#i love talking about my passions rah

[anchoeritic]

please do post your poetry, literally nothing is more beautiful to me than seeing how people express all of these emotions and thoughts into these magical little words that can mean so little yet so much & ik i will deeply fall in love w u immediately

-🍇

it’s all just sappy hopeless romantic bullshit but i love it so much. writing poems is the same as when i write some of my fics. there’s something deeper beyond just words, it’s the emotion of feeling through the message you’re trying to put out. which is also why i like.. love.. handwriting them out instead of typing them up. if that makes sense? it’s very love letter-like.

[theyhavetakenovermylife]

Hello! I saw you added the Injustice 2 turtles and was wondering if you could write nsfw head cannons about them please!! 🙏💖 hope you’re doing okay!!

Random Headcanons (18+)

IJ2!Turtles x reader

A/N: Heck yeah I can write something nsfw for the Injustice 2 turtles. And I’m doing great, thank you💚 Hope you’ll enjoy💚

All characters are aged up.

Warnings: Mentionings of sex and orgasms.

Leonardo:

Leo is a gentleman through and through, always ensuring you feel appreciated and protected. He’s the type to notice when you’re cold and silently drape whatever he had at hand - or maybe even his own arms - over your shoulders, brushing a thumb across your cheek with a soft: “You should’ve told me sooner”.

Though he’s serious in battle, around you, he has a knack for sly flirtation. You have once before experienced him suddenly moving his attention from the battle before him to some of the wonderful parts of your body, only to give you a boyish smirk when you caught him staring.

He’ll spar with you and “accidentally” pin you down, leaning in with a teasing smirk. “Guess I win again. Should we call it even, or do I get a reward for my efforts?” That reward would usually end up with the two of you getting busy in Leo’s bedroom for the rest of the day. Usually with your legs wrapped around his waist, holding on for dear life as Leo drove into you with intensity.

When the chaos of day to day gets overwhelming, Leo values quiet time with you, often meditating side by side. During those serene moments, he’ll hold your hand, brushing his thumb over your knuckles and murmuring about how your presence keeps him centered.

During these days where peace and quiet was the focus, Leo would make love to you, slowly and passionately, keeping you on the edge as he would kiss your whole body over, before finally giving you what you needed the most.

Raphael:

Raph doesn’t do “subtle”. He never has and never will. If he wants your attention, he’ll just go for it, making it very, very obvious what he wants. He’ll just pull you into his lap without warning and smirk as you sputter, rubbing your thighs and sides with his now wandering hands. “What? You looked too good just standing there, I had to do it”.

If someone so much as glances at you the wrong way, Raph’s glare could cut steel. Either it would mean that they would have to feel the fury of your protective boyfriend, or you and Rah would have to go somewhere “private” - usually within earshot of whoever had managed to poke Raph’s anger, letting them know exactly how good and well Raph was treating you.

Later, after several orgasms, you would give Raph a light scolding, reminding him you were an adult that was perfectly capable of telling another man to get lost. Raph would then sheepishly admit, “I don’t mean to get all territorial, but you’re kinda my everything, y’know?”, often awarding him many hugs and kisses from your side.

Raph’s affection often takes the form of friendly roughhousing. He’ll challenge you to small play fights, at times even holding back so you could feel like you were getting the upper hand, only to suddenly do an 180 and pin you to the ground, so that he could hover above you with a playful smirk, letting you know exactly what he was thinking about. “Have I ever told you how hot you look when you’re under me?”

Donatello:

At times it could feel like your purple dressed boyfriend had two personalities. Both lovable, yet different. One being a shy, nervous nerd, at times stammering like he was talking to a long time crush, and not the same girlfriend he had fucked sensless on many orccations. The other being a smooth yet soft flirt, that would be open about any and all things he wanted to do to you, or have you do to him.

Donnie’s love language is sharing his passions, often geeking out about his latest inventions. “I, uh, designed this just for you,” he says, handing you a sleek gadget, continuing to ramble as his cheeks heated up. “It’s totally practical, but if you want it in a different color, I can tweak it…”

Despite his at times introverted nature, Donnie surprises you with moments of sly humor. While working late in his lab, he might pull you onto his lap, adjusting your arms around him like, “If you’re going to distract me, you might as well help me”. Cue the light teasing and bashful laughter, that soon would evolve into you bouncing on Donnie’s member, while his hands grabbing your ass and chest, whispering all sorts of dirty, stomach tingling words into your ear, like he had no fear in life.

After long, stressful battles, Donnie seeks solace in your presence. He’ll sit with you on the rooftops, rambling about the stars before falling silent, resting his forehead against yours. “You make everything… better”, he whispers, as if the words themselves make him nervous.

From here it could go in two different directions. Either you and Donnie would continue your light rambling about the stars, interlocking your fingers, talking about the future. Or Donnie would soon have you on your back, watching the stars above you, with your legs spread open, letting Donnie devour your sweet taste, calming him down after a long, stressful day.

Michelangelo:

Mikey is endlessly playful, finding new ways to make you smile. He’ll pop up behind you mid-conversation, wrapping his arms around you and whispering, “Guess who’s the luckiest turtle in the world? Spoiler: it’s me”, before attacking your neck with kisses and playful bites, having you laughing and kicking his arms from the tickling feeling of his lips against your skin.

Mikey is a firm believer that smiles and laughs makes everything better, so no matter what he would have in store for you that day, he would make your and his joy together a big priority. No matter if it was an adventure indoor or outside, sitting on the couch watching television, or in bed fucking your brains out it didn’t matter. Mikey would always make sure to have you smiling.

Mikey loves using his artistic side to impress you - whether it’s graffiti of your name in neon colors on a brick wall somewhere in New York, where he was sure you would come by it, or a homemade pizza with your initials spelled out in toppings. “Romantic, right? It’s totally my specialty!”, he says, eyes sparkling with pride. He had also more than once painted your back, ending with a large beautiful finish piece on your naked back, and getting absolutely railed from behind, where Mikey could admire his work.

Beneath his goofy demeanor, Mikey has a deeply thoughtful side. He’ll surprise you with all sorts of sweet things. A rooftop picnic, complete with fairy lights he strung up himself. A pillowfort just so the two of you could cuddle and watch movies together. “I know life’s been crazy lately, but I wanted to remind you how much you mean to me”, he says, grinning while nervously scratching the back of his neck.

And of course, all of these sweet gestures and date ideas would culminate with the two of you jumping on each other, not giving one flying fuck wheather if it was on the roof or in a pillowfort in the middle of the lair.

[minti-tales]

Meet The Choir

It's Monday, so I'm giving you lore bits about my character's "Choir" - the result of Minti's job crystals resonating with her aether and Echo. In non-WoL timelines, they are aetherically created constructs made from Minti's imagination; in WoL timelines, they are people she's met on the way to becoming the Champion of Eorzea. Think of them like party members you'd meet in a classic Final Fantasy game. Or, if you've played Civilization games or Disco Elysium, they're like those pop-up advisors who appear to tell you about how cities work, or to tell you that your ugly tie looks GREAT on you.

I go into more detail HERE and HERE.

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Without further ado, let's meet our aetheric host:

Lead Soprano: The Artist (They/None)

Note: "I am here to create. You may refer to me however you wish."

"The world may be dark indeed, but have faith. The chill of winter must come 'ere we find the warmth of spring."

Manifested from the Samurai job crystal. Self-appointed voice of reason, coordinator with the many other voices in Minti's crystals. Logic with tempered passion.

Soprano: The Firebird (She/Her)

Note: "Let me burn freely, and fully. You'll let me do that, won't you?"

"You always fought with such passion, my love. Harken to my dance..."

Manifested from the Dancer job crystal. The voice that burns bright and pushes Minti forward, even in the darkest of days. May be a misremembered paramour, or even one of the Four Lords. (Mortals don't have love affairs with primals...do they?) Passion with tempered logic.

Soprano: The Frost Queen, She Made of Ice (She/Her)

Note: "I've been waiting to rejoin the Choir for a very long time. High time to grow my hoard..."

Originally manifested from the Dragoon crystal, but was abandoned in the Coerthas Highlands. Rejoined the Choir when Minti retook up the lance.

Used to take on the form of an ancient Ice Dragon, and may, in fact, be the spirit of one bound to the job crystal. Has a long memory and a dragon's hoard to match.

Experience. Acknowledgement of the past, remembrance of sins, and embrace of the future.

Soprano: The Steel Queen, She Made of Machina (She/Her)

Note: "Loading standard greeting and designation....Hello. I am The Steel Queen. Standard operating procedures are in place."

Originally manifested from the Machinist job crystal. Currently manages Machinist and Sage, but Sage may be splitting off into their own voice.

Anticipation and proper procedure. The voice best suited for memorizing job rotations.

Lead Alto: The Signora (pronounced Si-NO-rah) (She/Her)

Note: "Hello there. You aren't busy at the moment, are you? Of course, you are browsing your website, yes, but are you busy afterwards. We should talk."

The voidsent bound to Minti's Reaper crystal. Originally known as the Countess Alessandra. Before her world became enveloped in Darkness, she was a favored figure in the kingdom of Troia. Has a lovely singing voice. Is not proficient with the subtle art of assassination, who told you she is, that's a rumour.

Greed. The drive to see a difficult fight finished.

Alto: The Knightly Mother (She/Her)

Note: "My face may be unfamiliar to you, but I am assured you know who I am. I am, as always, waiting and willing to take the reins from you, Warrior of Light.

Just say you have need of me, my friend.

I will never abandon you."

The darkness inside Minti's Dark Knight crystal. The collected memories of one Lady Sabbatine Treleaux - dark knight, matron of a fallen Ishgardian House, mother to a Viera who was a long way from home. Protector to the very last breath.

Friend, comfort, honor.

Lead Bass: The Royal Volunteer, or Volunteer (He/Him)

Note: "No aethergraphs while I'm working! Please! What's that Au Ra doin' ther-"

Originally manifested from the Gunbreaker crystal. The classic Final Fantasy adventurer, always ready to do content, whether that's roulettes, raids, or delivering mail for the Deputy Post-Moogle. Many, many letters...

A big man with an even bigger heart, who wants to improve his skills when there's a chance. Getting in misadventures with Scions or friends is his bread and butter.

Reliability, friendship, love given freely and often.

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And that's everyone! New voices will be added in future posts.

I hope this has been of some help to you, at least in understanding how Minti's Echo works.

[princessg3rard]

FUCK UH OK YEA

1. amazing voice !! their range and sound is so unique and fucking beautiful and it pisses me off that they’re not praised enough for this !! <3 not to mention, she’s literally a creative genius like he’s fucking good at everything ?? so creative and amazing at everything and just — RAH so talented !!

2. HOT. SO HOT. literally one of the prettiest people I have ever seen, especially in femme outfits (put her in a skirt and all my problems can wait) !! he just has that kissable face like I don’t think anyone can look at her and not want to give them a big ol kiss :3

3. they’re so kind and empathetic !! like being an artist with a large queer fanbase, it makes sense that they are very passionate about queer rights, but idk I’ll never get over how kind they are. like in every interview I’ve seen of him he’s talking about the people she loves and the fans, and how deeply they appreciate everything, not to mention how cool they are with taking pics and signing comics and all of those !! and their empathy - lord u can just feel it when they talk about how sorry they are to the fans that experienced violence and bullying, and in everything they create like how can one person feel all that for everyone. HOW.

[garnet-xx-rose]

About you asking for Christine x Erik asks: Yes, hello. For the love of god hi! Please tell me more about your head canon for their dynamic in general (or whatever you want to talk about) but also imagine Erik’s reaction if Christine ever takes up sword fighting. The man would be going feral with how much he is simping. Would probably write a whole Opera about how glorious Christine looks while skewering her practice dummy dhajasnsn this is not at all inspired by that one pirate Christine art

My hc for Erik and Christine’s relationship varies, its kinda complicated. For example, Ramin and Sierra’s interpretation I find the most shippable and enjoy pondering about post-Final Lair. So if we’re just talking about Erik x Christine in the ALW-verse, I’m basing it off RAH, cause I love what they do with the characters. I love how touchy Erik and Christine are, I love how messy it is, I love *that* ending even though it hurts my soul, I LOVE how awkward Erik is. Ramin’s Erik is so awkward, but it’s also sexy and I feel like him and Christine would have some interesting conversations and soft moments if shit didn’t go bad so quick. I think watching RAH made me so frustrated (in a good way) because they look so beautiful together but ERIK MY DUDE, please just have a normal conversation with this woman and not jump to conclusions.

