#i haven't even trusted my be friends with the info of how to deal with me when i'm overstimulated and about to have a meltdown

[mysterylilycheeta]

ONYX STORM REVIEW:

After 2 days of catching up on all the work I had postponed for the sake of reading OS, and organising my thoughts, I'm here with my spoiler free review of Onyx Storm. Please remember that these are my personal thoughts and opinions and you're free to agree or disagree based on your views

Rating: 3.25 stars

The Good:

The absolute lack of miscommunication between Xaden and Violet: This book is a gift for all those people who were annoyed to their wit's end by the repetitive stupid fights between Xaden and Violet in Iron Flame. They trust each other, communicate with each other and don't get mad about secrets. I was so pleasantly surprised

Ridoc: Ridoc went through such amazing character development, he easily became one of my favourite characters in the story. We saw him as only the comic relief friend till now but man, he shows such badassery in this book while still being his clown self. And, let's not forget his favourite dick jokes!

The Dragons: Anyone who knows me knows my favourite part about the series is Tairn and the other dragons. Love seeing my grumpy dad dragon, he's such a mood. We also have our sassy teenager Andarna to give him grief. I love all the moments Tairn started boasting about his lineage and his feat: he's such a dork!

Dain and Cat: I never truly hated Dain because I knew from Fourth Wing itself he never intentionally wanted to harm Violet. My only gripe with him was about breaking her trust and looking through her memories without her consent. But man, does he redeem himself. Needless to say, Dain is on my "need to protect" list. I really hated Cat in Iron Flame because she was such a stereotypical cringey evil ex and the way she attacked Violet was so crass and below the belt. She still has some shitty moments in the beginning of the book but she gets a lot better so much so that I want good things to happen to her in the next books. RY did a great job writing these two

Jealous Xaden: My o my was it a treat to see Xaden so jealous. RY fed us with those entertaining af moments. Read the book and you'll find out what I mean

Aaric: I was intrigued by Aaric in book 2 but he stepped up the game so much in this book. He is an amazing character and I'll throw hands if RY even tries to harm him in any way, istg.

The Bad:

Very mediocre worldbuilding: This might be just a timing issue, but the last fantasy book I read was the Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson, and every fantasy fan knows the kind of world-building Sanderson does. Onyx Storm tries to introduce us to new places beside the continent, but it is not well done. We spend half the book in the Isle Kingdoms, yet they're not even mentioned on the map. They talk about routes to get to the kingdoms, but how am I supposed to follow them if you won't even mention them on the maps? Every Island has a god it worships and things go according to that but I think we could've had a little more information about them beforehand instead of being presented basic info right before we arrive at the next island. "We're going to said island, this is the god they believe in, here's a five point bullet lost of their customs"- NO, THAT'S NOT HOW YOU DO IT! Like I said, it might be because my last book was by Sanderson so my expectations were higher but the world felt so lacking.

Lack of Glossary: A glossary should be a must in every fantasy book, especially if you're branching out and diving deeper into worldbuilding. We are introduced to gods, islands, uprisings and groups of people we haven't even heard of before and we get hardly one or two lines about them in a chapter and then they are mentioned again 2 chapters later and we're supposed to follow. There were so many new names in OS, it was difficult to keep track of them after a while. I still don't completely understand who the Krovlan people were and what was their deal.

Lack of Basgiath: My favourite book in the series till now has been Fourth Wing and one of the biggest reasons for that was Basgiath. I loved that place and the way it felt an actual character in the story. That Basgiath charm is missing in this book. Basgiath is the biggest strength of this series, it's the reason why FW was so successful, the war college and it's deadly atmosphere, the challenges, the interpersonal relations, it was entertaining af. However as the series is progressing, it's turning into another typical romantasy involving young adults leading revolutions, making alliances, fighting wars etc. I started reading Fourth Wing because of it's setting and yet with each new book, we spend less and less time in Basgiath and it's just dampening my mood.

No real surprises: Let me be brutally honest- this book felt like a filler. Of course there are a few shocking moments with new information but it hardly hit the mark like the previous two books. There were no moments that essentially packed a punch. It's just a bunch of random sidequests to gain alliances which didn't up feeling all that meaningful because of worldbuilding problems. It also seemed like fanservice because of a lot of reasons but I won't mention them as they can be accounted as minor spoilers. Some characters died but it didn't feel impactful at all. It seemed more like Ry was just filling up the death quota because we can't have a book where no one dies

Violet and Xaden: Okay so here's the thing, I like both of them as characters and I think they make a good pair. However, I didn't ever truly feel the romance and this has been a problem since Fourth Wing. They have a shit ton of lusty moments but hardly any soft romantic domestic moments that make the relationship feel organic. I have always been disappointed by the lack of proper romantic development between these two. The problem in this book however is the dialogue- they felt so cheesy and downright cringe at times. Maybe show more and say less?? The way they keep saying nothing else matters as much and I know people are feral for how Xaden and Violet are ready to throw off the entire rebellion for each other but it irks me so much. Xaden, you are leading these people and you have accepted that responsibility. Stop endangering the lives of people you swore to protect because Violet might be in danger. She has other people to support her. Violet, don't get mad when people tell you your needs and wants will come second to Xaden's duty towards the people. He is their leader, he has to make those sacrifices, If you think that's unfair then find someone else to fill his position. You can't have the leadership position yet be each other's top priority. It might seem unfair but that is the right thing to do. I really don't feel like the two of them are fit to lead people. Agree with @thequietesthing's review about Violet's god level power feeling over dramatic and out of character at times.

The Ending: If any of you have talked to me about the book in the last few days, you'll know I'm frustrated af with the ending. It doesn't exactly feel like a well done cliffhanger, it's just plain messy. A bunch of unanswered questions to keep the reader confused and hooked for the next book but it just ruined the whole book for me. I have no issues with cliffhangers but the book should feel complete. The way Onyx Storm ended, it feels there were at least two more chapters that got deleted. It's just all over the place.

That was the review guys. I'll still wait for the next book to get published but my excitement has gone down quite a lot. I was expecting more of a Harry Potter style story where the main still occurs in the school/college itself but it seems like that isn't gonna be the case. I honestly believe this series should've been just 3 books instead of 5 but oh well, what can we say. Really agree with @justallihere and @justascrollingghost. We have almost the same complaints with the books lol P.S: The best surprise in this book: Broccoli, the kitten

[am-i-the-asshole-official]

Am I the Asshole for not helping move my best friend to her room?

(😴👻) ref tag

So last night, my best friend/roommate (26F) came home super late with her new fling and fling's friend. Luckily I had gotten home not too long before her and I was able to let them in (long story short, bestie's keys are in another state rn so we just have my house key). Bestie was druuuunk like a skunk and all three were high on K(etamine). Since I was already up and didn't feel like I could get back to sleep I hung out with them. Fling and Fling's friend seemed way more high than drunk, with Fling making me somewhat worried bc she kept racking up and taking more after saying how she was already stupid high and having "the worst k trip ever". I was not getting great vibes from Fling, she kept talking about how she couldn't go on dates without being high and how unavailable she felt. I can't remember exactly bc I was pretty buzzed and trying not to listen too hard (she was talking to her friend and not really to me) Also she didn't offer me even a bump, which in my circles its rude to not offer your host some of the drugs you're doing in their house, but whatever.

Flings friend I wasnt worried about, she just wanted to listen to tool and Deftones and gently suggested Fling not do so much K.

Bestie crashed on the couch hard not very long after getting home, and I was worried bc I haven't seen her crash out cold like that before in a long time. Fling tried waking her up a couple times to get her to move to her room but Bestie was out. She was breathing kinda weird in her sleep so I told Fling to make sure her face isn't smashed into the couch cushions so she can breath easier, and bestie sounded fine after that. Fling said again she just wanted to sleep but she wants to bring bestie with her, but bestie won't wake up. And Fling is so unavailable to deal with this. She kept bringing this up over and over, in the way people loop when they're high AF and it started to feel off to me?

I told Fling to just let Bestie sleep it off on the couch, and we'll all keep an eye on her but she and her friend are welcome to crash for the night, and Bestie wouldn't mind them taking her bed (she really wouldn't). Fling kept saying how uncomfortable Bestie must be, she just wants to get her into her room, etc etc. I told her if Bestie was that uncomfy she'd wake up and move. I was going to go to bed myself but my guts told me to stay up and keep an eye on things? I just felt weird about Fling trying to get Bestie into her room with Bestie so completely fucked up. I don't know I just didn't think I could trust Fling for some reason, maybe it was how she was talking about other things or that she seemed to have no control over her K use? Fling and her friend ended up crashing in bestie's room, I stayed up a bit longer to make sure Bestie was sleeping on her side and stuff and then went to my room.

I feel like an asshole because Bestie says I'm a meddling cockblocker for not helping/letting her fling get her to her room, but I was thinking if her fling was a guy then I'd be so worried about bestie getting assaulted/taken advantage of, and who's to say Fling wouldn't have done that? I just didn't feel like it was safe for bestie to be alone with someone she just met while so fucked up. Maybe I am a meddler tho?

[kanmom51]

good morning. hibe released a note saying that BTS renewed their contract, and even made a donation to the Unicef ​​fund, however, when reading the note I realized that there is no extension date for the current contract, considering that the current one runs until 2025, and the note says exactly the same date. On the other hand, there are rumors that BTS has separated, there is a probable unrequited feeling of a member, who is supposedly part of the other ship, for JM, which has caused discomfort and dissatisfaction among the members and making this continuity impossible. I don't have concrete facts, but I analyzed some facts, including the visible discomfort of the hug between JM and Tae, at the launch of the latter's MV. This became clear, putting together the facts and JM's song that talks about breach of trust among other evidence, I would like to know your opinion on this. grateful

Hello @nut2019. I will give you my 2 cents on what you asked me.

Let's start with the contracts.

They have been renewed. Period.

There would not have announced it if this was not in the bag. RM would not have posted about it if it wasn't a done deal.

Well, the members that haven't enlisted yet have signed them, meaning RM, Suga, Tae, JM and JK.

Jin and Hobi can't sign at the moment given they are in the army, but again, this announcement wouldn't have been released if it was not a given they will sign as soon as they are released.

The current contracts are until end of 2024. These new contracts will come into effect starting 2025.

We are not given the deets about their content nor length, other than it was approved by the company board (which means there were terms there that needed special approval - this could be monetary but also have to do with freedoms given to them, like total creative independence and no company veto powers over their music or content - not me saying I know what is in the contracts, just mentioning several options that may need special approval).

Like I said, there is an extension start date - 2025. No end date. I am assuming they aren't releasing more info a. because there are still 2 members that need to sign, and b. just like their previous contracts, their contents will not be divulged.

Just answered an ask about rumours.

No rumours here.

I will just say one thing about the whole disbandment.

Bull.

As in bullshit.

How these rumours start and who spreads them (well, solos and antis)... but why don't you listen to the members? Why choose to listen to these utters of nonsense when you have every single one of them saying they can't wait to get back together? That the plan is to get back in 2025. That they want to be together on stage together. Each and every one of them. With all the success of their solo paths, they still want and even need that connection and each other's presence together on stage. And now you even have RM posting about it as well, like the announcement wasn't enough.

