#it just shows how men see women being smart capable able to stand up for themselves as not being 'feminine' enough
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radmista · 2 years ago
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Forgot her being aggressively used when this movie came out as proof mainstream media includes masc women
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... The buff lady in an impractical dress/skirt and shoes for the work she does, long hair and relatively docile, doesn't stand up for herself, temperament. Very masc and gnc. /s obviously
It's nice a muscular woman with a diff body shape was shown and represented for sure, but people will literally point to Luisa as if she is peak representation despite the fact that Disney made designers feminize her and put her in a dress/skirt to be more appealing and easier to digest for audiences. Or even use some weird mental gymnastics to claim her being put in a skirt is actually a GOOD PROGRESSIVE thing bc oh we just have so many "masculine" women who have internalized misogyny and hate dresses so its actually super good she doesn't dress practically.
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collage of female characters that people have used to “prove” that there are too many masc women in media
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damnhotmsimmons · 2 years ago
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 Going by @blackbird-brewster‘s reblog in a previous post I made and they explained it well. It’s sadly unsurprising how the CM Writers still can’t treat it’s female characters well and even the fact that they outnumber the men in Evolution doesn’t stop them from being given bad storylines:
Emily: Within five episodes, we never see her personal life outside the BAU. Most of her screentime is shared with her being treated poorly by Bailey. While she’s able to stand up to him, that still doesn’t erase the fact that Bailey still treated her terribly and looked down on her and the BAU
Garcia: Started off the show thriving in her new happy place, away from the BAU. The moment she rejoins the BAU, she’s back to being at her lowest point, and ends up spending most of her screentime with Tyler Green.
JJ: Most of her personal life is shared with her husband Will. The Willifer moments are nice, except the writers thought it’d be a good idea to give Will a diagnosis. Even if it was a false alarm at the end, it doesn’t ignore the fact they attempt to pull this bullshit for the sake of “angst”
Tara: Is the only one of the female leads where her storyline is not revolved by a man, yet she has very little screentime with her girlfriend Rebecca. They only had like 2-3 moments together and Rebecca is not seen after that. We never got to see them share sweet moments in Tara’s apartment especially with the revelation that Tara wants Rebecca to move in with her. And don’t get me started on what Messer said about the couple going through some challenges in the remainder of this season
  The worst thing about this is that we have little to few interactions of the women all together, in meaningful moments. What happened to all the lady bonding in the previous seasons? It seems like the writers are afraid to let them interact unless it has to do with whatever case they’re working on and or a man (Rossi, Tyler, Bailey) is involved
Like we don’t want to see these female characters get paired up with toxic men, reduced to disposable trauma bags and being an emotional crutch to the male characters (*cough*Rossi*cough*)
like gives us more lady friendship moments
we want Emily comforting Garcia when she’s feeling down over her return to the BAU
we want to see Garcia, JJ and Tara defend Emily when Bailey keeps putting her down
we want to see the ladies comfort JJ as she recovers at the hospital after she and Luke survived the trap left by Elias
we want JJ and Tara teaming up and teasing Luke, whether it’s about his date with Garcia or just teasing him in general. We also want to see them and Emily talk to Garcia about why she and Luke didn’t continue staying together after one date
we want more of JJ and Garcia bonding. After all, JJ said Garcia was like a sister to her and they have been on the show since s1
maybe the ladies all attempt to give Emily some dating advice (a call back to 5x21), much to Emily’s dismay
we want the ladies having ladies’ night, and the BAU ladies inviting Rebecca
just more of the ladies interacting and bonding in general. There’s four of them and if the writers were smart, they would’ve given them more opportunities to shine. I’m sure Paget, AJ, Kirsten and Aisha are all capable of carrying the show moreso than Joe
this was supposed to be an ensemble show, not “The Rossi & Others show”
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kyberphilosopher · 3 years ago
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Androphobia
Requested? No Word Count: 7014
An Android attempts to offer comfort to someone with sleeping trouble.
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Androphobia [an·drow·fow·bee·uh]; Fear of or aversion to men. A related concept is misandry, the hatred of men, but not necessarily fear of them.
  * ✭ ˚ ✧* ・゚ * ✭ ˚・゚✧*・゚  *
Every woman or female born member of society has experienced an off putting encounter with a man. 
This is not to be entirely blamed on men- not as a whole, no. But individuals, the ones you run into on your way out of the grocery store, the ones who stop you on the streets, they are the ones to blame. Some women have the guts to tell them off. Not an easy task with the given anxiety, but one to take pride in for the capability that comes with it. Some women stay quiet, rush away as fast as their polite feet can take them and hope someone will see the problem. They usually don’t. And some women are outliers, tricking their ways out of interactions with these men one way or another, and to them I take my hat off. 
There are men who are easily construed as monsters, when in the dead of night their silhouettes flash beneath the tallest of streetlights. And there is no reason to not believe them as such right then and there, for as spoken by our Lady Galadriel, “the hearts of men are easily corrupted.” And any look into statistics will back up this fear, any personal experience, any hug that’s gone on just a bit too suspiciously long, any catching of those wandering eyes and it’s easy to feel in your heart that men are not to be trusted. They are not to be confronted, nor left alone with, and they will jump at the opportunity to put down anyone for the validation of other men. 
This is the reality of women and men in 2021. It is the same for several in 2039.
 * ✭ ˚ ✧* ・゚ * ✭ ˚・゚✧*・゚  *
You step out of your old, dusty car. Chips of the dark red paint flake away as the raindrops hit it. Above you, the gloomy, warm gray clouds roll against each other in different shades and sizes, high above the skyscrapers and the stress of the world.
Gathering your belongings for the day, you shut the door with your hip and shoulder everything. Then you make your way towards the Police Department, your work, with the heels of your shoes scuffing against the parking lot. 
Across the way, you can see Detective Reid, who rubs his brow while he does his usual slamming of the car door. There’s no point in looking for Hank at this ungodly hour, he’d never be in on time. He’ll probably park his car next to yours as usual- a little too close so it’s hard to squeeze into your own and pull out without causing his vehicle damage, but you never say anything. Not because you are one of the people who feel threatened by Hank as a man- It’s more because you trust Hank as a person, that you’d never bring up the obvious annoyances he places upon you and everyone else. Though, once you had tried. 
(“Cars parked a little close, don’t you think?”
“Shut the hell up.”)
The inside of the Department is bustling. A female Android brushes past you briskly, the others at the front desk all seemingly click clacking away in their own brains. Even months after they’ve gained independence, it’s not uncommon for you to remember how they were before. How still and lifeless they were. And looking back on it, it was awfully sad. They seem busier now, more alive and fast. A strange image, in your mind, but not an unwelcomed one. 
You reach your desk in the lobby, on the right side of the room slightly separated from the officers. You’re a psychologist, so it’s not plausible for you to be seated next to bias. Instead you’re in your own corner, with a rather cluttered desk on the top and empty rows of drawers. You do, however, keep a small japanese cherry blossom tree on the top, courtesy of Hank, though his has all but fully withered at this point. 
And then you’re ready to start your day. Pull out your chair, click your pen and type away reports and notes on the computer to send to the detectives. You don’t have any meetings scheduled today, so there’ll be no need to prepare questions or anything of the sort. Just an easy day. 
And then...
As you and I, the dear reader, have already discussed, finding men to be generally scary is an easy task. And even though you are smart enough to know that it’s simply not possible to truly believe that every man or male presenting individual is terrible, or has done terrible things, or has experienced the desire to do something terrible, there are times where you can’t help the cautiousness. You can’t help the flinch, the distrust, the physical distance, the hand in your pocket grasping for anything to use in self defense. Seeing men like Detective Reid in power, brutish and given guns and easily agitated, certainly doesn’t help.
So when you swish your chair around and come to a stand, your heart drops. You’re looking into the presence of someone tall, with broad shoulders and a strong chest. A man. 
[Sort of.]
“Good morning, Doctor L/N.”
“Connor,” you breathe out, eyes flitting down as you attempt to quiet the thump thump thumping of your heart in your throat. “I- I didn’t-”
“Your heart race has increased. You appear stressed, Doctor L/N.”
He cocks his robotic head to the side, his eyebrows creasing as the literal gears in his head turn. 
“You just startled me,” you admit, grabbing the back of your chair and moving it over as an excuse to create a bit of distance between you and the [possible] threatening force. “What is it, Connor?”
Now, for context, you and he were not considered close. You’ve spoken a few times, though never as friends, only friendly. You remember seeing him last Winter, when he would stand out in the snow outside the station, just gazing up after Hank had already returned to his own home. You remembered how he was different from the other Androids, besides being more advanced to begin with. You’d never said anything about that. It was obvious the only person it would’ve really mattered to, Hank, was already aware of this. And Hank liked Connor. There was no point in interfering. 
In Connor’s eyes, you could really do no wrong. You were smart, intelligent, and diligent in your work. Your job had been threatened by the presence of Androids for years by the time Connor had showed up, but it still appeared that they wouldn’t have done your legacy justice. But despite this, interactions were scarce. You were not friends. You were friendly. And you were always on your guard. 
“I was hoping to hear your thoughts on a case Lieutenant Anderson and I have been working on,” Connor tells you. He’s always made efforts to keep eye contact with people, and the tilt of his head tries to follow your eyeline to do so. But it’s never to any avail. “I apologize for the abruptness, but the thought only occured to me last night and I think it could be a good one.”
“Yeah, sure,” you answer. “I can help with that. I’ll get the details from Hank when he comes in.”
“No need,” the Android quickly assures you. When you look up to him for a brief second, you can see his tongue sway against his bottom lip, creating the softest of imprints. His dark eyes glitter like a beatles in the catch from the light above. 
He produces a light, manilla colored folder lined inside with papers. “I hope you’ll find all the details you need here,” he explains, offering the file to you. 
You take it after a moment, watching his thumb let go in the softest, most normal way possible. 
“Thank you, Doctor L/N,” Connor smiles. “I’ll go get you your morning coffee.”
Connor is like a dog in that way. Not in an insulting way, or an obedient way. In a kind way, in a warm way. With his chocolate eyes and the dimples when he smiles, it’s hard not to want to just believe that he is incapable of hurting anyone or anything. Especially a woman. 
But when you snap back to reality, you can see his male form. His set back shoulders, the robotic strength, the fact that he was programmed to execute any task he so desires. And then you’re right back on edge, wanting to step back from him until you’re sure you can take a full breath. 
It’s easier when he’s taken himself away. You can see him through the glass walls in the kitchen, waiting for the pot to heat up. Doesn’t seem so bad from far away, like most of them do. 
You return to the chair and open the file. At first, your eyes flit to the pictures attached at the top- one of a woman that looks so familiar, another of a man whose angry brows cover his eyes. Then they move to the written report, and something clicks. 
The woman in the picture was an acquaintance from college. The man next to her was the main suspect, and apparently her lover.
* ✭ ˚ ✧* ・゚ * ✭ ˚・゚✧*・゚  *
“Morning Doc,” Hank waves tiredly. Then his tone changes slightly. “The fuck are ya doing at my desk for?” 
You push yourself from your lean on the edge of his property anxiously. “I read the report on your case. The Carla Rodriguez one.”
Hank sighs in his classic sigh, tired and grumpy from the morning and being alive. “What about it?” he questions, rummaging through his large bag of prescription pill bottles he’s brought with him every day this year. You suspect Connor has something to do with this.
“I had a... personal relationship with the victim,” you begin, crossing your arms. “I knew her.”
Hank looks at you, bewildered. “You were sleeping with my victim?”
“What? No. What? I- anyway. Carla and I were in college together.”
Hank’s face changes. He leans back with high raised brows in the way he does when processing something. 
“The boyfriend did it. I remember him from back then, I think. Real angry guy.”
“You’re sure you know what you’re talkin about?” Hank questions you, though not in an insulting way. You know it’s anything but that. 
“I’m sure. I can tell you what you need but you know I can’t testify. You won’t be able to use my bias in your report.”
“But the bias is the whole point.”
Your eyebrows shoot up, along with your shoulders. It’s the universal symbol for ‘I don’t know what to tell you’. 
“You talked to Connor about this?”
“Well, no. I- he wanted my opinion but I didn’t tell him this part.”
Hank glances around. “Where's he at anyway?”
You shrug again. You’re thinking about the disposable coffee cup on your desk, left there by Connor a few hours ago, that you’d never brought yourself to touch. 
“Run it by the Android before we do anything,” Hank advises you. “Nutjob’s got this whole system in his head.”
“Yeah,” you mutter as Hank seats himself. “That guy’s weird.”
“Tellin’ me?” Hank groans. 
And the rest of the morning you spend avoiding Connor, thinking at your desk, barely doing your job while you let yourself get lost in thought. You’re not usually like this. You’re very professional at work- you love this job. The thrill, the learning about criminals and their rehabilitation- it makes you feel so tranquil. Complete, even. 
But knowing a victim, knowing the perpetrator, still adapting to the change of Androids looking happy for once, knowing Hank pretends you’re the child he lost- it... it...
You snap your drawer shut. 
What’s wrong with you today? 
You huff out dry air. When you turn ever so slightly, you can see Hank at his desk, eyes already on you with concerned and empathetic brows. Seeing him calms you down a little, at least makes you feel more in the real moment. After a moment, you turn back straight. Then you smooth back your hair, and open a your file again. 
“Doctor L/N?”
You look up slowly, recognizing the boyish, sturdy voice of Connor. Sure enough, there he is. Tall, looking down at you with his warm, brown eyes. They remind you of an excited, loyal dog. Yeah, you think, Connor seems like a dog person. 
And then you catch the sharpness of how broad his shoulders are, how little effort it would take for him to kill you, or pin you down, or come at you in the dark. 
“Can I speak with you candidly, Doctor L/N?”
“You...may,” you say slowly. Connor begins to squat, until he is level with your eyeline, though he’s over on the other side of your desk. From your view, your cherry blossoms pink petals stand out against the paleness of his skin, and then the darkness of his hair. 
“I heard what you said earlier to the Lieutenant,” he begins. 
Truthfully, your eyes flicker around his face, mostly between his lips and his nose and his eyes. They’re all so realistic. Well, obviously that was the point in his creation, but still. They’re so human. Connor is human. Even the way he seems to move his mouth, like his lips are just a little dry, is human. Such a strange detail. Perhaps you would never have noticed it if he hadn’t gotten this close. 
“When?” you question. 
“About 3 hours ago, about the file I gave you.”
Your eyes snap away. Connor’s own eyes follow your movement. 
“I know that this must be difficult for you-”
“Connor,” you sigh, slightly exasperated, but still holding it together. Your eyes close like you can’t bear to look at anything in the present moment right now. You must be trying to pretend that you’re somewhere else. “I’ll be alright. This was in my job description.”
The Android’s eyebrows knit for a split second, confused. “Overseeing the psychology behind your friends death was in your job description?”
And it’s a genuine question from him. That’s what makes it so hard to contain your laughter, no matter how frustrated or overwhelmed you are right now.
“Yeah,” you finally muster with a light chuckle. “Apparently.” Then you’re back to business. “This is my job. I’ll be alright. Thank you for your concern.”
“I just considered that, since you’ve been on the news before, the suspect could know that you’re involved.”
“So?” you ask, slightly more snappy than intended.
“He may know you’re here and subsequently attempt to cause you harm.”
There are two conflicting sides in your brain right now. The first one says: Now think about this. How could he harm you in a place full of cops? It’s not like he knows where you live or anything. How could he even find that out? When they bring him in, he’ll be in custody the whole time. Gavin won’t let him out of those handcuffs. Everything will be just fine. 
And the other part? It shows you a dark, masculine figure, looming over you. Police department or not, he is there. He will cause you grief and harm, do something so terrible to you you could not even fully imagine it enough to anticipate yourself. 
And, despite your better judgement, and to your full awareness, you listen to the second half. 
“Okay, so,” you breathe out. “So what are you saying?”
Connor’s eyes draw to his left in a stutter, his mouth parting as if he’s in consideration. “The Lieutenant and I had talked about... having you stay in a... safer place.”
Your eyebrows pinch together. “What do you mean by that?”
Connor looks so human in this moment. it’s so apparent, and piercing in this exact second. The details in his eyes, slightest of blemishes on his cheekbones. 
Connor leans in, his eyebrows raising. Subconsciously, you lean back ever so slightly in response. 
“We were thinking of taking you to the Lieutenants place.” He sees your eyes widen, getting ready to give a vocal response. “It’s a very safe place,” Connor promises. “I can assure you there are many rooms to your liking.”
You take a minute, looking the Android right in his warm, hopeful, perfectly symmetrical eyes. “Connor, I’m not interested in having this discussion right now.”
“It’s just-”
“Back off,” you snap. It’s assertive. Something you don’t usually do towards masculine presenting beings. 
As soon as you say it, you regret it, however. The person across from you just looks so heartbroken, almost. His big brown eyes, the ones that remind you of a loyal dog, are looking right at you. How could you not feel bad for snapping at Connor? Sweet Connor, who doesn’t take pleasure in hurting people no matter how much you convince yourself he does. 
* ✭ ˚ ✧* ・゚ * ✭ ˚・゚✧*・゚  *
The Carla Rodriguez murder case went on for two more days. Her boyfriend, unfortunately, was not yet found. Hank was working on obtaining a warrant based on your instincts that would give him access to search family members houses for the man. Things were becoming focused. 
Each night you went home, you struggled to sleep. You did in fact, find out that Connor may have been onto something when he suggested the consideration of safety. You indeed stayed up later than usual, using both locks on your dirty apartment door for once. It was hard to fall asleep. Whenever you did, it became all too easy for you to imagine a solid, big, broad shouldered figure standing over the foot of your bed, waiting to strike. 
A man, as usual. 
Ironically, you did feel better when Hank- a man- would come into the station. And then there was Connor, who was somewhere between a puppy and a wolf, half following Hank, half fully capable of loading and discharging a gun. Connor made you feel safe too, but only by association. It felt bad to think about him after the snapping that occurred Thursday, but it could’ve made you feel worse to act unprofessionally in the work place. It was best you try to forget it, and try to forget that Connor has unlimited and invincible memory. 
On Sunday, you and Hank had your weekly scheduled lunch. Nothing fancy, just fast food from a food truck by the train tracks. You’ll both probably get burgers, except Hank will try to add lettuce and some vegan bullshit to convince you he’s sticking to his diet. Of course he will. 
You throw the keys to your locker in the backroom into your desk drawer, and slip it closed. Across the floor, Hank is already ahead of you, tugging on his crappy jacket and somehow standing patiently and grumpily at the same time. 
“Ready to go?” you ask as you approach him, your own jacket in hand. 
“Yeah, just waitin’ for the kid,” Hank replies casually. 
“The kid?”
