#implied recapture

[whumpacabra]

I am thinking about a character coming home late. I am thinking about their friends being worried, relieved beyond belief to see them again (because the last time they disappeared…it was bad). The character doesn’t want to talk about where they’ve been, and that’s fine, but their friends just want to know they’re not hurt -

And at that the character snaps at them, violently pushing them away and running to hide in the nearest room with locking door. They’re fine, they just need space - because they are hurt (it’s bad) but they don’t want to worry their friends, they want to be able to take care of themself.

(It wasn’t supposed to happen again.)

[whumblr]

Whump prompt #69

Whumpee froze in their tracks as they were led into the familiar room. It hadn't changed at all since their last capture and the ever present smell of disinfectant made their stomach churn.

"Memories clawing up at you, hm?"

A hand gripped their shoulder and nudged them forward. A whisper brushed against their ear:

"Let's make some new ones."

[clfixationstation]

Spoilers for Act 3 of Arcane Caitvi!

Why are both caitvi kisses interrupting incredibly emotionally vulnerable and painful moments for Vi? I know the first was intentionally uneasy because Cait had already changed and Vi knew it but??

Am I just not understanding the build up? Because both felt really. Random to me. Like "oh, I guess we're doing this now! Instead of... reassuring Vi?" ?? I'm confused. I'll def rewatch tomorrow because it's possible I simply did not comprehend the scene

[sparrowsage]

Warehouse Drabble: Unsettling Reality - Alex's POV

So, I saw a prompt on here that someone reblogged and it gave me inspiration for this piece! It's set three days after this piece. I also wanted to write Sparrow's POV for this conversation as well and you can find it here. Hope y'all enjoy it! Also, a huge thank you for @oddsconvert for the usage of her oc's Ronan, Henley and Izaak from her series A Taste of Your Own Medicine!

TW: kidnapping implied, reference to past kidnapping, vague reference to past trafficking

“Hello?�� Alex said, running his free hand through his hair. It had been a long day at the hospital; he had been too absorbed in his thoughts about Sparrow. He had gone missing three days prior and both Alex and Felix had been a mess trying to work with the FBI on finding him as soon as possible. 

“This is Alex Sharpe, yes?” the voice over the phone asked, his voice low and a bit husky. It reminded Alex of Dr. Greyston and he couldn’t help but frown at the memory of him. 

“It is, yes. Is there something I can help you with?” 

There was a short chuckle on the other end of the line that made the hairs on the back of Alex’s neck stand up. 

“Not really, you’ve been enough help. I just wanted to call and thank you personally for taking such good care of my little Songbird. If it weren’t for you, he’d be dead in a ditch somewhere.” 

Alex was frozen in his chair, his heart pounding. Songbird. Damon’s nickname for Sparrow. 

The doctor grabbed a notepad and a pen as quietly as he could from the corner of his desk, his hands starting to shake, almost too afraid to speak. 

Damon took Alex’s silence as recognition and chuckled again. “I take it you know who I am, that’s good.” 

“I do, yes,” Alex responded slowly. “How’d you get this number?” 

“I have my ways, Dr. Sharpe. How goes the search? I’m sure you’ve gotten some kind of lead on your patient by now.” 

Damon’s remark and patronizing tone made Alex grit his teeth, but his words confirmed his suspicion on where Sparrow was. Felix, Henley and himself had hoped it wasn’t the case, but at least now there could be some kind of lead, even though no one knew where this facility was. 

“It’s going as well as one would expect,” he responded, writing down the time and date in his notepad. “Why are you calling me? Isn’t it a risky move? For all you know, the police are tracing this call.” 

Damon let out a huff of amusement, “You and I both know that is a lie. The FBI isn’t that smart, not this early on in the game. As to why I’m calling? It’s like I said, I wanted to thank you for taking such good care of Sparrow while he was away. There were countless times while he was in your care that he almost took it too far, but you stepped in and made sure that he didn’t.” 

How on Earth could he possibly know about that, Alex thought. They had been at the hospital, which Alex, up to this point, thought was a pretty secure and safe place. He jotted down a small note about it on his notepad as he managed to stop himself from asking how Damon knew about what he and Sparrow had worked through, his mouth hanging open slightly as he tried to find something else to say. 

“I was merely doing my job. He wouldn’t have gone to those lengths if you and the others hadn't treated him the way that you did.” 

“We were merely teaching him what his purpose on this Earth is. I do have to say though, you have given me quite a lot to fix now that he’s back where he belongs. You’ve set back his training a fair bit, but it’ll be righted soon enough.” 

Alex’s whole body was shaking now, doing all that he could to keep his cool. It felt like he was being baited, almost like the Keeper wanted him to lash out. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. 

“It won’t last long,” he said finally. “The FBI will find you and shut that place down-”

“Oh, will they?” Damon cut in. “Are you banking on Henley remembering where this place is?” 

“How do you-,” Alex started, his composure slipping. 

“I know a lot of things, Dr. Sharpe. Henley’s owner took measures to prevent both him and Izaak from ever knowing where this place is. Any lead you manage to find, it’ll go cold within days. It would be in your best interest to forget about your patient. He’s back where he belongs and will stay here.” There was a pause, and all Alex could hear was the faint sound of walking before he heard a few low groans in the background as Damon stopped walking. “Have a good night, Dr. Sharpe.” 

Alex was about to say something, but there was a click on the other end before the line went dead. 

Alex stayed frozen in his seat for a couple minutes after the line went dead, not knowing what to do, his body refusing to move no matter how hard Alex willed it to do so. 

He was terrified, to say the least. The groans he heard at the end of the call, they sounded like Sparrow and the doctor’s heart was in pieces knowing he was back with that bastard, enduring only god knows what at the Keeper’s hand. 

It took Alex a bit before he could move again, writing down everything he could about the phone call before he forgot. Once he had everything written down, he picked up his phone again, dialing the number an FBI agent had given him the day before with shaking hands, holding his phone up to his ear as it rang, praying the agent would answer at this hour. Hopefully they could help now that it was confirmed where Sparrow was. 

Taglist: @mannerofwhump, @honey-is-mesi, @painful-pooch, @whumperfully, @hiding-in-the-shadows, @flowersarefreetherapy, @goronska, @blueyellow8green, @darkthingshappen, @oddsconvert, @whumpcereal, (If you'd like to be added, let me know!)

