#hes defiant and angry at people of power and I want him to attack them for it when he gets to be free

[timestillstands]

Motherfuckers you are NOT ready for my punk metalhead Sun agenda I'm pushing.

[bunniisms]

I've also been thinking about the fact that Amity had been working with Hellsing as an informant on supernatural matters and the vampire underground in South America since the Late 70s - Early 80s as steps towards the fact she wanted a nuptial flight and for her clan to take wing and resettle (metaphorically speaking, they're humans, not bugs)

This alone is interesting for her, grounded but interesting, but as far as Walter is concerned? It makes their first meeting in London so, so much better.

Given Walter's duties under Arthur, he would have been interacting with the Spider Queen and her followers, fielding their tips, and reporting. He would have worked with her for a time in that distant and impersonal, remote way.

I imagine his discomfort with her, and the fact that Arthur has made this arrangement with *them* in the first place.

I know he'd be the first of anyone to catch on to the fact that she doesn't care about the payment or status of it-- what she's getting from this, what she WANTS is an in, and she's already seeping in through the cracks.

I imagine him offering his counsel against her in private and feeling the subtle relief when his sentiments are mirrored, but... that's in words alone. By the mid-80s, she's gotten the first of her Clan into Great Britain - to be liaisons with Hellsing on her behalf. And to say Walter is knotted with dread is an understatement.

He is right to be hesitant, though- right to be angry, even right to be terrified. They've fed the wolf cub, and now the entire pack is outside their home! Sure, she's made her promises and spoken so sweetly through the phone lines about mutual interests and benefits - but she is a monster, through and through, a monster he can feel an air of desperation about.

She says her words with well-practiced warmth, but they might just be a cloying cover for her to get on the inside, for espionage, an attack, an invasion, god only knows! They don't have experience dealing with what she is! But he is sure that she feels no true allegiance with Hellsing or Great Britain.

After Arthur dies and Integra takes over, Walter is put into a position of power unlike anything he had before. As the paternal figure who has been steadfast by Integra's side, she is strong, but she does look for advice. And through this, Walter can pull back on the leash and wrestle back more of the power from Amity and the Clan as their information sources. Reduce her presence, push back her expansion into Hellsing HQ.

Walter has won, and he is smug, but more so at peace with the security he feels has been reinstated.

UNTIL THE EARLY 90s. When the time comes to renegotiate her work deal with Hellsing, she has a meeting with Integra to discuss their future. Walter pushes for her to cut them off, but unfortunately, at the time, they needed a stronger foothold in Espionage and Monitoring. Integra sees it - she's not nearly as intransigent as Walter - the internet is becoming more widespread. They need to outsource to stay competitive with new media, new ways of the underworld and the ever-growing demands of a connected world.

Amity wins. They make a deal where, essentially, Amity sells herself like a weapon in exchange for what she's always wanted —a doorway to divide her empire and provide her people with more security and power.

Walter is LIVID about it - and then they meet for the first time in person, face-to-face, when she is received at Hellsing's doors with her entourage in tow, like a royal assembly.

He looks at her with such cold, clipped disdain for her entire existence - a sneer hidden behind a look of passive civility, but Walter is not subtle, and his hatred leaks through. Amity's assembly is uncomfortable, as it should be; they know their place, he thinks. But Amity, ever defiant and audacious, doesn't back down.

No, she enters Hellsing like it is her very right, talking to her aids about moving her life into the Dungeons and assuring them of her comfort. She isn't ignorant to the stirring of the Hellsing household, upended by her presence. No, it's amusing, but she ignores it with grace until she meets Walter.

His anger radiates, and she doesn't even deign to stop the way a laugh is naturally breathed out of her. Oh, this was the gentleman on the phone? Mr. 'You've-been-given-too-little-oversight'? Oh, how his ego must be bruised. Oh, he hates her; she knows it. She grins and gives pleasantries, but Walter is a cold wall, reflecting her energy back as tension until it looks as if her attendants are ready to run for the hills.

AND I!!!

They get off on such an antagonistic foot - but the way they come to legitimately understand each other and the respect Walter gains for Amity when he realizes that the move wasn't the 'all powerful manipulation without strings' his ego viewed it as, and, in fact, she sort of got the short end of the deal: all so that her Clan could be safer

[mushroom-creacher]

Wayward Dads Chapter 3: Don't Father Me

< - >

The room had quickly erupted into chaos.

Lark and Grant shouted questions that went unanswered, Terry started pacing along the small room and Sparrow was trying to bring Nick down from a poorly masked panic attack while Paeden clung to Walter.

Erin and Walter didn’t know what to do. How the hell did this even happen? Was there a way to reverse it? How were they supposed to handle this?

“Can we all just calm down for a sec?” Figgs leaned against the wall, their snake familiar resting contently in her hair. “They’re kids, so what? You can still grab ‘em and bring ‘em back.”

Erin sighed and massaged her temples. “It’s a bit more complicated than that, Figgs. We don’t stand a chance against the Omega Daddies on our own.”

“There’s like, eight of you.”

“Six of which are children!” Walter spoke up.

Figgs scoffed. “That’s still enough to cause a distraction while the others grab your guys. You just need to keep the bad guys busy long enough to make an extraction.”

“That… might actually work…” Erin looked at the rest of the group. “We’d only need to hold up for a few minutes. I’ve seen you all fight, you may not be able to take someone down just yet, but you can stand your ground for a long while.”

“You can’t seriously be thinking of letting them fight those people! They’re 12!” Walter crossed his arms.

“It’s our only option if we want to get their dads back! Besides, do you really think they’re going to just sit here and let us handle it without them?”

“No, but we can at least try to keep them out of it!”

“They’re already in it! These kids have seen action, they’ll be fine!”

“We can’t risk them getting taken again! Their dads just got them back and now you want to put them in danger?!”

“Well, I don’t see you coming up with any other ideas!”

“Can you both please stop talking about us like we’re not here?!”

Erin and Walter went silent and looked toward the outburst.

Everyone was looking at Terry Jr., his brow furrowed in frustration.

“How about just asking us what we want to do instead of making the choice for us!”

“Yeah, we want to help! We can’t just sit here and do nothing while our dads are out there!” Sparrow spoke up.

Walter sighed. “Kids, we know you want to help but this is much too dangerous. We are fighting incredibly powerful people; you could get hurt or taken again! Then we’d be back at square one.”

“We’re not gonna wait around here while you guys are out there! You can’t keep us here!” Grant protested.

“Oh yes, I can! Even if I have to tie you to the door, you’re not going out there! It’s too dangerous!”

Walter felt a small tug on his sleeve, looking down he saw Paeden, unusually timid and afraid.

“Walter... Please... We can’t leave them...”

The bullywug stared back at the small boy before letting out a heavy sigh as he looked back up at the group of defiant tweens. He knew that only him and Erin wouldn’t be able to fight against the Omega Daddies, but putting these kids in the line of fire would be wildly irresponsible. But then again, he remembered how angry and scared he was when Paeden had gone missing and what he was willing to do to get him back.

“Ok. Fine. But we are taking every precaution! If things get bad, we retreat immediately. Understood?” He gave a pointed look to everyone in the room to make sure they knew how serious he was taking this.

 All of the kids nodded, letting out a collective sigh of relief.

“Ok, well now that you have all come to the sensible arrangement, maybe we should get a move on. Which kid are we nabbin’ first?” Figgs asked bluntly, already preparing to cast the portal.

“Gods, do you have to phrase it like that?” Erin cringed.

“What? We are nabbing kids, even if they should be nabbed, it’s still nabbing. So I ask again, who are we nabbin’ first?”

Lark and Sparrow stepped up.

“Our father is a powerful druid even as a child. It would be beneficial to acquire him first as he will be helpful in fighting the rest of our previous captors.” Lark explained.

“And he it would be smart to get another healer in case anything bad happens during the rest of the rescue missions.” Sparrow added.

Nobody argued, even if they wanted to. They all wanted to get their dads back as much as the others and Lark and Sparrow made some good points, though they all knew that this strategy was just their excuse to get their dad back as soon as possible.

Erin nodded. “Ok. You all should get ready, prepare however you can while Figgs and I work on this portal. Try to come up with a plan, a good one.”

The twins nodded and rejoined the rest of their small party and Walter to discuss strategies.

Though it was subtle, everyone could see the small glint in the Oak boys’ eyes. One that the other boys had only ever seen when someone dared to try and push one of the twins around. A look of complete and total determination and protectiveness. They were going to get their dad back no matter the cost. Because one thing you learn around the boys is that you never mess with an Oak.

[comicavalcade]

Submariner Summer 28

Saludos mi gente, welcome to #SubmarinerSummer read through part 28, with Tales To Astonish #94: Helpless, At The Hands Of Dragorr! Namor getting manhandled right on the cover, too. And I'll say right now hold on to your bags and boards, people, this is a wild and long one

Title page has Namor holding the Council of War he promised last ish; surfacers pushing on Atlantis in general and Namor in particular too many times and Namor feels its time to act; the Warlords no surprise agree. Atlantean warlords are always ready for war against the surface.

Notes on the creative team: Lee is officially editor with Thomas on scripts, and we have THEE OG Bill Everett back on art. IMPERIUS REX! Also, not sure I mentioned him before but Simek is great on lettering, I dig his onomatopoeias, especially when he has them cross or break panels

At any rate, it falls on Dorma to warn about the consequences of war with the surface, that it might doom Atlantis. Which Namor himself said back when facing Krang and Attuma. So what gives? Well, Dorma asks Vashti, who has an interesting insight. And, a solo moment with Namor gives another

So, Namor has to prove to Atlanteans he's willing to fight for them so they don't turn on him. And he feels he has to humble the surface or they'll keep coming. Both are rather tragic in and of themselves. A third reason is likely proving to *himself* he doesn't have divided loyalties, as he wondered just that last issue:

But back to this ish, a strange message comes through, and Dorma delivers it to Namor. A dictator wants to conquer the world with Namor? Stealing from Dr Doom's playbook. Dorma warns its a trap, but Namor goes anyway. It is, of course, a trap, laid by...the Gnome?

Anyway, when Namor arrives, they catch him in their trap; at first Namor bides his time, but when they move him to meet the dictator Dragorr he busts loose. Unfortunately, their advanced weapons are enough to affect even Namor, and he comes before him anyway

This dude is Class A creep. Anyway, he has caught Namor first and foremost to use against local rebels opposing him. The rebels soon attack, and Namor is dispatched to take care of them. Namor wonders why he's being used. Against normal weapons, though, Namor is unstoppable

Namor gets his answer of why him; his presence breaks the rebel's spirits. Being away from the ocean starts to drain his strength as usual, but Dragorr's super-science rays reenergize him and pull him back to the castle. He remains defiant against Dragorr, though

In Atlantis, Dorma hears that Namor is helping Dragorr, which sounds off to her. So, she has herself a badass fashion moment and sets off to rescue her prince in distress. Once there she gets the rebels to help her and-we're told Dorma knows Spanish! ¡Chévere! And then she rescues Namor! 🤩

Dorma and Namor then encounter Dragorr himself, but the dictator isn't what he appears; a little speed and strength by Namor, a little water by Dorma, and the jig is up; there is no Dragorr! It was the Gnome in a robot all along!

Weird

The Gnome tries to jump out of a window, but he's caught in a net, angry they didn't let him unalive himself? Yikes. The rebels are grateful to Namor, but he's not having it from surfacers anymore after being used as a tool (not that he was before), though Dorma tries to calm him. With that, they depart for Atlantis.

So a lot of weird Silver Age mad science going on, a fake "Latin-American" dictator of a fictional Latin-American country plot, sort of with a bit of supervillain switcheroo, ending with attempted self-harm, and Namor now angrier than ever.

But wow, need *that* Dorma more often!

That's all we get for now, though. We'll have to see what the story has in store for Namor and Dorma NEXT in Tales to Astonish #95: The POWER Of The Plunderer!

[mzdsanalysis]

Wei Wuxian’s Actions and Morality:

I am kind of confused on some parts, and i would really appreciate it if someone is willing to discuss it with me. It’s regarding Wei Wuxian, and his exact involvement in the events at the Accident at Qiongqi Path and Bloodbath of Nightless City.

Now, at the accident at Quiongqi path, Wei Wuxian and Wen Ning were just going to Koi tower for the full month celebration to which they had been invited to. Jin Zixun ambushes and threatens to kill him if he doesn’t remove the hundred hole curse. Wei wuxian tries to explain that he didn’t cast the curse and isn’t guilty (admittedly he could have done it in a better way). Jin zixun doesn’t believe him and continues to threaten him. Jin Zixuan appears, tries to diffuse the tension, but still insists that wei wuxian comes along to answer the accusations. Wei wuxian doesn’t believe him (he isn’t wrong to. Guys show up with a whole gang, accuse him of something he didn’t do, and then ask him willingly to come along to “resolve” the issue, though they had spent the past year slandering him and wanting to murder the people he is trying to protect. Just getting into his perspective of things.) Wei wuxian gets angry and accuses Jin zixuan of being on the whole thing, and is agitated and afraid. Which is when he loses control of the resentful energy, which extends to his control of wen ning, and that’s how wen ning, not currently being in control of his body, punches a hole into Jin Zixuan and kills him. Now, automatically, I am going to absolve Wen Ning of any guilt. He is literally NOT in control of his own body. He did that due to the Wei wuxian controlling him with resentful energy. But Wei wuxian also isn’t completely guilty. He was upset, confused, and to some extent scared. But not even subconsciously was he planning or intending to kill Jin zixuan. He lost control over the resentful energy. He put wen ning is a specific state, and then lost control over him, due to not being able to regulate his own emotions during the whole chaos. An accident. An accident that led to someone innocent being killed, but an accident none the less.

Now, I expect different peoples take on this is going to deviate somewhat and that’s fine. I am cool with it. In my opinion, he isn’t completely guilty, but is still responsible. He did not have the intention to kill Jin zixuan, but he DID kill him. It was because of the resentful energy that he was still learning about and how to control it. But if you are going to use a knife after everyone telling you it’s dangerous – although they are doing it just because they don’t want you to have the knife, they want themselves having the knife, while at the same time threating to kill your friends, so you don’t exactly have a choice, but use a freaking knife to, you know, NOT DIE – when you accidently stab someone, it’s still somewhat on you. Lan Zhan had warned him that it could end up badly if he did loose control over the resentful energy and wen ning, and wei wuxian dismissed it. But it was still something he was experimenting with and researching, and hadn’t completely figured out. So it’s not like he didn’t care or was dismissing that it was a bad thing, just that he genuinely didn’t think it would happen. He has been controlling it so far, and everything has been fine, and since he doesn’t exactly have any other options, he will have to continue using it, despite the arguments on the dangers of it.

Now, the bloodbath at Nightless City. Wei wuxian already knows at this point that wen ning and wen qing are dead, and he heads there to atleast collect their ashes and bring them back. When he arrives at the pledge conference, all the sects attending, all 3000, are collected together, and Jin Guangshan makes his speech. He announced that both wens are dead, and then spreads the ashes, the ones Wei ying had come to collect. Then announces that they were going on next day to kill the rest of wens anyway, along with wei ying, to loud applause from the crowd in attendance. Its only then wei wuxian makes his presence known. Before that, he was just listening on. Jin Guangshan makes some more accusations: at Qiongqi Path wei wuxian killed Lanlingjin sect members, the ones jin zixun brought to ambush him, and that wei ying is the one who made wen ning go in a rampage at koi tower (a lie. While jin zixuan’s death at wen ning – actually wei wuxian’s – was an accident, the rampage at koi tower, as we know for a fact, wasn’t an accident (confirmed by MXTX’s interview.) I am not sure if it was mentioned in the book, but from what I can recall, it was xue yang. I might be wrong, but it was still done on Jin Guangshan’s orders. So the deaths of members of the other sect’s members, Lan and Nie, and the others, lie not at wei wuxian’s feet but Jin Guangshan’s. Wei wuxian doesn’t take the accusations silently, and argues back: he was the one who was ambushed, who almost got killed. He has every right to defend himself against the men Jin Zixun brought to attack and kill him. The crowd says he shouldn’t have been so heartless, and in wei wuxian’s own words: no matter what the other sects throw at him, no matter how hard they try to harm and kill him, he is not allowed to touch them, harm their members, defend himself or fight back even if it cost him his life. The sects throw in their final arguments in:

Even if he was fighting back, it doesn’t account for the 130 people who died at koi tower at hands of wen ning.

He shouldn’t defend the wens. They are horrible and evil and guilty and deserve to die.

He is only doing it for his pride, and to prove himself a hero.

He laid the curse on Jin zixun.

Each of them are easily nullified.

Wei wuxian didn’t cause wen’s ning rampage. Jin Guangshan did. The 130 lives are on his own hands, not wei wuxians.

People aren’t guilty by association, especially by family relation. None of the wen remnants have any blood on their hands. They are from wen qing’s branch and are non-combatants, thus they were not involved in any of the Wen Ruhon’s actions. Nor were they involved in at the accident at Qiongqi Path or Koi tower. They are innocent.

The argument about his pride came from their attitude towards him from before his defection. They had admired his powers and were intimated by it, but didn’t like that he belonged to Jiang sect, and wasn’t willing to change his loyalties to belong to them instead. He also dared being defiant and outspoken, and powerful while being a servant’s son, and that’s a crime of it’s own in their eyes. Is wei wuxian’s slightly arrogant? Yes. Is he wrong to be? No, he is very powerful and is aware of what he is capable of. Is that a reason to hate him enough to want to kill him? No! wth

He laid the curse on Jin Zixun. He didn’t. Su she did. Jin Guangshan and Guangyo were aware of that, and still sent zixun to ambush wei ying anyway.

None of their accusation hold any weight to them. Admittedly, we know that because we read the book and these characters aren’t exactly able to do that. The only people here who know about it are Jin Guangshan and Jin Guangyao, who planned the whole thing in the first place. So, I am not going to paint these people as all evil. Some of the sect’s members did die. Some of these people have actually the right to be angry at what happened, though the anger is pointed in the wrong direction.

But the rest of the people are there because of the mob mentality. Because someone is guilty, someone needs to be punished. Here its 50 people and wei ying, one of their own ex members. But because they are not worth the effort, none of it needs to be investigated, to be proven. They have an available party to hold guilty, and it’s far too comfortable for them to put it on their heads rather than find the actually accountable people.

To an extent, it really does seem, by the proofs handfed to them by Jin Guangshan, the wei ying is guilty, That he actually did it. But don’t they owe to the 50 wen members who are about to be slaughtered like cattle, for no other reason than being associated with Wen sect and Wei wuxian, for atleast one of them to look a bit harder, to try a bit harder? I would say so. Wei ying would too. I don’t think the other sects would agree with us, but it’s ancient china society, and modern war ethics and laws aren’t exactly in place to prevent them from doing so.

Back to Wei ying, he gets shot at by a disciple. It actually pierces him, just by luck not in a fatal place but only by a fluke. It was aimed at the heart. The intention to kill was there.  He fires the arrow back, kills back the guy who tried to kill him. I don’t know exactly how anyone could hold him completely in the wrong here. We might not like it, but wei ying is not some pure white angel, nor a pacifist by any means. He is a soldier, a fighter, and he is amidst people who are literally moving to kill him by any means, and he just got an almost kill-shot. He has every right to defend himself, fight back, and honestly, kill back anyone who is trying to kill him. Eye for an eye, punch for a punch. It’s ruthlessly fair, despite sounding harsh. Honestly, it is harsh, but it’s not wrong, wither we like it or not.

He calls forth his dead, the battle begins. Lan Wangji tries to get him to stop, but it doesn’t work. There are definite tones of a sort of deliriousness. I am not exactly sure to how severe it was, but it shows he wasn’t exactly in an emotional and mental fit state. It’s definitely obvious when he tries to make his way to Yanli, and is too worked up to control the corpses crowding around, and the one standing behind Jiang Yanli. He is only able to do it when yanli asks him to stop it all so that she could tell him what she had wanted to tell him. He forces himself to calm down, and is only then able to control the corpses. (I am not saying the deliriousness was severe enough to absolve him of any responsibility he does hold in the event; I am merely acknowledging it’s presence.)

