#freedom-wise? i love being laid off part time

[tripably]

So I saw something like this on instagram and I wanted to participate, except I've psyched myself out of ever posting anything over there and also a month-long challenge is too much of a commitment plus I wanted to make edits to some of the questions so here we go!

~ A song with a colour in the title: Tummansininen seuralainen by J. Karjalainen ~ A song with a food in the title: Chop Suey! by System Of A Down ~ A song with a number in the title: 22 by Lily Allen ~ A song with a person's name in the title: Coraline by Måneskin ~ A song you remember from your childhood: Rööperiin by Jormas ~ A song from your teen years: She Will Be Loved by Maroon 5 ~ A song that you never get tired of: Lokin päällä lokki by Apulanta ~ A song to drive to: Kissavideoita by VilleGalle ~ A song you'd sing with someone on karaoke: Kukka by Uniklubi ~ A song that reminds you of summertime: Kesäyö by Pariisin Kevät ~ A song that needs to be played loud: Mary On A Cross by Ghost ~ A song that makes you want to dance: The Big Fellah by Black 47 ~ A cover song you like better than the original: Huuliharppu by ABREU ~ A song from the 70s: Starman by David Bowie ~ A classic favourite: Rebel Yell by Billy Idol ~ A song by a band you wish were still together: Pistoolisankari by Dingo ~ A song by an artist no longer living: Musta aurinko nousee by Juice Leskinen ~ A song you had/would love to be played at your wedding or such: Nothing Else Matters by Metallica ~ A song that reminds you of someone: Frida by BEHM ~ A song that makes you want to fall in love: In Joy And Sorrow by HIM ~ A song that has many meanings to you: Do I Wanna Know? by Arctic Monkeys ~ A song that makes you happy: Carry on Wayward Son by Kansas ~ A song that makes you sad: Vielä täällä by Jesse Kaikuranta ~ A song that breaks your heart: Te amo by Rihanna ~ A song that reminds you of yourself: The Sound of Silence by Simon & Garfunkel

I'm not tagging anyone, this time, but I'm strongly encouraging anyone who sees this to join me in obsessing over music choices, and also editing and/or removing and/or adding new questions to the list, whichever way strikes your fancy<3

[queeniesaurus]

When Sirens Sing of Freedom

Part 1

Pairing:

Siren Wooyoung x Mermaid Princess Reader

Description:

You’d always been warned about sirens, about how seductive and dangerous they could be. One taste of blood and they would know your true desire, and they would do anything to help you realise it, just so they could drain you of your blood once they had. But nothing could have prepared you for what happened when a siren decided to make you his prey. None of the stories had warned you about falling in love with one of the darkest creatures of the sea.

Warnings:

Mentions of blood and biting (please let me know if I’ve missed anything)

Part 1 ~ Part 2 ~ Part 3 ~ Part 4 ~ Part 5 ~ Part 6

~xXx~

“It’s ok, Hwa, I’m just going to the garden, I don’t need an escort.”

Your lieutenant frowned at you, clearly still not happy, the disturbance earlier putting him more on edge than usual. “I still think it would be wise for one of us to go with you”.

“Seonghwa. Please. There are guards patrolling constantly, I’ll be safe I promise. I just- I really want to be alone right now. I need time to think, time to de-stress. I love you guys, but sometimes I just need some space.” You finished, looking down by the end of the speech, hoping you hadn’t upset him.

He pursed his lips, before sighing. “I understand princess.” He finally breathed out. “Call if you need anything and one of us will be there in an instant.”

You nodded, lifting your head back up to look at him again and smiling. “Thank you, Hwa. I promise I’ll call if I need you.”

He smiled back tightly at you, giving you a quick nod, and watching as you swam past him in the direction of the garden courtyard.

The garden courtyard had always been your favourite place in the palace. You loved the calm beauty of it, the peace it could bring you on even the most stressful of days.

In the centre stood a large willow tree, gifted by one of the human royal families as an extension of friendship to the merpeople. It was shrouded in magic, allowing it to survive and thrive in the deep waters of your home.

Around the courtyard were corals and sea plants of all colours and shapes, some glowed softly, whilst others swayed gently in the currents.

A path of pebbles and sea glass glistened in the soft light given off by the bloom of jellyfish that floated above, leading to the ornate bench that sat under the willow tree.

The jellyfish had been a gift from San, approved by the queen, after you’d confided in him how much you loved the stars in the human world and missed them when you were back home in the ocean.

It had been such a thoughtful gift, one of many the Guardians had gifted you over the years.

You made your way now over to the bench, lying down on it and looking up through the branches at the bloom of glowing jellies. They weren’t the same as stars, but they made a relaxing substitute. You closed your eyes for a moment, enjoying the feeling of the gentle current as it pushed against your fins.

You thought back to the events of the afternoon, deciding you wouldn’t get any peace unless you gave yourself the time to process what had happened.

The morning had been just as it always was, you had people come in to do your hair and dress you for the event you were to attend that day, as they always did when you had a public appearance.

Then the royal convoy had made its way to Poseidons Peak, the highest point of the city, close enough that sunlight could filter through from the surface world above. Today had been the blessing ceremony, which was an annual affair, taking place on the sacred day of the anniversary of the cities founding. It was a celebration of all that had been achieved, and a chance to pray to the gods that health and abundance continued to bless your kingdom and all who resided within.

You shuddered, thinking at how displeased the gods would be at how the ceremony had ended. The blessing happened without trouble, but as the offering of gifts was being laid by the feet of Poseidon’s statue, an orca had interrupted the festivities. Usually predators like that kept well clear of the city boundaries, and were very rarely a problem. Even if they made it inside they weren’t usually a threat.

Somehow this had been different. It was like it was possessed, truly living up to the name killer whale. You fought back the tears that burned your eyes at the thought of the mermaid that had fallen victim to the savage creature. Thankfully she had not been killed, but her injuries were great, and her life will have been forever changed. Fortunately for everyone there the royal guard, your guardians included, had jumped into action immediately, and the orca was quickly put down. Sadness swept over you once more at the thought of the life that was lost, a necessary sacrifice, but one that hurt your heart all the same.

You had been rushed back to the palace then, and kept under careful watch up until now. The event having left an auror of suspicion and mistrust over the palace. You let your mind return to the present.

After some time had passed in quiet, and you had finally felt some of the stress and grief of the day melt away, you opened your eyes.

And your heart jumped into your throat.

Standing in front of you, a shadow had formed into a man. He was beautiful, with a sharp chin, and a beauty mark under his eye, his handsome face seeming almost familiar to you, but you were sure you’d never met him before. He was watching you with sharp eyes, a lazy smile on his lips, revealing the tip of a fang that pushed lightly into his lower lip. He tapped a clawed finger, its tip stained black, against his chin as he appraised you.

When his eyes met yours, he spoke, voice like honey, “Hello princess. It’s nice to finally meet you”.

You took a moment to try and calm your racing heart, trying to push the fear down and put on a brave face, but your mind was yelling at you to run. You knew what this creature before you was, and it wasn’t good to be trapped here with him. How he had got in past the guards was beyond you, but your mouth felt dry and you couldn’t bring yourself to shout for them now, knowing he could kill you easily before they could get through the door. You pushed up from the bench slowly, trying not to make any sudden moves.

You swallowed before replying, your voice far stronger than you had thought possible, “it seems I’m at a disadvantage, you know me, but I don’t know you?”

His smile widened in response as he reached out and lifted your chin in his hand, causing you to freeze under his cold touch. “All in good time, my dear.” He leaned in closer, until he was almost whispering in your ear, his firm grip on your chin keeping you from pulling back. “Just as beautiful as I imagined. I can’t wait to corrupt you”.

Without warning his lips were on yours, and as you tried to pull away you felt his teeth sink into the soft flesh of your lower lip. His tongue grazed over the wound before he pulled back licking his lips, tasting your blood, his once brown eyes now a deep crimson.

Fuck.

He’d been too quick and you hadn’t reacted in time. You could hear all the warnings in your head, never let a siren taste your blood, or you’ll never be free of them. Once they got a taste, you became their prey.

Your heart pounded in your chest, panic bubbling to the surface. Unable to contain your fear any longer, you manipulated the water around you, a power given to you by your royal blood, into a torrent, slamming the creature hard into the wall of coral behind him. You turned quickly, and propelled yourself out of the courtyard, moving as fast as your tail could take you. As you pushed through the ornate doors, You heard his dark laugh echo around you, saw out the corner of your eye as he returned to black smoke and vanished once more into the shadows. His last words floated to you, a fading whisper, “oh, this is going to be fun”.

You didn’t stop swimming, cursing yourself for letting him bite you. All legends had told you that your fate had been sealed with that one act, now he had a taste, he wouldn’t leave you alone until he had all of you. You’d never felt such fear in your long life.

You were so lost in your thoughts, that you hadn’t noticed the merman swimming towards you, until you barrelled into him. You let out a short scream of surprise, expecting the siren to have caught up with you, as arms tightened around yours to steady you.

“Princess? Are you ok? What happened?” It was Yunho, his deep voice easily recognisable, and instantly calming some of your terror. His eyes widened in worry as he took in your panicked state.

“A siren…” you forced out, feeling your gills burn as they struggled to take enough oxygen from the water around you, “Yunho… there’s a siren…”

“A siren, are you sure?” He asked, though he wasn’t doubting you at all, he just didn’t want to believe it. He took your hand and immediately started to pull you back along the corridor with him, spear appearing in his free hand.

You could feel him call out to the other Guardians, and it felt like no time at all before all seven were gathered around you, worry in their eyes and weapons in hand.

The ‘Guardians’ was the name given to the subsection of the royal guard that consisted of the seven men sworn to protect you. Their sole purpose in life was to keep you safe, or so they said, but to you they were more like family. And right now they were a welcome sight.

You’d paused momentarily in the corridor, giving you a chance to catch your breath. Yunho still held your hand in comfort, while San swam up and rested a gentle hand on your back as you tried desperately to calm your breathing and bring your heart rate back down. You were already feeling a lot safer, knowing they were beside you.

Hongjoong, the captain of your Guardians, was the first to speak, his voice was somehow both gentle and commanding, expecting swift answers without pushing you too far. He was looking between you and Yunho.

“What happened?”

“There was a Siren” you explained, words coming a lot easier now. Yunho squeezed your hand in support. “In the garden courtyard. He’s gone now, I think but-“ you trailed off, suddenly unsure about just how much you should tell them. The ghost of the kiss lingered on your lips, and the cut from his fangs stung in the saltwater.

Hongjoong nodded in the direction of the courtyard, and Mingi, Yeosang and Jongho took off down the corridor, weapons in hand, to hunt for the siren.

Seonghwa was looking at you intensely, and after a moment he gasped, swimming up and ever so gently tilting your face to get the right angle in the light. “You’re injured.” It was a statement, not a question, and you realised you were never going to be able to keep the bite a secret from them. For a moment you thought about lying, telling them you caught it yourself as you fled, but you knew better than to lie to them.

You nodded slowly, swallowing the sudden lump in your throat. “I- he bit me.” You felt the three men touching you tense, watched as Hongjoong stiffened across from you, eyes narrowing ever so slightly.

Seonghwa’s eyes widened, as he let go of your face.

“He bit you? Princess that’s-“

“Not good. I know” you interrupted, afraid of what he was going to say, and not giving him a chance to elaborate.

“We need to report this to the King and Queen immediately” Hongjoong stated.

All the men nodded, and started leading you slowly towards the Queens quarters.

Everyone was on high alert, and you could feel the anxiety permeate the water. None of them could find the words to say, the implications of a Siren bite too great to discuss before they made it to your parent’s chamber.

“Do you think it’s a coincidence?” San asked at last, breaking the tense silence.

“Let’s wait to discuss this with their majesties.” Hongjoong cut in, voice hard with worry.

It was minutes later that you arrived at their majesties quarters. The guards on the door straightened as you approached, saluting you and your Captain, who was quick to address them.

“We need to speak to the queen immediately”.

“What is this about?” The guard on the right asked, not that he had any intention of preventing you from entering, but no-one was allowed to enter without the Queen or king’s explicit permission. Not even you, their only daughter.

Hongjoong expected this and had his answer ready. “The princess has been assaulted within the palace grounds. The threat must be disclosed to their majesties at once”.

You caught as the guards eyes widened, glancing at you, before nodding, turning at once and entering the anti-chamber. It was only a moment before he returned, holding the door open for the five of you to enter. Hongjoong and Seonghwa went in first, you followed with San and Yunho taking up the rear, both having let go of their hold on you now that you were within the presence of your parents. Their weapons had vanished, now that you were in the most secure part of the palace - except for perhaps your own quarters.

You passed through the anti-chamber and into your parents reception room, just as ornately decorated as the rest of the palace. The King and Queen were stood in the middle of the room, watching anxiously as you followed your Captain and lieutenant in.

The four men with you placed a hand over their chests and bowed deeply. You yourself lowered your head in a small respectful bow to your parents.

The queen swam up to you almost immediately, eyes darting over you to find what injuries you might have. Noticing the small cut on your lip and nothing else, she turned to Hongjoong with sharp eyes.

“My guard tells me my daughter has been assaulted within our home, explain yourselves.”

You knew you should have been the one to explain what had happened to your mother, but standing there faced with her icy stare, you suddenly found the words impossible to speak.

Hongjoong bowed his head to her once more, before replying, “perhaps you should sit down, your majesty, this won’t be easy news.”

“I want an answer Captain.”

“Yes ma’am. It seems a siren found his way into the eastern courtyard whilst the princess was alone in there.” The queens eyes widen at his words, and then narrow as anger takes over her features.

“And where were any of you?” She asked, and though the words weren’t aimed at you, you flinched, shrinking back, guilt pitting in your stomach. They were going to get in trouble because you had wanted some alone time.

Seonghwa glided forward, levelling up with Hongjoong. He bowed his head, leaving it lowered as he responded, “that was my fault your majesty, the princess wished to go alone and I allowed it. I should have known better”

Your mother was about to respond, but your own conscious wouldn’t let your guardians take the blame for something you had chosen, so ignoring all propriety, you moved forward until you were in front of both your captain and your lieutenant. “Please don’t be angry with them. It was me who asked Seonghwa to let me go alone. And I would have found a way to, even if he had said no.” You told her honestly. She looked at you disapprovingly.

“I don’t care what you asked of them, they know better than to leave you unguarded, especially following the events of this morning” she frowned. You were about to argue back, when your father stepped in. He glided forward to stand next to his wife, speaking for the first time since you entered the room,

“Did you get hurt?” He changed the subject at ease, asking what he believed to be the more important question, and trying to be the peacemaker as he often was between you and your mother.

Without thinking you ran your tongue over your bottom lip, across the still aching bite wound.

You swallowed as you thought about how to answer your father. After moments pause, your father waiting patiently for an answer, you finally replied, voice barely more than a whisper.

“No, not really, but-“ a deep breath, “he bit me”

Your parents gasped in unison, your mother reaching out to grab you gently by the shoulders, eyes darting to your injured lip, before lifting back up to your eyes, “How much did he take?”

You shook your head, pulling away slightly, fear starting to return to you at your parents unease, “it was just a graze, he can’t have had more than a drop” you replied, looking away, embarrassment about how he had bitten you mixing with the fear pitting in your stomach.

“It’s ok, we won’t let him get to you again” your father replied gently. And you forced a smile out at him, not sure if you believed they could stop the monster if he really wanted you.

The Queen watched you in silence for a moment, before turning to your guards.

“And what of the siren now?” The queen asked.

“The remaining guardians are looking for him now, your majesty.” Hongjoong answered.

“I will not have my daughter fall prey to a sinister creature like that.” Your mother replied, tensely. “Until that monster is found, my daughter is to be taken far away and kept under constant watch. We have embassies scattered throughout the human world. Take her to one of the furthest from here and don’t let anyone know where you’re going.” The queen commanded.

Seonghwa and Hongjoong shared a glance with each other, before all 4 of your Guardians bowed, “yes, your majesty.”

But something in you felt uneasy, or maybe you were still in shock and weren’t thinking things through, or else you wouldn’t have questioned,

“The surface? What about all my engagements? I can’t just drop everything.”

“We will make an apology for your absence, but your safety is far more important. You will be on a break from royal duties until this creature is apprehended.” Your mother replied.

You couldn’t help the little jolt of excitement that went through you. A break from royal duties? That sounded like heaven right now, if only it hadn’t of taken something more hellish to get you there. A part of you almost wished the Siren would evade capture, just so you could spend more time on the surface, but you shuddered at the thought of having that monster free to hunt you as he pleased.

You drifted away from the conversation for a moment, letting the Captain and your parents go through the details of the plan, as your thoughts trailed back to what had just happened. There was something else, something that frightened you even more than the Siren himself. Something you could barely bring yourself to admit, even to yourself. You could still feel the shadow of his kiss on your lips, and something, somewhere deep inside of you wanted more. You almost felt yourself being drawn to him, this beautiful monster.

[magnetictradingblogg]

Anniversary Interview: Airina Kacienaite-Krake

At a four-year anniversary mark with Magnetic Group, Airina Kacientaite-Krake, the Head of Magnetic Trading, shares her story. From Airina’s career beginnings to her take on leadership, we also get a glimpse into life at Magnetic and what it’s like to lead a cross-country team.

What is your background education and career-wise leading up to Magnetic Group?

Starting with education, I have a BA degree in accounting and an MA in International Business Economics. Right after, I spent over a decade working in the banking sector in sales aircraft engine components supply, then as the Head of Sales of car and operational leasing. After that, I received an invitation to work at an aviation company, and from then onwards, I never looked back. From the industry's appeal to the global scope and my team, all these aspects perfectly make up the foundation for why I love what I do, including being part of the Magnetic Group. 

Could you share some of your proudest achievements while you’ve been with the Trading department for the past four years? 

One thing I strive for is implementing structures. With that, naturally comes building up Magnetic Trading to what it is today and doing all of it together with the team. This meant implementing processes and workflows, launching offices across the globe, and unifying them, all leading to a structured and well-optimized department. Another achievement is team-wise, having a low employee turnover and a core that hasn't changed for years. All in all, I could sum it up, resulting in increased sales and global expansion.

As a manager, do you have a team and leadership philosophy that you follow? 

I delved into this topic more thoroughly in my earlier article on leadership. An example of my leadership philosophy is the "servant leadership" approach. This philosophy emphasizes a leader's commitment to serving the needs of their team members and empowering them to succeed.

With that said, the leadership style varies depending on the company and what stage your department is at. For example, we had a transformational focus for some time to synchronize everything and everyone into smooth processes. Once the foundation is laid, the focus shifts more towards individual growth, all based on their independent paths and responsibilities, which is the case for us now.

Where is the Magnetic Trading brand headed in 2024? 

The keyword for 2024 is expansion across the board. We are kicking off the year with the newly opened office in Miami and its dedicated warehouse, so we'll continue scaling our efforts and strengthening our presence there, including people, stock, and brand awareness. The same goes for cultivating the Asia-Pacific region, increasing our business activities and sales engine material, building a separate stock, and growing the local team.

To wrap it up, how would you describe working at Magnetic in five words?

Some words are inherited from the industry's nature, but there's a balancing act between all five words: challenging yet rewarding, providing freedom with which simultaneously comes ownership. Also, it is tight-knit, especially regarding our culture. We always have our minds set on the target, but meanwhile, we also make sure to enjoy the ride and celebrate progress and those smaller wins.

[loves-em]

YOUNG AND BOLD

As previously stated, I do things. Such as many, many school projects. Anything I can get my hands on. In one of these projects, the members are a little bold with the teachers, who don't really seem to care much.

So not only am I part of the student exchange, I am also part of another project. For privacy reasons, I will not mention it's name. It's an international thing here in Europe where people from all countries meet up. They are connected through one language though. I am part of the team for my school and we are in planning right now. As of the time writing this, it's not much longer until we're headed off to the place. Updates shall follow.

