#is null and void by the fact that she's a literal fucking god

[ohwolfling]

Something else about Gale’s evil ending is I just knew people would take him throwing away his earring and trashing the Mystra statue was going to be taken as a “Leaving Mystra is the bad choice, see? It’s in his evil ending!”

Larian DOES kind of treat Gale a bit dirty when it comes to Mystra. The entire theme of the game is all companions have been taken advantage of by someone, Gale is not the random who isn’t including in this. Larian just didn’t pull it off well because his good ending does include being back in some form of Mystra’s good graces despite spending the entire game rejecting her for what she did to him. This ending I think doesn’t represent rejection of Mystra being a bad thing though, I think it’s just a way to show Gale being so consumed by his hurt that he decides to approach Mystra and perhaps even the other gods with harm. In the end, I’m upset the only ending we get of him removing his earring is in his *evil* ending….

I’ve seen folks argue that Mystra cannot be abusive because they met as adults (as if that solidifies the massive power imbalance, the in game line that Gale thought it was love and didn’t know any better, that he’s been worshipping her since he was a child and she was at the very least aware of him since childhood), that when he was told to sacrifice himself by her to earn her form of forgiveness, he had a “choice”, as if it wasn’t completely set up against him by being a request from his GODDESS WHOM HE WORSHIPS, coming from his very close companion or even father figure, already being suicidal and believing that is the only method he can save the world, or that because since Mystra isn’t made out to be as bad as someone like Cazador or Shar she can’t be bad (which ignores all in game dialogue of our companions rejecting and hating Mystra for her choices against Gale, and once more Gale was done a bit dirty) so this evil ending will just solidify for a lot of people that Gale somehow is the one who just doesn’t fit into the massive abused people narrative. They can have their own interpretations, that’s fine, I just think that comes with ignoring a lot of in-game content that directly counters their arguments. Mystra wasn’t even good to Elminster (who she met as a child as well) or other mortals…

Firstly, I hear ya, but I don't think Larian treats Gale all that dirty. I think Act III is bloated with non character enhancing quests and he gets a little bit yucked by that (but he's still ahead of Karlach and Wyll in that respect because thank God both Gale and Tim Downie are Certified Yappers). Would've loved some way for Gale to run into other Chosens of Mystra, discarded or otherwise, and I think that the Book of Karsus being locked down where we deal with Rolan and Lorroakan points to SOMEONE at Larian wanting to drive that point home. It's Larian who has EVERY companion- even Wyll & Karlach who are our most morally and emotionally stable, even Lae'zel & Shadowheart who are our most sadomasochistic devouts- point out that Mystra and Elminster are bitches. Larian is just a little clumsy at how it handles endings that can't be an ending because trauma doesn't really have a smooth end. Only Shadowheart gets the needed wind down period (& I guess Astarion if you romance him but I actually hate that that's tied to romance for him but what am I gonna do, try to have a dialogue with vocal pool of Astarion romancers who just want to water him down to Customize An Abusive Boyfriend? No, I am not).

Secondly, if I worried myself about what Someone Has To Defend A Literal God Against The Horror Of Her Discarded Chosen Who Was Groomed Academically and Spiritually From Childhood Finding An Ounce of Self Esteem and Non Conditional Fellowship illiterates thought/did, I would get nothing else done and frankly I would've turned to a life of crime over it by now. There have been edgy, insipid, contrarian, hateful lil snot rags on this earth for thousands of years. They can put Taylor Swift lyrics over as many sex pests as they want. They can continue to think that the Gone Girl Cool Girl Monologue™️ (the movie, they can't read) is the same thing as reading Audre Lorde. It simply means nothing to me if gender essentialist pop feminists grapple with greater themes and contradictions because I don't concern myself with what that kind of ignorant person does. They ultimately have no reach outside of their circlejerks and as someone who HAS survived complex grooming, abuse, and the resulting shaming, their victim blaming is very Silly Asshole 101 to me. It's almost adorable. It's solidified for my dog-niece that the front yard will kill her & nothing bad can happen in backyard but that ain't because it's true, it's cause she's a little dumb, bless her heart, you feel me?

That being said, my pinned post has plenty breaking down the power dynamics and clear parallels to real world academic/religious abuse & DV between Gale and Mystra if you'd like to break it open for a good egg who has just never unpacked abuse before! I just don't think people who support women wrongs a la Mystra when Shadowheart and Lae'zel are RIGHT THERE BEGGING YOU TO are worth anyone's effort.

[one-and-a-half-yikes]

*inhale* Cuphead and Colly headcanons please😈😈😈

(Also perchance your opinion of coffeekitty (cup x Felix) mayhaps I live laugh love coffeekitty)

THE GODS HAVE GIVEN ME AN ASK!!!!

Okay okay starting with Colly hcs (because I don't think I have that many Cuphead ones)

These two would be such a chill fucking couple, but definitely capable of chaos every once in a while (it's Holly's fault lol). I like to think, in a relationship that Holly does get Cup into reading after at least getting him to try exploring some genres. Anything crime related is usually his go to though he did finally start branching out into other stuff. Ideally on a good day he's reading something from the adventure genre. After a decade spent involved in actual crime reading about stories, even if they're fictional, involving murders, killers, etc wears on him mentally and emotionally so he doesn't really read that anymore.

Snuggle time for these two is a must but it's usually initiated by Cuphead because he's touch-starved. Not that Holly's complaining, unless he's literally sweating in which case fuck that. And yes, this does mean that Holly is the big spoon in their relationship. Always. It's comforting for Cup, and sometimes when his mental health decides it's wants to plummet for no reason he just kinda flops near wherever she is. Sometimes "snuggling" for these two literally just means knowing the other is in the same room as them. Alive. Breathing. Especially for Cuphead who would still get the occasional nightmare of the Devil coming for him and taking everything he has away, including Holly. So it's nice to just sit on the floor and lean his head against the back of her chair if he knows she's working on something at her desk.

Because of everything involving Hat and his experiments done on him Cup's fear and unease around doctors does in fact extend to psychiatrists as well. So seeing a therapists is still incredibly hard for him. Enough that they had to settle for 40 minute sessions cause that's the amount of time Cup was willing to spend in a shrink's office. The first time he agreed to an hour session he got so antsy he was basically pacing the room like a caged animal. They went back to 40 minute sessions after that lol. Also, I do think Cup has other nervous ticks if he doesn't have a cigarette on hand. Which is probably why it took so long to get him to stop smoking. Because when he wasn't he was irritable and a nervous wreck. Best solution Holly could find was incense, but then when they got Dagger (wounded stray kitten Cup found and took in as a pet) she went back to regular scented candles. Somehow, that seemed to quell his anxieties.

Also they got an apartment instead of a house. Only cause Cup didn't like the idea of being in one and it wasn't like they were planning on having kids anytime soon like the others so it was more of "yeah sure why the fuck not".

I will say it here and now that these two have gone on sooooo many vacations. Listen that money that Cup has saved up for a rainy day. Null and void his Princess wants to go to fucking Japan so that's where they're going now. Whatever his queen wants ✨️

Too chill for fancy outings, I think they'd just hangout at cafés, diners, or try finding new street food to eat. Also concerts?? Soon as those become a thing fucking yes obviously (it was a one time thing and they both hated lmaooo). Fancy restaurants are reserved for anniversaries or special occasions when Cup wants Holly to fucking REST FOR ONCE. Because oh yeah she's not her mom entirely but she is a workaholic like her so yeah it's Cup's designated duty to drag her from her desk to bed. And hide the coffee on the highest shelf where she can't reach (this has never stopped her btw).

Also! Mentioning spooning again? Surely not me. Surely not I. As it stands, when they are going to bed, Holly gets to be the little spoon which works just fine for Cup cause it's the only way he can keep her contained (Holly sleeps like a fucking starfish okay and her hair being as long as it is means it's splayed out EVERYWHERE by the time morning rolls around)

Last thing I'll mention and it's a Cuphead hc is that I don't see Cup becoming a detective once he's able to be free from the Devil. Tbh I don't know WHY that's such a popular idea in the fandom because it seems completely antithetical to his character to me. You spent a decade involved in crime and committing the worst crimes a person could committ, just so you can jump right back into that but this time solving them? And we're supposed to assume that Cuphead has no problems with that? As an AU it's fine but canon-wise if you ask me I think he would work perfectly as a volunteer with animals. Either at a sanctuary, or at least at a shelter. I see him working at a shelter personally because that fits him. It's calming, he gets to spend time around cute animals, AND he gets to chew out irresponsible owners for not taking better care of their pets. It's a win-win!!!

(Okay I KNOW I just said I was done but rq I do think Cup knows a lot about animals as much as he does about astrology. But he doesn't get to usually gush about that so he's hiding his power level from everyone lmao)

Okay that out of the way this...coffeekitty you speak of...

First of all, that name is cute as hell and second. Idk, Cuphead and Felix have hardly had any real moment to TALK and stars knows they need to because I don't really think Felix gets the Cupbros still and there's still a lot of resentment there regarding Wilson, which is understandable but still-

It's interesting I guess but genuinely only see these two having a platonic relationship. That and also I already have a Cuphead in a gay ship (It's Cupex Cuphead x Alex [the bear not the cat] lmao)

[sicklyseraphnsuch]

contracts, clauses, and causes for action

It seems to me that the ball is entirely in the gods court. Like the only way for Ludinus to become compelling is if the gods leapfrog over the divine gate, rendering their word null and void.

Then there's a cause for action because the mortals will realize "hey, we have no way of keeping you honest, there's no consequence that we can enact when you fail to fulfill your oath". Like a contract is only binding if there's way to enforce it - when you pinky promise to take your kid to disneyland, is that a valid contract or just performative? because if you break a pinky promise, the only consequence is your kid loses faith in you - is that penalty enough?

and the thing is: the divine gate is proof that yeah, the gods do believe that's penalty enough. the one thing that downfall managed to reinforce (which granted we already knew but deeper context only further supports) is that the gods are capable of acknowledging their harm (however unintentional) done to mortals. And not only are they able to acknowledge it, they are able to correct themselves.

and so far, thats holding true. they are demonstrating their discipline and willingness to follow through even if the mortals remain powerless and hold no leverage against them, they can keep themselves beholden to their word because they are in fact Good.

so literally, the only way Ludinus can be proven somewhat compelling is if the gods decide to hop the divine gate. then we'll have some proof that their word is not that ironclad but even then its not to the level of "all gods must die". Thats more on the level of "all gods need to come to the table and renegotiate this contract so theres clauses to allow you exceptions". because absolute contracts tend to force people's hands anyways.

and the only implication that a god hopping the divine gate gives is to reintroduce the idea that the gods are not beholden to mortals in any way and there is no way to keep a god honest - that mortals will have to rely on a god's inherent Goodness to keep themselves honest. but again - what the fuck have the Prime Deities done in this world that has ever pointed in that direction truly? (and no, dont attest the workings of their mortal followers when the gods have banned themselves from interference).

the gods would have to break the contract twice - once to stop predathos, and a second time for less dire purposes - in order to really showcase that they arent trustworthy. thats a Fucking Lot to mess up. and again they dont seem willing to even break the divine gate for Ludinus so what is even the problem here?

the problem, narratively speaking, is that the current world is built by fairly Good gods who really havent done anything of significance to showcase tyranny. none of them is on the level of Marika, from Elden Ring, whose personal history has led to death and discrimination of innocent children - which she actively campaigned for and did to her own children. (No slander on Marika btw)

Matt has not made any of the Prime Deities bad and sure, the Betrayers are bad and sure, maybe the mortals would prefer to have them entirely eliminated. but like mortals live under so many threats with less protections against than they currently do against the Betrayers. That deprioritizes them from the level of "eliminate at all costs". There's nothing dire or urgent that hasnt been manufactured by the Big Bad himself.

the gods are traumatized yes. theyre stuck in a toxic family situation yes. but none of that toxicity has affected their desire to protect mortals. and the only time a mortal became worthy of destruction by divine hand was when those mortals nearly unleashed oblivion? like come on man.

the gods are in their lane and the mortals are thriving and ludinus needs fucking therapy plus a better hobby.

[piperslovebot]

So, I'm gonna be honest about a few things regarding TVD, because a lot of the things I've seen recently are just very confusing and weird to me. One of the main things is the amount of vitriol Caroline has been receiving as of late. It's very clear that the hatred and misogyny towards Caroline is very much rooted in sexism and misogyny. You can try to spin it and try to tell me different all you want, but I see right through the BS. 

Caroline may have had her flaws and faults, but she was nowhere near as bad and horrible and toxic as you and everyone else have made her out to be. I mean, my goodness, you make it sound like she was a terrorist or something, or like if she was just the absolute scum of the earth. So what if Caroline did have fans and defenders back in season one? That's okay and not a bad thing at all. 

I mean, it wasn't an issue for murderous vampires, abusers, and rapists to have fans and supporters defending and justifying their horrible and disgusting actions, but god forbid people could actually identity and relate to a teenage girl, who was simply flawed and confused and actually had growth and development, unlike even Elena herself. 

And comparing Caroline to female characters from different shows doesn't really make for a valid argument either. A lot of the things you say about Caroline and accuse her of being are actually all the things Elena was. Elena was by far the biggest and most self-centered, selfish bitch in the entire show. All the hate she received from fans was very well-deserved and justified, and you won't convince me otherwise, so don't even bother defending that bitch to me. 

Elena dating and sleeping with a rapist/abuser is not even remotely the same thing as Caroline sleeping with Klaus, where at least there it was consensual and Caroline did it on her own free will. And I don't even ship Klaroline, but even I can tell the difference. And if Elena had told Caroline that she needs to get over it and accept it, that would've only made Elena an even bigger cunt and piece of shit than she had already beyond proven herself to be. Disliking Caroline doesn't make what Damon did to her null and void or in any way means that she deserved it and had to get over it.

So, overall, to me, it just comes off like you're just talking out of your asses and making shit up as you go along and making stupid excuses to hate Caroline for reasons that don't exist. Which once again, is all just sexism and misogyny from your end. And you call out Caroline for slut shaming other female characters (which I will say is probably the only thing I didn't agree with and disliked about her character), but you and everyone else in the fanbase has no issue being sexist and misogynistic and slut shaming Caroline or the other girls on the show. Hypocrisy at its finest.

Oh god you Caroline stans are exhausting 😩

1. No one ever called her "toxic" or implied she’s a terrorist. Most of us just call her out on her hypocrisy and her actions. Just because she’s a fan favorite or whatever, doesn’t absolve her of criticism. Y'know the kind that you guys love to give to Elena and Bonnie, but you can’t take valid criticisms about your fave.

2. I don’t have issue with people defending Caroline in season 1. At least when her horrible behavior towards Elena and Bonnie wasn’t justified, and no one who talking about oh so mean they are for excluding her even though Caroline did it to herself by not listening and making snarky comments and in general being an insensitive asshole.

3. Funny how you bring up Elena and Damon not being free will, but also call her a "cunt". And I’ve literally said that if the roles were reversed and she told Caroline to get over her fucking her rapist and get out of her life, people would be saying that Elena should’ve died on wickery bridge. But Caroline is somehow a #girlboss when she does it. Fuck off.

And also the fact that Caroline had the choice and still chose to sleep with Klaus makes her worse than Elena. Because Elena was literally sired and had no free will when it happened. Caroline chose to fuck Klaus, and giggle and brag about it to Kat!Elena.

4. If you talk to me about Caroline’s “growth” one more time, I’ll—

5. It’s also hilarious how you talk about sexism and misogyny, yet call Elena a “bitch”. Also “whiny cry baby”?? Lmao because she cried over actual trauma, but Caroline making a big fuss over a prom dress is funny, huh?

6. As far as I know, nobody has been slut shaming Caroline. If you’re talking about me saying that almost every guy sans Jeremy and Jamie had some sort of “link” to her, is that not true? Hell, she was engaged to Alaric in the later seasons.

You clearly love Caroline and nothing wrong with that, but don’t try to force it on people who don’t kiss her ass and always justify when she did something wrong.

[toyourhometown]

Forgotten Yesterday

originally written for a theme prompt, it ended up combining with a concept ive yet to explore in story; dividers from here

Once again, Damien is certain time isn't real -- it's fake fucking bullshit -- and he can only say this due to the absurd string of events he's recently endured.