Then Jiang Yanli gets killed by the bow guy’s brother, and that when thing’s go from going downhill to just jumping right off the cliff. But unfortunately, MXTXs writing doesn’t exactly let us to be a witness to the scene, so the curtains close, and we are only allowed to make our assumptions on what happened, who/how/how many exactly died.

The point of this bloody essay is to determine the exactly how much of the event was Wei wuxian involved and responsibly for, so I can examine wei wuxian’s morality with all facts present.

If we go according to the book, wei ying:

Used some pretty grotesque methods to kill in the sunshot campaign

Allowed/ made Wen Ning kill his killers at Qiongqi Path

Accidentally killed Jin Zixuan

Kill Jin Zixun and his men after their ambush

Got in a fight on the way to the pledge conference with a group of cultivators: he broke one’s nose, kicked out his teeth, and made another fall and break his legs (not a severe injury according to lan wangji)

Fought in Bloodbath at Nightless city (after they had made the announcement, they were going ahead with the attack on the wen remnants and wen ying)

I am only including actions that me, anyone else (or the character’s) could possibly hold against him and question his morality with.

Here is where my confusion comes in. Now, I made the mistake of reading the novel only after finishing the tv show. As we know, the tv show took some liberties with the plotline and altered a few things. I honestly like a lot of the changes. Usually when tv shows make changes like that, it doesn’t always work out and it kind of depletes the essence of the story, but they actually managed it quite well. But one of the key changes were the plotlines around the Qiongqi Path accident and nightless city.

Divergences in the tv show:

At Qiongqi Path, Su she’s flute is what makes Wen Ning kill Jin Zixuan (+ Jin Zixun) rather than wei wuxian loosing control due to his emotions.

At the bloodbath, Su She playing the flute is what stopped wei wuxian from halting the battle and loose control of the fierce corpses.

(+ by the time of the battle, the wen remnants were already dead, so wei wuxian’s fight becomes more about revenge and grief rather than to protect them)

Basically, they abbreviated a lot of his action to other people. Which I understand, I guess. You are less in the character’s head while watching the tv show rather than when you are reading the book, and for the audience to develop a better and more empathetic relationship with a lead character, liberties needed to be taken to make him more sympathetic.

My debate on his morality, hence, is more focused on the book character rather the tv show (honestly, since even his only 2 serious offences are not even his fault in the show.) but in the book, they kind of are. He did kill Jin Zixuan: accidentally. He had no intention whatsoever of him doing it; not subconsciously or consciously. He was just feeling agitated and angry and viewed Jin Zixuan as a threat, and Wen Ning, who was in his fierce corpse state, interpreted as a need to kill jin Zixuan.

The only way you could put this against him is if you hold him responsible of using such an unstable and dangerous form of cultivation/magic. But he already gave an answer for that, which none of us can argue against: he didn’t have choice. He never did with demonic cultivation.

He started using it in the Burial mounds to survive and make it out.

He used it to seek justice for his sects massacre (go ahead and debate the need for that if you need to. I don’t)

He used it to fight in the Sunshot campaign, and he was a MAJOR force in the campaign, and a enormous contributor to it’s success. Could they still have won if he hadn’t been with them? Maybe, sure. But if there was any risk to loosing them, and wen sect remained undefeated, Jiang chen and yanli and wei wuxian were as good as dead. No way they or the other sects who had raised arms against wen sect would have been allowed to live or survive.

He used it to save Wen Ning and other wen remnants: war prisoners who were undergoing severe abuse and were basically being killed off. For no reason than being wens. Yes, I know it was common in ancient china to kill off the whole family. But it’s not right. Wei wuxian doesn’t think so. And neither do i.

He used it to bring back Wen Ning for Wen qing.

-  I don’t know where I read it that he brought him back for protection or as a weapon. He didn’t. He was pissed at what they did to him, and brought him to allow him to tell wei ying who had kill him then allowed him to get his revenge. He than made him sentient because he had promise wen qing & the other wen members that he could bring him back. He promised his sister that he could bring her brother back. That’s why.

He used it to protect burial mounds and the wen remnants: A bunch of non-combatant members that he had grown to love and care about as family. As you can see here:

“ He turned around, knowing that it’d be a long time before he’s get to see the people he was familiar with again.

But…right now, wasn’t he on his way to seeing people he was familiar with as well?”

He used it to fight back during the ambush. He doesn’t have a gold core; He literally cant wield a sword to defend himself. So he uses it to summon corpses to fight against Jin Zixun’s men.

·       He uses it to fight in the Bloodbath of Nightless City, after Jin Guangshan announced that they were going ahead with killing the rest of the wens and wei ying, and the attending crowd voiced out their excitement over the prospect.

 Second, the bloodbath at nightless city. Yes, it was a very brutal battle with many casualties. But these people were planning to kill him and the wens. They had decided it by the time he spoke up. It was a definite thing that was going to happen.

 Now you can argue against the use of violence, and need of it. But while I am very anti-war myself, I still hold to the belief that there are some fights that are worth fighting for, that need to be fought for. The wen remnants were innocent, and no one, NO ONE, had the right to decide they needed to die just because they were wens. They were innocent people. They had not actively killed or participated in the massacre that the main wen sect had conducted, and being blood relations to the actual guilty party is not an indication of being guilty too.

You could also argue the value of 3000 lives against 50. I have seen people do it, and write metas about. But whats the value of 1 life or 10 or 50? How are we supposed to decide who deserve to live more? How is that anyway moral?

Wei wuxian didn’t act to choose one group of lives over the other. He did it to protect himself and the people he cared about, and that meant fighting against anyone who was actively intending to kill and harm them, and was an acting threat. As human being who, like any other being, has the right to defend himself, to protect himself, to survive and be able to live. 3000 people wanting to kill him, and wens doesn’t take away his right to do that. There isn’t a rule that if enough people want you dead and murdered, rightly or not, you should just let them go ahead with it and turn your belly up. That…just doesn’t make sense?

I am in acceptance that he is a grey character, with his flaws and his merits. What I am confused about is exactly how much black and white went into making his grey. Maybe because I watched tv show and read the novel at the about same time, I feel like I am missing something. Did I miss anything? Did he do anything else? Am I wrong? What do other people think? Where do you guys lie on your judgment of wei wuxian as person and on his moral stance?

[minty-mumbles]

Sunkissed Scales

Summary: The last thing Time expected to do today was meet a Siren that got caught up in the fishing nets. Unfortunately for him, that was exactly what happened.

Or

I make a Pirate AU, and Wind is literally the only character who isn't a pirate. I live for chaos.

Read it on AO3 here

~~~

Time was used to loud commotions on his ship. His small crew of seven were as good as family, but goddess, could their arguments be loud sometimes. Normally, the noise went away quickly.

Conflict didn’t tend to linger, and even those who held the most animosity for each other, like Legend and Warriors, knew better than to let a grudge stand. Out at sea, there was nowhere to go to escape each other. On top of that, sailing was not easy. It could be dangerous at times. They needed to be able to work together like a well oiled machine at a moments’ notice.

Even if a big argument did crop up, Time was usually confident that his second mate, Twilight, would be able to sort them out. The man was good at calming hot tempers and staying the hands of those who would draw weapons.

But Twilight’s skills with negotiation were rarely needed, like Time said. True arguments are rare.

So when screaming broke out above deck, Time knew he should probably be concerned. He had been in his cabin, reading a letter from his wife that he had picked up at the last port. He had just gotten through the first page of the letter when a shriek rang out. Time waited for a moment to see if Twilight or even Warriors would be able to smooth the situation over.

Unfortunately for his good mood, the shrieking did not go away.

And they did not sound like happy shrieks.

Several loud voices joined in the commotion. Time couldn’t pick out individual words, or even who specifically was yelling, but the panic and anger in the voices was clear.

Okay, this was sounding a lot less like there was an argument, or like it was just the boys having fun and messing around. It was starting to sound a lot more like someone was hurt.

Time threw down his letter, and swiftly exited the room.

When he reached the deck, chaos awaited him. Twilight and Warriors were indeed trying to calm down their fellow crewmates. They weren’t being overly successful. Four had squirreled himself away up the rigging. He seemed to be content to watch the disarray from a safe distance, where he wasn’t likely to be trampled. Wild was right next to him, munching on an apple, enjoying the chaos. (Time really needed to talk to him about where he kept getting apples in the middle of the ocean.)

And there in the center of it all were Legend, Sky, and Hyrule. Legend was yelling, flushed with anger in a way Time had never seen from him before. Sky and Hyrule were both standing protectively in front of the fishing net, which was hanging above the deck. They were seemingly shielding it from the irate veteran.

However, what drew his eye, or rather, his ear, immediately was none of that chaos. It was the screaming coming from said net.

Time paused, taking a moment to assess the situation before rushing in. Dealing with this would take a delicate touch.

Curled up in the net, currently screeching his head off, was a Siren.

Sirens were infamous creatures of the sea. There were plenty of myths and legends surrounding their kind, but most sailors could agree that actually seeing one was usually a bad sign. Their voices were powerful, and when they put their minds to it, their songs could enchant sailors into dreams filled with their victim’s deepest desire, so they would never wish to leave.

Time knew that most of his crew had never seen a Siren before. They had talked about it, though. Some of the crew, including Wild, Four, Warriors, Hyrule, and Twilight, had neutral opinions regarding the creatures. None of them had met one before, so had no reason to form opinions, besides being generally wary.

Sky was one of those that adhered to the old belief that Sirens were creatures sent by the Goddess Hylia to look after seas, much like she had sent the Koroks to tend to the forests of Hyrule.

Legend, however, had remained silent, giving off such angry energy that no one had dared to ask him his opinion on the subject, and the conversation moved on quickly. Time suspected he had had a bad encounter with a siren before. A very bad one, that he had not moved on from.

Time had not contributed to that particular conversion, and he couldn’t blame Legend for his sullenness on the topic, not when he himself had been much the same when he was younger.

Time strode forward quickly, calling for peace and for those quarreling to cease, just for a moment. They obeyed. Four and Wild came down from the rigging, with Warriors and Twilight backing off. Hyrule nervously shifted away from where he was standing.

Legend was reluctant to back down until Time put a calming hand on his shoulder. Sky didn’t move from where he was standing protectively in front of the net until Legend did, but eventually, everyone was relatively calm. Even the Siren had quieted down, staring intently around at all of them. His eyes gleamed, tracking all of their movements carefully, but refusing to meet any of their eyes.

Time took a second to assess the Siren in turn, taking in his appearance. He looked young, although perhaps he was entering he teen years. He was much too small to be fully grown, at any rate.

There was no way someone could mistake this creature as anything other than a Siren. For the chest up, he looked mostly Hylian, save for the fins sprouting from the side of his head, which were a bit too big for him. He probably needed to grow into them.

He was blonde, which wasn’t uncommon in Hyrule. Most of Time’s own crew had blond hair, but this siren’s locks put them all to shame. Even wet, the color was not dulled, and it gleamed like gold under the midday sun. The boy had sunkissed tan skin, from spending his life in the shallows that that they were currently sailing through. For the most part, he looked like any boy you might see in a seaside town.

However, his chest was where that illusion got shattered. Along his ribs, gills were pressed firmly closed against the salty air. Creeping along the sides of his torso, following the lines of his gills, the Siren’s scales glimmered blue in the sun, occasionally flashing an iridescent green. At the Siren’s waist, the scales wrapped completely around his body, and where legs would be on any normal Hylian, instead there was a long powerful tail.

At first glance, Time thought his scales were rippled with white, but upon closer inspection, he could see that the white stripes were actually scars. Many of them, covering not only his tail, but also his torso. There was even a rather large one criss crossing over his gills, and several small nicks on his ear fins.

He wore very little, only an orange sash wrapped around his hips, and a simple necklace with a chunk of pink coral on it. A pair of binoculars were attached to his sash.

The most concerning thing was the blood dripping from him onto the deck. For a moment, Time wondered if Legend had gotten to the creature before Sky or Hyrule could stop him. But he could see that it was the net causing him harm. It was wrapped around his tail, cutting into his fins.

Time wanted to groan and bury his face in his hands. Thankfully, he resisted the urge. He needed to show a calm face for his crew. First thing to sort out…

He turned to Legend, who was still silently seething under Time’s hand. “What happened?” His tone wasn’t demanding, but it was obvious it wasn’t a request. Legend didn’t seem reluctant to tell him though.

“I was just hauling up the net, and that,” he shot a glare at the Siren, who met his gaze steadily, “was trapped in the net. I was trying to take care of the problem before he could kill us all, but someone stopped me.” Here, he shot a look of ire at Sky and Hyrule.

Before Time could respond to that, Sky snapped back. “You can’t just kill him. He’s a creation of the goddess. If we do, she might cast divine judgment on us. We might as well release him. We’re taking a risk either way.”

Hyrule also offered their own opinion. “You can't just attack him because he could kill us, Legend. If you acted that way all the time, you would have to kill all of us.” Time raised an eyebrow in surprise at that. Hyrule rarely went against anything Legend said, even if they disagreed with their mentor, simply out of respect. But, Time supposed, Hyrule’s fairy blood made them familiar with people wanting to kill them just for their ancestry.

Time considered, but ultimately knew he would not condemn this boy to death because of Legend’s hatred of Sirens.

“Cut him down.” Time demanded, drawing his knife and handing it off to Hyrule. He kept his watchful eye on the young siren. He may be willing to set him free, but he would not tolerate him trying to hurt one of his crew.

Legend held out an arm to stop Hyrule before they could draw close to the creature. “That,” Legend hissed, “is a Siren. He could ensnare us all in his spell at any time, and none of us would be able to do anything about it.” True anger and hurt was seeping into his tone now, “He could trap us in illusions, show us our deepest desires, and none of us would even know until we wake up. If we wake up.”

Time let Legend say his piece, but ultimately, as Captain, he had final say. “And yet, he hasn’t done so. I have dealt with sirens before,” This earned him shocked looks from his entire crew, which he ignored. “It is better to cut him free rather than risk being cursed. Sirens do not just lull people to sleep with songs of desire. They can also command the sea, and they only get more powerful as they age. This one probably doesn't pose much of a threat to us. But I’d bet anything his guardian will.”

Time nodded at Hyrule. “Do it.”

Hyrule nodded, keeping an eye on the trussed up siren in the net as they stepped forward. The Siren, his eyes wide and defiant, watched Hyrule step forwards. When he saw the knife the sailor held, the Siren started thrashing.

Time sighed. He had sent Hyrule to do the job of cutting the siren free because they were the least intimidating person in the entire crew. Hyrule was also very unassuming, unlike many on Time’s small crew. They were the least likely to frighten the young siren right away.

(Well, maybe Hyrule wasn’t the least physically intimidating, thought Time, with a quick glance in the smithy’s direction. But, well... to be honest, Time wasn’t even sure the Smithy was even tall enough to do the job of cutting the Siren free.)

On top of that, Hyrule always seemed to give off a calming energy. This, Time knew, was due to their fairy heritage. He wasn’t sure if the calming effect would work on the Siren, as he was a magical creature himself, but every advantage would help them.

Unfortunately, although the Siren had been relatively calm at first sight of Hyrule approaching, the sight of the knife they held had pushed him into panic.

Hyrule shakily wiped their sweaty palms on their pants, and set to work.

It was slow going. Hyrule was obviously skittish, and fearful of the creature. They startled back at every movement he made. Thankfully, the Siren had stopped thrashing around once he realized that Hyrule was indeed setting him free, and was not gutting him with the knife they carried.

After a few minutes, with only minimal progress made, Time relented, and motioned Warriors forward to help Hyrule. With the two of them working together, it was only a few minutes before the net was cut and the Siren slithered to the floor.

He didn’t immediately throw himself over the side of the ship, which Time didn’t know whether to be thankful for or not.

On one hand, if the Siren left now, he would probably be grateful to the crew for setting him free and not killing him, and that would be that. No curses involved.

On the other hand, the boy was still bleeding. Already a puddle was forming under him on deck. He needed medical attention.

Hyrule, seeing the same, took a tentative step forward. He was obviously still a little shaken by the creature. (Despite being magical themself, Hyrule rarely encountered magical creatures besides other fairies that hadn’t automatically tried to kill them. Time could understand their hesitation.) They had put aside their discomfort at the sight of someone in need of help, the healer in them overriding their caution.

Instead of Legend, it was Time who stopped them this time. “Wait. Let me go first.”

“Uhhh, are you sure that's a good idea?” Warriors cautioned. ”You can be kind of intimidating on a good day. We don’t want him to panic. Even more.”

Time tilted his head to show he heard, but started forward anyways. The Siren hissed at his approach, scrambling back against the railings, Time could see now that the wounds on his tail were deep. The Siren likely wouldn’t be able to swim without great discomfort or pain for a good while. This was worse than Time thought.

As Time drew closer, the Siren flared his fins, baring his unnaturally long teeth. A guttural hiss escaped him, but Time didn't back down.

He kept an even pace, drawing closer slowly.

Time could see the moment the Siren actually got a good look at his face, and laid eyes on the markings there. His demeanor immediately went from fearful and defiant to eager and astonished. A single word slipped out of his mouth, spoken in the guttural songs of the deep.

“Kin.”

And indeed, the Siren was right. The blue V on his forehead marked him as a Siren-Friend. And the red marks under his eye, the ones he saw reflected back at him from the cheek of the young guppy, marked Time as good as kin to him.

While the Siren examined Time’s face, Time took the time to do the same. In the tattoos on his body, Time could read the status of this child. Humans usually would not be privy to the markings’ meanings. Humans also should not usually be able to innately understand Tempest Tongue, the language of Sirens.

Most humans, however, had not been possessed by the spirit of an ancient Siren that was trapped forever more inside a mask.

Time was just special like that.

This guppy was remarkably well decorated for one his age. Normally a Siren his age would only have their family markings, but this one had much more than that. Not that Time should be surprised. This Siren was descended from the very same, immensely powerful, Siren that Time himself had known.

The two red marks under his eye showed this affiliation. The rest of his family would have the same mark. Around his left wrist were tattooed thick black bands, the marks of a warrior. They announced to the world that this boy had bested enemies more powerful and fearsome than him, and that he was skilled in combat.

Up that same arm, symbols speaking of his deeds were placed. There was an hourglass on his shoulder. The gold sand inside the tattoo was slowly trickling downwards. Time was shocked to see the tattoo moving, but shook it off. That the Siren’s tattoos were moving was not the most shocking thing he’d seen today. Siren’s were proficient in magic, after all. Lower down on the boy’s arm, some sort of wand was pictured, with multicolored music notes slowly floating around it.

The crest of Hylia featured prominently across the Siren’s chest, the Triforce gleaming gold. This proclaimed the wearer’s loyalty to the Goddess, and such a tattoo wasn’t only worn by Sirens. Many of Time’s crew wore similar marks on their own bodies. Underneath that, the symbol of the Goddess Farore was worn proudly, in the traditional green.

Along with the permanent marks on him, he had doodles swirled around his back, drawn with a water resistant paint. Little pictures of fish and seagulls littered his back, while a line of hermit crabs marched down the boy’s right arm. The lines were unsteady, obviously drawn by a young child’s hand, even younger than the child before them.

Time’s eyes wandered back to the Siren’s, and was shocked to see that, for the first time, the boy would meet his eyes. He seemed to be pleased with what he had found in his own examination of Time, and was much more relaxed.

The Siren breathed out a relieved sigh. The only thing he did before slumping into Time’s arms, unconscious, was to breathe out the same word from earlier, this time in common Hylian.

“Kin.”

~~~

Several months later, Time once again heard screaming from above deck.

It sounded much less panicked than those screams half a year later. He stood and stretched out his legs. He had been plotting their new course for free hours now, and might as well take a break. He strolled out of the room.

Up on the deck, the scene he was met with was reminiscent of the one he had found the day they met Wind.

