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mypoisonedvine · 4 years ago

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Exchanging Gifts | chubby!Bucky Barnes x reader

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KARINA!!! @ballyhoobarnes you’re such a sweet person and so talented and a great friend and ily and also ur hot, which is less relevant but still worth mentioning

summary: chubby!bucky takes you out for your birthday, and even though he’s inexperienced, he knows how to show you a good time if you know what I mean... listen it’s pretty much fluffy pwp idk what to tell you

warnings: smut!!, oral (m receiving), loss of virginity (his, of course lol), some fingering, overstimulation, creampie kink, praise kink, morning sex, bucky being insecure?? FLUFF it’s FLUFFY you guys but somehow it turned out filthy too idk i couldn’t help it.

word count: just under 4k, hot damn how did that happen

Even though you'd insisted he didn't need to do anything special for your birthday, Bucky had shown up with a dozen roses and dinner reservations. "Get dressed up fancy," he instructed you the moment you'd opened the door. "This place has a black tie dress code."

He was a true gentleman the whole night, until he walked you back to your place. The second you were on the other side of your door, you couldn't keep your hands off of each other.

"You're so wonderful," you murmured between breathless kisses as you stumbled back towards the couch.

"This better not be you thinking you owe me anything because I paid for your dinner," he chuckled, "on your birthday."

"Oh it's not that at all," you smiled, running your hands over his chest.

"What is it then?"

You smirked. He always seemed to need a reason, as if 'you're my boyfriend and you're hot' wasn't reason enough. "Can I be honest with you, Bucky?" you asked quietly, licking your lips subconsciously.

"Always!"

"It's times like this that I'm just really in the mood to suck your cock."

He stammered a little, running a hand through his hair nervously.

"Really?"

"Yup."

He laughed for a second, then got serious again, then just looked horrifically nervous. "Oh, well I, uh…"

"We don't have to do anything about that, I just felt like saying it—"

"What if we did do something about it?"

You raised an eyebrow. "Would you want me to?"

"Of course I want you to," he sighed. "I know we've been taking things really slow— and I'm so glad you've been patient with me— I just… god, you're perfect," he laughed.

"That's far from the truth," you dismissed. "But I've been happy to take things slow with you. Even when sometimes it felt like I would die if I couldn't get my hands on you…"

You ran your hands over his chest, feeling how warm and soft he was beneath the shirt he was wearing.

"Ah, I've been there," he replied wistfully.

"Really? You relate to that?"

"I barely made it through dinner," he admitted with a laugh. "All I could think about was… doing this…" he trailed off as he leaned in and began to lick and suck at your neck; his arms wrapped around your waist and you were like putty in them.

"Oh god, Buck," you moaned.

"Say my name like that again," he pleaded.

"Make me," you challenged.

He growled a little as he pulled you back to straddle him on the couch. You couldn't stop yourself from grinding down on him, moaning again when you felt the hard shape of his cock rubbing right against your clit through your dress and panties.

"Mm, take this off," you purred, tugging at his shirt and tie.

"C-can I keep it on?"

You got a little more serious. "Of course you can, if you want to. But I'll admit that I wanna see you."

"And if you don't like what you see?"

"Unlikely, but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. I'll take mine off first if you'd like?"

"Obviously I'd like," he chuckled, "but that's easy for you to say. You're, you know, sexy and stuff."

"As if you're not?"

"I'm not," he informed you.

"Bucky, I'm gonna level with you: you are so fucking sexy it's actually gonna be the death of me someday," you laughed. "Don't you realize I think about you all the time?" you asked, getting a little more serious. "Bucky, those times where you came over and we made out, or fooled around? As soon as you left I was getting myself off right here on this couch— even when you'd already made me come while you were over. That's how horny you make me— and when you're not here and all I can do is imagine you, I always call out your name when I—"

"Baby," he groaned, "you'd better stop talking like that or this is gonna end a lot sooner than I want it to."

You chuckled before you started to slip off the straps of your dress, loving the way he watched you do it: enraptured.

You were taken by surprise when, the moment your breasts had spilled from the dress, he leaned forward to suck your nipple between his lips.

With a gasp and a moan, you gripped at his hair and let your head fall back. Either you were really sensitive, or he was really good at this-- probably a little bit of both, but fuck if you weren’t beyond needy and desperate at this point.

"Please, Bucky," you whimpered.

"What is it, angel? Anything you want, you can have it," he mumbled as he switched to the other side (symmetry is very important with these sorts of things) and you rubbed your hips against his absent-mindedly.

"Please, please, I need to taste you Bucky, oh my god please let me taste you—"

He nodded and you sighed with relief, beginning to slide down his body as you loosened his tie and opened his shirt. With each button you exposed more of his body, lathing every inch of skin with kisses.

"How's this?" you asked him softly, looking up at him through your lashes. "Is this okay?"

"It's very unfamiliar," he answered, "and much more than okay."

"Has nobody done this to you before?"

"Nobody's ever wanted to."

You smirked a little. "Oh, I doubt that." You palmed his cock through the suit pants, grinning when he jerked a little under your touch. Slowly, you opened the fly and pulled it out.

Of course you'd seen his cock before, but not for very long and not up close like this. It suddenly seemed intimidatingly big; you weren't sure you were going to be able to get much of it in your mouth… but you were excited to try!

You weren't sure you had the heart to tease him very much, but you wanted to give it a try at least. You licked the head first, then down the shaft, then back up slowly. He was quiet at first, too busy watching you to say anything, but you knew he was losing patience when his fingers brushed over the side of your face; you could feel his restraint, you could feel that urge to grab your hair and guide you.

"Go ahead," you encouraged, "tell me what you want."

"Put it in your mouth, please," he whimpered.

When you obeyed by pushing his cock all the way to the back of your throat, he made the most beautiful sound: like a gasp and a moan all at once. His hips bucked up into your throat ever so slightly and the sensation of choking made you grow even wetter.

"Fuck," he sighed, "'s so good…"

You moved up and down, savoring every ridge of him as it slid over your tongue. Each movement grew a little faster as you used your hand to stroke what your lips couldn't reach.

"Baby," he moaned, "oh my god, s-slow down, please— 'm so close, ah fuck yes—"

You stopped for a moment and used only your hand, catching your breath a little as you took a moment to appreciate how good he looked like this.

"Is it okay if I make you come?" you asked.

"Is it okay if it doesn't take you very long at all?" he returned, already sounding positively wrecked.

“I’ll take it as a compliment,” you decided.

“You should,” he confirmed, whimpering again when you took him back into your mouth and let your tongue explore whatever it could reach.

The taste of his pre-cum made you moan, and the vibrations of that moan made him grip your shoulder tightly.

“A-angel, please,” he begged, as if he was worried you would stop for some reason. Your attitude was entirely the opposite, though. All you could think about was how much you wanted to taste his orgasm and swallow it down. Fortunately, that dream came true not too much later when he grabbed the back of your neck and moaned your name loudly— loud enough that you were a little worried the neighbors might hear.

But honestly? You kinda wanted them to.

You kept stroking and sucking until every drop was on your tongue. You smiled up at him and almost spilled some of it but thankfully avoided that fiasco.

“Show me,” he requested softly; it was a relatively mild show of dominance, but it still sent a shiver down your back as you stuck out your tongue and let his seed gather on it. “Fuck,” he whispered, “that was… wow.”

You swallowed before answering, because it seemed like a good order to do things in. The bitter taste as the back of your throat was a small price to pay for him looking at you like that.

“You look drained,” you informed him.

“I am,” he nodded. “Oh, wait, you mean tired? Yeah, that too.”

You laughed a little. “Can we lay down for a minute?”

“It’s 10 p.m., I think it’s acceptable to lay down for more than a minute.”

Deciding to turn in for the night instead (and, of course, have a sleepover), the two of you got ready and changed into pajamas, snuggling up into each other’s arms.

It was an easy sleep after that, and a long one. Bucky woke up first, the very early light of sunrise being less of an influence on his wakefulness compared to you bumping up against him. He didn’t mind, though, he liked to watch you for a minute before you woke up anyways, to appreciate how peaceful you looked.

He heard you hum through your sleep, cuddling up closer to him. It was just cute at first, but then your ass pressed back against crotch and goooood morning…

"Hi there beautiful," he cooed, gently kissing on your temple and down to your neck. You stirred but didn't wake just yet, though you did smile; and he smiled too, loving the way your lips curled— he could remember how those lips looked wrapped around his cock, swollen and slick with spit and come. It was a good memory.

His hand slipped down to your hip, holding you firmly against him: by this point he was so hard he was worried he was going to injure himself somehow.

Finally you woke up, your eyes fluttering open as your sleepy smile turned to a wide, flirtatious grin.

"This might be my favorite way ever to wake up," you informed him.

He chuckled softly, beginning to kiss along your shoulder. "Agreed."

His fingers moved down at a teasingly slow pace; you unabashedly opened your legs, hoping to egg him on. Thankfully, it worked. He started to suck a mark onto the back of your shoulder as he slipped his hand into your panties, instantly discovering how drenched you were and how swollen and sensitive your clit was.

“Oh you poor thing,” he grinned. “When’d you get so wet, angel?”

“It never stops around you,” you explained with a shiver.

It didn’t take much more until you were a begging mess, his fingers working their magic and making your whole body alight with energy.

"Bucky, please—" you whimpered.

"What do you need, angel?" he asked with only a hint of coyness shining through his tone.

"I just— I want more, please…"

"We've tried a lot of new things today," he reminded you. "And it was amazing. And I wondered what you would say if I told you I want to try something else…"

"Oh really?" you purred. "What did you have in mind?"

"This might not be the, uh, most hip language but… I want to make love to you."

Your eyes went a little wide. "Really, Bucky? I mean, you're sure you want me to be—"

"Yes, I'm so sure, I've never been more sure of anything. You've been so amazing and I can't think of a better person to have as my first."

I don't just want you to be my first, I want you to be my only, he added internally, too afraid to say it aloud.

"I wanna be your first, Bucky," you agreed softly, brushing your fingers through his hair. "I'm really— I'm honored you want it to be me. And also I'm very turned on right now."

He laughed and kissed you again, pulling you close. As his body settled between your legs, you revelled in how warm you felt— not hot or sweaty (yet), just warm, and safe, and comforted. He still gave you those butterflies in your stomach, sure, but for once that didn’t seem to just be a cute way of repackaging your anxiety.

With your panties pulled to your ankles and your shirt (which was, of course, actually his shirt that you’d stolen) tossed to the side, he kissed his way down your chest and stomach until his face was buried between your legs.

“Buck, I— fuck I thought you were gonna oh god just like that yes—”

“Wanted to return the favor first,” he explained, his words muffled.

“Didn’t anybody ever tell you it’s rude to talk with your mouth full?” you giggled.

He smiled but kept going, almost gentle at first but quickly finding a few favorite spots and stimulating them mercilessly.

You didn’t mean to pull his hair so hard but he didn’t seem to mind, moaning every time you forced him onto you harder. "Bucky, oh god, don't stop please!” you sobbed.

Of course he didn’t; he wanted you to come, he was a man on a mission and not much could stop him at this point. Just as he began to suck on your clit even harder than before— just hard enough to make the threat of pain tingle up your spine— he pressed two fingers into your opening. One little curl into your g-spot and you were gone, biting down on your lip as your body spasmed uncontrollably.

He moaned as he coaxed you through it; you tried to tap out but he went just a moment longer and for that one moment, you thought your body might just crumble into little pieces from the overwhelming pleasure.

Before you could even catch your breath, he was kissing you again. Your taste on his lips was divinely filthy.

“Need to be inside you,” he explained with a whisper as he started to take off his boxers.

“Please,” you sighed, too weak to even put a full sentence together.

Even with a very thorough warm-up, you couldn’t help but gasp as he pressed into you. Your walls fluttered and flexed as they made way for the intrusion, both of you moaning softly while you arched your back to take him deeper.

“Fuck, you feel incredible,” he whispered as his face buried into your neck. Your arms wrapped around his shoulders— you loved how broad and strong they were— and he pushed up from behind your knees to spread you open for him, the new angle forcing the head of his cock to press right into your spot.

“Fuck!” you cried out. He sat up slightly and looked a little concerned at first. “No, it’s good,” you reassured him, “it’s so good, Bucky, right there—”

He pulled back only to quickly push forward again, setting a pace that wasn’t quite rushed but was certainly a bit desperate. Even so, you were on the verge of begging for more, you needed him so badly.

“Harder, please,” you moaned. Okay, maybe you were a little past being on the verge.

“Is that how you like it? Rough?” he asked darkly.

“Maybe,” you grinned. “Is that how you like it?”

“I don’t know yet,” he responded, his grip on your legs tightening until you were almost tempted to struggle against him just to see if he was strong enough to hold you down, “but I like you telling me how to make you feel good.”

“Then fuck me,” you demanded through your teeth, moaning louder when he obeyed and began to pound into you. The slapping of skin filled the room, as did the revealing sound of your arousal, and it made your face burn even though you were pretty sure he didn’t mind at all.

You were so sensitive from the last time you came that you were already making quick progress towards the next. Didn’t help that your swollen clit was brushing against his cock every time it speared into you.

“You’re— fuck— you’re squeezin’ me, angel,” he hissed. “You gonna come already?”

You couldn’t even speak anymore, just nodding wildly. He leaned forward to kiss you and you were nearly folded in half as he kept his grip on your legs. You weren’t sure anything had been so deep inside you before; you were sure you had never made a sound like the one you made in that moment.

“Fuck, s’that good, huh?” he teased in reaction to the way you were nearly screaming already.

“God, you are the cockiest virgin ever,” you laughed, hoping you could delay the inevitable just a bit longer for the sake of your dignity. You tried to angle your body so he wouldn’t be so deep, so it would be so much, but he held you firm and fucked into you even harder.

“Ah ah ah,” he corrected with a smirk, “no running away, angel. Gonna make you come on my cock.”

“Oh fuck,” you whimpered, “fuck, Bucky, I’m close…”

“Me too,” he murmured back, kissing you deeply one more time. You hadn’t even imagined how perfect it would feel to come around him with his tongue still in your mouth, your moans blending with his, his fingers digging into your thighs while your nails were sure to leave marks on his back and shoulders. But even if you had tried to imagine how perfect it would feel, you couldn’t have ever come close. The moment you were tumbling over the edge, he was right there with you; you could feel him flexing against your walls as he came, and you were afraid if you let your eyes roll back like you so desperately wanted to, they’d get stuck there or something.

You just barely heard him murmur ‘angel’ as he kissed all down your neck. His body relaxed a little on top of you, though you still felt sensitive and tingly from where your bodies were joined.

“I wish we could stay like this forever,” he admitted, looking down at you as his cheeks turned a little pink.

You couldn’t, though, and he sat up with a sigh as you smiled back up at him. He held your legs up as he pulled out, watching with wide eyes as his come leaked from your hole. You gasped when he reached down to push it back in with two fingers; your whole body jerked when he moved those fingers inside you and started to rub your g-spot again.

“Bucky, what are you—?” you asked breathlessly, but you were already subconsciously pushing back to ride his fingers.

"I wanna see you come one more time," he explained. "You just look so perfect when you do it— and it's the best feeling when I'm doing it to you."

“We can definitely agree on that,” you mumbled. He rubbed little circles over your spot, using his free hand to hold your hips down, forcing you to take all the sensation he was giving you. Knowing that his come was the lubricant for all this made your head spin. “F-fuck, right there,” you whimpered.

“I know,” he smiled. “I can tell you’re close again.”

It wasn’t so much that you were close than that you never got a chance to come down from the high of the last one.

“You’re so perfect, my perfect girl,” he purred, watching you squirm from the praise. “You wanna be my good girl, don’t you? You wanna come for me again?”

“Yes,” you groaned, “god, yes, Bucky—”

He pressed against you harder and your moan quickly shifted to a slightly-embarrassing choking noise. His fingers pumped into faster and faster and your sore walls burned but you still wanted more. He didn’t let up until you were tightening around him with another orgasm, this one burning brighter but shorter, taking all the energy from you at once. He watched your face as you came, loving the way you held your breath, the way your eyes fluttered shut, the way you bit down on your lip—

"Bucky— you said one more—" you whined in confusion when you realized his fingers were still moving, if a little slower, and his thumb was reaching up to press into your clit.

"I never said just one more…" he smirked.

"Fuck, I— I dunno if I can take it!" you sobbed, the sensation nearly too much to handle.

"Oh you can," he purred. "You're so strong, you're so good for me— I know you can. I know you can give me one more."

You literally squealed when he pulled out his fingers only to put his cock in you again. You hadn’t even realized he was still hard.

“Oh my god, Bucky!” you cried out, gripping the sheets for dear life.

"You wanna call out my name like you did when I wasn't around? I bet that's not all you did. I bet you begged, and pleaded, screamed for me to let you come. Am I right?"

You nodded feverishly; his laugh in response had just that hint of condescension, that edge of degradation. Even though you knew he wouldn't judge you for it, admitting it felt dirty in a delicious way.

“‘Cause you wanna be my good girl,” he posited.

“I— I am your good girl,” you stammered, feeling a little silly referring to yourself that way.

He laughed a little, still rubbing your clit as he fucked you hard and fast. “Yeah, you are, angel.”

The petname, even though you’d heard it a thousand times, was what sent you over the edge the last time. You nearly kicked him off you as the pleasure finally reached the point that you truly were at your limit, but thankfully he got the hint before that and pulled out, giving you a much needed break.

“Dear god,” you chuckled through your exhaustion, your eyes falling shut, “that was— you are— I can’t—”

“Was it good?” he asked softly as he laid beside you and pulled you into him.

