#i need them to be the bane of Luke existence

[pain-is-too-tired]

Honestly, maybe they just don't cross my dash, but I don't think i see enough aus exploring things that truly were horrifyingly close in canon.

Like, even from TLT.

Grover almost gets dragged to Tartarus, which easily could've been Percy. If Ares wasn't dumb enough to fight the son of Poseidon NEAR WATER, would he have killed him? Heck, what if Percy didn't get to camp in time to be cured from the Scorpion? Like, just dead.

Could you imagine au where Percy dies, but cause of mix of how he died and such is kinda stuck as a ghost and when Bianca and Nico get to camp one or both see him? Like he becomes a semi mentor to them especially with them being next in line prophecy wise if Thaila is either never brought back or still joins the hunters?

And seems like Jason wasn't even considered for it(even though he been probably around Bianca's age or so when she got out) so Bianca likely be most likely next in line if she doesn't join the hunters..

And idea of her just going through everything with ghost Percy kinda stuck in a way helping as a ghost actually really fun to think about. Especially if no one else can see him or something.

Could you imagine first time they get caught by Luke and TA she's just trying so hard not to laugh because Percy's making rude hand gestures at Luke from the side lines or mocking his poses and such.

No one knowing at that point Bianca is daughter of Hades, so Luke's just like "what's funny??" And she's like "nothing :3" why trying so hard not to laugh, like this is a serious situation, but Percy making it a lot harder for her to be scared.

Which does actually help in long run cause she's able to use her abilities better when she's not scared to death, so helps her escape easier.

Bianca and Ghost!Percy duo would be hilarious all in saying.

That being said- another thing that was "very close call" in canon-

Nico easily could've ended up like Chris i feel like. He only survived so long because Minos found him useful. Could you imagine an au where Nico gets cursed like Chris and Percy and Co find him? Percy is gonna find a way to kill a ghost all I'm saying.

He's dragging that man down to Hades throne room himself if he has to. Like he's making sure Minos gets more than just being fired.

Honestly, Minos might prefer Hades wrath over Percy's at this point ydgddh

[lostreverb]

RANDOM LUKE COOPER HC'S

a/n: writing a fic for him and he's just so cute and i keep getting ideas for him ahh my cinephile bf i need him might fuck around and write some NSFW ones later (SORRY THIS IS REALLY LONG I GOT CARRIED AWAY) bf! headcanons are here!!

he's very quiet if he's not talking about movies

not audibly just like only gives one word or one sentence answers

which means he's a VERY dry texter (it's not personal he's just like that)

though he does post his every unfiltered thought to his twitter (which has SOO many followers like a shitton)

doesn't understand typing in lowercase and thinks it's dumb (but if you type in lowercase he won't call it dumb but he'll express he thinks it's weird)

has the worst handwriting ever but that's because it's almost like a kind of unreadable script (like doctor handwriting)

he listens to all kinds of music really aside from like pop or country

also really likes monty python

he really likes musicals (singing in the rain, phantom of the opera, the sound of music) b/c he was introduced to them when he was very young so they're very nostalgic for him

but he'll never mention it because his friends would make fun of him for it

(would LOVEEEEEEEE la la land)

used to read books a lot more when he was younger

is a superhero comic book fan

he can play piano really well (parents made him play) he just doesn't give a fuck about piano

he's also like crazy smart and would do super well in school if he applied himself he just doesn't care

he really wants to switch his major to film studies but his parents wouldn't approve (but he's thinking about doing it anyway)

became completely desensitized to gore and nudity at a young age because he'd always just watch whatever movies his dad put on

wrote a series of letters to quentin tarantino as a kid and got one letter back and it's his most prized possession

likes maintaining eye contact with people for too long because it makes them uncomfortable

just generally likes messing with people and being a little shit b/c he likes how easy it is to mess with ppls emotions cause they're so predictable (which is kinda a red flag but he's never really taken something too far)

b/c of this no one really takes him seriously which bothers him a bit but he knows it's his fault

which is why when you do actually take interest in what he says he finds himself falling for you

he never got "lost" in the forest with michael he just hates being in nature and michael was annoying him so he walked back to the car

after a bit he looked outside and saw everyone panicking so he got out and went back to the group and everyone was acting like he died

he thinks it was too far for his parents to cut michael off but he also didn't care

thinks michael's annoying at times but the things he does are funny and he uses him as content for his twitter

has been so engrossed in his own world his whole life he doesn't think about girls

though his main crushes are sarah connor (terminator), the bride (kill bill), storm (x-men), and mikaela banes (transformers - but he hates the transformer movies)

but he has very little or no experience at all

he's probably the first in his friend group to have a girlfriend too

his only knowledge about talking to girls is from movies so yk the james bonds, george clooney, harrison ford are his main influences

which means if he has a crush on you he'll just stare at you all the time, bother and tease you relentlessly and try to banter cause that's the only way he knows how to get closer

he'll also try by memorizing your coffee order

if you don't drink coffee he'll try to find out what you do drink (without directly asking you)

he'll never confess, you'll have to first and use the most straightforward language or else he won't take a hint

once you start dating he has no idea how to treat you anymore

he just constantly flips between being the sweetest bf ever and the bane of your existence

if he annoys you too much and you get upset his first response will be "what? i didn't even do anything" or some other cheeky response

you'll have to help him to unlearn that

though he's a very caring boyfriend and would help you carry things around the office and drive you places and get you presents

doesn't give a fuck about most things (other than you and movies)

he just is so obsessed with you and loves being around you all the time

he's not incredibly keen on pda but sometimes he'll hold your hand and kiss your cheek in public

if you kiss him in front of other people he'll get really flustered and be noticeably disoriented for a bit after

feels weird using pet names but he'll use the occasional baby or babe

he'll discover how good it feels to cuddle it'll be his favorite thing to do along with watching movies with you

run your hands through / play with his hair and he'll fold completely

the first time you do it he'll probably involuntarily moan and get so embarrassed about it it'll take a few weeks before he'll let you do it again

during those few weeks he'll think about how your hands felt almost obsessively he's never felt anything like it

he'll create a list of movies to watch with you and once a month he'll let you choose the movie

he's really good at gift giving because he makes sure to pay extra attention to the things you like (especially movie related things bc he has good contacts)

he's definitely one of the first people to ever use letterboxd

he loves being able to drop you off at home from work because more often than not you'll stop someplace to get something to eat or head to his place and watch a movie and he loves doing that with you

he also likes picking you up in the morning because then you get to go on his coffee run with him (you'll make sure everyone's orders are correct and he'll whine and groan about it saying it's not worth the time but he appreciates it)

will definitely get you to do his work for him

his work clothes used to belong to his dad which is why they're just a tad too big for him

outside of work he typically wears zip-up hoodies and jeans with a graphic t-shirt (probably related to a film he likes)

instead of a bookshelf, he has a DVD shelf in his room (that's very well organized and categorized)

and he has a really high end tv and surround sound system that he and his dad paid for

he researched how movie theatres make their popcorn and buys the special ingredients directly from one by his house

used to have the whole script of citizen kane memorized but it's been a second since he last recited it

he's written his own scripts before but he doesn't think they're any good (he's pretty hard on himself about it)

but if he does end up making a project he'll 100% cast you in it

[icypopz]

when their s/o gets injured ♡

↬ request from anon ; could I request the NXX boys with a s/o who received the injury while they were away and how would they take care of them during their healing process?

↬ notes ; artem wing (zuo ran), luke pearce (xia yan), marius von hagen (lu jinghe), vyn richter (mo yi) x gn!reader

↬ from ice ; hihi!! unfortunately i was quite busy this week so i wasn't as active 😵 also as someone who's often in hospital i rly related to this request :') but anyways i hope you enjoy!

↬ warning(s) ; reader has an unspecified injury to their foot, artem + luke carry reader (but they're crazy strong so they can def lift u up dw)

please reblog ! it helps a lot :)

[ artem wing / zuo ran ! ]

as soon as artem heard that you were injured, he would want to drop everything he was doing and rush to be by your side at once. unfortunately, reality means that he can't just ditch his job, so he finishes his work so quickly that even celestine is surprised and he heads home at once.

upon seeing the state of your foot and the way you wince in pain as you try to hobble towards him and greet him, artem lifts you up like you weigh nothing and brings you straight to the bedroom. he surrounds you with a million pillows and if necessary, elevates your foot with a stack of cushions too. for the entire time that you're injured, artem applies for permission to work at home, and he'll be by your side day and night. whatever you need, he'll get it for you at once so you don't even have to lift a finger.

when he realises that you're feeling upset about your injury, artem would hold your palm in his, gently squeezing your hand as he listens to you talk about your worries. he understands that such a sudden injury can be earthshaking, especially when it results in such a loss of autonomy. but artem wants you to know that he'll be with you every step of the way until and after you're 100% healed.

more content utc !

[ luke pearce / xia yan ! ]

luke would be working at the antique store when you call him and tell him you've injured your foot while at work. his first emotion is complete and utter panic, he can't lose you again- but then he snaps back into focus and tells you he'll be on the way immediately. he grabs a bunch of things that might be helpful like an ice pack, bandages and cotton pads before driving to your workplace at lightning speed (he definitely runs a couple of red lights in his hurry).

once luke brings you home, he won't even hear one single word about how you want to help him, or how he shouldn't worry too much about you. he'll just carry you and lay you down on the sofa, putting on your favourite tv show to help pass the time while he goes to prepare a meal for you. he does his best to keep you as involved as possible, asking you about which spices you want, and walking to the couch just to give you a taste test. at that point you both remember that he's terrible at cooking, so you settle for ordering takeout instead LOL.

throughout the course of your recovery, luke flits about you like a worried butterfly. he doesn't want you to strain yourself, so even when you're taking your first few steps again, luke is the one who looks like he's going to pass out from nervousness. if you ever tell him that you feel like a burden because you aren't able to do anything for now, luke will reassure you with soft kisses and whispered words of comfort. as someone with a chronic illness, he understands how useless you can feel when you're bedridden, so he knows just what to say to help you feel better.

[ marius von hagen / lu jinghe ! ]

marius is actually the bane of his directors' existence. the second you call him and tell him you're injured, he dismisses everyone in the meeting room, muttering something about rescheduling it to another day. he leaves everything up to poor vincent, who's forced to deal with the wrath of the old men on the board of directors. marius drives way over the speed limit back home, and he doesn't care at all about the accumulated speed tickets he's going to have to pay - nothing is more important than getting to you asap.

once he's got you tucked into bed and is convinced that you aren't in mortal danger, marius is soo dramatic about the whole thing it's almost as if he's the one that's injured. "but i was so worried about you! you almost drove me to an early grave, is that what you want, mx lawyer?!" he clutches his heart and stumbles around the room, which at least succeeds in cheering you up a little. unfortunately, marius can't skip out on work to be with you because pax would probably fall apart in two seconds without him at the wheel, so he relies on payton to give you everything you need (it shows how much he trusts his butler that he even entrusts your safety to him).

marius would spend as much time with you as he could, always cuddled up next to you and resting his head in the crook of your neck as you thread your hands through his hair. he'll talk about everything under the sun, hoping it distracts you from your pain. when you confess that you've been feeling down because of your injury, marius comforts you the best way he can, letting you vent as much as you need to get everything off your chest. after that he tells you that he'll treat you like royalty every day if it means that you'll feel less bad about him doing it while you're injured.

[ vyn richter / mo yi ! ]

one of the perks of running your own workplace is that you can do whatever you want, and that is exactly what vyn does. when he hears you're injured, he informs his receptionist that he'll be unavailable for the next few days except for patients with extremely urgent needs that can't be handled by the nurses. with that out of the way, he calls ogier and drives home at once, not caring how many traffic lights he ignores.

anyone who saw vyn at the time might say that he was unbothered about your injury upon looking at the way he calmly handled the situation, merely asking you what happened and checking the prescribed medications. but you know better, because you notice all the small details about him that no one else would; the way his usually flawless hair is now messy, or how his eyes flicker to you every second as if you're going to disappear into thin air, or the way his hand is ever so slightly trembling as he holds onto you so tightly.

as a psychiatrist, vyn can spot the signs of how upset you are before you say anything, but he waits for you to tell him first because he doesn't want to put any pressure on you. when you open up to him, vyn isn't judgemental at all, he listens to you carefully and reminds you that your feelings are valid. after all, it must have been incredibly difficult for you to cope with such an unexpected injury, and he's so proud of you for being so strong. vyn would help you start to walk again, and the look in his eyes when you take your first few steps on your own almost makes the whole thing worth it.

✧ thank you for reading ! if you have a request, feel free to send it in 🌠

© icypopz 2024. do not repost or modify in any way.

[puckinghischier]

Surprise…?

Luke Hughes x fem!reader

summary: luke gets hurt during a game

notes: y’all i think i struggle writing luke for some reason. i just never seem to really like what i write when i write for him. wtf am i doing wrong 😩

request: can you do a post on luke Hughes getting badly injured the game at umich and both older brothers are there and get worried over him and major fluff

i strayed away a bit from the michigan aspect because i don’t feel comfy writing about college hockey players, so i changed it up a bit. i hope you still enjoy!! 🫶🏼

[3.3k]

~

There weren’t many times you regretted moving to Jersey, but right now was one of them. The constant traffic within the city wasn’t something that usually got under your skin, but today it was the absolute bane of your existence. Of course, you were in a hurry. A big one. You had approximately thirty minutes until puck drop, and you needed to get there before that puck hit that ice. No exceptions. You hadn’t told Luke what you were doing, so he probably already expected you to be there, wondering why you’re not in your usual seat for warm-ups.

