#hes fighting for his life just give him his order

[tokoyamisstuff]

Voice of Treason

1,7k. words | f! (player 222) Reader | angst | yandere behavior | pregnancy | mentions of death | not proofread

Squid Game S2 Spoilers ahead!

A/N: just a lil' drabble written on my phone, but this man got a chokehold on me so I needed to get it out of my system

A bloodcurling scream echoed through the hallways as you witness player 390's lifeless body drop to the ground.

You didn't even know his real name.

Both you and 456 had been forced on your knees, wailing on the ground as you mourned the death of your allies, well aware your own demise was imminent.

This whole ordeal was futile from the start, but you had decided that you'd follow this reckless fool to the grave rather than dying for the sick entertainment of a rich elite without even putting up a fight.

"Where is 001? What did you do to him, you bastard?!"

In-ho's face dropped behind the angular plastic of his mask, taken aback by your worry for him despite of your own hopeless situation. "Why do you care?" the distorted voice spoke callous despite his inner turmoil. "The man you got to know is long dead."

You collapse at this revelation and you let out heartbroken sobs, hugging your belly as if to cling to the last thing that kept you from spiraling into despair.

Gi-hun observed your interaction with great pity. It was understandable to develop feelings for another while trapped in such an insane life-and-death situation, especially since 001 had been especially protective of you due to your circumstance.

But player 456 that has become a mentor towards you had warned you several times to not give in to this irrational sentiment, reminding you that the man you fell for had an expecting wife waiting for him back home.

"Take them away" he orders his henchmen, withdrawing the gun before tearing his eyes away from you. "The game needs to continue."

"Take him" the man dressed in all-black ordered his henchmen, gesturing towards player 001 before busying himself with you again. "The game needs to continue."

Gi-hun's pleads to spare you if not for the unborn child's sake went on deaf ears as a bag was put over his head and he was dragged away.

The Frontman lifted his gun again, the shaking of his hand barely noticeable as the barrel stroke almost gently across your cheek, a black trail of gunpowder trailing his movement. With one swift movement he put it underneath your chin, forcing you to look up to him one final time.

In a last act of resistance you spat at the man's feet, your relentless glare imbued with hatred as it bore into his skull. "You're a monster!"

"I know."

And yet he couldn't bring himself to pull the trigger.

While you assumed sadistic glee as his motivator, In-ho was shocked with himself, caught in a labyrinth of his own mind. After a while of letting those conflicting emotions ravage his heart, he withdrew his weapon, signalizing the guard behind you to knock you out before sending a bullet straight to his head.

What he plans to do cannot allow any witnesses, even among his own ranks.

*~´*~´*~´*

God knows how much time had passed since then, but when you finally regained consciousness, only one question was burning urgently:

Why are you still alive?

You jolted up in a rush of adrenaline, scanning the unfamiliar room you were brought to. The interior was almost completely dipped in pitch black, even the furniture was no exception.

A new game, maybe?

Eventually your eyes caught the silhouette lurking in a corner of the room, leaned over in a huge armchair. That damned mask of his did nothing to hide the piercing glare you could feel underneath.

Feeling your rapid breaths and how your body started to tremble uncontrollably, panic threatened to consume your every sense.

Your mind was invaded with countless horrid scenarios to why a deranged man like him would take you back to - as it appeared - his private bedchamber.

The sheer sight of him was a nightmare, but seeing him approaching you with firm, deliberate steps shook you to the core. He pries off one of his gloves, laying them on the nightstand besides you with his whole demeanour perfectly composed.

A violent tremor jolts through your body as he reached out for you, however he merely places his hand onto your belly, unable to hold back a muffled gasp as he feels it kick beneath his palm.

"I had a doctor check on you while you were unconscious" he disclosed as if it was some sort of generous act. "The baby is perfectly fine. A little fighter, like it's mother."

It was meant to be a placating gesture but it had the complete opposite effect on you, not daring to guess the reason for his sudden interest.

Your face contorts in disgust and you shuffle away from his touch, pulling your knees to your chest and wrap the blanket over your belly, as if to shield it from this homicidal maniac. "Why- What do you want from me, you fucking lunatic?!"

There was a while of strained silence between your question and his answer.

"I told you to stay back, you foolish girl" he sighed, striping the hood from his head but his hand hesitated on the buckle of his mask. "But you insisted on joining this pathetic revolt."

The moment he unveiled his face your world scattered for the second time today, as you were confronted with the face of a dead man - at least the one you had mourned and wept for just shortly before.

Oh just seconds ago your greatest wish was to be able to see him one last time, to confess the things you had preserved until it felt like you'd burst with that secret admiration for him.

Right now however it was like staring straight into the abyss.

He forced his lips into a crooked bow, that fake excuse of a smile you had always thought to be remnant of the hardships he had to endure. But now you saw it - or rather him - for what it truly was.

This couldn't be real. It mustn't be real.

You replayed those words in your head over and over again, but they morphed into a nonsensical jumble, blurring with the overwhelming torment of confusion and betrayal.

He gazed at you with bated breath as he awaited your reaction, desperate to find any hint, at least a glimmer of affection in your features.

"Young-il?" you stammered with a meek, broken voice that buried him underneath a wave of shame he wasn't aware he could still feel.

He shakes his head. "No. My real name is Hwang In-ho...I'm sorry."

You knew the whole time, didnt you?

Something about him was off from the very start. The way he carried himself seemed to robotic, as if he was merely playing a role. Deep down you had always wondered about how his story never fully added up, so many times you ignored any suspicious behavior of his out of some twisted dependency.

And ever since you personally witnessed how he snapped the other contestant's neck without any remorse you had a plaqueing feeling that he wasn't who he claimed to be.

There was a wordless aggreement to keep quiet about this particular incident, due to your egoistical necessity of his protection.

That's when it dawned on you - he had already pulled you down to his level, made you his accomplice through your silence. And even now, all this time not even a single thought about the fate of your comrades had crossed your mind until now.

He only barely outranks you in selfish cruelty.

"Was-" you choke on a sob, feeling his thumb tenderly wipe away your tears just to be replaced with new ones. "Was it all a lie?"

"Not everything." In-ho spoke with a hint of melancholy in his bearing. "I did have an ill wife, back when I first participated. You remind me of her a lot actually...strong-willed and yet gentle." There was an undeniable reverence in his tone and the way his hand was still gracing your cheek. "I participated and won just for her...but when I returned, she was already gone."

You were torn between the seething anger and an irrational urge to comfort this grief-strickened man, in your shock the severity of his words not leaving you unscathed. "That- that still doesn't excuse a single one of your actions!" Refusing to give in you spat venom at him either way, reminding yourself the aching of your heart should be nothing but newfound hatred for the man.

"I'm aware" The Frontman neither aggrees nor denies your accusations, as it doesnt't matter to him at all. His voice is unbearably cold, the softness of his in it you were used to now replaced by a sharp edge. "I don't expect anything...no understanding or even acceptance. But i cant- won't let you go."

You could see it in his eyes that his stoic facade was crumbling, he was teetering on the brink of a bottomless pit, begging for a lifeline, needing for your presence to save him from the darkness within.

"I wanted to help you become the winner." In-ho takes a hold of your hands, squeezing them ever so slightly in the naive hope to convince you of his pure intentions. "That wasn't my plan initially, but I decided to risk it all to keep you safe. I swear I will protect you and our child, no matter what."

Our child. Such a small word yet such a huge impact. The implication sent a shiver down your spine, understanding it was like swallowing shards of glass.

