#i was about to write pacifier ops

[ic-napology]

Here you go:

napoleon buttocks

murat has COMPETITION

[megalony]

Don't Touch My Wife

This is a new Dark! Evan Buckley imagine I had an idea for, I hope you will all like it.

I had a lot of fun writing the possessive, jealous streak in Buck with this one.

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Dark! Evan Buckley Masterlist

Summary: Evan isn't too happy to find that someone at dispatch has a thing for his wife. And when they see said person out at a restaurant, the possessive streak in Evan flares up. Badly.

Enjoy.

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A smile flooded Evan's face when he watched his niece trot over to him with that bright grin and her arms stretched out towards him. When she got close, Jee wrapped her arms around his leg and tilted her head back so her grin was beaming up at him with such a cheeky expression.

"Hi girlie," Evan leaned down to hug her and pecked the top of her head while he tried to steady his left arm to keep Lottie perched on his hip.

He felt the two year old nuzzling her cheek against his chest and he was sure she was starting to scrunch his shirt up in her hands like she was making sure he wasn't about to set her down.

"You come play?" She tugged on Evan's hand to try and get him to follow her as she pulled him from the hallway towards the living room.

"The girls will play with you, and I'll join you in a bit after I speak to your mum, okay?"

He let Jee drag him into the living room where his eldest was already sat on the rug in front of the coffee table. The six year old was grinning brightly, waiting for Jee to come back and show her what game they were going to play since this was her house.

Evan and (Y/n) had brought the girls over to see Jee for the afternoon and so they could spend some time with Maddie since they all had the afternoon off. The only one who wasn't here was Chimney since he had been called in to cover a shift at the station.

The girls were all similar in age. Louise was the eldest, being six, then there was Jee who had just turned four, and Lottie was two and a half. They were all close, almost like Jee was one of the Buckley sisters and they all loved playing together.

Jee let go of Evan's hand and went to kneel down next to Louise, while Even looked down to his younger girl curled up into his chest. He pecked the top of her head and began smoothing his hand up and down her back, but she didn't seem to want to let him go just yet. She tilted her head back enough to look up at Evan, but her eyes were drowsy and tired and she huffed.

Lottie hadn't had her afternoon nap yet.

"Are you gonna play for a bit?" When she shook her head, Evan rolled his eyes and peppered a few kisses to her temple and cheeks. "You play, then I'll come and sit with you, okay?"

He crouched down and sat Lottie down with the girls who were both leaning over the table where Jee had some plastic food and a mini tea set. He pecked Lottie's temple again and handed her the pacifier he had in his pocket which she snatched off him quickly. He had a feeling when he came back to check on them in ten minutes, Lottie would be grouchy or on the verge of falling asleep.

"Play nicely please."

When all three girls seemed settled, Evan wandered into the kitchen to find his wife and sister.

"They all settled?" Maddie glanced over her shoulder towards Evan while she grabbed a few beakers from the cupboard. She would sort all the girls out a drink for whenever they wandered through to claim one.

Evan nodded and gratefully took the glass of wine (Y/n) held out to him while she grabbed her glass of juice.

A grin spread across Evan's lips when (Y/n) turned to lean her back up against his chest. Her head fell back on his shoulder and she tucked up against him while he leaned his hips against the counter behind him. One arm curved around her waist and settled on her stomach while he took a few sips of his drink.

He watched Maddie find her glass of wine and clink the glass against (Y/n)'s just to see the way her sister in law grinned and rolled her eyes. (Y/n) was the only one who couldn't drink at the moment since she was pregnant. Plus, it meant Evan could drink and (Y/n) would happily drive them all back home later on tonight.

The three of them stayed in the kitchen with the radio playing quietly in the background and the sound of the cartoons on the tv kept drifting through every now and then. They could hear the girls laughing and clinking plastic cups together, playing their own little cafe, barista game together.

After a little while, (Y/n) slowly pushed up from Evan so she could move around and straighten her back out. She helped Maddie potter around the kitchen, putting a few things away and pouring some more drinks while Evan wandered to peek into the living room and double check the girls were all okay.

(Y/n) found the bottle of red wine and started refilling Evan and Maddie's glasses, but she glanced over to the right when Maddie struck up a new conversation.

"So, have you spoken to Neil recently?" Maddie nudged her elbow into (Y/n)'s arm with a sly grin that showed she was only teasing. But Maddie looked away and put some bowls back in the cupboard, oblivious to the flash of panic that dwelled in (Y/n)'s eyes as she shook her head.

(Y/n) slid the glass across to Maddie while she muttered 'Don't' under her breath. She didn't want to have this conversation. But the unease on her face clearly wasn't enough to ward Maddie off this conversation because the elder woman stuck her tongue out and shook her head in a playful manner.

She was only jesting.

"Who's Neil?"

A shiver crawled down (Y/n)'s spine at the sound of Evan's voice as he wandered back into the kitchen and picked up his glass from the counter. His head tilted to one side and his free hand moved to his hip while he looked between both women, waiting for one of them to let him in on the conversation.

This is what (Y/n) wanted to avoid. She didn't want to let Evan in on this conversation because she knew exactly how it would turn out. She didn't want to make him aware of this, it was better to keep Evan oblivious.

Her head turned in his direction and she saw the intrigue in his eyes as he rose a brow and inclined his head to one side. Clearly waiting to find out who this person was and why they were talking about him.

"No one." (Y/n) shook her head to try and dismiss the subject while she found her glass and took a gulp of juice, but it only made her feel queasy. Her free arm looped over the top of her bump and she leaned back into the counter so she was stood opposite Evan with her yes cast down to her stomach rather than risk looking up at her husband.

"He's one of the new operators at work, he has the hots for (Y/n)." Maddie cast her sister in law a cheeky smirk, unaware of the conversation she had just dragged them all into.

The look Evan gave (Y/n) had shivers coursing up and down her spine and made her want to melt into a puddle.

He wasn't impressed by that.

His steely blue eyes watched (Y/n) closely as she set her drink down and moved both hands to rest behind her on the counter. He noted the way she squirmed and shifted from foot to foot, clearly anxious about having this conversation and that didn't sit well with Evan.

"You didn't mention him." His tone was oddly calm and neutral as if this wasn't starting to rub him up the wrong way.

"Because I don't know him."

She wasn't lying. (Y/n) barely knew Neil, he was one of the new guys at work. They were always hiring new people, it was part and parcel of being in a demanding job down at the Dispatch centre. (Y/n) worked with Maddie, they were both 911 operators and they had seen three new people be sent to their centre in the last month.

Neil happened to be one of them. He was a friendly face and seemed to gel with a lot of people, but (Y/n) didn't speak to him that often. She saw him in the break room, he'd made her a coffee on the odd occasion and they shared a few words. But (Y/n) didn't actually know anything about him except that he used to be a paramedic before he switched to dispatch.

(Y/n) didn't mention him to Evan because he wasn't technically a friend and she didn't know him well enough to go home talking about him or singing his praises.

"You don't know him, but he fancies you? Has he asked you out?" When he didn't get a response from his wife, Evan glanced over at his sister instead.

He put on his best smirk and tilted his head at an angle to get his sister to talk to him. He knew how to worm his way around Maddie and get her to spill all the gossip, they were both bad at keeping secrets and hiding information from anyone, especially each other.

And he wanted to know all about this new operator.

Evan did not like the sound of someone having the hots for his wife, and if this guy had tried to put any moves on (Y/n) then Evan might have to find him and have a word with him. God knows he had told enough people in the past to back off and step away from (Y/n).

She was his girl. His wife. They were married, but that didn't always seem to deter people away from her and it wound Evan up to no avail.

He knew he could trust (Y/n), he knew she wouldn't ever go off with anyone else, but that didn't mean Evan could trust other people. If he heard or saw people flirting with his wife he would make sure they knew to stop because she was taken and she wasn't interested.

(Y/n) looked between the pair of them and locked eyes with Maddie when the older woman pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes in thought.

"He asked you out for coffee, didn't he?" She wasn't completely sure, but Maddie seemed to remember (Y/n) telling her the new guy had asked her for a drink and she had to kindly decline.

Unease pooled in (Y/n)'s stomach and sent the baby kicking up a storm when Evan's head snapped back in her direction and she felt his fiery gaze setting her alight. Her body started to heat up and her skin prickled as she couldn't manage to keep eye contact with him when he was staring at her like that.

"Once, when he first started. I flashed my ring and he hasn't asked again." (Y/n) shook her left hand out in their direction to make her point.

"Hm," Maddie nodded and patted (Y/n)'s shoulder as if she didn't quite believe her, but it was all in jest. "You're the only one who geta a muffin brought in though, aren't you."

(Y/n) swallowed down a groan and dropped her head down while Maddie set her glass down and reached out for the beakers she had filled up earlier. None of the girls had come through for a drink yet and she knew they would all be thirsty by now.

The moment Maddie was out the room, (Y/n) looked up at Evan. She didn't like the darkness she could see pooling in those hazy eyes and the way he stalked towards her had her knees trembling.

She gripped the counter tighter when he stood in front of her, his head angled to the right and one brow arched up. His expression said it all. He wasn't impressed, not in the slightest. She could see his shoulders tensing up before he had said one word and when he leaned forward and planted his hands down on the counter, she held her breath. He was caging her in, giving her no chance of escape. He wanted an explanation and he wanted it now.

"So, you've got a fella at work, have you?" His tone was cold and his words were hurtful.

"No I don't."

She tried to look away but it didn't work very well. Evan reached one hand out and cupped her chin, tilting her head back in his direction once again. They were talking. This conversation wasn't about to end, Evan wanted to know who this guy was and if he had made any advances on his wife.

"You didn't tell me anyone was asking you out or bringing you shit at work. If it's nothing then why didn't you mention it?" His words weren't so much accusing as irritated.

If someone had asked her out at work or started to flirt with her, Evan expected (Y/n) to tell him. Either by mentioning it in passing or telling him someone was bothering her. He felt this was something he should be made aware of. He didn't like being last to know, and he didn't like his sister knowing and (Y/n) intentionally keeping him in the dark about this.

"He asked me for one drink, and I told him I was married and had a family. He hasn't asked me since, he just says hi and hands out the occasional piece of cake he does it with everyone. Evan, believe me, it's nothing."

If Neil was a bother then (Y/n) would have mentioned it to Evan, but it wasn't like that. He didn't pester (Y/n) or flirt with her or constantly ask her out and take no for an answer.

He had asked her during his first week if she wanted to go out for a coffee with him. And when (Y/n) smiled and said she would if she weren't married, he didn't become snotty or annoyed or take it the wrong way. He had laughed and nodded, saying to forget all about it and he hadn't asked (Y/n) again since.

She didn't even speak to him much at work and she never saw him outside of work so why would she tell Evan that someone had asked her out once?

(Y/n) knew for a fact that a lot of women on calls asked Evan for his number or to go for a drink with them and a lot of women flirted with him. (Y/n) didn't care. She knew Evan turned down each and every one of them. He delighted in saying he had three girls waiting at home for him that he loved. He seemed to enjoy turning people down.

"Forgive me for not liking the fact that someone you work with clearly fancies you. I've been to dispatch, sweetheart, and I don't trust some of the people you work with."

It rubbed Evan up the wrong way that someone had made a pass at (Y/n), and said person continued to work with her. What would stop Neil from asking again? What would stop him from starting to flirt and joke around with (Y/n) at work and get too close to her? What if he overstepped the mark?

That was why Evan warned other guys away, so they knew not to even think about getting too close to (Y/n) or starting something they couldn't finish.

"Look at me," (Y/n) muttered quietly under her breath, but when she glanced up, she realised Evan's head was tilted to the side. He was peering towards the living room to check on Maddie and the kids.

With a huff, (Y/n) looked down at herself with the minimal space that was between her and Evan, considering how he was practically caging her against the counter. She reached down and clenched the hem of her shirt and slowly dragged it up until her shirt was rolled up just beneath her bra. The movement gained Evan's attention and had his wide eyes looking between her gaze and her exposed stomach, clearly wondering what she was doing.

"Evan, look at me." (Y/n) reached down and roamed her hands up and down her bump. "I'm pregnant. He might have asked me out before, but no one's likely to ask me out now, are they? You and your boy will frighten anyone away."

So maybe Neil had asked her out when he started at dispatch, but (Y/n) hadn't been visibly pregnant at the time and he hadn't noticed the wedding ring on her finger.

It was different now.

He hadn't asked her out since, and no one was likely to ask her for a drink or to go out with them when they could see she was pregnant. (Y/n) was happily married and she was having their third baby, no one was going to start asking her out or flirting seriously with her.

Her thumb stroked across her bump until Evan moved one hand to cup the base of her stomach that had stolen his gaze for the time being.

When (Y/n) tilted her head back to look up at him, she gasped against his mouth when he stole her lips in a kiss. The touch was so eager that he felt like he was crushing and bruising her lips and he almost bent her back over the counter.

She lifted one hand to cup the side of his face, tracing her thumb along his jaw while she felt his hand roaming all across her bump like he was exploring her body for the first time.

"I wouldn't be so sure about that."

(Y/n) clicked her tongue quietly and rolled her eyes while Evan's lips stayed hovering over hers. "Not everyone has baby fever like you, Buckley."

***

"Fancy seeing you here."

A wave of unease rolled over (Y/n) like the sea crashing onto the sand and her heart thundered in her chest when she dared to turn around. Oh dear.

This didn't bode well. What luck that Neil would be here at the same time (Y/n), Evan, Chimney and Maddie had all come out for lunch together while the kids were at school and daycare. He was the one person who (Y/n) would rather avoid seeing outside of work. There was nothing wrong with him and he wasn't rude or obnoxious or unsettling.

He was friendly. Too friendly, and that didn't sit well with Evan, if anyone was overly friendly with (Y/n) it would raise alarm bells in Evan's mind and get his heckles up. (Y/n) didn't want that to happen today or at any point in the future, she didn't want Evan to worry or get annoyed or overly protective when there was no need.

She forced a smile on her face and looked over at Neil who had one hand stuffed in his pocket and a drink held in the other.

"Hi, how are you?" (Y/n) looped her arm over her waist and tried to keep the smile on her face, but she couldn't help but dart her eyes around the restaurant. She was only stood here near the bar because they were waiting for Maddie and Chimney to arrive. Evan had headed to the toilets and (Y/n) knew he would come over and introduce himself the moment he came out.

"I'm good, here for a few drinks with friends, and you?"

"Family meal." Her eyes darted towards the entrance when the door swung open, but it wasn't Maddie and Chimney arriving yet. Why did she and Evan have to be the first ones here? (Y/n) hated being the first to arrive, but then again, she knew Evan hated to be the last one to arrive or be a minute late.

Neil nodded with that same smile that always looked overly inviting and her eyes stayed on him when he stepped closer.

"So-"

Whatever he was about to say seemed to fizzle out on his lips and (Y/n) tilted her head to the side, confusion plastering across her face. She turned to look over her shoulder to see what had caught Neil's attention, but she didn't have to look. The arm that suddenly secured around her waist was enough of an answer to tell her what- or who, he was looking at.

And the firm chest moulding up against her back had chills coursing up and down (Y/n)'s spine. She leaned herself back against Evan's chest and tilted her head back to smile softly up at him.

He had a placid smile on his face and one brow arched and (Y/n) could see the look in those steely blue eyes that were dragging up and down Neil. He was sizing him up. Trying to see who he was, what he was doing and why he was stood so close to his wife.

"Oh, Neil this is my husband, Buck." (Y/n) reached her left hand up behind her to brush her fingers across Evan's chest.

She could feel his fingers twitching on her waist, as if he was debating whether to hold her tighter and sink his fingers into her flesh or not. He settled on tapping and dancing his fingers along her bump instead while he leaned down to kiss the top of her head.

"Nice to meet you." The bright smile Neil flashed didn't seem to meet his eyes and it didn't change the expression on Evan's face.

That name rang a bell. That was the person Maddie had spoke about last week, the one who supposedly had a thing for Evan's wife. His eyes took the other man in with more interest, his curiosity peaked as he wondered why Neil thought attaching himself to a married woman was such a good idea.

He didn't look anything special, at least not to Evan, and with the way (Y/n) was leaning back into him and melting into his embrace, he guessed she wasn't too eager to be around this guy either. That was good. But it didn't tell Evan why this guy was here and why he had attached himself to (Y/n) while Evan had been gone for all of three minutes.

"Is this the one that asked you out?" His tone was blunt and gruff and his expression showed he was unimpressed as he glanced Neil up and down again.

"Evan." (Y/n) craned her head to look up over her left shoulder and she rose one brow while her lips pressed together. He didn't need to be rude. Her husband simply shrugged down at her before he looked back at Neil, clearly expecting a reply.

"I- I didn't know she was married, at the time. We're just good friends at work, aren't we."

Neil grinned over at (Y/n) and jostled his shoulders like this wasn't an awkward situation. But (Y/n) knew trying to play this off wasn't going to calm Evan down when he was clearly uncertain about the man in front of them.

The joking manner didn't sit well with Evan. They didn't know him; at least, Evan didn't know him and from what (Y/n) told him, they weren't the kind of friends who would meet up outside of work or even exchange numbers. So trying to have a laugh and a joke wasn't something Evan wanted to do with someone they scarcely knew.

He didn't trust him. Evan didn't trust anyone who got too close to his wife; he knew what other men could be like.

"Well you're not at work now, so why don't you run along?" The way Evan ticked his head to the side and how his expression seemed to harden was enough to make Neil's smile fade.

The other man nodded with a somewhat silent huff and he murmured 'catch you later' to (Y/n) before he wandered over to his table. He clearly wasn't wanted to stick around and he wouldn't stay and risk being insulted by a stranger.

Once he was out of earshot, (Y/n) reached her hand down and gave Evan's wrist a squeeze. She pressed her head back into the middle of his chest and sighed up at him.

"You didn't have to be so rude, you know."

"I could have told him to fuck off. Would you prefer that?"

(Y/n) wanted to roll her eyes, but the light tone in Evan's voice and the rather cheeky smirk that lit up his face made her relax in his arms. He wasn't angry, he wasn't getting riled up and he clearly wasn't irritated that Neil had come over. He was rather pleased Neil had listened and wandered off; Evan didn't like it when people didn't listen to him.

And he was right, he could have been much worse, (Y/n) knew that for a fact, but he also could have been a little more polite. (Y/n) still had to see Neil at work and it wouldn't do her any favours if he started giving her the cold shoulder or making snarky comments that her husband was blunt and rather rude on a first meeting.

"Mads and Chim are here, come on, let's get a drink." Both Evan's hands moved to cup (Y/n)'s hips and his lips attached to the back of her head as he guided her towards the bar next to the entrance.

He could see his sister walking by the window, about to enter the restaurant so they could all get a drink and go find a table. No sense chattering about Neil when he had already disappeared and was of no concern anymore.

It didn't take them long to find a table and order their food. They found a booth in the corner of the restaurant in a quiet area and the conversation flowed easily between them. They drifted from one conversation to the next, from the girls, to work, to plans for Christmas and organising a big Christmas meal out somewhere for the entire team and their families.