[echoingalaxies]

Whump related ask! Any kidnapping whump scenarios in mind? 👀

Heyy! Ohh yes!!

Recapturing (my belobed): Whumpee is let go on purpose or manages to escape after a relatively short time being kidnapped (a couple of weeks at most), and they get to be free only for equally short period of time before the same Whumper takes them again, and this time they won't let them go or have made sure escaping is impossible.

It's even better if Whumper corners Whumpee and Caretaker during this freedom, threatening to take Caretaker this time, and Whumpee begs to be taken again over Caretaker ever having to experience the horrors they already know Whumper will do

Whumper targets people who no one will miss: they lure Whumpees in by offering them a job, deal including having a team to work with, a roof over their head and warm meals every day, anything that might sound appealing to lonely Whumpees who are struggling to get by.

A few Whumpees will actually get to work for them, but the job is not how they've imagined; Whumper is making them to hurt people. If Hired Whumpees start to refuse, Whumper takes them to the basement where all the other Whumpees are locked in, beaten and injured, and gives the Hired Whumpee a choice: either keep doing as you're told or become one of them.

Can be done even without actually hiring any of them, that would just be some extra fun for the Whumper. Point being they know the Whumpees have no one, and so there's no fear of anyone coming for them.

To combine these prompts: When Whumpee has been let go after only days with Whumper, they get into an argument with their Team/Caretaker, who don't understand why Whumper would have let them go so quick. Whumper is known and feared for keeping their prisoners for years, if not forever, and Team/Caretaker blame Whumpee for giving into Whumper's will and becoming a spy for them or that Whumpee would've told Whumper everything they wanted to know and is let go for that reason.

None of this is true, and Whumpee has no idea why Whumper let them go. Either way, the Team/Caretaker is so convinced Whumpee has betrayed them they kick them out.

And isn't this what Whumper had planned all along... Whumpee is now alone and vulnerable, and no longer has anyone looking out for them.

(I've been imagining two stories with the combined plot but knowing myself I'll never write them </3)

[scratchandplaster]

FEBUWHUMP 2023 DAY 6 - Secrets revealed

CW: recapture, mentions of a cult, reference to non-con touch (non-sexual), drugging, alcohol, Whumpee being awkward

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

The bass nearly deafened all other noise surrounding them. He took two full hours to let his longing gaze finally turn into a pickup line, a stuttered mess about fallen angels or whatever corny phrases he googled beforehand. He had thoroughly prepared for this, even written it down on his forearm to not mess it up.

Embarrassing, but she still laughed. Maybe about him, but she did nonetheless, until they laughed together.

Now their bodies were moving closer on the dance floor, basking in the beats drumming from the speakers, which acted as an ever thinning layer between them. Everything around them was like a new taste hammering onto his senses: the music, the drinks, the people…

God, he didn't know any of them, different faces hitting his eyes like a refreshing splash of water, clearing his view. Everything adding up to outline the person now mere inches away from him, inviting him closer to dance, to touch-

He waited so long for this, to finally decide for himself when and how he would show his affection. But there was something that stopped him from moving closer, a very familiar sensation: Fear.

"So what are you looking for tonight?", she practically screamed into his face, when his movements started to turn into more of a tense flinching than anything else.

"Umm...just some company." he replied nervously, probably way too quiet, judging by her lost expression.

Instead of sputtering further, she pulled him by his sleeve and off to the side, between the cocktail bar and the toilets.

Very nice, I bet the stench of piss will make me look more sympathetic, he thought with a sour expression.

Careful to pull his cheap dress shirt down to cover the notes, that were currently getting smeared around by a combination of sweat and iridescent glitter, he felt like the biggest idiot in town.

"Um… I thought about getting one of those," he pointed at an electric blue chalice of unknown contents, currently held by a woman dressed in the shortest skirt he'd ever seen. It looked like the fur of some animal. 

A tiger maybe, he pondered, or a cheetah, they are known for-

"Ah, yeah. They're great. Ever had one?" The little reflective umbrella on top almost waved at him.

"No, but if you recommend them, I'm sure I'll like it!"

Her round face turned avid at that comment. Dragging herself through the crowd, she made her way up to the counter. He continued to look for her between the illuminated shapes that swayed and jumped all around him, using her glitter-freckled skin and wild red hair as an anchor in this unfamiliar environment.

It was calming to know that he didn't waste his evening tucked away in a corner watching, like he used to often enough.

Don't be such a freak, act normal, the desperate voice in his head kept yelling at him. It never revealed something new, even when following him across state lines.

Lifting his gaze off the bar, he took the time to take in the view. Hundreds of people, all different in the most unique ways he'd ever seen: hair, clothing, make up. Now collected in one place for the sole purpose of having fun, being free to express that in any way they liked. He still wasn't part of that mob, but gradually learned how to better take part in this life, the life he always wanted. Finally, finally being on his own, escaping his so-called life and moving far away to start living-

"This is a Blue Lagoon," she explained, ripping him away from his line of thought.

She leaned against the wall holding a bulbous glass in each hand, gradually moving one towards him. Bright liquid sloshed around inside the glass and made the ice cubes softly clink against each other.

"I can't wait for you to try it!" she kept on going, all the while the nauseating presence at the back of his neck started to make itself even more present, "But be honest, it's not for everybody."

Danger. Danger. Danger.

"Mhh...can we...can we maybe switch?" he finally pressed out.

A long stretch of silence followed, he could see her face gradually starting to lose its smooth features. He was not able to place the expression that slowly turned her smile into a grimace of aversion...disgust even? He knew that he ruined it, every chance of living out here was just a thinly veiled lie.

You know where you belong, don't fool yourself.

Wordlessly shrugging, she outstretched her other hand, now holding nearly the same drink as before.

Stop acting like an asshole was the only thought left in his mind, as the thick tension between them was getting worse and worse by the second.

"Sorry," he tried in a last attempt to save himself from being ridiculed, "I just really like the green one."

His fingers grabbed the drink out of her hand, the cursed quiet between them slowly began to dissolve, as her eyes started to widen with insight.