Listen to them, not to some unsubstantiated rumours started by people that have agendas that have nothing to do with the 7 members best interests.

As for your hints about Tae, man is in a relationship. Not with JK. Not with JM. Ooh, her name does start with a J though.

Anyway, the drama people are looking for, being bored and all with no actual BTS content as of late, yeah, it's not happening.

And Face off, btw, not about Tae. Read the lyrics. Not a break up. Not about JK. Not about Tae. These men, they do have other friend circles outside of BTS. Friend/s that might have used and hurt JM, you know. Fame comes at a price. And growing up you at times discover that not everyone that calls himself your friend is there for you and not their own selfish reasons (latching on to fame and money is a thing you know). Sadly, JM most likely learnt that the hard way.

As for that hug at Music bank. Won't deny it felt awkward. But there are many other possible explanations as to why, and definitely not to do with any kind of non existent romantic triangle.

[totallyfunkless]

I was too soft for this world

I wanted to write about TGI and how much I love it. I spoke about it in therapy last week (lol) and my therapist helped me realize that I connect to it even more than I already thought I did.

Well, here we go.

I've always connected to Halsey's music. I was on here in the 2010s during my high school years and I remember seeing Halsey everywhere and falling in love with their music. I fell off for a few years, but when I saw the Graveyard performance at the AMAs in 2019 I was reeled back in -- and I couldn't be more grateful that I saw that performance.

From there I was listening to Manic all the time. I fell in love with it and connected to that album more than I had any album I'd ever heard. 929 is still my favourite song of all time, I love it so much.

I saw Halsey for her IICHLIWP tour in 2022 in Toronto at Budweiser stage and from that day I've been obsessed. Trust me, ask my friends and they will tell you how annoying I am, and I don't care lol.

When I heard The End for the first time in June I cried. For background info, I have been chronically ill for 7 years now. At 21 I randomly began having hip pain and was diagnosed a year later with a form of arthritis in my spine called Ankylosing Spondylitis. I also have Fibromyalgia and a form of Colitis. I write about my experience with my chronic illnesses (currently for WebMD) and I'm a chronically ill/disabled content creator over on IG.

I'd known Halsey was chronically ill, but hearing their experience in just this one song really got me. Then I heard Lucky. The pop song we all needed for the summer of 2024. I was absolutely obsessed with Lucky. I couldn't stop listening; it helped get me through the summer, which was probably the worst summer of my entire life.

I had just gotten out of a relationship that made me very physically ill due to the stress of it (hi, Panic Attack). My friend had passed away due to liver failure, and I was alone for the entire summer. I knew this album was what I needed, and every single that came out helped me keep going. Knowing I'd have to get through the summer to hear TGI helped too.

Fast forward to the release of TGI. Oh my god, I was waiting for this and anticipating it so badly. I wanted to hear it since the second I listened to The End. I knew it would destroy me, but I was ready. As soon as it hit midnight I had my headphones on and I was listening. This album means so much to me, and I relate so much more than I could have ever guessed.

Not just the chronic illness side of things, but the themes of toxic relationships, the relationship with my father, mental health, family, and friends passing away far too early.

Panic Attack describes a lot of my life this past year. In August 2023 I suddenly began vomiting multiple times a day and no one could figure out why. My GI ran tests like a Gastric Emptying Study, an Endoscopy, and bloodwork. Nothing came back, and I was getting extremely frustrated with both him and my body. The vomiting went on for about 10 months. Multiple times a day, almost every single day. During this time I was in a relationship where my partner did not respect my limits in regards to my physical disability. They believed i could do more and told me that to my face. It wasn't until I was months out of that relationship that I realized that the vomiting was caused by the stress of the relationship. The further I get from the breakup, the less I have vomited. Panic Attack has opened my eyes a lot to what stress can do to the body, and how much a relationship can affect you not only mentally, but physically, too. "My spirit has been broken My optimisms getting sore And I would love to love you But my body's keeping score"

The End I already spoke about, but the theme of getting sick and dealing with doctors who won't listen, the confusion of becoming ill every so often with new diagnoses ties into my life quite perfectly. I know I haven't dealt with anything as serious as h has, but I can still relate to this theme heavily.

"If you knew it was the end of the world, could you love me like a child? Could you hold me in the dark? If you knew it was the end of the world, would you like to stay a while? Would you leave when it gets hard?"

Hometown reminds me a lot of my friend Karn, who passed away back in 2021. We went to high school together and were best friends afterward. We would bike together a lot, and then when I got sick, he was the reason I got my first cane. He was my most supportive friend in terms of my illnesses and my limits. I think about him nearly every single day and I miss him to death. The line "he's evergreen at 17 for the last 11 years" hit me like a truck. I'd never really thought about it, but Karn is evergreen at 24. Somewhere in the clouds he's riding his bike and laughing, just like he used to. He will always look the same. ♥ I'm so sorry that h and others can relate. The heartache of losing someone far too young has been so hard on me with multiple of my friends, so I hurt for everyone who can relate.

"Like the others from my high school, all those sad suburban ghosts Trapped in a cross next to a highway, while the rest of us get old"

Hurt Feelings oh boy. I've had a rocky relationship with my father since I was a child. The yelling, the getting mad at me for everything, making me scared of doing anything even slightly wrong. Things have lightened up since he's gotten older, but those memories are always in my brain. I'll never forget the feeling of fear when he would yell. "I'll be changing like the weather but I'll never be like him" Mark my words I will not be that kind of parent. Ever.

"You know my father isn't dead, but it don't feel like he's still here It's strange now that he's grey, getting older by the day And my eyes tell me that he's harmless despite what my heart has to say"

On the topic of parenting, this is one thing that speaking to my therapist made me realize. Something not many people know about me is that I've always wanted to be a parent. My whole life I've just wanted to be a mother. So badly. As the years have gone by and the more sick I've gotten, I've started to realize that this may not happen for me. The amount of energy I will need and the amount of energy I have daily do not match. It absolutely breaks my heart to think about it, but it's something I feel that I need to learn to be okay with. Whether it happens or not, I have to accept it.

So in the conversation with my therapist, I had mentioned that this album featured Halsey's son and there's a lot about him in the songs. She stopped me and said "Oh, she has a son?" and I responded with Yes. "Do you think you relate to this also because that’s something you've always wanted, and how do you feel that she has a child with all of their health stuff going on?". And I was stopped in my tracks. I hadn't thought about it. Obviously, I'm so happy that h has Ender and Avan.

Thinking about it now, I do have to say that I'm envious of them because of how happy they are and that they have this lovely little family building. Something I've always wanted, and something I hope so badly to have someday, despite all of my health issues. I've had many thoughts in my head since becoming sick that I'll never be loved and I'll never be fully understood because of my chronic health issues. My most recent relationship confirmed those fears, though my brain fights those fears because I see others with happy and healthy relationships despite health challenges.

I proceeded to tell my therapist about the photos from Halsey's 30th birthday party, and how happy she looked in them. Something about those photos makes me so happy. The look in h's eyes. I told my therapist that I hope to achieve that feeling someday.

Being a writer and content creator who speaks on my experience on a regular basis, I respect the hell out of you, Halsey. Talking about all of this and making an album surrounding it is so vulnerable, real, and raw. I know firsthand that it is not easy, and it opens up a lot of negativity from people who simply don't understand your experience.

I want to say thank you for TGI. Thank you for all of your music. You've helped me (and so many others) so much and I am forever grateful for you and your words. Your voice is changing lives.

I hope any of this makes sense. This is the first time I've written for fun in literal years, so I may be rusty.

Thank you, h ♥

Love Steff aka totallyfunkless

[the-whispers-of-death]

Hello Again, My Dear Old Friends

Before reading further, if you're a minor or an ageless blog, please don't interact with this post and blog!!!

***If you haven't read anything involving Stone or The Lions/this is the first time you're seeing a post of mine, here is Stone's masterlist and The Lions masterlist. There's also Ladder's masterlist, but besides the basic info post, everything else in her masterlist can be found in Stone's.***

A/N: The long-awaited reunion!! 🎉🎉 It took so long for Stone, The Lions, and Ladder to all be on the same base. But it's here!

Stone's going to be so surprised when he finds out that Sarabi, Simba, and Nala are alive. Ladder and Cerberus are probably going to bond. Kali's going to be a lovesick puppy now that Stone's around and Stone's going to have to keep himself from smiling.

Anyways, enough of my rambling!

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

Kali was the only one in the barracks which were The Lions', being the last one to get ready because he had to get a few last-minute details from Commander Graves. Now that he was alone, he didn't have to deal with all of the questions his squadmates had for him.

He finished up tying his boots and then he strapped on his vest, his body on autopilot. Once his vest was secure, he opened a pocket in the vest, taking out the letter from Stone that had been there before the recent letter of Stone's had arrived.

Kali always kept a letter of Stone's in the vest pocket closest to his heart, so that he always remembered who he wanted to come home to. He didn't know if Stone loved him back, but it didn't matter. Stone was the reason he kept going, the reason he fought so hard to live on missions.

He switched out the old letter with the most recent was, looking over the words once more and smiling before folding it up again and placing it in the pocket. He closed the pocket, ensuring the letter was safe.

"You ready, Mufasa?" Sarabi asked, popping his head into the doorway of the barracks. "Everyone's ready and heading to the airstrip. Shadow's especially getting antsy."

Kali took one last look in the mirror, patting the vest pocket where Stone's letter was as if to get good luck from the letter, and he nodded. "Yeah, I'm ready," he replied, turning and walking out of the barracks with Sarabi right behind. "Time to make sure those Brits know how good us Americans can be."

With his squad, he went to the airstrip and boarded the cargo plane which would take them to the country where the SAS base housing the task force was. He made sure Shadow was properly strapped in, this being the first mission the wolf was being officially taken on.

Meanwhile, in the SAS base hospital, Stone was dealing with patients and Soap who was following him around, still a bit peeved that the 141 was teaming up with Shadows.

"You're paranoid about the Shadows that are coming, right?" Soap asked, watching Stone reset a dislocated shoulder with ease. "Because if you're paranoid, then I know I'm not alone. And like, I mean you're always paranoid, but my paranoia is warranted."

"I am paranoid," Stone said, placing the soldier's now reset shoulder in a shoulder brace. He moved onto another patient, Soap following him. "But I'm strangely hopeful."

Soap gave him a puzzled look. "Hopeful?"

He didn't know Stone had that word in his vocabulary.

Stone rolled his eyes at Soap's puzzlement. "Yes, I'm hopeful that this team-up will go smoothly. It's odd."

It wasn't odd, not to Stone. He knew from Kali's recounting that the Shadows employed in the Shadow Company were more than what they seemed. He trusted Kali's judgment of the men and women around him, even if Stone had no idea who was coming.

"Besides, it doesn't matter if I'm paranoid about them," Stone continued, glancing back at Soap. "It's okay if you're paranoid and you're right, your paranoia is warranted. You and Ghost were especially affected by Graves' betrayal in Las Almas."

