes widened at him. he always managed to caught you off guard with his genuine sugar-coating words.

"if you insist, i have an empty seat tomorrow."

"I'll make sure we'll be there. and it's his first time, be gentle with him, kay?"

"I'll make sure to." you assured him, patting him on his arm. he held himself back from jolting at your nails digging his skin through the fabric of his sweater. it was soft, something that he isn't quite used to. and it lingered longer than it was supposed to when you lifted it off.

you take a piece of rolled up paper and stuff it into his pocket, "my number, call when you need." you say, eyes shifting between the floor and hiori's own, kicking your feet from side to side. while he couldn't take his off you. like blinking would make you disappear and slip away forever.

he knew he was taking advantage of karasu, and he was all ready for the consequences of it all if it mean spending any more seconds alongside with you. he promise to cherish it and held it deep within the depths of his soul. he promised to make it to him later, but now he was just too drowned to care, too intoxicated to think about anything beside of you.

"how about i go bring you some dinner? and we'll-"

"FUCK NO!" Karasu finally snapped.

in a blink of an eye, hiori was being harshly pulled by his behind collar, "we're are going home, and that's final!" karasu shouted as he dragged the cyan head who kept on reaching his hand uselessly towards you. he couldn't protect himself before he was already out of the store then thrown carelessly into the passenger seat.

the crow slammed the car door grimly, warping the safety belt then driving off like there was no tomorrow. not giving hiori a time to get a grip of himself. a pregnant silence fall on them, and he couldn't careless when he felt a burning glare on his head, if looks could kill, karasu would've been dead thousands of times.

"fucking cockbloker."

"oh, zip it you sadistic bitch."

study math? no, write for hiori? hell yea

[melis-writes]

Godfather girlies, discussion time!! 😶‍🌫️🤔 I've been thinking about Kay's abortion in The Godfather II and Tom's revelation to Michael about it later, but I can't quite piece it together...!

Tom knew Kay had an abortion...or he knew she was having a "miscarriage".

My personal opinion is that Tom knew Kay had an "abortion". I put "abortion" in quotations because I think Kay may have lied to Tom and said there was something wrong with the baby, that she believed she was having a miscarriage, or that she needed to see a doctor immediately regarding the baby, etc.

How did Kay leave the compound to get the procedure?

Tom was the one in charge at the compound in Michael's absence, and had denied Kay's exit out of it as his word was final, so the only way Kay could have left to get an abortion performed by a doctor would be through Tom.

I think the idea of Kay sneaking out, getting it done and returning is basically impossible. I think Tom let her see a doctor (accompanied her with bodyguards, but obviously not inside the room), but then again, I don't think Tom would necessarily try to keep Kay caged in carrying a child she definitely didn't want to carry, but I think this scenario is highly unlikely.

Who would perform it, for how much and would they recognize Kay?

As rich, powerful and influential Michael Corleone and the Corleone family is, they have less than a decade of clout/influence in Nevada, and even though Michael's a multi-millionaire who has high stakes in the hospitality industry and is a philanthropist, he's certainly no celebrity or politician. Because of this, I don't think every doctor would gasp and go, "I know you! You're Kay Corleone!" I really don't think they're well known like that, so I think Kay wouldn't have been recognized when seeking a doctor who would perform that procedure. Maybe Tom helped her with this, as he'd have more connections to do so, and to do so discreetly.

The procedure would probably cost a lot, and even more so if Kay was recognized, but Corleone money would cover that easily. Either that, or the doctor would lie to Tom saying she was suffering a miscarriage and sadly, the baby didn't make it. None would be the wiser and they'd return home. One could also assume they brought the doctor to the compound to do it there too, as a possibility.

Kay provoked the "miscarriage" herself.

I saw this take from someone else on Reddit and thought it was wild. I still do. There's a possibility, I guess, that Kay could have injured herself into a miscarriage, but tbh, none of her behaviours or actions showed at all she would self harm like that.

Whether Tom knew or not, he didn't give Michael a "straight answer".

With the way Tom rambles/stutters about the miscarriage to Michael, it makes me believe he either really had no idea what was going on (Kay was able to keep it a secret and deceive Tom) or that he did know it was an abortion, and that was his way of verbally expressing it as a lie to Michael.

What are your guys' thoughts? 👀

[butwhatifidothis]

For Flayn, I'd like to ask questions 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, and 12!

1: Why do you like or dislike this character?