In-Ho leans his forehead against yours, his own eyes glistening with usnhed tears. "You're my redemption, my salvation..." He trails off, suddenly grabbing the back of your neck, pulling your lips to crash over his. It was a searing kiss, one that demanded surrender, that commanded obedience, a vow to keep you at his side whether you want it or not.

You writhe against his hold as he cradles you in his arms, but his embrace is like a steel vice, suffocating and unyielding just as his love.

"I couldn't save her..." he rasps in a hoarse whisper, every syllable laced with utter determination. "Allow me to at least save you."

[harmeu]

ARGUMENTS 

(HSR X READER) (ANGST)

(Amphoreus Men)

(GN!READER)

MYDEI: (His devotion to his fight which results in neglect.)

You couldn’t remember the last time you and your beloved spouse had talked to each other. It was as if Mydei’s mind was constantly on things that neglected you heavily. Even a simple “How are you today”  would’ve been enough at this point. It hurt a lot. As if millions of daggers pierced you everytime Mydei walked past without saying anything. You were his lover for God’s sake.

Mydei was in the training room punching dummies with ease, letting them break into shards as they thumped onto the ground, his knuckles bleeding heavily from the constant fight.

You stepped in peeking through the small opening of the door with your wide gaze contemplating to yourself if you should walk in and say something or not. 

Eventual acceptance of the option ‘yes’ overthrew your mind so you walked in and Mydei’s keen senses picked up on it immediately.

“What is it.” His gruff reply made it sound like he was annoyed. (Which he probably was.) 

“You’ve been busy lately.” You mumbled out moving from one foot to another a bit nervous to how he was going to reply.

“Of course I am. You know my duties.” Mydei went back to smashing his fists against the solid wooden dummies as you winced at the sight and decided to walk up, up to him.

“I miss you.” You murmured out making Mydei freeze slightly and you could’ve sworn he softened. But as fast as it came it vanished. Mydei was back to his tense state. 

“You should know everything I deal with in a singular day.”

“But I’m your lover!” You exclaimed out flinching at your own tone of voice and words making Mydei turn looking at you in your eye for the first time. 

“That doesn’t matter.” He huffed out. Okay wow. Now it was your turn to be cruel.

“No wonder everyone finds you difficult.” You spat back leaving the door slamming heavily making the walls vibrate as Mydei stared dumbfounded at the shut door clenching his fists.

PHANION: (Accusations that result in anger.)

Phanion was a gentle soul with you. The perfect boyfriend in your eyes. Though as days passed you had a weird gut feeling. As if he was talking to someone other than you. Not possible. Right. The constant ‘they’re just a friend’ sounded like a lie. But you didn’t have any proof. Not yet at least.

Phanion was sitting on your local bench quietly reading as you walked up to him with a half lidded gaze of suspicion. Feeling your hard gaze Phanion sighed, shutting his book and standing up to match your height.

“Don’t give me that look.” Phanion murmured frowning with a pained expression on his face making you feel a hint of guilt. 

“It’s just that you’re constantly not letting me meet your friends at all. As if you’re hiding something from me.” Your fists clenched, eyeing up at Phanion as he narrowed his own gaze at your words.

“I do not let you meet them in order for them to not do anything to you darling.” Lies. You repeated in your head. You were being unreasonable. You knew that. But your gut feeling never failed you. 

“I don’t believe you.” You said spitefully making Phanion droop in hurt as you frowned at his reaction. You were expecting anger.

“Why don’t you trust me?” Phanion said holding your hand. He really had to pull that card out didn’t he.

“I do..I just.” As if knowing you were in the wrong, the only option left in your mind was to get out of the scene immediately. You let go of Phanions hand shakily leaving Phanion standing next to the bench alone as he stared at your slowly disappearing figure with a pained look.

ANAXA: (His anger towards the Gods.)

You knew your spouse's hatred towards the Gods. It never bothered you really because the people of Amphoreus worshipped titans rather than the Aeons above. Though Anaxa seemed to be solely focused on that singular emotion of hatred removing everything else in his life. Including you.

You were sitting in bed with Anaxa as he fixed up his eyepatch with his usual elegance as he eyed the several books in front of him that talked about the several elements the Gods gave down to the mortals.

“Anaxa.” You mumbled out tilting your head as Anaxa hummed out a reply as you frowned. “Why are you so focused on this subject?” 

Anaxa sighed at your words as if he was contemplating you speaking out on this matter and turned his gaze towards you. 

“You don’t know what these Aeons have done to our people. They’re vultures.” Anaxa spat out with seeming elegance despite his harsh words. 

“I feel like you’re forgetting about everything to focus on this.” You said a hushed whisper as Anaxa narrowed his gaze.

“That’s utter lies darling. I have enough mindspace to deal with everything.” You stared at him blankly. You doubted it at this point honestly.

“I feel like you’re lying.” Silence dawned between the two of you at your words as if rendering Anaxa speechless from your statement. Which added onto your doubt from his quietness. 

Silently Anaxa grabbed his things and left. 

Did he just storm off?

I post in like once a century oopsie (Since I don't know anything about the characters personalities I went off looks and the trailers)

[silcobrainrot]

I was typing out a reply to this post and then I realized I lost the plot so bad that I didn't want to derail OP's point so here it is. OP's points that I'm reflecting on:

Zaun is a very fucked place with a very fucked system. He’s doing what he thinks needs to be done in order to at some point be able to rein it in and make it better. He wanted to give Zaun a fighting chance against Piltover. He wanted to make them equal. And in a place where there are no rules. And people talk with violence. You’re going to have to make some very awful choices in order to not only take control, but have enough power to fix it. He may not have been the one to change Zaun, but he’s raised the girl that could.

"but he’s raised the girl that could." SO fucking true and I wish s2 had let her. firing that rocket at the council was a promise to make their lives hell. i didn't need to see her as the leader of a movement but it would have been nice to see her enable and enact change just by being a powerful loose cannon. Act 1 almost gave us this but then she decided that Jinx was dead in ep 4 and then we don't see her do much of anything until she shows up to the battle in the finale. She could have spent the season being unhinged, having agency and making actual choices that have consequences for herself, Zaun, and Piltover (she was responsible for most of the inciting incidents in s1). The good consequences and the bad.

Let her run wild. Show her lose herself to her grief and anger and how much she misses him and how fucked all of this is. Then bring her back. Not in a redemption arc way, I don't think she needs that, but in a way where she finally understands what she wants her life to be. She mourns the loss, she comes out of her grief, she forgives herself for killing him because it's what he would have wanted, and for the first time ever, she gets to choose what her path in life will be. It's time to be her own person. She's not a hero, she'll never lose her enjoyment of violence and chaos, but she is no longer fueled by anger and hatred and vengeance.

Let Sevika use the stuff Jinx does on her own--avenging Silco and taking vengeance against Piltover--to lead a movement. Let Sevika struggle with keeping the people who worked under Silco loyal to the mission. Show us how Sevika got on good terms with Scar [the firelights' leader while Ekko was away] and what an alliance between the movement for change inspired by Jinx, and the firelights, could accomplish for Zaun. Bringing them hope that change is really possible. Getting them out of their homes and their "every man for himself" mentality and get them believing in something. Wanting more for themselves. Organizing. Community services. Shared resources. Fucking unionizing idk. We see so many of Zaun's worst people but there are normal people living in normal poverty just trying to get by down there, too. Show us the Zaun Silco had become so disconnected from due to isolation and obsession.

It started with Silco, despite how flawed his methods were and how they did so much damage to the Undercity. An evil he thought was necessary because he didn't know any other truth in life besides pain and misery. But it started with him, and it gets realized by his daughter and lieutenant. Sevika is probably the closest thing he had to a friend, who stuck by his side despite how much their methods were hurting the people they were trying to liberate. The people who worked closest to him, lived closest to him, and could see the flaws in both his methods and him as a man, finishing what he started.

