#i can see the efforts the actions put upon by them against people who just have screamed at me about loving me but didn't

[iftitah]

have you ever wanted warmest shade of orange hearts on a brain emoji

[ace-and-the-rpg-horrors]

i feel like some of the fandom is a bit harsh on Monty... like, trauma is definitely not an excuse, but it does give pretty much all of his actions an understandable explanation?

like... Monty was actively being abused by Esther in practically any scene they were together. he said something she didn't like, and she yelled and grabbed him threateningly. both of the times she transformed him, from crow to human and then back again, she literally stabbed and ripped him up in a really gory way.

i sure wonder why an evil witch's familiar who's constantly treated like that would follow her orders even if he disagreed with them!!

and considering that Esther is potentially one of the only humans Monty came into contact with before meeting the others, and she's like that - he turned out alright, didn't he? he's petty, a bit rude sometimes, and takes things personally, but generally, he's a shockingly decent person.

yes, he didn't take it well when Edwin rejected him. but, as others have pointed out - how was Monty genuinely meant to know any better? he had lived his whole life as a crow in a cage too small for him, where the only person he knew was his extremely nasty and cruel owner. and then, all of a sudden, he's forced into a new body and has humanity thrust upon him against his will. he explicitly expressed this discomfort himself when Esther degraded him for getting "too emotional" for her liking.

"i never asked to be human. with all these... feelings."

even after the bitterness of the rejection, Monty never actually wanted to hurt the Dead Boy Detectives. turns out, he didn't even know that Esther's plan intended to end them completely, and was so horrified upon finding out that he made an attempt to lead them to safety, which was, by the way, putting himself at massive risk. Esther already punished him likely under the assumption that he just didn't put enough effort into manipulating them - can you imagine what she'd have done to him if she knew about his last-minute attempt to actually save them?

of course, i don't think Edwin was wrong for not forgiving Monty. he deserved that. Monty still helped in the scheme that aimed to destroy him. he also fully deserved to reject Monty if he wanted to (conversely, i do also see people say that Edwin "could have handled it better," but honestly, i don't know if it's just me not being neurotypical or something, but i genuinely do not see how Edwin could have been nicer about it? he was straightforward and polite, then afterwards, still tried to be Monty's friend until the betrayal.)

however, Monty was still very much a victim himself, and any harm he did was not from his own will, instead motivated by fear of the terrifying witch who had him fully reliant upon her, often through both verbal and physical force. Esther never hesitated to hurt him. he was painfully aware of that. she didn't care about him beyond how useful he could be. and when he failed at that, her reaction was violent.

but he didn't have anyone else.

[hairyjocktf]

First Workout of the Year

Aidan was just starting his second semester at university, and after a long winter break of being a bum he was ready to get back to his goal of finally getting in some semblance of shape.Despite his efforts during the fall he was still practically a twig, something the studs on grindr were keen to let him know. This was finally going to be when he packed on some size, he told himself as he headed into the campus gym. It was packed with people his size, trying for those new year's resolutions, with the regular jocks standing out amongst the crowd. He squeezed in between the hoards of people, getting in a basic circuit on the resistance machines. After about 40 measly minutes he was sweaty, out of breath, and decided to call it a day for his first workout back.

He headed to the locker room to rinse off before getting on his way. Letting the warm water pour over him for a few minutes, he let his thoughts drift to the hunks he saw in the free weight area. Damn they looked good, he thought, I hope I can pull off a tank top like that eventually. Eventually he came back to reality, turned off the water and reached for his towel. Or at least, where his towel was supposed to be. Shit! I must’ve forgotten it and not even noticed, he lamented. Soaking wet and low on options, he peeked out from the stall to see if anyone was around. Shockingly, the place was empty. On a nearby bench he spotted a leftover towel. Not that he wanted to use a dirty towel, but there weren’t many alternatives. Embarrassed about his actions, he darted over and snagged the towel before hiding back in the shower. 

Eager to put this whole situation behind him, he used the towel to dry off his body, followed by his face. But while wiping his face he noticed a stench that had been missed earlier. The towel absolutely reeked of sweat and body odor. Upon opening his eyes at the eye watering smell he saw an even more disgusting problem: the towel was coated in thick dark hairs! How did I not see that? He cursed at himself. He spit one out of his mouth. Disgusted, he threw the towel down to the floor and quickly changed back into his clothes before storming out of the gym.

On his walk back to his dorm he was pissed, Who would leave a filthy towel like that? He angrily thought, and why did I not pay closer attention? The afternoon was warm, and he felt himself sweating. Guess I’ll have to shower again, he thought to himself. As he kept walking he felt increasingly sore in his muscles, maybe that workout was better than he had thought. He caught himself scratching at his pit, which was odd behavior for him, but he brushed it off as just being sweaty and sore. He brought his finger back up to his nose and sniffed them. Phew I stink! He said to himself. A moment later that action registered in his brain, Why the hell did I just scratch and sniff my pit? He began to worry. His shirt began to feel a little tighter than normal, restricting his arm movements as he walked. His shoes also felt smaller than usual. He continued making his way home, nearly there, as worry truly set in.

By the time he reached his dorm his back was drenched with sweat, he was feeling sore and itchy and all around uncomfortable. As he reached his hand to the door to put his key in his eyes widened. His hand was much larger than normal, as was his forearm, and they were both coated in thick dark hairs. As he stared, the hairs seemed to grow denser as they spread up his forearm to his bicep, which was also inflating to ridiculous size. Aidan quickly threw open the door and ran inside straight to his bathroom mirror. 

What he saw made his jaw drop. His frame had grown substantially since leaving the gym just a while before, pushing against his now tight clothing. He could see his biceps and shoulders bulging under the fabric, stretching his t-shirt to its limit. As he stared agape in the mirror his pecs also began to grow, inflating his shirt even more. He groaned in discomfort as everything felt so sore as his muscles packed on years worth of mass in seconds. With a final grunt, his shirt split open, unable to contain his hulking body in a size small any longer.

His shirt in tatters, Aidan’s bulked up body was now clearly visible. Muscle mass was not the only thing growing on him. As he stared at his mountainous pecs, tiny dark spots began to appear across them. Dark pinpricks spread across his chest before erupting into dark brown hairs. Thin at first, they quickly darkened and thickened into respectable chest fur as his skin disappeared beneath the growing coat. It spread out from the center, swirling across his pecs and thickening around his nipples as thicker, longer hairs sprouted around them. The hairs crawled up to his collarbone, making sure that plenty of dark hairs would be visible above any shirt. He moaned from the feeling of the hair spreading, filling his new body with ecstasy.

Aidan felt his previously flat stomach contort, with pronounced abs growing in and giving him that sought after V shape he admired in other jocks. That definition was quickly buried under his spreading body hair, however, as it raced down from his chest. Thick, dark hairs grew down in waves across his stomach, burying his abs under a coat of dense fur just like his chest. But that was just the beginning of it. He felt a strong itch below the waist of his paints as pressure increased substantially there. Pulling out his waistband he watched in horror as thick hairs erupted across his groin, engulfing the wisps that had been there before. The hairs were thick, dark, and grew curlier by the second as they spread. They grew up above his waistband, connecting to the forest that had covered his stomach, and then down to his thighs. His balls were not spared that fate either, with his sack becoming overrun with fur. With a densely hairy crotch that only continued to grow, Aidan groaned and put his hands up to his face, revealing a flash of dark under his arm. 

He lifted his arm just in time to see thick, wiry hairs erupting from his armpit. They grew longer and thicker as they spread out, and he could see the sweat getting trapped in the bushes already. He scratched at the growing tuft of hair with his other hand, feeling the hairs grow and curl as they filled his armpit to the brim, sticking out even when he put his arm down. Those hairy pits already smelled to match the jock he was becoming, it was eye watering. The hairs even filled out to the point of connecting with his chest hair, giving his upper body a full coat. Or so he thought, at least, before the hairs began crawling up his boulder shoulders, the fur wrapping all the way to his back. The itchiness growing on his other side told him all he needed to know. Thick hairs were worming their way out across his shoulder blades, dusting his entire back with dark fur. The hairs climbed down, thickening as they approached his ass, which itself had grown quite a bit without him noticing. The itchy feeling reached a zenith as dark brown hairs began pushing out of his plump ass, giving him a nice thick fur coat even there. He reached around to scratch at his hole, feeling intense pleasure as thick curly hairs burst out around it, filling his crack with dark hairs.

It was at this point, half lost in pleasure, that Aidan noticed his pants becoming incredibly tight. To avoid what happened with his shirt he quickly stripped them off, watching his quads grow to three times the size they had been, and the rest of his legs packing on impressive size. The thick hair in his groin and on his ass spread downwards, coating his thighs in an absolute rug of curly hairs. They of course did not stop there, shooting up across his calves and stretching down towards his feet, which began to grow quickly. After kicking off his shoes he watched as his feet grew longer, toes getting thicker as the same thick dark hairs popped up across his toes and the top of his foot. He was now stuck with huge hairy jock feet! Aidan looked back up at the mirror, seeing a hulking and incredibly hairy jocked up body that looked nothing like he had just an hour before. The only thing out of place was his babyface, though something told him that was soon to change.

As if waiting for that moment, the hairs on his face began to sprout. Follicles pushed out hair after hair as his chin darkened. His hands scratched at the growing stubble as it covered his face, wiry hairs exploding across his upper lip. The thick hairs continued growing and spreading, giving him full coverage, reaching high up on his cheeks and connecting down to his chest hair. The fur crawled out of him, leaving barely any of his skin visible by the end. His body continued to explode with muscle, his frame getting heavier and bulkier. The hair hid most of the definition but anyone would still be able to tell how absolutely built he was now. The changes had taken a lot out of him as well, he was drenched in sweat and out of breath looking at his new form in the mirror. He absolutely reeked as well, all the new hair catching sweat and musk. 

Somehow though, he didn’t seem to mind that much. He had always been a real hairy and stinky guy, ever since puberty hit him hard in middle school. Kids had made fun of him then but now they admired and lusted after him. He was a real stud, and he was late for his second workout of the day.

This was my first ever tf story, let me know if you like it! Hopefully they'll only get better from here. If you have ideas for future stories also let me know, I'd love to try out more.

[gay-dorito-dust]

Can i request headcandons of the spiderverse Boys with a shy nurse reader who is constantly tired? Being nurse and spider person is a physically and mentally demanding job and i think that would be nice see more spiderverse content, but if u don't want to make this request i understand

A/n: I’m sorry Most of these are either short cuz I didn’t know what to put for them or come across as a carbon copy of the other in due to me not knowing what to put there instead🤣

Miles sympathises with you wholeheartedly.

Trying to find a healthy balance between being a nurse -an intensive and highly demanding profession- and being a hero was definitely a challenge that had detrimental affects upon one’s mental and physical health.

Miles would affirm you with his words of praises and encouragement all the while holding you tightly, wilfully being your personal pillow/recharging station that often times he’d catch you fall asleep against him because his presence was that warm and comforting to you that it lulled you into a peaceful sleep.

