#hm. kind of true. in a way she is a fighter. but i think she's more delicate that this would imply.

[skidrowflorist]

Where Does Fear Reside In Your Body?

all your body

your fear is in your head, heart, hands, legs. it sets your internal organs, muscles and your entire being on fire. your adrenaline goes up; the risk is obvious but you won't go down without a fight. hot blood travels quickly to all the parts of your body, preparing them for action. all you think about is the problem before you and its solution. your senses are sharpened, your heart is gonna jump out of the chest. your body is trembling, your feverish brain - galloping. you'll fight until the end. you'll get out of this. for a magical moment, your fear becomes strength and bravery.

Tagged by: @enjoytheglow Tagging: anyone who wants it! tag me because i love to see what you all get <3

[the-bitter-ocean]

( ACT 3/ ACT 4 SPOILERS) This is part 6 of the many responses/ dialogue options I wrote for the conversation that Rewind and Mirabelle have on what Rewind’s identity truly is. To understand the full context you can find the original post here. Writing is under the cut:

{{ “So I suppose you must have a lot of questions for me don’t you? Theories as to who I might be?”}}

{ You do. You can’t help but feel overwhelmed by all of this.}

{{ “Let’s make this like a game so you can get to know me a little better. How’s that sound hm?”}}

{You nod slowly, still unsure.}

{{ “You get one guess for this so pick whatever feels right in your heart.”}}

{One guess?}

{Something about the way Riri speaks to you feels familiar. }

{ Someone dependable and willing to help you even in the most dire of circumstances. }

{ Someone who’s shown to care for you deeply over the course of this whole ordeal and in turn you have done the same for them as well. }

=> { You’re one of my allies. }

{“.. Are you.. Um. one of my allies ?”}

{Riri stares at you confused.}

{{“Which ally of yours do you think I am, Plum? I’m curious” }}

{ Rewind is….}

=> { Siffrin.}

=> { Isabeau. }

=> { Odile.}

=> { Bonnie. }

=> { Siffrin.}

{“… Um well.. maybe Siffrin?”}

{Riri confusion grows even more. She shakes her head}

{{“Mmm..Why’d you say that?”}}

{“.. We’ll you’re so mysterious .. and uhm you make fun of me sometimes, but it doesn’t feel like it’s meant to be in a mean way?”}

{“You seem so..nonchalant? Like you’ve seen it all before.. and well that’s the type of way Siffrin was when I asked him for help on the journey so..it just makes sense?”}

{“I don’t know. It just reminded me of them was all.”}

{Riri goes quiet. She’s lost in thought.}

{{ “..I remind you of your Rogue? For that reason..? That’s very..”}}

{She sighs clearly wanting to say something more, as if to correct you but brightens up in tone again}

{{ “Silly of you! I tease you because you just have the personality that makes it so easy for me to do!”}}

{{“You’re so adorable, don’t you know that?”}}

{Riri gently boops you on the nose. }

{You sulk.}

{{“..You guessed wrong. Sorry Plum!”}}

—————————————————————————————————

(ALTERNATE RESPONSES)

{Rewind is….}

=> { Siffrin.}

=> { Isabeau. }

=> { Odile. }

=> { Bonnie. }

=> {Isabeau.}

{“…Are you Isabeau?”}

{Riri confusion grows even more. She shakes her head}

{{“Wh- Huh?! You think I’m your Fighter? For what reason?”}}

{“.. Well you’re like really uplifting if that makes any sense? It seems like you just know how to cheer me up before I even could begin to tell you if I was upset. ”}

{“.. Isabeau is really good at that sort of thing. Plus you look.. really stylish? Ah in hindsight it’s probably a stupid answer, sorry.”}

{“I don’t know. It just reminded me of them was all.”}

{{“…No, I’m not your Fighter.”}}

{{“As cute as it is that you think I’m anything like him, it’s not true.”}}

{{“I think that even someone who excels at Changing like him… would have a hard time changing into something like me.”}}

{ What’s that supposed to mean-}

{{“Anyway you guessed wrong. Sorry Plum!”}}

—————————————————————————————————

{Rewind is….}

=> { Siffrin. }

=> { Isabeau. }

=> { Odile. }

=> { Bonnie. }

=> {Odile.}

{“…Are you Madame Odile?”}

{Riri confusion grows even more. She shakes her head}

{{“….? You think I’m your Mage? Why?”}}

{“.. You just.. seem to be really knowledgeable about a lot of things and you’re very..reflective?”}

{“You get really quiet sometimes- like you’re thinking of a bigger picture that I couldn’t even begin to understand, y’know?”}

{“..Madame is really good at planning strategies and figuring out the best ways to solve a problem, kind of like what you do when you talk with me.”}

{“I don’t know. It just reminded me of her was all.”}

{{“…Hm. That’s awfully sweet of you to say but no! I’m not your Mage.”}}

{{“If I was anywhere near as smart as her, I’d have solved both of our problems regarding this whole time loop business by now.”}}

{ “Huh? Wait but-“}

{{“Anyway! I hate to say it but you guessed wrong. Sorry Plum!”}}

—————————————————————————————————

{Rewind is….}

=> { Siffrin.}

=> { Odile. }

=> { Isabeau.}

=> { Bonnie. }

=> { Bonnie.}

{“…Are you Bonnie?”}

{Riri confusion grows even more. She shakes her head}

{{“..?! You think I’m B-..Your Apprentice?”}}

{Rewind looks at you dumbfounded.}

{ Rewind puts a hand over where their hypothetical mouth would be, if she had one and laughs at you.}

{{“Do you really think I’m that childish?”}}

{“Wh- NO!! Not like that at all!!”}

{“You’re just hard to read. N-Not in a bad way!”}

{“I don’t know why.. but I get the feeling you’re trying really hard to not get close to me?”}

{“.. But I don’t think you hate me either. It’s clear you care a lot about me and want to help me. So it’s just a little confusing on where I stand with you.”}

{“..Bonnie gets like that too sometimes. They want to help however they can in their own unique way even if they can be stubborn about it.”}

{“I don’t know. It just reminded me of them was all.”}

{Rewind looks away from you.}

{{“That’s a very strange conclusion for you to reach.”}}

{{“No, I’m not your Apprentice.”}}

{{Rewind puts on a sing songy tone as she speaks.}}

{{“I’ll have you know I’m an adult, thank you!”}}

{{“I consider it a good thing… im thankful that I’m not your apprentice.”}}

{{“I don’t want to even think about the possibility of someone that young being in my..”}}

{{“…”}}

{…?}

{“Being in your what-“}

{{“Moving on now! Point is, your guess was wrong. Sorry Plum!”}}

[craziechwiv]

The Paladin & their Succubus frenemy - 6

(TW!!: Domestic Violence): Read at your own risk.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As the group and the two guards were walking ahead, with the crowd of injured servants behind them, Jaune decided to ask the two who they actually were.

Paladin Jaune: Hey? Neptune, was that your name?

Neptune: Uh yeah, what's up?

Paladin Jaune: So, what were you and Sun before...all this?

Neptune: Oh, I'm glad you asked! Partly because, most people ask Sun besides me, but. I'll tell you.

'Where to start? Well, me and Sun met 5 years ago. I was training in becoming a warrior of some kind, and Sun was already a pretty popular fighter. Although, a bit smug, he could back up his skills to anyone who'd try to call him out.'

'Seems like you guys are some capable fighters to me, when was the first time like?'

How'd we met exactly? He was in a brawl at a bar at our old hometown. One guy tried to sneak up on him and so, I tackled the guy. Took quite the hit in return but Sun repaid the generosity by knocking the guy out. Soon after, him and me were high tailing out of there, laughing our asses of, well Sun was...I was trying to catch my breath.

'Heh heh, we all have our adventures my friend. Either good or bad.'

'But after that, we've decided to be traveling partners until we, actually became partners.'

'Oh, I see. Well, I'm glad you both are together. It seems to me you both are a well-adjusted team. And you fighting those demons, even with inures, was impressive enough.'

As Neptune was speaking to Jaune about how him and Sun met, the rest of the group were ear hustling in, with Sun smiling softly as Neptune talked his heart out about the two of them.

Champion Pyrrha: You really found a great man.

Sun: Don't I know it? He's scrawny sure, but he can sure as hell fight and take hits like no one I teamed with.

Dwarf Nora: Hidden strength type? That kind of reminds of a special man of me own.

Monk Ren: I wonder who it could be.

Dwarf Nora: Oh, surely not you~.

Reaper Ruby: Hm.

Champion Pyrrha: Something on your mind, Ruby?

Reaper Ruby: No, just wondering about something...

Sun: What is it?

Reaper Ruby: How did you both find out...uhm...

Sun: We were the one for each other?

Ruby nods her head slowly.

Sun: Hm, we just...spent a lot of time together. I got to know him and he got to know me. And we just sort of, clicked. Hell, once we were done with this mission, our pay would've sent us on a nice vacation until it was back to our daily lives of exploration. But, with some of the people we've lost...I don't know how true our actual pay may be.

Sun moped abit, now thinking about their current problem before he felt a hand plant itself on his shoulder. He looked towards his right side to see Ruby patting it.

Reaper Ruby: It's not your fault. Like Jaune said, you both tried your best. Plus, we maaay need to have a talk with who wanted these servants in the first place, since they might be in trouble.

Sun: Oh, they won't be. Trust me.

Reaper Ruby: Why do you say that? Of course they'll be in trouble, they risked people's lives!

The rest just looked at her with confusion or at each other, sensing she didn't know the situation entirely.

Dwarf Nora: Does she not know who we're meeting?

Reaper Ruby: Who?

Nora loudly whispered to Ruby.

'It's the Schnees!'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Meanwhile, as the group was still making their way out of the forest to civilization, there was a commotion going on in a manor at their village.

???: Didn't I say, to be dressed accordingly to what I said?!

A white-haired man shouted at a younger woman, slapping her across her face as his hand left a slight mark on it. The young woman was stunned but looked back at him, silently nodding her head as tears began to slowly form and fall from her eyes.

???: Now, go and get dressed, less I have to punish you once more.

???: Y-Yes father.

The young woman hastily went into her room, hearing the man turn his attention to someone else, possibly her mother...

???: Oh, give me a break! Can't either of you worthless broads dress properly?!

???: W-What did you just call- AH!

The young woman flinched as she heard the screams, followed by muffled crying as the man shouted at her mother some more.

???: Don't even dare speak to me in that tone. Do you know how fast I could have you all jailed? Exiled?! EXECUTED FOR ALL I CARE?!

The young woman just crumbled as she wept, yearning for the day the man she calls her 'father' dies.

???: Someday Weiss...someday.

[softquietsteadylove]

What if the roles are reversed? Thena being the kind and gentle one and Gil being the introvert and quiet one?

He catches her in the corner of his eye, a room away, talking with Kingo and Sersi. She does well with the humans, with her soft voice and gentle touch. They're talking with some as they celebrate the victories of today. She smiles at him.

He catches himself smiling back before he takes his leave. He's not one for the revelry of things. He much prefers taking up his post on the high walls of Babylon temple, scouting for Deviants, being the Strongest Eternal in every sense of the word.

Thena is meant to be beloved.

She glows, in a way. She is both a paragon of their team of Fighters as well as one of the most adapted to life on this planet. The humans think of her like an angel, or a goddess. He understands how they would come to think that of her.

They're more...frightened of him.

Thena swears they aren't--that all they need do is get to know him. See the gentle nature he has with her. But she doesn't seem to realise that she is the oddity. She is this completely new and unique thing unlike any other in his world.

She is his whole world.

"Here."

He smiles as she sets down a full mug of wine in front of him. She's always doing little things like that for him. He looks at her, "and you?"

"Hm, I'm not one for it, you know that," she shrugs, her voice even softer than usual with him. It assures him that the soft spot she has in his heart matches the one he occupies in hers. "But it was quite a fight today. You should let yourself relax."

"Revel, you mean?" he chuckles, but does take a sip of the human fermented wine. It's not nearly strong enough for the makeup of their cells, but he supposes it's not unpleasant.

"Fine, indulge in some revelry," she laughs under her breath, and it's a beautiful sound. "For me?"

He would rip the planet in two for her. "Fine."

She grins at her victory, her smile showing off her pearly teeth. Everything about her is pearly. "Were you listening to Sprite's story?"

Thena looks at him though with crystal green eyes like the seas across the entirety of the planet. She slips her hand under his, "you don't scare me."

He shrugs, leaning more easily on the railing of the mezzanine. "It's a nice story--don't think it's gonna change anyone's mind about me being the scary one."

She scares him, though. The rhythm of his heart shifting to match hers scares him. He smiles, "nothing scares you."

"That is true."

He chuckles this time, just a little, and she looks like she's taken on a hundred Deviants and come out with victory. She's funny, and yet she acts like making him laugh is the highlight of her day.

He takes another sip of wine so he doesn't start telling her that she's the highlight of all his days, too. "Shouldn't you be down there?--revelling?"

She looks at him as if the answer is quite obvious, and maybe it is. "Why would I want to be down there if you're up here?"

He stares down at the crowd, at Sersi dancing with the humans and Ikaris clumsily trying to join in just so he can have a chance for his hand to brush the Elemental Eternal's in passing. There are plenty of things he doesn't like about his brother, but this part--this, he understands.

"Hm?" Thena prompts him again, bringing herself even closer to him. She's tall, and lithe, even against his intimidating frame, although he's quite sure she weighs the same as a human child. But she never hesitates to put herself close to him. She almost seems to enjoy it.