But instead we get Jinx committing suicide and Sevika joining the council which. Jesus fucking christ I don't even want to get myself started on that bullshit. @wetnoodle thank you for the brain worm

[howtodrawyourdragon]

Does Berk think Hiccup is frivolous in Httyd 1? Maybe a little bit aloof?

Stoick tells him to stop joking around in the opening scene of the movie, after the dagons have left. "This isn't a joke, Hiccup!" He tells him. And he tells him that after his rant about how he has things to worry about, like making sure the village doesn't starve in the coming winter, Hiccup answers to with a sassy "the village could do with a little less feeding, don't you think?" Which really only manages to make Stoick even more mad.

After their first lesson in dragon training, Gobber asks the class "where did Hiccup go wrong?" and Astrid's response is "he's never where he should be." I think she means it literally. Why is Hiccup, of all people, in dragon training? Ruffnut and Tuffnut make sense. Snotlout makes sense. Even Fishlegs makes sense. (especially since Fishlegs has already shown effort by memorizing the Book of Dragons, effort Astrid clearly approves of given her shock at the twins and Snotlout disregarding Gobber's order to read the book.)

But Hiccup? Hiccup McSassyPants? Who gets told that his village could starve in the winter and answers with "well maybe they should eat less"? Who steps outside during a raid and actually causes more damage than the dragons pretending he's capturing a Night Fury? What is he doing in dragon training? That class literally ended with Hiccup almost losing his life to a Gronckle.

This is further backed up when after she has to protect both herself and Hiccup from a Deadly Nadder, which happened because Hiccup wasn't paying attention the whole time, getting them both in trouble. (Which is because he's fixating on figuring out a certain Night Fury, but they don't know that. To them, it just looks like he's annoying Gobber with meaningless questions. Why are you asking about the Night Fury? The one dragon who's single instruction is "hide and pray it doesn't find you"?) She explicitly asks him "Is this some kind of a joke to you?"

Followed up by "Our parent's war is about to become ours. Figure out which side you're on."

Once again someone questions Hiccup about how serious he takes things. But it's more than that, she's trying to give him a wake up call! Wake up, Hiccup, our parents are actually fighting a genuine war here and someday it'll be your turn! Stop making everything a joke before you get yourself or someone else killed!

Astrid actually isn't as much against Hiccup at this point as people often believe. There are actually a few points in which she eithers feels sorry for him or tries to help him in her own Astrid-y way. (And if the deleted scene hadn't been deleted, there would've been an almost friendly conversation had between the two before dragon training even starts)

Let's also not forget Hiccup's and Stoick's talk before dragon training even starts. When Stoick shows some actual vulnerability by laying his son's life in his son's and Gobber's hands when he decides to give in and let Hiccup go to dragon training while he's off on a voyage.

Hiccup tells his father "I don't wanna fight dragons!" in a tone that is rather pleading. To which is father chuckles and says to him "come on, yes you do!"

Remember in the opening, Hiccup practically makes the claim that he lives and breathes to kill dragon, it's "who he is." And now he suddenly claims he doesn't want to fight dragons at all? Can't fight them?

Stoick keeps his tone light, telling his son that he will fight dragons, don't you worry about that, Hiccup. With Hiccup doubling down that he's very extra-sure that he can't fight dragons, which makes Stoick double down in return, his levity disappearing.

"Can you not hear me?" Hiccup asks, desperate to be heard.

"This is serious, son!" Says Stoick. Which makes this three times that Hiccup is explicitly told to take something serious. (And you can just see the disbelieve or realization in Hiccup's eyes as he's once again not being listened to.)

(Followed by Stoick telling him to act like everyone else and to stop being Hiccup, which gets him, you guessed it, a sarcastic remark from Hiccup.)

We know that Hiccup changed his mind about participating in dragon training because he found out he couldn't kill Toothless. (or rather, he can't kill the scared and the defenseless, as the Red Death would later show) But Stoick doesn't know that. Berk actually seems to know very little about Hiccup and that's why they think that he's joking around at all times.

I'm willing to bet that the "disasters" he causes "every time he steps outside" aren't much of a help either. (and I wonder how many of these are actually Hiccup's fault or if Hiccup happened to be involved, so the blame is just automatically put on him.)

And this isn't a post to bash Hiccup. I love him to death, I love his sass as much as any other fan. And I am very much of the opinion that Hiccup's sass is a defense mechanism.

His feelings get hurt, so he tries to hurt someone else's back. Like when he probably feels guilty about his father worrying about the village getting through the winter, so he makes that comment about how the village could eat less to offset that guilt. (Which again, only makes Stoick angrier.) And I think the proof is in the rest of the franchise.

Hiccup sasses the most when he's 15-16, a.k.a from Httyd 1 to DoB. But by the time we see him again in RttE (chronologically) he sasses a little less and in a friendlier and more playful context, but he has also matured to deal with his negative feelings differently. RttE is, chronologically, when Stoick actually begins to consider if his son is ready to be chief. He can see how much Hiccup has matured, especially when there's such physicaly distance between them. It's the equivalent of not seeing someone over summer break or watching someone go traveling and see how much they've changed when you reunite with them.

(also, he can knock Snotlout unconscious with a single punch, I bet that helps as well.)

But it is the way Hiccup chooses to defend himself, giving sassy comments (think "Thanks, I was trying!" to Snotlout's comment about the mess he made) to either painful comments about him or actual serious statements like the ones Stoick makes that still gets him in the feels that make him seem so shallow and unserious in the eyes of Berk.

Then there is his apparent history of crying wolf. When he actually does manage to shoot down a Night Fury, his father doesn't believe him and Hiccup explicitly says "this isn't like the last few times, I mean I really actually hit it! It went down!"

When you combine all of this, you get a teenager who doesn't appear to take anybody serious, including the lives of himself and others. Terrible traits to have as a person, let alone when you're the chief's son.

Somehow, a narrative of frivolity and aloofness was build around Hiccup that he just could not escape no matter how much he tried to crawl out of it. At some point, Berk put him in a box, marked it "jokester" and Hiccup's efforts to get out of that box only grew and grew. When his efforts failed, whenever he sassed back, Berk just pushed him even deeper into that box. Not looking further into what Hiccup actually needed or was trying to say.

Do I think Berk was right? Not at all, because this is all surface-level, things Hiccup legitimately says and does to protect himself and nobody realizes this.

Toothless doesn't speak a single word to him during the Forbidden Friendship scene, yet he can get across exactly what he expects from Hiccup (mainly "keep your distance, I don't trust you enough") without being mean about it. He doesn't snap, he doesn't bare his teeth. He just gives him faces that Hiccup understands. Only growling or hissing when Hiccup passes a boundary Toothless very clearly isn't comfortable with. (or, let's say, when his feelings are hurt, like when Hiccup steps on toothless' first drawing.)

And it's because he's not mean about it that he actually makes more progress with Hiccup in half a day than Berk does his entire 15 years.

And that's sad. That's what this post is about. About how sad it is that Berk takes Hiccup at a very shallow level and decides that must be his entire self as a person.

[noctuadora]

Okay so I just woke up from a 4hr nap wanting to talk about Leon for a bit. Emphasis on just woke up, so expect my thoughts to be jumbled.

To be honest, the more I think about this specific post (and the quotes that came with it) the more I don’t get how people can say that Leon is a “MEAN guy who’s actually corrupt and morally grey” when in fact…

He didn’t hesitate to protect Ada from getting shot. He was gentle with her—despite revealing later that he did not trust her that much—and mourned her ‘death’ even after she pointed her gun and betrayed him. He only knew her for a day.

