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fabricated-misslieness · 8 months ago

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ᴘᴀɪʀɪɴɢ: tyler owens x cowboy male reader

ꜱᴜᴍᴍᴀʀʏ: there's a new cowboy at the rodeo tyler used to ride for, and tyler's itching to get to know him.

ᴡᴏʀᴅ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛ: 4.06k

ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢꜱ: plenty swearing, implied death in an acted play

ᴍᴀʏʙ'ꜱ ɴᴏᴛᴇ: cowboy slang vocabulary

☾⋆☆⋆☽

Rodeos are basically a second home for the famous Tornado Wrangler, Tyler Owens. This particular one he visits as often as he can, on weekend evenings to watch the show he used to ride for.

Sometimes, he misses it. He misses the blinding lights that make him forget he's in a glorified pit rather than a stage, and the whistling cheers and claps as he's fighting for his life on the back of a bull; most of all, he misses seeing his cowboy friends damn near every day for practice, especially the old rats that twister-signals him every time they spot each other.

Speaking of, he always tries to waive the fee for his ticket, and when he's too stubborn to accept, they bump down the $15 dollar price to a $3. Not that he ever agrees to that, either. He wants to support them.

All that history means he can always tell when they hire a new cowboy for the show, and this one, well, whew. Isn't he a looker?

Probably, anyway. The cowboy poncho's doing nothin' for his figure, and he's got his scarf up over his nose like the less pleasurable corona's still going around, but he's always had a little thing for cowboys with rat tails and hats over their eyes. Silly little things they are to want to act a mystery–fellers'll often get exposed one way or another–but there's just something about you that lassoes him in.

When Liam sees him walking over after the show, a purposeful look in his eye, he has to ask if he's coming back. "You finally quittin' your storm chaser business, cowpoke? We're startin' to miss ya."

"No, not today. Maybe when I'm forty." Tyler indulges him with a far off idea, like he always does to make small talk, but today he just can't wait to get to the point. "Who's the tenderfoot?"

"Oh, (Y/N)?" Liam chuckles, like a pleasant memory already brightens his mind just from the name. "He's good, ain't he?"

"Yeah, y'all train 'em for three months beforehand." Tyler brushes it off. He was good, but that wasn't the point, and–

"He's a total Bronc Buster, actually."

"Yeah, yeah," He dismisses it once more. "why the scarf? And the hat over his eyes?"

"We're starting a new thing next week." Liam strikes him with that famous excited grin of his, the one that often makes you forget how stern he can get, "Theatre plays on horseback."

"Plays on horseback–?"

"Yeah!" He replies with a nod like it's nothing. "Well, it's just regular plays without a stage, proper backdrops or a light crew," He lists off, then realizes just how depressive that must sound, "and real horses."

"Yeah, that's great, Liam, but why does that matter, exactly?" Tyler still had that one objective in mind, and that's finding out the mystery behind the newest cowboy on horseback.

"He's playin' the villain, of course. Gotta tease the man before we premier the show, builds up the anticipation, obviously."

"Right, right..." Though he trails off, he tries to act as though he knew the obvious marketing strategy, because obviously you put a man in a poncho and obstruct his vision so he looks like a good villain—that aside, he can't deny it worked.

"Look, dabster," Liam's the one waving him off this time, "he'll do fine, we'll do fine! We've rehearsed a lot, and we're sure it's a good idea."

"Uh-huh?"

"Just make sure to come on Friday rather than the weekend." Liam digs his finger into Tyler's chest, looking him in the eye so the man knows he's serious. "I mean it. We're only airing this thing on Fridays, it's long as all hell, Ty."

"How long?" Tyler deadpans.

"Pfft." Liam waves it off, "Long. Like Broadway up north. Lotta acting, intermission to push our food sales, then more acting. Climax, boom, tears and victory."

"Y'know the famous ones like Hamilton run for under three hours, right?" Tyler raises a brow. "Like a movie?"

"Like they say, you can't rush art, Tyler." Liam pats Tyler's shoulder twice reassuringly before he's pushing past and calling out his goodbyes with a yell. He had to leave with a one-liner, huh?

The buckaroo's just yammering, Tyler thinks to himself as he watches his old friend walk off. He only notices that he didn't get to ask for the new guy's number when his faraway figure gets to the size of a bean.

☾⋆☆⋆☽

"Flee, Danika, flee!" You shout to your horse as you barrel dive into cover. She does as promised, fleeing just far enough away that she'll hear your whistle once you've dealt with these bad, bad men.

With your back pressed against a rock and bullets just wooshin' past, you let the empty shells fall from your chamber to the ground and replace them. One by one, pressure's on, your fingers twitch, but they don't hesitate.

You'll get out of here alive, you always do.

You heave a breath, then another, a steady stream of inhales n' exhales, you're calming your heartbeat and will shoot with its rhythm.

Three, two...

Leaning over the edge of the rock, you aim.

Three, two, one.

Three men gone, off their horses and thudding against the harsh, hard ground, but there's more, ridin' in from the east and already prepping their aim. You scramble to get off your ass and into proper cover, the hay shed will do.

There's sweat over your face, it's making your scarf stick. You can't think about taking it off now, lest any of those boys make it out alive and see your face.

As the beat of the hooves comes to a stop, you peak 'round the open side of the shed and shoot.

Three, two, click, click, click.

Gods be damned, you've run out of bullets. You rush to flick open the chamber and empty the shells to replace them; the process is as natural as breathing to you, but not quite as fast.

A man rounds the corner, and you instinctively whip your revolver at his head to result in a crack that sounds all too real.

As the man thuds behind you, you peek around the corner with fresh bullets.

"We'll get you, you sonuvah gun!" The last of the reinforces is a coward, or a scout, as he's now ridin' away on his horse, but he's too gracious a host to consider leaving you without a parting gift.

The bullet that was meant for his head gets the dynamite that's gliding its way towards you, catching it mid air and detonating it early, before it gets you.

The force of the faroff explosion nearly knocks your hat off your head and your ass to the ground, if you hadn't already been there.

"Lord almighty..." You let your revolver fall to the ground harmlessly–which bounces off a little more than it's really meant to–and sigh.

The hat comes off, then the scarf, and you breathe, breathe, breathe.

You're alive, and you've got more enemies. Oh, who cares? What's a few more names to the list?

☾⋆☆⋆☽

As the crowd finally sees the villain's face for the first time, people whistle and ooh at the him.

Tyler's gut feeling was right: he is a looker.

That aside, the storm chaser had to admit, old Liam was onto something, even with the noticeably fake props. The only thing he's wondering is why it's been one hour and the regular rodeo show is resuming as usual. It's not intermission, cause they're not pushing food marketing as Liam said they would.

He doesn't have to ponder very long as he meets up with his old friend again.

"I took your advice to heart, actually. I knew the ol' star would be exhausted after all of it, so I thought we'd split it over a month, and play the same section all weekend. More ticket sales."

Tyler raised a brow at the mention of the protagonist, "Ol' star? He had one scene."

"Not him," Liam says it like he should know, like they're both back in front of the drawing board again, "(Y/N)."

"The villain's the star?" Tyler deadpans.

Liam chuckles in turn, "Didn't you hear the crowd when we finally revealed his face?"

"Oh." Tyler shakes his head, "Well, ain't he dyin' later? Stars don't die."

"Ehhh..." Liam waves his hand and shakes his head side to side in a kind of gesture. "It's implied."

"It's implied?"

"Endings are best left up to interpretation!" The man flourishes with a grand gesture, heaving more energy around than Tyler's used to seeing from him. This thing must really be a passion project. "Don't ruin it, for me, son."

Tyler raises both his hands in surrender at that. "You won't see nothin' from me, old man."

Tyler lets him walk off this time, he deserves that much; only then does he realize that he hasn't got the new guy's number. Again.

☾⋆☆⋆☽

"Negotiations? I don't do negotiations." You're huddled behind cover, hidden from view as you talk with the alleged big huncho of the mining camp. He brought reinforcement, nothing you can't handle, but it could still spell trouble.

"I like to look at a man when I'm talkin' to him."

You scoff. "Like hell I'll peek. You'll blow my head clean off if I try."

"I'm a man of my word." He insists, his deep jazzy voice just screaming a man of wealth and contracts.

"And so am I, but you wouldn't trust that." Idly, you check the chamber of your revolver, having learned from your mistakes. Six bullets, not shells, ready to be fired.

"Touché, good sir."

"Good sir?"

"As I understand it," The man says, his voice is strong to reach your ears but it ain't threatening, "you just want a cut of my money."

"And if I do?" You click the chamber back in place, listening for out of place sounds like footsteps.

"I'm willing to pay." Oh, that haughty bastard really thinks he's gonna get you with that?

"Like hell you are." You laugh, a loud thing so you make sure he hears that you're not gullible.

As the big man begins to speak again, surely more lies that are meant to coerce you into taking the bait, you throw a stray wood chip up into the air.

Bang!

The split second after it sees the light of day, the wood chip is shot to splinters, right as you'd expected.

"I think negotiations are over, sir..?"

"Cornwall." The man sighs out his name. "Good day to you, sir."

"Good day, sir Cornwall."

☾⋆☆⋆☽

As he often finds himself doing nowadays, Tyler goes around searching for Liam to talk about a particular someone. Little does he know that where he usually finds his old friend, he'll finds someone else.

"Excuse me," He begins politely, not recognizing the man from behind. "have you seen Liam?"

When you turn around to reply instead of another cowboy he might know, his little stunned gaze makes your words take on a confused tone. "He's playing his part in the pit..?"

"Oh." Tyler has barely any time to register that Liam's actually taking part in the acting biz before he's scrambling to greet you properly. "You're (Y/N), right? The new guy?"

"That's me." You nod your head and take a sip from your bottle. In a couple minutes you'll be back in the show again, so you're making the most of your small break. "And you?"

"Um, Tyler. Tyler Owens. Does Liam not talk about me?"

As the star of the million-follower YouTube channel Tornado Wranglers, Tyler thinks he's kind of a big deal around Oklahoma, especially around here as he used to ride for the local rodeo. He's usually not an arrogant guy, unless he decides to play it up for the competition, but...he finds that his ego is a little bruised now.

"I'm just playin' with you, poppet. Liam never stops singing his praises 'bout you." You offer your hand for a shake, a well placed gesture if you hadn't just called him poppet.

Tyler flushes a little, because, well, poppet's quite an endearing term and you're hot and there's something about men that are sweaty and out of breath. He manages to shake your hand without making a fool of himself anyway. "What does Liam say about me?"

"He said that you've taken a million kicks from bulls and you still managed to go an get yourself a fancy degree, that you're tough as nails and can always tell when he slips you belly wash." You list off a couple of less than good things about him in detail so excrutiating that Tyler knows Liam's said them time and time again. "Oh, and that you always rode pretty well."

Tyler comes out of it a little embarrassed, and his voice therefore comes out meek, like he hasn't spoken for a while. "Yeah?"

"Yeah." You laugh and pat his shoulder. "You know how Liam is, he'll point out how you're a hill of beans and then praise ya."

His shoulders deflate with relief and he laughs along with you. "Yeah, I know 'im."

"Truth be told, it's kinda nice to hear about the real man as opposed to the Tornado Cowboy persona." You say it kind of sheepishly, which is rather nice to see when he's only ever had a cocky you to compare to.

Plus, you'd just admitted that you watch his videos, making his grin widen. "You a fan?"

"Don't get too full o' yourself, cowboy." You point a finger at him, huffing a laugh. "I see you in the stands every week."

He could just say it's because this play is an ongoing thing with a new sorta 'episode' each week, which is the truth, or he could flirt along. "You caught me," He hisses like it's a big deal and it's embarrassing to be caught. "I am your biggest fan."

"You like anti-heroes, do ya?" You chuckle, narrowing your eyes at him.

"I'm as gullible as everyone else, darlin'. I'll like any villain so long as they're hot n' ride good." He sends a wink over, because there ain't no subtlety when there's a crowd just a ways away you've gotta shout over.

You wolf-whistle in turn, "Is that so, poppet?"

"I'm being simon-pure." He insists, tipping his hat for extra measure.

This is going well for Tyler, you're responsive to his flirting and you can match it too. Unfortunately, good things always have to come to an end.

"Listen, Tyler," You indulge him with a laugh but unfortunately point towards the stage. "I don't wanna miss my cue, so I've got to...well, you know. What I'm saying is..."

"Wanna grab a root later?" Tyler takes the opportunity to ask first, eagerly at that.

"Yeah," You smile, grateful that he took the opportunity. "yeah, uh, want my number?"

It's the fourth week in a row Tyler watches another figure walk off on a Friday evening, but this time he's got his prize secured, and he's left more hopeful than regretful.

☾⋆☆⋆☽

These stubborn miners are just setting up more and more defenses, to the point where you're pondering what marks the difference between a mining camp and a Pinkerton camp. Is it gun count or armed miner count?