“I’m ready to go, Lieutenant,” the enthusiastic voice of Connor rings out. He has one of those voices where you can tell when he’s happy and smiling too, and he is in this very moment. 
Nobody ever joins you and Hank. You knew Hank had taken Connor to the truck before, but that was just between them, and this was just between you. An odd decision on Hank’s part to make such a change. 
“Alright,” Hank calls back. Then he turns to you, the smallest of knowing grins on his face. “Ready when you are, Doctor.”
You just nod your head and start walking out to Hank’s car, unsure of what to do think. In the end, you decide to just not think at all. 
“What are you doing this for?” you’d ask Hank as you were walking, when the Android known as Connor was out of earshot. 
“What? You got a problem with Connor?” You shake your head no. “Well good. Because besides bein’ a freak he’s perfectly fine.”
Yep. Thanks, Hank. 
The drive over is silent, besides Hank’s music. You like his taste, but it doesn’t make you feel less tense around Connor. On the other hand, Connor is completely oblivious of said tension. You can see him in the rearview mirror, smiling and looking out the window every now and again. 
Once arriving to the scene, Connor gets out first. You click your seatbelt away, about to pull the handle open when you notice Hank hasn’t moved at all. 
“You coming?”
“Mm,” Hank fake thinks, flipping through his cd cases. “Nah.”
“Well then... well then are you even hungry?”
“I got food back at the office,” he sighs, not even looking up at you. “Indian from last night. Gonna wreak havoc on the ol’ plumbing.”
“Then what did you bring me here for?” you question finally, developing a tension headache from how often you’ve been knitting your brows together lately. 
Hank looks up and over, an almost offended expression on his face. You can see it in his wide old eyes, the angry eyebrows, the slightly opened mouth. 
“Because I’m trying to create a warm and loving social circle.”
“You one time told me die because I ate your jar of pickles!” you cry. “Oh my god- Hank, is this about me and Connor? Is that it? You want us to get along?”
“Yeah, and what if I do?” Hank turns to you fully, putting an angry hand on the steering wheel to clutch something. 
“It doesn’t matter!” you exclaim. “It literally doesn’t matter at all!”
Hank is quiet. You can see his beady, angry eyes on you, his jaw clenching. “Get the fuck outta my car,” he says at last. 
“Gladly,” you mutter. You open the door and slam it closed. 
Looking across the wet, rainy street, you can see Connor looking up at the sign of the food truck known as Chicken Feed innocently. You breathe out, feeling the heat from the previous ‘discussion’ beginning to melt away. 
Okay, Y/N, you tell yourself. Just go talk to him. 
You begin your walk across the street, hearing the light tapping of the rain hitting the asphalt all around you. His back is getting closer and closer. You still have a chance to turn around. 
“Hey, Connor,” you say lightly. 
“Hello, Doctor L/N,” Connor greets in return warmly. 
“Whatcha... thinking about eating, there?” you ask, both of you knowing damn well Androids can’t eat. 
“I’m not sure,” he admits. Then he shrugs, and very genuinely says, “I guess I could have some french fries.”
“Alright. I’ll get you some.”
And you do. And you feel so stupid while ordering it. The guy in charge, Gary, looks at you with an ‘are you sure?’ expression on his face, but you only continue with the order, confirming that, yes, you are sure. Then you and Connor sit next to each other in silence, waiting for your food to be ready. You pretend to be very interested in a stain on one of the back menus for about three straight minutes. 
“Here you go,” Gary hands you the food. You take the bags and speed off immediately to an umbrella by the place. Even though you’re essentially powerwalking at about 6 miles per hour, it doesn’t feel fast enough in the moment. Connor is right there beside you the whole time. 
“Here’s your fries,” you mutter, pushing the bowl towards him. 
“Thank you,” he says, formally. Then Connor just stares down into the bowl. 
“I appreciate you paying for this meal, Doctor L/N,” Connor decides to say after another moment. When you look up, you can see he’s leaning down ever so slightly so that he’s closer to your height, and making pretty sturdy eye contact. It’s moments like this that you think you’re talking to Connor’s social programming, and probably not him naturally. 
“You don’t have to call me Doctor, Connor,” you breathe. “We’re not at work right now.”
“I apologize. How would you like me to address you then?”
“Well... how would you like to address me?”
Connor thinks for a moment. You can tell because his led is switching between yellow and white. Then the beginning of his eyebrows start twitching, along with the corners of his mouth, just like a human would when they have several thoughts on the tip of their tongue but none of them seem just right. It’s cute when he does it. 
“You can just call me Y/N,” you rush out in an attempt to save Connor from quite possibly exploding. 
He does the twitching once more, then looks up to the top of the umbrella without moving his head. “And, is this outside of the workplace or in it as well?”
“What would you prefer?”
His led goes yellow again. He looks back to you. “That depends whether or not you consider us friends, Doctor L/N.”
This takes you back. You’re silent, stunned, looking at him with slightly widened eyes for a few seconds- maybe a whole minute- before you make the decision to look at your burger and change the subject. 
“How’s been adjusting to life as a free man?” you ask, unwrapping the foil from your warm food. 
Connor adapts to the subject change after a few seconds, and you know that he’s seen right through you. “It’s strange,” he tells you, deep in thought, but sincere. “But, people seem happy.”
“Are you happy?” you prompt further, biting a big bite into the meat. 
Connor thinks again. He thinks a lot. “Yes,” he decides. “I suppose I feel alive,” he admits. It sounds like a confession, and when he turns his head to look over to you, he sees your eyes are already on him. “Are you happy?”
“Am I happy?” you repeat in question. “I... guess I am, overall.”
“Do you enjoy working as a criminal and forensic expert?”
Now it’s your turn to think. You swallow down your bite. “Yeah, I think so. It’s what I’ve wanted for a long time. And now I have it, and I’m comfortable and all. So yes... And you? As a detective?” You bite into the burger again.
“Well, it is what I was created for,” Connor tells you, with an almost charismatic, joking tone. It looks like he’s smiling a little, too. Cute. “I think so. Working with Lieutenant Anderson has gotten better.”
“God, I remember when you first came in,” you roll your eyes. “Hank was all in a mood. One of the grouchiest days for him. But he likes you now.”
Connor watches you pull the burger away from your face. He’s thinking again, but also admiring your features from up close. He doesn’t usually get to do this with you. The proof is in the lack of response to the ‘would you consider us friends?’ question. 
“You know,” Connor says, and you can hear the sincerity in his voice for the millionth time. “I really admire how talented you are in your line of work.”
You feel heat in not just your cheeks, but in the rest of your face as well, as if you have a very sudden fever. You decide to keep your face down, trying to naturally make it not look like you’re using your burger as a shield. “Thank you,” you respond. 
The heat begins to subside, so you look back up to him. “I admire your...” and you can’t finish the sentence. Not because you can’t think of anything to admire. You know you had a good one in mind to say to him. But when you look up at his boyish face, with the innocent smile and the comforting eyes and the most human details in his skin, you lose your train of thought. 
It seems too late and rude to continue by the time you regain it, so you just decide to leave it and eat your burger as quickly as possible. 
“Are you done with your fries?” you ask, as Connor looks down at the untouched basket.
“Yes, thank you.”
You don’t even look into the waste of 2 dollars as you speed walk to the trash can and dump it full of everything. Then you hop across the street, Connor right behind you.
Getting back into Hank’s car makes you roll your eyes. It’s not that you’re mad with Connor anymore so much- not that you would describe the feeling as mad in the first place. You’re not even sure you’re ‘mad’ at Hank so much anymore. It’s more like you’re in the area that you previously had a yelling match in, so all that energy is still there. So stupid.
“Hey, you two,” Hank greets, though to you it sounds condescending.
“Hello,” Connor chirps back.
You just shoot Hank a glare.
“How was lunch?” The old man prompts, holding your eye contact knowingly the entire time.
“It was fine,” you tell him.
“Fine?”
“Yeah,” you practically seethe. “Just fine.”
* ✭ ˚ ✧* ・゚ * ✭ ˚・゚✧*・゚  *
You stay in your house for another two days. Sleeping has become far more difficult, though you’d never openly admit it. Hank can see it in your face. There’s dark circles under your eyes, far more noticeable than before. Your eyes are dragging themselves down, along with the rest of your body which seems to be in a constant slump. 
You’re like a zombie. You’re just carrying yourself around, mindlessly doing your tasks while you try not to nod off at work. Hank hasn’t said anything. He just watches you from afar, not knowing how to apologize because he’s never been able to pull himself into one. 
Connor hasn’t said anything either. Hank’s pet has continued his daily routines around the precinct, going where he’s told and sitting on the other side of the older man. You haven’t been observing them much lately. Been a bit too preoccupied with the threat of sleep paralysis to do anything that you find matters in a social sense. 
Carla’s case is still open. Her boyfriend is still out there, watching and waiting. Maybe for you. Maybe for some other innocent woman. You keep picturing him towering over you, his shoulders looming, strong jaw twitching with anger. Those masculine brows, defined with the intent to strike at you. Kill you, like your old friend. 
Finally, on the fourth day of little to know sleep, you fell asleep at your desk. Completely zonked out, your head slumped against the surface, squishing your cheek in the process. Connor jumped up from his seat, Hank following shortly after. But there was no threat, you were simply resting. Once the two realized this, they calmed a little. Hank opted to send Connor over to you to check you out, crossing his arms as he got ready to observe. 
The Android creeps over. Your breathing is steady. So is your heartrate. You’re not in shock or anything at all. You’re not even hurt. 
“Y/N?” he prompts lightly, now crouched to be close enough to your ear so he can whisper. His chocolate eyes glance around the precinct, looking for anyone who might have noticed you to try and save you some embarrassment. Then he glances towards the Captain in his office, and he knows he has to hurry himself so you don’t get caught and reprimanded. 
“Doctor L/N?”
No response. Connor looks back at Hank, who shrugs his shoulders nonchalantly with little help. 
“Doctor L/N, you have to wake up,” he tells you, poking the back of your slumped shoulder. 
You were asleep, yes, but apparently not very deeply. You stir from your slumber, raising your head and your mousy appearance to look over at Connor with confused eyes. 
“What happened?” you strain, stretching. Connor detects a bit of drool on the corner of your lips. 
“You fell asleep at work,” Connor explains slowly. 
“I did?” you squint, obviously still out of it. 
“You have... drool on your lips.”
You wipe the left corner. “The other side,” Connor gestures lightly to his own lips. “Yes. You got it.”
“Was I out for long?” you look around, adjusting to the so very bright lights of the building. 
“No,” Connor answers in that sweet, sweet voice of his. “Maybe a minute, or two.”
“Oh,” you say, your eyes wandering around. 
* ✭ ˚ ✧* ・゚ * ✭ ˚・゚✧*・゚  *
That night, it rains. 
Thunder echoes, with  ripples of light from the lightning that bears across the sky like great claw hands. 
You watch the view out your window from the middle of your bed for a long time. You’re curled up in a ball on the blankets, not even under them. You’re just there, watching the sky that reflects in your eyes. 
A sudden stir in you gives you a change of heart. Something you can’t explain to the fullest extent, something not even I, the one in charge of relaying all that’s happening to you, could explain the exact feeling. It’s like the snapping of a rubber band at 2:15 in the morning. 
You can’t stay in this apartment anymore. Not even two locks are enough to protect you. Not your kitchen knives, or the gun given to you from the department for self defense. None of it seems like enough, because all of those things are used after something happens. They don’t prevent it. 
You’re in a hurry. The comfiest pajamas you own are soaked in the salty rain water and protected only by the simplest of winter coats you own. It’s nice, though not appropriate for the current weather of course. Your hair gets drenched fast. Every individual drip that falls from the tip of your nose is felt, like you’re more hyperaware than usual. 
Now you’ve arrived at a house. A one story, fairly inexpensive home with a garage and recognizable old car out front. As you approach, you can already hear the barking of a dog, see a neighbor turn their lights on briefly to observe you, and feel the shivering of your knuckles as they tap on the door sporadically.
Come on, Hank, you think.  Please protect me. Please do this for me. 
And, believe me, Hank Anderson would’ve done it had he been awake. But he hadn’t been, and so he didn’t answer the door. Instead, the door swings open, and inside you see an Android. 
A tall one, with soft facial features. He has long, dark eyelashes framing dark eyes, surrounded by dark hair. He’s clean and clear cut, very put together. It’s Connor, Hank’s pet that you’ve never been able to get the hang of knowing. And he’s as shocked as you are. 
Your drenched hair, shivering body, distant look in your eyes. Though, Connor’s unsure of how he would appear if he had to show up to anyone’s house at 2:34am. Probably unwell. Probably a little bit like you. 
“Doctor L/N,” he says, though it seems mostly to himself. His parched lips barely move, though you notice how pink they look in comparison to everything else right now. 
“Can I come in?”
Connor is still for a few seconds, obviously still processing your appearance. For what, you don’t know. Must’ve been one of the few things he’s simply unable to calculate. But then he moves himself to the side, and you carry yourself in. 
As soon as the door closes behind you, everything is so much warmer. You haven’t been to Hank’s place in months, but it still feels as homey as it did before. It’s cleaner than it was a year ago. There’s more pictures on the walls, more clutter lining the shelves. He’s starting to care about things again. That’s good. 
“What are you doing here?” you suddenly ask, turning around to face Connor. 
That’s right- what is he doing here? He and Hank couldn’t be living together, could they? Or is... or is it that Hank is pretending Connor is someone else, too?
Connor’s led goes yellow, then blue, then back to yellow. “Lieutenant Anderson has offered me a place to stay until I’m ready to go on myself,” he explains, though the way it looks at you makes it seem like Connor doesn’t want to tell you this. Like he feels the need to explain himself. 
“Are you alright, Y/N?”
You wipe your face, smearing your leftover makeup from your eye with the rain water. It burns, but you can’t feel it over the cold. “I uh- um... I’ve been having trouble- trouble sleeping.”
Connor’s lips close, and he looks at you in understanding as you stand there, now feeling your own pressure of having to explain yourself. 
“Just like... at my place I can’t- can’t sleep. Not a lot of it.”
Connor knows he shouldn’t, but it’s right there on the very tip of his tongue. It’s so close to just spilling out, until finally it does, all at once. He’s too curious to try and stop it. “Why?”
“I just- I can’t-”
You’re looking everywhere. The floor, the wall, covering your eyes with your arm or your hand, shifting back and forth between feet, making a soggy spot on the floor from your dripping clothes. 
“Can’t sleep.”
When you look up to Connor again, you feel better. Still panicked, but like you’re not in trouble. His eyes are so soft. They’re so human, and comforting. He looks at you like he understands, and like he’s not upset. You can see why Hank would pretend he is who he is now. But there’s no one for you to pretend who Connor is. He’s just Connor. And he’s better than you. 
* ✭ ˚ ✧* ・゚ * ✭ ˚・゚✧*・゚  *
Connor lets you wear one of his sets of identical clothes. It’s a grey t-shirt and blue pajama pants. Your hair is still wet, but Connor doesn’t say anything. He lets you sit on the couch and watch one of Hank’s basketball recordings while he goes to make tea. 
He brings it to you and sets it down on the coffee table in front, but like days ago, you can’t bring yourself to touch it. Connor’s made himself a cup too, but doesn’t drink it. It’s deadly silent, the only light coming from the faint glow of the tv, the only sound coming from the biases of those annoying sports commentators. 
“Connor?” you whisper hoarsely, turning your body to face him. 
He looks over at you, at full attention. Such a soft boy. 
“Do you think I’m afraid of anything?”
Connor’s led goes yellow. It flickers in circles until finally he says, “What do you mean, Y/N?”
You look down at your hands. “W-when I try to sleep, I see someone,” you say, not bearing to look at anyone from that gender for a moment. “He never leaves me alone. I feel like I- like I’m seeing this thing everywhere. I can’t avoid it. It won’t leave me alone.”
“What is it?” Connor prods gently, leaning in in that innocent, but curious way he does. 
You open your mouth like you’re going to answer, but then your mouth goes dry. Instead, you just shrug your shoulders in a weak attempt of lying. 
“Um... why are you still awake?” you ask instead. 
“Androids don’t need to sleep,” Connor explains to you. “We just power down to conserve energy, but I don’t need as much as others.”
A light puff of air escapes your nose in time with the flickering of the corners of your lips. “Sounds like you’re bragging,” you tease for a second. 
Then it goes quiet.
“I don’t think you’re scared of anything,” you hear Connor’s voice say clearly. “At least, not that I’ve seen. You’re very diligent in your work.”
You take the compliment. It warms your chest for a moment, but the pit inside you is not so easily gotten rid of.
Your nails scrape against each other, breaking while you pick at one of your index fingers. “I think I have like... this fear of men. Fear of something.”
Connor’s led goes yellow.
“Androphobia, also known as the fear of male presences, affects nearly one third of the current female population.”
Connor watches you continue to pick at your nails. The memory of you standing at the door step, shivering like a kitten, drowning in the rain water stays on his mind. “Is this what you think you have, Y/N?” he asks, though this time it’s far more soft.
It sounds like he really cares.
You look up to him, your eyes glossing over from stress and the incoming wave of tears you can feel in the back of your throat.
“I can assure you, Doctor L/N, you are safe here,” Connor continues, holding eye contact as he speaks. “I won’t let any kind of harm get to you.”
The tears in your eyes seem less violent now. Like they’re disappearing already. And that’s how the story ends, in fact. With you, looking up at Connor, seated on Hank’s couch with your hair dripping around you- him promising not to hurt you. It ends on the silence that follows, right between the stare the two of you share.
  * ✭ ˚ ✧* ・゚ * ✭ ˚・゚✧*・゚  *
This is the first thing I’ve proof read. Also one of the longest things I’ve written somehow? It was fun. I apologize for any mistakes as English is not my first language.
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youryanderedaddy · 3 years ago
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Love Fuel
Summary: You were Jason’s first love before you broke his heart and rejected him. It’s all your fault that he can’t move on.
Tw: female reader, obsessive behavior, incel behavior, nice guy behavior, self - hatred, threats of non-con, implied non - con, implied masturbation, bullying based on appearance (not reader), deregatory language, kidnapping, misogyny, generalizations, stalking
this is a hot mess but its 1 am and i am tired, ik that incels are bad irl (obviously), but this is fiction and I kinda wanted to explore the dynamic and shit. 
Everyone used to call him JJ or The-Big-Jay back in high school. Well, most of the time his classmates weren’t really calling out to him or even talking to him, the names were whispered behind his back, after he had just passed the hallway, or on bad days - right to his face. The jocks, these dumb motherfuckers, would beat him up, mock him for whatever stupid reasons they had chosen to use as an excuse to torment the smaller and weaker. The popular girls would giggle like brainless bimbos as Kyle or Brad or any other football player stole his glasses or continuously punched him in the guts until he threw up all over the floor. Even the nerds, the kids at the bottom of the school hierarchy, messed with Jason from time to time when they wanted to feel the oh - so desired rush of power they so rarely managed to experience. 