Your eyes shot open again. “Was… was it good?” you repeated incredulously. “Buck, it was incredible. It was life-ruining. I thought your first time was going to be about you.”

“It was! Making you come four times is me spoiling myself,” he explained, kissing your shoulder. “What’s about you is me letting you shower first.”

“You aren’t gonna join me?” you asked coyly.

“Don’t start something you can’t finish, angel,” he warned. “I think you need a rest.”

“Yeah, you’re right,” you grumbled disappointedly. The last thing you needed was to pass out in the shower from him doing that to you again. “Is it really a whole year until my next birthday?”

“Yeah, sadly that’s how those work,” he smiled.

“What about your birthday?”

“Not ‘til March.”

“...that means your half-birthday is just a week away,” you realized.

“So?”

“I think we should start celebrating those.”

He laughed a little. “You wanna get me a half-present?”

“Yeah,” you decided. “I think I’m gonna pay for half of your dinner. Then I’m gonna fuck you halfway to death.”

#bucky barnes x reader #bucky barnes smut #bucky barnes x y/n #chubby!bucky x reader #chubby!bucky smut #chubby!bucky fluff

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londonmusicreview · 4 years ago

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Somebody Else by Pynch Single Review

Written by Karina Abbott

9/10

‘Somebody Else’ has this unfaltering bass line, drum beat, and key progression just sitting in the background throughout the entire song; while the guitars and vocals dance all over it, adding color to the story that the lyrics lay out for us.

The song follows the monotonous life of a young adult living for other people by doing what their told: going to school, getting a job that pays well, etc. Living for yourself can be a really hard thing to do, because it’s scary knowing there is a possibility for failure. So many people would rather not even try, and just live the life they are ‘supposed to’; a stable and predictable one in the eyes of their peers and parents. The protagonist of this story reflects the feelings of many a young person, if not every single one throughout history, because this song is essentially an ode to the ‘quarter-life crisis’. No one wants to fade into the abyss, no one wants to “lead a life half lived”, and everyone wants to “really know [they] exist”.

This song is subtly restless; it’s targeting the uninspired and desperate youths trying to figure out how to survive in our rapidly changing world, while somehow staying true to themselves and their dreams. It feels especially relevant with how the last year has been for so many people: a monotonous nightmare with no end in sight that you just have to take day-by-day to get through as it persists like the consistent driving backbeat of this song.

During the climax of the song they reference the classically reckless nature of being in your 20s; with all this uncertainty and placelessness creating some pretty serious anxieties that just keep mounting until you feel like you want to “drive a car into the sun”, "feel everything at once”, “quit [your] job and move to japan”, or just "stay in bed as long as [you] can”.

In the falling action of the song there is this statement: “I wanna die doing what I love, I wanna feel like I'm doing enough”; so simple, yet it nearly brought me to tears, because many people, including myself, do not see this as a guarantee. This is something we might have to really fight and even face ridicule for, but it’s such a basic request; like the line about wanting to “feel something real”. We should be able to have lives that make us feel purposeful and fulfilled everyday! We should be able to relax enough to feel things other than anxiety.

Anyway, it’s a beautiful song and I’m super in love with it. Hope you enjoy it!

RIYL: Attawalpa, Youth Sector, Drug Store Romeos

Bandcamp: https://pynch.bandcamp.com/album/somebody-else-the-whole-worlds-going-crazy-for-love-double-a-side

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pynchband/

#indiemusicspotlight #pynch band #pynch #london band #somebody else #single review #great music #music discovery #music journalism #music blog #uk music #divinely uninspired to a hellish extent #placelessness #20s #life

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thepaperpanda · 5 years ago

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Shooter || Joker x Reader

Summary: You're a witness of three privileged men killing at the subway. You accidentally meet the shooter the day after and he's far from what you've imagined he'd be.

Warnings: None

Words: 1562

Authors: Cass & Ailo

The gunshots brought back the pain; it was as if he would still be laying on the dirty sidewalk in that alley, being kicked by those teenagers, trying his best to protect his head and crotch from blows. The gunshots were sounded as if they could crack a skull, as if the sound itself could purify the mind. Arthur's stomach lurched as he lowered gun he was holding in hand. He did this. He actually did this. Then silence returned far more thickly than it was before the shots, as if everything around man was collectively holding it's breath.

You were hiding behind one of pillars, hand covering your mouth as you desperately tried to calm down your breath and racing heart. Witnessing such a thing was too much for you. Using subway was your everyday thing, you were using it to get to work as well as return home. This unfortunate day you were going back home later than usual, the evening was calm until you heard shooting in the other cart. You didn't see much through little windows between carts. The little bit of view was terrifying enough to make you sneak out of the cart as soon as it stopped. You peaked out of your hiding spot just to look if you could go but all you saw was a man being shot as he tried climbing up the stairs. Quickly returning to your spot you started to pray to get out of this alive. Thanks God, the shooter disappeared and you were able to get out of the station safely. You thought about going to the police but all you wanted truly was to go home and hide in the safety of your little apartment. "I can always go there tomorrow," you told yourself, running back to your place.

Arthur returned home and pretended he was all fine but he wasn't.

That evening everything was making him angry, especially his mother and her pure trust in Thomas Wayne. Arthur helped her take bath but as soon as he put her to bed, he went to his own, little room and sneaked under the sheets, pulling quilt on his head as he was trying to hide himself from this world.

You should have to be asleep for a few hours but you simply couldn't find yourself a place. Sitting on the couch, looking at the movement on the tv's screen, your mind was going crazy recalling every second of the event in the subway.

Even if you were in your own flat you still felt scared because of such things were becoming an everyday thing. Shaking your head you forced yourself to go shower and get to bed.

Arthur was fired. All he could have done was get out of there with his head up, he didn't want to show them that they've broken him down like an old branch of a tree. He sat at the not high fence, foot tapping up and down like some dumb wind up toy. Man was rethinking his entire existence.

For you the morning was hard, dragging yourself out of the bed was horrible yet you started to get ready for going out.

Your friends made you join them during the protest against all the rich people in the city. You didn't really like such events because of the crowd but maybe they would finally affect something, you thought.

You never were a conflict person, you always tried to avoid fights or arguments but you hated all those rich bastards. They were having fun in their skyscrapers while all the regular people were drowning in trash and poverty.

Holding the strap of your bag you walked trough the streets, trying your best to not get crazy because of the yesterday's situation. You stopped your walk when you spotted a man, a really sad man.

Arthur felt observed, and indeed he was being watched.

A rather young woman was standing several steps from him glaring at him curiously.

At first he didn't react but when she was standing still in front of him, man raised his head a little and tilted it aside so his locks fell off his face, letting him see her fully.

Man looked too similar to the one from yesterday, it kinda made you afraid and all you've wanted was to run back to your flat but his look made you concerned.

You let out a sigh and smiled at him gently when he looked at you. Walking slowly you started to move closer to him. "Hey there... is everyhitng okay? You look sad," you said shrugging softly as you played with the strap.

He looked you deeply in the eyes; emotionless and empty eyes of his were like a well which ran dry. "Yeah," he replied without thinking too much. He observed you still yet he didn't move at all.

"So... Why so sad and aren't you cold? It's quite chilly today," you said bouncing on your legs a little. "Maybe I can help you somehow?"

"Do you like comedy?," He asked out of sudden. The question was so random that even he giggled a little but the giggle was full of darkness and sadness.

You blinked looking at him, taken aback by a sudden question. Thinking for a little moment you quickly nodded. "Sure! Who doesn't? I love to have a good laugh, it helps to keep going in this city. For me at last."

He sent you a brief smile but it was more a curl of his lips in a grimace. "I'm a comedian, I've always wanted to be a comedian," he said as he hopped off the fence and made a pose like only clown would do.

"Oh wow! It must be great, I bet you know a lot of jokes and anecdotes," you said smiling at him more and clapped your hands a little. "But you are missing one thing, friend."

He was about to reach into inner pocket of jacket to pull his notebook out and read something for you but he stopped any movement, looking at you. He shook his head for "no".

"Smile," you said giggling. "Come on, smile for me and I am ready to hear you out."

You turned round to find little bench, sitting down you put one leg over other like ever lady would does. Looking at man you send him another smile and waited at his performence.

He tried his best to smile yet he felt like tears started to gather into his eyes. He turned around few times and posed again but instead of smiling naturally, he slipped two fingers of each of his hands into his mouth corners and spread them upward in a grimace which had to be pretending smile.

You looked at him, raising your eyebrow. "Okay, let's say that this is enough to convice me. So? Can I hear you and your jokes?," You asked kindly.

You were really courious what he will 'serve' you. The things you told him were true, despite being young you already hated your life in Gotham. Silly comedies, stend ups and all of this helped you cope with the hard life and kept you away from bad thoughs and stuff.

Arthur pulled his notebook out of the pocket and opened it with shaking hands, turning page after page. When he was looking down onto his notes he was about to cry in a spot because of the sadness that were coming out of them. "Knock, knock."

"Who's there?," You asked looking at him.

"The man who killed three shitbags in the metro yesterday," he whispered seriously.

You looked at him completely struck with your eyes wide open. After a moment you laughed, it was very nervous. "You… Are you joking, right? 'Cus you are a comedian," you asked shortly.

"Am I looking like someone who's joking?," He asked openly.

You sat there quiet, swallowing heavily, soon you shook your head for 'no'.

"And do you know what's the worst? I'm fucking happy about what I've done, I don't regret killing them."

You giggled nervously and nodded, slowly moving to the edge of the bench, trying your best to slip away from him.

"I won't hurt you," he assured raising hands up. "I won't hurt you, no need to run."

You got up from your seat and looked at him. "You promise? I... I saw you. I swear, I didn't go to the police. Cross on my heart," you said.

He shook his head slightly with that strange grin on his lips. "I don't mind it. I have nothing to lose and I'm tired of pretending it wasn't funny."

You nodded, looking at him. Your hands once more played nervously with the strap of your bag. "You know…," You began slowly. "I think you did a right thing. Whoever they were, they deserved this. They play around because they are 'good, rich boys' while we all struggle here. Wayne and everyone similar to him could die in the fire and the city would become better instantly."

He listened to you patiently as the grin on his lips grew wider. Arthur nodded his head a little like he would be bowing to you. "When city will be burning, it's gonna be triumph of unprivileged. And I tell you this, it's gonna come sooner than everyone expects."

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snkpolls · 5 years ago

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SnK Chapter 122 Poll Results

The chapter 122 poll closed with 1,472 responses. Thank you to everyone who participated!

RATE THE CHAPTER 1,428 Responses

This is one for the record books. Chapter 122 is officially the highest rated chapter since we started the poll. A whopping 85.2% of respondents gave it the top rating. The previous record holder was chapter 101 (79.8%) which featured the long awaited return of the Survey Corps.

5 out of 5 for the pig who seeks freedom! Fight For Freedom! Revolt! Revolt! Revolt!

Each chapter is becoming my favorite every time and this one isn't different. It's a fantastic read.

In a single chapter Founder Ymir became one of my top five characters in this series point blank.

I thought nothing could top chapter 100. 122 is the best one of the entire story.

A turning point. Very well executed. Congrats, Isayama, can't wait to see what you still have on store!

Yet another mind-blowing chapter, honestly one of my favorites in the series! Honestly, this was a chapter I have been awaiting since I started getting into SnK, and those feelings increased following the basement reveal chapters where we are left to wonder which parts of Ymir's story are true and which are false.

One of the best chapters of the series! Definitely gave me a new appreciation for Attack on Titan from a story telling standpoint.

I love how many questions this answers and also creates; I’m happy that there are still many things left a mystery!

Aamazing chapter, I fucking cried. Now give me Historia, Isayama. I need her.

I'm just so happy to see it finally coming together and not be let-down

If Floch doesn't die in the Rumbling I want a refund

Worldwide genocide, taking care of kids, get you a man who can do both

LEEEEET'S GET READY TO RUUUUUUUUUUUMBLE!!!

Damn, Isayama.

WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING WAS YOUR FAVORITE MOMENT? 1,439 Responses

You guys are almost as split on this question as Ymir’s Titan Powers are. Speaking of, she also happens to directly occupy the two most common answers, with 48.7% rating their favorite moment as either her backstory, or her conversation with Eren.The fall of the walls takes third place, followed by Eren’s revival and the cliffhanger at the end of the chapter.

WHO IS MOST RESPONSIBLE FOR 'STARTING THIS STORY?' 1,419 Responses

You started this story, didn’t you: pig who got freed? 45.1% feel that the earliest in story event makes for a good starting point. Just over ¼ of respondents felt the Founder Ymir Fritz is most responsible. 8.4% feel it’s Eren, and only 3.4% chose Grisha for whom the quote originally signified. The most popular write-in answer, King Fritz, overtook poor Grisha at 4.2%. Variations on King Fritz in the write-ins numbered almost 200.

People's greed. It started with the first King Fritz and it continued with the next generations

The Eldians (First Fritz)

Isayama. He started the whole story! If that wasn't him, the pigs would not run away.

Everybody has played their own part, it is not simply a matter of what single person is the most responsible.

The Attack titan

The Marleyean military higher ups that ordered Bertolt, Reiner, Annie and Marcel to breach the walls of Paradis Island

Those that blamed Ymir

The spinal fluid that was inside the three because if that wasn't there, titans would have never existed in the first place.

The cycle of violence/hatred/slavery. The King Fritz probably wasn't the first to be this way. The story has no true beginning because it's a cycle, but Eren will be the end.

King Dickz

The first King. Why isn't it an option?

WHO DO YOU THINK IS THE MOST CONNECTED TO/PARALLELS YMIR THE MOST? 1,422 Responses

Our current queen seems to resemble the first queen quite a bit, with almost half of respondents, at 46.8% saying Historia parallels original Ymir the most. 35% feel Ymir is most connected to, well, Ymir. 14.3% chose Eren, and a sliver of votes went to Zeke at 1.6%.

Though there are more parallels to Freckled Ymir, the pregnancy of Ymir Fritz can be a connection-foreshadowment of Historia's pregnancy plan. So I'll say that there are parallels to both Freckled ymir and Historia.

Mikasa is a lot like pre freedom ymir

Anyone who has been trapped in life

Connected to: Eren. Parallels: Freckled Ymir.

both Historia and freckled Ymir, obvs. And Mikasa, to a lesser extent

A lot of the cast parallel OG Ymir

Grisha

Definitely Freckled Ymir. She took the blame of all those people in the hopes of being useful or wanted through her sacrifice and then got the power of the titans.

Ymir has parallels to Historia, freckled Ymir and Zeke

Time will show.

I'd say both Historia and Ymir: the cult picked up Ymir, who was a homeless child, similar to how Founder Ymir was a slave without name or status; the two of them stood for their people even after they've been denounced out of cowardice and fought for someone else until their very end, out of pure selflessness. Historia parallels Founder Ymir by how she became a slave of her blood, and a tool to be used.

I was gonna say Oluo, but he never actually lost his tongue.

HAVE YOUR OPINIONS SHIFTED NEGATIVELY ON ELDIA? 1,421 Responses

In a conflict with no clear start, we get to see further back into the past! But did the revelations change your mind? The vast majority at 66.3% don’t give a flying fritz about who started it, they just want to see the bloodshed end. 12.7% say their outlook has changed but Marley is more in the wrong still; and only 5.3% had this chapter change their mind to the Eldians being most at fault.

All the men in power are as bad as each other

Both nations committed atrocities

Both sides are slaves to history, Eldia today is not responsible for the actions 2000 years ago.

Eldia in the past I always figured were some tyrannical force, I mean what else would happen with an ancient civilisation discovering the Power of the Titans. But Marley's propaganda having some truth to it doesn't mean they're justified in their treatment of Eldians in the modern day who had nothing to do with the original Eldia.

How could we know? What was the relationship between eldia and Marley before Ymir turned into a titan? Was Marley in the wrong before they were overtaken by eldia/even before king fritz took Marley people prisoner?

King Fritz is the one to blame. Not all of Eldia and ESPECIALLY not the Survey Corps.

Marley is more in wrong because they are continuing to perpetuate the conflict in the present.

The current characters we love and want to end up happy have nothing to do with the past, they just want to be free.

EVERYONE IS IN THE WRONG BUT THAT'S HOW THE WORLD WORKS

There's neither bad or right in this story "Everyone can become a god or a devil, all it takes is for someone to claim that to be the truth"

WHO IS THE BIGGEST ASSHOLE IN THE MANGA THUS FAR? 1,433 Responses

In a story filled with lovable characters, there’s also tons of douchenozzles. 67.7% believe the original King Fritz is the worst of them all. 17.2% took the intellectual route and responded with “Yes”.

All of them are rotten, selfish and full of hatred people who only think about themselves and are ready to manipulate own children (or other people) for own benefits.

first king Fritz of Eldia and Eren

Gabi a.k.a. Garbage

I believe king fritz and gross deserve eatch other, they are the assholes of their times

I'm surprised Zeke finally got a rival in being the worst human ever in person of King Fritz.

No recognition for our very own Darius 'poo-chair' Zackly?

Most have a at least some humanizing (if not redeeming) qualities, but both King Fritz and Gross are evil to the core

King Fritz, but Flock is also an big asshole (it's never a bad time to point that)

Where's Zeke? To be honest I can't decide between Fritz, Floch, and Zeke.

Who the fuck put floch here, come here and fight

Why on earth are Karina and Alma here? They were horrid mothers to their kids; the others are guilty of murder, torture and genocide.

