#i need them to reunite in the middle of a big fight and they both stop and look at eachother 🫣..

[deadlovercity]

oh they're gonna fuck in s2! 🙂‍↕️

[breakfastteatime]

Today's fic is for the anon who requested 'I can explain!'

"Hey, Cal."

Greez's voice drags Cal out of his dozy musings. He shifts, stab wound grumbling. His breath catches and he presses a hand to his chest. He is really, really over this. "Greez? What is it?"

"Just checking in, seeing how you're feeling."

"I'm okay," Cal says, even though he's about to figure out the best way to get out of this bed and find another painkiller. His attempts to sleep it off have failed, and he knows he’ll get a lecture if he doesn’t ask for help when he needs it.

"Good, good.” Greez nods. “Yeah, that’s good to hear.”

“Are you okay?” Cal asks, because Greez is being weirder than usual.

“I’m fine. There's something I need to talk to you about."

It’s right then when Cal notices two of Greez’s arms are behind his back, holding something. He reaches out with the Force, senses…

Ohhhhh, shit.

"Actually, Greez, can it wait? I'm not feeling - "

Greez pulls out an egg. A big egg. An egg that can only have one source.

BD scans it immediately, cheerily announcing his findings.

“Ah!” Greez raises a hand. “I don’t wanna hear a peep outta you, BD.”

BD shrinks back.

"Guess what, Cal?" Greez asks, voice dangerously soft. "This ain't the only one. I even saw it wiggle earlier, so what does that tell me?"

Knowing he is totally busted, Cal goes for honesty. “That you should put it back so the mother can properly nurture it.”

“Oh, I will, kid, believe me. I don’t need this thing hatching and then locking onto me and calling me ‘Mama’.”

“Actually, Greez, boglings can’t talk.”

A finger comes out, jabbing in Cal’s direction. BD tells Cal maybe he shouldn’t keep pushing his luck this time.

“How long has it been aboard?” Greez demands.

“A while,” Cal says. He lost track of time ages ago. “She’s harmless, I promise. I can explain! She’s – ”

“Harmless, yeah, uh huh. She’s why I’ve been hearing weird things, smelling gross things, finding food missing…”

“Yeah…”

“What do you think would happen if she nibbled her way through some of the wires, huh? Suddenly we’re falling out of hyperspace at the worst possible moment, reverting in the middle of a star or crashing into a planet, or…”

“But she hasn’t,” Cal says brightly. “And she probably would have by now if she was going to.”

It puts pause to whatever rant Greez was about to go off on.

Because it was not the right thing to say.

BD-1 skitters off down the hall.

“You’re lucky you’re still injured,” Greez says, and for the first time ever, Cal thinks he might be afraid of him. “The second you’re fit and able, we’re going back to Bogano so you can reunite mother and babies with their homeworld. You can fight off any stormtroopers that might come for us too and –”

“Really, Greez? You’d abandon helpless babies on Bogano, a world now on the Empire’s radar?”

“Oh no, don’t you even try it! I won’t have any of your Jedi tricks! They’re going back. I don’t care if the whole planet’s on fire! This is a critter free ship, Cal, and you better remember that.”

“But – ”

“Silence!” Greez bellows.

There’s a skitter of claws from the vent above Cal’s bed. He doesn’t need to look to sense the bogling. Greez looks up with a growl.

The bogling growls back.

“You!” Greez hisses.

The bogling’s parental rage zings through the Force and sinks its teeth into Cal. “Hey, Greez? She really, really wants her egg back.”

The vent rattles. The bogling attempts to break through.

“Hah, like something that small could – ”

The rest of what Greez has to say is lost to a scream as the bogling does indeed break through (with just the teeniest, tiniest application of the Force). Greez (and the egg) rush out of the engine room, the bogling in hot pursuit.

BD-1 returns with Cere, both of them staring after Greez. “Do I want to know?” Cere asks.

“Probably not,” Cal says, settling back against his pillow.

[hel-phoenyx]

Domhildr belongs to @soupedepates, Meili to @azeler and Oli to @thal-ent

Modern AU shenanigans

I do not look fondly upon my high school years.

It's not a period of my life I like to remember. and no, it's not like I had problems or anything. Never been bullied, never been dragged into shady business per se, at least not the delinquent kind. I had friends, even if those friends were in two different groups for. Several reasons. I had no difficulties whatsoever in class, even ranked top most of the time.

But god was I insufferable. Sometimes I wonder how Domhildr and Oli could put up with my self-inflated ego. The others certainly did a lot to encourage it.

I think the only thing that kept my head not too far from the ground was the fact I had to fight for the top rank. I still remember the classes, the tests, everything. When we didn't take the same options, it was good, I had miles between me and the second-ranked ; when he was there, I had to work for my shit.

It's weird to think he became my friend. That he was our friend.

No, not in this way. Weird in a good way. Like, in class we would have heated debates on slightly different answers, especially in philosphy and geopolitics. He was a die-hard right-winger, while I started to understand, because of them, that maybe free market was a bad thing. Both of us were still influenced by traditional upbringings. Loaded families.

Yet outside of class we would just talk about our days, families and other things. I would complain about the date of last maths test while he joked about such feeble things not stopping him. and then Oli and Domi would just yell at us to "stop flaunting the top-rank bullshit on us". Even though Oli were themselves good enough in class.

I had kind of a rivalry going on at the tme, and it got my head out of the gutter. Didn't help that we kinda crushed on the same guy. Not realising it, both of us were idiots (and probably raised in same kind of gay-no-way families) but it has to have played a role in the peculiar nature of our relationship.

And then he left school for the army. And I went into politics. And we lost contact.

I do not look fondly on my high school years. But I have to admit, recieving a message from him in the middle of my thesis kinda made me happy.

That's probably why I called upon the two others. To discuss. The message, and what happened afterwards.

Oli and Domhildr are bot sitting at the table at our café. We would reunite here, to talk about crushes and classes and art and jobs. And more often than not, politics. Domdom stopped wanting to punch me when I started talking about last time I kicked a Neo-Nazi in the balls. Good times.

But today we are not here to diss neo-nazis. We're here to talk about Meili.

"So, starts Oli. You say he sent you a message ? You ?"

"I mean, I'm probably the only one with the same phone number."

"Bullshit. I haven't changed mine since I got it. And I'm pretty sure Domi only switched once."

Domhildr nods, a big smile on her face.

"I knew there was something between you two. I mean, the whole academic rivalry was pretty homoerotic."

"Oh com'on, I have plenty other people I'm homoerotic with, you don't need to add Meili to the roster."

Their faces are unconvinced. Great. It's Kriss's teasing yet again.

Can't say I'm not used to it, tho. I have so many crushes. Had, too. I fall in love too easily with my friends. Luckily I don't have many.

My prosthesis hurt, as some sort of reminder. Yes, sometimes I am attracted to the wrong people. And the fact we made up kinda is worrying for my mental health, but to be honest I needed that introspection.

"Anyway. Yeah, he sent me a text, said he wanted to meet up. Apparently, army didn't work out. Didn't understand how before I saw him."

"Wait. You SAW him and you didn't warn us ?!"

"I knew I would never hear the end of this, so, no. Plus, he wanted to see me alone."

Domhildr laughs a little teasingly.

"Ooooh, someone got a date~"

"Or he just didn't wanted to show everyone from the get go the leg prosthesis and the amount of burns in his body, hell, he couldn't even open his right eye."

And I guess he contacted me because I lost my hand in high school, so he knew about it. And knew I wouldn't get too judgemental or pityful. Disabled power.

That shut up the two birds quite promptly. Domhildr even has the audacity to look shocked.

".... Well, shit, when you said army didn't work out, I didn't think THAT way."

"And yet. He's a war veteran now, and a high-ranked one. He just started a cursus in international politics, you know, the one I ditched for history. I did tell him about that, and he joked about getting something I wouldn't have."

Joke did fall flat, tho. Not like I've taken it personally, I mean, i am a PhD student, right now. More like he didn't put a lot of heart in it. I don't know what he saw on the front, but hell must it have traumatized him.

"War veteran, huh, said Oli, pensive. I take it he's still a right-winger."

"Yep. Couldn't believe his ears when I told him I voted far-left. Didn't want to start drama around politics, tho, so we kept it at that. He got pretty tame on human rights issues, by the way."

"Cool, so I won't have to punch him when I see him. Do we have a date, by the way ?"

I shrug.

"I'll ask him later. That could be good, indeed."

[allkordelia]

Keep Me in Your Thoughts (10)

A/N: here's we go, i'm writing the next chapter right now which means i'm getting close to writing rhaelle and daemon reuniting. ☺️

Word Count: 8.5k

❧

My eyes moved boredly between my hand and the master of law as they talk about the stonewall problem back home, I shouldn't even be thinking about this shit right now. I finally don't have a war up my ass and here are these two ruining my trip talking about time delays and restructuring on the wall surrounding the serpent islands, the stonewall was what kept men from Westeros from continuing beyond the mountain of the wall. No one knows how long it has been there or who created it but what they do know is it is hard as shit to knock down and it helps a lot during the war.

"Can you both take a beat, please? Their no need to talk about this now, we're on vacation, so enjoy yourself. Drink. Gamble. Get your cocks wet..." My eyes go over to Banneth making the middle age white man go pink, "I didn't bring two big ass tents for you to just stand and talk about things that are being handled already back home, so please enjoy yourself. Have some fun." My hand hit both their arms before I walked over to the table of food and took some cut-up strawberries to my comfy little blanket pallet that I had the servants make up before I could go and relax and get in some reading, marrio, and valaena walked in.

I look at her and notice something wasn't right, even though she had a smile on her face as she look at baby adrielle, it didn't reach her eyes like it usually does. There was something off about her. I smiled when she caught me staring at her, and she came over with the sweet smile that I haven't seen in a well, note to self when I get back home valaena and I require some mother/daughter bonding.

"Hello, my little water nymph. How did the queen like the blanket." I asked before scrunching up my face so my nose would move as I made sounds making the baby giggle.

"It was a shawl and she liked it very much, even though it was hard to get a proper answer from her since I was bombarded with questions about the stepstones situation." I turn to her with a look of pity knowing that it was hard for her to talk...for anyone for that matter, even though I sent ships with supplies and men to help out. We have yet to hear about the war ending.

"Those old hags can never learn to keep their mouth shut, I swear...but don't let what they say get to you. They are just jealous." I grin when she giggled and shook her head, I move some of the white out of her face before resting my hand on her cheek. As I look at her I grow a little sad, she looks exactly like me when I was her age, and the thought of her getting married makes me want to hide her away from the world.

She looks at me with a puzzled look and asked me what I was thinking about, "Oh, nothing, just trying to figure out, how tall I should make your tower when men start asking for your hand." Valaena rolled her eyes with a smile before slapping my arm, I removed my hand from her face and smiled.

"You sound like thoros." She said making me smirk.

" That should tell you all you need to know, his fatherly intuition is never wrong and neither are mine." I look at the toddler and moved to feed adrielle a small slice of strawberries.

"Unrelated topic of fathers, otto wanted me to tell you the king wishes an audience." I let out a groan not wanting to talk or even see anyone, I spent three years in exile spending my time fighting a war and tending boring meetings. All I want is to be left alone with my family and relax. Is that too much to ask?

"I can never get a minute for myself, " I said under my breath walking away after I kissed my daughter's head. I looked over at Vogero and Banneth and motioned to them to follow me, I walked out of the tent first before being followed by my guards and my advisors.

As we walk I could sense people staring, I snap my eyes around the camp making some of the men look away and go back to work. I shook my head continuing with my business, I finally make it inside the king's tent and looked around. The people inside stopped and got out of the way as I and my men walkthrough, we find viserys in his chair with *surprise* *surprise* otto whispering in his ear.

"King Viserys," I called out catching both man attention, they looked surprised and probably thought I wasn't going to show up.

"Queen Rhaelle." He acknowledged making me nod my head to him, "I am surprised to see you finally presented yourself, we were worried you were going to miss out on the hunt."

"Oh, no no no, I don't do hunting. I more skin and gut the beast rather than hunt, I leave that to the brawns." I smirked as I cross my arms, viserys had a polite smile as he nod.

Otto reminded viserys of the reason they brought me here, making viserys give a look of grimace before lacing his fingers together and resting them on his stomach.

"Well, Rhaelle, the reason we called you to join us to celebrate Aegon's second nameday is–"

"Is it for baelor to spend time with his siblings and you?" I asked, I truly hoped he didn't take me out of exile and bring my son here to talk about me delaying the trade.

"O-of course that and also...." I watched impatiently as he tries to me the other reason.

"We want to know why your exports have been getting delayed and our goods have been getting cut down, while the rest are still getting their full share of stocks," Otto said, I stared at him blankly trying to figure out how he became hand to the king, I mean you have to be either stupid or have no common sense to ask me that.

"Because of the war happening in the stepstones." Otto looked callous at me while Viserys gave a look of confusion, it seems I have to dumb it down for them, "Some of your goods are getting split in half to go your brother and his men, so they won't die of starvation." I said before smiling.

"We didn't agree to that when we sign our agreement."

"No, but I couldn't spare men or food for the stepstones, so I had my advisor write a letter to king viserys about his goods getting cut down for a while just until the war is over and he said okay." I smiled wider seeing otto's eye cheek twitch.

"I don't remember–" viserys said slowly as he looks to be trying to remember what he wrote.