You settle into prone on a ridge overlooking the camp to make your figure less noticeable amidst the bright sky–earning you a couple strange bird caws from onlooking eagles–and scout out with your binoculars.

"Tall fences," You begin to mutter under your breath. "sniper outposts on the roof, a guard at the wagon rail, no, two; several on each little path in and out."

And...is that a Gatling gun? "Ugh, seriously?"

"What is it, my darling?" Your sweetheart calls from behind you. Before you can answer, she's rolling you over onto your back and settling half on your lap. The geese in V-formation above caw louder.

"Nothing to worry your pretty little head about." You assure, a nice smile on your face as you steady the gal.

You couldn't worry her, no, you're doing this all for her, after all. It's not her fault her daddy got their family into a deep, six foot grave kind of debt before the man got himself killed in a fishing trip gone wrong, after all.

"There is always somethin' to worry over." She giggles, hands trailing over your chest, pulling your attention away for the moment.

"I know, poppet, but–"

"You're worryin' right now." She points out, drawing circles over your heart with her pointer.

You sigh, "I know."

"Let me take your handsome lil' mind off it, can I?"

She's already leaning down before you can even say no.

☾⋆☆⋆☽

As soon as you start kissing up that pretty girl in that pit you take for a stage, Tyler looks down at his phone. He taps the screen impatiently, almost as if you'll answer him right now while you're up there, all busy.

Hey, it's Tyler. It was nice meeting you.

How does six at the Hay Shed sound?

"He ghosted me." Tyler groans. It's covered up by the sound of the ooh-ing crowd, but he doesn't much care if it's heard or not. "Seriously, I find a man as fine as cream gravy, and he ghosts me?"

It was too good to be true. You're hot, you called him poppet, and you were receptive to his flirting; too good to be true.

...

"Liam, hey! Can I borrow a horse?"

Nothing's better for clearing the mind than a good horse ride right before sunset, it's like long walks at the beach. Tyler often found that it was also great for dealing with break ups or, in this situation, not even making it to the talking stage.

He doesn't check his phone, doesn't even realize it's vibrating in place with it in the saddle bag. Instead, his eyes are straight ahead.

He's riding towards the sunset like it's the end of a movie, and what a poor, short movie it is.

It's fine. It's fine, it really is. It's not like he was already mashed, anyway, no sir! He's just disappointed. It's a big cavernous feeling in his chest like it's empty, when it's really filled with something none too good.

"Ah," Tyler sighs out, hopefully exhaling all them feelings. He pats the horse, watches its ears twitch as he talks. "You understand me, big guy?"

He's too caught up in feeling sorry for himself to hear someone else riding up beside him.

"Perfect spot for a first date, huh?"

"Holy shit, what the fuck?" Tyler damn near falls off his horse. He has to hold onto the reigns with white knuckles in order not to.

"You done airin' your lungs, poppet?" You only grin in return, pointing out your shirt pocket, at your phone. "I shot you a text."

Tyler huddles closer to his horse's neck. Though he's still heaving recovering breaths, he finds the sass to say, "About a week late."

"Yeah, 'm sorry about that." You rub the back of your neck, your smile melting with shame. "I'm kind of a busy man."

"Oh, yeah?" He shoots back with furrowed brows and a scowl.

"Yeah, I totally deserve that." You bow your head a little, "It's just, I work the show all weekend, and I was so exhausted comin' back in on Tuesday that it totally slipped my mind."

Oh.

"Let me make it up to you?" You ask hopefully, looking at him with those sheep's eyes, and it makes him feel a little guilty.

"I'm sorry." Tyler says quickly, straightening up and all and mirroring your apologetic look.

"No, no, it's totally fine!"

"I mean, I totally didn't realize–"

So there you both are, spewing excuses to be sorry for each other, guilt eating away at you like worms do a book. There seems to be no end to it. Your pseudo-argument stretches as far as the horizon, up until the sun sets below it.

"Seriously, let me make it up to you." Before he can even reply, you continue. "You said the Hay Shed, yeah? I'll buy our dinner, no big deal."

"I–" Tyler starts up, but you shoot him a pointed look, quieting him down. "Okay."

"Okay, good." That nice, charming smile of yours builds up again, and he almost swoons.

"Race you?" He smiles back, tipping his head forward.

You're already shifting into proper form. "Oh, you're on, cowboy."

☾⋆☆⋆☽

You're sitting in your porch in that old rocking chair of yours, your white hair sweeping off your forehead as an easy breeze blows past. Your fingers tap to the rhythm of your boy playing the guitar and his mother singing along. Ranch life has treated both you and Danika well. The old girl gets to snack on sugar cubes every day while you got to lock your revolvers away and sip on fine liquor every night after dinner.

It's been a good life, you think as you watch the sun set. Your sins are long behind you.

...this isn't how you planned to die.

No, not in this damn cave away from your girl, slowly choking on fumes, trapped in by a cave in.

Somewhere, distantly, you can hear that good for nothing hero laughing like old Saint Nick himself, shouting to the world his victory.

It's not even his, you think stubbornly, because you won't give him the victory of thinking your death is his to brag about, it's this damned fire and these damned rocks.

You were so, so close. You've killed dozens of men just to get in this gods-damned gold mine and steal a couple nuggets for your girl, and you almost made it out.

This is how you'll die, all alone here choked by a fire.

Oh hells. If you're going to die you might as well die by the hands of a man who's actually worthy of the kill.

Shakily, you lift your hand.

This world was shit. Hope the next is greener.

☾⋆☆⋆☽

"Ah, oh god, fuck off!" Tyler shouts, and despite all that fight to shove your lips off his chin and his face, he's laughing.

"What, am I not pretty enough for ya, darlin'?" You pull him closer with warm–noticeably not scalding–hands at his waist, puckering your lips playfully at him.

There's black makeup, soot, over your face: on your cheeks, 'round your eyes, on your forehead, everywhere.

"Go boil your shirt!" With one shove, he pushes you so hard you fall into your vanity chair. The flimsy old thing rocks from side to side before settling back down with your weight on it.

You roll your eyes, picking up a makeup wipe once stabilized to begin cleaning yourself off. "If you didn't like me, you just had to say so."

"Don't be like that." Before you can answer, he's turning your chair and sitting on your lap, though when you try to kiss him, he pushes you away again. "You're not done yet, cowpoke."

You huff and whine, and you'd kick your feet if you could, like it's the worst shame in the world.

"Don't pitch a fit at me." He points a finger at you and you laugh in turn.

"No, of course not, darling."

Tyler waits patiently as you wipe the makeup off, realizing as he does that he's been through worse shit: the biggest tornadoes, the harshest thunder storms, and the stickiest mud. Although to be fair, he hasn't had mud that transfers as easily as this cheap makeup does on his face before.

"That good enough?" He shakes his head, prompting you to huff and wipe your face again. "Now?"

It's still not good enough for him. Fortunately, he snatches up the wipe and passes it over your face himself. It feels as rough as a cat's tongue or your dad hosing you down after you tracked mud around the house, and you're fixing to speak your mind about it.

"There you are." Tyler's face emerges from behind the wipe, a wide, teasing smile on his face that tells you he was wiping you off longer than he needed to. "Apple-pie order."

His lips are on yours right after that, drowning you with a toad strangler of love. Your complaints die out right on your tongue, because how could you ever be mad at him?

Answer is: you can't.

☾⋆☆⋆☽

ɴᴏᴛᴇ: i watched this movie in spanish so i don't know what tyler's cowboy nickname is in english and i've also forgotten some details in the movie (ex: if it was mentioned that scott and javi are ex-boyfriends, i literally did not notice until i read the wiki)

#🌸 // success!#💞 // darlings #tyler owens x male reader #tyler owens x reader #twisters x reader #twisters x male reader #🎟 // twisters #🎫 // tyler owens #🎫 // tyler #🤬 // swearshirt

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peekawoocc · 11 months ago

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LAW X READER

P.s. ok, so I wrote this within the span of a day, so if there's any mistakes, I apologize. As I mentioned in the first part, this loosely goes along with the actual chronological events of the Wano season of One Piece. If I missed any important details, I'm sorry. I'll probably do one or two more parts. The last part will probably take a while because I'm still watching Wano.

CW: Smut, Oral sex (reader recieving), yes we get cockblocked yet again my dudes.

Cockblocked in Wano Pt.3

You followed after Law once he walked out due to his fight with Shinobu. You knew he and his crew never ratted the Samurai out. To be completely honest, you were just as mad as Law, which seemed impossible considered the sour look he had.

How could Shinobu have accused the Heart Pirates of such betrayal? How could she say anything bad about them when they had Bepo? You would've killed for Bepo. He was a whole reason on his own for why you could no longer stand there and listen to her accusations.

As you were lost in your thoughts, you were suddenly brought back to real time as you accidentally walked into Law's back. Somehow you were at the Polar Tang.

"If you'd rather go back and be with your crew, I completely understand," Law said carefully.

"Oh, i-its fine. I don't think I could handle being near Shinobu anyway, not after that. Now's not the time to be pointing fingers,"

"I completely agree y/n. I'm not stranger to being accused of being the bad guy, I'm a pirate after all. Oh well," Law said with a hint of appreciation in his voice. He could tell you were on his side. Always loyal and kind.

You followed Law as he entered the submarine. It was quiet. Perhaps too quiet. But how could you possibly know? This was your first time in the Heart Pirates home base.

Law walked towards one door way and then turned to look at you.

"Stay here for a moment,"

"Okay,"

Law looked around the shared quarters belonging to his crew. He saw a few faces and noticed they were all sleeping. No hints of danger.

Law exhaled a sigh of relief as he turned back to fetch you.

"It seems everyone's getting some rest, follow me,".

And you did just that.

Not sure where he was leading you, you felt yourself get nervous with anticipation. You knew you could trust him, that's not what worried you. What worried you was the idea of being completely alone with Law. No interruptions. No more having to worry about being walked in on like this morning. However, you two had already gotten into some fun once already. Maybe it could happen again. Your heart fluttered at the thought.

"These are my quarters,"

"O-oh?"

"Maybe we should try to get some rest too. I wasn't expecting to be woken up so suddenly this morning,'

"Yeah, sorry about that,"

"No need to apologize. Hell, I should be thanking you if anything,"

"What, why?"

"I can't tell you the last time I slept for hours like that without waking up 3-4 times from nightmares. It was strange, but it was really nice. And I think its because of you,".

He opened the door to his bedroom, smiling as he did. You felt yourself blush at his kind words.

You took a good look around his room. It was well kept and clean. There was a desk next to a bookcase in one corner, filled to the brim with folders, books, and various documents. Everything from medical books to comics. On the opposite side of his room was a bed. You were surprised to see how big it was. You were expecting something smaller due to Laws lanky, skinny figure, but it made sense. His legs are so long and he must toss and turn a lot if he has trouble sleeping, must need room to sprawl out.

"Mind helping me sleep again?" Law asked without looking at you, he was blushing slightly.

"Sure!"

You felt yourself flush slightly, you felt like you sounded too eager to cuddle with the black cat-like man.

But he didn't acknowledge it. He put Kikoku against the wall and his hat on his desk before making his way to the bed. He watched you make your way towards him and generously held the blanket up for you to snuggle next to him. You prompted yourself up slightly as you laid down, pushing Laws shoulders down and pulling him in front of you.

Before he could ask what you were doing, you answered his thoughts.

"Lay your head on my chest,".

This caused Law to glance down at your breasts as he gulped audibly. How cute, you thought, as you saw him get flustered. As you watched his expression, you felt some boldness due to the sight of how weak your body made him. You giggled and before he could look back up to your eyes, you grabbed the back of his scalp and pushed his face down into your breasts. You heard him gasp into your chest and began giggling more.

As you did, not paying much attention to the man suffocating into you, Law slowly lifted his gaze to your face as he gently bit your displayed cleavage.

"Ouch, what was that for?" you asked, giggling calming down.

"Clearly you're not tired enough for a nap, maybe I should help tire you out," he smirked, and dove back down to suck on your exposed skin. Your giggling was replaced by sucking in your breath as you felt his lips on you. Law began trailing down to your right nipple, dragging his tounge towards it as he pulled your his kimono to the side, opening your body to him more.

He gently sucked on your nipple, and brought his right hand over your unattended tit.

You let out a shaky low moan. Not even loud enough to be considered a whisper.

"L-Law? W-what are you aah~, d-doing?"

He let out a low chuckle, almost growling as he spoke.

"Following through on my promise, I meant what I said,".

He winked at you before diving back down on you, slowly kissing his way lower and lower until he was completely covered by the blanket. Conventially, your legs were already spread for him to hold his body in between. He stopped his trail of kisses and pressed his open mouth to your left hip, sucking in your flesh in between his teeth as he bites you. The bite is gentle at first, but it becomes stronger, earning him a gasp from you. He chuckles again as he makes his way lower. Slowly he places wet open mouth kisses on your inner thighs.

"L-Law!" you whimper, desperately needing to feel him on your core.