Ymir Fritz because she received godlike powers and decided to stay with a power hungry king; she was free and could have done anything but because of her slave mentality she decided to stay with him for 13 years! as uncle Ben said "With great power comes great responsibility"

The 145th king is the only one who did unreasonable bad things to his people, he literally allowed his people to be enslaved all over the world and he allowed the future genocide of his people. The worst thing is this doesn't do anything. It doesn't save the world from anything. Even the paradise he created was all for himself because he couldn't deal with reality. His logic is faulty, but even so he couldn't even do the job himself. The only one that can be worst than him is Zeke who's another evil man who wants to exterminate his own people. But, unlike Karl, Zeke is willing to do the job himself.

That goddamn pig

WHAT IS THE TREE YMIR FOUND? 1,424 Responses

In a chapter with so many answers, we still have vague origins! Starting from the start, what in the world is that tree? Over half of you, at 55.5%, think it’s Attack on Titan’s version of the Yggdrasil tree from Norse mythology. 24.2% say it’s the source of all organic matter we’ve heard discussed. 11.3% say it just grew out of what it’s housing, and 5.9% think it’s similar to the forest of giant trees.

A connection between a human and the Earth, hence the Devil of All Earth

A wellspring or hidden primordial lake

Yggdrasil but is the source of all organic matter somehow, and I think it's somehow related to the trees on Paradis being so big.

A hideout for that Hallucigenia thing left by the devil

It appears almost as a man and women embracing. Adam and Eve??

It doesn't matter. It was never about the origin of the titans, it was about the power of the titans and the moral implications of it. How the titans came to be is irrelevant.

The Great Deku Tree dungeon

Titan tree. It is probably the same species as the trees surrounding it, but has grown unnaturally large due to the parasite in it's water source.

Tree

WHAT IS THE THING IN THE TREE YMIR FOUND? 1,421 Responses

Another layer of mystery within the mystery tree! Two main thoughts emerged and are almost even in popularity. 46.9% believe it is the source of all organic matter; wheread 44.3% say it’s a parasite of unknown origin. 3.2% say it’s in fact the devil itself.

A connection to the earth, making her the Devil

A *Symbiote* of unknown origin

A root of the tree that connects whoever it touches with the paths realm

A root of the tree that's been soaked and absorbing the water; the water is the real source.

I've seen enough hentai to know that is an alien

It could be the very first living being on this planet, a sort of progenitor from which all genes and all variations of biodiversity came to be.

Just a spine in the water turning little girl to big girl. What's supposed to be special about that?

This world's version of Níðhöggr, the many legged dragon that eats at the roots of the Tree of Life.

The spine of the previous founder

The Great Deku Tree dungeon boss. Ymir lost.

A poorly designed shit-machine that can't get the job done

A L I E N S

DID YMIR TEMPORARILY DIE WHEN SHE FELL IN THE TREE? 1,425 Responses

When Ymir fell into the tree, did she drown? The majority of the fanbase doesn’t feel anything like that happened, whereas over a ¼ at 26.6% feel she died and was revived. 5% believe she died, and was thereafter controlled by the parasite type thing.

Dying and being brought back to life is meant to be Zeke's thing!!

I think she was almost dying but the parasite healed her.

It revived her and created a clone within the paths dimension.

I think Ymir's body as a child is still in that tree to this day, with the parasite still attached to her. It was deep underground, thus affecting the ground shared by its roots (assuming this is Paradis), and being the reason for all the giant trees. It also explains a little Titans being creatures of the Earth, and Ymir forming them with sand.

She became a Titan seconds before dying

She probably passed out for a few seconds after she drowned, and it was during that brief state of unconsciousness that parasite attached to her.

Ymir the human died, and Ymir the Titan was born. That's why Ymir the human is in the Paths and not Ymir the Titan. Ymir the Human sculpts the titan body for her Titan self, because time is infinite and strange in Paths.

A mix of both Yes answers - it revived her but also controlled her body so that she could only watch on as an observer. It makes her more of a slave without a free will as something else is literally controlling her body from within her and she can’t do anything about it

P A T H S

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST STANDOUT TO YOU ABOUT YMIR'S TITAN DESIGN? 1,429 Responses

We finally got to see the original founding titan in the flesh! The ribs sticking out stuck out to 39.7% the most. 29.5% of you found it interesting that the overall design was uglier than the goddess like depictions we’ve seen. 17.6% went for the skull face she has, and 11.8% simply went for the HUGE size.

All of above, just look at that atrocity

Her missing eyes

Everything, the ribs were the first thing I noticed with the face being next. It took me a 2nd read through the chapter to realize that she is bigger than the Colossal titan. Definitely one of the best titan designs from Isayama

How malnourished it looks

It's terrifying and it's the fusion of the 9 titans

The fact that it looks nothing like I expected or imagined

Everything about it - One can see exactly why the truth about her was easily manipulated.

ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 5, HOW OFFENSIVE TO YOU IS THE FACT THAT THE ORIGINAL WARHAMMER TITAN HAD HAIR? 1,418 Responses

This question was for that one guy who absolutely could not deal with the original WHT’s hair. You’re in good company, but the results are about as polarized as global politics. 35% want Emma back immediately, 16.4% don’t really care about this egregious crime, and 32.4% are totally indifferent. Only 16% had slight feelings in either direction. The poll lawyers are telling me that I have to clarify that Emma is still only a fandom name for the previous Warhammer. Get on it Isayama.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE DESIGNS WE SAW FOR THE ORIGINAL TITANS?

You guys liked Ymir’s Founding Titan so much that it’s literally off the charts. The original Attack Titan got some pretty mixed reviews, but the general consensus is that you guys prefer an Eren and/or a Jaeger to be driving that thing. The scourge of the hair comes back to beat down the original Warhammer’s ratings as well, but the majority remain indifferent. Speaking of indifference, more of you were indifferent about the OG Colossal Titan than had strong feelings one way or another combined. We’ll see how that result changes when it ends up CGI in Season 4. The general consensus on the original Armored Titan is, “It’s alright, I guess.” The Female Titan was the second on the list to have a majority “Love” rating, though whether this is due to the design or severe Annie Deprivation Syndrome remains to be seen.

DID YMIR MANAGE TO GRAB THE 'MOST TRAGIC BACKSTORY' AWARD? 1,422 Responses

Another tear jerking childhood to add to the list, but does it top it? The overwhelming majority at 83.5% feel that she did earn that award of tragedy. 6.3% believe the classic sufferboi Reiner still tops the charts. 3.4% went for Levi, 1.8% for the other Ymir, 0.7% for Zeke and 0.4% for Historia.

Everyone has suffered uniquely in this series, how can I choose ?

First, I'm offended Grisha wasn't included here. Second, everyone's suffered too much. So they all win.

Her backstory definitely is the darkest and saddest one. Reiner, Historia, Ymir and the rest had their moments of happiness. They were surrounded by loving people. Ymir was always all alone; born as a slave, had full of sadness life and after death she was creating titans for 2000 years. She just wanted to be free and wanted be loved, yet she had none of that.

Homegirl is still living her 2000-year-long tragic backstory, she definitely wins

I don't think tragic backstories should be a competition

I think you forgot about Mr Yeager :) those guys are not even close to him

Is this Suffering Olympics or something?

Ymir and Mikasa the most sad tragic backstory

Ymir is always showed as a mindless slave, even at the start of her backstory, it is too hard to empathize with someone that never acted as a human being and lived her whole life without any emotion

Grisha easily has it for me. Ymir's circumstances were worse from birth, and Reiner's dissonance and misery is tragic, but Grisha's perceived misery throughout his cycles of perpetual tragedy shows that he easily suffered the most.

Give them all a hug.

P I G

WAS THE MURDERER OF YMIR HELOS? 1,408 Responses

Is Helos historical or completely fabricated? 10.7% believe the Marleyan who killed Ymir is in fact Helos, and 66.9% believe the character is based on him. 22.4% don’t believe the idea of Helos and this man are related in any way.

The one showing rebellion in this chapter is the figure serving as a role model for Helos. Unlike Ymir, he was powerless and only had his spear, but he took enough courage to show resistance to Eldia's domination and toss his spear at the king. He paid it with his life, but he fatally wounded Ymir in return, showing even the goddess of titans could bleed. I'm confident the myth of Helos is going to be relevant in the future chapters.

YMIR didn't die with the spear-throw..I think her conscious form was stuck in the paths before her body revived.

Helos? Really?? Helos???

WHICH OF THESE LIKELY TO BE CENSORED SCENES WAS THE MOST GRUESOME? 1,421 Responses

In a series filled with gore, this chapter was above average with violence. Ymir’s young daughters cannibalizing their mother was the most gruesome according to almost all of you at 89.2%. Second place is a bit behind at 3.5%, with centipede spine Eren.

All of the above

Everything but Centipede Eren

The guy getting his tongue cut out that was even censored for the manga.

We've seen lots of people being eaten so not that, and Erentipede is going to be stunning animated so not that. Maybe head on a pike.

The tongue cut from the beginning really horrified me, it put the chapter in a great atmosphere from the start

No mention about that slave getting his tongue cut out by those ancient Eldian soldiers? That was pretty grizzle. That panel implies that all people enslaved by the Eldians lost their tongues upon getting captured, which meant that Ymir likely lost her tongue as well. That really explains how she had no spoken dialogue in the past, and while the tongue may have regenerated following her first Titan transformation, the length of time she couldn't speak and her status most likely prevented her from speaking.

No need to be censored

WHAT DOES EREN MEAN BY 'PUT AN END TO THIS WORLD'? 1,419 Responses

Eren’s finally stated what he plans to do; but what does it mean!? 45.9% believe the world he plans to destroy is the paths realm, eldning titans that way. 25.4% think he just meant dismantling the status quo of the world. 14.4% say he’s just going to rumble enemies of Eldia, whereas 10.6% say the whole earth.

All options seem plausible

Destroy the PATHS realm and rumble the enemies invading Eldia.

He plans to rumble all life, destroy the paths realm, AND erase all the memories of the remaining Eldians on Paradis so they completely forget about the history of the titans, thus effectively making the past 2000 years seem like they never even happened. ANDHe plans to destroy the PATHS realm, putting an end to titans

He wants to destroy the world as it is now. He wants to create a world where none of the things that happened to Ymir can ever happen again.

I think he just needs a nap

I understand that fandom wants to see Eren as good guy who will not destroy the world, but I think that everything is simple - Eren is planning to use full rumbling; destroy the whole world, kill millions of innocent people, animals and plants.

IT ALL COMES RUMBLING DOWN RUMBLING DOWN RUMBLING DOWN

4+5

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO THE SCENE OF EREN CRYING IN CHAPTER 1? 1,399 Responses

2,000 years ago, 2,000 years from now. The titles of this and chapter one parallel, but what else? Over half of you, at 52.7% believe Eren was sent Ymir’s feelings when she had her emotional epiphany. 33.5% say Eren was sent memories of what’s about to happen, and 11.1% don’t think anything from this chapter related to Eren crying in chapter one specifically.

1st Chapter name suggest it does, but it just make no sense as Eren at that point didn't had attack titan power, so he could not receive others memories

Eren crying will be due to the consequences of this chapter

Eren learns of Ymir's backstory

I don't think Isayama meant for it to originally mean anything this far in the story, but I think there could be some Paths tomfoolery going on.

Eren saw the memories of his death and literally everything until that moment

Eren was sent a message like a cry for help maybe? Strong, intense feelings of sadness and despair... Because in this chapter Eren says she'd been waiting for someone for 2000 years, so I am guessing 2000 years ago she started sending a message.

ON A SCALE OF "EH" TO "I NEED TO HUG HER, HOW DID YOU FEEL SEEING LITTLE YMIR TEAR UP? 1,417 Responses

Sad Girl Hours have officially been endorsed by Hajime Isayama himself. 73.7% of you guys are in full support, and an additional 15.2% of your mice slipped when answering. 6.9% of you guys kinda just wanna see something else happen, and the first one of you on Reddit to say “Nice.” about that is getting sent to Paradis. Lastly, a grand total of 60 of you defy all explanation.

I want to hug Ymir so bad :( mute babby

WHY WAS EREN THE FIRST TO OPEN YMIR'S EYES? 1,415 Responses

It took 2,000 years for Ymir to open her eyes and her heart, what about Eren got her to that point? 29.9% think he was the only person to ever empathize with her at all, 8.4% think it was simply Eren’s chadness, while 8.3% think it’s only because the previous royals viewed her as a slave. The majority at 41.1% feel it’s a mix of all available options.

Because he was born into this world

Because he is the protagonist

He embraced her and showed her compassion- something she never felt before

Defiance of old wills. He does, after all "just keep moving forward."

Eren didn't seek to use Ymir as a slave

Eren made her realize that she isn't a slave OR a god. She was enslaved and in later years worshipped, but just like Eren: from the moment she was born, she was free

He knew/experienced everything she went through.

He manipulated her to be able to use her powers

He was the first person to tell her she could make her own choices

He was the only one that put his ideals over his personal gain to the end. Ymir is a slave, therefor Eren frees her from her slavery. /The previous royals viewed her as a slave

TALK NO JUTSU 2 GOOD; Eren is good at manipulating kids when it suits his needs best + He was the only one to ever empathize with her

WHAT IS YOUR PRIMARY THOUGHT ON THE CENTIPEDE SPINE THAT SAVED EREN? 1,417 Responses

Eren’s alive! But what is that… thing? IT LOOKS AWESOME! 32.9% had that as their first response. It was nearly a three way split though, and 30.6% first thought of how it must look for those for whom only a moment has passed since his head flew off. 30.2% quickly made the connection that it looks like the parasite thingy Ymir Fritz found. Only 3.2% thought it looked stupid as hell.

CREEPY but COOL

DO NOT WANT

100/10, better than Kaneki

Ken is hiring a lawyer for copyrights lawsuits against Eren.

I am wondering, what if this is basically Ymir's renouncing of the power she had, finally freeing herself, and thus passing it on to Eren?

I thought that Eren was becoming Níðhöggr, the literal devil that causes Ragnarok (the apocalypse). He looks really cool and frightening at the same time, I love this young man!

It cant be stopped anymore and weird for whom only a second passed

It looks less like a centipede and more like roots to me.

My thought, "The hell is that?!"

Nothing personal Eren, but burn that thing immediately.

Oh thank goodness Eren didn't split into two.

pure "why is the boss music changing to MORE intense?", and that's great

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT EREN SURVIVING THE BEHEADING? 1,410 Responses

44.3% of you are really enthusiastic about Eren surviving his beheading, despite proclaiming that you knew it’d happen anyway. It takes the noggin for a joggin’, but I’m not here to judge. 27.1% of you guys are relatively indifferent about it, and 21.1% of you didn’t think you’d like it, but ultimately bent the knee before Isayama’s storytelling abilities.

Am I surprised? No. Are you surprised? No

Disappointed but not surprised...

Excited, but wondering how he is actually going to die.

GABI GANG BTFO

It was predictable but the revival still felt epic

It was predictable since he's the main character, c'mon anyone else would die like Porco did.

oshiete oshiete

THE WALLS HAVE FINALLY FALLEN! WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THIS MOMENT? 1,410 Responses

A moment that’s been built up so long, what feeling took over when it finally happened? Most of the fanbase, at 68.3%, were just in awe at how well Isayama pulled it off. 14.2% were filled with hope that Eren actually made it happen. On the opposite end of the spectrum 13.5% were filled with dread.

All of the above. This story is a rollercoaster.

Dread as the wall titans are facing into Paradis so Eren's plan may backfire!

Everything in the manga has led to this moment

I kind of thought/hoped the rumbling would be a red herring, but oh well. it'll still be cool

I want them do the colossal dance

I was hoping this chapter won't end with cliffhanger

IT ALL COMES RUMBLING DOWN RUMBLING DOWN RUMBLING DOWN

Looks very dramatic, will be momentous animated, still not surprising since I think a lot of us knew it was gonna happen eventually

meh, I want the story to advance, but the rumbling never grabbed me as an event I was waiting for

LETS GET READY TO RUMBLE!!!!!

I peed

IN SUCH A BEAUTIFULLY DRAWN CHAPTER, WHICH WAS YOUR FAVORITE DOUBLE SPREAD? 1,412 Responses

Isayama’s art truly has improved over the years and this chapter showcased that. The final panel left the biggest impression on 33.7% of you. 25.1% felt a deep impact from Ymir’s emotional closeup, and the walls cracking and crumbling rounds out the top 3 at 14.8%.

All of them

Original 9 titans.

the one where Ymir was building thousands of collosal titans

not so beautifully drawn but still nice

The pages with Ymir alone in the Paths realm while Fritz tells his daughters to continue the reign of Titans and Eldia

Ymir’s children eating her

IN CHAPTER 86 GRISHA MANAGED TO QUOTE KING FRITZ WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO READ THE "HISTORICAL" DOCUMENTS. HOW WAS THIS POSSIBLE? 1,406 Responses

In this chapter King Fritz used the same line Grisha did when learning about Ymir much further down the line. Half of the fanbase at 50.6% don’t feel that anything’s at play and it was just Grisha making assumptions based on what information he had. Just about ¼ at 25.7% feel paths are involved but they don’t have to explain anything after that. 14.2% feel there was a chain of memory sending that led to the result we got.

Actually Grisha never deciphered the documentation. I thought it was obvious he was being portrayed as extremist at the point to show the other side of the coin. Both sides just make up facts as they want.

I suppose it being the exact wording as what the King said made people think there was memories shenanigans but Isayama does these kind of parallels all the time, with characters saying something word for word that they don’t have knowledge of.

"Grisha how did you understand this?" "Pretty pictures."