"I do. Banneth." I look at the man as he took a scroll from under his arm and gave it to me, viserys and otto look at me speechless, as I opened the scroll and read out what viserys wrote me.

"Dear Rhaelle...how is baelor...that is all fine with the goods anything to help with the war, and will you and your family like to join us on celebrating aegon's secondname day." I scan through the letter before turning the scroll for them to read, viserys squints as otto let out an annoyed sound as he stood straight after reading it.

"Oh, I apologize I must've been drinking while writing it and forgot." He said looking at otto who looked unimpressed.

That and you're slowly becoming senile, I thought.

I gave banneth back the scroll before slapping my hands together and rubbing them, "So if we're done here. I would rather go back to relaxing and enjoying my free time away from my responsibilities." Otto held up his hand as if that was going to shut me up.

"No, you can't go. We still have to work out about our half of the goods–"

"That's not my problem, if you want your fair share back then help out and send food and supplies to the stepstones. I can't do everything on my own I have my people to worry about." I turned on my heels and walked out with my men in tow, we headed back to the tent to find the tent with more people in it.

I sigh going over to my pallet of pillows and flopping down, I leaned back with my arms behind my head and my right leg over my left. Let's see how long I can relax before someone ruins my mood. I closed my eyes trying to block out the sounds around me and try to find some peace in sleep, but it seems my brain is in a foul mood as the images of dead bodies occupied my mind making my eyes open. I hate when it does that, sometimes I wish I can take it out and scrub it clean, and make all the bad thoughts go away.

I look around me and took the book I had left and opened it, maybe reading can give me some peace. I heard the curtain of the tent move and footsteps, I heard the sound of baelor's voice making me look up at him with a sweet smile. I abandoned the book as he tells me about going over to viserys tent to see him, I could see it on his face he didn't want to go, but I know I can't keep viserys and he separated. He is my son's father and I don't want baelor to regret not having a relationship with his father because of what happened to me.

As we let go of each other. I moved to ruffle his hair before giving him one last kiss on the head, I gave him a small smile as he drag his feet and walk away leaving me. I look down at the pallet and the book deciding that it wasn't going to give me some peace, so I called for a servant, and like a drop of a cloak two appeared.

"You called, my queen." I moved to sit crisscross on the floor before turning my gaze back to the man and woman, I noticed a bowl of uncut strawberries in the man's hand.

"Where is everyone." My eyes turned to the honey skin woman with brown, long layered hair with a long, lively face, and lidded hazel eyes.

"In the woods finding more food for dinner, my queen." I quirked a brow asking about my daughter, "....she went along with lady adrielle and marra for some fresh air, it will be a while until they get back." I hummed before I leaned back getting comfortable.

"Hmmm, good that gives you two enough time to make your queen feel relaxed....undress." I look at the girl, and she gave a smile as she slowly peels off the straps of her dress from her shoulders, "I'm feeling a bit famish...come, boy." I turned my eyes to the tanned man with silver, fluffy hair that hangs over his strong, warm face. I can see his clear amber eyes scan over my body with lust and hunger, he took steady steps toward me before taking a seat next to me.

He feeds me a strawberry as the girl moves to sit on her knees in front of me, she pushes my long skirt up my legs to rest on my thighs. I grunt softly feeling her warm tongue against my folds, I move my hand to her head to guide her before turning my face to man. His lips find mine and our tongues swirl together tasting each other, I sat up slightly as the boy removed my black vest and tunic.

His lips went to my beast kissing and sucking leaving love bites in his wake, I let out a moan feeling the woman's fingers pump inside me slowly as her tongue swipe up my clit making me move my hips a bit to grind against her face. My fingers gently scratched at her scalp as she was bringing me close to my release, the man's lips released my nipple and kiss me as my hand rub his cock through his trousers.

My hand gripes his side as the other clenches the woman's hair, my mouth falls open against his mouth and my back arches as I came as the woman kept sucking my achy cunt. I breath heavy watching the girl come from under my skirt to lick her lips and her two fingers, I gulp as I sat up a bit making the man pull back, my feet tingle and since no one from my group made it back yet, why not continue the fun.

"Now, your turn," I said motioning between the two, the man peel off his clothes piece by piece with the help of the girl. I watch as their bodies molded together as they kiss and grope each other. As they moan, my left arm went behind my head and my right hand slid down my stomach to my wet cunt eager to be played with more.

❧

My arms stretch above my head wearing a dark red gown, my head turns slightly at the two servants as they walk out behind me. They gave me sly smiles making me watch them walk away to continue their chorus with a small grin, I know I shouldn't be doing it especially here of all places, but thoros did say I needed to find an outlet for my stress, and besides it not like I'm doing anything wrong. If my husband says it's okay to have a few paramours, who am I to say no?

I glance around before seeing the deer that ser keagan brought from his hunt laying on the bench table still not skinned. I tsk to myself forgetting to take the knives out like valaena told me too, I move towards the chest that was at the end of the table and opened it taking out the knives and an apron. After I put on the apron, I started to sharpen the knives I'm going to use to skin the deer, as I was examining the blade, a man with dirty blonde hair and a scruffy beard walked up to my camp.

"Queen Rhaelle?" I glance at him looking him up and down, I nod my head before I made a long incision along the stomach of the deer.

"I am Janas Mormont. I was the one who sent the raven about House Lash and House Farman." I hmmed as I kept on cutting, I remember them they were two of the eight houses that tried to take the serpent islands from me.

"Yes and thank you for that you saved me and my men some time to prepare for their attack." I stop what I was doing and turn to look at him, he smiled at me before bowing his head.

"Which leads me to ask, how did you know they were going to attack?" I watch him carefully as he moves closer before telling me.

"...against my father's wishes, I sent you the raven, and let's just say he wasn't too pleased with me." I look at him for a minute before looking away from him to rip the furry skin from the deer before laying it on the bench.

"I'm sorry to hear that, but why did you help me? Not to sound cynical but you gain nothing from helping me. We don't know each other." He nods.

"We don't. But, you knew my brother, Liram," My brows shot up at the name, "He fought in the Battle of Aegean, and before he passed he wrote letters telling me about new life in serpent isles." I look away from him, I didn't know liram personally but whenever I visited Aegean with Thoros, he was always the first to greet us with a bright smile. He was sweet. When I was first told about the attack on Aegean, I flew there immediately to find the enemies are gone and the kingdom and town burn to ashes. There were few survivors. The Lord who takes the island was dead along with his entire family and manpower. It was a dark day.

"I remember him, I'm sorry for your lost, he was a good man and a great soldier." Janas gave a sad smile before thanking me, "I know this might come off a bit rude, so you don't have to answer if you don't want to...but even though I didn't know your brother well, we did talk a little about his life before Aegean. I'm surprised someone of your stature would still talk to him since his...you know."

"A bastard?" I nod my head, "This might come as a surprise m'lady, but not all of us think the same. He was my brother, we grew up together, and we shared the same blood even though my father refused to knowledge him. He was still my family." I gave sympathetic look at the pain in his voice.

"I meant no disrespect–" he shook his head.

"I know." He cleared his throat before squeezing his hands to his side, "My father has no use for me, I have four older brothers and two sisters. I refused to go to The Wall and pledge myself to the Night's Watch, so I ask you, my queen. If I can accompany you back to magonsæte and serve you and your husband as a knight." I look at him taken back.

"You do realize what you are asking for lord janas, you could bring dishonor to your family and be painted as a traitor–"

"If serving to protect you and your family makes me a traitor then so be it, I rather die a traitor protecting a ravishing woman like yourself than die in an icy secluded hellhole." My eyes widen and my face heats up a bit at his compliment before glancing away from him when he smiled coyly at me.

"Flattery won't get you anywhere, lord Janas." He let out a deep laugh making me look back at him.

"I don't know, my queen. The ladies back home say otherwise." He said hinting at the woman in question, I scoff with an eye roll as gave him a teasing smile.

"Whores would say anything for money, especially to a lord from a high standing." Janas made an "oof" sound as his hand went over to his heart making me shake my head.

"That hurts, my queen." I let out a chuckle before thinking about his request, he could be of use to me since he knows a bit about the man who's been sending others to take magonsæte from me.

"It will be an honor to have you join my royal guard, lord Janas. My people and I will be leaving morrow at dusk," He nods his head before holding his hand out for me to shake, I planted the knife into the wood of the table before wiping my hands on the apron. We shook hands after a second past we let go and he told me he will grab his stuff before coming back, I nodded before watching him walk away.

I look down at the dead animal before calling a servant to preserve it, my head turns after hearing a horse and saw baelor throwing a rock at the princess. I hurriedly took off the apron and made my way over to janas and baelor, I stalk towards him looking at him angrily. I shook my head at his words as he told me what happened, I did not believe his words knowing that the princess would not do such a thing. As he tried to plead his case, janas stepped in telling me what happened, baelor argued otherwise making me shush him and told him to go to the tent. When he tried to argue again I didn't want to hear it and snap at him to go, I watch as he stalk away before looking at Janas.

"Are you sure you're alright, I can have someone look at you." He shook his hand declining saying he was fine, I look at him for a moment before letting go.

I excused myself and went to the tent to see what had gotten into baelor to make him behave like that before I walked into the tent I looked down the pathway towards the king's tent to see viserys stumble out as he look up and down for someone. I narrow my eyes at him.

What the fuck did he do now, I thought.

I walk in to see baelor on the pile of pillows that were in the far back corner, I could see his body shaking slightly making me frown and worried. He finally moved his face from the cushion for me to see his wet face, I walk over to him before taking a seat, we were both quiet for a minute before I ask what happened. After, some pushing he finally told me what occurred between his father and sister.

I am not an angry person and there's already too much darkness in this world to be such a thing, but there have been two occurrences in my life that made me fervent. One was a long time ago with my old handmaid, Magatha, which didn't end well and now. I should have known better than to trust viserys to try to keep level-headedness with my son, that is on me, I had been more worried about not being the reason our family breaks apart knowing that jaehaerys wouldn't have wanted that he would have wanted viserys and baelor to bond to be a father and son.

But, no more I have kept my mouth shut and allowed him to do what he wishes, I allow him to take baelor in while the war was happening and have baelor visit every month. I even told baelor to forgive that little bitch about her comments against me, I can take being called names, fuck I'm used to them by now, but calling my son a bastard to his face and telling him such things you heard from your father is going to fucking far.

My eyes go over to my valyrian bastard sword, Dreamcatcher, maybe a little talk with the king and princess will do them some good. The sound of the party coming brought me out of my thoughts as I turn to them, I look back at my son with a reassuring look as I wipe his fave with my sleeves. I told him I will have a long hard talk with his father and sister to make sure something like this will never happen again. I kissed his head before getting up and walking over to the corner to put on the belt that has the sheath on it before sliding my sword inside.

"I'm going out for a walk," I said walking past the table.

"Don't be late for dinner," Valaena said looking at me and making me nod, I turn my eyes to my son giving him a comforting smile before leaving.

❧

I poked my head out of rhaenyra's tent to find her not there, I was planning on talking to her first since she has so much to say about me and my son why not confront her.

I really wanted to fuck her up, I thought to myself as I walk over to the king's tent. Before I could go in I was stopped by the guards, I told them I needed to see the king. One of the guards shook their head saying the king wasn't seeing anyone due to his "intense headache" making me roll my eyes, I turn my back to them glancing around before looking back.

"Well, once his over his hangover tell him I need to talk to him. It's about our son...." I told them I'll be over at the bonfire before walking away.

❧

The sun finally fell into the trees and the moon was hanging in the sky with all the stars, the wind blew gently against the trees and the fire that stood before me. My fingers twisted with the ring on my left hand as I was in deep thought, it had been standing out here. So long that my anger is subdued for now anyways, I hoped viserys got my message, what am I saying the guards probably didn't tell him anything, no one in these parts listens to me. I'm a joke to them. My neck jerked slightly making me drop my hands to my sides with a sigh.

His not coming, I thought.

I move to walk away from the blazing fire when I see viserys standing there looking at me, I furrow my brows looking at him oddly, he started to come closer making me step back a bit when stood in front of me. I look at him as he looks down at me, sudden a dream I had long months ago came back making me turn my head away from the fire.

"Please, don't say it. I already feel bad as it is." I side-eyed him seeing him see he was looking at the fire with a somber look.

"Imagine how my son feels." Viserys look at me with an exasperated look.

"I had too much to drink. I'm sorry–" I stopped him from continuing.

"Did you know that rhaenyra called baelor a bastard and told him, the only reason you want him around is that you pretend he baelor the younger?" I turn my body to look at him and I saw the guilt all over his face.

"So you knew...about all of it?" I questioned, the anger that I let go moments ago resurfaces as he nods his head.

"For fuck sake, viserys." I hissed looking away from him.

"Rhaenyra is still getting used to not being the only child, it is not her fault." I snap my head at him.

"Like hell it is. She is ten and eight picking on a child that she use to beg to hold not too long ago, and now she despises him." I move my hand to my mouth before taking it off, " How could you let this happen, how you could allow her to keep tormenting him? After, what she said." He looks at her with a look between guilt and anger.

"Do not look at me as if it is my fault if you didn't air out our business to the entire court out of spite. None of this would have happened." I look stare at him staggered, how dare he blame this on you, I thought.

"You think I did that out of spite of you." I walk up close making him look down at me, "I didn't do it because I was angry at you, viserys. I did it for me. I told my truth so everyone would know I wasn't some heartless whore who let some man impregnate me for the fun of it." I spit angrily as I stare up at him.