But at the same time, Emilie is without a doubt my favorite interpretation of Christine, while Ramin is still my favorite phantom. So, in like Modern AU situations, I’ve been basing my writing ideas off of their Erik and Christine being together, which I think would be a lot of fun: Ramin’s nerdy and reserved but passionate Erik vs Emilie’s warm, confident and excitable Christine. Erik does his sardonic theatrics and Christine’s like “Ok that was something but do you wanna go to Target with me to get groceries?

BUT ALSO: I do like Christine and Erik’s with an age gap. A good 10-15 years. Like Christine being 23+ and Erik mid 30s to early 40s. Before people start coming at me. As someone who’s in her early 20s that finds older people hella attractive but wouldn’t want to date them cause of the obvious power imbalance, enjoying Christine and Erik fills that gap. I love fics where even though Christine is younger, she has a strong grip on Erik and has a lot of power in the dynamic. Watching men, be deeply in love with women is a passion of mine, and I think they fit it in really well. Also love an older Erik that’s a bit husky in shape. Giving DILF real ness.

Overall though, these attributes exist in all my Erik x Christine dynamic hcs:

-Christine is very outspoken

-Erik is a simp

-Christine is trying out new hobbies and ways to express herself (sword fighting, dying and chopping off her hair) so that she can have an identity outside of music

-Erik is her #1 supporter in her endeavors

-They’re attraction to each other can be overwhelming, and it’s what causes initial conflict. They get lost in each other to the point they ignore other relationships and their friends confront them about it. Erik doesn’t understand the problem but its Christine who explains why its not healthy or sustainable for them

-Erik has a lot of issues and is also doing everything in his power to manage his problems. He often struggles with Christine choosing him and has a lot of insecurities, but he doesn’t put that on Christine and instead is learning to use other avenues for stress-relieving than Christine or music. He talks a lot more with Daroga and takes up non-music hobbies like cooking and crochet. (Now when he’s having a bad time, he makes a mean triple chocolate cookie)

-Christine is healing from her grief and it’s a emotional process: She misses her Dad but also realizes that her childhood wasn’t the most stable. She realizes that she’s been looking for this stability in her relationships, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. However, she’s uncomfortable being with herself. So, she’s learning how to exist in her own.

- Erik and Christine are messy, but they love each other and they love their unique connection. Both are committed to putting the work to make this last.

And heck yeah, love Pirate Christine so much!

[zedxspacess]

My stonks for Gabe Kidd have never been higher after WK. I absolutely love the return of Kenny, and it’s insane he’s still going like this after everything he’s been through, and just his presentation with his in ring skills is so undeniable. But I’m also really proud of Gabe Kidd here. In 2024, he just had a monster run as a brutal heel, but you can just tell his passion and dedication to njpw is real. Despite his rude, foreign heel character, he came from the dojo. His energy is so strong it burns everything around him, but the fans still recognize he fights for them and their promotion. I’ve lowkey been burnt out by “rah rah, restore the feeling/soul of the company” type stories and promos, but the way Gabe Kidd and the NJPW locker have been approaching it feels more real to me than when aew does it. The youth and vets of NJPW have been showing out, given these amazing performances and opportunities and running with it. One of the things I love about pro wrestling is watching story unfold in real time, seeing the growth and success of an athlete you can be proud of. And the njpw locker room has that in spades. Even from vets like Goto who didn’t have a chance before, getting a title shot after years. The repositioning of Evil and the HoT, what they represent and how to effectively use them; they’re given this role as interference menaces but they give it all in the character work and presentation.

There’s a send of pride and change and progression and focus here that I haven’t felt in aew in a bit. There’s a lot of stop and start, or other storylines/angles not living up to it or obscuring the good, consistent storylines of those who are progressing well. For every good thing they’re doing there’s something holding them back. A lot of talk and say that they are doing xyz but either not doing it or they do it but lose focus. No commitment. Big Takeshita, take more njpw dates, they treat you so much better and your presentation is much cooler there.

[crabussy]

heyyyy welcome, welcome!! I've been expecting you. You don't need to wipe your feet on the mat, mud tracks on the carpet adds some personality to the space!! Hang your coat on the weird fake taxidermy pronghorn. To your left, the dining room, currently occupied by 23 people (and not people) having a heated debate about whether chartreuse is green or yellow (its neither). Oh, and here on our right is a comprehensive list of my Things! Take a peek, I'll be waiting in the corridor with the mosaic floor.

post includes: info about me, hobbies, tags, sideblogs, DNI, disclaimers and explanations!

(this is going to be LLLLOOOOOONG. I love explaining!!)

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✦ Name: Robin to most, Rob to some, Thing to all (call me whatever!)

✦ Pronouns: I use he/him exclusively, NO they/them ever thank you! some cheeky it/its is always fun though go for it

✦ Age: 18. somehow an adult and a teen at the same time. save me

✦ Nationality: I am a Pākehā Kiwi. I'm from AOTEAROA NZ!!!!!!!!!!

✦ Plurality: I am part of an OSDD-1B system alongside two dozen other headmates, some of the others have their own blogs set up which you can access via @menagerie-crew. they may post on my blog too, tagged with "_____ takeover" depending on who is in front. it is totally okay to request to chat with any of the others!! (I have discussed this with a therapist and a psychiatrist who both believe I am a system. I cannot get diagnosed for safety reasons. lalala)

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✦ Art:

@beastwhimsy - my art account! Please give it a look, thank you! My commissions are open.

@silly-pony-scribbles - an mlp art request blog I run with my bestest friend, sal!

✦ Tags:

silly tag: blorbos

sea tag: FISH. one of my special interests. coelacanth... kissing you

beast tag: ANIMALS. yet another thing I am full of love for

fren tag: any friend/moot related posts [: sometimes I forget!

art tag: art I am putting in my mouth right fucking now

music tag: music I am grating onto my pasta like parmesan cheese

insp: art inspiration

fave: what it says on the label [:

save: a tag full of posts I haven't looked at in about a year, oops

ultra fave: posts that make me roll around on the ground screaming

people tag: human people!!! I love us!!

mindfuckery tag: posts that violently rearrange my neurons

there tag: liminal spaces yayyy yayy

listen to my gibberish boy: my terrible words

important: usually PSAs and such!

mecore: posts that make me go YEAHHHHH. UH HUH.

robincore: posts that are like if I was images.....

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✦ Hobbies:

⋇ Camping, hiking, etc etc: I'm part of a scout group and have been camping ten gazillion times,, if I am not in a tent again soon I will surely perish. Put me in there NOW

⋇ Conservation/ecology: this is something I am most passionate about!!! I'm fascinated by ecosystems and do everything I can to contribute to positive change in conservation. I am especially passionate about Aotearoa's ecosystems!

⋇ Art: I draw ^_^ self explanatory !!! I specialize in character design!! redesigning characters is my love language.

⋇ Scaring myself shitless: I love horror... I will consume any horror related media although my favourite type of horror is unnerving stuff, not shock value stuff (although shock can be fun) if you have any good horror recs PLEASE I AM SO HUNGRY.

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✦ Interests:

⋇ animals!!! arthropods!!!! zoology/ecology! this is my special interest, has been for years, I could talk about it for hours [: NZ species/ecosystems especially! this is both a hobby and an interest rah rah

⋇ ADVENTURE TIME. HEEELP HELP ME HEELP HELP HELP. life giving magus I would do anything for you

⋇ mlp g3/g4 (currently VERY VERY gripped by The Horses. I love you ponies)

⋇ liminal spaces/old buildings (Don't mind me I just need to be in those places forever ?? and ever?)

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✦ DNI:

transmeds, terfs, pro-contact harmful paraphiliacs, syscourse blogs, autism speaks supporters, neonazis, zionists, racists, sexists etc. please stay off my page unless you're here to explore a different viewpoint and question your current views! thank you!

message me if you need any clarification on why I'm against any of these things, or if you're not sure what something on here means!! /g

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✦ Opinion on system origin discourse: read here!

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✦ Other:

I am autistic and experience chronic pain. Please keep this in mind when interacting with me! Tone indicators can be helpful, and I might sound a little off/dry due to pain sometimes, or I might not respond to asks for a long time due to low energy levels or forgetfulness. I promise I am always happy to talk!

anonymous asks and comments (unless you've been following me for over a week) are off because people kept using them to be needlessly unkind or to assume the worst of me. I've turned them on in the past only to have more people send me awful messages jam packed with pretty much every slur in the book. for that reason, they're off! sorry about that. (if you REALLY need to send me an anonymous message, you could make a temporary sideblog and DM me through it! I hope nobody takes advantage of this to be horrible. just be civil and block me if you dislike what I have to say please!)

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I see you finished reading my extensive list of Things!!! Lets continue with our tour- you haven't even seen the indoor crocodile pool yet. Did you bring any swimwear?

[1d-discourseoftheday]

Thurs 14 Jan ‘21

Nobody Is Listening, officially out tomorrow, has already arrived in some parts of the world! As of press time it's #1 on itunes in 24 countries and racking up more by the minute, we should have some exciting stats by tomorrow, plus we'll have heard the whole thing! And not only that, the official listening parties begin very soon, and will hopefully have their tech issues sorted by then, cause yes, I bet you can guess what already happened.... YEP WEBSITE CRASH! Yeah baby, that's what we do! But maybe people are right to be excited the chat does include... maybe Zayn? Someone official (“Zayn admin”) anyway! And just because the event hasn't started is no reason not to gather and start screaming about the album, whether it's out in your area, you're listening to a leak (Niall voice: No Judgement... except he would actually be mad about that lol), or you only are looking at the lyrics which tbh is about more than I can handle all by itself. You guys there is a LOT there, I was going to pull a few things but it's SO MUCH. We'll be unpacking (and soaking in) all this for a while to come, wow.

Niall popped on twitter to promo the new JC Stewart song he co-wrote, and he picked a question about whether he was interested in doing more writing for other people to answer; he said “always writing something, this one just felt right for JC and he put his twist on it.” He followed Olivia Rodrigo and posted about how much he likes her new song, Driver's License (“this song is the real deal... beautifully written”), defended his comment (a series of laugh cry emoji) on a meme post using a pic from the WMYB video, said not drinking this month has been “easy!” and he did a “can't sleep talk to me” AMA-- he recommends MGMT, Kacey Musgraves, Artic Monkeys, and, for crossover excitement, Lucius (who feature on TPWK) and DMA'S (who feature as Louis' fave band)! He also agressively rejected some fan fashion suggestions (“no no no no” “I will not”) of outifts that, uh, look AN AWFUL LOT like ones he has worn to me? If he's serious (and not quietly seething about how we don't get his humor) I have to respect that kind of passion about nearly invisible detail tbh. And speaking of attention to detail! An article about the RAH livestream came out in a crew trade publication so there's just reams of very specific tech detail; but there's also plenty of people saying nice things about Niall! “Niall was very involved in every step of the process. He really gained a full grasp of the situation and during the promotion of the show, he really wanted to educate the public, and his fanbase, about what was going on in the sector,” for example. Tonight Niall told us he would want to do another virtual concert but he'd “need a good reason... a music launch or something.”

Liam has a new video for Hugo Man (that's a perfume in case you were wondering); he says about 2020, “I think we've all learned to rest a little bit more this year, I hope we all keep a little a bit of time for ourselves.” HAVE YA learned to do that though Liam, HAVE YA? Where is this sabbatical you said you were taking right now that you definitely were in great need of? Honey please-- just take a break! We worry! Sigh. Anyway also he changed his social headers and bio in honor of the new projects (SIGH) he's doing right now- it says “here's to the future...” (was previously ticket lnks) which would be a great bio to have up indefinitely while taking a break... or something... maybe he should do that...

Hey remember that YA novel about closeted boybanders in love that we were like, well, at least we won't have to deal with that until next year? WELL GUESS WHAT YEAR IT IS NOW-- the release date isn't until Dec 7 which is VERY FAR AWAY but I guess the hype is beginning now; the title and cover art for If This Gets Out, by Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich, have been revealed. Becky Albertalli (who once wrote a book [Love Simon] about a gay football player with Louis in his name whose secret code name was “bluegreen”) posted to hype up the book, but then followed up with a long post to tell people that in fact you-know-who were NOT the source of those details in Love Simon, and that she is now a new Harry Styles fan but knows nothing about any of that. Sophie Gonzales, who drew the cover art for her new book- a picture of a light haired guy with a long fringe and a curly haired brunet locked in eye contact and a silhouette of the fictional band they're in that looks just like the famous Steal My Girl video shot (or Louis' Walls video reference of same)- says “this book is fictional, and while we're aware of what Larry is, this book was not written about that.”