WILL THERE BE A RUMBLING? 1,413 Responses

The walls have fallen. What will happen next? In a near even split, 48.1% win out saying there will be a small scale rumbling, whereas 45% say it will be worldwide. Only 6.9% feel there won’t be any form of rumbling at all.

I WAS WAITING FOR YEARS FOR THE RUMBLING!!!!!!

AWESOME! But i really don't want a full scale rumbling

Eren is becoming more and more the last antagonist of this story and it's just scary how some people in the fandom understand and support Eren's plan. Hopefully Marley, Zeke and the SC will working together to stop the rumbling and Eren.

i really dont think eren is gonna go full rumbling or even in a small scale, hes gonna end the word dominated by titans by taking away the titan power from eldians

The rumbling isn't a metaphor people. Eren is planning to kill billions of innocents. Can't wait for the warriors and 104th to team up and put down that mad dog.

Zeke said it himself a few chapters back: Eldia would have no chance of fighting the entire World Army; the Rumbling really seemed to be their only way out, and launching those Colossal Titans now as a pre-emptive strike would be the best way to suppress the Army before they can even attack.

I have a feeling that the rumbling will turn out to be anti- climatic. Lots of people seem to be pinning their hopes on the rumbling being the cure-all to Eldia's problems, but the world of attack on titan is not that kind.

WHAT/WHO IS THE TITAN FORMING AT THE END? 1,412 Responses

The chapter ended with a titan forming, but what will it end up being? Barely over half, at 51.6% believe it to be Eren with a power up from Ymir Fritz. 20.5% think it’s Eren with Ymir attached in some way, and 14.1% think Eren has accessed a new form on his own.

Eren and Ymir combined, rather than attached. Could be a new Titan form, could be Attack Titan on Titan Steroids. Need to wait until 123 to maybe find out.

Eren in Warhammer, he is not in the nape

Centipide Titan that will die after getting out of energy

Eren with full power from the Founder, Attack and Warhammer

I'm thinking it's some sort of founder-unlocked version of Eren's titan. Maybe Ymir is giving him full control now.

Eren and Ymir fused. Ymen

It's Eren but I don't know how his titan will look like and I don't care about it, cause I'm more worried about Gabi.

Eren's founding titan form. He had it all along, but he could never use it, until now.

The last two sound so lewd without context

DEATH FLAGS! WHO IN SHIGANSHINA IS GOING TO DIE AS A RESULT OF IMMINENT EVENTS? 1,340 Responses

I was gonna ask for Fs in the chat for whoever led in the results for this question, but then I saw it was Floch, so… Fs in the chat for Magath I guess, because a lot of you seem to think Hulk Hogan is going to suplex him (and Floch) through a table at Royal Rumble DCCCLIV. That’s fancy talk for “die.” Pieck and Zeke are pretty high on the list as well. There’s a lot of information here, so I won’t give you all the specifics in this written part—take a look! Armin has 92 votes, which lands him at 6.9% don’t say it Reddit, and Mikasa has 117 votes, with only 8.7% of you suspecting death in her immediate future. For a brick, she flies pretty good!

I hope no one, but I'm sure everyone

Everyone without plot armor, in other words no main or supporting characters.

I think the named characters are still safe. For Now. But soon, not so safe.

Less people than realistically possible

literally no one because Isayama is a hack

For some reason I feel like Yelena will die soon

Pieck, Niccolo, I don't want it to happen but I feel like Nikolo's gonna go down protecting the Braus family! :(

None of the above

HOW WAS YMIR STRANDED IN THE PATHS REALM AFTER DEATH, BUT NO OTHER ELDIANS SEEM TO BE? 727 Responses

Because she sort of... disassociated there

I think her younger self was "recorded" and so a version of ymir was there ever since she fell down the tree. The tree itself being the physical portal to it or sth like that. No one else fell down that hole...

in order to create the other 8 titans, she gave up her soul and became stranded there.

Because she started it all, she's the only one who touched the whatever it was that gave the titan powers.

I think it's obvious, she was the original slave, the only one that King Fritz's evil targeted specifically. Damning her to an eternity in the hellish isolation only making titans to oppress mankind, because that was his goal.

After she came in contact with what I believe to be the silver branch from Celtic Mythology, her conscious was unknowingly split into two; one in the paths and the other in the physical word. Once Ymir finally died in the physical world, her conscious fuse with the paths conscious and became aware of it.

I think the paths realm takes place inside the mind or dimension of that worm/nidhogg/ancient god parasite and she was brought back to it after she allowed herself to die. The sand Ymir uses to build titans may be her tapping into the reservoir of liquid underneath that giant tree or something.

she's tied to it as a slave and never had the strength on her own to break free

SHE created the PATHS dimension. She is the first titan and has almost unlimited power

A combination of being the bearer of the Centispine and the long years of abuse she went through making her unable to disobey yet another order. Hers is pretty much the most heartbreaking case of learned helplessness. What keeps her obeying the commands of the royals is the fact that she doesn't even realise there is another possibility. Because nobody ever cared enough about her to show her there is one.

Another version of herself was created, when she came in contact with the thing, so that she could create her titan etc..

As the very first Titan, she is the conduit through which PATHS flows. The parasite had now host in the beginning so PATHS couldn't be conveyed until Ymir showed up.

Because with her started everything, i believe her “burden” was to be attached forever

Maybe it's because she's the only one that's physically attached to that weird, interdimensional organism. Maybe it's because her body was dismembered and consumed by 3 different people. Other titan shifters don't get stranded there because their spirits can in some way inhabit the one person who inherits their power. Maybe there is significance to Eren having gotten 3 titans, perhaps one from each lineage: Maria, Rose, and Sina, which now somehow allows Ymir's spirit to leave Paths. He certainly did work hard to get the War Hammer, specifically.

i think paths always existed and have always been there, but there wasnt someone to be in there, because no one discovered that spine under the giant tree. so, i think that ymir's soul somehow connected with the paths at the moment she gained the titan power, and when she died, her soul converted into the "ruler" of the paths

It was always her, she's the special one. There is nothing special about eldians, other than them being biologically related to Ymir. Ymir was always the one with the power, the only one. She was only limited by her slave mentality, if she wanted to, she could've ruled the world forever and she would've been the only one with titan powers. It seems she has given her powers and special function to Eren. That means that Eren alone will be the special one and he will rule the world forever with only him having titan powers.

She held all 9 titan powers, and as the only person in history to do so, she has the ability to view all of the other branches on the tree. Similar to how a shifter might be able to view the memories of a past shifter.... Ymir can view ALL of them, for all time.

The devil needed a host for his dimension

That's her curse. Possibly bound by her loyalty to the King Fuck-Face-Fritz

you know PATHS, i ain't gonna explain that

THERE ARE MANY THEORIES ABOUT THE CENTISPINE'S QUALITIES—WHAT ARE YOURS? 579 Responses

A number of responses here ranging from the hilarious to the creepy; The centispine. A great many of you (We can’t tell if you’re serious or not…) are talking about Aliens, whilst others postulate that the thing results in parasitic possession, ALA Sekiro.

A parasite thingy? Source of organic matter?

A power-bestowing parasite, hence why it needs to be eaten

Alien would be the easiest. But maybe the tree is actually Yggdrasil and its roots pass through other worlds. And the parasite is from another world.

alien/prehistoric being capable of phasing matter through dimensions

Aliens

ALIENS

Bruh its an organic life form/parasite, when bonded to a host ot provides them the titan ability

Don't think it's a biological, probably a mythical being inspired by Norse mythology

Eren will become the human centispine

For me the most plausible is the fact that it resembles a living creature from our world who is supposed to create the whole world 300 millions ago or so

I believe its power weakens the more it divides. The power of each of the 9 current titans is nowhere near that of how powerful Ymir was after she first got the power.

I don't think we'll get any concrete explanation, but it's some creature with fifth-dimensional qualities that unwillingly merged with Ymir. I think the 9 main spines on the bottom on each side doesn't necessarily represent the amount of Titans but how divisible Ymir's power is before it becomes warped (mindless Titans). I also think of some level the idea of the parasite being connected to the Titan power is an inherent correlation that only exists because of Ymir. The idea of power = giant big monster seems like a very childlike concoction, and an antiquated one too. Since we know willpower and manifesting a goal in mind are part of the Power of the Titans I don't think it's too far-fetched that those specific powers came from Ymir herself, and the parasite merely made them possible on her physical plane of existence. This would seem to be at odds with its connection to being giant existing before Ymir made contact with it, due to the giant tree and my inferred connection with it and the giant trees on Paradis, but remember this thing exists outside time itself, it's a frankly unperceivable organism.

I don’t fucking know

WHAT ARE YOU MOST HOPING TO SEE NEXT CHAPTER? 1,383 Responses

Next chapter starts off the the new volume, but what do you want to see in it? 28.1% want to see the full rumbling begin, 23.4% want to see how Eren’s titan transformation turns out, and 15.4% just want to see some action in Shiganshina. For those who want the scene to change, 11.9% want to catch up with Levi and Hange, 8.2% want Annie, 4.4% want Historia, and 4.3% want even more historical info dumps.

ALL OF IT BRING IT ON ISAYAMA

Armin transforming into the colossal titan

Death and suffering

Eren's master plan and more history hopefully

Full rumbling AND Levi and Hange.

i really look forward to see annie but what i really want to see is what is going to happen to the others (pieck, gabi, falco, reiner, etc etc)

Levi/Hange AND Annie. I feel like if Annie is going to ever return to the story, it'll be at a climax of some sort.

The hizuru lady piloting the boat-plane over Shiganshina

Lore, HISTORIA PLEASE I LOVE HER AND WANT TO SEE HER, Levi/Hange, Eren, and the immediate consequences of the Walls crashing down.

What the heck the plan actually is. For all we know, they could be uncovering the wall titans just to send the material that makes up their bodies back to Paths land. An Ymir/Eren hybrid titan could just have them hold still and spend the next years devouring them. We literally know nothing.

Somebody stopping Eren and bringing a sense of honor and morality(preferably Reiner, Armin or Gabi)

The ending Audio might be next chapter

WHERE DO YOU PRIMARILY DISCUSS THE SERIES? 1,309 Responses

Reddit continues to dominate the discussion field, comprising 52.4% of this vote alone. Tumblr, Facebook, and Youtube follow far behind, and 4 of you said Snapchat. That’s 0.3% of respondents, which is technically a low enough percentage to make sense, so maybe I should believe you guys, but I don’t.

ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS ON THE CHAPTER?

My thoughts on Eldia after reading this chapter: "Oh, so Marley really wasn't fabricating history with how ancient barbaric ancient Eldia was, especially with how ancient Eldia treated them. Can't blame Marley for putting that on the history books and using that as part of their propaganda. Considering that and what Marley is doing right now, it just adds to the moral grayness of the story.

Eyes have always told a story in SNK, whether it was the intention of a character (Zeke, Grisha, etc) or their true feelings (Levi). Eyes, and the lack thereof, in Ymir's backstory, told us that THAT was finally the real history. Until now we've always had someone else's warped perspective of history, but now we know how it actually was.

Eren's not JUST a murderer and teenage terrorist, look, he also hugs kids!

Ymir's backstory was a bit disappointing, I expected it to be more grey; Ymir is basically a poor girl who never did anything wrong and King Fritz is the big bad who seems to be the greatest jerk of the story; I don't think this fits with the ""the world is grey"" theme of the story at all, even Gross had at least something interesting to say

Amazing turn of events. Ymir deserves to be released from her enslavement. If the devil has to come out now that his plan is being foiled by Eren, I think Zeke can be a good host for him to incarnate as, justifying Levi killing Zeke as the final main villain of the story.

Definitely one of the best chapters of the overall series.

Annie...oh Annie... God knows how isayama is going to put her back into the plot now!

As much as I want to see Levi and Hange again, I really want to know more about Eren's plans. We still don't have a clear answer, but the part where Eren hugs Ymir makes this my favorite chapter.

Barely feels like the same series, but in a good way.

Brilliant payoff after having the action suddenly halted for multiple chapters. Shit is finally going down.

Eren and Ymir deserve to succeed and completely destroy the world. It’s already been corrupted too much for it to be fixed any other way at this point. This world was crafted by filthy, bloody hands and it’s about damn time for Eren & Ymir to break it down so it can be crafted by cleaner hands.

Eren and Ymir have done nothing wrong ever at all fite me

Eren best dad. I'd rumble a million worlds for him to hub me like that. Yelling right into my ear is just a bonus.

Possibly the greatest chapter. The last 3 chapters together could be the greatest side story in Attack on Titan. Isayama is just...I am at a loss for words. He's just the greatest. He just needs to finish the story on a high note and that's it. Even if he doesn't, this is one of the greatest manga and anime of all time.

People who have unquestioning trust in Eren aren't invited to my birthday party

Honestly, I loved it. It was so well executed and so goddamn interesting. I love how Isayama gives us *almost* all the information we need to piece the whole thing together and leaves just enough for us to have our own speculations. I just hope that they're all resolved at the end though considering there's probably only 4 chapters left at least.

I cannot wait to see the last 5 pages of this chapter animated, easily one of my favorite set of pages from the whole series

I couldn’t have ever thought this was going to be the content of this chapter but I’m so glad it came out the way it did

I cried so much, I love the story

I honestly didn't care much for Ymir's backstory. But hopefully the Rumbling will make things more interesting

I think this chapter might have benefited from being two chapters. There was so much information to absorb in a very short amount of time, I feel like a lot of questions weren't answered that probably never will be now like- why are there 9 human controlled titans? How did the mindless titans factor in? Why did Ymir die from the spear when Eren can have his head shot off? Why did the other slaves turn on Ymir in the first place? Where did she come from originally? Was she captured? Born a slave? There was I think a missed opportunity to develop her character a little more. I get the idea of even the narrator not really caring about what she's experiencing but getting a little more insight into her perspective would have been really interesting.

I read earlier that the closest creature of the devil are human beings .. but humans are more evil .. King Fritz represents the devil .. Thank you Isayama .. In our reality many demons already exist and I have one in my house .. In the corridor

I see a lot of people shitting on Zeke (even comparing him to that asshole king) for ordering Ymir around, but like.... he just heard Eren saying he will end the world (plus remember what Grisha said about Eren memories/intentions), he must be really panicking, so of course he would desperatly shout orders to Ymir and insisting he's of royal blood, that's basically at the moment the only way he could try to stop Eren. And yes, that's not nice to Ymir, but still that doesn't put him on the same level as King Fritz at all.

I thought Gross was the epitome of evil. Then came Fritz. HOLY. FUCKING. SHIT. Don't tell me Ymir doesn't deserve a little payback after 2000 years as a slave.

So Zeke endorses genocide, but not Total World Destruction? Whatevs, man.

Sucks to be Gabi after killing Eren only for this to happen a second later.

I was kinda shocked when Eren, given the shitty way he treated Mikasa in ch 112, started comforting Ymir and telling her she's not a slave. I never realized Mikasa meant that little to him. What a fucking asshole.

I'm glad the question "is Eren going to activate the rumbling as a part of his plan?" was finally answered. I also finally made up my mind about Zeke and I now know I don't like him due to how he acted towards Ymir. I love that we finally learned about Ymir, and that both Marley's and Eldian Restorationists' versions of history were partially correct. I love that the devil was actually King Shitz and Ymir wasn't a goddess but a slave to the devil, but she still helped the Eldians develop and thrive. Also, I love how most of my theories were proven to be true this chapter. Overall I really liked it.

IT CanNoT bE sTopPeD aNymOre

What is interesting to me is that Ymir's legend seems to be the opposite of what women in history usually get: Often great women are forgotten or their agency is reduced only to that of a mother, lover, wife or daughter of some man. Whereas Ymir is remembered even after 2000 years as the Founder and forebear of Eldia, but in reality she didn't do any of those things on her free will. She was just one of the many who were enslaved and used by Eldia, yet she is celebrated by Eldian rebels as a symbol of its former greatness. Heck, even her last name, Fritz, isn't her own, but her abuser's. Chilling and fascinating.

it was fucking amazing. holy hell, i’m in TEARS after reading this latest chapter. it was so beautifully executed and drawn, and the walls crumbling deadass made me cRY OKAY-

It was incredibly tragic but the final portion somehow combined sweetness and epicness

It's been over a week and I'm still reeling. This series gets better every month and I really don't want it to end

Ymir Fritz being presented as she is defied a couple of perceptions we've got from her: the books either implied she made a deal with the devil, or she was a benevolent goddess, when she was neither. Born as a girl from a ravaged tribe, she didn't have any voice, or agency, yet deep down she believed showing kindness was her way to make people happier after the damages of war. She accepted being fingerpointed if the other slaves could keep their eyes, she served the Eldian tribe with her newfound power, fought their wars, bore the king's children and took the final hit for him. Her spirit is then condamned to serve her line for eternity. Truly the most pitiable character of SnK so far.

I found Ymir's story too strange to be attached to her and I was a little disappointed to see that there was basically nothing that had come from her own will. It would have been more interesting in terms of conflict to see if there had been reasons why she had done this, if there was something that prevented her from acting against the Eldians for any reason. But in fact she just let herself be guided by the flow again and again, and I do not feel it's a valid reason to let herself go for more than two thousand years.

Never thought I'd hate a character more than Floch and Sergeant Major Gross, but here we are…

The whole Ymir's backstory moved me a lot because I didn't expect it to be so sad and full of despair. Ymir is definitely the most tragic character in the whole story and one of the most tragic characters in the world of manga/anime. I hope she will finally get some love and will be surrounded by honest and loyal friends. Every tragic character in SnK deserves a hug but I think that she needs it the most.

this chapter's artwork really stood out to me. The way literally no eyes were present in the flashback, even the king's, and the expression of fury and agony on OG Ymir's face when Eren tells her she has a choice. Isayama just keeps getting better and better with his art, and some of his style choices really made me see the individual panels differently.

