#if they'll throw me under the bus they'd probably throw you under it as well

[stanestreet]

A sentence I never imagined I’d write: I now think Jeremy Corbyn did Jews in Britain a favour. His time as Labour leader, between 2015 and 2020, was an extremely weird one for British Jews, but eye-opening all the same: I now think it prepared many of us for the Left’s reaction to October 7, whereas American Jews seemed far more surprised. The gaslighting (the attack didn’t happen), the defences (if it did, Jews deserved it), the hectoring moral superiority (how can you care about that when this is so much more important?): all that we saw after October 7, we had seen under Corbyn.

Now is not the place to rehash the many examples of Corbyn’s jaw-dropping attitudes towards Jews, never mind Israel, ideas some of us naively thought had died out with Stalin. Those are specific to Corbyn, whose political relevance is now, thankfully, in the past. But two general truths emerged from that era that would prove extremely relevant after October 7.

The first was how little people across the Left cared when Jews pointed out the obvious antisemitism they saw in the Labour Party. In 2018, 86% of British Jews said they believed Corbyn was antisemitic; and still the Left supported him, and still The Guardian backed him in the 2019 general election. Would they — good Lefties one and all — have done this if the vast majority of another minority said they believed Corbyn was bigoted against them? Would the Left have supported an Islamophobic leader in 2018? A homophobic one? A racist one? It’s hard to imagine. “What are Jews so scared of? It’s not like Corbyn’s going to bring back pogroms,” a prominent figure on the Left asked me. I briefly amused myself by imagining a response: “Why are black people so against the Tories? It’s not like they’ll bring back lynching.” But I stayed schtum. The Left doesn’t care about antisemitism if they deem it inconvenient to their cause. They just call it “anti-Zionism” and carry on, and that was — it turned out — a good lesson to learn.

Hadley Freeman, an excerpt from her essay Blindness: October 7 and the Left, published by Jewish Quarterly

[gotham-daydreams]

what if the reader was a textile artist? Like sewing and embroidery? And once they’re kidnapped they’re just so angry so they brush themselves in that, using it to block out the real world. Then one of the yandere did get mad that they’re getting ignored and rip up the piece and reader is just crushed in every way

I have to thank you for reminding me of an ask I got a while back of a reader that did embroidery, that's been sitting in my drafts for... far too long, and has been collecting dust to be honest-

Nevertheless, I feel like the family, again, would try to get what they can when it comes to that- but I can totally see one of them getting so mad to the point that they destroy your artwork - no matter the medium.

Hell! If they can they'll probably try to pin it on someone else, and try to make themself out to be the 'good guy' who tried to stop them but... oh... despite their best efforts, your stuff ended up getting destroyed anyway, aw :((( but! Don't worry! They can just help you remake it again! Sure, they don't know what they're doing but... it's the thought that counts, right? Besides, you can always teach them! This is for you, after all. They'd hate for your work to truly go to waste and be destroyed like this...

They'll absolutely throw each other under the bus if it means they'll be able to manipulate the situation to get closer to you. Especially, well... whoever it is, they may have destroyed everything while you were asleep, so to say the sight in the morning is heartbreaking is absolutely an understatement.

They care deeply about you and whatever you make, but... well. You lose some, you win some, yeah?

[milo-my-beloved]

things we don't say

A continuation of the some other life 'verse.

Playlist 🎵 Buy me a cup of tea ☕

Chapter Six: Matthias

Although Nina keeps calling Matthias their getaway driver, he feels more like a coach driver trapped on a bus filled with hyperactive children. On any other day, he would have told them to shut up by now, but one glance to his left at Nina steals any complaints from his lungs.

Her feet are propped up on his dashboard — another thing he wouldn't allow from anyone else — and her hair is blowing around her face as she sings. The rest of them are only human, but in this moment, she looks like a saint.

"You're the slowest getaway driver I've ever met," she complains, smiling up at him.

"I have a black box," he grumbles. "I can't go any faster."

"Next time, I'm getting Kaz to do it," Jesper decides.

"Next time?" Wylan asks, raising an eyebrow.

Jesper smirks, nudging his fiance's shoulder. "You know what I mean. Besides, we'll have to renew our vows at some point."

"Any excuse for a party," Nina agrees.

The drive to the courthouse only takes twenty minutes, even with Matthias sticking to the speed limits. Jesper throws himself out of the car before he stops moving, but Wylan musters enough patience to wait until they're parked. The two of them make it halfway across the car park before he can put the handbrake on.

"Have they no patience?" Matthias asks, exasperated.

Nina pats his cheek. "You just have too much, hot stuff."

She grins when he blushes. Why must she find such pleasure in flirting?

"Let's go, or they'll get hitched without us," she says.

The courthouse isn't usually open so late, but several of the interns who work there study politics alongside Inej. They find Jesper and Wylan in a corridor outside the room where they'll hold the wedding, speaking rapidly to a freckled man with dark red hair.

"And these are my friends who we'll be living with, Nina and Matthias!" Jesper finishes, gesturing at them.

The man peers up at them. "Well, I must say this whole event is a bit of a surprise, but I'm very proud of you for getting married, son."

Nina and Matthias exchange a look. Is this Jesper's dad?

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Fahey." Wylan also looks a little dazed.

"Please, call me Colm. You're part of the family too, now."