Looking back, Jason could see why his classmates hated him so much - he was everything that society deemed as wrong and unattractive. He was thin, pale, “scrawny” as the others called him, on the shorter side, and on top of that the teen was terribly shy and introverted, never having the guts to stand up to his bullies or even tell someone about the abuse. The male spent most of his free time at home, playing hours upon hours of video games, watching anime and reading books he was simply too young to understand or look critically at. As he grew older, the man began to view the world as it trully was - a dark, miserable place that ate up sore losers like him. Men were primitive and foolish, which somehow managed to soften their faults. Women, on the other hand, were  calculative and manipulative, greedy and sinful. His whole life they had done nothing but reject him when he needed love and support the most. Of course, there were many other reason why the brunette detested the weaker sex. In his eyes women were evil two - faced sluts, showing off their bodies yet acting innocent and hurt once someone finally decided to use them for the only thing they were actually good for.
But you Jason hated the most. You reminded him that no matter how much he hated the outside world, he would always hate himself the most. He had to admit you were pretty, painfully so, with a perfect little body to match your looks and a sweet sugary smile that almost deceived him years ago. As much as the man regretted his weakness, he had fallen right into your trap at the time.
You weren’t the most popular girl, but you had your fair share of friends, all nice and loyal like puppies. You weren’t the smartest either, but unlike the other stupid giggling sluts you always tried to do your best. You were beautiful just like them but you were actually kind to the pathetic bullied kid no one else bothered to acknowledge even existed outside of being a punching bag. You always asked him whether he was alright and often took him to the infirmary when he looked paler and sicker than usual. You talked to him as if he was a normal human being and despite the initial doubt, Jason appreciated it. 
It was the last day of your senior year when the teen finally gained the courage to confess. He was shaking the whole time and by the end of his little speech there were small tears in the corner of his eye. You were the first girl the male cared about, the first one to show him kindness, to offer him friendship without asking for something in return. You were the only one who could make him feel deserving of love, worthy of affection. And then you took it all away in a matter of seconds.
“I am sorry, bud.” You had said that day after giving him a  half - hearted hug and an apologetic smile, that started to seem more and more like a mocking grin the longer the teen started at you. “I already have a boyfriend, but I am really flattered. I am sure that you will find a lovely girl once you start college.” You had added quickly, cheerfully, rubbing the salt all over his wounds, honey dripping from your plump red lips. He had wanted to kiss them, bruise them, bite them until your stupid lying mouth was filled with blood. Obviously you didn’t have a boyfriend or he would have known by now, he stalked your social media religiously after all. Even if you had one, he probably treated you like shit. And how could you even suggest him finding another woman? As if he wanted any of the stupid money - grabbing sluts out there. As if some of them could replace you.
The boy was too furious to form a proper response besides “Fuck you, bitch”. His cheeks turned red and he didn’t realise that the bitter words had escaped his lips before he could stop them, then his legs took him far away from that shithole of a school. He didn’t manage to see your reaction before running away but it didn’t matter anymore. You were just like the others. 
***
That day Jason swore to show you just how small and insignificant you had made him feel. He wanted to see you crumble, cry and beg for forgiveness, desperate for his love but never good enough to get it. The man formed a plan to change himself and come back for you once he had erased each and every trace of his past. The brunette came to terms with his terrible social anxiety and decided that he needed to gain social abilities more than anything. That’s why, as much as he dreamt of working from home as a boring programmer with an even more boring, but flexible working schelude, the male chose to study something that involved a lot more human interactions. The next step was to hit the gym for the first time and get a monthly subscription. It wasn’t hard to see that females nowadays liked brain - dead athletes with defined jawline and cheekbones, toned chests and strong muscled bodies, so if he wanted to impress you, he had to look his best. It wasn’t easy at first - it felt like everyone in the fitness salon had their eyes on his weak frame, laughing and pointing their fingers at his imperfections, but things gradually got better as time went on. The trainings became easier to get through and from time to time they even helped the man forget about his loneliness and nihilism. 
Jason soon returned to his old habbit of spending hours looking through your accounts - Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, he knew all of your usernames, each post, every picture and text. He couldn’t believe how much of a desperate attention whore you had become over the years. The male remembered you in your long brown skirts, cozy sweatshirts and pure-white shirts, all the gray buttons closed to the very top, blushing, laughing, smiling like the adorable Goody-two-shoes you were. Now you were smirking seductively in every photo, overconfident and vibrant, flaunting your tits for every man to see and wearing tight little dresses that barelly covered your ass combined with heels so high and sharp they could be used as a weapon. You were such a stupid slut it was disgusting, and he couldn’t stop himself from jerking off every single time he saw your pretty little face on the screen. He wanted to cum down your throat so badly it was ridiculous, and even after knowing that you had probably already had hundreds of cocks shoved deep inside your pussy, the brunette still wished to see you split open on his, taking his lenght like a good little cocksleeve. 
***
The moment when he could see you again finally came. How many years had passed since graduation - five, ten, fifthteen? It hardly mattered. Jason was successful, at last. The male had his own business that was doing surprisingly well, there were some guys from the gym he could call friends and the best thing, he looked absolutely unrecognizable. There was nothing left of the tiny scrawny kid with quiet voice that everyone stepped over, he was now replaced by a strong capable man, determined to get what was rightfully his and his alone.
It wasn’t hard to find you since the brunette knew everything about you - where your job was, what time you finished, how long it took you to go home and what path you took. You lived alone and worked as a barista in a small local cafe even now that you had finished your studies in your dream faculty. Turns out the princess wasn’t so great and smart after all, having to resort to working a minimal - wage job day and night just to be able to pay her rent. Jason was absolutely delighted though, he loved your stupid dead - end job and your endless struggles to survive in the materialistic world honestly and fairly without selling yourself like a common whore. On one hand the male was happy that you had clung onto your last bit of innocence and on the other your pitiful lifestyle gave him the chance to snatch you away much easier. And that’s exactly what he did.
 ***
You woke up confused just like he had expected, bombarding him with questions, asking him who he was was, begging him to let you go, to at least explain what’s happening. You were so dumb, but God, you were still so pretty, if not prettier than before. You cried so beautifully when Jason told you you belonged to him now and you cried even more when he slammed his cold rough lips over yours in a deep wet kiss. You whimpered and whined while the male sucked on your lower lip and bit down, good, he wanted it to hurt. The stalker couldn’t wait to be inside you, he couldn’t hold back anymore. 
He climbed on top of you and pinned your wrists to the floor before tying them up with delicate red rope and tightening it. It wasn’t like the man was scared of you slipping away and hurting him, you were too weak and tiny to stand a chance against his years of power - lifting and muscle - training anyways, he just wanted you to be as uncomfortable and squirmish as possible. Your tormentor wished for you to be in worse pain than he had been during his youthful years, and he knew exactly what to do. Next thing you knew Jason had ripped your dress apart, leaving you vulnerable and exposed in just your plain old panties and bra. Cold shivers ran down your spine when the chilly air hit your naked flesh and you finally realized there wasn’t getting away from this. You had to stay there, limbs bound together, unable to move or fight back, the stranger’s hands caressing your neck before moving dangerously close to your clothed breasts. You felt so sick you were going to throw up for sure if your abductor didn’t step back so you decided to use your last resort.
“Jason, please stop!” You screamed out of the blue, forcing the brunette to freeze instantly at the use of his birth name. You had already called him a pervert and a psycho which didn’t seem to faze him, but the name clearly caught him off guard. This only seemed to prove your theory further - the man really was your former classmate, despite the only similarity between them being the dark distant look in his eyes. “I beg you, don’t hurt me!” You continued, hoping to at least buy yourself more time before the assault took place. 
He gulped loudly and stared at your quivering form. The impossible had happened, you had recognized him and now together with fear, there was also pity in your gaze, the one emotion your captor absolutely despised. You used to be the only one who pitied him, and even now that he was bigger, better and stronger than before, you still had the guts to pity him. It drove him insane but any attempt to hurt or touch you was fruitless now - your soft skin was suddenly burning his fingers like hellfire. 
“You must be thinking that I am a monster.” Jason started out dryly, chuckling bitterly, humorlessly even. He clenched his fists unconsciously and brought them to the floor in a fit of rage, missing your head by mere inches. Your heart was beating like crazy and you only hoped the mandman couldn’t hear it. “A freak.” The man spat out the word like it was a curse and for a split second his eyes softened before turning into two spinning torches. “Right?” You were sure that if looks could kill, his would have you dead by the end of the night so you quickly nodded your head no.
“You are lying to me again, pretty girl.” The brunette replied feisty, "pretty” rolling off his tongue like an insult. Then he broke into hoarse maniac laugher and lowered his head so his face leveled up with yours, so close you could feel his warm breath on your tear - stained cheek. “When I am done with you, you wouldn’t be so pretty anymore, darling.” Your captor growled and attacked your neck, sinking his teeth deep into the flesh. “You will see exaclty how ugly my love is.”
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spiffyspuffy · 4 years ago
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My Mystic Messenger Opinions
(That no one asked for)
Zen
Character: 8/10 I know a lot of people think Zens annoying but I find him endearing. One of the best things about this game is the complexity of the characters and I love that Zen’s cockiness is actually how he hides his insecurities. Even though he’s egotistical about himself, he’s never shallow with MC. He says multiple times that he doesn’t care about MC’s looks. He loves her for who she is and shows this in how he makes an effort to get to know her and be her cheerleader everyday. An underrated thing about Zen is how emotionally intelligent he is. He’s great at helping the RFA members when they need emotional support (Yoosung’s grief over loosing Rika, Jaehee crying from the stress of her job and MC’s shock at almost being kidnapped). 
Route: 2/10 Zen is a great character and he deserves a better route. The false rape accusation plot is horrible and offensive. Also, his route functions as an introduction to the game’s plot, so it’s exposition heavy and lacks action. The creators said that the lesson of his route is that when our insecurities are handled in a healthy way, they can push us to be better people. I love this message and I wish it had been highlighted more in his route.
Romantic Potential: 9/10 Zen is arguably the most dateable of all the characters. He’s a bad boy without being sketchy. He’s protective without being possessive. He’s kind without being a pushover and he’s smart without being pretentious. His biggest drawbacks are his overconfidence and and how busy he is with working. There aren’t any glaring red flags. 
~ More under the cut ~ 
Jeahee
Character: 7/10 I love this adorable theater nerd! She comes across as formal and stuffy at first, but reveals herself to be passionate and funny the more you get to know her. I gave her a lower score because she does have a strong personality that rubs me the wrong way sometimes (her jealousy of MC in Zen’s route, her lack of sympathy towards Jumin in her own route and her general rudeness towards Yoosung). She is the most mature of the RFA though, so her exasperation is warranted. Being mature and grounded also makes Jaehee the least complex Mysme character. I’ve got a lot of respect for her though!
Route: 5/10 Getting to engage in discourse about capitalism and the patriarchy? Amazing and hands down the best part of her route. It’s really inspiring to see Jaehee stand up for herself and choose to follow her dreams. I think it’s important for every young person to hear that they should have a positive work/life balance and demand that their employer supports that. Other highlights are Seven helping Jaehee by making the Power Point presentation for Jumin’s cat project, getting to fangirl with Jaehee over Zen and the creepy stalker plot. I thoroughly enjoy her route and the only reason the score is so low is because some of the other routes are seriously incredible.
Romantic Potential: 8/10 Jeahee doesn’t have any red flags either. I think she’s perfectly capable of having a healthy, romantic relationship with MC. The biggest issue standing in their way is Korea’s bias against lesbian relationships. As a fellow coffee lover and theater enthusiast though, I could definitely see myself or someone similar having a happy life with her, even if it might have to be in secret.
Yoosung
Character: 6/10 I can’t stand people who aren’t competent. Yoosung is a terrible cook, he barely cleans and he doesn’t pay attention to his studies. On top of that, 80% of his personality is that he’s a gamer AND he’s in love with his “dead” adopted cousin. Yuck. ~ But ~ I understand that he’s depressed and depression can seriously effect someone’s executive functioning. Taking all of those negatives away, we’re left with a young man who’s trying to his best to be taken seriously, which is something I can relate to. It’s nice to see imposter syndrome represented and I admire his loyalty to his friends. 
Route: 8/10 This route is sooo good! Who can forget the night when the RFA starts being aggressively stalked by Minty Eye? And the pic Zen takes of a believer looking at him through his apartment window...chills. His route only gets better from there when he infiltrates Mint Eye with Seven. This is the first time we get to see the twins interact and damn, is it confusing. But in a good way!!   The biggest drawback is that MC is stuck in Rika’s apartment and doesn’t play much of an active role in the story. 
Romantic Potential: 7/10 Despite all the negatives I listed about Yoosung, I do think he’s capable of have a healthy, romantic relationship with MC. Yoosung is also the only true sub of the RFA men, which is a definite plus for some players. Yoosung’s yandere side is a huge red flag though. MC better watch out if she doesn’t dote on him as much as he wants. Once he falls for her, he’s all in. 
Jumin
Character: 5/10 Unpopular opinion, but I hate Jumin. I understand that he’s some people’s guilty pleasure though. Jumin’s good aspects are that he’s intensely loyal, an animal lover and has a dry sense of humor. I appreciate how devoted he is to the RFA and it’s members. He offers to help Zen multiple times (albeit rejected), sends everyone body guards in his route and pays the hospital in the SE to keep Saeran’s identity top secret. What I’m not a fan of is the way he obsesses over MC and traps her in his house. This isn’t the first time he’s shown obsessive tendencies either. Seven explicitly states that Jumin acted this way with Rika in the past. Huuuge red flag.  
Route: 3/10 His entire route is fraught with rich people problems. I’m supposed to sympathize with him for an arranged marriage? All he had to do was say no. His father couldn’t force him. He’s possessive of MC because women have only ever wanted to be with him for his money? Not an excuse. Elizabeth going missing was a vaguely interesting story line, but Jumin’s relationship with his cat was cringey enough to overshadow the drama of it for me.
Romantic Potential: 3/10 Jumin has some serious issues. He’s never had a good female role model which has given him a deep seeded hatred of women. Remember when he tells MC that respecting women goes against his core beliefs? Yikes. Then, after meeting a woman who respects him and he actually likes, he locks her up and tries to change everything about her (cutting her hair, buying her a new wardrobe, teaching her the ‘proper’ way to walk, etc). We’re supposed to believe Jumin learns to be better by the end of his route, but he still proposes to MC after only a week of knowing her! I’m having a hard time picturing Jumin in a healthy relationship. 
Saeyoung
Character: 10/10 I’m not saying Saeyoung is a good person. Far from it actually. But he IS very well written and extremely interesting. In the other routes, Saeyoung is energetic and funny, bringing much needed humor to heavy moments. It’s always a joy being in a chatroom with him. Then you have the reveal that he actually hates his job and that he was faking his personality, all to a sad and slowed down version of his theme song. This plot twist shook me to my core. What makes him so well written is that the devs did a good job dropping hints to his real personality in the other routes that players might not notice during their first play through. 
Route: 9/10 This route is a wild ride from start to finish. This is when the plot threads from the other routes come together and start make sense. This route has secret agents, assassins, a deadly bomb, kidnapping, an evil twin, a powerful cult... It’s action heavy while still carrying enough emotional weight to make me cry every time. Saeyoung’s route is heavy and emotional and sooo worth playing. 
Romantic Potential: 6/10 Saeyoung has a shady job and a complicated past. Choosing to be with him means putting your life in danger every day. If you’re okay with that, he’d be a decent romantic partner. He’s a little rough around the edges, but I do think he has potential to become more like his ideal self (God Seven) after reading his AE. He’ll always have that mean and serious side to him, but I don’t think he’s hopeless. 
V
Character: 4/10 He’s low-key the worst. I sympathize with his trauma from being abused by Rika, but I don’t understand why he feels the need to fix everything by himself. Rika might be the source of most problems in this game, but V is partially responsible for standing by and letting her get away with everything. 
My first issue with him comes from encouraging Saeyoung to join the agency. I know Saeyoung didn’t have many options, but how was encouraging him to train to become a hacker and assassin the best option?! On top of that, he stalked Zen per Rika’s request and took creeper photos of him, failed miserably at protecting Saeran and don’t get me started on how he loves Rika unconditionally. V has some good characteristics but I really don’t care about those when he’s so terrible otherwise. 
Route: 10/10 This route is *chef’s kiss* the BEST. I wouldn’t call it a romance since Vs barely in it but damn is it riveting. Saeran is the perfect amount of loving and unhinged, MC get’s to know Rika on a personal level and V finally gets to be active instead of just reactive like he is in all the other routes. It’s also  satisfying to find out how much V has been keeping secret and to get a glimpse into Rika’s psyche. But what really makes V’s route stand out among the rest is that there are spy action scenes like in Saeyoung’s route, but the player also gets to spend time in Mint Eye.
Romantic Potential: 7/10 I’ll be honest. I don’t think V will ever be able to move on from Rika. He’ll always love her, as evidence in his AE. Besides that drawback, I do think he’d be a good romantic partner for MC. V was never the issue in his past relationship with Rika. She was the abusive one and he was 100% the victim. I think he would treat MC just as well in their relationship as he treated Rika. 
Saeran
Character: 7/10 I know I’m not the only one who loved the suave and cunning Saeran of the main routes who, after getting the therapy he needed, became an adorably shy and awkward man. Sadly, that’s not the character we got in AS. Instead, we met Ray, the split personality of Saeran’s psyche. Ray is charming and sweet as well as possessive and manipulative...which is something I’m into. But it’s not for everyone. Saeran’s real personality in AS is revealed to be angry and abusive and not at all similar to who he was in the main routes. I’ll give Cheritz props for writing a fairly accurate portrayal of disassociative identity disorder, but I think Saeran’s characterization is inconsistent. I get the impression Ray was an afterthought when creating AS. 
Route: 7/10 A mixed bag for me. I really enjoy any chatroom/scene with Ray. He’s undeniably creepy, but those scenes were entertaining in a dark romance kind of way. On the other hand, the Saeran scenes had a lot of unrealized potential. Abuse is never cool. All his route needed to fix this was a scene where Saeran explained to MC that he was pretending to hate her to appease Rika and the other believers. While this fake hatred is implied, I think it needed to be outright stated. It’s also hard to believe that Saeran overcame his DID in the course of one night. I know all routes are limited to 11 days, but this one needed more. Highlights of this route are Saeyoung being kidnapped by his father and of course, dark Yoosung with Elizabun. 
