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willieverseetheland · 10 months ago

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jingle bells.

spencer reid x fem!reader summary: spencer gets a little too tipsy at the office christmas party.

WARNINGS: alcohol consumption, language, spencer being a dork

fluff, mutual pining, friends to lovers

I know christmas has been over, I just felt inspired.

wc: 1.4k

You've always loved Christmas. It wasn't the holiday itself; it was how it brought people together. Everything just feels so cozy and bright. So when Penelope asked you to help her decorate for the party, you were more than happy to do so.

Although your job can be very depressing at times, the office environment is truly amazing. Everyone is so kind. You couldn't ask for better coworkers. However, there's one fellow profiler you've grown rather close with these past few months.

Spencer Reid was one of the first people you became friends with at the BAU, other than Penelope of course. He's such a good friend, and always seems to be genuinely interested in what you have to say. He notices the little things, like when you were always complaining about your feet being cold, so he bought you fuzzy socks. Or when he overheard you talking to Emily about how badly you wanted this decorative plate set for your new apartment, and he got it for you for your birthday. He's truly the best friend a girl could ever ask for. But recently you've been wondering if it's only platonic love that you feel. Could it be more than friendship? You find yourself putting extra effort into your appearance, but you just chalk it up to wanting to better yourself. You have also noticed how when you shop, you choose clothes you think he might like.

Sometimes you catch yourself wondering if he feels the same way. Does he lie in bed at night thinking of your voice and laughter the way you think of him? Does he get flustered when your knees brush together during debriefs? Does he get that fluttery feeling in his stomach when you lock eyes from across the room?

Now that you're thinking about it, you really fucking like him. You feel like a teenager with a schoolgirl crush. God, how could you let this happen? You know that co-worker relationships rarely work out. But you're an adult, you can be mature about it, right?

You snap out of your daydream and realize its already 6:00. The party starts in an hour, and you only have a quarter of what you need to do done.

"Hey Penelope, think we could get some Christmas music going? I work faster with music playing!"

"It's like you read my mind y/n!"

The sound of bells fills the room and suddenly you find yourself feeling very festive. You hear Penelope humming along.

You work quickly to get the last of the lights and tinsel strung up. You wish it could look like this year-round. You check your watch. 6:53. Everyone should be arriving soon.

You hear the elevator ding and see Derek walk out with a plate full of what is most definitely store-bought cookies.

"Wow, you ladies really outdid yourselves."

"Hello Derek and thank you" you smile.

People begin to arrive one-by-one. Emily, JJ, Hotch, and Rossi. Everyone says their hellos and get settled. Some make their way to the booze faster than others.

It's 7:25 and Spencer isn't here yet. You feel a pit begin to form in your stomach. You were really hoping to see him tonight. You decide to grab yourself a drink and socialize, take your mind off of him. He'll show up eventually, right?

"Y/N! Hey! Where's your other half?" Emily chuckles and raises her eyebrows. You can tell she snuck a few shots in the elevator.

"I assume you mean Spencer. Not sure actually." So much taking your mind off of him. And what did she mean by other half? It's not that obvious right?

You scan the room, hoping to see Spencer, but you don't. However, you do catch Rossi getting rather comfortable with new forensic photographer.

You finish your drink and wander off to get another. Looking at your watch you see that it's 7:47. You're starting to feel a little hopeless. But right as you turn to rejoin the party, you see him. Those big brown eyes and fluffy hair.

"Hey Y/N, sorry I'm late. I had to go pick up some last-minute gifts."

Weight falls off of your shoulders at the sound of his voice. You feel overwhelming relief now that he's here. You had spent the last hour, or at least what felt like an hour, with your jaw clenched and a heavy feeling in your stomach. You hate feeling this way. You know you need to talk to him, but you don't want to screw up a good thing.

"It's alright Spence, I'm just glad you're here now." You give him a warm smile and place your hand on his shoulder.

He gives you his classic dorky smile in return, and you feel those all too familiar butterflies swell in your stomach.

As the night goes on, the wine flows and sounds of laughter fills the room. You stay by Spencer's side practically the whole night. Now you understand what Emily meant. You notice he's had quite a bit to drink. Definitely not more than Rossi, but more than usual. You feel like he's being more playful and affectionate as well. But you assume it's just the alcohol. You desperately hope he's flirting, but you don't want to look too far into it.

Your thoughts quickly dissolve into the air as the room goes silent and Rossi's rather loud voice announces it's time to exchange gifts. You give out your gifts and accept the ones given to you. You receive a cinnamon roll scented candle from Emily, a pair of heart shaped earrings from Penelope, a fuzzy blanket from JJ, and various trinkets and gadgets from others. Spencer hands you a slender box wrapped in shiny blue snowflaked wrapping paper.

"I wonder what this could be." You raise your eyebrow playfully and give a small laugh.

You carefully tear off the wrapping paper and open the box. Inside is a necklace with small heart shaped locket.

"Go ahead, open the locket." he has a drunken grin, and his eyes are eager.

You open the locket and inside is a picture of you and Spencer from your birthday. You feel a warmth spread over your face and you can't help but smile.

"Oh my god Spencer, this is- thank you so much, really." You pull him into a tight embrace. Relishing in the feeling of his arms around you for just a moment. You pull away, smile faltering slightly.

"Would you walk with me? Outside? It's really warm in here." His eyes are glassy and his cheeks are a rosy pink. His drinks have definitely caught up with him now. No wonder he feels warm.

"Of course, are you feeling okay?" you ask with sincerity.

"Yeah, there's just a lot of noise. Just need some fresh air s'all."

You two slip out into the crisp, December night. The sky's clear so you can see the stars. Your breath creates mini clouds in the night air.

You look over at Spencer and wonder what's going on inside that brilliant brain of his. You've always been so fascinated by the way he thinks.

"You look so beautiful right now. I-I mean you always do, but in this moment you..." his voice trails off like he has more to say, but doesn't know if he should say it.

"You don't look too bad yourself." You let out a quiet laugh.

You can hear carolers singing jingle bells in the distance.

You glance up at him and see that he's looking at you. His eyes reflect the full moon. There's a sadness in his eyes but also an admiring, soft expression.

"y/n."

"Yeah, Spencer?" You place your hand on his forearm. His mouth opens and closes slightly like he doesn't know if he should say what he's about to say.

"I love you. I'm in love with you, y/n." his voice is soft and trembling ever so slightly. His eyes jump across your face, searching for a reaction.

You feel like your brain might short circuit. You're overwhelmed with emotion. You feel a sting as your eyes prick up with tears.

"Spencer, I don't know what to say." You see his smile fade and fear that may have been poor choice of words.

You decide maybe words won't do how you feel justice.

You step closer to him, placing your right hand on his cheek and the left just below his jaw. You breathe in deeply and pull his face to yours. You place a soft kiss on his lips. He then grabs the sides of your face deepening the kiss. You feel heat creeping up your neck, and the whole world feels as though it's melting away.

You pull away, catching your breath. He looks starstruck, like he can't believe what just happened. And honestly, you can't either. You almost want to ask him to pinch you.

"I love you too, Dr. Spencer Reid."

#criminal minds #spencer reid #spencer reid x reader #fanfiction #fanfic writing #dr spencer reid #criminal minds fanfiction #spencer reid fanfiction

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catiuskaa · 11 months ago

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ticklish, cold water nights. —bf!jisung thoughts.

A/N: the bf!thoughts series is finished! I’m so happy I could finish it. I had so much fun coming up with these lil scenarios. Feel free to check them all out, they’re all linked in my masterlist!

i’m an absolute simp for this man. that’s it. that’s me.

(got a bit carried away, oopsies, lol)

jisungie, who softly blinks, sitting in front of his computer screen, eyes itchy and throat dry after hours of work.

jisungie, who wants to drink water, but the bottle in his study room is empty, and the kitchen is too far away for him not to grunt at the thought.

jisungie, who grins like a naughty boy santa would think twice if he should write him down on his list, closing his laptop and waddling to your room, only a few steps away.

jisungie, who smiles like a fool at the sight of you, wearing a sweater of his and a pair of fluffy socks that he gifted you as a joke because the design looked like penguins.

jisungie, who giggles when you move your eyes away from your phone and stare at him from the bed. “Well, well, well, look who it is.” Even after a couple months dating, you still make him blush when you tease him.

jisungie, who happily plops himself down over you, his face lying on your chest until you cradle it with your hands. “Hi, cutie.” You smile, and he grins back.

jisungie, who starts peppering your face with soft kisses, his hands trailing under your—his—sweater. “Hey, lovely.” He mumbles, still focused on his task.

jisungie, whose heart flutters at your giggles. “H-hey! Y-you’re tickling me!” You playfuly start pushing him off you, but your antics don’t work against a gym bro.

jisungie, who stops to let you breathe, and you struggle to catch your breath, your cheeks red and your lungs begging for a break. “You’re a meanie.” You huff, and he kisses your forehead with a smirk.

jisungie, whose smirk grows even wider when you whine. “Baby, no!” He snorts. “Baby, yes.”

jisungie, who teases you, his fingers threatening to tickle you again, stroking your skin under your—his—sweater.

jisungie, a secret meanie. “I want water.” He starts. “And you, beautiful, want me to stop tickling you.”

jisungie, who plays his part, holding back the urge to just grab the water himself when you whine again. You’re so cute, he almost can’t help it. “Not fair!” you pout, and he coos at you.

jisungie, who grins, counting down, now resting comfortably on your bed. “Three… two… one… one and three quarters… one and a half…”

jisungie, who frowns. “No! That’s water from the sink, I want a bottle from the fridge!” You roll your eyes, and he smiles back at you, throwing a kiss.

jisungie, who is slightly confused when you bring a bottle of water— empty. “You didn’t specify if it had to be full.” You mock, sticking your tongue out at him.

jisungie, who raises from your bed and pins you up against the closet, tickling you again. “O-okay, okay! I’ll grab your stupid water!”

jisungie, who smiles cheekily when you hand him the bottle of cold water, and stops you by his side as he takes a sip.

jisungie, who smugly makes you swallow not only your snarky coments when he kisses you deeply, messily passing the water to you, but also said water.

jisungie, who softly cleans the remaining water off your lips. “There. Gorgeous and hydrated.” He teases, and you slap his butt as he cackles, both of you heading off to bed now.

~kats, who has no excuse for that ending, but has no intention of apologizing for it either lololol.

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gatorlovebot · 1 year ago

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find my king simon masterlist here and read from the beginning. thanks to @ghosts-cyphera @gemmahale and @redzscare for the encouragement <3

it seemed as if your little walk through the park was all that simon needed to get him acting like himself around you again. while he had spent most of the trip quiet and withdrawn, now, on your last night, he was coming back to himself. opening up doors for you, getting your chair for you at dinner, sharing jokes with you just to see you roll your eyes.

you spent a lot of this trip thinking. thinking about your wants and needs and your future. in the past, in only fleeting moments, you had thought about a future beyond the castle, beyond simon. but only just for a moment, before you told yourself you were being silly, before you told yourself you shouldn’t let your unrequited feelings for him get the best of you, lead you to making rash decisions. but maybe making a life for yourself elsewhere wasn’t a rash decision. maybe it’s what you needed.

when you both retire up to your rooms for one last night’s rest here is when he finally addresses what’s been going on. he’s slipped into the sleep clothes you laid out for him and is sitting on the edge of his bed, watching you fold clothes to put into his luggage in the morning. he offered to help but you shooed him away, knowing that his help would usually cause arguments.

“dove?” he broke the comfortable silence from his spot on the bed.

you just hum in response, scrutinizing a stain on one of his nice silk shirts. you can’t remember when he wore it on the trip, but you accepted it as a lost cause, knowing that it would be another full 24 hours before you were even back at the castle. no use fretting over it now. you ball it up in your hands, throwing it in a pile with the rest of his dirty clothes. you turn to him as he waits for you.

“come here,” he beckons you over with one of his outstretched hands. you take it, your socked feet coming to rest in the space between his big thighs. his hands are cold as they engulf your’s, the heating situation at the inn you’ve been staying at has been less than ideal. “i just want to thank you.” he says, earnestly, thumb brushing across your knuckles.

you laugh, just a quick breath out through your nose, “for what?”

he averts his gaze from your face back down to your entwined hands, seemingly trying to find the right words to say. he takes a deep breath before speaking again, “for being here, putting up with me. i don’t tell you enough how grateful i am to have you.” he squeezes your hands in his before gazing back up at you, “especially lately.”

it takes you by surprise, honestly, him acknowledging what’s been going on between you two. this back and forth of you trying to express what you want and him in turn, retreating. not knowing what to say, you urged him with your eyes to keep going.

“i’ve taken you for granted since you stepped foot into my quarters for the first time, if i’m being honest.” he lets out a little self-deprecating laugh, and your mouth opens on instinct to rebuff his claim. as much as you hated it when simon would speak unkindly about himself he wasn’t being untrue about himself. you let your mouth fall back shut as he continued. “but not anymore. you’ve really opened my eyes these past weeks. made me see things and feel things.”

his words taper off, voice sounding horse. you feel frozen in that moment, not knowing what to do or say. in the time that he had been reserved and standoffish, had he actually been doing self reflection? had he actually taken your words into account?

he seems to get a hold of himself and his emotions, clearing his throat before meeting your gaze again. his eyes are glassy but he has a small grin on his face as his volume drops, conspiratorially, “i have a surprise for you when we get back.”

a smile blooms across your face, matching his excited grin. a surprise? the king wasn’t one for grand gestures or making a spectacle of himself. curiosity got the best of you, different scenarios flipping through your mind one after another.

