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cali-holland · 4 years ago

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Break Up Songs- Tom Holland One Shot

Pairing: Tom Holland X Reader

Prompt: Being best friends for years, you and Tom have helped each other through many breakups, but neither of you had ever thought there could be something more between the two of you until tonight, when you both celebrated your cheating exes with drunk karaoke.

Word Count: 2800

Loosely Based On: Breakup Song by Little Mix

Warnings: drinking, swearing, mentions of cheating, mentions of vomiting/alcohol poisoning

Featured Songs: Before He Cheats by Carrie Underwood, Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond, What Makes You Beautiful by One Direction, and My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion

Masterlist Tom Holland Masterlist

*Gif is not mine*

~~~

Eight relationships. Eight breakups. Eight first kisses. Eight last kisses. Eight long nights on the phone blissfully talking about that special first date. And six long nights crying over the heartbreaking last date.

Over the course of your eight year friendship with Tom, the two of you had been through six relationships in total- not together, no that number was still zero. Three times Tom had been there to help you through a breakup (once to egg the cheating bastard’s house), and three times you had been there for Tom as he went through a breakup (sadly, you didn’t get to egg anyone’s house for him).

Somehow, your relationships never really lined up with each other. Whenever you had a boyfriend, Tom was single; whenever Tom had a girlfriend, you were single. That’s just how it always worked. One person’s breakup would almost consistently line up just days after or before the other’s first date.

Until now.

Tonight was the seventh and eighth breakup. It wasn’t really anything you or Tom saw coming exactly; you both kind of knew your own individual relationships were fading out, but you never expected your boyfriend to cheat on you with Tom’s girlfriend. Technically, you had the seventh breakup and he had the eighth because you found out about the infidelity first and then called him. Well, you guessed that was why that double date you all had felt like you were there with Tom more so than your actual boyfriend. So, naturally, the night of your breakups, you both went out to the bar with Harrison and the twins. It almost became a tradition: whenever one of you went through a breakup, the other would take them out for drinks (how shitfaced you all ended up at the end of the night coincided with how shitty the breakup was).

“To getting cheated on.” You said, raising up your shot glass that was filled to the rim with tequila.

“Cheers.” Tom clinked his shot glass against yours, as the other three boys chimed in happily. The five of you threw your shots back, only cringing a little from the harsh alcohol soaring down your throat.

“Shit, we forgot to order limes.” You coughed a little.

“I got the next round.” Tom offered, getting up from the table to order more shots, but this time remembering the limes.

“So, now Mandy and Troy are out of the picture.” Harry teased you.

“And I’m thankful for that- those cheating bastards.” You scoffed, “I always thought Mandy wasn’t good enough for Tom.”

“You never think any of his girlfriends are good enough for him.” Harrison pointed out with a laugh.

“That’s because he always dates bitchy, selfish girls.”

“Wow that doesn’t make you sound bitchy or selfish at all.” Sam teased.

“I’m just saying, he doesn’t date the right kind of girls.” You tried to explain yourself, already feeling the tequila a little bit. Another reason why this bar specifically was part of the tradition- each shot of tequila felt like two because somehow they had strong alcohol.

“And what would the right kind be? You?” Harrison laughed. “You almost sound jealous, you know that?”

“Oh my God, no.” You scrunched up your nose, “Haz, I know you’re pretty, but that doesn’t excuse you from saying stupid shit.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.” He smiled proudly, and you just rolled your eyes at him. “Still, you and Mandy seem to have the same taste in guys.” He wiggled his eyebrows at you, leaning in teasingly, and you put a hand over his face, shoving him away.

“I got the limes!” Tom grinned, placing the next round of shots in front of you all.

While you all got ready to take your second shots of the evening, you found yourself thinking of Harrison’s words. It was true that you didn’t like any of his girlfriends; something about them just bothered you. You always pinned it on them being too stuck up, too fake- too bitchy and selfish, but maybe Harrison was more right than you’d like to admit. You didn’t think of yourself as a jealous person, and yet you might have been jealous of his girlfriends. Surely after eight years though, you would have been able to tell, right? You would’ve been able to tell that you liked your best friend as more than a friend? But yet again, you now had a valid reason to hate his most recent ex because well, she was the other woman in your own relationship.

A couple rounds later and it was your turn to get everyone shots, leaving the four boys alone. Tom watched eagerly as the bar’s employees started to set up for karaoke night, one of his personal favorite things about this particular bar. Drunk karaoke was his own highlight of these breakup night outs; what was better than getting over heartbreak by drunkenly embarrassing yourself in front of a bunch of strangers (while hoping the videos never surface and ruin his career)?

“You gonna sing with Y/N again?” Harrison asked Tom, watching his friend focus intently on the karaoke machine.

“Well, none of you will do it with me.” Tom replied, turning back to his friend and brothers. “You know what’s weird? This is the first time in years that both Y/N and I have been single at the same time.”

“It’s been four hours since your breakup.” Harrison pointed out.

“What’s weird is that you thought of that. Was that drunk you or sober you that came to that realization?” Harry joked.

“I just think it’s strange. You two have been single for ages.” He lifted up his hand to motion at Harry and Harrison; Sam just laughed proudly to himself.

“You gonna do anything about it?” Sam inquired.

“You mean like date Y/N? Nah, that’d be too- too,” Tom trailed off, not knowing the right word for it. He felt his heart twist a little at the thought of dating you. It wasn’t that he wouldn’t like to date you; it just would be odd, wouldn’t it? Wouldn’t he have figured out long ago that he actually had feelings for you? And wouldn’t you have acted on it by now if you thought of him like that? There would have been signs, right? No matter what, his drunken brain was too gone for him to think of the right word. “I don’t know. Too something.”

“Whatever you say.” Harrison laughed, sipping on his water. He was familiar with how these nights ended with you and Tom, so after a few shots at the beginning of the night, he called himself good. He needed to be sober enough to keep you two in line.

When you returned with the drinks, Tom couldn’t help but look at you in a different light. In all of your eight years of friendship, you were finally single when he was single- albeit it was under sort of bad circumstances. There was no denying he found you attractive, and you were by far the funniest, most interesting person he’d ever met, but he always just categorized his feelings for you as strictly platonic. Though, he definitely felt different about you than he did with his other girl friends.

It wasn’t until later though, once you were both thoroughly drunk, that he got up and tugged on your hand. “C’mon, love, let’s do karaoke.”

“No,” You whined, as the twins drunkenly cheered you on. Harrison just wished he could be at least tipsy if he had to watch you and Tom drunkenly do karaoke for yet another night.

“Please, for me? We gotta sing at least one iconic break up song.” Tom pouted.

“Fine.” You stood up and followed him to the little stage. You couldn’t hear what he told the worker as his song choice, but you heard the familiar opening to Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats”.

“Suitable enough?” He chuckled, proud of his choice.

“Right now, he's probably slow dancing, with a bleached-blond tramp, and she's probably getting frisky,” You started singing, your words a bit slurred by the speed of the song, “Right now, he's probably buying her some fruity little drink, ‘cause she can't shoot whiskey,”

“Right now, he's probably up behind her with a pool-stick, showing her how to shoot a combo, and he don't know,” Tom sang back to you, banging his head with the beat as it went into the chorus.

“I dug my key into the side of his pretty little souped-up four-wheel drive, carved my name into his leather seats,” You and Tom both sang, jamming out to the song, “I took a Louisville slugger to both headlights, I slashed a hole in all four tires, maybe next time he'll think before he cheats,”

“God, I’m too sober for this.” Harrison muttered, watching you two from across the bar. Harry and Sam clapped encouragingly, whistling for effect.

“They’re horrendous.” Harry laughed, and Sam started to film you and Tom drunkenly singing the bridge.

“That’s what makes it great, though!” He smiled. As the song finished, Harrison stood up.

“I need to grab them before they realize “Sweet Caroline” is on the playlist. The last thing I need to hear is ba ba bum every thirty seconds.”

“Ba ba bum!” Sam and Harry both chimed, hearing the iconic song in their heads.

Calling it a night for all of you, Harrison managed to get you and Tom out onto the street, you clinging to Tom while you stumbled together. Harry and Sam, while still drunk, were arguing over Harry’s music choice for their walk home, his phone currently playing One Direction from his “Drunk Karaoke” playlist.

“You don’t know, oh, oh!” Harry shouted into the oblivion of night over his twin brother’s protests. “You don’t know you’re beautiful.”

“Sam’s not beautiful.” Tom joked, and his brother shot him a glare.

“Oh my god, wait, Harry— like Harry Styles.” You mumbled to yourself in a drunken epiphany.

“Damn right!” Harry nodded, keeping the song going. “I need to queue more songs.”

“As long as it’s not—“ Harrison started, but Tom cut him off.

“We didn’t sing “Sweet Caroline”!” He exclaimed, looking at you with wide eyes.

“No!” Sam, Harry, and Harrison all protested, but you two started anyway.

Mumbling at the beginning because you two didn’t know the words, you both crescendoed into a yell, “Touching you! Sweet Caroline, ba ba bum!”

“Thank fucking God, we’re home.” Harrison breathed out a sigh of relief, stepping up to their house as you and Tom tried to figure out the second verse, singing incoherently.

“I feel sick.” You whined, making a (somewhat sloppy) beeline for the bathroom and Tom trailed off after you. Meanwhile, the responsible one went to get all the pain meds and water in order for tomorrow.

“Why did you dare me to have those last two drinks before we left?” You mumbled as you and Tom sat down on either side of the toilet. You were propped up against the bathtub while Tom leaned on the wall.

“Because you on ten shots of tequila is fun.” He laughed, and you glared at him.

“It was not ten,” You trailed off, trying to think of how much you drank, “Fuck it, I don’t know how many I had.”

You rested your head on the side of the tub, letting it cool your heated face. It was silent for a few moments as Tom looked at you, studying your features.

“What’re you staring at?” You asked.

“Just thinking.” He shrugged. “We should sing Celine Dion next karaoke night.”

“Celine Dion? You haven’t even seen the Titanic, we can’t sing-” You were cut off by him belting out the ending of the iconic song.

“You’re here, there’s nothing I fear!” Tom sang out, basically shouting. Giggling, you joined in with him until the two of you ended the song with a fit of laughter. As you continued to laugh at the sheer ridiculousness of the song, Tom spoke up quietly.

“I think I’m in love with you.” His voice was so soft, but the bathroom seemed to echo it, making it reach your ears like a thousand bricks. You looked at him speechless for a moment, processing his words. “If you don’t feel the same, that’s fine. I just had to-“

It was your turn to cut him off as you closed your eyes and leaned in across the bathroom floor to kiss him. The shock on his lips was quick to wear off with him moving his chapped lips against yours. Your position was awkward, trying to avoid his outstretched limbs and the sketchy looking towel on the floor; sensing your discomfort, Tom wrapped his arms around your waist to pull you into his, keeping his lips on yours the whole time. He kissed you like his life depended on it, his tongue dipping past your lips as the taste of tequila and lime overpowered your senses. You pulled back, your eyes opening to find him staring right back at you.

“I think I’m in love with you too.” You smiled shyly at him, panting a little from the heat of the kiss.

“I wanna kiss you again.” He said and you nodded, eagerly leaning into him again.

You weren’t sure how long you two stayed like that, perfectly content in your drunken bubble on the bathroom floor, but the bizarre moment was ended by Harrison throwing the door open.

“Why aren’t you two singing “Sweet Caroline” anymore? Did Y/N choke on vomit?” He asked, the door flying open. He froze as he looked down at you in Tom’s lap, both of you sporting swollen lips. “Oh no, you choked on Tom’s tongue.”

“Fuck off.” You hit him in the leg as he snickered at the two of you.

“It’s about time, but get off the bathroom floor. That’s disgusting.” He said while making his way out of the bathroom.

“He’s not wrong.” Tom laughed and you stood up, before helping him up.

“About time indeed.” You smiled, pulling him in for another kiss.

~~~

Tag List: @viagracex @theamazingtomholland @harrisonosterfieldhazmyheart @joyleenl @t-o-m-holland @lonikje @sleepybesson @sunkisseddreamer @hollandsamor @in-a-lot-of-fandoms-tbh @gorrillaglue13 @petersoftboyparker @musicalkey @duskholland

Tom Tag List:@quaksonhehe @tomkindholland

#tom holland #tom holland imagine #tom holland one shot #tom holland fic #tom holland fanfic #tom holland x reader #tom holland x you #tom holland x y/n

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manikrege · 4 years ago

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I reached out to the kid I bullied in school. It hurt like a bitch.

Moving places makes you realize how badly humans need closure. How hard we strive for the chapters of our lives to open & end neatly, one by one. And how much we hate cliffhangers, incomplete pages, or vague endings off the screen.

I tried to seek my closure yesterday. Because I'm moving away from the neighborhood I grew up in. Don't worry, it's nothing I'm going to miss. School sucked for me, as it did for most 'studious' kids.

Fat, nerdy, weird, and a bit on the 'girlish' side, it was like this boy entered the class wearing a cap that said, "Your new favorite target." Of course, the cool kids ganged up & left me broken. I felt all alone like a wet puppy abandoned in the rain.

So like a dog, I learned survival, the ugly way. I bit back, chewed on smaller prey. And before I knew it, became the very thing I hated the most. A bully.

Roy, let's call him that, had the same awkwardness that had made me a target. His only disadvantage was that he didn't want to fight back. This allowed me to slowly strangle him, one taunt at a time.

It started out as lame jokes that you'd expect from any teenager. Calling him "gay," laughing at his curves, making him feel unwanted. This graduated into mild jabs & punches. And then finally, one day, the five of us spent 2 straight hours 'roasting' him, stepping on every last piece of his self-confidence that we could find on the floor.

Turns out, he'd had enough & his father was at my door with an audio recording of what we thought was sublime standup comedy. I felt ashamed but cried victim, pushing the blame back onto him. Tit for tat.

We stopped playing with him after that day. He had become a traitor. I don't know if he found that liberating. And if he did, I can't imagine how fucked up that would be ... feeling happy to finally have no one you can make memories with.

I went abroad and forgot about Roy. Until yesterday when we were packing up and I saw him pass by. Something snapped. Like an ice cube being run down my neck.

As someone who has been through so many changes in the last few years, I felt an urgent need to prove to myself that I'm no longer the person I was years in 2014. I wanted to leave this shithole behind for good.

So I messaged him on Facebook.

Dear Roy,

I won't ask if you remember me because I know you do. I just wanted to say I'm really sorry for how I treated you.

There's no explanation. No my side of the story. No excuse. And they weren't just harmless jokes.

I bullied you badly and caused you a lot of pain. Practically ruined your childhood. And I don't know if you're doing better. I hope you are.

You didn't deserve any of the shit I gave you. I did it because I felt powerless myself and needed something to fill that hollow space in my days.

We moved out yesterday & I wanted you to know that I'm aware of my mistakes and although I can't change the past, I am working to heal, both myself and others. I'm part of some NGOs that help poor kids in Majiwada. I do regular activities to put a smile on their faces.

Again, I know this isn't enough or even related but I hope someday you can forgive me. Even if you can't, I understand. And I really wish that you find love, happiness, and peace wherever you go - yes you do deserve those things. I was wrong.

Please let me know if I can do anything for you.

Thanks.

He responded with that "blue thumbs up" icon. That's all. I didn't push it, either. We didn't have a heart-to-heart conversation to go over everything. I'll probably never see him again or know how he turned out to be. It just is.

So did I get my closure? As I unpack in my new room, I'm not sure if it matters anymore. Because I think human relationships are much messier than we let on. You cannot just file them into chapters.

Sometimes they'll end abruptly.

Sometimes they'll reappear again and again, unexpectedly.

And sometimes you'll find new meanings every time you go back to old pages.

More importantly, you cannot just erase the damage you do to people. You cannot say sorry hoping everything will be forgotten and forgiven. The harsh truth about scars is that they never really heal.

But someday someone will look at those scars you caused on people, and madly fall in love with them. Someone will find that pain beautiful. Someone will turn it into a source of strength and love. And you can take the first step towards making that happen - by just saying one word.

GET TO THE POINT- If you think you hurt someone, you're right 9/10 times because we're hardwired for empathy & kindness so the moment we give in to hate, our mind sends us a small hunch. So just say you're sorry. Not "sorry if I hurt you." Not "sorry but it wasn't my intention." Just. Fucking. Sorry. Own what you did. It means everything.

DON'T FORGET IT- Yes, it's best if you repent asap but even if it's 10 years later, admitting to your fuckups is the right thing to do.

DON'T EXPECT AN OK- Your sorry is about you choosing to become better. For the person in front of you, it represents lots of trauma, heavy baggage, and painful memories that they've probably suppressed or internalized. So they may not forgive you or even respond. Please respect their privacy & feelings this time. And move on.

Trust me, this was one of the hardest things I've done as an adult. That said, I think we all did stupid things when we were kids. I think we were all MADE TO DO stupid things by a select few who understood intuitively how war works. I think most of us were a form of entertainment. Puppets. Dogs in a fighting ring. Dogs trying to fit in, or be liked, or just be left alone.

Just realizing how insanely toxic this entire game was ... is probably the most obvious sign that you're growing up. I know I am. I'm actively working to be truer to the kid I was before they took him away from me. And I know it's not going to be some beautiful transformative journey away from my past like they show in the movies.

It'll be ugly, too painful to bear sometimes. Because I'll meet parts of me that I hate. Parts you'd hate if you knew them. Parts that I'd rather not be remembered for. But you know what?

Sometimes, the first step in conquering your demons is accepting that they exist.

That they make you but don't define you. That you have a choice to be kinder, sweeter, warmer. And the only thing that matters is whether you have the courage to make that choice even when the whole world is giving you a billion reasons not to.

Be that one reason everyone needs to heal.

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iheardarumorxxx · 4 years ago

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Midnight Sun, Chapter 9 - Port Angeles

Right. I remember this chapter from Twilight. I also have heard quite a bit about this chapter. This is gonna be a ride.

Eddie starts off this chapter saying that he used to be the ‘responsible’ one. I would like to remind everyone that Edward Anthony Masen Cullen spent a few years eating people he percieved to be horrible criminals because he didn’t like animal blood and was being a whiny baby. But go off, Eddie.

SM is still trying to paint Jessica as a rude bitch and I still don’t buy it. It is extremely clear to anyone with eyeballs that Mike has a thing for Bella, and it is pretty obvious that this date he’s going on with Jessica is because Bella said no. So her thoughts come off as insecure. She’s a teenage girl, so I think insecure is a pretty standard thing. Not always, but SM has painted these kids as the stereotypical teens, so.

Basically, I still don’t buy the attempt to make Jessica seem evil.

Bella has wandered off to go get that book she wanted, and Eddie is simply freaking out because he let his daughter out of his sight for one minute and she wandered off. He’s about half a second away from considering getting a leash to put on her. Seriously, though, that’s how this reads. A parent frantic because they lost their child in a crowded store or park. We all know she’s gonna get a serious scolding for this one. Maybe even grounded.

a volly of snarls erupted from my throat

Okay, we’re still not to the big rant about vampire instincts in this universe, yet, but I want you guys to remember this for later. It absolutely aides in the point I plan to make there. Also a ‘volly’ of snarls. That sounds so forced and I genuinely laughed out loud when I read it. Anyway, Eddie has found Bella and she is with the Evil Bad Guys Who Have Ill Intentions.

I would see how he enjoyed the hunt when he was the pray. I would see what he thought of my style of hunting.

Technically a spoiler because it hasn’t happened yet in this book, but not because we’ve seen it in Twilight. Eddie literally does not do anything to this Lanny guy or his friends. He gets out of the car, makes a mean face at them, and then gets back in the car and drives off. Maybe SM has Eddie go back out and hunt them later after he drops Bella off, but that doesn’t fit in with his squeaky clean good boy persona that Daddy Carlisle puts on him, so I doubt it. The scene as we know it comes off as very ‘man, if my girlfriend wasn’t here I’d kick your ass’. Because Eddie is a lot of bloated, puffed up talk.

When SM uses dialogue tags like ‘ordered’ to describe how Eddie says things, it just really hammers home that point I’ve been making about red flags. Even if it’s practical, like him telling Bella to put on a seat belt, especially since Pires bend the will of cars to their inane and idotic physics.

We went on a tangent about one of Eddie’s kills from his Vampire Batman days, and like honestly? I watch a lot of Criminal Minds. I see a lot of this kind of stuff, and it is absolutely awful that people like that exist in the world. I’m not saying that they shouldn’t be stopped. HOWEVER, this idea Eddie has that he was playing a good guy by taking justice into his own hands, I don’t jive with that. Now, I am aware of how faulty the criminal justice system is, especially with victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. I’ve lived that, myself. But if Eddie is so comfortable taking another life, no matter how he tries to justify it, he is no better than the people who he’s deciding to kill for their crimes.

a highly justifiable murder

See, this. This is why I don’t buy that SM’s Cullens are the paragons of good that she is constantly trying to say they are. There is no such thing as a justifiable murder, no matter what. Solving heinous acts with heinous acts simply perpetuates a cycle of heinous acts.

I wasn’t giving her a chance to say no.

This is a trend that will continue throughout the entire series. I will point you to all of the times that Edward never gave Bella a choice in a matter, including leaving her in New Moon, and DISMANTLING HER CAR ENGINE IN ECLIPSE SO THAT SHE COULDN’T GO SEE HER FRIEND. That one in particular rubs me the wrong way for reasons, but we won’t do that here. Just know that Edward never actually lets Bella make a choice in this series, and even when he pretends to, he does everything in his power to make the outcome go his way.

And now we’re at the restaruant. I’ve heard some stuff about this scene and god, can I not WAIT, but for now, let’s just talk about the one off waitress character. She is clearly only here to be a rival to Bella for this scene. Brief, unimportant, underdeveloped. And honestly? One off characters don’t actually need that development, not really, but what I can’t stand about this one is that she is literally only here, both in this book and in Twilight, so that SM can puff up how clearly Bella is so much better than she is. Because, you see, Eddie doesn’t find the pretty hostess attractive, he only has eyes for Bella. Her entire point is so that Edward can look at Bella, and therefore, the audience as Bella is their SI for this world, and go on about how much better and prettier and more perfect she is than this woman. It’s just gross.

“Do I dazzle you?”

This is still, in my personal opinion, the best and most iconic line in a series full of iconic lines. Eddie the Dazzle Machine. Charming the pants off people when he’s trying to scare the shit out of them. It’s hilarious, and so fuckin’ romance novel cliche, and I love it.

This restaurant is apparently a real place in the real Port Angeles. And from what I understand, at least when the Twilight craze was in full swing back in 2008, they got a lot of extra business and a lot more people ordering the mushroom ravioli. Even put something about Twilight on their menu. Good for them, taking advantage of that free marketing. I have never been to Port Angeles, and am allergic to mushrooms, so I can’t say I’ve experienced the dish, but if any of you have, please let me know if it’s worth the hype.

Its so funny that right now, Eddie is worried about Bella being cold and going into shock, while Bella is over there huffing the fumes off his jacket like it’s a paint can, and he can’t even tell that that’s what she’s doing. The girl is doing everything short of just shoving her whole face in it and inhaling, but he’s too thick to get it.

And here we are folks. The meat and potatoes of this chapter. The big comparison. The reason the cover has a pomegranete on it. Edward Anthony Masen Cullen has the absolute GALL to compare Bella, the boring, walking video game avatar to Persephone. Lets break down Persephone for a second here. There’s a lot to break down, but let’s stick to the basics, for fear that this rant gets wickedly out of hand before I can stop it. Persephone radiates optimism and hope. Persephone is soft, sweet, but has a temper that could kill a man. Persephone is sympathetic. When in the ever loving FUCK has Isabella Swan ever shown any of those characteristics? She is NEVER optimistic about anything. She fucking exists in a constant cloud of negative thought and assuming the worst. She isn’t hopeful about ANYTHING, not even her future with her PRECIOUS Eddie because she’s always questioning his intentions and feelings for her. She is not sympathetic in the slightest, no matter what SM tries to shove down my throat. She treats her friends like shit, she manipulates and lies her way through conversations so she doesn’t have to deal with them, she compares Mike to a FUCKING DOG. Bella is not comparable to Persephone, and it’s fucking beyond ham-fisted, it’s fucking EGREGIOUS to try to make that comparison.

I could see more of an argument for comparing Eddie to Hades, since, ya know, Hades fucking stole Persephone to be his wife and most stories about Hades paint him as kind of a moody, brooding dickbag, but I’m still calling fucking foul on this attempt at comparison, SM. No dice.

Moving on.

Eddie describing Bella’s skin as ‘velvety’ gives me war flashbacks to those grocery store checkout novels with Fabio on the cover that my mom used to read. Eghhh.

So, Bella touches Eddie’s hand and it’s described in a way that gives me very G-rated sex vibes. Which just makes me wanna tell them to get a room because they’re in public right now, and also don’t do that in front of Bella’s salad ravioli.

