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everyone wants him | fred g. weasley
summary: everyone wants fred weasley, why would he want you? word count: 3.2k masterlist
The Leaky Cauldron was alive with its usual chaos—laughter, clinking glasses, and the occasional misplaced spell fizzling out before causing any real harm.
You sat tucked into the corner of the pub, nursing a Butterbeer that had long since gone lukewarm. Alicia had dragged you out tonight, claiming you needed to “live a little.” You weren’t entirely convinced, but there was something about her enthusiasm that made saying no impossible.
And then there was Fred Weasley.
You’d noticed him the second he walked in, though you’d never admit it. His presence was magnetic in a way you couldn’t quite explain, drawing attention without even trying. He laughed too loud, flashed that mischievous grin too easily, and had the audacity to look good doing it.
He was surrounded, of course. Angelina was at his side, rolling her eyes at something he’d said, but not enough to hide her smile. A couple of other faces hovered nearby—girls who leaned in a little too close, their laughter a little too eager.
You forced yourself to look away, focusing instead on Alicia, who was recounting some outrageous story involving a Niffler and a stolen bracelet.
“And then—are you even listening?”
You blinked, startled, and Alicia followed your gaze across the room. She smirked. “Ah. Fred Weasley.”
You frowned. “What about him?”
“You were practically drooling.”
“I was not.”
She laughed, leaning back in her chair. “Don’t bother denying it. Everyone looks at him like that at least once. It’s infuriating, isn’t it?”
“What is?”
“How bloody charming he is.”
You rolled your eyes but didn’t argue. Infuriating was a good word for it.
It wasn’t until later in the night, after the crowd had thinned and Alicia had gone off to dance with some guy you didn’t recognize, that Fred approached you.
“Mind if I sit?” he asked, already sliding into the chair across from you.
You glanced up, startled. “Uh, sure?”
His grin widened, and you felt an unwelcome flutter in your chest. “You’re Alicia’s friend, right? I’ve seen you around. I’m Fred.”
“I know who you are.”
“Do you?” He leaned forward, resting his chin in his hand. “Should I be flattered or concerned?”
You narrowed your eyes, refusing to rise to the bait. “Depends.”
“On?”
“Whether or not you’re about to use that ridiculous charm of yours to try and get in my pants.”
He laughed—a genuine, full-bodied sound that caught you off guard. “Merlin, you’re sharp, aren’t you? I like that.”
“I wasn’t trying to be likable.”
“Even better.”
You shook your head, unsure whether to be annoyed or amused. He was persistent, you’d give him that.
“So,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “Why are you here, all tucked away in the corner like some kind of mysterious enigma?”
“Mysterious enigma?”
“It’s the best I could come up with on short notice. Don’t judge me.”
This time, you couldn’t stop the small smile that crept onto your face. “I didn’t want to come tonight. Alicia dragged me here.”
“Well, remind me to thank her later,” he said, his tone light but his eyes unexpectedly serious.
You hesitated, caught off guard by the shift. For a moment, you wondered if there might be more to Fred Weasley than the charming facade.
But then someone called his name—a girl, predictably—and the moment passed.
Fred glanced over his shoulder, his grin returning as he waved her off. When he turned back to you, he seemed almost reluctant.
“Duty calls,” he said, rising from his chair. “But don’t be a stranger, yeah?”
“Why would I be anything else?”
His laughter followed him as he walked away, and you were left alone, staring at your now-empty glass and wondering what, exactly, had just happened.
&
Diagon Alley was unusually quiet for a Saturday afternoon. The crisp autumn air carried the faint scent of roasted chestnuts from a nearby cart, mingling with the earthy smell of parchment and ink that clung to the shopfront of Flourish and Blotts. You had come to pick up a new quill, your old one having finally succumbed to overuse during a particularly tedious set of reports.
As you stepped out of the shop, quill and a small stack of books tucked under your arm, you nearly collided with someone coming in the opposite direction.
“Careful there,” came the familiar voice, low and teasing.
Fred Weasley.
You took a step back, startled, and looked up to find him grinning down at you. His hair was windswept, cheeks slightly flushed from the cold, and he had the same effortless energy that seemed to follow him everywhere.
“Do you make a habit of running into people, or am I just lucky?” he asked.
“Only the particularly unfortunate,” you replied, stepping aside to let him pass.
“Unfortunate?” He raised an eyebrow, his grin widening. “Here I thought you’d be thrilled to see me.”
You rolled your eyes, though you couldn’t quite suppress the small smile tugging at your lips. “What are you doing here, anyway? Don’t tell me you’re in need of a good book.”
“I’ll have you know I’m an avid reader,” he said, placing a hand over his chest in mock offense. “In fact, I was just about to pick up a—” He paused, glancing over your stack of books. “What’s this? ‘The Art of Brewing Potent Potions’? Didn’t take you for the potion-making type.”
You shifted the books slightly, suddenly self-conscious. “I’m not. It’s for a friend.”
“Ah,” he said, nodding solemnly. “A likely story.”
“Do you ever stop talking?”
“Not if I can help it.”
Despite yourself, you laughed—a small, involuntary sound that you quickly tried to stifle. Fred noticed, of course, and his grin softened into something warmer, more genuine.
“Well, I’d hate to keep you from your important potion-related business,” he said after a moment, stepping aside to let you pass.
“Important quill-related business, actually,” you corrected, holding up the bag in your hand.
“Ah, of course. How could I forget?”
You shook your head, already turning to leave, but his voice stopped you.
“Wait,” he said, his tone shifting slightly.
You turned back, surprised to see something uncertain flicker across his face. It was gone almost as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by his usual confidence, but it left you curious.
“Let me walk you back,” he said, gesturing down the street.
You hesitated, torn between instinctively brushing him off and the strange, unfamiliar pull you felt to say yes. In the end, the latter won out.
“Alright,” you said, falling into step beside him.
The walk back was filled with the kind of aimless chatter that felt oddly natural—Fred recounting some escapade involving a rogue charm and a very unhappy house-elf, you half-listening, half-watching the way his hands moved as he spoke.
When you finally reached your door, he paused, rocking back on his heels. “Well, this is me,” you said, nodding towards the entrance.
Fred nodded, his grin returning. “Good to know. I’ll keep this in mind for next time.”
“Next time?”
“Sure,” he said, already stepping away. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily.”
And with that, he turned and walked off, leaving you standing in the doorway with a faint smile and a strange, fluttering feeling in your chest.
&
The weeks that followed your second encounter were marked by an unexpected rhythm.
Fred had a way of showing up—not at your door like expected, but in the spaces in between. He had a knack for making himself unavoidable, though never in an overbearing way. You’d catch him at the tea shop near your office, juggling two mugs precariously in his hands and grinning at you as if it were fate. Or in the park, where he’d be charming a group of kids with conjured fireworks, his laughter echoing over the treetops.
“I swear, you’re everywhere,” you said one afternoon when you bumped into him yet again outside Flourish and Blotts.
“Or maybe you’re just not very good at avoiding me,” he replied, his grin maddeningly confident.
Despite your best efforts, the barriers you’d carefully constructed began to shift, piece by piece. It started with the smallest of gestures—him carrying your books when your arms were full, sneaking you a bag of your favorite sweets when he somehow discovered your weakness for honey drops. The conversations, too, began to stretch beyond the surface, slipping into territory you weren’t entirely comfortable with but couldn’t resist exploring.
“Tell me something you’ve never told anyone,” Fred said one evening, his voice softer than usual.
You had both ended up in the same quiet corner of The Leaky Cauldron—pure coincidence, or so he claimed. He leaned forward, his elbows resting on the table, and for once, his usual smirk was nowhere to be found.
“Why would I do that?” you asked, deflecting with a raised eyebrow.
“Because I’d like to know,” he said simply.
You hesitated, your fingers brushing the rim of your mug. The question had an intimacy to it that made you feel vulnerable, and yet, there was something about the way he looked at you—like he could see straight through the walls you kept up.
“I’m scared of not being good enough,” you blurted before you could stop yourself.
Fred blinked, surprised by your honesty, but his expression quickly softened. “Good enough for what?”
“For anything. Everything,” you admitted, your voice quieter now. “I don’t know. It’s stupid.”
“It’s not,” he said firmly, his gaze steady. “And for the record, I think you’re more than good enough.”
The moment lingered, delicate and raw, before you cleared your throat and changed the subject. Fred let you, but the look in his eyes stayed with you long after you’d said goodnight.
As time passed, your world seemed to orbit closer to his. He found reasons to seek you out, and you found yourself looking forward to his presence, even when you tried to convince yourself otherwise.
One evening, he brought you to his joke shop after hours, proudly showing you prototypes of new products. His enthusiasm was infectious, his face lighting up as he explained the intricacies of a new line of trick wands.
“Why do I feel like you’re trying to recruit me?” you teased as he handed you one to test.
“Because I am,” he said without hesitation. “You’d be great at it. You’ve got a good eye for details, and you don’t take my nonsense too seriously.”
“Someone has to keep you grounded.”
Fred grinned. “Exactly. That’s why you’re perfect for the job.”
You laughed, shaking your head, but something warm and unspoken passed between you.
It wasn’t long before people began to notice.
The first comment came from a colleague at work, offhand and seemingly harmless. “You and Fred Weasley seem awfully friendly,” they said, their tone laced with just enough curiosity to make you feel self-conscious.
The whispers followed soon after—barely audible at first but growing louder with each passing day. Fred’s reputation preceded him, and people were quick to remind you of it.
“Everyone knows he’s a flirt. Don’t get your hopes up.”
“He’s not exactly the relationship type.”
The words wormed their way into your mind, sowing seeds of doubt. You began to notice the way people looked at you when you were with him, their gazes heavy with judgment or pity.
Fred, oblivious to the change, continued to treat you the same—warm, attentive, and maddeningly Fred. But the whispers weighed on you, and before long, you found yourself pulling back.
The first time you ignored his owl, it felt like a betrayal. The second time, it felt like self-preservation. By the third, it had become a habit.
Fred noticed, of course, though he didn’t understand.
“Have I done something wrong?” he asked one day, cornering you outside the tea shop where he’d so often ‘accidentally’ run into you.
“No,” you lied, refusing to meet his eyes.
“You’re avoiding me.”
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
The hurt in his voice was almost too much to bear, but you held firm. The walls you’d rebuilt were sturdy now, bolstered by fear and the voices of those who’d warned you to stay away.
Fred watched you for a long moment, his expression unreadable, before stepping back. “Alright,” he said quietly. “If that’s what you want.”
You told yourself it was. But as he walked away, the ache in your chest suggested otherwise.
The days after your confrontation with Fred dragged on, every hour stretching unbearably long. You told yourself you were doing the right thing, retreating before you got too close, before the inevitable heartbreak. But the certainty that had driven you to push him away began to waver in his absence.
You didn’t realize how much space Fred had occupied in your life until it was suddenly empty. The silence felt heavier now. Your tea breaks were lonely, lacking his easy laughter. Even the parks seemed duller without the sound of him enchanting children with his conjured fireworks.
Work became a refuge—a place where you could bury yourself in tasks and avoid thinking about him. But even there, his presence lingered. The bag of honey drops he’d given you sat unopened in your desk drawer. You’d thought about tossing it a dozen times, but your hand always hesitated, as though getting rid of it would make the loss of him too real.
It was during one of these long, quiet days that you overheard them.
“I heard she’s been seeing Fred Weasley,” someone said behind you in the tearoom.
Your stomach dropped, and you froze, pretending to stir sugar into your tea.
“She’s deluded if she thinks he’s serious about her,” another voice replied. “Fred Weasley doesn’t settle down. She’s just a bit of fun, like all the others.”
Their laughter echoed in your ears, sharp and grating. You forced yourself to walk out calmly, but their words stayed with you. By the time you got home, they’d grown into a roar in your mind, impossible to ignore.
He deserves better. Someone more exciting, more confident. Someone who isn’t scared of taking up space in his life.
The thoughts clawed at you as you sat at your desk, staring at the parchment in front of you.
You don’t belong in his world.
Your hand moved before you could stop it, the quill scratching out the words you thought would sever the tie cleanly. The letter was short, clinical, void of the emotions tearing through you.
“Fred, I think it’s best we go our separate ways. Thank you for everything. Take care.”
The owl flew off with it before you could change your mind, its silhouette disappearing into the night. The moment it was gone, the finality of it hit you like a curse.
You curled up in bed that night, the ache in your chest feeling like a physical weight. You told yourself it was for the best. But deep down, you started to think you’d made a mistake.
You waited for him to show up at your door, demanding answers in his usual larger-than-life way. But Fred didn’t come.
At first, you convinced yourself that his silence was proof that you were right—he wasn’t serious about you. But as the days turned into a week, the void he left behind became unbearable.
It was Alicia who finally forced you to confront it.
“You’ve been sulking for days,” she said, plopping down on your couch uninvited. “What happened?”
“Nothing,” you mumbled, not looking up from the book you weren’t actually reading.
Alicia snatched the book out of your hands, her sharp gaze piercing. “You don’t look like this over ‘nothing.’ Spill.”
You hesitated, but the words came spilling out anyway—the whispers, the letter, the crushing fear that you’d never be enough for someone like Fred.
When you finished, Alicia looked at you as though you’d just told her you planned to live on the moon.
“You’re an idiot,” she said bluntly.
“Thanks,” you muttered, burying your face in your hands.
“I’m serious,” Alicia said, her voice softening. “Fred isn’t like that. Not with you. Do you have any idea how he lights up when he talks about you?”
Your chest tightened at her words, but you shook your head. “He’s Fred Weasley. He lights up for everyone.”
“No,” she said firmly. “Not like this. Trust me, I’ve seen him flirt a hundred times. This isn’t flirting, love. He’s serious about you. And if you can’t see that, you’re going to regret it.”
Her words haunted you that night as you lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. By the time morning came, you knew you couldn’t leave things as they were.
The shop was quiet when you arrived, the familiar smell of wood polish and faint smoke lingering in the air. You knocked hesitantly, and Fred appeared in the doorway moments later, his expression unreadable.
“Hey,” you said, your voice barely above a whisper.
Fred stepped aside without a word, letting you in. The silence between you was suffocating, the usually lively space feeling oddly hollow.
You fidgeted with the edge of your sleeve, searching for the right words. “I—”
Fred cut you off. “Why are you here?” His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it that made your chest tighten.
“I… I wanted to explain,” you said, your throat dry.
“Explain what?” he asked, his arms crossed. “Why you decided to shut me out without a real reason?”
The hurt in his voice cracked something inside you. “I was scared,” you admitted. “Of getting hurt. Of not being enough.”
Fred stared at you for a long moment, his expression softening as he stepped closer. “Why would you think that?”
“Because everyone says—”
“To hell with what everyone says,” Fred interrupted, his voice fierce. “I don’t care what they think. The only person whose opinion matters is yours.”
You swallowed hard, your voice trembling. “I didn’t know if you were serious. About me.”
Fred reached out, taking your hands in his. “I’m as serious as it gets,” he said quietly. “But I can’t make you believe that. You have to let yourself believe it.”
The tears you’d been holding back spilled over, and Fred gently pulled you into his arms. His embrace was warm, steady, and everything you hadn’t realized you’d needed.
“I’m sorry,” you whispered against his chest.
Fred pressed a kiss to your hair, his voice soft but certain. “You’re the only one I want.”
When you finally pulled back, his hands lingered on your face, his thumbs brushing away the last of your tears. The look in his eyes was so full of warmth and determination that you felt the last of your doubts dissolve.
When he kissed you, it wasn’t just a promise—it was a beginning.
#harry potter#fic#fred weasley#harry potter fanfiction#harry potter imagine#weasley twins#imagine#weasley#fred fic#fred weasley imagine#fred weasely x y/n#fred weasley x you#fred weasley fluff#fred weasly x reader#fred weasley fic
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Confidentiality - Chapter 8. - yandere!ATEEZ OT8 x f!reader
Introduction: Joining a peer support group for mentally ill was a good idea for the last two times you were there. Then it's only natural for the third time to go well too, right?
