#i was just. still figuring out what the fuck i was doing at that point..

[illbegottenfaith]

saboteur

your self-sabotaging tendencies can keep theo away for only so long (theo nott x reader)

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

a/n - yall I fucking lied idk why I just cant find it in myself to cram for midterms rip to my gpa 😭😭😭 eeee the final part!!!!! I had so much fun with this ahhh the setting the tension ARGHHH

tropes/warnings - hurt/comfort, angst, mild descriptions of self-sabotaging behaviours

word count - 1.8k

taglist - @blobygree18 @hzdhrtss @nottinmyheart @r6yven @voidangxls @captainshinytyrantrum-blog @wtfisastiles @babene-e @simp-for-fantasy @eminemxxeminem @ahead-fullofdreams @fratbrochrisgf @pariahsparadise @thaliashifts @rose-of-the-grave @bushnellswife @friedfreyfries @allie-sturns

See him around, you did not.

You made sure of it. After that afternoon, you started skipping group outings and taking more convoluted paths to your classes. You even started having your meals at ridiculously odd hours, all to minimise the little chance you had of running into Theo. It was a miserable affair, really, having breakfast at 5.30 am with Peeves pelting you with raisins. At least, you hoped they were raisins.

In your defense, what else was a girl to do? As much as you tried to brush it off and forget about it, you couldn't quite erase the image from your head - of Theo wearing a nauseatingly neon mesh vest, looking needlessly bereft.

Of course, what you hadn't anticipated was how much you'd miss seeing him around, even if it was only in passing in the crowded corridors between lessons. You hadn't realised what a helpful outlet your verbal sparring sessions with him were. Now, you kept all your emotions, both good and bad, bottled up and festering till they drove your body to the point of stiffness.

It was at the end of yet another long, gruelling week of this that you decided a soak in the prefects' bathroom was exactly what you needed. You had accidentally figured out how to break in in your fourth year. Though it was a luxury you were careful to indulge in sparingly, you needed a long, relaxing bath now more than ever. You were exhausted - exhausted in the way that stretched beyond your body, burrowing into your chest, weighing down your every thought.

The prefects’ bathroom really was the only place in this castle that let you breathe. You had been here for at least an hour, steam curling around you as you sank deeper into the oversized bathtub. The warmth dulled the ache that had settled deep in your bones after the week from hell.

You let your head tip back against the smooth edge of the tub, closing your eyes as your lips parted in a sigh. You felt the tension in your muscles uncoiling as the aromatic bath salts soothed you. There was nothing quite like the quiet of the ungodly hours of the middle of the night. For a moment, it was peaceful. For a moment, you let yourself forget.

Then the door creaked open.

You startled, barely managing to sink lower into the water before you caught sight of him in the reflection of the stained-glass window above you.

Theo.

He didn’t notice you at first, which suited you just fine. You watched him closely. It was fascinating what a few weeks apart could do - he seemed like an entirely different person. His movements were slow, deliberate, the exhaustion radiating off of him in waves as he yanked at his tie, loosening it with sluggish, uncoordinated fingers. His hair was slightly mussed, his sleeves rumpled from the robes now draped over his arm. The usual sharpness in his gaze had been dulled with fatigue, like the weight of the night was pressing down on him too.

Patrol must have been rough, you mused. His jaw clenched as he let out a slow, tired breath, his hands moving to roll up his sleeves, methodical and practiced.

Then his gaze flickered up, and he saw you.

For a second, neither of you spoke.

You willed yourself to not look away, to not look guiltier than you already did. But still, you couldn't help feeling your pulse pick up as he fixed his gaze on you, brow furrowed. Acutely, you were aware of how unfair it was that he got to be mostly clothed while you were...decidedly less so.

His expression was unreadable, something flickering behind his eyes as he took in the sight of you half-submerged in the bath, your shoulders bare, your hair damp against your skin.

“What the fuck are you doing here?”

You made a half-hearted attempt to raise your hackles as he took a slow step closer. Fighting was all you ever did with Theo, even at times when you weren’t sure if you really did want to fight with him, like now.

“Bathing,” you said flatly.

He raised his eyebrows, his lips twitching into something wry and unimpressed. “Clearly.”

From the right, a cheeky giggle floated through the warm, sticky air from the mermaid portrait. You flushed, crossing your arms over your chest as you sank a little deeper into the water. “Go away, Nott.”

Theo huffed out something that wasn’t quite a laugh. He studied you for a second longer before exhaling, glancing up toward the enchanted ceiling as if debating whether this was worth an argument.

Then, to your complete surprise, he walked over to the edge of the bath, sat down, and slipped off his shoes. The mermaid sighed dreamily as Theo stripped off some unnecessary layers. You rolled your eyes.

“What are you - ”

He rolled up the hem of his trousers and dipped his feet into the water at the opposite end of the tub, sighing as the warmth engulfed him.

“…staying, apparently,” he murmured, gingerly rolling out his neck.

You scowled. “You’re insufferable.”

“You’re trespassing.”

Well, he had you there. Your fingers curled around the smooth stone edge of the tub. “Are you going to report me?”

Theo exhaled, rubbing a hand down his face. He still looked exhausted, the dark circles beneath his eyes more prominent now that he had stepped out of the shadows.

“Too much effort,” he muttered.

You swallowed, unsure how to feel him not using this against you. That, for what had to be the first time ever, you were in the same room together without clawing at each other’s throats.

The silence stretched between you, thick and heavy.

“You’re out late,” Theo finally said, with lidded eyes and a drowsy slur to his words.

You glanced at him warily. “So are you.”

He hummed, dragging a hand through his hair. “Prefect duty.”

“I guessed.” You trailed a hand idly through the water. “Must be exhausting.”

“About as exhausting as breaking into a bathroom that isn’t yours.”

You shot him a look. “I meant, it must be exhausting patrolling a castle full of students who don’t know how to follow the rules.”

Theo’s lips twitched. “Some more than others.”

You didn’t take the bait, merely rolling your eyes. “Well, if you’re going to whine about it, maybe don’t take up the job next year.”

“Tempting,” he muttered, stretching his legs out under the water. He looked so relaxed, so...devastatingly vulnerable. A small smile tugged at your lips. Was this what it was like to get along with Theodore Nott?

“Bet you love it, though,” you said idly. “Getting to boss people around.”

Theo let out a short breath, but the amusement in his expression was gone now.

“I don’t love it,” he said, voice quieter.

You gave him a look. “Could’ve fooled me.”

He finally peeled his eyes open, jaw clenched, fixing his eyes on you with a look that made you feel warm all over.

“You think you know everything about me, don’t you?”

Your stomach twisted. There was something about the way he said it - something in the gravel of his tone that didn’t quite match the conversation anymore. Something that made it clear that he wasn't talking about being a prefect anymore.

You forced a scoff even as your heart hammered dangerously in your chest. “I know enough.”

Theo exhaled sharply, tilting his head slightly toward you. “Yeah?” His voice was sharper now, something simmering just beneath the surface. “Tell me - what exactly is it that you think you know?”

Your fingers clenched slightly against the edge of the tub. “I know that you think you’re better than everyone.”

Theo let out a short, humorless laugh. “Oh, that’s rich.”

“It’s true.”

He let out a sharp bark of derision which echoed dangerously in the bathroom and inside your head. Even the mermaid was dead silent. “Right. Because you’re so selfless and emotionally available.”

You felt a sinking feeling inside you. Your heart clenched. Served you right for thinking you could have anything remotely civil with him. “Fuck off.”

He shook his head, jaw tight. Something about the steely look in his eyes made you nervous.

“You just hate having people care about you, don’t you?”

The roaring in your ears died down. The world seemed to have become unbearably still. You couldn't figure out what kind of game he was playing this time. You didn't recognise the dull yet focused sheen to his eyes. What was he doing? Your breath came faster, your pulse thudding in your ears. “What are you -”

"You think you're so clever, don't you? Think you've figured out how to never get hurt ever again?"

You shook your head. "Stop." Your trembling voice made it sound like a plea. But Theo's eyes flashed with something merciless. Whatever false sense of security the heady air of the bathroom had lulled you into was now well and truly shattered.

“You push people away,” Theo snapped, his voice rising now. You had to get out of this. This was rubbing alcohol pressed flush against where it hurt. You floundered clumsily, helplessly.

"Enough. Please, I'm sor- "

“You make yourself impossible to love so no one even tries, so then you can hate them for leaving.”

"It's not my fault," you cried, gasping for air that wouldn't come. "I didn't ask to be this way!"

"Does that make you feel good?" Theo pressed on, sneering, steamrolling over your protests. "Do you get some sick, perverse kind of pleasure in always being right? That you really will be alone forever?"

Your chest twisted. “Don’t you get it?” Your voice cracked, all the restraint you’d been holding onto finally snapping. “I can't help it! I don’t know how to have anything good!”

“Well, I do!”

The words tore out of him before he could stop them, sharp and raw and furious.

It was the first time he had ever yelled at you.

Your heart stopped. This wasn't a game, not anymore. This didn't feel like a game.

Theo let out a harsh breath, running a hand through his hair. His jaw was tight, his eyes darker than you’d ever seen them.

And then you understood.

The frustration, the bitterness - it had never been about hating you. It had been about wanting you. Loving you, despite knowing that you wouldn’t let him.

Your breath came out unsteady. Theo exhaled sharply.

“I do,” he muttered again, quieter this time. He rubbed at something invisible on one of the tiles. "I know how to have something good. I could...teach you. I could..."

He exhaled sharply, shaking his head like he hated the words before they even left his mouth. "I could show you, if you’d just - ”

His voice caught, and he let out a dry, humorless laugh, like he already knew you wouldn’t take what he was offering. Still, he offered anyway.

"I could have...you. If you let me."

[gatorbites-imagines]

I’m SO in love with your Dick x Wally x male Thanagarian reader HCs! I’ve read through them multiple times, and they’re stuck in my head 🥰🥰💖💖💖

I wasn’t the one who requested it, but would I be able to ask for more from them, with a mix of SFW and NSFW HCs? 🙏

Dick Grayson x Wally West x Thanagarian male reader

Headcanons

I’ve been stressing about my job situation since I quit my internship, as I still need an income, and all job postings around here I can do start in April. So, like any healthy person, im ignoring these feelings by writing.

You guys dating wouldn’t change too many things, as you guys were already close and spent a lot of time together. You guys become a lot more affectionate, which is new for you but not for Dick and Wally as they had already been dating for a long time.

They plan most of the dates in the beginning, as you are still trying to figure out what would work for your human lovers. Thanagar has different traditions and habits, so humans being so lax and creative is new even after this long.