Eddie is still being super controling and weird about Bella eating, and honestly, I super wish that Bella had had the good sense to get the hell out of there with Jess and Angela. Or that she would have the good sense now to excuse herself, find someone on staff, ask to borrow a phone, and call her dad. Because this guy is literally throwing out every red flag that exists. I know I say this a lot, but if Bella were a normal girl, she would not be charmed by this guy, she would be freaking creeped out and trying to get away from him. He isn’t even subtle about his creep factor or charming enough to play it off.

Edward thinking he has any edge at all is like white bread thinking it’s the right kind of bread for a hamburger.

Anyway, chapter ends with Eddie paying the bill and the pair getting in the car to head home. And the drama chord of the last sentence that’s supposed to play in your head when you read it falls flat. They’re on the way back to Forks and Eddie is chomping at the bit to hear Bella’s latest theory that we know from Twilight isn’t actually a theory so much as she heard a story from Jacob and then did some searching on some shitty Angelfire website. Or Geocities. Either way. And then she just went ahead and had a big old prophetic dream about it.

Next time, we get the awkward car ride home and more. Thanks for hanging around guys. As always, feel free to message me (though, please note to anyone who has sent me anon messages that are rude or angry because I’m making fun of this book, I’m gonna ignore you.), recommend what books I should put on my list for my next recap series, and feel free to buy me a snack using the CashApp tag in my bio.

See you next time, babes.

#sierra recaps stuff #midnight sun #midnight sun spoilers #midnight sun recap #twilight #ms chapter 9

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daresplaining · 6 years ago

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Are there any instances where superhero’s would give Daredevil something to look at and he has to wing it/ tell the truth that he’s blind?

Yes, there are! This happens all the time, and not just with other superheroes. My favorite example is a major moment in DD history: when Ben Urich uses this exact strategy to get Daredevil to reveal his secret identity.

[ID: Excerpt from McKenzie’s Daredevil run. Daredevil is wearing head bandages and a hospital gown (over his costume). Ben Urich sits next to him, a lit cigarette in his mouth, and holds up a photograph.]

Ben: “It’s the story of a lonely little boy blinded by a freak accident. And it’s the story of how he overcame his handicap to become a successful lawyer and a Man Without Fear. It’s your story, Matthew Murdock, and I can prove it!”

Matt: “Now just a minute, Ben! You can’t seriously believe I’m–”

Ben: “Well, if you’re not Matt Murdock and if you’re not blind, just describe this photograph to me and I’ll leave. I’ll forget the whole thing.”

Matt: “Photo–? Ben, I… I really don’t feel like playing games. I’m not Matt Murdock, I’m certainly not blind– and I don’t see why I have to prove anything to you. It’s none of your business… who I am. It’s… it’s… it’s true…”

Daredevil vol. 1 #164 by Roger McKenzie, Frank Miller, and Glynis Wein

I love this interaction– the facial expressions, Matt’s flustered struggle to come up with an excuse, its significance as the start of a beautiful friendship, the fact that Ben barged into Matt’s hospital room (while smoking!) to get this interview– and it’s a testament to how vulnerable Matt is to this sort of situation. Years later, after Matt has faked his death and reappeared as a “new” Daredevil during Chichester’s run, Ben uses this same ruse to check if his friend is actually still alive. Sadly, what could have been a moving/hilarious recreation of this iconic scene is ruined by some silly sensory writing.

[ID: Ben confronts Daredevil, who is dressed in the black and red armored costume from the end of Volume 1, on a darkened rooftop. Ben hands Daredevil his wallet, which contains a photo of himself and his wife Doris.]

Ben: “Tell me about this picture.”

Caption: “Ben Urich has played this bluff before, to prove Matt Murdock and Daredevil were one and the same. Make a blind man describe a photograph. It worked then. Murdock can’t afford to let it work again.”

Matt: “Sure… okay. Bring it over here in the light were I can see it…”

Caption: “Light and dark areas absorb degrees of heat from the lamp above. Enough difference to paint a crude picture for hypersensitive fingertips. Some deductive guesswork on the photos a man might carry in his wallet. All adding up to enough for a stab in the dark.”

Matt: “That’s you… and she’s your wife?”

Daredevil vol. 1 #339 by Alan Smithee, Alexander Jubran, and Christie Scheele

Sigh…

In any case, as I mentioned, Matt (as Daredevil) is frequently confronted with these types of situations, thanks to people’s assumptions that he can see. The degree of success he has in maintaining that illusion of sightedness varies. Below are a few of my other favorite moments.

This is another major one, and another rare instance in which Matt decides he has no choice but to reveal that he’s blind. During his early adventures in San Francisco, he develops a brief alliance/friendship/romanic tension with the cosmic hero Moon Dragon. When she gets seriously injured, Matt is the only person around to operate the machine that will save her life. Unfortunately…

Matt: “Moon Dragon… there’s no way I could grasp this–”

Moon Dragon: “Please… just… do exactly as… I say… Begin… with the… yel… yellow… dial… turn to… Dare… devil… what is… wrong? Begin…”

Matt: “I– I can’t!! Moon Dragon… I–I’m blind!”

Daredevil vol. 1 #106 by Steve Gerber, Don Heck, and George Roussos

Being a cosmic entity, Moon Dragon deals with this inconvenience by casually restoring Matt’s vision. He asks for it to be removed again shortly afterward because he finds it annoying.

I pointed out Matt’s hand-wave-y deciphering of Ben’s photo (and Matt also mentions feeling colors in the Moon Dragon scene), and while that sort of thing has mostly been abandoned, unfortunately it informed many of these types of moments in early Daredevil stories. Rather than acknowledging the limits of Matt’s perception, the writers would simply skew and amplify his other senses to explain the problem away, as in this moment in Roy Thomas’s run:

[ID: Daredevil is leaning on Foggy Nelson’s desk. Foggy hands him a newspaper, and Daredevil (with his gloves on!) runs his fingers over the front page.]

Matt: “Tell me– who were the joy boys?”

Foggy: “This paper will explain things…! Read it and weep!”

Matt: “Let me pore over this for a minute! (–’Specially since I’ve got to do my speed-reading casually– with my fingers doing the walking!)”

Daredevil vol. 1 #68 by Roy Thomas, Gene Colan, and Artie Simek

And this even more extreme example from the same run:

[ID: Daredevil (still with his gloves on!) is running his fingers over a framed photograph, while a tearful Karen Page watches.]

Karen: “How could you have known that we needed you… when even I didn’t know it… until a few moments ago?”

Matt: “I’ll… explain all that later, Karen! Right now, let me study your father’s picture! (And I do mean study… not see! But she’s too upset to notice that I’m using my fingertips to learn her father’s appearance!)”

Daredevil vol. 1 #56 by Roy Thomas, Gene Colan, and Artie Simek

Matt reading newsprint is fine; there’s a ton of precedent for it, it makes a certain degree of sense, and it’s been a part of his power-set for a long time. Matt reading newsprint with his gloves on without Foggy noticing anything weird is much harder for me to believe. And don’t get me started on his perceiving a framed photograph by touch with his gloves on.

Fortunately, more recent writers have moved away from these types of shortcuts, and are willing to acknowledge that Matt’s other senses can’t fully compensate for his lack of vision. The usual outcome is that Matt manages to improvise an excuse/alternative approach that allows him to maintain his secret, or he’s lucky enough to have someone else inadvertently help.

[ID: A bystander shows Daredevil an image of a man (labeled as John Powers) on his tablet screen. Daredevil’s radar sense perceives the screen as a blank rectangle.]

Bystander: “Except this guy! He’s not one of us!”

Matt (caption): “What?”

Bystander: “I’m not on the list, but he is! See? Who is he? Do you recognize him?”

Matt (caption): “Ummm…”

Judge: “John Powers. Does anybody here know that name?”

Daredevil vol. 3 #31 by Mark Waid, Chris Samnee, and Javier Rodriguez

[ID: Daredevil is standing by as a man feeds a key card into an old-fashioned computer. The address “13 Wall St.” appears on a small screen.]

Matt: “Can you determine what building this key is for?”

IT guy: “Certainly! That data is coded into the key with magnetic particles which our computer can decipher– and there’s the address as you can plainly see!”

Matt: “Uh– yes. Are you sure there is such an address?”

IT guy: “Thirteen Wall St.? Of course!”

Matt: “Thanks! (I wonder what that technician would think if he knew Daredevil was blind and couldn’t ‘plainly see’ anything!?”)

Daredevil vol. 1 #144 by Jim Shooter, Lee Elias, and George Roussos

[ID: Matt (in civvies as his alter ego Jack Batlin) is “watching” a muted TV with his friend Stithy. The TV appears as a vague box shape in Matt’s radar. On the screen are the symbols of the U.S. government, the Fantastic Four, and the Avengers.]

Stithy: “Maybe I start makin’ ‘em for Uncle Sam though, huh? Plenty o’ need in the Big Apple now!”

Matt: “What do you mean?”

Stithy: “See for yourself…”

Matt: “I… uh… turn it up, will you?”

Stithy: “Picture there doesn’t say it all? Lazy S.O.B.!”

Daredevil vol. 1 #329 by D.G. Chichester, Scott McDaniel, and Joe Andreani

[ID: Daredevil is inside a building. On a table in front of him is a bomb, with several wires exposed. He is communicating with Steve Rogers (Captain America) via communication devices.]

Steve (off-panel): “We’re all right. I can talk you through defusing it. You’re looking for two wires. Green and yellow.”

Matt (caption): “Damn. He doesn’t know you’re blind.”

[ID: Daredevil dives out the window, comes back in with one of the guys who set the bomb, and slams him down on the table.]

Matt: “Turn it off.”

Daredevil vol. 5 #4 by Charles Soule, Ron Garney, and Matt Milla

And finally, my other personal favorite category, in which Matt deals with this problem by just… leaving:

[ID: Daredevil is standing on a city street, talking with two cops.]

Cop: “Nobody recalls anything… except running to escape… from something.”

Matt: “Then, Lieutenant, we’ve got a first class menace on our hands.”

Cops: “Can you give us a description, DD? Hair color? Eyes? Distinguishing marks? We’ll put out an A.P.B. on him right away.”

Matt: “I’m, uh, still a little shaken, I think… Let me get some rest, okay…? Collect my wits. I’ll be in touch.”

[ID: He runs and swings away.]

Daredevil vol. 1 #101 by Steve Gerber, Rich Buckler, and George Roussos

[ID: Daredevil is standing in the middle of a diner. Two bystanders are sitting at a table next to him, reading a newspaper article that reveals his secret identity.]

Bystander: “Hey, Daredevil… Hey, uh, Daredevil… what color’s my shirt?”

[ID: There’s a moment of awkward silence, then a loud boom from outside. Daredevil runs out of the diner.]

Bystander: “He didn’t answer…”

Daredevil vol. 2 #35 by Brian Michael Bendis, Alex Maleev, and Matt Hollingsworth

While Matt has worked hard over the years to maintain his secret identity and hide his blindness as Daredevil (with… varying success), it’s definitely a relief to him when the people around him are in on the secret and he can be honest about his limitations.

[ID: Daredevil and a cop are on a rooftop at night. The cop shows Daredevil a smartphone screen.]

Matt: “Someone want to describe to me what’s on that phone?”

Daredevil vol. 4 #8 by Mark Waid, Chris Samnee, and Matt Wilson

#Daredevil #Matt Murdock #Asks #Sensory Shenanigans #Adventures in Continuity

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yourkeeperoftherunners · 6 years ago

Text

Unparalleled Service [BTS Jimin]

Plot: So your best friend’s a little obsessed with Ariana Grande and happens to have a sour break-up with her beau. She thinks dragging you to Tiffany and Co warrants drinking too many complimentary beverages and bragging about the silver friendship jewelry she’s buying for spite. “She’s a mess,” you grumbled as she dragged one clerk off to look at something. “Don’t worry, my colleague has her all taken care of,” the blonde replied with a smile. “How may I assist you today?”

Rating: PG-13 (Language, slight drunken behavior, bad break-up)

Characters: Tiffany and Co. Clerk!Jimin x Female Reader, Samantha OC, Tiffany and Co. Clerk!Taemin

Notes: Part of the Unparalleled Service series I’ve planned. I own nothing except for the idea and setting. Inspired by the author’s personal encounters with the rare friendly or welcoming clerks in high end brand boutiques. This one is inspired by Ariana Grande’s backstory for her single “7 Rings”.

“I hate him! I hate him! I hate him!” Sam blubbered as she sobbed into your shoulder.

You patted her on the back and let her cry some more, resisting the urge to say, “I told you so.”

Your poor best friend had been dating Mr. Perfect in her mind. He had excellent grades, was in involved in extracurriculars, and worked out. Because they had been together since high school, despite being long-distance at college, everyone was waiting for him to pop the question soon.

But you had your doubts about him since day 1 – on the surface he seemed textbook perfect, but you had a bad feeling about him. You couldn’t put your finger on it, but something told you that this guy wasn’t her end game. His family wasn’t poor, but they were definitely working class, while her family had made their money in a successful family business that started with her grandparents.

About a few days ago, a guy friend of yours overheard him saying that Sam was only his bank account, admitting that she was pretty, but nothing special. Of course he recorded it and shared it with both of you, leading to one hell of a messy break-up. The boyfriend insisted he was goaded by the guys into saying those things, while Sam declared it was over and that she was more than the money in the bank.

A few days later, you decided to check in on Sam, bringing over her favorite foods and a cute Krunk plush you saw at Hot Topic. You knocked on the door of her apartment and frowned when you heard a husky voice chanting, “I want it, I got it” over and over.

“Hey!” Sam said as she yanked the door open. “Aww you’re the best Y/N! Come in, come in!”

“Please tell me you blocked his number,” you asked as you came and pulled the snacks out.

“Oh definitely,” she replied. She ran to her computer and paused the song that was playing. “Sorry, I was listening to Ari’s new hit – I’m obsessed and it’s such a revelation! I mean, she went through that breakup with Pete and I went through a breakup...”

“Oh yeah,” you mumbled as you stashed the ice cream in the freezer. You turned to face her and asked what she wanted to do.

Sam straightened up and studied your outfit. “Sorry, do you have anything nicer?”

“Um thanks?” you replied, trying not to look offended.

“No I didn’t mean it like that!” she backtracked. “Hang on, let me try this again. Look, I don’t wanna sit at home and mope over romcoms. Ari’s track made me think and I realized that an engagement ring is overrated. If I get something sparkly to mark something, I should be getting friendship jewelry with you, my true blue bestie.”

“Aww thanks, but I don’t see why I need to change my clothes,” you said.

“Did you know that Ari took her besties to Tiffany’s and bought matching rings after her split with Pete?”

You shook your head and waited for Sam to explain what she had in mind.

“We’re gonna doll ourselves up, look as rich as fuck, and we’re gonna go to Tiffany’s and get matching jewelry,” she declared.

“Now?”

“Oh hell yes now.”

“I’m buying okay?” she insisted once you got to the mall. “No, you’re not fighting with me on this! No friend has ever been there for me like you have Y/N. Whatever you want, I’m buying okay?”

“Oh okay, I...thank you,” you murmured. “You know I’ll always be your friend, jewelry or no jewelry.”

She nudged you and replied that she knew that. “That’s why you’re the best Y/N, you don’t care if I’m rich or not. That’s why I wanna treat you. Okay?”

You nodded and allowed her to link arms with you as you walked into Tiffany’s.

“I called ahead,” she explained as she walked to the counter. She greeted the woman behind the counter and explained that she made an appointment for a personal shopping experience.

The woman looked up the name and nodded, excusing herself to grab the clerks who would be assisting you.

“Probably the only time I’ll ever come in here,” you murmured, low enough for no one to hear.

The woman returned with two handsome young men dressed in dark suits, introducing them as Taemin and Jimin. Both greeted you with pleasant smiles and part of you had to wonder if Sam begged to have the cutest guys waiting on you.

“Before we begin, may we offer you ladies something to drink?” Taemin asked.

“Champagne please,” Sam spoke up as she stepped closer to him.

You flashed Taemin a small smile and replied that you were content with water for now. The clerk turned to his colleague, who excused himself to retrieve the beverages you requested.

“Oh absolutely not!” Sam declared, shaking her head violently. “This is a best friends occasion – she’s the only one who stuck by my side when my asshole ex tried to go all scrub on me!”

Taemin flashed a sympathetic look at Sam, tilting his head as he reassured her that she was more than just her money.

You resisted the urge to laugh behind your Evian bottle, watching as Sam dragged Taemin to the display where some of the designer collaborations were housed.

“I’m guessing things must have ended recently?” Jimin asked.

You nodded and shook your head, muttering that Sam was a mess. “I love her like a sister and I know break-ups suck,” you added. “...Look I’m not ungrateful for this outing, but you can thank Ariana Grande for inspiring this whole thing.”

Jimin chuckled before turning his attention to you. “Please don’t worry Miss Y/N, my colleague has her all taken care of. How may I assist you?”

You capped the Evian and shrugged, explaining that she wanted you to pick out a piece for yourself as a symbol of your friendship, no budget set. “But I don’t want to go for the most expensive thing here,” you said. “Maybe something understated but easy for every day.”

Jimin nodded as he looked over at the displays. “Is there a jewelry item you wear more often?”

You gave it some thought and watched as Sam tried on a bracelet out of the corner of your eye. You always wore earrings, but you tended to stick to a plain pair of small hoops – they were easy to coordinate with your outfits and you could sleep in them without weird marks. Subconsciously your hand went to tuck a strand of hair behind an ear and Jimin took note of the standard small hoops you were wearing.

“How long have you had those?” he asked, pointing to your earrings.

You paused, meeting his his eyes as your hand remained in place behind your ear. “Um, I don’t know? Maybe since I got my ears pierced? It’s been a while.”

Jimin hummed, eyes glancing over to his colleague who was assisting Sam. He beckoned for you to follow him to a display, and you took another swig from the Evian bottle before standing on one side of the display case to look at the items.

He unlocked the case from his side and pulled out a few pairs of earrings. “I don’t know if you prefer a Tiffany iconic style like our Return to Tiffany series,” he mused, pushing the small heart studs forward, “or if you want something that’s a bit more of a statement. Did you want something from the same collection as your friend?”

You snapped your head over toward Sam and then looked back at Jimin. “What is she looking at?”

Jimin retrieved a pair of delicate earrings with an oval gemstone hanging from a lever back earring. The top of the gemstone was decorated with two leaves in gold metal, making you think of olives for some reason.

“Our Olive Leaf Drop Earrings, which is from the Paloma Picasso line,” Jimin explained. “Your friend is looking at the bracelet in the same line.” He pulled a few more pairs out, each with a different gem stone. “Do you see one you prefer?”

Your eyes scanned over the choices and you pointed to a pair in your favorite gemstone color. He put the other ones back in the case and you asked if you could try them on. He nodded and turned to the back counter to grab a mirror for you to use.

You removed your hoop earrings and placed them carefully on the counter. You removed one earring from the display post and opened the lever, carefully inserting it into the hole. You closed the backing before retrieving the second earring and placing it in the other ear.

Jimin studied you before you fixed your hair so you could see both ears clearly in the mirror. He nodded in approval with a smile and you took a closer look at your reflection.

The earrings struck a nice balance between a slight upgrade to your current pair and being classy enough to wear anywhere for almost any occasion. You blinked as you stared at yourself, turning your head side to side to see each ear clearly.

“OOH! I LIKE!” Sam chirped as she looked over at you. “Is that a yes?”You looked up and nodded with a small smile. She beamed as she flashed her bracelet from the same collection, declaring it was perfect.

“Here you are ladies,” Taemin said as he presented 2 Tiffany blue bags to you. “Thank you again for shopping with us and please feel free to contact us if you have any other needs.”

Sam took her bag and thanked Taemin, while you thanked Jimin with a polite smile. You picked up your bag and linked arms with Sam as you headed out into the mall.

“So...he was cute, right?”

“Who?” you asked.

“Oh come on, Jimin!” Sam insisted. “He seemed into you.”

“Don’t start,” you warned her. “This is about friends today.”

She sighed and draped her arm over your shoulders. “You’re right, but if I’m not gonna get my man, you should.” She pointed to your bag and bet that you probably got his business card.

You rolled your eyes and dug around in the small bag, feeling around for a card. Your fingers found something and you carefully lifted it up to see it was indeed a business card.

#BTS Jimin #BTS Jimin AU #Park Jimin #Park Jimin AU #BTS AU #yourkeeperoftherunners original #number 2753

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fanficshiddles · 6 years ago

Text

Consequences, One shot

Thank you for the prompt! Hope you like it :-D

thecutestlittlebunbunfairy said:

Hi! So happy you're doing prompts! I thought of this idea but I'd love to see how you'd do it <3 Basically reader/ofc is trying to submit homework on her phone but accidentally sends a photo of her drinking and she's underage (drinking in the us is 21 so I was thinking she'd be 20?) And professor hiddleston punishes her <3 Thank you!!

Warning: Non-con.

��Lauren woke up the following morning, her head pounding after the previous nights’ escapades.

‘Oh god.’ She groaned and put her face in her hands.

But then she suddenly remembered that she hadn’t submitted her homework yet for her English class.

‘Shit!’ She sat up in bed quickly and scrambled for her laptop, but to her dismay the battery was dead. And it would take a while to charge enough for use.

Luckily, she had emailed it to herself. So she was able to get it on her phone. She pulled up Mr Hiddleston’s email and copied it, then she went to her inbox and swiped across to find the forward button. She still felt half asleep, but she knew she had to get it done before going into class that afternoon.

She did NOT want to get on the wrong side of Mr Hiddleston.

As soon as she heard that whoosh noise her phone made, she knew the email was sent. She let out her own whoosh of air in relief and lay back on the bed. She had another hour before she would have to get ready for Uni. She really did not want to go in, but she had to.

A little while later, while she was getting ready and drinking as much water as possible, she received a text from a friend from last night.

Did you get the pictures I sent you?

‘Pictures?’ She muttered and went into her email, that’s when she noticed an email that had come through a while ago. She opened it and laughed, seeing a bunch of pictures from last night.

Her friend had made her a fake ID, so she was able to go out drinking last night for the first time in clubs. There were a few pictures of her dancing around, holding drinks in the club. Then one of her draped over her friends’ shoulder to stay standing at the end of the night.

Lauren smiled and came out of the email. But then her stomach dropped. She felt like she was going to be sick.

‘Oh no… No, no, no, no! Please, no!’ She saw that small icon next to the picture email that meant it had been forwarded…

Not the homework email she had meant to send.

‘Shit, shit, shit, shit!’ She panicked and went into her sent folder to check, and right enough, she had sent her teacher the wrong email. Her teacher now had pictures of her out drinking the previous night.

She almost started crying she was freaking out so much. She quickly sent the actual email with the homework, and added in please excuse the wrong email I forwarded. Hoping that would be enough. Hopefully Mr Hiddleston wouldn’t even open the pictures.

But what if he did?

She managed to brush it off. It’s not like she was the only one to drink underage. And she was only a few months off the legal age. It’s not like Mr Hiddleston would do anything anyway. She shrugged it off and managed to forget about it, even during the classes before English.

When she walked into English, Mr Hiddleston was at the front. He was writing some things up onto the board.

Lauren took her seat near the back of the class and waited while everyone else piled in. When Mr Hiddleston turned around, he instantly looked at Lauren. She wasn’t sure what to make of the look he gave her, but it made her stomach swirl.

Mr Hiddleston was an extremely attractive teacher. He had certainly caused quite a stir when he started at the Uni.

He went through the register, making sure everyone was there. When he called out Lauren’s name, she shivered. His tone was deep and the way he looked at her again, it was like he wanted to eat her alive.

She tried to shake off the weird feeling inside of her, hoping and thinking it was all just in her mind. That she was just being silly.

‘Well, I am pleased that everyone submitted their homework on time… just. And I must say, all very good work, even with some surprises amongst them all.’ He glanced at Lauren again when he spoke.

She tried to sink further down into her chair, knowing exactly what he was getting at. It was obvious now. He had definitely seen the photos.

The rest of the class went by ok. Lauren kept her head down and worked hard, even if she did still have a twinge of a headache. She really was regretting drinking so much. No matter how fun a night it had been.

When the bell rang at the end of the class, Lauren was relieved because that was the last of the day. And meant she could go home and sleep some more.

‘Lauren, please stay behind. I need to discuss your homework with you.’ Mr Hiddleston announced while everyone started packing their bags and heading out of the classroom.

Great. She thought. No doubt she was going to get a lecture about being so careless. Or for drinking underage. Then again, she didn’t think that he would know her age. So maybe she would get away lightly. Or perhaps there was something wrong with her actual homework.

She waited patiently for everyone else to file out of class, then she went up to the front and stood by his desk. He was sitting down and leaned back slightly in his chair when he looked at her.