He sacrificed himself and started working for the government in order to protect Sherry. He didn’t have a choice, but he also said that he didn’t regret it. He only knew her for a day as well.

He comforted Ashley after seeing how terrified she was from being controlled by the virus. It must’ve been scary for him as well, realizing the unpredictability of the Los Plagas infection, but nevertheless he prioritized in making her feel safe and reassured. She was his mission, but he didn’t treat her like a mission—he was warm and friendly with her.

He mourned Luis’ death. He lit up his last cigarette and patiently listened to him talk about his regrets. He held his hand tightly. Despite knowing he worked for Umbrella—the very company that ruined his life—he sympathised with him.

He refused to give the chip to Claire in order to protect her. Some think that his decision was made because he wanted to ‘protect the government’, but it doesn’t take much to understand that he knew and understood (ex. Shen May’s situation) that Claire’s life will be in danger if he gives the chip. She is his dear friend—one of the only people who understood what he’d been through in Raccoon City—he couldn’t bear to lose her.

(Extra: I haven’t read the Infinite Darkness comic but this post mentioned that Leon made time to visit an injured detective he barely knew in the hospital and even asked the condition of two other guards.)

There are a lot more instances in other installments that showed Leon’s unwavering kindness, but I’ll stop here since it’s almost 4AM and I need to get ready for work.

Resident Evil isn’t particularly known for its story and writing, and there are a lot of inconsistencies and shit, but one of the things that stayed consistent all throughout the franchise is Leon Kennedy’s need to protect the people around him. It didn’t matter if he only met them for a day or they’ve wronged him. If he could just save one more life, he’d gladly push himself to the limit (and that is his biggest strength… and flaw).

Some people love to perceive him as either: a lovestruck fool who is a puppy for someone, or a man who is a corrupted mean jerk… but all I see is a man whose heart is so wounded yet continues to fight and give protection to those who need it. He may be working for the government now, yes, but that genuine part of him hasn’t changed, and will not change.

[hayamie]

Word count: 1,3k

1.6.25 (mm.dd.yy)

You blinked, the gears in your brain working as you tried to process your brother's Idea.

He blinked back at you with the widest and cutest smile he could muster. His whole being vibrating from excitement from his idea that he has yet to execute.

You gulped, not wanting to break the poor angel's heart whilst not wanting him to be in danger because of his idea.

"Lucifer.." You started, taking a seat on a nearby rock. His eyes light up at the mention of his name.

Your eyes softened. He really is God's most beautiful angel. "That's really sweet of you to consider the humans. Giving them the option to choose their own paths in life, choosing for themselves.. I really think it's a great idea! But…” you bit your lower lip, watching his smile slowly fade.

Before you could explain further, he suddenly murmured out, “When did you start siding with the others...?” Your eyes widened, flying up from the rock and going closer to him.

"No, no! It's not like that! Just," you sighed “This idea of yours is going.. a bit too far."

“Too far?" Lucifer repeated, "Is.. Is that what you've been thinking of my ideas? They're going too far— too much for you?" Lucifer snapped. He couldn't believe it, you were the only one who supported his ideas, loved it even and defended him from the elders when they disagreed with his ideas. But you're siding with them now? Now out of all times?

“Look, I know it seems like it but this idea could cost you more than just a few warnings from the elders.” You spoke, taking deep breaths. God why are you getting so emotional? “It's clear as the Great Almighty Lord's blinding light that the elders don't approve much of your ideas. This… whole giving the apple of knowledge to the humans' would…“ you trailed off, the words getting stuck in your throat as you fought back tears.

“Would what?" Lucifer furrowed his eyebrows, noticing your lips quiver. What could possibly go wrong with giving the humans the free will to choose? That they don't need to constantly follow the seraphims or even the elders' orders that were planted here because it would be their own choice to listen to them or not.

God, if the humans were to know they had a choice, what are the possibilities of them creating something of their own? Endless! Then, dare he say, the garden of Eden won't be as boring as it is right now.

A hand on the shoulder was all it took for Lucifer to snap his attention back at you, “I know you're doing this out of good will, but.. this idea could be the end of you, Lucifer.”

The end of him? Him? Lucifer? Surely you jest, you're talking to the angel who god sculpted into perfection. His ideas are just as important as the elders' orders!

You saw him furrowed his eyebrows, it seems he doesn't know the danger he'll be putting to himself and to his lover if he really does plan on executing his idea.

“Lucifer," you placed your other hand on his other shoulder, his eyes now at yours once again. “Please... Please drop this idea, I.." your lip quivered as you continued, "I don't wanna lose you.” You pleaded.

His eyes softened, he watched you fight back your tears from spilling he slowly pulled you into a hug. Muttering out okay.

“Promise?" You spoke, in his shoulder as you tried to blink away the tears that threatened to fall out.

Lucifer buried his head in your shoulder, "Promise.”

—

"What's got you all gloomy, darling?” Lilith spoke, giggling at how Lucifer immediately snapped his head in her direction.

His cheeks adorned with warm yellow as he stared at Lilith lovingly. “Nothing, it's just..” he paused, not sure whether to tell Lilith about what you and him talked about earlier or not.

He sighed, feeling Lilith take a seat besides him, wrapping her arms around the little angel before planting a kiss on his forehead. “You can tell me." She muttered out. Giving him a small smile.

He returned the gesture, leaning into her touch and sighing out, again. “It's just… I'm just thinking if my idea is..” he lowered his gaze to the ground, recalling your words. "going a little too far this time.” He finished. Gazing at the apple that's hanging from the tree of knowledge.

Lilith’s gaze softened, “Who told you that?"

Lucifer muttered your name softly at her, Lilith clenched her hands in response. Why did you say that to him? He already had his plate full because of the elders, and now you? She was fuming. She never thought you'd go against his idea, not once had it crossed her mind.

Now that you've sided with the elders, he has no one else to support him other than her now. Elders be damned! She'll support him no matter how crazy his ideas are. It's the reason why she fell in love with him.

“If you'd ask me.." Lilith started. Putting her hand on top of his. "You should still do it.”

"What?” Lucifer's eyes snapped back at her.

Lilith only smiled, "If she won't support you, then I will.”

Lucifer’s breath hitched, she looked so beautiful in that moment. His lips turned into a smile, eyes looking at her full of adoration. He's so lucky to have her.

On cue, they saw Eve going towards the tree of knowledge. Lucifer felt a nudge on his side, looking at Lilith who's encouraging him to go. He smiled, giving her a peck on the lips before transforming into a snake.

Lilith watched as he slithered towards Eve. A smile adorned on her lips.

—

“Lucifer Morningstar, who committed a serious crime by going against the Lord’s word and giving the humans the apple from the tree of knowledge. Therefore you are banished from heaven.”

You stared at horror as you watched Lucifer hug his lover, trying to explain himself to the elders. But all his words fell on deaf ears as the elders raised their hands.

A portal opened from behind them. Lucifer looked at the hole wide-eyed before turning to the elders, stepping forward to explain but was met with multiple angelic spears pointed at them. Your breath hitched.

“Does anyone object to the banishment?" The elder asked, eyeing the other seraphim.

"I do!” You said aloud, your hand raised up high for everyone to see.

"Shouldn't we hear his side of the story first before deciding on anything? You don't even know his intentions were at that time! So please, let us hear what he has to say..." You pleaded, flying over to where Lucifer and Lilith are.

"His intentions revealed itself the moment he gave the apple to Eve, giving the humans the knowledge of good and bad. Seraph (Y/n), the humans have become one of us.” an elder stated. Their multiple eyes looking at you as they spoke.

