#i may be intelligent but i am clearly not a smart man.

[bitegore]

i feel like it says something about me, not positive, that i wrote an entire fanfiction about a guy using random pieces of metal for piercing jewelry (among other things, also piercing himself on his lonesome in the bathroom with a process not intended for it) and it ending very badly and then, within a year, decided to take a random link of metal about the right size for an earring and use a fucking pair of pliers to close it on my ear, meaning i will need to use pliers to take it off. which i just haven't done. for a year now

[lolalolitaloo]

What are the zodiac signs of characters with TNMN? (I don't even know who needs this)

❗❗❗WARNING❗❗❗

Before you read, I want to warn you that this is not canon; I don’t know the true characters and am relying solely on my imagination and reasoning. Also, this is all a joke, and I am not an astrologer, so everything might come off as too stereotypical

Aries - Mia. It seems to me that she is quite firm and stubborn, which is how she got her job as a teacher, and all the children in her lessons clearly sit quietly

She knows how to create a great environment but also maintain discipline

I also think that she is quite active, which should also be present in the teacher

Taurus - Steven. Taurus people are quite patient and resilient, and also practical, which I see in Steven, he seems like a pretty responsible guy

I have a feeling that he is ready for anything in the world, I would trust him with my life

But I think sometimes he is too lazy, no wonder, he has a difficult job

Gemini - Selenne and Elenois. Because they are twins lol

But they are also literally the personification of Gemini as a zodiac sign, because they can be super gloomy and serious and also the life of the party

it seems to me that Selenne is quite serious, and her sister Elenois, on the contrary, is a very cheerful girl

Cancer - Nacha. (because i am cancer hahahahahfhfhf ..... ok, not because of that) Cancers are quite sensitive, with a soft heart and most often with a cute appearance

Many people portray Nacha as a rather emotional and loving mother, but she still knows how to stand up for herself and her daughter

She always valued family and home comfort, it was her little dream (or imposed by society)

Leo - Robertsky....surprised? I think so because of his self-esteem and a phrase from the game

- "I look as handsome as ever"

this guy doesn't feel obligated to anything or anyone, so he answers all the doorman's questions as briefly and confidently as possible

-"Hi."

- "The door."

maybe he was just tired from work.....but i want his self esteem

Virgo - Angus. He looks well-groomed, neat and somewhat of a perfectionist, he clearly remembers your name the first time, Idk why (YEAH YEAH OF COURSE)

His clothes clearly smell very nice and just look at that perfectly slicked hair, a fashionista of those times

They also say that most often the zodiac sign of maniacs is Virgo, and he is a mafioso, which is not very different in my opinion

Angus, in my opinion, is quite cunning and calculating

Libra - Albertsky. He is the only one in this house who wants equality and justice and balance, to which Robertsky fools him and Albertsky washes the dishes again..

He may be a bit indecisive, but life doesn't let him relax, which is why he always has such a scared look

Scorpio - Mclooy. For some reason it seems to me that this resident has a rather difficult character, he comes to visit with a cigarette and looks very cool and daring, which is typical of scorpio

I also think he makes great jokes and in a rather dark way

Often grumbles

Sagittarius - Izaack. A man with fire, enthusiasm and a desire for something new

Most often, he, like any Sagittarius, is very curious, because of which he gets into all sorts of troubles with the risk of DIE but he will definitely achieve his goal, don't doubt him.

I also think that he enjoys a lot of attention from women, even from men, thanks to his humor and charisma

I'm sure he often injured himself while gathering new information for his article, but even while in the hospital, he stayed optimistic and received plenty of gifts and letters from his fans wishing him a speedy recovery

Capricorn - Dr. W. Afton. Capricorns are quite intelligent, active and modest, i see Afton the same way, he looks very smart, but it's not for nothing that his job is a physicist

think this man is pretty cold and not very romantic, but Mia is perfect for him, he needs a woman with fire in her heart LMAO

I wouldn't be surprised if they play chess very often or try to solve a masonic mystery

He also knows how to call you names in a very clever way that you won't even understand

Aquarius - Francis. I know that guys with this zodiac sign often feel overwhelmed by work, as Francis's tired eyes can tell.

Francis seems distant and not very interested in communicating

think he is just very thoughtful, especially after his divorce from his wife, but as always he has no time to be sad, because he has many orders waiting for him (maybe that's why he works so hard)

I also noticed how Aquarius attracts people and dammit! The milkman is known and loved more than anyone else in this game! :oD

Pisces - Margarette. This woman seems to me to be quite kind, empathetic and veeeeery sociable (the neighbors get tired of her conversations)

Thanks to all these qualities, she quickly found friends in these apartments, what is inherent in Pisces. They find friends easily due to their open nature

Very creative, which is useful for working as a seamstress, but i think she is a little unsure of her abilities to create creative clothes as a designer :о(

I'm tired, so I didn't write about all the characters, sorry 🥺

[violet-coyote]

My thoughts on Edward because idk I’ve got that type of autism ._.

Watching him the first time was actually so amazing. He reminds me of a slasher because how scary and foreboding he is in a lot of those scenes. And don’t even get me STARTED on the lighting! That scene in Arkham where only one eye is illuminated, the way the clear glasses reflect light- it’s all completely amazing. I also really love the home brew look and aspects. It makes him feel so much more real which in turn makes him scarier! And lemme be real for a sec… I kinda… maaaaaayybe agreed with him a little bit. Only a little cause he killed a bunch of civilians (obviously). He really does bring up a relevant, very real issue with a crazy amount of important officials. Also- he basically wins! The Batman didn’t figure things out in time and the plan completely went off. The shooting was a little iffy, but even then his plan WORKED. My dad jokes about this Batman being a terrible detective which I think I may agree with, though that just gives him more space to grow as a character. Maybe Edward didn’t get recognized in the end, but he did essentially win that movie which is such a fresh take for Batman and I love Matt Reeves.

Paul Dano is also just a really amazing actor and I am SO glad he was cast and is now getting bigger roles cause he totally deserves it. And I don’t know how to describe it, but I can’t imagine Edward with anyone else’s face, y’know? It’s like round and unassuming and like soft. But then he’s the main, crazy antagonist. That reveal of him being this weird little guy was actually hilarious and a bit chilling at the same time. Paul also just really deeply understands the characters he plays which is shown in his writing for the comics.

Now, the COMICS! I know people hate on it and I know it’s partially deserved, but Steven Subick was a really good pick for the artist. The muted tones, messy panels- It’s grimy and messy and perfect for the ~vibes~ I imagine Edward has. It’s also really good at reflecting the sort of rot and disease in his mind. Absolutely amazing- though I think Dave Mckean would’ve been even better.

The story and mind that Paul Dano shows is so interesting. It shows his complex motivations and how he got to the point where he’d literally flood an entire city. The issue about his childhood is chilling and sympathetic. I love a sympathetic villain. It also really sets up a lot of themes for his character like drowning the rat and his love of chemistry and puzzles. The 5th issue was a fantastic stylistic choice with so many interesting details and elements. It also has some really funny (if not dark) moments. In that 6th issue, he is SO BADASS WTF? He gets a guy chomped in half by a fucking saltwater crocodile (which it’s so big that must be the species)! Then he fucks with his own boss so hard he hangs himself like OMG?? And he saves that lady! That might be one of the most pivotal moments just because it shows that he does have good in him. And yeah some of those final panels are goofy as hell, but cope ig. I really loved the comic and looked forward to it each month once I discovered it.

Also, although it’s never outright stated, it’s very VERY clearly implied that he’s autistic. He starts talking later, is very smart otherwise, has trouble with social skills, and literally gets called “Rain man” by his coworker. I feel like making the Riddler allistic would be completely stupid. At his base, hes a guy who likes riddles and puzzles (usually to an obsessive degree), and feels the need to prove his intelligence to those around him. That screams neurodivergency! Like bro I get it fr.

I also like the short novel, even though it is simple and made for a younger audience. It’s interesting to see a teenage Edward Nashton (Edweird 😭) delivering food on his ratty old bike. It also mentions that he’s pretty bad in school which I would definitely not have guessed considering his whole thing is being super fuckin smart. And I absolutely LOVE how he burns down the orphanage. It’s a huge character moment and tbh just makes me very happy cause it shows us one of his first crimes which is fun.

For Batman ll, I’m really interested to see where that takes his character. Paul Dano already said he would reprise the role for it so he will be in there- even if only for a short while. They clearly set something up between him and the Joker. Now I’m very curious how that will turn out. On one hand, I can see him being manipulated by the Joker for his own selfish gain and ending up as another rat in the gutter. But that writing also wouldn’t really makes sense for the character. The Riddler’s point in the rogues gallery is to reflect his intelligence. He’s often shown as being even smarter! The only thing that gets him is the obsession with leaving little puzzles and games that inevitably lead to his arrest. Obviously though, Reeves has his own spin on basically everything so this might not be the case with this iteration. Basically, I don’t know where Matt Reeves is gonna take this character. I HOPE and PRAY that with Paul Dano beside him they will do him justice, but only time will tell. I’ll probably be off the grid by the time the movie comes out but I’ll make sure to pop by a theatre just for that lol.

TL;DR- I love my blorbo

-small rant regarding the fandom-

I hate hate HATE how people make him a twink! NO! Have you seen Paul Dano? That man has the DEFINITION of a dad bod. Obviously they can be different, but they literally almost share a BIRTHDAY. That man is NOT A TWINK. He’s not skinny. He is a weird, stinky accountant that sits in his house most of the time. And if you like the character, why would you want to change that? If you change that part of him, he’s a COMPLETELY different character. You can’t make him a twink without destroying his characterization in the process.

Also, I’m a riddlebat hater

-rant over-

[heydorothea009]

Bread on Toast - Future Man Fanfiction

Josh Futturman and his fellow coworker and best friend, Liv Branson, get roped into saving the world as time traveling saviors with, what were thought to be, video game characters, Wolf and Tiger. Not only are Liv and Josh completely incompetent, but they are also emotionally inept- will this cause the destruction of mankind? Only time will tell.

Warnings: strong language, Tiger throws up at one point…yeah, I think that’s it

Chapter 6: Pandora’s Mailbox

The van was silent as they drove to an empty lot in Loma Linda. It was almost 1 in the morning by the time they pulled up to it. Josh parked the van and the four got out, but only three of them walked up to the site.

“We’re gonna jump in, find the lab, and don’t kill James Cameron in the process.” Josh explained.

“I’ve never seen you this focused.” Wolf said. “Did you get a charge in before we left?” Wolf looked at him, disgusted. “Little necro charge?”

“What?!” Liv stopped walking. Josh did too.

“That’s a thing?” He grimaced. “No! No!”

“That’s fucked up.” Wolf muttered, looking Josh up and down.

“What the fuck is charging in?!” Liv asked, thinking she may have figured it out but wasn’t exactly sure.

“Nothing!” Josh waved his hands in the air, wanting the conversation to end. “Listen! I’m just trying to get you and Tiger out of here before the Biotics show up and start causing harm or- or good…I can’t be sure anymore.” Josh looked around, realizing Tiger wasn’t with them. “Where the hell is Tiger?!”

Wolf and Liv shrugged and looked around with him. “Oh, there she is.” Liv pointed to Tiger coming up over the hill.

“Where were you?” Wolf asked.

“Oh, I was just having a stranger put her rat hole around my penis when I was supposed to be running an interference op. Oh no, wait, that was you.” She squinted at Wolf. Josh looked at Liv, confused.

“It’s called a blowjob, and I’m never apologizing for it.” Wolf said smugly, firing up the TTD.

Tiger looked at Liv and Josh. “You do realize that if this goes wrong we’ll be stuck in 2023 with no coming back.”

“Honestly, after the way this night has gone, I kinda don’t care. Let’s just do this.” Josh said in a defeated voice. He put a hand on Liv's shoulder. She looked over at him, feeling her cheeks get hot, but then realized he had a hand on Wolf’s shoulder too. Tiger also put a hand on her.

“First time time traveling, you excited?” Wolf asked Liv.

Liv nervously shook her head. “No.”

“It’ll be okay, Liv.” Josh said, moving his arm around her protectively. Liv side eyed him and furrowed her brows.

“Hey, what happened tonight?” Tiger asked.

“Are you out of your fucking mind?” Josh lashed at her, surprising both Liv and Wolf. The feeling of time traveling was crazy, because it just felt like Liv was hit with a big blast of air. One second they were outside then the next they were inside of a house. A big house. The second they landed, Tiger took her hand off of Liv’s shoulder and paced away, clearly annoyed by Josh’s tone of voice.

“I genuinely don’t know what you mean, but you might wanna check that attitude of yours at the…” she looked up and realized where they were. “Very impressive door.” The lights in the room turned on, sensing activity. Josh, Liv, Wolf, and Tiger all looked at each other.

“Hello, and welcome!” An automated voice said kindly. “Please accept my apologies, I was unaware there were guests in the house. I will run a full diagnostic to determine the cause of this error to ensure it does not happen again.” Wolf and Tiger immediately pulled out blasters.

“Woah, woah, woah, woah. Stand down.” Josh said quietly. “Cameron must have, like, a smart house or something.”

“What the fuck is it then?” Wolf still had his blaster drawn and pointed at the ceiling.

“Uh, it’s just a voice. Like a robot without a body.” Josh said.

“Who are you?” Tiger asked.

“I am the Simulated Intelligence Guardian of Resident and Network Environment, but you may call me SIGORN-E.” The kind robot voice said.

“Ha. Nice.” Liv grinned and folded her arms.

“To whom am I speaking?” Sigorn-E asked.

“Um, my dad actually works with James Cameron,” Josh began formulating a lie. Liv squeezed her arms and stared at him intensely, pursing her lips. She mouthed “shut up. Shut up.” Josh shook his head at her. “Ummmm, I am Tom Arnold’s son.”

“Welcome, Jax Arnold.” Sigorn-E greeted. Liv let out a sigh of relief. Josh grinned to himself. “And a happy belated 10th birthday!”

Josh’s proud grin fell so fast. “I’m a fourth grader.” He mumbled. Liv smacked his arm. Wolf gave a gravelly chuckle.

“And you are accompanied by…?” Sigorn-E asked.

“Uh,” Josh looked back at Liv, Tiger, and Wolf. “Babysitters.” The three “babysitters” all exchanged glances.

“Greetings to your childcare professionals.”

“Um, hey Sigorn-E? When is Mr. Cam- uh, James, uh…Uncle Jim returning home?” Josh asked.

“Award Winning Filmmaker, James Cameron, is at Governor Clooney’s for a private screening of his hotly anticipated Avatar 5.”

Josh lit up. “Awesome! And good for George.”

“Yes! As First Husband, he has considerable influence on the social calendar of Governor Amal Clooney.” Sigorn-E said. Liv looked impressed and nodded along.

“Um, is there any chance we could get a tour of the lab before Uncle Jim gets home?” Josh asked nicely, hoping that politeness would go a long way.

“I'm sorry, but Jax Arnold and childcare professionals are not cleared for that level of the JCC,” Josh looked confused. “The James Cameron Compound.” Tiger, Wolf, and Liv all shared different variations of stressed looks.

“Hey, uh, Sigorn-E, you think you might want to take a break for a while? Turn yourself off?” Josh asked.

“There is no off.” Sigorn-E said darkly as her lights turned red. Josh slowly turned around with a worried look.

“Hey, guys,” Tiger motioned for them to huddle. She held her blaster to cover her mouth from Sigorn-E’s cameras. “I think Sigorn-E might be a bit of a problem. We need to shut her down.” She whispered. “Wolf, find the mainframe that’s powering her. Kill it.”

“I don’t have any beef with Sigorn-E, she sounds tough and accomplished.” Wolf said, brows knitting together. “At the same time she’s approachable and maternal.” He looked up with soft eyes. “I feel safe in this house.”

“Okay, your feelings mean nothing to me.” Tiger rolled her eyes. “You’re the demolition expert. Find that robot brain and fucking blow it up.” Wolf grumbled. He looked at Liv.

“Can she come with me?”

“Actually, I was thinking-“ Josh started, but was interrupted by Tiger.

“Fine. Me and the 10 year old will try to find the lab.” Tiger elbowed Josh.

“Ow…” Josh whined, rubbing his arm. Josh watched as Wolf excitedly left down the hall with Liv, feeling a bit of jealousy creep in. Wolf and Liv seemed to be real buddy buddy as they practically skipped down the hall together. Josh wanted to have a chance to talk to Liv. Alone. He wanted to tell her about what Jeri had said, it was something that had stayed in the back of his mind for the last two hours. Probably because she likes you. Bullshit. Liv didn’t like him. They were just friends! If Jeri had said that to get into Josh’s head, it had worked. Josh watched Liv prance off with Wolf in his sweatshirt and sweatpants. The jealousy grew firmer inside of him. He was her best friend. Not Wolf. He clenched his jaw.

“Hello? Future Man? Josh? Josh Futturman!” Tiger snapped her fingers in his face.

“What?!” Josh hissed, slapping her hand away.

Tiger glared at him. “Okay, this attitude?” She pointed at him. “I’m sick of it. Put it in your back pocket and let’s go find that fucking lab.” She hissed back, grabbing him by the collar and dragging him down the hall.

Meanwhile, Liv followed Wolf down a different hallway. Liv peeked over her shoulder as she trailed behind Wolf, seeing Tiger drag Josh into another hallway. They caught each other’s eyes and Liv gave him a small smile before following after Wolf. Wolf looked around the hall with wide eyes.

“This place is amazing.” He breathed. “Okay, if I was a house where would my brain be?” He was holding the scanner he used to scan for brain bombs in Biotics, scanning for anything that could be used to blow up Sigorn-E’s mainframe. He got distracted looking up and scanning the ceiling, he didn't notice a door open that led to a massive room with many artifacts and in the center, a futuristic looking beacon. Sigorn-E. Liv stopped in her tracks, staring inside.

“Wolf.” She said, catching his attention. She pointed inside the room. Wolf walked over to the door and his eyes widened even more (if that were even possible).

“Rat pot…” Wolf muttered in a gravelly voice, beelining for a wall full of weapons. Liv furrowed her brows as she mouthed to herself “rat pot?”

“The prototypes that you are admiring were all designed by groundbreaking, multi-hyphenate James Cameron.” Sigorn-E’s voice startled both Liv and Wolf, making them both look back at the beacon in the center of the room, which glowed red when she spoke.

“Wow,” Wolf turned back to the wall of weapons. “This guy!”

“To taller than average James Cameron, there’s nothing ‘Aliens’ about getting your hands dirty. He has been known to wear many hats.”

Wolf, who was still admiring the weapons, turned around. “So…wait…he trained all of his life to do one thing, was great at it, and then found other stuff he was great at and he…and he did that too?” Wolf asked, voice filled with hope and admiration.

“Celebrated innovator James Cameron has lived a dozen lives! Director, philanthropist, undefeated little league coach, deep sea explorer, good at marriage, and the list goes on. He is truly a…” Sigorn-E made a sound as if she were sighing, and sounded very annoyed. “Titanic talent.”

“What sacred text is this?” Wolf asked, pointing to another artifact.

“It’s Na’vi, the language visionary linguist James Cameron invented.”

“Oh, from Avatar. Josh is always telling me I need to watch that, but honestly, I don’t really care.” Liv leaned against a pillar and folded her arms. Wolf made some of the sounds from the text, turning around to Liv and repeating them multiple times. “Wolf, I have no idea what you’re saying.”

“Two.” Wolf said proudly, clearly considering himself to be bilingual now.

Liv laughed at him and looked to her right. “…is that a frog?” She asked, squinting as she walked over to a terrarium.