I just like her vibe! She has a pretty unique air about her as someone who both is fairly unknowledgeable of certain unsavory aspects of life but also extremely familiar with how shit life can get, and it's interesting watching that play out with her and other characters!

2: Favorite canon thing about this character?

I really like how she will leave the army on CF. That shows her having so much stronger morals than so many other people, and unlike pretty much everyone else she's leaving someone behind who is actually important to her in pretty significant ways (on a personal level regarding saving her from TWS and on a more general "one of the literal last Nabateans to be living now" level). It's something that always really stood out to me amongst the rest of a relatively spineless cast lol

3: Least favorite canon thing about this character?

Gotta be honest... I can't really think of anything? Nothing Flayn does pings as annoying or otherwise unfavorable to me personally. I guess the closest thing is that I still thinks it's kinda weird that she can be romantically involved with the cast just because of that annoyingly ambigious trope she unfortunately embodies of "the 1000 year old dragon is Definitely Legal I Promise," but that's less of an issue with Flayn as a character and more an annoying staple of FE as a series that's to blame for that. She's at least not dressed like, um, a certain other example of this trope tho

7: What's something the fandom does when it comes to this character that you like?

Let her talk about her mom ;w; Or hang out with Auntie Rhea!! Visiting Uncle Indech or Uncle Macuil!! Generally letting her talk about/to her family that she clearly loved, loves, and always will love!! Her being the youngest Nabatean (after Byleth) and how the older Nabateans watch over her due to it is something we as players see soooo few crumbs of, so it's always nice to see people expand on these relationships more!

8: What's something the fandom does when it comes to this character that you despise?

When people act like Flayn is this completely sheltered baby who needs to be ~educated~ about the cruelties life offers as if she didn't literally fight in a decades long war and as if she hasn't suffered the effects of a nearly successful genocide on her race... peeves me off ngl! Because like I said there is a degree of that to her, but acting like she's lived in this pristine ivory tower her whole life completely ignorant to what a scrape to the knee feels or looks like is SO reductionist and OOC.

12: What's a headcanon you have for this character?

I like to imagine her mother liking forget-me-nots and that Flayn has them as her favorite flower because they remind her of her (and that she and Seteth place them on her grave whenever they can)

[jasmine-does-wevertf-she-wants]

I think the consumption of a certain trope of media really broke some people's brain. Just because you like a certain trope or it was used a lot in a certain era doesn't mean all media has that or should have that and you need to start digging until you find it in whatever you're consuming now.

I'm all for finding depth in subtext and exploring beyond canon but there is a fine line between exploring and expanding on canon and just straight up making shit up and some people play skipping rope with that line.

Like I love Jiang Cheng. I think he's a complex character and a good antagonist to wwx because the affection was there! I agree that it is tragic and complicated and heartbreaking and all that! But Jiang Cheng as the sensitive misunderstood meow meow that was so admirable in rebuilding his sect and is left behind by all his loved ones through no fault of his own? No. There are some characters that appear villainous and then we learn more of their past and they become sympathetic and they try to do better so you end up rooting for them. That's not Jiang Cheng.

Crucially, the man doesn't want to change. He had over a decade and multiple chances to rethink his behavior and he doesn't. At the very very end of the novel we get a glimpse of him possibly rethinking his behavior but he doesn't act on it! He's the definition of too little too late and that sucks for him personally but imo makes him a really interesting character. I love Jiang Cheng because he could have been a hero in his own right. The backstory was there, the ability, the social standing, the chance to act and he didn't. He did what was expected of him and let himself be consumed by his insecurities and pride and hurt and isn't that totally relatable? It's relatable but it's not sympathetic. I get the urge to meowify him but honestly there are so many misunderstood villainous types out there I don't know why anyone would push a well composed complex character into a mold he doesn't fit.

