#i also hope people can tell i tried to make him an albino black person

[whoturnedgravityoff]

made a bunch of new cucurucho designs because i just love interpreting this guy!!

also lady cucurucho with our his mask ^_^

[bonny-kookoo]

Ready Player 01 | JJK x Reader | 🔞❤️☁️

Pairing: Jeon Jungkook x Reader

Genre: dystopia!AU, former Game developer!Jk, former pro gamer!JK, former IT specialist!Reader, former programmer!Reader, romance, Smut, slight cyberpunk elements

Warnings/tags: injustice, forcefully controlled public, violence (police/government officials against citizens), unfair powerplay, interrogation, tech talk, Jungkook be antisocial as FUCK but so is the reader lmao wbk, fear of physical contact (Haphephobia), past trauma and mentions of a bad childhood, insomnia, crime, smut because yes it’s me hello my content isn't kiddy-proof in the first place what yall want from me I'm not sure, but that’s waaY at the end ya know, friends to lovers, a slightly sassy AI but we love her, reader struggles with emotions, I mean same tbh, they're both so sweet tho I cant, not proofread because let me live

Summary: there’s a war going on; silent, but it’s there. Media has been strictly become controlled and regulated- to the point of making it illegal to own a TV or phone with internet access without a valid license. But there’s always some people that will try to break free from the controlling force.

"-a new age. This is a new year. And remember; we're doing this for the greater good. Until tomorrow." The news reporter stops talking after she somberly looks somewhere behind the camera that is pointed at her.

Your room is dark- the TV brightness on it's lowest setting so you can see what's going on- but outside, no one can see the light shining in your tiny apartment. Investing in blackout curtains had really paid off at the end of the day.

You don't want to get caught.

There's an announcement van driving past your window; the tiny slits in your curtains where the light from outside can creep its way inside brightening a bit as the headlights pass your windows. Something is spoken, and by now everyone knows the routine speech.

"Electricity will be shut down in five minutes. We advice to save all progress immediately- and we wish a good nights rest. Electricity will be shut down in five minutes..-" It repeats, over and over, counting down the minutes. You slowly move into your kitchen, opening one of the loose floor tiles to turn on your own emergency electricity system. With well practiced movements you close the tile again, moving the rug over it as you walk back into your living room, swiftly sliding the TV behind your wardrobe to make it disappear. As if on cue; there's a knock at your door.

The same as always. Routine. Two times, loud and clear. You don't even have to look through the peephole to know what awaits behind it.

"Yes?" You ask, rubbing your eyes as if you had been already asleep. The officer behind the door nods at you shortly, a mild smile on his face as he looks down at you.

"We didn't mean to wake you miss. Just routine, as usual." He says, peeking into your apartment to look for any electronics still running. It's pitch black however- so he simply nods, as his colleague notes something into his tablet. "We wish a good nights rest miss. Again, sorry for intruding." He apologizes, and you nod, closing the door.

Only when the street lights turn dark, do you move from your bed.

"Creator." The AI voice chimes up, her voice greeting you as as you lift the tile on the floor again- your phone connecting to the AI to show information you instantly decode and note down inside your head. "Player01 has just connected." The voice states, and you sit down on your cold kitchen flooring, smiling a little. "He has sent a message. Would you like me to play it?" The voice asks, and you take a deep breath.

"Yes." You say, and there's a small sound indicating the start of the voice message. A male voice is head.

"Hey, whats up?" He asks, and you can hear something in the background- maybe an empty can or something similar. "I uh.. I'm on my way. Should I bring anything? Ah wait, I know the answer to that.." He says, chuckling at the end of his sentence, and you can hear him zip up his jacket as he moves around. "Yeah uh.. just text or something, I'll bring stuff over. Can't have you starve." He ends, and the AI speaks up again.

"Would you like to repeat the message?" She asks, and you shake your head at her; a signal the artificial intelligence has come to detect quite well. "Should I archive it?" She questions again, and this time, you nod- something your invisible assistant can pick up due to motion sensoring.

"Send him a message." You say. "Tell him: I only need you. Get yourself here in one piece and I'm happy. And I'm very capable of taking care of myself." You state, and your phone shows a small loading message- indicating that the voice is doing as you said. It chimes up after a moment. "Thanks Kana." You say.

"No problem creator. Would you like for me to run through the databases now?" She asks, and you nod, a smile on your face. "Database search in progress. Estimated time: sixteen minutes and eighteen seconds." You huff out a breath as you look at the tiny display on your arm; tiny, yet powerful as it's your way of keeping Kana- your AI assistent- close at all times. Tonight, there would seem to be a lot to dig through.

They really added a lot of content these days.

It's not the door that makes you notice that there's a visitor after a while- He never uses it anyways for some reason. You're sitting on your kitchen floor with a small cup of tea in your hands- kept hot inside a slightly beaten-looking thermos can since you can't use to water boiler at night. Using anything other than Kana would cause a spike the police would be sure to notice; and you're not ready to get caught yet.

Not tonight.

It's a boy who, after a moment, opens the unclosed kitchen window to climb in; his combat boots getting a little snow and dirt from the outside into your apartment as his 80's looking jacket makes distinctive noises as it brushes against the sides of your window. His blonde hair has grown out a bit these days you notice- the roots clearly showing. It's a little wet and slightly curly from the moisture. It must be snowing outside- or maybe it had. You couldn't know for sure.

You never left your apartment.

He closes the window after slipping on the tiles inside a little, the plastic bags noisy as he almost drops them- sheepishly taking off his boots as he smiles at you. His socks are different from one another- but that's another thing so distinctive and just so.. him. He's his own person, always has been; it's what brought you two together, after all. You both stood out against the 'regular public' these days; with his brightly almost white-bleached hair he was like an albino in a sea of crows.

But you knew he didn't need that to stand out to you.

You can still remember the first few times the boy in front of you has visited you; the times where he had just dyed his hair to rebel out, or when he pierced your ears in exchange for you to do it to him as well. It was like you had made a blood pact in your kitchen that night- you had somehow gotten closer, formed a little more than just a simple companionship in order to riot against the law. He began growing close. Gave you a nickname. Began calling you his player 2. Began calling you his 'ace'. He had explained that he thought of it from memories of his gaming days; the two fighting teams always called red and blue, and one of his favorite weapons having that nickname- simply because it always 'saved his ass last minute'. He had rambled on about his last tournament after that, eyes sparkling and cheeks round from cold noodles.

You had become friends.

"hey." He says after sitting close across from you on the cold floor; the opened tile and Kana's core exposed to you two, the only source of light apart from your bracelet. The colorful LED's paint marks on his face and illuminate his features to you; but it does the same to you from his point of view. It's a familiar sight. "How are you?" He asks, almost shyly, but you know that's not what's bothering him.

"Hey Jungkook." You simply say with the hint of a smile, as you answer him. "Haven't slept well these days but, what's new I guess." You chuckle, and Jungkook smiles too- though a glimpse of concern is still shown your way. He knows however that forcing you to sleep won't do much good- your insomnia was too bad to really conquer it in a day or two just by taking naps.

And also; who was he to talk about solving personal issues.

"Have you seen the most recent reports?" You ask him, and the boy somberly shakes his head.

"I was unable to." He states. "They were patrolling close to my apartment complex because there had been someone reporting a Glitcher today." A 'glitcher'- a slang word now commonly used for people like Jungkook and you. People who went against the nightly routines, people who tried to trick the system by using electricity at night, owning media, consuming it, or dealing with it. It somehow became worse than underground drugs. "They pulled him out at around twelve or so- but they seemed too on edge the entire day, so I didn't risk it." He says, and you nod. Jungkook had always been a very good person when it came to calculating risk versus reward. He was good at reading people too- even though he didn't interact much, he got out of his apartment a lot more than you did. "Anything important?" He asks, and you shrug.

"There was a report that China and Japan were still on edge- with the chinese government arguing that they would soon start with 'more drastic measures to get things under proper control', whatever that means." You say, and Jungkooks brows furrow as he starts to pick on the skin of his jaw. "Let's just hope the flood doesn't throw us under the sea as well if it escalates I guess.." You say, and the boy across from you nods.

"Creator." Kana's voice chimes up, making Jungkook look up before remembering that the only source would be your bracelet, which you look at as well. "My scan of your body shows that you have not consumed a sufficient amount of calories today. I recommend a meal in the next five to eight minutes to avoid malnutrition." She says, and you groan. "I take this as a form of verbal communication. Running data search..." She says, as Jungkook looks at you; thoroughly amused by the teasing banter between the AI and his friend. "My data search concludes that you are annoyed, creator. I have only stated a fact however-" She continues, and Jungkook steps in.

"I've brought some leftovers from my dinner today we can eat." He says, pulling out some plastic containers as he moves to get proper cutlery out of your drawers. He makes sure to push them towards you, making sure to nod with a smile as you nod and thank him a little embarrassed. "It's nothing. You know I love you too much to let you starve!" He states with a grin, bunny teeth on full display as bitterness creeps up your throat- something you make sure to swallow down before beginning to eat.

Because the kind of love he's talking about right now, is not the kind of love you want him to feel for you.

"You forgot to give it a proper validation there-" He points out as you type away. "Otherwise it will just run instantly, and everything at once. That could crash older systems, and we know that V95 uses an older laptop, so we should take that into account." He says, and you nod, clicking back to the spot Jungkook is talking about.

This is what you're both good for.

Writing code for you had always been something you did with a passion- simply because you were good at it. Numbers and short phrases were something you could remember with ease; but you never had to think much about the visual aspect of programs in your department back when you were able to work for a simple programming company. You had simply always been tasked to program security systems and automatically updating firmware, or simple AI's for factory robots. Jungkook however had been all about the visuals; he had been programming games after all. That's why you two fit so well together in this scene. Whenever he would be in complete awe of the broad knowledge you had about official guidelines and security breaches, of staying undetected and unseen while still gaining as much as possible from every single line of code, he could always throw in his input to make sure the program you were both writing and updating for the glitch community was easy to use and simple enough so it could run smoothly on as many systems as possible. Be it phone, laptops, PC's- you two made it possible.

This program was connecting Glitchers all over the globe- and with yours and Jungkooks knowledge, you made it almost invisible. And even if it was somehow detected; there was no possible way to track down any of it's users.

The fact that you had to hide a simple program from the government made you sigh.

"Okay. Yeah I think that fixed the bug." He says, and looks at your arm- at Kana. "Oh, by the way, Kana?" he asks, and the chime gives him the cue to talk. "I heard you had a bug-fix too recently." He says, and the AI chimes again.

"I did, Player01." The AI answers. "The addition of code to my current program has proven to significantly increase my ability to observe and save more data." The female voice answers, and Jungkook grins. "You are happy, Player01." She states, and he nods.

"I am." He says.

"Why is that?" The AI asks, and Jungkook shrugs.

"I'm just happy you're doing well. Someone has to take care of ace when I'm not close by, yeah?" He states, and you try not to react to it. Jungkook is by now used to your more stoic expression; you're not too emotional and barely let things get under your skin. You've been hurt before, he knows this even if you never told him- he can see it in the way you hide inside the safety of your home, how you're so cold on the outside but still clinging onto him. Sometimes he wishes he could touch you; run his hand over your head to ruffle your hair like in those cheesy movies, hold your hand, or simply give you some reassurance in the form of a gentle hand on your back whenever you struggle.

But he's got his own demons, and they love clinging onto him just as much.

"V95 has connected to voice chat. Would you like to talk to him?" Kana states, ripping him out of his thoughts as he watches you nod.

"JK? Y/N?" A deep voice asks.

"We're here. Heard there was a raid close to you?" Jungkook asks, and he can see you grow a bit more serious at that. "Are you okay?" He adds, and V answers, although quite.. tired?

"I'm good. They got Jimin though." He states, and you sigh, running a hand through your hair as you stand up, frustrated. Jungkook knows you're trying to calm down by pacing. He doesn't mind. "They didn't officially arrest him, took him for 'questioning' though. We know what that's about." He states somberly, and Jungkook takes a deep breath.

"Jimin is a master manipulator V. He'll get himself out of it, I'm sure." Jungkook tries to reassure, but it doesn't gain him much than a hum from Taehyung on the other end of the line. "What about Sleeper?" He asks, and a chuckle is heard.

"He's been checking the videofeed from inside the past few nights. He said he's send some of the big bites to Ace though?" He says, and Jungkook looks over at your form.

"Yeah I've seen it." You simply say, though Jungkook grows uncomfortable with the way you're suddenly standing there. You're a little hunched, biting the skin on your thumb as you look at the tiles as if they suddenly began to move. He knows himself that things inside the 'rehabilitation centers' weren't all that nice to see- but you rarely ever displayed so much distress over it. "Let's just hope Jimin get's his ass out of this situation. We can't afford to loose him." You say, and V stays silent before he sighs.

"Yeah. I tell sleeper you've seen the stuff. Oh, and our prince charming has asked for a date with Ace. Again." Taehyung chuckles, and you groan- while Jungkook can't help but clench his jaw. Kim Seokjin was a very good asset to the team; with connections reaching deep inside the government and his position as a former lawyer- but he still hated his guts.

You didn't need to waste your time dating. You were totally capable of taking care of yourself, you had even said it personally! And for anything else Jungkook would provide for you. You didn't need anyone else than him.

He was totally not jealous of him.

"Can he not use our underground connections for that circus?" You say. "I don't even go grocery shopping, why would I want to go on a fucking date?" You mumble, sitting down next to Jungkook as you take a spoonful of rice. Jungkook feels a weird sense of satisfaction about the situation.

"Who knows." Taehyung says. "Alright, 10 Minute mark- I'll hear from you two soon. Take care." He says, and you both say your goodbyes before the line goes silent.

Although Jungkook hates physical contact, he likes keeping you close.

His heart is melting like chocolate as he notes the way your hand grips his jacket tightly as the two of you walk through town to get your license renewed- a way of holding onto him, and he somehow wishes it could be his hand. He knows yours would fit so perfectly in his, and yet he can't bring himself to do it.

His body is not cooperating.

He remembers vividly how his fear had developed; with his father and mother both being dramatically overworked and overwhelmed with having a kid at a young age, they had no idea how to make a child behave. Every second touch would bruise, every time he had been held would be force.

And at some point, he started to dislike physical touch completely.

It had just been like his growing interest in freelance climbing- the way he would walk and jump high over the heads of unsuspecting people, away from all judgemental gazes they'd throw his way for behaving the way he did. Only when the wind could hit him freely, only when he couldn't make out faces of anyone down below, only when he was high up- that was when he felt safe. The ground below had nothing of interest for him, no point in going down, as his apartment was located on the top floor of the complex. Jungkook never took the elevator, always the stairs.

He liked being reminded how high he lived.

And yet, there's one thing that pulls him down, brings his feet to the earth below, calls him like a siren song. It's you, hidden away from everyone's sight inside your tiny home, just as troubled and judged as himself.

He'd fallen in love with you the second you told him his name.

It had been a rainy night, his clothes drying on your heater as he was wrapped in two of your blankets; the smell of your fabric softener and something so typically you surrounding him like a mother's hug would a child. It had given him a feeling of comfort he had never quite experienced before, and it had also been the first time he had imagined what it would be like to hug you.

To have you close.

He had explained to you why he had freaked out when you reached for his arm to steady him when he almost fell inside your apartment through your window; had apologized and bowed his head in shame until you had simply shrugged.

"You don't have to justify yourself to anyone, Jungkookie." You had said. Jungkookie. "You're you. And I like you." You had said, not looking at him as you typed in some code to Kana's internal system.

His heart had warmed up at that.

And while you had accepted him, he had accepted you just as much. While at first caught off guard by your quiet and sometimes harsh way of treating him, he had also gotten to know just how gentle and delicately you treated the ones you loved. You were a loyal person, always going out of your way to be helpful, and silently basking in praise any time it was directed at you.

He loved that view. The way your cheeks would grow warm, how your eyes would sparkle; and he loved most of all, that he had been, according to Taehyung who was the second closest to you, the only one to see you smile.

You even laughed with him.

It filled him with pride to know that you were able to let go around him, even if it was just a little. It made him feel like he did something huge. It helped him sleep at night knowing that you were trusting him enough to let down your guard a little.

And it hurt him even worse knowing that he couldn't do the same thing for you.

He was a coward-

and you deserved a hero.

"Ace?" He asked, slipping through your window as he noticed the apartment silent and dark. Nothing greeted him. "..Ace?" He tried again, maybe you were asleep? But your apartment was quiet, empty, nothing spoke of your presence. Dishes were in the sink, a cup of water left untouched on the counter, and something inside of him churned painfully at the way this looked. He checked the kitchen tile, sliding it to the side like he's seen you do it countless of times.

It was dark.

Instead, he was greeted by a post it note. "Underneath the bed. Take care." Was all it read. He stood up, pushing your bed away from the wall noticing how your carpet had been torn a little. And as he lifted the cut flap of carpet, there was an envelope.

Your watch. A small in-ear piece, and your old IT-identification, folded.

A noise outside your hallway made his head snap up as he pushed the bed back into place, making an escape for it as he climbed outside the window, watch safely inside his jacket as he climbed back up on top of a building, before he examined it further, turning it on, after putting the earpiece in.

"Hello, Jungkook." Kana greeted him, and it felt weird to hear the AI say his name like that. "Creator has advised me to answer all questions you might have, and assist you from here on." She said, and Jungkook simply put the watch on, making his way to his own apartment.

"What happened?" He asked, his face serious as he walked.

"At around 6:12 O'clock, creator was taken into further questioning regarding illegal possession and knowledge of classified information and technological equipment. She had shown no resistance and complied with authorities. My observations however showed that she was taken with more force than necessary." Kana explained. Jungkook shook his head. "She had prepared for this instance during the night, approximately twenty-six minutes after you had left."

"She knew?!" He suddenly said, shutting his apartment door violently as he started to pace around, throwing his jacket on the couch. "Why didn't she contact me?"

"Analysis; your body shows signs of-" Kana started, but Jungkook interrupted.

"Shut up. Why didn't she tell me?" He asks again, and Kana seems to hesitate for a moment.

"Considering her close relationship to you, she probably wanted to not get you involved." She stated, and Jungkook sighed, sitting down on his couch as he gripped his hair. He should've stayed. Hell, it wasn't the first time he wanted to stay. He had dreamed of staying over, of fucking living with you for months to no end by now, but he was a coward. And this was his paycheck.

"Kana." He said lowly, and the small tune gave him the cue to talk. "Contact V95. Tell him it's urgent. We got an emergency." He says.

"I can't watch this." He says, jumping up and holding onto his head as to not punch his wall, unable to go through the videofeed of your interrogation room.

There's not much to see, but Jungkook knows that's simply because they haven't had the time to see to you yet. You and him knew best what really happened in these rooms, and he hated knowing that deep down they wouldn't go easy on you simply because you were a young woman. It didn't matter to them.

He'd seen teenagers way younger than you and him getting the rough treatment before- and elderly didn't get spared either.

The government bragged about having everything in order; yet they couldn't even control their own law enforcement it seemed. When he really thought back on his history lessons in school, not much had changed at all.

The world was still in utter chaos.

His palm shuts his laptop harshly- earning a tiny chime from the AI he’s already forgotten shares his home with him now. “I suggest that you practice care in treating your electronics to-“ he groans, successfully shutting it off at that. “Why are you frustrated?” It- she? Asks, and he sits down.

“I don’t know how to help her.” He admits in shame, thinking back to the footage of your hidden camera; the way they had pushed you to the ground, before grabbing you, leading you out of your apartment a few minutes away from him. “I don’t know what I should do.” He says.

There’s a bit of silence, until the AI speaks up again. “Do you have a romantic interest in my creator?” She asks, and his head snaps up at that.

“What the fuck? Why would you ask me this?!” He barks, unsure where to look since he can only hear the voice.

“I have observed both my creator and your behaviors; you seem to have a very deep rooted interest in each others well-being and opinions. This is commonly found in partnerships. I was only asking you to confirm if my assumption is correct.”

He’s silent for a moment, until he speaks again, watching the announcement van pass his window; voices dull and unintelligible though the walls and windows. “It’s no use anyways. Who wants someone they can’t even shake hands with?” He sighs, looking into his lap again. He hates that he’s like this; that even though he very much loves and adores you, there’s no magic moment that makes him forget- even though he craves the contact, he can’t do it. Every time he’s close to you, he knows that he could simply hug you; or let you rest your head on his shoulder, like in romantic movies. He wants to hold your hand, wipe your tears- but his body won’t cooperate. He can’t do it.

Not even with you.

“Creator seems very comfortable with you.” The AI states. “I have been asked to archive all text messages and phone calls of you two recently. When I asked for a reason, she claimed she would need it someday- I was unsure what she meant.” Jungkook furrows his brow, raising his head again. “Sometimes, when creator is deeply upset, she has the habit of playing some of the recordings of you singing, or reminding her to take care. My research has shown that it slows down her heartbeat to a more normal level and also improves her insomnia.” Jungkooks eyes widen at that.

Does that mean.. that you like him back?

"Kana, fuck- cut the feed." He says, agitated.

"Are you sure?" She asks, and he sighs, before yelling his frustration out, sitting down to take a deep breath. He slowly shook his head no. He couldn't let all your hard work go to waste like this.

He couldn't stay a coward.

"Jungkook, it appears to be that the creator is being let go." Kana suddenly chimes up, and Jungkook rushes to his pc setup to see for himself. And she's right- your arm is being held tightly, and something is being said to you, but your hands are no longer chained to the chair- you're free.

What just happened?

Jungkook sometimes really hates himself for being the way he is.

There's no sugarcoating it that you need comfort now more than ever, even though you don't openly show it to him. He can see it in the way you're still biting your nails, he can see it in your eyes which never stay on one point for too long. And he can definitely see it in the bruises on your upper arm, and the cut on your lower lip where you had bitten in anger and frustration. He wants to comfort you, he knows you'd let him- and yet he can't move any closer than where he is right now; only the length of his palm of space between you two. And yet it's like his joints are locked into place. He can't touch you.

What if he hurts you?

And it dawns on him right then and there while he watches you drink your can of overly sweet soda while typing your code like second nature, that he's not scared of you hurting him. He's scared of doing to you, what's been done to him. Because deep down he is aware that his parents never had bad intentions, never hated him or wanted him to suffer; they were simply unsure and not at all confident in how to really care for a child. They had been caught off guard and gotten overwhelmed by the sudden shift in their situation that they never truly knew what to do. And nowadays he felt like he was simply heading down the same road.

He was starting to feel like he was becoming just like them.

"Hm?" You ask him, ripping him out of his thoughts as he looks at you, your eyes wide and worried as you put down your almost empty can of soda. "What is it?" You ask him, and he wants to scream. He wants to throw a fit like a child at the way you seem to worry for him every time you should worry for yourself. He's a coward, he's useless, he's everything you don't need nor deserve in his eyes, and yet you always look at him like he's the main character of your favorite movie.

If he was, he was sure he'd be merely a sidekick- because you deserved to be the focus of every story told in his eyes. And if you weren't included in the tale, he knew he didn't want to ever know about it.

He swallows, before he manages to make his hand move, finger pointing at your arm where a green-ish bruise already formed. "Does it hurt?" He asks, and he's not even sure if he's asking you about the bruise, of if he's asking something else. He doesn't know what he's saying, doesn't even know if he's asking you or himself.

"No." You answer, and he looks at you, searching for any hint of a lie in your eyes. But he only sees that slight smile, lips turned a little, almost unnoticeable. But its there, he can see it, and he wants to print it into his mind to never forget it. You were so observant, knew him so well, that he was almost certain you knew of his inner fight and what he really meant with his blurted out question. "Are you okay?" You ask him, and he swallows again, eyes stinging with unshed tears as his body grows rigid like an unoiled machine, only moving with as much force as he can manage to come up with. His breathing is heavy as his eyes can't leave the spot on your arm, and your watch him with wide eyes as his shaking hand slowly reaches out.

He doesn't know what he expects to really happen.

Maybe like those electric shocks you get when someone had rubbed their socks on a carpet before touching someone else. Maybe he had expected to recoil instantly. Maybe he had expected nothing- but he was suddenly in a rush the moment his fingertip touched your warm skin, delicate, soft, everything his rough hands weren't.

And you were still as prey in front of a wolf.

But the wolf in this scenario was holding his breath while his tears finally fell. He wants to speak, but he can't, he doesn't know how to ask for something when he doesn't even know if he wants it.

But suddenly he moves again, his palm now resting fully against your upper arm, shaking, as it moves over the length of it, softly, as he imprints the way your soft skin feels. "Jungkook.." You whisper out, and he suddenly snaps, leans forward, his legs on either side of your body as he snakes his arms around you from behind, pulling you close to his chest. You can feel him shake as he holds you, his cheek resting against your back and you don't care about his tears staining your shirt as he suddenly cries openly and possibly for the first time since he was a mere child.

He's unsure, overwhelmed, because you're so warm, you smell so nice, you're so soft, and he can't let go, doesn't want to let go. He whines out as you turn a bit as he thinks you're moving away but you're simply placing your legs over his as you sit in his lap, hugging him back as you make sure to give him a gentle squeeze.

He calms down after a long while of simply existing. Of breathing you in, of feeling you. "You're right." He whispers into your neck, and you can't help but shiver, leaning into his hug.

"It doesn't hurt at all."

"You know, I get why you come up here." You comment, as Jungkook makes sure to hold your hand tightly in his, your feet dangling off the edge of the building you're sitting on top of. "It's nice." You say.

He's not listening that well though.

All he can really do is watch your face, illuminated by the neon lights of the city, hair swaying in the wind as you look down below. He doesn't quite know what you two really are, doesn't know how long it will take him to really come out of his shell and give you the love you deserve, but he's trying. He's fighting, he's left his cowardly self behind.

He want's to change.

And not just for you alone, because while he hates seeing you hurt, he knows what you two are doing- what all of you are doing- is for the greater good.

Jungkook hates your ideas sometimes.

Simply because he knows they will work, but also end up with you getting into danger at the end of it. And just like now, all he can do really is hope that you make it out as he keeps a watchful eye on your movements from above, giving you directions via Kana as you sometimes trip and stumble a little.

You're not a very active person; running wasn't really your thing.

Fuck, you were basically a hermit, the most you walked around was from your bedroom into the kitchen!

But then again, sacrifices had to be made somewhere. And Jungkook really admired you; because every time he thought that you had reached your limit, you would face it head first and break through it.

"Ace, try and somehow get to higher ground. They're caging you in from all sides." He urgently tells you as he watches police chase you down the roads, pushing citizens aside to not loose sight of you.

The plan had been simple. Gain all the attention so Taehyung could infect one of the police station's servers with a new worm, giving you all a better and easier access to any data and communication of the area. Jungkook couldn't play the bate well enough; and you had been on their radar already, making you the best option to gain their interest quickly enough.

Although Jungkook hated that part.

"Come on, ah fuck it." He grits out, jumping down to grab a ladder, making his way to a nearby area he could pull you up. There was no way you could reach any of the fire ladders yourself, and by now, things were getting too hot for him to risk anything. "Here!" He barks out, not thinking twice about grabbing your hand and helping you upwards, trying not to worry too much about your heavy breathing. And then there's it.

A pop, loud, followed by another, and another, and another. You're suddenly falling, scraping your knees on the ground below as he can't catch you, too startled by the fact that they had actually decided to shoot to react quick enough. "Fuck!" He says, eyes wide and pupils blown as he looks at you.

"Jungkook, why the fuck aren't you running?!" You yell at him, a scratch on the top of your left cheek as you push his leg away from you- the only thing you can reach. "Go!" You bark again, and he growls out something, before he manages to pull you onto his back, adrenaline not letting his brain process what he's doing.

He can't just leave you.

"Taehyung, get out, Ace has been shot. Whatever was uploaded has to be enough." He says via the in-ear piece, doesn't wait for a response. He still gets it.

"Fuck, what?! Okay okay, I'm out" He says, and Jungkook can only catch a glimpse of the older man leaving the building via the backside entrance. He's only concerned with getting you somewhere safe.