"It's okay, really. It's not a big deal." She looked down at her own glass, decorated with a purple umbrella tucked between an orange slice and a maraschino cherry, and back at him.

"Suits you. So, what are you doing here in Nashville? You don't look like a tourist."

Tell her something, don't be a fucking idiot.

What was he supposed to say: Escaping a cult in Cincinnati? Google didn't encourage that kind of chit-chat.

"Just visiting an old friend." Come on, keep it going.

"Sounds fun!" It was apparent that she was trying her hardest not to turn around and dump him on the spot. A beat of uncomfortable silence started to announce itself again.

"Thank you for being so patient with me, I'm not really great at this kind of conversation," he admitted at last, slowly sipping the alien liquid through the funny shaped straw. Being honest was the least he could do.

A sudden punch of sugary alcohol hit him, making his nostrils burn from the inside out and letting him cough like a high schooler trying their first beer. It truly was great.

"That's alright," she smiled, followed by a quick wink and slurp of her own drink, "It's not the small talk I'm here for."

--------

"I'm so glad I met you tonight."

They hadn't stopped after one cocktail, he could feel the fruity aromas the bar had offered them still enclosing his tongue. She showed him all her favorites, each coming with their own ornament he secretly put into his pocket, evidence of his adventures.

Now, sitting on the passenger's seat of her old Ford Fiesta, he never felt so free in his life.

"Me too, I waited so long for this!" he breathed through a pleasant shiver, the tingly heat all across his body slowly sinking deeper into his bones. She sat on his lap, straddling him while holding his heavy head between her palms. The copper curls framing her sparkling blue eyes lovingly stared back at his, searching his gaze.

He hugged her waist softly, dragging them both close once again, but not moving down any further. He would never do anything she wouldn't request, exactly as he hoped he would be treated.

She would stop; if I'd tell her that I didn't like it, she would stop.

A notion he never had dared to think back then.

The little voice that mocked him for a good part of the night finally shut up, being replaced by the bliss now warming him from the inside. His vision had long turned fuzzy from the vodka or whatever juice the barkeeper had filled them up with, little black dots dancing up the in the air like TV static. Motionless in their embrace, they remained. She was better than any company he could have hoped for.

"Oh, I have to pay you back still-" he slurred, his hands suddenly breaking contact with her soft skin to fumble for his wallet, "...the drinks, y´know?"

His fingers tucked at the zipper of his fleece jacket, but slipped every time they got a hold of the little slider. If he'd known that being wasted would make him this weak, he would have abstained from one Malibu Sunset...

But only one!, he silently smiled to himself.

"Don't worry about that," she whispered, her weight lifted off his thighs as she placed herself back into the driver's seat, "I just hope you had fun tonight."

He did, but couldn't find the strength to tell her that. His mouth wasn't moving on his command anymore, he felt himself weightlessly sinking into the darkness creeping in at the corners of his heavy-lidded eyes.

"We all missed you so much!", was the last thing he heard before gently drifting towards the void of unconsciousness, thinking nothing at all.

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

Thanks for reading 🤍 [Febuwhump 2023 Masterlist]

@febuwhump

[wolfeyedwitch]

Zera and Bailey in the *redacted*

Whump Prompt

“What…what did they do to you?”

“It doesn’t matter. Just get me out of here. Please.”

[returnofismasm]

Given how much of the immediate backstory to Dragon Age: Inquisition was found in Asunder and the Masked Empire, I think some people might be wondering if any of the short stories, anthologies, or comics are also "homework" for The Veilguard. Obviously, the game's not out yet, so I can't be 100% sure, but here's my best recommendations based on what we know about the characters (done in alphabetical order because why not).

Bellara: She's new! The Veil-jumpers are in a single issue of the Missing, but she's not any of the ones named there. They investigate magical disturbances around Arlathan forest, and that's kind of all we know.

Davrin: Also new! The reason he seems to have a juvenile griffon (or at least, why there's a griffon at all!) is covered in the events of the novel The Last Flight, but it's hard to say how much any of those specifics are relevant to Davrin.

Emmrich: Emmrich (and Manfred!) is in Down Among the Dead Men in Tevinter Nights, and another, The Eternal Flame released during a Dragon Age Day and archived on the wiki. We learn he's a senior member of the Mourn Watchers, somewhat eccentric, and capable of talking to the dead. Also he's got a last name, Volkarin, so that's neat. All of that seems pretty easy to catch people up on in-game. (Down Among the Dead Men is really good though).

Harding: Harding is in the Missing, accompanying Varric on his hunt for Solas. Her buddy-cop-comedy-ing it with Varric is apparent from the trailer. Her apparent magic powers are completely new though!

Lucanis: He and Neve probably have the most backstory in Tevinter Nights of the bunch. Lucanis's story is found in the Wigmaker Job and he's mentioned in Eight Little Talons, both in Tevinter Nights. A Dragon Age Day short story called the Wake seems to have implied that he died, so mayhaps he faked his death? To hopefully set some people at ease, even though he's advertised as "The Magekiller," the mages he's killing are Venatori, so it's all good. I doubt he'd have beef with Neve or Emmrich or a mage PC JUST because they're mages. Also he's got a last name, Dellamorte.

Neve: Neve has a last name too! It's Gallus. Neve is the viewpoint character of the Streets of Minrathous, where she stops a Venatori plot to unleash a giant sealed demon underneath Minrathous. Her story is very Noir-vibes in a fantasy setting. She's also in the Missing for an issue, where she meets Varric and Harding and they work together to help escaped slaves avoid recapture by the Venatori. The giant sealed demon business did feel very "preview of a boss battle" but who can say if it actually is.

Taash: Like with Bellara, Taash herself is new, but the Lords of Fortune have featured elsewhere. They're in a number of stories in Tevinter Nights, as well as in Dragon Age: Absolution. The group doesn't seem to have a formal role, they seem to be sort of "adventurers for hire." Side note though, Ataashi is Qunlat for dragon, so I wonder if that's where Taash got her name.