And in today's Holivia corner, not much action! A mere trickle! Cosmo published a timeline of events that reads just like a tumblr masterpost, complete with 'what is the truth' gifs at the blatant contradictions, but that's about it. “You live in my imagination**,” indeed; much like the rumor started by a single galaxy brained anon claiming that Harry definitely fucked... wait for it... LIAM'S DAD (like, his actual father, Geoff Payne, not some kind of euphemism.) Someone tell Page Six! I have no comment until I get some good analysis of astrological compatibility from their expert...

(**Harry Styles, Olivia, 2015)

[davidmann95]

How about those JL storyboards?

In case you haven’t heard, Zack Snyder is putting on display the ‘storyboards’ - i.e. a rough plot summary accompanied by some Jim Lee sketches - for what would have been Justice League 2 and 3, or as this puts it 2 and ‘2A’. You can see them here (I imagine better-quality versions will soon be released), and read a transcript here. This is evidently a very early version: this was apparently pitched prior to the release of BvS and Justice League being rewritten in the wake of it, with numerous plot details that now don’t line up with what we know about the Snyder Cut, plus it outright mentions it builds on the originally planned versions of the Batman and Flash movies. But it’s a broad outline of what was gonna go down, and while I initially thought it was Snyder throwing in the towel, the timing - paired with the ambiguity left by the necessity for changes, including that this doesn’t factor whatever that “massive cliffhanger” at the end of the Cut is - says to me he’s hoping this’ll be a force multiplier behind efforts to will sequel/s into existence. He’s probably right.

I’ll be discussing spoilers below, but in short: with this Zack Snyder has finally lived up to Alan Moore, in that like Twilight of the Superheroes I wouldn’t believe this was real as opposed to a shockingly on-point parody if not for direct, irrefutable evidence.

Doing some rapid-fire bullet points for this baby to kick us off:

* Folks who know the subject say a lot of this is a yet further continuation of Snyder doing Arthuriana fanfic with the League reskinned over those major players, and I’ll take their word for it.

* I don’t know whether I love or hate that in Justice League 2 the Justice League are only an extant thing for the first scene, and then it’s Snyder giving everybody their own mini-movies. It’s compressing the entire MCU “loosely interconnected solo stories leading to a single big movie later” strategy into a single movie!

*  Funniest line in the whole thing: "Even Lantern has heard of the Kryptonian, worried that he's under the control of Darkseid. He heard his spirit was unbreakable." Hal what fuckin' Superman movie did YOU watch? Second funniest being “IT WILL GIVE HIM POWER OVER ALL LIVING LIFE”

* 90% of the plot I have nothing to say about, it’s generic stage-setting crap. That to be clear is the ‘shocked it’s Snyder’ element, it feels so crassly commercial in a way I can’t believe is coming from the BvS guy.

* Most of what I have to say is unsurprisingly gonna be about a handful of characters but Cyborg’s happy ending being “he isn’t visibly disabled anymore!” is not great!

* The Goddess of War battle with Superman...never pays off? No clue why it’s there.

* What I’d originally heard was that the Codex in Superman’s blood was the last key to the Anti-Life Equation and that’s why Darkseid was coming to Earth. It’s not like all of this wouldn’t have already been averted by Kal-El’s pod smacking into an asteroid on the way to Earth so it’s not as if this makes it any more Superman’s fault, and it would have at least tied all this back to the beginning of the movies, but I suppose that was either fake or from a later draft.

* I have NO idea how this was reimagined without the ‘love triangle’, it’s the central character thing and the entire climax flows directly out of it!

* Darkseid’s kinda a chump in this, huh

Anonymous said: So: Does Zack Snyder hate Superman?

Look: the hilarity of this when Cuck Kent has been a go-to Snyder cult insult towards ‘inferior’ takes on Superman for years cannot be understated, yet at the same time I can almost wrap my brain around where Snyder’s coming from with that as the end for his take on the character. He talked in that Variety piece on how his interest in Superman is informed by having adopted children himself, and Deborah Snyder is the stepmother to his kids by previous relationships, so I can see where he’d be coming from, and I can even imagine how he’d see this as ‘rhyming’ in the sense of “the series begins with Kal-El being adopted by Earth, it ends with him adopting a child of Earth!” In the same way as MARTHA, I can envision how he would put these pieces together in his head thematically without registering or caring what the end result would actually look like. In this case, Superman raising the kid of the man who beat the shit out of him who Batman had with Clark’s wife, who earlier told Bruce she was staying with Clark because he ‘needed her’, suggesting if inadvertently that this really honest to god was a “she’s only staying with Superman out of pity, she really loved Batman more” thing.

But Clark is nothing in this. He’s sad and existential because of coming back from the dead I guess, then he’s corrupted, then time’s undone and he woo-rah rallies the collective armies of the world (interesting angle for the ‘anti-military/anti-establishment’ Superman he’s talked up as) as his big heroic moment in the finale, and then he stops being sad because he’s adopting a kid. So his big much-ballyhooed, extremely necessary five-movie character arc towards truly becoming Superman was:

Sad weird kid -> sad weird kid learns he’s an alien, is still weird and sad, maybe he shouldn’t save people because things could go really wrong? -> his dad is so convinced it could go wrong he lets himself die -> ????? -> Clark is saving people anyway -> learns his origin, gets an inspiring speech about being a bridge between worlds and a costume -> becomes superman (not Superman, that’s later) to save the world, albeit a very property-damagey version, rejects his heritage he just learned about and space dad’s bridge idea -> folks hate him being superman and that sucks though at least he’s got a girlfriend now -> things go so wrong he considers not being superman but his ghost dad reminds him shit always goes wrong so he should be good anyway, which sorta feels like it contradicts his previous advice -> immediate renewed goodness is out the window as he’s blackmailed into having to try and kill a dude but the dude happens to coincidentally have some things in common so they don’t kill each other after all -> big monster now but superman keeps supermaning at it because he loves his girlfriend and he dies -> he’s brought back, wears black which apparently means now he likes Krypton again? -> he has work friends now but he’s still sad because he was dead -> evil now! -> wait nevermind time travel -> rallies the troops -> his wife’s having a kid so he’s not sad anymore -> Superman! Who gives way to more Batman.

Do I think Zack Snyder is lying when he says he likes Superman? No. I think he sincerely finds much of the basic conceits and imagery engaging. But I don’t think he meaningfully gives shit about Clark as a character, just a vessel for Big Iconic Beats he wants to hit. Whereas while for instance he’s critical of Batman as an idea (at least up to a point), he’s much more passionately, directly enamored with him as a presence and personality. So while Superman may be the character whose ostensible myth cycle or arc or however it’s spun might be propelling a lot of events here, it’s a distant appreciation - of course the other guy takes over and subsumes him into his own narrative. Of course Batman is the savior, the past and the future (though if he’s supposed to be Batman’s kid raised by Superman there’s no excuse for him not to be Nightwing), the tragic martyr to our potential. Admittedly the implication here is also that Batman can apparently only REALLY with his whole heart be willing to sacrifice his life to save an innocent, for that matter apparently his great love, once said innocent is a receptacle for his Bat-brood, but he and Clark are both already irredeemable pieces of shit by the end of BvS so it’s not like this even registers by comparison.

Anonymous said: That “plan” Snyder had was utter dogshit. Picture proof that DC & WB hate Superman. Also I love how you’re like Jor-El: Every single idealistic take you had about Snyder, his fandom, and BvS was wrong. Snyder’s an edgy hack, his fanbase just wants to jerk off to their edgy self-insert Batgod as he screams FUCK while mowing people down with machine guns, and the idea that BvS said Superman was better than Bats was completely wrong. You know what comes next SuperMann: Either you die or I do.

In the final analysis, beyond that mother of god is there sure no conceivable excuse for the treatment of Lois in this? The temptation is to join that anon and say as I originally tweeted that these were “built entirely to disabuse every single redemptive reading of the previous work and any notion of these movies as nuanced, artistic, self-reflective, or meaningful”.

...

...

...yeah, okay, that’s mostly right. Zack Snyder’s vision really was the vision of an edgelord idiot with bad ideas who was never going to build up to anything that would reframe it all as a sensible whole. He’s a sincere edgelord genuinely trying really hard with his bad ideas who put some of them together quite cleverly! But they’re fucking bad and the endgame was never anything more than ramping up into smashing the action figures together as big as he could, the political overtones and moral sketchiness of BvS while trying to say something in that movie reverberated through the grand scheme of his pentalogy in no way beyond giving his boys a big sad pit to rise out of so when they kicked ass later it’d rule harder, and all the gods among men questions and horror and trappings were only that: trappings. Apparently he’s really pleasant and well-meaning in person, but at his core his art as embodied in a couple weeks in his 4-hour R-rated Justice League movie meant to be seen in black-and-white all comes down to that time he yelled at someone on Twitter that he couldn’t appreciate Snyder’s work because it’s for grown-ups. He made half-clever, occasionally exciting shit cape movies for a bunch of corny pseudo-intellectual douchebags, folks latching onto and justifying blockbusters that at least acknowledge how horrifying the world is right now even if the superheroes are basically useless in the face of it if not outright part of the problem until a convenient alien invasion shows up to justify them, and a handful of non-asshole smart people who vibe with it but...well. ‘Suckered’ is a harsh word, and definitely doesn’t apply to all of them re: what they’ve gotten out of it up to this point and would (somehow) get out of this. But it doesn’t apply to none of them, either.

[nightingaletrash]

I was talking with @andauril about Markarth and Rada al-Saran and now I just... need to ramble a bit because oh shit I really really liked Rada in the end.

He’s one of the few antagonists in the game that you can have a lengthy, and even personal conversation with. He tells you about his past at length - his struggle with perfection among the Ansei, his battle with Leki, how Verandis was the one who helped him move past that need for perfection - and is perfectly honest with you and expects only honesty in return. How often do we get to talk to a primary antagonist in such a personal way?

I wish that ZOS had further utilised the Vestige’s own history in that conversation though. As much as I love the freedom of One Tamriel, it does rob us of story and character potential at times because some players might not have completed the base game’s main story. I’d have loved if Rada had noted the touch of Coldharbour on the player, which they could then tell him about - their murder at Mannimarco’s hands, their subsequent escape from Coldharbour, and their struggle to end the Planemeld and reclaim their soul - and he would then comment on their endeavour, maybe even gaining a new respect for their defiance of Bal, as well as noting that perhaps they are not so dissimilar after all.

Rada is perhaps the most personal antagonist in ESO, both through his history with Verandis and that common ground with the Vestige. Maybe they could be a useful ally to him, so in their following encounters, he offers to bring them into his family and free them of Molag Bal and the manipulations of the other Princes forever. Or maybe he considers them a threat that he takes little pleasure in removing, because if they could contend with Bal, then they can contend with him. And yet he feels some degree of remorse for ‘the grim necessity’ because this is a sort of kindred spirit. Someone who fought Bal’s leash and succeeded as he strives to.

I just... have a lot of feelings over Rada. He’s got to be my favourite ESO antagonist to date because he isn’t another ‘rah bah destroy the world/become a god’ type villain. He’s an antagonist driven by love for his family, his Grey Host, which actually ties in quite well with one of the more minor side quests in Markarth - I forget the name, but its in Hroldan Ring with the two feuding clans and the intended couple. Love and hatred are born of passion, and in the absence of one, the other flourishes. Rada spends the dlc appealing to Verandis to join him, sparing him time after time to try and get Verandis to rejoin him. And when Verandis refuses him a final time in Greyhaven, Rada’s passion, his love for Verandis, finally turns to hatred.

Killing Rada wasn’t a fight where I looked forward to putting down the threat like I have with other villains, but rather a grim necessity because while his goals were understandable and even relatable for the Vestige, the cost was just too high.

[metcllics]

{ cis man, he/him } ❝ if pressure makes diamonds, i cannot wait to shine. ❞ huh, who’s avan jogia ? no, you’re mistaken, that’s actually rah clearwater-patil. he is a twenty-six year old halfblood wizard who is a magizoologist. he is a hufflepuff alum and the child of padma patil & penelope clearwater. he is known for being conflict-adverse, fanciful, stagnant, passive, & loquacious, but also decisive, staunch, composed, impartial, & sedulous, so that must be why he always reminds me of the song my tears are becoming the sea by m83 & hawaiian shirts with bermuda shorts, laying in the grass & watching the clouds pass, late night existential talks, the happy sigh after a job well done, the laughter of a full room, & the relaxing scent of lavender. i hear he is aligned with the order of the phoenix, so be sure to keep an eye on him. 