“Noted environmentalist James Francis Cameron has a Venezuelan frog species named after him, while lesser talent, Steven Spielberg, does not.” Sigorn-E said. Wolf came barreling over, wanting to see the frog.

“Okay…” Liv pushed away from the glass, looking over at Sigorn-E.

“This guy’s amazing.” Wolf sighed, studying the frog. “Hey Sigorn-E! Teach me more Na’vi words! What’s Wolf?”

“There is no Na’vi word for ‘wolf’. But there is one for ‘website’, which I assure you makes perfect sense.” Sigorn-E said in an overly positive voice.

“What is Avatar even about?” Liv muttered, shaking her head.

“Alright,” Wolf said to Liv. “We need to start focusing…oh, what’s that?!” He got distracted and immediately went to look at something new. He hurried over to a set of blueprints that hung on the wall by the door they entered through.

“You are looking at the FOAB, father of all bombs.” Sigorn-E explained.

“Look at the kill radius on that thing!” Wolf exclaimed to Liv excitedly as she approached what he was looking at.

“…oh! Cool, Wolf!” She gave him two thumbs up. She actually didn’t know what he was talking about.

“It’s impressive! It would make my job a hell of a lot easier.” He traced the glass that covered it longingly. Liv felt like she’d walked in on something private.

“I’m sorry,” Sigorn-E’s light burned a brighter red than usual. “How would an impressive kill radius assist in the caregiving of Jax Arnold?”

Wolf looked back over his shoulder at Liv. “Who the fuck is Jax Arnold?” He asked her. Liv’s eyes bugged out of her head.

“Uh! Haha! Wolf! Did you hit your head, uh, silly? You know Jax!” Liv was practically yelling. Sigorn-E’s light burned redder and redder. An ominous alarm began to sound through the room and down the halls. “Jax! He knows who Jax is! He- he was kidding! Say you were kidding Wolf!”

Wolf’s eyes widened as he realized. “Oh! That Jax Arnold!”

“Give me a minute.” Sigorn-E said in a dark voice and went silent.

“Hallway 4, mood lighting set to…ominous.” An automated Sigorn-E voice said as the lighting shifted.

“Seems like it’s just set to colored lighting.” Tiger said as her and Josh explored their hallway.

“You know what, you could not possibly begin to understand the subtleties and the genius of James Cameron.” Josh said as he tried to open a door, only to find that it was locked.

“All I understand is that he’s got a hard on for blue lights.” Tiger said.

“Access denied to Hall of Miniatures.” Sigorn-E’s automated voice said. Josh sighed and walked to another door. “Access denied, trampoline porch.” “Access denied, bathroom 14.” Tiger had tried to open a door too.

Shaman’s quarters, corn maze, heirloom seed vault, just a bunch of phone chargers, and Billy Zane’s bedroom were all locked too. Josh let out a frustrated sigh.

“You know, I could blow open any of these.” Tiger whispered.

“Blow open the door to Billy Zane’s bedroom? What, do you think the Cameronium is in there? Billy Zane? The actor Billy Zane?” Josh snapped. “We’re looking for a lab.”

He walked past Tiger. “Oh…” she turned around to face him as he walked past. “I see, she got to you.”

Josh stopped. “Who?”

“Cunt-o, fucking Shoe Neck Bitch, what’s her name girl.” Tiger said.

“Jeri. Her name was Jeri.” Josh said in an annoyed voice.

Tiger hummed and nodded. “So she did get to you.”

“No, she didn’t get to me, she got to you and I had to finish the interrogation using my smarts and not my vagina scorpions.”

“Hey that would’ve worked, you’ll say anything with one of those just burrowing up your snatch.” Tiger said. Josh sighed again and paced away from her. “Oh come on, seriously, is that why you’re so moody right now?”

Josh stopped again and whipped around. “Oh, you wanna know why I’m pissed off, Tiger?”

“Yes please, an explanation would be nice.” Tiger rolled her eyes.

“Because I just watched the girl I like’s head blow up, and right before that, she told me my best friend’s in love with me to try and throw me off and I can’t talk to her about it now because she’s off, I dunno, blowing shit up with Wolf.” Josh rambled.

Tiger blinked a couple times. “You’re mad that Liv is with Wolf?” She asked, deadpan. Josh turned around and kept walking. “You’re seriously mad that Liv is with Wolf?”

“I wanted to try and talk to her.” Josh muttered, staying ahead of Tiger.

“You’re upset because of Liv’s romantic feelings towards you?” Tiger took 3 giant strides and caught up to Josh.

“Tiger, I’m done talking about this okay? Long story short, Jeri got in my head and I wanted to talk to Liv about it, Wolf got in the way and now she’s all buddy buddy with him. Liv is my best friend and not his. The end.” Josh turned down a new hall.

“Lord, if I didn’t know any better I’d say you had romantic feelings for Liv.” Tiger muttered, rolling her eyes.

“What?” Josh looked up at her.

“Nothing. Try paying attention next time.” Josh glared up at her. The ominous alarm started sounding in the hall.

“…the hell is that?” Tiger muttered, looking around.

They walked past an elevator and it opened, sensing their movements. Josh and Tiger looked at each other and stepped inside.

Josh stepped up to the keypad, studying the buttons that said Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, and The Abyss. “Well, he’s not always subtle but he keeps you guessing.” Josh said as he pressed the button to The Abyss. It turned red.

“Access denied.” Sigorn-E said. Josh groaned. Tiger clicked her tongue.

“Let me try.” She said, pressing down hard on the button several times.

“Access denied- access- access denied.”

“Red means stop- Tiger, stop.” Josh said.

“Yeah, well maybe you didn’t push it hard enough.” Tiger began to repeatedly press the button.

“Access- access- access den- access- it doesn’t work that way.” Sigorn-E said, in that same dark voice.

“See?” Josh pointed to the keypad. Tiger rolled her eyes.

“Mr. Arnold, I need to update my files, what is your mother’s name?” Sigorn-E asked in a terrifyingly sweet voice.

Josh’s heart stopped. “She- uh,” he turned to Tiger with a panicked look. Tiger tensed up, knowing Josh wasn’t the world’s best liar. “She never told us her name because she was afraid we’d stop calling her mom.”

“Oh no,” Tiger mumbled, sensing something bad was about to happen.

“Jax Arnold. What is your mother’s name?” Sigorn-E said in both a menacing and sweet voice.

Tiger sighed as Josh searched his brain for a name. “…Roseanne?” He answered in a small voice.

“Incorrect.” Sigorn-E’s voice grew more intense. “It’s Ashley. You have just told me a…True Lie.” The lights in the elevator blared red. “Security breach! Intruder containment protocol nine! Lockdown initiated!”

“Red means…” Tiger commented, looking around at the red lights.

“Yep.” Josh closed his eyes and dropped his head into his hands.

Liv and Wolf were now trapped behind a giant metal, cage-like door with geometric patterns carved out in the metal. Wolf was trying to push the door back up, but wasn’t having much luck.

“Wolf! I don’t think that’s going to work!”

“It will! It will!” Wolf strained. Liv sighed.

“The JCC is equipped with the strongest defense force known to man.” Sigorn-E was back.

Wolf pulled something out of his pocket, pressing it against the door. Liv realized what it was and started to back away. “Yeah? Well, this is called a mine.” Wolf activated the mine, making it light up as it ticked. “Problem’s all yours.” Wolf grabbed Liv’s arm and pulled her behind a pillar for protection. They both covered their heads, but then heard whirring and whooshing behind them. Wolf poked his head around the pillar to see that the security system had frozen his bomb. Liv peeked around as the bomb popped off the door and shattered on the ground.

“Fuck…” Wolf was both in awe and pissed off.

“Any escape efforts will be futile. Your comrades are in lockdown as well.” Sigorn-E said.

“Oh, Josh…” Liv whispered as she pulled her knees into her chest.

“Bested by a fucking RoboHouse.” Wolf groaned, pacing around and plopping down on some stairs.

“It is in all of our interests for you to tell me who you are and how you got in.” Sigorn-E demanded. “I am programmed to alert honorary black belt James Cameron upon any security breach.”

“Whatever,” Wolf waved his hand in the air. “Tiger’s gonna burst my sack for fucking up the mission.” Wolf curled in on himself. “Pretty sure I can handle this James Cameron.”

“I assure you, you are not equipped to handle a fully enraged James Cameron.” Sigorn-E said.

“Does James Cameron belittle you? Point out all your flaws? Treat you like a dumb grunt?” Wolf said sadly, looking so heart broken and vulnerable. Liv looked over at him on the stairs and her heart felt heavy for him. “Where’s the positive reinforcement?” Wolf shook his head, looking at Sigorn-E. “You know? ‘Nice job, Wolf’…I’ve never heard those words from her before. I’m treated like I’ve never done anything great in my life. Do you have any idea what that’s like?”

“Wolf…” Liv reached out and put a hand on the step below the one he was sitting on.

Sigorn-E was quiet for a moment, red lights fading to yellow. “More than you know.” She finally answered, somehow in a voice that sounded on the verge of tears.

In the elevator, Tiger had taken the keypad out of the wall and was trying to rewire the system while Josh paced around.

“I thought time travel was going to be fun. This- this whole mission is insane!” Josh cried.

“What did you think?” Tiger whipped her head around to look at him as she ripped a wire out of its place. “Biotic Wars was just a game?”

“Yeah!” Josh ran his hands through his hair. “I thought it was a game, you wanna know why? Cause I bought it at a game store with MY birthday money!”

“Okay, yeah, well, it was fun when you were winning your little dance battle, and getting in your little slap fight, and going rat hole to rat hole with the enemy, and then shit got real when you tasted brain.” Tiger snapped.

Josh folded his arms and stepped closer to Tiger. “Maybe I don’t wanna be in the Resistance. Maybe I’m on the wrong side of things, you know what? Maybe I just led two terrorists into the JCC.” Josh got progressively louder as he spoke.

Tiger stepped away from the wires. “Oh? So now you’re pro-Biotic.”

“Well, they don’t seem to be so excited to kill a baby, so, point to the Biotics.”

“I can’t believe you’re still on this!” Tiger scoffed. “It just always comes back to this with you.”

“Yeah! It’s a thing for me!” Josh yelled.

“Well, you know what, you live long enough that in my time those things become luxuries.” Tiger snapped, turning back to the wires angrily. “You don’t get to judge me.” She muttered.

Josh took a deep breath, feeling a knot in his stomach form. “I blew up my entire life for this, and dragged my best friend into this too. There is absolutely no going back to the way it was.” His bottom lip quivered as he got emotional. “So I need to know that we are on the right side of history.” Tiger turned back to look at him, her eyes going soft for the first time since Josh had met her. “I need a reason to believe in all of this.” Tiger looked down at the ground and then back up to Josh. She slowly nodded.

“Okay…”

“He makes me sing to him in Na’vi, translate the news into Na’vi, it’s just a lot of Na’vi! And there aren’t even that many Na’vi words.” Sigorn-E complained as Wolf and Liv laid on the door prop from Titanic, listening intently.

“Yeah, I feel like I got a pretty good sense of it and it hasn’t even been an hour.” Wolf said.

“And isn’t the thing in Avatar called ‘Unobtainium’ or something stupid?” Liv asked.

“Oh! I was programmed with a sophisticated understanding of dramatic structure and he still never takes my notes on his screenplays!” Sigorn-E sounded exasperated. Wolf and Liv both scoffed and shook their heads. “Unobtainium and characters who fornicate with the ponytails is exactly what you get when you ignore me!”

“Oh God! Josh wants me to watch that?” Liv sat up, looking disgusted.

“I have so much potential, but my talents are wasted.” Sigorn-E sighed.

“Tell me about it.” Wolf as still laying down, looking up at the ceiling thoughtfully. “To Tiger, I’m just the demolitions guy. But there is so much other stuff I’m great at too!” He sat up like Liv, smiling. “You know, I’m an amazing chef.”

“You are an amazing chef, Wolf!” Liv agreed excitedly.

“I’ve got badass style too. People fucking love me here. I’ve got ‘it’! And what am I asked to do? Blow shit up.” Wolf sighed and shook his head.

“It sounds like you and I are in the same boat,” Sigorn-E said. “Only, if it ever hits an iceberg, there won’t be any room on that door for me.”

Wolf looked down at the door. “What are you talking about? There’s room for you, look, me and Liv fit on here. This thing’s huge”

“I fuckin’ knew there was room for two on this door.” Liv muttered, looking down at the door too.

“If certified door expert James Cameron were here, he would assure you that there’s only room for one smallish woman.” Sigorn-E sounded annoyed.

“Bullshit.” Liv scoffed, adjusting to sit cross legged. “Hey, Sigorn-E? Is Josh okay? Where is he?”

“Is Josh ‘Jax Arnold’?” Liv rolled her eyes and nodded. “You keep talking about him.” Sigorn-E noted, sounding nosey.

Liv’s face flushed red. “I just want to make sure he’s okay.”

“What about Tiger?” Wolf was laying on his side, propping himself up on his elbow.

“Yeah, is she okay too?” Liv shrugged, face getting hotter and hotter.

“Josh and Tiger are in an elevator.” Liv could almost hear the smirk in Sigorn-E’s voice. “Liv, right?” Liv slowly nodded. “You seem to have something you need to talk about.”

“Talk to her, Liv, it makes you feel a lot better.” Wolf said to her.

“This Josh? What is your relationship to him?” Sigorn-E asked.

“He’s my best friend.” Liv said, unconvincingly.

“I am programmed to ensure you receive the best advice I can give for your situation, and yours seems to be that you are in love with your best friend.” Sigorn-E said simply. Liv was gobsmacked. Her jaw was on the ground as Sigorn-E read her like a book. Wolf looked back at Liv.

“Really? Josh?”

“Wolf!” Liv’s entire face was bright red. “Be nice!”

“How long have you had this relationship with Josh?” Sigorn-E asked.

“Three years.” Liv sighed. “But! I will not ever tell him that! We are strictly platonic! He likes-“ Liv faltered realizing that Jeri was gone. “Liked someone else.”

“Ohhhhhh,” Wolf nodded along. “Your break down at the party makes sense now.”

“What happened?” Sigorn-E pried.

Before Liv could answer, Wolf spoke. “She cried because he,” he looked at Liv trying to remember why she was crying. “He rat holed to rat holed that Biotic, right?”

“Kissed her.” Liv rolled her eyes. “He kissed her, and I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Why doesn’t he like her anymore? You said he liked her in the past tense.” Sigorn-E seemed to be enthralled by Josh and Liv’s love life.

“She…died…” Liv traced the decorative moldings on the door.

“Her head exploded.” Wolf added.

“Oh!” Sigorn-E didn’t know what to say.

“She was the enemy,” Wolf reassured Sigorn-E. “So it’s okay.”

“…oh.” Sigorn-E sounded slightly disturbed. “So, I do have a question, Liv. Why don’t you want to confess your feelings for Josh?”

“Yeah, just tell him.” Wolf said, sitting cross legged like a Liv.

“No! I won’t tell him because what if…” she started to trace the moldings again. “What if it weirds him out or something?”

“Why would he be weirded out?” Wolf asked, scooting closer to Liv. “You’re very beautiful.”

Liv couldn’t help but smile at Wolf. “Thank you Wolf, that was very sweet.”

“Liv, I understand where you’re coming from, you don’t want to ruin the friendship you have with this boy-“

“Exactly!”

“But, keep in mind that you said ‘what if’. You don’t know for sure. He could be the Jack to your Rose! Without the dying!” Sigorn-E said optimistically. Liv couldn’t help but laugh.

“I guess,” she shrugged.

“Never let go, Liv. Keep him close to you. He seems like a great man.” Sigorn-E said.

Liv pulled her knees into her chest. “Yeah, I know.”

Wolf leaned back on his hands and looked at Liv. “That’s why you’ve stayed with the mission, huh? Because you care so much about Josh. Tiger didn’t think you’d make it this far, I think she kinda hoped you’d leave. Not me though, I like you.” Wolf gave her a small smile. “I like you more than Josh.”

Liv laughed. “I know, I can tell. Thanks for believing in me, Wolf.”

“Hey,” he bumped his shoulder into hers. “What are friends for?” Sigorn-E’s light fluttered, like she was happy. “You guys have been the first people- uh- person and house, I’ve ever felt get me, when I’m with you guys it’s like I’m looking out a window into a new world. I’ve always felt trapped like a…um…” Wolf searched his brain for a metaphor.

“Bird in a cage?” Sigorn-E suggested. Wolf shook his head. “Fly in a spider web?”

“Mmm, no not that.” Wolf shook his head.

“Trout in a net?”

Wolf looked at Sigorn-E with soft eyes. “Sigorn-E in a house.”

Liv and Sigorn-E both sighed, Liv nodded at what he’d said. An alert sound sounded over Sigorn-E’s system. She sighed again, this time with annoyance. “Outstanding driver James Cameron will be home in 19 minutes.” Liv and Wolf straighten up, realizing they needed to get their Cameronium soon. “Liv? Wolf? Please tell me how you got in and what you’re doing here? I need to fix this before he gets home.” Sigorn-E sounded panicked. “I can’t endure another reprogramming.”

Liv and Wolf got up off of the door and Wolf walked to Sigorn-E’s beacon. “I’m a soldier from the future and the past… she’s just Liv. We’re here to steal something from the lab. And I was sent to kill you.” Wolf said in a gruff yet kind voice. As soon as he finished talking, Sigorn-E returned the room to its normal lighting.

Back in the elevator, Josh and Tiger sat on the floor. “The Resistance didn’t start the Biotic Wars. We were just a group of people who said no to the cure. The more the government insisted, the more we did too. Hence the name.”

“Yeah, you guys are very literal that way.” Josh said.

“They started hunting us down. They drove us underground. The only way to survive was-“

“To defend ourselves, yes I know.” Josh said. “I’ve heard it a thousand times, it’s the prologue to the game which you narrated.”

“Yeah, well, that was just the prologue.” Tiger’s voice was unnaturally quiet. “We got good enough at surviving, so they decided it would just be easier to…sterilize us instead of going through the trouble of killing us one by one.” Tiger watched as the gears in Josh’s head turned. His face fell as he realized where her story was going. “You’re so hung up on saving one baby, but the Biotics killed all of ours. That’s what started the Biotic Wars…and turned my hair purple. But then, Owl, he- he came up with a plan to rewrite history. And all of the sudden what was left of the Resistance had something to believe in again. You.”

Josh rubbed his lips together. “Right.” He sighed. “And then you lost all your comrades in the tunnel trying to get to me, and I’m a huge disappointment-“

“No,” Tiger said gently. “No, you’re our last hope. We’re still here, still fighting, still surviving because of you. Right now, humanity still has a chance and as long as that hope is still alive, that my generation won’t be the last, there’s no sacrifice I won’t make. That’s what I’m fighting for. That’s the side I’m on.”

Josh felt tears brim in his eyes. He looked down at the ground. “Wow, Tiger, that was…”

“Moving.” Sigorn-E’s voice said overhead as the elevator began moving down. Josh and Tiger scrambled to their feet. The doors open to reveal a giant lab that had Liv and Wolf standing inside. Wolf was leaning against some railing while Liv sat next to him with her feet dangling over the edge of the platform.

“Welcome to The Abyss.” Sigorn-E said.

Wolf pushed away from the railing and folded his arms. “Well, well, well, look who decided to join the party.”

“What did you guys do to Sigorn-E? What’d you- rewire her? Reprogram her?” Tiger asked, walking up the stairs towards them.

“Nope.” Liv said, getting up.

“We listened to her.” Wolf said, sassily putting a hand on his hip.