"I can never forgive you for what you did to me and your sorries won't take away the shame I bear, it won't take away the nightmares, or the touches and erase your smell from my senses." I shudder as my arms around my chest in dismay, viserys looking back at me with a frown.

"....I never meant to cause you so much...pain, rhaelle." he muttered, "I just wanted a son." I scoffed softly looking down at the patch of green grass, I slightly kicked the dirt under my feet.

"Well, you got what you wanted."

We stood there quietly nothing but the sound of the people in the distance, and the crickets and birds that surround us. I look up when he made a sound, he hesitated for a moment before saying what he needed to say.

"His bright our boy, sometimes when we talk I forget I'm talking to a child with how much knowledge he holds." I hummed in agreement while nodding.

"It feels like not too long ago he was babbling and crawling around, ignorant to the world outside the red keep," I stated thinking fondly about those days when everything felt normal.

"I wish I could stop thinking of him as mine and aemma's baelor, my fears of having to let him go so he wouldn't be affected by it. Seems like the only choice for him to be happy." I could tell the revelation that came over viserys pained him to say it, and as much as you want to agree you can't cause you know that baelor and viserys deserve to have a bond.

"When I was little jaehaerys told me the only thing that can tear down the house of the dragon was itself," viserys eyes lift to meet mine as he waits for me to continue, "And I wish not to be the one to do it, I can take the blame for baelor hating you and I'm making it up by forcing him to spend time with you."

"But, I can not do it alone, viserys. If you truly want a relationship with your son you must make some sacrifices, one being stop drinking around him." I emphasize the last sentence making him frown before nodding, "and the second is listening to your children, especially your daughter, if she feels like you're not hearing her, she will act out and baelor will be the one paying for it." Viserys sighs as he nods.

"I know and I will speak to her about her behavior as of late towards her brother, I promise." I nod, I was still going to have a small talk with the young girl but her father didn't need to know that.

"Good, so we agree no more drinking while baelor is visiting, right?" He nods making you give a satisfied look, "...alright, it is getting late and you must be getting some rest for the hunt tomorrow, so I wish you a goodnight, king viserys." I walk back slowly before turning away to walk away. I stop when he called my name making me turn back to him as he walk up close to me.

"I found something in your old chambers, and I hope to this as a truce between us..." I furrowed my brows as I watch him take something from his pocket, my heart crack a bit when I saw the little knitted bonnet I made for my child.

"It was stuffed in the corner behind the wardrobe, it still smells like her..." My eyes begin to water as I took the bonnet from his hand and held it between my fingers feeling the fabric, "I wanted to give it to you when you first came back, but..." He trailed off making me give a sad smile as I look at the bonnet in my hand.

"Thank you," I look up, and he nodded as he too stars at the bonnet, I could see his misty eyes cloud with sadness making me realize this was probably the only thing he had left of her too, "but I already have a token of her." I reach to my neck and pulled out a silver locket, I opened it to show a drawing of my daughter and a piece of dark hair stuck inside.

"You can hang on to it...if you like." Viserys looks up from the locket as I put the bonnet back in his hand, he gave me a grateful smile and held it tightly in his fist.

"The gods give just as the gods take away," I pause for a second at what viserys said, before closing my locket and putting it back inside my dress.

The gods had nothing to do with taking away my baby girl, I thought, but vengeful hands who underestimated my love for my children did.

❧

The next morning, I waited in rhaenyra's tent for her return, I sat on a chair as I flip through the pages of a book that was laying on the table across from her mirror. My eyes drifted up as the curtains to the tent were thrown aside by rhaenyra, I look at her with a raised eyebrow seeing her neck and chest covered in blood.

"What are doing in my tent? Who let you in." She asked as I abandoned the book on the table in front of me, I move out of the chair to stand.

"You said something to baelor to make him upset, I want you to apologize." Rhaenyra scoffed as she stepped further in with an indifferent look.

"Whatever he says is a lie. Now leave before I call my guards in here to have you removed." She moves making me move to block her way, she glances at me taking back at my movements.

"It seems you have a death wish, cousin." Rhaenyra snap.

"I can say the same for you, you little bitch." Rhaenyra's jaw dropped at my words.

"I have you completely gone mad? Have you forgotten who your talking to–" My hand went to her throat backing her into the table, she looked wide-eyed at me as her mouth gaped open.

"You call my son a bastard and I want you to apologize before that blood on you will become your own," Rhaenyra's small hand grasps my wrist as she tries to get my hand from around her neck.

"M-my father will have your head, whore." She struggles under my grip making her nails dig into my skin.

"You're not listening to me, so let me say it slower..." My hand tightens causing rhaenyra to grunt as she tried her best to pull my hand off of her, "I want you to get on your knees and beg for my son's forgiveness, and hopes he accepts because if he doesn't..." I took out my dagger and held it in the corner of rhaenyra's eye gently pressing the blade against her pale skin.

"I'll give you something truly to mourn and be pissed about, " rhaenyra watches me and the blade carefully, "So, now that I got your attention. What are you going to do."

Her face was twisted in a frown as she glare at me, I move the blade under her eyes and down her cheek.

"I wonder if the men of the seven kingdoms would still want you if you were missing a tongue and an eye, hmmm, " The sharp blade pressed against the flesh breaking the skin and causing a sprinkle of blood on her cheekbone, she tensed and clench her jaw.

"You will kill me over a word." I leaned my face close to her.

"I'll kill you for just looking at him funny, you have no idea what length I would go for my children, princess." I could see the uneasiness in her eyes making me smirk a bit, "Tick Tock, princess." She let out a disgruntled sound before opening her mouth.

"I'm sorry for calling baelor a bastard," she grits out, I loosen my hand off her throat and pulled her off the table.

"That wasn't so hard now was it, princess." The blade was put away making rhaenyra snarl at me after she pulled her hand away from her cheek to have her finger have a bit of blood on them.

"I leave at dusk so you will have until then to come up with a sincere apology for my son. Okay?" Rhaenyra just stared at me as I walk back to the spot that I crawled from to get in there.

"How about I just tell my father what you did to me," I turn to look at her.

"I won't stop you. I can't stop you. But, know this if you don't apologize to baelor before we leave, I'll tell your father about you and daemon's inappropriate alone time on the throne all those years ago." A mixture of shock and confusion appeared on rhaenyra's face.

"We did nothing–".

"Sure you didn't. But, he doesn't know that and your uncle does have a habit of taking things that don't belong to him, and besides who can ignore the looks you two give one another." That leaves rhaenyra dumbfounded and speechless, I smirk before bidding her goodbye and leaving from where I came.

❧

Rhaelle watches from her seat on the bench as rhaenyra and baelor talk from a distance, baelor looks reluctant while rhaenyra stood awkwardly as she talks to the boy. Rhaelle tilts her head to the side as she watches her son starts talking and something shifts between them, rhaenyra looks taken back at the young boy before baelor moves to wrap his arms around her waist making rhaenyra slowly do the same. Rhaelle hummed to herself happy, viserys soon walk out going over to the two siblings causing them to break apart.

Viserys looks to his daughter before looking at baelor, he said something before moving his arm out for baelor to walk ahead inside the tent. Rhaelle caught viserys eye giving him a small bow of her making the older man give a small smile before going inside to talk to baelor, rhaelle's eyes shifted over to rhaenyra to catch the young woman looking at her. Rhaelle raised her hand wiggling her fingers making rhaenyra scoff and turn on her heel to walk away, rhaelle smiled to herself as she make her hand fall to her lap. She soon got up and went inside to help pack up to head home, even though she didn't get the needed peace she wanted.

An hour or two passed, the tent was empty and everything was packed for travel, rhaelle was talking to banneth and vogero when baelor ran up to her clinging to her side. The two men walked away giving some time with the queen and her son, rhaelle smiled down at baelor and asked about the conversation with his father and sister.

"It went well, I'm still upset with the king, but rhaenyra and I found some common ground together." Rhaelle look down at him with a proud smile happy to hear such things, four huge carriages with engravings of house velfrey sigil on them came making the servants and knights start gathering up their stuff.

Rhaelle walked with her son still clinging to her hip when she was stopped in her tracks by baelor who looked into the opening of the woods.

"What is it, sweetie." She asked looking at him, he looks at her before looking at the woods again. She look where he was looking and saw a white stag standing there in the sunlight, she furrow her brows in awe at the beautiful creature.

"It's real," Baelor whispered making him look up at his mother with a grin as she look down at him with a puzzled look. They heard a crack and look back to where the stag was and it was gone as if it was never there.

Odd, rhaelle thought.

She pulled baelor along to the carriages where her people were waiting with viserys, alicent, rhaenyra, and otto.

"Thank you, again. King Viserys for the invitation I hope to have many more in the future," she said standing with her family and friends behind her.

"Of course and I hope you will do the same, I am curious to see the serpent islands. Maybe we can celebrate baelor's nameday there." He smiled looking down at his son before looking back at her, she nods with a kind smile.

"That's a great idea, my king."

Viserys and Rhaelle sensed the many eyes on them as they stood across from each other, viserys look at rhaelle as her eyes were looking at the servants putting things in the carriage.

"Safe travels, queen rhaelle." Rhaelle look back at viserys, she was shocked to hear him address her as queen but held it in.

"Thank you, cousin." Viserys held out his hand for rhaelle to shake, and she grasp his hand before shaking it.

Rhaelle moves to wish the queen and the other two goodbyes before removing her hand from viserys grip, rhaelle and her family bowed to the royal family making viserys and the others do the same. Rhaelle and her people piled into the carriages, as the door shut baelor and valaena waved out the window as the carriage moved to take them back to king's landing.

❧

I yawned rubbing my eyes as I finish the rest of my painting, after visiting King's Landing and Diftmark, I still had a ball of energy in me. I blew out the candles and walked out of my art room to wander down the halls of Stonehold, sometimes it baffles me how I, valaena velaryon, became a princess. I shook my head lightly as I traveled down a corridor with huge portraits of old kings and queens with their children on the wall, I stop for a moment to admire a portrait of thoros and his sister-wife, they look so youthful and happy, something you never imagine seeing in a married couple.

I continue down the hall, my mind shifting to my brothers, urging how I could kill those two, I know in my heart that they're still alive but my faith in them coming back soon is decaying and I wonder if he is still mad at me. I never told my mother this or anyone for that matter the reason me and Aeron stopped writing to each other, when I told Aeron of my marriage to boremund, he was livid and wrote me bunches of the letter telling me how bad the idea it just like my mother did.

But, I was stupid then I changed now that I understand, why my mother was against it. But, back then I was adamant about my decision, and some harsh words were exchanged as a result. I leaned against the wall, and the large windows that sat on the other side bathed me in the moonlight, I closed my eyes feeling my chest tighten. What if that was the last thing he read and his now on the beach covered in sand and crabs, and the last thing thought was that I hated him?

"...valaena?" I got off the wall and look up to see my mother in the distance, I sniff and realized I was in her part of the wing.

"My sweet girl, are you alright." She asked walking up to me in her nightgown, her hair was long passed her shoulders and she held a candlestick in her hand.

"I-I'm sorry, I must have got lost in my head and led me here, silly me." I watch as she gave me a worried look as she reach her warm hand to wipe at my cheek.

"Have you been crying, my dear?" I didn't have the strength to lie to her, so I nodded before glancing down at my bare feet.

"Come on, sweetie." She takes me by the hand and pulls me to her room, I look around at the decor in the room before being pulled to the fireplace where it looks like she has been sitting with a packet of letters and a ball of yarn.

"You couldn't sleep either." I look over at my mother as she took a seat in the armchair where her yarn was laying before she grabbed her wooden needles.

"Knitting gives me peace of mind before I go to bed, how about you why aren't you asleep yet? I know you have a busy day tomorrow?" She asked starting back knitting as I took a seat by her side before putting my left leg over my right.

"I couldn't sleep so I stood up to finish my painting, I have a lot on my mind," I whispered the last part making my mother glance at me before stopping what she was doing.

"You want to talk about it." I turn my head to her look at her, I could tell my mother had the world on her shoulders with threats of more wars to come for our new home, and the familiar feeling of not wanting to be a burden burn in my chest.

"It's nothing, mama. I just worry about the boys." A look of realization made it to my mother's face before she started knitting again.

"From what my letters say, the boys are fine still fighting that damn war, but fine." My eyes glance at the multiple letters on top of each other on the small table between the chairs, I move to pick up an envelope and saw the targaryen sigil, this was from daemon.

"When did you and daemon start writing to each other," I asked looking at my mother, she gave an annoyed look probably thinking about him.

"He writes to me." I raised my brow.

"And you don't write back?" She shook her head.

"Nope. Most of those letters in there are him telling me sweet nothings, while the others are updates on the war." I nod my head moving to get another envelope and opening it.

"How do you know which ones are love letters and which ones are not," I asked with a small smile making my mother kick my foot.

"The targaryen sigil in black is for an update, while the one is red ones are for 'my eyes only' " She made finger air quotes making me giggle, before taking a red sigil envelope and opening it.

My eyes scan the page expecting crude words spread across the letter but were met with sweet words that I never expect could come from the prince known as the rogue prince.

"By the gods, mother, these are beautiful," I look at her, but she didn't look at me as she shook her head slightly, she didn't look impressed.