The officiant steps into the hallway, his eyes darting left and right down the hallway before beckoning them in. He's younger than any of them, probably in his first year, and keeps tugging at his long, black hair.

"Where's Inej?" he asks. "She said she'd be here."

Jesper shrugs. "She's on her way. But this wedding is time-sensitive, so we really can't wait—"

Continue reading under the cut // Continue reading on AO3.

Nina tugs Matthias over to the front row of seats, dragging him into the seat next to Jesper's father. He glances over at Colm Fahey, wanting to ask him how Jesper convinced him to come, but the man looks paler than snow.

"Are you alright, sir?" he asks.

"Oh, yes, yes. I just never thought I'd see the day, that's all. His mother would be so proud. Are they truly in love? Will Wylan make my boy happy?"

He better, after all the effort they'd just put in to make sure this wedding happened. Matthias nods solemnly, hoping that's enough to address all of Colm's worries. He's only met Wylan twice before today, and one of those occasions was this week.

"He's amazing. And you should have seen Jesper when he found out Jan Van Eck was keeping his son from seeing all of us — he nearly stormed over there to give him a piece of his mind," Nina says.

Colm looks over at Wylan, who is fidgeting with something in his pocket while Jesper continues trying to persuade the officiant to start the wedding now.

"The poor lad doesn't sound like he has the loving family that he deserves, so I'm glad he's joining mine. Oh, my." He fishes a handkerchief out of his pocket, dabbing at his eyes.

The officiant crosses his arms, resolute. Evidently, Jesper's persuasion techniques aren't working, and he looks close to the end of his tether.

"We have to wait," Jesper says, retreating over to them with Wylan in tow. "Where are they?"

"Jes, there's something I want to give you," Wylan says.

Jesper raises an eyebrow. "Don't tell me you're getting cold feet."

Wylan produces a ring box from his pocket. It's old, the green velvet on the outside beginning to fray, but Wylan cradles it as if it's the most precious thing in the world. "Quite the opposite, actually."

Jesper carefully plucks it out of his hand, gently opening the lid to reveal a simple gold band. For once in his life, he's speechless.

"It was my mother's," Wylan continues, fiddling with the sleeve of his jumper. "She told me to save it for my special person, and... well, that's you."

Colm dabs at his eyes again. He looks dangerously close to having some kind of emotional-related heart attack.

"Oh, Wy, I love it." Jesper sounds close to crying himself. Wylan guides the ring onto his finger, and then pulls Jesper in for a kiss.

The doors burst open and Kaz and Inej run in. They're both red from running and panting for breath, grinning like idiots and clutching onto each other's hands.

"What did we miss?" Inej asks.

In all but officiality, the wedding, Matthias thinks.

"We wouldn't start without our maid of honour and best man!" Jesper announces, as if he hasn't spent the past ten minutes trying to convince the officiant to do exactly that.

"Let's get married," Wylan says, smiling up at Jesper.

Nina squeezes his hand, and they settle into their seats.

*****

Considering the rest of the evening, the wedding foes smoothly and the rest of them have said goodnight to Colm and are back at their house by midnight.

Jesper and Wylan disappear to their shared room, giggling like children. Inej plants herself on the couch for the night, and Kaz insists on staying up to complete Wylan's tenancy agreement and re-enrollment.

Nina tugs Matthias into their bed, wrapping her warm arms around his chest and lying so close to him he can feel the soft thump of her heart against his back.

"When we get married, we're having a proper ceremony," she says, already drifting off.

"In a church," he agrees.

"With a chocolate fountain."

They fall asleep like that, tightly intertwined in each other's arms, dreaming of their own wedding.

Unfortunately, the entire house is woken up seven hours later by someone attempting to break the door down.

Matthias stirs at the incessant knocking, but it isn't enough to convince him to disturb Nina, who is still latched onto him like a sloth. When their visitor holds the doorbell down, however, he groans and sits up.

"What time is it?" Nina mumbles, rolling over and opening one bleary eye.

"Early. Go back to sleep, little red bird. I'll deal with it."

There's only one person who could kick up this much of a fuss at 7am, and Matthias won't let him bully any of his friends any longer.

Jesper and Wylan are whispering furiously to each other at the top of the stairs. Matthias is too tired to eavesdrop, so he shoulders past them and mutters, "I'll answer it."

Jesper grabs the top of his arm. "It'll be—"

"I know who it is." Matthias shrugs Jesper off easily and descends the rest of the stairs before he can protest further.

Jan Van Eck's cheeks are red with rage when Matthias opens the door. He's flanked by two burly men on either side of him, both looking like they're probably armed.

"Where's my son?" Van Eck demands. "Release him to me right now!"

"Who are you?" Matthias asks, rubbing sleep from his eyes.

"I am Jan Van Eck, and you're holding my son hostage," he splutters.

"Like you held him hostage?" Jesper snaps from the bottom of the stairs. Matthias glances back at him, one arm protectively wrapped around Wylan's trembling shoulders.

So much for pretending to be ignorant, then.

"Please remove yourself from our property," Matthias tries instead.

"Not without my son! I won't have him—" Van Eck pauses, lowering his voice, spit flying out of his mouth. "I won't let him run loose in Ketterdam, ruining my reputation."