“But he never had any ill intentions!" Lilith suddenly spoke from behind Lucifer - who was shielding her from the spears.

"Why are you already banishing us without even hearing our reason?!" Lilith yelled out, rage beginning to bubble inside of her.

"Lilith—" Lucifer spoke, glancing at his lover

"No! Lucifer, they're making decisions without even giving your ideas a chance to be heard! They—"

“SILENCE!"

Everyone went quiet.

“Lucifer went against the Lord's word, that's more than enough reason to banish you from heaven!”

Your eyes gazed up from Lilith and at the elders.

“But Elder—"

“(Y/n), you know better than to go against the Lord's will, being a seraph yourself after all. Or do you suggest you go along with them?" An elder snapped at you. Their spears now pointed at you.

You were taken aback, did you just got.. threatened? You were now given a choice whether to stay quiet or defend Lucifer and suffer the consequences.

...You chose the former.

Lucifer's eyes widened as he watched you start to retreat to your station. He grabbed your hand before you could get even further from him, eyes pleading for you to stay. To defend him like you always do.

Glancing at the spears directed at them before gazing back at Lucifer's pleading eyes. You whispered to him, “you promised."

With a huff, the elders - along with you - faced the two lovers once again. Raising his spear as he spoke

“I hereby BANISH you from the garden of Eden, never to set foot in heaven ever AGAIN.”

Using your wings to cover your eyes, not wanting to watch him fall to damnation. All the elders pointed their spears at them, except yours.

And with that, they fell.

Hearing the portal disappear, officially making the meeting come to a close as all the elders flew up to leave,

You stayed. Refusing to uncover your eyes as tears began to slowly slip down your cheeks.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ➨ the LUCIFER MORNINGSTAR divider is made by yours truly.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ➨ Photos: From PINTEREST.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ➥ Lucifer looking up

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ➥ Blueberry cakes

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ➥ Lucifer holding a lamb

ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁 .ᐟ AAAAA first fanfic.... Still got a longg way to go.

[my1interspatial2corner]

Batman and mischaracterization

It drives me nuts how inconsistent the comics are when portraying a character because essentially all comics are fanfiction created by artists that got hired by the company. So you got a fan who got the concept of Bruce Wayne as a character completely wrong and is writing bad fanfiction except it's canon and it's a mess.

Writers always seem to forget that Bruce Wayne isn't batman or his playboy persona, he's a weird middle of it. Bruce Wayne is a traumatized man who doesn't know how to properly convey his emotions and affection, a man who pours love from his broken cup into his children in hopes of mending his own past. Despite it all he is still a traumatized man, deeply mistrustful and wanting to take care of things himself in order to feel like he has some stability in his life. He isn't emotionless, he's a whole ass wreck but he hides it well, so much so it confuses himself. He hasn't processed properly the fact that his parents have died- he knows they're dead he just never allowed himself to grieve through it, not that it wouldn't have scarred him otherwise (he WAS pretty young) but it wouldn't have made him into a crime fighting vigilante by the night. And since he hasn't processed the fact it affects the way he acts, think and so on.

It's something difficult to portray and I understand that but by God does it make me go a little cocoo whenever Bruce Wayne is portrayed like a male alpha who punches and doesn't do emotions. Please give the man the depth he deserves, show that a man can be vulnerable yet strong, that someone can be scarred but loving in their own way, that despite it's flaws he's still a caring father who is trying his best. People don't just want to read a comic filled with fights they want to see character depth, something relatable, something complex, something human that speaks to you. Not what is essentially a caricature to what Batman is.

[jovishark]

season 2 of danny phantom is interesting to me in a lot of ways, partly artwise and partly writing-wise

its Interesting to me how the plots become less smalltime human-centered stories and mostly all end of the world sort of things. vlad cloning danny. dannys evil future. freakshows infinity reality gauntlet taking over the world. the ghosts that are introduced tend to have bigger gimmicks and bigger aspirations. the episodes Move faster in a way that almost gives you emotional whiplash, because it feels like the characters dont even have enough time to properly interact with/react to what just happened.

the thing thats mostly interesting to me though is the breakneck pace and higher stakes lends itself to something they often point out about danny: hes overprotective.

he points out that valeries costume is being remotely controlled, and valerie isnt in it, so he has permission from himself to go ham and blast the shit out of it. he goes easy on her on purpose, to protect her. sam gets a whole episode that danny barely had to be in when shes kidnapped by dragons and empowers her way out of it. danny still shows up to rescue her, is chastised for ruining her working plan, and then still inserts himself into the final fight. tucker gets a whole episode to advocate for himself when danny (and sam) override his opinions. danny is forcibly removed for part of the plot but still finds his way back to make sure tucker is okay, even though technically, Anyone could have told tucker to just drop the scepter or order the sphynx around.

a lot of episodes are created specifically around the idea that the people in dannys life have to prove how capable they are to him, just to avoid him butting in with his ghost powers. sure. yes. a lot of these things happen because a ghost is there. and its reasonable that the ghost powered boy would be helpful. but when you look at valerie or even his sister and parents, they have a lot of power by themselves. danny is both a hero and a victim but the one constant throughline is that he is uncomfortable when it is not about him

[drdrizzey]

(possibility part 1) of Putting Arcane characters, events and politics into our world's perspective! (Because why not?)

That french guy on tiktok pointed out the sociopolitical implications in arcane, linking them with actual political events or politically engaged individuals and dynamics in France and in the US, and I couldn't agree more on a lot of things he says.

I won't cite most of the french politicians he named because it's not that relevant, but I will break down a few of his points and add up on them. I find the captions pretty tricky when it comes to translation so I'm going to use my bilingual powers for that one<3

Silco :

For starters, he points out the way Silco portrays the instances where left wing revolutionaries who purposely intended to fight against capitalism (piltover) ended up reproducing said capitalism at their own scale (the shimmer empire). On that I'd like to add the fact that Silco's actions keep entertaining this whole concept of "becoming the person you're fighting against". In wanting his nation of Zaun, protecting Zaunites, he actually ends up making their lives worse in many ways, creating addicts, and insecurities. The same way piltover uses Zaun for its own cause, Silco ends up doing the same with many Zaunites.

Vander :

On the other hand, Vander is more of a portrayal of people giving up on activism to protect their personal lives, the same way that would be the case with activists stopping their actions after receiving death threats, or people that were very active in their communities when they were younger but gradually stopped when their priority switched to their family and when they got the occasion on going back on it they simply didn't, but never gave up their initial morals and values, simply the will and ambition to put them into actions. It's pretty self explanatory.

Jayce :

Then, jayce would portray the kind of people who due to their heritage are fundamentally more left sided socially speaking, but are more prone to range alongside more right wing politicians and elitists as a way to grab opportunities whenever they show up, suddenly brushing off their background, not that they are ashamed of it, but more that they need they "have to" in order to succeed and meet the expectations people might have of him, or to "open more doors" for himself, constantly leaving a bitter taste to any of his success. To a certain extent it could lead to him feeling like the lines of his own morals are constantly blurring, the same way it's shown in the scene where due to his fatigue he tells Victor that Zaunites are "dangerous". It's not only due to his mental struggles and tiredness at the moment but also due to his exposure to very closet minded people on the subject, enforcing ideologies that he maybe wouldn't have had on his own. It doesn't take much for him to switch from one way to the other, making it hard for him to make concrete decisions sometimes.