"You win," he concedes, because she loves winning. She gets this little look on her face, and he wonders if he should participate in more of Kingo's antics or Ikaris' little contests just to see more of that look.

"As much as I do relish victory of any sort," she indulges with a grin. She looks at him, and it softens like the sun melting into the horizon. "I would rather be here with you."

By all the stars in the sky, his heart beats for this woman. Not that he has the poetry to express that, so instead he puts his hand on her back, and she lets him. His lips pull up slightly, "then I'm honored to have the Goddess of War choose my company."

She gifts him with another laugh at his little joke before leaning into him again. She's not afraid of affection--not like he is, fearful of hugging someone too hard and breaking their bones. She allows Kingo to pat her shoulder, hugs Sersi and Makkari and Sprite, even Ajak from time to time. She and Ikaris jostle each other in good faith (most of the time).

But with him, she leans in, rests her head against his shoulder, as if he is a safe haven for her in which to find rest. And he may not understand it, but if that's what she needs from him, then he will be that for the rest of his days.

He holds her delicately, but the fear of his strength leaves him. Because every breath they take together is a push and pull, perfectly balanced. He doesn't have to be afraid with her. For all his rough, unbending edges, she has fluidity and grace. She doesn't mind his withdrawn nature or quietness or intimidating stare.

"Gil?"

"Hm?" he responds, because he loves it when she calls him Gil. No one else does. To anyone else, he's not a nickname person. But she can call him anything she wants.

"We have watch," she reminds him gently, moving away but keeping his hand in hers as she starts drifting outside the party room and towards the walls. "Shall we?"

He will follow her anywhere, across this whole planet if need be. But instead of saying that, he squeezes her hand and says, "after you."

[megashadowdragon]

Brok - The True Measure of a Man

youtube comments

The thing about Sindri is that he and Brok make the perfect blacksmiths because, in my eyes, they represent the forge itself. Brok is a steady and dependable rock for Sindri. The rock surrounding the fire, directing and focusing Sindri in a way no one but Brok can. And when he is gone all that Sindri has is his fire, feelings much bigger than he is that consume him. I think this is reflected when Brok is dying by the background, the forge disappears leaving just the flames burning alone.

Sindri changing from being this clean freak to a man that just does not give a fuck. All covered in filth and grime. Just shows that the fire within him is out of control. He lost his brother, forever, gone, no more. I do not blame him for his anger. He has every right to be angry in grief. Just who he blames. I hope to see Sindri return some day. If there is a some day. As we need an ending to that story. Sindri's story is not over. Either be acceptance of what happened. Or somehow bending fate and the will of creation. Sindri pulls off to bring his brother back a second time. Even after being told his soul was lost. Never know. Personally, I am more in favor of acceptance. To see that fire be self-contained and self-control.

much like Kratos, once upon a time.

Also that in a forge you need to temper the weapons to treat them right and make them strong. When we see sindri and he's calling us out, he hits the sword with a hammer without it being treated. He also hits harder where the hammer will eventually break the blade. Just as his sanity and he himself.

It’s also worth noting that when you first meet Brok, he offers to upgrade the Leviathan axe for two complete strangers and was a gift made by him and his brother for Faye, who was a great warrior and friend. I like how this can be interpreted as Brok quickly piecing together who Kratos and Atreus were to Faye and what might have happened to her without stirring up a commotion like Sindri and Durlin and shows how much more perceptive Brok is than we’re initially led to believe.

Ooh, yes! He noticed that Kratos could throw and summon the Leviathan Axe, which must mean Kratos couldn't have simply stolen it from Faye, he was attuned to it.

In Sindri and Durlin's defense, they just saw the axe strung on Kratos' back. I bet if they saw it return to him they'd have known he had Faye's blessing to wield it.

@quietone2674 there’s also the matter of Brok knowing Faye and her nature. Even if he hadn’t seen Kratos use the axe he would still have known that it couldn’t have been taken from her by force. Remember he knew that Faye was in Midgard and that she had used the axe to go toe to toe with Thor once. If someone tried to take the ax it would’ve brought about a natural disaster that a blind and deaf hermit couldn’t have missed.

hm…good point. While Kratos probably could've taken it by force if they weren't together, he'd absolutely have caused noticeable destruction doing it.

Faye was also evenly matched to Thor, who wields Mjolnir, confirmed to rival a nuke, and both Kratos and Thor fought Faye to a draw.

This is actually a really good point. Sindri of course says "i would be displeased IF you did something to her!" He is kind of assuming giving he attempts to 'put up a fight' but he is leaving it open to finding out that the ax wasn't stolen. Durlin on the other hand basically just proclaims kratos Faye's killer off hand (though to be as fair as we can to durlin kratos does have mimir also strapped to his belt.) What i think this also helps reinforce is Brok's artistic acumen because He is very detail oriented. Sindri points out he sees a lot of faye in Atreus' eyes. So Brok was able to put together, Kid and Adult, both male, Adult has Faye's ax, big dude probably a real fighter, Kid has a gentle demenior and, those eyes. Putting together everything he can see and hear, it was probably easy to realize Kratos and Faye had Atreus. He might also of noticed the sack on the back of Kratos' belt and realized that was likely her ashes.

At the beginning of the Tyr scene, I like that everybody is getting all excited over planning the big final battle. Its like planning an awsome party for tomorrow, you feel that sense of anticipation, those butterflies in your stomach. But Brok stays calm. Doesn't rush it. Everybody else, caught up in the rush, skips over the fine details, the contradictions. But not Brok. Because Brok is an artist. He doesn't rush stuff and always pays attention to the fine details.

To the first question of "How did Brok know, and nobody else did?" Mimir is very smart, but when he's happy he often turns off some of his logic, meaning he was so happy to see Tyr alive he turned off his skepticism. Atreus is Atreus, he doesnt know much about this kind of stuff. Sindri assumes the best in everyone. Freya just didnt suspect it. Kratos is very skeptical, but on topics he doesnt know much about like Odin or Tyr, he trusts the people who do know much about them, like Mimir who was also fooled. Brok never drops any suspicions, which is confirmed by the fact that even at the end of GOW4 he still was rough towards Atreus and Kratos.

“It’s the NATURE of a thing that matters, not it’s form.” -Brok “Fake Tyr”, may have had Tyr’s form, but NOT his nature.

Brok is a perfect example of one of my favorite tropes: The Reliable One.

He's the one that people go to the most to the point they take him for granted. He'll walk into hell, pull through when you need him in a pinch, and until you lose him, you'll never realize just how much you depended on him.

11:45 its more subtle, but Sindri expresses an appreciation for the blades, too. If you have him upgrade the blades or their hilts, he'll say things such as, "No, thank YOU." "Always a pleasure to work on these." or "The honor is all mine." Or, "So sharp. So, so sharp!" The only reason Brok got the cutscene reacting to the Blades is because he happens to be the first one you run into after getting them.

I feel like brok saw through Odin because Odin’s con job depends on people being too polite to poke too many holes in his story, a problem that brok doesn’t have

Exactly Brok is always bluntly honest unlike Odin who is cruelly deceitful yet uses honesty as a veil

Yeah I thought so too but I don’t think Brok saw it until right before he was killed. He didn’t suspect anything of Tyr beforehand, but when he was being all weird right before the reveal he had no issues probing & calling Tyr/Odin on the carpet for his lies.

Brok is the perfect antithesis to Odin. Honest to the point of bluntness, confident without being arrogant, doesn’t feign affection but is genuine with those he considers friends, feels no need to prove how smart or important he is, etc.

It is unsurprising that it’s Brok who sees through the BS before anyone else, and therefore is the one that gets under Odin’s skin and causes him to act rashly.

Brok is an artist, his tool of choice is the hammer not the brush nor the chisel, he strikes true, when the iron is hot and he embodied his tool perfectly. Blunt, gruff and perfect for what he is, just as the hammer is heavy so too is my heart at his loss but to remember the fallen for the empty space they leave is to discount the artistry that they leave behind, the blessing of the Draupnir Spear, the Leviathan Axe and the friends that were made along the way.

Little detail I just remembered, in the scene after getting Draupnir when Kratos meets Odin, Odin specifically says that he's "never much cared for Brok." If Brok is the most honest character, the one whos honesty cuts through Odins bullshit, of course Odin "wouldn't care for him."

"I trust Brök, he speaks plain" "Aye, and vulgar too" I love this bit, nature vs form. Kratos understands that Brök's manner of speaking comes from complete honesty, his nature is to never give the disrespect of lying. Even when he's at his most disrespectful he gives you the respect of saying it blunt. Kratos sees the respectful nature of the honesty. Everyone else sees the form, swearing, vulgarity, and mean comments or jokes.Show less

[argentumcor]

Paracausal Refit Future

This series has lived in my head for a long time, ideas bouncing about, but I wanted to badly to keep it to canon that I put a lot of them on the backburner. (Oooh, that's numerous mixed metaphors, I'm almost proud.)

I find, generally, canon is more a gift than a restriction. Writers, especially pros, who complain about it are pussies and/or egotists. Art needs limits and discipline, because otherwise it gets out of hand...and the artist might be tempted to even greater self-indulgence than he or she already endures by nature of being an artist.

However, Destiny just...I don't know, since Stasis was introduced as a power Guardians could get, kind of going in directions I found I didn't like. The underpinnings of the Light and Darkness conflict, as well as the interesting ideas involved in how paracausality worked, were being abandoned. (Knowing what I do of the development and watching the writing, I think there was a lot of philosophical conflict in the writers' room for this game, applying to both the overarching story and characters). I'd say Plunder was the real start of the true downward swing, though. Just a lot of wasted potential, from Spider's heel-face turn to the lackluster fight between Eramis and Mithrax to the effing Nezcafe, just slapped together. Others have gone at length upon the issues with Lightfall's story, I have nothing of note to add there.

It all feels so perfunctory. It feels like these epic, interesting, fun setups and just no...funds or time or interest or skill to finish them off properly.

Seraph so transparently existed only to tie up Rasputin's loose ends. As well as the loss of the potential of a mortal Exo Rasputin, what else is there for Ana to do? She's just some other Hunter with a tech interest as far as the story cares with Rasputin utterly gone. I don't like her, but people do, and she is there, but what is she left to do? Live a life out of one of those boring modern Marvel comics? (The answer, I am 99% certain, is yes.)

Someone must have lobbied to tie up Asher's long-dangling plot thread and promised it would be done in as cheap a way as possible. There was an exotic mission with some fun stuff, but we didn't learn anything much, and then Asher- the fighter against all odds, the man so irritated that he refuses to die- just offs himself because the odds look hopeless. We don't even learn anything about the Veil, Osiris did that with no connection to that questline at all. (I know they could bring him back, but that thing with Ikora and Mithrax felt final).

I think Savathun is going to really die at the end of this season as part of Eris' plan, which will wrap that up and waste a brilliant character.

I am sure The Final Shape will be fun. I'm not sure it will be a satisfying story. Going to the Cayde memberberries well makes me very apprehensive. There's interesting potential there, for sure, but I doubt it will be properly explored.

This is a very long way of saying I'm not really satisfied with the way canon has been handled. Dissatisfied to the extent that I feel driven to do something about it, which isn't often. I'm dissatisfied with the lack of a follow-up to Dredd (2012), but am not driven to write a sequel. I found The Mandalorian Season 3 deeply dissatisfying, but I have no desire to try to fix it in fic.

I find myself driven to tackle Destiny's story in Paracausal Refit, in much the same way I was driven to write an admittedly very strange (and long, how did that happen) work following up on Cyberpunk 2077. I should use the time and ideas for my own work- I've got a novel to write and more in the mental queue- but I will add this to the mix anyway, and not scrub the serial numbers off. There's a sense of writing it being the right thing to do, a sort of righting of a creative wrong, while Orpehus After the Fall was, hm, a commentary that needed to be made.

It's so far from purely that, I enjoy writing and I enjoy having fun with the characters and worlds, but the motive is not just that. It's not to get off, either, literally (I will never write a sex scene; among other things, it would be badly written) or in an ego sense.

I have some ideas to organize, I guess.

[milesalexanderxo]

miles: maybe you're actually repealing the right people and it's the universe's way of keeping you safe? hm, usually dudes who don't like their women smart and independent are the types people gotta stay far away from. i think one of the sexiest things is being passionate about something, no matter what it is. miles: rooster has more exciting hobbies but mine are nice in their own way. though, golf, baseball and skiing aren't nearly as thrilling as fighter jets. i co-own a liquor company. we make long drink, which is a traditional finnish alcoholic beverage and we have the solo license to make it in north america. bugsy is my french bulldog and she's the real love of my life. nice, because dog people are the best kind of people. i don't trust anyone that says they don't like dogs. hah, i haven't heard too many compliments about that mustache on rooster, but i'll definitely take it. miles: ooh, gotcha. appreciate the summery and totally understand why you're not giving anything else away. that movie sounds like it'll be a wild ride and adding it to my list to watch once it's come out. your whole vibe screams halloween lover and i say that as a compliment. the commitment you need to have to actually have a 12ft skeleton as decoration shows true dedication to the spirit of the season. not often, thankfully. not because i don't enjoy going there but that flight is brutal and the jetlag even more so.

alycia: i don't know. i tend to repeal more people than i attract, so i guess the ones i associate with don't exactly like strong, independent women with strong hobbies and opinions. maybe that might be a you thing, but in my opinion that makes you one hell of a man, because i also think that there is nothing sexier than a man who can appreciate a woman for all of her silly little likes and interest. alycia: i doubt that. rooster might fly fighter jets, but from what i can tell, miles has a lot of fun in other ways. you have a company? what kind? also, i gotta know more about this dog too. i'm such a dog lover. he was definitely a crush from the first film. he had such a swagger about him, but there is something about that stache from movie two on rooster that just...does it for me. new crush unlocked for sure. alycia: i do! its called 'it's what's inside' and it's basically a horror comedy about a group of college friends who reunite at a bridal party and things get a little crazy when one of the members brings a box of sus gifts. that's all i'm going to give you, because it's the kind of movie that you should go in blind when you see it. its a lot more fun that way. oh, i am a huge halloween person. i had half of my decorations up mid august. i did just put up my 12ft skeleton. he's pissing off my neighbors as we speak. it's one of the worst flights to take, but the end result is always worth it. do you travel to australia often?