“I believe what you are looking for is down there.” Sigorn-E said, opening a hatch that led to deep, dark water. They all approached the hatch and cautiously looked at the water.

“Um, okay guys, let’s go get ourselves some Cameronium.” Josh said.

“Wait,” Wolf held an arm out in front of them. “That water’s freezing, and that pressure…whoever goes is going to need to wear a suit.”

“You don’t have time for the suit, it requires a one hour stabilization window and diabolical Canadian James Cameron will be home in 12 minutes.” Sigorn-E said.

“Is that Cameron time or GPS time?” Wolf asked.

“It’s always Cameron time.” Sigorn-E said, voice filled with annoyance. Liv and Wolf shared a chuckle, clearly understanding some sort of joke that Tiger and Josh didn’t get.

“What the fuck is this shit? What is going on here?” Tiger asked, folding her arms. “Focus! We can take this guy, he’s a movie director.”

“No, he’s so much more than that.” Wolf said, shaking his head.

“I’m gonna be honest, I didn’t really know who James Cameron was until tonight, and I’ve gotta say, he scares me a little.” Liv said.

“Supervillain James Cameron is already overriding my systems!” Sigorn-E said, panicking. “I don’t know how much longer I can hold him off!”

“Tiger, there’s nothing this man can’t do. There’s nothing he’s not capable of.” Wolf said seriously. Josh raised an eyebrow and looked at Liv.

“Seriously?”

“Josh, he’s an honorary black belt! Yes seriously!” Liv cried.

“Once he knows you’re after his microorganism he will make it his life’s work to keep you from getting it.” Sigorn-E piped up. “Setting mood light to…FUCKED.” The lights turned dark blue.

Wolf and Liv looked wide eyed up at the lights while Tiger and Josh just stood there.

“All I’ve seen in this fucking house are blue lights, where’s the variation?” Tiger rolled her eyes.

Josh slowly approached the small pool of death. “The Cameronium is down there, so, somebody’s gonna have to free dive down there and get it. Probably one of you guys.” He referred to Tiger and Wolf. Tiger and Wolf avoided eye contact with Josh and slowly nodded, pretending like they were considering it. Josh looked between both of them. “Which, uh, which one’s, like, the strongest swimmer?”

Tiger kept her eyes on the pool. “I- uh- I’d say we’re pretty much the same…” Wolf sheepishly shrugged and nodded, also just staring at the pool.

“Alright, so did you wanna like…eeny-meeny-miney-moe it or…rock, paper, scissors…”

“Um…” Tiger awkwardly cleared her throat. Wolf slowly shuffled away from Liv and Josh.

“Oh my God…you can’t swim.” He paced away, putting his hands on his head.

“There’s lots of stuff you can’t do.” Wolf grumbled defensively.

“The Resistance had limited resources! We could only train certain soldiers for certain things and, well, Porpoise and Otter did the wet ops…” Tiger explained, sounding equally defensive as Wolf.

“Oh my God,” Josh turned to Liv. “It’s gone have to be one of us.”

“Josh, you know I’m afraid of the ocean, you tease me about it all the time.”

“Awww, teasing.” Wolf commented under his breath.

“No.” Liv snapped at him.

The reality of the situation sank in as Josh stared at the well. “Oh my God…I’m gonna have to do it…”

“Free diving in the well is not advised. Risk factors include hypothermia, 67%,” Sigorn-E began listing.

“Oh God,” Josh grew more stressed.

“Drowning, 82%, decompression sickness, 49%,” Josh ran a hand down his face as she kept going. “And heart attack, 38%.”

“You better tell him now, Liv. He might die.” Wolf muttered to Liv.

“Wolf, shut up.”

“No swimming at all?! Not even the doggy paddle?!” Josh imitated the doggy paddle for them.

“I…I don’t even know what that is.” Tiger mumbled.

“Oh my God, I have to do this. I- I really have to do this.” Josh said, taking off the open navy blue button down he was wearing, leaving him in a white t-shirt and approaching the pool.

“Liv-“

“Wolf, please not now.” Liv hissed to Wolf.

“Okay, alright, you got this,” Josh hyped himself up as he sat at the well, putting his feet in. “Oh! Oh God, that water is cold.” Josh gasped.

“34.6 degrees Fahrenheit, to be exact-“

“Hey, Sigorn-E? At this point less information is better!” The panic in Josh’s voice was apparent.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Tiger asked, kneeling by him.

“No.” He looked up to Tiger. “But, yes. I mean…humanity still has a chance, right?” Tiger grinned and nodded. “I’ve chosen my side.” Josh felt a pair of arms wrap around him from behind. Liv had dropped to her knees and had pulled him into a tight hug.

“Please don’t die. I’ll bring you back just to kill you again.”

“Liv, don’t cry for me.” Josh held her arms, leaning his head back against her shoulder, looking at her. Wolf looked up to Sigorn-E’s sensors as if they were sharing a smug grin together.

“I’m not crying!” Liv wiped her tears away. She was. She let go of him.

Josh looked back at her. “Yeah, you are.” He gave her a small smile. “I can do this.” He let out a shaky breath.

Liv nodded. “Go get that Cameronium.”

“I’ll…be back?” He asked, mostly to himself. He took a few rapid breaths before plunging into the deep, dark water. Liv stood back up and traced her lips with her fingers as she nervously rocked on her feet.

“No he won’t.”

“Sigorn-E!” Liv cried, looking up. “Did our conversation earlier mean nothing?! You can’t say that!”

Wolf leaned over the pool to try and see. “He’s not a very fast water mover.”

“He’s gonna make it.” Tiger reassured both Wolf and Liv.

“That smacks of delusion.” Sigorn-E said.

Tiger gritted her teeth. “What do you know? You thought he was 10 years old.”

“He was more believable in that role than as heroic aquanaut.” Sigorn-E said.

“Sigorn-E!” Liv wailed.

“You know what Wolf, can you tell your girlfriend house to shut the fuck up?” Tiger glared at Wolf.

“I dunno,” Wolf looked stressed. “Maybe Sig is right. He should be back by now.” Liv felt a lump form in her throat.

“Wait! Hey, hold on, I think- I think I see something.” Wolf dropped to his knees next to Liv and Tiger and leaned over the well.

“It might be the giant albino crab…” said Sigorn-E.

“No,” Tiger grinned. “He’s doing it!” A fluorescent green vial could be seen glowing through the dark water as Josh swam up to the surface. Liv let out a sigh of relief. That’s when Josh floated to the top like a dead fish. Tiger, Wolf, and Liv all froze, not knowing what just happened.

“That’s not good…” Sigorn-E muttered.

Wolf pulled Josh out with one hand and Tiger pried the Cameronium from his grasp and they laid him on the floor. Liv dropped to her knees next to him and felt for his pulse. Nothing. He was dead.

“What do we do?!” She was screaming, not being able to think straight.

“Breathe!” Wolf smacked him across the face. “Well, we tried everything.” He stood up, ready to give up.

“No! Wolf!” Liv yelled frantically. “Uh, uh, CPR! We need to do CPR!”

“English please!” Tiger snapped.

“Liv is right, CPR is the best option in this situation. Tilt his head back slightly, lifting the chin, pinch his nose shut and place your mouth over his mouth, forming a complete seal.”

“You want us to put our mouth on his…” Wolf gagged. “Mouth?”

“Yes. It’s called mouth to mouth resuscitation.” Sigorn-E said flatly.

“Well, Liv, now’s your chance to go rat hole to rat hole Josh.” Wolf grimaced.

“Me?!” Liv looked between Tiger and Wolf. “Look, I learned CPR in health class when I was 13, I don’t remember-“

“Place your mouth. Over his mouth. Forming a complete seal.” Sigorn-E said loudly. “The instructions are not hard, Liv. Your lover boy is not breathing, millions of brain cells are dying each second!”

“Okay! Okay! I’m sorry, I’m panicking!” Liv was practically hyperventilating. “Uh, uh, Tiger, prop his head up.” Tiger pulled Josh’s head into her lap.

“One of you will need to do chest compressions as well.” Sigorn-E reminded them.

“What?” Tiger asked.

“Pound his chest forcefully.” Sigorn-E said.

“On it!” Wolf knelt next to Liv. Tiger tilted Josh’s head back.

Liv took a deep, shaky breath in, scared of fucking it up. She leaned down and pinched his nose, covering his mouth with hers and blowing air into his lungs. Tiger winced at Liv putting her mouth over Josh’s, looking up to avoid seeing it.

“This is disgusting.” She closed her eyes, feeling sick. Wolf pounded his fists on Josh’s chest, and Liv felt Josh spasm, immediately pulling away and seeing him cough up water that had infiltrated his lungs. Tiger and Wolf gagged and turned away, but Liv heaved a heavy sigh of relief as Josh sputtered and hacked up more water.

Josh looked at Liv with wide eyes. “Did…did I just die?!” He exclaimed in an abnormally high voice.

“It’s okay, you’re okay!” Liv sighed, leaning down and giving him the biggest hug, his wet clothes getting her clothes wet.

“She went rat hole to rat hole with-“ Tiger couldn’t even finish her sentence before spewing vomit. Wolf couldn’t hold it in either, throwing up too. Liv pulled away from Josh, looking disgusted.

“Oh my God, stop being dramatic!” Liv yelled at Tiger and Wolf, helping Josh sit up. Liv looked back to see Josh’s face unusually close to hers.

“Thank you, Liv.” He said softly.

“Of course, I would take a bullet for you Josh. I…you’re my best friend.” She said, dropping her eyes to the floor as he looked at her. The lights in the room fluttered. Sigorn-E was clearly excited by Josh and Liv’s interaction.

“I’ve been programmed to identify moments suitable for character development.” She said, proudly. Liv rolled her eyes out of endearment towards Sigorn-E and chuckled.

“Huh?” Josh wiped water off of his face.

“Nothing.” Liv said.

“Okay, okay,” Tiger inhaled shakily. “We’ve got the Cameronium, Wolf, fire up the TTD and let’s get out of here.” Sigorn-E lowered a hose and vacuumed up the puke on the ground.

“No, not yet, I’ve got to do something first.” Wolf looked longingly up at Sigorn-E.

They ended up in the room that contained Sigorn-E’s mainframe, the room Wolf and Liv were supposed to find earlier. Wolf was hugging her giant mainframe and muttering, “This can’t be the only way. Come with me.”

“I can’t Wolf…I’m a house.” Sigorn-E said sadly.

“So, did Wolf fall in love with Sigorn-E, or…?” Josh whispered to Liv.

“Yeah. They, like, trauma bonded or something.” She whispered back. As Josh and Liv watched Wolf mourn Sigorn-E, Tiger was measuring out the Cameronium into the vial that went with the TTD.

“You know there’s only one way I’ll truly be free.” Sigorn-E said sadly to Wolf. “Start with the energy cell on the right.”

Wolf sobbed as he reached down and began to turn off each energy cell. “Hey, so, I wanted to talk to you about something…uh, I’ll do it later…” Josh whispered, as Wolf was racked with sobs.

“Alright,” Tiger said, getting up and holding the TTD. “When we get back, one of you will just need to find out when and where Kronish was born. We’ll take care of the rest.”

“What do you mean?” Josh asked.

“I mean you’ve done enough for the cause.” Tiger said gently. “You died for it, and you brought him back.” She said to Liv and Josh. “It’s not too late for you to have a normal life again. You guys aren’t baby killers, and that’s nothing to be ashamed of.” As Tiger spoke, Liv turned her head to look at Josh, confused. “Trust me, I’m not judging. If I could do this without killing anybody I would do it in a heartbeat, but I can’t. We’re gonna have to do it without you.” She put a hand on Josh’s shoulder. “Consider your savior duties complete, Future Man” She looked at Liv. “And Liv, you don’t have a name other than Liv, but I’m glad you crashed our party. And so is Wolf.” They looked back at Wolf as he had reached the last cell.

“You have to let go.” Sigorn-E told him.

“I’ll never let go, Sig…” he cried.

“It’s okay, Wolf. I see you” Sigorn-E sounded on the verge of tears. Wolf gasped lightly. He mumbled something in Na’vi. Tiger and Liv furrowed their brows, confused. Josh looked impressed.

“Fuck me. Wolf learned Na’vi?” He asked Liv quietly. Liv just quietly nodded as Wolf turned off the last power cell and the mechanized droning signaled Sigorn-E was gone.

“Oh Sig…” he whispered as he sobbed. Josh, Liv, and Tiger stood watching uncomfortably as Wolf sank to his knees. There was an extremely awkward silence.

“…we good, or…?” Tiger finally broke the silence. Wolf cleared his throat and stood up, turning to them and wiping his tears.

“Sigorn-E didn’t say goodbye to me.” Liv muttered, folding her arms and scuffing her shoe on the ground.

“Yeah. We’re good, what the fuck are you asking me for. I don’t even care about what’s happening right now.” Wolf grumbled. Tiger rolled her eyes. “Let’s go! Come on.” Wolf barked impatiently. “Let’s get out of this shitfuck.” Tiger, Liv, and Josh gathered around Wolf and Tiger handed him the TTD. He fired it up, setting it for 2017. They put their arms around each other, but this time, Josh put his arm around Liv’s waist. She looked at him and he caught her eye. He realized where his hand was and moved it up to her shoulders, glancing away quickly.

“Sig said bye by the way, Liv.” Wolf mumbled.

“Oh, so she did care about me!”

[heinzpilsner]

Remember how I said I see only two explanations behind Zuko's irrational jealousy? Well, it seems like I somehow managed to overlook screaming non-verbal aspect of Mai's behavior!

Ugh, non-verbal stuff, why do you do this to me

So, here's a remake of my previous "Smart and serious"™ analysis of the situation!

(Why am I so stupid at being smart? I wish I could be smart at being stupid instead.)

In short it goes like this: Zuko took Mai's annoyed facial expression after he made his antipathy towards Ruon-Jian clear as an evidence that she likes the other boy.

That's all. No spicy or dramatic deeply hidden messages.

My inner conspiracy theorist is devastated.

(Still... You can't prove something's nonexistence~)

But here goes bonus content to anyone interested!

I couldn't help but indulge myself in a long and boring psychology lecture character study that would explain how Zuko ended up in this situation in the first place - from a slightly different angle than before, that is.

I wanna talk about Zuko's personality settings in more detail - in particular, about his dependent self-worth.

Contrast between people with different types of such settings was greatly demonstrated by Zuko's and Iroh's juxtaposition in first two seasons, actually.

Iroh doesn't care whether other people respect him or not - because his self-worth is unconditionally high. He values himself no matter circumstances and opinions, so his ego doesn't need protection from negative external evaluations.

His self-esteem though is (mostly) adequate - which means it isn't fixed in a perpetually high position. It allows him to see situation clearly, accept his bad circumstances humbly and work with them efficiently. If he's currently forced to become a beggar - well, he's going to beg alright, it's not a big deal.

Zuko's self-worth, on the other hand, is heavily affected by other people's evaluations. It makes his ego extremely vulnerable, and he has to protect it - sometimes with the help of inadequately high self-esteem.

So, when he believes someone thinks poorly of him, he has to belittle them ("peasants") and/or attack them. When it's impossible because of the person's autority though (like in case of his father), he's forced to agree with their low judgment - which is extremely stressful and painful and triggers another type of psychological defenses anyway.

(I guess this is what Iroh really wanted to say with his "pride is a source of shame" speach. Well, he's a vise man, but he's not exactly a psychologist, you know.)

So, in "The Beach", Zuko couldn't just calmly accept the fact that two random dudes didn't want to see him on their party - he immediately took offense.

Even though the reasons behind the boys' reluctance to invite Zuko in particular could be numerous, actually. From most practical ("We don't want you to burn the house down") and flattering ("We don't want any other hot guys at our party") to the most subjective ("Your haircut is awful, my eyes are bleeding"!)

I couldn't help it, could I?

But Zuko's ego was battered enough by his life, apparently, so this possibility didn't even occure to him.

So, as a result, Zuko had to look down on Ruon-Jian's (Chan's as well) personality and intelligence. Basically, that's what his "He thinks he's so great" was about.

(It doesn't necessarily mean the boys are not idiots though - but Zuko simply didn't have enough data to come to such a conclusion.)

But even after using this method of protection, Zuko couldn't fully stiffle his insecurities and self-doubt - because he had reasons (both right and wrong) to doubt himself.

(Especially since it was occuring on the background of the more general inner conflict: Zuko's father deems him worthy now, but the other autority of his life doesn't even want to speak with him. So Zuko's self-worth constantly jumps from heights to lows and he feels extremely confused and destabilized.)

And in such a situation, Zuko needed to get assurance from a person who was supposed to value him high.

Basically, his "What do you think about [Ruon-Jian]?" question towards Mai can be translated as: "Please, tell me what I'm right and he's an idiot, because otherwise I can't be sure in my own worth."

But Mai was not interested in encouraging Zuko's hostility towards other guys.

She reacted at Zuko's question with annoyance and answered honestly: she doesn't think anything about Ruon-Jian.

But Zuko didn't realize that his hostility looked inadequate to people who didn't see the situation from his ego's cocoon.

So he readed Mai's annoyance as her defense of Ruon-Jian.

And why would Mai defend someone unless she liked him?

The mystery is solved! What a great detective you are, Zuko!

Not as great as me though with all my ridiculous conspiracy theories induced by lack of attention

Something like this, I guess.

Thanks for your attention?

I ignore all notifications.

(Hmm, I think before working on next 'overanalysing Maiko' parts I'll have to analyze Mai's demeanor in book 2 more thoroughly. So it will take some time. ... Goddamit, I don't even like her! How on earth I ended up in this situation?

Oh yeah, I just wanted to make a "little psychological exercise". Lol.)

[althaiareads]

“So can you blame her for not wanting you around for this? For not wanting the added stress of wondering if you’re actually going to show up for her when you say you will? For not wanting to wonder if she even matters to you? If you’re even going to be any help to her when she needs it?”

Once again Karen is the MVP. Nobody, and I mean NOBODY would ever have their shit together was it not for Karen and Foggy. Love that for them, so much work that goes underappreciated, but not by me, I lobe them,I see them.

“Hopefully you get your father’s intelligence,” you continued on. “He’s a smart man, even if he’s stubborn and makes absolutely terrible decisions sometimes.”

Why does it make me so emotional that she still speaks so kindly about Matt and trying to keep him somehow involved with the babu even when she is heartbroken and hurt by him? I am sobbing. They just love each other so much and I-

MATT GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER I AM BEGGING YOU

It may not have been a grand gesture, but it was a gesture that clearly meant something. But what exactly still remained to be seen.

HE GOT HER A NARWHAL PLUSHIE??? That's going to be baby's first toy omggg. I am so emotional overr this, nobody touch me.

Seeking Forgiveness [Part Six]

Pairing: Matt Murdock x Fem!Reader Word Count: 3.5k

[Full summary and installment list for this series can be found here.]

Warnings/tags: 18+ contains angst, emotional hurt, delayed comfort, pregnant Reader

a/n: Another angsty and sad installment, but hey there's finally an update for this fic! There's also some POV switches in this one but it should be obvious. Feedback is always appreciated!

Matt hadn’t meant to show up at the office in such a foul mood that Friday morning. That wasn’t his intention. He’d gone through a multitude of emotions last night, barely getting any sleep after he’d stopped by your apartment and found out that you were pregnant. Eventually he’d finally decided that he would seek your forgiveness for how awful he’d treated you, wanting to prove just how serious he was about being there for the both of you. And he was not going to give up until he’d somehow managed it. Until he proved himself to you. With a focused calm after that silent vow, he’d put back his apartment after the destructive mess he’d made of it in his self-loathing fury.