Jinx and ekko :

Jinx and ekko are the manifestations of the consequences of sociopolitical conflicts. They are a result of it. That much is also pretty self explanatory especially with jinx being a woman and ekko being black, and them both being late teenagers, even with the matter of racism not being directly a subject in Arcane, it is something that speaks to us as viewers. They both unwillingly are stuck in a position where their communities (Zaun in this case) are being minimised and dismissed in a way and they struggle to make their voices be heard (the same way this is often the case in both feminism and BLM movements.) It's a clear overpoliticalisation, and even if it's not on purpose (since arcane has a brilliant way of normalising diversity in the best ways possible), the fact that they are who they are just makes sense to a lot of people and reminds them how activism can be in real life as well. Ekko and jinx also have very different ways of manifesting their engagements in their actions. You could as well see ekko like those people making smaller communities and associations for exemple.

Caitlin :

Caitlin could be a right wing from a very elitist and more conservatism oriented household who's racist but "I'm not racist! My friend here is black." Or "x is different." And thrives off claiming wanting to help people and helping getting "insecurities and street violence" off and making the (higher classes) people (her own community) feel "safer" by simply converting their ideas into socially threatening actions and opinions towards minorities. Sugar coating hate speech or justify cop violence, basically.

Vi :

Vi would be anyone who came from more precarious households or minorities and ended up switching sides, turning up against her own people. It's kind of a more extreme Jayce case in a way. (Which makes them an even more interesting pair when we have that in mind.)

There's actually so much more to talk about, I've added a lot of my own interpretations but he also says that Mel is basically Kamala Harris (which is a bit funny, it is accurate.) those are just most of the characters he talked about but I could easily think of other things to say for pretty much any arcane character, it's part of why Arcane is so good.

Also a French moment here, can I point out how great it is that a french studio got to make a show with so much political implications and will for revolution and change while France is currently in a pretty politically complicated state at the moment? (When is it not honestly? but you get it.)

There's so much more to talk about so let me know if I should go over more characters, everything and everyone is a bit political when you really think about it.

I'm a bit tempted to go over more stuff on the subject now))

[sirmidezz]

Teehee another drawing of my character. One of Jrs red flags is that he would actually try this. So quirky (sarcasm) for a self insert because I would never do this in my life. Now I will list his red flags, just not in order because that's my personal red flag.

He tends to not take care of himself and when he finally does it lasts for 3 days.

EVERYTHING needs to be exquisitely perfect for Jr to have a moment of peace, even if it isn't true peace.

He blocks everyone out when he is feeling like crap and literally no one can talk to him without feeling disrespected even though Jr probably just listened like he does regularly.

When fighting he can sometimes take it too far and say stuff he will really regret.

When it's the world's fault he blames himself but when it's his fault he blames the world, and himself.

Doesn't eat properly like at all, if he doesn't eat for 2 days the 3rd day he will eat quite a lot for his size which isn't that big.

Steals the mercenaries stuff. Small stuff that when stolen it causes a slight inconvenience to the mercs (pens, lighters, cigarettes etc)

Favors sniper but ultimately when sniper is nice back to Jr, he will shut out sniper for some time.

Is way too hard on himself and because of that is ultimately hard on other people, not on purpose though.

Dwells too much on the past and has a hard time moving forward.

Anyways I hope you enjoyed all the red flags I've got to give.

[lifegoesonevenifeverybodyisgone]

THE Joe Character Analysis. Part 2: Individual Choice vs Collectivism.

"How does Joe fit in the overall 2.0 story?"

An important thing to consider when conducting a character analysis is the relationship of the character with the story they are a part of. In Joe's case, what is his relationship with the 2.0 event, Floor It! To The Golden City?

After rewatching the entire 2.0 event and taking notes, something came to my attention when I watched Chapter 9: Snake in the Grass.

"Two bags of gold in a cave"

To give background to this scene, Matilda receives intel from one of the arcanist vendors which can help in fighting the cult but may endanger Mercuria's life since she'll intervene. The dillemma: Should she tell Mercuria or not?

As pictured above, Matilda goes to the bar and asks Pioneer for advice regarding her dilemma by an analogy: two bags of gold in a cave. There are two bags of gold in a cave and the dragon will consume more and more of it the longer you don't take action. You can only grab 1 bag and your friend can help you with the other, but your friend helping you WILL endanger their life. Should you let them?

Pioneer responds with this:

It didn't immediately click for me until I connected it with a later part of this chapter. When Mercuria performs for the crowd and dances outside of the rhythmn, Matilda questions this.

Pioneer tries to show Matilda another perspective.

THEN WAIT! What was that?

This was when it first clicked to me that the theme of 2.0 may be heavily based on the concept of individual choice which is consistently contrasted with the collective community that they find themselves in.

Other than J, the other playable character from this patch is Mercuria. Unlike J, her work in the story was more in the sidelines. Regardless I should note that her actions heavily changed the plot because Mercuria literally foresaw everything that happened in 2.0 and served as a catalyst for the happier outcome.

Going back to this line:

Throughout the story, Mercuria has been fundamental to changing the views of Legers and Gio regarding their families and themselves. It may have even been possible that she foresaw how much Matilda was going to change J's life (which may explain how the inciting incident of Joe getting to know Matilda happened in Mercuria's tent). Mercuria represents the themes of freedom, individual choice, and self-reflection.

I argue that Joe (protagonist) and Legers (antagonist -> ally) represent the other half of this: community, brotherhood, and collectivism. Specifcally, both men are the considered the big figures of their respective gangs, highly respected in their communities, and have a deep interpersonal conflict that has to do with their siblings due to differing paths in life.

Another interesting thing to note regarding culture, both men come from cultures that are family oriented and collectivist. Legers is an Italian from Sicily, just like the Greco sisters, Schneider and Marian. I am pretty sure that Bluepoch is aware of this cultural effect.

As mentioned before, I suspect that J has Mexican descent (a culture known for being family oriented and collective). Other than that, it has been explicitly stated in his storyboard that his friends and family are a valuable to him. This is also what motivates him.

When it comes to indivualism vs collectivism, I do not suggest that one is better than the other since both have their place. It's important to have a balance of both, a community that supports their members in their self-development and living their good lives as well as the members doing the same for others in their community.

Going back to Joe and Legers, both men begin in the story lean into the collectivist point of view. They believe in their community and most importantly they are motivated out of the love for their family. But this love can lead them to do things that may not necessarily benefit their loved ones or themselves.

In Legers' case, he sold himself out to the Order of Enlightenment in order to find a cure for his brother (betraying his principles).

But his brother made those choices in life in order to give Salvadore a good life in the first place! By trying to prolong his brother's life, he was violating his brother's will. It was only when Mercuria gave him back his consciousness that the real Legers was able to speak out and tell his brother this.

This becomes the turning point of Legers' character when he begins to reflect on his dream and what he can do moving forward.

"You might do things which you think benefits the one you love, but is that what they really want?"

In the end, he becomes the head of both his gang and J's gangs. He ends up taking over the restaurant, making positive changes in Haight Street, and becomes the new beacon of change. Because he was able to improve himself first, he was able to positively effect his community.

Just like Legers, J is motivated out of the love for his family. This leads him to disapproving Paulina's choice to join the Foundation out of a well-founded fear of her being used. Not only does J protect Haight Street, he also represents every aspect of this: whether it be the positive (community and brotherhood) or the negative (being part of the cyle of violence). So when Paulina wanted to leave Haight Street, he saw this as her haughtiness to be associated with him and also her cutting ties with him.

Regardless of what J thought, Paulina wasn't motivated to join the Foundation for these things. Despite the risk of sacrificing her life, she dreamed of helping other people and making a difference in the world. Instead, the rift that she had with her brother was due to the flaws that he had before.

You see, the J we know in 2.0 and the J we see in the flashbacks greatly differ.

Due to the death of his parents, he had to serve as the guardian/parent of Paulina when they were both kids. This kind of responsibility really fucks you up.