Reality could be altered with contracts made with demons for the price of a soul -- fuck you, Perri -- or if a poor soul met an untimely end in The Void. With the latter, as a consequence, the victim's entire existence would become null, history rewritten to spin a tale where they never existed in the first place and reality would continue as if that was fact.

But, by being someone who survived an experience in The Void, Damien could remember the reality he once lived in before it was altered by The Void's wicked curse.

And, almost like a joke, after learning how his very life was altered by a contract drafted by a wretched cousin -- a cousin he can't even remember having -- she dies in The Void at the hands of the very demon she contracted that deal with. . . causing reality to shift back to what it 'should be' had she and her contract never existed in the first place.

But the damage was done.

After all, even if she does not exist, and never did, according to reality, the years spent living in that tampered reality she created did 'happen' at one point.

Samson, the guy he previously only ever thought of as the asshole head of the Student Disciplinary Committee, would turn out to be his twin brother. A twin brother that was trapped living in a mansion with two parents who only married out of convenience and hated each other's guts, stripped him of his own hopes and dreams, and tried to mold him into the perfect heir.

With the contract unraveling, it would turn out his -- their -- parents were actually very kind and loving people, not just to their family and each other, but to just about anyone in need. To the point they were willing to open their homes to the friends of their children, made outrageously huge donations to the student aid program at their school and various organizations -- primarily animal shelters.

While, it wasn't that different from what Damien was familiar with when compared to the version of his parents he was living with while under that damn curse -- the only difference was the fact his actual parents have money and can do so much more to help -- Samson is still struggling to reconcile the adults he now lives with are the true version of his parents and not the adults he knew growing up.

There was also Irene, the mechanical wonder Samson created as a child, to worry about. As a child, Samson was so bad with people he cried when he interacted with others. His father lovingly suggested that Samson should make a friend and Samson took that literally and created Irene as a result.

It's unknown why, but, Irene's memories remained intact despite Perri's contract. Perhaps entirely due to her non-human nature but no one but, perhaps the Demons ruling over The Void would know but not like they'd tell them shit. That had to be an absolutely miserable existence for because she could remember how kind and loving her family and she had to watch her family and loved ones fight and drift farther and farther apart.

What made it worse was that she could do nothing about it. How could she even explain the discrepancy with what she knew and how life once was? So she was forced to pretend that she was nothing more than an emotionless machine to protect herself.

And Thera.

God.

He almost feels like an ass to be this upset over her situation when compared to his literal family, but Thera was always there for him and he was for her. In every reality, she was his first friend and childhood friend he supported and cared for. And until she roped Julian into their Trouble Duo, making them the Trouble Trio, he was the only person in her life because her pitiful fucking excuse of parents were more dedicated to the hospital than her, their own fucking child!

But in this reality? His parents have supported and taken care of her when she needed an adult figure in her life, doing little things -- while Thera refused a ride in their car when she went grocery shopping in bulk, like always, they insisted on transporting the bigger items for her -- and they absolutely love her. They love her so much they didn't even blink when Samson revealed his intent to court her with marriage in mind. They absolutely loved the idea and were ecstatic to officially have her apart of the family.

( That's such an insane thing that he still needs to unpack. )

( The fact they endured so much in The Void that lead to them making a promise to get married because they bonded so deeply is so HUH???? )

That weirdness aside, Evelyn -- the only other person who knew about all this reality warping from the start but couldn't talk about it -- explained while the number of friends around her was so much more . . . she didn't connect to them like she did when it came to Julian, Samson and Damien himself.

Of course, when he questioned this, the smile fell from her face and such sorrow filled her eyes as she bit her lip and folded her hands together. It's a really fucked up reminder that she entered The Void as a child, before Perri made her contract, making her situation very similar to Irene's.

"Your mother likes to create photo albums," She sighs. "If anything that's where Thera got her love for scrapbooking from. . ." The pink haired girl trails off for a moment, a hint of a smile on her weary face once more. "But, ah, Mrs. Tyler's photo album collection should say enough. . ."

So here he is, digging in one of the bookshelves in the living room at ASS O'CLOCK to find his mom's photo album collection. He's not going to do this with Samson, because, despite all the bullshit Perri put him through, he values family -- and by extension, her -- and he would probably be upset by the lack of photos of her, despite knowing there's no way to document a cousin that does not exist anymore.

( If he could, he would spit on her corpse again, but there's literally no body of that bitch . . . )

Despite that, Damien chuckles under is breath at the thought. He shines the flashlight of his cellphone -- holy shit a goddamn top of the line iPhone, he is still not used to how he has access to such high quality goods in this reality -- on the spine of the books before him.

That aside, he isn't sure if Julian or Thera would be proper support for this kind of mental breakdown he'll inevitably suffer. And honestly, could anyone? At this point, with how many veterans they have among their team, they know of the alternate realities The Void creates with each life it takes but seeing actual, physical proof of how much was taken and altered, is an entirely different thing.

Sighing to himself, Damien shakes his head and focuses on his objective once more. Finding the photo albums is incredibly easy, seeing how his mother openly left her collection on the bookshelf, each book labled with a year on the spine in her elegant script.

( Honestly, he wouldn't be surprised if she happily grabbed an album when someone came over, )

( Just to show them her 'most precious pride and joys'. )

( Embarrassing. )

The only problem being these books are from middle school forward and, according to Evelyn, she and Elijah came into the picture in first grade. . . so, that's. . . Fuck. Damien points his phone's flashlight towards the floor as he tries to do the math on his fingers.

If its 2011 right now and he's like, 16?

( God. He fucking hopes he is. )

( He doesn't want to have a stroke about even his age and birthday being wrong because of this curse bullshit. )

Squinting his eyes at his fingers, he continues where he left off. So, if he's 16 in 2011, and in the tenth grade, nine years ago would be . . . 2002. Yeah, that sounds about, right.

Nodding to himself once more, Damien quietly pops a squat before the lower half of the bookshelf and opens the storage cabinet door. The fact it doesn't squeak is a mercy at this time of night but also an obvious sign his mother most likely visits her many books often. He'll have to make sure to put everything back as he found to avoid alerting her.

Although, he doubts his mother would actually act negatively in anyway to such a discovery. She would most likely coo over it and think it's cute. The Tylers, er, his parents, think way too positively about the children under their care. Like, the only hard rule his dad has given him is 'Don't Do Illegal.'. Which, yeah, that's obvious, dad.

Realizing he's letting his thoughts run off, Damien shakes his head once more and points the flashlight at the trove of photo albums beside a box containing doubles of the photos used in said albums waiting in the storage cabinet. Like the ones on display, they're labeled with clean, elegant script and distinguishing each book by the year.

Just as he's about to grab the '2002' book when he spots what's directly under it. 2001. The year he met Thera as classmates in kindergarten. Unable to resist the temptation, he grabs the book and flips it open, and easily skipping through the sections labeled by months to August, around the start of the school year.

Damien squints his eye and angles the flashlight's light once more to ensure the glossy surface of the photo doesn't blind him.

Instead of finding a picture of young Thera like he expected, he finds a picture of . . . himself and Samson and if he guessing right, it's a 'First Day' photo. The two of them are standing side by side, his young face covered in bandages and showing off a toothy grin as he clutches his twin brother's hand. Samson, on the other hand, lacks the air of authority and confidence Damien is used to seeing. . . instead he sees the crybaby he's been told of. His face flushed red, scrunched up as tears roll down his cheeks.

Something coils in his gut. Damien isn't sure what. Something between a familiar warmth and uncomfortable emptiness. Perhaps it's because his mother did the same thing when the family was separated by Perri's contract.

Unable to bear the discomfort of this window into the past, Damien swiftly flips the page. There's a few photos of . . . his mom -- Mrs. Tyler -- volunteering at the kindergarten for various events or just helping in general. Samson is positively beaming in the photos, his tiny fingers clutching his mother's hand and their mother is smiling back in turn. Her gaze is full of such love and affection, a stark difference from Samson's description of his cursed parents he grew up with.

Damien returns the flashlight to the photo album, glancing over his father's notes in beside the pictures. Notes that indicate the date and what was happening in the photo, or just silly pointless comments he's making about the scene. It. . . It makes him smile a little.

In this reality, Mr. Tyler is still a business man, but he's so . . . loud and enthusiastic, always smiling. And he has no intention to pass his business off to his children, wanting them to follow whatever path they desire.

Setting his phone down for a moment, Damien runs a hand through his red-brown hair, uncertain of what to feel once more. The Tylers he knew in the reality created by Perri's contract were horrible powerful, and feared people but they were never real depictions of who they actually were . . . Fuck. That should be obvious . . . but, it's simply not the reality he knows. Even so, despite how different they are from what he knows, the fact they care is so painfully obvious. . .

. . .

Continuing onwards, Damien soon finds a photo of himself and Thera playing with the classroom's indoor sandbox together. She's clutching her favorite stuffed cat -- the only thoughtful gift she's ever received from her parents -- as she uses the other hand to slap at the sand, her expression in the usual impassive and blank mode. He's simply running little toy cars over the mounds of dirt she's made.

It's. . . close to what he can remember. He can clearly remember driving the toy cars into the little hole she made and when the teacher called for them to change activities, she grabbed the back of his shirt and followed him to the next activity he picked. After that, they suck together like glue.

And in this reality too, her first trip to the beach is taken with him and his family as indicated by the photo on the following page. The two of them are dressed in bathing suits and Thera with her favorite stuffed kitty plush from her childhood. She's avoiding eye contact with the camera all together and hugging the plush close to her chest as he grins at the camera like a fool, still covered in bandages and scrapes.

Again, not so different from what he remembers but the only difference is that Samson is here too, ready to burst into tears. According to what information Samson managed to scrape together of his life before it was ruined by Perri, he knew of Thera since they shared the same kindergarten class together, but they hardly interacted and having her at the house made him think Damien was trying to replace him.

( It's almost embarrassing how much the two now love each other. )

( Like, if the love is true they'll find a way back to each other kind of romance between them. )

This photo shares the page with a photo of the two of them on the beach, her old raggedy stuffed kitty plush sitting in the sand as they work to dig a hole together. Since Thera couldn't swim -- and still can't to this day -- she choose to dig a hole, and he decided to help her out, claiming he was going to make her into soup.

There's also a picture of Samson in the corner. His face red from the sun and tears, clinging to his mother. Usagi is simply smiling, stroking her son’s back. It's disgustingly sweet that he cant help but smile.

But. He's getting distracted isn't he? 2002. He's looking for Evelyn and Elijah in 2002 . . . And yet, he finger slips, causing him to fall into the summer memories of that year.

He finds a photo of Irene wearing a simple white sundress and sunhat while holding a hand with Thera, who's other hand holds onto her plush. Irene’s other hand holds on tight to Samson’s and he, Damien, is settled on her shoulders, trying to make himself tall as he could be. Her expression is awkward, but she's smiling all the same.

There's a few additional photos in the set, featuring Irene offering ice pops to the children on the house's Japanese style engawa; Irene with a hose in hand as she supervises the three of them splashing in a kiddy pool in the grass of the front yard as the dogs blur like cryptids in the background.

It's the first time he's ever seen her so genuinely happy and content.

But, his first summer with Thera, he remembers it . . . differently.

His . . . fake parents caught on quickly that her home life wasn't the best. While her parents were a renown doctor and nurse combo at the local hospital, exceptionally good at their job, they fundamentally sucked as parents . . . to the point they forgot her birthday, hence why the plush was so precious to her, so Damien insisted on doing something nice for her over the summer.

The adults scrimped and saved for seasonal passes to the Rapids Waterpark, rented a deluxe cabana for each visit, and spoiled her a bit with the food options available at the park. His parents even took shifts 'watching' Thera's favorite plush to ensure she wouldn't get wet or lost.

. . .

Eventually, Damien finds what he's looking for. A little into the September section, two new kids are added to the roster of familiar faces. Evelyn with her round doe eyes and short soft pink hair and her childhood friend, and current boyfriend, Elijah with his toothy smile with missing teeth.

Damien doesn't look into the details of the photos anymore. He flips the pages again and again, and two more familiar faces appear; Kay and her brother Brice. . . The fact his crush was in his life before Perri's contract was even forged throws him for a goddamn loop.

As far as he was aware, and by extension Kay since she entered The Void on the same night as him, their first meeting was in drama club in middle school. . . but he's starting to get what Evelyn was saying. There was more people involved in his life, and by extension, Thera's life and he wasn't as much of a lone wolf as he thought he was. He simply hadn't fight the right people to bring into the pack.

Damien abruptly snaps the photo album close. He slouches forward, pressing his forehead against the photo album, trying to. . . grasp what the hell is going on inside him. He feels. Something. Pain? Sorrow? Maybe both. Maybe it's longing? How could he even begin to define this twister of emotions?

According to reality, all of these photos happened once upon a time but he's never lived a single moment of it and he will never remember it due to The Void. The thought leaves him bitter that he has to learn who his own family is -- his own history -- from scratch.

[eclipsedbluemoon]

***MAJOR SPOILERS FOR DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS***

Im fresh out of watching the movie and all so please don't mind if I miss some fact or whatever but by supposedly "killing" Wanda in the end of MoM(which I didn't believe for a second btw and was shocked that people actually did cause she is literally the main character of the mcu rn) was anticlimactic for the story that was leading upto it. Cause even though incursions take place and universes are at stake and Strange is under the influence of the Darkhold, isn't it all null and void that she began the journey as a villain realised her mistake by the end of the film and kind of fixed her damage? Like yes I know there is other Multiversal stuff happening and all but as far as her journey is concerned...well, I guess it was only for the journey because the destination was not far from what was already happening even if the Multiverse. It is still going to be shambles because there are other factors managing and responsible for it (Like Loki and Sylvie). And as dumb as the Illuminati was for thinking that the Scarlet Witch is not gonna be a problem they were right when they said that Stephen fucks it up because in the end the Multiverse thing was still happening. And I mean I guess that's how movies work and everything is fixed and back to where it was or whatever but this felt different. Which doesn't mean it was not important to intervene with what she was doing but I guess intervening caused it to get worse? Oh my god I'm spiralling. Someone please tell me this makes sense or I'll cry.

But all that being sad, I was living for Wanda finally embracing her dark side being the villain in this. She has gone through hell and back and was not going to be in a very hero space of mind after what we've seen her go through in Wandavision and especially before that. It's great that they unapologetically acknowledged that and her true potential as the Scarlet Witch. And Doctor Strange on the other hand was great as well. We got to see more of what he is going through and how he basically adopts America. I want to see more focus on him next movie though and his childhood and of course the whole Darkhold thing. I need to see a grand end to the Multiverse storyline too cause its just that complicated and it shouldn't feel rushed. That's all.

[itsclydebitches]

RWBY Recaps: Volume 6 “So That’s How It Is”

This is a re-posting from Nov. 17th, 2018 in an effort to get all my recaps fully on tumblr. Thanks! 

Real talk: that episode was 100% not what I wanted to see and honestly not what I thought we’d be getting after the tone of “The Lost Fable.” Yet here we are.

We start off with the gang having just finished Jinn’s vision, which surprised me a little bit. RT tends to delay gratification—Want to know how people will react to this plot point? If that person survived? Gotta wait a while longer!—so I was expecting to begin with the villains, if not push this confrontation an entire episode. Yet we kick things off with a voice over from Yang, highlighting the exact part of the story we knew she’d hyper-focus on:

Yang: “Salem can’t be killed. You all heard her too right?”

And we’re immediately back to where we were emotionally in episode two—which frankly drives me a little nuts. The entire purpose of getting glimpses of the team throughout the vision was to see their reactions to the events: Qrow lifting a hand towards Ozma, Ruby looking ill at Salem trying to kill herself, Blake and Weiss heartbroken over Salem’s grief, Yang horrified at what the gods were doing to them. On the one hand I agree that it’s incredibly realistic to have them lashing out like this. Put a bunch of teenagers through that much trauma, chuck a now fallible mentor at their feet, and they’ve got themselves a scapegoat they can’t resist. On the other hand, Team RWBY + co. has been portrayed as staggeringly better than this in the past, so it rings as at least a little false to me that they’d go this far. Not that they wouldn’t be angry, but that out of the six of them—including Oscar now—there’s not a glimmer of empathy alongside the anger. I understand entirely that we ended on the worst note possible (more manipulation by Jinn), but that doesn’t erase the fact that this is a) a large group of b) incredibly compassionate people who c) just spent 99% of that vision witnessing traumatizing events that weren’t Ozpin’s fault and feeling for him then. Bypassing one moment of sympathy for him or even hesitation at cutting him further feels less like realistic teenage fury and more like the writers deciding to ignore a large chunk of their characterization for the sake of drama.