‘Now, would you like to tell me why you sent me pictures of you while obscenely drunk?’ His tone was firm and it made her squirm under his intense gaze as he removed his glasses.

‘I… I didn’t mean to. My friend sent me the email just as I was sending the homework, I was still half asleep and just got confused. I’m so, SO sorry, Sir. It was a mistake, honestly.’ She rambled quickly.

‘It’s not so much the fact that you sent me the pictures, Lauren. But you do know that it’s illegal to be drinking at twenty, don’t you?’ He narrowed his eyes slightly at her.

Her own eyes widened. So he did know her age. She started shifting anxiously from foot to foot.

‘I, uh, yeah. I’m just a few months away from being twenty-one. It was just one night, for fun. My friend’s birthday and they didn’t want me to miss out.’ She wasn’t sure why she felt the need to explain herself, especially to her teacher. But the intense way he was looking at her made her so nervous, she wanted the ground to just open up and swallow her.

‘Even if you were just a day under age, Lauren. It’s still against the law.’ Mr Hiddleston stood up, now towering over his student. ‘Not to mention you must have had a fake ID to get in.’ He started walking now, and moved behind her as she stood still. ‘Now that is against the law too.’ He whispered, making her shiver because she could feel his breath against her neck from behind.

‘I… I know.’ She squeaked.

‘And as your teacher, I cannot simply let this slide. The evidence is there, in my inbox. It wouldn’t be very good of me to just let that go, now would it?’ His voice was sultry and teasing, but all Lauren could think about was what he was saying.

Was he really going to tell the head teacher? Or maybe even the police? Since she had broken two laws!

‘Please, Sir. Please don’t tell anyone. I’m sorry, really sorry.’ She spun around quickly, tears formed in her eyes while she looked up at him.

Tom sighed and slipped a hand into his pocket, with the other he stroked his beard while in thought. Lauren really didn’t like the silence, or the way he was looking at her.

‘I can’t let you get away with it. You broke the law, darling. You were very naughty.’

His choice of words startled her slightly, yet she felt something stir inside of her.

‘Not to mention how stupid and reckless that was of you. Do you know what guys out there would do to a young woman as beautiful as yourself? Knowing how young and innocent you are?’ He started to close in on her, she backed up until her bum hit his desk. He kept moving closer until he was directly in her space, her neck was craning to look up at him. ‘You put yourself in such a dangerous situation, Lauren. God knows what could’ve happened to you.’ He chastised.

‘I… I…’ She stuttered, but before she could get any words of any kind out, Tom gripped her chin between his fingers.

‘No use apologising now, darling. I think you need to be punished, properly. To learn the consequences of your actions.’ His eyes darkened slightly and he licked his lips.

‘What?’ She gasped.

Tom grabbed her elbow and led her round to the other side of the desk. He sat down on his chair and yanked her down over his lap. She let out a screech of surprise and tried to get up, but a firm forearm against her back held her down in place. She kicked her legs about as they dangled down at the side of his legs, she tried to push against his legs too but nothing worked.

She was mortified when he flipped her skirt up and yanked her knickers down around her thighs. Before she could comprehend what was going on, Mr Hiddleston brought his hand down hard across her backside.

‘STOP! WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?’ She cried out.

‘Teaching you a lesson, or would you rather I sent you to the headmaster?’ He growled, spanking her again.

‘OW! STOP!’ She hissed and tried squirming.

Tom grabbed her wrists because he was getting annoyed with them flailing about, and he brought them in against her lower back and held them there in one hand while he went back to spanking her.

She continued swearing and struggling against him with every smack.

‘If you don’t accept this, I will send you to the headmaster. The police will then be called.’ He growled, pausing.

Lauren hissed and let out a defeated whine, she knew she was going to have to just accept it.

‘That’s what I thought.’ Tom drawled when she stilled and her head hung down in defeat.

By the time he was finished with her, her bum was in agony and felt like it was on fire. She was sure there was blisters, it was that sore. She was sobbing when he helped her to stand up, having to keep his hands on her because her legs were shaking.

‘Are you sorry for being naughty?’ He asked, gripping her chin.

She nodded and sniffled, still trying to fight away the tears.

He pulled her knickers up, then straightened her skirt down as he stood up and kissed the top of her head. ‘Good girl. Now go run along home.’

Lauren looked up at her teacher, in disbelief and full of rage at the same time. She couldn’t believe he just did that to her. But the look he gave her, had her tail going between her legs. She quickly grabbed her bag and practically ran out of the classroom.

Lauren was furious with how her teacher had violated her like that. She was outraged. But she was also slightly annoyed at herself for allowing it to happen. She should’ve just gone to the head teacher herself. Or fought back harder. But after she got home, she found she couldn’t stop thinking about it. The way his large hand had brought her such pain… Being draped over his lap so easily like that… God, she was so wet thinking about it.

That night, her friends were going out drinking again. She toyed with the idea of going, or whether to behave and stay in. Her bum was still sore, a stark reminder about what the consequences for going out last night were. Or more, because of her mistake from sending Mr Hiddleston that email.

Then she got an idea.

She was dolled up and ready to go, to meet her friends. She had her fake ID in her purse again too. She snapped a picture of herself, holding her ID up. Then she attached it to an email and sent it to Mr Hiddleston…

Lauren was no way going to let him dictate her life. She was an adult, after all. And she was still furious, yet also aroused, about the spanking. What’s the worse he can do? Spank her again tomorrow? Well, she would be ready for him this time.

But what she wasn’t ready for. Was when she arrived at the club and was waiting in line with her friends to enter… A black jaguar pulled up alongside, and out got Mr Hiddleston. He marched straight over to the queue and grabbed Lauren’s elbow, yanking her out of the queue and away from her friends. She had no idea how he knew what club she was going to be at.

‘Get in the car.’ He growled in her ear. Not asking, he was telling.

Lauren gulped and squeezed her thighs together, she didn’t even glance back at her friends while she allowed her teacher to take her to his car and usher her into the passenger seat.

When Tom got in, he put his hand firmly on her thigh and squeezed.

‘You obviously didn’t learn your lesson today. Those idiotic boys out there would take advantage of you.’ He pulled the car away from the club and drove down the road. He glanced over at her, his eyes full of hunger. ‘I am going to make sure you can’t walk for a week.’

#Tom Hiddleston #non-con #fan fiction #one shot #consequences

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dreamterlude · 6 years ago

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druck s3e01, a review

As promised, here's the very long, very messy s3e01 review, clip by clip!

CLIP 1

Right from the start, I really like the way you can feel Matteo's solitude thanks to the use of the music and how it "stops" when the camera's on him, I think it's a really smart move to show how he feels, like he's worlds apart, detached from all what's happening around him.

Then the shot changes from a guy's hands, a girl with a gut tattoo (absolutely love it) and a girl's ass, Idk if this has any purpose but it's still a cool effect, so kudos to the cinematography.

The moment Matteo stands up and goes to the bathroom but Sara stops him and kisses him really sets the tone of their relationship: Matteo's face when kissing Sara says a lot about his situation, like he's hugging her but at the same time he's not happy about it, his face shows apathy and resignation.

Really really loved the scene with the boys in the bathtub!! I think it does an awesome job at "introducing" (we already knew them) them. They talk about some sex position and act like dumbasses, but again Matteo feels like he's not there.

The shot of Matteo looking at himself in the mirror goes deeper into his confused and ausent kinda aura, it's as if he was wondering what is he doing there in that party, what is he doing with his life in general, which honestly? hella relatable.

HIGHLIGHTS: Boys gang's one common braincell, "Kiki is the hypotenuse", Dónde está mi gente playing in the background.

CLIP 2

First of all I love Matteo's room and I can't wait to see more of it!

The song choice is so on point for this scene like wow, it really helps the whole "lazy morning after" mood and also has a high melancholic vibe, which is (imo) very Matteo.

Also, the use of the lyrics!!! "I woke up but it didn't go away" right before Matteo sees his mother's message, "did you expect me to cry" when he's touching Jonas' hair and "will you not think of me tonight" when he sees the number on Jonas' arm. So far Druck has been exceptionally good at the song choices and the way they use them so I'm not exactly surprised at how good this was.

Bringing back the moment Matteo touched Jonas' hair because it was really important!! I made a post about this, but the fact that Matteo only shows this softer side of him because he's "alone" says a lot about himself and it's actually really sad. Not only that, this moment also shows that he's not over Jonas, and that makes a lot of sense for me, because he seemed to be really into him back in s1 (s2 too but especially s1).

HIGHLIGHTS: "Why are you in Matteo"s bed" "I could ask the same" " I was waiting for you", Matteo's tracksuit + grandpa jacket combination, we love a fashion icon.

CLIP 3

Right from the beginning, the absolute chaotic gay energy of Matteo replying to Sara's pic with "cool" and the shrug after that, he's not even trying, he doesn't know what to do or how he got himself into that situation.

Once again, when talking to his friends and the girls it seems like his body is there but hia mind is miles apart. Also!! when Sam tells him about how good the party was and he agrees even though it's clear (for the viewer) that he didn't have a good time, I think this is a good way to show the viewers Matteo's "wish" to fit in, and how he's always pretending.

And then!! The Scene!!!! I've talked about this on other posts but the way Matteo and David checked each other out was so not subtle, I loved it. The slow-motion, the song choice, the moment their stares connected, then again when both of them turned their heads to keep looking... what can I say except poetic cinema.

Also major kudos to Michelangelo for Matteo's slight facial change, it really shows that the encounter with David shook him up, even though he still doesn't know why.

HIGHLIGHTS: The way Hanna looked at Jonas! I love that Druck doesn't forget about past plots and instead continues them with little details like this.

Unrelated but Matteo I'm begging you please wear a fucking belt.

CLIP 4

First of all, what's up with the teachers not wearing bras??? I have nothing against women choosing not to wear bras but like, why is this a recurring theme for the "Isak" season?? I honestly don't get it.

I don't think there's a lot to comment in this clip, it's basically a way to introduce Matteo and Amira's friendship (something I'm hella excited for) and to set the date for The Meeting™.

That being said, there were little things that made me love this clip, like Matteo's body language. The way he shrugs and rolls his eyes, you can really feel how (physically and emotionally) tired he is just by looking at him. You don't have to understand german to know what he's thinking, you can get a sense of it based on the way he acts!! All this is thanks to Michelangelo for being so fucking good at acting, like wow.

Another thing I liked was Matteo's mood getting worse after seeing Jonas flirt with that girl, as I've said before I like that they're showing us that he's still not completely over him, it makes it more real to me.

HIGHLIGHTS: Amira looking like a goddess in that pink hijab, Matteo's "nein" when the teacher called him out, the masterpiece that is "Idk, a blowjob".

CLIP 5

Once again, I love Matteo's room!! That yoga cushion he was using? a comfortable king.

There are 4 things that I want to talk about in this clip, first, Matteo texting his friends that he's also "busy". As I've said in the clips above, he really feels that he has to pretend to be someone he isn't and that's such a realistic side of being in the closet, I feel like Druck is doing a good job in showing that.

Then, the fact that he doesn't close his eyes when kissing Sara. He's not invested in the kiss (for obvious reasons) and he just wishes it would end, but at the same time he doesn't neglect it? Like he's in a level of resignation where he doesn't care anymore.

I feel like I mention this way too much but!! the body language!!! it's so important in a character like Matteo, who (so far) doesn't seem to be very talkative. When Sara asks him if they're together, you can see how uncomfortable he is with the idea but at the same time it's like he's trying to convince himself that this (being with Sara) is how things are supposed to be. Which, not gonna lie, is sad as fuck.

And finally, the moment in which Matteo asks Sara if she wants to watch a movie with him. She was clearly expecting something else (her face says it all), but Matteo looks content, almost happy. Maybe because of the relief he feels since he doesn't have to kiss her?? or maybe because he has someone keeping him company, someone that likes him and is affectionate with him. In this sense, I feel like Matteo is using Sara not only to pretend he's straight, but also as an emotional support, sort of. Based on the scene in the 2nd clip, he seems like a very touch starved person, craving for some affection, and right now the one who can help with that is Sara.

HIGHLIGHTS: "Should I do some research?" Matteo you absolute disaster gay. Sara being cute and lovely (I really hope she's not like other Emmas).

CLIP 6 aka The Clip™

Okay with this clip I'm going straight to Matteo and David's interactions because this is getting really long, rip.

The way Matteo's whole aura changes around David!! He's really trying hard to come off as a cool guy but David is highkey having none of that shit, I love it. Like when Matteo puts the joint on his ear and says "come on", excuse me? who is this smooth motherfucker and what has he done to my gremlin son? For real now, I love that we got to see this side of Matteo, and I'm really really excited to see more of it.

But also the way David was checking Matteo out when he was looking for the joint like, wow, he seems to really like him already (and I don't even mean in a romantic way, not yet).

The whole conversation they had is a masterpiece and I could say a lot about it, but my favorite parts would be as they follow:

David saying he "murdered someone" (the metaphor is strong here) and the subsequent "I murdered my parents joke" that comes from it. Weird humor sense but Matteo seems to like it, in fact he laughs! for the first time since the season started he seems to be present, invested in the moment, laughing!! Rewatching the episode, the change in Matteo's behaviour is really noticeable, he went from being ausent around his friends and Sara to being incredibly "present" during his conversation with David. Let me just say: poetic cinema.

But also the fact that Matteo hides his smile really quick, like he's still being guarded, like he didn't expect David to make him feel.

The!! eyelash!! thing!! This was such a nice, kinda awkward moment, absolutely my favorite one. Matteo growing some confidence and asking if he gets to make a wish now, licking his lips while looking at David, like... wow. I absolutely love that David asked him what would he had wished for, because it gave us some insight to Matteo's situation: he just wants to go away, which considering all he's been through, makes a lot of sense.

It also gave us some information about David! he said he also wanted to get away and go to Detroit, since that was where the best music came from. I like that with this simple conversation we got to know more about both of them.

Then, the way David's mood changed when Sara came in and kissed Matteo, he looked so... disappointed? He was like "gtg". Also, something I noticed rewatching the episode: when he said goodbye he only looked at Matteo!!

And last but not least, when Sara said "that's him, the guy Leonie has a crush on" and Matteo replied with "no I think that's someone else", I'm genuinely curious about this?? What is Matteo trying to do here?? I guess we'll have to wait 👀

HIGHLIGHTS: Amira, Sam and Kiki looking pretty as always, Matteo's face when Kiki suggested hugging teachers, Photoshop Markus, David's smile.

Anyways, that's it!! This got really long but I had a lot to say!! Druck has officially become my favorite remake, so I might do a review per episode if you guys like it uwu ♡

#druck #druck review #i talk a lot #sorry if im annoying fjshf #this probably has a lot of typos but ive been at it for two days fjsjd

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lilacsolanum · 5 years ago

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Who was your Shepard? What ending did they choose? Did it remind you much of the end of Animorphs?

Did you just– did you just give me an excuse to rant about my Mass Effect experience? WELL THANK YOU!

My Shepard was a fierce dark skinned woman with a penchant for a heavy eyeliner and a dark lip. She originally had a stern bun but I DID give her a haircut between ME2 and ME3 for the drama and she had a buzzcut. She ran around in a hoodie 24/7 and was my butch qween. I named her Ms Nesbit in ME1, but ME1 didn’t understand the space so she ended up being Ms Shepard which honestly was ideal. She was from the tragic Midnoir, and had the “soul survivor” psychological profile. I was absolutely role-playing her, giving her a strong “bright clear line” ruthless and practical moral code. She had. SO many renegade points. It was mostly a renegade play through, but I was always bros with my crew. Well. The crew members I liked. I killed someone on purpose in the suicide mission like. Bye.

I played these games blind and it was the best, not knowing how my choices would play out, not knowing what was coming next.

When I played the ending it was, like, 4 AM and I just wanted to be done so I could focus on writing and not be haunted by my love of this great video game I wanted to play all the time. So like. I wasn’t comprehending anything really, and Shepard was moving SO slowly, and I just went toward the pillar because it was shiny. TECHNICALLY I chose Synthesis, which was the cheesiest and worst ending.

I WANTED to choose Destroy, and would have if I was less of a sleepy bitch. Destroy was what we set out to do, and I don’t think the consequences of the literal universe existing beyond “the cycle” were going to be THAT bad. The Geth chilled out. Everyone calm down. Let’s rebuild.

Because I played a “war is hell, bright clear line” Shepard, the ending with her death DID feel right to me. It WAS very Animorphs-ish. Not everyone makes it out of war. Not everyone survives. But I understand why people hated it, especially if you played paragon. Like I told someone else, then the ending of ME is like if Sailor Moon ended with the gruesome death of Sailor Moon. Really, the thing that reminded me the most of Animorphs was the Krogans.

I wrote out, like, my entire play through under the cut because I was feeling myself and because I have SO MUCH TO SAY and played this video game like ten years after it came out so I only had one other person screaming with me. I (somewhat) restrained my boundless energy on their behalf. Cav is a patient soul.

In ME1, I killed the Rachni queen, because even if she was serving me some buckwild nonsense about songs and the general plot of Ender’s Game I was like bye gurl bye, your race died. It’s dead. It’s far too traumatizing for too many people to bring y'all back. Also, you are litterly a giant spider, absolutely not, no no, do not want, please leave.

I primarily ran Wrex and Kaidan because I very much enjoyed Kaidan’s idealistic banter where he’s just impressed with literally everything and then checking in on Wrex who was just bitter and full of hate. Wrex became my favorite character. I LIVE for a grumpy old man. I got his family armor and managed to chill him out on Virmire on the first choice, which was AMAZING, because I later looked up the other outcomes and found out Ashley would kill him and I would have been TRAUMATIZED. I zoomed in on Ashley being a racist and peaced her out, keeping my boy Kaidan around for another two games.

I accidentally romanced Liara even if I wanted to romance Kaidan, but I WAS flirting with them both for a bit (though I ultimately didn’t get the scene where they both confront me). I also slept with that random Asari lady.

I chose to kill the council in the end. It was the better choice for humanity. We needed to do something big to prove that we’re here, we’re not going away, and we’re just as important as the rest of you.

ME2 is just like Making Friends: The Video Game. Which was honestly so fun, I loved that it was an entire game devoted to character storytelling? I let Garrus break a dude’s legs, but I did not let him kill that man, even if I let him kill the guy in ME1. It honestly felt like letting that dude live was shittier. I killed the heretic Geth because, like, they’re machines, they’ve already been possessed by Reapers, they’re fine. I understand that Legion was doing it’s whole Breq thing but most Geth are just part of a whole. I was fine with it. I had enough Renegade points when I did Tali’s mission to allow her to be proven innocent without revealing her father’s treason, which I’m super glad I did because of it’s effects on ME3. The rest of the missions I basically just went renegade for the points. I loooved Thane, Miranda, and Grunt, fell deeper in love with Garrus and Tali, didn’t spend enough time with Legion but again, I saw the whole individual sentience storyline unfolding and appreciated it, Jack I liked ironically because Oh Boy Everything About Her (LOVED her in ME3 though), and Samara and Jacob were THUMBS DOWN.

And then Mordin. Holy shit. What an amazing character. First of all, he’s the best, second of all, he busts out in a musical number, third of all, his mission is SO BEAUTIFUL AND COMPLEX. But. I ended up destroying both Maelon’s data and Maelon himself.

The genophage was population control, not genocide, and while it’s a harsh method it was the kindest solution at the time. The Krogan really remind me of the Yeerks, actually. When it was pointed out that they were given technology before they had culture, I was like, yes, YES, my favorite children’s books series addressed this SAME THING! And like Yeerks, absolutely, I recognize that some Krogans were good, that they didn’t have the same bloodthirst as others, that they saw a better future. Wrex was one of those Krogans. Wrex had power. But was that enough power? How very easy would it be for a rogue group of Krogans to hide away, procreate, get strong, and go to war with the Urdnots. How very easy would it be to destroy the efforts of one man. It was idealistic to think that just because Wrex had influence, that the entirity of the Krogan race could be changed. Ms Shepard made a hard choice, but she did what she had to do.

Also, my renegade zombie face was fucking hilarious, the drama, the theatrics. When I came back from some mission with red eyes I laughed so much. What a choice. What an amazing choice Bioware made with that. I probed the planets and fixed my busted mug, but not after enjoying my glowing scars and bags under my eyes for a MINUTE.

I two timed Garrus and Thane for a minute, but ultimately I went with Garrus, because I texted my BFF, a normal person who does not write or read about alien fucking, with a photo of the two and he immediately replied with “zaddy with the scope for sure” and it was decided. Thane did call me sita for a hot minute and it was very very sweet. Oh and you knoooooow I flirted with Kelly Chambers HARD.

I played the suicide mission blind and I have this weird habit of overestimating video games when they are CLEARLY telling me what to do and trying to outsmart them, so I somehow lost Thane, Garrus, and Mordin. I broke my rule about not going back on any choice and replayed it to save everyone’s asses, except for Jacob Taylor, who I killed on purpose. No regrets.

And then shit went DOOOOOOOOWN in ME3.

First of all, fuck EDI’s robot body. I was already shipping her with Joker and in no way did they need a physical form, it’s called IMAGINATION. I might write a fic where EDI as a ship’s AI instructs Joker on how to get himself off, Dom style. *I* know how to write an AI/human romance without a robot that has FUCKING HIGH HEELS??? No. Nope. Also, why the hell does literally every male squadmate have to call her hot. What was the point. WHAT WAS THE REASON. WHAT WAS THE REASON BITCH.

I immediately went to deal with the Krogan genophage because I knew some shit was about to go on. This whole thing ended up being maybe one of my absolute favorite story experiences, ever.

It starts happening. Wrex rolls up. He is PISSED at me. He is saying he wished he killed me in Virmire, the first time I blocked a genophage cure. It’s heartbreaking. I loved him so much, and he’s SO ANGRY, and he has every right to be.

Mordin starts his research. Eve is there, she’s fucking ICONIC, her and her 50-year-old diner waitress smoker voice. Poor unfortunate goddamn soul, YES. I love her. But I also doomed her by destroying Maelon’s data.

Then the Salarian talks to me. And I know I’ve chosen this stance for Ms Shepard and that I’m not going back on it. When she says “You stop Mordin from spreading the cure, no matter what” I already knew what was going to happen. It’d been spoiled for his death, yes, but damn. The way it went down.

The first thing that happened that made me go “holy shit” was when we were all flying toward Tuchanka and I had an option to tell everyone about the sabotage. I actually took it. Even if I had this storyline, I had this moment of like, okay, I love these characters, I love Mordin and he’s so happy to redeem himself, I have to tell my friends about what the Salarian wants to do. And I chose that option AND I AM INTERRUPTED AND DON’T GET THE WORDS OUT. I mean WHAT a fucking amazing detail. When the option came back again, to lie to my friends or tell them the truth, I lied.

Watching to confrontation go down with Mordin just destroyed me. The voice actors killed it. I told Maelon about the sabotage. It was so fucking emotional. “I MADE A MISTAKE! I made a mistake. I focused on the big picture. Big picture made of little pictures.” Just. Holy shit. And I knew what was about to happen and what I would have to do, and even if it was a video game, I was IN IT. It was the fact that the renegade interrupt was in slow motion that absolutely got me. That there was extra time to think about it, to let him go. I closed my eyes and hit my mouse trigger and Shepard shot Mordin. The way she walked off and threw her gun to the side was devastating. And then the game made me watch Mordin drag his dying body across the tower to try and get to the controls, saying, “Not yet, not ready, not ready,” which was honestly very rude. And then the cutscene where Wrex looked out on his planet, joy and awe on his face, that was also incredibly rude.

I later watched the paragon version and just. “I’m the very model of a-” SUPER. RUDE.

I knew doing all this meant I would also have to kill Wrex. That wasn’t a spoiler, that’s just logic. So one day I go to the Citadel, lalala, fetch quest fetch quest fetch quest, and then I go back to my ship and BAM. Wrex. How fucking brilliant. There is no moment around his confrontation, no visit to Tuchanka. It hits you when you’re completely off guard. He also called me out on not doing the “Bomb on Tuchanka” mission because I did things out of order. Found Grunt, go cure genophage. I shot Wrex. Bailey would have, but it was my responsibility.

Later, Garrus called me out on everything during his “tough call” scene. I told him what I did. The way he then asks, “Did Mordin just go along with it?” and Shepard just walks off was so good.

So.

All of Legions missions were SO cool. I’m learning I have such a weakness for robots/AIs and sentience. “Do these units have a soul?” Also it’s little inner brain Tron world was great, and how the Geth remember the Quarians who were kind was just beautiful. When it came time to choose between the Geth and the Quarians, I was able to save both. Even if that wasn’t the most renegade-y choice, it came from my original mission statement: bright, clear line. Both forces living meant both forces could fight. The rest of my “storyline” was so super dark that this moment felt really triumphant it my little role play? It reminded me of The Doctor saying “This time, everybody lives!”

The rest of the game was just “How many people can Liana kill?”