"I think you're doing an excellent job of ruining your own reputation, Mr. Van Eck," Inej retorts, leaning on the doorframe leading to the living room. It's the first time Matthias has ever seen her hair down and she's wearing cat print pajamas, but her glare is so fierce he nearly apologises to her out of instinct.

"You're not welcome here. Leave, or I'll call the stadwatch," Matthias repeats.

"Who do you — you children think you are? If you call the stadwatch, they'll take the word of an upstanding mercher over that of a handful of teenagers any day."

"Actually, none of us are teenagers any more." Kaz steps forwards, his eyes as black as ink, those of a shark locking onto its prey. "Or did you forget your own son's age? Besides, I'm sure they'll believe us when we show them the evidence of how you forced your precious son to drop out of university, stole his phone, and refused to let him leave the house."

Van Eck squints at Kaz, clearly not intimidated by the claims. "And what proof do you have of that?"

One moment, Kaz's hands are empty, and the next, he's holding up Wylan's phone for all of them to see. "I think the texts Wylan snuck to Jesper and testimony from his tutor and a guard you posted outside his door should be enough, don't you think?"

Van Eck takes a step forward, but Matthias moves to block his entrance to the house. He jabs a finger in Kaz's direction. "He's my son. He has no right to live here or go to the university if I say so—"

"He's been re-enrolled," Kaz says coldly.

"And our landlord allows the addition of a married partner to join the tenancy agreement at any time," Wylan adds. It's the first thing he's said since his father showed up, and he looks proud of himself.

Van Eck turns his gaze to Jesper for the first time. Wylan's hand is gripping onto his husband's shoulder tightly, the ring that started this mess on clear display. Jesper holds up his left hand too, a shit-eating grin on his face as Van Eck sees his ex-wife's ring glittering against Jesper's dark skin.

"Now you have your explanation, I suggest you leave," Matthias says, squaring his chest. Van Eck brought backup expecting a fight, not to be humiliated by a group of students.

"You — how dare you?" he bellows. "You lied to me! You dare to get married to — to some man—"

Matthias decides he's had enough, and slams the door in Van Eck's face, locking it for good measure.

"If he has any sense, he'll leave," Inej says, yawning and wandering back into the living room.

"And if he doesn't, I'll wait up to call the stadwatch," adds Kaz. He vanishes through the doorway after Inej, closing it softly behind them.

Nina appears at the top of the stairs, rubbing her eyes. "What did I miss?"

Matthias squeezes past a stunned Jesper and Wylan to meet her. "Nothing, dear. I was just coming back to bed."

[dorkwithfeelings]

Family Ties | Travis Hackett x gn!Reader

----

A/N: just a little something that came from my Travis brainrot.

Word Count: 638

Warnings: nothing but a lot of cursing.

Summary: You're trying to make Travis see that what he's doing isn't good for him.

----

"You can't save everyone, Travis."

By the way his eyes seared into you, your words hurt him. But that wasn't your reason for saying them. You were just tired of seeing Travis burdened by his family, seeing him take a constant responsibility for their actions.

"You can't carry them anymore, it's going to kill you." You urged and took a step closer to his desk, he was sitting behind it, eyes now on his computer screen.

"So what if it does? It's not like they'd give a shit. Heck, they'd probably dance on my grave." Now it was his turn to say hurtful words. Your heart withered at the subdued tone in his voice, the toll all this was taking on him already made itself obvious. Sat before you was a man fueled on bitterness and self-loathing.

"Don't say things like that. Just because they're happy to throw you under the bus and risk your life every fucking full moon, does not mean I am." Your teeth were gritted, hands shaking and cheeks red with anger.

"Look, I don't know what you want me to say, Y/N-"

"I want you say you'll stop putting up with their bullshit!" You yelled, Travis jumped up from his seat.

"Keep it down, or else those kids will hear." He hissed, eyes wide and alert.

"You mean those two missing camp counsellors? The ones you've got locked up because your dumb werewolf brother bit one of them?"

Travis' teeth visibly clenched. He got closer to you and pointed toward the door.

"Those kids should have listened to me, so don't go blaming that on Chris."

"Still another mess for you to clean up, Travis. Last time I checked, Sheriffs are the ones giving orders, not taking them."

The more you two went back and forth, the more it became blatantly obvious you two weren't going to see eye to eye on this. If you could just get Travis to see his blind loyalty for what it really was, you wouldn't go on about it so much.

A sigh rippled out from between the Sheriff's lips and he closed his eyes.

"I shouldn't even be talking about all this with you," he mumbled, "If Chris catches us, he'll tell ma and pa-"

"Wait, they still don't know I know? Christ, Travis!" The icing on the cake.

"What? You might be a family friend, but you ain't blood. They'll kill me if they find out, you know that!"

You were just going round in circles and Travis wasn't listening. Honestly, there was no point in going on with this stupid argument. Feeling the weight of your shoulders get even heavier as they sagged, arms at your sides, you took a step closer to Travis and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I don't mean to nag you all the time," you said, looking into his droopy and exhausted eyes. "But right here, in front of you, is someone you actually gives a damn about your well-being and happiness. Just... keep that in mind."

Travis almost looked uncomfortable at the mild physical contact you were giving him, but you really didn't care. He needed it.

"I know you care, a lot." Travis conceded, finally acknowledging the reason you were so insistent. "I just don't know why."