"...Your therapy is definitely working," Soap murmured, which made Stone let out a huff in amusement. He couldn't help at smile at the sound. "Alright, I'll leave you to do your job."

Stone waved to Soap. "See you in a couple hours," he called out to Soap as Soap walked away.

Soap groaned. "Yeah, right. Can't believe we have to meet those guys on the tarmac."

****

Stone stood outside at the tarmac with the 141 and Ladder, all of them waiting in a hanger for the cargo plane to touch down.

"Can't believe we have to wait out here," Ghost grumbled. "It's sweltering out here."

Price huffed, opening up his jacket to fan himself with it. "We've faced worse weather, buck up. Besides, Laswell said we should wait for the squad at the tarmac and then show them to where the conference room is."

"Why did she get to wait inside the nice, cool conference room though?" Gaz asked, wishing he wasn't wearing his signature ball cap.

Ladder gasped as she saw the plane descending to land. "At least we don't have to wait any longer out here, the plane's landing," she said.

By the time the plane landed, Shadow was very eager to get off the plane. Cerberus, who was on the other side of the wolf, had to pat his head to keep him from barking everyone's head off.

"Jesus Christ, I thought Shadow would manage to get out of his harness before the plane landed," Sarabi grumbled in concern for the wolf as the plane landed on the runway.

"Look alive, guys," Kali instructed as everyone got up, him reaching down to deal with Shadow's harness to the plane. "The task force is just outside, they're waiting for us."

That made everyone straighten, Simba grumbling about how numb his legs were. They all waited until Kali had Shadow leashed with the leash attach to his harness. When Kali was ready, he was the first one to disembark from the plane when the cargo hold opened.

The first person he saw when stepping onto the ground was Stone, his lips parting beneath his mask and neck gaiter as he saw the tall man.

Stone looked breathtaking, his burly form basked in the sunlight. His hair was still in the same hairstyle that made Kali's fingers itch to run through it, his brown eyes were still deep pools of chocolate that Kali wanted to lose himself in. Kali even enjoyed seeing the scars on Stone's face and neck, almost crying out in joy that he had memorized them perfectly. He couldn't see the scars hidden by the muzzle-like mask, but he knew they were still there.

Stone seemed as surprised as him and he saw Stone catch sight of Sarabi, Simba, and Nala as Kali walked towards the 141.

Kali grimaced, remembering he hadn't told Stone about Sarabi, Simba, and Nala still being alive. Well, hopefully Stone wouldn't be too upset.

Price smiled politely as Kali stilled to a stop in front of the 141. "Ah, you must be the Shadows who will be teaming up with us. We're the Task Force 141 and welcome to—"

"You're even more breathtaking than I remember," Kali blurted out to Stone, his eyes focused on on the larger man. It was like his joy of being in Stone's presence again took over, causing him to say the first thing in his mind.

Despite everyone staring at him, he couldn't bring himself to regret saying it, because he saw the way Stone's cheeks twitched beneath the muzzle-like mask like he was trying to hide a smile and the way Stone became flustered enough to avert his eyes away from Kali.

You're so cute, baby, Kali thought to himself, resisting the urge to sigh wistfully at Stone.

"You two know each other?" Ghost asked, breaking Kali's focus on Stone. He went as far as to step a little bit in front of Stone so Kali had to look at him.

He seemed wary of Kali, which Kali realized would happen when Graves told him that the 141 had a bad experience with the Shadow Company the last time they worked with the 141. So Kali wasn't fazed by the wariness.

Kali nodded, subtly eyeing Ghost briefly to ascertain how much of a threat he was. "Yes, Stone was The Lions' Corpsman once upon a time twelve years ago," he explained, his eyes going back to looking at Stone. "It's good to see you again, Ox."

"It's good to see you again too, Mufasa," Stone replied, before glancing at Sarabi, Simba, and Nala. "Though I'm surprised to see the other Lions. I did go to their funerals, so I'm perplexed."

"Ah, yeah. It's... a long story," Kali said, grimacing yet again. He then cleared his throat, turning to the rest of the 141. "Oh, forgive my manners. I'm the captain of The Lions, callsign "Kali", though everyone in my squad calls me "Mufasa" or by my rank. And next to me are Sarabi, Simba, Nala, and Cerberus."

The 141 and Ladder all introduced themselves, all of them getting acquainted.

Soap eyed Shadow, who was trying to sniff everyone. "And who is this? Is that a wolf?" he asked, trying hard to hide the fear in his voice.

Kali gave a click of his tongue, which made Shadow heel and sit instantly. "This is Shadow and yes, he's a wolf. He's trained to subdue an enemy and to help with patrolling." He leaned down to give Shadow a pat on the head.

Stone couldn't help it, he laughed, which made everyone's head turn towards him very fast. This was the first time they ever heard him laugh, Kali especially drinking in the sound.

"Sorry," Stone said in between laughing. He lifted his hand up to his muzzle-like mask as if to cover his mouth that was already covered. He went into another short round of laughter. "Oh God, Mufasa, you finally managed to get a superior to let you keep a wolf as a military working animal. You've wanted one for years, how did you manage to persuade Graves?"

"What can I say? I'm pretty persuading." Kali's eyes sparkled with joy as his joke made Stone laugh more. He could hear Stone laugh all day.

Price cleared his throat. "Sorry to interrupt this, but Laswell is waiting for us," he reminded gently.

Kali cleared his throat in response. "Right. Please, lead the way."

The Lions followed closely behind the 141, Price in the lead as he walked everyone inside the main building of the base and to the conference room.

"Ah, The Lions made it safely," Laswell said, smiling as she watched everyone shuffle inside the conference room and sit down. "Welcome, welcome. I trust everyone made your arrival pleasant."

"Apparently Stone already knew them," Gaz commented, glancing at Kali who had gone back to staring at Stone, again.

Laswell nodded. "Yes, well, I knew that. I figured that would help with the rest of you trusting them too," she said, a sly smile on her lips. "Because while preparing for your mission, you'll also be getting to know each other better, since I'm splitting you up for the mission."

"What?" Price, Ghost, Gaz, and Soap asked in unison. Their eyebrows were all comically raised, in sync even in their disbelief.

"Due to the nature of the mission and how well both Shadow Company and SAS wants to succeed, we need to split up the Lions," Laswell explained, pulling up an image of what could only be described as a base. "This is Minerva's base, the leader and his high-ranking officials are there. It's huge so we need two groups to take down the base as a whole, starting on opposite sides until meeting at the main building to take down the leader."

"On the left side of the base is a huge building where they house their servers. We will need two techs on it, which means we need to have Sarabi and Ladder on one team," she continued. She then clicked another button which showed how the teams would be divvied up.

"Team Alpha will be captained by Kali and he will have Simba, Nala, Gaz, and Stone with him. Team Bravo will be captained by Price and he will have Ghost, Soap, Ladder, Sarabi, and Cerberus with him. Now, the teams are uneven, but that's the way it has to be in order to ensure the route with the best path to success."

Laswell looked at the wary looks on everyone's faces and sighed. "Cheer up, the mission isn't for two months, so that's plenty of time to get used to being in a team together."

Soap crossed his arms. "It took us a more than two months to trust Stone, remember?" he grumbled, Ghost and Gaz grumbling with him.

"Boys," Price said in his gruff, authoritative voice which stopped the three from continuing to grumble. He looked at Laswell, putting on his best smile. "We'll make it work, do bonding exercises together. We won't let you and the other higher-ups down."

"Good," Laswell said, standing up. "That's all the information I have for you all, you'll know more when we're closer to the date of the mission. I'll leave you to start getting to know each other."

With those words, she left, causing everyone to eye each other before mingling after a few tense seconds. While most of The Lions went over to chat with the 141 and Ladder, Stone and Kali both stood up, gravitating towards a little quieter spot in the conference room.

Kali stared up at Stone, unable to help himself from smiling beneath his mask. "I can't believe I'm standing in front of you," he whispered, as if he was afraid Stone would be gone if he spoke any louder.

"It's a sight I never thought I'd see until after this deployment was over," Stone agreed. His eyes peered down at Kali, both of them moving closer on instinct until their limbs were brushing against each other. The touch was like electricity.

He didn't want to ask, but he had to know.

"When did you learn Sarabi, Simba, and Nala were alive?"

"A while," Kali admitted sheepishly. "I found out late February, so it's been roughly three months. I'm sorry I didn't tell you, I just... I wanted to tell you in person, because it didn't seem right about telling you over a letter." His eyes scanned Stone's for any reaction and his hand twitched to cup Stone's cheek. "I understand if you're upset."

Stone leaned forward, gently touching Kali's vest-covered chest. "It's okay," he murmured, soothing Kali's guilt. "Thank you, actually. You could've lied and told me that you had gotten a new squad. But you didn't, you... You focused on me and telling me things that made me smile."

"You smiled?"

"You're surprised?"

Kali couldn't hold back anymore, he glanced at the others being too busy to watch them and then he reached up, brushing his gloved fingers against Stone's muzzle-like mask before cupping his right cheek.

"I'm proud of you, Vikram." His eyes crinkled beneath his mask to show he was smiling. "When I first met you, you didn't smile and you didn't laugh. But now... You... You took the time to heal."

"Ashok, you told me there was more to life than the way I was living before," Stone admitted softly, watching in awe as his words made Kali's brown eyes soften. "You wormed your way past my defenses and I—"

"Hey, we're going to eat dinner in the mess hall, you two coming to join us so we can all bond?" Soap asked, interrupting Stone mid-speech. He didn't seem to notice, simply grinning at both Stone and Kali, everyone else heading towards the door to leave the conference room.

Kali dropped his hand, giving Stone a look that said they'd return to the conversation much later, when they weren't around the others. "Yeah, we're coming," he said.

Both Stone and Kali left first with Price and Cerberus following behind them.

Soap waited until Stone and Kali were farther away to lean closer to Simba to talk in hushed tones. "Is it just me or are Stone and Kali looking like they're in love with each other?"

Nala laughed softly and answered instead of Simba, "Oh, they're definitely in love with each other, they just don't know the other one's in love too." He shook his head at the thought. "Cap and Ox have been corresponding for two months now, writing each other what are essentially love letters."

"Wait, Kali's the one who's been spending the long ass letters Stone gets constantly?" Gaz asked, putting the pieces of the puzzle together.

"Oh hey and Sarabi's been annoyed by the way they've been dancing around each other this entire time," Simba replied, bumping Sarabi's shoulder with his.

Sarabi rolled his eyes and then groaned. "Hey, you're all lucky. I've known Stone for as long as Kali has, which meant I've seen them pine after each other for twelve years," he complained. "Twelve, long years. I've grown sick of it."

"You know what that means we should do?" Ladder asked, smirking mischievously.

"What?" Gaz asked, curious about the glint in her eyes.

Ghost scoffed. "Isn't it obvious? We have to get them to confess to each other," he explained, surprisingly onboard.

"You, I like you," Sarabi said. "I've been trying to play matchmaker for a while."

Soap was excited at the prospect, rocking back and forth on his heels. "Well, now you'll have us to help you!" he answered.

"What are you all talking about back there?" Price asked, glancing behind him.

"Nothing!" Simba, Nala, Soap, Gaz, and Ladder said, Sarabi and Ghost not answering the man.