𝐛𝐢𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰⇩⇩ & 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 & 𝐰𝐜𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞

biography !

rah is the oldest child of padma patil and penelope clearwater and he takes this role pretty seriously ( probably the only thing he takes seriously ! ) when he needs to. family is very important to him and he loves them with everything he has. rah is extremely goofy ( naturally and purposefully ) always trying to keep a lighthearted tone to everything. with multiple siblings rah always wanted to be the peacekeeper, metaphorically taking the burdens from people if he could then turning around to support them and crack a joke, make a funny face, or fake slip on a banana peel to again lighten the mood. just a free-spirited kid.

i guess it was no surprise to ANYONE who has interacted with before he left to attend hogwarts that rah was going to be placed in hufflepuff. ravenclaw was probably a close second. immediately he was happy to jump into his house, his classes, any kind of extracurriculars ( found out he was garbage at quidditch even though he loved flying ) and just be.

in his third year he decided to take care of magical creatures seeing as he’d always loved being around animals and their free-spirited nature. it slowly but surely became his passion, knowing that somehow in his future he’d be working with animals, magical and non-magical. throughout his next four years in his spare time rah found himself volunteering to help the care of magical creatures professor with the animals. feeling his stress released in and around nature. 

after graduation rah a short time traveling as a magizoologist, but missed his family too much and found a magizoologist job much closer to home in a more stagnant setting      ( which hurts him a bit, but he feels the need to be around  )

rah is an extremely emotional person in all ways, he feels things intensely and does his best to be process through all those emotions, but it can be a little overwhelming for him. he also puts an insane amount of pressure on himself to be a great example for his siblings, to make sure they’re okay, and he always craves and had craved freedom. with the added pressure of what’s going on in the world and the stress of having a sibling currently attending hogwarts, that need for freedom and independence came to a head. 

kingsley’s death really sent him scrambling for SOMETHING ! in school he had done plenty of research on animagi, always thinking that it was a dream he would some day accomplish. with everything going on rah finally decided that it was time, BUT he knew if he registered with the ministry it would limit the freedom that he was grasping at so desperately. that unfortunately meant he could not even tell his family ( which was what ate at him a bit ). he had enough knowledge of the process and was able to do it without anyone suspecting he was up to anything. 

his animagus form and patronus is a black swan: black swans represent spiritual love and freedom. his empathy, desire to protect those he cares about, and the deep capacity for love that he has is most definitely corresponds with a black swan. when he had first casted his patronus he had gotten an origami swan tattooed on his right hip, how ironic.

[vampiresuns]

Birds Of A Feather

✴︎ BIRDS OF A FEATHER ✴︎

1.1k words. In which Anatole looks for, and finds, a new personal assistant.

Dani is @apprenticealec​‘s new OC. This is mostly a how she gets hired, and less of a establishing dynamics. This is an auteur’s kitchen.

Anyway I love us, and I love the janiverse.

Portia makes an appearance too, as does one of my R-C NPCs, Medea.

Anatole was leaning back on his chair, head tilted back over the edge as a loud groan escaped from his lips. 

“Medea, I love you with everything I’ve got, but I swear if I meet one more prospect who tries to change my routine, defenestration will be the next thing in my schedule — whether it’s done onto me, onto something, or onto the applicant is completely irrelevant to me.”

“Isn’t attempted murder a little bit dramatic for the occasion?”

“Probably, most likely… but I need someone who works with me, not someone who has a deep, unfulfilled desire to micromanage people.”

Medea snorted. “Or has a delusion of grandeur about being the Consul’s right hand?”

Anatole looked at her, head still hanging. “You get it. I swear the personnel division of the Palace staff has very interesting concepts of what I might or might not need.”

“I think they just go off with Valerius’ standard.”

“Yes, because I am the type to go ‘take this out of my sight and come back when it’s solved’.”

Medea levelled him a look, and Anatole sat upright again. “Alright, but I only do that with smaller things.”

“Well, you’ve always been bordering on obsessive with your job,” Medea said with the cheeky familiarity one has with those people one has known for years. 

“I prefer passionate.”

“That you sure are, Nana. Should I call the next one in?”

Anatole agreed with a dismissive gesture, and as the next hour and a half rolled around, interview after interview, he wondered what he would ever do without Medea and her never ending people’s abilities. Medea Pryce, Vesuvian born and half raised, worked in the Vesuvian Court, coordinating its different offices, somewhat of an equivalent to Portia’s duties as handmaiden and head of staff, but for the political coming and goings of the Court. They had met in Prakra as they both attended the exact same lecture program in university, albeit with different ends in mind. Then, they had both decided to study for a period of time in Balkovia and eventually make their return to Vesuvia together, having begun to work in the Palace at a similar time. 

Needless to say she was one of the people he trusted the most in this world. So when the inevitable had happened, and Anatole caved into the admittance that he did need an assistant, Medea was the person he wanted next to him to do the interviews. Portia had also helped, but she had done so with the pre-selection and would help with the definitive selection later too.

“Alright, we have to do two more, and then we’re done.”

“Oh, thank fuck,” Anatole said, pacing around the room. He had had too much of sitting down, and stood up two interviews ago in fear he would zone out completely; on the brightside, moving around in interviews ended up working in his favour in more than one way — it was easy to tell people who were put off by his need to fidget, or move around. 

Swaying slightly from side to side, leaning against an open window he made a non committal hand gesture for the next applicant to be called in. 

She must have been around his height without heels, perhaps a little shorter. Glasses framed her brown eyes and slightly raised eyebrows as she walked in. She looked confused for a second, looking back and forth between Medea and Anatole by the window.

“Did I come at the wrong time, I thought I was called?”

“You were called,” Anatole said, extending his hand to shake hers, “I’m Consul Aelius Radošević, this is one of the Court’s head coordinators, Medea Pryce, personal friend of mine as well.”

“Your name is Danielle Phandoum, correct?” Medea asked.

“Yes! Well, Dani, Danielle. People call me Dani.”

“Then so shall we, as long as that is alright with you.”

“It is, Miss Pryce.”

“Just Medea is fine.”

“And you may address me as Consul or ‘sir’, if you’re not comfortable using my name,” Anatole had begun to fidget with his fingers, making ladders with them, joining his thumb and his index together, one above the other. “Some people like to make up titular forms to call me, and it gets under my skin. You don’t mind me standing here, do you?”

“No, not at all sir.” 

Anatole smiled. “Good. Do make yourself equally comfortable.” 

The interview was simple and followed the same structure as the rest of them did: personal details, motivators, previous work experience, and cross referrals. Medea carried the most of the bureaucratic part of it, Anatole waiting for his turn to ask questions. 

When the time came, he detailed his routine, put her in a couple of hypothetical scenarios, wanting to know how she’d solve them. They bounced ideas on and off, to the point Medea was happy to sit back and watch them bounce situations on and off.

Yet, it wouldn’t be until the three of them were sitting at Portia’s cottage, drinking something warm and sharing some honey bread, that Anatole would realise Dani was one of the few applicants who worked with him, following the grain of Anatole’s own routine, making due in the places he couldn’t reach or was stretching himself too thin — an hypothetical reinforcement, instead of a new structure that was unfamiliar to him. 

“I like her. I like these other two as well, but I like her. She thinks—“ 

“Like us?” Portia interjected. 

“She does. She’s also good with multitasking, by the sound of it.” 

“True,” Medea said after taking a sip of her tea, “you offered her scenarios and she gave actually helpful replies.” 

“And she cracked a joke about my packed schedule.” 

“Seriously?” 

“Yes, asked how did my spine hold up managing all that weight.” 

“So, she’s the one? Nana, you’ve talked almost of no one else.” 

“Portia’s right. Besides, I think one of your applicants would work better in my department.” 

Anatole hummed, absorbed in his thoughts until he sighed, setting his cup down. Something inside him told him Portia and Medea were right, that he had found the person he was looking for. “Well,” he said at last, “all I can do is try.” 

Medea rolled her eyes. “You always do that when you have a hunch.” 

“It’s called silently diving into. It’s all here,” he said as he tapped his temple. 

“If anything, your Leon will be the happiest about it.” 

“Oh, Gods,” Anatole rah his hands through his face, “Lee sure will. I’m sure it was a matter of time before he barricaded the bedroom door and didn’t let me out.” 

“I have a feeling he wouldn’t do that,” Medea smiled to herself, “Lee seems like the kind of person who is too aware you’d escape through the window.” 

Portia’s laugh was bright and bubbly as she echoed the sentiment. “She’s right,” she laughed, “he’d sit on you instead.” 

[bellatrixobsessed1]

From Chin To Yon Rah (Part 10)

“That one!” Atsu shouts. “I want that one!”

“It’s not for sale, Atsu. You’re going to have to win it.” Hajime says.

“But...but I’m no good at tossing games.”

Hajime ruffles his hair, “you’re great at it.”

He shakes his head. “Nu-uh, last year Caihong said that I’d do it better if I turned around and threw it backwards.”

“New year, new skills! Give it a try.” He gives Atsu a pat on the shoulders and a few coins.

“You aren’t going to teach him how to do it?” Azula asks.

“You just throw a bag full of beans into a hole, he just has to practice.”

She watches the boy chuck the bag with all of his might, overshooting the hole by several feet. His next throw is weak to compensate and the bag doesn’t fall too far from where he stands. His third shot is too far to the right and so his fourth throw is significantly left. He stops his foot and carelessly throws the last bag. The straw-stuffed badger-mole still hangs on the hook.

“Dad! You do it!” Before Hajime can answer he changes direction. Azula is none to pleased with this change. He stares at her with that gap toothed grin. “Rikka can do it!”

“I don’t want to play a silly game.” Azula folds her arms over her chest.

Hajime laughs, “you’re at a festival. Festivals are all about silly and rigged games.”

“Just because you can’t win, doesn’t mean that they are rigged.” She holds a pointer up as if to accent her point.

He nudges her, “if it’s not rigged, go win.”

Atsu tugs on her sleeve. “Please Rikka, please! I’ll...I’ll…” He lightly knocks his head with his fist, “Caihong and I’ll make you a pie!”

“A pie? What flavor?”

“Uhhh. Chocolate?”

“You’re going to get the chocolate from the garden, aren’t you?”

“A flower pot actually…” He mumbles.

“I don’t eat dirt.”

“I do! It’s not that bad if you get it from the flower pots especially if you find those teeny rolly bugs that get all...rolly when you poke at them like this!” He jabs her in the side with his tiny, pudgy finger.

“I’ll pass.” She grumbles as she watches Hajime fail to land any of the bags into the hole.

“Please win it for me, please, please, please, please phu-leeese…”

“These games are for children. I am not a child.”

“What? Are there better uses for your talents?” Hajime quirks a brow.

“Yes! Yes, exactly. I am glad that you understand…” she glances at him and realizes that he, in fact, does not understand at all. She very nearly pouts.

“Com’on Rikka!” Atsu whines. “Com’on, com’on, com’on!” He pleads until the words blend into one steady stream.

“No.”

“Look at his face, Rikka.” She has. It is gap-toothed, bug-eyed, and pudgy. The same as every child she ever set her eyes upon. “How can you say no to that face?”

“Cooooommmme ooooon, Riiikaaaa.”

“Not a chance.” She folds her arms tighter.

“You’re his only hope, Rikka. He gets his hand-eye coordination from his dad.”

“Yes,” she agrees, “you’re both awful at this.”

“Well why don’t you grace all of us with your fantastic bean toss skills, master.”

Azula gives a haughty sniff. “Fine. But only so the both of you know that it isn’t so hard.”

.oOo.

He hasn’t put it down since she’d won it for him. Day to day the badger-mole has a different name. At first it was ‘Duster’ and then it was ‘Mud Muncher’ and after that it was, ‘Caihong the Second’. She isn’t sure which name has been bestowed upon the toy today but she has a sinking feeling that it has something to do with her name and is doubly glad that she is using a false one.

The boy comes prancing up to her. “I’m going to show Misa and Min, Dáxiyi!”

“Dáxiyi?”

Atsu nods, “your mongoose-lizard.”

“You named my mongoose-lizard?”

“You said that you didn’t!”

Azula rolls her eyes, “and who are Misa and Min?”

“Neighbor’s kids.” Hajime says as the boy rushes outside. “How are things going at Ojihara’s?”

“Well enough.” Azula replies. Nevermind that Caihong’s father has been tirelessly pestering her for details of her past to the point she is considering calling off their dinner date. “Seukhyung asks too many questions.”

“You do realize that going out to dinner is all about questions and getting to know someone, right?”

Azula frowns, her stomach tying itself in knots. “Why would he want to do that?” She wonders if she is being pursued. Surely she has been in this village long enough to have attracted attention. Golden eyes stand starkly out amid shades of green.