(Y/n) leaned her head on Evan's shoulder and let herself slouch into his side after they'd eaten. She smiled into his neck, nuzzling her nose against his skin when she felt his arm slither around her waist so his hand could feather up and down her hip and across her thigh.

She loved the fact that the four of them would be here for another hour, at least. They had just finished their meals, but both Chimney and Evan were straight onto the menus to find something sweet to have next, and they would still be sat here for a few more rounds of drinks.

It wasn't often that they got to go out together, just the four of them without the team or meeting up at play centres with the girls. So it was nice to catch up and be together without having to think of rushing back for childcare or work.

"While you decide, I'll get some more drinks." (Y/n) hovered her lips over Evan's ear and pressed herself up into his side. She could see it was going to take a while for everyone to decide what they wanted for dessert, she may as well get them all another round of drinks while they decided.

She felt Evan's free hand move to hold her chin so he could aim her head in his direction, allowing him to steal a kiss from her. He kissed her like he was trying to inhale the air from her lungs and his lips were warm and inviting; he knew his touch was like a spell casting over (Y/n).

"Let me out," She murmured against his lips in between kisses, nudging her hand against his chest to make her point. She couldn't get out the booth unless Evan climbed out first, usually she would have wiggled across his lap to get out. But that wasn't going to happen when she had her baby bump in the way.

With a sigh, Evan retracted his arm from her waist and slid to the left to get out the booth. His hands found (Y/n)'s hips as they swapped places, her climbing out while Evan sat back down again.

"Same again?" (Y/n) looked across at Maddie and Chimney who both nodded in agreement.

She felt his hands squeeze her hips, pulling her closer and she rose a brow as she stared down at him, waiting for him to release her so she could go to the bar. Her lips formed a blushing smile when she felt one of Evan's hands shift round from her waist to her bum. For a moment, (Y/n) wasn't too sure what Evan was doing but she rolled her eyes when she realised he had slid his card into her back pocket.

A coy grin lit up Evan's face as he put the bank card in her back pocket and patted his hand against her bum before he finally let go of her and allowed her to drift towards the bar.

When she reached the bar, (Y/n) arched her lower back out and leaned forward to fold her arms on the counter. It felt better to stoop forward like this and click her spine into place. She angled her head to one side, waiting patiently while the bar tender was down at the other end of the bar serving at least three people at once.

But her head snapped to the right when she felt an arm brush against hers and a body press up close to her side.

Nerves rattled through her stomach and her smile faltered when she watched Neil lean forward on the bar like he was copying her manner with his hips arched out and his shoulders hunched forward. He looked over at her with a grin and his fingers began drumming against the counter.

"Hello again." His voice was so chipper and he was smiling broadly which was a little off-putting to (Y/n).

She couldn't help but wonder if Neil had seen her approach the bar and followed her, or if this was a coincidence that he came over here at the exact same time as her. It seemed like too much of a coincidence and (Y/n) didn't believe it, she knew Evan wouldn't either if he noticed.

She murmured a small hello and nodded at him before she reached her hand out and flagged the barman.

"What are you having? Something non-alcoholic, obviously." Neil grinned and motioned his hand down to her stomach before he started to tap against the bar again.

"I can get my own drinks, thank you." (Y/n) glanced away from him and smiled at the bar man while she slowly shuffled a foot to the left to add some space between her and Neil. "One coke, one juice and two ciders please."

(Y/n) found herself smiling softly when the notion hit her that she wasn't technically getting her own drinks when Evan had slid his card into her back pocket. But that was different, he was her husband and it was still her ordering and getting the drinks by most means, she didn't want Neil to get her a drink. That wasn't necessary and (Y/n) hadn't been wanting him to do that so he shouldn't feel obligated.

"A friend can't buy you a drink?" His voice sounded deflated and he sighed and dropped his shoulders down like (Y/n) had turned him down for a date.

In a way, she wondered if she had. She wondered if he was asking to get her a drink to get close to her, but she couldn't see why. (Y/n) hadn't given him any signs or led him on in any way, and she was out with her family. He must see that she didn't want to interact with him.

"Not when my husband's around, no." She hoped her smile was sincere enough to tell him she wasn't trying to be rude or come off as a snotty cow.

She swiped the card from her back pocket to pay for the drinks, but her blood ran cold when she heard what Neil muttered as he leaned in close to her side.

"He seems a bit… controlling."

How dare he. How dare Neil try and make assumptions and casual remarks like that. He didn't know Evan, at all, he had met him once for a minute. And he didn't really know (Y/n) either. He said hello to her at work, he offered her a drink or a muffin sometimes in the break room. They shared minimal conversations together, that was it. They were acquaintences, not friends and he had no right to make remarks like that about Evan.

He wasn't controlling. Evan was protective; that was the word that always came to mind when (Y/n) thought about her husband. He was always concerned about her and the girls, they were everything to him and Evan was always careful and protective over all of them. Just like he was about the team and his family.

She took a deep breath and pushed off the counter so she could twist to the right and face Neil a bit better.

Her brow arched and her lips set into a firm line as she tried to speak without setting off an argument.

"You don't even know him-"

"I know that he's watching us right now. It's a bit like Big Brother for you, isn't it? Your every move, scrutinised by him, seems a funny kind of love to me."

The way Neil pointed over her shoulder and then made the effort to wave had (Y/n)'s blood curdling like sour milk. She didn't want to look, she really didn't, but she couldn't help herself when Neil had just made a sarcastic expression and motion that would obviously be aimed at Evan.

And when (Y/n) glanced in the other direction across the restaurant, there he was. He was sat on the edge of the booth, one hand on his knee and the other arm planted on the table with his fingers firmly tapping the edge of the table. His head was tilted to one side and his eyes were void and blank. To anyone else, Evan would look like a daydreamer, lost in his own world.

To (Y/n), he looked volatile. She could almost hear his heavy breathing and those dark eyes were glued to her frame and making her feel nervous because she knew what would be running through his head.

"Well that's your opinion, and I'd thank you not to go around judging. My guy's protective, and I love him for it."

He didn't know anything.

Neil had no idea what kind of relationship (Y/n) had with Evan. He had no idea how close they were or how much (Y/n) relied on Evan and how he was always praising her and telling her she was the only person he felt he connected with and could confide in.

Evan loved her, he loved her more than anything and sometimes that made him protective and cautious around her. But (Y/n) loved him, he was the father of her children and she didn't want to be with anyone else and having someone like Neil commenting on her relationship made her upset.

(Y/n) was glad when she looked back to the bar and noticed that the drinks she had ordered were now being poured. In another minute, she could walk away from Neil and leave this stupid conversation behind. And he could think again if he thought (Y/n) would be having civil conversations with him at work after this. She wouldn't be speaking to him at all after today.

"So if I did this," Neil casually slid his arm around (Y/n)'s shoulders, oblivious to the way she tensed and held her breath beside him. "He wouldn't mind?"

He would, and they both knew it.

Reaching behind her, (Y/n) grabbed his wrist and threw it back at him while she sidestepped again to add some more distance between them. Whatever he was doing, it wasn't funny and (Y/n) didn't appreciate it. He was going to rile Evan up and they both knew that. They both knew Evan wasn't just going to sit back and watch.

(Y/n) could of cried when she noticed Evan storming their way. She could see him like a hurricane trudging between the tables, his eyes set on them like he had tunnel vision. With both his hands curled into fists at his sides and his upper lip curling in distaste.

When he walked over, (Y/n) felt like grabbing him and dragging him back to the table, but she couldn't. She knew Evan wasn't just going to walk away even if (Y/n) tried to follow him. He would stand here and argue, right now in the middle of the restaurant. Evan didn't care if people watched or listened in, that didn't bother him at all.

The feeling of Evan's heaving chest pressing into her back made (Y/n)'s head spin and she straightened up when his hand clamped down on her hip. But it was the way his head tilted to one side and how his eyes zoomed in on Neil that made her shiver. If looks could kill, Neil would have dropped to the ground.

"I thought I told you to back off?" His voice was gritty and his words were harsh while he clamped his left hand down on the bar to his left until his short nails were beginning to scratch into the wood.

He didn't really look like he was waiting for an answer, more like he was waiting impatiently for Neil to take yet another hint and wander off with his tail between his legs. Something that didn't seem very likely to happen at the moment.

Neil straightened up off the bar and grinned over at Evan like they were old friends having a catch up rather than two people about to get into a brawl.

"Well I wasn't here to talk to you, I was talking to (Y/n) and she's fine, so you can stand down." The way he waved his hand at Evan was almost dismissive and it was the wrong move to make.

It caused a sinister grin to light up Evan's face as he looked down at Neil in amusement. He really thought he had the ability to intimidate Evan and make him back down. Evan was the one in charge here; he was the one with the power in this situation, and he was the one with the girl. (Y/n) was his, and she didn't seem happy to be talking to Neil so Evan was going to make sure he backed off one way or another.

"Hm, not gonna happen." Both his hands clamped down on (Y/n)'s hips somewhat possessively and he leaned over her shoulder to be closer to the nuisance in front of them. "Now do us all a favour and fuck off."

(Y/n) bristled at the dark tone in her husband's voice and she felt his chest vibrate with each word.

"I think we're both fine, aren't we (Y/n)?"

(Y/n) tensed up when Neil suddenly reached across and held onto her arm. She wasn't sure what he was trying to do, whether he was just holding onto her to rile Evan up, or whether he was about to try and pull her away from Evan. either way, she didn't like whatever intention he had in mind and her arm stiffened in his hold as she leaned back towards Evan.

The last thing they needed was for a fight to break out here and (Y/n) didn't want to be at the centre of an argument. If Neil would just give in and wander off, everything would be okay. He could have just said hello or smiled and left it at that. He didn't need to strike up a conversation and start making comments and butting in where he wasn't wanted.

A gasp broke past (Y/n)'s lips when Evan's right hand let go of her hip and clenched down on Neil's wrist instead.

He gripped so tight that Neil's fingers spasmed and his arm jerked. As soon as he let go of (Y/n)'s arm- although he hadn't been holding onto her with any force- his arm began to shake when Evan thrust his arm to the side harsh enough to set him off balance and catch the attention of the other people around the bar.

"Lay a hand on her again and I break it." His calloused voice was not one to be trifled with.

Evan wasn't opposed to breaking limbs if people didn't listen to him and right now, Neil was getting dangerously close to seeing Evan's dark side.

If he continued to test Evan's patience and push him Evan was going to snap back, and it wouldn't be pretty. But something about this guy made Evan think that this was exactly what he wanted. He seemed rather content to wind Evan up and see how far he could edge this situation.

When he didn't receive a response, Evan moved both hands back down to (Y/n)'s hips and merged his lips with the back of her head. He could see the bar tender watching them closely, wondering whether or not he needed to step in and calm the situation or not. And others were happily watching them, just waiting for a fight to break out.

There was a tray of drinks set down beside them on the counter and (Y/n) reached towards it to break the tension. They should head back to their table. She should drag Evan back towards Maddie and Chimney to calm the situation and end whatever was going on here.

But before she could reach for the tray, Neil's hand was on her upper arm and he tugged just enough to jerk her hand from the tray and get her to turn in his direction.

"You really should get away from him."

The way Neil glanced over at Evan with a snide look was enough to make (Y/n)'s stomach flip dangerously and her hands trembled when she felt Evan let go of her.

There was no time for (Y/n) to move forward or say one word before Evan had swept in front of her.

Evan's name tumbled past (Y/n)'s lips in a shriek when she watched him curl his hand and slam his fist into Neil's nose. The action sent Neil's head surging back with enough force that it looked like his neck had broken and he stumbled into one of the bar stools that stopped him from landing on the floor with a bang.

Both hands moved to cradle his nose that was dripping blood and he groaned, closing his eyes tight but it did nothing to stop them from streaming with tears like a waterfall.

If it were any other situation, (Y/n) would have focused and fawned over the way Evan shook his hand out at his side and flexed his fingers, cracking his knuckles into place that hadn't even broken the skin from the force. His hand wasn't even trembling and he rolled his shoulders and clicked his neck into place like he was only just beginning and starting to fire up. He would have looked dashing, if it weren't for the crazed look in his pupils and the fact that everyone was now crowding round and staring at them.

A hand moved to cover her mouth as she stepped away from the bar and took a step closer until she was directly beside Evan. Her cheek pressed into his bicep and she glanced over at Neil.

His fingers were starting to drip with blood that was trickling down the creases in his hands but there was a fire burning within his eyes that were focused on Evan. He looked like he wanted to retaliate, to throw another punch, but he hesitated.

There was something about Evan that warded him away. This wasn't his first fight over or about (Y/n), far from it, and he wasn't the type to lose. Evan was just getting started and Neil instinctively knew that if he got into this mess any further, he wasn't going to win.

"God, Evan…"

What was she supposed to do? Did she drag Evan back to the table? Did she try and push him outside to get him to calm down? Did she go and get Maddie and Chimney for backup? The only thing she knew she couldn't do was step any closer to Neil.

"Don't touch my wife."

With both her hands now curled around Evan's bicep, (Y/n) pulled his arm into her chest and slowly started to tug him in the opposite direction to the bar. The bartender was now coming around the other side of the bar to evaluate the situation and someone had hold of Neil as if he was going to start throwing punches too.

They didn't need a commotion or a fight, Evan had made his point, that needed to be the end to it now.

"Alright what have we missed?"

"Oh my God, what happened to Neil?"

(Y/n) shuddered when a hand fell on her shoulder but when she whipped her head around, she relaxed when she saw it was just Maddie. Her sister in law stood close to her side with her other hand on her chest as she peered around to see Neil with a blood-covered face and someone forcefully pinning his arms behind his back to stop him writhing around.

"He- he was getting too close." (Y/n) leaned back into Maddie but she let go of Evan's arm when he scoffed and twisted his head to look down at her and his sister.

"That's modest, he fucking grabbed her."

(Y/n) was sure she heard Chimney mutter something about going back to the table before they were all thrown out, and she agreed. She watched Chimney reach for the tray of drinks and (Y/n) tried again to tug on Evan's arm as they all stumbled back in the direction of their table.

She was partly surprised the bartender hadn't tried to throw Evan out or threaten to call the police yet. But then again, he might have interpreted the situation the same way as Evan. He had seen Neil cosy up to (Y/n) and talk to her and he had clearly seen Evan come over to (Y/n) like he was coming to the rescue.

Leaning forward, (Y/n) burrowed her face into Evan's arm and closed her eyes, letting him take the lead back to their table. She inhaled his scent and tried to calm down her raging nerves, but it wasn't working.

How was she supposed to go back to work after this? How would she and Maddie both cope seeing Neil on shift with them?

Maddie was going to give him the cold shoulder and the silent treatment, she wasn't going to be impressed at all and she would now be protective over (Y/n).

But (Y/n) had a horrible feeling that this was going to keep riling Evan up. He knew Neil worked with (Y/n) and that their shifts might line up frequently. He wouldn't trust Neil not to approach (Y/n) and try to talk to her and carry on this line of conversation like he had done at the bar. Evan might tell (Y/n) to put in a complaint at work.

She had never done that before. She had never had any issues or complaints with anyone she worked with in this job or her previous job. If she put in a complaint or raised a concern and her and Neil were put on opposite shifts, he might bear a grudge. He might tell people at dispatch. It would cause grievances and waves at work that (Y/n) didn't want to deal with.

But she could feel Evan's chest rising and falling, heaving with each breath like he was about to explode. He wasn't likely to calm down after this, she knew that, and his protectiveness was going to broaden and carry on even after they went home.

Going to work would become insufferable now.

[penkura]

Just Needed You

Note: Hi, it's me again! Next part in the OP Men as Dads series, with darling Penguin calming down his daughter! I thought I was going to write Sanji or Law next, but I just start thinking about Penguin again and this happened haha. I hope you all enjoy! 💚

Penguin is utterly enthralled with your daughter when she's born. Tiny and perfect, all ten fingers and toes in place, a cute little nose and a head of black hair, what a precious blessing!

She fits in his arms, so perfectly, all snug in her blanket with a pacifier in her mouth, the look of awe on his face makes you laugh. He never thought he'd get this chance, never believed he'd find someone like you, who loves him so wholeheartedly and wanted to have a baby with him. To start your own family with him, he still doesn't believe it's real. Sometimes he thinks it's a dream he's going to wake up from tomorrow and be back where he was before you met, nearing thirty with the longing and desire to have his own family not yet fulfilled.

He's forever grateful for Shachi introducing the two of you three years ago.

When you bring your daughter Wren home, she starts to fuss and cry almost immediately, even though she's been fed and changed already. You try so hard to calm her down, bouncing her lightly and gently shushing her as she cries.

"Shh, shh, it's okay, baby girl. Don't cry!"

Penguin wants to help you, even after you tell him that you can handle it. He watches you for a few minutes while Wren cries, until he sees you're about to join her since she hasn't settled down, no matter how much or what you try. Seeing that makes Penguin get up from where he's been watching you, giving you a tight hug that you instantly lean into and sniffle a bit.

"Peng..."

"Let me take her, I'll try, okay?"

You nod and hand her over to her father, moving to rest yourself on the couch while you watch Penguin do the same as you did, bouncing Wren lightly and shushing her gently.

"Hey, shh, princess, it's all right. I know, you're in another new place, huh?" Penguin places a soft kiss on her forehead, humming quietly. "Mama and I are here, Wren, everything is okay."

Seeing how quickly she calms down when Penguin has her makes you smile as you realize what the problem was.

"All she needed was you, Peng. She just wanted her daddy to hold her."

That thought gets to Penguin hard. He can't help it but tear up at that. He has you and this tiny newborn girl to take care of now, she already loves him so much that she only wanted for him to hold her. Just like Wren needed him, he needed both of you for his life to feel complete.

Anytime she cries over the next few days Penguin picks her up right away, giving Wren the attention she needs and calming her down.

Unless she needs fed, then she's handed to you, of course.

[my-quackson]

Steve the Clueless Babysitter

A/N: Requests are open and very appreciated, if there is anything you would like me to write with a certain avenger let me know! Summary: Peter has somewhere to be, which leaves you to be babysat by someone with no knowledge of babysitting whatsoever.

"Don go." You begged Peter while he carried you into the Avenger's tower. Apparently you were being babysat by one of them, you had no clue who though. "I know, I hate to leave you too, but daddy has to go beat up bad guys." He said making his way into what you assumed was the living room. There were two others in there, one you recognized to be Captain America and the other to be Thor. "I could totally lift that hamm- Oh, Peter you're here." Steve said getting up to face Peter. "Yeah I'm running kinda late, but everything you need is in here and if anything goes wrong just call me." Peter said handing him the bag.

"You be a good girl ok? I'll be back before you know it," Peter said quickly pecking your lips. There was no way you were falling for that, "back before you know it" always meant you'd see him in the morning.

"I'm gonna give you to Stevie now ok?" He attempted to hand you over, but you clung on to him like your life depended on it.