"Urgh." You groan, slowly sitting up on Jungkooks couch. "I mean, I know paintball hurts, but rubber bullets? Jesus.." You complain, while Jungkook looks at you with a dark expression. "What?" You ask him, and he huffs.

"You sound like you haven't almost been killed yesterday." He grimly says, and you shrug. "Stop. I'm serious." He tells you, and you let yourself fall back down onto his couch.

"Whatever. At least we killed their communication." You say, closing your eyes. "Must've at least pissed them off." You say.

"Kana." Jungkook suddenly says, waiting for the familiar sound to tell him she's active. "Shut down for now." He says, and you sit up, hissing instantly at the sudden movement.

"Hey- ah fuck!" You say, as you watch on your bracelet how Kana complies; shutting down. "Why would you do that?" You say in an offended matter, before you grow quiet, watching him go onto his knees in front of you, as he lets his head rest on top of your lap.

"I just want.. you to myself. Just.." He mumbles, and you slowly bring your hand to his hair. "Just for a moment." He says, and you sigh. Jungkook had been under a lot of stress recently, you no doubt being the main cause of most of it recently. So you simply let him be, as he closed his eyes. "Y/N?" He asks suddenly, and you answer him. "I love you." He says, and your body stops moving.

What?

"It's okay if you don't." He says, not moving from his spot, and neither opening his eyes. "I mean it. I only want you to know." He explains further. "Because I.. couldn't fucking live with myself if something happened to you, and I've never told you." He admits, and you can't help but stare at him. Jungkook looked down on himself so much that it was sometimes frustrating to see; simply because you saw him as such an amazing human being with countless talents and beautiful flaws.

You knew you couldn't muster up the strength to actually answer him; not so spontaneously. You weren't that expressive, you couldn't communicate as freely and colorful as he could. All your words seemed black and white to you, mixing into grey and mundane sentences while his words seemed to bloom into the most amazing paintings. He had a way of charming those around him- and he didn't even know.

You slowly leaned down instead, moving his hair to the side as you placed a feather-light kiss to the top of his cheek, close to his eye.

You hoped he would somehow understand you.

And as he moved again, looking at you with eyes that sparkled brighter than any city's skyline ever could, you knew he did.

He'd always understand you, no matter how you communicated with him.

You didn't need words to understand each other.

The shy kiss you two shared, bathed in the purple glow of the neon lights outside his window, spoke enough.

"You should try and sleep." Jungkook tells you, taking away your can of soda as you whine at him. "No buts. Come on, I'll finish this for you." He says, and you let him take over the keyboard of your laptop. It's something you really only let him get away with- anyone else would've probably lost a finger or two trying to touch your work.

You don't trust anyone but him at this point.

"I know that Kana snitched." You comment, as you lean your back against his shoulder. He chuckles. "Can't believe my own creation goes behind my back like that." You mumble, and Jungkook has a light tune to his voice as he speaks.

"Well, it's a good thing though." He tells you. "I worry about you." He says.

"Ugh come on, you know that's not the part I meant." You laugh, and he grins.

"Oh, you mean the part where you listen to my crappy ass singing to help you sleep?" He tells you with a teasing undertone. "No wonder you got insomnia trying to find rest to that." He chuckles, and you playfully hit his thigh.

"Shut up, your voice is nice." You say, and he's glad your eyes are closed, and you can't see him blush.

Somehow, moments like these re-energized him again. Because it proved to him that there was still a piece of that innocent and untainted you inside that thick shell you had put up to protect yourself. And considering that you let him see you like that made his pride grow taller than any of the skyscrapers of his city.

Maybe one day the two of you will have a future together that won't be so difficult and unfair like your current one was. Maybe one day, you both will have changed enough to teach the next generation about what you've overcome.

But then again; living in the moment seemed to fit a lot better in his eyes, as he watched you sleep soundly against his shoulder.

Yeah, this moment was more than enough for now.

The world won't change over night- you both know that. All of you know that. But small things were starting to make a difference here and there; for example, the letter you held towards Jungkook as his eyes widened.

"..and we have officially decided that we no longer want to participate in the case against the defendant. The result of this agreement is that all charges against Y/N L/N have been dismissed and are no longer being investigated." He reads out loud, almost whispering as if saying it too loud could make it a lie. "They let you go?" He asks, and you nod, the small bandaid on your cheek making you look even cuter in his eyes as you shrug.

"Jimin had reached out too. They've let him go home as well." You say. and Jungkook huffs out in disbelief.

After infecting the police station with the worm you had all worked on, you had scared the entire country enough to take a step back from the overall aggressive tone. It wasn't much- but it meant that they knew you were there. You existed, and you were not bowing down.

You were still untamed.

Jungkook smiled brightly as he put the letter down to the side, reaching out to you to pull you onto his lap. He simply holds you for a moment, his lips kissing the skin of your shoulder as if in a trance. "I love you." He tells you, and you smile, squeezing him a bit in your arms. "I really do." He assures you, and you nod.

You don't answer him, and he doesn't seem to mind as he leans back from you, his eyes crinkling at the edges as he grins, hands holding your face so delicately as he places a kiss onto your lips, making you close your eyes as he breaks away from you, letting you rest your head against his shoulder.

He's still not letting anyone very physically close other than you; he's still scared of going out and around like everyone else. You're still rather hiding inside his apartment- both of your apartment now- and you still have trouble sleeping.

But Jungkook keeps the nightmares away.

And you make him brave in exchange.

It's really weird to hear the sound of a radio nowadays.

Things are still far from normal- but recently, citizens had been given radios to listen to public broadcast again. It only played crappy music with some rare good tracks here and there, but it was better than nothing.

Jungkook couldn't help but think that your breathless voice was far more entertaining than any music station he can remember from his youth.

While he hates touching other people, even friends and family, he can't help but feel a rush whenever he touches you.

His hands can't stop on one specific spot, can't seem to stay still even for a moment as his lips nip and suck at the flesh of your neck and shoulder, marking what's his, visualizing that you really belong to him. He bears the same mark on his collarbone from last night, and he should have been satisfied, but even an early morning couldn't keep him away from you.

The rain hit the window harshly, but he didn't notice at all. All his eyes could see was your form underneath him, skin glowing as he moves above you, euphoria filling his veins as he can't look away from where you're connected, where his cock disappears inside of you over and over and over again.

"I love you." He breathes out as he comes undone, holding you close, resting his head against your shoulder, as you hold onto his arms, a smile, a genuine and big smile thrown his way as he can't help but smile along.

"I love you too, Jungkook." You say, and he chuckles.

The radio in the background still playing, as you lay in each others' arms.

(c)Bonny-Kookoo. Please stop reposting my content on AO3 thinking I won't find it. I'm literally everywhere you clowns.

To everyone else: Thank you for reading this mess- I really apologize for the messy storyline, but I just wanted to put this out before the entire thing escaped me again and I would end up struggling to find my way back into it (cough cough flashback to mean lmao). I promise to somewhat post more regularly. Thank you for your kind words and for sticking with me!

[futurebicon]

Carolina

Marine Biologist AU that no one asked for but I wrote because I miss my second home. Probably two parts.

Very brief mention of a family members death

"Hi welcome to-" Leo stopped his normal speech when he was met with the two most gorgeous men he had ever laid eyes on. "Welcome to the Fort Fisher aquarium. I'm your tour guide Leo and this is Regulus." He somehow managed to snap out of his shock even though the greeting was all muscle memory.

“Two guides. Must be special." The red haired one laughed a laugh that made doves fly. "I'm Finn." He shook their hands.

"That and both of us wanted a break from sticky children trying to swim with the sharks and gators." Reg smiled.

"Sharks? Like ocean sharks? And ocean alligators?" The shorter one asked in shock and a lot more than a sprinkle of fear.

'Fuck he's adorable' Leo swore internally. "Alligators are typically fresh water reptiles but if you are asking if they are real sharks and alligators, than no. They're they’re hyperealalistic mechanical sculptures." He kept a straight face.

"Cute and funny." Finn flashed him a smile after another angelic laugh.

Leo had to remind himself to not die right then and there.

“Don't worry, Logan" Finn told the other one. "I'll protect you from the scary teeth, baby."

Now Leo was sad.

“Oh yeah, right after you stop ogling over our hot tour guide."

Now Leo was slightly less sad and confused.

“Actually." Regulus pulled out his phone. "Our manager just texted and said he needs someone in the gift shop. Have fun." He left with a pat on Leos back.

Leo glared as he walked away, they didn't get texts from anyone for any assignment. Hence the walkie talkies on their belt loops.

“So, follow me and we can start the tour." +++

“This is our 235,000 gallon tank." Leo stood over top of the two story tall tank. In here we have our eagle rays, round stingrays, whiptail stingrays, hammerhead sharks, sandbar sharks, sand tiger sharks, hammerhead sharks. We also have two moray eels and an abundance of fish including shanks and groupers. And a personal favorite, Sheldon the green sea turtle.” Leo stood on the rusted grate with ease as if he didn’t care about the hammerhead only a few feet away from his toes.

“Um, this is great and all but can we not stand on the edge without a railing?” Logan stayed as far away as he could an the 2 feet wide walkway.

“You’re completely safe don’t worry.” Leo flashed a reassuring smile.

“Okay yeah but-”

“Stop being a baby, Lo.” Finn poked his side.

“I’m sorry I’m scared of falling into a 23 foot deep death cylinder filled with sharks.” Logan defended himself.

“Alright we can go officially start the tour.” Leo laughed. “But we do have to walk across the tank.”

“We what?” Logan asked.

“It’s okay. Just don’t look down.” He decided to risk a wink.

“Listen to the hot guide, babe.” Finn kissed Logan’s cheek. “I’ll hold your hand.”

“I love you, Harzy. But I do not trust you enough to not try and scare me.”

“I promi- no I don’t. Fine.” Finn whined when his plans were spoiled.

“Alright, let’s go.” Leo laughed.

They got across the walkway with only a few exaggerated wobbles to scare Logan. And a very grumpy Logan when Leo told him there was another way around the tank.

+++

“So here we have our bald eagle Maverick.” Leo walked up to the opened enclosure. “He’s five years old and has been here since he was two. He was found on the side of the road nearly starved after being hit by a car. If you look at his left wing you can see it juts out a little. That is due to the bones fusing together incorrectly and it makes him unable to ever fly again.” He recited the well known script.

“Poor baby” Finn stuck his bottom lip out.

Leo blinked away the urge to kiss the sad look off his face.

“If we walk up here you can see the aquariums prized possession.” Leo smiled. “Luna the albino Alligator.”

“Oh my god.” Finn hurried over to the glass.

“She looks like you, lover. Pale as fuck.” Logan teased.

“Luna is one of just 100 recorded albino alligators world wide.”

“World wide?” Logan asked in shock.

“Yeah. It’s an extremely rare genetic mutation and due to the inability to hide from predators they’re numbers are next to zero. Very soon they’ll be no more albino gators.”

“What happened to that alligators toes?” Logan pointed at the dark green alligator.

“That’s Gantur. He still hasn’t learn that Luna’s the leader.”

“She bit them off?” Logan’s eyes went wide.

“Don’t underestimate her. Ready to continue?”

+++

“This is my favorite exhibit.” Leo’s face lit up as they walked up to the touch pool.

“Touch anything as long as you use two fingers and don’t pick anything up.”

“Are those stingrays?” Finn pointed towards the end of the touch pool.

“Yeah. They’re still babies and their stingers have been trimmed. Their barbs are like thumbnails and can be clipped monthly without any harm.”

“What are those?”

Leo’s face lit up impossibly more.

“These are horseshoe crabs.” He held onto one of the dark greenish brown banjo shaped creature.

“They are also called living fossils due to the fact that they haven’t evolved at all since the dinosaurs, around 450 million years. It’s mostly due to the fact that they didn’t need anything added or taken away for survival. They were made perfectly. Now their tails.” He pointed to the long stick like end as it moved around with the help of what looked like scaley gills. “Most people look at it and think it will hurt. But it won’t hurt at all. They are extremely, extremely clumsy and use the long tail to flip themselves back over.”

“Sounds like you.” Finn kissed Logan.

“Rude.” Logan scoffed.

“Horseshoe crabs aren’t actually crabs at all. They’re actually more closely related to scorpions and spiders. Watch.” Leo smirked and flipped it over.

There were five pairs of claws moving around as the gills moved up and down like abs, causing the tail to move with it.

“Here-” Leo grabbed Logan’s hand, he tried hard to ignore the way his skin burned. “Touch it.”

“Oh no I’m okay to just look.”

“Come on, just touch it.” Leo begged. “Please just touch it.” He pouted.

“Oh my fuck you’re adorable.” Logan voiced Leo’s exact same thoughts from before.

“Here” he blushed and bit his lib to contain the smile. “Touch it.” He guided Logan’s hand down to the center of the legs, desperately trying to not think about how close they were. Logan’s t-shirt touching his blue polo shirt with his name stitched in the side. The way he could feel Logan’s breathing against his side, the way his leg was pressed between Logans le- stop it.

“Eww that feels weird” Logan’s laughed raised goosebumps on his arm.

“You’re touch his mouth.”

“Ew ew ew ew” Logan pulled his hand away quickly as Finn cackled.

“You asshole” Logan laughed as he pushed Leo lightly.

“Sorry, but it’s funny.” Leo laughed.

“You are now my second favorite person on earth.” Finn put a hand on Leo’s shoulder. “Oh my god I’m crying.” He wiped his eyes.

“Wouldn’t mind if he stayed our favorite.” Logan smiled.

Leo blushed and moved onto the regular view of the huge tank.

+++

“So how’d you get a job here?” Logan asked Leo as they walked around.

“I’ve lived on the island my whole life and started volunteering here when I was 13.” He explained. “I’m going to UNCW for marine biology. Are you two just here for vacation? Even though it’s April.”

“No. We’re actually moving down here. My grandparents owned the arcade on the boardwalk and left it to me once they passed.” Finn told him.

“Oh. I’m sorry about their passing.”

“It’s okay. Didn’t really know them at all.”

“Well I’ll hopefully see you around.”

“Maybe you don’t have to hope.”

Leo tilted his head in confusion.

“We were just wondering if you would want to show us around the island.” Logan told him. “We’ve only been here for a few days and this is the first place we’ve been to. Not even the beach.”

“Oh that’s nearly a sin.” Leo teased. “I’d love to show you guys around. I get off in an hour.”

“Perfect.” Finn said happily. “Do you want to drive over to our house and then switch cars or do you need to change?”

“That’ll work. There’s a locker room and since there’s next to no one here considering the time of year Evan will probably let me leave early.” Leo couldn’t hide his smile as they walked into the brightly lit gift shop.

Logan let out a loud gasp and ran over to the 6 foot long jellyfish stuffie. “I want it.”

“It’s tentacles are going to strangle you, love.” Finn shook his head.

“Kinky” Logan wiggled his eyebrows.

Finn scoffed as three other people in the quiet store laughed.

“Oh hi again Regulus.” Logan smiled at the black haired man who was sitting on the countertop beside the register tossing a brightly colored foam ball with turtles on it between his hands.

“Hey” He smiled back.

“What’d they need help with down here?” Finn looked around the empty room cluelessly.

“He didn’t help me?” The girl beside him raised an eyebrow. “Hi, Rue by the way.” She waved before going back to glaring at Regulus. “Did Evan tell you to help me?”

“No.” Reg smirked. “Just wanted to leave Leo alone with his crushes.”

“Reg” Leo pushed him.

“It’s mutual.” Finn said and Logan nodded.

“Okay. I’m gonna go ask Evan if I can get off early so I can show you a tour of the island and then get changed and I’ll be back down.” Leo changed the subject quickly.

“They’ll show you a tour of their bedroom and then get you off early.” Rue said quietly but not quiet enough. Leo shoved her hard as Logan, Finn, and Reg cackled.

+++

“So are we ready?” Leo walked back down in shorts and a UNCW t-shirt.

A cropped UNCW t-shirt.

“Uh- yeah. Yeah. Um, yeah.” Finn stuttered failing to make it look like he wasn’t staring at Leo’s tan abs.

Finn on the other hand had no shame. His eyes raked his entire body as his mouth went dry.

“Alright. I’ll follow you guys?”

“Huh? Oh yeah.” Logan nodded.

“Get it Knut.” Reg cupped his hands over his mouth and shouted as they left the gift shop and headed outside to the 100 degree weather.

@lumosinlove

[peppymint1986]

My entry for the @madatobigiftexchange

for @Chrysanthemum9484

Prompt: Soulmates where there are people who can tell whether two people are matched except for themselves

The Divided Line

Madara resisted the urge to cheer aloud as the edge of the river finally came into view. It would be even better if there was some food left for him. However, between his brother and his best friend he found that doubtful. Looking back on things, Madara was forced to admit he had spoiled Izuna growing up. But there was nothing to be done for that now.

Stripping off his outer robe, Madara sank to the ground in a move that from a lesser man would have only been described as a flop. He then sidled closer to Tobirama, shamelessly taking advantage of the younger man’s ridiculously strong water nature in order to ward off the heat of the day.

In spite of his strident protests to anyone and everyone that he had given up on what his Father had called childhood foolishness; Madara had in fact spent a good portion of his free dreaming of his and Hashirama’s village. He still found it somewhat shocking to look around and realize that their dreams were becoming a reality. Though the one thing he never would have expected was the easy companionship he had fallen into with Senju Tobirama, a man many still referred to as the White Demon.

Turning his head, Tobirama peered at the man now sprawled against him. “Bad day?” He asked.

“I just wanted some cherries,” Madara moaned. It should not have taken him all morning just because he was out of uniform and thus open to interruptions, in theory.

The Uchiha Clan had always been blessed with a percentage of Soul Seers far beyond the norm. Usually at least one per generation. It was in fact considered to be one of the signs of a stronger than average Sharigan. Consequently, none of his kin had been surprised when he manifested the mangekyo just shy of his fifteenth birthday.

The Uchiha took soulmates very seriously. And Madara had been taught, since his ability to see the strings had first manifested as a young child, that it was nothing less than his duty to help his clanmates find their destined partners.

There had even been times in the past that outside parties had tried to hire an Uchiha Soul Seer. Some of these requests had even been answered to an extent. The clan had accumulated enough knowledge over the generations to be able to tell at a glance the relative distance between a person and their soulmate. More than one mile and the cord lost its glow. Five miles and the cord became a string, more than twenty and the string became a thread. More than a hundred miles and the thread lost its color entirely to become a translucent white.

While it was true that the connection never truly disappeared, it was far too dangerous to risk any member of the clan, much less a Soul Seer for more than a twenty mile journey through unknown obstacles, no matter how much money was offered. No matter who asked.

However, Madara had taken missions to confirm a connection before. Said missions had been few and far between, but he had taken them. It had never even occurred to him, when the village was formed, to hide the fact that he was a Soul Seer. In retrospect, Madara thought to himself. That had been a mistake.

Next to him Tobirama groaned, reaching up to knead at his forehead. “This is really getting out of hand.” Just yesterday he had almost been late for a meeting with the Heads of the Trinity Clans because a thirteen year old girl could not accept that the boy she had a crush on was not her soulmate. She had even demanded he check again, as though the connection would magically reset itself.

“At least we can turn it off,” the albino consoled the other. If they couldn’t they would never get any peace. The world would just be a massive spiderweb of threads twenty-four seven. It would be impossible to function. Inwardly Tobirama shuddered at the idea of being shut up in a cave blindfolded for the rest of his life, like in those stories about those who could divine the future.

“Still,” Tobirama’s lips turned downward into a frown. “We are going to have to do something.” Idly his fingers rapped the ground. “Regulations about when and how citizens can make an appointment with a Soul Seer perhaps.” Those close enough to their destined partners would have to pay for follow up missions.

Madara groaned again, hiding his face in Tobirama’s collar. He wasn’t exactly looking forward to spending time stuck in a room staring at people, but it would be worth it if he could get his life back. As a Clan Head, he had little enough free time as it was.

A commotion off to one side caused the Uchiha to frown. Lifting his head, Madara looked to the left where Hashirama seemed to be having some kind of fit. “What’s with him?”

“Don’t ask questions you don’t want the answers to Madara.”

The Uchiha’s lips quirked. “That’s an odd sentiment coming from you.”

“Nevertheless,” the albino shrugged his shoulders. “In this case I see nothing, I hear nothing, I know . . .” His voice trailed off before Tobirama bolted upright. “Anija!” he snapped. “Have you been gambling again?”

A vaguely guilty look crossed Hashirama’s face from where he was counting coins onto Izuna’s outstretched hand. “Only a little,” he protested. “And not at the bars.”

By the twitching of Tobirama’s brow the younger shinobi was not appeased in the least. “And what,” you could almost hear the albino’s teeth grinding. “Have you been betting on this time?”

“Er,” if possible Hashirama looked even more guilty as he tugged on his sleeves. “It’s just,” he stuttered. “I mean. Um.” The so-called god of shinobi was practically squirming where he sat, looking more like a child who was about to be scolded than the leader of a village of ninja. Why had he thought this was a good idea again?

He threw a somewhat desperate look over at his wife, who promptly ignored him in favor of taking another sip of her chilled tea. Mito had told him back at the beginning she had no intention of getting involved with this, and she had no desire to change her mind, no matter how pitiful her husband looked.

“For the sake of Amatasaru,” Izuna interrupted, rolling his eyes heavenward. This had been fun at the beginning, but now it was just sad. “We were betting about how long it would take you to realize you found your soulmate.”

Madara jerked, feeling like he had been doused in a bucket of ice water. “Izuna,” he hissed. “If you're a Soul Seer and you haven’t told anyone. . .” The notion was almost unthinkable.

“Don’t be ridiculous Aniki,” Izuna waved off his brother’s anger. “I don’t need to see the strings for this. It’s obvious.” He had witnessed enough soulmates pair off growing up to see what was happening. “The two of you can check if you don’t believe me.”

By now Madara’s lips had formed a tight, thin line. “You know a Soul Seer cannot see their own string Izuna.” Something he had always found as cruel, even as he understood why the kami had made it so. If he had been able to see his connection to his soulmate, nothing would have stopped him from following wherever it led, no matter how long it took.

Izuna’s gaze softened. True, he had thrown a fit when he had first realized. Ultimately though, what he most wanted was for his brother to be happy. “I know,” he said gently. “But can you see Tobirama’s?”

Madara stared at his brother in shock for a moment. In all honesty, he had almost given up on finding his soulmate a long time ago. Soul Seers were so rare. Barely daring to breathe, he took Tobirama’s hands in his, raising them to eye level before activating his Sight. And he saw nothing, no string leading off into the distance, no snapped black thread indicating the other’s partner had left this life. Nothing.

For a moment, all the Uchiha could do was stare at their entwined hands in stunned shock. Then, he lifted his gaze to meet equally stunned Ruby eyes. Eyes that like his own, glowed with a Soul Seer’s power. He also admired the pink flush that spread across Tobirama’s porcelain features.

Unfortunately the moment could not last. “Awe,” Hashirama clapped his hands together. “How romantic.” As Madara turned to glare at him the Hokage could not help but try and defend himself. “Well it is.”

“Hashirama.”

“Yes.”

“Fuck off.” Then Madara leaned forward to give his soulmate a soft kiss which quickly deepened. The first of what he fully intended to be many.

Finis

Was almost tempted to label this one and they lived happily ever after

Hope everyone enjoyed and as usual feel free to write your own stories if something has inspired you

[faustonastring]

Hi :D how would the main 6 ( or anyone u prefer) help with and react to an apprentice with albinism

Hi! Thank you for requesting I hope you like it

Request r open :)

Main Six helping a mc with albinism!

Disclaimer: I don’t have albinism, so I did as much research as I could about the topic and I’m basing my headcanons off of that! I’m also going to be basing them off of OCA1 albinism, which is pretty much no pigment in the skin, hair, or eyes. I hope that’s what you wanted!

Asra

Asras headcanons kind of depend on wether you’ve had it before or not, but being that he’s “reacting” to it, I’m just going to go off a limb and make this something that happened after he brought you back (it is canon that the apprentice doesn’t look the same) but I’m going to try my best to make it as inclusive as possible for Everyone with albinism out there!

He immediately is doing research on it. It’s not that he didn’t know what albinoism was, he’s just never seen it in person before, so up close, he thinks it’s beautiful. This is one if those things that asra feels like he isn’t alowed to think, he doesn’t feel worthy of thinking your beautiful, but any one who looks at you would be able to to tell that you are.

He immediately realiszes you squint, a lot, he also is quick to notice that your eyes move at a rapid pace (side to side, up to down, rotary) and he finds it super cute. But besides him thinking it’s cute, he immediately is looking through one of julians old medical books that he left at the shop to find anything about what’s happening to your eyes, turns out impaired vision is a symptom of albinism

He takes you out to get fitted for some cute glasses, but he keeps making you try on all the weirdest ones, ones covered in flowers, ones that glow in the dark, even a pair that is magically enchanted to light up I’m flames. And he picks out a new pair of sunglasses for you every time he comes back from one of his trips, to help with the light sensitivity (good thing he did too because it gets awfully sunny in vesuvia)

Once you start to leave the house more, and go on adventures with him, he makes sure your lathered up in sunscreen, making you look whiter than you already are. And if this is taking place post up-right? well then expect things to get very intimate very fast ;)

Nadia

When she walked into the shop that night, she thought she was looking at a ghost, a very attractive ghost at that, she was very..... enchanted to say the least. Very. Enchanted. The way your pale skin Illuminated in the dark shop, only lit by a couple of dimly lit candles, she finds it stunning. She finds the way your skin illuminates in the palace even better though.

She calls all the best tailors/seamstresses she can find, in order to provide you with clothes that protect you from your body from the sun, but she absolutely hates seeing you covered up like that, so she only makes you wear them if your going for a walk in the gardens, or to the market place, on top of the fifty gallons of sunscreen your wearing.

She notices that you squint the first day that she meet you, so she was looking into getting you fitted into glasses for a while, she makes sure you get tested by the best and only the best, and has you pick from an array of fancy glasses. She also gets sunglasses customly made for you, but if you prefer to wear hers she most definitely isn’t complaining

Everytime a masquerade or palace ball comes around, she makes sure she designs you something that compliements your body one thousand percent, but also is your style, for example, if your more into darker clothes, she’ll pick out an outfit that is simply black, or made out of very dark grays because the complexion is just *chefs kiss*

Julian

Notices it right off the bat. He’s treated people with albinism before, and for a while, it was considered a disease, so he’s had to use up a lot of leeches on albino people, but lucky for you it’s no longer considered a disease. And Julian finds it to be very pretty

As soon as you too officially get together, he’s asking you all about it, all about the common symptoms while frantically looking for a book of sorts......but despite not knowing where he put it driving him crazy, he offers to give you a “check up” to see how you albinism is treating you, but he wiggles his eyebrows when he says it so it’s probably going to Lee’s to something more than a check up.....if you know what I mean ;)

He offers to give you survey for your eyes, and I know some of you Julian stans are wild so for the sake of your life I’m saying no for you. Which Julian is relived to hear because eyes are just....so difficult, then he has to deal with the anxiety of messing up and you becoming permanently blind for ever,,,which is not fun,,,so he happily takes you glasses shopping instead

If you really don’t like it, he will offer to find a cure, minus the murder this time, but honestly if you really cared for him, no matter how much you hate it, you would say no. And insist that he doesn’t need to find you a cure. Which also relives him. A lot. But that won’t stop him from asking on days when the sun is beating down on vesuvia, or when you’re having a bad eye day.

Portia

She thinks your like some sort of god/goddess at first, or like an angel,,,you’re just so...wow. There is no way someone that beautiful exist. And she wants to know all about it.

She’ll start asking questions, slowly, she doesn’t want to scare you away or anything, so she asks the basics, ya’know like “are you some sort of celestial being?!?!” She’s a little bit disappointed when you say no...or finds out the hard way if you were to say yes. But she thinks it’s cool nonetheless

Let’s say sometime post-upright; she uses her only day off, the only day she took off in a very long time, to go glasses shopping with you! She helps you pick out whatever pair suits your style and is comfy of course, but when it comes to the sunglasses? You leave the shop with about three diffrent pairs of wild looking sunglasses, and about one nice one for ~special~ occasions

Slightly panicks everytime you want to go out side, because she is Julians sister, and she’s seen how he burns, and he’s not even an albino! She makes sure your lathered up in sunscreen everytime you leave the house, just in case...and checks up on you every few hours, just to be safe

Muriel

He knows. And while I’m on the topic he knows just about everything about you. Wether it be from when you and asra just met, when asra just would stop talking about you, or from asra brought you back and he would come to the hut crying unsure what to do next, this was one of those things.