They lowered their voices, talking still as they entered the mess hall. One thing was for sure, they've just made the next two months more fun than it was going to be.

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

A/N: Okay, I'll be honest, I didn't know how to end this. This was hella long. But what I do know is that Stone is very eager to confess his feelings and I had to stop that. It's not time yet.

The 141 might not seem like it, but they are still wary of The Lions. They just also think it'd be fun to help The Lions get Stone and Kali together.

I hope this at least hit your expectations for the reunion, if not exceeded it. I'm for one happy with the majority of it and can't wait to write The Lions and the 141 getting into shenanigans together.

Reblogs are welcomed & appreciated! Asks are open, feel free to pop in and request something! (Check the rules in "Rules for Requesting NSFW" before requesting.)

[aita-blorbos]

AITA for lying to my friends about my ability to speak?

I (23 F), M (26 M), and J (24 M) are all friends. We met at work but have grown close outside of it, and I'm basically dating both of them at this point (I'm polyamarous, sue me). A little backstory about me, something traumatic happened when I was younger that resulted in a lot of scars, both physical and mental. I haven't spoken a word to anybody since I was 7 because of it. I use ASL and writing in my daily life to communicate, but sometimes when I'm at home by myself I'll say a few words to myself just to make sure I still have the ability. J learned sign language to be able to communicate with me easier, and M learned the alphabet and a few common words/phrases.

Now, the three of us work at a pretty dangerous job. We deal with machinery that we have to keep in check overnight, and if we fail to watch it properly we get basically mauled to death. The machinery also gets more and more dangerous the further the week goes along to keep up with demand, being the worst on weekends before resetting on Monday. It's a taxing job but it needs to be done and it pays well.

The night this happened I was scheduled by myself on a Saturday, which is something that almost never happens. I was stretched too thin and ended up losing track of one machine for a few seconds, getting caught by it and pretty beat up. I used voice commands on my phone to call M- the police in my area are close to useless- and told him to hurry over and save me. He ended up calling J, and both of them came to bail me out. There was a big fight and my left hand ended up pretty much shredded, leaving me without the ability to use most ASL. I decided to whisper to communicate until I could get a whiteboard or something similar to write with.

I'm currently sitting in the hospital recovering as I type this. M and J are acting distant, saying that they hate how I "lead them on" for all this time, lying about how I couldn't speak. The thing is, I really DO hate talking- it makes me feel extremely uncomfortable to use my voice, even when home alone. They obviously still love me, and I love them, but they're both hurt and sad. I can see where they're coming from, but again, it's a point of comfort for me to be able to avoid talking, and I'm extremely appreciative that M and J both learned some ASL to talk with me. J said that he wouldn't be hurt at all if I had just told him when I first met him, but I feel like that level of trauma-dumping isn't something you do with people you've just met. I intended to tell them eventually because I love and trust them, but this happened first and so I didn't get the opportunity.

AITA?

[profane-or-pragmatic]

The Devil You Know (Snippet) Pt 44

.

There are parks in the city you haven't heard of. Because good and honest and proper citizens don't go to them and prefer to pretend that these places don't exist. Some are the haunt of unregulated prostitutes. They're cheaper to hire and tend to be addicts and carriers of disease. Some are where addicts deal, do, and die. Others are where men who can't be seen with other men go for sex. Mixed on the edges of many are where other deals get done. The kind of deals that have to hide in the shadow of other sins.

My latest investments in technology were feeding me a steady stream of unsavory and often unmentionable information. Covert alliances, illegal trade deals, and agreements that were meant to bypass regulations. I learned of individuals falling prey to vices and becoming unreliable and desperate. I knew about affairs and assignations that could destroy marriages and careers.

All of that is marketable. If you know who to talk to. Knowing who to talk to is a simple task if you have people inside the ministries who have nasty habits and foul secrets they can't afford to have exposed. So I spent a fair few late evenings in parks rebuilding my finances and setting myself up with safeguards and future weapons. Of course I had the local police paid or provided for. I'm a professional at this you know.

The oddest thing is that I'm one of maybe thirty Mattaturians working the walk in this city. That is, not plying my trade simply in the Sin Quarters. And yet people never seemed to tie me in with all my assorted activities. Almost as though most thought of me as 'their' Mattaturian. Their very own personal malefactor.

Then again if any of those people actually believed me to be a tenth as clever as they thought themselves to be my life would most likely become very complicated.

.

"Okay Thrush, listen and listen good. That boy is fucking pure poison. He's not dangerous. He's a fucking nightmare!" Kellen DeVraska told me near to midnight in one of those above-mentioned parks. Off to our left a group of pall smokers were slumped around a fountain. To our right three men were having some very quiet but naked fun. "I got a very credible witness says the boy has literally cut to pieces, while alive, one of his servants. Just for fucking fun!"

"Fun as in it's amusing or fun as in he's a sexual sadist?" I asked because that, sadly enough, actually mattered. "I know he's a monster. But just how twisted of a monster is he?"

"Fuck. I didn't ask. Dammit! Sorry." DeVraska said and flinched as I lit a cigarette. That little flame wasn't a danger here, so he had other reasons to be edgy. "You know how fucking nasty these people are, yeah? My brother, you are not in a good place! Fuck! No joke, no joke at all brother, these are horrible types you're dancing with!"

"Absolutely true." I said and watched my companion's curious nervousness. His info didn't run lines that could tie to him. "What's got you worried? Afraid you'll lose one of your best pays?"

"Oh fuck you Thrush!" DeVraska said and glanced away as I drew on my cigarette. "I actually like you, asshole! You're like a friend, you know? You're one of like three people I actually trust in this world!"

"Me? You trust me?" I said and must have sounded legitimately suprised. Which I was. I didn't know him all that well. Not personally. "I keep word. It's my name. I don't break deals. But you don't mean it that way."

"When I fucked up with Tolliver? You're the only one who stood tight on me." He said and I vaguely remembered the incident. I hadn't talked because I don't talk to anyone ever. Not in The Dance. "You loaned me money when my sister died and I had to bury her. And you came to the funeral. Nobody else did. None of my supposed friends."

"I try to be better than they all think I am." I said and felt guilty. I couldn't really remember that funeral. I know a lot of people who have died. "Kell, you and I have always worked well together. You always come through. I respect that."

"I do my best. I always have liked you. I don't wanna let you down." DeVraska said and I noticed then. That he was watching the shadowy figures of the three men having sex. "I just wanted you to like me too. Because people are rotten. People around me are just fucking awful and I can't stand it sometimes. Nobody likes me because I don't like them either. But I like you. You're different and that...that matters.'

"I like you too, Kell." I said and hid my sadness. He wasn't a bad person. He was just another lost soul in our lovely little hell. "Maybe you need to make a change. Move somewhere different."

"I wish. Fuck do I wish." He said but it came out weak and defeated. I knew that feeling. "It would be nice to wake up and have one good day. Just one goddamn good day."

I proceeded to do three technically very stupid things. All three should have gone fantastically, disastrously, wrong. But they didn't and I credit that to my instincts. I follow those because you know how mystically connected we Mattaturians are.

That's bullshit. I just trust my hunches.

Anyhow. I still had my apartment in Farwood. Which I wouldn't need for some time. I told DeVraska that he could live there in the meantime and would arrange it. Secondly I let him in on my secret weapon Slinks. I knew they could work well together. And thirdly I had sex with him. Because he was Eirassa, from a clan of devout Trausarians. Sex between men is a horrible and unforgivable sin. So by having sex with him it guaranteed his silence. And his loyalty.

That wasn't the only reason. In all honesty I understood that feeling of wanting something everyone told you you couldn't have. Of wanting it even as you desperately didn't want it. I wanted him to feel good. At least for a few moments. I knew it was what he wanted and for once I wasn't doing the act to achieve something for myself.

Oh. And I did a fourth stupid thing but I would have done it even if it was guaranteed to fail. I gave Kellon the numbers of a few people who wouldn't betray his secret and with whom maybe he could find something more than loneliness. The world is hard and hateful and hollow but if I can make it bearable for someone else? Yes. I'll do what I can.

[theshmeepking]

I LOVE AIKO SO MUCH I NEED MORE INFO

does she get along w the gang/ how does she get along?

*rubs my hands together evilly 😈*

nahh but fr, i think i wrote this down somewhere before but it's uh. kinda outdated now ._. sooooooo...

Lupin is easily the one she talks to the most outside of Jigen. She's known him the longest, having first met him at the same time she reunited with her brother, and he did help save her life back then, so he's the one she's most comfortable with. Plus, since he a) is close with Jigen and b) was involved in her kidnapping and rescue, she doesn't feel the need to be as secretive as she usually is and is able to be more open with him than most other people.

He comes around fairly often--sometimes with Jigen, sometimes without--and most of the time they have a couple of drinks and joke around, talk about life, shit like that.

He still tries to flirt with her because of course he does, he's Lupin, but weirdly enough he's more reserved and gentlemanly with her, especially when Jigen isn't around. When he is, Lupin likes to see how far he can push it before he is threatened with bodily harm. He usually get's shut down pretty quick, but whether they admit it or not they all know it's all in good fun.

tl;dr they get along pretty well! Lupin's definitely one of Aiko's closer friends both in and outside of the gang.

Goemon doesn't talk to her nearly as often as Lupin and Jigen. They've only met a handful of times, really. Having come around later than everyone else, he's a little behind on Aiko and her whole deal, so he's usually pretty quiet around her (though her being an attractive young woman who also happens to be his friend's sister doesn't help with that, either).

While they haven't spoken much, she seems to like him a lot. He's quiet and polite, which is a nice change of pace from how rowdy the rest of her boys seem to be. She still loves them, obviously, but it's nice to have someone a little less chaotic around for a change. Even if he is a modern day samurai carrying around a sword.

Truthfully he doesn't feel much different about her, though she does tend to be a little more boisterous than he is, especially when she's around people she's comfortable with (i.e. Lupin and/or Jigen) and double especially after she's had a few drinks. Still, she seems nice.

tl;dr they don't talk to each other very often but they like each other well enough.

Unfortunately there's not a whole lot to say about Fujiko or Zenigata since Aiko's never actually met either of them, only knowing about them from secondhand accounts courtesy of Lupin and Jigen. As far as she knows Fujiko's either an absolute bitch or a goddess who can do nothing wrong and Zenigata is the guy trying to put her brother and their mutual friend in jail. I imagine if they ever did meet Aiko would just be kinda wary around both of them. I can see her maybe warming up to them a little bit (more so Zenigata than Fujiko, though) but never enough to drop her guard around them, really.

I also feel the need to mention that because of a typo my friends and I now joke about Aiko being like, super down bad for Zenigata. Do what you will with this information.

Also he probably doesn't count but I briefly mentioned him in The Aible and also just want to talk about him a little bit but Dynamite Joe! He's a guy! Who may or may not have had sexual relations with her brother! Fun!

Basically Jigen set up Joe as Aiko's emergency contact because lord knows he's a hard man to reach and the list of people he trusts, especially with his sister, is like, microscopic. Joe was his only real option outside of the gang. She didn't really like talking to him at first since he was loud and scary and kinda gross but after a while they warmed up to each other and surprisingly ended up becoming pretty good friends and Jigen absolutely hates it.