That was until Steve stripped you off of him and settled you on his hip. Curse his stupid super soldier strength.

"Shhh sh sh it's ok. I'm not that bad am I? He'll be back." Steve said attempting to calm you down from the fat tears that were now streaming down your face.

Steve kinda just stood there in the middle of the room awkwardly bouncing you in hopes of calming you down, while Thor watched from the couch poking fun at his little knowledge.

After awhile your cries turned into sniffles. “Are- are you all good now kiddo?” Steve asked as he sat you down on the couch next to the god. You just nodded and rubbed your eyes and whined.

“Umm do you need a nap? Milk? Blanket? Pacifier?”

“No nap.” You said shaking your head.

“Ok… no nap. How about a bottle? Pete said to feed you around this time.” Steve said checking his watch. You just nodded your head.

“Wait here with Thor and i’ll be back with your bottle. Thor don’t let her do anything bad.” Steve stated. Thor just nodded his head and waited for him to leave.

“He’s pretty up-tight huh?” The god asked. You just giggled.

“Wanna try lifting my hammer? You could potentially rule Asgard if you’re worthy.” Thor shared, placing the hammer on the coffee table.

You tried to lift it for a good minute until you realized it wouldn’t work, Thor just watched in amusement.

“I got your bottle.” Steve announced walking over to where you were sitting.

“Alright uh, would you be comfortable with me feeding you?” Steve asked sitting down next to you. You nodded and he pulled you into his lap, laying you down.

He hovered the bottle over your lips allowing you to decide when to start drinking. No one else has ever fed you other than Peter, so it was a new experience.

He just watched as you suckled on the bottle and the adorable noise it made. He cracked a smile while watching you drink and started humming a song that you’ve never heard before.

After you were done with the bottle Steve sat you up, which confused you at first. Then he started gently patting your back until you let out an involuntary burp. Which led your face to burn bright red from embarrassment, earning a chuckle from Steve and Thor.

“How about we watch a movie huh?” Steve asked apparently rhetorically because he didn’t wait for an answer. He got up and turned on Netflix and flicked through the movies.

“Anything in particular you wanna watch sweetheart?”

“Um.. Bambi?”

“haha I LOVE that movie! Wonderful choice youngster.” Thor exclaimed patting you on the head.

Steve clicked the movie and sat down beside you, he smelled like a bar of soap. (Understand my reference or look it up. :])

A quarter through the movie you thought maybe you should have taken Steve’s offer on that nap, you could barely keep your eyes open.

Steve noticed this and put your pacifier in. You fought to stay awake, but you knew sleep had won when you fell onto the super soldier’s chest and fell into a deep slumber.

You woke to the familiar smell of lavender, vanilla, and amber. There was only one person in the whole world you knew with that scent.

“Baby, wake up. You ready to go?” Peter asked as you still were lying on Steve.

“Daddy?” You questioned trying to focus on the person in front of you.

“Yes, that’s your daddy,” Steve chuckled “I guess that means I have to give you back now.” Steve said giving you to Peter and being overly dramatic, pretending to cry.

“Don cry Stevie, I be back.” You stated giggling, earning a smile from Steve.

“Thanks again Steve, hopefully she wasn’t too much trouble.” Peter said facing you accusingly.

“She was a very good girl. I’ll see you later kiddo.” Steve parted, lightly waving.

“Go give him a kiss on the cheek.” Peter whispered in your ear and setting you down.

You approached Steve and gave him the universal sign to be picked up, when he did you pecked him on the cheek and he just about exploded from baby-fever.

He returned it and handed you back to Peter.

“If you ever need a babysitter Pete, you better call me.” Steve warned.

“I will.” Peter said with a chuckle.

[flipping-the-coin]

[Inquisitorial Report: Subject - Head Archivist: Orion Pax]

[Authorization Level: Prime]

[Listed Authorizations: Optimus Prime]

[Assigned Inquisitor: Jazz]

[One deca-cycle into assignment]

═════════════════

I gotta say, OP, compared to my last gig, this job is practically a vacation. I’m not entirely sure what you’re wanting me to be looking for, though. I haven’t seen any indicators that suggest Orion OR Megatron are doing anything worth writing about. Even their normal routine is mundane and domestic. They seem happy together, like a regular conjunxed pair, if a bit touchier than the average couple. 

Orion seems to like calligraphy and rocks.  He has a small collection of brushes and pigments he uses when he works, but I admit, I have only witnessed him scribing twice in the small amount of time I’ve been watching. He brings a new rock home every few cycles or so, though. 

You wouldn’t think it, because the Archives are so slagging pristine, but Orion seems to lose that ability once his pedes step through the door. I wouldn’t go as far as to suggest he’s a slob or anything, but it seems Megatron is the one who keeps the hab in order. He does most of the fuel preparation as well if this deca-cycle is standard. 

The single most noteworthy thing is Orion and Megatron’s rather large collection of illegal literature; mostly pre-war Decepticon propaganda and literature, which, honestly, doesn’t strike me as especially surprising considering it's MEGATRON and ORION PAX living together in this hab. They also have several different volumes of a banned pre-war Kaoni poetry anthologies that specialize in ah… you know? The kinky kind of words. If that’s something you’re concerned about, I can look further into it and catalog their collection.

There really isn’t much else to say, OP. Orion Pax is unnoteworthy, and Megatron seems pacified for now. I gotta say, though, it feels a little weird. Shouldn’t this be handled by someone who doesn’t have a conflict of interest? Orion was my best friend before the war, you know? Anyway, I wasn’t sure what else to give you in this report, so I attached an entry from Pax’s journal. I have no clue when he wrote this. His entries aren’t dated, and they are just as disorganized as everything else in this hab.  

═════════════════

There still has been no word on the whereabouts of my sire, and this knowledge has been a heavy conflict in my processor as of late. It is as if he simply disappeared. His remains were not found in the ruins of the Archives before they were rebuilt, and there have been exactly zero sightings of any mechs matching his description since the re-founding of our planet. He simply has vanished; along with that Primus forsaken Covenant of his. 

I had hoped that it would have remained within the ruins, perhaps even been secured in the vaults, or the recesses of his office somewhere. But it, too, seems to have been lost. I hoped it would have answers for me. I simply wish to understand why. 

Alpha Trion was rarely ever kind or loving towards me. Warmth was not in his nature, I suppose. As I reminisce upon my upbringing now, it is clear to me that while I saw him as my Sire, he did not view me as a Sire would his sparkling. He was always pushing me towards something that he never would clearly explain. I once thought that he was training me to be his replacement, so that he may retire and live out the rest of his days without the strains of his duties; but I know now that that was merely his cover story. 

I was never meant to be the Head Archivist at all. I was only to be molded into some… encasement so that Optimus could be born. I don’t… fully understand all of the details as of yet. I am still trying to work out why. Why did it have to be me? Wouldn’t it have been better to ask this of a mech who wanted it? Why choose someone who was consistently resistant towards notions of the Matrix and the Primacy?  Why was Optimus so slagging important to begin with that his creation needed to happen when it did? Why did my SIRE order my capture, for what he had to have known would bring about my imprisonment? 

I fear I will never have the answer to these and many other questions that have plagued my processor since I finally became able to think rationally. I miss my Sire…. Even though I have doubts that he ever missed me once I was gone.  I still long for his approval, even though I know that I ultimately failed in the only task he truly wished for me to fulfil. I want him to love me the way I needed him to when I was a sparkling, even though I do not think he is capable of emotions at all. 

And yet I am fearful of him. I think I would rather have confirmation of his death than to not know if he is a threat, looming in the distance. I know I have caused him some level of shame in how I treated the Prime he forced into my care. I know I must have embarrassed him that cycle in the Council Chambers. I was not supposed to refuse the Matrix. I know I was not supposed to fall in love and beautifully defile myself in the embraces of a gladiator. I was supposed to be his perfect sacrifice, and I arrived tainted and unwilling. 

I know that he never liked nor approved of my relationship with Megatronus. I cannot imagine his stance on that will have changed, if he still walks amongst us.  His influence has always been extraordinarily grand. Smokescreen looks up to him. It would take next to nothing for him to convince the Guard to ignore the Optimus’ final wishes and…. I can’t even force myself to write the glyphs necessary…

Alpha Trion could ruin everything. He could take my job… my Conjunx. He could undo what little good I have been able to achieve in expanding access to records to the public. He would be a powerful voice for functionalism that just may be exactly the last push needed to turn our political mess into the same disaster it was pre-war. Him and that…. Primus forsaken Covenant of his ruined my life… So why do I miss him? 

As I sit here in my berth with my Champion in recharge beside me, I am reminded of what love is supposed to feel like. It is not distant and cruel. It does not… force another into something they are not. I had no choice in anything my entire life. I did everything I was supposed to do for millennia. It was never enough to earn his love or his attention. 

I do not understand how anyone can blame me for choosing Megatronus over everything Alpha Trion wanted me to become. Megatronus showed me love. He showed me warmth, and touch and affections, even before our relationship became romantic… he was always warm and encouraging. He made me wish to truly live and not merely float through life in a desperate attempt to gain the affections of my Sire. 

Megatronus reminded me that I am allowed to be a person, that I am allowed to want things for myself, that I was more than what I was allowed to be. I gave up so much of myself for Alpha Trion that I forgot who I even was. I am almost as afraid of going back to that mode of existence as I am of being trapped once more. 

I do not regret choosing Megatronus. I will stand firm in my choice until my spark extinguishes. Megatronus saved me, and I am uncertain if he even realizes it. He showed me what it means to love someone and be loved in return. The love I share with Megatronus is nothing like that with Alpha Trion, but I was given a perspective of love that taught me what it is and what it is not. Megatronus and I love one another unconditionally and affection is given freely when desired, it is not hoarded to be used as a special treat when one behaves. Even though I miss him terribly, I pray that he is never found. It pains me to wish that he is offline for good, but I am certain that he would do all he could to punish me for going against his desires, harming his precious brother and for embarrassing him in the Senate that cycle. I know that his approval is impossible, so it is best, for me, at least, that wherever he is; he stays buried. 

[Report Received: Visibility Status - Seen]

[sadnesslaughs]

You died, you met a god(dess), and you got offered a new life in another world with the usual package -- OP powers, a personal harem, the works. Smelling a scam, you refused. That pissed them off.

(A response to a writing prompt)

“The fuck do you mean, I’m good?” Her perfect face contorted, lips closing in on each other as she gave a threatening pout. “No one refuses this. I don’t even have a Plan B, that’s how rare this is. So, take your stupid hero fantasy before I shove it straight up your-“

“LANGUAGE!”

“I CREATED LANGUAGE, I’LL USE IT AS I PLEASE.” An aura of holy light raged around her, blinding me momentarily. When it cleared, her blonde hair had become frayed, with strands standing in all directions.

I didn’t know what to say, rocking on the chair as I tried to think of a way to pacify her. “I’m not interested in the whole hero thing. I didn’t really enjoy those stories when I was a kid, felt a little cliché.”

“What about a harem? Beautiful ladies, who wouldn’t want that? Some may even rival my beauty.” She said, flicking her hair, which wasn’t helping the bad hair day she was having.

“I don’t need a harem. I just want to find the perfect person. Someone who gets me.” I explained, not wanting to mention that while I would love a person as beautiful as her, I wouldn’t want them to have a similar personality.

“Nerd.” she whispered.

“What was that?”

“Nothing, nothing. Such a nerdy answer.” She whispered again, although she did it a little louder, as if she wanted me to hear the nerd part. “Look, what about super powers? You could be Batman.”

“Batman doesn’t have any powers.”

“Huh? Yes he does.” She rummaged through her desk, pulling out trinkets, fire staffs and a limited edition copy of Batman. She pointed to the cover and smirked. “Bat-Man.” she drawled. “His powers are in the title. He’s a bat.”

She said it so smugly that I almost wanted to let it slide, feeling that any answer I gave her would be the wrong one. “Actually… He’s a guy in a suit with a lot of money. Well, not ‘just’ a guy, but he doesn’t have any powers.”

She peeled off the pristine wrapping, flipping through the pages, before laughing. “Ma-ha!”

I tilted my head, wondering what was so funny. Maybe the Joker had told a joke that tickled her funny bone? When she saw me looking, she turned the comic around, pointing to his dead parents.

“THEY GOT SHOT. MA-HA, How funny. Why did they not simply bribe their goddess and get resurrected? Are they stupid? What shoddy writing. Ah, that’s funny. You mortals do know your comedy.” She wiped a tear from her eye, tossing the comic onto her table.

I didn’t have the psychiatric skills necessary to dissect her humor, steering the conversation elsewhere. “Why do you have that, anyway?”

“Oh, this old thing? Some guy died while holding it. Think he got stabbed while fighting for it in a parking lot outside of a Mcdonalds. You would be surprised how many Mcdonald’s related deaths I see.”

“Because of the food?”

“No, carpark brawls. Do you humans set up a fighting arena there or something? Wait? MA-HA-HA-HA, MA-HA!” She smacked her table with her fist, creating a dent in it. My stomach turned, feeling I didn’t want to know what was so funny. Beyond my better judgement, I asked.

“What’s so funny?”

“M…MA….MAHAHAHAHAHA.” She struggled to speak, laughing for a solid two minutes before wiping more tears from her eyes. “Ah, well, that guy that gave me the comic wished he was Batman. So, he had to watch his parents die. Isn’t that funny?”

I sat there horrified, listening to her laugh, before she stopped, looking at my face.

“You mortals don’t have a sense of humor. People die all the time, build a bridge and get over it. Look, you’re getting your powers or a new job/world, so pick something and hurry up. I haven’t got all day.”

“Technically, you-“

“Technically, you should be very careful about what you say, unless you want to be his Robin.”

“How do you even know that? You didn’t even know Batman had powers.”

“I’m a quick reader.” She bragged, somehow gaining all that lore from a simple flick through the pages. It was scary how much power she held, having a dominating energy that made the room feel heavy, like she was a whirlpool and I was trapped in her vortex.

I had to choose something, but what? She looked like she operated on genie rules, which made things dangerous. I doubt anything I picked would end well for me. What task would be relatively safe? “What’s life like for a goddess and her fellow afterlife dwellers?”

She thought about it before shrugging. “Eh, it’s fine. Unlimited food, can sleep as long as you want, access to infinite knowledge, that sort of stuff. Why?”

“Was curious. What about the people that work here? I’m sure you have secretaries and helpers.”

She raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms over her chest. “They live comfortably. None of the gods or goddesses would allow them to be tormented. It would make us all look bad.” Suspicion poisoned her tone, making it obvious I needed to act quick.

“I’ll be your assistant then. That’s what I want.”

“NO!” She stomped her foot. “Go and get killed in some other world. I need entertainment. It’s so boring here. You idiots are the only things keeping me sane.”

“You said I could pick anything, right? Powers/jobs. I chose a job.”

She thought about it before sulking, leaning against her desk. “Fine, but I hope you know I’ll subject you to the worst working conditions that the afterlife allows. A whole hour of work without a break. Well, you get one twenty-minute break, but no additional breaks.” She smirked, calling this a victory for herself.

If I was going to survive this job, I needed to learn to play into her ego. I held my chest, dramatically turning towards the exit. “A whole hour. I can’t do it. That’s basically one whole portion of my day.”

“MA-HA. You can’t escape my wrath. You will work that whole hour, and you will like it. I’m going to make you do all the horrible tasks, like restocking the fridge and picking up my groceries. You’ll be exhausted.”

“NOOOOOO.” I screamed, dropping to my knees. “No..” I let out a whimper before breaking character. “Um, do I have somewhere to stay?”

“Duh, the hotel where everyone stays. You just walk into the elevator and it zaps you into your room.”

“Where is the hotel?”

“Ugh, I’ll take you there.”

I expected a tour. Instead, she flicked my forehead, flinging me through a portal. The portal flashed a rainbow of colors until I was on my back in the lobby of a hotel. The hotel was gorgeous, filled with beautiful angelic statues, a vending machine with free snacks and a whole decorated marble floor. I picked myself up, finding the entrance empty. There was a front desk, but since no one was operating it, I explored the area myself, stumbling towards the elevator.

Inside the elevator, I expected to find buttons, only for a beam to zap my body, throwing me onto a bed. The bed, made of an angelically soft material, almost lulled me to sleep with just a touch. Pulling myself out of its comforting grip, I rolled out of bed, seeing the rest of my room.

Calling it a room was an understatement. It was a home. Having everything a person could want. Gym, living room, pool, spa, sauna and kitchen. All of this wrapped in a clean and gold themed room, with glittery bits of gold adorning the tables and cabinets. After getting some bottled water from the fridge, I laid down, resting my head on the pillow.

A ring echoed through the room before the goddess appeared on a cushion. At least I thought it had been a cushion. The cloud shaped device floating off the bedside table, hovering in front of me, giving her a good view of my face. Like any old person, she had her face pressed against the camera, so I could only see the bridge of her nose and part of her eyes. Seems a thousand year old goddesses suffered from the same problems as sixty-year-old mortals.

“Ma-ha. I hope you get a good sleep because you’ll be working early tomorrow. That’s right, be ready to wake up at 1pm! MA-HA. You’ll be a tired mess all day.” She laughed before stepping away from the camera, pouting. “How do I turn this off?” I saw her lips moving again, but no sound was coming from the device.

“I think you hit the mute button.”

She mouthed something and then made a laughing motion, so I could only assume it was an insult. She hit another button, which only made the camera switch around, showing her office. After another attempt, she turned it off.

“She’s really bad with technology. Maybe I should help her out with it tomorrow?” I wondered, giving the cloud device a look over. It looked like a type of phone, but I still wasn’t entirely sure what to call it. Deciding to leave it for tomorrow, I closed my eyes, getting ready for my ‘early’ start tomorrow.

[alice--pallas]

Alice breathed an audible sigh of relief when she heard her brother's voice, glad to finally see someone she actually wanted to be around. She immediately noticed the dark circles under his eyes and his unkempt blonde curls and could only imagine the toil that he'd been dealing with over the past forty-eight hours. Sure, maybe he wasn't in the exact same sort of physical pain that Alice was but her blonde counterpart had no doubt been fraught with worry, trying to pacify Rhea's worries all the while pretending that he wasn't having those same exact worries. The surgeon had been very clear in their post-op discussion: she could have died. She was damn lucky to be alive. She was indebted to both Astarion and, like or not, Kaz for helping to get her to the hospital before it was too late. It was a debt that she wasn't sure she'd actually be able to repay.

See I knew we were twins for a reason. This made her chuckle a bit which in turn, made her wince in pain, though she tried her best to hide it (though she wasn't sure how convincing she actually was in her current state). "Yeah, well, it's been a while since I've been an outright fucking bitch so I figured I'd give it a go," she said, her tone drier than usual. She usually was the more sunny, optimistic twin by a long shot but right now, she didn't have it in her. It was too exhausting, too taxing. It hurt too much. Literally.