Pairings: yandere!Hongjoong x reader, yandere!Seonghwa x reader, yandere!Yunho x reader, yandere!Yeosang x reader, yandere!San x reader, yandere!Mingi x reader, yandere!Wooyoung x reader, yandere!Jongho x reader
T/W: This story will include talk about mental health struggles such as body dysmorphia, paranoid thoughts and more. Possessive and obsessive behavior, stalking, manipulation, violence. Dark themes are to be expected. A brief situation of harassment (not by any of the members) in this chapter. A/N: Forgive me for the long wait! I hope the chapter won't be disappointing or incoherent... I like writing this story but my own judgmental thoughts honestly are a kill of joy. I'm happy to receive feedback, be it constructive criticism or positive words. I hope someone will enjoy this <3 Word count: 4 062 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Once again, you held the phone to your ear. The sound of the phone ringing was quiet and stable but it did not lessen your anxiety at all. Eventually it stopped ringing, leaving you in heavy silence.
Jongho hadn’t answered this time either. You had tried to call him at least 20 times in a span of couple days, but it was like he had disappeared from the face of the Earth. Despite being upset at him, you were more worried than you wanted to admit. You also missed him, his stoic nature, and the unexpected moments of sweetness.
Frustrated, you tossed the phone away. Was Jongho so childish and stubborn that he hid from you on purpose after you had kicked him out of your home? Or could he be in danger? You couldn’t help but feel bad for banishing him. That was how he probably wanted you to feel, but there was nothing to do about the feeling.
Spring, the season of hope and new beginnings, was near so the weather was warming up. Still, it was already late in the evening. The nights at that time of the year were still cold, and you grabbed a warm jacket; one that did not attract attention. You feared the possibility that some creep would notice and follow you in the dimly lit streets of the little city you lived in.
Maybe in another life you would have liked walks outside. But this world was evil. If you already hated being outside even in the daylight, when the moon rose on the sky, your senses were heightened to a maximum.
The walk to Jongho’s place wasn’t practically that long despite it being on a completely different area of the city. He actually lived in a house instead of a crappy, crampy apartment like you did.
You were always astonished by his house. It was of an appropriate size but screamed how rich he was. A slightly annoyed huff fell from your lips as you thought about how he had said you couldn’t go ice skating for it being too expensive. Dude lived in the most prestigious area of the city but complained about the cost of ice skating. The memory made you smile nonetheless.
There was a gate separating his yard and house from the street. You rang the doorbell on it, wishing sincerely he’d let you in or at least talk to you.
The weather wasn’t windy but you still felt cold. Maybe Jongho would see you shivering and let you in out of pity. That is if he was even alive anymore.
The house stood dark and tall in front of you, and the only thing separating you from Jongho was the gate. Your heart clenched at the unbearable thought of having lost him forever. Losing his friendship felt even harder knowing that you had never had much friends in the first place.
After 10 minutes, you walked away from the house, steps heavy with disappointment. You had driven Jongho away with your anger. It was difficult to remember in that moment that your anger had been completely justified. You just wanted to see Jongho again.
As if the situation hadn’t been depressing enough already, small, cool drops of water fell on your skin. Even the sky was crying with you.
You kept walking, bravely telling yourself that you didn’t care about the rain turning into a downpour. But eventually, it started bothering you too much. It was cold, wet and dark, and you felt yourself getting frustrated.
You found a shelter next to a small grocery store that was nearing its closing hours. Sure, it would have been wiser to go inside the store to warm up for a moment, but you were just going to stay in the shelter for a moment for the rain to stop.
Some people walked past you out of the store occasionally but you were too deep in your thoughts to pay attention to it. Then a voice of a man clearly talking to you snapped you out of it.
“Waiting for the rain to stop, huh?”
“Yeah,” you glanced at the man quickly, not wanting to give him too much attention.
Noticing that the middle-aged man was dressed up in dirty clothes and reeked of alcohol made you already uneasy. But the look in his dazed eyes was more concerning; he eyed you up and down, and smiled at you. It was not a kind nor inviting smile. It was a predatory smile flashed at you with yellow teeth.
“I can wait with you so you won’t be lonely.”
You felt your heartrate speed up. There was no way that man had good intentions with the way he shifted closer to you.
“Thanks, but there’s no need to... Your groceries should be taken to your fridge quickly before they get bad.”
Your attempt to politely refuse his offer didn’t work.
“Oh, sweet girl. Don’t worry, I don’t have any purchases that need immediate care,” the man grinned and moved closer once again to show the contents of his plastic bag.
It didn’t surprise you to find the bag was filled with beer bottles. You had to come up with a new excuse.
“What about your wife? She’s surely waiting for you already.”
“Hm? You’re prettier than her. Not so wrinkly and not always nagging about my drinking.”
You felt disgusted on so many levels; the man had no right to talk that way about his wife when he looked like a malformed abomination of a rat that had escaped from the sewers. Hell, no man should talk about their own wife like that, no matter the looks.
“A pretty girl like you deserves a man like me. Young men nowadays are so feminine and sensitive,” the man smirked arrogantly, “A true man knows his own power and how to use it to his advantage.”
Your hand slipped inside your pocket. It was not for warmth but for reaching the pepper spray. Everyone used to laugh at you for carrying that because you’d probably never have to use it. But you’d have the last laugh.
“What are you hiding in your pockets?” the man’s eyes were directed at your hands, a deep frown settling on his face.
“J-Just warming up my hands.”
“Bullshit. Are you trying to call the police on me?”
If you were afraid before, now you were definitely terrified. How could you even use the pepper spray when your hands were trembling in fear?
“You stupid bitch. What did I even do? Women don’t appreciate compliments these days anymore!” the man shouted angrily, and instead of standing lazily like before, he turned his body wholly towards you.
You couldn’t freeze in that moment. No way in hell were you going to let that man touch you.
But as you were about to pull the pepper spray from your pocket, a familiar voice caught both your and the man’s attention.
“Step away from her.”
Your head snapped into the direction of the voice, and you noticed; Yunho stood there, firm and commanding. For the first time in your life, you saw him in a good light. The long coat he wore could have been a superhero cloak, that’s how grateful you were.
“Who are you to command me like that?” the drunkard scoffed at Yunho.
But as Yunho walked closer, the man seemingly realized how much taller Yunho was, how much at disadvantage the man was.
“I’m telling you one last time to step away and leave immediately.”
“Pfft. What are you? A policeman?” the man attempted to assert dominance and show off his fragile masculinity.
“In fact, I am. Although I’m off-duty, I have a couple weapons with me,” Yunho said, clearly not intimidated at all, “I won’t shoot you but I can guarantee that getting tazed doesn’t feel pleasant either.”
To emphasize his words, Yunho pulled out a taser and swung it in his hands. The other man’s defiant expression morphed into a pathetic look of fear.
“Sorry, man. I’ll go,” the man rushed away like there was a tail between his legs.
You looked at Yunho with admiration. Even the guilt for doubting his intentions and nature before didn’t shake your mind at that moment; you just needed desperately to show your appreciation for him.
Still, the best you could do was look at Yunho with wide eyes and utter a few words.
“Thank you.”
Yunho smiled, looking almost giddy when you talked to him, “I just did my duty.”
“Your duty as a policeman?”
“Yes, but mostly my duty as your personal protector.”
A little giggle left your lips at Yunho’s comment. There was a warm feeling of gratitude in your chest. Yunho had never been a bad man after all although acting quite weirdly occasionally.
“I’m more than just grateful. You saved me from a dangerous situation.”
Yunho’s cheeks flushed and an adorable, sheepish smile spread on his lips. Having been always suspicious of him, you hadn’t realized before how sweet he looked every time you talked to him.
“Let me walk you home. You must be scared after meeting that creep,” Yunho extended his hand out for you. In his other hand he held an umbrella which had a Spiderman print.
What was the worst thing that could happen if you took his hand in yours?
You felt like the company of a man who had proven his good intentions would bring you safety on your way home. You grabbed Yunho’s large hand in yours, feeling comforted yet a little nervous.
“So, you like Spiderman?”
Yunho chuckled at your question. He seemed overjoyed to walk hand-in-hand with you even though it was raining cats and dogs.
“He’s what I want to become. A hero.”
You smiled softly and couldn’t resist the temptation to say something corny, “You’re already my hero.”
Yunho laughed heartily and glanced at you. His eyes were twinkling, replacing the stars that couldn’t be seen that night due to the clouded sky.
“What are you doing out this late anyways?” he inquired.
The air felt a little colder again as your thoughts wandered to Jongho.
“Jongho has disappeared. I’ve tried to contact him but there’s no answer,” you revealed, “I went to his house tonight in hopes of finding him there, but it’s like he’s avoiding me.”
Something flickered in Yunho’s eyes for a split second before a thoughtful look set on his face. He squeezed your hand a little.
“That must be rough. He’s your boyfriend after all.”
“Well, not anymore. There was an incident that led to me breaking up with him,” you muttered.
The man next to you nodded and spoke again, “I can help you find him. I’m a policeman, you know? We may not have enough reason to report him as missing, but I have my knowledge of finding missing people as my offer.”
Yunho’s hand may have been warm but the smile on his face was even warmer; it comforted you.
When the two of you eventually stood at your doorstep, Yunho’s reluctance to let go of your hand was clear. His eyebrows were slightly furrowed in concern.
“Are you okay? The man must have scared you badly.”
You let go of Yunho’s hand to pull the pepper spray out of your pocket.
“You’re my favorite hero but this one will come in handy sometimes too,” you chuckled.
Yunho smiled, “Just call me whenever you need help with anything. And I mean anything.”
You offered your phone for Yunho to type in his number. Suddenly, he frowned.
“Why is your home screen wallpaper a picture of you and Yeosang?” he asked, voice a few degrees colder than before.
It was strange to see that sweet man get so worked up over a simple picture.
“Yeosang is practically my only friend. I like to have a reminder of that now I have someone to rely on.”
The embarrassment in your voice was clear as you were forced to explain your sad situation of friendships. At least Yunho’s expression softened.
“I’ll be your friend from now on. Make sure to spend time with me... and change that wallpaper,” Yunho spoke.
The next week Jongho wasn’t at the group therapy meeting. Just like the week before, he was gone, leaving you worried. But at least now you had someone who would be able to help search for him.
The room felt so empty without him but no-one else seemed to care.
Charlotte didn’t even question Jongho’s absence that time, just moving straight to the activities of the day.
“Find yourself a pair,” Charlotte guided with a mysterious smile, “I won’t tell you what the activity is yet.”
Wooyoung and San paired up immediately, and Seonghwa and Hongjoong glanced at each other in agreement. They had found their cliques, the person who they got along with the best. It was beyond your understanding though how someone as sweet as Seonghwa could like Hongjoong.
You didn’t even have time to get up from your seat when Yunho had appeared in front of you like out of thin air. You felt a little intimidated and small while he stood over you, but the fear you used to feel around him was gone. He was just a gentle giant, the hero who had saved you from a situation that could have escalated.
“Be my pair,” Yunho requested.
His request was tempting but there was someone else standing a little farther away, looking at you longingly; it was Yeosang.
“I think Yeosang wants-”
“Please,” Yunho said, voice soft and almost vulnerable.
You didn’t want to betray Yeosang but Yunho’s sad look tugged at your heartstrings. It didn’t take too long for you to give an apologetic look to Yeosang and a nod for Yunho.
From the corner of your eye, you saw Yeosang walk over to Mingi and pair up with him. You’d apologize to Yeosang later.
Yunho sat down next to you, his long legs brushing against yours briefly. Now that he was sitting next to you just like the first time you met, he seemed satisfied.
“The topic of today is relationships to other people. Discuss with your partner about the person who has the most meaning in your life right at this moment,” Charlotte revealed the task.
That was the hardest topic for you so far. There had never been much people to start with who would have cared about you as you cared about them. It was a curse to love but to be unable to be loved. Sometimes you wished upon the stars that you could stop caring about people. However, no matter how much you cried after lost friends, the universe just brought more people to lose into your life.
Maybe that’s why Jongho’s disappearance bothered you so much. Losing another friend was expected but the way he had completely vanished was slowly breaking you apart. You couldn’t help but blame yourself. It had been completely justified to kick him out of your apartment that day he threw the plate on Yeosang’s face; you shouldn’t feel ashamed.
“Y/N? Are you okay?”
Yunho’s voice brought you back on Earth, saving you from your drowning thoughts.
You might have lost Jongho’s friendship but you gained Yunho’s. It was just the matter of time when you’d mess up that situation as well.
“I’m okay. I was just thinking what to talk about in this topic,” your smile was weak yet reassuring enough.
“If it helps you, I can go first,” Yunho suggested.
At your nod, Yunho began to talk about the person who meant the most to him. His eyes practically shined like he was passionate about the chance to finally tell you about the love of his life.
“There’s a woman who stole my heart a couple years ago. I haven’t been able to think about anyone else after she caught my attention.”
It was honestly adorable to hear Yunho ramble about the woman. A hint of jealousy gnawed at your insides; for someone to love you like Yunho loved the woman was a dream.
“The way she walked out of the police station, the way she talked to the other officers, scared and needing help... It made me realize the meaning of my life isn’t to protect all the people. It’s to protect her.”
Yunho was clearly devoted. His words were sweet at first. The way he talked about her was a clear indication of how much she had affected his life. But suddenly his words took a slightly darker turn.
“I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her safe and happy in my arms. It doesn’t matter if I have to burn her house or the whole world as long as she runs to me for safety,” Yunho spoke, his voice loving, the complete opposite of his words.
“Wow, she’s one lucky girl,” you chuckled nervously.
Surely Yunho must have meant it as a joke. He was a man of justice, not an arsonist.
“She’s my lucky girl,” Yunho smiled softly at you, “So, who is the person you hold dear to your heart?”
You still hadn’t come up with a good answer. The only friends you had in that moment were Yeosang and Yunho, but you knew neither of them well enough. Jongho had grown quite close with you, at least you liked to think so, but he was gone now.
“I don’t really have people who are close to me,” you admitted reluctantly, feeling unsure if you should tell these kinds of things.
“Just say anyone.”
“Well, I think Yeosang is the closest to me right now.”
Yunho’s encouraging smile turned into a frown. It baffled you; there was always a chance that you could be the woman Yunho loved, but he had mentioned having met her a couple years ago already.
“Yeosang? Why him?”
“I think he’s kind to me, and we’ve hung out a lot.”
Your murmured explanation didn’t satisfy Yunho. It was obvious how hard he tried to control his facial expressions, to hide how upset he was.
“Haven’t I been kind to you?” Yunho inquired.
“Yes, you have but-”
“Did you change your wallpaper yet?”
“I-I forgot,” as soon as you answered, Yunho grabbed your purse and started going through the contents of it.
Your eyes widened as he took the matter of changing your wallpaper into his own hands. He was rummaging through your little bag, and you couldn’t let that happen. A woman’s purse was a private thing, especially when that woman was slightly paranoid at the excuse of valued safety.
“Hey! Give it back,” you reached for your purse.
Yunho didn’t care and kept taking things out of it, letting them fall to the floor. Some makeup, a hairbrush and wallet were already in everyone’s sight.
“Yunho, give Y/N her bag back, please,” Charlotte finally tried to stop the situation but her spineless words meant nothing to Yunho.
You tried desperately to gather your things before anything too personal would be revealed, but Yunho just kept throwing things out.
“What is this?” Wooyoung grabbed an object from the floor, inspecting it in his hand.
Your face heated up at the sight of Wooyoung holding something private. Gazing at him angrily from the floor, you were about to demand him to give it back.
“That’s a woman diaper!” Mingi exclaimed, shocked at the unbelievable, astonishing, mind-blowing sight of a menstrual pad.
You couldn’t believe this was happening. All your stuff on the floor for everyone to see and judge, and now Wooyoung and Mingi had humiliated you with their discovery.
“No, Mingi. That is called a menstrual pad,” Charlotte spoke softly like talking to a child.
You wished Jongho was there to knock some sense into everyone. Most likely, he wouldn’t have even done that, but you liked to believe he would have defended your honor. The honor that went down the drain like your appreciation and respect for Yunho.
San snatched the pad from Wooyoung’s hands, clearly frustrated. With no hesitation he walked to you and kneeled down on your level.
“Let me help you,” he said quietly and gave you the pad.