When Thane died, he called me sita one more time, even if I didn’t commit to him, and it BROKE MY FUCKING HEART. What a great detail to bring back one last time. When Bioware is on, it is ON.

When Samara held a gun to her head I was just like “See ya later alligator.” What a boring character. btw, the whole Morinth thing could have been SO cool but ended up so lame. I didn’t have enough renegade points to get her and I don’t even care. Bye. I didn’t give Miranda Alliance support so SHE died. That was sad. Grunt survived because my baby boy was loyal, but he might have died since I didn’t deal with the bomb. I was supposed to get a poorly spelled message from him according to the internet, and I never did, so uhhhh oops. Sorry, my son. Kaidan didn’t die during his little freak out because we were besties.

When Liara asked me if we were still dating, I said yes, then I immediately went to Garrus and he asked me if we were still dating and I ALSO said yes, then I flirted with James Vega and Samantha Traynor a lot. Eventually, during Garrus’s personal quest, he asked me if I was ready to be a one Turian kind of woman. I said no and he took the rejection well. Then I went to see Kaidan, and he told me he had feelings, and I locked in with him. I love the idea of Kaidan, who is kind of sheltered and idealistic, attempting to protect and soothe this war torn woman, while accepting the darkness of war himself and questioning his place in it. I loved the idea of us breaking apart, but brief grounded moments with one another. Plus Garrus never even seemed THAT into me, like, yeah you’re awkward bro but idk give me a cute nickname or SOMETHING, and Liara was boring. Liara was SO PISSED AT ME LMAOOO she used A Tone when I would go visit her in her little office and like stopped talking to me. It was hilarious.

I can’t remember if anything else super relavant happed in ME3. I hated Cortez’s “bury your gays” storyline. Gays can do more than be sad. Samantha Traynor was such an afterthought. I still don’t understand why a femShep couldn’t romance Jack, who is canonically bisexual, and I wish that was an option in ME3. I love that Kaidan came back bisexual, like he was just on his little Barbarella journey. What happeneds on Horizon, stays in Horizon.

I have written too much that no one, if anyone, will read, and I must sleep now before I chose the Symbosis ending again.

#zarohk

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modernapathy-project · 4 years ago

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Modern Apathy

Before starting, I do want to clarify that this is gonna be a purely reflective essay that is not meant to directly put blame on any specific group or person, but instead try to come up with answers for what might have caused modern apathy. It’s going to be a way to express the thoughts that run through my mind and the conclusions that I have come to, which many people might disagree with, which is also absolutely fine. With this project, my goal is to make people wonder about this issue. It doesn’t have to be a complex thought experiment or anything like that; my goal is to share my thoughts with people and maybe even start a discussion, as I am open to changing my opinions and thoughts. I think the best way to start a change is to first gently introduce people to the concept, without being too aggressive or forceful about it. It could be seen as a way to raise awareness about an issue that is quite difficult to tackle from an objective point of view, and it might read as more of a rambling text rather than a proper, MLA style essay. I do want this essay to have an intimate, more human feeling to it, which is why I will be using the pronouns “I” and “We”. I don’t think an objective, robotic essay would be very effective at making people connect with me.

Modern apathy

According to the Merriam-Webster website, apathy can be defined as “lack of feeling or emotion” or a “lack of interest or concern”. I have personally witnessed this phenomena in various shapes and forms, and have been an accomplice in it. Nowadays, most apathy doesn’t take the form of a war or a hate crime, as we as a society have managed to create societal movements to fight against these, even if things are still not completely solved. Instead, apathy finds its way by dressing itself as a sheep of positivity when it is in fact a wolf. We see hashtags tied to important movements being used as a pure aesthetic choice, a decoration, which people use to give their unrelated selfies some sort of validity. We see people taking smiling pictures in a tragic place such as the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, using such a tragic incident as a nice background. We see people joining societal movements not to empathize and create change, but to actively create conflict and negativity inside the movement itself. We see people monetizing and creating a show out of the death of a relative. This is modern apathy, an invisible parasite that corrupts and kills everything it touches, and manages to infect all of us.

To understand what might have given birth to this disease, we have to go back in history. Contrary to what the old generations often think, young people are not to blame for this phenomena. It’s not the fault of videogames, drugs, sex or alcohol. We can observe the birth of modern apathy in tragic events such as the Columbine High School massacre, in which Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold murdered 12 students and 1 teacher. This was a highly tragic, dark chapter in American history, which made people raise questions about access to guns, youth violence and such. News outlets, instead of respecting the tragedy of this day and paying condolences to the victims in a respectful way, made a circus out of the event, and gave birth to a giant wave of outrage that turned the shooting into a show, rather than what it was, which is a massacre. Dramatic interviews and movies were made, and the news would constantly use this opportunity to shove their political agenda down everyone’s throats, regardless of their political stance. There was no attempt to genuinely understand what might have caused this, maybe a delicate approach to mental illness. Instead, this sort of aggressive approach made the two shooters, Eric and Dylan into two cultural villains whose fame took away the gravity of the situation and instead made them into tropes. They somehow ended up becoming icons for many young people that also felt as if they did not fit in school. A phenomena called “The Columbine effect” was born, which explains how the Columbine massacre inspired many more future shootings, instead of discouraging them. This is where modern apathy comes in: It came hidden as someone that wanted to stop school shootings, but it ended up causing even more by turning it into a show, instead of raising empathy and awareness.

We can observe a somewhat similar phenomena in the effect that the 9/11 event had in the muslim population. It was a highly tragic event that definitely punched a hole through the safety that many Americans felt in their country, and many lives were lost for no reason. It was sad, terrifying and I can’t even imagine the pain and terror the families of the victims went through. The way the news tackled these events, however, was shameful: Once again, they were used to promote a political agenda which ended up with rampant islamophobia that is still very much palpable in not only North America, but in other countries throughout the world as well. I have to thank my muslim friend for this insight, as she made me realize the fear muslims had to go through after these events, as they were seen as disgusting, potential murderers and still are. They still suffer from this and have to somehow prove they’re “good muslims” by constantly trying to please the media. The way this event was sensationalized caused modern apathy towards muslims.

We can see this sensationalism and apathy in other boomer-oriented shows, such as Dr Phil, in which often mentally ill or unstable individuals are invited in order to be made fun of, under the excuse of them getting help. Most of the guests in Dr.Phil often report not receiving any sort of help and just being made into a laughingstock, instead of receiving the empathy and support they need. Dr.Phil is clearly not qualified enough to help a lot of these people, and he instead turns their tragedy or pain into a show. I have even found myself enjoying this content, as it is weirdly addictive to gain validation by seeing another person who is in a worse situation than me. It is a weird addiction to Schadenfreude that does not help anyone at all. There’s other shows like How to Catch a Predator, in which they set up a trap in order to catch pedophiles. While I agree with the idea that the individuals that get caught in this show should be humiliated and incarcerated, I can’t help but feel that maybe the humorous tone of the show might take away the seriousness of the situation and fail to show how disgusting and dangerous pedophiles are.

Finally, we have social media, the ultimate source of validation. We can see many examples of modern apathy in it: The way we base people on the amount of likes they have, the way we have the need to post every single thing that happens to us online. It’s almost as if you don’t somehow record the special moment, it never happened. If you didn’t take any pictures during your trip, why does it even matter? We see stupid challenges such as the Tidepod challenge actively risking people’s lives, and they do it all for attention. We can look at the situation of Myka Stauffer, who adopted a low-functioning autistic child for views and then gave him back to the adoption agency. There is the incident of Monalisa Perez, who shot her boyfriend on the chest while he was holding a book, all for a Youtube video. He passed away. Incidents like these make you wonder about how much we can turn off our empathy purely for views and likes, to the point where we risk our own lives.

We can also look at celebrity and sitcom culture, which force unrealistic expectations on us that then are not fulfilled, as reality is not fiction. This sort of Paris effect affects all of us and makes us think we are not good enough.

With this essay, I intend to express my thoughts in a clear way, and open a discussion to this topic, and maybe hear about what people think about this. They might have other points of view or opinions I never thought about, which I’d love to hear. I want to make people think about this, as that’s the best way to plant a seed of change.

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literallyjustanerd · 8 years ago

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In His Eyes (Chapter 5)

Another dose! Please enjoy I stayed up way too late to finish this chapter

Genre: Slow build/eventual romance Word count: 3624 Pairing: Nightcrawler/Angel Rating: T+

The clock has read 12:41 for the last fifteen minutes. That’s what it feels like to Scott, anyway. The professor drones on at the front of the classroom, and his voice is a sedative, slowly draining Scott of the little energy he had. His classmates seem to be in the same state of trance as he is; students slump over their desks, not one of them able to hold their head up unassisted. The day is warm, and the heat inside the stuffy study-come-classroom only highlights how tantalising the view from the window looks, crisp green lawns below a vivid blue sky promising freedom from the stifling tedium of class. Absentmindedly, he taps his pen on the side of his desk, suppressing a yawn: the professor may have told his students that he had a policy against reading his students’ thoughts, but he didn’t need telepathy to decode Scott’s lack of enthusiasm for basic physics. Evidently, he is not the only one who finds the class tedious, as he soon feels the sharp jab of a ballpoint pen in the side of his leg.

“Hey! Do you mind?” he hisses, and Ororo rolls her eyes, slouched and leaning back in her chair. As usual, the combination of her striking hair and black-and-leather clothing choices give her the image of a perfect punk-rock icon, like an image straight from a magazine. In reality, though Ororo presented herself as uncaring about her appearance, even her nonchalance is part of a carefully cultivated image. Like Jubilee’s bright, colourful persona or the uncaring bad-boy style Scott tries to emulate. “Toughen up,” comes Ororo’s chiding response. “What do you want?” “I’m bored.” “So?” “So, I’m trying to not be bored.”

Scott rolls his eyes, thankful at least that they are in the back row and out of the professor’s main focus. “And what can I do for you, your majesty?” Scott sighs, an unimpressed mocking in his tone. “Tell me what you know about what’s going with Jean,” Ororo demands. Her demeanour is determined, with a hint of brashness, and Scott nearly pushes her away then and there. However, he has little else to fill his time with, scarcely little, until the minutes ticked over to lunch and he can escape the confines of the classroom. So, he gives in to Storm’s insistent tone. “Jean?” “Yeah. Everyone’s talking about it. Her weird dreams. Some of the other kids say her powers are driving her crazy.” The accusation brings a frown to Scott’s face, eyes narrowing under red-tinted glasses. In the seat next to him, Ororo’s face remains flat and expectant. She knows as well as any student in the school that there is a thing between Scott and Jean. Rumours are passed around the hallways and classrooms, speculations ranging from one student catching the pair holding hands under a tree in the grounds to another (albeit not very widely believed) claim that someone had walked in on them ‘getting intimate’ in Scott’s bedroom. “Jean’s not crazy,” he says, slowly and firmly. “It’s just hard for her to control her powers. Same with you. Same with me.” “No duh. How’s the pinkeye, lasers?” The girl sees Scott’s fists clench, and she smirks, having gotten the response she had been looking for. “Shut. Up. You know why I wear these glasses,” he huffs, shoulders slumping and arms folded across his chest. There is a beat of silence before he gives in and speaks again, this time in nothing more than a mumble. “And they’re not lasers. They’re optic blasts.” There is a small snort of derision from the girl next to him. “Give it a rest, wastoid,” Scott snaps, earning both he and Ororo a swift scolding from Charles at the front of the classroom. After a reluctant and begrudging apology, the two go right back to bickering. “For real, though. Don’t go bringing me into this. I have control of my powers,” Ororo gloats, earning her a hearty, if muffled, laugh. “Yeah. That’s why whenever you’re in a bad mood, the kids in your class have to carry umbrellas.” Unable to find a reasonable retort, the girl can only scowl at the boy beside her, her anger fuelled by his cocky smirk. Their eyes are still directed towards the front of the classroom, books open and pens in hand to create the illusion of engagement, or at least compliance. It is like this often for both of the two – neither has ever been much into academia, and neither plans to pursue a career outside of the X-Men. It has always just felt right to them after settling into the mansion to dedicate themselves to furthering the rights of mutantkind. To Ororo after her years trying to scrape by in Egypt, and to Scott, who grew up watching his brother campaign as part of the pioneering X-Men, reminding him near daily that a life not spent fighting for what was right was a life wasted.

“It’s not like anyone here has perfect control of their powers,” Ororo defends. “I dunno. Look at Peter. I don’t see him screwing up or forgetting how to run.” “Peter’s different,” Ororo insists. “His power’s simple. It’s natural to him. Like Kurt’s.” Scott’s face scrunches in confusion and disagreement, but Ororo stands by her argument. “Maybe the more mutant you look, the easier it is to use your powers.” “That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.” “Well how do you know it’s not true?” she queries, growing indignant under Scott’s constant dismissal. “Because. Kurt doesn’t have full control either. He can’t take that many people at once, and he only goes where he can see.” She shrugs, twirling her pen between her fingers with the deftness and effortlessness that can only come from a childhood spent picking pockets and stealing to survive. “It’s probably just his problem. He’s not exactly the most confident guy out there.” “Hey, how would you feel if you got the looks he did in public?” “Fair,” she concedes, a pensive frown overtaking her well-defined features. She pauses a second or two, as though piecing together her own thoughts. “Has he seemed strange to you lately?” The memory drops into Scott’s mind of the day of Warren’s first flight: he bears a secret, and though he would sooner die than admit it, Scott often liked to indulge in a little gossip. The temptation is strong to share what he very strongly suspects. “Strange how?” “Usually he’s everyone’s friend. Never has that smile off his face. Past week he’s been acting like a whole different person. Doesn’t want to talk to anyone.” The tension between them has dissipated completely. With something else to focus on, it’s as though their rivalry never existed. “What about Warren?” “Warren?” Ororo screws up her nose. “What about him?” “Have you noticed him acting weird?” “Isn’t he always weird?” Leaning back on his chair, Scott ponders for a while. He doesn’t want to give away what Kurt had told him – while they had never explicitly stated it, he assumed Kurt would want him to keep it to himself. Though, the pull of gossip is strong. Very strong. With no one else to talk to, he is not even sure of how to think about what Kurt told him. How was he supposed to know he wasn’t reading the situation wrong? Maybe Kurt doesn’t feel romantically connected to Warren at all. Maybe he just feels connected to the boy because of what they went through in Germany?

Though at heart he knows this isn’t true, his conscious mind has already taken the excuse and run with it. He sits forward, all four chair legs on the ground once more, and leans in towards Ororo. Intrigued by the sudden change in Scott, the girl leans in as well, and Scott speaks in a mumble just barely loud enough for her to make out above the professor’s rambling. “I think there’s something going on with him and Kurt.” “What do you mean? Is Warren being a douchebag to him again?” Scott sees a fire ignite in Ororo’s eyes – Kurt gives off a vulnerable vibe at the best of times, and Ororo isn’t the type to hold back from defending any one of her friends, especially those she views as unable or unwilling to do it themselves. “No, no. Not that. I think Kurt’s got a… a thing for Warren.” “A thing? You mean like–?” Scott nods his head once, definitively. “So you think Kurt is–?” “Almost sure of it.” Ororo raises her head, glancing up at the ceiling and pursing her lips as she considers the possibility. And the more she looks back through the sides of Kurt she knows, the more the pieces fall into place. Something about Kurt she just hadn’t been able to put her finger on, something she just assumed had to do with his outer appearance, now made perfect sense to her. “Hm. I think you’re right.” Reassured, Scott decides to let loose the rest of what he knows, taking Ororo through he and Kurt’s talk, the way he had seen Kurt look at Warren, and through the whole recount, the girl seems to agree more and more with Scott’s initial judgement. “So why do you think Kurt’s upset? You think he told Warren and got rejected?” “No, if that had happened, Kurt would be more obviously upset,” Scott says, shaking his head. “Maybe they just had an argument or something.” Ororo shrugs, and before she can formulate a reply, the bell rings, and the discussion is forgotten in the rush to finally escape the classroom.

It is a Friday, and the house is almost empty by evening. The only ones who remain are the younger students who for whatever reason cannot or do not go home to their families for the weekend, those who are still too young to spend time off-campus without a chaperone. It was Jubilee who suggested they go out for dinner to a pizza place at a strip mall near the mansion. It was no surprise she wanted to go out somewhere they could spend money – she had recently landed her first part-time job at the movie theatre on that very same strip mall, and having just received her first paycheck, was eager to find a way to burn through it. As for the others, all those aside from Jean, who earned a bit of money tutoring the kids from the nearby elementary schools, they had their own ways of getting money for the occasional outing, whether it be sent from parents or “borrowing” off someone else in the group. As usual, the night is stolen by the more outspoken members of the group, though everyone seems to find a way to enjoy themselves. At least, everyone except a certain pair who sat silently and picked at their slices of pepperoni or cheese pizza. Kurt tries to laugh along with the others, to keep up the illusion that he doesn’t want to disappear back to his room and abandon the outside world in favour of another book. Warren, meanwhile, gives no effort to concealing his bad mood. He slouches in his chair and every so often casts a very deliberate glare to one of the others, making quite sure they know he is holding a grudge against them for making him come.

Hours pass, scraping by like sandpaper, and finally, they decide to pay their bill and leave. Ororo finds herself glad that Warren chooses to mope so far behind the rest of the group, and slows herself to match his pace as the others stroll along the strip of shops, contemplating whether or not they should stick around to spend some time at the arcade. Before Warren can muster up another scowl to give Ororo for what he assumes is an attempt to stick around and make conversation, she cuts in front of him, forcing him to halt abruptly, a glower of her own adorning her face. “What did you do to Kurt?” she demands, and Warren is so taken aback that he can only blink, mouth ajar, expression vacant. The way she speaks, so certain and direct, his chest thumps, horrified at the thought that Kurt might have spilled everything to her. But no, that doesn’t sound right at all: Kurt isn’t the type to do that. He is the type who keeps his pain to himself, and instead of letting it seep out as anger and pettiness like Warren does, he gathers it up and sweeps it under the rug. Warren begins to wonder how and why he thinks this with such certainty, but the thought is half-formed, and Ororo is speaking again. “Well?” she prompts, sharply. “What did you do that has him acting like this?” “What the hell are you talking about? What’s your damage?” Warren growls, trying to push past her only to be blocked by a strong, solid form and a stare so hard it could cut diamonds. “You know damn well what I’m talking about. Tell me what you did.” “What makes you think it’s any of your business?” Warren snarks. He regrets this immediately when he sees the resulting look on Ororo’s face, and starts to feel a little worried for his life. He now knows just what the others mean when they talk about how messing with anyone Storm cares about is a very bad idea. Just when he finds himself wondering if his wings could provide enough agility to dodge a lightning bolt, he is saved by the sound of Peter’s voice, calling back to them and urging them to keep up. Ororo assures him they will be right there, and the moment Peter’s eyes are off them, whips back around to Warren. “I’ll make this easy for you,” she says. “Apologise. Fix this. And don’t do it again.” With that, the encounter is over, and Warren is left to catch his breath and catch up to the others, now confused as well as moody.

He is still thrown off when they return home after dark, splitting off into singles or pairs and retreating to their rooms. He has felt horrible since saying what he had said to Kurt. The more time that passes, the less angry he feels at Kurt, and the more furious he feels with himself. But he hadn’t planned to say anything. He had resolved to leave it be, believing that Kurt would be better off without any more contact with him at all. But after Ororo’s little ‘talk,’ he begins to consider that talking might be the only way to make Kurt feel better, and the only way to ease his own conscience. That is why, as Kurt passes Warren in the hallway on his way to the bathroom, Warren stops him, voice timid and tentative. “Kurt, can I talk to you?” he attempts, feeling horribly out of his depth. He’d never been on the giving end of the “we need to talk” encounter before. Kurt’s brows furrow, wary of what could be happening. He does not want to repeat what happened a week ago, and yet the look in Warren’s eyes, a sort of weak and watered down version of what might be compassion, causes him to rethink his instinctual ‘no,’ followed by a hasty escape. “I suppose so,” he shrugs, and follows Warren the short distance down the hall and into his room. The window is cracked open just enough to let a small draught wander in, though Kurt can tell he is breathing the same air Warren has been for at least a few days. Time passes, and neither talks, both waiting for the other to start the conversation neither knew how to have. “Look, about the other night…” “Yes?” Kurt asks presently. “Well. When I– you know. It wasn’t what I– I didn’t mean–” It is clear he hopes Kurt will intervene, put him out of the misery of trying to push words out of a mouth that only knows how to be sullen and self-pitying. But Kurt stays stubbornly silent, cynically curious to see if this will lead to anything substantial. Warren sighs, heavily, and hopes that a new lungful of air will make some sort of difference. “I didn’t say what I said to upset you,” he says finally. “I don’t really think that stuff.” The words hit Kurt’s ear roughly, their hollowness reverberating through him, making his heart sink. “Sorry.” And just like that, he is lifted once again. Certainly not too much, not enough to make him soar on the gust of one simple word, dropped awkwardly into an awkward conversation. But nonetheless, the addition of that one little syllable brings a new hope to Kurt: maybe in time, it will grow easier for Warren to do these sorts of things. And, he cannot deny it, he wants to be there to see that happen.

Warren doesn’t know how to feel when he sees Kurt instantly shift at his one word. His shoulders rise, stretching and straightening as though a weight has been lifted from them, and his tail swishes with life. Relief washes over him, the sudden drop in tension making his legs feel a little weak and sending a shiver through his wings, but at the same time, it feels a little too easy. He wonders if he is taking advantage of Kurt’s forgiving nature. If he deserves a second chance with the boy, after months of abuse during his recovery, followed by weeks of apparent improvement only for it to be pulled out from underneath him one week ago. Perhaps he really should just give up and leave the boy be, let him try to find some way to move on from Warren’s pushing and pulling. But something about the buoyant, optimistic look on Kurt’s face makes him sure that he couldn’t stay away. “It’s alright,” Kurt says. “I understand.” Both boys seem lost for a moment, each one drinking in the sensation of having a week’s worth of pent-up tension release with a mere few words. There is still a block there: neither one feels as close to the other as they had that night on the rafters. But right now, this is the best outcome they could get.

Finally, Kurt casts his eyes around the room, noting a few new bottles on the sill and on the floor. Beer, mostly, but he can see the edge of the label of bottle of gin on Warren’s nightstand, and the tall neck of a bottle of vodka on its side in the corner. He hopes the amount that Warren consumes is less than one would first think on entering the room: he has never seen Warren clean his room, and suspects from the thin layer of dust that coats some of the bottles that they may have been there quite a while, a small shrine to the issues Warren has yet to even attempt to think about. “Do you think maybe you should try to cut back on the drinking?” Kurt asks, very wary that this could start the fight all over again. Though thankfully, Warren seems too emotionally drained to be defensive, and instead gives a vague shrug. “It’s fine.” “Are you sure? It’s not a problem? Because if it is, you can get help for it.” “It’s fine. I don’t need help.” Taking the hint, Kurt backs off, nodding. “Alright. I should get to bed, then.” Warren nods in response, and just like before, he does not say “goodnight,” until it sounds forced and disjointed, when Kurt is already halfway out the door. And, just like before, Kurt accepts it, giving a small, tired smile as he looked back over his shoulder at the boy in the room with the empty bottles and the mostly-closed window. “Goodnight, Warren.”

When Kurt slips into bed a few minutes later, teeth brushed and pyjamas on, Peter gives him a quizzical look at his sudden change in attitude: the past few days, he has been dragging himself through his bedtime routines, though tonight the spring is back in his step. “What’re you so happy about?” he asks, one eyebrow raised in suspicion. Kurt lets himself smile for a moment before he reins it in and reduces it to a small quirk of his lips. “It’s nothing,” he assured the boy, shaking his head. Peter shrugs, tossing Kurt a casual “night,” before rolling over and pulling up the covers. Kurt is content as he falls asleep that night. Not ecstatic, not even too happy. Just content. He and Warren have taken a few steps backwards, yes, and he is still unsure whether he wants to continue down this path if it means having to endure this sort of back and forth forever. But all that can wait. For now, he takes solace in the fact that things are better now than they were when he had woken up that morning. And that was really all anyone could ask for from a day, wasn’t it?

#i'm really enjoying writing this #but it's taking over my life #heLP #in his eyes #drabble #nightangel #nightcrawler #kurt wagner #angel #archangel #warren worthington #warren worthington iii #fanfiction #fanfic #x-men #xmen #marvel #comics #x-men apocalypse

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spicynbachili1 · 6 years ago

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Review: Spyro Reignited Trilogy

Come on baby, light my fire

There are plenty of things in Britain that aren’t strong. The pound, the economy, my intestinal lining. But one thing that remains rock solid is our apparent nostalgia for the original PlayStation console. The launch of the PS1 was the moment that Britain apparently decided it wasn’t “dorky” to play video games, thanks to trendy marketing tactics by Sony and a lot of demo pods in expensive nightclubs.