He began biting at your thighs, but suddenly stopped.

"Law?" you asked, curious as to why he pulled away.

Suddenly the blanket was gone, and Law had a hungry, devilish smirk on his face.

"I want you to watch me turn you into a mess," he spoke calmly.

Before you could respond, he started devouring you. Pulling moans out of you as your head falls back.

He started sucking lightly on your clit, just enough to make you crave more of him. As you bucked your hips to encourage him, he didnt seem to get the memo.

Letting out a groan of frustration for not getting what you wanted, you looked down at the hungry man between your thighs. You were met with a gaze that seemed to have already been staring at you.

Law smirked. "Bout time you looked at me. Watch me and I'll give you what you need," he said as he began to pick up the pace.

It was exactly the kind of pace and pressure you needed. You started to feel the coil in you getting closer and closer to snapping. Then he added 2 of his beautiful fingers into your entrance making his way to your sweet spot as he lapped and sucked on your clit. It didn't take much after that to make your vision go white as you rode out your orgasm.

After you came back down to reality, you panted as you looked back down at Law. He was licking his fingers, swallowing down your essence. If he didn't give off black cat energy before, he definitely resembled the actual thing with how he licked his hand. It was cute.

"Thank you, that felt amazing,"

"Too soon to thank me, sweetness. I've got more in store for you,"

"Oh really~. Like what, exactly?"

Law slowly started crawling over you, hovering above you.

"I was thinking about fucking you until you went dumb on my dick-"

*Bang Bang Bang*

"CAPTAIN!? IS THAT YOU!? ARE YOU BACK!?" a female voice called from behind the locked door.

Not again. What happened this time?

"Dammit," Law sighed, he sounded desperate as he pressed his forehead against yours and closed his eyes.

He lifted his head back, raising an eyebrow.

"Do I have time to-...get prepared?"

"CAPTAIN WHAT DO YOU MEAN!? THIS IS URGENT! SHACHI, PENGUIN, AND BEPO WERE CAPTURED!"

"Why can't anyone stay out of trouble," he began. Though his words sounded harsh, you could hear the sloght tremble of worry they carried.

"Coming!" he yelled at the voice behind the door.

You heard some footsteps shuffle away from the door.

"Not in the way I'd like to...," Law sighed with furrowed brows. All you could do was giggle.

"Come on, we need to go find your crewmates,"

"Not we, I got it. It's not your responsibility. Oh, and two more things-"

"What?" you couldn't help sounding slightly dissapointed to be away from him.

Sensing your disapproving tone, he hoped that what he was about to say would make you cheer up.

"-First thing, don't tell the Straw Hats about my crew being captured. I'm going to get them back,".

You understood why he didn't want Luffy to know. You knew Luffy would cause more trouble breaking down walls to help Law rescue his crew.

"Ok, what's the second thing you wanted to say?"

"When I get back, I'm going to fuck you so good, you'll want to join my crew instead," he smirked at you. You went completely red. You were so hot and bothered it looked like steam was blowing out of your ears.

Law giggled and got up to reposition his kimono. He started making his way to the door, then he looked back at you fondly.

"Wait for me, sweetness,"

"I-i will,"

And with that, his mission began.

#one piece #trafalgar law #trafalgar law x reader #fanfic

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virtuouswhitehatorganization · 6 months ago

Text

Where Miss Heed Struggled In Evil Science Until She Got Help From Flug She Exceeded In Lying Classes

"Cecilia was never very apt at evil science, I remember asking her several times why she was taking that class, but she would just tell me that she wanted to be able to develop something special that would make the world see that she was special too. Somehow she managed to inspire me and that’s when I started to personally teach her everything I knew about evil science. I remember it was hard to get her to concentrate, she was a very lazy student and easily angered when things didn’t go right the first time, but after a lot of effort I taught her enough so that she could become the second best in the class.”

It's been emphasized that Miss Heed was never good at Evil Science due to being a lazy student and threw tantrums when things didn't go her way. It would take tutoring from Flug to make her become the second best in class.

However, just because she was a poor student in that subject doesn't mean she had to be failure in other classes. I can imagine she was actually good at some subject matter. One of which is being a good liar which actually does seems to be a trait that the Black Hat Organization values.

The villains' manual itself has a section all about focusing on being good liars. It's a trait probably a lot of villains value and Miss Heed totally exceeds at so I can imagine it was one of her favorite classes because she actually was good at it and her teachers actually give positive attention for this trait. As a result, she was happy she could get any sort of praise she could get since she was an outcast in the Academy.

They even have a criminal expert who is all about showing how deceive people named Joe Tiplaggio. Just imagine if he was also a professor at the Black Hat Institute where he could have shown tons of techniques to his students including Miss Heed who could have taken his lessons to heart and use them when trying to masquerade as a righteous hero while in private being an absolute brat to everyone.

I mean she used her skills as a liar to obviously deceive Flug into believing he was her friend and get to his thesis so she could use it for her own purposes. So I can imagine she already was on her way to being a great lying little rat who is willing to use anyone to get attention at all cost.

In her hero life, she really uses the power of deception to keep up her image to this day. She obviously used things like this in her instagram account to put up a false image like acting like she's her own community manager and she's a kind person, when in reality Anana Pina does all the heavy lifting and she really cares more about the perks of heroism while brainwashing villains, heroes, and even civilians to be her servants. Skills valued in a villain could also be used for a corrupt hero to use.

And probably the biggest whomper which is with the help her father, actual community manager, and even the news the lie that she was framed and that it was actually the villains behind her actions. And it will probably be followed by her book which would even further try to frame her as a victim and throw a couple of villains like probably Flug under the bus to get her reputation back. And the irony of this all of this would make her a magnificent villain if she actually tried being one instead of pretending to be the hero she's not.

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lowkeyrobin · 1 year ago

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Hello I was wondering if you’d be able to write a Genloss Ranboo x Gender neutral reader, where the reader dies, and how Ranboo would react to that? :) (also would I be able to be 💠 anon please?)

ah yes of course!! ; and welcome to the family !!! hope you enjoy our very full and chaotic household

GENLOSS! RANBOO ; sun killer

summary ; your death

warnings ; death, language, talk about Ranboo pulling on the mask/kinda gore but not really, influence by spiritbox bc I love them

track ; sun killer ; spiritbox

word count ; 1.6k

masterlist

[I also recommend this song bc I love Linkin Park and I hold this and she couldn't dear to my heart]

You'd been trapped on the SAW carousel of death, alike many of the others you'd come to know a bit better, having been trapped for hours and hours here. You were surrounded by a large gate, trapped by a man who thought he was attractive, joined by two human sized rats who could speak English. Somehow, his wasn't the weirdest situation you'd ever gotten into.

Finally, Ranboo, your savior, enters the room.

He gets the carousel up and running, deciding to get a little imput on who to bring with him on his adventure, which would include lots of puzzles and thinking. Both of which you weren't good at.

You sit next to Niki, whom could apparently sob for hours on end. She wears a bright red outfit, paired with a bucket hat. It contrasted her split dyed hair, which looked very nice on her.

You were the next to try and convince Ranboo on why they should take you with them.

"Uh, hello, I'm Y/n. I'm not great at puzzles, but uhm... I'm good at being funny! And I think really deeply about things, and I mean, if there's a deeper meaning to things, then I can definitely solve your puzzles! I-I just wanna go home, I'm gonna be honest. I miss my family and my pets, and I wanna live. I really wanna live, I've barely gotten to experience life yet, please"

Ranboo looks at you solemly, looking over at the man in charge. He looked at you like he knew you, but you'd never seen the masked boy before. It was so weird, but you felt like something deep inside of you recognized them too. You just didn't know from where. It was like the scent of something familiar, but you couldn't put your finger on it.

You're left tied to the carousel once they leave with Nikki and Sneeg. You, Austin, Ethan, Vinny, and Frank sit in silence, pondering of when the three sticks of dynamite wrapped around your necks would explode. Frank would be the only survivor, but he's also a rotting corpse, so I mean... Eh.

But, they never exploded, surprisingly. Vinny was actually the next one to be able to leave, somehow. You strike a conversation with the New Jersian surfer bro Charlie, laying on a stretcher a few feet away.

"So, like, why were you eating non-edibles, and how'd you even shove them down your throat?"

"They just slid down, man. Like that one scene from Stand By Me, I ate a bunch of raw eggs right before that" He answers with a nod, "My eyeballs hurt"

You nod and mumble a "Same"

Austin and Ethan are next to be untied, traveling through some Coraline door tunnels, leaving you, Frank, and Charlie alone in the carousel room. You sit silently, hoping you'd be able to escape.

Maybe that's what the game was, a puzzle game to freedom.

Your hopes for freedom shot through the roof as you sit in silence, begging and pleading in your head for the rats to come back for you. Charlie seemed to be pretty dead at this point, considering all the... blood. Everywhere.

But, alas, came your time to shine. You were never the bright one of the group. You just kind of looked at things and reached way too far into it. I dunno, maybe being instructed to solve puzzles with dynamite around your neck wasn't the most chill environment where you'd be thinking level-headedly.

But, you powered through, trying to get your way out of the final door.

You were with Austin, Ran, and Sneeg, with no sign of Ethan, Vinny, or Niki. There was a target on one wall, a button with a large sign that read to not push the button, a TV covered by static, and random trinkets and games lining the shelves.

The first thing you all thought about was the target, considering apparently Jerma said that the challenge would be hard. Hitting the one hundred on the tiny target would've been hard, so he and Ranboo try their best to do it with no luck. At one point, Austin decides to just mimic the suction cup arrow hitting the one hundred, which did nothing, either because he cheated or it just wasn't the way out.

You and Sneeg look around while you try to think that maybe certain items had to be in certain places, leading to you frantically organizing all the trinkets and games. Ranboo looks at you with worry, seeing your face full of fear. It was like they almost knew what was coming next but didn't know how to help you.

Ranboo turns around and stares at the button while Austin and Sneeg almost discourage him, considering a couple sticks of dynamite lay right under it. It wouldn't make sense to use reverse psychology, but it also wouldn't make sense to put it there solely to kill whoever was near and damage the room.

The boy with the mask quickly presses the button, waiting for the explosion that never came. You turn to see the door opening across from you, and you look back at the tall boy with a light smile and thumbs up. You place the board game you were carrying across the room down, seeing that you didn't need it anymore.

A voice (The Puzzler) speaks over the loudspeaker, informing you only one could fit through the hole, which was just a lie? But only one of you was supposed to progress.

Austin tries to fight for the exit and Sneeg pulls him back while the floor slowly moves him through the hole. The lights turned off, and you didn't remember anything after that.

Or even before that.

You woke up a new person, streaming in your room until Ranboo, who you didn't even see for a solid minute, interrupts you by pulling your headphones off.

"Holy shit! Dude, I'm streaming" You speak, jumping out of your skin.

"We need to go, come on!" He exclaims, "You can get back to it later, but we need to go, now!"

You look around, seeing you were inside one of the malls food court shops behind the counter. Your setup was nearly the same, but behind you was a bunch of posters and meal menus. You quickly stand up, trusting the boy you called a friend, hopping over the counter.

"What the hell is going on?" You ask him and Charlie.

Charlie shrugs while Ranboo turns around.

"Do-Do you not remember the cabin thing? Th-The warehouse? It's all just been a show, I mean-"

He's cut off by silence as you approach a funeral/grave inside one of the shops nearby, the headstone reading 'RIP THE PUZZLER'.

"Okay, Ran, what's going on? What do you mean it's been a show? Who the fuck is The Puzzler?" You ask them, trying to make sense of your confusion.

"Wait, no, we aren't the only ones, are we?" Charlie asks, his hands on his head, "There's-There's Sneeg and- shit! There's Niki and Ethan, and, uhm, fuck! We- We have to find them! We need to help them!"

Ranboo tries their best to calm him down, but has to resort to the last option.

"There is no saving them! We have to go, now. We just have to get out of here, maybe we can find help, I dont know!"

The three of you try to progress towards the stairs but slowly back away after seeing some... person (?) standing in front of the doors, back faced towards you.

"What are those?"

"I-I don't know, back up"

"Please explain what those fucking things are"

"I-I've been told that they're human, I think! It's some type of facility, I don't know what's going on"

"What if we find one of those map things?" You suggest, "To find where we are and to find another exit."

"Good idea"

Ran quickly leads you two to a mall map, where Charlie finds the 'you are here' dot. The two try and find an exit while you do a little exploring into the dark, and notice some feet down to your right.

You slowly look down, being greeted by one of those guys from earlier, head banged into the back of the directory, blood dripping down the screen. You slowly progress forward, seeing a silhouette in the distance.

The two quickly notice your disappearance and see the dead guy, calling for you as they see whatever thing in the distance stand up and growl. You don't listen, like you couldn't hear them, and progress onwards.

"Y/n! Come on, we're leaving!" Charlie shouts as you fade into the darkness in silence.