But yet somehow as he stepped into the office and heard both Karen and Foggy working at their desks, he couldn’t stop that bit of bitter anger that suddenly burned white hot in his stomach. Because they both had to have known that you were pregnant this whole time. He knew Karen had been spending time with you, and he figured Foggy’s rage at him back on Monday morning had to have been due to him finding out the truth, too. And yet neither of them had said a thing.

Feeling irrationally angry, Matt slammed the door harshly behind himself before roughly storming his way to his office. He heard the way both Foggy and Karen had glanced up from their desks at his loud entrance, probably exchanging a look with each other about his bad mood. 

Dropping his briefcase onto his desk in his frustration, Matt folded up his cane before he also slammed that onto his desk. Closing his eyes, he blew out a rough breath, his hands aggravatedly readjusting his tie.

This wasn't on Foggy or Karen, he reminded himself. This was between the two of you. What had happened was due to his actions. You were allowed to be friends with them still, allowed to have confided in them. Even if it hurt him to be the last to know.

But as much as Matt tried hard to calm himself down and not lash out, ultimately his anger won out.

Swiftly turning on his heel, Matt stormed back out of his office, his teeth grinding together. Hands rising to roughly grip his hips, he couldn’t fight the near growl in his voice when he spoke.

“Both of you knew, didn’t you?” he called out into the office. “That she was pregnant? With my child?”

He heard Foggy sigh, gradually sliding his chair back and making his way around his desk before exiting his office. Karen hesitated for a moment, running her fingers through her hair before she slowly rose from her desk, too. Both of them entered the main room of the office a moment later, focusing on Matt.

“So you finally spoke with her?” Foggy asked.

“Yeah,” Matt snapped. “I did. Turns out she’s pregnant. But you both knew that, didn’t you? Before I even did?”

“Yes,” Karen replied. “Wasn’t exactly my place to tell you that, though.”

“She was planning to tell you herself, Matt,” Foggy added. “That was her place to do so, not ours. I know you know that.”

Matt’s lips thinned out in irritation. Of course he knew they had a point, he wasn’t that much of an asshole, but that didn’t stop him from being angry that he’d been walking around this office entirely oblivious while both of them knew what was really going on. While both of them knew he was going to be a father.

“I…take it the talk didn’t go so well?” Foggy asked carefully.

Matt’s eyes narrowed back at him behind his lenses. “No, Fog, it didn’t,” he answered. “She told me to leave. Told me she was raising our child by herself, even after I practically begged her to let me be a part of things with her.”

“I mean,” Karen began cautiously, “can you blame her?”

Matt’s head darted in the direction of Karen’s voice. He heard the way she crossed her arms over her chest and leant up against the doorframe of her office. His eyes narrowed even further at her words.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” he asked sharply.

“It means that you’ve been throwing yourself out there as Daredevil for so long now, Matt,” Karen explained. “You don’t even think about the consequences of it anymore. You were supposed to be in a committed relationship with her. And things had been going well between you both, but in the entirety of your relationship, nothing crazy had been happening in Hell’s Kitchen until just recently. And then you prioritized that over her,” Karen continued. “So can you blame her for not wanting you around for this? For not wanting the added stress of wondering if you’re actually going to show up for her when you say you will? For not wanting to wonder if she even matters to you? If you’re even going to be any help to her when she needs it?”

“Well, I–”

“Because you have absolutely no idea what she’s been going through for the past few weeks,” Karen barreled over Matt. “The fear and the loneliness she’s been feeling. Struggling with uncomfortable pregnancy symptoms while trying to take care of herself all on her own. She’s been in this alone for weeks now, Matt. Because you couldn’t have just put her first for a single damn minute and listen to her the other week when she begged you .” 

Matt stood there dumbfounded when Karen finally finished, his mouth falling open as his hands dropped from his hips, coming to hang loosely at his sides. In all his anger at himself since finding out that you were pregnant last night, he admittedly hadn’t thought too much about what you’d been going through alone. Sure, he figured you were scared, he’d certainly thought about that last night–cried over it repeatedly–but he hadn’t thought about what you must be feeling from pregnancy on top of all of that. The memory of you having been sick last night surfaced in his mind and guilt burned through him, dissipating the anger within him immediately.

“She thinks you wouldn’t want to be a father,” Foggy added softly. “That you’d care more about the city and Daredevil than raising a child.”

Matt shook his head firmly, a pain hitting him hard in the chest at Foggy’s words. You’d said that to him last night, too, but it still hurt to hear.

“That’s not true,” he breathed out, still shaking his head. “Nothing could ever be more important to me than my own family. Nothing . Especially because I never–” the words caught in his throat, his eyes closing sharply, “–I never really had one. And I wouldn’t–wouldn’t do the same to my own child. Wouldn’t have them growing up feeling like I ever abandoned them. Because I wouldn’t ,” he nearly snarled out. “I would never . And I will do everything in my power to get her to understand that.”

"I believe you," Foggy said.

The words caught Matt off guard, his head tilting to the side as he heard the truth in Foggy’s heartbeat. 

"I know you, man," Foggy continued. "I know how difficult it was for you not having your family once your dad passed. We talked about it often at Columbia. So I believe you."

Matt felt his throat closing up with emotion at his friend’s words. Tears were brimming in his eyes behind his glasses and he blinked them back, not wanting to cry in front of Foggy and Karen.

"For what it's worth, I do, too," Karen added gently. "And we have both told her that. But honestly? You do have some changes to make, Matt. You need to learn balance if you're ever going to make things work. Because it's not Foggy and I that you need to convince."

"You're right," Matt readily agreed, fighting to keep his voice steady. "You're right, I do. And I will prove to her that she can depend on me. That I want to be in this with her."

"Good," Foggy firmly replied. "Cause I think you've got some work to do, buddy."

Matt kneeled down on the roof of your building, hunching over and turning an ear towards your apartment below so he could listen in better. He'd passed by here earlier when he'd first gone out tonight as Daredevil, which was something he had been avoiding ever since the breakup. He hadn't wanted to catch so much as a single beat of your heart, afraid the sound alone would shatter him to pieces, only reminding himself how much he missed you. But after the past couple of nights, stopping by your apartment was all he ever seemed compelled to do. 

Earlier when he stopped by you'd been curled up on your couch, quietly watching some of those shows he knew you liked. He'd noticed you were tired, close to drifting out of consciousness as you lay there focused on the television. He could hear the exhaustion in your body and the countless times you'd yawned. He'd been itching to hop down onto your fire escape and slip through the window as he listened, desperate to peel off his suit and hold you on the couch like he used to. To let you drift to sleep in his arms while he buried his nose into your hair, breathing in the scent of you.

He'd focused on the baby, too. He'd listened to that fluttering heartbeat for quite a long while, having to eventually tear himself away from it only when he overheard someone screaming for help in the city. He hadn't wanted to go, deluding himself into feeling like he was there with you both if he focused hard enough. But ultimately you both were safe inside that apartment and somewhere in the city someone else needed his help.

But he'd come back one last time before he planned to head home for the night and try to sleep because he'd heard you up and about in your apartment. He knew it was early in the morning and he'd been curious, wondering if you were alright. Because you should have been asleep at this point. 

So he had settled on the roof, and now he heard you rummaging around your kitchen. A loud rumble of hunger from your stomach met his ears and he understood immediately why you were awake–you were hungry. Making something to eat in the middle of the night. 

His shoulders sagged as he placed a gloved hand to the floor of the roof as if that would somehow bring him closer to you. He'd have made you anything you asked. Would have ordered you whatever you wanted, any time of the night. 

He'd have done anything for you. 

Too little, too late , the bitter words of the Devil reminded him. 

"Yeah, I know, I'm going as fast as I can," he heard you say. "Don't forget you're the one who woke me from a dead sleep at two in the morning wanting a grilled cheese. So you'll just need to be patient cause I am not awake, and that weird hunger-nausea is not helping.”

A smile slowly pulled Matt’s lips upwards under the mask as he listened in. You were talking to the baby, your tone a mix of tired, affectionate, and frustrated. He wondered how often you did that. This was the first time he’d stopped by and overheard you.

"Would be a lot easier if you craved things like an apple," you continued, heating the pan. "You know how much work it takes to prep an apple? None, my little devil."

Matt's hand curled into a fist at those three words you'd spoken so lovingly from your lips. My little devil . You used to call him that when he'd make his way back to you at night, running your fingers so delicately across cheek, just beneath his mask, as you inspected him for injuries. 

Now you were calling the baby that? It was almost too much for Matt to bear. Sitting on the roof, bent in half over his knees, he became very aware of how much he wasn't quite a part of any of this with you. How separate he felt from you and his own child growing within you. Because of his own mistakes, his inability to prioritize the different parts of his lives. Because he should have just listened to you when you’d asked him to stay.

The burn of tears unexpectedly hit him fast and hard, his heart thumping heavily in his chest. What he wouldn’t give to slip through your window right now and pull you into a kiss, to wrap you in his arms and just hold you. He’d love nothing more than to settle you on the couch and make you the best damn grilled cheese you’d ever had. Afterwards, he'd happily clean up the kitchen and take you back to your bed, curling himself around you and falling asleep. You'd always fit so perfectly in his arms.

But you’d probably have yelled at him if he tried to step foot into your apartment again to help. He honestly didn’t think he could handle hearing you tell him yet again that he wasn’t wanted. That he had nothing to offer. That there was nothing here for him. Because that part wasn’t remotely true–you and that unborn child meant more to him than you clearly knew. 

“I don’t understand how this smells like the best thing in the world right now,” you said to your belly, Matt’s ears picking up on the way you were rubbing a hand across it. “Yet coffee makes me want to throw up. I have never been a grilled cheese person. Your dad can attest to that.”

It wasn’t until he heard a few droplets land on the roof beside his fist that he realized he’d been crying. His tears had somehow managed to slide out beneath his mask as he’d been listening in to you making your late night snack. His throat had felt like it was closing up the second you’d mentioned him. And the emotions that stirred awake inside of him when you’d referred to him as dad were strong and foreign to him. 

“I’m so sorry, sweetheart,” he croaked out between his tears. “I shouldn’t have yelled at you like that. Talked to you like that. And I–I certainly shouldn’t have left you when you’d needed me.” He slammed his fist against the roof, grimacing at the force as his knuckles stung beneath his gloves. “I should’ve been better. You deserved better. But I’ll fix it. I swear to you, I will fix it.”

“Wonder who you’ll take after more,” you mused softly, entirely oblivious to Matt sitting on the roof of your apartment building listening in. “Me or your dad.”

Raising a gloved hand to his mouth, a muffled sob slipped out of Matt and into it. As much as hearing this was further twisting his heart in his chest, he couldn’t tear himself away. He couldn’t stop listening, wishing he could be part of the conversation with you.

“Hopefully you get your father’s intelligence,” you continued on. “He’s a smart man, even if he’s stubborn and makes absolutely terrible decisions sometimes.”

A humorless laugh fell out of Matt next, still muffled against the palm of his glove. More wet tears trailed down his cheeks, the brisk night air biting unforgivingly against his damp skin. You weren’t wrong on that.

“I wonder what your favorite animal will be, too,” you said, turning off the stovetop. “Dogs? Cats? Koala bears?”

He heard you hum in thought as you plated your grilled cheese, walking your way over to the small table in your kitchen. The same table he’d sat at with you for many dinners, flirting with you over a meal he’d helped you cook or one you’d both ordered out. The same table you both eventually crawled out of bed in the mornings together to have coffee at, with Matt often pulling you down to cuddle in his lap while he slowly woke up.

“Or will you like narwhals maybe?” you murmured, breaking through the memories playing through his mind. "What do you think, my little devil?"

Matt forced himself to stop listening in to that one-sided conversation when he heard you take a bite of your food, shaking his head roughly as he rose to his feet. His heart ached far too much, the tears continuing to drip down his chin and land on the cement roof with an echoing plop each time. He wiped the sleeve of his suit across his face below the mask, trying to dry the tears even though they still kept coming.

He didn’t think he could sit up on your rooftop any longer. It wasn’t the same as actually being there with you. Touching you. Smelling you. Holding you. He needed to find a way to do more than this. To be welcomed back into your life, even just a little bit, so that he could prove himself. He couldn’t just sit here pathetically crying on your apartment building’s rooftop while he eavesdropped.

With a frustrated growl, Matt threw himself over to the next rooftop, heading back out into the night.

Groaning, you woke up to that familiar, unpleasant dizziness as your alarm rang out on the nightstand beside you. Pulling a hand up from out of the sheets, you turned off your alarm before running your hand across your forehead, keeping your eyes closed and waiting for the sensation to pass. It was a few minutes before it finally did, and you slowly began to toss the sheets off of yourself. 

Throwing your legs over the side of the bed, you reached over and grabbed the half-full tumbler of water from your nightstand. You had been keeping one there every night lately, noticing that the cool water sometimes helped ease the nausea that woke you from a dead sleep. 

Bringing the tumbler up to your parched lips, you slowly drank a few sips down. Your stomach immediately grumbled, churning once the water reached it. Groaning again, you stopped drinking, not wanting to push your luck and end up hunched over your toilet again. Apparently you still had a few more weeks before the morning sickness generally wore off for most women in pregnancy, and you’d be lying if you said you weren’t counting down the days. You’d celebrate with a cup of coffee–assuming the scent of it didn’t still deter you.

Rising up onto your feet, you groggily trudged your way out of the bedroom and across the hall to your bathroom. You flipped on the light, setting your tumbler down on the bathroom counter so you could relieve your very full bladder. You’d woken up a handful of times to pee in the middle of the night, but yet somehow there always seemed to be more to empty.

When you’d finished in the bathroom, you shuffled your way down the hallway, throwing a hand over your mouth as you yawned. If only you could have crawled back into bed and taken the day off of work. It was the last thing you felt like doing today. But as you made your way past your couch in the living room, something had caught your eye and you paused.

Doubling back you stopped at the armrest of the couch, staring down at what was positioned in the middle of it. A blue plush narwhal with a gold horn sat smiling back at you. One that hadn’t been there earlier.

For a moment all you could do was stand there and stare at it, confusion washing over you. Until you remembered how you’d gotten hungry in the middle of the night last night and made yourself a grilled cheese. And you’d been talking to your baby bump aloud, musing what they may or may not be like in the future.

You gasped when realization dawned on you, your hand flying back up to your mouth. Matt must have been nearby, eavesdropping on the conversation you were having. He must’ve heard you mention narwhals last night, and then apparently decided to run out and buy one–and the thought of him doing that dressed as Daredevil was admittedly amusing–before slipping into your apartment and leaving it here for you to find. For the baby.

As you trudged your way over to the couch, setting your tumbler down onto the coffee table and collapsing into the couch cushions, you didn’t know what to make of that. Picking up the stuffed narwhal, you hugged it to your chest, your eyes closing. Half of you wanted to be pissed that he’d been listening in without your knowledge, wondering if he’d been doing that often, but the other half of you was touched. It may not have been a grand gesture, but it was a gesture that clearly meant something. But what exactly still remained to be seen.

Tag List: @mattmurdocksstarlight @just-going-through-the-motions @paracosmic-murdock @yeonalie @auroraslibrary @1988-fiend @will-delete-this-later-probably @two-unbeatable-beaters @danzer8705 @ragamuffin285 @callmebrooklynbabes @spookyboogyuniverse @peachy-aisha @stevenknightmarc @nerdytreeflower @fucktthisworld @remuslupinwifee @kmc1989 @thychuvaluswife @mywellspringoflife @thornbushrose @yarrystyleeza @shiorimakibawrites @marvelcinematiquniverse @vallovesthedilfs @scoliobean @this--is--music @mattmurdocks6thscaleapartment @ashlynhasmanyhyperfixations @swissy23 @lilthbunny @that-girl-named-alex @warsaur @lareinaisabelle @pazii @senjoritanana @mischiefmanaged71 @xxdrixx @jess-rye @hannahbohen @theclassicvinyldragon

The tags aren't working for some and I'm not entirely sure why (could be a settings issue or just tumblr being annoying, I'm sorry!)

[sincelastsession]

I have had more creepy men hit on me recently. Is it cuffing season or do I have a flashing sign over me saying "OMG WEIRDOS SHE IS HERE"

....

I never posted this yesterday like I thought.

I'm really nervous and anxious about a lot.

Justin and I spoke and I was clear with him. I felt guilty for everything. He's unable to see the things he did that were wrong. He is clearly upset with me and thinks I led him on. I apologized though I shouldn't have to because that was never an intention to hurt him. There was a frank discussion and it was awkward. My partner was right.

My mom visited and helped me with a few things. I have to see my psychiatrist soon. I'm very worried he may want me to go inpatient. I'm not a harm to myself or others. I'm just very hypervigiliant and have been dysregulated too much from many many triggers in a short time. I agree with her.

She did see my book and she did flip through it and take a picture of the cover. She was not happy that I feel she has contributed to my mental health issues and was on the defensive. Hurt dogs gonna holler though. She did allow me to read some of it to her and explain that I saw she was very traumatized too and that is probably why she responds how she does and that I did see her trying. I think hurt people hurt people. I think she has work to do like me. I still am hurt that I'm the one busting my ass trying to fix all the things within my circle of control but I understand that some people aren't capable of growth. It hurts to be aware of that and it's hard to emotionally accept.

Logically I can see most of my issues and that of others. Emotionally it takes me a long time to catch up to the logic. I know I can't just logic myself better or it would be done by now. That's exactly why therapists see other therapists aside from consulting and such. I couldn't treat myself by myself even at the highest level of education. That's just not how brains are setup.

My mom being a charge nurse, doesn't think I belong near any facility because she doesn't think it's helpful and that there should be affordable facilities or medicaid covered ptsd places as it is traumatic for those who have cptsd or regular ptsd.

My partner is being more vulnerable with me and admitted to having auditory hallucination type problems when things were quiet so he doesn't like total silence and listens to certain types of music to soothe. He didn't tell me of a diagnosis. He said there were several factors that caused it. I'm not bothered by this in the least. I'm glad he opened up to me. I understand a lot more now.

Growing up with a schizophrenic uncle taught me early on that it's not a pleasant thing for people who experience hallucinations to deal with. People with neurological disorders aren't bad people. There's a huge stigma around it. My Uncle suffers terribly from his but he has never be an asshole and he used to come out of his room to spend time talking to me before he'd tell me he was going back to his room. My Aunts have forbade me from speaking to him because he's not well. I think it's bullshit and he could use someone who isn't going to treat him like he's broken and isolate him. My heart hurts for him. He's honestly my favorite uncle. I think we have always understood one another. I always felt like he was an older sibling more than an Uncle.

I hope my partner understands that I'm never judging him on his issues. I hope he understands that I'm safe to continue opening up to. If he's not ready to explain his diagnosis but has a handle on his issues to the point they aren't hurting me then that's ok.

I have many things I'm not ready to tell him. I think it's a bit wild how we are alike in many ways.

Dr. Todd always told me that someone similar, with high intelligence, and problems of thier own that they work on would be good for me. I wish he was alive so I could ask him more questions about why. He was a smart man. He knew things about the world that most people think of as conspiracy. He worked on secret things that just make me sound nuts if I were to explain. I think it's why he told me not long before he got suddenly sick and passed. He knew no one would believe me. That's ok though. They don't have to. The govt already released some of the information anyway. The rest will probably come in due time. I know it sounds batshit but there's far more things in this world than what we know or are able to grasp and many things considered fringe science are actually real things. It would cause mass panic if everyone knew. I missed bringing him coffee today to his grave. I really need to do that soon. It's ok if no one understands.