Dick and Wally are both giddy when you decide to plan a date all on your own. You end up stressing yourself way too much, wanting it to be perfect, that you get help from some of the other titans.

I think your boyfriends would be happy with anything, even just going to your hideout and sitting around eating pizza and watching a movie. But seeing all the effort you put into it makes them happy.

On your guys one year anniversary, you give them rings made out of nth metal, possibly even made from small pieces of your wings, so you are always with them in one way or another.

This makes Wally and Dick both pout as they now think their gifts arent good enough. Of course, you don’t think so, anything they’ll give you is good, but they want to do something as meaningful as you did.

Expect something personal and sweet in the coming days. It doesn’t have to be expensive or anything, but its something that means something to all of you. You just feel flustered about it, but accept the pampering.

They of course don’t go beyond your boundaries, something you return as well, since you love your boyfriends as much as you can and they love you in return.

You don’t have any family on earth, there’s Carter and Shayera, but they aren’t really your family and you guys have different values. Luckily for you, your boyfriends have active families. It takes longer for the bats to welcome you, but at this point you’ve been on earth long enough to be trusted.

When it comes to the bedroom, Wally and Dick are much more comfortable than you are in the beginning. They already know each other inside and out, literally, and the first times you feel almost like an outsider.

They obviously don’t allow you to feel left out, and the first times you guys sleep together is a lot of just learning each other, figuring out what feels good and what you are all comfortable with.

I like to think Wally asks about you wearing your wings at least once when you guys are doing it, and you counter it by saying he should keep the flash suit on then. You hadn’t expected him to do it, but he does. Dick ends up doing it too, wearing the Nightwing suit. And who wouldn’t love that.

It lets you live out a couple of fantasies you’ve always had but never allowed yourself to indulge in, since you didn’t want to disrespect your friends and their relationship.

It’s pretty lethal to not have just one boyfriend with a lot of energy, but two. And one of those boyfriends has little to no rest between rounds. I could imagine Dick jokes about how its good that you came along, so you can switch out who’s fucking Wally so the other can rest.

They both love hickeys and you leaving them on them, since the whole being marked by you gets their blood pumping. They both love leaving them just as much though, so you end up starting to wear a high-collar outfit when you go out as your crime fighting persona.

It can be hard to find time where all three of you can spend personal time together. Theres always something going on in your personal cities, so there is a lot of one on one time. But I can imagine you guys make a habit out of calling whoever isn’t there, and letting them listen through their earpiece, if possible.

It gets kinda awkward for Dick a couple of times where the other bats, mostly Babs, checks in on his comms, only to hear Wallys needy gasping and whimpering and your deeper grunts and groans, as you describe in crude detail what you are doing to your shared boyfriend.

Babs might even be a bit impressed that Dick can keep up with his usual flips and kicks, taking out criminals like usual, and not letting what hes hearing distract him.

When he finally finishes up and gets back to wherever you guys are, Dick would dive right in, even if you and Wally had already washed up and were cuddling.

Luckily Wally is always raring to go, and it’s easy to get you worked up, just watching and listening to them. At the end of the night/early morning everyone is satisfied and happy, even if Wally has to be the one doing all the cleaning and morning cooking.

[nana-luvy]

. So I can't help with training now ?

Installment of the Mine series

warnings: fluff, playboy!Luke, fem!reader, daughter of Athena!reader, swearing

Because you're sick of being this thing he plays with, and confront him on a whim even if it's so unlike you.

˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗

Just as you usually did, you had chosen to lead the newbies’ training session, for the inexperienced, new campers who needed special attention, care, and most of all patience, and those were qualities you could pride yourself with. Usually, you lead this lesson with the help of a Lila, a Demeter kid who fought like an Ares one, but with a patience none of Clarisse’s siblings could ever muster to teach the youngers. Except, unlike the usual, you had to take care of the lesson by yourself this time, as Lila was apparently lying in a bed in the infirmary after an unsuccessful experiment in the greenhouse.

So there you were, setting up the practice dummies in an empty part of the field before you’d get too busy helping to actually do it, rearranging the wooden swords on the rack so they’d be ready to practice with, and eventually going over the plan you had for the lesson. As you tried a mini version of the moves to remember the small dance to teach later, you heard heavy steps coming closer, looking their way. ‘Luke, fuck no.’

“Hey, bunny.” His tone was giddy, face still harboring that flirty smile he seemed to always show whenever you were in his vicinity, like he was trying to catch a fly with displayed honey.

“Don’t call me bunny, Luke.” In comparison, your tone was dry, devoid of any of the previous sweetness you seemed to always muster whenever he was around, like your brain was reacting to his mere presence.

“Wooh, it’s too early to be harsh like that, you should really consider-”

“What are you doing here? Straight to the point please.”

His smile didn’t falter, or at most his lips slightly pursed in frustration, and he walked just a little closer, a few feet separating you both. “Well, I’m here for the training session, of course.” And his tone was as matter-of-fact as his eyes screamed mischief.

Your lips pursed as your eyes narrowed, taking Luke in for a second before deciding it was not worth it, you'd already given him way too much of your time over the course of the past months, and you were not gonna carry on with this doomed cycle. So you turned away from him, not giving him the satisfaction of a witty answer. And you silently vowed not to spare him any more thought than needed.

But as the session began, your vow quickly broke, mind working overtime to understand what the fuck Luke Castellan was doing there. From what you knew of him, and after years of pinning you knew a lot, he was one to help —of course, the sweet, always-here-to-help golden boy, the perfect counselor— but not this way. No, what he liked best was challenge. So he always lent a hand to practice with the most advanced, the most skilled of swordsmen, proving to whoever that he deserved his title as the number one, and practicing techniques on people who could at least block them, maybe even counter.

Luke liked challenge, he didn't like novice mediocrity and never-used potential. So he had absolutely no reason to be there, in the morning, teaching a bunch 10-year-olds kids who could barely hold straight up their wooden swords and looked more like scared kittens with wobbly legs when they had to fight one-another rather than actual warrior. He had no reason. Unless he did have one.

You tried to push through the whole hour and a half without giving it much attention, your look obviously avoiding him when he expected instructions on how to continue the session; yet you couldn’t help but have to shake out of it when you caught your gaze softening as you looked at Luke, with his back turned, helping a kid adjust his stance and throw a nice blow at a straw figure, high-fiving him in the process… Why did he have to be this perfect image all the time, and yet this total douche in real life ?

Deep in thought, you didn’t realize Luke had moved by now, your eyes still trained to the struggling kids, and only got startled by his presence as two large hands went to rest on your shoulder, casually massaging the tensions off your muscles. “Wow, bunny, you should stop being so anxious, doesn’t do wonders for your posture.” And maybe this was meant as a joke, a playful, mindless little quip. But oh, did it get on your nerves.

You slapped his hands away as you turned to face Luke, immediately taking a step back at the compromising proximity. “I said stop ca- ugh, whatever…” The way you ran your hand down your face exuded frustration, not even giving the courtesy of pretending. “I can’t stress it more, what are you doing here ?”

He had to give it to you, at least you kept the foul language for out of innocents’ ear shots. “What, so I can’t simply want to help with training now ?”

“No,” you immediately cut him off, mimicking the way he crossed his arms over his chest, though yours did look like twigs in comparison. “You don’t want to, you have no business here.”

“Uh, ouch ? Where does that come from ?” he questioned, eyebrows quirked in both amusement and uneasiness, under your blazing gaze. One he’d seen before, but had appreciated way much more that time.

“You don’t help youngers, Luke, you like the challenge and pride you get from training with the strongest around and beating them again and again.”

His smile twisted into an even more annoying one, if that was possible, stretching in a smug crescent as his head tilted to the side. “Wow, how do you know so much ? One would almost think you’re kinda into me.”

“Funny story for you, Castellan,” you started, pinning him in place when your gaze turned ice cold. “It wasn’t just a thought, it was a fact, and you threw your opportunity away, mkay ? Notice the use of past tense. So yes, I might know a few things, and yes, I might be inclined to throw them in your face at every occasion I get, though I hope our meetings will be scarce. That doesn’t mean anything anymore.”

You barely left one more second looking at the poor boy, his smirk long lost and morphed into a slightly slack jaw, clapping your hands together loudly to get the kids’ attention, freeing them from the session as the nymphs were soon to ring the bell for lunch.

“You know, I kinda get why you help them, it’s also pretty rewarding,” Luke chimed in from behind, apparently back from his…moment as he looked at all the young children run in direction of the cabins.

You looked at him behind your shoulder with a small smirk, before training your gaze back to the absolute chaos of a scenery stretching in front of you, straw dummies discarded on the grass, wooden swords scattered on the ground and water bottles lying there to top it off.

“You know the most rewarding thing ? Not being yelled at by the earth nymphs after a session that looks like that. Wouldn’t want to get on their bad side on your first day, would you ?” You reached for a nearby rake, shoving it in his hands. “Thanks for volunteering to clean up, Luke, that’s very nice of you ~”

Many expressions passed through the counselor’s features, contentment wasn’t one of them. But he couldn’t let an opportunity slide when he had you there.

“So when’s the next session ? I feel like I’m getting the hang of this.”

“Don’t feel pressured to come back. Actually, no…��� You turned to him from a few feet away, your smile soft but your eyes devoid of any of that. “Feel pressured not to come near me, I say it with all my heart.”

“Oh, bunny…” he simply sighed, watching the small bounce in your steps as you walked away.

Second part up, everybody say yaaaaay

Hope you guys like it so far heheh <3

- Love, Nana

taglist. @cas-planet @spider-ghoul @smileysunshinesworld @mlbmarichat13

[writingoddess1125]

Mr. and Mrs. Riley pt 2

Once again, I had way too much fun writing this lol, Honestly this has been one of the longest word count stories Ive made!

<< Part 1

Simon 'Ghost' Riley xFemReader

NOTE: Its clearly in the story but just in case this will be almost 12-13 years AFTER COD MW2

WARNING: Angst, Weapons, Deaths (Nothing Major), Fluff

You continued to stand there, messing with your necklace. Biting your lip a bit as you struggle to look at Simon who was still on the other side of the room.

"I really didn't want this to ever happen-"

You manage to mumble out, Simon scoffing a little.

“What that you were apart same bastards I’ve spent years tracking down.”

You exhale sharply, rubbing your temples now. “It was brief, Simon. I left and went to Kortac after realizing what the hell they actually were-”

“Brief or not, you were one of them.” He cuts you off, voice edging dangerously close to anger now. “You wore their goddamn patch, took their orders. Tell me, love- how may war crimes under that belt love?"