Since we will be doing plenty of workshops there, we have to make preparations. We are 8 people in total and 1 used to be on the waiting list. She was allowed to join in recently because another school reported that someone would not be able to come. Two others, including the one that joined later, and me are in one subgroup. Our preparation task was to write a short play.

I'm kind of proud of it, so here's a summary: Two duos meet up. They're teens from 1966 and 1996, two each. One group has time traveled. After finding this out, they discuss the differences of their times and talk about what they believe the word freedom means. The play ends in us breaking character and telling the audience what it mean to us and how that differs from back then. We will also ask the audience to describe their current definition of freedom and ask their expectations for the future.

It's going to be one boy and one girl from each time, as to also tackle sexism in the play and have the binary genders' viewpoints represented as well. The initial group (us, the ones who write the play) is 3 girls, so only 2 of us should play in the play. So we wanted another 2 boys from the group to take the leftover roles.

Initially, it would have only been 2 girls anyway, but the teachers advised us to make it have 4 people, so we made it 4 people.

Now, noone of the boys wanted the roles. "It would be a lot to learn, text-wise". "They also had their own tasks in preparations". That was their main point. It was fair though, everyone had to do something. But someone needs to do this as well! And we're allowed to take the script up to the stage as well. It's not much to learn, only about 2mins of active talking each.

We (the writers) messeged into the group chat (where the teachers are!), asking for someone to please take the roles.

Context time: One teacher is a guy in his mid-late thirties, very chill teacher and an incredibly based person. Due to hum being so laid-back, students don't respect him much, talking over him often. He is one of my favourite teachers ever and I have him in both latin and history. Even though everyone disrespects him all the time, most seem to like him. Cool guy.

The other teacher is a woman, slightly older than teacher 1. She is incredibly strict when it comes to grading but also very consistent and fair in grading. Her requirements are unusually high, but fulfillable. She also dresses a bit oddly and has interesting manners of speech and behaviour. Most think she's weird and dislike her for her strictness. All she does is set boundaries for her students. She also just handles being disrespected with absolute consequences for anyone. She is a powerful presence and I love her so much for it. She really cares and is very dedicated if you ask for her help. She is so fair and professional and competent! Everyone else at the very least dislikes her techniques.

Context time over.

After sending our request into the group chat, it went wild. The chat used to be semi-formal. No fancy speech, but also very respectful. The boys went haywire. They insulted one-another as sons of bitches, and in return as sexists. They got political. They insulted mothers and other family members. They were vile and unhinged and straight up bold. They called both teachers by their first names for fun. This is a group chat with the teachers in it!

I was very confused afterwards. Where does such boldness come from? Especially with teacher 2! She is usually very much respected as a teacher, and now they go on to write insults (not to her, dw) in a group chat she's in and call her by her first name?! Crazy, so it seems. We still haven't decided on who gets each role, and we're leaving for the place in less than a week.

I hope the boldness of these young boys will wear off and they'll take the roles, otherwise that would mean stress and work for us.

If anyone reads this, what do you think? I find this boldness weird and wanted to ask if that's normal for boys that age (16-17).

[chemicalpink]

☾✧゜BTS Tarot Reading: a peek into their S/O energy ☾✧゜

Pairing: none, this is a tarot/oracle reading.

A/N: I used the divine feminine deck for this reading. Please do remember that every tarot reader’s relationship with their decks are unique thus it may vary the interpretation of the cards. This reading is for entertainment purposes only; the energy channeled may refer to a present or future partner. Whatever outcomes of the reading doesn’t mean ultimate truth and we should really respect the member’s dating life as fans. 

Kim Seokjin ☾✧゜

Mai Bhago: resources; warrior.

So i feel like this is someone that might have to fight for him

Someone that will stop at nothing to get him to open up.

Cause I mean sure, either way, Jin is so far up in the ‘people that will never be your boyfriend’ list with the way that BTS has grown but I feel like this is so much more than that.

I feel like 

It’s not hard to get close to him, but it is hard to get him to open up to the idea of someone loving him for him and not for what he’s accomplished.

idk if that makes sense (?

Lakshmi: abundance

As soon as I laid eyes on this card I got the idea of someone with all that bread.

Not sure if it is inherited wealth/ wealthy family or self made

But definitely someone that has the necessary resources to live comfortably

And also this adds up to them being able to make Jin open up 

Cause they are definitely not using him for money.

Which is a big relief for him.

Rita of Cascia: impossible causes.

Definitely someone that doesn’t run on the same circles as him.

I thought: hmmm maybe a fan (?

Or possibly someone that doesn’t necessarily has the time to date

But most definitely has the intention to love Seokjin with all their strength.

Min Yoongi ☾✧゜

Rita of Cascia: impossible causes

Hello we meet again.

But with a diferent connotation.

This is someone whos strong will puts us all to shame

Like really

Someone that gets their mind on something and will most definitely get it.

Very in tune with Yoongi’s energy.

Lalla: spoken words

I feel like this is someone that has gone through their life trying to heal

And succeeding

“I am the writer of my own story”

Some one that doesn’t fit into the ‘traditional’ way that they are supposed to live.

VERY straightforward.

I also thought of someone spiritual, a manifester of sorts.

Kali: mother of the universe.

LISTEN I’ve said how this one is someone non traditional

Now hear me out

I saw this card and thought well we are looking at someone not gender conforming.

I can even go as far as say that is is someone part of the LGBTQ+ community.

“It’s time to be the truth of who I am”

If you put 2 and 2 together, I can say that this is a healing presence for Yoongi, someone that will make him tune in into what he really likes, who he is.

Jung Hoseok ☾✧゜

Lalita: happiness

This made me so soft

Sunshine got his own sunshine

“Laughter leads me back to the light”

Very positive vibes for this one

One of those people that is impossible not to like

Just like him

Sarada Devi

“The presence of love is the absence of judgement”

This is definitely someone open-minded

In many ways

Someone that has no trouble with Hobi’s way of life

As in

He had to cancel last minute because there’s this thing at the studio? Sure no problem.

They don’t doubt one bit his love and devotion

And understands that they are not walking the same path

But rather walking each of their paths together.

Vajrayogini: liberation

A carefree soul

I feel like this someone is helping Hoseok feel free again

As in

Don’t get him wrong he loves doing what he does but sometimes your career ties you down

But all of those are gone with them.

A fourth card popped up: Mary Magdalene

Along with all those things, this someone is someone very down to Earth

They know where they stand

None of that getting their head get full of it for dating Hoseok

They are themselves and will stay themselves no matter what.

Kim Namjoon ☾✧゜

Marguerite Porete: mystic

Right off the bat, a soulmate connection

I’ll have to say soul family at least

A very divine love

Not like codependent but very very into each other

Shekinah

I feel like most probably this is a female, or someone that identifies as such

Also

Namjoon president? very much so

This is someone important

I see power

In like- a position wise type of way

I’ll go as far as to say a diplomat cause it’s what comes to mind

Or a business executive

Someone well respected within their own little world

Definitely someone Joon looks up to

Rita of Cascia: impossibles

What’s with these boys and this card

So again, I’m sensing fan or just someone that is not a celebrity

Public figure? sure

But like I said, they run just within their own circle

It also came to mind: foreigner

So yeah, i endorse my thought of a diplomat.

Park Jimin ☾✧゜

The Cosmic Egg

Listen I’m not surprised to get such a card from this man

This is indeed a soulmate connection

Also, filled with lots of love

But mostly like- demonstrations of love

I don’t wanna say they’re that couple full of PDA

but it’s what comes to mind

Teresa of Avila

DO NOT QUOTE ME ON THIS OKAY

But I feel like this is an already existing relationship

they keep to themselves

a very NON PUBLIC relationship

I feel like they don’t feel the need to announce it to make it more real

They vibin’

a very soft and chill connection tbh

Machig Labdron

So I feel like these two have known each other for long

This is someone that Jimin has helped through hard times

Chimchim is a healer within so I sense that he has helped them 

“I see light in my own darkness”

Also I feel like they’ve had a troubled past that has turned into love

Jimin was the light that helped them see their true lovable self.

Kim Taehyung ☾✧゜

Mira Bai: true freedom

Okay so this is someone VERY independent

Although they love Tae to death, they know to love themselves first

I can see Tae being a bit intimidated by this way of thinking at first

But learn later that this is his type of person

Yeshe Tsogyal

It came to mind an academic

Whether it is a teacher or an investigator

That academia vibe

A true intellectual

Very curious about life and averything that surrounds them

Just like Tae

Tae most likely learns A LOT from this relationship

And is very fascinated by their brain

Kali

“I release all that doesn’t serve me”

This someone knows what they want

And there is just no way around it

Like the first card said, they love Tae but life plans are life plans

Someone that loves to walk their own path

A very grown-up vibe to them

And listen I don’t wanna fall into daddy/mommy issues

really

But I’m gonna go ahead and say this is some type of inner child healing for Tae

Two very similar POVs but with SO DIFFERENT perspectives

Both curious, but Tae’s comes from a child-like place whereas his s/o views it as something greater, the purpose of the universe type of way.

Jeon Jungkook ☾✧゜

Sehknet

This card was very straightforward with the message

Someone that has been through shit

Jungkook is their well-deserved break at all the trials that the universe has put them through.

“I am pure strength”

I also feel like this is someone that tends to be an avid activist

VERY VERY passionate

and definitely tired of everyone’s bullshit

an old soul, VERY VERY OLD

“I honor my anger by giving voice to it”

Pope Joan

WHEN I TELL U

this is someone spiritual to the BONE

“Soul is limitless”

I got the ‘I will turn the world upside down to find you’ vibe too

Like

They know Jungkook is their person

And honestly? They are thriving to just watch how the universe is trying to apologize to them by putting Jungkook on their path

Someone very wise, more so in the sense of life than academic type

Parvati

THIS IS A PAST LIFE CONNECTION

like- really really had it coming for both of them

“I am a love that doesn’t leave”

They are also very very committed to this connection

They put their 110% spiritual self on this

I sensed the ‘healer meets healer’ type of connection once they meet

Also

Since this is a very old soul I feel like their soul journey is almost over and Jungkook is kind of a legacy for their learnings.

As always I hope you enjoyed! Feel free to request any other general tarot reading! Have a great day! I promise I’m working on all my other requests, this reading just suddenly came to me and i just had to do it.

[thevindicativevordan]

those were great comic recommendations for a DCU beginner! happen to have a version for getting into Marvel?

Simultaneously harder and easier. Marvel's never rebooted so you can just start from the very beginning... but that means starting off with comics written in the 60s which might not be to everyone's taste, plus you'd have to work your way through decades of convoluted continuity to get to the present day. Restricting myself to the 616 universe I would recommend:

Spider-Man

Amazing Spider-Man by Lee/Dikto/Romita Sr. - Pondered for a while on whether or not to count the two separately, but honestly I think this reads better all together. Lee and Dikto tell you Spidey's origin and lay the foundations for Peter Parker, most of his iconic Rogues Gallery is introduced under Lee and Dikto including Doc Ock and Green Goblin. Much like how the early Golden Age Superman stories are worth checking out for how different Superman is character-wise, the early years Peter Parker is not at all the suffering saint most people think of. Peter becoming the figure we know him to be is a process that only begins with Ben's death, and it's not until Romita Sr. replaces Dikto that Spider-Man starts to settle into the character we recognize. Plus Romita Sr. is the one to introduce MJ, and thus his partnership with Lee is when the final cornerstones of Spider-Man are laid in my eyes.

Amazing Spider-Man by JMS - In many ways this run encompasses the whole of Spider-Man in one: Amazing storytelling peaks that will make you laugh and cry, yet also baffling valleys that will leave you wondering how the fuck Marvel ever thought this was fit to print. It's baby's first run for me and I've always loved it, warts and all. Fair warning this run has two of the worst Spider-Man stories of all time with Sins Past and One More Day, but it also has some of the best Peter/MJ interactions that will make you understand why people were so angry OMD broke them up, as well as the best characterization of Peter as an adult.

Spider-Man: Life Story by Chip Zdarsky - A great Spider-Man story that asks the question "what if the sliding timeline didn't exist and Peter actually aged in real time?" and answers it by telling one issue per decade of Spider-Man's life. Fantastic story with multiple twists that will surprise even fans who might think they know what's coming. Especially powerful is the ending which made me tear up the first time I read it, and likely will cause you to do the same. Not sure if they've put out a trade that includes the Annual Zdarsky did, but make sure to get that version if it does exist, Annual covers Jameson's arc throughout Peter's life. Zdarsky is one of the best JJJ writers and that Annual especially is a great companion piece to the main story.

Hulk

Hulk by PAD - Modern Hulk owes his existence to this run. Multiple Hulk alters which are a product of Bruce's multiple personality disorder, Hulk being cognizant instead of "savage caveman", and so forth all have their . Bear in mind this is a 12 year run on the character, inconceivably long by modern standards, so the quality varies. I really enjoyed the starting 2/3rds but the final stretch wasn't as good. Even so this is a run that obviously touches on and shapes every part of Hulk's world, from the main character himself to his supporting cast. Every Hulk fan should at least try it.

Planet Hulk by Greg Pak - Rest of Pak's run is worth checking out but this is the highlight. Basic gist is taking Hulk out of his comfort zone and putting him in a world where the aspects of the character that cause humans to be terrified of him instead cause the population to love him. To a world suffering under the tyranny of the Red King and the terror of the spikes, Hulk's rage and strength make him a symbol of hope. Interesting aspect of this story I want to highlight is that there's little to no Banner in this story, Hulk is basically in control for the whole ride. If Hulk as a gladiator and freedom fighter doesn't at least entice some interest out of you, capeshit probably isn't your thing.

Immortal Hulk by Al Ewing - Wrote a lot about this run already, so all I'll say here is that it's one of the greatest Marvel runs of all time, not just Hulk. If you're a fan of Hulk, horror, or just good writing in general, read this. Not only does it show Hulk's breadth and depth as a character, it's just damn good. Run also does a good job of teaching you about Hulk's history so if you like this run it will help point you in the direction of other Hulk stories you might enjoy.

Black Panther

Rise of the Black Panther by Evan Narcisse - Tells you the origin and titular rise of T'Challa on his journey towards becoming the always prepared hero we know him as. Simple and straightforward if a little rough around the edges.

Black Panther by Christopher Priest - This is the definitive Black Panther run. Priest took a character who had always had potential, but had just been used as a token, and turned him into Marvel's premiere badass on par with Batman. Format is incredibly 90s, the Dora look like Halle Berry instead of wearing the traditional Wakanda looks you'd expect from the MCU, but it's still a great run. You get to see T'Challa take on everyone from NYC thugs, to supervillains, to the Devil himself, and he always comes out on top. Only big drawback is that Priest wasn't sure a black main character would sell, so he used Agent Ross as a white audience stand-in which might be a turn off for those who want a book wholly focused on T'Challa. I personally found Ross amusing, he's basically Panther's Jimmy Olsen and regularly gets made the butt of constant jokes, but I wanted to give a heads up to anyone who didn't know about that aspect.

Black Panther by Reginald Hudlin - While Priest may have been the one to redefine T'Challa, Hudlin is the one who revamped Wakanda and the supporting cast. Shuri is introduced here, Wakanda having always been more advanced than the rest of the world is introduced here, T'Challa and Storm get married here, etc. If Priest isn't to your taste you may find Hudlin more enjoyable, and he writes a badass Panther as well.

Captain America

Captain America: Man Out of Time by Mark Waid - Updates Cap's origin story by having him awaken in the modern (90s) era. Straightforward but still good story of Cap struggling to adjust to life in the modern day while he also comes to grips with the reality of America vs. the idealized notions of his nation he once held.

Captain America by Ed Brubaker - The definitive Captain America run which served as the basis for the character in the MCU. Amazing mix of espionage and super heroics, Brubaker is my favorite writer for Steve and Red Skull, plus he's the one who made Bucky badass as hell by reintroducing him as the Winter Soldier. Steve, Sharon, Bucky, Red Skull, and the wider members of Cap's Mythos all have great showings here. If you're a fan of Captain America and want to read just one Cap run, this is the one you should read.

Captain America by Mark Gruenwald - Before Brubaker you could feasibly argue that Gruenwald was Cap's definitive writer. He spent a decade writing Cap and many of his stories would have a dramatic impact on the character. Gruenwald was the one who wrote Steve giving up the mantle of Captain America when the government tried to press him into being their stooge, and Gruenwald spends a lot of his run focusing on the personal toll Rogers code of ethics exacts on his life. If you want to see the origins of the Serpent Society and John Walker's tenure as Cap, this is well worth checking out.

Iron Man

Invincible Iron Man by Matt Fraction - Best modern run on Iron Man by far. Fraction does a good job trying to establish Tony as an A-Lister in the MU after the success of the MCU. Personally I really enjoyed Fraction's characterization of the Mandarin and his attempts to elevate Tony's Rogues Gallery (which was a mixed success).

Iron Man: Extremis by Warren Ellis - Right so Ellis is a shit apparently if you didn't already know that, fair warning if his actions are a deal-breaker for you. This is still one of the highest rated Iron Man stories however, a story that digs into the ethics of Tony's tech by pitting him against a domestic terrorist who has managed to upgrade himself with the titular Extremis.

Iron Man by David Michelinie & Bob Layton - Michelinie & Layton are probably still the definitive Iron Man writers in terms of how much of the Iron Mythos has it's beginnings in their time with the character. The duo had two runs, both of which left a permanent mark on the character. Their first run introduced many characters and concepts which you might have heard of. James Rhodes? Justin Hammer? The famous Demon in a Bottle and Doomquest storylines? All debuted here. Also this run updated Iron Man's origin by moving the events that turned Tony into Iron Man from Afghanistan to Vietnam (sadly leaving the origin in Afghanistan would've kept it from being dated and they eventually moved it back). Their second run contained another famous Iron Man story, Armor Wars where Tony tries to stop other people from abusing his technology. Overall while their time on the character isn't on the same level as other famous Marvel 80s runs, it's still worth checking out for Iron Man fans.

Fantastic Four

Fantastic Four by Lee/Kirby - What we think of as the "Marvel Universe" really began with this run, and this is still an entertaining read. Follow the adventures of the First Family as they deal with a variety of threats from the tyrannical Dr. Doom, to the omnipotent Galactus, to interfamily feuding.

Fantastic Four by Waid - If you don't want to start with Lee/Kirby because their style isn't to your taste than I think Waid works as an intro book too. He's got a good handle on the family dynamics, with each member of the family getting an arc that focuses on them.

Fantastic Four by Jonathan Hickman - My own personal favorite FF run. Hickman is one of the best Reed writers, and Reed is really the main character of this run. The Council of Reeds represent Reed's desire to "solve everything" and how that can go wrong, with the run emphasizing the importance of not losing sight of the people you're protecting. Franklin and Valeria, the children of Reed and Sue, also get a lot of focus here and this run is what made me love them as much as the titular four. Big high concept scifi mixed with heartrending family interactions is what defines the FF, and Hickman does that damn well. Dr. Doom is someone Hickman clearly loves and he writes him perfectly here, with the plotlines Doom's involved in helping to set up Hickman's Avengers run.

X-Men

X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills by Chris Claremont - Central to the X-Men's appeal is their struggle to protect a world that hates and fears them, with many drawing a connection to the Civil Rights movement. This story is one that goes hard on that connection, with a televangelist whipping up the nation into an anti-mutant frenzy that pushes the X-Men into allying with their greatest foe: Magneto.

New X-Men by Grant Morrison - This is the run that kicked off the modern X-Men era. Multiple other contemporary X-Men runs are written as a response to Morrison's time on the book, either rejecting their ideas (House of M) or attempting to continue what they set up (Whedon/Hickman). Here you'll see the Xavier Institute as an actual school for mutants, mutants as an allegory for the youth, mutants forming their own culture, and the crazy concepts you'd expect from Morrison. Cyclops taking his first steps towards being cool, Emma Frost becoming an X-Man, Cassandra Nova, Fantomex, the Stepford Cuckoos, Quintin Quire, so much of the Krakoan era is drawing on Morrison. If Claremont is too verbose for your taste, Morrison is my preferred entry point into the X-Men.