[rimatsu]

Ok convince me to reject caution and embrace delusion. Why are you so hopeful? 

the safe bet is definitely caution. but regardless of initial intentions, nothing is ever set in stone in the 911 writing room and that’s reason enough to remain hopeful. still, when people say the chances of a reconciliation are non-zero, i think that’s low-balling it. at the very least, we’re at 10% chance, 90% faith.

granted the interviews i (unwillingly) absorbed via osmosis don't exactly inspire confidence but again: 1) tim is fickle as the wind and writers can change their minds at the drop of a hat, 2) nothing that was directly stated by actors or showrunner contradicts the idea of a makeup arc, 3) if the breakup was intentionally designed as a temporary hurdle they’d imply otherwise anyway (oh god i sound like Them don't i.... this is a cry for help)

the reasons why 8x06 could qualify as a temporary split have been extensively discussed so i’ll try to be brief (spoiler: i failed) before tackling what i’d like to see in 8b. buckle up buttercup, i’m a yapper:

1) the breakup wasn’t written as definitive or unfixable. buck and tommy didn’t part because of irreconcilable differences or because passion/attraction fizzled out. if they wanted that door closed, tommy could’ve simply said he was uninterested in pursuing long term commitment with buck, that they’re not compatible in the long run — there: a clean, uncomplicated break. instead, we’re told that tommy desperately wants to be the person buck settles down with, but he’s convinced buck is propelled by the excitement of novelty, that he suspects buck is latching onto him for the wrong reasons, that he can’t allow himself to merge their home life together in fear he’ll never recover once buck wants out. the implications here being tommy is in love with buck already. for his part, buck came to the realization that he wants a future with tommy and immediately decided to pursue it because that's just the type of man he is: never one to do things by half-measures, seeing no value in waiting once his mind is made up. so there’s no conflicting desire there. they want the same thing: permanence with each other. the next two episodes also paint a strange picture if the goal is a definitive separation. buck bakes excessively in an attempt to cope when he never needed a coping mechanism following a breakup before, and we’re told several times that he wants to reach out — in fact buck was about to reach out until he was physically stopped. in total, 3 tommy mentions so far. usually we get the one and then buck moves on to greener pastures (abby notwithstanding, but she's an exception and not the rule, main character privilege and all). we were even deliberately shown that tommy considered contacting buck on his own. that's establishing regret and a desire for reconnection on both sides of the equation. again, that’s a never seen before: tommy is an outlier. completely unnecessary if the breakup is a done deal. whether they follow it through or not, the aftermath was written in such a way that there’s ground for a reconciliation if needs be

2) this is the first buck break up to happen during the first act of the season, something that’s normally reserved for the finale for maximum impact. why this distinction? strange placement for the end of a romantic storyline if you ask me.

3) they're never going to replicate a LI that checks out as many boxes as tommy does, or recapture the romcom magic that was 7x04-7x06. and it's fine if they don't, not all endgame romances need to be the most memorable of the bunch, but it'd be stupid to let the remaining potential go to waste. it's undeniable, the show is nearing its end, i don't imagine they get renewed past s10. if they go the natalia route again and introduce a LI at the last moment, it's going to pale in comparison to the other viable option, one that has pre-established history and connection to buck/the 118. inadvertently or not, they set up an epic love story of intertwined fate. tommy has literally haunted the narrative since the pilot: one of the very first thing abby reveals is that she’s not over tommy breaking off their (retconned) engagement. as such, tommy has played a pivotal role in shaping buck into the man he is today: if tommy hadn’t transferred out to harbor station, buck wouldn’t have found his family and his life purpose. if tommy hadn’t left abby, buck wouldn’t have realized that emotional intimacy and romantic connection is what he seeks. if tommy hadn’t kissed him, a huge part of buck’s identity would’ve remained buried and unexplored. how are they possibly going to top a red string theory dating back 8 seasons? they can’t. i’m sure they’re aware of that.

4) why bring our attention to tommy’s admiration and envy for a tight-knit unit like the 118, on three separate occasions, if the ultimate goal isn’t to reward him and integrate him into the makeshift family?

5) idk what it's worth, if it's worth anything at all, but there’s been a substantial amount of displeasure voiced over their breakup. tommy is buck’s most well-received LI to date. they took a risk with the Big Bisexual Reveal and it paid off with increased engagement and viewership. if they were still debating a reconciliation, surely they've heard that at least some people will eagerly welcome a makeup arc with open arms.

i'm a broken record so i'm probably repeating myself but here goes my ideal timeline for the rest of the season (not a speculation, not wishful thinking, but a secret third thing):

i'm gonna operate under the assumption that the breakup happened solely so buck could be at his lowest for the kidnapping plot line with a minimal/reduced support system (no boyfriend AND no best friend around when his pregnant sister is abducted). in other words, i don't think buck will be in a place to venture back into the dating world by 8x09-8x10 quite yet (i don’t actually buy the buck-dates-the-serial-killer theory). he's handled the breakup fairly well but now with the kidnapping & eddie gone/in the process of moving, i assume that's when he really starts to spiral.

(if we get a fourth tommy mention here, i'd say it's a promising sign. it’d be a purposeful way to keep him in viewers’ radar after the 4-month break)

i think getting maddie back after a few days of fear and uncertainty will be a breakthrough for buck and he’ll make a conscious decision to move on from his funk by the end of 8x10.

ideally “jumping back into the pond” would take place in 8x11 to 8x13, starting with a comedic montage of buck in a string of various failed dates. this is the part of the season where i expect him to utter the word bisexual, probably when the topic of exes comes into play. every other queer identity in the show gets labeled and stated in no uncertain terms, but bisexuality is ever only vaguely implied (nancy in ls) or shown but not explicitly spoken (buck and eva). it’s frustrating. personally i choose to believe buck’s lackluster reaction to maddie’s questionable “how many men did she turn gay?” joke was intentional on the writers’ part. it was the perfect opportunity to reaffirm his sexuality but buck didn’t bc he's not fully in tune with his queerness yet. yeah he speedran through his coming out but recalibrating your entire identity after 3 decades of presumed heterosexuality is a complex process rifled with ups and downs. i hope it gets explored with more care and depth in future episodes.

supposedly we know two things: the fling is another form of coping mechanism, and it's short-lived. chances are it's going to be a woman, and i'd love for it to be a bi girl bc 1) yay bi4bi m/f representation, 2) he's dating someone who can intimately relate to his experience and can maybe offer some additional clarity where clarity is still needed.