You glare at him. “Oh, and I suppose you were some holy fucking saint? You didn’t lie to me for years about what you did? Or even the fuck you are?”

Simon’s expression doesn’t change, but his silence seemed to have spoken for itself.

"Listen- I didn't tell you I am apart of Special Ops or-"

"Oh! You're in the special Ops? Currently!? Not just in the past as that Mask wearing asshole?? Youre currently a MAJOR mask wearing asshole and in special Ops?" You say sharply, Simon closing his eyes at the slip of giving that 'particular' info.

You take a step forward, pointing a finger at him “You said you worked as a low level Cadet in Logistics"

He exhales sharply. “And what would you have done if I had told you? If I came home and said, ‘Hey love, I lead a black ops units, hunt down high-value targets, and wear a goddamn skull mask? Oh wait one of those targets are you?’”

“I should’ve known!” You throw your hands up. “Im Your Wife!”

Simon’s gaze left your face then. “And I would’ve known that you were one of the very people we were fighting. Im your Husband afterall”

...

You swallow hard, your hands balling into fists at your sides. “I left them... Well WELL over a decade ago!”

“But you didn’t tell me.” His voice is quieter now, but no less sharp. “You didn’t tell me who you worked for, what you did, who you might’ve fought against.”

You shake your head, stepping back slightly.

“Why would I? It was long before we even started dating! Youre the one who has been lying to me!”

"Well You lied too so why are you so mad?" He asked casually as if he was trying to sweep this argument away which only made your blood boil.

"I didnt lie to you, I just never brought it up- It wasny important" You scoff, crossing your arms. “And You lied to me first.”

"It doesn't matter who did it first- It was a matter of the gravity-" He shot back just as fast, looking down at you with a scowl on his face as he stood there now shifting a bit closer to you.

You shot him another glare- "Oh? So mine is worse then yours?"

He gave a light shrug and nodded, making you scoff in anger. "Oh really, We are playing this?"

"Yes we are- Fact is I shouldn't find out my Wife is a war criminal after 11 years of marriage"

"Well 'Major' since you do such fantastic work how haven't you figured it out huh? Guess shooting stuff and lying is your strong points instead of anything else hm?-"

You shot at him with a sarcastic smile, clearly aiming at his ego- Which clearly worked by the nasty little glare he shot you.

Gritting his teeth a little he took a steady breath.

"Listen- This is a problem" He gestured to you overall making your jaw drop in anger.

"Is there anyone else that I know who is a 'Former' War Criminals? Cause the fact is clearly I can't tell since you guys are wonderful at lying-"

Simon asked sarcastically clearly trying to take a shot back at yoh, however saw the look on your face and narrowed his eyes.

"...Who-"

"Rozlin.. She was one who moved to Kortec with me" You said softly now not looking at him.

He throws his hands up at hearing this and curses under his breath as he turns away from.

"The God-Mother of our Children- Fan-Fucking-Tastic. Are the women in my life War Criminals?"

"Will you stop calling me that! I wasn't a damn War Criminal you rat bastard!"

He snaps back at you now with what could only be described as a 'I'm about to jump out this god damn window' look to his face.

"Okay Now I clearly gotta know- Why!? Why would you enlist with a terrorist group? Like Fucking Hell, what was it that made you go- Hm this seems like a good idea!"

You sighed heavily now just running your hands over your hair, stressed by all of this.

"I.. I got offered the position by a boyfriend at the time"

You manage out, and swear you can see 20 different emotions go over your husband's face before settling on a blank almost soulless look.

"Oh- So a boyfriend suggested it? Please do tell, did you leave after a bad fight between you two?"

He grumbled out, making you shake your head at the clear just nastiness of his current anger.

"No asshole. He died- and.."

You took a seat on the corner of the bed and shifted your feet with a heavy sigh- Simon still irritated but by the look on his face the guilt was clear...

"Sorry..."

You waved off his apology

"Afterwards I panicked, I thought we were the good guys and afterwards I learned we weren't- I got prepared to jump ship with one of my peers who learned what was taking place.."

You sighed and messed with your necklace again-

"I felt a few weeks after that- And ironically after a encounter with you"

Simon immediately stiffed up at learning this- that anger seemingly almost fully evaporating in seconds, looking to you as his eyes seemed to rapidly scan over your body.

"Wher-"

"Afghanistan" You say calmly, Gesturing to the little knotted scar an your arm. Having looked at it a thousand times but now it made his stomach churn at the realization what it was.

"I.. Shot you?"

"Well.. Back then you didnt know me, Good thing you missed and couldn't find me" You chime trying to lighten that up and look back at him- However Simon had a unreadable look on his face. His hand over his mouth as he seemed to be in a different place.

Seeing how that settled on him.. for one of the few times in your whole marriage you could see his thoughts written on his face- I shot my wife.. Oh my God I shot my wife..

You sigh heavily and reach over grabbing the strings of his sweats to pull him to you gently and plopped him down next to you on the bed.

"Simon.. Its really okay-"

He shakes his head quickly, looking forward still a bit out of it- After that the two of you sat in silence, unsure if it was just the situation at hand or the adrenaline dying down.

Simon finally glanced at you after this period of silence, clearly just trying to figure out what to say.

"So.. What was his name?"

"Vance" You say with a casual shrug, You werent going to tell your husband he had been mainly a guy you kept around just to knock boots with on the regular.

Simon stared at you for a moment before huffing a small laugh under his breath.

"Well who knew dick was apart of your benifits pl..."

He closed his eyes, Knowing immediately he fucked up- He had been trying to make a joke to ease things and knew immediately those words left that was probably the worse thing to possibly ever say. You turning to look at him in fucking rage on your face.

"Thats it-!"

Standing up you grab one of the pillows from the bed and throw it at him which he caught with ease.

"You get to sleep in the office-" You say sharply, As Simon face scrunched up in confusion-

"Not the sofa?"

"No- Office. Rozlin helped us pick that couch so I'm sure Major Simon 'Ghost' Riley wouldn't want to sleep on a couch picked by two war criminals"

You say mocking his voice at the last one, Also tossing him the small throw blanket right at his face.

"Don't forget your knife too asshole-"

You wave in the direction of his tactical knife still on the bed. Simon reached over and yanked the knife off the bed a bit dramatically as he put it back in his holster, Clutching the Pillow and Blanket.

"Lov ya-"

"Love you too"

You both grumble, Not due to actually saying I love you- but clearly just mad in general.

Simon walked out of the room and closed it behind him. Looking up the the ceiling in frustration, rubbing his face as he knew he fucked up with that last little comment. Silently walking to his office to sleep on the floor.

Truthfully it had been a miserable night for both of you...

The next morning the routine had been fairly the same as everyday it had been. However this time you two were still a bit frosty with each other to say the least- if not Simon staring at you a bit more as if trying to figure out something.

By the time Simon had gotten out of the shower and seeing how you had folded them and placed them on his desk instead of their usual spot on the bed. He stared at them for a bit longer then normal, before getting dressed and walking into the kitchen.

Simon stopped as he picked up his cup of coffee which was in the place it always was. Looking to you as you made him and Elijah some breakfast toasties- seemingly having some extra time this morning to do so.

Handing over the two wrapped in foil to him before putting some more on for your son.

You two locked eyes, Before Simon reached to his side and held out a thinned file and placed it in your hands much to your confusion.

"Burn that for me.... afterall you're my wife before anything else"

He said softly, Kissing your forehead as he took his breakfast and coffee with him- leaving you standing there in nothing but shock as you stared at the file in hand and your husband leaving to his car.

He got promoted to the sofa after that-

However Simon really didn't want his stay on the sofa forever which after the first week was starting to seem like the case.

While he wasn't having a blow up fight with you it didn't mean things werent.. Tense-

Snide comments rained free from both of you, small checks for holsters and weapons almost daily- And he even got a knife flown next to his head landing in the drywall when he almost mumbled a certain word equal to a female dog-

It was.. stressful to say the least for both of you-

Simon once again in his work office- Mentally and physically exhausted.. He always had been used to the hard uncomforble beds of the military- he essentially grew up on them. But now he was so used to when he was home being next to you, so the idea of you just being down the hall was making it fucking torture.

He hadn't even gotten to the piles of files thag demanded his attention. Domestic Terrorist attacks, drug moves- It was highly important but he was so mentally spent it might as well be just be bricks he would need to deal with later..

He heard the door open and sat up, prepared for some agent to invade his space.

"Look whit we got here!"

"Fuckin Hell-" He grumbled, Seeing Johnny 'Soap' Fucking-MacTavish walking damn near strutting in. Simon Leaning back in his seat as the scott smiled and plopped himself on one of the chairs across from him.

"Johnny not today-"

"Aww work got ye in a shit mood?"

Johnny was one of the few who knew of you or the kids for that matter. He had needed witnesses for his elopement anyway and Johnny was trustworthy- paired for when he was in town a easy babysitter.

Even if he was a pain in his ass- He grumbled under his breath, rubbing his neck which was a bit sore from the arm of the sofa.

"No.. Sleeping on the damn sofa-"

"Awww fucked up bad huh?-" Johnny chuckled which earned him a nasty glare from the masked man.

"How long have you been banished for?"

"...1 Day on the Office Floor and 9 days on the couch" Simon grumbled, crossing his arms as he looked to his desk. Johnny Hissing in shock at hearing this-

"Damn- You truly fucked up" Johnny said with a chuckle, smiling like the devil as he leaned back in his seat.

"Wad ya do?"

"Nothing that concerns you-" He grumbled out, earning a chuckle from Johnny who sat up to lean on his palm.

"Well if ya don't tell me how am I gonna help ya mate?"

Simon looked to Johnny, while the scott couldn't see it from his mask Simon was biting his inner cheek in thought.

"A bad situation on all fronts.. and my smart comments didn't exactly assist in that either.. and now it's a God damn battlefield-"

Johnny raised a brow at this, knowing that even with what little info he had this wasn't good. At All.

"Hm.. Start with the classics then- cooking a dinner together, some candles some nice words to smooth it over?"

Simon shook his head no immediately at that. He could see that going wrong really fucking quick- A enclosed space, knives, possible fire discussing a heavy topic with a lot of emotions?

Yeah fuck that-

"No no- Nothing with... Sharp knives.. Or fire for that matter"

Johnny gave him a bit of a wide eyed look, clearly having questions but not brave enough to ask him.