Miles deeply admires your dedication to saving people not only as hero but also within the medical field. But he often does worry that you work yourself to the bone trying to find a way to perform both tasks without having them overlap one another.

There do come days where it all becomes a bit too much as your body grows sick and tired of your constant negligence and choose it’s way of rebelling by refusing you any sort of mobility of your limbs. Your mental state also tanks which only made your want to move even harder as you didn’t even have to willpower to make it so.

Miles would be a major source of comfort during these moments as he would remind you of all the achievements and accomplishments you’ve made during your tenure as both hero and Nurse. He’d probably have his music on as background noise whilst he’s taking the time and effort in making sure you’re as comfortable as possible.

Things he most often says are;

‘You have done so many amazing things and your only just getting started! How cool is that?!’

‘You’re an inspiration to not only the people you save on a daily basis but your also an inspiration to me as well that I even made art about you. Here, take a look!’

‘Don’t beat yourself up over this, you always get back up and hit them twice as hard because that’s what my y/n does, for my y/n ain’t no quitter, they’re a fighter.’

‘Bad days come to pass because the better ones always remain.’

‘Rest, I’ll take over from here.’

‘You’re not alone in this because I’m not going anywhere, I’ll be right here to catch you when you need me to.’

Pavitr would, If you let him, smother you in affection and cuddles but to the right amount so it doesn’t cross the border where it could potentially get annoying.

Which with Pav, it never does because his hugs and cuddles were the best and yet to be topped by anything or anyone because they are superior.

Plus they brought you warmth and comfort that you can’t help but bury yourself into his neck after a shit day in hopes of forgetting all about it as his hand rubs your back soothingly whilst also fighting the urge to just fall asleep then and there.

Also this lad would just spoil you with small gifts as to show his appreciation for you even though he does so quite eloquently enough with his words and his actions that this was merely the cherry on top.

Due to Pavitr being more able to read people then most, he’d notice the indicators within you that told him you weren’t feeling your best and he would make sure to take you to his favourite places within Mumbattan in hopes that it’ll help you by even just a little bit. After all he’s aware of the concept that fresh air and a change of pace were beneficial to a better mental health, and all he wants was for you to feel better, even if it was by a little that would mean a whole lot to him.

Hobie would want you to have a change of scenery from the hustle and bustle you subjugate yourself to on an daily basis to somewhere less noisy and loud within any aspect.

Sure it’s not his kind of scene but for you and how much work you put on yourself just to come home, looking as though any minute you were going to collapse? It was worth seeing you gradually become more relaxed and at peace to the point you fall asleep against his shoulder and he has to carry you back home.

again Hobie didn’t care since he knew how much sleep you missed out on and would not hesitate to get you a few days off if he feels as though you workplace was taking the piss out of you by thinking you were expendable.

He ain’t having none of that shit when it came to you.

Hobie wasn’t about to let you work yourself to the bone and not get a single thanks nor your flowers for busting your ass.

You tell him that it doesn’t bother you as you were doing what your job entails but Hobie more or less your backbone within these sorts of situations because he didn’t want you being taken advantage of just because you were ‘hard working.’ Not to say you aren’t but Hobie was more then well aware that this was often the excuse given when some shit stain wanted to offload their work onto someone else for personal gain.

It was always the ones who worked the least or didn’t work at all that got the appraisal and the promotions.

So Hobie would always and I mean ALWAYS praise you for everything you’ve done for he doesn’t believe you hear it enough for his liking.

Also he’s great with advice so when the days were particularly rough, he’d probably drop a bit of sage advice in regards to any aspect that you were finding hard to cope with like; ‘while the aspiration to save everyone is admirable; it’s unrealistic. For you’re setting yourself up to traverse down a road where instead of pointing out the problem, you are made to believe that you are the problem. Instead of trying to save everyone, focus on saving one person at a time for that one person could be someone else’s everything.’

Being the absolute secret sweetheart that he is, Miguel would try and help take the weight off of your shoulders and make your life a whole lot more easier by performing small acts of service that he knows you’ll greatly appreciate.

Even if it was the minuscule things such as; making you your favourite beverage, setting up a relaxing bath/ shower. fluffing up the pillows, smoothing the creases out of the duvet, cooking your favourite food since you always tell him that one of the things you always loved coming home to was the smell of his cooking. Hell do it all if it made you happy.

Miguel defiantly pampers you on the days where you felt more fatigued from your dual jobs. He doesn’t want you to do anything for you’ve already done enough to warrant yourself some much needed rest.

He lives to serve his beloved and would reject your requests to help him by planting kisses to your lips until you ultimately accept his pampering with little to no complaint.

If you were in the spider society, he’d give you time off because he’s the boss and all and if you were to go against his request for you to take time for yourself, he’d threaten to double it even though he was seriously considering it with how obvious tightroping two jobs was negatively effecting you.

Miguel doesn’t want you to overwork yourself but will overwork himself…what a hypocrite.

Soft Miguel is only soft with you.

[katzske]

EARTHSPARK SPOILERS ABOVE AND BELOW!

For a kids show, I'm glad that they're able to touch upon serious topics like the effect war has on individuals and, in this case, species. I think TFA is the only notable TF show that wiggled its finger and made clear yo these are fucking aliens. But even there it felt one sided, as in, robots finding organics gross.

In TFE, you get so many perspectives on the Cybertron- human relationship and I love is so much. You have people who embrace it and accept each others differences. You have those who have internalized xenophobia but don't notice. People who don't care and just wanna be themselves and live in peace. And those who outright HATE the other species.

Visuals: the first half had its animation mainly focused on action. and while there is still action here, the conclusion of the season offers a lot of cinematic shots which tbh kinda took out of the immersion but are awesome screenshot material. it gets really dark as well, and there is a shot with Bee that stood out to me, where he's hanging from a ceiling, and his expression is full of fear. It was grand.

Audio: You still have the same synth wave music (which I like) but you also get some amazing sound designs for animal based alt modes, like Grimlock and Tarantulas. Nightshade unfortunately has this repetitive sound playing whenever they fly, (hawk screech) since they don't have a motor IG??

Characters: The viewer will be introduced to Hashtag, Jawbreaker and Nightshade. They have distinct abilities and personalities. (By now, I can already tell that my favorite Terrans are Nightshade, Jawbreaker and Twitch lol). They're interesting characters and their dedicated episodes were quite entertaining.

The most notable new characters who actually have their dedicated episodes and voice lines are Shockwave and Tara. Shockwave, as you can see from my memes, is a raging classist and racist. He's pure evil. But I really enjoy him because he's so smug. Imagine TFA Shock's smugness but in higher dosage. I fucking love it. HIS VOICE HAS SO MUCH RANGE. reminds me of an evil DJ subatomic supernova. His eye also reminds me of shin godzilla's... an unrelenting blank stare, unnaturally wide. Tarantulas on the other hand takes a much different spin than his BW counterpart. I think he joined the cons and stuck with them is because he wanted equality for all (during a short convo between Megs and Shock it's implied that it was their original goal). He's sick of the war and just wants to survive. He wants to be himself. He does these typical cinema spider noises like hisses, or gargles in his alt mode BUT OH BOY in his robot mode he's one fine fella. And his voice. chef kiss. i think it's British, but can't pinpoint what region.

Plot: Earthspark is gonna build upon the concept which TFP poorly introduced: A villan human faction. TFE is building upon and further fleshing out what they tried to do with M.E.C.H. The execution so far looks very promising.

They have taken their time to introduce G.H.O.S.T for a whole season, and put a bit of effort into showing that the organization is made out of individuals who have different motivations.

Their official motivation is understandable. The "good guys" wanna protect civilians from threats, like bots who break shit. But ofc there are some nasty people in the ranks who are lowkey masochists lol

Also, since Cybertronians are known to the public, it deepens the complexity of the conflict. Xenophobia against Cybertronians ranges from this cooperation to just regular people, who are mad that their planet was turned into a battle ground.

[bennie-jerry]

My Beef with Wanda Maximoff - An MCU Rant

Sorry not sorry, I will ride the Wanda-ain't-shiitake train till the wheels are worn out. I do not care what her fangirls say. And if you're legitimately going to be so overly offended just from me disliking a FICTIONAL character, I highly suggest you click off, make some tea, and watch a Ghibli movie.

How many times does it need to be said? Just because someone suffers from some form of (small or big) trauma, IT DOESN’T GIVE THEM A PASS TO DO EVIL SH—

I really REALLY sincerely hope there's lore or bits I'm missing here (and if so, PLEASE tell me because I WANT to be wrong so BAD). But from what I know and remember, I feel as though I have every right to be disgusted with who Wanda is as a person.

It frustrates me so much how this carmine-colored narcissist will whine about people being scared of her, but she does stuff only a scary person WOULD do.

Purposefully setting the Hulk off so you could use him as a wrecking ball on innocent civilians in Johannesburg during Age of Ultron? Seems scary as heck.

Literally warping the universe itself to hunt and kill a teenager who did nothing to you during Multiverse of Madness? Seems scary as heck.

Brainwashing an ENTIRE town JUST so you can live in delusion about your man not being dead during Wandavision? Seems DOUBLE scary as heck.

Don't even try to defend what she did in Age of Ultron. Even if she supposedly didn't INTEND to have civilians killed, she sure as HECK didn't seem all too sorry that it happened. She wasn't ‘regretful’ that she did it. She was only ‘regretful' when Bruce confronted her on it. She has the nerve (the utter AUDACITY) to hate Tony Stark for the same CRAP that she does (if not worse, which let's be honest—it’s worse).

At least Tony Stark DIED out of an effort to save everyone, whereas Wanda usually tends to only help others when it benefits HER.

Wanda is nothing more than a Multiversal brat with a god-complex and no one can tell me otherwise. If something does not go 100% her way, she completely acts out and throws a reality-warping tantrum.

“Oh, but she tried to fix everything in Wandavision!”

Yeah, only after finding out she was BRAINWASHING people!

How the FREAK do you reality warp an ENTIRE town (especially at the large radius she used her magic) and expect NO one to be under mind control? Would you NOT try to fly around the premises to see if ANYONE else was there?

Once again, even if this was an example where she didn't INTEND for it to happen, then that proves another great flaw that she has.

Wanda hardly (if ever) thinks through her actions. And then when her actions bite her in the butt, she has the nerve to be surprised. Wanda almost never (and I'm being generous here) considers how her actions harm or affect others until it turns around and affects HER.

She did not deserve Vision, he was too good of a man for her, sorry not sorry.

Just the stuff she did BEFORE Multiverse of Madness ALONE is enough to not like her.

Let's not even get into the fact she never ACTUALLY apologized to Bruce Banner for everything she put him through. All she said at most when he confronted her is, “I know you're angry…”

Oh wow, REALLY? I couldn't POSSIBLY understand why Banner would EVER be angry at you for essentially brain-raping him (going into his mind and memories without his CONSENT) and using his worst fears against him to trigger Hulk so you could use him like a personal killing machine, further lessening the very few support systems he already HAD. She should feel grateful Banner didn't immediately throw her through a wall upon seeing her.