Predictable and necessary. About this poll and the fandom in general: is amazing how the mayority (or the loudest part) of this sub tends to take things in the most literal way possible while praising Isayama as a genius or something like that, or labeling as "subtle" things that scream "HELLO I'M HERE MY NAME IS BRIAN" at your face, or misread characters in the most extreme way

Ragnarok has started and I don't know if I should be excited or afraid

Read this together with Ch.121. Eren is such a well-developed complex character. You may not like him, but credit must be given to his amazing character building trip. GJ Isayama

IT'S HAPPENING! THIS MANGA MAY END IN LESS THAN A YEAR FROM NOW, AND WITH AN EPIC ENDING IF THE ENDGAME SO FAR IS ANY INDICATION. I DON'T KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT THIS, HELP

nothing to add, just amazing job from isayama

#snk spoilers #snk poll #snk polls #poll results #snk 122

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cloudbattrolls · 4 years ago

Text

The Rifle’s Spiral

Tuuya crouched in a tree, looking down as they kept an eye out for Spark trolls.

The forest had a few beasts in it, but at least no riftstalkers. And no fiery brainwashed people. Yet.

All the better for the ragged band of trolls huddling in tents below.

Damn Firebird and her Judaas of a descendant. Who else could have let slip to the crazed teal that she hadn’t killed the drinker after all? No other troll in the company had motive.

Tuuya hoped that after the razing of at least three OLSC residential buildings, Karina was regretting her life choices. At least most of the trolls had been gone - away at work - and they’d thrown on their white fireproof armor and gotten out who they could, since Firebird didn’t appear to finish her jobs. They still wore it, only the helmet in their sylladex so they could see more clearly.

There had still been enough the drinker couldn’t reach in time to scream from throats hoarse from smoke as they died.

Why had Firebird not finished the job? She was more than capable of killing them if that had been it, or to convert more slaves. Unless being so far from the source of her power made her weaker.

The tops of the buildings that could be seen over the ground still crackled with flames, glowing distantly in the night. Smoke drifted from them, and the drinker could smell it on the breeze.

“Tuuya?”

They looked down, ears flicked up, but lowered them as they saw it was only Tierel.

The yellow was bloody and had small burns, but was at least alive.

“Do you know what’s going on? Aside from Karina betraying us all.”

They hesitated at the jade’s question, wiping blood from an open cut. It smelled good, but Tuuya was too angry to think much of hunger.

“She sent me to find you. She wants to know how many people survived.”

They hissed and jumped down from the tree. Tierel quickly retreated several feet.

“Does she? How inquisitive of her. Tell her I’m done serving her. Tell her I’m going to find her, and slit her throat until her precious lineage spills all over the floor.”

Tierel shakes their head, opening their mouth to reply, before a lava-veined stone hand grabbed them from behind.

The worm monster whipped out their gun, but the creature pressed Tierel close to their too-hot body and the yellow whimpered in pain.

“Vannyn, you will - ”

The Spark troll spoke in Firebird’s voice, glowing orange eyes flickering teal, then faltered. Their face became confused instead of blank.

“What am I doing here? This isn’t the colony.”

Tuuya didn’t lower their gun, but their mind raced as the troll let Tierel go and looked around in befuddlement.

“Am I back on Alternia? Was I given leave? Why am I so hot?”

So they really don’t remember anything in her grasp, and that seals it: Firebird’s control wanes the further she is from that wretched planet.

The strange troll put a hand to their horns, feeling the encrusted stone and running lava.

“Who are you two? Do you serve the Empress?”

The drinker exchanged a look with Tierel. Firebird could still reassert herself at any moment, but maybe they can use this.

“Yes, of course.” The drinker soothes, as if talking to Uunive when she was young, or Talula if she’s had daymares that night. “We’re undercover, just like you. Tierel will guide you to your next objective.”

“What are you here for?” They ask, in the commanding tones of a highblood. Maybe they were one, long ago.

Tuuya paused, then put their gun away.

“I’m your fashion consultant.” They assure the Spark troll, taking out the half-finished hanboks for Margol and waving them around before putting them back. “See? I’ll give us new outfits if we need them to disguise ourselves among the rebels.”

They considered that for a few moments, and the drinker can see more spark trolls in the distance now.

Firebird could resurface, but what if they gave her something else to think about for a while?

The worm monster gave Tierel a hand signal, and the yellow dutifully started jabbering fictional reports to the Spark troll, getting them to turn in the other direction.

The drinker placed a tracker pulled from their sylladex on the fiery troll’s back. It quickly camouflages itself to match their craggy skin and glowing veins. No telling how long the technology could survive the heat of their body, but it was worth a try.

Now for the rest of them.

As the spark troll strode back to the group, Tuuya realized an obvious problem; if this unpossessed one doesn’t recognize the others, they’ll probably attack if they’re at all empire loyal. Or maybe the others will attack them, and wreck the tracker.

They run up, tuck Tierel under one arm (the yellow has enough sense to stay quiet and still) and scramble back up a tree as Firebird fights her way back, because all of them turn and look in their direction, glowing eyes ablaze as they move as one.

The camped trolls are much too near.

"Get out your gun.” The drinker whispers to the their companion, setting them on a branch gently. They do, with silent struggle written into their body - the burns from that Spark troll aren’t doing them any favors. Tierel’s no trained soldier, no enhanced monster. They just had the bad luck to work for OLSC.

Nevertheless, the pair of them stun and trap enough Spark trolls with coolant that it’s just about possible to get through - though they have nothing left for Firebird now.

Though many of them are coated in freezing gel up to their knees or even waists, they still grabbed at the pair as Tuuya carried Tierel through the trees and the open field. The drinker dodged and ducked both the scorching grip of the burning fingers and the chill of the the hardening coolant.

It’s the damned voices that are their own challenge, Firebird’s and the others.

“ - be ash beneath my feet - “

“Where’s my lusus? I miss her.”

“ - and everything you love - ”

“Empress, what happened to me?”

“ - fuel for my flames!”

Tierel shifted in their arms, voice faltering from their pain - burns an angry yellow on their skin - but still determined to get the words out.

“It wasn’t...Karina. Her face when the buildings burned...she was really scared. I know things aren’t...great, but she wouldn’t hurt the company trolls.”

The drinker snorted as they kicked another flailing arm aside, one that nearly snapped off one of Tierel’s horns.

“Was she terrified when her ancestor was putzing around enslaving people? She was perfectly content to sit back and let it happen.”

The yellow sighed.

“Firebird’s descendants...tried to kill her a bunch. Every time, she culls them, whoever they sent. The assassins...remind Karina she dies if she steps out of line. S’why she sends you.”

They mulled that over as their boots squelched past coolant, almost at the edge of the mass of fiery people now.

It makes sense - they can die for her as much as she needs, yet fire is the one of the few things thing that could truly kill them if it got every last worm.

“You’re telling me she couldn’t get one of our financial backers to do it? What use is everyone who was at the party, then?”

“That’s why...stays in outer space. She’s stronger there...can blast anyone out of the sky. No one expected her...on Alternia. What did you do?”

“Oh, this is somehow my fault?” They snapped. “She never would’ve known I was still alive if someone hadn’t tattled, and it had to be Karina. Who else even knows how to contact the wretched woman?”

“You have other enemies, Tuuya. Maybe it was the empire?”

“Don’t be stupid, they’d never deal with her, nor she with the -”

Snatched and shaken by a lava-veined hand mid-sentence, Tierel’s skin started to smoke and melt as they were yanked out of the rainbow drinker’s reach.

Stupid! Why did they let themself get distracted?

They leapt, grabbing at the yellow, but the Spark troll - who must have been at least seven foot - wouldn’t let go. They didn’t want to risk tearing them apart, so they drop back down, crouching.

Tierel was thrashing - screaming -

Cracks in the patches of stone. Cold and heat. Expansion and contraction.

The drinker grinned wickedly and with white-armored hands, reaches into the cracks. Slowly at first, then rapidly as they got a grip, they pried them apart. The stone grinded and cracked, then flesh and bone followed with softer tearing noises.

The Spark troll screamed too, dropping the yellow. A wonderful noise.

They ripped at them more, tearing them apart until they were little more than a bloody wreck of stone, drying lava, and flesh. Their gouged off parts lay scattered on the ground.

The drinker’s lip curled. Even they didn’t want to eat that.

They looked down - Tierel needed serious help quickly, fresh burns bubbling on their flesh.

Gliese’s greenhive wasn’t far. Once they saw to the other Microscopium troll, they could go hunt down the teal, pluck her out of wherever she’s hiding, and let their worms do the rest.

With that happy thought, they ran as quickly as they could to the blueblood’s place, hoping the other trolls who escaped the fire would have the good sense to flee from the Spark trolls.

They skidded to a halt in front of the big greenhive, grateful they didn’t have to worry about breathing, and -

Karina and Gliese stepped out, the pair of girls arguing about something.

The drinker’s eyes glowed dangerously bright, but they stood calmly as the two turned to look at them. Gliese’s eyebrows raised, while intense sadness swept across the teal’s features before her expression hardened.

“Tierel needs help.”

“On it.” Says the cerulean, taking medical supplies out of her sylladex. “Bring them in.”

They followed her, adjusting their arms as they carry the unconscious, burned troll in and laying them down on the blueblood’s table. They don’t get sore as trolls do, with no true muscles for it. But the gesture feels right.

Gliese got to work with ointments and bandages, and they stared daggers at their boss. The younger Tulais stared back, but her gaze wasn’t triumphant or defiant. It was...grim, resigned in a way.

A tiny inkling of doubt grows amidst the worm monster’s certainty.

“News flash while you two were busy trying to kill each other with looks like a pair of wrigglers: I’ve stabilized them. But we’re gonna need a real medic before long. My field aid doesn’t cover skin grafts, which is what they need.”

The Lepus troll folds her arms as she talks, staring the taller trolls down with her glowing orange eyes.

“Karina, did any of our medics make it?”

“Yes.” She replies, sounding distracted. “And the one who - ”

The blueblood snorts and jabs a bony finger at Tuuya.

“Oh yeah, better drop that bomb. Good job, worm bag, your little blackmail adventure came back to bite us. Fucked if I know how, but that QPIN medic you threatened told the crazy bird where you were.”

The drinker hisses, but mostly at themself. Ullane has access to the chat. Of course. What an idiot they are.

“So congratulations, this is all your fault. No, wait - it’s Karina’s fault too for not fucking getting rid of you before. You’re both a pair of stupid jackasses and if you even think about arguing, the proof is right over there being held together by plant spit.”

“I have erred.” The drinker says in a voice of forced calm, “And I accept responsibility for it. But I am NOT to blame for tonight’s events when it is not my ancestor who performed them.”

Karina’s mouth twists.

“Do you think I wanted this?” She said, quiet, but with an edge to her voice as she sat in an old wooden chair. The drinker themself is leaning against the wall perpendicular to her, arms crossed like the cerulean.

“I can’t fight Firebird. No one could except the fleet, and they won’t. I thought maybe you...”

Her voice trailed off, but then she shook her head and sighed.

She looked young - she was young - like a woman who should be goofing off at parties on her boat, not trying to fend off her insane ancestor.

“Maybes aren’t worth anything.” The drinker said acidly. “We need to capture her - for if we kill her, the Spark trolls may all die as well. That’s what stopped me when we fought in space. Most if not all were not willing subjects of the transformation, I’m sure. My point is that we need a jail cell so secure she can rot in there until we figure out a way to free them.”

“Great plan.” Retorted the blueblood snidely, sitting in her own chair now with her hands behind her head. “How do you plan to shove birdie in her cage without all of us going up in smoke? Karina says we’re only all not dead because she used too much power getting here and she’s really far from her source.”

The teal perked up, still looking tired, but staring at the worm monster intently.

“QPIN has far more resources than we do. If Vannyn agreed to a memory extraction...”

The drinker snorts.

“I love being volunteered without my consent. What makes you think they wouldn’t just squash us anyway? Plus, their station’s been under siege by pirates, don’t you read the news? Even if we somehow persuade them, they don’t have a lot to give us.”

Gliese blinked, then grinned, her long ears flicking.

“I think I’ve got an idea, if both of you can stop being negative nancies for five fucking seconds. Let’s see if we can’t solve one problem with another.”

The drinker and the teal both looked at the psychic with befuddled faces.

She grinned widely, her teeth almost as sharp as the undead’s.

“So, how do you all feel about a trip to Nott?”

#cloud writes #etuuya vannyn #gliese benral #karina tulais

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mysteryprone · 5 years ago

Note

oc questions 1-5 about alina and 6-10 about cal .......

asks for oc writers. / selectively accepting.

FOR ALINA:

When did you create your muse?

early august 2017 at the same time as mila and karina (cause i think konstantin came a bit later even tho mary had his concept from the start ) 💕

officially i posted her stats on august 5th 2017 so . i guess that’s the Day

Where did you find inspiration for your muse?

we just love the comet ensemble and connected ocs here …. and honestly i don’t even remember how we collectively decided they’d all be criminals but somehow we did and i also don’t remember where the tour guide/pickpocket thing came from so long story short my memory is useless

but it was mostly just from watching the comet ensemble and how they interact with each other and the audience (and i definitely was able to get a more solid idea after i saw it and could see what courtney does live and up close) and there’s so many little stories that the ensemble created every night and their own little things they did that i wanted to be able to create something with that

Tell us something about the world/universe in which your muse lives.

while i kinda just default to writing a general modern au, her main verse IS technically NOT modern day and actually some anachronistic wild mix of modern times and 1812 due to them being originally based off of great comet, which in itself is also a very anachronistic 1812 so basically I Do What I Want

but one very fun thing is that in the area where karina and alina live there is one very popular club that the two of them frequent quite often and one of its main events is a weekly leather night. it’s exactly what it sounds like. thank u that’s all

What’s your favourite headcanon about your muse?

i don’t think i have a favourite headcanon specifically but one thing that i do love about alina is that she just loves using pet names for ppl??? be it jst using diminutives (regardless of if she Should be or not cause this dumbass does not respect authority) or like traditional pet names (she is definitely a babe/baby person but she’ll also call people shit like sugar and cutie). sometimes it’s an actual display of affection and sometimes it’s just her being annoying and it is often unclear which one it is and i think thats very sexy of her

What’s something only very few people know about your muse?

uuuh maybe that she’s got a lot of love in her? she really tries to make it seem like she Doesn’t and she’s heartless and doesn’t care about anyone but she is so fiercely loyal to her little found family (karina, milana, konstantin) and the few close friends she does have and would without hesitation die or kill for them. she projects coldness all the time even around most of these people and sometimes she even manages to convince herself that she’s really that unfeeling but she’s got a lot of love in her for the people that manage to slip through the cracks in her walls and once she loves you she won’t stop.

FOR CAL:

Are there parts of your muse that resemble parts of yourself?

oh fuckin absolutely . absolutely. we are going to just Skip over the fact that we have the same hair cause i think i subconsciously got brittain ashford’s haircut in 2016 ANYWAY

both cal and i are very musically inclined first of all? i am much more than she is but music is a v important part of both of our lives/childhoods (also i took inspo for her dad playing rock music when she was a kid and it becoming a solid part of her childhood memories from my own parents lol). we also are both introverted and anxious though luckily i am not NEARLY as nervous as she is because i’ve really fucked my poor girl up but we definitely have like shyness and stuff like that in common. also we’re both greek but that’s literally just because i wanted to have a muse in a similar family situation to mine cause write what you know or whatever

How many face claims do you have or have you had for your muse?

two!! her original fc was miss brittain ashford cause she’s partly inspired by her music and then since i already have a muse here with her as an fc (sonya) and i didn’t want to have doubles i switched her to stef!

How did you choose the name for your muse?

since i grew up in a greek family i’ve just kinda been Surrounded by greek names and i find them really pretty? so once i’d decided she was gonna be greek i decided to pick from some of the ones that i like most and calliope won the battle! (and second place daphne went to her roommate so it all works out)

a fun bonus is that calliope is the name of a muse and cal’s whole character kinda revolves around the Arts

If your muse could be a canon character in any fandom, which fandom would you choose?

it’s very hard for me to picture her anywhere specific cause she’s just like a pretty normal character who could fit into pretty much any like? mostly reality based story set in modern times? so she’s really easy to insert anywhere, especially slice of life stories.

Do you ship your muse with any canon characters?

nothing like . endgame ship or whatever but me and @mtrock have a nice lil verse for a high school ship that evolves into a really solid friendship and saves them both from the toxic relationships they have in high school in their canon! we love and stan!

#signspin #( answered. )#( from prompt. )#°ˏˋ✧ ALINA: HC. / covered in chipped paint and bullet holes. ✧ˊˎ°#°ˏˋ✧ CAL: HC. / i leave bits of myself just lying around. ✧ˊˎ°#the way i take half of this seriously and half not at all #anyway uuh #heres some garbage

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thymika · 4 years ago

Text

The Weight of a Crown 6: The Arrow Girl

I couldn't concentrate on my studies and duties as Prince. My mind was often on the clouds, daydreaming about nonsense. Father noticed and would often discipline me in front of my relatives, but I wasn't angry at all. In fact, I was unusually happy. Karina and I promised to meet each other every month; Our day to finally see each other was getting closer.

I would try on every suit and put my hair on different hairstyles, wondering which one would she like. Like an idiot, I would walk around my room and rehearse a few nice sentences, "Karina, you look pretty today," I said as my face turned pink. "Karina, your eyes are beautiful! Karina... I like your hair!" A giggle escaped from my lips and I swirled around dancing to the silence of my happiness. I smirked at the mirror, then raised up one eyebrow feeling like a macho, "it is me, Estes, your hero." I still cringe at the thought of it, I couldn't even wink properly.