As if he could hear your thoughts, your phone buzzed with a message from Luke, not being able to read what it said while trying to weave in and out of traffic.

“Quinn, can you see what Luke just sent. And then tell him I’m on my way. I don’t want him worrying that I’m not showing tonight,” you ask the Hughes brother currently in your passenger seat.

Quinn grabbed your phone from the cupholder, listening to you rattle off your passcode so he can open Luke’s message.

“He asked where you were, and if you were already there. Wanted to know why you weren’t in your seat for warm ups,” Quinn confirms your thoughts, looking to you for an answer.

“Tell him I’m just running late. Be there before puck drop. And tell him I love him and good luck.”

You hear the sound of Quinn typing your reply as you increase your speed, cursing the people who want to drive below the speed limit in the fast lane. This is what you get for trying to be a good girlfriend and surprise your boyfriend and his brother. You get stuck on the road with New Jersey’s worst drivers.

In your defense, you were supposed to already be safely at the arena in your seats, but Quinn’s airline had different plans. His flight being delayed by three hours gave you barely enough time to run and grab him from the airport and make it back to the Rock before the hockey game started. The only thing saving your ass right now is the fact that if you can just get there, you can go through the player entrance and avoid the crowds trying to get in at the last minute.

“If you don’t calm down and drive like a sane person, we’re never going to get there. We’ll be squashed on the side of the road,” Quinn scolds you, grasping what your dad always called the ‘oh shit’ handles.

“If I can just get around these idiots in front of me we’ll be fine. We’re almost at our exit, then I just have to pull around back and we’re in,” you tell him, once again pressing the gas pedal a little harder.

Quinn stays silent the rest of the drive, closing his eyes once you start speeding around the other cars on the freeway, finally getting to the right exit and rushing to the underground parking that the players always park in. You pull your car into the spot next to Jack’s, barely even turning the car off before you’re jumping out and sprinting to the entrance.

“C’mon, Quinn! I know you can move faster than that! We only have a few minutes! Move it!” You yell over your shoulder, Quinn barely having gotten out of the car.

“Remind me to never let you drive ever again,” is all he says as he catches up to you, looking a little greener than before.

The two of you make it inside the arena with no issues, sprinting to your seats just as the national anthem finishes, both teams sending their starting lines out on the ice.

You had managed to snag Quinn a seat next to you, asking the team’s manager for a favor to help surprise their rookie defenseman. With no hesitation, he handed you a ticket and a locker room pass for Quinn, knowing how homesick Luke had been lately. You had thanked him a million times, asking him to keep it a secret from both Jack and Luke, not wanting either one of them to know until the day of. He gave you his word, and was also the reason you were given access to the player parking for the night, not wanting Quinn to be ambushed by fans going through the regular entrance.

You felt your heart rate start to slow once you were both situated in your seats, glad that you had made it in time. Neither Jack nor Luke had looked over and noticed you yet. You wondered if they were going to clock Quinn before they took their stances on the ice.

Your question was soon answered as Jack looked back and saw you, waving and turning to get Luke’s attention before he did a double take, noticing the brunette sitting to you left. Quinn gave a small wave, flashing his younger brother a smile as you watched Jack’s eyes widen, mouth curving into beaming smile. Luke had turned back, looking in your direction, a relieved smile on his face once he noticed you were finally in your spot, eyes too focused on your figure to notice Quinn’s next to you. It wasn’t until he looked over at Jack and followed his gaze that he finally noticed his oldest brother in the crowd, a Devil’s hat on his head.

Luke’s eyes flicked over to you once again, mouthing ‘what the fuck?’ to you, your only response a shrug of the shoulders and a smirk on your face.

The two brothers quickly focused their attention to the officials on the ice, lowered into their stances, waiting for the puck to drop onto the ice.

“You know they’re going to compete now, right?” Quinn says as he elbows you to get your attention.

“Why would they compete? They’re literally playing for the same team. It doesn’t matter who scores as long as the team wins,” you respond, confused at Quinn’s words.

“It matters now. They do the same thing when mom or dad come to watch them. They want the praise. They want to be able to out perform the other so they can brag about it to me after the game,” Quinn clarifies.

“I don’t know about that. Jack’s been good about trying to set Luke up for success all year, I think they’ll surprise you.”

Quinn gives you a skeptical look, not believing your words, but lets it go otherwise; his attention quickly stolen by the sound of the puck hitting the ice, followed by clashing sticks and skates scraping against the frozen floor.

Much to your surprise, Quinn proved to be right. All throughout the first period, the two brothers fought to get the puck, sometimes even fighting against one another. You noticed the odd looks from their teammates, Nico even skating over to Jack during a tv timeout to ask him what was up, not having seen the pair act like this before. You kept throwing glares at Luke, trying to tell him to knock it off, that they’re playing for the same team, but he wouldn’t look at you for more than a few seconds at a time.

As the second period started, the competition between Jack and Luke had nearly ceased to exist. You assumed they got their asses chewed in the locker room during the intermission, noting how their coach seemed to watch them like a hawk. Once the brothers started actually playing together instead of against one another, the Devil’s were scoring goals left and right, putting up four goals before the end of the second period, one Luke’s and two being Jack’s.

With only three minutes left in the second period, Luke was attempting to get possession of the puck from behind the net, fighting two of the opposing players for the black piece of rubber. He lost control of the puck, and in a moment of frustration, pushed one of the enemy players in the back, wanting out of the sandwich they had put him in. The player he pushed fell forward onto the ice, drawing a penalty on Luke. The official had blown the whistle, stopping gameplay, when Luke looked over at him, frustrated at the call.

What Luke didn’t see was the player who had gotten the puck come skating up behind him at full speed, pushing Luke so hard his skates came out from under him, causing him to land on the ice on his back. He was angled just enough, though, that his body slid at high speed straight into the bottom of the wall a few feet away, head bouncing off the boards along the ice.

You were on your feet immediately, hands flying to the glass in front of you, begging for him to get up. Quinn jumped to his feet next to you, placing a hand on your shoulder, whether to comfort you or himself, you don’t know. Jack leaves his spot on the bench to skate over to his brother, falling to his knees on the ice, hovering above Luke.

Luke hadn’t moved yet. Not a foot twitch, a roll over in pain, or a thumbs up to let anyone know he’s okay. He’s laying lifeless on the ice, trainers calling his name, careful not to touch his head or neck. Your hand flies to cover your mouth, a sob making its way out of you when you noticed the stretcher being put on stand-by near the tunnel. Everything feels like it’s in slow motion, time stopped as Luke continues to lay, unmoving. Quinn tries to move you back from the glass, averting your attention from the scene in front of you, but your eyes are glued to Luke’s body.

You thought you imagined the twitch of his foot, thinking it was where the medics were tapping his leg, trying to coax him awake. When you finally see his body try to roll over, you let out the breath that you didn’t even know you were holding. Your relief was short-lived, however, when you hear the scream that makes its way out of Luke’s throat. You’re not sure which one hurt worse, him lying there not moving or the scream of agony that’s currently echoing through the arena.

Your knees start to give out, eyes blurring from the tears falling down your face. Quinn catches you as you slide down the glass, holding your sobbing figure in a crouched position.

“Quinn, gotta go. Gotta go, locker rooms,” you manage to say between sobs, trying to stand and make your way out of the stands.

“Okay, yeah, let’s go. Let’s get you out of here.”

The fans watch as Quinn guides you out of your seats and up the stairs. Most of them familiar with you, you and Luke not being super private with your relationship. A lot of them are still shouting obscenities at the player who went after Luke, demanding he be suspended. Some of them give you sad smiles as you pass, hoping your rookie is okay.

You finally reach the entrance to the training room, knowing this is where they’ll have taken him before they decide if he needs a hospital or not. You can hear them in there talking to him, unsure if you should enter yet or wait on someone to come out and get you. You stand at the doors, staring into space, when Quinn decides to speak up.

“He’s gonna be fine, Y/N. Probably a gnarly bruise, and likely a concussion, but it could’ve been worse. I know its scary, but I promise, he’s going to be okay. Might not even miss more than a game or two.”

All you can do is nod at the words, unable to do much else at the moment. You try to give a small smile, but you think it comes across as more of a grimace. You turn your head when you hear the door to the training room opens, revealing one of the team trainers.

“Oh, good, you’re already down here. He’s asking for you. Wants you to know he’s awake and okay. Nothing’s broken, just banged up and a mild concussion. Probably going to have him follow up with a doctor tomorrow, but for now he just needs rest. You can go ahead and go in. He won’t be playing the rest of the night,” the man in front of you finishes, stepping aside so you can walk through the open door.

You turn back to look at Quinn, seeing if he’s going to come with you.

“I’ll just give you two a minute first. Go ahead, I’ll be right behind you,” he tells you, wanting a minute to process his own emotions before seeing his baby brother.

You nod and turn to walk into the training room, following the trainer down a short hallway before turning the corner into a room with three different treatment tables, Luke’s long body taking up the farthest one. His head is laying back on a pillow, a large ice pack taped to his right shoulder. His gear is laying in a pile on the floor next to him, completely bare from the waist up. As you get closer, you can see the already purple skin forming in the exposed parts of his shoulder and upper arm. You gasp quietly at the bruised skin, causing Luke’s head to snap up at the sound.

“Hey, pretty girl,” he rasps out, voice raw from his screams earlier.

You stop on the side of the bed opposite to his injury, unable to say anything yet. Tears still streaming down your face, looking him over for any other signs of injury.

“Hey, no need to cry, angel. I’m okay, see. Just a little bruise. Nothing to be worried about. You should see the other guy,” he tries to joke, being told he left a dent in the wall where he hit.

You glare at him through your tears, unhappy with his weak attempt at joke.

“Okay, yeah, maybe not the time to joke just yet,” he brings the hand on his good arm up to rub the back of his neck, looking away from your tear-stained face.

“You were unconscious, Luke…you weren’t moving,” is all you managed, staring at his injured shoulder.

“I know, baby, I know. But I’m awake now, see?” he gestures towards his body with his good arm. “I’m just fine. Yapping ability unaffected,” he once again tries to bring a smile to your face, this time it almost works.

“God, Luke, if you could’ve heard the scream you let out,” you shudder at the memory. “It was the worst sound I’ve ever heard in my life. I thought my heart was going to rip in two right there on the spot. I don’t ever want to hear the sound again,” you finally look at his face, noting the small cut on his forehead, you assume from his helmet.

“Y/N, I’m so sorry you had to witness all of it. I can’t imagine how it must’ve looked,” his tone apologetic. “If the roles were reversed, I don’t think I would have been able to keep myself from trying to climb over the glass to get to you. But I promise, sweetheart, I’m fine. Told me as long as my head’s fine I should only have to miss two or three games to let the bruise run its course,” he grabs your hand, rubbing small circles with his thumb.

“It was just so scary, Luke,” you sniffle, closing your eyes for a brief moment. You finally start to calm down now that his hand is in yours.

“I know. But now you get to play doctor and take care of me for a few days. Kiss all my boo boo’s better,” Luke wiggles his eyebrows at you, finally earning that laugh he’s been trying to get out of you since you walked in.

“That was probably one of the ickiest things you’ve ever said to me,” you laugh with Luke, fake gagging for dramatic effect.

Luke opens his mouth to say something else, but the the doors to the training room open, cutting him off. The familiar sound of skates against the floor making their way towards the two of you. Jack turns the corner, a frantic look in his eyes until he lands on Luke, awake and sitting up.

“I’m going to kill you for scaring me like that,” Jack points a finger, glaring at his younger brother. “I mean, why the fuck did you hit him, Luke! What were you thinking? You know how these guys are, they’re begging for any excuse to fight! They don’t care if you’re a 20 something rookie, they’re gonna hit back, dumbass!” Jack yells at Luke, throwing his arms around in frustration.

Luke winces at the volume of Jack’s voice, his ears sensitive to loud noises right now. Before you can get the words out to tell Jack to be quieter, Quinn enters the room and does it for you.

“Jack, be quiet for fuck’s sake. He has a concussion; you yelling at him is only going to make it worse. Yell at him later.”

“Well, it was stupid, Q. What he did was stupid,” Jack says in a normal tone of voice, still angry.  

“Don’t act like you’ve never done anything stupid on the ice before. Just because you never get caught when you hit people doesn’t mean you don’t do it,” Quinn walks over to stand beside Jack at the end of the table.

“You good, Moose? Looked pretty nasty out there from where I was sitting. Scared us, man,” Quinn asks Luke, tapping him on the foot. You note the redness of Quinn’s eyes, knowing how much he cares for both of his brothers. The whole situation shook him up, too, you were just too worried about Luke to notice at the time.

“Yeah, m’alright. Head hurts. Shoulder feels like it’s been run over by the ‘boni, but other than that I got off pretty clean. Nothing’s broken. Have to miss two games at least, more if my head ain’t right,” Luke answers Quinn, moving his hand so he can thread his fingers through yours.

“Your head’s never been right, Moose,” Jack says, causing Luke to roll his eyes.

Quinn leans over to bump his shoulder into Jack’s, shaking his head, unimpressed with his joke.

“Wait,” Luke starts, causing everyone to look up at him. “Are we just not going to address the fact that Quinn randomly showed up to the game tonight?”

“Yeah, how did you get here. Shouldn’t you be in Vancouver right now?” Jack adds, looking over at his older brother suspiciously.