Because what they witnessed aside, this is still Ozpin. He’s still the headmaster/friend they adored, still the man who taught them in Haven, still the huntsmen they fought beside in one of their worst battles to date. And here he is now after having his entire past ripped from him, back on his knees and crying. That’s an image that the protectors in them shouldn’t be able to brush aside so easily, especially when each of them has been through a piece of Ozpin's existence. Weiss knows what it’s like to have people more powerful than you pulling the strings. Yang understands anger that drives you to choices you’ll later regret. Blake has already fought against unimaginable odds (see: Oobleck’s lecture about how she wants to change the world but has no idea how to do it yet. That’s Ozpin). Ruby is familiar with being the eternal outsider—“I don’t want to be the bee’s knees! I just want to be a normal girl, with normal knees”—and Qrow, as he’ll mention in a moment, knows what it’s like to have nothing and no one. Ozpin was there for him then, but he won’t do the same for Ozpin now.

Let them have their anger, but let them act like themselves too.

Yang: “There was so much you hadn’t told us! How could you think that was okay?”

Yang in particular has a lot of displaced rage. She has since she was a kid and now Ozpin has become a very easy target to direct all that towards. Still, it doesn’t change how mind-numbingly frustrating it is to see these kids twisting every piece of information that comes their way. How could he think that was okay? Ozpin already gave you his answer. He said straight out that he doesn’t want to reveal all his secrets because the last two times he did that (Raven and Lionheart) he was betrayed and, presumably, that’s happened numerous times before. Yang insists that he can tell them his secrets. They’ll stand by him! But oh look, they wrenched the secrets from Ozpin forcibly and now they're not standing by him.

The girls are liars and hypocrites in this moment. Like I get it, they're also traumatized teenagers, but that doesn't change the fact that they're pulling the same shit Ozpin is currently getting all the flack for.  

I’ve mentioned before that there are a hundred reasons why Jinn’s answer to that question is complete BS. Even ignoring our audience-knowledge of how jinns tend to operate, we have the in-canon fact that she can’t answer anything about the future. Her answer regarding Salem's defeat is null and void in light of not knowing how the situation might change—how can she possibly say that Ozpin or another will never win? But even ignoring that too we have the additional fact that defeating Salem never was and never will be the true goal. Uniting humanity is. Keeping people safe from the grimm is. These are things everyone agreed to long before they even knew who Salem was. What? Did Team RWBY think they were going to wipe out the grimm in their lifetime? That they’d drive creatures to extinction that, as far as they know, have existed since the dawn of time? No. They were just planning to make the world a better place for as long as they could. They’d already agreed to a fight against an “impossible” to beat enemy. Fundamentally nothing has changed.

Yet Ozpin understands that suddenly learning that a Big Bad is immortal knocks a huge dent in everyone’s hope. He knows—largely from experience—that laying out the situation with no context or nuance (as Jinn did) will make people give up. And we already see it happening, not just in their reaction towards Ozpin, but in casual lines like Blake’s, “I just want to get this stupid relic to Atlas.” No doubt one of Ozpin’s greatest fears is that learning the truth will alienate people from fighting at all. It did for Raven. It did for Lionheart. And now it’s doing the same for the girls, with them acting like they just want to get the powerful relic out of their hands and then leave Ozpin to fight this war by himself. Though I don’t actually think the girls will give up (that would be a very different kind of story), that line is not reassuring right now and just re-emphasizes that Ozpin was right to be wary.

We also see it in Qrow’s exchange with Ozpin:

Qrow: “No one wanted me. I was cursed. I gave my life to you because you gave me a place in this world. I thought I was finally doing some good.”

Ozpin: “But you are—”

Qrow: “Meeting you was the worst luck of my life.”

No one is letting Ozpin finish. Yang demands to know why he kept his secrets and then cuts him off before he gets out more than an “I—”. They let him admit that he doesn’t have a plan, but no space to explain any context surrounding that statement. Here Ozpin tries to tell Qrow that he is doing good, he does have a place in this world, the existence of Salem does not suddenly negate everything else they’ve accomplished… but Qrow doesn’t let him get that far. At this point they’re not interested in listening to anything Ozpin has to say. This isn’t a conversation anymore, it’s an emotional witch hunt.

So is it any surprise that Ozpin eventually nopes out of there? Qrow has just punched him and, far more damaging, delivered that gut-wrenching line about how he’s the worst thing that ever happened to him. Again, context always matters. Two friends fighting and saying cruel things to one another? Not great, but survivable. Ozpin and Qrow aren’t just two friends though. Qrow is currently Ozpin’s only friend.

Let’s recap: His children are dead, his first host is dead, the original version of humanity that he knew? All dead. Who Ozma once was is gone, the gods he knew abandoned him, and the one remaining tie he has to his past is his genocidal ex-wife who’s hell-bent on killing him. Every host Ozpin has had since then has passed away or merged with him in some horrific amalgamation. His friends at Beacon are either out of reach or don’t know about his reincarnation trick and think he’s dead too. Raven sided with Salem over him. Lionheart, a friend for decades, sided with Salem over him. The children he’s traveling with are out for his blood, including the child he’s forced to share a body with. The one person he had left was Qrow… and Qrow just gave the biggest “fuck you” possible. Keep in mind the abuse coding from last episode and fill in the blanks of a couple thousand years. Then Ozpin told Salem the truth and was murdered along with his children. Now the truth comes out and he’s chucked into a tree and screamed at. Ozpin has been conditioned to expect nothing but violence when he bares himself emotionally… and people keep proving him right. He’s currently the lowest he's been in decades and there’s no one here to help pick him back up.

“Maybe you’re right," he says. Maybe I am the worst thing that’s ever happened to you all… so I’ll leave. As much as I’m able to, anyway.

The real kicker though? That’s just met with more anger. “That bastard!” Yang yells. “Tell him we’re not done yet!” Ozpin quite literally can’t do anything right in their eyes. Keep secrets to protect people? You’re evil. Spill secrets? You’re evil. Stick around to defend yourself? How dare you. Leave because you’re obviously not wanted? How dare you.

And you know what I just realized? At least one of the reasons why this arc feels so extreme to me? Because our characters are currently acting exactly like a large portion of the fanbase. For years RWBY viewers have demonized Ozpin and complained every time he came on screen, waiting for the day when the show would finally prove that he’s irredeemable trash. Except when that day came we actually learned that he’s a flawed, mortal man who was manipulated by a bunch of dick gods. Instead of acknowledging that hey, maybe we were wrong about his character, a huge portion of the fanbase has spent the last week grasping at straws in order to continue hating him. Ozpin has been sacrificing child soldiers to his war for millennia. (False). Ozpin has done nothing but lie to the cast since day one. (False). Ozpin raped Salem during his first reincarnation and was super abusive towards her. (False??)

Now we have this kind of mangled “justification” made canonical. Fans and characters alike are currently determined to make Ozpin their antagonist—no matter what.  

So Ozpin basically has a panic attack while still trying to give them what they supposedly want: a world where he’s not around to mess things up. Yet the girls’ hypocrisy is revealed once more. They despise every decision Ozpin makes… but still want him calling all the shots.

Weiss: “He just left us?”

Blake: “What are we going to do now?”

Newsflash, you can’t have it both ways. Lucky for them (since no one is willing to take on the responsibility that Ozpin has been shouldering) Maria steps up and announces that they need to put off this conversation until they’ve found someplace safe. Because grimm. Which is what they should have done in the first place and would have if Yang hadn’t thrown a temper tantrum. She starts yelling at Maria too—“Lady, I don’t know who you think you are”—which just further demonstrates how Yang is willing to take her anger out on anyone and anything that crosses her path. It’s not healthy. It’s certainly not fair to those around her and I really hope someone addresses this soon.

Maria: “I’m still coming to terms with the fact that this is Humanity’s second time around!”

You tell ‘em! Poor Maria was thrown into the deep end of the pool with no life preserver and she’s the only one managing to keep a level head. God bless this woman.

(Please don’t be evil, oh please don’t be evil.)

Maria: “If we don’t move we die and I’ll be damned if I’ve lived this long just to die out in the cold!”

And how long is that exactly? Long enough to have lived through the Great War? Inquiring minds want to know…

Ruby agrees though—beginning to segue back into her role as compassionate leader—and at her word everyone packs up the rest of their stuff and heads on out of that awful spot. Salt and burn the earth, girls. Leave it behind.

Except just when I think the emotional punches are through we get this horrible moment between Oscar and Qrow. Oscar tells Ruby, in an intimate moment of confidence, that he’s afraid he’s just going to be another life of Ozpin’s. Ruby immediately showed compassion again once Oscar switched back (reaching for him when he winced from the punch) and here she’s her old self again, reassuring him that no, he’ll always be his own person. That's the Ruby we love.

Then Qrow breezes by and denies it. “Don’t lie to him,” he says. “We’re better than that.”

Wow.

That was not okay. By any stretch of the imagination. Goddammit, Qrow, you’re the adult here and honestly I don’t give a damn how much you’re hurting right now, that doesn’t give you the right to take your anger out on an innocent kid. Oscar didn’t ask for this and the idea that he exists only to be Ozpin’s host is just blatantly untrue. You’re being cruel to him for cruelty’s sake which, I’d like to point out, we’ve yet to see Ozpin do. Despite all the trauma he’s suffered, he’s never taken his grief out on the children around him like that. He’s also never claimed to be above lying as Qrow just did. With the point being only that this group is making a LOT of mistakes right now while refusing to allow Ozpin his own.

With that lovely piece of advice we turn to the villains… which frankly felt like some much needed breathing room after “The Lost Fable” and these last five minutes. The fact that the villains’ plot-line is taking place in the past means that nothing revealed to them is news to the audience. Cinder’s alive? We knew that. Ozpin reincarnated? Obviously knew that too. The focus is instead on how they react to this information… and it turns out the answer is “Pretty damn violently.”

Before that though we see Hazel, Emerald, and Mercury arriving back at Salem’s palace (the same one that she and Oz once lived in together). I’ve already come across jokes about how Hazel is now the dad of the group, and while obviously this is just meant as a silly acknowledgement of some really flimsy compassion we see from him, Emerald does look to Hazel when she gets off the ship, clearly seeking reassurance after Cinder’s (presumed) death.

Tyrian is waiting to greet them and he’s his usual, creepy self—minus half a tail. Really though, he seems to have recovered quickly from Salem’s wrath last volume. He taunts Emerald about Cinder and when she threatens him he just cuts himself on her blade. Not gonna lie, I love Tyrian more and more as the series goes on. He’s the wild card of the group and as such remains endlessly entertaining.

Mercury is supportive of Emerald, helping her calm down a bit in the face of Tyrian’s taunts, and really all of this is a nice contrast to what we’re getting with Team RWBY: the villains are supporting one another while our heroes tear each other down. Remember all those references to how Salem’s victory will be in dividing humanity? Yeeeaah.

She’s obviously displeased with the report. Hazel tries to take responsibility for the defeat and, uh, this happens:

Look familiar? I’m getting very worried about what that intro shot of Qrow and the grimm arms is going to mean.

So Hazel is tortured for a while until Emerald admits that it was Cinder’s fault they lost. It’s all some really horrible mind games on Salem’s part: ask for an answer and torture the guy who provides you with one, get Emerald to call out the one person she cares for, casually drop that this person still lives, intimidate Watts for questioning her. Tyrian is the wild card, yes, but we know now that his ramblings about his “Queen” aren’t so random after all. Salem is still playing the part of the God we saw in Jinn’s flashback and her followers treat her accordingly. They do as she says out of fear. It’s what Salem lays out in the trailer: they can have their own desires, but only if they don’t interfere with her own.

Hazel drops the bomb that, oh yeah, your ex also reincarnated already, which puts an interesting twist on Salem’s anger. Meaning, I wonder if she’ll be more forgiving of their failure now that she knows they were unexpectedly facing Ozpin in Haven. Regardless, she’s not happy about the news.

At all.

We leave her letting one hell of a draft in and return to the gang. Yang bitches about how the path hasn’t led anywhere and Maria asks if she really doesn’t have anything “better to do than harass a defenseless old lady?”

More real talk: does Yang have experiences that explain her current attitude? Hell yes. Does all this make for compelling characterization? Absolutely. But right now I don’t like her. Having a reason to be angry doesn’t excuse the harm you do when you direct that anger towards those who don’t deserve it. From her pointing her weapon at Qrow to harassing Maria, I don’t think Yang is acting like a very good person right now and I haven't enjoyed her time on screen. An understandable development? Again, yes, but that doesn’t change the fact that she’s acting like a brat and encouraging everyone else to do the same.

Of course, as soon as she challenges Maria the path leads them to a farmhouse. Not that Yang is ready to apologize for her attitude (another big difference between Ozpin’s mistakes and others’: he���s constantly apologizing for his). Weiss notes that the place looks deserted, but at least it’s better than staying out in the cold.

…Is it though? That farmhouse looks creepy as hell and I don’t trust it. To say nothing of the fact that we’ve got that sewer place from the intro right next door.

And that’s where we end up, the gang walking into this abandoned, potentially grimm-infested farm while they’re all pissed at each other and the gate squeaks ominously closed behind them. Oh yeah. I’m feeling real good about the next episode.

(Not.)

Other Details of Note

I’m intrigued by the fact that Jinn seems to have dissipated immediately after finishing her story, both because personality-wise she seems like the kind to stick around and gloat, and also because they’ve still got one question left. We saw Awful Facial Hair Oz ask his questions back-to-back, so unless Jinn streamlined things for convenience’s sake there doesn’t seem to be a wait period between each question… I don’t know. Narratively it makes sense (wanna clear Jinn out so there’s no distraction from the Ozpin bashing), but in-world the rules governing these relics seem a little murky.

So Salem knows Cinder is alive. I wonder if that’s connected to the grimm arm she gave her. If Salem has ties to Cinder that she hasn’t bothered to explain yet. Hmm. Wonder if she can control Cinder’s arm like she does the other grimm…

Salem also mentions the Sword of Destruction and intended to go after it before she heard that Ozpin had already reincarnated. Will that be the next relic on the list then?

With the exception of Ruby fighting the sewer grimm and everyone facing off against someone off screen, we’ve hit on most of the imagery from the trailer and intro already. I’ll be interested to see what the rest of the volume holds since it looks like that vast majority of that material is being kept carefully under-wraps.

Still looking forward to reconciliation. Still putting a lot of stock in that one image from the intro lol

[bloomvalyria]

I am not trying to be mean of anything, just curious. Why do you like sparxshipping? Like I just don’t understand and want to know from your POV why!

12/30/18: Hey guys! I wanted to announce that I heavily edited bits of this to more accurately convey my points (especially with the age difference part because i don’t believe i worded that as eloquently as i should have). I would also just like to add that thisparticular post mainly involves my personal opinions about Sparxshipping. Thereare plenty of other Sparxshippers out there who might share the same opinionsas me or have their own differing opinions. I was simply asked about why I liked it; therefore, I answered.

Sparxshipping is a very delicate subject infandom. In fact, I would be so bold as to say it’s the most hated non-canonship in the Winx Club fandom. Therefore, if you’re a fan of it, chances are youdon’t talk about it much because you’re going to get shit on. And, clearly, Idon’t tag most of my Sparxshipping posts in the Winx Club tag due to the nasty response I’m sure to receive. But what the hell! I have a major migraine and I’m in the mood to piss some people off. I have some time to talk about a few points.

So, let’s talk about Sparxshipping, shall we?

For me, I like Sparxshipping for many reasons but mainly because of how well their personalities complement each other. And I’m not talking the good vs. evil bullshit either. What I am talking about is how there is no ‘one is one step behind the other’ situation –they’re equal. They’re equal in their wit; their determination; their initiative; their thirst for power; I could go on. It just makes them so much fun to write, especially because they’re so similar that no one can really ignore it. Hell, at the end of season 3, Baltor even admits that they’re the same (idk if he says that in the other versions; i didn’t watch them). So, seeing and realizing those same personalities traits that Bloom and Baltor share was just something i thought was, to be frank, really cute. It’s like they’re so similar they can’t stand it; it’s great. 