Similar with svsss' Shen Jiu. Yes that man endured terrible trauma and abuse that cost him his lifelong dream while feeling abandoned by the only person he thought loved him. Terrible. Sad. He coped with that by sexually and abusing his disciples, going so far as trying to murder one, among, you know, other murder victims. He routinely tried to harm and or kill people that he perceived had better chances at life than he did, including a street orphan that just happened to stumble upon a cultivation sect a few years before he could by having the sheer privilege of not being sold into slavery. This is not hyperbole. This man did not even try to cope with his trauma. He took his trauma and continued to go "Might as well..." down the worst path imagineable. And he didn't regret it! We get his pov in the water prison where he is tortured to death in a way that made Shen Yuan only reading of it sacrifice himself twice to avoid that exact way of dying. In possibly the worst situation of both novels, Shen Jiu took stock of his life and the suffering he caused and didn't regret it. That's not a man who's misunderstood or needed maybe just one more chance to find the right path or just needed someone to show him love or whatever kind of redemption some fans try to give him. That is a man who intentionally shrouded himself in hate and disdain for the world and tried to make everyone around him feel the pain he felt. A man who was so desperately insecure he tried to injure and kill everyone around him who could better him so he could fulfill his vision of the untouchable peak lord he felt he deserved to be. As a reader we get where it comes from but I don't like the tendency of fandom to brush off the very real suffering he caused in pidw just because he doesn't feature in svsss. Shen Yuan led his castration campaign for a reason.

The same for my decades old pet-peeve, the Snape apologists. Yes Snape suffered. We've all pined for someone we couldn't have and watched them choose someone else. That's painful. Especially if you felt like an outcast all your life and your only friend chooses your bully. It sucks big time. Have we joined a political organization calling for their annihilation in turn only to reconsider when that person is personally targeted by your boss? And while doing the yes dangerous work of being a double-agent using your position to abuse children and by all accounts enjoying it. To be fair, here I don't think this is only a fandom problem. JKR went down the very same route and is really anyone surprised by that given what's been going down the past years?

My point is I have no issue with digging through a character, taking their strength weaknesses turning and twisting it this way and that, occasionally even omitting one factor over the other to take a better look at one aspect but some people seem to get one glimpse of a traumatic backstory and decide this character is now a misunderstood hero and why would they do that? This is a perfectly fine complex villain. It may be now better understandable why they are doing terrible things, it may not be a disney cartoonish level of villanry but understandable doesn't equate sympathetic and sometimes i get so tired of seeing these apologist takes that neither consider that the character isn't trying to change their abusive or harmful behavior and/or regret or change the harm they have done. Why take that complexity away from them only to have one more misunderstood villain?

[gukksweets7]

Married Life

Pairing: husband jk / wife reader

Wc: 2.8k

Warning: mentions of parents fights, dominating dad of oc,mention of a male hitting a female, burns, fluff.

Summary: when you think your husband is going to hit you but something unexpected happens which changes your view about him.

Note: okay so I don't know what I was doing in this because ugh! It was better in my head nonetheless if you liked it do drop down those notes thing. So and yeah! I will make sure to post something else by the end of this month.

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Life for you has been nothing but suffering.

If asked who caused you this suffering, you feel ashamed to point it out to your parents, no it's only your dad but at some points you find yourself blaming it on your mom too, who married him. But Can you actually blame her when she is also the one suffering?

Your life wasn't in your hands but in your dads hands. That's what it has always been like. Every step you have taken in your life has always been in your dad's hand. From having the right to what you can wear, with whom you should hang around, what type of people you should meet, how you should behave, when you should be back home till the point of your marriage.

Yes, your marriage was decided by him.

You were grateful to your dad that he allowed you to get a good education but did he allow you to join the job you wanted to? No.

People might mistake this as that your dad was indigent. But that wasn't it. Your dad was the owner of a multinational company.

He had billions of dollars in his bank. It also wasn't that your dad had a tiny heart but it was all his so called thoughts of keeping his pride, his daughter protected.

You know well that at points it's just his pride, not even the fact that you're his only daughter. You could never come to the conclusion of why he was so cruel? Neither could you ever come to the conclusion of why it has to be you? Why did you have to go through this?

Your dad has always been too demanding. You were a kid and could never understand it but as you grew up your views with your mindset changed.

You once demanded your dad to let you go to the park just like other kids go with their mom's in the evening but he didn't.

Why?

His possessiveness towards your mom made him do that. You have always seen, your mom only went out when your dad was with her otherwise she wasn't allowed to go out of the house. No, it wasn't that she was restricted from talking. She could talk but only to the women. Never have you seen her even smile at a man if your dad isn't with her.

With time and never decreasing restrictions from your dad on you, you just had one dream. That was to study, get a good job and move out of your family's house.