“just for us.” he gives you a cheeky wink and even though you roll your eyes you know that your cheeks are heating up under his attention. it felt like old times. but was that enough? the thought popped in out of nowhere, bursting your little bubble of brief happiness and excitement. these moments with simon recently were short and fleeting, you didn’t know how much more you could take of this back and forth with him.

you excuse yourself for the night, knowing you were both in for an early morning. you walk the short distance down the hall to your room. you undress and pull on layers to combat the winter chill in the air. when you finally rest your head, you dream of blooming flowers and a foreign city. when you wake the next morning you can’t help but remember being alone in your dreams.

even in the face of hours and hours worth of travel in a compact train car, simon is in an agreeable mood in the morning. rousing from his bed with less whining than usual. he slips on the clothes you picked out for him and gracefully grabs his heavy bags from your hands. “none of that now, little bird.” you know not to put up a fight, instead grabbing your small tote and trailing behind him down to the lobby of the inn.

simon makes himself comfortable next to you when you finally settle into your seat on the train car. not much to do to pass the time besides enjoy each other’s company. you two spend most of the morning resting against each other, finally having time to unwind after such a busy week. simon rouses you awake for an early lunch, having not had much for breakfast. for the past few weeks you two had spent many meals in tense silence, but now you make comfortable small talk, chattering on about this and that.

a few more hours go by, simon quietly reading aloud to you from one of his many books. at the end of a chapter he dog ears the page and sets it down on the seat next to him. “gotta stretch the legs, dove.”

you could tell that he was starting to get restless, his hand had been fidgeting with your fingers while the other flipped the pages of the book. he gets up from the seat next to your's, stretches his legs out in the aisle before slipping into a seat a few rows from your’s, next to one of his guards. you don’t mean to eavesdrop but it’s hard not to when the train car is so quiet, everyone else is either sleeping or keeping to themselves.

before you can fully make out what simon and his guard are conspiring about, simon's secretary takes the empty seat next to you. even though you had been hoping for a moment alone with your thoughts, he’s not an unwelcome presence. “i have some news that i think you’ll be interested in.” he offered, excitement clear on his face.

news? “well out with it.” you cajole him, a smile slipping onto your face at his poorly contained enthusiasm.

“well, i don’t know about you, but i’ve been having a delightful time working closer with you the past few weeks,” when you think of your time spent with the secretary you don’t think about the hours spent with him planning out your trip. no, you think of his proposition for you all those weeks ago. you avert your eyes for a moment, his gaze intense as you try to think of a response to what he said instead what he had offered you all those weeks ago.

you spot simon’s book, where he had just been sitting. you subconsciously adjust yourself closer to the window, putting just a bit more distance between you two. his smile falters at your minuscule movement, and you rush to find a response, “it’s been worlds better than working with the last secretary.”

there’s humor in your voice, you can laugh about it now knowing your king was sat just a few feet from you, safe. the secretary smiles at your dark joke, “i would never put you through something like that, mostly because i’m afraid of knives.”

his admission has you giggling for a moment before you contain yourself, “so, what’s this news?”

“yes, yes,” the secretary gets himself back on track, “i’ve been brainstorming ways we could work closer together that wouldn’t impede on your time with the king. it’s almost impossible to separate you two for even a few moments.”

he’s not wrong, but it still makes your cheeks heat up in discomfort, usually feeling uneasy whenever anyone pointed out your relationship to simon. “and then something absolutely perfect happened. one of the girls from the kitchen approached me about wanting other duties. if we got someone to take over your duties for the king then you could step into an advisory role.”

his offer has your interests piqued. not the advisory role, simon already listens to you over anyone else, especially his advisors. no, you’re interested in the girl from the kitchen replacing you. a way out. a little voice in your head says. you had never thought you could leave your role because there would never be anyone to replace you. but now there is.

you lean closer to the secretary and lower your voice, aware of simon’s proximity. “when we get back to the castle you can inform her that my duties can now be her’s. tell her to come to the king’s chambers first thing in the morning, she can shadow me.”

“really?” the secretary questioned, seemingly in disbelief.

“yes, but you have to promise to not say anything to the king about this matter yet.” you plead, dreading the idea of having to talk to him about this.

“i promise, this will be a big change for you and him, you should be the one to tell him about this.” he replied.

you have to blink away the tears that threaten to overwhelm your eyes knowing that you wouldn’t be telling simon anything.

#gator.writing #simon ghost riley x reader #simon riley x reader #simon riley x you #ghost x reader #simon ghost riley #king simon

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avatar-anna · 1 year ago

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You Make Me Feel

you don't necessarily have to picture it this way, but for me this is a 1970s au!

"Lookin' out on the pourin' rain, I used to feel so uninspired..."

You hummed the words as you folded laundry on your bed, the words coming to you as easily as breath did. They carried you through sorting your delicates and clothes that needed to be hung up, from the clothes that you needed to give back to your boyfriend and the select few you would keep until he asked about it. You hummed as you stood up from your bed, repeating the chorus over and over and circling back to different verses out of order, not a care in the world except for the paired socks you put away and the shirt that still had a pesky stain in it.

"You make me feel, you make me feel, you make me feel like a natural woman..."

So caught up in the little world you'd created while finishing up your chores, you didn't even notice Harry leaning against the door to your room behind you. He'd come up around the second chorus, and even though the floor creaked with his steps, you hadn't so much as looked up or away from your closet.

Harry was half amused, half trying to figure out how to make his presence known without startling you. He'd always found it so cute how you got so invested in such menial tasks—folding laundry, doing the dishes, washing your face, making food. It was like you could never do a single thing without giving it your full attention. The humming didn't always coincide with your laser focus, but it occurred often enough that Harry wasn't phased by it.

Deciding that there wasn't a foolproof plan to keep you from jumping out of your skin, he knocked on the door, trying to hide his laugh behind his hand when you did just that.

The humming and half-singing stopped immediately as you turned around, eyes wide as you took Harry in by the door.

"Jesus, you scared me!"

"I'm sorry, sunshine, I didn't mean to," Harry said, the fact that they had similar conversations regularly. "You knew I was coming over, didn't you?"

"Did I?" You looked at him with furrowed brows. "Oh, did you call? I must've missed it. I'm sorry, peach."

"No sweat," Harry said. "I got a little performance out of it, so we're square."

You narrowed your eyes at your boyfriend, who was no longer trying to hide his grin. He knew you couldn't stay mad at him for long when he gave you his best smile. It was like he had some sort of superpower. You saw his pearly white teeth and dimples and squinty green eyes and you were completely smitten all over again. You felt that smile down to your toes sometimes.

You gave up after a few more seconds, trying to pretend that you were still cross. But when you gave up, you went over to him and pulled him close by the loops of his jeans. "Well, you're here now, might as well help me finish putting all this away."

"Laundry day?"

"Laundry day," you confirmed. Your apartment complex didn't have a washing machine, which meant you had to take your clothes to the nearest laundromat, which also meant you waited until your pile of laundry was a small mountain before lugging it and a bag of quarters down the street.

Harry didn't bat an eye and jumped right in to help, though perhaps you should've known why when he zeroed in on a specific pile.

"You gonna wear this on our next date?" he asked, holding up a bra made of delicate lace, one of the only fancy items in that pile.

Your grin was sly as you continued hanging up clothes in your closet. "Doesn't go with my crochet top."

"Oh? And what does, pray tell."

"Nothing. I usually don't wear anything under my crochet top," you said.

Harry's gulp was audible, as was the soft thud of your bra on the carpeted floor of your bedroom. Your grin widened even further, a blush creeping up your cheeks as well. Harry was a known flirt, but whenever you gave it back to him, he clammed up like a local church boy.

A real stud, your boyfriend was.

"You—You don't?" he said, voice less confident than it had been before.

Turning back around, you went over to him again. "Of course not, you'd be able to see it."

You watched with mild amusement as your boyfriend short-circuited like a faulty computer, his eyes dipping between your face and chest. From anyone else, you would've been pissed, but Harry was harmless, and he admired much more than just your body. Plus, you liked to give him a good once-over too.

"What—What, um, what song was that? The one you were singing?" he finally asked.

You snatched the bra off the floor, along with the rest of your intimate items. "Aretha Franklin. I bought her record the other day and I can't stop listening to it."

"Haven't heard it," he said, but you weren't surprised by that. Harry's tastes laid with the Stones and The Who and the Ramones, and Fleetwood Mac once you knocked some sense into him. But you loved any music that made you feel something. And whatever was cheapest at the record store.

"I'll play it for you," you said.

You finished up putting your clothes away with a little help from Harry, though he really only made comments about the sheer amount of clothes you seemed to have. Perhaps it was excessive, but fashion seemed to always be changing, and you liked to have everything from the latest trends to pieces you knew would be timeless.

When you were done, you joined Harry on your bed, perching yourself on his lap and winding your arms around his neck. You found the soft curls at the nape of his neck and began twirling them around your fingers.

"We goin' out tonight, peach?" you asked him, voice soft.

Harry kissed the top of your cheekbone, mumbling his answer into your skin. "I don't know. Are you gonna wear that shirt with no bra?"

"I might," you said, your grin spreading as he continued to kiss your cheek and jaw.

"We can. There's a show at the Whiskey tonight, but," he paused, pulling back just slightly to look you in the eye. "I think I might just want to stay in and listen to music with you. But I'm cool with whatever you want. Just as long as I get to spend time with you."

Your heart thundered in your chest, but you tried to keep a collected appearance. "You want to spend your time with just little old me?" you asked. "What happened to the guy who chased after beach bunnies?"

Harry had been such a flirt when you first met. So forward and confident. You didn't give him the time of day until he ditched the bravado and told you how he really felt about you earnestly, and now that you were together, he was nothing but a sap.

"I don't know what you're talking about," he said, playful pout gracing his lips. It made you want to kiss it away. "I've only ever had eyes for you...Now."

Both of you laughed, unable to keep up this little charade of yours. You both knew Harry had...subscribed to what the hippies called "free love," having never been the type to believe in settling down or tying himself to one person for the rest of his life. But that all changed when he met you, and once he realized you weren't all that impressed with his swaggering, he opened up and showed you a more vulnerable side he'd never shared with anyone.

He was still a flirt and indulged in the occasional innuendo when the time called for it, but it was rounded out by nuzzling his face into the crook of your neck or tucking his hand in your back pocket when you walked somewhere, or leaned you up against your front door before he kissed you goodnight. Harry was right, he only had eyes for you now, and there was no doubt in your mind that that would never change. He made you feel like no one else ever had, and you wanted to hold that feeling in your heart until you were both old and wrinkly.

You kissed him on the lips, pulling away faster than Harry would've liked. But you held his chin between your fingers and said, "I would love to have a night in with you, peach."

That grin was back, with a starry gaze to match. "Just you and me then, sunshine."

What else could you possibly need?

#harry styles #harry styles au #harry styles fluff #harry styles blurb #harry styles x reader #harry styles fanfic #harry styles oneshot #harry styles imagine #harry styles fanfiction #harry styles x you #harry styles writing #harry styles one shot #harry styles fic

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thorougly-melted-brains · 1 year ago

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Soap got shot in the face. It’s not so bad, it was a close quarters, clean shot. By some dumb luck the fucker managed to get him from the inside out, so the most damage he’s got is two broken teeth and and large hole in his cheek.

It’ll heal fine, by some miracle it hadn’t even gotten infected (probably because it bled like an old slasher film). But now Soap, one famously chatty John “Soap” Mactavish, is stuck unable to talk for roughly a week.

He’s going fucking insane by the second day he’s fully lucid. His journal is filled with rambles and doodles and eventually just scribbles when his brain ran too fast to even form words.

He could watch videos, if only on mute because he’s got a fucking ice pack strapped around his head. It would be fine aloud but he’s stuck in an inbetween room in the med ward, and he does know some curtesy.

Normally he’d pester Gaz, but he and the Captain are on a mission half way around the world from their current base. And besides, even if Gaz were awake, he’d hardly be in the mood for Soap bitching about a few stitches.

His salvation comes a dose and too many ice-alterations later to count, in the form of one masked lieutenant.

He’s sure his eyes light up like a puppy, but he’s too wound up to care by that point.

“Nice to see you conscious, Sargeant.” Is all Ghost says as he drops himself into the chair besides Soap’s cot. Then Soap sees the objects in Ghost’s hands, his nose scrunches up.

“Paper work.” Ghost states, and drops the offending parchment and clipboard in Soap’s lap.

Soap can’t voice his opinion on the matter, but Ghost seemingly reads his mind. Or his nose wrinkles.

“Your hands still work, far as I’m aware. Price will want the report. I’m sure he’ll just be dying to hear your voice again, even in writing.” Ghost’s normal monotone breaks as he says the last bit. Smug fucker.

Soap, using his still very functional hands, socks Ghost on the shoulder. It earns him a proper, stilling chuckle out of the man. A reward for his suffering. He smiles a bit at that, then winces as it pulls at his cheek. His mouth is still full of coppery taste and a hint of gunpowder, but a fresh trickle of blood makes itself known at his mistake.

Ghost makes to get up and Soap panics. Bored out of his mind and still on some not insurmountably strong painkillers, he grabs Ghosts wrist. Thoroughly attention-gotten, Ghost tilts his head at him.

“Something I can help you with?” He asks, and watches Soap scramble for one of the notepads a diligent nurse had been using to ask him his pain level.

‘I’m bored.’

Ghost tsks as he reads it, giving Soap an unimpressed look.

“Lucky for you, you’ve got the world in your hand right there. And a charger, even.” He says, and points to the phone in Soaps unoccupied hand. Right, he was still grasping Ghost’s arm.

Soap lets go and looks away with a groan. He almost opens his mouth to complain before he thinks better of it and turns back to the paper.

‘Wifi’s shit here, and I haven’t got anyone to talk to.’

It takes Ghost a minute to decipher Soap’s increasingly slanted script.

“Even if you did, could hardly talk to them, aye?” Soap lets the slight at the end slip past him, in favor of very emphatically writing:

‘Can still write. Or text, if they know how to use a phone.’

The last bit is a slight break in character. Usually he’d poke at Ghost for pretending to be tech-illiterate. But his current vocabulary is limited by his already shaky hand-writing.

“Well, handy for you I just might.” Ghost says, and gestures for Soap’s phone.

He’s unlocked and handed it over to Ghost before his words even hit. With Ghost currently occupied by… whatever he’s doing on Soap’s phone. Soap opts to tap his knee and give him a confused look.

“I do have a phone.” Ghost says, eyes twinkling with something like mirth. He hands Soap his phone back, and to Soaps astonishment he finds that Ghost’s entered his phone number.