Ouch. Sounds like Nurse Susie kinda' sucks. Giving the smallest of shrugs, she said "Eh, I guess she's okay... I'm sure she's annoyed that she has to deal with me and all my whining. I know she'd give anything to give me morphine so I would shut the hell up. But no dice." It was times like these that she wished she could go back and tweak parts of her life--not gonna' lie, it would be pretty damn helpful to skip over the entirety of her heroin addiction. But that's not how this shit worked and she knew that. Still, she wished sometimes that life could be easier and that perhaps she could take the chance and not have to worry about her life being derailed all for some relief from her gunshot and surgery. But as she'd said, no dice. When Cyrek offered Aleve, she nodded her head and said "Yes, please," holding her hand out for the pills.

I can bring Rhea by later. Alice was relieved when he mentioned her daughter. "Thank you so, so much for taking care of her--you know how much that means to me." She'd felt conflicted about seeing her daughter: on one hand, she obviously wanted to see Rhea, especially since she'd been so terrified that she would never see her sweet child's face again as she laid in that graveyard, her blood soaking her pink Halloween costume; on the other hand, though, she didn't want Rhea to see her life this and be afraid. Rhea shouldn't have to worry about those sorts of things. Still, she knew it was important that above all, her daughter know that she was still here. And she was going to be okay. "How's she doing?... Is she okay?"

Think matchin' stomach problems means we're a step away from joinin' Caleb in the losers' club. His bad joke conjured another dry chuckle from Alice and she shut her eyes tight at the sharp pain in her side that immediately followed after. "Stop making me laugh, damn it--besides, I'm not planning on joining Caleb for quite a while. Though for a second there..." she trailed off, her faint smile starting to dissipate. "For a second there, I really thought I might... Thank god for Astarion--and Kaz, of all fucking people. I'm gonna' be indebted to him now, for, like... Forever. I'm never gonna' get to write my op-ed now." Even posted up in a hospital bed, she was still thinking about work. Perhaps she should come to terms with being a workaholic--it was better than other kinds of addictions, right? Besides, she had an inkling that her work was what had put her in this fucking hospital bed in the first place. She didn't have any proof (yet) but she was worried that she'd gone barking up the wrong tree and someone had sent that gunman to shut her up for good. And as terrifying as that was, it was also confirmation that Alice had been on the right track.

Feel like trash or is it somethin' else? "I mean, I do feel like trash, that's for fucking sure. But... I'm also scared, Cy... I'm afraid that...some stuff that I've been looking into for work is...what caused this to happen. I don't know for sure yet, I can't be certain, but... You know I have a hard time minding my own damn business. And if someone really did target me, if someone sent that bitch out with a revolver specifically looking for me, trying to shut me up, then... It means that I'm on the right track, it means that this trail is actually leading to something. But... I can't put Rhea in danger. I can't put you and everyone else in danger. But all that work I've done just to give it all up... It's wrong."

"Call off the dogs. S'just me."

Opposing her fractious cadence, Cyrek was the bare fingers extinguishing an open flame, the circles beneath his eyes blotted a deeper shade of roseate as sleep had evaded him for the better part of the first couple of days. He'd stayed until her condition looked stable, and in the agonizing hours before that, he'd suffered the tailspin of his mental status jerking him around from remorseful to downright lachrymose in the hard-backed hospital chairs until he'd found refuge laying his head on Stella's chest, pacified by her fingers running through his hair. The grueling hours whilst his fraternal twin was stuck in the limbo of an OR room had him whittling down his fingernails with his teeth, and fueled the emotionally-driven conversations that no one wanted to face at times like these — hepatectomy was a big word, as was anesthesia for a bundled set of siblings with known heart issues, and he'd turned to Stella at some point to murmur, "Y'know if anythin' happens, it's us she's gonna trust to take care of Rhea, right?" ( Years before they dated, he would've expected Stella to go sheet-white at the thought of another child being placed in her custody, and she had bawled her makeup off the Hanukkah he'd given her the gift of such guardianship, to prove that whether or not they were titled as husband and wife, he wanted her to fulfill a bigger role in looking after them, protecting them. Stella had more than earned a legal role awarded back to her for Joelle, and she deserved to feel like a real stepmother, even if her confidence in herself wavered mercurially. But this was grim and no ordinary situation, and it wasn't like Stella had the little white pill problem to make a second go-around. She practically baby-proofed every inch of his kitchen the second she found out she was pregnant. )

Because who else was going to do it? Haerin, maybe, but it was Cyrek's namesake that Alice had sought out in passive conversations, because taking one's life out of the hands of addiction meant thinking about the future. ( Ironic, because he really still hadn't given a flying fuck about his own until he was neck-deep in his current serious relationship. Something about Stella's devotion to bettering herself made him rethink his lifelong battle with death itself. )

"See, I knew we were twins for a reason," Cyrek snarked as he plopped himself down in the seat nearest to the bed, instant regret coursing through his veins whenever he was reminded he really didn't have padding on his own arse for it, pushing his unkempt blonde curls out of his face and adjusting the beanie sitting atop his head. The amount of time he had already spent in the room was a little excessive, if only because Stella had corralled him in when she temporarily left to pick up the kids from Kael's and take them straight to Evren's and returned — to his surprise — with leftovers she'd cooked nights prior and a handful of his clothes. ( She had a way of doing that. He wouldn't have expected her to take second thought to it, but she managed to continue making eye-opening gestures that fluttered in his heart. ) "Ouch. Sounds like Nurse Susie kinda sucks. I got some Aleve in my jacket, if you want it." Because every square inch of his fucking body ached right now, which he figured stemmed from the stomach problems. It kept him going, and his DOC didn't involve sniffing a crushed pill. "Uh-huh. Definitely just that," he was subdued in his sarcasm, without outright interrogating her for it, eyelids painted with a sparkly red shadow half-mast as he reclined in the chair, watching her flip through the channels as he propped a leg over his opposite knee, cocking a brow. "I can bring Rhea by later. Stella dropped 'em all off at daycare, she's workin' doubles and I just got off the earlybird at the station." He should be asleep, to be honest, and there was nothing he hated more than hospitals — one look at Alice's disgruntled visage told him she didn't exactly fare well being alone, either. "So. Think matchin' stomach problems means we're a step away from joinin' Caleb in the losers' club," he half-joked, turning his face back towards the other blonde and splitting his lips to form a deadbeat grin. It was easier to joke about it than with Sam, who was tight-lipped about his identical twin. Found lying face-down and drowned at your own hand on a beach would probably do that to a person. ( He would've done it to himself, too, but he'd kind of turned that leaf over and broke his own rules. Cyrek had avidly avoided promising he'd never try to kick his own chair under his legs again, and as Stella kissed his temple as the calendar turned to November and his red-rimmed eyes scoured the walls for answers, he mumbled it: I don't wanna do that no more. It hasn't seriously crossed my mind in a long time. ) "Feel like trash or is it somethin' else?"

[op-imaginesandmore]

How would Issho/Fujitora, Doflamingo, Smoker, Arlong, and Gin react to their s/o dying in their arms? (human s/o for all of them including Arlong) Sorry there are so many the posts you've made so far I've enjoyed immensely. I love your style of writing! (:

I know it’s been *checks notes* actual years since I have touched this blog, but I kinda wanted to try my hand at a few of the asks I have in my inbox. I’m going to do just Smoker, and with each of the asks with multiple characters I will pick the one I am most comfortable with writing and go from there. I hope you like it! And also, to anyone who reads this and likes it, thank you! But my ask box will remain closed until…idk, probably a long time. I don’t want to get any one’s hopes about about anything.

Pairing: Smoker x GN!reader

Warnings: Angst, character death (you asked for it), mild descriptions of injury, mentions of blood, implied smut (mildest of spice), unbeta’d if that is a warning

***

The OP was supposed to be a simple one. Get in, do reconnaissance, stay under the radar, come back with what info they needed on the pirate crew, get out.

No one thought Big Mom herself was going to recognize Y/N, because you were good at your job. You had been spying for the government for years, you’d worked with Smoker as one of his subordinates, had infiltrated countless pirate crews, revolutionary bases, treasonous scum that thought they could get away with anything, and had always succeeded in your job.

Lay low, go unnoticed, get the info, come back to him. It was a perfectly organized system that was like clock work, each gear turning for the purpose of civilian protection, and justice.

Until now.

Blood soaked the beach he was kneeling on, who’s it was, he had no idea. Could be his, was probably the pirates’ that were scattered around the Vice-Admiral like debris after a storm, but what infuriated him most was it was most definitely yours.

Wheezes, broken and wet, escaped from your lips, swollen eyes looking up into stoic grey that was like looking into twin hurricanes. Anger, righteous and intense, swirled around with frustration, concern, grief, and an emotion you knew from your quiet moments between soft sheets and the hard planes of his body.

So gentle you barely felt it, he lifted you from the sand like something precious, your blood dripping down his arms and pooling beneath your broken body. Your eyes, swollen and bruised, squinted up at him and a soft smile cracked painfully across your lips.

“Hey handsome” you rasped, a cough that was soaked with blood spurting out. Smoker put a large hand through your matted hair, jaw clenching as he tightened his hold on you.

“I’m gonna get you to the ship’s infirmary” he seethed through his teeth, the usual multiple cigars he kept there like pacifiers long gone. He made to get up, but the cry that came from your lips was shrill and heartbreaking. He immediately stopped, holding you to his chest in a hold soft enough for a newborn.

“I know it hurts, but you need-“

“Do you remember Alabasta?”

Smoker stopped, looking down at your broken body that had the audacity to be giving him the smile that always managed to make his heart flutter in his chest like a crushing school girl’s. He swallowed thickly, not trusting his voice and opting for a nod.

“You were such a baby about Strawhat, I thought you were going to implode when he had his crew mate save your life.” You reached a trembling hand to his face, stroking the rough stubble of his jaw. Almost involuntarily, Smoker leaned into the soft touch, turning his head to kiss your palm as memories of their time on the desert island came to mind.

It had been the first time you had ever yelled at him, calling him reckless and blind. Telling him you were thankful for Strawhat, grateful he had saved his “stupid, sorry, ass” so you had the chance to give him a piece of your mind. He had retaliated with a practiced speech about being your superior, about how you should worry more about your job than what he was doing, how you shouldn’t talk to him like that.

Then you had the nerve to yell at him that you didn’t have a choice but to worry about him. When he yelled at you back about the why, instead of answering him you kissed him square on the mouth.

Their first kiss was in the moment, it was all teeth clacking and sudden and Smoker had been blindsided, but also hadn’t been. The two of you had been flirting with the line between officer and government agent for months at that point, subtle glances and bold, shameless flirting on your part had morphed into soft and subtle touches and hours of listening to you talk about everything and anything.

When the shock of it had worn off a second after you started kissing him, he hadn’t expected for himself to kiss you back. He had adjusted your chin, softened the kiss, and wrapped his arms possessively around your waist and lifted you, your legs wrapping around his own waist in a way that sent chills down his spine as he carried you to his desk. He set you down upon it, gentle as can be, but your legs stayed around his waist, his hips grinding into yours in a way that had him growling. Your lips had been like soft, plush, velvet on his own chapped ones, tongue sinful in its exploration, running against his to beg for entrance.

The two of you broke apart, you were panting, your face flush as you put your head on his chest and listened to the quick thumping of his heart. He smelled like a cigar, a hint of sweet fruit in a haze of earth and smoke that always managed to make your head spin. A smile tugged at the corners of your mouth as you licked the taste of him from them.

“I worry about you because I care about you Smoker” you looked up at him, your eyes twinkling in the soft glow of the sunlight coming in through the porthole of his cabin “probably more than what’s appropriate for a working relationship, but I don’t want to hide it anymore.” You put your hand on his face, stroking the apple of his cheek in a way no one had ever dared touch him before “if you don’t want this though, we can stop right now and never talk about it a-“

Smoker was kissing you again, softer but with a passion that turned your whole body into jelly that molded into his. It was brief, too brief for your liking but he was looking at you with a smoldering gaze that promised more.

“We do this, we tell no one.” He said with conviction “I can’t have my subordinates thinking I have favorites, and fraternizing could get me and you in a lot of trouble.”

You nodded, understanding alighted in your eyes as you coyly bit your kiss swollen bottom lip.

“If that means I get to see your smoke powers at work in the bedroom, I’ll take an oath of silence”

He felt his body react, his hardened length against your thigh making you squeeze your legs together, bringing him impossibly closer.

Smoker’s chest tightened at the memory.

“I’m glad” you said, swollen gaze growing distant “that it all happened the way it did. The last year and a half has been the best of my life” another cough, violent and cracking in its intensity that it had you whimpering into Smokers chest, and his eyes were burning with the tears that were inevitable now.

“Y/N-“ Smoker started, the deep rumble of his voice cracking “baby, you’re gonna be fine, let’s just-“ he took a breath, steeling himself to try and lift you up again, but your head falling limp against his chest stopped him, made the breath leave his lungs and, for the first time in a very long time, Smoker felt true terror grip his careful self control.

“Y/N?” His voice, so unlike the commanding bass it usually was, soft and broken as the body he held “Y/N? Sweetheart c’mon, wake up” he shook you, your head lolling to one side and then the next awkwardly, before it rested back on his chest and Smoker realized your uneven breathing had stopped, the rasping, painful breaths gone quiet and the only sounds to be heard on the bloodied beach were Smoker’s own uneven hyperventilating “Y/N please! You-you can’t do this! Baby, c’mon-open those pretty eyes, please! Y/N? Y/N!”

He held on tight to your body as he slowly broke down, the tears running rivers down his face that had smudges of your blood on it from holding your body up to it, his face buried into your hair as if he could revive you if he held on a little tighter, begged a little harder to whatever god or devil would listen. His cries broke through the silence, their only companion the lapping of water against the sand and gore. He rocked back and forth, clinging to your lifeless body like it was the only thing keeping him tethered to the earth.

That was how Tashigi found her Vice-Admiral, sobbing into your hair as he begged you to wake up. Her heart shattered into a million pieces, but she had to keep him moving, had to remind him of the duty he still held.

“Vice-Admiral Smoker?” She breathed, caution in her tone, heartbreak threatening to pull her under when his breath caught. He looked up at Tashigi with a tsunami of emotions that she had never seen him display. Heartbreak and grief worked in tandem to make the ever stoic and statuesque officer crumble to his knees.

“I’ve gathered the survivors of our platoon, we’re awaiting your orders, sir”

There was a pregnant pause that seemed to stretch for an eternity, Smoker looking down at his dead lover, the emotions that had been raging across his face draining from his being, and was replaced once again with the careful stoicism that his position required of him.

He got up slowly, you still cradled against his chest as he looked out at the horizon. It was another long moment before he spoke.

“We bury our dead, then we take the fight to the one who started this.” There was a fury in his words that struck fear into Tashigi, a fear for how reckless her Vice-Admiral was about to be against a Yonko.

“But Smo-“

“Did I fucking stutter?” He whipped his head around, the grey of his eyes burning with an unbridled rage that seemed barely contained “I’m not gonna rest until every last piece of filth that carries the name of Charlotte are wiped from every ocean from the East Blue to Raftel.” He glanced down at the body in his arms, a soft, broken look before the rage hit again.

“They’re gonna pay for what they’ve taken, I’ll make sure of it personally.”

[luke-reviews-things]

Digimon Adventure: (2020) Quick Review #1 – Episodes 1-3 (Our War Game?)

Hi everyone, I’ve decided to write two kinds of reviews to the episodes so I can basically cover both my initial thoughts on groups of episodes and then write separate reviews for individual episodes where I get into the nitty gritty of it all. Expect the reviews to be relatively positive as I’ve really enjoyed the first ten episodes but I do have a few minor gripes that seem pretty common which I’ll get into as and when they crop up. To start with, I’ll be focusing on the first three episodes which are kind of obviously paying homage to Our War Game.

Things I loved:

1.     Digimon is back! This is a given but I am so happy that the series has been given a second life and can be updated to a more modern adventure. I loved the 90’s setting of the original but given this is such a technology-oriented story it has become a time capsule very quickly. I’m excited to see how modern advances in tech will be included.

2.     Introducing the main cast slowly is something I am really happy with. In the original we were introduced to all the characters at the same time which was fine, but given that to a lot of the viewers this is going to be a re-introduction to an updated set of beloved characters, it’s nice to be able to get a feel for the “new” personalities of Taichi, Koushiro and Yamato. Up to now my favourite is probably Koushiro.

3.     They’re not telling the exact same story of the original show which I am thrilled about. I’ve seen a lot of hate on Reddit that the show is too different from the original and therefore less good. That, in my opinion, is lunacy. If you want the old story, go watch the old story! As a viewer I would be so bored watching a copy of the original with a few small changes. I feel the same about over-comparing the pacing and what had happened by certain points in the original. I simply do not understand that mentality. Different does not necessarily mean good or bad.

4.     The constant connection to the real world and how it’s affected by happenings in the Digital World (or the network in these episodes). One of my favourite parts of the original was time spent in the real world so this makes it all the more entertaining for me.

5.     The little introduction at the start of each episode that explain the premise of the series is very cool and keeps it short with the basic need to know information. There’s not much else to say about it.

6.     The OP and ED are both high energy which I always love in an anime. The most recent example I can think of is Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba which I just finished. The OP is my favourite visually, especially the part where there are stills of the characters and their partners/crests quickly appearing one after the other (pictured). I prefer the ED song and I like that Yamato gets some focus, especially as we don’t know much about him at this point, a little teasing of his personality and backstory is nice.

Things I’m okay with:

1.     Omegamon/Omnimon appearing in the beginning. Did it feel a little soon for me? Yes. That said, I’ve never been a massive fan of this ‘mon. It’s a cool idea and I love the symbolism of what he represents but to me I’m happier seeing WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon individually. He’s also not really a surprise anymore as a returning viewer and any new viewer doesn’t know the significance anyway, so it allows for a cool moment. I’ll get into the scene itself more in the episode review.

2.     That the crests are already appearing rather than them needing to go on a quest for them. It was great in the original as a second arc but would definitely feel repetitive if they did it again. I’m glad they seem to be skipping over it at least a bit.

Missed opportunities?

I feel like they could have (alternatively) introduced the characters at the camp. I think this would have kept some of the purists a bit more pacified but also would have been interesting to have Takeru there but not Yamato. It appears they do not live together so it would have been interesting to see it play out this way and the other chosen children not find out they are sibling until later. I did like Joe’s cameo and Sora’s brief introduction, setting her up for her focus episode. I was content in the end with the short little cameos.

 I don’t think I’ve missed anything but if I have I’ll be sure to include it in the individual reviews. Also, when I say review I can only really give a grade based on how entertained I was and how well it compares to other episodes in the current series. Any comparison to the original will either be nostalgia or referential to some improvement the new series has made, not to say the old version did it better.

[hoseoksactualass]

Riding Jimin’s face? Imagine his plump lips and his moans 🥺

 are u telling me to imagine something i’ve imagined 123456789987654323456 times anon? bcos yes. let me imagine that. ure a lucky anon bcos i am so in the mood to thirst and write rn so this is prolly gonna be long hehehehe

You thought Hoseok’s apartment’s kickback alcove was where you and Jimin would be fucking by now, but you’re just getting him priding himself over the fact that he’s actually beating someone at a video game. It’s a scoop off the living room wall that can fit five people, but Jimin’s ass sits on the edge like losing his kill streak would spit on his dignity.