“But she became an avenger and helped them in Endgame!”

I could not give less of a DOOKIE about the fact she did that. Wanda fighting Thanos was literally the ONLY option she possibly had if she didn't wanna turn into dust along with the other half of the population. Sure, she also did it because she was forced to kill her boo BECAUSE of Thanos, but let's be honest—she would've had to fight him regardless. Her handing Thanos’ butt to him (while a very cool scene) doesn't prove JACK about her character.

The fact she ever BECAME an avenger after effectively traumatizing the MAJORITY of them is mind-boggling to me.

“Oh, I'm sorry I weaponized all of your traumas against you for my own personal gain because I wanted to work with a genocidal robot, can I join you guys?”

“Sure, Wanda! Come into the team and we'll pretend like you didn't do a darn thing!”

(The fact this isn't even ALL that she's done is absurd, I can still keep going—)

Don't even get me STARTED on Multiverse of Madness. And before anyone tries to say, “She did it so she could have a reality with her children!”

BRO, HER KIDS WEREN'T EVEN FREAKING REAL—

Wanda Freaking Maximoff wanted to murder a TEENAGER all for some children that were not even ACTUAL people. And when she did have them, didn't she make them FIGHT against the military in Wandavision or am I mistaken (which I VERY MUCH hope I am because what the he---)?

I do not care whatsoever what her reason is or what trauma she went through. Attempted murder of a minor (ESPECIALLY in this case, a minor who didn't even do anything) is inexcusable to me.

There is no way in frog fingers you guys are ACTUALLY trying to justify and/or downplay a grown ADULT trying to murder a CHILD (because that's what America was—a CHILD).

(Her and Miguel O'Hara would get along GREAT, when's the collab--)

And by then, she had ALREADY brutally murdered a whole bunch of people and probably corrupted the multiverse even FURTHER than she already had.

It wasn't until an ALTERNATE version of her (who ACTUALLY had her kids) told her to sit the [BLEEP] down (I'm paraphrasing here, but you get my drift).

Wanda is NOT a victim. Is she a good villain? Yes. But this witch isn't a victim. Not anymore at least. She doesn't apologize for her actions. She doesn't take responsibility. She doesn't reflect on what she does.

And even when she DOES finally do ANY of those things in ANY capacity, the damage is already done. In fact, it's not JUST done, it's also BURNT inside the oven causing smoke to go everywhere.

There is no rhyme or reason you could pull out that will convince me to be anything short of angry with this character and I'm so tired of her fans trying to defend her just because she was a lab rat and lost her man.

Once again, it's not bad to like a character that does awful stuff. But please, for sanity sake, STOP acting like they're a lost little angel BECAUSE you like them. I know they say "hurt people hurt people" but that still doesn't justify doing bad stuff just because bad things happened to YOU.

[why-what-no]

I’m All Yours

Pairing: Anthony Lockwood x Fem!Reader

Warnings: Slight violence, reader is a bit of a badass

Notes: Once again, British people feel free to bully me if I’ve written British-people-speak badly, I’m always ready to improve. Requests open for Lockwood and co

Summary: Lockwood had been trying to recruit a fellow agent for ages, despite the fact that she claims to work alone. But when she gets hurt on a mission and asks for his help, she finally find out just how much he wants her to join Lockwood and co

Honestly, if (Y/N) didn't know better, she'd say that Anthony Lockwood was obsessed with her. 

The two of them were both ghost hunters, some of the best at what they do. But while Lockwood had his little team, (Y/N) felt a lot more comfortable working by herself. Once upon a time, she had a partner. But the thing about agents is that they had a habit of dying.

So now she did her own thing.

Lockwood didn’t get the hint, however. They bumped into each other plenty of times, crossing paths during missions and sharing info when needed. (Y/N) liked him, she could definitely see how he inspired such loyalty in his coworkers.

And now, every time they see each other, the posh boy tried to get her to join Lockwood and co. Honestly it was a bit funny to (Y/N), teasing Lockwood about seeming desperate.

She liked him, and his team. They were always kind to her and clearly talented. But she wasn’t willing to put in the effort to care about a group who had a habit of throwing themselves into danger.

Lockwood was clever and handsome, but (Y/N) were well aware that boys like him, posh boys with charming grins and silver tongues... they were more dangerous that any of the ghosts she faced. He’d make her as attached to him as his team was, and she was well aware of his messy relationship with his own mortality… and his difficulty (or inability) sharing his personal thoughts and feelings.

At least, that was what she told herself. Until…

***

35 Portland Row’s landline was ringing. It was late at night, a time when ghosts owned the streets.

Usually Lockwood and co were doing a mission at that time. But tonight was a calm night. At least for them.

Anthony Lockwood picked up the phone. “Lockwood and co, how can I help you?” He said in his best professional, costumer service voice.

"Hello, Lockwood, my love. How are you?" (Y/N)’s voice came through the phone, and he immediately relaxed. Leaning against the counter, he smiled at the sound of her voice.

"I'm doing well (Y/N). Always a joy to hear your voice. How are you? What can I do for you?"

"Umm, so, funny story... I’m doing a mission right now and I had a little bit of an accident.” His smile immediately dropped. “Ghost was stronger than I thought. My arm is most likely broken and I'd quite appreciate some help if you're free." She told him the address, then paused. The silence made him more nervous that her words, he knew how much she hated asking for help. It must be serious for her to call him like that. "Okay, so... ghost is back. If you could come quickly, that would be appreciated."

She hung up.

Lockwood had never gotten his team and equipment together so fast in his life.

***

When they got to the house that (Y/N) was allegedly in, they immediately tracked her location from the noises coming from the top floor.

“Fucking hell! You cunt!” (Y/N)’s voice rang out, followed by a crash. Of course she would try to fight a ghost verbally when she couldn’t fight it physically

Lockwood and co sprung into action, going after the ghost and searching for the source. Lockwood’s first priority was (Y/N), finding her turning her sweater into a makeshift sling for her arm.

“Are you alright?” He rushed out, checking her over for bleeding.

“Yeah, I…” She began to speak before she noticed something behind them. “Looks out!” She shoved him to the side, grabbing her sword from the ground and swinging it at the ghost that had just appeared.

Lockwood gathered himself, quickly finding the source and covering it. The ghost had been dealt with.

(Y/N) sighed in exhaustion once he did, collapsing against the wall. “Cheers, Lockwood. I owe you.”

"You manage to save me from getting ghost touched.” He replied, chuckling as he willed his heart to return to it’s normal speed . “With a broken arm... while I was trying to save you."

"I'm just that good, Lockwood…. Huh, good, Lockwood. That rhymes."

(Y/N) walked off, going to find the rest of Lockwood’s team. He just shook his head, amused. He never had any idea where (Y/N) mind was. No matter how many times he found her, she kept disappearing on him. It drove him crazy.

***

In that case, however, (Y/N) ended up following them back to 35 Portland Row. Letting Lucy put a proper bandage on her as George and Lockwood locked the source away in the basement.

“You know, it’s never boring working with you lot.” She said to the other girl. “Very fun.”

Lucy chuckled. “I could say the same about you.”

“Touché.”

(Y/N) flinched as Lucy pressed a little too hard. She moved away, immediately apologetic. “Sorry.” She paused. “You are right, though, it is fun. It would be nice to work together more. Lockwood can have his dream of being the best agents in the company, and I could finally have another girl around.”

(Y/N) chuckled, although she couldn’t hide a smile at Lucy’s words. It felt nice to be appreciated. “Maybe you’re right.” Was her response. “Although you certainly sound like Lockwood right now.”

Lucy gave her an expression of fake offence. “The horror.” She said, causing the girls to dissolve into laughter.

Lockwood joined her and Lucy in the sitting room as soon as he was done in the basement. The other girl made an excuse to leave, meaning that (Y/N) and Lockwood were alone together.

She sighed, speaking first. "I know what you're gonna ask, and at this point..."

"At this point you want to know why I still bother?"

Normally she didn’t like to be interrupted. But he was right. She nodded

“You scared me today (Y/N).” Lockwood admitted, sitting down so that he was facing her. “I got that call and I was worried that I'd be attending your funeral this time tomorrow."

That thought had been floating around in her head the last few hours. However, she has too much faith in her own abilities. “That wouldn’t happen."

Lockwood didn’t have nearly the same amount of blind faith in her abilities. He knew she wasn’t immortal. He knew what happened to most agents. "It would. And because we don't work together, I wouldn't even know you were gone until it hit the news. It's not like we have any mutual friends who would tell me. I'd open the newspaper one morning and find out that I'd never hear one of your sarcastic little comments again."

It took (Y/N) a moment to figure out a response for that. Lockwood’s voice had cracked when he said those words, clearly hating the idea. Honestly, she hated that idea too. She had told herself not to get attached, but it might have been too late for that.

But she didn’t want Lockwood to know that. "Yeah, that sounds tragic." Was all she said. Hating her words as soon as she said them.

But Lockwood continued, reaching out to take her hands. "So please stay. If you really need to, you can do some missions solo as a member of the agency. I just want to make sure you come through this house every day. Just think about it, alright?”

It was tempting, so tempting. Part of her wanted to agree just to make him happy.

She didn’t respond, and he just chuckled at her stubbornness. “ In the meanwhile we should probably get you checked out at a DEPRAC hospital, make sure the bone is set properly." He told her, soft concern in his eyes.

The concern nearly made her shiver, and she immediately put her cool facade back on.

"Taking me to the hospital, huh?” Her tone turned flirty. “You know, Lockwood, if you wanted to ask me on a date, you could just say so."

"He paused, and then after a moment, he chuckled. "Alright then. Would you want to go on a date with me?" There was an almost nervous look in his eyes as he waited for her response."

That was unexpected.

"Are you being serious?"

"What? Have I been better at hiding my feelings for you than I thought I had?” Lockwood was full on grinning, at her shock. “Lucy and George have been teasing me about fancying you for ages."

"Is that why you've kept trying to recruit me?" She was trying to make sense of his words. Was he really just as interested in her as she was with him.

"I've been trying to recruit you because you're amazing at what you do, and because it's suicidal to work alone.” He corrected her, not wanting her to double her abilities. “However, enjoying your presence to the extent that I do was certainly a bonus."

"Wow, so charming. I bet that you say this to all your recruits. Did Carlyle and Karim get this same heartfelt confession?"

"No, just you. You're just special."

(Y/N) sighed, leaning back. Her gaze was pinned on Lockwood with the aim of making him nervous.

"If I say yes, to both joining you and going out with you, there will be no backtracking. You hear me? I want honesty and trust from you, I won't be chasing after some boy who is too scared to open up to me or treat me as an equal. I have better things to do."

She needed him to agree to that. She knew she wouldn’t be able to stand any behaviour like that. If she was meant to depend on him, she had to know he would give her the same regard.

