#goin strong too and with the next season coming out.... we in it for the long run

[butchcarmy]

i feel completely normal about jeremy allen white and the bear

[kouchabu-archive]

Hajime Shino 4☆ Feature Scout 2

Title: President Grass and Pizza

Writer: Suika

Season: Summer

NOTE: I EXPLICITLY PROHIBIT USAGE OF ANY PART OF MY TRANSLATIONS ON ANYTHING THAT RELATES TO AI.

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Rinne: (Hehe, today’s my lucky day!)

(Who knew I'd bag a big win in the slot machines today! Ain't that enough to make up for my losses this month?)

(I thought that of course I'd come home and celebrate, but I pro'lly got carried away and bought too many ingredients.)

(Well, not that I need to worry about leftovers when Niki's right there.)

(I gotta get back quick and let Niki—… Hm? That guy over there is…)

Hajime Shino-kun from Ra*bits, ain't it?

Hajime: Amagi-senpai? Hello~

Rinne: He~ya. Thrillin' to know that you remember this li'l ol' me's name.

So, what're ya hidin’ in the grass for? Up to somethin’ sneaky?

Are you buryin’ treasure or somethin'? Ya look like a little puppy digging like that~

Hajime: Oh, no. I just came to pick these up.

Rinne: Huh. Your bag has…some leaves and grass?

Hajime: That's right! I got quite a lot of them ♪

Rinne: Pickin' up wild grass, huh… Why?

Hajime: ? I'm going to eat them, of course?

Rinne: ………Ah, I got it. I can see what you're up to now.

That's for a TV show, isn't it? You should've told me earlier~

Hajime: Oh, this isn't for TV though? It's just that I got a craving for it since it's been a while since I ate these so I went here and got some.

Rinne: ………………

(From what I remember, aren't Ra*bits supposed to be a popular unit?)

(Well, not as much as UNDEAD or Akatsuki from the same agency but… each member seems to be goin’ strong in their own way, right?)

(So to see him here picking up grass like this… Never thought they're in deep shit that they can't even properly keep their stomachs full.)

'S that so? But ain't Seisoukan fully stocked with food? There's also lots of snacks in the ES break room, yeah?

If you're havin' trouble finding something to eat, ain't those better places to search in?

If anyone sees their precious idol foraging for grass in a place like this, that's not really a good look with the public, y'know?

Hajime: Trouble finding something to eat…?

Ah, no! You've got it wrong! I'm not gathering grass like this because I'm having trouble with money!

When I got on the phone with my family, we happened to talk about how we used to eat grass a lot when I was younger.

And then I just suddenly craved that nostalgic taste so I came here to pick these up. I normally eat properly, so please don't worry that much about it~

Rinne: Oh, so that's it? You made me uncharacteristically nervous for a sec there.

Hajime: I'm sorry for making you worry.

Rinne: Nah, don't mind it. My fault for jumpin' to conclusions so fast.

In fact, those grass growin' out there are delicious too. I also used to forage for them back when I was a li'l boy so I get ya, Hajime-kun.

I even used to go to the mountains to pick up some edible wild plants.

Thanks to that, I got some basic stuff down when it comes to edible grass. This one and this one can be eaten. This one's not. This one's edible too, but it's not really good.

Hajime: Wow! You didn't miss any! You're really knowledgeable about them!

Rinne: Hehe, told ya right? This ol' me won't ever lie ♪

This one's tasty if you blanch it a little. And this one's something that only Niki could munch on.

Hajime: Huh?! Shiina-senpai can eat this? I had an upset stomach when I ate this one by mistake.

Rinne: Yeah, same here. After eating it, I felt like dyin' the next day—couldn't move at all. But that guy's all fine and dandy.

Maybe it's got somethin' that only his stomach can digest. He's the one who cooked it, after all.

Hajime: Shiina-senpai is really good with cooking, isn't he? ♪

Rinne: Yeah. That guy's real good with his hands when it comes to food. Everything he makes is delicious. When I get home, I'll have him cook for me; that's why I got a lot of stuff here with me.

Hajime: Oh, that's indeed a lot. Let's see… Cheese, ketchup… There's also salami and basil… Are you planning to make pizza?

Rinne: Spot on ♪ Niki's pizza's always bangin', y'know? I end up eating too much if I don't watch it.

Hajime: Fufu, that's wonderful! Are you celebrating something today?

Rinne: Celebrating? No, not really…

Hajime: Huh? Is it okay to eat pizza on a normal day?

Back in my home, I was taught that pizza is a treat that you only eat on special occasions.

Rinne: Oh, is it now?

My bad, my bad. You're right, Hajime-kun. Of course, today is a special day~

And it's somethin' so important that we can't ever, ever forget about! None other than President Pizza's birthday!

Hajime: President Pizza's birthday?! I never knew about the existence of someone that great!

Rinne: You don't know him, Hajime-kun?! Man, that's really, really bad.

Hajime: W-What's wrong with it…?

Rinne: When it's President Pizza's birthday, everyone's gotta feast on some pizza.

If you only knew about it today, then I guess Hajime-kun never got to eat anything these past years, huh…

If that's the case, then it ain't good if you don't eat all those years' lost servings of pizza…

Hajime: All those years' lost servings of pizza… Are you saying that I should eat 17 years' worth of them?!

Rinne: Ah, then what I have here won't be enough. I gotta get back and grab some more ingredients, huh…

Hajime: I can't possibly eat that much!

Can't you do something to help me?! If I eat that much pizza, I'll end up hating it!

Rinne: Pfft… Ha…

Kyahahaha! Your reaction's takin' me out, Hajime-kun!

Hajime: This isn't a laughing matter! Uuu~ what am I supposed to do now?

Rinne: Don't ya worry your pretty li'l head. I was just messin' with you. That's a lie.

Hajime: A lie..? From which point was it a lie?

Rinne: Everything startin' from President Pizza's birthday.

Hajime: So, uhm… I don't have to stuff myself full of pizza until my stomach explodes?

Rinne: Yup. President Pizza doesn't exist.

Hajime: T-Thank god…

Rinne: I didn't expect you'd just take all of that without even questioning me.

You gotta put it in your head to suspect people a little more from now on, 'kay? Shino "Majime"-kun~ ♪ [1]

Hajime: Geez, you're so mean to deceive me like that, Amagi-senpai! You really scared me back there!

Rinne: Come on, sorry for bein' like that~

Oh, got it. As an apology for messin' with ya, lemme treat you to some pizza.

Hajime: …Are you sure you're not lying this time?

Rinne: Kyahahaha! Talk about a fast learner! Ya immediately got on your toes and suspected me! You take things so seriously. You really are Majime-kun, huh?

Hajime: M-My name is "Hajime"!

Rinne: Yessir~ Come on, let's bounce back home and have a feast! ♪

And while we're at it, let's use those grass you picked and make some wild grass pizza!

Hajime: W-Wah, please don't just drag me around, Amagi-senpai!

-----------

Translation: Sophie

Proofreading: Ara

NOTES:

[1] “Majime” / まじめ = lit. means as a person who’s earnestly sincere and honest, and therefore takes things seriously at its face value. It’s a syllable off Hajime’s name, which makes it funnier given how Rinne has a penchant for giving silly nicknames to people he encounters.

Also can I just point out how Hiiro, who’s actually Hajime’s classmate and therefore theoretically closer to him, calls him “Shino-kun” (last name) while Rinne calls him “Hajime-kun” (first name) right off the bat. I just think his shamelessness is hilarious LOL

[joepringle]

[Scene: The campus radio station of Himbo University. The room is buzzing with excitement. The station's soundboard lights up, and the host, Chuck, is seated across from Rudy Buckingham, the star football player who just led the Himbo University Himbos to a victory in the 2001 Collegiate Himbo League Championship. Chuck leans forward to speak into the microphone.]

Chuck: Good afternoon, Himbo University! This is Chuck on WHIM 97.3, your campus radio station. Today, we've got a special guest—Rudy Buckingham, the man of the hour! Rudy just led our football team to victory in the 2001 Collegiate Himbo League Championship! How's it going, Rudy?

Rudy: Uh, hey, Chuck! It's, uh, goin' real good. We did the football, and now we got the shiny, uh, trophy thingy!

Chuck: That’s right, Rudy! You guys really crushed it out there. Tell us, what was going through your mind in those last moments of the game? The score was tied, and you pulled off that incredible play.

Rudy: Oh, uh, yeah... So, like, Coach was like, "Rudy, go do the thing," and I was like, "Okay." And then I, like, ran real fast, you know, with the, um, ball. I think I, uh, did a touchdown? Yeah, that's what it called!

Chuck: You sure did, Rudy! A 90-yard run to the end zone—absolutely phenomenal! Now, Rudy, a lot of folks are curious about what it takes to play in the Collegiate Himbo League. Can you share some of the challenges you and your teammates faced this season?

Rudy: Oh, yeah, challenges! Uh, so like, the games were, um, hard? And, uh, we had to, like, do lots of runnin' and hittin'. Sometimes, uh, my brain hurts from thinkin' about the plays, but Coach says, "No think, just muscle!" So I just use, uh, my big muscles, and we win!

Chuck: That's certainly one way to look at it, Rudy! And speaking of muscles, you’re known for your incredible strength. How do you keep in shape? What’s your workout routine like?

Rudy: Oh, yeah, my, uh, routine! So, like, every day I lift the big heavy things. First, I lift them up, and then, uh, I put them down. Then I do that, um, a lot of times. And, uh, I eat lots of, like, chicken and, um, the green stuff... I think it's, like, trees or something?

Chuck: (Laughs) Trees, huh? You mean vegetables, Rudy?

Rudy: Oh, yeah! Vegetables! Those are, like, the green things that ain't candy, right?

Chuck: (Chuckles) That's right, Rudy. Now, some people might not know this, but Himbo University competes in a unique league. The Collegiate Himbo League isn't like the NCAA; it's a bit more laid-back, focused on spirit and fun as much as skill. How does it feel to be part of something so special?

Rudy: Uh, it feels real good, Chuck. Like, um, we get to play the game, and, uh, have fun with all the friends. And, like, sometimes there's, um, parties after, and I like parties ‘cause, uh, they have pizza. And, um, balloons? Yeah, balloons are fun too!

Chuck: (Smiling) Sounds like you’ve got your priorities straight, Rudy. Now that you’ve brought the trophy home for Himbo University, what’s next for you? Any big plans?

Rudy: Oh, uh, big plans! I think, like, I wanna, uh, keep doin’ the football. Maybe I’ll, uh, go to, like, the big leagues? Or, uh, maybe just get, like, a really big sandwich... I dunno. Coach says I gotta think about, uh, my future, but I just like liftin’ and runnin’, you know?

Chuck: Well, Rudy, whatever you decide to do, I’m sure you’ll bring that same energy and enthusiasm. Thanks for coming by the station today. Any last words for your fans out there?

Rudy: Uh, yeah! Thanks, everyone, for, like, cheering and stuff. And, uh, remember to eat your vegetables, 'cause they make you, like, strong... like, um, trees!

Chuck: (Laughs) You heard it here first, folks! Eat your veggies and stay strong. Thanks again, Rudy, and congratulations on the big win! This has been Chuck on WHIM 97.3, signing off!

[End Scene: The theme music fades out as Chuck and Rudy share a laugh off-mic, the energy in the room electric from the win and Rudy’s unforgettable interview.]

[twilightmalachite]

Raison d’être - The Nameless Girl 11

Author: Akira

Characters: Shu, Mika, Kuro, Nazuna

Translator: Mika Enstars

"Très bien, truly magnificent."

[Read on my blog for the best viewing experience with Oi~ssu ♪]

Season: Spring

Location: Raison d'être Stage

Two weeks later. On the stage of the opera “Raison d’être” by Valkyrie, the best work from the Funeral Contest…

Shu: “This opera is dedicated to my beloved grandfather—”

“And “MADEMOISELLE”, who was his “beloved lady”.”

“♪~♪~♪”

Mika: “~…♪”

Nazuna: …♪

Kuro: My bad, I’ve arrived late.

Looks like everythin’s smooth sailin’ here, but we had some trouble at the very last minute.

Nazuna: Ahh, so AKATSUKI’s going through some trouble too, huh~… Surprisingly, I think everything will work out somehow on my end.

Kuro: Haha, you Ra*bits are always holdin’ out strong ‘til the last moment.

Anyways. I had the incentive given I was worryin’ over all sorts of things, so I figured to might as well see Valkyrie’s performance since I was invited.

This is the project they submitted to that Funeral Contest, right?

A livin’ funeral… While at first glance it looks like an ordinary opera, it seems strangely cheery for a funeral, ain’t it?

Well, that gramps does like things to be cheery.

Nazuna: I don’t really get it either, but… This was chosen as the best entry in the Funeral Contest by Itsuki’s grandpa himself for his living funeral.

Even if I don’t understand the logic behind it, it was chosen as the “right answer”, wasn’t it?

???: “—That’s right.”

“Those children brilliantly grasped the “truth” through logic and intuition, through reason and passion.”

“And they interpreted that obtained “truth” through their own aesthetic senses, and worked to express it through this one beautiful stage.”

“Très bien, truly magnificent.”

“Right—This is exactly the answer I had been seeking.”

Kuro: ……

Hey, now… That just knocked me speechless. Ah, right. Is that who I think it is?

Nazuna: Yeah. That voice is coming from that notebook laptop held by the “person next to me”.

It’s the true identity of the man we’ve been hearing so much about, Raffaello.

Raffaello: “Fufu. Should I be telling you, long time no see—Ryuu~-kun?”

“Please excuse my appearance. The doll I had been using as a terminal was destroyed by Kagehira-kun.”

“Fortunately every cloud has a silver lining, I haven’t been bereaved of all "Mademoiselle"s…”

“As you’d expect, it is difficult to get dolls installed with communication terminals through customs.”

“Another doll was used as a proxy in Paris, thinking it’d be too much a risk if she were confiscated or damaged.”

“Although it’s very unfortunate that she was destroyed, you could say that doll was Mademoiselle’s sister.”

Kuro: Hey… So that’s what was goin’ on. So ya were callin’ yourself Raffaello and messin’ around with Itsuki and the others…

—Gramps.

Raffaello: “That’s right. It’s really been a while since we’ve got to see each other, Ryuu~-kun.”

“You’ve gotten big.”

“Fufu, I don’t think the name you’d be called as a child suits you anymore—Kiryu Kuro-kun.”

Kuro: Ah, yeah. Long time no see…

Nazuna: (Whoa, amazing, this is rare. Kuro-chin’s acting as meek as a lamb.)

(This is someone he’s known since he was a child, and it’s someone who used to scold him all the time too. It’s no wonder he can��t hold his head up.)

Raffaello: “Fufu. As you can see, due to my youthful indiscretion, I smoked too much and developed cancer in my throat, so I’ve got a hole in my throat.”

“I can no longer speak normally, so excuse me for using a synthesized voice like this.”

“This is a body that should remain resting at a hospital, to begin with.”

“But I wanted to see my grandson perform at whatever cost, so I was allowed to go out temporarily after raising a fuss and threatening to sue the hospital and get it shut down if I couldn’t watch it.”

“My precious grandson worked hard on this gift to me. I am grateful to be able to see it in person instead of through a screen.”

Kuro: What’s this all mean… So the real identity of that Raffaello bastard that was treated like a con man was actually just Gramps…

But why’d ya go around callin’ yourself the son of your own affair, manipulatin’ around Itsuki and the rest of his family?

Wait, you’re also Itsuki, aren’tcha, Gramps. This is complicated.

Raffaello: “Fufu. Then, for the sake of distinction, shall I call him “Icchan”, just like he was called when he was a little kid?”

[ ☆ ]

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[writerleo86]

Terravenger - Season 5: Part Two - The Cyberian Empire First Encounter - Episode 417 (Do Not Copy)

   During the next morning, the counselor Mercury had met with his student Cheetah by the elevator of the Forest Area at the Academy.

   "How did it go?" asked Cheetah.

   Mercury stood with his arms folded before him as he reported "I monitored the Commander the entire night. Nothing did happen, especially during the dinner with the family at an Asian restaurant."

   And Cheetah informed him "I met Scorpio. Earlier last night, he had a chat wit' Granger. Granger's goin' on her first mission next week."

   Then Mercury shook his head and responded "You should continue monitoring Officer Granger for the time being. I shall stay with Commander Ravenstone."

   "Yeah, of course," said Cheetah.

   Mercury informed his student "I am certain this is the day when the Commander and his friends have their first meeting with Officer Granger."

   Cheetah gave a cunning grin and commented "I heard da Commander had two gurls eyein' him."

   "Yes," answered Mercury. "For many years, Engana Vega always fancied the Commander. And after their encounter, Officer Granger began to have her eyes fixed on him. Once she had learned about this, Doctor Vega began an intense rivalry with Granger for our commander's affections."

   "In other words," translated Cheetah. "Da gals were livin' in heat for our commander."

   "Focus on our mission Mr. Hall," ordered Mercury. "We must uncover what has shielded the Commander from remembering this certain event."

   "I know, I know!" yelled Cheetah. "It's just cool dat da Commander was like me back den!"

   "We are starting to learn more about our commander during our stay here," replied Mercury. "Tai was more like his father than we all realized. Let us hope that the Commander was just as energetic and strong as our late friend."

   Cheetah faced the counselor and asked "Ya miss him too, yeah?"

   An emotionless Mercury lowered his head and responded "I will do what I can for his father today. We must retrieve the reason why the Commander has lost his memory."

   And Cheetah agreed by shaking his head.

Terravenger -- Season 5: Part Two -- Episode 417:  First Encounter -- The First Appearance of the Machines

   Walking through the farmlands was the young Beau Ravenstone along with two of his friends.

   One of them was Martin Redbourne. He wore a white T-shirt with a large black pocket on the left side of the front. He also had on a pair of black jeans and short golden boots.