You back should be on the wall, save for the throw pillows about to deluge you, but the lazy stretch in your legs is enough to make a point. You’d been losing in purpose to bore him, and it’s not like you wouldn’t lose anyway if you tried, but it only botches the pride of a man who has a history of daring to compete with god tier gamers like Jungkook or Tae. 

“I am demolishing you,” he says. A lack of context would make it sound better. 

“Biology is my excuse,” you huff. Admittedly, losing to Park Jimin still sucked. 

You can skip the 5-second respawn, but you let it count down to 0. “Maybe I am good and have just been playing with Taehyung and Jungkook too much.”

“Now your head’s just getting in your ass,” you scoff. 

“It’s not bad if it feels good,” he chuckles, a cute string of squeaks, but now you’re just ticked off. 

You give the room a good gaze. It’s like those Sims houses where you get everything in bulk when you’re rich enough. It’s genial— from the patterns in the throw pillows to the carpet under the coffee table a few steps to the right from the alcove, and it gets all tied together with white paint. Rich. Something Hoseok bought to sleep in, take pictures of, and flex before he whips himself out into the streets like parallel parking doesn’t make him screech. It’s even once or twice he’d touched this console ever since he bought it, so he’s handed the whole place (and console) to the pair of you for the time being as if that’s what will pacify you as Jung Hoseok leaves to party. Like this apartment is still so new, and he’s still so scared to leave it unmanned. You have the whole place to yourself, and you have no idea why Hoseok picked Jimin when all the pair have been doing their whole lives was complain about each others’ dorm habits. 

“Penny for your thought, babe,” his voice is soft against your ear. You thought now that he’s put two and two together and seen that you’ve zoned out and stopped playing, he’s all over you. You pretend like you don’t snap back into reality.

“Mm— it’s nothing, just bored,” you sit still, eyes still somewhere on the room like you weren’t done gazing. 

“Losing is boring, I know,” he mocks, following with a chuckle too loud and breathy to be close to your ear, so you move your head away with a scowl on your face. “Okay, I’ll stop. What time is it?”

He chases your lips, soft pecks that disrupt your speech and ability to even get up and check the time, because the softness is just too captivating. “Sex-in-the-5th-room-of-this-house time, but we’re late on that thanks to your outdated black ops streak,” you sigh as he lays you down. 

“Ah, that’s what you’ve been thinking about?,” you can feel his smirk on your neck, his sweater paws soft on your hips. 

He makes you sound like a fucking minx, but you know that’s what Jimin likes. “No, i was thinking about arranging furniture with you– Yes, Jimin,” you retort, and he chuckles as he leaves sticky kisses on you. 

“I owe you an apology, then, miss,” he kisses your chest. 

“You owe me more than that,” you try not to grin when you push him down and straddle him, his arms slightly lifted from the elbow almost in defense, but when you take your shirt off, he welcomes you taking charge with a smirk. “Hands where I can see them.”

He slowly lifts them, joins his wrists above his head like he’s done this before. You pull your hair tie off, flip it to one side for the effect, and Jimin bites down on his lip even more when you unbutton his pants. It takes a little shimmy off his waist, because it’s skintight and makes his thighs look glorious, but bare like now is something that can never lose. You pull them off with his boxers. 

“Touch yourself,” you command, eyeing him with a look that told him how pretty he was at this second. 

“I’m so dry—”

“Is that my problem?”

He’s shut up at that, bringing one hand down to his mouth, and you smile at the little spitting sound he makes. He doesn’t break eye contact when he lowers his hand to his cock. The room is silent enough that you hear the slow strokes. “Oh.”

“Now you’re enjoying, hm?,” you swat his hand away so he returns it above his head and replace the strokes with your own. Tight and warm, and it makes his hips cant up.

You’re comfortably sat next to him, cock in hand like you’re doing this all night, and you pump him all the way up and down in taut strokes that has the red of his skin showing from under the neckline of his sweater. 

“You like what you’re getting, babe?,” you titter. He has to swallow before he speaks, throat dry with the breathy moans he’s just let out with his mouth agape. 

“Y-Yes.”

“Don’t wanna beat me with your little controller all day anymore?”

“I don’t—anggh-,” he whimpers, hips bucking when you suddenly pick up your pace. But he keeps his hands above his head like a good boy. “Fuck fuck fuck fuck.”

You lower yourself, bring your lips to his jaw, and he cranes his chin up to let you kiss him there. You hum as you do, trying to keep the quick pace in his cock as he whimpers above you, in dire need to touch you, but he knows better than to step out of your dirty plans for now. With your free hand, you lift his sweater up, drag your hand across the tense skin, feel the pull of his muscles with every jerk. “You’re so hard. Wanna cum?”

“Fuck—please, yes,” he curses. 

“Don’t cum,” you calmly say, and his moan rolls off as a forced growl in frustration. You bring the tip of your free finger to his nipple, playing with the bud until it hardened. He hisses. “Sensitive here, babe?”

“Y-Yeah, keep—keep doing that,” he tries so hard not to buck his hips up. All his nerves are lit with his battle against an orgasm and the magic of your fingers teasing the parts that made him blush. You play with the nipple more. “Hnngh—fuck-”

With a tight squeeze, you slow down, and a strangled moan leaves the wet of Jimin’s lips, but his body relaxes, and he catches his breath. “You’ll have to wait a bit to cum.”

He gulps, lifting his head to see what you’re up to next, face red and sweaty. He watches the way you easily slip out of your boyfriend jeans, and he wishes he could pull those panties off you, but that wasn’t his role today. You kick your underwear off and unclasp your bra. Jimin is full of love and cum, and it shows in the red of the tip of his cock, resting on his abdomen— an invitation for touch you pretend you don’t want to accept just yet. 

“Do I make you feel good?”

“Yes. Very.”

“I’ll give you the next move.”

He lowers his hands to push himself up on his elbows, ogling you up and down, and he licks his lips. “Let me taste you.”

Now it’s you who bites your lip as you carefully straddle his head. Jimin stays hard with the visual above him, your body curved, tits bare and perked up in the air. He wraps his arm around your thighs firmly, encouraging you to dip down on his lips, and he starts with collected licks— for the sole purpose of tasting you. 

Then when he’s sure he has you dripping to your inner thighs and your eyes already in your head, he indulges. Lips in a small O just snug enough to fit your clit and to suckle on it like punishment. 

“Oh—Oh, Jimin-,” you moan, trying to keep your hips still. He watches you, unaware of any place to put your hands on but your breasts, and he intently watches as you fondle yourself. Prides himself with the fact he’s under you and could still make you a writhing mess. He sucks with eager attention, vigor on his lips, and he feels every twitch of your body that stems from the inside. “Fuck—that’s so good.”

Then he slows his pace to soft, wet kisses that calm you down and tease you at the same time. You’re lost in a haze and can fully admit that’s what Jimin’s mouth does. His cock twitches when you roll your hips to grind your pussy down on him, and he thinks you do it so beautifully. He hums low as he sticks his tongue out, flattens it and moves his head up and down across your clit, slowly building up the speed to see you try so hard to keep still again. 

“R-Right there—shit,” you squeeze yourself, an impulse in your hands you have nowhere to release but on the heat of your body. You compose yourself enough to look down at him, and he makes instant eye contact, pupils dilated and dark in lust. He closes his lips again, sucking. “T-Touch your cock for me.”

His grip around your thigh tightens as he frees one hand to touch himself, gripping his cock like it’s on the verge of falling off, and he touches himself slow or he’ll cum too fast. 

You start rolling your hips, and he sucks wet every time your clit slides over his lips. You’re more careful than the times Jimin would sit back and let you get off on his thigh, but something about the shiver in your breaths makes him pump his cock faster. 

Your speed grows swifter, chasing the sensation of his lips, plump on your cunt, and with every elegant thrust of your hips, Jimin tries to match with the wet drag of his hand on his cock. “Tastes so—mff—fucking good.”

The stimulation makes you clench with each second, and the both of you wish you could feel that around his cock, but in the moment, you found the setting so hot, you wouldn’t bother cumming just like this. You feel that heat somewhere inside you. “Jimin—right there—fuck-”

Jimin moans against your pussy. With a tight fist around his cock. Shameless and set out to letting you gush all over his face, and he feels that same heat in some place he couldn’t pinpoint, but the air condenses on your skins, and he knows he’s gonna cum. 

You’re a mess, hot on the tail of your orgasm. It’s right fucking there, and it repetitively chokes moans out of you as you roll your hips against his lips faster. The motion makes Jimin moan with you, coaxing it out of the both of you, and you’re so ready to erupt; you could feel it— “Hngggh— ImcummingImcumming- god—”

Jimin’s knuckles are white. He lets your taste engulf him, eyes locked on the visual of your breaths and nose perched on the scent of sex, and with determined pumps, he cums in strings he hopes doesn’t spurt on Hoseok’s alcove couch. “Nggh—shit.”

You giggle, lip bit. “Stay right there.”

He’s still panting, right where you left him when you come back with tissue papers you’ll discard outside the apartment lest you want Hoseok to find out. You wipe him up, relieved that he didn’t cum too much to stain any of the pillows, and now the pair of you are soft around the edges with love. 

“You weren’t uncomfortable or anything?”

“No. That was the hottest thing ever.”

“Really?,” you smile, laying careful on him after you had pulled your panties back on. 

“Yeah. I seriously don’t know what the fuck video games are anymore. C’mere.”

He wraps his arms around you, cock and heart soft. 

[itsclydebitches]

RWBY Recaps: “A New Approach”

A friend of mine has a van that she calls the Fun Bus. Oh that’s cute, I thought. I should chuck that into a recap sometime. “All aboard the RWBY Fun Bus!” Except my fun levels are ehhh right now, so how about we just don’t.

In fact, let’s be totally up front about things and get the major positives out of the way:

The animation this volume is absolutely stunning holy shit

I would once again die for James Ironwood. All hail the Hug King

Excellent introduction for Tyrian and Watts. I love feeling like the villains are actually dangerous again

The rest? I’ve got some things to say.

We open on Ruby looking appropriately downtrodden over their circumstances. Getting carted off in an Atlas police craft and all that. We get a pan across each side of the airship with the group looking angry (Yang) or defeated (everyone else)... with the exception of Nora, who is trying to eat through her bonds. I’m well aware that I’m nit-picking at this point, but for once I’d like the serious moments to remain serious in this show. Given her reaction to Salem, Kuroyuri, etc. we’re all well aware by now that Nora is more than just the comic relief. Undermining the others’ reactions with her making dog noises was an early cue that the writers weren’t going to treat the group’s arrest earnestly. To say nothing of the disservice it does to her character. 

Actually, there were a lot of coincidental dog references in this scene. Nora’s growling. Referring to the Ace-Ops as Ironwood’s “personal attack dogs.” Deducing that he must have a “bone to pick” with them. Obviously this all means precisely nothing. What I want it to mean is that Zwei will arrive in another package courtesy of Tai, wondering how his kids are doing after one ran off and the other went to find her.

(Seriously though, does everyone remember Volume Five’s ending with Raven? Heaven only knows when that will become relevant again.)

While Nora continues to try and eat metal like a rabid animal, Jaune expresses disbelief that the Ace-Ops “took us out like it was nothing.” Honestly, it never ceases to amaze me how often the group is surprised by other people being stronger than them. Like they’re not the youngest and least trained in a world of professional huntsmen. Rather than acknowledging their need for improvement though---callback to Ruby’s “But we already know how to fight” anyone?---Weiss frames it as an exceptionalism intrinsic to her city. “Welcome to Atlas.” You know, the same city she quickly agreed to steal from and then draw the attention of the guards by giving a racist civilian what-for. The speed with which the show flip-flops between ‘We should fear this city’ and ‘But we shouldn’t take any actual precautions’ is pretty impressive.

All of which is made weirder by Weiss’ next line to the other prisoner locked up with them: “They’re not that big of a deal.” So... which is it, Weiss? Are the Ace-Ops Ironwood’s elites who can obviously take out a group of nine in seconds flat? Or are they worth scoffing and rolling your eyes at? Because you had a rather different opinion literally seconds ago. She does the same thing when the prisoner uses the term “tyranny” to describe the situation in Mantle. She claims now that the label is a “bit much” when before the whole group decided not to approach Ironwood precisely because of how tyrannical he appeared. I swear, good chunks of the dialogue just functions as openings for the plot---let the random prisoner explain all the horrors of this city!---rather than something the character in question would actually say.

But I’m harping. We learn a bit more about Hill and her “Happy Huntresses,” clearly a parallel to Robin Hood and his band of Merry Men. I was actually surprised to learn that she’s a full-on freedom fighter, just based on her posters last episode. The number of them and their professional look felt more like Atlas’ brand of propaganda. Big brother sister is watching you and all that. Then again, we also learn that Hill is gunning for a seat on the council, so it sounds like she’s not an ally of Ironwood’s plotting betrayal, and not a radical entirely removed from him either. We’ll have to wait and see precisely where she falls in this divide between Atlas and Mantle.

That fight is treated rather cheaply by the writing though. In this episode at least. Despite providing numerous looks at how horrible things are for the citizens here, this prisoner, currently representing that fight against the elite, is depicted as an absolute buffoon. He’s not engaging in an important, glorious battle for human rights. He just chucked a brick at an airship. He’s over the top, overly passionate, crazed enough that the group is looking away as he desperately tries to convince the guards up front that these things are important. The thing is? He’s right. But the writing doesn’t encourage us to treat his cause with respect, not when he’s bouncing off the walls and yelling like a conspiracy theorist. Actually, that’s the best comparison I can think of here. It’s like if someone laying out 100% real issues with climate change were written like a crack-pot loner who believes in aliens. That’s this guy.

We’re shown again that literally everyone recognizes Weiss Schnee---does no one else in all of Remnant have white hair?---before Jaune and a few others get distracted by how pretty the view is outside. Qrow commented earlier that they were no doubt going to jail.

Spoiler! It’s not jail.

It’s Atlas Academy, animated in a truly stunning design that reminds me of Weiss’ trip to the CTV tower to contact her dad. Looking back, that skyscraper-esque building probably made her anxious for reasons outside of just the call.

“I guess we will be seeing the General,” Ruby says because yeah, why would we have the group experiencing one iota of punishment before being handed the solution to their current predicament? 

Look, anyone who follows these recaps is well aware of my feelings towards the airship debacle. I said last week that I wanted the writing to treat the group’s horrific mistakes and criminal activities seriously, but I wasn’t overly hopeful. I was right not to be. From now until the conversation about Salem, the ‘protagonists can do no wrong’ mindset that drove Volume Six is pulled out again in full force.

First, Winter sees the group in handcuffs and responds with, “You have ten seconds to take those off before I start hurting you.” Which is completely out of character to me. Does Winter adore Weiss? Without a doubt. But Winter is also a stickler for protocol and rules. This is the women who threatened to remove Qrow’s tongue over a few vague, anti-Atlas statements. She is all about devotion to her Kingdom. So how should she react when she sees a group of kids being formally brought in for charges? I don’t know, maybe find out what’s going on before demanding an immediate release? Here, Winter prioritizes the emotional assumption that Weiss and her friends are perfectly innocent as opposed to trusting that they’re in handcuffs for a reason. Which they are. Combine that with the humor of the guards scrambling to obey her with more silly sound effects and it’s once again clear that the group’s arrest was never going to be taken seriously.

Things get so much worse though. Ironwood starts apologizing to them, also working under the assumption that this was all some sort of silly mistake. Of course you shouldn’t be in handcuffs. You’re the good guys! Yang and a few others have the gall to be haughty here (yeah, how dare you arrest us after we committed multiple crimes) and for a moment I think all of this will actually amount to something when Ironwood laughs and says, “We assumed [the ship] was stolen!”

Uh yeah, goes Ruby. It... was?

Which results in a brief moment of shock and about three seconds of anger from Winter... and then that’s it. That’s all we get. Weiss interrupts her with, “I’m sorry I worried you, but we did what we had to do” which, no?? Okay first off, worrying Winter is not the issue here. She’s been worried for literally those three seconds and nothing more. Second, as I’ve established numerous times in the past, they did not “do what they had to do.” Absolutely nothing in Argus forced their hand to the point where stealing military property, fighting Cordovin, drawing that grimm, and then deliberately hiding out from Atlas authorities was justified. Why doesn’t Winter or Ironwood challenge them on this? Why the hell would two military personnel accept at face value that committing all of these crimes was necessary? Imagine your younger sister steals a car (which is in no way comparable to an Atlas airship, but let’s run with it). She and her friends then get caught by the neighbor they stole it from, started a fight instead of giving it back, endangered a bunch of other people on the road, got the police involved, and hid out until they were finally arrested. Then at the police station big sister gets angry at the officers for daring to book you and is pacified with a hug. Don’t worry, dear. I know there’s no possible way you could be in the wrong here. No reason to acknowledge, let alone address, why you thought those were acceptable actions in the first place.

Qrow is briefly called out for letting this happen, but like Maria’s comment last episode about the group being incapable of keeping a low profile, he shrugs it off with a joke. “You try stopping these kids when they have their mind set on something.” You know what these ‘jokes’ remind me of? Privilege. Stuff like “Boys will be boys ¯\_(ツ)_/¯” where people accept that change is impossible, so why would we bother calling anyone out on their mistakes? Boys are just hardwired to hurt girls and call it love. Teens are just hardwired to steal airships and call it necessary. You know what they’re like. Putting your foot down is useless because that’s just how they naturally function... and we’re all going to ignore the fact that no one else could get away with this shit. They’re the special ones exempt from repercussions. There’s a reason why both both Oscar and Ruby smile here. They know they’re not in trouble. 

What all of this boils down to is that the group is above both the law and basic decency. That’s what Cordovin, Ironwood, Winter, and the writing all tell us. It doesn’t matter how many people you endanger. What you steal. What you break in order to accomplish that. Or how long you might try to hide what you’ve done. You’re you, a nebulous acceptance that you’re somehow above everyone and everything. These kids are never going to learn anything because each time they make a mistake---even massive mistakes that put a whole city in danger---they’re rewarded with smiles and a blanket acceptance that they did what they had to do. That is beyond frustrating to me. For the love of god, let them face an actual consequence for once.

It’s not going to happen though. Even the Ace-Ops apologize for doing their job (and treat Ruby like some sort of celebrity in the process). RWBYJNRQO is painted as victims for suffering the indignity of arrest... when they did numerous things they should have been arrested for. I particularly love Weiss’, “You could have asked us some questions first.” Yes, because everyone should be in the habit of taking a criminal’s word at face value and then letting them go when they say, “I’m innocent.” Rather than acknowledging any of this, the writing has the Ace-Ops go out of their way to emphasize how special the group is. You’re kids, but only technically. You’re students, but who cares. You’re as good as us, regardless of training or qualifications. That fact remains that the group did in fact do everything they were accused of and more, something that should generate reflection on whether they’re up for being paired with professionals, rather than an insistence that they’re automatically on par with these adults who complete their missions in a legal, safe manner. If that Argus fight gets them hugs and cool new weaponry, I shudder to think what else the group can not only get away with, but be rewarded for.