House of X/Powers of X by Jonathan Hickman - Since it's still relatively new and so many others have gone more in depth about these two books I'll keep it brief. If you've never cared about the X-Men you need to check this out because it completely flips the board over. If you're a huge X-Men fan you need to read this because it completely flips the board over while still rewarding those who have an encyclopedic knowledge of the X-Mythos. Hickman totally redefines the X-Men, their mission, their relationship with humanity, and the threats they face. Still hated, still feared, but no longer going high when others go low, this is mutants ascendant even as the threats stacked against them have never been greater.

Avengers

Avengers by Kurt Busiek - If you're interested in what pre-MCU Avengers was like, this is definitely the run to check out. You'll get to see the "classic" Avengers going up against a number of their greatest foes: Morgan Le Fay, Squadron Supreme, the Kree, Kang, and one of the most memorable Ultron stories ever.

Avengers/New Avengers by Brian Michael Bendis - This is where the modern Avengers was born. Bendis kicks things off by having Scarlet Witch murder multiple Avengers, shaking the team up to it's core. Eventually a New Avengers team is formed of Cap, Iron Man, Luke Cage, Spider-Man, Spider-Woman, Sentry, and Wolverine, with Bendis planting here many of the ideas that would become full fledged events later on.

Avengers/New Avengers by Hickman - "Everything Dies" is the big idea of these two runs, and that includes the entire Multiverse. A new Avengers team is created to handle any threat imaginable, but that team truly only exists as cover. The real threat is covered in the New Avengers book, following the Illuminati as they try to prevent the end of all life everywhere, due to Earths slamming into and destroying each other in Incursions. By far the most epic the Avengers have ever felt, this is a run that redefines the Avengers and puts the heroes in a position where they can't win... so they have to figure out how to not lose.

[sixteenthshen]

i need help

I read a post on Zhihu last night - “How to evaluate the finale of Word of Honor?” The top commenter’s writing just killed me.

Heavy spoilers for episode 33/34. There’re no spoilers for the episodes after that, but I can’t guarantee this if there are replies.

The rest hidden behind a cut. 

I don’t need help explaining the finale or the happy ending, bad ending whatever it is, I’ve found my own way to come to terms with it. But I can’t accept what happened in 33/34 and the lack of follow up on the core of the issue, and that’s blocking me from enjoying the “HE”. To be fair, I think I may be a bit hormonal? Because this is really making me feel like crap. 

-----

This is a comment made by a Chinese user on Zhihu: 

I only want to say; the show might as well have ended when A-Xu jumped down the cliff after WKX. Even though it's a bit lame, at least the soulmate feelings were still there.

The grand finale basically destroyed the soulmate bond built up over 20+ episodes. The essence of it is gone; all of the "candy" and "knives" feel like they've been stripped away.

I've written so much about WKX & ZZS and how they were both falling for each other, saving each other. And now it all looks like a big joke.

It turns out ZZS's soulmate is ZZH, not WKX. The mountains and rivers in the world can't compare to meeting my soulmate. Since my soulmate is gone, I might as well die. (Play on the quote from the drama, instead of why should I live, it becomes I should just die)

(The poster starts talking to ZZS directly - referring to him as you) You're really a mistreated (tortured?) concubine, aren't you? Once you decide to give your whole heart, whole person away, you somehow always end up meeting some fake evil bastard (reference to Farewell my Concubine, basically that ZZS always ends up being suckered)

When you first fell into Prince Jin's trap, it's because you were young and not yet wise to the ways of the world, and believed in the grand words of your cousin and got conned into the world of politics. Sinking into the dirtiest, muddiest of marshes.

You plotted tirelessly for 18 months, suffered through 18 months of pain from the 7 nails, and finally exchanged it for 3 years of freedom. But when you met WKX, you fell right back in again.

Heraclitus said, "You cannot step into the same river twice" <<(I think this person mixed up the meaning of this quote, cause it doesn't fit, but basically intends to say people shouldn't make the same mistake twice)

The first time you stepped into the river, you got away with only half your life. The next time you stepped into the river, you nearly lost your life 4x (under YBY's sword, when you jumped off the cliff to your death for love, pulling out your nails, exploding the mountain to cause an avalanche + suicide), in the end you became a living dead person on Changming mountain.

I don't know if I should call you a living dead man, anyway, in my heart, once you pulled out the nails from your body, cutting off any other alternative you had just to help WKX take revenge… while WKX came back from the dead, and worked with everyone present at the scene to give the performance of a lifetime, you were already dead.

What a mockery, a farce.

You gave up everything but in the end, you were nothing more than a spectator.

He wanted you to give him face, to let him go home to explain things. You quietly stepped aside and gave him the stage. He wanted your baiyi sword to demonstrate his family's sword technique, to prove his identity. You gave it to him without a second word. He cut Zhao Jing's arms and legs tendons, crippled his martial arts, finally took revenge. You were happy for him despite everything.

When Mo Huaiyang accused him of being the Ghost Valley Master, he openly admitted to it and said the entire first part was just an act. You stood in front of him, to protect him. Said he is your shidi, and stood with him without any reservations.

But he had secretly already reached an agreement with Ye Baiyi. He knew YBY wouldn't hurt him, but you didn't know and yet you still shielded him. So terribly afraid that YBY would hurt him because of his identity. 

Everyone knew this was part of the scheme he laid out, everyone participated in his scheme. Only you didn't know. Only you foolishly believed that he wouldn't be alright without you, that he needed you to help him take revenge. That he had his difficulties so he couldn't confess the truth to you, as long as he did, then you would be the first to know everything. That he was your soulmate. This word "soulmate", if said enough times, it would even be real. In this life, right up until the end, we can't even fully understand ourselves, how do we talk about others?

----- 

the source is the top voted answer here. I like this poster a lot, she shared some great things throughout the course of the drama, 3 of which were the base of poems-related posts I’ve made here. I was doing fine before, but in the course of translating this answer for a friend, I made myself feel worse.

She later forced herself to look at it from WKX’s perspective and wrote a piece on it as well, but it... was very forced and I’m not too sure she even believed it herself. She ended that part with - “this made her feel very keenly that no matter how similar two souls may be, in the end, they are still two souls. He isn’t you and he will never be you. You can work endlessly and tirelessly to be closer, but your souls can never meet.”

I... I’m too sad to translate the WKX part in order to be fair to WKX in this post (if I feel better about it, i will later? but it didn’t make me feel better at all tbh) 

Can someone who can articulate well and believe that what WKX did was right, please help to make me understand episodes 32-34 from his perspective?

My main issues are:

We never got a proper 1-to-1 discussion between WKX and ZZS over the issue. At first, they were celebrating as a group, I can accept it. There wasn’t a time or place.

But when ZZS went back to his room early and sober, when everyone else was still drinking and having fun, I felt so bad for him.

When WKX came into his room, looking for ZZS when drunk, I know it isn’t supposed to be like this - but I can’t help but feel he didn’t dare to talk to A-Xu 1-to-1. Instead he went when he was drunk to spill his heart. It can be thought of as sweet, because the first person he thinks of when he’s drunk is A-Xu... but I can’t help but find it very selfish, because it leaves A-Xu with no way to talk about things. If you’ve ever talked to a drunk while sober, you would understand what I mean, it’s a one-way conversation, you can’t get anything through.

But that conversation left A-Xu with enough guilt that he can’t come clean to WKX about what he did. How can he tell WKX that he pulled out his nails, and is about to die. To take away WKX’s happiness, when Lao Wen just told him about how happy he was to have him in his life?

Lao Wen had 0 intention to be cruel, but it ended up being more cruel. And this lack of a proper discussion between the two of them, makes me call into question the whole thing about soulmates. I believe Lao Wen loves A-Xu the best he can (with his somewhat emotionally stunted self), but he’s not putting himself in the other person’s shoes to care for them. 

Love =/= care. And by not caring enough in this matter, I feel it’s thrown him into OOC. Where is the WKX who cared so much for ZZS at the start? Where is the tenderness? 

The drama never properly addressed why WKX faked his death and not tell A-Xu. The only reason they gave was that A-Xu was heavily injured (through Wu Xi). WKX just admitted he was wrong (and should drink). That’s all.

Thankssss. 

Please don’t preach to me about the happy ending or talk about the finale. I personally can’t resolve 32-34, I have found a way to accept the ending as long as I can accept these 3 episodes.

I may not be able to immediately accept your POV but I will force myself to try to find something that fits. I want to keep shipping wenzhou :( 

[ninjakasuga]

More Sonally Headcanons!!

Well, sort of. They’re headcanons related to Sonic and Sally, but this is actually more of an in depth introduction to my fankids J.C. and Kathleen. Along with an addendum to my last headcanon I flagged for @boundforfreedomsonsal. Turns out as I re-read it, I left out a part for Sonic’s headcanon. The stay at home dad part, I barely touched and that bugs me, so here’s that segment fleshed out and then some info on J.C. and Kathleen! Sonic the stay-at-home-dad: As mentioned prior, Sonic knows he’s not cut out for the majority of what being Prince-Regent entails. Showing up for parties, events and giving back to the people of Mobius, he can do that. Ruling stuff, that is absolutely Sally’s domain. Sure he can offer his viewpoints and all that, but the long-term, big-picture view thinking isn’t his style. That said he doesn’t wanna be a lay about, nor just jam off on adventures and leave Sally doing the hard stuff either. When the children are born, Sonic sees a way he can contribute more after Sally’s maternity leave period is officially over with. Not that Sally intends to stop being maternal, but at some point she is going to need to get back to the day-to-day logistics of running the Kingdom. Motherhood is wonderful and she isn’t going to neglect it; but she has her duties she must fulfill. To help with this; Sonic figures he can handle some ‘solo parent time’ while Sally does her part of the ol’ Kingdom running bit. To which his lovely wife is very grateful for, but also concerned. She recalls some of the trouble he had babysitting his little brother and sister; plus these two MIGHT have his speed. Sonic as usual, brushes off the concerns with the ol’ charm and a smile. Of course this bites him in the ass when the kids DO start to show they have his speed. Especially when said children are still being potty-trained and their diapers don’t stay on due to the velocity of said speed. (Not trying to be gross here, but it is a scenario the two will have to deal with, I pity the cleaners at the castle). While Sally feels that she’s putting a large heft of the parenting responsibilities on Sonic, he points out it’s the least he can do. He can’t do what she does, and while they are BOTH together on the parenting journey, he can handle the tykes for some hours while she’s doing the Queen-y stuff and once she’s done; it’s family time all together. “Sal there’s gonna be times when I gotta do stuff and you’ll have the kids by your lonesome. It’s just part of the gig, you ain’t abandoning the kids, that ain’t you. Go on, be the Queen. Your Prince, will keep our babes safe and adorble!” Now onto the kids themselves: This kind of goes over their base personalities as they develop in their preteen-to-teenage years. Kathleen: The daughter of the twins (whose name is a meta-homage to Kath Soucie), who as she grows up, gains a tomboy streak and is very much the apple of her Father’s eye. Feisty, sly, and prone to mischief (at least moreso than her brother who can be mischief-y himself). Out of the two, she’s the one truly in love with their inherited speed, and the freedom it offers. While she can be a bit blunt, and snarky, she has a keen mind, and education that she can use to scary effect, when she wants. She’s not above using her ‘cuteness’ to get what she wants, as long as she uses it sparing on her parents who are WISE to her antics. As her Aunt Bunnie puts it “She’s a lovable troublemaker with Sonic’s knack for trouble, and Sally’s brains to get out of said trouble.... most of th’ time.” She also has picked up some mechanical aptitude after hanging out often with her Great Uncle Chuck, Uncles Tails and Uncle Rotor. She loves repairing things and trying to build her own gadgets or vehicles. Well once she builds one that doesn’t fall apart from her overzealous designs getting the better of practical usage. In a tense situation where trouble brews, she’s the most likely to start throwing punches, and worry about ‘why’ the troublemakers started trouble after they’re tied up from their punch-naps. Of the royal duo she doesn’t exactly try to slack in any royal duties she has, but the idea of adventuring across the planet sounds more keen than sitting on a throne or doing paperwork, or both. Despite being closest with her Father she does love and respect her Mother; if anything she sees her as the ultimate badass Queen; but she also loves to push her buttons, a lot. Lastly unlike her brother who aspires to be a decent cook, he isn’t, and she is, and she does love to rub it in J.C.’s face she can pull of ‘Uncle Twan and Aunt Bunnie’s recipes’ with gusto. Jaleel-Craig (J.C. for short): The brother of the twins (with a double homage to Jaleel White and Roger-Craig Smith), J.C. is the more serious of the pair, but in a more laid back manner compared to his Mother. Of the two royal heirs, he’s the one who takes their responsibilities to the crown seriously. That said he’s not in any rush to be crowned King either, feeling he’s still lacking qualities or the ability to see things his sister does that he feels make her just as good a potential ruler as she feels he will be. Just getting her to understand that is a tall order. Not unlike his sister, while he loves both parents equally and shares many traits with both; while Kathleen is the apple of Sonic’s eye, J.C. is Sally’s pride. Sharing a love of lore, history, and learning in general. It isn’t uncommon to find the two engrossed in going over books and tomes of lost lore they’re trying to regain after so much was lost in the Robotnik/Eggman wars. While he and his sister both were taught hand-to-hand and various self defense moves by both their parents after their kidnapping at age six; J.C. found himself favoring the use of melee weapons in conjunction to the lessons from his parents and extra martial arts from Aunt Bunnie. To this end, his Uncle Twan’ was happy to show the young man the way of the blade to which J.C. has proven proficient and capable to his Uncle’s delight. Plus it gives Antoine playful ribbing ammo to use against his Father. J.C. is also a skillful diplomat-in-training having picked up some skills from his Mother and some of the best silver-tongues on the planet. As much as he is the studious son, he still shares a streak of mischief not unlike his sister; he’s just much better at being subtle and under-the-radar about it. Alas one skill he aspires to master but for the time being, fails at is cooking. If it’s anything but his Father and Great Uncles Chili-Dog recipes, he finds himself burning water not unlike his Mother. The fact his sister who usually prefers junk food, can make Uncle Twan’s Crepes’ or Aunt Bunnie’s Peach Cobbler from scratch vexes him. Much like his sister, he does revel in the speed inherited from their Father, but he views it as a ‘with great power, comes great responsibilities’ viewpoint as opposed to his sister ‘freedom above all’ mentality of the super-speed. That said, he’s not above using it to help her preform pranks from time to time. A last bit of side information. After the kidnapping, as an extra safety precaution, Sally asked Nicole to create some helper A.I.’s to work alongside the children. A notion Nicole found not just a good tactical idea, but also endearing as it would in her eyes, foster a continued foundation of friendship and family between her own growing ‘cyber family’ and Sally and Sonic’s own. With some ‘help’ from a certain former Metal Sonic-turned-good (*cough*Shard*cough*), Nicole created her own A.I. ‘children’ to be companions for the duo, housed in upgradable ‘watches’ that would house the A.I. when they were away from the nanite-network of New Mobotropolis. Kathleen gained ‘Berri’ Nicole and Shard’s ‘daughter’ who seems split between trying to ‘reign in’ some of Kathleen’s more spastic tendencies, and yet from time to time; loves to work alongside her in her crazy endeavors as Kathleen gets her to ‘lighten up’ some, as their friendship grows. Sometimes two crazy minds work well together. Kathleen equates Berri to having a portable, nanit-hack-capable sis-in-crime. J.C.’s A.I. companion Fragment or ‘Frag’ as they coined as a nickname is a bit of an oddity. His default persona is that of a semi-stiff minder, who encourages his more academic past-times, and furthering his education. Yet at times Frag shifts into a female persona who sometimes uses ‘Fraggie’ as a nickname. Fraggie is more laid back, trying to get the young Prince to mellow out when his more serious side becomes ‘a bit much’. She also seems to enjoy trying to play match maker between J.C. and his crushes. Okay I hope ya’all enjoyed these tidbits on my fankids. Next time we return to headcanons about their parents!

[hei-ch0u]

It’s long...(fair warning) ✰

 Shingeki no Kyojin 139 (Theories)

Since everyone is throwing around their theories from the wild to the more likely, I thought I should contribute. After all, it will be the last time we can theorise this amazing manga full of all its twists and turns. Like most, I do agree with the popular fan theories simply because this manga is consistently unpredictable with each chapter. Let’s face it, some stories are easily picked apart these days and finding one that continuously has you thinking about what could occur is a winning tale. So first, I will start off by saying that I am so sad that Shingeki no Kyojin is coming to an end. But! I will never forget this amazing manga as I have grown so attached to the characters and the story as you can tell from the past nearly 9 years of running this blog. So, thank you yams for being such a genius! Regardless of the ending, it will go down in history as one of the best stories I personally have ever read and witnessed.

With typical fan theories, I won’t go into them too much as I feel the concept of the “time loop” has been written about to filth and I think it is very blatantly clear at this point that the concept of a time loop is very likely in one way or another given the overall concept within aot/snk in general - there is a obvious manipulation of past, present and future. I will hold my hands up and say that I definitely do agree with ‘some’ popular fan theories and will list a fair few below in brief detail - as I do think they are highly likely to be true in some way or at least implied within the last chapter. Now, with the usual leak dates coming up on the horizon, I wanted to put my input in before hand. Although, because of recent prosecution warnings for leaking the final chapter - I would advise others just to wait for the 9th of April on official release for concrete facts rather than speculations and leaks simply because we have seen with past few chapters that a lot of false spoilers get released and I think with the final chapter it would be wise to wait as I have previously stated on here that it will be the ‘revelation’ chapter that ties this manga together.

So! With the typical fan theories, we see the likes of:

Eren being the baby daddy to Historia’s baby

Eren sacrificing his reason for living - freedom. By being the greater evil to bring about the greater good

The baby itself could become the new beast titan or baby Eren/Ymir reborn

Eren isn’t dead, but on Paradis by way of transferring his subconscious into a crystallised version of himself

Eren and Ymir have struck a deal

And of course - the time loop concept

…The list is endless of popular fan theories. It would be silly not to agree with any of them given the story and where we are currently at, its very clear that Historia, Eren and Ymir will play a big part somehow in the final chapter (if not id be genuinely shocked) since majority of the past few chapters they have been absent in full form and I feel this needs to be explained. After all we still haven’t seen the full extent of the memories of past/future that Eren was aware of from his contact with Historia and his connection with Ymir in Paths. We saw 137 being predominantly Armin based, 138 being Mikasa based and I think it is only reasonable given his absence as the initial protagonist that Eren will be the revelation within 139. Ultimately culminating EMA / the trio as a whole. We began with them, so it only makes sense to end with them (albeit separately as individuals).

Moving on, as you can see I agree with said fan theories as I think any route could be possible! The thing with Shingeki no Kyojin is that it has many hidden ‘Easter eggs’ (how fitting given its easter), whether it be in the background of scenes, characters wording, placement of scenes/characters, flashbacks, paths and even in the opening and ending credits of the anime we see hidden meanings through imagery. It has all been laid out very well for our finding, its just if we have an intuitive enough imagination to pick it apart and figure things out. This leads on to my own theory/theories (it can go any way and I wont sugarcoat it - I could be reaching)

I generally have 2 theories that run about in my head with how the story itself could turn out or how it works. Both theories kind of tie together in one way or another featuring predominantly Eren and then Mikasa or overall ‘Ackerman’ blood/gene concept and its potential involvement in control of said time loop. I will do my best to include manga panels to give visual insight to the points.