"Okay? Uh Fancy Resturant? Why not Bocca di Lupo? You took her there for ya guys 10 year anniversary right? Familiar space, Romantic atmosphere?"

Simon thought for a moment, nodding that it was a fairly good idea- even if his pockets hurt at just hearing the Resturants name again.. He remembered nearly popping a blood vessel when he paid 27£ for a beer.. a shit beer at that.

"That should work.."

He grumbled, before narrowed his eyes at the male and sighed heavily- He knew Johnny, and he knew this wasn't for free..

"..What do I owe for this?"

Johnny gave a cheeky grin.

"Depends- Need a babysitter?"

-

Simon ♡: 'I want to take you to dinner tonight, It will be nice, Dress Up'

You'd raised a brow at the text, apprehensive and worried however decided not to argue it.

You were fortunate enough to know that your darling husband wasn't the best with Text so this wasn't rude either.

Just him-

Setting up bottles for Lily and silently wandering what was planned- However decided to just go with it.

Afterall couldn't be any worse then how things are now..

The day did seem to fly by however not peacefully, Lily having decided that today she wanted to remind you how much a 11 month old can rain terror.

Aka it seemed she wanted only her Dad that day so just- Fuck You I guess.

Which lead to a lot of trying, Lily finally falling asleep crying- Then waking up..

To More fucking crying.

When Simon got home with Elijah your son running up to you while you stood there holding a still sobbing Lily as he showed you the lasted- everything from his classes.

"Look Mummy! We gotta do a assignment on our parents! Will you help?"

"Yes of course Baby" You say softly, trying to remain as sweet as possible as one child screamed in your ear and the other decided to want to show you ever peice of paper that has ever been printed.

"Alright Lad. Go shower, get your homework out and take a seat at the table" Simon gruffed out, Elijah nodding as he ran off to do as asked.

"Well don't you look like a joy-" Simon said as he stared at you, You making sure to cut him a nasty ass look as you hand your daughter over to him.

"She has decided you are the one of the day. Seems she has terrible taste once more" Simon held Lily who leaned into him immediately calming down-

"Hey Least one of the women in this house like me-" He said softly. You rub your face a bit, clearly exhausted.

"You said you wanted to go out?"

"Yeah we are gon'a head to Bocca di Lupo for dinner.."

You look to him confused, Bocca di Lupo? You knew he hated that place, It had been one of a funniest anniversaries for you when the two of you stepped foot in that place- Remembering seeing how he seemed like a bull in a China shop looking around the place, trying to figure out why he was getting one bite of food per plate and asking the waiter why was he being served decorations on a plate then food-

You had died laughing the whole time and seeing it all in a very fond light- "Are you sure?- Last time we went you got McDonald's on the way to the Anniversary suite"

"We aren't talking about the Maccies thing- I feel like a space outside of the house were we can.. talk I suppose is nice-"

You raise a brow hearing how this seemed a bit rehearsed, but shrugged-

"Okay"

"Good.. The reservation isn't for a few hours, so you can take a bath or- whatever.. I'll watch the kids for the time being"

He saw the way your face softened, looking at him both greatful and suspicious. "Thank you, That sounds really nice actually"

He nodded, a bit awkwardly as you walked off to go take a bath anf unwind.

Simon silently thanked Johnny for giving him this script and convincing him to make the reservation for later that evening. Looking to Lily in his arms as she stared up at him-

"Let's see if this works eh Sweet Girl?"

After a admittedly heavenly bath and a short power nap. You got ready for this evening out.

Stepping out of the bedroom in your nice black dress as you put on earrings and nice heels. Hearing the front door slam open.

"Looking Lovely as ever Bonnie" You see Johnny in the livingroom- Also holding Lily as she seemed while not as happy, at least not screaming her head off, as Elijah was there eating what seemed to be pizza and chicken dippers.

"Hey Johnny, Simon has you as the babysitter?" You chuckle as you walk all the way out to the livingroom.

"Well ya know, always wanna help a Mate out of course!" He said cheerfully, Simon was at the dining room table seemingly patiently waiting to enter the bedroom to grab his nice clothes.

"I'm sure-" You say softly, Adjusting your dress a bit. Before looking yo Johnny calmly as he snagged some chicken dippers himself, now having grown suspicious of the man himself as he had always been a 'friend' from the military.

It didn't take long for Simon to come back out dressed in his nice dress pants and white button up, Shifting a bit as he always had some problems with formal wear.

"Ah look at ya! You almost clean up nice" Johnny chimed, earning a glare from Simon and a chuckle from you.

"Don't wait up Johnny-"

He grumbled out, After some quick goodbyes to the kids and you swore you saw Simon snag a slice, you both headed to his car-

This leading to possibilities the most awkward car ride of your guys lives, it had been almost dead silent- as if you two didn't know how to even start a conversation.

Taking a soft breath you reach over to turn on the radio-

Before Careless Whisper blasted through the car.

...

You two sit there, Simon silently driving but you swore you saw him blink one eye then the other like he was seconds away from losing it. You also closing your eyes as you collected yourself mentally.

You turn the radio back off.. Silence filling the car once again.

It was almost an hour to the resturant like this, Simon paying for parking once you two arrived.

Looking at the overly stuffy resturant ahead of you.

It would be funny how the two of you seemed to loath having to enter the place.

You took his arm and leaned to his side like how you two had walked in here before to try and seem normal- Till you felt it.. A clear handle on his side, Looking up at him with a glare.

Simon wrapped a arm around you quickly as well- He already felt the holster under your dress as he leaned into your ear.

"You leave yours in the car I'll leave mine.."

He said lowly, You narrowed your eyes at him before nodding in agreement. Both of you going back to respective sides of the car and taking off the hidden holsters- Simon pulling out a massive fucking knife that made your blood boil- Before you pulled out a small Pistol.

He stared at you in disbelief when you set the gun under the passenger seat.

"You were gonna shoot me!?"

"They are non-lethal bullets! Im not gonna murder the father of my children" You Hiss back as you point to the massive Rambo blade in his hand.

"What about that- It's literally the size of my damn head" You point back to him.

"I would have clipped your arm or something- Nothing of true damage"

"Oh wanna make sure I match the other shoulder?" You hiss, You see the way he gritted his teeth as he stashed the knife under his seat.

This leading the two of you to rather angrily march to the restaurant. The two of you sit at the very nice table in dead silence... It was painfully tense.

So bad that other tables were seemingly just as tense.

Simon scowling while sipping the 27£ Beer that tasted like honey piss and you barely tasted the far too bitter wine.

Only snapping out of the painfully angry silence when the waiter came back over.

"Are you two ready to order?"

"Just uh.. A few more minutes please?" Simon said softly, the overly stuffy waiter leaving with a curt nod before walking off.

....

You look to Simon and give a gentle sigh.

"Simon.. This feels, Well very- Tense. Do you want to go back to the house.."

"Fuck No.." He grumbled, You narrow your eyes at your husband unsure if he was being rude or simply upset over this all.

"Do you seriously want to have this kind of talk here?" You whisper.

Simon leaned his face on his palm as he gave a soft smirk "Safer then at home- it seems.. Or in the car with the gun"

You pick up the steak knife and point it at him in a silent threat which he narrows his eyes at you in a silent- I fucking dare you.

However Simon suddently stopped, looking towards the front of the resturant as he seened to be scanning- His eyes narrowing. You look to him confused as something seemed to have his interest- His eyes widen suddently.

"Down!-"

Simon reached for you as it felt like the world slowed down for a second- Seeing a flash of light at what used to be the front door as Simon grabbed you hard and yanked you to the floor.

A yelp leaving you as Simon shielded you with his body fast, a rain of glass and wood seemingly raining down.

Loud explosion hitting your ears that make your ears rings and dizzy. God the memories of this before coming back in full swing- 'Why did I ever do this shit again?..'

Simon pulled up as you stared down at your dazed face with concern, his hand going to you cheek to look you over.

"You alright?" He ask, his eyes wide as you give a shaky nod.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm fine" You say softly, Hearing the sound of gunfire and shouts for everyone to get down.

You sat up quickly and the two of you hid behind the broken furniture- Hearing patrons scream as they were herded like cattle.

Simon closed his eyes as he thought back to one of the files on his desk 'Domestic Terrorist' Fan-Fucking-tastic... and this defiantly would be a good spot- bunch of rich fucks in a flashy spot?.. Yeah.

He turned ready to tell you to run and hide elsewhere however saw you not far off, Your gaze focused as you seemed to be scouting out what was there- That dazed look of your gone.. It was focused, trained as you looked around.

He silently moves closer to you keeping an eye out.

"What are you doing?" He grumbled, feeling ready to snap and yank you to the nearest exit but you point instead.

"Hostages, This isn't to kill" You mumble pointing forward- Simon following your gaze and seeing the exact same pattern as you-

'This is to buy time- so something bigger was elsewhere'

"We looking at 11?" Simon hummed softly, you glancing to the side-

"Bakers dozen-" You whisper pointing to the right showing the addional two.

He nods and motions the two of you forward. Simon gesturing for you to move to the side to hide while he handled this. Grabbing a spare balaclava he usually kept in his pockets as he slipped it on.

You sent him a glare as you grabbed a medical face mask you uses during cold and flu season from your purse and put it on and taking off your heels and holding them.

"This is dangerous, Go hide-"

He hissed out and pointed to the side.

"Kiss my ass-"

Simon equally glared at you, Till the sound of footsteps approached and he spun around-

Seeing one of the mercs turning to look for other hostages as he was turned with his back to him Simon was quick to grab the man and slam him to the ground. Covering his mouth, as he was was fast to snap his neck to silence them.

Quickly you grabbed the dead man's gun a X16 and check the ammo.

That's when you heard that so welcomed scream near by of one of the women who had been seated near your table making a run for it- Catching the attention of the men who came in your direction to catch the idiot.

"Shit" "Shit..." You both say in unison-

"See if he has any hand to hand weapons- I work better with those" You manage to say to Simon as both of you fast to take cover as you hear the group fast to approach.

"See this is what I fucking mean..." Simon muttered clearly not expecting you to hear him as he searched the body more which came up empty.

"What do you mean?"

You ask anf load a magazine as you were behind the thickened table looking to your husband not far from you-

"Feels like I turn around and just- Boom another reminder my wife is keeping deadly ass secrets from me"

"It wasn't a matter of wanting to keep secrets, It was the fact that I didn't see that as a part of my life anymore after I left"

"To your left-" Simon said calmly as you aimed and shot the soldiers in the head coming around the corner fast.

This alerting of your guys presents as now gunfire could be heard coming towards the two of you, you quickly sliding your gun to Simon as you knew he was a better shot, while picking up a steak knife.