As such, games like Crash Bandicoot, PaRappa the Rapper, and other cutesy characters, that your average Terry would have balked at in ’93 as “for little kids”, were now super-cool icons for the late teen/early 20’s market. This nostalgic love runs deep even today, as exemplified by Crash’s domination of the UK Charts for not one, but two summers in a row.

Me, however, I wasn’t sold. I didn’t care much for the glut of 3D platformers that swamped the shelves in the wake of Nintendo’s Super Mario 64. I was all about the punching and the giant spiders and the powerbombs. So, it’s with a bit of sigh that I received my review code for Activision’s Spyro Reignited Trilogy, which compiles three dragon-y adventures from the later years of the PS1. I played the original game way back when, but that has become a fog with time. Y’see, I don’t particularly care for the genre, or the characters, or the starry-eyed nostalgia surrounding Spyro’s brand.

But the smug little bastard put me in my place, that’s for true.

Spyro Reignited Trilogy (PS4 [reviewed] Xbox One) Developer: Toys for Bob Publisher: Activision Released: November 13, 2018 MSRP: $39.99 Activision’s Spyro Reignited Trilogy takes three of the titular dragon’s classic PS1 adventures and bundles them together in one easy-to-swallow, lengthy-to-download package. Reignited features 1998’s Spyro the Dragon, 1999’s Spyro 2: Ripto’s Rage and 2000’s Spyro: Year of the Dragon. Developed from the ground-up by Toys for Bob, Reignited hopes to please Spyro’s dedicated fans, while giving those who missed out previously an opportunity to experience the ’90s adventures with new aesthetics befitting a modern era of gaming.

And what a job they have done in that particular department. Reignited, more that just an upgrade, is a stunning re-imagining of Spyro’s universe. Despite being recreated faithfully in a dimensional sense, every world has been beautifully realised, bursting with luscious colours, strong lighting effects, and with meticulous attention paid to the animation of every single character.

“Character” is the optimal word here, as every creature, friend or foe, is brimming with life in their movement, idle animation, death animation, facial expressions and physical behaviour. The cast of Reignited are depicted with such care that they instill a genuine sense of personality. Every dragon rescued in the original Spyro is a joy to behold, selling their respective attitudes in fun design. smooth animation and a few scant lines of dialogue. The terrain itself – from wide-open fields and dusty valleys, to deep blue oceans and red-skied lava pits – are universally gorgeous. Through strong colours, smart effects and fluid movement, Toys for Bob hasn’t just upgraded Spyro’s universe, it has imbued it with heart to create a (fire) breathing world of fun characters.

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One thing I certainly wasn’t expecting was to get such a kick out of the soundtrack. Blending upbeat, happy-go-lucky tunes with bizarre, almost prog-rock use of bass and organs, the Spyro soundtracks have been re-recorded afresh to match Reignited’s visual facelift. They sound similarly fantastic, save for some odd looping. Dynamic music adds and removes beats dependent on whether yer boy Spyro is standing still, wandering, gliding or dashing, which lends a nice cinematic touch to the action.

For purists, the original soundtrack can be restored via the pause menu, in case you’re looking for that Pavlovian link to your memories. Voice work is solid, although I’ve never really “bought” Spyro’s voice, I don’t think it fits him. Much hilarity was also found in the bizarre gamut of accents in Year of the Dragon, Is that supposed to German? South African? Italian? There’s a lot of flyer miles going on with some of YOTD’s characters.

Speaking of sound, it would be remiss for me not to address the weird omission of subtitles during cut-scenes. This was an issue also raised with the Crash Bandicoot: N. Sane Trilogy. Despite Activision’s terrible attempts to excuse the situation, there’s simply no reason not to include subtitles in a video game in 2018. There’s zero point in the publisher trying to explain it away. Here’s hoping for a possible update in the future, because it’s a baffling design decision. Fortunately, subtitles do appear when speaking to in-game quest-givers.

Of course, none of this aesthetic praise counts for anything if the gameplay doesn’t get your wings flapping. In this regard, Toys for Bob have chosen to play it safe. Reignited attempts to recreate its trilogy to a tee, without making any serious attempts to alter, break or fix too much from the original releases. This is a double-edged sword – a “problem” faced by many retro-remake releases – as it delivers the exact same experience that long-time fans remember, but also doesn’t shake anything up in order to catch up with video gaming advances in the interim.

As such, fans will be stoked with how immediately recognisable Reignited feels, but some newcomers may find its gameplay, particularly in the original Spyro the Dragon, simplistic and dated. Let’s face it, these games are pushing 20 years old now, and their basic “search the world and find all the gems” objectives may come across as bland in an era where we are bombarded with objectives, side-quests and other activities in our 3D adventures.

That said, It must be noted that I personally found it refreshing to play through three games where the map screen wasn’t swamped with icons. More isn’t always more. After a couple of decades of open-worlds where you can’t move for tripping over yet another quest, Reignited is almost therapeutic in its approach to activities. Year of the Dragon is the most creative, requiring Spyro – and various playable pals – to complete “mini-missions” in order to receive items needed to progress. Oh, it also has skateboarding and a “Whoa, dude!” character, because it’s the year 2000 and of course it fucking does.

With these remakes, Toys for Bob has gone above and beyond in audio/visual upgrades, but remained withdrawn in terms of gameplay experimentation. As such, Reignited is the definitive version of the original Spyro trilogy, looking, sounding, and for sure controlling better than ever before. Aesthetically, it isn’t just an upscale, its a reinvention of Spyro, Sheila, Sgt. Byrd and their friends, enemies and universe. A reinvention that’ll leave fans squealing with delight.

By choosing to toe the line, gameplay-wise, Reignited threatens to leave some newcomers – who have been spoiled for choice with hundreds of excellent releases in the last two decades – wondering what all the fuss is about. But, as I said above, I personally found the stripped-back approach to open-world gaming not only relaxing, but refreshing. I guess everything old is new again…

Spyro Reignited Trilogy is a fan’s dream. This heartfelt remake is bursting with colour, character and adventure, even if it has been developed with an cautious approach to reinvention. Though some might find its retro-fused action a little simplistic in this convoluted era of gaming, Spyro has the ability to entertain even the most cynical player with its wonderful worlds, slick design, and ability to spark the flames of nostalgia.

[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]

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Spyro Reignited Trilogy reviewed by Chris Moyse

GREAT

Impressive effort with a few noticeable problems holding it back. Won’t astound everyone, but is worth your time and cash. How we score: The destructoid reviews guide

from SpicyNBAChili.com http://spicymoviechili.spicynbachili.com/review-spyro-reignited-trilogy/

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brettonio-one-chicago · 8 years ago

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Heartbeat Song

A/N: Sorry for the delay... I’ve been planning this one for a bit now, and I’ve had some help this time around. A huge thank you to @magnificentkidstarfish for your input! Hope y’all enjoy it. It’s way different than what I’ve normally written. Will also be really long... so, click on the ‘Keep Reading’ to get into it.

Kelly was walking past the ambo when he could hear a large amount of cussing coming from the back of it. He looked around. He knew that Gaby and Casey were making lunch, but he hadn’t seen Sylvie in a while. He knew the others were in the main room watching TV. He knocked on the back of the ambo. “Brett?”

“Go away.” She muttered.

“Not gonna happen. What’s going on?”

“Go away.” She reiterated.

He wasn’t going to give up. He tried to open the doors but they were locked. He went around and hopped in the driver’s seat. He looked into the back of the ambo. IV tubing was strewn across the back. There were packages of 4x4s and other gauzes on the gurney, and Sylvie was leaning forward, head on the gurney, sobbing. She never looked up. He sighed. He saw the side door was unlocked, so he slipped out and went around and got in the side door.

Sylvie’s head shot up when he closed the door. “Which part of ‘go away’ didn’t you understand?”

“The part where a friend is crying in the back of an ambulance that looks like a war zone.” Kelly sat next to her. “Talk to me... please.”

Sylvie wiped her cheeks and nose. “Why?”

“Because you look like hell... you haven’t been yourself the last couple days.”

“Yeah... well... I think I found out why.” She reached into her pocket. She hadn’t planned on telling anyone. She didn’t even know what to do with the news herself. “Here.”

Kelly took the small object from Sylvie. He flipped it over. “Is this was I think it is?”

“It’s an ICON.” Sylvie sniffled. “I’m pregnant.”

Kelly looked at her, mouth agape. “Seriously.”

She nodded slowly. “And... I don’t know what to do... hence the disaster in here.”

“Uh...” Kelly cleared his throat. “Is... Antonio?”

Sylvie’s tear filled eyes stared into his. “Yeah... it’s his baby... and with everything that’s happened, I have no fucking clue what to do anymore.”

Kelly handed her the pregnancy test back and pulled her into a hug. “Just breathe, for now.” He rubbed her back. “Breathe... and cry if you want to.”

Sylvie wept openly into his chest. The tears drenched his shirt. Her whole body ached from the sobs. “I’m sorry, Kelly...” She tried to breathe. “This isn’t your mess.”

“No... but you’re a friend... and I’m not exactly a guy to let their friends go through this kinda thing alone.”

“Thanks.” Sylvie hiccupped.

Kelly smiled. “You tell anyone?”

“Just you... and April... at Med... she’s the one who ran the test.” Sylvie whispered. “I... I didn’t want to tell Gaby... she and Antonio don’t have secrets.”

“You... you don’t want Antonio to know?” Kelly scratched his head.

“I... I don’t know... I know we... we took a break... but...” She sniffled again. “I don’t want him to... to come back... just because of a baby.”

“Sylvie... I don’t think that’s the only reason he’d come back. A blind man could see how much you two cared about each other.”

“If he cared so much... then... why did leave... tell me he wasn’t good enough... let Laura drive a wedge between us.”

“I wish I could give relationship advice, but I’m not exactly the best guy for that.”

“I... I don’t want to get rid of it... but... I’m terrified to go through this alone.”

Kelly sighed. “How ‘bout I start by helping you organize this and then you just focus on the job for now... and maybe after shift... you and I can talk about this, with no chance of interruptions?”

Sylvie wiped her tears on her sleeve. “Okay... sure.”

Kelly grabbed the 4x4s and started putting them back in the compartments. “You’re gonna be fine... just make sure Gaby doesn’t catch on...”

“I’ll blame it on bad sushi.” Sylvie chuckled.

“Yeah, well no more sushi, or booze...”

“Yes, Dr. Severide.” Sylvie smiled. “I know... I am a paramedic after all.”

He closed the cabinet. “There...”

The alarm sounded. “Ambo 61, Squad 3, Truck 81... 3 car collision...”

“Right on time.” He patted her shoulder. “See ya there.”

Sylvie unlocked the back of the ambo and hopped out. She got in the passenger seat as Gaby ran up to the driver’s side.

Gaby gave her a weird look. “You okay?”

“Yeah... just was checking inventory... and dealing with the side effects of bad sushi.” Sylvie rubbed her stomach.

“I told you not to hit that place... last time Casey and I did, we ended up sick for two days.”

“I will listen to you more often when it comes to take-out choices.” Sylvie chuckled. “Let’s just get there... 3 cars never ends up being a good thing.”

By the end of the shift, Sylvie was beat. Between calls, she’d spent a majority of the time in the bathroom. Luckily for her, they all were buying the bad sushi excuse. She couldn’t wait to get home. She’d texted Kelly to meet her there, that she just wanted to go home.

Once home, she changed into some pyjamas and wrapped herself in a blanket. She was flipping through Netflix when there was a knock at her door. “Who is it?”

“Severide.”

She got up and went to unlock the door. “Hey.”

“Hey.” He handed her a bag. “Gingerale and crackers... I was told they’re a nausea cure all.”

“Thanks.” Sylvie smiled. “I was out.”

Kelly came in and closed the door. “How was the rest of shift?”

“Well, luckily everyone believes the bad sushi excuse, but I don’t think I can keep using that for the next 9 months.”

“9 months?” Kelly arched an eyebrow.

“Well... to be honest... it may be less than that.” Sylvie popped open one of the cans of gingerale.

“Not to be nosey, but... how long since the last time... you know?”

Sylvie thought back. “The day Laura caused the rampage at 51.”

Kelly did the math. “That was 2 months ago.”

“So... more like 7-8 months.” Sylvie sighed. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do... I can’t risk staying at 51 when I start showing.”

“Well... I’d suggest talking to Chief. He’d understand.” Kelly took the bag from her and put it in the kitchen. “You... you really want this baby?”

Sylvie took a sip. “Yeah... I do... I... was adopted as a child... wish I had known my birth parents... and... as much as I could probably give a baby up for adoption... I don’t want him or her asking questions 20 years from now.”

“Fair enough.” Kelly sat by the counter. “And you’re sure you don’t want to tell Antonio?”

Sylvie nodded. “If he comes back to me... if we get back together, I want it because he loves me and not because I’m growing his baby in my uterus.”

Kelly chuckled. “That’s that the most romantic way I’ve heard a pregnancy described.”

Sylvie shook her head. “Kelly... I... I’m at a loss. The person I’d tell about this... ask help from... is the father’s sister... I don’t want her to know because she’ll go blabbing to him... or she’ll hate me.”

“Why the hell would Dawson hate you?”

Sylvie glared at him. “Really? You have no idea why she’d hate me?”

Kelly shrugged.

“She lost the baby... then they took Louie away...”

“Shit.” Kelly bit his lip. “Yeah... I can see your point.”

Sylvie sighed. “I may not be able to drink, but you can have some beer... it’s in the fridge.”

Kelly smiled. “Uh, thanks... you eat today?”

“I tried... didn’t keep much down.”

“How about I order out?”

“I can try to eat something.” Sylvie drank more gingerale. “Any good soup places?”

“I know a couple that will deliver.” Kelly popped open the beer. “Chicken?”

“Please.” Sylvie took one pack of crackers and began to nibble on them. “Hey, um... Kelly... I know that some women can do this whole pregnancy thing on their own, but I... I really don’t want to.”

Kelly looked up from his phone. “What exactly are you asking?”

“Could you be my pregnancy buddy?”

Kelly thought about it. He had volunteered to be Shay’s baby daddy back then. “Sure.” He put his phone away. “Food will be here in about 30 minutes. In the meantime, what’s good on Netflix?”

Antonio was at Molly’s like he’d been for the past few months after he got off work. He wasn’t drinking but he just liked being there. He looked down at his glass of sweet tea and sighed. He didn’t know what he wanted anymore. Laura had limited the amount of time he could spend with the kids since her blow out with Sylvie.

“Hey, ‘Tonio... you okay?” Gaby came up to him, wiping a glass.

“Uh... what?” He shook his head.

“You okay?” She put the glass and towel down.

“I don’t know.” He finished his drink. “How... How’s Sylvie?”

Gaby sighed. “I don’t know. She was real messed up after it first happened... hell, she was gonna marry some random guy when Kidd and I took her out for a girls’ night.”

Antonio gaped at his sister. “She what?”

“Don’t worry, we didn’t let her marry the guy.” Gaby patted his hand. “Why are you so worked up about this... aren’t you two on a break?”

Antonio ran his hand through his hair. “Yeah... but it doesn’t mean I don’t still care about her.”

“Antonio.” Gaby leaned across the bar. “Why don’t you two make up... save everyone a headache?”

Antonio stared at her. “Gaby... she said when things settled down.”

“And what? They haven’t?”

“Well, sorta.”

“Then call her up.”

“You still haven’t told me how she’s doing?”

“She had food poisoning a couple weeks back.” Gaby answered. “She’s been kinda emotional, but I blame that completely on this stupidity that you two have going on.”

“Is she seeing anyone?”

“I’m not in charge of her social life, Antonio. I’m her partner on ambo... I have enough on my plate.”

Antonio groaned. He didn’t want to give in but he did. “Can I get a beer?”

“I thought you weren’t drinking as much.” Gaby handed him a bottle.

“It’s the first beer I’ve had here in weeks... ask Herrmann or Otis.” He tipped the bottle towards her.

“Uh huh.” Gaby took the clean glasses and began to rearrange them on the shelf.

A couple months passed and Sylvie’s morning sickness was under control. She wore looser uniforms to make sure that no physical changes were noticeable. She finally had drawn up the courage to talk to Chief Boden about this. She knocked on his door. “Chief?” She asked.

“Sylvie... come in... close the door.” Boden waved her in. “What can I do for you?”

“Um... I...” Sylvie was wringing her hands together. “Umm... I don’t know how to start.”

“Well... I find just blurting it out helps.” Boden said.

Sylvie knew he was right. She took a deep breath. “I’m pregnant.”

Boden’s eyes widened. “Congratulations?” He wasn’t sure if Sylvie was happy or not.

“No, Chief... it’s... it’s a good thing. I am happy... I... I just don’t want anyone else to know.”

“Antonio’s the father.” Boden deduced. Sylvie nodded. “And you don’t want him finding out?”

Sylvie nodded. “I don’t want Gaby to know either... they... they don’t hide anything from each other.”

“I see.” Boden scratched his chin. “Well... how... how far long?”

“About 4 months.” Sylvie whispered. “I’ve been hiding... under bigger clothes... but there’s only so much I can hide before people catch on.”

“I see... and how would you explain the transfer? I mean I just got my house family back together.”

“Maybe see if I can move up to Dispatch... until I can figure out how to tell people.”

“Are you keeping the baby?”

Sylvie nodded. “I will tell him... I just don’t know how... I don’t...” She sighed. “Sorry, Chief... you don’t need to know all my sad story.”

“Sylvie... I take care of my own... I understand that Antonio and you are on break...”

“Yeah, Chief... but I don’t want him to come back strictly because of a baby.”

“I don’t think that’s how Antonio Dawson works, but this is your life... so I will respect your wishes. I can put in a request but it may take some time... can you handle that?”

She nodded. “Yeah... oh... and Chief... Kelly’s been my buddy in all this... He’s the one who found me cursing and trashing the ambo the day I found out.”

“I see.” Boden sighed. “Well... If he’s still your buddy... he can be on stand-by for when the time comes... just a word of advice.”

“Yes, Chief?”

“Be careful... should Gaby find out... she may assume that Kelly is the father.”

“I understand.”

Boden stood up. “Congratulations and I’ll let you know once the transfer goes through.”

“Thank you, Chief.”

After shift, Kelly met Sylvie at her apartment. “How’d it go with Chief?”

“He was understanding like you said he’d be.”

“Told you... Chief looks out for all of us.” Kelly smiled. “How you feeling?”

“Tired.”

“Where did Chief say he’d tried to get you?”

“He said he’d try to get me into Dispatch... at least until baby comes.”

“You excited for tomorrow?” Kelly opened the fridge. “What on Earth are you eating?”

“Um...”

“Sylvie... come on... you’re in the medical field... you can’t just eat nachos and pickles and still have a healthy pregnancy.”

“But...”

“No buts.” Kelly closed the fridge. “Tomorrow after the appointment, we’re going grocery shopping.”

“Fine.” Sylvie conceded. “Can we at least have Chinese tonight?”

Kelly shook his head. “Okay, sure... but you’re limited on the amount of friend foods you’re getting.”

Sylvie crossed her arms and pouted.

“Nope. No way. That never worked with Shay... it sure as hell ain’t gonna work on you.”

“But the baby likes fried foods.” Sylvie insisted.

“That baby is the size of an avocado... or at least that’s what this app is telling me.” He held up his phone.

“You bought a pregnancy app?” Sylvie grabbed his phone.

“Yeah... figured it would help me be a better pregnancy buddy.”

“You know that it’s not gonna be easy once Gaby finds out.”

“I can handle her... I just hope that you’ll tell people sooner rather than later.” Kelly snatched his phone back. “I’m gonna order that Chinese... you get fried rice and one other fried item. That’s it.”

“Egg rolls.”

“There... now go find us a movie to watch.”

Meanwhile...

“Hey, Matt...” Gaby handed him a beer.

“Yea?”

“You notice anything off with Sylvie or Kelly lately?”

Casey shook his head. “No, why?”

“Just... he’s really protective of her... and they’ve been spending a lot of together.”

“So?” Casey was desperately trying to watch the Blackhawks game.

“Matt!” Gaby jumped in front of the TV. “Seriously.”

“Gaby...” Matt pleaded. “I... Can I finish the game first?”

Gaby grabbed the remote and turned off the TV. “Matt!”

Casey threw his hands up in frustration. “Gaby!”

“Please... this is important.”

Matt collapsed back against the couch. “Okay... so what’s going on?”

“Have you noticed that Kelly and Sylvie have been spending time together a lot lately?”

“Kinda... so?”

“Is he sleeping with her?”

“How should I know?”

“The Bro Code... or whatever you call it.”

“Why would he tell me?”

“Matt, come on... has he talked to you about anything?”

“No... Gaby... He hasn’t... even if they were, what business is it of ours?”

“She was just dating my brother.”

“Four months ago... Gaby... she’s allowed to move on... the same way Antonio can move on.”

“Matt, they’re supposed to be on a break.”

“Then... what exactly do you want me to do about all this?” Matt was getting a little pissed off. “He’s your brother and she’s your partner... you want them back together, you’re going to have to make it happen.”

“Matt...”

“Gaby, I’m not helping your brother realize that Sylvie was the best thing that ever happened to him... he needs to do that on his own.”

“So, in the mean time... I’m just supposed to stand by and let Kelly weasel his way in.”

“I don’t think Kelly’s that kind of guy. If you’re so up in arms about it... then you confront them.” He grabbed the remote back from her. He groaned when the TV turned back on to see that the Hawks had lost in overtime.

“Well... baby is perfectly healthy.” Will did some measurements. “You wanna know what it is?”

Sylvie was sure she had wanted to know, but now that they were here, she wasn’t sure. She looked to Kelly. “I don’t know.”

Kelly shrugged. “Not my baby, your choice.”

Sylvie sighed. She looked back at the screen. The baby was active. She was starting to feel it move. “Coul... Could you write it down on a sealed envelope? This way, if I want to know, I can look later?”

Will nodded. “Of course.” He wrote down the gender on a paper and sealed it in the envelope. “Does Antonio know yet?”

Sylvie shook her head as she wiped away the ultrasound jelly. “No... I’m not sure when I’m going to tell him yet.”

“How’s the morning sickness?”

“Not as bad.”

“Eating habits?”

Kelly jumped it. “Those need to be fine tuned.”

Will arched an eyebrow. “How so?”

“When I checked her fridge last night, all I found were stale nachos and a jar of Kosher dill pickles.”

“Sylvie!” Will gasped. “You know better.”

“I’m going to... after Kelly takes me to the market.”

“Good.” Will handed her the envelope and a prescription. “Get these pre-natal vitamins... and have you found a real OB?”

“Not yet.”

Will reached into his pocket. “Figured. Here’s one. She’s great... I’ve already briefed her on your case... she’s happy to take you on.”

“Thank you, Will... you’ve made this... a little easier.” Sylvie gratefully took the envelope with her child’s gender and the card of the OB.

“Anything for a friend... how about work?”

“Chief knows... he’s working on getting me transferred to dispatch.”

Will finished some notes in her chart. “How are you going to explain the transfer?”

“I haven’t thought that far ahead.” Sylvie didn’t want to leave 51, but she couldn’t be an active paramedic when she was already starting to show. The job could get really dangerous and she didn’t want to put her child at risk.

“You might want to.” Will closed her chart. “Not to be nosey, but 51 is like here or Intelligence... everyone knows everything... when they don’t... the gossip mill tends to run at full steam.”

“I know... I just... I really don’t want Antonio to only come back because of the baby.”

“I get it.”

“Hey... you haven’t said anything to Jay about this, have you?” Sylvie asked.

Will shook his head. “I wouldn’t even if I could. Don’t forget, doctor-patient confidentiality.”

“Thanks again, Will.” Sylvie hugged him. “I’ll call this OB when we get home from the market.”

“Alrighty... let’s get going so we have time to do everything.” Kelly shook Will’s hand. “Thanks again, man.”

“Anytime.” Will left the room.

“So, ready to go?” Kelly asked.

Sylvie put everything in her purse and nodded. “Yep... and we’re going to a market... not a grocery store for filling my fridge and pantry.”

“Hey... you’re the pregnant one... I’m just the partner in crime to make sure you stay healthy.” Kelly grinned. “I drive, you give me directions.”

During her time dating Antonio and being Gaby’s roommate, Sylvie had gotten hooked on this small Latin-American market close to her old apartment. She loved the seasonings and a bunch of the more traditional foods that weren’t available at most grocery stores. She also knew there was a farmer’s market around the corner from the market today, so she would be able to get fresh produce too. They’d get meat later after they got lunch. They were browsing the spice aisle when Sylvie wasn’t paying attention to what she was doing when she backed into someone. She spun around and began apologizing in her broken Spanish. Her jaw dropped when she saw it was Camila Dawson. “Oh, I’m so sorry!” She exclaimed.

“Sylvie!” Camila put her basket down to hug Sylvie. “It’s a surprise to see you here.”

Sylvie blushed. “Both your children got me hooked on Latino food... so, I come here to get what I need for the recipes.”