Quinn looks over to you, causing the other two Hughes to shift their gaze your way.

“Surprise?” you say as a question, not knowing what to do with all the eyes in the room on you.

“You did this?” You look over at Luke, nearly eye level with him, even though he’s laying on the table beside you.

“Well, I know you’ve been struggling with adjusting to life here lately, and you were feeling pretty homesick, so I figured it would be nice for you to have both of your brothers in Jersey for a night or two,” you shrug your shoulders, not seeing the big deal with your actions.

“Tried to get your parents here, too, but they couldn’t leave work right now. They sent their love and apologies, though. Promised me they’d be at a game as soon as they could,” you added, wishing you could’ve had all the Hughes here tonight.

“I….I don’t know what to say,” Luke looks at you, so much affection in his eyes it makes you squirm.

“Well, a thank you would be a nice start,” you joke.

“Thank you. I love you. So much. If I could lean over to kiss you right now I would,” Luke brings your hand up to his mouth, placing a kiss on the back of your hand clasped in his.

“Please, for the love of god, don’t make me witness anything else painful tonight,” Jack interrupts the moment, earning a slap to the back of the head from Quinn.

“Don’t you have a game to go finish, jackass?”

“Oh, shit, yeah,” Jack jumps, forgetting about the last period that’s about to start. “See you at home, Moose, Q. You, too, Y/N. Assume you’re staying over to help take care of the patient, yeah?” He nods his head towards the injured one in the room.

“Yeah, I’ll be there. Be safe, Jack. Good luck,” you wave as he turns to leave.

“I’ll go pull the car around, be back in a few to help you get this ole’ goon out of here,” Quinn announces before leaving you and Luke alone once more.

“So, you’re really going to stay over? Play nurse for me?” Luke asks, looking at you with puppy dog eyes, batting his eyelashes.

“Of course I’m staying over. I can’t trust Jack to make sure you’re not up and around doing something stupid when you’re supposed to be resting.”

“So, if you’re going to play nurse, does this mean we can stop on the way home and get you one of those sexy nurse outfits?” Luke asks, eyes hopeful.

“Maybe they should’ve just left you out there unconscious on the ice, you were less annoying that way,” you fire back, smiling at the laugh Luke let out, thanking your lucky stars your boy is okay.

[the-newlymadeweeb]

Bane of Existence

Luke Castellan x reader

Description: Luke spends a few moments with you alone

A/N: So, Luke is canonically 19 years old during lightning thief so I've gone ahead and written an unhinged and mildly suggestive short. I like the concept of an unhinged pov ngl.

Luke plans on poisoning Percy. It's a desperate plan, in your opinion. And a stupid one. Percy is a child. The entire plot to overthrow the gods is fine, but there was no need to hurt other demigods.

"You're crazy Luke," you mumble, breaking your kiss. Your mouth remains close to his, breathing air into each other's lungs. The two of you'll have been hiding away all alone for quite some time, and looking at his kiss-swollen lips you lean forward to nip at them once more, "absolutely insane."

If other children were hurt in the process, you'll would be no different from the gods. But he refused to see reason. And for all his vices, you would not stop him from following through with this crazy plan and running away with him.

"We're going through with this plan baby," He says, catching your wrists tightly and taking two of your digits into his mouth, trailing his tongue down your skin and scraping his teeth lightly. Languid, sinful.

Sighing, you relax in his hold, a low heat simmering in your belly.

You liked Percy; of course, he's a sweet kid and it sucks that he's caught right in the middle of this disaster but you made your choice to stand by Luke years ago.

The two of you'll have borne witness to the most vulnerable parts of each other. The emotional and physical. He has experienced all your crevices as you have his. There is no alternate option to him. The world will burn, wholly and entirely, many will die but in the end Luke will crawl back into your arms and you will accept him each time.

For all the time he sounds with you in you he has created a space for himself between your ribs and that's where he resides in the quiet moments. You allow this because who else would you allow other than the love of your life.

You pull your fingers out of his mouth and clutch his jaw, wet digits pressing the shape of his cheekbones.

"We better not end up dead immediately babe."

He smirks, and oh yes, you're gonna spend the rest of your days with this man, "yes boss."

You press another harsh kiss on his lips before taking him up into your arms and he wraps his arms around you, encompassing you and hums. You are his bane as much as he is yours. He'd lick your blood and sweat like nectar, cut the two of you'll open only to sew you'll together.

There's no going back now.

The warmth of his breath burns your neck and you savour it. These are your last moments of peace before pandemonium.

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

[felassan]

Some snippets from DA dev Luke Barrett on the unofficial BioWare forum, cut for length:

DA:I -

User: "I am still convinced that Bioware cut the healing spells and went with barriers instead because of the Multiplayer." Luke Barrett: I can't speak to any other games directly but I can give a bit of historic context for DAI. The game was initially a more dungeon/linear delving - see how far you can get - experience and there was no barrier of any kind. As a side note: healing has always been a hot topic in design because as soon as you include it there are many other conceits you now need take into consideration for the gameplay - one of which I will call 'the Anders problem'. Anyway, as DAI got the date moved and shifted more into the pseudo-openworld the concept of attrition (see how far you can get before having to return to camp) became less relevant and we needed to help the Players have more moment-to-moment agency around their survival. Unfortunately for various reasons (one of which is the sad reality of designing a game with a shifting timeline) the healing couldn't be re-added so we ended up with more of a mitigation strategy in the barrier system. It went through a lot of iterations but eventually landed on what it shipped with which I would call... acceptable (but just barely). Now, I will concede that a part of the reason it didn't return after that shift was an aversion to holy trinity gameplay specifically for MP but it wasn't the core reason. As a side story, trying to balance the game (as that was my job on DAI - and yes, it could be much better haha) we had to all but force Players to take barrier. It is intentionally the first skill in the first tree for the Mage and all the autolevel (I also handled that) is designed to get it right away." [source]

User: "Merry Christmas Luke! Sooo what was the hardest class you had to balance? [DA:I]" Luke Barrett: "I feel like anyone who was around for the post-launch content will already know the answer to this as it was the bane of my existence when I got put exclusively on MP after launch but the Knight-Enchanter barrier absorbing was a pain. Stuff like that is very challenging to feel good without being broken as they are relative to damage so scaling is fairly open-ended. Too little and the casual players won't get use out of it, too much and the character builders will be wildly OP. We actually had a 'no nerfing' guideline for the SP side so it was a hard battle to fix that silly thing 🙃." [source]

"As a fun fact, I did all the logic for autolevel on DAI and the guideline I was given was literally "make functional builds, but don't make something optimal that you'd play"." [source]

DA:TV -

User: "If you can, say thanks to the people making the no die option possible." Luke Barrett: "Done! My team handles this stuff so I let them know 😊" [source]

"Comically, I designed the majority of the items and skills and I am still finding it fun making awesome builds (been almost entirely doing playthroughs lately" [source]

"Was really important to the team that everyone could play the way that felt best to them." [source]

"Each specialization has a focus around a few specific mechanics, some of which are the weapons or damage types but you can go off script and make it work for sure (this was intentional in the designs)." [source]

"I designed all the skills and so they're each enjoyable to me to some extent. I have been playing through the game over and over the last couple months for balance purposes so I've played them all fairly extensively." [source]

User: "Necrotic sounds like it could be either Spirit or Nature." User: "For Rogue, it replace "poison". For Mage, it replace spirit (Spirit bomb). For Warrior, it's more spirit (especially Reaper), but some skills could work as poison too. So basically they merged spirit and nature." Luke Barrett: "Thats pretty close to spot on. They were actually heavily iterated on throughout development - I can't (at least currently) go into specifics as to why though." [source]

"the target for the progression vision is that you can make a viable build out of almost** any aspect of the gameplay." [source]

"As for timelines, We started DA4 in October of 2015 roughly. The entire team was moved to MEA for about 3-4 months to help it ship and I also spent all of 3 weeks helping out on Anthem. But otherwise I've been on some incarnation of DA4 for about 9 years now - pretty ready for it to release 😅." [source]

"yes, years of working on the same thing can cause some burnout but I've played through the full game probably about 8 times in the last few months and it's still fun (though some of the specific levels that haven't changed in a long time I've done 50+ times easily and I could do without ever seeing them again 😂)." [source]

User: "I do kind of feel that at this point the DA team has put so much work into creating and improving their tools and learning the ins and outs of Frostbite [...] But who knows what the devs in the trenches really feel" Luke Barrett: "I will say it does some things very well and some things poorly, relative to other engines. Personally I really enjoy Frostbite but I've been using it since 2012. In an ideal world, many engines would be viable and developers would make games suited to the strengths of a specific engine." [source]

User: "Since this game is much more stat heavy than prior titles, specifically when it comes to skills and gear, there's likely a need for some balance changes to be made post-launch. Does the game being playable completely offline hinder the data capture side for your team (in terms of analytics), or is this a non-factor?" Luke Barrett: "Generally speaking, most people leave data analytics on so we get more than enough data coming in. Additionally, I'll personally be watching several channels for things that are underperforming (relatively speaking) and not have to nerf anything. The rpg side is vast though and I'm sure people will find OP combinations/synergies that might need 'adjustments' but as long as it's fun and not an "I win" button that trivializes combat I'm pretty cool with it." [source]

Luke Barrett: "I can safely say there are many builds for each class that will feel very powerful if you're not on the highest difficulty 😉. What I'm really excited for is when the guides comes out that show people the fastest way to get some of the uniques that unlock 'special' gameplay 😊. Let's just say I love the feeling of rushing to Patches in DS1 and kicking him off the bridge for the Crescent Axe (iykyk)." [source] User: "Speaking of guides. Will there be a guidebook like there was for DAI? " Luke Barrett: "Not that I'm aware of but I'm happy to help feed info to somewhere like fextralife or the dragon age wiki after a week or so to help with those pursuits. Have to leave some time for exploration and discovery before the optimizers streamline the experience 😉" [source]

"Effectively, at least until the game launches (and likely a week or so after), you won't get anything interesting out of any of the devs save Mike Gamble or John Epler. Longer term I hope to be very active, at least for build mechanics and all the combat/rpg nuts and bolts conversations." [source]

"I started "da4" in October 2015 and so after 9 years of effort (minus 3 months on Andromeda) I'm quite excited for tomorrow and the launch week. I don't know if I'd say nervous, I feel pretty confident in the product, but definitely that eager kid before Christmas feeling 😊" [source]

"As the person who did all the balance, I will say that if you are comprehending how to make a cohesive build and understand the combat mechanics, you should play on Underdog. One of the downsides to having a lot of power growth vectors is the difference between people who engage vs those that don't becomes a chasm quite quickly. If you start blowing enemies up rapidly, turn up the difficulty (or play on nightmare where that will not be the case) - basically if it ever feels super easy or like enemies are health sponges you're probably on the wrong setting for your skill level. The custom difficulty settings are there to make the gameplay enjoyable (for whatever that means to you)." [source]

"As a tip from me, the balance is subtly tipped in the players favor until the last fight of the 3rd combat mission. Be warned if it's feeling too easy you may want to wait until after that to decide." [source]

[on DA MP] Luke Barrett: "It was actually pretty fun but very much not what most people wanted us to make (including internally). Also we had, let's say, limited staff who had a passion and background in MP so it was definitely the right call to go SP only. Now, it would have been nice had we just started that way but so it goes sometimes." [source] User: "You still play it yourself from time to time (DA MP), or have you left it be?" Luke Barrett: "After playing variations of DA4 for so many years (9!!!) it's hard to go back to anything with DAI controls/gameplay speed. Even the initial Joplin prototypes I was doing were much more snappy/twitchy - for everything good about DAI the combat was definitely in the middle of two different styles." [source]

[on aiming bows] "we actually used to have separate buttons for ADS and ranged attack but it was wildly overloading the controller. These RPG games need controllers with at least 2 more buttons (fingers crossed for the next gen)" [source]

User: "After the last few games, I'm really surprised by the current skill... tree?" Luke Barrett: "I call it a skill graph - aside from the beginning where you have 3 choices the entirety of it is 2 choice splits and it'll essentially make a build for you. Just go a little at a time and aim for whatever specialization seems most fun to you 😄" [source]

"Loot is not random so theoretically guides with drop locations should appear pretty soon." [source]

"Yep, Spellblade is the only spec that directly impacts fire damage but you can get benefits from most of them and still go fire. As for the specs, yes it would have been nice to support all of them but just wasn't in scope unfortunately. Mage has Mourn-Watch, Shadow Dragons, and Antivan Crows specializations - only the Rogue has a Veiljumper one. Deathcaller left side you can go beam based and use a Fire weapon. Evoker you'd likely need to do a hybrid ice/fire build." [source]

User: "Bit of a side question, but for those who intend to make more characters, is BioWare considering upping the amount of playable character slots you can have (currently at 3)? Or is there a hardware restriction here given the game is offline playable?" Luke Barrett: "Don't quote me as I don't handle the technical side of this but my understanding is we have to allocate a specific amount of HD space on the consoles so we basically have to pick a limit, relative to our save file sizes, and then divide that by number of careers. I'll inquire if this is something we can increase with an optional download or something but I suspect consoles are stuck that way, unfortunately." [source]

[on Patch 1] "It's been awhile since I actually did the content for this patch so I'd have to check but I have a pretty anti-nerf policy for SP games. I know I fixed up a couple enemies that weren't as hard as they were supposed to be and definitely boosted a bunch of synergistic things though. I'll take a look tomorrow but for those that don't know, the turnaround time on these things is about a month of it's not an emergency due to certification process with consoles. Longer term my goal is to keep an eye in telemetry of any underused abilities and items (or enemies with too many kills under their belt) and audit them just to double check if they need a boost or if people just haven't figured them out yet 😉." [source]