[spnfanficpond]

New Member Spotlight - January 2024

The Pond is always growing and we want to make our new members feel welcome! Here’s a list of recent additions to our fishy family, along with a little info about them!

Guppies, Jellies, and Mutuals, oh, my!

@thebejeweledwatercat -

Other SM names? - Same name on Discord and AO3

OTP? - Samwena bit it varies

Other fandoms? - Chicago Med, fire, & PD, Stranger Things, Teen Wolf

Looking for in the Pond? - Community

Pairings you read? - OC's and Poly fics

Genres you read? - Hurt/comfort

Favorite writer(s)? - winterfire22 on AO3

What do you like to write? - Hurt/comfort, Poly, What if, AU's

Masterlist!

Most underappreciated fic? - Chicago Med - Sunshine, Moonlight, and Shadow

Something you haven't written but would like to try? Why not? How can we help? - A lot actually. Mostly because I’m not good with the follow-through.

.@hello-starlingfics -

Other SM names? - HelloStarlingFics on AO3, HelloStarling on Discord, and hello-starling.bsky.social on BlueSky

OTP? - Sam/Dean. They're just too compelling!

Other fandoms? - Right now it's just SPN

Looking for in the Pond? - Connect with other writers and fans. Writing can be a lonely thing.

Pairings you read? - I mainly stick to Wincest, but will dabble in Wincestiel, Destiel, and Dean/John.

Genres you read? - I read a range of styles and tropes. Whump is probably my favourite, with the comfort optional.

What do you like to write? - I like to write a range of things! I have hurt/comfort, angst, fluff, crack where Sam and Dean are catboys, erotica, and even some gen.

Masterlist!

Most underappreciated fic? - Last Fair Deal Gone Down

Something you haven't written but would like to try? Why not? How can we help? - This year I hope to write some darker stuff including Major Character Death. Balancing making it emotionally affecting while avoiding being heavy-handed will be a challenge.

.@michaelmilligan -

Other SM names? - QuicksilverCastiel on AO3, alexanderlewis on Discord

OTP? - Midam

Other fandoms? - Star Trek and Yu-Gi-Oh! (specifically JouKai as a ship - the resurgence of an old fandom for me)

Looking for in the Pond? - I would like to connect with other writers and share insights and hopefully bounce story ideas off each other.

Pairings you read? - Midam, Midamoul (Michael/Adam/Ghoul), I'm trying to branch out with Samifer and Sam in poly relationships (preferably with Gabriel, Eileen, Rowena and/or Lucifer)

Genres you read? - Fluff and Smut mostly, though some angst is good now and then. I enjoy AUs (especially fantasy and sci-fi) and won't say not to fake dating.

Favorite writer(s)? - I go absolutely feral about most (all?) of the Midam fics by saintmichael on AO3

What do you like to write? - Smut, fluff, AUs, fix-its, and lately I've been dabbling in dark(er) fic

Masterlist!

Most underappreciated fic? - That would probably be this dark(-ish) Nickifer fic: Blind Trust

Something you haven't written but would like to try? Why not? How can we help? -I've never written a case fic, which seems criminal in the SPN fandom! So far I'm not confident I could pull off the suspense aspect of the search for what monster is involved, and resolve the whole thing competently. Some suggestions on how to structure/plan a case fic would be appreciated.

@kazsrm67 -

Other SM names? - Same name on Discord

OTP? - I would have to go with Sam x Eileen I suppose.

Other fandoms? - Not much really although I occasionally read Stargate or NCIS fics.

Looking for in the Pond? - I was invited by a friend on Tumblr to be honest I'm super introverted and I can't really answer this. But I was told its a good way to "meet" other writers and get help when stuck on an idea.

Pairings you read? - I mostly read Dean x reader or Dean x OFC (this is what I mostly write as well), I do read some Sam fics and dabble in some poly fics but only with specific characters.

Genres you read? - I'll read all of these (angst, fluff, smut, crack) but I spend a lot of time between angst and smut fics. I do love a good soulmate au.

Favorite writer(s)? - So hard to pick a favorite but @spnexploration and @jawritter on Tumblr are two of my top writers.

What do you like to write? - I write a lot of soulmate fics, but I try to write many different types.

Masterlist!

Most underappreciated fic? - My Omega

Something you haven't written but would like to try? Why not? How can we help? - I have a rockstar!Dean fic in mind, it would be very angsty and discuss domestic violence against men, I haven't tried writing it yet mostly because time. I work full time and am a mom but it's definitely something I am looking at diving into sooner rather than later. I think the help I could use is someone to edit and bounce ideas off. I have a good friend I do this with but sometimes I wonder if it would help to have someone else to bounce ideas off (I get shy and don't reach out tho).

That's all for this month, folks! (If we're missing anyone, let us know and we'll add them to next month's list!) Make sure to say hi to the newbies and make them feel welcome! Thanks to all from @manawhaat, @mrswhozeewhatsis, @mariekoukie6661, @thoughtslikeaminefield, @spencereliotwinchester and @heavenssexiestangel!

[thistle--bug]

GMMTV 2025 Lineup Thoughts

After watching all the trailers, here are the shows I'm looking forward to!

Memoir of Rati. It looks so beautiful and elegant and it's a period piece set in 1910's? Hell yeah! Love me some elements of secrecy and arranged marriage

Whale Store XOXO: Listen. We got only two GL's and you bet I'm going to watch both. I love Milk, I love Love so here I am. Excited to see Love playing the more forward, making-moves character. I also like that it's focused more on adult life instead of their usual school series.

Only Friends Dream On: Will this be top quality content? Of course not. Will it be entertaining as hell? YES. Glad that Mix making a cameo ended up turning into this lol! It's less of a sequel and more of a spin-off and what a line-up. Earth! Mix! Ohm! Let's GOOO. I'm also really entertained by Earth and Ohm being brothers (that have a lot of beef apparently). The setting being a theater putting on Romeo and Juliet is soooo up my alley. Though I doubt Boston will play a big role in this I hope he gets to sleep with everyone as a treat. King of messiness is back lmaoooo

That Summer: Winny and Satang get a show as main leads? Finally! They play bickering-to-lovers really well and it seems like it'll be sweet. Satang just suits the role of a prince so well. I hope he sings the theme song for this because his voice is lovely

Wu: Very little info in the trailer but I'm intrigued! I haven't actually seen High School Frenemy so I'm not familiar with the actors, but I like the vibe and the red string of fate thing they have going on. A lot of people are complaining that it's another "bromance" instead of being explicitly gay but honestly... I don't mind! I'm okay with their dynamic being left up to our interpretation.

Girl Rules: I CAN'T WAIT!!!! P'Jojo said I'm back with the messy ensemble shows but this time SAPPHIC and I adore him for it. We get to be toxic too yippee! In love with and obsessed with all of them already. It'll be so much fun to watch this while it's airing

Ticket to Heaven: WOW!!!! WOW WOW WOW!!! I can't even put into words how excited I am for this show! P'Aof is my favorite director and I've loved everything he's made so far so I trust him. Catholic seminary in the 90's with young men struggling with their faith and sexuality is SUCH a fantastic premise. And the fact that Gemini and Fourth are starring in this makes me even more excited. They are fantastic actors that killed it in Moonlight Chicken and I was hoping for more nuanced and mature shows like that instead of their usual high school rom-coms. And this is everything I wanted and more! I sobbed throughout the trailer. This will wreck me in the best way possible. Plus the cinematography was STUNNING. For sure my #1 favorite of the lineup

I might check out Burnout Syndrome, Dare you to Death, and My Magical Prophecy as well when they air, but we'll see. The rest I'll probably pass on unless someone tells me they're absolutely incredible. In general, there's a huge trend of fate, fortune telling, mind reading, etc, which is fun. HUGE push to make shows outside of high school and college which is also really refreshing. I have mixed feelings about the fixed pairs, but I am glad that they are pushing the actors to do things they haven't done before. Specifically Gemini and Fourth acting in a more serious show while First and Khaotung act in a very fluffy light-hearted show (which I will be passing on but I hope they have fun!). I am in awe that ONE SINGLE SHOW out of this lineup is straight. Yes ONE. That's a huge deal! We even have more GL shows that straight ones (not by much and I wanted WAY MORE booooo). Sure, not all of these shows look incredible, but the fact that there are so many queer shows to choose from is wonderful. There's variety! We love to see it!

[trans-axolotl]

hellooo & happy pride ! i have a question about psych meds/withdrawal/harm reduction if you have the space for it— i’ve been on ssri’s for 14 years (!) since i was 11 years old (!) and i would looove to come off them but unfortunately i am dealing with chronic health issues (pots/mcas/eds) at the same time so i’m nervous to try and taper on my own

do you have any ideas of people/orgs i might be able to talk to about my specific situation and get some help coming off safely? or just a direction to point me in to start searching…every psychiatrist i’ve spoken to just wants to increase dose or add in another med 😭

Happy pride anon!!

I'm sorry to hear that you haven't been able to find support for changing your medication choices. It's so frustrating to feel stuck on meds that aren't what you want to be on, especially when's it been happening for years. Disclaimer as always that I am not a medical provider or psych med expert, so please do your own research and consult with trusted sources when possible!

There are some helpful resources that I want to share, and defintely just want to emphasize that before making any medication changes, it can be really helpful to do research, throughly understand the risk for your own situation, and make an in depth plan for how you want to approach your medication changes. Tapering will always be safer than just completely quitting medications, and it can be really helpful to consider how other medical issues you have will intersect with med changes. Sometimes, stopping some meds cold turkey can be life threating, so it is crucial to really do your research and understand your risks.

Even tapering meds can cause some difficult physical and mental symptoms, so it can be helpful to consider when will be the best timing, how stable other parts of your life are, what support you have from friends/family, and what will happen if symptoms escalate while you're in the process of tapering off. A lot of times, withdrawal from meds can cause some of the same symptoms that you might have originally been taking the meds for, so having a coping plan ahead of time allows you to be ready to make decisions in the moment. I think it's also important to know that tapering safely can be a really slow process, sometimes lasting months or over a year depending on your dosage, how long you've been on a med, and what your tolerance for withdrawal symptoms is.

The Harm Reduction guide to Psych meds is a really awesome resource from the Icarus project that shares a lot of tips for the process of medication change.

Mind.uk has some pretty good basic info about medications that can be helpful for understanding side effects, withdrawal info, etc.

The Withdrawal Project from the Inner Compass initative is an amazing resource that collects information from patients, experts, science, anecdotal experiences, and provides information about things like safe tapering schedules, withdrawal symptoms, and things to know before tapering. They also have a forum where you can talk to other people who are tapering and get advice and support. You might also be able to get reccomendations for medical providers in your area who would be willing to help you with tapering, for example.

Wishing you the best, anon, and feel free to reach out with any other questions!