I fell for Karina. That was obvious... isn't it?

It was the day before our meeting, and had already practiced my lines and imagined lots of unrealistic conversations. As I was getting ready for tomorrow, my mother came into my room and silently sat on my bed, "Prince, what is it that you are doing?" I flinched, but held my serene composure and tried to act serious and calm as it is my usual, "nothing, mother. It is nice to see you," "you look happy, I'm glad. Did class go well?" "Ah... yes. I learned a lot from my teachers," "good. I have come to tell you in advance about the royal ceremony," "oh, that's right. I wonder what is that about." Mother tilted her head to the side and sighed deeply, "the King will choose a future wife for you, dear." My heart shrunk as I stared at my mother. I was getting a wife? To a girl, I didn't know nor loved? I was too young to know anything about love. Too young to know about the matters of marriage and the duties that come with it. While I couldn't think of anything else, I turned my back to my mother and frowned, "I am not interested in a wife yet."

She stood up from my bed and heard her loud steps coming behind me, "Prince, I know it is strange, but he will pick a nice and pretty girl to be your friend and wife. Of course... you won't marry just yet, but it is better if you know her first." I didn't want to hear it. I didn't want to see other girls, "I don't want to," "don't be like this. Let me tell you a story, will you let me?" "Mother, I don't want a wife! I don't like girls, they are annoying!" "Girls aren't of your interest right now, but you will change your mind in no time."

The story of my mother is simple yet tragic. I didn't understand it at first until I was old enough. She was the daughter of a well-off household and was seen as a prosperous businesswoman. As the head of her father's company, everyone respected her. Mother was a strong woman with a scandalous secret; She was dating a Dark Elf. When the King announced the death of his first royal and childless fiance, mother was selected as the second choice. She married two weeks later and as a result, she had to leave her lover behind. Their love was mutual, clean and beautiful, yet it was wrong in the eyes of society. She had to carry the weight of her country and therefore left her heart behind in order to fulfill her duties as a new Queen. A King can have many concubines, but only the smartest can become Queen. I didn't think much of it back then but now I do. For sure... I don't want to ruin anyone's life with a forced marriage.

I met Karina the next day. Sneaking out wasn't so hard, but my heart wasn't content. My friend poked my forehead as we both ate the spaghetti I stole from the kitchen, "Estes! You look sad, why?" "It's nothing," "oh, really?" "Yes!" "Good. By the way, mother has decided to make me a hero!" "A hero? What type of hero?" "I will become an assassin. I don't want to kill people, but I can help others I suppose. The pay is good, mother says that I can help my family if I do it!" "I thought being an assassin was a bad thing," "you think so? Mother says that it is not. Hey! If we both become heroes, we can help people! Imagine, I will be Karina the assassin and you will be Estes the... the... healer?" "There is no healer category for heroes," "then?" "Support fits me I suppose," "right! And Estes! The support!"

We laughed a lot until the moon came out. I was ready to leave, but I couldn't stay silent, "Karina..." "what?" She turned around, "y... you looked... um..." I can't believe I was stuttering. I made a fist with my hands and yelled, "you looked pretty today!" She widened her eyes and then chuckled, "really? This was a new dress mother bought for me. Glad you liked my new look. Well, see you next month!" "See ya!"

I went back home and laid on my bed, counting every breath I was taking. My heart was still throbbing from what I said but was also dejected since I couldn't meet her every day. It was our fifth meeting, yet it felt like our first, and somehow like our last. I was afraid of not seeing her one day anymore, afraid of letting go of the only support I had back then. I hugged a blue pillow and fell asleep, knowing that maybe... that would be our last meeting, but maybe in the future, I could see her again once I grow into a strong man.

I woke up to the feeling of something cutting through my skin. Swallowing was hard as well, and my vision was still blurry from my deep sleep. I felt a strong pinch cutting through my flesh which made me wake up in an instant, "w... who are you?" I asked as I stared at a shadow. I was scared, thinking it was the man who kidnapped us back then, but the shadow was much smaller. I glared at the arrow which was pointed towards my throat, and finally to the face of this suspicious intruder, "are you, Estes? Prince Estes?" "Y... yes," "I'm Miya, your future wife." I was petrified. Future wife? And she was holding an arrow towards my neck? I widened my eyes as my lips dried off, "M... Miya?" "I was set to become a sacrifice to our beloved Moon God, but you... your disgraceful presence made me into a child bride. I hope you die!"

#fanfic #l writes #fiction #mobilelegends #my writing #writers on tumblr #journal #writeblogging #writer #writing #writeaway #writeblr

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evolutiontale-au · 7 years ago

Text

The Siblings of Tragedy

"Wow. Your laptop is ancient. Can it even project?"

As Karina Auxerre Picel inspected the technology that the older human had fallen down with, the businesswoman's eyebrow twitched near-imperceptibly. Colten Ellot Picel quickly decided that it was a good time to step in.

"Aw sis, it doesn't need to project things to get the job done! Besides, she fell down here a few decades ago, it only makes sense that her tech isn't up to the latest trends- and Miss Arabella, you don't look a day over twenty-five, if I may say so~"

He winked, his gaze going up and down the woman with an appreciative look to his eyes, and his sister was quick to smack him upside the head.

"Colten! Honestly, stop flirting with her, she's like four times our age."

He huffed, a gloved hand coming up to dramatically rub the wounded area.

"Four times your age maybe, but just because she's too old for you doesn't mean that she's too old for me!"

He swiftly dodged another smack, and cackled with glee as his sister began to chase him.

"You're YOUNGER THAN ME! She's too old for BOTH OF US!"

It was with an expression of dry amusement that Arabella sidestepped the two children, and made her way towards the kitchen, with aim to join the lovely Queen in cooking dinner. Toriel's adoptive children were planning on coming over for dinner- the ones whom lived just outside of the Ruins- and it was planned for them to meet the two new Fallen Humans that evening.

It was fascinating, really, how even the best laid plans can fail in an instant.

Footsteps rushed up the staircase nearby, someone in a hurry; someone panicked and gasping for breath. The two siblings paused in their play-fighting to look at the Monster approaching, and soon were rewarded with the sight of an oddly slimy fish monster. He... wasn't exactly the most beautiful fish in the sea, but that didn't matter once they heard the words he was gasping.

"Please, children, get Toriel- we need Undyne, we can't find her- Toriel is the closest one with her number! Please, someone's fallen into the river-"

Karina stood and ran for the kitchen, her explorer's hat barely staying on her golden hair, but Colten stayed behind.

"Where did they fall in?"

Karina whimpered quietly, seated at the top of the stairs. Toriel had left some time ago; following the Monster that'd brought the news out past the door, and hadn't returned. Arabella was seated beside her, a concerned expression upon her face, as she glanced over at the young girl beside her.

"Toriel is looking for him, don't worry. He can't have gone beyond Waterfall."

The girl clutched the strap of her bag tight, her lip beginning to bleed as she bit down just a little too hard on it.

"I can't wait anymore, I need to go forward and find him, please..."

The woman sighed quietly, thoughts rushing through her head. Seven Human souls to break the Barrier... seven souls without the ability to consciously channel magic... and she was one of them. If either of them left the Ruins, they would die. It was more likely than not, in fact, that the Brave-souled child was already dead.

"Karina, you know you can't leave without risk of dying. You need to stay here, and Hope that Tori will bring him back safely."

Shaking her head violently, the soul of Perseverance stood up and took a few steps down, only stopping when Arabella caught her arm. The protest that came from her lungs was surprisingly loud, causing the older woman to wince; but she didn't let go. That would only allow the child to rush to her own death.

"PLEASE! I CAN'T LET COLTEN DIE FOR THIS STUPID REASON! IF WE'RE TRAPPED DOWN HERE ANYWAYS, THE KING AND HIS GUARDS CAN LET US LIVE OUR LIVES OUT IN PEACE, DAMMIT! THEY WILL NOT KILL MY BROTHER!"

Then again...

"If you run into Toriel, I never let you do this. I was busy fetching you a drink when you snuck out, understood?"

Karina nodded furiously, leaning a little bit more towards the bottom of the stairs, towards the hallway and the door that her brother had gone through not long before. She was so close, she would agree to anything if it allowed her to SAVE Colten-

"Then go quickly. Avoid the main paths for as long as you can, and whatever you do, avoid calling out for help. They, like your brother, will go to help a Monster in need... but unlike your brother, they will kill a Human in need."

The girl was released once she acknowledged this information, and she sprinted for the cold entrance to Snowdin without hesitation, but Arabella stayed behind.

"Let it be that your deaths aren't in vain..."

"Oh no. Mister, sir, please breathe!"

Colten had reached the river, and there was the drowning Monster; its furry head going underwater with a choked cry just as he arrived. Without hesitation, the boy had taken a deep breath and dove in, his swimming lessons on the Surface finally paying off as he SAVEd the cat monster... but it looked like it was too late.

The Monster wasn't breathing. Did Monsters need to breathe? Colten only knew that not breathing was bad for Humans, and he had to help somehow.

"Okay, um, ABC's!"

He had to ACT first, and ask questions later.

Airways. Were the Monster's airways clear? Looking up his nose and into his mouth didn't reveal any obstructions, so the cat monster had probably just inhaled the water.

Breathing. No, the feline wasn't breathing. He needed to fix that!

Um, what was C? Compressions? Gah, why'd he rush ahead without Karina!? She was the one who'd paid more attention in their First Aid and Survival classes!

"I don't know what I'm doing! I'm sorry if I mess up!"

He turned the Monster onto his back and began to push on his chest, trying to push out the water from his lungs. Every few seconds he'd force some air into the other's lungs- did Monsters have lungs? Gah, just move- and continue pushing on his chest. These actions were repeated for several minutes, and he only paused when a horrific rattle came from the other's throat as he tried to cough up the water in his lungs...

One final push, intended to help the Monster, ended up killing him. Colten watched with wide brown eyes as the feline began to turn to dust, and choked on air as something heavy settled within his soul.

[LV: 2] [KILLS: 3]

No...

[EXP: 21] [TO NEXT: 9]

No! He didn't-

He was only trying to-

"How-HOW COULD YOU!?"

A scream escaped his lips as he was impaled by spears as orange as his soul, the constructs only doing more damage the longer he stayed pinned to the mushy blue ground. With some effort, he managed to pull himself through the offensive magic, and turned to face his attacker.

"I am Undyne the Fearless, Third Lieutenant of the Royal Guard! And for your crimes, Human, I will STRIKE YOU DOWN!"

Colten brought up his gloved fists to his head and tied his bandana tighter, recognizing the look in the Guard's slitted eyes. She wouldn't listen to what he had to say until he defeated her- he knew, because he was the same way.

"Karina, I'm sorry I didn't listen to you."

He also knew that the Royal Guards had been trained for this their whole lives. His chances of getting out of this alive were slim, his odds made even worse considering that he was going to fight this one head on, but he would defend himself. This was the only way that he could GO.

With a grim expression that no eight year old should ever wear, Colten moved forward, and never looked back.

Blood, in a mixture of shades ranging from vibrant scarlet to the darker burgundy, seeped into the muddy ground. Colten coughed once, his strength fading, and he slumped into his opponent's open arms.

"I'm s-sorry... I should've tried... harder, to S-SAVE him..."

The scaled monster holding him paused, and he took this as indication that she was listening. Taking another painful breath, he gazed around the area, and his dulled eyes connected with another pair brimming with tears. No...

"My s-sister was always b-better with first aid... S-She's always done what I couldn't... Please, Undyne..."

Colten tore his gaze away from that of his sister, hidden behind some rocks nearby, and he used the Monster's lightweight chestplate to pull himself up to her nearest ear-fin. The following whisper was unheard by all but Undyne; intended for her ears alone... he had a feeling that she would listen if she didn't have to put up a front for an audience.

"Please, Monster... s-show Karina... MERCY..."

The last of his strength faded, and Colten fell limp, his open eyes unseeing. Among the rocks nearby, as his soul began to float free from his chest, a shrill scream of anguish rang out.

Karina saw her brother die, she just saw her little brother die before her very eyes. Her little brother, who she'd held as a baby, who she'd promised to keep safe wherever they went. She'd promised him, she'd promised, and she'd broken her promise.

She couldn't even move from her hiding spot until it was too late, let alone do anything to SAVE him.

"Colten... Colten... Colten..."

The girl gasped through her tears and fleeing footsteps, taking to the rocky areas further away from the main path, and entered a room of darkness. Holding out her hand in a quick gesture, a small area ahead of her was lit by the now-spinning tattoo on her palm, and she continued on.

"Colten, I'm sorry... I'm sorry I couldn't SAVE you..."

Karina's frantic pace slowed down, and she began to breathe slower, regulating her breath like she'd been taught to in First School. She was starting to have a panic attack, and that wouldn't help her right now... but the words of Arabella rang through her head, and she froze, deactivating her flash-tattoo.

"They, like your brother, will go to help a Monster in need... but unlike your brother, they will kill a Human in need."

They would help their own kind, and kill hers? Her brother hadn't done anything bad intentionally- that Froggit had attacked them first, even Toriel understood when she'd heard! Hypocrites! Idiots! Fools!

"Say, Human..."

Karina narrowed her eyes, peering around in the darkness. Alas, she couldn't see well without her flash-tattoo, and was unable to find the source of the quiet voice. What she could do, however, was heft her bag in preparation to attack whatever foul thing wanted to kill her like they'd killed her baby brother...

"All of this would end if the King died. No more Humans would be killed, like your poor brother. What was his name, Colten? Wouldn't you like to avenge him?"

The soul of Perseverance considered this option, and calmed down somewhat. If she'd listened to her instincts and attacked before that Monster spoke, she would've returned the favor paid to her, but it wouldn't have satisfied her. The scaled Guard was the one who deserved it, and anything she did to others would instead justify the Guard's murder...

"Killing other Monsters would only further stress the relationship between our species. When they escape from the Underground, they would attack the Humans without hesitation."

Such a smart girl, for one so young. Twelve years old, and thinking so thoroughly? It was almost a shame that he was bored by such a thing, having played with her countless times before.

"Oh, but didn't you know? Monsters are weaker than Humans who carry true INTENT to kill. Your brother didn't want to hurt them, so they won. But if you fight to kill, and never hesitate or sway, you could save the rest of your species from dying. Doesn't that sound better than letting your brother die in vain?"

...there was only one way to CONTINUE, wasn't there?

Karina activated her light again, and gave no response to the voice, but she didn't need to. As her unused hand clenched the strap of her bag tighter, she moved forward, and never looked back.

#EvolutionTale-AU #EvolutionTale-Info #Fallen Humans #Colten #Bravery #Karina #Perseverance

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youmightaswell · 5 years ago

Text

Die!

Say ‘Yes’ to the Dress?

I have secrets. Nothing so awful, but just weird stuff. This is the most benign of recent things that have been bothering me. So I figured I’d start with this. A sort of mental amuse bouche, if you will.

I also have a burning desire to out myself. To free myself from self-blackmail. I tell myself that I will not bully myself into feeling bad and worrying someone will find out my indiscretions; I don’t negotiate with terrorists, even if the terrorist is myself.

So here is some recent weirdness I need to off my chest.

I guess it all started around the same time with two things converging.

The first one was that my friend Karina told me she is getting married in September and to save the date. Normally I hate weddings, but this one will be fun. It’s her second marriage and her fiance is the best guy she ever dated. I love him. He is cute, funny, super successful and a chef to boot. You’ve seen him on television. It’s being held in a cool hotel and is small so I’ll know most of the people there. I even have a date: my friend of 30+ years is going to go with me. He is going through a bad divorce so he is single and lives right by the place.

Sure, I’m me so I am also a bit sad. Like where the fuck is my guy? When’s my second marriage with a guy far better than the first? Where’s my huge ring and huge dick and fancy new apt?

But I digress.

So Karina texted me a dress she liked. She wanted something not too weddingy and “edgy”. The dress, though, was a one-of-a-kind she tried on from an Israeli designer to the tune of $4,000. She could afford it but it just seemed silly to spend so much on a dress. She was hoping to find an alternative, and quick. So, curious, I started researching to see what was out there. I found a few great ones – midi white dresses with lace but that are more cool evening dress than formal gown. Anyway, over the next few weeks she’d text me others she likes and back and forth it went. I had wedding dresses on the brain. She still hasn’t decided on which to wear but is close to a winner. Me? Well, that’s for later in the story.

Concurrently I was excited because I had just found a website about two months ago that has incredibly cheap shit. I was reticent about ordering something because those wacky Chinese-based sites can be very hit or miss. But I read the online reviews and finally ordered a tassel bikini which upon arrival became my favorite swimsuit ever!

Soon it became compulsive. I found a 20% off code and ordered a few other bikinis. As previously noted I do not need any bikinis. I own about 45 swimsuits now. I worry that I can’t stop the collecting process. See? Harmless but nutso.

Most came to about $8. I soon tried dresses, tops, stickers, earrings.

The site posts a link to new ware arrivals daily. I’d eagerly wake and race to the computer to see if anything new was posted that I’d just love. I still can’t stop doing it. Thankfully most of the stuff doesn’t fit right and gets returned promptly. Still, I’d say I spent about $1200 in total in the last two months. Not anything horrible, but still, behavior I need to monitor.

Most of the stuff on the site is cheesy but there are a bunch of gems as well.