my other preferred scenario is that he meets a guy who immediately clocks that buck is still hung up on his ex and not emotionally available for anything more than casual fun. basically give buck a sex friend who can expose him to the LA gay scene. if my memory serves me right, OS said he'd like to see buck in queer spaces. i would like to see it too (we could’ve had that exploration with tommy but i digress….)

long story short, he eventually meets someone he has chemistry with, but it's still not as easy or companionable or butterfly-inducing as it was with tommy. buck gets back home from the seemingly successful date and he just... starts baking — wordlessly communicating to the audience that he’s still plagued by Tommy Thoughts.

now if i put on my clown shoes, i’d say the bts pictures of the 217 engines suggest an upcoming bucktommy reunion on a call (surely they were made for a reason. right. RIGHT????), ideally in 8x14. i’ve babbled about it here, but the sparknotes version is:

- there's a 5 alarm high-rise fire requiring ground and aerial ops. tommy is tasked with delivering firefighters to the roof, including the 118. the chopper ride to destination is understandably awkward but professional enough

- tommy joins ground ops once he’s completed his maximum hours of flight. he ends up trapped in a pocket of rubbles with buck after a partial structural collapse. that’s when they hash it out. it’s not pretty: they’re on edge and exhausted and full of adrenaline and words aren’t sugarcoated or minced. but they’re honest, and afterward they understand each other’s perspective.

it has been said before, but i don't think buck registered the underlying message of the breakup. we know he doesn't handle rejection well, and it's likely he was so hyperfocused on being told no that he didn’t compute the “no matter how much i want to be (your last)” part. that’d explain the 118’s strange response to the split. if i was told “my boyfriend broke up with me because he thinks i'll eventually break his heart once i figure out he's not who i truly want” i’d strongly advise communication before calling it quit prematurely. but if my friend told me “my boyfriend broke up with me when i asked him to move in bc he doesn't think we'll last bc i don’t know what i want” i would trust that they relayed the correct story and i too would discourage contact.

anyway buck has stated that he doesn’t want to chase after someone who doesn’t want him before, but now he knows that wanting was never the issue with tommy, that the breakup was fueled by insecurities and fears and trauma rather than disinterest. at first, it’s presented as reaching a necessary closure: once the fire is contained, buck and tommy part way with another “see you around, buck. i truly hope you find what you’re looking for” and a bittersweet smile. except now buck has had another breakthrough, he’s full of renewed resolved and clarity, and he’s ready to fight for this relationship, so he shows up at tommy’s doorstep the next night and pleads his case.

in 8x15-8x16, we see them readjust to being a couple except this time, it's with the knowledge that they both want serious in the long run. maybe they discover facets of each other previously kept under wraps for the sake of 'keeping it light and breezy'. also they fuck/fade to black on screen (this is imperative)

the last two episodes are focused on the closing disaster, whatever that might be. in this hypothetical timeline, we get a few more glimpses of domesticity. maybe even establish the setup for a move-in next season when bucktommy discuss buck’s lease.

you can have the helicopter crash as a treat for s9. once they're truly settled with each other and it's bound to be more devastating.

voilà <3 apologies and congratulations for your perseverance if you made it this far. the answer was never supposed to be this lengthy or tangencial oops can you tell i’m obsessed. terminally ill even

[blasphemousclaw]

I’ve been seeing a lot of people argue that Radahn would never agree to Miquella’s plans because he loves the Golden Order and would never want to replace it… but I think there are some nuances about the current state of the Golden Order that call that assumption into question?

The first thing to know about Radahn is that he’s defined by his idealization of Godfrey and his reign as Elden Lord. His lion armor is an explicit tribute to him, and he tries to emulate the “Lord of the Battlefield’s” martial prowess and heroic, honorable nature. When looking at the iconography associated with Radahn, it is always directly tied to Godfrey alone.

But Godfrey isn’t here anymore, he was banished… and the current state of the Golden Order is now extremely culturally different than it had been under his rule. The crucible and those associated with it gradually became less and less accepted, and more and more “disdained as an impurity as civilization advanced.” Godfrey’s crucible knights used to be heroes, and it’s even implied that they were the very face of the colosseums’ ritual combat… the Ritual Sword Talisman is “patterned after swords used in ritual combat held to honor the Erdtree,” and it’s the exact same design as Crucible Knight Ordovis’s sword:

so there’s this connection between the colosseums under Godfrey’s reign and the crucible.

But, in the present day, both the crucible knights and the colosseums have fallen by the wayside: “In time, the strength shown by these knights, and even their appearance, was seen as chaotic and deserving of scorn,” and regarding ritual combat, “the practice had died out by the age of King Consort Radagon.”

We do in fact see these hallmarks of Godfrey’s reign in association with Radahn as well — from Freyja’s backstory, we know that Radahn first met her by watching her fight as a gladiator at the colosseum (probably the one in Caelid!). And there’s a boss fight at Redmane castle with a Crucible Knight and a (red-haired!) Leonine Misbegotten! It’s also worth nothing that Godfrey, his crucible knights, and Consort Radahn all share the same earth-stomp move! Another interesting point is that Godfrey is associated with lions (Beast-Regent Serosh), and of course Radahn wears lion armor inspired by this, but there is also a Lion Guardian enemy at Redmane castle that has horns:

the old crucible society of the Hornsent revered the horned lion above all…

and Radahn, the “Lord of the Battlefield’s lion,” gains horns after being resurrected in Mohg’s body… literally becoming a horned lion!

I think it means something that Radahn is associated again and again with these symbols of the OLD Golden Order and the crucible… the time when Godfrey ruled, the crucible still flourished, and glorious combat reigned supreme. Yes, Radahn is absolutely defined by nostalgia and trying to recapture the glory of an old age… but I think this is actually a reason for him to OPPOSE the current Order, because now all the things he loved and admired about it are GONE! Indeed, there’s no evidence that Radahn made any attempt to preserve the current Order during the Shattering, and Morgott considers him to be a “willful traitor” with the rest of his siblings!

Does this mean that I think Radahn planned to be where he is with Miquella at the end of the dlc? Not necessarily, and I personally am really skeptical that where he ended up was entirely of his own choosing… I just think that the logic of assuming Radahn would want to preserve the Order in its current state is flawed, because the differences between Godfrey’s reign and Radagon’s reign are quite significant!