That’s personallyhow I view it. I could go more in-depth with it, but I know the majority ofpeople who are reading this that criticize Sparxshipping could not care lessabout personal opinions. They’re very set in their opinions, which they havethe right to have. Therefore, I’d like to take this time to address the typicalquestions that are bound to hit this post (‘Isn’the the villain?’ ‘He’s tried to murder her and her friends countless times!’‘He helped destroy her realm!’ ‘What’s wrong with you?’ ‘Isn’t he like 20-30-40years older than her?’ ‘That’s so gross!’) and do what I’m pretty sure no one else on this website has doneand actually respond to them.

So sit back andlet your ass be educated for a minute.

Now, I know the main thing for many people as to whythey don’t like Sparxshipping is because of one very sensitive topic: the agedifference. And my response to that is this: we as a fandom know little tonothing about Baltor. People automatically jump and say ‘Oh he’s like 20 years olderthan her, that’s disgusting!’. Okay, how do youknow that? Have we been given a birth year? No, we haven’t. We don’t even knowif he was born or if he was simply created into existence looking like he doesnow (which is my best guess). We don’t know. We know nothing about his past;therefore, to try and discern his age is pretty pointless. Most(including myself) have come to the conclusion that based on physical appearance alone hecould be anywhere from his mid twenties to early thirties. However, I wasreminded by an anon that he was around when Griffin was a teenager and he looksthe exact same. So the only way I can potentially describe the age situation isthat Baltor is the Edward Cullen of the Winx Club universe (And no, that is notme comparing the couples). Bella was 17, and Edward looked 17 but he wasactually over a hundred years old. So either he was poofed into existence to eternally look the same age, or when he decided to join the Ancestresses, he was ‘born’ into Darkness and it has prevented him from aging.

Plus, to go the extra mile, for those who keepyelling about how Bloom is supposedly underage, yes: the underage issue is abig thing that’s been talked about in the Sparxshipping community for a very long time. However, I know there are fanfic writers out there who do actuallybump up Bloom’s age for the purpose of avoiding this topic because this isfanfiction and you can do that. However, I’m fairly certain that in Season 3 Bloom is actually 18, or if she’s not she’s 18 in my eyes. (I know there is also a post somewhere on tumblr that actually broke down the ages of the girls to prove that Bloom isactually 18 in Season 3 to prove the underage issue null and void, and if I canfind that post again I’ll be sure to come back in and link it.)

Let’s move on, shall we?

As I’ve said,Sparxshipping is a much hated pairing. Mostwould pinpoint the origin of this hatred to the villain-hero trope that theship displays and that some people have an aversion to such a union. However,I’d pinpoint it even further beneath the surface all the way down to the nittygritty old FanFiction days. In these days, horrible (and I mean horrible) fic tropes came out to play –avery popular one being Stockholm Syndrome. And, unfortunately, for many Sparxshipping writers who came to the archive, we were in a sense brainwashed into thinking this was okay because these malicious tropes were being praised since it was quite literally all the archive had. No one was attempting to write the ship in a more flattering light, per se. So, if you’re an outsider looking in, you’re going to see some pretty fucked up shit going on if you go to some of the older fics and instantly be turned off from the ship. Nowadays though, there are Sparxshipping fics being filtered in that do not involve these tropes and are promoting a healthier relationship between the two. And if you haven’t read any of those, I highly recommend you do. 

’OH MY GOD HOW CAN YOU MAKE IT A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP?? HE HELPED MURDER HER PLANET AND HAS ATTACKED HER AND HER FRIENDS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS! DID YOU FORGET THAT???’ Wow. Thank you. I never realized that that’s the reason why Bloom hated him so much. Thank you for opening my eyes. But, you know, there’s this magical thing about Sparxshipping that most critics seem to never have pointed out before that I’d like to ask them: When did we ever say that we’ve forgotten all the god-awful shit Baltor’s done? We’re very aware of what he did, guys. We watched the show just like all of you. We’re not excusing what he’s done, and in our writing now we don’t excuse what he’s done. There’s something in real-life relationships that many couples struggle with –it’s called forgiveness. And it’s very intricately woven into Sparxshipping. It’s so intricately woven, in fact, that when some writers attempt to write it, it doesn’t come across very well, making our ship look even worse. It’s definitely one of the more difficult aspects of writing this ship. But, as I previously stated, we’re not excusing it, and if you think we are then you couldn’t be more wrong.

Anyway, this post became much longer than I intended it to, and certainly not as articulate as I’d hoped. But I’m in agonizing pain, and I need sleep. Also, if anyone would like me to elaborate on any details in this, feel free to let me know! I always look in my inbox, and will answer you as soon as I possibly can!

Image: Zeta-La-Angie on VKText Added In by Me

[broken-heartedgirlff]

Chapter 26 ~ Focus

Lizzie

Today was literally fucking awful. Like I can not express to you, how horrible today was. Hell, I even passed out once getting to the hospital, thank God my baby was okay, but all I can see is Dominic getting shot, Angel’s, Giselle’s and Mason’s screams. Everything was horrible. 

“After Much deliberation, I have decided that Ms. Rossi is to get at most $150,000 for her pain and suffering on losing her child in such a traumatic way. Also, Mr. Cartier is not giving Ms. Rossi any alimony or half of everything he owns. It was the decision of Ms. Rossi to not find employment, as well as Ms. Rossi and Mr. Cartier was not married and were not together for 7 years, after 7 years, the common law marriage practices would’ve taken place, but even in this circumstance it would have not, being that Mr. Cartier is married.

I have found that the child Angelique Marie Boudreaux Cartier will be under the care and full custody of her father Dominic Cartier. With the death certificate of Giselle Boudreaux being null and void, the legal adoption of Angelique to Ms. Rossi is also Null and Void. Both parents have to sign off on giving up their parental rights for adoption, and Ms. Boudreaux-Cartier stated that she didn’t give her right up.  

I fine the defendant $150,000 to the plaintiff. Court is now dismissed”  

When I tell you our entire family rejoiced. I was ready to leave this chapter behind us, just like everyone with us. I couldn’t help tear up at the sight of Giselle crying and holding Angel, this is now what will let them have a better relationship, and it was a beautiful sight.

We were all about to leave when I saw Dominic talking to Katie. I knew that he had no animosity towards her, and that he still had love for her. But with my sister being back, and Katie being insecure about Giselle, He was all about Giselle again.

I guess Gi caught on to them talking, and called out to him.

“Baby” She said softly.

He smiled and finally started walking to his family, when Katie mumbled something and then pulled a gun out of her purse.

“DOMINIC!!” I yelled, but I was too late, he immediately fell to the ground as the bullets went into his backside.

“DADDY,” Angel and Mason screamed,

Giselle ran to him immediately, trying to put pressure on the wounds, ““DOMINIC!!!! SOMEONE CALL 911” She cried out.

“DOMINIC! STAY WITH ME PLEASE!! DOMINIC! DOM! PLEASE SOMEONE FUCKING CALL 911!!!!!” She cried again

I was looking around and Kam was protecting all the kids, X and Jeremiah apparently got ahold of Katie, Both bailiffs were dead on the floor, The judge was also shot too, but she had gotten to safety. I couldn’t find Olivia,

“LIV!!! LIVIE!!!” I screamed

“Lizzie!” She gasped

I ran and she was on the other side of the table, holding her stomach from bleeding. I took off my scarf,  

 “You’re gonna be okay Liv. I promised.” I said crying

“Stop crying then stupid.” She smiled

I nodded, and laughed, but the tears kept flowing. “I promise, you’ll be okay”

She grabbed my hand. “Lizzie, don’t let me die, Please, I want to see my Children grow up. Please.”

“I promise!”

The Police came in and then followed by the EMT’s, They came and got Liv from me, and she wouldn’t let go of my hand. So I went with her.

Giselle was still crying over Dominic’s body when the EMT’s came in. She wouldn’t let him go, Xavier had to tell her to let him go so that they can help him.

Now we are here, at Mount Zion Hospital, Dominic is in surgery, Olivia is in surgery. Mason is in a cast on his arm, apparently as soon as she shot Dominic, He ran towards Dominic and the bitch shot my nephew in the arm.  

We got word that both bailiffs were killed, and so was the judge. I wouldn’t be surprised if Katie got the death penalty. and if she didn’t, we would make sure she was dead her first moment in jail.

“Family of Olivia Lavigne?” The doctor spoke  

We all rose up, he laughed, “Next of Kin?”

Jeremiah spoke up with Sage in his arms asleep, “I am her husband.”

“Your wife is out of surgery, she had a heart attack on the table, but we fixed everything, she’s going to be bed ridden for a while. She was shot in her lower stomach, so we had to fix little of her internal organs but I am going to keep her here for awhile.”

“She’s okay though? She’s going to live?” He chocked out

“Yes, Sir. She will.”

He let out a breath and kind of a laugh “Oh thank God” He rubbed the tears out of his eyes, and shook the doctor’s hand.

“Thank you so much.”

“What’s taking Dominic so long.” Giselle mumbled. 

Rakim

I was sitting in the hospital with Rose when I got the call about Dominic and Liv. Thank God they were in the same hospital, because I don’t think that I could leave Rosie that long.

She’s finally getting better. We still don’t know why the baby was making her so sick, to the point that she was dying. She has this rare disease, and it causes the baby to take all of the good stuff from Rose, I really don’t know, but I don’t care. They told us that Rose could never carry a baby full to term, but I don’t care, as long as I have my Rosie.

“Baby, go see Olivia. X said that she’s fine and that they’re just waiting on hearing about Dominic.” Rose spoke from the bed.

I shook my head, “I can’t see my sister like that.”

“Well, what about Lei’Lani or your mom, you know that they are here, and you know they are freaking out.”

“I understand you are trying to help, but I can’t see her in a place like that. Last time wasn’t the best for me.”

“What do you mean?”  

“I was 14, Lei was 13 and Liv was 17” 

~ 11 years ago~

“LEI’LANI!!! Stop! I have to go to football practice!” I screamed

She stuck her tongue out at me, “Mommy said she would take me to dance practice!”

“She promised me football practice!!!” I yelled back

“OLIVIA!!!” We both screamed.

“Will y’all stop screaming! Liv isn’t here to take neither of y’all to either place…your mother and I have to.” My dad spoke to us.

“Daddy…” Lei pouted

“Bro, Pops please don’t fall for this! She is just trying to mess with me so that she can get on my nerves.”  

Lei being the baby, she always got everything she wanted. I was tired of that shit. She was ONLY 11 months younger than me! I was tired of this before the shit even started.

“WILL Y’ALL BE QUIET!!! I’M TRYING TO HEAR ON THE PHONE!” My mom yelled

We knew not to mess with her because as soon as she was mad, that would be our asses, before we could leave, we heard my mom again,

“What the fuck you mean, she’s in the hospital Xavier! I Sent her there to get away from him! He followed her there?!”

My pops ran into the kitchen, I knew it couldn’t be good.  It had to be Olivia’s ex-boyfriend, Cassiius. That nigga was mental, and I knew for a fact that he used to beat on my sister, but I could never prove it until i would catch her covering it up, so momma sent her to live with her Dad’s side of the family in Cali to get away from the nigga. But i guess it didn’t work.

“Rah, we gotta go to Cali, Liv is in the hospital” Lei came back crying, then she just ran into my arms crying.

Seeing my sister, in the hospital bed, literally bandaged in every way. I wanted that niggas blood. I wanted to see him worse than he put my sister.  

He gave her internal trauma, external trauma, broken bones, a brain bleed and she was all bruised and battered. This nigga left my sister for dead.

“Rah, you’re going to break the bed” I heard my mom say. I guess I was gripping the edge so hard, my knuckles had turned white.

My family was always worried about my anger issues, and stuff like this didn’t help it either.

I wasn’t really paying attention, when Liv’s family came in the room. It was her cousins Giselle, and Elizabethe and their dad Xavier. He had two light skin niggas behind him.

“Who the fuck are they?” I spoke pointing to them

“Andre! Language!” My mother scolded.

“They not family, they don’t need to be here. So who are they and why are they here.”  

One of them, the thicker one, was about to say something but Xavier put his hand on his chest.

“It’s okay Jeremiah, Rakim is right, can you and Dominic step outside.”

They both nodded and stood outside, but the one that was Jeremiah, kept his eye on Liv and kept the door slightly ajar to hear what was going on. 

Of course my mom and dad kicked out myself and Lei so they could talk to Xavier. It was simple, I want this nigga dead. I’m tired of doing all of this talking shit. He needs to die, he hurt my sister.

Lei was talking to the girls in the waiting area, and I just kept staring at the wall, I didn’t even notice the two other niggas come and sit by me. But they just stared at me.

“The fuck y’all looking at.” I spat

“Look Nig-“ Jeremiah spoke

“Jeremiah. Don’t.” The other spoke.

“I know y’all not stupid, what do you want?” I asked again

“You Liv’s little brother huh? She said you were a lot” the other laughed

I just blankly stared at him.

He shook his head, “Just like Olivia… I’m Dominic, this is Jeremiah. We work for your uncle Xavier.”

“He’s not my uncle, He’s Olivia’s uncle. Her pops older brother.”

“Understood.” He said

“So Y’all going to kill the nigga or what?”

They both looked at each other before they looked back at me.

“Look, I maybe 14, but I’m far from fucking stupid. This nigga Cassiius did this to my sister. My parents sent her here so it wouldn’t happen. and look what happened. Do y’all even know what happened?”

The Jeremiah guy cleared his throat and answered,

“We think he’s been watching her for awhile, but he can’t really get too close to the mansion because of other things. But what set him off was she went on a date, when she went home she was grabbed.”

I nodded my head trying to grasp the information, but then he spoke again.

“ I should’ve stayed. But she said it was fine.”

“Wait, you’re dating my sister?”  

He couldn’t even answer the question, because I simply didn’t care.

“Just kill this nigga and we straight my dude. Long as you treat her right and don’t hurt her, I don’t give a fuck what y’all be doing.”

“No one will ever hurt her again, if it’s up to me” He said

“I see why you don’t like Jeremiah very much anymore, he didn’t beat on you sister like the other dude did, but he hurt her just as emotionally as the last one did.” Rose said rubbing my hands. She always knew how to soothe me.

I nodded, “He basically left her for dead when he cheated and had another baby outside of his marriage. My sister had to beg me not to kill him. Motherfucker lucky I love my nieces and nephews, because he would’ve been gone hella ago.”

“Rah, you can’t hold that anger in, you got to let go, and forgive Jeremiah.”

“No thank you. He fucked over my sister, I don’t play about family.”

“What if Jeremiah and Olivia get back together?” She asked.

I turned my face up, “Doubtful.”

She just laughed, “You spend so much time hating him, you don’t realize that they still love each other.”

“Again. Doubtful.”

She just shrugged and went about her business because she knew the conversation was dead with me.

One month Later

Writer’s perspetive

Both Dominic and Olivia were laid out in comas. Dominic’s condition was worse than Olivia’s and the doctors  were  afraid that he would never be able to walk again.

This absolutely scared Giselle, seeing that he would never be able to play with the kids again. Or walk Angel down the isle at her wedding. Play Football with Mason when he’s in High school. Or even jus simply stand to hug her, she was petrified, but she never left his side.

Jeremiah also never left Olivia’s side, he was conflicted as well. The doctor informed him that Olivia was 4 weeks pregnant. It hurt his heart that she was having another man’s child. But it hurt even worse when the doctor told him that she miscarried, and because of her injury, she would never be able to have children.  He knew that, the news of a miscarriage and fertility problems would kill her. He didn’t want to be the one to tell her, but he knew he had too.

Callie immediately went to see her sister, but Katie weren’t allowed Guests. I mean would you be allowed Guests if you killed two police officers and a judge with Dominic and Olivia in critical condition from her actions.  

Did Katie regret what she did?  

No. She wasn’t remorseful. She had planned to do that if she had lost anyway. She just didn’t expect Giselle to be there. Katie honestly wanted to kill Giselle, but their son got in the way and she ended up shooting him, which didn’t matter in Katie’s mind because Giselle took her son away. So it was an eye for an eye. 

 If Katie couldn’t have Dominic and Angel…. No one could and she stuck by that.  

But Callie had to worry about her own problems.