Romantic Potential: 7/10 I truly do believe that Saeran could go on and live a happy life in any of the endings where he escapes Mint Eye and receives therapy. While we only get a glimpse of what an emotionally stable Searan looks like, we know that he was kind and attentive with MC. Saeran is a giver and would do anything to make MC happy. Red flags are that Searan is still clingy at the end of his route. Yoosung makes a comment that he’s always holding MC’s hand when he sees them together. Also, his DID is something that will occasionally return and that’s something MC has to go into their relationship knowing. 
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gongju-juice · 4 years ago
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6. Once Upon A Southern Night
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I Won’t Hesitate
Warnings: the usual, language, some rAuNcHy InTeRaCTiOn
You laid sleeplessly in his bed. These days were so lonely, Jasper and the wolves were always fighting, and in the daytime, Ava trained you in magic. 
You’d made quite a bit of progress, but it always drained you physically. Being a witch was not as easy as they made it out in the movies. It was about refining your energy, making sure a face-full of gravity didn’t hit you in the face and incapacitate you. You’d done that a couple of times already.
The limits of being a witch was still undefined. Because you and your sister were only half—as were most modern witches—there were still so many things and spells you couldn’t access or perform. Still, Ava knew how to do just about everything.
She could fly and shadow travel for short distances, was completely impervious to all human weapons, could breathe without oxygen and create breath-taking illusions that could completely fool and take down an unsuspecting vampire. You barely even knew how to affect the temperature around your body, much less create fire—the new skill she was trying to get you to master.
You would never be ready by the time Preston and Maria arrived.
Uncle Carlisle contacted some of their old friends. The Denali clan came down from Alaska, Alistair from the English countryside, and the Egyptian coven from the east. The shapeshifters were not thrilled to have vampires trespassing near their land, and Edward kindly informed them of the coming wave of newborns. 
Jasper took control in training everyone to fight, though it seemed some of them already had prior experience. He showed the wolves how to avoid the crushing arms of a vampire and how to mobilize their forces to focus on a specific target.
Meanwhile, you were on the sidelines wasting all the time trying to make a leaf catch on fire. You felt like you were doing nothing—and what was the point? Ava could’ve been training by herself, honing her own skills. Instead, she was beating you with a stick everytime you failed—which was every time.
That was until her friend, Zacarias, arrived.
He was tall and very well-defined, like he’d been lifting heavy tools all his life. His skin was the color of dark chocolate, eyes a metallic bronze. He arrived just before you were about to give up, just before you caved in front of a group of fully capable vampires.
“So this is the little bear,” he said, chuckling. “Wow, you always described her like she was so tiny. She’s bigger than I thought. 
“Little bear?”
“That was your nickname,” Ava explained, “Because you had thick curly dark hair.”
“Who gave me that nickname?”
She faltered before walking away. You knew who gave it to you, even if she refused to say his name.
“I heard you’re having trouble with your magic. That’s okay, it’s expected for the first few weeks. You’re only a half-blood, after all. But now you’ve got me, and I’ve never had a student fail,” Zacarias promised. 
Suddenly, he launched you straight into the air. You were hovering in place, your body stuck where the tip of the trees touched the sky.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Jasper demanded, dropping Eleazar, his opponent. His eyes glowed protectively. The Major had taken control. “Put her down immediately. And trust me, you don’t want to make me have to do it.”
Zacarias dusted off his hands. “It’s part of her training, Whitlock. Try not to be on edge, alright? Trust me, her instincts will kick in if she wants to get down.”
You struggled in the air, flailing your arms and trying to move your body. But the air was so stiff around you, like gravity had the opposite effect. Birds flew past you, cocking their heads at you with their curious beady eyes.
“She doesn’t need no training!” Jasper insisted.
The witch rolled his eyes. “Fine, if that’s the way it’s going to be. I’ll put her down.”
Now you were plummeting down to the ground. You screamed, shielding your arms over your face. I’m going to die, you thought. And in the most embarrassing way.
Jasper, climbing up a tree, was preparing to catch you. But now you were no longer hurtling down to the ground. The grass stopped about a foot from where you hovered above the ground, and you felt something like electricity buzzing in your veins.
“I told you, I’ve never had a student fail,” Zacarias smirked. “Works every time.”
“If you ever try some shit like that without my permission—” Jasper started.
“How else is she supposed to protect herself? If Preston decides he wants to snap her neck, what’s she supposed to do? She’s a witch, Whitlock. More powerful than any of you standing here. But the only way she’s ever going to unlock that power is by coming out of her comfort zone. This isn’t the Civil War anymore, Major. You aren’t the leader of this circus.”
That night, surprisingly, Jasper made it to his—your temporary bedroom. His room was filled with shelves of books, little collectables and trinkets from over the years. He’d never even had a bed until you arrived, but he made sure to buy a big enough mattress where you both could fit on it.
“Jas?”
He stopped just inches from the bed. “Thought you were asleep. You’re so quiet up here.”
“Where are the others?”
“Carlisle and the family took the others to feed outside of Forks. The wolves are back in human form in La Push, and the witches are at the hotel to rest for the night.”
“Jasper?”
“Yes, darlin’?”
“Can you please get in with me?”
He was hesitant for a moment before giving up and climbing in the covers. He held you tightly to his body, your head resting in the crook of his neck.
“There’s so much we have to talk about,” you whispered.
“I know, and I’m not going to lie, I haven’t been the most doting in the last few weeks. The wolves have never fought any vampires since their ancestors last battle, they have so much to learn. And your sister’s done a pretty good of keeping you busy as well.”
You were quiet before sitting up in his arms. He was so beautiful under the lamp light. If you blocked out all your other racing thoughts, you could imagine the two of you somewhere else under different circumstances. Maybe you’d be married by now—after all, high school wasn’t an option right now anyway.
If he were human, he’d be just coming home from work—and you’d be in the kitchen cooking dinner. He’d come up behind you and wrap his arms around your waist, whispering all the naughty things he wanted to do to you. . .
“That was a swift change in your emotions,” he said, eyebrows raised. Now that you were a witch, Ava taught you how to turn off the different powers of the vampires around you. But you liked having Jasper being able to read you, it kept a sense of honesty between the two of you. “Tell me what you’re thinking about.”
You shook your head. “No, I’m getting off track. I wanted to talk to you about something different. . .about the past.”
He tensed, sighing. This conversation was inevitable anyway. You both knew that.
“Ask anything you want.”
You paused. “What was your life before you became a vampire?”
“I. . .there’s a lot I can’t remember. But from what I do remember, it wasn’t much. I had a little brother named August and a Ma and Pa. Pa was just a poor farmer, and we didn’t have much of anything. And Ma came from a pretty well-off family, but they never accepted Pa, so they moved away from her family’s house, penniless and in love.
They had me about a year later. By the time I could walk, I was out on the farm helping with the chores. We had a little barn with chickens, and we had a mule—not a mare—named Buttercup that pulled all the carts. And the bulls in the field were not our own. We tended them for a wealthy planter several miles away.
August was born about three years after I was, and by the time the recruits came to our house for the war, he was only fourteen. Times were hard and I knew my parents could barely afford to keep food on the table. I left home and lied about my age to get into the army, and I left all my savings so I’d never have to look back.
I quickly moved up the ranks—Carlisle suspects it's the trait that carried into my vampiric life. When I was nineteen, I was finally promoted to Majorial status, and I was sent to Alabama where I had to collect men who were drafted.
That’s where I met Preston. He was smart, quick on his feet. It wasn’t long before I made him my Captain. I had no idea about you, for he was quite private about his personal life. We were friends, I trusted him with my life. But that’s when we met Maria.
We were on a mission escorting refugee women and children from Galveston. We saw Maria, Nettie, and Lucy all walking by themselves, dressed in the finest clothes. They were some of the most beautiful women we’d ever seen, and we stopped to give them our aid.
Working for Maria was pure hell. We trained her newborns, and I had the job of disposing of them. We fought other covens for territory, and all for what—a few days of dominance? After a while, she started a rift between me and Preston. He fell in love with Lucy and wanted to establish his own coven elsewhere. They wanted to overthrow Maria and all of us, but I sensed their aggression.
We planned a surprise attack and destroyed all of them. Preston got away, I couldn’t bear to see my long-time friend die. Eventually, I left Maria and went to live with my friends Peter and Charlotte. But I met my sister Alice in a diner, and we left together to join the Cullens.”
It was so much to process. Jasper had lived nearly two centuries before you, and lived a long, full life.
“Were you in love with her?” you whispered.
He lowered his eyes. “I thought I was. I thought she loved me, but she didn’t. I’d just convinced myself otherwise.”
He lifted your chin to meet his gaze. “But the only woman I love right now and will forever love is you.”
Your lips touched and you wrapped your arms around his neck. Whenever you kissed, you never wanted to separate. His tongue pushed into your mouth, and the taste of him drove heat straight to your core.
“I know you want me,” he growled onto your lips, “but there are several feeding vampires nearby. I can’t stand when any human men are around you, much less witches and wolves and vampires. Besides, this is not how I imagined our first time to be.”
“I don’t care about any of that,” you breathed. “I want everyone to see that I’m yours.”
Jasper smirked. “As tempting as that sounds, I believe a real lady deserves to be pampered and pleasured just like a queen. I want to take you to some beautiful island so the sun can shine on your pretty skin. I want to make you my wife before I. . .take you in that way.”
You blushed into his chest, hiding your face in the fabric of his shirt. Not even a few moments later, you heard the front door bust open.
Jasper groaned. “The family’s here.”
Emmett suddenly appeared in the doorway, a stupid grin on his face. “Aren’t you guys so romantic? Jasper’s gonna take to a farm so y’all can get married surrounded by the ducks and chickens.”
“The sad part is, that isn’t very far from what he was thinking,” Edward cried. “God, I hate being in the house with a bunch of immortal, horny teenagers.”
When they were back downstairs, you turned back to your boyfriend.
“So. . .what are you going to do when Preston and Maria arrive? Will you try to talk them down, come to some kind of agreement?”
He stared off towards the mass of dark trees visible through the window. 
“I don’t want to do it, I don’t want to kill anyone. But if he comes between us, I won’t hesitate to do just that.”
wHoOoOoO cHiLe, ThE hEaT. Only three more chapters folks.
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Part Four    Part Five   Part Seven
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imaginesbymk · 5 years ago
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“Someone New.”
Peaky Blinders One Shot
Summary: MK loves Luca unconditionally, but she has doubts whenever she thinks about how he makes a living, and she wonders if he ever loved her at all to begin with.
Pairing: Luca Changretta x Adult!Me (MK)
Tags: swearing & my really bad italian translations + my bad attempts of writing angst (inspo; this drabble)
A/N: this plot is so cheesy, and i know i don’t write au/personal imagines, but this is just a lil something i put together as a celebration for reaching 500 followers!!! one shots are not open! 
read my luca changretta x OC x tommy shelby fic Pink + White here.
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THE cigarette butt was put out in the ashtray when MK occupied the study room. Luca promised her a fancy dinner date at one of the finest restaurants in New York City, but he was late. In fact, he wasn’t even home. He wasn’t dead for sure. He was smart enough to dodge that fate. Instead he was out somewhere in the busy streets, probably attending a meeting with a company MK does not know of, or maybe got too carried away with the attractions the city had to offer at night. Maybe it was another woman. Either way, her blood was boiling. 
MK was a floater. Booze was always kept in a cabinet that opened every now and then, but she never dove into the chaotic lifestyle of partying and prohibition. She never thought in a million years she would wind up falling for a man who had an equal fair share of both, as his business dealt with importing and exporting alcohol into speakeasies, and the people who worked with him were no stranger to weapons and violence. 
The theatre in New York City was packed and busy, but they met at the wrong place at the wrong time. MK snuck backstage to get a glimpse of the performers, and instead walked in on a different room. Luca was trying to negotiate a deal with the manager of the theatre, they exchanged witty comments at each other just enough to show things were about to end on, quite literally, a broken leg. 
Luca turned his head when he noticed at the corner of his eye that someone was watching them at the door, surprised to see a person who wasn’t looking for trouble for the first time. She looked too naive to hold a gun properly. He watched as the manager shouted at MK, asking what she was doing there since only employees and performers were allowed in the back section, and tries calling for security. 
“Okay, okay! I’m going!” she backed away, not before giving Luca another glance and taking off from where she entered.
She saw him again on a different night. She had completely forgotten about their previous awkward encounter, but when she saw the familiar face taking a seat next to her at the bar, she recalled seeing the look he had when they first made eye contact.
“Apparently a lady can’t drink at the bar alone. So can a gentleman join ya?” He smirks, the bartender pours him about three fingers of gin.
She was stunned to see him nights after that. New York City was wild, and men like him took many breaths away. She slowly nodded, not using her words.
Was she sure about this? The man seemed dangerous, and more experienced in anything than she’ll ever be. Of all the women that dolled themselves up for the occasion and looked tremendously beautiful and sexy, while she simply wore what she could afford at that time, why would he give his attention to her and not them?
After shyly looking down at her glass, she dared to look back at him. He was still looking at her. The butterflies in her stomach danced as if they were listening to the song the band was playing on stage. It was those eyes.
MK gave up and headed for bed since it was already late, and the restaurant Luca had the idea of taking her to was most likely closed by now. She shuts the lamp and buried herself under the sheets, bottling her frustration by just clenching her jaw. He was home when she woke up. She found him in the study in a change of clothes, his hair was falling forward post-gel, and his raspy voice spoke in Italian with the telephone pressed against his ear.
“Sono io. Diglielo che l’affare è ancora concluso.”
MK melted every time he spoke his mother tongue, this time she couldn’t bare to hear him speak. She was still upset about last night, she didn’t wanna speak to him, yet she had so much to say. She leaves him to wake herself up with coffee without the thought of preparing a cup for him too. Minutes go by and MK sips her beverage when she hears him enter the kitchen. Luca stands on the other side of the island counter, looking down at her mug.
“I’m just gonna boldly assume you didn’t make me coffee on purpose.”
“Buongiorno to you too, Luca.” She turns away so she couldn’t face him.
“MaryKate.” She felt an odd tingle in her spine. Luca almost never refers to her by her full name, not even by her other nickname, which was Kate. It was beyond weird. He walks over and cups her face. “C’mon. I’m sorry, okay? I got wrapped up with business. I was literally losing my mind because those bird brains couldn’t do simple math—”
MK was about as half ready to smash the half filled coffee mug on the floor. “My God, Luca. Business this, business that. It was your night off for the whole fucking week. You couldn’t make Matteo take over?”
Luca swore under his breath and walked back to his study.
“Where are you going?” she asks sternly.
“Back to work.” You gotta be fucking kidding me. MK watched him disappear back into the study room, and she let out a groan. The caffeine entering her bloodstreams increased her pounding heartbeat, but she quickly calmed herself when she followed him inside.
“Can I come with you to your next meeting?”
“Do you wanna meet Santa Claus too?” Luca said dryly.
“I’ve only been to one meeting. I can’t imagine the rush of power unless I’m there to feel it, and you won’t let me.”
“Yeah, damn fucking straight I won’t let you,” Luca cleared his throat. “That last meeting, those people tried to make you feel uncomfortable.” He looked up from his work from the desk and stared at MK. “I won’t let you see what’s really behind closed doors.”
But the few nights after took a whole different turn. MK wouldn’t listen, and managed to unlock Luca’s cabinet filled with his weapons, and picked out the one she thinks she was capable of using. She didn’t enjoy stealing, but proving to Luca she could be just like him and still be with him would bring them closer was on her mind. It ended with her sneaking up on the group of men Luca and his men were speaking to, and she pointed her gun at the presumable leader.
Luca’s eyes filled with dread as he froze in his spot, immediately recognizing her. Matteo grabbed the gun from MK, cursing in Italian how stupid she was and why she followed them. They were lucky the men backed down when they realized it wasn’t a good time just yet, but the worst wasn’t over.
Luca and MK’s shouts echoed their entire manor that it was enough for the neighbors to hear them.
“I can’t trust you anymore!” Luca shouted. “You realized what you could of done?! Putting yourself in danger like that?!”
“I wanted to protect you!”
“I don’t need your fucking protection!” he slams the table. “I didn’t need you to follow me, all right?” he began cursing in Italian, something MK was never able to fully understand his language one hundred percent. He held her by the shoulders. “If you ever do that shit again, I’ll—”
“You’ll what, Luca?” she pushes him. “Leave me? You’ve been pushing me aside, you forget our date nights, I end up sleeping in our bed alone, wondering if your body is laying dead on the ground! Do you have any idea how much that scares me? I get how insane it is being in the mafia, but if you can’t spare one night with me, then why am I here?”
“Y’know what, maybe you’re right. Why the fuck are you here?” MK looked at him with an icy shock. Instead of processing what he had just said, Luca turned to head back to his office. “When you gain back your fucking senses, let me know.” And he slams the door.
None of them spoke all day, too caught up in their anger to check up on each other. Luca occupied himself alone while MK wandered around the house, avoiding the corridor to his study. She checked his schedule, he had somewhere to be the following evening, no surprise. 
She stayed in the kitchen until she heard Luca’s footsteps descend from the stairs and out the front door. As soon as she heard his car drive off and having the house to herself once again, MK slides down the wall of the hallway and finally broke down into tears.
Once she calmed down, she walked up to their shared master bedroom, and packed everything she could carry in her suitcase. The last thing Luca said to her caused an aching pain in her chest. 
She could just walk out if she couldn’t take it, Luca could find another woman to sleep with without any issue. She wouldn’t be surprised if someone new entered his life a week after. It would hurt like hell, but it was the sad reality of it all.
MK walked out. No goodbyes. No telephone calls, no handwritten note, just an empty house.
_
HER old home was now owned by a friend of hers, and it contrasted the luxurious, spotless abode Luca let her stay in uptown. The taxi drive was quite long and she was exhausted, so she collapsed in the small bed, sleeping in the dress Luca had always loved seeing her wear. 
He spoiled her with riches and shared his aesthetic with hers, making sure she had her spot with fashion and art. In MK’s old home, it was decrepit. No one paid a visit because they hated the design, and no one saw her for who she really was, but Luca was different. He wanted her, and he got her. 
Days go by and MK still had the aching heartbreak in her chest as she entered downtown New York City at night to see a show in the grand theatre. She had to admit, she was bummed out when she saw how many people brought their lovers or husbands and wives to the show, and it seemed like she was the only one without either. She was alone.
MK picks up her pace and rushed inside to take her assigned seat and sighed in relief, staring at the red curtain on stage ready to come up and showcase the night, hoping to distract her from her inexplicable grieving.
The empty seat next to her was then taken, filling in the space between her and the next guest after. MK took in how the man’s fragrance was enriched and strong, and she could see the giant rings on his finger nearly covered some of the tattoos inked on his skin, including the crown tattoo on his hand, or the one on his neck which was a cross. His hat rested well on his lap and he hooked one leg on the other. His suit was clean as usual, and the cuffs on his wrist enclosed with the golden pressed buttons. 