He never really cared. Your skin, hair, and eyes was just lighter than everyone else. What’s so special about that? But then he starts to catch feeling for you. And that’s when he starts to realize how beautiful it is. How pretty you are. He’s slowly starting to see the appeal. And all the downs that come with it. It gets to the point where if you were to go outside you have to reapply sunscreen atleast every thirty minutes, and if you get burnt, he doesn’t forgive him self for like a week, but he makes you home made alo-Vera to put on your burns.

He finds your poor eyesight interesting to say the least. He hasn’t really ever met some one with poor eyesight, so he doesn’t know how to act at first. He’ll hold up his fingers and ask you to guess how many he’s holding up. And can’t help but snort if you get it waaaay off.

He Likes to tease you about it, in a loving way, he’ll call you names like Snow White or four eyes, but lovingly of course. He’ll also say things like “can you read it now four eyes?” But he says it with a Huge smile. He’s happy for you he really is. And if his teasing ever bothers you. He’d stop. He would never purposely make fun of you for something you can’t control, but if he hears you making fun of your self for it, or being okay when your friends pick on you for it, then slowly he does too.

Lucio

He is one hundred percent convinced that your an angel of sorts. His angel. Here to take him away from this damn room. And when you do, he’s even more convinced than he was before.

And when I say he’s convinced I’m not joking. I’m not being sarcastic. He’ll even ask you how it must feel to be an angel soaring the heavens. And when you (very confused) tell him you’re not an angel, he’s disappointed. But it’d be very bold of you to assume that stops his flirting, and angel pick up lines. He could fill a phone book with them.

He finds it hard to comprehend that your eyes don’t work like everyone else. But when he does finally start to grasp the construct. He finds it very neat. And it’s just one of the many many many reasons why he thinks your so neat. So special. He even goes out of his way to pick you out a pair of very tacky golden glasses and sunglasses! He even gets a pair or two for himself so you two can ~match~

He also teases you about it, but while Muriel teases in a very loving way, (i can explain in another post if some one needs me too) lucio can come off as if he’s straight up bullying you. It’s not that he means too! It’s just.. he doesn’t know where to stop, but he’s learning! He also doesn’t really know how to take care of other people....and if you ever get sun burnt, catch him scolding you for not wearing enough sunscreen while covering you with alo-Vera. He also checks to make sure your wearing some everytime you leave the palace,

Thank you for reading! I tried my best not to romanticize it too much, but hopefully everything came out okay! Also again not my best writing I’m having a really bad week, so if you want me to rewrite it when I’m doing better I most definitely can and will!

Next headcanon: Main Six reacting to mcs magick going crazy depending on their emotions!

Request are open!

[princeanxious]

“Egg-celent” TSS- Patceit

Warnings: Aphobia, sympathetic deceit

I was requested to write this prompt with anyship, i gave it a shot xD , all errors are mine, and i hope ya’ll like it bc it’s almost 1 am for me.

Prompt: “You’re famous and I jokingly left a comment on your social media post asking if you’ll go egg my ex-partner’s house with me this weekend, and I never actually expected you to respond, let alone show up Friday night with dark sweatshirts, toilet paper rolls, and three egg cartons tucked under your arm” AU

Prior/extra info: Patceit AU where Patton is Famous(and has a youtube and uses it for good) and just moved into Dimitri’s hometown, and Dimitri is also a youtuber but a much smaller one, known for amazing stage/costume makeup artistry and the peculiar way that one side of his face is covered in freckles and the fact that his eyes have heterochromia. Patton is also really tall(6’4) and Dimitri is really short(5’2).

———

‘Hey, /PatPuffballSanders, wanna help me go egg my ex’s house this weekend? I’d bet it’d be sp-egg-tacular.’

-posted at 10:23 pm, by /BoopDiSnek

The short makeup artist hadn’t expected things to escalate this far, and well, in all honesty, he hadn’t expected anything to happen at all. Perhaps it was the fact that Patton Sanders was famous, known well for his pretty voice, sneaky puns, dad humor, and growing popularity as a voice actor.

He was a ray of sunshine, and readily used that talent on every social platform he could to make people smile, but primarily on Youtube. The tall puppy of a man had a pun of the day, animal shelter promo of the week, and a monthly charity stream where he’d invite his friends and other youtubers of all kinds to play games and skits and challenges to raise money for all sorts of causes.

The puffball has a moral streak a mile wide, and has a segment for ‘Dad Chats’ in his videos with his viewers about how they should choose go about certain issues, and how their choices and feelings would affect their decisions, among other topics. He wasn’t good at words, but he tries to be the best influence he can, and that much was evident in any of his videos.

Perhaps it was the fact that Dimitri was still heartbroken, his boyfriend dumping him a week ago for someone else after a year and a half of dating. All because he was a ‘killjoy’ for not feeling sexually attracted to the man. It wasn’t even that Dimitri didn’t want it, he just hadn’t felt any of the sort towards his ex yet and didn’t feel the need to fake an act. It hadn’t sat well with his ex-boyfriends ego, apparently, as was evident in their last fight leading towards their breakup.

The words ‘freak’ and ‘prude’ had indeed stung, but not more than ‘unlovable’ had, the sentence burned into the forefront of his thoughts as his ex exclaimed it.

And maybe Dimitri had been a little out of it, typing the sarcastic message through his angry tears.

Even when pressing the post button had sent a jolt of nervousness through him, having tagged his favorite ball of sunshine, he’d never expected a response. It was evident in the comments his followers added to his post, concerned about his full week of silence, that the question had been silly. Patton? Patton Hart Sanders? The Patton Hart Sanders, egging a house? Sure, Patton had just moved into Dimitri’s hometown, but their hometown was big enough that he’d probably never run into the voice actor anyhow. And Patton just wasn’t that kind of person.

In any case, his phone had been left on the charger as he went to make some tea, and had almost spilled it everywhere when he returned 10 minutes later. A single notification from Patton Sanders himself sat, waiting to be read.

‘Now, I don’t know about eggin’ a house, Kiddo, but you sure have got me on the ‘Egg’ of my seat, ‘fryin’ to know whats eating at you. You feeling okay, Di?’’ It was a private message, sent two minutes ago, and Dimitri was barely breathing.

Okay, so maybe Dimitri was pretty gay for Patton, it was a popular type of crush, nothing very real, and that was all. He looked up to the man, definitely. However, there was no way in heaven that Patton Sanders had privately dm’d him. He could scarcely believe it, even after triple checking that this was an official Patton Sanders account. Perhaps it was unprofessional, but Patton seemed genuinely worried and was trying to reach out, and that made Dimitri feel guilty.

“Hey Pat! Don’t worry about it, I was just joking around.” He squinted at the sentence, scrutinizing it for any particular error before sending it, Patton’s response was almost immediate.

“Something tells me you weren’t, but i’ll let it slide for now, kiddo. The question remains, are you feeling okay?”

“Honestly? No, but i will be. Aphobia sucks, though. Some dude my ex turned out to be.”

It took Patton three extra minutes to respond, a hesitance present in his response. “Oh goodness, that sounds bad.. on second thought, that egging his house idea doesn’t sound so mean after all, Di!” Dimitri snorted, gently waving off the others suggestion through another message.

Back and forth they went for another hour, talking about video ideas and plans and possible collab ideas. Perhaps Dimitri was in over his head, he’d never collabed with anyone before, but he wasn’t going to turn Patton's suggestion for a stage makeup challenge for a charity livestream down.

Eventually they both went to bed, and time moved on.

Dimitri picked himself back up and threw himself back into his videos, breaking the silence with a short explanation video followed by his regularly scheduled videos. By the time Friday rolled around, Dimitri had all but forgotten about his question to Patton. Over the course of the week, both of them had gotten closer, talking about their town and suggestions of places to go, and promises to meet up that hopefully would not become empty.

It was mid-afternoon when Dimitri, who was currently mid-edit thankfully and not mid-makeup mode, got a knock on his door. Confused, he wandered to his front door and opened it, peering through his glasses at the outside world.

Well, attempting to peer, as suddenly Dimitri is met with a blue sweater-clad chest and a happy squeal of excitement coming from the man standing at his door. It takes two seconds for Dimitri to blink upwards at the taller man and recognize him as Patton Sanders, it takes Dimitri two more minutes for his brain to catch up with Patton’s excited rambling.

And to catch up with the fact that Patton is hugging him.

He notices Patton has a few things in one arm, most notably, a couple cartons of eggs. He can’t help but crack a smile, completely flabbergasted that Patton actually thought of going through with this.

Dimitri’s thoughts are going wild, and he’s pretty sure he has a headache coming on, but instead of addressing it, he plays it cool and invites the other in and decides to make tea for the both of them.

When Patton pulls out two black sweaters, one turned inside out,along with a mask and some toilet paper, Dimitri can’t hold back his giggles. He misses the way Patton lights up at the sound, and lets Patton know that they really weren’t going to egg his ex’s house. The relief is evident in Patton’s voice, “Thank goodness! I don’t think we’d fair too well in the dark!”

Dimitri can’t help but agree, adjusting his glasses. No, not even his contacts could save him for the depth perception nightmare that was aiming in the dark, plus, they’d easily get caught. Absently, Dimitri moves to hand the inside out sweater back, flipping it right side out now that the dark interior wasn’t needed, only to pause. His eyes caught on the graphic print on the front of the sweater, adjusting it in his hands so he could see it fully. He paused again, squinting at the familiar design.

It held a cute albino snake curled around a small round ornament, blepping contently with the words ‘It cold’ next to her. Under the graphic, the name of the snake was presented in pretty cursive lettering, ‘Nova.’

“Pat.. is this?? My winter merch??” Dimitri could barely hold back his disbelief, glancing up at a flustered Patton. Patton owned the merch of his pet albino python, Nova, and goodness gracious Dimitri needed to sit down.

“In my defence!! Nova is cute!! And she's even cuter when happily curled around you!” Patton huffed, arms crossed as he blushed, though unashamed at his remark. Dimitri’s mind went a hundred different ways at that, before just putting his face in his hands and sighing.

After calming down a bit, he had an idea, and glanced up at Patton who blinked at him nervously, afraid he’d messed up somehow.

“Wanna hold her?” Patton’s bright grin was worth the brief stuttering of Dimitri’s thoughts.

With permission, a picture was taken of Patton with Nova wrapped around his shoulders, captioned ‘Nova found her #1 fan, it seems!’ and posted on both of their social accounts.

And if the media went a little shipping crazy at the two’s meeting, that was fine by them.

(The End?)

I might draw somethink for this but idk yet.)

[dragon-writes-sometimes]

Once Upon A Time... Not, Chapter 3: Whatever Doesn’t Kill You…

Chapter Summary: With the move out of the way, all that's left is school. Things don't go Virgil's way, however. He and Anastacia do get a new friend, but also an enemy. Why does he have to be different from everybody?

Trigger Warnings: Bullying, a bit of swearing, spiralling of thought, anxiety.

Word count: 2835

AO3 link

Chapter 1

Previous Chapter   -   Chapter 4

Chapter 3: Whatever Doesn’t Kill You...

Well. It’s bigger than I thought it would be. With the limited income we get from Father’s job, I didn’t think we would get this big of a house for that little money. Maybe more people are moving away from rather than are moving to Gainesville. I don’t know. I have no idea how stuff like that work.

“Alright, kiddos. Time to conquer our new home.” Father’s voice snaps me out of my thoughts. Right. This is where we live now.

Ann gives my hand a small squeeze and leads me inside. She knows I don’t like change, so she takes the lead and guides me into our new home.

The day goes by fast. We get our stuff moved into the house, choose rooms, boxes everywhere by the end of it.

Father’s on the phone at night. It’s close to the summer break, so I’m imagining he’s talking to someone about school. I’m not sure if I’m ready to go back yet. I really hope we can keep the same arrangements. That would be nice. He already said Ann wasn’t going to go back to school for the rest of the school year since it’s so close to the break.

Speaking of, Anastacia’s in her own room, no doubt decorating it with all her quotes and the drawings from me as well as her own. And the paintings we worked on together. And the ones with Mother. God, I miss her.

Summer goes by mostly uneventful. I don’t come out of my room often. The box I found in my old room I hid away. Under my bed. How ironic. I get back to drawing, Father takes Ann and me to an animal shelter. He wants to get me a support animal since I’m getting panic attacks whenever I’m alone. We end up adopting an albino German Shepherd. She’s very young. The girl who was working at the time said she was waiting for the right owner to name her. I named her Maia. Maia seems to really like her name because she responds every time I say it.

Summer’s ending. I don’t know what Father has found out about school. I’m just cuddled up with Maia on my bed, scrolling through Tumblr. Someone knocks at my door. From Maia’s reaction, it’s Anastacia. She just looked over at the door and laid back down again. Had it been Father, she would’ve moved to my side. It’s astounding how good she is discerning who is knocking at my door.

And sure enough, Anastacia comes in. “Hey.” She gives a small wave. “Father, he wanted me to come get you. I don’t know why, but he sounded serious.” She pauses slightly and looks around my room. “You really need to get the last boxes unpacked. This is not healthy.”

“I-I’ll be ri-right down.” I still don’t talk much, but Maia’s helping. I’m talking more than before the move. Ann looks really happy. She’s always delighted whenever I try and speak. I know she won't pressure me into it, and for I’m grateful. Father, on the other hand… I don’t know. I don’t think he has this whole ‘single parent’ thing figured out yet. I don’t think I have, either.

I look up to see that she’s gone again. I was lost in my thoughts again. Maia starts nuzzling my cheek as if sensing my thoughts. I’m happy I got her. She’s amazing. And she’s jumped off my bed, looking towards the door. Right. Father wanted me downstairs.

I look around the living room when I get there, Maia in my heels. “Y-yeah?” I ask as I spot Father sitting at the table. Something’s off with his demeanour. He looks up as I get closer.

“Hey, sport. How, uh, how’s it going?” he tries with false cheer. I shoot him the most unimpressed look I can. He sinks back into his chair and sighs. “Look, this is not something you’ll like very much, so please sit down, Virgil.” Okay, what’s going on? I’m starting to freak out. Maia nuzzles my leg, whimpering a bit. I scratch her behind the left ear, calming down at the action.

“Father, you’re starting to freak me out. What’s going on?” Ann voices the question for me. Another deep sigh from him. He shifts and produces some papers I hadn’t noticed.

“It’s about school. I talked with the administrator or whatever. We can’t make the same arrangements. You either go to school or not at all. They just don’t have the funds to make it happen. I’m sorry. We’ll go shopping for school supplies for you guys tomorrow. It’s last-minute, but it’s all we can do. I’m really sorry. I’ve spoken with them about, uhm, about you not talking much, Virgil. They say it’s alright. They’ll pass it along to your teachers,” Father finishes. Great. And here I went and thought today would be a good day.

Anastacia is by my side immediately. She starts massaging my shoulders at the tension that’s beginning to build. She’s the best. And Maia is at my feet, creating a warm and grounding sensation. How did I get this lucky?

“Well, when we get our schedules, well make sure to stick together as much as possible!” Ann says, fiercely. And I believe her. She’ll do anything to protect me, as I will her.

The last of the summer break goes by with a blur, and suddenly we’ve reached our first day as seniors at Gainesville High School. We are headed to the Principle’s office to get our schedules and a school guide. I’m so freaking scared. What will the Principle think of me? What will the guide? I’m basically mute at this point in my life, and I’m only 16! They’re gonna think I’m a joke and laugh at how stupid I am! And- oh God! I have to share classrooms with a bunch of teenage strangers! Who will judge me for not talking at all! Oh, God, I’m sweating! Will they notice I’m wearing a binder? No, they can’t. My hoodie’s too big for them to see. But what if they demand I take my hoodie off? Then they’ll know. I don’t like this, I wanna go home to Maia and curl up with her and never leave the house again!

“…il? Virgil, hey, look at me. Please? Virgil!” I’m thrown out of my thoughts by someone circling their finger in my palm. Who? Oh yeah, Anastacia. “There you are, Vee. It’s going to be okay. I know you’re scared. I’m scared too. But we need to have a clear head, kay?” Anastacia speaks softly. We’re standing in front of a door. Must be the Principle’s office. ‘T. Sanders’, it says. I nod. That’s all I can really do at this point. I certainly don’t trust my voice to actually hold. My fingers are shaking too much to sign, so that’s a no-go, too.

Ann knocks on the door. Three times, softly. We hear a muffled “Come in,” and we enter. I’m just looking at the floor, letting Ann guide me to the chairs we end up sitting in.

“Anastacia and Virgil Blake, I presume?” a man speaks up. We both nod. He sounds nice, so I chance a glance at the man. He looks to be in his mid-to-late thirties. He has a very kind smile. That’s one of the first things I can tell about him. “My name is Thomas Sanders. I’m the Principle here at Gainesville High School. Now, you’re here for your schedules. I spoke briefly with your father at the end of the break. Said he wanted for you two to have schedules that somewhat corresponded to one another. I’ve also let the teachers know about you, Virgil. I know anxiety can be tough, and we’re trying to be all-inclusive.” He hands us our schedules while he’s talking. He has such a pleasant and calming voice. He reminds me of… no. not going down that road today.

The door opens behind us with no warning. I literally jump out of my seat like the scaredy-cat I am. Ann lays a hand on my shoulder and guides me back into my chair. “Whoops, sorry. Didn’t think you’d already be here,” a sheepish voice says from the doorway. I look up and see someone our age. They are wearing all black clothes. Long-sleeved crop top with a view of the shoulders. Skinny jeans which aren’t too tight. Combat boots with yellow laces. And a bowler hat? A very stylish one, with a silver band around it. It doesn’t make them look out of place, nor does it throw off their outfit, but still. A bowler hat. Who wears bowler hats in school?

“Ah, still haven’t learnt to know, I see?” Mr Sanders tells the newcomer. “Anastacia, Virgil, this is Nini Lupa. Your student guide. She’ll show you around the school and take you to your first class of the day.” The other student, Nini Lupa, winks at us and gives a two-finger salute. “If there’s anything, just go to her. “Have a great first day here,” he smiles at us as we follow Nini out the door.

“Sorry about the dramatic entrance. I really thought you wouldn’t be here yet. Anyway, let’s get the run of the place, shall we?” Nini says, clapping her hands together once as she speaks. The bell hasn’t rung yet, so there’s still a lot of students in the halls. They’re all looking at us. It makes me want to crawl out of my skin.

She’s done with the tour just as the bell rings the second time. “If there’s anything else, here’s my number. Just text me,” she smiles at us, as she writes down her number on a small notebook she produced out of nowhere. She hands each of us a little piece of paper. “And this is your first period of the day is at. Good luck, guys. And I’m serious. If there’s anything at all, hit me up. I really won't mind.” She waves us off and leaves to go to her own class.

“She’s certainly an interesting one,” Ann says. We open the door and see that the classroom is already filled. I feel tiny right now. There’s like, at least more than 20 people in here. I can’t remember when the last time I was surrounded by this many people was. And all of them are staring at us like they’ve never seen another person before. Oh yeah, and they are all like, 17 or 18 years old. Ann and I skipped a grade a while back, so we’re always the youngest.

“Ah, glad you could make it!” the teacher says. “I’m your Psychology teacher, Miss Singh. Everybody, these are our new students, Anastacia and Virgil Blake. All the way from England. Do try to be nice, for once,” she says, earning a chuckle out of the other students. “Please take a seat next to Emile and Qikkie. Raise your hands.” Two students raise their hands, and Ann and I walk over to sit next to them. It’s in front of the class. I won’t miss a thing like this, and I won’t have to worry about any strange looks I know I’ll receive. I’m just glad Miss Singh didn’t make us tell about ourselves.

Miss Singh is much different from any teacher I’ve had in the past, so it’s a fascinating lesson, to say the least. The bell rings, and we pack our stuff together. Emile and Qikkie both say hi to us before heading to their next lesson of the day. As do we.

Ann and I don’t share a lot of classes today, and I hate it. There are some faces I end up seeing more than once during the day, though. One being Nini Lupa. Turns out, she also skipped a class and is really smart. Another person I keep seeing is a boy I think is called Jake. Something about him is off-setting. He seems like the type of person you’d want to avoid, so that’s what I’m going to do.

The last lesson of the day is AP History. Great. I know nothing about it. Give me art any day. The teacher, Mr Anderson, seems nice. And it also seems like he wasn’t told about my, uh, mental state. He asked me a question, and I can’t answer it. Like, I actually know the answer, but I can verbally answer it. Luckily, I share this class with Nini. She’s been nothing but kind and helpful. “I’m sorry, Mr Anderson, but didn’t Principle Sanders tell you?”

“Tell me what, miss Lupa?” Mr Anderson looks at her quizzically. He doesn’t know. Great. He actually doesn’t know.

Nini looks at me for my permission to tell him. It’s going to be in front of the entire class, but I still nod to her that she can.

“Virgil doesn’t talk much due to his anxiety. It causes him to not be able to speak a lot of times. I thought Principle Sanders told every teacher.” Mr Anderson look surprised at first, but it soon changes to understanding.

“Oh, I’m really sorry about that then, Virgil. Could you perhaps write down the answer instead? You look like you know it,” he asks. He’s given me a way out, though. I can decline if I want to. I end up writing it on a piece of paper and give it Nini. She reads it aloud, and Mr Anderson looks impressed. Apparently, that was a hard question not many actually knew the answer to.

Rest of class proceeds with tension. Not from Mr Anderson, but from the other students. I get a lot of weird glances. I don’t look at the others directly, but I know. I’m trying so hard not to have a panic attack. How would that look? Oh, the new boy can’t talk. He’s probably doing it for attention. And now he’s having a panic attack in the middle of class. Such an attention whore.

The bell rings. It’s time for lunch. I think. Still haven’t figured the American school system out. Nini says her goodbyes to me, she has to go to the library to meet up with a friend of hers that need help. I go outside to get some air. Father said to call if I became too much for me, and I’m seriously beginning to consider doing so.

I shoot a text Ann’s way to tell her I’m outside. I sigh and find some shade. Everybody in the school probably knows I’m a freak now. High schools are infamous for being ground zero for gossip after all. As long as they think I’m contagious or something, like the students back home, they’ll leave me alone. “Hey, freak!” Or not.

I look over minutely and spot that Jake guy. Great. The off-putting dude. He was in Mr Anderson’s class. Everyone seems to hurry out of his way. Welp, I’m doomed, and it’s only my first day here. This is how I go. Finally, someone decided to put me out of my misery.

“Hey, I’m talking to you! Just because you can’t speak, doesn’t mean you get to ignore you superiors!” he hisses out at me. Oh, so that’s how it goes? I’m suddenly the lowest of the low just because I can’t speak? That makes me stupid, somehow? I steel my face and put on a bold look. I turn to him, and that quickly crumbles when I actually get a good look at the guy. He’s huge. I’m nothing compared to him. I’m just the new scrawny kid you get to throw around like a ragdoll.

I’m standing underneath a tree, but I take a step forward and out into the sun to meet him head-on. Show him I’m not scared of him, even though I’m terrified. Doesn’t look like I’m getting any help from the surrounding students. I’m all alone against a giant.

“Or maybe you can talk, and you just pretend so you don’t have to say anything in class. Nah, I bet an emo like you aren’t that smart.” He’s going for my looks now. This is fine. I can handle it. I just gotta wait until Ann gets here and then it’s two against one. I don’t give him the satisfaction of a reaction.

And before I know it, I’m on the ground. My head knocks against the tree, and it hurts like all hell! He must’ve pushed me or something. I don’t really recall. All I can focus on is the pain in the back of my head.

“You’re fucking weak. A weak freak! No one’s going to help you. You know that, right? They don’t dare go against me, and they couldn’t care less about you!” he laughs. I can’t help but let out a tiny whimper because it’s true. I can see it on their faces. They won’t help. I don’t know what going to happen now. I just wanna go home and never leave again. I-

“OI! What the hell do you think you’re doing?!”

[owakoblack-portspa]

A Dream of Bethlehem

Fandom: Hetalia: Axis Powers

Pairings: Knights Hospitaller x Knights Templar; Prussia x South Italy

Characters: Teutonic Knights/Prussia (Gilbert),  Knights Templar (Chris),  Knights Hospitaller (Giovanni),  Kingdom of Sicily/South Italy (Lovino)

1

It is not a very good day to go to Acre, not a very good day at all, people warn little Gilbert. The deeper you go into the city, the more dangerous it becomes, people say. But I am a knight, I am not afraid, Gilbert braces himself. He has seen blood flowing like a river, he has seen corpses piling up a mountain, but he has never seen a hell like this, right in the heart of the capital of the Holy Land. In the streets of Acre, where Christians fight Christians, where brothers kill brothers, homicide and fratricide become natural, even though themselves are not natural at all--it is not a holy land, it is a wild world inhabited by evils. To Gilbert’s utter disgust, after the fall of the Genoese flag, advance the crimson Hospitaller banner and a group of knights in black uniforms into the burning street. ‘Wait, can’t you spare the citizens’ houses?’ Gilbert stands in front of the charging army, but he is unwilling to draw up his sword. ‘And can’t you see the Venetians are our enemies? Step aside, child!’ a tall Hospitaller waves his naked sword towards the little albino. A heavy sound of two clashing swords--a white knight shields Gilbert from the gigantic man, and a string of blood instantly spills onto the red petit cross embroidered on the chest. Even though his left palm is pierced by the sword, and an ugly, bloody hole appears as his enemy’s sword is swiftly and cruelly drawn away, the knight does not show any sign of fear, and quite on the contrary, his angelic face still keeps on smiling. ‘Brother Chris!’ ‘Christien!’

Two boys cry out at the same time. As Gilbert is lying on the ground and Chris is standing in front of him to protect, Giovanni appears just in time, his handsome face furious and sweaty. ‘Stop! The little one is the Teutonic Knights! Our ward!’ Giovanni shouts angrily to the tall Hospitaller. The anonymous Hospitaller sheathes his sword immediately, despite Giovanni the teenager looks much younger than him. ‘I’m sorry, Your Eminence,’ the Hospitaller now looks pallid and trembles like a leaf, ‘I didn’t mean to hurt His Eminence the Order of the Temple, but...’ ‘It’s nothing.’ Chris waves his injured palm impatiently to everyone, smiling as usual, ‘I love playing the role of a martyr. I am so glad that I protected little Gil, in spite of the fact that YOU are his guardian, Gio.’ Giovanni can tell the satire in Chris’ words, but he is not going to argue with a wounded person--after all, his another profession is doctor. ‘Let me see your wound, Christien.’ Giovanni’s voice becomes softer, but firm. ‘I’ve told you it’s nothing.’ Chris’ face becomes paler as he draws his sword in a position of defence, his flaming purple eyes threatening, ‘If you dare to touch me, I’ll revenge myself on you now!’ Giovanni stops short, staring at the blond with sudden coldness, ‘I won’t if I can.’ Then he turns to Gilbert, and raises up the little boy, ‘Are you alright, Gilbert? I’ve promised the Kingdom of Sicily to take care of you. I hope you’re not hurt.’ ‘Don’t treat me like a child!’ Gilbert’s reddened eyes make him look more like a rabbit, and he jumps high to protest. Giovanni does not take his protest seriously. He simply holds up Gilbert’s clenching hand, and retreats with his army, without casting another look at Chris, who remains standing in silence .

‘Brother Gio, can’t you treat Brother Chris a little better? He has saved me! And of all things, why do you two fight each other? You both are christian military orders!’ At the Hospitaller headquarters, Gilbert enquires. ‘The Knights Templar are stronger than us. If we don’t fight to protect ourselves, we’ll be destroyed by them.’ Giovanni replies calmly. ‘Why do the Knights Templar want to destroy you? Brother Chris in fact is very kind-hearted. Even though he knows I am on your side, he teaches me combat skills...hoops!’ Gilbert just realises that he has leaked the secret between Chris and himself. ‘Gilbert, you know I’m not happy to hear this. I hope you won’t betray me as you’ve developed a good relationship with my archrival.’