"I never knew daemon to be such a poet," I say as I move to open a new letter to read, another heartfelt letter that speaks of memories on the beach with each other back at king's landing. I move to pick up another and another and another, before dropping my hands in my lap as I look at my mother.

"I don't understand how your not fawning over these...these are amazing, look what he wrote here...." My mother looks at me as I read out the words of her once-former lover, I look over at her when I finish seeing her staring at the fire, an air of melancholy surrounded her. My mother didn't tell me much of her and daemon's relationship only that they were friends who ended up in the most unforeseen affair.

"Why are you sad, mother? Do these make you miss him," I asked without thinking, my mother look at me with a mixture of emotions in her lilac eyes.

"These letters...make me angry and confused, because I do not know what his purpose in writing these is."

"It sounds like he declaring his love for you," I said looking down at the letter.

"If he wanted to declare his love for me, he would have ended this war a long time ago, he knows I know he can, I feel there is something else at foot." I shook my head at her and her paranoia, but I'm used to it when you have people trying to kill you and your family, and you begin to expect everyone to be out to get you.

"You're being paranoid, mother. For all you know, this is daemon's way of saying he wants to be with you again and..." she looks at me with furrowed brows, "I think you give him a chance." Her furrowed brows shot up near her hairline.

"Valaena, I am a married woman–"

"With multiple paramours, I know what you do in your free time when everyone else is busy. I have eyes." A look of guilt and fear wash over her making me put my hand over her own, "I'm not angry with you, thoros already told me the situation between you two before I started noticing." A faint look of relief passed through her eyes before it was replaced by worry.

"No, I can't. I made a promise long ago that I leave what we had in the past, and I will stick to that til the day that I die, the only important to me is my family and my kingdom." She stated I could tell that she was done talking about and meant what she said, but the thought of your mother not getting the love she deserves didn't feel right to you.

I moved to grab another letter, this one is a bit older than the other and longer, as we sat in silence and read over the letter. My eyes sparkle with an idea after reading what daemon wrote and from what mother said earlier, I glance at her from the corner of my eyes to see her yawning.

"Mama, can I sleep with you tonight, I don't feel like walking back to my chambers." My mother gave a bright smile before nodding.

"Of course, my love. I'm about to head to bed now, you coming." I shook my head making up an excuse and making her nod again, she picked up her yarn and needles putting them away before coming back over and kissing my hairline.

"Goodnight, my love."

"Night, mama," I said back watching her walk to her bed and get under the covers.

I waited a bit and when the sounds of her soft snoring came I got up and went over to her to double-check check, she was out before leaving the room. I headed to her mother's studies that were just down the hall from her chambers, I slipped in before lighting a candle to see. I went over to her desk pulled out a parchment from her bottom drawer and dip the quell into the ink in front of me. I look down at the blank parchment thinking, what would her mother say to daemon, my hand moved as I wrote on the paper. When I was finished I reread my work back to me, after I thought it was convincing enough I found it and put it in an envelope. I used the sigil for our house to stamp it to keep the envelope close.

I quickly walk out to tie it to a raven before sending it off, I made it back to my mother's chambers quietly before gently getting into bed next to her. Now, all I have to do is hope that daemon takes the bait and ends this war.

@beggarsnotchoosey @cleverzonkwombatsludge @green-lxght @stormgirlfriendd @supermassiveblackhope

[strawberrycowgirly]

this feels so lucy and lockwood coded… (spoiler for the hollow boy ending and some tcs stuff)

… post THB events☹️

likee..

i can’t call you a stranger / but i can’t call you

oh my GOD. we know damn well they both missed each other so much but they didn’t want to reach out to the other one after the way they left things (lucy wanted to protect lockwood/ lockwood feeling upset because the love of his life, and ANOTHER very important person has LEFT HIM 😞)

i know you think that i erased you / you may hate me, but i can’t hate you

i don’t remember the exact details since it’s been a couple months since i finished reading THB but didn’t lockwood try to convince lucy to stay with him and lnco? and didn’t lucy run into lnco a few times before she rejoined them during the ealing cannibal and creeping shadow cases, in which george kinda had a bad attitude towards her, which is soo.. she can’t hate them!

and i won’t replace you / tell me how to feel about you now

lucy never replaces lockwood and/or george, or holly. she never goes out and permanently joins another team/agency. she works as a freelance agent and briefly teams up with groups such as the one at the beginning of TCS, but she doesn’t stick with them, in fact, she’s always comparing them to her high standard of lockwood and co! and she wishes she was working with them again, and she misses them. then when they all finally reunite, it’s a bit uneasy and there’s some tension that quickly resolves but, there was definitely uncertainty on both sides of “how do we feel about each other now, now that you’ve done something as big as leaving us. after we’ve bonded together. become as close as family?” for lockwood and george. and lucy, (obliviously) can’t possibly understand the reason why lockwood became even more reckless after she left them. and briefly, when they’ve just started working together as a team again, she’s unsure of how to act/ uncomfortable because this is so unfamiliar. she was so used to working rhythmically (everyone had assigned roles pretty much; george with researching, lucy preparing supplies, lockwood going out doing leadership things and holly doing her thing / forgive me, i forget the specific details here, but it’s all in the beginning/ middle of TCS)

keep me up with your silence / take me down with your quiet / of all the weapons you fight with / your silence is the most violent / tell me how to feel about you now

now this, reminds me of lockwood and lucy, post THB, again. i think the months they spent away from each other probably definitely hurt so badly. you’re trying to tell me that the love of your life just walked out the door and doesn’t contact you for months, and you wouldn’t blame yourself at all? well, anthony lockwood would. after all those people and loved ones that he’s lost? yeah. and lucy, seeing lockwood finally bringing lockwood and co into the well-known, best agency in london, they both had hoped to become/ bring lnco into? without her, without talking to her, without reaching out, at all? yeah, i think that was hurting her a lot, too.

we know damn well they missed each other miserably while they were apart.

anywayy i wish we got renewed for a season 2 of lockwood and co because I NEED TO SEE THESE SCENES ON SCREEN LIKE AGHHH !!!!!!!! 😤😫😠

[veryimportantsparkles]

Here's the current team! Dillia, BellaBella, and Maria had their designs already but Steely, Hopscotch, and Daniel are new. I did them as lil chibis because it's faster and easier. Every one of them is a remembered, resurrected Pokemon from my old gen 2 game, except for Daniel, who was this cartridge's sacrifice when I reset the original file.

Dillia - Strong and reliable and a little bit edgy. I've always thought of the Totodile line as inherently feminine because mine was a girl, but they're still big crocodile monsters. She's tough and ready to fight, hanging at the back of the party to step in if the others can't win a battle.

BellaBella - The most reliable Vine Whipper in early Johto where everything else just has Tackle. A battle prodigy who walks fearlessly into danger; sometimes her confidence gets her into trouble. She seems pretty and ladylike but has bad table manners. Bella and Dillia are both messy eaters and everyone else thinks it's gross.

Maria - Easygoing and forgiving, waited very patiently to reach the name rater when I accidentally gave her a boy's name at first. Enjoys jogging at night. Thinks she should do something new with her hair but never decides on a style.

Steely - I remembered having a Pidgeot with Steel Wing but couldn't recall a name, so 'Steely' is a half-remembered resurrection. He doesn't remember much of his previous life, but he's pretty sure he always lived a happy, uncomplicated existence. He likes battles and strives to get better at them, but doesn't come off as an aggressive guy.

Hopscotch - I absolutely knew I had a Jumpluff in my champion team but that he was useless. I just needed someone who could use Flash and he was terrible in battle. He also didn't have a nickname...that I can remember. Hopscotch is content with a life on the sidelines but I'm a better trainer now (and moveset options are much better in 4th gen) and I might be able to pick a moveset that brings out his full potential.

Daniel - I got my Soul Silver cartridge used, and its original owner was apparently named Daniel. He last saved his game in the middle of Union cave, with a Bayleef and 4 underleveled catches. I shuffled those Pokemon into my Platinum cart and left Soul Silver with one resident, a Slowpoke named for Daniel. In my new file, I've recaught him.

Edmond's namesake left behind a fully completed game. Edmond grew up in the shadow of someone who knew what he was doing. Daniel...might have been a little kid? Or simply someone who quickly got bored with Pokemon. Additionally, most of my 'world sacrifice' Pokemon have some kind of unhappy memory from being deleted then reformed. But in this Soul Silver run, my entire team is made of resurrected Pokemon from a dead Game Boy cartridge, so that's not special. Plus, this time I picked a Slowpoke, a species well known for experiencing pain on a five second delay.

So I think Daniel might not have noticed I deleted him? I'm dreading the day he figures out what happened but for now he seems to be a happy enough kid. This team of longtime companions have reunited and their task is to carry young Daniel up through to the championships to honor his sacrifice and stabilize the world. I hope they can raise him well.

I gave him a jacket modeled after his namesake's starter Bayleef, as sort of a protective charm to carry him through. Maybe I'll choose to trade that Bayleef back in to keep him company? I don't know, I have options.

And a side note: I don't remember what my original 6th Pokemon was, in the slot Daniel is occupying. I think it MIGHT have been a Magmar, but I'm not sure. I'm just going to play through the game and see if anything jogs my memory.

[alheria]

Anniversary (one-shot)

Ghost wasn't one to celebrate any holidays or special occasions.

But König was.

And since they were dating, he had to adapt in order to keep his partner happy. Because, obviously, he had gotten too emotionally involved and would hate to ruin their stable, somewhat healthy relationship. So they compromised, celebrated everything the Austrian wanted except the lieutenant's birthday. It was the only thing he could not stand, by any means. Painful days full of bad memories should not be acknowledged. Ever. The younger man luckily respected that.

The most important event to recognize was surely their anniversary. They’ve been together for nearly two years now, and the first milestone unfortunately happened to occur while both were on separate missions in two different parts of the world with no way to at least contact each-other.

For Ghost, this wasn’t a big problem, didn’t even think about it too much, too busy trying not to die. König, on the other hand, was utterly heartbroken. Upon them reuniting, he cried, a lot, then informed that missing the first anniversary was a bad sign, and they will surely break up soon because they are doomed. Which was a really stupid, baseless assumption. Nevertheless, the lieutenant ensured next year the date is in the middle of their off-duty period. Just in case. Which involved promising he will do some stuff he didn’t necessarily want to do. Like helping train new recruits or taking over half of Price’s paperwork.

The things people do for love!

Right, love. The emotionless soldier never thought he would use such a term in reference to his own, barely existing feelings. Until the weirdly tall, socially awkward, all soft and mushy Austrian showed up and effortlessly turned his dark, freezing cold world upside down. Proved that loving someone did not make one seem any less scary or vulnerable. Ghost actually appeared to be even more dangerous, now he had something dear to protect.

Which also meant he needed to go that extra mile to make his partner happy enough to not leave him, because if he did, he would have to kill him. And losing König would kill him in return. That’s why he had to agree to participate in the younger man’s undisclosed fantasy for their upcoming anniversary. So they both can stay alive.

The crucial for the success of their relationship day had started with them waking up unreasonably early in the Austrian’s apartment in Graz. Neither was ready to leave the bed just yet, therefore they stayed, embracing each-other’s naked bodies under the cosy blanket. Ghost absolutely fucking adored those rare moments when König rested safely between his protective arms whilst there was nothing to worry about since they weren’t in a war zone but in a normal place, in a regular house, in a comfortable bed big enough to fit both of them.

Sometimes he wondered if this precious time turned into reality, would they still be happy? Probably not. It is truly nice, being in this secure, warm bubble, although it cannot be accurately compared to that intoxicating sensation of being in the field, desperately fighting for survival, and killing your bloodthirsty enemies. Nothing feels as good. Not even sex.

-I need you to let go, love. -the lieutenant whispered softly, loosening the hold around the taller man, who didn’t move an inch, his cheek plastered to the muscular chest.

-Why?! -he whined, making his boyfriend smile. Such a big baby.

-Coffee. -Ghost responded vaguely. -You know I quickly get cranky without my morning coffee.

-I know. -König huffed in annoyance, eventually rolling on the other side of the bed, nearly fully covering himself with the claimed blanket to retain pleasant heat. The Brit got up, and instantly regretted his decision to leave the nice warmth. He swiftly put on some clothes randomly found on the floor and fondly glanced at the steaming burrito as he stretched the stiffened limbs.

-Happy anniversary, my pretty beast. -he hummed once ready to roll, pressing a tender kiss to those ruffled hair before leaving the bedroom. And maybe he didn't see the Austrian's definitely smiling face, but could tell it was blushing furiously. König was naturally terrible at hiding his feelings, which was the sole reason for him wearing the spooky mask on a daily basis. Before knowing better, Ghost thought maybe he was horribly disfigured due to some accident, however as it turned out, he was just readable like an open book, and simply hated that.

Nearly twenty minutes passed before the unmasked soldier showed up in the kitchen, not a single piece of clothing his. Shameful thief. The lieutenant was half-sat on the wide windowsill, nearly empty cup in hand, watching the city slowly start another busy day.

-Took you long enough. -he pointed out, shifting slightly so the other man could fit between his welcoming arms. It was a habit for them at this point, cuddling in the morning anytime they were together to absorb this much-needed affection.

-I'm worth waiting for. -the Austrian murmured, pressing his nose into the Brit's neck. -Thank you for sorting out this time off. It means a lot. -added, softly kissing the muscular shoulder.