"The equippable items are all predetermined with a minor exception*. Some items are class specific (all the weapons, a small amount of armors and accessories, 2 runes) so when you play a different class you'll see your classes 'version' of that item. Things that are random (from a table/pool) are valuables. Exception: Near the very end of the game we do a few checks on what equipment you haven't acquired. A bunch of those final drops, and inventory on the final merchant, simply find stuff you don't have and give it to you. That's basically the only major RNG we have with loot. If you notice even 99% of the skills and item mods employ an effect after a condition is met X times rather than a more traditional 'proc chance'." [source]

[on modding] "Once this starts to pick up, feel free to PM me if anyone needs help 'finding' assets or has questions about how one might mod something. We don't officially support mods buuuuut we don't have any kind of anti-modding stance either" [source]

"To give the high level gist of the resource economy: - each class starts off with minimal ability usage, this is intentional to force people to learn the other combat mechanics as they're a necessary skill and it's easy to lean on a crutch like ability spam and kiting - abilities are designed to feel powerful on use, thus they all have a decent cost and can't be spammed* - weapon attacks generate your resource - in the bottom right of the center skills area is a node to make each class's resource easier to manage - halfway down all starting segments (N, SW, SE) there is always a node that boosts generation - there are +max nodes on all sides of the skill graph for each class, this is particularly important for the Mage as they start each fight at max - each class can build into being ability focused but starts intentionally rounded - loastly, the first ability is always a resource spender and 1 or 2 of the next available ones will be cooldown gated. It is recommended to have at least one cooldown based ability slotted" [source]

"So loosely the rogue momentum works like this: - each ability costs 50 momentum - hitting enemies generates ~2 momentum per hit (base), you get extra for bow weakpoints - when you are directly hit, you lose 15% of your current momentum, this means the more you hold the more you will lose (this loss has a small cooldown so you don't lose a whole bar when you get hit rapidly) - momentum carries forward between combats (compared to warrior rage which decays when out of combat) If youre having issues, make sure you get that skill in the middle section that reduces momentum loss when hit. As a helpful tip, the Quicken buff generates small amounts of momentum each second so it's a good way to get more if you're having issues." [source]

"I highly recommend using the belt that grants Quicken early game until you can generate momentum faster yourself. And yes, the time dilation affects everything in the world except the Player so all your buffs and things still tick at normal speed" [source]

User: "If I knock an enemy off an edge, if they were supposed to drop something will it appear on the edge, or is it lost for good?" Luke Barrett: "It should appear on the ledge. I will say the 'real' loot from enemy drops are all hand placed. The actual random stuff is just valuables and materials." [source]

" The way it actually works is very complicated with a lot of necessary exceptions but loosely - each ability has a base damage and ones that hit multiple times have an offset multiplier. - That value is multiplied by the sum of all your stat bonuses, conditional bonuses, resist and layer modifiers. - We then subtract enemy defense and multiply by 1-resist (with penetration being calculated here). - this new damage then gets multiplied by 1+crit+weakpointpoint (so those bonuses always feel meaty) and then multiplied by a random number between .95 and 1.05 just to give a little range to the floaties (basically just a presentation thing) - we then multiply again for buffs and debuffs so they, again, always feel meaningful - lastly, we take all added damage and add it flat on top" [source]

"Specific enhancements make enemies immune to the matching affliction. For example, Fire Enchanted enemies are immune to burning. Juggernaut enemies are immune to being staggered but otherwise it should work in everything." [source]

[dark-elf-writes]

You should assign Scum Villian characters godly parents

I’ve never actually read it but from what I’ve seen, Shang Qinghua gives Apollo vibes, but exclusively Greek Apollo vibes

And Luo Binghe would be Zeus or Jupiter bc of his protag energy

And Shen Yuan is either the dumbest child of Athena ever or the son of some nature god

Hear me out hear me out

The funniest option for Shen Yuan is a child of Aphrodite and that’s where he gets the wifebeam from. Just a natural pull that makes nearly every man he meets fall in love with him. This has the double hilarity of everyone claiming Aphrodite kids can’t fight up to the exact moment Shen Yuan realizes the bane of his existence Airplane Shooting Towards The Sky is actually in camp with him and he proceeds to beat the ever living fuck out of him until they are separated.

I do really like Shang Qinghua as a child of Apollo because you know Apollo would be the most cringe over supportive dad about his son’s terrible porn novel. He also fits in with my interpretation of Greek Apollo of playing the idiot but actually being incredibly intelligent what with the whole spy thing.

Binghe is definitely a big three kid I just don’t know which big three to assign him to. Torn between Zeus and Hades tbh mostly because demon translates very well to Hades’ power but Zeus is like the ultimate Stallion Protagonist (derogatory). Probably Zeus but he shows his dad exactly zero respect. All Binghe cares about is the pretty Aphrodite boy that helps with training and catches him when he throws himself into Shen Yuan’s arms trips over his own feet because he just can’t figure out the footwork.

Liu Qingge is a child of Ares but his younger sister Mingyan (who comes to camp later like right before the giant war along with the rest of the younger generation) is another child of Aphrodite blessed with a gift of beauty so strong she chose to wear the veil. Both of them choose to ignore what this says about their mortal parents. Shen Yuan saved Liu Qingge in the first war with the titans and won his eternal gratitude/one of several wifebeam victims ever since.

Shen Jiu I really want as another child of Aphrodite but I think him and Shen Yuan are once more siblings that got the Liu treatment of two different godly parent. Besides Child of Athena Shen Jiu is terrifying and I love him. He would have found a way to become one of Artemis’ few male hunters if he didn’t have to look out for his younger brother who he would rather gnaw an arm of than abandon. He refuses to claim any male children of Athena as his siblings, though he will claim sisters.

Yue Qingyuan I’m not sure on. Something that would help with diplomacy or his general OP power levels. Definitely Roman though which adds into the whole Shen Jiu mess because he met up with the Shen brothers after they had to run from their home due to a monster attack that injured Shen Yuan. Yue Qingyuan ran for help and ended up in the Roman camp. Shen Jiu waited as long as he could before he needed to get Shen Yuan help and had never forgiven Yue Qingyuan since so the meeting after the giant war is T E N S E to say the least

Wei Qingwei is a child of Hephaestus who, after Luke’s betrayal, literally foraged a full magical sword on his own that could detect possession among other things. He is upset when it doesn’t react to Luke. He is more upset once it finally does.

Ming Fan and Ning Yingying are definitely around CHB I just don’t know where exactly to put them. Both younger Athena Campers that see Shen Jiu as the coolest person ever and imprinted on him maybe?

I’m unsure where to stick the other demons but they are definitely around. Though it would be funnier if Demons still were just demons making Binghe double OP but I’m not fully sold on that idea yet.

[jonathanspenguinboxers]

regarding the clave, I am not sure technically if it is supposed to have jurisdiction over the downworlders anyway, as in it pretends it does and it acts like it does, as in you endow itself with that repsonsibility, but if you or any one can clarify if it is written that they are supposed to have any jurisdiction over the downworlders anyways? bc it makes more sense for them to have jurisdiction over the shadowhunters which is the race consisting of the clave, and i thought it was overreaching thier jurisdiction over downworlders (i mean it has been pretty long since I re-read TMI so i cant be sure) which is why i hated them even more, and that somehow thier presumed status quo in the world which they believe to be existing makes their decisions such that it affects downworlders anyways. like cold war, technically they shouldnt have jurisdiction over fairies its the dealings of the SH they can control and that in turn resulted into thier isolation idk i always thought that.

Also because we have heard about fairie courts, warlock council (i am pretty sure was mentioned in bane chronicles and trsom) vampire have thier own clans, werewolf again thier packs - not sure if they have any overarching bodies to govern them or repsonsible for them.

so technically (i hate to be the devils advocate) but just for consideration, i agree with more involvement of the downworlders since all SH decisions affects them, but it also makes sense for the clave to be predominantly represented or dealing with SH concerns. UNLESS, ... unless one completely revamps all the existing quasi governing bodies and creates one overarching body which deals with all SH and DW claims and not just SH, with equal representation. But until that happens, giving representation to each DW section makes sense as it is now, with more DW involvement though, and more DW interactions during decision making.

BTW you can not answer this post if you dont want to, this clave politics i just find very interesting (and some interesting engaging questions were going on in your blog - i quite love your blog and your interactions hehe) I have always been interested in government structures, representation etc, it relates with my field of learning as well.

Also its surprising that someone actually said it- i think it was you which said that circle was more right than other characters- which yes their thinking about clave was more right that it needs to be changed but it kinda stops there - bc their change included completely eradicating DWs and killing them, bc it came from a elitist POV ... like the thinking of change is correct but not where it is directed ..

Anyways it was fun , this was fun, thanks!! TC

I'm so sad you did this anonymously because this is a great thought process and I wanna moot you (That sounds so aggressive 😭)

Yes, I completely agree, the clave oversteps in its position of government because they are meant to enforce laws mostly to shadowhunters, and it is unjust that they try, execute, and are explicitly involved in downworlders while giving them no representation (one person to represent ALL werewolves, and I love Luke more than anyone on this planet I'm sure of that but if I was a werewolf and an ex shadowhunter was my only representation I would be very. very angry.) So yes, they absolutely overstep, and I wholeheartedly believe that the system is corrupt beyond recognition and bigotry and prejudice is so rooted within the Clave that no restructuring or employing of 'good people' would make it better. As it is, everything in the clave is already warped and corrupted, no matter how good the intention because the simple fact is not every could agree with it because downworlders simply do not have that privallege. Even someone like Alec who has good intentions, cannot makeup for that because he IS NOT a downworlder, even if he may sympathize. Everything needs to be rebuilt, exactly as you said, built on the five pillars of the magical world including full and extensive and EQUAL representation for each, no reigning shadowhunters. That is the only way to really get beyond the prejudice because if not you are just complying with the superiority complex, the prejudice, and the discrimination. If they are so downworlder accepting, why do they fear letting them have more say than just one person per creature? (couldn't think of a better word sorry)

Ok on the circle thing, I did not by any means want to say that I think the circle is right or justified. I only meant that there is an obvious show in entitlement within the main characters in TSC (I've read TMI and half of TID so keep that in mind thats who im talking about though I dont doubt it exists in TDA or TLH) with the acceptance of the lack of rep for downwolrders, for the subtle prejudices, for the lack of calling out bigoted behavior. Their solution is only to stop Valentine, not to give Downworlders rights, and theres a difference. I think its Luke who calls Clary out on this, that despite hating Valentine and criticizing Luke and Jocelyns involvement in the circle, she also subtly retains unchecked prejudices against the downworlders herself, and it especially rampant amongst the others like Jace and Alec. So in contrast, the cirlces INITIAL idea that the government/systems were the root of the problem was more aware. However, obviously it was VERY skewed and became something else entirely, and initially the goal wasn't so great either, I'm just saying the general notion of faulting the system not the people is what is more sound that say Clary, who fought Valentine who was not an outlier in his hatred, and instead of also focusing, or ever focusing, on the root cause, just defeated Valentine and called it a day. So yeah, don't misconstrue my words, I am not in agreement with the circle, I do not think they were heros, and it was never a noble cause because even at the beginning their reasoning for a system change was warped with anger and hatred.

Thank you for the awesome ask!!! I took so long because I wanted to give you a decent answer

[jennydwren]

SPOILERS BECAUSE I AM UNWELL ABOUT STAR WARS: TALES OF THE UNDERWORLD

I am so, so very sorry, that this is suddenly not witchblr, nor anything Tolkien or LOTRO-related, but two of my fandoms just collided in a very unexpected way and I am unable to be normal about this. I am so absolutely abnormal that I am going to ramble for a minute here and leave quite a bit of spoiler space because I NEED to talk about this show that just dropped on Disney+.

I know, I know. I live in a household that gives money to them and they SUCK. Bear in mind that I do not have the executive function to learn piracy right now. I literally don't. Please don't @ me about it. I just really need to hear what Andor is saying right now. Like hear it, and feel it, if not actually huff it from a fuel pipeline.

But I'm not here to get all spoilery about Andor. I'm not even talking about throwing yourself at a cause whose outcome you know you won't live to see. Nope nope, the fandom collision I'm talking about involves the brand-new animated series, Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld, which just dropped today. May the Fourth be with you.

I have binge-watched all six episodes. Hot take: the first three were not as good as the other three. It's not that I don't love me some Ventress. The other three, however, were just -- the story is better written, the cinematography itself is better, even though a lot of the best shots are deadass ripped straight out of High Noon with Gary Cooper as the beleaguered marshal. It's just -- it's an origin story but it had a twist that I did not see coming, that was not on my bingo card.

I hope this is enough rambling to constitute spoiler space. If not, please have some more right now.

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Cad Bane having a son was absolutely not on my bingo card and because the episodes are utterly, completely laden with Western tropes, I expected the standoff. The tight focus on fingers twitching near the holster. I expected the two to the center mass of the noble but doomed lawman.

Just as I did not expect the Spanish Inquisition, I didn't expect that the child who called the marshal Papa would actually be Cad Bane's. We see Bane's end -- anticlimactic as it may have been -- in The Book of Boba Fett. But there's still a son running around out there.