Most of the crew had paused in their work to take in the spectacle. Legend was the one screaming, but there was no true anger in his gaze this time. Hyrule was again trying to hold him back, but was made weak by the laughter they couldn’t hold back.

And there, draped over the railing of the ship, was the newest addition to the crew.

(Well, Time thought privately, it was less like he was an addition, and more like he had just refused to leave the ship for long, even once he was healed.)

Taking in the veteran’s soaked appearance, it was obvious what had happened, even if Legend's screeches of “If you splash me one more time, I’m going to find a way to drown you, gills be damned!” didn’t tip him off.

He smiled, leaning against the mast of the ship. He took an apple from Wild, content to eat it and watch the show.

[zponds]

AG 007 - "Tree's a Crowd"

Since Ash got Treecko in the new version of AG 001 - “Get the Show on the Road!”, it’d be very important to go over the new version of AG 007 - “Tree’s a Crowd”. In the new version of this episode, Ash does NOT catch the wild Treecko he befriended at the giant tree, as he already has one that he got from Professor Birch when May got Torchic and Brendan got Mudkip. 

And the plot is just below, so I hope you all enjoy reading it. ^^

The group finds themselves lost in Petalburg Woods, and Max argues with May that they have gotten lost in the woods. May simply replies there were cute flowers in the path they took and reminds Max the PokéNav should show the right way. Max replies they are out of the PokéNav's service. Brock separates May and Max, since arguing won't get them anywhere. Ash claims he, Brock and, Misty have gotten lost many times and didn't make much fuss about it. However, May and Max, still angry at each other, aren't amused by this. Ash spots something moving in trees, which, on closer inspection, is a Treecko. More wild Treeckos appear across the treetops. This catches the attention of May and Max. He says that he had wanted one since he first saw one at Professor Birch's lab. He quickly tosses a Poké Ball, but the Treecko bats it away with its tail, and May sarcastically reminds Ash that he already has a Treecko. Their talk is cut short when Brock notices that the Treeckos are running away. Ash runs off to chase after the Treeckos, while May taunts Max, angering him for his slowness.

Ash sees what looks like a huge, odd tree up ahead. Unfortunately, he doesn't pay attention to where he's going and falls face first down a steep hill. When he looks up, he sees that the tree is right in front of him, and it's massive. It's more than twice as tall as all the other trees in the forest. Ash comments that it looks almost magical, but he notices that it has no leaves and looks somewhat dead. Suddenly a sharp twig lands in the ground right in front of Ash's face. He looks up and sees an angry-looking Treecko sitting on a branch with another twig in its hand. Ash challenges the Treecko to a battle. Treecko leaps into action, jumping between the branches before spitting its twig at Ash’r Treecko. Ash’s Treecko dodges, but the wild Treecko lands next to him and delivers a powerful whack with its tail. Treecko taunts Ash’s Treecko, urging him to attack. Ash’s Treecko rushes towards his opponent, though the wild Treecko dodges and strikes Ash’s Treecko again with its tail.

Meanwhile, Team Rocket watch on and are mildly impressed with Treecko's reflexes. Meowth explains that Treecko would make a great masseur for Giovanni. The boss fantasy sets the Rocket trio's sights on capturing the Treecko for themselves. Ash, his Treecko, and Pikachu soon find themselves surrounded by a large group of wild Treecko. An older Treecko attempts to talk to the one that Ash just battled, but is yelled at and pushed backwards. The other Treecko look pretty mad, but the old Treecko urges them not to attack. Jessie is excited because she loves watching other people's troubles, and asks Meowth for a translation. The old Treecko says that the tree is going to die and all the Treecko need to move to another tree. However, the other Treecko remains defiant, replying that it was born on that tree and isn't going to give up on it, no matter what. The sentiment really moves James and Meowth, but Jessie doesn't think it's very heroic at all, since life is full of change. She explains all about this, until they notice that all the Treecko are leaving except for one. Once the others are out of sight, that Treecko rushes off too. Ash is prepared to follow it, but Pikachu and Ash’s Treecko have a better idea, so they stake out in the tree.

Brock has since cooked up a meal for him and the others to enjoy. While May, Brock and Max are having lunch, having no idea what Ash and Pikachu are doing. Max asks May how can she be hungry if Ash and Pikachu might be in danger. May threatens Max and wonders if he isn't going to eat his food. Brock believes as long as Pikachu is with Ash, they are fine, promising they could search for them after they would eat their dessert. As the sun sets, Ash, his Treecko, and Pikachu are still waiting at the old tree. Ash decides to send Taillow to look for his friends, since he's afraid they might be worried about him. As soon as Taillow flies away, Treecko appears carrying a leaf full of water. It carefully waters the tree before placing some dry leaves down to keep the ground from drying up again. Treecko goes off to get more water, as Ash wonders whether if it's too late to save the tree. As darkness falls, he, his Treecko, and Pikachu start to help the wild Treecko water the tree. It's angry at first, but it warms up to them when it realizes they just want to help.

As the four return from collecting more water, they hear a commotion and discover that Team Rocket is using a bulldozer to ram all the trees, knocking the sleeping Treecko into their net. When they spot Ash, Pikachu, and both Treeckoa, Team Rocket charges at them, sending them flying. After their motto, they take off in their waiting balloon, now covered in neon lights, with all the Treecko in a cage. Ash orders Pikachu to use Thunderbolt, but it turns out that the lights were actually electricity blockers. Ash calls for Taillow, but he quickly remembers that he sent Taillow away to find the others. Team Rocket takes the opportunity to grab Pikachu in a net. But the Treecko that Ash befriended and Ash’s own Treecko weren’t caught in the net, and both are angry. The wild Treecko spits its twig at the balloon, but it just bounces off. Team Rocket laughs, and James sends out his Cacnea. Ash doesn't recognize Cacnea, declaring the trio must have stolen it as he checks it out in his Pokédex. Treecko leaps from the top of a tree into the balloon, and starts attacking Team Rocket. Jessie steps backwards and accidentally hits the button that releases the trapped Pokemon. Treecko leaps onto the balloon itself and taunts Cacnea. Cacnea responds angrily with a Pin Missile, but Treecko evades and the attack punctures the balloon instead. The Treeckos free Pikachu and they all abandon ship as the balloon flies off into the distance, sending Team Rocket blasting off. 

The elderly Treecko then apologizes to the wild Treecko by waging its tail to the other one, but the wild Treecko still doesn't want to give up on the tree. Everything seems to be going well until the giant tree suddenly splits in two. The Treecko try to hold it together and Ash gets a rope out of his backpack, but they are stopped when the sun rises, illuminating the tree beautifully. As they look on, Ash and the Treecko have some sort of vision of the tree's life from a seed to the majestic tree it used to be. But the imagining fades and they're only looking at a split, dead tree again, and the two halves suddenly split even more and they fall over completely. A seed rolls from the wreckage and stops at Treecko's feet. Ash takes this as a sign of gratitude from the tree for trying so hard to save it. But Treecko doesn't take kindly to this suggestion and hits Ash. He realizes that Treecko is trying to tell him it's ready to battle.

Brock, May, Taillow and Max arrive to witness the battle as it begins. Pikachu uses Thunderbolt, which Treecko dodges multiple times, before finally scoring a hit. However, Treecko doesn't seem to have taken much damage, and Max reminds them that Electric attacks aren't very effective on Grass-type Pokémon. Ash calls for a Quick Attack, which Treecko dodges. However the evasion manoeuvre leaves Treecko vulnerable, and Pikachu delivers a lot of damage with a Thunderbolt. Treecko hits the ground, knocked out. Max doesn't understand what happened, but Brock explains that usually Electric attacks don't work well because the Grass Pokémon can diffuse the electricity into the ground. Brock also explains that when Treecko was in air, the Thunderbolt had much more effect, as usually electricity is absorbed into the ground. Ash congratulates Pikachu, and the the elderly one gives him one of the seeds from the tree. The seed, however, spouted out a new plant. The wild Treecko promptly plants it, before biding farewell to Ash and his friends as the other wild Treeckos care for the newly sprouted tree. 

And that is the new plot for the new version of “Tree’s a Crowd”. I hope you all enjoyed reading this. ^^

TRIVIA

1. Since Ash already has a Treecko from Professor Birch, there’s no need for him to catch another one. However, Ash does befriends the wind Treecko, as does his own Treecko. 2. The wild Treecko that Ash battles wants to battle as a way of showing the elder Treecko and the other wild Treeckos that it’s capable of staying with the old tree no matter what. 

[stan-joonies]

Enemies From The Start But Lovers For Eternity

With Victoria and her newborn army, the Quiluete tribe have seen a small increase in the teens that have been prompted to phase.

One of those being Y/N L/N. If Sam Uley could choose who he wanted to shift, it would not be him.

He was tempermental, even before the shift, now it was multiplied by three, something they didn't have time to deal with. He lashed out, had a disregard for the rules and had a fierce hero complex. He believed with his new abilities, he'd save everyone.

What Sam Uley had to admit though, was his Wolf was absolutely stunning.

His coat was almost pure white, small flecks of light brown covering his body. His paws feathered with black fur and his snout a dark black.

Y/N snorted.

"Fantasizing about me, Uley?"

Sam growled in warning, snapping his jaws at the smaller wolf.

"Don't start, this is serious,"

Y/n rolled his eyes at Paul, pausing when a sickly scent washed over him and poisoned his senses. It was chemical and synthetic, tingling unpleasantly.

Paul pushed him from behind.

"Hurry up, newbie,"

A growl rose in his throat, turning sharply to snap at his packmate's face.

"Stop it!"

Sam made his way between them, locking eyes with Y/N.

"Enough or you go back home,"

With a final roll of his eyes and defiant growl, he turned around and headed towards their destination, shaking his head in desperation to shake of the awful scent.

When they got to a hill, Y/N almost slipped when they went down the steep dip, nipping at one of the others when they snorted.

Before them was the Cullen Coven, The Cold Ones.

On instinct, his hackles rose and he let out a low growl, shaking his head when his head filled with the pack making snide remarks about his control.

"I'm fine!" He insisted, not looking into their eyes, instead focusing on the people infront of them.

He disregarded most of what was being said, out of naivety. The Cold Ones can't be that strong.

"He's not paying attention,"

Y/N looked to his packmates, only to realise he was talking to him.

Y/N scoffed.

"I don't need some old dead guys to teach me how to fight."

The ginger echoed what he thought, gaining a tense look from the long haired vampire. He ignored it though, raising his head defiantly.

"Come over here then," a burly one suggested, pretending to crack his knuckles. "I can show you,"

Y/N put a step towards the boarder, earning an intense growl from Sam.

"It's the only way he'll learn." The blonde one said. "I wont hurt him too much,"

The cockiness infuriated him, so in one large leap he was over to their side, growling at the blonde.

In one fluid motion he attacked, don't give your enemy time to breath.

Yet, Y/N was naive. Young. Inexperienced.

That rule didn't apply to vampires, they don't need recovery time. They don't need time to breath.

Jasper was two steps ahead, blocking and hitting him in all his weak spots.

Then, with a hand on a furry throat, her launched him and the wolf into the ground, a whimper coming from the white wolf.

Jasper turned, explaining where he went wrong before turning back to the shifter, fully prepared to lecture him too, but he froze.

Their eyes connected and for Y/N, the world tilted on its axis. Everything fell away. This person, the one on top of him, was his. He must protect him or he fails. He is important. The only thing that matters.

Meanwhile, the pack were filling his head with shouts and curses.

"Is that possible?"

"What is--"

"No fucking way--"

"Y/N! You--"

"He imprinted," Edward filled in, looking to the Cullens.

"But--" Bella began, looking to Alice. "Alice is--"

Jasper stumbled slightly, running across the field and to Alice, grabbing her close by the waist as if setting claim on himself and her.

Y/N had rolled onto his paws, shaking his head in confusion. He didn't have to look at the vampire again to know the feeling of rejection and emptiness that coursed through him like lightning. Sharp, quick yet so strongly painful.

"Y/N?" Seth's voice trickled into his head, only slightly shaking him out of his shock. "Are you--"

Sam snarled, jumping the invisible line before darting to Y/N and grabbing his by his pelt, dragging his roughly back to their side of the treaty.

"What are they doing?" Bella questioned, shaking at the sight of those powerful jaws digging into furry skin. "They're hurting him--"

"I think we're done here," Sam echoed, turning and dragging the boys frozen form with him.

"Edward!"

"It's not our place, Bella," he muttered gently.

"But--Jasper!" She turned to the southern vampire, who just scowled.

"My place is by Alice," He stated. "Nobody else,"

Bella matched his stare with her own.

"He couldn't help it, it's not his fault so don't blame it on him,"

-

Finally, Y/N came to his senses, shaking off Sam and licking his pelt clean.

"I don't wanna hear it," Y/N grumbled. "It's not like i wanted that to happen,"

"Are you ok?"

Sam's voice shocked him, his wolf turning to look at the Alpha.

"We felt it too, y'know," Paul added, coming to his side.

Y/N snorted.

"What part? The imprinting or the rejection?"

He tried to laugh it off, but everyone just looked at him with eyes of pity, making his hackles rise.

Without another thought, he ran into the forest, away from those looks and away from rejection.

-

The next time Y/N interacted with the Cullens was during the battlefield.

Y/N had trained on his own for the past couple months, maturing when the idea of battle came closer.

He as fighting three angry vampires that each tried to rip out his pelt.

Annoyingly, half his focus was on Jasper. Making sure no vampire snuck up on him and checking for injuries.

This cost him many scratches and attacks from newborns. He already recieved a nasty scratch over the eye, something so deep and bloody in his wolf form that he was afraid of what it would look like when he shifted back.

Just when he was getting overwhelmed, another body joined him, ripping heads off with perfect, dainty hands.

When he turned, he ached with the knowledge that it was his Imprints mate, his girlfriend, his wife, his forever.

This girl was the reason he couldn't get his happy ending.

But who was he to put that against Jasper? The last couple of months he turned twenty, though the pack noted that since the incident a couple months ago, he hasn't changed physically. That thought scared Y/N to the core. The bond with Jasper gave him a more fragile immortality, but it was immortality no less. So, he would unwillingly outlive his pack, his parents, his children, for a guy he doesn't even know.

Suddenly, a vampire was on him, strangling him tightly and he felt his bones crunch for a second.

Yet, Alice came to his rescue, flinging him off.

Y/N looked at her, nodding her thanks yet freezing halfway through.

Their eyes met. His gravity shifted. One person. Two people. Two people who hold his world. The only two that matter.

Jasper stopped his fight, looking to them. The shock, fear, anger, resentment, rolled off them in waves and almost choked Jasper with it.

But he saw a dark blur zooming across the field, right for Alice. The way the blur moved made Jasper queasy. One hit and both of them would be flying over the mountain.

Pulling himself out of it, he charged, heading straight for her.

Y/N smelt it before he heard it.

The chemical, sickenly sweet, synthetic smell coming towards them. Then he looked and saw the blur seconds away from Alice.

Instinct took contol, jumping infront of Alice and growling. The growl shook the stones and made the snow quiver and melt in fear.

Two bodies, completely opposite to eachother, slammed against one another.

Both toppling over the mountain...

-

Sam felt it before the rest of them, the numbness and the break of a special bond. With all the newborns cleared, he let out a howl, something that sounded so broken and fragile and something that was echoed by the others.

Sam ran to the cliff, his pack running behind him.

Jasper and Alice were there, looking over the cliff and talking rapidly.

They shuffled out of the way when Sam made it to the edge, his body leaning over. He couldn't see anything this far.

So he turned and made his way down the slope with his pack.

-

"What happened?" Bella muttered, looking at the Cullens gathering by the cliff edge.

"It was one of the wolves," Carlisle supplied helpfully.

"It was Y/N, he stepped infront of me but was thrown over the cliff. " clutching her hands to her chest, Alice's voice sounded sorrowful. "I felt it Jasper, he did it to me too!"

Jasper held her tighter, not knowing which emotion to feel.

He would be an awful liar to say he hadn't thought of Y/N constantly in the months past.

He did. Almost everyday and night, but he had Alice and Alice was his mate for eternity. To think Y/N had also imprinted on Alice was something remarkable in itself.

Yet, no hopes rose when the wolves didn't ascend the cliffs.

-

The wolves shifted back into their human forms, running forward and crouching over where Y/N was lying in a broken heap.

His limbs were disfigured, splayed and broken in all angles. Blood seeped from his neck and chest and arms. The stench poisoning their sensitive noses.

Sam crouched near him, rough fingers resting on his neck.

"Go get Carlisle!" He ordered. "He's breathing,"

But Carlisle was already there, jumping from the mountain and landing near them, sounding like a crack of thunder.

He quickly set to work, mumbling under his breath.

"His bones are healing in the wrong places. I'll need to break them again." The doctor turned to the wolves. "Take him back. I'll come as quickly as i can,"

Sam nodded, picking him up, giving a thankful glance to Paul when he readily shifted and let him put Y/N on his back.

They scaled back up the mountain, glancing at the Cullens briefly before disappearing into the forest.

-

The third time Y/N saw them, he wasn't self-aware of himself. He was dosed up on drugs to ease the pain and it made him feel slightly light headed.

Instead of seeing solid figures, everyone was slightly blurry and disfigured.

He was aware of someone holding his hand, it was a freezing cold, dainty hand.

"He'll be fine soon," someone assured. "With his accelerated healing, I'd give it three days."

"Poor kid." Another voice sighed. "He may be an absolute prick, but he tries his darn best."

There was a pause, Y/N groaning as the hand around his tightened.

"Stop looking at her like that," a voice chimed.

"Why? It's her fault this happened."

"She was in shock," the same voice retorted. "It's not everyday to get imprinted on,"

"And you'd know all about that wouldn't you?" Snarling rose up into the room.

"Can everyone shut up?" Y/N snapped. "I'm trying to relax," he felt only a phantom of the pain he would feel had he not been drugged up, yet it was still harsh enough to make him want to clench his jaw.

"Sorry," a voice beside him whispered.

"What happened?"

So they retold his story. Him grimancing at every gory detail as if he felt the pain again.

"Can i have a moment alone with Jasper and Alice?" He heard shuffling, blurs leaving the room. Two stayed, the one beside his bed and one in the corner.

"Are you feeling ok, Y/N?"

He was barely able to lift his head do he hummed instead.

"I'm sorry. I should've seen him coming. But--"

"It's fine. I feel like we were both occupied."

Silence.

"So, you remember then?" A masculine voice.

"I have great memory..." he uttered, shifting slightly when an itch crawled up his spine.

They sat in silence, each consumed by their own thoughts, Alice trying to see the future, knowing it was pointless.

"What's going to become of this then?" Y/N felt like shrinking into the sheets. Though he felt like he matured he was still dipping his toe in the embarrassing mindset of a teenager and hated these serious talks, especially when he led them .

"An...imprint," Jasper began. "Can be anything, right?"

Y/N felt dread in his stomach at the thought.

"Friends, siblings, protectors, lovers, anything the imprintee wants, it's my job to make you happy," he said it with such a lack on enthusiasm that even Jasper winced.

"So, that's what we'll be, friends. "

Y/N heard Alice's low whisper of 'Jasper' and almost felt warm to it.

"Of course," he shifted again. "Friends."

He could just make out Jasper nodding gratefully, coming forward to pull Alice away, ignoring her protests and leaving Y/N alone.

Y/N, when he first learned of imprints, was overjoyed. He was a true romantic at heart, yearning for the everlasting, true love an imprint can bring. He imagined him at 30, a beautiful girl next to him with at least one child playing in the garden. Then, as the sun would set they'd all lay on the couch, snuggled together and watch a disney movie. Then, when their child would go to sleep him and his wife would take him into his room, tuck him in and then go to bed themselves, content with the day and happy.

That seemed so far away now. Everything about that vision was wrong. He'd never have that. Even if he tried to date, the Imprint would win every time. That person would not know about his double life, would have to understand they aren't, and never would be, the most important thing in his life.