Part of (Y/N) expected him to avoid her words. But to her surprise (underestimating just how much he wanted her with him), he nodded. "Why would you even think of chasing after me? I've spent so much time chasing after you that it's practically my natural state at this point." His sentence ended with that charming grin, the one that made her feel like Eve in the garden.

She tried to stay firm, to fight against that grin he gave her. But the idea of living under the same roof as his and his friends, befriending them herself... Of eventually being able to go on that date with the mysterious and charming Lockwood boy... it overrode her desire to need nobody but herself.

"Alright then, darling.” She threw her hands up in defeat, but there was a wide smile on her face. A twinkle in her eyes. “I'm all yours."

Taglist: @dark-academia-slut @silverhart93

[cannedwyrms]

Spoilers for shadow of the erdtree, but...

I NEED to talk about Marika, okay?

In the base game, I thought she was interesting, don't get me wrong, but the amount of DEPTH SOTE gives her is INCREDIBLE.

The first time I got to the Shaman Village, I instantly knew she was going up on my Good Antagonist List™ immediately.

And, because of that, I wanted to have another ramble about her, as is becoming customary for this blog.

So, let's go over what exactly we learned about Marika and what this informs us about her character.

I think the Shaman Village really takes center stage here. The music, the item descriptions, it all combines to paint a gentler, more human image of Marika. In the base game, she was more like a god (which made sense seeing as she was one), but we see a more human side of her here.

So, the Shaman Village. It's the place where Marika grew up, her home. Unfortunately for her, shaman bodies are apparently quite good for putting into big jars, which was something the Hornsent loved to do. We've all seen it before, right? I mean, we've all seen a zealous religious society commit atrocities against an underclass in fiction, not the jar thing.

And the Hornsent are a zealous religious society. They used the bodies of shamen in jars to make saints. Which sounds like complete nonsense, I know, but that's just elden ring lore babey.

Anyway, it's my personal headcannon, if not outright fact, that the Hornsent's persecution of Marika's people is what led her down the path of becoming a god. Like Miquella, she wanted to make the world a gentler place. Unlike Miquella, though, she only wanted to make it gentler for her people.

In short, it's my belief that Marika became a god in large part to inact revenge on the hornsent.

Okay, pause. I know Elden Ring Lore is like, a big deal and all, and anything I say is basically unfounded on everything except intuition, my own personal interpretations, and because I believe my theories fit thematically within the wider narrative, but just stay with me on this, alright? I think there's a real undertone of misogyny in the fanbase, and sometimes that can color interpretations of certain characters even unintentionally. Marika has gotten this treatment worse than most, I think, because she is a prominent woman who does morally questionable things. Beyond the inherent misogyny, though, I've noticed that a lot of people interpret Marika's actions very uncharitably. Anyways, all that to say, this is my post, and I care more about everything working together thematically than digging deep into the depths of the lore to find out that "oh, actually Scrupulous the Untested mentioned this flower, which represents pure evil, and he was talking about Marika when he did," or whatever. A strawman? Perhaps, but you get my point. Still, I'll try to remain true to my understanding of the lore, but I'm bound to make mistakes. I'm not an expert. Sorry for the long aside, I just felt these were important points that wouldn't fit in elsewhere.

So, I believe Marika sought godhood partly to punish the Hornsent, although I won't pretend to understand her full motivations.

I believe this is what Ymir was referring to when he said "I fear that you have borne witness to the whole of it. The conceits - the hypocrisy - of the world built upon the Erdtree. The follies of man. Their bitter suffering. Is there no hope for redemption? The answer, sadly, is clear. There never was any hope. They were each of them defective. Unhinged, from the start. Marika herself. And the fingers that guided her. And this is what troubles me. No matter our efforts, if the roots are rotten, then we have little recourse."

My interpretation of this is that Marika's intentions for godhood were impure. She wasn't seeking to improve things, just punish the ones who wronged her people. Thus, her reign was doomed from the start.

Now, let's get into what really sold me on Marika as a character.

There are, to my knowledge, two items you can find in the Shaman Village.

The Minor Erdtree incantation, and the Golden Braid talisman. Let's take a look at the flavortext for these two items and see what we can glean, starting with the Minor Erdtree.

"Marika bathed the village of her home in gold, knowing full well that there was no one to heal."

So, by the time she returned to her village, everyone was already dead. How devastated must Marika have felt, to return from claiming godhood and revenge, only to find that there was no one left to avenge. She was alone.

Here's the text we get from the golden braid:

"A braid of golden hair, cut loose. Queen Marika's offering to the Grandmother. Boosts holy damage negation by the utmost. What was her prayer? Her wish, her confession? There is no one left to answer, and Marika never returned home again."

Man, reading that, with the shaman village music in the background, just thinking about a young Marika resolving herself to become a god, to save her village and people from the Hornsent, the anger she must have felt, the fear and solemn resignation of her goal, only to return again to find herself alone. What was her wish? What did she leave behind in her village? We'll never know, because Marika is alone. Her people are gone. In the end, she couldn't save them.

Is it really any wonder that she eventually began to doubt the very order she had founded?

But now let's talk about some other aspects of Marika's character that the dlc reveals.

Namely, her Omen sons.

Imagine how Marika must have felt, looking down at her newborns to see the very horns that had destroyed her people upon them. It's just so DAMN good, character wise. There must have been so many mixed feelings surrounding them. I wonder if she even felt any love for them at all when she saw those horns. Like, I don't know, obviously, but I imagine she felt conflicted. She didn't outright kill them, which is good, but she did leave them chained in a sewer for most of their lives, so yeah not great.

But that's what I love about her character. Elden ring, in a lot of ways, is about how victims can become victimizers. How, in pursuit of noble goals, or revenge, you can lose yourself and become just as bad or worse than the people you set out to punish. That's Marika's character. That's why she's part of the List™.

Because Marika started out as someone angry at the systems that oppressed her and sought to change them. She was the hero of the story, in the beginning. But, in pursuit of her goal, she lost herself and became a bit of a monster.

SOTE, to me, revealed that Elden Ring's story is one of complete moral grey. Everyone is working towards a cause that they believe in, including you. The ends justify the means for you, even if it means striking down a mostly innocent grieving woman, hunting your fellow tarnished, or turning on the ones who trusted you and called you a compatriot. Ranni, Miquella, Radahn, Fia, D, Godrick, Malenia, Leda, Ansbach, Thiollier, Gideon, this applies to everyone.

The same goes for Marika. In trying to punish the hornsent and build a better future for herself and her people, she lost her people and eventually succombed to her worst tendencies.

That's why St. Trina pleads with you to stop Miquella. Because to become a god is to sacrifice everything that makes you human.

Marika took that sacrife willingly, in order to punish the ones who hurt her, and in the end, that's what broke her.

I think she recognized this, and that's why she set the stage for you to become Lord. In the chance that someone might do better than her, make the world a gentler place, not for a god, not for ambition or power, not in revenge or anger, but im compassion. Whether or not that's how you choose to rule is, of course, up to you, but I like to imagine that Marika, after everything, found something to hope for again.

Okay, that's the end of my thoughts. Was any of that true to the lore? Who cares. It's how I like to interpret what we were given about Marika. If I'm wrong, then whatever. I'll still be right in my heart.

Alright, bye. Go play shadow of the erdtree, or watch someone else play it at the very least. Next time, I might talk about Miquella, or maybe Leda and her allies.

Someday I'll be brave enough to talk about Agent Black. Someday. But that would maybe turn into a full ten page essay about why Iconoclasts is so very good and I'm not sure the two people who care about what I say here are ready for that.

Okay bye.

A brief adendum to this post:

Because I was analyzing Marika from a literary perspective, focusing on the sympathetic angle SOTE added to her character, I realize I forgot something important, so let me say it now:

Marika's persecution does in no way justify her genocide of the hornsent.

That idea kind of got lost in the shuffle, but it's definitely an important aspect of her character. She's an antagonistic force in the world who has done some very awful things to further her goals, more so than any other antagonist in Elden Ring. Her tragic past only adds dimension to her character, not an excuse for the atrocities she comits.

Okay, bye again.

[resvarie]

Do you have some Ami's voice lines?

this took so long… i wrote this before 2.6 before rappa voice lines were released so bear with me! they’re all below the cut 😎

First Meeting:

You can call me Amihan. I'm just a lone drifter amongst the stars, no need to pay me any mind. Unless you need parts, of course. Don't ask me where I source them though, haha…

Greetings:

Heya! Wonder what sort of treasures we’ll dig up today?

Parting:

Fair winds, my friend! I’m sure we’ll find our way back to each other soon enough.

About Self: Captain

I wouldn’t call myself a captain, but I am the only member of the S.S. Nova, so everything falls to me. Navigation, repairs, cleaning, keeping stock… Solo ship life keeps you humble.

About Self: Mechanical Peg Leg

My leg? I carved the wooden bit myself. I lost it in a freak accident when I was wrestling a shark on my home planet— or maybe it was when I fought against that brute from the Annihilation gang.. or was it when I was doing repairs on my ship and that piece of metal fell— Ah! I’m getting carried away here, aren’t I? I’ll tell you another time!

Chat: Business

If you’re ever in need of some scrap metal or ahem, IPC approved goods, just message me. I have dealings in the trade– and you won’t have to pay the abhorrent prices they put up on the market.

Chat: Principles

You gotta give to take, everything has balance in this universe. Just so happens that I like giving miscreants a good flogging, and I like taking their belongings as my payment, and sharing that with people who really need it.

Hobbies

I like making these little carvings in my spare time… This one’s a horse, this one’s a dog. Um, this one’s supposed to be a shark. I’m not used to this kind of wood, so it’s hard for me to get the shape right. N-No, it’s not an excuse!

Annoyances

This might sound odd coming from me, but I get the worst motion sickness when someone else is at the wheel. No offense to Pom-Pom.

Something to Share

Look, I don’t believe in luck. If you want something you can’t just dawdle, waiting for something to happen. You need to take action. That’s all we can do in this universe.

Knowledge

Lushaka is a place filled with flooded ruins and seas so blue it’s hard to see where the water ends and the sky begins. The scholars there have tried to tell me about the ruins, but honestly, I’m more interested in the sunken treasures that are waiting to be found…

About Boothill

He’s a reckless one, isn’t he? We galaxy rangers tend to work alone, but you wouldn’t believe the amount of times he’s dragged me into the fray, even if it is just the tail end of whatever mess he’s gotten himself into. Not like I don’t enjoy it though, heh.

About Boothill 2

…I have a lot of respect for Boothill. I envy him sometimes, but deep down, I know I could never do what he could. To have everything taken like that… it’s… *sigh*

About Rappa

It might be a little hard to keep up with her way of… communicating, but I promise you, she’s got a good head on her shoulders. I trust her judgement. She reminds me of my little sister…

About Rappa 2

The Cosmic Ninjutsu Inscriptions? Rappa tries to teach me, but it just goes in through one ear and out the other for me. I’m not too good with words and remembering things like that, but I’m happy to indulge her.