Shortly after I began my addiction, I bought two dresses I had absolutely no need for, but luckily when Karina alerted me of her impending wedding I was excited I might get to wear one of the two of my cheap, yet stylish dresses to the event. Serendipitous, no?

[As an aside do you like either of these for me for a fairly casual wedding? Which is your fave? They will be coupled with black open-toed Louboutins that I’m wearing in this bday picture– and and aside to the aside, the lace bodysuit i’ wearing in that pic was $14 from the same cheapo site.

I love it and got so many compliments on it at my bday dinner.]

This?

But then I took this one step further – a step into what might be considered dysfunctional, bordering on pathetic.

I found a white delicate dress with a mesh and sequin overlay that I loved. I thought to myself that if I were to get remarried I’d want to wear it. I would never spend thousands and probably not even hundreds on a wedding dress. If I were to ever get married I’d do so on a beach with like 4 people there so I’d want something to wear that was cute and throwaway – you know, like my first husband.

I obsessed over this dress. Probably a combo of being jealous Karina gets to have a big day in a white fancy dress and my desire to shop (cheaply) until I drop. I visited this dress online daily for a few weeks. I read every review and looked at every post. (People are encouraged to post pics of themselves in items they bought for bonus points towards discounts.) This dress seemed to fit everyone so well. A few people bought it for their bachelorette parties or their rehearsal dinners. One wore it to her court wedding.

So I began rationalizing: it’s summer, maybe I’d be invited to a gala? Maybe some sort of fancy charity event? Further rationalization: It’s so cheap – just $22 with my discount that even if it sat in my closet doing nothing for years it wouldn’t be a hardship. It couldn’t hurt to just buy this white, mock-wedding dress to try on, could it?

It arrived so quickly! I felt like I was doing something wrong and bad unpacking it so of course it was titillating. It wasn’t like I was setting up appointment to Vera Wang’s bridal atelier and trying on dresses for a fake wedding. I wasn’t regaling folks with the tale of how I met my phantom boyfriend who lives in Canada. This was harmless and different. Indulging a weird need in myself I hadn’t realized I had, but that felt so good.

And so it turns out this dress looks amazing on me. It’s sexy and demure all at the same time. I tried it on and walked around my house, too scared to snap a picture, for fear someone would see me in this white fancy dress and ask what the occasion was. Never mind that I live only with the dog, and she has witnessed far weirder.

But as you know sometimes a small thing can be a gateway to bigger things.

The site suggests other items similar to the ones you purchased that you rated highly.

And lo! Turns out there is a long gown with a train that is the same exact dress but in gown form. What is this fresh anxiety I feel? Well, now that I made peace with the fact I bought a knee-length white dress with fantasies of a beach wedding, I was seguing into fantasies about wearing an even more formal gown.

And yup, I bought that too. And yup, it fit amazingly. Like seriously this dress (okay, so now there are two dresses – judge if you want!) was made for me. Sadly there is no rationalizing this one away. There is simply no event I can be asked to attend that it would be appropriate attire for – except my own wedding.

So now I keep touching them in the closet. I keep peering at them sort of hidden among the more mundane work-a-day dresses, my two dirty little secrets.

This holiday weekend I got home from a barbecue and later after I had bathed, had nothing to do. I found myself putting on and wearing my gown for hours.

Yesterday I found myself casually (actually rather intensely for about two hours) looking on the internet for a blusher-length head piece that would go perfectly with The Dress’s flowery pattern. (FWIW: found one but didn’t buy it. Yet.)

Then this weekend in the NYT Vows column the wedding of a Lyme sufferer was highlightedand featured her in an amazing fringe skirt for her wedding. I mean I have the Lyme and the skirt, so where is my fucking husband?

I did confess all this weirdness to Yale and he told me to come down and we should just watch movies while I wear my gown. But I’m too scared somehow I’ll ruin it. I told him I hope I die soon so I can be buried in it. He suggested with no mockery that I should add that directive to my will.

So there you go.

For all you know I could be typing this very entry while wearing the full-length glory.

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reader-fox · 6 years ago

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If you’ve not guessed what book this title is adapted from, I feel like you must have missed my wrap up post last month and probably don’t love Game of Thrones as much as I do. But that’s alright. Ironically, it was actually pretty hard to find a quote that worked with the month April. But, seeing as the newest and most amazing season of Game of Thrones came out this past month, I thought it was really fitting that the title commemorating April and all my reading would include something from the books to represent how much I’ve been loving the show so far. And, if you missed it, I posted about Game of Thrones twice this past week (due to that amazing episode). This post has a really cool picture and no spoilers, just my personal guess about who was most likely to die and this post has my reaction and some spoilers.

April featured me reading 30 books and reviewing 26. I have to say, I look forward to the month when I review more books than I read since that would at least suggest a bit more progress on that front. Ironically, somehow I manged to read and review less this month than last month, which is a little disappointing. But, on the bright side, I did managed to increase my view count for this month and that was quite exciting. And, finally, I’m excited to announce that the best read of April was Nightrise by Anthony Horowitz, a book from a series I deeply love and one that I really need to review at some point soon.

Mera: Tidebreaker [Danielle Paige]

Count on Me [Miguel Tanco]

The Saucy Boy [Hans Christian Andersen]

Lucy and Clark [Ashley Iaconetti & Jared Haibon]

Finale [Stephanie Garber]

My Bright Friend [Simon Boulerice]

Stage Kiss [M. F. Lorson]

Fullmetal Alchemist; Fullmetal Edition Volume 1 [Hiromu Arakawa]

Paw Prints [Morgan J. Muir]

There’s Something About Sweetie [Sandhya Menon]

Under Our Clothes [Jillian Roberts]

Don’t Let the Beasties Escape This Book [Julie Berry]

Sleeping Beauty [Karina]

Something Like Gravity [Amber Smith]

Tigeropolis: Caught in the Trap [R. D. Dikstra]

The Manual of Aeronautics [Scott Westerfeld]

What’s College About Anyway? [Betty Thomas Patterson]

City of Bones [Cassandra Clare]

How to Raise a Reader [Pamela Paul & Maria Russo]

Nanami [Éric Corbeyran & Amélie Sarn]

The Epilogue [Kiera Cass]

Wrath of Dragons [Scott King]

Alis the Aviator [Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail]

I Like to Eat Children [Reagan Rothe]

The Trouble With Flying [Rochelle Morgan]

The Wolf Will Not Come [Myriam Ouyessad]

| Goodreads | Twitter | Instagram |

Everything's Better With Some Wine in April #bookblog #bookbloggers "...I look forward to the month when I review more books than I read since that would at least suggest..." If you've not guessed what book this title is adapted from, I feel like you must have missed my wrap up post last month and probably don't love Game of Thrones as much as I do.

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lady-asuka · 7 years ago

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‘welcome’ to the family

I wanted to write something. This is a short story about my FFXV OC Anima, Cor Leonis and his daughter Karina Leonis (the OC of the wonderful @themissimmortal )

tagging for some advices: @blindbae @nifwrites

Enjoy ♥

Anima lived for nearly 3 months in Insomnia again. It was a complete contrast to her life before. She used to be alone, far away from other people and when she met others she mostly killed them on the battlefield. Thus the raven-haired young woman wasn't really used to others. Especially making friends was a problem for her, even after she befriended some of the Kingsglaive – somehow. Anima didn't know how she was able to do so. As she started to feel home she went out with Cor Leonis – the man who rescued her 14 years ago. He was definitely a father figure to her since she never got to know who her real father was. On their trip out Anima met her mother again and she told her daughter terrible things which destroyed Anima's world completely. „I hate you. I really wanted you to die when the Nifs caught you. I hoped that Aldercapt would cut your throat as he raped you. It's your fault that your father left me - yours alone and you can bet that I will kill you someday you little bitch!!!“, her mother shouted at her.

„Y-You knew that Aldercapt …? “, Anima muttered. „All that training and all your words … you lied to me the whole time? Did you even love me once? “, she asked her mother and saw that Cor moved in front of Anima. He got so angry about her mother’s words and he was ready to fight her, too.

„Aah your 'hero'. I've planned everything since your birth, but I never thought that such an idiot would help a little nothing like you. Oh, and to answer your question, I never loved you. It was your sole luck that you were able to use magic. Otherwise I would have drowned you immediately. “, her mother answered smiling and chuckling. Cor was about to rush to Animas mother and to cut her, but he heard that something hit the ground.

Anima sank down to the ground. Her face was in shock, her body trembled, tears welled up in her green eyes and ran down her cheeks without control. The young woman felt like her throat had been cut. She tried to get some air but felt as though she couldn’t. Her hands were shaking as she looked down at them. Her whole life was a lie. She trained, fought and killed for nothing. Pictures of everything she had done flashed though her mind. Corpses, blood and suffering people popped through her mind and Anima let out a painful scream as she tried to hide her face with her hands. Cor really wanted to kill the mother of the young broken girl. She meant a lot to him but he realized that it would be better to take Anima and get her out of there.

„Next time I will kill you. “, he warned the mother who was only laughing at her only daughter’s pain as Cor took his 'daughter' and got her out of that place.

Back in Insomnia Cor informed the King of Lucis, Regis Lucis Caelum about everything that had happened. He was really interested in Anima and very worried.

“Could you take care of her, Cor?”, he asked trustfully. He knew what Cor meant to that young woman and vice versa. “

Of course, your majesty.”, the Marshal just answered and made his way back to his home immediately. He had entrusted Anima to his real and most beloved daughter Karina, or in short just Kari, at his home. The young Leonis sat next to the completely mentally broken woman and looked at her. She didn't remember the time when Anima was in Insomnia 14 years ago. She had been 4 years old back then and Anima was there for just 1 year. Kari didn't like 'the other one'.

“Why do I have to sit here and watch her crying? She wants to take away my papa. He doesn't have much time for me since she is here! Just leave already, okay?”, she thought and got a bit annoyed as her 'guest' didn't stop to tremble or cry. After a few minutes Anima took a deep breath. She tried to come down again because she hated this kind of personality of herself. That wasn't like her at all. The young woman looked down at her hands which were still trembling.Then she turned her head a bit to Kari who looked annoyed at the ceiling. Anima hated Cor's real daughter. She didn't even understand how someone who was so nice and lovely was able to have such an annoying, selfish and spoiled bitchy princess as daughter.

“And? Do you enjoy my suffering?”, Anima asked her directly. Kari was startled a bit as the person next to her suddenly started speaking to her.

“No. It's starting to get boring. Are you better now? Can you finally leave?”, she asked directly but she was kind of afraid to look Anima directly in her eyes as she did so.

“What's your problem? I really don't understand how YOU can be Cor's daughter. You don't even know how lucky you are...”, the green-eyed woman asked; nearly whispering. Karina really had a better life. She grew up safe and sound in Insomnia. Kari had a loving father, a lot of friends and nothing serious she had to worry about. The absolute opposite to herself. Her chest hurt as she remembered the words of her mother again and she was afraid of crying again.

“Are you gonna cry again?”, Kari asked completely annoyed now. She didn't even know why her 'sister' was broken like that.

“You want to take away my papa! Everything he has been talking about the last weeks was you! I'm sick of it!! Just leave already!!”, she shouted out as she jumped off the couch. She had enough of that stranger next to her. What would come next? That this older and nicely built woman would take away her boyfriend, too? Anima stared at Kari and saw her breathing heavily in rage. She could feel her hate towards herself. Karis fists were clenched, ready to punch the stranger – even if she knew that she had no chance against the still sitting girl.

” You are such a fool.”, Anima nearly whispered.

“What?! Can you speak louder?!”, Kari immediately shouted out.

“I said that you are a fool!!”, she replied loud and stood up immediately. The younger one was so shocked about that sudden, loud reply and the fact that Anima got up so fast, that she stepped back within seconds. She looked a bit afraid at her. As Anima saw how afraid Kari was of her she sighed and sat down again. Clasping her own hands she looked to the ground.

“You don't know what a good life you have. You're really complaining about the fact that your father spends some time with me? You know what? He saved my life 14 years ago. I wouldn't be alive anymore without him. I know you don't want to hear that but … he is a father figure to me. And I know that he sees me as his 'daughter' too. Which doesn't mean that he doesn't love you anymore.” she explained and looked up at Kari who seemed to relax a bit.

“The time I've spend with Cor he was nearly just talking about you, Karina. You are his everything ... and I admit that I'm jealous. I don't know who my father is, my mother never loved me and wants to kill me. Why don't you just let me have this one little piece of luck?”, Anima added and she saw that Karis expression changed. She looked guilty and sad.

“Anima… I'm… sorry. I didn't know.”, she mumbled.

“It's fine. I guess I would have acted like you, too in your situation. Just... give me a chance... maybe as your... sister?”, Anima asked and looked Kari into her deep blue eyes. These were surely Cors eyes, damn. Blue and absolutely beautiful in her opinion.

“Sister…? Well… okay I can tr-”, she responded as the door opened and the girls heard a familiar voice. Their father was back and even if they didn't really like each other they would try to get along; for their fathers sake.

#ffxv #final fantasy xv #cor leonis #kari leonis #anima #ffxv writing #ffxv oc #ffxv fanfiction

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romantichorror2119-blog · 7 years ago

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Dust to Dust by Karina Halle

CHAPTER ONE

I was walking on the Brooklyn Bridge, the sky above me a black velvet blanket that was tinged with orange the closer it got to the horizon. There were no stars, not here with the city of New York right in front of me. The buildings acted like stars instead, their lights blurred and out of focus like Photoshop bokeh effect.

Though it wasn’t snowing, the bridge was covered in a light dusting of pure white snow. I was only wearing my jeans and a thin Slayer hoodie and yet wasn’t cold at all.

Everything around me was silent. There were no cars and there were no people. The river below didn’t lap and the sounds of the city didn’t carry. The snow was a blank sheet of paper except for the one set of tracks that cut down the middle.

I knew those footprints – made by boots – like I knew the back of my hand. They were what I had been searching for all this time. Why I was here.

I walked on, slowly, hearing the snow squeak beneath my Chuck Taylors. Suddenly the footprints veered off to the side of the walkway and stopped. I followed them and looked over the side to where the cars should have been driving past heading into the city.

There was a man standing at the side of the lanes, looking out at the Hudson River. I couldn’t see anything but his shadowy back, but I knew it was him.

“Dex!” I yelled after him. But he didn’t move. He didn’t turn around.

I yelled again. I knew it was him. Why wasn’t he listening? Just how long had we been apart?

I was so tempted to take off my shoe and chuck it at him but decided I’d probably miss. Instead I took in a deep breath and managed to climb over the edge of the walkway and onto one of the metal beams that spanned above the lanes. Somehow I was able to balance perfectly, like a tightrope walker, as I made my way across. When I was near Dex, I lay down on my stomach and then slid off the edge of the beam, hanging in the air like a child from monkey bars for a few seconds before I let go.

I landed with a soft thud, my knees aching from the impact. It was a long drop and I was surprised that I had even done it to begin with but there was no time to question anything.

I ran up to him and put my hand on his arm, my fingers wrapping around his elbow, afraid to let him go ever again.

He didn’t turn to look at me. He didn’t move. He didn’t make a sound.

I pulled back at him hard, panic coursing through me. What was going on?

He was immovable, stuck to the cold white ground.

“Dex?” I whispered and walked around him. He was staring forward at the inky water, his face startlingly handsome with his high cheekbones and strong jaw flanked by light facial hair. But he was pale as snow and his eyes were so dark they rivaled the sky. His expression was strangely blank and the wisps of his shaggy black hair swayed lightly in the breeze.

He wouldn’t look at me, wouldn’t acknowledge me. I wasn’t even sure if he was real or a wax figure. I watched him, feeling the horror rising from deep within me, wondering if he was even breathing.

“That’s not Declan,” a smug voice from behind me said. I jumped and whirled around to see…no one.

“Up here.”

I looked up and saw a man in a business suit standing on the beam above me. The ends of his blazer flapped in the breeze and his face was obscured in shadow.

Still, I knew who he was. Every bone in my body told me who this was. I had met him before.

“What’s wrong with him?” I asked the man. I grabbed Dex’s hand, squeezing it and staring into his face, trying to get a reaction, to get something out of him. He didn’t even blink. He was just still, his eyebrow ring glinting from the city lights. This was Dex, my Dex, my man, my love, my fiancé. This was him. I knew him better than I knew myself.

Then what was wrong with him? I couldn’t have traveled all this way to have failed in the end. I was supposed to bring him home.

“There is nothing wrong with him,” the man said from above. “He’s better now. He’s buried down below where he belongs.”

I looked up at the man, feeling his hateful eyes upon me. They shone like nickels in the shadows and my stomach steeled itself in protest. This man evoked nothing but primal fear in me.

“What did you do to him?” I whispered. My eyes flitted over to Dex again and I could only shake my head, no. This was Dex.

“The same thing I will do to you and your sister and your mother,” he said.

My breath caught in my throat and when I finally exhaled, it came out painfully cold. Glowing embers began to fall from the sky, turning to ash as soon as they hit my skin. It burned and the snow sizzled.

“What?” I managed to ask, feeling myself slowly being drained of strength.

He grinned at me and his teeth glowed white. “You’ll find out soon enough.”

Then he turned sharply and strode away along the beam, the metal creaking until he reached the walkway.

“Michael!” I screamed after him. “You can’t leave him like this. He’s your brother.”

He shook his head and for once I could see the glow of his skin from the light of the city. It looked burned and red. I blinked my eyes trying to see if it was some color was being reflected onto him.

“No,” he said. “He’s not my brother. And I haven’t been Michael for a very long time.”

He climbed onto the walkway and disappeared.