After everything went down, she asked to meet with Kamryn. She still wanted to go through with the abortion, but she needs Kam’s approval. Kam was conflicted. She knew that Callie would have the baby and leave it… it could be the baby that she’s been trying to have, but let’s be real. As strong as Kamryn is, she isn’t strong enough to raise her Husband’s mistress’ child, and after talking with X. They let Callie out of her contract and she got an abortion.

Kamryn was extremely relieved. She didn’t have to deal with this mess of Callie or X having an outside baby, so she tried harder to save her marriage. X tried harder too. He loved his wife and wanted to make their family whole again. They both decided to go to counseling and to put having another baby off until they were back on good terms with each other.

Rosalie has been getting better, and the entire family was happy. She was sad about her condition about carrying kids, and she was worried that it would affect her relationship with Rakim but he reassured her that nothing could tear them apart. The love they had for one another was greater than the thought of having children. They even talked about adopting or surrogacy. 

 Everything was going great, expect for Dominic and Olivia.

Giselle

Everyday, I would wake up hoping that last month was a dream. I prayed everyday for Dominic to wake up, I needed him to wake up.

Angel and Mason really haven’t talked since the day that he got shot and I cant blame them. They saw that bitch, shoot him down. I’ve taken them to therapy, but they both just sit in silence the entire time. Mason usually tells me what is wrong, but I cant get it out of him.

The doctors were worried that D would never wake up. They’ve asked me to take him off life support 2 times already, but I could never do that to him. He’s the love of my life…. I cant let this be the end. I even got into an argument with Mama Celeste about it.

“My son wouldn’t want this Giselle.” She cried

I shook my head for the millionth time “Mama, I said No. Dominic is okay, he just needs his rest. His body is under a lot of stress. BUT HE IS FINE!” I rubbed his curls that he’s grown since being in the hospital.

“Giselle.-”  

“I was without him for more than 4 years, Taken away by my father, by Vincent. I will not be away from him for the rest of my life. If I go bankrupt because I am keeping him alive I will do it.”

“His will states-“

I rolled my eyes. “I don’t give a fuck what his will states. LEAVE! If you don’t support my decision to keep him alive. GET THE HELL OUT!”

I haven’t seen her since and that was 2 weeks ago. I’m not keeping her away, but she’s staying away right now. Jeremiah was pissed at me, but i don’t care. I refuse to lose him again. I mentally couldn’t handle it. But she’s taking care of the kids for me while I am here.

Wiping my tears, I just rubbed his hands and arms. I just want him to wake up. I miss his brown eyes, and his smile. The way he would always be laughing and being goofy with the kids. I just want to see him again. I would give anything for him to hold me one more time.  

Then suddenly, he flatlined. 

Olivia

All I heard was talking and I couldn’t move my body, but I knew for a fact that I was with Jeremiah. Because I heard his voice.

I also hear a heart machine and I feel groggy. I couldn’t help but to think, where was Sage, I couldn’t hear her. She’s usually with Jeremiah. What the hell is going on!

I tried to open my eyes, but the lights were too bright, so I groaned.

“Olivia?” Jeremiah asked

I turned my head and opened my eyes, I could barely move, and I couldn’t talk.

“Water?” He asked again

I nodded my head. He got me a cup of water off the table and helped me drink it. I probably drunk all of it, but it helped my throat.

“You good?”

“Yes, thank you.” I said raspy  

“Jeremiah, what happened. Did Cassius do this to me? Why am I here?”

“Cassius?”

“Where’s Sage? Where is everyone?”

“Olivia, what is the last thing you remember?” Jeremiah asked me

I shrugged, but I couldn’t really remember anything. I tried to think long and hard, i even closed my eyes. It took me awhile, and a few minutes later,

“I remember getting into a fight with you, and you stormed out of the house, I took Sage with me to Dinner with Lizzie and Giselle at Riviolli’s. Coming back home, I ran into Cassius. That’s all I remember.”  

He sat down and stared at me in shock, “Riviolli’s closed after Sage turned 4.”

Before I could ask what he meant by “Sage turning 4.” A man and 4 little kids walked in. One went strictly to Jeremiah, and the other 3 ran to me.

“MOMMY YOU’RE AWAKE!!!”

“MOMMY I MISSED YOU!!”

They all hugged me and the man said “Baby, I’m glad you’re awake.” I recognized him as the new partner from the firm.

Baby?

I looked at Jeremiah, “Jeremiah, what is going on? Who are they?”

The oldest child said “Mommy, it’s me Sage.”

Before I could even say anything, Jeremiah saw my face. “Dont freak out Olivia.”

“Jeremiah, what the fuck is going on! Who are these kids and this man!!” I screamed out

The man said “I’m Jordan, your boyfriend?”

“I dont have a boyfriend, I’m married to Jeremiah! Have been since I was 20 years old! We have a 3 year old!”

“Olivia what year is this?” Jeremiah asked

“What the hell do you mean! It’s 2014!” I screamed

“Mommy, it’s 2018.” ‘Sage’ said

I looked around at all the confused faces, “Jeremiah, I want to go home, please what is going on. This isn’t funny. Where is Sage. I DON’T KNOW THESE PEOPLE” I cried out.  

I was scared that Cassius found me and beat me, leaving me for dead again. I just wanted to go home with my husband and my daughter.  

I dont know what is happening right now.

[downbythewater-beachblondee]

19| Budha couldn’t do it

Elijah

Moments like these I wish my ma planned a fucking wake. Who plans a funeral without a wake? A hint to her own insanity, it was.

It was around 8 o'clock. Everyone in the house had their own agenda. Black was the new black in everyones attire except mine. Yes, I wore black but I tightened a purple tie around my neck worse than Esther ever could. I did my best.

"Fuck," I concluded, hoping to escape the memories dwelling inside of the bedroom my dead wife and I shared only a week ago. For once, I had envisioned those sloppy seconds of ours as more than a duty or task to complete because of our unspoken commitment. I wanted her, sure. But a need was of better essence. Anyone who knew me knew that Esther was something I needed and whenever I needed something I always had it. Which is why I refuse to accept that she's gone.

See. It doesn't even sound right.

My mothers heels clacked in the ever long fashion they always clacked. She headed into the kitchen picking up anything in her way and placing it back down. It was as if she were searching for an explanation underneath every item miscellaneously situated on the kitchen table.

"What," She badgered, looking up at me once.

I shook my head. This was probably the first time in a long time that I'd actually faced my mother head on without Esther's arms locked into mine. She couldn't say the right things anymore so I used her conscious.

"That tie is ugly." She said, waltzing over towards the living room mirror. "Change it."

"No."

"Excuse me?"

"I said no. I don't have time to argue with you about anything today."

"...I know that face."

She crawled closer to my presence like the true feline she was.

"You're feeling guilty." She purred, prompting my heart to cave in and beat within itself.

"Yes, baby. You're feeling guilty...and I know the reason why." Her fingers inched towards my left ear slowly. I'm guessing this was her way of soothing me after all of these years.

"Because you are guilty." Her voice boomed contrastingly deeper and scarier than her primitive sound. A light squeeze pinched at my ear as she gritted her teeth.

"You should have done more. You were a horrible husband."

"Mom-"

"You wasn't studden that girl. I'm glad she's gone. That way her and her baby can rest in peace without even the possibility of you fucking anything else up."

"Dinah, where's my tie! Damn it!" My father howled. Just like my mother, he was everywhere...searching for something in nothing.

"I don't know, nigga. Borrow one from ya son." She answered, patting her lion padded feet elsewhere. "And where is every got damn body? Rosetta!"

"Hah!!!!" My sister called from upstairs.

"Get yo ass down here! All ya'll get down here and stand in a single file line. Now!"

Rosie, my brother, my dad, and I scurried towards 'getting ready' until we stood shoulder to shoulder in a line facing the queen herself.

She peered at us with the most emotion and deficit that I'd seen in ages. She played with her mouth. Whatever was about to seep out of it was finna be important. If we didn't take heed she'd have one of our heads plastered onto the wall for all to see. I didn't want to be on the receiving end.

"Play your parts, people. Everyone will be at this event this evening and I need zero fuck ups. Zero."

"It's a funeral, mama." Emended Rosie.

"Fuck up number one...Rosie keep your mouth shut. Cover your tattoo's. No one wants to know who you're sleeping with this month and for Gods sake do something with that nasty hair of yours."

Rosie, usually the one to object anything Dinah had to say, rolled her eyes and accepted her defeat as if she were still in middle school. For Esther's sake.

"Titus Jr...I don't have to worry about you. Keep your mouth shut and your face pretty. The only thing I want to hear you talk about is school."

Like the momma's boy he was, he smiled comically. "You got it mama."

"Husband...darling." She hummed, caressing my fathers face with her claws. "Keep your eyes to the sky...not on anyone else. Not tonight. And if you even think of pulling that 'trip to the bathroom' trick...you'll be sleeping on the couch for a month."

Next, it was my turn.

"I suppose you've suffered enough guilt as is, my Elijah...but please. Keep your conversation to a minimal."

"Listen, I don't have to answer to you. My wife is dead. I'm sure I can handle myself just fine."

My father and siblings couldn't even look at me all the way, perhaps in fear that the lioness would greet them with a jab at the jugular. But whatever it was, I did it and they were amazed.

"You think you're tough shit. I don't care what you do Elijah," She continued. "This is my rep on the line. This is stupid! This entire situation...looks stupid. How do you think it makes me feel when your fathers entire congregation is asking me what happened to my daughter and what drove her to suicide?"

"Why does it bother you so much mother? One, she isn't your daughter. Two, my fathers congregation is null and void. The entire church was torn down so whatever preconceptions they have about you, I'm sure Esther's death is the least of their worries."

"Everyone has an opinion, silly boy. Tonight is the night we create new ones. Regardless of what your father did, we still have impressions to fulfill, yes? Sort of like that job you have. Preconceptions, you say? Los Cabasas is full of them. Everyone knows about Esther's death."

"Oh yeah? And I wonder who told the news about it? Was it you?"

"No."

"I have the call log. 1-800-CabasasNewsArea shows up perfectly. Would you like to see it, Mrs. Dinah."

"You sick shit." She reckoned, tucking her fat bottom lip between her teeth. "What do you want. An award?"

"Mama, why would you do that?" Rosie questioned as if we were in a play and her que were an aside.

"Because this is a game, children." She snorted. "Play it well. Everyone would have found out sooner and later so it was best I did what I did to clear up any confusion by allowing a public announcement. For Esther."

"Bullshit. Dinah, this is an amusement park for you. You. It's all about how you want everyone else to feel about you."

She trailed closer to me still clothed with those slits in her eyes.

"For all of her life...Esther trailed in your faux reign. For a small portion of her death...let her have her own...even if it is through me..."

_____________

The funeral was of quintessence. I kept my head down, afraid that an ocean would tear at the protective sheet in my eyes.

'Going up Yonder' would be the death of me, and I meant that with all of its entirety. If I had been hit with a bag of bricks, maybe I would've believed Esther was finally gone.

But that funeral was ton of cement. Now, she was hiding from me and never coming back. That made things worse. I could talk about how I almost broke down because no one knew how guilty I was. I could talk about how I wanted to die in the casket alongside her or how innocent she looked in that white dress. I could mention how I didn't deserve to live or attend that very funeral.

But I couldn't because none of that happened. In fact, I was numb due to the fact that I had taken 3 Xanax's earlier that morning.

During the repass, I excused myself because I hated greeting strangers.

As I made my way out of the mens room, I noticed a familiar smell. Coco butter and pop rocks. Sounds about right.

"Oh my God...thank you for coming." I heard my sisters voice coo.

I saw her hugging a girl much shorter than her with wild tendrils tucked around a flower crown.

"Anything...if you need anything please ask. Where is Elijah?"

"Right here." I announced, noticing her beautiful brown face under a slither of makeup. Noticeable enough for me to recognize but she still looked the same.

"Sanaa....what are you doing here?" I asked, afraid that my mothers serene cock blocking skills would soon tear this building to pieces with everyone in it diced and sliced to perfection.

"Your sister has been a great friend of mine. She told me about what happened and I came right away. Elijah, I am so...so...sorry."

"It's fine. I'm fine."

Her hands gathered into mine, causing a few glances shot towards us. I can only imagine how livid mama would be if she saw Sanaa embracing me right now. Yes, Sanaa was my woman but everyone else would see her as a concubine. No one else knew about Esther and I's 'sleeping arrangements'. She had her situation and I had mine.

I'm sure Sanaa would understand.

"Baby...not right now."  I whispered.

"Elijah, I need you to-" My mothers incessant voice was abruptly halted by the sight of Sanna's honey colored fingers laced into mine.

"Who the fuck is this?" She summoned. Now everyone started to observe. Funeral drama must've really been a main attraction for some people.

"I did. She's a friend of the family." Rosie squeaked.

"A little too god damned friendly. Do she know Elijah wife just died?"

"She does. And I'm right here." Bucked Sanaa, standing toe to toe with my mom.

I would've came to her rescue, regardless of the fact that Sanaa was literally my concubine at my wife's funeral. But I didn't have a chance to.

Rosie reached behind her shoulders. "Okay, that's enough. Mom, this is Sanaa. Sanaa, this is Dinah. Our mom. She's just mourning. We're going to go sit, now."

Sanaa and Rosie walked away.

Like always, Rosie came to my rescue. Even though I don't think she knew about Sanaa and I's relationship completely, she dissolved any confrontations that would've set this church on fire. Singlehandedly, I realized I was dependent upon the women around me.

Furthermore, Sanaa and Rosie must've had a pretty tight relationship. They talked the entire time.

[taurus-annie-main]

Who Are You?

Summary : The first letter you receive from Happiness Delight simply demands you to respond, and knowing full well you shouldn't, you write one back. 

Word count : 5.6k

Genre: Fluff / Angst 

You stumbled up the stairs with your hands braced against Molls shoulder for dear life. The puddles your heels had had the unfortunate fate of meeting were lit by the orange glow of the street lamps, but still, you stepped into another. Molls nearly slipped on the cobblestone, but your hands were quickly at her waist.

"Shit, how are we gonna get inside!" she said. "Fucking wet stone. Who thought of this?"

Your hand aimed to place a finger at your lips, but the digit ended up somewhere along your cheek. "The neighbours!"

"I'm being quiet," her voice was an oddly loud whisper.

Stood before the door, your hand dug inside your bag until you felt the cold but familiar set of keys. Suddenly feeling the chill biting at your exposed skin, you wedged the door open. You stepped in and Molls fell into you, closing the door on her way.

"Take off your shoes you idiot," You said as she absentmindedly pushed you.

"No, I'm going straight to bed," she said. "See you in the morning. And thanks for letting me stay."

You shook your head and watched as she disappeared up the stairs in a clack of heels. Stupid, you thought to yourself the moment you heard a soft thud, either she'd found your bed or she'd slumped down on the floor somewhere. She was always somewhat of a ditz, but her clumsiness doubled by tenfold with the odd glass of wine or gin.

"Don't throw up on my bed!" You said. "And you're welcome."

"I won't!" She shouted.

You slipped on your slippers and walked to your living room, realistically, you should've joined Molls and crawled down into bed, but you were still buzzing with euphoria. You'd made it, you'd made your mark in the most cutthroat industry, who could sleep after that?

You reached down to the book that lay half open on your coffee table. The Flowers of Mist. A psychological mystery novel set in a seemingly idyllic neighbourhood. Winner of the Debutante Award, rated 4.5 stars by the Daily Mint and called the next Stephen King.

The best part of it all? All 427 pages were written by you.

Today your publishing company had held a dinner in your honour. The feeling of going to a party honouring your novel could only be described as surreal. For years you'd been in the background, swinging back the wine at other people's celebrations, watching in bitterness, but every writer felt like that, it's natural. You'd just smile and congratulate the writer and then go back to mulling over your glass. Long gone where those days.

Falling down into the couch, you slipped the pins out from your hair and let the flocks fall around you.  You were settled between the cushion, reading over the dedications when you noticed the small stack of envelopes beside a mug of stale coffee. Then it clicked, the letters! Giselle, your editor, had dropped them off at your apartment the other day, but amidst your bumbling around for the party, they'd slipped from your mind.