About Aventurine

Ugh, if I have to hear him speak about luck again, I might just send myself overboard. Is it really luck if he’s putting in that much effort to scheme and calculate the outcome?

About Sampo

Sounds awfully like this guy who keeps undercutting me online– Once, I even tried to buy from him just to see if he was legit. Turns out he’s all talk. He even pretended to be a bot when I confronted him… No integrity!

About Himeko

I met Himeko and the Astral Express once upon a time, she offered me an incredibly bitter cup of coffee whilst talking my ear off about fixing the Express. I could only understand a quarter of what she was saying… but wow, she’s amazing to do all of that by herself.

Eidolon Activation

Dead men tell no tales.

Character Ascension

There she blows!

Max Level Reached

Time to take this seriously.

Trace Activation

All hands on deck!

Added to Team With Boothill

Keep up, cowboy!

Added to Team with Rappa

Er, how does it go again.. As the Cosmic Ninjutsu Inscriptions read: “Let’s kick some serious butt!”

Added to Team with Trailblazer

Up for some treasure hunting after this? Saw some untouched trash cans on my way here.

EXTRA:

rappa and boothills voicelines for ami

About Captain Yukaze

The Captain's attempts at learning the Cosmic Ninjutsu Inscriptions are commendable, but it seems she has a long way to go if she wishes to reach an acceptable level of ninjutsu. I worry for her…

About Ami

Ami’s saved my behind more than a couple of times— I owe her, but uh, I’m not too sure on how to really pay her back, plus she always denies whatever I throw at her, insisting she doesn’t need it. She’s not good with her drink, so a good malt’s out the window and she’s pretty set in her ways with her weapons so I can’t get her something new… I’m at my wits end here…

[elsiiie]

My working theory that connects the Concrete Age Dictator concept with Foundations of Decay and Swarm

I’m writing this while high so if something I’m saying makes no sense, that’s why! But maybe it makes a lot of sense…. please let me know if you have more ideas or catch a plot hole in this theory! Would love to brainstorm more

--

This all started when I was looking through reddit and saw a lot of people thinking it was crazy for MCR to come up with SWARM concepts for 2022 tour and then just throw it away after they put so much effort into theming years ago. So as I thought of that, I was listening to foundations of decay since it’s the only song they’ve released since coming back and directly related to Swarm. I, along with many other people, originally thought Foundations was just an abstract retelling of the Band and their rise/fall. However, I think I found the connection with Foundations of Decay/Swarm with the new CONCRETE AGE/Dictator concepts coming out.

Okay so follow with me a bit. It’ll all start to make sense soon:

In foundations of decay, we start with an old man, dreaming of all the battles he’s won. 

See the man who stands upon the hill He dreams of all the battles won But fate had left its scars upon his face With all the damage they had done

We hear about the battle. There are dead soldiers, blood spilled in vain. 

Let our bodies lay, mark our hearts with shame Let our blood in vain, you find God in pain

Gerard says:  

Now, if your convictions were a passing faith May your ashes feed the river in the morning rays

For those fighting in this battle, this line sounds like a question of whether or not they know what they’re fighting for, perhaps a fight just to live, and if they really truly wanted that. If not, if they didn’t truly believe in what they were fighting for, then they would die, not making it through the battle. 

Then we hear about potentially another man, or perhaps the same man from beginning but younger. 

He was there, the day the towers fell And so he wandered down the road And we would all build towers of our own Only to watch the roots corrode

This is where I felt like there really were connections to the new concepts. In the new dictator concept, we know there’s a Grand Immortal Dictator and he’s recently risen to power, bringing upon the concrete age.

The Dictator stands in a tower, surrounded by towers, all built by or inhabited by the people of power, looking down upon these swarms of crowds. In my mind, that crowd of people kind of resembles all the flies in the foundations of decay visualizer, or a mass amount of vermin, swarming together to see the dictator, the king rat, etc. What makes up the foundations below these high towers the dictator are in? All of the people. 

I feel like Foundations of decay was a song passed by ancestors to (the older man) to tell story to inspire to inspire a next generation. To call for the swarm, the vermin, the people who make up the foundations to get to action. To start their last crusade, to fight for what they believe in against extinction. 

You must fix your heart And you must build an altar where it swells When the storm it gains, and the sky it rains Let it flood, let it flood, let it wash away And as you stumble through your last crusade Will you welcome your extinction in the morning rays? And as the swarm it calls, we lay in the foundations

I really feel like Foundations of decay was the first of many new songs in this new album/new concept. In this new concept, maybe Foundations of Decay is a story told by the "Black Parade Band" in the Concreate Age world, retelling a story of battle/of revolution and asking us what we’re made of/if we’ll get up and join the fight. 

The end of Foundations of Decay is literally a conversation between someone giving up and someone call them to action:

Yes, it comforts me much more Yes, it comforts me much more To lay in the foundations of decay

& in reply, the last line

Get up, coward!

We can lay down in the comfort of complacency, or we could GET UP and fight back.

--

So really tying into the SWARM tour, there was a lot of imagery/backgorunds that resembled broken/burnt down buildings similar to the ones we saw standing in the new dictator concept. I feel like the Swarm tour was a theatrical preview of the fall of the dictator and CONCRETE AGE and the back and forth between the dictator and the swarm.

We saw a lot these character: the dictator, the secretary, the man the flower(?), and we saw them kind of decay, especially  the secretary. Some drum sets said phrases from the dicator side “SIT, STAY BEG” “BACK IN THE CAGE” while others said “KING MOB” (either a reference to the revolutionary comic book character by grant Morrison, or a real radical cultural anarchist group from London in the 1960s... both fitting for this revolutionary concept) 

(https://www.tumblr.com/107ths/766995000586272768/please-look-at-my-insane-ramblings-and-tell-me-if?source=share see here for more drum pics and other theory on this conversation between 2 groups of people and the concrete age backdrop).

There was also the Everybody Hates The Eagles https://x.com/sewerwolfs/status/1563914965072986112 noise jam. Which looking back has so many potential references to anti dicator/anti military/end of civilization concept that we’re seeing in foundations of decay and the concrete age. 

I feel like the SWARM concept was us seeing a preview of the aftermaths of a revolution, where the swarm start fighting back, decaying the foundations of the CONCRETE AGE and bringing down the dictator/secretary.

So what we’re seeing right now in the new teasers are the leadup to this giant revolutionary story. A war. We’re seeing a new dictator enter, and we know the Black Parade is being invited back to perform again. But their music might inspire something from the people that brings the dictator down…We know there’s a secret message in the teasers, and people have deciphered  one of it to say “MEN AT ATTENTION”. Maybe the black parade is leaving us secret messages to start revolutionizing, to assemble like soldiers so we can fight our last crusade. To bring down the dictator and end the concrete age.

DOES THIS MAKE SENSE? OR AM I GOING CRAZY? I’m sure there’s more to cover and plot holes to figure out so please add your thoughts!

--

PS: This can just be a fun concept, or it could be like everything else Gerard has ever done and actually have a greater message about the political climate / state of the world right now. It feels like a call to realize that we are a large swarm of people who make up the foundations of our world’s towers: the government, the people in power. And without a stable foundation, those towers can and will be brought down. Do we welcome our extinction or perhaps snap out of it and fight back?

-Elsie

[stvrdrops]

surprise visit ☆ | shuri x fem!actress!reader

shuri decides to pay you a surprise visit on the set of your movie. it’s safe to say she doesn’t like seeing you kiss other people.

warnings : costar being a little pushy

word count : 1k+

note : this is a special one shot featuring actress!reader and shuri since they’re what helped me get to 100 followers !! i’m still so happy that people like my stuff enough to follow me lol but i hope y’all enjoy

you and shuri had been apart for a few weeks after shooting began again. the kimoyo bead calls resumed again, but you attempted to put more effort into them. you missed shuri more than ever after being forced to spend time with costars you weren’t too fond of. the main costar was constantly flirting with you despite telling him you were not interested in the slightest. the other costars had been fine you guessed, but hollywood makes it hard to form genuine connections with those around you. they never actually cared to ask about what kind of person you were. they would only ever ask what it’s like to be dating royalty and how often she spoils you. eventually the awkward laughter and begging of moving onto the next conversation topic failed to work.

shuri would listen in on your day through true calls as she worked on her various projects or walked around the palace. she was interested in helping you run lines and discuss what could be better about your delivery. shuri was by far your biggest fan and you adored that about her. she supported you through everything.

as filming kept going, shuri grew curious of what it could be like to be on set of a major hollywood movie. she was always fascinated with american pop culture like coachella and just how fame as a whole worked over there. so, she took it upon herself to plan a surprise visit to cheer you up a little. the only problem was that she couldn’t have come at a worse time.

“action!” the director yelled as you heard the snap of a clapperboard.

the rain began pouring down from the sprinklers placed above you and your costar. your latex white suit was beginning to grow more and more uncomfortable with every new take you were forced to participate in. your performance was incredible of course, but your costar kept requesting to retake the scene until the kiss was perfect.

yeah. a kiss.

he made his way towards you as you stood on the dirt. you could feel the mud forming under your feet as you stood in the same spot you had been in for the past five takes.

shuri had sneaked her way onto the set without your knowledge as you performed your take. she was sat next to the director, who eagerly shook hands with her and demanded an intern pull up a chair for her. you were far too into the take to notice her sitting right to the side of you though. your eyes were solely on your costar.

“landen?” you spoke out with a shaky voice as if you couldn’t believe he was really in front of you. you made your lip tremble and your eyebrows raise at the sight of him. the camera panned around to your costar to get the look on his face: he had been smiling while happy tears of his own were mixing in with the rain. despite your costar’s unprofessional crush on you, he was a great actor.

“tati…” he croaks out as you stand there staring at each other for a while.

your legs pick up as his do, now running towards one another. the dirt kicked up against your white suit as your feet made contact with the ground.

you feel yourself being embraced in a not so warm hug, due to the rain temperature, by your costar. it was hard to act like you were deeply in love with him considering how awkward he made things constantly.

shuri can feel herself cringing in her seat. she was not enjoying the way his hands were sliding down your uniform. wasn’t this supposed to be romantic? it was more sleezy than anything and she knew you hated it.

you didn’t mind it though. it was annoying, sure, but it was written in the script so you just had to do your job. after all, it wasn’t like you felt really any emotions about the task. the sooner you got it done the quicker you could rest in your hotel room.

you pull away from him and hold his face. his hands remain on your waist and you still aren’t necessarily used to the contact despite all the takes. all you could think about was your girlfriend as he leaned in close.

then closer.

and closer.

your lips collided with his but it wasn’t like you enjoyed a single second of it. kissing costars was simply just a job that you hated most about acting. especially when you have a loving girlfriend at home.

shuri could feel her teeth gritting as she watched him kiss you so passionately. she had never been able to actually watch your on screen kisses because it made her incredibly jealous. however, now she had to watch you kiss him. knowing it took so many takes, and may require more, she couldn’t handle it. she wanted to punch the guy’s lights out.