And there it was. He was finally letting his walls down, only a little but a little was a lot in his case.

"Because you're a good person, Travis. You've always put family first. But there comes a time when it has to stop, especially when it's endangering your life and mental state."

You felt Travis' shoulder loosen under your hand at that, his eyes locking with yours. It was like he'd just received the validation he needed most.

That he was just as important as everyone else.

[solomonish]

Hello! So like... I saw your two posts about MC being jealous of Asmo's relationship with Solomon and it got me thinking? Because I've been thinking about the same thing though with MC's relationships with everyone in the cast because they're literally the only mortal around that circle and are probably aware of how their existence is a mere speak in the universe in the grand total of their inordinary loved ones' lives

I also hc Sol's relationship with Asmo to be a lot like how you see it + the additional hcs that--

- he doesn't actually open up to any of his pacted demons and that most of anyone who isn't human is kept at a certain distance from him emotionally bc of his self-placed responsibility as the protector of humanity (based off of what I've seen of him in main story + his views on demons and pacts as per his bday UR? Though I wanna say that I do think he trusts Simeon and opens up to him more than he does to any demon though, very touched about him missing the angels in the circus event ;w;)

- the trust he places on his apprentice is like no other and it's a mutual trust in each other. So Sol is willing to actually be open and honest with MC in ways he wouldn't be with anyone else (this is also lowkey me indulging in the The One fantasy too but he says it himself in cards and events that he fully trusts them and he can be himself with them so-)

All that to say, I think if MC is comfortable enough to even open up to Solomon about that insecurity of theirs, they're at That point in the relationship already (be it platonic or romantic) where they can have a sincere and honest talk about it? Because unlike Asmo, MC is human and there are just some things that demons can never understand from the human experience and vice versa. And also that the two do have a bond that formed and evolved in a way that his relationship with Asmo absolutely did not follow. Like MC's special in their own way too and while it might be a bit hard to convey, I think he can do it for them? If not through words then time and action. And tbh I do think Solomon would kind of gently throw Asmo under the bus if needed but like in a nicer way because his beloved apprentice needs the comfort, even more so if Sol actually wants to pursue a relationship with MC, even if MC said they didn't want anything to come out of their conversation >.> He was willing to put the three realms in danger because he didn't want to upset them so doing that to Asmo doesn't seem that far fetched to me? And I feel like Asmo himself would be supportive if he knew MC felt that way, but this is assuming that he and MC are basically family like in canon

Because on some level I do think Solomon wishes and hopes that they'd join him in being immortal but he's fully aware of what a misery it is and the risk of them hating him for it. But also what can he do if they want it and achieve it without him knowing? And if the devotion to each other runs as strong as he dares to believe then maybe they'll both find solace in each other as the worlds around them slowly crumble and perish into nothing? Sorry I'm being like, really self indulgent here because I do want it to work between them shdfjksdfh

I'm so sorry that this is so long sdkfdhf I'm curious about your thoughts on my thoughts as well

no it's fine!! i really liked reading these posts that helped me expand my ideas!! and llkfjdk rip asmo you're a true bro

listen i know obey me is very poly and that's fun and great! but i really, really like being The One ok it's just more fun to me

HOWEVER his relationship with his pacts is super interesting because he's so cautious and walled off, less so but even with Barbatos, that it seems like Asmo is the only exception. And Asmo plays it up so that it just SEEMS like they're super close. But perhaps more interesting (to me) is Asmo playing it up and feeling as if Solomon would take him up on all his offers if he wasn't such a stick in the mud because obviously he would - who would pass up flirtations offered by The Avatar of Lust, Asmodeus himself? So perhaps even Asmo being held at arm's length without even realizing it is more possible than I thought. Before MC he didn't really let others get much of a word in lol!

(this is not asmo hate i promise i actually like him very much)

in my last post about this that wasn't an ask i said devotion and i really think that is the term I was looking for. The longer I've hovered in this fandom and the less I've tried to please others to fit in (thought i'm not saying i'm really breaking any norms here bc i'm not lol) the more i've distanced myself from casual relationship all the time solomon to severely lonely and reclusive solomon. Sometimes I get swept up in the fanon interpretation of him being a real party animal and having hundreds of demons on call for his whim but honestly? Maybe it's the pervasive The One fantasy but I really do think he just wants one person. He's had the entirety of the universe at his fingertips and yet all he wants is one good thing to stay. That sort of quiet devotion, of having everything you want but knowing it'll come to a bittersweet end, of having the chance to keep it for yourself but picking selflessly and letting MC have the final say and respecting it, the kind of devotion where you KNOW he'll keep you in his heart forever, that maybe yours is the one face he won't forget.....that's what i'm HERE FOR BABYYY

[kitkatopinions]

So since so many people were upset with V8 do you think if V9 isn't better they could lose more viewers?