Once everyone blindly bypasses one of the biggest conflicts of Volume Six, we hit on the other divisive choice this episode: Ruby lying to Ironwood about Ozpin and the relic.

Okay. I’m going to be as clear as I can here: Ruby is being a massive hypocrite. That’s it. That’s the situation. I shouldn’t have been surprised by the fandom’s reaction, and yet I somehow still was. In just a few hours I’ve seen at least twenty posts detailing how Ruby is not a hypocrite because her situation is totally different from Ozpin’s. HE can’t keep secrets. SHE can. Which is the definition of hypocrisy: the group holding someone to a moral standard that they themselves will not strive for. Are there differences between telling the group about Salem and telling Ironwood about Salem? Yes, but the decision of whether or not to tell them derives from the exact same concerns:

Ozpin: I don’t know if I should tell these kids about Salem. I don’t know if I can fully trust them. I worry that admitting the relic still has questions will result in them using one irresponsibly.

Ruby: I don’t know if I should tell Ironwood about Salem. I don’t know if we can fully trust him. I worry that admitting the relic still has a question left will result in him using it irresponsibly.

And everyone is in on it. During the elevator ride up they all want to know what Ruby will say, meaning that they’re ready and willing to lie the moment she decides that’s best. “We’ll follow your lead,” Blake says. No one pipes up with, “Hey. Why are we considering lying to Ironwood when we decided that there’s no moral justification for keeping secrets like that? Especially from an ally involved in this fight?” Except, the group obviously never decided that. Jaune was happy to keep his secret back at Beacon. Blake too. Yang is still withholding info about the Spring Maiden. They’re all perfectly happy to lie provided they’re the ones doing the lying. Someone else doing that to them though? Omg, how dare you. 

That’s hypocrisy.

(As a side note: good lord this group is so astoundingly bad at fighting a strategic war. They announce that they should be careful about what they say to Ironwood while two of Ironwood’s guards are in the elevator with them. This is a needless conversation! No one has to establish that they’ll follow Ruby’s lead! But yes, let’s talk about our plans to withhold information from the General while two of his men are very obviously listening in. We even get a shot of one guard looking over at that little tid-bit. I wouldn’t be surprised if this came back to bite them in the form of:

Guard, who I am naming Brad: “Sir, I thought you should be aware... the prisoners that just left? I overheard them discussing whether or not they would tell you something.”

Ironwood: “What? But I thought we trusted one another... did they say what this something was?”

Brad: “No, sir. They just agreed to be careful about what they said in front of you. They clearly intended to hide something though.”

Ironwood. “Huh. Now that I think about it, Ruby did interrupt Oscar when he was about to say something. And she was awfully nervous about it.”

Brad: “Sounds suspicious, sir. I’d look into it.”

Ironwood: “Right you are, Brad. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I’ll be sure you get a hefty bonus at the holiday party.”

Brad: “Thank you, sir! My husband and I appreciate it.”

Gay guards aside, this is why Ozpin was right to be cautious. This group is too hot-headed, too immature, and often too plain dense to keep world-shattering secrets safe. This moment gets put up alongside Yang’s demand that Ozpin spill all his top-secret info while the random old woman they picked up 30 seconds ago watches. They just don’t think.)

In short, they are in the same exact situation as Ozpin. Weighing truth against potential repercussions. The fact that said repercussions vary in severity---a group of teens betraying him and/or caving under the pressure vs. a potential dictator betraying them and/or caving under pressure---doesn’t matter. They’re both really bad potential outcomes and both parties are right to be cautious. So yes, I agree with Ruby’s hesitance. It’s the smart thing to do. What I don’t agree with is the characters’ and the fandom’s insistence that Ozpin is not likewise smart for doing the exact same thing. Now that Ruby has made this choice she’d better damn well acknowledge her own hypocrisy. If the writing doesn’t give us a serious moment in which the group reconsiders their actions against Ozpin in light of their recent choices, then the ‘protagonists can do no wrong’ mindset has irrevocably damaged this show. Because you can’t have Ruby making the exact same choices her mentor made and not change her perspective now that she’s had the chance to walk in his shoes. “Oh wow. Sometimes you do want to play information close to your chest. Maybe we were wrong to respond so viciously to Ozpin’s secrecy when I literally just did the exact same thing to someone else. I get it now.”

All that being said, I’d actually argue that Ironwood is in a more justified position to have that information. He’s a chosen member of Ozpin’s inner circle. Ozpin never got the chance to vet this group. He’s a fully fledged huntsmen in charge of an entire Kingdom. They’re a bunch of half-trained kids. Checking in on/taking the relic to Atlas does not require knowing about Salem’s immortality. Enacting a plan to tell the whole world about her really, really does.

Because what else is Ironwood’s end game here? The only way this plan makes any sense is if he believes that Salem is mortal. Ozpin may have failed to kill her, but if we get an entire world to attack her at once we’re bound to win! This plan straight up falls apart when you realize that defeating Salem is not a matter of more manpower. Salem’s immortality is the Achilles’ heel of this scheme, whereas fighting the good fight is something the group signed up for right from the start. Not that Ironwood’s plan is a great one, even if it were viable. I’m sorry, but plunging a whole world into despair---something that draws literal monsters out of the woodwork---is a pretty terrible idea. Ironwood’s army can’t be everywhere at once and an announcement of that proportion would cause an untold amount of death and destruction. I can sort of get Ironwood’s sacrificial perspective. Deal with the fallout because the end result (finally defeating Salem) will be worth it. “Trying to hide the truth from the world will eventually kill us all,” he says, except hiding the truth hasn’t limited humanity in the way he assumes it has. It has allowed humanity to live in peace while a select few try to figure out how to kill an immortal woman.

...speaking of, how has Ironwood not realized Salem immortality? This remains a basic if/then construction of the story that blows my mind whenever people fail to pass it. “If Ozpin has fought Salem for over a thousand years, then Salem is either immortal or reincarnating like he does.” Because nothing else is possible! I mean, maybe Ironwood does know about her immortality and he intends his plan to work for reasons I can’t fathom right now, but it’s looking really unlikely after this episode. It just astounds me that we haven’t had a single character go, “Of course she’s immortal. Why is that surprising to everyone?”

Anyway, I’ve gotten horrendously off topic plot-wise. We learn that Penny and Winter now know about the relics and Maidens---something that worries me a bit because, as a piece of technology, Penny is potentially hackable. Especially with Watts on the loose. The Ace-Ops know as well. We also learn that they’ve already found the Winter Maiden who, according to Qrow, is “not exactly a spring chicken.” Huh. Another important piece of information that wasn’t blithely announced because people naturally work on a need-to-know basis... Sorry. Not diving back into the salt. That comment does actually intrigue me though. We know the powers can only pass to young women, so it’s a cool setup to present us with someone who has actually survived with that power for most of her life. I’m also eager to know whether Winter is set up to be the next Maiden. “Young” is a subjective marker and one of the criticisms fans have leveled at Ozpin is the fact that he put that pressure on Pyrrha instead of asking an older, fully trained huntress to be the Fall Maiden. Making Winter the next Maiden will lend support to that criticism. Ozpin could have chosen someone older, an actual adult, and actively chose to give it to a teen. As opposed to the assumption I’ve always worked under: those like Glynda and Winter are now too old. We’ll have to see.

Outside of the Salem part of the plan, I think making Amity Arena into a satellite is an excellent idea. Provided grimm like the Nevermore really can’t reach it. It’s actually cool to see how our real life, kind of boring tech makes its way into a sci-fi/fantasy series.

And while all this stuff is getting revealed we see how utterly thrilled Ironwood is to have them all back. To be blunt: I adore this characterization. I want this to be real. Not only because it’s a breath of fresh air to have someone acting so loving and optimistic  towards everyone---He acknowledges Ozpin’s existence! Look at that smile! Kneeling down!---but also because it would be an excellent subversion of the premier’s setup. Dictator-y military figures buckling under paranoia is out. Tired but loving military figures making mistakes they’re willing to fix is in. That hug with Qrow? It added ten years to my life. Tender moments between two stoic guys will carry me through these cold winter months.

But (there’s always a “but”...) I’m not willing to buy into this characterization just yet. Not only because Ruby herself obviously isn’t ready to trust it. Not only because this is a story and we expect conflicts in the form of twists and surprises. Not even because there are moments where our trio feels vaguely threatening, stationed perfectly behind that desk, separated from the rest of the group.

No, I’m  hesitating because this whole encounters feels... staged. Let’s review the series of events from Ironwood’s perspective:

You learn that one of your airships has been stolen

Instead of sending some everyday guards like the situation calls for, you send out your most elite group to take care of this issue

They immediately confiscate the relic, demonstrating a) that they know it’s important (they recognize it as a relic) while likewise b) not showing any surprise that one of the four, magical objects in the world just happened to turn up among these random teens

They bring the relic to you

Someone orders the pilots to bring RWBYJNRQO to Atlas Academy, not jail

You then act surprised when the group suddenly arrives

Which, under the circumstances, makes no sense to me. Even if Ironwood had no idea who stole the airship (I’d have expected Cordovin to have contacted him about the distinctive group heading his way...), he would have figured it out the moment the Ace-Ops walked in with a relic in their possession. Someone obviously gave the order for them to bypass jail and come straight to him. Basically, Ironwood is expecting them. Ironwood set up the arrest and everything attached to it. The surprise at their arrival, the fawning over their treatment, really over the top emphasis on trusting each other... This whole thing feels fishy to me considering that he had to have known it was all happening in the first place. It feels like a man crafting a situation where he can look approachable and kindly, arriving like a savior and endearing the group to him. Remember who got you out of those bonds? Huh? Huh? Even the choice to give Ruby the relic back. Do I need to point out how incredibly stupid that is? Ironwood isn’t stupid. He wouldn’t give an invaluable, magical object back to a 17yo unless he had another, good reason for doing so; unless the need to make Ruby and her followers blindly trust him outweighs the risk the relic is in while she carries it.

I mean... seriously. The entire point of coming to Atlas was to put the relic in a safe place. And then Ironwood decides that carrying it around on the streets is somehow better than locking it up in the vault? When Ruby and everyone else just got beat by the Ace-Ops in about five seconds flat? Someone could take the relic off them in a heartbeat! It doesn’t even need to be a main villain. Some stronger-than-average goons could manage it under the right circumstances and a bit of luck. Look at this bright, shiny thing we can sell for quick lien. No, I have to believe Ironwood has an ulterior motive here. As much as I want him to genuinely be what he presents himself as---the embodiment of our opening, “When we trust in love and open up our eyes”---a lot of this just doesn’t fit.

(Then again... it’s RWBY. And the writers are clearly still working with protagonist vision goggles. Maybe Ironwood really does think Ruby keeping the relic is the best option here. In which case he’s just a fool.)

All of which, notably, still keeps our group from tackling the core, ethical issue: why they want to fight Salem when they think it’s impossible. They’re ignoring that question by keeping the truth from Ironwood. The plot avoided them completing their mission by having them get the relic back. We’re just existing in perpetual limbo here.

Which finally brings me to Penny. The end of this episode has her leading the group on an exhausting tour of Atlas Academy, the exact sort of bubbly, silly, casual interaction we got with her in the early volumes. Last week when I pointed out how inappropriate everyone’s reactions were to finding out a friend is back from the dead, a lot of people commented that we’d get to the emotional stuff later. Or going so far as to claim that the group, Ruby in particular, is suffering from a delayed reaction. Except we didn’t see that. There’s a difference between a setup and a non-evidence based assumption that what we want to watch will eventually end up on screen. There was no setup for a delayed reaction. No Ruby holding back tears. Or a closeup on someone grappling with an emotion. Or someone else trying to say something before they were cut off by the sirens. All of those imply that an emotion exists but, since we don’t have the time or the inclination to deal with it now, we’ll come back to it later. That wasn’t the case last week. Every emotion was clear and complete, no variation in regards to the overall chill acceptance of Penny��s resurrection. Now, we’ve seen that trend continue. Ruby doesn’t stop in shock when Penny appears in the Academy hall. We’re given no indication that anyone is distracted by her while discussing business, in the way one might be when a friend and ally is unexpectedly back in your life. When she’s left alone with them, there’s nothing except the montage of exhausted tourism and Ruby’s demands to know where they’re sleeping. Basically, I think this is it. Sure, maybe later down the line---maybe even next week---Ruby will have a heart-to-heart with Penny, but by that point it’ll be too late to feel emotionally fulfilling. We’ve already seen their first meeting, a surprise encounter, doing business, and hanging out together, none of which acknowledges her status as a miracle. Hell, in this episode at least, no one even cares that she knows about relics and Maidens now. Penny has never been closer to the group, but she’s still being treated primarily as the comic relief.

As @valasania-the-pale​  pointed out to me, we also have the question of when Penny was rebuilt. Doesn’t anyone, at the very least Ruby, care that their friend was brought back and no one thought to tell them about it? Would Ironwood, Pietro, and Penny herself have just let them live with her death indefinitely? It’s a pretty messed up situation when you think about it. A fantastic setup in my opinion, but one that Rooster Teeth isn’t equipped to handle well. Like with so much of RWBY, there’s great potential and very little follow-through.

At least Watts and Tyrian were introduced appropriately. We got confirmation that Watts helped build the Atlas code and now controls it at his whim, causing crashes and powering down security cameras. It’s the perfect threat for a city almost entirely reliant on its technology. Even down to, as said, an ally like Penny who knows all these secrets. Hell, Winter’s comment about the group having access to Atlas’ best weaponry while they’re here is worrisome. What if their upgrades end up hackable as well?

Tyrian, meanwhile, is still Tyrian. That blood pool was a great shot in my opinion. Wonderful creep factor as he sets off into the city. “I suppose we all have our talents” indeed.

Obviously then, there’s a lot going on. A lot to cover and, on my end, continually dwindling hopes that RWBY will cover it well. I can’t be too excited about the group lying when we 100% bypassed their choices last volume. If the show isn’t willing to call them out on those mistakes, I doubt they’ll be willing to call them out on this one either. I’m preparing myself to watch precisely what we’re getting in the fandom right now: an insistence that Ruby is wonderful for keeping her secrets while further demonizing Ozpin for keeping his. Because that’s where we’ve been for the past fifteen episodes: perpetually insisting that everything the group does is, by default, heroic. Logic and hypocrisy aside. 

But we’ll have to see.

Until next week 💜

Minor Things of Note

1. Please pay attention to precisely how many long, wide, and aerial shots we get throughout the episode. This is what happens when your main cast is made up of twelve people all working in the same place. Plus six more including Maria and the Ace-Ops. That’s far, far too many characters.

2. I really love how the Ace-Ops’ tail gives away how excited he is. That was adorable.

3. Despite my enjoyment at Ironwood’s obvious joy over seeing Ozpin... morally this is so fucked up for Oscar. He’s introduced by Qrow as, “the next Ozpin,” essentially undermining his identity as his own person (note how massively uncomfortable his body language is in this moment). Ironwood then immediately starts speaking to him as Ozpin, not at all interested in the kid he’s housed in. If he even understands that Oscar is a separate person. We should all keep in mind that just a few days ago Qrow told Oscar to stop thinking of himself as an individual. Ruby agreed with him via her silence. The whole group was happy-go-lucky when Oscar announced that he’s resigned himself to just disappearing someday. As happy as I am that someone actually acknowledged Ozpin’s existence and (gasp!) was happy to see him, Oscar is still getting the short straw in all this. The group really treats him like he’s some form of transportation and nothing more. Penny, our resident robot, has more agency than he does.

4. Maria is still just hanging out with Pietro, I guess? Does she care that the group got arrested? Is she trying to do anything about it? I’m half expecting a comedic moment where she barges in, prepared to break them out and take on all their captors... only to realize they never needed her help in the first place.

5. I like this shot of the relic, the first thing to be bathed in light when Ironwood’s presentation ends. Not convinced it means anything, but a cool perspective nonetheless.

6. Intrigued by this guy. 

7. Love, love, love, love, love Watts’ purple outfit. I mean, I’m just a sucker for purple in general. So... yeah. There’s that. 

[ladywinchester1967]

Shape of my Heart:

Chapter 4

Pairing: Billionaire!Jensen Ackles x Allie Edwards (OFC)

Warnings: Language, SMUT, unprotected sex (wrap it before you tap it), jealous!Jensen, angst, fluff. I think that’s it.  

A/N: Chapter 4 is finally here!!!! This is a long one, so grab yourself a snack and or a drink and buckle up! Disclaimer: This is a work of FICTION and isn’t meant to disrespect Jensen, Danneel or their family (we’ll pretend he is single). I did read over this, but if any mistakes slipped through the cracks, they are mine, but any pics are not. All credit goes to the OPs. 

Need or want to catch up?

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

“So let me get this right,” Jared said as he did some push ups “you’re only seeing her, you take her on dates AND you’re fucking her.”

“Not so loud okay? We’re on the upper east side.” Jensen said as he to started to lift weights, working his biceps.

“Sounds like a boyfriend to me.” Jared pointed out.

“I’m not her boyfriend,” Jensen said “boyfriend means we’re intimate, more involved in each other’s lives. She’d know everything about me and I’d know everything about her, which I don’t.”

“Cut the crap Jay,” Jared said “you’re her boyfriend. End of story.”

“I am not.” Jensen said, anger pulsing through his system.

“So, you mean to tell me that if she called you right now and said “hey, I’m going to go on a date with this other guy” you wouldn’t be mad?”

“Of course I would be!” Jensen said “What kind of a damn question is that?”

“An obvious one.” Jared said as he got up off the floor and switching to doing sit ups “You two are boyfriend and girlfriend, you’re just too scared to admit it.”

Jensen rolled his eyes.

“No I am not.”

“Are you taking her to the gala this weekend?” Jared asked with an eyebrow raised.

“I haven’t asked,” Jensen said “but I was planning on it.”

Jared stopped doing sit ups long enough to point at Jensen and said

“See? That’s something a boyfriend and girlfriend would do. Quit being a pussy and just admit it.”

Jensen groaned and Jared went back to doing sit ups.

☆━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━☆

The whole way home, Jensen wondered if he had been going about things will Allie the wrong way. Had he given her the impression that they were in a relationship? Perhaps he’d been too open, too close with her. Maybe it would help to distance himself from her so as not to give her false hope that he’d change his mind. The thought crept into the back of his mind; if he was allowed to see other people, then so was she. The idea of her being in another man’s arms made him even more angry than he could have ever imagined. Someone else making her laugh and smile, someone else laying in bed with her at night made him grip the steering wheel so hard he was afraid he’d dent it. He was torn and confused. He hated admitting that Jared was right. They were boyfriend and girlfriend, just without the label of it. He groaned, annoyed that he’d been so oblivious to the corner he’d painted himself into.