It has been a week since Chris was injured, and since that day, Gilbert has been bringing medicine to the Templar castle on Giovanni’s command as a punishment of his ‘betrayal’. What Giovanni requires Gilbert to keep in mind, is that Gilbert must not let Chris know who is actually prescribing medications. However, in the end, Gilbert cannot help telling the truth to Chris, ‘Brother Chris, I really hope you can stop fighting with Brother Gio. You see, he regrets what he’s done to you, and sends...’ ‘I hope Gio is not behind this, otherwise I will not accept medicine from you any more.’ Chris interrupts quickly. ‘Why do you hate Brother Gio so much, Brother Chris?’ ‘I hate him for not sending me medicine, and I will hate him more if he asks you to send me medicine. In sum, I just hate him.’ Chris strokes his bandaged left palm with tender passion, but Gilbert is too young to observe this detail or understand these words.

After this street fight, the two gangs seem to have ceased fire for a while, not only because one of their leaders is injured, but also because the festive spirit is approaching. In the Cathedral of Acre, people busy themselves with the preparation of the biggest event of the year--Christmas. The interior of the church is semi-decorated, and still more flowers and plants are coming. ‘Gilbert, have you understood the ceremony process that I’ve just told you?’ Giovanni bends down to speak in the ear of the absent-minded little knight. Both of them stand beside the alter. Gilbert jumps, and finally turns his attention from revery to the taller knight, ‘Sorry, what did you just say?’ ‘Could you tell me why you can’t take your eyes off the audience seats in the church? Are you expecting someone?’ Giovanni frowns. ‘Brother Gio, do you know if Frater will visit Acre for Christmas?’ Gilbert asks carefully. ‘Yes, the Kingdom of Sicily told so me in a letter. And he will attend the Christmas mass as well.’ On hearing the news, Gilbert reacts dramatically: firstly his jaw drops, then his grin broadens, and finally he raises his hands high up in the air, ‘Hallelujah! What a good tiding!’ ‘Calm down yourself, Gilbert! Shouting is forbidden in the church. And if you don’t want Sicily to be disappointed with you, you have to work hard in preparation, understood? It’s your first time to celebrate Christmas, there’re many things for you to learn.’ ‘I know, I know! I’ll work hard for Frater, and on Christmas I’m going to pay my homage to Frater, and then I’ll become a real knight! I’m so awesome! Everything’s going to be perfect! Kesesese!’ Gilbert laughs happily. ‘Don’t be too proud, Gilbert. You have to work hard to achieve your goal. Remember: no pain, no gain.’ ‘But there’s someone lazier than me! Even though Brother Chris’ wound is getting much better, he never comes to the rehearsal, and he’s going to sing in the choir!’ ‘Christien’s done the mass many times so he doesn’t need much rehearsing, and in fact, I don’t think he wants to see me.’ Giovanni looks at the choir practicing singing in a corner of the church, which is consisted of young boys in white dresses. The most beautiful one is missing, just as he has expected.

2

The Cathedral of Acre has already been enunciated with devout Christians hours before the bells announce the approach of Christmas and the beginning of the Christmas Midnight Mass. The interior of the cathedral is full of the festive spirit, decorated with myriads of flowers, draperies, hangings, ribbons, and candles, making this spacious sacred place shine with all colours of the solar spectrum. Now the congregation is holding its breath to hear the steps of the approaching holy moment, that is to say, waiting for the mass procession enter into the nave. After the bells strike twelve times, silence remains as if time stood still, so everybody turns their head to the church entrance to look for the priests and professed knights. After several seconds pass, finally, to everyone’s relief, the door opens, and a group of people in surplice solemnly walk in. At the head of them is little Gilbert with silver hair and red-pupiled eyes, swinging from side to side a golden, smoking censer in his hands. The little albino holds his chin high and looks straight ahead, so even the distant audience can tell from his rigid movements and his slightly reddened physiognomy that he is at the moment very nervous. Many in the congregation do know that for this new-born German military order, it must be his first time to perform holy services in such a big event, and accordingly they understand his nervousness and cross their fingers to pray for his success in the debut. Among the understanding, kind-hearted people, is Lovino, the Kingdom of Sicily, who comes all the way from Palermo for this special occasion, and who now sticks his little brown head out from the crowd into the aisle covered with red carpets, which makes him so distinct that even Gilbert’s sweat-filmed eyes cannot prevent the little knight from noticing this great kingdom from afar. Consequently, Gilbert starts short, as if petrified, but Lovino is no malicious Medusa--quite on the contrary, he is the most amiable personage here, so he tries to unlock the magic spell by waving his little hand and smiling sweetly to his little knight, to salute, and to encourage him. However, for Gilbert, this is more like an ignition before an explosion than a mere encouragement, for in response, stuffed of energy, he sets himself off high in the air like a rocket, the censer in his hands swinging like a mad turning wheel, spilling hot incense everywhere. All at once a commotion is caused--people sitting nearby the aisle stand up to run, only to find that within such a dense crowd running is almost impossible, thus some panic is caused as well. At this critical moment, Giovanni, who walks beside the bishop in the middle of the procession, dashes out to catch the censer which now is flying out of Gilbert’s hands, and fortunately, after the catch, he is agile enough to regain his balance in time, and stands upright with the golden censer safely contained in his hands. He makes some effort to restrain himself from panting heavily, and immediately resumes his solemn, imperturbable look to hide his shock of this unexpected episode. Realising what has just happened, Gilbert becomes the most panicked person in the cathedral. He dare not look at Lovino’s face to see his disappointment, so he looks down onto the floor, feeling too shameful for himself to move. Seeing this, Giovanni pats Gilbert’s shoulder from behind to urge him to proceed, otherwise the procession would be blocked even though Gilbert is short and tiny. Accordingly Gilbert moves on, and from now on, he becomes half absent-minded for his sense of guilt, head drooping. Despite this, the following process goes on smoothly, the episode is soon forgotten, the audience watch the performance of the servers quietly, listen to the priests’ sermons attentively, and respond by saying ‘amen’ when their heart is quite touched. However, Gilbert’s tribulations are not yet finished. As a novice, he is to give a speech in front of the holy altar, in the face of the public. It is a narration of the nativity, which should have been already familiar to any christian, so before the mass, Gilbert was so confident that he did not bring the script with him. Now, it is high time for Gilbert’s speech, and for the sake of the sense of guilt he is still sweating heavily as if he had just been fished out from the sea: ‘It was...it was in the year of four before Christ, before Christ was born. (A pause.) On the day when Christ was born, Mary found no place to lie down herself and give birth to her child, so she just...she just lied down on the floor, (some hiss from the audience) and she saw stars shining bright in the sky. Oh, I forget to say, (laugh from the audience) there was an angel coming from the sky to tell her that the child is the savior of mankind. So back to the night when Jesus was born, there were three magicians...(somebody hoots)’ Finally Gilbert’s frustrated voice seems to fade away, and people can hardly hear what the little knight is saying, and neither can they see his mouth moving, for he persists in hanging his head down. Lovino, who sits in the front row for the prerogatives possessed by such a great kingdom like him, clasps his hands all the time to pray for Gilbert, and he even dare not bat his big, radiant eyes lest they would distract his knight, but it seems all his prayers are in vain. Giovanni, who stands righteously and solemnly among the priests and servers, is as anxious as Lovino from the bottom of his heart. ‘Can anyone please do something?’ he asked without producing a sound.

‘--Long time ago in Bethlehem So the Holy Bible say Mary’s boy child, Jesus Christ Was born on Christmas day.’

Suddenly, people hear someone singing. At first, people think it is the ringing sound of a crystal stream, for it is so limpid, so pure; and then, when they realise that it is from above, they take it as the voice of an angel, for it is so beautiful and so unearthly, like a beam of light piercing through thick clouds to warm the earth, to fill everyone’s heart with bliss. While the confused audience are looking about themselves, only Giovanni immediately finds out whence the voice is from--he has heard this voice on every Christmas, and yet he still can hardly believe it--as soon as he hears the singing, he raises his head and looks up to the carved balcony facing the altar where he is standing by, and sure enough, he sees a thin, pale figure stand out of the choir boys, beneath the enormous silver organ. It is Chris who is singing. He is clad in white, laced surplice, his pale countenance becomes more tender in the radiance from the white texture, and his soft, curly blond hair makes him shine like a midnight sun. He is not yet grown up, his delicate human form hardly tells his gender, and therefore he looks more beautiful than any man or woman, and so clinks his sweet, heavenly singing voice. Here he stands, so pure he looks, so angelically he sings, even Giovanni has to admit that on this particular occasion, if Chris were not the messenger from God, he cannot tell who this sweet creature could be. ‘It’s the Knights Templar!’ a little girl cries out happily, and her mother quickly quiets her. Even Gilbert looks up from the floor to the balcony gratefully as if he has found his savior, so continues Chris:

‘While shepherds watched their flocks by night Them see a bright new shining star Them hear a choir sing The music seemed to come from afar.

Now, Joseph and his wife, Mary Come to Bethlehem that night Them find no place to born she child Not a single room was in sight.

By and by, they find a little nook In a stable all forlorn And in a manger cold and dark Mary’s little Boy was born.’

The choir boys standing behind Chris, who are also sweet-looking, though not as beautiful as he, begin to sing harmoniously, and all the people in the cathedral sing along:

‘Hark, now hear the angels sing A new king born today And man will live forevermore Because of Christmas day.’

Now everyone rejoices again, because they take part in such a beautiful choir led by an angel, and has never felt so close to God before.

In many aspects, the midnight mass is as successful as last year, so afterwards everybody goes home happily. However, in a dark corner of the sacristy, Gilbert is found sobbing quietly. Because others are gone, only Giovanni and Chris see him. Chris bends down over Gilbert, beaming innocently as ever, and says cheerfully, ‘Gil, don’t cry, it’s Christmas!’ ‘I’m so stupid, I know nothing of Christmas! I’m not fit for being a knight!’ Gilbert tries to conceal his tearful face by burying it between his crouching knees. Even though Giovanni was unhappy for Gilbert’s failures of performance at tonight’s mass, which he believes are the results of Gilbert’s arrogance and ignorance of his persuasion, his benign heart is touched by the little one’s sadness and frustration, so he attempts to comfort Gilbert: ‘To err is human. If you learn from experience, you’ll be forgiven.’ Nevertheless, Giovanni’s austere tone makes Gilbert feel more miserable, ‘Forgiven? Will I be forgiven by Frater? Perhaps I can’t never become his knight!’ ‘Gio, you frightened little Gil!’ Chris criticises his big rival, and continues to console Gilbert by an even more tender voice, ‘come on, Gil, I’ll show you something. I’m sure you’ll learn Christmas by heart. Don’t worry.’ He winks, stands up, and leads Gilbert to the courtyard of the cathedral. Giovanni does not trust Chris, so he follows them into the cool midnight air. Standing under the purple starry sky, Chris brings out from his pocket a plain stone cup. ‘I’m going to use this to bring us to the night when our Lord Jesus Christ was born. You can come with us if you want, Gio.’ ‘Wait, is this...the Holy Grail?’ Giovanni is astonished. ‘Exactly.’ Chris replies matter-of-factly. ‘I didn’t know you possess it.’ Giovanni says darkly, and quickly makes the sign of the cross. In secret, he feels his stomach aching--how come his rival obtains the most sacred relic in the christian world? ‘You don’t have to know everything,’ smiles Chris. It happens very fast. After a flash of blinding light, the three knights are altogether brought to another time and place. The time is still night, but the environment is changed into a dry, rocky wild land. ‘Look! There’s the bright shining star!’ Chris points to the enormous brilliant star hanging in the eastern sky. ‘What does this mean?’ Gilbert is bewildered by this strange environment. ‘Gilbert, how many times have I told you to read the Bible more carefully?’ Giovanni’s austere look makes Gilbert wince. ‘Relax, Gio. It’s the Holy Night, let’s behold the miracle!’ Chris leads the group to walk in the direction of the bright star. After a while, they see a manger at the top of a hill. ‘Is it...?’ Gilbert is shushed abruptly by Giovanni. The three of them carefully approach the manger on tiptoe. The manger basks in the bright shining star right above, so they can see the scene clearly: Mary has just now given birth to baby Jesus, who is sleeping comfortably in his mother’s arms, and Joseph stands by them, watching the baby with great interest and affection. Noticing people approaching, Mary is alert, but as soon as she sees these people are three good-looking young boys in some kind of cassocks, she smiles and gestures them to come closer. ‘Our Lord Jesus, we’ve come to worship you.’ Both Giovanni and Chris kneel down before the little baby who opens his beautiful eyes to look upon them curiously. After realising who the baby is, Gilbert imitates his brothers to fall on kneels, not without clumsiness. Seeing this, Mary smiles affectionately to the timid little knight, and says, ‘thank you for visiting us in such a bleak winter night. Don’t be anxious, little knight, baby Jesus is very happy to see you.’ Gilbert looks up to see Mary’s smiling face, and sees a mother in her, a mother he has never had, or met, in his life. Suddenly, the albino bursts into tears, ‘oh Mother, Mother!’ Mary pats Gilbert’s silver head, speaks to him in a voice so gentle as if singing a lullaby, ‘little child, you have such beautiful hair. Don’t cry, you’ll be loved.’ It is Gilbert’s first time to be praised by someone for his hair--being an albino, he has been jeered and teased all his life. It is not necessary to describe how happy Gilbert is in seeing the Holy Virgin, and he lays his head upon her knees. Meanwhile, Giovanni finds Chris’ pale face full of tears too. Before the little Lord, the beautiful knight clasps his hands tightly while on his knees--he looks so pious, so humble that he makes this moment divine. Unconsciously, Giovanni wears a smile on his face-- O Silent Night! O Holy Night!

On the next morning, Gilbert is woken up by a familiar voice: ‘Gil, wake up! Are you alright?’ When he opens his eyes, he sees Lovino shaking his shoulder anxiously. Thus he sits up abruptly, ‘Frater! Why are you here?’ ‘Dear Gil! I was worried about you so I came to the morning mass early to see if you’re alright, but I didn’t know you slept in the courtyard over night!’ Lovino exclaims, ‘it is not good! You’ll catch cold!’ His puffing face is on the brink of tears. It is Gilbert’s turn to feel worried too, for his heart will break if he sees Lovino cry. ‘Dear Frater, I’m totally fine, so please don’t cry!’ he holds Lovino’s little hand, faking a smile to comfort him, ‘I spent a whole night with Brother Gio and Brother Chris to worship little Lord Jesus in Bethlehem, you have to know how happy I am! Please don’t worry about me!’ ‘Really?’ Lovino’s watery emerald eyes look into Gilbert’s rubies, and he sees truthfulness in them, ‘good, then. But where are Gio and Chris?’ Both of them look around. Beside the wall of the cathedral, they see Giovanni and Chris lying down there, holding each other’s body closely as if to keep warm and sleep more comfortably. Hearing noises, the two sleepy knights are awakened--it is not difficult to imagine the surprised look on their faces. However, instead of letting out a shriek or kicking each other away, in peace, they exchange morning greetings: ‘Morning, Gio.’ Chris smiles like an angel waking up from his sweetest dream. ‘Good morning, Christien.’ Giovanni blushes. He will never admit that it is Chris’ crystal purple eyes that make his heart beat fast, and he feels a little reluctant to let Chris’ warm body leave his arms when both of them get back to their feet. ‘Christien, wait!’ ‘What?’ Chris quickly turns back to face Giovanni, his huge eyes sparkling. ‘I want to apologise for the wound in your palm. I should have stopped my people hurting you.’ Giovanni smites his handsome brow. ‘It’s not your fault,’ Chris smiles mildly, ‘and I want to thank you for healing me.’ ‘You know the medicine was sent by me?’ ‘Of course, do you forget how long we’ve known each other? And as I’m your archrival, who do you think could know you better than me?’ Smiling mysteriously, Chris briskly wheels around. Without knowing why, Giovanni suddenly feels a special attachment to his rival and comrade, so he instinctively follows Chris’ white robe, which is billowing in the wind like an angel’s enormous wings. Later on, in the Christmas morning mass, people are surprised to see the two long-term rivals stand side by side in the procession, and even exchange friendly looks at intervals during the liturgy. ‘It happens once a year that the two great military orders make a truce. After all, it’s Christmas, it’s time for peace, for forgiveness, and for love.’ Among the audience, some Venetians whisper quietly, and then they shake hands with their Genoese neighbours. As for Gilbert, this time, he has done much better especially in the narration of the nativity. When the mass is done and the cathedral becomes empty, he cautiously kneels down before Lovino, ‘dear Frater, I want to be your knight, but I’m not yet perfect--could you wait until I’m fit?’ ‘I don’t need you to be perfect. Whenever you feel yourself is ready, I’ll be ready to take you as my knight.’ Lovino blushes. ‘I promise it won’t be too long, Frater.’ Gilbert tenderly kisses Lovino’s hand.

(End)

[thousandeyesand-one]

In the name of the White Wolf & The Dragon Queen!

So I was recovering from dumblr not allowing my posts in the jonerys tag for some reason finally it seems to have worked out smh, like I did nothing!? I badly wanted to discuss the Ghost won't like dany nonsense but I couldn't coz you know dumblr! Here It is I've been holding it forever!

"The wind was blowing wet and heavy as they crossed the valley of the Milkwater and rode singlefile through the river camp. Ghost kept close to Jon, but the scent of him went before them like a herald, and soon there were wildling dogs all around them, growling and barking. Lenyl screamed at them to be quiet, but they paid him no heed. “They don’t much care for that beast o’ yours,” Longspear Ryk said to Jon. “They’re dogs and he’s a wolf,” said Jon. “They know he’s not their kind." *No more than I am yours.*"

In the books Ghost was with Jon when he was wildling's hostage as opposed to how in the show they made ghost wander off before Jon came across ygritte. Ghost is the reason Jon could kill Halfhand when he bites his calf but in the show Jon kills him on his own, in a single combat without any help also Jon uses Ghost to keep Ygritte away from him at night & ghost even helps him because that's what Jon wants, just like ghost protects Sam & cares for him because Jon cares for him & because that's what Jon wants. Ghost is Jon's extension of his personality just like Drogon is to Daenerys. Because the entire time that Jon was beyond the wall with him While he was a hostage ghost was an extension of his inner monologue. Outwardly Jon was playing a turn cloak for the Wildlings but only ghost truly knew he never gave up on being a man of the Nights Watch.

"*There were cookfires all along the river, amongst wayns and carts and sleds. Many of the wildlings had thrown up tents, of hide and skin and felted wool. Others sheltered behind rocks in crude lean-tos, or slept beneath their wagons. At one fire Jon saw a man hardening the points of long wooden spears and tossing them in a pile. Elsewhere two bearded youths in boiled leather were sparring with staffs, leaping at each other over the flames, grunting each time one landed a blow. A dozen women sat nearby in a circle, fletching arrows. Arrows for my brothers, Jon thought. Arrows for my father’s folk, for the people of Winterfell and Deepwood Motte and the Last Hearth. Arrows for the north.*"

This is where his undying fidelity for North comes to play he doesn't respect ryk, rattleshirt, weeper or ygritte! He doesn't yet know what it's like to be a ruler, a leader, he surely has those traits in him but still at heart being as young as he was (in the books) he is a follower, of his old gods, his father's words & his home of Winterfell along with his newest allegiance to Night's Watch. Ygritte wanted to change Jon's loyalty, she wanted him to help them raid & ravage the lands of his father & his fore-fathers but jon is way too loyal to his kind for that to happen just like arya is fiercely loyal to the north. Jon's & ygritte's goals never matched, ever! But Jon still fell for ygritte nonetheless he kept his undying loyalty to the north but still fell for a Person who reminded him of arya. And in jonerys's case by the end of S07 Jon & dany's goals matched. No matter how much people deny it by saying dany is still more focused on the conquest; night king killed her child she will destroy anyone who does that & Jon feels guilty that she lost her dragon because of him, that her house sigil is now incomplete because of him, there is guilt in her too for not trusting him. She wanted to help Jon in saving the north which is & always has been his goal. And to say dany's stubborn nature, rashness, bravery & her inclination to not only understand him but also to fly to a frozen, strange corner of the world to help him on his word reminds him of arya would be an understatement!

"*But not all he saw was warlike. He saw women dancing as well, and heard a baby crying, and a little boy ran in front of his garron, all bundled up in fur and breathless from play. Sheep and goats             wandered freely, while oxen plodded along the riverbank in search of grass. The smell of roast mutton drifted from one cookflre, and at another he saw a boar turning on a wooden spit.. *"

Jon idolized King Daeron I Targaryen, the Young Dragon. He was a Bastard who was hungry for glory the likes of which he knew he won't find anywhere in the 7K but at the wall. So he joined the ancient order only to learn of it's receding ranks once honorable men of nights watch now reduced to reavers, rapers, cut-throats, thieves. Nobody as honorable as his uncle or LCMormont. But he made his peace with the situation & the First chance he got to get out there & earn some valor & make a name for himself like Qhorin Halfhand, that which he was so hungry for he took the chance! Which lead to series of events that spiralled out of his control he ended up falling for someone which he never intended & he learned that the price for glory is quite high! At this time he was a young boy who thought glory was easy that's why he looks at all the battlements & instantly villainizes the wildlings. Only to realize with ygritte's death that there was no glory in killing the Wildlings so he tried to save them hoping to see the glory in that. Maybe there was glory in it being the first LC in the known history of the watch to have done so but the watch itself didn't think so & ended up taking his life. The path to glory didn't turn out to be as promising as he thought in fact it was full of compromising crossroads. His loyalty to North never died but something else awoke him; the openess to considering all human life equal & the fact that battle has two sides of compromising crossroads. He wasn't ready for Battle of the Bastards until he saw Rickon die up until then it looked like he was just going where his new life was taking him, he doesn't like fighting unnecessary battles unless it's against the dead & for the living. He's a better leader for all that & as a LC who wasn't afraid to do what nobody has done by saving & taking Wildling's help against the dead & he wasn't faking it! Even though Wildlings have been the enemy of the North when time came they helped save his life against the watch itself; similarly he wasn't afraid of taking the Dragon Queen's help against the dead fully aware of the era-defining conflict between Starks & Targaryens & still being truthful in all his actions when time came the Dragon Queen came to his help & saved his life too. 

"*Can a bird hate? Jon had slain the wildling Orell, but some part of the man remained within the eagle. The golden eyes looked out on him with cold malevolence. “I’ll come,” he said. The blood kept running down into his right eye, and his cheek was a blaze of pain. When he touched it his black gloves came away stained with red. “Let me catch my garron.” It was not the horse he wanted so much as Ghost, but the direwolf was nowhere to be seen. He could be leagues away by now, ripping out the throat of some elk. Perhaps that was just as well.*"

In the books Jon is a warg or atleast has shown warg-like traits, by far dreaming Ghost's vision & inhabiting his mind initially he wasn't sure what this exactly means. When orell's eagle attacked him he wasn't brutally harmed but still he wanted ghost close to him similarly when he dies he called for Ghost. That was his last words "Ghost.. " 

I believe everyone is aware of this very popular theory that before dying Jon warged into ghost. Like orell left a little bit of himself in his eagle, his most immediate emotion that he felt before dying that is hate & revenge just like Jon who must've felt the same before dying & his calling was more of a defensive move since all his other defences were failing, ghost was what he needed at the very end. His "Ghost.." was just like daenerys's "dracarys".

Daenerys & Jon's journey in taming their magical beasts & properly using them as the magical mythology of the WOIAF tells of a magical beast like a Dragon or direwolf were used back in the time when both of them weren't unheard of, all Kings of Winter had a Direwolf & some even rode into battle on the back of their direwolves & most of the Starks of the Past were wargs , that's how they tamed such vicious beasts like direwolves. Once warged into a Direwolf that creates a life-long bond between the beast & the warg. Similarly all the Valyrians had dragons & they rode into battle on the back of their dragons, Daenys the dreamer was a dragon dreamer who foresaw the doom of valyria making dragon dreams a recurring aspect in the blood of Old Valyria as daenerys had dragon dreams too. Also dragons natural lifespan goes past the rider but the bond only breaks when the rider dies before that just like the wolves this bond is unbreakable too. So basically the show gave us a good view into the journey of dany taming her dragons & becoming a dragon rider just like in the books but with Jon on the other hand unfortunately the t.v. show cut major arcs of his story related to Ghost.

Apart from being Jon Snow's Loyal Albino-red eyed pal ghost is very interesting in the books..

Firstly when the Starks discover their direwolves all 5 of them belonging to the true born stark kids are huddled together but ghost was seperate from the group. His appearance is also very different to other direwolves with white fur & red eyes. There is another theory that says Bloodraven often warged into Ghost. That many' a-times he used Ghost to get to Jon. For example when ghost brought jafar flowers hand warning the watch & specifically Jon about the threat of the dead, then leading him to Jeor Mormont's chambers before the Wight attack, in the books Ghost leads Jon to cachè of dragonglass hid by the fist of the first men along with the Horn also when Jon tries to leave the Watch in the middle of the night it's ghost who gives away his position by moles town, he stops Jon from leaving the watch. Not that ghost was never himself or always warged by bloodraven or something but yeah a lot of times he was.

Apart from ghost there was another, jeor mormont's crow who is also believed to have been warged by bloodraven.

Before bran falls off the tower he used to climb there to feed corn to the crows & after his fall during his coma in his dreams bloodraven asks him "... say got any corn?" So bloodraven was basically keeping an eye on bran through one of the crows.. When jon talks about Bran's health with LCMormont his crow screams "Corn! Corn! Corn!" & when jeor mormont informs Jon that bran is awake the crow screams "Live! Live!"

"He rose & dressed in darkness as mormont's raven muttered across the room. "Corn", the bird said &, "King", &, "Snow, Jon Snow, Jon Snow." That was queer. The bird never said his full name before, as best Jon could recall" 

                                                                  -Jon AGOT

"Do you think your Uncle Benjen was the only ranger we've lost this past year?" "Ben Jen", the raven squawked, bobbing its head, bits of egg dribbling from its beak. "Ben Jen. Ben Jen."  "No", Jon said. There had been others. Too many. "Do you think your brother's war is more important than ours?" the old man barked. Jon chewed his lip. The raven flapped it's wings at him. "War, war, war, war," it sang   

                                                                  -Jon AGOT

 When Jon burns the Wight in LCMormont's room..

"Jon tried to shout, but his voice was gone. Staggering to his feet, he kicked the arm away & snatched the lamp from the Old Bear's fingers. The flame flickered & almost died. "Burn!" the raven cawed. "Burn, burn, burn!"

                                                                 -Jon AGOT

When LCMormont gives him Longclaw he initially refuses it so the crow says..

"Take it" echoed his raven, preening. "Take it, take it."

                                                                 -Jon AGOT

In the show they omitted both these aspects of Jon's storyline, wherein not just bran but also Jon has a connection to bloodraven. Him being Aegon & Bran being Brandon. Both these names have prophetic value in their respective houses. The raven stayed with Jon when he became LC in fact he is the reason Jon was elected. I was always pissed at why the tv show reduced ghost to just another 'pet'. But before getting to that, first about the journeys of both Jon & dany in taming their magical beasts.. 

Dany at first acquired the dragon eggs that were said to have turned into stone over the time but she hatched those eggs bringing dragons back into the world.

While they were infants she taught them as a pet is taught to take care of themselves, be able to gather or atleast help themselves with food & or follow commands by daenerys "Dracarys". In many ways dany trained them like she would've trained her son. 

Whenever daenerys acts like a Valyrian or behaves like a true Targaryen & let's the Fire & Blood in her out by commanding her dragons to do what they do best. Whenever daenerys let's the dragons behave like themselves they grow closer to her. Their bond shows best at such a time.

Again when daenerys acts like a Valyrian during the sacking of Astaphor & truly allows the greatest weapons of war in the world her Dragons to do what they do best she brings them closer to herself.