No. Her heart raced as she turned to see his face. She was met with those eyes.
One thing she forgot to remember was the fact that Luca loved theatre, this was the theatre he usually goes to, and this was where they met. Of course he wouldn’t miss a show. He kept staring straight ahead as the loud cheers and applause erupted when the curtains rose. 
MK could barely pay attention to the performance. The tension rising between Luca’s presence and hers pressed together so tightly. He did this on purpose, MK thought. Fucking bastard!
Unless the last two empty seats were meant for them so coincidentally, as both of them bought solo tickets and wounded up next to each other. But this was insane. Luca was entitled enough to watch the shows up on the balcony for the best seats in the house, so why pick the orchestra seats?
It didn’t matter how, she never felt so uncomfortable in her entire life and couldn’t stifle her panic. 
Luca broke the ice, quietly talking over the music that transitioned to a slow chorus. “I made the owner arrange a seating. It was meant for another couple, but they never showed up.” He tries reaching for her hand when he noticed her tensing up. “MK, amore. calm down.” He looked at her with worry. “All right. I think we need to talk.”
MK broke out in an exhaled cry and got up. “Fuck this.” She carefully goes passed the seated guests before heading out the exit, running out of the theatre in tears until she could no longer breathe.
Luca chased after her onto the streets, pushing past people along the way. “MK, c’mon! Please don’t go.”
MK stopped and covers her face in her hands. “Don’t talk to me with that intimidating mafia shit, then!” Speak like a fucking human being, Luca!”
“Fine,” Luca pulled her from behind and held her. “I’m sorry.” He kisses her shoulder up to her neck. “I need you. It doesn’t feel right not having you here, MK.”
“You have far more important things than someone like me,” she says. “And you agree with that.” MK shivers, feeling the night cold and she hugs herself with her thin layered trenchcoat.
“You had nothin’ else to wear but that?” Luca’s eyes loomed over her outfit. “That’s not for winter.” He removed his long overcoat and wraps it around her. “You’re just as important as my work, and I didn’t take that seriously. I should of paid more attention.”
“You can’t just push me aside, Luca.” She turns around to face him. “Eventually, I’ll end up finding someone new, someone who won’t treat me like a second option.”
“I’d rather die.” Luca cupped her face. “I’ll do better, you hear me? God forbid if I ever neglect you again, I would never forgive myself.”
“Luca—”
“No. It’s hard to balance love and work, but I can’t just toss you away like that. You’re all the world to me.”
MK lookes down sadly. “Luca, I just know nothing will change. We’re so different.”
Luca shook his head. “That’s not gonna stop me.”
“But why?” MK asks. “There are women out there who would gladly take my place any day, and they’re ten times more experienced.”
“Sure, that may be true. But I can’t imagine spending my life with those women, sharing my home with them, waking up next to them, holding them, possibly having a future with them.” He lifts her chin. “Because I love you.” And he leans down, kissing her softly. MK wrapped her arms around him for support. He pressed his forehead on hers, his eyes still shut.
“I love you too, Luca.” The couple pulls away. “So, are we heading back inside?”
“Actually, there’s this restaurant I’ve been dying to take you to,” he smirks as he took her hand, and they began walking off down the streets of New York City, the lights blaring up on their bright faces like they were brand new.
_
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mightiestheroes · 5 years ago
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Could I request a geralt x reader based on quartet at the ballet from Anastasia? Or at least based on the quote “Someone holds her safe and warm, Someone rescues her from the storm” form the song please???💕💖💓🧡💘💞💘💜💛❤️💛
What a beautiful request! Thank you very much! I hope you like it as I interpreted it my way 💜 .
As always sorry for any mistakes.
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Geralt hates parties. He can’t stand the smells, the noise, noble people trying to outdo one another and show off their status. It’s all too much for his sensitive senses but he made a promise and he’s a man of his word. Of course it was Jaskier who convinced him to come along to this fancy ball and watch his back in case of an emergency or flirting gone wrong. The witcher had literally no other choice, he’s learned that when it comes to the bard, it’s easier to agree and help him than hearing his constant pleas and whining. That’s how he got where he is now. Sat at a small table that curved under all the food and drinks. At least I have that to enjoy, he thinks to himself pouring some more of that delicious Toussaint wine. As soon as they got here, Jaskier downed a few cups and went off to mingle with the crowd. Geralt followed the bard with his eyes just to be sure he’s not getting into trouble and to try tuning out the whispers. He could hear all of them. What is that mutant doing here? That came mostly from men. Oh, he looks lonely, I’d love to keep him company all night. Followed by feminine giggles. He’s learned to ignore them as much as possible, otherwise he’d go mad. He focused on the soft tune Jaskier was currently playing and breathed deeply. Though he never admits it, he really enjoys the bard’s talent. That’s when he saw her. A phenomenon, an angel sent to grace this solemn grounds with her presence. Geralt met a lot of women in his long years of living, a lot of beautiful women too, but he can’t remember being so enchanted before. Maybe she was a sorceress? A magical creature? But he couldn’t sense anything abnormal about her. Just to be sure, he decided to follow her with his perceptive eyes a little more. He saw her standing on the other side of the ballroom with other women. Everything she did was captivating – her gentle and polite smile, her pure laugh that could cure even a severed limb, but also her eyes. When she caught him staring for a brief moment, the witcher could swear he lost his breath for a second. He still couldn’t place what it was, but besides the obvious beauty, there was something else in them. A force to be reckoned with, courage, power. His observations only were proven right when a man approached her. He was lean and tall, but had something about his manners that made Geralt’s jaw clench. Trouble. He knew he shouldn’t but he focused a bit more on their conversation.
“May I have this dance, sweetheart?” The man asked, his words a bit slurred and leaned towards her a bit too much. Geralt’s fist clenched on it’s own. But the object of his current interest only rolled her eyes and replied something with a smirk which caused the man to drop his smug smile and walk away. The witcher’s lips twitched slightly in attempt to smile. She’s beautiful AND smart. He relaxed a bit when he felt a pat on his shoulder.
“Is everything alright Geralt?” asked Jaskier. “I could’ve sworn I saw something resembling a smile on your face. Do you need a healer?” The bard continued and followed his friend’s line of sight. Oh.
“Shut up, Jaskier. You’re already drunk.” Replied Geralt with a straight face and turned his eyes away from the woman. But the bard already connected the dots and smiled.
“That’s Y/N. She’s a close friend of Lady Catherine who owns this palace. I have to say – hard choice, my friend!”.
“I have no idea what are you talking about.” The witcher tried to hide his interest.
“Oh but you do. I have to warn you. Many have tried and fallen. She’s something else, I admit. Good luck.” With another pat on the witcher’s shoulder, Jaskier went away to charm another person. Geralt scoffed but searched the room for her presence again. She was standing outside on a balcony watching the cloudy sky and drinking wine. She looked so serene and peaceful, Geralt felt he is not worthy of intruding. Suddenly, a loud thunder pierced the sky and he noticed her getting startled and he heard her heart rate pick up. Her astonishing features turned into a deep frown and she went back inside immediately. The witcher felt the urge to go to her and protect her from anything that takes away that blinding smile off her face. As soon as he thought about that, another man approached her once more. Only this time she seemed friendly toward him and smiled almost shyly at whatever the man said. He took her hand and twirled her around to the middle of the floor. Of course it was Jaskier’s turn to shine again. Geralt could swear the bard knows him too well at this point when he heard him sing a slow ballad.
Can this be the evening?
Can this be the place?
Am I only dreaming looking at her face?
Everything I wanted, suddenly so clear
My past and my future so near…
Geralt wasn’t sure if he wanted to kill the bard, watch Y/N or stand up and leave. He found himself not able to do the latter. So he looked at her once again listening to Jaskier’s voice singing.
See that girl
Could it be?
Don’t be ridiculous!
I refuse to dream
I refuse to hope
I must stop believing…
Of course he noticed the way that man looked at her. He couldn’t blame him. And she seemed to feel good and content with him. Geralt’s stomach twisted.
She’s near at hand
Yet here I stand
My heart and mind at war
The times must change
The world must change
And love is not what revolution’s for.
Suddenly it dawned on him. He wasn’t worth her attention. And even more her affection, her love… Gods, what was happening to him? He wanted to smash something or punch someone in the face to find his balance again. But he couldn’t tune out the song.
Someone holds her safe and warm
Someone rescues her from the storm.
He was naive to think there was no man in her life. But he couldn’t deny the urge deep inside to protect her, to shield her from all things bad in this world. Even is she was perfectly capable of doing that herself. There was another twirl and he was almost sure she was looking at him but quickly looked away. She said something to her partner and went to sit by her  table and sipped some more wine. Geralt took his cup as well and looked up at her only to find her already watching him. But instead of shy smiles and blushed cheeks as he was used to, he saw her smirk at him as she rose her cup in a toast towards him. He felt almost euphoric but kept his composure repaying her with his own signature smirk and a rised cup. She stood up when the music was still filling the room and walked towards the balcony again watching him the whole time. Geralt gave in and decided to join her as soon as possible. As he was getting through the crowd he heard Jaskier still singing the song and his step quickened a bit more.
Simple things but one thing’s clear
It’s fate that brought us here.
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noxrose · 5 years ago
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How I’d cast the The Lost Boys CW show
I’m going to list my first choice and then other possible good choices for each role. I’ll give a reason for why I picked each one. I did some updates to my original post ;) 
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David 
Originally portrayed by Kiefer Sutherland.
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My first choice would be  Tommy Martinez. 
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He is gorgeous and alluring, but still maintains quite an edge in his roles. He managed to really stand out as a wild and dangerous gang leader on Riverdale. He is currently doing a stellar job playing a super sexy sensitive bisexual artist on Good Trouble. I think he do a great job playing David leading the Lost Boys through all their antics. 
Other options:
Nathaniel Buzolic
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He played the extremely smart cunning trickster, Kol on the Vampire Diaries and The Originals. He can also do comedy like he did on the sitcom Significant Mother. He can play charismatic psychopath just looking for fun quite well. That seems like a good fit with David. 
Douglas Booth
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He is an actor with range. He’s played Nikki Sixx in The Dirt to Romeo in Romeo and Juliet. He has been in films like Jupiter Ascending and Pride and Prejudiced and Zombies. He’s played lots of characters. I could see him playing David. 
Avan Jogia
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He could totally channel David’s intensity and charm like it was nothing! He’s played all kinds of characters in so many things! My favorite was Danny Desai in Twisted. 
Star
Originally portrayed by Jami Gertz. 
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My first choice would be Emeraude Toubia.
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Star needs to be stunning enough to have caught both David and Michael’s attention and  Emeraude Toubia is one of the most stunning women you’ll ever see! She also displayed some amazing acting skills on the show Shadowhunters as Isabelle Lightwood. Her and Jamie Gertz also have a similar look which is a plus. 
Other options:
Danielle Campbell
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She did an amazing job playing a young woman discovering just how powerful she could be on the CW’s The Originals. She could go from scared and vulnerable to a fierce force to be recon with. I think that could work for Star.
Ivana Baquero
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She did an splendid job playing Eretria on the Shannara Chronicles. She portrayed her character’s wit, cunning and heart quite well. It seems like a good fit for Star.
Vanessa Morgan
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She is an extremely talented actress who has played compelling characters on Finding Carter, The Shannara Chronicles and Riverdale. Each character has been very different from the one to another, but all are done well. A thing all of them have in common is a certain edge and compassion to them. Compassion with a bit of edge is quite like Star. 
Michael Emerson 
Originally portrayed by Jason Patric.
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My first pick would be  Alberto Rosende. 
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Michael needs to come off sweet, but still capable of being a badass.  Alberto Rosende was able to do that on Shadowhunters with his character, Simon Lewis. Alberto just feels like a great fit with the character of Michael Emerson. 
Other options:
Landon Liboiron
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He did a brilliant job playing Peter on Hemlock Grove. Landon knows how to acting out a character’s inner struggles quite effectively. We all know Michael Emerson has a lot of issues with inner struggles. Landon is also good at portraying physical struggles as well. Michael seems to get into a few of those too. He gets bonus points for looking a bit like Jason Patric. 
Jordan Rodrigues
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He played the really good and charming character, Matt Tan on The Fosters. He is also a professional dancer. I could see him being a good Michael Emerson.  
Alex Saxon
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He has a habit of playing charming good guys with a heart of gold that end up in crazy situations on shows like Finding Carter, The Fosters and Nancy Drew. He also has piercing blue eyes like Michael did in the Lost Boys. 
Dwayne 
Originally portrayed by Billy Wirth. 
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My first choice is Booboo Stewart 
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He is a brilliant actor and part Native American like Billy Wirth is. Booboo has done a great job playing badass characters like Warpath from X-Men Days Future Past and in American Satan, but has also done very dramatic and dynamic roles like he did in White Frog and The Last Survivors. He was able to show off his dancing skills in Disney’s Descendants movies playing Jay. He just feels like such a perfect fit for the role of Dwayne! 
Other options:
Zach Villa
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His character in American Horror Story 1984 gave off such major Dwayne vibes the entire season! He was so good in AHS 1984! His look often reminds me of Billy Wirth, so he gets bonus points for that. 
Martin Sensmeier
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He is another Native American actor that I could see playing Dwayne. He did awesome job playing Red Harvest in the Magnificent Seven. He didn’t have ton of lines and often had rely on acting with just his face and body langue. He pulled it off. Dwayne wasn’t a very talkative guy in the Lost Boys. It’d be good if his actor was good at face acting. 
Jade Hassouné
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I saw him on Shadowhunters playing Meliorn. He often stole the scenes he was in with just his sheer presence. He didn’t get a ton of lines, but he did some great face acting and he made the most of the few lines he got. I could see him pulling Dwayne off well. 
 Paul
Originally portrayed by Brooke McCrater (RIP).
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My first choice is  Machine Gun Kelly for Paul.
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If you have seen him in Netflix’s The Dirt playing Tommy Lee, you know why he is PERFECT to play Paul. He completely captured Paul’s wild manic positive and yet some how still chill energy. I could really see him pulling off Paul’s look as well!  He is just perfect for the role! 
Other options:
Thomas Doherty
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He was a ton of fun to watch with the manic energy he brought to the role of Harry Hook in Disney’s Descendants series. He could be a fun Paul to watch. 
Marko
Originally played by Alex Winter. 
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My first pick for Marko is  Jordan Connor.
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He do a good job playing the hot head Sweet Pea on Riverdale. I could see him do a good job channeling Marko’s impish energy! Also, the idea of Marko’s character being the tallest cast member makes me giggle. 
Other options: 
Austin Butler
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I could see him having a ball playing the tricky Marko. I’ve seen him play various characters in Arrow, the Shannara Chronicles and the Carrie Diaries. Bonus points form the blonde hair and blue eyes like Marko. 
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ohbyunhunn · 4 years ago
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Same as my Hiruzen post, just wanna keep this analysis using the feminist (I hope I did it right and my Literature teachers won’t roll their eyes at me lol) (but it’s just for Twitter so wtvr) approach on my Tumblr too. Was posted on July 11 2020:
Ok this has been in my (Twitter) drafts for so long but I wanted to wait till I finish all 500 episodes to post this lol. I love Naruto but God, the writing for its female characters is shit. This is written based only on Naruto and Naruto Shippūden (manga and anime). I think it got better in Boruto but I’ve yet to see it. Anyway
Women are not given the burden of carrying important roles that represent relationships built throughout the series, as if, they are not capable of creating bonds strong enough to drive a character even though it is what Naruto is all about; the importance of bonds between humans. 
Examples of relationships; 
Friends: Naruto-Sasuke, Kakashi-Obito 
Kouhai-senpai: Itachi-Shisui 
Siblings: Itachi-Sasuke 
Student-teacher: Naruto-Jiraiya, Naruto-Iruka, Asuma-Shikamaru 
Patriotism: Itachi-Konoha, Shisui-Konoha 
Lovers to enemies: Hashirama-Madara ( :p )
These relationships as we all know are the basis of the series’ plots and developments. I mean, if not for Naruto’s feelings towards Sasuke, the anime won’t exist... and if not for Sasuke’s feelings towards Itachi, he wouldn’t have abandoned Naruto... and if not for Itachi’s patriotism towards his village, he wouldn’t have killed off the Uchiha clan, which is the reason why Sasuke hated him in the first place. These three related, complementing events are I think crucial instances of what the Naruto universe is built upon. They also are the reason other relationships were able to be expanded (i.e. Itachi-Shisui share the same loyalty and love for Konoha, Naruto became Jiraiya’s apprentice to be able to compete with Sasuke). 
And as u can see, no female characters are involved at all. Only time female characters are seen creating bonds and/or have a role to move the plot is when they are driven by romance (e.g. Hinata-Naruto, Tsunade-Dan, Karin-Sasuke). This paints the idea that women are only concerned of men and romance in the anime?? Even a simple friendship between female characters was almost impossible to be portrayed healthily (i.e. Sakura-Ino are supposedly good friends but they always put down each other). 
The anime itself has agreed that the sole reason a female is present amongst male characters is because they are able to be motivated when a woman is around to be impressed, which will lead them to wanting to improve themselves and become better shinobi. 
When Kakashi asked Hiruzen why were Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura put together in a team, the answer he got was because Sasuke needs someone with the experience of using Sharingan to be there for him when his is activated and in order to be able to control the Kyuubi inside Naruto in case it goes berserk again, Sharingan is needed, which is a sound reason why the two of them are put together. 
And Sakura??? Hiruzen said (omg it still pisses me off), she’s only in Team 7 because that would drive the boys to become stronger because they would want to impress Sakura. Like?? She only exists to be a fucking trophy that could be won is it?? That’s it?? I think this was why at first I was against Sakura and Sasuke’s relationship. IT DIDN’T SEEM TRUE. Yea yea I know there are scenes that have suggested their feelings are mutual but lol let’s be real. Boruto saved it. If not for how they’re presented in Boruto,,, lol. 
Anyway, Kakashi was seen to be on the same page with Hiruzen because he was reminded of how Obito worked hard to catch up to him so that he could impress Rin. The same thing happened to Hiruzen’s team; Jiraiya wanted to beat Orochimaru just to catch Tsunade’s attention. I understand that it is natural for boys (and girls) to improve themselves in order to attract the person they like but to give female characters no role other than to be a trophy?? That’s just dumb and objectifying. 
Sakura got a shit ton of hate ever since Naruto (her character only improved A BIT in Shippūden), and honestly, Idt it’s her fault. Her character writing was so shit that all she ever did was scream Sasuke’s name and when Sasuke is knocked out, she’d call for Naruto. She has a great potential to become a kunoichi of the same level as her teammates but the anime never tried to put the spotlight on her. A lot of times we saw other characters say “wow Sakura has potential” but we never see that being polished on screen. 