To begin, I want to touch on Mikasa's “dream” in 138 - although devastating, I think it is being taken as the opposite of what it was and personally I see many looking at it through rose tinted glasses. This wasn’t an alternative universe (in my opinion), this was Mikasa’s Ideal life - her dream. When it comes to Eren as a connection to Mikasa, he is her reason for being, even in death she chooses not to part with him for her own good and creates a dreamlike reality for herself to make herself go through with the deed. She as a character has dominantly surrounded her existence on Eren, he is categorised many times within the manga as ‘home’ - like other fan theories have stated, it has been mentioned many times Mikasa referencing the word ‘home’ and also how she wants to ‘be close to him’ because it gives her comfort and strength. The Ackermans as a whole have attachments to people and this is where they ultimately gain strength from. Without any of the Ackermans ‘attachments’ being in danger or being killed, their powers wouldn’t be awakened and without them I feel their strength almost weakens until they find a new reason for living to keep moving forward. I’ll touch more on the ‘Ackerman’ theory later as its one of the open loopholes still currently alive within the manga.

Mikasa has always been a character that confuses me, particularly with the way she acts and things she says or thinks. She has said many things that don’t make sense unless she has a certain belief system or knows of things from past lives.

Examples:

As you can see and I will produce more evidence of such comments further in. She implies that she either believes in reincarnation or she is aware of different periods within the said time loop. She speaks of starting over, being dead and returning and implies in different ways that she is scared of the same thing happening again. The last panel - what plan is she on about here? Her own plan. In my opinion it is - "Don't let Eren die". As we have seen, that may be what has to happen. It's fate. She interferes with this and never lets him go.

Mikasa does have an unhealthy bond with Eren, I do think he loves her ( I’m not dismissing that ) but do I think its the type of intense love she feels? no. Some things she has came out with has even shocked other characters and countless times her comrades have tried to ‘break the barrier’ to get her to realise her way of thinking when it comes to Eren is unhealthy. Hence why I think we seen Jean in this particular scene below so frustrated

not because he himself has feelings for her, but because she’s not letting them get through to her that she is refusing to believe Eren could ultimately be a changed person (which he definitely is, I’ll not go into my rant of why he isn’t ‘evil or a ‘monster’ because i’ve done so already) but overall, Mikasa constantly makes excuses for Eren and doesn’t recognise it, her life revolves around being close to Eren and she gets very emotionally troubled at the idea of not being with him or him ultimately taking a path that doesn’t involve her. We even seen Annie question her and this wasn't many chapters ago and she replies with the same mindset of bringing back "the old Eren". He is not the person he once was particularly as a child. Something that is implied at beginning of manga, it opens with them as children and somehow links with 138.

As stated by Armin below we see him even explaining to Mikasa that Eren’s never close, he always takes his own route and that ultimately both Armin and Mikasa aren’t his reason for living. Let’s face it - Freedom is Eren’s reason for being, his only desire. Armin has also expressed disbelief and almost frustration at her way of thinking when it comes to him (below examples) I think in a way the famed ‘table scene’ was Eren trying to break the bond, but he’s not doing that for no reason, its implied he does it to protect them, but it could also be because of what he has seen in memories past and future - he has perhaps became aware of Mikasa’s involvement within paths and the loop. He has to try to alter her way of thinking to protect her, but maybe also himself.

Armin + Other comrades reactions to Mikasa’s mindset 

Another visual point to make regarding Mikasa’s ties with previous loops and Armin, was her comment made about him at a very early stage in the manga just after Eren had been eaten by a titan after saving Armin - leaving his fate at this point unknown. 

this is implying that Mikasa has some knowledge of previous times Armin has helped them with his ‘ability’ which if we are referencing him as a character is his methodical intelligence. But, even here he is confused by the comment, simply because at this point there has been no signs of Armin’s usage of this ability - mainly fear and lack of confidence with that in comparison of his peers. We don’t necessarily see this until perhaps even a chapter later and as far as we are aware, Mikasa doesn't follow through with “i’ll tell you about it later”.

I don’t know about anyone else, but it seems odd she has such an attachment to Eren like this that is so intense. It’s not normal to be as intense as she is about someone unless she is used to losing that person over and over. Even as children Mikasa acted possessive over the ‘concept’ of Eren dying - it wasn’t allowed to happen. She doesn’t have this intense reaction with Armin or other comrades. She fixates on the idea of Eren being her saviour, the one to give her a ‘home’ and a ‘purpose’. Mikasa consistently opposes his death and his death alone, I can only see this from a standpoint that deep within her own memory she has experienced his death countless times before. She even uses force a couple of times to increase this intensity. Here are some examples of this even in childhood -

There are many more examples of this throughout the manga and her refusal to accept that what she doesn’t want, may just happen. Now this might just be my over active imagination or my own ability of media studies kicking in. But, previously I had been under the impression in the presence of a time loop that Eren was in charge of it and controlling it, that somehow it would constantly reoccur when he himself died and he would have to come up with a way to either prevent his death or ultimately stop the timeline of the titans. Whether that be under making a deal with Ymir herself or by essentially “breaking the wheel” and turning others against him to show Eldians as triumphant heroes.

However, the more i’ve thought about it and given the revelations of 138 - i would be more inclined to say it is Mikasa Ackerman herself due to either her specifically or her Ackerman gene. There is something about the bloodline that is missing and we have not had the fabled Ackertalk or much explanation of how they work (something I’d like to see covered in 139 - although i feel it will be an Eren chapter, I also think it will include the visions Eren has seen to give an explanation of why the previous 138 chapters played out the way they did)

I think there is a possibility Eren had to break the wheel on the loop,  Mikasa would go back each time and always Eren would die, something we’ve established she tries to prevent and never accepts. The only escape was her accepting his death therefore he did everything he could to push her away, break the bond and push her to kill him to end the cycle (since he’s seen the future). As I have a hunch previously in other loops he was not killed by her hand - it had to be her to break the cycle or vice versa (but we will get to this).

there is hints of this in the “Lost Girls” OVA. Yes, I am aware it’s said that OVAS are not necessarily canon per say, but I don’t think it would have so many open links if Isayama himself didn't want it to. This particular one gives many hints to Mikasa’s involvement in the loop and alternative universe theories. The anime adaptations are on point with showing us details we only recognise after more plot points are revealed. It may explain the headaches, every time Eren dies, she reverses the loop or changes realities. This ailment could be a product of her memory issues. In the OVA we see Mikasa in real time thinking about Eren and his constant state of taking his own path.

After this moment, the said “Scene” she speaks of is revealed to us. Another example of Mikasa’s dreamlike state or perhaps another timeline? We are taken back to the time where she had given up, had ran out of gas, a titan was approaching and she was ‘lost’ - her reason for being was gone and she knew her death was coming, but also in the manga during this scene she is “worried” she’ll have to start again (above in examples). This again implies she knows something we don’t. We then hear Mikasa’s voice speaking to Mikasa herself, telling her that if she simply didn’t like this reality she could choose the place she wanted, but as we have seen before - she can’t stop his death.

The peculiar scene in this OVA that got me intrigued by this theory is the masked figure and young mikasa scene. Mikasa is rushing to meet with Eren and Armin to escape the walls in a hot air balloon, but she has to be there by a certain time or the plan fails. As she is running she is stopped by a mysterious masked figure who asks her to join in on his hypnotism trick to spectators. Comments he makes involve him telling her that her ‘friend’ will ultimately leave her and that she couldn’t accept his death and created this universe. Also, that he is no one, but someone at the same time. I think this holds great significance since the strange thing about this is that his voice mirages into a distant adult Mikasa.

implying that she has to ‘kill’ a part of herself or she has to die to prevent and hault the loop. She has to return from her idealistic dreams of keeping him alive as it will only fail otherwise. Upon hearing of Eren’s yet again untimely death within this universe, she begins to have memory flashes of multiple scenes appearing within her eyes with a typical media ‘rewind’ sound as she wakes up back in the street with no gas and a titan approaching but... she says something I find interesting and links to what Eren says at the beginning of the manga 

“the feeling I’ve had a really long dream”

We witness Mikasa have these “headaches” multiple times within the manga and in the anime they are heavily focused on whenever it happens, which we can only recognise that this is an important part of the story itself. Eren too has random headaches, just not as much as Mikasa, he mainly experiences them when he accesses new memories. However, what if Mikasa too is affected by memories she cannot tap into or it is paths/ackerman gene warning her she is repeating past mistakes?

Notice how there is a lot of emphasis on the word ‘again’ when it comes to her headaches or the thought of losing Eren. It is constantly repeated. I think it is highly likely she only remembers some parts from previous loops, but the one that sticks is simply - she has to save Eren each time, but fails. Everything begins again after his or her’s demise. Perhaps each time Eren is the one who dies first, creating a somewhat butterfly effect. That maybe Mikasa has died once like she implies in previous example. However, the one to die first (in this case primarily Eren) loses all memories of the past loops - again this is implied as Eren does tell Mikasa he cannot remember his dream. I think deep within his mind Mikasa does remember, but given the fact she has potentially reversed the outcome many times...her memory is simply warped - that or she died in the previous loop and lost those components. 

Will she not remember due to her memories being altered in her death?

Either way something needs to change. Eren Kruger says this in Eren’s attack titan memories. They are doing something wrong.

I believe Eren in 138 within Mikasa’s dream, was trying to tell her to move on, not necessarily forget him, but at least accept his passing - to stop the loop reoccurring, he influenced part of her reality...maybe with the help of Ymir. In a way it could be implied Eren almost regrets wrapping the scarf around her (this is heavily emphasised as a symbol of their relationship), for me the scarf seems like a softer symbolism for a chain - a binding if you will. By wrapping it round Mikasa he binds her to him. He has always insisted she should throw it away, even in 138 within her own conjured reality he says the same. She needs to kill this part of herself or “the same history” will be repeated. I do have a HUGE feeling in my heart, head and gut that Mikasa may need to end up dead first as I do have another HUGE feeling that Eren is not dead (maybe its wishful thinking, but his death doesn’t make sense right now, so Yams I trust in you for explanation). His death seemed too convenient.

Now, before I go onto “Ackerman” gene factors, I’ll briefly bring in another peculiarity I have always had about a particular scene in the beginning of the manga. After it is decided Eren will carry the boulder to plug the wall, Eren (the attack titan) seemingly loses control and succumbs to pure rage, in turn he attacks Mikasa. Something he hasn’t done against humans unless its free will.

However, a part of me has always felt that this could be the attack titan itself (in past inhabitants and memories) recognising her as a threat and trying to rid her of the world first to avoid the loop of Eren dying first to Mikasa controlling the loop to return to try to save Eren - nothing changes. This is what I meant by “breaking the wheel”, we have saw it in other tales, things can’t change unless you choose a different path than the same one with the same brutal cycle. As Kruger says, to save Mikasa and Armin, Eren has to change things - this could be to separate not only Armin, but Mikasa from him, that maybe in previous loops...they follow him. In this instance, he has definitely separated Armin and by way of second hand - Mikasa too. Hence why Ymir says goodbye to Eren in 138, he is free. Another notable concept is that aot/snk is made up of trios, we see it in:

Eren / Mikasa / Armin

Reiner / Bertholdt / Annie

Connie / Jean / Sasha

Hanji / Erwin / Levi

Levi / Farlan / Isabel 

Kenny / Levi / Mikasa

It would partially make sense for the trio to be the reasoning for the ending. Almost illuminati based - very yams style. 

Why not Mikasa?

Lets talk Ackerman and a slightly different theory, but with relation! 

(Obviously, I cannot provide much evidence to support any Ackerman based theories other than what has already been provided, which isn’t a lot to be fair. Dammit Yams)

I want to briefly start off on the Ackerman front with a brief comparison of our two currently known Ackermans: Levi and Mikasa. The main categorising difference between these two is that Levi moves on regardless of what happens to him or his comrades or his ‘attachments’. He also does not appear to experience these headaches, some say he does, but I can’t find evidence. Isayama shows these headaches with a throbbing sign around Mikasa’s head - so unless the Ackertalk happens and Levi confirms it, its still absent in theory. Levi treats Ackerman-ism as moving on, making choices with no regrets (as his backstory indicates) and even in current states he has said he doesn’t regret his decisions. It is why he is able to move forward and keep surviving. Its simple...his mindset is stronger than Mikasa's, she is the weaker link. This could be due to age difference and overall past experience, Levi has more life experience as an Ackerman to have mastered his emotion and reactions to outcomes - he accepts the bad. 

Mikasa is weaker in this regard, perhaps if you link it back to the theory of her control of the loop...due to this weakness she creates the loop since she can’t accept his death and tries to return to make amends. I think in reality, Eren knows due to the attack titan ability - he will die. Hence why he appeared so shocked upon making contact with Historia to then very depressed and detached before vanishing in Marley. He became aware of the outcome and I don’t know about anyone else, but I’d be depressed too after finding out my life was made to end especially since all he wanted as a character was Freedom. Eren x Freedom will be the only canon ship at this rate.

However, I do think the only way she can create said loop is through her Ackerman gene. Ackermans are products of ‘titan science’, they were genetically engineered (if you want to put it that way) to have titan like abilities while still maintaining their human form and sense of self being. Created to protect the Fritz family (royal blood), to eventually being ostracised for their dismissal of the plan to wipe Eldian’s memories. Therefore banished, but allowed to live, I can only see there being one reason why - they would be still useful at some point and their deaths/extinction would be wasteful. 

From what we know and can tell from mere viewing, the Ackermans are very skilled and powerful beings that have ‘hosts’ or attachments (I like this name better) to channel their goals, strength and energy into. They were made to protect, fight and survive. The only surviving Ackermans are Levi and Mikasa.

They cannot be affected by the founding titan and their memories cannot be altered. But, this brings about another question. Why were they created to protect the founding titan, yet could not be controlled by it? The theory with this bloodline is that they can do more than what we see, that they themselves don’t know it yet. One in particular can alter realities - that being Mikasa (as we don’t have mass amounts of information on Levi’s experiences other than his surge of power awakenings demonstrated throughout the manga to confirm his part) due to fact Levi really only knew he was an Ackerman within his 30′s after the previous Ackerman - Kenny, dies and informs him of this. Mikasa has always been aware. 

Mikasa’s ‘Power’ ultimately has something to do with the Attack Titan and the Founding titan - that being Eren and Ymir combined. In past loops, I believe each time she has seen Eren die she has said “see you later, Eren”... hence the ending of 138 and the beginning of the manga. Isayama did say the beginning would relate to the ending. Each time this happens they are transcended to the point Eren wakes up at the tree within the walls to begin once more, its the only clear explanation for why Eren comments of her hair length. The attack titan itself is the component of Ymir that captivates her freedom, it continues to move forward for 2000 years each successor until one has the power (the desire for freedom like her) to release her from enslavement to the power of the titans. In this instance Eren too has been a slave to the power, lets for arguments sake blame Grisha for passing it on to him. 

Again, with the Ackermans there is something I’ve always noticed between Levi and Mikasa - they have never touched skin to skin. It has always been over their clothing. I wonder if their Ackerman powers may stem similar to how Eren draws memories from contact with the royal family, i.e. Historia. They need to touch in order to access Paths and manifest it into their control. Eren is aware of this due to his connection to Ymir - there is heavy implied material to denote the idea of Ragnarok and reincarnation. Eren is the reincarnate of Ymir and previously I don’t think they were aware of this.

For anyone not familiar with the term “Ragnorok” - its definition has multiple meanings in Norse mythology. Particularly - development, origin, cause, relation and fate. It is a series of events that often lead to a great battle, the deaths of multiple people of importance to the ultimate end revelation of the world being remade and fertile (the opposite of Zeke’s plan) with the remaining ‘gods’ returning and ‘two’ human survivors repopulating the world. I personally believe this to be either two of these: Levi and Mikasa or Eren and Historia by the way of Ymir as the ultimate god, but just in different ways. The Ragnorok element is particularly of importance within Germanic studies, this would connect with Shingeki no Kyojin since it is implied its set in early germany/europe and given characters name origins - it makes sense.

The two human survivors are that of Lif and Lifbrasir (shown below) who survive by ‘hiding’ in the woods while the great battle commences. 

They repopulate the world starting with a daughter. In germanic regions, the concept of mankind originated from trees is an ancient notion “the tree of life” essentially. Trees have a massive importance and connection in Shingeki no Kyojin, we see Eren wake up at one in the beginning, the main Path coordinate resembles a tree, Ymir originated from trees and being within the woods would indicate “trees”. This would make me more inclined to believe the Eren and Historia theory to be likely, simply because Historia is all the way back in Paradis and potentially Eren himself by transferring subconscious. To me it seems very likely the leaked final panel released by Yams himself is Eren holding a child rather than anyone else as whoever this figure is tells the child they are free and this could only relate to both Ymir and Eren, the ones who sought freedom. This could mean in this instance Levi and Mikasa are the ‘gods’, the ones with the power to restore and mend, again through the concept of the Ackerman Gene being more than what meets the eye. Ymir will be reborn ultimately and no longer enslaved as will Eren. 

Ragnarok and Shingeki no Kyojin combined have connotations of ‘fate’ being a big part of their depths. It is fated. Everything is. Just like Eren’s death and potentially ability to be reborn into another timeline. Just like Eren’s fate to obtain the founding titan and attack titan, both very powerful titans in the manipulation of time and events. Eren makes a statement around chapter 123 in Paths when talking with Zeke that if someone tried to take his freedom, no matter who, he would remove theirs. That he has been like that since birth because he was “born into this world”.

Zeke: “Since birth?”

this further implies fate. He was born free, he expresses detest for people who aren’t free and bound by something, 2000 years, Ymir etc. This only ties together if Eren himself in past lives was someone with the same views and personality traits, like Mikasa, except hers are the opposite. Paths has always been there and everything that has happened in the past is imbedded within its clutches through Ymir. These two titans needed to be combined, Grisha was informed by Eren himself through Kruger and future versions of himself that he had to obtain the founder or nothing could be changed. Grisha is even seen asking Eren to show him everything that happens, whether carla dies etc. He did not have full control, this was made for Eren’s inhabitant period and he did not have access to all memories due to only being able to access the ones the future successor sends back in time. Like the mirror scene for example, Eren is speaking to someone else, not himself. Grisha was only instructed to go within the walls and have a family. Eren was instructed to save everyone. Remember that the common rule with time is that you cannot change the past or it significantly alters the future.

I believe all the memories (the ones we are seeing even now) are actually in paths, the story has always had an indication it is being ‘narrated’ by someone - in most instances this is Armin. This has implied he will survive into the future, but that others may not. How this will happen...I can only theorise that Ymir will factor into who lives or dies. She will need to leave paths however, the only way the titan curse will end is if she leaves and no one is there to build titans. She will be either reborn to capture her freedom or reborn through Eren for them both to obtain the same dream. There has been multiple theories that some other titan other than the attack titan could be the key or another character, like that of the Ackermans or armin for example as I do think the trio concept is likely. But, remember the manga is called “Shingeki no Kyojin” meaning “the attack titan” - its always been the key and Eren is that key...again, key? Eren. scarf? Mikasa. Equals symbolism.

At the end of the day, the characters who I feel personally will tie together the ending are Eren, Ymir, Historia and Levi, Mikasa, Armin - both trios on different sides of the coin. Just remember, this isn’t the type of story where the characters get what they desire and that they could die without obtaining these desires. Erwin died before learning the truth of the outside world. Hanji died. Sasha died, Niccolo lost her. Floch did not live to see Eldian rule. Levi may have killed Zeke, but what for? He killed a different version of him, not the one who murdered innocents in Shinganshina. Levi lost every attachment of his. Mikasa lost Eren. I’d be angry and sad for him, but Eren also could lose his freedom by striking a deal with Ymir for her own freedom. But! he could free the world and his friends through both Mikasa and Armin, the chain will break, the titan curse will end and he will cease to exist or be lost in Paths dormant, unlike Ymir for 2000 years. This would be a good culmination of Eren’s character, extremely heart breaking, but fitting. A character who only sought freedom for humanity. He is humanity’s hope after all. Remember, Kaji Yuki (Eren’s Japanese voice actor) expressed extreme sadness at learning Eren’s fate from Isayama. It has always been a manga that indicates a bittersweet ending, so this could also be highly likely. (Eren is my favourite character...so this guts my heart from my chest)

To conclude, these are merely my own speculation of the final events within 139 and although sad of its ending, my excitement for this final instalment knows no bounds. I can only wish for the best and I know Isayama will deliver. 