It was just a mere hygiene product, but to you, it felt like he was giving the prettiest flower bouquet ever. In your moment of helplessness, he had wanted to help you.
San started gathering the objects from the floor to their rightful place, your purse. His lips were pressed tightly together like he was feeling annoyed.
“You don’t have to help if you don’t want to,” you spoke quietly, feeling exhausted because of the emotional rollercoaster.
“I want to help,” he looked up a little to give you a gentle smile, “What kind of a person would I be if I didn’t?”
“Apparently the kind everyone else is.”
San chuckled at your bitter mumble. You could see he was holding back his own irritation to calm you down.
Soon, Yeosang joined in to help you and San. You were grateful for those two; the only people in the room you respected. Seonghwa had the potential to be one of those as well, but his friendship with Hongjoong made you mentally avoid him.
Once all your belongings were back in the purse, you turned to Yunho. It was hard to be angry at people whether you knew them well or not; if you knew someone well, you were afraid they’d leave you and if you didn’t know them well, you were afraid they’d be violent. That’s why expressing your feelings of hurt felt dangerous.
You snatched your phone away from Yunho. Surprisingly, the wallpaper hadn’t been changed.
“Why is the wallpaper still the same?” you were gritting your teeth as you spoke.
“I couldn’t unlock your phone,” Yunho’s expression turned guilty, “Look, I’m sorry-”
“Save it. I’m going home.”
You had gone through that terrible moment just for Yunho to not even change your wallpaper. Sure, you should have been glad he couldn’t unlock your phone, but it felt somehow so futile.
As you rid the bus home, you couldn’t help but think; the group therapy didn’t feel helpful or healing at all. You had found Yeosang and Jongho through it, but at what cost? One of the members was a stalker for God’s sake.
Speaking of which, you hadn’t noticed much signs of the stalker in the near days. Would it have been naive to think that fake dating Jongho could have scared him away? Probably yes.
You got off the bus and started making your way back to home. Usually, it was darker at that time of the day, but the seasons were changing. You wished you could change too. You wished you could put an end to your sickness and struggles, to live a normal life, so you wouldn’t have to deal with the sickos at the group therapy.
Maybe it was time to stop going to the therapy. You’d rather live without the social assistance of the government than step inside the nightmarish room of armchairs and supposedly therapeutic talk again.
As you arrived at your door, you reached into your purse like you did every day. A twinge of panic twitched inside your chest as you couldn’t find your keys. They were most likely just deeper inside the purse, and you’d have to look again.
But no matter how much you searched, the keys weren’t there in your purse, jingling like they always did. There was no sight of them even when you emptied the whole purse.
You were positive you, Yeosang, and San had picked up all the objects from the floor. All your other belongings were with you but the keys were gone. It would have been more pleasant if the damn pad had been left behind, but now you were denied the access to your own apartment.
It was possible that someone took your keys when they were still on the floor.
But now the most important thing was to find a place you could sleep at. You didn’t trust your neighbors and you couldn’t afford a hotel room. After some thinking you realized your only option was to beg Yeosang to let you sleep in his apartment. Such a splendid idea to have a sleepover with a man you met in a therapy group for mentally ill. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ <- Chapter 7. Chapter 9. -> Masterlist ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Taglist: @devilzliaison @lover-with-dolar-sign-is-a-loser @passerbyforfun @gigikubolong29 @peqchplvto
#kpop fanfic#kpop x reader#ateez#ateez x reader#ateez fanfic#ateez fic#ateez yandere#choi jongho#choi san#jung wooyoung#song mingi#kim hongjoong#park seonghwa#jeong yunho#kang yeosang#choi jongho x reader#choi san x reader#jung wooyoung x reader#song mingi x reader#kim hongjoong x reader#park seonghwa x reader#jeong yunho x reader#kang yeosang x reader#yandere hongjoong#yandere seonghwa#yandere san#yandere jongho#yandere wooyoung#yandere yeosang#yandere mingi
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Thankful for You
Master List
Characters: Dean Winchester X Reader (wife), Sam Winchester, Eileen Leahy, Cass, Jack
Warnings: Just a little holiday fluff.
A/N: Just a short story about Thanksgiving Day in the bunker. The reader and Dean are newly married and she wants their first Thanksgiving as a married couple to be perfect.
I picked Dean instead of Jensen or any of his other characters, because Dean was the one who wouldn’t know what a traditional Thanksgiving would look like.
Does not follow the Supernatural story line. Used characters from the show, but all work is my own. I do not own the rights to these characters.
Please don’t take my work. Reblogs and likes are appreciated.
Written fast and not edited, please overlook any errors.
Minors DNI 18+
I woke up early, Dean’s arm laying loosely over my body. I slipped out of bed to our shared bathroom and took a quick shower. I needed to get the turkey on so it could be ready before everyone came over.
Dean and I had been married about 6 months and this was our first real Thanksgiving. Since he grew up in the hunting life, Thanksgiving wasn’t something he celebrated. I on the other hand always had the traditional Thanksgiving with all the food, football and family you could handle.
I had bought a turkey, ham, rolls, yams, potatoes, green beans, stuffing, and of course pie. I knew I wouldn’t have time to bake all the pies, so I bought a few, but wanted to make Dean a cherry pie from scratch.
I was thankful we had multiple ovens in the bunker, otherwise there was no way I could pull off roasting a turkey, making a ham and the pie in one day.
After my shower I went into the kitchen and prepared the turkey. Once it was in the oven I started on the pie and ham. By the time Dean got up I was washing and peeling potatoes.
He walked into the kitchen and leaned against the doorframe. His arms were crossed over his firm chest, and his feet crossed at the ankles. He smiled as he watched me flit around the kitchen.
“Need any help, sweetheart.” His voice startled me. I looked up at him and bit my lip. God I was so incredibly lucky to have him. “Good morning, Dean. No, I'm okay right now.”
He crossed the room, came up behind me and wrapped his arms around me. I leaned into his chest and he kissed my temple. “Do I smell pie?” He grinned.
“Yes you do, but it’s in the oven. You have to wait.” Dean’s bottom lip poked out in a pout. I turned and faced him, placing my hands on his chest. “Dean, it’s not ready yet. You have to wait.” “Is that the only pie?” He asked with a smirk.
“Now what do you think?” I said as I walked towards the counter. I held up the pumpkin pie and a grin spread across his face. He took three steps towards me and took the pie out of my hand with a chuckle.
“Dean Winchester, give that back to me. That’s for later.” He laughed as he held it over my head. “What’s wrong sweetheart? Can’t reach it? You’re welcome to have it back if you can reach it.”
“Oh you’re so mean.” We both were laughing and I kept jumping, trying to reach the pie. Sam appeared at the door and saw us playing around. He loved seeing his brother so happy.
“Alright you two, get a room.” He said as he walked in to grab a coffee. “Sam, please tell your brother to give me back the pie. It’s for later.” Sam chuckled, threw his hands up in defeat, “You’re on your own shortstack. I thought you’d know by now to never get in the way of Dean and his pie.”
“Hey! You’re supposed to be on my side, Sammy.” I said as I kept trying to get the pie. “Thanks baby brother.” Dean laughed.
“Alright, both of you, out of my kitchen. I have dinner to finish and you’re distracting me, Dean.” Dean placed the pie down, pulled me flush to him and kissed my lips.
“God I love you, Y/N. I can’t believe you’re mine.” “I love you too, Dean, and you better believe it. Until my last breath, I’m yours.”
Dean walked out of the kitchen and turned back to look at me again. His heart leaped in his chest.
I finished getting the rest of the food prepared and I set the dining room table. Sam invited Eileen, Jack and Cass were coming, and of course Dean and I would be there. I was excited to have all of our family there to help celebrate Thanksgiving.
As I stepped into mine and Dean’s room I found him sitting at his desk writing. I hadn’t seen him write in a long time. He told me when we first started dating he would write sometimes to help with his anxiety.
“Hey, baby. I’m just gonna jump in the shower before everyone gets here.” I said as I stepped into the room. Dean looked up, “Okay sweetheart. I’ll be done here in a minute.” I lightly touched his shoulder, “Okay Dean.”
“Hey sweetheart?” I turned to look at Dean from the bathroom doorway, “Yes?” “I love you.” I smiled, “I love you too, Dean.”
About twenty minutes later I was showered, dressed and ready for dinner. When I walked into the room, Dean was gone and his journal was tucked away in its spot on the desk. I nervously bit my lip. I couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness creep into my heart. Dean was upset about something, but he was keeping it from me. I had worked so hard to get most of his walls down, it broke my heart to think there was something bothering him that he felt he couldn’t share with me.
I took a deep breath and walked towards the dining room. Sam, Eileen, Cas and Jack were all there chatting. I looked around for Dean but didn’t see him.
They all greeted me, “Hey Y/N. Everything looks delicious, are you ready to eat?” I smiled, “Sure, y’all dig in. I’m going to find Dean.” Sam looked up at me, “He’s in the garage.” I nodded and walked towards the garage.
I heard Dean before I even got in the room. I walked over to Baby and saw Dean sitting in the car. His eyes met mine, “Damn.” He whispered, causing me to blush.
“Dean, dinner is ready. Let’s go eat.” Dean climbed out of the car and pulled me flush to him. “Look at how beautiful you look, sweetheart. I am one lucky man.” “Don’t you forget it, Mr. Winchester.” “I could never, Mrs. Winchester.”
“Before we go, Y/N I wanted to talk to you.” I swallowed the lump in my throat and bit my bottom lip, “Okay.” My voice barely a whisper. “I’ve done some pretty screwed up stuff in my life. I never thought I was worthy of anything, let alone love. Then I met you. I am thankful every single day I get to wake up next to you as your husband. You making this day special, this meal for us means so much to me. Nobody has ever loved me like you do. I know you saw me writing earlier, and I wanted to talk to you about that.”
“Dean, you don’t have to. I know it’s how you deal with things in your head. Whatever you wrote, it’s okay if you keep it to yourself.”
Dean stepped closer, “Baby I want to tell you. It’s about you, us.” “Okay, Dean. Whatever you have to say I can take it. No matter what it is.” My heart hammered in my chest. I was terrified and didn’t know why.
“Sweetheart, I’m ready.” I looked at him confused. “Ready to eat?” I asked. Dean chuckled, “No, well, yes, but that’s not what I’m talking about. I’m ready to start a family with you. I want us to have those babies we talked about. I want to leave this world a little better than we found it.”
My breath hitched, “What? You really want to start a family?” “Yes, Y/N. I want to start a family with you. I can’t wait to see our babies and raise them by your side.”
I threw my arms around his neck and wrapped my legs around his waist. “Yes, Dean! A thousand times yes! Let’s have a baby.” Dean kissed me deeply, “Wanna go start now?” He winked.
“As much as I would, we do have a table full of guests who are hungry.” Dean chuckled, “You’re right. Let’s go eat. I can’t wait to get some of that pie you made.” “I can’t wait to start a family with you, Dean.” He grabbed my hand, “Me either, darlin’.”
Dean and I walked into the dining room and greeted everyone. As I sat down and looked around the table at my family I smiled. I loved every single person sitting here with me, and I couldn’t wait to bring a little one into this family.
We love each other deeply, protect completely, and never give up on each other. I know our baby will grow up loved, strong and protected.
As dinner started to wrap up, Sam and Eileen announced they were going to be getting married, Cas and Jack were rebuilding heaven, and Dean announced he and I were going to work on starting a family.
Everyone was excited for us. Jack stepped close to me and whispered in my ear. I looked at him and he nodded.
My heart fluttered. Later that night, Dean and I laid in bed, after a few times of trying and he held me tight.
“Y/N, thank you for a wonderful day. I am so thankful for you.” “Dean, I am thankful for you too, and our baby.”
Dean’s brain took a second to catch what I said. His eyes shot open and he propped himself up on his elbow, “What baby?” I looked at my husband, deep in his green eyes, “Jack told me tonight I’m pregnant, Dean. We’re pregnant.”
“Oh my god, sweetheart. I’m gonna be a dad?” “Yes, Dean. You’re going to be a dad.” Dean gently placed his strong, calloused hands on my belly and kissed my lips. “Now this is something to be thankful for.” “Yes it is, Dean. Happy Thanksgiving, my love.” Dean cupped my face, “Happy Thanksgiving to you too, sweetheart.”
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#hes gorgeous#so damn sexy#dean x reader#dean winchester#dean winchester x plus size!reader#dean winchester x reader
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Alex, I know you posted this a million years ago (aka August), but I wanted an excuse to talk about this, so here's my answer. I'm not actively working on any of my WIPs at the moment, but they never truly leave my mind, and divinity wip has the most clear inspirations. This is the "inspirations" section of the (unposted) wip intro for divinity wip:
Divinity: Original Sin 2, Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous, Lord of the Rings (specifically Sam & Frodo's relationship), this post,
(The post that says "it's okay to love a god, it's only a problem when the god loves you back" should also be on this list, but I couldn't find it.)
At the time that I got the idea for Divinity WIP, I was going strong on my P:WotR hyperfixation, and had just finished the entire game (which took me 107 hours) in 1 month and 3 days. My character took the Angel mythic path, and in her epilogue, eventually went to this world's "heaven". But she was married on Golarion. Specifically to a man who has a shorter lifespan than the average human, and who only ever wanted a normal life. But now his wife is immortal and also a literal angel, complete with wings and a halo, so there goes that plan!!
That, combined with seeing a couple of very specific posts about divinity and humanity and divine power that's killing you, led me to come up with my own idea of a person who is receiving some kind of intense divine power. But it's not their choice, and now they have to live with it (and maybe die because of it), and lose everything they ever loved about their human life... And what about the people who love them? There are places a mortal can't possibly go, but what happens if they try? When you say "Don't go where I can't follow", how far are you willing to follow? Will you follow them to the ends of the earth, even if it means your own destruction?
I also specifically wanted to explore that kind of unyielding devotion from a 100% platonic perspective, no romance involved. As an aroace person, the idea of having someone who is my whole world, but with no romantic or sexual strings involved is the ultimate fantasy. Most of the time when you see these kinds of "I would do anything for you" stories, it's in a romantic context. And even with Sam and Frodo, who are definitely an inspiration for this, people can't seem to accept the idea that there can be that kind of devotion without romance. (I'm not saying you can't ship them, but I do wish there was less of a "they can't possibly just be friends. Friends don't do that." in the general fandom.
writers: what inspired your current WIP?
#morrigan.text#divinity wip#divinity wip inspo#it's funny that I know almost nothing about this wip and yet it's the wip with the most clear-cut inspirations that I can point to.#all my others just kind of... happened. popped into my head without an easy explanation of where I got the idea.#this is actually the only one I can clearly list my inspirations for.
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Mick Schumacher (Alpine WEC) - A Ferrari Affair
Requested: yes
Warnings: none
The cold London air was crisp as Y/n Irvine stepped out of the sleek black car, her Ferrari jacket zipped up against the chill. A sea of fans gathered outside the O2 Arena, waving banners, flags, and memorabilia as they eagerly waited for a glimpse of their favorite drivers. Y/n adjusted her collar, the embroidered number 7 catching the light, a tribute to her father, Eddie, who had debuted with the same number in his F1 career.
Beside her, Mick exited the car, dressed casually but with a quiet confidence. Their relationship had blossomed in recent months, but most fans still assumed they were just lifelong best friends. As the pair moved toward the entrance, the crowd erupted into cheers. "Y/n! Over here!" shouted a fan holding a Ferrari flag. She grinned, turning to Mick. "Go on inside. I’ll catch up after saying hi."
"Not a chance." Mick replied with a smirk, following her to the barricade where fans eagerly waited. Y/n signed autographs and posed for pictures, her warmth and genuine smile making each interaction feel personal. Mick lingered nearby, and a few fans called out to him too. "Mick! Can we get a photo?"
"Of course." He replied, stepping up with his easygoing charm. As they continued toward the arena’s entrance, Y/n nudged him. "Didn't know you still had fans." She joked. Mick chuckled. "’m just your entourage. They want the Ferrari star."