You're thrown back by a compelling force, being thrown all the way back to the escalator past Ranboo and Charlie, hitting your head to knock you out. The two run to your aid, your eyes closed.

Ran quickly notices that most of your midsection was torn away, revealing your ribcage. He's only able to stare as Charlie quickly pulls him away, seeing the creature that hurt you was gaining on them.

They run as fast as they could.

👁️⃤▓👁️⃤▓👁️⃤▓👁️⃤▓👁️⃤▓👁️⃤▓👁️⃤▓👁️⃤

Ranboo pulls at their mask, just wanting out.

He sits on his knees, pulling and pulling, feeling the wires pulling inside them.

"Get off of me!"

They cry, feeling their eyes roll back into their skull as they pull the mask further and further away from their face. Their hands grip at the top of the mask, trying to rip the back off of their neck.

They'd cut themselves over and over again on the metal, their hands bloody, staining the contraption that controlled them.

They didn't want to live. They wanted to die. Why didn't they let him die? Why did he have to live? He didn't want to be like this. He didn't want to do this! He didn't want to live like this!

They scream in agony, making one final pull on the mask before they drop to the floor. Wires tangle in their throat, the final backing piece of the mask snapping in two.

They lay on the cold, hard, floor, blood pouring out of any extremity possible. Wires hang about, halfway pulled out of their body.

"Just kill me already, damnit"

#lowkeyrobin #mcyt x reader #mcyt preferences #mcyt oneshot #ranboo x reader #genloss ranboo #genloss ranboo x reader #gl ranboo #gl ranboo x reader #mcyt x gn reader #gn reader #gender neutral reader #they/them reader #💠 anon

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pastel-rights · 6 months ago

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Assign your friends/moots an Animal that reminds you of them!

... hehehhehehehhe animals. love it when my mutuals.

Yuu is a raven, yeah. the main raven, a bad bitch, classic bird. Nerissa is ALSO a raven so, maybe it's the duo energy.

Tae is a dinosaur because I named a plush dinosaur after her but... hmm... okay, actually, we're changing the person here. Rui? Rui is a bunny. Why? Well, Kasumi HATES cats with a passion, but, he loves bunny rabbits. And he loves his brother. So, Rui is a bunny.

Beth is giving... hmm... beth's giving a puppy dog... golden retriever energy. I'd trust Beth with my life, she's just a walking bag of sunshine.

I named a cow I bought earlier this year "Satoru" so I think, legally speaking I think he has to be a mini cow. Look at him. isn't he such a little cutie. yes. yes he is.

clown is a... probably a dragon, but specifically a dragon with a jesters hat that taunts the king with their non-binary dragon swag.

emma and al are both a snake but specifically those like, really stupid looking noodle looking snakes with the big bug eyes and the :D face and goofy vibes. you might know the ones but. they're so SILLLLLY.

orange is a cat, but specifically a tabby cat. they're SPECIFICALLY my friend's orange tabby cat who kept knocking dishes off the counter and then acting innocent like they didn't just knock off dishes onto the floor. Criminal cat, but funny.

Rina is a shark, but specifically a hammerhead shark. they look so dumb and goofy but they're so silly and loving and lovely and they're just. derpy. And Rina is a derpy person /pos

Four is a moray eel. Enough said.

Klai... Klai is a vulture, jumping their ocs and just ATTACKING the poor things. Death, angry, destrucTIONNNNNNNN (self inflicted)

fifi's a rat. enough said (part two)

Saturday is... probably also a raven tbh. Yuu and Sat can fight for the shinies. /j

Pins is a bat. Enough said (part three)

Navi gives like... those really fancy and refined grey cats with the fluffy fur. Fancy detective cat.

I'm missing some people, I know I am but I know a lot of people so (sobs)

#// calamity chats !! yay yay !!#// skittle anon ask

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zelenbug · 29 days ago

Text

you guessed it

you guys seem to like my rayman biology hc posts so i got more

previous posts: - globoxes - teensies, raypeople, greenbottles & other bugs, lums, knaaren, gods, aeropolis people, rats and glutes - more teensy facts, greenbottle aging

i suppose this is biology adjacent ..??

so i previously mentioned that raypeople are rather weirdly limblessned since their hands etc can just come off and fall apart more easily, though they get further attacking range

however i think detached parts on other species can also have their attachment severed in some way. this is my way of explaining my pirate lady who literally lost an eye

of course something really bad must have happened if your eye comes off so hard you cant just magnet it back on your noggin. im not sure how this happens though

but its fixable if they find the missing body part again, much like rayman with his hands. its really just that the floating body parts on most people are a lot harder to tear off (funny that rayman has a weakness that nobody tried to exploit aside from what? rabbids?)

side note but still related to limblessness. raypeople can still be drastically different heights (the magician is frickin tiny) because theres a set distance away from their body at which their hands/feet/noggin tend to normally rest at. and that differing is what makes them taller or shorter primarily

the reason polokus gave globoxes a crop is specifically For the reasons of having a Built In Pocket. its kind of inconvenient and not everyone likes to use it. some people just store stuff in the crop and end up forgetting about it until they try to fish something else out

its just not really used unless you need to store something in there urgently, ie how globox did in rayman 2, twice

also yeah i got sick of not having a name for this species (i still dont have one really) and i just call them globoxes now. its meant to read like mario (species) though (unlike how r2 called the species globoxes, which feels instead more like having a toad who is named toad)

i brought up that nookins are particularly tall but i think theyre like. straight up built different. most other teensies of a similar height will start having back issues (which hit romeo really hard, and to a lesser extent, goth teensy who i hc to be pretty close to rayman in height) but nookins just dont. they are just built different

curiously tufkins are a lot shorter despite living in approximately the same geographic area (its implied that nookins live in the volcano that got displaced with hoodlum headquarters, and thats below the summit beyond the clouds you literally fall in it). and they have the exact same skintones. so like obviously theyre related (also they have similar internal names TeenMIn and TeenMOut. in the mountain and out the mountain?)

i got their tposes (hence the floating hats) in raymap and that makes the height difference a lot more obvious

theyre literally demonstrating allen's rule lmao. anyway even tufkins are a lot taller than minimuses still. so those (and sylkins and the doctors, except for romeo specifically) have better back support structurally, i guess? than the teensies that are shorter on average

so tufkins are built more stockier, nookins are just taller, sylkins and griskins (before they were ghostified) are average (with regards to the groups that are about as tall as rayman)

heres all the guys (the order back to front is nookins, sylkins, tufkins, griskins and minimuses (which are straight up tiny instead of just being shorter, look at the schnozzle))

romeo and otto are about on par as nookins height wise, and maybe the third guy too but he looks shorter so its hard to tell. oh otto is also built different because hes this tall but also THIS upright like much more than other teensies

griskins are interesting to think about actually with regards to limblessness. them being turned into ghosts (and skipping death) gave them no arms and no neck. and no legs or feet

so theres a way for a previously limbed person to also have floating body parts, much like how the opposite exists (fakirs give themselves legs) however i think it must be something as drastic as becoming a spirit outright

so then im not sure if fakirs giving themselves legs is permanent? or it could be reversed somehow. im leaning towards permanent and theyd only lose legs like that again for the same reason that a griskin might

im not sure if raypeople can give themselves limbs too since their limblessness works so weird as is? itd be nuts to lose their limblessness since thats what makes them so unique among other glade species (and clearly you can just. wear a long sleeved shirt and pants and pretend you have limbs) but. if a rayperson WERE to try doing it to themselves it might just not work because theyre so uniquely limblessned

also i have no idea how the shirt and pants thing works it just does. presumably it would for other limbless species too

side note magic can do a lot to a persons body. i have a group of merpeople (which are globoxes) that specifically turned themselves into merpeople a long time ago and now just live like this, so instead of legs and feet they have fish tails and some additional fins. i also discussed that here

speaking of limblessness aliens literally cant stop evolving the same general body plan for some reason

(i really considered putting plok in this set of images as a joke)

and i dont think the other guys really had polokuses involvement so im gonna assume theres just. something about this adjacent group of planets that keeps making them have limblessness as a common thing and, inexplicalby, theres some guys that evolved hte exact same body plan and were basically the exact same height and all just converged in the glade

apparently

wait. new lore: ed has two toes? or three??? and 1 eye socket for both eyes

alternate idea is that these are made by gods who are in kahoots with polokus and they all thought you know what would be funny.

#rayman #i shoukd actually play toinc trouble i have the game

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ultimateplaylistmaker · 1 month ago

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(TWs : Gaslighting, Isolation, Stockholm Syndrome mention, Murder mention, Torture mention & other stuff in that general category)

I need a Junko-Kokichi duo sooo badly.

Imagine how Tsumugi would react though. Its kinda funny how Kokichi is the one who's all mastermind-coded (the stuff about boredom, his talent, etc.). I guess Tsumugi has the fashion girl stuff but that's only if you discount Izuru (maybe him having both Ultimate Fashionista and Ultimate Girlfriend (I think this might have been in a novel) talents makes him another fashion girl though)

Junko & Kokichi would terrorise the academy though. Imagine the training trio seeing this sweet but psycho senior they talk to semi-regularly with Kokichi Ouma of all people, terrorising the students with him and immediately thinking Kokichi's somehow corrupted her. Meanwhile Kokichi in the background is confused at how well his plan to quench Junko's boredom is going. Apparently, she thinks the despair she'd be getting from not enacting her plan and pretending to be a normal high-school is worth it? Huh. Strange.

If we drag Shuichi in and make it a trio, it'd be even funnier (he first approaches the duo cause Kaito and a few others have been Imagine him automatically backing up Junko in debates only to realise half a second later, that Kokichi's the one saying they should not put rat poison in Kaito's hair gel. Junko's "Junko"ing, Kokichi's trying to somehow save the world from a high-schooler and Shuichi gets even more confused every time he hears Kaito remark about how "that twerk" managed to turn their sweet angel senior, who even came to his house to give him soup when he was sick! (She was trying to give him a mysterious lung disease via ant venom somehow)... into a heartless prankster making their lives a living hell!!

Shuichi : Kokichi... could you please give me my case files back? My uncle's clients are threatening to sue him...

Kokichi : I only stole your hat though???

Junko : *Crackling in the background wearing a grinch costume, sweeping multiple documents into a makeshift Santa's bag*

Most of Junko's antics in this AU would be for her definition of fun and not physically harmful (stuff like making Shuichi's uncle get sued), though occasionally she'd release her psycho side, completely ruining the lives of some random people Kokichi and Shuichi also know (Kokichi would know she's shady as heck but can't say anything due to her pulling some strings).

I need more AUs where it seems like Junko's just having fun and everyone's just being a taadd bit dramatic, but in actuality she's actively ruining everyone's lives and just trapping them deeper into her web. Stuff like ruining the Shuichi's financial situation and his uncle's life, people she has connections with coincidentally offering DICE members their dream jobs all the way across the country so Kokichi's alone all the time and then the members also coincidentally going missing, then offering them to stay at her house and then her actively doing stuff in order to make their home lives miserable.

This also works for an AU without Shuichi as a major character, but that'd probably pan out as "Kokichi's family gets murdered, Junko makes all his classmates hate him even more than they already do, no one reaches out to him after graduation and he gets Stockholm Syndrome or something," with like no other way to end it that's not *extremely* dark, as realistically he has no one to really turn to, whereas with someone else also there, specifically someone like Shuichi who's kinda a people-pleaser, doesn't regularly make fun of people out loud and therefore isn't really gonna have everyone in his life suddenly flock towards hating him, you're gonna open up a lot more options for what they're gonna do (Note : Shuichi doesn't dislike Kokichi as much as canon in this AU as time goes by, as he's basically forced into getting to know him through proximity, and having a lot more sympathy for him as he knows what all he's going through, with the missing family members).

I have another AU that's basically those two plus Kaede trying to escape Junko (or Tsumugi, it depends on the day) and more characters dealing with all those different situations creates more plot, especially when they're all on different wavelengths. I really wish this happened during the killing game but most of the characters just don't take any action from the second to fourth chapter.

Btw, this was supposed to be a fun post about Junkouma shenanigans. I just tried to make it have a teensy bit of darker undertones, cause Junko, and ended up with yet another thriller AU on my hands.

(Help, I can't imagine a Junko with one drop of sanity at all, or even a Junko masquerading as sane. It feels like she's always gotta be doing something, atleast as long as she's not Ryoko though)

This AU is inspired by the posts in your Junkouma tag btw. The main reason that I added Shuichi (not the one mentioned above) is that I wanted to differentiate it from some of the Junkouma fics on ao3, and also cause Shuichi being confused all the time is extremely funny. I didn't realise how long this got until I looked at it just now and went to make some corrections. This AU is up for grabs to anyone whos read this ig since I'm probably gonna make another one in a bit. It's mostly just the averags Junkouma dynamic but with Shuichi. Thank you so much for reading this far. I'm aware this is probably 10x the average ask, so thanks a lot for reading all of this if you have.