[smol-yet-stupid]

I just wanted to rant about Orihime

I absolutely HATE the way she was treated in Hueco Mundo, especially for such a sweet and caring girl like her. She was kidnapped against her will, with Ulquiorra making the sick decision to threaten her with the lives of the people she loves, called a traitor for literally being blackmailed, she was physically abused by Loly and Menoly so badly TWICE, with loly punching her in the face, leaving her face disfigured (And there was even BLOOD coming out of her mouth!), for no reason, yet she still healed her abusers out of kindness and Loly and Menoly threatened to tear out her eye and fingernails OVER SOMEONE ORIHIME DIDN'T EVEN LIKE, she was completely psychologically broken by Ulquiorra when he KILLED the man she LOVED just to torture her more, which she even blamed HERSELF for, threatened to rip open her skull and chest and threatened to force feed her and give her intravenous therapy, Nnoitra suggested that he could... you know... and was such a complete vile and disgusting creep to her, calling her his "pet", (Ulquiorra was very hypocritical regarding this, because he called out Nnoitra, yet he himself still was very willing to psychologically torture Orihime) Grimmjow strangled her twice, dragged her around in chains, manhandled her and only wanted Orihime to heal Ichigo so he could hurt him again, and called her names that I don't want to mention. It physically pains me to see someone as kind and gentle as her suffer so much... Aizen and the Arrancars are complete sadistic monsters and they make me sick that they'd do this to poor Orihime. And Aizen didn't even want her powers at all, it was just to distract the strongest fighters while he took over Karakura, so all the trauma she went through was all for NOTHING.

Yet people hate her because of stupid shipping wars. I definitely don't ship UlquiHime (which people ship just to get her out of the way of IchiRuki) because he was manipulative and psychologically tormented her to past breaking point. They're shipping her with her LITERAL MENTAL ABUSER whom she has never even met or even had a single thought about until the fight with Yammy and when he kidnapped her. (And even after that, the only memory she had of Ulquiorra after the Hueco Mundo Arc was when he murdered Ichigo) A gentle girl like her deserves someone who doesn't abuse and torment her so much all the time. People say that she cared more about Ulquiorra than she did Ichigo, but that is definitely not the case, hence all the, "Kurosaki-kuns". (Y'all really want her to stay in HM forever?! With those awful Arrancar monsters and Aizen?!)

People also think that Orihime is far too obsessed with Ichigo, yet with IchiRuki, Ichigo CANNOT FUNCTION without his true love Rukia? He doesn't care about protecting people who aren't Rukia? And all these Yanderes, like Loly, Jaguara (Wolf's Rain), Shiro (Deadman Wonderland) and ESPECIALLY Yuno Gasai (Mirai Nikki) get away with literally harming or MURDERING anyone who even so much as looks at their love interest, or even their love interest themselves because it's 'cute?' They're the ones who are too obsessed if they're going to resort to such extreme lengths for their love interest, or out of jealousy towards their love interest. They're literally saying that a normal, sweet, kind girl is WORSE than these psychos. Orihime was just experiencing a normal crush, which developed into GENUINE LOVE for Ichigo, while these yanderes are complete psychos regarding their love interests, which Orihime is not. Excuse me, Yanderes, resorting to killing for love is not cute in the slightest. Orihime would never murder anyone over Ichigo. She even felt bad for being jealous of Rukia because Orihime LOVES Rukia as a friend and thinks she's amazing. Orihime was even happy for Rukia when she got married to Renji, and cried tears of joy for her (And no, it's not because Orihime finally could have Ichigo all to herself). Not to mention her love for Ichigo was what broke her out of Tsukishima's brainwashing.

And she's even been VILLAINISED too, just because she's in the way of IchiRuki (Which is NOT OK because of the huge age gap, and that Ichigo would have to die in order to be with Rukia, which would be devastating for Orihime because she wants to keep him alive and safe). But that doesn't mean I don't love Rukia, nor do I think that she's in the way of IchiHime. I definitely support RenRuki, which makes way more sense than IchiRuki. Side note, I also don't understand all the bashing that Renji gets, he's still a nice guy. Rukia was very supportive of Orihime and understood her captivity situation, and she's so funny 😄 People have said that Orihime healed more enemies than friends, but Orihime is many things, and a villain is NOT one of them. She healed Loly and Menoly because she just can't stand people getting hurt, no matter who they are, and she only healed Grimmjow's arm because Aizen told her to. And the haters ignore that she always heals her friends ALL THE TIME. That does not mean Orihime is a villain. I mean, Aughra (The Dark Crystal) paid her respects to SkekMal the Hunter, a violent, malevolent beast, even calling him the most 'beautiful' of the Skeksis, but does that make her a villain? No way. She still sacrificed her life/essence in place of Brea, Seladon and Maudra Fara. Kenshiro (Fist of the North Star) made a grave for his friend Shin, who literally tortured Ken by scarring his body and tormented and enslaved innocent people to build an entire city for Yuria, Ken's fiancee, who Shin had kidnapped. Does that make Ken a villain? No way. People claim Orihime is a villain, yet they let the ACTUAL villains get away with what they did to her just because they're attractive. Yes, Orihime healed her enemies, but she also NEVER ATTACKED HER FRIENDS.

Also, Orihime has been called selfish and manipulative, among other things. But here's the thing: She's NOT. She's far from all that. The reason she slapped Ulquiorra, which she had every right to do, was because he taunted her that Chad was supposedly dead, and he was dissing her friends by saying they were stupid and reckless to charge straight into Hueco Mundo. Ulq KNOWS that Orihime cares for her friends, so he deliberately used her love for her friends to kidnap her, manipulate her and completely psychologically break her. Orihime even literally begged to be let out of her cell to go and help Rukia, one of her BEST FRIENDS. When she was restrained by Nnoitra, she didn't care that she was being held back in a really creepy manner by one of the most vile Arrancars in existence. She really cared about Ichigo's and Nel's safety. She even shielded Uryu from Ulquiorra while completely breaking down, tried to help Yachiru, and even tried to heal Zaraki after the Nnoitra fight before getting rekidnapped. Victim blaming or what? (And also someone said that just because Orihime doesn't get a job at a clinic helping people means she FAKING her kindness? It's all an act? Like WHAT?! She can only get a job at a clinic because if not it means her kindness is an act?! She can still have other jobs AND still heal people all the while!!!! I'm not saying that helping people is wrong or bad, because it's not. I'm saying that just because she doesn't work at a clinic doesn't mean she doesn't like helping people!!!)

And there's also the whole Damsel in distress thing. That wasn't Orihime's fault. Aizen and Ulquiorra forced her into that position by threatening the lives of her friends. What else could she do? Not to mention her escorts were horribly killed right in front of her just to prove Ulquiorra's point. Even then, Orihime told THEM to run, because she valued their lives more than her own. Orihime didn't plan her own kidnapping, abuse and trauma, Aizen did. He was the one basically making her submit due to his spiritual pressure. If someone more mentally hardened was kidnapped, and was the type of person to kill their captors and escape from captivity instantly, they get so much praise, but if it's a sweet, pacifistic person like Orihime, who doesn't like to even WOUND people, and only had to comply with their captors because the people they love would have been killed, and having been traumatised to the point of breaking down in tears, they get the blame just for, "being a Damsel/Dude in distress"... like WHAT?!

And then there was her screaming to Ichigo for help. She was completely psychologically broken and traumatised by seeing the man she loved practically dead, so much so, that she couldn't do anything but cry because she loved Ichigo so much, and didn't want him to get hurt. She's left in pain and horror and guilt, yet it's ULQUIORRA who is really to blame here, not her. Captivity and abuse, especially someone as gentle as her, does that to you. He was the one who killed Ichigo and MOCKED her love for him while doing that just to break her even more, and Ulquiorra left behind his Reiatsu on Ichigo, which was too strong for Orihime to possibly reverse. Her LITERAL MENTAL BREAKDOWN was what awakened Vasto Lorde Ichigo. She didn't even blame Ichigo for dying and not protecting her, Uryu for not protecting Ichigo or Ulquiorra for killing him and torturing her - she blamed HERSELF. (I don't blame Ichigo and Uryu, they were literally killed and injured because of that stupid batboy).

Then there's her pacifistic nature and inability to fight. Again, she hates seeing people, friend or foe, being injured. Just because Orihime only heals and shields does not make her weak or useless at all. People are seeing her overkindness as weakness, uselessness and/or even villainy, and want her to have a more aggressive personality. Pacifism is seen as villainy, but aggression isn't? She's even being compared to Sakura. Orihime is WAY nicer than Sakura could ever be. (I'm sorry to those who like Sakura, I understand why you do). Orihime would never stoop so low as to beat up her friends or even say a single mean word to them over the smallest things like Sakura does. (Beating up your friends isn't funny at all, it's just mean).

She mostly gets a bad rep for yelling, "Kurosaki-kun!", but guess what? It's because she CARES about Ichigo, because he's being injured and killed right in front of her. If she didn't care about him, she wouldn't be saying his name worriedly.

And finally, there's her being scared of Ichigo's Hollow Mask. It literally brought back traumatising memories of a Hollowfied Sora/Acidwire, and she was scared FOR Ichigo, not OF Ichigo. She didn't want him to lose himself to his Hollow side like Sora did. That doesn't mean I hate Ichigo for scaring her, I know he was trying to protect her, which he has been doing the whole time. We love you, Kurosaki-kun 💖 (And people said that Ichigo didn't heed Loly's threat to tear out Orihime's eye and Ulquiorra "protected" her by stopping Ichigo, but... Ulquiorra didn't heed Loly's threat either! He told Loly (Who was HOLDING ORIHIME) he didn't stop Ichigo to save Loly, which extends to Orihime as well!)

I'm sorry for this long rant, but I just feel upset with the way Orihime is treated in- and out-of-universe. She's just so sweet. I'm just trying to think about all of this in a logical and pathological way.

TL;DR: I'm upset that Orihime gets so much hate because she has suffered so much and is a sweet girl.

[sortasirius]

“Despair” and Dean and Cas

Well well well, winning is my favorite thing.

As usual, this is going to be as long as hell. And fair warning, it’s extremely emotional.

So here it is, the thing that we have been barrelling towards for years, literally years.

Just want to point out this.  Also, I will NEVER allow someone to speak negatively about this writing group, EVER.

Team Free Dads starting off the episode is so sweet, so scary.  Cas’ calming, Dean’s fear, Sam’s desperation, really just hammering home how much they love Jack, how his pain is pain for them, how losing him is unbearable.

“I can’t stop this.  I’m coming apart.  I don’t want to hurt you.  Don’t let me hurt you.”

Oof.  If you’ve ever question whether Jack is a Winchester, this line should shut that shit down for you.

When I tell you I was PISSED when Billie sent Jack to the Empty to EXPLODE?????  PAIN.

“Yeah the Empty can’t come to earth, not without being summoned.”

Hello Bobo, clue number 1.

The fact that they only had Jack in limbo for like five seconds was great for my heart health, thank u very much Bobo.

Also Dean wielding Death’s scythe?????? KING?????

Man, Sam and Dean’s growth.  The way that they’re able to, idk, actually speak on how they feel without death looming or fear or pain.  It’s just a conversation, just an honest conversation of Dean admitting his mistakes, admitting how he felt.  Admitting that he fucked up, and Sam forgiving him for it.

CHARLIE AND HER GF CHARLIE AND HER GF CHARLIE AND HER GF

Also...hunters and their “dates.”  Two hunters who are happily together, who are happily fighting monsters.  Hm.  Sounds like a Saileen/Destiel parallel to me boys.

You ever wish Cas would look and the mirror and take the great advice he gives others?  Because I do.  He’s always tried to be “useful” for Sam and Dean, for Jack, always tried to make sure that he’s useful enough that they keep him around.  But what he doesn’t understand, what he’s never understood, is that they need him because of who he is, not because of what he contributes.

Remind y’all of anything?

And here we have Clue Number 2

And then, Sam’s realization.  Eileen.

Did I begin full tilt screaming no in my apartment when he said her name?  Who’s to say?

How can a lock screen cause me this much pain????

Okay but: Charlie loses Stevie, Sam loses Eileen.  Clue Number 3.

I feel like I don’t talk enough about how much Sam loves Eileen.  About how obvious it is that they are endgame, about how happy he is when he talks about her.  This just feels like a blow to the stomach, but we’ve barely even started.

Sam immediately shifting into protective leader mode?  He is the love of my life.

Dean’s simple nod, like it’s a given?  Enough to do me in right there.

This is another episode where it’s just so clear that Sam is the leader of the North American hunters.  Everyone knows him, everyone is willing to follow him.  He’s knowledgeable and kind and fair and just and an incredibly capable fighter.  Once again, I don’t believe his work on earth is done.