All of your dreams were complete but on certain terms. For you to get your desired degree you wanted to go abroad but your dad didn't allow it which led you to settle with a degree from a top university in Seoul. About your dream of good job, when you finished your master’s degree in finance and management you again wanted to work away from your family but your dad again pulled you in to his company and on your mother's request you had to give in to your dad's demands and the last of your dream to get out of dad's house finally completed when you put up a strong fight against your dad and the only time you mom too didn't stop you.

You knew the reason, she too wanted to get out of the concrete box she was living in for decades and she eventually realised that if you go out, your dad would definitely not stop her from going to your house, occasionally.

It was seven months ago when your dad brought you the marriage proposal of the only son of the Jeon enterprises. You have heard and even met them but only when you were a 15 year old kid, you remember meeting his parents and even him but that was until he moved abroad for his studies.

No, you weren't close to him. You envied his life. How he was given all the rights. How his mom took him to the park everyday, how he was allowed to go wherever with whoever he wanted. Jungkook’s life was desired by you. But with passing time and increased distance you forgot about him, completely.

But again, things took a drastic turn and he again became a part of your life, an important one, he became your husband.

But, with him things have been very different.

When your dad brought you the proposal to the marriage, of course you couldn't deny. You weren't allowed to go against your dad’s order. You were afraid of having to separate from your mother. How could you deny that when you were never taught that? When you were never taught to take the right stand for you? You couldn't, right?

Things with Jungkook passed on very quickly, you were given some five months before marriage to get to know him. Well, your dad was already in a rush to get you married but it was Jungkook and his family who insisted on giving their son and their soon to be daughter-in-law some time to get to know each other.

To present:

It's a lazy Saturday evening and it's been an hour since you returned from work. Usually you and Jungkook return home together but today you returned home earlier than him while he was attending his last meeting of the day.

It was after a month of your marriage, that Jungkook asked you to occupy the same place you had in your dads company, in his company. Apparently, your dad seemed to have no problem with that.

The door opens and Jungkook gets in with his phone in his hand and his coat on his other hand and a file of paper. He keeps talking to the phone and sits on the couch in the living room, loosening his tie. He places the file on the tea table.

As the call ends, you speak from the kitchen where you are preparing coffee.

“ Jungkook, did you buy the gift?”

Tonight, you have to attend one of Jungkook's friends' 3rd wedding anniversary party.

“ Uh, yeah I've bought it”

“Okay, then go get dressed, I have got your dress ironed and kept it on the bed”

“Huh, thanks” he mumbles standing up while still busy typing something on his phone.

“ When will you get ready? I'll be done in 5”

“ Uh yeah, just after my coffee “ you reply back and receive a nod from his side while he moves to the bedroom.

Being done with your coffee making process. You quickly move to the drawing room to drink it and get ready. You need your regular morning and evening coffee or nothing can stop the headache from coming.

You sit on the couch and keep the hot coffee filled mug on the glass tea table in the front. You throw your head back on the headrest of the sofa and release a sigh of relief. You open your hair and with fingers solve down the jots while your other hand reaches down to grab onto the coffee mug while unfortunately you knock over the hot coffee on the table.

“ Ahhh” you let out a loud scream when the top of your hand too gets burnt from the hot coffee. But your concern soon gets diverted from your own hands to the papers which are soaking in the hot brown liquid.

Your mouth falls agape. These are the same papers of the meeting he attended. These papers are the company’s documents with which the Jeon enterprise is going to collaborate.

You are well aware that the owner of the company is another very busy person and the meeting was scheduled after five months because none of the parties had a common time interval free.

With still your left hand burnt you pick up the paper. It's wet and deep brown. Suddenly the wet paper gets torn apart from the middle in front of your eyes, making you gulp.

No. No. NO!

You quickly throw a look at the clock. Shit! You have to start getting ready now. You quickly pick up whatever paper there is and place it aside. You wipe the table and

the floor where the coffee fell.

You touch the table again and it seems like it needs another wipe cause it seems sticky but you have no time to give it another wipe so you quickly move to the bedroom to get dressed.

As you are sitting on the passenger seat of the car, your navy blue dress matches perfectly with the royal blue coloured suit Jungkook is wearing. But your mind is not here, your mind is stuck on those stacks of papers you have lost due to your carelessness.

As the soft music plays in the background, you slightly turn to look at Jungkook who is focused on the road. You again turn your head to your left looking out the window until you feel the car halt in front of the party venue.

Jungkook usually comes to open your passenger seat door and forwards his hand to take it. This time too he does. You look at his hand and slowly grab onto it then stand up closing the door behind you while Jungkook locks it.