Inside, the atmosphere was a mix of glitz and nerves. Drivers, team personnel, and media buzzed around as the launch event got underway. The drivers had a brief respite before the red carpet event, giving Y/n a moment to chat with her Ferrari teammate, Charles. "You look nervous." Charles teased, adjusting the cufflinks on his tailored suit. "I’m more nervous about surviving the carpet." Y/n quipped. "You always make it look so easy."
"That’s because Alex does all the work." Charles joked, motioning toward his girlfriend, Alexandra, who was chatting with a group of Ferrari personnel. When it was time for the red carpet, Charles led Alexandra out first, the pair effortlessly posing for the cameras. The photographers shouted instructions as flashes lit up the room. "Our competition is literally a pair of models." Y/n whispered. Mick scoffed. "It's not a competition, why is everything with you a competition?" He chuckled. "It's more fun that way."
Then it was Y/n’s turn. She motioned for her parents, Eddie and her mother, to join her. Mick walked just behind them, his expression calm but proud. "Big smiles, everyone." Eddie said as they stepped into the lights. The cameras clicked furiously, capturing the Irvines in their element. The photographers then called for just the drivers and their plus-ones, prompting the Irvine couple to step aside. Mick hesitated, glancing at Y/n. "Looks like you’re stuck with me." She teased, pulling him into place beside her. "That doesn't sound too bad to me." He replied quietly as Charles and Alex came back. The quartet posed together, exuding elegance and charisma. The photographers murmured among themselves, still assuming Mick and Y/n were just close friends.
♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
Backstage, the drivers returned to their dressing rooms to change into their race suits. Y/N sat in a chair as makeup artists and hairstylists worked around her. Mick stood with her parents, chatting casually, while Sylvia, Ferrari’s PR lead, addressed the room. "Y/n, you’ll likely get a question or two about your father’s time at Ferrari. It’s a nice tie-in, but make sure to highlight your own story and what you’re bringing to the team." Sylvia advised. Y/n grinned. "They’ll probably ask if I think I’ll get a championship before Dad did." Eddie smirked. "Where’s yours?" Without missing a beat, Y/n quipped. "It's coming, oul' fella, whereas your's must've got lost in the post." The room erupted into laughter, the tension dissolving.
As the makeup artist finished the final touches on Y/n’s look, smoothing out her bright red Ferrari overalls, Sylvia gave the final rundown. "Charles and Y/n, you’ll be the second-to-last team to go on. Stay close to the stage. The two of you will introduce the car and field some questions."
"Sound job." Y/n replied, exchanging a look with Charles. "Try not to say the Red Bull looks shit." Charles whispered. "Sure it's a drinks can on wheels." Y/n shot back, grinning. As the car reveals began, Y/n and Charles stood at the side of the stage, commenting on the other teams. "The Aston looks good." Charles noted. "You'd think Adrian would've changed the colour." Y/n joked.
When it was finally Ferrari’s turn, the F1-75 was unveiled in a dramatic display of lights and music. The sleek, scarlet car gleamed under the spotlight, its aggressive lines and unmistakable heritage drawing gasps from the audience. Charles and Y/n stepped forward, microphones in hand. "Charles, Y/n, welcome to London." The crowd erupted into cheers as the pair waved. "How has the off season been treating you both?" The interviewer asked. "Pretty good, but it's time to get back to work now. We are here to fight and here to win." Y/n replied, drawing more cheers from the fans. "Speaking of fighting and winning, let's put our attention on the car. I mean, it's a thing of beauty."
"It looks fast." Charles said simply, earning a laugh from the crowd. "The team has worked so hard on it, the engineers, aerodynamicists, car design, they have all been working hard in the factory."
"And what do you think, Y/n?" She sighed, thinking of a response. "Just to add to Charles there, it's more than fast." Y/n added. "It’s a Ferrari. This car represents so much history, and I’m excited to be a part of that legacy." The questions continued, and finally, the faithful question was asked; what does this mean to be following in her father’s footsteps.
"It’s surreal." She admitted. "My dad spent a few great years here, and now I have the chance to build my own story with Ferrari. I can’t wait to see what this season brings." Charles chimed in, "It’s also great to have such a historical name back in the sport. Y/n brings a fresh perspective, and we’re already working well together."
After the event wrapped, Alexandra and Mick made their way toward the stage. A fan with a phone captured the moment as Alexandra greeted Charles with a kiss. In the background, Mick approached Y/n, wrapping her in a tight hug before kissing her softly. The fan uploaded the video, and within hours, social media exploded with excitement.
It’s like something out of a fanfiction!
Y/n and Mick are the couple we didn’t know we needed!
Childhood friends to lovers ahhhhh
#f1 imagine#f1 blurb#f1 oneshot#f1 x reader#f1 x y/n#f1 oneshots#mick schumacher fluff#mick schumacher x reader#mick schumacher fanfic#mick schumacher fanfiction#mick schumacher x y/n#mick schumacher x yn#mick schumacher x you#mick schumacher fic#mick schumacher imagine#mick schumacher
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11/23-24/2024 Daily OFMD Recap
TLDR; Republic Of Pirates: Airport Con! - Rhys, Con, Nathan, Vico, and Kristian; Photo Dumps on Tumblr; Positive Comments from the Con; ROP: Fan Spotlight!; More Cast & Crew Sightings: Rhys Darby; Taika Waititi; Zayre Ferrer; Voting Reminders; Love Notes!
Hey all! Sorry after tumblr killed my drafts I lost all motivation because I was very grumpy so this is much later than intended-- but it did let me get a hold of a few more lovely folks so it worked out!!
= Rhys, Con, Nathan, Vico, and Kristian =
So many of you got to make it to the Republic of Pirates Con this past weekend with Starfury Conventions! It sounded like a completely bonkers, amazing con! So many cool pictures from cast and crew, and fans alike!
Sources: Con's Instagram, Starfury IG/Twitter / 2
Some shots of Kristian's awesome concert with the cast!
Source: Vico's IG Stories
And that video of Rhys and Con from Rhys---Thank you @sherlockig for bringing it over to tumblr!
Source: @sherlockig's Tumblr
== ROP Photo Dumps on Tumblr ==
There were some awesome folks who attended the convention that posted more photos if you wanna check them out!
= Crimson & Clover =
Super huge thanks to the extremely kind @crimson-and-clover-1717 for sharing these uplifting pics!!
Rhysie Pics
Message and Pic From the Crew
Source: @crimson-and-clover-1717
= London Spirit =
Also major thanks to the darling @londonspirit who was kind enough to let me share her photo dumps and this cast photo! She's going to be doing a write up and another dump soon (but needs a much deserved break!) so keep an eye on her blog for more fun stuff in the future!
Photo Dump 1
Photo Dump 2
Source: @londonspirit's Tumblr
== Some Uplifting Convention Comments ==
Source: TrixnTreats Bsky
(Also by Rhys!)
Source: Comedy Nerd Bsky
== Republic of Pirates Fan Spotlight! ==
= Unicorn Death Race =
One of our incredibly talented crewmates @unicorndeathrace cosplayed as the absolutely devastated (and devastatingly gorgeous) Widow Olivia! The cast gave a standing ovation and everything! So well done hon!
Source: @unicorndeathrace's Tumblr
PS: Does anyone know who else placed in the competition? I'd love to reach out to them!
== Cast & Crew Sightings ==
= Rhys Darby =
Are you going to be in LA on the 6th of December? Well Rhys will be there at his RD Saying Funny Things Society! You can get tickets here: Tickets to the show on December 6, 2024 in Largo Los Angeles (Note: I could have sworn he was going to Galaxy Con Columbus that weekend but it sounds like he's not (either anymore or ever?), sorry if I gave the wrong info previously!)
Source: Rhys' Bsky
Rhys got a new phone pen and the Darby Daily Doodles are back!
Source: Rhys' Substack
= Taika Waititi =
More pictures from kokocamden from a couple weeks back!
Source: Julien MaxP Instagram
= Zayre Ferrer =
One of our Fab writers, Zayre Ferrer has been doing an "Imaginary Spin Off Series" set of posts where they are coming up with amazing spin off ideas for shows that have ended/been cancelled. Their latest is Nana-- but if you arent already following along, there are some pretty bad ass ones in there!
Source: Zayre Ferrer's Bsky
== Voting Reminder! ==
Voyage of the Damned by Frances White, and audiobook narrated by our beloved Lucius, Nathan Foad has made it to the final rounds of the 2024 Goodreads Choice Awards. If you enjoyed it and want to support it, can you please give it a vote when you have a moment? Thanks!
== Love Notes ==
Hey there lovelies! I hope those of you who got to go to the convention this past weekend had such an amazing time! Those of us on the opposite side of the world, or who couldn't make it really appreciate all the love and sharing you did! It sounds like you had such a blast! One thing I want to send is many many hugs because I know there's always the post-con funk that can happen, and I know coming down from that high can be a bit rough! Just remember to be kind with yourself and give yourself some extra grace if you're having some big feelings this week okay? Prioritize you! Things will look up again, and I hope you have those beautiful memories keeping you warm while they do <3
instagram
Source: KatieAbey's Instagram
#Instagram#daily ofmd recap#ofmd daily recap#rhys darby#taika waititi#vico ortiz#con o neill#nathan foad#kristian nairn#zayre ferrer#ofmd#our flag means death#sfrop#con o'neill#star fury republic of pirates#republic of pirates convention 2024#save ofmd#adopt our crew#long live ofmd#crew4life
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Dave Lizewski x fem!reader
Summary: you decide to teach your boyfriend to drive
Warnings: fluffy, cute scenes, sweet couple, light humor, needy character because he deserves all the love in the world
Materlist
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“Alright, now all you need to do is ease your foot off the clutch. Slowly,” you said, your neck craned at an awkward angle as you tried to peek at the car’s pedals. Your voice carried a sweet patience that only you seemed capable of offering Dave, even after he’d almost stalled the car at least five times that day.
Dave took a deep breath, gripping the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white. He nodded with determination and began lifting his foot off the clutch.
“Not so fa—”
Your sentence was cut off by the car’s abrupt jolt, and the engine stalled. The silence that followed was broken by Dave’s frustrated groan as he let his forehead fall against the steering wheel with a soft thud.
“Fuck,” he muttered, his voice heavy with discouragement. “I’m a total loser.”
Your eyes immediately filled with guilt on his behalf. He hated letting you down, and even more than that, he hated appearing clumsy or incompetent—especially in front of you. Dave had this habit of carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders, as though every small failure was proof he wasn’t good enough.
You chuckled softly, reaching out to poke his ribs. “Hey, you’re not a loser.”
“Yes, I am,” he shot back, still leaning against the steering wheel.
“Alright, maybe you are. A little.”
Dave lifted his head, shooting you a wounded look that was pure drama, yet somehow irresistible. “Thanks? Was that supposed to make me feel better?”
Feigning innocence, you twirled a strand of your hair between your fingers and spoke in the sweetest voice you could muster. “But you’re my loser, Dave.”
He let out a low laugh, the sound warming the air between you. There was something endlessly endearing about the way he seemed to struggle to stay frustrated in your presence. Dave was like that—a storm of insecurities and neediness that you loved soothing with smiles and gentle touches.
Still holding the steering wheel, he sighed. “I don’t know how you have patience with me. I don’t even know why you bothered trying to teach me. You know I’m a lost cause.”
“You’re not a lost cause,” you replied, your hand sliding to his arm and giving it a firm squeeze to drive your point home. “You just need to relax. Stop overthinking.”
Dave turned his face to look at you, and his blue eyes were so full of quiet devotion that your heart skipped a beat. “It’s kinda hard not to overthink when the girl I love is watching me mess everything up,” he admitted, his voice low and hesitant.
The confession stole the breath from your lungs for a moment. Dave had this special talent for dropping these heartfelt lines that seemed pulled straight from the depths of his soul, and his vulnerability was always so genuine it was impossible not to feel a deep warmth spreading through your chest.
“You’re not messing anything up,” you assured him, leaning in closer. “And even if you were, it’d still be adorable.”
The flush that crept up his cheeks was immediate. He opened his mouth to respond but closed it just as quickly, seeming to lose his words. Dave always got a little flustered when you were that direct, and it was one of the things that made him all the more endearing.
After a few more attempts to start the car without jolts—which you met with encouraging words and light laughter—he stalled the engine again and threw his hands up in theatrical defeat.
“This is impossible!” he exclaimed.
“Impossible? I can do this with one hand tied behind my back,” you teased, crossing your arms.
“Of course you can. You’re like a driving prodigy. Remind me again how you started so young?”
You smiled, recalling the story you’d told him before. “My dad used to let me sit on his lap and hold the steering wheel when I was a kid. Obviously, it was just to entertain me. I wasn’t actually controlling anything. He always said that instead of blood, we’ve got gasoline running through our veins.”
Dave raised his eyebrows, a sly grin creeping onto his face as he shot you a long look. “So… maybe that’s what I need. You sit on my lap, and I’ll figure out how it’s done.”
You arched a brow, feigning disbelief. “Are you suggesting I sit on your lap while you drive? What do you think we are, Dave? Megan Fox and Shia LaBeouf in Transformers?”
He shrugged, his grin widening. “No, but I think it’d make for a great learning moment. Plus…” He trailed off, leaning in just a little closer. “I’m kinda partial to the idea of you right here with me.”
It was impossible to resist that look. Dave’s eyes were practically weapons of emotional destruction, brimming with a shy intensity that made your stomach flip.
You rolled your eyes dramatically but couldn’t suppress the smile spreading across your face. “You’re impossible.”
“Impossible or genius?” he countered, already shifting to make room.
Sighing, you relented and climbed onto his lap, carefully adjusting yourself to avoid pressing him too firmly against the seat. Dave immediately placed his hands on your waist, the touch light and hesitant, as if he were still processing the fact that you were this close.
“Are you comfortable?” he asked, his voice almost a whisper.
“Don’t get any ideas,” you teased, though it was hard to keep the casual tone when the warmth of his hands seemed to radiate straight to your skin.
“Not a chance,” he murmured, but the grin curving his lips was full of mischief.
When you placed your hands on the steering wheel, ready to show him how it was done, he leaned forward to press a light kiss to the curve of your neck. The gesture was so unexpected that you almost lost your composure, your heart pounding as his lips left a trail of fire on your skin.
“Dave,” you chided, though your voice sounded more like a sigh.
“I’m learning,” he replied innocently, while another, slower kiss landed just below the first.
It was hard to focus. In fact, it was impossible. You could barely remember what you were supposed to be teaching because all you could feel were his fingers firm on your waist and his warm lips on your skin. One of his thumbs dipped under the hem of your shirt, tracing lazy circles on the soft skin of your stomach. Unable to help yourself, you relaxed against his chest, sighing at the path of kisses he trailed along the side of your neck.
“If you keep this up, I’m going to crash the car,” you whispered, unable to hide the smile tugging at your lips.
“We’re parked. It’s fine,” he replied with that boyish tone that always melted your heart.
You closed your eyes as his nose brushed against the sensitive curve of your neck, inhaling deeply, as if he wanted to be intoxicated by your scent.
“You’re impossible,” you murmured, with no real intention of scolding him.
“Yeah, I’ve heard that before,” he answered, his smile pressing into your skin.
Turning your head to face him, you tried to summon a seriousness that was slipping through your fingers. The way he was looking at you didn’t help—his eyes sparkled with a mix of admiration and restrained longing, as if you were something too precious to touch yet impossible to resist.
“If you’re trying to distract me to avoid another attempt, I have to say you’re succeeding,” you remarked, raising an eyebrow.
Dave shrugged, his fingers still sliding absentmindedly along your waist, occasionally daring to dip down to your hips. “Not my fault I’d rather do this than… you know, wreck the gear shift again.”
You rolled your eyes, but the laugh that escaped you was as involuntary as it was inevitable. “Okay, I admit, driving with you is already one of the most chaotic experiences of my life. But if I survive this, I can survive anything.”
He tilted his head, narrowing his eyes as if he were seriously pondering that. “So, you’re saying I’m like the final boss of patience challenges?”
“Something like that,” you replied, leaning closer, your fingers gently brushing a few of his dark curls away from his face. “But I’d also say you come with your rewards.”
Dave smiled, the kind of smile that lit up his entire face—a delightful combination of surprise and joy, as though he still wasn’t used to the fact that you loved him.