[bainofjustice]

Payday's Most Forgotten Main Character - Speical Agent Jordan Griffin

Introduction

Hello, as my description at time of writing says I am Jordan Griffin's number #1 fan but you see I haven't given myself this title because I've made lots of fan content (I'm working on that) but because I am one of only two of her fans (I recruited a friend to her Fandom). (Might be three but IDK who wrote the Payday 2 character tv tropes page)

I want to have to fight for this title, I wanna see others think about & explore her character.

So I am writing this! It will cover all of her canon appearances, where I would have taken her character within Payday 2's plot & some theories and headcanons.

Payday: The Web Series

Jordan is one of the main characters of The Web Series & outside of Bain, Vlad Kozak Gage & brief scenes is one of the only characters to appear in multiple episodes. She is also the only character I would agure has a arc thoughout the episodes & acts as a recurring pov.

The audience first meets Jordan Griffin in episode 3, she is discussing with her partner (Agent Riker) about her thoery that Hector Morales is working for Crime.Net, Agent Riker attempts to brush off this thoery by both pointing to how little evidence she has found about Crime.Net & pointing to her mental health (stating that she must just be tried, implying she is not in her right state of mind). When this scene ends it is revealed Bain already has eyes on her and placed Riker as a mole.

This scene established a lot of interesting stuff

Jordan with the limited info of the events of PD1 & the earliest heists of 2 was able to put enough evidence together to both figure out Crime.Net existed & its name. Remember that during the events of the web series it is just coming out of beta, likely meaning it's number of users was low & trusted allies so for Jordan to find all this meant some serious digging

I forget if it's on the board or if she says it (limited wi-fi so avoiding watching stuff) but she mentions Bain's name as the owner of Crime.net, not the most impressive as it seems like his name is mentioned a lot in the criminal world to the point that even yakuza clans know about him. Still I feel it worth noting.

This scene is also the first we see anyone (on screen, obviously off screen between 1 & 2 the FBI found out) in the FBI suspect Hector of being related to the Payday gang, it's also worth noting that Jordan already has him pinned of other crimes, possibly the same ones that got him got by the fbi. It's also interesting she didn't know he was a rat for the fbi & was working to arrest him.

Speaking of the board I mentioned, she has a whole conspiracy board in her office for the payday gang & crime.net, it has multiple of the contractors on it, including Vlad (whom at least by the time of Hoxton breakout the FBI believe is a law abiding civilian).

It is also established that Jordan deals with some ableism as a part of how Bain tries to deal with her, it's seen in Rikers comment and made more notable by the fact that Jordan is shown later taking unknown meds from a prescription bottle.

It is also established that Bain considers Jordan enough of a threat to have a mole specifically keeping an eye on her.

As a whole I consider this a strong start for building her up as a threat to the gang & a foil to them, much like them she is working semi out of the system to achieve her goals & like them is seeking answers for questions much bigger than herself, only issue is these traits are directed at taking down Bain & Crime.Net.

In Episode 4, Jordan interviews Dallas whom is undercover as the bank manager for First World Bank, thoughout this Jordan is very suspicious of him & he ends up leaving earlier than likely planned, taking his obertunity when Jordan is called away for something.

I find two things about this very interesting, first being that the series went semi out of its way to allow Dallas & Jordan to meet, while the cover was also used for the heist & the scene also allows for a interesting story telling device of showing different versions of scenes the audience already saw the scene could have easily been from Dallas pov woth random cops but no: it's a mixed pov scene & Jordan is used despite it actually making little sense given how she's treated in the FBI (I will get into that later)

I also find it noteworthy how Dallas treats her, it's very much as a real threat & he does his best to tell her the cover story straight but as it becomes clearer that she is suspicious & isn't falling for it he ends up taking a chance to escape before she can ask more questions.

Also funfact is that this scene is what established Nathan Steele as Dallas civilian name. Jordan also established in this scene being particular about being called Special Agent (Jordan) Griffin.

In Episode 5, Jordan manges to leak to a reporter her theories about crime.net, which ends up in the tv news. Jordan & Riker get pulled aside by their boss and get royalty told off because as it turns out, this isn't their job! Jordan has just been doing all of this on top her real cases for the fbi! She hasn't been getting any backing for them & clearly couldn't ask for help with the case given gets in trouble for it! No one told her to do this! She has just been doing it for herself while everyone tells her no!

She follows this up in the next scene by revealing to Riker that she suspects that there is a mole within their department of the FBI, it's later confirmed that she suspects him & told him as much, though also still keeps him close at hand, including when she goes otherwise alone to confront a member of Crime.Net.

THIS IS FOLLOWED BY REVEALING THAT RIKER'S HANDLER IS FUCKING VLAD "THIRD SHADIEST CONTACTOR & KATRU KING" KOZAK

So uh, yeah a lot happens at the end of an episode about the worst assassin Crime.Net ever hired aka Greta.

But wait! There's even fucking more! In episode 6 aka the finale of the web series most of the focus is on her & Vlad (well it's more about Vlad dealing with her) (& Gage but this ain't about him, I'll talk about him when I talk disability in Payday)

this wild episode starts off with Vlad getting called by Bain warning him that Jordan has taken an interest in him & has placed a tracker on his truck, this results in him blowing off Sofia (Aka the woman he has with him when visting the safe house) & as she insists on him staying with her that night (intercut as Vlad thinks with Jordan doing research about Vlad) he ends up pulling a gun on her asking if she isn't useful why does he keep her around. (This is interrupted before goes farther) (I'm noting that last bit for a reason.)

Next we see of Vlad he's getting driven to the spot that's been set up as a trap for Jordan as she follows, he is singing in a slavic language during this (also in previous scenes he has mostly talked in a slavic language besides from his threats to Sofia)

Then the big scene is next for the Jordan & Vlad storyline, Jordan arrives at the parking garage, this is when she confirms in banter with Riker that she is sure that he is the mole, she searches for a lil bit being very on gruad & then reaches the stairs.

This is when Vlad appears & holy hell this convo is interesting to me, especially looking back knowing a lot more about Vlad. So I am going to break this down a lot.

First Vlad says hello to Speical Agent Jordan Griffin, he very clearly already knows some of her quirks well. Meanwhile Jordan jumps right to questions, speaking in the same Slavic language Vlad has throughout the episode used when speaking with his men, she starts off asking how he knows her name which he answers a little birdie told him. Which does line up with what Bain did, including referencing her full status while warning Vlad.

Vlad follows up with

"I know many things, especially how in over head you [Jordan] are."

I'll come back to this later.

Vlad was interrupted by having to tell one of his men to stand down & that he has everything under control.

Vlad then tells Jordan that he doesn't have time to explain things but:

"-You must understand: You got too close to the truth and they will not let you live if you get any closer." -Vlad

Jordan then questions who "they" is, suspecting Crime.Net & Overkill (this was made back when the company included itself as refs & didn't decide yet the name belonged to a biker gang).

Vlad follows up by not answering but saying

"I like you special agent, we are like each other, more than you know."

He then shares that this all has been a "friendly" warning & warns that the next one won't be the same.

He then says that he hopes the pair will meet again under better circumstances, to which once again in a slavic language Jordan repiled with "Perhaps"

Vlad then leaves with his enforcer. Riker whom was waiting in the wings, gun ready arives as Jordan steps back to the floor they parked and when asked she says that she lost them.

Now lemme break down what I can

It is very interesting to me that throughout episode 6 using slavic language is almost showing your in with Vlad, when Vlad is pissed at Sofia he speaks in English, also speaking with Bain & Riker in English but with his enforcer in Slavic & then Jordan starts off speaking in his language and when he says he hopes they meet again under better circumstances it's also in slavic. This to me really shows there was at least some idea that Jordan would continue to be a force in Vlad related stories, perhaps working with him?

This is the first we see of Jordan actively lying & no less lying to cover her & Vlad's assess, til this point she is not shown actively lying

This is also we see of Jordan choosing to not chase a trail and call it quits before getting herself in shit, I do honestly believe in a convo with someone else Jordan would have not lied at the end saying they got away but instead tried to press forward.

Vlad in the very same episode made it clear that even minor things done by people he doesn't need may result in death, which to me brings up: what does Vlad want from Jordan? What does she have that neither Bain or another FBI agent could supply?

Thoughout the convo he treats her with more respect than really anyone else we see him in canon talk to, not once swearing or acting out but instead acting very calm & put together.

From some of the stuff he says it seems like he honestly wants to tell Jordan more but can't (he blames a time issue, but tbh I feel like it's more because the location was set up by Bain likely meaning he was watching.)

I also find the lines he says about her search for the truth really interesting as it really reminds me of what later happens to Bain, when he starts getting closer to the truth about the Katru he is nearly killed (in the bad ending is fr killed)

I also find the line that they are alike curious, at this time in the story Vlad wasn't too known for a inquisitive nature nor had he shown much interest in uncovering hidden truths. In the context knowing the story wasn't planned from the start I'm not sure what they were planning with this line BUT looking back with what lore we have for Vlad by the end of 2... I'll get to what I think in its own section.

Since this was the final episode this is the last we see of her in live action & even if she shows up again I think will be with a revast or non-live action as her actress is now a right-wing news caster in france 🙃

Appearances In Game

Jordan has two in game appearances!

First is on the second day of Hoxton breakout where she is one of the models spawned in FBI agents can have (model based off her episode 1 outfit).

She does not have any special A.I or anything else meaning any of the following can happen

Her model does not spawn, implying she was not at the office during the attack.

Her model does spawn but one way or another the gang does not interact with her, implying she hid during this.

Her model spawns & the gang zip ties her, leaving her somewhere she isn't killed, this is personally my hc for the canon of the game)

Her model spawns & she guns down a member of the gang, good for her! (This probably the least likely since she is not a special unit & would be in combat with the gang before any assault waves meaning fullish health)

Her model spawns & she is killed (Outside of not spawning this is one of the most likely for a player to do)

Her model spawns & the Joker skill is used on her, making her help the very gang she is trying to catch, possibly dying along the way.

At the end of the day this heist does very little to actually tell us anything about her or her fate as it is totally random what state she's in by the end, especially because as the tv tropes page for her points out most players don't even know who they'd be killing.

But... There is another heist she can spawn in, which neither the tv tropes page nor her wiki (which I need to update) mentions.

Her model can spawn in the Payday 2 version of Taxman, which if I'm not wrong is one of the few remasters that is a flashback/not happening a second time.

Which means that Jordan, likely unknown to Bain or the gang has been long on their trail, this also lines up with what her actual job in the fbi is (which in short is wire fuad, which is mentioned in a episode but I forget which one).

On the flipside if this isn't a flashback we can assume that Jordan is still alive post Hoxton breakout & that it sets a president that unless it's outright a part of the story of the heist named characters like Jordan don't die in heists where there's other options (Makes sense since Bobble Head Bob like Jordan can spawn in heists & die like she can)

I also suspect that Jordan can spawn whenever the game calls for a unarmored FBI agent to spawn but I am yet to test this. But if true basically means Jordan survives well into the endgame & only could for sure have died post Breakin' Feds.