AND HIS NAME IS ISAAC. You know who else was in a Western and had a son named Isaac? Arthur Fucking Morgan, that's who.

The trope "Aerith and Bob" has always been at work in the Star Wars universe from the very first movie, in which you have extremely fictional names like Obi-Wan and Chewbacca but then you have names that do exist on Earth, like Owen and Luke. In this six-episode series, you have names that are very un-Earthly like Asajj and (albeit not mentioned or given any dialogue) Obi-Wan again, but ISAAC. Someone in the writers' room played RDR2 and really took it in. That Earth name is absolutely on the (lack of) nose. Only the son survives the father -- both fathers -- and if they had thought of it in time, could have been a Jack Marston.

I can't even wrap my head around how much, because of ONE NAME, I now see those episodes as an alternate RDR universe, or adjacent enough to it to mess with me. I'm just thinking of Corey Burton as Cad Bane delivering lines like, "Well, maybe when your mother's finished mourning your father, I'll keep her in black on your behalf. You think on that, boy."

But the lawman is the one whose last words are those of triumph. Whose words are a gift. Not "I gave you all I had" like Arthur, but, in response to "You took everything I had," the simple "Not everything." A Pyrrhic victory, pulled out of loss. And the gunslinger turns his back on the dying friend and walks away.

I will be unable to even until further notice.

[a-lil-bi-furious]

Top 10 Ships Involving POC in 10 Different Fandoms (Round 4)

Thanks to the wonderful @welldressedllama for the tag! 🥰 Just for funsies, this time I’m doing enemies-to-lovers/rivals-to-lovers/maybe-not-traditional-enemies-but-way-too-antagonistic-to-not-fit-the-bill-to-lovers edition. In no particular order:

1) Macy Vaughn x Abigael Jameson-Caine (Macigael) - Charmed CW

I ultimately respect the AbiMel plot, but these two were literally Right There. Excellent chemistry from moment one and they perfectly mirrored each other with Macy as a witch with demon blood (struggling with darkness) and Abigael as a demon with witch blood (struggling to accept lightness). To think of what could have been with the two of them and the acceptance of good and bad and the whole complex mess of the self makes me insaneeee

2) Nicky Shen x Zhilan Zhang (Zhicky) - Kung Fu CW

Idek what to say their dynamic was just so fun and watching them begrudgingly grow close was chef's kiss.

3) Eve Polastri x Villanelle (Villaneve) - Killing Eve

Literally THE enemies to lovers imho. What more do I need to say? Eve said seduction into my darkness? Yes please. Villanelle said feel emotions for one (1) woman and obsess over her? Okay. They're enemies AND lovers. They've both tried to kill each other. So? They get each other like no one else. No one's doing it like them

4) Scott McCall x Theo Raeken (Sceo) - Teen Wolf

Sorry but I'm clawing at the walls, gnawing on my hands, howling at the moon over them. Exploring all the tension and the guilt and the fear and the longing is delicious. And the layer of long-lost friends? The subtle seduction into trust and the mutual destruction on Theo's part? Sorry I'm crazy about it sorry.

5) Mona Vanderwaal x Spencer Hastings (Vanderstings/Spemona?) - Pretty Little Liars

Somebody in this fandom needs to tell me right meow why they're not a bigger thing??? Quintessential 'they hate each other's guts but no one matches their freak better'. Throw Hanna in the mix and that's the perfect formulation, but they hold their own on enemies-to-lovers grounds sooooooo well.

6) Raven Reyes x John Murphy (Murven) - The 100

Truth be told they're not my top ship for each other BUT they are the epitome of enemies to friends (to lovers). Some of the best relationship development I can think of.

7) Bonnie Bennett x Nora Hildegard (Bonnora) - The Vampire Diaries

Literally why were they not a thing? Bonenzo ily but look at them! They had such a fun little antagonistic flirty thing and Nora was canonically crushing on Bonnie. All I want is queer Bonnie and I was so close to having it

8) Kitty Covey x Yuri Han (Kitturi) - XO Kitty

Kitty literally took one look at rival Yuri making music and crossed that thin line from hate to love. Girl was like "I will take this Angry tension and transform it into Sexual tension" and I respect that

9) Kathani "Kate" Sharma x Anthony Bridgerton (Kanthony) - Bridgerton

I've only watched one full episode and seen random bits here and there but I'm obsessed with her and I'm obsessed with them. Literally scene one I was all in. They are the bane of my existence and the object of all my desires

10) Luke Alvez x Penelope Garcia (Garvez) - Criminal Minds

I missed Morgan as much as the next guy, but Penelope and Luke's banter and chemistry is unmatched. Shame on the new seasons for lying to me and saying they went on a date but didn't have the same chemistry, that is such Bull

Honorable mention: Zafira x Nasir (Nasira? Nafira?) from the Sands of Arawiya duology, who I feel I cannot officially include because I have only read a small excerpt so far, but I expect to like very much

Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3

As always, no pressure whatsoever, but I’ll tag @freddieslater @aconfusedidentity @userlaylivia @scribeoffate @sees-writes @rhyslahey and anyone else who wants to play! :)

[zahri-melitor]

New(ish) Comics

Batman #154: Look, I don't hate this story, but did we really need another round of Thomas 'Cheater' Wayne? Especially Dr Thomas MD But Can't Handle Contraception Wayne? Been here. Done that. Bane Half-Brothers was funnier. Hopefully this is superior to every time Tommy Jr appears.

Absolute Superman #1: I think I rank this ahead of Absolute Batman but not as good as Absolute Wonder Woman. It's an interesting approach. It's very in your face and not bothering with subtlety in the analogies.

I will agree I am fond of the trend of Live Mothers With Their Sons in these stories, even if I know Lara's about to get whomped by the plot. Loved fix-it engineer Lara who wanted to be an astronaut and got washed out for having Wrong Political Views (age 9).

Action Comics #1074: in contrast, Lara in this is a 1950s cipher, literally standing there holding the baby. It's is such sharp contrast compared to Absolute Superman, especially as I read them back to back.

Aside from that, I think the Clark main plot finally picked up its pace a bit, the Kenan and Kon plot got a bit explainy but remains fun, and Kara is having a very bad time over in her plot.

Birds of Prey #15: Delighted by Cass being a menace here. Really happy we got to spend a little more time getting inside Sin's head. And Grace and Onyx looking at each other and trying to work out how to fight Barda to let her let off steam without anyone getting massively injured was so funny: they're both ripped in this comic, but Barda is, well, Big Barda.

Batgirl #1: As was generally expected, this is heavily leaning on Batgirl 2000. Interestingly as far as I am concerned, it is retaining Batman & Robin Eternal and working on twisting the word 'Orphan' to have multiple meanings! Which I've commented on before: Orphan as a name and a word has a lot of implications for Cass to be unpacked, and not all those implications are obvious on the surface.

I'm interested to see more of how they play this - it's a different approach to Cass's internal monologue and body reading skills.

As far as Shiva goes: they definitely seem to have sat down and tried to find a midpoint between preboot Shiva in Batgirl 2000 and Rebirth Shiva in say Batman and the Outsiders 2019 (both are definite influences on this).

Shazam! #17: Love the Hephaestus design. Feeling sorry for Freddy, though I liked that the whole situation is framed not as 'going evil' but as a test of strength of mind. And given the uneven power split in the family right now, externalising that jealousy makes sense.

Plastic Man No More! #2-3: caught up with Plas. Was reminded I don't actually particularly enjoy him as a character. As a set of stories focusing on treating Eel as more than just a joke character and interrogating his interiority they're doing a lot; I guess some of it is I simply don't really feel attached to him, and I'm cheering Luke O'Brian on to never talk to his dad again.

Also very much reminded these are Black Label, between the gruesome body horror, the plot, the number of character deaths and the fact Tim's running around as a Titans lieutenant checking on members.

I think these are quite good comics. I'm just not emotionally attached to Eel and these aren't managing to get me over the hump.

Batman/Santa Claus: Silent Knight Returns #2: and over here in the 2024 DC Santa read along, we scored a Jason Blood telling tales of Camelot! Don't know where Nimue was - she clearly managed to sidestep this drama and reminding Jason she has very different memories of the period.

Mera also kicked absolute arse and weaponised her attackers prejudices in a satisfying manner.

As a marker: John Stewart is in this title, but he's on the JL team up that are currently trapped and don't have Santa with them. This is important because...

DC'S Batman Smells, Robin Laid an Egg #1:

Santa's Oath: this is a story about Mrs Claus driving the sleigh and being a Blue Lantern, while John Stewart is asking if Santa really exists. We covered this, John! Extensively! In the DC Santa read along last year! He's real! And not only is he real this story is suggesting he's 'busy' in a way that makes me think it wants to align canonically with Silent Knight Returns, except for the fact, John, you are currently trapped in that story, and you're undoubtedly about to MEET Santa in it by the end of it.

In terms of Blue Lanterns, if anyone is going to be one, I don't hate putting it on the Clauses.

Also add this one to the tally of Real Santa stories, even if it is 'Carol' Claus.

Secret Santa: Happy Christmas to me personally, because the 2008 Secret Six lineup are currently exchanging presents and it includes hilarious cuddly Bane musing on everyone's histories.

This is amazing. I only wish Floyd and Thomas had got more banter in it. And it wasn't even written by Simone - dare I dream of another Secret Six run?

Ghosts of Christmas Present: John Constantine gets trapped in a Hallmark Movie via Hell. This is slight and underuses Constantine.

It's a Criminal Life: ...Joker gets It's a Wonderful Lifed with a ghost dead Robin!Jason. It's deeply ridiculous.

Deadman Walking: it's a Christmas mining disaster story! Ahhh, Deadman comics. Honestly a bit too earnest and instructive on how to dig people out of collapsed mines.

Silent Nite: oh the art on this one is good (Francavilla). Silent, period piece for Dr Mid-Nite set in 1941. The direction of the story is obvious from about the second page but still well told.

The Perfect Gift: Ben Turner and Mari McCabe try to buy each other Christmas presents story. Mari massively overthinks things. Ben apparently managed some serenity from the O-Sensei and just got Mari something straightforward. Donna plays wingwoman.

O Glowy Night: The art is fun in this and the concept (Clark can't stop radiating a sunny glow). I sighed at the villain.

Honestly I enjoyed this mix. Lots of characters who mostly get back ups, from various corners of DC.

The Warlord #75: this week in Skartaris we reach an anniversary issue and with it...the return of Graemore, Tara's old childhood friend who likes trying to steal her away from Travis (via such seduction methods like 'not wandering off into the wilderness to kill things without returning for months on end' and 'appearing at meals' and 'asking Tara about her feelings').

Travis and Tara actually discuss the fact Travis is never in Shamballah for more than 5 minutes at a time and that she's tired of it.

In the Ancient Atlantean artefacts line of story, we find out that the USAF identity card thing Travis found was from the 23rd century, yet left with all the other materials of the ancients. COULD IT BE MORE TIME TRAVEL? (because this story doesn't have enough as it is). I feel sorry for whatever poor fool got trapped back in Wizard World and had to live out his days there to get this stuff over to the Ancient Atlanteans.

(Also uh the New Atlanteans try to invade Shamballah and Travis ends up punching Tara to carry her as they try to escape so she won't try to make a heroic last stand. Which. Certainly a thing that happened here)

[mydisenchantedeulogy]

Bad Habits [Chapter One] The Rest [Billy Loomis]

A/n: Welcome to Bad Habits, a Scream AU. The story takes place twenty-one years after the events of the first movie. As stated, it's an AU, so I wrote Billy alive. Please be patient with me. It takes me forever to update. Please enjoy. The image I'm using of him is from Jericho.

Warning(s): OC, alternate universe, Billy being Billy, town dynamics, flirting, derogatory terms, town lore, drama, exs.

No Minors Allowed!!

The first time Eden Andersen saw Luke Jameson, whom she would later know as Billy Loomis, was in the fall of 2017.

It was a warm October in Lorraine's Rest, two weeks shy of Halloween. The temperature typically cooled down considerably around the end of the month, not unusual for middle Tennessee on account of the dry humidity. It was pleasant but did not feel much like fall. Even so, Eden had a strong love for October. 

It was the time for vibrant fall colors: warm hues of red, orange, yellow, and brown. And tradition.

The town of Lorraine's Rest hosted an annual celebration each year on Main Street in the yard at the Historic Alder County Courthouse—Saturday of the weekend before, if Halloween fell on a weekday. Everyone came out to celebrate.

However, one resident of The Rest spurned the festival on account of the inrush of outsiders from neighboring counties. Marjorie Whittaker, a local who argued for the sake of it, was screwy and ill-bred. One reason Eden tried to steer clear of her whenever she came around. She did not know the reason, but the grammar had it out for her.

A month ago, she showed up at Eden's part-time job. She worked as an assistant at the Arbor County Public Library. Perhaps it was a coincidence, though she doubted it. One thing was certain: she could not avoid Marjorie and her condemnatory stare.

In the afternoon, on the eighteenth, the same day that Eden met Billy Loomis, she was alone with the old bat in the reading room. Her nose was buried in Felix Blackwell's Stolen Tongues, but despite her best efforts to focus on the novel, she couldn't. It felt to her like a spotlight had been turned on her. She was uneasy. Eden tightened her jaw, peering over the countertop of the information desk that was epoxied with newspapers dating back to 1808 when the Lorraine's Rest Tribune was first printed. The bane of her existence was seated in a cushy office chair in front of a Dell desktop. 