Can we also please talk about how FRIGHTENING IT WAS for Jack to kill that plant???  I don’t really have much of a comment on it because I was literally just like ?????

With Billie saying that it’s Chuck, the way that people were dusted, very similar to Becky and Amara, I honestly wouldn’t be surprised, especially with Donna getting taken off the board.  It’s like I said last week, I don’t buy that he’s taken himself off the board, he’s too invested in the unraveling of this story to take a step back.  He’s gotta break them before he can defeat them, that’s the only way.

And here we go, into one of the most painful and surreal things I will ever write about.

Dean’s speech.  His guilt, his regret.  The shame of not only trapping himself, but the pain, the horror of trapping Cas.

“I just lead us into another trap.  All because I, I couldn’t hurt Chuck.  Because I was angry and because I just needed something to kill, and because that’s all I know how to do.”

“Dean-”

“It was Chuck all along.  We never should have left Sam and Jack, we should be there with them now.  Everybody’s gonna die, Cas.  Everybody.  I can’t stop it.”

His narrative arc.  Tied up in a bow.

“She’s gonna get through that door.”

“I know.”

“And she’s gonna kill you and then she’s gonna kill me.  I’m sorry.”

Cas smiles.

Cas knows.  He knows what’ll get them out of this, and he knows that he would do anything in this Universe for Dean Winchester. The human man he fell for.

“When Jack was dying, I made a deal to save him.”

“You what?”

“The price was my life.  When I experienced a moment of true happiness, the Empty would be summoned and it would take me forever.”

“Why are you telling me this now?”

“I always wondered, ever since I took that burden, that curse, I’ve wondered what it could be, what my true happiness could even look like.  I never found an answer, because the one thing I want, it’s something I know I can’t have. 

“But I think I know, I think I know now...happiness isn’t in the having, it’s in just being.  It’s in just saying it.”

“What are you talking about, man?”

The most selfless thing Cas does in this, and he does a lot of selfless things, is to tell Dean Winchester how impossibly good he is.  To tell him that he is worthy, to tell him that he is adored.

“I know, I know how you see yourself, Dean.  You see yourself the same way our enemies see you.  You’re destructive and you’re angry and you’re broken and you’re daddy’s blunt instrument.  And you think that hate and anger, that’s what drives you, that’s who you are.  It’s not.  And everyone who knows you sees it, and everything you have ever done, the good and the bad, you have done for love.  You raise your little brother for love, you fought for this whole world for love.  That is who you are.

“You’re the most caring man on earth.  You are the most selfless, loving human being I will ever know.  You know, ever since we met, ever since I pulled you outta Hell...knowing you has changed me.

“Because you cared, I cared.  I cared about you, I cared about Sam, I cared about Jack, I cared about the whole world because of you. 

“You changed me, Dean.”

“Why does this sound like a goodbye?”

Dean’s greatest fear. His fear of those loving him leaving him. The terror of being alone.

“Because it is.

The head shake.  Don’t love me.  Don’t love me if it means you’ll leave me, don’t love me, everyone I love leaves me.  Don’t leave me.  Don’t love me.  Don’t leave me.

“Don’t do this, Cas.”

Just like I always thought.  One last look at Dean before the Empty takes him.

“Cas-”

“Goodbye Dean.”

And Dean is left, broken on the floor, unable to answer Sam’s calls, unable to do anything.  It doesn’t matter to him that Chuck has wiped everyone out, it doesn’t matter to him that Sam and Jack might need him.  It doesn’t matter.  It doesn’t matter, because the thing that mattered still hangs on his lips, still waiting to be said, and now he won’t get another chance to say it.

The fact that I am writing this, even with all my spec, with all my analysis of the writers’ room, of their text, of the way Dabb and co had approached this story, nothing could have ever prepared me for this.  Nothing could have prepared me for a three and a half minute, uninterrupted scene where Cas confesses not only that he loves Dean, but that he has always loved him.

I talk a lot about how these writers don’t get the credit they deserve.  Unfortunately, from most of this fandom, they never will.  We will likely never know the fights with the network they had, the steps backward they had to take, the way they had to beg and fight and claw to get this on the screen.  But they did it.  They did it for these characters, they did it for this dinosaur of a show, and yeah, they did it for us.

It was not easy, I can promise you, to get this greenlit.  They had to fight for this, they likely had to call in favors and make threats and quite literally put their careers on the line (you may scoff at that, but WB is a BIG company, especially in the TV/movie world) for this story.  This story of Dean and Cas, the man dragged out of Hell and the angel who fell for him.

I have tons more to say, and will likely have several more posts about this, but I want to leave all my babes who are worried that that was the end for Dean and Cas with some takeaways.

Sam is missing Eileen.  Dean is missing Cas.  That is no longer a fun subtextual parallel, that is it for them.  Their respective endgames are missing, and they will not know their peace until they get them back.  Chuck will not win.  That’s not the story being told, and right now?  He’s winning.  He’s broken them, left them with nothing, left them with an empty world and a hole in each of their hearts where their person (or angel) used to be.

Our show is going to end with “contentment.”  “Contentment” isn’t from Sam and Dean being filled with grief and hitting the open road.  It isn’t Sam getting Eileen back and leaving Dean with no one.  “Contentment” is Sam and Eileen, Dean and Cas.  Together.

[quidfree]

ofc :DD

hm ok fem todobaku hcs for my current fic.... these are a mix of situational psychology and completely unserious fyi hope they are somewhat interesting nonetheless

both of them are obviously #not like other girls in this but in ways that i feel reflect their standings in canon & also the way things would play out in canon if they were girls. like katsuki to me is always a fundamentally privileged and gifted individual but she doesn’t have direct family clout so in this she’s just minor nobility via mitsuki’s half-brother which still leaves them in a very comfortable position & more importantly gives her the confidence/social channel via jeanist to claim her position as an avalonian knight once she displays the required abilities. she’s Aware that she’s an exception but this does not particularly perturb her because katsuki is Always exceptional and cognisant of it. for shouto the fact she’s literal royalty & more importantly the obvious choice of heir also frees her from normal social expectation in the same breath as it traps her in the usual endeavour heritage position. she’s kind of Beyond/above the conventions and constraints of normal society by virtue of her isolation as well. it just felt impt that their positions in the world still feel true to character.

anyways because of the above both katsuki’s knights & shouto’s entourage regularly forget to treat them as the Ladies they are on paper, which they do not care abt but people around them take issue with. mitsuki in particular has thrown things at people for talking abt Her Daughter The Current Duchess of Liones like she’s a sword-brandishing simpleton amongst others. it’s a cultural thing. which also means on the flip side you have people like yoarashi who is from a very Warrior-Centric culture & post deciding to do a 180 on shouto finds it super offensive when people talk to her like she’s Not the skilled fighter she is. 

on that note they have both killed people in this au, which is kind of inevitable considering they’re both army leaders, albeit at different scales. i just think making heroism circumstantial is more fun than having 1:1 values in canon and in faux medieval wartimes, + it’s sexier than P13 violence. shouto tends to be in situations where bigger numbers are involved; she does avoid killing where she can but she’s very utilitarian. katsuki usually has to handle smaller conflicts & so she’s probably quicker to go for the throat than shouto is, since there’s no dishonour in striking someone down who’s about to do the same to you. 

shouto is such a horse girl in this. like they all ride horses but it just fits the vibe. she has to get across a Really Big Kingdom a lot & she shuns human connection. it’s only natural.

obv katsuki and izuku have their whole ‘izuku was katsuki’s beleaguered page boy when she went off to knight camp before getting to be the chosen one’ backstory, but the katsuki of it all is obviously that katsuki is in fact the (1) girl in knight training and she’s only there because when recruiters were passing through she pulled the whole ‘merida in brave shooting for her own hand’ schtick and embarrassed some actual knights aged like twelve. mitsuki was seethingly mad. jeanist was also not impressed by his niece’s complete lack of ladylike propriety but he knows talent when he sees it so it was off to joyous gard with her.

on that note precocious teen katsuki obviously wasted no time ensuring all of her fellow knights-in-training knew who was going to be ruling the roost, mostly bc of typical bakugou egomania but also so no one got any ideas about their masculine superiority. there may have been some ‘sparring accidents’ and bed-wetting involved before everyone kind of accepted the pecking order. they had some complications when puberty came around- katsuki may or may not have disfigured one or two peers before the dust settled. fantasy medieval times are rough! 

shouto on a similar note doesn’t really think of herself in patriarchal terms by virtue of her position/personality but she does have some hangups of her own that feed into the general chip on her shoulder. the court obviously loves to gossip abt their queen the madwoman locked in her tower & todoroki being her spitting image as well as the heir apparent is part of the reason she stays so stone-cold in stressful situations despite the temper flaring beneath. this is also why shouto is older in this fic while still having more of a s1 shouto persona going on. 

between the two of them katsuki is the one who primarily dresses in quote unquote men’s clothes despite setting bc she has a Style that is better suited by shirts / pants + she will not tolerate any frills and ruffles and constriction so most courtly dresses are no-gos. shouto as always is less cognisant of anything like a personal style so she doesnt really care what shes wearing & also she kicks ass regardless of what she’s in, esp bc she mostly handles things long-range.

in her infancy katsuki mostly got dressed by mitsuki and an army of servants so there are one or two priceless portraits of her in intensely kitsch yellow dresses with ribbons on her shoes and hatred in her eyes. despite their very distant relationship mitsuki gave jeanist one of these that he kept in his private chambers the whole time katsuki knew him and she can’t prove it was to fuck with her but she absolutely believes it.

shouto’s portraits are far more numerous and fall into 2 main categories which are 1) official portraits, featuring shouto throughout the years and styles with the exact same neutral expression or 2) unofficial portraits, which tend to fall into the romantic category and thus depict her as a sensitive maiden with wistfully languid eyes or blushing demurely at the onlooker. shouto has some strong feelings about painters as a result.

on that note katsuki prefers getting hands-on in fights; todoroki likes them to finish fast, so their choices of weaponry reflect this. yeah they can use their essence but those r less powerful than quirks so often they just go with traditional weaponry also. katsuki is a sword girl bc she likes to get up close and personal when she offs someone and todoroki goes for archery bc she likes being able to dispose of the enemy before they even approach. they both appreciate a good dagger though.

btw the fic should be read as an amv set to get another boyfriend by the backstreet boys but the girls are the ones singing it and midoriya is the hapless protagonist.

[totiredtowrite]

I love how everyones just agreed that daishou is a naga in a fantasy au

Snake

Warnings - cursing, unedited

Note: He could strangle me and I'd apologize. Also tf is his eye colour???

Male Reader - Fem Readers DNI or you're a horrible person who disrespects boundaries of writers :)

You had one job.

All you had to do was pick something up from the market. Your village healer only needed like ten things! Of course you just had to be the nice guy and get it for her.

Still though it was rather rewarding. She was a nice old lady, anyone in the village would do things to help her out. You sighed, furrowing your brows angrily. You should have just let Hanamaki do it. After all, he was the navigator. He'd done it before. He wouldn't get turned around at the simplest fork in the path!

With another heavy sigh, you pulled yourself off of the forest floor. No point in sitting about, right? The place was beautiful, even if it was a little too close to the swamps for your liking.

It's not like the naga and the elves hated each other. No, they were more just...wary. Existing so near to one another made sure that both always knew what the other was up to. You weren't exactly neighbours, (being almost a mile away), but there weren't any other villages in the area. Or, in the snakes case, nests.

Not to mention how the peace treaty kept them at a distance. Most of the younger elves in your village have never seen a Naga. You included. Not that you were that young, though you never had a reason. Training with Oikawa and the rest of the fighters in the village took up most of your time anyway.

Speaking of, you were starting to be thankful that Oikawa makes you train so hard. The walk was starting to near a couple hours.

You rubbed your face. This was bullshit. And how did you even get lost so bad you ended up in the swamps? Well, the outskirts of the swamps, but it still counts. The trees were starting to droop more, vines hanging off of every other one. You stepped in a puddle occasionally, cursing every time you did.

On the bright side, (at least), you knew now to walk in the opposite direction to get home.

You will walk in the opposite direction.

The...opposite...direction.

Or not.

What was the worst that could happen? You were already about two miles away from the market, and there were things in the swamps that you needed. You only had to go a couple yards in, it's not like you were going to wander straight into the heart of the nest.

You drew in a controlled breath. Naga don't typically take strolls along the outside of their nest anyways.

Taking another step in, you started to calm down. The only sounds you could hear were the birds and your own footsteps. The sound every time your boot collided with the ground was rather disgusting, the dampened landscape getting progressively wetter.

You were a couple minutes in, (still not having found the plant you needed), when you heard it.

Even never coming face to face with one, the sound was unmistakable. The only accurate word you could think of was slithering. Like a giant snake making it's way through the swamp.

You froze up instinctively, long, pointed ears twitching to try and catch the sound again. Nothing but your own laboured breathing.

Slowly, after a minute of a whole lot of nothing, your hand creeped towards the dagger in your boot. You knew it was just a supplies run, but better safe than sorry right? Maybe the Naga passed by already.

If you'd turned your head even slightly though, maybe you wouldn't have missed the pair of glowing green eyes watching you.

And maybe you wouldn't be in this position right now.

You couldn't describe how it happened because you weren't even sure how it happened. He moved surprisingly fast for how cumbersome that giant tail must be. Your dagger had clattered to the ground, the murky green blue of his tail coiled around your body.

"Well," his eyes still seemed to glow at you, "What's an elf doing all the way out here?"