-All the best for my precious baby. -Ghost responded, his chilly hands sneaking under the thick hoodie as the cheek rested on his boyfriend’s head. -I love you, —. A lot.

König smiled widely hearing the heart-warming confession followed by his name he used to deeply hate, and recently began to enjoy once again.

-I love you too, Simon.

---

In the early afternoon, they went to get something to eat, knowing well-enough planned for later activities will drain all their energy. There was this small Croatian restaurant in a narrow alley the two of them discovered a few months back while on a walk, and wanted to give it a try since then, but never got about actually doing it. Until now.

Wasn't a disappointment, no fireworks either. Simply delicious food in a great company. Which was completely enough. On a daily basis their lives were filled with constant danger and unhealthy excitement, therefore they immensely enjoyed those slow, peaceful moments when it was only the two of them and no war.

Despite having plans, there was no rush to return home, so they took a longer route, basked in the sun while holding hands. And perhaps some people kept looking at them funny, however neither cared. Today was all about love, and if someone dared to ruin that, they would surely end up dead.

-Where should we celebrate next year? -König asked out of nowhere, fairly surprising his partner with that question.

Next year?

Next year, they will be together for three years.

He didn’t expect them to go past three months.

-Wherever you want, sweetheart. -Ghost answered eventually, not having anywhere concrete in mind. Constant work-related travelling was enough, there was no desire in him to do it casually in his scarce free time.

-Hmm…Finland maybe? -the Austrian suggested after taking a moment to think it through.

-Finland? -Simon frowned, unsure where that idea came from. His boyfriend always run a little cold, thus usually preferred hanging around warm places.

-What?! -the younger man chuckled, seeing the lieutenant's confused expression. -We're always getting shipped to those hot climate countries, a change of scenery would be nice!

The Brit smiled, playfully ruffled those soft, messy hair. 

-As I said, wherever you want. I’ll follow.

---

Once back home, they shortly found themselves in the bedroom, both starting to feel that anxious tingle of excitement from knowing what’s about to happen. The unique gift exchange.

-That’s your outfit for today. -König informed, handing his boyfriend a large, heavy cardboard box he had stored under the bed. -Can't wait to see you in it. -winked before recovering another package, presumably containing his costume.

Ghost quickly removed the loose lid and couldn’t believe this was the mysterious fantasy his partner didn't want to reveal. Inside, there was a brown hat, a pair of light blue jeans, real life fucking cowboy shoes, a thick belt with a big buckle and some black leather straps serving an unknown purpose.

But clearly, some kinky shit.

-Just to clarify…you want me to wear…this? -he asked, pulling out this strange, complicated looking accessory. -What the fuck is even that thing?

-It’s a harness, and yes, I want you to wear that thing. -the Austrian sighed once he got up from the floor. His partner had a rather unhealthy tendency to have a negative attitude towards trying new things. He was surely working on it, however still struggled to show enthusiasm at times.

-How am I supposed to put it on? -Simon frowned, closely examining the confusing object. 

-You’ll figure it out babe. It’s actually pretty straightforward. -the younger soldier smiled, reassuringly patting the lieutenant’s shoulder as he passed by towards the exit, heading to the bathroom to change. 

-I doubt. -the Brit muttered under his breath.

-Just give it a try. -König rolled those pretty, slightly annoyed eyes, and promptly left the room, leaving Ghost alone with this strange contraption.

Somehow he managed to put it on, mostly because it was “actually pretty straightforward”. He felt a little stupid wearing such a ridiculous costume, although damn, it truly looked good on him. Every single piece fit his muscular body perfectly, creating a really fucking weird image of a BDSM loving queer cowboy. But yeah, hats off to that sneaky Austrian for secretly getting correct measurements.

As instructed, once ready, Simon sat down on the bed, awaiting his boyfriend’s arrival. The excitement was prominent at this point, flowing through his veins and making that fat dick of his slowly harden. With every passing minute he grew more and more impatient to see what the other man chose for himself.

And oh, when those doors finally opened, his jaw dropped all the way to the ground, overstimulated brain immediately crashed.

Fuck.

Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck.

Fuck.

There was a skirt. A very fucking short skirt. Black skirt, white shirt. Tight shirt, shiny logo, babygirl. Stockings, see-through, high leather platforms. Very high. So tall. Skirt so short.

Leather collar.

-Speechless much? -König grinned, more than proud of himself for breaking his lover’s mind, and fucking delighted Simon obediently put on this ravishing outfit that made his own penis twitch.

-Babygirl… -Ghost swallowed heavily, his throat suddenly dry, brain barely operating, cock wildly hard. -How…how did I deserve this… -he blurted, struggling to comprehend the unbelievable sight. This was beyond sexy. All his instincts screamed to get up right fucking now, press that indecent man to the nearby wall, pull his slutty skirt up and fuck deep into that juicy ass.

-You’ve been treating me very well lately, daddy. -the Austrian fucking purred, slowly approaching the other soldier, short skirt shamelessly swinging in tandem with those narrow hips. -Is it okay if I repay your kindness? -asked as he heavily dropped to his knees, right in between the lieutenant’s spread legs, greedy hands already sliding through the thick thighs towards this visibly strained zipper.

-Please do. -the Brit whispered, further shocked by a sparkly headband entangled in the younger man’s strands, surely preventing them from soon falling into his eyes when he finally leans down to suck that needy dick he’s been trying to free for a painfully long time. Clearly on purpose. -You’re pushing your luck, princess. -Ghost growled as he firmly grabbed his partner's chin and pulled his confused face up. -You're so fucking pretty sweetheart, but for fucks sake, suck my dick already. -he ordered. The response was immediate, König released the prominent erection from its confinement, squeezed the wide base between his fingers and teasingly licked a long stripe before swallowing the hard shaft. Fuck.

The sound that escaped Simon’s throat was way too loud, accurately described the utter pleasure resonating through his body. His head instantly flew back, one hand instinctively held the sliding hat while the other cupped the back of the younger soldier’s moving neck.

-Fuck, baby, you’re so fucking good at it. -he groaned, letting himself melt into the blissful act. That was his favourite part of sex, having that sleek tongue explore his length, silky throat contract on his swollen tip, hot breath dance on the sensitive flesh. Blowjobs were the best, and ones given by his partner?

Fucking divine.

Didn’t take long for him to feel the orgasm build. There was also no reason to hold back. After all, neither liked a long game, quick and dirty was their forte. That’s why not hesitating a bit, when he was at the edge, he pressed his lover’s head down and with a loud moan spilled inside, in a much more powerful manner than usual, causing the other soldier to start choking. Getting further aroused by the visibly struggling, squirming man, he didn’t let go until his leg got patted three times, a sign whatever is happening needs to stop immediately.

-Daddy! -the Austrian whined after coughing his lungs out and finally catching breath, his eyes beautifully watery, palm slowly travelling to his pulsating manhood, giving it a suggestive squeeze. -Help me.

And just like that, Ghost’s sanity nearly offed itself, held together solely by desperate need to violate this disgustingly erotic individual driving him mad.

-Get up sweetheart. -he instructed, and König obediently rose to tower over the older man. He was already really fucking tall, but damn, in those platform shoes his painfully erect penis was in the straight line of sight. -Good girl. -Simon praised his boyfriend as his finger slid through the sleek stocking and curiously pulled up the short skirt, revealing a sizable bulge tightly hugged by a black leather thong. With satisfaction he licked his lips before, without a warning, sucking onto that covered flesh, nearly making his lover drop back on the floor when his knees gave up momentarily.

He could feel those large hands desperately grab his hair and clench them tightly, a subconscious reaction to being overwhelmed with pleasure. The quiet, frequent noises the soldier started producing were going straight to Ghost’s dick, causing him to want more. So he reached towards the back, between the muscular cheeks, and nearly fucking lost it.

There was something there. 

A plug.

-Enough. -Ghost barked as he abruptly pulled away, fully ready to go again. -I’m gonna lose my shit if I don’t fuck you right fucking now. -informed while swiftly getting up and joining their lips in a heated kiss. His arms wrapped around the waist, sneaked under the cropped shirt, thigh forced itself between those long legs. Their clashed hips quickly began to rub each-other, greedily chasing that insanely pleasurable friction. -You may wanna remind yourself that safeword of yours, babygirl. -the lieutenant whispered into his partner’s steamy mouth when he broke the kiss as his fingers returned to that interesting toy, started to slowly take it out. The Austrian whined so prettily in response, Simon couldn’t stand not being in him anymore. He removed the obstructing plug in one smooth move, roughly turned König around and violently pushed him towards the wall. -And if you can’t talk, you clearly know what to do. -he grinned once close enough to speak into the younger man’s ear. And then, without further ado, lined himself up and buried deep inside his shocked boyfriend's ass.

Who surely had an idea of how lucky he was that his hole was somewhat pre-lubed, otherwise the Brit would be mercilessly pounding him raw.

-Daddy, please, it hurts! -he cried out, his legs shaking so bad, the lieutenant struggled to hold him up as his fat cock penetrated the tight hole. Ghost didn’t say anything, only slid his hand from the waist to that rock hard bulge, began to squeeze it through the leather, providing his lover both pain and pleasure. An intense mixture that clouded his barely coherent mind, overpowered all his overstimulated senses and eventually, made him come into his underwear.

The power of König’s orgasm nearly forced Simon’s when the contracting insides crushed his penis, but knowing it would take long to recover after two closely spaced releases, he managed to withstand the ecstatic wave without finishing. And it wasn’t easy with those euphoric whines echoing in his spinning head.

-Babygirl. -the older man hummed softly, seeing tears roll down his boyfriend's flushed cheek. -You okay sweetheart? -asked while gently pulling out of the crying soldier. The quiet "yes" assured this is simply a reaction to being emotionally overwhelmed, and he, in fact, did not seriously hurt the person he loved. So they could happily continue, which was great, because he had a fun idea. He took off his stupid hat and put it on the surprised Austrian's head.

-You’re the cowboy now, princess. -the lieutenant informed as he walked back to the bed he lied himself on, his half-erect cock on full display, one hand slowly masturbating it while the other grabbed a bottle of lube and threw it onto the mattress. -Ride me.

König's glossy eyes instantly went wide open. He quickly removed the dripping with cum thong and eagerly climbed over his groaning partner.

-Stop touching yourself, I want to. -pouted, making Ghost laugh at that comically offended expression.

-All yours, baby. -he winked, letting go of the hardened shaft, his fingers promptly replaced with heavily lubricated ones. The cold liquid spreading through the sensitive flesh felt heavenly, caused him to forget shame, and neighbours, exist. Moans filled the room, soon joined by the Austrian's whimpers as he impaled his wet hole onto that fat penis. Looking at his tall, muscular man's back arch in pleasure while he fucked himself on his dick, Ghost once again approached the edge, began to lose his balance. And when that slutty skirt started to rise, pulled up by the rapidly growing erection, he had to fight very, very hard to last a little longer.

-Daddy, touch me! -König whimpered, his movements so erratic, he had to be close too. Not wasting any time, Simon reached under the skirt, closed his palm around the sticky shaft and began to jerk it violently, hoping for them to finish together.

Soon, his wish got granted. The Austrian bottomed down, overstimulating the Brit's cock, making his hand clench on the penis it held. The two soldiers came nearly simultaneously, their bodies trembled at the euphoric sensation, lips blindly joined in a desperate, messy kiss while they spilled inside and out.

Once this blissful feeling of release passed, the energy seemed to have left alongside. König barely managed to lift himself up before dropping onto the pleasantly cold pillow.

-My ass hurts. -he complained, trying to send Simon a nasty look, but was too content to be mad. The sex was rough and painful however he hated it any other way. Consequences sucked though.

-I’m not sorry. -Ghost snorted, taking the hat off his partner’s sweaty head. -Why do I feel like you put me in this idiotic costume just to have a laugh? -he then asked, examining the accessory closer. Surprisingly, it wasn’t a cheap toy, the quality was excellent.

-Because I absolutely did! -the Austrian grinned, so very proud of himself for successfully pulling that out. -I wanted to see you as a cowboy, and I knew you wouldn't say no for our anniversary. You did look hot tho!

-You cheeky bastard! -the older soldier laughed as he pressed that hat back onto his laughing boyfriend's head. -Actually, speaking of the anniversary, I have an additional gift for you. -he informed, reaching for something he hid earlier in the night stand drawer and placing it in his partner’s hand. -There you go.

-...what…Simon? -König gasped, in shock gazing at a small, elegant black box he slowly opened. Inside, there was a silver ring composed of several connected skulls, which looked oddly familiar. Upon closer observation, he quickly recognized these as exact replicas of Ghost’s mask. It was so fucking adorable, his poor heart nearly exploded.

-Don’t get any stupid ideas. -the lieutenant huffed, suddenly realising this looks a lot like a proposal. -It’s just so you don’t feel insecure about our relationship every time we’re apart. -he clarified, feeling himself blush involuntarily regardless. They never spoke about ever getting married, although considering how strong their connection was, maybe it wouldn’t be the worst idea to open the subject sometime soon.

-I…thank you. -the younger man smiled softly, unable to stop staring at this amazing gift he truly didn’t expect. -That’s so thoughtful. -whispered, barely holding back happy tears. He couldn’t believe his terrifying, merciless, emotionally distant lover cared for him this much. Didn’t feel real. -C-can you put it on for me?