[winter-fox-queen]

Kisses Like Wine 6

Summary:  The Thief gets into trouble, the reader makes a plan.

Warnings:  A little violence, some introspection.

We are drawing close to the end. :D

I’m tired of you.  You’re no better than my family.

He used the USB stick with its code to get into the vault.  Liberated the stone.  Got out of there.  If he was not, indeed, the world’s greatest thief, he would have failed utterly, because his focus was destroyed.

Your words kept echoing in his ears.  He’d had a lot of terrible things happen to him.  He’d been poisoned once and laid at death’s door for three days, just on the edge of death, the pain like the unrelenting fires of hell but he couldn’t let himself fall into a coma.

It didn’t hurt nearly as bad as what you said.  She’s just frustrated, he soothed himself.  It was a very frustrating night and you were not at your best.

He wanted to do something.  He imagined doing something.  Scenario after scenario, and they all ended the same, you saying that you understood what he’d been trying to do.  That you forgave him.

Maybe.  Maybe.  That you loved him.

That thought set him back.  Love was never part of the plan.  His plan was to show you a way out of your cage, but not replace it with another one.  You had to take your freedom, you had to build your own life.

He kept telling himself that he never wanted that life to be with him.

You were right.  He was a liar.  Something had changed.  Maybe it changed the night of the ball.

All this made him careless.  For the first time in his life, the first time in his long and very successful career…he was being tracked.

He got on a plane, headed to the final diamond, a five star hotel overlooking the Rhine.  Half hoping you would be there, doubting you would be.

He never made it out of the airport.

***

The last thing I was interested in was the Heart of the Rhine.  But here I was, working as a maid, looking for a way in.

Unlike the Compass, The Heart was usually in a vault, hidden behind a wine cellar.

“Are you any closer to getting the Star?”  My brother asked me when he called to check in.

“Do you know the Heart of the Rhine is worth twice what the Star is?  Twice.”

Silence.  Then, “Really?”

“And it is incredibly lovely.  I figure…get the Heart, then I can either just bring it home for the family, or trade it for the Star.  Get papa to let you know his preference, will you?”

“We’ve spent so much money getting you this far, we probably should go for the better stone…recoup our losses.”  He *almost* jokes.

“Did you email me what you found out?”

“Yep.  And overnighting your shopping list.  This is…this is it, right?  You’ll be done after this?”

“Miss me?”

Another silence.  “It’s not the same around here, no.  But…I don’t know how much more dad will let you do.”

“I know I’m not his only plan.”

“No.  The other plan is not…I’d avoid our boy, if I were you.”

I felt chills…”What are they going to do?”

He hung up.

I stared at the phone, cursed, then slipped it back in my apron.  The day before I thought I’d seen Lars, a huge piece of work that our head of security sometimes brought in.  I new he was on retainer, and usually worked for us a few times a year.

I changed, took off my wig, and went looking for him, scratching my scalp.

He was not hard to find.  I had to troll him in a bit, walking all over the place, but I knew once he got sight of me, he’d zero in.

“Hey, Lars!”  I handed him one of two cups of coffee I’d gotten.

He nodded at me.

“So, any luck finding the Thief?  Dad told me to connect up with you, compare notes.”

“I’m done with that…someone else has him, and by the time they’re done, there won’t be anything left to bother with.”

I tried to make the spike of panicked fear I felt act like rage.  “Are you fucking kidding me?  They kill him, and we won’t get our property back!”

He shrugged.  “Your father’s not that worried.  He must think you’ve already got it in the bag.”  He took a sip of his coffee.  I wish I’d poisoned it.  “ But, you should know that.”

I channeled every privileged woman I’d ever met, straightened my spline, looked down at him, and said, “Do you like working for my family.”

He started to look uncomfortable.  “Yeah.  But that’s your father’s call.”

“True.  And I think his call will be a definite no when I show him the pictures I took of you screwing my sister on his desk.  You should work for the porn industry…”

“You’re bluffing.”  He growled.

“Am I?”  I took a step towards him, as if I wasn’t scared.  “You will take me to where they are keeping him.  If you have people you can hire to get here fast, do it.  We will go in and retrieve the thief and you…you get to keep your job.”

“He’ll fire me if I get you killed.”

I stepped back, sighed.  “Lars.  Do you really think he’ll care?  He just wants the diamond.  In a year, maybe two, our head of security will retire.  Don’t you want a nice, cozy position that pays well and has lots of benefits?”

He licked his lip.  “I might be able to get a guy.  Maybe two.”

**

The Thief was cursing himself.  He started with French, then in celebration of where he was imprisoned, German.  Spanish, his mother tongue.  Arabic was next, and maybe, after that, Russian…

All the while, he was thinking.  He didn’t have long…the taste of blood in his mouth and the pain in his ribs told him they’d roughed him up while he was out, but not much.  He was duct taped, but they had not searched his person, so did not know about the very sharp blade he kept in his shirt cuff, and he was working, working.

Whatever drug they’d used (Was this karma?) had faded, leaving him clear minded.

Were you safe?  You had to be safe.  Please God, keep you safe.

Maybe this was you.  Maybe the torture had not begun in earnest because they were waiting for you.  And you wouldn’t really hurt him.  No matter how much he deserved it.  He’d beg for your forgiveness then say, punish me, punish me so you know I am telling the truth, not lying to avoid the pain.

He heard voices.  They were speaking Gaelic of all things.  Had he’d displeased anyone from that part of the world?  He didn’t think so, but anything was possible.

He heard someone at the door, so he held his hands together carefully (he was almost free) and let his head hang down.

Someone came close, smacked him gently.  “You must be awake by now…open your eyes.  It’s time to talk…”

He raised his head.  “And what would you like to say?  What’s the weather like outside…it was supposed to be nice, but with a bit of a chill.”

“You have amassed a rather…stunning collection of wealth.  The gentleman I work for thinks it is time you share.  So, you tell us where you keep your valuables, and perhaps we will let you live.”

Their eyes met, and the Thief said, “A wise man would not let me live…”

They could both hear gun shots, on the other side of the door.  “Hold that’s thought,” he said almost amiably as he went outside.

The Thief got up, threw the duct tape on the chair, and caught the door before it could close.  At the doorway, he could swear he heard you yell out to someone…not angry, mad.  In charge.  He smiled and drew his pack of cards out, selected one and threw it on the chair.

He slipped out.  The place was a large warehouse…a good place to take someone, you could do what you wanted and no one would hear, throw the body in a box and ship it.  He was tempted, to go and find you, but…the card would be enough.  The game was afoot.

Thank you to you lovely people for being on my tag list, if you want added or dropped just let me know.  <3

@grogusmum @mishasminion360 @hnt-escape @littlemisspascal @pedro4ever @writteninthestars18 @fromthedeskoftheraven @sharkbait77

@quica-quica-quica @eri16 @the-blind-assassin @ayoungpascallover-readings @songsformonkeys

[calpops]

falling facade | c.h.

part six: falling feelings

part one: falling flowers | part two: falling freedom | part three: falling fears | part four: falling failures | part five: falling fame

5k words

Copyright © 2020 calpops. This original work is not allowed to be reposted on any platform in any format (translations included).

<< >>

“What’s this?”

Calum’s attention swiftly turned from cleaning his house and getting it ready for his parents arrival to Arden. She stood in the kitchen, facing the fridge with a timid hand outreached to the door. He knew exactly what caught her attention and prompted the question. He bit back a smirk as he left the throw blanket he was folding in favor of sidling up to her, hip pressing into the cabinets and a nonchalant hand finding the cool marble of the countertops. Her fingers lingered on familiar paper and she turned to face him with a raised eyebrow.

“Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten your own work,” Calum teased and let his smirk come back full force.

She let out a small giggle through her interrogation and shook her head. “Okay wise guy. Why is it on display on your fridge door?”

The paper placemat Arden had quickly drawn Calum in in red crayon and sharp lines laid under a magnet on the face of his fridge. He had fished it out of his wallet the night before, not having forgotten it in the folds but keeping it around in an attempt to remind himself of what was real. Their time at the diner was the first of many escapes. It was a comfort to know something honest and authentic stayed with him when he was forced to lie through his teeth; to fabricate stories during interviews, to pose for social media and paparazzi. It was of him and drawn by her in a moment that no one else got to share. It was theirs and theirs alone.

“Because I’m still waiting for a painting to put on the wall. I thought that’d be a good place holder and reminder,” he said and shot a pointed look at the blank living room wall; the empty space above the fireplace begging for life of lively colors and loose waves created by Arden’s hands. It was front and center. A place Calum would be able to see it from almost any position in the living area of his home. He continued in a teasing tone, “you should really get to it.”

Their conversation on the beach about the Clifford house hallway once being lined with Arden’s art only to be replaced by band accolades hadn’t escaped Calum. His request of a painting reminiscent of sunset on the beach wouldn’t go forgotten or be replaced. Arden nodded, the motion was slow and her gaze was indecisive, fingers abandoning the placemat to curl at her sides. A forced shrug lifted her shoulders.

“You know painting is just a hobby for me, right? They’re nothing special,” she said, her voice became meek and her eyes averted his gaze.

Calum was picking up on subtle queues. Her usual ability to hold eye contact faltered when anything about her life was in question. The strength of her words felt weak and weary as if there was a weight crushing her; taking away her usual eloquent articulation and animation. Calum eyed her for a moment, took a peek at the drawing on the fridge and turned back to her.

“Just a hobby,” he replied to the first half of her statement. “That you enjoy and are really good at.”

She smirked, finally looked directly at him once more and raised an eyebrow in challenge. “I also enjoy dancing while I clean and singing in the shower but I assure you I have no rhythm and am not the Clifford sibling blessed with vocal abilities. Sometimes we just do things; whether we’re good at them or not.”  

Calum didn’t know if he had the ability to challenge her further, to push her and make the strength in her voice falter again. So he changed the subject and took her mind away from replaced paintings and feelings of inadequacy and back to lighthearted teasing tones that lifted weight off the reality they were living. Just like moments in the car where their situation became a joke, Calum changed gears in hopes it would make her smile and quip back at him.

“So you won’t be singing at our wedding then,” he said with an over dramatic sigh and side eye; found that his plan rewarded him with a smile and a laugh.

“No, I’ll save that for you,” she replied and twisted the ring that Calum was becoming accustomed to seeing on her finger. The diamond was still much too gaudy and unlike her but it felt familiar and Calum was unable to picture her without it. “If you’re lucky maybe I’ll show you my dancing on our honeymoon.”

Now Calum’s cheeks were warm and tinting with a blush that spoke of the implications her words held; watched as she skipped away from him with a sarcastic laugh following her to the living room where she finished folding the abandoned throw blanket. Calum didn’t have a comeback or rebuttal though his thoughts were filled and alarm bells tried their best to ring through the haze. He shook himself, tried to blow those thoughts away and nearly jumped at the sudden knock on the door. For a moment he feared it was their parents arriving early, interrupting their plan to work out what details they would and would not share with them during their suspected inquisition. But he rationalized and realized it was Michael, he was to arrive early to be in on the details. He wasn’t sure if Michael’s arrival was better or worse.  

***

Calum’s arm found its way around Arden’s shoulder in an all too natural sense. It fit a little too perfectly, was a little too easy and normal. Eyes were on them, parents and siblings; eyes that questioned and eyes that knew but had inklings of wonder clouding them. Michael had agreed to keep up the charade though he made a point that he wouldn’t like it and they both owed him big time. Calum’s arm around Arden was all part of the act but Calum could tell Michael was pondering why it was so easy for them to pull off. He could also see the doubt in his sister’s frown and hoped the panic wasn’t so clearly written on his face. He knew he wasn’t standing with his usual confidence, posture a bit slumped and weight bearing into the cabinet behind him. But Arden eased into his side and loosely held his hand; helped to settle the nerves that simmered and sparked with their families arrival.

“What’s this?” His sister Mali asked, repeating Arden’s earlier words verbatim, touching the same place mat secured to the fridge in the same exact way.

A small grin captured the corners of Calum’s mouth. There were a lot of things he felt he wasn’t prepared to answer or could have thought out more, but Arden’s art wasn’t among them. He knew exactly what to say.

“Arden drew it. On our first date,” he offered and felt the shift of Arden moving to look up at him.

“First date?” She wondered aloud, eyes meeting and holding gazes as she arched her eyebrow in question and amusement.

“At the diner,” Calum began and blew out a breath, hand gliding down her arm as he got lost in the role; caught up in a new game where control really did land in their own hands. He offered truths veiled with something more and something less. He shifted his gaze back to Mali who was eyeing them both; sizing them and their story up. “She told me to sit still and hid it from me until it was done. I’m keeping it up until she gives me a real painting.”

Mali nodded but her eyes squinted and lips pursed for a moment. She took a few seconds to accept the truth and offer a smile before wandering off in search of Duke; past their parents congregated in the dining area. Calum let out a deep breath, all the nerves that felt on the edge of exploding calmed at his sister’s acceptance. Neither Calum or Arden moved from their position, his arm still held her close and her hand didn’t drop from its hold. If asked by Michael later it would be out of necessity. If Calum was honest with himself it’d be a source of comfort.

“Here I thought our first date was the wedding,” Arden whispered, nose twitching as she blushed a timid pink. She stayed quiet so no one else could hear her words but her eyes were wide and told Calum truths no one else would understand. “Your way we got engaged before we even started dating.”

She let out a small giggle and the sound was enough to collide with Calum’s nerves and make the slight alteration of the truth come to life and feel real. Maybe their first date was the wedding, maybe it was an escape in a run down diner, maybe it was a night under the stars during a dying party where inhibitions roamed free. Maybe they hadn’t been on a date at all. What Calum knew was whether the scenarios were real or fake there was something building within him that he couldn’t control or deny.

“We didn’t need to date before we got engaged,” Calum whispered back, eyes averting to the dining room for a split second to ensure their privacy. Their parents still lingered and made small talk; Michael did his best to act as the host. “It was love at first sight, right?”

Arden shook her head, tendrils of hair fell into her face that Calum felt comfortable enough to push back behind her ear this time. She bit her lip and pushed away from the counter their backs were pressed against; Calum worrying for a moment she was also pushing away from him, but she stayed under his arm and her hand firmly held his.

“I’ve known you most my life. I don’t think we fell in love when we were six.”

“Love at second first sight then,” he amended with a laugh; wondering if there might be some validity to that statement.

During their time in the face of the facade Calum often found himself thinking of the first night he had seen Arden again. The house party was ingrained in his memory and the subtleties of her under moonlight stayed with him in vivid flashes and familiar words. He hadn’t known it upon second first sight, not in that split second when their eyes met across the yard and she offered a recognized head nod, but it started to become apparent with backs pressed to the siding, drinks gone empty and pouty lips begging for a favor.

Calum let Arden lead him into the dining area where they were met with an unexpected outcome. Mali’s slight doubt and questioning was drowned out by the belief of their parents. The stories they fed them seemed to win them over; made them excited at the prospect of their children finding each other and falling in love. Though it was quick and unprecedented—with phone calls and circumstances that felt nothing short of suspicious—their parents were blinded by what they assumed was their children’s happiness. Happy. Proud. Excited. All of those words floated around them in a barrage of parental chatter. Calum felt the shift in Arden before he saw it; the way she stiffened against his side, her hold loosening on his hand and the shift of weight from one foot to the other and back again in a rhythmic sway of uncertainty. He wondered if it was anxiety, if the situation wasn’t okay, if there was underlying guilt brimming to the surface.

They made it through dinner, most of the time was spent in a haze that passed over Calum’s thoughts as he drifted from checking the rigid posture that captured Arden and the beaming smiles that their parents graced them with. Every intone of excitement, every near teary eyed admission of pride and pitch of happiness in their voices had Arden lurching. It was minimal and went past the others but Calum caught the subtleties; the slight twitch of her arm or the purse of her lips, the downcast gazes of shiny eyes. His own nerves had calmed but he worried for Arden. It was her want to keep up the charade but he had to wonder if her mind was changing and what that meant for the rest of the visit.

It wasn’t until after dinner when the dishes were done and everyone had split up into smaller groups that Calum sensed something was completely amiss. Arden was in the living room with Mali and her mom—he’d heard her voice just moments ago—but when he rounded the corner she was gone. Before he could ask, before he could even form the thought to ask, Mali was answering for him.

“She took Duke out,” Mali said as she stood and gestured to the sliding glass doors that lead to the backyard. Calum was quick to head over but his sister stopped him short with a low murmur and hand on his wrist. “I know management has a hand in this.”

Calum knew his surprise showed; jaw slackening and an air of disbelief leaving him at the unexpected cornering. Mali could read Calum like a book and they’d never been ones to keep secrets. She was a bit more comfortable reaching and pushing for answers than Calum was but knew when to let up. Her touch fell and she nodded out the door.

“But I know you’re doing what you think is best.”

Calum swallowed down a lump in his throat and exited the house with Mali’s parting words ringing through his mind. The yard was empty, the sun was setting low on the horizon and casting glimmering specks of light against the water in the pool. It reminded him of the sunset dancing along the beach. Of Arden in the water and his towel. Of moments that were too real to be part of the farce. She was nowhere in sight and the usual jingle of the tags on Duke's collar couldn’t be heard. He figured she must have gone to the front yard or up the street to give the old dog a good stretch and walk after dinner. He rounded the side of the house and stopped short. She sat in a familiar position; back pressed to the siding and face turned to the sky. Duke was settled in her lap and nosing his concern into her stomach. Her hands slowly pet him and Calum came to see the glint of a fallen tear tracking down her cheek.

“Arden,” he said her name softly, his own worries etched into his voice. He didn’t want to startle her but she turned to him quickly and wiped at the tear, tried to pretend it wasn’t there or that he hadn’t seen it. She was making to get up but Calum settled down beside her and she stilled. “What’s going on?”

She sighed and he heard the brokenness of her breath. The fracture between the inhale and exhale. “Pretending is just a lot harder than I thought.”

Calum’s chest tightened and his fingers curled into his palms at her response. Her voice was shaky and her hazel eyes were distant. He didn’t understand what she meant. It all seemed to be going well—their parents weren’t as probing as they thought they’d be, they weren’t disappointed in their rash decision or the way they painted the engagement; with glints of the truth and softened edges of drunken escapades.

“Why? They’re all okay with it. Happy even,” Calum offered in an attempt to soothe whatever was bothering her.

Pretending for their parents had been her idea; a request so as not to disappoint her parents with a drunken story and fake relationship. They curated pieces of the truth together and kept to their guns. It was working. But she was cracking and Calum didn’t know why.

“Did you hear them?” She asked and shook her head as Duke nuzzled in even closer, feeling her distress and wanting to offer comfort as well. “They said they’re happy… and proud. The only thing they can be proud of me for is something that’s not even real.”

Calum blanched at that statement. He felt the wind knock out of him and suddenly all the subtleties of Arden at the table began to make sense. It was his turn to shake his head, not able to grasp why she would feel that way. But the shine of her eyes and the bite of her lip spoke volumes of the sorrows she was feeling.

“They didn’t say that’s all they have to be proud of,” Calum reasoned, knowing her parents and the love and pride they had for both of their children and all of their accomplishments.

“I know,” she seemingly agreed and let out another breath. “But they didn’t say they were proud of anything else. Because there’s nothing else.”

“That’s not true,” Calum denied and knew he shouldn’t tell her her feelings were wrong or invalid but they sounded like intrusive thoughts and self doubt; something he’d struggled with himself and would’ve liked to have someone to put them into a new perspective. “You went to university, you travelled, made amazing art—there’s plenty more than us for them to be proud of.”

Arden didn’t say anything for a moment, content to take comfort in the affection Duke was showing her. Calum saw the wavering of her jaw and contemplation cut across her face. She took another few seconds to pull her thoughts together before turning to look him full on, familiar eye contact bringing her fully back to him. He preferred when their gazes didn’t break—liked the strength he could find in hazel even when the subject was delicate and breakable.