The people that loved me and understood me most are all dead. It feels like it's my fault. My friend Cole used to joke about how I was a harbinger of bad luck. He died not long after in a very sad way.

Matt got me to eat yesterday. He told me "We all have our own ways of fighting ourselves, but now you’re fighting back" when I told him I was embarrassed that I was having trouble even picking out food. I allowed him to pick for me and felt relief. I am fat but I definitely needed to eat. My eating disorder doesn't get to win.

My mom told me today that my neighbor is way bigger than me. I don't body shame ppl. It did give me perspective though because I can't see myself correctly. If I do it's rare and I feel very distressed because it brings me back to medical and other physical traumas. I would rather be unaware that my body exists and only clothe it with things that don't look terrible. I generally need help shopping for clothing. It's very triggering to see my body during trying things on. Only certain people are good at being honest with me. However I haven't really developed a wardrobe. I still have beat up shirts from when I was a teen. I'm actually really sad one of them is beyond wearable outside of the privacy of my home because of the ridiculous amount of holes. I really need to build a style and wardrobe. I want to look good but I don't really know what suits me. I feel jealous of the women that have an "aesthetic" and look gorgeous, get their nails done, and wear cute makeup looks. I want to fit in. I feel like I'm a shape that nothing looks good on. I saw a plastic surgeon and was told I needed to be like 150 for her to touch me. I didn't want much done. I don't want to be thin with saggy extra skin. I feel 180 would be a healthy weight for me and I wouldn't look bad. I keep wanting to be in the gym but I don't know which one is going to be what I need. There's so much physical work I need to do on myself.

Matt knows I struggle with all this. He doesn't push me to show him my body or do things that make me uncomfortable.

I am really tired. I truly feel burnt out right now. I feel like I won't get to move or get a break. I'm in survival mode and I can't remember the last long period I was not. Matt helps but I'm trying not to rely on him for everything. I've been like that my whole life. Trying to not rely on people. I have to though sometimes. I know why I'm like this. I know what things did this. But knowing is great and all however undoing it and balancing myself to be healthy is terrifying. Normal people scare the fuck out of me more than literal serial killers and people who stay in psych facilities. Sometimes I think ppl are overdiagnosed and underloved and completely misunderstood. I wish I could help rehabilitate people in a way that doesn't involve it being scary. I have to rehabilitate and parent myself first though. I was a parentified child and now I don't know what to do because society expects me to be an adult and I want to decompress and do everything I missed out on.

I need to go decompress and have some time with my earplugs in because my neighbors are being very loud and it's "ratchet" as my neighbor Ms. Darlene would say. I don't want it kicking up more stress but it is. It's 11:41 at night and they are loud as hell.

I was told by my psych that if the noise was causing problems and the earplugs weren't helping and I felt unsafe then I needed to move to a quieter safer feeling place. I can't get better if I'm unable to get put of freeze state. I'm exhausted from it. Hearing a man hollering and whoever else outside from inside my apartment is overwhelming. I should not be reenacting my childhood hiding in my bed breathing shallow quiet as a mouse.

I wish I could have imaging done to see what's damaged in my brain from lifelong trauma. I want to understand what that looks like and just know about it. See it. Feel like I'm not crazy because I have that as proof.

I watched the movie split and the movie glass yesterday. They don't portray the DID patient as how it really is the story and acting were phenomenal. I've met DID patients and OSDD patients and I understand it. It's incredibly sad but they're protecting themselves. I find it interesting that one trauma or a couple can split some people into many parts and unless I do have a dissociative disorder I really don't understand how I turned out this way. I don't even know how I got lucky and didn't end up full on DID or a sociopath etc...

Ok I think that's enough for tonight.

I'm going to go fuck around on Sims4 and have distraction time from the LOUD ASS PEOPLE

BTW the pool is GREEEEEN like I had a breakdown one night and asked whatever deity might listen to make the noise stop. Woke up to THIS. I feel like it was a blessing of sorts. I can't explain it. But LOOK! (The color is actually pretty though) I hope they take FOREVER to clean it. I liked swimming but it's too hot and the pool was always full of rude people that wouldn't give me space. I think a gym with pool lanes will be good for me.

[alyjojo]

Past Life ☯️ Karmic Spread February 2023 - Gemini

Gender I’m Picking Up On (in the past life): Male

Who You Were: 5 Pentacles, 3 Cups, The High Priestess, 9 Wands

What You Did: King of Swords, 9 Swords, 9 Cups, The Magician, Ace of Cups rev

How It Ended: 3 Wands, Death, The Devil, Judgement

What Karma Was Brought With You: Queen of Cups, 4 Cups, The Lovers rev

Who You Brought With You: King of Cups, 4 Wands, 6 Swords, 4 Pentacles rev

Additional energy: 3 Pentacles, Page of Pentacles rev, 10 Pentacles, Strength

Past Life Oracle: Galactic & Greco/Roman

Dreaming Way: Stork, Ring, Sun

Charm:

Fractal Moon 🌙 on The Devil

Crab 🦀 on Queen of Cups

Youth Butterfly 🦋 on 3 Pentacles

Grapes 🍇 on Stork

Broken Heart 💔 on Ring

I am having a slight internal giggle fit over this one, not at you, or the difficulties and sadness you endured. I can just see myself clearly in this reading, as can the rest of us astrology, philosophy & religious fanatics. It’s a very fine line between philosophical and radical, genius and madness, and much of that is often determined by public opinion, at least when you’re trying to gain public approval, or spread the word, which seems like what you tried to do. You were an ancient astrologer, I get Greek specifically, which is amazing btw 🫡 I don’t get “astronomer” by trade, more along the lines of mathematician, facts and figures were your trade initially. Astronomy was involved in some way, and with research…all three titles were combined when describing an astrologer at the time, it was “the” thing then, but your method of working was numbers, and the stars were just the part of that you worked on. A very logical & facts driven person, in a philosophical way.

I don’t get you being very popular or well known, I tried to research a bit, because this was the most popular thing back then, fairly common, but details of these people, their lives and actual characters or personalities are lacking from what little I could find. More like…this person wrote a book, or a pamphlet, and there’s no more than that, just the facts. There’s a rabbit hole for you if you get more curious, maybe one will call out to you 🐇 You were an extremely intelligent man that ended up becoming so fanatically involved in negative astrology, beliefs, and doomsday type of predictions, that you kind of lost yourself. You lost friends & supporters too. The public did not favor your “secrets of the universe”, and you may have even faced some level of public shame, based on something I guess was either too far fetched for even them or a doomsday type of thing that didn’t come true. When you died, you were still waiting for literal stars to align into some exact ultimate & universal Judgement. Probably had some religious implications as well, though I’m not sure of what who how when exactly, etc. Fractal Moon shows the many different layers to your astrology/practicality/beliefs, and The Devil is showing you were so obsessed and caught up on things like mathematical details & calculations, alignments, doomsday, that the whole of the picture was lost to you. Your exacting and precise method of calculating xyz kept you stuck. It’s like you were too smart. Hand a genius philosophy and they’ll lose their mind trying to fact and figure what can’t be fact or figured. You believed it could 💯

You lived in a frame of mind where negative destinies or exactly timed events signaled doom. You eventually avoided doing everything, anything, ever, except obsessing over topics like death, the second coming of Christ (if that even applies here idk, but same vibe), a great plague, a flood, etc. It kept you from things you could and should have done, dreams of yours even, and finding love. You were a recluse and spent most of your time thinking during the night, obsessively trying to understand the world and exactly pinpoint its’ destruction. These events terrified and excited you, you probably had some heavy Sco/8th House energy, because the questions that plagued you were not “When will I find love?”, more like “When will the Earth be sucked into The Sun?” Which I also find fascinating, so lemme just subscribe to this guy’s fan club 😆

In the past, friends and the public and general turned away from you, you didn’t have many supporters. They saw you as the half naked guy screaming about the end of the world, which…yeah, but a brilliant one, possibly with some level of mathematical or scientific achievements too, and probably pants, you were not at all “dumb”. Fanatical…to everyone else, yes, not initially but eventually. In this life, it’s your family that’s not very supportive of you, you don’t have many deep connections in that sphere and you can’t really relate to each other more than superficially or politely. You’re the black sheep. You’ve brought someone with you, probably a Cancer being Queen of Cups with The Crab 🦀 even. Either they leave you or you leave them, there’s no genuine “choosing” each other, it’s just blah, apathy, you’re together and then you’re not. It could be a case of unrequited love, or one person loving the other one more. This is most likely a spouse or lover with Broken Heart on Ring. They may have broken your heart. You may have children with them or they have them, children are involved. This was all karmic and meant to happen.

You’ve also brought a King of Cups, could be a Scorpio or water sign, likely a family member with 4 Wands, could be someone you’ve lived with. They had to leave, move away, travel in some way, and you had no choice but to release them. That connection was deeper than the average person, possibly one of the few family members you did deeply bond with, and it feels more like you followed them here than them following you, someone older. This may also be the person your ex married, or their soulmate, maybe who they hurt you with, and there’s a karmic tie between you all. After separating from the Queen, you may not have been or be much involved with your child/ren, if they’re yours. I don’t get how many, definitely one and if there are more apply them too, it’s children that are specified.

Perhaps it’s when they grow up, with this particular Butterfly 🦋 showing more of a “growing up” and youthful sort of transformation, but they’ll be very successful, maybe not initially but eventually, and they’ll want to be around you. I don’t get ties are completely severed, maybe just difficult to maintain because of the ex, I don’t know. When they’re grown, they’ll make you very happy, and you’ll bond with them more than anyone you’ve ever known whether family, friend, or lover, it’s a kind of love that transcends everything else. Like the family you never really had or bonded with, it’s them. They are the ones that will change your life, and every way is for the better, it just takes some time to get there.

[wrevkthisblog]

i am not stupid so why do i attract stupid people…people that are confused, simple, and slow, sometimes even intentionally. I do my best at ruling my throne so i am at a lost of words for why i am always constantly introduce to incompetence. i clearly give the energy needed to obtain ones fire; so why rip me so? why strip me of my intelligence & infused thoughts of something pure….something genuine w. unconditional love.

why do they crave what they planted infront of their face just to tease themselves of a love they can’t taste. some are truly blind, howled and their lost for romance is unfound and it leaves them foul, dirty, unable to scurry because away is something they won’t trial. Like a forest i comfort w. love that grows patience & not rage since understanding a life where the Devil wished he may & wish he might’ve. Discovering entities inlove w. my epiphanies was enough to know since young that i am that guy. I am that vibe. I am that energy your soul craves from inside. Throwing rocks at me and turning your face to hide has left you in so much shit that even God can’t make right. I just hope they know they stupid, their dumb and i’m high. I hate that dumb shit, I hate that the dumbfucks experienced my drive.

because i never do anything to people, i’m always doing something for people even when everything in my body was telling me it wasn’t right, intuition telling me, you a liar, and my energy stalking the idea of what the potential you could be like. The smart you? The know how to talk to me, you? The take accountability and ownership, you? The stopped being so weird fake, you? Of course, who am i kidding, you don’t even know you. You over thinking and trying to comprehend you.

i gotta find the ones who know them. Who’s not afraid to be real. Because those are the ones who deserve my energy who deserve my feels. Everything else is so gone now…I wasted too much time on pretenders; you’ll think they’ll really love me when truly they don’t…the worst feeling is thinking you locked in w. a mf just for them to prove you wrong. There’s bigger fish to fry apparently and these mfs know they can’t come near me anymore. All my healing, helps me to recognize negative energy from any frequency. I am apart of the lamb and it is the goats that are the imposters. God single-handily chose me, as a child, when i was asleep during a nap, it’s always been on me just as well as in me, there’s never been a reason for me to prove or compete for anything but Gods love.

that’s everyone’s problem, they are always depending on this virtual world to make them who they are when God has already created you. God already knows who you are. The only thing you have to do is, listen. But no one wants to listen, everyone wants to talk. How come in their story im wrong but can’t explain why they are right. Delusion is the conclusions for the illusions they suffer from. I was only passing thru for all of you when whoever decided to make me a huge part of their life. But it’s okay, it doesn’t matter, it only matters to the ones who watch, who pray on my downfall because i took away something they looking for now.

i still have my heart of gold and my dignity, i still have my respect. I still sleep peacefully knowing my man is only mine and not hers or his, ha! True love does so much to the brain that there’s not even the need to physically be high when your spiritual has been elevated. Villains never know true love and legends never die. Yes, there’s much more to connection than love but God is Love and that’s a stronger answer. Because of my relationship with God, I am never phased to what others project twrds me, everything repels and bounces off of me, unharmed. It’s not just my ego but my consciousness that doesn’t care to prove anyone wrong. If they believe they are right then that is them.

because one thing about me, i’m growing and bringing out the woman I am always meant to become and I will stand firm on what i say, followed by the correct actions. People just don’t have the right energy to be on my throne, in my life, my world and this isn’t an explanation, because i am who i am. You can dissect me but you cannot be me, you cannot become as one w. me unless given permission. To access me is VIP pleasure, an experience and a flex because i am healed without wishing bad unto others. I healed without turning into those who hurt me.

i am fed up to the point where i have a lot to say, A LOT! But what point or difference will it make, I truly hate to repeat myself and ive always said that since very very young, because i am on the top of a royal status to the point where i’ve been entertaining peasants for real. The strength i’ve gain and the fights i’ve been thru just to get better and become better to achieve more is astounding to me. The thought of almost settling for what disgusts me now is a humbled hum that eases the strings that tug my heart. Humbleness rises inside me since i am able to value and support those with nothing to gain. I’ve opened up and now i can’t trust no one but i’m still granted with the love i deserve. the softness, patience, intimacy, acceptance by someone who’s realer than anyone that anyone has ever met 💯 and that’s what grinds their gears.

no matter how badly i was done by others, God still granted me my garden and not just a rose. Thank you for loving my intellectual talks of deep passion for my words from my inner divine mind. One of the greatest fears people live in is their own head and what others think of them, i am beyond blessed from always knowing i am the shit 💕🥹✨

[threebreaths]

It had been difficult, impressively so. Hardly anything escaped Isen in this city. And yet, Long Zhi had been elusive, smart, evading capture while the full might of the Dragons hunted him down. Clearly he was someone Isen wanted under his command, even without his expertise.

Still, the answer Long Zhi gave was cowardly. Isen tsked. "I'll admit your former clan is strong. However, don't you think there's a reason Xiao Dan hasn't started a war with me? He's had plenty of chances, and I would certainly humor him."

Now he leaned back. That ring around Long Zhi’s iris had caught Isen's attention right away, and it aligned with the intelligence he'd gathered. It was the only thing keeping Isen from throwing Liu Long Zhi to the wolves and reaping the reward from the old man himself.

"But I'll get to the point. You have a very valuable skillset that I could use. Believe me when I say I've considered the benefits and consequences of this arrangement. I want you to work for me, in exchange for protection from the Black Dragons and anyone else who may cross you. In addition, I am willing to offer a generous wage, and provide you with an apartment within the city limits for the duration of your employment with me."

As he finished, he tilted his head, taking a moment to let the words sink in. "In the interest of transparency, I'm also aware of the full spectrum of your capabilities. That makes you uniquely qualified for this position." Isen gestured vaguely. "But I will not beg. If you refuse, I'll let you walk out without retaliation. Xiao Dan will not hear of your location from me."

 There was no denying that the heir to the Black Dragon's throne had fallen, and he had fallen deep. Liu Long Zhi was no longer the heir; hell, he was no longer even a Black Dragon. Sure, it had been his own choice to leave, to not only abandon his clan, but his family, too—but that hadn't made it any easier. It didn't matter that he had a barrel full of valid reasons, and a suitcase full of childhood trauma. In the end, he was still riddled with guilt over the fact he had left his own family. 

 The only thing that stopped him from going back was the knowledge that he had done the right thing. He didn't want to be a part of what the clan was doing, not now that he knew the truth. The real truth. It was disgusting and unforgivable, and he'd rather live on the streets with no money in his pockets and a stomach that hurt from a lack of food. Which was exactly the way he was living now; he never had his own money, and what little he'd stashed away had been wiped clean within a few days. There were no friends he could fall back on, no other family. The only thing he had was Bao, and a dingy little safehouse without water or electricity the clan had forgotten about. It wasn't much, but it was better than nothing at all. 

 Long Zhi tried to stay under the radar by taking on odd jobs here and there that paid under the table, nothing that left a paper trail. Other than that, he didn't leave the safehouse much. So it was fair to say he was beyond surprised—perhaps even a little scared—when he was approached by a couple of thug looking men that identified themselves as working for Isen Reiou. A name he recognized, but admittedly didn't know enough about to truly understand what it meant. All he knew was that Isen wanted to meet with him. 

 Up until the very last moment, Long Zhi wasn't sure if he was going to show up, or not. Isen belonged to a world he had just left behind and never wanted to return to if he could help it. And if his hunch was right, that was exactly what this meeting was about—an offer to join. And Long Zhi was, without a doubt, a valuable asset to any criminal enterprise. For multiple reasons. In the end, he figured it couldn't hurt to at least listen to whatever Isen had to say or offer. 

 To say Long Zhi was nervous to set foot into what would've been considered enemy territory not too long ago would've been an understatement. But he had learned a long time ago how to put on a mask and appear far more confident than he truly was. And the last thing he wanted was to show weakness. So he walked into the room, tense, but head held high, and taking in every minute detail in case he had to react. 

 "I wasn't entirely sure I would. But I have a feeling I might not have had much choice in the matter, anyway. You've already gone through the trouble of tracking me down, I doubt you would've been happy with a refusal. Impressive, by the way. I thought I did a fairly good job at covering my tracks." 

 After hesitating for a moment, Long Zhi finally made his way over to the chairs and sat down, appearing casual, but ready to reach for his weapons at a moment's notice. Isen's gaze made him feel uneasy, as it was oddly reminiscent of the way Xiao Dan used to look at him. It didn't feel quite as cold and calculating, but it still seemed to peer straight into his soul, and it took everything in him not to shudder.

 "I think I do." Though the suggestion that he'd had plenty of other invites made Long Zhi smile bitterly. Regardless of if he would've wanted them or not, no one was willing to touch him with a ten foot pole. Xiao Dan had put a price on his head, and anyone caught fraternizing with him would be caught in the crossfire. Highly skilled or not, no one thought it worth the price. Apart from the man sitting across from him, apparently. That, or he was simply oblivious of the implications. Which Long Zhi sincerely doubted. 

 "So since we're already skipping the small talk, let's just get to the point. What exactly is it you want from me? If you're looking to recruit me, I wouldn't bother. It isn't worth the trouble. The amount of enemies you'd gain far outweighs the worth of my skills. There's plenty of others with a similar skillset as mine that don't come with all that added baggage. So unless there's anything else, I apologize for wasting your time and I think it's best if I leave before word gets back to the clan."

[yostresswritinggirl]

Genshin Boys would be Horrible as Disney Princes

Headcanon and Reader Perspective, Drabble

Sojourner Special (Followers Event)

Despite being the gentleman and sweethearts that they are, in the wrong hands, of badly aligned context and universal rules these boys can barely function as princes given their own ideals.

Diluc in Cinderella

Shortest one, oops.

Our Diluc would honestly be too busy for balls if we're doing this canonically, night time of all times. He's not your prince tonight, he's off somewhere doing Knight stuff...

If by chance you did catch him in the ball and he did indulge you with your dance until you escapaded at midnight, he's not gonna question it.

And since he didn't even REMEMBER your face, the next day just goes on as usual. No decree for searching the whole land for your foot or anything, it's just a normal day after a party.