“Can’t promise I’ll respond quickly, I’m handling two sets of paperwork after all.” Ghost says, and stands up and just walks out like he hadn’t just handed Soap something worth more than gold.

Soaps first thought, when his brain catches up to what had just happened, is to change Ghost’s name. He’d entered himself as simply ‘Ghost’ which went against Soaps sorting system for contacts. He quickly alters it to one ‘Lt. Simon “Ghost” Riley.’

Someone who didn’t know him would assume he was a proper respectful soldier boy for entering every one of his contacts’ ranks. Really he just couldn’t be fucked to remember them on his own.

His second thought, after that was fixed, was to focus on what Ghost had said while Soaps brain was still loading.

“Two sets of paperwork.” He’d said. And, upon further inspection, Soap finds the forgotten clipboard in his lap only has the barest minimum papers in it. Soap feels something warm settle in his chest. He decides to text as much to Ghost.

-taking my work was nice

-you really need to work on your coldness

-have a reputation to keep after all

Against his word, Ghost’s response is near instant.

-Not nice, tactical. You’re still technically high, can’t have you fucking up anything important.

Soap notices the punctuation immediately. The image of Simon carefully typing it out on his tiny phone with his large hands makes Soap laugh, before he winces as it pulls at his cheek.

-Also, full name I notice there.

It was the barest of sentences but Soap could just hear the overly-serious tone Ghost would’ve grumbled it in.

-if you’re worried about a security risk lt just know it’s how i put every one in

Ghost types for a long time after he sent that. Soap has to put a careful hand over his mouth to resist the grin forming on his face pre-emptively to the chewing out hes about to get.

-Well, I guess compared to the rest of you that’s the least of our worries.

Soap squawks at that one.

-what’s that supposed to mean??

He knew to wait patiently for Simon to finish agonizing after his grammar this time. Even though he wants to break his bed rest and run to the lieutenant’s office to demand an answer.

-I mean you’re so desperate to talk you’re texting me about fucking paperwork, Sargeant. Also, an excessive amount of question-marks.

Soap could only roll his eyes at that. He was starting to get drowsy though. It was near nighttime, and a Nurse had come in between texts to give him some of the good stuff so he could really sleep.

-maybe if you visited and told me something you’d find the conversation more interesting

It was bold, but he could blame the drugs and exhaustion. Seemed stupid, how tired he was when he hadn’t been on his feet in at least 48 hours. But healing was hard work, apparently.

-Fine, I’ll eat breakfast with you tomorrow. Can’t promise I’ll have much to tell, but I’m sure you’ll fill the space.

Huh, that was easier than Soap would’ve expected. He doesn’t bother answering, just starts to drift off until a Nurse comes in to dim his lights. He wakes up slightly to give them a thanking nod, then properly sets about falling asleep. Thank god he normally slept on his back, he doesn’t know how else he would manage otherwise.

#recently had dental surgery so enjoy this fluffy shite of me projecting on to soap #his comment about sleeping on his back is just me i’m a side sleeper it’s fucking sucked so far #simon ghost riley #john soap mactavish #not gonna tag the others since they’re so brief #ghostsoap #soapghost #cod mw2 #writing

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sinners-go-to-drink-the-wine · 1 year ago

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Cold ‖ DRW

Pairing: Danny Wagner x Reader

Word Count: 3.6K

CW: (spoilers) Mostly fluff!, roommates, (some money talk -it'll make sense)

{Author Commentary: stuck in during a snowstorm with your roommate Danny, everything is ok... right? for optimal emotions, listening to come out and play by Billie Eilish is an option}

The moment you woke up you’d curled into a tight ball. Your tired mussels protested, but the warmth of where your body had laid as you slept helped the almost numb coldness of your feet. Your nose was practically numb too, so you ducked under your covers. You let out a pathetic little groan to yourself, knowing it was only a temporary reprieve, and that you’d have to come up for air in a matter of seconds. ‘Why is there no efficient way to warm your face?’. Surely enough as your lungs began to protest you had to raise your head and decide how to face the cold of your apartment. Your apartment, where you’d planned to spend your day off doing various lazy, self-indulgent tasks, had a faulty air system at times. And while your landlord had promised to have it worked on before it got cold, the weather seemed determined to prove him wrong.

All you wanted to do was go back to sleep so you couldn’t feel the cold. You considered taking a shower, to feel the full body warmth. However, the thought of getting out, and dealing with wet hair would probably result in you staying in for hours. The resulting water bill was not something you’d want to have to explain to your roommate. ‘How was he coping with the frigid conditions? He's probably layered in his classic sweaters… the cold never seems to bother him as much as it did you, though he wasn’t one to complain regardless…’

The shower was ruled out, but the thought of warm steam on your face gave you another idea. A warm cup of coffee would definitely feel great. You took a deep breath and braced yourself before throwing off your blanket and getting out of bed. You hastily pulled on your thickest sweatpants and pulled a chunky quarter-zip sweater on over your sleep shirt. The oversized collar covered the mouth as you zipped it up. All that was left to to guard you from the cold was tugging on a pair of thick socks and stepping into your slippers.

You hugged your sides, practically waddling down the hall. The warm smell of coffee broke through the cold. You shuffled over to the pot on a mission. You heard a small giggle from the kitchen table and darted a bemused glance at him as you picked up the pot and hastily filled a mug before making your way to the fridge for your coffee creamer. After splashing it in, you put it back in the fridge, briskly closing the door. You leaned against the counter with a huff, half tempted to slide to the floor and curl your legs in. With two sleeve-gloved hands, you raised the mug to your face, letting the steam curl up and blanket it. You took a deep inhale, finally regaining some sensation in your cold nose.

“Wow… they should put you in a coffee commercial.”, Danny’s playfully mocking voice interrupted your moment of relief. You deadpanned over the rim of your mug as you took a sip. “What? I’m just saying, I didn’t make it good enough to warrant those dramatics.” He grinned at you as he spoke, his head tilting slightly. He was trying to break through your sour mood, but you weren’t here for it. “Sorry, I'm kind of freezing cold” you snapped at him, feeling only half-regretful. "Hey, not my fault your body can't heat itself." He quipped back, his smile unwavering. "You're the one with a freakish body, you walking furnace!" a smile began tugging at your lips as your voice raised. He laughed loudly, making you break and join him.

You sighed and rested your forehead on the rim of your mostly empty mug. "I'm… so cold." "Yeah, I'm sorry. I called and all they said was they can't do anything about the heating today." You could hear a sympathetic smile in his voice. "Let's watch a movie or something, I can share some heat.", he offered consolingly. You lifted your head, staring at the window across from you as you considered the offer. It would certainly work faster than your plan of going to your room and burying yourself in blankets. You tilted your head, offering him a small smile and nodding.

He got up and clapped an arm across your shoulders, giving your arm a triumphant squeeze. As you walked with him to the living room, you grumbled again at his chipper mood -and thanked him for the coffee. He just ran his hand up and down your arm creating some warmth. You made your way to the basket of throw blankets. "Get the biggest one- that green one." You pulled it out and turned around to hand it to him.

"-What are you doing?". Upon turning around you'd been met with his bare abdomen as he tugged his sweater off, pulling the hem of his long-sleeved t-shirt up with it. "It'll be warmer, -trust me." He pulled off his sweater and straightened the shirt before taking the blanket from you. He handed you the remote to the TV and draped the large blanket across his back, holding the sides out with his hands as he lay across the couch facing out with his arms extended. "C'mere." He beckoned you towards his opened arms. You pulled off your chunky sweater, not that he'd asked, but you understood the logic. The heat would travel faster through two t-shirts.

You quickly settled alongside him, tucking your arms up so you could still work the remote. He adjusted your hair slightly so he could still see over your head, then wrapped his arms and the blanket around you snugly. You sighed at the warmth of his chest against your back already working its magic. You fumbled with the remote a little before managing to point it at the TV. Some corny medical drama lit up the screen, a familiar comfort watch for you. "This good?" "Yeah, fine by me. …You comfortable?" he lifted his head slightly to catch your eye peripherally, seeing the corner of your lips curl up. "Getting there. …Thanks, Danny."

He secured the blanket around you before beginning to run his warm palms along your upper arms, creating some additional heat. Your muscles, which had been tensed from the moment you woke up, began to relax. You pulled the blanket up over your nose for a moment, clasping your cold hands together against your chest.

You inevitably huffed and pulled the edge of the blanket from your face. Another pitiful groan escaped you as you breathed in the frigid air. "Something wrong? Do you get out, make a run to the… ?" Danny's voice was soft and his hands had stilled. "Hah, no, I just…" You sighed again, feeling silly. "...my nose is cold. My entire face is- but I can't warm my nose without smothering myself.". He chuckled softly, the sound echoing through you.

"You can turn over, I mean all the heat's right here behind you." You giggled this time. You set the remote down and began shifting to face him. He raised his free arm, readjusting the blanket over you and leaning back slightly more. You rested the side of your face on his chest and his arm curled around you. His large hand spread across your back, trailing across it slowly. You were more focused on warming the tip of your nose, nuzzling slightly as you settled in. The warm, clean, sweet musk of him surrounded you as your eyes fluttered closed. You unfurled your hand, resting it against his chest. "Oh-" a small sound escaped him "-you are cold.", he said in a slightly teasing tone. "I’m sorry-" "Don't be. Here-" He took your hand and brought it to his hip. He tugged the hem of his shirt up so your hand landed directly against his warm skin. "Have at it." He chuckled as you hesitantly relaxed your hand so it was flush against his back. His arm draped over you again and he tucked his chin over your head.

With your face tipped down he wouldn’t be privy to the color casting your cheeks. You adjusted your arm to a more comfortable angle, your cold hand coming to rest on the center of his back. Your fingertips found the dip in his back along his spine, absentmindedly tracing along it. A small shiver ran through him. His skin prickled and his back curved slightly as he adjusted. You were reminded of just how intimate you were currently being. But neither of you felt the need to acknowledge it. It helped that you weren't face-to-face.

You were soaking in his warmth and your eyes had drifted closed. Your legs had become tangled in his somewhere along the way, keeping him locked to you. "D’you want to take a nap? You're welcome to…" The soft rumbling in his chest was so comforting. "Yeah, I might… could you keep talking?" You heard a small breathy laugh and a smile when he spoke. "Alright…" he paused to think. "Ooh- Lemme tell you about the coldest day in Frankenmuth…"

He rambled on in a lighthearted voice punctuated by the occasional laugh and his hand gesturing against your back when he got to an animated moment. The recollection entailed a story of a much younger him and his best friend Sam making bets about how long it would take for things to freeze, resulting in some ridiculous consequences for them both. You didn't catch all of it, as your consciousness phased in and out.

You didn't realize you'd fallen asleep till a particularly obnoxious ad on the TV pulled you out. Your face scrunched up in annoyance and attempted to burrow further. Danny was warm as ever, and his breaths expanded his chest in a slow even rhythm. Even his heartbeats were relaxed. He must've fallen asleep too. Your eyes fluttered closed as your mind wandered; Had you missed some hilarious twist ending to his story? Had there been other stories? how long had he rambled on till he was sure you were asleep?

Soon enough, you needed to come up for air. When you extended your neck, you ducked your head back so you didn't bump his chin. You blinked as a soft breath hit your face. His sleeping face, merely an inch from yours, came into focus.

Dark, dense lashes rested against his high-peeked cheeks. God, I'd kill for those lashes… why do boys always get pretty lashes… the apples of his cheeks were dotted with scattered freckles that trailed across the strong bridge of his nose. They're so random… they don't even follow a normal freckle cluster pattern… he had one on his lower lip too… just at the bottom, slightly to the right, from your perspective, right where the brighter pink that ran down the center of his lips curled over the edge. Your fingertip trailed along his chin, just under the slightly darker edge of his lip, landing near the freckle. Danny’s lips pursed briefly, causing you to freeze. He seemed undisturbed otherwise.

When you pulled your hand away his lips twitched again. His face inched closer in search of the lost warmth. Your hand hovered for a minute before you laid your warmed palm on his cheek. The tip of your pointer finger grazed over his earlobe, soft, peach-fuzzed, and surprisingly cool to the touch. You imagined warming it between your lips, but of course, dashed the thought nearly instantly.

You hadn't been this close with anyone in a while. You were content being single, no one you’d met had sparked any interest recently, but that didn't mean you didn't feel touch-starved at times. All your thoughts paused as he shifted again. The bridge of his nose aligned with your brow bone, his lips resting on the tip of your nose, warm and soft. Oh, how you wanted to melt into him and press your lips to his. It was just the sleepiness and rare instance of physical comfort, you knew that. And he was asleep, probably thinking about someone else as his lips puckered slightly to peck at your nose. ‘Was he seeing someone?’ You hadn't seen anyone over a lot or noticed any repeat names that would allude to it. It's just unconscious. And as nice as it was, you felt yourself pulling away. You didn't want it if it wasn't his intention. You held his face gently as you shifted yours away.

His eyes began to flutter. A sleepy smile began to form but faded as his eyes fully opened. He'd registered your recoiling, and your hand braced on his cheek, tied together with your eyes widening slightly as he'd opened his. He shifted his head back to give you room to breathe, since you'd apparently been sharing the same air. He cleared his throat, "You feeling better?" Even his first thought being to check on you made it that much harder. You offered a small smile "Yeah, much better." His smile spread as his hand smoothed up and down your back relaxedly. "Good, m'glad." "Thanks for spending your morning on me, 'm sorry if you had things you planned to get done…". His lips pulled to one side as he shook his head, waving off your apology. "Any plans I'd had for today went out the door with this storm and our aptly timed heating malfunction. Besides, there are worse ways to spend a day…" his voice was light and humorous, and you giggled with him briefly. "Yeah, maybe we should do this more often…" You replied in the same unserious tone.

He let out a soft "hmh", simply smiling at you. His hand shifted from your back, moving between you. He reached to gently graze his knuckle across your cheek, shifting a few hairs that had landed there. It surprised you, despite you remembering your hand was still resting on his cheek. “Yeah… we can do this again.” Your heart was pounding in your chest. You hoped he couldn’t feel it.