“Because he likes you. And his daughter does too. And his old man…”

“In other words, I should tell him that dinner is cancelled and that he will not be interrogating me over lukewarm miso soup and mochi.”

Hajime laughs. “In other words, give him a chance. Just let him do all of the talking if you don’t want to.” He tilts his head. “You do realize what this dinner is, right?”

“Why do you think that I wouldn’t?”

“You did imply, the other day, that you have trouble understanding people.”

“I understand people perfectly. I just don’t know how to connect with them. I know that he…”

“Loves you?”

She nods. “I think.”

“Well then, take him to dinner and see how it goes.”

“I will.”

He nods, “I figured that you would.”

“You sound disappointed.”

“No!” He says too quickly. “I told you that I wanted to help you socialize more. I just didn’t expect you to... catch on so quickly.”

But she truly hasn’t. “And?”

“And what?”

“There’s something you aren’t saying. What else didn’t you expect?”

He rubs his hands over his face.

“Why would you think that there’s something else?”

“Because I understand people perfectly.”

.oOo.

Seukhyung takes her hand and leads her into the eatery, a fine place really. Small but fine, with walls of bamboo sticks and a burbling fountain at the very center. All about the place are hanging ivys and pots that spill colorful leaves and petals. “Here.” He helps her into her seat. “I’ll have the waiter light these,” he gestures to the candles.

Azula quirks a brow.

He laughs, “right, I’m used to dating Earth Kingdom women.”

“Clearly.” Azula cups the lotus shaped candle in her palms and lights it up. She waits for the flame to warm into a shade of orange before putting it back in place.

“So uh…” he clears his throat. “So, what was life like back in the Fire Nation? Is everyone as competitive and passionate as you are?”

She shakes her head. “In the Fire Nation you either have the spark or you don’t. You’re either bold or useless.”

“Sounds harsh.”

She shrugs.

“No wonder you left.” He rubs the back of his head. “I wouldn’t want to deal with that sort of pressure. It’s like, no wonder Fire Nation soldiers are so ruthless and cruel.”

Azula swallows. The waiter finally makes his appearance. “Miso soup add some spice to it.”

“And I’ll have the roast duck and pau buns.” He pauses and turns to her, “you said spicy right? Have you ever tried spicy pickled kelp?”

She shakes her head.

“A real delicacy!” Seukhyun exclaims. “I’ll split one with you, if you’d like.”

“That sounds just fine.” If she doesn’t like it he can eat the whole thing, she supposes.

“Anyways, what was I saying?”

“That firebenders are monsters?”

“N-no! That’s not what I meant. Just the military types and the rich folk.”

Azula gazes into the candle’s flickering flame. “Right…”

“But you’re not like that. I can tell.” He smiles. “I was able to see it when you gave Caihong that turnip.”

She rolls her eyes. She isn’t quite sure if her laugh is resentful or genuinely humored. “You’re still on about that? It was one, little, scrap of a turnip.”

“It’s the small deeds that show a person’s true nature. That’s what my old man told me. That little turnip had Caihong smiling for days, you know. It was the best turnip she ever ate.”

This time she is certain that her little laugh is genuine. “Well of course. It was touched by my hand, afterall.”

He chuckles, “you’re something else.”

“A good something?”

He cups his hand over hers, “I wouldn’t have asked you for a date if I thought that you were a bad something. I’m so glad that my old man took Caihong off of my hands tonight.”

“Why’s that?”

He laughs, “it’s a little less romantic to have her yanking on my sleeve all night, don’t you think?”

She shrugs, Hajime seems to manage just fine.

“I haven’t had a date since I lost Cai’s mother.”

“What happened to her?” She asks.

“Same thing that happened to a lot of wives here. Bunch of Earth Kingdom soldiers came up here and when we refused to let them turn Wu Jing into a military camp...people died, Rikka, a lot of people.” He pauses. “Fire Nation soldiers aren’t the only brutal ones. I haven’t met any soldier who was pleasant for conversation.”

Her stomach sinks. She can’t help but wonder how far she would have gone, had her pre-destined path not been so rudely blocked. She doesn’t have to wonder for long at all, not knowing full and well that she had told her father to charr the entirety of the Earth Kingdom. Knowing that she took pride in her suggestion. She pictures Wu Jing under a wave of fire streaming from her father’s hand. Ojihara, Seukhyung, Caihong, Atsu, Hajime, all of them burning to ash. “Yes, you’re probably right about that.”

She takes the first taste of the spicy pickled kelp. It isn’t spicy at all.

“Well, what do you think?”

“It’s fine.”

Azula was almost certain that she would never know the feeling... She hates it. She resents it. It leaves her stomach queasy, but that night she learns what it is to feel shame, regret.

.oOo.

Her voice is strangely soothing. A bizarre patchwork of Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom and he almost ravenously enjoys how pleasantly it plays through his ears. She isn’t talking about anything in particular. Mostly it is small talk with a sprinkle every now and again about how she is surprised to be receiving such a generally positive welcome home.

“You’re their princess.” He says. “Of course they’re happy to have you back.”

“But did I really do them any favors while I was here?”

He nods. “I think that you did, or you did at the time.” He tries to get his thoughts together. “And I think that they agree. The problem isn’t that you didn’t do any favors it’s that those things aren’t considered good deeds anymore. Times change, what seemed like a helping the Fire Nation at the time isn’t so helpful after all.”

She fixes him with the dullest stare he has seen in a while.

“But I think that they know that you meant well, right? You’re not the only Fire National who has been doing some reflection. This whole nation is…”

“Doing some horrifying introspection.” Azula mutters. “Some things can’t be fixed, Sokka. Maybe some cultures are worse than others...”

“Where is this coming from?”

“Thinking too much. I suppose.”

“Firebenders aren’t evil.” He smiles. “You aren’t.”

She quirks a skeptical brow.

“Do evil people carry around stuffed badger-moles?”

Azula’s face flushes as she snatches it back. “Apparently, yes.”

.oOo.

Azula buries her nose in the badger-mole’s fabric. It smells faintly of turnip of dirt and of home. It smells of affection and care. If she inhales deeply enough she swears that she is whisked to that place for some time. Whisked back to a home where the scent of freshly baked bread was a morning starter and vegetable stew closed the night.

She holds her hand to her belly. She feels cold to her core. Things could have been fine. They could have been fulfilling, whole. Instead she finds the hollowness of a spoiled harvest, lush and flourishing on the surface but rotting beneath.

She gives a small jerk when she feels hands on her soldiers. “Hey. Are you still with me.”

Azula nods, “mostly.”

“You were…”

“Thinking.” She replies. “Just thinking.”

He nods and she isn’t sure that he believes her.

“I’m not crazy.”

“I didn’t say that you were.” He promises. “But ‘not crazy’ doesn’t rule ‘not okay’ out.”

She swallows.

“I think that you can use…” He wiggles his brows and pulls out a mahjong set, “a distraction!”

“Sokka…”

“Come on, it’ll be fun. A game night! Me, you, Zuko, Mai, and TyLee.” He beams. “I happen to be a mahjong master.”

“Is that right?”

“It sure is!”

“I’ll pass.”

“Oh come on, you’ll have fun.”

“It’s a silly game, Sokka.”

“I get it, you have to save your brainpower for something more important.”

Her throat runs dry. “What did you say?”

Sokka tenses, only briefly, but long enough. “I was just saying that you just don’t want to play because I am a mahjong master and you don’t want to lose in front of ever.”

Azula sniffs. “Invite the entire palace staff, I’ll win.”

.oOo.

She was smiling. It had reached her eyes at multiple points during their game--mostly when she was near victory--but he can’t say that she is unbothered. Raava’s tendrils he wishes that she would just tell him what is wrong. What happened to her, who she lost, and how.

And Raava’s light he doesn’t know why or when he started to care so much. He has a suspicion that, knowingly or not, it had been the moment she stumbled back into the palace with a story and a collection of scars.

He supposes that it is a compulsion to understand to know just what could have sparked such a stark change. No, he realizes, it isn’t so stark at all. Everything that made Azula, Azula is still there. He thinks that it is more of an addition; a newfound capacity for empathy and care.

He sighs to himself, his impulse decisions usually lead him to distress and disarray. But when he hears that small laugh, he isn’t quite so sure that, that will be the case this time. He is almost entirely sure when the game is packed away and she mutters, “I suppose that your ideas aren’t so awful after all. Tonight reminded me of...special moments. It almost felt the same.”

He isn’t so sure if that is melancholic or pleasent. “Special moments?”

She nods.

“You ever going to talk about those?”

She strokes the head of the badger-mole as she considers. “I went to a festival once.”

Her voice is so soft. Soothing. The very prospect of finally hearing a story where he can savor every syllable, every annunciation, is enticing. So much so that he finds it startling. He hadn’t expected to be so intensely and suddenly enthralled by the princess. But he supposes that he does have a history of falling intensely and abruptly. Quite frankly, it scares him. Truly, he only meant to reach out a comforting hand, to pursue a friendship and nothing more.

Changed or not, she is still Azula. Azula with all of her history and baggage. Azula with a steeper mountain of secrets.

“Are you listening, because I’m not going to repeat myself?”

“You went to a festival once, with a boy and his father…”

She nods.

But maybe it won’t be so hard to uncover those secrets. Maybe he only had to ask her to share the pleasant memories. It seems to almost comfort her to talk about this boy and his father. The name Hajime comes back to him and he wonders if this story is about that man.

“Can we do this again?” He asks when she is finished.

She furrows her brows. “A story a night! You tell me about a special moment and I’ll tell you about one.”

She considers. “Alright, a story a night. But you don’t get to ask any questions.”

[fairydust-stuff]

Banana Fish Buffy the vampire Slayer crossover Special!  Instead of Fox ,Dino hires a different predator to bring him Ash a decision him and everyone involved quickly come to regret.

Angelus walks into Lee Manor whistling still covered in blood he’s wearing a green neck scarf. the hushed voices of the two teenage boys seated on the sofa fade to silence.

“ Now you boys wouldn’t happen to be plotting would you, I wouldn't want to wake up tied to the bed with someone holding lighter fluid over me. Though it was a good effort, Yue. Even you did just exceed at pissing me off” Angelus added cheerfully.

“ You know what they say, third times the charm” Yut Lung’s tone is deceptively pleasant. “ I’m guessing by your new accessory Papa Dino is no more”

“ The old man was so annoying, Capture Ash Lynx blah blah blah I understand being obsessed with a blond superhero but if your not good at breaking people hand the whip to someone who knows how to use it,” Angelus said with annoyance. “ Don’t get me wrong some of his ideas were good but the execution D minus for effort.”

They’ve been holding each other he can smell it on them how adorable he’s glad he decided to keep Sing around after all. The two of them are much more fun as a set.

“ Shit you‘re in a good mood that’s never good” Sing looks uneasy.

Angelus plants himself between the two of them and stretches himself out one hand by each of their shoulders. “ Go to channel eight” this is directed at Sing The fourteen-year-old picks up the remote and flips the tv on.

Yut Lung has already started on the wine like a good little sixteen-year-old alcoholic. Angelus has contemplated getting rid of every bottle in the mansion just to see him go through withdrawal symptoms but has decided it’s not worth the risk of the kid possibly dying. Besides he’s got a million other ways to make him suffer. “ The Christen killer seems to have struck again the body of a blond eighteen-year-old boy crucified and turned upside down as a clear mockery of the Christen Faith”

Yut Lung scoffs “ What does this have to do with anything?”

“ Keep watching Yuey,” Angelus says in a cheerful voice.

“ the boy has been identified as Ash Lynx former gang leader”

Angelus looks over Sing’s face pales and Yut Lung’s face is clouded disbelief. The vampire shuts the tv off. “ Guess who finally bagged a Lynx” he gloats.

“ No, he’s not really dead…..he’s just playing a trick” Yut Lung mumbles standing up “ That’s just some random boy you picked up off the streets”

Angelus fixes a look of false sympathy on his face “ No I’m afraid it’s not” He grabs Yut Lung’s elbow and turns him so he’s forced to meet his eyes. “ Cinderella is never going to the ball again” then he pulls out one green eye from his pocket.

The head of the Lee family crumples to the floor a high-pitched anguished sound emerges from his throat. Angelus drinks the sight in deeply its hard to get a satisfying reaction from the kid. So when he hits that sweet spot it is euphoric.

“ Kill me” it’s not even screamed just a weak plea for mercy from a severely depressed teenage boy.