   The other was a tall boy with light skin, red eyes, short red hair, and an average figure. He wore a white T-shirt underneath a buttoned pink top that had short sleeves and a fine collar. He also had on a pair of long black pants and white shoes. And his MAF badge was placed on the front left side of his top.

   Beau had on a pale-brown shirt with short sleeves, tight khaki jeans, white socks, and gray shoes.

   The three friends talked amongst themselves while a silent Mercury followed from behind.

   "I'm having another party tonight," announced the red-haired boy. "But this is to gather money for a local orphanage. It's legit this time Boys."

   "Where will this party be?" asked Redbourne.

   The red-haired boy answered "It's actually gonna be at the Cafeteria in the Academy. Both the General and Commander signed off on it."

   "So dis party's a good cause," replied Beau. "You know I'm in. Dis is a great thing yer doing, Grendel."

   "Kaballa should come by too," implied Redbourne. "It would do him good to socialize."

   "Yer right!" Beau told him. "Sirbo needs to be out and about! I worry about him sometimes!"

   Meanwhile, Cheetah followed Sarah Granger who was knocking on the door of the Principal's Office.

   Granger had on a long-sleeved black shirt, tight white pants, short white socks, and gray shoes. And her long blue hair was tied into a high pony-tail.

   "Enter!" called a male's voice.

   The female student opened the door and walked inside. Both she and the invisible Cheetah found the commander Erich Sidney sitting at his desk.

   "Granger?" asked Sidney. "What can I do for you?"

   A scared Granger walked toward him and responded "We all may be in serious danger."

   The commander slowly stood up and asked "Danger? Here? Why would you say that?"

   Granger looked up as she told Sidney "I feel danger coming from deep in space. Scary and strong danger. You must be ready, Commander."

   "How can you know that for certain?" asked Sidney.

   Suddenly, a shocked Sidney stared into the eyes of the fearful girl.

   "You..." He implied. "You have the ability to determine what happens in outer space. You can sense anything that is near our planet."

   "Yes sir," answered Granger.

   Sidney walked to her and placed his hands on Granger's shoulders.

   "It is rare for someone to have that power," He responded. "From the moment I met you here in this office, I was able to sense a strong ki inside you. I just didn't know what it was, or how to describe it."

   And Granger explained.

   "I don't know how I can do this. But as they draw closer to the planet, the pain... My headache becomes worse than before."

   She placed her left hand on her head. And the blue-haired girl continued.

   "My headaches have gotten worse since I came to Midas City. I don't know what exactly this force is or where they come from. But I know... I know that this force... I know this force is nothing but purely evil."

   Sidney soon guided her to the chair that was in front of his desk. And the commander out on his desk as Granger placed herself on the chair.

   "I believe you," He told the girl.

   "You do?" cried Granger.

   A determined Sidney shook his head and told her "I will talk to General Scorpio and the admirals immediately. Then I will alert the other of the nine nations. And we will all get ready."

   "Sidney believed her from da start," claimed Cheetah. "He must know Granger's got amazin' powers!"

   At nightfall, the wise commander Sidney stood at the cliff of the Forest Area on the top of the Midas Academy.

   Sidney now wore a uniform consisting of a long-sleeved gray top with golden shoulder pads, golden wristbands, and different-colored designs coming from each shoulder. He also had his MAF badge placed on the front left side of his coat while another golden badge remained on the right side. He wore a pair of long gray pants, golden ankle pads, and black boots. And he had on a gray cap on his head that had a purple design on the front.

   He stood with his arms folded at the back as he stared at the sky. He soon spotted something floating down from the clouds of the dark sky.

   "And now they come?" He asked.

   Coming from he clouds were a storm of large crafts that looked like eyeballs with pale-blue irises and black pupils.

   "What?" questioned Sidney.

   And another person floated toward the ships.

   The calm general Scorpio spread his hands out as he called "Earth Release... Globus Aeternus."

   A large globe of golden light gathered around him. Then Scorpio formed both his hands into a circle which caused a storm of large waves to rise from the bright globe. Many of the projectiles had turned the large aircrafts that flew lower into sculptures of stone.

   After more of the enemy's aircrafts were turned into stone, two figures lowered from one of the large clouds along with more crafts.

   The figure standing before the other pointed their right hand down. A medium ball of blue energy soon formed from their right hand.

   The figure said in a soft male voice "Cobalt Ball."

   Then the ball of blue energy shot down. Sidney quickly formed a circle toward his mouth using his left hand and fired a large wave of fire.

   "Fire Release..." The commander called. "Boar Blast!"

   The ball of fire destroyed the blue energy which created a large explosion in the sky.

   Sidney blew out a barrage of small fireballs from his breath after he called out "Plum Blossom Flower!"

   The other figure threw their long weapon forward. A large circular frame opened from the weapon which blocked every projectile coming from Sidney.

   Meanwhile, the two soldiers from the future found the youth Beau watching the battle by the front entrance of the Midas Academy below.

   "What's going on?" He cried.

   Mercury informed Cheetah "The time of the Machines appearing on this planet has come."

   Cheetah lowered his head and claimed "Good thing we know da outcome! Terravenger wins dis round!"

   The counselor spotted a person walking toward the teenaged Beau.

   "Look!" Mercury told his student.

   "Who's dat?" asked Cheetah.

   The person placed their right hand on the forehead of the teen. And a large pale-violet light formed around Beau's eyes.

   "By the gods!" yelled Mercury.

   "Dis guy did it?" cried Cheetah. "Dis guy took da Commander's memory?"

   Once the light faded, the person lowered his hand. The teenaged Beau lowered his head as if he was in a trance. And the mysterious person revealed themselves.

   The person appeared as young man with fair skin and a pair of cold purple eyes. He had a well-built figure and a strong face. And the front of his short dark hair was slicked back. He wore a buttoned black shirt with a fine collar and long sleeves. He had on a pair of black dress-pants and black dress-shoes. And a pale-violet tie was wrapped around his collar.

   "So, it was this man?" questioned Mercury. "He wiped out the Commander's memory in only a short time?"

   As Beau fell to his knees, the mysterious man walked off.

   After that, a globe of blue light quickly gathered around them. And the large globe vanished along with both Mercury and his student Cheetah.

[arinbelle]

Made (Nessian Mafia AU)

A/N: In which I took forever yet again to update, and apologies first, this chapter is mostly filler for the next chapter. It is what it is. *shrugs* But! This does have that infamous scene in it that some of you kept asking about. Enjoy! 

Warnings: Triggers for SA, violence, swearing

~*~

Part XI

“One is loved because one is loved. No reason is needed for loving.” - Paulo Coelho

~*~

Cassian stared at the box for a minute longer before standing up from his desk, leaving it behind. Azriel didn’t ask for an explanation to his silence but Rhys did.

“What do we do?”

“Nothing yet,” Cassian grunted, not in the mood to speak let alone think anything outside of the rage he was feeling. “I’ll be back.”

Rhys started at that. “I’ll come-”

“No.” He gave the order firmly, and there was no disputing it after that.

The box had come, earlier than expected, but it had arrived. There would be no avoiding it now. A few hours later, he got out of the car, nodding to his driver, and walked into Beron’s estate.

Not that he was surprised to see him, Cassian still fought off the irrational lick of anger that dragged down his spine and urged him to pummel Eris’ stupid, pretty face into a bloody pulp.

Eris’s serpentine smile made his skin crawl with the desire to burst out of himself and forget who he was and what he was responsible for, and just hit. His hands were itching for a fight, especially when he remembered just how much more Eris had than Cassian in that moment.

Nesta.

He had tried to ignore the memory of what they’d done in that bathroom, at a dinner to celebrate her wedding to another man no less. The way she’d screamed, moaned, as she went slick around him, and how right it had felt. How perfectly he’d fit in her and how well she responded to everything he threw at her. The way she gave him everything back too.

She was perfect and made for him, and if they weren’t who they were in this life, they would have been together long ago. 

“So, did you get the present as well?”

Cassian didn’t bother talking to him, only looking at Beron who murmured something to a man he didn’t recognize, and then dismissed him.

“Well, did you?” 

Cassian fought the urge to also roll his eyes at his Boss, because then he’d probably have to pay for it in a painful way that would only take up too much of his time. 

“Yeah. I got the hand.” A very bloody hand in the box, still attached to a wrist with the Cosa Nostra’s sigil tattooed on it. A clear and cut call out to all of them. 

“We got a tongue,” Eris supplied, grimacing, as if the memory was gruesome even to him. Maybe pretty boy didn’t like dealing with the messy side of business. Good. He’d always known Eris was a boy playing dress up in this world.

“Did you shit your pants when you saw it?,” Cassian sniped, reveling in the jab that would undoubtedly prove stupid eventually.

Eris volleyed back, “Suck my dick, asshole.”

Cassian leveled him with a glare he’d learned from Nesta. “No thanks. I like my meat seasoned.”

Beron finally shouted at them to stop, but Cassian could have sworn he heard a muttered, colorful swear under Eris’ breath.

“Any ideas on who it could be?”

Cassian scoffed. “The Irish, obviously. I don’t know any one else in this territory that wants to pick a fight so badly with us.”

“We didn’t do shit to them,” Eris insisted, stalking over to a small table to the side of the room and filling a cup with amber liquid.

“Tamlin’s family might disagree. Just because we didn’t do it doesn’t mean they know that or will care. He died on our territory. You know it looks like we’re involved.” He gave a pointed look to Beron who seemed to be considering his words better than Eris was. He was careful to not mention anything else about Tamlin, in case he accidentally let slip jut how involved he actually was in the death. Or worse, how Nesta had started it all.

“Tamlin didn’t have family,” Eris objected.

This time though, Beron interjected. “He had strong bonds with his men. They were going to vote him into power in a few years. His relatives were dead but he had a strong family in those people. I don’t think we can expect anything good from a war with them in his name.”

The first time Beron actually spoke something truthful and useful. Cassian hated him a little more for it then.

“Get your men on it. I want patrols on our cargo doubled. Make sure the risky runs are done by you or your brothers. I don’t want some low level petty criminal fucking up our work. And deal with this shit before my son’s marriage.” With that brusque order, Beron was gone, his bodyguards shuffling as the followed him out.

“Want a drink?” Eris held out another cup, sloshing at the bottom with amber liquid and Cassian accepted it after a few moments of suspicious silence. 

It burned as it hit the back of his throat but Cassian clamped down on the urge to spit it out, and swallowed. Eris eyed him knowingly and he knew exactly what the prick was thinking about. So Cassian drank the rest of the of his drink in one last drag, putting the glass down on the table with a bit too much force.

“You’re on edge,” Eris noted, walking over to the chaise and draping himself over it like he was already some sort of ruler.

“You would be too if your territory was the largest one to deal with. But last I checked Eris, you just play lapdog to daddy until he needs you to go out and make appearances.”

Eris gritted his teeth. “You know nothing about what I have to do to keep my territory and my people safe. I have family too you know.”

Cassian grinned, but there was nothing kindred in the motion. “Oh I know all about your protection. How well you take care of your mother for instance.” Eris’s hands tightened around his glass, the white of the knuckles almost glowing, but he didn’t retort back. So Cassian went on. “And I’m sure Mor would agree too- you take very good care of your people.”

Cassian could almost see the hiss that rose in Eris as he seethed. “You don’t know shit about that day. Don’t come in here acting all high and mighty when you don’t have all the facts, you-”

“I don’t need them,” Cassian interrupted. “The scars on Mor’s body are more than enough facts for me.”

“I didn’t touch her.” Eris’ eyes went vacant. Something like regret seemed to course through them for a moment, and Cassian almost asked if he really meant it. But he kept himself quiet, pulling out his phone and typing out the brief message.

“I texted Azriel to get on top of the cargos. I’ll be at the docks personally each night. Will you come?”

Now it was Eris’ turn to grin. “I have a wedding coming up. I’m not going to risk getting shot at your usual shitshow cargo hauls. I don’t think my bride to be would be too happy about it.”

Eris had no idea what actually made Nesta happy but just the mere mention of her from his mouth had him tensing up.

“She’s here somewhere, by the way,” Eris said, gesturing wildly behind him. “I don’t know specifically which room, but she’s having designers go through her dress fitting with her.”

Cassian nodded, getting ready to go, ignoring the ache in his chest that began spreading. He hadn’t seen Nesta in the two weeks since that disastrous meet up with her at the dinner party. It had been silent on both ends, and Cassian had resigned to accepting her choice even if it didn’t sit right with him. But her being in such close proximity, without being able to see her, touch her, taste her...it cut at him to the very core.

“The bathroom, if you need to use it, is straight down the hall,” Eris added with a scowl. Cassian only furrowed his brows at him, ignoring the strange statement, and picking up his jacket. It was only when he reached the door that Eris spoke again. “Although I don’t think Nesta will fuck you in this one today.”

Cassian froze with his hand on the doorknob. How the little fucker even knew...

He’d been so selfishly stupid, and he cursed inwardly. There were eyes everywhere. Anyone could be bought off. Anyone could be sold secrets, and Cassian wasn’t being careful.

To deny it would make him look stupid but to admit could possibly jeopardize Nesta. But Cassian had always been a fighter. Always ready to throw the first punch before he was pummeled into the ground, and this was no different.

So Cassian turned around to a smug looking Eris.

“You really are as stupid as they say.”

The insult rolled right off of Cassian. “And you’re just as spineless as I thought you were Eris.”

“Maybe. Maybe not. Doesn’t matter does it? She’s here with me, not you. So good luck at the docks tonight. I’d be careful of course, and if anything does actually go through that thick head of yours, you would too. But don’t worry, Nesta will be safe with me.”

Cassian raised a brow. “Is that a threat?” Cassian wasn’t afraid if it had merit or was as empty as every other proclamation Eris liked to make. He was a seasoned fighter and his men were loyal to the end. Even if Eris was stupid enough to have something planned against Cassian, it wouldn’t work.

“It’s a promise,” Eris splayed out his hands, as if offering peace with the mocking tone he’d taken on. As if he were talking down to a child. Cassian’s temper was already fraying and Eris needed to only push him a little further to see how good Cassian could make promises of his own. With his fists no less.

“I promise you Cassian, Nesta will be taken care of with me tonight. I’ll make sure we get to know each other better. Maybe even better than you? I tend to prefer beds to bathrooms but we’ll see what the lady prefers.” 

Cassian caught onto the double meaning right away and the insinuation, the fucking balls on the motherfucker, had Cassian rearing up to fight. But he kept cool, turning his voice to ice instead of the fire he tended to prefer when lashing out.

It would do him no good to resort to violence before it had been brought to him. A good Capo thought before acting rashly, and while Cassian didn’t enjoy any of what Eris was dishing out, it was just words at the end of the day. And words could be met equally with wit. Or threats, which was what Cassian preferred anyways.

“I don’t appreciate people touching my things without permission. Especially not cowardly little snakes like you.”

Eris wasn’t ruffled. “She’s not your anything last I checked.”

Cassian took him in. The swagger, the disdainful grace. All of his prettiness and refinement that Cassian resented him for. For being everything that Nesta could benefit from and everything that she deserved to be with. They’d make the perfect pair too, at least on paper and in all the tabloid photos.

Nothing like Cassian.

But Cassian smirked, taking in that perfection that Eris capitalized on so well. Remembered the bite that came from Nesta’s teeth and nails when he fucked her, the cruel, lashing of her tongue when he pissed her off. How she fought and snarled and hissed every time she was wronged. And above it all, how utterly strong she was. 

“She’ll eat you alive, Eris. I for one, can’t wait to see it.”

Cassian didn’t wait for another response, already out the door and meeting his driver at the entrance.

The driver was new, thanks to Rhys’ paranoia that Cassian may be a target and getting too cushy with just one driver was dangerous. It was also why his bodyguards around his house and the ones that tailed him sometimes were now on a rotating schedule that only Rhys or Az were aware of the night before. He’d told them both that they were being worried about nothing, that he could handle himself, and that he was perfectly safe.

That had been before the maimed body part had appeared on Cassian’s doorstep, somehow passing through his security and perimeter around his house.

Rhys hadn’t said anything as he’d left them in his office that morning, but the knowing glint in his eyes had been enough for Cassian to know not to argue about the matter any further. He’d become lax and the shortsightedness had cost them a good man. He’d need to make sure to make the rounds to his wife and children before the week was out. And arrange funds to take care of them.

“Where to boss?” The thick Brooklyn accent that greeted him had Cassian feeling at home already with this new driver. He hadn’t minded the old one, but considering he had been some ex-White House bodyguard from D.C., originally from Texas, there had been little to talk about between them. 

“Home,” Cassian told him, thanking him a moment later. Cassian was in the process of opening up a string of texts from Azriel when the car jerked to a halt, sending Cassian careening forward sharply. What he saw out of the front glass was more shocking than the sudden stop they’d come to. A bit welcome to, but Cassian didn’t think too much about that as he undid his seatbelt.

~*~

Nesta tapped her foot impatiently against the gravel as Cassian got out of the car. He waved his hand inside, murmuring an order too low for her to hear, and she watched as the driver nodded and put the car into park.

Cassian made his way towards her, taking in the fact that she was blocking his car in the middle of the road with only her body, so boldly it was bordering on suicidal. But there was no reaction on his face at her stunt.

"Yes?," he challenged, smirking at her with wicked intent.

Bastard.

Nesta opened her mouth, steeling herself for whatever he may respond back with. Straightening her spine and lifting her chin defiantly before accusing him.

"I heard you in there," she told him.

No reaction.

"Heard what you said to Eris," she amended abruptly, hoping to catch him off guard. But Cassian had long since learned to not fall into her traps.

"And?" He quirked a brow at her with cool amusement.

Nesta stepped forward until her face almost brushed his chest and she could smell the cologne she'd often let herself get too carried away with remembering. His hazel eyes glinted with nothing but predatory glee but she would not lose to him this time.