You cleared your throat. "D’you… have any thoughts about lunch? I should make something -haven't had anything other than coffee yet." “Hmm… I’ve been wanting to try and make that soup from that tiktok you sent me.” Aw, he’d saved it. “The creamy cauliflower and roasted garlic one?” You could practically feel your stomach about to grumble. “Yeah, I think the person also had a grilled cheese with it?” he recalled. “Oh god. Yes. Kitchen. Now!”. He laughed and nodded. “Let's get on it.” You remembered your body was barricading him from leaving the couch. You dropped your hand from his face, bracing it on his chest briefly as you untangled your legs. The bone chilling air of the apartment outside your little cocoon had not changed. When he retracted his arms to allow you to get up it swarmed you, quickly permeating your t-shirt. You got up and quickly tugged on your sweatshirt hoping to lock in some of his heat. Another layer of warmth enveloped you as the large green blanket was draped over your shoulders. Danny stepped around you without a word and proceeded to don his sweater. You watched him for a moment before closing your mouth and heading toward the kitchen.

You secured the blanket around your arms before getting out your large soup pot and placing it on the stove. Danny preheated the oven before getting out a baking tray and beginning to prepare the cauliflower and garlic for roasting. You connected your phone to the speaker and queued a few songs before placing the phone on the counter next to him as an offer to add his own. Once his tray was in the oven the two of you began prepping the rest of the stock ingredients. You usually cooked and ate separately to accommodate your different schedules. But you both loved cooking, and recipe sharing was commonly mixed into your regular texting. It was a pleasant but unfortunately infrequent occasion when the two of you got to cook together. And these days he was gone for longer and longer stretches of time with his band having taken off.

The stove had warmed the kitchen slightly and the smell of roasting cauliflower and that delicious melting garlic filled the air. Danny was standing at the stove stirring the pot as you buttered some bread and sliced the cheese for your accompanying sandwiches. When the oven timer dinged he removed the the tray and emptied the roasted items into the soup. You got the hand blender and plugged it in before handing it to him to blend the soup together. The sandwiches only took a few moments and soon enough you were both filling your bowls and grabbing your sandwiches.

“Back to the living room?”, he offered, looking to you. “I’m kinda tempted to just stay here, the oven’s still warm…” you looked down at it. He paused for a moment, biting his lip, secretly endeared. “...Sounds good.” He started gingerly sitting down, with his back against one half of the stove door, and his plate in his lap. You practically beamed, before sitting next to him, shoulder to shoulder. You giggled a bit at the ridiculousness of the situation as you both took your first bites. The soup was amazing, creamy, savory, and instantly warming you from the inside out. Danny had dipped his sandwich in his soup and made a pleasured groan upon taking a bite. You smiled at him.

“...Thank you.” He turned his head to smile back at you, “Thank you, great recipe find!”. You chuckled, “Not just for the soup, and all your help today… thanks for being here, really.”, you looked down at the food in your lap. Danny’s smile softened at your shifting tone. “Ofcourse I’m gonna be here, where else would I be?” he leaned his knee into yours playfully. “Well I- I know you could afford to live somewhere nicer… and yet you- you continue to stay in this shitty place, god knows why, and basically pay half my rent, since you’re away so much these days…” “Do you… miss me?”, Danny broke his attentive silence. “What?” your eyes snapped up to meet his, that hadn’t been where you intended that to go. “When I’m gone all the time...”, he offered for clarification. His eyes had a noticeable earnesty to them. “Well, yeah of course, but that wasn’t- that’s not the point- I mean, like why are you still here?”. It didn’t come out right, you realized that immediately after the words left your mouth. Danny blinked, before averting his eyes. “Hard to find good roommates,” he shrugged, his voice casual once again.

He resumed eating his lunch like nothing happened. Well, nothing did happen. Not that you could put into words. But you felt the weight of a rock in your stomach. And the questioning, which had started as an expression of gratitude, was intended to ease your guilt of him taking care of you, and staying in this shitty broken apartment with you. All the interesting places he got to go now, but he was always practically giddy to be back after a long stretch. Like he somehow missed this...

Oh.

“Danny…” His name left your lips in a soft, sympathetic tone. He lowered his spoon to look at you. “You miss me…” it wasn’t a question, but he slowly began to nod yes. You'd already said your part; 'Well, yeah of course', but maybe it warranted a rephrasing. "I miss you too… I know I don't exactly show it, but I just… don't want you to feel bad. I'm so glad you're out there living your dream- I don't want you to feel any pressure to tie yourself down…" "I don't feel tied down. I just wish- I don't know, I wish you could be there for all of it sometimes… but I don't want you to feel any obligation either. I was thinking about us getting a better place, but I don't want it to seem like some power trip if I'm paying… you know I've thought about flying you out while I'm on tour, like a million times- but I didn't know if you'd accept, and it felt kinda selfish, ‘cause… I just wanted to see you."

His words were echoing around in your brain, namely the ‘us’ of it all… He’d said it, like you were a package deal, like a single indivisible unit. And his fears weren’t unwarranted, paying a fraction of his rent to stay in what would be his apartment wasn’t ideal. Being at his will when it came to housing, despite knowing he’d never use it against you, was a nerve-wracking thought. But he wanted you, the two of you, somewhere better. Knowing his character, you knew he truly wanted it for you, not just his own comfort. Or maybe it kindof was, maybe he’d at least feel better knowing you were in a better apartment while he was away. The thought of him worrying about you was… unfamiliar, and some unhealed part of you wanted to reject it. Moving together seemed like some sort of promise, certainly a commitment. But just a commitment to remaining roommates.

“...Where were you thinking? -If we were gonna move.”, you finally spoke. His face formed a tentative smile, “Wherever you’re comfortable, could just be a different part of town, closer to your work? -since mine’s always moving.” You let out a small laugh at the last comment, and his smile widened. You felt the warmth of his words fill you and took another bite of your food while you considered. He smiled down at you from your peripheral, leaning his head towards yours. “So, …you’d consider it?”. You let your head lull to the side, resting against his as you smiled down at your legs stretched out side by side. “I’ll consider it.”

Thank you for reading! Let me know what you think!

{Tag List: @star-boxer @doodle417 @greta-van-chaos @weightofdreams-gvf @gretnabancheese @shutupdevvie @holdingup-fallingsky @t00turnttrauma @groggyvanfleet @garagebandvanfleet @gretavanflowerpowerrr @razorbladekiszka @hyperfixated-gvf @pippin-jay @rhythm-of-space @allieisacrybaby @hearts-hunger @twistedmelodies @ageofwagner @silks-up-my-sleeve @cal-a-bungaa @carbondancingthroughtime @indigofallingsky @sunfl0wer-power @gold-mines-melting @gretasmokerising @joshsindigostreak @satans-helper @lacuna-moon @suzi107 @fantazmagorical96 @meetingthestarcatcher }

#my room gets really cold and i have baggage what can I say #danny wagner fanfiction #danny wagner #greta van fleet #greta van fleet fanfiction #gvf #gvf fanfiction #cold fic

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cyarsk52-20 · 12 days ago

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#I been ready cause that was so unprovoked and WEIRD #been ready to punt that little football head twerp! like leave her alone #stop speaking on her!#💀💀💀 you be killing me but no fr #she doesn’t want to work with his thirsty ass #And then had the nerve to tell him to come home.#I want him jumped #Literally cause he wouldn’t be in that situation if he just stfu #I’ll throw a brick at his PT Cruiser shaped noggin ret nie!#i got a sock full of quarters-#you take the top and i’ll get his bottom!#Finna fuck them knees up #He is never going to stop being a bitch ass nigga #and this is why short men have bad reputations #why do girls fantasize about their future men being tall dark and handsome?#This man sitting on a podcast sweating into oblivion asking her to come home #…like go to hell forreal.#❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️#This whole case had me changing my opinions and views(at least for the moment)#celebrating the police and the system #being xenophobic towards Canadian people #posting stories with reader plus white celebrities with fluffy or smutty material #nearly being racist towards black men #saying that some of them nigcels deserved to be another hashtag #and backing the death penalty.#megan thee stallion #i’m not sad for her #i’m outraged #i’m just glad she’s in a better place now #those people can speak for themselves they know who they are

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yesbutmakeitgay · 7 months ago

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Once Upon A Time I Used To Know A Girl

Chapter 14.5

Carol Danvers x Reader

Masterlist | This work's masterlist | AO3

Summary: Carol's perspective of the past few days.

Angst, Slow Burn, Amnesia.

Word count: 1110

A/N: This one's for you @unicorniusfallapatorius, and the power of comments.

Fixing All The Cracks

Carol is in her home with Goose when she hears an engine coming closer, she instinctively goes into a defensive state and walks outside to investigate. As she gets to the porch she sees Fury's car sloppily parking on her front lawn, and if that wasn’t enough confusion, it isn’t the Avengers' director that comes out of the vehicle, but non other that The King of New Asgard.

"Val?" Carol asks with a frown.

The King exits the car and aggressively shuts the door, "Get your stuff."

"What?" Carol was expecting to be greeted with more kindness.

"Now," Valkyrie commands, the rage in her eyes is apparent.

In her abstracted state The Captain chooses to comply so as to not make the situation worse. She goes into her house and packs a duffel bag with one of her uniforms and the basics that she would take to an impromptu mission. She comes out and dumps the bag in the trunk of the car.

Val remains standing by the driver’s side, watching her over the vehicle, "Get her stuff." Carol remains staring at Valkyrie as she waits for her brain to process the instruction.

Once she understands, she goes back in the house to get the keys to her ship. She comes out to unveil it and wait for the door to open, The King doesn't move an inch, her arms stiffly crossed in front of her chest.

Carol drags her feet inside her space home for the first time since she got back and takes it all in. It's messy, yours and her things are scattered all over and some of your blood is still smeared on the furniture. It drives shivers down her spine.

She walks into your shared room directing her attention to your side of the closet, she pulls all your hung clothes out at once and into some boxes.

She turns to the bed and finds your favorite hoodie crumbled up in the middle, she grabs it to fold it neatly and decidedly leaves it on top of your pillow.

She then opens your drawer, where you keep your socks and pajamas, and takes its contents out in one swift movement to dump in the last box, as she does, a solid object hits the floor and startles her.

She looks for the source of the sound and finds a small velvet box. She glares at it, frozen in place, "It can't be. Please don't be," she thinks, crouching down to pick it up, her heartbeat going a thousand miles a minute.

Inside she finds a shiny, golden ring.

She feels all the air escaping her lungs, time around her stops, and a million thoughts start fighting in her brain as tears threaten to fall. What if it’s too late? What if she can’t fix this anymore?

A loud thump brings her back to reality, "I don't have all day!" Val yells hitting the outside of the ship again. Carol puts the small box in her pocket and brings the rest of your things to the car.

Valkyrie closes the trunk, "Let's go." She is fuming with anger.

"Where?" The Captain could make an educated guess, but hopes to be wrong about it.

"Just get in the fucking car."

Once they're on the road Carol hesitates, "How is she?"

"You don't get to ask questions."

"It's a 20 hour ride," The Captain tries to bargain.

"And we will spend it basking in the beautiful sound of silence."

——————

They arrive at the compound, Valkyrie informs Kamala of the visitor and then goes to her quarters, her job here is done.

"You came?" Kamala gently asks.

Carol feels so awkward being back here, "I didn’t have a choice," she growls, Valkyrie’s temper rubbed off on her in the full day they spent locked in a car together.

"Are you sure you wanna see her now?" The girl is unsure about it.

The Captain tries to ignore her overheating body and the heartbeat trying to pound out of her chest, "Yes."

——————

The next day Carol walks into Fury’s office, he looks up at her and disregards her, going back to his computer.

"Silent treatment?"

"It’s not like you were speaking to me before, is it?"

Carol sits down, "Do you have her health reports? Is she ready to go back in the field?"

Fury stops his work and takes a deep breath, "You’re the one who put her to the test yesterday, do you think she’s ready?" It’s a rhetorical question and a scolding.

"Do you know what happened to her?"

"Yes, I’ve been here the whole time, unlike some people." As much as it hurts Carol to hear, she knows she deserves it. "Pick a room yet? Better find one in a different floor than hers."

"I’m not staying long."

"Yes, you are, you’re not leaving until you fix your shit show."

——————

"Hey," Kamala greets Carol as they run into each other in the hallway, "do you have her things? She could really use them back." She tries to be as sweet and calm as possible, Carol only responds with a nod.

The Captain goes to her room to get your stuff and as she’s exiting remembers the velvet box. She stands in the doorway debating what to do when Kate walks by, catching her in her internal argument, "Fury wants to see you, he says it’s important."

"Thank you," Carol mumbles before shoving the ring in her pocket and taking your stuff to your room.

She’s walking away after placing the last of your things in front of your door when she remembers the velvet box, "Fuck," she whispers, stumbling on her feet, trying to hide it in the other boxes. That’s when you open the door and see her.

——————

The Captain finally makes it into Fury’s office, "You took your time," he retorts.

"Got held back."

"I need you to do something for me." Carol stares him down dangerously. "You wanna get back on my good side or not?"

"What is it?" Her tone softens slightly.

He places a card on the table and pushes it towards her, "I need you to get her to comply."

Carol frowns in confusion, "Why?"

"Stark wants it to go perfectly and somehow that’s my problem, so now it is your problem too."

"She hates my gut, how am I supposed to do that?"

Fury shrugs it off, "You promised you’d be there, you just have to make sure she is too. Maybe start by getting on her good side."

Carol is gonna have to build from the ground up using every strategy she’s learned in the past few years.

Chapter 15

Let this chapter be proof that if you leave a comment, there is a chance it will influence something...

Tags: @graniairish @carols-photonblast @thelittleliars @unicorniusfallapatorius @prplepeony @eringranola

Let me know if you wanna be tagged :)

#carol danvers fic #carol danvers #carol danvers x reader #captain marvel #carol danvers angst #captain marvel x reader #kamala kahn #valkyrie

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pampanope · 1 year ago

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Graves Headcanons from Shadows’ POV (Part 2):

Part 1

((hello hello again, more written stuff~))

7-11 sat in his quarters trying to decide which polaroid of the Commander he’d donate to the Graves Manual.