The stack was wrapped up in red ribbon and a note hung from the side.'Your fans want to talk to you!' The stack had been slowly accumulating since the public release of your book and for some reason you'd yet to become numb at the thought of people sending you letters, praising your book or some criticising. The people writing could well be the same people that shoved you in the train, or possibly the ones who'd lend you money for parking. It was an odd feeling but you loved it, and so, you tore the first one open.

Dear M,

To be honest, when I first saw your book online I thought it was going to be another Gone Girl, but, I'm pleasantly surprised! Monroe Estate gives me Stepford Wives vibes and I love it, not that I'd want to become a Stepford wife but I loved it! Can't wait till your next book.

From Angie

Smiling, you slipped the letter into its torn envelope and placed it at your side. You wasted no time in opening the next envelope.

Dear M,

CAN I SAY SHIT?! and I don't mean the bad shit, I mean the good type! I don't even know if you'll get this letter or if I'm even gonna write the right address on it, but that was one of the best thriller's I've read. Keep up the good and is there a sequel in the works.

From Jay.

Admittedly, this one had cooked up a small laugh from you. You'd write back to this one tomorrow. You picked up the next letter.

Dear M,

I'm not a fan mail type of guy, I actually cringe at the stuff and prefer to admire my idols from afar, but I've just finished Flowers of the Mist, literally, and I took out a pen and paper. FUCK ME WHEN I SAY YOU GOT ME! I was so sure it was the Guildford sister, they seemed to fit the bill but best believe I nearly screamed when you revealed it was Sandra P. I really should've known, anyone who gardens that much could truly be sane.

As much as I loved it, I have to say you totally forgot something. I know it's not a big deal but I'm anal about stuff like that. Ok so, what happened with Joel? You practically had whole chapter dedicated to him but, he just went away. Oh and, I think you wrote the wrong location for Mainstay bridge, Apple Tree Yard is located on the east of the river not the west.

Still, the book was amazing.

Meaningless question, but, do you listen to The Mace? It's a true crime podcast, please listen to it! It's on Spotify.

Yours sincerely, Happiness Delight.

You held the letter in your hand, mulling over each word. You couldn't help but snort, this Happiness Delight person was a real piece of work. However, as much a it pained you to agree, you did happen to forget about Joel, but Joel was a minor character, some to throw the scent off, so did it really matter?

You placed the letter at your side and reached to the notepad and found a pen somewhere in the crack off your sofa. You used the back of your book and put pen to paper. There was something about Happiness's Delight's letter that demanded you to respond, even though you weren't allowed to respond yet. Giselle had this rule that any author must not respond to fan-mail during the press run. The rule was put in stone after a scandalous fiasco with Young Adult Author, Katrina Howell. However, with the alcohol in your blood the rules were null and void, surely you wouldn't become the next Katrina Howell.

Dear Happiness Delight,

I'm not really supposed to be responding to you yet, but I've just read your letter and I had to respond. Call it a urge or something, but I had to. First of all, I'd like to say thank you for reading and buying Flowers of The Mist, it's my pride and joy and the thought of someone buying it makes me happy. I'm also delighted by the fact that the twist blew you away so much so that you just had to write to me. It took a lot of time coming up with it, and I've spent too many mornings with my cat deliberating if it should happen, so hearing it surprised you made me smile.

Onto the good bit.

First off all, don't kick yourself for being an anal person, it's what the writing world loves. Here's the thing about Joel, he was really just a scapegoat character and I didn't want to develop him into anything. However, if I did have to give Joel some kind of resolution, I feel as though he'd have made up with his Aunts for framing him. After all, they did raise him. In regards to Joe's Diner, I've only ever been there once so forgive me for my mistakes. You certainly have a keen eye.

Sorry, I don't really listen to podcasts, but I might check it out some time soon. I'm a true crime buff myself.

From M, the writer of thrillers.

You folded the paper and placed it on the coffee table, you'd mail it before heading into the vet. You took one final look at the rest of the unopened letters and placed them back onto the table, you'd read them tomorrow, as of now, your eyes were straining to stay open.

You awaken by a scratch to your feet. You cracked one eye open and looked down at the culprit. His beady eyes stared back you with vigour.

"Monsieur...what are you doing?" Your voice was croaked and dry. Monsieur, your cat, was busy as your feet tapping the painted toes with his paws. "You surprised to see me down here? God how did I even fall asleep here."

You threw the blanket off your body,but then realised you hadn't fell asleep with a blanket. The identity of the blanket culprit was solved the moment you had the crash of metal in your kitchen. Molls.

"Don't mess up my kitchen, I just cleaned," you shouted. "What are you making?"

"Eggs and sausage, it's the only thing you've got," she said. "Do you go shopping, like ever?"

"I shop for two, me and Monsieur," You said, scooping him it your hold. He struggled ever so slightly in your grasp, but that was typical of Monsieur, he was a man that didn't like to be handled. You scratched behind his ear, earning you a pleasant purr. Before you could do anymore, he leapt from your lap and dived towards his toy.

Minutes went by and before you knew it, Molls walked into the living carrying two plates. Monsieur, the greedy pig was already at her legs having been drawn by the scent of food. "Shoo Monsieur, I've already fed you." she said, nudging him to the side ever so slightly. "He's getting overweight."

She handed you the plate and sat by your side. "He loves food too much."

You prodded the scrambled eggs with your fork, you preferred a sunny side up. "He's not overweight, but I am taking him to the vet. He just needs to move a bit more."

"A bit?" She said before biting a sausage. "What with the letters?"

"Which letters?" You asked.

She pointed to the stack on the coffee table. "Oh, yeah, those are the fan letters Giselle gave me. I only read through like what? Three, but I'm gonna read the rest."

She picked your notepad up. "You're writing back already? Giselle's gonna kill you...Dear Happiness De-"

You snatched the notepad from her fingers, "It's not for you, fan only. Don't tell Giselle, she's gonna lecture me on Katrina."

"I won't but speaking of the devil, did you see Kat giving you evils at the party?" she said, smirking into her glass of water. "She wishes your book would've sunk."

"Hey, leave the poor woman alone, she made one mistake-"

"She sent a fan nudes." she said. "Was that really a mistake?"

"Writers have needs too," you said before taking a bite off your half-burnt sausage.

Sometime after the second cup of tea, Molls boyfriend better yet, boy toy, arrives to come pick her up. You wave bye to her and promise to meet up for lunch on Wednesday. With her gone, you decide to head up stairs and scrub off the remnants off makeup which hadn't smeared onto the cushions. Refreshed from your shower, you dressed and scooped Monsieur into his cage. You placed the sloppy letter you'd written into your bag.

During your drives you listened to whatever was on the radio, but today you'd decided to connect your phone into the speakers and play episode one of The Mace; The podcast Happiness Delight recommend. Monsieur growled in his cage, obviously not used to the voices of two men speaking about crime, he preferred the top 40. Each episode was twenty minutes and you found yourself going through them quick. In the waiting room with Monsieur you'd reached the fifth episode. Park and Jun were the hosts of the show and their wit had you hooked.

On the drive back, you stopped by the post office and sent the letter with a note telling Happiness Delight to reply to your PO box instead. The last thing you needed was Giselle forcing the Katrina story down your throat.

A week passed before you got the first reply back. You'd almost forgotten about Happiness Delight until your postal company messaged you about a letter. After an interview with Times Morning, you headed down to the postal office and retrived the letter.

Once in the comfort of your living you tore the letter open.

Dear M,

First of all, holy shit! I didn't think you'd reply and thank you for taking the risk, it was worth it. I'm surprised you wanted to write back so quick, I guess I do have some charm, right? The twist was amazing and I think i'm gonna rave about it for the rest of my life...well that is until you release your next novel. (Since I'm your favourite fan, can you drop some hints on the next book?). A cat? Dogs are superior.

Thanks for clearing up the Joel situation and I totally get what you meant. It's weird to think he would've made up with them but human psyche is a weird one (if you listen to The Mace then you'll know what I mean). Haha, the keen eye is the result of eating every burger off the menu, college was hard. Since you're becoming one of my favourite authors, i'm gonna give you a top tip. Next time you go to Apple Tree Yard, ask for a Mango-slaw burger (I'm assuming you're not a vegetarian). It'll be the best thing you ever ate.

Have you listened to The Mace yet? Nonetheless, it's always great to meet another true crime buff.

Yours Sincerely, Happiness Delight.

By the time you'd read it over again, the black fluff that was Monsieur had pounced on your lap and began pawing at the letter. "Monsieur honey, no!"

He meowed backS and leapt at the letter you were now holding up high. "Honey, this is an important letter, you can't rip it apart."

When Monsieur had finally resigned his reign of terror on Happiness Delight's letter, you took your notepad and pen from the coffee table.

Dear Happiness Delight,

Gosh you make me feel like I'm a celebrity, I'm just a measly little writer. Hmm, not to sure on the charm part but I'll let you have it for now. Just make sure not to accidently send your letters to the publishing House! If I could tell you when my next book will come out, I'd be a psychic. Favourite fan? that's a bold statement but I'll go along with it again. Well, my dear favourite fan, I have about fifty different ideas about the next book, but I'm thinking about a faternity gone wrong or Angel of death. How does it sound?

I totally agree, the human psyche is wild and unpredictable, I guess that why I write thrillers. Now that i think about it, it might be why I cheered the villians on in cartoons. I hope I'm not the only one who did that. Burgers aren't good for the health but I will check out the Mango-slaw.

I've actually listened to the podcast, I went through five in one day and i'm on the twelfth episode. I would have gotten further but, my week's been jam packed.

From M, the writer of thrillers.

"We're having lunch here?" Molls under her breath as she followed you into Apple Tree Yard. "I fucking hate you. You literally said we're having lunch at Rain's."

You grinned back at her. "Change of plans, it's a bit nostalgic coming back here."

"Remember when Tom took me here," she said. "I'm shivering just thinking about him."

You both found a cozy little booth my window, it overlooked the almost barren car park and you could see the bridge from here. "He killed me that day, who orders turkey dinosaurs on a romantic date?"

"Him," she said. "Why did you even bring us here? You haven't mentioned this place for a good twenty years and now you decide to?"

You hold one finger up, "Actually, it's my book. However, I was persuaded to come here by a certain fan."

"That Happiness something? And you're still writing back. "

You nodded."Delight. Happiness Delight. He's actually quite interesting and he's got a good taste in podcasts."

"Podcasts! Since when do you listen to podcasts? I've literally been trying to get you to listen to Agony Jen for like a good five years!" she said, shaking her head in disbelief. "Snake."

"I listened to one episode and it was a mess. Most the problems could be solved by simply ignoring said person or finding a hobby. I don't know how you can suffocate it."

"Honey, I write borderline erotic romantic novels; I live for that shit." she said, cracking a mischievous grin. "How this podcast of yours like?"

"Good, it's dark, true crime but the hosts are funny. It balances out," you said, opening the menu. Your eyes looked around burgers section, searching for the highly commended Mango-slaw. "Molls, do you see a mango-slaw burger on here."

She narrowed her eyes and took one menu. "I don't think there's ever been a mango-slaw on this menu. And what the hell's a mango-slaw?"

You shrugged. "Some burger Happiness recommend-"

She shuts her menu. "We came here for a fucking burger that might not even be real?! I'm telling Giselle before it gets out of hand."

You rolled your eyes. "Oh come on, you're overreacting."

"We'll see if I'm overreacting when you end up on the news," she said. "Lets just call the waitress before I die of hunger."

"Nothing bad's gonna happen," you lifted your hand and caught the eye of a waitress. The waiter, who was vigorously chewing bubble gum, walked to your booth notepad in hand. Molls ordered her meal, spicy chicken wings and a side of chips and then the waitress turned to you.

"Do you have mango-slaw?"

She furrowed her eyebrow, "Mango-slaw? Miss, we don't serve that here."

Your face instantly became heated, had Happiness Delight tricked you? That scheming ass you thought. Molls looked as though she was on the brink of laughing. "Oh really...ok, um, I'll just have a cheese burger with chips. And one Seven Up."

She nodded and wrote your order down, all the while looking at you with caution. She probably thought you were crazy. "I'll give these to the chef."

"Thank you," your voice was meek.

Twenty minutes later, the waitress came back bearing the burgers and chips. You went through the meal silently cursing Happiness.

When you stopped at the postal office, you decided to make an amend to your letter. You wrote under the last paragraph.

Were you tricking me with the Mango Slaw? I was at Apple Tree Yard and I asked for one but the waitress looked at me crazy. If so, you're a good trickster Mr Happiness Delight.

Once happy with it, you folded the paper back up and sealed it into the envelope for posting.

Dear M,

You're a celebrity to me and I'll take it, but don't be amazed when my charm grows on you. And I just want t say my highest achievement so far is you naming me your favourite fan, I'll write it on my tombstone when I die...hopefully you would've released twenty more books in that space of time. Personally I love the Angel of Death idea, it's always fascinated me. Ever heard of Harold Shipman.

You're not alone in the cheering villains on front. While everyone else was cheering Hercules on, I was on Hades' side.

In regards to the Mango-slaw event, I probably should've been more clear but don't ask the new waiters, you're gonna have to go the chef. Specifically one called Kyungsoo...now, he might try to throw a pan at you but he will make it.

Since you've listened to the podcast, whose is your favourite host?

Yours Sincerely, Happiness Delight.

Dear Happiness Delight,

I think your charms already growing on me! Don't forget to tell me what plot you'll be on, I'll come visit you and take a picture of it. I hope i'll be able to get through twenty books, it took me too long to write Flowers of the Mist! And yes I've heard of Harold Shipman, what true crime buff hasn't?

Oh see there we've got a problem, I was on Hercules side and that's only because Hades scared me. I was an easily scared child.

I hope you're not playing a trick on me, but if I ever do get time I'll go again, hopefully when that waitress isn't working.

I don't know if this is overstepping boundaries but, I have book signing coming up. Please come, if you can. Since you know Apple Tree Yard then I'm guessing you live around here, so if you can make it, please do. It's at Vick’s Bookstore from 3pm to 5pm. We'll be having lunch after.

For some reason, I think Park is my favourite. He's very funny, not that Jun isn't! Maybe it's the deep voice...I don't know.

From M, writer of thrillers.

The postal office receptionist watched you in growing annoyance as you stood at the desk reading the words. Was it too early to casually invite him to your book signing and dinner after? Furthermore, what if it all went wrong and you were possibly inviting a stalker into your life? Every writer had heard the horror stories of writers having stalkers, some made the stop writing or worse. Maybe it was pure foolishness and naivety, but you trusted Happiness Delight.

"Uh, Ma'am...will you be sending the letter?" The receptionist voice caused you break from your stupor.

"Sorry," you said, shoving the paper back into envelope and passing it the receptionist.

As you left the office, your phone rang, it was Giselle on the line. She talked about finalising the details, now would've been the best time to tell her Happiness but you shut your mouth in better judgement. When he came to the dinner, that's he if came, you'd tell her he was just a friend.

"God, you're shaking like a leaf" Giselle said. She handed you a glass of white wine but you refused. Your stomach couldn't handle alcohol this early.

"I'm just nervous," you said. "It's my first book signing so...Yeah"

"You'll be fine, you just gotta smile but you might be holding quite a few babies," she said, slapping a hand on your shoulder. It's meant to be a gesture of comfort, but pain surges through your muscles. She had a hard hit for a fifty-something woman.

"I don't mind babies," you said. "I just don't want to disappoint anyone and there's just so many people out there."

You peeked out of the glass windows, there was a steady line of people stood outside the doors, some carry books and some purchasing the book from the store. There were all types of people, but you looked for one person. Happiness. Would you know who was happiness the moment you saw him? You'd built a picture of him in your mind but you didn't even know his name for crying out loud. This was stupid.

You wouldn't have been this nervous if he'd replied. Usually, it took him a week to reply and that's understanable, mail takes time. But it was now two weeks since you'd sent the letter. You'd gone to the PO box near enough daily, but nothing was there. Molls had said it might have been lost, but it seemed so impossible.

"Sweetie, they're gonna open the doors," Giselle said. "Do you want some water?"

You nodded as she led you to the front of the store.

"Hey, you! Can you get her some water. Bottled." Giselle said to some young employee.

You took your seat at the table they'd decorated with a stack of your book and a picture of yourself. It wasn't the best of pictures. You thanked the employee and immediately took a gulp of water. You placed the bottle down as you watched the line of people stream in. You clicked the pen two times, just to check.