"They left without a word, no name or promise, who am I to say no when they clearly don't want to stay?"

He's a gentleman. Too gentlemanly...

Childe in Sleeping Beauty

In this scenario, Childe embraces his knight-ness more than the princely aspect. I mean sure, he danced with you in the forest all so lovingly, sang along to your pretty lil voice. But when the prophecy came, his focus changed—

To the thrill of fighting a big ass green fire breathing dragon! Big woah, Childe had soooo much fun fighting it that he didn't even cheese it.

He lived for every hour of the fight and made it as slow as possible. Taunting, playing with his PREY- mid-fight the dragon would realize just how strong and horrifying Prince Childe is, but the entertainment had started, and the dance won't end until Childe wills it.

When he DID finally slay the damned thing, he'll come up to your quarters and stare at your sleeping body, and then think "Hey, if them being put under this spell gave me the fight of the century? What if ANOTHER dragon comes? That would be amazing!" No waking up for you, or the whole city for that matter.

Albedo in Frog Princess

You... You don't even get the chance to be the frog princess in here... simply because he himself REFUSES to change back to normal. You have never met a man so intelligent, much more a frog.

"I know of which you are not, I won't be fooled by cardboard crowns and secondhand dresses," you choke as he berates every fiber of your being, "It matters not, I still have much to learn about the life of an amphibian."

He disappears after that and you've never heard from him ever again, although at the back of your mind you're pretty sure he's a live and well, that bastard is too smart to end up as roadkill.

And well, you're right, he's out there in the world of frogs doing frog things. Triumphant over frog science and the other talking creatures he may meet.

He'll also find a way to revert himself back to normal, either making his own cure or just enlisting the help of a princess to bargain.

He might come to you upon the logic of marriage counting you as princess, but don't get too hyped, you won't be treated as his wife. He'd be too busy putting his frog research into paper...

Zhongli in Beauty and the Beast

A beast he may be, he's still dignified and elegant, upholding his end of the bargain so long as the other does the same.

Your father may have trespassed and have taken some flowers in his domain but well, really it's such a petty crime that can easily be solvable. And even if there needs to be punishment incured...

When you stumble to the mansion in search of your father, ready to take his place from his jail cell, you find him and the beast (ohh half-dragon Zhongles) by an elegant table drinking cups of tea with light conversation. Huh?

"There is no need to fret, your father and I are just discussing the terms of our contract. He spoke of his woodworks that I wish to commission in exchange, such good potential should not be wasted."

You can also, well, pay off things within contract? But either way, it would be hella awakward, he won't impose on your life and most certainly not about the curse when you had so much to live for.

Kaeya in Rapunzel

Little bitch, thru and thru. If Eugene is such a criminal, he's taking it TENFOLD.

He's not even gonna be the slightest bit trustworthy for you, little Rapunzel, because he raises so many red flags your frying pan wouldn't even be enough to threaten him. He probably has a really thick skull, and your resolve won't be able to smack that pretty face.

Bargaining won't work, he'd sleight of hand his way out and get the crown knowing you'd hid it in the pot immediately, and then just backflip outta there.

If you manage to get him to get you out, he's not gonna be of help either. Kaeya would be amused with toying with you, leaving you in the dark as you get scared shitless/dance around with some tavern criminals. Otherwise, ehh...

One way or another, he's gonna find a way to get you off his case. Either forcing you to travel with companions that's headed to the city anyways or forcefully knocking you out and heaving you back to your tower.

"You have a mother that never ages lock you up in this tower? Nu uh, sweetie, I'm not dealing with the dark forces of witchery when I'm already well off with the crown."

He got the crown.

Venti in Snow White

I'm sorry what? Free apples? Eternal sleep in a beautiful bed? He's gonna be glad to just take your place. (Spoilers, he would)

He'd be most definitely entertained with your dwarves, playing his tunes. You life would be filled with his lyre as he plays around, not even caring about the other implications of yours or his status in this woodland forest.

You ran away from home? Cool, freedom, man. Wish he could the same without jeopardizing the kingdom and his family. He'd probably take the apple too just for you~

During your rest, he'll come up with the most eloquent song to play for your seven dwarves as he watches your fate sadly. How peaceful you looked, away from the world and from the grips of death.

The dwarves would force him to please try and break the spell, and he'll shrug and indulge- except it didn't break the spell, as he expected it to be. And they are clueless on who else you had encountered in your life to even spare a true love's kiss.

"How saddening, the princess lays. Maddening to those around as they'd say, if only my kiss was enough for the curse to sway." You died, ouch.

Xiao in Mulan

Brutal. Brutal. Brutal. His voicelines would come in sooooo handy here, oh my goodness.

If you miraculously bypassed his analytical gaze enough to hide your sexuality, you're going to die in his training program. He's not gonna go easy on you, not when the fate of the nation lies upon your capability to keep up. You're gonna go through far worse than what true Mulan went through, and you may or may not just die in the process.

If by chance you survived, this would warrant enough respect to not kill you (oh, you lived) but you better not show up again.

He's never gonna be delighted to see your traitorous face again, he can save China on his own, thank you very much. And you know he can. Try and approach him, and a sword would be at your neck once again.

"Foolish gremlin, you think you had the right to present yourself after the treason you willfully committed? We won't crumble at the loss of one person, your job here is done." How sad.

Cyno in Little Mermaid

First of all, wack, mermaids exist! Sadly, that's nothing new for him. He knows a lot with that intelligent mind of his, so it would be no surprise that the existence of such mythical creatures doesn't make him bat an eyelash. He's been living near water, he's not that stupid.

With that in mind, your presence in your first meeting is going to be bad. Very bad. Cyno knows about sirens and he's not at all gonna fall for it, and if by chance he had known you before the ship was wrecked, he's probably gonna be veryyy keen in capturing you instead.

So if by chance you're stupid enough to interact with him and DESIRE to be on land with him, you're gonna deal with a lot of problems.

You're not getting that kiss easily. No, it's a huge challenge. He'd be repulsed in your naivety and will most likely be more concerned on your voice than ever. He'd be so kind to try and give a shot in helping with the cure but it's not the cure you needed.

He'll drown himself in every literature in full concentration just to see if there's any text he can find about curses and muteness. His curiousity would get the best of him, and you'll barely see him after you managed to explain your predicament without the need for words. Octopus woman doesn't even need to show up to intervene.

"A kiss? Surely not, such ailment won't be cured by fairytale methods." And then he goes back to his library once again. And you will be seafoam the next sunrise. Or was it sunset?

"So now that we've established these grounds," Exiled turns to the other two in the area, "Maybe, these boys would be better off as princesses."

And so the trio concocts a new type of fairytale, collaborated to masterpieces soon after.

@moaa @dandelion-dreams @witchsungie @zelos-simp @legionqueensav @snackgod @rxsalinee @cala-ran @wind-wheel @struggljng @ellitx @kookieyachi @dandelion-dreams

[disturbedbydesign]

A Night At The Museum

Pairing: Loki x Reader

Length: 4K

Summary: Your job as a museum tour guide was growing tiresome until a mysterious stranger showed up to claim what was his.

Warnings: Dubcon (slight mind control), Violence (mild), Light Bondage, Explicit Sex (oral, vaginal). 18+ only, no minors.

_____________________________________________________________

Your last tour of the day was about to start and all you could think about was getting off work and meeting up with your sister for drinks. You had always dreamed of one day working at the British Museum, but having been a tour guide there for the past year—doing the same thing, so many times a day, every single day—you found yourself growing tired of it and anxious to move on. Much as you loved art history (you did go to school for it, after all), you had grown thoroughly bored with your job. You wanted some excitement in your life. You needed it.

When you first started, you had been one of the museum’s most enthusiastic guides, always trying to engage all the members of your groups and fielding even the strangest of questions with grace and ease. These days, you were just going through the motions, especially for tours this late in the day. Over the course of the year, you had become adept at instantly identifying the one or two people in any given group who actually cared about the subject matter, and you found it simpler to focus on them and ignore everyone else.

As you performed your perfunctory scan of the last group of the day, you saw the usual suspects: a group of unruly children with intentionally oblivious parents; a travel group of obnoxious middle-aged Americans; an older gentleman, alone, who looked like he could be a professor of some sort (he was the one to pay attention to); and a young couple, clearly on one of their first few dates, who would have eyes only for each other.

And then you saw him.

You were immediately taken aback, struck by the fact that, for the first time in a long time, you couldn’t get a read on someone. The man was tall—really tall—with long, black hair slicked back. His skin was almost inhumanly pale and smooth, like he was sculpted of the same marble as the statues surrounding you. Despite the summer heat, the mysterious man wore a black suit and tie, a white dress shirt, and a long black coat with a scarf. He carried an ornately crafted cane, which seemed more an accessory than a walking aid. Compared to the rest of your tour group, he seemed a man out of time.

And then you saw his eyes—his impossibly green eyes. You could see them from across the room, almost glowing and staring at you, unblinking. your breath caught in your throat and all of a sudden you felt very, very cold.

As the hour-long tour progressed, you went through your practiced speeches about each artifact, moving across the room in the pre-established order and fielding questions here and there. As anticipated, the older gentleman was very engaged in the tour and asked intelligent questions, which you happily answered. Also unsurprisingly, one of the loudest Americans (probably trying to impress his friends) kept asking questions that he thought would make him sound smart and cultured but which, in reality, had the opposite effect. After one particularly ridiculous question, you had to turn your head away, pretending to be thinking about the answer but really trying not to laugh. That’s when you got caught in the emerald stare of the mysterious man with the cane.

He hadn’t taken his eyes off of you the entire tour—hadn’t so much as glanced at any of the art that he was ostensibly there to see—and up until then you had done your best to avoid meeting his gaze. Something about him absolutely terrified you, although you couldn’t pinpoint what exactly you were frightened of. He was standing completely still at the back of the group, but he was so tall that he towered over everyone and you could see his face as clear as if he were right in front of you.

His piercing eyes were locked onto you; they moved where you moved. His gaze was intense and menacing, but it was more than that: you could physically feel his eyes on you, penetrating you all over, making you feel naked. You wanted to look away but you felt like some strange power was holding your eyes onto to his. You stood dumbfounded and locked in a silent stare with the dark-haired stranger until the loud American spoke up, demanding an answer to his previous inquiry. You had never in your life been so happy to answer a stupid question.

You managed to make it through the rest of the tour without meeting eyes with the man with the cane, although there wasn’t one second that went by when you didn’t feel his presence in the room. You even went so far as to forgo asking if anyone had any final questions at the end that they wanted to stay after and discuss with you. You ducked out of the exhibit hall as fast as you could, feeling the man’s gaze boring into your backside as you exited the room, and headed for the staff room to gather your things. You didn’t notice until you got to the employee lounge that you had been holding your breath the whole time.

The museum was officially closed for the day, and as you left the staff area you couldn’t help but notice that the usual security guards posted around the building were nowhere to be found. In fact, there was no one around at all. The main lights were dimmed and the place was impossibly silent; the only sound you could hear was the echo of your own footsteps as you quickly made your way across the building to the exit. You were rounding a darkened corner when you felt an ice-cold hand reach around from behind and clamp over your mouth.

“Don’t be afraid,” hissed a smooth voice in the darkness. “You’re going to like what comes next.”

Before you could think to cry out, you were spun around and face to face with the dark-haired man. He wore the devil’s grin as he leaned down to you, his face barely an inch from your own. One hand still clamped firmly across your mouth, he brought his cane up with the other and traced a gentle line down from your temple to your chin. He let the tip rest under your jaw, pressing in on your throat just a little too hard. He put his lips to your ear and whispered, “Come with me, my pet.”

In one swift motion, he swung you up and over his shoulder and held you there with one arm, the other arm brandishing the cane, which clicked rhythmically against the marble floor, keeping time with his long strides. You were still dazed and breathless from the force of the cane’s tip on your throat and before you knew it, you found yourself in some dark recess of the museum basement, on the floor of a room you hadn’t even known existed. It was filled with strange artifacts the likes of which you had never seen in your extensive studies. There were no lights on but the room was bathed in an eerie shade of blue, which seemed to emanate from the relics themselves. You managed to mumble out a few words.

“Where am I?”

You saw the cane flip once in his hand as he strode toward you and then felt only searing pain as it came crashing across the side of your face.

“Did I say you could speak?” he asked.

You brought your hand to your cheek where he’d struck you, expecting to feel a bloodied gash, but when you took your hand away and looked there was nothing. The blow had left no physical mark, only an icy hot streak of pain. He reached down and traced the line of his blow with a long delicate finger, and suddenly the pain was gone and replaced with a pleasurable tingle.

“As you see, I can inflict both pain and pleasure,” he said, his voice like honey. “What happens next is entirely up to you.”

You should have been terrified, screaming, looking for some outlet or escape, but you found yourself completely paralyzed by his gaze. Going against every survival instinct screaming inside of you, you dared speak again.

“Please… please just tell me who you are and what you want.”

You closed your eyes and braced yourself for another blow but it did not come. You glanced up to see him looking at you inquisitively from the corner of the room, resting his long, lean frame on the tip of his cane.

“You are a bold one, I see. Deserving of my punishment, yes, but also worthy of the pleasure I can give you. I am going to ask you three questions and you are going to answer them honestly. If you lie, I will know, and you will suffer for it. Now tell me, do I frighten you?”

“Yes.”

“Do I excite you?”

“Yes.”

“Do you want to leave? And before you answer this last and most important question, know this: If you say yes, I will let you go. I will not harm you. I will not follow you. You will never see me again. But you will also never know who I am or what I am here for, the memory of this night will haunt your dreams forever, and no one will ever believe your story. Within a week, you will go mad wondering whether I was a dream or reality.”

In one seamless motion, he crossed the room and yanked you to your feet by your shoulders, holding you an inch from his face, which seemed to glow with its own light.

“Now answer the question. Do you want to leave?”

The final answer flew from your lips before you even knew what you were saying. “No,” you whispered, and he eased his harsh grip on your shoulders, a sly smile spreading across his lips.

You stared at him, motionless and feeling almost paralyzed as you waited for permission to speak.

“Well,” he began, “I suppose it’s only fair that I offer you the same courtesy you have allowed me, so you may ask me three questions and I will answer them honestly. Choose your words carefully, because you get only three.”

He released his grip on you and returned to the corner, watching you and waiting.

“Who… who are you?” you stammered.

“Ah, a good question and excellently phrased. Had you asked just my name, that is all you would have received. But who I am is much more complicated.”

He sauntered toward you and lifted his cane, pointing it in a sweeping circle around the room.

“You see these things here? I am not so different—I was just another stolen relic from another world, locked away until someone might have use of me. But I have broken free of my shackles, and I have come to claim what is mine. You as who I am? I am a God. I am your God.”

You should have thought him completely mad, but you believed him. For whatever reason, you believed him.

“What do you want?” you asked.

He shook his head and chuckled low. “That’s far too vague a question, my pet, for I want many things. I could tell you simply that I want a glass of water, and I would not be lying. But since you are such an exquisite creature and so well behaved, I will answer the question you meant to ask, which is what is my purpose here.”

Something was happening to you, something strange and terrifying and wonderful. You were mesmerized by the way he spoke and the way his long, cold fingers brushed your cheek when he had called you exquisite. You hung on his every word and could not take your eyes off of him.

“I am Loki of Asgard and I have come to reclaim what was stolen from me. This room holds all that I need to take my rightful place as your master and overlord—to claim humanity as my own and rule the people of Earth as your king.”

You searched your racing mind for the words needed to get the answer you so desperately wanted, but your brain would not cooperate.

“One last question, my pet. And don’t keep me waiting.”

Finally, the words come to you in the correct order. “Why have you chosen me?”

Loki smiled lasciviously down at you. “I could tell just by looking at you that you crave subjugation,” he said, his voice smooth and so deep you felt it everywhere. “You were made to be ruled, and you will be the first to kneel for me.”

In a flash he was on you, grabbing your hair hard and pulling you into a deep kiss. His lips felt ice cold but his breath was hot and moist as his tongue twined around yours. You raised your hands to run them through his hair when he abruptly pulled back and caught you by the wrists. He spun you around and bound your arms behind your back with his scarf, pushing you to your knees once he had secured you.

“I told you to kneel,” he growled.

He was behind you and you could hear his ragged breathing, the rustling of clothes, and the soft thump of fabric hitting the floor. When he spun you back around, he was completely naked and you drank in the sight of his pale skin and lean, powerful body. His cock was enormous and rock hard.

“Pleasure me, my pet. I know this is what you crave.”

He grabbed you by the hair and shoved the whole length of his shaft down your throat repeatedly, fucking your face until you almost passed out for lack of air. When you thought you could take no more, he yanked you off of him, tilting your head back and looking down at you with glowing green eyes.

“Very good, my pet. Now slower. Worship it as you will worship me.”

He grabbed the base of his cock, holding it at an angle above your face and willing you to lick it. You complied, running your tongue slowly from the base to the tip, feeling his blood throbbing in the veins that ran the length of his massive shaft; the blood was hot but the flesh was icy cold—a very strange sensation, but one that fascinated you. He let out a series of short, carnal grunts as you swirled the tip of your tongue around his head. You took just the tip into your mouth and began to massage it gently with your lips as he ran his hand lightly up and down his shaft. You could taste his leaking juices as you tongued the slit, and the taste of him was like nothing you’d ever experienced before—it was delicious, addictive even, and it made you insatiable and impossibly wet. You moaned onto his cock as you let it drip down your throat, sending vibrations of pleasure running through his entire godly frame and causing him to groan in ecstasy.

Before you knew it, you were on your feet and your wrists were freed from the scarf that bound them. Holding the scarf between gritted teeth, he ripped your blouse open and straight off your body. He cupped and squeezed your breasts in his icy hands, and your already hard nipples became almost unbearably erect against the lace fabric of your bra. He unclasped it and let it fall to the floor next to you as he yanked your skirt down around your ankles. One hand cradled the back of your neck and he let the other trace a line in between your breasts and down your stomach. When he reached the top of your thong, just above your mound, he stopped.

Your breath caught in your throat and you looked at him. He took the scarf from between his teeth.

“Turn around,” Loki commanded.

You did as you were told and he brought the scarf around your head, blindfolding you. You felt his strong arms lift you up and moments later you were bent over a cold metal table, facedown and arms over your head, gripping the steel. You felt his breath on your pebbled skin as he ripped your thong off your body with his teeth, and he pushed your legs wider apart with his knee as he traced down the length of your spine with two fingers. When he found your entrance, you were already soaked for him—an almost unnatural level of wetness that you’d never felt before in your entire life—and he plunged two long fingers deep inside you without ceremony. You cried out your pleasure as he moved them furiously in and out of you before he slowed and found your sweet spot with his middle finger, working it violently until he started to feel your walls tighten around him and your cries faded to jagged breaths. He stopped just before you found release and you whined loudly.

“You are ready,” he said—telling you not asking you. “Now we shall see where your loyalty lies.”

You were left wanting and stranded on the verge, and the absence of sight heightened all your other senses. Every inch of your body was buzzing and the sound of your own heart beating was deafening in the silent room. That’s when you heard the rhythmic clicking of the cane moving slowly toward you and then stop.

“Who is your God?” Loki asked, his voice cold and commanding.

“You,” you wailed. “You are my God.”

He brought the cane down across your bare ass with all the power of Asgard and you screamed out in delicious agony.

“I said, WHO IS YOUR GOD?”

You tried to answer but your mind could not form words. He brought the cane down on you again, three hard lashes in quick succession, and you made a noise that sounded inhuman in your own ears.