“Rewards, huh?” he asked, his voice slightly hoarse, his vibrant blue eyes fixed on your lips.
You nodded slowly, letting the tension in the air between you build. Your gaze flicked to his mouth, and before hesitation could creep in, you closed the distance, kissing him with all the intensity the moment demanded.
His taste was familiar yet always felt new, an addictive mix you could never seem to get enough of. Dave’s hands tightened slightly on your waist, pulling you closer, as though he needed to feel every part of you to believe this was real. You shifted, fumbling a bit with your legs before finally settling more comfortably in his lap. Your fingers quickly tangled in his hair, drawing a soft sigh from his lips.
Dave loved you, every part of you, but your mouth might easily be one of his favorites. Not just because he could lose himself in it, but because your voice was one of the sweetest sounds he’d ever heard. It was like a siren’s song, pulling him closer until he was completely wrecked. And those little noises of pleasure that bubbled from your lips—he adored hearing them, even more so because he was the one causing them.
His hands tightened around you as he left gentle love bites on your lips, only to kiss them sweetly after. He slid deeper into the kiss, stealing the breath from your lungs as though trying to leave an imprint on your soul.
When you finally pulled back, both of you were breathless, but the goofy smile on his swollen lips made your heart stumble all over again.
“Okay,” he began, his voice low and slightly shaky. “If that’s the reward, I promise to be even clumsier.”
You laughed, giving his shoulder a playful smack. “Don’t even think about it.”
He laughed with you, though the sound soon faded as his gaze caught something else on your face. His smile softened, and he tilted his head as if trying to solve an invisible puzzle.
“What?” you asked, feeling the heat rise to your cheeks under his attentive stare.
“I just… sometimes I wonder how you can look at me like that,” he confessed, his voice soft, almost hesitant.
“Like what?”
“Like I’m…” He paused, searching for the right words. “Like I’m important. Special.”
Your heart tightened in your chest. Dave had this habit of underestimating his own worth, of believing he was just another ordinary figure in a world that barely seemed to notice him. But he wasn’t ordinary to you. He never could be.
“Maybe because you are,” you replied, without a hint of hesitation.
His face turned a shade of red that always made you want to squeeze him as if he were the most adorable thing in the universe. He looked away for a moment, clearly trying to hide the grin threatening to grow wider.
You decided not to give him the chance to argue or get embarrassed. Cupping his face in your hands, you forced him to look at you. “You’re special, Dave. To me, you are. You always have been.”
He closed his eyes for a moment, as if trying to absorb your words, to tuck them away somewhere deep inside himself. When he opened them again, there was something different in his gaze—a mix of gratitude and vulnerability that made your heart feel like it might burst.
“I really don’t know what I did to deserve you,” he murmured, his voice so low it seemed meant only for you.
“You don’t have to do anything,” you replied, your thumb stroking his cheek. “Just be you. That’s enough.”
For a moment, the world around you seemed to fade. There was no car, no driving lesson, just the two of you, so close it was impossible to tell where one ended and the other began.
But, of course, Dave was Dave, and the silence didn’t last long.
“Alright,” he started, his voice carrying an obvious attempt at humor to ease the intensity of the moment. “So, I guess we can call it a day for the lesson. You know, I’ve learned a lot already. Especially about rewards.”
You laughed, shaking your head. “You’ve still got a lot to learn, Mr. ‘I-can’t-release-the-clutch.’”
He sighed dramatically. “Fine, but only if you promise to keep being the prettiest teacher in the world.”
“Dave…”
“What? It’s a legitimate compliment.”
You laughed again, unable to help yourself. He was a disaster behind the wheel, but when it came to melting your heart, Dave was an absolute pro.
And there, sitting in his lap, with the sweetest blue eyes in the world shining back at you, you knew you wouldn’t trade those moments — no matter how chaotic they were — for anything.
#dave lizewski#dave lizewski x you#dave lizewski x reader#dave lizewski x fem!reader#dave x reader#dave x fem!reader#aaron johnson#aaron taylor johnson#atj x reader#kick ass#romance#ao3 writer#aaron johnson x reader#fanfiction
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Morning everyone and thanks for being so understanding, regarding recent events, and for bugging people in private chats about my insecurities etc.
Yesterday went really well. The important people turned up and those who couldn't make it to the wake/get together afterwards, I'm just so glad they made it to the service to pay their respects.
I'll give kudos to the following for their contribution towards putting together everything from start to finish
A good friend for sorting out the photos for the cards and sending the inserts as well as providing me the template via email for the inserts in case the post was late
My hubby's former work colleague and good friend for suggesting one song that ended up being a very appropriate one when the curtains closed around my hubby - look it up on YouTube , Elvis Peace in the Valley
The celebrant who gathered my pages of good memories as well as the very basic info from Bossy regarding their childhood, and put together a sweet summary of hubby's life and his antics. He led a full life. She also provided a small bar of Frys Turkish Delight as a little flourish - and intriguing inside joke, because that was his favourite sweet treat (he also liked chocolate éclairs but that's a different story and as you all know, I'm doing my own tribute and toast for that one)
The funeral service for being so helpful, informative and patient as I ran around like a headless chicken a couple of times
And finally, the hotel for organising the wake (I don't like that word, so I prefer gathering or get together) after the service
And for everyone here who have had to put up with my whiny ass for a while
So now begins the next chapter in my life, without my hubby physically by my side but I know he's still around and keeping his eye on me.
There will be days when it'll be tough and grief will sneak up on me and punch me in the face. But I'll just put one foot in front of the other and - to quote Walt Disney - Keep Moving Forward
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Now caught up with Mermaid Melody Aqua
When this originally started my involvement was mostly about gawking at Lukia's design and I only read a couple chapters before dropping off, but now I'm caught up. Aannnddd how do I put this... it's hard to gauge how critical I can be since this is clearly aimed at a younger audience, and also romance stories aimed at tween girls are already such a punching bag, but... this is the first time I'm considering if I should give a mal rating of 1/10 to a manga. I've read other Nakayoshi series and for the most part have been able to find something like or at least end with a wishy-washy "I'm not in the target audience but I guess it's okay for what it is" sentiment, but this one just has so many issues, in addition to a myriad of stuff that personally pisses me off.
The story is about the original series' heroine's teenage daughter Lukia, who, as anyone who knows anything at all about this manga, looks exactly like her mother for no reason. The ocean is in danger again and Lukia has to marry this one merman to prevent a catastrophe, but she is in love with a human boy, who doesn't know about her mermaid identity and is into both her human and mermaid personas separately and struggles to choose. There are also some magical girl battles. So not that unusual of a shoujo premise.
I tried to think of what my biggest issue with the manga is, but it turned out to be difficult since there are so many to choose from. For starters, I can't think of anything I like about Lukia. Obviously for someone who is into fun anime designs her look is an immediate 0/10 for being an exact copy of an existing character, but it also makes the story harder to follow at times when it's difficult to tell if a character is supposed to be Lukia or her mother. But even apart from the character design she's just so bland, and doesn't have much other passions than lusting after a boy and doing the plot, and even with the plot she's just sort of passively stumbling through. Like in the part where she's being pushed to be with her fiancé and she just limply goes along, and overall it feels as if she spends like 95% of the story looking flustered.
The boys are pretty generic shoujo love interests, and in general in control of the situation while the heroine blushes and follows. They also have little else going on outside chasing Lukia, and get into arguments with each other over who gets her while she feebly stands on the side (her opinion is irrelevant).
However despite the people in the main love triangle being extremely unlikable to me, somehow I'd say that the returning MMPPP cast draws the shortest straw in terms of characterisation. The former heroine Luchia has two roles; either she is the butt of the joke as an embarrassing mum, or an obstacle to Lukia's romance who pushes the arranged marriage, and both are depressing when you consider how she was originally a typical magical girl heroine. More often than not Luchia and her friends are more often than not written like immature teenagers, and at their lowest swoon over how attractive Lukia's fiancé is (all the while the readers are shown how unhappy Lukia is about having to marry some rando).
Lukia spends majority of the series thinking about men, and she doesn't really get proper friendships to balance that out. At the beginning the series does introduce a new mermaid as a friend to her, but they quickly fade into being just an accessory to Lukia. It feels like when the series wants to have a "the heroine is doing fun stuff with her girlfriends!" scene, it just has Lukia hang out with her mum and her mum's friends (who never grew up), which is kind of cringe.
Then there's the fanservice aspect; this is a shoujo series but it sure likes to have Lukia wear tops that show off her sizable rack and skirts short enough to show her butt cheeks. In one scene Lukia is just flat out naked so the main guy can walk in on her. And the mermaid tails have been drawn to display the curves of their legs, which to me creates a kind of grotesque effect when it looks like their feet have been cut off from the ankles.
Then finally some complaints about the overall storytelling, it's just so clunky. Like Luchia reveals that Lukia is a mermaid and already engaged, and Lukia runs off in anger. Next page she is introduced to the mascot and has some banter with him, and two pages later it's already the next day and we're at school. You would think that Luchia would at least try to talk a bit more about how her daughter's life is about to take a huge turn, but apparently nothing that was important enough to show to the reader happened during this time. In general there are a lot of moments where transitioning from one scene to another, or even from panel to panel, is noticeably clumsy. Characters also feel like they act just however the scene needs them to.
I am aware that there are plenty of women and girls who are into this kind of love stories where a big strong man shows up to swoop the blank slate heroine off her feet (just think about the popularity of Twilight and 50 Shades), and I would imagine that Mermaid Melody Aqua is aimed at 12-year-old girls who want a "sexy" romance with hot boys totally devoted to the viewpoint character. But I've never been there so I can't relate, and if I had to think "well someone else probably likes this" every time I think of writing a review I could never criticise anything. So let's just close with the sentiment that with the laziest character design imaginable, wet rag of a heroine, super conservative gender roles in the romance, inconsistent and dull characters, undignified portrayal of original series heroines, unappealing fanservice and overall weak writing this is a good contender for my least favourite manga ever. The story isn't over but it's hard to see how it could crawl out of this hole.
#mermaid melody#I want this in my own tags but the series is not over yet so I can't use the closing thoughts one#but it feels like it's almost over so the first impressions tag doesn't feel suitable either#I'll go with the closing thoughts one since unless something big happens I don't think I'll have much to add for a final review#so:#review I guess
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do you have any tidbits about the Red Bee? I heard he died decades ago but I also saw some people claiming that he showed up a few years back helping that Peacemaker guy
Depending on someone's level of familiarity his entire life is a fun tidbit but I will do my best.
(Art piece of The Red Bee that adorns one wall of the Superior City Historic Society) Richard "Rick" Raleigh would have appeared to anyone who knew him as the most stand up kind of guy that existed at that time. The assistant DA in the booming pacific port town of Superior City. His only major quirk was a fascination with bees but hey, everyone has to have a hobby right? No one knows for sure what caused his turn to crime fighting, as I've stated before it really was just something in the air during those days. If people like The Sandman and The Atom could do it, and make the jackals preying on vulnerable communities shiver, then anyone would with the right willpower.
His abilities were modest. A motorcycle, a "stinger gun" (which in reality was just a souped up BB pistol but sting it did indeed do) and his secret weapon. A trained bee named Michael. Those of you who do not know this story just balked at that. How does one train a bee? Don't bees live like, two months at best? I need you to look at me when I tell you a couple of things and then the best guess we have. I am NOT fucking with you. 1. That bee is still alive, and has recently reunited with Raleigh's time displaced sidekick. 84 years after Raleigh's debut. Michael sat, and waited until Ladybug returned to the honey farm where he was housed and upon her return instantly flew up to her acting with direct recognition of the young woman after 8 decades.
2. Michael is able to sting multiple times without any ill effects on his person. (Bee-son. You know what I mean) Our best guess? The bee has a metagene.
A random mutation in this seemingly random worker bee has given it, what is from its perspective superhuman abilities of intellect, longevity and invulnerability. It is a theory because under no circumstances are we ever going to get to find out unless for some god forsaken reason the two heirs to Raleigh's estate pass it off to science when and if it does finally die.
Perhaps the discovery OF Michael's abilities were of partial inspiration for Raleigh's career. Truly we may never know.
Raleigh himself died in a battle with Nazi war criminal Baron Blitzkrieg in 1944, distracting the Baron long enough for his teammates in the Freedom Fighters to free themselves and turn the tide of battle. His memorial rests in Raleigh Park, Superior City for those curious. Note that it is a somber place of respect, those who have gone in an attempt to trivialize or joke on Raleigh's legacy have found themselves suspiciously targeted by the park's many large bee hives. The local superstition is that Michael has made it clear to all his fellows in the thousands of following generations who made their undisturbed home possible. (The park was built and is now maintained by the Raleigh estate, currently in the name of Raleigh's grand niece Jenna Raleigh and the descendants of the Rivera family who owned the honey farm where Michael was born) To this day, in Superior City, is considered very bad luck to harm a bee. And the city's annual Pollination Parade is held on Raleigh's birthday in July.
#dc#dcu#dc comics#dc universe#superhero#comics#tw unreality#unreality#unreality blog#ask game#ask blog#asks open#please interact#worldbuilding#red bee#richard raleigh#jenna raleigh#ladybug#rosibel rivera
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Hello, whoever you are
pairing : touya “dabi” todoroki x reader rating : sfw warnings : mentions of death wc : 1.5k (edited) part I part II part III ps: yes, I'm aware that it's unlikely that he'd be able to speak this much but just pretend okay
Y/N’s body shook violently where she stood.
Her mind spinning as the question of whether she was doing the right thing plagued her.
With the war being over and everyone worried about rebuilding their lives from the destruction, Y/N had a secondary worry. She had seen the destruction Dabi left and she couldn’t help but wonder if he was alive after all that happened.
In a singular moment of courage in her life, she asked. Such a simple action that she knew would have further repressed hence her fear, but she still did it.
“How do you know him?”
She had been asked in return. And so the retelling of that story began. Luckily, she had no useful information so it wasn’t too bad that she hadn’t spoken up before but the guilt of having kept silent for so long gnawed at her conscience.
Now, she stood before the hospital with her feet glued to the ground beneath her, staring at the building that now held her… acquaintance? If she could even call him that.
“You’re the one who was asking about him, right?”
A soft yet raspy voice asked from beside her. Its sudden appearance startled her, making her head snap to the left to face its owner.
It was a boy. His hair was half white and half red and a burn scar marred the left side of his face. Y/N recognized him. She had seen him a couple of times on television and she knew that he was Endeavor's youngest son. The half-cold, half-hot hero.
Remembering that he had asked a question, she snapped out of her trance just enough to provide a nod as a response.
“Are you going in?” He asked.
“Oh- Uh, I-I’m not sure,” she stammered. She wasn’t sure she was willing to face him. She didn’t even know if he wanted to see her. Especially since she so rudely sent him away that one night.
“Why not?” The question felt a bit intrusive but she responded either way.
“I don’t think he’d want to see me,” she explained.
“He doesn’t want to see anyone. He hates all of us actually but what matters is that we’re there regardless,” the softness of his tone soothed Y/N. The trembling of her body slowly eased as he offered a comforting smile.
“Wanna come in with me?”
She nodded following him as they made their way inside the hospital. It was full, all of them were to be fair. She felt a bit relieved that she wouldn’t have to navigate these full halls in search of the correct room as the boy walked with confidence so she was sure he already knew the way.
As they neared the door of the room where Dabi would be in, their steps slowed significantly until they reached a full stop right in front of said door.
“You can go in first.”
“No!” She burst out before she could stop herself, “I mean- uh… h-he’s your brother. You should go first.”
“Like you said, he’s my brother soI come here quite often. Maybe seeing a new face would be good for him,” he said. Sighing, she nodded before hesitantly opening the door.
The room was mostly bare except for a large machine a couple of chairs in front of it. With furrowed brows, Y/N slowly inched closer to it only to gasp at the sight before her. Inside the machine, dwelled an unrecoverably burnt Dabi and that when it clicked: it was his life support.
Tears welled in her eyes as she took in the man’s deteriorated state. Was there anything she could’ve done to make him see reason? To make him stay that night when he had dinner at her home?