"Well it just sort of feel like I got blindsided is all- I mean even without knowing it could have still put us all in danger"

He stressed, Moving from his position forward quickly and reached over grabbing another armored male who had rushed towards them and shooting him in the back as he tossed his body to the side and went back to cover.

After another rushed over with a Automatic and starting to fire rapidly- Clearly burning through his ammo as the two of you waited for the reload.

"I understand where you're coming from Darling- and im sorry for not at least giving some sort of heads up about it.. Its just difficult"

You relent as you grab a fancy dressed man cowering near you and drag him to safety off to the side by his collar. As you saw the soilder who was walking closer reloading his automatic as fast as he could clearly not spotting you- you pounced, sinking the steak knife into the back of his neck making sure you heard the crack- He fell silently as you caught him and laid him down to the ground.

"Truthfully I really did think I was with the good guys- I mean come on there are a lot of registered soldiers that were apart of that at the time. I just thought I was one of them"

Simon thought for a second and nodded, seeing your perspective at that. Watching as you savaged the man's body for ammo and other useful weapons.

"Fair point actually"

Pulling up some more magazines and getting them to Simon as you saw nothing of use, few med kits, a couple of shit knives-

'God they got such bullshit stuff..'

"I do also want to talk about you lying about the rank however. Why didn't you want to tell me?"

Simon rolled his eyes a bit, Pausing for a second as he waited for his next target.

"It was dangerous and I know I shouldn't have lied about it- However I was worried you would have freaked out when we had first started dating and I just never wanted to bring that back up.. and Im sorry"

He admitted, Looking back at you with regret- Your eyes softening as you saw the remorse.

"Listen I wouldn't have cared about who you are or even your position- I would have supported you either way"

Simon mumbled as the two quietly crept through the resturant- Hearing the sound of several of the men clearly looking for the two of you.

"I know- I just didn't want to pull you guys into that life, I figured if I didn't speak about it. Then you guys aren't involved"

Simon turned the corner as he went to shoot one of the men in the back of the head, however it jammed and he instead dragged the man down with him covering his mouth as he looked back at you, You staring back at him.

"So- Ironically we were doing the same thing in different directions"

"Guess so"

The man in Simon's arms looking both terrified and utterly confused as Simon easily restrained him.

"I don't like that our relationship started out on secrets and lies- Fact is, we haven't in almost 11 years of being married even scratched the surface of our early lives" You whisper low- Seeming the way Simon face seemed to twitch at the mention of early life.

You hand Simon the steak knife as he sighed sinking the knife into the guys neck while keeping the males mouth covered still and tossing him to the ground lazily.

"Your right.. I think we just got so-" He tried to think of the word-

"Secure?"

"That's the word Thank you. Secure in not addressing it, it let this type of thing take place"

You nod in agreement at this. Hearing the sound of vans and other shouts from outside the Restaurant.

Simon saw that the authorities and one of his teams were arriving, glancing back at you as he gestures to the closest exit to sneak out of. Which you two quietly and quickly do, managing out by what seemed to be a Alley most likely for employees.

You smile from under your mask quickly slipping it off and set your heels back down and slipped them back on before leaning against the brick walls, a clearly winded and fanning yourself some.

"Little winded there love?" You could hear Simon joke a bit, earning a side glare from you.

"Hey- it's been well over a decade and two kids since I last did that shit. Give me some slack okay?"

The two of you giggle at this, Simon also rolling his shoulder a bit. While active still it had been a hot minute since he was down in the trenches like that.

"Listen- I'm sorry.. I shouldn't have assumed the worse and should have been.. more honest" Simon finally said looking to you.

"Im sorry too, I should have also been more honest and open about everything. Maybe after this, and with some time we can start to just unravel our- admittedly probably fucked up past?" He nodded in agreement, Glancing from the side of the Alley seeing how the remaining terrorist were already being handled in some way.

Glancing around as he gestured to the car still in the paid parking spot as he silently moved the two of you over to it.

Once to the car the two of you look to each other, Simon placing a hand on your hip as he looks at you softly. "I love you okay?.. I dont want stupid shit like this to affect out marriage"

Your eyes soften at this, and you place a gentle kiss on his masked lips.

"I love you too Darling, and I promise no matter what we will always handle things together. Team Mr and Mrs Riley forever"

"Thats stupid as hell" He grumbled making you laugh. He heard his phone go off as he pulled it from his back pocket, seeing ironically his job requesting him at the resturant.

"Fuck-"

He grumbled, you giggling at this.

"Oh the irony- Also let's get your hoodie from the back" You say softly as you pat his chest, Breaking the hold the two of you shared. Simon about to question why till he looked down at his white button shirt seeing it covered in a nice bit of blood.

"Damn.. This was expensive"

"This is why you wear black Darling-" You joke as you gesture to yourself still in your pretty black dress going to the trunk to grab the hoodie he kept in the trunk from the last hiking trip he took- also finding his sweats and his running shoes.

"Also good thing you didn't take these out of the car liked I asked- so they could be washed" You also shot at him, He playfully opened his arms at you as if showing his bloodied self off.

"My vices at times come to be blessings"

Walking back with a shake of your head and hand him the clothes, which he quickly changes into and tosses the bloody dress clothes into the trunk.

"Now- You go be Major Ghost okay. I'll see Simon back at the house" You say softly, You could see Smile through his mask as he nodded.

"And is Simon back allowed in the bedroom?"

He asked, Hopeful. You caress his cheek at this.

"You are more then welcome Darling, and possibly extra"

The second those words came out of your mouth you could possibly see the excited twinkle in Simon's eyes, As he carefully escorted you to the car with a firm hand on your lower back.

"I'll hold you to that, Now please get home safely Lov"

You had to snort back a laugh at this as you placed a kiss on his covered cheek.

"You be safe, I'll see you at home"

Getting into the car you started your way back off. Simon taking a moment to watch you drive off, before he silently do a fist pump to himself in silent celebration- turning onto his heel at the chaos of gun fire and more on the overly expensive restaurant he wasn't sad to see gone.

He had never walked into a Domestic Terrorist scene so damn happy before.

Tag List-

@itsmeamysworld @danielle143 @mileyraes

[ficnation]

Dead Girl Walkin'#2

Pairing: Daryl Dixon x Female! Reader

Warnings: sickness, usual the walking dead themes

Word count: 1k+

A/n: Let's get into those flashbacks! Hope you enjoy it!

Main Masterlist || Daryl Dixon Masterlist

PREVIOUS CHAPTER || NEXT CHAPTER

Your sickness got worse. So much worse.

And you were all alone with it—until Daryl and Merle showed up.

At first, Daryl didn’t know why Merle bothered. He wasn’t the kind of guy to play nursemaid, and he sure as hell wasn’t the type to stick around when things got tough. But for some reason, he kept dragging Daryl back to that rundown trailer in the middle of nowhere, like it was just another stop on their endless list of bad decisions.

Being there for you was probably the best decision the two of them had ever made.

But it wasn’t.

And you let them in—not just into your house but into your life and heart.

Daryl didn’t get that either. You should’ve known better, should’ve realized they would only bring trouble and heartbreak. It never ended well with him and Merle around. Then again, Daryl figured you didn’t have much left to lose anyway.

You were getting worse by the day, skin paler than it had any right to be, bones jutting out where they hadn’t before. Every time he saw you, it was like looking at a ghost that hadn’t figured out it was dead yet.

And still, you smiled.

Even now, coughing up blood into a tissue, you grinned at them from your spot on the couch like it was just another Tuesday.

“At this point, the Grim Reaper must be scared of me,” you wheezed, wiping your mouth with the back of your hand. “Just doesn’t wanna show the fuck up.”

Merle let out one of those wild, barking laughs of his, shaking his head. “Shit, girl, I don’t blame him. You’re stubborn as hell.”

“Damn right.” You stretched, wincing, but you didn’t let it show too much. “I oughta start charging him rent if he’s just gonna keep circling and never really move in.”

Daryl didn’t laugh. He just stood there, arms crossed, watching you like you might disappear between one breath and the next.

Because you might.

Merle, either oblivious or just refusing to acknowledge reality, sprawled out in the recliner across from you, kicking his boots up on the coffee table. “So, what? You gonna outlive all of us just to spite that bony bastard?”

“That’s the plan.”

You and Merle grinned at each other like it was all some big joke.

Daryl didn’t think it was funny.

You were wrapped in that same old blanket you always had, the one with holes in it, the one you swore was perfectly fine even though Daryl had half a mind to steal it and replace it with something that wasn’t falling apart.

That night, when Merle was outside smoking and talking shit on the phone to some guy Daryl didn’t care about, he sat on the couch beside you. Not too close—just close enough to remind himself you were still here.

Your hands trembled when you reached for the glass of water on the coffee table. Daryl saw it before you could pretend otherwise and handed it to you instead.

You nodded in thanks, taking a slow sip before leaning your head back against the couch. “You’re quiet tonight.”

Daryl huffed, staring at a crack in the wall. “Ain’t got nothin’ to say.”

“Yeah, you do.”

He glanced at you, scowling. “No, I don’t.”

You smirked like you knew some big secret. “You get all quiet when you’re mad about something.”

Daryl looked away. He didn’t want to admit you were right. Didn’t want to admit that his heart skipped a beat because you noticed that little fact about him.

You sighed, running your fingers over the rim of the glass. “You don’t gotta be mad for me, y’know.”

He clenched his jaw. “Ain’t mad.”

You gave him a look, all sharp and knowing. “Bullshit.”

Daryl inhaled through his nose, tapping his fingers against his knee. His hands felt restless, like they should be doing something—fixing something, fighting something. But there wasn’t shit to fight. Nothing he could win anyway.

“I don’t like seein’ you like this.” The words came out rougher than he meant, but they were the truth.

You exhaled slowly. “I know.”

“Feels like…” He trailed off, frowning.

“Like what?”

Daryl shook his head, restless energy thrumming under his skin. “Like you’re just sittin’ here waitin’ to die.”

You didn’t look surprised by that. Maybe you’d already thought the same thing yourself. Maybe you’d been thinking it longer than he had.

After a long pause, you said, “I don’t think I’m waiting to die. I think I’m just trying to live while I still can.”

Daryl swallowed hard, shifting in his seat. “That ain’t much better.”

You shrugged. “It’s all I got.”

And maybe that was what pissed him off the most.

That you’d accepted it. That you weren’t fighting. That you were making jokes about the damn Grim Reaper instead of doing something.