And then as the dragons grew in age & in size their viciousness grew as well & they became harder to be tamed. While this was one of the many reasons why it was harder for dany to tame them but that isn't it. Daenerys locked them away for the sake of the safety of people of mereen like her ancestors who made the Dragon Pit to lock away their dragons. Being treated as a mere pet doesn't do well with dragons instead of being captured drogon escapes while Rhaegal & Viserion are imprisoned. When daenerys tries to be a Queen unlike the Targaryen Queen that she should be & sort of resists her Valyrian nature the dragons grow apart from her. For a long time Daenerys tried to be a different sort of queen for mereen so drogon knew he wouldn't survive the captivity like the dragons before him & he escaped. But the bond never died as long as the blood of Old Valyria flows within dany she will always have a bond with the dragons. Drogon doesn't let her touch him until he returned to Daznak's fighting pits & in a way reminds her what she is & she rides him for the first time.

Beyond the books what also happened is drogon gave her a taste of who she really is, a Dragon in her own right! After which she burns all the khals & was reborn in the fires again which gained her drogon's allegiance.

I suppose there were elements of Jon's Targaryen heritage coming to play when drogon accepts his touch in S07. But it's not drogon who burns quentyn it's Rhaegal because quentyn tried to tame him without any blood of Old Valyria. Jon embracing his Targaryen heritage will be complete when he becomes a dragon rider himself. But before that not only does drogon accept Jon but also recognizes something in Jon, drogon already has a rider so it was just a moment of recognition. Tyrion has also touched both Rhaegal & Viserion but they didn't recognize anything in him except the fact that he isn't a foe & they didn't harm him. Apart from recognizing blood in Jon; drogon is now not only a full grown embodiment of Targaryen sigil but also an extension of daenerys's personality. That's why he is roaring while dany is roaring her bloodriders speech. They have truly become bound to one another! Quaithe's words of remembering that she is blood of dragon is complete now because she has truly become a dragon, she's owning it!

Continued

[literallyusuk]

Cowboy Casanova (USUK) Chapter 9

[Chapter 1] [Chapter 2] [Chapter 3] [Chapter 4] [Chapter 5] [Chapter 6] [Chapter 7] [Chapter 8] Also on AO3!

The blond bolted out of bed and to the window and gasped. There were people running around in the town, one of the buildings was on fire, and at one point he glimpsed Ivan’s white horse galloping down the main street. However, he didn’t have too long to dwell on that for another scream, this one closer and more animalistic, rang out in the heavy night air. Mathew turned and almost fainted. His stable was also going up in flames, and all of the horses were inside.

“No!” Matthew tore from the house and to the stable, having to go around the back since the front entrance was the one burning.

He threw open the door and the horses all turned to him, eyes rolling with fear. Murmuring soft reassurances over the roar of the flames, Matthew haltered the nearest horse and led it out, tying it to a post about twenty feet away. Then he moved stall by stall, letting all of the horses out and tying them to the same post. He hoped that the company would help calm them down, and the tactic did seem to work a little bit. Finally, there was one horse left in the stable- Matthew’s.

Matthew wiped the sweat from his face and approached the panicked stallion. “Hey, boy. I’m gonna get you out of here, okay?” he told him reassuringly, his voice dropping to a tone he only used with his horses.

He focused on just Maple- ignoring the flames, the heat, and his sweat. The side of Maple’s stall was burning so he kicked the door open, clipping a lead to him before he could bolt. He was a good horse, well-trained due to his racing background and normally Matthew trusted him with his life, but fire and fear could change any living thing so he knew he had to be careful.

A crack of thunder sounded from the pregnant sky and Maple tried to bolt, a shrill whinny bursting from his mouth, but Matthew stood his ground and halted him for a moment. An answering whinny from outside didn’t help the situation, but a burning piece of wood had fallen from the roof and into their path. After kicking it aside, the man carefully led the prancing stallion out. The path was clear, they were almost out-

Another piece of wood fell, this time directly onto Maple’s rump. He bolted again, this time screaming in pain, and knocked Matthew to the ground. He let go of the rope and lay there, winded for a moment. With that moment was Matthew’s salvation, for as soon as he started pushing himself up the part of the roof between him and freedom collapsed from instability and flames.

“N-No-” Matthew was up a moment later, but the heat and fear of burning drove him back to the centre of the aisle.

His world narrowed to the section of burning stable he was trapped in, and his stomach churned with the knowledge that he probably wouldn’t get out. The flames had spread, consuming the wood and turning it a bright cherry red. Matthew’s skin was also slowly turning red from the high heat, and sweat dampened his body. He strode from one end of the space to the other, searching for a way out, any way, but there were none.

Then there was a crash from behind him and Matthew turned, fearing the worst. What he saw almost made him scream. A dark horse, its rider clad in black clothes with white hair and red eyes. Devil was Matthew’s initial thought, but then he realized that it was simply a man and his mind was just exaggerating due to fear. He also realized that he knew this man. Gilbert Beilschmidt.

“Wh- What do you want?” Matthew called to him. “Come to get a final laugh?”

Instead of answering, Gilbert urged his horse forward, closer to the other man. The dark horse’s eyes rolled with fear, but the albino kept him firmly under control. A piece of burning timber fell from the ceiling, almost brushing against the stallion’s flank, but the horse merely hopped out of the way.

“Grab on,” Gilbert said, holding out his hand.

Matthew hesitated, coughing from the smoke going down his throat. This was Gilbert, one of Ivan’s partners. What could the red-eyed man possibly want from him? But Gilbert was also his way out. As another section of roof collapsed, Matthew reached out and took the proffered limb.

The albino easily pulled Matthew up in front of him, and once the blond was settled, turned his horse’s nose towards the hole they had created when coming in. Just as they burst through, the rest of the roof collapsed where the stable was burning, creating an opening in the structure.

“Whoa there, Captain.” Once they were a good distance away from the building, Gilbert slowed his horse and dismounted, taking Matthew with him. He lowered the blond to the ground, carefully laying him out on his back.

“What-” Matthew broke off his rasp to cough, gulping down lungfuls of fresh air. He shivered too, at the difference in temperature. “What do you want with me?”

“Nothing.” Gilbert watched him with glittering eyes. He was knelt by Matthew’s side. “I jus-”

He was interrupted as the heavens opened and then rain that had been gathering all afternoon fell from the heavy clouds. The two of them were soaked through instantly, and Matthew started shaking.

“You just what?” the blond asked, looking up at the other man defiantly.

“I just wanted to save your life. It wasn’t the plan to burn your stable.” Gilbert shrugged. “I’ve watched you for a while now, Birdie, and I didn’t want you to die.”

“You-!”

“Yeah, yeah, I was watching you.” Gilbert looked over at the stable- the rain had put most of the fire out by then, and past that the horses were all huddled together in a group.

“My name isn’t Birdie. And I don’t believe you when you-” Matthew paused to cough again. “When you say you don’t want anything from me.”

“Believe what you want, Matthew Williams.” The albino snickered at Matthew’s widening eyes. “And you looked like a little birdie there, so panicked and fluttering to get out. So Birdie you are. As for what I want, it’s simple-”

He was interrupted again, this time by distant shouts and hoofbeats rather than natural forces. Sighing, Gilbert stood and mounted his horse.

“Wh- Where-”

“You’re safe, Birdie. They’ll find you soon enough. I’ll come back for my flask some other time.” With a smile, he was gone.

Matthew struggled up into a sitting position, watching him and blinking past the rain running down into his eyes. He caught sight of the half-destroyed stable and started crying. A few minutes later, he felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up into Ludwig’s face. The sheriff said something, but Matthew couldn’t make it out due to the roaring both outside and inside his ears.

“Matthew!” Ludwig’s voice finally reached him. “Matthew, are you alright? What happened?”

“Stable…on fire…” Now that all of the excitement had been finished, Matthew felt exhausted. His eyes started closing.

“Were you in there?” At a nod from the other, Ludwig’s eyes widened. “How did you get out? By yourself?” A shake of the head. “Who helped you?”

Matthew hesitated. “…I didn’t see his face,” he eventually lied. He didn’t quite know why he didn’t just tell Ludwig that his brother had done good, but he wanted to keep this as his and Gilbert’s little secret. Besides, he couldn’t help being a little curious.

Ludwig sighed, but helped Matthew up and to his house, where he passed the man a towel. “We’ll have to wait until the morning to check the damage, but the rest of the night should be quiet. No one will be out there in such rain. Do you need me to stay with you?”

“I’ll be fine.” Matthew wrapped the towel more tightly around himself. “What was the other burning building?”

“A small bar on the outskirts of town- not Elizaveta’s, don’t worry.”

“Okay. Before you go, could you put my horses in the main paddock, and make sure Maple’s among them?”

“I will.” Ludwig nodded sharply and left. “Good night,” he said before he went through the door.

“Night…” Matthew collapsed into one of his kitchen chairs, shaken but too tired at the moment to feel the effects. He was so tired, in fact, that he didn’t notice the person in his house until there was a hand over his mouth.

“Shh…” the owner of the hand whispered, pressing down more to stifle the blond’s scream. Then he walked around the chair, smirking when he saw Matthew’s eyes widen. “Miss me, Birdie?” Gilbert asked.

“What are you doing here?” Matthew shot right back at him the moment the hand had been lifted from his mouth.

“I told you I’d be back. But I didn’t want Luddy to find me so I waited until you were alone.” Grinning, the renegade took a seat opposite Matthew.

“Why? Why the interest in me?”

That made Gilbert pause for a moment. Eventually, he just shrugged. “You’re interesting. You look cool when you work with the horses and overall you’re cute too.”

“Is- Is this your attempt at wooing me?” Matthew’s eyes were wide.

“Heh, see, that’s what I mean! You look cute now.” Gilbert smiled. “And nah, this is the start of my attempt at wooing you.”

“…I think you should leave.”

“What?”

“Go away, Beilschmidt. You and your friends have done enough to me tonight.”

“I saved your life!”

“Yes. You did. So thank you for that, but you should leave now.” Matthew stood up and started heading for his bedroom.

Gilbert, however, wasn’t finished. He tailed Matthew like a lost dog, not flinching when the blond turned around and weakly slammed his fist into the wall. “I’m not going. Not yet.”

“And why do you think you aren’t?”

“Let me make sure you get into bed fine, alright?”

Matthew blinked. “What? I can do that on my own.” He didn’t trust Gilbert at all still- after all, he worked for Ivan. Speaking of which… “Does Ivan know you’re here?”

“No.” Ignoring Matthew’s protests, Gilbert scooped him up and carried him down the hall. “Which door is your room?” The blond stayed silent. “Fine then, guess I’ll pick one.” He nudged the nearest door open and recoiled- there was clothing on the floor, the bed was unmade, and was that a horse feeder in the corner? “I really hope this isn’t your room.”

“It’s not.”

“Good.” Gilbert turned on his heel and happily left the mess behind. The next door he opened led to the bathroom, which he quickly passed by as well. Then he finally came to Matthew’s room. It was smaller than Alfred’s, but not by much, and a whole lot cleaner. “I like your room.”

“Don’t think you can stay.”

“I don’t.” Gilbert smirked. “At least, not yet.”

“Not ever,” Matthew said firmly. “And I’m in my room now, so you can let me go.” He struggled a bit, gritting his teeth when Gilbert held onto him more tightly.

“Nah. I said I’d tuck you in, remember?”

Gilbert lowered him down to the edge of the bed, then rummaged around the dresser for dry and clean clothes. Ignoring Matthew’s glare, he gently stripped him down to his underwear and turned away while the blond changed. Once Matthew was dressed, Gilbert threw the covers open and manoeuvred him onto the mattress. Smiling, he quickly wiped around Matthew’s face with a damp rag to get rid of any soot that would inhibit his breathing before pulling the sheets over him. He could feel violet eyes watching him, but kept his own gaze down on his task. After tucking the covers around Matthew’s body, Gilbert sat back and looked over his handiwork. Once again, he pretended not to see the other’s dark look.

“Want me to give you a good night kiss?”

“…No.”

But Gilbert grinned at the hesitation and leaned down to give Matthew’s forehead a quick kiss. Snickering at the weak smack sent his way, he straightened up again and stood. “Night for now, Birdie. I’ll be back soon though, don’t you worry.”

“Alfred won’t let you anywhere near me.”

“Alfred won’t know a thing. He won’t see me, and you won’t tell him.”

“How do you-” Matthew broke off for a moment to cough. “How do you know that for sure?”

“One moment.” Gilbert strode from the room, returning when he had located a glass of water. He placed the glass on Matthew’s bedside table and smirked down at the blond. “I know you’re interested. See ya later.” Then he was gone.

Matthew sighed when he was alone. Yeah, he had noticed Gilbert before, but he himself had been invisible to the red-eyed barkeep. Then the shit went down with Elizaveta and Roderich, and Gilbert joined Ivan and all had seemed lost. Now, with these new turns of events, he wasn’t so sure anymore. However, he still couldn’t let his guard down. The smell of smoke was still in the air despite the heavy rain, and when Matthew fell asleep his dreams were turbulent.

When Matthew looked over the damage done the next day, he wanted to cry again. Just under half of the stable had been burned to the ground, and another good part of it had black streaks through the wood. All of the horses were there, though they had spread out during the night to graze. Matthew tossed some hay to them and then moved back into bed, where he stayed the rest of the day. He didn’t feel up to anything.

When Alfred got home that afternoon, he was scared, then furious. Riding down the road he had received looks and heard whispers. Then he came into sight of his home, and he swore his heart stopped for a moment. Star shied away as well, but the cowboy kicked her into a gallop. He burst into the house, trembling all over, and only calmed down when he had Matthew in his arms.

“What happened?!” he demanded hoarsely, rocking his brother back and forth.

“There was a raid last night. And a storm. Two buildings were burning-” Matthew ducked his head and coughed. “The storm put it out before they were completely destroyed.”

Alfred’s eyes widened and he leaned back to more closely inspect him. Reddened skin in some places, the coughing, a slightly more gravelly voice than usual… “Did- Did you go in there?!”

“I had to save the horses. They were trapped.”

“But you’re okay?” Alfred’s voice was low and urgent.

“I almost got trapped, but then someone saved me.” Matthew’s eyes half closed, and he leaned his head forward onto Alfred’s shoulder.

“Who was it?” Alfred forced himself to be calm, to have a gentle voice, even though there was a cold fury building up inside him. He stroked Matthew’s hair with a soft hand, trying to soothe his brother.

“I-” Matthew found himself thinking about Gilbert’s words. Alfred won’t know a thing… You won’t tell him… He closed his eyes fully. “I don’t know. I didn’t see their face.”

“That’s too bad. Maybe they’ll reveal themselves later,” Alfred murmured. He let go of Matthew and sighed.

“How was your trip?” Matthew asked quietly, leaning back against his pillow.

“It was good.” Alfred’s hands settled on his knees and clenched. “There was a rich buyer, got both of the ones I brought. Paid me near double. Heh, guess we can use the money to rebuild the stable…”

“Yeah.” Matthew glanced to him, worried. “Arthur was here earlier.”

“He was?” Alfred brightened. “Did he come to help you clean up? How long ago was it?”

“This morning.” Matthew looked incredibly tired. “He made me tea and stayed to keep me company for a while. He left about three or so hours ago to open up the bar.” The blond winced as he shifted on the bed.

“Wh- What’s wrong? Did you get burned?” Alfred was immediately up and about, smoothing out the covers and trying to make Matthew more comfortable.

While Matthew appreciated the thought, all Alfred was doing was agitating his tender skin. He reached out and caught his brother’s arm, stilling him. “Calm down. I didn’t get burned, but it still hurts. If you want to help you can get me a fresh glass of water. And that cream.”

Alfred nodded fervently. “Yeah, you got it.” He retrieved the requested items and then left to go see Arthur. He had been hesitant about going, but Matthew insisted that he would be fine for the time being.

Arthur looked up whenever someone new walked into the bar, hoping to see Alfred’s figure in the doorway. All morning he was disappointed, but around late afternoon, the cowboy stepped inside the building. “Alfred!”

Grunting as the Englishman hurled himself into his arms, Alfred laughed and wrapped him up into a hug. “Hey there, Artie. Ya miss me?”

“I was worried, you idiot! Of course I missed you!” Arthur held him tightly, and his voice was muffled by Alfred’s shirt. “I’d thought you’d gotten yourself captured.”

“Nah, I ain’t that stupid. ‘Sides, I was sellin’ the horses.”

“You are, Alfred F. Jones. And how was I supposed to bloody know that if you didn’t tell me?” Arthur lifted his head to give the other man a glare, though the effect was somewhat ruined by the relief in his eyes.

“Heh, maybe. I’m sorry, though…” Alfred looked like he wanted to say more, but ultimately stayed silent on the matter. “Thanks for visiting Mattie this morning,” he said instead.

Arthur didn’t comment on the subject change. That was a conversation better had in the privacy of one of their rooms. “Of course. Did you see the damage?” He lowered his head again, and rested it against Alfred’s shoulder. “Everybody that can is already saying that they’ll help you guys rebuild.”

“I saw,” Alfred replied quietly. “It’s pretty damn bad, but maybe we won’t have to redo the whole structure. But we’ll see later, I guess.” The bigger blond let out a soft sigh. “When you talked to Mattie this morning, did he say anything about the guy that rescued him from the burning stable?”

Stepping out of the embrace, Arthur shook his head. “He didn’t even mention it. I don’t think he wants to talk about that particular incident. I wouldn’t pressure him.”

“Yeah, I guess…” Alfred looked unconvinced, but a moment later nodded. “I just wanna thank the guy.”

Alfred placed a hand on his arm. “Well, maybe one day the person will come forward. But for now, come on. Sit down, eat and drink, and tell me about your trip.”

The American agreed, happy that any tensions – to him – he’d had with Arthur before were gone now. He let Arthur lead him to the counter and kissed him on the cheek before the other man could retreat. Arthur sputtered softly, but Alfred could tell he didn’t mind too much. The barkeep placed some stew down before him, and he started his little story.

“…so really, it wasn’t that interesting,” he finished a few minutes later.

“That’s not a bad thing.” Arthur thought back to the previous night. “Sometimes dull is better.”

Alfred stabbed a piece of meat onto his fork and pointed it at Arthur, waving it around. “Sometimes. But not always.” His mouth dropped open when Arthur stole the beef. “Hey, that was mine!”

“And now it’s not.” Arthur’s expression just hinted at smugness. “Elizaveta is a good cook.”

“Indeed she is.” The woman herself appeared at Alfred’s elbow and grinned before sitting down. She cleared her throat and then her expression grew serious. “Alfred, we have to lock Ivan up soon. Ludwig’s getting worried. We’ve been a secluded community, practically doing our own thing, but the longer Ivan is out there and the more he steals, the more national authorities will take notice.”

“Yeah, I know.” Alfred groaned and allowed his head to fall into his hands. “We need to set a trap.”

Arthur’s mind was racing. He hadn’t liked dealing with English authorities, and he figured the American ones weren’t much better. He didn’t want any close scrutiny on the town. Same sex love wasn’t something that even flitted across the backs of their minds, and it certainly wouldn’t be condoned outside the safe haven that was Willow Springs. They’d be lucky to get locked away into a mental health hospital and not killed. He spoke up.

“Use me.”

Alfred stopped in the middle of his sentence. “What?”

“For the trap,” Arthur explained. “You could use me to lure Ivan in and then capture him.”

“Absolutely not.” And then Alfred kept on talking quietly to Elizaveta.

Indignant, Arthur grabbed onto Alfred’s wrist and pulled him closer. “And why not? Ivan will want to get to you, or maybe even talk to me to get me off your side, so it makes sense to use me.”

The two stared at each other in silence, the unspoken tension between them growing tenfold. Elizaveta felt she would have been able to cut it with a spoon if she wanted to. She remained silent, watching them and briefly wondering which one would break first. In the end, it was Alfred. The blue-eyed man gave a sigh and leaned back, dropping his gaze briefly to the table. He picked up his tankard and took a swig before speaking.

“No, Arthur. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“I’m not your damsel, Alfred.” Arthur’s voice was cooler than either Alfred or Elizaveta expected. “You seem to forget that fact a lot. I can take care of myself. And I’m tired of this little circus you two are putting on. Use me to end it.”

Alfred’s mouth gaped open for a few moments, and then he stood. “Come on.” Grabbing onto Arthur’s hand, he pulled the Englishman up as well and started off towards the stairs.

“Hey!” Arthur tried to resist, but his struggles did nothing to help him. “Where are we going?”

“Somewhere private.”

Alfred dragged him up to the room he was staying in. He shut the door and backed Arthur onto the bed. Arthur sat down and shifted away from the larger man. Not about to let him go, Alfred leaned after him and raised a hand to touch Arthur’s cheek. He paused when Arthur turned his face away in an obvious dismissal of the affection.

“We’re somewhere private.” Arthur’s back was stiff. “What do you want?”

“Arthur…” Alfred’s shoulders slumped, and he shifted even closer. His hands were gentle as he cupped Arthur’s cheeks. “I know you can take care of yourself. I was there with the broomtail, remember? And you took care of me lots, too. But I don’t want you to be in even the slightest path of danger when it comes to Ivan. He’s not exactly evil, but he just- He gets off on this kind of stuff.”

“I know the risks very well.” Arthur remained adamant. “And I told you, I just want this stupid game of yours to-”

“To end, I know! I want all of this to end too, and it’s not a game!”

“Well it sure seems like it!” Arthur cried. “And you know, sometimes it seems like you get off on this stuff too.”

“Arthur-”

“You always act like everything’s just this massive game and there will always be more players or everything will be alright again afterwards! It doesn’t work that way, and not everything will have a happy end. Didn’t you realize how much the stakes have been raised after your fucking barn burned down? After your brother nearly died?!”

Alfred jerked away then. “That’s a low blow,” he warned.

Arthur paused momentarily. “Perhaps I shouldn’t have involved Matthew in this,” he eventually conceded. “But right now, I want you to understand. This isn’t some story or- or fairy tale with a guaranteed happy ending These are our lives you’re tampering with. Everyone in this town and in the surrounding towns is at risk. Not to mention the ease with which you were toying with my own emotions… Why didn’t you tell me you were leaving?” His voice lowered, and he clenched his hands. “Nothing for nearly an entire week from you, and then you’re gone? And I have to find out from Matthew where you were to stop from worrying that you might have died? That’s not alright. I had thought you would at least have enough respect for me to be honest.”

Alfred bit his lip and hunched over. “I do have respect for you,” he choked out. “I respect you so much and care about you so much I- I got shaken, okay?”

“Why?” Arthur took in a deep breath and tried to relax his shoulders. No matter what, he owed Alfred a chance to explain himself.

“The ghost town. I couldn’t do anything. And yeah, you might say ‘oh Alfred’s just down cuz he couldn’t look like a man or hero or whatever’ but…I could have lost you that day. If Ivan had really wanted to hurt or kill us, he easily could have done it and there wasn’t a single thing I could do about it. I didn’t take my gun and you don’t own one, and I’m not a knight with a shield or whatever.” Alfred gave a little jolt as Arthur’s hand came to rest on his thigh, but he didn’t look up. “And yeah, you’re right. Maybe I had been treating this like a game or some grand adventure with little consequences, but that day it stopped being like that. You being in danger put it into perspective, and God I’m so sorry that it had to happen like that. I stayed away cuz I was ashamed that I’d been so defenceless with you there, and I thought the trip would be a way to clear my head. I didn’t think how it could come across to you, and coming back to see what they’d done to Mattie… I do wanna end this, I really do.” He pulled one of Arthur’s arms closer to his chest.

“You know I’m your best shot, then,” Arthur murmured. Most of the anger had gone, but his chest still felt raw.

Alfred slowly kissed up the soft skin of his inner forearm. “I just don’t want you to get hurt,” he whispered against the skin, squeezing his eyes shut.

“I’m going to end up hurt anyway at some point, whether you’re there to protect me or not,” Arthur replied evenly. “But…your concern is touching, love.”

“Thanks.” Alfred finally peered up to him. “I know we’re not good, but are we alright? Or on the road to it?”

This time, it was Arthur who cupped Alfred’s cheeks, and when he smiled his expression was fond. “Definitely on the road to it. Now let me make my own decisions, hmm? I’m just as much a part of this town as anyone here now, and I want to do what I can to help.”

“I know.” Alfred straightened up and pulled him into a hug. “Alright, you can help. But if there’s any chance of you getting hurt or anything, I’m getting you out of there, Ivan be damned.

“Thank you.” Arthur allowed his smile to brighten, and he leaned up to kiss Alfred’s cheek. “Come on, let’s go back down and try to figure this out.”

Elizaveta only spared them a brief glance when they went back down a couple of minutes later. She, too, was eager to help them put an end to all of it, tired of all the tension. At first the three of them wanted to take matters into their own hands, but after seeing Feliciano out on patrol, they decided to talk to Ludwig about it as well. The blond sheriff was sceptical at first, but after some consideration he agreed to offer his help. Their little group was soon joined by Antonio, Feliciano, and Lovino, and the seven of them retired to Ludwig’s study to hatch a plan.

[theonceoverthinker]

OUAT 2X12 - In the Name of the Brother

Brother (Or sister, or any other sibling, real or metaphorical), can you spare the time...to read my latest review?

Great! Head below the cut!

Press Release Dr. Whale is tasked with mending Hook’s wounds and performing surgery on the stranger whose car crashed upon entering Storybrooke. But some of the townspeople fear that the stranger may have seen magic – which could expose their true identities to the world – and think that leaving him to die would be the best solution. Meanwhile, as Mr. Gold tries to reunite with a despondent Belle, Cora attempts to reunite with daughter Regina; and in the land that was, Victor desperately wants to prove to his disapproving father that he can, indeed, bring back the dead. General Thoughts - Characters/Stories/Themes and Their Effectiveness Past This is one of the most visually appealing segments in the entire series. The World of Black and White is such a crazy concept, but it absolutely rocks. The style and the use of color make it so hard to forget and it really makes for a world that feels like none other, something that the other realms aren’t always able to do. And when Rumple appears, it’s such a contrast. Like, had this not been done so carefully, the mix of a technicolor Rumple in a world like this would’ve looked sloppy, but instead, it’s as every bit as magical as one could imagine or want it to be. I also like how the acknowledgment of this distinction is never too much of a distraction for the characters. Rumple (And his gold) definitely pops out from the rest of the crowd, but they never stop to think about that in terms of the schematics of their world. I’m glad about this because it doesn’t invite a feeling of distraction away from the story. Finally, let’s talk about music because the music here definitely delivers on the dark gothic atmosphere of the world, and it starts to blend with our world as Rumple shows up. As for the story itself, it’s pretty basic -- good, but basic. It’s essentially a darker “Aladdin” and a gentler Frankenstein story mixed in to one. And it’s cool! Really, it is! The unique take on Frankenstein is cool and having Rumple be what amounts to a jerk genie in it gives a fun spin. However, there’s not that much that’s worth touching upon apart from the style. Present So, the present segment finds itself pretty divided among our main cast and as mixed as the plotlines get, so are my impressions of them.

Emma and co don’t really have much of a story, per se, but act as passive reactants to everything else at play, and to be fair, that’s the most that could be expected of them in this scenario. I found that the debate over whether to let Greg live or not compelling enough, but thankfully not made to be such a big deal, especially when the main players generally don’t harm innocents. Still, it was nice to have Grumpy and Gold to list off the problems that Greg’s existence could present as something to think about (And to be fair, I guess it was something to do before the crazed Plot Hole Police arrived to badger A&E over for years, if they hadn’t already at this point).

Watching Regina and Cora interact is the most uncomfortable thing in the world, and I mean that in the best way possible. Cora, whether true in her love for Regina or not, still manages to squirm her way into Regina’s heart where she knows she’s unwelcome. It’s honestly sinister seeing her apologize for things that we know she doesn’t mean (Making Regina marry Leopold and framing her for Archie’s “death”), but eventually convince Regina regardless. And to Regina’s credit, Cora only gets him by plucking the nerve of her most recent dilemma: Earning Henry’s trust back. Seeing Regina cradling in Cora’s neck is so awful, like seeing a spider ensnare her prey.