"I don't care what you think you're doing or what you plan to do. All I know is that you need to back off. Let's get it cleared up right now- I am not your thing."

Cassian cocked his head, a mocking smile playing on his lips. "No?"

Faster than she saw coming, Cassian's hand shot out and wrapped around her throat, pulling her face closer as he leaned down.

The proximity had her reeling, after so much distance had been put between them. Distance she had put between them and had regretted every hour since. Memories of their last meeting still clouded her mind during almost every waking second. She’d missed the heat of his body, the weight, and while the sex had been fantastic as it always was between them, there was something more there. She’d missed him so much it had hurt. And then, just like that, he was gone as quickly as he’d come, leaving her confused for the rest of the dinner, where she’d sat mostly quiet and burdened by her thoughts.

Cassian's hand didn't hurt her. Nor did they tighten or squeeze. He'd done it before, when he fucked her, and she'd liked it enough to allow it. But it was too possessive for her to allow anymore, no matter how much she secretly relished it inside

Cassian's finger brushed past her neck, tracing the tiny tattoo she had behind her ear. The sign of his crest. His insignia. The same one he had on his chest, only smaller and less visible.

Nesta knew what was coming- the call out she was about to get. She had no idea how he'd known it was there there. She'd been so careful to keep it hidden from him, yet once again, there wasn't much Cassian didn't know about when it came to Nesta.

"You wear my mark, bella. Of your own volition I might add. You're not my thing you say?" Cassian's free hand wrapped around her waist, pushing her closer into him as he nipped at the tip of her ear, before backing up to look at her agin.

“No,” Nesta maintained, but the confidence was slipping. She’d been caught, the proof a literal brand of ally-ship to him, etched permanently into her skin. “What do you care anyways? I’m getting married in two days. It’s not like you’ll be there.” She’d checked the guestlist every morning on her laptop, hoping the number would change and she would see Cassian’s name RSVP’d in as well.

It had never changed.

“Do you want me to be there?” There was nothing kind in the question. Harshly spoken between the shared space between their mouths, Nesta could practically taste the derision.

“I don’t give a shit what you do, as long as you don’t fuck this up for me. This wedding is important.”

“Why? Because Nolan said he’ll free you from your debts if you go through with it?”

How he knew, who exactly had talked, Nesta had no idea, but she kept her breathing under control. “Why are you asking me if you know everything?”

Cassian’s breath came out strained. “He’s going to screw you over, somehow. Don’t trust him.”

“What is my alternative, Cassian? I was blindsided by this proposal, yes, but it solves all my problems. Why are you trying to ruin freedom for me?”

“Because this isn’t freedom. It’s actually the complete fucking opposite. How do you not see that?”

Nesta pushed against him, and he let his hand drop from her throat, settling it on her shoulder instead. Still an embrace that could get them both into serious trouble if anyone saw, but Nesta had more pressing concerns.

“I know exactly what it is. Stop trying to teach me as if you know better than me. I get that you’re a Capo and everyone else falls at your feet for advice and shit, but that’s not me. I don’t need your advice and I don’t need you to save me.” 

“But do you want me to?,” Cassian asked, eyes wild suddenly as if he himself hadn’t realized the force of the words he’d spoken until they’d left his mouth.

Nesta shook her head, confused. “What do you mean?”

Cassian brought his free hand up to trace the side of her face. Dragging over her cheek. “You don’t need anyone to save you, baby. I’ve known that from the first day I met you. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have someone there to do it. Do you really want this wedding? Tell me yes right now and I’ll drop it forever. Tell me you want an entire life of him, and I will cheer with everyone else when you say I do.”

She couldn’t. Nesta could feel her throat constrict as the urge to cry suddenly overwhelmed her, and it took all of her effort to not break down then and there.

“I signed a contract,” she finally managed to say.

Cassian shook his head, and the black strands, more unruly than she’d ever seen them, bounced around his face. “We have lawyers, that’s not a problem. And that’s also not an answer.”

There was only one answer she’d grant him, even if it tore her inside to not admit the truth. The truth that if she could have her way, she would go back to all those months ago, when Cassian had all but confessed how he felt about her and she’d turned him down. If she were allowed a redo, she’d accept everything he gave her, giving him all the love she’d denied she felt for him back.

Nesta leaned up on her toes, pressing her lips to Cassian’s, letting herself luxuriate in the feel of his mouth on hers for the few seconds she’d let him. She was the first to pull back, as soon as he snaked a hand down to her hip and pulled her closer.

“I’m not yours to save,” she whispered against his lips. Cassian looked at her bewildered but then he was leaning forward again. For a moment she thought he would try to kiss her, and damn it all, but she knew she would let him. 

Instead, Cassian's breath was hot against her ear as he whispered into it. "Every inch of you has been claimed by me.” His finger traced the tattoo behind her ear for good measure. “You are mine. Today. Tomorrow. Ten years from now. A ring and a wedding doesn't change shit about it. You would do well to remember that yourself.”

Before she could retort, bite back in any and every way that she knew how, Cassian let her go just as swiftly. He was to his car before she’d calmed her breaths and driven off far into the distance just as soon.

Nesta took a few moments to compose herself before going back into Beron’s home.

She didn’t know if anyone had seen their tense exchange but since the wedding was only days away, Nesta also didn’t care. She didn’t give a shit about what happened to her anymore as long as the debt between her and Nolan was settled. After that she’d have time to think through her situation. Maybe even plan an escape with enough time since the weight of her debts and constant call always from Nolan would no longer exist.

She sent the designers away within minutes after spending nearly hours nitpicking tiny details about her dress and makeup. Because while their presence earlier had been a welcome distraction from not thinking too hard about the impending day she had coming, now it would just serve as an irritant. 

Nesta thought about Cassian’s hands. How they’d felt around her throat, his chest against hers, and that toe-curling heat that resounded between them. She’d wanted to kiss him the moment she saw him. Go after him in his car and run far, far away from all the bullshit around them.

In another world maybe they’d have time. But not this one.

“The dress is lovely,” Eris noted, hanging in the doorway of the room she’d been given to stay in for the week. It was considered improper for an engaged couple to live together before marriage and so the decision had ultimately been made for Nesta to stay under Beron’s roof. Seemingly neutral territory as nothing could occur between her and Eris that was considered improper. Little did the families know, and likely Eris too, that Nesta wasn't the blushing virgin everyone expected her to be.

Tomas had seen to that, scaring her enough to get into bed with a man as soon as she had been free of him. Trying to rid herself of the feel of his hands roving over her body and the fear that came from men sizing her up as their next meal. 

Nesta had become the predator instead, become the one in control rather than ever letting anyone ever have power over her like that. When they had become hungering wolves, she’d become a lioness, and none had ever been able to match her, let alone tame her.

Until Cassian of course.

How would Eris react, she wondered, if he ever found out about Cassian and every filthy, debauched thing she’d let him do to her. Had welcomed him to do, over and over until there was nothing but harsh breaths and only his name left in her head. No doubt, the wedding would be called off immediately. And-

“Nesta?”

Nesta looked at Eris, and realized he had asked her something, but the words had flown right over her head.

“Sorry, did you say something?” She flashed a sweet smile that would have made Elain proud. “I’ve been out of it lately. It’s this wedding planning.” She threw in a girlish laugh to sell it further. Eris had no idea who she was, what she was capable of, or who she could be. And the less prepared he was for her, the more she could use it to her advantage.

Eris smirked entering the room, shutting the door behind him. Nesta tensed at that, at the memories it conjured of another night with a different man, but she tried her best to keep the pasted smile on her face in place.

“Did Cassian wish you congratulations?”

Nesta raised her brows but kept the same reserved expression in place. Happy but not excited, gentle but not emotional. She had no idea how Elain did it so well. “Yes, he did. Thank you for asking.”

Eris nodded. He moved closer, taking in the dress she still had left on her bed. “It’s beautiful. I know it’s probably not what you had in mind for your wedding, but it is lovely. And I’m sure you’ll love just as wonderful in it.”

Nesta shrugged her shoulders casually. “No, I like the dress. It’s exactly what I had in mind.”

Eris lifted his chin, almost in defiance to her. “Really? Because from what I understand, Cassian isn’t impartial to white, only red. Although I guess, even if you were his bride, you would still be wearing white.”

Nesta schooled her features into her regular mask of disdain. The shock of Eris’ jab, what he clearly knew all about, all faded away as he sat down on the bed, settling casually right beside the dress.

He dragged a hand down the beaded material and it made Nesta want to throw up. “Let’s get some things clear.” 

His amber eyes flashed with irritation as he roved them over her body. Not with lust or interest in the way most men her entire life had done. No, this examination left her feeling more colder, more hollow, because it was all cruel calculation.

Where most men saw a vessel to fuck, Eris assessed her by how well he could use her and their marriage to his advantage. No doubt to likely become the new ruler of the Cosa Nostra. She decided that Eris’s gaze was far more deadly in that moment.

 “I don’t care about Cassian, or whatever you two’s convoluted past is. I do care if you continue fucking him after we’re married. I plan to take over for my father soon.” He didn’t say by force but Nesta knew enough about the power plays that had been in the works for a while, especially in New York. “It would be...untoward for my wife to continue an illicit relationship with a man who would end up being competition when the seat for Boss opens up. So, if you want lovers, I don’t care as long as you’re discreet. And when the time comes, you bear me children. But Cassian is out of this for good.”

Nesta didn’t say a word. Didn’t give him anything more to work against or manipulate. Eris got off the bed and stalked over to her. He didn’t touch her, didn’t even come too close for comfort. But suddenly the room felt too small with him in front of her and the ultimatum he’d thrown at her.

“And if you don’t listen Nesta, this wedding is off. I can always go for one of your sisters if need be. Last I checked, they aren’t the ones that owe debts to Nolan.”

Nesta sucked in a harsh breath and Eris smiled smugly. “Yeah I know all about that, so I’d stay in line if I were you.” 

When Nesta again didn’t give any clear answer, Eris gripped her chin in a stern grip. “Do we understand each other, Nesta?”

Nesta nodded, already decided on breaking Eris’ hand as soon as they were married, as payback. 

“Good.” He pressed a soft kiss to her cheek and she suppressed a shudder. There was no emotion in it again. No lust. No ulterior motive to bed her. Worse, it was carefully planned out, as if Eris had been ready to talk to her about his demands, and had planned out how he would leave her as well. To any outsider, it would look like a loving fiancé saying goodnight to his bride to be before bedtime. 

Nesta found sleep elusive long after Eris left her, and she was only left with thoughts of Cassian and the inevitable catastrophe that was bound to happen in two days time.

~*~

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[inosukeslefttoe]

SO i just finished wonder egg priority and i think that with confidence i can say it has been one of my favorite animes like... ever ?? and not even from hyperfixation or obsession over it just... its so fucking real yet so simple in a way that i havent rlly seen shown in any other shows you feel ??

but first i wanna talk about how sexy the art and animation is real quick... HOMIE ITS SO GOOD LIKE EVERYTHING ABOUT IT JUST... serotonin... the characters are all so unique and iconic and fun but not over the top in their designs yknow ??? they seem like regular every day girls but they stand out and theyre all sO CUTE !!!! also i love how the style is like this soft bubbly slice of life lookin stuff with bright happy colors and the most beautiful scenes you could find but they also have the SICKEST fight scenes complete with whimsical animal helpers and terrifying villains and crazy weapons unique to each character. and the animation. god DAMN shawty i am obsessed with everything in this show. i might make a post solely about the art later lol bc i wanna get into the other stuff.

so the themes in the show right ?? it starts just as this cute lil magical girl kinda deal but within the first episode we see that like.. oh damn... thats kinda heavy... tbh i was a little shocked and thought about stopping bc yknow bad mental health BUT i was so intrigued that i had to keep going and i am SO GLAD that i did. because this show just so beautifully discusses all these heavy topics in such an eloquent and artistically expressive way. and also like, , the juxtaposition of the charming childlike vibe with bright colors and 14 yr old girl protagonists against the dark themes of suicide and so much else,, i think is just perfect. bc a lot of heavy animes are more of the seinen genre and have some middle aged dude as a protag or make the entire color palette dim or offer little relief to the pain of these heavy themes right ?? but NO not wonder egg bitches B) because these problems arent just things that ppl face later in life or just problems that need to be talked about among adults or the edgy seinen watching squad,, these are REAL problems that face people of every age, gender etc and i think its awesome that wonder egg addresses that. some may cringe at the thought of their high schooler watching animes that discuss sexual harassment, suicide, abuse, self harm, eating disorders etc,, but in reality it is the most comforting thing i have ever come across and is basically jsut free anime therapy. because not only does wonder egg present these themes to the viewers as something real that happens to all kinds of people (making said people feel heard in a way that maybe they hadnt before), but it also makes sure to vanquish all of these forms of trauma. and the way the trauma is vanquished isnt always beautiful and it isnt always just magically gone with a poof. the struggles of overcoming or living with that sort of thing are shown in such a real and relatable way that addresses every hardship trauma survivors have to go through. and i just. god i cry bro. 

oh m y GOD and the lgbtq+ rep in this show ?? like shawty... as soon as i saw episode one i was picking up on some gay/lesbian themes but then again im sapphic and project that a lot so i tend to see that sort of stuff like... everywhere... but NE WAYS... episode ten made me FUKCING CRY BRO LIke i cant believe there was a whole trans character with a whole trans pride hoodie like LKGHKDGH my heart is just so.. so fucking full thinking about him. bc like yeah i know there are trans characters in anime but i feel like theyre always very ambiguous about actually being trans or not or erased or portrayed as a harmful stereotype or theyre constantly misgendered and still refered to as their assigned gender at birth and i hate it. HOWEVEr... Kaoru.. *chefs kiss* it was so amazing to see a character straight up say “yeah im trans” in such a casual yet powerful way bc i personally have never seen that before. and i love love loved how he went into his backstory and talked to momoe about gender bc i think thats what she rlly needed and that it helped her find herself and it makes me so happy oh my god,, and the way they talked about it never seemed forced or like it was the focal point of his existence yknow ?? like yeah he existed to help momoe overcome some of her trauma but he also just existed to be HIM yknow ?? also... personally, i headcanon momoe as a trans girl even though i dont remember it being explicitly stated plus the school scenes of her and stuff would seem like they suggest otherwise ??but,,, SHAWTY THE AMOUNT OF SUBTEXT and her complicated relationship w gender is... something i feel like a cis girl would not go through so harshly yknow ?? with all of the questioning and feeling detached from femininity or feeling like ppl dont see her as an actual girl and only like her as a guy or for her masculine traits,,, but dont take my word on this bc i myself am a cis girl but that was just my take on it as someone in the lgbtq+ community trying to educate myself on the transgender community :) either way,, wonder eggs portrayal of momoe and kaoru and the way that momoe becomes so passionate about expressing herself the way she wants to as a girl is just... good lord im gonna cry its so perfect,,,.so ... i just love this show way too much. i also am honestly super lost about the relationship btwn acca and ura-acca ?? bc i was gonna mention ura-acca as a canonically gay guy bc when i was watching i interpreted ep 11 as him being in love with acca and being jealous of Azusa (bc i mean,, they lived together (i swear to god there was only one bed in that apartment) and had a daughter together and def loved each other and also when Frill said they were husbands and then when ura-acca said he wasnt attracted to azusa but he was def jealous of their relationship ??) but then i saw somewhere that theyre brothers ?? which would make sense ig since they look kinda similar and accas daughter called ura-acca “uncle”.. but at the same time its ANIME SO THEY ALL LOOK SIMILAR and referring to gay couples as siblings is an EXTREMELY common euphemism soooo... IM JUST LOST HERE... but yeah i tried doing research and found different things so i cant say anything for sure >:( however,,, if they are canonically a lil fruity for each other... when frill refered to acca as ura-accas husband i imploded dude you never hear that sort of wording in anime.. but if theyre related i am so sorry. 

god this is so much longer than i planned it to be oops but i also love the theme about like.. relying on friends to help carry your weight but at the same time not becoming completely dependent on those friends and using their support to learn how to love yourself and rely on yourself yknow ?? bc that is exactly what healthy friendships look like. bc i think ai sort of had a codependency thing goin on with koito maybe ?? but now she has a whole squad of funky friends that are so so different but all struggle with different kinds of trauma and although they fight over it, they always get through it with each other together. and they push each other no matter what to be the best versions of themselves and they teach other that getting hurt is okay because theyre always gonna be there to pick up the pieces no matter what happens. they can give each other space when they need and adapt to meet each others needs but theyre always able to balance it out with their own needs and thats such a beautiful thing in friendships especially at their age like damn i wish i had that maturity when i was 14 but no all i had was depression. another thing is that through these friendships you get to see all the different sides of each girl; you get to see them being strong or a shining light to their friends when theyre hurting but you also get to see them being hurt and weak and allowing themselves to be on the receiving end of the comfort. their friendships allows them to have weaknesses but it also allows them to highlight their strengths and thrive off of each others. I LOVE FRIENDSHIP DUDE

next i wanna briefly mention some of the themes connected to suicide that ive noticed. a big one is the survivors guilt that ai feels once koito is dead. several times she screams that she wishes she couldve gone with koito and she dreams of a “perfect world” where they committed a double suicide. one of the main reasons for her troubles is that she blames herself for koitos death and feels like it should be her thats dead... but at the same time she feels like too much of a coward to do anything now that koito is gone. she just has all these complex and contradicting feelings that wear away at her in ways that ppl that havent gone through the suicide of a loved one could never imagine. a lot of the times when things like this are portrayed in media i feel like its more in a way thats meant to guilt trip those that have taken their own lives and paint suicide as this selfish sin thats unforgivable but... not only does wonder egg reject that idea and instead portray it as a heartbreaking tragedy with,,, so so many terrible reasons, but it focuses on the feelings of ai separate from koito without blaming her in any way. not once did i feel like the show antagonized koito or that ai blamed koito for doing any of this, but they simply mourned her loss and touched on ais reaction towards the event but separate from koito herself if that makes sense. and i think that discussing survivors guilt without painting koito as the bad guy is something so beautifully done in wonder egg that can really resonate with those that have lost a loved one to suicide and have struggled with these same things.

okay i think this is the last thing ill mention,,, but HOMIE THE PARALLEL UNIVERSE BIT AT THE END. I AM. OBSESSED. i am such a whore for anything about the multiverse okay n e ways...,, not only did this make a super epic trippy ending of season one and add a little bit more magical girl whimsy to the show,, but it had such a powerful message. from the perspective of og ai,, finding out that you killed yourself in another world is... i mean its definitely not a surprise but at the same time it rlly makes you think how close og ai herself couldve been to that point and what decisions led her out of that dark place in her life. if i were in her shoes i would be terrified and id cry bc the thought of going back to such a dark place and actually going through with something like that is my worst fear and probably something that ai fears too. but at the same time,,, think from the perspective of ai two !!! like yeah its true that theres this awful terrible version of ai that dies but theres also a whole version of ai that is a superhero magical girl fighting off monsters to save countless ppls lives !! and she has a badass lizard and a gang of awesome friends !!! at first i was worried that ai two would be jealous of og ai and compare herself to her and feel inferior but like.. THEYRE LITERALLY THE SAME PERSON AND CAPABLE OF THE SAME THINGS !!! and ai two realized that !! just within the span of one episode, she went from the version of ai who took her life,, to the version of ai jumping in front of a friend to take a bullet for them and save their life. and that just inspired THE SHIT OUT OF ME. i think that ai was sent another version of herself to sort of beat her own worst enemy yknow ?? those doubts and fears that shes no good or that shes that same bystander from episode one and that she hasnt changed at all. but getting to interact with her parallel self and see her grow was just what she needed to realize that while yeah sometimes the worst thing can happen and things can be terrible but on the other hand sometimes the most wonderful thing imaginable can happen because she has the power to do either. 

so im gonna go ahead and stop rambling bc i got all my thoughts out that i wanted to for this post :D but yeah lol i might make another if i feel like it sometime. long story short: this show is perfect and it is going on my favorite of all times.