So, with that in mind, he shifted once more and closed his eyes, trying to will the dream of a perfect family away.

-

Y/N really didn't see his imprints that much. When the feeling of emptiness and hurt would crawl up behind him, Sam would give him permission to cross the border and hang around the Cullens home, never inside, but close enough. Sometimes Alice would come out, offer him some new clothes while petting his fur, then when he'd changed they'd walk around the forest, laughing and bonding over the smallest of things.

It was those times Y/N understood that Imprints are soulmates, matched perfectly to the imprinter. Yet, no matter how his feelings for Alice grew, he always fought with himself to give them the space appropriate to pass as friends, out of respect for Jasper, who he hasn't seen since he was bedridden.

When he recieved an invitation to Bella's wedding, his mum took him straight out to look for a new suit.

He obviously would've accepted anyway. Alice and Jasper were there, Bella too, who he'd admit wasn't as bad as the others claimed her to be.

So, he stood by Billy Black and Seth's side, watching the newlyweds dance with eachother, no space left between their bodies.

Jasper and Alice was across from him, Alice appreciating the suit while Jasper denied any 'checking out' his mate claimed he was doing.

"Why fight it Jasper?" Alice questioned quietly, squeezing his hand. "You feel it too, so why do you keep your distance?"

But Alice knew. Jasper didn't want to stand out. He never did. Having a boyfriend AND a girlfriend and having them dating eachother? That was an attention beacon that the blonde didn't want.

He shook himself out of his thoughts when Alice left his side, going straight for Y/N.

"Care to dance, Y/N?" Alice held out a dainty hand. "Jasper has as much right as you do," she added when his eyes immediately fell to Jasper.

Hesitantly, Y/N took her hand and led her to the dancefloor.

"I'll warn you that I'm not a very good dancer,"

Alice giggled, eyes lighting up.

"You can step on my feet if you want, I'll dance for the both of us," She teased.

Y/N rolled his eyes, a flush presenting itself on his cheeks.

"Very funny," He twirled her, admiring the way her dress danced with her. "This makes you look like a real fairy,"

They locked eyes, both smiling gently.

Everything faded away. The music. The people. It was only them. Their bodies swayed naturally closer, their chests pressed up against one another, their faces inches away from kissing. Alice felt his breath fanning her face like gentle kisses.

"We can't do this," He whispered, yet made no effort to move away. "You can't do this to me. It's cruel."

"What am i doing, Y/N/N?"

"You're waving the thing i want most right under my nose, but when i go to take it, you'll snatch it away," he uttered, eyes casting down to her lips.

"Well..." her hands came up to circle around his neck. "If you want something enough you just got to take it, do you want it that much?"

He didn't answer, instead, he swayed closer and Alice did the same. When their lips brushed it was as if every barrier broke. Their lips came together, their arms wrapping around eachother.

It was not fireworks. It was not explosive. But it was what Y/N needed. What Alice needed. What Jasper refused to allow him to have.

When they broke away, they saw Jasper retreat to the house in quick step, trying not to attract attention.

Y/N's heart ached for him. One dam broke and without that one the other dam was struggling and wouldn't hold up for long.

"Come on!" Alice dragged him in the direction of his house, ignoring her protests.

"Alice! We should give him time," But Alice shook her head and continued, up the stairs, down the corridor, through a door.

Jasper sat on a double bed, looking out of a window and his shoulders tensed.

"Jazz," Alice began, squeezing Y/N's hand. "We're going to be ok,"

Jasper shook his head silently.

"The times have changed. Jasper, this isn't as taboo as our times." He ignored her.

She sighed, looking at Y/N and letting go of his hand.

He almost whined in protests but yelped instead when she shoved him next to Jasper and forcing him to sit next to him, while she took his other side.

The silence dragged on for a couple minutes, Y/N couldn't help but fidget his his fingers. But a hand came inbetween both his own, holding his right hand in a tight grip.

Jasper still wasn't looking at him, but his face was concentrated, looking past the window. Past the trees. Past the sky. Far away.

Y/N smiled lightly, squeezing his hand in return.

It was something fragile but it was enough.

-

Y/N smiled as he came out the forest, arms ready and prepared when a 15 year old Renesmee jumped into his arms.

"Uncle Y/N!" She giggled, kissing him on the cheek.

"Hey Georgous,"

Bella came out to greet them, smiling at the h/c-ette.

"She missed you." Bella brung him in for a quick hug.

"Only two weeks," he assured. "I'm back now."

"Thank god," someone laughed, a small figure running towards him, colliding with him chest and making the shifter let out an 'oof'.

"Missed you too, Alice," He melted into her touch, bringing her as close as he can.

Going onto her tiptoes, She whispered into the shell of his ear.

"Jasper's waiting upstairs."

Y/N grinned, nodding. Even with the years that have passed, Jasper was still sensitive to showing public affection outside, mainly with Y/N. It sometimes brought the wolf down but centuries of homophobia doesn't disapear in one night, so Y/N was willing to wait.

He made his way to their room, opening it gently and smiling when Jasper turned to greet him with a matching smile.

He easily accepted Jasper's hug, melting when he kissed his cheek gently.

"Wow..." he sighed. "You must've really missed me," his arm tightened around his waist teasingly.

"Shut up," the blonde mumbled, pressing another to his forehead.

Y/N was willing to wait, they had forever.

[refriedweeb]

TAKE WHAT I WANT AND I WANT IT (Katsuki Bakugo + Fem! Reader) 18+!

A/N: @bagel-bee said she wanted a bratty sub!bakugo so they’re gonna get a bratty sub bakugo

Prompt: 18+AU!Bakugo can be a real pain in the ass sometimes, but that’s nothing new to you. What the world doesn’t know is that outside of that hard exterior he presents to the world, Bakugo is the definition of power bottom and sub and needs to be put in his place.

Warnings: kinky sex, degradation, after care, edging, oral, and a bunch of other sin to follow

Word Count: 3,881

There were a whole lot of people in the great big world that were terrified of Katsuki Bakugo. You couldn’t say that you blamed any of them for the fear that they felt when the current love of your life spouted off, ever the hothead he’d been since his youth. His quirk was powerful, and dominated his spot in the hero charts. Of course, it’d been no surprise that he’d made his way into the top ten of the hero charts relatively quick, despite his nasty attitude towards others who he viewed were beneath him. He did good work, held himself to a high and impossible standard compared to others, and genuinely just wanted to make a difference despite his arrogant, dominant, asshole nature that put so many people off of him.

But you knew a different side of Bakugo. You knew a great deal more than the public would ever get to know and the truth of the matter was that gave you a feeling of power. The same sort of level you imagined Katsuki felt whenever he used his quirk and asserted dominance. Sure, in the public image and the hero society around him, he might have come off as the sort of guy who would be dominant in all aspects of his life. And this was true, for the most part. Except when it came to acts of intimacy in or out of the bedroom.

In that aspect, Katsuki Bakugo loved begging you to let him do just about anything. He loved giving all the power over to you, was unable to resist the thrill that rose in his chest when you bossed him around. 

At the same time, however, Katsuki was a brat.

He’d come home in a mood from patrol, and immediately tracked you down in the apartment you shared. It’d been a shitty day at the hero agency he worked for, nothing but petty crimes one after another and the general public had been so ungrateful that day particularly. No one was ever really happy about being inconvenienced by crime and fear, he understood that. But they’d been exceptionally vocal about it that day for no reason and it’d really gotten to him. He wanted you. Wanted the comfort and love that came with just being in your presence. Yet, most importantly, he wanted to relinquish all aspect of control about the rest of the day. He wanted you in control, as you always were, when the end of the night came around. 

Bakugo found you in the bathroom, looking as if you were about to get a shower. A makeup remover sat on the sink and you swept a cotton pad over your eyes, removing whatever makeup you’d worn on your face that day. He Let out an exhale that sounded like it had some smoke to it, and you opened your eyes, the two of you looking at one another through the reflection of the mirror while you set the pad down. “Hey hon, you’re home.” You could tell by the look on his face that he’d been through the wringer that day, and your heart tugged seeing him look so tired. As someone with a quirk who had opted out of the route of pro hero, you couldn’t imagine the pressure he dealt with each day. 

Katsuki didn’t say anything, simply shrugged off the sweatshirt he’d been wearing and letting it hit the tiled floor unceremoniously. He drifted over to you, hands needy as they pawed and pulled at the cloth robe you were wearing. “H-Hey!” you said, brows furrowed in momentary confusion as he laid an assault of kisses and nips at your neck, your jaw, you're collarbone. “Katsuki, I’m about to shower can’t this wait-” a hand slipped under the front of the robe, Bakugo messily groping at your breast. Your cheeks were flushed, and you suddenly understood what he was out for. He wanted to egg you on. Wanted to press boundaries. There was neediness in the way he suckled and pulled at your skin, little flowers of pinks and reds blossoming where his mouth attacked. His head was dipped against your collarbone, pulling at the skin there with hungry teeth, but you didn't need to see his expression to know you were right. “Bakugo, stop.”

He didn’t, his thumb rolling over your hardened nipple. You bit back on the sigh of pleasure, knowing this wasn’t something meant to be about you despite how greedy his hands were. “Katsuki,” you sighed, head propped against his as you leaned back. “Katsuki, stop.”

Not even a full breath had passed between your words before he replied with the infamous and tantalizing “Make me.”

It’d been the bratty statement that told you everything you needed to know. You opened your eyes and tipped your head to the side, meeting his. Make me. Such an overrated statement dealing with a brat, but it didn’t cease to make thrills run up and down your spine all the same. “Make you?” You repeated, Katsuki giving a nod of confirmation, that defiant look still in his eyes.

“Yeah, that’s what I said.” His voice was gruff, tougher than usual as if he’d done quite a lot of screaming that day.

You sighed, shaking your head from side to side. “Get on your knees.” Bakugo’s pupils widened, the contrast against the bright red of those eyes mesmerizing. He didn’t listen, naturally, continuing to toy with your nipple and the sharp tug he gave to it almost blanked your train of thought. Yet, you held fast. Your hand slapped his away and yanked it from its place in your robe, turning from the sink so that you were face to face. “I said, get on your knees.” Nails latched at his chin, drawing in and pushing him to his knees with minor struggle. Despite the bratty attitude, Bakugo wanted this. He lived for this. Relinquishing control to you set him on a new high he’d never been able to reach before. His knees hit the tiled floor, and he looked up at you with narrowed eyes. Anyone who didn’t know Bakugo might have thought he looked furious, angry. But there was something behind those eyes that told you he wanted this.

And you were going to make him beg for it.

Your hand wrenched through the blond length of his hair, yanking it back so the column of his neck was exposed to you. “You’re such a shit, you know that?” You asked, tugging his head from side to side. “Had such a bad day at work and now you come home and expect everyone to lay themselves out for you whenever however, hm?” Your eyebrow was arched, you leaned in closer to him. “That’s not how it works, Katsuki.” You snapped. You released your hold on his hair and gave him a shove backwards, one he was happy to embrace as he leaned back on long, muscled legs. While he adjusted to the new position, you took the chance to undo the cloth belt that kept your robe tied together. It fell open, exposing the curves of your body and smooth, naked skin. The robe fell unceremoniously around your ankles as you hopped up onto the bathroom sink, legs spreading as you kept your eyes focused on Bakugo’s. “If you want to get what you think you deserve, then work for it.”

His eyes trailed with carnal hunger down the curve of your body. From the fullness of your breasts, nipples piqued where he’d been playing with them moments ago, to the curve of your naval, to your thighs and in towards lips that were spread and sticky already, your cunt looking so fucking delicious. Katsuki licked his lips, not needing to be told what to do as he leaned forward. It almost looked like a home free buffet for him, until the ball of your foot pressed in against his forehead, stopping him from his path to your cunt. He growled, upper lip curled in distaste. There was need in his eyes, to get lost in the distraction and comfort of you from such a shit day, and you saw it so clearly your heart tugged. On the other hand, you simply clicked your tongue. “What are you forgetting to ask, brat?”

Your eyes met and his lips pulled down in a frown. Defiant. This wasn’t news to you, and you moved your foot from his forehead to his chest and pushed harder. “Bad boys don’t get rewarded.” 

This was what got Katsuki talking, because he wanted to be rewarded. He needed to be rewarded and he needed to unwind from everything that had happened that day. Letting you take the reins meant that he’d get it, even if he had to swallow some of his bratty tendencies. “Please,” he started, cheeks flushed. “Please, will you let me taste your pussy?”

That was more your speed. A smile on your face, your foot dropped away from his chest and you resumed your former position of spread legs, all for Bakugo to see. He swallowed the thickness in his throat and leaned forward, callused and roughened hands spreading you even further as he drew closer. “Thank you,” he whispered, breath coming hot against your inner thigh. “Itadakimasu,” he purred before pressing in against the heat between your legs.

As he did, your hands settled into the blond of his hair, fingers nestling in as he kissed your inner most thighs, pulling at the supple skin found there. Katsuki was submissive to you, especially when things went awry at work, but that didn’t mean he didn’t like to take his time. Bakugo kissed at the other side of your thighs, pulling the skin between his teeth in a show that was sure to leave a mark. His lips were rough, desperate. And as you leaned your back against the mirror of the bathroom vanity, your mouth dropped into the smallest of o’s as he leaned in to lick a hot strip up the core between your thighs. He wanted to make you feel good, he wanted to be rewarded for doing a good job, and it showed in how he devoured you. Soon enough, the wet sounds of him slurping, nuzzling, lapping up the wetness that he urged on filled the bathroom. Your pants and moans paired nicely with it, he had to say. “Such a good boy,” your breath hitched as he lazily rolled his tongue around your clit. “So hungry for me,” you cooed, hips bucking into his as your own high mounted. Katsuki’s hands pulled your thighs further apart, desperate to get more of a taste of you despite the obvious strain against his pants. He was hard and could feel the slickness of his pre-cum leaking through his boxers. His nose nuzzled in against your flesh, tongue narrowed in on your clit as he slowly pushed two fingers beneath your soaked lips, a thrill racing up his spine at the sound that fell from you lips. He was doing good, you were pleased with him. Katsuki was meticulous as he pumped in and out of you, fingers curled against your walls.

You were barely holding it together, muscles of your legs spamming as he picked up his speed. It was bliss, the sound of him moaning against your sopping cunt enough to send you on a marathon sprint to your orgasm. Any other night you might have done just that, but that desperate look in Katsuki’s eyes when he’d first looked at you told you tonight wasn’t the night to be selfish. Your boyfriend needed you to reassure him in a love language he understood, that you spoke so well. Instead, you threaded your fingers through Katsuki’s hair and gave a hard yank, the void of his mouth and fingers detached from pleasuring you sending a shiver down your spine.

“Such a good little brat,” you cooed, knees shaking as you stood. “Time for your reward.” With gentler hands than before you pushed Katsuki back onto the bathroom floor, kneeling between his legs. Lithe fingers reached for the buckle of his belt, undoing it and the buttons of his pants underneath. His cock was swollen already, strained against the deep burgundy of his boxers. “So needy aren’t you? So desperate to get fucked...” came your idle words as you traced a single finger against the thickness of him, feeling a particularly protrusive vein under the pad of your finger. Bakugo moaned, hips instinctively rutting up against your finger. Truthfully you loved seeing the reaction you could get out of him with the smallest of touches, but you gripped his cock hard as he settled back on the floor. “Behave or you’ll get nothing.”

Bakugo’s expression twisted as he worked to restrain himself, the muscle in his jaw flexing as he fought back on a bratty remark. “Yes ma’am.” He groaned just as you pulled the waistband of his underwear down, swollen length slapping against the muscled plains of his stomach. The head of his cock was swollen, leaking pre-fun as it seemed to throb with a rhythm of its own. He watched with baited breath as you leaned over the head of him, letting a long glob of spit fall from your lips and onto his length.

Katsuki swore he almost came right then and there from the image of it alone.

A shuddering moan found itself in the back of his throat once more as your hand spread the spit around, fisting the angry colored cock in your hand as Bakugo braced his hands against the wall of the bath, the door of the cabinets. You twisted your hands up and down the length of him, watching the pained expression as he fought to keep control of his need to spill into your hands. A wicked smirk touched your lips and you leaned down, lips brushed against the protruding vein of his cock as you spoke. “You’re gonna be good and not cum until I say so, right Katsuki?”

You watched the defined muscles of his Adonis belt flex and contort as he fought back the urge to fuck himself into your hand, push into your mouth. “Yes,” he shuddered, gasping at the pain that followed a moment later from a particularly harsh grip from you. “Yes ma’am!”

Bakugo’s reward came when you lowered your mouth over his cock, cheeks sucking inwards as you bobbed your head up and down with a slow, tantalizing rhythm. Your tongue traced over the violent vein that ran on his underside, pushing his control over his hips to the breaking point. He refrained, however, wanting to keep you happy and keep you sucking him off. The moan that escaped his mouth once your nose brushed over the soft tangle of hair at his base sent a thrill through you, quickening your pace as you felt the muscles of Bakugo’s thighs tighten, the pulse of his cock hammering against the back of your throat. He was close to his orgasm, and you both knew it. 

And just as Katsuki was about to tumble over the cliff of his high, you released him from your mouth with a silent pop - one that was lost in the sound of his cry of dismay. His thighs spasmed, flexing as he tried to rut up into anything to get that final brush of friction he was desperately after. You sat back on your feet, wiping your wet, drool covered mouth with the back of your mouth. “Such a needy little slut,” you groaned, on a bit of a power trip from how close you’d had him to unraveling with just your mouth alone.  For the arrogance that he put on during his professional hours, you were the only one who could get Katsuki so weak. “You want to cum, brat?”

His forehead and body were slick with a thin layer of sweat, and he nodded. “Please, please let me cum, I need it. I need you.” The amount of desperation in his voice sent a thrill through you and you moaned as you started to crawl into his lap, wet lips dragging against his cock as you settled down. White dripped from the tip of his cock and onto the well defined planes of his stomach, and it took an incredible amount of restraint not to just start bouncing on him then and there.

“Do you?” Your voice was bored, languid, as if there were a million better things you could be doing at that moment. Your fingertips trailed over his stomach, causing him to shudder. They raked up and down his chest, moved to trail up your own stomach, to cradle and pinch at your own breasts while Bakugo struggled not to touch you greedily as he had before. He ached for it, could have very well started crying for it.

And when you put out what you wanted into the world...

“Please, baby, please, please, please!”

You took his throbbing length into your hand, lining it up with your entrance. Bakugo watched with hungry eyes as the tip of his cock started to disappear between your folds, the way you sat on him so slow and teasing he could have swore you wanted to kill him. Eventually, you sheathed yourself full of him, your opening settled against the curve of his hips into thighs. Yet, you didn’t move. You clenched around him, relaxed, and reclenched yourself as you sat poised and flushed over his dick. Your hands were braced against his chest, tips of your fingers biting into the hardened skin of his muscles. You felt impossibly full of him, wanting to savor that moment despite the feral whines coming from beneath you. “Beg me,” you breathed, eyes opening as you tilted your head to lock eyes with him. “Beg me to fuck you stupid.”

Tears prickled in the corner of his eyes, and he threw his head back, panting and you hadn’t even done anything. “I need it,” he groaned, fingers twitching to get at your skin. “I need to touch you. I need you to fuck me, I’m fucking losing it, please fuck me. Please, I’m-” His voice cut short as you leaned in, lifting over his cock with your pussy clenched as you moved against him. He wouldn’t last much longer if you teased at him like that, Bakugo knew that for sure.  “Ah, rrrnng, fuck me, fuck me, fuck me.”

It was the last little bit of torture you would put him through for that night. You smiled, small and curt and it was the last string of resistance that snapped that would set the game on the ground and running. You adjusted your knees, pulling them inward as you started to ride Bakugo, hips slamming down into his as you bounced up and down. Meanwhile, Katsuki went wild. His hands found purchase in your skin in the most violent way. Grabbing at the plush skin of your hips, your thighs, pulling and clawing like a man desperate to find salvation. He cupped your breasts, the painful pulls of your hardened nipples only egging you on to fuck him harder, to get him to his high faster. The sound that filled the bathroom was wet, the squelches of your pussy as you sank around him over and over mingled with your desperate moans. 