☆━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━☆

That night, Allie met him at a small local restaurant with a smile on her face. The air had turned just a little chilly so she was wearing grey leggings tucked into black, high heeled boots with a floral print, tunic top and her hair in a high ponytail. She greeted him with a kiss and they sat down.

“How was your day?” He asked as they looked at their menus.

“Good,” She told him “I went shopping with Natalia, she needed some new makeup so I went with her, then I showed her how to put it on because, bless her, she has no idea what she’s doing.”

Jensen chuckled and asked

“But I’m guessing you do?”

“I’ve watched enough tutorials, so I would hope so.” She said “And they’re always asking me for makeup advice, which is another reason I went with her.”

“Her and Trish?” Jensen asked and she nodded. For a second, Jensen internally cussed. He knew the names of her best friends. They, in fact, were a couple.

“God damn it.” He thought as he tried to pick something to eat. Maybe it would be best for him to pull back. Seem disinterested, not give her so much attention. His eyes flicked up and he watched as she twirled a lock of her hair between her fingers. He smirked and realized he couldn’t give this up even if he wanted to.

“Um,” he said and she looked up at him “before we order, can I talk to you about something?”

“Sure,” She said “what’s on your mind?”

He cleared his throat and said

“I wanted to talk about what I said the other night, about not being boyfriend and girlfriend.”

“Hey,” She told him “you don’t have to explain it to me, I get it.”

“You do?” He asked, confused.

“Look,” She told him “you don’t want to be attached and I get that. I’ll be your fuck buddy  and I’m fine with that.” Jensen noticed the slight tinge in her voice that indicated she was far from “okay” with this arrangement. Jensen took a deep breath and asked

“Can we start over? I feel like this got off on the wrong foot.”

She looked at him, puzzled, and he said

“Hi, my name is Jensen and I’m fucking confused about what I want.”

“If you’re confused,” she told him “we can talk about it.”

The waitress came by and took their order, which they placed and then went back to their conversation.

“The reason, the real reason, my last relationship didn’t work out is complicated to say the least.” Jensen said.

“So, tell me about it,” she told him “step by step.”

He sighed and said

“Her name was, sorry is, Brooke. We dated for six years, pretty much right out of college, just as I was building my products and starting to sell them.” Allie nodded and he went on “It took a long time for anyone to be interested, she didn’t understand and got tired of waiting around for my big break. She broke up with me and then the next week I sold my first software program.”

“Let me guess, she came crawling back didn’t she?” Allie asked.

“Once she heard how much I’d sold the program for, she surely did.” Jensen said “I wouldn’t take her back because she’d shown her true colors and, naturally, she was furious.”

Allie cocked her head and asked

“This is gonna sound really ignorant, but how much is a software program worth?”

“Depends on the program,” Jensen told her “the first program I sold was designed to scan banks for fraudulent activity faster than the old program.”

“You designed it AND sold it?” She asked and he nodded.

“I found a way to improve the software that already existed.” He told her “But no one wants to take a chance with a kid fresh out of college with six bucks to his name and a “can do” attitude.” She laughed at this and then asked

“If you don’t mind me asking, how much do you sell it for?”

“A million and a half.” He told her and she nearly spit out her drink. “I used that to buy my first office and develop my next product, and it just took off from there. I went from software to hardware, which is more interesting than coding, at least to me it is.”

“And now you have what?” She asked.

“Three hundred employees,” he said “a technology firm that’s expanding every single day, more financial security than I ever thought possible and all the perks that come with that.”

“And you were on a dating website why?” She asked and he laughed.

“Jared set it up for me as a joke remember?” He asked “When Brooke left me, it left a gaping hole in my life that I ignored for a long time. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been on my share of dates and hand my fun with women, but I never entertained the idea of getting closer to anyone until you came along.”

“And you’re telling me all of this, why exactly?” She asked as their food arrived. They both thanked the waitress and she walked away. Jensen cut his chicken and ate a bit of it before answering.

“The reason I said I’m not ready to commit is because I don’t want to be hurt like that ever again. But Jared pointed out that we’re doing everything regular couples do.”

“That can stop.” She told him and he shook his head.

“This is something I never readily admit, but I’m the jealous type,” he said “I thought about telling you we’re not exclusive but the idea of you being with someone else makes my skin crawl.”

She smiled, at least it wasn’t a mystery how he felt about her.

“Jensen,” She told him “I meant what I said. We can NOT see other people, but if being labeled “boyfriend” puts to much pressure on you, it’s fine. I don’t mind just being friends with benefits.”

He was relieved, but at the same time he felt a nagging feeling.

“You’re sure?” He asked and she nodded.

“I like being with you,” She told him “you’re fun to hang out with, we can talk for hours and not get bored and I want to keep that.”

Jensen was torn, even if she was saying all of this to pacify him, who was he to turn down keeping such an amazing person in his life?

“Okay,” He said “we’ll try this friends with benefits thing and see where it goes. Is that okay?”

“Perfectly.” She told him and smiled.

After dinner, they stopped at a frozen yogurt shop where you could customize your yogurt with pretty much any topping you could think of. They had everything from strawberries to peppers and sprinkles to brownie bits. They walked and talked as they ate, and then she asked

“So you make technology for cell phones right?”

“And tablets,” he told her “pretty much any computer we make software and hardware for.”

“What other areas have you gotten into?” She asked him.

“Some of our stuff has been used to perfect delicate medical procedures on humans and animals,” he said “I just authorized the development for a software that can detect cancer earlier in genetically predisposed clients.”

“Genetically predisposed?” She asked as she took a bite of her yogurt.

“People who have a history of cancer in their immediate families,” he said “it can also detect specific genetic signatures that may lead to cancer.”

“Wow,” She said, blown away “and you came up with that?”

“I wish I could take credit for that but I can’t,” He told her “my research and development department did that. This is my first foray into medicine so if things get stressful in the coming weeks, that’s why.”

“So, they write the programs and you decide which ones to go further with?” She asked and he nodded.

“That’s the footnotes version, yes.” He said with a smirk.

She stopped and stared at him with a small smile on her face.

“What?” He asked, looking at her.

“Nothing.” She said with a grin, keeping the secret to herself. The way he talked about the things that he did was captivating. He spoke with such passion and interest that was hard to find in someone unless they were truly vested in the things that they did.

“If you say so.” He said and took another bite of his frozen yogurt “How’s it going with the dance class?”

“We have a recital in two weeks,” she told him “the kids will show off what they learned in front of their parents, it’ll be super cute.”

“And your class is performing too?” He asked and she nodded.

“Yep, my three to fives will perform.” She told him.

He sighed and finally gave in, he was invested in her as much as she was in him.

“Could I tag along?” He asked “At least to congratulate the teacher.”

Allie nearly spit out her dessert.

“You wanna come to the recital?” She asked and he nodded “Are you sure? It’s gonna be boring as hell.”

“I want to see what you do.” He said “You know all about the things I do.”

She blushed hard and then nodded.

“Yeah, sure,” She said with a smile “I’ll be sure to save you a seat.”

“Speaking of saving seats,” he said “there’s this thing that I was invited to this weekend, some friends of the family and business associates are throwing this benefit for a charity. I know that’s really vague, but it’s the best I can remember without the invitation in front of me.”

“Okay?” She asked and finished off her dessert.

“Would you mind going with me? As my plus one?” He asked. She let a grin cross her face.

“Where’s it gonna be?” She asked

“The Hamptons,” He said “it’s a gala, there’s going to be dancing, an auction, all that shit.”

“Ah, I see.” She said “A fancy folks thing?”

“Very fancy.” He said “like a black tie kind of thing.”

“Well then,” she said “guess I’m gonna have to go shopping then. Damn!” She added with a grin and he laughed.

“If it’s the money you’re worried about-“ he started and she shook her head.

“Jay, I don’t want your money.” She told him “I got this. I can handle it.”

“You’re sure?” He asked “Because I have stores that would line up to dress you.”

“Do you?” She asked with an eyebrow raised.

“I’m a VERY good customer.” He said with one eyebrow raised 

and she laughed again.

☆━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━☆

The next day, armed with the cash, Natalia and Trish, Allie set off on Fifth Ave to go shopping.

“So you need a dress.” Trish said as they entered the first boutique.

“Looks like we might have some luck in here.” Allie said as an associate approached them.

“Can I help you ladies find anything?” The woman asked.

“Yes,” Allie said “I’m going to an event this weekend and need help finding a dress.” Allie explained the situation she would be in and the woman, Maggie, smiled.

“Okay, we have a few options if you want to take a look around. I’ll show you what we have for a dress.”

☆━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━☆

When Jensen knocked on the door, he wasn’t sure what to expect, but when it opened and he saw what Allie was wearing, his jaw nearly hit the floor. She’d chosen a navy blue dress that hung off of her shoulders and silver, sparkly heels.

Her hair was done in a loose bun with curls framing her face, she wore a bright red lipstick and winged eyeliner.

“Well? Does this pass the muster?” She asked with a smile.

“Far exceeds the muster.” He said with a grin “You look elegant.”

“Thank you.” She told him

“Shall we?” He asked and offered her his arm, which she took as she shut the door behind them.

Once they were in the car with Clif, Jensen's driver and body guard at the wheel, Jensen couldn’t take his eyes off of Allie.

“You look amazing,” he said “did you pick this out?”

“Natalia and Trish talked me into it.” She said in earnest “I was gonna go with a plain black dress but they said I looked better in this one.”

“I’ll have to agree with them.” He said, his hand on her knee. She looked down at his hand and then up at him with a grin.

☆━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━☆

When they arrived at the house where the cocktail party was being held, the car drove through massive iron gates and up a winding driveway to a sprawling mansion.

“Wow.” Allie said as she admired the house “Who lives here? A Rockefeller?”

Jensen laughed and said

“No, but I think they are a friend of that family. They’re designers.”

“And these people are your friends?” Allie asked.

“Business associates, yes.” Jensen said as the car came to a stop near the front door. Jensen’s door opened and they were greeted by a man in a black suit.

“Mr. Ackles,” the man said “always a pleasure to see you.”

“You as well Tony.” Jensen said as he got out of the car and extended his hand to Allie, who took it. He helped her out of the car and Tony said “The party is being held in the back half of the house, preceded to the front door and any one of our liaisons will be more than happy to escort you.”

“Thank you.” Jensen said with a curt nod. He offered Allie his arm, which she clung to, shaking like a leaf.

“What’s wrong?” Jensen asked as they walked.

“I’ve never been to anything like this before, what if they hate me or something?”

Jensen chuckled and kissed her temple.

“No one could ever hate you,” He told her “be your usual sweet, charming self and they’ll love you.”

“You think I’m charming?” She asked and he nodded as they crossed the stone walk way to the entrance of the house where a few guests were waiting to get in. Once Jensen showed them his invitation, they stepped into a large entryway where a massive staircase made of iron rails wound upward and into the rest of the house. Allie tried to keep her jaw from hitting the floor as a gentleman approached them.

“Mr. Ackles, always a pleasure,” he said and shook Jensen’s hand “and who might this be?”

“This is Allie,” Jensen said “Allie, this is Anthony.”

“Nice to meet you.” Allie said and stuck her hand out. Anthony briefly shook her hand and smiled.

“Likewise,” Anthony said “if you two will follow me, I’ll show you to the terrace.”

Allie’s eyes went wide as they walked through the entry way and into a massive library where some guests were talking and mingling. They went through a hallway, then a living area and through another door. On the terrace, there was a bar set up with a string quartet playing music. The terrace opened up on to a lawn where a tent had been set up, inside were several tables and a lot of guests lingering around in and out of the tent.

“You two enjoy yourselves.” Anthony said and left them.

They walked down the stairs to the party where a waiter was passing around drinks.

“What can I get for you two?” He asked “I have bourbon and champagne right now.”

Jensen looked to Allie who said

“I’ll take a champagne.”

“Bourbon for me.” Jensen said.

The waiter handed them each a glass and they made their way toward the tent.

“Do you know all of these people?” Allie asked as she saw more and more guests.

“Most of them, yes.” He said “Friends of the family, business associates, that sort of thing.”

“Are any of them YOUR friends?” Allie asked.

“A few of them, my closest friends couldn’t make it.” He said and looked around “See the couple over there by the bar?” He asked.

Allie looked and saw a tall, older gentleman with white hair and glasses. Allie described him and Jensen nodded “That’s Bill Wayne, he and his wife are the ones hosting this shindig.”

“Where’s Suzy? I only see the guy.” Allie said “She’s around here somewhere, she’s a social butterfly.” Jensen said and they walked over to where Bill was standing. When he and Jensen made eye contact, Bill smiled.

“Jensen,” Bill said and shook Jensen’s hand “good to see you again.”

“Same to you Bill,” Jensen said with a smile “Allie, this is Bill Wayne. Bill, this is Allie.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you Mr. Wayne.” Allie said and stuck out her hand. Bill laughed

“Please, call me Bill,” he insisted and shook Allie’s hand “and it’s a pleasure to meet you as well.”

“Your home is so beautiful.” Allie said.

“Oh, I can’t take the credit for that,” Bill said “this was my wife’s pet project, but she’ll be delighted to hear you say that.”

“Jensen!” A female voice said and he turned to see a tall, thin woman with jet black hair wearing a silver dress.

“Oh there she is.” Bill said with his eyes shining.

“Suzy, we were just talking about you.” Jensen told her. Suzy beamed as she got closer, she greeted Jensen by kissing both of his cheeks and then asked

“All good things I hope?”

“Nothing but darling,” Bill said “Allie was just saying how much she admires the house.”

Suzy turned her attention to Allie and the two ladies shook hands.

“It’s just gorgeous.” Allie said and sipped her champagne.

“Well thank you!” Suzy said excitedly “It was an intense labor of love.”

“It was?” Allie asked

“Yes,” Suzy said “when we bought it, everything was severely outdated and it took six years to get it just right.”

“Six years?!” Allie asked in amazement “I don’t know how you lived through a renovation like that.”

“A lot of this.” Suzy said and held up her glass of wine and Allie laughed.

“What else can you tell me about the house?” Allie asked.

“Well, it was built in 1919,” Suzy said “and it desperately needed to be brought into the 21st century before we could move in. It sits on a little over seven acres with eleven bedrooms and twelve and a half bathrooms.”

“Wow!” Allie said, stunned “That’s amazing!”

“Thank you very much,” Suzy said “but enough about me, what about you? What do you do?”

Allie took a sip of her champagne and said

“I’m an office assistant at Glory and Associates.”

“I know them,” Bill said “Glory was started by one of our junior associates.”

“Oh, you’re a lawyer?” Allie asked and Bill nodded.

“Been practicing law for over thirty years.” He said proudly.

A little while later, after making a few more introductions, Allie excused herself to go to the bathroom. When she was out of sight, one of Suzy’s friends, Joyce who had known Dean his entire life, said

“Jensen, this one is splendid!”

Jensen chuckled and took a sip of his drink.

“Thank you,” He said “she’s something isn’t she?”

Joyce nodded and said

“Don’t let this one get away, you hear me?”

Jensen didn’t say anything, he just took another sip of his drink.

When Allie returned to the tent, everyone had taken their seats and she eventually found Jensen, who was chatting with Joyce and her husband Richard. Allie took her seat and Jensen looked over at her as a waiter came by.

“Care for another drink ma’am?” He asked and held out another champagne glass.

“Yes, please.” She said and gratefully accepted it. When the waiter walked away Jensen leaned into Allie.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes,” she said with a smile “there’s just a lot going on, I’ve never been to a party like this before.”

“If it’s any consolation, they adore you.” Jensen said with a twinkle in his eyes and a hand on her knee. She blushed deeply and asked

“Really? They do?”

Jensen nodded

“Very much,” He said “thank you again for coming with me.”

“Thanks for inviting me.” She said and placed her hand over his, giving it a squeeze. His green eyes sparkled as he took her hand in his, their fingers lacing together. Allie’s pulse pounded and she blushed even deeper, making him chuckle. He leaned in closer and said

“You’re gorgeous when you blush.”

This made her cheeks turn even more red, having his lips in such close proximity to her face. He pulled back and looked at her, smiling. He brushed his knuckles on her cheek and she leaned into his touch, smiling broadly.

“Let’s say we cut this evening a little short?” He asked, a mischievous grin on his face.

She furrowed her eyebrows and said

“I thought you were part of the auction.”

“After that I mean.” He said.

“Sure, I’d love to.” She said, her eyes sparkling.

After that, Bill and Suzy got up and welcomed everyone to the party then started the auction. Several of the items were vacations and theater tickets.

“You wanna bid on anything?” Jensen asked.

“I have the one thing I’d bid on.” She said grinning at him.

“Oh? And what would that be?” He asked, smiling.

“You.” She told him and squeezed his hand.

He shook his head as he smiled and then kissed the back of her hand.

On the car ride home, Allie laid her head on Jensen’s shoulder, both of her arms wrapped around one of his. He pulled her legs into his lap and laid one hand on her knee.

“You sleepy baby?” He asked as he kissed her temple.

“Yeah,” She said with a yawn “I had a long day.”

“I know you did.” He said quietly “Close your eyes for a little bit.”

Allie nodded and closed her eyes.

They eventually arrive at Jensen’s house where Clif parked the car and Jensen gently shook Allie’s shoulder.

“Sweetheart, I hate to wake you, but we’re back at the house.”

She yawned at sat up as Jensen climbed out of the SUV. Allie followed behind him, holding onto his arm as they walked to the front door with Clif right behind them.

“Have a good night.” Clif told them and gave them a smile and a nod before heading back to the car. Thye each told him good night as Jensen unlocked the door and the both walked through it.

“Come on sweetheart.” Jensen said and scooped her up into his arms, making her laugh.

“Jensen!” She exclaimed “I can walk!”

“Why? When I can carry you?” He asked and kissed her cheek. She giggled as he walked her to his bedroom. He pushed the door open with his foot and then set her down. She quickly took her shoes off and turned to face Jensen, who was shutting the door. When he turned around, she walked over to him and wrapped her arms around his neck.

“I had a really good time tonight.” She told him. He placed his hands on her hips and he pressed his forehead to hers.

“I did too.” He said in a low tone, his green eyes burning into hers. She slowly leaned in and pressed her lips to his as her heart pounded loudly. An immediate tingling sensation went from her lips down to her toes as he tenderly kissed her. He slid his hands around to her back and up to her shoulders, burying his fingers into her hair.

“Allie,” he breathed as they kissed again “fuck, I want you.”

She pulled back and nodded

“I want you too.” She told him as they kissed again. His fingers found the corset of her dress and untied it, ridding her of the navy dress he’d become so fond of. She pulled back again and pulled the dress down, showing off her curvy figure which was clad in black, lacy underwear and a matching bra. She reached for him, yanking his tie and jacket off. He unbuttoned his dress shirt and flung it to the side of the room. He wrapped her up into his arms and backed her up and on to the bed where he crawled over the top of her and kissed her breathless. She reached for his belt and undid it along with his pants and he kicked off his shoes and socks. Once his pants were discarded, she slid up the bed and laid back against the pillows where he followed her. Left in only his underwear, he slid up her body, leaving kisses and love bites in his wake.