-Of course. -Ghost agreed, gently grabbing the Austrian’s left palm to put the ring there. -We’re solid now, yeah? -he confirmed once done, with satisfaction looking at the perfectly fitting, clearly visible sign of belonging decorating his boyfriend’s finger. König was full-on sobbing at that point, overwhelmed by pure joy to the point he barely managed to respond:

-Yes. Yes we are.

[dragongutsixofficial]

You mentioned that you tend to work through a Nobody Dies lens. Does that apply to Dimitri, and what is his relationship with the Hresvelg siblings?

Thanks for the ask !! ^^ It took quite some time for me to make up my mind about this specific thing and yes, that lens does apply to Dimitri. There's a few reasons to this decision, which I need to recontextualize a bit in regards to the Hresvelg siblings:

I'll start by this: Aline and Adel do not consider Dimitri as their sibling at all. This isn't due to the fact that they are not related by blood (they both have different mothers than Patricia), but rather because they have basically never met before the Academy nor developed a meaningful relationship during their time there. Both of them always had in mind that they would end up betraying and declaring war on everyone in Garreg Mach, and that Dimitri would end up being one of their fiercest enemies as King. Moreover, Adel has never liked him because they are both faced with very similar mental health issues and he has some internalized trauma that he doesn't like to see reflected in someone else. As such, if it had only been for the two of them and Edelgard, Dimitri's death, although incredibly sad and unfortunate, could have been a logical conclusion to his arc in Crimson Flower.

The real issue here is Loki. For some context (although I just linked his character sheet), he is Patricia and Lambert's kid and since their couple was already Going To Shit™ by the time he was a toddler, he mostly stuck to his older brother's side. However, during the events of the tragedy of Duscur, during which he travelled with his mother, TWSTID decided to abduct him rather than kill him, and raise him to be a puppet with a legitimate claim to rule Fodlan in case Edelgard ever decided to rebel against them. And although he got brainwashed by his uncle Thales/Arundel, he never forgot about Dimitri and deeply wished to reunite with him; this also means that when he first got to meet with and learn about the existence of the rest of the Hresvelg siblings thanks to Kronya (I'll go over this in a later post) as a young teenager, his whole world was completely shattered. Long story short, that led him to join the Hresvelg siblings and get to be part of a family again. However, Loki never once forgets about Dimitri, on the contrary: realizing that Edelgard and him are on their merry way to fight each other to the death only amplifies his wish to see him again after all those years and convince him to make peace with her, because he just wants to have his whole family back and alive. As such, seeing any of his siblings die would absolutely destroy him.

That means that Dimitri could survive in Crimson Flower. and if he doesn't Loki might never recover. But then, how so ?

Sadly, it is in my own opinion unlikely that Edelgard and Dimitri could ever see eye-to-eye and become allies, even with Loki as a middle ground. Especially since Loki doesn't care for the Kingdom per see and feels a lot closer to his Agarthan culture of adoption and his focus is on bringing TWSTID down. Any attempt at discussion would just end up being a repeat of their Azure Moon talk at best, because their world visions are just too different.

This entails that any of Loki's attempts at convincing Dimitri to make peace with his sister would be unfruitful. First, because Dimitri would've thought Loki had died a long time ago, and finding out his little brother is alive would be a pretty big blow: but you know what would be an even bigger blow ? Finding out that he was raised by and thus, helped TWSTID, the same people who are responsible for the genocide of Duscur and their parents' death. And that he is still technically helping them by standing at Edelgard's side, the very person who betrayed all of them. The only way they could rebuild a stronger relationship would be if Loki decided to join his side, something that he is unwilling to do since A) he has three siblings on the imperial side and B) all four of them are planning to take down TWSTID. Unfortunately, this means that all of Loki and Dimitri's interactions post-timeskip end up in disaster- although none of them ever physically hurts the other in battle. This depresses Loki quite a bit, and enrages Adel, but he eventually accepts that he cannot take responsibility for his older siblings' actions and settles on one goal: keeping them from beating each other to death.

However, Loki brings something new to the table regarding Edelgard and Dimitri's relationships: memories. At his contact, El makes the connection and remembers the time she spent in Faerghus with the prince, which does make her take a step back. Although that is definitely not enough to make her negociate, it is to make her consider sparing him in battle- a bit like how in-game, Claude can be spared. Her unwillingness to back down from her ideals, though, makes it absolutely necessary that Dimitri is removed from any position of authority, else he could always rally support against the Empire. The Kingdom of Faerghus as a geopolitical entity may survive, but the Blaiddyd monarchy needs to go.

So... Where does that lead us ? To a rather bleak solution which is far from perfect, but has to make-do in their complicated circumstances where both sides can't meet in the middle. Edelgard agrees to spare Dimitri in the battle of Tailtean, and lets him go- letting Loki take the lead on this one. This means that Loki has to accept that he might never see him again, and that he might never forgive him. This can turn one of two ways:

I do believe that if Dedue survives and hasn't turned into a demonic beast yet, he can convince Dimitri to go without pulling a stunt similar to the one Edelgard pulls with the dagger in Azure Moon in a last desperate attempt to kill the Empress, because he still has him to cling to.

Otherwise, Dimitri truly loses everything and everyone: in which case convincing him to seize the opportunity to stay alive would be pointless. In that eventuality, Loki forces his hand and just teleports him out- making it impossible for him to make it back to the battlefield before all is lost. Which... is an even bleaker alternative.

In any case, that means that the Hresvelg siblings and Dimitri have to cut contact, at least for a good number of years. Maybe someday, when Fodlan (and especially Faerghus) is rebuilt, they might get in contact again- once both Loki and him can have some time to heal. Maybe slowly rebuild a semblance of a relationship, who knows ?

... Well damn. That was a BUMMER and incredibly angsty. Sadly, not all things can have the best ending for everyone involved. =(

=D Thankfully, Claude and Edelgard's relationship would be a lot better- no fucking thanks to Aline !

[hoperays-song]

If Johnny and Ryan had met when they were kids - maybe Ryan's family living in/close to the town Johny lives in, before moving to the big city - Or an AU where Ryan is a part of Sing 1, how would you imagine that playing out? Any headcanons?

Oooooo, great question! I'm gonna split these two up between your two asks since they're about the same two topics, so that I can go more in depth on each one. This is going into if they met when they were kids, I hope you enjoy!

---------------------------------------

In this au, Ryan and his family would have moved to Calatonia right after his youngest sister was born since she was sick to be near a better hospital. Ryan was 14 and while he was offered to stay in Klaus’s troupe and live at the dorms, he ultimately decided that his moms and sisters needed him there.

Since they probably moved in the middle of the year as well as Ryan spending his free time helping his moms with Amy so they could be at the hospital, Ryan was a bit of a social outcast. 

Which only really helped him meet Johnny faster, as they were paired together for class projects since well, no one else would pair with them. Because of that, the two started hanging out and actually becoming friends, eventually even spending time together outside school.

Ryan definitely caught on to the gang pretty fast (literally one trip to the Taylor’s apartment and he knew) and confronted Johnny about it, sparking their first fight. But once he realized why they were stealing and that Johnny didn’t actually want to be involved, they patched things up decently quickly.

After that, they were pretty much inseparable, even as Ryan got more popular in school over the next few years. Ryan was the only one Johnny told about his love of singing and Johnny was the only one Ryan felt confident in telling about his regrets of leaving dance, even if it was what was good for his family at the time.

They continue to be each other’s entire support system up until Sing 1, with their only really arguments about Johnny’s increasing involvement in the gang. Ryan calls Johnny the moment he hears about the singing competition to encourage him to try out and even goes with him to the auditions. When the gang gets arrested, Ryan shows up at the garage with scallion pancakes and custard bao buns, for once doesn’t argue with him about the gang, and just helps him pack a bag so he can come stay with his family.

Ryan also would tag along to the theatre last minute remodel and help, along with bringing food for the performers (his mom’s idea). He also helped Eddie work backstage during the show and comforted Johnny when he was clearly upset (we could also have a shielding scene from Ash’s spikes here). Ryan’s visibly happy when he notices Johnny reuniting with his dad and he’s also in the ending photo at the new theatre.

I think that sometime within the year in between the two movies, Ryan would have gone back to Redshore on his own and eventually gotten his role back in Klaus’s troupe in time for Sing 2. He does keep his troupe’s involvement with the show a secret until Johnny shows up to class however, surprising him with an excited hug.

During the course of Sing 2, we would actually see Ryan fighting Klaus’s treatment of Johnny on screen (not that he didn’t out of this au, we just didn’t see it). This would lead to a series of escalating arguments between the two during classes and when Johnny had his panic attack, Ryan actually quit and went to comfort him instead of doing what Klaus wanted him to. They work with Nooshy together and also do the final performance together as both of them against Klaus this time. We also see Marcus greeting him with a clap on the shoulder and him being treated as a member of the family as well.

I wouldn’t really do anything except hinting at a Rynny plot line til the second movie mainly so we could see character growth and relationships a bit easier in Sing 1. However, in Sing 2 we can easily add in the two spending time together along with more flirty interactions. During the rest of the performances, Ryan and Johnny can be seen holding hands off stage, and seem flustered when Nooshy apparently points it out but don’t stop. Ryan is also asleep with his head on Johnny’s shoulder on the bus back to Calatonia, and we see Johnny smiling at him softly.

---------------------------------------

TL,DR: Ryan and Johnny were each other’s support systems and Ryan essentially served as Johnny’s version of Eddie in Sing 1. In Sing 2, we get to see a lot more development in their relationship and a potential ending alluding to them being a couple.

I’m sorry if this got off track or is hard to follow, I’ll write it out more soon. I hope you enjoyed! Thank you for the ask! - <3 Gooseless

[joyglass]

morgann how are you enjoying hoo? any miscellaneous thoughts? that percabeth snippet you shared sent me right back into middle school 😭 i remember actually not minding rick’s third person writing, and enjoying it when it seem to be a problem for other people. honestly my qualms with the series was the plot but it did give me son of neptune so!!!

very big agree. i actually prefer third person!!! also im on the TOA 😭😭😭 i finished the original pjo and HOO in like a week LMAO i kinda wish RR had kept it 3rd person for TOA. anyway so im just going to use this ask to word vomit everything that struck out to me rereading the HOO series

nico has skyrocketed to my top 3 favorite characters in this reread. i sympathized with him feeling like an outcast who doesn't belong to camp jupiter or camp halfblood. he's even stranded from the time period he was born in. i just think he deserves the world and happiness!!!! especially since he got so much flack from other people. like don't get me wrong i do think part of it was nico's own attitude of assuming the worst that got in the way of making friends but also. he's the youngest of all of them. and he's suffered unimaginable horrors. at least percabeth had each other when they were stuck in tartarus 😭 he is the saddest character to me. mom dead. lives out 70 years of his life in a magic casino. sister dies. tries to talk to mom and/or sister. neither or them answer him. makes one betrayal that he later regrets. except percy doesn't really forgive him even though he's plays a huge role in winning the titan war. figures out he's gay which is just another reason he'll be ostracized. goes to tartarus. gets put in a jar and almost dies. the seven have to debate on whether or not it's worth it to save him :/ gets outed by cupid. and that's literally not even half of it. i love him SO much. he can do no bad in my eyes. that's my son.

speaking of nico. his relationship progression with hades >>>> i do think RR somewhat changed some of it to make hades into a better dad. but i actually think hades has a better relationship with nico than poseidon does with percy. like i think ppl forget that nico actually goes to the underworld on a regular basis and eats dinner with his dad and extended family lmfao. hades also gave nico a zombie chauffeur AND told him that he'd prepare a room in his palace in case nico dies 😭 hades is just that Parent i guess

THERE'S NO ANNABETH ATHENA CONFLICT RESOLUTION AT ALL which i personally find annoying. i wish we had like one scene of annabeth with athena at the end of HOO. athena tells annabeth she's a failure of a daughter and basically curses her into retrieving the athena parthenos. she SUCCEEDS but falls into tartarus. they fight together but i need an APOLOGY from athena.

SON percabeth reuniting kiss scene is the scene of all time to me. nothing will come close to annabeth and percy making out and then annabeth judo flipping percy onto the ground. your favs could never.

jason jason jason jason jason....jason is MY greek tragedy. there's a reason why i think nico and jason work really well together and it's because they both know what it feels like to be untethered. nico is an outsider. jason has to choose between camp halfblood and camp jupiter. that scene where the skeleton's don't listen to him because they don't acknowledge him as praetor is such a full circle scene i loved it

also jason is the second most tragic character to me. he grew up without really knowing he was. his life belonged to hera before he could even live it. then she goes further by manipulating his memories so he can be a pawn in the war. i just think there's an inherent goodness to jason like there is to percy. he deserved a long fulfilling life :/

also. nico not being able to find jason's soul in the underworld. ouch.

i like leo despite ppl's opinions on him being annoying. i think leo's life is super sad and ppl forget that. every time there's a one liner from him about how he used to be homeless and sleep in the streets i feel so bad for him 😭😭😭

i hate leo and calypso im sorry. i dislike calypso but i would dislike her less had RR not paired them up together. love her attitude! do not love her relationship with a 16 year old. besides i don't even think they like each other 😭 (side note i feel soooo bad for leo in TOA when he talks about how his relationship with calypso and how he basically puts the onus of their relationship on himself :( he really deserves more than calypso nagging at him for being the person she supposedly fell for HE WENT BACK FOR HER!)

percabeth....there are no words to explain how much i love percabeth. they have cemented themselves as That couple. the IT couple. i do wish RR wasn't so obsessed with pairing ppl off in romantic relationships. but percabeth is perfect to me. percy literally worships the ground she walks on. and annabeth needs the levity that is percy. like im sorry they just complete each other. percy literally goes to HELL because he won't let her go alone. im sorry ur favs could quite literally NEVER.

nico and hazel's relationship is something very special to me.

so is nico and reyna's relationship.

so is nico and jason's

anyway you get it.

i rlly like how everyone just straight up acknowledges percabeth is the superior couple.

really wish we got a couple of scenes about the aftermath of HOO especially the relationships between the gods and their kids....i think it ended a little too abruptly!!!!