“cut!” the director beside shuri yelled loudly to the production and cast. she watched as you escaped your costar’s grasp and went over to the coffee table. he had been trailing after you.

“you did great like always!” your costar spoke to you. he was fairly well known and handsome if you were into guys. he wasn’t much older than you and really seemed decent outside of the fact he wouldn’t drop his crush on you. sometimes you just wish people could catch a hint instantly.

you simply nodded to him and smiled as you began pouring your coffee. if you were being honest, small talk wasn’t really for you. especially when you were tired and drained of all feeling.

“i think we could do another take though.”

this was when you became annoyed.

“we’ve already done enough. even the director said so last take. just choose your best out of the ones already shot so we can move on.”

if you were being honest you knew your heart wasn’t into the take because there just wasn’t a feeling of mutual respect between you two. how could you fake an expression so many times that you could never even feel towards that person. at first it was easy but then annoyance set in after the third take and you put yourself on autopilot.

“oh c’mon y/n. i want this movie to be perfect and the chemistry really has to be there. what’s one more kiss?” he said as he leaned on the table and snatching up your coffee. some of it had spilled on your hand in the process causing you to wince.

“i think she said just choose a different take, stupid american.” a familiar voice said from behind you. you quickly turn your head, forgetting the burning sensation on your hand. you were far too happy to worry about the coffee now.

“shuri!” you ran into her arms and she smiled as you hugged her tight. “i’ve missed you. this is such a surprise!”

you couldn’t see it but shuri was giving your costar a look capable of taking down an entire army. he got the hint after she began flaring and quickly set down your fresh coffee before going on his way.

“what are you doing here?” you cant help but ask as you grab some napkins off the table.

“i thought i’d visit you for once. plus i’ve never been on a movie set before.” she says while a laugh escapes her ever so perfect lips. you smiled at her laughter as you admired how dashing she looked. she was wearing a tracksuit, which she had begun growing a collection of. her glasses rested stop her curls which you knew was definitely going to make an indent later.

“well i’m glad to see you. i should have some time in between the next take.” you grab onto her hand and begin dragging her off to your trailer.

“good. i can show you what real kissing is like.” she whispered ever so seductively in your ear as she caught up to your pace. you felt your face burn from the words she spoke. her accent truly did just make everything sexier.

you decided you wanted shuri to visit you on set far more often.

˖⁺｡˚⋆˙✧⋆｡°✩☼⋆｡°✩☽

[rockanroller]

i think one of my biggest concerns about viv's content (which has become heavier since seeing how she and raph have reacted to push-back against viv's mis-matched portrayals of SA overall but particularly both viv & raph's portrayals of SA in episode 4) was that she never actually had "good intentions" for what she's trying to say. or maybe she did at a point, but it got lost/blurred over time.

yes, it *is* a good message to attempt to give support to the "imperfect victim," the assholes who need a little empathy despite their bark and bite, bc they all still suffered horrible things that are unimaginable to some of us, and they deserve the love and healing they were denied just as much as the "perfect victim" does, but...

the risk that message can come with is emboldening assholes and "imperfect victims" who have no intentions of changing, who want to be and act horribly to others and/or themselves without consequence, who continue the cycles of abuse put upon them. tbf, this is generally unavoidable, but handling it poorly can amplify the numbers or confidence of said emboldened assholes.

the impression i always got from her work was "oh so i'm a monster? fine, then i'll act like one, deal with it" while ironically simultaneously being unable to handle being perceived as "a monster."

my concern from the start was that viv may not *be* someone who has genuinely been treated/hated unfairly (for her *entire* existence, she was def treated/hated unfairly for some of it) despite many attempts to change and "be better"--and she instead is someone who refuses to self-reflect outside of "people hate me" and wants to be allowed to be and act shitty w/o consequences "because trauma" w/o having to consider others and in an apparent effort to act fully self-interested. (which yes, all that can be a trauma response but it doesn't excuse you for how you behave/act towards others.)

it's not illegal to be selfish, but to live the kind of life where you continually act only in your own self-interest creates a very isolated and unstable foundation where you're continually burning bridges and generating misery for not only others but also yourself. we've seen this pattern continually with viv.

how i've seen viv act over time, and how she and raph have acted recently throughout the drama with episode 4, with viv seeming to continually adjust her defenses/like tweets to fit whatever argument she's trying to one-up... i'm not confident w/her intentions... and i've given her a *lot* of chances and empathy to attempt to understand where she's coming from, but i find my understandings for her becoming more and more contradicted by her own words & actions.

[yzeltia]

Closer to You

Chapter 9 Characters: Natsu Obinata, Fuyu'li cen Zwhan, Claudien, Varshahn, Jannie Eyradoux, Urianger Augrulet, Thancred Waters, Ryne Waters, Patient Heaven, Y'sthola Rhul Rating: T for Teen Notes: Thank you @driftward for the mechanics pass and dealing with my epithets walnuttery

Natsu crossed her arms as she leaned against the stairway wall with Jannie. Once Fuyu’li was on his feet, Jannie had suggested that they find somewhere more private for them to have their moment. Claudien’s apartment building seemed to be the easiest solution given that none of them were locals. Natsu wished they’d strayed farther, feeling as if she was intruding.

“I apologize. This is a lot to take in,” Fuyu’li breathed out from around the corner, head lowered as his master stood in front of him.

“It is I who should apologize. I have only recently opened up about the true nature of my being,” Varshan said before shaking his head, “Please, raise your head. I wish to thank you properly.”

Fuyu’li did as he was told, meeting his master’s soft gaze. His face flushed, still not used to the sight of the statuesque man in front of him. Varshan smiled down at him as he placed his hand on his shoulder.

“While I hear you’ve caused trouble, you did so on my behalf to unite me and my sister. I have known very few people who have taken my burdens upon themselves. That might very well have been due to my reluctance to trust others; however, I found myself trusting you with my dream and you sought out to make it a reality. Though my new companions were ultimately the ones to reunite me and Azdaja, I cannot help but feel gratitude toward you for your efforts,” Varshan said, eyes locked with Fuyu’li’s.

“You saved my life. I wanted to make it up to you anyway I could. With your sister back, I can return and continue working on whatever you design to put me on…though, I am in a bit of trouble here. I need to face the consequences of my actions, as well as see my friend’s endeavor through. If she had not stopped me…I’m afraid I could have been led down another dark path,” Fuyu’li responded, folding his ears in shame.

“Miss Eyradoux explained as much to me. After you’ve finished helping your friend, we’ve made arrangements for you to return to my custody where I will keep a watchful eye,” Varshahn said before leaning down, placing a kiss between the other’s ears.

Fuyu’li’s face erupted into a shade of red as Varshan pulled away. He was left speechless as the other straightened up and briefly touched his lips, as if unsure what possessed him to do so himself. “I will make haste then in finding Natsu’s brother,” he declared, fist pounding his chest proudly.

“And I shall look forward to hearing about it. For now, I must return home,” Varshan said before gesturing to a large colorful bag, “I have left a few changes of clothes for you as it was suggested your Garlean garb might attract you some unwanted attention. Please be safe.”

With that, he channeled aether about him and was gone with a blip, leaving Fuyu’li to stagger then clutch at his chest. The scene over, Jannie pushed off the wall and slung the bag over her shoulder while Natsu peered around the corner. “Don’t tell me you’re in love now. You have to have a higher standard than exceeding 6 fulms tall,” she said, attempting to tease him.

Fuyu’li shook his head, face crimson, “Nonsense! My love is purely admiration that has only been furthered by his stature- I mean status! To think, my young master is that man…and that man is a dragon just shy of the age of our star. I am honored that he sees me worthy enough to continue to stand by his side.”

Jannie and Natsu both rolled their eyes before the latter turned to make her way up the stairs. Natsu recalled the address she’d sent letters to, and after a little wandering found Claudien’s door, letting Jannie reach up for the key. Once inside, Jannie handed over the bag of clothes to Fuyu’li and let him find a room to change in while Natsu wandered around.

Natsu had thought it might be the room she’d had her vision in, but the place was far to clean. It was small, and while organized, had a layer of dust that made it rather unlived in. She imagined he only came there to sleep and took meals elsewhere or made use of aetheryte to go be with Y’zel at his cabin when he was there. Wandering, she busied herself with looking at things hanging on the wall, awards, photos of him younger and those with students. She paused as she found one of him as a boy standing next to a stern looking Miqo’te with sharp eyes.

“Did he say when he’d be back?” Jannie asked, having already busied herself with taming some of the dust on Claudien’s sofa.

“Later this evening. He seemed to have an epiphany about something and hurried off before giving us more information,” she answered, turning to find Fuyu’li returning, wearing what appeared to be a winter poncho and matching garb under it.

“Right before you accosted him,” Fuyu’li added, “Speaking of which. You mentioned something about the importance of your Echo?”

Natsu nodded.  “Yes. Though I cannot remember what it was I was fixated on. A heart of some sort,” she said, trying to remember what she’d read on the shelf.

Jannie sat down on the wiped down couch, crossing her leg, one over the other. “Well, if we’ll be waiting with an indeterminate period of time ahead of us, perhaps we should find the office of Patient Heaven and see if we can figure out her place in all of this.”

Fuyu'li flicked his tail as he put his finger on his chin, drifting off a moment while Natsu nodded and went to a small writing desk to leave a note for Claudien. “Do we know where that is?”

           “Yes. In Noumenon,” Jannie answered, “An authority on locomotion. Her and her late husband were said to have worked with Garleans prior to the calamity in hopes of creating a unifying railway through Eorzea. A case of ambition superseding moral quandaries. They lived in Carteneu, but after The Fall though she returned here.” 

Natsu looked back to Jannie then held herself as she took a moment to reflect. “Her husband was lost in the Calamity then? Like my father?”

“I believe so.”

Fuyu'li perked up, moving forward to look between them before focusing in on Jannie. “You're well informed. Did you come to know this by your Echo?”

“No. I was able to come ahead to make inquiries and submit a petition to get access to her private office before confirming your story and relaying your situation to your dear Satrap.”

Fuyu'li jumped, taken aback by the phrasing. Natsu touched her fingers to her temple, sensing her friend was about to become even more obnoxious about his master. “Anyroad. There's no sense of waiting around if we have a lead. Take us there.”

Jannie stood, brushing off her dress in case some dust lingered before heading out with Natsu and Fuyu'li in tow. The Au Ra hung back as they started their trek through the snow dusted paths, her previous Echo gnawing at the back of her mind. She could see the stone clearly in her head but the name continued to elude her. Entering Noumenon, she looked up, attention on Jannie as the Elezen knelt down low to converse with a small mammet.

“Heaven, Patient. Bzzt. Room 95, Level 2. Status: Open,” the mammet chirped.

“Open? Has the professor returned?” Jannie asked.