“Mh, Jensen!” She moaned as his mouth worked its way back up to hers where he seared a kiss on to her lips.

“Fuck baby,” he moaned into her neck as he kissed it “so fucking sexy when you moan for me.”

He sucked gently on her neck and wrapped his arms around her. She sighed and wrapped her legs around his waist, grinding into his hardness.

“Fuck,” he moaned “you want something sweetheart?”

She nodded as they kissed and said

“I want that cock buried in me.”

“Shit,” Jensen murmured as he kissed her “I have a naughty girl on my hands.”

“Yes you do,” she moaned “and I want your cock. Now.”

“Greedy girl,” Jensen said as he kissed her again “you’ll get it.”

“Please,” she begged “fill me up babe, I need you inside me.”

Jensen quickly pulled down his underwear as Allie pulled hers down and off. Jensen lined up with her eager hole and pushed gently inside her. She clung to him and sighed as he filled her to the brim.

“Oh fuck Jensen!” She moaned and he started to move, bucking his hips into her.

“Fuck baby,” he moaned “you feel fucking amazing.”

She moaned his name over and over as she moved with him rolling her hips to meet his, crying out with every stroke of his cock inside her.

“Jay,” she cried “oh fuck, Jay, I fuck!”

“That’s it,” he moaned as he kissed her “talk to me sweetheart, tell me what you want.”

“Fuck me,” she begged him “please just fuck me!”

He pulled her up and into his lap as he smacked her ass.

“Ride my cock baby girl.” He commanded, digging his fingers into her hips.

“Oh fuck,” she moaned as she thrust into him “fuck yes, oh fuck, I love having this big cock inside me!”

He let out an almost primal growl as he moved her hips.

“You do?” He asked as he kissed her.

“Yes,” she cried desperately as she raked her hands through his hair, both of them moving together “feels fucking amazing.”

They both uttered curses and each other’s names as their hips met, skin slapping on skin as the heat between the reached its fever pitch.

“You gonna come for me?” Jensen asked “Come on baby girl, come for me.” He pressed his finger tips into her clit and worked it in slow, languid circles.

“Oh fuck!” She cried out, clamping down hard on him “Oh fuck, yes! That feels so fucking good!”

“Damn,” He said as he worked her clit a little harder “you really like this baby, clamping down so hard on me!”

“Yes!” She sighed as she kissed him “Gonna come babe!”

“That’s it pretty girl,” he moaned into her mouth “come all over me, soak my lap.”

With that, the both let go, cries of ecstasy filling the room.

☆━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━☆

Later that night, Jensen lay on his side as Allie slept on her stomach. Her back steadily rose with each breath as he gently stroked her bare back. He couldn’t remember ever feeling this way about any girl before, some how, some way, this one was different, but he couldn’t put his finger on what made her so different from the others. He gently kissed her shoulder and turned out the light before going to sleep.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Hope you guys enjoyed that long update!! As always, your kind feedback is deeply loved and appreciated. All of my boxes and tag lists are open, so if you want to be added on to any of them, or just wanna drop by and say “hello” just shoot me a message or an ask!

See you guys got the next chapter!

​​​The Squad:

@waywardbaby​​​​​​​​​​ @waywardnerd67​​​​​​​​​​ @familybusinesswritingbro​​​​​​​​​​ @ain-t-bovvered​​​​​​​​​​ @mrswhozeewhatsis​​​​​​​​​​ @unholyqu33n​​​​​​​​​​ @dacleverfox​​​​​​​​​​ @emoryhemsworth​​​​​​​​​​ @bobasheebaby​​​​​​​​​ @myinconnelly1​​​​​​​​​​ @mogaruke​​​​​​​​​​ @imma-winchester-addict​​​​​​​​​​​ @purpleskiesandcherrypies​​​​​​​​​​ @dean-winchesters-bacon​​​​​​​​​​ @animerose96​​​​​​​​​​​  @roonyxx​​​​​​​​​​​ @snffbeebee​​​​​​​​​​​ @ezilyamuzed​​​​​​​​​​​ @srsllydunnodoncare​​​​​​​​​​​ @latetothewinchesterparty​​​​​​​​​​​ @emilyshurley​​​​​​​​​​​ @atc74​​​​​​​​​​​ @midnightsilverafterdark​​​​​​​​​​​ @adoptdontshoppets​​​​​​​​​​​ @biawol​​​​​​​​​​​  @spaceystacey123​​​​​​​​​​​ @bella-ca​​​​​​​​​​​ @clo-heda​​​​​​​​​​​ @closetspngirl​​​​​​​​​​​ @thekatherinewinchester​​​​​​​​​​​ @maddiepants​​​​​​​​​​​ @idreamofplaid​​​​​​​​​​ @love-those-boys-in-flannel​​​​​​​ @flamencodiva​​​​​​​​​ @blueberrykushlovexoxo-blog​​​​​​​ @sandlee44​​​​​​​ @tumbler-tidbits​​​​​ @rainbowsinthestorm @deans-baby-momma​​​​ @algud​​​ @maui137​ @drakelover78​ @keymology

Dean/ Jensen:

@spnbaby-67​​ @akshi8278​​ @deanscarlett​​​​​ 

[useraew]

IDGAF | JJ

request : Hi love! Please write a cute fluffy JJ imagine where you think he’s gone out to film with the boys but he came back early with dinner for you two and sees you jamming out to one of his songs?

listen to IDGAF here 

Sitting in the kitchen, watching youtube on your laptop as you grew bored waiting for JJ to come home from filming with the guys. Clicking through videos you grew bored and wanted to check social media and listen to music now. Pulling up your twitter, you look through your mentions and reply to fans as you go on spotify on your phone. 

Clicking through your playlists, you found your playlist with JJ’s music and clicked play. As the music started ,every once and a while i’d bop my head and dance. Throughout the checking Twitter,Instagram and Tumblr the song IDAGF started to play. Not going lie IDGAF was your fave song from JJ’s Space EP. 

“ I don't give a fuck about your social status I don't give a fuck put it up your anus I don't give a fuck about your new attire I don't give a fuck, my dick a pacifier I don't give a fuck bout what you wanna do I don't give a fuck like no one ever knew I don't give a fuck it, on't sit well with me I don't give a fuck, that's how it better be” 

As you sang along to it now as the song went on, you didn’t realize what time it was. 

“ I don't give a fuck bout what you wanna Mortal Kombat beating yeah, I swear it on my mamma I - hate the fact that you wanna tweet Words at me are so obsolete Do not care so don't humble me All that fakey shit It don't run with me (Okay) I'm from the land of the O OP OG ruler no length on a n*gga Tracker on me like an AC Checking the time on my AP I'm not a fan of your AT Beefing with me then I maybe Ended some but I'll make the space for them other ones You think you're the shit Snapping the pic proving your life is lit Is that how it is? Do us a favour and sign out You on an edge of a cliff Know that you getting no hand out Dragons den and now listen Heard your idea and I'm telling you out now I'm out”  

As your voice got louder, and your speed picked up at the rate of how fast you were rapping along with JJ, you didn’t notice JJ walk into the kitchen from behind you. 

“I don't give a fuck about your social status I don't give a fuck put it up your anus I don't give a fuck about your new attire I don't give a fuck my dick a pacifier I don't give a fuck bout what you wanna do I don't give a fuck like no one ever knew I don't give a fuck it don't sit well with me I don't give a fuck that's how it better be I don't give a fuck bout what you wanna Mortal Kombat beating yeah, I swear it on my mamma”   

Smiling at the amount of fun you were having, you felt the sound of food being placed on the table. Seeing the Nandos bags, your eyes went wide as you turned around as the music continued. 

“My - bank account, it got commas Know that every year I go harder, stronger longer Dick grow longer, fuck your pills go get me that rubber Nigga I'm living life like Obama, did my term Now fetch me that llama I'mma go in like we in Pearl Harbour, make a man cry Nicole Arbour Niggas they fishing but I see the bait I'm at the top all the hate do not trouble me I've made a couple P, people they follow me, no ones above or below were in line of (equality) I'm not the one to be led by the hand of authority building my colony Making it quality don't try to rumble me Moving like Lorde cause I'm Royally taking a shit on your prophecy Telling me I won't be the shit N*gga I'm the one that's lit I'm so lit Now you wanna take my shit I do not care one bit Peace I don't give a fuck about your social status I don't give a fuck put it up your anus I don't give a fuck about your new attire I don't give a fuck my dick a pacifier I don't give a fuck bout what you wanna do I don't give a fuck like no one ever knew I don't give a fuck it don't sit well with me I don't give a fuck that's how it better be”

As you finished rapping JJ couldn’t contained his laughter as he chuckled and gave you a big smile. “I didn’t know you were going to go that hard on my song Y/n!” I gave out a laugh as we both started to open our food. Before i could take a bite JJ, took a hold of your hand and pulled you into his arms. 

“You’re so cute, when you rap and dance, like for real though” As you came JJ a kiss, a wink was given to him. “I love you Jide” As you took a bite of your chicken, JJ looked at you and knew he was going to be with you for a very long time. 

“I love you to Y/n!” 

[tehkusogaki]

Exactly!

Every form of storytelling contains tropes. Tropes are just the literary devices that make up stories!

The thing is, we are more aware of existing tropes than we've ever been. Hell, we have entire websites dedicated to listing tropes in media.

We also have greater accessibility to media than we have ever had. All kinds of different stories, from classic literature to fluffy fanfiction and everything inbetween can be found in minutes with a simple web search.

These two things mean that people can be hyper aware of the tropes they come across, enjoy seeing, dislike, or want to use in their own storytelling.

People don't just "want to consume tropes" but *are* more aware of the tropes they are consuming.

And, yes, sometimes people seek those tropes out. There is nothing inherently wrong with that!

I see some people decrying that "ao3 tags aren't tropes!" but I think they're missing the point a bit, because those tags *are* tropes.

Remeber that thing I said about media being more accessible than ever before? *That* is the thing people really hate, and why they have to decry fanfiction as a lesser form of media. Because anyone can write it. From bored housewives to horny teenagers to retired professionals: there's nothing barring anyone from participating, so clearly none of it can have merit.

Ao3 tags are obviously ruining the way people interact with media and not, y'know, a convenient way for people to sort through over 5 million stories 🙄

And people use those tropes alone to search for things that might pique their interests, are never swayed by anything else (like the summary or author *cough cough*) that would be silly 🙄

And are always satisfied with media that contains tropes they enjoy regardless of other factors, like... I dunno... quality of work? 🙄

Look, I don't really mean for this to just be a defense of fanfiction, like op said: this isn't just about fanfiction. But the reason I feel the need to discuss fanfiction in this is because the same kind of person dismissing fanfiction is the same kind of person that dismisses genre fiction, or scifi movies, or romances, or whatever and for the same reason:

Because they're easy targets.

Quality varies greatly when accessibility to creating something is increased. When more and more people started writing literature, people found reasons why those books weren't legitimate or as good as "the classics". As movies and television became more common and more people were able to view it, it became 'the pacifier of the common man' instead of a viable form of storytelling.

No, not every fanfiction is on par with The Divine Comedy or David Copperfield or Pride and Prejudice or Insert Literature of Your Choice Here, but fanfiction as a medium shouldn't be dismissed entirely either.

Nor should any other medium be dismissed simply because it doesn't meet a narrow definition of what some asshole calls "art".

There is a wealth of great stories out there, even if there is also a lot of stuff that doesn't cater specifically to you.

And anyone who asumes that people only enjoy media for the Consumption of Tropes should just admit that they are a pretentious boring elitist and get back to feeling better than everybody else so the rest of us can have fun.

“people dont wanna read a story they just wanna consume tropes” 🙄🙄🙄 people don’t wanna listen to music they just wanna hear audio.......people dont want to eat food they just wanna digest ingredience......

[simonxriley]

My Gift Is You - One-Shot

Pairings: Simon “Ghost” Riley x OC 

Summary: Ghost walks around his house with the greatest gift he ever received, his daughter! 

A/N: After a conversation with my friend, I decided to write this cute little fluffy one-shot about Ghost and My OC Liz Walker. I do have a Ghosts/141 slash fic in the works that will feature both of these characters. Anyways I hope you enjoy!

Warnings: None

Words: 1,094

Can also be found on FF and Ao3 

Simon was walking around his living room showing his 7 month old daughter Faith the pictures on the wall. It was the middle of the night and the little one didn't think sleep was a good idea at the moment. Every time Simon would put her back in her crib she would cry. 

He walked over with Faith in his arms and pointed at one of the group photos that was taken before an op. "That man right there is your uncle Soap. He's my best mate, who happens to be your godfather." 

Simon looked down at his little girl to see her smiling up at him. His own blue eyes staring back at him. "The man next to him is Captain John Price. I don't think you liked him since you spit up on him when he held you. He didn't like that very much." 

Faith started to babble as she looked up at her father. Like she was starting a conversation all on her own. He looked down at her with pure admiration and complete attention. "I agree, you should do that again." 

He pointed back at the picture again. "The man next to Price is Sandman. I don't know him very well, but he seems like a good lad. And next to him is one handsome lad that help great you. Your daddy." 

A small giggle came out of Faith that made him smile. Then he looked back up at the picture. Operation Kingfish, taken place October 8th, 2013 in the Karkonosze Mountains, Ukraine. Task Force 141 and Team Metal from Delta Force tasked together to take down Makarov. Simon scoffed then walked over to the next picture. 

He looked up at the canvas, a smile forming on his lips. "That numpty right there is Roach. He's never holding you again after that little incident. And that beautiful women right there is your mum." 

Simon's face soften as he looked at the picture. Corporal Liz Walker, former Ghost now apart of TF141. She was one of the best soldier's he's seen in his career, fierce and loyal to a fault. And he couldn't deny how beautiful she looked upon first glance. 

Their love wasn't something to happen over night, it took weeks to form. And even longer to admit, to each other and oneself. No matter how much he tried to deny his feelings for her, he always found himself with her. Whether in the rec-room or on an op. If it wasn't for the near death experience in the Caucasus Mountains that rendered him, Liz and Roach in the infirmary he wouldn't have mentioned his true feelings to her. 

Thankfully Liz shared them and they ended up together. She became his rock, the light of his life. Liz showed him true love, and that even with someone with as much baggage as him could still be loved with vigor. Marriage, a family was never in Simon's plans. He figured he would spend the rest of his life in the service, or die out in the field. 

That's what he thought his life would be, but the universe had other plans. Now looking down at his baby girl in his arms, someone he helped bring into this world made him proud that his other plans didn't fall through. His kissed Faith on her forehead and went to go sit down on the couch. 

He sat her up on his lap, each hand on her side supporting her so she was facing him. She was wearing her purple pajamas that said 'daddy's princess' on the front of them. He watched her play with her pacifier for a moment then glanced out the window. Another snow storm was happening outside. He wasn't much of a fan of snow, but he couldn't wait until Faith was old enough to go out and play in it. To make snowmen and snow angels with her. And maybe even start a snowball fight with Roach or Liz. 

Simon turned his attention back to Faith. He pushed back some of her dark brown hair out of her eyes. "You look like your mummy. You know that Faith?" 

"And your daddy." 

He looked up to see Liz leaning against the doorway to the living room. She smiled at him, then joined him on the couch. Faith leaned over with her arms out wanting her mother. Liz easily picked her up and placed her on her lap. 

"We didn't wake you did we?" 

"No you didn't. When I didn't see you in bed I was worried you had another nightmare and was down here by yourself." 

Simon looked down at his hands, then sighed. Liz placed her hand on top of his, making him look at her. "Simon we've been through so much together. I don't care if I have to spend the night awake with you, even if we have a child to take care of." 

"I know love. I didn't have one, I haven't had one in a long time. Faith just didn't want to go back to sleep after I changed her nappy." He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her closer to him. 

"I'll take your word for it." She glanced out the window to see the snow falling. "It's snowing again. It looks so pretty." 

"You're prettier!" 

"Oh shush." 

Liz chuckled and placed a chaste kiss on his lips. Then she settled down in his arms with Faith. She looked around to see most of the Halloween decorations still up, not bothering to put them away. Even if Thanksgiving was next week. Autumn was Liz's favorite time of year and Halloween was her favorite holiday. Her love for both made Simon love them even more. 

"We should probably take down the Halloween decoration soon. Cause I want to put the Christmas tree up the day after Thanksgiving." Faith rubbed her eyes and laid her head on Liz's chest. 

"Why so early?" 

"It's Faith's first Christmas I want it to be special..........and I like Christmas."

 "Whatever you say love!" 

"I know it's early but what do you want for Christmas?" 

Simon got up from the couch and walked into the kitchen without saying a word. Liz quirked a brow and waited for him to return. As he was walking back into the living room Liz could see he had something in his hand. He sat back down beside her, revealing an orange bow. He peeled off the paper to get to the sticky part then gently placed it on her head. 

"My gift is you!"

[doomstarmagician]

Real talk under the cut.

I want to start by saying that, to my surprise, Doomstar has been well received here in our small corner of the RPC. From my understanding anyway, a lot of people enjoy interacting with him -- and for that I am eternally grateful. When I first discovered his card, it was just by chance I was scrolling through my personal and saw his card art; and I thought, hey I could make something out of him. I could throw him into my other magician’s story that I’ve had going for her for nearly 6 years now.

And then I snagged his URL and brought him to life here on this blog. I can’t tell you how happy I am when I see that people are having just as much fun interacting with him as I am when I write him.

But man, I tell you what.

I know and understand that he won’t be liked by everyone. That’s okay with me, because who am I to say that I’ve never come across a muse that just didn’t sit well with me too? You know?

But I definitely don’t appreciate him being brushed off or belittled, while I’m being criticized for “making him too OP.” I cannot fathom how people rely solely on card stats. So he has 1800 ATK / 300 DEF. Maybe by card stats alone, he isn’t the strongest. Far from it. But why should I restrict my own creativity and dumb him down for someone else’s convenience? I won’t. I refuse. I will write my star mage how I want to, and if someone can’t keep up or if that’s an issue, buddy there’s an unfollow button waiting to be pushed. Use it and move on.

I’m sure this rant sounds silly or ridiculous, but I’m in a mood and I’m just tired of having to feel like I have to justify what I do with him because others can’t expand their own creativity to keep up I guess.

Point being, starboy is a cosmic magician. It is not outside the realm of possibility to be able to call upon the heavens and command the stars at sheer force of will. It is not out of the question for his magic to be affected by different lunar events like lunar eclipses, blood moons, super moons, etc. That doesn’t mean he’s OP. He has his strengths and weaknesses, advantages and disadvantages, just like any other mage.

It’s just incredibly rude to pick apart and dissect someone’s muse and every little thing they do. You don’t tell people how to write their muses, period.

Leave him be, and let me write how I want. I’m here to have fun, not pacify people who are breathing down my neck about a star magician.