Finally, what the hell brought on Whale’s bout into depression? I guess it was seeing the watch which reminded him of his brother, but he was clearly drinking before he got the watch, so what gives? Was is because he couldn’t get sent back to his realms a few episodes ago because that wasn’t even in the “Previously On” section? Like, I’m sorry, but we see Whale on the verge of committing suicide. That’s a serious topic to show, especially for the very real way that Whale attempts it. There needs to either be more of a focus on Whale’s present situation to get to that point. I will say, there is a redemption here by Ruby because her speech at least connects more to the past segment in how Whale can’t change the past, but can change the future.   Insights - Stream of Consciousness -As a victim of a car crash, seeing that again wasn’t traumatic at all! *nervous shudder* -Killian, this is the exact worst time to be an instigator! What the hell?! -This is also the filming spot for my OTHER favorite blooper. I’ll give you a hint: Anyone down for some crushed nuts? -Credit to Emma and David for knowing exactly how to tame Rumple! Small moments like these give a nice amount of payoff for the respective dynamics! -”From the outside?” I feel like if this had happened during the last episode, I probably would’ve put that Peter Griffin meme here about matching the titles in the dialogue. -I love the opening title card here! I normally love them all, but the distinction of color is just magnificent here! -Whale, don’t drink on the job! -”That’s your cross to bear, I suppose.” Victor, making puns is my schtick! -”He’ll cool off.” Gerhardt, your dad wasn’t even mad. I’d say Victor was madder. -Emma’s coming into Killian’s hospital room all confident and I am so here for this! And looks like Killian agrees! -Killian sees he’s chained. “You’re really into this, aren’t you?” Killian is just getting the best lines here and I am also here for this! XD -”If I had to pick dead guy of the year? I’d pick you.” Give it a couple more seasons, Emma. -I love how Ruby knew there were 10,000 combos right off the top of her head! She’s so smart! -”A LinkedIn account.” Not only is this dude a loser, BUT he’s now spamming the few people that can stand him with invitations to certify that he knows PowerPoint! He’s a MONSTER, I tell you! -”And he tweets pictures of his food.” Greg, torturing Regina aside (Which is also pretty fucking horrendous), you are just the WORST person! -Leroy’s apparently a movie buff. Who knew? -”We need to tell Regina’s she’s been framed.” Yesss! Thank you, Snow! I’m not mad at anyone for not immediately thinking of her given the crisis, but I am happy that someone did (Actually, some two because of Snow and Ruby!). Also, it enriches their dynamics going forward! Also, credit to her for understanding the internal danger Cora poses to Regina! I’m seriously loving Snow this season! -”You better hope he dies.” I like the strength of the writing in this line. It’s the driving force for the morality that Emma and co are tasked with thinking about, however inactively, throughout the segment. -”It’s not murder if we let him succumb to his injuries.” “I’m pretty sure it is.” It totally is! Look, for all the moral conflict of this episode, it’s totally murder and I’m glad that the character framed as the one closer to the audience is the one aware of that. -Gee, did Disney buy Star Wars at around this time? I’ve no idea! -”Rumple Von Stiltskin.” Imagine if that’s actually how his name was structured! XD -”Are you a philanthropist?” “Well, I’ve been called worse.” Rumple’s also gotten great quips! -*Rumple sees box* ...August? “Hello, Rumple.” Ah! Cora! What a fakeout! -”The Crocodile snaps at the little bird.” I guess Killian’s vernacular grew on Cora throughout their time together. Now though, I want to know what animal Killian is. What animal is everyone?! -A moment of silence for the deleted Jello scene that never made it to air. A-woman. -Cora, do not smell Regina’s clothes! That is fucking creepy! -Disguising yourself as Henry? Cora, that is a new low! And your former low already bonked Hades’ blue head! -Cora, go away! You’ve been in Regina’s sights for all of a quarter of a second and you’ve already given Regina a panic attack! -I feel like the only reason Rumple held up that magnifying glass was so that the effects team could show off just how well they did his eyes. -Regina’s hiding spot is so beautiful! She has a gorgeous albino apple tree, christmas lights, jewels all around, and gorgeous wallpaper! Fuck the monarchy! Go into interior design! -”Determination.” Cora, shut up, you are not an Undertale character. ...Actually, you totally could pass as Chara. -”Emma and Henry and the two idiots.” I love how small, but still funny that line was. -Okay, so I totally want Ruby to just run on her own in my “Wacky Races” dream fic because holy shit! She’s fast! -I’m not sure if Gerhardt beating the crap out of his father for verbally assaulting Victor is the most disturbing thing I’ve ever seen or the most heartwarming. -”It seems that science does too [have a price].” Bro, do you even physics?! -I’m not going to write down Ruby’s entire speech, but I do like the concept of looking at bright sides to Regina’s curse. It’s definitely not an admission that it was a good deed nor should it be, but in this isolated incident, it’s interesting to see Ruby and Whale commiserate over things. -Also, serious props to Ruby for cutting Whale’s self-hate monologue to get to the situation at hand. XD -”These carriages are strange.” I wonder if Cora was actually serious when she says this! XD I mean, cars are probably intimidating to those not familiar with them. -”It’s one of my most treasured possessions.” Awww! -It’s so freaky seeing Gerhardt moving around in his undead state. He’s like a gorilla in the way he moves his arms and legs and the way he cowers and sits. What a cool take on Frankenstein’s monster! Like that, more than anything would make me interested in a follow-up Frankenstein flashback. -I feel so bad for Snow as she’s being let down about not going into Greg’s room, but I can’t help but laugh. Like Snow, the fuck, bro? -”It’s a cup.” Am I the only one getting a sense of deja vu from “A Bug’s Life” here? XD -Greg, you sly dog! You, Killian, and Cora could bag Best Acting Awards until you die! -”I was texting.” ...While not my exact situation, this was too fucking real… -I love that globe and wish we saw more of it! On topic, everyone in Storybrooke should keep a private sampling of blood just for safekeeping at this point for identity purposes. -Awww! Poor Emma! Henry, just let her sleep! And then Gold comes in! The poor woman! -”If any harm comes to Belle while I’m gone, I’m killing all of you.” ...Was anyone in that room trying to hurt Belle? For the wham line it was supposed to be, it doesn’t come back in a meaningful way and it’s so oddly aimed. I guess this was written before Colin got hurt and maybe Killian was supposed to go after her again? Arcs - How are These Storylines Progressing? Rumple’s Redemption - As much as my inner sense of empathy is judging Rumple, his decision to essentially say “fuck off” to the request to help Greg is pretty in-character. Not only is he dealing with the anger over losing Belle and essentially letting Killian get away with it without killing him (Which is in itself a pretty great stride that holds through from his decision in the previous episode), but yeah, for as much as I like Rumple and think that the writing does an excellent job of painting him as not a complete fucking monster, I put the word ‘complete’ in there for a reason. Rumple still has a long way to go until he reaches a point where he can care for someone whose outside of his tiny circle of love, and for whatever can be said about his relations to Emma and David, they’re not at a point where they’re strong enough where he’d give them that much concern. Regina’s Redemption - “I have to let you know. I had nothing to do with Archie.” I almost feel like I can leave it there, but nah. You deserve more! So, just as much as Regina wants Henry to be by her side regardless as for as much as her attempted redemption had hurt her thus far, Regina’s still committed to doing right by Henry, and that’s amazing! Furthermore, Regina shows that even if she didn’t accept her treatment when the accusations came around over Archie’s death, she does accept that given the circumstances, it was a reasonable assumption to make. Honestly, the entirity of Regina’s scenes with Cora speak of how far she’s come, as she stands against Cora’s points over why she framed Regina. Obviously, part of what made Regina go as evil as she did was Cora’s influence, and seeing her work so hard to not let Cora control her again was just so impressive! Hell, even gives Cora an understanding of what she wants if she’s to trust Cora again. Greg Mendell - We get our first (Okay, second) piece of Greg in this episode. Definitely a good actor and I like how there was this subversion of expectations in this episode (until the ending, of course) while still raising all of the needed points about him and his existence here for later in the season where they would apply. Favorite Dynamic Rumple and Cora - I like how we get to see that Cora’s menace doesn’t just stretch to Regina, but how exactly it stretches to Rumple. Rumple and Cora are on equal footing in a way that Rumple and Regina only came to be during the final two seasons of the show, and that comes across so clearly in just how he acts around her in their one scene together. She’s able to push him a bit and even prompts a deal where he has to hesitantly accept it, and that’s so rarely done, especially by an enemy. Just look at the worry in Rumple’s eye and that bit of trepidation, but he still manages to keep most of his cool. That is how Rumple responds to a real threat. It’s almost karmic retribution for not bothering with Greg (Or trying so hard to keep Cora out of Stroybrooke that she’d let Emma and Snow die), but I don’t know if I would go so far as to say that for certain. Still, their one scene both establishes so much of their dynamic and sets up the board for later. Writer Jane Espenson is back, and she did a decent job here. I like how she balanced the screentime of so much of our main and supporting cast. No one ever feels like they got the shaft and what they were given to do fits their story so well. In addition, I feel like the writing is done very well, particularly with Regina and Cora. The way Regina speaks is a great reflection of the work she’s done as she deflects Cora’s points hit by hit and only succumbs to a situation that was well set up. Jane is really good when it comes to writing Regina, as “We Are Both” was also hers and the depictions of both her past and present character were marvelous! Also, as a side note, she wrote Emma and Killian much better here. There’s clearly animosity, but a level of concern and even flirting off of Emma’s side that is actually allowed to show up for a hot second. Rating 8/10. Style is the name of the game here. I’d be lying if I didn’t say that the aesthetics weren’t impressive enough to bring the whole episode up a level. As for the other segments, they ranged in quality, but were more good than bad, though since Whale was the main segment, the shortcomings of that story stood out more. But thankfully, it wasn’t the only portion between the interesting broad strokes of the OUAT rendition of Frankenstein, the true horror story of seeing Cora take over Regina’s life again, and the small inner workings of Emma and co in the background as they react to all of this. Flip My Ship - Home of All Things “Shippy Goodness” Rumbelle - I noticed that just as the episode started, Rumple was calling Belle “Beautiful Belle” as the authorities were coming for her. That’s small, but pretty cute! And you just gotta feel for Rumple as he tries so desperately to make Belle remember him. While I’m not really sure if I like or dislike the failed TLK, the cup scene absolutely accomplishes what it sets out to do. Also, “do you have any spells to return memories?” Just look at Rumple here. He looks so nervous as he’s asking, as fragile as a young schoolboy! And he does that in front of CORA! That is adorable for Rumbelle! Captain Swan - Killian just gets hit by a freakin’ CAR and the first thing he says is, “Hey beautiful.” Killian, never change! ...Actually, yeah. You need to change a lot, but fortunately, you do! Hell, even Emma gives into the flirting a bit after a bit! Also, “everything else is still intact.” KIllian, could you be any more obvious?! Also also, Emma’s pretty keen on keeping an eye on Killian despite the fact that he’s handcuffed. Finally, Emma’s reaction to Rumple’s threat to kill Hook at the end of the episode...looks like she does care. Golden Heart - ”I’ve no reason to cheat you.” “Anymore.” Looks like we’ve got some angry exes! XD Also, notice how Rumple’s lingering juuuuuust a bit during that kiss! You dog! ()()()()()()()()() Finally! Another really good episode to talk about and get pumped over!! Thank you so much for reading and to the awesomesauce fine folks at @watchingfairytales for making like Frankenstein and bringing my creations to life! Bwahahahahha!

Any guesses on what will happen next time? I’ll give you a tiiiiiiiiny hint: It’s one of my favorites. See you then! Season 2 Tally (104/220) Writer Tally for Season 2: Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis: (29/60) Jane Espenson (25/50) Andrew Chambliss and Ian Goldberg (24/50) David Goodman (16/30) Robert Hull (16/30) Christine Boylan (7/30) Kalinda Vazquez (10/30) Daniel Thomsen (10/20)

Operation Rewatch Archives

[sweetdollfromhell]

Chilling Tales of Riverdale

Chapter 2 an old fanfic but stil alive that is a mix of Riverdale, CAOS and Archie horror. Located in season 2 and will have differences with the canon for both shows. Hope you like :) 

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

Jughead and Betty were running in the woods, they were ahead for the moment, but they could still hear their pursuers. It was a forest, they would eventually lose them before they were exhausted. Suddenly, Jughead noticed several trees that seemed so close that their branches seemed to be intertwined with the feet of large bushes that were still surprisingly bushy.

-That way! he decided by training Betty to follow him.

The two young continued in the direction indicated by Jughead, eventually sinking into the narrow passage that led to a kind of clearing.

-Okay, so we're trying to stay here for now, but if we hear anything, we keep going. It doesn't matter, if we move away, as long as we get the signal, Jughead started before he noticed that Betty wasn't listening to him.

She had looked up at one of the trees and observed it.

-Betty?

-Jug, what's in the tree? Betty asked without taking her eyes off the object.

Jughead approached and saw what his girlfriend was watching: tied up after a branch base, something that seemed to be a dream catcher was swinging. That or his nightmare version. The thread that connects the different pieces to each other was made of hair braided in a color halfway between blond and white, teeth too small to be that of an adult had been placed in the circle and others were swung at the ends of the braids. The whole thing was covered with brownish spots that Jughead guessed to be blood.  Almost by reflection, he tried to lure him to himself, touching him before Betty could stop him. At that moment, he noticed something from the corner of his eye.

-There are others.

-What?

-Look," said the young man, pointing to other branches but also to some other trees.

Several objects with the same aesthetics are hung among the branches, slightly concealed but visible in the right angle: rarely the same, some just made of branches, pebbles and plants dry while some contain animal bones when it is not dried pieces of their bodies or for at least one, something fresh enough for the flies to turn around. Some of the trees also had patterns painted with the same reddish-brownish-brown substance signs that they could not identify.  

Betty felt her head turned and as she lowered her head, made her last discovery.

-Even the ground, she whine.

None of them noticed at the time, but the floor is perfectly clean. No dead leaves, excrement or other waste. Only sequences of small pebbles perfectly buried to be visible but not far enough out for us to slide on.  They form complex patterns in a fairly large circle for several people.

-How did we end up in Blair Witch project? Asked worried but also curious Jughead.

Before Betty could answer, they were interrupted:

-But what do we have here?

Jughead turned around ready to throw himself at the first Ghoulie within his reach but he was still far away from them. Close enough to be heard but not enough to be seen.

-Get out of here, or you'll regret it! Another one continued.

-On the contrary, let him stay! Maybe he knows where Jones is," said their leader. -So, do you have any values to say? Have you seen a tall skinny guy in a ridiculous hat and a pretty blonde doll?

If the person answered, they did not hear.  The Ghoulies would soon move on to insults and at the moment Jughead would offer to try to help, a broken bone sound was heard followed by a cry of pain.

-What the hell... started another one.

A sound of a blow was heard with new cries.  What followed was after a mixture of screaming pain and fear:

-AAAAAAHHHHH

-Get away you you ….Fucking crazy bitch from hell!

-Just... Stop! Leave us....Anything you want!!!!!

 -Should we...? Betty began.

-We should let them have fun and then see what our best option is," Jughead proposed.

It was not sure that they could escape before that no matter what made so much money then to prepare. He will be fists and saw Betty lift her bag ready to send a punch.

The screams were silent and running noises were heard. The losers were running away. Time to face the champion.

A silhouette passed between the bushes. This person was small and wore a red hoodie so hidden his face. The rest of her outfit looked like ratty pajamas that probably was originally pink or white.  In his hand, a broom and around his neck a black cat watching them.

-Hi... Are you all right? Says the silhouette in a soft and feminine voice.

The hood fell off and revealed the skinny face of a girl their age. With her skin so sickly pale and her short cut white hair, she almost looks like an albino. She also has green eyes piercing like a cat. The effect was striking, nearly unccany valley.

-Uh... yes, thank you, said surprise Betty.

-Oh, it's nothing," continued the girl.

Before Betty could continue, Jughead also asked a question:

-What happened to the others?

-The boys who were chasing you? Gone. I took care of it! She answered the girl proudly.

The cat on his shoulder meowed loudly.

-Sorry, we took care of it, she corrected by rubbing her forehead against the cat's forehead.

-I consider myself a feminist and I believe women can do anything, but I can't believe you can fight four guys and win," continued suspicious Jughead.

-This is my territory, I know it perfectly and I have many traps to feed myself and defend myself. And I'm armed!

She lifted her broom proudly. Then she spread the strands to reveal the tip of a stake in her heart. This one was covered with something red and sticky.

-Are they...start Betty.

The girl quickly understood and realized Betty's thinking.

-Oh no, don't worry. They're just hurt pretty bad, as long as they go to a doctor, everything will be fine.

-Okay, says Betty a little uncomfortable but she wasn't going to cry too hard for her bullies.

Suddenly her gaze slipped to the ground and she had another shock.

-But you don't have any shoes!

The girl looked down at her bare feet, before saying, embarrassed.

-I went out quickly when I heard the noise and didn't think to put on my shoes. It doesn't matter.

-It is November, the Betty cut.  -You're going to catch your death blow!

-I swear to you, I'm fine. I'm always barefoot and we're great...

She shup himself when Jughead handed her a pair of socks.

- Here you go. You may not be cold, but you can still get hurt by stepping on something.

-Are these yours? You're going to be cold," said the girl, looking down at his feet.

-Unfortunately, I don't carry a bag of clothes with me in case I run into Mowgli.

The girl laughed and put on the socks without any more resistance.

-What's your name? Asked Betty realizing that they had forgotten the essential.

-Sabrina and you?

The cat spat at the same time.

-Shh, Salem! And come down, you're heavy! She said as she dropped the cat off her shoulders.

He meowed his discontent when he landed on the ground.

-My name is Betty, and this is my boyfriend Jughead.

-It's your work in the trees? suddenly cut it down. -And the ground?

-Uh... Yes. It's just for my safety.

-Your security? Betty asked, also intrigued.

-Well, this kind of fetish thanks to Hollywood reminds us of satanic cults and inbreeding cannibal families. A good way to convince people to turn back and not find my camp. Even if some are really based on old protective grey-gray, you never know in case he has some truth in his stories. The ones that contain pieces of animals come from my leftover meals.  I didn't waste anything," Sabrina continued.

-There are human teeth in this one," continued Jughead, pointing to the dream catch.

-Mine, finally my milk teeth. One of my aunts thought the tooth fairy was a stupid concept. She gave me a piece but kept the teeth, pierced them and made a necklace out of them. She told me that I could carry and tell the other children who were bothering me that I was carrying the smiles of my enemies around my neck, always looking for more material for it.

-Interesting technique against bullying, says Jughead sarcastically.

-With mixed results, Sabrina said, embarrassed. - It's my hair on it too. They were long and I couldn't have maintained them here. The same goes for blood.

-Did you cut yourself? Asked Betty worried.

-No, I was just menstruating, Sabrina said bluntly. -Whenever you make one, you might as well make it realistic.  

Betty wondered which of the information given so far was the most disturbing.  But he had more urgency.

-If you want to keep talking, it may be better to go to my camp, cut Sabrina off with eagerness. -I have food, drinks and my cleaning is done!  I mean, if you wanted to and you're in no hurry. Otherwise, I understand," she said.

Betty and Jughead looked at each other. Both were clearly shared. Sabrina had helped them well and as strange as she seemed, she also seemed to be in great need of human contact. Jughead felt his stomach twist: he had something fishy about this girl but he was the first to admit that sometimes life pushed you to do things that were questionable or whose logic seemed strange. He could also see in Betty's eyes a mixture of worry, compassion and curiosity. It was too late.

-You know what? I think we didn't have much time. Jughead's bike is broken and I don't think we'll have a choice but to call for help. Might as well wait in your company. 

[dumbledearme]

chapter seven—fools rush in

read Child of Land and Sea here

Act I — Storm At Sea

Part VII — Wise men say only fools rush in. Shall I stay? Would it be a sin?

Not everything was lost. They used the infinite LotusCash card to pay for a ride from Vegas to Los Angeles. The driver left them at the beach in Santa Monica with no clue of what to do next.

Then Andy had another one of her ideas.

It blew her mind to think that her own father, the one she had never met, the one that had abandoned her, the one that was a freakin' god, controlled the seas. Two thirds of the Earth's surface was covered in water. How could someone be that powerful?

Well, time to have a taste of it.

She walked into the sea.

"Andy?" Anthony called, a note of amusement in his voice. "What are you doing?" She didn't answer and kept on walking. "You know how polluted that water is? There's all kinds of toxic—"

That's when her head went under. At first, Andy held her breath, afraid of what would happen. It wasn't easy to willingly inhale water. When she couldn't take it anymore, she gasped. Sure enough, she could breathe normally.

Now came the complicated part.

Andy focused in the lack of memories she had of her dad. It was hard; there wasn't a smile, a caress or even a familiar smell. But there was the sea around her. The waves. The salt. All the things that made him the sea god. This is who he is, she realized.

"Please," she pleaded. "Please, help me." She closed her eyes and waited. When she opened them, the ghost woman was there.

"Andy Jackson," she said.

"Who are you?" Andy had to ask.

"I'm a Nereid, a spirit of the sea. It has been many years since a child of the sea has been born. We have watched you with great interest."

"Why doesn't he speak to me? You know, personally?"

"Do not judge the Lord of the Sea too harshly," the Nereid said. "He stands at the brink of an unwanted war. He has much to occupy his time. Besides, he is forbidden to help you directly. The gods may not show such favoritism."

"Even to their own children?"

"Especially to them. The gods can work by indirect influence only. That is why I give you a warning, and a gift." She held out her hand. Three white pearls flashed in her palm. "I know you journey to Hades' realm. Few mortals have ever done this and survived: Orpheus, who had great music skill; Hercules, who had great strength; Houdini, who could escape even the depths of Tartarus. Do you have these talents?"

"With a little effort, I can burp the entire alphabet."

The Nereid narrowed her eyes. "You possess gifts you have only begun to know. The oracle has foretold a great and terrible future for you, should you survive to adulthood. Poseidon would not have you die before your time. Therefore, take these, and when you are in need, smash a pearl at your feet."

"What will happen?"

"Depends on the need. But remember: what belongs to the sea will always return to the sea."

"Alright. What about the warning?"

Her eyes flickered. "Go with what your heart tells you, or you will lose all. Hades feeds on doubt and hopelessness. He will trick you if he can. He never willingly lets people leave his realm. Keep faith. And good luck, Andromeda."

Getting there wasn't that hard. They convinced the security guard to let them pass. His name was Charon. He put them on the boat and complained all the way that he was underpaid. The boat went on, crossing a dark, oily river, swirling with bones, dead fish, and other strange things.

Anthony said it was the River Styx. He said it was polluted with dreams, hopes, wishes that never came true. Thinking of that and of all the dead people around her, Andy started to panic. She wasn't supposed to be here. She took Anthony's hand, needing reassurance that somebody else was alive.

Then, of course, there was the dog. The giant three headed dog really wanted to eat them. Andy didn't think they would pass that. But Anthony somehow managed to control Cerberus. Bossing him around, really. He was so bossy even the gigantic hellhound did as he wanted! The dog couldn't wait to do what he said, to be pet, to be given attention.

It was unbelievable.

"No," Anthony told her. "That was obedience school."

After a while, Andy came to the realization that the dead weren't scary—they were just sad. Most of them were doomed to a waiting line. A lot of them were condemned to the Fields of Punishment. Only very few went to Elysium.

Suddenly, Grover yelped. His sneakers sprouted wings and his legs shot forward dragging him away. "Maia!" he yelled, but that didn't work.

Andy and Anthony ran after him.

"Untie the shoes," Anthony shouted. But he couldn't. He was being taken to a dark tunnel that got darker and colder the further they went. Fortunately, Grover hit the wall and one of the sneakers fell; he lost speed. Anthony caught up to him and helped him take off the other shoe.

They all collapsed, exhausted.

Anthony glanced at the end of the tunnel. "This is the entrance to Tartarus," he said softly.

"We have to get out of here," cried Grover. They ran the other way a little too slowly because Andy's backpack was weighing her down. Something seemed to be trying to inhale them.

Finally, they got out of the tunnel. "What was that?"

Andy glanced at Anthony; he was obviously nursing an idea, but he chose not to share. "Let's keep going," he said. "Grover, can you walk?"

"Yeah, sure," he swallowed. "I never liked those shoes anyway."

They kept going until the found the garden. It was strange and dangerous. All around them there was poisonous mushrooms and shrubs, and weird luminous plants grew without sunlight. Right at the center, there was an orchard of pomegranate trees.

"The garden of Persephone," said Anthony, who seemed to know everything about everything. "Don't touch anything." Sure enough, the smell of the pomegranates was overwhelming. Andy really wanted to have one.

They walked up the steps of the palace. Andy's backpack weighed a ton now.

Hades was the third god she got to meet, but the first one who struck her as godlike. His skin was albino white, his hair shoulder-length and jet black. He was wearing black silk robes and a crown of braided gold. Immediately, Andy felt like he should be the one giving the orders. He knew more than she did. He was smarter, more powerful, more graceful, more—

Snap out of it!, she told herself.

"You are brave to come here, little one," he said; his voice sounded bored. "After what you have done to me, very brave indeed. Or very foolish."

Andy stepped forward. "Lord Hades, I come with two requests."

He raised an eyebrow. There were shadows moving around him. "What am I? A genie? You arrogant child. You have taken enough."

"I've taken nothing," she said, defensively. The throne room shook and Andy almost lost her balance.

Hades bellowed, "You think I want war, godling?"

"Well, you did take the master bolt."

"LIES!" More rumbling. Hades rose from his throne. "Your father may fool Zeus, but I am not stupid. I see his plan."

"Excuse me?"

"You were the thief on the winter solstice," he accused. "Your father thought to keep you his dirty little secret. You took the master bolt and my helm. Had I not sent my Fury to discover you at that school, Poseidon might have succeeded in hiding his scheme to start a war. But now you have been forced into the open."

"Lord Hades," called Anthony and Andy could almost see the gears turning inside his head. "Your helm of darkness is missing, too?"

"Do not play innocent with me, son of Athena. You and the satyr have been helping the girl—coming here to threaten me in Poseidon's name, no doubt—to bring me an ultimatum. Does Poseidon think I can be blackmailed into supporting him?"

"Sir—"

"I have said nothing of the helm's disappearance," Hades snarled, "because I had no illusions that anyone on Olympus would offer me the slightest justice, the slightest help. I searched for you myself, and when it was clear you were coming to me, I did not stop you. Return my helm now, godling, or I will stop death. I will open the earth and have the dead pour back into the world. I will make your lands a nightmare. And you—Andromeda Jackson—your skeleton will lead my army out of—"

"You're crazy," Andy snapped. "You're absolutely insane."

Hades seemed too shocked about the accusation to speak.

"You've been sending monsters after me because you think I stole something from you? Never occurred to you, I suppose, to prove that I had such item. Of course, Zeus did the same thing, didn't he? You are all out of your minds!"

"RETURN MY PROPERTY!" He demanded.

"I DON'T HAVE IT!" she yelled back at him. "I don't have your stupid helm. I don't have the master bolt. I didn't do anything wrong, so stop trying to kill me!"

Hades glanced at her, curiosity in his eyes. "I have not tried to kill you. I wanted you alive. I only ever sent the Furies to capture you. As for not having the helm and the bolt..." Hades grinned wickedly. "Open your pack."

A horrible feeling struck Andy. She let the pack fall from her shoulders and it hit the ground with a bang. Andy unzipped it and there it was it: the lightning bolt.

"Andy!" exclaimed Anthony.

"You heroes are always the same," Hades said. "Your pride makes you foolish, thinking you could bring such a weapon before me. I did not ask for Zeus' master bolt, but since it is here, you will yield it to me. Also, my helm."

Andy was feeling a kind of anger she had never experienced before. She wanted to go around punching gods in the face. They—all of them!—had played her. They were using her.

"This is wrong," she shook her head. "This is a mistake."

An army of skeletons appeared circling Andy, Anthony and Grover.