[mamahersh]

The Road to Hell (is Paved with Good Intentions) Chapter 5

“Season 8 was well underway, and the server’s first conflict is bubbling just under the surface. But BDoubleO can’t worry about that right now because he has an Etho to find so they can work on the Horse Course together. However when Xisuma calls a surprise server meeting on behalf of EvilXisuma, BDubs gets his answers about where Etho’s been in the worst way possible.”

(CW: angst, blood, gore, torture)

Chapter rating: M

Back to the rescue team and those left behind, focusing on BDubs and a surprise Mumbo Jumbo! (Bet you weren’t expecting Mumbo angst.) Thank you all again for your interest! As previously mentioned, if you enjoyed this, I was directly inspired by this fic over on AO3. 

Chapter 1 / Chapter 2 / Chapter 3 / Chapter 4 / Chapter 6

BDubs knew it was going to be hard trying to find where Etho and EvilX were hiding, but he neglected to remember how nerve wracking it would be with the added challenge of hearing his communicator go off every time someone died. Admittedly, it had only been the two times thus far, but checking and seeing they were both Etho made him want to go insane. The only boon they had, paradoxically, was the same curse keeping Etho stuck in that hell hole: that they were able to respawn in the same place they had died in. This at least meant that their progress wouldn’t be undone at a moment’s notice because someone died and got sent to their base halfway across the map in the opposite direction they were searching. 

After he had checked his communicator to see the death message, “Ethoslab was slain by Ethoslab whilst trying to escape EvilXisuma”; BDubs decided he would stop watching chat completely. If someone died, he knew they would be fine, and he really didn’t need to know how else Etho was going to suffer till they found him. Plus, he had Doc keeping an eye on Etho for him. And he had Beef by his side, plus the Big Eye crew supporting him. He just had to keep reminding himself he wasn’t alone, it wasn’t the jungle again, he had his people with him.

“Hey BDubs, you see anything yet?” called out Tango, flying by on his own elytra. BDubs startled in the straps of his elytra, and focused more on the ground below. 

“I got nothin’!” he called back, swooping to the back of the formation the big eyes crew had made to check the area stretching from the girls’ southernmost border to the northernmost border of Cleo and Joe’s shared territory. They had decided to first fly over their assigned strip of the x coordinate line to see if there was anything obviously wrong from a bird’s eye view. After that, depending on the results from the other search teams, they would dig down in strategic intervals to be as thorough as possible. They had calculated the size of the room based on the video feed before they had left, and so they planned on digging straight down every 9 blocks along the axis. As crazy as that was, they were hoping with forteen hermits all doing it at the same time equally spaced along the line, they would be able to find Etho within an hour or two. (This all assumed that EvilX hadn’t been lying, but this was the only thing they had.)

——————————————————-

Mumbo hated every decision that had led him to this moment. He hated every decision that others have made on his behalf that had led to this moment. (That was a lie, he blamed himself completely. Even though Grian had had the idea to institute him as the CEO of Boatem, it was still his final say as to whether he would actually complete the role assigned to him. It was his decision to step up to the plate and lead them at this critical time. Everything that was happening was entirely his fault.) As he watched, horrified, Etho having to stay strong without anyone by his side; Mumbo thought he would throw up. If he didn’t faint first that was. (How pathetic of him, that he couldn’t handle the consequences of his actions.) He stood miserable in front of the screen, promising himself the least he could do was watch every moment Etho was without help and in pain because of him.

Beside him, Xisuma frantically typed in his admin console, seemingly trying in vain to undo whatever EvilXisuma had done to the respawn mechanics. To his other side, TFC stood stoically, seemingly unaffected by what he was witnessing, though Mumbo was sure that if he looked over, he’d be able to see the disguised pain in TFC’s eyes. Behind and a bit to the side of Xisuma was Joe, who’s pain was obvious to see, but stood strong despite it. (Mumbo wondered why Joe was here at all, till he remembered how close Joe was to Xisuma). To TFC’s other side stood Doc, who looked about one more Etho death from finding a way to crawl through the screen and detonating in EvilXisuma’s face. And to Joe’s other side stood Scar, sympathetic tears trailing down his face and holding himself in a way that Mumbo knew he did when he was particularly missing the comfort of Jellie the cat.

Mumbo watched as Etho poofed back into existence, arm that he had mangled looking noticeably more mangled than before.(Though there was something off about the restraints and his arm’s relation to them that Mumbo couldn’t place. It didn’t help the camera’s resolution wasn’t quite perfect clarity, and a bit of a wide shot, so details were a little difficult to pick out. Though it didn’t stop them from seeing the next part just fine.) Once Etho was back, EvilXisuma punched him in the face, hard enough they could see a tooth fly out of his mouth.

“You will regret that,” stated EvilXisuma, just barely loud enough to be picked up by the camera. (Mumbo knows Etho would normally have replied with something like, ‘you already said that’, but, well…)

“Any updates Xisuma?” questioned Doc, still staring intently at the screen looking for any clues as to the whereabouts of the the torture room. 

“He’s still goin’ strong Doc,” replied Joe instead, peaking over Xisuma’s shoulder to see what he was up to. “You got any new clues?”

Doc growled under his breath. “No.” He sounded bitter to Mumbo, all acid and sharp edges. 

“I can’t tell, but there’s something different about his arm I think,” said Mumbo hesitantly, nervously watching as the rest of the group stared intently up at the screen to see what he meant. 

Scar spoke up, “I think I see what you mean. His arm isn’t quite aligned correctly with the chair arm, right?”

Mumbo nodded, pointing at Etho’s arm on the screen where it seemed to almost intersect with the cuff and was bleeding profusely. “I don’t know how, like if it was just a natural consequence of trying to move his arm in that direction as he died and respawned, or if it was just a one time fluke; but he seems to have gotten his wrist intersected with the cuff on the armrest and the stake from earlier seems off center.”

As Mumbo was trying to explain, EvilXisuma had begun to focus on Etho’s fingers, and starting on the opposite hand to the one they were observing, he began to break them individually. Mumbo was selfishly happy that he didn’t have to focus on Etho’s pain for a moment as he allowed himself to fully focus on the potential puzzle in front of him.

TFC suddenly spoke up, voice coming off as gruff. “Hrm, this is good and all, but it depends entirely on EvilXisuma not noticing this little update; which we’ve done a pretty poor job at not letting him on. What with him more than likely able to hear us, and all that.” Doc muttered a quiet, “fuck” under his breath in response, and they all held their breath as they waited to see if EvilXisuma would say anything.

Instead of saying anything, he continued to methodically snap more of Etho’s fingers, causing the group to flinch in varying amounts at each wet snap. However, as Mumbo was trying to take in details not relating to Etho’s pain, he could tell that the mic was picking up EvilXisuma’s muttering. But Mumbo didn’t have the super amazing hearing that someone like Ren or Grian had; but he wondered if one of the other people in the group here had more sensitive hearing. “Anyone able to make out what he’s saying?” muttered Mumbo.

Doc hissed a quiet affirmative, and muttered back, “Yesssss, but I need to focus. Please everyone be quiet, thanks.” Everyone but Xisuma nodded back, who was too busy still trying to figure out what EvilXisuma had done to the code to notice anything else around him. 

Mumbo did his best to both suffer the consequences of his actions, while at the same time he couldn’t stand watching one of his fellow Hermits in that much pain. He could no longer distract himself, as he couldn’t make out what EvilXisuma was saying, and there were only so many times he could try to determine how many pixels on the screen related to the walls were just stone or his imagination trying to give him impossible answers. EvilXisuma had finally finished with Etho’s left hand, and he now moved to the right before he took a noticeable pause. Mumbo held his breath, hoping beyond hope that EvilXisuma somehow hadn’t noticed Etho’s weirdly placed hand. But that was an impossible wish after all.

“Well well well, how have you managed this then?” Evil Xisuma appeared to poke the part of the wrist that seemed to be poking part way out of the cuff. Mumbo couldn’t help but notice that Etho seemed so gone that he barely flinched at what should have been an incredibly painful jostle. “I’m interested in seeing how you struggle with this.” Evil X nodded at Etho. “Yes, I shall let you struggle. But we still have about 9 more bones to break, so on we go.” With that, he kneeled in front of Etho and started snapping the fingers on Etho’s right hand. Each wet snap ended with a muted whine and shudder from Etho, who seemed to have zoned out far enough that any reactions seemed mostly involuntary at this point. EvilXisuma seemed quiet for the first few snaps, before he went back to muttering in a just barely audible way. Mumbo could only assume that EvilXisuma was unaware that his mic sensitivity was set too high, and thought he was muttering in such a way as for those of them watching the stream would be unable to hear him. That, or it was an unconscious habit, and didn’t even realize he was doing it. Either way, Mumbo continued hoping he would continue to do so, so that maybe he would let something slip and Doc could post it in chat.

Meanwhile Doc had been listening closely to what EvilX had been saying, but none of it thus far had led to a clue. Most of what he was muttering were curses and the terrible things he planned to do to Etho. Honestly Doc wished he couldn’t hear what EvilX was saying, just so that he wasn’t obligated to continue listening to see if that scum slipped up. But the chance of catching something important was too high, so he went back to diligently listening to the stream, mentally cursing at every suppressed gasp or whine or wet snap from Etho.

EvilXisuma made quick work of Etho’s fingers, and seemingly tired of Etho’s lack of responses decided he needed to kill him. However, because he was feeling particularly vindictive, he gutted Etho, guts spilling over his knees before he disappeared in a flash of red. Mumbo, morbidly curious how the game would register the death, looked down at his communicator. “Ethoslab was slain by EvilXisuma.” He was selfishly grateful that the server messages were that generic. He watched further as Etho poofed back into the chair, though as before his killing blow hadn’t followed him through respawn, but all his previous wounds did. Mumbo looked very carefully at Etho’s wrists and saw that he had managed to get his wrist farther out, and the stake seemed almost completely out of his arm. Unfortunately for Etho, respawn managed to break him out of his trance, and he seemed far more present and aware (and in pain) for the moment. The only positive that Mumbo could see was that EvilXisuma seemed to have either turned off the speakers on his end, or was ignoring them completely. But Mumbo could only hope that either Doc would hear something soon, or the search parties would stumble across the hidden room soon; because he wasn’t sure how much more of this he could watch.

[evakuality]

Hanna, episode 7

1.  It’s really interesting what they’re doing with Amira this whole season.  It’s setting up to a whole lot of the stuff that happens in the later seasons really well.  She suffers so many microaggressions all the time, and even here - she makes a joke about costumes parties and they all just swallow it.  It’s a really vivid recognition all the way through of exactly how much Amira deals with on a daily basis.  Considering we all know where this is leading, it’s difficult to watch, but also it’s good that they do this.  

2.  But oh yikes, this whole bunch of rumours swirling about Sam ‘making out’ with someone at the party is really well done.  It’s pretty obvious that no-one genuinely knows - the only people who know what happened are Hanna and Sam (and ‘making out’ isn’t exactly how I’d describe it) so the rumours are all based on a love of gossip.  Who knows how they started, but it’s obvious just how guilty Hanna feels.  How awkward for her to be hearing this!  Then her very very obvious ‘I have a boyfriend so it wasn't me!!’ move (very similar to Matteo’s in s3 in the discussion about homosexuality with Amira, which is illuminating - they both want to try to ‘prove’ something with these moves).  Also, Kiki and her thing about Alex - it’s terrible how invested she is when it’s obvious that he’s being an asshole.  The excuses she makes for him unfortunately ring true - this is exactly how people try to convince themselves of this sort of stuff.  In reality it’s a shame the girls aren’t more forceful - they clearly want to say Kiki is being an idiot, but after Amira got shut down last time, it seems none of them is keen to be more explicit.  

3.  Ohhh poor Hanna.  This thing has been eating at her and she had to tell someone about it.  But choosing Matteo was NOT a good idea.  I mean, we all know this is going badly (Snakesak is such an iconic take on the season that even if you forgot everything else, you’d remember that), but even without that, Matteo feels a bit more... I don’t know.  Shifty?  Somehow?  There’s something really calculating in the way he examines her.  Like, even without knowing what’s coming, there’s clearly something goin on in his head.  With Isak it came out of the blue; he was set up much more supportive/innocent because they wanted the shock value when the reveal happened.  But with Matteo there’s something different. I guess at least partly because most people watching would already know what’s coming so hiding it is less imperative.  Hanna sees him as a friend and the only one she can tell, but it’s such a weird choice anyway (as it was in the original).  He’s Jonas’s best friend.  Like he says, why tell him?  Even if he wasn’t a little snake, this is putting him in a really difficult place.  Effectively this makes him choose between his best friend (who he’s kind of in love with even if she doesn’t know that) and his friend.  Him choosing to let Jonas know wouldn’t be all that strange and it’s a big risk to take before she knows he sits in the ‘don’t tell’ camp.  I am also baffled that they did this with other people in earshot.  It could totally get out, even if this girl agrees she should keep quiet.

4.  I really like this adaptation of the ‘claim’ Alex makes into ‘he told me I have a cute stomach’ instead of the hoodie thing in the original (though that works very well too).  This way it’s much less overt and also it really plays into Kiki’s fears about her looks.  We’ve seen small hints of her eating issues already, so this just adds to the weight of that.  Specifically targeting a body part that girls can be sensitive about is clever - at first it can seem sweet, like he’s being so nice about something vulnerable, but then you can see he’s being very deliberate with that impression and it really hammers home the insecurities Kiki is already harbouring.  

5.  It’s a fascinating dynamic between all the girls in the argument about how Kiki should deal with Alex.  I’m with Sam and Amira - stay above it and move on (tbh, Kiki should never have gone there in the first place, but she did so this is her current best option).  But the fact that Mia is so strongly in favour of telling him he’s a dick is swaying Kiki.  Of course, Mia is a strong person and from her it probably would feel empowered.  But Kiki is, and always has been, far more innocent and vulnerable and sensitive.  It doesn’t feel like (even without knowing where this goes) that this will go well for Kiki, and the fact that Mia doesn’t get that says a lot about her.  I like this; it’s nice to see her not being quite right here - it sets her up for some growth as we move on.  And super yikes when he tells Kiki to take a breath and she does.  This, the importance she places on him, is exactly why this was a terrible idea, and why Mia’s encouragement was wrong.  It’s easy for her - she’s not invested, and her failure to recognise the difference between her and Kiki is really important.  And Alex is SUCH an asshole that this scene is so hard to watch.  Kiki’s acting is superb in all these scenes and it’s so damn hard to watch her take in ‘you’re not worth it’ but as with the original, Mia’s ‘take down’ doesn’t land for me, probably because while Alex’s acting is far superior to William’s, there’s still a fundamental lack of caring about what she’s said.  It doesn’t feel like saving face, but more a genuine lack of care.  And this is why I really dislike this ‘William’ character; he doesn’t seem to care.  I have said before that I’ve never watched Mia’s season because I cannot stand William in the original.  So if I do watch I’ll be interested to see if they can make me like him better.  So far, they’re not succeeding.  

6.  And just like that, we’re back to the soft, dreamy colours and shots of the start of the season.  But there’s a harsher light coming in to some of the shots. particularly with Jonas and so it’s not comfortable.  This is something on a precipice.  The kissing is back and they’re reconnecting on that level, and it’s working again.  The darkness is gone, but things are hovering still - that Sam stuff on her phone with Jonas in the background, slightly blurred but very overlit, adds to the sense of unease.  You can feel something coming, even if it’s not obvious what that is.  

7.  Man this fight is so funny.  I know I shouldn’t say that, and it’s a very serious moment for Hanna, but the slo-mo and the faces they make!  And Amira’s moves!  Kiki, full-on legs wrapped around this girl as they both collapse to the ground!  Priceless.  I do like the way the sound gradually fades out as Hanna’s realisation of what’s happening sets in.  That’s really well done.  