“What are you doing here?” His voice was hoarser than before and he spoke slowly as though uttering each word was a struggle. It likely was actually.
“I came to see you,” she whispered, still shocked by his state.
“Why?”
“I don’t know…” she trailed off, not knowing what to say in general. She stared at him as they stood before each other in silence, both analyzing the other.
“I guess you were right,” he said after what felt like an eternity of silence. Y/N knew exactly what he meant and it broke her heart that that was his first thought. “I should’ve stayed with you that night.”
“I’m sorry,” was all she could think to say.
“My family visits me everyday. They missed me all this time,” she could swear she heard his voice tremble a bit, “I could’ve just gone home, maybe if I had stayed with you, I would’ve eventually.”
“I met your younger brother, the one from UA. He seemed nice,” she said in a shaky voice, only then did she notice she was crying.
“Yeah, he comes by a lot too. I used to hate him, you know,” he admitted.
“You hated everyone,” Y/N retorted.
“I know. But I hated him first and most,”
“Why? He seems to love you so much,” Y/N questioned, emboldened by the fact that he was already opening up to her.
“I wanted to be what he was in my dad’s eyes,” the confession broke her heart. To feel so inadequate and unloved that he turned to cruelty and villainy was a heartbreaking thing.
Y/N knew that Endeavor must’ve felt guilty for all that happened and quite frankly, he deserved to feel so.
“How are you?” She asked. Only after did she process how stupid her question was in face of his current circumstances, “Nevermind, I-“
“I’m fine…” he responded, “might not look like it but I am,”
“Oh but -“
“How? I got my family back and I know I don’t have much longer so it’s nice to have them around for now,”
Her heart stopped for a split second. I don't have much longer. What?
“W-What do you mean by that?” She questioned with a slight quiver to her lip as she felt her chest tighten as tears flow faster.
“You know what I mean,” he said. A sob escaped her lips, “I didn’t know I matter this much to you,” he continued, “now I really regret not staying.”
“I wish you stayed too,” she cried. “I hoped you’d come back or at least not go to them. I should’ve tried to make you stay! I should’ve done something!”
“No. There was nothing you could’ve done,” he opposed, “nothing that wouldn’t be met with danger and you had to think about the kids too.”
She didn’t respond any further. Just stood there sobbing her heart out as she struggled to speak.
“I could’ve loved you,” Dabi confessed, “I knew I could when you called me Dabi and I hated it.” Y/N’s sobs stopped as she stared at him in pure shock. Her heart sped up, pounding against her chest as she struggled to make sense of what he said.
“I think I did- or do love you,” she said, “I think that’s why I feel so guilty.”
“Don’t. I brought this on myself.”
“Still! Everyone did their best to try and help and I just sat there like a coward!” She burst out, “I could have done something!”
“It doesn’t matter now. All we can do it think about the future,”
“You just said you don’t have long,” she sobbed.
“I know. But I want you to be here for the time I have left.”
She shook her head. With her legs finally growing tired, she took a seat in one of the chairs in front of Touya’s machine.
“Why did everything have to be like this?” She wondered out loud.
“I don’t know.”
A knock on the door called for both of their attention. A warning that their time was up. Sniffling and wiping her face, she got up from her seat and looked at Touya once more.
“Can I come by again?” She asked hopefully.
“Yes, I’d like that,” he responded, making her smile softly.
“Bye for now then-“ she stopped hesitantly. “Is it Dabi or Touya now?”
“I’ll be whoever for you,” he responded. She smiled shyly before continuing her goodbyes and leaving the room.
Finding Touya’s brother still waiting in the hallway, she felt bad for the time she took, “Hi, thanks for helping me find his room,” she said to the boy once he noticed her presence.
“No problem,” he smiled, “hope to see you again.”
“You will,” she said confidently.
She left the hospital feeling much lighter and at ease. It was bittersweet but she decided to only focus on the sweetness of the situation rather than the bitterness of it.
The next day, Y/N walked into the hospital with no hesitation. She found his room with little to no effort and sat before him with a new found sense of what she could describe as belonging.
“Hello,” she said, smiling at him from the other side of the glass of the machine where he laid.
“Is it Touya or Dabi to you,” he said, sensing a little teasing in his tone.
“Hello, whoever you are,” she teased back.
The laughter they shared felt like a marking of a new beginning. They were both aware of how short lived it would be but that didn’t matter at that moment. They figured that the ‘now’ was more important and what they should focus on.
——————————
masterlist
#my hero academia#mha#mha dabi#touya todoroki#touya x reader#dabi x reader#mha fanfiction#thisonegirlwrites#thisonegirl fanfic
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I'd love if you could elaborate on
child of the stars
momento mori
magic
Touch tone telephone
from the start
Dr sunshine is dead
crazy = genius
are you satisfied?
turn the lights off
Dr gaster
digital silence
YES!!!! I LOVE BEING ENABLED!!!!
For those seeing this post who haven't seen the original playlist, here's the post where I link it!
NOW LET'S PLAY: WHY DID ARIA PUT THOSE SONGS IN THEIR ABIGALE BLACKWING PLAYLIST?
(Putting it all under the cut because it's. REALLY LONG.) ↓
Rule #9 - Child of the Stars by Fish in a Birdcage - This song is THE perfect song to explain the dynamic my version of Abbey had with her father (Atticus Blackwing). Abigale's dad was always super supportive of her, bending over backwards to make her life the best that he could make it, and saw so much of both himself and his late wife (Chastity Blackwing) in her. I hear the song almost like Atticus is singing this to Abbey somehow... a couple lyrics that really stood out to me: "You were a wanderer / Back when you were young"
Abbey was always a curious child, constantly wanting to explore and learn about the world around her.
"I could only lead you so far / I believe in who you are / Take the world by storm"
Atticus died of an illness he had been battling for quite some time right as Abigale graduated engineering school. He did everything in his power to set her up for success, to follow her dream as an inventor and tinkerer before his passing, and always encouraged Abbey to be independent. He passed believing whole-heartedly that his beloved daughter would, in fact, "take the world by storm."
Rule #21 - Momento Mori by Fish in a Birdcage - This song can work for the time before Abigale found Thurburt's ad, but after Bill contacted her, but it fits even better for after the events of the conference. I have this idea that Bill couldn't help but rub salt in the wounds of the Anti-Cipherites, and particularly targeted Abigale, who had panicked and gone into hiding directly after the conference fiasco, fearing being institutionalized like Thurburt (the way asylums and medical institutions in general treated female patients was historically far crueler and more brutal than male patients in that time period, don't even get me fucking started on the "Rest Cure" that shits insane) And so was far more fearful and vulnerable than the some of the other members. In my version of Abigale's story, Bill torments her all throughout her exile, leading to Abigale forgoing sleep, eating less and less, and overall just worsening her mental state even further. This ALSO goes fantastically with Abigale's mental breakdown near the later half of her life far after her Northwest husband suddenly and mysteriously passed away (read: was murdered) and her son came of age, but I haven't written about that part of her life just yet so I'll hush up for now... but know that the dots do connect!! Some lyrics:
"I never wanted to sleep"
Self-explanatory: Abigale isn't sleeping in order to try and keep Bill out of her dreams, she tries to justify this by saying to herself that she never wanted to sleep anyway.
"Oh I won't forget / Momento Mori, leaves a debt"
Abigale's time as apart of the Anti-Cipher Society was honestly amazing for her. She felt at home among the Anti-Cipherites, finally finding people who weren't too off-put by her eccentric and sometimes abrasive personality, falling in love with Jessamine, spending day in and day out working on fantastic inventions just like she had always wanted... if it weren't for the triangle tormenting her this would have been the best time of her life. And Bill knows that, and uses it against her now that it's all fallen apart. "I'm the one who brought you bozos together, I'm the reason you had such a great time, and I'm the ONLY way you're ever gonna get a bit of that high back! If anything, you OWE ME this!" ...Abigale almost succumbs to the offer of a deal at this time, but ultimately refuses.
"Like a muzzled hound / I'm tied and bound / A wild beast crying for release"
Abigale feels completely trapped after the Anti-Cipher Society's collapse. She can't go back home, since she saw the asylum workers at her doorstep the one time she dared to try, she can't stay in the Anti-Cipher Bunker for long, since its only a matter of time until its found, she can't really skip town because a woman traveling on her own could raise suspicion, and she can't even cross-dress and skip because all of her "boys clothes" from her crossdressing days are tucked away in her house, which is, again, crawling with asylum workers. She's condemned to this horrible state of limbo, "tied and bound" to the dangerous place she found herself in, with no clear way out.
Rule #1 - Magic by Fish in a Birdcage - I'll be so fucking honest this one is mostly here because of vibes BUT also a lot of the lyrics also fit nicely as Abigale trying to rally up the Anti-Cipherites during times of doubt. I sorta hc Abbey as being the glue that holds the society together, her enthusiasm and sheer zeal for what their doing at the society is infectious! Thurburt may be the leader, but Abbey is the motivator. No I totally don't pick favorites ah ha ha what do you mean??? <- (lie) Anyway some lyrics to use as an example of this:
"There is magic in this room"
"I believe in myself / I believe that we can make it / I believe in all of you/ I believe that we can make this"
Both sets of lyrics could be Abigale encouraging the other Anti-Cipherites
"For starters, this is larger than both of us"
Abigale has always wanted to make something that could change the world, and saving the world from Bill definitely could have been that thing. Stopping weirdmaggedon from happening is certainly bigger than just 5 weirdos in a bunker. (Honestly Abbey is lowkey the Anti-Ford. She is just as desperate for recognition and fame but for completely different reasons and opposing bill rather than being fooled by him... but thats a whole other post in itself I could make)
"You can't kill an idea"
This one's stupid but that's literally a Bill Cipher quote. Bill fucking says that in canon. I'm not joking.
Touch Tone Telephone by Lemon Demon - The whole song is about a crazy conspiracist making his case to someone on the phone trying to prove his theories correct. The Anti-Cipher Society's whole thing was trying to fight against Bill while also trying to convince other people that he's even real. They went to a whole ass inventor's conference trying to convince the crowd that a triangular demon was trying to posses minds and that giving the Society money would make their "Anti-Cipher" technology possible. This song isn't just an Abigale song, it's for the whole damn society! Although, I will say that the cheerful and somewhat unhinged way the singer sings the song is very much Abbeycore. SOME LYRICS:
"I've been working on a unified theory / If I make it through tonight, everybody's gonna hear me out"
Working on Anti-Cipher tech, hoping that everyone will hear the Society out at the conference. "Make it through tonight" could also be read as the society trying to dodge sleep in order to keep Bill away from their dreams.
"'Cause you're the only person in the world who'd understand / 'Cause you're the only person in the world who'd understand the meaning of this / Oh my god / I try, and I try, and I try to make you listen to me"
They really want this conference to go well, chat.
"Don't hang up yet, I'm not done / I'm an expert, I'm the one / The one who was right all along / Better to be laughed at than wrong / I'm an expert in my field / UFOlogy, yes, it's all real / Ancient aliens, it's all true / I'm an expert just like you / And like you, I'm a genius before my time / Disbelieving, that's the real crime / Pretty soon, they'll discover me / In the Super-Sargasso Sea"
Real thing Abigale would have said at the conference if she was put in charge of the sales pitch instead of Thurburt, actually, trust.
From the Start by Good Kid - So this is a cover, the original could work too but I chose this cover specifically because the electric guitar and way the singer sings honestly is so much more Abigale-core then the original's softer, more acoustic tone. Yes I know there weren't electric guitars in 1901 I don't CARE Abigale is ELECTRIC GUITAR-CODED!!! <- (I sound fucking insane.) Anyway, this song is there fore Jessamine x Abigale purposes. I think Abbey fell for Jessa HARD, but automatically assumed she wouldn't be interested, so this song is sorta how she felt being around Jessamine, having this huge crush on her but feeling that she'd never reciprocate... Obviously Jessamine DOES reciprocate in my version of the story but for that brief period of agonizing pining this song is perfect for Abigale and Jessamine in my mind. Not gonna put lyrics here just cause I think they're pretty self-explanatory lmao.
Dr. Sunshine is Dead by Will Wood and the Tapeworms - Ok so this goes back to what I mentioned in the Memento Mori song, this ones here because of Abigale's eventual mental breakdown towards the end of her life. I haven't written out exactly what happens yet, and I kinda wanna keep things vague till I do so there's some mystery left when I finally DO write it down, so I'm just gonna plop some specific lyrics that have to do with that part of Abigale's life and better go in depth once I post the story hehe (Sorry for being vague I just really wanna save my analysis for when that part of the story is up!)
"The room I'm in is still the same, the shadows have not rearranged it / No, the only thing that's changed is how I see at night"
"When did I become afraid of the dark? / Was it when I left the cave and swore I'd never go back?"
"Damn my eyes for seeing what's not there"
"All that I ask is, keep those empty frames / If nobody's in them, then no one is to blame / For your self-portraits, sign another name / Well, who should I be then, if I'll never be the same?"
"And if dreams can come true, what does that say about nightmares? / I'll stay awake tonight"
Make of those what you will, all will be revealed... later!!!!
Crazy = Genius by Panic! at the Disco - Im sorry for putting a Panic! at the Disco song in there it will probably happen again. Anyway this is here mostly for the chorus, and not for very deep reasons either. Abbey's always been eccentric and "crazy" in most people's eyes, and considering her technological prowess she's obviously pretty damn smart, a "genius" even. Also not for nothing but Abigale has absolutely set herself on fire for the sake of testing one of her inventions, on purpose. I know this because I actually was there and saw it happen trust me guys. Lyrics:
"You can set yourself on fire"
See above comment.
"If crazy equals genius / Then I'm a fucking arsonist (hey) / I'm a rocket scientist (hey hey)"
She's a crazy genius guys wow! Such a deep analysis from Aria tonight, huh?
Are You Satisfied? by MARINA - So, Abigale married a Northwest, and my version of her married him after he offered a deal to keep her safe from the asylum workers sniffing her out in exchange for her hand. Abigale never wanted to marry, she was always far too interested in her work (and also women. Cough cough...) Not to mention Mr. Northwest was a sleaze-ball bitch, but she felt she had no choice. This deal (and it was a deal more than a true marriage) was all she had left to protect herself. Then, after her husband's death, Abigale sorta... changed. A LOT. Before this, as unhappy as she was with her husband, she was nothing but protective and kind to her son, and would do anything and everything for him, especially because his father was a piece of shit towards him so Abbey had to really pick up the slack in the parenting department. After his dad was buried, though, Abbey became... A lot more distant, more paranoid. She also became almost OBSESSED with the idea of her son reaching lofty goals that were never enforced so vehemently by Abigale before. Abbey sorta wanted to make sure her son reached the world-changing, lofty goals she was never allowed to, the goals that were ripped away from her. On top of that, she became obsessed with keeping up appearances to neighbors, pretending to be as normal and prestigious as what was "expected of a Northwest." This was a desperate cry for help since her whole life was uprooted and taken from her, plus now she has to make sure no one in town suspects her of killing her husband. She was never cruel to her son because of this, but the relationship fundamentally changed, and later, strained beyond the breaking point. I feel like this song is a really great way to exemplify that part of her life, and both her and her son's feelings towards each other and life in general. Some lyrics that stood out:
"I was pulling out my hair / The day I got the deal, chemically calm / Was I meant to feel happy / That my life was just about to change?"
This is very much how I imagine Abigale to feel on the day of her wedding day. "The day I cut the deal" especially jumps out to me, since thats what that marriage was: a deal. It was a means to an end, an agreement with no love attached.
"High achiever, don't you see? / Baby, nothing comes for free / They say I'm a control freak / Driven by a greed to succeed"
After her husband's death, Abbey becomes obsessed with her son's success, and he starts to believe that success means everything.
"'Cause it's my problem if I wanna pack up and run away It's my business if I feel the need to smoke and drink and sway"
Abigale is still trapped in her new life, even with her husband out of the way. She's trying her best, but all she wants to do is disappear. The only reason she doesn't run into the woods to never return is because her son still needs her. Also, I do believe Abigale would take up smoking to cope at this point (Not drinking, though, for reasons I'll prolly explain in some other post).