[violetandstarlightgirl]

My Favorite Songs I Discovered in 2023

New year, new list! 🎆🎇

Same disclaimer as every previous list; this is not limited to any songs made this year (though the majority of the songs on this year's list were brand new!) and nothing is listed in any particular order.

Also as an additional disclaimer for any Chainsaw Man fans out there, the first entry on this list is from the anime's soundtrack and mentions spoilers from the last episode of season one.

Previous Lists: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022

the end of childhood- Kensuke Ushio (Chainsaw Man Original Soundtrack EP Vol 3, 2022)

At the start of this year, my husband and I watched the first season of Chainsaw Man together. We both absolutely loved it! We laughed, we cried, and we're excited for the continuation of the misadventures of Denji and company.

It was a tie between this song and Sweet Dreams for this year's list, but something about this song resonated a bit more with me. The melancholic tone combined with the scene in which we hear the track; an overview of the conclusion of a day's work with Denji and Aki taking their anger out on Katana Man, with the song fading as Aki asks Himeno if she can hear the requiem for her.

It's like the feeling of knowing you have a lot more to do, but you accomplished what you've set out to do so far. My Monster of the Week group even approved of this song being the "theme" for the conclusion of a particularly tense session, where we reunited a character with their father who needed medical attention.

One Foot In Front Of The Other- Emilie Autumn (Fight Like a Girl, 2012)

I haven't heard very much of Emile Autumn or heard about a lot of her work before this year, but I'm glad I've found her work and I enjoy a lot of the themes of feminine rage (especially in I Want My Innocence Back). She has a lovely voice, too!

I picked this song in particular because of the message perseverance against overwhelming odds. The voice of the song has experienced a lot of tragedy and continues to struggle (with, to me, implications of human trafficking), but they continue to fight day by day, and will not let their voice be silenced. I feel it's a message we should hold on to, especially with many of the problems that have unfolded within the last year.

Everlong/What You Won't Do For Love- Elise Trouw (2018)

An artist my dad introduced me to this year. She's made many of her own original pieces, but there is something very magical about her live loop cover videos. I picked this one since it was the one my dad showed me.

I like that it's a combination of the instrumentals from Foo Fighter's Evelong (even with the first verse eventually quietly featured) and the lyrics of Bobby Caldwell's What You Won't Do For Love. Elise's voice and choice of instruments make it a lovely combination, too. It's a perfect song to chill out to while you're doing some work.

Denial of Endings- Hammock (Love in the Void, 2023)

I loved all of the songs from Hammock's newest album this year, but there is something almost nostalgic with this particular song, and it might have to do with the strongest memory I have associated with it.

I went to a wedding in February and listened to this album on the way to and from the venue. It was a lovely event and I'm glad I got to be there and spend time with friends and celebrate the union of two wonderful people. Listening to this particular song and thinking about the wedding made me realize this was something I was going to remember for a long time.

Die For A Night- ARIZONA (ARIZONA, 2023)

I've been a big fan of Arizona since they released their first singles. It's been really cool to watch them gain popularity, especially since I've seen one of the band members (Nathan) in YouTube comedy skits when I was in middle school.

This song feels like the perfect dance floor song. It's got a great beat to dance to, and the theme of the lyrics is fun too. "I think your kiss might be the death of me, well maybe that'll be alright, I always wanted to die for a night" Like you're risking it for a moment you won't regret doing, even if it's a daunting thing.

Rymden3000- Carbon Based Lifeforms, Not Lars, Ester Nannmark (Seeker, 2023)

I was very excited that CBL released a new album this year, with this particular song being the first I heard thanks to it being released as a single shortly before the release of the entire album.

I love the overall theme and feel of space exploration in this album, which I feel this song captures beautifully, especially with Ester Nannmark's ethereal vocals. It encapsulates the idea of there being so much to explore and the grand mystery of what's left to be found beyond what we currently understand.

Ivory Tower- Scattle (Access Denial, 2023)

This is the first time I've heard Scattle's work, and it was recommended to me this year with the newest album that came out in the summer. I enjoy the entire album but I especially love the vibe from this song.

Each of the songs in the album has a strong darkwave feel, but I feel it's most prevalent in Ivory Tower. It's like you're exploring the titular tower as the song plays, discovering what curios and dangers lurk within and keeping a cautious wonder with you along the way.

Souvenir- Bump of Chicken (Souvenir, 2022)

This was the year that I was able to finally convince my husband to watch SpyXFamily with me! We still need to finish the first season, but we have both been enjoying it since he is a big fan of the spy and espionage elements and I just love the shenanigans the Forger family gets into.

This is the song from season one's second OP, and it's my favorite! I even use it as one of my wake up alarm sounds. I really like the feel-good vibe from the music and the lyrics; the whole thing feels nostalgic especially in combination with the visuals from the opening credits where we see the Forger family enjoying time together.

[she-toadmask]

Fuck it OC posting time

Minecraft:

Aya, Dust, and Aspen: an Ender/Brine/Wither trio. Aya is based on my RP character from middle school, Dust is based on my RP partner's RP character(s), and Aspen is based on a self-insert I daydreamed about in high school

Aya is Ender Dragon hybrid (I don't have a better word for having wings, claws, etc yet and hybrid is what was used back in the day so it will have to stay that way until I can be more concise). She/her, was a princess when young and friends with Dust but a conquering king took over the kingdom she lived in and escaped to the streets. Joined an underground/black market group (I'm leaning assassin but she probably did other stuff before that). Ender dragon shit appeared some years after becoming proficient (I think at some point I was thinking it was while escaping the conquering king's guards after killing him and she takes flight to escape) and I don't remember how she goes from there to reuniting with Dust. She has claws she can lengthen at will, short horns, wings that are good for agility and speed, and a tail. Also high resistance to potions and magic.

Dust is Brinekin (also need a name for that). He/she, parents are/were merchants and they escaped the kingdom before it fell. He wanted to wait for Aya to sneak her out but his family had to leave before they were going to meet. She believed Aya had died and mourned her. His parents passed peacefully after she was capable of taking over the business. Something something power presents and panik. I don't remember if I was giving him white eyes or a color. She can summon raw materials, craft and uncraft items, summon lightning (inspired by this one type of Minecraft video where Herobrine did lightning and I'm pretty sure the backend was binding a summon lightning command to a stick), and fly. He can't craft potions without a brewing stand.

I also have a no-power concept in my head for these two where Dust witnesses Aya assassinate someone (she doesn't know it's Aya but Aya recognizes him) and there is the fear from Dust of Aya tracking him down so there are no witnesses and Aya has so many mixed emotions about seeing her again.

Aspen is Wither-cursed (better but I swear I had something else in mind once). She/her, her childhood is significantly less relevant but before becoming Wither she has an extremely close friend she travels with. Said friend does not have a name yet. They're adventurers pretty much. Aya and Dust both present completely at once, Aspen does not. One morning she has a nightmare and wakes up to graying skin somewhere on her body (probably arm). She tries to hide it but eventually her friend finds out and they decide to try to find research to fix this. Her friend also forges some new armor to give full cover once the fabric in contact with the graying skin starts to fall apart. They aren't able to find a solution and it keeps getting worse. They go into a kingdom to try and go in the library and something goes wrong and some armor comes off and panic ensues. The guards chase them and Aspen panics and summons a skull that explodes. The guards capture Aspen and Aspen's friend dies in the fight and Aspen blames herself. Aya and Dust break her out eventually once they learn of her existence. Aspen causes Wither effect on touch unless concentrating very hard and can summon both types of skulls (iirc one is big explosion and no Wither effect and one is small explosion and yes Wither effect). She would be able to fly in theory but she feels uncomfortable if out and about without full armor so she can't do more than hover.

There is also an unnamed trio of the same type that is mostly to replace the three evil TC characters that were A Thing on Wattpad so I can keep the daydream animatics without the bad people (Aya, Dust, and Aspen have a more defined story my heart would love to tell with them the unnamed trio is blank slate). They do have pronouns and powersets (Brine is she/they, can summon and dispel weaponry, channel fire, and fly faster than Dust; Ender is she/her, has dragon breath, and has more durable wings suited for long distances; Wither is she/her and is less potent than Aspen but that means she isn't weighed down by armor when trying to not cause mass damages and can move a lot faster) but their personalities are vague at best.

D&D:

Zephyr is a Wood Elf rogue who grew up in a traveling circus of mostly Tieflings. They became an adventurer when the last generation of performers retired because they felt uncomfortable with the idea of settling down. They have a nasty scar on their right forearm that they refuse to talk about. (They were trying to imitate one of their relatives who could juggle knives. It Went Poorly.)

I still haven't settled on a name for her but she's a half-elf Life Cleric who grew up as an arena fighter. Her parents were in debt and she was old enough to fight properly by the time they died so she had to fight to keep paying it off. By the time the debt was paid off she didn't know what else to do so she kept fighting. (The exact details here are fuzzy because it was tied into a campaign that never happened so the inciting incident of this part will change once she actually gets to play.) Some of her death-match opponents started to seem off. Aggressive in an unnatural way, or bestial when they had no history of fighting that way. She knew a local temple came to heal combatants sometimes and the next time she was near one she asked for help leaving and they accepted her. She eventually started traveling with adventurers because as much as it sucked, battle was in her blood after the years in the arena. She has many scars and is largely willing to talk about them (except I would have to figure them out). She largely refuses to use damaging spells, the magic is limited and if she can heal with them she feels like she must. (I am trying to figure out a phrasing that lets me use Sacred Flame the dex save is rough but I love Sacred Flame)

Pokemon:

When SwSh was on the horizon I kept trying to write an isekai-ish fic for it and I never got anywhere but I'm still kind of attached to the characters I wrote for it even if I don't remember their names

Young: written to channel an idealized version of young me. Very excited about being in the world of Pokemon, lots of energy for battling and exploring with her Pokemon. Chooses Grookey. Potentially becomes champion. Does not pursue a return route.

Oldest: never really got a handle on her character but is the most calculating of the three. Stays with the others to be a reasonable figure, battles to stay competent. Chooses Sobble. Does not become champion. Pursues a return route.

Middle: has depression and probably anxiety. Doesn't know what else to do and follows young to not be left behind. Is not present for starter selection and starts with Blipbug and Rookidee. (Actually the only one with any team comp: also has female Kirlia who never evolves and Mimikyu, I know for a fact there was something else but i can't remember what. I have notes somewhere.) Potentially becomes champion. Does not actively pursue return route, remains with Young. (Also chases down Hop after Bede is an asshole and attempts to be comforting/supportive.) (Middle also does not Dynamax until battling Rose while Young, Oldest, and Hop try to stop Eternatus. Is injured during the battle.)

TES honorable mention:

So there's this fic idea I never got around to actually writing and maybe I'll post more details later but the parts relevant to this post are that the Hero of Kvatch (Oblivion protagonist, HoK) and Last Dragonborn (Skyrim protagonist, LDB) meet due to LDB doing time travel.

HoK is a Redguard and uses heavy armor with sword and shield. High up in the Fighters' Guild and has many regrets over Martin's death.

LDB is a Breton mage with an interest in Oblivion Gates.

I might make a separate post transferring my notes about this fic and maybe someone can bully me into trying to fully write it.

[yaraaltrospace]

Anime Ideas I had during quarantine...

Servant of Oizys

After watching Magical Girl Site, I was seeing the reviews and critiques on its content, and some deeming it as edgier than Madoka. I am on the fence about it, but it did gave me an idea.

* Oizys, goddess of grief and misery, twin of Momus and daugher of Nyx, watches over the world of humans, where the balance of harmony and chaos is constantly unstable. Being a lower deity, she can do very little to intervene directly, until her twin challenge her: her “servants“ shall battle his “followers“ and the winner will receive the power to take matters over the world of men’s disharmony.

* Oruha Hano is a high school student, a prodigal musician and lives with her older brother Enkou, their father kicking them out after her “revelation”. Always by her side is her cheerful, sweet friend Eori Date. Naru Chino, the most popular girl in the school often bullies Oruha, to which Enkou sadly makes excuses to defend her, him being hopelessly in love with her, even unable to say a word.

* One day, after a particular harsh day, Oruha finds a letter in her desk with a strange seal; after it is opened, only to reveal nothing, Oizys visits her in dreams and gives her the mission to help defeat Momos and promises her any wish in exchange as soon as they win the battle.

* When Oruha wakes up, she sees the seal’s symbol in her palm, which is invisible to everyone else… except for Naru, who reveals her symbol as a Follower of Momus. Things get wrong however while they battle, as Oruha transforms into a gigantic, furry monster and face off against Naru’s monster form. However, as Oruha saves a child and reunites him with his mother, she realizes the danger this battle can cause and that this power shouldn’t just be used to hurt, but to protect.