This forced him to grow up early on and take charge as the head of his household. But just like a stern father, his word was the law (at some points even controlling). When he disapproved of something like Paulina's dream, he withheld the papers from her and even barred her from leaving (it is implied that he broke the bike so she has no means to get out).

Overall, Paulina can be justified in her feelings of being caged in Haight Street. Nonetheless, this was not the reason for their rift.

Other than pursuing her dreams, Paulina saw the cycle of violence in the crime-filled streets of Haight Street and wanted to end this cycle. Although J serves as the protector of Haight Street, he isn't immune to becoming cruel himself. Although he has a point, he didn't properly communicate this to Paulina by guiding her and respecting her choice. Instead, he imposed his own will.

Going back to the present!

After Mercuria confirms that Paulina is dead, J begins the journey of reflecting on his views. To push this even further, right after recently grieving the news of his sister's death, Matilda comes into his life during this time. He is initially amused by Matilda and takes great pleasure in teasing her...

but his views shift when she starts feeling familiar.

Ever since this moment, J began to see Matilda as a sister figure and became protective of her. Due to her similarities with Paulina, not only in manner but also in ideals, this allowed J to actually reflect on Paulina's dream and realize why she actually left.

(To be continued)

Link to the Ultimate Joe Directory:

https://www.tumblr.com/lifegoesonevenifeverybodyisgone/771822786973958144/the-ultimate-joe-directory?source=share

[mintmoth]

Nah Idia definitely eats those super spicy Korean noodles that you'd have to sign a waiver for at a restaurant. He can handle spicy peppers

I had someone else joke about him eating spicy chips as well lmao, I just think it would be funny to see him getting cocky about a carolina reaper or something like "oh I eat spicy stuff all the time" but then a real vegetable takes him out

But also god now I'm just laughing at the idea of him going someplace to get noodles like that and getting asked over and over if he's SURE because he looks like a dying waif and he's like YES IVE HAD THEM BEFORE YES THESE ONES NO I WASNT BROUGHT MILDER NOODLES

[tennessoui]

For the prompt list, nanny/single parent obikin would be amazing!!

(from this prompt list)

(the first time I answered this prompt two years ago, the nanny anakin au was born)

so to do something different, here's some gffa widowed anakin, nanny (sort of) obi-wan!

(2.5k)

It is hard to find time to grieve. There are too many things to do. Too many appointments to make, too many decisions Anakin isn’t sure he’s qualified for. Some decisions are easier than others. For example, the funeral will be on Naboo. There will be two services: a public one to honor Padmé’s public service, and a private one to honor who she was as a person. The casket will be closed, because his wife died when her cruiser exploded. There isn’t much left to bury anyway.

But some decisions are harder. Which flowers should go on her casket. What songs would she want sung and who should sing them? Would she prefer her grave closer to her ancestral home or the home she created in her adulthood?

If she told anyone the answers to these questions, it wasn’t Anakin. But then, the people who knew her best, who loved her most, died with her. Sabé, Rabé, Saché, Yané, all of her handmaidens—an assassination such broad strokes that it was impossible for it to fail.

So Anakin chooses Yali lilies, because Leia’s eyes linger on them the longest. He chooses a small Nabooian folk band to play after her service because their music is the first thing to make Luke lift his head from his coloring books in days. He formally requests that her body be buried among her ancestors, and the Nabierres agree immediately.

And he keeps telling himself that he will grieve, but there is so much to do. 

And then—then there’s after the funeral. Then there’s the rest of his life, sprawling out before him in a long, hazy road. 

There are more decisions to be made.

There are people who have opinions on them now, people who sat back and let Anakin muddle through flower arrangements and kriffing seating charts, who now step in to peer over his shoulder, monitor his every breath.

Should he really move the children back to Coruscant? Does he truly plan to continue to work as a mechanic in the Mid-Levels? Should he not think of the children, their needs? How can he support them on the thin amount of credits he makes? Would it not be better for the children to live on Naboo in the care of their grandparents and their extended family?

It would be what Padmé would have wanted.

Anakin cannot care about what Padmé would have wanted, because she isn’t here. Not to argue with him, not to make her wants known. She is dead. She doesn’t get to haunt him in the waking world too.

“What do you want?” he asks plainly, sitting down across the table from his two children. The twins blink back at him. Leia has finished her cereal. Luke has barely touched his.

“Bacon,” Luke says.

Anakin hadn’t meant for breakfast, but he figures it’s as good of a start as any. “Alright,” he agrees.

He stands once more and goes to the kitchen. It’s not exactly his domain. It was never Padmé’s either. The way Padmé grew up, food was made once you requested it—by droid, by cooking staff. Not by the hand of a Nabierre.

The way Anakin grew up, food was cobbled together carefully, sparingly no matter how much you requested it. And no matter how you cooked it, it always tasted a little like dust, which took the joy out of experimentation.

But the serving staff have been dismissed for the past two weeks to give the family time and space to grieve in private. 

(Padmé’s parents have been given a schedule for visiting hours for that exact reason.)

Anakin locates the pan; then, he locates the package of bacon strips.

When he glances up, both twins are watching him over the edge of their barstools, tiny faces showing both skepticism and incredulity.

“I want to know what you want to do,” Anakin says, raising his voice as he places the pot over the heating plate, the meat in a moment later. “Do you want to stay here with your grandmother and grandfather? Do you want to go back to Coruscant?”

The twins are quiet. Anakin twists his neck to look at them again, and they’re looking at each other, silently communicating the way only twins can.

“Where will you be?” Leia finally asks, looking at him with narrowed, suspicious eyes, bottom lip already jutting out.

Anakin blinks. “Wherever you are,” he answers.

“You won’t leave too?” Luke asks rather tremulously.

Anakin takes the pan off the heated plate and turns it off with a decisive flick of his wrist. “Of course not,” he says. “Come here.” He crouches down and barely has enough time to open his arms before the twins are there, pressing in as close as they can get to him. He holds them back just as tightly in return.

“I’m not going anywhere,” he promises into Leia’s hair. “Not without you two.”

—-----------------

It becomes apparent fairly quickly that this is, by necessity, a lie.

The twins don’t want to stay on Naboo, which Anakin is secretly incredibly grateful for. He doesn’t want to either, but he knows he’d just be called selfish should he express the opinion.

But the twins don’t want to go back to Coruscant either. This makes sense as well. It would be incredibly jarring for them to go back to living in the quarters they shared with their mother, her Upper Coruscanti apartments in the nicest district of the planet, without her there.

Anakin wishes it were as simple as sticking a pin on a planet and deciding to uproot the entirety of his family to live there. 

But it’s not.

Perhaps if he were still young, nineteen, newly free and in love with the taste of that freedom, it would be.

But he’s a widower now. He has his children to think about, their futures. Any planet he chooses must have what they need as well. 

And they are four year olds who have just lost their mother. Their needs are numerous.

What makes the decision for him in the end is that his boss knows a man from Stewjon, who is willing to hire him. Who is willing to pay a premium for his expertise with mechanics.

Anakin doesn’t know the first thing about Stewjon, other than that it’s an ocean planet in the Inner Core and his dead wife always said the Senators from Stewjon were so frigid and tight-lipped because they spent the first few days of each visit trying not to be seasick on the Senate floor.

Anakin isn’t sure why this is the very first thing he tells the man—his potential boss—he meets behind the counter in the mech-shop on Stewjon.

He’s left the children with their grandparents for the week—long enough to fly from Naboo to Stewjon, meet with his potential employer, interview, apply his work practically, and fly back out.