Turn the Lights Off by Tally Hall - Living as a member of the Anti-Cipher society was a surprisingly positive experience for Abigale, but it was also one hall of a whirlwind. Fighting a demon that lives in your dreams while also falling in love with another woman while also rushing to build tons of anti-cipher tech while ALSO dealing with nightly visits from that bastard triangle is a lot to handle. Turn the Lights Off as a song is also very similar to this experience: generally upbeat and fun tempo and melody paired with lyrics about monsters and evil, juxtaposed by other lyrics about lovers and taking back control of your life. Some lyrics that I think work well with this idea:
"Eyes of yellow"
Hello obvious and extremely easy to make Bill Cipher reference!
"Bend the nightmare / You control it / Artful dodger / Easy does it"
Abbey had to take some serious control of her mind the few times she does sleep in order to prevent herself from going completely insane due to Bill's nightly torments, at least until she starts developing better technology to prevent Bill's visits
"Don't remember (day's gone) / What we look like (night's on) / Younger holding (day's gone) / One another (light's passed)"
Jessamine and Abigale gay moment ... Specifically that sort of in-the-moment passion-driven kind of love between them where, if only for a moment, they forget themselves and their situation and throw themselves at each other, desperate for the other's touch.
"Can't they take it / Should be stronger / Books abandoned"
Could be about the no doubt near-infinite failed attempts at creating anti-cipher technology that actually works before settling on a final product, natural growing pains of a new developing technology... or could also refer to the conference that made everything fall apart.
Dr. Gaster by Shadrow - Another one heavily based on general vibes but I ALSO think this would be a really fun song for post-1901-timestuck AU Pacifica (like in this post)trying to hunt down any and all information about her ancestor and mentor Abigale Blackwing through years of buried and hidden family records, trying to piece together her life so she can understand what happened to her. Lyrics:
"Dr. Gaster / I won't let you down / Dr. Gaster / Left in the background / Dr. Gaster / I'll try not to frown / Dr. Gaster / I must flag you down"
Pacifica trying to "flag down" the pieces of Abbey's history, feeling she can't "let down" her mentor and wanting to give her life the spotlight she feels it deserved, to unerase an erased history, one that had been "left in the background."
"There was only one of you / Until you split the world in two"
Here, this line isn't as literal as the original song is. The first "you," as well as "the world," being Abigale herself, who is "split in two" as in her history is scattered and hidden, only the most basic knowledge of her existence being in family records while the bulk of her real life and personality. The second "you" can be seen as either Bill ruining Abigale's life, or as her descendants erasing her history for the sake of appearances.
"Dr. Gaster / Through oceans of time / Dr. Gaster / Please know we're both fine"
"Through oceans of time" as a Timestuck reference, since Pacifica meeting Abigale in 1901 and then returning back to 201X is trying to reach her mentor once more through her history and scattered documents. "Please know we're both fine" could also be Pacifica hoping Abbey knows she's back in the future safe and sound and doing the work to get Abigale's life the respect she wants her to have. (Disregard the fact that Pacifica is only one person and the song says this about two people I do what I damn well please)
Digital Silence by Peter McPoland - Another heavy vibes-based one, and also one related to Abigale's breakdown later in life! Also could work for how she was feeling right before and after Mr. Northwest's mysterious death (read: murder). Lyrics:
"This is the way that it is / This is the way that it always will be / Something you love turns to something you miss"
Feeling like she's trapped in her marriage, which she is. Missing her friends, her freedom and independence, her LIFE before Mr. Northwest came to sweep her away, before the conference happened, before everything went wrong.
"This is the way and it makes me sick / I feel it inside me like a pulse / It's starting to slow and the meter dips, oh"
Can represent the growing rage and hatred inside Abbey towards her shitty husband, feeling that hatred "like a pulse" from inside her body.
"Why don't you get it? Can't you get it? Understand / They're gonna execute the mother to elevate the man"
Execution is not literal here. Read it more as sidelining, ignoring, erasing the mother (Abigale) to elevate the man (Mr. Northwest). Abigale is constantly pushed aside in her marriage, treated like a prop and a toy, scolded for having any personality or interests, her very essence being erased (or at least, trying to be erased) by her husband.
"They're gonna propagate the killer, eliminate the youth"
Another non-literal line, here the "killer" is not literally a person who kills people, but instead someone who's generally violent and unpleasant, specifically Mr. Northwest. "Eliminate" here could just mean hurt or harm, and "the youth" is Mr. Northwest and Abigale's son, but I actually like interpreting "eliminate" as literal and "the youth" as the personality and ambitions of both Abigale and her son. Mr. Northwest is trying to "eliminate" his wife and son's personalities or "youth" in order to mold them into the perfect wife and perfect heir respectively, often resorting to nastiness and straight-up violence to do so.
"They're gonna blind date everyone until you love them too"
Yes another non-literal line listen I'm EXTRAPOLATING over here! Anyway this here I imagine as being a line about Abbey's attitude towards her son post-husband-death. As stated before, she wants him to be successful, and to keep up a good appearance/reputation for the family (both to ease suspicion off of their family for having a hand in Mr. Northwest's death, but also because Abbey wants to give her son the chance to actually reach his goals, plus living vicariously through him while he does so) and so "blind date" probably just means doing whatever upstanding boys his (Abigale's son) age should be doing, until "you," that being everyone around the family, "love" him too.
"This is the answer to the question / This is the sound of the truth / This is the answer to the question / There is nothing you can do"
Abigale convinced her actions serve as the only way for her and her son to survive, both before and after Mr. Northwest's death. This is the truth, in her eyes. There is nothing else she could have done.
WOO BOY THAT WAS A LOT! Thanks for reading y'all, and feel free to ask for more explanations about other songs in the playlist... or just enable my Abigale Craze in some other way I dunno I just love this woman sm
@chaseerr0rcode @localcanadiancreature62 ummm.... hey guys...... wanna read this giant wall of text.....?
#aria ramblings#aria asks#abigale blackwing#anti cipher society#anti-cipher society#gf#gravity falls#song analysis#tbob#the book of bill#playlist#spotify playlist#Chat im like soooo normal
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tvinsider - ‘Interview With the Vampire’ Stars Break Down That Bloody Finale
Jacob, in Daniel’s final monologue, he says Louis has a messed up idea of love. What is Louis’s idea of love to you?
Jacob Anderson: I think it’s a constantly moving, movable feast. I think it evolves in different ways, and I think we’ll continue to explore what his idea of love is. We know he wants it desperately. He wants to be accepted and to be understood. And I think that’s a big part of what love means to me. It’s about somebody else accepting you and you accepting them in all of their multitudes.
Maybe Louis didn’t exactly find that in Lestat, but that’s also kind of the premise upon which he first fell for him. This person said, “I see you.” And I think that’s a really important thing for Louis is being seen and understood. But I don’t know if he has particularly healthy ideas about love. As evidenced in the show and in the story. [Laughs]
Sam, same question for Lestat, who I imagine has a very different perspective on it.
Sam Reid: Look, Lestat, one of his whole M.O.s as a character is he falls in love first, and then deals with the repercussions of being a sociopathic monster. How do you interpret love through that lens? And this is the thing, particularly with Louis and Lestat and why they’re similar in a way (and Claudia and all the vampires, really) is that they have to exist in a human society to survive. And they deal with it in different ways.
They have to survive in a world where human convention needs to be followed to some degree, because they survive off eating human beings. Or they can follow an Armand path — you’ll find a bit more about his class of vampires in the books, which don’t necessarily integrate with society.
Louis, Claudia, and Lestat tried to integrate with society in that capacity, and therefore when you’re looking at yourself and “am I a lovable thing,” you’re actually always reflecting yourself against human beings, which are much less monstrous and psychotic. And so how can I ever be a lovable thing? I’m so terrifying. I think the issue they all sort of feel is that “I don’t feel worthy of love. I don’t feel like I can be properly loved for the monster that I am.” That’s the kind of question that particularly Lestat is always dealing with, and the way that he behaves is always a reaction against that. He knows he’s bad, he’s really good at being bad, he’s really good at being and playing a bad, evil vampire. But he wants to be loved, and he loves back. But sometimes if you’re not gonna get love, you may as well take the hate, because they’re pretty close.
The season is bookended by these epic bloody scenes where you go full operatic vampire mode. How fun was the Mardi Gras ball massacre to film, and what vampire traits did you have to figure out how to express for it?
Bailey Bass: I had to figure out was how Claudia acts when she’s in this frenzy and really, really wants to drink someone’s blood. I grew up being obsessed with Twilight. In the third movie, Bella cuts her arm, and then [the vampires] turn and look at her. I remember loving that scene as a kid, and it kind of inspired Claudia’s frenzy.
But then more than that, I don’t think people realize how technical it was. All those kills were in different sets throughout the house and on different places of the stage and it all needed to be blocked out. And on top of that, we’re feeling raging emotions. Frenzy is, for at least me playing Claudia, was similar to playing varied depression or playing anger or playing extreme joy. So it was very elevated.
Jacob Anderson: I wasn’t there for a lot of it. We started doing Dubai around the same time, so I actually missed a lot of that.
Sam Reid: It was broken up into lots of pieces, that whole sequence, so it was a weird thing to shoot. We shot it over a couple of weeks, and we’d shoot one little piece of each death and one murder. You finish drinking the blood at this point, then you walk up the stairs at a different point, or Louis jumps across the table at this point. It was sporadic and spread out, which kind of felt like we were always covered in blood.
For weeks I would go to work and I would just be covered in blood, sitting around drenched in the f***ing sh**. [Laughs] I became so attached to that costume, I took it home with me. We both have those bloody shirts that I die in.
Oh my gosh, I love that. Just have it framed on your wall.
Sam Reid: Well unfortunately, ’cause it’s all mouth blood, it doesn’t dry, so it’s just this constantly sticky garment.
The response to this show has been overwhelmingly positive. How does it feel to be part of one of the most beloved new shows of the year?
Bailey Bass: It’s really exciting. I think I’m overwhelmed by how accepting people were of Claudia, even though we had some changes — you never know how the fans are gonna feel. I’m so happy that the Anne Rice essence of Claudia that was in the books is in the show. A fan made an edit of Claudia throughout the entire season, and I’ve watched it like eight times. I was tearing up because I’m so happy that they love her as much as I do.
Jacob Anderson: I was saying to Sam yesterday that it’s so amazing. You want to be a part of something that people feel strongly about, whatever those feelings are. Whether they’re feelings of disappointment in the characters or they’re just feelings of, I love these characters so much, whatever it is. Just some provoking, strong feeling is, for me anyway, what I want to be a part of in my life. We all love the show so much. We love working on it, and we are fans of the writing and the craft that goes into it outside of ourselves that it’s so great to see that people agree.
Sam Reid: Yeah, ’cause we really didn’t know what we were making. It was such a bizarre shooting experience. It was like we went into this bubble, this cocoon world, and it only feels like we just finished shooting it, really. Then we went straight into Comic-Con, then bits and pieces of it coming out online, and then the show coming out. It feels a little bit like we’re still very much there. It’s been amazing to put it out there and let it exist outside of us as well and just go like, “OK, well, here you go. It’s yours now.” And it’s nice that people like it.
#jam reiderson#jacob anderson#sam reid#interview with the vampire#iwtv#i am pretty sure that there's also a video (or maybe it was in the iwtv podcast) where they mentioned they kept the bloody shirts#i was even thinking that this was transcriptions of that interview#need to find where they said that
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A leap of faith and Physics (part 2)
Now that we knew how to find the crystals, the scientific community was tense. Itching to do something with them.
One paper had just unveiled a method of propulsion using the tachyon background and directed linear resonance chirping. The tachyon background, as it turned out, is self organizing. Unlike the tardionic world we were used to, entropy actually decreases over there. There is a natural tachyon base frequency, one so high that they travel really slowly. That's also weird about tachyons, how the more energy they have, the slower they move. But we knew that part beforehand.
Anyway, the paper outlined how to use a subharmonic of that base frequency, that could slowly be chirped in one direction to one harmonic lower, which would generate physical thrust on the tardium crystal used for chirping. Only problem was that once the frequency arrived at the new subharmonic, the tachyons decayed into their base frequency, completely stopping the propulsion. This stopping effect, though detrimental to the experimental setup in terms of having broken it multiple times, begged the question though: Since it stopped, momentum isn't conserved, despite motion happening.
Just half a year later, some madlad had designed an actual engine based on that concept, that should in theory exceed the speed of light. To be fair, the tardium crystals did that, for a couple attoseconds. Unfortunately for the rest of the prototype, normal matter doesn't appreciate being moved at superluminal speeds, and therefore broke apart when the craft approached the light barrier.
Despite that setback, people kept on theorizing and engineering. Then, two years later, Star Trek came to the rescue again. A research group posited that they could make a 'structural integrity field' by sprinkling microscopic tardium crystals into the steel and ceramic of the hull, and engineering a tachyon field that would keep them at a constant distance relative to the drive crystals. Ten months later, and a tiny prototype did what we thought to be impossible: For 24 milliseconds, it traveled at about 1.000000001c, and it came out of this experience unharmed. However, the sharp drop from superluminal to low subluminal speeds did de-tune the structural integrity field. Unless we got someone to board the vessel and re-tune it after every drop from superluminal, this wasn't going to work out. Especially because the chirp would not last all that long.
Now that the principle was proven, though, the engineers and mining crews took over. While the former slaved over engine and hull designs, the latter set up multiple extra bases along the asteroid belt, undulation mining all the tardium crystals they could get their metaphorical hands on. They were tiny, but since we needed most of them for the integrity field anyway, that wasn't a problem. What was harder was finding good, sufficiently large drive crystals.
Meanwhile, the engineers had settled on a design that was, for some reason, a flying saucer. They explained that they needed three or more engines to run at the same time all the time, to be able to adjust course. And also have more than that so some could be stopped, reset, and be ready to chirp again before the active ones were done. Therefore, at six points radially along the saucer, there were 2cm sized drive crystals which would propel the craft. They would be working on three cycles, while one pair was resetting, the other two pairs would be actively propelling the vessel. This way, continuous propulsion could be achieved. And the integrity field would not need to be re-tuned every couple milliseconds.
For low subluminal speeds, the engines didn't actually require the integrity field to be active. This had the advantage, that the vessel could be contacted. Because as prototyping quickly revealed, as soon as the integrity field was up, communications were all blocked in their entirety.
But, well, after 5 more years of prototyping and biological compatibility testing, the first starship was deemed spaceworthy and safe for humans to be on the inside of. Turned out that as long as the hull integrity field was up, the inside of the craft needed no further cautions, and you could float around in it like normal. The field itself didn't even extend much further inside beyond the outer hull. Though, when the field was down, you would experience the g-forces of the drive, which sounds bad, but actually made for some handy way to produce artificial gravity during the ascent from the surface. Once the field was up, the magnetic boots of the uniforms anchored you to the floor. Or you could grab onto two handles and anchor yourself that way.
We would love to have made a bigger ship than we did, but unfortunately, the Enterprise (because of course they named it that) was limited by the amount of available large tardium crystals for the drive. So we deemed its first mission to be getting some more. Trade for them, get permission to mine them, whatever, we just needed some larger ones.
As for now, the enterprise had just one deck in the wider saucer, but 3 in the middle, which was bulbed out for no discernible reason i could find, other than to make it look like a proper UFO. And maybe to house the living quarters for the crew of 45 brave explorers. And also to transport back more tardium in the cargo hold, located smack dab in the middle of the ship.
We sent a request for the isocoordinates of the closest civilization to us over vibromessage, and after receiving them, we gave the go ahead.
We however forgot to take into account that due to the message blocking of the structural field, we could no longer send our friends in the Andromeda galaxy any messages. Nor could we check in with the Enterprise, as it would be in the tachyon slipstream continuously, so as not to need to re-tune the integrity field as often. Because that takes a while each time.
So for 30 long years after the sendoff, we didn't know anything. We didn't waste that time, but with so much of our supply of crystals built into that ship, we needed a while to even start on other experiments. And the first thing we did was to upgrade the control network for the dyson collectors. I say first thing, as if we finished that project quickly, when in reality it took us 2 of those 3 decades. The last decade was pretty calm. Humanity had endured so much excitement, that the new generation now pushed to refocus on our culture. So, now that the collectors were precise enough, we finally began to enact our long awaited plan to terraform Mars. But that would take about a century in total, so it wasn't like there was much daily excitement to be had about that.