Marjorie Whittiker was not even trying to hide the fact that she was staring. Eden could see her withered face etched with wrinkles through the gap between computers two and three. She stopped only when Eden raised a curious brow as if to say, "Can I help you with something?"

Reluctantly, Marjorie returned to whatever she was doing. She came in every Monday and Wednesday to use the computer, even though she bleated about them from time to time, how technology had changed the world for the worse. According to her login, on the main computer, she had less than fifteen minutes left; fifteen minutes, and Eden would not have to see her again until next week.

Thank goodness.

Eden sat back in her chair, attempting to finish the sentence she left off on, but to no avail. She was restless now, thanks to Marjorie. Her leg bounced like a bobber under the table. She set aside Stolen Tongues and then stood, stretching her back. There were more important things that she could do, she reckoned; things she was putting off. Like shelving the books.

The cart was not filled to capacity, but it needed to be emptied. Victoria Hayes, the librarian, would scold her ass if Eden waited until the shift was nearly over again. For the next ten minutes, she shelved them, putting the books away in their proper place.

Eden was in the children's section when she heard the brass handbell on her desk chime. A sign next to it instructed those who needed help to use it. She assumed Marjorie wanted an extension, so to avoid a conflict, she pushed the cart to the side and hurried back, passing paintings on the walls of Winnie-the-Pooh, the Berenstain Bears, and other classic children's book characters. 

At her desk, however, was someone else, a man in his late thirties whom she had never seen before.

"Can I help you?" Asked Eden. Once she walked around the backside of the desk to her chair, she got a better look at him.

He stood tall, swathed in a green T-shirt and a beige Wenven jacket. His features were slightly rugged, with a mix of boyish charm and intensity. Eden could not deny that he was handsome. She fidgeted under his keen stare, waiting for him to answer. 

"I'd like to use the computer," he said.

Eden frowned. She knew the answer, but she had to ask anyway.

"Do you have a library card?"

"Unfortunately, no," the stranger retorted. He ran a hand through the front of his short dark hair, then wet his lips. "It'll only be for a minute. I just got into town a few days ago, and I don't yet have a computer."

As much as she wanted to help him, Eden couldn't. He was not the only person to walk through the door in need of a computer. The ones like him were just passing through and told her the same excuse, but the rules were rules for a reason. It was a shame. 

"I'm so sorry. If you have a cell phone, there is a McDonald's down the road. They provide free Wi-Fi," Eden explained. She pointed toward Dixon Springs Highway. "It's barely a mile that way. You can't miss it."

The man with the keen eyes tilted his head and raised his shoulders. 

"I don't have a cell phone either."

Eden did not know what she could do for him. She felt guilty. Normally, she would wish those without a card the best and then watch them leave, either in irritation or disappointment that she could not do more, but there was something familiar in his eyes, a look of defeat and sorrow, that preyed on her sympathetic nature.

"Only for a minute, you promise?"

"Cross my heart," the stranger retorted with a coy grin, running a finger across his chest. 

It was a good thing that Victoria had an appointment today at Arbor County Motors. She would be mad, especially after Eden opted to let the stranger use her library card information. She motioned for him to follow her, taking him into the computer section. It was nothing impressive; two rolls of five devices back to back. On one side were desktops, and on the other, laptops.

Eden considered asking him what his preference was but assumed that he would not mind either way. The stranger slipped down into an office chair in front of an older model laptop. 

“With the high school getting new computers in September, we might get to update these.” Eden was not obligated to make excuses for the library's old computers, but in this case, she felt like she had to.

The stranger said nothing in reply, most likely not interested. Eden stooped forward and ran her finger over the touchpad. The screen flashed onto the login page with the words Arbor County Library at the top. She swiftly typed in her username and PIN number, information on her card that, at this point, she could put in blindfolded. The screen flashed again, then opened up to a generic blue background image with the Google Chrome icon in the upper left corner.

"You're all set," Eden said.

She leaned back and caught the stranger staring at her ass. Eden was not even mad; she wore leggings and an off-the-shoulder sweatshirt to work today.

“Is there anything else I can help you with, sir?” Turning her backside away from him, she crossed her arms over her chest. 

He grinned, having no shame. “Luke. My name is Luke.” A practiced lie. Billy Loomis wet his lips, then rested his hands on the chair's arms. 

There was no ring on his finger, Eden noted.

“And no. I'm all set.”

Eden hummed, then turned to walk back to her desk. His husky voice cut through the silence like a thunderclap.

“Don't I get to know your name, too?” 

She peered over her shoulder, a little taken aback by his blatant flirting. It took her a moment to answer, though Marjorie, who shushed her, rudely interrupted her. 

Billy glanced at the woman, displeased, then diverted his eyes to Eden, raising a curious brow. She merely grinned and teasingly raised a finger to her lips. He snorted, eyes on her ass again as she walked away.

–

Eden returned to the children's section to finish emptying the cart. She barely got two books shelved before the handbell chimed again. With a huff of annoyance, she ignored it for a moment to shelve Crockett Johnson's Harold and the Purple Crayon. But like a persistent mosquito, the ones that plagued the banks of the Red Creek River that cut through Lorraine's Rest, the chiming carried on.

“I swear. I'll choke her ass out if she's the one doing it.” She, being Marjorie.

Eden set aside the cart a little too roughly and stormed back to her desk. Who she saw standing there flipped her mood on its head. Jodi Buckner, her friend since fifth grade.

Hair the color of copper fell down her back and shoulders, accented by the emerald green button-down she wore. As soon as she saw Eden, a warm smile flickered across her face. The coral lipstick she had on complemented the green, a testament to just how vibrant Jodi was.

And then she opened her mouth.

“Hey, slut. You don't get in any hurry, do you?”

Jodi meant no harm. She traded barbs with Eden all the time; it was just the type of person she was, open-spirited. And Eden took no offense. She would do anything for her best friend, and she damn well knew that Jodi would do the same.

“I thought you were Marjorie,” Eden admitted in a whisper.

Jodi frowned, an expression that marred her delicate features.

“I thought that was her who nearly took me out at the door. You want me to scratch her eyes out next time I see her?” Jodi raised her hand, flexing her fingers to bare her black-based gold-painted nails, then hissed like an angry cat.

Eden did not even know that she left. Her attention drifted over to the vacant computer. There was no wrinkled face between the gaps, no judgmental eyes staring at her. A weight had lifted from her shoulders.

Eden snorted. “I don't think I can pull her off you.”

Again, she whispered an action that made Jodi turn up her eyes.

“Stop doing that. You make me feel like I'm back in Saint Michael's again.”

Listening to her, you might not think she was once raised to be Catholic, but her parents were strict believers. Jodi attended St. Michael's Parish in Beckton, a city forty-three miles northwest of Lorraine's Rest, before she moved, attending public school in the fifth grade. That's where Eden first met her.

“We're in a library,” Jodi was reminded.

She raised her arm. “There's no one here. School is out, and I know the hicks around here don't read.”

Eden motioned behind the redhead to Billy Loomis, the man she knew as Luke. Jodi peered over her shoulder, then whistled.

“He's kind of hot from this angle.”

Jodi was anything but quiet.

Eden swore her face was on fire, and to make matters worse, Billy spared them a glance, having heard. She watched Jodi wiggle her fingers at him, and then slowly, Billy did the same. It was embarrassing.

“Stop flirting. If Sunshine finds out, he'll be heartbroken.”

Sunshine was Jodi's current boyfriend. Russell Williams. He was a ray of sunshine contained in an optimistic man with a strong jawline and chiseled abs. She had a hard time keeping a relationship, self-sabotaging them at every turn in fear of inevitably messing them up. Russell was good for her. Eden liked him.

Jodi turned, sticking out her tongue.

“I'll behave.”

“You don't know the meaning,” retorted Eden. She quickly changed the subject. “What brings you here anyway?”

As though a light bulb had gone off in her head, Jodi retrieved her cell phone from the back pocket of her skinny jeans. A soft glow brightened her eyes as her fingers swiftly slid across the screen. Eden stared in boredom at the pink ghosted case on the back until a series of Facebook messages were shoved into her face. The name, she scowled at.

Below she read in bad text:

Did Eden block me? I tried to message her, but her account is gone.

The message was from Lance McKeehan, her ex, set to Pale-Faced Bitch Ass in Jodi's contact list. The picture of him had been changed to a selfie of him smiling at the camera in a holier-than-thou kind of way with his cherry red Dodge Charger in the background. He was clean-shaven, giving the appearance that he was much younger than thirty-nine. Eden hated how good he looked in a retro-printed button-down.

Yesterday she blocked him for good, something that she should have done two months ago when they broke up.

It's odd that he's asking around about me. I was always the one to message him.

Eden wondered what he wanted. She read down further, cracking a grin at what Jodi replied.

I can see her profile just fine. That must mean you got the axe.

If it's not asking much. I know you're busy screwing up another of your relationships. Tell Eden to contact me.

The messages ended there. Eden tightened her jaw. Who was he to insult her friend and then make demands? She felt like she was back in high school again, dealing with more childish drama.

“I won't tell you what to do, but I'd advise blocking him. He's gonna keep messaging you otherwise, and you don't deserve the stress.”

Jodi grinned. “I live to put assholes like him in their place.”

As much as Eden wished that Jodi would take her advice, she could not deny her the pleasure.

“Just be careful,” retorted Eden with a look of worry in her eyes.

“Aww, I love you too,” Jodi cooed. She placed a comforting hand on Eden's shoulder. “But I'm a big girl, boo. You don't have to worry about me.”

Eden surely hoped so.

From the corner of her eye, she caught movement. Billy stood and pushed the office chair in. She assumed that he would just leave, but as he walked towards them, hands hidden in the pockets of his Wenven jacket, her stomach tightened. Eden forced a smile as he approached.

“Did you get done what you needed to?”

Billy hummed. “Thanks. I hope it won't get you in trouble.”

Eden hoped too. It shouldn't, so long as Victoria didn't find out. The curious look that Jodi gave her as though she were missing something significant made her nearly snort. She knew there would be questions afterward.

“It was one time. Nothing to worry about.”

Billy gave her a coy smile. “Have a good one.” He turned his brown eyes to Jodi, lifted his hand from his pocket, and playfully wiggled his fingers in a wave at her. Then he left.

As soon as the door closed behind him, the questions started.

“Am I missing something?” Jodi asked.

Eden grinned and turned up her eyes. “If you're so desperate to know, then you can help me put away the rest of the books in the cart while we chat.”

“Fair enough.” Jodi retorted.

She was going to be upset when Eden finished. There was nothing to share. Luke was a stranger, nothing more. She honestly doubted that she would ever see him again.

She was wrong.

[valaenatargaryensdragon]

Hello, can I request a video where Daemon meets a pentosi lady during his time in Pentos and falls in love.

She's soft and sweet, compassionate and romantic. Daemon finds comfort and acceptance and genuine happiness with her.

But they refrain from having any affair cause Laena is alive and it's wrong. So they never try anything more than friendship.

After Laena's death though, when Daemon returns to Westeros for her funeral, he meets the mess that is his family. He sees Rhaenyra's mistakes one after another and actually gets angry when she tries to later blame him for her stupid choices.

He refuses to return when she asks and rejects her advances.

He grabs his daughters away from the fight with Aemond and Jace and Luke, takes them and leaves.

He returns to Pentos to a happy home. Reader and him can actually have a relationship now, Baela and Rhaena like her and she says she wants to build a happy home with him, no drama or anything.

Daemon is so happy and the two marry and live happily. He never looks back at Westeros or its mess ever again.

Thank you so much!!

This is a whole story itself and I love it so freaking much!

Daemon just could not handle Rhaenyra and her whining all the time as if she is not the most privileged woman in the entire Seven Kingdoms being heir and all. As if Viserys does not do as she wishes and always listens to her, the man only forced her to do one thing and that was to marry Laenor Valeryon and she could not even stay loyal to the man.

Daemon is not blind and he was too old and too tired to deal with the aftermath of Rhaenyra's poor made choices, he was not going to pick up her mess, he was not her servant. All that mattered to Daemon was his two grieving daughters, the bane of his existence, he loved them too much to let them stay in this mess, he could smell the war miles away. How dare Rhaenyra blame him for her mess? How dare she even look him in the eye and tell him it was his fault that he fell in love for Laena, for challenging for her hand and wining, for losing the woman he loved with all his heart. How dare she even speak so freely of her mistake as if she was above all else and deserved his respect when she was nothing more than a cheating, lying whore mad at a queen who had no choice and doing the same, the only difference was that Rhaenyra had a choice.

So Daemon mounted Caraxes with Rhaena and Baela following with her own dragon and off they were back to Pentos where you were already waiting. Standing on the shore in a light cream coloured dress moving with the calm breeze, a smile on your face that was worth the world to Daemon.

Daemon loved Laena, dearly and she was probably the woman he loved the most in the world after his daughters but you were the only woman to compete with that love. Love he never acted on out of respect to Laena unlike Rhaenyra. It looked like you were waiting for him, something he knew was not possible, there was no way you could have known he was returning so soon.

The girls being traumatised by the incident with Luke and Aemond they ran straight into your arms crying, their mother's only friend in this foreign land. Your hugged them close to your heart as if they were your own and let them cry their hearts out in your arms, whether it was from the incident or their loss you did not know nor did it matter to you.

Once they were put to bed it was Daemon who pulled you into his arms, hugging you close, crying on your shoulder over the loss of Laena, Viserys and the life he always dreamed to return to only to find it worse than ever, to find that life would never return to the way he wished. He kissed your lips and begged you for solace and you were more than happy to give it to him.