I do love Kokichi as basically being the woefully underprepared dogwalker being dragged around by a giant dog as he tries to figure out how to keep the dog from doing a maiming and also stop being fucking dragged across the ground because that shit hurts!

But yeah, Junko and Kokichi's dynamic has such good potential, especially because he's one of the only, if not the only, character who actively points out that there are two junkos in the extra mode, he can definitely read her to some degree, the problem is that just like the abyss, junko looks back, I do think they could find a sort of kindred spirits in each other, but in a way where they both also kind of hate each other for that, very recognition of self in the other (derogatory)

I don't know if it's possible for Kokichi to truly beat Junko at her own game, but at the very least, he'd definitely be a player against her that I think she'd take extra notice of, which is never a good thing. Throw in someone like Shuichi and there's no way no one's gonna die

#junkouma #junkoumasai #ndrv3 #trigger happy havoc #anon chaos

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spiderculechronicals · 4 months ago

Text

Since Wade has been in this universe a year and a half ahead of Peter 3 (and 2), he's gotten himself settled and will go on patrol from time to time in a Spidey-approved fashion, but with his own style. So he kinda takes the lead on this patrol with Peter 2, at least in directing where to go.

Meanwhile, Wade and Peter 2 were down in the industrial zone scoping out Wade’s property there, when they ran into a bit of trouble. Peter 2 alerted to danger, shouting at Wade to get down while leaping impressively high into the air in a flip as a spray of bullets tore across where they’d been standing. Wade cursed and cut through the web patch over his live gun with a small knife, firing at the tires of the vehicle the shots came from, successfully blowing them out. Peter 2 gasped, noting the bullet holes in Wade’s suit.

“… You’re hit!”

“Wait, did you miss the memo on my healing factor? This is nothing! Worry about yourself…!” Wade shooed him away as the gunmen got out of the car.

Peter 2 jumped and dodged the fire again, this time firing off several webs at the attackers, grabbing the strings and yanking hard, pulling the weapons out of their hands and flinging them away. “Alright, that’s enough…”

Wade gasped and stood up out of his fighting stance, watching with admiration as Peter 2 advanced on the disarmed gunmen, webbing their arms together and their feet to the ground while lecturing them on their stupid life choices.

Peter 2 put his hands on his hips, “Anything to say for yourselves?”

“You sound like my dad…”

“Tell your mom I said hi.” Peter 2 patted the young-sounding attacker on the head. “These webs’ll hold for two hours. So. Want me to call this in, orrr… leave you to fate?”

Wade was off to the side cackling at the your mom joke. “No, but, seriously, who the fuck sent you absolute wet noodles? Someone who wanted you to die? Because if Webs weren’t here, I can’t say you wouldn’t be missing some limbs… sorry, Spidey. I’ve gotten good at tourniquets! They usually survive!”

Peter 2 sighed expressively and rolled his eyes.

Wade giggled and walked up to the immobilized guys, yanking off any hats and facemasks. “Oh fuck me sideways!! I know who you are, Alexi Petrovich. Are you little shits working for motherfucking Zelensky? The Parking Lot price gouger? That petty fuck? Dude… did I miss a security cam or did some greasy little rat call it in? I kinda thought he had underground ties but, shit. This is like… this is like on the level of, oh what was that movie? Where the fuckwit gangsters just stole a bunch of parking meters and then they had to figure out how to break them open, for literal quarters? Ha! There was like, a tiger in it… man! I forget. Anyway, fun times. Except probably for the tiger. Okay, so here’s the sich: Whoever sent you on this mission did not give a flying fuck if you made it back intact.” Wade helped to illustrate this point by drawing one of his katanas. “And I’m the safe option, bitches. Spidey, wanna give them a cute little demo? Please please…?”

Peter 2 sighed again and shrugged, walking over to the abandoned van. “… Oh hey maybe get out real quick?” He said to the driver, who had been huddled in his seat the whole time. “Thanks…” Once the van was empty he picked it up and casually walked it to the side of the street, then slammed it down. He pulled off one of the doors and bent it in half.

“Nice! … Very very nice, okay I think they have the idea.”

The trapped men shouted in surprise at the feat of strength, the one identified as Alexi actually starting to cry.

“Oh no Lexi don’t cry…! Spidey you made him cry… come over and apologize for scaring him.” Wade said in an overly dramatic way, reaching out to squish Alexi’s cheeks.

Peter 2 cocked his head then walked over, not sure what Wade was going for with this. “Umm? Okay… hey, Hi…! Alexi? Hi, I’m Spiderman. I know what I just did was pretty scary, but just so you know, I don’t really want to hurt people. Okay? Even though you shot at me.” He crouched down and spoke in a gentle comforting voice. “Sounds like maybe you got mixed up in something a bit over your head. But… I gotta say. You were kinda expecting for those bullets to work…? And then you’d just… drive away? Leaving somebody bleeding on the sidewalk? And that’s okay with you…?”

“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry… I was aiming at your feet the whole time, I swear…”

“Aahh, don’t gimmie that, Lex! I pulled you off a job last month and you had the same sob story. What the fuck gives?” Wade snorted. “Good cop, bad cop- I’m the bad cop.” He whispered quickly as an aside.

“… ah.” Peter 2 fell back.

“So you chucklefucks were given a description of your targets, clearly- two well-muscled hotties in red bodysuits, with a height difference- and Lexi here doesn’t fucking recognize Deadpool? Lexi, you saw me get stabbed in the neck and shrug it off, my guy, my sweet angel muffin… and you’re crying? Hahahaha… oh baby baby. You’re in such deep shit right now.” Wade snorted with glee.

---

(Agh, they end up taking this Alexi guy away because Peter 2 correctly identifies that he's gonna get killed otherwise, and now I have to deal with that.)

#spiderculeau #self indulgence at its finest #spideypool #spiderman #deadpool #peter 2

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just-3d-mario-things · 2 years ago

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Verdict: I liked it!

The Super Mario Bros. Movie was absolutely a love letter to fans. Yeah, I’ll admit that if you didn’t grow up with Mario, there’s not much for you in terms of story. It’s your basic Family Member Goes Missing, gotta save them and also Save The World I Guess kinda movie. I won’t give a comprehensive review, but I’ve got some thoughts about it :)

Positive

- Deep cuts! Foreman Spike from Wrecking Crew, as well as Charles Martinet cameoing as classic Mario’s design, was a nice touch

- Yeah, it’s an isekai, but isekais aren’t inherently bad. Mario has a lot of different continuities, and in some it is an isekai. They obviously care a lot about the Super Show, doing the jingle and all. They manage to respect their audience’s intelligence, and don’t provide much exposition (which is awesome!)

- Diversity! There were so many Mario enemies and races in the movie, it was great. Shyguys kidnap Luigi, Dry Bones chase him through a swamp reminiscent of Luigi’s Mansion, the penguins from 64 have their own kingdom, all kinds of Koopas and Spinies make appearances, Goombas look like Goombas, there are like a hundred unique Kong designs, and we get a Luma! I’m not sure if it’s meant to be Lumalee or not, though they do bear a striking resemblance to them. The writers did their homework.

- The jokes for we the fans were genuinely pretty funny. There’s a part when Mario is fighting DK and has only tried one type of Power Up thus far, a regular mushroom to make him bigger. Mario grabs a blue Mini Mushroom, unaware of its effects. The audience gets to see Mario triumphantly grab the mushroom, thinking it’ll make him stronger. There’s a good moment for the audience members who know exactly what’ll happen, but those unaware of the Mini Mushroom won’t until it happens and Mario goes tiny.

- A good Power Up selection! I was afraid only the Fire Flower would be used, but we got Cat Mario, Tanooki Mario, Fire Peach and DK, Ice Flower Peach, and Super Star Mario and Luigi. Here’s hoping the sequels will use Bee Mario, Penguin Suit Mario, and Frog Mario. Oh! And the Feather Cape is kinda cameoed in their plumbing commercial, when they’re posing on the stools wearing capes. That was pretty neat.

- A solid mix of games’ soundtracks and elements. I didn’t notice much from Sunshine unfortunately, no FLUDD or Bowser Jr or anything. Come to think if it, does Bowser Jr exist in this continuity? How about the Koopalings? Evidence of Ludwig exist: the piano Bowser plays is Ludwig von Koopa brand, which was really funny.

- Bowser. Bowser Bowser Bowser. I think he was perfect, honestly. We all knew it when Jack Black stepped up to the plate, but seeing the piano scenes. And him dressed in his suit with the top hat. Man. I’m so glad they went for a mix of dopey lovesick Bowser from Odyssey and super powerful firebreath Bowser from Galaxy. I really like that if you censor his Peaches song correctly, you could make it sound like he’s saying “bitches”, which is objectively funny. No bitches :’(

- The Jungle Kingdom was a super fun segment. Literally a rollercoaster. I really enjoyed the showdown between DK and Mario, the sound effects and music were on point. They play the opening riff that plays in the original Donkey Kong when he bends the girders, and then. The DK rap plays. It was so unexpected that I had to laugh aloud. DK uses it as like his personal anthem, kinda like how professional wrestlers have a signature song they play when they come out into the ring. The unique Kongs were really cool to see too, like in the stands and the dude who drives them into the kingdom. At one point Diddy in the stands has the bongoes from Donkey Konga, it’s all a blast.

- Speaking of, Seth Rogen’s DK is surprisingly strong. Like, dang, I didn’t expect the “Seth Rogen laugh” to actually fit DK’s character, but it does!

- Okay, fine, Crisp Rat did a passable job. I never forgot it was him, but they eased into the voice by having him do a fakey Italian voice at the beginning. Still waiting on the dub featuring English cast + Italian dub Mario with no subtitles. Considering how low in content the story is, it would be a perfectly fine movie if you muted him completely :)

- The animation! I mean, you’ve seen the trailers, this is the best work Illumination has done, no question. I really like how they partially modelled the characters after their VAs. Bowser is just dripping with Jack Black’s chaotic energy, and Luigi and Mario are eerily reminiscent of Charlie Day and Crisp Rat despite being 100% Luigi and Mario. Toad is pretty solid as well, Key does a really good Toad voice without it being incredibly grating. Jack Black’s smile and Parks & Recreation-era Crisp Rat seem to be some inspiration behind the way they emote.

- Peach is pretty good. I like her voice, Anya Taylor Joy understood the assignment. She isn’t too “girlboss-y”, and she’s actually kind of a weirdo. I love that for her. Makes sense, she was raised by Toads and all. She only brings Mario along to help him, and she isn’t really saved by him at all. She’s delightfully pink and pretty, and oooh her wedding dress, Fire Flower dress, and Ice Flower Dress are all soo pretty. Like seriously, I want that wedding dress. She only gets to hover exactly once during the training montage, and she doesn’t get her parasol, but otherwise I quite liked her. She doesn’t have any groundbreaking character development or anything, or even much for flaws, but she’s just peachy in my opinion :)

- I think the Question Blocks serving as Toad ATMs was really funny. Also, I liked that Pauline was on the TV in Brooklyn. And the brothers’ family was fun to see, they absolutely captured the Italian-American family dynamic. Also, acknowledging the white gloves was pretty funny. We got to see Mario’s actual hands, too, which was… unsettling. Luigi’s ringtone is the Gamecube startup sound, Mario’s playing Kid Icarus on his home TV, Satoru Iwata features in the credits, and the little retro shop in the Mushroom Kingdom was neat. I feel like they referenced all throughout Mario’s history, unlike the Sonic movies where they only focused on the golden years of the Genesis games (no shade to the Sonic movies, I actually really liked them too)

- Oh the score. Ohhhh the score. Just… the score. Not enough Galaxy rep, but it’s forgiven. They use the themes from Mario games so well, it’s actually incredible. Just, like, go watch it and see how many you can recognize. I think I got most of them, though I wish they used the Wii Rainbow Road music since that’s the RR I’m most familiar with. Ah, well. I’m not sure if they used a Mario Kart theme for that scene or nor, someone who’s played the other Mario Karts will have to tell me

Negative

- crisp rat >:(

- Lack of Sunshine rep :( I can’t remember if there were any musical references, but I didn’t detect any, anyway. No Shadow Mario, Bowser Jr, Piantas, or FLUDD. Maybe we’ll get to Isle Delfino in the sequel?

- No Funky, Birdo, Rosalina, Daisy, Wario, or Waluigi. I can’t expect to get all of the fun side characters, but when I saw the Kong kingdom and the Luma I had a few shreds of hope that Funky and Rosa would show. I have a feeling Miyamoto doesn’t really like Wario/Waluigi, which is fair but sad. There wasn’t much room for Daisy and Birdo since the movie was so quick-paced. With the Yoshi egg teased at the end, it is possible Birdo will appear in the sequel? Maybe? And since it is an isekai, it’s revealed that no humans are native to the Mushroom Kingdom/Peach’s world, so maybe Daisy just doesn’t fit in this narrative. Ah, well.