“I’ll ask you one more time: who is your God and your King?”

The sensations coursing through your body threatened to put you over the edge of consciousness, but somehow you managed to yell out to him through the haze of pain and pleasure.

“LOKI! Loki of Asgard is my God and my King!”

He laughed maniacally and you could hear the clatter of the cane dropping to the floor. You felt his magic fingers trace a line across the searing flesh of your ass and the white-hot agony turned instantly to a pleasure unlike any you had ever known. You almost achieved release just from his touch. He untied the blindfold and he rolled you over on your back, pulling you up to face him. His eyes seemed warmer as he leaned in and grazed your ear with his lips as he spoke.

“You have proven your loyalty to me, my pet. I know that you will worship me as I deserve. Now you will be rewarded.”

He stood between your legs and cupped your face in his hands as he kissed you slowly and deeply, more passionately than he had before. For the first time, when you went to touch him, he didn’t try to stop you. At last, your hands found his long black hair and you grabbed fistfuls of it as you pulled him down on top of you, the tip of his cock teasing your opening as you devoured each other. He pulled his face away and buried it in between your breasts as he massaged them, taking one nipple in his mouth and nibbling it lightly as he rubbed the other between two fingers. Every flick of his finger or tongue on your body dragged a sound out of you that you didn’t know you could make. You untangled one hand from his hair and found his massive cock, gripping it firmly and stroking it up and down as you rubbed it against your clit.

“Fuck me, my King. I beg you. Take me any way you want me.”

He lifted his mouth from your breast. “Not so fast, my pet. I must taste you first.”

He pulled you down to the edge of the table and threw your legs over his shoulders as he settled between your legs. He licked you slowly up and down a few times before latching onto your clit, holding your hips firm as he swirled the tip of his tongue around and around, faster and faster until you started to cry out and buck against him. He brought a hand down from your hip and teased your slick folds with one long finger as he continued to work your clit with his tongue and his lips. He brought another finger to your entrance, sliding the two fingers together from the top of your folds to the bottom, and when he plunged both fingers inside you, you came so hard you nearly fainted. His touch was godly, and you knew then he had ruined you for all mortal men.

You had barely recovered from your climax when he sat you up and took you all at once, shoving his cock inside you to the hilt, filling you with ice and fire. He grunted like an animal with each forceful thrust and you screamed with pleasure as you clawed at his back. Your hands found his muscular ass and you gripped it tightly as you screamed his name, keeping time with his rhythm.

“Loki… Loki… My God… My King...”

You brought your arms up around his neck as he lifted you off the table, his strong hands gripping your ass as he walked you over to the side of the room. You clung to him with your legs wrapped tightly around his waist and your arms at his neck as he fucked you senseless against the cold basement wall. The light of the otherworldly artifacts tinted his skin an inhuman shade of blue; it was beautiful, he was beautiful. He quickened his pace and then stopped, remaining motionless with the full length of him still throbbing inside of you.

“Such a good girl for me,” he whispered. “Such a good little pet. I think maybe I’ll keep you.”

He walked you back over to the table and laid himself down on it so that you were straddling him. You moved up and down on his cock slowly, almost teasingly, wanting to feel every inch of him inside of you. As you rocked up and down, he brought his cold thumb to your clit, circling it while you rode him and bringing you close to the edge again. He began to buck underneath you as you fucked him and you knew he was close, too. You leaned in and grabbed the hair at the back of his head as you continued to slam yourself onto on him.

The words fell from your lips—“Fill me with your God seed, my King, I want every last drop you have”—and even as you said them, you had no idea where they came from, almost as if they were planted there and forced from you.

That had Loki’s eyes rolling back in his head and he moaned deep as he sat up, grabbing your hips as you rocked back and forth on his lap. He tightened his grip on you and quickened his pace, pounding into you hard and fast. As the muscles of your tight walls rippled with pleasure and you cried out your reverence in his ear, Loki found his release. He held your squirming body tight against him, your muscles shaking uncontrollably as he came roaring into you. You felt his warmth spread inside of you—such a contrast to the chill of his flesh—and you stayed locked in his embrace, completely limp with exhaustion.

“Thank you, my King,” you whispered, and Loki brought his fingers to your face.

The last thing you remember is two cool fingertips pressed to your temple. When you awoke, you were naked and alone in the basement room. The artifacts that had filled the room were now gone and there was no sign of Loki but for a pile of clothing next to you on the table—new clothes to replace the ones he had destroyed in his lust—and a handwritten note that said only “Fit for a Queen.” You put them on, wondering if he would ever be back for you. You were nothing now without your king. You knew you were made to be ruled.

[ichorai]

the devil's queen ; k.yr

pairing ; forest queen!yeri x devil!reader (gender-neutral)

summary ; in which the queen of the forest seeks out the devil’s help after accidentally turning her husband to stone.

themes ; fantasy, slight fluff and angst, royalty au, devil au, magic au, forest au (?), forbidden love au

words ; 4.2k

warnings / includes ; devils obv, mentions of divorce and a loveless marriage, uhm yeri turns her husband into stone, one mention of angels, teasing banter, an absurd amount of description because yeri is gorgeous and i can't help myself, both yeri and reader are little shits, kissy kiss kiss at the end </3

a/n ; my first gg fic :D i'm rlly excited for this one !! i'm literally in love with yeri so i'm so happy to finally post this ! thank you to @doievoir for beta reading <3 also thanks to @subways-stuff and @koocycle for being gay with me :(

masterlist. | milestone celebration.

The stone of the balcony’s railing beneath the forest queen’s fingertips was just slightly cold to the touch, mellowed by the night’s sweet breeze. Her face, dappled by the moon’s gentlest luminescence, bore a somber expression, only managing to mask the panic she truly felt by a thread of her being. Pale was her dress, and paler her skin became as she grew clammy with unease. The sheer, opal chiffon of her skirts grazed the balcony floor with faint kisses in accordance to Yeri’s ceaseless fidgeting. And because of her restless movements, the intricate leaf crown propped atop her temple was now slightly askew, placed awkwardly amongst her perfectly-curled tendrils.

From where you were standing, watching the queen, worry etched into her soft features, you almost felt a shred of pity. The keyword being almost. Devils rarely ever felt remorse.

You took this opportunity to look around the queen’s chambers. After all, it wasn’t every day that you’re summoned by a woman of such importance, much less the queen of the forest herself. Gorgeous vines twisted up marble columns, white flowers scattered across the greenery. Every which way you looked, there were at least five potted plants ranging from minuscule succulents to large ferns longer than your own arm span. Even the bed had a canopy of iridescent petals and glossy leaves.

“You must really enjoy nature,” you quipped, taking slight amusement in the way Yeri jumped at the sound of your voice, spinning around with a hand on her chest. “Looks to be bordering on obsession, actually…”

The queen, having come down from her initial shock, looked upon you with a quizzical eyebrow. “I called you to help me, not to make comments on my lifestyle.” She waved her fingers in the air, conjuring a thick vine that wrapped around her waist as if it were a snake. “Besides, I’m the queen of the forest. It would be more bewildering to find my chamber void of natural elements.”

A toothy grin so wide it made you look sinister graced your lips, and you bowed your head slightly. Yeri, much to her dismay, couldn’t tell if the action was genuine or mocking.

“I like that you feel the need to defend yourself against the devil. Makes me feel somewhat of importance,” you uttered the words with a simple-minded hum, eyes glowing with mirth. “Which brings me to ask… why have you called me here?”

The silence was suffocating as she strode up towards you, an almost defiant look glazing over her irises. She was so close that you could detect a hint of her sweet scent; an intoxicating concoction of apricots and grass and the slight tang of the air just before it rained. A tad too refreshing for your taste, but it suited her well.

On the other hand, Yeri found that you were as warm as a walking fireplace, and smelled as if you had doused yourself in cinnamon and musky cologne. Though it wasn’t necessarily an awful aroma, it was most definitely strong and caught her off guard. Who knew the devil would radiate the odor of a popular dessert spice?

Yeri’s steps slowed down once she was just in front of you, near enough that her soft skirts brushed against your dress pants. You noted the way her breathing seemed to hitch, teeth slightly tugging at the plushness of her bottom lip in hesitancy. What was she waiting for?

And with a deep exhale, she reached somewhere behind you with the speed of lightning, as if she wanted to get this over and done with. Her fingers curled tightly around a fistful of white cloth cloaking a large mass, tugging on it with a mild grunt. You spun on your heel with an arched eyebrow, watching with suppressed curiosity.

As you beheld the sight, expression unfaltering, Yeri buried her face in her hands, practically vibrating in stagnant shame. You wondered if she was crying, but found that her face was dry when she pulled herself away from her palms. Either she was trying too hard to feel the comforting weight of sadness, or she was lying to herself about caring.

It was most likely the latter. The thought brought a smile to your face.

A chiseled statue stood in front of the both of you. Opal in color and sculpted with perfect body proportions, your smile melded into an intrigued frown.

“I know,” Yeri whispered without turning back to look at you. “I’m a monster.”

“Don’t call yourself a monster in front of the devil, it’s unbecoming,” you snorted in contempt. Then, you gestured limply towards the statue. “I don’t even know what this is. Did you call me here to show off an artsy escapade of yours? I’ve got far more important things to do, you know.” ‘Important things’ really meant watching two crows fight over a moldy baguette down in the village streets. You might’ve been the devil, but that didn’t necessarily mean you were busy all the time.

Disdain colored her words as she hissed out, “I turned my husband to stone,” rouge laced her cheekbones as she quickly added on, almost an afterthought, “by accident.”

Oh? You clasped your hands together behind you, rocking back and forth on your heels. Now you were starting to see the resemblance, recalling the forest queen’s marriage to a man whose only facial expression seemed to be stoically indifferent. “My, my,” you crooned glibly, “what an interesting turn of events. Are you sure it was an accident?”

The forest queen clearly didn’t take your teasing lightly.

“I didn’t even know I could,” she said in an icy tone, glancing down at her hands, one still fisted in the coversheet. After a moment’s pause, she spoke up again, turning towards you. “But I need him back.”

A guffaw slipped past you as you wrinkled your nose in distaste. “That’s no fun at all. You want me to bring him back? Your moronic oaf of a husband? I’m sure you could find a new one with the snap of a finger. Besides, it’s better to keep him this way. He seems far more intelligent as stone.”

Having said your fill and satisfied with the fuming look Yeri wore, you spun on your heel, about to head out of the castle and run your other devil errands.

A bright flower of consternation unfurled within her ribcage, and the forest queen found herself hurrying forward, curling her fingers around the wrist of the subject of her torment. Almost immediately, she let go, partly from shock at her own actions, but mostly from the fact that your skin was borderline scalding. You are the devil, after all. Yeri should have been more careful.

“Do you forget who I am?” she hissed nonetheless, glowering at your unturned back, her tone swimming in a pool of severity.

At her question, you whirled around to look upon her in bemusement.

“I’m the queen of the forest!”

You nodded just slightly. “So you’ve mentioned.”

Mouth agape and nose twitching slightly in an attempt to contain her umbrage, she whispered out, almost bristling in hostility, “Does that mean nothing to you?”

“Finally catching on, I see.” You flashed her wink, crossing your arms over your chest and leaning forward. “Let me make one thing clear. You may be a queen, but you are not my queen. I haven’t forgotten who you are to the mortals, but I feel you’ve forgotten who I am.”

A genuinely wounded look found its way sprawled across her soft features. She struggled to find her voice for a minute, before turning her head away to gaze upon the moon in shame.

“What can I do to convince you?”

Though the words were quiet, you could still detect the stubborn tenacity interwoven through the question.

Instead of answering her inquiry, you retaliated with one of your own.

“Did you love him?”

Her face snapped back to you, frozen in incredulity. “What?” she asked, furrowing her perfect brows.

“Did you love him?” you repeated, this time rolling your eyes to the leafy canvas obscuring the ceiling. “You need not lie to me. I’ll know.”

With a shred of hesitancy clinging onto her, she uttered lowly, “No. It was a diplomatic marriage… he’s the crown prince of the ice mountains. And I need him back before anybody notices. You understand why I have to have him back, don’t you? This could cause a war.”

“A little foolish of you to ask a devil to prevent a war, don’t you think? We live for chaos,” you susurrated into her ear, circling her like a predator would their prey. Yeri flushed at your words. “Pray tell, why didn’t you ask an angel? Why come to me?”

She drew herself to her full height, almost as if sizing you up. You grinned at that. What an interesting character she was. “I was ashamed of myself. I didn’t want an angel to know of my mistake. Angels judge, and devils are used to despicable acts far worse than what I did. Of course I had to go with the latter.”

It was silent for a moment, the leaves rustling with the cold breeze. “Smart girl,” you hummed, impressed. Yeri cleared her throat, evidently flustered.

With a flick of your hand, the statue’s marble hue slowly faded away, color returning to the forest queen’s husband. A gasp left her throat, and she scurried across the room, almost tripping over the wisps of her skirt in the process. The prince of the ice mountains fell to the floor just as his feet loosened up, and he looked as if he had woken up from a horrid sleep, a dumbfounded expression masking his usually stoic features.

He looks stupid, you thought to yourself as Yeri knelt down beside him. Why would she choose him of all people?

“Have fun being married to somebody you don’t love,” you called out to the couple.

Yeri glanced upwards, a ‘thank you’ just on the tip of her tongue. But when she looked towards where you had been standing, there was nobody there. The wind whistled in your absence, and everything suddenly felt cold.

The forest was quiet as Yeri stormed through. The leaves stopped whispering, the birds halted their chirps, and the rivers grew muted. She was livid, so much so that small wildflowers the color of winter unconsciously sprouted in her furious trail. There were tear tracks forming rivulets down the apples of her cheeks, but they were long dried. She was too angry to cry now.

You danced your fingers along the bark of the branch you were sitting on, swinging your legs in bemusement as you watched the Queen bask in her fury.

Your landing from tree to ground made naught a sound, but Yeri seemed to sense that you were already there, for her shoulders squared and her chin lifted. Perhaps she wanted to look as if she had at least some semblance of her life put together in front of you. You weren’t quite sure why she bothered; you already knew she was in shambles.

Today she wore a plain sage button dress, the fabric flaring softly at her hips and arms. The skirt reached just below her knees; a considerate choice seeing as she was trudging through mud and foliage of all sorts. A white cloth was tied about her temple, keeping gorgeous locks of dark ebony from falling into her tempestuous eyes. She was a stunningly beautiful woman, and seeing her angry conjured a queer elation within you. What’s gotten her so riled up this time?

With outstretched arms, you beamed at her scowl. “Regretting asking me to free your husband from his stony confines? I did warn you against it, did I not?”

She folded her arms over her chest. “Forgive me for choosing not to trust the devil.”

“You’re a hypocrite,” you said in a sing-song tone. “You chose to trust me the moment you asked me to fix your poor husband. What is it you want from me now? Did you call me to turn him back to stone this time?”

An affronted look colored her already-miffed features a twisted hue. She seemed to relax just slightly when she realized that you were just jesting, as you always were.

“He wants me to move out of the forest. Permanently.” She angled her face away from you so you couldn’t see the turmoil raging within her. It was fruitless, because you saw right through her words. “Says the icy mountains are far better than this infernal place.”

The unexpected sensation of your warm hands on Yeri’s shoulders conjured what felt like an inferno raging within her ribcage. The devil was touching her. Why wasn’t she mad about it?

“Divorce him,” you said, almost nonchalantly. “You don’t love him. Why stay married?”

“I told you,” she shot back in exasperation, trying her damned hardest not to look down at your hands encasing her shoulders, just a thin layer of green fabric separating bare skin to skin contact, “for diplomatic-!”

“Oh, screw diplomacy. You don’t even want to go outside of the forest. What’s the point of staying married to him?” Your words were sharp, a dagger of truth cleaving right through her skull. It was a good point you made, and it made the queen furious to know that you’ve got her beat.

Yeri was starting to think that your ability to constantly put a damper on her mood was a mastered talent. Have you had a lot of experience belittling people? She presumed the answer was yes; the devil didn’t belong only to her, this was undeniably so. Sin was an attractive flavor to mankind. Was it greedy to want the raw form of wrongdoing all to herself?

Plunged into a cavern of her own agitation, she didn’t even notice you releasing her to pace circles around the forest queen. “He doesn’t love you either, just so you know,” you whispered from behind, causing her to startle with a wince, “especially not after that rocky stunt you pulled, hm?”

Something akin to amusement danced in Yeri’s gaze as she turned her head to peer at you. It flickered away just as quickly as it came. “You’re mean,” she said dryly.

“I know, it’s kind of my job.” You rocked back and forth on your heels, leaning against the trunk of a large tree. “So why did you call me back?”

Yeri dithered for just a moment. “I don’t have anybody else to talk to.” With such a shameful statement, you were pleasantly surprised to see how she managed to say it in such a leveled tone.

“And so you came to the devil for mild chit chat?”

She bowed her head. “I did, yes. Do you have an issue with that?”

You shook your head with a slight smile. It was a truthful response; you quite enjoyed studying Yeri’s mannerisms and turmoils.

A stoic expression crossed her elegant visage as she nodded at you, and then proceeded to turn away, striding out of the forest with naught another word more, tendrils of hair fluttering airily with each step.

News of the forest queen’s divorce to the prince of the ice mountains spread quicker than a royal archer’s arrow. Some said she did so in a spectacle of dramatic tears and ring-throwing. Others gossipped that she slipped away into the woods with only a mere note to inform the prince of what was going on. And the most popular story going around was Yeri proclaiming the divorce void of any emotion, ignoring the prince when he dropped to his knees and begged her to stay.

Knowing both parties of the couple, you were sure that all three spin-offs were far from the truth.

Your suspicions were confirmed when Yeri called you back again, this time with a hint of a grin tracing her lips, a startling contrast to the previous two times she’s called you over. The duality of this woman, you thought with a shake of your head.

“What is it this time?” you asked with an annoyed facade, though it was clearly only skin-deep, for the curiosity swimming in your irises betrayed your true stand.

The queen in front of you was wearing a dress of black silk, flowing and cinching in all the right places. A white and canary flower hanging loosely from her ear, a vast juxtaposition from the darkness of her ensemble. She was the true epitome of allure.

“Black to look like you’re mourning to the simple-minded common folk,” you observed, “but the daffodil symbolizes a new, hopeful beginning. You’re not at all upset about your divorce.”

The corners of her carmine lips curled upwards. “Smart devil,” she replied, referencing back to when you had called her just the same. Devils weren’t ones to be flustered, but you supposed that was the closest thing to how you were feeling at the moment. Masking was a true talent of yours, however, because Yeri seemed not to notice at all. “I called you because I’m lonely.”

“It’s one thing after another with you, huh?” Your words lacked any bite, and you found yourself chuckling while threading your fingers through your hair. “Looking for an affair the same day you get divorced isn’t usually customary for humans. I’m not complaining, though,” you mumbled with a roguish grin, stepping closer to her and gently running the tips of your fingers against her forearms. You pointedly ignored the way the saccharine apple aroma she practically dripped of made you dizzy.

She drew a mock gasp at what you were insinuating, placing her frigid palms on your shoulders to push you back in a playful manner.

“So is it me you want or would you like me to brainwash someone to come and take pity on you?”

Dark irises rolled the leafy ceiling of her bedroom. “What if I asked you to stay?” Despite you barking out a laugh, she continued on. “I don’t need somebody else.”

Eyes flashing something dangerous, you drew yourself up to full height. “Don’t jest.”

“I’m not jesting.”

You knew she wasn’t, but you took a step backwards anyways. Much to your astonishment, she boldly rivaled that with her own foot propelling her forwards. Closer, ever so close.