[kroosluvr]

yay!!!!!!!

typo that im too lazy to fix: on the last page, "kasumi was one of the best gymnasts [in japan]"

edit: BRO I IDDNT REALIZE AKIRA ND SUMIRE WERE SHARING A SPOON TO EAT THE CURRY AM I INSANEEEEE <- She literally drew this image

1st 2 pics are genderbent akira+goro as well as sumire, 3rd pic is canon akira and sumire

in my head m!sumire is dedicated to rhythmic gymnastics, but the fact that it's not a popular sport somehow causes a mental block for him: kasumi was a trailblazer in men's rhythmic gymnastics. he was setting the course, but now he's gone. so does sumire live up to that? does he have to fill his brother's shoes? or can he just strive to be the best rhythmic gymnast he himself can be?

he was always solemn and driven growing up, but after the accident, he drove himself further into his practices and routines in an attempt to "recapture the spark" that kasumi had. of course, this is mostly in vain... chasing his shadow doesn't get him anywhere

he slowly develops the cognition of "sumire" being "kasumi's replacement." the younger brother that stepped up to the plate. to attend to his anxiety/depression he goes to dr. maruki (i'd say this takes longer than in canon, because he was always so busy with practice that he didn't really. comprehend 'oh perhaps i need counseling after my brother died' LMAO. and even then it's more "ok im gonna start competing internationally, so i need to make sure my mental is in tiptop shape"

he starts to reveal his insecurities to dr. maruki who. yknow. does all that. i don't think this sumire would specifically say "i wish i was kasumi" but more "i want to continue his legacy the way only he could have done it" which dr. maruki himself takes as "ok so u want to literally be kasumi"

i'd also say his "transformation" into "kasumi" is more jarring than in canon? canon "kasumi" is polite, eager, cheerful and sunny, but i imagine m!"kasumi" to be more boisterous, more outwardly outgoing/extroverted/outspoken, a little bit of a daredevil

on top of that, i think (perhaps) since men's rhythmic gymnastics isn't super popular, maybe not many ppl have heard of "kasumi yoshizawa" to begin with? so maybe ppl accept him as "kasumi" a little easier, which is. um. bad LOL

not sure if this helps his gymnastics at all. i thinkkk it does give him the confidence to execute more complicated routines that sumire himself didn't have the self-confidence to try before. but, of course, this doesn't affect anything in the rhythmic gymnastics world since. erm. everyone knows kasumi died. awkward!!!!

i think the shame would be all-encompassing when he breaks out of the delusion. he never wanted this.... all he wants is to keep competing with his brother, to keep supporting him into the limelight, and he'll never have that again. so i think, like canon, his arc is learning how to support and uplift Himself -- but more like, become more self-sufficient in terms of his own gymnastics instead of always seeing himself as second place to kasumi (and being okay with that)

it's different than canon as kasumi always told sumire they'd take the world stage... TOGETHER! ->

while i think for m!kasumi and m!sumire they worked in tandem, it was never really a dream. kasumi simply decided "i want to do this" and so did sumire. the thing is, kasumi's skills just far outweighed sumire's, and that much was painfully clear to him. kasumi was one who could bring men's rhythmic gymnastics into the international lens, and sumire has no idea if he could ever be strong enough to do that.

there's an interesting sort of dissonance here....... like. big fish small pond (genderbend au) or small fish big pond (canonverse.) i think its interesting.. okay enough rambles from me its 4am sdjsdjfh

edit: last thing i think. in canon it’s heavily implied that kasumi took the reins and pushed sumire to do stuff / pick out clothes for them both / kinda set the stage for both of them but i think in gb au sumire just follows kasumi as a result of kasumi being such a bright light. sumire has ambitions the same way kasumi does but he lacks the self-esteem to back it up…. it’s similar in canon but not 1:1 if that makes sense? i think in canon sumire is still questioning if it’s even her dream to compete in gymnastics so that’s the main diff

[whumblr]

Skip ahead

Desperate tears already streamed over their cheeks. Whumpee backed up a step, nowhere else to go. The man in front of them effectively blocked off their one escape route. Fighting him wasn't even worth considering. Running wouldn't work. They were cornered in every sense of the word.

"P-please..." The plea was barely more than a puff of air. They tried again, cursing how feeble and pathetic their voice came out: "Please. Don't take me back."

"Oh, love..." Whumper stepped forward and carefully reached out. The grip on their chin however was anything but. Whumpee shuddered when they felt the familiar pattern of bruises forming. "We're just talking, we're barely even talking..." He brushed a thumb up, catching a drop of salt, "And you're already such a mess."

Whumpee couldn't do a thing but give a nod and a sniffle, avoiding the piercing gaze.

With a soft sigh, Whumper let go of them.

"Well, if you don't want me to take you back..." He reached behind him and Whumpee nearly buckled in fear when he revealed the gun. Whumper grabbed them by the neck, keeping them from falling over, keeping them close, and crooned: "I can understand if you want to skip all the pain and suffering. I do."

He teased the gun up, watched as their eyes followed his every moment, noticed how their breathing stopped when he pressed it into the soft underside of their chin.

"We could just," he whispered, "skip ahead? To the main event?"

The gun gave a distinct click, the front sight dug uncomfortably into their skin as he tilted the gun to press the muzzle up, aiming at their brain. "No... No, please."

"I mean, we'll get there eventually, so--"

"No!"

"So you'll come with me."

It wasn't a question. Whumpee swallowed hard, another stream of tears streaking down. "Y-yes..."

The pressure under their chin disappeared. A breath released as if said pressure had been blocking their air.

Another click as the gun switched back to safety, releasing the clasp on their muscles, and Whumper put it back into its holster. The grip on their neck, however, only increased, and he lightly nudged them along.

"Good choice."