“ Nah! you don’t get to die” Angelus tilts his chin up so he’s looking up at him like some sort of God. Its fitting Angelus does control his fate. “ I don’t get why your so eager to go, you’d just burn in Hell for an eternity” truthfully Angelus isn’t sure of that considering the Chinese have a different belief system someone up there might decide reincarnation is more fitting for this wreck of a boy which would undo all his hard work. Now to deliver the finishing blow “ Like, Ash is”

Yut Lung runs out of the room chocking back sobs with anyone else Angelus would think he broke them but the boy had surprised him before. Even posing Blanca’s dead body in a reenactment of Judas’s suicide and offering his actual bloody heart to Yut Lung hadn’t been the devastating blow he thought it would be. Sure the kid was upset judging by his attempted seduce and burn him alive attempt but Angelus had aimed for curl up and whimper, not revenge.

“Just leave him alone you shit!” Sing lost his temper

“I normally don’t finish other’s art projects but his face is poetry and that body is an unfinished canvas. I’m going to craft the sloppy mess they left behind into something agonizingly beautiful” Angelus gloats “ A little side project while I wait to start working on my passion project”

“ Who’s your passion project” Sing asks

Ah, Sing hitting on what truly matters, Angelus thinks with some fondness. “Let’s have some fun, you're going to introduce me to Ash’s group,” the vampire says instead.

“ What the hell makes you think I’d do that?” Sing demands

Angelus just turns and walks up the stairs and up to the bedroom.” Oh Yuey come out and play!” he says in a sing-song voice Sing shot out dragon fang honestly what a ridiculously childish name, Angelus dodged his weapon with a laugh. He can hear Yut lung’s sharp breaths on the other side of the door before he opens it the kids hugging his knees in the middle of that big bed. Hair half out of his braid. Angelus stalks over and runs a hand over the boy’s leg feeling a slight tremble. Angelus contemplates Does he want to feel him up just to show he can or leave burns on the tender skin of those legs?

“ Haven’t you tormented me enough?” it's almost a whisper

“ Hey blame Sing, for choosing Eiji over you again”

“ You bastard! That’s not what’s happening!” Sing protested he’s caught up and he lands a punch on Angelus the vampire blocks and tosses him to the floor. Angulus slides a hand into his pocket. “ I’ll do it, I’ll do it just leave him alone!” the younger boy pleads.

“Really, Sing I had the lighter ready and everything. He’s so fickle” Angelus complained to Yut Lung “ Ah well we’ll play another day” he promises. The vampire blows the boy on the bed a kiss as he leaves with Sing he turns to Yut Lung’s bodyguards “ Watch him make sure he doesn’t die” they nod their human faces vamping out…

“I kinda miss how he was before, trying not to be clingy while wanting to grab onto me, so desperate” Angelus smirks. The two of them are standing on the New York subway.

“ You love the sound of your own voice” Sing observes.

“I was trapped by that nauseating soul, for years. It had me rescuing puppies, puppies! I used to nail those to people’s doors. Think Yut Lung would be upset if I nailed a dog to his door?” Angelus asked “ You are asking me for ways to torment my leader?” Sing demanded incredulously “ Oh right you have a crush don’t you” Angelus laughed. “ I keep forgetting that cause of the whole betrayal thing” “ He was the one working with Dino my cousin’s murderer” Sing argued

“ You think Yue wasn’t plotting against him?” Angelus chuckled “ Maybe that’s why I like you two. Years of do-gooder pep rallies and the constant we help the helpless rah rah rah. And your all hell with it! Your still both gooey in the middle but I’m going to fix that” he promises, vamping out and advancing on one of the homeless people near the back. He had after all missed breakfast.

Sing was looking rather pale by the time he got off the subway Angelus fixed his leather jacket “ I look good right, no blood on the mouth?” he asked “ Now remember only good things or I’ll be paying your pretty cousin Nadia a visit. Maybe I’ll grab of a few your guys as a midday snack” ...

“ We don’t talk to the police” they’ve been incredibly unhelpful,” says the handsome blond man before him who must be Max Lobo. He looks haggard and worn Angelus is pleased with how big an effect his actions have had on the group.

“ I’m a private detective” Angelus pulls out one of the Angel Investigations business cards he’d stolen. “ Sing told me you might need some help catching this mad artist”

“ You mean sicko with a god complex” Ibe retorts.

Sing laughs, he'll pay for that later Angelus thinks. He’s about to draw on some of his Angel speeches the soul makes him act like such a….His thoughts are frozen at the sight of a baby faced nineteen years old with an athletic build and big eyes. This must be Ash’s, Eiji the one he was sorry for not being able to protect. “ I’m sorry, I’m not usually up this late” his voice is hoarse and his eyes are red-rimmed.

“ This is detective Angel he’s a friend of Sing’s,” Ibe says. “ Oh, I’ll make you some tea,” The boy says quickly hurrying to the kitchen and starting up the pot. “ Its the least, I can do for a friend of Sings”

“ Some tea would be nice” Angelus comments. Eiji prepares tea for all three of them.

“ My condolences about your lover” the vampire lies.

“ Thank you, Ash had his flaws but...he didn’t deserve” Eiji pauses

“ I want to bring this man to justice but I need your help. Can you describe everything you saw that night every detail?” Angelus says in a smooth professional voice.

Eiji recites in a dull tone how he found Ash’s body its secretly quite fun for Angelus pretending he was unclear and asking for him to repeat himself, demanding more gory details.

“ that’s enough Ibe,” says harshly noting Eiji’s face.

“ Its necessary for the investigation” Angelus replies “ Its best to pry while every detail is fresh in his mind” he wants to laugh at how easily Eiji defends him as he continues tugging at the fraying threads of the boy’s grief. After the questioning Angelus leaves them the card and promises to keep in touch.

Eiji is sickeningly good, putting his feels on the backburner for the sake of others. He reeks of insecurity and doubt and despite his grief, there’s still a sparkle of naive hope in him. Also, something tells him the boys never been touched, considering Ash’s hang-ups about sex. Angelus normally finds these things not so appealing in boys but there’s such a girlish feel to this boy despite his athleticism that Angelus finds himself wanting to ruin and consume him. The way he would Drucilla or Buffy and the way the gangs in New York latch onto him like lost puppies. Angelus likes the idea of snuffing out the little light they’ve found in the dark world they live in. “ Wait here, Sing I’ve got to get something from the store”...

“ You shouldn’t get too attached to that” Sing comments as Yut Lung snuggles the kitten on his lap. the boy’s laughing at the little licks from the sandpaper tongue Angelus scoops up the kitten which cries out in terror and snaps its little neck. “ Why did you?” the boy yells

“ Present for your enemy Eiji” Angelus commented. “ But it didn’t have anything to do with it!” Yut Lung argues “ Neither did your brother’s children” Angelus returned. “It’s fun to kill defenseless things that can’t fight back right Yue?” he taunts stroking the dead kitten…

Angelus shoves Yut Lung down and receives a dark look “ Your not still mad about the little furball” he taunts. The boy remains silent

“ I’m sure you’ll add it to your list of things to avenge. Angelus runs his tongue along the boy’s wrist contemplatively. “ That’s the problem with you Eastern type everything has to be avenged or its dishonor” the vampire mocks brushing the boy’s neck lightly with his mouth.

“ If your smart you’ll kill me now” Yut Lung warns.

“ But your so cute and helpless” Angelus lifts the quipo slowly and runs his tongue along Yut Lung’s thigh he vamps out and bites down a cry escapes the boy under him. He licks the blood savoring the taste god its been too long. Yut Lung’s silent hatred makes it sweeter. Then the phone rings “ Yes!” he snaps “ Angel I….m... sorry….for…” the shaky voice on the other end is music to his ears. “ Eji what’s wrong?” he fakes concern “ Someone nailed a...a kitten to my door” the Japanese boy managed to get out.

“ Where are you” Angelus clamps a hand on Yut Lung’s ankle just missing as the boy rolls off the bed and makes a break for it. “ I’m staying with a friend,” Eiji says. “ Alright, I’ll be there first thing tomorrow night at eight” Angelus slams down the phone. “ So you're in the mood to play tonight are you Yuey?” the vampire walks into the hall scenting the air “ Alright, let's play hide and seek” he starts walking the halls “ 1, 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9” he stops in front of the bathroom door the scent of blood and fear so strong he can almost taste it “ 10” he whisks the door open only to get shoved backward by a long-haired boy into a bathtub of holy water!...

It took Angelous a whole day to heal with the damage a whole day. He had to reschedule with his masterpiece and by that time Yut Lung was long gone. How the hell he managed to slip by his former vampiric bodyguards the former Scourge of Europe had no clue. Sing seemed to have not come back as well which meant those two had planned this. Angelus bet his little boyfriend smuggled him the holy water. When he got his hands on them both ...

“ So you think it’s the same guy who killed your boyfriend?” Angelus asked

“ What other fucker could it be!” Eiji snapped “ Sorry”

“It’s ok you’ve had a bad night. Eiji, I get the impression you're not telling me everything. Do you others to get hurt because you failed to cooperate?” Angelus asked

“ Papa Dino, he didn’t like Ash. We think he may have hired someone to get rid of all of us” Eiji interjects.

Yes me, Angelus thinks to himself not that it went well for the Godfather wannabe or his cohorts. “ Is there anyone else who may wish you harm?” Angelus asked “ Yut Lung Lee,” Eiji says.

“ Isn’t Hau Lee the current head of the Lee clan?” Angelus asked with phony surprise

“ They have a secret seventh brother” Eiji makes a face.

“ I take it your not fond of him” So the feud goes both ways.

“ Even so he’s been silent for weeks” Eiji comments “ And what happened last night. He’s cruel but even he wouldn’t do something like that” Angelus asks a few more questions “ Dam is it nine already” he commented.

“ How about I make you some dinner? It's the least I can do” Eiji offers.

“ You are not looking to break any stereotypes ” Angelus teased.

“ I can still spit in your meal” Eiji jokes. While dining on fish and vegetables the two converse.

“ So what you do besides catch scary serial killers?” Eiji asked “ I like ballet, I draw, I read, love the classics” Angelus admits. “ You” though he already knows photography and pole vaulting. He’s done his research or rather Yut Lung did and was always ready to complain about Eiji Okumura.

Eiji’s face crumples and he starts crying right there on the table. Angelus pulls him into a hug “ Thank….you…..I’m sorry...i” Eiji breaks off. “ Ash, he also loved the classics ”

“ its, fine let it all out’ The vampire soothing I can't believe I’m saying this cheesy crap, you better be worth it Angelus thought. “ I understand what you’re going through…..I lost my whole family to a killer” Yes, me I ripped their throats out.

Eiji’s horrified expression makes Angelus struggle to control himself. “ I’m so sorry, is that why you became a detective?” Eiji asked

“ I’m not a good person Eiji, I’ve done terrible things to deal with my grief” Angelus channels the soul and broods.

“ You're not a bad person,” Eiji tells him softly but with conviction. “ You should stay away from me” Angelus gets up and leaves the house smirking when he’s out of view…

The vampire sits across from the round-faced Japanese boy. The boy has circles under his eyes and the expression on his face resembles that of a lost puppy rather than that of a human. After weeks of ghosting him, dodging his calls Angelus has pulled I don’t want to but now I’m going to tell you the absolute truth ruse. He agreed to meet with Eiji to clear things up and damn he should win an Oscar.

In the meantime, he’s been trying to find his slippery teenage duo. He knows Yut Lung has safe houses all over New York due to his family’s activities well-stocked with weapons, medical and most likely staff furthermore absolutely no invitation inside. Last time he had the advantage of being invited in while attending a meeting with Golzine. Yut Lung had been low key furious when he found out about the vampire thing and how Dino had knowingly let one into his home. He can’t even use Sings guys because they appear to have disappeared as well.

“ First mafia and trafficking now demons! The worlds turning darker every time I turn around” there’s bitterness in his young voice. “ And without Ash….” he gulps and tears start to pour from his eyes. “ I’m so….r...r..y i” “ He meant a lot to you it's understandable you miss him” Angelus takes his hand “ And I’m going to help find whoever killed Ash” he vowed. “ For now I hear the gooseberry pie is to die for”

Eiji opens his mouth but the two of them are interrupted by two Asian men wheeling in a dinner cart. They were young clean-cut and wearing waiter uniforms. “ Order of flaymonyong?” one of them asked “ I’m sorry you have the wrong table, we haven’t even ordered yet,” Eiji says. One of the men reaches for the silver dish lid the vampire feels annoyed “ Look he said you had the wrong table so why…….”