You snapped out of your momentary entrancement to actually take in the situation. His eyes, slanted like all Naga, took in every little movement. He actually seemed relatively put together, hair looking tame and neatly parted to one side. His face was rather cut and slim, cheekbones sharp and pronounced. Hell, if he wasn't a Naga he'd still look like a snake.

His tail tightened around you slightly, urging you to answer the question. You sputtered a bit at it. "Well I could ask the same! Your kind don't wander the outskirts like this!" You attempted to sound commanding, hiding the discomfort in your voice.

Luckily he didn't pick up on the fear in your tone, instead giving you a harsh glare and momentarily squeezing you. You let out another harsh breath. "Well at least I'm on my territory."

You were about to retaliate, but you fell short. He was right in a sense. No words were exchanged for a moment. The snake leaned in further narrowing his eyes further, (if that was even possible), and studying your features. "So it's true then?" He finally said something.

You regarded him with confusion.

"About your kind," he poked at the satchel that you'd also dropped. "They're all pretty."

You blanked. You were about to comment on the fact that 'ruggedly handsome' might be a better term, but ultimately decided against it. All elves, regardless of shape or size, gender or skin tone, were ultimately just...better, in a sense. Stronger, faster, they lived longer, and, as he said, prettier.

"Have you never seen an elf before," You sneered instead.

"Have you never seen a Naga?" He shot back quickly, head tilting slightly. Seeming more comfortable, he had a sly smirk on his face.

You didn't respond.

He laughed almost tauntingly. "Dont look so confident elf," he leaned in closer, to the point where you could feel his breath on your lips. "What makes you think I won't wring," you felt his tail shifting, "You," it got tighter, "Dry?"

You attempted to scoff, the sound being cut short at the pressure on your chest. "And-" you took in a breath, "And break the peace treaty? No way," you let out a raspy laugh.

He let something else take up his attention. His hands lifted to your ears, long, slender fingers trailing along them and prodding at the pointed tips. You shuddered. His hands were cold. Unsurprising of course, but still catching you off guard.

"Would you cut that out! Just tell me your name and let me go!" You snapped.

"Someones impatient," he, quite literally, hissed. In all honesty, listening to him speak was somewhat addicting. You'd thought it was just a stereotype, how half snake people always dragged out the 'S' in the words they say. As it turns out you were wrong.

"Okay, let's just keep this civil." You exhaled slowly. "My name is (l/n) (y/n), I'm trying to find something for my village medic. Who are you?"

He eyes you suspiciously before responding. "Daishou. I'm just...patrolling."

You nodded, pushing your arms out slightly. You were still wrapped in his tail.

Sending your discomfort, Daishou loosened his grip. The sound of his tails grip going slack following soon after his realization. You sighed with relief, slumping to the ground as he repositioned himself to face you.

It took you a moment to look up.

"What are you looking at," he hissed at you.

In truth, everything. His scales were brighter than you thought Naga usually were, green blue and muted yellow. "Nothing," you said, mouth still agape.

"Right." He clearly sounded unconvinced, though he decided not to pursue the matter any further.

You had to admit to yourself, he was rather attractive too. He gave you another look at your continued staring. "What were you even here for anyways?" He slithered closer.

"Just- uh," you stuttered slightly. The tail made him look more dangerous than he most likely was. Or not, he might be just as dangerous as you thought. "I...forgot."

He couldn't stay composed, snickering at you.

"What?" You huffed and stood up, pulling your satchel over your shoulder once more.

"Nothing," he chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck, face going red. "Get back safely okay?"

You, confused at his little bout of care, nodded. "Okay."

You turned around, though just before you walked off he stopped you. "Oh, and elf."

You turned once more. "Hm?"

"Try to stay aware next time," he opened your palm and placed your dagger in it, another sly smile making its was onto his face.

"We wouldn't want another snake to catch you."

[elles-writing]

Daughter Moments

Request: Hello! I’ve read your imagines they are sooo good! I was wondering if I can request a Kili x daughter reader? The ploy can be anything you want but the reader has to be kilis daughter pls? Thankyou!!❤️

Requested by @imagines4everyone

A/N: First of all, thank you so much!! I hope you will like it!

Then also...The ending is my favourite.

Triggers: mentions of injuries, scars, angst, feels (if there's any more, let me know please!)

Tags: @guardianofrivendell @dumbassunderthemountain @imagines4everyone

Kili took a deep breath, as he looked over Dale. The town was beautiful, and he was lucky to be able to look at it during sunrise, every day, before he had to get back to his duties.

He felt the soft wind, running through his hair, and sun glittered in his deep brown eyes. He thought of his wife and daughter, and his mouth had soft dreamy smile in second.

When Kili came back to their shared chambers, he noticed Tauriel, gently stroking their ten months old Y/N's cheek.

"How are my two beautiful girls?" He chuckled, and his eyes were soft, as he looked down at his daughter and wife.

"Papa!" Y/N suddenly let out, and Tauriel and Kili looked at each other in shock and surprise. Their daughter just said her first word!

"You did it, Y/N! You did it!" Kili cried out, and started dancing across the room with his daughter in his arms. You giggled, and Tauriel watched the moment with tears in her eyes.

Five years later

"Papa?"

"Hm?"

"What are you doing?" You frowned, when you noticed your father.

Kili was trying to make a surprise for Tauriel - his wife's birthday was a very special day to him, as well as your birthday - and this year, as any other, it was something sweet. Last year he made her a pair of twin daggers and got all her favourite sweets from bakeries around Dale.

This year, he decided to bake a cake.

Needless to say, it was very funny.

To watch, obviously.

You sat up on the chair, and Kili put his hands on his hips. You looked into the bowl, and giggled. You tasted a bit of it, and frowned.

"Uncle Fili said you can't bake, daddy." You shook your head. Kili nervously looked at you.

"What did uncle Fili say?" You looked at your dad, and decided to tell him everything.

"Well, Uncle Fili said you cannot bake, and that you only eat in the kitchen, and he was right," you said. Kili looked at the light-coloured dough.

"It is salty," you said, and Kili's eyes widened. He slapped his forehead.

"I really switched sugar and salt," Kili sat down to the table, and put his chin on his hands. You wanted to say something, but you noticed his eyes were filling with tears. You jumped off of the chair, and walked to him.

"Why are you crying, daddy?"

"I'm not crying," he said, and got up.

"Can I help you?" You gave him your best puppy-eye look, and Kili sighed.

You just had to get this from him.

"Okay."

When you finally finished the cake, the sun was rising, but you and Kili fell asleep, sitting by the table.

The finished cake was, however, worth it.

Twelve years later

"What did you say?" Kili frowned at you. You shrugged.

"What do you mean?" Kili's usually kind brown eyes had a spark of anger in them.

"That I don't care about you."

"Oh, this. Well, because it's true! You literally make any guy run away from me, and then you make me stay inside! How am I supposed to get to know at least one?"

"You have still enough time for boys." Your father shook his head, as if he tried to get out the idea of dating out as quickly as he could.

"Fine. But if anyone asks, it's your fault," you said half-upset, half-joking.

You almost opened the door, when you heard your father speak.

"You know I want you to have someone who truly loves you," you turned around.

"I...I, um..." Kili deeply sighed. He felt a bit of guilt about the misunderstanding.

"Sit down, please." You did as he said, and he gently took your hands to his.

"When I met your mother, I knew she was...the One. My One. I fell for her even more, when we talked for the first time. And a few years later, there was also you. I was holding you after you were born, and I promised I will make sure you will have the same kind of love, the person you will roll your eyes at, but know you wouldn't want them any other way."

"Dad, I-"

"I didn't mean to upset you. I'm just worried about you and want the best for you, but...the problem is, that in my eyes, nobody is good enough for you. I know you think it's the other way, but, it isn't. At least to me." You felt tears in your eyes.

"What do you think...mom would say?" You quietly whispered, as you felt tears in your eyes. He took a deep breath, probably to try to stop tears, too.

"Your mother would...secretly agree with me, but let you...let you go on an adventure, as long as you promise you are safe." Kili blinked to stop a tear, and sadly chuckled.

"You never know who you meet on an adventure."

You took his hands into yours, and gave him sad smile.

"She is alive. Trying to find her way back, from the orcs. Mom is a fighter."

"I believe too," he said, and looked outside. The sun slid across his face, and made his eyes spark, and showed you the way they used to shine when your mother was still there.

It's been a few months since you and your father talked, and you were on a ride from Hobbition. You liked to visit Bilbo and Frodo, and, as always, told each other news. When you almost got to Rivendell, you noticed someone lying down - with red hair. You stopped your horse, and jumped off of it.

You felt a rush of shock, when you realized who it was. She was full of cuts, but breathing.

You got to Rivendell safely, and when Lindir saw you, you let out just a whisper.

"Help her,"

You had no idea how did you end up in the working space of lord Elrond.

But, having soft blanket over your shoulders and sipping warm tea, after the shock, you wouldn't complain.

"Can I see her?" You whispered. Lord Elrond talked to a healer, and both of them looked at you.

"Your mother is asleep now," the healer carefully said. You nodded.

"Is she-"

"She is alive. We cleaned her injuries, and luckily, they were not even infected yet. You found her just in the right moment." You let out a breath. It felt like a huge weight fell off of your shoulders.

"Get some rest, princess Y/N. It will be good." The healer said, and helped you to get to other chambers, you guessed for guests. You laid down to bed, and fell asleep. You didn't even notice the healer turned around in the door, and slightly bowed, before he walked away.

You woke up into bright sunlight. You realized it was afternoon, and when you properly woke up, you found out you slept almost whole day and night.

When you took a bath and changed into light dress, you decided to go ask healer how was your mother doing.

You carefully knocked on the door. Someone slowly opened the door, and you realized it was the healer you already knew. After a short talk, he told you to get some rest. You decided to listen to him.

You didn't expect to fall asleep next to the bushes of lavender in Rivendell gardens, but the sweet, calming scent was strong.

You woke up with slight headache, and sat aside from the plants. You watched the sunset, and yawned. You also realized you haven't eaten whole day, and looked around for some fruit. You got up, and soon you found a few servants, who were actually looking for you, and as they mentioned dinner, you had no more questions.

At the dinner, you noticed the male healer you met earlier. You blushed when he noticed you looking at him, but he didn't do anything. Later, he catched your eyes again, and send you a tiny smile. You felt yourself smile as well.

After the dinner, Lindir walked you to your chambers. You took a bath, and when you got dressed, you opened your window and put a pillow and a blanket on the floor, to continue watching the sunset, and look at the stars. The sky was bright, and the fresh air made you feel lot better.

You got back to bed, but left the window open.

Your felt familiar smell, as you woke up. For a moment, you were five again, in your chambers in Erebor, and it was your birthday. Only other thing was the itchy feeling on your arms and legs.

Damn mosquitos.

"Mum?"

"I didn't mean to wake you, wildflower," you gasped and sat up, wide awake.

It was really her. Your mother, her red hair shining in the morning sun, looking at you.

Her face was full of cuts,which were in process of healing, and fading scars. Her hair was literally chopped off, now down to her chin.

Her green eyes were, however, full of motherly love. Just as you always knew them.

"This-this is a dream!" You let out a cry. She hug you tightly, and let out a cry too.

"I'm so glad you're safe..."

"What happened to you?" You whispered, as your arms tightened around her, afraid of it being just a dream.

"The orcs prisoned me, I tried to escape, but I was weak and didn't have any weapons. This time, I was finally lucky," she whispered, as she brushed your hair by her fingers.

"I'm here, Y/N. I promise it isn't a dream. I was fighting to run away every single day, and nothing could keep me away from you anymore."

Later that day, you sat down, to write a letter to Erebor.

Dear father,

I had to stay in Rivendell for longer, but, as you will find out - it was worth it...

Two years later

"Kili," Tauriel frowned at her husband. Kili looked at his wife with raised eyebrow.

"It's a boy, Tauriel!"

"And?"

"She's my little girl! She was born like...yesterday," Kili wiped off a tear from the corner of his eye.

"Well, our little girl is having a lovely partner. You will like him." Kili's eyes widened, and Tauriel tried not to laugh.

"You already met him? And didn't tell me?!"

"Well..." Tauriel would roll her eyes. Her husband was literally freaking out.

She didn't have the heart to tell him the reason you went to Rivendell or Mirkwood was because of your love, not because of political...anything.

Before she answered, you walked in, nervously smiling at both of them.

"I have, um...someone I want to introduce to you," you said. Your mother nodded at you with smile, and you sighed and patted your father's shoulder.

"It's fine, dad." You opened the door, and 'the elven healer from Rivendell', as you knew him two years ago, walked in.

"Mum, dad...this is, um, my boyfr-"

"Nice to meet you," Tauriel said, but looked at her husband by the corner of her eye.

"So...you are the elf my daughter is courting," Kili said, and you looked at your boyfriend. Him and your father were watching each other, and you gently took your lover's hand into yours, worried they might start fighting. Until...

They both broke a smile.

"Nice to meet you, Prince Kili. Y/N has told me a lot of good things about you."

"Y/N, would you come and prepare some tea with me?" Your mother asked you, and you both got out of the room.

You listened their conversation, talking about your meeting, and, your dad's, and your lover's, favourite - archery.

"I can't believe it!" You said, whispering.

"I know," your mother tried to hold in laugh.

"They literally-"

"Yes. Seems like they go along well."

"Now my dad will spend more time with my lover than I do," you pretend to be dramatic, but secretly you thought if it wouldn't be better if they didn't like each other.

You walked back in the room, with cups with steaming tea.