“Michael never told you why I really came to visit, did he?” She inquired and Calum realized he hadn’t even asked.

He was too caught up in getting to know her and playing the game that he forgot it all started with a visit. He forgot she had been dodgy in answering that first night at the party. He was sure there was more reasoning than missing Michael for her sudden appearance in a place she so vehemently avoided and seemingly despised.

“No,” Calum answered. “I didn’t ask either. I figured you’d tell me when you were ready.”

Her shoulders slumped as if the weight of the story was bearing down on her at the prospect of telling the truth. Eye contact was steady as she opened up and revealed pieces of her past Calum had only been left to wonder about.

“I was supposed to be figuring things out here. Trying to get my life together and make decisions. Michael was trying to help.”

Calum nodded his understanding. There was a time when he had decisions he needed to make too; two paths unwound at the same time and no right or wrong answer had seemingly been in sight. He’d done the same, sought out his family and then listened to what was inside of him. It took time and then it was sudden, the band was the path he followed and it was a choice he had never regretted. He wanted Arden to follow a path like that too, to wherever she was seeking and find whatever she wanted in life.

“I get it. I know how difficult that can be,” he said and watched as a look of disbelief cut across her features and settled in the way she stared blankly back at him.

“How would you know?” She asked and though the question may have seemed accusatory or like he could never understand, her tone verged on begging to know if he really did and how it was possible. “You had the band. Isn’t that what you always wanted? Didn’t you just… know?”

Calum let out a small and almost sarcastic laugh and quieted when he realized Arden was serious. He realized she didn’t know the choices he faced. They weren’t exactly close during their teenage years; the formation and come up of the band had divided their worlds even more so. It was hard to think of those times, after the weeks Calum had spent with her and all the bits and pieces of their pasts coming back it pained him to think they had been so close yet so very distant from each other for years.

“I had the band and I had football. I had to choose,” he explained and caught her attention as he noted the arch of her eyebrow and the stall of her hand petting Duke.

“But you had options,” she mumbled. “Either would have been something to be proud of.”

“Neither had that certainty, the band might not have succeeded, my football career could have burnt out before it really began. I had to make a choice and then I had to take a chance.”

A breeze passed between them as Arden contemplated his honesty. The situations weren’t carbon copies of each other but they were similar enough Calum felt empathy rattling his ribcage and putting a pang of pain through his heart. The crumple of her face and the stray tear she didn’t bother to brush away left Calum breathless and wanting to reach out. He was hyper aware of everything; their parents in the house, Michael, alarm bells ringing so clearly in his mind, but drowned them out in favor of following his initial instinct. The pad of his thumb was gentle across her cheek, she didn’t say anything, didn’t flinch or question the action. His hand and heart fell as she slightly pulled away and abandoned his gaze to stare up at the night sky. She shifted and settled, sighed once more and geared up to voice her thoughts and struggles by sinking into the comfort Duke provided.

“I wish I had something more solid, something I want. All I have is half a degree and no fucking idea what I want to do with my life. I dropped out of university and travelled to ‘find myself’ but really just ran away. I have nothing that I’m good at.”

Calum was about to interject and remind her of paintings that once hung in the hallway and a place mat posted on the fridge. Her hand finding its way to his knee stopped the words from coming out and he had to wonder if that was her intention. One breath and it was gone.

“At least, nothing that I’m so passionate about that I know it’s what I want,” she said in one fell swoop and surprised Calum. “I don’t have a dream that I'm chasing. If anything I’m only trying to move out of someone’s shadow and doing a bang up job of it. Now I’m caught behind two and stuck in lies that will never end. That’s nothing to be proud of.”

Calum’s throat tightened at the unexpected honesty and turn the night had taken. Only minutes before they were surrounded by family and mindless small talk—or so Calum thought. It was about the engagement and the band and in that moment Calum realized anything to do with Arden outside of their situation hadn’t been brought up. He couldn’t imagine feeling casted into the shadows. His heart ached for her and the struggles she felt she was facing alone.

“I’m sorry for asking you to pretend with our families,” she added, head shaking slightly. “That wasn’t fair. I should just toughen up and tell them the truth. And don’t worry, I’ll tell them it’s my fault and I asked you to go along with it. You shouldn’t have to take the fall for my lies.”

She made to move as if to get up but Calum was quick to stop her; just a light touch and slight shift stalling her intent and bringing them closer. Duke was in her arms but found his way to the ground and stalked off back into the house. A belated moment and skipped heart beat gathered courage for Calum and helped words come out that he had been thinking for weeks. Words that settled in the back of his throat and burned sugary sweet.

“What if it’s not all pretend?”

“What?” Arden was quick to respond and panic—the fear that captured her eyes was unsettling. “Calum, what do you mean?”

She was poised and waiting for his answer as his mind went into chaos. He wasn’t sure he was ready to face everything that came with his own truth but the words came out too soon to stop them. His thoughts were tangled now, fleeting visions of real moments dancing around his mind.

“That we’ve been real… with each other. All those moments away from it all. Those were real. Weren’t they?”

They were real to him—and so were the feelings that followed and defined those moments. The alarm bells rang in full force as she tilted her head and the minimal distance between them felt craterous and minuscule all at once. Peaches invaded his senses and the taste of sugar was just a breath away but it was blown away by approaching footsteps. Arden moved away on instinct and Calum wondered if alarm bells rang in her mind as well. She settled back on the grass just in time for Michael to round the corner and come into view with his arms crossed and a ghost of a smirk disappearing from his face. Calum and Arden both looked up at him in silence and waited for him to speak first.

“Everyone was wondering where you guys wandered off to,” he began and then shot a pointed look at his sister. “Mum and Joy are talking about wedding dresses. Told them I’d find you, they thought you wouldn’t want to miss it.”

“Right, thanks for the heads up,” Arden said around a sigh and began to stand.

She shot Calum a glance as Michael began to lead her back to the house. Calum was quick to get up and follow her into the conversation of possible bridal styles and centerpieces. Duke had found his way to his usual perch on the couch and perked up when Calum and Arden walked in. Calum took up Arden’s side as she broke into the discussion by clearing her throat to announce her presence. The mothers turned to look at her; eyes alight with wedding wonder and idle chit chat being broken.

“I don’t know how to say this,” Arden began and Calum’s stomach sank as he realized the truth was verging on her lips. His hand reached out for hers, in solidarity, to show that he would stand beside her no matter what she decided. They could weather the storm better together than stranded and alone.  “But Calum and I aren’t getting married.”

Instant regret flooded Arden’s eyes as the room fell silent and shock hung thick within the air. She tensed against his side and turned to look at him with a pleading expression that Calum could only interpret as reversing the statement and making the visible disappointment and heartache vanish from the room. He hoped it was what she wanted.

“Not yet, anyway. We rushed the engagement, clearly. We don’t want to rush the wedding too. We want to enjoy some time together without the pressure of planning. We’ll let you guys know when we’re ready for that,” Calum jumped in smoothly as he watched the panic disperse from Arden’s eyes and felt the appreciative squeeze of his hand—a signal and a thank you that reassured him his hope was correct.

Everyone simmered at his explanation; they called Arden’s statement complete theatrics and not a funny joke though they were laughing, Calum guessed it was more so in relief than in good jest. Michael was the only one who didn’t wear a reaction so clearly on his face, just an arch of a questioning eyebrow at the initial honesty of Arden he hadn’t been privy to. Calum knew some explaining to Michael was due—and that Mali wouldn’t be so easily satiated with the on the fly explanation he had come up with.

The rest of the evening went by in a blur of nerves that kept both Calum and Arden on their toes. They tried their bests to remember the odds and ends of what had already been said. Mali pulled Calum aside for a moment as the night was dying down and a bite of fear coursed through him as he knew her suspicions were sharp and came with merit.

“I still don’t know what’s really going on,” she began and offered a sympathetic smile that helped to calm his nerves. “But I can tell there’s something real there. Just be careful, okay? I don’t want to see either of you ending up hurt. Especially not by each other.”

Calum took her words for all they were worth but only slightly nodded to show he had been listening. He still couldn’t manage to give her the answers she was seeking but the nod acted as much more than a method to show he was listening. He understood. He confirmed. He agreed. The last thing he wanted was for this entire situation to end with hurting hearts.

The hole of lies and half truths they were falling into was being dug deeper and deeper; no landing was in sight. He swept the room as everyone prepared to leave or settle in for the night and his stare landed back on Arden who hadn’t peeled her eyes away from him since his saving moment. It took one look to realize that falling was okay, as long as it was with her. As long as it was real. Calum had started to speak his truth to her and now he could only hope that all of the falling feelings that consumed him were somewhere within her as well.

<< >>

If you’d like to be added to my tag list just let me know! 

Tagged: @rosecolouredash​ @irwinkitten​ @golden-hood @who-do-you-love-5sos​ @caswinchester2000​ @wildflowergrae​ @empathycth​ @cuddlemecalx @malumsmermaid​ @babylon-corgis​ @outerspaceisbetterthannothing​ @mariellelovescupcakes​ @xhaileyreneex​ @goth5sos​ @gosh-im-short​ @feliznavidaddycal​ @loveroflrh​ @findingliam-o​ @flowerthug​ @g-l-pierce​ @talkfastromance4​ @cashtonasfuck​ @sc0ttish-wildfl0wer​ @wastedheartcth​ @calumscalm​ @notinthesameguey​ @lukesfuckingbeard​ @myloverboyash​ @treatallwithkindness​ @haikucal​ @wiildflower-xxx​ @calum-uncrowned @egyptiangoldhood​ @drarryetcetera​ @another-lonely-heart​ @megz1985​ @idk-harry​ @dinosaursandsocks​ @wildflower-cth​ @idontneedanyone​ @everyscarisahealingplace​ @myfavfanficsever​ @stormrider505​ @karajaynetoday​ @333-xx​ @calumshpod​ @calumsphile​ @calumrose​ @justhereforcalum​ @grreatgooglymoogly​ @mantlereid​ @hemmingslftv​ @sltwins​ @queenalienscherrypie @emilyma​ @zhangyixingxing1​ 

[optimistic-dinosaur-nacho]

Bad Blood Short Series Preview

Ransom Drysdale x Reader (Dad!AU) Preview

Summary: Ransom Drysdale, a man who didn’t make wise decisions in his teens. Wasting three years of his life in jail, he takes his freedom for another two. Little did he know, a woman he long ago had a thing for, ends up leaving him with a 16-year-old for the holidays. Hazel Rose Drysdale. His daughter.

This takes place after Knives Out. Family will be mentioned, there will be minor spoilers for Knives Out.

Warnings: Bad parenting, swearing, Ransom being an asshole, minor spoilers for Knives Out, angst, mentions of murder/jail, minor mental abuse, mentions of abortion/pregnancy, Mentions of suicide

Release date is unknown, release is closer than you think

Large thank you for @just-one-ordinary-fangirl​ who was excited for this series and helped build a lot of parts for this story!

I do not consent to have my work hosted on any second party app or site. If you are seeing this fanfiction anywhere but tumblr, it has been reposted without my permission.

You turn your gaze over to the TV but you didn’t pay mind to it. The sounds of your neighbors playing music or their dogs barking above you. Hazel closes her book and sighs softly. “Oh mom?” She asks, you turn to her, raising your brows up. “Hm?”

Her hand rests on the table as she turns her body towards you, “There’s this musical coming into Oakland in December and I was thinking we can get tickets? I don’t know if you’re familiar with Hamilton.” You tried not to give Hazel the look of ‘I’m sorry’, you just stared at her blankly, trying to sound less of a bad mother. Sure the tickets were a bit over 50 dollars. You couldn’t even nod as you sighed, “We’ll see, sweetheart.”

Hazel turns away and picks up her book to head over to her room and you tried not to think about Harlan.

Yes, he was familiar to you. A famous author who published hundreds of books based on mysteries and murder. You weren’t there when Harlan was killed. But you knew someone at work who actually wrote the report about him. Police finding out about not only his suicide but his oldest grandchild was in jail for murder and arson.

You didn’t know much but you’ve read the report so many times. Harlan was a good author and you were happy to see your daughter read a book from someone who was related to her. Hazel never knew much about her father’s side of the family. You tried your best to keep her silent about it and she never asked once.

You remembered you had things that could make her brighten up. You stood up from your spot and made your way into your bedroom. You walked over to your closet and turned on the light to look up. Seeing a dark box written ‘Books’ on the side, you reach up and slid it off the edge and into your arms. You placed it on your bed and reached in for the book collection with Harlan’s name printed on every book.

You opened one and saw a small message written in cursive with his name at the end. Harlan always gave you the first copy and made sure you gotten them. His books made it into films and he gave you the movies and that’s where these old films laid in. Hazel will like to watch these over and over. “Ro, baby,” You call out.

You hear her call back and made her search around the apartment and met you in the bedroom. You turned and sat on the edge of your bed. “You love books, right?” You asked. Hazel nods. You placed your hand on the edge of the box, “These are special and old. It might not sound real to you but these are all first copies.” Hazel makes her way over and slightly gasps.

“They’re... Harlan books?” She pulls them out and opens the first book, “And he signed them!” Hazel looks up to you with a smile. Shockingly, it made you smile, “I want you to take care of these really good for me, okay? You can take them to your room and read them.” Hazel slams herself into your chest and hugs you tightly.

“Thank you, mom.”

You wrap your arms around her and held her there, placing a kiss on her head. “I love you, too, sweetheart.” Hazel wasted no time into bringing the books into her room. Her eyes scanned every letter written in the books by the author, himself. He kept calling you, sweetheart. Hazel wondered if you knew him really well. You collected every book from him and they were all first copies. The films were never used and they were amazing. Hazel began to pull each of them out on her bed and reached for the last book that was wider than the others.

Hazel lifts it up and sees the cute designs.

Memories.

Hazel turns around to sit on her bed as her fingers graze over the small stickers that were worn out. She read your name on the front of the cover and flipped the page over. Photos of her grandparents, your mom and dad taking you out to the lake. A couple pictures of you reading books. Your 15th birthday photo was very old and you looked just like her. Hazel flipped the next pages and the photos gotten bigger. And the months grew further on.

Pictures of you in a dress. Your junior year in a blue silk dress, your hair was perfectly done with a bit of makeup. Hazel had not seen you so beautiful with makeup on. With a small grin, she flips the page and there’s a photo of you again at what looked like your prom dance. Her grin slowly freezes when she sees someone stand next to you with a small grin.

His hair was slick back, his tuxedo was a matching blue and his bow tie was black. His jaw was sharp enough to cut paper. Hazel knew you had her at the age of 16, the date takes back a few months before your birthday. Hazel had to think he was someone you were with. A picture of carved initials with a heart around them.

The ‘R’ was carved along with your initial and in between your initials was a plus sign. Hazel grew more into the photos and kept going over the pages. The next photos never had the boy in the photos any more. But you had your hands on your stomach with a grin. You had to be about one month pregnant. But the boy you had in the other photos never appeared in these.

Then you happened to be in Oregon. You said you were born in Oregon and lived there since you were born. Where were you before? Hazel flipped a couple more and her photos came into view. Her baby pictures were old and very nicely situated. Hazel grins softly at the photos and opened the last page to have things slip out.

Hazel catches the piece of paper and small patch from a high school logo. She looks over the patch that must’ve came from a private school. She flipped it over and read it.

Hugh D. MA, Boston

Hazel furrowed her brows at the name. Hugh must’ve been a different boy you dated. She reaches for the paper that was partially ripped in half and placed the two together like a puzzle.

Ransom (xxx) xxx - xxxx

She read the letter and saw the added heart to his name. Ransom. Who was Ransom and Hugh?

“Honey! Did you want to finish your show?” You called out to Hazel. The teenager puts the things back in the book and puts it back in the box. “Uh... Yeah! I’m coming!” And she covered it up with the others and made her way out of her room into the living room. Hazel couldn’t help but think about who her dad was.

If you want to see this series and had the following chapters. Don’t be afraid to ask for a tag in my asks.

Official Taglist:

@jtargaryen18​​ @axen-gers​​ @captainchrisbaby​​ @patzammit​​ @bucksgoat​​ @la-cey​​ @void-hoechlin​​ @lovepeacefood​​ @stargazingfangirl18​​ @sweater-daddiesdumbdork​​ @stop-obsessing-over-those-actors​​ @nickysurfer28​​ @nbarnes​​ @mcntsee​​​ @adriannajackson​​​ @chuckbass-love​​​ @sebbystanlover-vk​​​ @onetwo3000​​​ @captainamerica-is-bae​​​ @cheeseburgersstuff​​​ @iguessweallcrazyithinktho​​​ @rororo06​​​ @elliee1497​​​ @navybrat817​​​ @waywardodysseys​​​ @just-one-ordinary-fangirl​​​ @chris-evans-indian-fanfic​​​ @this-is-a-chilis-drive-thru​​​ @what-is-your-plan-today​​​ @princess-evans-addict​​​ @dummiesshort​​​ @renaissancecherub​​ @pagesoflauren​

Want a tag? Just ask! 

[stranger-who-writes-fiction]

Okay I was gonna do another SG:WoT post anyway because we’ve got a new King interview but THEN, he released the cover to issue four so you KNOW I gotta geek out about this.

(Sorry that this blog is all SG:WoT, all the time now, but I am just. Insanely excited that Evely is drawing Supergirl. Feel free to block/mute these posts as needed. XD)

Okay, so!

First! The interview!

It’s on (ugh) screenrant so I’m not gonna link, I’m just gonna nab the interesting bits:

On the different direction of the book, and if he wanted to go back to the original Adventure Comics vibes: “So, the idea of this thing was to strip her story down, because Supergirl has a majorly weird history in terms of continuity. At least 13 writers have rewritten her origin over the years. Her dad has 13 origin stories; sometimes he's evil, sometimes he's a robot, sometimes alive, sometimes he's dead. She's changed dramatically in the last 10 years, between coming back to life to the New 52 to Rebirth. She's gone through so much that it's hard to get a hold of her. Not to mention in the '90s, when I was coming up, she was like an ectoplasmic space angel. There's so much there, and I just wanted to take all that stuff off and get to the core of the character; get her out of her normal environments and her normal conflicts. It seems like all our stories are about her dad or her relationship to Superman. Instead, let's see the purity of that character.”

On starting the book the way he did: “...I wanted to start out with a very human moment of a person turning 21 and getting drunk. And a person who is getting drunk because they want to be alone, and they just want to forget about the shit that's happened in their past. That's such a human moment. And the fact that she's Supergirl, so she waits till it's legal - because these super people, they follow the rules. She waited, and now it's legal and she can have this moment. She goes off by herself, with her dog that always follows her, and she has a moment where she can be free. For a lot of people in the US, whether you've been drinking since you were 14 or started that day, your 21st birthday and the day after are days you remember for the rest of your life. It's a day of freedom and consequence, and I wanted to show Supergirl going through that.”

On rising to the challenge of helping Supergirl perform better, sales/popularity-wise: “ When I first got on this book, I called Steve Orlando, who had just written a Supergirl run. And he was the one who opened my eyes to how good the character is. He had such insight into her. He was like, ‘There is a difference between Clark and her, and what she's gone through.’ He just laid it for me.”

On starting the book off with Ruthye’s journey, and gradually building to Kara’s: “ I was like, "Okay, this is going to be from the point of view of someone under Supergirl." And so I switched the point of view to this new brand new character, whose name is Ruthye. And we went from there: we start with Ruthye's story, we see her discover Supergirl, and she's our audience. She's our way in, the way Robin has always been the way into Batman.”

On whether or not other characters will show up, outside of Supergirl and Ruthye: “It's like my Superman: Up in the Sky, where it's a distillation of the character. You'll see other characters, but the focus of every issue will be on Supergirl. And it's something where at the very end, you can be like, "Why is Supergirl great? Why is she important to the DC Universe? What is her future in the DC Universe? Here, read this one trade that can answer all three of those questions at once."So, there will be other characters in the Super universe. But the focus will always be on her; on Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. It's her finding out about herself and her own strength.”

On Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow vs. his other titles: “Supergirl is my first 2021 book, or my first book of the 20s. That wrapped up my books of the teens, and now we're in a new generation. God willing, from the moment I started this book, I was like, ‘I'm gonna take a risk, and I'm gonna write books that are a little brighter.’ I know that's coming from me, and it's not to say we're going to avoid conflict or we're not going to explore the depths of the human soul. All that stuff will be in there. But these books are made from a place of joy, not from a place of anger; from a place of hope, not from a place of despair. It very much contrasts to those other books, in my mind.”

On how he thinks folks will react to the Krypto cliffhanger: “I mean, they're gonna think it's a good cliffhanger. That's how I think they're going to react. They're going to say, ‘I want the next issue.’ That's literally my job as written in my contract. Something where at the end of an issue, someone says, ‘I want more.’ So, that's how I hope they react.”

As mentioned, this is not the full interview; the whole thing can be found on screenrant, and I think Tom King shared a link on his twitter. 

And now, as always, SOME THOUGHTS:

I love that he brings up the fact that so many Supergirl stories focus on Zor-El and Clark, and how he was like, ‘let’s not do that.’

That’s my big gripe with modern Supergirl comics; they are trying so hard to make a statement on why we need both a Supergirl AND a Superman, that they end up spending ALL THEIR TIME talking about Clark, instead of, you know. Telling a fun Supergirl story.

Same thing with Zor-El! I know folks love Rebirth--I like it quite a bit myself--but I think the nostalgia goggles prevent folks from remembering that the whole first arc of that book was re-doing the ‘Cyborg Superman’ garbage from the Nu52. 

Speaking of Rebirth, really like that of all the recent SG writers he coulda talked to, he talked to Steve Orlando.

Like, if ya can’t get Gates on the phone, get Orlando.

(I get the sense that Gates doesn’t like this book, actually, based on a vague tweet. But don’t quote me on that.) 

Looks like Ruthye is gonna be our POV/audience insert character for the whole run. I’m...mmmm. I don’t love it, but I understand the logic here. Especially since he compared it to Batman and Robin--how you use Robin as your entry point for a bat book. 

And you know what? Kara’s supporting cast needs some help, so. Welcome to the Superfam, Ruthye.

I also love the explanation behind the drinking thing, as well as the fact that Kara waited until it was 100% legal for her to drink because OF COURSE SHE WOULD.

I am so worried that Krypto is gonna die b/c of what we saw in Future State. I’m over here with my Pepe Silva board like, ‘Well, what if Kara agrees to help Ruthye because Krem MURDERED HER DOG?!?! WHAT IF THIS IS JOHN WICK IN SPACE?!?!?!’

So I am DISMAYED that King does not reassure us AT ALL.

Thus I am forced to cling to this tidbit here: “ But these books are made from a place of joy, not from a place of anger; from a place of hope, not from a place of despair. It very much contrasts to those other books, in my mind.”

Killing the dog would not be joyful. XD So, like. I’m REALLY HOPIN’ HE’LL BE OKAY.

AND LASTLY, (Except not really)

I have some additional, miscellaneous thoughts unrelated to the interview b/c I’m me and I’m loving having a Supergirl comic back on the shelves, however polarizing it may be.

Something I realized, when details started to come out regarding the book, and that other folks have now noted as well: Kara was 16 when Rebirth launched in 2016; she’s just turned 21 in 2021, making her one of the extremely few comic characters to age in real time.

I don’t think that was planned, but it is cool.

It occurred to me on a re-read that Ruthye never calls Kara Kara in her narration, only Supergirl. And I was a little sad! But then I remembered that Kara wouldn’t necessarily reveal her identity to people she’s helping, she would just be ‘Supergirl’ to them. 

I really do love how, so far, there has been NARY A MENTION of Kara angst-ing over being in Clark’s shadow, or being Superman’s cousin.

It appears that her drinking alone on a remote planet is more related to trying to forget her trauma/grief related to Krypton. MAYBE. We don’t know yet.

The Clark thing could still come up. I hope it doesn’t. 

(Interesting to note! Kara recently appeared in Action Comics, helping Clark and Jon investigate some Kryptonian refugees; IDK how closely these books will necessarily ‘work together’ in terms of continuity, but! It’s possible that the discovery of those mysterious refugees was triggering, thus sending her on her way to her own solo title.)

(Well. That’s gonna be my headcanon, anyway. XD)

AND LASTLY, (for real this time)

ISSUE FOUR COVER!!!!

Okay, some immediate thoughts:

GOOD LORD IT’S STUNNING.

I loooooove the fire motif, reminds me of a part from the Rebirth run, where Kara met the Super-Man of China, and they visually referenced All-Star Superman, having the Kryptonians kind of...become the sun.

Also STAR CHART?!?! PIRATE MAP!?!?!?! 

The VIBES I tell you, the VIIIIIIIBES.

Also I love that it’s just Kara.

Don’t get me wrong! I like Ruthye just fine so far! But yeah, yeah, give me some more solo-Kara focus, even if it’s just in the art.

Just realized that once this thing gets collected as a TBP, we might get some Evely art backmatter. OhHhhHHhhH YESSSS. 

Anyways, the long wait for issue 2 begins! 

[dukeofonions]

Thoughts on the new Asides

Alright, I’ve watched the new video three times at this point and finally have my thoughts together. Also just in case anyone was wondering no. 

No I did not get breakfast magically delivered to me and had to eat a bowl of cereal. 

Oh well, there’s always next time. 

Anywho, spoilers below if you haven’t seen the episode yet I would not recommend reading this. 

Ready? Let’s go.

So what are my general thoughts here, I loved it. Sure there were some things that didn’t make sense to me writing wise but overall this was an adorable, funny episode that provided us with a nice break from all the angst of the main series. 

Now to get into the nitty gritty. 

Right off the bat the art for this was just amazing. Honestly the idea to make this episode as an animatic was a brilliant move. Not just because of how things are right now in the world (but we don’t wanna think about that) but using this form allows the characters to interact in ways that they can’t when filming live. We got to see Roman and Virgil engaging with the world around them and how they interacting with Thomas when he’s not at home. It also gives us an idea of what the world of Sanders Sides is like. Everyone acts a little more cartoony, but it still feels like the real world as well. 

Also the expressions on the characters, even the background ones, were perfect. You could tell so much from a quick expression or body language and as an animation nerd, I was in love from the get go. Honestly the team should think about utilizing this format more with these Asides as it allows more freedom for the characters which can help aid the story and can be used for comedy. Not saying every episode should be animated, but if they have an idea that they simply can’t achieve in live action, they now know that this format works. 

And now, on to the characters. 

So this is a Roman and Virgil episode, none of the other Sides make an appearance or are even mentioned. (Well I guess Janus is vaguely referenced with all the talk of lies going around) But I can understand their absence even though I would have loved to see them even briefly like how Remus and Janus were in Are There Healthy Distractions but besides one character (which I will get too later) I didn’t really mind and it didn’t take away my enjoyment of the episode. 

As usual, Virgil and Roman have a great dynamic and are hilarious with how they bounce off one another. I do question the timeline of this episode given how relaxed Virgil is around Thomas, considering the last time they were together they weren’t on the best footing and he wasn’t present at all during Putting Others First. But I’ll probably make another post about that. 

Starting with Virgil, it was fun seeing him act more like his pre-AA self. Getting onto Thomas’ case about every little thing was both hilarious and way too relatable (like way to call a dude out) and him explaining introvert culture was just *cheff’s kiss* It was nice to him slightly more laid back and worrying about something else other than whether or not Thomas is a good person and keeping a dark secret about his past hidden. Also the ending with him openly celebrating with Thomas and Roman was adorable. We’ve never seen Virgil with his guard down like this, letting himself be genuinely happy in front of the others. He always hides that part of him and seeing him like this just warmed my heart because that means Thomas himself isn’t feeling anxious and is allowing himself to enjoy the moment. Sure there are some moments of doubt here and there, but it was overall a great scene and I was glad they gave us a scene with them in the apartment. 

Now Roman? Oh my gosh I needed an episode where he got his happy ending and it has arrived! Considering the punch to the gut that was POF’s ending I was ecstatic to see Roman finally, finally getting something he wanted. Think about it. Roman recently gave up the callback, which he wanted more than anything, only to have it all blow up in his face and be told that his sacrifice was all for nothing. Like, ouch. But here we see him once again pursuing something he wants, and he actually gets it! He probably thought it was going to be yet another loss for him, all their efforts were for nothing, but it wasn’t! That’s one thing I love about Roman, no matter how many times he loses he never stops trying. Even when he gets knocked down to his lowest he won’t hesitate to grab the next opportunity that comes his way. And as we can see, that will and determination has paid off. 

Of course we can’t forget about Thomas himself. He’s so lovable in this, trying to just get through what should be a simple shopping trip at the mall only to have the most minor things continue to interfere with that. We don’t ever really see Thomas outside of his apartment so it’s nice to finally have an explanation for that. The focus of this episode though is his attempts to find out more about the handsome stranger across the food court and work up the nerve to talk to him. One of the funniest parts of this episode (in my opinion) is when Thomas comes up with the brilliant idea to use the stickers and pins as a way to start a conversation (which honestly could have been sparked by Logan who’s had enough of this) only for it to be shot down as a horrible idea because, what else would anxiety tell you? The monologue in the bathroom was another highlight of this episode and just, gosh Thomas’ acting here is just great. Even though we can only hear his voice there’s just so much emotion put into it. It honestly sounds like he’s crying in some parts and I loved it just as much as the bathroom guy did. 

And finally, last but certainly not least, we have the wonderful Nico Flores. I did not expect to love him as much as I did but like, my gosh how can you not? He’s that perfect mix of cool while still being a bit of a dork. Like did he just grab a stranger’s food and wander around looking for them to return it? Had he noticed Thomas go in the bathroom and was just awkwardly standing around waiting for him to come out? His relationship with Thomas is already super cute and I hope that he becomes a recurring character and love interest for Thomas.  (Note when I say Thomas I am referring to character!Thomas and not the real Thomas) Seeing as Thomas (now referring to the real one) said this episode would be important to the plot of Sanders Sides, I think it’s safe to assume Nico will be making a return and I for one can’t wait to see more of him, along with seeing how his relationship with Thomas develops. 

If I had anything negative to say about this episode, I’d have three negative things to say. 

I’ll start with one that I sorta brought up earlier which regarded the absence of a certain character that just didn’t really make sense to me, and that character is Patton. Now for Logan, Janus, and Remus, I can see why they wouldn’t be there. Logan doesn’t do feelings. Janus and Virgil would be having a hissy fit the entire time. And we all know what Remus would be doing. Not saying none of them could have shown up briefly, but their absence doesn’t bother me as much as Patton’s does. 

Patton is Thomas’ heart, the core of all his feelings, why wouldn’t the heart be present during a time where Thomas is starting to fall in love? He wasn’t mentioned or anything! Not even when Roman was literally telling Thomas to speak from the heart. It just rubbed me the wrong way that he wasn’t brought up at all and the reason for that has to do with another problem I had with this episode, and that was the choice to have the main thing keeping Thomas from talking to Nico was him being a liar. 

The episode starts with hitting the audience on the head with this idea that Thomas is struggling with lying. Despite the fact that nothing that happens is really his fault and everything else isn’t really a big deal. I just found it odd that this was the thing they were having Virgil and Roman get onto Thomas’ case for considering, well, we already had an episode (multiple really) that have already addressed this. One could say this was a result of Roman and Virgil teaming up and being upset over Janus’ partial acceptance. The reason I don’t think this is likely is because Thomas said Virgil finding out about Janus would be a major plot point and I doubt something like that would have happened off screen (honestly the timeline for this video is so confusing) 

Another reason this bothered me is because Virgil comes to the conclusion that everything that has gone wrong (the rehearsing in the bathroom, the old friend in the food court, the plant, the pretending, the hiding, the god forsaken boiled carrots) are all lies and Thomas can’t build a relationship off of lies. 

But... He literally wasn’t doing that? 

At this point Thomas hasn’t even talked to Nico yet. He lied to the guy in the bathroom regarding the monologue (who wouldn’t) and he tried to pretend to be a stranger’s friend (which backfired horribly so lesson learned) I don’t even know how the plant would be considered a lie (and Virgil was the one who pushed him over there anyway) I’m not sure what Virgil’s referring to with the pretending and the hiding I can only assume is when they hid in a trashcan (unless I’m not meant to take that literally) and with the carrots Thomas should have just walked away the moment he saw the rainbow pin on the backpack. That was his fault.

But not once did Thomas lie about anything to Nico. In fact when they finally started talking Thomas was nothing but honest with him, embarrassingly so. The thing Virgil was claiming to be the source of the problem just, wasn’t true. It didn’t make sense to me and still doesn’t even after my third viewing. What I had originally thought was going to happen was that they’d come to a conclusion that tied into Moving On, the episode where Thomas dealt with the aftermath of a break up with Roman, Virgil, and Patton. 

Wouldn’t that be something they’d be afraid of? Say Thomas managed to hit it off with this guy. They start dating, everything is going well, only for it to end the same way his last relationship did. Wouldn’t it make a little more since for the main thing to be holding Thomas back is the fear of getting his heart broken again? Of losing yet another person he loved? 

Which brings me back to previous point of Patton not being there. Considering these three were the ones to help Thomas resolve things in Moving On, why shouldn’t these three be the ones to be by him when beginning a new relationship? 

Unless Patton’s been avoiding these two since currently Virgil is still on rocky ground with Patton and after what happened in POF. But again we have no idea since we don’t know when this episode takes place (well as of writing this I have no idea considering how long it’s taken me to write this Thomas may have tweeted about it or something) 

Another potential reason for Patton not being there is basically what I said earlier. In Moving On he was the one struggling the most since he’s Thomas’ feelings. He could have been overwhelmed by all the emotions Thomas was dealing with and simply couldn’t bring himself to show up. This has me hoping that we’ll get a follow up Asides episode where we get to see the other side’s reactions to Nico. If not all of them at least Logan and Patton since it’s been awhile since those two had an episode together. 

If that’s the case then I can understand keeping Patton out of this one. But that doesn’t change the fact that I find the whole “lies” thing to be a bit ridiculous. 

The final thing I have some of an issue with is how Virgil was the one to “save the day” in this. Throughout this episode Virgil was the one causing the problems (which isn’t to say anything bad about Virgil it’s literally his job to protect Thomas and that includes protecting him from rejection and heartbreak) while Roman was pushing Thomas to go take a chance. I dunno, this one isn’t as big of an issue since I still like the conclusion and Roman calling Virgil brave. It just would have been nice to see Roman going for something and getting it himself. Or at least him and Virgil deciding together that they weren’t going to let this opportunity go. 

I dunno, I’m kinda impartial on that one. I just want to see Roman succeed. 

And there you have it. Those are my thoughts. As usual, you may take them with a grain of salt. But also feel free to share your own opinions on this episode. It’s definitely become a favorite of mine and is up there with my other favorites. 

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go be sad because bathroom guy had his hopes and dreams crushed and he deserves justice. 

[nomimits7]

Cold Phoenix |7|

Title: Cold Phoenix

Pairing: FBI BTS x Gang/mafia member (named) reader

Genre: Mission au, FBI au, Gang au

Warnings: Angst, manipulation, riddles (sorry), betrayal

Summary: Being born as the Taboo child between the good and the bad of this world, Zebah grew up believing she was just another one of the stolen. But just like the moon that needs the sun to shine, seven FBI agents enter her life with the promise of freedom. Before long Zebah realizes she is just another pawn in the game of Mafia vs. FBI. Will Zebah ever learn to trust the seven men that betrayed her to get what they wanted? Will she ever believe the truth behind her own birth? Or will Zebah fall alongside her family that lied to her from the start?

A/N: This story is told in the third person. Try to guess who the narrator is! Also this is my first time writing in this style. Please do tell me what you think. Should I keep to it or not?? The bold words are flashbacks of past scenes. The normal words are what the narrator tells.

Part 6

*-*

It took a local FBI bust for Zebah to click that the sun on their badge probably had something to do with this new gang Bimil. That did not sit well with her at all. Not because they were FBI agents, but the fact that they tried to lie to her to gain her trust. Now I’m no expert in how normal humans function but even I know how ridiculous that is. Thus her own little investigation began.

There were millions of things that Zebah could use to help take down Phoenix. But as many as there were, there were also many loopholes. Too many things that could easily be denied or be seen as insignificant. She had to choose wisely. Usually, whenever she had to dig up some dirt on anyone, she would have no problem, but this was different. This was her family.

After another unsuccessful round of searching, Zebah decided to focus on the riddles the seven gave her. They all had something to do with the sun and the moon and even though she suspected the sun to be an FBI reference, there was still the moon.

So far there were four riddles or clues she needed to dissect. The two from their first meeting, the one in the box, and the one they gave her on the boat. All either had something to do with birds or the moon and the sun. The first riddle described different birds and how some chose to not use their wings, which they all had in common. Thinking in a literal sense, the birds could be a reference to actual people. Some people live normal lives, other work for law enforcement and then there were those that worked more on the illegal side.

But what did they mean by ‘they all have wings’? what was the one thing people had in common? What if the wings were references to destiny? It made sense to Zebah. Everyone had a destiny, but some people chose to ignore their laid-out path in life and do their own thing. Holy shit. What if they were referring to how she can choose whether she wanted to stay in the mafia’s talons or if she wanted to spread her wings and fly?

Zebah managed to keep her squeal soft. She just solved her very first riddle, on her own! But even if that is what they meant. It’s not that simple. What if they were just talking like that to confuse her? Make her waist her time on meaningless riddles, besides how did they know she wanted out?

Is that what the second riddle referred to? ‘even the moon needs the sun to shine’

She needed them. But the moon shined in the darkness. The sun could never shine in the darkness and the moon would never be as bright in the presence of light. Looking at this from a literal aspect, the sun reflects off the moon and that’s how the moon shines. No physical light comes from the moon, yet without the sun the moon is nothing but a giant rock floating in darkness.

But if the sun referred to the FBI how the hell does that fit? Maybe the sun refers to something else? But what? On a hunch, Zebah looked up the significance of her birth date… 15 April. This day is one of the annual holidays in North Korea where the birth of Kim ll-sung is celebrated. It’s also known as the day of the sun.

Unfortunately, that’s not all. That day also marked the death of one of the most loved agents of the FBI, code name S.U.N. according to the article Zebah found she was electrocuted and then shot executioner style right after giving birth. They only know this because of the umbilical cord and placenta that was found still inside her womb.

Zebah stopped her little assignment after reading that. For some reason unbeknownst to her reading that made her feel hollow. As if the death of agent S.U.N. had to mean something to her. At the time she simply thought it was a coincidence that she died on the day Zebah was born, but believe me when I tell you she was even more devastated when she finally learned the truth.

I know it was wrong of me to not inform her, but at the time my mother's words kept replaying in my mind.’ If she ever finds out about her true identity, mommy will have to ‘fix’ that to’

I was afraid of what my mother would do to Zebah if I ever told her the truth. But the seven boys decided to do that for me. After all. Zebah found something that would not only destroy Phoenix but would make sure every single member that was involved would receive the highest form of punishment. This includes Zebah.

Part 8

A/N: I did mention that the bold parts happens in the past? Right??? 

[ironmansuuucks]

Like Father Like Daughter

Dewey Finn x Stark!Daughter Reader - Part 1

 OK hai. so this is a crossover if you couldn't already tell lmao. Tony Stark Daughter reader x Dewey Finn. if you ain’t a fan of marvel then you don’t need to think of it as that and vice versa. this ended up very long winded lmao I apologise but I got carried away hehe. It’s a fluffy, kinda smutty, kinda angsty lil part one about the reader finding a connection in someone knew that she never expected!