Would it be one of him mid-stretch, wearing knee-high compression socks and thigh length shorts? Maybe.

Or maybe the one with Graves slumped over his office desk, hair askew, drool leaking out of a parted mouth? A lot of potential there, a sleeping Graves is always cute appreciated.

How ‘bout the closeup of the Commander’s face, hair mussed by the wind, head tilted down, one side of his mouth quirked up playfully to expose a prominent canine, piercing steel eyes staring dead on at the camera full of challenge and—

Actually, fuck, no, 7-11’s keeping that one.

But also…

Did Graves know i was up in that tree? From that distance? The whole time? Or was it coincidence and he just happened to look in that one tree’s direction? What the fuck—he’s never—he looked at me—

7-11 took a deep breath and shuddered (out of fear or excitement?).

Right, probably just a coincidence; no way he’s caught on to my personal game, a game that’s been going on for months.

He would’ve said something by now, right?

Right.

Deciding to make a choice at a later date, he turned to his most pressing matter of the evening.

Zorro (9-24) had cornered him after evening chow, his brows all furrowed and mouth pursed in displeasure. He shoved a handful of stained loose leaf paper into his chest and said:

“Rewrite, retype, I don’t care, redo your coffee stained shit, sleepy cachorro, or I’ll let the new recruits know that their favorite, cool, mysterious Lt. is actually a slob of the highest degree.”

7-11 could only blink lazily as he was booped in the snoot with more force than called for, before the Brazilian swiftly power walked down the hallway.

That was hours ago.

Now those entries sat there on his desk and taunted him.

Well I can’t have the adorable receuits go around spreading that slander, he thought, knowing he thrived on their regard as much as he craved the Commander’s attention.

Sighing, 7-11 grabbed a fresh sheet of paper and began to write.

——-

• The Commander had a gift for people in general that was uncanny.

• Graves, after spending just enough time with someone, knew which buttons to push, what switches to pull, and which gears he’d need to grease or sabotage within that person to get his desired outcome.

•He can easily gauge the emotional state of his Shadows as individuals or as a whole. His pre-mission pep-rallies (for there is no better word for them) got their spirits up and blood boiling. Graves effortlessly grabs their attention and holds it in a tight grip.

(It was, 7-11 thought, so nice to have a boss who made an effort for you and from the scribbles along the margins, other Shadows agreed)

• This gift for people offered other advantages in the Commander’s line of work.

• He can get a basic grasp of a person’s capabilities or weaknesses through observation and intuition and decide if they’re worth his time. And his estimations were accurate far too often (Extremely useful when ‘recruiting’ in the field…)

(What does Graves see when he looks at me)

• it was akin to having a faded map that showed how best to navigate negotiations and dealings with adversaries, whether in business or combat; Graves intuitively knew when to apply pressure, how to bluff effectively, when threats were necessary, and if honeyed words wrapped in his southern drawl would yield better results.

(That last one was quite effective. Unfairly effective.)

• It’s always a goddamn pleasure to witness the Commander leverage his cards over the target. The smug, triumphant look he wore if his efforts were met with success was exquisite.

•As sure as the Commander’s grin hides a pair of wicked canines, so, too, does this empathy of his. It’s been honed into a weapon that, when turned on his enemies, can be deadly.

• Weaponized empathy.

(Holy hell, the Commander turned a typical Piscean trait into a weapon

EXCUSE ME HES A PISCES?!

Yeah I bribed a newbie in HR for that bit of info so ssshhhhh

Lil shit wont give me the Commanders bday. Yet.

Lemme at ‘em, I’ll make ‘em talk ;))

• It makes him a master manipulator and it’s an oft overlooked skill of Graves; most would look first at his experience in the USMC, MARSOC, and the weapons on his person to determine weapon proficiencies (haha tough luck, he’s proficient at multiple types of firearms and yeet-able objects).

•It’s allowed him to claw his way to success, tango with the rich elite that made up his client base, negotiate contracts with governments, traverse the murky waters that was life as a mercenary

• and safely guide his Shadow Company through it all.

(and always be ready to have the Commanders back should shit go pear shaped because NOTHING is ever certain)

• The Commander maxed out his Charisma stat

——-

7-111 chuckled softly at the surprise addition because yeah, Graves certainly did.

The officers in the D&D club gave after action reports that read like epic campaigns. Fucking beautiful.

7-11 decided to keep the little addition.

With that finished, he stacked the newly revised manual entries, shredded and dumped the originals, and swore to himself he’d apologize to Zorro in the morning for making the other Lieutenant spend some of his personal time tracking him down in the first place.

Hopefully he won’t send Peaches after his ass.

His ass and dignity haven’t yet recovered from the last session with that massive brute.

After shutting off the light, 7-11 flopped into his mattress, nuzzled into his cool pillow and drifted off to sleep to dreams of sharp teeth and steel eyes.

#shadow company interoffice drama #still tryna figure out writing #phillip graves #cod graves #call of duty #mwii #mwiii #mw2 #mw3 #my stuff #headcanons

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marzbix-crystal · 6 months ago

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[Image ID: A page of annotated and fully-coloured digital drawings featuring an interpretation of the character Apophyllite from Land of the Lustrous, on the right is a full body drawing of the character facing the right, they have grey-blue hair that reaches their chin with one side partially covering their face, they wear the winter uniform with a shirt, tie, puffy sleeves, flared shorts, and flat shoes with bows on them, they also wear white knee-socks and elbow-length gloves, In the lower centre is a headshot of Apophyllite looking towards the left with their hair obscuring their face, in the lower left is a stylized drawing of them with one hand on their hip and the other holding a broom, finally in the top left is an image of Apophyllite crystals, and a Manga screenshot depicting a Lunarian mentioning the gem, with a red circle and arrows pointing to the name. /End ID]. Annotations will be rewritten below

APOPHYLLITE She/Her Pronouns Mohs Hardness: 4.5 Nicknames: Phyll or Poppy The Fourth Elder Gem. She pulled everyone together when Kongo Sensei lost consciousness. She's a lovely gem, but very strict on how she runs things- she's always fussing the youngsters about their uniforms, sleeping quarters, and even their posture. Apophyllite is a jack of all trades, she can teach, fix broken gems, mend clothes, she can even make quality paper. But she prefers cleaning above all else- dirt and clutter beware!! Some stuff I didn't write on the drawing: She is the Head Cleaner, and while she has a team of cleaners to keep the school tidy all year-round, she begins rallying every gem to get things (mostly) spotless before winter hits.

[Image ID: A page of annotated and fully-coloured digital drawings featuring an interpretation of the character Pink Fluorite from Land of the Lustrous, on the right is a full body drawing of the character facing the right with their head turned to the left, they have long, sleek, reddish pink hair that hangs around their shoulders like a scarf with a strand of hair drooping from the top of their head, they wear a suit with a waistcoat, shirt, tie, rolled-up sleeves, trousers, and high-heeled shoes, In the lower centre is a stylized doodle of Pink Fluorite from the waist up, they have their hands on their hips and they have a disgusted expression on their face, the word "disgusted" is written in bold letters on their left, in the lower left is a bust drawing of the character facing the left while looking over their shoulder at the viewer, their hair is tied into a bun, finally in the top left is an image of a Pink Fluorite crystal, and a Manga screenshot depicting a strategy board where the character Phosphophyllite mentions them, a red circle and arrows point to the name. /End ID]. Annotations will be rewritten below PINK FLUORITE She/He Pronouns Mohs Hardness: 4 No Nicknames: Use their full name or refer to as "Sir" A total etiquette freak, far too strict to be a Mediator, but she still does her best to uphold the rules to the best of her ability. He was once the Delinquents' worst nightmare, but he started to mellow out a while ago. She had a weird one-sided rivalry with Labradorite, but she has mostly grown out of it. Mostly. Several-hundred years shy of Elder Gem status, but he still pulls the age card like it's a badge once in a while. She's weirdly agile for a gem that doesn't fight. He often ties his hair up into a bun, a very prim and proper gem. Some stuff I didn't write on the drawing: Pink Fluorite is actually quite elusive nowadays, he's usually holed up in the Library, making sure everything is in the right place. Despite her cold demeanour, she gives pretty good advice to those looking for it. --------------------

ALRIGHT OK ALRIGHT!!! I'm so happy with these I posted them together because I didn't want to just, idk bloat?? my profile?? I don't know how to say it but ANYWAY I realise these are a bit messy but I don't really mind it? I got my thoughts down and that is what matters. All three of these gems (Sphalerite, Apophyllite, and Pink Fluorite) looked VERY different to when I first thought about them, it's a shame I didn't draft those out, but I' so so happy with how they ended up. Although it's been very hard not to write "Pink Floyd" instead of Pink Fluorite I will be doing some proper art soon ish, I have several ideas, but not not all of them will be pretty rock related, so if you're tuned into my other blogs you can keep an eye out if you want :]

#my art #marzbixcrystalau #hnk fanart #land of the lustrous #hnk spoilers #my ocs #my oc art #hnk ocs #hnk fan ocs #marzbixocs #hnk apophyllite #hnk pink fluorite #ALSO OCS? MAYBE

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afoggymirror · 11 months ago

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Devotion, pt. 1

seulrene | smut; concubine Seulgi x feudal lady Irene; abuse; rape/non-con; deepthroating; whipping; blood; angst word count | 3090 parts 2, 3 | AO3

❁

A whine from across the dark room roused Seulgi from her sleep.

Curled onto her side, on the same hard wooden floor as her, the new girl shivered, muffling her sobs.

Seulgi crawled over. She’d seen this before. Sooyoung came from the provinces, and Seungwan was shipped here across the ocean, adapting hadn’t been easy for them either.

She knelt over the figure and gently touched her arm. The girl recoiled, the touch fire on her skin. Seulgi understood. The girl had been summoned to Her Lady’s chambers for the first time today. The first few times always felt violating.

Shaking, the girl turned her head. She was pretty, even in the dark and even through her tears, a delicate chin and full lips. They got a really young one this time.

Seulgi, slowly, as if tending to a wounded animal, adjusted the girl’s gown to cover her cold arms. She took off the socks she’d bought last time she went into town, and shifted to put them on the girl’s bare feet. Seulgi earned enough to afford another pair, but she knew the girl would have to save for months.

“What’s your name, honey?”

She hesitated, still shaking.

“Yeri.”

“Yeri…” Seulgi didn’t look her in the eyes. “I’m Seulgi.” She rested her hands on her lap. “I know the start here is hard. If there’s anything I can do to help you adjust, don’t be afraid to ask.”

With that, Yeri’s posture seemed to soften a little.

“C… can I have a pillow?”

Seulgi smiled sadly. She crawled next to Yeri’s head and offered her lap. Soon the girl was in a deep, pained sleep, while Seulgi sat back against the flimsy wooden wall and drifted in and out.

❁

The first days were tough on Yeri. She was the new toy, and Her Lady had a habit of breaking new toys. Last night the girl’s screams could be heard well into the morning hours.

Her leg threatened to give out. The large basket of produce she was carrying tilted, and a potato dropped out. Seulgi sighed. She picked the root from the snow and put it back with the rest of the vegetables.

“Here,” she reached over and took the basket from Yeri. It was heavy, much heavier than the girl should be expected to carry after a heavy night with the Lady.

“Thank you…” Yeri shook her arms in relief and sidled behind Seulgi.

Seulgi was eager to help. She couldn’t bear the thought of Yeri hating her new life here. She was sure to make it easier in any way she could.

They worked their way up the path leading from the front gate, their thick flats leaving prints in the snow, the crunch the only sound to break the pristine morning silence.

Seulgi waddled a little carrying the basket up the stairs behind the main garden. As servants they weren’t to use the garden, their passage was a little trail hidden beyond the foliage, out of sight. Through the leaves Yeri could glimpse the colorful flowers and the topiary and the fountain, all covered in a delicate white sheet. Overlooking the garden, Her Lady’s chambers.

The path snaked past the main section of the building toward the back of the property, the servants’ quarters. As the rickety old balconies emerged from amid the trees, a bright, vaguely menacing smile greeted them. God fucking damn it, Seulgi thought.

“Oh Seulgi!” Sooyoung called. “I was looking everywhere for you!” She looked at the basket with a feigned look of confusion. “Are you delivering that to Yizhuo in the kitchens? I thought that was little Yeri’s job today.”

With a grunt, Seulgi put down the produce. Yeri looked between them in genuine confusion.

“You’re right, Sooyoung. I must have made a mistake.”

“Oh my… Our Lady hates it when we mess up our schedules…” Sooyoung pouted as though that wasn’t a threat. “Well, I won’t tell. Because we’re such good friends!”

“Thank you, Sooyoung. I sure owe you one,” Seulgi said with a small bow.

Having gotten what she wanted from her, Sooyoung turned her attention to Yeri.

“Well, come on!” Her fake smile never faltered. “We can’t leave the kitchen girls waiting.”

Yeri looked at Seulgi, lost, meeting only her downcast look.

When Seulgi had gained Sooyoung’s position as first concubine, Her Lady had graciously allowed the old favorite to keep some of her duties. Particularly, Sooyoung was still responsible for scheduling the girls’ tasks, something she would often use in little power plays like these.

Yeri grunted as she picked up the basket. Her legs were visibly shaking and a look of pain crossed her face.

❁

The screams were louder that night. Angrier, too.

They stopped at some hour. Shortly after, a knock on the servant’s sleeping quarters. The voice of one of the security staff called for Seulgi.

Soon she was back on the balcony to Her Lady’s chambers, after what felt like years, her heart running like the first time.

She took off her flats, took a deep breath, and slid the door open.

She closed the door and knelt before anything else, as was appropriate. She might not have come here in weeks, but she wouldn’t forget her customs.

After settling, her sights immediately found Her Lady. Delicate Joohyun, perfect as ever, clad in an open pink robe with black details, hair flowing over her shoulders, crouched in stark contrast to the pathetic figure she tormented: little Yeri, crumpled and tied with thick crimson rope, face red and puffed, eyes bloodshot.

Joohyun came to her. She straddled Seulgi’s lap, pulled her into a kiss with gentle but strong fingers.

“Oh Seulgi. Light of my life,” she whispered into her. “I have missed you.”