Why I Wish She Was Used More/How I Would Fit Her Into The Plot

Why I Want More:

1. She is my blorbo & I love her 💖💖💖

2. The gang's enemies look like this rn (not counting post game dlc or 3):

A guy relying on the fbi to protect him who was merely a pawn of the fbi (Hector)

A bunch of mindless male police officers

A male police caption who only provides a physical threat

A male fbi head who is only a puppet to people

A male technical guy + military guy, provides a very real intelligental thread with implied help from a female hacker, later redeemed and helps the gang (Locke & Joy)

A mostly male (we never see a woman in Murkeater but I'm gonna assume there's at least one) paramilitary that doubles as a conspiracy group, provides both a physical & social threat

A male puppeteer master, is the only non-physical threat.

You might already see my point, thr gang lacks any non-male enemies which isn't great when combined with theor already low female cast. The developers have mentioned that they wanted to do better on that front & I think a female antagonistic force to the gang would have helped.

Also the gang is really lacking in intellectual threats, only briefly having Locke/Joy hack them which is resolved quick & they aren't a real threat after this & The Dentist whom pulls strings & is a threat to everyone's identities, their serach for The Secret & the world.

But really I think having another intellectual threat, especially one uninvolved with Murkwater would both help feel like the gang has a real risk of something like getting arrested or having their identities leak, I think it would also balance the cast a lot more.

Now while I wanna fix the above making Jordan a main angtag from the get go would change a lot & deserves its own post so here is some closer to canon ideas.

Here's a few ideas of how she could have been used, keep in mind these ideas are based off the limits that 1. The story wasn't planned from the start, 2. The story is mostly shown in heists & fbi files & 3. Jordan is not a main character & 4. My core Jordan thoery is not canon, otherwise this section would be more complicated & require inorging the lack of a plan plotwise.

Without the above limits I would just be giving a pitch for a fanfic I am planning.

Route 1: Mole For Vlad

This in my opinion is one of the more boring options but it is one of the more likely options they would have went with in canon.

For this Jordan would likely off screen started working for Vlad as a dirty fbi agent & in game either be mentioned as a informent or as someone setting things in the fbi hq for the gang in heists they go there.

This route would work well for fics or art that wants a easy route for Jordan to interact with the gang on friendly terms but I feel like outside of fanwork options this isn't the best route.

Ultimately it would make Jordan a bit of a non-character & betray the very justice focused Jordan we see in the web series plus it doesn't address the problems above.

But it is a option that other than what we did get is close to likely.

Route 2: FBI Pov

In this Jordan would remain looking into the Payday gnag though not being as forward, until the FBI files were added.

At that point I would have Jordan serve as the owner of the fbi computer that was hacked, perhaps having her leave notes on all the fbi files about her theories & what she's found.

Perhaps this results in a heist where the gang has to retrieve her evidence & kill her like the Hector heist.

It could also lead to her being the fbi member Kento contacts & sends codes to, perhaps desperate to catch the gang she helps him arrest The Elephant & possibly other contractors.

Or perhaps she remains uninvolved with the emails & instead serves as a pov for the fans not secret hunting by leaving confused files about the Katru related heists & files on clues she doesn't understand.

Route 3: Katru Investigator

Okay so this slimmer to the above, having her leave notes on fbi files & the hacked computer being hers but... The emails aren't, she hacked into the commissioners email & leaves notes on the emails, perhaps acting like a hint for them.

She would also take up what Spetkicguy did in the arg, hacking into things & finding more clues about Mrukywater.

This route likely ends with a callback to what Vlad said, Jordan would get too close to the truth of Murkwater and they would kill her.

My Core Thoery For Jordan Griffin/Route 4: King's Watcher

Okay before I start with this theory let me establish a few things that I will write metas about later:

Vlad is a Katru king, a member of a group of three humans that were selected by powerful beings to guard their secrets, this granted conditional immortality.

The other kings are The Elephant & The Dentist

Each king has a watcher, it is unknown how they are picked but I suspect it is decided by a higher power at their birth. They are meant to prevent the kings from abusing their power, they are also the condition for their King's immortality when they are alive their king cannot die & when they are dead their king can die. (after Dentist loses his he is able to be gunned down)

The known watchers were Bain & Kento, Bain leaves notes about this & Duke comments on & notes that Kento is a watcher as well which lines up with his role in Murkwater

Now that we have that established onto the thoery, which simply put is that Jordan is Vlad's watcher.

Let me first address the main counterpoints

Vlad's watcher is the Commissar!: that is a theory which well would make Dentist wanting the guy dead make sense. It would not make sense that Vlad never mentions him, we know Vlad loves revenge, he won't let his watcher being killed slide no matter how much he likes the gang

Vlad's Watcher Is His Brother In-Law!: Okay this is more likely than the last one & is one of the more likely canon options, so I won't aurge against this theory. Simply it isn't my taste, I find more interesting stories can be told with other options for watchers.

Vlad can die in dlc heists!: Yeah, that does point to his watcher being dead but there is nothing pointing to Jordan having to still be alive at this point. We also don't actually see his death, just that the timer says that but that could be either obsecing Vlad's involvement with the secret or simply not thinking out a different wording. So while him dying is what is said to happen I feel like for a thoery like this. Which is already... Shaky since it rests on a forgotten character I don't think it kills the thoery

Now onto my supporting evidence!

Vlad goes out of his way to make sure Jordan survives & was personally dealing with her. We see him both push aside others in his life like Sofia to focus on Jordan & go against the spirit of Bain's orders who said to deal with her by simply warning her.

The lines: "I know many things, especially how in over head you [Jordan] are." & "You got too close to the truth and they will not let you live if you get any closer." Which Vlad says to Jordan can both read as simply a detective being warned to avoid criminal conspiracy but... It's also close to some of the stuff Bain & the gang says as they investigate the Katru.

There is also that Vlad wanted to tell her more but couldn't, again he said it was a time issue but I really believe it was because he knew Bain was listening in.

Vlad drawing a comparison towards himself & her would make more sense if there was a literal bound between them, as the scribe/a king I'm sure Vlad has done a lot of the sort of stuff Jordan is doing & probably has had watchers like her before.

Thematically it'd line up for Jordan to be unknowingly in his inner circle given that language = Vlad's good graces thing I got talking about.

There are a lot of parallels between Jordan & Bain, especially if you put together some of the stories from clothes that imply Bain was a cop or in the fbi at some point. Both start off locking into things beyond them, both have blue as their main color (Jordan's outfits are mainly black & white say for her periwinkle shirt which her model wears), they both start getting so deep that people are sent after them & with outfit lore in mind it seems like Bain had a encounter with Elephant slimmer to the one Jordan had with Vlad.

Thematically wise it'd be nice if there was 1 criminal watcher, 1 corrupt lawful watcher & 1 justice minded watcher. Bain is morally grey, Kento's morals got fucked up & Jordan has pretty clean morals compared.

It'd also mean that Bain's mind games with Jordan later get reflected at him as Kento played mind games with him & unlike Bain dealt with the person getting close to the truth. In short watcher on watcher violence.

Also sanity is a theme with Vlad, he is the "mad king" the one that found things thay broke his mind & even in the modern day is considered insane. This is intrestingly mirrored by how Jordan is both dismissed based off mental state & likely has a mental illness she takes meds for.

I will probably think of more & make a post just about this thoery eventually but for now the last reason is that I simply think it makes for a interesting story, it means all the watchers are pitted against each other, it means Vlad has another thing to hide from the gang, it means Vlad's watcher is an established character whose a bit complex, it means at least a single woman is relevant to The Secret.

As for what this world look like in story? Well it depends on how you veiw the watchers but for my own hc's & theories I am planning a fic about this.

I will also note that if something makes it clear someone else is Vlad's watcher I will keep this as a au instead of theory/hc.

Ideas For Fan Content

So after reading everything here I hope you dear reader wanna give me a lil more challenge in calling myself her biggest fan by including her in your own content!

To help get this started I'm gonna list a few ideas of how to include & use her in fan content. Obviously I would also be trilled to see ideas not listed written about & if you do make something based off tbe list below or theories & ideas I talk about on this meta you don't have to credit me, I just want to show off a character I like!

Jordan easily can fill the role of a fbi agent that would otherwise go unamed or be a one-off oc, so say for a fic you want to add pressure by having a agent on one of the heisters trail, Jordan would make a good fit!

Jordan would also work well as a mentor or partner to a fbi oc, being able to quickly inform them of details about the payday gang & either aid them if they are a enemy of the Payday gang or provide tension if they are/start helping the gang.

Jordan would also work well for writing enemy to lovers fics since she is a enemy of the gang but it's based off impersonal things, so becoming close with specific members isn't out of the question & could lead to interesting drama for all parties.

Jordan also works well for if you need a pov outside the gang but is aware, let's say you're writing a mystery fic & you need someone to first find something or encounter the killer before it's revealed to the gang. Jordan would work! She would likely investigate that sort of thing but lacks ways of telling other members of the cast.

Jordan does at the end of her story show some more willingness to do shady things, so having a story explore her becoming more & more involved in crime would work really well, this would also be great to use for fics about Vlad's criminal stuff (Just please, I beg, do not have Jordan start working at his postuion house, that I am asking you to not do on this post. I can't stop you but I am gonna read or share stuff about that)

Jordan would also work in camo appearances, need something for Vlad or Bain to be doing before being interrupted? Perhaps they were keeping an eye on a special agent.

Jordan could also work as someone to info dump info about things that happened off screen in your fic, maybe you're writing a future fic & want to quickly establish what everyone is doing, having a scene or a few where Jordan is sharing her theories with someone would be a good way to do it in universe & add some unreliable narratorness to it if you want to hide info.

Also Jordan would work well as some canon fodder to be blunt, as much as I love her it doesn't seem like she's amazing at tech, so if you want establish a character killing enemies of the gang or some mass death event like a zombie au Jordan could work 😶‍🌫️

Lastly there isn't a lot about Jordan outside of what's here, we don't know her past, or much about her future past the web series & there are a lot of parts about her personality we won't have got to see so she's a character that could really be expanded on.

ETC

Agent Riker: Funniest Non-Clown

Yeah I couldn't fit this anywhere else but thoughout the series Riker is really funny due to how it seems like he is almost always moments from a mental breakdown. He will often swear to himself shouting loudly FUCK almost everytime Jordan is getting deeper in the mess.

It's also funny how degented he looks while his boss scolds him & Jordan, they both look like kids getting told off.

It is also extremely funny to me that Jordan straight up tells him to his putposly sweating face she knows he is the mole & then still takes him as backup to confront Vlad which like...

While Riker pulled out a gun & was waiting in the wings it also took him forever to call out for her & it was pretty unclear what his game plan was. He is like less than useless to both Jordan & Vlad.

He also has a family which he mentions when talking to Vlad also it was hard for me to make out his name due to my hearing sorta sucking so I had to find his name on the imb page for the series

Jordan's Job:

I wasn't sure where to mention this but in one of the episodes, I believe when being told off by her boss it is mentioned she works in wire fuad. I believe due to her having her own office space in the department that she is likely either very high ranking or it's local head.

How I Incountered Jordan:

So I was vaguely a Payday fan at the time, I knew things like Jacket x Sokol & things like the Halloween nightmares for the crew but I had yet to see the wider picture.