Camila grinned. “I’m glad.” She looked over Sylvie’s shoulder and saw Kelly. “Kelly? What are you doing here?”

Kelly’s head shot up. “Oh! Mrs. Dawson.” He walked over to join them and hugged Camila. “I’m just helping Sylvie out... her, uh, car is in the shop.”

Camila looked between the two of them. Sylvie wasn’t sure if she bought that story. The last thing she needed was for Camila to find out that she was pregnant and tell Antonio.

“Sylvie... I was so sorry to hear what happened with Laura... and with my son.”

“You heard?”

Camila nodded. “Diego told me the next time he came to stay with me.”

Sylvie sighed. “We’re on a break... at least until things settle down.”

Camila took her hands. “Mija, don’t wait too long... my son is pig headed... he gets that from his father.”

Sylvie snickered. “As does Gaby.”

“Si... but he may need an extra little nudge...”

“I understand.” Sylvie smiled. “It’s been nice chatting, but my car should be ready soon, so I want to finish up here so I can pick it up and go finish my laundry.”

“Of course.” Camila pulled her in for a hug. “It was good seeing you again, you too, Kelly.”

Kelly nodded and took the basket from Sylvie, but the basket got caught on her jacket. This briefly exposed her baby bump. Sylvie did up her jacket better and prayed Camila didn’t notice. They headed to the till to pay.

Camila picked up her basket and scratched her head. Sylvie was generally a slim person, but she had noticed her being heavier around the middle. She shook her head. She couldn’t be pregnant. She then stopped and thought about it. Perhaps Kelly wasn’t just a friend. She would call Gaby when she got home.

It was almost 5 by the time they got back to Sylvie’s and she was exhausted. She never thought that being 4 months pregnant would make her so tired. She went to the kitchen to start cooking but she grabbed the counter as she got woozy.

Kelly rushed to her side. “Hey... you okay?”

“Jus... Just a little dizzy.” She shook her head.

Kelly didn’t like the sound of that. He swept her into his arms and carried her to the couch.

“Kelly!” Sylvie fought against him. “I can walk, you know.”

“Uh huh.” Kelly ignored her. “You’re staying put on this couch, I’m gonna cook.”

“You? Cook?” Sylvie stared at him. “Really?”

“I’m hurt!” Kelly feigned injury. “I do cook, just not at the house.”

“I’m not gimped, Kelly... I just need a breather.”

“Obviously, you know nothing about growing a baby... you’re gonna tire easier... you’re not gonna be able to do everything the same way you used to.”

“I know, Kelly... I just... I don’t want to be treated like some glass figurine that’s going to shatter any second.”

“I know you’re not... but you need to accept help.” He went to the fridge and grabbed her some apple juice. “Drink some of this... it’ll help your sugar levels, and keep any nausea you may have at bay.”

While supper was cooking, Kelly put the groceries away while Sylvie gave him orders on where to put stuff from the couch. They ate supper on the couch while watching the Food Network.

Kelly put his plate down. “I had an idea.”

Sylvie swallowed. “Okay?”

“What if I were to stay here, until either baby comes or you tell Antonio... just in case you need me?”

“And where would you sleep?” Sylvie asked. “I only have one bed.”

“I’ll sleep on the couch. This way, you know you’ve always got someone here if something happens.”

Sylvie pondered the proposal. It would make sense. She didn’t really like being alone. She had hoped that Antonio would’ve come around by now, but he hadn’t. “Sure... though, may I should get a pull out couch instead of this... you’ll get all cramped... but what about your place?”

“It’s fine.” Kelly took their plates to the kitchen. “I... I just know how much this baby means to you, and that you miss having someone around all the time.”

“I do miss that.”

Meanwhile...

“Ma?” Gaby answered her cell. “Is everything okay?”

“Si, si, Gabriela... I’m fine... I was... I ran into Sylvie today at the marcado... is she seeing someone?”

“Not that I know of... why?”

“Well... you may think I’m being silly... but I think she’s pregnant.”

“Ma... she hasn’t been with Antonio in months...”

“Well, she’s not as slim as she was the last time I saw her four months ago.”

“Ma... I’m sure if she was, she would’ve told me, or at least told Antonio.”

“She was with Kelly.”

“Severide?” Gaby was shocked. “Really?”

“Si, I may be getting older, but I’m not blind.”

“Okay, Ma... I get that... but...”

“What is it, mija?”

“I asked Matt the other day if maybe Kelly was seeing Sylvie.”

“What did he tell you?”

“That he knew nothing.”

“Maybe we’re just both being silly.”

Gaby sighed. “Maybe... I’ll talk to Antonio and see if he’s heard anything.”

“Don’t go gossiping, mjia... it’s not a pleasing attribute.”

“I know, Ma... but... what if she is?”

“Then, it’s up to her to say.”

“Mami!”

“Gabriela... enough. I shouldn’t have called. I have to go check on my dinner. We’ll talk later.”

“Okay.”

“And don’t go all Gaby on this.”

Gaby exclaimed. “Why does EVERYONE tell me that in situations like this?”

“Because... we know you.” Camila laughed. “Te amo, mija.”

“Te amo, Mami.” Gaby ended the call. She really needed to talk to Antonio. She dialed his work cell, knowing he was working a major case.

“You’ve reached Antonio Dawson, Special Investigator for the State’s Attorney’s office. I am unable to take your call. Leave me a message and I’ll get back to you.”

Gaby sighed. “I need answers.”

Sylvie was into her 6th month when her transfer from Dispatch came in. Boden had helped her hide the pregnancy to the best of both their abilities. When they weren’t on a call, Boden told the others that she was working on a project for the CFD to promote the Paramedical Services. Nobody questioned him, so it worked out. As for why Kelly was coming to work and leaving work with Sylvie all the time, they told everyone his place needed major renos, and Sylvie was letting crash on her couch. Again, no one questioned anything they said, well... Gaby was questioning things. She hadn’t been able to get more than a 5 minute call in with Antonio since their mom had asked her about Sylvie and Kelly.

Gaby had tried to see if Sylvie was pregnant but Gaby couldn’t tell. Sylvie always wore a baggier hoody. Gaby suspected it was to hide a baby belly, but Sylvie swore it was for comfort. Gaby was also very suspicious of Kelly’s changed attitude and behaviour around Sylvie. Gaby had over heard that Sylvie had taken a medical day, and Kelly had surprisingly called in sick. Chief hadn’t seemed bothered but Gaby was very intrigued. However, she couldn’t spend a lot of time worrying about it. They had a multi-victim fire and she and Chout were bringing the most critical, a 8-month pregnant teen, to Med.

“17-year-old female, 8 months pregnant. Smoke inhalation and burns to the legs. Broken arm... not sure how that happened.” Gaby said as they handed the victim off to Choi and April.

“Thanks, Gaby... Chout... Baghdad, April... let’s hustle.” Choi shouted, pushing the gurney down the hall.

“I’ll restock, you fill out the paperwork?” Gaby asked.

Chout nodded. “You got it, partner.”

Gaby collected what she needed but noticed the ED was missing a fetal monitor and she couldn’t just take the one that was still on the patient. “Hey, Maggie... uh... fetal monitor?”

“Oh... yeah, no ours was busted. You can either head up to OB or just text Sylvie... she’s up there, I’m sure you could just ask to bring one down.” Maggie said without looking up at the tablet she was holding.

“Why is Sylvie up in OB?” Gaby asked.

Maggie looked up, and judging by the look of shock on Gaby’s face, she knew Gaby knew nothing. She tried to cover her slip up. “She was up visiting a friend.”

“Oh.” Gaby didn’t buy it. She’d played cards with Maggie before, and Maggie had a tell and right now, it was as obvious as ever. “It’s fine. I’ll just head up myself.” She smiled and headed to the stairs. Maybe she’d catch Sylvie and really know what was going on. She was coming around the corner when she saw Sylvie and Kelly being brought into one of the exam rooms. “What the fuck?!” She gasped. Sylvie had obviously been hiding her pregnancy because she was sporting a very obvious baby bump. It also explained her sudden transfer to Dispatch. She was filled with emotions. She turned back, went to the desk and asked for what she needed before flying back down the stairs.

Chout just stared at her as she got back behind the wheel of 61. “Hey, you okay?”

Gaby just grunted and put the ambo into gear, tearing out of the parking lot. She was livid, and felt betrayed. She thought of Sylvie like a sister, yet, seeing what she saw, she felt as if Sylvie had played everyone. She expected something like this from Kelly, but not Sylvie. Obviously, she’d fooled everyone.

“That baby is so active.” Kelly chuckled as Sylvie made the salad for supper. He was busy grilling chicken.

“Yep... I’m pretty sure, boy or girl, they’re taking after their father as a boxer.” She groaned. “I’m sure that my kidneys and bladder will be thankful when this baby is born.”

Kelly patted her shoulder. “You’re tough. You’ll be fine.”

Sylvie was happy to have Kelly there, but she really wanted to be sharing this with Antonio. She had tried calling him to talk, but he was on a major case out of Chicago, so he wasn’t able to be reached. She didn’t dare show up to State’s Attorney’s office because the rumour mill would’ve started like crazy. She also knew it was only a matter of time before someone caught on. She was about to ask Kelly his opinion on her telling everyone when there was an incessant pounding at her door.

Kelly turned to her. “You expecting anyone?”

Sylvie shook her head. “No. You?”

“Nope.” Kelly flipped the chicken. “You want me to get it... or you wanna get it?”

Sylvie knew it was a gamble either way. She didn’t have a peephole, so she had no way of knowing who was on the other side of that door. “I’ll go... just don’t burn my chicken.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Sylvie got off the bar stool at the counter and slowly made her way to the door. She swore she waddled like a penguin. She unlocked the door and slowly opened it. She jumped back as Gaby pushed the door fully open and stormed into the middle of the apartment. Sylvie slammed the door behind her. “Gaby?”

“HOW COULD YOU!?” Gaby screeched. “HOW COULD YOU!?”

Kelly ran from the kitchen. “Gaby?”

“Oh, I knew it!” Gaby lunged at him. “You cheated on my brother... with HIM!”

“What?!” Sylvie was backed against the door.

“I SAW YOU! BOTH OF YOU! TODAY! AT MED! GOING INTO AN EXAM ROOM! IN OB!” Gaby was beating on Kelly’s chest. “How could you!?” She broke down sobbing, falling to her knees. “How could you do this to Antonio!?”

Sylvie’s jaw dropped. “Do what? What the hell are you accusing me of?”

Gaby glared at her. “You denying that belly of yours isn’t Severide’s kid?”

“Damn straight she is.” Kelly extended a hand to help her up.

Gaby batted it away. “I don’t buy any of it!”

“Believe what you want, but I haven’t slept with anyone in a long ass time.” Kelly stepped back. “I’m Sylvie’s pregnancy buddy... I’m the one who caught her trashing the ambo when she got the the positive ICON.”

“Why you?”

“Because he butt his stubborn nose in... and I needed support.”

“Riiiiiiiiight.” Gaby mocked her. “Support.”

“Gaby, Antonio’s the father... I can tell you the day we conceived this baby... the day Laura showed up and ruined our relationship.”

“If this is all true...” Gaby stalked up to Sylvie. “Why the fuck haven’t you told my brother!”

“Because!” Sylvie got in Gaby’s face. “We’re on a break... I don’t want him coming back just because he feels like he has to because of the baby! I want him to come back because he wants the relationship.”

“I don’t believe you... I also don’t buy that Severide’s not the father.”

“I don’t care.” Sylvie growled. “Antonio is the father. And I will tell him when I can actually get a hold of him. Do what you want with that information.”

“I have a more pressing question.” Kelly got between the two women. “How the fuck did you know we were up in OB today?”

“I saw you because I needed a new fetal monitor for 61... but that’s not the problem here... the fact that she’s pregnant and trying to pass that kid up as Antonio’s... that’s low.” Gaby slapped Kelly. “How dare you, Severide? How dare you ruin any chance they had at fixing this?!”

“Your mother told you.” Sylvie grabbed her hand as Gaby went to hit Kelly again. “The day she saw you at the market.”

“I was suspicious before that, but everyone told me I was being crazy... well, I was right and they were wrong.” Gaby pushed them both aside. “I hope to hell you’re happy together.” She stormed out of the apartment, almost bolting Sylvie over.

Kelly caught Sylvie. “You okay?”

Sylvie was hyperventilating. She nodded. “The cat’s outta the bag now.”

“Yeah.” Kelly helped her back to her feet. “The baby?”

“Kicking like crazy... I need to sit down.” She felt tears filling her eyes. “I don’t know what I’m gonna do now.”

He hugged her, kissing the top of her head. “Just... focus on keeping you and baby healthy... I’ll deal with the rest.”

Gaby was livid by the time she got to Antonio’s. He wasn’t there, so she went to his work. She was in ‘pissed off Latina’ mode. She stalked straight passed all the receptionists and aides and didn’t even knock on Antonio’s office door. “Antonio!”

Antonio’s head shot up from the computer screen. “Gaby! What the hell?!”

Gaby slammed the door closed behind her, oblivious to the fact that Antonio’s partner, Laura Nagel, was sitting at her own desk. “She’s a lying, cheating whore!”

Antonio shook his head. “Who?”

“Brett!”

“What is she jammering about?” Laura asked.

“Butt out!” Gaby snapped at her.

“Gaby, you need to calm the fuck down.” Antonio tried to calm his sister, but he knew that when she was like that, it was an near impossible task.

“No! Antonio! I... I can’t!” Gaby was to the point of hyperventilating.

“Calm down and then speak, otherwise I’m calling Matt to come pick you up.”

The door burst open with Peter Stone and Security standing there. “Antonio?”

“Sorry... uh, my sister is having a minor crisis... won’t happen again.” Antonio said. “Sorry.”

Stone looked at the scene in front of him. “You sure? Security can handle this.”

“No... she’s good now... thank you.” Antonio prayed that he hadn’t just lost his job over his sister’s antics.

“Okay.” Stone waved security away and closed the door.

Antonio walked around his desk and grabbed Gaby by the shoulders. “What the fuck has gotten into you!?”

By this point, Gaby was shaking like a leaf. “Um.”

“Gaby... if you cost me my job over these antics, I deserve a better answer than ‘um’.”

“Sylvie... she’s 6 months pregnant.”

Antonio’s eyes bulged. “What?”

“Sylvie... as in your ex?” Laura asked from her desk.

“Why hasn’t she told me?” Antonio asked, shaking his head in hopes of clearing the ringing in his ears.

“Because it’s not yours.”

“Gaby...we were together six months ago... well... until...”

“Severide moved into her place and has been going to all the appointments with her.” Gaby whispered.

“What?!” Antonio’s jaw dropped. “Who?”

Gaby nodded. “She claims he’s just her pregnancy buddy... but...”

“You confronted her?”

“Of course I did!” Gaby shouted, then covered her mouth. She counted to 10 before continuing. “Mom ran into her a while back and questioned it, I’ve been questioning it for a while... I think... I think she was stepping out on you.”

“When you confronted her... did she say anything?”

Gaby sighed. “She denied stepping out on you, swears the kid is yours and didn’t come to me because she didn’t want you to know right away because she doesn’t want you to go back to her just for the baby.”

Antonio took a couple minutes to process that. “So, she doesn’t want me to be in the baby’s life?”

“No...” Gaby huffed. “She doesn’t want you to only go back to her because she’s pregnant.”

“And you’re sure it’s Kelly’s?” Antonio asked.

“Why else would he be watching her so carefully? Going to all her appointments?” Gaby was rambling. “Come on, Antonio.”

“Gaby, we were intimate the morning that Laura ambushed her at the firehouse... that was a little more than 6 months ago... you’re in the medical field... don’t you think the math adds up.”

“The math adds up to her also cheating on you... Severide’s a man whore... he’s probably always had his eye on her.”

Antonio knew Kelly and his womanizing ways, but he also knew Sylvie. Or, at least he thought he did. “I’ll talk to her, but Gaby... we’re on a major case... serial rapist and murderer... I can’t lose time on that.”

“Antonio... do you seriously think she was telling the truth?”

“Better question, sis... can you honestly say she’s lying?”

Kelly walked into 51 before everyone else. He knew that Gaby will have told Matt, and that the rumours would be flying. He knew the truth, and so did Sylvie. It was up to the members of the 51 family to choose which ‘truth’ they were going to believe. If anyone were to ask him, he’d be honest. He hadn’t had sex since the last fiasco of picking a woman up from a bar. He was still holding out hope that Anna would come around and move to Chicago. That had been what he’d been hoping since Chief Anderson made him realize that his place was here at 51, come hell or high water.

He was doing an equipment check as the members of 2nd shift started to trickle in. He had called Boden and given him the head’s up on the previous night’s adventures. He created the members of 51 as they came in. No one questioned him, so he didn’t know what that meant, but Gaby and Matt hadn’t gotten in yet. He was pouring himself coffee when Gaby stormed into the kitchen. He was ready for her. “Good Morning, Gaby.”

“Don’t you ‘good morning’ me.” She jabbed a finger in his chest. “I still know what you’ve done.”

“Gaby.” Matt grabbed her shoulder. “I thought we talked about this last night.”

“We did, but it doesn’t change the truth.” Gaby snarled. “He knocked Brett up and now she’s trying to pass his kid off as Antonio’s in some sick ploy to get my brother back!”

“Woah! Hold up!” Herrmann jumped in. “What’s this about Brett being knocked up?”

“Oh... yeah... that’s why she transferred... and hid under baggy clothes all time... she’s about 6 months pregnant!”

“And you think... he did it?” Herrmann pointed to Kelly.

“Damn straight!” Gaby was fuming again. “Why else would he move in with her? Go to all her appointments?”

“I told you and so did she, that I’m her pregnancy buddy... but believe whatever bullshit idea you’ve got going.” Kelly took a swig of his coffee. “That baby is Antonio’s... and I swear if your antics last night hurt it, I’M going go Vesuvius on you. Sylvie’s supposed to be your friend... this is part of the reason she didn’t want to tell you in the first place. That and she didn’t want to hurt you... not so soon after losing Louie and all that. She saw how much you were hurting, and she didn’t want to add to that.”

There was a crash and suddenly Kelly was on the ground and his coffee mug was shattered. Antonio had tackled him to the ground and was wailing on him. That was followed by a string of vulgarities in Spanish. It took all of Squad plus Otis, Matt and Boden to separate the two men. It took all of Squad to keep Antonio from attacking Kelly again.

Boden made Severide sit down and examine him. When he was satisfied that Kelly wasn’t going to die on him, he spun around and bellowed at Antonio. “WHAT THE FUCK IS ALL OF THIS ABOUT?!”

“He knocked Sylvie up!”

“Really?” Boden asked, his voice was shaking from the anger he was feeling. “Do you and Gaby honestly think so little of Sylvie? That she’d do that to you? She’s not that kind of woman... and she was more hurt by this break than anyone has given her credit for!”

“I made her tell me about the pregnancy.” Kelly spat some blood into a tissue. “I said I’d help her, and that’s what I’ve been doing.”

This made Antonio furious again. He broke free from the Squad members and knocked Kelly back onto the table. In all the ruckus, no one could hear the screams coming from the door way.

Sylvie was horrified at the scene in front of her. Chief had texted her to come in and talk to everyone to smother the rumour mill before it could gain momentum. She grabbed a glass off the table closest to her and flung it at the wall closest to Antonio and Kelly. She missed them, but the glass exploded. The noise died down and the kitchen was like a morgue. Antonio looked up from wailing on Kelly, arm locked back ready to strike. Sylvie had tears streaming down her face. Her voice hoarse was hoarse as she begged them. “Stop. Please.”

Matt pulled Antonio away from Kelly allowing Capp and Joe to get Kelly to a safe place so Chout could look him over.

“Sylvie.” Antonio could barely say her name. The blinding rage that had almost killed Kelly was gone. He saw her and realized she was crying because of what he’d done.

Sylvie was frozen in place. She was shaking and her hands were protectively covering the obvious sign of her pregnancy.

Antonio walked to her, keeping a little distance. “It’s true... you’re pregnant?”

Sylvie swallowed, but still couldn’t get her voice to work. She just nodded.

Chief looked to everyone. “Now, Chout... Squad... check on Severide. Gabriela, Matt... my office... the rest of you... drills...” When no one moved, he barked. “NOW!”

Soon, only Antonio and Sylvie were left in the kitchen. Neither knew what to say or how to say anything. Sylvie finally calmed down enough to speak. “Antonio... I... I’ve... I’ve been trying... to come up with a way to tell you... but, I... I didn’t know how.”

Antonio closed the distance between them. “And... it’s not Kelly’s?”

Sylvie shook her head. “No. I co... I couldn’t just sleep with someone else... not... not after I’d been with you... or... ho... how I felt about you.”

Antonio lifted her chin. “Look me in the eyes... and tell me.”

Sylvie blinked away some tears that were threatening to cause her to break down entirely. “Antonio, I am pregnant and it is your baby.” She took his hand. “Feel this.”

Antonio gasped as he felt the movement. “How?”

“I don’t know... we weren’t exactly being precise... look, Antonio... I... I don’t want you to just... come back...” She sniffled. “Just because of the baby.”

“Sylvie...”

“No...” She saw the rest of 51 slowly creeping back towards the kitchen. She grabbed Antonio and led him to the storage room and locked the door behind them. “I won’t stop you from being a part of its life... but I don’t want us to...”

Antonio stopped her there by cupping her face and kissing her. “Stop... Sylvie... I... I’ve been wanting to call or see you, but this last case had me away from Chicago... and I didn’t want to talk about any of this over the phone... You deserve the best... I may not be able to give you everything you deserve, but I will damn well try. I love you, Sylvie Brett... I don’t... I don’t know why I thought either of us was better off apart... I haven’t been the same without you in my life.”

Sylvie’s hand flew to her mouth. “An... Antonio...” She threw herself into his arms and held on tight. “I love you... I have for a while...”

“Then our pigheadness got the best of us.” Antonio whispered, rubbing her back.

“You still owe Kelly an apology.” She whispered back. “He’s just been a good friend... making sure I wasn’t alone.”

Antonio sighed. “I guess I owe him more than that.” He ran his hand through his hair. “I feel like an ass.”

“You were an ass.” Sylvie smirked. “My ass, but an ass none the less.”

He tapped the tip of her nose. “I missed you... every day for the past 6 months... I... I can’t do it anymore.”

“So... you believe me?”

“Your eyes are the most honest I’ve ever seen... I believe you.”

“Good, but in case you didn’t... I had a fetal paternity test done.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out an envelope. “In there, are the results... and my last ultrasound.”

Antonio took the envelope. He looked at the tiny, grainy image. “So small.”

“Uh... sure... okay.” Sylvie chuckled. “Not what I think, but hey...”

Antonio unfolded the results and sure enough, he was the father. “Where’d you get a comparison?”

“You left your toothbrush in my bathroom.” Sylvie admitted. “I... I was terrified to get it done... it’s risky... but... I... I knew that if there was doubts, something bad could happen... I was just too late.”

“And... is baby okay?”

“Yeah... Antonio, he or she is healthy and active... and definitely your child... my bladder and kidneys will be thankful when this baby is born.”

Antonio chuckled. “Already practicing their boxing moves?” He put his hand on her belly. “I forgot... what this feels like.”

“Antonio... I know that... Laura is still... and...”

“Sylvie, you’re over... over analyzing everything. I’m the one who... who pushed you away... I know... I know that I’ve missed everything that’s happened in the last six months, and I can’t make it up to you... but I want to be here for both you and the baby... I want to do what I can to help and I... I should’ve never told you we were done. I shouldn’t have waited this long...”

“Shut up and kiss me.” Sylvie ordered.

Antonio kissed her deeply. His lips were almost bruising her own. Sylvie moaned as his hands slid south passed her hips.

“Antonio... you keep going, we’re gonna be in big trouble.”

Antonio didn’t get to answer as there was pounding on the storage room door. “Hey, you two still alive in there?” Herrmann’s voice was muffled, but followed by laughter.

Sylvie unlocked and opened the door. “Yes, we’re alive. Where’s Kelly?”

“I’m here.” His voice was garbled due to the packing that was in his nose.

Antonio made his way through the throng of people and extended his hand to Kelly. “She told me everything. I am truly sorry for this... I let the Dominican temper get the best of me.”

Kelly shook it. “It’s okay... just... believe me when I say, she’s an amazing woman and that baby is lucky to have her as its mother.”

“Thank you for taking care of her... and I’m really sorry for what I did.” Antonio said honestly. “I should’ve believed you.”

“Hey, as long as she and the baby are healthy... I’m all good.” Kelly rubbed his jaw. One eye was nearly swollen shut and he clearly had a broken nose. “Just, don’t hit me again.”

“Deal.” Antonio patted his shoulder.

“Kelly...” Sylvie was not impressed by what Antonio had done. “I’m sorry.”