A hand slipped up to Bakugo’s neck and squeezed there while you rocked back and forth against him. His mouth was hanging open, his panting feverish, and you swore he could have gone cross-eyed. “You don’t cum until I cum, slut.” your thumb brushed over his swollen lower lip as you leaned forward to pull it in with your teeth. “Make me cum.”

That was all the encouragement that Bakugo needed. His hips snapped against yours with enough feverish need you cried out in pain. He was sloppy, how his thrusts were ill-timed and desperate, pounding into you with reckless abandon. Your nails found themselves back in his chest, dug in as he held you down against his hips. Katsuki drove himself up into you, enough to carve you in half with the power behind them. Your mouth dropped open, unable to do anything but mewl, whine, and cry out. His thumb rubbed circles against your clit, equally as feverish in speed as he rushed to get you to your orgasm because he didn’t think he’d last much longer himself. He tossed his head back, listening to the sounds of you calling out his name, growing more and more desperate as you came closer to your own mounting high.

It was a specifically hard drive that sheathed itself right against the back of your spongy walls that undid you, your glaze tumbling around Bakugo’s length, coming undone once more as he continued to tease your clit and fuck you simultaneously. Always such a good boy, you groaned as you rode out the last of your high. “Cum for me, Katsuki. Fill me with your cum.” Those words, spoken breathlessly and of wrecked tone, sent Bakugo spiraling as he shot his load into you. Your hand slipped behind you to fondle his balls, milking him dry as he emptied himself into you until he was spent and shooting blanks. Even when he was spent, Katsuki remained inside of you, flexing his hips against you. Both of your breathing was labored, spent, unable to form coherent words for a moment of time.

You collapsed against his chest, soothed by the feeling of his chest rising and falling. Your sweet, loving, Katsuki Bakugo. Once you found you could still speak, you tipped your head so you could look up at him. “Are you okay, ‘suki?” A hand moved to push some matted blond hair out of his face. 

Bakugo’s hands wrapped around your waist, giving you a squeeze before he answered. “I was frustrated,” he started, voice gravelly and still thick with lust. “Today was one of those days where it seemed no one cared about what we were doing. Ungrateful dumbasses, tch.”

Your expression softened, and you pressed a kiss against his chest. “You know that’s not true. You do important work, my brave hero.” His thumbs ran circles over your lower back as you continued on. “I can’t imagine the pressure you’re under sometimes, doing what you do.” Bakugo turned to look at you, burgundy eyes tired, drained. You kissed the spot on his chest again. “You did so good, such a good job listening today.” You kissed him again, this time closer to his neck.  “You’ll always be appreciated and loved with me, Katsuki, you know that, right?” 

A blush pulled over his features, and he ducked his head with a roll of his eyes. Despite the reaction that would have had anyone assuming the sentiment wasn’t appreciated, “Yeah, yeah, yeah. I’m not a dumbass, you know.”

You laughed, kissing him gently on the lips for a few moments. The desperation from before no longer present, the only thing left behind the deep rooted love you held for one another. Slowly, you pulled away and smiled down at him. “Come on, lets get cleaned up and order in. Your favorite.”

[firefield]

David Bowie - Reality (2003)

“The thing, probably, that keeps me writing is this awful feeling that there are no absolutes. That there is no truth. That we are, as I’ve been thinking for so many years now, fully in the swirl of chaos theory.” DB, 2003

I always learn new things about David Bowie whenever I listen through his complete discography chronologically, and this run through is no different. As I get close to the end here, I’m reminded how much less I know about these later works, due simply to the fact that they have existed for a much shorter time, and my experience with them is more limited. “Reality” rocks more than I realized on release day, especially coming off the heels of “Heathen” with all its layers and mystery and subtleties. An empty house afforded the opportunity to really crank this one up, a vinyl pass, and CD pass, and finally the 5.1 surround sound edition - and yeah - DB said he wanted a simpler sound, and wanted a record that could be translated into a live show easily and effectively and he got that in spades.

As with all his post-80’s work, and especially his post-heart attack material, “Reality” embraces the darker and more cynical side of DB’s many characters - from the irony of the album title with album art portraying a very cartoony space-man Bowie looking about as unreal and non-Reality as possible and still be recognizable - to DB’s insistence that he made a “positive!” record despite themes of aging and death, loneliness and anonymity, geopolitical strife, day-in-day-out mundanity and the creeping threat of urbanization to nature. Regarding the subject matter of Reality he told Interview Magazine, “This is probably a period when, more than any other time, the idea that our absolutes are disintegrating is manifest in real terms. Truths that we always thought we could stand by are crumbling before our eyes. It really is quite traumatic.”

I read quotes like that and I think, for a guy that is largely known for (and criticized for) his ability to synthesize the past and his surroundings into something entirely David-Bowieingly unique, he certainly shows skill at synthesizing the future as well. Beyond things like financial chicanery like Bowie Bonds and the impact of the internet on the creation and distribution of music, Bowie often hit at the very essence of what unites as well as divides.

The seeds of this malleablity of truth that DB describes had been planted in my country during the civil rights movement and the tragedy of the Vietnam War, but began to flower and bloom after the 9/11 event - affecting Bowie’s home turf and his family profoundly. Heathen is prescient, Reality is a little angry about things. DB took time to specifically say what Reality was not: it was not an angry album, it was not a response to 9/11, it was not his “New York Album” - but then he’d spend just as much time gently walking back those claims, almost wondering aloud if it was, in fact, all of those things and more. He speaks around this time about how naturally writing music came to him. Unforced, calmly. I think this “flow” is why you can glean so many little contradictions about Reality and it’s intentions and meaning. He’s letting it happen, not dictating the plot; the tensions of that city and that moment in time allowed to mold and shape the work. Polar opposite to the Heathen recording environment at Allaire Studios in the Catskill Mountains, Reality was recorded in the cramped Studio B of Philip Glass’s Looking Glass Studios in NYC and both those disparate studio choices impact their respective products acutely.

Reality is Bowie’s most “hands-on” record since Diamond Dogs, employing all his multi-instrumentalist abilities, and it’s also one of his most thoroughly demoed. Most all of Reality was demoed out in Studio B by DB and Tony Visconti playing all the instruments, with Mario McNulty (the same engineer DB would later trust with the posthumous reimagining/re-recording of Never Let Me Down) as studio assistant. According to Tony, he had a feeling that many of these “demo tracks” would not ever actually be re-recorded, so they were laid down at a useable fidelity. Consequently, much of the demo material survived on the final album. The band brought in for final overdubs was chosen with the live show in mind specifically. This was a smaller, tighter unit of BowieLive veterans and by all accounts recording was smooth and productive.

New Killer Star opens the record, and is also Reality’s debut single (that contained one of his more surprising B-sides, Sigue Sigue Sputnik’s ‘Love Missle F1-11’) and is a spectacular Earl Slick led hazy, woozy guitar statement.

This is followed by The Modern Lovers - Pablo Picasso - recorded in 1972 but delayed until their 1976 debut. This track mimics the space occupied by the Pixies cover Cactus - the second track on Heathen - DB pulling tracks from his past that he enjoys and placing them where they give the record momentum. Quite a different interpretation if you have heard the original - DB took liberties with both the lyric and the arrangement and it’s a cool little track.

Never Get Old follows and addresses the common theme of time and aging in DB compositions…. (Cygnet Committee, Time, Hearts Filthy Lesson, Changes, Fantastic Voyage, and many more) and the composition itself references much of his past in Space Oddities countdown, the elongated guitar strands of Heroes, bits of melody from Crack City, the four-walls-closing-in sense of Low and some of Hunky Dory’s ominous moments. A pounding live favorite.

…and seamlessly right into The Loneliest Guy. Anyone who saw the Reality Tour knows the captivating power of this piece, and it’s honesty and fragility was one of a few reasons why I thought this would be DB’s final album.

Looking For Water. Man, I *love* this song. It’s one of my favorite vocal performances on Reality and would certainly end up on my list of “underrated DB songs” were I compelled to make one. I like repetition in music, and it’s hypnotic and mantra-esque qualities - and this is one that always gets a significant volume boost.

She’ll Drive The Big Car - a supercool stab of Bowie sash and swagger, and a killer vocal performance, masking some seriously sad lyrics. Bowie manages to sound defiant, tired, funky, deferential, sexy and soulful all in the course of a single song. He’s such an effortlessly great singer, that’s it’s easy to become so accustomed to it that you almost miss it. It’s just “him.”

The exceedingly sweet “Days” fits nicely with all of Realities reflections, and has for me become a song I pay much more attention to since we lost the man to cancer.

Fall Dog Bombs The Moon is one of DB’s most overtly political songs, and was apparently written very quickly - under a half and hour - and directly addresses the Iraq War and the profiteering involved. Relatively bleak with murky lyrics, it’s a interesting and unique DB composition.

Try Some, Buy Some is just beautiful and I think one of Bowie’s most interesting and genuinely heart-felt covers (along with Waterloo Sunset, also from these sessions.) The inspiration to do this song comes directly from the 1971 Ronnie Spector version and the impact it had on him personally. DB seems to be absolutely sincere when he claimed that he had completely forgotten that it was a George Harrison composition until he sat down to work on the album credits.

Next up is the sizzling rocker Reality that has one foot in Tin Machine and one foot in The Next Day. Love Earl’s guitar sound here. Like New Killer Star, the guitar layers in this one sound amazing on the 5.1 surround mix.

Ahh yeah. Another in an amazing number of fantastic Bowie album closers. I’ve made it a point in my life to quit ranking art into “good/better/best/sucks categories and hierarchies and see art as an experience, not a competition. My friends know this about me, and consequently tease me and attempt to prod me into breaking this creed. Under unrelenting pressure to name a “favorite David Bowie track” I named Bring Me The Disco King.

I could give many reasons why this would be the one…. The repetition I mentioned earlier, here found in Matt Chamberlain’s drum loop (interestingly snagged from ‘When The Boys Come Marching Home,’) the overwhelming sense I had when I first heard it that this was DB’s final record, the sense that the threat of jazz that had always pounded on David’s door in his chord structures and harmonies had finally broken down the door… the very tangible sense that this was a composition that had already had a long life but stayed tucked into the shadows by its unsatisfied creator, only to be given life and light on this great album after it had been stripped down to almost nothing - simplicity being the sought after key to its finally being allowed to soar. If it’s not already obvious, I think this song is magnificent. Literally. The fact that David knew it was deep inside there, he just had to mine it out over the course of a decade or so is extraordinary.

Couple of thoughts about a track that didn’t fit well on Reality but made it to bonus/B-sides…

How cool is his cover of The Kinks Waterloo Sunset? In the years after his death, when I feel that loss in my heart, it’s Waterloo Sunset I turn up to 11 and allow it to yank me back out of that murk.

“People so busy

makes me feel dizzy

but I don’t feel afraid

as long as I gaze on Waterloo Sunset

I am in paradise.”

[obsidianfr3sk]

Beginnings and Endings (Part 1)

@renegadesnet event 2: august of anarchy 

↪ [The Artino Brothers] 

Summary: In the beginning, it was just the two of them: David and Alec, the Artino Brothers. Then, they brought anarchy into the world. Now, David is not sure if there would be enough of themselves by the end of it. "Don't call me Alec anymore. Now I am Ace. Ace Anarchy."

AO3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/25686343/chapters/62363560

This is my contribution to August of Anarchy. It will be a two-part fic about the relationship between Ace and his brother from David’s POV. We have little information about how their relationship actually was, so I had a lot of fun coming up with headcanons and that kinda stuff.

Thanks so much to @dawniebb and @healing-winston-pratt for the timeline they did that helped me with the creation of this fic. I actually also used it for my other fic, The Origins, but I didn’t remembered you guys did it and I just had the image saved on my phone lol (I can credit you for that if you want me to, there’s no problem with that!) Son las mejores <3

The start of the beginning

Age of anarchy Year 0

His fingers felt hotter and hotter with each golden thread they held. A light coat of sweat ran all over his body, but he wasn't sure if it was because he was nervous or because they didn't have air conditioning and it was midsummer.

It wasn’t like he had no reason to be nervous. He had never used his powers for something so important.

Alec watched every movement and noticed every breath. His dark eyes were slightly closed and his lips were pursed. David had the same face.

"Am I doing something wrong?" he whispered.

"You are doing a good job," Alec said. "Why?"

"Because you haven't stopped watching every move I make and—"

"Don't worry, it's not personal—" he pursed his lips more "—I'm always watching."

David rolled his eyes. "You're lurking."

Alec picked up a dry cloth on the splintered coffee table and rubbed it across his brother’s forehead. David thanked him.

"That's not true," Alec replied, "I just enjoy staring at people from the shadows. It is a healthy hobby ”

"I'm sure it isn't."

But hey, what did David know about healthy hobbies? All he had done in those last months was accompany his brother to work during the day and watch television until late at night. Those were his hobbies. And he wasn't even sure if the first one counted as one.

David had been expelled from his school more than six months ago after the principal found out that he was a prodigy. According to her, that was not the reason for his expulsion. It was that he had lied and it was illegal to lie about your status as a prodigy for profit.

"So you do accept schools for prodigies have a lower educational level than schools for non-prodigies?" Alec asked the principal with a defiant attitude.

When Alec tried to enroll him in another school, he discovered that she had already warned the entire school district about David and no elementary school would be accepting him in the near future. He refused to enroll David in a school for prodigies because he would only fall behind in his studies. Apparently, those schools did not receive half the funds that the other schools received.

"Because they’re for ordinary kids," said David, "and I'm not."

“You are not an ordinary kid, that's true. You are extraordinary. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise."

In the beginning, David had remained positive. It was fun to accompany Alec to work, just like the old days. But the weeks passed and it was increasingly difficult not to miss his friends, his favorite teachers, and the math lessons that he liked so much. How did Alec never get tired of the monotony?

"Look, it's already taking shape," Alec exclaimed.

He was right.

"Do you think it looks like the one in your drawing?" he asked him.

"I don't want to give a verdict until you finish it, but yeah, it's a lot like it."

For David, Alec was a great artist. He was also a good brother and a remarkable student, judging by the diplomas on the walls of their old house. At the time, he had also been a good son, although David could not give proof of it. And neither did their parents.

Seven years ago, their parents had died in an explosion at the offices of the organization they were part of. It was called "Prodigies for the Alliance with the Non-Prodigies". His father preferred to call it "Anarchist Group" because the original name was “fucking dumb”. Over time, David realized that the real reason he called it like that was that he liked to see his wife frown every time he referred to her as "fellow anarchist Bianca."

"We are not anarchists," her mother insisted as she used her powers to levitate her cup of coffee. When she was angry, her blue eyes turned red. "We are—"

"Anarchists" interrupted his father. He turned his spoon into gold and raised an eyebrow.

“It is forbidden to use your powers at the table, Alessandro. And no, we are rebels. ”

"Anarchist rebels!" Alec exclaimed.

"Alec, your cereal, you're going to spill it!"

That was his last memory of them.

The news said it had been an accident with the gas pipes. There were some other theorizing that it had been a dispute between members of the organization.

"After all, so many prodigies in one place cannot be trusted," said a young lady from the newscast. “The prodigies are violent, even with each other. They don’t always know how to con—"

Alec appeared behind him and turned off the television.

"Don't watch that. Those are lies."

They had just returned from the funeral. David had not taken off his coat yet.

"Really?" he asked.

His brother nodded. “It was not an argument or an accident. It was an attack. And I have evidence to prove it. ”

The next day, he took David to the police station. Alec explained to the policemen about the bricks thrown at the windows of their house, about the graffiti that appeared on the porch, and about the death threats, their parents constantly received. He even showed them a box full of evidence, with photos and letters. But the only thing the policemen did was laugh at him and knock both brothers out of the place after Alec had the great idea of using his powers against them. That definitely hadn't helped their case.

"Mom would have thrown a chair at that idiot officer, too," Alec told him as they drove back to the house.

"I envy you," David mumbled.

"Why?"

"Because you will always have something of hers that I don't," he answered.

"David, look at yourself in a mirror. You are her living portrait. That is something I will never have.”

From then on, he took David everywhere, to the park, to the bank, or to the two jobs he had so they could pay the bills. David asked who would take care of him when Alec left for college in the fall.

"I won’t be going to college," he replied. "I already have other plans."

After so long, David finally found out about his brother's plans. He knew every last detail. They had spent sleepless nights talking about it and wondering what their parents would think. David was convinced that his father would be delighted, but he wasn't quite sure about his mother’s reaction. Alec assured him she would understand.

They had already tried everything. It was time for someone to do something for real. And that someone, was going to be Alec.

Finally, the helmet materialized in front of them. It was made of the most precious gold of all and identical to how David had imagined it.

Alec closed his eyes and held out his hand. The helmet began to levitate and slowly settled over his head. The sun streaming through the window revealed tiny golden particles floating around him. When Alec opened his eyes again, he appeared more fierce than ever. However, David was not afraid; he was amazed at his work.

"Perfect," Alec whispered. "It feels perfect. Nice job."

"Thank you…"

Alec stood up and headed for the door. "Well, I guess it’s showtime."

David jumped up and hurried to put on his shoes to catch up. Alec was about to leave when he realized what his younger brother was doing.

"No, David, you stay," he ordered.

"What? Why?" he asked indignantly.

“It is not an appropriate show for eleven-year-olds."

"But-"

"David."

Alec had not inherited his mother's eyes, but he had definitely inherited that horrible look that could intimidate even the bravest of humans.

David backed away, feeling pathetic and childish. The fact he was wearing one shoe and had a yogurt stain on his shirt didn't make him look more mature. He sat down on the floor and hid his face between his legs.

Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry.

"But who's going to take care of me?" he mumbled.

His older brother rolled his eyes as he approached him. “You are old enough to be alone for a couple of hours. Or days. "

"Days?!" 

He had never been alone for more than five minutes when Alec went to the store across the street. It was too much responsibility, how would he be able to handle it?

Then, Alec lifted him off the ground. David gasped. His brother had never been able to do that with such ease, but he had no time to be amazed, because judging by his expression, Alec was not looking happy at all.

“David, listen. This is not a game."

"I know," he replied, doing his best to imitate his mother's frown.

"I know you know it," Alec said. He hadn't intimidated him. “But I want to be sure that you understand the magnitude of what I'm about to do. It will be a massive change in the way the world is controlled. ”

David crossed his arms and looked away. Alec gently returned him to the ground and ruffled his hair, slightly chuckling. David couldn't help but smile. Just a little though. He didn't want his brother to think he agreed with the decision he had made.

There was no point arguing with him. The more time his brother spent there, the longer the beginning of the end would be delayed.

Immediately, he mentally corrected himself. Alec had said not to call it the beginning of the end. What he was going to do was not the end of anything; it was the start of the beginning.

"What do I do while you’re gone?" he asked, without turning to see him.

Alec put his hands on his shoulders. "Stay here as long as you can. Secure all doors and windows and don't go out unless it’s absolutely— ”

Somebody knocked on the door. Alec and David held their breath for the ten seconds that person stood outside their apartment. A couple of letters slipped under the door and the person left. 

David wanted to go pick up the mail, but his brother's grip grew stronger.

"Don't stop to help anyone, David," Alec went on. "As long as I'm not there, you're the only one who can protect you. Do you understand? No one else matters, no one else will help you. Only you can help yourself." He took him by the chin to make him look him in the eye. "Understood, David?"

He had never seen his brother have such a severe expression. Alec had never spoken so seriously to him and had never forced him to look at him. For a second, David thought that it was the helmet that made his brother seem more frightening. But it couldn’t be that.

After all, the world was about to change. It made sense that Alec changed too.

Would David change?

"Understood, Alec," he replied.