I think it's possible that they could lose more viewers, but I actually have hopes that Volume 9 will be... Not much better than volume 8, but at least a little better, so long as it's a standalone Island only season and doesn't deal with Remnant and Vacuo until the last two episodes at least. With only Team RWBY, Jaune, and Neo as main characters to deal with, that's all but removed their longstanding character bloat. With the main cast being separated from the world of Remnant, the writers don't have to grapple with things like the consequences of the main team's actions or a refugee crisis for another year, as well as putting off possible reunions with old fan favorite characters like Sun. They probably won't throw any of the main characters we already know and love under the bus this volume, which was one of the problems with volume 8. And there isn't the expectation of something big and life changing and devastating this volume, so the writers that clearly struggle to introducing too many massive stakes and then not knowing what to do with them have the chance to make this volume a breather instead where they don't overload themselves. And since they just had like five deaths (even though four of them were villains,) it feels like they wouldn't kill someone else this season, and especially not someone important, which is always a big risk for a fanbase. Even if the Island arc has nothing but bad ideas and poor writing, I think it's gonna still feel better than volume eight because of these things, despite the fact that some of this will have pitfalls.

However, RWBY is the show that continuously surprises me in all the wrong and not fun ways. Every time I say "I don't think even they would do something like that," it happens, like killing Penny again, or having her turn into a flesh person. So there's every chance that they'll introduce a bunch of new characters. And there's every chance they do kill off someone important probably in some horrible or badly done way. And there's every chance the whole thing won't be a breather and will jam packed full of tons of important and 'life changing for the characters' stuff that just adds onto the ever growing list of things that must be addressed and developed. And there's every chance that it actually won't be an isolated Island Only arc and that the whole thing will instead be a ping-pong back and forth from Team RWBY+J on the Island while Oscar and the others do all the actual work in Vacuo and Qrow and Robyn are in the remnants of Atlas. And there's every chance that they'll throw a character under the bus this season like Jaune or even one of the main four in some kind of attempt at a conflict. I'm hoping that none of that will happen, but still preparing myself for it. All of it would have the chance of driving out more fans, but tbh most of the fans left are diehards, and it'd take a lot to drive them out. Still, the 'a lot' that it would take are my worst case scenarios that I don't think they would do but they might do because they killed Penny again so I have no faith in them, and they're the only things I could see driving out a significant number of the fans. Sooo.... Let's get into it.

1. They could continue to string along Blake and Yang as a ship instead of giving them confirmation this next season. At that point it will be very close to a full decade of waiting for queer rep within the main cast and several bumbleby fans have told me they'll quit the show and/or deem it queerbaiting if Blake and Yang don't kiss next year. Yes, I think some of them are all talk, but I do think a large amount of bees fans will decide they're sick and tired of it if there isn't at least some sort of stride in the relationship like an actual open admission of their feelings. 2. Blake, Yang, Ruby, or Weiss dying. I think Jaune or Neo dying is a more likely option and I think they'd be stupid to kill any of the main girls (especially Ruby,) but if they killed Weiss or especially one half of Bumblebee, the fans would revolt. 3. Time travel back to V1 era Beacon and restarting everything with the characters as they are now. The show has decreased a lot in quality and the characters are very different. I think that despite them continuously trying to 'recapture' the feel of the early volumes or at the very least remind us that they exist, if the writers did drop the characters into their teenage bodies and 'give them a chance to start over and fix things' the fans would start to realize more just how much the quality of the writing of the show has decreased. 4. All of Ruby's friends on the Island with her turn their backs on her and act horrible and have to learn better or Ruby abandons all of her friends and acts horrible to them and then they have to learn better anyway. That kind of thing would be much more easily tolerated for one person, but I think if all three of Ruby's teammates and Jaune were all either made to act horrible or got scapegoated in order to make Ruby seem better or more sympathetic, then even diehard fans would get mad. 5. Keeping the Island arc going for more than one season. I'm currently anticipating that in the last episode or the last two episodes of the season, Team RWBY+J will return to the Left Behind team in Vacuo, but if they stayed there on the Island, I think even diehard fans would get bored and frustrated that they're putting off the actually important stuff. 6. If they made the whole Island arc super light-hearted. Most of the fans seem to believe that the Island arc will give the girls time to grieve and/or grapple with the consequences of the last volume - it's even been tossed around that this arc will lead Ruby to having the full on emotional breakdown that fans have been swearing has been building up for seasons. If the writers just full on... Don't take it seriously, even Penny's death, then I think a lot of the fans will get angry. 7. Team RWBY+J returning to Remnant and Vacuo only to discover that fifteen or more years have gone by. I think fans would get excited for a year long to five year long time gap for the Left Behind people, because... As bad as I personally think a time gap would be, it has its appeals. But I think if it were a ten year gap, fans would be annoyed at just how much they missed, and if it were fifteen or more year long time gap, I think fans might legit get angry, not only because of how much important stuff they'd miss but because of the character dynamics they know being completely different and the characters being really far removed from Team RWBY and Jaune (plus, tons of ships that are now way more complicated, like RoseGarden shippers would be so pissed.)

So yeah. Those aren't even the things that would make me personally really ticked off (though some of them would,) but they're what I think would lose them a lot of fans. I don't think they're going to lose a significant number of fans, I don't even think V9 is going to be as bad as V8 (though I bet I'll still have plenty to say about it XD) but there's every chance it will be a disaster on par or even worse than V8 and there are lots of little ways they could lose some fans. And if MKEK do any of the above list, I bet they'll lose a lot more than they can afford to.

[valeskakingdom]

Request

Could I request a part 3? Jerome keeps the reader as his hostage for popularity and attention. Reader is really fond of the attention she gets as well and eventually sleeps with Jerome again? In the end she sees how Galavan kills him and is really sad?