“No. Access Request from: Archon Waters, Archon Augurelt, and Warrior of Light Eyradoux approved. Bzzt. Archons Waters and Augurelt are presently engaged in Room 95, Level 2.”

“Interesting,” Jannie hummed before standing up.

“Are they important?” Natsu asked.

“You are familiar with Archon Y'shtola, yes? They are close friends and colleagues. That they are here too…perhaps this situation is bigger than I feared,” Jannie said, attention trailing off to follow their mammet guide.

“To think. The Scions of the Seventh Dawn are involved…I have gotten myself into trouble once again,” Fuyu'li breathed out, keeping pace with Jannie's long strides.

“Again? You've never not been in trouble,” Natsu responded dryly as they started down a staircase.

“You disparage me. I do hope you won't embarrass me in front of the Archons,” her friend pleaded, his ears folding back.

“You wouldn't need help from me,” Natsu hummed.

“Is yond Violet and U’rahn I hear, Jannie?” a cool voice sounded from ahead.

“It does sound like them, doesn’t it, Urianger? No. This is Miss Natsu Obinata and her friend, Fuyu’li,” Jannie introduced.

“Fuyu’li cen-, OOF!” the Garlean started before being elbowed by Natsu, “I…Fuyu’li is fine.”

The Miqo’te’s ears drooped a little as Natsu stepped forward, giving a slight bow to Urianger before straightening up. “We’re actually here because of Miss Violet! She’s been kidnapped along with a few others.”

“U’rahn has also been a victim of the assailant. They actually managed to incapacitate him,” Jannie added, looking past Urianger and into the room behind him as the sounds of papers being shuffled echoed out.

“I see. And that hath brought thee here, as it hath Thancred and myself. Twas his quest to find Y’zel Tia, thus hath led us here as well,” Urianger mused.

“You're searching for my brother too? Was he taken by the imposter?” Natsu asked, looking up to Urianger, eyes wide with worry.

“Taken, no. Inspired, yes,” an annoyed voice sounded from within the office, “And increasingly looking like he is collaborating with him.”

Natsu turned as a foreboding silver haired man stepped out and looked down at her. “Do you know where that coeurl is,” he growled, making her take a step back.

“Thancred. Calm yourself,” Jannie breathed out.

Natsu looked between them, Jannie seeming surprised by the other's incensed mood. Fuyu'li beside her had folded his ears back and started to thrash his tail. Taking a pause, Natsu stepped forward, hands on her hips. “I'm sorry but he's not a coeurl, he's a Miqo'te. And I do not care what the circumstances are, you shouldn't be so rude,” she huffed before poking a finger into his chest, “Furthermore, you don't know what you're talking about at all. He's not working with the imposter, or my friend here would have seen him!”

Thancred blinked while Urianger coughed to stifle his laughter. His scowl lightened, almost to a grin but did not quite approach it. “Very well. Let's exchange intel then,” he offered.

Satisfied, Natsu began explaining how they'd come to arrive at the office, leaving Fuyu'li to jump in with a few details of his time with the imposter as well. Ursinger listened attentively while Thancred leaned in the doorway, arms crossed. “Alright. Is that everything?” the rogue asked before lifting himself from his perch to move back inside, “Let me show you just what your brother has wrought.”

Natsu followed, Fuyu'li and Jannie following in from behind. She gasped as she found the office’s walls cluttered with papers pinned or stapled to the walls. Words had been written over them with little regard for the paint underneath, many having arrows stringing to one another. She recognized etchings of the Warriors of Light as well as various members of Gage Acquisitions, most crossed out. “Ser Vauban…,” she said softly, touching Zoissette’s etching, finding it surrounded by question marks.

Fuyu'li let out a squeak behind her as she let go of the paper, “Great Solus’s Ghost! Aulus mal Asina’s manuscripts. I'd have thought these purged!”

“The Forum doth not make a habit of destroying knowledge, rather, they seek to preserve it,” Urianger explained, placing a hand on Fuyu’li's shoulder, resulting in the Garlean’s cheeks burning.

“Under lock and key,” Thancred added wryly before waving Natsu over to Patient’s desk to an open book with notes sticking out. “Where this tripe should have stayed.”

Natsu picked up the book, leafing back to the title, reading it aloud, “The Destination of Our Fate: Our Souls, the Lifestream, and Our Reflections, by Y'zel Tia. His book? I was told he had retrieved all the copies shortly after publication.”

“Shortly after the abductions,” Thancred corrected, taking the book before quoting from it, “ ‘One must ask: Those of us who have a hole in their hearts. Those of us who walk around feeling that they are broken. Is that because we are? Would Rejoining help make us a little more complete?’. Unadulterated Ascian bull-shite.”

Natsu shook her head, “I don't understand. What's a rejoining?”

“A calamity caused by Ancients in an attempt to make their world whole again. It would take some time to explain it in full… Essentially what Y'zel is asking is: because the world was at one point splintered and with that our souls and life stream, are we a lesser version of ourselves or what we could be,” Jannie explained, cheek to her finger as she thought, “An irresponsible thought that could be used to excuse personal accountability and rather defeatist.”

“If someone buys into this and has the resources, the damage they could do is insurmountable. This was irresponsible to publicize,” Thancred said, finger pounding into the pages of the book.

Natsu hung her head a bit. She didn't quite understand, but she didn't think her big brother would advocate for a calamity, or at least so she wanted to believe. “I think, I can see why if something like that got taken to heart, it might make someone chase an answer…”

“Someone already has,” Thancred said, arms broadly gesturing about him.

Natsu looked around, then to the desk with the book, hand brushing around papers before looking at an etching. Her eyes widened as she picked it up. They were the two boys she'd seen in her Echo bumping into the stranger in The Forgotten Springs. “She was in The Forgotten Springs! When Violet was taken. I bumped into someone and when we touched I saw these boys!”

“Art thou certain,” Urianger asked, stepping forward to take the picture. “They are her sons: Drowning Thunder and Bounding Otter. They passed on to the lifestream with their father during The Fall.”

“Yes, I'm certain. She must have been there too when Fuyu'li came. A tall Roegadyn woman with long brown hair,” she described, searching her mind to try and picture the woman amidst the chaos of the day.

“Sounds close enough,” Thancred mumbled.

“Have you met her? Perhaps my Echo will allow me to see her through you,” Natsu suggested, removing a glove before holding out her hand.

Thancred briefly looked at Urianger, hesitating before reaching out to take her hand on his, letting her fall into a trance. 

She was reclining, boots up on a table in the annex as she idly turned a silver bangle around in her palm. Her heart a-flutter looking at it, Thavnairian in design, a special gift for someone special, and yet she did not want to think of her at the moment less it all become too real. 

“That little devil,” she heard Y'shtola breathe out.

“Alphinaud or U'rahn,” she asked, pocketing the bangle.

“Y'zel. He released a publication and had it reproduced in plain ink. I cannot make out a singular letter. Is he that afraid of my scrutiny?” Y'shtola said in a huff.

She laughed then reached over for the book, glossing over the title before cracking it open. “I'll read it to you then.”

“No. Don't bother. He clearly doesn't want my input,” Y'shtola responded as she rose to take her leave.

Another laugh escaped her before she turned her attention back to the title and began to read through the first page, having little else to do. Before he got in too deep a blond Miqo'te with a sketchbook under his arm wandered into the Annex.

“Um…Archon Waters. Is it true you heard from Ko-”

The world faded and she found herself pushing through a crowd, frantic and out of breath. It was impossible. Improbable. But weirder things had happened.

“RYNE! RYNE,” she yelled out, husky voice raw from yelling.

She didn't turn, simply walking on holding that damnable book by Y'zel. As she rounded the corner, she lost sight of her and by the time she had caught up she was gone. Out of breath she leaned on a wall then slammed her fist into the white marble. “Damn!”

“I told him something like this from the beginning and now it is too late. People keep vanishing and reappearing, three are officially missing. I keep hunting him down and yet he narrowly eludes me every time. Where is he hiding!?” she felt herself say, trying hard to quell the rage in her heart.

Claudien looked up, seeming cross from her interrogation. “I'm not his keeper. Y'zel comes and goes as he sees fit. As for your missing people, what makes you think he has anything to do with it? All you have is coincidences.”

“He has already admitted to such by reclaiming his publications. Thou art wilfully blind to the situation at hand,” Urianger added.

She huffed, glancing over to Claudien’s cabinet, squinting at The Heart of Sabik before whipping her head back toward the professor. “It’s as Urianger says. Y’zel knows he’s responsible for this situation, and I’m inclined to believe fully responsible for the kidnappings or otherwise involved the way he’s been fleeing from capture.”

Claudien stared off for a moment, closing his eyes as he seemed to get lost in thought. Her patience was waning, anger only pacified by Urianger looming about him. Claudien soon shook his head and let out a sigh. “I’m sorry. I truly do not know where he has gone nor can think of anywhere you haven’t already looked. His sister has been in correspondence with me as well and seeks him out too. I’m inclined to believe you’ve checked his cabin in Coerthas in your search as well as among his family. I’m sorry your search has led you here; however, as stated, I am not his keeper. As much as I’d like to have him by my side, there are times when he pursues his own endeavors and as I understand it, neither of you are ones to divulge your plans to those closest to yourselves either. Now, if you’ll excuse me, a colleague has an appointment and I’ve kept her waiting long enough.”

She winced, Claudien hitting a particular nerve. Frustrated, she turned and made her leave with Urainger, near flinging open the professor’s door. Outside, a Roegadyn woman sat idly reading, not bothering to look up as they passed. Behind them, she heard Claudien say, “I’m sorry for your wait Patient. You had something you wished to discuss?”

Natsu took in a breath as she came to, finding herself with her head against Thancred’s chest as he held her upright. “It’s her. She was the one I saw in the village…and I saw that stone again…”

“Stone? What stone,” Thancred asked, letting go of Natsu.

“The Heart of Sabik. I think it could be important. When I had touched Claudien, I’d seen it then too,” she said, watching as everyone’s face turned pale, “Did I say something wrong?”

The room stayed quiet for a moment, everyone staring before Fuyu’li shook his head, “Are you certain? Natsu, that is a very dangerous piece of auracite. It is the very same stone that had leveled a good part of Eorzea and has been responsible for many catastrophes throughout the history of the world.”

“It feeds off ambition…if Patient Heaven has it and is using it for her own ends then we’re facing an imminent disaster,” Thancred breathed out.

“It was left with Claudien recently. I’m sure he has put it somewhere safe,” Jannie assured Thancred.

“Um,” Natsu said, interjecting, “Well, it was in his office. Y’zel was playing with it at one point. It was in a cabinet and still there when you had visited. Maybe-”

“It’s gone,” Claudien’s voice called out from the doorway, the man out of breath, “I went to check on it, and it was removed from my cabinet!”