-

General whump tag: @firewheeesky @myfriendcallsmeasickwoman19 @whumpawink @painsandconfusion

@auroragehenna @chaotic-orphan @lolrpop

[loonybun]

Check Up

hi. guess who wrote. aren’t you proud. anyways these are like. my favorite ocs. if you’ve known me for very long you know i will never shut up about them ever and have character blogs because god they’re in my brain constantly

contains: med whump/lab whump (not sure which this would classify as. sort of in the middle there.), creepy/intimate carewhumper, doctor whumper, does vian deserve his own mention here yeah he’s a warning all by himself, condescension, restraints, recapture, former living weapon whumpee, magical/sci-fi setting, references to addition and drugs, mentions of brainwashing and memory erasure, betrayal, needles, implied self harm, self harm being weaponized.

i think that’s all but let me know if i’m missing something. this one’s a bit of a doozey. fun for the whole family.

——————————————————

“You look like you slept well.”

He was barely even awake. The room felt like it was spinning, the all too familiar fluorescent lights inducing a dizzying nausea.

The shock of the cold metal on his back forced him into reality. Shit. This was happening. There wasn’t any way out of it. Not an obvious one, anyways.

Koi’s eyes drifted back over to the doctor, who greeted him with a soft smile. Right. Why was he here? Why didn’t he have—

“I took off that little cuff of yours, hopefully you don’t mind. I’ll probably have to answer for that later, but oh well. I figured you’d want to enjoy your last few moments of lucidity.” He murmured, pity crossing his face. “I know you’re not really capable of what they think you are. Poor thing. They think you’re a killing machine! A terrorist! It’s a little funny, actually. I mean, you’re…”

His eyes trailed over Koi for a brief moment. “…Harmless. Completely harmless like this.”

“—I mean, I’m not a big fan of killing people. Kind of why I was trying to avoid this place.”

“Yes, yes, and that’s exactly my point. I guess capable isn’t the right word, is it? I mean, you’ve done it before. I suppose what I’m trying to insinuate is that you’re just unfit to be the monster they’re going to try to break you into.” The doctor hummed, gently ruffling his hair.

“…It’s nice to see you again, by the way. I really did miss you. I know we were never close, but— You were always one of my favorites.”

Koi scoffed. “Enough of a favorite to let out of these restraints? C’mon, it’s not like I’m going anywhere.”

“…You know I can’t, Koi.”

“…Right.” He went quiet for a moment, letting the air grow heavy. Well, might as well rip the bandaid off. “So uh… What are they gonna do?”

And just like that, he was back to his giddy state. “Oh— Yes, I forgot, you like it when I explain these things.”

“You’re uh, not annoyed by it, right? I know a lot of the scientists were and uh—“

“No, no! Not at all. I appreciate your enthusiasm. I always have. People here are just so incredibly impatient.”

“…Oh, uh, thanks. Alright, then yeah, give me the rundown.” Koi already had a good idea about what was going to happen next. They’d throw him in a nice, big cell, give him the whole “You have a purpose here” spiel, and then keep him in there until he either gave in or escaped— not like the former would ever happen.

Vian’s eyes seemed to sparkle as he began to explain. “Well, you see, we figured that since you’re going to be here for a while, we might as well work out that little… Issue… With your magic.”

“And then they’ll expect me to join ‘em again?”

“…Well— Actually, you won’t have much of a say in the matter. They’re planning on wiping your memories. It’ll be like your little runaway incident never happened. You won’t remember the experiments either, of course. None of those silly traumatic things.”

Shit.

“Until then, I’m supposed to keep you hooked up to an IV containing a drug I’ve developed. Just something to keep your mind in more of an agreeable state. You won’t lose your ability to think, of course, you’ll just… Struggle with comprehending those thoughts. I like to say it’s like water slipping through cracks— Nicer imagery leads to a much less stressful experience.” Vian smiled cheerfully, giving Koi a little pat on the head.

He felt sick. This wasn’t how things were supposed to be. “—Wait, wait, wait. Can’t we talk this out? I mean— You don’t really want me to lose my memory, right?— What about— What about my friends? My life?”

At that, the doctor chuckled. “Koi, we should really move on with the examination. I have a job to do… Maybe if you’re good, we can talk a little more about your options afterwards.”

Despite the bile in his throat, Koi nodded. Maybe there was a chance that the doctor would take pity on him. He just had to get through this.

Vian lifted up the thin sleeve of his hospital gown, staring down his arm while he fixed a cuff on his shoulder.

“…Now, I know we didn’t give those to you.”

“What?”

“Those scars.” Vian traced a cold finger along one of the countless cuts lined over the withered skin. “Those are new. Lined up so poorly as well. Goodness, you really haven’t been doing well for yourself, have you?”

Koi shot him a small glare that quickly faded into something a little more pitiful. He had to remember what was at risk if he fucked this up.

“Yeah, well, what can I say? Apparently having a guilty conscience has consequences.”

The doctor’s eyes flickered with mild amusement. It was an unsettling look on him.

“We both know that’s not what this is.”

“Didn’t you say you had a job to do?”

The pressure on his arm began to increase, then released all at once. The cuff went off just as quickly as it had been strapped on. Vian stared at the readings for a brief moment, then looked back at his patient.

“And who are you to say that a wellness check wouldn’t be part of it? I won’t tell, I promise. Now, you were always good with needles. Are you alright if I draw some blood?”

Koi nodded hesitantly. It would be better not to argue with the only person who might be willing to lend a hand to him. He wasn’t that stupid. It’s not like he had many other options.

The needle sank into his skin, and he reflexively let go of the tension in his body. He could have sworn he saw Vian smile at that.

“Good. You’ve always so good with these things. I believe that’s most of what I needed— We’ll do a drug test too, just to be sure. You’d be surprised hearing all of the rumors some of the scouts have come up with about you. Meaningless gossip, really. They claim you’re some worthless street junkie now.” Vian hummed, brushing Koi’s bangs out of his face. “Then again, I wouldn’t be totally surprised. You’ve been hung out to dry. We can lose ourselves, sometimes.”

He couldn’t help but lean into the soft touch. If it weren’t for the backhanded conversation, he probably would have felt genuinely relaxed.

“Yeah, right. I’ve totally got the spare change to shell out for that.”

“Mhm... Like I said, meaningless gossip.”

He needed to break the silence in the air. He could practically feel Vian’s gaze on him. Cold and scrutinizing. “Well, uh, is that all you needed me for?”

“Oh— Yes, we should be done for now. You said you wanted to talk about your options, didn’t you? This would also be a decent time to ask me any extra questions.” The doctor snapped his eyes back to focus, a smile quickly reappearing on his face.