8.  What a change from the earlier moment when Hanna woke with Jonas and they had their sweet little moment.  Now we’re fairly tight in on her face as she keeps trying to get hold of him.  It sucks a lot, and you can sense the anxiety and worry she’s feeling.  Also, I do understand why she feels the way she does about all this, and why she leans on Matteo.  Unlike earlier, here it makes sense for her to rely on Jonas’s best friend.  He’s the one who has the best line in to Jonas when he’s staying so distant from Hanna.  But wow his advice is truly shitty.  On the surface it seems sensible, both times.  Nah don’t tell him; it’ll only hurt him.  Nah leave him be; he needs time and space.  But in both instances it’s the complete opposite of how she should be acting.  And in both cases, Matteo knows Jonas, he knows what he’s like and how he’ll act.  This is so calculated.  And he’s still in a space where he has little to lose.  He feels like he can still ride the ‘hey I had their best interests at heart’ line and get out of it.  I always felt like Isak was more opportunistic in his lying; saying and doing things in the moment.  Whereas this really does feel like Matteo has thought it through more - that’s some difference in the way the two characters are presented and acted.  But I like that it’s different, and his little hint of a smaile when she collapses on him - Isak seemed a lot more genuinely wrapped up in Eva and his face seemed more overwhelmed.  But Matteo really seems to know what he’s doing.  Also - sound mixing in this scene: top notch.  I love that you can hear every swallow, every breath, every step, movement etc.  It really heightens the tension right up til she gets Jonas’s ‘don’t call me’ text.

9.  I said it before and I’ll say it again, Leonie’s savage pleasure in Hanna’s troubles is a real reflection on her - and not a good one.  I really do get that she’s hurt, but this is vicious and she’s being awful!  And Kiki - ugh, just be quiet child.  Calling other girls sluts is pretty shitty.  

10.  I really like that Eva’s mother morphs into Hanna’s father.  There’s a difference in this dynamic that builds on that difference.  Eva and her mother seem closer, even while her mother isn’t around much.  Hanna’s father just feels more absent emotionally, so these moments where he tries to be a dad fail because of that.  It’s obvious that he cares for her and that he’s trying, but equally obvious that he just doesn’t know what she needs or how to approach her.  Not that Eva’s mother was much better, but it was still a different sort of distance.

anyway, this is suuuuper long because so much happened in this episode.  It’s packed with a lot of stuff and while some stuff is starting to resolve, there’s so much that’s hanging over their heads still.  I like this one a lot, but I think it could have done with a little bit of breathing room.  Maybe that one episode where it felt like things were waiting to happen could have picked up some of this heavy lifting.  But either way, this one has a lot going for it and really does set us up for what’s coming in the next few.

[newsiegirlscout]

Happy Holidays to the artist formerly known as magnificentdragon123! My sincerest for the belated Wordgirl Secret Santa; the request was for father-daughter fluff between Wordgirl and Dr. Two-Brains, so heck! Now you’re getting all of it! Hope you enjoy, and Happy New Year’s!

The charcuterie was a masterpiece. 

Gouda blended with white cheddar exquisitely, swiss paired with gruyere like peppermint with gingerbread, and the miniature cheese fountain was worth the hassle at the hardware store a thousand times over. Dr. Two-Brains stood over it, rubbing his gloved hands together in gleeful anticipation before his thoughts were interrupted by a shout from the parlor. 

“Bosssss!” 

The scientist sighed. His henchmen had insisted on doing the Christmas tree lights by themselves this year, and predictably enough, they’d gotten tangled up in them trying to sort them out. The big guy, at least, had the decency to look a bit sheepish. 

He pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration, then moved to gingerly unentangle the worst of it. 

“Ah, what did I tell you guys? I have a PhD and a biological hardwire in recognizing patterns, I know you both want to bedizen the place, but you’ve gotta ask for help with the harder things.” 

The henchmen looked at each other blankly; with a hand on his shoulder, the big guy was able to step out of the snare, but as physics would have it, the weight distribution made the little one lose his balance and fall back, taking the Christmas tree with him. Two-Brains squeaked and slid under the tree, firmly pulling the other side of the Christmas lights back.

“But Boss….” the little guy said softly amidst the blinking lights, “We don’t know what bedizen means.” 

The scientist grumbled, shaking the cords off himself and grabbing hold of the tree so his henchman could get free. “Ask Wordgirl next crime. I’m a bit busy, if you hadn’t noticed.”

“Sorry, Boss.” the little one said, pulling the last of the blinking lights over his head and righting the tree, “Say, do you think she’d like the holiday cookies we made for her? Charlie an’ I worked really hard on them…” 

The henchman in question nodded shyly as they worked together to sort out the now-untangled lights. With one hand, the little one started counting. “We didn’t know what holiday she celebrated, so we got gingersnaps, gingerbread, peppermint bark, ras malai, sufganiyot, an’ balaklava!” 

Dr. Two-Brains smiled, laughed softly in the glow of the lights and the fire. 

“Aw, that’s really considerate, you two.” he said, ruffling the big one’s hair--or what hair he had, anyway, “I think she’ll really appreciate it, but remember, she’s taking a holiday now too. ‘Sides, I don’t pay you guys to be considerate. Evil thoughts only.”

The two saluted; the scientist turned to the silver garlands nearby and decided just one slice of cheese couldn’t hurt as he decorated the house. As he reached for it, the telephone’s ringtone chimed out across the parlor. Dr. Two-Brains sighed and answered it.

“Hel-lo, the doctor is in.” 

“Dr. Two-Brains?” asked a shaky, high, and distinctively know-it-all voice. The man in question dropped the telephone, then scrambled to catch it as the henchmen turned around. 

“Woah, woah, kiddo…” he said softly, “What’s goin’ on? Thought you only used that phone for emergencies...say, how’d ya’ get this number anyway?”

“It’s….” 

A long pause followed.

“A little bit of an emergency. Can I come over really quickly?”

“My door’s always open, kid. Literally, every lock we’ve ever had’s been busted inside a week.” Then, with a more sympathetic tone, “Take as much time as you need, Wordgirl, I--the henchmen would really like to see you.” 

The garage door opened slowly; Wordgirl, breaking a cocky grin in spite of her tone, for once looked at a loss for words. She floated lightly over to perch on the drawing board and ended the call. 

“I was hoping you’d say that.” she said. 

*******************************************************************************************

“Alright, alright, give her some space.” Two-Brains said sternly to his excited henchmen, “Wordgirl, what brings you here?” 

She exhaled slowly. “All the stores are closed and I haven’t slept at all and my science midterm is tomorrow and I still have so much to do and you’re the only one I could think of calling at this hour and AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!” The superheroine waved her arms emphatically, nearly falling off the board; Two-Brains stepped forward, but she caught herself in time. Flying was useful that way, but it did little for the tears beginning to well up in her eyes. Desperately, she shook her head, looked away. 

“Can I please study here? This is the only subject I’m still stuck on, but I’ll be really quiet, I promise!” 

“Wordgirl, Wordgirl, Wordgirl.” Dr. Two-Brains said, shaking his head. Her grip tightened on her bookbag, embarrassment at asking darkened her face. But wearing a goofy grin, the villain tossed her a reindeer headband and replied, “Call this place a home, let us help with whatever you need, but don’t ya’ dare be quiet!”

Wordgirl laughed, brushed the tears away with the back of her hand. 

“Well, then, Doc, you think we have enough road to get up to 88?” she giggled.

“We don’t need roads where we’re going.” he responded cheerfully. “To the kitchen, allons-y!”

*******************************************************************************************

There was a saying that all good stories began in the kitchen; Two-Brains himself certainly fit the bill, chattering absently as he melted the chocolate over the stove. 

“So…got anything in there I can help with?” he asked, gesturing to the folder spilling over with old study guides and flashcards. Wordgirl looked up, shook her head. 

“Ugh….the definitions are easy enough, but it’s all these reactive properties that are just impossible to get straight. What bonds with what, how much the force of gravity increases over an arctan….” Throwing her arms wide, she did a cartwheel in midair. 

“Do I look like someone who knows how gravity should work?” 

Two-Brains laughed. “More into the crime-fighting gig, ay?” 

She gave a short, humorless bark of laughter, kicking back and reaching for the folder. 

“Not doing so well on that, either.”

The scientist mused, pouring the first mug of hot chocolate and handing it to her. With a snap, he suddenly whipped out a blaster and fired it just past her shoulder. Lightning-fast, she dropped her mug and flew in front of it, shuddering as the blast hit her square in the chest. Behind her, the window broke, cracks spiderwebbing outwards. 

“Alright! Well, there’s a start.” he said, sipping hot cocoa, “That’s gamma radiation; you stopped it so quickly you had to take the full and centered force of it, while the impact spread out more by the time it reached that window back there. That’s a difference of around 700 joules--since it’s an electromagnetic wave, and ya’ stopped it, you’re as strong as steel. You good, kid?”

She winced. 

“You owe me a cookie.” 

“I have great news for you!” he said cheerfully, hoisting her onto his shoulders and tossing her one of the henchmen’s cookies, “More science it is, then! What’s next?”

*******************************************************************************************

Wordgirl laughed, and it was music to Two-Brains’s ears after seeing her so out-of-sorts just a few hours earlier. The good mood was contagious, and he laughed as well; the henchmen chuckled softly, gathered up some of the loose pillows from the fight and walked towards their quarters. 

“We should probably hit the hay. ‘Night, boss.” said the little one. 

“You guys learned enough about forces?” giggled the superheroine, helping absently to gather up the pillows and stack them impossibly high in her arms. They nodded; the bigger one, Two-Brains noted, with an especial air of pride. 

“Good, then you two should grasp the gravity of how far it is past your bedtime.” the older scientist said, rolling his eyes and blowing pretend, exaggerated kisses, “Mwah. Night.”

Wordgirl giggled; as soon as they were out of earshot, Dr. Two-Brains leaned in close to her. 

“Don’t tell them.” he whispered softly, pulling out a few torn pages from the inside of his labcoat, “But eh, this place is doing a special on cheesecake, I’ve been meaning to use these for some time. You hungry?” 

Halfway through a nod, she gestured to her uniform. 

“It’s okay, I can’t really….” Wordgirl sighed. “I’d love to, but I’m a bit conspicuous. I should probably be heading home.”

“What, ya’ mean like obvious or easily noticeable?” Two-Brains said, “I get that--gonna say changing into your civilian identity is out of the question too?”

She nodded. “Not to say I don’t trust you, but…”

“But I’m a top-tier criminal and not likely to change that soon.” Suddenly, a thought occurred to him; he snapped his fingers and dashed to the nearest closet. 

So now all there was to do was wait. 

Snow fell softly outside the windows; a fire flickered in the hearth, and somehow her old friend’s off-key singing had an odd quality of beauty to it. Knowing the doctor, his idea could really have been anything from take-out to a criminal plot of drastic proportions. 

Thus it could be concluded, decided Wordgirl as she drifted over to the bookshelf, that the good of Fair City asked--nay, demanded--that she wait just a few more minutes.

*******************************************************************************************

“How do I look?” said Doctor Two-Brains proudly, throwing his arms wide to display the gaudiest Hawaaiian shirt and patterned tie she had ever seen. His knee-length cargo shorts were the most aesthetically satisfying part of his ensemble, had they not been just slightly out of season for the four inches of snow. 

“Great!” chirped Wordgirl, giving a thumbs-up. He nodded approvingly, straightened his tie in the nearest mirror, and jerked his thumb towards his van. 

“No one’s going to notice ya’ when their eyes are on yours truly.” he declared, giving himself a wink, “I mean, there’s everyday handsome, and then there’s.” Doctor Two-Brains gestured to himself. The superheroine giggled, buckling her seatbelt and scanning over the list of flavors. 

“Ooh, they have strawberry…” she mused. 

“Goes well with your uniform.” he responded, giving her helmet an affectionate pat, “You sure you wouldn’t prefer red velvet, though?” 

“Decisions, decisions.” she laughed, “What are you getting?” 

“Mmm…” he drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, “I’m thinking espresso.” 

“What? No! I’m locking you up just for that.”

“Tssh...I’ll have you a convert in no time.”

*******************************************************************************************

Wordgirl laughed softly as she stepped out of Dr. Two-Brain’s van into the gentle, snowy night. 

“Thank you so much, Dr. Two-Brains.” she said with a polite salute, “I still don’t see what you see in espresso cheesecake, but…” with a short, but deep sigh trailing off into a giggle, “It was really nice. Thank you.” 

“Any time, kid.” he said, shaking her hand. “Hey, I know it’s a little early, but…” 

A smile reddened her face as he lightly tossed a wrapped package to her; it hit her chest and she wrapped her arms around it, grinning as he sheepishly rubbed his neck. 

“I don’t know if you’ve read it before or anythin’, but….merry Christmas if ya’ celebrate, happy holidays if ya’ don’t.” 

A Hero’s Guide To Saving Your Kingdom. Not only had she never read it, but she’d heard of it and never been able to remember the title long enough to find it. The princes and princesses on the cover promised an exciting read; the four hundred pages or so promised a long one (or at least, an extra few seconds if she used her speedreading powers, but really, midterms took so long….). 

Just as Two-Brains’s hopefulness almost fell, she slammed into his chest with the biggest hug he’d ever gotten in….about three years or so. Stumbling back, he wrapped his arms around her, chuckling with just a hint of satisfaction. 

“Woah, kiddo, what’cha doing? You almost knocked me over!” 

“Good.” she mumbled into his shoulder, squeezing him tighter, “That’d make us even for the particle demonstration.” 

He laughed softly. “Alright, well, you better ace that exam, okay?” 

She nodded, pulling away and hugging the book to her chest. “I think it’d be tricky not to.”

“See you around, Wordgirl.”

“See you around, Doctor Two-Brains.” 

The scientist watched her leave before pulling the garage door closed behind him. 

“She never closes it behind her.” he murmured amusedly, “Y’think she’d know better, there are some serious criminals in this part a’ town.” 

With a smile, he sat back, poured himself a glass of juice, and sighed. 

Yep; he was feeling like good ol’ Stevie B. 

[greyspilot]

so i think, if steve and billy get into a fight steve’s gonna want billy to fight with him cuz yeah, and billy obviously wants to hit back cuz he’s billy. but he can’t. he can’t bring himself to hurt steve cuz he likes steve. your take?

i think it’d depend on their relationship at the time, but i think billy would fight back. even if they’re in an established relationship, especially if it’s early on. maybe just post season 3 billy survives au?

.

billy loves steve, but he also has a short fuse. steve knows what billy’s life has been like, his mind in constant fight or flight, always looking like out for the hint of a threat. he’s always chosen to fight, trying to run would only ever do more harm than good, so if steve provokes him? if steve is standing in front of him, pissed off for a reason that he sure hasn’t told billy, and screaming at him to just fucking hit me, i know you want to! just do it!

yeah. he’s always gonna choose fight.

and it‘s not as bad as that fight, but they definitely bang each other up a bit. get out all their frustrations until they’re bloody and out of breath and that’s when they take a moment to look at each other. billy sees steve’s split lip and comes back down to earth, reaches out to touch him all gentle, like he might break.

“shit steve,” he’d say, moving in a bit closer, still testing the waters, “‘m sorry.”

“you’re sorry? i almost broke your damn nose. fuck, that looks bad, let me get some ice.”

but billy doesn’t let him leave. grabs his wrist and tugs steve into his lap, runs a hand through sweat and blood matted hair.

“hey,” he’d say quietly, nosing tenderly at the line of steve’s jaw, “what was that about?”

and steve would fidget and sigh and not wanna talk, but billy’s arms are strong enough to hold him in place. the kisses billy peppers along the side of his neck enough to tease out the words.

“i just keep thinking you’re gonna leave,” he admits, too soft, like he doesn’t want billy to hear it. “i keep thinking i’m just gonna end up alone anyway, what’s the point dragging this thing out?”

“this thing?” and billy sounds a little hurt, but he just holds steve tighter, as if to prove him wrong. “you mean our relationship? stevie, baby, i’m not goin’ anywhere. okay? i know that’s hard for you to believe sometimes, i get it. but when shit like that happens, when you’re feelin’ like that, i need you to talk to me.”

because billy’s never gonna run, but he doesn’t wanna keep fighting, either.

steve ducks his head a little more. “it’s hard sometimes. to talk about it, i mean.”

“then we don’t have to talk about it,” billy tells him, tilting steve’s chin to meet his eyes. “but don’t- don’t make me hit you again.”

“deal,” steve nods, and he feels a little small but he knows billy is feeling it too and it’s easier, then. “now can i go get that ice? because i wanna kiss you but i can’t do that if our faces are swollen.”

and as billy lets him go, he swears to himself that he’ll be better next time.

[melancholicumsomnia]

[FIC] A Little Miracle In The Volume Part 6

A/N: Here’s Part 6 of my fic contribution to PEDRO PASCAL APPRECIATION WEEK 2021 of @pedrohub​! The #ppaw2021 theme of Day 6 is Pedro + Color, and of course the color is BROWN.

To @pedrocentric​, here’s the next part! To those few folks who have been following this fic, my humble thanks to you all! Last part will go up tomorrow!

PREVIOUS PARTS

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

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

A Little Miracle In The Volume

By

Rory

SOURCE: Audra Faye on Pinterest

Part Six

There was something about a battle scene – the potential for carnage and mayhem – that could draw out the bloodthirstiness in a man, even if it was a make believe one. 

That particular thought crossed Bill Burr’s mind as he watched crew members bustling with excitement as they set up the MBS Media Campus backlot for the filming of the climactic confrontation between Mando and his comrades against Moff Gideon and his Stormtroopers on Nevarro.