"Don't worry. Both of them know who are the best archers in the family," Your mother gave you a smile, and you proudly nodded, as you placed the cups down on table.

"That's not true, I always let you win!" They said at the same time, and you and your mother shared a look.

Later that day, you were with your father in the gardens. He was enjoying the quiet evening, and you were reading.

"Dad?"

"Hm?"

"You know...you said, about boys...that nobody would be good enough for me. In your eyes."

"Yeah." He nodded, and turned towards you.

"So, um...what do you think, now when you met my boyfriend?" You nervously waited for his answer.

"I think...I would never expect to say this, but...I approve him." You let out a laugh.

"Just because you're both good at archery?" He rolled his eyes.

"I wanted to say he seems to be very nice, but that too. We gotta keep the skill in family, don't we?" You shook your head and snorted with laugh.

"As well as recognizing elf men and elf maids." You started laughing when you noticed your father's wide eyes and flushed cheeks under his beard.

"Who told you that story?"

"Well...Uncle Fili has told me many interesting stories from your adventures," you said. Your father quickly stood up.

"Uncle Fili will quickly be reminded of what does it feels like to have younger brother," Your father muttered, as he walked inside the castle.

[oyapluto]

she’s mine

ᴘʀᴏᴍᴘᴛ: ᴡʜᴇɴ sᴏᴍᴇ ʙᴏʏs ғʀᴏᴍ ᴀɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴠᴏʟʟᴇʏʙᴀʟʟ ᴛᴇᴀᴍ ᴡᴏɴ'ᴛ ʟᴇᴀᴠᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʟᴏɴᴇ ʏᴏᴜ'ʀᴇ ʟᴇғᴛ ᴡɪᴛʜ ɴᴏ ᴄʜᴏɪᴄᴇ ʙᴜᴛ ᴛᴏ ɢᴏ ᴛᴏ ᴛsᴜᴋɪsʜɪᴍᴀ ᴀs ʏᴏᴜʀ ʟᴀsᴛ ʀᴇsᴏʀᴛ.

ᴘᴀɪʀɪɴɢ: ᴛsᴜᴋɪsʜɪᴍᴀ x ғᴇᴍ!ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ

ᴀ/ɴ: ᴛʜɪs ɪs ʙᴀsɪᴄᴀʟʟʏ ᴋɪɴᴅ ᴏғ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ sᴄᴇɴᴇ ɪɴ sᴇᴀsᴏɴ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ʜɪɴᴀᴛᴀ ɪs ᴛʀʏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴘʀᴏᴛᴇᴄᴛ ᴋɪʏᴏᴋᴏ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴛᴇʀᴜsʜɪᴍᴀ ! ɪ ᴡᴀs ᴏʙᴠɪᴏᴜsʟʏ ɪɴsᴘɪʀᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ sᴄᴇɴᴇ ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴡʀɪᴛɪɴɢ ᴛʜɪs ʙᴜᴛ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ᴅɪғғᴇʀᴇɴᴛ ᴘʟᴏᴛ. 

Before boarding the bus, Tsukishima rummaged through his bag absentmindedly for his water bottle. His hands continued to roam for seconds too long, unable to brush against the familiar metal. Annoyed, he peeked inside, noticing what he was searching for was in fact missing. He stopped in his tracks, with Yamaguchi following suite with a look of confusion painted on his face. 

“I left something in the gym. I’ll be right back,” Tsukishima muttered flatly. 

As he walked up the stairs his mind played back the events of the evening, trying to recall when he had misplaced the water bottle. The last time he had it was after the match, refilling it near the water fountain. Assuming he left it there when he had used the bathroom right after, he made his way back towards that area. 

Upon arrival, the water bottle was no where in sight. Tsukishima stood for a moment, irritation slowly bubbling underneath him wondering where it could possibly be. 

His thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a familiar voice: 

“Hey babe!” 

Tsukishima turned around visibly confused seeing you walk towards him. His head immediately registered the voice as yours, the assistant manager for the volleyball club, but he wasn’t aware of any significant other you could possibly have that would be in this gym at this very moment. 

You smiled at him, picking up your pace. 

“I’ve been looking all over for you!” 

Tsukishima’s brows furrowed together lightly, and he had half the mind to laugh in your face. Did you hit your head or something? His mouth was instinctively getting ready to remark some insult to tease you.

Though on the inside Tsukishima tried to ignore the butterflies in his stomach. Why did that nickname roll so easily off your tongue like that? The other half of his mind wanted to tell you to say it to him again. 

Once you had gotten close enough for Tsukishima to see your features clearly. His face dropped.

Why did you look so...scared? 

Once more a voice interjected. Different this time.

“C’mon baby don’t be like that! Just give me your number.”

Tsukishima peered behind you, noticing another boy in a yellow uniform approaching with a sly grin on his face. Tsukishima’s eyes flickered to you again, and he could see the desperation in your face. 

Normally you were able to stand your own ground. It was one of the things that Tsukishima liked about you, though he’s never admitted it. Despite that, the guy before him looked persistent, and probably stronger and faster than you too. Tsukishima almost felt...angry. Who could reduce you to such a state? He looks to you one more time, watching as you mouth ‘please’ to him. He softens. 

“I think she’s made it very clear she doesn’t want to give you her number. Or are you too stupid to understand that?” Tsukishima asks, tilting his head to the side. 

The boy with the bleached blonde hair pauses, diminishing his demeanor from one of false kindness to genuine revolt and confusion

“And who the fuck are you?”  

“Her boyfriend, actually.” 

You look up at Tsukishima, trying to hide your surprise. You hadn’t expected him to play a long. If you didn’t know him, you’d think that Tsukishima was being serious right now. There was no trace of detest, or hints that he could be lying. 

You let out a breath you had been holding for far too long and grabbed onto his arm. His body stiffened, just briefly, not used to such soft gestures from you. Though he relaxed into it just as fast, again not appearing as though the relationship you had fabricated was false. 

The boy who had introduced himself as “Terushima” just a few moments earlier had his eyes narrowed suspiciously. He glanced back and forth between the two, still not entirely convinced.

“You didn’t say you had a boyfriend, beautiful,” Terushima remarked. 

Tsukishima had already begun to spoke before you could even get out an explanation. 

“Well normally shitty guys leave her alone when she says no the first time.” 

You couldn’t help but laugh a little, burying your face into Tsukishima’s arm. He’s trying hard to stop himself from blushing, currently in a stare down with what seems to be the captain of another volleyball team. 

Irritation wipes Terushima’s face, but he joins in on the laughter to your dismay. 

“That’s bullshit,” he bites, “There’s no way a pretty little thing like her would be with someone like you.” 

His words sting, because they were true. 

Tsukishima knew he was never good enough to be with you. It’s the sole reason why he had never decided to pursue anything with you to begin with. Even indulging in this scheme felt wrong to him, considering how he felt about you. Of course he was doing it to help you out, despite his height he’s never been much of a fighter, though he couldn’t deny the warmth he was feeling with his calloused hands interlocked with yours. 

You raise your head, catching Tsukishima off guard. 

“Tsukki is a better man than you’ll ever be. I’d choose him over you a million times over.” You spouted. 

Tsukishima blinked. Had you always been so good at lying? He hated how genuine that sounded. Pride swelled inside of him nonetheless. 

“You are so lame,” Tsukishima added on, clearly putting salt to Terushima’s wound, “Going after a girl who’s clearly taken. Didn’t you get the hint? Or do I have to spell it out for you: she’s mine. Get lost.” 

As if to seal the deal Tsukki cupped your face with his free hand, trailing his wrapped finger to lift your chin to face him, earning a soft gasp from you. Your own free hand naturally floated to his chest.

Your eyes fluttered close, thinking that this wasn’t exactly how you imagined your first kiss with Tsukishima, but you weren’t necessarily complaining. You could feel his cool breath on your lips until—

“Ugh,” Terushima relents “I get it, you don’t have to rub it in my fucking face.” He rolls his eyes, storming off in embarrassment. 

Opening your eyes, you were met with Tsukki’s gold ones. They were widened slightly, as if he was surprised himself. Your faces were quite literally an inch a part, and you broke away from each other immediately. 

Letting out a dry laugh, you looked off to the side, praying Tsukishima wouldn’t notice how your face flushed. 

Unbeknownst to you, he was doing the same. 

“T- thank you, Tsukishima,” you manage to get out, “I really didn’t want to bother you, but he just wouldn’t leave me alone no matter what I said.” 

“It’s okay,” he replies as cool as he can manage whilst trying to slow down his heart beat. “I’m glad you found me.” 

“I’m glad I found you too,” you answered honestly. 

As the two of you walked back to the bus together, there was still some awkwardness that lingered in the air. You shifted the weight in your heels, not knowing what to say next. 

Tsukishima spoke up first, “What were you still doing there anyway? Shouldn’t you be back at the bus?” 

“Oh! Right!,” you blurted out, using one hand to swing your half-opened bag to the front. “You forgot this!” 

Tsukishima stared blankly at you. 

You were holding his water bottle. 

It was Tsukishima’s turn to laugh now, pushing up his glasses with his fingers. 

“Idiot.” Tsukishima muttered, but he couldn’t help but smile. “You went through all this trouble to get my water bottle for me?” 

You pouted, reminding yourself of Tsukishima’s true nature. 

“Yeah well, you would’ve been extremely salty for the rest of the ride home if we left it. It drives the team insane when you get like that ” 

“And here I thought you actually liked me, Y/N.” Tsukishima teased, but rather than being condescending like he intended it gave off a flirtatious tone instead, to the surprise of you both. 

Before you could give an answer, the honest answer you had decided, yet another booming voice cut through the conversation.

“WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU TWO BEEN?” Daichi yelled, diverting your attention. 

Simultaneously your heads whipped to the captain, expecting to be met with a mix of anger and disappointment. Instead he was frozen in place, as was the entirety of the Karasuno volleyball team, mouths agape as if there was some kind of spectacle before them. 

Tsukishima’s cold exterior resurfaced, “Why do you idiots look like you’ve seen a ghost?” 

Sugawara sputtered, but it was ultimately Tanaka that broke, “Woah-hoooo way to go Tsukishimaaaa! I didn’t think you had it in you!”  

“Yeah dude no fair! We had no idea!” Nishinoya exclaimed. 

Neither of you two still had the faintest idea what was going on, but when you looked down, realization finally dawned on you. 

“Tsukki,” you whispered. 

“Hm?” He replied, clearly disliking being the butt of the conversation and not understanding it. 

You nudged him to fully grab his attention, he finally looked to you, and followed your gaze. 

The two of you were still holding hands.

[phoenixyfriend]

More "de-aged Taka and T7 end up in the Warring Clans Era as Founders' wards" AU

“That’s a thing?” you ask. The answer is yes.

Uh. Kind of. Deaging Team Seven for the sake of tossing them back in time for a Founder to adopt is pretty common, but I’m trash for Taka so this AU started with me brainstorming the asshole team.

I am falling more and more in love with the idea of Tobirama ending up with custody of Team Taka somehow. He’s a science dad, but like. Marginally more ethical than Orochimaru.

Everyone around them is like "This is a terrible idea and it's all going to end horribly" and he's just like "Ah, these are now my children."

I've read so many "Team Seven time-travels and is de-aged, get adopted by the Founders" or "a Founder time-travels forward and adopts Naruto, subsequently picking up the others" and they're good but I now want the same plot with an even more dysfunctional collection of... eldritch mishaps? The AO3 feel of "I want this fic I just read, again, but a step to the left so it feels fresh and new"

I'm considering the tent of tranquility idea (courtesy of @sloaners​) and I've come to the decision that Tobirama's... probably going to end up with Several Holes in it, and burns, and cuts, because Karin and Suigetsu never stop fighting, and if they're fighting, they're not paying attention to how soon Juugo's going to lose his grip on control.

"Hm. Tobirama?" "Anija." "Where did you get children?" "They showed up." "One of them looks like an Uchiha." "He does." "Two of them are trying to kill each other." "That's normal." "Are the Uchiha going to accuse us of stealing a clan child?" "Probably." "...Tobirama, did you steal these children?" "No."

(It's not kidnapping if they show up and break into your house first.)

(Also none of them are particularly pressed to ditch the Senju and find their clans. Maybe eventually. Not now.)

They’re assholes but Karin is, even at Supposedly Age Three, babbling at Tobirama about proper lab protocol and chemical reactions and isn’t that just the most adorable thing?

Very few people find Karin as adorable as Tobirama does, because Karin knows more ways to kill a person than most adult shinobi, because most adult shinobi don’t know about things like flesh-eating diseases and specialty poisons from the other side of the continent that can only be refined via chemical processes that won’t exist for another three decades.

Juugo is a sweetheart. Best child. Then he loses his mind but it’s okay, Sasuke is there. Do the Senju trust the clearly-Uchiha child to control the much larger five-year-old? No. But they don’t have any better ideas right now, so.

Tobirama: Hm, we should do something about that. Karin: Here’s a list of ideas and things that have already been tried. Tobirama: Thank you, small child. Where did you get this? Karin: ... Tobirama: Fair enough, let’s see what we can do.

Suigetsu is a little terror because not only is he a Massive Jerk but he also has better control over water than most adults. Mostly because he is water. It’s very hard to find him when he’s avoiding chores.

Karin clings to Mito sometimes because Family! and then Hashirama tries to tease Tobirama about being upset that one of his students/children has ditched him. Hashirama ends up moping in a corner because Tobirama snaps at him, unsurprisingly.