"Don't call me Alec anymore." He released his chin and smiled at him. “Now I am Ace. Ace Anarchy. ”

"Ace Anarchy," David repeated. He let the name finish to visualize inside his head. "I like how it sounds."

Alec ruffled his hair once more. "I knew you would like it, my little nightmare."

[argonas]

Misguided Justice - Pt. I

[[ Co-written with @kidcatgemini​ / @sinafay-the-defiant​ ]]

Evening had descended by the time Argonas set hoof on the small Arathi farmstead. Quaint and simple, the Vindicator could barely believe this is where his wayward student Sinafay had settled down. No measure of justice was served from such a simple life. But then, he knew she’d abandoned such duties in favor of her abhorrent and deviant lifestyle. His fists clenched as he paced up the hill from the fields proper, towards the small cottage overlooking the land. Smoke billowing from the chimney served as a sure sign someone was home. Sinafay… Grakkar… that abomination they called a child… he expected to find all three inside. Disgusting and unnatural as it was, that wasn’t even why Argonas was here. No, Sinafay’s transgressions far exceeded that, now.

Despite Raetos’ unwillingness to do what was necessary, and his efforts to convince the Vindicator of such, Argonas knew otherwise. Anyone who abided such evils as Avehi raising the dead were just as culpable as she was! By harboring and abetting the Death Knight, Sinafay had made her choice. And the Light demanded its justice. It almost hurt to consider; he really had taken pride in training young Sinafay in the ways of the Light, helping to nurture and cultivate her talents into a beacon of strength for their people. Such a waste…

His heavy hand banged against the wooden door - so fragile, he worried it might break if he hit it too hard. Still, the firm knocks echoed through the farmstead, as the Vindicator made his presence known.

“Sinafay!” he called out. “Sinafay the Defiant!”

It didn’t take very long for the door to open, revealing a very angry looking Draenei, brows knit into a scowl. She’d done a great job at losing the baby weight, already a good way back to her Vindicator fitness level. She wore a lovely, yet simple robe, ideal for a busy mother, yet accentuated her natural curves and showed off her Light bound tattoos. 

“Argonas,” she scolded, “Do you mind maybe NOT waking the baby I just put to sleep?!”

She pushed forward to try and shove the Vindicator back, but Argonas was unmovable as always, and in his full armor of course! With a frustrated huff, she moved around him, shutting the door behind her as she began to walk down the hill, tail twitching. Best to do the yelling away from Neelah. She couldn’t imagine what her former mentor was doing here at this time of night.

“What the FUCK are you doing here?!” She growled.

Perhaps it was motherhood, the hormones raging through her. Or perhaps coupling with a filthy Orc for too long had boosted her aggression. Maybe, partly, she was upset to see him again after how he left things with her. There were many likely factors, but no matter what or why, Sinafay was being terribly bitchy. It wasn't the attractive sour attitude he cherished in his departed mate, either; she was just being erratic and grumpy. Terribly unappealing!

He followed her a ways down the hill, stern expression his only real response to her demeanor. He looked her over, a mixture of sorrow and regret overcoming him. Oh how far she'd fallen… even glistening with the Light from her Lightforging did little to make her seem redeemable after such a terrible track her life had followed. It pained him to see his former pupil like this. Such shame he felt, clearly having failed to teach her not to parlay with savage orcs, or aide depraved Death Knights. She was his greatest failure.

"... I am told you sheltered and aided Avehi. Is this true?" Argonas asked, bluntly.

Sinafay raised a brow, turning to look at him as the question was asked. She relaxed a bit, having shaken off the anger now that they were a fair distance away from the house.

“She was here a few months ago; came across the farm by happenstance. Hadn’t seen each other for a while, so we caught up. Went on her way after that.”

Sinafay crosses her arms over her chest. Why was Argonas looking for Avehi? She thought back on her conversation with the Death Knight, frowning. She finally took a moment to look the Vindicator over; those dark circles under his eyes… and something looked off in that luminous gaze of his. Something she’d missed in her earlier frustration.

“If that’s what you mean by ‘sheltered and aided’, then yeah, I guess I did. Why?”

“She has dragged you into her terrible misdeeds.” Argonas elaborated, albeit vaguely. “Avehi has been raising the dead for nefarious purposes. If you are a friend to her, she will likely come here to seek shelter again. To hide from the Light’s justice.”

His eyes narrowed, as he reached back to draw his crystalline blade.

“This, I cannot allow.”

Sinafay didn’t wait a moment longer to see where the conversation was leading. She’d seen this exact situation play out too many times, on Draenor, to those suspected of aiding the Mag’har under Yrel’s reign.

She wasn’t about to allow him to use that blade. While she’d taken on a more domestic role over the past months, she’d kept her senses sharp. Having an Orc mate who enjoyed a good spar helped quite a bit.

Her eyes flared, hands slamming into the large Vindicator’s chest with a powerful blast of Holy Light to push him back before taking on a defensive position.

“I suppose I was right to not have trusted you after all.”

It hurt to have her suspicions realized. To know that her mentor was as blinded as the people she’d left behind on her world. She felt justified, in a way, the guilt of hiding her relationship with Grakkar from him washing away.

“Leave us be, Argonas,” she warned, baring her teeth, “This is your only warning.”

The Vindicator’s hooves scraped along the ground, slowing him from skidding too far back. He grunted, frowning deeper at Sinafay. He expected resistance, of course. He’d trained her well enough not to take a death threat lying down!

“Do you think I want to do this? I thought I had taught you better! But you have fallen so far from the path I laid out for you!” he growled, plated fist tightening around the hilt of his blade. “You failed! You abandoned your post! You betrayed our kin on Draenor, breaking your vow to protect them! And for an Orc!?”

“Hmph. Consider it my highest honor.” Sinafay shot back, defiantly.

Argonas grunted. He rushed in, hoofsteps hastened by the Light itself in a furious charge. He swung his sword in a wide arc towards Sinafay. Sinafay shot forward as he charged. She didn’t have a weapon or armor, but knew agility wasn’t Argonas’ strong suit, and planned to use that to her advantage. She rolled as he swung, just passed his right leg to end up behind him, her tail wrapped around his ankle, tugging it back with her momentum as she got to her hooves. 

She didn’t turn back to look if he’d fallen forward or not as she kept running; hoping she’d bought herself a bit of time as she headed towards Grakkar’s workshop. She knew there would be a weapon or something there she could use to defend herself with. The Lightbound could hear nothing but her rapid heartbeat as adrenaline rushed through her system, making it impossible to know if he was right behind her or not.

Suddenly, a bolt of Light struck her shoulder, knocking her off balance just as she reached the workshop. She stumbled and fell into the door, crashing through it! The heavy hoofbeats of Argonas closed in, making up what distance the tripping attack bought had cost him.

“And now, you abide by such abhorrence as Avehi raising the dead! Our own people, enthralled by her necrotic powers!” he continued to charge Sinafay, shouting aggressively. “I know not what set you on such a depraved path after we parted, Sina. But it has led to this final judgment! The Light will not tolerate your abusing its blessing to supplement death and pain to its chosen people!”

He brought his blade up for an overhead swing, cutting straight down vertically!

Sinafay barely had time to cocoon herself within a barrier of Light. Argonas’ sword crashed into it, causing sparks to fly and crackle in a near blinding light show as the holy forces fought against each other. The Lightbound woman grit her teeth as the barrier cracked under the pressure of the Vindicator’s strength. She was out of practice, and her former mentor’s conviction was too strong. She knew she was only delaying the inevitable, but she would fight to the bitter end.

And that end grew closer as the barrier shattered. She tried to roll to the side but the blade found purchase in her side, forcing a cry out of her as blue blood oozed out of the wound. She reached out, hands grabbing the Vindicator’s wrists as her hooves kicked out at his face in a final act of defiance.

Argonas stumbled back, but not far. Swift and firm as the kick was, there was an insurmountable difference in stature between the two Vindicators. His face immediately began to swell up at the impact point of Sinafay’s hoof, but that only seemed to infuriate him more. The grinding of his plate gauntlet along the hilt of his crystalline blade rang out sharply as he shifted his grip. He took the sword in his hands, and lined up the piercing point with his former pupil’s chest.

“Through me, the Light’s justice will be served! The mistakes I made in judging the true measures of your character will at long last be corrected!”

He raised his blade, eyes narrowing as he started to bring it down to finish his grim task-- when suddenly a pair of arms wrapped tensely around his waist! From behind him, Grakkar took hold of the Vindicator and heaved him upward and over himself with a mighty roar! The Draenei was caught off-guard, and thrown over onto his back as Grakkar arched and kicked back and away from Sinafay. Argonas came crashing down on his shoulders and the back of his head, driving his chin into his chest plate as the rest of his heavy plated body rolled over the top of him! He was stunned! The wind knocked from him entirely as Grakkar threw him back!

“Get away from my mate, you honorless piece of clefthoof shit!” the Warsong shouted, snarling at Argonas.

He gave little time for the abettor to recover, rushing in to keep up the pressure. As Argonas rolled over and brought himself up to his hands and knees, Grakkar ran up and took hold of his head. Lining it up, he carried his momentum and slammed his knee into the Draenei’s crest! 

*CRACK* 

Argonas rolled over from both the pain, and the force of the impact to his face! But the assault didn’t end there. Grakkar trudged up alongside the writhing and bewildered Draenei. He knelt down scooping up a small handful of dirt to toss into the Vindicator’s face! Then, he just started punching! Once, again, three times! He bloodied his fist against the Draenei’s plated crest, pounding his face over and over with unyielding fury! 

Argonas did what he could to protect himself, but he couldn’t see his assaulter, much less block the barrage of punches! He’d dropped his sword, and couldn’t afford to reach out and feel for it nearby. That would only give the Orc more openings! Instead, he curled in, doing his best to cover his face with one arm as he swatted at Grakkar blindly with the other in hopes of deflecting or softening the next blow coming his way. One wild swipe caught hold of something - the Orc’s forearm. Success! With all his might, he ripped the Orc’s arm towards him, counter attacking with a punch of his own. He felt his plated fist connect, knocking the Orc back and away from him. Only for a moment… but the moment was all he needed.

Bringing his hooves back beneath him, Argonas stood up and quickly brushed the dirt and blood from his face. His luminous eyes set onto Grakkar, who also recuperated from their exchange of blows. For a moment, the two stared one another down.

“The Light… judges you too, Orc filth!” Argonas grunted.

“Fuck your Light!” Grakkar shot back, snarling.

With a furious shout, the Orc rushed at Argonas yet again. The Draenei took up a defensive stance, readying himself as Grakkar drew near. He knew he couldn’t match the Orc’s agility; their fight in Kun-Lai had taught him that, well enough. Instead he dug in his hooves, tail swaying limber behind him to keep his balance. As the Orc took his swing, Argonas brought his forearms up to block the incoming blow. Then the next. Teeth grit as he held firm his position, Argonas bided the Orc’s assault like a statue! He was ready for him, this time. Ready and waiting for his opening. His hands and arms felt raw, jarred and pulsing from the plate gauntlets reverberating each repeated strike. But he held his ground.

Grakkar raged on, throwing punch after punch in the hopes of landing one or two good blows, enough to throw his opponent off of the defensive. But the Vindicator was stoic! Unyielding! The old Orc already felt fatigue setting in. How long had it been since he had a good fight like this? Since settling down with Sinafay, and their young daughter Neelah, he hadn’t been in too many scrapes. His rustiness was taxing him now, exacting the toll of his inactivity. His blows began to slow, punches falling slower and softer against the same blood-smeared plate gloves the Draenei used to defend himself. His knuckles were pulp, each screaming a searing pain from crashing into the inexorable metal again and again. He rotated in a kick to mix it up, hoping to knock the Draenei over, but he might as well have kicked a boulder. One more punch. Another. Until finally the futility of it drained Grakkar entirely. He staggered back, growling.

And that was Argonas’ opening.

The blast of Light illuminated the farmstead, bright as high noon for only a split second. Argonas’ retributive burst was more than enough to knock the weary Orc over. The Vindicator charged, hoofbeats hastened by the Light’s gift to surge the mass of muscle and steel towards Grakkar. He’d barely managed to keep his balance, only for Argonas to slam into him like a rampaging elekk. The Orc felt his body tossed back, and yet he didn’t go far. Argonas gripped him tightly to keep him from sailing too far away from the impact, instead simply slamming him into the ground before him. The Orc’s pained howl was a symphony to the Vindicator. Retribution for so much pain that not only this Orc caused him personally, but all Orcs caused his people! Quickly, he followed up by stomping his hoof into the vile creature’s chest! Still surging with the Light, his plated hoof shoe seared into Grakkar’s flesh, causing him to writhe and moan in pain!

“You have caused enough trouble!” Argonas declared, pressing his hoof down harder. “And now, you will cause no more!”

Grakkar struggled, gripping the Draenei’s leg as he gave all his might to try and push back, but not only did the Draenei significantly outmatch his strength, his plated form weighed a ton! It took all the Orc’s might just to keep the hoof at bay! Even then, he felt his ribs bending and cracking, the hoof melting his skin. It became hard to breath, his cries of agony turning to harsh and hoarse gasps as Argonas pressed harder. He’d been in enough fights to know when he’d lost. And this… this was it. This was the end. 

His eyes widened at the realization, his expression of anger and rage replaced by one of fear. Despair. He had failed. He couldn’t protect his mate. His daughter. After everything he’d done, all the effort and sacrifice he’d made to protect Sinafay, to free her from bondage on Draenor… only for her to die here at the hands of another Light-crazed zealot. He strained a little harder, but nothing he could do would be enough to overpower Argonas. But he couldn’t give up. He wouldn’t! He turned his head, looking over towards the workshop where Sinafay was. He couldn’t see her… and that hurt all the more, unable to lay eyes on his mate one final time. His strength began to wane.

“I’m… sorry…” Grakkar grunted, as his grip finally slipped.

*CRUNCH*

~*~

TO BE CONTINUED...

[98prilla]

Turned

Next

Previous

AO3

...

Patton cocked his head, a slight frown on his face. The hair on the back of his neck stood up, and he eased Virgil off of his lap, careful not to wake him as he stood. He rubbed his arms, feeling almost chilled, a shiver running down his spine. Something was wrong.

 “Lo? Ro?” He called, and instantly, they appeared from in the kitchen, loosening a bit of the worry growing in his chest, safety in numbers, but something was still niggling at him, eating at his mind, screaming danger.

 “Patton. Breathe.” Logan, gently squeezing his shoulders.

 “something is wrong.” He answered, panic rising.

 “Patton, your eyes…” Roman gasped. He spun, gasping as he saw his reflection, his eyes glowing a dim red. The strange panic pulsed harder, and he flinched, shoving the others down behind him, just as the glass windows of the living room shattered.  

 His instincts took over, the alarm cry of danger screaming in his head, rushing in his bones, and he growled. He wouldn’t let anyone hurt his family again.

He snarled as he leapt into the fray, not bothering with weapons, his nails sharpening into claws, his fangs bared and ready to tear, as he immediately pounced on one of the assailants, rolling across the floor in a bloody scrap.

 Roman had his katana drawn, trying to fend off the attackers, Logan at his back with his crescent moon blades, Patton darting between them all with his extra speed, blocking the hits the others couldn’t see coming, keeping them away from the couch, away from Virgil, whom they seemed to hone in on.

 There were so many of them, too many of them, and they were faltering. Roman had a slash across his cheek, Logan was bleeding from his arm. Patton was scraped and bruised, still snarling and spitting furious, like an angry alley cat, trying to defend all three of his family members, unable to keep up, unable to stop one from getting through his line of defense, eyes locking on Virgil as one of the attacking vampires reached him, a scream building in his throat.

 Then there was a brilliant burst of black violet light that threw them all off their feet. Patton blinked furiously, breath freezing at the sight before him.

 Virgil was standing, eyes a deep, electric storm violet that covered the whites. The light sparked from his hands, wreathed up his arms, wove around him almost like a cloak. The power was so black it was white, shifting between the two, lightning crashing against his skin, the power radiating out from him, his entire being aglow with it. The other attacking vampires hissed, focusing on their target, leaving the others alone. A smile split Virgil’s face, a cold, cruel thing, that made Patton shiver.

 “You’ve made a mistake.” Virgil’s voice was an echoing boom, thunder crashing, rattling window panes, shaking the earth, a powerful reverb to it that had all of them wincing as it echoed in their mind.

 In an instant, Virgil’s hands twisted in a complicated pattern, glowing circles and runes appearing in the air before him, drawn with his fingers, then he threw his arms wide and the spell circle blew wide, encompassing all the charging vampires, enveloping them in devouring darkness. Their screams were the only sound to the room as they dissolved into smoke, and with a flick of his fingers, the dark spell was gone, along with the attackers. Then Virgil turned to the three of them, his eyes still burning nearly black, novas of light crackling across his skin. Roman shoved to his feet, katana drawn, standing guard before Patton and Logan.

 “It’s not safe here.” Virgil’s voice still boomed as he held out a hand, and Roman hesitated. He didn’t want to hurt Virgil, but this was scaring him. This wasn’t anything he’d ever seen before, and he wouldn’t let anyone, even Virgil, harm the others.

 “Roman. It’s ok.” Patton murmured, gently pushing down his hand holding the sword, stepping around him, taking Virgil’s outstretched hand. “I trust you.” He whispered to Virgil, noting the slight smile that played at Virgil’s lips.

 “I know, baby bat. Thank you.” Virgil replied, squeezing his hand, before looking back up at the others. Logan was next, hesitantly placing a hand on his arm, Roman following suit with a huff.

 Virgil closed his eyes, weaving another spell circle in the air, one more complicated than Logan had ever studied, then the world blurred like a wet water color painting, shifting and spinning around them, slowly resettling until it was solid again, and they were in a completely different place.

 “And I thought I was one for dramatic entrances.” A low whistle was accompanied with the words, and the group spun to face the small table against the wall, Remy leaning back in it, a smirk on his face, that slowly faded as he noticed the sparking light emanating from Virgil, expression shifting to shock as Virgil turned to look at him, eyes nearly black as coals, his veins pulsing with dark light.

 “they found us. Didn’t know where else to go. Keep… keep them safe…” Virgil swayed on his feet, and Remy swore, barely managing to catch Virgil in his arms as the magic instantly vanished, the black leaking from his eyes as they rolled back and he slumped unconscious, skin ashen.

 “Shit, Anx, you really know do know how to make an entrance.” Remy whispered, watching with baited breath as Virgil groaned, eyes blearily blinking open. He tsked scoldingly.

 “Did you have a stroke and forget the first lesson of magic, you moron?!” Remy shook him lightly, and Virgil hissed, rolling his eyes.

 “Be careful what you cast-“

 “If it’s too much it’ll draw from your lifeforce itself.” Remy chorused with him, glaring down at him angrily.

 “Cool. Now bitch, explain.”

 “attacked in our house. Pack of ‘em. Was… was the only option.” Virgil mumbled, eyes slipping shut once more.

 “Nuh uh, babe, not on my watch.” Remy muttered, silver light enveloping him for a moment, channeling his own magic into Virgil. Almost instantly, Virgil’s complexion evened out, his breathing steady, and the glow faded from Remy. Virgil didn’t open his eyes, but he stirred slightly, letting out a deep breath and relaxing in Remy’s arms, the pained tension leaving his body. It was a deep, restful sleep of recovery, Remy had made sure of that. It was his specialty, after all.

 He took a deep breath, then turned his attention to the others, scowling as he saw Patton, standing with Roman and Logan.

 “Someone wanna explain why you all showed up with my half dead adopted brother and him?” Remy asked accusingly, glaring at Patton, who waved nervously. Roman opened his mouth, but Logan stepped forwards first, eyes narrowed.

 “Actually, I would say that it was you who led trouble to us. Given that Virgil has been dormant in his role as Anxiety, and you have been searching for Deceit, it seems probable that you were tailed when you paid us a visit, thereby leading your enemies to our doorstep. The only reason we got out is because he used magic more powerful and complex than any I’ve read about.” Remy softened, looking back down at Virgil.