"Hey, I just want to say I love your book," A girl handed you her copy.

"Thank you so much, it took some time to write. What's your name?" You asked, opening the book on the first blank page.

"Farrah, it's my name," she said, her pock marked face was wide with a smile.

You wrote a small message addressed to her and signed your own signature. You handed the book to her, "Thank you so much for coming."

The next person came, a man. Your heart raced for a moment, what if it was Happiness Delight? You took the book from him and signed it as Andy. He didn't seem like Happiness Delight. If Happiness Delight did turn up he'd probably tell you who he was.

As the fans continuted to flood in drones, your eyes continuously flew over to the clock on the wall. It was nearly time for a break and still Happiness hadn't come. It pained you to admit it but you were losing hope. Maybe it was like Molls said, the mail had gotten lost.

You took your break in the store's staff room. It was only a small break and you spent most of it on your phone, anything to put your mind off him. But the longer you sat there, you'd began to grow angry at yourself. This was your first signing, people had travelled for good knows how far just to get your signature and a small chat. As you walked back into the store front you told yourself not to think about him, just smile and appreciate it, not every one got to do a book signing.

The second half moved quick and you joked more with your fans. And you'd taken the odd picture with a baby and someone's child. You'd been stretching your hands when Giselle tapped your shoulder, she leant down to your ear.

"This is the last bunch, we're going after these," She said.

You nodded and turned back to the next person. "Hello, how are you?" You asked, smiling up at the man.

"Good, I think" He said, you couldn't help but notice he was nervous. He was holding the book with a near white grip. "You?"

"Good too," you answered. "Shoud I sign your book?"

"Yes, of course," he handed you the book and you flipped to the blank page.

"Who should I address it to?" You asked, the tip of your pen touching the page.

"To H-no...sorry, just Chanyeol," he said. "Just Chanyeol."

"Beautiful name," you said, writing his name before the small note and your own signature. You closed the book, "Here you go."

"Thank you so much, and I love your book," he said.

"Thank you too."

He opened his mouth to say something, but quickly closed it. You watched him smile then leave the line, his lanky body weaving in between bodies and before he got the door, he cast you a fleeting glance before walking out into the rain. You looked up to the next person.

"Hi, how are you?" you said to them.

When the last person had walked out the door, you released a breath you didn't know you'd been holding. It was over, the fans had come and he hadn't.

"You good?" Giselle asked.

"Just peachy," you said. "Which resturant we were going to again? Oh, and my plus one won't make it."

The Mace, episode 37 played in your car as you drove to Apple Tree Yard. As you took the next exit your phone pinged, a message. You peered down at the screen to see who it was from, your heart skipped a beat when you saw it was from. Angelo, he'd interviewed you for the Daily Mint. You'd run into him at grocery, you'd been looking for a certain brand of cat food since Monsieur was picky. In the brief conversation you'd had while trying to find the food, you'd ended you exchanging numbers. You'd text him back when you were in the restaurant.

You pulled your keys from the ignition and made your way inside. You'd come at a busy time, the high-school kids from the neighbouring school had invaded near enough all the booths and you couldn't bring yourself to walk down the aisle. Teenagers had a knack of scaring you. So, you settled down at the bar, from here, you could see the cooks flipping burger meat, one flame grilling steak and another chopping onions into fine pieces.

"what you having doll?" the woman behind the bar asked.

"Can I get the cheese burger please, with a side of chips and mango juice." you said.

She scribbled your order down, "sure, would that be all?"

"Yeah- actually, sorry but does a chef called Kyungsoo work here?" you asked, the question had been a split second decision. You can just wanted to out the whole Happiness Delight debacle to rest. Molls had been so convinced that Happiness was simply a fantasist.

The older woman furrowed her brows and for a second you thought Molls was right along, but then she nodded. "Yeah, he works here. You need to talk to him or something... Wait, you're not a cop right?"

You almost laughed in relief. "No I'm just a normal citizen. I just want to ask him about something."

"alright, I'll bring him over."

Your fingers tapped the wooden counter as you waited forher to bring him. Minutes later, the woman came back but with a man in tow. He was wearing his chef gowns and curious look on his face.

"Hi, I'm kyungsoo. You are?" he asked.

You told him your name. "I'm sorry for the bother I wanted to ask you something."

"No problem, I wasn't doing much," he said.

"Well, that's good. This is gonna sound stupid but someone told me to come here before and they said something about this Mango-slaw burger."

"Mango-slaw?" He stopped for a second then sighed hard. "Chanyeol that bastard...he sent you here didn't he?"

The name rung familiar but you couldn't place it. Was this Chanyeol character Happiness Delight? "I'm sorry, but who's Chanyeol?"

Kyungsoo face contorted into one of confusion. "Park Chanyeol, well Chanyeol Park but that doesn't matter. He's the only idiot that orders this burger." He paused to look at your equally confused face. "Was it not him? He's like too fucking tall, big ears, and an idiot."

You tried hard to place a name to the description but you just couldn't. "I don't really know."

"Then who else- Wait, lemme show you a picture," he dug inside the pocket of his uniform, then scrolled through his phone, "Here's a picture of him."

You squinted your eyes at the picture. Where did you know him from? He looked so familiar but the memory was so blurry. The picture of Chanyeol was a guy wearing a large hoodie, hair tousled. He looked to be in some kind of recording studio, but you really didn't know, he just had a mic in front of him. If the microphone in front of him was anything to go by.

Wait a second, that guy. guy who'd come for a book sign, the one who was acting weird. It had to be him but his hair had changed, it was now a dark auburn colour. You thanked the forces that you'd' been sat on the chair, if not, you're certain your knee's would've collapsed. That man was Happiness Delight. He'd came.

"Do you know where he is? I really need to talk to him," you said.

"Uh I don't know where exactly he'd be right now, but I can give you his number," He said.

"That'll be amazing."

He took a piece a paper from behind the counter and scribbled Chanyeol's number down. "There you go. Oh and do you want the burger?"

You shook your head and took the scrap piece of paper. "I don't think I can eat."

You had the paper in your pocket for a good three days, looking over the numbers over and over. Two months had passed between the last letter you received, and you hadn't even opened it.

You pressed the numbers into your phone, pausing a moment you pressed call. The phone rang three times.

"Hello, who's this?" The voice asked.

Why did he sound so familiar? How was it so that you'd recognised his voice than you did his face.

"Uh...hello? Is anybody there. I can hear you breathing?"

Park, it was Park's voice. You felt as though the air in your body had been forced out. Of course, Park Chanyeol. Happiness Delight was the voice of the man you'd been listening to for the last few months.

"Happiness Delight?" Your vocie was feeble and you'd almost doubted he'd heard it.

"M?"  

[adhdyosafire]

 i wanna talk abt kyana so here’s me talking abt kyana,

    tbh i think the thing i’;m proud of the most abt kyana’s character is. she’s a villain . she iS like p much all the other variants in mou/nt massive but u kno what separates her ( n tra/ger maybe. who knows. he was the worst out of them all lbr bu that’s another post ) from all the villains ??? aka like , eddie n chris? it’s the fact that she knows she’s a villain and whatever she’s doing is completely wrong ( bc like eddie thinks he’s just helping ppl by making them ‘’’beautiful’’’ in his eyes 4 his own fantasies /. jus solely doing so 4 the sake of getting a wife. u kno the drill / chris thinking he’s mercy killing everyone else in the asylum 2 save em from the wal.rider ) . for instance she’s aware that w/e theyre doing in mm is FUCKED UP other than way/lon himself but she ignores this. why?? ‘ lmao why shld i care. none of my business. ‘ she isn’t going to get some personal gain here except maybe justice but again , she practically lacks a conscience , so justice = literally NOTHING to her. 

   as cringy as the term is kyana wld literally be the embodiment of ‘ yolo ‘ bc god fuck it , ya probably do. once ur life end it’s literally over. bye bye. no more this n no more that. so in her perspective if ur just going to waste ur life livin’ like a goody two shoes kind of guy and jus follow w//e rules ur given to , then boo . it literally fucking sucks to her bc honestly , living ur life w/ so many rules n regulations to follow is like living in a cell and being given instructions all day long w/ an endless amounts of do’s and don’t’s. and when u die u’d go fuck why didn’t i do that and so many regrets and she doesn’t want 2 deal w/ that.

    in her childhood time she was very spoiled yet very , very lonely. she was v intimidating to most people despite her overconfidence or w/e . her manipulative behavior began when she had a friend who was often teased / bullied , so she tagged them along w/ her but only used them for her own gain . WHY???? bc goddamit , ‘ why not ‘ she wld say. it’s literally ur life. do what u wanna do. who cares abt others. will their feelings affect u? does their sadness matter to u? no. it doesn’t. ( nother thing 2 mention tho is she lacks remorse so guilt isn’t in her dictionary ) 

    in other words sometimes kyana is just. literally an empy void ttrying to do something 2 sate her boredom. she’ll fuck a cactus if she has 2. she’ll steal skittles at like 3 am if she wants. bc yolo right?? in terms of love as she’d say there was literally no point in giving ur entire hope to someone who’ll eventually and MIGH leave u. she giving her trust to someone is like her giving a literal piece of herself to that certain someone , n honestly THAT type of vulnerability / opening up is smth she can’t do

   she’s just honestly confused tbh. she prolly believes in that one theory where everything around u is FAKE and ur the only real person so nothing matters 2 her. her parents did maybe , but despite them giving birth to her at an old age they died early n literally kyana couldnt find herself to get close to anyone else bc her parent’s death affected her a lot ( WHICH is literally so tragic 2 me honestly . i mean it’s kind of cliche n overused i know , but they didnt die of a car crash. not of any natural disaster. not bc of this n that. jus bc of age. a natural state of life. they died bc we all die anyway n there’s literally no escape to that ) 

    tho she doesn’t cry there’s certain points where she might have , or wld end up saying smth ( i.e is like that one shit im tryna write in her whistl/eblower canon in where she was about 2 shoot way but he begs her not to , bc ofc he has a wife back home n children too . franky speaking kyana parly wanted children as well , mayb life wouldnt be bad if she did have someone of her own blood but bc of her own damn self leading herself 2 infertility , she couldn’t get children. so her line there wld be like ‘ i wanted a family too , y’know. but we all don’t get what we want , sooO  ‘ n proceeds to kill him anyway ) 

  tldr kyana is literally NULL and a fuq da popo guy. if she can do smth for her own benefit then she will , bc if it benefits others then what’s in it for u??

[vohalika]

I suffer for my art

For an article appearing on thefandomentals.com, I actually sat down (with a lot of booze) and subjected myself to watching the Lightning Thief movie again. Here are unfiltered live notes, so everyone can suffer with me.

(Why yes I do channel cinema sins. just a little bit)

·         The first 10 seconds do away with the one core rule of the franchise; as Poseidon for some reason steps out of a river, a fisherman SEES him. The books avoid this by having a thing called “mist” exist that keeps mortals from seeing ancient greek mythology stuff going on. Unless, of course, that particular fisherman was blessed with clear sight and is destined to be the next oracle. Suck it, Rachel.

·         Oh god, Sean Bean is in this movie, and he doesn’t even die. That alone says everything about the quality you need to know.

·         Why the fuck are they meeting in mortal forms on the empire state building? Yes, that’s where Olympus is, but Olympus is metaphysically ABOVE the fucking building, not the deck they’re on, which would be crowded at any and all times of day.

·         Okay. So they meet here to discuss exposition. Zeus knows Poseidon has a son. Zeus is also to blame for Poseidon never contacting said son. I mean, technically it’s a pact the two of you made with your other brother after he spawned Hitler and a world war happened, but, uh, is that even canon to this movie?

·         Okay, Sean Bean establishes the summer solstice as a deadline. Keep that in mind. SUMMER SOLSTICE.

·         Why do we put the plot into the first three seconds of the film? Was Columbus afraid we’d fall asleep after this and wouldn’t be able to catch up?

·         Okay real talk Logan LErman would have been the perfect Percy about 5 years before this movie was made. He grew up a little too baby faced to still be a good fit for battle hardened don’t fuck with me Percy of the follow up series, but still, such a missed opportunity.

·         Okay so Percy regularly hangs out at the bottom of the swimming pool for 7 minutes to think. That’s, ah. Weird. You know. If you do that regularly, people might notice. And Grover, whose job is to keep him safe, and also to technically keep him from realizing he’s not quite human, is encouraging this. Because. Sure. Why not.

·         OKAY. SO. They kept the NAME of the school, but not the boarding school aspect. They turned Mrs. Dodds into an English teacher so she could make a joke about the word fury in Othello. And they choose to establish the dyslexia and ADHD thing during dialogue while not actually showing any ADHD symptoms. I can’t quite talk about how well they do with the dyslexia, but from what we see, it’s the letters just fogging over and randomly turning into Greek letters which is not how it is described in the books at all. Seems more like Percy needs glasses here.

·         Oh my fucking god. Gabe comes home, sits down in the uncomfortable kitchen chair, demands beer and smacks Sally on the ass, and both Percy and Sally treat him like a rude house guest maybe, not like the abusive asshole he’s actually supposed to be. Percy even stands up to him and thinks it’s necessary to explain that this is his mother and he will not have her sexualized in this kitchen. Gah.

·         How can this house both be Gabe’s while at the same time, he never held down a job?

·         Also Percy comes into the pretty house at the ground floor and calls for his mother who is like on the third floor. Is that entire house theirs? If so, damn, Gabe is a rich unemployed white trash person.

·         Oh and now Poseidon just randomly wanders around New York to stalk his son amazing

·         Percy wears headphones during the plot related exposition at the MOA

·         At least he’s fidgeting now. That’s progress.

·         OKAY. So Ms. Dodds pulls Percy aside in the middle of the lesson, and Grover and Mr. Brunner can totally leave too to help him. They also cut the action sequence but sure, whatever.

·         Percy gets weirdly ableist when Grover says he’s his protector. Like, in the books Percy’s objection to that was that Grover was constantly being bullied and Percy had to stand up for him.

·         In fact, Percy and Grover could possibly pass for cool kids here; neither of them look like losers. Percy is pretty and has amazing abs. That’s… Completely contrary to how book!Percy feels. Like, he gets better once he reaches the age where boys stop looking like cave trolls, but, uh, that takes a while.

·         Then they go home to Sally, Grover downs Gabe, and they run off, and Gabe’s poker buddies just let them be. What.

·         They start conversation about the father while the sun is setting in New York City, and only commence it in the middle of the night in the middle of nowhere

·         The minotaur who just toppled their car is suddenly all the way up the hill. Wow.

·         Sexist edit: In the books, Percy’s mom explains to him how to fight the minotaur. Here, he just kinda figures it out himself.

·         Okay. Two dumb things: With the mom evaporated just before the camp gates, why do they fight the minotaur at all? In the books, Percy is half a mile away from the camp when the showdown happens and he fights to save himself and his mom. Here, he just charges out there to avenge his mom even though the magical gate is right there.

·         Second: instead of going for his sword, the actual weapon, Percy goes for the horn stuck in the tree, almost getting skewered himself. Now, the narrative for some reason rewards him for this, but this is just dumb. And there was also no indication that the horn was going to work better than the sword, which is also right there and not stuck in a tree.

·         The fury roughed him up more than the minotaur did, and yet this is the part where he falls unconscious

·         Grover is BUFF

·         He’s supposed to be a scrawny loser kid with anxiety issues

·         Also nursing Percy is Annabeth’s part. This is important. Ish.

·         Yeah, okay, Grover giving Percy the tour is… Unfortunate. In the books, there were actual adults giving him these talks, and also Annabeth, and you get the feeling Satyrs are veeeeery low on the pecking order. Also, Mr Brunner was there to actually take him seriously

·         Also, the camp just looks wrong. Way wrong.

·         UGH

·         UUUUUGH

·         OKAY

·         We’re introduced to BRUNETTE Annabeth while a bunch of people do badly choreographed battle around her. This is wrong. This is so wrong.

·         Annabeth is good in a fight, yeah. But her main asset is her brain. And the first glimpses we get of her is taking care of Percy, both nursing him and giving him the tour, because she piecing together how he fits into a prophecy that concerns her and is her ticket out of there.

·         Also they kind of combine her role in this movie with that of Clarisse, who is a daughter of Ares and a bully like the ones Percy never had to face here. I have no idea why they did that, and it’s even more ridiculous since Clarisse appears in the sequel.