IDK if we have like any canon for Touka beyond skill with genjutsu, but going off of the fanon that she used a naginata, I’m going to say that Suigetsu keeps trying to challenge her to Blade Fights and she’s just like Neat, A Tiny Murder Machine.

Sasuke is very quiet for the most part and Dramatically Broods On Rooftops And In Trees and Hashirama is just like YES YOU REMIND ME OF MY BROTHER AND ALSO MY BEST FRIEND and Sasuke hides.

Sasuke does not need another Naruto, thank you.

Sasuke ends up hanging out with Mito, I think? Like yeah, sure, she’s an Uzumaki, but she’s chill and refined and calm and she has really good tea in stock. Sure he has to learn fuuinjutsu to have an excuse to hang out with her, but that’s fine. It’s interesting. Karin does it too, sometimes.

tbh that probably leaves Hashirama to hang out with Juugo? Juugo isn’t great at Excite but he is great at nature so I feel like Hashirama would be stars-in-eyes about Juugo talking to birds the way Hashirama talks to trees, and Hashirama just gets him a chicken coop like HERE. FRIENDS.

But back to the suspected child theft.

Hashirama is like “That is... clearly an Uchiha. They are going to find out, Tobirama! Someone is going to figure out we have--” “Sasuke, show him your other eye. Yeah, the one you cover.” “...” “Okay, go back to playing.” “...Tobirama.” “Yeah?” “That was a Rinnegan.” “You know those rumors that the only way to get a Rinnegan is to mix the Uchiha and Senju bloodlines?” “It’s true?” “No idea, Sasuke won’t tell me anything about his parents other than their names, and he’s three, but even the chance of it being true means we have an arguable claim.” “...that’s not going to be enough to convince the Uchiha.” “The theory is but one weapon of many in the upcoming battle of wits.” “Tobirama--” “Now if you’ll excuse me, Anija, I need to go make sure Suigetsu doesn’t flood the training grounds again.”

tbh I can’t remember who made the original comment in canon about the Rinnegan being achieved via Senju/Uchiha babies but it’s funny to use here so I’ll pretend it’s a common rumor that nobody actually believes

MEANWHILE WITH THE UCHIHA Madara found and took custody of Team Seven and company, mostly because they’re like... jounin-level despite being less than three feet tall.

It involves a lot of Madara going "I want My New Children to love me!" and being sorely disappointed by half of them. Poor fucker got stuck with Naruto, Sakura, Sai, Kakashi, Yamato, and Obito.

(KakaYamaObito are deaged by the time-travel to 10-13ish. The kids are deaged to 3-4. Everyone has memories to just after the fourth war or so.)

Karin sensed T7 and tagalong pretty much the second they popped out of Kamui, and told Sasuke, but he correctly guessed that Naruto would hunt him down eventually, and said they should enjoy the peace and quiet while they had it.

Sai pulls emotionless creepy smiles in an attempt to freak out Madara but since Madara's whole thing initially was "less children in war," he's... mostly just sad. Izuna wants to know who made his brother cry.

Madara makes a vaguely misogynistic comment that's typical for the period and Sakura just. Breaks his tibia.

Naruto is genuinely trying to treat Madara with the kind of respect a caretaker that Attempts To Care And Do Good By Them deserves, because Naruto is a good egg, but he's... three again. Which means he's a Hellion.

The literal toddlers (Naruto and Sakura are three-ish, Sai is four-ish) are, in fact, toddlers, so nobody really expects them to be able to do anything. Nobody bothers to test them beyond the basics of like. Can walk? Can talk? Can maybe hold knife? Like don’t get me wrong, they’re very competent toddlers, but their hands can barely wrap around a kunai. Their bodies are tiny. Their bones only just stopped being soft!

That said, the “tweens” (re: adults who got deaged but Less) have to get tested for their skills. Kakashi downplays himself to what he imagines a semi-competent eleven-year-old to be capable of. He thinks of, like, Neji maybe? Good, but not suspiciously good.

Obito enters an intangible state and refuses to participate. He has a Mangekyo. His body is half-Zetsu. Stop bothering him. He doesn’t want to do anything. They assign him babysitting duty for Team Seven since he can obviously defend pretty well, and Kakashi vouches for his abilities as a fighter.

Yamato decides to try to be just a little worse than Kakashi but at one point he panics and does Mokuton on instinct and now the entire Uchiha compound is screeching because did they just steal a Main Family Senju kid by accident?

Yamato: Should I tell them I was a science experiment? Kakashi: No.

Pranks galore! None of the other time-travelers even try to stop Naruto, except maybe Yamato.

Obito at the Uchiha compound is mostly "I don't want to participate" and then just uses Kamui to be intangible until people leave him alone. If it's not another time-traveler or Madara, he's not interested. He doesn't even care that much about Sai or Yamato, actually, so if it's not an original T7 member, he doesn't care, and if it's Madara, he's just here to make things Difficult.

The Kyuubi wanders up to the Uchiha compound one day and everyone's preparing for a battle, even Madara isn't confident that he can-- [BANG] "KURAMA!" [delighted squealing]

Naruto now has a pet. The entire clan is terrified. Kurama pokes his nose at Naruto's stomach and disappears into the memory of a seal.

Madara, frantically writing a letter to Hashirama "What do I do if my toddler is possessed?!?"

Hashirama: You have a toddler?!?!?! OMG you should organize playdates with Tobirama's kids! Madara: I'M GOING TO QUESTION THAT LATER, PLEASE HELP WITH THE POSSESSION THING

Kurama hunts down Naruto, and the Jinchuuriki situation is very much in the realm of "Dis Mine" Also a bit of "If I'm in the brat, there's at least one Mangekyo user in hearing distance who can and will risk his life to prevent brainwashing. (Kakashi. It’s Kakashi.)

Naruto: Kurama's one of my best friends! Every time traveler: Yeah, that tracks. Madara: [teakettle screeching]

Per @firebirdeternal​: I'm just loving the visual of Giant Nightmare Terror Kurama kneeling down and pressing his nose to Naruto's Smol Chubby Toddler self and closing his eyes while Naruto pets him and giggles and every single battle-ready Uchiha is just. "wat"

Everybody else: Cool so Madara adopted a witch Uchiha Elders: We need to be careful of this horrible creature The younger generation of Uchiha: Okay that was weirdly serene and adorable and frankly the brat is really likeable when he's not being adhd as hell I think this is actually pretty dope.

Madara really wants to be a Good Dad but he has no idea how he ended up being "a dad" in the first place. He just! He cares a lot about this random assortment of kids! Some of them are from prominent clans and there should be search parties for the Senju kid with the Mokuton, or the Hatake brat, or the Uzumaki that doesn't look Uzumaki but definitely feels Uzumaki.... and SURE the only Uchiha of the bunch is a stranger who hates him for no reason Madara can come up with, but! He wants to be a good authority figure!

At least the Uzumaki appreciates that he's trying.

Seriously, though, there are clan kids and nobody’s looking for them, what’s up with that?

Kakashi still has a prize copy of Icha Icha and nobody in the Uchiha compound does a thorough check of his reading material until like three months in.

He is blamed for Naruto developing the Oiroke, because where ELSE would a toddler get such ideas? (Yamato and Obito both tell him he brought this on himself.)

Naruto waits until a Big Important Meeting lets out, something about tithes or a merchant contract, and just pulls a Harem no Jutsu in front of the entire group of Elders And Main Family. First he does a Mass Shadow Clone, which makes everyone turn on Sharingan because Fancy New Techniques to steal! Sure, they were late on the shadow clones, but the kid is clearly gearing up for something! The something is Oiroke.

Anime Nosebleeds everywhere. Most of the elders were hit. Izuna was hit. Madara is not bleeding from the nose, but he is very upset about having semi-accidentally sharingan-memorized his weird adoptee’s Sexy Older Female Alter Ego. There is yelling.

Naruto’s like “Oh, I missed some!” and decides to try again with Reverse Harem no Jutsu because there are old ladies among the Elders, and maybe some straight women representing a guild, and maybe some gay guys he missed! Madara is still not bleeding. (He’s very demi and tbh Naruto only would have succeeded if he’d tried to use Hashirama’s face. Naruto does not know this. He just figures Madara is ace like Sasuke and that no variant is going to work.)

Izuna gets another nosebleed and is just like “Well, this is not how I planned on coming out as bi, but--” “Izuna, I literally do not care about you being bi as long as one of us has an heir at some point, I’m more upset about the fact that my child has been corrupted!”

Back in the Senju compound, there is... a lot of screaming, honestly, but every time Karin and Suigetsu start trying to kill each other again, Tobirama just shrugs and tells them not to break anything.

Very easy-going caretaker, really. He's got some very deadly toddlers in hand, but they're still just toddlers.

Sasuke: Yeah, I might want to go see my clan at some point. Suigetsu: Yeah, I might want to go see my clan at some point. Karin, clinging to Mito: Yeah, I want to go see my clan at some point. Juugo: Please never, ever take me to my clan. Ever. Please. I'll stay with Sasuke, thank you.

Naruto breaks out of the Uchiha compound the first time he enters Sage Mode, several months in (it took a while to get the privacy) because he feels Sasuke and lbr if Naruto knows where Sasuke is, nothing will stop him.

The Uchiha clansmen cannot catch the errant toddler. They fail to inform Madara until Naruto is already in Senju territory because nobody wanted to admit the toddler outmaneuvered them.

Naruto wasn’t sure how to get into the Senju Compound safely so he just goes full Kyuubi, bounds over the wall screaming SASUKEEEEE at the top of his lungs, and then shrinks back down to Tiny Brat size so he could hug his Bestest Friend Ever and cling like a limpet while Sasuke just sighs and stares at the wall.

Sakura ran after him.

Sai painted a bird and Yamato dragged Kakashi onto it to chase Naruto, because Kakashi is at a point of zen regarding Naruto's bullshit and fully trusts the kid to not die.

Obito refuses to look up from whatever he's doing and asks people why they think he cares.

“We told you to look after the toddlers!” “Why would you do that? Seems like poor planning on your part.”

Disappears when nobody's looking. Waits until the Ruckus at the Senju compound (where T7 has crashed in to tackle-hug Sasuke and Madara followed in and proceeded to get shouty, and nobody's dead or battling because they're too confused and also it's a comedy) has started to calm down, and then teleports in and demonstrates Mokuton just to make Madara's life harder when the Senju Elders start demanding answers.

His energy is very "I am here to make Madara's life harder" and Madara still doesn't know what he did wrong.

Madara: That brat has a Sharingan! Tobirama: Well THAT one has Mokuton! Obito: Yamato has it too. [angry teakettle noises]

Madara's first response to seeing Sasuke is to turn to Izuna and point aggressively at the toddler while making a tea-kettle noise "He looks just like you!" "He's four, he barely looks like anything!"

Naruto, tugging at Madara's hakama: You need to make a village with Hashirama so I can see Sasuke more often, cuz I don't wanna ditch you guys, but I gotta see Sasuke! He's my best friend! Madara, who is aware that he could fight this child but really doesn't want to, and also knows that a tantrum thrown by Naruto or Sasuke is capable of leveling mountains: Right, yes, we'll get right on that.

tbh Madara wants the village anyway but "The bijuu-whisperer said he wants it to happen" is a great way to push things forward.

[artofmissdemeanor]

This is fun let’s see here are my predictions!

Ashley Johnson: My prediction for class is Paladin. She likes to do the big damage and her character choices had all a divine touch. Oath of the Ancients/Glory with the moon weaver beeing her patron as a sort of blade dancer kind of deal. This would be a great node to Molly and it leans into her chaotic side. Also want to see high charisma Ashley so bad. Second guess College of Swords Bard. For Race: Half Elf or Changeling would be nice. Especially Changeling for the Dramatic Backstory (True Form) Reveal would be extra spicy.

Laura Bailey: everybody is going for either Rouge or Warlock for her because it was what she wanted the last two campaigns but what if she wants something new for third one. Laura likes big damage and creativ spell use. Also a all charisma Laura Bailey would kill us in the best way. Sorcerer is my pic. Shadow Sorcerer because of the dog that comes with it. For Race: Elf. Specifically Drow or Eladrin.

Travis Willingham : I want to see Travis as a full spellcaster like everybody else but he likes to fight and his fancy swords so I say bladesinger wizard. High Intelligence Travis. Fancy Sword stuff. His „I cast fist“ was prophetic. Let’s do it. For Race: firbolg? Aasimar? Something Big right? Oh no sweet summer child, it will be shifter for werewolve powers!

Liam O‘Brien : Please let it be Bard... just please? College of Eloquence Shakesperean Bard. Please. But he also wanted to be like normal dude for next campaign so I am torn between happy Bard or just fighter. For Race: Tabaxi would be so funny with Bard especially with a cats singing but Liam said he likes to be able to cosplay his characters so I would go for something more humanish,like genasi or Tiefling. My money is on Tiefling.

Sam Riegel : So Liam chose for Sam already so here is my guess on how the conversation went. Liam: „ You know what? You are giving Laura so much shit because of her healing try be a cleric next time.“ Sam: „Ok, ok, and what I should I be for race?“ L: „ Hm how about something really goofy. Aaracroka.“ so basically Tempest Domain aracroka named Thunder bird.

Marisha Ray: In the Mid Campaign Wrap up she let peak through that she was thinking playing a half orc for race. Which leaves one question. How does that tie in Avatar? My idea is a hot asami style half orc Artificer Armorer. Armorer has the lightning glove and she can be cool and sexy and honestly that’s what Marisha deserves.