It's a private party, only with the close ones. You pull up a smile on your face and join the party but deep down the thoughts of what has happened and the thoughts of what can happen when Jungkook will know what you have done haunts your thoughts.

You both congratulate Jungkook’s friends and meet up with your other friends.

“oh! I really thought you wouldn't come” one of Jungkook's friend says, hugging him.

“ uh, and is that your—” he says pointing towards you.

“ ah yes James, meet my wife Y/n” you flash James a smile but James forwards his hand for a handshake. You look towards Jungkook then awkwardly grab onto his hands. It might seem weird to someone else as to why you behaved that way but you remembered how your dad never liked your mom getting into any physical contact with a male.

You sigh, looking around as someone comes towards Jungkook who looks as if in his late 40’s and shakes hands with Jungkook. A woman walks hand in hand with him.

“ Jungkook dear, how is everything going?” He asks as his eyes look into your occasionally as you quietly stand there. Your head has started to hurt now. You being deprived of your coffee and the loud music coming from the speakers together helping in it.

“ Everything is fine Mr. Lee. I hope you are doing well too” the conversation between the two goes on while the woman who seems much younger than Mr.Lee, gives you judgemental glances from time to time but her eyes become soft everytime she looks at Jungkook or Jungkook glances at her.

By now, your body feels heavier. You are not able to control yourself anymore and as a result you hold onto Jungkook's hand with all your strength.

It doesn't take Jungkook long to feel you getting uncomfortable beside him. He quickly excuses himself.

“ What happened?” He comes, straight to the point, his voice worried.

“ Jungkook.. can we please go home?” You ask, as he holds you tightly closer to his chest with both his hands on your hips.

“ Okay. Let's go” he is quick to get you out of the venue and drive back home.

You don't realise when you fell asleep on the passenger seat until it's Jungkook’s hand on your shoulder shaking you out of your sleep.

“ Hmm?” You ask sleepily, your eyes half closed.

“ We are home Y/n, get up” he says moving aside for you to come out.

You come out of the car and with him by your side you get in your home. The first thing you do is to grab a pill to have for your headache.

You have now changed your clothes and even Jungkook is done changing his clothes. Jungkook has ordered some take outs for you and him as both of you have eaten nothing in the party.

A loss.

He comes to the bedroom looking slightly stressed and asks “ y/n, have you seen my red file which I kept on the tea table in the evening?”

And that makes you instantly get up which catches Jungkook's attention who was busy looking in the drawers.

“ Uh… no.. ah yes… I guess” you fumble with your words and finally decide on telling the truth cause you know you can't hide it for long enough, not when it's some important file.

“ Where?” He asks now coming face to face with you.

“ Jungkook I… uhh” you are still fumbling with your words not sure about what to say.

“ Y/n, what are you saying?” he gets impatient

“ Accidentally coffee fell… on the file” you add now looking down at the ground.

“ What?” Jungkook almost screams and you find yourself taking steps back. This is definitely going to be bad.

“ How?” He asks now, his voice deeper.

“ So actually you were hurrying so I just wanted to have the coffee fast so I too could get dressed but I just accidentally knocked it down.

“ Where is it?” He asks so you bring the now dry file which is not white but brown in colour, from your wardrobe.

“Here” you say, forwarding him the file. Jungkook scans the files and it seems he can't read what's written in the file.

Jungkook raises the file in mid air to throw it in the table kept at the corner of the room but you think it's for hitting you so you yelp and raise your hands to your face but you were never hit. Instead you feel his hands holding your hands as he removes it from your face.

“ What happened?” He says. It would be a lie to say that Jungkook didn't get what you were thinking but he wanted to hear it from you.

“ Uh.. I thought you uh..” you were not sure what to say.

“ I was about to hit you?” He continues for you while his eyebrows raise and you answer by giving a nod.

“ And why would I do that y/n, you are my wife” he says as your hands are still in his warm, soft hands.

“ When.. sometimes mom made mistakes uh.. so dad… uh sometimes hit her, I have seen that” you say avoiding eye contact with him.

“ Oh” his mouth forms a o shape as he seems quiet for a moment. His parents had a healthy relationship so he probably can not understand how as a child you would have felt when you saw your own mom being disrespected by your dad.

But it was soon that his thumb rubs on your both knuckles and with a stern voice he says.