 “Of course he did. It takes a ton of magic to teleport two people, let alone three, including yourself. No wonder it pulled at his life force.” Remy sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I thought I was being careful.” He muttered, pushing back Virgil’s hair, before lifting him with a sigh and depositing him on the couch. In a literal blink of an eye, Patton was there, Virgil’s head in his lap. “He’ll be all right in a bit, just needs some, well, sleep. Remy smirked slightly, pushing up his dark glasses.

 “So what do we do? He said the house isn’t safe anymore, those vamps are probably watching it. So now what?” Roman asked, pacing, eyes never leaving Remy, full of distrust.

 “They seemed to be targeting Virgil specifically, and if it’s true they did indeed follow you to our location, it stands to reason they are after ‘the coven’ as you referred to it. It seems our goals now align. If we wish for these vampires to leave us alone, we must find their leader, and therefore find Deceit. Whether we like it or not, we must now work together.” Logan stated, standing near the arm of the couch, hands clasped behind him. Roman scowled, not halting in his pacing.

 “You think I like it either, pretty boy? The last thing I wanted was your pet vampire in my secret hideout.” Roman growled, katana half drawn, silver light sparking on Remy’s hands.

 “Say that again, I dare you.” Roman hissed out.

 “Gladly, bitch-“

 “Enough, you two. Just… enough. I get it. You don’t like me, don’t trust me, don’t want me here. I… I get it. But I’m not leaving. He’s part of my family, and I will do anything to protect him. So can we skip the hating me part, and focus on the problem?” Patton said, voice tired instead of biting, as he looked between Remy and Roman. Remy bit his tongue, looking hard at Patton for a moment, before sighing.

 “Alright. Alright, fine, fine, for now. Once we figure this out, I make no promises.” Roman hissed again, cut off by Patton’s glare.

 “I’ll just have to change your mind about me by then! Now, what do you know?”

…

 He was exhausted. He was slumped against the wall, crouched uncomfortably, his restraints biting into his skin, keeping him from any kind of sleeping position. Every time he drifted off, the collar dug into his neck, jerking him awake. He was stained with blood, but his eyes were still defiant as he heard footsteps approaching, glaring up at the vampire who stopped before him.

 “Well. That certainly went interesting. Seems I underestimated your little Virgil. He’s a slippery little shadow, I’ll give him that.” He smirked, relief filling his chest, Virgil got away. He’d always been smart, been strong, the strongest of the three of them, really.

 “If you were smart you’d let him go. He’s capable of far more than you can imagine.” He kept his voice even, making sure the exhaustion didn’t give him away, keeping his cool façade intact, as the vampire grinned, fangs showing.

 “Oh, but so am I. Something interesting happened, when my followers stormed their house. See, I expected four hunters. I didn’t expect three hunters and one very protective vampire. Wouldn’t you know, my coven turned a human a few months back, and got chased off before they could drag him back to the nest. What a lovely coincidence!” The vampire clapped his hands, green eyes flashing as his heart sunk.

 He knows what that means. If vampires from this clan turned Virgil’s friend, and this vampire is the leader of the clan, then Virgil is in grave danger. He can see through Virgil’s friend’s eyes, can listen through his ears, can get inside his head and control him like a thrall, if he’s close enough. There’s an enemy on the inside, and no one, including Virgil’s vampire, knows it.

 “Oh, don’t look so glum! You’ll get to see each other again soon, won’t that be great? Now, I’ve gotta go prepare my next move, but don’t you worry about a thing, pet. I’ll be back to play with you soon.” The vampire patted his cheek, making him wince, before he sauntered away, whistling, leaving him shaking.

 He closed his eyes against the wash of helpless hopelessness filling him from the inside out. There’s nothing he can do.

 He sunk down into his apathy, shutting himself off from the pain, from any emotion, because there is nothing, nothing he can do.

[theeasterlymedia]

A Normative Discussion on Andrei Rublev

Meghnad Mukherjee 

While watching Rublev, I couldn’t help but think about Béla Tarr and his The Turin Horse. Tarr developed his distinctive style over time, and so one should presume Rublev was a stage in Tarkovsky’s development towards perfecting his almost magical cinematic philosophy that we admire today. In this essay we will be discussing only some of the scenes (and a short general discussion) of this three hours long masterpiece otherwise the obvious following rant would not have stopped.

Holiday, 1408, June

The scene opens with the greatest of all Russian Icon painters Andrei Rublev and his crew of apprentices and helpers on their way to a job in the once-powerful feudal fortress city Vladimir in June of 1408. It is probably the evening of June 23, St. John the Baptist Eve, which falls immediately after summer solstice, the end of spring. The Kliaz'ma River rises north of Moscow, flows between Moscow and the Trinity-St. Sergius Monastery and eastward past Vladimir.

Gathering firewood, Andrei gets caught up in a village pagan ritual. We should notice the sounds of nightingales and of ritual bell percussion.Some would say he seeks a way to join his high spiritual calling and art to the real soil of Russian folk experience, his "civilization" to his "culture". One way to describe the linkage of Christian "civilization" with Russian pagan "culture" is dual faith. Andrei is about to have a "dual faith" experience himself, and so are you if you let the film have its way.The making of a straw effigy and the burning of it are documented features of peasant ritual on St. John's Eve. The sexual license portrayed here is characteristic of peasant spring and summer rituals. Andrei stands over a smoldering camp fire and his monkish robes catch fire. Fire and water are central to the pagan rituals of St. John's Eve (they are also central to Tarkovsky's own personal film imagery). The men and women are performing a characteristic ritual of St. John's Eve. Also don't miss the scene downstream from the two lines of naked folk---a white horse comes into view and begins to thrash the river's surface as the ritual boat approaches.

Andrei is captured and bound in a stable by villagers who do not want him to interfere with their dear ritual. Marfa approaches him and plants an earthly kiss: physical contact of native paganism with highly refined and civilized Christianity. Notice the necklace she wears. Also notice how Andrei sheds his monkish cowl (identifying "uniform" of the black or monkish clergy) as he decides to melt into the woods and rejoin the village fest. As the next morning follows someone has squealed on the village revelers. The local landlord and his ruffian men-at-arms on horseback appear, accompanied by clerical enforcers, all bent on doing their official Christian duty. They hope to run down participants in last night's ritual. Sure enough, here comes Marfa and her significant other, chased by authorities. He doesn't get away, but she swims toward the middle of the river, immediately past the boat carrying Andrei, but he will not look at her. She splashes bravely out to deep waters.

Raid, autumn, 1408

Now we jump ahead a few weeks to the fall of 1408 and the outskirts of the city Vladimir. This army is led by a Russian prince who is a rival of his own brother for power in Vladimir. A tatar Khan’s army and his one will join up at a difficult river ford in preparation for an attack on Vladimir. As the two armies link up, the Khan and the Russian prince vie with one another to see who is faster. The Russian prince recalls an event in the previous winter in which the church tried to reconcile him with his rival brother. The wintry church is the great in Vladimir, built in 1194-1197. You can just barely make out the remarkable animal, vegetable and human figures carved in relief in the white stone outer walls of this ancient cathedral. These figures are taken to be themselves representatives of the combination of old pre-Christian "Scythian" motifs with Biblical themes.

Two times later in this section of the film, the Russian prince flashes back to this treacherous "kissing of the cross" which he and his Tatar ally are now about to betray. The second flashback occurs as the Russian prince witnesses the Tatar humiliation of the captured prince's brother and family and receives from the Tatars the vestments of the now deposed brother's power. The sounds of the Orthodox mass can be heard again, now in the courtyard as the Tatar khan nervously walks his war horse back and forth in anticipation of breaking into the church. A dying horse comes down a stairway and falls to the ground, bleeding to death. This is a disturbing and powerful scene. We may be more touched by this cruel death than by all the other film portrayals of human death. As the horse stumbles to its death, from the church we hear the most characteristic phrases from the Russian mass: Hospodi, pomilui, Hospodi, pomilui... [Lord, have mercy, Lord, have mercy...].

Soon, we see inside the cathedral being rammed by the Tatar army.We spy Andrei again. He is with a young blond woman. The actress is Tarkovsky's wife, and she is playing a paradigmatic Russian cultural role: the holy fool. She is a "durochka", not able to take care of herself, but in her naive simplicity representing something very dear to Russian tradition. Andrei has made himself her protector in earlier scenes, and now they are trapped together as the cathedral door breaks open. What a scene, as the Tatar khan paces his horse around inside the cathedral, asking the Russian prince taunting questions about the holy images on the walls, most now burning. The brave and defiant Foma is tortured, molten lead is poured into his mouth, and he is dragged to his death by a stallion stampeded through the devastated streets of Vladimir.The traitorous prince is beset with deep misgivings about this destructive adventure. Large white geese float from cathedral rooftops to the disordered streets below, all in slow motion. Andrei and Durochka are still in the church and try to come to terms with what has just transpired.

Tatar's Wife

The final scene I have selected is four years later, the winter of 1412. It is a hard winter, and famine stalks the land. Andrei is heating large stones and trying to transfer them to wooden casks to heat water. Durochka is eating an old apple. The Tatar khan rides into the monastery with several of his warriors. They are in a playful mood. The khan feeds frozen meat to quarrelsome dogs. Durochka wants some too. What follows is one of the most intriguing "falling-in-love" scenes in all of filmdom. Andrei tries to intervene, but this situation is beyond his or just about any imaginable power to change. As the khan sweeps Durochka up behind his saddle and he and his warriors gallop out of the monastery courtyard through a roofed gateway, our time is up.

Some commentary or rather a casual discussion --

Tarkovsky created a film about faith in a time when there were no films about religion, apart from satire or anti-religion propaganda. At the same time, people who were religious have tended to view film as a profane medium, inappropriate for religious topics. Andrei Rublev was a 15th-century monk regarded as Russia’s greatest icon writer. While his work is well known and celebrated throughout Russia, little is known of his life except for the handful of icons he left behind. Tarkovsky invented life for Rublev. It is then not an investigation into the painter’s life, but Tarkovsky’s response to what the filmmaker saw and felt by looking at Rublev’s icons.

Moving through ‘a sequence of detailed fragments’ in which Rublev is sometimes present, sometimes only an observer, the film works toward difficult questions: how is experience related, and how can it be communicated? How can art be true to its subject and its audience?How do you paint the trinity without just reducing it to the sum of its parts?

At once humble and cosmic, Rublev was described by Tarkovsky as a “film of the earth.” Shot in widescreen and sharply defined black and white, the movie is supremely tactile—the four classical elements appearing here as mist, mud, guttering candles, and snow. A 360-degree pan around a primitive stable conveys the wonder of existence. Such long, sinuous takes are like expressionist brushstrokes; the result is a kind of narrative impasto.The film’s brilliant, never-explained prologue shows some medieval Icarus braving an angry crowd to storm the heavens. Having climbed a church tower, he takes flight in a primitive hot-air balloon—an exhilarating panorama—before crashing to earth. Fifteenth century Russia was a tumultuous country, never really at peace, and Tarkovsky shows this in particular in the latter half of the film. The theme of conscience is present throughout the film.Tarkovsky plays here with sound and silence, almost deafening silence.

Shooting the entire movie in black and white, Tarkovsky finally dazzles the audience with close-ups of Rublev’s works, revealed for the first time during the movie in all their brilliance and colour. After more than two hours of sombre and austere imagery, the beauty of the frescoes amazes the viewers. The art, born from the endeavours and aspirations of the artist, is presented to the audience in all its grandeur, rising over the everyday like the man on the balloon at the beginning of the movie. This universal quality of the artist and his work makes the historical period irrelevant, performing a spiritual sweep, casting an ethereal spell on the audience.

Andrei Rublev is itself more an icon than a movie about an icon painter. (Perhaps it should be seen as a “moving icon”) This is a portrait of an artist in which no one lifts a brush. The patterns are God’s, whether seen in a close-up of spilled paint swirling into pond water or the clods of dirt Rublev flings against a whitewashed wall. But no movie has ever attached greater significance to the artist’s role. It is as though Rublev’s presence justifies creation.

[shirtlesssammy]

15x09: The Trap

The Road So Far:

PURGAYTORY

Now:

Sam and Eileen are trussed up at Chuck’s casino. (Sam, if you tried hard enough, you could slip those zip ties.) Chuck admits to Sam and Eileen that he’s been manipulating her this whole time to get close to Sam again. He couldn’t watch his favorite show and it was killing him (LOL, CATCH ME IN JUNE.) 

Sam and Chuck are connected and it needs to stop. Chuck pulls out a scalpel. And then utters the eight scariest words of a Supernatural fan: “All good things must come to an end.”

Meanwhile, in the bunker, the bickering exes continue on their line of bullshit. Cas is expertly making Borax bullets while Dean tries to reach Sam, with no luck. Dean’s worried that there’s something wrong.

Chuck wants to cut out whatever festers in Sam that won’t allow their wounds to heal. Eileen surreptitiously calls Dean. Chucks senses it and ends the call before it really gets going. Dean knows that they’re in trouble though and wants to save them. Cas calls Dean “stupid” (will the bickering ever end?!) and tells him they have to find the blossom in purgatory to trap Chuck.

Sam notices Chuck’s hesitancy to torture him and mocks him a bit. Um, maybe now’s not the best time to bring out Sam Fucking Winchester, okay buddy? Eileen joins in the mockery (#soulmates) and in retaliation, Chuck gets Eileen to do the scalpel digging for him. He likes to watch. The scalpel digging is very squishy. A+ work sound effects. 

Dean and Cas are in purgatory and there’s still very much a rift in their relationship. 

Dean wants to split up but Cas makes it clear that that also is a stupid idea. Dean brings up possibly running into Benny while there in Purgatory….and I just want to sit a little and think about that was practically Dean’s first thought. He thinks of Benny, and the friendship they had. I am sad. 

With a simple “C’mon”, Cas wins the argument and they start walking together. Something tracks them from the shadows. 

Eileen continues to be forced into digging into Sam’s wound. Through the pain, he tells her he knows it isn’t her that’s doing it. He’s bleeding out though and things aren’t looking good. Chuck sits back and plays on his guitar. What a nice douchey touch that is. 

Sam talks reason to Chuck, and while that pisses him off, he also heals Sam’s wound as much as he can. Chuck can’t understand how Sam can continue to be so defiant. He realizes that Sam still has hope --hope that Cas and Dean will save them, hope that they can still defeat God. 

*Coordinated Domestic Dispute to Draw Out the Monster Alert*

Dean notices a corpse that he swears he’s seen before. Cas tell him he’s wrong. He has an excellent sense of direction. Dean gets down to look closer at the body and the leviathan makes his move. Cas hand waves him away. They interrogate the leviathan. He tells them that there’s a blossom that grows from them after they die. Dean wants to end the monster right there but he tells them it takes months for the blossoms to appear. He knows a place. 

Before they get walking, Dean asks the Leviathan about Benny. BRB STILL CRYING. Benny’s famous --and he’s dead. (Cas’s concerned look to Dean as he hears the news will haunt me forever.) 

Chuck decides to take Sam on a Christmas Carol adventure into the future, and shows him what life will be like if they win. 

April 17, 2020

Sam and Eileen are looking up cases in the bunker. Dean’s “resting his eyes” in the corner chair. Cas shows up with beers for all. Things look pretty great. They all decide on movie night and popcorn. HUZZAH! 

Well, until Sam gets a call from Jody. Claire’s dead, from a hunt gone sideways. HURMPH. 

Back at the casino, Chuck tells Sam that’s just the beginning. He pulls out the time clock of doom.

In purgatory, Cas, Dean, and the other dude, are walking. Cas expresses his condolences about Benny. Their hostilities come roiling to the surface. Cas calls Dean out on not accepting his apology about Jack. Dean is pissy that Cas just walked away. The other dude, presumably, just wants one of them to shoot him with Borax.

January 6, 2021

In the burned out wasteland of the future, Sam and Dean drive. Things are going downhill fast. They’re not saving people. Cas is gone. (CaS Is GoNe) The monsters are winning. 

Once at the leviathan blossom site, Cas quickly realizes it’s a trap. The leviathan tells him that Eve wants a piece of Cas for killing the alphas and taking the leviathan. Others attack Dean.

He comes to later. The place is scorched and Cas is gone.

November 3, 2021

Sam’s prepping for another hunt. Dean’s giving up. Sam wants to know what’s up. “Ever since..,” he starts. Dean jumps into why he’s giving up. They’ve lost everyone. HE had to bury Cas in a ma’lak box. Bobby and Jody (and Sam) all have death wishes. Sam wants to go out swinging, like Butch and Sundance. “We lost, brother, we lost.” 

Our Sam can’t believe what he’s watching. 

Chuck swans into the scene. He claims he’s “just the messenger” benevolently sharing his knowledge of the future. Sam can’t believe that Dean would ever give up, but Chuck swears he’ll tell no lie, stick a needle in his eye. 

Dean stalks through the quiet woods, calling for Cas. He’s got just under a half hour left to reach the portal. In desperation, he pauses and centers himself. “Cas,” he begins to pray. “I hope you can hear me.” Dean calls Cas his best friend and apologizes for letting him go.

And then this show gently murders me because Dean looks around warily and, seeing that the coast is clear, kneels to finish his prayer. On one knee now, he cries as he unpacks the terrible anger which he’d turned against Cas. “When things go bad, it comes out and I can’t stop it. No matter how bad I want to.” (I’m with many other viewers when I point to childhood trauma and parental neglect and abuse as one source for that deep anger.)

For I am DEAD Science:

Further pushing me deep into the grave, Dean continues, “And I forgive you. OF COURSE I forgive you.” He apologizes and sends out a desperate wish that Cas will be able to hear his prayer - wherever he is. Dean wipes his eyes, sniffs, and pushes himself up with a quiet “Okay.” It’s time to move again.

Back to the future, Dean stews morosely at a table in the bunker when Sam enters with a bag slung over his shoulder. Sam’s going to take out the vamp nest - alone, if he has to. Dean shakes his head sadly, then drags himself off to go with Sam. “I guess I don’t have a choice, do I?” They head out, two broken down, hopelessly alone men. 

“It can’t end like this,” Sam insists. So Chuck has him flash forward in time again using the magic watch. 

It stops on December 9, 2022. End of the line! 

In Purgatory, Dean has just over two minutes left before the portal closes and there’s still no sign of--- WAIT WHAT’S BEHIND THAT TREE? 

“You made it,” Cas sighs in relief as he stands to greet Dean. Dean hauls Cas in for the T I G H T E S T hug. Very good content! I approve! They check in with each other. Cas reveals that he was being marched to go see Eve when he spotted a leviathan bloom. Cas dropped the monsters guarding him, and snagged the bloom which he adorably describes as “a little smooshed.” Dean validates Cas’s achievements! It is very soft! I am emotionally compromised! (I have watched this scene at least 10 times.)

Cas reveals that he heard Dean’s prayer. They exchange soulful, meaningful looks, and then head straight outta Purgatory. I look forward to your post-episode canoodling codas, everybody.

In the future, Sam and Dean barricade the door in a ratty old hotel. They’re being hunted by……….JODY AND AU BOBBY! (Jobby? Body? Ugh, both of those are terrible.) Current Sam watches in horror as his future counterpart (and brother) fang out. They’re both vampires now! Oooo. Awkward. 

There’s a fierce fight. Dean chews Jody’s throat clean outta her body, hissing like an angry cat the whole time. It would be awful if there weren’t so many funny memes of hissy Jensen floating around right now.

Sam wakes from Chuck’s vision which was A LOT. Chuck apologizes for the terrible ending. (All these ending narratives in this season are the result of 15 years of exhausted writers room shit talking, right?) Chuck reveals a couple of things. 1) He “powered down” Eileen in a closet while he’s talking to Sam which is just….GROSS. And 2) The heroic and free ending which Sam aspires towards is actually awful. Is dying as monsters really worth locking up Chuck? 