Requested by @violentvaleska

For sure!! But again I gonna split this part in 2 because I noticed it would have been too long instead ahaha. I try to hurry with part 4!! Honestly, it's really cool to write oneshots!

And here it is:

Jerome x female reader (part 3)

Warning: mention of sex, depression and death

Word count: 3459

Gift credit: @jokersbabe27

"And here is our bedroom!" Jerome opened another wooden door and lead you into it.

You were irritated by his assertion 'our bed'. You weren't a couple or something. He just kidnapped and called you his property.

You examined the room. White pained walls, claret velvet curtains, a king size bed with while pillows and blankets, and some furnishungs. It didn't look that bad, much better than your little apartment.

"It's...pretty." You gave him a short smile hoping he would believe your faked comfortableness.

Actually you didn't feel well about that. You were around lunatics who either killed or are people...and you, you were the only sane one. You were clearly a victim for them. Sooner or later they would cause you problems.

You started to think about all the cruel things they could do to you in case, Jerome was not there: they could scare you away, haunt you for fun, or...leaving their sexual needs out on you. It was horrible, you literally lived in hell now.

The worse part was on it: you would be a loner if Jerome was gone. A nobody. Nobody would help you. Hell, they'd probably just mock at you that Jerome's property was just an anxious fool and that they couldn't understand what Jerome liked about you so much - you didn't even understand it. You were just a one off.

"But uhm...Jerome?" You turned to him.

"Yes, doll?" Jerome gave you a wide smile glaring at you with his big blue eyes.

"I need clothes... And all my clothes are in my apartment and-..." You knew you couldn't go back.

Not because of him and all your feelings for him- oh no, you wished you could go to your friend to forget the moment where Jerome frightened you to death. His permanent mood changes exhausted you a lot. On your way to his hostage, he made everyone clear that you were his property. No one was allowed to touch you nor to talk to you...They weren't even allowed to look at you. It was crazy. You should just belong to him, he was literally crazy about you.

So yeah, you couldn't go. If you went away, he'd chase you...and if he caught you, you'd probably end up dead.

"You don't need your old clothes, doll." He walked to one of the shelves and opened it: Lacy underwear, seemingly expensive but nice dresses, and some shirts with pants filled it.

"Uhm-..." Before you could say anything, you were interrupted by an older man in a black tuxedo and yelled dark brown hair.

You knew this man: Theo Galavan, the one coming into office of Gotham's major.

But what does he have to do with all the lunatics? And why were they living in his tower? It confused you a lot. In the TV, he seemed to be a good guy. Rich, clever, apparently cared Zabout all citizen's wealth. He wanted to safe the city, or even makes it a better place for everyone.

Your feeling told you though, he was the total opposite: a villain who wants to reign over Gotham.

Why else would he keep lunatics in his tower?! You thought.

"Jerome," Theo Galavan slowly stepped forward with a grin in his face, his hands were folded into each other "I see, you show our new guest her new hostage." He turned to you "I'm Theo Galavan, call me Theo."

"(Y/n)." You gave him a nervous smile.

"I'm sorry, you've been arrived during such ordinary circumstances." He placed his hand on his chest "It wasn't planned to scare you away. But I think we both know Jerome's little tick for an overdramatic show, don't we?"

"O-ohhh, yeah, uhm... it's... it's fine?...yeah," You stammered a little while trying "It was uhm... adventurous." You chuckled nervously completely ignoring his little question.

"Indeed," Theo chuckled darkly rubbing his palms, then he walked a few steps to Jerome and whispered something in his ear. You couldn't understand what he was saying though. You just felt uncomfortable about two people talking behind your back but right in front of you. You just could see Jerome nodding with a grin as both looked at each other. Something was wrong, that you can tell.

"Anyways," Theo turned around with a smile in his face "I leave you two alone now. Some privacy should be appropriated. It was a pleasure to meet you (Y/n) and welcome home." He shut the door and left our room before you could say anything.

"That guy's amazing, did I tell you? If you know him, you'll understand me. He's a big authority and-..."

"What did he tell you?" You interrupted him giving him a stern look "It was about me, wasn't it?" You didn't know where you've got that brave from. Maybe because you were a little scared about what exactly Theo whispered into Jerome's ear?

"I really hate it when some interrupts me..." Jerome grumbled giving you a death stare, his bearing was cramped and he clenched his fists; it looked like he was about to kill you every minute "It's very impolite to interrupt someone, don't you think?"

You couldn't say anything so you just nodded quickly in panicking and fear. More and more you just wanted to go home. You wished you never took the bus to your friend, instead you just could've ask them to hook you up then you wouldn't have been here.

You really didn't want to live like that: being frightened from your oh so called partner because he could kill you every time you were doing a mistake in his eyes.

"Good," but then his death stare and cramped bearing faded instantly and as always he gave you a warm smile "Now to answer your question..." Jerome grabbed your waist pulling you close to him, his nails were dug in your skin that it almost hurt a little "He and I made a little deal before I...you know...kidnapped you."

"And what for a deal?" You frowned confused.

"You should stay here telling nobody about him keeping me and the others here and so on...because if not he kills you." He chuckled louldy "Isn't that fun? He really thinks he can kill you."

You widened your eyes in shock and fear. You hoped you haven't heard it right. Theo will kill you if you lose any word about this here? You won't be able to go back to your home? To message your friends? Nothing?