·         Why did they have to put more than one centaur in here, they’re supposed to be party animals roaming the countryside, EXCEPT for Mr. Brunner who is Chiron fuck everything

·         Okay. They also conflated the daughters of Aphrodite with the naiads that are around, and both groups would NEVER give Grover the time of day. Buuut I guess considering where this leads, we do have to play up his sex appeal, huh?

·         OKAY. The cabins in the books are actual fancy and pretty houses, befitting Greek gods. Being claimed by a god is also a special thing, and the fact that it is special contributes greatly to the 5 book story arc. Here, they just shove Percy into a weird wooden structure full of sailing paraphernalia specifically built for him.

·         Okay so apparently the only danger kids of the big 3 pose is making the other big 3 jealous for some reason, not because they literally kicked off the world wars

·         And apparently, Gabe’s smell isn’t supposed to keep monsters away, but the other gods?!

·         Well I mean everyone seems to have known about Percy, sooo

·         Also Percy has no way to integrate into camp or anything , has no connection to any of these people, anything

·         Luke is missing a scar, and is also completely creepy from the get go

·         Why do we keep getting meaningful close ups of Annabeth, what is she supposed to mean to anyone at this point

·         Why was she fighting with a knife minutes ago and is nnow using a bow and arrow, it’s Athena not Artemis

·         This game of cpture the flag is stupid

·         And also undercuts Annabeth’s actual point

·         In the books this involved like tactics and shit

·         But like, I commend the script for making Percy lampshade how ridiculous this all is

·         It’s just that capture the flag had a narrative purpose, too, which is null and voide when he was already claimed

·         Also Percy is such an idiot for just going for the flag like that

·         Annabeth has boob plate

·         "My mother is goddess of wisdom and battle strategy. You know what that means?" - IT MEANS YOU SHOULD KNOW BETTER THAN TO TAKE OFF YOUR HELMET WHILE FACING AN ENEMY WITH A SWORD.

·         AND ALSO YOU SHOULD KNOW BETTER THAN TO MONOLOGUE AT AN OPPONENT

·         WHAT IS HER BEEF WITH PERCY? Yes, he rudely stared at you for a while, but why do you need to cut him up like that?!

·         She just beats him down and nobody does a thing they all just stand around staring what the fuck

·         And then everyone cheers when she’s done beating down the completely untrained new kid?! WHAT THE FUCK

·         ArE YOU ALL BRAAVOSI WHAT IS EVEN GOING ON

·         THERE ARE BLUE FORCES RIGHT BEHIND YOUR FLAG WHY ARE THEY NOT DOING ANYTHING

·         Percy, who already knows he’s a son of Poseidon needs to be told by divine intervention to go to the water, the only place he actually liked before

·         Brief contact with water then turns him into superman and has him actually sort of beat Annabeth

·         Though not as cruelly as she beat him

·         And then everyone just lets him walk to the flag. Why the fuck.

·         You know who actually figured out how the water powers worked? Annabeth!

·         You know who actually made a battle plan to get the flag for the blue team? ANNABETH!

·         Gaaaaaaaaaaaaah

·         Percy gets party invitations. The fuck.

·         Annabeth chases them away and then flirts with him for some reason. Percy is also completely turned on by a public beat down.

·         “I definitely have strong feelings for you” whaaaat the fuck. Whaaaaaaat the fuck. This is soooo weird.

·         WHERE IS MY FIVE BOOK AWKWARD PUBERTY SLOW BURN

·         Oh hello flame demon. How nice of you to just show up like that and deliver the plot to us

·         Okay. So. Hades wants the bolt, but outright states that he doesn’t have it. So far, the plans are to talk to one of two enraged gods and convince them he didn’t take the bolt. That’s…Not much of a plan at all unless someone here knows how to cast a zone of truth spell or something

·         Hades now comes along and offers his mom in exchange for the bolt, instead of being framed for everything like in the books, and the camp counsellors just… leave Percy alone after that?

·         Like, not only Grover, but the random chick who brutally tore into him in front of a crowd figured out he was going to bail without ever receiving a tiny bit of training, guys. This is stupid.

·         Annabeth wants a quest. Sweetheart, this is not a quest. There is a protocol to these things, as you would know. A god has to assign it, there has to be a clear objective, and at least according to camp regulations, a prophecy, and the entire thing has to be official. But sure. Tag along with the random unprepared kid who’s going to get his mom.

·         OH THAT’S JUST GREAT YEAH Annabeth would not know how to get to the underworld, she has to go ask A MAN for info SOMEONE SHOOT ME

·         Luke is in a completely empty cabin with a gaming console and flat screens and pokes fun at the ren faire feel

·         Luke, Annabeth has daddy issues completely independent from her godly parent but okay fine

·         YEAH LUKE LECTURE US ON GREEK MYTHOLOGY

·         NO NOT LIKE THAT

·         Okay so my personal interpretation of Persephone is more that of an ancient times beauty and the beast kind of deal, so that she’s not entirely unhappy

·         Also like, Greek mythology has a maaaaaajor Madonna/whore complex. Maaaaajor. And while she’s not one of the chastity goddesses, Persephone kiiiinda doesn’t fall in the dedicated adulteress part of that spectrum

·         But foreshadowing. I get it.

·         Convenient map is convenient

·         Super literal soundtrack

·         Also they still haven’t told us where the underworld is or how to get in there, just that it’s easy

·         “Let’s split up, check everything” Greeaaat plan, Percy. And then just go looking around without actually looking thoroughly

·         Now Annabeth is dragged along screaming and Grover actually knows how is greatuncle died and is the one to figure out what’s going on. Great.

·         Like, in the books, he still finds his uncle Ferdinand, but no one ever knew what happened to him because he got lost during a search at a place where no one really returns from

·         Annabeth is the first one to figure out that the nice woman giving them burgers and asking them to pose for pictures is not their friend and saves both Grover and Percy, and Percy figures out who she is himself immediately after, before the veil comes off and the snakes start hissing

·         Oh, Uma Thurman, you are too good for this

·         I need to watch Kill Bill after this just to calm down

·         It’s weirdly cathartic to fight your own murderous instincts

·         CALL ATTENTION TO ANNABETH’S HAIR JUST TO RUB IT IN WHY DON’T YOU

·         Annabeth knows this story dammit

·         Also villain monologue

·         I dunno, Uma, you’re still pretty hot like that

·         At least Percy figures out the reflection thing

·         Ugh Annabeth has to get rescued

·         How can you sense him if you were surprised by his presence before?

·         Percy says he can look at her reflection and then throws away the phone he’s using to look at her when he actually sees her

·         Where the fuck did they get the car

·         How did Annabeth learn to drive at camp

·         She can sense him, sees him coming, and he still gets to cut off her head from behind

·         And then she conveniently carried around the pearl with her

·         DID THIS MOVIE JUST IMPLY PERSEPHONE GOT FREAKY WITH MEDUSA?!

·         How do they get a motel room, do they actually have credit cards or something? What the fuck.

·         Yeah okay I don’t feel creepy at all looking at Logan Lerman’s naked torso some more

·         So I guess Percy’s ocean powers in this movie work like waterbending and can also heal other people

·         How he figured that out? No idea. Why he doesn’t start carrying around water everywhere he goes for just this purpose?

·         And aaaalso I think the more significant story for the animosity between Athena and Poseidon would be how he fucked Medusa in her temple, but sure. The story about Athens.

·         Book!Annabeth, when prompted, brings up both, by the way.

·         Why is it forbidden for all gods to interact with their kids?

·         DID SHE SAY SALLY UGLIANO?! SALLY JACKSON NEVER TOOK HIS NAME AND THAT IS FUCKING IMPORTANT

·         Why is there laundry service in the middle of the night?

·         And how did they get to check out after that?

·         Yeah okay this Parthenon business is completely not in the books

·         “I wonder if she really looks like that” Okay okay cutting out the field trip is fucking stupid

·         No one checks the bathrooms before closing up the place?

·         And no on turns off the lights in the bathrooms?

·         Cleaning staff ruining the day yet again

·         Every time Annabeth shoots anything in this movie I die a little on the inside

·         Also hey, there are more black people in this movie than Grover and Persephone, and they all work in maintenance

·         Ugh, son of Poseidon taking to the air

·         Aaaand the maintenance squad has been possessed

·         Annabeth gets to point out the obvious, Percy is on fire like it’s no big deal, and Hail Hydra isn’t even a thing yet. At least not in the main stream.

·         Flying shoes are now fully attuned and working for him

·         Annabeth shoots shit again

·         At one point, it is a plot point that children not of Apollo aren’t that good at archery

·         And Annabeth in the books fights with a knife, an invisibility cap, and her wits, and never shoots shit

·         Medusa petrifies the hydra through fire

·         Okay then

·         Where do they get their money for food from

·         That’s a major obstacle in the books

·         The credit cards they totally have?

·         And the gas money for that car

·         Okay so the underworld is actually visually striking and could have had potential

·         Hades is actually vengeful and out to kill the other gods

·         Persephone mentions her allotted time away from him, but is still there before the solstice.

·         She double crosses Hades because she hates him and shit, it’s weird

·         And then she hits on what for all intents and purposes is an underaged boy

·         The staredown is sooo unsatisfying and thematically rrelevant

·         Luke just conveniently happened to flutter around the empire state building close to midnight because….?

·         Does this camp have no security?

·         The fight is badly, badly choreographed

·         Luke also just has delusions of grandeur and wants to ascend to gdhood or something

·         “You’Re no hero” – actually, per definition, he is.

·         Also, this fucking lightning bolt is supposed to be more powerful than nuclear bombs, STOP USING IT IDIOTS

·         And then Luke just kinda chills on top of the building, waiting for Percy to come and angage him in aerial combat like a video game boss

·         Okay if you’re using the lightning bolt, fucking use it

·         HOW CAN PERCY’S SWORD REFLECT IT DAMMIT

·         No, really, if a celestial bronze sword can do that, what’ so great about it in the first place

·         They use this thing like a flashier version of a tazer

·         Also, they’re right underneath Olympus, you’d think the gods might actually intervene this close to their home turf

·         Luke then uses Percy’s lack of proficiency at aerial combat to suggest he might be no son of Posedong after all… Which I agre with, actually, because Zesu would blast any sons of Poseidon out of the air immediately

·         He also effectively reminds Percy of his waterbending powers, so he can make water tanks explode for dramatic final battle poses

·         The bolt somehow doesn’t electrocute Luke when caught in a tidal wave

·         Water somehow knocks Luke’s shoes off

·         Mortals are allowed to go to Olympus

·         Ah wait, just to ride the elevator up there

·         Athena has a random British accent

·         And the gods are arguing, completely oblivious to what’s going on, but also totally prepared for imminent war

·         With each other in a council chamber

·         Riiight

·         Also the movie gave absolutely no reason for Luke to be angry

·         Athena and Poseidon are conveniently already standing

·         Zeus just like that agrees to bring Grover from the underworld WHICH IS NOT EVEN HIS DOMAIN

·         Poseidon gets to talk to Percy and doesn’t even shrink down to do it. They never say why the gods aren’t allowed to talk to their children

·         …Gods become human when they spend too much time with mortals? AND THAT’S WHY THEY’RE NOT ALLOWED TO VISIT THEIR CHILDREN?! WHAT IS THIS BULLSHIT?!?!!?!?!

·         Zeus and Poseidon are RIVALS. Godhood can be BESTOWED. The rational thing to do would have been to let him become human and appoint a new god of the sea loyal to Zeus

·         You’d think some tactical minded deity who doesn’t like Poseidon very much would have thought of that

·         Sally can just kick out Gabe, just like that

·         Chiron is totally into students disobeying. Let word of that get around, and everyone will run away and be eaten by monsters, defeating the entire purpose of the camp

·         Gd dammit you kids have no chemistry and with the intense eyes and same hair color look more like siblings

·         Making this almost kiss really uncomfortable.

·         Also, how is Percy suddenly able to stand up against her clunky pirouette fighting without having stepped into water first?

·         Ugh

[dreamingofthewild]

💅

Something else about Gale’s evil ending is I just knew people would take him throwing away his earring and trashing the Mystra statue was going to be taken as a “Leaving Mystra is the bad choice, see? It’s in his evil ending!”

Larian DOES kind of treat Gale a bit dirty when it comes to Mystra. The entire theme of the game is all companions have been taken advantage of by someone, Gale is not the random who isn’t including in this. Larian just didn’t pull it off well because his good ending does include being back in some form of Mystra’s good graces despite spending the entire game rejecting her for what she did to him. This ending I think doesn’t represent rejection of Mystra being a bad thing though, I think it’s just a way to show Gale being so consumed by his hurt that he decides to approach Mystra and perhaps even the other gods with harm. In the end, I’m upset the only ending we get of him removing his earring is in his *evil* ending….

I’ve seen folks argue that Mystra cannot be abusive because they met as adults (as if that solidifies the massive power imbalance, the in game line that Gale thought it was love and didn’t know any better, that he’s been worshipping her since he was a child and she was at the very least aware of him since childhood), that when he was told to sacrifice himself by her to earn her form of forgiveness, he had a “choice”, as if it wasn’t completely set up against him by being a request from his GODDESS WHOM HE WORSHIPS, coming from his very close companion or even father figure, already being suicidal and believing that is the only method he can save the world, or that because since Mystra isn’t made out to be as bad as someone like Cazador or Shar she can’t be bad (which ignores all in game dialogue of our companions rejecting and hating Mystra for her choices against Gale, and once more Gale was done a bit dirty) so this evil ending will just solidify for a lot of people that Gale somehow is the one who just doesn’t fit into the massive abused people narrative. They can have their own interpretations, that’s fine, I just think that comes with ignoring a lot of in-game content that directly counters their arguments. Mystra wasn’t even good to Elminster (who she met as a child as well) or other mortals…

Firstly, I hear ya, but I don't think Larian treats Gale all that dirty. I think Act III is bloated with non character enhancing quests and he gets a little bit yucked by that (but he's still ahead of Karlach and Wyll in that respect because thank God both Gale and Tim Downie are Certified Yappers). Would've loved some way for Gale to run into other Chosens of Mystra, discarded or otherwise, and I think that the Book of Karsus being locked down where we deal with Rolan and Lorroakan points to SOMEONE at Larian wanting to drive that point home. It's Larian who has EVERY companion- even Wyll & Karlach who are our most morally and emotionally stable, even Lae'zel & Shadowheart who are our most sadomasochistic devouts- point out that Mystra and Elminster are bitches. Larian is just a little clumsy at how it handles endings that can't be an ending because trauma doesn't really have a smooth end. Only Shadowheart gets the needed wind down period (& I guess Astarion if you romance him but I actually hate that that's tied to romance for him but what am I gonna do, try to have a dialogue with vocal pool of Astarion romancers who just want to water him down to Customize An Abusive Boyfriend? No, I am not).

Secondly, if I worried myself about what Someone Has To Defend A Literal God Against The Horror Of Her Discarded Chosen Who Was Groomed Academically and Spiritually From Childhood Finding An Ounce of Self Esteem and Non Conditional Fellowship illiterates thought/did, I would get nothing else done and frankly I would've turned to a life of crime over it by now. There have been edgy, insipid, contrarian, hateful lil snot rags on this earth for thousands of years. They can put Taylor Swift lyrics over as many sex pests as they want. They can continue to think that the Gone Girl Cool Girl Monologue™️ (the movie, they can't read) is the same thing as reading Audre Lorde. It simply means nothing to me if gender essentialist pop feminists grapple with greater themes and contradictions because I don't concern myself with what that kind of ignorant person does. They ultimately have no reach outside of their circlejerks and as someone who HAS survived complex grooming, abuse, and the resulting shaming, their victim blaming is very Silly Asshole 101 to me. It's almost adorable. It's solidified for my dog-niece that the front yard will kill her & nothing bad can happen in backyard but that ain't because it's true, it's cause she's a little dumb, bless her heart, you feel me?

That being said, my pinned post has plenty breaking down the power dynamics and clear parallels to real world academic/religious abuse & DV between Gale and Mystra if you'd like to break it open for a good egg who has just never unpacked abuse before! I just don't think people who support women wrongs a la Mystra when Shadowheart and Lae'zel are RIGHT THERE BEGGING YOU TO are worth anyone's effort.