The guys whisked the lid off to reveal a flamethrower. Eiji knocks the vampire out of the way the blast just misses them. The other waiters rush forward also Chinese he notices. Two of them tackle Eiji pinning him to the ground he trashes and bucks. The guy with the flamethrower fires it up again but this time the vampire is ready throwing his shoulder against the fragile human as hard as possible. The sound of something snapping makes him grin. The other Chinese men advance the vampire beckons them forward. “ So how much were you Bruce Lee wannabees paid to die?” he taunts

Two of them pull out their super soaker guns and aim holy water! Angelus snarls with rage and pain his shoulder sizzling. “ Angel, Eiji’s managed to get free and takes the other blasts for him getting utterly soaked. The vampire reaches past him for the hand which he crashes then grabbing the pained man uses him to smack into the other guy knocking them both down. Then he swipes a knife from the table and does three quick slices and two neck snaps. “ Why doesn’t that bastard leave me alone? Ash is gone! What does he want?” Eiji yells “ Go in the kitchen and call Ibe and Max to come and get you” The vampire orders. “ I’m going to make sure that’s all of them” he added. Eiji opens his mouth “ Go!” Angelus snarls. Once Eiji is gone the vampire pulls one of the dead men’s cell phones out of his pocket. He calms and puts Eijji in a taxi promising to continue this tomorrow...

The phone starts ringing, just as he arrives outside his fancy new apartment.

“ Gao?” a soft-spoken young voice comes through.

“ Hello, Angel investigations home of the no fun do-gooders” The vampire smirks.

The sharp exhale on the other end was worth it “ You survived” the boy says calmly. Angelus hears Sings outraged cry in the background.

“ Yut Lung Lee, I’m not gay but that voice of yours does things to me,” the vampire said obnoxiously. “ The rest of you isn’t too far from my fantasies either”

“ Funny, you appear in my fantasies most often as a charred corpse or a stain on the street” Yut Lung said with false sweetness. “ That bastard better keep you out of his fantasies!” Sing again. “ Yue, I’m glad you called” the vampire exclaims “ I need some of your venom spewing cynicism” he pauses “ Three hours with the Japanese boy scout. I swear, I saved Ash from picket fence purgatory!” he complained “You don’t get to say his name, Angelus!” Yut Lung spat

“ Go back to LA to Sunny whatever or even go pillage in the Caribbean Islands. Leave Ash’s Japanese boy alone and leave New York, this is your last warning” Yut Lung’s voice is cold.

Angelus laughs “ Your so obsessed with him you’d try to protect someone you can't stand because he’s the last piece of Ash you have left. God you're delightfully pathetic” “ Maybe but I will average Ash Lynx” Yut Lungs tone is ice “ Yuey you got damseled by the New York underworld's favorite hostage.” the vampire said with contempt. “ By all means take your best shot, I love a good Comedy.” “ How are your burns?” Yut Lung taunts

“ I’ll let you know as I’m slowly taking my revenge,” Angelus says smoothly.

“ You think you can do anything to me that hasn’t already been done,” Yut Lung says sardonically.

“It’s not the act, its all in the performance.” He pauses “I could trail burns down those wanton thighs of yours or maybe I’ll be nice enough to respect the ancient Chinese tradition of footbinding. I like the idea of mutilating those pretty feet of yours.”

Then he hung up and reaches for a pile of rough sketches he’d been working on. “ Your leading man is dead so your mine for the taking, the both of you” he pauses “ First which one of your friends do I kill next” he closes his eyes and selects one of his pictures. Then he hears footsteps turning around he sees a dark-haired woman. “ Hello, Dru” Angelus grinned. “ Do it, Daddy! Make the envious Moon weep until he no longer glows. He’ll taste of fresh lemons and pomegranates” Drucilla says excitedly.

“ Oh i’ll get to our succulent femmefatale eventually now I’m focused on another. Now let’s see who I can nab for dinner” his face vamps out...

“ Another dead end,” Eiji says looking exhausted The two of them combing through the crime photos. It’s not his finest work Angelus admits but he’s still proud of it. Then there’s a knock on the door Angel opens to reveal a man with red hair. “ Charlie?” Eiji says then the color drains from his face at the man’s expression “ No no not anymore I can’t take it!” he insists. “ I’m sorry Eiji,” Charlie says...

“ He always believed in me he used to say I could be a little more selfish,” Eiji says in a dry whisper. “ I was never the type to go for things but Ibe always…..how many more”

The boy doesn’t talk much after that during their outing which suits Angelus fine he’s not after the boy for his stimulating conversation skills. The excuse was he wanted to cheer Eiji up but honestly, its because Drucilla told him “the Moon was angry and stick and straw houses would fall” So Angelus is not surprised to see his house blown to rubble in a fiery explosion nor is he surprised to see three of Yut Lung’s men armed with stakes in case his vampire healing spared him said fiery death. They were here to finish the job. They took one look at healthy alive smiling Angelus and ran for it, unfortunately, he’s with Eiji so he can't rip off their limbs and mail them back to their leaders.

Eiji looks at him after a long thoughtful moment of silence“ I’m sorry you got dragged into this, I’m dropping the case” “ What?” Angelus demanded “It’s too dangerous for you to be around me, here’s some money for a hotel I’m sorry!” Eiji leaves. Dam it that brat ruined his plans Angelus is furious. He’s interrupted by humming he turns to see Drucilla “ Shhhh Miss Edith Daddy is very cross” the vampire chides her doll. “ Come on Dru let's grab a bite in Chinatown ” Angelus vamps out…

Angelus gets a call from Eiji two days later “ Angel, Yut Lung contacted me he says he’s got evidence on who killed Ash. He wants to meet in Central Park”

Angelus grins “ You think it's a trap?” Well, it is but not for Eiji. The little whore is using himself as bait, but if Angelus plays his cards right then he should be able to grab Yut Lung and use him as a hostage to get an invite from Sing. Of course, there’s still Eiji to worry about. Then Angelus comes up with a solution.

“ I need you to come with me just in case, please” Eiji pleads.

“ Of course” Angelus hangs up the phone and turns to Drucilla “ What do you say Dru ready to go to the park?”...

“ You made it,” Yut Lung says standing there.

If Eiji is soft cuddles in the morning Yut Lung is the dirty polaroid stashed secretly in a man’s drawer Angelus muses. Ash may not have been drawn to him like Eiji but the vampire bets he still a small hold on the boy. Yut Lung is all dressed up when they meet him makeup applied, hair done up its like he wants to be taken. It's like he’s living breathing art even his movements are fluid, every step a light tease.

Still, Angelus is going to bind those feet, the air of challenge in those delicate movements gets under his skin.

“ I was worried I’d have to draw you a map” a taunt on those red lips.

“ No tricks Yut Lung where’s the evidence?” Eiji asks

“ Right here” Yut Lung takes out a gun and puts bullet after bullet into Angelus. The vampire crazed with pain doesn’t realize he’s backing up into a tree until he hits it a familiar sharp object sails towards him and the vampire finds himself wrapped up in strings a familiar sharp object penetrating his stomach. Sing swings down from the branches.

“ You think you got me, oh Dru!” he calls the vampiress bursts from her four hours ago hiding spot and grabs Yut Lung pressing her nails to his throat. “ Aaand he doesn’t make it to first base” Angelus taunts. " Though he has been around the field a few times"

“Another one!” Sing exclaims

“ Sing kill him!” Yut Lung ordered.

Drucilla smiled “ Shhhh you used to be a dolly made of sugar to hide the taste of arsenic when you kissed the lizards. You burned the wicked Dragons. Even though you were too late to save the princess before they made her all red.”

Yut Lung gapes at her “ How do you know?”

Drucilla strokes his hair softly and for a moment she seems almost lucid“ My mummy is dead too, daddy name with his teeth like needles. The wolf came to the door but he dressed in the skin of a priest.” she laughs “ We’ll make you all red too. You don’t have to smile when Daddy makes you part you’re legs. We’ll be brides together, I'll carry you under the stars” She promises.

“ Like hell, you will!” Sing exclaimed

Drucilla looks at him and laughs “ Hades and Persephone will ride off with the Moon. The mountain Lion crushed beneath their feet.” she taunts.

“ Isn’t she wonderful? this is Drucilla my masterpiece” Angelus brags.

“ You mean she used to be human” Sing said in horror.

“ And sane and pure and oh so good. She was going to be a nun and declare her vows to God” Angelus said mockingly.

“ You hurt her, you broke her, you took her dam sanity” Yut Lung looks like he wants to rip the vampires’ eyes out with his bare nails.

“ I was going to do the same to you both” Angelus croons.

“ I won’t let that happen,” says Eiji pointing a gun at Drucilla.

“ Daddy who is this?” Drucilla asked in confusion

“ Just Eiji he was the other one I was focused on” Angelus wants to get on with things. “ I can’t see you ” Then Drucilla had a look of realization and lunges for Eiji. the boy fires a gun straight through her head which doesn’t kill her but causes her to scream. Sing moves and shoves a stake through her heart.

“ Not supposed to be here …..” then she turns to dust.

Angelus feels her loss not the loss of a man for his lover but an artist for his greatest work. Angelus breaks through Sing’s flimsy strings furiously. Yut Lung attacks Angelus pins his wrists “ Tonight doesn’t seem to be working out for you Yuey maybe if I give you a rousing cheer!” then he groans as a bullet pieces his chest. Yut Lung slips a needle under his skin and Angelus feels his body flop to the ground.

Then he sees the smoking gun. “ Eiji how could you, I thought we were friends” Eiji flashes him, his middle finger.

“ Congratulations you finally caught on after what a month” Angelus sneered.

“ Why couldn’t you have paralyzed his mouth too Yue?” Sing groans

“ He needed to have some awareness, for personal satisfaction,” Yut Lung says. “ I’ve contacted the Council we have a few minutes”

“ Even when taking out someone for the safety of the community you can’t stop being a sadistic bastard” Eiji complained.

“ He was going to give me locus feet” Yut Lung argued.

“ You fucking bastard!” Sing raged.

“ I’m going to do even more until those feet are completely useless” Angelus vows.

Both Sing and Yut Lung shiver. “ I’ll teach Sing all the wonderful things I learned in Tibet”

“ How could I have thought you were here to help me?” Eiji says with disgust

“Because Eiji if there was a first place for the biggest idiot you’d win the grand prize. I’d rather be back in Hell then continue to hang out with you” Angelus informs him.

“ Why did you?” Eiji asked

“ Because I wanted to taint, and corrupt you in every way,” the vampire says. “ I wanted you spread out on my sheets but you were so hung up on Ash, you friend-zoned me, me!” “ Clearly a bad choice on his part,” said Yut Lung sarcastically

“ You killed Ibe and Ash as a part of some sick game to hurt me” Eiji spat.

“ You were going to be my comeback piece,” Angelus said.

“ This pretentious fuck thinks he’s an artist,” said Sing with an eye roll.

“ So what did finally light a red dot in your empty noggin?” Angelus taunted

“ Yut Lung I realized he wasn’t trying to kill me but you. He wouldn’t do that unless. I went to Max and we did some investigating of our own. Three people saw you the night of Ibe’s murder with red hands. They were just too scared. I contacted Sing and Yut Lung and the three of us made this plan” Eiji said.

“ Enough talk” Yut Lung says with a nod

Sing goes up the tree to retrieve something.

“ You think the Watchers council can hold me?” Angelus laughs

“ They won’t have a chance to try” Yut Lung pulls out a stake and Sing comes back with a Jar. “ You want to do the honors Eiji chan, he wronged you the most” Angelus doesn’t register until seconds before Eiji holds the stake over his heart “ This is for Ash and everyone you ever raped, tortured or killed” Yut Lung holds the jar under him and Eiji drives the stake deep...

Angelus looks at the familiar fiery cubicle “ You know you guys could have redecorated since last I was here” the door opens and a familiar blond boy with green eyes walks through the door.

“ Are you a demonic projection or the real thing?” Angelus asked

Bastard!” a punch sails directly into his gut.

“ Hi, Ash got the guys upstairs really give you a reprieve to torment me.?” Angelus asked curiously “ I’m flattered”

“ This is my torment every sick thing I did for Dino I have to do for them. He’s a fan of my dam work!” Ash sounds beyond self-loathing

“ Yep definitely in Hell! I work my undead ass off sticking it God and humanity in general only to get passed over for some seventeen-year-old hack!” Angelus complained, “ So what Whips, chains, crabs ?”

“ Time to explain why you fucked up” Ash smirked. “ Drucilla never saw Eiji”

“ Come on your telling me your damsel was the difference between me winning or dying him?” Angelus exclaimed incredulously

“ Yut Lung was a mixed bag among the powers that be. Half the people upstairs wanted to put him on Hell’s legislator and be done with it especially after the Lee family slaughter. The other half debated he deserved a chance. In the end, it was love that saved him, Lang Lui his mom caught word and advocated on her little boy's behalf. She’s quite the pistole over on the other side and was smart enough to drum up enough favors for this day” Ash laughed.