He’d explained to both twins why they had to stay on Naboo. He’d explained many times. That hadn’t changed the betrayed look Leia had worn as she saw him off. It hadn’t wiped the tears from Luke’s eyes.

“Ah, well, I can’t say I’ve heard that one before,” the mechanic says. He sounds amused, and Anakin is incredibly shocked to hear a Coruscanti accent. Everyone he’s spoken to since arriving planetside has had such a heavy brogue that he’d honestly struggled to understand their directions to the shop—Kenobi & Sons.

Anakin lets himself look again at the man behind the counter. He’s rather clean for a mechanic, he decides. His beard is red, a common factor around these parts apparently, but his beard is short and neat, trimmed to accentuate the strong lines of his jaw. His eyes are a stormy blue, the kind of blue that matches the Stewjoni ocean.

“Between you and me though,” the man smirks and leans onto the counter with his elbow. His tunic is dark gray, white starchy fabric peeking out beneath the v-necked collar. “I’ve never been a fan of Stewjoni politicians anyway.”

“Oh?” Anakin asks, sidling a step closer to the counter. The man has the beginnings of gray at his temples, and his eyes are lined with wrinkles. They don’t make him look old though, Anakin decides. They make him look…well-lived.

“I’ve not a head for politics much at all,” his future employer shakes his head slightly with a small smile. His eyes flick up and down Anakin’s face, lingering on his lips and then lingering longer on the scar over his brow. Anakin feels rather flushed under the inspection, and he shifts his weight forward until he’s leaning up against the counter too.

There’s something about this man that’s rather…magnetic. It pulls him in. It makes him want to linger.

Good characteristic for a shopkeeper to have, though Anakin privately decides that the man before him has a face that’s wasted on mechanics, buried under some ship’s underbelly in a backroom.

“Me neither,” he admits, a moment too late to sound anything but highly distracted. It makes the man smile again though, a flash of straight white teeth.

“Is there anything you do have a head for then?” he asks. His tone is light, airy, rather teasing.

This is the strangest interview Anakin has ever had.

“Um,” he says. “Well. There’s mechanics.”

“Oh?” The man’s eyebrow lifts at an elegant angle. He props his chin on the palm of his hand and looks up at Anakin through his eyelashes. “Then why come here to us then?”

“Um,” Anakin says, and not because the man looks rather unfairly flattering like this, amber eyelashes in sharp relief against the blue of his eyes.

They’re interrupted by the sounds of clattering in the backroom, stomping and cursing. The man before him straightens with a slight sigh and picks up the closest flimsipad. “And what brings you in here today, sir?” he asks rather loudly, pitching his voice back to the other room of the shop pointedly. “Problem with your speeder? Serving droid? Cruiser? If it’s your astromech droid, I regret to inform you that I’ll have to refuse you service on account of the fact that I don’t particularly care for them.”

Anakin thinks he splutters, but whatever noise he makes is definitely drowned out by the rather irritated shout of Obi-Wan! that comes from the back.

A moment later, a man storms through the door, looking annoyed. "We will service an astomech if that's what's broken, Obi-Wan."

Now this is a man that Anakin can believe is a mechanic. His nails are blackened with oil, and his bare, burly arms carry smudges of the stuff. He’s much broader than the man—Obi-Wan—that Anakin had been talking to. He’s bald with a reddened scalp and a rather large red beard that’s the antithesis of the other man’s in every way. His clothes are dirty, loose, and the color of ash. He looks older too—whereas Obi-Wan could easily be in his thirties, this man must be pushing fifty.

He snaps at Obi-Wan in a language that Anakin doesn’t understand. Obi-Wan shrugs and hands over the flimsi pad without argument.

“Um, actually,” Anakin says, feeling incredibly wrong-footed. “Which one of you is Kenobi?”

“I am,” both of them say. Obi-Wan’s smirking slightly. The other man’s voice is louder, carrying that Stewjoni accent so obviously lacking in Obi-Wan’s speech.

The older man closes his eyes as if he’s praying for patience. “We both are,” he says. “Though if your ship’s malfunctioned, sir, I’m the Kenobi you want to see. This one’s good for naught but magic tricks.”

“I have been told I’m rather good at other things,” Obi-Wan turns his smirk full-force at Anakin, dropping his eyes to Anakin’s lips once more.

“My name is Anakin Skywalker,” he says very quickly in a very normal tone of voice that is most definitely not a squeak. “I’m here to interview for a position. As another mechanic.”

“Oh,” the older Kenobi says.

“Oh,” the younger Kenobi says in a much different tone.

The older Kenobi pinches at his nose for a moment before turning around the counter and offering his hand. “Ben,” he says. “Ben Kenobi.”

Anakin takes his hand and shakes it, eyes traveling back to Obi-Wan. Is he supposed to shake his hand too?

“I’m the Son in the sign,” Ben says gruffly as if that answers his question.

“I’m the reason it’s plural,” Obi-Wan adds, busying himself with the contents of the counter. From what Anakin can tell, the man is just messing up the carefully organized piles of receipts. 

He decides that he would rather not get the job than point this out to Ben.

Ben huffs out something in Stewjoni that sounds downright insulting, but that doesn’t stop Obi-Wan from smiling sunnily up at Anakin. “My brother enjoys bitching and moaning that I came back home when I was seventeen, but he’s awfully quick to foist his children off on me when he’s called to shift at the rig offshore and Marci’s off-planet too.”

Anakin blinks. He feels like that’s the safest answer.

“Only thing good that blasted Jedi Order ever taught you was how to handle younglings,” Ben says, and then spits on the ground as if the words themselves have left a bad taste in his mouth.

Anakin blinks and wonders if he should say something to remind the brothers that he’s here. For an interview. “And my magic tricks,” Obi-Wan rolls his eyes slightly before catching Anakin’s eye and winking. With a wave of his hand, a flimsi-sheet flies over the counter and into Anakin’s chest. He catches it unthinkingly. “Would you like to sign in, sir?” “Get out of here,” Ben barks, snatching the flimsi from Anakin’s hand and pushing it back to the counter. “Like I said, the only one’s impressed with that is the younglings.”

“I don’t know, your man looks impressed,” Obi-Wan says slyly, even as he pushes himself away from the counter and around the edge of it.

Anakin isn’t sure what he looks like. He doesn’t think impressed is the word he’d use though.

When Obi-Wan brushes past him, the static electricity in the air jumps between their shoulders. Anakin feels as if he’s been shocked.

Obi-Wan must feel it too because he stops only a few inches away and looks at Anakin. For the first time, his expression is open. Curious. Considering.

“Get!” His brother insists, and Obi-Wan obeys, throwing one last look over his shoulder at Anakin before he slips out the door.

The shop feels somehow much bigger now that the other man has left. Ben sighs and rubs a hand down his face. He looks older now. More worn. “So that was my brother,” he tells Anakin wearily. “Who you would most likely see frequently if you were to take this job. I would understand completely if you would like to start by talking compensation.”

[akkivee]

like they updated everyone’s bios in october of last year and imo just saying kuukou speaks vulgar as hell and doesn’t act at all like a monk does plenty to show he’s got an attitude problem in his old bio so why change it to something that can be transliterated as ‘violent criminal behaviour towards others’ if you weren’t about to focus on it 😭😭😭😭😭😭

[dirt-str1der]

hello i just wanna say i genuinely like ur observation about nishiki's fighting style and then ya manage to bring it back to ur 'drug addict nishiki' headcanon like it caught me off guard but im also not surprised that is so fair and real of u okay thank u

In a world where drugs dont exist, nishikiyama’s strength comes solely from his anger and i guess he goes to the gym too

[quil12]

My head is empty right now except for the relationship between Katsuya and Tatsuya in P2