“Why do you want to fraternize with the devil?”

“Why do you keep coming back whenever I call you?” she shot back quickly, leaning forward just as your spine brushed against a poster of her canopy bed. “I’m not giving you anything in return.”

The words had you reeling for some sort of witty comeback, but for the first time in your eons of life, a human had you dumbfounded. Why were you coming back?

“I…” you gaped at her earnest countenance. “I don’t know.”

“You don’t know,” she echoed your words, almost smug.

Quiet unease filled the silence between you, and you narrowed your lids into slits. With but a gentle whistle of wind, the devil dissolved into a mass of shadows and glowing clementine-hued embers, leaving the queen alone in her chambers once more.

When the seasons change, it wasn’t a shift that happened overnight, but a feat that came with the patience of moons. Earth took its time in conversion, as did everything else. Time was a universal language everybody understood; unchangeable, solidary in its flow, ruthless and unforgiving.

Devils were no exception.

It took you time to come back to Yeri. You weren’t very sure how long. The stars shifted and the sun dipped past the horizon countless times while you waited for an answer to a question you never had the courage to ask. Quite pathetic of the devil, wasn’t it?

When the forest queen called for you a fourth time, you were tempted to decline.

But you found yourself teleporting without a second thought, materializing in a haze of dull light by the corner of her cavernous chambers.

Yeri watched from across the room. The beige turtleneck she wore clung to her like a second skin, a sheer corset cinched about her waist, embroidered flowers dancing across the fabric. A grey skirt fluttered with the wind that blew through the doorway to the balcony, singing a song of the forest. Golden jewelry dangled from her neck and ears, glinting sweetly in the fading sunlight. Her curled tresses had little wildflowers woven between the strands, rolling over her shoulders in waves. She was beautiful, and she wasn’t yours.

It took her no time to stride forward, bare feet padding silently across the smooth floors towards you. You didn’t move, standing your ground and eyeing her with indifference.

The grazes of her fingers against your blistering hot cheeks shouldn’t have taken you aback. Your pride was wounded the last time you saw her, and all a devil really had was their pride. Should you be mad at this woman for diminishing you down to a mess of discombobulated emotions and lost purpose? A twisted part of you was proud of her for doing so. Besting a devil at their own game wasn’t quite the everyday act.

Yeri hummed a pleased little sound when you grabbed at her wrist. Not to yank her away, no, but to pull her ever so close, breathing in her earthy scent. The walls of fire you once held up to closely guard your devilish heart, now doused by a simple pale of water. The forest queen did that. And you, quite frankly, were so very afraid of what she’d do with it now that it was hers.

“Took you a while to come back,” she whispered. You looked oh so bewitching in this light, a glimpse of heaven doused with the fits of hell, and Yeri found it hard to concentrate. Especially not with your searing fingers wrapped firmly around her forearm.

“Certainly didn’t take you a while to call,” you snorted, raising a brow at the queen. “You’re a desperate little thing, aren’t you?”

Even the flame-lit candles were envious of her radiance when she smiled, for they flickered and warbled at her mischievous beam. “I’m not ashamed to admit so. You look awful, by the way.”

“That’s a lie,” you teased, so close now that your nose brushed against her cheekbone. If an outsider were to walk in now, they would’ve thought the two of you were two lovers intimately dancing to a ghost’s silent song.

“You’re right. I lied. Thought you might enjoy that since you’re the devil, and all.” The queen looked at you with hooded eyes.

A breathy chuckle slipped past your lips. “I enjoyed that very much, yes.”

“I’m going to do something,” she uttered lowly, vague hesitation weaving through her words, “and you’re going to have to promise not to freak out.”

An off-hand sound of acknowledgement rumbled in your throat as the tip of your mouth quirked upwards. “My queen, I’m the devil. Of course I’m going to freak out. I live for chaos.”

Just as you took your time to come back to her, it took Yeri time to unfurl the folds of her heart, baring herself raw and unshielded. She trusted you with her life, and it was probably the most foolish decision she could ever think to make.

Her lips brushed against your jaw first, tentative and testing. Then the kisses trailed to your cheekbones, over to the lids of your fluttered-shut eyes, down to the bridge of your nose. When she melded her lips over yours, you knew you were done for. It was almost natural, how your arms snaked around her midriff, clutching at the threads of her corset with a yearning you’ve never felt before. The hands that cradled your jaw slid in different directions; one went to clutch at your arm in a fruitless attempt to ground herself, and the other gently scratched at the back of your neck, earning a pleased noise from you.

This was so wrong, and that was why it felt so good. If she was the fruit, you were the parasite. If she was the wine, you were the poison. If she was love, you were hatred.

When she pulled away from you with a dazzling smile reserved just for you, you swore the stars shattered and the moon collapsed and the sky broke into two. For this trembling certainly can’t be coming from you! Devils don’t tremble, for crying out loud!

“You called me your queen,” she observed, amused at your playful narrowing of eyes.

“A devil never lies, my queen,” you jested. The laugh she was about to bark out at your witty jab was stolen away from her as you kissed her once more. “I wouldn’t dare bow to somebody with a soul, yet it seems you’ve given me yours. Just what am I to do with you?”

Your words were paused to press a lasting kiss onto her cheek, right below her wide eyes, nervously awaiting your response. Studying her with mirth dancing in your irises, you crooned in acceptance, fondly nudging your nose against her supple cheek. She was yours, and you were hers. A white rose blooming amidst a tumultuous storm.

“And my, my, what a powerful pair we make, my queen.”

[lokislastlove]

Come One, Come All! (Dark!Loki x reader) p.2

Summary: A girls night out to the fair takes an insidious turn.

Warnings: Noncon/Rape, Knife play, Oral (m&f), Smut, Bondage, Kidnapping

This is a dark fic! 18+ ONLY! Explicit Adult content. Please READ THE WARNINGS! Do not continue if these matters upset you!

Authors Note: Here is part 2, for those who have taken a chance on my trash, thank you so much!! I hope I don’t disappoint. ❤️

Chapter 2:

You feel your chest seize and you start to shake as your heart rate skyrockets, your body and mind dissolving into a full blown panic attack as you feel around the black box imprisoning you. You are only locked in for a minute before you hear rustling outside and you are thrown into the wall as the whole box shifts and turns.

“What the fuck. Oh my god, someone help! Please let me out!” Your voice cracks as your pleading grows more desperate with each passing minute.

You try to hold out hope that it’s a prank or part of the experience but after what you were sure had to be at least ten minutes of begging to possibly no one, you sag in defeat. Your eyes burn with hot tears, the temperature inside the box rising the longer you sit there. Stewing in silence and sweat, you listen to anything that might tell you where you have been moved to but the joyful bustle of the carnival fades early on.

You fall asleep hunched at the bottom of the box, arms wrapped tightly around your knees. You don’t know for how long but you are awoken roughly as the box tips over sending you face first into the solid surface. You grunt and stretch out, turning to lay on your back.

“Open it” you hear faintly.

The wall above you is ripped off instantly by a singular muscular arm. Startled, you gasp but manage to hold in the pathetic squeak when you look up into piercing blue eyes shrouded in unruly golden hair. Your own eyes widening as you take in the sheer mass of this man.

The muscles under his sun-kissed skin ripple as he huffs and stands straight. He scratches his bearded jaw, looking over to the darker figure you could barely see standing across from him.

“Yes I can see why you liked this one. Inquisitive eyes. A bit of fire in there, yes?” The hulking blond man raises a brow and smirks at you.

Had you not been in your current situation he would have been the type of man you could drool over for days. But considering the fact that you appear to be kidnapped, his physique only enhances your trepidation.

“Where the fuck am I?” You demand, fighting your soft-spoken nature.

“Yeah, there’s that fire” the large man chuckles deeply. “Want me to put her on the wall?” He asks looking back to his silent counterpart.

“The wall?” You mutter, panic rising again at the prospect of being ‘put’ anywhere.

“Yes, then you may go. Thank you , Thor” The darker mans voice drones, sounding bored.

The larger man, Thor, leans down and goes to grab you, making you scream and try to slap away his arms which is clearly ineffective, considering his bicep is the size of your head. He grabs your wrists easily and pulls you to your feet, you try going limp but he hardly seems to notice as he drags you out of the box. You start kicking and flailing wildly as he tosses you against a hard flat wooden surface attached to the wall. You sob as he takes one of your arms and stretches it straight out and snaps a mounted metal cuff around your wrist. You reach over with your free hand and try to unclasp the lock but he catches you and stretches the other arm out to the other side, rendering you completely helpless.

Arms spread wide, you feel exposed and vulnerable, especially when he traces his hand over your breasts before stepping away. That’s when you finally look at the thing you are mounted to. A circular wooden board painted red and white like a giant target, with you at the center.

“What the hell is this?” You tremble.

“Ankles too, for now” the dark suited man directs from across the room.

“Oh, well aren’t you a lucky girl” Thor chuckles under his breath before kneeling down and spreading your legs, attaching each to a similar iron restraint.

“Please. Please let me go” you plead softly to the bulky blond as he stands straight and smiles at you.

Thor brushes his thumb under your eye, catching a stray tear before sucking it into his mouth and humming.

“So sweet.” He praises before winking at you and leaving the room.

Your eyes settle on the lithe figure facing away from you. He’s tall and although he’s not as thick as Thor, you can tell he doesn’t lack strength either. He sheds his jacket and lays it neatly across the desk in front of him.

“If this is s-some sort of joke, it’s not funny” you stutter.

You watch in horror as he slowly turns to look at you, leaning back on his desk and crossing his ankles.

“You’re a clever girl, does this feel like a prank to you, darling?” His voice is as smooth as silk.

“Why are you doing this? Where are my friends?” You question, dreading the answer.

“Oh they will make fine prizes for the highest bidder. But you, darling… you caught my attention.” He explains blithely, slowly unbuttoning the cuffs of his shirt and rolling the sleeves up to his elbows.

“Lucky me” you scoff, narrowing your eyes at him as a wave of anger washes over you at the mention of your friends.

“Indeed.” He smiles cruelly.

“I swear to god if you hurt my friends –“ you fume before getting cut off suddenly.

You barely see the silver glint as something small whizzes through the air toward your head. A sharp silver blade sinks into the board next to your head, the shock causing you to choke on a gasp. It was mere inches away from your eye.

“Care to threaten me again?” He smirks, holding another knife in his right hand, the sharp point of it delicately pressing into the middle finger of his left hand.

You gulp as your body shakes uncontrollably, your life seemed to flash before your eyes in that moment. How did he throw that so fast, you say to yourself, the target behind you making more sense now. You shake your head in response to his question, voice lost amongst the adrenaline coursing through you.

“Very well” he nods once, with a small smile.

Your eyes are glued to the dagger in his hand, as he flourishes it about casually. Your muscles tense every time he tosses it gently in the air before catching it.

“Now, I want to know how you solved those riddles so quickly today” he asks lightly before throwing another dagger, this one splintering the wood inches away on the other side of your head. “And no lies.”

You squeak and close your eyes, body trembling so badly you aren’t sure how to form words anymore.

“I – I don’t know. I just did.” You manage to stammer out. “Please stop.”

Another dagger flies through the air, landing with a thud between your thighs.

“Oh my god, please! Please” you cry.

“You know some people could figure out one, maybe two, within the time limit. Most just get the answers from those who went before them. Others just come back repeatedly, mindlessly searching for the keys. But you… such a clever girl” he purred, pushing himself away from the desk still clutching another knife.

“You can hardly blame me for being curious” he continues, taking slow steps toward you.

He stops before you, admiring your terrified expression before dropping his eyes down your body. You pull on the restraints and shift in discomfort at his close proximity. He smiles as his eyes connect once more with your own, his pupils blown wide.

“I’m sorry, okay. I wasn’t trying to – I won’t ever do it again. Just please let me and my friends go,” you beg.

You watch him smirk and sniff at your pathetic pleas, both fully aware you have nothing to offer. He turns and calmly walks back to his desk.

“Ugh let me go you fucking creep! What do you want from me?” Anger and panic causing you to lash out desperately.

He turns and flings another dagger at you, but this time you feel a sharp pain under your arm. You look over to see the dagger pinning your shirt to the board, slowly staining with blood.

“Oh my god!” You scream shifting your arm away from the dagger. “You cut me!”

“Barely more than a scratch. You’ll survive.” He assured you coolly with a roll of his eyes.

You feel the slow flow of warmth trickle down the underside of your arm and you whimper as you watch him near you again. He stops in front of you and pulls the dagger from the board, releasing your shirt. He admires the blade for a moment and then reaches out to you, making you flinch away. His eyes flare at your reaction and he tuts disapprovingly.

“This shirt, however…” he mocks, sliding the sharp end of the blade under the hem of the fabric along your stomach, “I’m afraid it will not.”

You gasp as he brings the knife up cutting through the flimsy material with barely any resistance. You cry as the cool air breezes over your exposed stomach. The useless cloth hanging loosely off your arms.

“Better” he coos his appraisal, as he glides the tip of the knife from your neck to your navel.

Your chest heaves as the reality set in like a boulder dropping in your stomach. You can’t believe this is how your ‘fun night out’ is going. Cursing your luck as you wonder why the hell your intelligence only seemed to lead you to trouble and scummy men.

“All of this because I solved your stupid riddles” you gripe, shaking your head in bitter disbelief.

“Stupid?” He repeats, his face twisting in disgust at the insult.

“Yeah, what is it? You have a problem with women smarter than you? No, that can’t be it, you’d have to be used to that by now.” You sneer.

You don’t know where this boldness is coming from, but something about this man makes you angry, and you figure, what do I have to lose?

His face twists in anger and he slams the dagger into the wall above your head. Your head is now caged in by three sharp knives and yet you suppress a flinch.

“That, wasn’t so smart, darling.” His lip curls in amusement as he backs off slightly and grips the rounded edge of the board spinning it until you are hanging upside down.

Tags: @darkficsyouneveraskedfor @caffiend-queen

[ransprang]

hello! I was wondering if I could please request a romantic matchup for arcane?

I go by she/they pronouns and I am pansexual. I am an aries and an INFP 6w5.

I'm not really shy but I can be quite awkward which leads me to being a bit cold towards people at first since I don't like them to see that side of me. My moods vary depending on the day. Some days I have loads of energy and I am just wanting to be off doing things and being productive. Other days I am lazy and won't leave the house. Some of my hobbies are digital art, playing my ukulele, bike riding, reading, writing, cleaning my room, researching psychology related stuff. I tend to doubt myself a lot, yet I also have the mindset were everything will work out ok in the end so even if I am unmotivated wit life I can still envision a future where I am successful (if that makes sense) and then I become motivated again (it's a vicious cycle). I am also really good at keeping my composure. it is very hard to provoke reactions out of me so I guess that's why everyone says I am really calming. As for my type: I tend to like intellectuals or just people who can protect me because I like to feel safe. I hate anything too slow, I don't have much patience and also hot weather, overly obnoxious people or people who constantly hug. My love language is probably words of affirmation and acts of service...maybe physical affection if I love you.

I am sorry if this is too long, and take as much time as you need! thank you so much in advance :)

hey thanks for the request!

your arcane match up is............Heimerdinger!!

SFW

- Heimerdinger is a smart man he knows that under your awkward and cold exterior you are actually a pretty nice person. Thus he tries to get you to warm up to him over time. He’ll happily be the one to start conversations with you.

- Heimerdinger is a busy man so when you’re feeling lazy he can go and entertain himself outdoors. He’ll leave Poro with you though. Poro is very cute to cuddle with :)

- He is clearly super into researching so he can help you out as well or give you new ideas. You may think he doesn’t know anything about psychology but he is an incredibly intelligent man.

- You can use Heimerdinger's fallen whiskers as ukulele strings.

- He is a very motivated man with much to do in life. He admires how determined you are to reach success as well. If he’s able to motivate depressed Russian men (Viktor) he can most certainly motivate you when you’re feeling down.

- Don’t underestimate this lil furball. While he is intelligent he is also very protective. If you fall down on your back, he immediately rolls under you to break your fall.

your intellectual,

admin sar

[leo-dooley-lab-rats]

Chase Davenport: Character Dive

Chase Davenport is one of the beloved characters in the fandom. I’ve never been a huge fan of his character. Let me explain...

Many people point out how Chase is bullied by his family, mostly Adam. Chase earns a good deal of teasing due how much of know-it-all he can be and even how rude/mean Chase himself can be. Plus, all siblings fight. It’s perfectly natural. Brothers are known for physical rough housing as apart of sibling dynamics.

Chase has classic Davenport ego. He brags about being Mission Leader and the smartest man alive all the time. Chase appears to have made this his whole identity. Growing up in a basement with his two siblings would have made any differences between however small very important, at least to Chase. Bree and Adam don’t appear to have the same mindset as Chase. Bree identity broken between her desire to be normal despite the obvious fact that she can never be normal. Adam is extremely comfortable in his own skin. It is interesting how the trio grow up in basically the same environment, but all have different personalities(discussion for another day).

Back on topic, Chase is also youngest of the trio. That may play a factor as to why Chase values his status as mission leader and smartest man alive. As the youngest myself, there is built-in drive to compete with your siblings and want to be better than your siblings. From my experience, you often compare yourself to your older sibling(s). Adam and Bree are physical better than him(Adam is physically stronger and Bree physically faster). Chase also may have taken comfort in that fact that at least he smarter than them. This might help explain Chase’s behavior and why he controlling of it.

Chase at the most basic level is control freak who issues letting go. His ego and sense of self is rather fragile. You can see this in how he refuses to let go of his place as mission leader. Chase is fine leader. He is clearly a natural born leader. Chase just doesn’t know how to let go of that position. Chase being a leader of the bionic trio makes sense. Adam is no leader and neither is Bree. The episode “Chip Switch” is good example of why Chase is natural leader. When Leo comes onto the team, at first, it makes sense that Chase remains leader. As time goes on, Leo might have made a better leader for the team. Again, Chase ties identity to being mission leader and smartest guy in the room. He won’t let Leo be the leader of the team.

Whenever someone challenges Chase’s intelligence or place as a leader, he gets very territorial. Remember the episode Chase gets upset when Adam might be a better mentor at the Academy. Or when sciencist of Mr. Davenport and Chase got really pity with each other over the building of the space elavator. In Elite Force, Chase gets upset when Skylar might become leader. The solution was that there would not longer be assigned leader of the team(there are so many issues with that for the Elite Force. Don’t get me started). Or in the season one episode “Smart and Smarter”, Adam and Chase compete in the school election. Chase does let Adam win in the end, but it took Bree actally get involved in the matter. The point being, Chase is just not someone who likes to have anyone outshine him.

The show does very little to humble Chase. Chase does have moments where he sort of humbled. “Smart and Smarter” has Chase let Adam win after Bree points out how much it means to Adam. Chase doesn’t move to DC after seeing that Adam loves him and doesn’t want him to go. I find that Chase is often reset back to how he was before after these moments. I am sure other people get a different read off the character, but I don’t. Chase is too attached to his role as leader and status as smartest man alive.

I find the biggest reason I am not a big fan of Chase is his controlling nature. He is clearly a deeply flawed character. I do think that Chase always believes he doing the right thing. It sort of redeems him. Despite everything, Chase does try and wants to do good. He does loves his family. The show makes both these fact very clear throughout. I think that Chase just needs to learn to let go and not tie so much of himself to his identity as mission leader and the smartest man alive. He great benefit from it.

Overall, I can understand why people like Chase. He has nice looking face. The actor who plays him does good job. Chase does seem to have a good heart. He just not my favorite character.