“ Y/n, look at me” so you raise your eyes and look at him with a small almost unnoticeable pout on your pink moisturized lips.

“ What you dad did was very wrong but I would never do that. Okay?” he says looking into your eyes.

“ And about the file, this is just a copy. I have the real one at the office. I'll ask someone to send it at our place, hmm?”

“ Thank you.. jungkook” you say as a small smile forms on your face and you stare at his face, well well well you do have a crush on him.

“But… why are your knuckles so red?” He asks looking at the said hands knuckles and the area there.

“ Uhh.. coffee fell there”

“ Did you apply any ointment?” He already guesses that you haven't.

“ Uh, no… I thought I would but forgot” you say examining your own knuckles.

So he takes the initiative to apply ointment on your knuckles and sometimes scolds you. In these 2 months being married to Jungkook it is the first time you are actually seeing his caring side so as Jungkook applies ointment on your knuckles you look at his face.

You don't realise when Jungkook is done with applying the ointment on your fingers and looks towards you catching you staring at him. Both of your eyes widened— your cause you were caught and his cause he felt shy. Both of you look at the other side with smiles forming on your faces.

Thankfully, the doorbell rang signalling someone has arrived which you guess must be the delivery man for the takeouts.

“ How about we watch a movie and have our takeout?” He suggests looking at you with his big bambi eyes to which he receives a happy nod from you.

Jungkook holds your hand and pulls you with him out of the bedroom. You smile the biggest which Jungkook ofcourse can't see, even though Jungkook was your dad's choice but he is not like your dad.

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[fandom-susceptible]

So Harrow's In The Bird

So. I'm not here to argue with anybody. If anyone really dislikes this plotline, that's your prerogative, and if you want to use this post as a jumping off point to talk about it, that's your business. This is not a promise of interaction. This fandom has always been a comfort/safe space for me and I'm not changing that, but I did want to share some more . . . nuanced analysis of why I'm okay with this development.

The theory that Viren switched King Harrow's soul out with the bird has been a thing since 2018. I personally was one of the ones who really liked it, though I don't know if I ever bothered posting about it. The creators of the show claimed it wasn't true at SDCC 2019, but even if this was the plan, they sort of had to or it would have ruined their own plot twist. There was definitely something going on with Pip in the show, they made too much of a point of showing us the bird behaving oddly, so I don't think this was actually a last minute out of the blue choice. They've been genuinely planning this since the early seasons.

Now, part of the reason I was also okay with Harrow just being dead is that it does add to the impact of the story. Both old kings are dead, killed by each other's legacies, while their sons work together to bring about a new beginning. There's a certain symbolism in that.

However, Harrow's character is more than just the King of Katolis or Ezran's dad. He's also Callum's stepdad, which I think is more important for this particular plot line. Like Runaan, he had unfinished business. Not only did he leave behind both of his children, he never got the closure of having an openly stated father-son relationship with Callum. The same way Rayla still refers to Runaan and Ethari by name, Callum always called him King Harrow or Your Majesty, and Harrow never heard him say Dad instead.

I also don't think it's a coincidence that there were three Quasar diamonds, and Callum and Rayla only used one, with Claudia using the other. There's still a third out there that hasn't been used yet. Once again, I'm convinced they had this planned all along; it's not just a last minute hail mary to spare Runaan some sort of guilt or disgrace.

It's going to be messy when he comes back, if we get Arc 3, and I genuinely hope we do. It will be interesting to find out if he eventually agreed to Viren's plan or if Viren forced it on him knowing he could leave Harrow in the bird to watch and suffer as Viren usurped his sons and took control of Katolis. I genuinely look forward to the confrontation between Harrow and Runaan, Harrow facing down the man who killed him (also his son's father-in-law) and Runaan facing someone he killed (also his daughter's father-in-law).

The thing is, I really don't think Harrow being alive spares Runaan anything. He's a professional assassin and has been for over a decade (Rayla mentions he has 20 years more experience than she does, which may or may not include either of their training years). Harrow is not the first life he's taken, and having to face not just the outer consequences but actually look someone in the face and listen to them after killing them would be a mindfuck at best. Harrow being returned doesn't excuse what he did, and I really don't think Runaan will see it that way either. We see him struggling with guilt for almost killing Rayla, and his entire arc in season 7 was realizing how fucked up his worldview (which, admittedly, is highly driven by Moonshadow culture as a whole) is. One singular life being returned isn't going to backslide that entire mental breakdown, no matter how important that particular life is to everyone else. Runaan didn't have a personal tie to Harrow. It was just a job.