He knew it wasn’t fair. Knew this wasn’t something you could punch your way out of. But that didn’t stop the anger from curling hot and sharp in his chest.

Didn’t stop him from wanting to do something.

You must’ve seen it written all over his face because you sighed and nudged his arm with your knee. “C’mere, Dixon.”

He frowned. “For what?”

You patted the couch beside you. “Just come here.”

Daryl hesitated, then shifted closer. You tugged the edge of your blanket over his lap and leaned your head against his shoulder like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Daryl froze, shoulders tense. “The hell you doin’?”

��Relax, would you?” You sighed, closing your eyes. “You feel like a damn rock.”

He let out a breath through his nose but didn’t move away.

“You ever just let yourself be still?” you murmured.

He didn’t answer.

You hummed, like you already knew. “You should try it sometime.”

Daryl stayed stiff for a long moment before slowly letting himself relax.

Just a little.

Your breathing was steady, soft—like maybe, for the first time in a while, you weren’t in pain. Like his presence was better than any painkiller you’d ever taken.

And for the first time in a while, Daryl let himself believe—for just a second—that maybe you’d still be here tomorrow.

If not for yourself, then for him.

[ultimate-marysue]

Once again I'm begging DC to stop introducing super cool plotlines that they intend to abandon and barely acknowledge ever again.

Like, what do you mean that -in the fucking reality we live in- there's no comics of immunodeficient young CEO Tim Drake fighting antivaxxers?? Why isn't there an arc of Red Robin risking his life in those awful Gotham Sewers to save someone he cares about?? How tense it could be, him having to come up with ways in which to remain isolated from the sewage, each new fight becoming increasingly riskier just by virtue of Tim losing resources to keep himself safe. Maybe even choosing sure infection to save someone else and not knowing if he'll make it. Hell, give the guy his own rogue that's like a plague doctor infecting people with bioengineered viruses.

Bruce and Damian with their broken backs/missing spines are similar in the sense of, what even is the point of introducing this thing as such a big event only to forget about it???? Like, I get not dragging the "will Batman recover?" And that, to some extent, he must recover because it's Batman and I know DC is not going to let Bruce Wayne retire ever. But right now we're not even at a ret-con when they rearranged the universe to keep Bruce at a working age, he still has a broken back in canon and it's barely mentioned. I remember during Failsafe/Zurr he keep talking about getting old and his missing hand and stuff and it's like...bitch there's more pressing issues than your two grey hairs.

Like, I'm not even complaining about the emotional set ups they never pay off because they can't be bothered to figure out how to get characters from point A (disliking each other for very valid reasons/complicated and complex feelings) to point B (happy sitcom family). I'm talking about these grand moments they like to introduce as a way to raise the stakes with no intention of ever dealing with the consequences. Which, you know, immediately nullifies said stakes????

And let's also not get into completely rebooting the universe without paying off some characters set ups and then dragging the character around with nothing to do. Like yes, I get that Steph's Robin era and its ending may not be canon now?? But why couldn't it be cano so that at least she has stuff to do? And personality?? Like, yeah, brutally torture the girl who just gave birth for shock value and then completely forget about both those things.

It's just...it's worse than bad. It's a waste of potential for characters most of the time until someone comes along and decides to actually write something interesting for them (new Cass run for example, or Juni Ba's Boy Wonder). I don't get why DC doesn't let writers actually commit to at least some semblance of consequences for the characters which, in turn, could give you such interesting arcs and new thematic villains. Anyways..

[tobiasdrake]

Dragon Ball Daima 01x20 - Maximum

Final episode of Daima, here we go.

I am, of course, still totally checked out of the fight with Gomah. Like.

Like. That looks cool as hell but it's also just the 87th instance of Goku or Vegeta hitting this guy and doing no damage. Since it's been established that he's completely invulnerable and takes no damage from anything ever, this animation is wasted on what amounts to Goku and Gomah playing paddy-cake until the arbitrary moment when Piccolo shows up to end the fight.

Yeah, the pretty lights and flashing colors are cool, but they'd be cooler if they were doing anything to advance the fight.

Gomah summons a magic scepter at one point that just starts shooting blasts and I have no idea what this thing is even supposed to be. Has a Demon Scepter of Shooting Ki Blasts ever been brought up as a thing?

I totally thought Piccolo was going to use the Beam Struggle as his window of opportunity to get in and start bopping Gomah. But I guess he didn't want to get in the way of Goku's Kamehameha and end up double-KO'd with Gomah. That's fair. XD

The animators clearly thought that Goku's Kamehameha ripping a brand new hole between all three demon worlds would be the coolest thing ever but I'm just left like.

Uh.

Holy shit.

People live here.

Imagine if Goku hit Cell with a Kamehameha so powerful it cross the world, tore straight through West City, and then wiped the Sacred Land of Karin off the map. That would not be a triumphant celebration moment. Literally the tension of Vegeta's Final Flash was the fear that he would do exactly this.

Just because this isn't our planet, doesn't mean it's okay to wreck everything. This may be a spicy hot take, but I think Saiyans are very inconsiderate of other people's worlds.

Anyway, the time finally comes for Piccolo to end it.

He hasn't gotten to do anything for this entire show but now, at the eleventh hour, it all depends on--

--AND HE FUCKING BLOWS IT.

Piccolo gets one opportunity to finally justify why he's even in this series when he doesn't get to do anything to contribute ever, and he immediately eats shit. Piccolo was a complete waste of a character inclusion.

I think after two episodes of fighting him, we all kinda figured that the Third Eye was healing him rather than him simply resisting everyone's attacks. Every time it pulses, it's undoing all the damage he took while he was getting shitstomped a moment ago. But it's nice to see it confirmed.

The ultimate secret of Gomah's power is that he's just another regenerator like Cell and Buu.

Fortunately, almost immediately after Piccolo eats shit, Kuu solves the plot for us. Arinsu family is best.

This could at least have been like "Piccolo did the first two hits but then Kuu lands the third". But no. Gomah's weak point reset. Kuu has to do all three. Piccolo literally accomplished nothing in his one and only spotlight moment.

And Glorio gets the kill on the Third Eye, which was the real enemy for these last three episodes of fighting. Good for him.

Oh, Panzy. You were a cool concept but they ran out of ideas for anything to have you do a while ago. I still can't believe Panzy's one job in the entire Makai #3 arc was babysitting Dende.

Yessssssssssssss

Respect the Kuu.

I'm just so happy every time these two are onscreen. I'm glad they've found acceptance with the Third Worlders.

The funny thing is, Arinsu could totally claim the throne right here and now. With Gomah and Degesu out of the picture, doesn't she kinda... win by default? Plus she's got Kuu and Duu to be her muscle. I'm not sure what's stopping her from declaring herself Demon Queen.

She doesn't want to live in fear of assassins for the rest of her life. You know what, that's fair.

You know what, I can accept that. XD Arinsu Family forever.

I love him! I love his stupid magic cape he made out of excitement! And I love this family!

Dr. Arinsu turned down the throne for pragmatic reasons but we're still keeping it in the family.

And now he's just handing out cabinet positions to everyone who fought Gomah.

I like that Neva and Kadan get Minister roles. Kuu's administration will have representation from both the Second and Third Worlds, which means no world of Daimakai will simply be a vassal state.

They really said at the very end of this that actually Neva shooting Goku full of magic beams didn't do anything. Goku invented Super Saiyan 4 between series, has had it this entire time, and also secretly had it for the entirety of Super too.

Fortunately, Super Saiyan God very quickly obsoletes all other forms in DBS so this retcon doesn't really cause any problems for it. Though this does finally put an end to the "Okay but which is stronger, Super Saiyan 4 or God?" conversations. Super Saiyan 4 is, canonically, dogshit compared to the God forms and that's why it never appeared in Super.

Also fully decanonizes GT. I know there's been some back and forth in the fandom over whether GT can still happen in the future of Super, since it takes place after the end of the manga while Super is prior to said endpoint. Super doesn't seem to care about trying to build towards GT, but it also never explicitly decanonizes GT either.

"Super Saiyan 4 DOES exist but actually Goku invented it independently right after the end of the Buu arc" is the kind of detail that explicitly decanonizes GT.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Panzy waving Vegeta's arm while he does not give a fuck is the perfect visual to end the series on.

Nope, never mind. The reveal that the Third Eye is just some shit Abra bought at a travel shop a long time ago and there's actually more of them is the perfect thing to end the series on. It's a product. XD Oh, I love that.

[evenmyhivemindisempty]

Ms. Darth! Ms. Darth! Please pick me!

What kind of daddy (sexual) would each of the Holbrook characters be? Any and all Blackguard boys as well, if you are feeling kindly disposed!

Oh jeezy louisey. Okay. *cracks knuckles* let’s get into it.

Steve Murphy: When Steve tries to be a Daddy for Connie, he’s a stern, no-nonsense Daddy that doesn’t want any funny business from her, and grounds her when she tries to inappropriately touch Daddy’s dick! Steve actually thinks this game is very fun. Connie does not. Steve gets into it a little more when it’s with Javi - he’s still stern, but a little more prone to getting flustered, and this Daddy can absolutely be bribed out of giving a spanking with a blowjob instead.

Donald Pierce: Pierce can call himself Daddy, mostly out of the bedroom, but that’s about it. The whole thing just digs right into his trauma pressure points: when he actually tries to lean into being a Daddy during sex he gets way too mean, realizes he’s being way too mean, then gets way too soft and apologetic and abruptly, jarringly nonsexual.

If anyone wants to see what a disaster it is when Pierce tries to force himself to play Daddy, I actually wrote a fic about that! What Little Boys are Made Of

Cap Hatfield: Cap could be an excellent Daddy for a non-sexual impact scene! Go fetch Daddy a branch for a switch, and when you get back, Daddy’ll tan your hide!

Clement Mansell: Clement likes to talk a big talk about being “Daddy”, but at the end of the day he’d be such a shivery, adoring, relatively submissive Daddy that’s just head over heels for their baby. This Daddy is very into getting dicked-down too!

The Corinthian: I… I feel like for some reason Corinthian would channel Dream. Or maybe try to give his partner the “Daddy experience” Corinthian wishes he’d gotten instead of what he did? Aka a warmer, approving, emotionally open Daddy figure. Either way, I actually don’t see either of these scenarios going according to plan.

Eli Klaber: Klaber can be Mommy.

Danny Maguire: I feel like Danny tries to lean into the porn Daddy archetype. A lot of dirty talk about what a nasty little slut his baby is, and then a lot of vigorous fucking that’s mostly just… business as usual. Similar to Pierce, Danny does better when he has a Daddy - not when he is the Daddy.