Taliesin Jaffe: Give me close combat Taliesin. Taliesin made a few back up character in case cad died and because cads nr 1. reason for death was a irresponsible Rogue e I think maybe one of them was also a Rogue just to piss of Sam. And I think he would be the most responsible kind of Rouge which leads me to investigator as subclass but for close combat swashbuckler would be the best. But Taliesin also goes for something new so it’s either unannounced Matt Homebrew or Soulknifr. For Race: either Drow for just the best dark vision or rabbitfolk for the new... just imagine a rabbit folk rogue. With Darkvision goggles. Love them.

[msmarvelwrites]

Vienna Waits

Summary: The reader has a hard time around the holidays because it brings up a lot of unhappy memories. Bucky knows trauma all too well and he’s always there to lend some Christmas cheer. 

Pairing: Bucky x reader

Warnings: mentions/flashbacks of assult, ptsd, 18+, swearing, but truly a fluff piece...

Word Count: 2.5k

Authors Note: Hi again! It’s ya girl, back at it again with the plot all to based on her own predicaments. Please read the warnings because the last thing I’d ever want to do is trigger anyone- but at it’s core I wrote this as an aid. Like My Girl, this was written to bring us together, because we are so much stronger that way! This is also my first submission to the Merry Hoemas Challange, so with that please enjoy! Sending love and light to all you beautiful holiday babies.

Thank you to @amythedvdhoarder  @chrissquares @drabblewithfrannybarnes @pumpkin-and-pine and @starlightcrystalline for hosting this holiday challange!

It was, of course, the most wonderful time of year. Christmas Eve at the Avengers Compound. 

The snow cascading from the dark sky acted as a sheet of white as you nervously sipped on your tea, checking the time once again. Your best friend was supposed to be back from his solo mission hours ago, and yet here you were, alone and completely overwhelmed. 

He was always better at these things. Always knowing how to avoid the holiday slump with ease. Bucky was who you turned to when you needed a quick coping mechanism. 

Christmas with the world's mightiest heroes had its perks for sure, but this was certainly not one of them. The joyous holiday music echoing through the Avenger hq living room was doing nothing to settle your nerves. In fact, quite the opposite. It lingered around you, pulling memories you buried deep down in the back of your mind. 

“I really think it’s better if I just head home… It’s getting really bad out there and…”

His lips cut you off, lazily trailing down your neck as the taste of bile rose into your throat. He was just drunk, you thought. So were you. You had given him the wrong idea. If you just explained you didn't want him to touch you… 

He would understand, you thought… You really did. 

“Honey, I’m home” Bucky called, cackling to himself as he shook off the snow caked to his winter coat. His voice shot you back into the dimly lit living room you now resided. 

You lunged from the recliner, spinning around the corner to find Bucky, hands full of gift bags and a candy cane dangling out of his mouth as a goofy grin tugged at the corner of his lips. 

“Where the hell have you been?” You tried to sound angry, but he was just so damn cute.

“Okay, first of all, you're welcome.” He scoffed sarcastically, gesturing to the gift bags as he placed them on the floor. “And second, you're the one who sent me out in the middle of a snowstorm for last minute christmas presents… So, you get what you get.” He chuckled. 

“No, no, I appreciate you- it… I appreciate it so much Buck.” You stumbled, though you didn't let the blush creep onto your cheeks before you spoke again, “You know how I get this time of year.” You sighed, crossing the room to help him with his bags of gifts. It wasn't lost on Bucky that the holiday season was difficult for a lot of the team, including yourself. Though he didn’t know everything about your past and how it brought you here, to the team, and one of the most ruthless fighters the Avengers had ever seen, he did know it was rough and dark and definitely off limits to talk about. Bucky didn't mind, however. As long as he had you by his side. 

“Ya know, if you help me wrap these gifts there might be a Christmas movie marathon in your future.” He wiggled his brows causing you to laugh. 

“That really sounds like a lose-lose on my end here, Buck.” you giggled.

“Are you by any chance at all into hot chocolate?” he bribed, though you would have caved regardless. Any time spent with Bucky was all you wanted for Christmas. 

Once all the presents were wrapped, Bucky was true to his word, puttering into the kitchen, whipping up his famous hot chocolate recipe. Honestly, if the world knew the famous Winter Soldier was as jolly was he is, they probably wouldn't believe it. Something about Christmas just brought out the best in him. 

“So,” You started as you sipped on your whip cream topped hot chocolate. “What is it about this holiday?” You pried, looking up at Bucky as he wiped a dollop of cream off the tip of your nose. 

“I don’t really know. Getting my memories back after all that time, Christmas with my Ma and sisters was always so clear…” He paused, his eyes fixing themselves on the floor. “I guess it’s one of the only really decent memories I have.” 

You only stared at Bucky for a moment as you let the words sink in. He never really spoke about his family and what, if anything he remembered. You never pushed him, thankful that he respected you the same. Though you had only been friends for a year now, those things just aren't privy to your relationship. 

“You never told me that before.” You finally spoke, watching as his eyes met with yours. 

“Yeah well, it’s hard to talk about sometimes. But… I don't know. I trust you, doll. More than anyone, I think. You kind of pull it outta’ me.” He sighed into that goofy smile you loved so much. You wanted to tell him that there was no one in this world that you trusted more, that you could and would be an open book for him, if that's what he wanted… But you supposed it went without saying. Instead, you rested you head on his shoulder, sinking back into the couch as you watched whatever sappy Christmas movie Bucky had picked out for you to watch. 

It wasn't long before the compound started to buzz with disembodied voices and echoing footsteps. A team was getting back tonight, and soon the living room would be filled with your friends booming laughter. 

You let your mind wander, tiptoeing into the darkest parts of your unconscious as the movie faded further and further away…

Your body shook, hard. You heard yourself plead, begging him to stop. Could feel the tears wet and hot as they rolled down your cheeks pooling onto your chest as he wiped them away. Such an act of kindness in such a nauseating scene. Your whole body ached with how hard you were trembling. So weak. You knew it, and now he did too-

Wanda was the first to round the corner, plopping herself down on the couch between you and Bucky, almost sitting right on your lap. 

“Good evening!” She chimed, resting her head against your shoulder in a complete and utter disregard of yours and Bucky’s closeness. Wanda was always the best at diffusing tension you hadn't even realised was there. Though now, as she sat there, it was very apparent that's exactly what it was. However you were thankful for her halting your train of thought. 

“Hello, darling.” Bucky chuckled as you wrapped your arms around her.

Tony rounded the corner next, snickering when he saw the three of you bundled up on the couch together. “Well, isn't that sweet. The trauma triplets are back together.” 

“Dont hate us cause’ you ain’t us, Tony.” You sang, watching as he rolled his eyes and puttered off to his lab. 

“So, any plans for this evening?” Wanda asked, grabbing your mug of hot chocolate without a second thought and taking a sip. 

“This is kind of it. Most of the team is back home with their family.” You explained, looking behind Wanda's head to Bucky, “Do you have any plans with Stevie?” You asked.

“Nope.” He popped the P. “Just us tonight. Steve’s out on a solo mission until tomorrow morning.” 

“About that… Nat is actually setting me up tonight. A double date, I think? So, it's just you guys tonight.” Wanda spoke sheepishly. 

Bucky and you both gapped at her before you finally spoke, “Traitor.” You glared while she only chuckled, shoving you playfully.  

“You guys will get along just fine without me. Just don’t watch The Holiday until I’m back! You guys know that’s my favourite”

As the compound quieted down for the night, you and Bucky fell into your daily routine of  comfortable silence. It was just like every other day, or at least that's what you tried to tell yourself as the end credits of another holiday movie started rolling onto the screen. 

“So,” Bucky finally spoke, shifting in his seat to reach for something out of your eyeline. “It’s technically christmas now… And, I know we said no gifts, but I saw this and it was just so you. I had to pick it up.”

Your eyes landed on the small velvet box in his hands, your breath hitching in your throat for a moment as your brain forze. You could feel your body trembling as he held it out, waiting for a reaction, but all you could do was stare. 

“Such a good little thing.” He finally spoke. Your eyes were so glazed over you couldn't quite tell where his voice was emulating from. You could hear his belt, feel his hands on either side of your face as he whispered in your ear. “Happy Christmas, baby.” He chided, dropping the small velvet box in your hands as he left the room. 

You couldn't bear to touch it, whipping it across the room as it shattered open, the small diamond necklace rolling across the hardwood floor as it tumbled to the ground with a harsh crack. Your fingers burned where the rough velvet had been, and you remembered thinking you'd feel this way forever. 

“Y/n?” Bucky spoke your name and it shocked you back to reality. You blinked at him, tears welling in your eyes as you stared at him. He looked absolutely terrified and it broke your heart. Absolutely tore you apart that you could ever be the reason for that face. 

“Hm? Oh, yes. I’m so sorry, I was so far away there for a moment.” You reached out but before you could take the small box, his hands covered your own and he let his thumb stroke your skin, sending a shiver up your arms and all around your neck. 

“You know I would never judge you, right?” He smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. “God knows you've never judged me. I’m here. Whatever it is, it’s not your fault.” 

The words hit you like a ton of bricks. ‘Not your fault.’ Did he know? There was no possible way. You had Fury burn your physiatric evaluation from when you first started a year ago. No one knew. This was a fresh start, and there way no way that- 

“I can see your mind turning, and I just want to assure you, we are good. Okay? You and me, that's easy. It’s always been that way. Whenever you're ready, if you ever want to talk… I’m here, alright? Always.” His voice melted over you like a warm bath, calming you as you met his gaze. There was a sweetness you haven't seen before. It was new and yet there was something familiar about it. Had he always looked at you that way? Surely you would have remembered as it sent butterflies to explode in your stomach. 

He dropped the rectabled box in your hands and you finally felt the weight of it. Definitely heavier than a necklace, though you guess that wasn't really Bucky’s style anyways. 

You slowly clicked the box open, your eyes falling on the small black object resting on the pillow inside. 

“It’s a knife?” You spoke, just above a whisper as your hands traveled over the cool metal looking up at Bucky in surprise. 

Bucky chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck as he explained. “Remember that mission a year back? I think it was one of our firsts.” 

“Vienna.” You chimed, the memory coming back to you now. 

“You stole my knife.” He laughed, shaking his head at the memory. “I remember, I had it in my hand, you ran out of ammo and in a flash it was in your hands. Those Hydra punks didn't see you coming. God, doll. That had to be the hottest-” He blushed, clearing his throat, “I mean, that was the coolest thing I've ever seen. Been trying to find you one like it ever since.”

“Oh, Buck.” You signed, gripping the knife in your hands and effortlessly flipping it through your fingers as it sparkled in the dim lighting. 

“Do you like it?” He hummed. 

“Like it? I absolutely love it… I feel like such an ass for not getting you anything.” You confessed, averting your eyes to the floor. 

You flinched as Bucky’s cool metal fingers tipped your head up, and he tried not to notice, though the reaction wasn't lost on him. He really didn't know about your past, but trauma knew trauma. 

“Darling, this…” He motioned to you, “This is all I need for Christmas.” His voice was like honey in tea, warm and sweet and so smooth. 

“You flirt.” You giggled, shoving him playfully as you placed the knife back in its box and resting it on the coffee table.  

“I would never.” He sarcastically gasped, causing you to laugh at his dramatics. Bucky wasn't truly himself around the others, but you wished sometimes they could see his goofy side. Though it warmed your heart he reserved it for you. 

“What do you say? One more movie before we call it a night?” You asked, relaxing into his shoulder as you clicked through the options. Bucky’s silence caught your attention, pulling you back to his gaze. He stared at you as if startled by your words. 

“What?” You chuckled nervously, raising a brow when he didn't speak. 

“You're willinging requesting we watch a Christmas movie? Are you feeling okay?” He jested, lifting his flesh palm to your forehead as if to check your temperature. You swatted him away, rolling your eyes as you did so. 

“I’m fine. I just…” You watch him carefully as his laughter faded and he focused on you. “I never really thought I could enjoy Christmas. Someone stole that luxury away from me a very long time ago, but with you… With you it comes so easy. I know it must be hard, but you never let it show. I honestly can't tell you the last time I’ve properly laughed like that during the holidays. God, it's been years and yet here we are. You just pull it out of me.” 

Bucky smiled softly, holding his hands out for yours and you quickly accepted the gesture. His eyes crinkled at the corners as he grinned pulling you into his chest as he hugged you. It was something that was very new, and yet just felt right. Like this was how your bodies were meant to be, fit together like puzzle pieces. 

“Doll, I’ll pull it out for you whenever you want.” He cooed, sarcasm lacing his words and your head fell back, laughter bubbling out of your chest. 

“God, I love you.” You finally got out, but as soon as the words left your lips you knew how impulsive you had been. Bucky stilled beside you but you kept your eyes trained on the ceiling above, terrified to meet his gaze. It wasn't a big deal, just two friends admiring each other. You knew, however if you were honest it was much more than that. Bucky felt it too. 

“Darling,” He murmured, so low you almost didn’t hear him. Your eyes slowly returned to his as your heart nearly jumped from your chest. “You’ve had me wrapped around your finger since Vienna. You’re it for me. Always have been, I think.” 

You stared at him for a moment, unsure of where your voice went as your mouth ran dry. 

“As if I even need to say it, I love you too.” 

Divider made by the wonderful @chrissquares 

Thank you 3000 to my amazing friends @cutie1365 and @sweeterthanthis for their endless support and constant grammatical corrections. I’d be forever dyslexic without you guys... (I kind of will I think, but ya’ll make it a hell of a lot easier on me)

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