Now though, he does have a personal tie to Harrow, through their children, and I think that's going to play a role in how things develop in the next arc. I expected Callum and Rayla's romantic arc from the very first episode where they met, and I think this was all planned to fall into place this way.

So, Harrow kills the dragon king to avenge his wife, restarting a war that had somewhat cooled with time. His sons aren't involved with this decision, but they have to live with the aftermath.

Runaan kills Harrow to avenge the Dragon King, and brings Rayla in order to counter the shame of her parents' fleeing (which they later discover didn't happen, but while it's better culturally, it's not much better in the long run).

Harrow's sons and Runaan's daughter work together to rescue Zym. One of Harrow's sons carries the political plot by going home and taking the throne. The other continues with Rayla to return the dragon prince, and along the way, the two begin a romantic relationship.

Callum's father was killed by Rayla's. Rayla's father dies in Callum's father's dungeon.

Skipping forward, we discover that neither of their fathers were actually killed, but they were both cursed by Dark Magic. Importantly, they were both cursed by the same man, who was manipulating them both (Harrow personally, Runaan as part of a whole) in order to orchestrate his own ascension to the throne and an eventual war and attempted genocide.

They find out about Rayla's parents first, and Rayla looks at recovering them as a personal quest, but Callum looks at it as both personal and a way to undermine Viren's legacy. They only manage to obtain two Quasar diamonds, which means Rayla has to make choices about which parents to rescue, and this drives her personal arc of making peace with her abandonment issues (a plot which runs parallel to Claudia's abandonment issues) and cultural shame connected to Tiadrin and Lain. The father she recovers is the one who stayed with her growing up, and took her with him when he left for his duty.

He is also the one who is ultimately the most helpful as the plot develops. He doesn't run from the consequences of his assassination; Rayla's the one who breaks him out and urges him to go home despite his arrest, and he just doesn't argue with her (I have a whole other post about the confrontation between Ezran, Callum, and Rayla where I go into Runaan's response and why I think he behaved the way he did in season 7). And when greater forces are threatening the world, he doesn't hesitate to work with Callum. In the early seasons I was prepared for him to end up being as racist as Viren in the opposite direction, and I found myself pleasantly surprised by how he just treats Callum as another person.

I think Callum makes his peace with Runaan as a person due to his experiences with dark magic, actually. He understands being so driven by his need to protect someone that he'll do very dark things because he doesn't see an alternative. He's chosen to step beyond that, but I think he understands Runaan's worldview in a way that Ezran simply doesn't until he has the epiphany with Aaravos and the Nova Blade late in season 7. So he's able to look past it, especially since this is Rayla's father.

Then in the very end, we discover that Viren cursed Harrow too. So neither Callum nor Rayla's fathers are dead, but they were both cursed by the same man to be no better than dead and left that way. And Viren died before revealing it to anyone, so Runaan, the man who came to kill him, ends up also being the one whose story saves him.

So now, a killer from the previous generation, who contributed to the cycle of violence, has been returned not only to help end it but to save another and reverse a little bit of the damage he's done.

More specifically, Rayla and Callum both lost their adoptive fathers to Viren. Now, they will be the ones to rescue those adoptive fathers and finally get the closure of claiming them as such.

Plus, the impersonal angle of Harrow's assassination is now disrupted because there's a personal connection through their children now, which will further drive Runaan's cultural deconstruction and likely some mental dissonance for Harrow as well.

All in all, I hope they greenlight Arc 3, because I look forward to seeing how that develops Callum and Rayla's relationships with each other and their respective fathers, and how it changes Runaan and Harrow both as people. Runaan's development didn't really get the focus it deserved in season 7, which I really honestly think was because it was intended to take place over a longer period of time and the writers just didn't have it because Netflix refused to promise them seasons 8-10. So it'll be interesting to see how that goes once he and Harrow are both around to be having their midlife crises at the same time.

[00lunect]

Eeeee I’ve never jumped into anyone’s asks before, but I just wanted to say I ADORE your John Dory with Braces AU! Idk, it just hits different, a type of angst that I love, and it’s such a good storyline AH!