She still couldn’t believe it. A hundred years could pass and she wouldn’t believe it. It was so utterly surreal that Her Lady, this divine being, perfect in every sense, would want her.

“I’ve missed you too,” and oh, she had.

“The gossipy cow Sooyoung told me you were helping that one with the chores,” she nodded her head back to the sad little bundle in the corner. “Seulgi, tell me, how do I tame this brat? I don't enjoy brats.”

“She just hasn’t seen yet,” Seulgi rested her head on the crook of Joohyun’s neck, beautiful hair brushing against her face, Yeri barely visible in the corner of the room like a languid old piece of furniture. “She'll learn to love you.”

She felt Joohyun’s face form a smile. She was pulled away, the sides of her face held gently, as she was made to gaze into Joohyun’s serene eyes.

“Seulgi… I called you here,” a severe tone tinged the glorious moment, ”to show her how she’s expected to behave.”

❁

When Seulgi undressed, a soft gasp came from the corner of the room. Right, Seulgi smirked, Yeri hadn’t seen me like this yet.

Seulgi’s lower back, torn apart by scars and marks, revealed itself as her worn out night gown fell to the ground. Her shoulder a little crooked from when it’d been dislocated.

She felt proud being seen like this. Like a beast to complete Her Lady’s beauty.

Joohyun kicked her hard on the side.

She kicked her again, hard enough that her arms gave out. She barely had time to feel pain. Next thing she knew, her face was flat against the carpeted floor, a heel squeezing down on her neck.

Seulgi could scarcely breathe. She felt a knee against the small of her tortured back. Her legs were being bound with hard, unyielding rope.

Her world was Joohyun’s foot against her neck, Joohyun’s knees against her ribs, her cheek against the carpet, rope skillfully snaking up her body.

She struggled for air, in vain. Her sorry close-up view of the carpet had begun turning to black when Joohyun got up. She gasped some scattered breaths while Her Lady moved, just outside her vision, throwing rope around with delight.

Soon her ankles were being pulled. Then her stomach, her chest, her face, all chafing painfully across the carpet. Her legs were being hoisted. Joohyun had set up a pulley. A cold hit her stomach as she felt herself lift off the ground.

She squirmed, only to realize her arms had long been bound. Blood began rushing to her head. Seulgi looked at herself. She hung upside down, a pig for the slaughter, tied with complex knots, red rope crossing through her like wounds.

Her vision finally focused on Joohyun’s body in front of her, fair skin already glistening with sweat from the effort of lifting her.

Joohyun, even in all her glory, knelt. She held Seulgi’s suspended, straining head in her loving hands.

She kissed her. Their lips met in an awkward, upside-down embrace.

“You’re so beautiful,” Joohyun breathed, meeting her mesmerized eyes. If Seulgi’s face wasn’t red from the blood pooling, it certainly would be now.

The hand cupping her cheek retreated. The next moment, pain hit her face. She found the room spinning wildly in circles around her.

Her head felt full already. Every circle she completed, she’d catch a glimpse of a hint of a smirk in Joohyun's stoic face.

When the nausea started creeping in, she was stopped. Joohyun grabbed her hard by the arm, her other hand brushing down Seulgi’s toned abdomen, tickling slightly, making her fidget against her restraints. The rope burned, she felt it dig into her skin in intricate patterns from her collar bones to her ankles.

Joohyun’s hand rested on a dark scar, just below Seulgi’s ribs.

“I was so proud of this one.”

She kissed the scar, her lips soft clouds. She kissed up Seulgi’s stomach, her hips, then bending to kiss her breasts. She could already feel it. Joohyun was getting eager.

She reached down and grabbed a handful of Seulgi’s hair. She jerked it backwards, all Seulgi could do was bend awkwardly, the pain in her scalp a fair trade for the blood relieving her head.

Joohyun pulled a toy from her robe and shoved it down Seulgi’s mouth like a plunger. She barely had time to react, before the thing rammed against her throat.

She coughed. Joohyun’s grip got hungrier. The vile noises coming out of Seulgi only served to embolden her.

From between the pounding and the coughing and the mounting saliva, Seulgi wrangled a tattered breath. The more she gagged, the more her body convulsed, the more her ropes shifted and sunk into her skin.

“Come… on… swallow…” Joohyun punctuated each word with a harder shove of the toy.

Seulgi collected herself. Over the years, she’d gotten very good at reminding herself that, no matter how uncomfortable a situation might be, Her Lady’s orders took first priority.

She relaxed, the bizarre position leading the toy past the back of her throat.

“That’s it… good girl.”

Chills ran down her spine, as the toy found a lighter rhythm in her. She could tell Joohyun was pleased.

Her hair was released. Seulgi dangled clumsily back and forth, toy still lodged in its place. From the corner of her eye she saw Joohyun walking off, and returning with something in her hands.

She was caught again. Seulgi felt a whip lightly brush against her skin.

“I was so distracted with that brat,” Joohyun grabbed her waist, her breasts, kissed her body with ever growing fervor, “I forgot how good you were for me.”

What few breaths could squeeze around the toy and out the corner of her mouth would carry with it thick drool, she felt it beginning to drip down towards her eyes.

Joohyun took a few steps back, away from her view, her stare still burning on Seulgi’s back.

The first hit of the whip caught a little off, the tip reaching around and bouncing off a rope near her ribs. Still, it was sure to be red tomorrow.

“Count.”

“Mhone…” Seulgi managed to say around the toy.

The second lash hit true, stinging all the way across her stomach. A long, pained grunt emerged from deep within her.

“Hmwo…”

“How high should she count?” Joohyun’s breath was noticeably heavier.

“Please stop…” Yeri sounded scared. “I promise I’ll behave…”

“Oh, shut the fuck up.”

The sound of the whip cut through the air. It hit Seulgi square in the hip.

“Mhree…”

“See? She loves it.”

Dark began to creep around the edges of her vision. Her jaw exhausted and her face covered in drool, she felt blood start to trickle from the last two lashes.

The next hit across the second. She would have doubled over in pain if she was free to.

“Mhour…”

“I’ll keep going until you give me a number.”

“Five, please, five!” Yeri pleaded.

“Hm…” Joohyun considered. A lash hit Seulgi’s rib, just missing her breast. “Too low.”

“Hwihve…”

“Ten! Please stop at ten,” Yeri’s voice faltered.

The next lash went a little further and hit her side, around her waist. She twitched sideways in pain.

“Mhix…”

“Sounds good,” Joohyun's voice could barely hide her excitement. Sure, she’d never let the facade crack in front of the new girl, but Seulgi knew her enough to tell.

At multiple times over the last lashes, Seulgi felt close to fainting, only to be awoken by the searing pain of another lash. She knew, tomorrow, her body would be a mess of open cuts and bruises. It didn’t matter. Joohyun loved this too much for it to matter.

When the “mhen” had left her mouth, Joohyun threw the whip to the side, and walked over to her. She grabbed Seulgi’s slender waist with greed, kissing her cuts, licking the blood. Almost as an after thought, she reached down and pulled the toy from Seulgi’s throat.

A torrent of thick, slimy spit fell out, it was all Seulgi could do to angle her head back so her face wouldn’t be completely covered. She coughed, wheezed, gasped desperately for the first real breath she’d taken in minutes. Her throat felt so strained, she was scared it’d never recover.

Looking back up, she saw the toy now inside Joohyun. Seulgi’s dangling body was hugged close, a hand kneading her hip violently, kisses on hers scars like she was meant to be devoured.

Joohyun knelt slowly, marking a path down Seulgi’s chest and down to her collarbones, to her neck. Her robe fell on the disgusting puddle of spit on the ground, she didn’t seem to mind.

She stared into Seulgi's eyes.

“You look so pretty.”

She didn’t. She looked a repugnant, drooling mess. But damn if she didn’t feel pretty.

“You’re prettier,” Seulgi’s voice came out strained, on her face an enamored smile.

Joohyun moved the toy fast while grasping Seulgi’s hair, breathing heavier and heavier into her.

Her head fell backwards with a profound sigh. She pulled out the toy and walked to one corner. Slowly, Seulgi was lowered to the ground, her hair pooling under her, along with all the spit.

She lay on the ground when Joohyun came back. She was still bound, but at least now she could bend her legs. She’d lost track of how numb her body had gotten.

Wordlessly, Joohyun put her hair to one side, and straddled Seulgi’s face. She prepared to hold her breath again. It was clear from the look on Her Lady’s eyes she might not stop even if Seulgi passed out.

Her face was pulled in. The spit covering her mixed with Joohyun’s wetness. She put out her tongue, pushing back. Her hair was being pulled so hard she felt like she was getting scalped.

The sighs reaching Seulgi’s ears turned to panting, turned to moans. Joohyun’s hips pushed harder and harder, grinding into her.

With a high pitched whimper, she held Seulgi’s head hard in place, her back arching into it, as she came. Her posture softened, head falling backwards, catching herself with a hand on Seulgi’s stomach. She let go of Seulgi’s hair.

They stayed like that for a while. Seulgi looked up at Her Lady, as entranced as she ever was.

She couldn’t believe her luck, that she’d gained the favor of someone so perfect, so heavenly. If Joohyun took pleasure in putting her through Hell, she’d go with a smile on her face. And she knew Joohyun loved her for that, for her devotion.

❁

“She can’t do this to us, Seulgi,” Yeri dipped the rag in water. “She can’t fucking do this to us.”

The girl held the rag against the cuts covering Seulgi’s abdomen. Seulgi grunted.

“She’s our superior but she can’t just abuse us like this.”

“Stop.”

“Seulgi, I’m serious,” Yeri’s eyes were fixed on hers, more than a tinge of despair behind them. “She’s not actually God, you know that, right? She’s not divine, she’s just some noble woman who bought us.”

Seulgi slapped her.

For a moment, Yeri kept her eyes down. When she looked back, something else had mixed with the despair. A hint of resentment.

“Here…” Seulgi reached into a shelf next to their sleeping areas. “It’s an ointment I bought in town a while ago.”

She pulled up Yeri’s gown, revealing a constellation of harsh, dark bruises going up the girl’s legs. Yeri looked in suspicion, but allowed her to apply the lotion.

“How can you afford all that stuff?” Yeri picked at a finger nail. “My pay is barely enough for food.”

“Our Lady, in all Her wisdom, has made me first concubine.” She took care to touch Yeri’s leg only very lightly, to not cause pain. “Our pay is dependent on our rank.”

Yeri sighed, posture dropping ever more.

“I hadn’t realized you were her favorite.”

Seulgi busied her hands, avoiding the girl’s downcast eyes.

“You haven’t learned how to conduct yourself here. Those things you just said…” she came to a pause, “if you say any of those things in earshot of other staff, or God forbid Sooyoung or Seungwan…” she continued, a begrudging sense of pride creeping into her tone, “they haven’t taken well to losing Her favor.”

Yeri lifted her eyes, then averted them, then lifted again. She was shaking.

“Seulgi, I don’t know what to do,” her voice cracked.

She broke down. Her head fell on Seulgi’s shoulder and she wept. Seulgi hesitantly held the girl in her arms. This was her first time seeing this kind of emotion from another of the staff, she wasn’t sure what to say.

“Seulgi, please don’t let her hurt me again.”

She couldn’t make that promise.

#red velvet smut #seulgi smut #irene smut #seulrene smut #kpop smut #red velvet #seulrene #irene #bae joohyun #seulgi #kang seulgi #kpop girlgroup smut #kpop gg smut

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popculturebuffet · 10 months ago

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Transformers More than Meets the Eye Retrospective: Intermission: Robots in Disguise Season 1 Retrospective (Patreon Review for Brotoman.EXE)

Hello all you happy people and welcome back to my More than Meets the Eye retrospective. Kinda. For those of you just joining us for the past two years i've been doing a retrospective of the Transformers comic More than Meets the Eye, one of my faviorite comics ever. While it is as a patreon review i've been more than happy to and in december we hit the end of season 1.

So now.. we're in a weird in between place, as season 1 for MTMTE is over.. but we still have a big crossover event left. And to judge said event fairly.... I realzied I had to go back and re-read Robots in Disguise to properly gage said event.

Yeah i've never been a huge fan of the 2012 comic Robots in Disguise. See I first read RiD AFTER More than Meets the Eye, having loved what I could read of MTMTE and wanting more. This... wasn't the right mindset in hindsight as the two works are completely diffrent beasts: MTMTE is about a found family of disfunctional robots trying to move on from war, making quips, and dealing with their trauma. It is a LOT of things I love in fiction: a bunch of misfits who don't really fit into the society their a part of, clever jokes, spectacular world building, and minor characters given their day in the sun. It feels at times like the book was made for me, down to repadeatly homaging one of my faviorite covers of all time. It was easy to love it and it only grows as I dig into it.

RID in contrast.. is an attempt at a morally grey prestige drama that on paper is about the sacrifices and compromises the autobtos make trying to rebuild cybertron, and in practice is about a weak willed useless jackass, his jackbooted best friend, a well meaning non combatant who means well but also is judgey as fuck, and Starscream, who easily outmanuvers them because a sock full of quarters with googly eyes on it could out manuver them. Wheeljack and Blur are also there and they are delightful but not used nearly enough . I gave the book an honest chance and was badly disapointed, and I gave it a second chance despite utterly dreading this.. and was once again disapointed. RiD is just not very good.

Now i'll give some caveats: the book DOES get better in season 2, with a fresh cast and premise that work decently. It's not on MTMTE"s level.. but I respect writer John Barber and IDW for seeing what they fucked up and course correcting. Barber's work isn't my forte, but the guy isn't terrible an does have his fans for a reason, I just prefer More than Meets the Eye and Windblade more, with Windblade being a second, much more succesful stab at IDW doing an intrigue on cybertron book, one i'll defintely cover at some point. It helps Windblade got most of the standouts from this book as supporting cast, but it's genuinely good and worth your time. None of this makes season 1 GOOD, by any stretch, but I wanted to get it out of the way that YES the series gets better. But you can also largely skip season 1 or read the wiki without loosing much for either RiD Season 2 or Windblade.