- I have a feeling other reviews will remark on this, but Cranky is kinda weak :( I expected him to get better dialogue/direction, since I think Fred Armisen is generally a good actor. He just wasn’t… cranky enough? I dunno. Every time he spoke, I just pictured a voice actor in a booth instead of Cranky Kong.

- The story was… a Shigeru Miyamoto story. That is, no real intense story beats. They don’t really try anything new, but hey. You don’t walk into the Mario Movie expecting Miyazaki, y’know? It was all a bit too fast-paced for me, but I get it, it’s better than senseless filler. Illumination likes cheap movies, so the short runtime might cover for the quality animation.

- The licensed songs aren’t abysmal, but I wish there were fewer where Mario songs could have taken their place. I dunno, as much as I love Take on Me, I feel like there’s a better song out there for introducing the Jungle Kingdom.

Aaand those are my thoughts! I have more, but I’m sleepy and it’s 1:58 AM for me at the mo’. I’m sure I’ll be MarioMovie Posting in the future :)

#mario movie spoilers #the super mario bros movie #the super mario bros movie spoilers #spoilers #review #mario movie #mario movie review #mario #super mario #nintendo #super mario bros #luigi #bowser #princess peach #donkey kong

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theclaravoyant · 2 years ago

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historical ineffables + the golden age of piracy *prayer hands* *puppy dog eyes* (i know you're a fellow OFMD enjoyer, so i just had to do it to em!!)

AN ~ YES!!! Happy 3 Weeks to OFMD Day to all!! ft. longhair crowley my beloved

Read on AO3 (~800wd)

Aziraphale’s coat-tails flapped violently and he once again had to grab his hat to stop it from being whipped into the ocean. That’s one thing the papers and novels had never truly captured: it was blasted windy out here. That, and every single thing everywhere was somehow wet. It was taking a very literal miracle to keep dry the cargo of books he had been tasked with accompanying across the Atlantic - that and a hefty amount of oilskin and dry rice. Fortunately, this crew was one of the best when it came to maintaining fragile and historical artifacts on long journeys. Unfortunately, they were… less adept, shall we say, when it came to defending said artifacts from skullduggery.

Which was how, with little more than a warning shot and a cry to raise the white flag, Aziraphale found himself with a knife between his shoulders, shoved up against the railing whilst all manner of brigands ransacked the Mercy. The Flaming Sword was tucked well away on another plane, he had only a small pen knife and if he was honest he wasn’t all that confident in its use, so he put up the smallest of fights as his assailant patted him down for weapons. He was more put out than anything else - so help the bastards if any of this jostling scored his newest and most favourite pocket watch.

“Unhand me, fiend!” he scolded, daring to put a little elbow into it when said favourite pocket watch’s pocket crushed angrily against the balustrade.

“Oi!” his assailant yelped. His elbow, as it turned out, had nearly struck a very familiar face.

Aziraphale turned to face him, and Crowley groaned:

“Oh, fuck.”

–

It was late and the moonlight was having a very hard time making it below deck by the time Crowley was able to steal away to visit him. His lanky silhouette was a welcome sight, and Aziraphale found himself rising to his feet without even thinking.

“Crowley!” he cried with delight, remembering at the last moment to keep his voice down. “What are you doing here?”

“Oh, you know.” Crowley shrugged. “Business.”

In lieu of details, he passed a piece - more like, a handful - of cake in a serviette through the bars of Aziraphale’s prison cell. The angel’s eyes lit up and he licked his lips as he grabbed it.

“Bless you.”

“Really, don’t. I’m surprised you’ve survived this long on ship biscuits, to be honest.”

“Actually, our chef trained in France, so he makes quite a good go of it. Although I do miss fruit rather terribly.”

Not too terribly, given the chocolate-mustache he was currently sporting. But it was the thought that counted, and Crowley could certainly relate to that. He cast a judgemental eye over the dreary hold.

“I miss being dry and warm. This place makes me long for Judea.”

“Really? I think it rather suits you.” Aziraphale hummed around another mouthful of cake, and looked him up and down to make a point. “Dapper.”

Crowley snorted, but he couldn’t help smiling. Dirty linen and worn leather was hardly dapper, and his hair was longer and wilder than it had been in decades. Now, Aziraphale, standing in his cell with his ‘miraculously’ stainless frock coat and coiffed rolled curls despite the rats and mildew; that was dapper.

“What about you then, angel? What brings you out here - Heaven in need of recruiting some Holy Dolphins?”

“It’s more of a personal mission, actually.” Aziraphale leaned close to the bars, a conspiratorial humour to his voice. “I’ve come across some rather unique editions of some rather unique texts, and I’m to accompany them to their new library in Calcutta.”

Crowley’s expression soured.

“Your lot is not mixed up in that Trading Company business, are you? Spreading to the Good Word to the uncivilised edges of the world and all that?”

His voice was laced with a heavy dose of sarcasm, but Aziraphale baulked. In hindsight he should not have been shocked, but it still appalled him to think that Heaven - that he - that Crowley would think -

Aziraphale puffed his chest.

“No,” he insisted. “In fact, I was originally booked on an East India ship and you’ll be pleased to know that in about a week’s time they’ll find that all their rope has rotted through at a very inopportune moment.”

“Oh, but Angel, they’ll be too far from shore to do anything about that. They’ll be stranded, completely at the mercy of another ship chancing by them.”

“Out there in all that vast ocean? How devilishly unlucky.”

Crowley raised an eyebrow. Aziraphale’s expression was unusually firm. Not quite as confident as he was probably aiming for, but not his blustering anxious backtracking either. A smile crept onto Crowley’s face.

“You really are a little bit of a bastard, aren’t you?”

Maybe it was just him, but he could have sworn the Angel took that as a compliment.

#ineffable husbands #ineffable spouses #aziracrow #good omens #gomens fic #clara's fic tag #prompt me stuff

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emptymanuscript · 10 months ago

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For a tide-you-over until these superior versions are done:

While it has been so long since I read it that I can't remember it well enough to vouch for the quality, Fred Saberhagen wrote a few books related to the idea of Dracula being attached to human descendants of people he was attached to way back when. And one of them WAS the Holmes family.

(I was going to put up the old cover art that I have but the new one is awesome so here's the current cover instead)

1887, London, Victoria’s Jubilee -- criminals threaten to release thousands of plague infested rats on the day of celebration. The extraordinary powers of the Count and sharp mind of the Master Detective team up to avert a catastrophic public disaster. (And, the reader discovers more than a deerstalker hat and an Invernes Cape in Holmes’ family closet.)

The Holmes-Dracula file is considered the second book in the series, the sequel to The Dracula Tapes, which I know I read but have very little memory of... except maybe Dracula complaining about how he got depicted in Dracula because of doing all this hard work that the foreigners were too ignorant to understand XD. And I vaguely remember quite liking book 3, An Old Friend of the Family, which I think I actually read first and set a lot of ways I tend to (incorrectly) think about Dracula et al.

Sadly, I don't remember Holmes ever coming back into the series. But it has been long enough that there are more books in the series than I read so maybe I've forgotten or there is now.

I know there was also a Holmes book that, although Holmes wasn't a vampire, he did keep coming around because he was Lama or something, and part of the proof of his reincarnation was choosing the correct pipe and magnifying glass that he used to own or something like that anyway. Which could also maybe fulfill some of the some desire. But I really can't remember that one.

Though, I will reiterate, these should be written. I'm offering this as a tide-over not a replacement. These ideas are good. And frankly, I think there's a dearth of Holmes fiction that is FUN as well as a good mystery / suspense / thriller / puzzle / character study or whatever. I miss fun.

Sherlock Holmes modern adaptation but the main characters (Sherlock, Watson, Mrs. Hudson, Irene Adler, and maybe even Lestrade) are all vampires and they’ve just been doing their thing since the time period of the original books

Irene gets to be from New Jersey like she is in canon and she’ll occasionally show up and help Sherlock with a case but they don’t ever date or hook up or anything

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whoslaurapalmer · 2 months ago

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so i really like the 1960 ocean's eleven (for obvious reasons. look at that cast.) but my brother doesn't like it at all (he agrees sinatra was an incredible actor, but not in ocean's eleven, and is bothered by the real lack of motivation and plot. i just like the rat pack out to have a good time, and that sinatra famously said he just wanted to pull the heist irl.) so i was really surprised when he said he wanted to watch the 2001 remake!!

and then i got invested and made NOTES

-it was a lot of fun!! -I really. REALLY. fucking love heist movies. across the board, heists are so damn fun, in any movie era -uggg the 2000s era heist movie is so slick and colorful. just GORGEOUS

-was surprised that danny's motivation is pretty much strictly about his love for tess -- it's simple, but effective, honestly almost incredibly effective, does what it needs to for the characters, it just also threw me for a loop after danny and rusty's Hardcore Intense Sexual Tension -YOU WATCH THAT CARD GAME SCENE AND TELL ME THAT'S NOT FOREPLAY. I DARE YOU. I WAS STUNNED. -me, while eating dinner as we're watching: /i can't say this out loud but god i have never seen two characters with more They've Fucked energy in my life -- wait you want me to believe his motivation is strictly tess????? I mean. alright sure fine but They've Fucked, ted griffin. and they will fuck again -DID YOU GET THE COOKIES I SENT YOU?? -THE WAY THEY LOOK AT EACH OTHER!! THEY WAY THEY STAND NEXT TO EACH OTHER!!!!! THE FULL CONVERSATIONS WITH BARELY ANY DIALOGUE!!

-carl reiner was there!!!!! love carl reiner. god his little bucket hat omg

-i think george clooney is a good choice to fill a sinatra role. they go in relatively opposite directions (although sinatra's danny ocean is also divorced and you see his ex-wife throughout the movie, but she's not a central motivator at all) but he's, george clooney. not on par with sinatra but like.........that's george clooney

-I knew they'd get away with it. in the original, they do NOT get away with it, bc it was 1960, and the way it works out so that they don't get away with the money is actually incredibly well-done to me. and again it was 1960, getting away with the heist would have been rare. But in 2001? oh of course your movie heist will be successful.

-and i like that it's successful! It works here. There's a lot to discuss though in the heist/caper/crime movie about the narrative place of success, in a story centered on, usually, greed, but greed is not the central motivator here -- for terry benedict, for sure, but not for danny -greed is, i think, technically the motivator in the original, or not necessarily greed but Just Out To Have A Good Time which still at the time circles back around to mostly straight monetary gain

-oh! my brother liked this one a lot too!! i was happy he did bc it would've really sucked if he didn't. would have also been kinda funny though, sorry joel. but he was more pleased with this one plot-wise than the original.

-i feel obligated though to stress that sinatra really WAS an incredible actor, and so was dean martin!! so was like, all of the rat pack!! they're just not on, uh, super top form in ocean's eleven. -the original is still a very fun movie too, though. the ending always makes me laugh. just the way it works out. it's so!!! aaaaaaaa. -horrible for the characters. hilarious for the audience.

so then i watched ocean's twelve by myself, mostly bc i was curious if specific ideas i was seeing in a variety of fics had any canon backing or were purely fanon invention (the verdict -- unless people are pulling from deleted scenes or scripts, which i also went through, to the best of my ability?? fanon. fascinating.) (especially seeing multiple people include those details!! the way fanon spreads is delightful but also horrifying.) (but now i'm seeing them to the point where i'm wondering, did i in fact miss something, or are these details really truly fanon? fuck, who knows.) (see, the last time i saw something in multiple fics (in a different media) that i thought was fanon, it turns out, that delightfully precious and sentimental detail everyone was putting in WAS canon. so, man, i don't know.)