I guess to ask a question… Does Rhonda help cheer him up at all? Give him snuggles and such when he’s feeling all down? I just picture him laying facedown, suffering, and she’s just licking him like a protective mama bear😂

Again, LOVE this AU, and can’t wait to see more! Thank you for such an adorable AU!

Okay, first-

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, YOU'RE THE ONE WHO WROTE "Great Decisions"! I love your fic. And the other two you wrote before that. They're great✨

So it's almost an honor that you're the first person to leave me a question and that it's your first time asking. I'm new to asking questions too! (⁠^⁠～⁠^⁠;⁠)⁠ゞI was actually unsure at first, but then I was like "well since it'll take me a while to draw, I might as well let people ask me about the lore of my stuff in the meantime"

Also, thanks! (⁠人⁠*⁠´⁠∀⁠｀⁠)⁠｡⁠*ﾟ⁠+ I'm glad you like my AU. It was just something that occurred to me in passing, and well, being a Wattpad writer (although I've never written anything for Trolls so far), I ended up making it bigger and more complex. XD I don't know, I have a knack for dragging things out, but Braces JD had so much potential! John Dory suffering without actively hurting himself physically (and psychologically), but rather because of things he already had long before and couldn't avoid (or maybe he could, but John is a stubborn fool). And essentially seeing how those things bite him in the ass as an adult. Thankfully, he already has his family around to soften the blows.

Okay, now to answer your question, Yes! (⁠ﾉ⁠◕⁠ヮ⁠◕⁠)⁠ﾉ⁠*⁠.⁠✧ Rhonda helps cheer JD up!

Since John isn't allowed to leave the Bunker because of his prescribed bed rest, and John is too exhausted and insecure about his own appearance to go out anyway, the two don't see each other as much as they used to, but JD still makes an effort to drag himself to Rhonda's garage so he can see his girl, who's being cared for by the rest of him brothers.

Rhonda, on the other hand, is a smart girl and knew her dad wasn't well from the moment he got his braces (since the guys used Rhonda to transport JD from the dentist to the Bunker because they weren't going to force a still-drugged John to walk around the village). She also gets sad and worried when she doesn't see JD for long periods of time. In fact, about two days after John went under the Bunker and didn't come back up, Rhonda made a scene and almost dug the Bunker up just so she could find John. XD John was also pretty nervous about his girl. He knew her siblings were taking good care of her, but it had been just him and Rhonda for a decade! Of course, there would be a little separation anxiety.

So, whenever John goes to the garage, Rhonda is extremely affectionate with him, but also very gentle because she knows John isn't as well as usual and she doesn't want to make him feel worse. John sits on the floor and hugs Rhonda's face as much as he can while Rhonda rubs her cheeks against John's. Sometimes she licks his face to show him she loves him, though she tries not to hold him too close so as not to slobber on him. When John seems particularly hurt or sad, she coos like she's singing him a lullaby and leans around him like a mother when John occasionally decides he wants to take a nap in the garage (usually when he comes to visit her after taking his medicine, because JD definitely feels terrible after taking them and sometimes they make him sleepy, so sleeping with Rhonda makes him feel better). John also sleeps better when he's with Rhonda, since living there for years has accustomed him to her lullabies, and despite the pain in his face, hearing them always calms him. That's partly why John hasn't been sleeping as well since he's been in the Bunker. He misses his girl.

But his brothers can't let him sleep in the garage for obvious reasons, so Branch is thinking of something.

Finally, Rhonda is the only one who takes John Dory out of the Bunker "for a walk." (⁠≧⁠▽⁠≦⁠) John's brothers usually take Rhonda out for walks to stretch her legs, but it's not the same without JD, so when John visits and no one has taken her out yet, she grabs John by the shirt like he's a kitten and takes him to the woods. The first time it happened, the brothers were very scared, but Rhonda didn't take him very far. She simply brought him to the spot where they used to camp together and left him on the grass so John could get some fresh air.

John still feels a little awkward about being outside with his braces on and looking disheveled, as he doesn't want anyone to see him in a similar way to how he did back in the Neverglades, but being out of the Bunker was a welcome change of scenery. It felt great to just lie on the grass with his girl nearby like old times.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this answer, and I'm sorry if it was too long. (⁠•⁠ ⁠▽⁠ ⁠•⁠;⁠). Like I said, I tend to drag things out a lot, so… that's it.

Thanks for asking! ✧⁠◝⁠(⁠⁰⁠▿⁠⁰⁠)⁠◜⁠✧