Safely back in the bunker, Cas and Dean prepare the spell with the leviathan bloom. Dean pauses, questioning Cas’s choice to take on the Mark trapping Chuck. Cas insists that Dean can’t take on the Mark again, and that the only choice is for Cas to take on that burden. Dean agrees, remarkably not insisting on damaging himself this time, and the spell is completed. It all gets sucked up into a sphere. Since Cas will contain the Mark, Dean or Sam will have to destroy it (thus sealing Cas’s fate along with Chuck’s).

In the casino, Sam shouts at Chuck. “We will beat you. I will make it better!” Chuck sneers at Sam, and accuses him of playing fast and loose with the laws of nature and magic. There’s a whole lot the Winchesters can’t know about the universe, Chuck insists. Only he - God - can grasp it all. As one, the Supernatural audience collectively fake-coughs, “Billie!”

Chuck prompts Sam to reflect further on the visions. Was the worst thing truly the way the Winchesters died, and all their friends were decimated? Or was there something even WORSE which befell the world after Chuck got trapped? In horror, Sam realizes that monsters were taking over the world. Chuck affirms this conclusion. Without him in it, the world descends into evil. (Somewhere, on a wholesome farm, Garth is asking, “Hey, who are you calling evil?”)

While we’re all trying to unpack this latest revelation, Dean and Cas break into the casino. They free Sam from his chair. Eileen, still puppeted by Chuck, comes in swinging but Cas tackles her away. 

Dean punches Chuck. Chuck punches Dean. While they’re exchanging blows, Cas rolls the bespelled ball over to Sam to smash and trap Chuck when….

Sam falls to his knees. He can’t do it. He can’t trap Chuck knowing what he knows about the future. The ball rolls out of his fingers. 

Suddenly, light flashes in Chuck’s shoulder. The Equalizer wound in both of them is healed at last! All it took is for Sam to...lose hope. FROWNY FACE! Chuck crushes the sphere and destroys the spell. That’s two anti-God weapons down and how many to go in the next ten episodes? 

Dean confronts Chuck and he is 800% bluster at this point, cosmos bless him. He insists that Chuck won’t kill their motley band. Chuck wants his ending too much for that. After all, the “drafts” Sam saw in his visions--

Chuck interrupts that thought. All the “visions” Sam had were Chuck’s memories of other, actual worlds where Sam and Dean made those awful choices and destroyed each other. That move, in Chuck’s mind, is inevitable. “Just like you, they didn’t think they’d do it, either.”

Dean growls. “No. Not THIS Sam and not THIS Dean. So you go back to Earth II and play with your other toys. Because you will never get what you want.”

“We’ll see,” Chuck says, rather ominously, and poofs out.

Back at the bunker, Sam and Eileen bid farewell. Eileen’s been puppeted back to life and romance...and she’s not sure what’s real. (Where have I heard THAT before?) She needs to head off on her own for a bit.

Sam kisses her so sweetly. “Now that was real.” She caresses his face lovingly before walking out. (I firmly believe we’ll see her again - next time on her own terms!) 

A shaken Sam makes his way to the kitchen where Dean and Cas are decompressing.

Sam brings up the botched Chuck trap, and tells them he believes Chuck showed him the true future. Dean accepts Sam’s choice, and his calm acceptance is a balm to my fucking soul. What’s next? “We find another way,” Dean says.

Cut to Jack in the Empty. He’s taking in the non-sights when Billie appears. “It’s time,” she says, and Boris and I throw a giant party!!!

I Don’t Know Why I Get So Quotey:

I hate missing my favorite show!

Come on, Eileen

Stop being so stupid!

Chuck, you dick

“Okay let’s split up.” “WHAT?!”

You still think you’re the hero of this story. You still think you can win

The Dean who raised me, he’d never give up no matter how bad things got

I should’ve stopped you. You’re my best friend but I just let you go, ‘cause it was easier than admitting I was wrong

Sorry, kid. It’s a crappy ending. You and your brother deserve better. 

We know about your galaxy brain idea. How you think this story is gonna go

Want to read more? Check out our Recap Archive! 

[yezzbub]

Idk what this is supposed to be, but I guess this is close to my own character analysis, review and reaction to Between Two Worlds! This is so late but I believe that it's better late than never😂 I'll also try to be as objective as possible (but I think that's gonna be hard especially when I talk about Philip/Phillip😂)

Again this is only about what I think and how I interpreted the series and the characters, no hate lol AND this is really long I swear by the stars :>

A. Title

Okay, so the title 'Between Two Worlds' initially made me think that it's gonna be about two people living in two different worlds and upon watching, I could say I'm partially right😂 so I like how it's suppose to symbolise the lives of two different families living in two different worlds. And when I say worlds it's not literally Earth and Mars, what I meant is like worlds as in how they live their lives.

So the Walfords are in the upper-class of society, they are rich, powerful, famous and feared especially because of their patriarch, Phillip. Their lives include deceiting, scaring, and messing with the lives of other people for their gain and pleasure🥺🥺🥺 in short, this fam is really problematic and chaotic😅

On the other hand, the Greys live a simple life in a simple house in a simple village. They have a loving family, yes, they had problems but it's normal for a family to have some problems.

B. Music

I really really love the music. That piano (I think it's piano) thing that is playing in the opening of every episode gives me the chills, the goosebumps. It makes me feel so many emotions like excitement, fear, and thrill,like it leaves me on the edge of my seat😂😭😂

C. Settings/Location

Deym, the location fits the story. I noticed that the main locations are their homes, it's where they mostly spend their scenes so I'm gonna focus on that. That high-rise apartment where the Walfords live screams privilege, fame, power and wealth. They are indeed powerful, they are at the top of the food-chain lol and they live at the top part of that apartment, a symbolism of their place in society _which is at the top. _I'm pretty sure their place makes them act like how they act all through out the series🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️.

On the other hand, the Greys' residence is located in a village(?) or subdivision of some sorts which I think is a simple place and a simple house symbolising their simple life that is away from the drama, away from the spotlight. Simple life gives simple problems I suppose😂😭😂😭😂

D. Families: an overview lolzz (Walfords, Greys, Konigs)

So like I've mentioned, the first two families seem to be the exact opposite of one another. Again, for me, the Walfords are so chaotic and so problematic🥺 the actions they did to one another just don't sit right with me, I think it's so twisted. Like it makes me realize how the grudges that people hold against others could make them act like that. It baffles me so much how they could even do that to each other?😳🥺 Are you so so hurt and so mad that you'll let your husband die in front of you and that you would just sit and chill on the stairs while he's suffering? And are you so hurt and so angry with your wife that you would imprison her in a cage so you could get back at her🥺 these people needs to chill and I think they need to let go of their grudges🥺😭🥺😭

For the Greys, well what can I say...they are pretty much normal, like they are how a family should be, what I could call the ideal. Again, they had problems but that problems were addressed and somehow solved🥺 I just like how the matriarch seems to be a perfect mother with a perfect relationship with her kids and the people around her but she's really like everyone else. She made mistakes and she wasn't even aware of the impact of her actions/words to her kids until her daughter mentioned it 🥺 but what I admire the most about her is that she's willing to take responsibility for her actions and to make amends(which I think the Walfords lack hehe)

Lastly, the Konigs. One word to summarize my thoughts about them: ugh. As much as how the Walfords have made a really bad impression on me, I think that these Konigs are worse than them lmao😂😭😂 this fam consists of the dad who is an unfaithful son of a gun who screwed the Walford matriarch and his hoho own daughter. The mom has some mental illness I'm not really sure about the specific illness which made her go to rehabs and kindaaaa drug dependent, and lastly, the daughter, she is a sly and a bad bitch with bad motives connected to bad people. I feel bad for the Konig youngling tho🥺 she's a bitch but I think no one deserves to be treated like how she was treated by her own father...that's a real disgusting act🥺😭🥺 so yeah, ugh.

E. Characters

Imma focus on them 👆 bec why not

1. Phillip Walford 👀👀

My babe, He is the Walford patriarch, he is a rich bastard who heads the Walford empire or whatever, who also suffers from a heart condition that he eventually needed to undergo a heart transplant. He's vicious and cruel and he's an I don't give a shit about your feelings kind of bastard. A man who probably suffered a lot from the trauma he had from his childhood oh poor bub😭😭 I also have every reason to hate him but I don't because I feel bad for him and his face and emotions,, it just makes me wanna hug him lol😂😭😭

He's like "I'm actually a nice guy but don't fuck with me" kind of man. He's also nosy and he sticks his nose to other people's businesses (Bella's plastic surgery) but I think he hates it when other people stick their noses in his business😂😂I love his sassy remarks and his nonchalant attitude especially towards his wife. He has reasonsss, he does that to punish her for something she had done years years ago that was something hehe quite unforgivable but hoho I could feel it and I could see it...I could feel that he is a jealous man who is in dire need of love and affection. That maybe he's actually still craving for her love and affection...but too bad, years of hostility towards each other had slowly burnt away the love they actually have for each other🥺

I like how he felt so bothered after the heart transplant because he felt that he's changing, he's getting softer, and getting more humane which he doesn't like because he thinks that his enemies would exploit that weakness against him🙄 I like how the badness and viciousness is so engraved to his bones and soul that the mere softness he's suddenly showing to those who surrounds him scares him a lot like a lot...

I also think that he really wants to forgive his wife,,,,but maybe his stubborn pride is hindering him from completely forgiving her...I also think that the reason he went out of his way to find his donor is, make a foundation for Danny, and like he really wanted to meet the Greys is because he somehow sees his ideal family when looking at them,,,it's like his what if, and a _I wish _and I think that's sad🥺😭🥺😭

This baby would have his world torn apart if he knew what his wife schemed on him

2.Cate Walford

She's Phillip's wife. I feel sorry for her especially for the first few episodes because her husband does not show her affection and love,,,he doesn't give her his time,,, he's giving her a hard time,,,and when she thought another man is giving her what she craves for,,,,her husband drove this man to his death or so they all thought lolzz I also like how she is actually a caring person, friend, mom, and wife👀👀

I know she did something unforgivable, she watched her husband have a heart attack, BUT she was initially really worried, she panicked like "Oh no, my husband is having a heart attack. What do I do?" Then she remembered that Phillip drove someone to their own death so she went ".....maybe you deserve to die, monster, how does it feel like tasting your own medicine you gave to others??" I don't forgive her for that tho hehe but that gave me a glimpse to what kind of person she really is.

Also, she's a very lucky woman and I'm veryyyy jealous because she has Phillip, a business tycoon and very jelly husband and eventually Dr. Julian, a well-known cardiologist, as her number two👀👀 I like her tandem with Sandra and I just went 🥺😭 when she opened up to her, like a girl talk of some sorts, it must have been so hard for her to keep all her thoughts and her regrets only to herself for a very long time. She's also pretty clever in a sly way because she schemed a plan against her husband to bring him back. Like bring her old husband back, the loving and caring Phillip Walford👀👀 she's determined to have their love back🥺🥺 BUT I JUST KNOW HELL WOULD BREAK LOSE IF AND WHEN PHILLIP FINDS OUT HER SCHEME HOHO

3. Bart Walford

He's the Walford heir and he's handsome but not as handsome as Phillip lol👀👀👀 he's wise and at the same time dumb🤭🙄 Wise because it would probably take some skills and some brains to appease investors to invest in their company and he did that when Phillip wasn't around. Dumb because he fell in love with a bitch with bad motives and he can't see it!!! 😔😔He loves her so much, he's basically blind ugh🥺🥺🥺

But I do admire how he's so ready to face and fight the whole world for Georgia,,, he'll do everything for her,,,he tries so hard to understand everything about her,,,his world seems to revolve around her and I think that's sooo bad😔👀👀 I mean I don't think that you really should make a person your world because if that person betrays and leaves you, your whole world will crumble apart and you're basically fucked🥺😭

As a 'son' , well,,,,he's a pretty nice who helps his 'father' scheme something to bring down threats for their business🤭👀 I like how defiant and fearless he could get when he got fed up with Phillip😂😭😂😭 I also like his relationship with his mom, they're closer than I initially thought and that he even helped her against Phillip🤭👀 so I therefore conclude that badness is not really innate in a person lolol😂😭😂😭

4. Georgia Konig

Ohoho,,, one word to describe her: bitch🙄 she's so good at manipulating people around her to get and do what she wants. She appeals to the emotions of people around her, making them feel sorry for her. I hate her so much. On top of that, she killed her own father,,, I wouldn't really blame her, he's really disgusting...

She wants to get a part of the Walfords' riches so she paved her way in through Bart. I just hate her so much because she's taking advantage of his feelings towards her🙄 little baby doesn't deserve to be treated like that, little baby deserves to be loved for real

To be honest,,, I don't really think she really loves him. I'm pretty sure that she feels something towards Bart but it's not real love, maybe she does like him a lot but she doesn't really really love him. She's just sticking with Bart because of his inheritance because she wants to have some of it and since she knows he's really into her...well,she took advantage of him🙄😭

I like her dry remarks tho, maybe it's just me but she makes me snort and chuckle sometimes. I also like her voice cause I think it's beautiful and really seductive, and really suitable for her character. She plays crazy pretty well for me too👀👀

5. Sandra

Oh, one of my favorite characters! Deym, she is so precious and I love her so much! She is a nurse that worked for the Walfords for a few months. She is bubbly, nice, loving, caring, and fearless. She puts the arrogant and stubborn ass of his boss in place which I love the most! She's not afraid to talk back to Phillip lol😂😭😂😭 she even called him an over privileged white man with anger issues when he's too stubborn while she's caring for him,,, that line was gold😭✊

Behind her smiles and witty remarks, she's actually going through something very hard in her life. Her son got disabled after getting involved in a skateboarding accident, her husband left them because of guilt, and since then she's been taking care of him🥺 which makes the working for the Walfords situation a saving grace for them.

Together with Cate, they schemed something against Phillip. They made him think that he has Danny's heart. She doesn't really want to fool the old man but because she was promised a fortune,,, for her son,,, even if the means weren't good,,, she said yes. It just shows her big respect and big trust on Cate, but I think, however close they are,,, fooling people isn't just in her moral compass so she'd probably get guilty about it😔

6. Sophia Grey

First off,, I think she's a great mom. I like how she really exerted effort to make the right things even if it costs her a lot. However,,apparently she has a trait which makes her act like everything is about her when it's actually not BUT atleast she could swallow her pride and she would actually try to make things right, which I think, deserves an applause👏👏 I mean that's rare for a parent to admit they're wrong👀👀

She's a loving mom, wife, and friend. She's not perfect but she makes effort on making herself a better person which I think the other characters lack lmaoooo😂😭😂😭I like how her love for her children is so big, and she's pretty much a normal mom. She is supportive of her children's shenanigans and all she wants is to see her children happy🥺

If she found out that she got lied to, I think she'll lose her respect for the Walfords👀👀

7. Danny Grey

We only got to see so little about him but here's what I think: he's handsome lol,,, he's athletic of course, a loving son, a loving fiance possibly a real husband material, and a PASSIONATE man! I mean the love he has for his family, his fiance, and his sport is just so great🥺🥺

It's sad how we only got to see so lil about him since his death is the drive of the plot, so okay,,,

8. Bella Grey

Oh, babyyy🥺🥺🥺 she's Danny's sister who's a very veryyyy talented girl! She plays the piano, she's musically inclined, she's pretty, soft, precious, and lovely! I'm gonna fight anyone who says otherwise😤

She felt as if she's only a shadow of his probably popular brother which makes her feel invisible. She thinks she's plain and that she's just sooo thankful that she's talented or else she's just nothing🥺😭🥺😭 I think it's sad how she resorted to plastic surgery to make herself seen and noticed. It's sad how she thought that changing herself would make her seen which made her think that she is the problem but babyyy nooo!! 🥺😭🥺😭

I love her relationship with her mum! They're like bestfriends and it's so lovelyyy🥺💖I love how she has strong intuition noticing and feeling the Walford's patriarch's seemingly uncharacteristic approaches on them👀👀 so yeah, I love her🥺💖

9. Dr. Julian Lee

He's the hot cardiologist of Mr. Walford and Mrs. Walford's number 2 lol😂 he's a well-known doctor so he probably have the skillz and the brains no wonder Cate fell for him. So, he's pretty much a good guy despite having an affair with a married woman because in my eyes he seems to treat her better🥺🥺🥺

I like how he banters with Phillip and their exchange of spicy words are gold👌I see how hurt he was when Cate decided to break up with him because it seems to get better with her husband BUT HE LET HER GO OMG,,, maybe he truly loves her?? Because he just wanted her to be happy?? I really would have wanted to see more of him🥺😔

10. David Starke

He's the coach and he's a widower who fell in love with Sophia Grey. Hmmm,,, he's pretty hot too lmaooo... He's a giant! He's also kind of a low-key asshole,,,

He was pretty okay during the first few episodes, he's always there to give support to the Greys, maybe because he's really a nice guy or maybe it's because he loves Sophia and he sees her as his wife 👀👀 I just kinda hated him when he started being a dick to Bella's friend who was just joking! He said something like he doesn't like his humor and that that kind of humor is the last resort of being likeable if the person is not actually attractive and I was like whut bruh??? WhAt?🥴🥴

I'd love to see how his relationship with Sophia would continue especially that he was initially jealous of Phillip bec he was tooooo close to her (David doesn't know the reason why) and it was hinted in that godforsaken ending that they learned about the lie,, I would have wanted to see how he would react and how he would confront the Walford patriarch about it😔

11. Mikael

So he's the bearded buff diver guy. He was an ex military (?) and is now a mercenary. He's close to Georgia, I'm not just sure if it's just because of her money or something else. So he's pretty much a fucked up guy. He's clever, he's strong, he's hot, he's handsome, he's scary, and he's probably crazy too.

He does anything and everything, as long as you will pay him his price. He's also the type of guy who you should be afraid of getting on his bad side because he will make sure he would get back at you.

12. Bishop Welles

One of my most hated character, he's an enabler and I hate him😤 he's that calm old bishop who threw shade to Phillip Walford, a well-known business tycoon, during his friend's funeral. Like,,, he's saying that Phillip must have done something driving the death of his friend, Mr. Konig. Making Phillip withdrew all donations to that church lol

He also never believed Georgia's testimonies that she was being raped by her own father and even called her father to get her. He made her life worse.

F. Plot

To be honest, I liked the plot... I love how it started with having glimpses of how these families live their different lives away from each other. I like how the main motif of this series is revenge, greediness, and how family relationship differs,,, I really love how the plot is so new to me that it hooked me up into watching the whole thing making me look forward into it for every week. I remember doing the math so I could watch it live, having a mini heart attack when my Internet was being nuts lagging at the pivoting moments of the show, and squealing every time Philip goes to view lmaooo😂😭😂😭

I honestly like the twists and all, I really liked how the story went until that fucking ending.

8 eps in and I was like 😳 "gosh, there are so many happenings how would everything be resolved for the last two episodes??" and "there are more bombs to be dropped yet hcndkaodns." Then the writer went "haha, nonsense plot twists and cliff hangers go brr" and he basically ruined a good show I HATE IT SO MUCH. Maybe IF they're gonna renew the series and will have a season 2 where everything would be actually resolved like how a decent plot happens, then okay, I'll forgive you, Mr writer. But leaving us, the viewers, hanging like that after that wtf kind of ending is just too cruel and just too selfish 😔✊ I even recommended this show to my friends and they're pretty fine with it and like me, they think the plot is cool up until that stupid ending...

It was a real roller-coaster ride of emotions, I love how it made me feel. The constant 'oh my god, I love where this show is going' and 'this is so good' made me feel so happy except that ending...It was actually my stress-reliever although the plot is sooo stressful to the nth power lol

Will I recommend it to other people?? Well,,,, sureee why not?! I mean if I want them to know why I'm simping over a 60 year old big man, oh why not🤭🤭 For the story?? For revenge maybe? I want them to feel robbed off a good ending and I want them to hate the ending too as much as I hate it lolololll kidding aside, welp, yeah, I'd still recommend it to make them feel the roller coaster of emotions I also felt🤭👀👀