[azems-familiar]

okay, you are flush with aus, so forgive me if this is already something you write, but give me an "emet lives" au.

this is definitely something i write into my regular canon stuff, actually, because Emet is one of my main muses and i ended up getting too attached and now he keeps surviving, but! it will be a while before we write how all of this goes down in our regular canon, so here's how it goes.

it's because of Elidibus that he survives. Emet flees to the rift with the last of his strength as he's dying, to spare Corrain and Lelesu from having to watch; Elidibus finds him and with Zodiark's power kind of gathers his shattering soul up and puts him into a mortal body. Emet has to repair his soul himself, but good thing soul magicks are his specialty then, huh. He ends up back with the Scions because after Elidibus falls on the First, Fandaniel takes the opportunity to try to assassinate Emet so he can put his "restart the Final Days and destroy everyone" plan into effect, and so it's alliance of necessity time.

Corrain, Lelesu, and G'raha have all been very much grieving him, and so when he shows up the rest of the Scions just kind of- have to accept that he's sticking around now. They put the tempering cure to work on him as soon as he's recovered enough for it, and he gets to have a horrible breakdown about the realization that he'd been planning to bring back the dead - something that goes entirely against who he was as a person and his seat. He still wants to Rejoin the star. he's exhausted and the last Unsundered and can now see clearly that in their efforts to continue to save the star they have been destroying it. he is forced to acknowledge that he cannot bring back the past, and so for the first time since the Sundering, he begins to properly grieve what he has lost, since he is now struck with the realization that it is going to Stay Lost.

He is, essentially, out of the action until the Ilsabard Contingent heads to Garlemald; by then he has recovered enough to change his face. He's never going to have quite the same power he did before (aka no phase 2 transformations anymore, sorry Emet), but he'll still be one of the most powerful mages in the world, considering. Fandaniel steals Corrain for the bodyswap, and Emet is utterly incandescent when Zenos shows up wearing his body - very much lashes out at both him and Fandaniel, injures Fandaniel, and the only reason he doesn't go after them both is that he's pushed himself too far as he's recovering and also that he ends up choosing to stay with Corrain to help the transition of his soul back into his body.

He knows what Fandaniel is planning the minute they get through the Tower of Babil/to the moon. But they get distracted by seeing Hyth and are too slow to prevent Fandaniel's suicide into Zodiark's pit, and that's the moment Emet knows he's lost. He's incredibly upset and angry about this, and spends some time performing last rites for the souls in Zodiark that get dissipated before he decides that he's Not letting the planet fall to the Final Days a second time, not after everything, and goes down to hold a meeting with as many heads of state as he can to help them prepare.

On Ultima Thule he's one of the people to sacrifice himself so that Corrain and Lelesu can keep moving forward. He's been dealing with a lot of really complicated emotions - the summary of what happened on Elpis, a lot of fresh anger at Venat/Hydaelyn, some incredibly mixed feelings now that Hydaelyn is gone, a whole lot of trying to figure out wtf he thinks and feels about the Sundered. The civilization they stumble upon in Ultima Thule that he helps build a path through is one that's dying out because they refuse to pass on their legacy to successors they considered unworthy. In their insistence that they find the right people who would leave their legacy unchanged, instead of honoring it and moving forward at the same time, their legacy ended up lost forever. Emet is forced to reckon with that and their own insistence that none but their people could steward Etheirys properly - one of the feelings that led to the attempt to resurrect the dead.

And a bonus sixth for you: after endwalker, he and the other ancient survivors (Hyth, Elidibus, and Lahabrea so far, but that might change) work together to found a "New Amaurot" in which they rebuild a small city to act as a place of learning akin to Sharlayan, where their history, culture, and knowledge can be passed down to the new generations. That the whole continent, not just the Warriors of Light, can remember that they once lived. And it is not what they lost, and can never be what they lost, but it begins the path of looking to the future, rather than the past.

[lizkeen]

RP starters from the novels ( One to four ) of the Celestialverse.

I was create to wage carnage.

That speech was so inspiring, I almost developed half a moral.

Why do you not show me how much trouble you can put up before you realise who I am.

I wish I had slaughtered you instead.

Have you added blasphemy to your crimes now?

You wanted a soldier, I wanted a father. Consider us both disappointed.

Nobody in their right mind would crown a mad boy king.

When you left me to die, he offered me an opportunity.

When I looked death in the eye, I realised I never wanted to die. I just wanted to stop living the way I did, in pain and torment. If that makes me the villain, fine.

I do not let people get close.

He killed you, lied to you for centuries and suddenly I am the villain?

Do not roughen him up, we need him capable.

The darkest ones do not stop at morals.

You sound like a mortal. It is disgusting.

Your father would have handled this differently.

You truly have made yourself a monster.

Try and fire at me. Go ahead, call for your patrons.

You are my patron.

Remove your hood.

I have been nothing but hospitable and you kick my efforts with your feet.

Touch her again and I will break your bones one at a time.

Meet your maker.

My actions are barely comparable to yours.

It will catch up to him when he expects it the least.

Neither of you can fool the court.

He is a boy, he is terrified.

He is in no danger.

I am the danger.

I am what everbody fears.

War is upon us.

Fear speaks to the innermost of a person.

You should see yourself.

They fear you for your mind.

We are not going to kill the king.

You are the fucking royalty.

You can not tame a dragon.

I do not think that your decision was right.

Just as easily as I have given you life, I can take it away.

Do not make me kill you in front of them.

Ruthlessness is a learnt emotion.

If you stop him, he will wage war against you.

They fear the powerful.

Take off your armor.

Paint me the monster to ease your darkness.

I would always be merciless on them.

I will not be your weapon.

Come forth and kneel.

Look at me!

You led him to slaughter.

If anyone dares to stand against me, death awaits them.

Kneel!

Let them see what you are capable of.

At least I do not let me pride get ahead of me.

Have you never realised that all I ever wanted was your approval?

If you lay a single hand on her, I will mutilate you so bad you wish you were dead.

Careful never got me anywhere.

I will take all that is his.

You can not beat me.

Maul her, chase her, kill her.

You can defend yourself so do it.

You look dreadful.

You were supposed to stop me.

I am not your conscience.

You are the queen/king/monarch of ashes.

Time does not matter. The body count does.

Spare me your wisdoms.

You can not win against me.

I am eternal.

Do I have your attention now?

Always turning stomachs , aren't you?

You are only alive for my amusement.

Death would not suit me.

Careful with your tone.

Do not play with your food.

Since when do you care for fairness?

Let's demonstrate what you do to the ones who betray you.

I do not care about the saints.

You are a spoilsport, you know that?

I like you unhinged.

Stop apologizing like a child and take responsibility for your actions.

The saint will kill you.

Make me.

You are nothing. Nobody.

Kill them or I will.

You are not my god.

All power to you. And may you choke on it.

Do you want to be hunted?

God is dead.

You want to pray to him? Pray to me instead.

[cosmicjoke]

Why did Levi choose to stay behind with Yelena when the alliance was battling the Yeagerists? I know he was left behind at first because of his wounds, but then Levi put himself forward when the Beast Titan showed up. And likewise in chp 136, Levi got stuck on Falco's Titan while the Alliance was battling the giants, but then when he saw Zeke he showed up. I see most people use these to prove that Levi doesn't care about anything but Erwin's promise. Sometimes I can't help thinking that Yams reduces him to an obsession with killing Zeke because he doesn't know what to write about him after Shiganshina and he thinks his role is over. And as a Levi stan, I'm sick of being shown this way in the finale and having fans making these statements.

You have to remember that when the alliance went to retrieve the plane before getting into a battle with the Yagerists, it had only been about a day since Hange found Levi and treated his wounds. He was SEVERELY injured. He didn't yet have the strength to fight, and would have only gotten in the way of the action had he attempted to do so. If people are really trying to float this ridiculous notion that Levi didn't participate because he didn't care about the fight, or his comrades, then I'm sorry, they're either brain dead levels of stupid, or they didn't read the manga. Levi's entire character is centered around how much he cares about his comrades.

He fought against Eren because the situation was dire and desperate and they needed all the help they could get. But the truth is, Levi shouldn't have ever even tried to fight. He was barely alive at that point, and was in no sort of fighting condition. He took a thunderspear to the face, basically, and people complain that "he didn't do enough". Like, get the fuck outta' here. It was an incredible act of courage that he took up arms in the final battle at all. He was further injured while saving Connie's life. He was coughing up blood, bleeding internally. Why anyone would criticize Levi for needing to sit out after that is beyond me, unless they're just a callous, cruel person. He took Zeke out because he was given a clear and easy shot. Zeke let himself be killed. It required little effort on Levi's part. That's hardly comparable to having to battle dozens upon dozens of spawning titans actively attacking, something Levi attempted to do before his leg nearly got bitten off. Levi also knew if he took out Zeke, it would end the Rumbling, full stop. What, was he just supposed to sit there and stare at Zeke waving him down, giving him a clear shot to kill him? That would have been stupid. Zeke specifically called out to Levi. Nobody else probably even realized Zeke was there, or if they did, they had their own hands full battling against the dozens of titans spawning on Eren's back.

Isayama never reduced Levi to any such thing as an "obsession" with Zeke. That whole notion comes from a bunch of idiots who don't know how to read properly, and have no grasp of Levi's character or what drives him. Levi was pivotal in organizing and rallying the alliance in the fight against Eren, and in gaining the victory. Without Levi's leadership in that final fight, who the hell knows what would have happened. I don't understand how anyone can read the manga and come away not seeing how greatly Levi contributed, and how much he gave in the final push against Eren and the Rumbling. He nearly died fighting alongside the others, protecting them and doing what he could to save what was left of humanity, despite being grievously injured. If all he cared about was Zeke, he would have killed Zeke any of the numerous times he had the chance to beforehand. In Shinganshina, during the raid on Liberio, in the forest, etc, etc... He didn't because he was always trying to do what was right for humanity. It was never about revenge, it was about honoring and giving meaning to the sacrifices of his fallen comrades. Not Erwin, but ALL of his comrades. I don't know why this is so hard for people to wrap their pea brains around. If all Levi cared about was killing Zeke, he wouldn't have acted as the de facto leader when Armin became indisposed and rallied everyone to keep fighting. If killing Zeke was all Levi cared about, he wouldn't have gotten Mikasa and Pieck up onto Falco's back after the fact, and whipped Mikasa into shape to deliver the final blow to Eren. WTF is so hard about understanding this for people, I wonder? Every action Levi takes is proof positive that he cared about humanity. The only explanation is that people are looking for ways to discredit Levi. Probably because they're butthurt that everyone hates Eren and loves Levi. Oh fucking well.

Anyway, I'm sorry if I sound pissed with this reply, but I'm sick to death of answering these types of questions. Like, Jesus Christ, if anyone feels that insecure about being a fan of Levi because a bunch of morons on the internet keep screaming about him not caring about humanity and being obsessed with Erwin or Zeke, then maybe they should take up a different interest. It's plain to see by reading the manga or watching the anime how much Levi cares. It's OBVIOUS. It's easy to debunk and counter these fools, because everything they claim is a falsehood to begin with.

Whatever. Again, sorry, I'm just so sick of this shit.