Suddenly the bridge quaked, jerking from side to side and throwing me off balance. I grabbed onto Dex to steady me and as I did so a terrific crash rang through the air. The bridge deck began to split from the end, a crack racing toward us in one dark, jagged line. Flames began to lick up through the split and the suspension cables along the bridge began to snap and fly out, whooshing through the air with a metallic noise.

Everything was still shaking, the bridge splitting right in two. It was heading right for us, right for Dex. The flames were higher now as they shot out of the crack and from the corner of my eyes the world was slowly starting to become lighter, the East River turning from inky black water to a living floor of fire.

“Dex!” I yelled trying to get him out of the way.

But he wouldn’t budge.

The damn man wouldn’t budge.

And the bridge continued to crack.

I had two choices and in that I had no choice. I was either going to go down with him and be swallowed whole by the inferno that was about to devour us or I could step aside, save myself, and let him die.

There really was only one choice.

I grabbed onto his stiff body, wrapping my arms around him from behind and buried my face into the back of his neck.

“I love you,” I whimpered. “Always. Beyond death.”

My legs started to wobble. The fire got hotter. The crack seemed to split my world.

But before I was sure the ground beneath us would fall, Dex suddenly moved.

He spun around to face me and kissed me, quick and searing on my lips, making my heart flutter and my body ache with need and love. When I opened my eyes, I saw his eyes brimming with intensity. Here he was, right before the end.

Then he pushed me backward. I stumbled and fell back on the deck just as the crack was split seconds from taking him away from me.

“Don’t let him in, kiddo,” he said gravely, his gaze freezing me. “Don’t let him in.”

I screamed, “No!” and tried vainly to get to my feet. “Dex!”

But the split rocked under him, the ground opening up with a deafening crack.

Dex slipped away from view, swallowed by the flames.

He was gone into a fiery hell while the embers continued to fall from the sky.

Turning to ash.

Turning to dust.

Just like my heart.

Halle, Karina. Dust to dust. Piatkus, 2014.

http://www.lovebookvampire.com/thriller/Dust-to-Dust-by-Karina-Halle/1.html

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conorwrightfactualresearch-blog · 8 years ago

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The Queen of Versailles

David Siegel has built an empire of timeshares. He controls the markets until karma sets in. The housing crisis rears its ugly head in 2007 and with it David Siegel is ruined. He complains of the bankers who tricked him into taking cheap money. Which is very similar to how he made money from timeshares; identical really. The irony slips past him. The rest of the film charts the Siegel’s having to resort to living like ‘normal’ people. Yet they cannot, as their house workers depart one after the other nothing gets done. The waste from Jackie’s dog builds up and pets die. Jackie even struggles just to curb her shopping habits. She moves to Walmart yet this solves nothing. They now need a convoy of SUVs just to return their shopping home. The directors of this film use a fly on the wall style. Is this the best way to represent reality in a documentary?

Karina Longworth comments in her review of the film for LA Weekly, ‘They're high-end hoarders -- and, one suspects, so deep inside their sickness that they can't see it, which almost gives Greenfield's all-seeing fly-on-the-wall approach an air of exploitation’.(http://www.laweekly.com/arts/sundance-film-festival-2012-queen-of-versailles-review-2370054) John-Paul Pierrot writes in his review for Flickfeast, ‘Combining talking heads with a fly-on-the-wall style, The Queen of Versailles is a modern fable of excess spiralling out of control made all the more meaningful with the context of global recession. If you have ever ventured in to the murky, undergrowth of trashy television and found yourself watching MTV’s My Super Sweet Sixteen you will have an idea of how cringe-worthy it is’.(http://flickfeast.co.uk/feature/queen-versailles-2012/) A review in Newsday says, ‘Shot from 2007-10, the doc offers a fly-on-the-wall look at the family of 10, plus their countless maids and white dogs, and their incomprehensibly privileged existence.’ and ‘On one level, Greenfield's portrait of the Siegels has the same appeal as a National Geographic feature or a Travel Channel program -- it's an exploration of a world that's totally unfamiliar to most of us’.(http://www.newsday.com/news/new-york/movie-review-the-queen-of-versailles-3-5-stars-1.3848602)

Some could complain that this film overly long, and it is. The cameras were just set up to capture footage and nothing more. They would have accumulated hours upon hours of intriguing footage. However intriguing and meaningful are different words. I feel that there is a good amount of the footage that the director just could not part with. Small moments that intrigued but ultimately held no meaning. This was a fly on the wall documentary. The director was there simply to observe and at times interview. She never swayed them in any direction or controlled what they said. Many of the interviewees have no filter and much slipped through the cracks. This is one method of creating a documentary, just collect a bunch of footage and hopes it all ties together somehow. It is a look inside a world that so many yearn and dream of. Films that try to make a point or a difference in the world hold much more importance that this documentary. That’s not to say that the method of collection is not effective but the delivery is faulty. This film is ultimately a sort of reality show but perhaps more realistic.

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cloudbattrolls · 5 years ago

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Kindling

Etuuya Vannyn | Several Nights Prior | OLSC Headquarters (Space)

You’re walking along the side of a vast white marble wall, Karina keeping pace several feet to your side. Spark trolls - the apparent proper name for the lava folks - move in their usual silent flow around the two of you. You feel the heat from them even if they never come closer than six feet or so, another layer of warmth in the already hot ship.

Their bright, solid eyes - hues of purple, orange, red, or gold - linger, even if none of them ever speak to you or the tealblood.

You toss Karina - she’s no longer the only Tulais - the ball again, the two of you having thrown it back and forth for several minutes now.

This time she holds onto it, stopping.

“Vannyn.” She says, though her gaze is directed outward, you think. Her horns, a pair of inverted triangles, glint in the light.

You follow her line of sight to the park - well, that’s the closest thing you can think to call it.

Most parks have trolls sitting, maybe walking pets or lusii, chatting or climbing trees. This one has plants carefully sheltered behind great glass domes, vast curling vines and palm-like trees protected from the fiery inhabitants. Instead of benches, there are spiraling grooves cut in the floor, getting deeper as they go down.

Some of the park trolls smile, and if you flick your ears, you can hear soft laughter as they toss orbs of flame back and forth. If you closed your eyes, you could imagine they were ordinary Alternians.

If Alternian trolls spoke to each other solely by telepathy and unquestionably followed the orders of a crazy bird woman.

“Aren’t you used to them?” You ask her. They’re new to you, but you’d assumed Firebird’s descendant must be accustomed to them.

The tealblood snorts softly.

Her hair, usually loose around her shoulders, is in a tight braid. She’s dressed in what must be fireproof armor, though it’s light, cream-colored, looking almost ceramic. She never takes it off, not even around her ancestor.

Perhaps especially then.

“I haven’t been here much before.” She replies. “She found me young, but she didn’t bring me to space until I was nine. She just...warped me out here one night, showed me her people.”

“Her people? Did she create them somehow, or does she just lead them?”

Karina shakes her head, and your ears flick in annoyance.

“Both, maybe. I don’t know.”

“Don’t you care? How have you not asked, in all the sweeps you’ve known her?”

The teal jerks her head back toward you, dark-eyed gaze resentful.

“I can’t just ask my ancestor anything I want. She’s not Lifeweaver.”

You put your hands on your skinny hips and stare her down.

“I haven’t a clue what you think you know about Rhomox outside of his research, but he - ”

A wailing alarm interrupts your conversation and the Spark trolls start flooding around the pair of you, a purposeful stream splitting off toward various sections of the vast ship. Karina jumps out of the path of their rushing feet, stepping closer to you, almost too close - what is it with the Tulaises and forgetting what you are -

You stick an arm out in front of the teal to protect her, in case any of them get aggressive. She looks at you with a startled expression, but you ignore her as your eyes and head dart around, trying to block out the harsh noise and focus.

“They’re manning the fire cannons. They must’ve found a ship.”

You freeze, then spin around as her words sink in.

“They what?”

The teal looks away, her fists clenching by her sides so hard her knuckles are nearly white. The soft rubber ball is crushed under the fingers of her hand.

“What are they going to do, Karina?”

“We can’t stop them!” She snaps. “Especially not you. They’ll burn you up in seconds if you try!”

You hiss in displeasure, but stay put and watch as the strange fiery trolls cluster around what you’d thought were simply decorative golden domes, but must be some sort of weaponry. They all put their hands on them, and flames lick out of their body and get absorbed by the shining material - metal? Glass? It’s impossible to tell.

The glow of their eyes flickers as they do, and a few fall to their knees and pass out, only to be replaced by others as they’re shoved out of the way.

A spurt of platonic pity runs through you, but you snuff it out and glare at the teal, hugging herself as she stares with a tight, miserable expression. The wail of the alarms shuts off.

“What’s going on?” You say in a low, intent voice that brooks no room for a refusal to answer.

“Where do you think she got all these trolls? Only some were her original crew. I don’t know how she makes them into Sparks, but I know they can die, and she always wants more.”

“A troll can only become all fiery if she makes it so?” You ask her, businesslike and scientific. “Direct cause and effect?”

Just as Rhomox taught you.

“I think so.” She says, a bit hesitant. “She’s always been vague about it, but she acts like they’re all hers. I’ve never met one who didn’t obey her.”

Firebird laid her hands on the troll she’d send to fetch you when asking you about the drinker you’d accidentally sired. Leaning over them, protective. Like a lusus might with their charge.

Like you would for Uunive.

“Do you know how close she needs to be to do it? Proximity must be a factor, or she wouldn’t need to bring ships down.”

“Close.” Karina admits, then swears. “Vannyn, you can’t possibly mean to - ”

Too late, you’re off running toward the same place you were brought in. It’s only a guess that the poor captured sods will be brought there, but it’s the best you have to go on.

The clatter of Karina’s feet come from an increasing distance behind you as she fails to keep pace with your drinker speed.

You turn and give her a cheery wave before skipping through the docking doors (apparently Firebird doesn’t bother to lock them).

A rush of air blows your hair back as a ship is indeed towed into the vast hangar. It’s bigger than your little cruiser, but not by much - the crew can’t be large.

Its metal surface is covered in huge melted spots. You doubt it’s ever going to fly again; at best it could be recycled for scrap.

Fire shouldn’t be able to even travel through space, but Firebird and her motley crew say fuck physics, apparently.

Which is just such fantastic news.

“Have you come to see the creation of more fledglings? You could have just asked.”

She’s hovering many feet above you, yet her voice is as clear as if she was speaking in your ear.

“Well, go on and show me then, if it’s all aces with you.”

You put your hands in your pants pockets as if it hardly matters one way or the other.

A ripple of laughter reaches you, and she melts a hole in the ship’s door by shooting a stream of fire from a hand. You half expect the crew to come out guns blazing, ready to die in the style of true Imperial trolls, but nothing happens.

Wary of the red-hot edges of the hole, you run over and peer through it.

No one ran out because no one seems to be able to stand.

You breathe in, the familiar visceral scent of death present. A few trolls seem to have been literally cooked by convection, the ones closest to the ship’s edges. Their flesh is seared and bubbling, their horns blackened and crumbling.

Others seem to be alive, but barely, writhing in pain on the floor and hardly paying you any mind.

You walk in carefully, trying not to step on the wounded. Part of you wants to feed on their blood, but you ignore it. Hardly the time.

As you go further in, through a few sliding doors, you find a few trolls huddled together. They flinch at the sight of you, but one - dressed in grays, no apparent symbol showing - grabs a gun and points it at your chest.

“Who the fuck are you? I’ll shoot! Are you with the Empire? Why did you capture us?”

Huh.

“So you’re not Imperial?” You query.

They look just as confused as you feel, only with added anger.

“Fuck no! I have no idea what the hell’s going on, but we’re not Empire! Are you?”

“Do you see a trident anywhere?” You ask dryly. “Believe me, the most highly the Empire thinks of me is as a science experiment. Also, I didn’t capture you.”

“Then what are you doing on our shi - ”

All of you flinch from the heat as Firebird melts a hole in the ship roof and swoops down, landing in the room you’re in.

“You are about to witness a glorious thing, little Vannyn.” She says to you, as if the other trolls don’t exist, slack-jawed at her appearance. She hardly fits in the space, even with her wings folded up against her back.

The claws of her bird feet click against the floor as she steps toward the troll holding the gun, speaking to them in what you assume is meant to be a reassuring voice.

“You’ve been running from the Condesce for a long time, but I am here to save you.”

“By melting our ship? Yeah, I feel real safe!” snarks the troll who you feel rather endeared to, even if you know it can’t end well for them.

Why did Firebird attack the ship so recklessly? Karina said she wants as many trolls as she can get. Most are still alive, though some may not be for much longer, but a few were definitely dead.

She laughs gently, and with a burst of red and purple fire, their gun begins to melt. They drop it instantly, wide gray eyes full of fear and hate, long ears pinned against their buzz-cut head.

“Don’t worry. You will have a whole new life.”

She bends down on her scaly knees, the tips of her wings brushing against the floor. The other trolls have fled out the other door, but she doesn’t seem to care. Probably because there’s nowhere for them to run.

Cupping her hands around their head, their size making the troll’s face look small, Firebird breaths deeply and exhales a strange teal fire from her mouth that surrounds like the troll like a cloud.

For a moment it simply hangs there.

Then the troll writhes and thrashes, and you see their skin start to smoke and blacken, then harden into stone, blood running from their eyes as they start glowing -

You lunge at her, tearing out feathers that sear your skin, and she drops the troll, slapping you back with her shimmering wings. A faint clattering noise sounds, but you’re not sure if it’s real or in your jostled thinkpan.

“You dare interfere?” She says, in a voice that sounds almost like a raptor’s screech.

“Eat me.” You manage, pulling yourself up off the floor after slamming into the wall. Not only was that a hell of a whack, the heat of her is a good reminder how outmatched you are. For all your strength and regeneration, you’re almost powerless against the teal.

The clattering noise gets louder and Karina bursts in, panting, her skin and braid slick with sweat.

“What...the fuck...is going on?” She demands between breaths.

You and Firebird both stop, looking at her and then each other.

“Leave us.” says Firebird dismissively, the troll on the floor making whimpering noises. “This isn’t for your eyes.” She flicks a hand at the door the younger teal just came through.

You study Karina’s white armor. Where are the catches for it? It almost looks like it’s all of a piece, but that’s not possible. There has to be some seam or join.

“But it’s for Vannyn’s?” She cries.

There. Buckles, nearly the same color as the strange ceramic material.

“They have a chance of understanding. If they can stop acting foolish.” She replies, casting a glowing glare your way.

Karina’s teal slit pupils flick to the troll on the floor and she takes a step back. Then another. Closer to you, which is helpful.

“What...what’s going to happen to this troll?”

Firebird sighs, but also makes an annoyed chittering noise, her wings shifting.

“It isn’t your concern, Karina. Go, before I lose my patience.”

You yank off the younger teal’s breastplate in one swift pull, put it in your sylladex, and dart behind Firebird. You jump onto her back, using her wings as handholds as she thrashes, and scale her so that you’re gripping her shoulders. Your head is above the melted ceiling of the ship now, she’s so bloody tall, and your claws dig into her boiling hot flesh, teal blood running down the skin.

You can feel your skin starting to burn.

“Take the survivors and get out!” You yell at your boss. “Take my ship!”

She doesn’t move as Firebird screeches, her wings beating and slamming into the confined space now, and you jump.

You leap up through the melted hole and come back down, trying to land on her shoulders -

The eight foot tall woman plucks you out of the air with both hands gripping your body, baring her fangs as her feathered ears puff up in fury. She holds you up level with her face, only a few feet away.

“You would deny these hunted trolls their salvation? The Spark takes away pain! It makes trolls anew!”

Her half-transformed victim lets out an agonized moan below.

“And it makes people your minions, isn’t that convenient? Burning themselves out to power weapons to gather more trolls for you?”

Her eyes narrow.

“How can you not understand? You, composed of so many small parts? This is no different. We are all part of the Spark; I simply guide them to its power.”

Karina’s still here. Well, bugger her, she gets to see what comes next.

You smile at the crazed fanatic in front of you, showing all your long sharp drinker teeth. Your arms may pinned to your sides under her grip, but that doesn’t matter.

Not when you open your mouth and spit a mass of worms in her eyes.

She drops you to claw at them, swearing and screeching, and it’s not long until she kills them or they get cooked from the heat.

So you jump, this time landing on her shoulders as planned, and send more into her throat, her nose. She writhes, but with less strength, and you whisper in her ear.

“Unlike you, I don’t need to ‘save’ other people to feel whole.”

She goes stiller yet.

You bend over and trace a claw under her chin as she did to you when you first met.

“I can feel my worms dying from your heat, but you can’t scream, can you? Can you even breathe? Tick tock, Firebird.”

You catch on fire.

Well, there it is, all that blinding pain, making every nerve an agony, every worm withering.

You fall off, burning, and Firebird turns to you. You’re rewarded with the sight of worms in her face before they blacken and crumble, turning to ash.

Clothes and flesh, you’re doing the same. How haven’t you passed out. You’re burning away, skin and fabric and works all slowly turning to black and gray ash, piece by piece. A hand. Your legs. Your horns.

“Don’t kill them!”

Bit late, Karina. Idiot child. Should’ve helped the ship trolls.

The other victim on the floor looks at you in horror and sympathy alike.

“If I spare them, you will not question me again.”

“Yes!”

“They will obey.”

“I’ll make them!”

“They will witness this, and remember they cannot challenge me and win.”

You watch yourself burn away, half of your body gone to the excruciating flames, and finally Firebird releases you to sweet unconsciousness.

#and that's how tuuya got burned to kingdom come #they're better now but still #cloud writes #etuuya vannyn #tw gross worm shit #tw burns

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