"There's no mistake," said Hades. "I know why you hesitate. I know what you want. You came for her." And then she was there, frozen in a shower of gold, just as she was when the Minotaur took her. "Yes. I knew, Andromeda Jackson, that you would come to me. Now make your choice. I know you have pearls with you. But do you realize they each only protects a single person? Take your mother and pick one of your friends to leave behind. Go on. Choose. Or give me the bolt and the helm and I'll let you all go."

"Andy," Grover said from behind her. "Leave me here. You can't give him the bolt. Take your mom and go. I'm a satyr. We don't have souls like humans. He can't torment me forever."

"No," said Anthony. "I'll stay. You'll get your searcher's license. Get out of here. I'll cover you. I'll go down fighting."

"I'm staying," argued Grover.

"No. I am."

Andy turned to face them and handed each a pearl. Her heart felt like it was being split in two. "Andy—"

"I will find your helm," she told Hades before smashing the pearl. She could only hope the others had done the same. While she was being transported, Andy made a vow to save her mother. She would come back for her. She wouldn't fail like the prophecy said. She would save what mattered most in the end.

They were back at the beach. Andy looked out at the sea, but she wasn't really seeing it. She couldn't breath. She felt her body shaking, the tears streaming down her face. She couldn't fight it. She couldn't deal with it. Was she having a panic attack?

Suddenly, he was there. Anthony wrapped his arms around her and Andy sobbed against his shoulder. She sobbed out the fear, the sadness and the anger. She let it all out. She sobbed until there was nothing left. Then she straightened up and looked over Anthony's shoulder.

Ares was standing a few feet away, seeming genuinely pleased to see her or to see her crying. "You were supposed to be dead."

Andy marched toward him. "You stole the helm and the master bolt."

He grinned. "Not personally. You're not the only hero who can run errands."

"Who?"

"Don't matter. The point is: you need to die in the Underworld. Old Seaweed will be mad at Hades for killing you. Corpse Breath will have Zeus' master bolt, so Zeus'll be mad at him. And Hades is still looking for this..." from his pocket he took out a ski cap that before their eyes transformed into a war helmet. "Pretty soon, there'll be war."

"But they're your family," said Anthony.

Ares shrugged. "Best kind of war. Always the bloodiest. Nothing like watching your relatives fight."

"Why didn't you keep the master bolt to yourself?" Andy asked. Ares got a twitch in his jaw. He seemed to be listening to a voice inside his head.

"I didn't... I... Because... A power like that..." His face cleared. "I didn't want the trouble."

"You're lying," she said. "It wasn't your idea."

"Of course it was."

"You didn't order the theft. Someone else sent a hero to steal the two items. Then, when Zeus sent you to hunt him down, you caught the thief. But you didn't turn him over to Zeus. Something convinced you to let him go. The thing... That thing in the pit is ordering you around!"

"I am the god of war! I take orders from no one! I don't have dreams!"

Andy raised an eyebrow. "I never said you did."

Ares looked agitated, but he tried to cover with a smirk. "I will kill you now, kid. Nothing personal." He snapped his fingers and a wild boar appeared.

"Fight me yourself, you coward."

He laughed, but there was an edge to it. "Your only talent is running. So don't push me."

"Andy, looked out!" Anthony shouted as the boar charged. But Andy had had enough of that. She was done. It was time to put an end to it.

She uncapped the pen and knelt on the sand. The boar was there within seconds and she impaled him with the sword. The beast disappeared in smoke.

Andy stood. "Are you going to fight me now?"

Ares' face was purple with rage. "Watch, kid. I could turn you into—"

"Do it, then. Do your absolute worst."

"You are asking for it." A sword appeared in his hand.

"Andy," Anthony called. "He's a god."

"No. He's a coward."

"I've been fighting for eternity, kid. My strength is unlimited and I cannot die. What have you got?"

"A smaller ego," she said. "If I win, the helm and the bolt are mine." Andy attacked. Ares was quick. He twisted and slashed and forced Andy into the ocean. He knocked the blade out of her hands and slapped her across the face. Andy lost balanced and fell.

She was seeing double, but she got up as the water healed her. Her senses were working overtime. She could see where he was tensing. She could tell which way he would strike. Andy picked Riptide and deflected when he attacked.

She felt the rhythm of the sea. She felt its power. She felt her dad.

She sent the tide over him and attacked at the same time. He turned in time to raise his sword but the water disoriented him. Andy changed direction, lunged to the side, and stabbed Riptide straight down into the water, sending the point through the god's heel.

The roar that followed made Hades' earthquake look like a minor event.

The expression on his face was beyond hatred. It was pain, shock, complete disbelief that he'd been wounded. He limped toward Andy, cursing, but something stopped him. He lowered his sword.

"You have made an enemy, godling," he told her. "You have sealed your fate. Every time you raise your blade in battle, every time you hope for success, you will feel my curse. Beware, Andromeda Jackson." His body began to glow.

"Andy, don't look!" Anthony shouted. Andy turned the moment the god revealed his true immortal form.

The light died. He was gone, but the Furies were there.

"We've watched the whole thing," hissed Mrs. Dodds.

"Return this to Hades," Andy said throwing the helmet at her. Mrs. Dodds hesitated, then disappeared.

Then Grover and Anthony were there beside her, watching her in amazement.

"Andy..." Grover said. "That was so incredibly..."

"Awesome."

"So awesome," Grover agreed.

But Andy didn't feel awesome. She just felt empty. Exhausted. There was nothing left.

"We have to go back to New York. Tonight."

"That's impossible," Anthony said. "Unless we—"

"Fly, yes."

Anthony stared at her. "Chiron warned you not to. Zeus will strike you out of the sky and—"

"No, he won't. Because he wants this back, doesn't he?" Andy pointed at the backpack and smiled.

[saeyounggi]

RFA and V + The First Time They Say I Love You

requested by anon and @josmottt - sorry it took so long! orz it’s ya boy, back with another (overdue) headcanon / scenario post! i mean to post this for the longest time now, but i never got the chance to. i’ve got notes on this piece that i might post; who knows? also, this is really, really long, but i hope you enjoy it! yoosung’s continued scenario (as well as the scenario of the other members) is found under the cut. this is essentially a sequel to RFA + When They Realize They’re in Love, but i did my best to make this a stand-alone scenario post! though i do recommend giving that a read just to build it up better :D a reblog/like would be greatly appreciated, and if you have any headcanon requests, feel free to send them my way! <3 enjoy!

RFA AND V + THE FIRST TIME THEY SAY “I LOVE YOU”

YOOSUNG

Yoosung feels like his heart is going to burst.

Normally, he wouldn’t be so nervous with playing video games. They were his food at this point, and he was so attuned to playing them that they became part of his daily life. Hell, he could probably live out his entire life with only video games to get him going. However, he had promised his mom that he was going to try to be healthier. Though, with the warmth of his object of affection right beside him, he was pretty sure he wasn’t going to last long with the state his heart was in.

The blond tries to focus on the wide screen and blaring speakers set up in front of him, but the way she nearly leaned against him, brushing his shoulder ever-so slightly with her own, was enough to make him chant all the prayers he knew under his breath. He told her he was doing a chant of victory, part of the game and all that. Yeah right, he thinks, taking a deep breath from all the praying he had subtly done. He dodged an incoming attack, letting the high-pitched squeak of [Name] bring him back to his senses.

“Damn, that was a close one!” he heard himself say, subtly taking a glance at the woman beside him. Yoosung had invited the woman to his home to play a co-op campaign of LOLOL, seeing as the other RFA members had turned down his offers. Stupid, he thinks to himself. What made him think his heart was ready for this? He plasters on a wide smile as she shoots him with one of her own. He hurriedly turns his attention to the bright screen, hoping the heated blush on his pale face wasn’t obvious.

Yoosung was pretty sure [Name] was fully aware of her feelings for him, which terrified him as he had never felt this way about anyone. What if he looked stupid in her eyes? He was certainly the most naïve one in RFA; he accepted that, but what if that was a huge turn off for her? She was practically the definition of perfection in his eyes, even if she reminded him over and over that she was far from it. All of her flaws, her insecurities, her everything- she was absolutely divine, and he was anything but.

((continued under cut))

“Okay, I take back what I said earlier. LOLOL is absolutely addicting, and I, too, would waste hours of my short life to grind and level my character,” she comments, eyes never straying from the screen that the game was being played on. He hummed in response, pleased that his first love actually enjoyed the hobbies he took part in. Most people would just say that LOLOL was overrated and a waste of time, but she was the first to break that cycle.

“Those are hours I can never get back, but it’s worth iiit,” he jokes along, letting his character execute an aggressive action towards their rival players. He watches [Name]’s character follow it up with a defensive action to block the enemies’ counter-attack, inciting a bellowed “Yeeees” from the both of them.

“Hey, hey I want to try something out! Cover for me, Yoosung,” [Name] suddenly says, pushing her character to sprint forward. Yoosung just watched in shock for a moment, before following pursuit with his own character, blasting any enemies that got close to his partner. He hears the quick bashing of [Name]’s fingers on her controller, and he watches her character launch a killer combo move on the final wave of enemies behind the barricade.

Before Yoosung could do anything else, the screen faded into black, and both players could feel their breaths hitch in their throats. Suddenly, the word ‘Winner’ was plastered across the screen, with both of their characters doing celebratory dance moves beside each other.

“All right!” [Name] shouts, pulling a grinning Yoosung in for a spontaneous hug. Yoosung feels his body respond, wrapping his arms tightly around her while his heart pounds quickly in his chest. Honestly, he thinks, if I die like this then I die a happy man. However, his joyous state is put to a stop as their tight embrace is ended by [Name] pulling away.

The two lock eyes and Yoosung actually starts to sweat anxiously. The air is definitely, definitely thick with some sort of tension. The blond debates with himself, wondering if this was the right time to pour out his feelings for her. It seemed so much easier in movies. I love you, he thinks. For the first time in my life, I might just have fallen for someone. I have never tried to be a better person, but because of you- I want to change.

But that’s all in his head, and in the end he’s just a coward to his core. So, he decides against it. He decides it’s better to get swallowed up in his unsaid feelings forever than to scare her off with the intensity of his feelings for her- because a lifetime as merely her friend would hurt him less than even a day without her.

“Yoosung, I- I love you.”

The said man is pulled out from his own thoughts and ends up too shocked to respond. Did he- did he hear her right? She loved him? He feels [Name]’s hand on him start to quiver and loosen, and for a brief moment he sees her eyes water. So instead of responding to her abrupt confession, he decides to do it how the movies go.

He pulls on her arm, bringing her closer to him. He watches her head tilt up towards him in surprise, and he closes his eyes (because damn it, this is too much for his heart) and hopes that he doesn’t miss this one shot. The soft warmth of [Name]’s lips that press against his own tell him that he definitely did not miss it.

This, he thinks, was simultaneously the best and the worst way to answer that confession. However, the wrapping of her arms around his neck, and the harder press of her lips against his told him that this response in action was worth more than a response in words. Still, it didn’t feel right for him to not reassure her verbally. His lips gently move away from hers, and he places his forehead onto hers. With a quiet mumble, he says the three words he’s been practicing in front of his mirror since the day he saw her.

“I love- I love you.”

ZEN

Zen takes a deep and nervous breath.

The albino had to admit- this may be the first time he had ever felt nervous about a performance. He usually felt calm on-stage, with the gazes of his adoring crowd focused solely on him. There was nothing quite like being able to control the emotions of the people by merely your words and your actions. Theatre acting was acting in its purest form, and he was a canvas ready to be gifted with that art. The stage was his home, his zone, and he felt absolutely unstoppable on it, but remembering just what he was about to do was enough to make him dread every second on it.

It wasn’t the crowd that bothered him; hell, he definitely wanted a wider audience with what he was about to perform. It wasn’t the fact that the entire RFA was seated in the front row, eagerly waiting for his performance. It wasn’t even the fact that [Name], the woman he had fallen for, was with them- just as eager to see him work his magic. It was the fact that for the first time in his life he was going to be emotionally vulnerable in public.

He was an actor, yes, and he had done numerous roles with him acting emotional to make the crowd empathize with his character. But that was just it- those were merely fictional characters, and what he is about to show are his own true feelings- feelings he’d usually push away until he was alone in the dead of the night with nothing but his feelings.

Zen spent his time breaking down barriers as much as he did putting ones up for himself. He knows he flirts and teases people a lot, but the moment someone tries to see past that (and not a lot of people do, really) and actually get to know him, he is both overjoyed and absolutely terrified. He’s got scars from his past that he doesn’t like flashing around and a deep sense of self-doubt that people merely see him for his looks, and [Name] was the first one who was there for him in the dead of the night- the first one he’s allowed to ever get this close to him.

[Name]’s done so much more for him than that, and while he says Yoosung is the closest thing he has to a best friend, she’s secretly got that title and more in his heart. So, after the whole situation with Echo Girl and Unknown, he’s glad they could at least try to live normally together. Though, it had occurred to him that while she knew about his feelings, he never told her the way he wanted to- publicly, with his friends and his fans watching him admit it.

So there he was, decked in his signature white suit with his fingers nervously poised above the keys of the grand piano in front of him. The only thing he could do as well as acting was singing, and as much as he would’ve loved to re-enact the Romeo and Juliet confession for her, he knew a reenactment of a tragic love story was definitely not what he wanted for his own real-life confession.

“Thank you all for coming everyone,” he finally lets himself say into the microphone, smiling at the audience. He heard someone let out a shh, ushering the entire room into silence. “My beautiful [Name], I hope you like this song.” He slowly lets his fingers down onto the piano. He closes his eyes, imagining the inner workings of the piano striking each note that he plays. He took deep breaths, careful to hit each note at the right time.

The soft-sung lyrics of Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic rose into the air, and Zen hoped it was sweet enough to make [Name] melt in her seat. He heard a few people in the crowd hum and murmur the lyrics as well, giving him the kick of confidence he needed to finally open his eyes and look at his beloved.

“Every little thing she does is magic, everything she does just turns me on,” he crooned, sending her a quick wink before continuing. “Even though my life before was tragic, now I know my love for her goes on.” He let his fingers fly over the keys, finally getting into the spirit of this entire elaborate confession. He continues singing, each second making him more confident than he was before.

As the last notes drifted and faded into the air, he stood up and was greeted by a loudly sobbing Saeyoung. He blinked in surprise and watched as the red-headed hacker practically pushed [Name] onto the stage as he cried loudly, “Damn it Zen! Just kiss each other already!” The albino took one good look at his friend’s tear-stained face before bursting out laughing. He forgot about how ridiculous Saeyoung was when it came to relationships. Of course, with Saeyoung leading them all, it didn’t take long for Yoosung to push the crowd to chant with him.

“Kiss her! Kiss her! Kiss her!” Yoosung screamed in mock angriness, and the rest of the crowd followed his example. Zen couldn’t hold back his chuckle at how this entire confession had escalated. Honestly, he just wanted a grand (and planned to a T) romantic serenade confession for [Name], but he got this instead.

Not that he was complaining really; it was a good excuse to kiss her- but that would come after his actual confession. Turning to her, he reached for one of her hands and slowly began interlacing her fingers with his. He cleared his throat into the mic, signaling Yoosung to stop his chanting for a moment.

“[Name], my sweet, I meant each word I sang to you. I want nothing more than to stay by your side, loving you for the rest of my life. I- I love you,” Zen says, tripping over the last few words. He’s shaking, but he feels her squeeze his hand tightly- giving him a sense of comfort. She nods, whispering the three words soft enough so only he hears it. The moment is absolutely intimate and personal, and he feels the microphone fall out of his grasp as she finishes.

Before he knows it, he’s pulled her towards him for a deep kiss, and he hears the crowd explode into a mix of girlish screams and loud sobbing. He could really care less, though; after all, he’s feeling absolutely magical with her lips pressed against his, and that’s honestly all that matters to him.

JAEHEE

Jaehee lets out a tired sigh.

The thought that [Name] was incredibly dense had never occurred to her, but at this point, that would be the best thing to describe her. The one she adored was hopelessly and completely dense about her intentions- even though Jaehee was pretty sure she had made her romantic intent very clear. After all, you don’t just ask someone to be your partner and open up a café with them! It takes years for those couples in movies to actually be ready to commit to something of that scale.

Jaehee was so sure [Name] had understood that she wanted a relationship with her when she asked her back during the RFA party, but ever since then they’ve done nothing remotely romantic other than make coffee for each other in the morning. They don’t even hold hands, and it’s driving Jaehee crazy. Although, she wasn’t really one to talk as she only realized her own feelings during the party itself.

It’s been a long time since the former secretary has ever felt this way about someone, and it’s the first time she’s ever fallen this hard for a girl. She never would have expected it in the beginning, but now that they’ve spent more time together in real life, she knew she was in pretty deep. She thought she could get by with just being friends with [Name], but woman’s unconditional support for the things Jaehee had only dreamed of having made her life feel like bliss. She was absolutely happy with her, and she was determined to show it.

So here she was, scattering rose petals across their café and towards the table she had set up for the both of them. It had been a month since they opened their café, and while [Name] wanted to invite the entire RFA to a celebratory party, Jaehee made it clear that she wanted to have their own solo celebration- just the two of them.

Jaehee took a glance at the wall clock hung up in their café, and she mentally cursed herself for dragging this preparation far too long. [Name] was going to arrive any minute now, and she didn’t even have time to get dressed! Tossing another petal onto the floor, she practically tore through the rest of the roses in a frantic. Her shaking feet led her up to the second floor, where the two were staying together, and she quickly got dressed into her recently bought white lace dress and tied her now-long hair into a loose side bun.

Jaehee did her basic night makeup routine; she didn’t want to overdo the whole celebration thing. She knew [Name] would prefer the whole natural look, and while she wanted to stay true to that, she did want to impress her girl with just a bit more touches to her eyes. Jaehee felt her heart leap at that thought- her girl. [Name] as her girl? Hopefully after this night, it would be official.

The clacking of her matching white heels echoed as she made her way back down to the café. She lets go of a sigh of both relief and worry, wondering just where her partner was. Jaehee pulled out her phone, quickly punching in the numbers of the woman she adored when a light tapping interrupted her. She looked up, expecting yet another customer to shoo away but was instead greeted with a breathtaking sight.

There [Name] was- dressed to the damn tens with her off-shoulder red dress that ended just below her knees, making Jaehee’s breath hitch in her throat. She nearly drops her phone as the other woman shoots her a smile through the glass door of their café. Jaehee immediately walks over to the entrance, fumbling slightly with the locks before finally opening the door to greet [Name]. The woman walks in, taking in the sight of rose petals littered all over the floor as she closes the door shut. Before Jaehee could open her mouth to compliment her, the other immediately produced a bouquet that she had been hiding from her back.

“Happy anniversary, Jaehee,” she says, smiling widely at her. Jaehee’s shaking hands reach out for the bouquet, and she feels this warmth just wrap around her. She closes her eyes, letting her guard down and just feeling the presence of [Name]’s arms around her. Before she can register her words, they tumble out of her mouth- slowly yet with just enough certainty to make it real.

“I love you, [Name].”

Jaehee feels the other stiffen in her embrace, and the sentence that she had said finally registers in her mind. She feels her chest tighten, both in fear and in shame, and she knows that this is the first time she’s ever messed things up with her feelings. She attempts to blurt out an apology, an explanation, anything to fix this, but words do not come out.

Jaehee’s eyes begin to water, but before the tears fall out, she feels the embrace tighten around her. Her neck tingles at the feeling of [Name]’s breath as the woman lets out a sigh against it. She pulls away, and cups Jaehee’s face perfectly with her soft hands. Her lips are trembling, Jaehee notes, and she watches her face grow closer. She expects them to kiss her, square on the lips, but the other woman places a soft kiss on her forehead instead, sending warm feelings to the pit of her stomach.

“I was so afraid that you did not feel the same,” [Name] whispers with a small smile. “I had taught myself not to hope, but I am glad I did. I love you too, Jaehee. Thank you.” Jaehee immediately wraps her slender arms around the other woman’s neck and brings her now lover in for a proper first kiss. Their anniversary dinner can definitely wait.

JUMIN

Jumin wants to just stop and give in.

Of course, being a perfectionist, he wasn’t going to do it, but God did he want to. He looks down at his bandaged fingertips, sighing as he turned his attention at the searing hot pan in front of him. This was the eleventh time he attempted to cook something even remotely resembling a taco. He probably shouldn’t have started cooking without consulting Jaehee. God, he had never cooked in his life; what made him think he could do this?

This is all for her, Jumin chided himself with a sigh. He had to admit, she made it look easier that it actually was. Getting the tortilla at just the right warmth and softness was the first problem he had tackled, and it took him an hour to get the pan at the proper temperature for heating soft tortillas. Now he was stuck with getting the actual filling right and to taste.

He flicks through his phone, searching for the best way to season the filling. He wouldn’t want [Name] having an upset stomach because of his cooking; the mere thought of her being in such a shape made his chest tighten. Any other woman and he’d probably just ask his personal chef to prepare whatever they wanted, but this was [Name] he was smitten for, and he wanted to make sure he did things based on his own skill and not just his money.

Jumin stares at the countertop, racking his brain and trying to recall how she had prepared the delectable dish she had made a little over a week ago- the very dish that pushed him to get off his leather office chair to do something nice for her. He got the correct ingredients that much he was sure of, but there was something off with the way his filling tasted. The man took a deep sigh, rubbing the bandaged fingers he had injured while he was getting the stove to work. He never would’ve guessed that a week later he’d be making, well, trying to make the very same tortilla dish as a profession of his love.

As he mixes in a dash of pepper, he hears the light tapping of shoes on his marbled floor. Shaken, he moves to cover as much of his preparations as possible. Before he could place the lid on the pan, [Name] ends up striding into the kitchen. Hips swaying a little bit more than usual, he notes, though that was probably part of his imagination. Recently he’d been getting more impure impulses than usual, and he knew damn well that it was because of her.

“Jumin? Are you actually cooking?” she says, and he hears the teasing tone in her voice. He would usually be tense around women, but the soft smile that graced her lips as he looked over at her allowed him to relax. With a nod, he responded, “First time in my life, to be exact. I do not usually bother with cooking as I am constantly busy with work.”

He takes his tasting spoon, places a few bits of meat and salsa onto it and raises it to his lips, checking for the taste. His eyes widen in surprise, and he can’t help but smile at the taste. It was perfect! It had nearly the same taste as the tacos she had done for him back then. The light skidding of a chair across the marbled floor tells him that she had taken a seat across from him. “Oh, there must be some sort of occasion, since there’s no way you’d be cooking otherwise,” she says.

Jumin turns around to greet her with a wide smile, a plate of freshly cooked tacos in hand. He watches her raise her eyebrows, but the slight quivering of her lips told him she was trying hard not to laugh. “No occasion really, I just-” he cuts himself off, placing the plate in front of her with a smile. The man takes a seat in front of her and, with slightly shaking hands, says, “I just wanted to surprise you. Last week, you, ah, made these tortilla dishes. It was quite an experience for me, eating commoner food and well, bonding with a woman- with you.”

Jumin watches her delicate fingers pick up one of the soft-shell tacos to bring it closer to her mouth. He watches her eyes widen as she chews thoughtfully. “I am well aware that it might not be as good as your dish, but I wanted to do something for you that would be utilizing my own skill,” he says slowly. “Because, my dearest [Name], that day when you made these tacos? I had realized something important that day.”

Jumin’s eyes look up to meet hers, and the image of her wide eyes and her mouth full of his cooking reminded him that she was absolutely breathtaking. With shaking hands and a shaking voice, the normally calm CEO felt his feelings swell from up his chest as he tried to find coherent words to match their intensity. He never really was one with words, but he wanted to try to be romantic at least- for her.

“[Name], I love you- truly and with all of my heart. You are the most beautiful woman I have ever met, and if- if you will do me the honor of accepting my heart, I believe that I can die a happy man.”

Jumin had expected her to say something in response, but instead, he hears her choking on her taco. His hands tremble as he quickly reaches out to help her, but his hand meets hers in mid-air. She gives him a wide smile, clearing her throat and signaling him that she was good. Still frantic, he hands her the glass of water he had placed on the table a while ago. He watches her drink the liquid, and he curses himself for ever thinking this confession was a good idea. He had nearly killed her!

“You didn’t, Jumin. I was fine, just- just a little shocked,” she says, chuckling at his outburst. He feels himself blush, realizing he was venting aloud. “That being said,” she pauses to take his hand into hers, and he feels himself shiver as she presses kisses onto each bandaged finger. “Thank you, Jumin. For a first timer, your cooking was amazing. And you should know that meeting you was the best thing that has happened to me. I- I love you as well, Jumin Han. More than words can express.”

Jumin watches her face grow closer, and his lips are greeted with the warmth of her own. He closes his eyes, leaning into her and tasting the hint of pepper and salsa on her lips. Their first kiss is chaste, soft, and slow, but they both know that this was enough to get them breathless. He feels her pull back, interlacing her fingers with his. He watches her lips curve into a goofy smile, and that’s absolutely fine because he’s sure he has one plastered all over his face too. With all the money and material things he has, this might just be the first time Jumin Han has ever felt genuine happiness.

SAEYOUNG / 707

Saeyoung feels like launching himself to the sun.

He’s got a Stabilo-drawn moustache across his face, and the lighthearted laughter coming from the woman in front of him definitely made his mouth twitch into a goofy smile. Her eyebrows were shaded thicker with the same Stabilo marker used on him, and he couldn’t help but admire the look on her. Even with caveman eyebrows, she still managed to make his heart skip a beat- which sounds absolutely cheesy in his head, but it was the truth.

It took him a while to accept his feelings for the newest RFA member. He had given up on the notion of love a long, long time ago. He had believed the whole meeting a girl, falling in love and settling down business was nothing more than a pipe dream after joining up to become an agent. He had pushed away any sort of chance at a romantic relationship, believing that finding happiness with a significant other was something he would only have in another life.

Of course, he should’ve known it wasn’t going to be that easy. Nothing in his life ever was; even back during his childhood, he had to grit his teeth through his problems. Meeting the RFA was the first taste of actual happiness he had had in his life, and although he felt guilty for putting up a façade with them, he knew it was the right thing to do. The other members brushed him off as a hyperactive weirdo, which suited him just fine as long as he could keep them safe.

And then she shows up, and she sends everything in his life spinning out of control.

She immediately catches on to his act, but instead of being turned off by it, she joins him. She speaks to him as if she knows what he’s talking about, and he’s pretty sure she doesn’t, but he can’t help but be amused at her attempts on getting to his good side. She speaks to him as if it were normal for someone to use binary code in casual group conversations. She’s got her own quirks in talking to him, and all too quickly, it feels like they’ve made a language for themselves.

They’ve got their own inside jokes, and Saeyoung couldn’t help but feel this intimacy from the bond they’ve got. It’s the first time he’s ever let anyone get this close to cracking his wall, and it terrified him to think that he could be putting her in danger just by sending stupid emojis. His life didn’t allow him to have any personal relationships; it was too dangerous for anyone to get involved with him. Despite it all, he found that he had no regrets getting close to her, knowing her and actually falling for her. Dare he say, it was the best rule he’s ever broken.

It wasn’t easy for him- the whole accepting he was in love thing. He tried to push her away, countless of times, tried reminding her that he was a completely flawed person and that he had merely lied about who he really was. Saeyoung believed that should’ve been enough to push her away, but she refused to listen to him. She was as hardheaded as he was, and that really threw him into the loop.

He was used to being left alone and leaving people alone in return. He did what he thought was best, even if it meant possibly alienating the relationships he had. He figured that time would eventually heal any wounds he or the other party might have. It did hurt, though, the first time he tried pushing her away. It felt absolutely wrong, which was probably the universe telling him to man up and face his feelings.

So there they were, playing truth or dare like a bunch of drunk high schoolers. He wasn’t quite sure how they ended up sprawled across his apartment floor with packs of Honey Buddha Chips and PhD Peppers strewn around them, but he could really care less when she was just in front of him. They’d each done a couple of dares now, neither wanting to spill their secrets but Saeyoung was adamant on confessing his feelings tonight.