He married you without a second thought, he loved you and you loved him, you knew what he needed without him needing to say anything, he loved you and you loved him - you loved his daughters, the most important people in his life.

You were everything he ever wanted, a fierce but calm woman, you put him in his place and always stood by his side even when he was wrong. You gave him sons, three of them - Aemon being the eldest followed by Baelor and Vaeron. You raised his daughters and made sure they had the best education.

You held Rhaena in your arms when she would mourn the fact that she had no dragon, you stood your ground and demanded Daemon fly to the crownlands and bring Rhaena a dragon egg for yet another attempt at getting a dragon, not even mentioning your children so he returned with four eggs and tears in his eyes. He found the seven kingdoms in chaos, war everywhere. He had half a mind to join the war but you held him back, held his face in your hands and told him he will die if he goes, he was too old for this mess.

You told him you would support him if he went but if he goes and dies you were going to follow him and beat him up. He laughed and held you close. Never thinking of returning ever again no matter how brutal the war ended up being. The only reason he returned was because of the fact that he was the only heir left after Aegon who was on his dying bed burned to a crisp almost. He made you his queen and held you high in rank with no else with authority higher than yours but himself.

[ashleyfanfic]

Love your blog! Huge Jonerys shipper and just finished Seaosn 2 of Bridgerton and LOVE Polin! Kantony was amazing too! I am so excited for Season 3! Did you see the trailer! Would love yo know your thoughts! Hope you have a great day!

OH! SO EXCITED TO TALK ABOUT THIS! Thanks for asking.

First, Jonerys will always be my OTP. Yeah, the show ended like a burning pile of dog turds, but in fan fiction they're living happily ever after as they should have. The one good thing is that Kit's show is not going to be made which means they will not be able to profit off Daenerys Death anymore than the already do. Kit, find you another franchise where you can swing a sword. I'll watch it. I sat through Pompeii I can do anything.

Second, I love KANTHONY!!! I mean, the PINING! THE UST! LOVE IT! All the glances and touches and the "You are the bane of my existence and the object of my every desire" yes, sir! PLEASE. Love them. So glad we get to see them happy and in love this season. Just a boon, for sure.

Third, POLIN! Ok, hang on, let me get this out of the way first because it is a huge concern to me. I do not, under any circumstances, want to see Eloise join in with Cressida to make fun of Penelope. I get it, she's hurt, but please don't let her do that because she knows all of the sensitive points about Penelope, not even counting Lady Whistledown. She knows the things she's sensitive about and stands to truly hurt her. I had my former best friend do that to me and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. Though, Nicola and Luke were both adamant about their love for Eloise. So, here's hoping.

POLIN - Alright, I'm going to say what I'm sure many other people are thinking -- Colin needs to grovel in apology for what he said. It's already difficult enough for Pen, with her introverted nature, to meet and talk to people. That has been clearly established. But to then have an influential man in the ton declare that he would never dream of courting her? I mean, talk about ruining a girl's chances all around.

There are little things throughout the trailer that fascinate me. One being that I think Penelope isn't going to arrive to one of the balls with her family but fake an illness and stay home. Perhaps after seeing Eloise with Cressida at a garden party earlier that day. Something sparks within her and causes her to no longer lie there, but throw open her wardrobe and we see her getting dressed. We do see Pen see them walk away together. So, I think she comes in late, dressed in a different gown, with a different look. Perhaps she asked Madam Delacroix to make it for her outside of her mother's knowledge. Because we see her standing at the top of a staircase in a red cape and then dramatically allowing it to fall to the ground. Everyone turns and looks. (My favorite thing, is if you look at the crowd, her brother-in-law, Mr. Finch is smiling at her - such a sweet, cheese loving boy!). But Cressida and Eloise look shook. Also, in this same scene we do see Francesca and Pen later talking. This is important to me as it is said in the books, Colin is very close with Franny, especially once he starts traveling and she moves to Scotland. Lady Danbury is obviously speaking with the Queen about the possible matches that could be made. So far, all the writings we've seen about this season show that Mister Dankworth is interested in marriage, but instead of being along the lines of Nigel Berbrook, he's more along the lines of Prince Friedrich. You might root for him if Colin wasn't already in the picture. I have a feeling that while his interest will spark jealousy in Colin, it will also spark confidence in Penelope. Which, judging by some of these awkward convos we see her having with some of the other men of the ton, she really needs. But the sight of them dancing beneath the moonlight in the ballroom, and their heads close together over a book, and Colin having to sit back and watch as a bystander, is too sweet for me to take. Colin is the sort you have to hit over the head and drag him to it. Someone else finding her desirable could spark that wait, what have I missed. We love our leading man, but baby are you dense. The scene where he's sitting back and the flame slowly lights, it's like Colin's love for Penelope. It doesn't happen all at once, but as it grows and glows it gets brighter. Their trope is she falls first, but he falls harder. And in the books, that 100% true. He's my wife this, my wife that. Once he realizes that he's in love with her, there is nothing else that matters to him BUT her.

[kmze]

Thoughts on 6x12 - 6x22 I know it’s shocking but I LOVED IT AND WROTE TONS! I will say the plot was a bit tighter for the first half but this half needed a lot of set-up for next season so I'll allow it. There’s so much focus on Caroline as two of her biggest arcs happen with her Mom and humanity off. There’s great Bamon stuff and I like that even though they became besties Bonnie wasn’t going back to being pushed around. I enjoyed Lily and her scenes with the brothers. I zoned out during all the cure stuff as it is the bane of my existence. Definitely my favorite season still and this half gave me so much, all my bias thoughts below!

6x12

This season really picked it up again with the horror elements. There’s a lot of scenes that feel like scenes in a slasher movie, probably because the main villain of the season is a slasher styler serial killer as opposed to the usual serial killer.

Liv’s boobs are spectacular, just wanted to put that out there.

Nice contrast to earlier in the season when Elena asked Stefan to give her hope and he told her he gave up, whereas with Caroline he couldn’t take her hope away from her.

Kai just cracks me up! He just never stops talking but somehow stays funny. Chris is so good.

Love how they foreshadow Caroline turning it off in her Mom’s vision and that being what brings Liz back to life. She had to come back to make sure someone would watch over Caroline.

Also @ the morons on Reddit who will never see this post and say "Liz guilt tripped Stefan into liking Caroline" because she asked him to watch out for her lets all remember that Stefan ASKED LIZ FOR HELP WITH CAROLINE! She even felt bad for him and threw him a bone in two episodes ago to hang Christmas lights.

This episode was an emotional rollercoaster! I knew everything that was going to happen and I was still so stressed. I can’t believe they made it look like Luke won when he was fluttering his eyes only to be like SIKE! That was cruel! Kai and Luke merging together was a great scene too loved the leaves swirling around, looked more like the earlier seasons magic scenes. Luke’s death hit hard too because we did see him a lot and we gradually learned about the Parker family so I felt more connected to all of them. Jo breaks my heart here and Jodi is just so fantastic. Just really solid storytelling all around.

6x13

Why is Bonnie still in the prison world?? I hate it.

Enzo’s storyline is the only miss this season because just leave that damn girl alone! Damon doesn’t need to know he didn’t kill the baby because he did nothing to prevent it from happening! I get Enzo is supposed to be a foil to Stefan but he’s just such a loser of a character.

Sarah Salvatore looks so much like S1!Elena I wonder if she was meant to have a bigger role in S7 as like a pseudo-Elena with Lily until they changed plans.

These two idiots in love smiling at each other on the forest floor *flails*

Welp there goes Elena making a terrible situation affecting only Bonnie about herself again. Inevitable.

When I first watched this episode I was so not here for the Kai redemption hand wave they were doing with him gaining empathy through merging with Luke. I was like not this bullshit again just keep villains evil! But now I have changed my mind because it wasn’t fair that as soon as the big bad was interested in ONLY Bonnie now he can’t be redeemed. I’m not saying Bonnie had to forgive him or that I even ship them but it pisses me off how often Bonnie gets shafted in favor of Elena and Caroline. I’ll just forever side eye JP who was like “Bonnie would never love a murderous vampire she’s too pure” and then stuck her with Enzo!

Of all Steroline’s great moments (and they have a lot) this is probably THE SCENE for me. The laughter and the headiness when they find Miss Cuddles and she gets decapitated (great foreshadowing of the no humanity SC arc) are so great but then! The charged moment when they are looking at each other and the camera is swirling around and you just want to scream KISS HER ALREADY until he can’t because she starts to cry so he hugs her instead JUST GETS TO ME! What a ship!

Such a great Bonnie scene! She fought to live and Jeremy saved her!!!

No offense Tyler but you chose death over Caroline so let’s not throw stones from glass houses. God the writers really didn't GAF about him after he lost his hybrid powers.

6x14

Matt and Sarah could have been cute, would have been hilarious watching Stefan and Damon deal with the possibility of Matt being a part of their family.

This scene of Damon being like "I did all these murders case closed!" LMFAO and they had the audacity to put "Protector of Mystic Falls" on Liz's tombstone.

Elena is the most annoying older sister ever, no wonder Jeremy wanted to get away from her (plus you know the fact that she kept having Damon erase his memories).

Really love that Stefan and Caroline got almost two episodes of just scenes with each other away from all the other chaos. They never got that again so I'm always fond of this time where they got to just be together and slowly fall in love.

In my completely unbiased opinion this is the greatest first kiss of any ship ever on this show. No I will not be taking feedback on that and I’ll tell you why! The way the sunset casts Stefan and Caroline’s profiles in shadows so when they first kiss they look like two silhouettes becoming one. There’s also a moment where the space between them is on the shape of a heart. And the kiss taking place on Caroline’s cabin porch with the door open and the reflection of the two of them kissing in the door window. SHOWSTOPPING!

"I'm exceptionally ordinary, Caroline is anything but" I'm going to start crying already what a beautiful line

No no no no no this scene gets me every single time! Liz pushing little Caroline on the bike while she says she’s not ready makes me cry every single time I watch it so yep crying again. Only scene in the whole show that makes me cry every time.

6x15

BABY CAROLINE YOU’RE TOO PRECIOUS!

God dammit Damon! He is the biggest catalyst for this going so bad because he keeps giving everyone the worst advice imaginable!

I can tell Julie wrote this episode because it’s stressing me out! She used the missed communication plot device that I hate but she did it perfectly for the characters involved. Because at their core Stefan and Caroline are both control freaks and both of them overthinking this situation is why we get the conclusion that we get. Because Caroline can't wait a day because she needs to know now and she's already determined if it's bad he won't talk to her about it. And Stefan who just wanted advice about how to handle not starting something with Caroline at a bad time is now overthinking Damon's stupid advice.

I like how Matt just became Caroline's like assistant in the later seasons because that's what he deserves after he treated her like an afterthought their whole relationship. Karma.

Elena is really great in this episode. She is a pro at funerals and she’s really trying to guide everyone (and not making it about herself)!!!

The "Something even better" speech is so great and I love that Julie wrote it because she was always the writer who loved Steroline the most. There's a reason this line is used most often as OTP tags for SC on here because the show is telling you why this relationship is different than what we've seen prior. And it goes back to Stefan saying you can't be in love and friends at the same time because that's why this feels different! That's why when Damon said if it doesn't feel the same then it's not "true love" threw Stefan off until he stopped overthinking it! Until he listened to Damon's speech and he watched Caroline sing and he felt so much for her in that moment! Because yeah this isn't true love this is something even better, this is falling in love with your best friend. The person who accepts you at your worst, who laughs at your stupid jokes and who knows you better than you know yourself. The one person YOU CAN'T PRETEND WITH!

BAMON JUMPING HUG I AM GRINNING FROM EAR TO EAR!!!

Bruh the way Stefan walks into Caroline's house with the door unlocked hope plastered all over his face... this show is so cruel to me!

6x16

NH!Caroline slamming Liam against the window CRYING!!

If Lily died of consumption in 1858 wouldn’t Stefan have been 12 and not 10 in the flashback? Simple math people!

“Elena I shut off my humanity I didn’t turn into an idiot” 100% shade at Elena LMFAO!

Pretty sure Liam just asked Stefan if he wants to be in a threesome with him and Caroline and I’m sorry Liam but there’s already a line for that lol!

CTFU at the look NH!Caro gives Stefan when he walks over with the shots, she knows he’s about to play a stupid game! This was the part of Caroline's plan she failed to take into account BTW. She thought Stefan didn't care because she gave him a time limit when he didn't know what the time limit was. Then assumed he'd just leave her alone... and I mean... Caroline when has he left you alone ALL DAMN SEASON! Time and time again he keeps coming back!

Feels like Caroline insinuated she knew Stefan felt something in S4 because she said it took him a few years to figure his feelings out. Ian has some really great shots in this episode and I really love how the light plays across Steroline when he tries to trigger her by cupping her face. The light shines on them at the specific moment it looks like he triggered her only to fade back to black and her to say "you shouldn't have done that."

I love the chuckle Caroline makes when she realizes Stefan compelled Sarah to be uninterested in vampires. OMG she didn’t even have to try and get Enzo’s phone!

Did Elena not tell Stefan that NH!Caro told her there would be consequences if he tried anything to trigger her? Girl have you met Stefan? Did you really think he wouldn't try? Stefan "Play Stupid Games, Win Stupid Prizes" Salvatore! A Crazy Bitch needed saving that's his drug of choice!

Great Bonnie scene making Damon feel all the pain Kai put her through.

Love that final shot of Ripper Stefan and NH!Caro on the bar! Ian you kicked ass with your direction!