“Yeah, yeah. That sounds good. Uh, so is there any way I can convince you to help me? I mean, I know we were never friends, but—“

“You’d like to be. I know.” He didn’t even let him finish. “You mentioned that once. It stuck with me for a while… I think I’d like that too. You’re one of the few people I can actually tolerate here.”

“So uh… You’re willing to get me outta here?”

Vian’s eyes narrowed, and his grin faltered. “…Well—“

“Well what?” He snapped.

“You don't really have options here, Koi. Let’s just think about this for a moment. I could let you go right now, send you on your way back home… And for what? For you to be miserable the rest of your life? To keep this up?” He gestured towards the lines across his arm. “You lived in a rotting shed. If anything, keeping you here is a favor.”

His blood ran cold.

“You can’t be fucking serious— Vian, please— I… I can’t stay here. They’re gonna make me hurt people. I can’t do that again.”

Vian’s sympathetic expression was looking faker by the minute. He ruffled his hair, earning him a desperate expression. “…Oh, yes you can. The war’s been over for quite some time. It’s not like you’d be used very often anyways. Don’t you want to feel like a hero again? Didn’t you like that?”

Koi began struggling against the metal bands holding him down to the table, desperately thrashing back and forth. “I— I won’t forgive you if you do this. You know that, right?! Didn’t you say you wanted to be friends?”

“I did. And I still mean it. You’ll soon find that you won’t remember any of this, and you’ll be more than happy to spend time with me.” He hummed. “Let’s be honest, sending you back would be plainly unethical! It’d go against my oath. You’d have a fresh start here… There’s really not a downside.”

“Stop— Please—“

“…I think it’s about time to hook you up to that IV. Thank you for your time, though. I can’t wait to get to know each other all over again.”

[sleepyiswhumping]

anyone else thought about kisses in whump? theres potential for a bit of fluff/angst/creepiness

[although it isnt always the case, whumpee x caretaker is implied as a possibility for quite a bit of these]

caretaker giving whumpee a soft kiss on the forehead when theyre sick/exhausted/injured

(if theyre partners) whumpee and caretaker sharing their first kiss after a long time separated, probably due to whumper

a goodbye kiss, on the lips, on the forehead, wherever. maybe whumpee or caretaker is leaving the other for a bit (to get meds for a sick other?), maybe its a desperate, last sign of love between the two as whumper recaptures whumpee, [mcd] maybe whumpee or caretaker is kissing the other goodbye as one of them dies, a last "i love you"

whumper kissing whumpee, as a sign of possession, faking a relationship in public, or just being awful and creepy

whumpee kissing whumper, maybe before they know how awful whumper is, maybe playing along with the fake relationship, whatever

idk i find kissing in whump fun no matter the reason behind it bc no matter the reason it has potential for something delicious

[purpledemonlilyposting]

The shots she's talking about are this scene in the movie where Miki and Kozue are in the bath. Miki says they "can't go back to the garden", meaning Miki has given up on recapturing the intangible nostalgia they both share of their time together as kids before their falling out and their parents' divorce. Kozue calls him a traitor for this and threatens him with the razor she had been using to shape his eyebrows.

And I guess Lily didn't finish the Utena movie cause the next time we see Kozue she's one of the swarm cars that try to stop Utena and Anthy at the end of the movie. And there's a shot that kind of implies Miki murdered her.

And no, Lily, you're saying the same shit James Somerton did. Who also didn't watch the series completely. It is not about abuse on the macro level. Utena is a very personal story about the struggles of the individual characters within it. No one was doing this "media has to have a modern political message" bullshit 30 years ago in Japan.

[whump-in-the-closet]

Humilate Your Whumpees!!

Inspired by this post by @defire <2

content: recapture, forced to watch, noncon nudity, scars, implied and actual torture, humiliation tactics, forced to beg, boot licking, branding, royal whumpee, defiant whumpee, creepy whumper, manhandling, restraints, forced reveal (lemme know if I missed anything)

Recaptured whumpee stripping down at Whumper’s orders. Hands pausing at the edges of their frayed shirt, at their belt buckle, please please—. And the worst is that their teammates are watching with sickened expressions; with each piece of removed clothing, they can see more and more of Whumper’s careful knife work. And is that Whumper’s name? Engraved into whumpees back?

“Go ahead, beg. On your hands and knees” Defiant whumpee finally collapses to the basement floor. For the first time, they can’t think of anything to say. They feel like the winds been knocked out of them, taking every ounce of strength with it. They’ve never begged. Cursed a ton, yelled a bit too, but never begged. But when they make eye contact with Caretaker, hanging up from the ceiling and whumper circling them, whumpee suddenly can’t beg fast enough. The words are practically falling out of their mouth. And by the time they finish, whumper only frowns. “Do it again. Better this time.”

Royal whumpee dragged onto a stage or onto a balcony, without their crown and visibly disheveled. Whumper grabbing their wrist and shoving them towards their audience. “Behold your leader!” This is the first time whumpee has seen the sunlight in days and it’s blinding. “Or what’s left of them,” Guards hold them down as whumper presses a glowing brand to their chest. The fall of royalty to nothing at all happens in a matter of moments. And it is crushing.

An elf whumpee kneeling at Whumper’s side during a party. They have a collar around their throat and Whumper holds the leash. Every so often, whumper yanks at it and pulls them to their feet to show them off to a curious guest. “Turn for me, darling”. whumper pulls back their hair to reveal the pointy tipped ears, like whumpee is a museum exhibit. And if whumpee resists do they receive a backhanded slap for their defiance, or something worse? What can be worse than the guests creeping hands or Whumper’s possessive grip on their shoulder for all to see?

Whumpee spitting on Whumper’s boots and getting a kick to the face for their troubles. Whumper grabs a fistful of hair and wrenches them upwards until the two of them are inches apart. Whumpee glares, seething. “Clean my boots,” snarls Whumper and there isn’t a soul in the world who can help whumpee now. “Lick them clean.” Whumpee is almost tempted to say over my dead body—. Whumper shoves whumpees head down, into the disgusting smelling leather. “Now!”

Bonus: “hey, those scars? Who did that to you?”/ “they’re none of your business.”