If only she was given the chance to take an active role in battles, maybe the anime would’ve appeared better in regards to its treatment towards female characters. The only battle that I remember of with Sakura taking an active part in it??? Her fight with Sasori. Not saying that her role during the war is insignificant but even with that in mind, when Sasuke is present, she could only think of him?? 
And SHE COULD’VE STOPPED MUGEN TSUKUYOMI BY DESTROYING OBITO’s RINNEGAN BUT BECAUSE SHE HESITATED, MADARA MANAGED TO STEAL IT!! 
[ This video has all the Sakura scenes that pissed me off. ]
Why did she hesitate?? She’s a medic nin fgs?? This is what I meant by her writing is shit. The Sakura that I know wouldn’t think twice to do what she needed to. AND to think that just a few moments before, SHE SAVED NARUTO’S LIFE?? BY PUMPING HIS HEART USING HER HAND??? And he survived!! With her aid!! The fact that she managed to pull that off but not destroying Obito’s Rinnegan is just pure bullshit. 
But I’m sort of glad they had the filler episodes where they showed Sakura’s (and Ino’s) growth, how they went thru their training and stuff. It’s not much but thanks for the fillers I guess?? The manga can go suck some balls. 
Another mention of a female character being disregarded as an important ninja would be Konan. Throughout the Naruto vs Akatsuki arc, Konan’s skills and determination have been displayed countless of times. And I’m glad she was given the chance to prove her ability but what rubbed me off the wrong way was Jiraiya’s opinion on her. Every time he spoke of the three orphans he took in, he always mentioned Nagato’s strength and Yahiko’s desire to bring peace in a positive manner. But when it comes to Konan, his only adjective for her was “pretty”. 
Konan is more than just a feminine presence with beauty as her only personality?? She’s a strong-willed person who is able to stand alongside her comrades in fighting for what they believe in. She was willing to sacrifice herself in order to defeat Obito/Madara in a heartbeat!! Jiraiya could’ve said better things about her. 
From this, we can say how biased a male character’s view is on other females?? As if, only men would fight against injustices of the shinobi world but women?? uwu she pretty yes she will grow up to be a beautifoOl woman. 
Kishimoto couldn’t write women very well and he admitted this himself but God, I wish he would’ve tried harder. Not able to write women well is such a shitty excuse for a writer... especially when we know his female characters are capable just as much as their male counterparts. 
Also I try to take this positively but you know how during Naruto’s time, the only medic nins are his female characters? (i.e. Sakura, Ino, Tsunade) I think he meant to portray women as healers and that’s a pure intention but lol it also sort of sends the message that to him, no matter how smart and talented a woman is, they shall not be given the duty to fight!! They should just wait and be ready to receive injured comrades while the boys go fight evil and bring peace!! I wanna give credit to him for making women healers but lol does he deserve it?? 
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.
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randombtsprincessa · 6 years ago
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Azaleas
Author: Randombtsprincessa
Characters: Jeon Jungkook x Reader (2nd POV)
Words: 9.9k
Genre: Smut
Summary: The Last thing you wanted was Jeon Jungkook on your case...but maybe you can find it in yourself to come to enjoy it.
Disclaimer: Most of the legal terms and phrases and references are what I found online. If anything is wrong, please forgive me and don’t take me to court.
Warning: A lot of legal talk, Courtroom scenes, Drug trafficking, Wrongful arrests, Cops being morons (sorry cops of tumblr), Inappropriate Courtroom conduct (sort of), Mean teachers, mean classmates, Depiction of drug addiction, Explicit Smut, Protected Sex, Consent taking (Yes, that is a thing, a good thing), Fingering, Oral (Male receiving), Profanity.
A/N: I just...it’s Jungkook guys.
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“You’ve got to be joking!” Your sharp voice cracked across the desk over to your boss and friend, Shin Yuna.
Her eyebrows rose, hands coming down to brush against the beige blazer she had on, “No, not really.”
You looked down at her posh office then back at the equally posh woman in front of you. “Since, when have we needed Of Counsels?” You asked.
“We don’t; but this isn’t my prerogative. It’s Hyejong. She thinks we need a broader outlook on a few of our cases.”
You could tell Yuna was trying hard not to roll her eyes at that statement. If there was someone who was even surer of her capabilities than you, it would be Shin Yuna.
“I see,” You mumbled.
Yuna gave you a second or two of an unreadable stare, one that you were well familiar with during your time watching her in the courtroom. It was challenging, goading; it made you want to snap. You couldn’t count how many people had cracked in the stands under that gaze.
You, however, were just feeling nervous.
“What is there, something else?”
“I think it would be best if you got it from me lest you get a nasty shock during the first meet. The Of Counsel is Jeon Jungkook.”
You stared at Yuna.
“Jeon Jungkook…as in…”
“Jeon Jungkook; the successful prodigy of Min Associates; Yoongi is very kindly letting him fly solo and rightfully so. The man has been winning almost all his cases since Min put him in the chair.”
“Yeah, even against us.” You reminded her.
Your mind went back to where you and he had last met. The courtroom, of course, with his and your staff surrounding you as you laid your defense. The judge passed the sentence, in Jeon’s favor of course and you watched the client, your charge of a few weeks now, be dragged away…again.
The last thing you remembered was the smug beam on Jeon’s face as he shook hands with his congratulators.
“Yes, even against us, this is why Hyejong wants him with us on the defense this time. If we can remove him from the prosecutor’s choice, we can get our client off.”
“Do you think that we can’t do it without him?” You asked.
“I couldn’t say. The only way to know is you. You are our first choice of Defense, Y/N. You’re smart, and you know how to bend the rules, manipulate the jury, and work the loopholes. You’re one of our best. The only thing you have to do is…work as best as you can with Jeon. I know you don’t like him.”
“With reason; he’s egotistical and -,”
“And knows what he’s doing…please, try to be patient.” Yuna cut you off to add and you sighed, slumping against the leather chair.
“There’s another thing.” Yuna said, shuffling a few pens on her desk.
“I’ve spoken to Hyejong and we agree that it’s time that our firm has a few changes. We’re sponsoring a few interns who will become advocates, lawyers and attorneys soon enough and we need to manage them as well. For that, we need someone who knows the ways of this Office well. Hyejong retired from the court long enough ago to handle that. So, we have agreed it’s time to pick our Junior Partner.”
You looked up quickly at that, making Yuna smile.
“Yes, I know, it’s a step towards your ambition and since you’re the only active attorney in our firm, you are the natural choice. Don’t get me wrong, you’ll have to work for it. Earn it,” she stressed.
“Of course,” You mumbled, a wave of giddiness swiping thoughts of Jeon Jungkook out of your mind.
“Your first step would be to handle this case in the presence of Jeon Jungkook.”
…and those thoughts were back.
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The wood of the conference table felt smooth under your palm, fingers trailing over the filigree traced into the dark oak and the faux leather of your folders.
The atmosphere in the room was tense at your end, your secretary Mina leaning in to whisper to you.
“What are we actually waiting for?” she asked.
You cast a glance at the rest of the members in the room. Hyejong was staring at her nails, Yuna out the window. The last participant present was a young, bright man who worked in the tech and investigation department of your firm.
Jung Hoseok looked up from his phone at your perusal of his pushed back hair, and graffiti shirt and shot you a wink. You rolled your eyes pointedly before looking at Mina.
“For Jeon Jungkook and Park Jimin,”
“It’s 9:13,” she whispered.
“Yes, Mina, turns out our new colleagues don’t respect punctuality.” You murmured.
You were hoping you hadn’t been loud but Hyejong turned her sleek head towards you.
“Y/N, I expect some manners from you!” she admonished.
“Yes, Miss Shin,” you demurred even as Hyejong continued. “At least when the man gets here,”
You caught Yuna throwing you a quick smile just as the door opened with a brisk knock.
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Jeon Jungkook entered the room in all his glory, a waft of high-end cologne reaching your nose. You kept your eyes focused on your portfolio, catching the glimpses of his branded suit and perfect glossy hair when you darted them once across the room.
“I hope I’m not too late. I had to visit with Mr. Min before and it took longer than I expected.” You heard the voice come from the front of the room, following Hyejong’s prim voice quickly putting him at ease.
“Fantastic, I brought Jimin with me already so if you’re ready we can start with the primary discussion.” Jeon continued.
“Of course, we have Miss Y/L/N leading the defense; you’ll be working with her.” Yuna said and there was a pause in which Mina quickly prodded you.
You stood up, finally making eye contact with the handsome man who had begun to walk up to you with his hand extended.
“Miss Y/L/N, it’s good to meet you out of the stands.” He joked.
You smiled back politely, feeling the gaze of everyone in the room fixed on you. “Likewise, Mr. Jeon, I hope you enjoy working with us.” You said.
“I am very sure I will, Miss Y/L/N.”
He smiled again when you shook your hands and then sat down into the seat next to you, gesturing for the man with him to come over and sit in the one next to him.
Jimin, round cheeked and plump lipped, gave you a dazzling smile that you happily returned before following his boss’s directions.
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“So, what are the premises?” Jeon asked.
Yuna looked at you and you opened your files.
“Lee Jiyoon, 24 years old Biochemistry student was arrested with white substances that upon arrest and examination were found to be cocaine. Amount was alarmingly over the normal rates sold on the streets under patrol watch. Miss Lee has pleaded innocence in the face of being unaware that the white stuff was drugs and to look for the man she had been dating for only a couple months.”
“She’s a biochemistry student? Didn’t she wonder what the substance was?” Jeon cut in.
“She says she didn’t even open the bag. She was just going to dump out the things he’d left behind when he wouldn’t return her calls and the patrol cops caught her in the park near the trashcans.”
“They wouldn’t believe that she was just dumping out an ex’s belongings?”
“They had sniff-dogs and that alerted them. A check later she was taken in.”
Jeon put his fingers to his chin.
“She called for the attorney?” He asked.
“No,” Yuna put in. “I don’t think she would’ve been able to afford us. We were called in by the DA to act as defense.”
Jeon nodded.
“Well, seems straightforward enough. Should we go visit the girl?” he asked.
You glanced at your bosses before nodding, standing up with the others. Mina began to wrap up your things as Hoseok introduced himself to Jeon when Hyejong spoke up again.
“Mr. Jeon, we’ve assigned you an office next to Y/N’s. You’ll show him the way, won’t you?” She asked and you forced a bright smile, nodding as Mina and Hoseok followed the women out.
Yuna didn’t look back at you as the door shut and you were left with Jeon Jungkook and Park Jimin.
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There was a split second of a pause as the final swing of the closing door ended before you turned to the two men.
“If you would follow me, gentlemen,” You walked around the table and let yourself out, taking the familiar path to the hallway of private offices.
The Firm building was separated into three floors, the highest one belonging to the bosses while the second was for attorneys and business spaces and the lowest level was for techs.
Jeon sped up a little to fall into step with you.
“So, Miss Y/L/N, I hope that we’ll be able to work together smoothly.” He said.
You threw him a side eye.
“Has there been an indication to otherwise?” You asked.
“No, no, it’s that simply I’ve found I’m not usually well received by the ones I’ve won against.” He said.
You bristled at the underlying hints of condescension in his tone.
“Well,” You paused in front of the door to the office next to yours. It was emptied recently and cleaned out, perhaps for Jeon already. “You’ll find me completely amicable. We’re going to go visit the client in an hour without the secretaries this time.” You informed him before walking to your own office, taking care not to obviously slam the door shut.
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The seating of the prison meeting room was all cold steel and though you were experienced in sitting in them for a long time now, you could never really get used to it.
Your eyes wandered to the black mirror on your side and caught Jeon’s refection. He’d been silent all through the drive to the Prison house, eyebrows drawn slightly together and a muscle in his jaw tense. You had to be lying if you said you didn’t find that jaw clench attractive.
You turned your head back to the front again just as Jeon’s eyes found the mirror as well, meeting yours for a split second.
Just then, the locked door to the room opened and Lee Jiyoon was led in.
You hadn’t been able to get her off on Parole, since drug trafficking was a serious crime but you had been able to get her away from the real inmates, putting her in the in-house arrest of the prison itself. She was allowed to keep her own clothes and had most basic privileges in the house but unless you could get her off she was still basically a criminal to them.
The green tips of her hair looked frizzed and unkempt as she sat down with a thump, the long chains around her wrist undone by the security before moving to the back corner.
You saw her glance once at Jeon and looked at him to see him looking at the security before turning his eyes to you, nodding for you to start.
“How are you, Jiyoon?” you started.
“Feeling like I got arrested for something I didn’t do,” she replied dryly and you smiled, lips pressing together.
“You won’t have to be here for very long.” You tried to reassure and she shrugged.
“Honestly, I wasn’t expecting to have someone try to get me off the charges but I guess it’s nice that you are. I’ve heard you’re good.” She said.
“Everyone has the right to ask for a lawyer. Weren’t you read your rights when you got arrested?” Jeon cut in.
“It wouldn’t matter. I was panicking when they cuffed me. I really don’t remember much about anything once I was brought in.” Jiyoon said.
You made a note in the edge of your pad about talking to the arresting officer.
“If you weren’t read your rights, you’re technically not supposed to be here.” Jeon said.
“It’s my word against theirs anyway. I want to know if you’ve found that shit bag Kinjo.” Jiyoon asked.
You sighed.
“We had a sighting a few days ago. Looks like he tried to make a run for it; we have the police in a few states alert to where he might go to.”
“Good, he deserves to be pissing in a metal pot, living in a room with four other people, not me.”
“We’re doing everything we can. The best chance we have is pleading an emotional case. The jury is likely going to go for sympathy for a girl who was throwing her ex’s things away.”
“I don’t know about that. How many people are going to believe that someone like me got emotional over a guy in two months?” Jiyoon rolled her eyes.
“In any case, play to your femininity. This is really not the place to argue feminism. This is just about getting you out of the court and having your name cleared.” Jeon put in.
Jiyoon stared at your colleague a few seconds before looking at you.
“Who are you, again?”
“Jeon Jungkook, I’m providing assistance to Y/N on your case.”
Jiyoon narrowed her eyes before shrugging. “Whatever; when will you next come?” she asked.
“For now this is out last visit, we’ll see you in court on the day of the first trial but your mother is going to be visiting and bringing a few things. Stay safe,” You said, getting to your feet, Jeon following.
“Right…I don’t want her to see me like this but I guess I can’t choose.” Jiyoon looked at the bulky guard who moved to bind her wrists again and you offered her an encouraging nod as she was led away again.
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“So, what did you think?” You asked, driving back to the office with Jeon looking over your notes from the previous sessions with the client.
Jeon hummed and you turned to look at him.
“Mr. Jeon,” you called for his attention again.
“It’s a little early for me to form solid assumptions.” He muttered.
“So…is that your way of saying you don’t think she’s innocent?” You asked.
Jeon looked at you. “You’re a lawyer, Y/N. Is that how you read between the lines?”
You decided to ignore the jibe.
“The first trial is in two days. I just want to know whether I have to waste time convincing you of her innocence.” You grumbled.
“Come now, Y/N, in our profession, when has anyone ever been truly innocent?” He smirked and you spent a few extra seconds on time looking at him before sighing and looking to the front again, back to ignoring him.
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“Nice job at the defense,” you looked up to see Jeon Jungkook standing over where you were busy filling out some paperwork in the hall of the court room.
You looked back down.
“Thank you, congratulations on the win.” You returned politely.
“Thanks…mind if I sit?” He continued.
“Be my guest,”
Jeon sat down next to you, unbuttoning the suit jacket he had on and leaned back sighing. “That was one tough case. You nearly beat me there.” He said. A subtle hint of flowers reached you but you continued working the pen.
“Well, you won. Another meat suit for the prison,” you mumbled.
He chuckled. “Are you bitter, Miss Y/L/N? I assure you, you don’t need to be. A few years down the line, you might be glad he’s behind bars. Once a man has gotten taste of vice, he rarely ever lets it go.” Jeon said philosophically.
You finally looked up at the gorgeous man next to you.
The first time you’d ever seen Jeon Jungkook was when you were under Yuna’s wing, learning from the very best in your opinion.
She’d been up against Min Yoongi, acting prosecutor in his days and under his wing was the exceptionally bright and handsome Jeon Jungkook, with his soft edged face, doe eyes and a floppy mass of hair. He also smelled very nice, floral and soft.
He’d been so cute; you’d blushed when Yuna and Yoongi had introduced you two, the long standing friends hoping their charges would maybe hit it off.
You would have, if not for your stupid crush, long gone now that you had been losing your cases to him. The amount of wins you had was laughably low to the ones you’d lost against him and while you had a generous reputation in the up and coming law community, Jeon was a stellar genius.
Now, Jungkook had definitely grown into his own, refining with age. His softness hadn’t completely gone, the curve of his lips bore testimony of that and the big nose and eyes were still there, but now he had a jaw line to kill for and his hair was so perfectly styled, it drove a person to want to mess it up just for sadistic pleasure.
And you still liked looking at him…
All in all, Jeon Jungkook was your favorite but worst nightmare.
“You’re very down on your sex, aren’t you?” you asked.
He shrugged a smile on his face. “I am, I’ve seen the worst specimens after all. We all need a better half to keep us in line.”
You rolled your eyes at the line and he quickly shook his head.
“I’m not trying to be sexist. I’m just saying that no one on this planet, not even women, I’m sorry, is completely innocent.”
“Very biblically primitive of you,”
“It does have a few points of note.” Jeon looked down at his watch before up at you.
“I would love to continue this but I have another meeting to get to. Maybe we should meet sometime, have dinner or something.” He suggested.
“Sure,” you muttered watching him leave. It took you a minute to realize that Jeon had taken the soft smell of flowers with him.
Neither of you reached out for that dinner or something sometime.
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“We never did get to do that dinner.”
You glanced at Jeon, jumping out of your own similar thought. Was he thinking of that too?
“We got busy.”
“Yes, I’d still like to have that in my schedule though.” Jeon answered and you laughed.
“Smooth Jeon,”
Jeon put his head back to the headrest, head turned in your direction. “You don’t like me very much, do you?”
You frowned. “What makes you say that?”
“I’ve seen you around me. You get all stiff and formal with me and you don’t really smile all that much. I know you think I’m egotistical and smug. The only times we’ve had a normal conversation, I can count on one finger.”
You raised your eyebrows.
Looks like you weren’t all that discreet in your actions.
And now you couldn’t help but feel a little bad…
“I don’t mean to do that, Jeon. You’re exceptionally good at the job, I respect you for that. Just because I’ve lost a few cases to you doesn’t mean I’m going to let my emotions control my intelligence. I don’t completely hate you.”
“Completely…?” Jeon picked and you had to laugh again.
“Maybe I did think you were a little egotistical and smug, Jeon.” You allowed.