“ We got it wrong Angelus, Eiji wasn’t meant to be saved he was meant to guide and protect others.”

Angelus processes this “ Those goodie two shoes used me!” he raged

“ Yut Lung and Eiji hated each other. Worse Sing was left torn between them. You were the nudge all three of them needed to become a united front. It was what the powers hoped for.” Ash grins “ There going to save so many people and its all because of you”

Angelus feels utterly horrified.

“ And it gets better you see Angelus just because you choose evil doesn’t mean good was done with you. You had more chances than any of us and you blew them!” Ash spits

“ I have no soul,” Angelus said in a well duh voice.

“ Neither did Darla or Spike heck Drucilla could've gotten redemption maybe if you hadn’t used her one last time. You robbed that girl of so much! Even with a soul, You were never serious about helping anyone; it was always about Buffy or the Shanshu prophecy or appeasing your own guilt. That’s why when you lost that guilt it was fucking party time” Ash hissed.

“ Are you torturing me or yourself?” Angelus mocks

“ I’m just getting to the good part,” the blond says sweetly “ See every act of evil you did brought out some good”

“How?” Angelus demands

“It’s funny you did so much good as a murderous psychopath because the face of your inhumanity brought out the compassion, kindness, strength of those who didn’t even know they had it” Ash finished.

“ Oh god no please no more just no more!” Angelus’s mind is reeling all that work, all that planning.

“ And guess what? we have an eternity to go over all of the ripples you created in the lives of others while souled and not. I’m talking about every sinner and saint and all of the good they did throughout their lives and how they influenced others. Welcome back to Hell you piece of shit. I’m the new management. I'm here to make sure your stay is as unpleasant as possible. So today lets start with all the nice laws that got passed because of you and Darla’s rampages!” Ash says in a cutesy voice.

Angelus lets out a wail of anguished despair that echoes throughout all of hell. The end

[faded-florals]

What do you think of Hadley's acting in the 25th anniversary performance? Some people thought it was weak

I have talked a little bit before about how much I like Hadley, both in general and as Raoul. I’m going to try to answer this as best I can, but I have to say that I am a complete amateur with no more than an introductory acting class under my belt and so my perspective is really just going to be from that of a general audience member. Basically I know how his performance makes me feel, and here are a couple reasons why I think his acting was effective.

The entire cast of the 25th Anniversary RAH performance was strong. Ramin plays a wildly unhinged and yet somehow still highly sympathetic Phantom, Sierra’s Christine is bold but deeply sensitive and passionate, Barry James’ and Gareth Snook’s managers are comical without being goofy or distracting, and Wendy Ferguson as Carlotta is 100% a nightmare diva without being insufferable. Not only were all of these actors wonderful in this specific performance, but they all came in with previous experience in the show in some form. Hadley had never been in a production of POTO before and was therefore kind of starting with a disadvantage, but I actually had no idea that this was even the case until quite a long time after seeing the show and being thoroughly impressed with him. Despite all of this, being a ‘newbie’ among a very strong cast, Hadley doesn’t get lost. In fact, I find him pretty hard to ignore. A lot of Raouls can disappear when not being featured in a scene, but whenever Hadley is present onstage throughout the show he is noticeable and entertaining. 

A big part of my love for Hadley’s acting comes from his highly emotive face. I like to poke fun at the faces he pulls but it’s really all out of adoration. He’s fun to watch because he’s always responding to what is going on around him, whether that be to other characters or even his own character’s thoughts. I also like watching him even when he’s not the focus of the scene because he’s always in character and his facial expressions show that. (Wendy Ferguson does this really well, too!) His presence adds to the scene even when he is just in the background, like in much of Prima Donna, and especially in the Final Lair. I’m going to throw some of my favorite Hadley faces at you, now.

I honestly think a lot of the criticism about Hadley from the 25th comes from people not liking his characterization of Raoul, not specifically his acting. (I’m going to give my classic example, because a lot of what I’ve heard about Hadley’s acting refers to this scene in particular) By the time we get to WHYBMH I expect Raoul to be frustrated, and from previous scenes I know him to be a skeptic as well as concerned for Christine’s safety and health. So when Christine is having her meltdown on the rooftop I want to see Raoul’s actor show all of this in his voice and movements and Hadley delivers just that. He holds his own with pointed vocal intonation against the vigorous score as well as Sierra’s frantic energy, and brings an intensity to a scene which has a high potential to fall flat if played too gently like I’ve seen/heard many Raouls do. (Patrick Wilson’s Raoul comes to mind immediately, but he really never stood a chance with Emmy Rossum’s lackluster Christine)

There’s also danger here, though, where Raoul can come off as mean if not done right. I don’t believe Hadley’s Raoul comes off as mean, however this could be subjective. When I personally see Hadley’s performance, again speaking to WHYBMH as an example, I see a character who has strong convictions, is fed up with hearsay, and is in a stressful situation, and I am able to make an emotional connection with the feelings he is expressing. That’s a sign of an effective performance to me. It may not resonate with everyone and that’s ok, but that doesn’t make his performance weak.

[thenovelartist]

An Impromptu Proposal, 30-31

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And this concludes LadyNoir July and all the Love Square months! I do not know how I managed this, but I did, holy cow. :D Hope you all have enjoyed it!

30. Inspiration

Marinette was so intent in designing for her portfolio that she didn’t hear her husband slip into the room. Therefore, she was not expecting him to lean over her shoulders and startle her.

He was laughing at it. “Scare you, bugaboo? I wasn’t exactly being quiet.”

She sighed, her heartrate steadily calming. “You know when I get into a design, everything else disappears.”

“That I do,” he assured. “What are you working on?”

“Just some portfolio pieces,” she dismissed.

“Well, I knew that. What kind of pieces?”

Marinette looked down at the entire line that she had drawn out. “Formal wear inspired by our superhero costumes.”

That piqued Adrien’s interest as he reached towards one of the many pieces of paper scattered all over the desk. He examined the designs on it, which were several versions of a Chat Noir themed suit.

“I know I’ve done them before,” Marinette said. “But with the superheroes being so big still, I thought it would be fun to do it one last time before retiring the idea all together.”

“Make money off them while you can,” Adrien teased.

Marinette chuckled. “More like… I feel like it’s a last hoo-rah, you know? Like… like a sort of closure.”

Adrien hummed before giving her shoulders a squeeze. “Well then, bug, I say go all out and don’t hold back.”

“That’s the plan. But to be fair, when do I ever hold back?”

Adrien chuckled. “True.” He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “You’re really passionate about everything: designing, superheroing. You really throw your all into it. But that’s just one of the things I love about you.”

Marinette felt her face warm, along with her heart.

“I’ll let you get back to it. I can start dinner.”

“But it’s—” Marinette froze when she looked at the clock. “It’s five.”

She could hear the smile in Adrien’s voice. “Yes, it is.”

“I’ve been at this for four hours straight already.”

“Yes, you have. But just proves my point of how passionate you are.”

She pushed away from her desk. “I can make dinner.”

“Nah,” Adrien dismissed. “You’re on a roll. Don’t let me stop you. I’ve got dinner. You can continue working.”

She shot Adrien a smile. “Thanks, kitty.”

“Anything for you, my lady.”

 ...

31. Waiting On You

It had been a little over a year since Adrien and Marinette had defeated Butterlie and retired as superheroes. While they had originally planned to start up a family shortly after, they decided that it was better to wait. Between the counseling, Marinette finding a new job, and Adrien starting up an online university, they thought that bringing a kid into the mix was a little too much at the moment.

Until Alya announced that she was pregnant.

Adrien had been utterly thrilled for Nino, who was extremely excited at becoming a dad. But at the same point, Adrien was a little jealous. And one look at Marinette proved that she had been, too.

Hence why both of them were sitting on the couch at home, side by side, ready for that big talk.

“Do you think we’re ready?” Marinette asked. “Like, obviously we both want kids, probably enough to not be having this conversation, but I think it’s important.”

“I agree,” Adrien said. “But, at the same point… I think we’re ready.”

Marinette smirked. “Impulsive as ever.”

“Well, yeah,” Adrien admitted. “But think about it. I’ve been doing a lot better with the counseling and all. And I’ve started up schooling, and I feel stable and secure in my future and health. You; you’re fine. You stopped going to counseling because you’re healed enough to not need it anymore. You’ve got a job as a designer; you love it; things are going good for you. I think if we wait until everything’s perfect, we’re gonna be waiting a very long time. So, do I think we’re ready? Yeah; yeah, I do.”

Marinette’s surprised expression gave way to one of amusement. “Someone’s been thinking this over.”

“Honestly, I couldn’t stop thinking about it since we left Alya and Nino’s place.”

She chuckled before crawling into his lap. “This is the end of the conversation, isn’t it?”

“Probably,” Adrien answered with a smirk as he wrapped his arms around his wife.

“If I bring up any point, you’re gonna tell me I’m over thinking, aren’t you?”

“Bug, you know me so well.”

“Even if I suggest we wait so that we can think without jealousy clouding our mind.”

Adrien quirked a brow. “Are we ever not going to be jealous?”

Marinette paused, her lips pursed.

“You know I’m right.”

With a grumble, she laid her head on his shoulder to avoid looking at him.

Adrien smirked, liking the feeling of winning that conversation.

“So,” Marinette eventually said. “Are we starting tonight?”

His heart jumped in his chest as a smug smirk crossed his face. “Who says we have to wait for tonight?”

He shifted slightly so he could see his wife’s face, watching as her cheeks turned red before burying her face into his shirt.

“I’m teasing,” he said.

“No, you’re not.”

Adrien couldn’t deny that.

“How, out of all the people in the world, did I end up falling in love with you?”

“Because I’m literally the yang to your yin.”

Marinette giggled, coming out of her hiding spot in his shoulder to smile at him. “That’s true.”

…

It was two and a half months later that Marinette was showing him a positive pregnancy test.

Which meant that this was really happening. They were really going to be parents.

Which spurred Adrien’s desire to sell his apartment and find a family home to move into.

“We should have thought about this earlier,” Marinette commented as they were going through listings.

“Well, considering you’re only about a month along, I think we are doing this in good timing. But just so you know, I’m not letting you do any heavy lifting when we move.”

Marinette sighed. “Overprotective already?”

“Yes. Don’t argue.”

She giggled, wrapping her hands around his arm and leaning her head against his shoulder. “You’re gonna be a good daddy.”

He was going to be a dad. Holy crap, he was going to be a dad. The mix of panic and excitement was enough to make his head spin. “I’ll give it all I have.”

“I know you will,” she assured in a sweet tone that was calming his nerves but ramping up his heart. “And you’re gonna be a great dad.”

His heart light from her genuine words, he leaned over to kiss her head. “Thanks, sweetheart.”

“I love you,” she said. “And our kids are gonna love you, too.”

Adrien loved this woman; he was so lucky to have her. “I love you, too.”

…

Marinette looked over her new house with some pride. It had taken some time to find the right house and pack up everything, but Marinette couldn’t be happier. Especially since a baby would come in about three short months to fill the place with even more life.

Adrien slipped behind her, wrapping his arms around her belly. “What’s got you lost in thought?”

“We own a house.”

Adrien chuckled. “Yes, we do.”

“Together.”

“Yup.”

“We have a baby on the way.”

“Mm-hmm.”

“And we aren’t superheroes anymore. In fact, we haven’t transformed in months.”

“Yup and yup.”

“Is this what normalcy feels like?”

Adrien laughed, giving her a squeeze. “Yes, I think so.”

“It’s weird.”

“How?” Adrien asked, clearly amused.

“It’s… normal. I feel like something crazy and unordinary needs to happen.”

“What? Moving houses while you’re six months along wasn’t crazy enough for you?”

“Not really?”

Adrien shook his head, walking around her to kneel in front of her swollen stomach. “Hey, baby girl,” Adrien said, his hands carefully cradling Marinette’s abdomen. “Hurry up and get here. We’re waiting on you to throw our normal lives into chaos.”

Marinette chuckled before playfully smacking her husband. “Don’t encourage her. I feel like she’s going to be like you enough as it is.”

“You say that like I’m the chaos causer.”

“Well…”

With a chuckle, Adrien stood. “You know, whether this little one is easy or difficult doesn’t matter, because I don’t think we were suited for normal lives, anyway.”

Marinette couldn’t help but smile. “You’re probably right. But honestly… I think I’m okay with that.”