Ty Shaw: Ty gets… really into the roleplay component, to a degree that is definitely not for everyone! He coos patronizingly about how bad his baby wants this, how naughty they are for seducing Daddy, how they need to be careful and quiet so they don’t wake up Mommy. I bet he’d get really into the idea of being an instructive Daddy too - teaching his baby how to have sex and showing them how good it can feel. I can see him playing around with a punishment aspect too, but he’s not gonna spank anyone - I think he’s more inclined to “punish” his sub by subjecting them to some rough fucking because they were “asking for it”.

Quinn McKenna: Quinn’s a cold, exacting Daddy with very specific expectations! But when his baby does good, he’ll dispense some praise (and maybe some orgasms, for extra good behavior). Also, for some reason I bet he likes being fully clothed while his partner’s totally nude. Or potentially in a slutty cheerleader or schoolgirl/schoolboy outfit? I could see that too. I also have NO idea why, but I think Quinn likes doing some genderplay when he’s Daddy. Emily could be his boy (Emily wasn’t wild about this), and Nebraska can be a schoolgirl (Nebraska is more down).

[tioraidh-tux]

yeagerists are really funny to me because they seem to completely ignore what isayama obviously intended to say. that's not to say isayama got that message across as well as he could have, but the anime was obviously where isayama wanted to make up for that. so i mean, outside eren...

it's made clear time and time again that genocide will not solve war as an issue, which is what attack on titan is really about after the marley reveal.

attack on titan isn't written to provide safe alternatives, because we still can't even figure that out today - but it's telling you what leads to genocide and why it isn't an answer.

we follow the scout regiment because they stand against ignorance. their victories are rare, and yet they're the only reason humanity within the walls progresses - because they do not choose easy battles, they choose to ask hard questions and answer them.

yet the cycle is perpetuated by ignorance - willing and unwilling. it's the greatest evil in attack on titan and the only reason eldians are so hated, and why paradis treats the rest of the world with the same contempt and supremacy.

it's why eren is an idiot. he's only honest about this with people who won't argue, he doesn't choose to debate, he doesn't choose to discuss - he chooses to follow and give up - he never seeks a greater understanding because "i have to kill my enemies" is an easy answer to an unfair problem, and one that doesn't cover all bases.

genocide does not answer for paradisans who don't agree with this solution, which just means tearing the island apart in the aftermath. it harms the people it wants to protect, and ultimately it sacrifices a majority for minority.

that's against everything the scouts stand for, they serve humanity, not paradis.

so again, the scouts, under hange's command, choose to try diplomacy. because it's a perspective that needs to be entertained when it could have the greatest benefit for everyone. it's a difficult and naive answer to their circumstances and does not guarantee paradis' safety. yet we'll never see how well it could have answered that problem because eren chose ignorance in another sense - he chose to attack because that didn't challenge anything paradis had done before - when eradicating titans was the ultimate goal of humanity.

aside from that, trampling the world shows erens ignorance as a paradisan. they probably didn't fully understand the ecosystems (granted, we didn't even explore it fully at this time period) outwith the walls and what balance they provide to the world. and even as they may have been learning, i really doubt eren took any interest. so not only did he kill 80% of humanity, he's eliminated so much of the world's nature and species. he hasn't just killed most of humanity, he's left the world with no biodiversity.

ultimately, if he did succeed in a full rumbling (paradis excluded) he would have doomed the island anyway. the climate is probably fucked and one island worth of habitable and fertile land would probably leave paradis miserable and war torn anyway, if they even last that long. this is essentially like nuking the entire planet.

in conclusion, yeagerists lack critical thinking and media literacy skills. eren is either stupid (true) or incredibly selfish (also true) and there is no world in which what he does is morally justified, which is the point (war = bad, racism = bad, nuclear weapons = bad).

sorry for ranting under your post.

The alliance betrayed Eren. The whole world wanted Paradis killed and all Eren did was fight back. What else should he have done? It was genocide vs genocide. His friends are hypocrites and horrible characters that wanted to play moral police. Hanji and Levi were horrible mentors. Open your eyes.

If you genuinely believe any of the garbage that you just spewed, then you need mental help.

I shouldn't even take the time to point out to you what's wrong with your "argument", because honestly, anyone this stupid and lacking in self-awareness isn't worth mine or anybody's time.

But I'll just lay out a few, basic facts for your edification.

Eren betrayed his comrades, over and over, starting with his literal incitement of war in Liberio, through his purposeful elimination of any other course of action that Paradis could have taken to secure their future. War only came to Paradis in the first place, you total clown, because Eren and Zeke orchestrated it themselves. I don't know how many times this has to be pointed out to people like you before it gets through that sediment-thick rock you call a skull and into the mush you call a brain. Go read the manga again, or watch the anime, and maybe try paying attention this time past the masturbation session you engage in every time Eren comes on screen.

The Survey Corps' entire mission statement was to dedicate themselves to the salvation of humanity. Not "Paradis", humanity. And Eren betrayed that mission in the most fundamental way possible by committing mass genocide on a global scale. He literally spit on the legacy and sacrifices of every single one of his comrades, including those who had given their lives to protect his, because they believed he was essential to humanity's survival. Instead of honoring that sacrifice by doing everything in his power to save humanity, he did the exact opposite by deciding to wipe humanity out of existence because he was disappointed the world didn't look like the pictures in Armin's books. That's how shallow, pathetic, selfish and childish Eren is.

You call Levi and Hange "terrible mentors", when Eren literally did exactly the opposite of what they both tried to teach him. Levi specifically told Eren to make the choice he could live with, the one he wouldn't regret, and yet, in the end, we see Eren filled with nothing but regret, drowning in self-loathing, because he knows he made the choice which went against what he knew in his heart was right. He spurned Levi's guidance entirely. Eren knew what he did was wrong and not justifiable on any level. What Eren did didn't sit right in any way, shape or form with his own, moral understanding of the world. Nobody made Eren into what he was. Nobody made Eren do what he did. It was a situation entirely of his own making and choosing.

You call the other members of the alliance "horrible characters" because they couldn't and wouldn't stand by and allow literally billions of innocent people to be murdered in cold blood. Remind me to pray to God that no important decisions are ever left to you. The lack of self-awareness in your statement is shocking in its depth. You don't see how, if this is what you truly believe and support, that it's you who's the truly terrible and horrible person here. Frankly, you're a disgusting example of a human being.

By stopping Eren, Levi, Hange and the rest of the alliance were upholding everything the Survey Corps originally stood and fought for. You calling them traitors and hypocrites is repulsive in its stupidity.

And that's all I'll say on the matter. You can now go back to waiting in line with Floch to swallow Eren's cock, since that's clearly what you really want to spend your time doing. Try not to choke.

[creatively-cosmic]

fuck with me

fuck with meeee

im trying to do different sprite styles and sizing down full drawings to make a base is so fucking dumb looking. christ. also ace not looking like they havent slept in days feels illegal.

on another topic god seeing other pokepasta blogs interact with each other lately has been so fun. i really wanna do that sometime soon... it certainly wouldnt be canon but i havent gotten to see stuff like that circling around since my time in the daily pokemon community! though maybe its just cus of the blogs that i follow that im seeing it now hajnsljkns

[lucabyte]

Different standards

[ashton-ryder]

He doesn't respond back to her mockery of defiance, he didn't get a chance to when a kick straight into his chest stung and amplified the heartache. He wheezed as his rib and lungs (and heart) felt it. He could've grabbed her leg, pull her down, subdue her and break that knee properly this time and actually claim responsibility for it. But where does that leave him? Dead probably. Whether at her hands or Jeremiah's.

Jeremiah, he didn't want to think about him now, not when Sada kept trying to force in images of the two of them happily living their tyrannical lives. But how can he not think about him when ultimately it still brought him mixed, confusing, jumbled emotions of comfort? It hurt more hearing this with a clear mind but it also gave him enough confidence to trust in the truths he knew, in the truths shared between them and them only. He was the one with him when he was weary and needed the calm and rest, he was the one there in moments of family, of joy, of vulnerability, of peace. But he didn't need to prove anything between them to Sada. Because all he's hearing of her gloating sounded more problematic than anything else.

All this time it's always been about choosing her, worshipping her, pleasuring her, loving her. An anger simmered at the way she talked about treating him, and what about him? What about choosing him, worshipping him, pleasuring him, loving him? Ashton wasn't sure if he could give Jer everything he needed, but at least he was confident enough to give him that much, more than she could, being so self absorbed. Despite the strong font he tried to shakily hold up, he turned his face down to the floor, "stop.." not wanting to hear more, hiding the wet blues that threatened to spill over at the pangs of pain beating through his chest that didn't stem for the swift kick.

He stayed there like a rag doll until Sada yanked him by his hair, roots tearing at his scalp, making his deep watery gaze face hers. Ashton had paused a long while before a soft, heartbroken smile flickered to mock her, "..no he's not," he was nothing like her, "and I love him." What’s the point in hiding it if she’s already figured it out? At the very least that truth will ring in her ears, spoken into existence that hasn't wavered.

Tossed aside, his arms broke the fall, not expecting her to end her session so quickly this time. That's all? He wanted to taunt her, but just as he pushed himself back up, he was grappled again, this time with enough fight in him to resist their holds. "The fuck is that?" Ashton was a smart man, smart enough seeing the vaccine now in a syringe and a dubious vial delicately toying by her fingers. There were only so many scenarios he was going to need a vaccine and it wasn't going to be her kind hearted soul to do the right thing.

Ashton's realization settled on one possibility and he immediately fought back against the two men, he still had mobility to swiftly get out of their holds, managing a few blows at them until the chains were immediately yanked back to hold him down, he gagged at the sudden choking pressure from the cuff pressed against his throat and trachea, arms outstretched with no more wiggle room to even move an inch. "N- no--" please don't do this, he didn't let it show but the fear was creeping in, he did not want to become one of those things.

She stumbled as the support of the cane was torn away, eyes following as it flew across the space, hitting a wall and clattering to the floor. "Do you feel better now? Did you let it all out?" Speaking through a mocking sort of pout down at him,

Sada instead gave a nice little swift kick to the side, hissing through the sting in her knee, but the joint held firm. "I don't need it to beat you with, in fact, I like this even better." That satisfying thwack of limb to torso contact nearly as good as good deep stroke, and she shuddered through it.

"You don't want to know? You don't want to know how I make him beg for me? How he loves me." The emphasis was obvious and meant to be painful. "You know that he's king here, right? Leads at my side, because he chooses to. I don't force him to stay with me, Ashton. He chooses me, and he'll always choose me. You know why?"