I imagine them both to be around like 24/26 age wise maybe? I am also most likely going to be doing a part 2 that involves more of Tony hehe, hope you enjoy my lovelies!!

words - 4400 (lmao i’m so sorry)

warnings - fluff, slight smut, slight angst, drinking

also, this absolutely amazing mood board was created by the one and only @thewolfisapartofmysoul​ thank you so much for this little masterpiece it ties everything together amazingly xxx

“listen, my night is going to go the same as they always do: I’ll hook up with some guy, we’ll go back to mine, he’ll wake up and realise who I am, then my dad will see him leave, me and him will fight and then I’ll grab a cheese burger from burger king and then sleep off my hangover” you explained as you applied the final layer of mascara, talking to your best friend as you got ready to go out, yet again. your friend giggled “god y/n, you’re so like your dad when he was younger”. You rolled your eyes. Being the daughter of the famous genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist Tony Stark had its troubles. You were sick of the famous lifestyle, constantly being followed around, the lack of freedom and the fake friends was taking it’s toll on you. Not to mention your dad constantly being on your back. Yeah you got on with him great, most of the time, but there was a gap that no one was able to fix. When your mom died when you were 11, you began to change. Tony tried his best but you missed her.

So you started to act out. Going out all the time, getting drunk, getting laid then getting up to do it again the next day, never really making any real connections. Some would say you were your dads daughter, and they weren’t wrong. you could hold your drink, you went to university to study mechanics (not that you didn’t know how to do it all anyway), you were witty, and some would argue sometimes a bit arrogant – but only those who crossed you would argue arrogant. But no one knew the real you. Most just assumed you were the same as your father when he was your age; arrogant, rich and a shitty person. No one wanted to know the real you, and those who did, only did because of who your dad was.

So here you were, getting ready to go out for the fourth time this week, wearing tight black, high waisted jeans, a lacy bodysuit, black denim jacket and a pair of tatty old black converse. Your ACDC t-shirt was laying on your bed ready for when you came home too drunk, probably going to get thrown on the floor as you pushed some random guy down on to the sheets. You and your friend snuck out of your room at 9:15, trying to avoid your dad so you wouldn’t argue, stealing a bottle of his Jack Daniels off of the shelf in the kitchen as you both ran out of the apartment.

* * * *

“another double please good sir” you shouted at the barman over the painfully loud music at the bar, whom you had been flirting with. He was cute. Probably hung like a horse. Your friend had fucked off with some other guy around 35 minutes ago so you stayed at the bar and drank to your hearts content, hoping the barman would be tonight’s victim. You clinked glasses with the barman, upon looking at his name tag you realised his name was jack, “cheers jack” you said as you both downed a double rum and coke. You giggled once you had finished your drink, licking the corner of your top lip with bedroom eyes painted on your face. Jack smiled back, then his eyes squinted and a wave of realisation brushed his face “wait.. aren’t you the daughter of Tony Stark?” he smirked. Your face dropped. “why you gotta ruin it jack” you said as you got up to walk away and find someone new, leaving a 50 dollar bill on the table for the barman to pick up.

Huffing, you began to walk to the other bar across the room, but suddenly someone bumped into you and all you could feel was the freezing cold liquid from his glass trickle all down your tits and chest. “what the fuck” you exclaimed, flailing your hands at your side. The boy looked directly at your tits when he realised what he had done, his eyes growing wide, then up at your face, then back down. “hooollyy fuck, oh my god I’m so sorry” he exclaimed, looking back up at your face. You examined his features, curly, dark hair, little bit of scruff on his face, ACDC t-shirt on, similar to the one laying on your bed currently, and cute as fuck brown eyes. “uh, come on I gotta get you some tissues”. He grabbed your wrist and headed back towards the bar.

You followed him drunkenly, swaying slightly and bumping into him. He grabbed a few tissues from the holder at the bar and went to start wiping away the Bacardi on your chest but he stopped when he realised where he was about to touch. You looked up at him knowingly and nodded, smirking. He smiled back, snickering slightly. He dabbed the area where your chest was exposed, and tried to keep his composure. You continued to smirk and put one hand on your hip, looking down at him brushing over your exposed top tit, thinking about how he is probably freaking out inside. “sick t-shirt” you told him, looking at his top then up to his eyes. “uhh, thanks” he said still dabbing your chest. You laughed “alright dude I think it’s all gone”. He removed his hand quickly, “oh yeah.. sorry. Yeah no my t-shirt was actually from their tour last year” he smiled looking down at it then back up at you. A dopey smile painted on his face. You got excited “oh my god no way! I was at that concert!” He matched your excitement “oh no way man that’s sick! The one where Brian Johnson brought that girl on stage and she flashed her tits?”. Once he said that you were instantly taken back to that concert. That girl he was on about was you. You and your dad had fallen out because you both got far too drunk at that concert so you went down to the crowd and done what you did to piss him off. It was fair to say he didn’t talk to you for a month straight. You laughed “oh my god that girl was me!”. His eyes grew wide again “no way that’s amazing” he laughed with you. “yeah I was far too drunk and was trying to piss off my dad. I’m y/n by the way.” You shouted over the loud music. “Dewey” he replied close to your ear so you could hear him. “and if I had a daughter who’d done that, she’s never see the light of day again” he joked.

Dewey. Dewey, Dewey, Dewey. This guy seemed pretty cool. “Hey Dewey, I think I owe you a drink” you said turning towards the bar and leaning over it, sticking your ass out ever so slightly, and Dewey had noticed the gesture, raising his eyebrow, admiring, but pretended he didn’t. He joined you at the bar and put his hand up to get the attention of the barman “I’m pretty sure this is supposed to go the other way around”. You laughed, “trust me I don’t mind. I’ve got more money than sense- Hey jack two double Bacardi please, just add it to my tab”. Dewey laughed “well as long as you’re sure”. You looked at him and grinned “more than sure. So uh, where are your friends?” you pondered, wondering why he was alone. Dewey looked down and tried to keep smiling. “ah you know guys, they are all out to pick up girls and get laid so they left to go to a club just before I bumped into you”. He looked up at the barman then down at you again. you rested your chin on your hand “so why didn’t you go with them?” a puzzled look on your face. Dewey looked down again. “I mean, well, I don’t wanna sound corny but I come out for the music, and to have a good time – not just to pick up chicks, and get laid”. You smiled at him, how sweet. “and besides, this bar plays sick music and its cheap.. and well, its got cool people like you in it”.

You grinned and elbowed him playfully “aw you, you’re cute”. A blush appeared on Dewey’s face as he looked up then at you. You also came to this bar because of the music. It was relatively small so not many people ever really noticed who you were. But they played ACDC, Aerosmith, Black Sabbath, Queen.. the list was endless and all your favourites. “not a lot of other people I know like this bar because if the music, but I freaking love it” you said handing him his freshly made drink, and clinking it with him. “bottoms up” Dewey said and you replied “bottoms up good sir”. As you held the glass up to your mouth your eyes moved to the door where you seen your friend leaving with some guy on her arm. Rolling your eyes you necked back the double Bacardi.

“well, seeing as both of our friends have abandoned us, do you fancy getting drunk and having a laugh with me Dewey?” you questioned him as he slammed the cup back on the bar from downing the strong beverage. He looked over and you “sounds like a damn good plan to me y/n”. You smirked. “we are gonna have so much fun”.

* * * *

 The amount of alcohol you had consumed between one another was sinful by the time the bar closed. Shot after shot, double after double. You had probably drank the place dry of Bacardi and Tequila. The music was the best they had ever played and you both danced and jumped the night away. What was going on? Normally you were grinding up against some guy trying to get him to go home with you, not that it took much, but tonight you actually had the time of your life. Between belting out the lyrics to Don’t Stop Believing, to trying to do all of the parts of Bohemian Rhapsody had you on some high you had never felt. Dewey wasn’t like any other guy you normally kicked around with but boy were you glad that he spilled his drink on you. You had shared one kiss with him the whole time you were there and it was after the song Sweet Child O’ Mine. you had looked up at the drunken face singing the last lyric and just felt an urge to jump forward and kiss it. Dewey was shocked, but pleasantly surprised. It was a soft kiss, the kind where his top lip rested below yours. He simply rested his hands on your waist for a second before pulling away because the beginning of Summer of 69 began to play. You laughed at him. He was so different from the other jerks you would pick up. They would grab your ass and stick their tongues down your throat; but not Dewey. He was different.

Dewey pulled you away from the closing bar as well as he could as you argued with the bouncer about leaving. “and y-you listen to me.. it’s o-only 3:30 it’s so EEARRLLY” you shouted at them as they kicked everyone out, not there were many left. Dewey laughed drunkenly at you as he pulled you down the street “yeah you tell em”. You kept a hold of Dewey’s hand as you cuddled into him slightly, trying to beat the cold, walking the streets to anywhere. Neither of you secretly wanted to leave one another. “here, do you want my jacket?” Dewey slightly slurred,. “nah ma man I’m good I’ve got my own” you smirked looking up at him with punch-drunk eyes. Dewey looked down at you and smiled then he slammed his eyes shut and used his hands to play an air guitar, making noises to sound like the guitar at the start of Highway to Hell. as soon as you realised what he was doing, you also smashed your eyes closed and moved your head back and forth “living easy.. living free” you started. Unconsciously you started walking in the direction back to your dads apartment at the Stark Tower as you both continued belting out rock classics to one another, singing the guitar riff to see if the other one could guess the song.

“oh you know I know that ones Hotel California by the Eagles” Dewey exclaimed as you reached the front doors of Stark Tower. Dewey hadn’t even clocked where he was because he was too drunk and preoccupied by you, but he knew that this must be your apartment building by the way you began to walk towards the door. In Dewey’s mind this meant goodbye. This was what always happened. He would walk a girl home, give her his number then never hear from her again. he was nervous about the rejection. You stopped once you realised that Dewey had stopped and wasn’t following you. You looked around at him “what are you waiting for? A cold?” you joked. Dewey’s eyes opened wide “wait what? You want me to come in with you?” he said dumbfound. You scoffed “obviously. You wouldn’t believe the alcohol collection my dad has up there.. speaking of, my dad will probably be in the apartment but he’s probably passed out in his workshop so wouldn’t even hear a bomb going off in the kitchen so don’t worry about him”. Dewey felt a blush creeping on to his face, no one had ever invited him up like this before. It made him feel like he was someone important, or interesting.

You both pretended to act sober walking past the receptionist, not that she would say anything anyway, she knew exactly who you were and what you were up to. You playfully pushed Dewey into the empty elevator and pressed the button to the penthouse. Out of habit, you pulled Dewey by his t-shirt flush against you and started to kiss him. Dewey chuckled into the kiss, closing his eyes, not being able to believe what was going on. He put his arms around your waist as you slung yours over his shoulders. “hey.. do you.. have.. any.. coffee?” he questioned between kisses. You pulled away from him and looked up at him confused. “of course I do why?” you smiled. “because I could murder a cup right now” you giggled at him.  “of course I do”. You LOVED coffee. It was your favourite beverage, next to Jack Daniels of course; your daddy’s daughter alright. Having coffee after a night out was always one of your favourite things to drink, you swore it made the hangover slightly easier. However all the guys you usually brought home went straight to the vodka to get more drunk. This guy was so fresh, and new, and more like yourself than you could have imagined.

When the elevator door dinged open you and Dewey came out laughing about something stupid. Suddenly JARVIS started to talk to you. “uh, miss Stark, you know Mr Stark doesn’t approve of you bringing strays home every-“ you heard the AI start “oh shut up Jarvis, where is he anyway” you moaned back at it. “your father is downstairs in the workshop asleep” you silently cheered “yes. Thank you JARVIS, bye”. You turned round to look at Dewey who was in shock, eyes wide and mouth gaped open. “what.. the hell.. was that?” he asked laughing. You giggled at his reaction “ah don’t worry about JARVIS, he’s kinda just like the intercom system”. “I can still hear you miss. I’m actually a lot smarter than-“ “goodnight JARVIS” you cooed at the AI before he would drone on. You headed over to the kitchen. Dewey followed you and looked around, in complete awe. “your folks must be super rich y/n, what the hell” you chuckled “yeah, you could say that”.

As you went to turn on the coffee machine, Dewey’s eyes caught the wall in the back of the living room that was full of classic, expensive guitars. He began to walk over to them “woow no fucking way! Where the hell did you get these bad boys?” he exclaimed, admiring the Gibson Les Paul “Black Beauty” 1956, that was at least $30000. You turned on the coffee machine and walked over to stand beside him, folding your arms. “yeah, it’s a hobby me and my dad share. We are obsessed.” You walked down the wall a little more picking up the 1968 Fender Strat. You sat on the edge of the couch and started to pick at the strings. “this. this is our prize possession. The 1968 Fender Strat, previously owned by Jimmy Hendrix.” Dewey’s face lit up in disbelief. You continued to look down at the strings “yeah my dad paid.. what was it now? 2.3 mil I think it was? Maybe 2.4? I can’t remember exactly but it’s somewhere around that figure.” Dewey was dumbfounded for the second time in 15 minutes. “by mil, you mean million right?” you nodded. “who the fuck is your dad” Dewey laughed. You looked down then to the side then at him “aw it doesn’t matter.. why don’t you hold this, have a wee play and I’ll go sort out the coffee? What do you take?” you questioned, handing him the guitar. Dewey’s eyes lit up when you handed him the instrument. Excitement bubbling in him. “uhh… I’ll just take it black the now” he replied. You smiled to yourself walking back to the kitchen. You also took you coffee black after a night out.

Before fixing the coffee you went and got changed. Walking into your bedroom you were glad that you had laid out your ACDC t-shirt before leaving, actually putting it on before getting in the bed for the first time in a long time. You had just decided to wear the t-shirt and a pair of panties seeing that the t-shirt just covered your ass, and a pair of your dads black sport socks as they were the comfiest. you tied your hair up in a loose, messy ponytail and went back to pour the coffees. You could hear Dewey playing the guitar from the kitchen and the sounds soothed you. There was nothing you loved more. You could tell from the sound that he had picked up the acoustic guitar. “oooh the Gibson Hummingbird, nice choice” you complimented as you walked towards Dewey with two mugs in your hand. “yeah It’s one of my.. favourites” he looked up to see you in just the ACDC t-shirt, the exact same one he had on. It was long, but he could still make out your figure, and the shape of your breasts from the way it was sitting. And it sat high, very high on your legs, at the top of your thighs. It was hot. Dewey tried not to stare but it was hard when you looked that beautiful. “nice t-shirt” he decided to say as he put the guitar back on the wall. you blushed slightly “thanks. You know, normally people just walk past the guitars without giving them a thought.” Dewey came and sat on the opposite end of the couch from you “are you kidding? Those guitars are probably the coolest thing I’ve ever seen. Guitars and music is my life. I actually run my own music business for kids, sort of like an after school thing actually” he said proudly. “oh my god that’s amazing, I love that” you returned excitedly. Dewey looked down at his mug, blushing “yeah the kids enjoy it, I mean so do I. the little rascals”. You smiled at him.

Dewey looked up at you. “you know, I’ve never met anyone like you before”. You smirked “I’m just one of a kind baby” you joked. Baby. Dewey felt a little heat in his stomach when he heard you say that, even though it was in jest. “nah you’re the same dude, your so different from anyone I’ve ever met. You’re so down to earth, and genuine.. and we have so much in common like I’ve never met anyone else who nerds out over guitars like me and my dad before” you smiled. “your dad sounds like a cool guy, I’d like to meet him one day”. You chuckled and looked down “yeah don’t they all”. “what?” Dewey questioned, not really hearing you. “nothing” you said, smiling and looking up at him. The warm glow from the lights really made his face look soft, and inviting. You put your coffee on the table and scooted over next to him, taking the mug off of him and placing it on the table. Dewey furrowed his eyebrows, not really sure what to do, or what was going to happen next.

You put your hands up to his face, rubbing your thumbs up and down. “you’re really different, and I really like it”. Dewey blushed from your words. You leant into kiss him softly, his top lip below yours. Dewey kissed you back. This was like no kiss either of you had experienced. It was warm, and soft, not aggressive and needy. You felt butterflies in your stomach, which was something you hadn’t experienced in a long time. You had kissed a lot of guys and felt a lot of things, but nothing ever like this. Dewey moved his hands to your waist and pulled you on to his lap, your legs straddling his middle. He then moved his hands down and on to your thighs. Those thighs. He had been thinking about them from the moment he seen you walk in with the mugs of coffee. You moaned slightly at his touch, his rough fingers, calloused from playing guitar you imagined. That moan made Dewey feel weak. He moved his hands up your body, towards your under boob and just rubbed the skin over your t-shirt there. The kiss became a little bit more heated as your hands began to play with the hair at the nape of his neck. Grinding on his lap ever so slightly, you could feel the bulge growing in his jeans, but you had to retreat back to your room if this was to go any further. You couldn’t risk your dad walking in.

You got up off of his lap and grabbed his hand, pulling him off of the couch. When Dewey got up, his body met yours in another kiss. Kissing him back you began to walk backwards towards the staircase to your room. “come on, we’ll head up to my room yeah?” Dewey nodded, leaning in to kiss you again. you chuckled and kissed him quickly pulling him towards the stairs.

Upon reaching your room, you kicked the door open with the back of your foot, still making out with Dewey when you approached the door. “JARVIS.. close.. the.. blinds” you said between kisses. “of course ma’am” the AI replied. Dewey pulled away for a second, admiring your room. Band posters all over the wall, the huge floor-to-ceiling long windows at the side, all of the tech and tools lying around. “wow this is crazy” Dewey proclaimed. You chuckled and rolled your eyes “yeah I know, sorry it’s a mess” you laughed. Dewey pulled you by your t-shirt flush against him “you are so damn smart and sexy you know that” you smirked, blushing slightly. “I know” you winked. “JARVIS, main light off, mood light on”. Suddenly the brightness of the room faded and a red glow appeared, bringing a lustful ambience to the room. you kissed one another again, needy. You began to unbutton Dewey’s jeans and pulled them down, he kicked them off as you walked backwards towards the bed. You pushed Dewey down on to the bed and he sat on the edge. You were about to join him before you suddenly got a bit self-conscious. Normally you had some sort of sexy lingerie on, some sort of lacy bodysuit thing, or at least a sexy matching bra and thong to give you a bit more confidence. But you had been so preoccupied with getting to know Dewey that you had completely forgot. Would he think you were ugly? Wouldn’t want to be around you anymore? You felt hot suddenly. Were you not good enough? “I uh.. I don’t have any kinda like, you know, sexy lingerie or anything on.. not even a lacy bra like.. I’ll go change if you want.. like I don’t mind-“. Dewey’s eyebrows furrowed and you got worried for a second before he replied “oh my god are you kidding me?” He pulled you on to his lap by grabbing a hold of your ACDC top. “you don’t need anything like that to look sexy.” He looked up at you. You blushed and put your arms around his neck. “why on earth would you think that? I think that when you walked in the room with just that ACDC t-shirt on and those socks was the hottest thing I’ve ever seen”. You giggled. “you don’t need all that stuff to look beautiful” he looked up at you as if you were the most beautiful thing in the world. It was enough to bring a tear to a glass eye. “and if this isn’t what you want? If you want me to just lie here, tickle your back, stroke your hair, cuddle you or even if you want to just sit and talk all night.. I would be more than happy to do any of that with you”. You began to tear up. No one had ever treated you like this before.

You kissed him again. “you are far too good for me Dewey Finn. How on earth did I find you?” he smiled “I’m one of a kind baby” he winked, repeating your earlier statement. He kissed you again, and you kissed him back. Suddenly regaining your confidence back slightly, you lifted up and took of your t-shirt, leaving yourself bare, apart from a thong, straddling this strangers middle. Dewey moaned when he looked at you. His hands ran up your waist and rib cage as his mouth went to the space between your breasts “beautiful” he said between kisses. You moaned slightly as he rubbed his hands up and down your body slowly, continuing to leave kisses and suck on your skin. “you taste like Bacardi”.