* Eori is also convinced to join Oizys’s side, fighting beside Oruha. As time pass, Oruha discovers, thanks to a veteran named Tenzen, that the monster form is only the first; as soon as they face their mistakes and reveal their true selves, or find their way to salvation and forgiveness by the gods, they can shed their monster skin and reveal their true magical girl or boy form.

Surviving Quarantine Boredom (存続検疫退屈 - Sonzoku ken'eki taikutsu)

Like everyone in the planet, Ten Hoga is stuck at home with its family… and is getting frustrated! What to do when someone’s routine becomes so dull it kills all excitement? Change of plans! Do anything! And take notes! After all, everyone needs something to do…

The Day A Parasite Warrior Fell in Love with Me (寄生虫の戦士が私に恋をした日 Kiseichū no senshi ga watashi ni koi o shita hi)

A race of invisible parasite warriors has lived on Earth alongside humans, taking over heavily injured bodies, healing and claiming them as their own for battles between themselves. There has never apparently been a host that survived the parasite takeover… until the present days. As if Yua Murano couldn’t hate more being alive in a world with seemingly no empathy, she gets accidentaly hit by her big brother Reo’s car. Luckily, her coma is short-lived as a parasite warrior, later named Yui, chooses her as host. And their bond changes both of their perspectives on living, also opening a space for a feeling both of them never had experience with: love.

The Drama Teacher is like a Hero! (ドラマの先生はヒーローみたい！ Dorama no sensei wa hīrō mitai!)

Sumire-nee is a great drama teacher in the eyes of her elementary and middle school students... but whenever she sees one of them has a bruise, hasn't shown up to class or is uneasy about something, her secret abilities kick in to solve the situation as fast as possible! Even if the staff finds her "too unconventional", she cannot and will not get in line...

[lassie719]

My Imperfect Remembrance of Star Wars Episode IV

The original trilogy opens with Luke at a store with his uncle Ben (not related to the rice company… I presume). They buy a servant bot named See Three Pee Oh, who is a to-scale man-shaped robot made out of some sort of cheap yellow metal. Accompanying this bot, whose name we’ll shorten to C3PO, is a less articulate, waist-high bot shaped like a park trash can. This bot, named Argh Too Dee II, is able to communicate with C3PO with a series of beeps and whistles, but he is incomprehensible to just about everyone else, except for a trademark wail of despair that speaks for itself.

After another dull evening at his uncle’s middle-of-nowhere desert home, Luke decides to take a screwdriver to the trash can robot, whom I’ll call R2D2 for short, and discovers a message hidden inside its memory banks. It’s a video message, sort of like a voicemail for Skype. The speaker is a hot lady, which is exciting to young, bored Luke, and she’s asking for help! Luke must intervene to save his princess.

He goes to his eccentric neighbor’s house to ask if he knows anything about the man mentioned in the voicemail: Obi Wan Kenobi. The neighbor’s name is Ben Kenobi, so Luke figures he must know something…. Wait, both the uncle and the neighbor are named Ben? Maybe the uncle isn't named Ben after all.

Anyway, Neighbor Ben reveals that he’s Obi Wan and Luke’s princess is a real princess named Leia. Or maybe he’s evasive at first and reveals this later. Who gives a shit, Luke’s house just burned down!

Now that Luke is homeless and orphaned, he joins eccentric neighbor Obi Wan Ben Kenobi on the adventure of a lifetime.

They travel through a desert where there are massive long-legged robots which are actually vehicles piloted by aggressive fascists (who maybe also burned down Luke’s house?) They pull the monsters down with rope around their knees.

Also, C3PO and R2D2 are lost in the desert and wander into a village of little hooded bears who live in caves carved into the sides of the canyon. The two bots are in some sort of fight, but the fact that the little gremlins are aggressive reunites them since C3PO has to rescue trash bot.

Luke, Obi, and the bots end up at a giant space ship which is also a planet called The Death Star (so it’s a ship, planet, weapon, and a star, be sure to keep up). They try to infiltrate the ship in order to rescue Leia, but end up in a trash compactor! And they’re the trash!

Meanwhile, Leia is a prisoner on the Death Star, and Darth Vader, the leader of the fascist government, shows her that his ship is capable of destroying an entire planet in seconds. He decides to demonstrate this by using her home planet, because he’s just kinda a dick like that. She is understandably upset and feels hopeless and alone. Darth Vader is pleased.

Oh, earlier they joined up with a guy named Han Solo. He’s also in the trash.

They get out of the trash by riding a big worm. Han Solo presumably has a lot of fun with this because he is an adventurous guy who lives life on the edge. Oh, and he also has a big anthropomorphic Afghan hound as his co-pilot! The dog’s name is Chewbacca, and he’s been here for this whole thing too. Except he’s not a dog, he’s a Wookie because we’re in space and he’s actually an alien, duh.

I need to backtrack for a moment because you’re probably wondering, “Why are Han and Chewy along for this adventure?”

The answer, my friend, is a barfight and some money. Han Solo is a bounty hunter and Leia has a steep price... maybe? Or Luke is going to pay him for helping? Or he owes them because he accidentally shot someone on Tatooine and Luke and Ben used the Force to save him? Look, there was a lot of alcohol and MDMA changing hands, no one’s too sure what happened.

Maybe Luke just stole his ship, but Han stowed away? Why the fuck is Han here?!

Anyway, they rescue Leia, I guess, but then Darth Vader appears, right when they almost escape! Darth Vader and Obi fight on the porch and Vader slices him through with a laser! Obi Wan is raptured into heaven. Luke is devastated. Han is indifferent.

The survivors escape because Darth Vader decided to let them go? He didn’t notice them? He actually felt bad about killing his old friend? (but you don’t know that)

Anyway, now they’re with Leia’s army watching a documentary about the Death Star. They’re going to blow it up because it has an air vent that leads straight to the explosive heart of the machine!

Everyone gets loaded into little shooter planes and head into space! They’re all connected via walkie-talkies, so everyone’s having a great time! Luke is one of the boys, along with a colorful cast of soldiers who all get killed. Wait, what, they’re all dead already?! But they were so fun-loving and witty! They were making so much fun banter! And now Luke is alone because every single person who ever loved, liked, or worked with him sacrificed themselves for him. Except Han, but Han secretly hates Luke. (probably. He hates everyone except his dog.)

Luke, emboldened by grief and rage, blows up the Death Star!

Darth Vader… survives somehow?!?!?!?!?!?!?

To be continued.

P.S. This post is cross-posted to my creative writing blog: lasitas.blogspot.com

[owlgirl495]

⚠️warning⚠️!!: contains spoilers from stranger things season 4 volume 2

a lot of people are talking about the things they hate about volume 2 and that is completely valid and i agree with a lot of what has been said and i’ve reblogged a lot of what i agree with, however, i also wanna talk about the things i actually liked about it so here’s a list in no particular order of some things i liked:

- eddie calling max “red”

- the fact that every group (cali, hawkins, and russia) had pretty decent plans

- the interaction between steve and eddie when steve asks if eddie’s hiding a car and eddie says not exactly

- max giving eddie her halloween mask from season 2

- the fact that they stole a trailer

- eddie hot wiring the trailer

- eddie calling steve “big boy” and that whole interaction and the smile on eddie’s face

- lucas and max talking in the trailer and their entire conversation and them just being cute

- eddie telling dustin to never change and honestly that whole interaction between them

- max asking nancy if it was illegal to cut the barrel of the shotgun and nancy saying that she’s pretty sure it’s a felony and then doing it anyway

- the scene where argyle says that nina is a small woman

- ngl i like the fact that there’s just a door in the middle of the desert. i know that that’s not just a volume 2 thing but i just think that is so fucking funny.

- joyce and hopper!!

- the russian guard person whose name i’m forgetting right now who helped joyce and hopper!!

- murray!! (specifically when he roasted all the demodogs)

- el’s outfit after she leaves the lab. idk i just think it’s a cute outfit

- the whole pizza place scene where argyle is talking to the other pizza guy and they bribe the other guy with weed

- the hug between jonathan and will and their heart to heart (even though i’m kinda disappointed that will didn’t come out to him)

- when steve tells dustin and eddie “not to be cute” and not to sacrifice themselves (even though eddie does)

- the whole metallica guitar scene and eddie saying “this is for chrissy”

- dustin and eddie jumping around and yelling after the metallica guitar scene

- lucas and max communicating with the little notes and the drawing max does (that was literally so cute)

- nancy squeezing robin’s hand to calm her down and comfort her before they enter the house (i’m honestly kinda surprised i haven’t seen anyone talking about this cause even if it was supposed to be platonic it was super cute)

- steve and nancy fondly talking about robin while walking through the upside down

- the shots of eddie fighting the bats (i think it was stupid that they made him sacrifice himself and i don’t like that he went back to fight them but he did look pretty badass)

- little memory max flipping off the skater boy

- max thinking of both lucas and el as her happiest memories

- el fighting vecna from within max’s mind

- when max asks if el is real and she says something along the lines of “i’m piggybacking from a pizza freezer” and max just pauses and says “what” (both my sister and i laughed during that part)

- hopper fighting the demogorgon with an actual fucking sword which was so fucking cool btw

- erica kicking the basketball guy in the groin (both my sister and i cheered)

- when lucas finally got the upper hand and started winning against jason

- steve and robin molotov cocktailing vecna and nancy shooting him

- when everyone helps at the relief center thing

- vicky and robin teasing each other and being witty and flirty while they make sandwiches and steve watching on in exasperated amusement

- wayne munson best uncle confirmed

- when el and hopper reunite and talk about their hair (honestly just that entire scene between the two of them)

- when hopper tells mike he grew and mike tells hopper he shrunk

- the byers family reuniting and el and hopper being a part of that family

those are the main things i could remember liking while watching volume 2 (as always the acting was very good and so were the special effects but i didn’t think i needed to mention that). once again, there are definitely a lot of things i did not like about volume 2 and very not happy about a lot of it but i did wanna just mention some of the things i liked.

*disclaimer*: i’m posting this a few days after originally writing it so someone might have mentioned some of this stuff already but i hope y’all enjoy it. sending love and hope that season 5 is better.

[howtobecomeadragon]

When st started focusing on romantic relationships/pairing everyone up, the show started to go a little downhill for me tbh. We were so robbed of seeing El and her relationship with hopper as he learns to be more emotionally vulnerable with her, or them and the byers(specifically Joyce and El and will and El) interact, or even just... The party being friends?? They put so much focus on boring romance drama when they could've shown everyone being friends with each other like in s1/2. Like.. will literally said they had no idea where Dustin was the whole time and nobody even cared.. it made it a bit hard to believe they were all supposed to be close in s4. I just hope with s5 centering the original s1 dynamics and all that we see more of this shine through(I'd love to see el, Lucas, and Erica interact and lean on each other for support during max's coma). I don't think I can go through another season of "Mike and El have problems"

Hey anon! Yes that's totally fair, I agree with a lot here. I would've loved to see a lot more family time (a ton more El and Hopper in s3, more El with the Byers in s4, I'm sooo annoyed that in such a long season we didn't get a single scene of the Byers and El interacting before Mike came, I need to know the Joyce-El dynamic better, I need to see El and Jonathan being siblings) and more of the original Party spending time all together in s3.

I think that in s3, even though we did see Dustin going off on his own and strengthening friendships with Steve, Robin, and Erica for most of the season, the fact that this happened was addressed by Will in the rain fight with Mike, and we saw Mike course correct and being very close with Dustin in 4x01 and presumably has been since they reunited at Starcourt Mall. And even though they were separated for most of the season, it really was only for a couple of days after Dustin came back from summer camp, that wasn't going to disrupt their years long friendship going into s4.

I like a lot of the romantic storylines, and although like most Byler shippers, I'm ready for Mike and El to break up asap in s5, I feel like the show has done a good job of balancing the plot lines. While s3 and s4 was full of Mike and El having problems, that in itself was a good way for their relationship to be a plot point while still giving us a ton of friendship time between the party: Mike teaming up with Lucas and experiencing turmoil with Will in s3, and pairing up with Will, Jonathan, and Argyle in s4. I do wish we'd gotten a bit more of Lucas with the party and not just with Max in s4, more resolution to his justified anger about them not showing up to the basketball game, them apologizing for that better, and exploring why he wanted to be popular.

And I think in some ways, this discomfort with the last couple seasons is likely on purpose. We're supposed to be sick of how Mike is acting and his relationship with El. The fact that a ton of the GA sees it this way tells me that we're being set up for a big shift, a big reveal to help us understand why a huge relationship in the show is so frustrating. It mimics the feelings of a boy in love with his best friend who's trying to date this girl he thinks he should like. It's unsatisfying, frustrating, and Mike and the GA are about to put their fingers on why exactly that is, which will be a huge relief to both Mike and audience.

Similarly, we're supposed to want to see the party all together after s3 and s4. They split the party up in s3, gave us a small reunion at Starcourt before the fight, and then split the team up again more permanently as the Byers moved. We are aching and missing the party being back together just like the characters are missing each other. Which is why s5 will feel like such a relief with everyone back together.

We're in the rough middle chapter of the story (similar to how the Duffers said s4 was 'The Empire Strikes Back' of the story: everyone loses, things have taken a turn for the worse, it's a bit unsatisfying initially because we want things to be just right and they're not yet), but we're being set up to have a lot of that frustration and tension resolved in s5.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!! 🙂