Then, thirty years and 5 months after launch, at 0:1 PFJ, we received a vibromessage from Andromeda. Enterprise had made it.
Quickly thereafter, the prime administrator called me, demanding to be connected to the tachyon network at once, now that comms were open once more.
I didn't really watch the negotiations that followed, but to make a long story short, our wayward crew was allowed to mine asteroids in the system of the aliens for tardium, so long as the aliens got a 40/60 cut. They themselves admitted to being unable to mine them by themselves, so they gave us the lion's share.
For the domestic scientists, this meant the reserves of tardium were opened more to experiments, as more was on the way soon-ish.
This resulted in the discovery of how the tachyons decayed into their base frequency, or vacuum state, if you will. We knew that in tardium, the tachyons directly couple with the phonons, which are the vibrational excitation modes. However, in vacuum, when coupling with themselves in order to decay into a higher frequency, the excitation was mitigated by an elongation of the surrounding spacetime in turn. We had finally found the explaination for the expansion of the universe: Whenever tardium gets excited and tachyons of non-base frequencies are sent out, their decay mode stretches the universe. Or, well, it stretches spacetime, with isospace being left unaffected. Our drive tech basically anchors the vessel to isospace anyway, so even if the universe keeps expanding, we can still visit everyone we want with the first drive we made. But... negative spacial curvature was something we wanted to achieve for centuries. And now, we were able to!
With this discovery, the engineers went back to work to try to make this into a method of propulsion as well. This necessitated a name for our first, working engine, which we decided to call the slipstream drive. This was fairly intuitive of a name, as the vessel would couple to isospace instead of regular spacetime, where it would be carried by the pressure of the tachyon field on one side, while the chirpers destructively interfered with it on the other side. Thus essentially creating a slipstream pocket in the front, into which the tachyon pressure would continuously push the vessel.
Speaking of names, the newly conceived drive was uncreatively christened the warp drive. To be fair, it was pretty much exactly what a warp drive in pop-culture had been. Except, turns out, it didn't work that easily. The warp prototypes at the moment had small drive crystals. And so, their warp fields collapsed fairly rapidly, due to unwanted resonance we couldn't shunt away. No prototype even managed to break the warp 1 barrier yet, though they did achieve fairly decent sublight speeds. And, interestingly, they could still be communicated with via tachyon message. This was due to the fact that they worked on the opposite principle of comm-arrays. Where communications needed to stay stable over vast distances, the warp drive needed the tachyons to rapidly decay into the ground state in order to achieve propulsion. Anyway, as exciting as the warp drives were, in terms of actual propulsion, they weren't all that revolutionary.
The theoretical development of better, more efficient slipstream drives on the other hand flourished. Once Enterprise got back, the engineers were confident that the next trip to Andromeda could be tackled in about a month or two, with the new engine design. Maybe three, if some unforeseen hazards appeared.
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The high council of Krg didn't really know how to react to the news of the Humans' arrival.
Nobody could wrap their minds around how they got here. Or really why. Well, they stated that they wanted to mine the asteroids in the star system for tardium, but why they came to the surface was beyond the council's understanding.
They had to wear thick, bulky suits, with gas containers for respiration, as Krg didn't have an atmosphere. To even get to our habitats, we had to open one of the pressure doors, which we normally use to get to the surface whenever we want to access the telescopes. It was such a strange feeling, letting something else then a Krgian crawl through our living spaces. Usually when that happened, the intruder was some kind of pest, which we quickly drove out.
The Humans had trouble with the steepness of some of our tunnels, but they still insisted they come down here. Our multitude of locomotive limbs allows our kind to easily traverse these tunnels, but that didn't mean the Humans didn't manage. When we thought it would be too steep for them to follow us, they unveiled a rope and pulley system, which they used to hoist themselves down along the wall. Ingenious!
Though i couldn't help but ask: "Are you sure you can get back up?"
The lead human, furthest down the rope turned its head, and replied: "Yeah, easily. The gravity here is so much lower compared to Earth, it will be a cakewalk. Ah, sorry, human expression, what i meant was it will be a simple matter. To be honest, i am more worried about the light."
Light? "Oh right, you Humans have sensory organs that require light." I had forgotten about that, but supposed it made sense for surface dwellers such as them.
"Yes, we can't see much down here with our measly flashlights."
"What is a flashlight?"
"A portable light source, which can be directed into a specific direction. But in tunnels like these, in the dark, i can see why your species has evolved vibrational senses first and foremost."
"You are familiar with them?"
The Human made noise that sounded as if it had trouble with respiration. "Yes. We have lots of life forms on Earth that have whiskers like yours. Not even all of which live in tunnels. Some live together with us."
This surprised me. "There is another intelligent species on your planet?"
"No." came the swift reply.
"Ah, a pet then. Or is it livestock?"
"No, cats are pets. Though jury's out on who's domesticated whom."
I wanted to ask for clarification, but we had arrived at my workstation.
"We are here," i announced to the humans, opening the hatch. "You may enter."
"Whoa. Is that? A tardium crystal?" The third Human in line extended their forelimb toward one of the array crystals. "It is gigantic!"
Appraising the crystal, it was only about one and a half body lengths of the Humans. "It is for a communications array, after all. Though it is not the largest single crystal we have," i informed them.
"If the boys back home saw that, they'd be foaming at the mouth, you know that?"
"Isn't mouth foaming a bad sign?" I wasn't sure about all the intricacies of Human biology, i was a communication officer after all, not a biologist.
"It would be, if that wasn't just an expression. Sorry, i keep forgetting that idioms require context that you don't have. May we use the array to send a message back home? Our vessel is only equipped with a short range communication grid."
Another human whispered something i think i wasn't supposed to hear, but could clearly: "ET phone home." It was said in English, which i was rusty in, so i didn't know what it meant. We had been conversing in basic so far.
Of course, i agreed to let them use it. They proceeded to turn their heads in many different positions, but didn't go to the controls.
"Is something wrong?" i asked.
"We have no idea how to work this thing."
Oh. I went over to the vibromotor-controls, and softly brushed the control crystal. Brushing the harmony for communication with Earth, the vibromotors undulated, configuring the array crystals into the correct alignment.
The Humans then initiated a small scale communication from their own limited range communicator, which i configured the array to pick up and amplify, then transmit toward Earth. On the side, i used internal communications to call the council of elders up here, who to my surprise agreed to come right away. Only two millirotations later, they crawled up the side entrances, their chitin softness dampening their approach to a respectably low volume.
At the same time, the communications array was picking up a response, from the leader of Earth.
"Shall we leave the leaders to their decision?" one of the Humans asked me.
"Probably." i responded. We made our way outside the cavern.
"Do you have a water reservoir here somewhere?" one of the Humans requested. "We need to refill our oxygen supply, but we have electrolyzers and hydrogen fusers in the ship. So if you could spare a couple tons of water, that would really help us."
I had no idea what half these words meant, but lead them to a communal pressure well. We use those to transport cargo from the lower levels, but we had more than enough liquid water to spare. A couple tons were nothing.
After a trip back to the surface, hauling some metallic objects down the tunnels, the humans went to work. Why they were using construction material was beyond me, but soon, a rythmic hum came from one of the devices.
"Fusion in 3. 2. 1. Fusing now," one of them announced, having connected a soft pipe from one device to the other.
"What exactly is it that you are doing?" i inquired.
"Electro-chemically splitting the water into hydrogen and oxygen, then using the hydrogen for the fusion reactor, which in turn powers the electrolyzer."
"I have no idea what any of that means," i admitted.
The Humans turned their heads to one another for a moment, then back to me.
"We're using a machine, or two machines rather, to make breathable gas out of the water."
"Oh, so you breathe water vapor?"
"No. But we can make what we breathe out of water. We don't just vaporize it. I don't think i can properly explain chemistry or electrolysis right now. We don't have the time for that."
"Don't we have plenty, while the negotiations are underway?" i inquired.
"If you think they will take multiple cycles, then maybe. But i thought it would only be a few rotations, right?"
It takes multiple cycles to explain?
What?
Just what is up with these Humans?
...to be honest, i kind of wanted to find out for myself at this point. Maybe, just maybe, they would allow me to travel back to Earth with them. I didn't have a clutch of eggs to care for, nor a mate. Which hadn't exactly bothered me, but it did mean i had nothing holding me here. Except for the now obsolete thought that i couldn't go to any other civilization.
Hello, Author here. I am sorry to say this, but this is probably the last thing i write for this world. ADHD refuses to let me do such a sustained project. If any of you want to write something in this setting i created, though, be sure to run it by me to see if it fits the setting. Also, if anyone has a cool idea what to call this worldbuilding/setting/universe, feel free to send me an ask with a suggestion, i'll edit the tags so we can find stuff written in that setting later on.
#humans are space orcs#worldbuilding#i know a couple of you followed me for this story#but the thing is i'm now pretty much done with it#adhd refuses to let me work on long sustained projects#sorry
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What is your favourite thing about Billie Lurk?
(Answers are obvious possibly but i love when people talk about her👍)
thanks for the ask!! YEAH ME TOO I love when people talk about Billie! I can't say I have a favourite thing specifically, but I can explain why she's my fav. apologies for not taking this qn literally, but -
short answer: she’s really cool
& you can stop reading there, or, for the maybe 2 mutuals who might have time to read this my thoughts on her as a character, her meta, and her character as raw potential...
long answer:
i considered making this entire thing a gush so you could read a gush about Billie. but, part of what draws me to her is that she’s not always well written, and in fandom she’s underrated for a literal protagonist.
since you ask...
billie is a cool character
when I played Dh2 (hadn't played Dh1), I was excited to see a black woman with disabilities who was captaining a massive ship by herself. wow.
then I discovered Billie’s backstory with Deirdre, the way she responded to that, then having to survive while living on the run, and her bisexuality. as well as her history with daud & delilah. fascinating!
she’s an outsider who has so much to lose, and knows what it's like to lose everything - having lost everything not once but three times - but nevertheless speaks truth to power. she's so brave! she went and helped Emily & Corvo and she must have known they might kill her! plus, she’s smart, she’s funny, she gets shit done, she’s gorgeous.
but... the meta
mild critique of fandom & arkane incoming.
skip this bit if you want - you've been warned twice now - jump to tired Hayao Miyazaki and read from there if you'd like my thoughts on writing her.
i thought Death of the Outsider was going to be amazing and then... well. *sad trombone* i've written about that before so i won't keep banging on. i figured others must be disappointed too, so I joined a few fandom spaces in hopes of finding camaraderie.
most people with complaints about DotO didn’t like how the Outsider and Daud were handled. which is valid & I agree. but it seemed like most paid no attention to Billie; when people talk about her it’s with respect to Daud, as opposed to in her own right. you could argue for fandom misogyny because people don’t talk about adult Emily Kaldwin that much either, but in Billie's case, it’s misogynoir (compare & contrast with the popularity of thomas, particularly the popularity of thomas portrayed as a white man for no particular reason that i've been able to discern - i keep asking around, is it in the books???).
i think this is a LOT better now than it used to be, which is fantastic. or perhaps i have found the correct echo-chamber? ha.
ultimately, The Fandom is a fraction of the entire picture, and not even the important bit since The Fandom is not who these games are made for. you can't make money relying on only your hardcore fans even if all of them spent a fortune on merch, this is true for any AAA game.
while it's true that Billie is underrated from a fandom perspective - but Billie as an underwritten protagonist is squarely Arkane’s fault.
it was reasonable when she was a side character - the lack of info in Dh2 makes perfect sense (if anything there was more lore in Dh2 which is kind of wild)-
- but as a protagonist in Death of the Outsider?
.... there’s lousy writing, and there’s whatever is going on with Billie Lurk, a black woman who mostly exists as a foil or saviour for light-skinned characters. In her own game there’s barely any of her own lore except where it's relevant to saving two dudes.
lore hints at, but barely touches on what race means in the Dh universe (xenophobia is stronger in Dh1; separate essay i guess), but Arkane has patted themselves on the back for portraying non-white characters, which feels like the same thing as the aesthetic of diversity we're seeing in advertising currently because it’s in marketing trend guides. it's self-congratulatory and it's a missed opportunity for deeper storytelling.
you can see an example of diversity at its most shallow in the way that Billie’s written: there’s little engagement with her as an entire person with history & wants & preferences, and the world she walks through in that game feels like it has nothing to do with her. you could make a case for alienation as a theme, but then, how do you handle the titular premise of 'Dishonored' without ever letting Billie make changes in an environment without a chaos system? it's disappointing from that angle too.
in my opinion, whatever it's worth, it was an accident Arkane created such an awesome character - they needed someone to betray daud. congrats billie.
all this said, it makes her an underdog as far as characters to enjoy & create art & stories for. it's nice to find so many like-minded, switched on people! <3
billie's character potential
she’s got a wealth of unexplored lore, being deeply intertwined with both Karnaca & Dunwall’s fates & criminal underbellies, as well as her connections to the witches & whalers, and three Empresses.
she’s lived a few distinct lifetimes and in the games we get to meet her at two peaks (KoD & DotO) & a low (Dh2 as Meagan).
her voice is very distinct, her dry & often dark humour is entertaining & fun to write. her perspective is really interesting - she’s had the widest variety of void-powers of anyone canonically, and she’s also lived through the highest highs and lowest lows.
she's got everything going for her :) i couldn't really pick a fav thing!
#i assume my followers are cool enough to let me give a brief measured critique on fandom trends and DotO#thanks for the anon question!! what fun!#i love billie lurk <333#jumped on the opportunity to rant n rave#what part of billie isn't my fav! (im a guy who likes the bad stuff too. mmm interesting meta)#trying to be not unfair or mean- i'm not targeting anyone but rather trends. and it's ok to be disappointed with something you love#fuck it. make it part of the appeal! her writing sucks! plenty of room for me & other creators!#its easier for me to indulge my billie brainworms when it sorta feels like she's not getting as much love as she deserves#you know? i want stories where her history is explored and her agency is important so i guess i'll roll up my sleeves#tumblr is a terrible place for this sort of critique IMO- lots of nuanceless empathy-free guilt-trip-ish rhetoric#so i hope i avoided that. but not so much that i seem forgiving.#that said i'm not tagging this one with fandom tags! no thank you.#i am blaming arkane yes. but that is also not without games industry context#i could complain about amateurish writing but that also never happens in a vacuum. industry problem(s) for sure.#people love to blame writers for things#and yeah a couple really fucking good writers can push a boulder uphill#but its usually a company problem#hire lots of diverse people in your company. give them authority and respect and reasonable workloads. and no crunch.#ah fuck this is a separate essay in tags. again#THIS WAS A SIMPLE QUESTION#*clutches head in hands*#uh if you're still reading at this point im SO sorry and thank you and i love you
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I think about this interview a lot.
I think about how Jenkins thinks queer romances end up tragic/unrequited.
How these queer romantic characters deserve a happy ending.
How he gave this as an answer to the question about the death of the one character whose arc was very much queer and very much not romantic.
Its great to be able to see yourself in fairytale romances.
It would be still more amazing if those of us for whom romance was not in the picture and probably will never be could see our fantastical queer happy endings too....
But of course... How could you possibly tell happy queer stories without romance. Being queer is all about Love is Love after all /s
#this is not about me being mad at the show or Jenkins in all honesty#just mad in general about amatonormative queer representation where other queer stories IF present are sidelined to the main couple(s).#i am mad because Izzy's growth as a queer person is perhaps one of the most amazing queer arcs I have ever seen not centered on romance.#or without being slotted into a specific lable#and for a few days it was fucking glorious#and now that joy will always be followed by the vague bitterness of knowing that happy endings are not meant for you.#P.S. for idiots who can't different between criticism of a piece of media and name calling a person#i am not calling Jenkins homophobic or what ever other leaps of logic y'all make to build your strawman.#izzy hands#ofmd#david jenkins#queer media critical i suppose?#critical#this is also about the general decrease of queer vibe with the loss of the polyarmourous plots..#but thats a whole other post in itself#this not a angry post. just a sad post
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