“Call me Jungkook. We should try finding out the judge too, if he’s someone I know, we can easily influence the case.”
You blinked at how fast he changed the subject.
“Isn’t that...wrong?” you frowned.
“It won’t matter once I win this case for you.” He said, going back to the notes and your hold tightened on the wheel.
“Will the judge allow for Kinjo to be tried in place of Jiyoon?”
“Oh well, I guess we can find out when I help you win this case.”
You pursed your lips at the 180. His ego definitely wasn’t that little.
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Mina was already waiting for you when you entered your office and took off you coat.
“Thank you,” you mumbled, your coffee handed to you as you sat behind your desk.
“So, how did it go?” she asked.
You leant back into the plushy chair and closed your eyes for a second.
“It was normal. There might be a point to pursue about whether or not Jiyoon was read her rights when she was arrested. Have Hoseok look into it,” you told her.
“Right,” Mina quickly wrote it down.
“And where are we with the boyfriend?”
“We had a sighting in Busan but we still need to process some paperwork before we can extricate him. I told Miss Yuna and she’s doing it now.”
“Good,”
“And…?”
You looked around to your secretary in question. “And what,”
“How did it go with Jungkook?” Mina broached.
You blinked.
“It was fine.” You said, wheeling the chair closer to the desk and opening your laptop.
“Just fine…?”
You shot her a look. “What do you want me to say, Mina?”
“Didn’t he do anything? He looks like he’s into you. No flirting?”
Your gaze turned sharp.
“Mina,” you warned.
“Oh come on Y/N, I can tell. I’ve been your secretary for two years now and we’ve been around Jeon Jungkook long enough. He’s into you. Badly,”
You looked down to your emails, ignoring your heated cheeks. “I gave you some work to do, I believe. Don’t forget Jeon Jungkook is here at the moment. You don’t want him to hear these assumptions.”
“Or…maybe that’s exactly what he wants,”
“Enough Mina, leave the sleuthing to Jung and get back to work.”
Mina slumped in her seat, pouting at you before sighing, pushing herself up and out of your cabin.
You watched the door shut before taking in a deep breath, opening the first of many emails to reply.
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The court room – a familiar setting to you – almost as familiar as your home, was lightly buzzing by the collecting group of people required for trial.
Jiyoon and you had discussed at the first appearance about whom and what to call on and you were glad to see your words had struck true. Jiyoon’s mother and brother were present at the front of the public seating, looking rightfully worried.
The attorney seats comprised of Yuna, Mina and you, Jeon and Hoseok right behind you.
The judge’s bench was empty and you turned to throw Jungkook a questioning glance. Jeon met it with pursed lips, not choosing to say anything.
You turned to look at the prosecution instead.
The sight of Kim Namjoon sitting in the front chair made you start just a little when the call for rise came.
The room stood up and an elegant woman with wrapped hair in a bun entered, wearing the judge’s gown and taking her seat.
You clicked your tongue mentally. She was unfamiliar, must be new.
“Take a seat, folks.” She called out as you regained your seats.
She ruffled her papers in a flurry then looked up.
“The case for Lee Jiyoon against State begins now.”
Jiyoon sat in the neatest attire they’d managed to show that she was a respectable person and not a lowly drug dealer.
Namjoon, tall and impeccable as usual walked up to her.
“Please state your name for the record, Miss.” He began.
Off it went.
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Namjoon had called in the arresting officer, one of Jiyoon’s teachers and a classmate, one that Jiyoon looked confused and outraged had come to testify against.
“Are you the officer who responded first to Miss Lee’s suspicious activity caught by the sniff dogs?”
“Can you describe her behavior that night?”
The cop went into detail about how Jiyoon looked dazed and scared that night, insisting that it was a sign of her guilt.
Even as he questioned the teacher, it seemed they all thought that it was possible since she might have ‘strayed’ after her dad left her mom. The class mate went on about her boyfriend looking not quite right.
You clicked your pen, signaling to Mina.
She leant in.
“I want you to dig into the teacher and this girl, everything from grudges to grades, I want It.” you mumbled to her. Your secretary nodded.
“No more questions, you honor.” Namjoon turned finally, nodding at you.
“The defendant may ask the witnesses questions.” The judge said.
You stood up, brushing the edge of your skirt before calling for the cop.
“Officer Chui, you’re the leader for the night time patrol, correct?” you asked.
The man nodded, looking disinterested at the cross-examination.
“Right and how many kids have you seen in the park at that time matching Miss Lee’s description?”
He glanced at Jiyoon sitting at your side and shrugged. “A few,”
“Would you say that they all looked uneasy at the sight of you?”
He snorted. “Kids always have something to hide. So yeah,”
“So, seeing that you knew that, why would you assume that Jiyoon was particularly guilty of a drug crime?”
Chui paused, looking uncertain for a second.
“She was throwing things out of a suitcase. The sniff dogs caught a scent.”
“Why did you go to her in the first place?”
“I…don’t know.”
You glanced at the jury.
“Officer, did you read her, her rights when you cuffed the defendant?” You finally asked and the man paled.
“I’m sure I must have.” He mumbled.
“Are you? Are you really sure, because the rest of your men don’t recall anything of that sort. Without the rights read, my client shouldn’t have been in the containment she was put in.”
“She called for you right? She has a lawyer so I must have said she had right to an attorney.”
“How long have you been with the Drug Patrol, Officer Chui?”
“Objection,” Namjoon called finally, his deep voice calm but audible across the room. I turned to look at him. “What is the Relevance?”
“Relevant, your honor,” you cut in immediately. “A man with a shorter period of work experience will often make mistakes, small or big, like forgetting to read the rights.” You moved away from the Officer to pull up a sheet of his data, handing it to the Judge’s clerk.
“The records say he’s been with night duty for only half a year. He was coined Chief because the department of the area is new and they didn’t have a lot of people to pick from. Mr. Chui was the longest there.”
“It must have slipped my mind but she got them at the establishment. She was told she could get an attorney.”
“Miss Lee, was this before or after interrogation?” The judge finally asked.
“After, your honor,” she replied meekly.
“Anything said during that examination is nullified then.” You pointed out.
The Officer stared up at you, gaping.
You sighed to yourself. First step was getting the evidence against Jiyoon thrown out. Thanks to Chui, that had been made possible. Now only to get the jury to believe she was completely clean. You’d have to know about the two witnesses.
“Does the defendant have any more questions?”
“That will be,” you began when another voice spoke up from behind you.
“Actually, your honor I would like to call for the second witness. I have a few questions for her.”
You swiveled around to see Jeon walked over to the front. His eyes were intense, staring you down to let him do this and you glanced at Yuna who quickly nodded.
Returning the nod, you gave up the stage to Jeon; catching Namjoon’s puzzled look but unable to answer it as you sat down.
“What the hell is he doing?” You asked Mina
“I don’t know boss, I really don’t.”
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The woman came into the stands, looking equal amounts excited and nervous at the prospect of Jeon Jungkook. You scoffed lightly but you couldn’t blame her.
“Your name is Park Cheri of Dais Academy?” Jungkook began.
She nodded, mumbling out a yes.
“Can you tell me about your relationship with Miss Lee?”
You leaned back in your seat as the woman talked about being her Chemistry teacher since the beginning of her studies, giving a few details here and there of her life that you turned to Jiyoon for. The fearful nod of her head confirmed your fears.
“So, you have a habit of talking with all your students like that and pry into them?”
“Objection, Mr. Jeon, the point of the question?” Namjoon spoke up again.
“Point, Mr. Kim is that we just found out that Miss Lee’s evidences are dismissed due to her Miranda rights. It isn’t fair for a teacher, someone who is supposed to be in a position of confidence to come and try to give assumptive testimony.”
“I am not.”
“So, then are you a psychologist?”
“No,”
“Then what makes you so sure of Miss Lee’s mindset due to her parents’ separation?”
“Every child is…”
“Has Miss Lee shown signs of such behaviors before?”
“I wouldn’t know.”
Jungkook looked at the now muttering jury and then at you, a raised eyebrow and smirk accompanying.
“So, then maybe you shouldn’t try to use information like that to gain a few minutes of popularity without properly verifying it, should you?”
“Your honor, Mr. Jeon is being insulting.” Namjoon stood up, frowning.
“Retracted, Your honor,” Jungkook smiled pleasantly at the woman who looked furious now, glaring at the suited man as she was excused by the judge before announcing a date for the next session.
The room began to flood and even as you stood up; you saw Jeon looking pleased with himself, as usual, grinning up at Yoongi and Kim Seokjin, Namjoon’s older brother and owner of Kim Co.
“Wow,” you heard Hoseok say behind you before popping a bubble and you turned to seethe at the man.
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“Y/N,”
You turned your companion of the night with a smile, raising your arms up around his neck for a brief hug.
“Hi Joon,”
“It’s been a while, how have you been?” He asked, pulling away from you to pull out a chair for you, letting you slide in.
“I’ve been fine. What about you?” you asked as Kim Namjoon sat down in front of you.
He’d ditched the suit jacket and tie, loosening the top few buttons of his shirt, glasses gone and you had to be honest, a tousled Namjoon looked even better than his put together self.
“Can’t complain, busy as hell, you know how it is.”
You did know.
That had been one of the reasons why you and he had to break up.
Kim Namjoon was the middle child of Kim Co. He and his two brothers were born to be lawyers it would seem. You and he had met in law school, hitting it off immediately. You’d been best friend till dating had seemed to come as easy as your friendship.
Your whirlwind romance had lasted for a very long time, rose colored glasses on both your eyes. He was smart, kind, highly knowledgeable and you were sweet, patient, firm in your ideas and grounding. Together you had been invincible and when you’d gotten your degree and entered work life, the cloud of marriage loomed closer than ever.
Of course, real life knocked some sense into both of you as work schedules clashed and you both decided to call a much needed break.
That didn’t mean your friendship suffered. Namjoon was still your dearest best friend and you held the same spot for him.
Drinks in hand, you began to talk about anything that was unrelated to your case, his booming laughter echoing when you admitted you’d hoped it would be his youngest brother, Taehyung who would be prosecuting.
“He’s still getting the ropes, love.” Namjoon chortled in explanation before sobering.
“So, Jeon, huh?” he asked.
You pointed you glass at him. “I don’t want to talk about that.”
“Really, I remember him being the topic of most of our bedroom rants.” He grinned.
“Shut up, Joon.” You smacked at his arm just as he pulled it away.
“I’m serious. I was really surprised when I saw him on the Counsel. I didn’t think Yuna would ever pull it and I was ever surer you wouldn’t.”
“I didn’t have a choice in the matter. Yuna promised me if I got this case working beside Jeon done smoothly, I’d be considered for Junior Partner and at this moment, winning is in the pocket because I’m the only attorney there with the highest commendation.”
Namjoon nodded as he swigged at the Old Fashioned again.
“You’re as ambitious as when we met.” He commented.
“Not all of us are born into the Law Family who owns the best Firm in the city.” You smiled teasingly.
“Hey, I work as hard as you do, thank you very much.” He pointed at the bar tender for new drinks.
You stared at him as he mumbled to the tender when he glanced at you again.
“Don’t check me out. It’s weird.”
“You’re weird.” You countered very eloquently then grunted in displeasure, looking down at the fresh drink in front of you. “Ugh, I hate getting drunk.”
“We’re lawyers’ babe, but we don’t always have to be at the game. Just relax.” Namjoon slurred and you watched as he looked startled at his own tongue before looking down at his new drink as well.
“Let’s just get a taxi home.” You both said out loud together before grinning woozily at each other.
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The patter of pressed keys filled the softly lit space of your office as you typed out a session report for Jiyoon’s case. Your eyes were getting harder to keep open even as you did your best to focus on the blinding white of the screen page when the knock came.
You frowned. You had sent Mina on home an hour ago.
“Who is it?” you called first.
“It’s me,” you heard Jeon Jungkook reply and you huffed in confusion. What was he doing here at this hour?
“Come in.”
Your counselor walked in, probably looking just as you felt. The shine of his hair had dimmed, eyes looking darker, or maybe that was just the ambience of your office.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“Reports; what about you?” you leaned back in your chair.
“I was catching on a few of your last reports. Ones where Jiyoon told you whatever she knew about that deadbeat drug man and I saw lights on here.” he told you, taking a seat at one of your chairs.
“Did you find anything?”
“I don’t know just yet, we’ll have to wait.”
You stared at him.
“Sure,” you returned to your work and he paused.
“Is everything ok?” he asked.
“Sure,” you repeated.
Jeon stood up, moving to your table to place the tips of his fingers near your elbow.
“Are you upset about the teacher?” he asked, inquisitively.
“Why would I be upset about that? You took hold of my interrogation and it worked well for you, didn’t it?”
You knew your passive-aggressiveness was getting you nowhere. Either Jeon was too tired to understand what was wrong or you weren’t being mean enough.
In any case he pulled away, shrugging powerful shoulders under his unbuttoned suit jacket.
“Alright, I just wanted to let you know that you should lead with the girl tomorrow, before bringing Jiyoon in for questioning again.”
“I know; the girl is a problem. Mina brought me her details and she has no idea what’s coming for her tomorrow.”
Jeon looked down, a smile blooming across his lips.
I’m probably going to be a little late tomorrow to the hearing.”
You hated it but your eyes snapped up to his.
“Why are you going to be late?”
He watched your face slump a tiny bit and smirked, reaching up to loosen his tie as well. The action was simple, yet you could feel your throat close up.
“Told you, I’m going to win your case for you,”
With that, he was marching out of your office, a taps of his dress shoes fading from the wooden floors as far as you could tell before piercing silence fell again.
You glanced at your laptop, feeling drained then at your empty coffee cup.
Your report could wait, your mind blatantly told you and your fingers moved, snapping the lip of the laptop down with no shame.
Grabbing your work files and stashing them into your briefcase, you lunged out the door, eager to get home to your bed when you caught a flash of color in Jeon’s open office door.
Backing a few steps, you stared at the small pot of blue azaleas nestling in the corner of his desk before you shrugged to yourself, feet picking up the journey to the elevator again.
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True to his word, Jeon Jungkook was late to the courtroom.
Yuna, sitting beside you again, turned her stern questioning gaze to you and you offered her a small, ‘He’s just running a bit late,’ before you had to stand for the judge and the hearing’s second day began.
Namjoon was back to his best again and while you and he exchanged a small smile during the lull of conversation, both of you became professional real quick.
He didn’t have any questions today, turning cross-examination to you and you were more than ready as you called for Jiyoon’s classmate.
“Please state your name for the record.”
“Son Susie,”
“Right, Susie, you’re Miss Lee’s classmate, correct?”
“Yes,”
You glanced down at the heaps of fliers in your hand.
“How close would you say you are to Miss Lee?”
She glanced at Jiyoon at the bench who was daring her to lie with her eyes.
“Not really all that to her, but I know the boyfriend.” She said.
You glanced at Namjoon, a small nod in his direction.
“Miss Son, this trial is for Miss Jiyoon Lee, not the boyfriend. Why would you apply with Counselor Kim for this testimony?” you asked.
“I…look, Kinjo is bad, ok? Anybody affiliating with him must be too.”
There was a pause and you chanced a look of disbelief on the judge’s face, using it to fuel your punch.
“So, you made a guess as to Miss Lee’s innocence?”
“Your honor,” Namjoon called but you beat him to it.
“I’ll rephrase that. Why did you not tell Mr. Kim you were one of Kinjo’s ‘affiliations’?
The blow had landed. You could see the jury had put its heads together. You held in your grin, knowing Namjoon probably had his head in his hands, figuratively at least.
“I…we broke up.”
“He dumped you. For Jiyoon; would you say this was your shot at revenge? Or were you really concerned about Miss Jiyoon’s future?”
“Objection,”
“Retracted; do you have any concrete proof of Miss Lee’s misconduct?”
She was quiet for a bit, even after you repeated the question and she sighed.
“No, for the record I really thought he must’ve turned her into a drug peddler when they were dating.” She said.
“The session is based on facts, Miss Son, not your thoughts.” This time it was the judge. “We will dismiss this witness of yours, Counselor Kim.” She told Namjoon.
You were backing away to the seats again when Jimin leaned over to you a mumbled word in his voice.
“Jungkook is here, Miss Y/L/N. He wants to show the courtroom something on your behalf.”
You turned a puzzled look at Jimin before nodding and standing.
“Your honor, we have some evidence we would like to enter into consideration.”
“What more could there be?” Namjoon stood up as well.
“The perpetrator himself, Mr. Kim,” The voice came from the doors where you turned to see Jungkook, perfect as usual striding towards the front, two officers holding a cuffed bedraggled man with them.
His face was swollen, eyes bloodshot and skin pale.
“Kinjo,” you heard Jiyoon gasp and Jungkook nodded.
“We found the man himself responsible for this your Honor. He was good at hiding but not that good when you’re high as a kite.”
There was a flurry of movement as people began to fidget in their seats to get a good look at the man.
You glanced at Jungkook, jaw dropped even as he smiled, teeth on display, childishly pleased.
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The car drew into one of the open guest parking spots of the apartment and you glanced down at your phone, making sure that this was indeed where Jeon lived.
Getting out you pulled your coat tighter around you before walking to the double doors of the apartment building, giving your name and contact before moving to the elevators, taking it right up to his floor.
Your mind flowed in contemplation, chalking up exactly what you were going to say to him. He hadn’t told you about anything before going up against the teacher, he hadn’t told you about going after Kinjo, finding him and now you wanted an explanation.
You were the face defendant here and you had a right to know what he was up to.
You made a final check of Jungkook’s address before shoving the phone away for good, taking a deep breath, facing his mahogany door. Your hand rose before raining a light drizzle of knocks on it, drawing back quickly.
It took a second, his voice calling out from inside to wait and you did before the door swung inside, revealing a rumpled Jeon Jungkook, a simple black t-shirt and sweats on him, a far cry from how he’s usually dressed for work. Glasses perched low on the bridge of his nose.
“Y/N,” he frowned, opening the door a bit more, “What’s going on? What are you doing here?”
“Are you busy, I need to talk to you about something?” you asked in turn.
“Yeah sure,” he moved away, opening the door further to let you in and you moved into his apartment, hearing him close and bolt the door.
You stood with your back to him, studying his home as he set up the security.
Jeon Jungkook’s private space was just like him; neat, organized and gleaming with proper care. It was nice to see he wasn’t a complete frat boy with his house. There were familiar blue azaleas scattered through some nooks and a pleasant smell drifted from them.
Now you knew why he always smelled so floral.
You turned to see him move away from the door, running his hands over the back of his sweats to his waist.
“Yeah, so what’s wrong?”
“What are you trying to do?” you asked, filter less as usual.
He tilted his head in question and you sighed in annoyance.