“Hey... you’re not the one who started this whole mess.” Kelly pointed out.

“That’s right... I’m not.” Sylvie spun around. “You did!” She glared at Gaby.

Gaby put her hands up. “I messed up! I’m sorry.”

“Sorry... Gaby... you couldn’t believe me... or Kelly... people who are supposed to be like family to you... then you make your brother fly into a jealous rage because you didn’t know any of the details... you did more harm than good at this point.” Sylvie snapped. “I’m hurt and furious with you. Next time you want to start World War III, do it with your own life, and leave me out of it.”

“I know.” Gaby said. “I went ‘Gaby’ on the situation.”

“It’s about time you realized that.” Antonio said. “You didn’t want anything to do with us dating the first time around, yet you had to put yourself in the middle of this now?”

“Look... I jumped the gun... I’M SORRY!”

“Alright... enough... now, Sylvie, Antonio... if you don’t mind, I think you can take your situation out of my firehouse... and maybe take Kelly with you to get checked out... Gaby... you’re on kitchen duty until further notice and I need to find a relief squad lieutenant.” Chief’s words were the end of it.

Sylvie bolted straight up in bed. “Ah!”

Antonio came running from the bathroom. “What? What is it?!”

“Ow!” Sylvie was pushing on her lower back to try and ease the pain.

“More Braxton-Hicks?”

“I don’... OH GOD!” Sylvie knew these weren’t false labour. “Nope... re... real deal.”

Antonio bolted to the closet and grabbed their hospital bag, pulled up some jeans and pulled on a t-shirt. “Okay... let’s get you to Med.” He helped her slowly get out of bed.

Luckily, having sirens on your truck made getting to Med that much faster. Maggie and April were waiting outside with a wheelchair. Antonio parked the truck and ran straight up to OB. By the time he got to Sylvie’s room, they had her hooked up to monitors and in a gown.

“I’m here.” Antonio kissed her cheek.

“They said the contractions are 8 minutes apart but baby hasn’t dropped yet.”

“So, in other words... it could be a while?”

Sylvie nodded. “I already asked for the epidural. I’m not doing this drug free... nope... saw it on ambo, not about to do it myself.”

“Hey, as long as you and the baby are healthy, that’s all that matters to me.” He kissed her. “You need anything?”

“Ice?” Sylvie asked.

“Sure.”

“Oh, Antonio... can you call Kelly... I... I want him to be the baby’s godfather.”

“I don’t think I could’ve picked a better godfather.” Antonio nodded. “You think we can ask Gaby to be godmother, or are you still pissed at her?”

“As long as she doesn’t barge in here when it’s time to push... I don’t want it to be a family affair.” Sylvie was trying to breathe through her contraction.

“Deal.” Antonio kissed her. “I’ll be right back.”

8 hours later...

“How much longer?” Antonio asked Dr. Lee for what was probably the millionth time.

“She’s almost there.” Dr. Lee reassured him. “Her water broke... she’s at 9 cm... contractions are about 1 minute apart.”

“Everything is still okay?”

“Yep.” Dr. Lee. “You’re very anxious.”

“I... It’s been 10 or so years since I’ve done this... so, yeah... I’m anxious.”

“Antonio!” Sylvie gasped. “You’re not the one pushing this baby out!”

“I’m sorry, Sylvie.” He squeezed her hand.

“I think I need to push.” She moaned.

Dr. Lee checked. “Yes, yes you do... on the next contraction, Sylvie... push!”

“Do babies always take this long?” Kelly asked as he paced the waiting area.

“Kelly, if anyone was watching, they’d think you were the expectant father.” Matt teased him.

“Si, Kelly... sit.” Camila motioned to the chair next to her. “You’ll owe the hospital a new floor.”

Kelly blushed and did what he was told.

“And no, mijo... not all babies take this long... however, this baby is a Dawson... and Dawsons are a pigheaded bunch.”

“Mami!”

“What? It’s true... Antonio took almost 15 hours... and you, dear Gabriela, took 20 hours... so... pigheaded.”

Kelly snickered. “Well, at least Sylvie’s got the best nurses and doctors in Chicago.”

“That they do.” Matt smiled. “Are Sylvie’s parents coming?”

“They’re on their way. They left a little later because they needed to find someone to watch the house.” Gaby answered. “I think they’re anxious about this... especially with them being so far away from here all the time.”

“I thought Sylvie had said they’d be staying for a while?” Kelly asked.

“It depends.” Gaby answered. “They weren’t really happy with her not telling them about the baby... or that she and Antonio had taken a break.”

“Oh.” Kelly had known that Sylvie didn’t want a fight with her parents, but he had thought she would’ve told them sooner. “When exactly did she tell them?”

“Um...” Gaby giggled a little. “About 4 hours ago.”

Everyone’s jaw dropped. “Are you serious?” Matt asked.

“Yep... I’M the one who had to call them.” Gaby sighed. “Sylvie said it would make us even.”

“I told you not to meddle.” Camila reminded her.

“I know... I’ve learned my lesson.”

“For this time.” Matt chuckled.

They waited some more. Some played games on their phones, others mindlessly flipped through the magazines that littered the waiting room. It was eerily quiet. A scream pierced the silence. Everyone’s head spun to face the doors that led to the delivery/patient rooms.

“Was that Brett?” Kelly asked.

“No idea... she can’t be the only one in here having a baby.” Gaby said. She was really hoping that it wasn’t Brett. She texted Chief to activate the phone tree to get everyone here and asked him to call Voight and Stone. People needed to know. Anytime now, Sylvie and Antonio would be parents.

More time passed. Soon, many members of 51, Voight, Jay, Erin, Stone, and Nagel were waiting with them. Platt had joined Mouch and even Will had popped in to see how things were going.

“Any news?” Voight asked.

Kelly shook his head. “Not yet... so far, lots of screaming and many other babies being born... we also learned that Sylvie’s parents just found out... today... that Sylvie’s pregnant.”

This caused quite the commotion. It didn’t take long for things to quiet down though, the doors leading to the rooms burst open.

Antonio whistled loudly. “Woah!”

Everyone froze in anticipation. Cindy was the one who spoke what was on everyone’s mind. “Well?”

“We have a son.” Antonio beamed.

The whole room exploded into cheers and congratulations.

“And a daughter.” Antonio shouted over them.

“Wait, what?!” Kelly exclaimed.

The doors reopened behind Antonio. Anna was standing there. She motioned to Antonio and he nodded. She headed back down the hallway. Antonio went to Gaby and Kelly.

“Hey, come with me.” He whispered to them.

The trio walked down the hallway. The others watched them.

“What was that all about?” Capp asked.

“Knock knock.” Antonio whispered as he pushed the door to Sylvie’s room open.

Sylvie looked up from her bed. She looked tired, but her eyes still sparkled. She smiled. “Hey.”

Antonio sat on the edge of the bed and looked down at the two tiny bundles in her arms. “Hey, yourself.”

Kelly and Gaby slowly walked up to the bed. “Oh my God!” Gaby exclaimed. “They’re so small!”

Kelly was speechless. He just stared at the tiny beings that were sleeping in his friend’s arms. “Wow.”

Sylvie smiled at them. “Um, we wanted you guys to come meet them first... after we calmed down from the shock.”

“So you didn’t know?” Kelly asked.

“Nope.” Sylvie chuckled. “No fricken clue. They somehow managed to keep one another hidden all the time.”

“Wow.” Kelly grinned.

“You can say that again.” Anna laughed. “She’s a trooper.”

“She is.” Antonio kissed her. “I love you, Sylvie.”

“Meet, Graciela Kelly Dawson and Colby Gabriel Dawson...” Sylvie looked to them. “Antonio and I want you to be their godparents.”

“Really?” Kelly asked. He was shocked.

“Yeah... you took care of her when I was being too blocked headed to see she was everything I needed in my life.” Antonio gently placed Graciela in his arms. “They need someone like you to have their back if we can’t be there.”

“I’d be honoured.” Kelly beamed as he gently looked down at his sleeping goddaughter. “They’re both so small.”

“5 pounds each... that’s not small.” Sylvie grimaced.

Gaby reached for Colby. “They’re so cute.” She put her pinky near Colby’s tiny hand and he grasped it tightly. “He’s strong.”

“Like his father... I’m just praying that the Dawson pigheadness is diluted between the two of them.” Sylvie chuckled.

“Everyone’s here.” Kelly looked up. “Your parents included.”

Sylvie’s jaw dropped. “Who?”

“I... I called them... surprisingly... they didn’t know you were pregnant.”

“No shit!” Sylvie tried to sink in the pillows. “I didn’t want them to know... not until Antonio and I had worked things out... I don’t want them attacking him because we had a baby before we were married... now twins... oh Lord.”

“I’m sorry!” Gaby exclaimed, startling Colby.

Colby began to scream. Antonio reached for his son. Kelly caught a glimpse of something shiny on his finger. “Uh... what’s that?” Kelly motioned to his hand.

Antonio looked up from the screaming newborn. “What’s what?”

“This?” Kelly bumped his finger with his elbow. “Is that a ring?”

Gaby looked between her brother and her best friend. “Brett...”

“About that...” Sylvie smiled sheepishly. She held up her left hand. There on her ring finger was a very sparkly set of engagement and wedding rings. “It’s Dawson now.”

Gaby’s eyes bulged. “Since... wha... when? How?”

“Better question... why weren’t we invited?” Kelly asked.

“Well... I wasn’t going to let her go away... so yesterday... we went to the courthouse and got married... we’re going to do the big thing later... but, we wanted this... before anyone else decided to get in the way of our relationship.” Antonio answered.

“So, you just happened to have a set of wedding rings lying around?” Gaby was hurt that they would do this.

“No... we went shopping last week...” Sylvie whispered. “After... what happened with Laura... we couldn’t risk jinxing anything...”

“Who witnessed it?” Gaby asked. She remembered how they’d all shown up to their impromptu wedding.

“Ma, the kids, and Stone.” Antonio said. “Look, Gaby... I get you’re pissed, but... this was our choice... and we will do the whole ceremony and reception for family and friends later... I promise.”

“I better get to help plan.” Gaby mock pouted. She knew her brother deserved all this happiness and more.

Sylvie reached for her best friend’s hand. “Actually... I was wondering if you’d be my matron of honour.”

“I’d be honoured.” Gaby hugged her. “Congrats, you guys. You deserve all this and so much more happiness.”

“Yeah, man... that’s great news.” Kelly looked down to Graciela, who was beginning to whimper. “Uh...”

Sylvie reached for her daughter. “She’s probably hungry... uh... could you guys maybe get everyone together in one of the family rooms... Anna will get us there once they’re fed?”

“Sure thing.” Kelly placed Graciela in Sylvie’s arms and placed a quick kiss on Sylvie’s cheek. “Congrats... you’re gonna rock this.”

A short while later, Anna wheeled Sylvie down to where their family and friends were waiting. Antonio was carrying Colby while Sylvie held Graciela. They were anxious. They knew that some people would not be overly happy that they’d eloped.

“Hey, guys.” Sylvie said as the room quieted down. “Um, we’d like you to meet Colby and Graciela.”

The first people to approach them were Camila and the kids, followed very closely by Sylvie’s parents. As their mothers held their grandchildren, Antonio figured it was time to break the other news.

“While our parents, and Diego and Eva are busy with the twins, we have another announcement to make...” Antonio took a deep breath. “Yesterday, Sylvie and I got married.”

Sylvie took his hand and they held up their respective rings. At first the room was dead silent, but they were then ambushed by everyone with their congratulations and questions.

“Yes, we’re happy... no, it wasn’t just because she was pregnant and yes, we are going to have a proper wedding, once the twins are little older.” Antonio answered them all. “Now, once you’ve all seen them, we’d like to get them to bed and let Sylvie rest.”

Slowly, the crowd thinned out. The shook many hands and received many hugs. It felt good. Finally, the only ones left were Camila, Eva and Diego. They all went back to Sylvie’s room. The twins were laid in their respective bassinets and they were already sound asleep.

“When will you guys be coming home?” Diego asked.

“When the doctor says we can.” Antonio answered. “You guys okay with staying with Abuela a little while longer?”

“Sure.” Eva said. “As long as we can come see them tomorrow.” She pointed to the newest additions to the Dawson clan.

“Definitely.” Sylvie said. “I think we’ll probably be home tomorrow night.”

“I think we should let everyone rest... it’s been a very long day.” Camila put her arms around her grandchildren. “They’re here now, and they’ll be here a long time.”

“Dad?” Eva asked.

“What is it, Eva?”

“Does Mom know?”

Antonio shook his head. “Nope. She’ll find out when she finds out, but in reality, it’s none of her business what happens here... just remember that.”

The kids hugged their father and Sylvie and they left. Antonio sat in the chair next to the bed. They were talking about the changes that would have to happen when they got home.

“Well, the first thing is... you’ll need to double everything you already have.” A familiar voice came from the doorway.

“Maggie.” Sylvie smiled. “I was wondering when you’d pop in.”

“How’s our newest celebrities?”

“Exhausted.”

“Antonio, you do know you can lie next to her, right?” Maggie checked on the twins. “I don’t think we’ll have to worry about you two getting into trouble.”

“Maggie!”

“Just... enjoy this.” Maggie dimmed the lights. “Get some rest.”

Antonio laid next to Sylvie, carefully pulling her into his arms. They looked over to the twins, who were soundly sleeping. For the first time in a long time, they were right where they needed to be.

A/N: Okay... so... that happened... My brain went all over the place... it may have been slightly OOC but, hey... they deserve happiness! Please tell me what you think... I’ve only been working on this story for two weeks (10,000+ words later...) Cheers! Nicole

#Brettonio4ever #Brettonio #Antonio Dawson #Sylvie Brett #Chicago Fire #Chicago Justice #One Chicago #forgiveness #family #drama #angst #making up #reunion

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lyricalive · 8 years ago

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If you're an Ace Attorney fan and haven't seen the 1950 Akira Kurosawa film RASHOMON, you're missing out on something very relevant to your interests. It's a gripping tale of murder, contradictions, samurais, and spirit mediums... seriously. Here it is on public domain.

By the way, because it's so relevant, I wrote a dumb fanfic that reinterprets the story of Rashomon using the characters of AA.

Two men took their seats in a cramped sideroom on the Global Studios set.

An uneventful silence persisted between them… until a bright and rosy figure sprung abruptly from behind their folding chairs.

"BOO!"

"Maya–!?" The man in blue jumped at her sneak attack. "What are you doing?"

"Haha! Why so shocked, Nick? Didja think I was a ghost?"

The suggestion was enough to send him into a cold sweat. "Don't joke about that, Maya. Sometimes you are a ghost." Turning his attention back to a thick stack of paper he held in his hands, Phoenix Wright furrowed his jagged brow. "I'm still not so sure about this movie thing. I've only read halfway, but this script hits scarily close to home…"

"You're lucky, then!" The girl in the pink costume clapped her hands together with delight. "You’ll be a natural for the part! No need to rely on the acting skills you don't have."

(I resent that! Bluffing could be considered a type of acting.)

Brushing off his indignance, Phoenix continued. "What kind of story is this even supposed to be? Isn't it a little serious for a kid's show?"

Maya shot back, "Get with the program, old man! Everybody loves it when TV shows get a little darker and edgier." She whirled to face the other lawyer seated beside him. "You agree, right? Don't you like things edgy, Mr. Edgeworth?"

"Mm…" Choosing to pardon the pun, Edgeworth agreed. "It is an interesting choice to base the plot on an old cinematic classic. I can commend the franchise for being willing to take risks in a direction that appeals to more mature viewers peripheral to its target demographic."

"…Excuse me?" Phoenix threw Edgeworth a baffled glance, having hoped his old rival would support his argument just this once.

With unwavering eyes, the prosecutor clarified, "I'm only speaking from a marketing perspective."

"Anyway!" Maya interjected. "How often do commonfolk like you actually get to guest-star in a real Steel Samurai special?"

Phoenix protested in vain, "Commonfolk like me? What about y–"

(…Oh, right. You're a little too unique to be called "common.")

His assistant grinned smugly. "That’s right, I was already a shoo-in to play the character I inspired, after all! I told the director I'd do it only if my friends could be in the movie, too. You should thank me for this opportunity!"

"J00 4C70RZ!" The jarring voice of the director called out from the neighboring studio. "R U rE4dy 2 m4Ke dIs m0V13 h4PPen?"

"…" The lawyer’s most crucial objection to participating in this project was the idea of having any further involvement with the greasy criminal accomplice whom he had the displeasure of meeting two years prior. However, his objection was overruled by the unboundable excitement of his young friend.

Rising from his seat, Phoenix sighed and resigned himself to fate.

"5c3N3 0n3!!!1"

Slow pan. The courtroom is hushed in anticipation. The entire gallery is so silent that one can clearly hear every drop of rain that splashes on the cold ground outside.

At once, the silence is broken by the slam of the courtroom door. The attorney barges in, panting, in the middle of this important case.

All others hardly stir. The only response from the prosecutor is a subdued mutter. "I don’t understand," he is repeating, angst dripping from his words. "I don’t understand."

The latecoming defense attorney understands even less. "What is it? What don’t you understand?"

"This entire case, which I should have easily solved in your absence… It makes no sense at all."

The attorney sheepishly scratches the back of his head. "Oh, come on. A famous prosecutor like you, and our wise judge here– you've surely heard every story in the book."

"No," says the latter from atop his golden bench, stroking his silver beard. "Not even the wise judge has heard a story quite like this."

"Here in the courthouse garden," the former somberly explains, “a man has been murdered.”

There is a brief beat.

"…I-is that so?” The attorney fails to convey the proper level of concern. "It's awful, but I mean, we've had murders inside the courthouse too."

"Of course, I've seen plenty of murders myself, but this… This is beyond any crime and any disaster." The prosecutor lowers his heavy head. "Worse than fire, famine, or earthquake."

The tension is palpable. What could possibly be as devastating as all that?

"Three days ago, the Steel Samurai himself… WAS ASSASSINATED!"

Gasps!

Dramatic close-ups on horrified reactions!

The prosecutor slams one hand on his desk to silence the riot.

"You there!" He thrusts his index finger toward a certain person seated along his side of the courtroom floor. "I'm calling you to the stand! Summarize the case thus far."

The person nods vigorously. "You've got it, pal. It's not like I have anywhere else to go. The rain doesn't seem to be letting up anytime soon…"

-TESTIMONY-

It was three days ago, pal. I was on my way out from attendin' to business in this court.

Out in the garden grove, a bunch of strange-looking things were scattered around the area.

Like a trail of evidence, it led me right to the scene of a crime I never expected to see: the cold corpse of the old samurai!

When I saw the body... Naturally, I let out a yell and ran as fast as I could to go get the police!

"HOLD IT! ...The police?" The prosecutor narrows steely eyes at his subordinate.

"I mean... to go get backup, pal. Heh-heh."

"Please elaborate," he instructs. "What sort of strange evidence did you see?"

"Sure thing. A detective's eye, you know, always noticin' stuff."

First, there was a long pink veil caught in the bushes.

A little closer to the body, there was some sort of talisman case with red lining.

Finally, next to the body, there was a cut-up piece of rope, pal.

(Interesting. I should jot this down in the court record.

...Wait, I almost forgot this isn't a real trial.)

The judge interrupts with a loud sigh. "And to think, Mr. Prosecutor, you and I had both caught a glimpse of this man, healthy and well, out in the grove mere hours before his death."

"That's right," the prosecutor responds. "I recognized him by his iconic mask, and armed with his iconic weapon, the Samurai Sword. He was escorting a woman in striking pink armor-- but the woman had a veil, so we couldn't see her face."

"Uh, can we cut for a second?"

"CUT! ...Wut U w4nT?"

"Well, if the samurai also had his face under a mask, I don't get that last statement. How could you be sure it was him, yet doubt the woman?"

"Duh, Nick. Everybody knows that the mask is part of the Steel Samurai's identity. It would only be weird if he didn't have it. On the other hand, at this point in canon the Pink Princess isn't well known outside of Little Olde Tokyo. Her outfit wouldn't be enough to give her away."

"Yeah, but--"

"OK! 4C710N!"

"But the samurai..." The prosecutor solemnly shakes his head. "I didn't expect that would be the last time I'd ever see him alive.

"Ah yes," the judge muses. "Even for such a brave warrior, life is as frail and fleeting as the morning dew."

The policeman scratches his chin. "Well, we actually found him toward the afternoon, pal."

The judge's eyes widen. "Are you suggesting that the morning don't?"

"So..." The defense attorney takes the chance to speak up. "Do we have a suspect or a murder weapon?"

"You bet, pal!" The answer is delivered with a hearty salute. "In fact, the person we caught is none other than the notorious criminal everyone's been buzzin' about! The new heir to the line of EVIL NINJAS that've long been terrorizin' the Steel Samurai's regime!"

Bursting through the door, a bailiff drags in the struggling prisoner-- a feisty female ninja with raven-black hair. Her garish clothes drawing the attention of every eye in the gallery, she violently kicks the air.

“Lemme go!” The young ninja rips her arms free from the bailiff. “Lemme GO!”

"When we caught her, she was carryin' the sword you see here..." The policeman raises the relevant evidence from the stand in front of him. "None other than the legendary Samurai Sword!"

"I understand," says the prosecutor. "The day after the murder, she was found passed out by the side of the river, evidence in hand. Presumably, she was caught in the act of theft, and killed him to escape. Then, exhausted from the struggle, she fell asleep by the waters."

The suspect, who had been listening to the charges, begins to laugh hysterically.

"Come on!" she squawks. "There's nothing wrong with a little nap."

"You didn't say anything about the murder. To what part of the accusations do you object?"

"Listen, I'm a ninja with honor. The only thing I ever steal is the truth! Naturally, that means I have nothing to hide!"

(Who even is this? This character is awfully suspicious, down to the actress herself.)

"So then, motives aside, do you confess responsibility for the fate of our samurai?"

Her maniacal laughter rings out again. "...That's right! I did it!"

"What!?" The prosecutor is aghast. "With such insolence? How dare you!"

"Oh, the wind carried me into flight... but I struck with my own wing." She inhales deeply. "Here's exactly what happened..."

-THE BANDIT'S STORY-

Three days ago, I was napping under a tree in the grove, drifting in and out of dreams.

So I thought it was a dream when I saw him... Coming down the path, that goody-goody Samurai escorting this woman in pink.

She had a veil as a disguise. Probably some damsel in distress he was saving.

That's when... the fateful wind lifted her veil, revealing a glimpse of the rosy face beneath.

It was only then that I snapped awake! This was no dream, and this was not just any woman.

This was the Pink Princess of Little Olde Tokyo-- getting all cozy with the Steel Samurai!

I thought, this was my chance. I could get to the Samurai by striking at his heart: his precious Princess. I couldn't take him down alone, but if I could get her to join me instead of him, he'd be at my mercy! Persuasion is a specialty of my clan, you know...

I set my plan into motion. While the Princess was off gathering water at the river, I snuck up on the Samurai from behind and used my handy stash of rope to tie him up to a tree. It happened so fast and so easily that I was surprised at my own strength!

With the Samurai out of my way, I went back to find the woman.

We met eyes through the branches. "...Samurai?" she questioned me.

"Nope, I'm a ninja. You can tell by my trademark shuriken!"

"Very funny. I mean, where is my Samurai?"

"Oh, him? I saw him resting over by a tree. I think he might be sick."

"Sick...?" There was such sappy emotion in her voice. Like, did she really care that much about him? All I could think about was showing her how pathetic he looked tied to that tree. Then she'd definitely wanna side with me!

Now, again, I'm stronger than I look. I scooped her right on up, Princess-style, and ran.

(What kind of mutant strength does this teenage ninja have!?)

Her veil caught on a stray branch along the way, and I could see her shocked face.

"Evil Ninja!" she gasped. "It's you! What do you think you're doing!?"

"I'm taking you to the dark side, Princess! You'll have no choice but to join forces with me instead!"

I set her down to see her helpless hero.

This is where things got weird... She looked at him, then back at me...

Suddenly, that innocent expression turned fierce, as she drew her rapier from her armor's sheath and started slashing at me!

Whoa! She really had me fooled with her goody-goody act! I laughed out loud, 'cause now I wanted her on my side even more. It was like a game as I danced around tree trunks, avoiding her swipes.

"Join me, and we could take down that stupid Samurai together!"

The rapier dropped slowly out of her hands and her face went dark. She repeated in a whisper, "Take down... the Samurai..."

"HAHAHAHA! My plan was a total success!"

SLAM! The prosecutor furiously pounds a hand on his desk. "Villain! You corrupted the pure heart of the Pink Princess!"

"Eh... It didn't last very long though. That heart of hers is weaker than a twice-picked lock."

She snapped out of it as easily as she'd snapped in.

"What am I saying...? I've dishonored both our states by even considering betrayal."

She gave me her rapier to cut the samurai's ropes. "You two worthy opponents must fight. I'll have no choice but to go with whoever survives."