More and more you felt like a prisoner...and more and more you felt like an object than a human. You were pressured, they decided everything for you... practically your only task was to entertain Jerome...however he wanted it.

"Don't worry, doll, he won't even dare to lay a finger on you." Jerome grabbed your cheeks softly and leaned his forehead against yours, his lips hovered over yours "Because I am the boss. Really no one wants me to be mad because you know... they'll end up dead."

He pressed his lips on yours roughly, his grip on your cheeks tightened. His tongue slipped into your mouth while he nibbled on your lower lip. You let out a little moan in arousal. As if it was a reflex you automatically wrapped your arms around his neck.

Jerome's hands wandered down; along your breasts what made you shiver and gasp, his hands stopped at your waist.

"I almost forgot the feeling when I touch your soft lips doll." Jerome interrupted the kiss and let out a sigh in arousal throwing his head back.

You blushed hard, a slight giggle escaped your lips.

With this kiss, Jerome calmed you down a lot. It let you remind of that one special night again: the butterflies in your stomach, the happiness... You could say, for a short moment you almost forgot about his craziness and him being a murderer.

On the other hand, you still felt strange about the whole thing. A criminal was obsessed with you, his obsession was that big that no one was allowed to do anything with you...and also that you couldn't go back to your friends... You didn't like it at all. Your friends were more important to you than Jerome. You knew them for years and him... You've just met once.

Jerome kissed you again deeply, then he made his way down your jawline to your neck. You let out a little moan as he kissed started to suck on your sweet spot. His hands travelled under your shirt up to your bra clip to open it. You unbottoned his shirt and ripped it off his body while he tugged your bra from your body. You felt him biting your neck, first slightly then harder. It hurt a little and you knew that you'd be marked sooner or later - but you didn't mind. You knew what was coming right now. It was exactly like the first time you two had sex.

Jerome ripped your shirt off from your body and then stopped every single actions. He was eyes you, he stared at every little part of your body. He was like a wild animal staring at its prey and just waited for the perfect moment to catch it.

It made you shiver, but you loved it anyhow. It was very new but you could get used to it.

"Oh, how I missed that view," Jerome bit his lip with lust still viewing your whole body "Time to make up that whole year."

Jerome grabbed you by your waist and literally threw you into the king size bed right behind you. He was so eager to rip your clothes from your body to feel all this pleasure he has felt one year ago. He wanted to feel your soft skin on his, to hear you moans every time he thrusted into you, he wanted to be into you. He couldn't wait for it, so violently he unbottoned your jeans literally ripped them off your body.

You blushed hard. You were excited, surprised, but still you felt uncomfortable. You wondered whst was happening now. Does he expect any dirty kinks from you? Calling him daddy? Any pet names? Or other ordinary kinks?

You hoped for the best, you hoped nothing would have changed and you could just go on.

Jerome grabbed your face again and kissed you deeply nibbling on your lower lip. While that he pulled down your panties and inserted a finger into your cunt. You let out a sharp moan and your hips bucked quickly through the strong intensity of him hitting your sweet spot. You couldn't help but digging you nails in the sheets of his bed and arching your back as he speeded up.

He was rougher with you than before, almost violently. It hurt and was fast but it felt so good at the same time. You started liking it even more than the soft stuff one year ago. Your pleasure was stronger and him being rough kind of turned you on.

Jerome inserted another finger into your wet entrance what let you moan a little louder and your hips bucked.

Jerome curled up his fingers inside you harder and faster what made you moan louder. You grabbed the sheets of the bed tight to handle this big amount of pleasure.

Your back arched as he hit your g spot for another time. There again, you had this incredible feeling, all the upcoming pleasure in your body caused you a cribbing feeling in your abdomen that spread through your limbs up to your shoulders - this time it was much more intense though. Your core was aching and you became needy for his cock. Indeed, you were well pleasured but you want more. You wanted him to bury his member inside of you, filling up every inch of your cunt, making you scream and cum over and over again.

All your sorrows and worries disappeared all of a sudden. You didn't do anything for it; You just had eyes for Jerome and how he'd make you done undome several times. You didn't care about whether the others would hear you or not, you didn't care whether you'd rip the sheets apart or vice versa. You didn't care about anything.

You bit your lip in pleasure after you let out a loud moan as you noticed you were close.

Jerome pressed his thumb on your clit while continuing to pleasure you making you gasp. Your moans became louder and it became harder to hold them back. They way he did it just made you feel so good.

"Close already, huh?" Jerome pressed his thumb harder on your clit rubbing it in circling motions "Come for me, doll." His eyes kept staring on you. He loved hearing you moan his name through all the pleasure he was giving you. It aroused him much more than usual. He missed you and all this - he really did. The things that happened in his cell were nothing compared to you.

"Ahh fuck!" Right after he finished his sentence you released yourself with a lot cry.

The sweat was dripping down your forehead, you breathed heavy and uneven, and your legs were shaking and felt weak.

It was amazing for you. You admitted to yourself how much you missed this and you now remembered how good he made you feel.

With his strength, Jerome turned you around on your stomach waisting no time.

You blushed hard being a little worried about what's coming next.