-very ambitious, plot-wise? like.......there's a LOT going on in ocean's twelve, to the point of almost too much? at least in comparison to the first movie, which was much more straight forward, and honestly that's not BAD, like i think the complexity weighed twelve down just a little -not necessarily to make a bad movie, but just...........not quite as tight as the first one -i LIKE the main center as terry benedict's revenge on them all, though. that's peak. but then adding in europol, and the master thief, and night fox, and they're all sort of contained together, honestly, idk i think it's just a little too complicated -and then the actual egg theft being entirely different, but with very little hints to it in the first place besides the focus on the bag? -i get hints of the sting (1973) in the ocean's series and even the sting let you have a little more than THAT -things went so well for them in the first movie overall that i see the need for the second time around to have more difficulty, otherwise it's like what's the point if it goes relatively smoothly both times, but, idk, i just don't think that's the angle i would have taken, in my onion, to put in the whole europol etc line

-i don't know if benedict's revenge would have stood on its own, although it absolutely may have, but it also wouldn't have had to, bc i think, like the first movie, the other half should have been character work -because the first movie is evenly split between 'heist' and 'danny ocean's interpersonal relationships' and moves like a dream, honestly -so the other half in twelve being tess and danny navigating their relationship even three years in? WOULD'VE BEEN CHEF'S KISS -i wanted to see so much more of tess in twelve omg :( -and also bc we've all met me, how danny and tess' relationship intersects with rusty. ideally. it wouldn't have actually happened but IDEALLY. danny and rusty will do anything for each other but danny also clearly loves and adores tess and rusty and tess were clearly hanging out in the three to six month parole violation and the three of them circling each other is so AAAAAA. -me going through fic tags: 'pairing if you squint' well i don't want to fucking squint!! commit, you cowards!! me watching these movies: i'd squint for these stupid fucks in these movies. i'm begging you to let me squint. please put them back in the same scenes. -but also danny and rusty felt very separated in this movie compared to eleven which also, read a little weird -it's an interesting parallel to danny and tess that rusty gets involved with isabel, and also interesting that she's the daughter of the master thief but also, oh i don't want this to come from a place of I Just Think They Should Kiss but also be meaningful narrative critique -however. they should -but i do get the Necessity for a character like isabel, like i said -but, idk idk -their relationship doesn't really successfully go anywhere, i feel like? -isabel is INTERESTING though!! this europol agent trained to be a master criminal by her dad and she's WORKING FOR THE GOVERNMENT. she does things by the book. -and then she forges her superior's signature. -isabel you're done dirty by this movie too girl. isabel needed to exist on her own in her own movie separate from these men and their shenanigans. -i See her as a match for rusty, i do, it's just, danny and rusty can stand in a room and have more chemistry than rusty and isabel, even with their floaty european romance music soundtrack, which is doing a lot of heavy lifting here along with catherine zeta-jones' absolutely gorgeous long hair, girl they should've kept that for you

-overall i still would have liked to see more of danny and tess's second marriage!! make her more pivotal!!!!! -HE WENT THROUGH THAT WHOLE HEIST FOR HER AND YOU CAN'T CENTER THEIR RELATIONSHIP IN THE NEXT DAMN MOVIE????????????????????

-does it make sense to say in twelve that danny got the idea of robbing terry benedict from that one guy talking about him? -i really don't think so?? -because it's not JUST about terry benedict alone, it's about tess, and tess's connection to him -like again yes some of it is for The Heist. but. -tess.

-but twelve still has such INCREDIBLE SCENES OH MY GOD bruce willis, i absolutely shrieked. julia roberts impersonating julia roberts. "and you don't even LOOK like her." how old is danny ocean. linus's mom!! saul showing up in the middle of the julia roberts con and slipping right in!! danny and rusty drinking wine! LINUS AND BASHER AND TURK BEING LEFT ALONE AND HAVING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO!!!!! the discussion of "are we ocean's eleven? is he even the leader? who do you go to when you have a problem?" "rusty."

then i ate dinner and i was gonna watch that hitchcock documentary but i had the wrong day for it (this was still tuesday night, the documentary which as we all know i did watch was on wednesday) so i was like, oh. well. may as well get to thirteen (i like movie series. it's fun to see the same characters getting into shenanigans. it's part of why i like the thin man movies, and, silly hallmark murder mystery movie series.) (curious caterer is very fun, btw. i love seeing lochlyn munro play a regular person, he deserves it after riverdale. ANYWAY.)

-maybe just bc i marathoned twelve and thirteen basically but i was actually a little heist-ed out by the end of thirteen. -thirteen was definitely better than twelve -- much of a tastier feel and chew to the movie -- but still not quite right -they're really just not as slick as the first one, although thirteen brings back the like, okay look -i think the core of the ocean's trilogy here is actually, love. thirteen works better because they're doing this con for reuben, bc they love him and he's their mentor and their friend and christ basher writes him all those touching letters!!!!! the sentimentality of it works bc it ties back to danny doing the first heist for tess. -twelve was missing that piece. that's part of why it's not as successful. isabel and her dad at the end does not really do it, or compare to the emotional depth in the other two -it's not just about the money or the con, although the con is certainly a delight for them all, it's the purpose. it's the fact that they're doing it for someone dear to them

-but what thirteen is missing is tess. i was very sad about that. tess you should've been there. tess should be in on their cons now and having a good time with them fucking christ!!!!!!! -danny and rusty were back on form though in thirteen and that was nice. -tess you deserved better though goddamn. -thirteen was less complicated than twelve but maybe also still complicated?? -i do think the main thing that makes thirteen not as incredible as it could have been is really the absence of tess, honestly, honestly

-ending with a sinatra song. good choice -i liked the repeated phrase of 'you shook hands with sinatra' as like. you've been here forever/you know the score/you know what it meant if sinatra shook your hand, sinatra prided himself on a VERY strict standard of character (-although sinatra was also stubborn and principled and sometimes in two VERY different directions, simultaneously.) -thirteen also had some fun scenes although i've successfully blanked on them now. i watched four hours of movie and i'm tired!! -BASHER'S FUCKING LETTERS THOUGH. AND LINUS'S DAD!!

-going to terry benedict for help was such a move. chewy. i'm just chewing on that -danny giving benedict's cut to a charity so that benedict technically got his cut but had no say in what happened to it, which is definitely payback for TRYING TO KILL THEM ALL and making things hard for them in thirteen AND! trying to get away with the diamonds, but is also now forced into philanthropy? after one of the pivotal pieces of the first movie was his reckless disregard for tess's existence when he valued her less than money? -tasty.

-al pacino. can't believe al pacino was there. i have literally never seen him in anything but the godfather. incredible

so then i had to watch ocean's eight.

-anne hathaway is so pretty omg she's just so beautiful. look at her go i'm always so happy for her -it was fun overall!! it wasn't bad!! it really wasn't. was it slick and incredible? .......pieces of it were? -it lacks some of the character work, i think. give me these girls hanging out more -what would've been FUN is if a heist actually happened in the first half, and then there was maybe a SECOND HEIST after they got daphne in. she makes it a point to say she has so few female friends!!!!! -love is not the core in this movie. it should be friendship (and love) but it is, i think, revenge, but even barely that -yeah it's overall a character work problem. distresses me greatly. -i still enjoyed it, though!! i'd watch it again!!

-the nancy sinatra song was a FUN move, i must say

-you go OUT OF YOUR WAY to have a THROWAWAY LINE implying debbie and lou were together and then you DON'T EVEN FOLLOW UP ON IT IN ANY WAY???????? -I'M SO MAD -yeah it's probably just for like, their crime partnership, but debbie saying 'lou and i were going through a rough patch' you want me to not think about that implying they were together?? -especially bc they're clearly modeled on danny and rusty????? -i'm grumbling. i'm mad about it. i'm making a frowny face at my cute pusheen lights in the corner. pusheen doesn't deserve that!!!!!

-very much patterned after the second ocean's eleven, which was a chewy little choice -the opening, both danny and debbie were in a jersey prison, debbie+lou and danny+rusty, both rusty and lou having less than stellar jobs without their significant other partner in crime, the theft hiding a revenge heist for romance reasons, danny and debbie both getting chewed out by rusty and lou for that -although...............that part is less successful here. That Guy Whose Name I've Already Forgotten is no tess. it's a fun choice to have him take the fall for the theft, but there's really not as much payoff as there was with tess -of course debbie approaches this at a different angle than the way danny was approaching it, but that's fine i just felt like there was something missing overall there

-i liked that ocean's eight is what solidifies 'ocean crime family' even beyond debbie's presence -that's just fun!! That's just a fun character detail. i like it. you start the movie going 'does it make any sense for danny to have a sibling?' and by the end you're like 'okay cool i can dig it!!' -just the detail that that insurance agent got their father twice and danny once, the parole board pointing out debbie is surrounded by criminals in her life, everyone in the ocean family barring aunt ida was a criminal, it's just fun -the FACE I MADE at james corden, but he was actually not bad in this movie. i'll let you go this time, james. this time alone.

-helena bonham carter was a choice. honestly at this point in my life i've kind of forgotten she exists, sorry helena, and i felt like, well her character was fun but she also felt a lot like. that's just helena bonham carter

-REUBEN!! -i felt like reuben's dialogue implied danny was 100% alive, right???????????? -IT'S SURE A CHOICE TO START OUT WITH HIM DEAD, I TELL YOU WHAT -but reuben just flat out says danny knows about the heist and doesn't want debbie to go back to jail!!!!!!!!!! -the script (if this is the script) makes that sound like it happened pre-death though, and actually has the funeral and a cause of death and linus! and saul keeping tabs on debbie! linus seems to imply danny isn't dead but THEY HAD A FUNERAL -fascinated. god. -and also a STUNNING about of debbie/tammy of all things?????????????? while having debbie/lou backstory???????? incredible. we could've had it all, or something

-me, when the old women appeared: oh, who is that? me: oh, that's marlo thomas me: .... me: THAT'S MARLO THOMAS!!!!!!!!!!! -marlo!!!!!!!!! -and elizabeth ashley!!!!!!!!!!!

then i rewatched the original back to basics 1960 ocean's eleven.

-maybe it was just the day when i watched, i was like, fucking having a time, so i sat down after dinner to watch it when i was feeling better but. -you know........... -it's not subpar. it's still fun. -but it is slower! much, much slower. not a slow movie, but it is really paced entirely differently than the 2001 movie, and, maybe a little to its detriment. definitely not sleek. but it is still fun. -delightful that dean martin and sammy davis jr are the only ones that actually get to sing in it, on-screen. not you frank!! oh frank. -but god every time i see frank sinatra i really am stunned by how accurate the nickname 'ol blue eyes' was. his eyes stand out so much. gorgeous. -danny's wife in the original, beatrice, functions in tess's role but also just barely? like it's not even worth beatrice being in the movie, she has no bearing on how it all works out, which is a shame bc you had fucking angie dickinson and you didn't make her have a good time here???????????????? -there's very little character work going on here, but still some fun bits -- peter lawford's character and his mom, mostly, and the serious angle of richard conte's character's health problems driving his participation in the heist

-they don't all actually seem to be career cons or criminals in the original? they group together because they were all in WWII together, and this danny says they may as well put what they learned in the army to good use outside of it. as in, theft!! good for him.

-but there was VERY VERY TASTY callbacks to the original that i'd forgotten since it'd been a while since i'd seen it --

-james corden's insurance investigator in ocean's eight kind of drew from cesar romero's character in the original -- duke santos, the almost-stepfather of one of the eleven, who's also a less-than-on-the-level insurance investigator, although duke, like the rest of the eleven, does not make out as good as corden's investigator -very fun that danny thomas is on one of the casino boards as a performer, and then marlo my beloved, his daughter, was in ocean's eight!! -richard conte's character has a real, legitimate heart attack during the heist in the original, while carl reiner's fakes a heart attack during the heist in the remake -both of the heists involve a momentary blackout! -both of them, of course, are about stealing from multiple casinos!! although the original had five casinos, with unconnected vaults, and also takes place on new year's eve, instead of during a big fight. -the original's version of reuben is the one who comes up with the heist, not danny, and he's perpetually more nervous and exasperated than elliott gould

-like ocean's eight, there is a split of, some of us need this/some of us want this, compared to the remake which is less about need and more about, again, love revenge etc the joy of a tasty tasty crime -and, of course, in the original, they do not get the money!! i've seen reviews call that a flaw in the movie, but i still think it's fun the way it works out, and i stand by, in 1960 they weren't going to get away with it. comparatively, it's a mad mad mad mad world from 1963 also has the main characters not getting the money in the end, but the characters are approached very differently. there's a review that says in the original ocean's eleven, there's no moral judgment on the characters for seeking the money, but i think you could say, based on the rate of Absolute, Sheer, Completely Unbridled Shenanigans happening in mad world, and how that movie in particular works out, there is a moral judgment there. so maybe they aren't comparable. but i stand by the original ocean's could never get away with it!! it just wasn't going to happen then!! -there's no other way mad world could end, then them not getting the money, despite me wanting at least spencer tracy to get it -- the madcap greed of the money assures it won't work out -could the original ocean's eleven have worked out differently, or was it also fated, narratively, even beyond that it was 1960? -there's so little of a narrative in it, though. but we are definitely supposed to root for them, in the way you root for the eleven in the remake, you want the original guys to get away with it too -maybe it's hubris.....there is hubris in sinatra's danny ocean

-compared to, now, fitzwilly (1967), where, technically, they do get away with it, to an extent -- but fitzwilly is not a heist. it is a caper. and there is a distinct difference, especially a sort of moral difference, between a heist movie and a caper movie. but we're also getting closer to the 70s, there. movie eras, you know. -you know, is mad world a heist? mad world actually leans more caper but has the morals of a heist. -see, heists, and theft movies, from asphalt jungle to the killing to even the ladykillers or a movie like the maltese falcon (bc it's a theft movie), function around a core of greed. even if the characters are financially desperate. and they cannot get away with the heist. it will never be successful, under these thematic circumstances, it can't be. they can't get away with themselves AND the money. -but a caper is less strict -- and the characters in a caper, like fitzwilly, or how to steal a million, are usually committing a crime to actually remain on the right side of the law. -the sting straddles some line between these two........it also operates on a core of love and revenge, but johnny and henry, or at least johnny, walk away from the money at the end. and they don't actually commit a heist! it's a straight con! -oh, i don't know.