After what he could only dub as the “Ceremonial Turnover of the 501st Legion” by Deb Chow to Taika Waititi, Bill gaped with some trepidation as a seemingly demented Taika jumped about and cackled in glee, “I’ve got my own Stormtroopers! Oooh, so many things I can do with them!” Noticing the comedian standing near one of the small buildings, Taika waved to him. “Hey, Bill! Nice to see ya! Care to join my band of merry Stormtroopers?”

SOURCE: REDDIT

“Uh, I don’t think so,” Bill called back. “I just got done with a meeting with Rick about our episode. I’ll be getting my share of action soon, I guess. But thanks for asking, by the way.”

“Your loss, my friend,” Taika exclaimed as he hurried off to direct the men and women of the 501st Legion, who judging from their delighted faces never imagined that they’d actually be on set filming a Star Wars show.

The only person who didn’t seem too happy about the goings-on was the helmeted figure sitting in the cool shadows of a narrow alley. For some reason, Bill found himself gravitating toward that lonely figure.

“Hi, there! I’m Bill,” he introduced himself, reaching out his hand. “You must be Pedro.”

Pedro removed his helmet then, revealing the most expressive brown eyes that Bill had ever seen in his life. Judging from the glimmer in those doe-like orbs, he must’ve been thinking of something sad. Nevertheless, Pedro gave the comedian a nice smile and greeted, “Hi! It’s a pleasure to meet you. You’ll be playing Migs Mayfeld, right? How do you feel about being in a Star Wars TV show?” He asked the last with a teasing tone in his voice. 

“Frankly, I don’t know what I’m doing here,” Bill declared, a bit embarrassed. “I must be nuts to let Jon rope me into this.”

“Don’t worry. It’ll be fun. It’s just too bad that I won’t be around to do your episode with you. I’ll be going back to England to finish shooting Wonder Woman 1984. Then again, you’re pretty lucky because you won’t get to work with….”

Pedro’s voice trailed off then. 

Feeling left hanging, Bill gently coaxed, “Work with who?”

In answer to his question, puppeteer Jason Matthews approached Jon. “I already fixed the puppet as you have suggested. But Mr. Herzog won’t give him to me. He told me to tell you that you should send someone to inform him when you’re ready to start shooting.”

“Unbelievable!” Jon groaned. “How can we set up and rehearse when he’s keeping the Child in custody? Never mind. Tell Taika that we’ll focus on filming the skirmish for today. Depending upon how the action goes, we can figure out how we can CGI in IG-11 and the baby.”

Hearing that exchange, Bill turned to Pedro. “Herzog? They’re not talking about Werner Herzog, are they?”

“They are. Herzog’s playing the Client. He actually finished all of his scenes but he’s still hanging around the set because he developed this crazy fixation over the Child.”

“Having not seen the Child in question, I’d like to know if he’s really so cute that he has tamed a guy like Herzog.”

“Oh, he’s not just cute,” Pedro said with undisguised fondness. “There’s something magical about him. You’d understand once you see him.” He then sighed. “It’s just too sad that I didn’t get enough time with the baby off-screen. Werner just won’t let the kid out of his sight and, for some reason, he doesn’t like me.”

Bill straightened up with arms akimbo. His Boston accent grew thicker on his tongue as he declared in outrage, “That ain’t right! That baby should be with you, not him! He’s playing the bad guy!”

“You should try telling him that. A lot of people have tried talking to him, but he’s just too pigheaded.”

Bill snorted in strong disapproval. “Hmph! Looks like the time for talking is done. What we need is action.”

“Bill, it’s okay. I’ve already accepted it. After all, there is going to be a Season 2. I didn’t make any commitments, so I’ll get to spend more time with the Child then.”

“It still ain’t right that you’re not bonding with the kid as you should.” Bill made his decision in an instant. “That’s it! I’m goin’!”

“Going where?” Pedro asked in growing alarm.

“Where else? I’m gonna get back the kid.”

* * * * * * * * * * 

“Now, just sit there, little one, while I get some milk and cookies for you. Maybe a pair of headphones so you won’t get startled by all the explosions.”

As Werner went into the kitchen, the head of a sneaky figure slowly rose to peek through the trailer window. 

Bill saw the Child at once, sitting at the small dining table. “What the fuck? Is that Baby Yoda?”

At his muffled exclamation, Grogu slowly turned to him. The Child gave him a broad grin and waved his little hand.

“Aww! Ain’t ya a cutie!” It never even occurred to the comedian to ponder why the puppet moved by itself.

Carefully, Bill pushed the trailer door open and tiptoed inside. Picking up the baby, he whispered, “Come on, kid! I’m bringing you back to your Daddy.”

In reply, Grogu made happy cooing noises. 

“You like that, huh? Let’s go now.”

“Who are you?”

Bill felt his blood run icy cold at that angry voice. His head slowly moving to the left, he found himself gaping at Werner, now red in the face and carrying a glass of milk and a plate full of cookies.

“I…uh…” the comedian stammered, unsure of what to say. In the end, both he and the Child raised a hand and waved to the German filmmaker. “Bye!”

Bill darted out of the trailer before Werner could stop him. As he dashed off, he heard the German director shout, “Baby snatcher! Somebody stop him!”

Bill thought he was going to get away with the baby. Surely, an old man like Werner Herzog wouldn’t run after him. However, as he turned at the corner and onto the street leading to the backlot, he saw Werner giving chase. To make matters worse, he saw the old man grab an enormous gaffi stick from one of the props men.

“Give that baby back or I’ll kill you!”

“OH SHIT!!!” Bill exclaimed, realizing that his very life was now in jeopardy. 

Unknown to the comedian, as he rushed into the backlot, the shooting of the Nevarro skirmish scene had already commenced. There was a loud pop as a Stormtrooper shot a blaster right at him.

“Hey!” he yelled, cradling the Child protectively. “I gotta kid here!”

Rather than calling “Cut!”, from his director’s chair, Taika called out, “Hey, Bill! Fire back, man! You’re being attacked by my Stormtroopers!”

“WHAT?”

Taika made shooting gestures with both hands. “Pew pew!”

Rolling his eyes, Bill did as he was told, running straight down the center of the backlot while “Pew pew-ing” every extra that got into his path. At one point, there was an explosion at his left, so that he dodged to the side. Werner was relentless though. He followed the comedian in small, but swift strides, waving the gaffi stick menacingly in the air. Through it all, the Child crooked under Bill’s arm laughed and squealed.

At that moment, Pedro took his cue to step outside of the building to confront Moff Gideon’s troops. Great was his shock when he saw Bill hurrying toward him, baby in tow, and with a rampaging German director behind him. 

Bill even raised the baby high up in the air and cried, “I got the kid!”

In his fright to get away from Werner, Bill didn’t notice the large rock sticking out of the dirt.  Suddenly,  he tripped on the rock and the Child flew out of his hands. Grogu spread out his little arms and screamed, “Wheeeeeeee!”

Gasping, Pedro leaped up high, his arms stretched out in front of him. That sudden movement caused the helmet to slip from his head. As his body started to fall, he caught the Child easily and hugged him protectively as they hit the ground. 

“Are you okay, Grogu?” Pedro asked the Child worriedly, but the baby only laughed and flapped his arms like a bird, indicating that he wanted more. 

Bill stared at Pedro and Grogu. Dazed as he was, he couldn’t help blurting out, “You two really look like father and son. You have the same pretty brown eyes and…”

Whatever else he was going to say, the comedian never got to finish because a dark shadow loomed over him.

“Evil baby snatcher!” A breathless but visibly tear-filled Werner rapped him on the head with the stick.

“Owwww!” Bill grabbed his head, feeling the growing lump.

Seeing Pedro staring at him, it was Werner’s turn to be flustered. There was no mistaking the tears that fell from his eyes as he stammered, “I’m sorry. I left the Child for just a minute to get snacks for him, but…this baby snatcher…”

Pedro nodded. As Bill looked on, he gaped as the actor entrusted the baby back to the crying director. “Please keep an eye on him, Werner. Okay?”

Werner hugged the struggling baby in his arms. “I will. I promise I will. And I’m so sorry.” 

To the German filmmaker’s shock, Grogu pushed his face when Werner tried to kiss him. Whirling toward Pedro, Grogu reached out to him with his little arms, making desperate whining noises. 

At that very moment, Werner’s face turned pale when he saw the group of puppeteers who had joined the onlookers. This time, all the puppeteers were present and accounted for, having come out of the small building where the scene with the puppet was to be filmed. None of them had their controls. And, yet, the baby was wriggling and crying in his embrace. 

By then, Pedro had already put the helmet back on. Walking toward the struggling Child, he caressed Grogu’s little head. 

“Go with your grandpa, Grogu,” Pedro whispered. “It’ll only be for a little while. We’ll be back together to film a scene before you know it.” Raising his helmet a bit, he kissed Grogu in the spot between his eyes. Werner saw the teardrop hanging from Pedro’s jaw.

“Thank you, Pedro,” Werner could only stammer. “I’ll bring him back once you’re ready to shoot.” He then walked off with a crying Grogu in his arms, heading back for his trailer.

As Pedro helped him to his feet, Bill demanded, “Why did you do that for? I thought you wanted the kid?”

“I did, but…seeing how he chased you...” Pedro then confessed, “…I never realized how much Werner cared for the baby. It isn’t right to take the Child away from him like that.”

At that moment, a very happy Taika called out to him, “Great work, Bill! You got the action sequence I wanted for IG-11 just right. All I have to do is edit you out and I can CGI in the robot with the kid.”

Meanwhile, the members of the 501st Legion were all abuzz at seeing the Child for the first time. An exasperated Jon had the unit directors hand out an additional page of the non-disclosure agreement for them to sign.

When one lady in Stormtrooper armor gushed out, “Oh my God! I just saw a Baby Yoda! I can’t wait to tell my kids!”, Jon ordered Kim Richards, “Have her sign TWO NDAs!”

Hearing Jon’s order, Bill and Pedro laughed. When their laughter subsided, the comedian smiled warmly. “You’re a real nice guy, Pedro. I just hope I could get to work with you and the kid someday, although it doesn’t seem likely after this.”

“Who knows?” Pedro said reassuringly. “Maybe we will still have a need for a sharpshooter like Mayfeld in Season 2.”

“Maybe…” Bill trained his gaze toward Jon who was gathering signed papers. “Hey, Jon! If ever you want me back to work for ya, make sure this guy,” he then pointed to Pedro, “doesn’t have a helmet on.” Grinning at his fellow actor, he said, “I’m gonna call him ‘Brown Eyes’.”

Pedro’s lips curled up in a wry pout. “Next time, please don’t drop the baby!”

Bill crossed his heart and raised his right hand while cupping the lump on his head with his left. “I swear that I will never drop the baby ever again!”

TO BE CONCLUDED

[ddixons-angel]

Fated: Season 4

Summary: Gloria Rhee narrowly escapes Atlanta with her brother as the outbreak reaches the city. Luckily, they find a camp outside the city and together, they fend through encounters with the living and undead.

Starts a little before Season 1 and then follows the main storyline of the show.

Pairing: Daryl Dixon x Glenn Sister!OC

Warnings: major TWD spoilers, language, violence (the typical TWD stuff)

A/N: It’s Monday, and you know what that means~~ another chapter! Yay!!! I also have some news, I may need to take a little break from posting chapters when this gets to Season 5, reason being I am literally rewriting all of Season 5 xD I was reading it to revise and I just was not happy with how it went, so I decided to scrap what I have and just write it again. I do have a good idea of what to do for it, I just actually need to get it down haha, hopefully I have it done before the end of Season 4 so I can just keep rolling out the chapters ^^ enough rambling! Here’s the chapter!

Chapter 9

Early the next morning, Daryl silently got out of bed to meet with the others for the council meeting. He was careful to not wake up Gloria who was still fast asleep. Right before he left, he planted a soft kiss on her forehead, making her stir a bit in her sleep. When she woke up, it was already noon. She frowns as she feels that her body temperature was higher than usual. Gloria moves to sit up and puts on her army green jacket, groaning when her body aches at every movement, she gets up to go down to the kitchen area, needing water to parch her dry throat. When she gets to the door of her cell though, she lets out a few rough coughs. Sighing heavily, Gloria figures that she had caught the disease that was going around. She continues on her way down the stairs to the first level of the cell block while covering her mouth with her sleeve. 

“No...! No, Maggie don’t...” Gloria hears Glenn groaning from his cell.

Maggie takes a step back from the door to her and Glenn’s shared cell, giving Gloria view into their cell. From how clammy Glenn’s complexion was, she could tell right away that he had also caught the flu and just by the look of him, he was already in worse condition than her. 

“Maggie.” Gloria calls out, wincing at how hoarse her own voice was.

Maggie turns to look at Gloria, her eyes already teary when she gasps as she realizes Gloria was also sick, “Gloria...”

She smiles softly at the other woman, wanting to give her some reassurance, “let me take him.”

Maggie chokes out a sob at her words, moving to the side to let her into the cell. Gloria sighs softly as she walks into the cell and extends her arm out for Glenn.

“Lets go, bro.” she says, helping Glenn off the bed and out of the cell.

Maggie watches the siblings helplessly as they walk out the cell block towards Cell Block A. Once they reach the entrance of Cell Block A, they are met with Carol who’s wearing her scarf over her mouth and nose. She gasps and tears up when she sees them.

“No...” she whispers. 

Trying to make light of a bad situation, Gloria raises her arm that’s not holding Glenn up and announces in a tired voice, “we made it!”

Glenn chuckles at Gloria’s enthusiasm only to start a coughing fit. Gloria pats his chest to help him calm down. Dejectedly, Carol opens the door for the siblings, harsh coughs and groans from others can be heard from within the cell block. Gloria gives the older woman a soft smile.

“We’ll all be okay, everyone has a better chance now that I’m here.” she chuckles breathlessly.

Carol tearfully smiles back at her, knowing that she was being as strong as she can for everyone. The siblings enter the cell block and Gloria carries Glenn to an empty cell, letting him sit on the bed while she sits on the floor, leaning on the wall across from him. The atmosphere of the entire cell block is eerily solemn as coughs and groans echo throughout the block. The chorus of groans and coughs are soon joined by Glenn who starts to have a coughing fit. When Gloria starts to get up to try and soothe him, Glenn raises his arm up to stop her from moving.

“N-no...” he chokes out between coughs, “I-I’m okay... I’m okay...”

Gloria frowns at him and sighs, but listens to him, staying in her spot. A short moment later after Glenn’s coughing had died down, she gets up and exits the cell, wanting to get some water for her brother. She jogs up to the entrance of the cell block where Carol had been guarding the door and when she sees Gloria, she opens the door slightly.

“What’s wrong?” Carol asks.

“Can you help me get some water for Glenn? He’s choking in there.” Gloria replies, leaning on the doorframe.

Before Carol is able to respond, they hear quick paced footsteps coming down the hall and soon Daryl appears around the corner with a cloth over his face. He stops in his tracks when he sees Gloria peering behind the door and registers how pale her face is. Carol glances over at him then back at Gloria, a somber look on her face.

“I’ll go get you and Glenn some water.” she says then goes off, patting Daryl’s arm as she walks by him.

Gloria stands at the door, holding it open slightly as she looks up at Daryl, his tearful eyes boring into hers breaks her heart. He starts to walk closer to her. 

“You shouldn’t come too close, there’s only so much that cloth can do.” Gloria hurriedly tells him, raising her hand up to stop him, halting him in his steps.

Daryl sighs and nods, knowing that she’s right. He wipes his eyes with his hands of the tears that were threatening to fall. 

“‘M goin’ out for a medicine run, wanted to take ya with me... we needed someone with medical knowledge... can’t exactly take Hershel or Caleb.” Daryl rambles, trying to distract himself from breaking down at the sight of his girl so frail and sick. 

“Sorry I can’t go with you...” Gloria says, chuckling breathily, “take Bob, he was a medic or something like that, he should be able to help.”

“A’right.” Daryl nods, “we’ll hurry back with what ya need.” 

He hesitates to turn around, reluctant to leave her but knows that he has to. Just before Daryl’s about to dash out to go on the run, Gloria calls out to him, waiting for him to face her again before she speaks her next words.

“I love you.” she says, her voice full of emotion.

Gloria needed him to know that she loves him too. She doesn’t know how long he’ll be gone and she has absolutely no idea how quick the illness is going to progress with her. In the worst case scenario that he couldn’t make it back in time, she couldn’t let herself die without telling him first. 

Daryl understood this as well as he smiles sadly, “I’ll be back for ya, jus’ wait for me!”

Without waiting for another response, Daryl rushes out just as Carol comes back with two bottles of water and Gloria’s belt with her daggers. Gloria takes the items but furrows her brows together when she sees her weapons.

“If anyone turns in there, you’ll need them.” Carol says, reading her mind. 

Gloria sighs and nods, looking back up at Carol, “Thanks Carol.” 

---

Glenn’s coughing had lessened after Gloria gave him a bottle of water. Hershel had come into the cell block but not as a patient, instead as a doctor to help everyone. He had brewed a special tea made from elderberries; Hershel’s late wife always made the tea as a natural flu remedy. Gloria tried to get him to leave the cell block before he caught the flu as well but he was insistent, not giving her the choice of kicking him out of the block. Her only alternative was to follow him around and assist him in treating the patients. Hershel was now crouching down beside Glenn, holding a wet towel to his forehead to bring down his fever, Gloria sitting beside them.

“This sucks...” Glenn sighs, “after everything we’ve been through, this damn flu is what takes us down.” 

Hershel frowns at his words, “don’t say things like that.”

“I’ve fallen down a hill, got shot and stabbed. Not even a walker herd could kill me, I ain’t letting some damn cold kill me.” Gloria says, leaning her head back on the wall behind her and closing her eyes. 

Glenn chuckles, “you really are starting to talk like Daryl.”

“He’s been copying your cheesy lines, you know? You’re a bad influence.” Gloria jokes.