"On all four, kitten." You blushed harder and did what he said. You felt a little strange with that nickname, it was very new to you, and honestly you would have never expected that from Jerome. His first impression to was him being a soft guy who rather prefers the normal way of how sex goes like...and generally, he didn't seem to be a dominant and rough guy.

You heard him walking a few steps backwards taking something. You were a little afraid what was coming now. You were afraid that he was taking a knife or other kind of weapons to do with you some dirty acts.

"My, my, my...You have such a beautiful body, you know that kitten?" Suddenly you felt something cold and sharp wandering down your spine. It made you shiver and gasp. You knew it was a knife and you just waited until Jerome started to hurt you "How many boys might have touched you when I was absent?"

"N-no one...w-where-...." You stammered in fear hoping nothing bad will happen. You didn't know where he's got that from suddenly. Was he jealous? Was he 'scared' that you could have a boyfriend and that he needs to make a plan to kill him?

"You really want me to believe that?" Jerome unbottoned his jeans and grabbed your waist violently inserting his dick into your wet entrance "It sounds a little surreal, don't you think? Who would not betray a blood-thirsty and cold-hearted murderer who's busted in Arkham?"

He didn't move though. Instead he pulled pulled on your hair tight that your head fell back what are you moan again. But instantly, your breathe hitched as you felt a cold and sharp knife pressed on your throat. Now you were scared, almost panicking. You hoped he didn't slit your throat.

"You know, I'm not a fan telling me a lie." He pressed the knife harder against your throat. You cut feel how the sharp blade cut your thin skin. Your body shivered in fear, your pulse was running and your breath was uneven. It felt like every minute could be your last one, it was just a matter of time until he killed you.

"I-I would n-never lie to you." You stammered quickly "H-honestly, I j-just though about y-you..." It was the truth. You really did. The whole year where Jerome was gone you didn't even think of dating a boy or of a simple one off. You were too much stuck in your thoughts about him, how he was doing, what he has become...

"Is that so?" Jerome didn't really sound convinced what let you panicking more.

"Y-yes," You gulped because you knew what you had to say now: you had to say you liked him "You J-Jerome...the l-last year was...i-it was hard for me b-because-..."

"Because?" You felt how the blade was pressed deeper in your skin and slightly moved to make a longer cut in your throat.

"Well," You gasped as Jerome stopped moving the blade "I-I....like y-you..."

This was not completely true but not completely wrong, as well. You did like him, but the old him more. You weren't scared of the old Jerome, you liked him being soft and kind...not frightening with this permanent changing behavior.

He said nothing at first, you could just feel his grin against your ear.

He put the blade aside what let you sigh in relief. You calmed down a little seeing the blade on the floor.

"I know, doll." His head moved from your ear, his hands were both placed on your waist.

And again, he started to thrusted violently into your wet entrance. You swore with a loud moan and arched your back.

Immediately, Jerome speeded up permanently pushing you against him to drill his member deeper into your cunt. His nails were dug into your waist what made you biting your lip.

Your whole body felt weak with every thrust he did into you. You body shivered slightly through this overwhelming pleasure. Every thrust hurt more, each of your moans became louder. Your nails were dug into the sheets of the bed deeply but still the pleasure he was giving you was too much. You couldn't handle it.

You moaned louder, almost uncontrollably, then your body gave in and you slightly collapsed in the bed.

Jerome though didn't waist no time - he kept drilling his member into you, grabbed your hair and pulled you upwards by your hair again.

"Oh my God, Jerome!" You cried out in pleasure while your legs shivered.

"So eager for my cock, you little slut, aren't we?" Jerome grunted and speeded up a third time.

You moaned louder, almost screamed. You felt how your walls clenched against his cock - you were close. You didn't know whether you could hold it back. It all was too much for you. You felt a knot in your stomach that was built up. It hardened with every thrust Jerome did.

"Fuck, I'm gonna-...!" You almost screamed digging your nails deeper in the sheets of the bed as you came. You couldn't even finish your sentence. With a few more thrusts, Jerome came as well.

You both collapsed on the bed. He still laid on you not even pulling out his member.

Silence filled the room for a while, just your gasps for air broke it here and there.

You felt Jerome's warm breathe on your skin every time he breathed out.

You closed your eyes for a moment enjoying this half broken silence.

Many thoughts crashed in your head together:

You told Jerome that you liked him and he surely will take advantage of it. Maybe he wants to force you to violent things like shooting at people or hurting them otherwise? And every time, you refuse he'd tell you stupid stuff like but I thought you like me, doll. You kinda regret what you said because you knew it will have consequences.

Another point would be his now increasing obsession and possessiveness towards you. Now he had the final proof that you wanted to be his and no one could ruin him that. He could call you his property because you liked him which meant for him: you wanted to be with him, you wanted to be his queen of Gotham, you wanted to spread chaos with him. Everyone else was his rival.

But then you thought that on the other hand, it was okay to be his. Everyone knew crazy Jerome could probably be so no one wanted him to be mad, as he said. And so nothing would happen to you.

"Even better than the first time" Jerome rolled off of you staring at the ceiling for a while while taking deep breathes.

"I agree," You slightly chuckled.

"And doll, " Jerome grabbed your cheeks pressing his face against yours that his lips hovered over yours "Never forget who you belong to. We don't want things turning out bad, do we?"

"N-no." You shook your head fast.

"Good...because you're mine."