6x17

CTFU at Damon not being able to vervain needle Ripper Stefan because DUH DAMON he invented that move!

I find it HILARIOUS that Ripper Stefan is mocking NH!Caro's revenge skills when those same skills are the reason he's the way he is right now! He couldn't give her A DAY! And him not giving her even a damn day to see if she could keep herself in check was not about him not believing she could. Stefan more than ANYONE knows how good Caroline is at control (it's why his focus is making her lose control this episode, Ripper likes a challenge). No Stefan's motive to bring Caroline back was for himself 100%, he realized he was in love with her and could not wait to tell her.

This passive aggressive conversation between Damon and Lily is amazing lol, Annie and Ian are playing it perfectly.

The snow in the prison world is so pretty!

Ripper Stefan got up wayyyyy too fast while apparently being passed out and dragged by NH!Caro which means his crazy ass was just letting her do that!

Get his ass Bonnie!

"You think I don't know everything about you?! I taught you how to control your bloodlust remember!" I MADE YOU I CAN DESTROY YOU! I love how it’s a total reverse of 2x02 and I love that Stefan used himself as seduction as well as the blood. A+ vampire foreplay.

THE SEX HAIR AND THE EYEBROW WIGGLE!

Bonnie putting out there they could have used to cure on Caroline to get her humanity back if they needed it makes me shutter. Just the idea of it I hate!

6x18

He really booed her LMFAO

I can’t believe how much they made Candice sing this season lol. I mean she’s great I love her voice but I hope she got an extra check!

Lily absolutely appalled at Damon’s texting etiquette!

Ok DEAD at the scene with Jo and Elena and Jo is just like “this is all brand new information it’s only been 12 hours!” WHY DID SHE HAVE TO DIE!

Caroline Trivia is so fucked up LMFAO

Deadbeat Mom strikes again!

Ripper Stefan was so impressed with how NH!Caro fooled Tyler into stabbing Matt and possibly triggering his werewolf curse. No wonder he used her tricks when he was working for Cade.

The scene where Lily turns on Stefan’s humanity with Damon’s speech is fantastic. Just really well shot and well written and Annie does such a wonderful job.

6x19

I like the trio conversation about how Stefan is going to flip Caroline’s switch, it’s similar to the one they did with Katherine to flip Elena’s switch.

NH!Caro is so impatient for sexy Stefan time! Vanilla my ass Enzo! ALSO!!! I love that Stefan still spilled his guts to Caroline about his mother not loving him even though she doesn’t have her humanity on.

NO STOP NOOOO DON'T BURN THE LETTER!

I saw a post that said real Ripper Stefan would never have burnt it, he would have opened it and read it in the most mocking tone possible. And now I can’t not think that every time I watch this. I mean we know Stefan can use a "dimmer" on his humanity switch because he did it in S3 so why doesn't he do that here? My guess is Caroline makes him too emotional to hold up the ruse. He really could not keep up the farce for long, which is funny because Stefan has always been the best at being a lying liar who lies.

Elena why would you use your ace in the hole so early! Or more importantly WHY WOULDN'T YOU MAKE A COPY OF THE LETTER!

The hatred in this phone call between Lily and Damon is hilarious.

Bamon have amazing chemistry, and I mean all levels of chemistry too! Forever robbed!

See Elena Stefan used his ace in the hole when it was the only thing left! What a powerful and devoted thing Stefan does here, and I don't want to say he's never done anything powerful for Caroline before since he literally died for her last season but this was him channelling everything he felt when he turned his humanity on into his love for Caroline (the one thing that makes you strong). And the memory is absolute perfection! Because it showed Caroline why he didn't confess at her Mom's funeral because he wanted to wait until everything was perfect and that time was anything but. And showing her that her Mom gave her blessing to Stefan just so good! And the imagery of Caroline getting stuck outside the door behind her Mom with the curtains too, the significance! WHAT A MOMENT! That's how you do a heartbreaking moment, this episode was fantastic definitely my favorite of the season.

I chose to believe at some point Caroline gets to read the letter through something at the school. They had Klaus send Hope a Zoom message from Peace they’ll figure it out!

Lily was so great, love how she "taught Damon a lesson" like when he was a little boy. She is so manipulative I am in love.

6x20

TBH I completely agree that it’s tough to buy that Damon wants to be human, that guy loves being a vampire! And it’s not lost on me that the cure was forced on him in the end and he looked MISERABLE AFTER!

Stefan hanging out in his room pining for Caroline while a bachelor party is happening downstairs. I fucking love it, he’s such a loyal loser. This little spinning globe too, like the snowglobe for her.

Welp I’ve been triggered because now I am reminded of the fact that Stefan and Lily talking about their ripper bloodlust issues was NEVER EXPLORED PAST THIS EPISODE! FOREVER BITTER!

“Reformed Ripper” (!!!!!) I will say they did show between S3 and this season how Stefan got a handle on his bloodlust throughout the seasons based on how he reacted to blood. In 3x19 he was still very uncomfortable around Alaric bleeding. In 4x22 he had to stay away from the person who was bleeding with Damon and Liz but he could keep his composure. In 5x03 he had been starving for months but he was able to tell Tessa to stay away or he'd hurt her. Then in 6x02 he drinks a blood bag pretty easily though you still see that ecstasy when the blood hits. And then in 6x12 Colin is covered in blood and he's fine. I know it's not in your face and I'm sure most missed the nuance but I found it easier to notice during a binge-style rewatch.

OH ANOTHER THING I WAS ROBBED OF! The fact that Caroline and Lily both view their human selves as weak and that becoming a vampire made them into a new strong woman. Too bad they had literally ONE SCENE together in S7, thanks for that Dries!

LMFAO I told you Stefan always has a vervain needle in his pocket!

Of course as soon as Elena is human again she’s in danger. Why doesn’t Elena just tell Lily if she feeds on her she’ll turn human since the cure is in her system?

6x21

CAROLINE I MISSED YOU SO MUCH!

I love how Caroline comes in and is just like Elena have a drink, Bonnie the switch is there and Jo I see your shoes from here. THE BEST!

“I hate little Stefan mind games even more” oh stop Damon he doesn’t even play his meanest ones on you!

Tyler has been itching for YEARS to call out Caroline about her and Stefan, you cannot convince me otherwise.

I can’t believe Stefan called Elena a flip flopper TO HER FACE LMFAO

Matt always eager to kill a vampire you’d think he’d be better at it by now.

The way Caroline just TURNS AROUND when she sees Stefan! They are such a romcom ship sometimes (when the writers leave them alone!)

Love that the first thing we see is Stefan opening up to Caroline and asking for her input on how he’s feeling about Damon. And you can see he wouldn’t open up to Elena about it in the prior scene because he wanted Caroline’s advice not hers.

"That’s because you’re a control freak who’s lost control; I feel the same way when I’m around you" this line is so slept on because it's all the explanation you need for why these two had such a hard time getting on the same page this season. Because they are BOTH control freaks (and I think it's telling this is the only time Stefan calls her a control freak in a negative way) and the way they feel about each other is anything but being in control. Stefan makes Caroline vulnerable because she feels so much more for him than any guy she has in the past and she can't build the same wall she used to in order to protect her heart. Then there's Stefan has never fallen in love with someone who was his friend first, someone who's seen every part of him. And I think that's such a challenge for him because Stefan was always so good at only showing parts of himself and meticulously planning everything out before he makes a decision and he can't do that with Caroline. Going back to their first kiss where Stefan didn't plan to kiss Caroline that day, he was waiting he told Liz he wanted it to be perfect but in that moment all that mattered was that Caroline is perfect and she never really hated him and he HAD to kiss her.

DAMMIT KAI I REALLY LIKED JO

Why did this evil show decide it would only have two weddings and in one the bride dies and the other the groom.

6x22

Nope Kai they’re actually doing some inane baby swapping spell with the blonde vampire you just neck snapped! I know that was a tough guess.

I’m glad Liv sacrificed herself for Tyler so he wouldn’t die but boy this would have been a better death for Tyler than what they did to him.

I’m sorry I know it’s a serious moment but Stefan is shooting his shot with Caroline while Elena is in a coma next to him lol. Top 5 petty moment for me.

The look on Bonnie’s face ASHHTBFZBDDCDB

“I haven’t run out of nicknames for you yet” I LOVE THEM SO MUCH

“I spent my life doing exactly what I felt I was born to do” being free of you!

Omg Elena is like I can’t wait to see what you’re up to in 60-70 years” to Stefan and he’s says definitely not high school but that’s where their last scene is! That’s funny but also touching I can’t lie.

OPEN WINDOW NO CURTAINS I LOVE SYMBOLISM!

Stefan saying that loving Caroline "changed his life" is so significant and I think people don't take that part seriously enough. Because so much criticism against Steroline is that Stefan doesn't act the same way with Caroline that he did with Elena and it's like yeah that's the point! He's changed so much as he's finally accepted that he's not "The Ripper" or "The Good Brother" he's both. And Caroline was such a significant part of that process and that's what he's saying with his list. She was there for him when he needed a friend in S4 and helped him get in control of his bloodlust and helped him move on from Elena. She made him laugh and she made him dance two things he either hardly did (laugh) or hated doing (dancing) because she just loosened him up the way no one ever did before, not even Lexi. And then the big one that Caroline telling him he'd move on and fall in love again without realizing it, how much that meant to him that she gave him faith it would happen and that it happened with her (day by day, bit by bit, year by year)!

I said in my 4x23 recap I like how Klaus and Stefan's confessions work in tandem for Caroline, and now I also noticed that Klaus kissed her left cheek and Stefan kissed her right cheek. Even if I don't ship KC I just love that Caroline got them BOTH, like they were both like you're the one for me and "I'll wait" "however long it takes" SO GOOD!

Welp onto S7, lets see how angry it makes me!

Lines that made me laugh:

Caroline: Wow, you are so boring. No wonder Elena didn’t pick you. (DEAD I forgot how much she was mocking Elena being super special and getting to pick boys lol)

Damon: She has a vampire dollhouse! (All in the delivery!)

Damon: I had to vampire-proof a B&B, do you have any idea how many people you have to compel to make THAT happen? (I would have loved to watch that side-plot montage lol)

[tobiasdrake]

Honestly, I'm looking forward to Ahsoka season two. Mainly because, now that the obligatory plot on loan from a different show is done, maybe the show will finally do something.

The entire first season feels like simultaneous cleanup work and setup work. Cleanup for Rebels and setup for the big Thrawn crossover event that they've been hyping for years.

Like. The reason the show exists is fairly obvious. Rebels promised a story to bring Ezra and Thrawn back from "Wherever they fucking went". Which is the sort of thing that has enough substance to fuel a season premiere of the cartoon but not nearly enough substance for eight hour-long episodes of a miniseries. But that was the only idea they had so they had to stre-e-e-e-etch it.

So we have Star Wars's favorite idea: A treasure hunt to find the ancient lost secret map to Wherever Thrawn Went, which is a thing that exists for some reason. Makes as much sense as the Secret Map to Wherever Luke Went or the Puzzle Quest to Wherever Palpatine Is. Star Wars creatives play a lot of video games.

We have Ahsoka training Sabine which is a cool idea, but before that we have both of them being distant and pissy over absolutely nothing. They have no grudge between them; During Sabine's training, Ahsoka abruptly decided apropos of nothing that she wanted to drive a wedge between them for drama. Both of them already want to reconcile from the moment we meet them because there is no conflict here; Just vague gesturing at what interpersonal conflict looks like. But we gotta pad the runtime so they're going to be obstinate about it for a while.

We have your typical "New Republic is obstructive because Star Wars hates democracy only slightly less than it hates fascism" stuff. As usually, this allows the heroes to be rogue actors sticking it to the man even when "the man" in question is supposed to be the good guys that we've been trying to establish this whole time.

We have Ahsoka inexplicably teleporting into the Timey-Wimey Realm so she can have the version of her confrontation with Anakin that Filoni probably would have liked to have written if the movies' Official Vader Plot hadn't forbidden him from doing so. One where she finally surpasses Anakin, defeats him, and transcends into being her own master.

(Which is honestly a lot cooler than "Anakin killed her but then Ezra time-traveled her back to life". But, much like the Boba Fett and Cad Bane showdown in Book of Boba Fett, it feels weirdly out-of-place to be doing this here and now, and winds up feeling awkwardly forced in.)

And we have the most incredibly nobody villains in Star Wars history. Like. Who the fuck are Baylan and Shin? Baylan is Something Something Ex-Jedi and Shin is some rando Baylan started training. There's a point where Baylan's fighting Ashoka and he starts talking about "Anakin told me this and that" and I'm like, "Okay? WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU?"

The answer to which seems to be a commercial for next season. Baylan signed on because he wanted to go to the other galaxy because he can feel through the Force that the plot for season two is there, and also he separates from Shin because he only brought her along to put her where season two will need her to be: Separate from him and doing a different Villain Thing entirely.

Even the answer to where Ezra and Thrawn ended up is "Dathomir Zero. Yeah, there's just more Original Star Wars Galaxy stuff in the New Star Wars Galaxy. It's exactly the same. But hey, at least I unwrote the shortsighted genocide of the Nightsisters so Star Wars can have Dark Side witches again."

I appreciate that. Dark Side witches are a cool idea and their extermination made the universe smaller. But it's still a demonstration of how few ideas this season had beyond "Finally do the thing."

But now The Thing is done. They actually have to do something else now. So maybe season two will be better? I don't know.