That being said.. Season 1 is a mess. It wasn't that pleasant to re read despite it's bright spots and it took a while to get through, an utter chore to slog through this one. One of the only bright sides is it taught me I CAN review a whole series in one post again.. just probably in smaller doses than my last attempt with new teen titans, which was great but just about killed me. So other series I dislike like All New All Diffrent X-Men, Dan Slott's fantastic four or Jason Aaron's avengers are now more within my grasp to actually tear apart at some point.

For now though let's focus on THIS disapointing series, see why it is and also talk a lot about how much this version of Bumblbee sucks and this version of Starscream fucking slaps.

Do You Have Any Clue What Happens Now?

Like more than Meets the Eye, Robots in Disguise kicks off with the Death of Optimus Prime, a one shot setting up both series and dealing with the aftermath of Chaos, the big event that ended the previous era of IDW and allowed a soft reset for this one.

So as a quick recap since it's been a long time since I tackled this issue: The War is Over. At long lost the Autobots defeated the evil forces of the decpitcons after all of them were combined by an elder god into one giant deciptigod and Megatron disappeared after hyjacking it.

The problem is what comes next which is a great hook and part of what makes MTMTE works: the war is over.. but unlike most transformers stories that get to end the war, we see what happens now everyones free.

The Autobots take command.. but it's not going wella s Optimus Prime finds out: the planet has reverted to a primal state and thousands of civlians, dubbed nails by the autobots and something the nails aren't fond of, have arrived and the vast majority of them want the Autobots to fuck off their planet.

The Nails.. are one of the biggest wasted opportunities of Robots in Disguise. The IDEA is good: a bunch of bots who either fled one of the two sides or managed to opt out entirely return and aren't happy with the planet or military leadership. It's a concept with a lot of depth as on the one hand the autobots have a point

While the Nails had every right to nope out of a war they were tired of, the Autobots fought long hard and lost a lot to get to this point and blaming them for something that's objectively not their fault, the planet going bonkers, isn't remotely fair. On the other.. the nails have every right ot want the planet back and to want a part in it, and to want leadership that isn't just the autobots.

The problem is the conflict is handeled with the subtley of a sledgehammer and thus BOTH sides come off as assholes: The Autobots make up an embarassing faction name for them, push them around and Prowl goes into a creepy tirade about how this isn't "Their" planet and they didn't fight in the war and later sics the deciptcons on them afte rthey agree to get explosives put in their brains.

The Nails Meanwhile spend the start of the sreies, especially the death of optimus prime bitching at the autobots, treating them as facists, and treating them all like they were complicit in the senates corruption, which only gets more galling after season 1 of MTMTE as most were fully against it.. they just couldn't do anything about it. Neither could you guys. It dosen't help they HANG OPTIMUS PRIME IN EFFIGY for the crime of STAYING AROUND ON A PLANET HE JUST SAVED.

The lack of nuance makes me just.. not care about most of both sides: The Autobots come off like their trying to consolidate power and remain in charge because they feel owed it, while the Nails blame them for everything. We COULD have had a good story abotu trying to perserve the past while acknowldging it's flaws and making a better present, but instead it's just the nails either whining or making entirely valid points that the autobots, mostly prowl, try to police brutality away because they can't accept they shoudlnt' be running things.

In the middle of all this Perciptor examines the matrix and finds a map, with Drift seeing it as a map to the mythical knights of cybertron and wanting to go on a quest to find it. Rodimus agrees, while Bee wants them to stay here and be miserable dammit because he is. While on paper Rodimus is running away from his problems in practice.. he defintely is but makes a valid point: Why SHOULD he stay on a planet that doesn't want him. And when Ultra Magnus joins with them, he makes a valid point: finding the knights could find something to fix cybertron. While Rodimus' hopes finding the knights will fix everything is a pipe dream, those are Rodders faviorite kind, their not wrong to want to find a solution that isn't just "Try and make this work" and forcing people who genuinely dont' WANT to help you to do what you say isn't healthy. This isn't a war for all time: it's just a disagremeent about what you want to do now your free of the war.

Optimus ends their squabble by giving them each half the matrix and fucking off, deciding to shed his former mane and his planet. The Lost Light leave despite Bumblebee's bitch crying.. and then seemingly blow up.

And this is where RiD begins, our cast is barely holding Cybertron together, aren't adressing their problem and now they assume the lost light is dead. So what does this add up to?

Okay TECHNICALLY this isn't true: Bumblebee sets up a state funeral for the bots, which is Starscream's first big platform to worm his way into high command, and Wheeljack brings him up once... but really you could take this subplot out and replace the big shindig with something else and nothing would change.

In contrast the messy takeoff... is VITAL to More Than Meets The Eye: the explosion it causes sends a good chunk of lost lighters to the planet bellow, brings skids on board when they investigate the planet, and brings the sparkeater on board to set those up for much later. And that's not even getting into how the opening arc of season 2 follows up on it, which i'll save for when we get there. Here.. they just sorta assume their friends are dead, don't bother investigating or thinking that MAYBE a ship with a quantum engine did some weird shit. It's to the point that when Optimus is told during his sub plot, his response... is to not remotely buy Rodimus could be killed that easy and assume they'll find them eventually. Which.. they do.

There's also just.. legistics. I know this is a pair of comics about giant robots, science isn't strictly followed nor should it be. But if the lost light exploded.. there would be debris. And they HAVE plenty of ships. Someone could investigate. If the Nails think the autobots REALLY commited this sort of execution, as their said to outright suspect including their rep in the main cast metalhawk, then .. why would NONE of the thousands of bots with functioning space ships look into it. Or the deciptcons once their brain explode chips are turned off. It feels like an excuse to just have the two not interact.. which they already had being out of range and with Blaster spending the season getting coms up and running again.

Anyways the series proper mostly follows Autobot high command as they try to run this planet/prevent anyone else from doing so. Like the lost light exploision this is a possibly intresting hook... that's utterly bungled. They do do things with it.. but they don't do them well. And the best way to get into that is with the characters starting with their supreme leader

Bumblebee: He's Tried Nothing and He's All Out of Ideas

The idea of Bumblebee being forced to take charge of the autobots is a great one. Tranformers has gone to this well three times i'm aware of, and it's a concept worth exploring taking what's essentially the team's kid brother and forcing him to take the throne and see if he can make it.

IDW's last attempt before this wasn't great, with Bee making a deal with the goverment that backfired horribly, and generally acomplishing nothing. So trying AGAIN.. was a smart move. It was worth a second try.

Unfortunately... Barber entirely bungled that second attempt. Bumblebee is TECHNICALLY leader of cybertron.. but really dosen't try to lead. He lets prowl do whatever he wants and whatever prowl wants is usually some form of police brutality, he argues with metal hawk but tends not to have an argument other than "the autobots aren't all bad mkay" or "All decipticons deciptisuck", and he overworks poor sweet Wheeljack, fostering all their super science shit on him and being mad when the guy is doing work of his own. It's VERY transparent in every scene he's in Bumblebee wants peace with the Nails not because it's the right thing.. but simply so the autobots can hold onto the planet. While the Nails are often written as overreacting assholes, as the book goes on they mellow out and most of their actions are entirely... justifable. Their horrified Prowl put bombs in the decipticons brains, they don't want police brutality, they want to actually elect a leader.

Every move Bee makes is to keep himself in charge despite not having a single fucking idea what he's doing. I could buy him as a leader if he tried.. leading: Tried finding homes for the Nails, making actual negotations with the decpticons, send out a party to go tame the primal planet so they can expand iacon , actually hammer out a government. There's a LOT to building a whole new world after a war, it's the reason Hamilton got an entire, incredibly gripping act out of all the nation building. But instead RiD just ignores the intresting idea of rebuilding cybertron's goverment and how it governs itself from scratch and just focuses on Bee whining or various things that happen for the plot. And by doing so it makes Bumblbee and those loyal to him come off like power grabbing assholes who care more about being appricated for fighting the war and less about making a better world to live in or even making the world LIVEABLE.

What makes this so galling though is how the narrative treats bee: characters talk about his "great vision" failed or say he might win the election. That last part is Prowl/Bombshell playing Bee, more on that in a minute, but most of the cast talks his ass up when really he's just a guy way in over his head, which could be intresting to explore.. but they just.. DON'T. Instead we just follow a bland dithering jackass as he fucks up till eventually someone smarter, with more charisma and an actual plan takes his place. But before we can get to them.. let's talk about the most punchable face in Autobot high command

Fuck Prowl

Yeah I tried to make a clever title here, I really did.. but most attempts lead to a storm of profanity as I genuinely detest this version of Prowl. And as a reminder like bumblebee it's JUST the IDW comics version. Animated Prowl slaps. Prowl's G1 deisgn is great. I'm sure there are other prowls who don't suck all joy out of a page when they show up or are the poster boy for why we need police reform despite doing a police on a whole other planet. I"d like to meet them. But this prowl is one of my least faviorite characters in fiction. In fact I can't bleivei I didn't add him to my jjall before now.

Welcome Home Prick!

Now I will give one caveat to this character: Part of the problem is the multitude of writers: James Roberts, who wanted Prowl for his cast, wrote prowl as a giant asshole who could never let the war go and got two people killed with his overlord scheme. Nick Roche wrote prowl as a scheming asshole who paranoidly plots. And tha'ts not even getting into his asshole characterization in books BEFORE this era.

John Barber.. dosen't walk either of these back, but wants Prowl to be a complex symapthetic figure, someone who is a calculating draconian asshole.. but who was driven there by his betryal by spike in the previous ongoing, and who badly WANTS to do the right thing. The problem is rather than make prowl a layered intresting character.. he instead comes off as an asshat who constantly tries to justify the horrible shit he does as "for the greater good"

It's not helped that Prowl's first scenes in this era leave a truly terrible first impression: The first things we see from prowl are

Him bitching about the nails and being absolutely LIVID at their suggestion the autobots leave the planet, not because it's a stupid unfair suggestion, but because he feels OWED the planet and was also once nearly one himself.

Conscripting the Decipticons into his own private army he uses to try and supress a riot from the Nails, instead making it ten times worse and only not getting anyone killed because Optimus steps in.

In MTMTE, trying to convince Chromedome to stay so he can use his ex boyfriend to do mnemosurgery, something Chromedome VERY much dosen't want to do, mocking his current boyfriend and then flipping a table like a petulant teenager when Chromedome walks out on his ass.

Using Arcee as his own personal hit squad , having her assitnate ratbat then trying to act like he didn't ask her to do that.

It's.. nigh impossible to come back form all of that and Prowl really dosen't. He spends the season brainwashed by Bombshell, in part thanks to trying to blackmail Chromedome and forgetting "oh yeah he can do mind things to me".. and NO ONE notices. He's horrified by that fact, but it's VERY telling that the only action of his that was hintingly out of character.. was telling bumblebee he could win the election. GENUINELY supporting his friend instead of trying to talk over him... is something that was a HINT he was brainwashed and the only thing people felt off. Said brainwashing also feels like it came out of nowhere, with not the slightest hint, and feels like a way to soft reset the character... which then fails as he spends season 2 once again out of his head... and once again in a way that isn't remotely out of character. I don't blame prowl for what he did under bombshell for most of the sries, he was brainwashed. But it's DAMMING that he did enough in ONE VOLUME before being hypnotized to earn my ire. More than Meets the Eye dosen't HELP nad IS a diffrent writer.. but even under Barber he's just the worst and I don't look forward to seeing more of him during Dark Cybertron and beyond. I DO look forward to seeing him hurled off a cliff.

All Hail Starscream:

Taking a break from pure, unyielding rage for a second, let's talk about something the book does right. I may be giving John Barber a LOT of crap this review.. but I can't deny he writes the best Starscream. There are other great starscreams from the hilarously over the top unsubtle 84 version, to the compitent but still hilarously shady animated verison and i'm sure i'll only find more as I watch more shows. Starscream rocks. But this one takes all that and asks a question: What happens when you take Starscream out of war and put him where his lying and scheming are an asset and his bad past is a non factor if he can lie hard enough: Politics.

While the autobots drown post war, trying to find their place.. Star scream swims like a majestic dolphin. Granted he's a Majestic Dolphin who still gets shit on a lot as it's starscream and everyone knows not to trust him and he has to work hard for his schemes for the most part... but he's still FAR more at home here than he ever was trying to usurp megatron. With the Decpticons, might made right: Megatron was on top because he was a great tactician, sure, but he was also capable of kicking anyone's ass who dared defy him, and had a death squad just for making a gruesome example out of anyone who betrays or tries to leave the cause. While Starscream was strong he couldn't muslce out megs or the various destructive douchebags he hired.

In contrast on Cybertron post war... he simply has to outthink and outspeak his opponents, who even if they weren't mostly fuck ups, still aren't really public speakers. Starscream first weasles his way into command with a few simple moves: He goes to the autobots in good faith, which they rightfully don't buy, tells them about a planned false flag attack by ratbat.. then once he's foiled, steps onto the stage at the funeral the attack was taking place at and boldly offer shimself as a formerish decipticon representive. While Bee never trusts the guy, for good damn reason, from that point on it simply dosen't matter: he's in the room where it happens. And often.. he's somehow the voice of reason. He's always got an angle... but it dosen't change the fact he's right or he gives Metalhawk someone to back him up. Not only that some of the bonds he forms are genuine. Metalhawk genuinely warms up to screamer and Wheeljack is the only one to try and make amends, to the point that after my boy gets horribly injured, Starscream makes sure he's getting healed and genuinely feels bad the poor guy got hurt.

On top of that once the media is restored for iacon, Starscream plays to the cameras, with his biggest play since stepping on stage coming in the annual: The Autobots find a titan in the desert while looking for lost comrades, trying to keep starscream out of it as Bee is deathly aware finding them would be some very easy bipartisan points for Screamer. Screamer shows up anyway... and when Prowl's croney keeps a gun traind on him and metalhawk, Screamer easily turns the situation on them: He invites a TON of Nails to watch and essentially make it so if he gets shot, it's over for the autobots, then goes down himself. It's here he gets a stroke of pure luck: The titan they've found... deems Starscream as some kind of chosen one. This isn't necessarily a good thing long term... but it does mean a lot especailly to the religious. Now normally this would mean nothing or months of trying to find proof.. but because Screamer's crowd crawled down to witness the titan once it was safe.. they all heard it.