-i would loved to have seen a callback actually to sammy davis jr in any of the remakes!! considering the song associated with the original ocean's eleven, eee-o eleven, is sung by sammy davis jr. -i see the desire for the sinatra callbacks, though, of course. -unrelated but i love how sammy david jr's one eye is like, canon to the characters he played, much in the same way peter falk's one eye was!! both of them wore glass eyes! in a very late-era columbo episode, he canonically references having only one eye, and in ocean's eleven sammy davis jr's character does the same. -i just think it's fun!!

#lulu deep dives into the ocean's trilogy and heist/caper movies for god only knows what reason #been working on this for maybe a week? a little more? didn't want to miss anything but i think. gathered all the thoughts by now

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iironwreath · 5 months ago

Text

Clean [Redback]

Redback was seventeen when pirates attacked the Neverending Wave. ‘Attacked’ wasn’t totally right; out on the open sea, one’s sight was only limited by the weather. On a cloudless day when the waves were tame, one could see all the way to the uninterrupted horizon. It was nearly impossible to sneak up on another ship without the use of magic.

The pirates made their first stretch at night. By morning, when they first spotted the ship’s dark silhouette against the water, they were too close. Through a spyglass, black flags marked with a hooked fang dipped in blood snapped in the wind. They were with the Blood Fang fleet. The Neverending Wave picked up their pace, course be damned.

They should have been able to outpace them. Cannons, in their infancy, were heavy, and the Neverending Wave didn’t have any. But by some preternatural force, the pirates caught up the following evening. It was an emotional trial as much as a physical one, watching them prowl closer as the sun wheeled across the sky—knowing a predator was on the hunt and only being able to stare and watch.

As soon as those cannons were within firing range, they hoisted a white flag and slowed. The pirates cut over the inky waters and boarded them with criminal efficiency.

Most of the crew and a handful of the pirates faced one another on the deck. Her dad half-pushed her behind him, tucking her into the meat of his side. She peered over his arm, the pirates illuminated in a mixture of crisp, fleeting moonlight and soft, muddy greys. It unsettled her how much they looked like regular people, just with far more weapons.

“We’re the Maelstrom, and I’m her Captain,” a brunette man announced. He was bearded and broad-shouldered. His jacket was clean and of a high quality, a midnight blue with silver trimmings. “Sister ship of the Blood Fang. Who is your Captain?”

Their half-elf captain stepped forward. “I’m Captain Wymar.”

“Ah. Pleasure.” He removed a hat and bowed in a facetious manner. “I’m Captain Isadore. We’re here for one thing. One person, actually. You give her to us, we’ll leave without a fuss. You got an Ada Avilla?” His lip curled. “She still go by Ada? Girl’s got a lot of guts but not a lot of brains if she is.”

Whispers broke over the Neverending Wave’s crew. Red searched the crowd for their resident genasi—Ada’s jaw was set, her eyes flint and steel, her gloves pulled taut over clenched fists.

Wymar glanced between her and the pirates. Isadore followed his gaze with a slow, feline smile.

“Ah, there she is.”

“I’m not in the habit of giving up crewmates to pirates,” Wymar said cautiously. “What do you want with her?”

“Caused us a load of damage and money. We’ve come to claim redress. You sure you want someone like that with you? She’s trouble, Captain.”

Ada marched her way forward, stopping beside Wymar. “Why here? Why not ambush me on land, then? If you really wanted me and just me, you’d’ve done it there. You’re showboating.”

“More fun like this, innit? Everyone can learn who you really are.” He addressed the Neverending Wave’s crew: “Ever wonder how miss Ada got her guns? She served with us—destroyed ours but couldn’t help keepin’ some for herself. Nobody really stops being a member of the Blood Fang’s fleet. Her actions were always gunna catch up to her, and she selfishly chose to drag down you lot with her.”

“I wasn’t there by choice!” Ada shouted, and beneath the anger, Red detected a sliver of fear—not of the pirates, but something else. Then, simmering, “I don’t regret what I did to leave.”

“Figured you wouldn’t, disrespectful bilge rat. Will you regret getting these fine folks killed? I do mean it when I say you come quietly, we leave everyone else alone.”

“You’re a liar,” she sneered. “You’d take me then kill them all anyway, just to make me watch.”

“Presumptuous.”

“But accurate.”

The crew looked at each other in alarm, a bunch of them shifting, creating ripples of distress. Nobody wanted Ada to give herself up, but nobody wanted a bloodbath, either. Ada discussed their lives so casually. The thought of them forcibly taking Ada or giving herself up made Red want to sob, but there were also cannons pointed at them. She didn’t want to die.

“Coming here was a mistake.” Ada raised her hands. “But fine. On the off chance I’m wrong, I’ll go with you.”

“Ada—” Wymar pleaded.

Isadore’s eyes gleamed with malice. “Good. We’ll be taking those guns, love.”

The pirates shuffled towards Ada. She took a single step to meet them, then ducked through them and charged. Chaos erupted with Ada as the epicenter—the sharp crack of her pistol, then a few more in succession. The hiss of blades leaving their sheathes sang out, feet hammered the deck, and fists started flying. Red’s dad staggered backwards, knocking her in the face and sending her sprawling.

A pirate descended on him, but Rugarth intervened, smashing his staff into ribs. She lost sight of her dad and uncle in the bedlam, retreating on her elbows and feet like a crab. An elven lady stalked towards her with a rapier, scenting easy prey, and Red startled, scuttling faster.

A blade speared up through the woman’s ribs, glistening with a deep, pomegranate red. The woman’s breath wheezed out of her, then ceased; a clean kill. Ada snapped the sword from her back and kicked the corpse aside, then fired her pistol over Red’s head with a zip of the bullet. Hair had escaped Ada’s braid and plastered her face and wind snatched at the fringes of her coat, giving her a wild, untamed look.

“Red,” she panted. She twisted to jab her sword at another assailant, disarming him by staking the blade through his hand. He fell to his knees screaming; she spun and hauled Red to her feet by the arm before Red could even blink. “Keth!”

Her dad reappeared wielding a woodcutter’s axe, looking harried with a bloodstain on his shirt. Red couldn’t tell if it was his or someone else’s. He grabbed Red by one on her biceps.

The worst happened, then: the Maelstrom’s cannons unloaded, punching the Neverending Wave’s side like a set of spiked brass knuckles. The boat rocked violently, and if her dad hadn’t been holding her, Red would have toppled to the deck again.

The blast had a disarming effect, all for Ada, who rallied. “We need people patching those holes and bailing any water! Anyone with mending get on it! Rugarth, Albert, Annie—with me!”

Keth made a break for the stairs leading below deck, lifting Red’s heels off the ground. He barrelled over another pirate on the way with a wide, unforgiving sweep of his elbow.

They plummeted into darkness and landed with a shudder. More crew jumped in or sped down the stairs after them, aiming themselves at the punctures in the hull. The lanterns rocked wildly, throwing chaotic swinging light on the task. Most holes were above the sea, only weeping in water whenever they dipped. Her dad set her gingerly on her feet, checking over her face and her arms, concern in every line framing his mouth and eyes. He thumbed at a trickle of blood escaping her nose.

“Who did this?” he asked.

“You did.”

“Sorry, honey.”

When he couldn’t find anything else, he belted his axe and joined those hammering at the damage, situating her at the far side of the room but away from the walls. Nowhere was totally safe, but it was probably even more dangerous than the surface, depending where the pirates aimed next. Red realized that holes from cannons were new. Up until then, having their ship damaged by magic or dangerous sea monsters was all there was. But holes were holes, regardless of what wrought them.

“Dad,” she gasped. “Rugarth is still—”

“I know. He’s tough, sweetie. They stand a better chance if he’s out there.”

“And us!” Red squared up even though she shook like she’d been left out in the snow overnight. “I want to help.”

“No,” he said firmly, the most forceful he’d ever been. “You’re staying down here. If they make it in, we’ll hide. Rugarth taught you how to fight, right?” He pressed a knife into her hands. “I’ll protect you if we're found. Okay?”

Red chewed her lip. Even if she argued, he had the strength to end any of her ideas prematurely. He gave a nod when she didn’t answer, then ushered her back into her corner.

Boots stampeded above them like the drum of a storm. There were cries; of the triumphant, of those gathering courage, of the wounded, of the dying. She covered her ears and squeezed her eyes, trying to block out the sound. Time distended uncomfortably. Every passing second felt like an hour, skinning her nerves raw.

Beyond the hull, she heard a crack and an explosion. Cheers and cries of fury and anguish followed it, then reinvigorated fighting. The boat rocked under her feet a breath later. Her dad came over to squeeze her. Damp wood and the coppery scent of blood infused her head, all tinged with salt. She was light-headed and trapped, out of place.

The roar of combat died down. The latch in the center of the room rattled, then opened, spilling fresh light into the cabin—not just moonlight, but the dim, orange glow of fire flickered in from an angle. Her dad tensed. Red did as well, but a crewmate’s upper-half appeared. Her dad relaxed.

“It’s safe now, but it’s—” She glanced over her shoulder, forehead creasing. “You should all stay where you are, keep patching things up.”

Red ducked under her father’s arm and bolted for the opening before he could react. She scrambled up the ladder onto the main deck. The crewmate startled backwards, falling on her tail.

The tang of blood tripled on deck, so thick it clotted the back of her throat as well as her nose. Coal black billows of smoke blew in off the splintered, burning remains of the Maelstrom, rent in half and foundering. Combined, they nearly made her retch, but she raised her sleeve to her nose and took shallow breaths until the nausea passed.

Most of their crew and a handful of pirates littered the deck. Some half-sat up, catching their breath or staunching blood from wounds. Others flit about, helping. Some lay dead. Red skipped over them, hoping to avoid branding them on her mind, hoping to stop their names from springing to her mouth, searching for two people—

Rugarth was up and alive, charred and with a few places on his skin starting to colour with bruises. He and Albert supported Ada between them, limping. She looked as though she barely clung to consciousness, strung-up. Her right shoulder was torn open from deltoid to neck, missing a chunk of her jacket as well as skin. A similar injury burst open her leg on the same side, her pants shred apart around the calf. Beside the two most gaping injuries, she had a few lacerations, though none looked too deep. Her sword and pistol laid in a heap at her feet.

Anodyne hurried towards them, hands outstretched. Red followed.

Rugarth’s face went from pinched with worry to relief at the sight of her. “Sweet pea,” he said. “You should go back below.”

Red would’ve flung herself at him if not for Ada, who listlessly raised her head, her gaze blurry. It steadied on Red a moment, her lips twitching in a smile, then hung limp again. Somehow, through it all, her lipstick remained intact. Red had always wondered if the shade was meant to resemble blood, but with all the real blood everywhere realized it was meant to be cherry or strawberry, something sweeter.

Anodyne relieved the boys of Ada and laid her on her back. Spells lit up her fingertips and bandages and cloth came out of her bag; Albert crouched to help.

“What happened?” Red demanded.

“Ada blew up their ship,” Rugarth said.

“How?” Red asked.

“Gunpowder,” Albert said. “And rum.”

“You helped,” Ada croaked to Albert and Rugarth from the ground.

“Will there be more?”

“Hopefully that should serve as a lesson to them,” Rugarth said. “Pirates are persistent but they’re not suicidal, I think, not unless they’re desperate, and the Blood Fang fleet isn’t that. I don’t think they’re so keen on revenge they’ll risk another ship for one person, y’know? But only Ada can say for sure.”

Red’s gaze flicked to Ada. Annie had removed her jacket once she’d stopped the bleeding with magic and cleaned her wounds. Ada’s eyes had closed, head tilted to the side, her long hair forming messy, pendulous arcs around her head. If she heard them, she didn’t answer.

Keeping her past out of sight made sense when it involved pirates. Red wondered what else she had been keeping from them.

“Did she ever tell you?” Red whispered to her uncle.

Rugarth shook his head. Albert looked up from Ada and nodded once. Red, her dad, and uncle had joined the Neverending Wave after Ada, but apparently Ada and Albert had joined together. They were rarely seen apart. Anger and hurt sparred in her gullet; she wanted to be let in. She wanted to be treated like one of the adults and allowed to fight. She wanted—

Her dad’s heavy steps jogged up behind her, his hands wrapping around Red’s shoulders. She barely registered them, her mind drifting into foggy waters. “Varonda, back inside,” he whispered. “It’s not…you shouldn’t see this.”

She nodded mutely, allowing him to wrap his arm around her and steer her back. His bulk hid most of the massacre from view, but through a narrow window out of the corner of her eye, she saw the crew tossing bodies into the sea.

#no joke this has been a wip for like two-three years #i guess my fear was it just being really corny lmao #writing tag #promptober #writing: redback #redback #ada #rugarth #keth #anodyne #purgetober

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