Reaching down for a handful of his hair so she could yank his gaze up to her as she looked at him with a gaze as cold as ice. "Because he's just like me." She knew the implications that would carry to the paranoia she'd long instilled in this man over the years of playing with him. Leaning forward, she whispered her words almost affectionately into his ear.

"You're so fucking stupid. So fucking gullible." The words slipped from her tongue with silken satisfaction as she sprinkled doubt so liberally over what this man had with her lover.

Roughly pulling his hair to the side as she more or less tossed him, Sada stood back up and gave a little stretch. "I think maybe it's time." Striding to the door, she gave three hard knocks and waited for James and Hector to appear in the doorway, nodding at them to go and hold Ashton down. While she made her way to the little table to set up the syringe of vaccine, turning back to him with the small vial of merlot coloured fluid.

"I hope you're thirsty, Ashton."

[trappedinafantasy37]

I went to a very old save of mine in which I knocked out Minthara in Act 1 and I talked to her again in the throne room. If you knocked her out, this is how she looks at you when she questions you:

She seems genuinely disturbed over your actions. Can you blame her? You were the one who knocked her out. You brought her harm for reasons that she cannot understand. She can understand someone killing her as that is what she expects of those around her. She will criticize your choice of sparing an enemy and showing mercy to someone you have greater reason to kill. Even though she has doubts about you, she shuts herself down, thinking she should be more grateful rather than doubtful of you.

You can tell her that you saw her as a potential ally, but she will call you a hypocrite as Gut and Ragzlin were not shown the same mercy, nor was any other True Soul.

You can even tell her, "You were simply too stubborn to die" as a means of trying to take any culpability off yourself. To try to turn the situation into a little jokey joke. However,

Minthara does not take it as a compliment and she knows you are full of shit. Even though you took the "good" path, she does not trust you.

Minthara understands mercy and even she believes some people are deserving of it. Sadly, she does not see herself as one of those people and is disturbed as to why you gave her mercy. There is no answer you can give her here that will make her trust you. She knows you went out of your way to spare her and only her, and that frightens her.

Remember, this is not the first time in which Minthara's entire army was killed right from underneath her and she was deliberately left as the sole survivor. Orin slaughtered all of her men in a blink of an eye, and Orin's "mercy" only brought her pain and torture. Later down the road, Minthara criticizes herself for not paying more attention to Orin when she first arrived at Moonrise. And so she is giving you a lot of attention, she is watching you, studying you, because she fears that you are going to hurt her the moment she takes her eye off you. Because you already have. Your "mercy" gave her a concussion, your deception had her found guilty of incompetence, and she was then subjected to even more torture by the Absolute in which she was given permanent brain damage. She is afraid that the only reason that you spared her, is because you want to torture her. Even when you show up in Moonrise and enter into her mind prison, she is expecting you to kill her and begs you do it quickly. She is not expecting mercy from you, only death. She is only in that predicament because of you. Why would she think for a single second that your mercy comes from a place of good intentions?

She knows fully well that she owes her life to you and that her life is entirely at your mercy, one you can revoke at any time. She doesn't trust you, she doesn't trust the rest of the companions, but she cannot leave nor walk away. There is no good way out of this for her and she's afraid of the cycle repeating. She is not going to make the same mistake again. Instead of her oath to you being from a place of affection, her oath to you comes from a place of fear.

[ilynpilled]

jaime turning women down constantly more bc he is very monogamous and in love with someone else right now for the first time and is also kinda scared of actually having sex with someone other than cersei is sm better to me than “i respect the kg vows of chastity so intensely rn actually because i changed into a good and serious person” or whatever lol

[nemesisfall]

obligatory pokemon au time!!

[marzipanilla]

OSP just dropped a new Detail Diatribe about Batman : 3

It's so funny that half the shit we're bitching about this show not addressing was at least, in passing, somewhat addressed in this last episode. I almost want to say too little too late ?? like the placement of stuff this season is so frustrating to me. and funny in a kinda haha way. Truly my biggest take away from S3 rn is that it is doing wonderfully for it's side characters and giving up anecdotes about the world, and it is failing hard at delivering on any characters I spent the last two seasons caring about. This season just feels like a weird piecemeal stuff is happening !! season.

Oliver finally acknowledges his mother existed ! that he remembers stuff ! Though catch me here sitting going, oh she loved your dad so much did she? Do you have anything to say about your father loving her at all?? no? do you remember how fucking horrified your brother was when he was first introduced to you?? do you even have a concept of why he was so freaked out about your 'wonderful' father having made a new family ?? do you not remember the two months (GENERATIONS in thraxan time) the fucking planet was ruined by his fight with his people ?? the fact there was no back up for you to get taken care of if he was gone ?? that he had no final words for you or your mother?? but she. the female figure in your life. loved him so much, and clearly every woman in Invincible just exists to tell men how special and awesome they are, so why should Oliver have any concept that's different...

Chronically ill Oliver bc his biology is garbo would be neat. Ties back into my 'I wish hybrid Mark came with problems rather than viltrumite photocopy'. Give these kids more issues lol

God. I am still so annoyed about Rex/Rae. 100% new to the show. did not need to happen. And Debbie having to spend every single fucking moment with Paul propping up his fragile fucking ego. like god damn does she never get a break from propping up emotionally fucked up men. what does she get out of this relationship.

And hey ! there are court cases put to go against heroes ! Except somehow there's zero precedence for them and they are just canonically considered above the law. Horrifying. Also I absolutely refuse to believe this is the first time in the history of anything two superpowered beings fucked up a civilian location. How are there no previous court cases about shit like this. Why is everyone acting like this is a new thing. I've brought it up before, but Invincible has a massive case of Protagonist Centered Reality, in that nothing seems to have happened ever until Mark came along.

Thraxa as a concept explaining disparate lifespans IS great ! I give it that ! It is important to conceptualize ! Suicidally depressed man a few months out from ruining the longest relationship he had ever been in did not need to stick his dick in it though. again, I wonder if they show will EVER dive into Nolan's thoughts on the fact he made another kid. Though them aggressively trying to retcon him in being a functional parent would probably make me gag. oh he flew you around the palace humming to you did he ??? it took Mark until he was 8 years old for this bitch to show up for his after school shit. Try and tell me he wasn't singing human/Earth lullabys bc if you try and tell me Viltrumites have them I will laugh at you. Nolan's family on Thraxa always gave me weird 'I am going to recreate what I had on Earth why isn't it the same as it was on Earth' vibes to me re: whatever the fuck Nolan was thinking.

The fact this dude could have just left Thraxa and it would have saved so many lives will never not a be a point I make. It truly was his absence from Earth and his presence on Thraxa that screwed everyone. Admittedly, he didn't reach the headspace of wanting to atone until the gd jail break, but truly Mr I Avoid My Problems could have just waved his arms up and down on an asteroid at least and let the Thraxans live out their fucking lives while he continued to run away.

When people ignore genuine character flaws that could be worked into/around in favor of just stock 'abusive bc mean!' is just bleh. Somehow reminds me of all the 'character A is in abusive relationship until B saves them' fics that were super popular for so long in so many fandoms. Or the typical make the woman a bitch so the guy can be in the gay ship I want shit. Characters can fuck up in ways that are true to character !! I get a degree of projection will always exist when an individual consumes media, so it's just like.. okay.. you have a blanket over this concept bc that's what you see when you look over there. Can you please acknowledge that's a you thing and not a 'correct' thing??

I saw x Reader shit show up in a video game fandom before the game even released. wild. like. What are you even writing at that point??? Original fiction is totally fine !! You can write your own stuff !! Why are you even calling it fanfic at that point. I can get that way about OC fic sometimes too. Like, most of the time when I'm in a fandom it's bc I want to see those characters. And I get that having inserts or your own chars is a thing! it's just not what the brain space I go into most fandoms with, so it just makes filtering through stuff even more difficult. The only time I go in expecting it is for videogame fandoms for stuff that has a character creator, bc part of that fandom process IS making a person in that world ! I am prepped for it. I get it. But outside of that I'm juts like... I want to talk about these characters here? now? maybe? And I've goddamn written shit with OCs outside of the stuff I typically go for ! to me it's just such a back burner thing. Whatever happened to making free forum rp sites and just fucking going buck wild with friends and strangers. y'all need interactive enrichment with your custom dolls. Please let me break the store bought ones. where are all the people breaking the store bought ones.

Mark agreeing to go hang out on a beach w Debbie instead of refusing and the beach is Beach City (am now officially thinking too much about this crossover lol)

The way I got caught up on our back and forth I almost forgot this, lol! AND OH MY GOODNESS, IMAGINE? I forget exactly what which point Debbie makes the beach offer, but I’d love when exactly in SU/SUF-timeline they’d go? There’s something so fucking funny to me about them going during the SUF-timeline and always narrowly missing the strange, Steven-shaped mental breakdowns in the back. I know those don’t occur in a single day, but it’s tickling me. How could they miss anything? I don’t know I just think it’s funny.

Though, post-SUF is interesting if Gems can see the similar “world on your shoulders”, Mark has going on! Steven can shunt the narrative in the Gems’ minds, which I think is neat, if I’m not misusing the phrase since the guy’s on the road far away. Or maybe it’s just before Steven goes and they stumble into each other. I’d kinda love Pearl and Debbie interacting, honestly, if they could talk about loving someone who hurt you, hide things from you, even when you thought you knew them so deeply, and they left you to raise a child. Pearl being in a well adjusted space, and Debbie still grieving.

Honestly, the gems could help train Mark, they’re got experience and similar-ish powers in strength, sturdiness, and they can jump/run fast enough for flying to be vaguely similar enough to lecture about, I think. Or Lapis Lazulis, haha! Peridot with her trash can lid! Garnet, I’d love to see if she told Mark anything about his future in vague, well meaning advice. Or even giving relationship advice considering Amber. Or, importantly, how to convince an entire reign to end their colonizing ways, lol. Is Mark perhaps willing to start a war, take advantage of being related to any leaders, or fake his own death to varying results?

In general, there’s something so fucking funny to me about Nolan, in the sake of comparison, being Pink Diamond coded. Like OH, did an important or well respected of the colonizing empire come to earth and learn the beauty of its people and nature, including faking/lying/omitting things about his identity and background to being in, only to feel conflicted when his responsibility still remained, and he tried to free himself from them? Yikes! We’ve been through that before! Like gimme Pink Diamond and Nolan outfit swap rn. This is tickling me so much oh my goodness.