And so, we faced off. I even waited for him to strike first! I may be a ninja, but I'm also an honorable gal.

I used the princess's skinny rapier to counter his legendary Samurai Sword. My skills are so great that I wasn't even at a disadvantage. We crossed blades twenty-three-and-a-half times. I remember because I was so impressed. No one's ever crossed me more than twenty!

THEN I GOT HIM! BAM! Right in the chest! I defeated the Samurai, fair and square!

When I turned around, the Princess was gone. The fighting must have scared her away.

I wanted an ally with a fierce spirit, but after all she was just a loser who couldn't handle a fight! So I wasn't interested anymore...

Still, while I claimed his sword as a victory prize, her rapier was probably just as valuable. It was pretty dumb of me to leave it behind!

"OBJECTION! ...Didn't you say you don't steal anything but the truth?"

"Uh... Right, yeah, of course. Hahaha."

SLAM! The judge strikes his gavel on the bench.

"Prosecutor, you have a suspect who has directly confessed to the crime. Isn't this all the deliberation we need?"

He shakes his head. "Your Honor, as much as I wish to see justice done for our samurai's true killer... It is for this very reason that the trial must go on. We will hear the accounts of all possible witnesses, including the princess herself."

SLAM! The attorney shields his ears from all the clatter. At that moment, the courtroom door gives another dramatic burst.

The edges of the doorway shine with a hopeful light. From behind the barrier, a perfectly poised woman in pink makes her appearance on cue.

"Indeed! Though my lord's spirit is gone, long live the spirit of justice!"

"Princess!" the gallery cries. "It's the Pink Princess!"

With no veil to hide her painted face or her flowing hair, she confidently takes the stand. "People of the court... As much as it will pain me to do, a true account is exactly what I intend to give. Or my name isn't the Pink Princess, Warrior of Little Olde Tokyo!"

-THE WOMAN'S STORY-

That terrible ninja... I would never dream of betraying my dear Samurai!

She was certain that she could sway me, bragging about what a great bandit she was. "I can even steal people's hearts!"

I tried to run to his side, but I became dizzy and fell to the ground, such that my veil came tumbling off.

I may act strong now, but the truth is... In the moment, I failed.

The bandit attacked the Samurai, but unlike in her grandiose tale she was unable to finish the job. She ran away in the middle of the fight, dropping leftover pieces of rope like a trail behind her.

When it was safe, I finally rose and made it into the samurai's arms. But... the look I saw in his eyes chilled me to the soul.

It was neither anger, nor sorrow... but the cold light of pure hatred.

"Have I dishonored you, my Samurai? Don't look at me in such a way! It's the cruelest punishment I can imagine!"

But his steely gaze held steady, almost as if in some sort of trance.

I held out my rapier as an offering to him, resigned to my fate. "Kill me if you must! Preserve the honor of your name! Just stop with that cruel look in your eyes! I can't take it! Stop, stop!"

"Maya, please... Wasn't she just looking at the face on his mask?"

"Nick, it's not your line! Have you no tact? Let the Princess mourn!"

"But I mean..."

"4C710N!!!"

And that was it. I must have fainted after that. When I came to, and looked around... There it was. My own rapier, stuck in my own dear lord's chest!

"A tragedy indeed," the prosecutor laments. "But does this mean you are unclear about the actual moment of the murder?"

I refuse to accept the ninja's victory with honor. I know not what happened, whether she returned to catch him in a weaker state, or whether another person entered the scene. But I can certainly say that his demise was the doing of a coward.

"Oh my." The judge looks troubled. "The more we hear, the less clear it gets."

The policeman waggles his heavy eyebrows. "You know, pal, it's funny. Since the suspicious bandit was found with the Samurai Sword, we would've thought that was the murder weapon."

"Hm, why yes. And yet both witnesses have testified that it was the Princess's rapier."

"The rapier itself wasn't found at the scene. I wonder where it is now, pal!"

"In lack of evidence," the prosecutor speaks, "these words are everything. Unfortunately, everyone inevitably holds a biased account."

"You're right. What can we do, sir?"

"...HOLD IT!"

(Finally, I get a line in somewhere! And one I've practiced so much.)

In an instant, all eyes converge upon the source of the shout.

"I have an idea," the attorney speaks, "if the honorable court would hear out a commoner's plan."

(Though I could do without the excessive humility.)

"Very well," the judge graciously agrees. "What are your thoughts?"

"Well, we've heard from all the witnesses. I would say that the only thing left to do... is to hear the tale from the man himself."

The courtroom gallery buzzes with confusion. "Huh? From the Steel Samurai? But how?"

"I happen to know a spirit medium, who can communicate with the spirit of the deceased."

"So even if he's gone, we can hear his story..."

The camera pans down, down, down. A petite body draped in light purple robes peeks out from her hiding spot behind the defense's bench. The extra small medium speaks in an even smaller voice.

"H-hello. I am a channeler of the dead. I will do my best to shed a shining light on the true purr-pa-traitor."

The judge's eyes widen. "This is madness! A spirit medium? We haven't used this technique in years, since the fall of the last regime..."

"And yet," the attorney insists, "it may be the most reliable method there is. After all, why would a dead man lie?"

The lights dim.

From the orchestra, a heartrending ballad pours out to fill the ambience of the fallen hero's scene.

From the center of the room where the spirit medium stands, a strong and familiar voice resounds, a voice that is not her own.

"It is I, the Steel Samurai! I am now suffering in the world of darkness, where I can no longer protect the people who rely on me."

(So in this movie, when a medium channels someone, only their voice comes through. Considering the true face of the victim, that's a relief.)

"...Sniff."

(But, poor Mr. Powers. Cast down to a voiceover role. I can hear him sniveling between lines.)

"Ahem. It is a dark day for Neo Olde Tokyo. But someday, surely, the villain too will fall. When that day comes... I'll see you in hell, Evil Ninja."

"Worry not, my lord," the prosecutor asserts. "Justice will be served in your honor. Simply tell us the legend of your final moments."

-THE SAMURAI'S STORY-

It hurts, my dear Princess... to hear you testify that my death was the work of a coward.

Every action I took was to ensure the very opposite. Allow me to tell my own tale.

After the bandit attacked the Princess and left her full of shame, she then preyed on these emotions.

"Now that you've been tainted with traitorous thoughts, why not join me once and for all?"

The way the Princess looked at that moment... it was no ordinary look, and it was certainly not my Princess's face.

On my honor, she was bewitched! It was the ninja clan's devious power of mind control!

"I'll join you," is what she shockingly replied.

"Now that we're on the same side, we have to take out the samurai!"

"Yes. TAKE OUT THE SAMURAI!"

Even the bandit turned pale at her fierce, frightening words. After regaining her composure, she addressed me with a scoff.

"Are you hearing this, Samurai? How do you feel about your traitorous Princess?"

Waging a battle of will against the ninja's tricks myself, my head was spinning and the conversation around me grew faint.

All I could muster was, "Princess, snap out of it... Save yourself..."

Soon, I was relieved to hear her footsteps as she obeyed and escaped into the woods.

The Evil Ninja turned to me once more. "Oh, she got away. I guess I have to deal with you myself."

The ninja readied the rapier that she had stolen from my Princess, and approached me.

In one swift motion, I took the weapon from her hands... and I killed myself with it instead.

That is the one and only truth. After all, that's the only honorable way for a samurai to go...

"...OBJECTION!"

The outburst erupts from the prosecutor's bench.

"My lord! I am loath to oppose you, but I cannot stand for these lies any longer."

"Prosecutor, what do you mean?"

"The rapier, as everyone mysteriously insists, was not the murder weapon. This man was killed by the sword!"

The judge thoughtfully strokes his beard. "I see, and... how are you so sure about that?"

"Because I... I was there."

Gasps!

"Prosecutor... You saw the whole thing, didn't you? Why didn't you tell the court?"

"I wished not to get involved. Of course, now there doesn't appear to be much of a choice. I will add my own testimony."

The man in red, with piercing eyes that could slice through wood, nobly takes the witness stand.

-THE WOODCUTTER'S STORY-

This courthouse is a second home to me. Of course I was nearby.

I first found the pink veil caught on a branch in the grove... At the same time, I heard the sounds of voices.

Peering through the foliage, I witnessed the Samurai tied up, the woman on the ground sobbing, and the bandit gloating.

I didn't only see him before and after the crime, as I earlier claimed. I saw the scene of his very death.

"Come with me!" the bandit crowed to the Princess. "You and I together will take down the Samurai!"

"Take... down..." Tears filled her eyes and choked her words.

"Eh? I can't hear you!" the bandit demanded. "Quit crying and answer!"

With that, oddly, her crying stopped on a dime. "Hmph. Impossible. How could I, an innocent Princess, make such a decision?"

The newly articulate woman approached the Samurai, and with her rapier swiftly cut the ropes that bound him.

"Go ahead, take him down yourself. If you can't, you're not a real ninja!"

"This... can't be my Princess," the warrior lamented, and I thought the same thing. "This must be mind control! Her love isn't this weak!"

The Princess broke out into laughter. Getting a better look at her face, unobscured by crocodile tears, I saw that it had completely changed. "Oh, Samurai... A famous writer once said, 'A woman loves a man who loves passionately.' Your love is that which needs to be tested."

They were finally motivated to fight. The Evil Ninja seized hold of the Samurai's sword, and the Samurai was left with his Princess's rapier. Even with this advantage, she didn't put up nearly as impressive a fight as she would have you believe, I assure you.

The Samurai valiantly blocked each of the bandit's thrusts, one by one. The sound of metal against metal echoed through the grove.

Suddenly, the Princess swooned backwards, reeling from her seeming trance. In this brief moment, the Samurai was distracted by her fall, and it was only then that the ninja managed to land one lucky strike... or rather, a fatally unlucky one.

The deed done, the great Steel Samurai sunk to his knees. The bandit, in pure shock, withdrew the sword from his body and stared down at it. Then she decided to replace the rapier instead into the corpse's chest, running off with the sword as her trophy.

"So this is the real story...?" asks the judge. "Then why wasn't the rapier found at the scene of the crime, I wonder?"

"That is, er... TAKE THAT!" With a sweeping gesture to the court record, the prosecutor reveals his possession of the rapier all along.

"Sir, you withheld evidence!?" the detective roars. "But how can we trust you then?"

"Admittedly irrational in the moment, I removed it in a vain attempt to help him, though he was already gone... Then I confiscated it as evidence. I waited for the right time to present it, but at every turn it made less sense..."

"Feh!" the ninja girl scoffs. "Are you sure you didn't just want a souvenir, samurai fanboy? And you all call me the bandit."

All around, each person in the courtroom is eyeing one another with suspicious disbelief.

The judge somberly shakes his head. "Human beings who can't trust each other... What has my job come to?"

(That's how your job has always been, Your Honor...)

SLAM!

"Let's take a moment and think about this," the judge continues. "The Bandit, the Woman, the Samurai, and the Woodcutter. Out of these four contradicting stories, whose is the most believable?"

"Hm... I still say the victim's firsthand account should be the most believable," the attorney insists. "Again, why would a dead man lie?"

"Mister Attorney..." The young spirit medium suddenly speaks again, the sound of her shy voice a quiet surprise. "Isn't that a great question?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"The spirits told me... that's the question you should be asking. After all, Mister Attorney, that's your doo-dee of juzz-tizz!"

"..."

Struck with inspiration, the attorney at last raises a confident finger.

"That's right... People of the court, there may be justice yet!"

-CROSS-EXAMINATION-

It's time for a turnabout!

Instead of looking at the suspects' motives to kill, why not look at their motives to lie about killing?

The bandit... would lie to claim the honor of defeating her clan's sworn enemy.

The samurai... would lie to preserve that honor, and to protect his beloved Princess from suspicion.

The woman... Her motives, between her strange behavior and hazy memory, are the most unclear.

Her changing face... the so-called mind control... It's all coming together!

The judge appears captivated and excited. "Enlighten us, commoner!"

"Well... We still don't know the culprit, but we may have another character involved that may make the accounts we have more compatible to judge. The presence of a fifth party is based on reasoning that is difficult to prove, yet we have proof in the very courtroom: spirit mediums. And, if my hunch is correct, not just the little one."

The Pink Princess steps gracefully forward. "An astute observation, Sir Attorney. Indeed, I hail from a royal bloodline of strong spiritual power."

"I see..." murmurs the prosecutor. "This could be the key to understanding her strange behavior. She never betrayed our lord after all."

"And maybe, the long arm of justice will have to reach somewhere beyond!"

"...MY PRINCESS!"

With a dramatic slam, more dramatic than any other, the courtroom doors burst open one last time. Trumpets flare with a familiar melody.

"Wait, what?"

"I thank you, commoner. My Princess is purged of her dishonor." A deep masculine voice rings out as once before, but no longer from the spirit medium's position. "I too, will reclaim my honor and together we will return to our rightful service."

Standing proudly between the courtroom doors, a tall and muscular figure is drenched in the rain that continues to pour outside, which only makes his steel armor glisten all the more with the impending hope of the rising sun.

Here before everyone stands... the Steel Samurai, well and alive!?

"…Wait! No! HOLD IT! This is definitely a contradiction!"

"Nick!" The princess puffed out her rosy cheeks. "An actor must always keep in character!"

"I am my character! And I don’t think he would stand for this." Phoenix turned, troubled, to the grubby little director. "The medium couldn’t have channeled the samurai to testify if he wasn’t actually dead. If that’s the case, this whole story doesn’t hold any water."

"Hm," the prosecutor mused. "Then again, are irreconcilable contradictions not the very theme of the original film?"

(Edgeworth… Tell me you're not praising the writing for being purposely bad.)

"…It is clever," he shrugged with a smirk, "though I don’t believe in irreconcilable contradictions."

“L0L.” Not actually laughing at all, the director stared condescendingly at his blue-suited actor. "D0 j00 7h1nk 1’m 5700p1D 3n0ugH 2 fR4G t3h 5733L 54mur41?“

"Obviously, the face of the franchise can't die! Just be patient and it’ll all work out in the end," Maya confidently asserted, as if she were the one running the show. "We still haven't gotten to the part about the Iron Infant! Where they all discover a reason to restore their faith in humanity– and get back to fighting Evil, of course."

Phoenix opened his mouth to object to absolutely everything, but, much like his character, he had no answer to these contradictions. Unlike his character, his faith in humanity was anything but restored.

#ace attorney #rashomon #akira kurosawa #fanfiction #YOU REALLY DON'T NEED TO READ THIS!!#literally all i wanted to do was point out the parallels #and i promised myself i'd finish this for years hsdgfd

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angeryboy · 5 years ago

Text

Kintsukuroi

Part 10- Bad Intentions

Yuna's eyes went wide for a split second as she watched Dabi's hand reach straight for Spinner's face. His legs were dragged out from under him with a swift kick, his mouth covered by Dabi's hand.

"Dabi, no!" Your shout rang through the air as you hopped the couch without a second thought, aiming for Dabi. He didn't look up for a second, flames spiraling, making the room a hundred degrees.

"You really gonna waste your firepower on me, pretty boy?" You tackled Dabi roughly at that exact moment, knowing he was about to attack. You sat up, scanning his face for some sort of emotion, but he just stared blankly at you.

"Get off me," he muttered. Twice and Toga looked mortified. Spinner looked amused.

Fuck. I probably shouldn't have done that...

He pushed you off, springing back to life the instant he locked eyes with Spinner. "If you want a fight, I got plenty, asshole."

"Don't call her stupid. And do not tell me what to do." You could see the same look in his eye he had two weeks ago. The one that put a falter in your step. So you couldn't stop Dabi, then.

"Come on guys! What the fuck? Spinner, they already worked it out so what is the problem?"

"My problem is him! He thinks he can do whatever he wants and not suffer the consequences! He thinks he can just step on anyone? Not on my damn watch."

"Look at him! Is that really a man you wanna mess with for no reason? He'll fucking burn you to a crisp! Please think for a minute before you walk straight into death." Both pairs of eyes remained on each other, glares cutting. You'd never seen Dabi at full potential and now you never wanted to, hands trembling as you forced Spinner to make eye contact with you. "If you fight right now, I'll make sure you die." He was so surprised by the force in your tone that he nearly dropped his sword.

"So you're just cool with it? You're cool with the way he acts?"

"It's not my fucking problem," you threatened. With no warning, Spinner rushed towards Dabi once again, swinging full force. Dabi's flames roared, white-hot and huge. He shot off a blast just before Spinner reached him, but suddenly a hurricane-level gust of wind swept through the room, dissipating his flames instantly, and knocking Spinner on his back, along with everyone and everything else.

Yuna's hair settled to reveal the most irritated, angry human being you'd ever seen in your life, lips curled in a snarl. "I didn't wanna do that. I was hoping you two would act your age for a second, but you fucking idiots leave me no choice. What the fuck is wrong with you? You think Shigaraki wants to see this kinda shit? I'm in charge, and if I see one more goddamn move from either of you, I'm throwing you off a fucking building. Do not fuck with him." She pointed an accusing finger at Spinner. "And you," her tone was so cold you almost felt like she was talking to you. "This is how you wanna spend your first day back? Fucking around and starting shit?"

"Well, he just had to say some shit about you-"

"Do I fucking look bothered? Did I look bothered then? Or do I maybe look a little fucking angry now?"

He rubbed his head, not sure how to respond.

"The meeting is over. Everyone get the fuck out. Himaro, come with me, if you will." She motioned for you, quickly taking leave out the front door, with you trailing quickly.

"Sorry. I thought maybe-"

"It's cool. I mean, I didn't say anything because Spinner's not really wrong. He's just...a stupid idiot that has zero communication skills. There could literally not be a worse way to approach Dabi. And honestly? If you fight I'll make sure you die? Icon status. That's coldest thing I've heard since I've been here." You chuckled a bit, glad she was in a good mood.

"I figured maybe he'd chill if they stopped looking at each other. I figured wrong."

"These boys are perpetual twelve year olds. I honestly don't know what they'd do without us around."

"Well, apparently, they'd kill each other." She laughed a little, but it seemed off. Her eyes seemed far away, like she was looking for something she'd never find. "Are you okay?" You asked, tilting your head a bit.

"Y-yeah. I was gonna have you come with me for something, but if it's cool, I'm gonna take off alone." She glanced at you as you nodded. ---- You stared at the call log on your phone. You were growing desperate to hear his voice again. You'd never mention it, but he was starting to become the only thing you thought about. When things went south, when you were hurting or confused, anything, really. It was easier the second time to ask him.

Can I call you again tonight?

Yeah. Something going on?

Not really. Just checking in, I guess.

Usually I have Yuna do that. If there's something else you want, just tell me.

Well, oops.

I guess I just wanna talk? Is that...weird? I'm sure it is.

I'm not really a conversationalist. But I suppose if it helps, I don't really mind.

You didn't even realize you were holding your breath until it escaped you.

Thanks. I appreciate it.

I'll call as soon as I can.

You felt a little tug at your heartstrings. Everyone seemed to make him out to be such a detached dude who didn't care about anything, but from all the talks you had, it seemed like maybe his passion was just misappropriated, misunderstood. Yeah, that was what he seemed like. Misunderstood.

Something was bothering you still, though, making your stomach turn a bit, making your shoulders tense. The way Yuna was acting was... off. She seemed so distant. The only time she didn't was this morning. But as soon as she was out of Dabi's sight, she was back to staring emptily and keeping quiet. You couldn't help but wonder what Hawks said to her. She'd given you a bit of info on it, but not enough to truly satisfy you. You didn't really know what she meant by 'The Academy', but that was all you had to go off of.

The day passed as you laid in bed, toying with the thought for hours and trying to dissect what little verbiage you could. Soon, though, the taste of guilt rose up in the back of your throat, thinking back on what landed you here in the first place, a lazy daydream of five months ago, when you dropped off the map. It happened often, usually with no warning, and no way to stop it. The visions of that cold police room would take over every thought in your head.

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// "Hawks, Siren, we have a new mission for you." You grabbed the file from Tsukauchi hesitantly. Rarely did the police ever approach heroes one on one like this for a mission. "We've been thinking long and hard about how to put this together, so please read these files carefully. As you know, we have almost no intel on the League of Villains. But they've dropped of the map recently, and we can't even find them. I want you two to dig up as much intel as you can." Hawks gazed at you from the corner of his eye, watching for your reaction.

"What do you need us to do?"

"Well, realistically, if you find them, I want you to join them. Specifically you, Siren. With your quirk, it should be easy. There's a reason we chose you two. Between your quirk and cunning," he motioned to you. "and Hawks' intelligence and speed, we should be able to take them down." ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Even now, just from daydreaming, you could feel the same trembling from back then. Nothing about this had ever sat well, forcing a dissonance between you the information you truly needed. It didn't five months ago, and, for totally different reasons than you expected, it didn't now. Your chest felt tight again, breath slow and labored. You could feel the familiar sting of tears at your eyes.

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// "The goal here is authenticity. A couple of the members are known to be quite intelligent, especially their leader, Shigaraki. Siren, you'll join if given the chance, and Hawks will stage a rescue mission to gather your intel. We'll have you drop off the map first for a few weeks to create a buzz. I'll only stay in contact with Hawks. You and I will not interact going forward. Only a couple heroes are in the loop right now: Mirko and Endeavor. The police are coordinating this, and your cover cannot be blown. You are not to break your oath of silence. Should you meet with any other heroes, I trust you'll fight like you would against anyone else." ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

What were you thinking? Stealth? Lying? Covert operations? You weren't made for that. Maybe Hawks had trained his whole life for stuff like this, but you hadn't. You weren't prepared for this. You never were. And now you were wishing you'd handed it off to anyone else. You found yourself in way too deep, heart beating in your throat right about now.

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

You found the room silent and tense. "Please read your files. If you have any questions when I return, we'll go over them. This is all the info we have, as well as the outline for the mission. Any question that arise later on, please collaborate with Hawks as discreetly as possible. No phones or anything else that can be recorded."

"Gotcha, chief," Hawks smirked, taking a seat and cracking open his file.

"Oh, and while I expect you to speak with each other, please keep the details outlined in your files private. The less both of you know about each other from this point on, the better. I'll be back in an hour." He excused himself, leaving you two to your own devices.

"You look pale, kid."

"Hawks I'm older than you, first of all. And second, please try to pay attention. We can't afford to fuck this up. And yes. I'm nervous."

"Ah. Yeah this is the biggest mission you've ever gone on huh? No one and done here." He thumbed through the pages carefully, raising his brow as he read through his objectives.

"If they wanted us to know as little as possible, why would they brief us at the same time? It would be easier to honestly say I don't know what you're doing than lie about it."

"Please save your questions until the end,"he replied lightly, like he wasn't just asked to undertake an overthrow operation with one other person.

You skimmed through the files of the information they had on the league. About as much as anyone else did. "Well that was almost unnecessary," You sat back. "They don't know much, do they? This seems a little.."

"Vague?" You finished.

"To say the least." After ten more minutes, Tsukauchi strolled back in.

"Do you have any questions? I know the files are pretty bare at this point."

"I don't think so. Even as minimal as the information is, the objective is clear."

"Very well. Hawks, you'll be scouting for Shigaraki and keeping tabs on him to make it easier for Siren to find him. Report to her the second you see any of them." He gave a nonchalant thumbs up and was dismissed, leaving just you and Tsukauchi.

"There are a few more things before you leave. Your mission is decidedly more difficult in the degree of stealth necessary. Use your quirk however you must to gain information. Any actions you deem necessary will be excused to the highest power. I'm sure you understand that the heroes who cross your path won't go easy on you."

You nodded. "I understand." ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

You bolted up, breathless and on fire. How? How could you let this happen? How did such a simple mission go so,so wrong? Now you had no clue what your objective was. Getting rid of Tomura was no longer an option for you. Getting rid of Dabi and Yuna and Toga and Twice was no longer an option for you. But it had to be. You paced around the room, dizzy and frantic, hoping the call from Tomura came sooner rather than later.

Now it made sense. Now the last thing Hawks said to you before you started this mission rang true and clear: "The only one you really have to convince is yourself. The rest will fall into place. But if you lose your way, if you play along too well, you're done."

You weren't really sure what it meant back then, but it was just like experiencing an emotion. It didn't ring true until it happened to you. You'd played along too well. You were so sure you'd never play along too well. You'd let them take over your heart. You'd let them into a place they didn't belong. You'd seen their weaknesses and their strengths, and their heartaches and their triumphs and losses. You weren't supposed to make them human.

This was supposed to be black and white. Now you'd lost your way. Hawks wasn't having it. Tomura would never forgive you, if he even believed your heart was in it in the first place. Yuna couldn't possibly be so forgiving twice. She already knew you were a liar at best.

Your heart was on fire. It felt like someone had a hold on your lungs, vision peppering with white dots. Was it really so easy to falter? To crumble under the weight of one decision? Hot tears covered your open palms. They didn't stop flowing. Tomura’s call couldn’t come fast enough.

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