“Hey, he’s learning from the best.” he smiles weakly.

Hershel smiles at the sibling’s banter then glances over at Gloria, his smile turns into a frown when he sees how frail and sick Gloria looked. 

“Gloria, you’ve helped me a lot, go rest in an empty cell.” Hershel orders her.

Gloria opens her eyes and looks at him as Glenn looks over at her too, noticing the same thing, “yeah, you’re getting paler by the second, go.” 

She purses her lips but nods, not wanting to fight them on it. She gets up and walks to the cell just beside Glenn’s and lets herself fall on the bed. Her body must have been exhausted as she had fallen asleep just mere seconds after her body hit the bed. She wasn’t even sure how long she slept but by the time she woke up to a series of coughing in a nearby cell, it was already dark in the cell block. Gloria gets up to check on whoever was coughing and to her horror, she saw Glenn on the ground of his cell, coughing up blood. 

“Hershel!” Gloria screams out as she rushes towards Glenn, kneeling down next to Glenn who was still coughing.

Her back was facing Henry, the person Glenn was helping with the airbag Hershel had provided him with. Soon, from the lower levels, she heard gunshots and she could only imagine that it was Hershel shooting at those who had died and turned into walkers. Gloria starts to panic when she sees that Glenn had stopped coughing, and instead started to choke. 

“His airways are blocked.” Gloria talks out loud, trying to calm herself down and calling out her professional side, “you gotta clear the airway... you gotta clear his airway.” 

She freezes when she hears a snarling coming from behind her and snaps her head to look behind her. Gloria gasps as she sees that Henry had turned into a walker but her focus is on the equipment attached to his mouth; the airbag and tube that she needed to save Glenn.

“I’m not losing you.” she mutters under her breath as she glances at Glenn.

Gloria unsheaths a dagger from her belt, about to lunge at the walker but it gets her first, falling off the bed and putting all of its deadweight on her. She struggles to push it up as it grabs hold of her hair, luckily it is unable to bite her with the medical tools in its mouth. Wielding her dagger, Gloria stabs the walker through its eye, killing it right as Hershel runs up the stairs with Maggie trailing close behind him.

“Gloria, are you alright?” Maggie asks from behind her father. 

Gloria nods then directs their attention to Glenn, “help him.” she says breathlessly.

Maggie gasps as she rushes to his side with Hershel. Gloria takes the air bag and tube out from the walker’s mouth before pushing the body off her. She hands the tools to Hershel so he can get to saving Glenn. The girls watch anxiously as Hershel forces the tube into Glenn’s open mouth and down his throat to clear his airway. He then starts to pump air into his lungs using the air bag, allowing him to breathe. Seeing that he was able to breathe now, Gloria smiles softly and looks up at Maggie, giving her a reassuring nod. Maggie, although her face is stained with tears, smiles and nods back at her, relieved that they had gotten to Glenn in time.

---

Next Chapter

Well, for a short chapter, that was intense, wasn’t it? As many of you (I think all of you actually) predicted, Gloria did get the illness I’m not that predictable, am I? but her and Daryl still shared a bittersweet moment~ what did you guys think of this chapter? And please please please let me know what you think is gonna happen next, it’s so fun to read your guys’ predictions haha 

And as always, I would really appreciate any comments left for me! I’ll be replying to any comments in a new post because this is a sideblog!

Taglist (please let me know if you’d list to be added/removed!):

@twdeadfanfic​ | @fandomfanatic97​ | @crossbowking​ | @watchmeaspire​ | @spidergirla5​ | @kamieshep​ | @letsstarsfalling​ | @molethemollie​ | @alicewinchester99​ | @neilox​ | @womanup22​ | @jodiereedus22​ | @theonlyone-meeeee​ | @theunofficialduke​ | @inlovewdxx​ | @delightfullykrispypeach​ | @mrsfortune1306​ | @wolfkg | @funeral-7 | @wnygirl2012 | @alispaceme | @themihala​

[axelxmartinez]

(Hi I love to plot, hit me up and let’s chat!)

Introduction @redridgeimp​

FULL NAME:  Axel Jose Diego Martinez

NICKNAMES(S):  Axe, Ax, Diablo

AGE:  33

DATE OF BIRTH:  October 30th, 1986

PLACE OF BIRTH:  Red Ridge, Nevada

CURRENT LOCATION:  Red Ridge, Nevada.

ETHNICITY:  Latino. Mexican primarily and his mother was partially Caucasian (European descent), as well as Mexican and Dominican.

GENDER:  Cis male.

PRONOUNS:  He/him/his.

SEXUAL ORIENTATION:  Bisexual.

ROMANTIC ORIENTATION:  quoiromantic

RELIGION:  Atheist.

OCCUPATION:  Owner of Roberto's and Bone breaker for Valencia.

EDUCATION LEVEL:  he dropped out of high school in the beginning of 11th grade. 

EXTRACURRICULAR:  Boxing, lifting weights, playing video games, occasionally reading

LIVING ARRANGEMENTS:  Owns his parents house, a medium sized single family home with 4 bedrooms, an unfinished basement, nothing to brag about on the south side of redridge

SPEAKING VOICE AND ACCENT:  Deep, smooth voice with a hint of a Spanish accent, especially when he's angry. Normally keeps a steady tone, unless he’s really upset about something.

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE, ETC.

FACECLAIM: Manny Montana 

HAIR COLOR AND STYLE:  black, shaved short

COMPLEXION:  Brown on the lighter side with neutral undertones

EYE COLOR:  Brown.

EYESIGHT: 20/30 the last time he checked, he probably could use corrective lenses for driving or reading something but he doesn’t bother with it.

HEIGHT:  6’1” or 185cm

WEIGHT:  169lbs or 77kg

BODY AND BUILD:  Muscular, lean, well-defined muscles. 

TATTOOS: tons, he gets them at random and the only theme to them is that they are black and white. The obvious ones most people see are the skull on his throat and the ones on his fingers and hands. (See his pinterest linked at the bottom for more ideas in this area)

PIERCINGS: none, he fights too much to have piercings.

CLOTHING STYLE:  jeans, hoodies, t-shirts, flannels, button down shirts, primarily black for everything. 

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:  tattoos all over his body, small linear scar on his eyebrow where no hair grows, various scars all over his body - some covered with tattoos and some not. Also wears necklaces and rings, has a few random bracelets made by his nieces and nephews.

HEALTH.

MENTAL DISORDER(S):  ADD is all he’s been diagnosed with, though he likely has an anxiety disorder as well. 

PHYSICAL DISORDER(S):  none

ALLERGIES:  the pollen gets to him in the spring but he just ignores it

SLEEPING HABITS:  insomniac, he sleeps in small shifts between work and whatever he’s doing during the day. 

EATING HABITS:  Axel has a high metabolism so he eats a lot and often, he tends to pick things up while he’s moving around town and keeps protein bars and snacks in his car for in between meals

SOCIABILITY: extroverted introvert, he tends to be around people but doesn’t go out of his way to strike up conversation unless he feels it necessary, knows the person already, or is spoken to first. 

BODY TEMPERATURE:  neutral.

ADDICTIONS:  Nicotine, Caffeine, some would argue he drinks a little too much but he doesn’t think so.

DRUG USE:  Depends on the drug. He smokes marijuana frequently, but anything else is occasionally and he refuses to touch needles or anything made purely from chemicals (i.e. Meth). 

ALCOHOL USE:  Frequently, usually has a drink or two everyday. Sometimes more, sometimes less. He prefers brandy and tequila but also enjoys beer and will always accept a free drink regardless of what it is.

PERSONALITY.

POSITIVE TRAITS:  Hardworking, Efficient, Honest, Strong, Confident, Curious

NEGATIVE TRAITS:  Callous, Insensitive, Secretive, Possessive, Withdrawn, Stubborn

LIKES:  Fighting, good food, drinking, video games, smoking, sex, most things physical, some reading, fire

DISLIKES:  Schools, authority (mainly police), drama, airplanes, inactivity

FEARS: His only fear that he could ever pinpoint was his father.

HABITS: Plays with his fingers, touches his face, staring without talking, smoking, rain

ASTROLOGY:  Scorpio Sun, Sagittarius Rising, Libra Moon

PERSONALITY TYPE:  INTJ

MORAL ALIGNMENT:  Chaotic Neutral

HOGWARTS HOUSE:  Slytherin.

ELEMENT:  Fire

WEATHER: Overcast or Sunny

COLOR:  Black

MUSIC:  Rock, Metal, 90’s hip hop

MOVIE:  Documentaries or Action movies

SPORT:  Baseball and Soccer

BEVERAGE:  Brandy or Tequila

FOOD:  Waffles

ANIMAL: Snake

SEASON:  Summer

FAMILY, RELATIONSHIPS, ETC.

MOTHER: Antonia Martinez (Rodriguez)  

FATHER:  Roberto Martinez, deceased

SIGNIFICANT OTHER:  none

SIBLING(S):  5 younger siblings, names and ages vague for future wc

CHILDREN:  TBD

PET(S): Ball Python named Slinky

PROMPT.

“ROUTINE”: violence tw, death tw

Ever since he was a teenager, Axel has worked at Roberto’s. At his father’s insistence to teach him some responsibility, as the owner, it was common for him to hire his children and other relatives because he didn’t trust anyone. When Roberto, his father, went to prison and was simultaneously killed while there, his business was given to his eldest son. Axel wasn’t very torn up about losing his father, it made his life significantly easier and allowed him to take over the role as head of the Martinez family. Something he’d been well prepared for and while he wasn’t the nicest guy, he wasn’t the psychopath Roberto was. At least, he didn’t think he was. 

With his father gone, his days started with the sun (if he even got to bed the night before). He opened the convenient store, put the money in the till for the starting shift and made sure everything was turned on and stocked from the night before. Once the first shift comes in, he usually heads to the back to double check that everything is locked up and set up for the next shift. After that is usually when he gets word of anything Valencia needs him to do that day. Even though he’s not a soldier anymore, he likes to keep busy so he picks up slack where he can. If not, he starts checking in on his younger siblings and making sure they are doing what they’re supposed to be doing and staying out of trouble. If he doesn’t have anything pressing to get done, he heads to the gym to do his usual workout and possibly some sparring to keep his endurance at peak along with his fighting technique. Afterwards, he hits up Ridge Roasters if he’s going to the North side of town and gets his coffee with a random pastry to go. Otherwise, he heads to Blue Hill Diner for a proper breakfast and chats with the staff there or scrolls through his phone. He heads back to the convenient store if they need him, otherwise he heads home for a nap or just to relax. Most days he can trust his shift supervisors or the manager to finish up the rest of the day at Roberto’s. Only on occasion does he have to cover a shift or go in to change the cash register for a shift. 

By five or six in the evening, Axel crosses the threshold of St. Peters and takes a spot at the bar. If he feels like dinner, he gets something to eat. Otherwise he has a few drinks to pass the time and watches the environment. If he’s lucky, he catches something that isn’t supposed to be happening in Redridge without approval and brings it to a higher up. Otherwise, he wastes some time before Rogue’s opens and he can go watch the fights for the night. By the time it’s his turn to get in the ring, he’s usually itching to start fighting. He’s not one to get excited about much, but once he gets sight of his ‘opponent’ a wide shark-like smile will spread across his face. Axel loves the work he gets to do with Valencia and if he could do more he would. Fighting and getting rid of people was something he specialized in, he was damn good at it, too. If he was lucky, he brought someone home with him at the end of the night. If not, he has another drink and heads back to his house to watch something on the television or, if he’s even luckier, gets a few hours of sleep before he has to wake up and repeat it all the next day. 

“REMINISCENCE”:  violence tw, alcohol tw, blood tw, death tw

“Not everyone gets to just blurt out how the feel about whoever or whatever on a fuckin’ whim, dude.” Axel spoke into his glass, the third brandy making his voice hoarse. Stuck in the reverie that his best friend had pulled from him. That afternoon they’d gotten the news that his father was found dead in the showers that morning. He was out celebrating. That man had never done anything for anyone, nothing good at least and definitely not any of his kids. Axel looked at the brown liquid in his glass and swirled it around. “Remember back in high school, that kid Jake who used to hang around sometimes?” He asked, eyes still on the glass. “We used to mess around or whatever. I was young and stupid.” He shook his head, knowing at twenty-five he wasn’t exactly old but he was a lot older than he was then. “Anyways, it had been a few months and I started talkin’ a big game like I was the boss of my house. My papi didn’t give a shit what I did or who I was with and all that. We stopped at Roberto’s after school to get some snacks or whatever. You know, same shit different day.” Axel paused and let out a slow sigh. The alcohol was getting to his head and loosening his tongue to reveal shit he’d never talked about with anyone. Most people knew his father was a prick that was quick to correct his children with his hands rather than his words, but Axel didn’t ever make it seem like it bothered him. He sure as hell didn’t let on that he harbored a great fear of the man. “We were at the counter paying, right in front of my dad and Jake tried to lean in for a kiss or somethin’ to say thank you or some shit. I just freaked out, I didn’t know what to do because that shit wasn’t goin’ to fly with Roberto Martinez. Not one of his kids. So, I pushed him away and beat his ass bloody right there for all the world to see.” He didn’t want his dad to do it and if he thought for a second that Axel was into guys he would probably shoot him on the spot. Definitely would have gotten rid of him in one way or the other. Even if he still liked girls, too. “My brother had to pull me off of him. I was so fuckin’ scared man, I just kept hittin’ him. He had to go to the hospital and his parents didn’t even press charges, they straight pulled him out of school. I never even saw him again.” Axel finished off his glass and exhaled the burn it left in his throat and chest. “Out of all the people I’ve beat in my lifetime, all the shit I’ve done, man. That’s the only one I regret. But you know the sad part?” He let out a bitter laugh. “If I could go back and do it over, I’d still beat his ass. What the fuck does that say about me?” Axel shut up after that, didn’t even really pay attention to what his friend had to say about any of it. He drowned himself in a bottle and had no idea how he got home at the end of the night. 

BACKGROUND. ( abuse tw, death tw, violence tw)

Born and raised in Redridge, oldest of six children. Some of his siblings still live in Redridge, others have left and spread around the country. He has a large extended family. They live all over the country, Mexico, and South America.

His father was a very strict man and ran his household with an iron fist. He believed his children should be seen and not heard. If one of them were to step out of line, show defiance, or generally make him angry in any way, he normally responded by correcting them physically instead of with words. He owned Roberto’s, which he started before Axel was born. Roberto was also a member of Valencia working up from street rat to lieutenant. He was arrested when Axel was twenty and died in prison when he was twenty-five.

Antonia, his mother, was a reserved woman. She was hard-working and loved her children. However, she listened to her husband and he was the head of the household. When Roberto went to prison, Axel took over the role of head of the household. His mother fell ill in his late twenties and currently lives in an assisted living facility in Redridge. Axel visits her regularly.

As for his siblings, he keeps up with all of them. One attends the community college and he is adamant that they keep up with their grades and continue their education. He keeps in almost daily touch with each and every one of them and adores his nieces and nephews. Whenever he can visit, he makes a point to but hates to fly so it is usually only once or twice a year at most for those who live outside of Nevada. 

School wasn’t Axel’s strong suit. He could never focus and everything just made him feel like he was stupid when he knew he wasn’t stupid. He just wasn’t book smart. So he dropped out right before eleventh grade and worked at Roberto’s. As soon as he was able to, he joined Valencia as a street rat and moved up the ranks to Bone-breaker once he had proven himself. However, he enjoys doing soldier work still so he will pick up any spare jobs if they are available.

As far as romance goes, Axel has never been with anyone long. He enjoys both women and men and their company, but he has a hard time letting anyone past his walls. The few times he has tried, he fucked it up in one way or another. So, he stays single and just holds casual relationships. 

He loves to fight and he is good at making people disappear, getting jobs done efficiently, and intimidation. Axel is very loyal to Valencia.

Currently, he is always on the move. He doesn’t like to be idle for long. So he is either doing work for Valencia or Roberto’s, moving around town, drinking at a bar, eating somewhere, fighting at Rogue’s, at the gym, watching fights, or sleeping in between any of those activities. 

WANTED CONNECTIONS.

Friends With Benefits/One-night Stands (unlimited): He likes physical activity and touch, he tries to pick people up often and especially after a fight. This could have been happening for a long time or just a night or be brand new. 

Best Friend (0/1): This person knows him better than anyone. They just get him and is likely the only person he’s ever opened up to. 

Close Friends (0/6): These people know him better than most, but he probably has only opened up about one or two things to them. He trusts these people and likes to be around them.

Employees: Anyone who wants to work at Roberto’s

Budding Romance (0/1): could be a fwb that progresses, someone who’s always been around but neither of them made the move to advance it past anything.

Enemies: Self explanatory, but they always butt heads in one way or another. Possibly have fought in the past, but definitely never have anything nice to say about one another.

Past relationships (0/4): People who tried to break through his walls and didn’t get through. Or they just didn’t work out for any multitude of reasons.

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/kitmeowza/c-axel-martinez/

[lenademonn]

All This Time - 2

*Summary: Elena used to be closed off and composed, always in control of her feelings and actions. She knew how to survive long before world ended and didn’t need anyone to keep her alive. Because attachments are liability, make you weak especially in this new world where dead are walking and living are more dangerous than before.

A slow burn Daryl Dixon x OC; from season 1 forward, ongoing. Angst, Violence, strong language, sarcastic humour and more.

Chapter 2

Day 44

I was having a dream. I knew that part of my psychological training was to recognize reality from the fantasy. And that was definitely the latter, because there was no way in hell that his strong hands were tracing my calves, his calloused fingers making me shiver, and that his mouth was pressed to my core, licking and sucking giving me the endless pleasure spreading from toes to the top of her head. I moved my hips up, bringing myself closer to his face, which earned me a low growl from his throat's depths.