This is when I decided to read the tv tropes page for Payday 2, specifically the characters page & then I read the Minor Characters page & read Jordan's section.

Which made me interested enough to go & watch the web series & then I watched more & more videos until I ended up watching The Knowley's lore series & since then I have been searching for more lore & info.

And that won't have happened if some tv tropes writer I will never likely meet hadn't decided to put Jordan on the page & describe her well in tropes & in the little bio.

The Wiki:

So a funfact is that I am the one who made Jordan's wiki page & added her to the web series page. Admittedly the page needs some work to better explain things but I thought something was better than nothing & I will work on it more.

[am-i-the-asshole-official]

AITA for not sharing/snitching concerning information about underage kids with their parents?

So, I'm the eldest sister (24) and the eldest cousin of my family, and the kids just trust me. Idk what it is about me that makes a teenager vent their heart out to me, but it happens.

First, it's my sister. All thorough the years she has revealed to me very concerning things about her, and almost always she made me promise not to tell anyone the things she was about to tell me, and hey, I keep my promises. Concerning things include shoplifting, her friends being mean to her and having a "boyfriend" on instagram (she was 13 then). I've also found out she vapes and used to use sleeping pills (idk if she still does). I have not told any of this to our mom, but I also haven't really just left it like that? I did scold her about the things she admitted to me, but I also kind of pushed things a bit in her life, like, when I started earning more money I bought things for her, reminded her many times of dangers from internet strangers, I even talked her into moving to another town to live with our aunt, to get away from her friends (they were really bad to her) and also us (she hates me and my mom and I get it tbh, so I think it's better to live separately). It seems to be working I think, she doesn't seem to be so troubled and sometimes she visits and doesn't go hide away from everyone when video-calling her new friends. I think it worked. As for vaping I don't really think it's in my power to do anything about it, so I just let it be. I don't think our mom could do anything either. So yeah there is that.

It's different with my cousins because I am not really into their lives that much, and sometimes I'm very concerned. One of my cousins was (still is? Idk) doing drugs, but, according to him, if his dad found out, he'd be on the street. And like hey, I see that guy like twice a year and I cannot really help him, but I don't really know his family situation, so I'm just... keeping it quiet and hoping he's okay? The worst thing is, his mom told me that she has no secrets with her children, and that he even admitted to her trying out beer, and I just had to sit there fully knowing that guy is doing more than beer, but I couldn't really snitch? Or should I have?

Another very concerning thing about a cousin of a cousin of mine (14f then) (I see her a lot less than regular cousins, like once in 2 years?) was (still is?) dating a guy (24m then) and it was very creepy, they were often fighting and the girl even knew her boyfriend is bad. She knew, she admitted that, but she still kept seeing him and reaching out to meet him. And of course, according to her, her mother would kill her if she found out. Once again, I don't know how it is with her parents, so I'm keeping quiet, or should I not?

There are, of course, other things, but they are less concerning, so I'm not going to mention them. I do try to help my cousins when I see the means on how to do it, and when I sense they would let me help, but I'm not a constant presence in their lives, I can't really be there for them.

So, AITA for not involving the parents in these kinds of things? I'm kind of suspecting I will find out more things eventually and I'm not really sure how to deal with all that.

What are these acronyms?

[fantrollology]

aether? 💥🕷️❇️ ❤️😭🔥💎

hi sorry it took me a bit to do this!!! busy weekend

ty for being interested in my boygirl

💥 COLLISON - what emotions do they have trouble dealing with?

Hrmmm… I'd think Aether has trouble with being angry even when she really has a right to be. She doesn't know where to put it or how to deal with it and it quickly spins itself into guilt & sadness. But TBH I think I'd have to RP her more to know for sure!!!! Need some1 to make her feel things. I'd like to establish her more solidly on this blog & then interaction mite help… Agh, I really gotta make talksprites for her so u can interact w her but… I havent been wanting to make sprites :,)

or um if any of my friends wanna throw guys at her <:)

🕷️ SPIDER - what is their biggest fear? do they have any irrational / mundane fears?

Being taken and made to do something terrible. She's relieved she didn't kill Beau but she didn't even think it was a possibility before that happened.

No little irrational fears I can think of :0

❇️ SPARKLE - what is their most prized possession? what do they value?

Their notebook/diary in which they record all of their encounters & other thoughts! It's essentially a collection of meditative prose, anecdotal info on ghosts, sketches, and, now, notes from her mentor.

She values life & respect for it above all else.

❤️ RED HEART - their love language(s)?

Words of affirmation & quality time :)

😭 CRYING - what makes them cry? do they cry easily?

Aether tends to tear up a bit at any strong emotion -- happy, sad, angry, whatever! A big full cry from her is pretty infrequent but she'll shed tears regularly. If she's crying it's probably on behalf of someone or something else, though.

🔥 FIRE - do they have any self destructive tendencies? what habits do they have that hinder them from becoming their best self?

I wouldn't say its self destructive inherently, but Aether is very very trusting and forgiving and its gotten them into trouble a few times. They've been lucky not to have anyone take too much advantage of it in the past, but of course she is newish to this blog still :")

💎 DIAMOND - how rich are they? can they live the lifestyle they want to?

Aether gets by! She doesn't need much to be happy and she's not hurting for cash or anything. She could stand to have a more reliable source of income to like… treat herself more? But she's comfortable enough.

I think cuz I haven't used her a lot some of this stuff might change as she grows as a character!!!

[scramble-crossing]

your oc is so fucking cool! divorced to minaman i'm guessing? i LOVE the noise form, that'sso clever! the idea of having a tiny lizzer that he has to hide in a big illusion, that's such a clever + fun idea. also, gecko is a cute asf noise form. the fighting using sigils is SO cool btw, i've done a lot with the idea of sigils myself but the whole concept of tearing out pages to fight is awesome. i love her flaws a lot too btw, most people end up not having ocs with enough flaws

also based as fuck being a union leader. the R.E.A.P.E.R. acronym made me laugh out loud, but man, unions are so underrated. good for them!

i would read stuff about him. also her design is cute! i love the implication that they were strangled to death (?) or are those just tattoos/? i wish that the twewy designs had implication sof how they died somehwere on them

do you actually want a lore dump about my oc? i will gladly give it if you want it, just meant that i don't want to sit here going "and now i will infodump about a topic that isn't actually wanted" (no harm if you don't want to btw) otherwise i will send another ask with the oc info! not gonna lie i don't do much with my ocs but i basically turned several canonical characters into ocs with how much i expanded on them lol. but i do have an oc that i can tell you about :)! i just spend more time expanding on the canon characters LOL

Aw jeez ;-; you're too kind!!

Um. Yeah. Minaman divorce 😔 Long story short, they're childhood friends who had a difficult falling out at the end of high school and reunited in the Reaper's Game. Sho is just as vicious and self-centered as he is in canon, and Fable's swept along in his undertow, blaming himself for Sho's actions and feeling a sense of responsibility, as his oldest friend, to put a stop to him. Sho takes this "betrayal" bitterly. He doesn't understand why Fable can't trust him to make things right again, once he's Composer, and everything that's wrong, he can fix. He just needs her to stay out of his way. He will make her if he has to.

I totally agree with you that'd it be cool if twewy designs implied how some characters died! But actually, Fable received their neck scars after they died :)))

Anyways I'm really glad you like the Noise form and the sigil fighting!! The Noise form is kinda close to Megumi's but I'm attached to itty bitty lizard...everyone else got these cool big cat forms and even Higashizawa's sheep Noise form is intimidating, then you've got this little gecko thing that can fit in the palm of your hand. Made to be held gently. Like hotdog.

And yeah I don't think anyone in the Reaper's Game is a very uh. Functioning individual (except maybe Kariya idk) so it's fun to come up with a character's fatal flaws! Fable is a self-depricating doormat who blames themself for things far beyond their control and clings to strict rules of reason to make sense of an unreasonable world and it pairs really well (or really poorly depending on how you see it) with Mina's unpredictable, domineering personally, especially in NEO once they've grown a bit and Mina has to deal with someone who, even in their best of days, really enabled him and let him get away with anything finally put their foot down and tell him to stop being such an insufferable jackass. Wrangling Support Reapers for three years will do that to a person. They're a funny crowd.

Anyways (again) I would totally love to hear about your oc! I haven't seen too many twewy ocs before and I think it's a series that's ripe for making original characters, so I'm really curious to see the kinds of things that other people have come up with :]

[aita-blorbos]

AITA for helping my fiancé steal my captain's ship (temporarily)? So, I (J) am the first mate of my captain and best friend (R). He arranged for me to marry his little sister (L) because he trusts me so much. I've been trying to be good to her and get to know her, but we don't see each other that often.

The last time we came back to visit, I found her in the middle of preparing to steal her brothers identity (they look SCARY similar. Like SCARY) to take his ship for a while and travel. She has a... hobby?? Obsession??? With sea sponges, and she wanted to steal the ship (temporarily) to study them.

I'm gonna be honest, I don't know how she talked me into it, but she did. I went with her. It was all really spur of the moment. We DID NOT ELOPE. I want to make this clear. I mean now I'd like to think we're friends, but at the time we'd barely even spoken. I mean, I guess it's a good thing I went, because she needed me to keep her out of trouble and teach her how things work around here. We haven't had a chaperone this whole time and again NOTHING'S HAPPENED but I know R is REALLY PARTICULAR about etiquette and stuff and he's probably really upset about it. He might even THINK we've eloped and I REALLY DON'T WANT HIM TO THINK that I'm some scoundrel that ran off with his beloved sister. I'm just keeping her out of trouble, honest.

I can't stop thinking about how much I miss him and how much I fucked up. He might hate me now because he thinks I'm wronging his sister by not stopping her. Or because I let her take the ship. Or he might feel like I'm replacing him and we won't be as close once I'm married. But then, he and L might be upset if I spend more time with R at sea than I do with her. And I keep having these stress dreams that aren't making anything better. L told me I should write him a letter and ship it at port. Isn't it kind of weird for two men to exchange letters, though? I don't even know what I'd write, anyways. It's not like there's a good explanation of all this.

So, AITA?

EDIT:

So, L got pretty deep into the ship's politics and it turns out things are more complicated than we thought. And actually, I'm kind of hurt because R kept some pretty big information from me, and it feels like he didn't trust me with it. Regardless, she had a scheme to deal with the issue. Long story short she decided to pledge herself to a nunnery to get rid of this guy.

I hate to admit it, but I didn't handle this super well. I mean, again, nothing ever happened between us in the SLIGHTEST, but she is still my fiancé. Like I understood her reasons but I was still upset my fiancé was becoming a nun, I think understandably. So I got drunk with a friend and trusted her to handle herself. But I lost her. Not like figuratively, like she's just gone. We lost her. Like we don't know where she is.

In my defense she's been SURPRISINGLY CAPABLE so far. She's very very smart. I really didn't think anything would happen. It's been a long journey and I just wanted to cry in my cups for a couple hours. Still, we wouldn't have lost her if I hadn't left her alone. And we definitely wouldn't be in all this trouble if I hadn't let her talk me into coming in the first place.

AITA for losing her and more importantly how do I keep R from killing me if we don't find her before he finds out.