At this point.. Starscream's basically won. The only genuine compettion he'd have in an open election is metalhawk, but either way the Autobots have basically lost control and all that's left is to wait for the elections. Sadly for Screamer he soon has a no good very bad day as Megatron comes back and Starscream spends the next arc as a hostage after going to rant at his former boss, with Megatron not remotely interested in compromise.

That said Starscream has survivied being humilaited plenty and while the Autobots are autobusy dealing with Megatron and the decpeticons, not to mention prowl combining with devestator, Starscream reminds us who he is: He kills Metalhawk, later being genuinely regretful.. but acknowledging Metalhawk was, genuinely, the only thing in his way. He was the only oponent in his rise to power left: Megatron was dealt with, the autobots had shot themselves in the foot 87 times, he feels terrible about what he did.. but killing Metalhawk looses him a friend and someone who belivied in him.. but gains him a Martyr. In the aftermath Screamer basically declares himself LEADER OF THE DECPTEICONS.. ER CYBERTRON, everyone backs him and he gets rid of most of his major opposition by casting out anyone who won't revoke their faction. A few autobots like Blurr stay behind... but msot of the cast we know are cast into the wildnerness and it's their own damn fault.

We get one last issue with Screamer , a spotlight that shows this job will be hard as while speeching got him INTO the job, he has to solve actual problems. Three Monologues is the best issue of season 1 as Starscream rants at megatron in stasis, reflects to Metalhawk's corpse and genuinely opens up to an injured in stasis wheeljack. Not only that Starscream also gets his own starscream, Beast Wars Faviorite rattrap. I'm mixed on this version of him: the character is very well written, being a slimy weasel whose looking for an angle and who gets rid of a local altruist for star scream by framing the guy. It creates an intresting relationship too as Starscream recognizes the behavior of his own.. and takes Rattrap into his administration. As Screamer perfectly puts it the guy Rattrap framed.. was a liablity. He liked star scream, genuinely belivied in the titans... but as Starscream brilliantly puts it altrusim.. is unpredictable. Rattrap on the other hand is who Screamer used to be before he became god emperor of cybertron starscream the first: he can not only deal with that, but it gives him a minon.

Before we leave Screamer I also just want to say.. I fucking love that he put on the crown from transformers the movie. I've always loed that he just... had to have a little crown for himself and that even if this version is less of a joke, he's still starscream enough to need a crown. It's also a striking visual in this context: Starscream is in control of cybertron. Primus help us.

Metalhawk: Don't Let him Be Misunderstood

For any longtime fans of this series or MTMTE, this section is probably going to be controversial but on second read.. I didn't hate Metalhawk. He's still obnoxious at first, he is the one saying "oh well you should piss off the planet you just fought hard to save from a giant Decipticon monster god man". It's easy to hate him as he's constantly telling our heroes they shoudl fuck off.

Yet on reread.. him doing that is WHY he's entertaining. See when I first read the books it was a few years ago. When I can't remember, my memory catches a lot of things but some things are lost to the enternal bog that is the back of my head, but it was before 2020.. and thus before George Floyd's untimely murder. As a result a lot of what the autobots do read diffrentlY: what they did ALWAYS came off as awful: even when the protestors are slamming the doors down, sending out jackbooted thugs is NEVER a good look, and the way Prowl talks about nails and treats them as second class citzens for simply wanting a voice is ... all kinds of chilling. Prowl sees himself as a police officer, and he certainly is.. but the worst kind, the kind most are who will gladly do shady shit to persue what they think is justice and oppress civlians because their "above them. "

So while said realizations about policing and the various police beatings of innocnet protestors made Prowl somehow even worse.. they made Metalhawk better as a LOT of what he's asking.. comes off more resonable. His wanting the decpticons free was kinda bonkers to me when i first raed it.. but now I entirely get that maybe putting bombs in defeated enemy combatants is you know.. a war crime. If you really want to put decitpcons who are dangerous away.. use a jail. Give them a trial. It's not great but putting them int what's basically a gheto that also oused to be a gun is horrible.

Metalhawk simply wants a voice and change for his people. He grows out of throwing the autobots out, being far more willing to work with them than they are with him and making plenty of valid points. He evolves as a character from a whiny asshole who disrpescts the autobots to seeing them as fuckups.. but ones who, prowl aside, are GENUINELY trying, with Bee planning to basically let Metalhawk takeover after the big fight at the end of season 1 before Starscream put some holes in that plan and also metalhawk. He's often the only person speaking up for a bunch of people who greatly outnumber the people in charge yet have to listen to thir bullshit, something that's become more and mor erelevant as congress fucks up more and more . It's hard to boo him when he's right: the autobots probably SHOUDLN'T be running the planet. They shoudln't leave, but they shoudln't be in charge. They shoudlnt be using deciptcons as easy soldiers and shoudln't keep the bombs in their heads now their vastly outnumbered. He's the voice of reason in a calvlcade of jackasses and a schemeing asshole. He's still annoying at times.. but it's really hard to hate a guy who grows out of his most annoying traits and ends the comic betrayed by the most obvious cantidate, something he only didn't see coming.. because he genuinely thought his friend had changed.

Wheeljack and the Rest: Robots in Disguise has a large cast, but most of the best players are off to the side, Starscream excluded. So let's talk about them.

My easy faviorite is one I wish Roberts had gotten like he wanted, the man the myth, Wheeljack. now I like Wheeljack in general due to his design, a nice faceplate, a unique head, it helps him stand out among the standard faces most autobots have.

Wheeljack seems to be one of the few Autobots genuinely trying for a better tommorow: he tries to make peace with starscream, and is frequently working on other projects before bee yells at him for not being avaliable to put out all his fires. He's kind, considerate and also a genuius, getting a nice moment in the sun when he sneaks into a decipticon ship and fidns out their up to some shit, then escapes the horde. I mean Metalhawk DOES save him in the end, but the fact he did most of this himself and gets both of them out himself is impressive. Wheeljack sadly just dosen't appear a ton and ends the season getting his head crushed by megatron. He does come back during season 2 and quickly becomes besties with Windblade, something we'll get to eventually, so good for him.

Blurr is a close third in the characters I like and is the only one of the autobots to really explore the ideas MTMTE was, the idea of "what do you do with your life next". Blurr does help out at first but his mounting frustration with prowl leads to him noping out, only helping out to try and find Ironhide. He decides to open a bar, much like Swerve , and his is a nicely diffrent joint: while Swerves is basically the cheers of transformer,s a place to forget your worries, hang with pals and get into hyjinks, Macadams, a regular location in most transformers place is that.. but also a melting pot, as Blurr soon makes a bunch of former decepticon friends including Sky Byte, a nail who has a great outfit, with him gladly defending his patrons with his good buddy jazz, whose barely in this comic for some reason despite, as always, being fucking great.

Next up is Ironhide. Ironhide does get a pretty meaty roll, as his recent ressurection has convinced him he's immortal and he's getting flashes of a possible future.. .one where the autobots are gon by cybertron thrives. Naturally everyone assumes he needs help instead of you know.. remembering that they followed the matrix for so long because it had robot magic or the giant stygian being made out of a dark god and 80 decepticons they just fought a month ago. What i'm saying is "I can see the fuuuuuuttttttreeee" isn't that farfetched at this point. So Ironhide goes to explore the wilderness with my boys the dinobots who sadly are all kinda douchey here.. but they still kick plenty of ass. The group disappears for a while after a signal drives my dino boys mad... but naturally they show up just in time to be the calvary in the finale. Ironhide is great.. they just don't really focus on him and I wish they did. Same with the dinobots.

Finally out of the ones who actually do stuff we have Arcee. Arcee... is a lot to unpack despite her short screentime. If you'll recall, and if you don't i'm so sorry for reminding you, Simon Furman's approach to the most prominent female transformer.. was to make it so she was FORCED to become female by a mad scientest, a tonedeaf, transphobic take brought about because Simon Furman hates the very idea Cybertronians have a concept of gender.. despite writing male prounouns into this continuity, thus showing they do just .. all male.

So how did Barber tackle this transphobic mess Simon Furman had saddled him and other writers with?

Yeah he just straight up ignored tha tpart for the first 21 issues. Arcee does mention killing Jhiaxus, the mad scientest in question, again, and again and again, but otherwise as far as RiD is concerned, Arcee is just an autobot who was tortured a lot by Jihaxius and who Prowl uses as his hit squad. She gleefully agrees to this... but it's clear she has no real sense of purpose. She DOES get a well done spotlight issue after the Autobots are cast out, with her wondering if the endless violence is worth it and deciding to join the autobots, wether they want her or not. It's a BETTER characterizfation than Furman's, a person with clear trauma trying to find out "what now"... but that big black cloud of "I done a transphobia because I hate them girl robots" hangs over it. It's an elephant in the room no one wants to talk about. I don't FULLY fault barber for it as IDW could've wanted him not to and it was a subject that would need a through, out in the open exploration. IDW was clearly willing as they supported Chromedome and Rewind and would continue to support out and out queerness in this franchise, Barber just wasn't ready yet and thus kept Arcee out of focus. He'd TRY to deal with this later at least but it's still super uncomfortable for now.

Decepticon wise.. they don't really get to do much till the season finale of sorts: they mostly stand around in a gun barrel and plot. Ratbat, one of my faviorite casettes of Soundwaves, is very prominent, trying to weasle his way into power early on.. but then Prowl goes and kills him and i'm sad. Soundwave , my boy, does fuck all till the build up to dark cybertron while Shockwave is in the shadows preparing said event , mostly done in optimus primes subplot. It's a real waste too as having more deciptcons actually try to reform or at least integrate into society would be neat, instead their just mostly canon fodder after a whil ewith a subplot about one seeing what prowl did going nowhere.

So speaking of Prime

The Thrilling Tales of Orion Pax

I haven't mentiond it till now but RiD has it's own isolated subplot ala the scavengers, just one that only lasts this season. Optimus left after the one shot and while he calls himself orion pax as does this segment... i'm just calling him Optimus like everyone else: Optimus goes on his own thrilling space adventures with his crew of Garnak, an ork like alien, Wheelie, who met garnak while stuck on a planet where time was constantly in flux and is still traumatized from it and Hardhead, a minor character turned Optimus buddy.

The trio had captured Jhiaxus, the mad science guy but got some criptic info. Jhiaxus quickly breaks free and while Optimus intended to just soft retire, he can't deny the danger he or his apprentice turned master Shockwave presents, and thus teams up with this motely crew. The adventures are only across three issue but each is fun, the characterrs ar eintresting if underdevleoped and i'ts neat to see Optimus like this: Grappling with his past, unsure of his future, and unwilling to be Optimus again despite everything pulling him toward it. His characterization also takes a nice turn as he was a minor prick in the return of optimus, calling the circle of light a cult. Douchebags yes, cult no.

There's really.. not much to say here anyalis wwise: these adventures are well done and I wish they were the main focus, and clearly Barber agreed as Optimus takes over next season, if sadly not bringin most of these guys with him.

THey are vital for the build up to Dark Cybertron, with Jhiaxus and his goons being Shockwaves main minons and hinting at his mission.. which Shockwave happily outlines in a spotlight later.. well happy isn't an emotion he experinces but he still outlines it: He's been seeding 13 powerful ores, tying in previous things like super energon and such, and the final and 13th one.. is ressurection, bringing people back under his control. His plans feel vauge in theis build up, but involve jhiaxus taking a titan right to cybertron, the ores, and beating up soundwave, with Prime persuing.

The only complaint I really have is the art, which isn't bad, it's just dark, cold , and muted, and not really my forte, working better to represent the dark universe during the crossover. It's not bad it's just hard to make out the visuals at times is all.

So with that we have one last bit of pre-crossover buisnes sto attend to

THe Old Man's Back Again

I did mention Megatron came back right? Because he did. And since he has a big roll to play in the crossover and in MTMTE season 2, let's talk about where Megs has been. Megs was left half dead after becoming a giant pile of decpticons, coming back towards the end of season 1, having what's essnetially the season finale early and the rest of the issues are spotlights dealing with the aftermath.

Bumblebee's reaction is exactly what you'd expect

I mean it's not unwaranted: it's megatron. He was a walking death machine and a brilliant strategist. It's not wrong to expect that even shambling and half dead he's plotting something.. because that's EXACTLY what he was doing. Bee DOES decide to spare him for a trial after being talked into it, but reluctantly and with Megatron guarded to hell. Unfortuantely.. the person in charge of his security is prowl who has a bit of a brain bug at the moment, having taken out omega supreme.

Yeah turns out a LOT of the seasons events were Megatron

The field driving people into rages was him, bombshell was working for megs the whole time, and Shockwave was working with him.. if only till it was convient enough to bail and go work on his own scheme. It's a MILD stretch and I wish it'd been se tup better.. but like Starscream it's hard NOT to enjoy Meg's presence: he brings a genuine threat and meanace, pinning our heroess to the wall and barely being beaten. He's not as layered as he was about to become... but he's still a clever villian who scoffs at Starscream's bitch crying, not WANTING a compromised cybertron but an empire. He ends up loosing but barely does, having still caused a ton of damage and left enough of a gaping woom for Screamer to take the crown. While this Megs is pretty simplistic, he still serves as a good foundation for what's next: a man who genuinely THINKS he's doing the right thing and that peace really is possible if you throw away those pesky civil liberties and his plan and near victory underline HOW dangeorus he is, why the lost light needs to nerf him to put him on board... and why Cybertron will BADLY need his help in the mess to come.

So that was Robots in Disguise and this review.. was difficult to say the least. It's not a great book but it has flecks of greatness in it and later seasons of this side of transformers and other series would pick up on that

Next Time in March: DARK CYBERTRON BEGINS. Bumlbee and the Bumblefucks try to protect a cyberton that hates and fears them, Rodimus goes into a stygian hole in space time, and Shockwave's plan hopefully makes sense.

#transformers #optimus prime #idw #robots in disguise #prowl #bumblebee #wheeljack #megatron #starscream #meatalhawk #blurr #arcee

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