"Elena," his voice did wonder to me, but I also realized that it came out near my ear, so way closer then it should be. "C'mon women, wake up!"

I opened my eyes and sat up straight, knife in hand, quickly pressed against someone's throat. "Whoa, easy, it's just me!" I blinked rapidly and saw familiar blue eyes in front of me, hand grasping my wrist, trying to ease the knife's pressure off himself. He was crouched next to my sleeping bag, ready for the day, tents fold open, allowing the flow of the fresh air. I pulled away and put my hand over my heart.

"Shit Daryl, this isn't how you wake up people, at least not me! I could fucking kill you!" My voice was still groggy from the sleep, and my mind was spinning from remnants of the dream he interrupted. Seeing him here in my tent just seconds after his image - 'Stop it silly!'

"Ya said to wake ya up when I'm goin' for a hunt. " I closed my eyes, trying to even out my breathing.

"Yeah, give me a ten, and I'll be there." He grunted and gave me one last glance before crouching out of the tent.

It was more than a month since we set up our camp at the quarry and my revelations. We were hunting and sending Glenn to gather necessary supplies, we had laundry and cooking duties and perimeter checks. It was usually myself and Dixon brothers in the woods looking for a game for the whole group. Surprisingly, the older brother wasn't that horrible after closer interactions. Of course, he still called me 'Blondie' and 'Sweetcheeks' or 'Dollface' and looked at my chest every opportunity he could get, but after what I told them about myself, he seemed to respect me a little bit more. Maybe because he was in the military once or perhaps because he has morals even if they are a bit twisted sometimes.

Today Merle was going on a run with Glenn, though, so it was just younger Dixon and me. We planned to make it an overnight trip and hunt for something more than only squirrels or birds. Andrea and Amy offered to take a boat they found by the lake and try to catch some fish, so hopefully, we will have enough food to last us for a few days by tomorrow afternoon. If Glenn will grab all the items from the list I gave him, I would smoke some of the meat and make a nice jerky. About the only thing, I didn't fuck up in the kitchen department.

I quickly changed my clothes, including wet panties, and I smiled, remembering a vivid dream from just a few moments ago. It's only because I spend so much time with him recently and because I didn't have sex for months. No need to read into it. Right?

Once dressed, I put on my reigns and stashed throwing knives inside holders, the gun secured on my waist belt. I checked my quiver and counted the arrows, in the backpack I put all the necessary items for an overnight hunting trip and rolled an extra sleeping bag to attach it to the top of the pack.

"How much longer woman?" Daryl's voice startled me, so I quickly left the tent, spotting him next to the entrance.

"Jeez I'm coming, let me just fix my hair" He gave me a funny look "You don't want me to get grabbed, do you?" It came out harsher then I intended, but I just ignored it and pulled my hair down and run my fingers through it. Blonde curls spread all the way to the small of my back, I could fix it before I came out of the tent, but after my dream, I felt the need to show them to Daryl.

Since that day in the woods, when I was gathering things to make my bow, I wanted to make an impression on him and see how much I can push him, and my hair was the thing I liked about myself the most, well just after boobs. I quickly pulled it into a simple plaid and then twisted it, on the top of my head, securing everything with a hair tie. I could feel man's eyes on me through all that process, but when I finally looked at Daryl, he turned around and started walking towards the woods.

*

We were walking for most of the day, caught a few squirrels and three perky rabbits when we finally decided to set a camp next to a stream we found. Now when I say we caught that game, I mean mainly Daryl. I am good with my homemade bow, but shooting unmoving targets during training isn't exactly this same as using it on animals. One of the rabbits was mine, but that was an accident, but Daryl doesn't need to know that.

We were tracking a deer for the past two hours, but it turned unsuccessful, and we could always pick up its trail tomorrow. Daryl was setting the perimeter with a string and some old cans so we would be notified of any movements during the night. I started skinning the animals putting the guts and useless parts into the plastic bin bag we brought with us.

"I'll run the bag out, circle around, and take the meat to the creek," I told Daryl, and after receiving a nod, I took off quickly and run for about fifteen minutes in the opposite direction of the tracks we saw today. If there is any deer here, the last thing we want is for the dead to eat it. I dropped the bag, dug a shallow hole in the ground, and ditched inside, covering it back up with dirt and leaves, then I circled back towards our night camp, whistled softly while passing why so Daryl would know it's just me and jogged to the water.

I started washing the meat and cut it into the strips, made sure that I cleaned it properly of any spare blood, and put it down on a clean rug on a boulder next to me to cool down. That's the problem with overnight trips, we had to make sure that whatever we caught won't go bad.

We actually worked well together, Daryl was quiet, but it wasn't uncomfortable unless I said something stupid, usually with a sexual context, which made him blush and tell me to shut up. Now that I was thinking about it, I wasn't that different from Merle, when it came to his younger brother, and that thought gave me goosebumps. I scooped the meat and went back towards the camp, bent over the lines to not make any unnecessary noise, and sat down next to a small fire Daryl started when I was gone.

"Pass me my bag, please," I asked him, and he reached towards it and took few steps, so he was next to me, sitting down next to me on the ground to share the work. I took my clean rug from the backpack and set it down on the rock in front of us, and then I passed Daryl a tub of salt. We worked quickly and quietly till everything was done, took a few pieces, and started cooking them while the rest was put into the zip bags and then to into my pack.

"So, how did you learn to hunt like that and using this crossbow?" I asked him and looked in his direction. He was sitting next to me, but with enough space between, and he was turning the meat around. His blue eyes met my grey ones, and his face had a blank expression. I knew that he didn't let people in, but I hoped that the question was innocent enough for him to answer.

"My old man and uncle." He started slowly turning his gaze toward the fire. "Money was tight, and my da usually drank it away, so Merle and I had to learn how to get our own food." Ok, so maybe that question wasn't as safe as I thought. I knew that the last thing he was looking for was pitty over a little boy who grew up in a though home. So I settled for an answer, which hopefully would release the tension.

"Well, sure as hell, it's handy right now. No matter the reasons, I'm glad you learned. I couldn't ask for a better hunting partner" He looked at me again with a slight frown. "'Cause, you know, Merle talks way too much." That finally made him smile. Alright, that wasn't a smile, small side smirk, but I knew I couldn't ask for more, not from him, not yet. That didn't mean I will stop trying.

"What about ya? Were ya really a fed?"

"Really?" I looked at him and slapped his arm. "We don't like that term, just for the future. Yeah, I was. Behavioral Analysis Unit to be precise."

"And what's that?" He side glanced at me, unsure what kind of job I actually did. My nose crinkled as I was thinking of explaining what I did in life before all this shit without sounding like I was bragging.

"Well, basically we were catching criminals, mainly serial killers, based on their behavior. You analyze how the victim was killed and left what was done to them, where was the body left. We were profilers." I was looking blankly in front of me now, thinking about days on the job and all the evil people I've met and spoken to. How many close calls I had with death and yet nothing compared to the nightmare we're living in now.

"Not the most useful skill in zombie apocalypse though. I cannot just talk my way out with walkers by telling them how watching their moma kill herself made them what they are now, right?" I looked at him with a serious face, even if my words were laced with sarcasm.

"Whatever lay down, I'll take the first watch." He stood up abruptly to check the perimeter, and I was looking at him, my gaze following his actions.

"Ok, but wake me up in few hours so we can swap you need your sleep as well, Dixon." It was still early, but I knew we'll be waking up before the first light, plus all this walking around in the woods was tiring, but something didn't sit well with me. Daryl finished our conversation abruptly, even though he seemed interested in my story before.

What did I actually know about younger Dixon? Not a lot, most time we spend together, we were quiet and shared only a few stories before coming back to camp, most of our talks focusing on subjects of hunting or Merle talking his mouth off about nothing in particular. The rest of the information I had was just observation and some comments from Merle, and I didn't know how much to believe in his words.

Alright, so Daryl is in his mid-thirties and lived in Georgia his whole life, most of it with Merle, grabbing some odd jobs before they moved on. I suspected all that moving around was because older Dixon was doing drugs and owed money to many people or was trying to avoid jail time.

But that doesn't explain Daryl's social awkwardness and how guarded he behaves. He definitely is an introvert and doesn't like to be touched even when his brother puts an arm on him, I noticed Daryl goes still and tense. That suggests some sort of abuse, but not from Merle, no, he wouldn't be able to look at him like he does. Daryl actually looks up to his big brother.

I let a low growl of frustration. This new world makes me go crazy; I could separate myself from any personal emotions before all of this, but now we had people to look after, people to protect, and as much as it was flattering, I wasn't used to someone depend on her in that way. I started to care for those people, and my weird fascination with Daryl Dixon was undoubtedly unhealthy. I shouldn't be so invested in trying to get to know him. And for sure, I shouldn't give a damn if I hurt his feelings or stirred something from his past.

"Ya thinkin' so loud, that ya'll attract all the geeks from this woods." His low voice startled me, and I sat up in my makeshift bed. Daryl was sitting across from me, on the other side of our little campsite, cleaning his crossbow, eyes not leaving the weapon, but I could tell that he was alert, ready for anything to make a move in the dark. When I didn't reply straight away, he quickly glanced in my direction, one brow risen in a silent question. I let a small sigh escape my lips as I run my hand over my face.

"What I said before." The words I spoke were quiet and soft, eyes locked on him, watching for any body language changes. "I know that we don't tell each other a lot, but I'd like to think that you don't mind my company. The last few hunting trips were pleasant, and you didn't call me stupid in like a week, so that's progress."

I watched his lips twitch a little making me form my own small smile on my full lips. "But that last comment, about how I'd sometimes talk to suspects..." I stopped when Daryl stiffened, and a muscle on his face twitched while he clenched his jaw. It was very subtle, he was good, very good at hiding his emotions. But I was very good at what I was doing before the world went to shit, so I noticed it even in the dark of the night.

"There, that was this same reaction you have now. Now I don't want to pry... "

"Then don't" He interrupted me, his voice harsh, hands grabbing his weapon just a little bit harder than necessary. I looked down at my hands, thinking on how to play it out. Talking to Daryl was like a long and complicated chess game, one silly move, and checkmate.

"Alright, I just wanted you to know that I didn't mean anything by it." With that, I laid back down, turning on my side, so I was facing away from him, giving a man some sort of privacy.

Next Chapter

[1dsongpreferencess]

#58: TAKE A BOW - RIHANNA (REQUESTED)

LIAM

"You look so dumb right now Standin' outside my house Tryin' to apologize You're so ugly when you cry Please Just cut it out"

It was 7 am and you were getting ready to work, you had a terrible night after finding out your boyfriend Liam had been caught on camera drunk kissing another girl. When your best friend sent you that video you forwarded to him and he hadn't stopped calling you since. Now, you heard the bell rang but you knew it was him so you didn't even get close to the door. "Please y/n, let me explain" he screamed trying to make you open to him. You didn't want that your neighbors saw that spectacle so you decided to let him in. "You don't get to explain, Liam. We're done. You cheated, you lied you were supposed to be home not at some club without me. I can't believe that man in the video is the same one I fell in love with one year ago." you said while he was trying to interrupt you and you could see his eyes getting watery. "Don't you dare to cry, not when you were having such a good time cheating on me. Please, just pick up the things you have here and leave." You said while grabbing the keys of your car and leaving for work, while he stayed there shocked you were so confident about leaving him. Liam was such a great boyfriend but knowing he acted that way thinking you wouldn't find out made you realize that kiss wouldn't be the first time he cheated. You were sad but felt strong knowing what you truly deserved but deep down wishing he fought for you, not even being sure if you could ever forgive him.

LOUIS (HIS P.O.V.)

"Don't tell me you're sorry 'cause you're not Baby when I know you're only sorry you got caught"

I was so excited about seeing y/n after 3 months I decided to surprise her changing my flight to 3 days before it was supposed to. It was 3 am in the morning and the only thing I wanted was to sleep in our bed together. But sadly when I came to our place I found out a party. She had more than 20 people there, she was drunk and I think she was flirting with some men that was more than happy about it. When she heard how hard I closed the front door she was suddenly not wasted anymore. "Louuuuu" she said while she was running to hug me but I was mad at her. And not because of the party, but because first, she didn't tell me she was having one and well, the flat is owned by both of us and second because she was close that guy.  I didn't even say hi, not to her and some of her friends that I've met before, I went straight to our bedroom and lock the door. When she realized how bad it was, she kicked everyone out and went there to talk to me. "Can we talk, Lou? Please, I'm so happy you're back" I didn't say anything because, to be honest, I didn't believe she was happy about it. "Ok, I'm going to stay here until you decide to let me in" she said while I could hear her sitting in front of the door. I couldn't stand more than 20 minutes knowing she was there so I opened the door. "How many parties have you thrown without me?" I said opening the door. "I swear this was the first and last. Lisa wanted to keep partying but since the club closed I decided it was a good idea to continue it here. But Lou I swear I was going to tell you about it later. I swear" she said really worried. "And what about that guy you were flirting? In our own house y/n. You were going to tell me about him too?" I replied angrily. "I'm sorry, I don't know what I was thinking but Louis, look at me, of course, I wasn't going to do anything with him, I'm so sorry. I don't wanna lose you. I will do anything to solve this" "You know what, y/n? I think you're only sorry because I caught you. I don't think you were going to be fully honest with me tomorrow. I don't know if I can truly trust you" I could see her eyes getting full of tears and It broke my heart seeing her like that but I've never seen her acting like that before. "Can you at least give me a change? I would do anything for you to forgive me and I will work hard to win your trust again. Just give me a chance, please" she held my hand but  I wasn't going to lie to her and pretend like I had the answer. "I'm going to sleep in the guest room and we will talk about it tomorrow" she nodded knowing I wouldn't change my mind. Now we were both going to bed having a lot to think about.

ZAYN

"But you put on quite a show Really had me goin' But now it's time to go Curtain's finally closin'"

Zayn was your first serious relationship and the first time you felt like you were in love. You were happy, he was a great boyfriend and you mostly had a good time together except when it was about hanging out with your friends. You weren't popular or something but you have a few close friends that were really important to you and as you always had met their partner, you were excited they could finally meet yours. But Zayn wasn't that happy about it, he didn't like it going out for drinks or dancing because his friends made other types of plans and well, you understand that you had different types of friends but you did your best when you met his and you were hoping he would do the same but you were wrong. He only went out with you and your friends once, and it wasn't good. Your best friend didn't like him, Zayn didn't even try to make things less awkward and after a huge fight when you got back to his place you both decided it was for the better that you went out alone with your friends. And at first, it felt like a wise decision but then every time you went without him he would end up fighting you about anything and you had your night ruined, and then you would end up coming back home earlier than you planned. Your friends trying to make you realize that was how he wanted that you separated from them and you didn't believe it until one day he surprisingly got mad about the silliest thing ever when you were getting ready and that was it. You were done with his show and with his manipulations. "That's it Zayn, I'm done you ruining the plans with my friends. I know you don't like them and you want me to stay away from them. But the only thing you're getting is that I want to not be with you. So, I'm going out with them and if you care about us you will think of your actions while I'm gone" And you had no idea how much impact it would have on him, fortunately, good impact. He only texted you once to say good night and the next morning he made you an "I'm sorry" breakfast and you talked about it, making things better in your relationship.

HARRY

"Talkin' 'bout, "Girl, I love you, you're the one" This just looks like a re-run Please What else is on? Oh, oh"

You were out dancing in a club with your group of friends, everybody was wasted and having a great time. You were dancing with Harry. Harry was one of your closest friends, you were that close that sometimes it could include some benefits and you were okay with it until he started to say things like "I really like you, I want us to be more than friends, etc" when he was drunk and then never saying anything sober. Tonight you were hoping he wouldn't do it but as it was more than midnight he started saying "I think you and I are gonna get married eventually y/n" "You're drunk, Harry. You didn't mean it" you replied a little bit annoyed. "I love you" he said. And you went mad because those 3 words meant something to you and it didn't was supposed to be said joking. "Tell me you love me sober and I'll believe you. Because right now I know tomorrow you won't even remember saying them" and suddenly it was 5 am in the morning and you were staying at his place, wearing some of his pajamas and sleeping on her bed. You both woke up the next morning with a huge hangover and decided to make some breakfast together and like you expected it, he didn't say a word about last night you think he didn't even remember it. It looked like you were had to confront him because it wasn't fair to you, finally accepting you had a huge crush on him.

NIALL

"Oh, and the award for the best liar Goes to you (goes to you) For makin' me believe That you could be Faithful to me"

One of your favorites plans of lazy Sundays with Niall was seeing some series together. You would binge-watch a full season in one day and sometimes you stayed until 3 am watching it. This time you were watching the new season of Dark but you have promised to only watch until 10 pm because you had a really important meeting the next day and you needed to rest, as that time arrived Niall was anxious about keeping watching because the only chapter left was the last one but you truly wanted to sleep so you said no and he turned off the TV. You promised to see it tomorrow night when you got home from work. You got ready for bed and you feel sleep easily. It was 2 am and you woke up to not find Niall sleeping next to you. The light of the bathroom wasn't on so he wasn't there and you got worried. You got up to look for him when you found him in the guest room with headphones watching the last episode of dark. You got furious because how was it possible he couldn't wait one day to keep his promise? you remove the headphones of his head. "Seriously, Niall?" you said going back to bed and he got really scared. "Y/n I'm sorry I couldn't sleep, I need to know" he said following you to bed. "You couldn't wait 24 hours? That's betrayal" you said closing your eyes and putting your back to face him, he tried to cuddle you but you were mad and he knew he had to let you sleep or it would become worst. The next morning, he woke up early and made you breakfast, he even got ready to take you to work and you were giving him the ice treatment, but of course, you eat the food and let him take you, knowing he would have to make an effort for you to forgive him. You arrived to work and you were going to get out of the car but he grabbed you and gave you a kiss that made you feel a little less mad. In the end, you were lucky the only way he wasn't being faithful to you was about watching a show.