“Fucking hell [Name], it’s called Truth or Dare! You’re supposed to throw in a truth once in a while!” he says, faking an annoyed sigh. There wasn’t anything she could do to annoy him, really, but the least she could do was build up to his grand confession. The woman stands up and smiles at him cheekily, before toying with their speakers to blast out another silly chart-topping dance song. He hears her stifle a chuckle before turning to look at him with a wide smile.

“No matter what you say, I’m still picking dare!” she says, grabbing his wrist to pull him up to her level. “And I dare myself to dance with you!” He decides against arguing with her wish, pushing himself up to take her into his arms. The close proximity of their bodies makes the back of his neck start to sweat. They end up doing a weird mix of slow-dancing and hand flailing that’s only achievable when both partners can’t dance, and yet he finds himself enjoying the feeling of her body against his.

“Truth or dare, oh God Seven?” she says cheekily. He scrunches his eyebrows together. It’s now or never, he thinks. “Truth.” He watches her face turn into a surprised expression before quickly turning into an impish look. “Oho, that’s surprising! You must have something to confess.”

“… I love you, stupid,” he says, without thinking. He feels the air get heavy between them, and he looks down to see her wide eyes looking up at him. He swallows, berating himself for the horrible timing. Oh God, this is it. This is how he dies a lonely single man. He braces himself for the incoming rejection, but instead, he feels her jump up to hug him tightly. Hell, she practically launches herself towards him, which ends with her being held up by his scrawny arms.

Their weight shifts, and it’s too much for Saeyoung to hold up, so he ends up slipping and toppling over her. He’s got her pinned down, and he swears his face is flushed as red as his hair. She’s looking at him with eyes squinted upwards in laughter. Her hair is messily framing her face, making her look like she’s just gone out of bed. His face turns a shade darker as he realizes just what he’d have to do to see her like that once more.

Before he could move to get off her, he feels her soft skin against his neck. He’s pulled towards her, roughly and desperately. The feeling of her lips on his is absolutely electric, and the absolute desire that he feels between them makes the hair on his arms stand. He’s been deprived of actual romantic touch that he’s absolutely in need for more of her. Still, he decides there’s more time for that later in the night.

Saeyoung pulls away gently, leaving both of them heaving and blushing heavily. Her lustful eyes are looking up at him, but he scrambles off of her before he decides against it. He sits properly, and he pulls her off his apartment floor. He can’t help but smile at her as he brings her hand to his face. He places it onto his cheek, and he feels her cup his cheek into her palm.

“I love you, [Name]. Took me the longest time to accept it, but here I am now. I promise I’ll do my best to make you happy.” He leans into her touch, and he feels his eyes water at the sight of her soft smile. God, how’d he ever get so lucky with her? He takes a deep breath, trying to control the rush of emotions that swell up inside him. “I know I’ve made you, ah, cry before. I’m sorry for pushing you away. I just couldn’t risk losing you, y’know? It sounds stupid now, but I don’t know what I would’ve done if Saeran hurt you.”

“Shh, it’s alright, Saeyoung. It’s done. Besides,” she pauses to stick her tongue out, “if Saeran hadn’t let me break in to Rika’s apartment, we never would have met. So I guess it all worked out in the end, didn’t it?”

He laughs at this, nodding his head in agreement. “Of course it did! You had the Defender of Justice by your side after all!” She shakes her head, slapping his face lightly. His hands reach up to his cheek, mimicking the best betrayed expression he could muster. “Ow!”

“I love you too, Saeyoung. Thank you for keeping me by your side. Meeting you might’ve been the best thing that’s ever happened in my life,” she says, looking into his eyes to show him that she means it. He knows just how much pain he must’ve made her feel before he came to terms with his feelings. Silently, he brings her hand in for a gentle kiss.

“And you are the best thing that’s ever happened in mine. Thank you for this chance, [Name]. I’ll bring you to that space station one day.” He watches her face light up in pure joy, and he thinks the stars in her eyes are worth more than those a million miles above them. He silently thanks his God for finally, finally giving him something to call his.

JIHYUN / V

Jihyun is absolutely terrified.

Ever since Rika left him, he always thought he had become half the man he was with her. He never had much self-confidence in his work from the start, and he was convinced that he didn’t really have the talent for the area. So when a pretty blonde girl tells him how much she enjoys his work, it didn’t take long for him to fall for her. Rika pushed him to become who he was today, and he would always be thankful for that. Even if their relationship had become destructive, he convinced himself that it was real at some point. He knew it was real at some point; he wouldn’t be this devoted to her otherwise.

After their messy breakup, he believed he would never again find love.

Those ridiculous breakup posts that Jumin and he used to ignore were now beginning to make sense to him. It was hard- the whole “rediscover who you were before” process. He needed to get away from it all, and taking a trip to do photography seemed like the best thing to do. Of course, he had considered telling the RFA, but he wasn’t the type to pour out his feelings and burden others with them. No, all he needed was the feel of his camera in his hand, and it certainly was peaceful at first.

Naturally, life had to catch up to him at some point, and when Jumin updates him on the newest RFA member, he doesn’t think much about it. At least, until he manages to chat with her for a brief moment, on one of his late night check-ups on the group chat. It doesn’t take long for him to realize why the others are so enthusiastic about her presence. She has a way of connecting with others that he hasn’t seen since, well, since Rika.

Perhaps it’s her words- how easily she manages to get used to Saeyoung’s quirks and how quick she is to comfort and guide Yoosung. Perhaps it’s the way her voice sounds- calm, reassuring yet commanding. Jihyun thinks he might be able to sleep peacefully, for the first time in months, when he listens to her voice. Perhaps it’s how unabashedly honest she is with the rest of the members- something Jihyun can only dream of doing given the multitude of secrets he keeps.

For the first time in a long time, Kim Jihyun considers the very real possibility that he might be falling in love all over again.

It scares him to think of his feelings. It isn’t that he’s afraid to accept that he loves her. He knows he can’t run away from that. No, it’s because he’s terrified of the future he’d be giving her. Sure, he’s getting ahead of himself with all this fantasizing, but he can’t help but be frustrated at the situation he’s been put in. The “V” she knows isn’t who he really is, and if she gets involved with the Mint Eye, he’ll never forgive himself for bringing her into this mess.

So, Jihyun figures he can steal her away from that mess for a moment. Take her some place nice and maybe, just maybe, sort out his feelings in the process. It wasn’t anything special really, just a quite night out to his latest photography exhibit. It’s the least he can do for her, well, for the both of them really- seeing as how they’re both content with each other’s company.

“This was from your trip, right?” she asks, pointing at the third print in his collection. He squints, trying to make out the details of the picture through hazy eyes. He gives her a warm smile as he nods. “Yeah, it was. I was lucky enough not to scare the robin away from the window. Her colors really make the picture stand out.”

She hums in agreement, squeezing his hand for a brief moment before releasing it. “You’ve got a real talent, V. These pictures? I can only capture these moments in my dreams!” she says in amazement. He lets out a soft laugh, shaking his head.

“Well, you’re able to see these moments in 20/20 vision. You’re one step closer to making your dreams come true,” he jokes, pointing at the frames placed atop his nose. She hits him lightly and scoffs. “See that’s the thing! Your disabilities don’t hinder you from making art- from breathing life into pictures. That’s talent- pure talent.”

“Aaand a lot of practice, [Name],” he adds, pointing to one of his prints. “I didn’t get to this point without practicing taking shots.” She nods at him, wholeheartedly agreeing. Just like that, they fall back into their comfortable pace. Jihyun certainly didn’t expect to be joking about his vision with her so quickly, but they’ve grown close enough to know that it’s all good-natured. Besides, she certainly makes their conversations fun.

“That’s what I admire about you, V,” she says, so matter-of-factly, just as he moves on to another showcase. His mind doesn’t register what she’s said at first, but when it sinks in, he immediately stops in his tracks. He turns to her, seeing her smile widely, and he guesses he must’ve had a surprised look on his face as she quickly adds, “I-I mean, you just keep on pushing yourself despite it all. I know you must be incredibly busy helping the RFA too, so it’s amazing how you still have time for the things you love.”

Jihyun nods all too quickly, causing his frames to fall off his nose. He feels his cheeks heat in embarrassment. Of course she didn’t mean admire in a romantic sense, he berates himself internally. It was stupidly hopeful of him to follow that train of thought. God, he could just bang his head on the nearest pillar. He shakes his head, focusing on her extended hand, which held the fallen sunglasses.

His turquoise eyes meet hers briefly, and he’s suddenly enraptured by their color. It’s been a while since he’s seen anything without the lens of his sunglasses to obscure them. He finds himself wondering, for a moment, just how he had fallen for Rika when a girl like her existed. Instead of taking his sunglasses and resuming their tour, he decides that this would be the perfect time for him to confess. He takes a deep breath, feeling his impulsivity get a hold of him.

With shaking hands, Jihyun reaches out to her, wanting to feel her skin against his palms. His heart feels like it’s going to explode out of his chest as he feels the softness of her skin. He watches her surprised expression closely, trying his best to memorize her face- something he may never see again given his condition. He closes his eyes, wanting to savor the feeling. He’s terrified of losing her, truly, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t going to protect her with all that he has. Rika will never hurt her the way she hurt him; he won’t allow it.

“[Name], I’m sorry,” he starts, trying to silence the hammering in his chest and the ringing of his ears. “I can’t hold it back anymore. I just, I need to tell you how happy you make me. I think, no, I know I have fallen for you.” He finds himself releasing a sigh, feeling relief from the confession. He knows he’s taking such a huge risk admitting his feelings for her, but he’s got enough secrets to last him a lifetime, and he certainly doesn’t want to keep her in the dark forever. She deserves to know how much he thinks and worries about her.

He feels her tremble against his palms, and fearing the worst, he opens his eyes to see her beginning to cry. Her arms have fallen to her sides, and she’s still clutching his shades. He immediately panics, and instead of wiping them away, he brings her into a tight hug. “B-But what about Rika?” He hears her mumble against his shirt. He shakes his head and says, “Rika and I broke up, remember? I think it’s time for me to move on.”

“Besides,” he says, pulling her away so he can look into her eyes. He knows words can’t convey all that he’s feeling, but he hopes it’s enough. “She can barely hold a candle against you. You, you make me feel complete, [Name]. It feels like I’m whole again when I’m with you,” he finally finishes. For a moment, all they can do is stare, and then his blazer is pulled, roughly, and his lips meet hers for a kiss. He hears cheering explode around them, but all that registers is the feel of her lips against his. He hopes the feeling burns into his memory because this might just be the best kiss, the best moment in his life.

[theaddictedwatcher]

Hey guys !

I know that it is a little unusual for me to post twice in the same week but I saw a post last week that made me want to write this review earlier than I had planned. This post was about the lack of Blacks representation in main roles in movies and TV shows and I instantly thought about this new little show that is being broadcast on the CW called Black Lightning. So that is what I will talk about today.

And to start, as usual, a little summary : Jefferson Pierce -now a father to two daughters and a charter highschool principal- made the choice to hung up the suit and hide his secret identity during a decade. But with a daughter hell-bent on justice and a star student being recruited by a local gang, he will have no other choice than dust up his old suit and get back into the fight as the wanted vigilante called Black Lightning.  

And now a little technical presentation:

- Character created by Tony Isabella and Trevor Von Eeden with the comics Black Lightning (1977).

- Developed by: Salim Akil, Greg Berlanti and Mara Brock Akil.

- Music by: Kurt Farquhar.

- Main cast: Cress Williams, China Anne McClain, Nafessa Williams, Christine Adams, James Remar, Marvin “Krondon” Jones III, Damon Gupton.

So the reasons that made me want to push up the writing of this article is simply because the one I had read dealt with Blacks representation in main/leader roles and well, this show is composed at 97% of black actors and actresses so I found the counterbalance quite interesting. It is true that the number white people and the number of black people that succeed in landing a main role -whether in a movie or a TV show- are not equal yet things are slowly evolving. However, it is too often -yet not always- true that Black people who land a main role are chosen because the character is necessarily dark skinned (works about segregation, slavery, colonialism, social injustice are just examples of this). I really wanted to show that despite the representation issue being a main topic lately -whether it is about skin color, sexual orientation or disabilities-, Black Lightning tackles subjects that transcend those boundaries and explore all their characters, even the villains.

First and foremost, I would like to talk about the cast. The cast of this show is -as I said before- mainly composed of Black actors and actresses and have only ONE white main character, Gambi, -who is a sort of Alfred Pennyworth to Jefferson Pierce and who is portrayed by the great James Remar- and I think that it is a great change. I only knew one of the actresses when I started watching the show -China Anne McClain- but that is not the reason that made me want to watch the show. I like superheroes but lately I have been quite fed up with them, especially those on the CW. However, when I saw the trailer for the show on Netflix, I was surprised by the fresh aspect of the show and decided to give it a try. I want to say that they could not possibly have picked a better cast. Cress Williams is absolutely amazing as Jefferson Pierce, he is very charismatic and is a great lead figure for the show. He is an energetic person and that allows him to bring in his wake all the strength both the show and the embodiment of the character required. Over the first episodes, we get to discover more about each character’s personalities and especially the three leading ladies -China Anne McClain, Nafessa Williams and Christine Adams- who gave me such a wide span of feelings, I was literally shook. I really like this cast, I think they are very believable and we feel that they care about one another, like a real family would do.

They as well casted Marvin “Krondon” Jones III as Tobias Whale. Both are African American albinos so they remained faithful to the comics description of that part. Krondon’s portrayal is really enforcing the frightening aspect of the character and this gives depth to the story as well. Indeed, Whale -who hates Pierce and his father- is trying to take over the town and destroy Pierce and his reputation. He is resentful because Pierce’s father destroyed Whale’s career, his reputation and also because Pierce inherited the popularity Whale used to have. However, I believe that there may be another reason enforcing this hatred yet it might be a little far-fetched. I am talking about their skin’s color. Even if Whale’s -and Krondon’s- faces have African American features, the fact that they are albinos have them presenting pale skin and light hair and this might make Whale feel that people do not consider him as much of a Black person as they would if he was not albino. Yes I  had told you it was far-fetched but this could be an hypothesis as to why he wishes even more than to destroy Pierce, he wants to obliterate him, his family, his reputation and his influence on the people of Freeland.

Moreover, and this we know in the first minutes of the first episode so it is not a real spoiler, the show features amongst its main characters a black lesbian militant who dares to fight for what she believes in and tries to help her community by defying what those closest to her tell her what she should do. Nafessa Williams -the actress who plays this part- said about her character : “ I'm just really grateful to tell the story for young lesbians — and black lesbians in particular ... My hope is that when you watch Anissa, a young lesbian is inspired to walk boldly as who she is and to love herself and to love herself exactly how she looks.”. Nafessa Williams makes a great performance as a woman, a daughter, a sister but more than that as a fighter. She brings a strong figure to the show as well as a support to those seek it. I cannot wait to see what will become of her and of her sister – China Anne McClain’s character.

The show also focuses a lot on gun violence and drugs. An important part of the plot, the reason which makes Pierce get back into his old suit is to protect his town -and his family- from a gang, named the 100, that is destructing the city and its citizens through violence and drugs. I do not want to spoil the show so I will just say that episode after episode we see how easily these two things can destroy many lives. Yet the “bad guys” are not the only one to use violence to survive. The heroes of the show and their superpowers are also violent but under the pretext that they are trying to bring justice to Freeland, many consider that it is justified when it shouldn’t always.

The last aspect I briefly wanted to talk about is the music. Kurt Farquhar -who is in charge of the soundtrack of the show- is doing a great job as far as I am concerned. Indeed, the soundtrack is for the main part composed of urban music which reinforces not only the rebellious gang aspect of the show but it also accentuate the violence of the fighting scenes. It implements a certain energetic strength to the progression of the storyline as well as to the evolution of the characters’ depth. Here you can check it out : Black Lightning Soundtrack.

Here you have it folks, my article as to why and how Black Lightning quickly became one of my favorite and also a revolutionary one in some respect. I hope you will try the show and as always, let me know what you think about it!

Take care,

Kisses,

Eli.

[maddie-grove]

The Stark Romance Saga--Book #3: A Fire in Winter

Previous Installments: Loved I Not Honor More (Book #1, Robb Stark/Jeyne Westerling), The Iron Scoundrel (Book #2, Theon Greyjoy/Asha “Not His Sister in This Universe” Harlaw), and Kissing the Kingslayer (Book #2.5, Catelyn Stark/Jaime Lannister).

The Style

Sweeping old-school Susannah Leigh or Jennifer Wilde, but less offensive.

The Leads

Jon Snow, 20 years old, rising star in the Night’s Watch and (HE THOUGHT!) Lord Ned Stark’s illegitimate son. Tries very hard to be good and never admit to himself that he wants anything that the Night’s Watch can’t give him. Secretly full of hurt feelings and pent-up sexual energy, but he’s hoping to wear himself out with fighting, ranging, and Wall-maintenance for the rest of his life so he’ll never have to deal with it. Has a bad-ass albino wolf-dog, Ghost.

Ygritte, 23 years old, a wildling spearwife who longs for unity among the Free Folk and an end to the Others. Fiercely proud and righteously angry with the “kneelers” who have trapped her and her people beyond the Wall. Otherwise has a friendly and mischievous nature. Fond of archery, music, and pretty lads. Quietly grieving for family and clan members lost to the Others. Will never admit that her loss and displacement has made her feel lonely.

The Prologue

The confrontation between Jon and Catelyn at Bran’s bedside, largely unchanged. Jon, half-determined to prove himself in the Night’s Watch and half-resentful that all the adults responsible for him agreed so swiftly that he should join, visits his comatose half-brother despite his reluctance to anger Catelyn. He says goodbye to Bran and tries to offer sympathy to Catelyn, only to be harshly rebuffed. (Catelyn probably just snaps at him to get out, as in the show, rather than offer up the book’s crueler, more deliberate “it should have been you.”) He also reflects on how much he’s going to miss his dad and siblings.

The Set-Up

Not that different from canon, except for the part where she dies. Jon, marginally wiser and older, is on a dangerous mission in the Skirling Pass with Qhorin Halfhand, grizzled old Night’s Watch veteran. Jon reflects a bit about how he came to this literal and metaphorical pass (basically, he learned not to be a thoughtless dick to his smallfolk peers, plus it turns out White Walkers are real). Then Ygritte and her raiding party descend upon Jon and Qhorin. Jon manages to capture her, but they have a Moment and he lets her go instead of killing her. Later, he and Qhorin are surrounded by the Free Folk (including Ygritte, who personally captures him right back).  As per the mission, Jon kills Qhorin and pretends to join the Free Folk. Despite their differences and the complicated situation, Jon and Ygritte find themselves liking each other. They’re sleeping under the same furs at night, and one thing leads to another. (The consent issues in the book might still fly in a romance novel today, but I found it unnecessarily unpleasant and complicated even in ASOIAF; didn’t Jon have enough painful issues around sex with the bastard stigma?) They keep on doing it, and the cave scene happens verbatim. 

Then comes the raid on the Gift, where the wildlings attack an old man and Jon, horrified, comes to his defense. Having blown his cover, he rides back to the wall, full of arrows and regret. Ygritte consequently realizes that Jon turned his cloak on her and vows to hate him forever.

And that’s when things get weird. 

The Middle 

After making it back to the Wall and recovering from his injuries, Jon finds himself in another pickle: some of the senior members of the Night’s Watch  want him executed for killing Qhorin and doin’ it with a wildling. Despite Maester Aemon’s arguments on his behalf, things aren’t looking too good for Jon...until he’s kidnapped and thrown on a ship in the dead of night by some mysterious Essosi dudes who turn out to be Unsullied. One of the Unsullied (a Common-Tongue-speaking fellow who named himself Drogon the Human after one of the instruments of his freedom) eventually explains that Jon is secretly the son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark. It turns out that Daenerys Targaryen left Slaver’s Bay in the hands of the former slaves (who are doing quite nicely, as they had a plan in place that only needed some judicious use of dragons to work) and sailed to her birthplace of Dragonstone, where her people discovered Rhaegar’s secret diary (sample passage: “I’m going to use dishonest means to get fifteen-year-old Lyanna Stark to run away and have PROPHECY BABIES with me!”). Now Daenerys wants an alliance between her forces and the North...and how better to do that than to marry the half-Northern, half-Targaryen Jon Snow?

Jon’s not so sure. He’s going through a crisis, feeling undermined in his Northern identity and family relationships but definitely not feeling like a Targaryen either. He’s doubts that his illegitimate Targaryen half brings anything to the table politically, partly because he doesn’t share Daenerys’s view that Westeros wants a Targaryen restoration. Finally, although Daenerys is lovely and charming and kind and brave, he can’t feel anything romantic for her...and it’s not just because she’s his aunt, which is kind of weird. No, he also misses Ygritte, and it kills him that he’ll never see her again. After Daenerys guarantees that she’ll help all his family members and the smallfolk and the wildlings, though, he knows marriage is the best choice. Because nothing will get them good PR like marrying in the Sept of Baelor, they agree to postpone the wedding until after they take King’s Landing.

Meanwhile, Ygritte has been having a rough time. After surviving the Battle of the Ice, she and a small band of Free Folk try to eke out a living north of the Wall while planning their next move. (Without Jon’s leadership, the Free Folk never have the option to go south.) Her group is attacked by White Walkers and becomes even smaller. Heartbroken and lonelier than ever, Ygritte is at a loss...until she realizes that she’s pregnant. At first she feels happy, then pissed off about being happy, then worried how she’s going to raise a child in this frozen horror show. At last, she swallows her pride and resolves to go see Jon at the Wall. Obviously he doesn’t love her, but she figures he’ll feel obligated to help her, the baby, and maybe even the Free Folk as a whole. Unfortunately, when she sneaks into Castle Black, she finds out that Jon mysteriously disappeared right before he was supposed to be executed. “Oh, fuck, no,” she says, but she’s not sure what to do other than go to Winterfell and inform his family that some bullshit is happening. 

During Ygritte’s journey to Winterfell, Daenerys and her army successfully take King’s Landing. I won’t go into details, but the victory is just difficult enough to keep the battle from being anticlimactic. It happens just after Tyrion’s escape from King’s Landing, so the only remaining Lannisters are Cersei, Tommen, and Kevan. (Jaime is, at Catelyn’s secret request, in the Riverlands searchng for Arya.) Kevan dies in battle; Cersei and Tommen disappear mysteriously. The Tyrells and most of the other families shrug and side with Daenerys fairly quickly, because she has dragons. The smallfolk are like, “Huh, well, maybe she won’t be a volatile sadist like Joffrey; after all, most of the Targaryens weren’t like Aerys.” Their doubts are further assuaged when Daenerys’s policies turn out to be relatively egalitarian. Jon is happily reunited with Sansa (more about her later), even though they weren’t super-close as children, but is heartbroken to find no sign of Arya. He and Daenerys begin to make wedding plans.

Ygritte gets to Winterfell and is greeted by sympathetic new mom Jeyne Westerling and a moody, troubled Bran. (Robb and Catelyn are fighting in the Riverlands again; Rickon’s actually doing swell for once.) They’re both happy to offer a home to their unborn niece/nephew and its mother; Bran even takes her reports of the White Walkers seriously and starts to confer with the other bannermen as the Stark in Winterfell. Yet Ygritte isn’t anywhere near happy. Seeing Jon’s home has made her see how different their worlds are, plus she’s angry and hurt that he was off marrying his aunt while she thought he was dead. She’s about to head back north when Bran and Jeyne persuade her that Jon would never truly want to marry his aunt and sometimes you just to risk everything for love, respectively. Ygritte realizes they’re right and rides hell-for-leather to King’s Landing.

The Conclusion

The wedding’s about to happen. Sansa, initially enchanted by her secretly royal half-brother’s imminent marriage to a beautiful young queen, senses that all is not well and asks Jon if he really wants to go through with it. He says no, but he has to go through with it because it’s his duty and he’ll lose what little honor he has if he backs out. Sansa realizes that his motives are all wrapped up in bastard stigma and talks about how she used to think that everyone, including herself, would be okay if they just did what society told them to do, but then she discovered that the world was wrong. Her speech affects Jon, but not enough for him to call off the wedding so late...until Ygritte appears on the steps of the Sept of Baelor, out of breath and vocally angry with him for leaving her behind. 

“I’m sorry,” he tells Daenerys, who nods in a gracious and dignified manner. She’s secretly relieved that she doesn’t have to make a third political marriage and can just concentrate on ruling for a while (plus banging Daario Naharis on the sly). 

Then Jon tells Ygritte everything he’s learned: he thought he was wrong to love her and break his vows, but instead he was wrong to leave her. He never dared to hope she would want him back, but if she’s come all this way, maybe she would be willing to marry him? 

“You’re only saying that because I’m pregnant!” Ygritte shouts. Then she goes on for a little while about his precious duty and precious honor.

“You’re pregnant?!” Jon finally interrupts.

“Wait, what?” says Ygritte. But she’s convinced, finally, that he meant what he said. Otherwise, why would he give up marrying Daenerys in such a publicly embarassing way? 

Daenerys gives a hastily improvised speech about how Jon and Ygritte’s marriage symbolizes unity between all different types of people in Westeros. The crowd is like, “huh,” but the wine is flowing pretty freely and it’s something to talk about. 

Jon and Ygritte head north the next day, Sansa in tow, and are joyously reunited with Bran, Rickon, Jeyne, Robb, and the rest of the Winterfell household. (Theon and Asha send them a pineapple from the Summer Islands for the wedding, but it’s probably called something stupid like a spineapple.) In private, Catelyn stiffly thanks Jon for bringing back Sansa and apologizes for being unkind to him as a child; it doesn’t really change the past, but he can appreciate it for what it is. Jon and Ygritte are married in the Godswood. Afterwards, there’s a feast. It’s not entirely a happy occasion, though, because they all feel the absence of Arya deeply. A place is set for her at the table, though, in hopes that one day she’ll come home.

The Epilogue

Jon and Ygritte are living together at the Wall. Reforms have been made to the Night’s Watch, partly thanks to Daenerys’s unconventional views and partly thanks to the North’s commitment to fighting the White Walkers. Members can now enlist for ten-year shifts, not just for life; women can join; and, perhaps most pertinently, members can marry!!! So Jon goes down on Ygritte and it’s 100% legit.

Subplots

Sansa goes through most of her A Storm of Swords plot. Now released from her betrothal with Joffrey, she thinks she’s found allies in the Tyrells; however, her planned escape via marriage to Willas Tyrell is scotched when she and Tyrion Lannister are forced to marry by Tywin. Under the circumstances, she cannot love him, yet she appreciates his decency towards her and feels sorry for him because his family is cruel to him. When Joffrey dies, she and Tyrion are both arrested, leaving her to wonder whether he left her to share the blame for the crime; she feels betrayed, somehow, by the possibility. (Littlefinger tried to get her out, but there was a hitch in the plan, so he shrugged and sailed to the Vale without her.) She’s overjoyed to be returned to her family, yet she feels like she doesn’t quite fit with them after her experiences.

“Arry,” still suffering from amnesia and now calling herself “Nan” (short for Nymeria), has escaped from Harrenhal with her friends Gendry and Hot Pie. They join up with the Brotherhood without Banners, where she finds some small measure of peace. However, she’s still massively traumatized and troubled by her lack of identity. It becomes less painful, eventually, to stop wondering who she was and move on with her life. (Let’s assume that Beric Dondarrion et al never got a good enough look at her in King’s Landing to identify her.) At one point, Sandor Clegane tries to kidnap her, insisting that she’s Arya Stark, but she thinks he has worse intentions than ransoming her and manages to run back to the Brotherhood. 

Bran, also traumatized by the events of The Iron Scoundrel, continues to have troubling psychic visions. Taking action against the White Walkers as the Stark in Winterfell helps, but he still struggles with feelings of helplessness and isolation. Also, he knows his mom is secretly in love with Jaime Lannister and understandably thinks that’s really fucked up.

Sam and Gilly fall in love as they journey from Craster’s Keep to the Nightfort and then try to deal with all the crazy shit happening at Castle Black. They get married once the Night’s Watch reforms take place (perhaps in the epilogue?) in a subsequent novella.