“The case, Jeon; you didn’t confer with me about the teacher, about Kinjo, you didn’t confer with me about anything. You just barged into my case like it was yours and I don’t even know why you’re doing it. Is it to make me look bad or something? Do you want people to think I’m stupid? Or is it purely selfish, you want people to think you’re so smart?”
“Whoa, back it up there.”
Jungkook moved closer to you, frown etching deeper into his brows. “What do you think is happening here? I’m not doing anything like that.”
“Then what is it that you’re doing?” You crossed your arms over your chest.
“I didn’t ‘confer’ with you about the teacher because it struck me on the spot and I didn’t have time to talk it out with you and neither did I want to drag it out for another session. It’s a small case, Y/N, it’s better to wash our hands of it faster so Jiyoon can go back clean.”
“What about Kinjo?”
Jungkook sighed, placing his hands on your shoulders. You shot his hands a glance but he didn’t remove them.
“That’s on me, I’ll admit. I had Jimin go on with Hoseok to look for him from day one. When Jimin told me they’d had a hit, I didn’t want to get your hopes up until I had some proof.”
“So, you just dragged Kinjo right into the courtroom, without telling me.”
“Yes, that was stupid but I just…” he trailed off, looking around his house once before at you, bottom lip caught between his teeth.
“I just wanted to impress you.”
You froze, looking at him with wide eyes.
No, he did not just…
“You what?” you asked sharply, certain that you had lost your hearing and he let out a pointed exhale.
“Call it stupid, but I’ve always been doing shit to impress you.”
You stared at him, still shell shocked, your mind rewinding to each overconfident grin he’d ever shot your way after his wins and he expected you to believe that he was trying to impress you?
“What the fuck is wrong with you? You call that impressing me?” You shook his hands from your shoulders, stepping far away from his hold.
Jungkook didn’t follow, choosing to watch as you paced.
“You were fine when we met. I thought you were cute at first then you turned into a smug, overconfident jackass almost overnight. Each and every case you’ve won against me, you’ve rubbed in my face and you really thought that your Gaston act impressed anyone, let alone me?”
“You thought I was cute?” he asked instead, a small smile brushing by his soft lips that I wiped off by smacking his chest.
“You aren’t anymore.”
“Oh come on, Y/N,” He scoffed, grabbing your hand. “You can’t tell me I’ve never once made you look twice at me. I know you have.”
You scowled heavily at him, trying to tug your hand back.
“Not for the reasons you think,”
He rolled his eyes in turn, using the hand in his grip to pull you swiftly against him, his hard chest pressing against yours as he wound his free arm around your waist, holding you in place.
“Then enlighten me,” he whispered.
You sucked in a breath, outrage ready to pour at him when he dipped his head, too quick for you to stop and pressed his lips against yours, drowning all the rages you could’ve hurled at him.
Your words guzzled out, a squeak replacing them as your own free hand came up to bunch the fabric at his shoulder. He pulled away, too fast for you to have gotten in and grinned at you.
“Did that impress you, Counselor?”
“Fuck you, Jeon.” You snarled, breaking his hold on you to grab his face between your hands, pulling his face down to kiss him properly, mouth open and teeth clashing once, twice before a tandem took its place, slow but rough.
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“Oh I plan to let you do that.” He muttered against your mouth, his own hands coming up to cup your face, pulling away to peck at your lips, tugging your bottom petal between his mouth, leaving a stroke of his tongue on it.
You keened into him, balling the material of his shirt, feeling him guide you to the back of the couch, propping you against it.
“I’m thinking you didn’t plan to have sex with me tonight?” Jungkook asked, suddenly pulling away to give you a dilated look. You stuttered a little, blinking before looking down at your outfit.
“Clearly not,”
Jungkook looked conflicted and you gave him a warning tilt of eyebrow. “Are you going to pack me up and send me off to home?” you asked.
He laughed, hands possessively gripping you to him.
“Sure, and miss this…? I’ll be damned. No, I’m just thinking of the hearing tomorrow and time.”
“I’ll be fine, I’ll get home early.”
Jungkook let out a pained growl, running his lips down your jaw line. “That’s exactly the problem.”
“Are you planning on continuing this or not, Jeon?” you asked, finally.
“I definitely am, provided you let me take you out on a date tomorrow and we’ll see where it leads.”
You gave him a scrutinizing look before shrugging and Jungkook lunged for you, kisses hot and heavy again.
Your eyes fell closed, heart rocketing in your chest as Jungkook’s fingers reached the top of your coat, lifting the flaps to drop them on his couch.
Jungkook trailed a finger, the tickling sensation trickling slowly towards the buttons, dipping into your cleavage. He hissed. “Take your top off,” he said, disentangling himself from you to take a couple steps back, eyeing your chest.
You followed the same line he had made you, dipping you own fingers to the plunge as well, keeping his eyes there as you started to pop open buttons, each inch of skin exposed scorching immediately under Jungkook’s searing gaze. You let the shirt slip off your shoulders, aiming to be dainty and it fell away from your skin, landing on the sofa as well.
Jungkook was already moving even as the fabric left you, his own hands gripping the edge of his own shirt and lifting it over his head. The smooth planes of his stomach caught the shine of his ambient lighting and while he wasn’t muscular, he definitely took care of himself.
The defined abdomen clenched under your scrutiny and you reach out, placing a hand on the hot skin there, running it higher up his chest to curl around his neck, pulling him down to kiss him again.
The kiss was breathier than before, his hot exhale caressing your lips as he dragged his hands down to your legs, hoisting them up and around his waist.
You let out a squeal, feeling him chuckle at your reaction as he tracked a path to what you supposed was his bed room.
Sleek reds and grays, he nudged you down into the foamy mattress, keeping the lights down to a bare minimum.
“Nice house,” you complimented when he returned to you and he grinned.
“I’ll give you a proper tour tomorrow,” he said, before his lips took over your own again, tongue softly lapping at the seal of your mouth, asking for permission.
Even as you teased him with no entrance, he was moving to the button of your pants, a quick flick of his fingers undoing them before they were crawling down, taking the trousers off with them. Your teasing, soon changed to a soft whimper when his fingers met the line of your panties; tugging at them to snap back against your skin and you gasped at the sudden move, letting him enter your mouth with a wide grin.
You hiked your legs up, clasping them around the back of his knees when he threw off the material and he took the hint, beginning to push you back to rest against the pillows.
He pulled away, eyeing you lying in his bed before he held up a finger, crawling towards one of the nightstands, most likely to fetch a condom.
You smirked, sitting up to undo your bra and slid your panties off quickly, tossing them to the floor while he turned, glasses gone, eyes blowing open wide to see you spread your legs for him.
“Wow,” was all he said, quickly crawling back to you, condom thrown to a side as he placed a hand on the hot skin of your thigh, running it up to the apex, before chancing a look up at you.
“May I touch you?” He asked.
You smiled up at the nervous glint in his eyes. “Yes,”
Fingers entered you with no more hesitation, making a loud groan erupt from you as your back arched, your core pushing further into his hand.
“Fuck,” he hissed, hand travelling down to grip his cock, already pressing into the fabric of his sweatpants.
“Why don’t you get rid of that?” you asked breathily, watching him struggle to get traction as he tried to palm himself and he grunted a complaint before pulling away from you to quickly tug the rest of his clothes off, throwing them away wildly.
A soft sigh of relief escaped him when his visibly red hardness met the cool air of the room and he watched as you trailed the tips of your own fingers down to your hole, easing a finger in and letting out a tantalizing whine.
Jungkook leaned forward, eyes fixed on you as the top of his hair brushed your stomach. He licked a quick stripe over your clit, before his free hand was coming up to pull your hand free and into his own mouth.
His tongue wrapped around the digit, sucking over the essence that clung to it and he closed his eyes, letting out a pleased hum.
The sight made you gulp when he opened his eyes, fixing you with a steady gaze.
Popping your fingers out his mouth he made a show of licking his lips when you jumped into action.
You pressed up against Jungkook, pushing him back into position to lie back on the pillows before you were wrapping a hand around the base of his throbbing member.
Jungkook let out a choked sound, lifting onto his elbows, watching as you bent over his cock, letting pooled saliva from your mouth drip on to the tip. Your hand dragged painstakingly to the tip, thumb swirling over the top to mix your juices and his precum together.
“Jesus, Y/N, that’s so fucking hot.” Jungkook whined, rubbing his hands over his face as you gave him your most sultry look.
Jungkook felt around for the foil and handed you the packet, letting you rip it open and slide it onto him. Rolling it on, you smiled, biting on to your lips.
Holding his gaze, just as he had done to you, you slowly pushed him into the cavern of your mouth, taking in each inch of covered skin methodically, rubbing the surface of your tongue against the hardened velvet.
Jungkook was clawing at his hair now, whining even more than you as you popped up, letting his cock cool down while smiling coyly, rubbing your thumb over your lips to gracefully wipe the string of juices your action had left.
“Y/N, please, please, sit on it,” Jungkook cried, his hands, strong with desperation pulling you on top of him.
“Whoa,” you said, reaching out to balance yourself on top of him as he reached down between your bodies, lining him with your core.
“Shh, relax,” you crooned, speaking softly as he turned a pained look to you.
“I can’t bloody well – oh – my, fucking god.” He growled, as you let yourself sink down on him, his length sheathing into your hot, wet clenching pussy.
Jungkook threw his head back, hands digging into your hips as you began to roll over his. Every clench and drag of your walls against him made him let out a soft grunt, eyes closed as he let you move and take control.
He looked beautifully fucked out…because of you.
In front of your mesmerized eyes, his nipples swelled and you did the one thing your own pleasure hazed mind could think of.
You bent over him, hair tickling his chest as you engulfed his peak into your mouth, tongue brushing over it while your fingers sought the other.
Jungkook’s voice broke into a long groan, eyes flying open to look at you sucking away at his chest and his grip on you tightened, if possible, lifting you till he was pounding up into you.
Your control snapped, as the angle he was holding you in, allowed him to hit that stupidly sweet spot and pleasure sparked white gold in your vision. Jungkook pulled you closer to him, mouth nuzzling into your breasts, pants falling from his open mouth.
He flipped you, in a broken, graceless maneuver before he was plunging into you again, keeping your legs open for him, one hand wrapped around your ankle, pushing it high and back as he calculatingly stroked against your spot and your toes curled, and one hand clawing into his sheets as he pushed you into oblivion.
Hot, fiery pleasure burned you through, singing your body as Jungkook followed with a deep growling grunt ending in whines as he emptied himself into the rubber.
It took you a few moments to open your eyes, Jungkook collapsing over you to press tired kisses against your shoulder, a deep hum of satisfaction sounding in your ears.
It was going to be hell getting up and going to work tomorrow.
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“Keeping the defense and the jury in mind, we clear Miss Lee Jiyoon of all charges.”
There was a pause, a small lull as the judge signed her statement, snapping the nib in place before a light buzz of cheer broke out.
You turned back to your bench with a grin as Jiyoon jumped up, shock written clear over her face.
“Did…I just get acquitted?” she whispered even as her mother called for her attention.
You smiled. “Yep, you did and we have information that Kinjo is going very far for a very long time, so you won’t have to see him ever again.”
Jiyoon smiled widely, throwing an arm around you that you patted before she was racing off, green hair flying, into her mother’s arms.
“Good job, Y/N; Drinks are on me, as are those junior partner papers. My office, tomorrow,” Yuna muttered as she followed Yoongi out. You gestured Mina to meet you at the car, walking out of the courtroom.
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“Y/N, great work in there,”
You turned to see Namjoon walking towards you, hands tucked into your pocket, beaming.
“Hey, you too,” you grinned as he pulled you into a customary one armed hug, a rough pat on your back.
“Well, good luck on your next one, I’m hoping to go up against you again in the future.” He crowed.
“Sure, as long as it’s not Jungkook.” You mocked back as his eyes flickered over your head; a teasing smiled tugging at his lips.
“Jungkook, huh?” he asked and you flushed, looking down as he stepped back.
“Mr. Kim,” you heard another voice join you and Jeon Jungkook stepped next to you, bowing his head towards the older man.
“Counselor Jeon,” Namjoon nodded back, glancing between the two of you with a smirk. “Seems like you guys talked stuff out,”
“Shut up, Joon!” you gasped and he laughed, dodging your smack before looking at Jeon.
“Take good care of my girl, you hear Jeon?”
“Loud and clear, Mr. Kim,” Jungkook mumbled as with a parting smile Namjoon left you and him.
Even before you blinked, you were in his arms, strong bands of muscle holding you as he grinned cheekily down at him.
“I’ll be sure to take care of my girl.”
“Your girl?” you laughed up at him.
“Yep,” he leaned in to place his mouth against your temple. “I hated waking up without you in my bed. I like you that much.”
“Right, do you have evidence to support your claim?” you asked, turning your ‘attorney’ look on him.
He rolled his eyes. “I do, in fact,” he slipped something from his pocket, holding a blue azalea stem out to you.
“I saw you had a fascination for this.”
“It was more like fascination as to why you always smelled like one.”
Jungkook paused, looking down at the flower before laughing out loud, tucking the flower into your ear.
“Now you can smell like me, in more ways than one.”
You groaned at the innuendo. “What am I going to do with you?”
“You’re stuck with me. Deal with it.”
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diveronarpg · 5 years ago
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Congratulations, NAY! You’ve been accepted for the role of LAVINIA. Admin Minnie: I’ve always thought Lillian was one of the trickier characters to fully grasp, because it’d be so easy to turn her into an outline of a person and not the whole vivid picture. But you, Nay, have won me over completely. You have such a knack for characterization and nailed Lillian’s voice, that balance she strikes between light and power. The interview portion was my absolute favorite part — I loved the way you brought her to life and the way you showed us the inner workings of her mind, heart and soul. I’m so, so glad to put Lillian into your talented hands! Please read over the checklist and send in your blog within 24 hours.
WELCOME TO THE MOB.
OUT OF CHARACTER
Alias | nay
Age | twenty-two
Preferred Pronouns | she / her
Activity Level | i find it cruelly ironic that i asked for time away from the roleplay community to try to make sense of my chaotic life, and a couple of weeks later, the world imploded and now we’re all quarantined. somehow, i’ve got my shit together-ish. and i really sorely need the light that is the DV fam in these trying times, however, so. 8/10, i’d say?
Timezone | gmt+5
How did you find the rp? | i sold my soul to it some time ago~
Current/Past RP Accounts | never RP’ed a day in my life, what’re you talking about?
IN CHARACTER
Character | LAVINIA / lillian wen
What drew you to this character? | titus adronicus isn’t exactly the darkest of shakespeare’s works, but the storyline of lavinia in particular happens to be one that has always been brutally impactful to me. there is this absolutely fascinating dichotomy lavinia depicts through her journey in the play, one between honor & freedom, that keeps me up at night sometimes. and when it comes to lillian, that struggle feels embedded in her story just the same. regardless, i don’t know that it’s possible to not be drawn to lillian wen.
there’s a multitude of aspects that keeps me inescapably besotted with her — the foundation upon which she blossomed from child, to girl, to the woman she is; an aura of a true, chatoyant aesthete; a plot arc of sexual assault survival, used as a steppingstone towards advocacy… but most of all, i think what won out was the soul she’s got, and all the light it bleeds. there is a line in her biography that reads: “belief was a powerful thing in the wen household.” i’ve thought about that line for daaaays, honestly. it was that line that really got me with her, because i could already see it in my head: she was raised by two women—artistic, emotional, intellectual, opinionated women—and they taught her belief as a religion. she was raised to know it was the most useful weapon she could ever have in an admittedly dastardly world; faith, in herself & in the power of light, and hope, and living in one’s truth. to be raised that way, and make what she has of herself, to wind up in a loveless, strategic marriage and part of a mob? she is such an intriguing character, with such insurmountable potential for growth.
there is something about lillian’s devout optimism, which doesn’t deserve to be mistaken for naiveté, & a faith in humanity that bolsters me, reminding me a fair amount of the sweetness i’ve always adored in juliana, and how there is more than one way to be a fighter, which is exactly what lillian is. but i also think that aspect in a discordant war-time setting would be so god damn cool to play with, because it prompts questions: how far does being good get you? is anything really in black & white? what does a limit feel like? what could you break open to let the light in? i’d love a chance to find answers through an unravelling of her story.
What is a future plot idea you have in mind for the character? | 
NOTE: here’s the ever-present disclaimer that these are all merely ideas, subject to discussion & changes, able to be altered in collaboration with other characters.
{ 1 } GILDED CAGE — a corrupt, mob-allegiant District Attorney for a fiancé; there is no question that it is to a man of power her mothers have intertwined her future, seeing protection for the daughter who is their whole world in the bloodbath tainting the city that is their home. to cassian bhatt, lillian is a nothing more than an accessory. of course, she had never been raised to be a girl who emptily dreamt of an ideal love, not when there was the whole universe to fall in love with, and no end to the every day magic the people it brimmed with had to offer. but a loveless marriage? lillian has never been one to tell lies, only ever to hone an innate ability to make the truth as palatable as possible, and her prospective bond feels like one. would she still go through with it? would she ever be able to say no to two women who never let her want for anything a day in her life?
⋯ cassian is the most obvious plot for her story, so i wanted to tackle him, first & foremost. i’m almost sure that lillian won’t seal the deal; she’s come too far in life to only come so far, and wind up with a man she feels nothing at all for. however, i was reading through cassian’s biography, too, and i would be lying if i said i couldn’t see potential for lillian to both either love, or something to cause friction in their dynamic, even if it isn’t a necessarily pleasant sort. currently, i know that lillian refuses to do more than hollowly tolerate him, purely because he has been forced upon her, and her general distrust of men in the wake of her assault makes her anything but open to him. can we really deny that he’s a smart, capable, clever man, though? there could be spark. it could turn to a catalyst for growth in multiple ways, positive & negative, and i am dying to explore the many different ways their story could unfold. 
{ 2 } WHAT IS LOVE? — what if she does marry cassian bhatt? it is a possibility, after all. with the capulets, she has found a voice. she has a platform, she has causes she believes in & actively fights for, and a marriage wouldn’t bar lillian from any of that, nor would it keep her from being the precocious, curious creature that she is. and what if, after that’s done, she falls in love with someone? with her mothers never having been married, lillian never considered romantic love & legally-binding commitment to go hand-in-hand, but that does not mean it couldn’t. it doesn’t mean she couldn��t fall in love with a person she might, one day, want to be with. would she cross that line, if it came down to it? would cassian let her? would the capulets object to it, considering it is her relationship with him that has drug lillian into their fold?
⋯ this is more a subplot to the last than it is a standalone arc, but roll with it. lillian is, in a way that is one of my absolute favourite things about her, a delicious enigma of a woman. i don’t believe there is anything she couldn’t turn and look at from another side. and at the same time? i feel that she is a person who takes notions of integrity, and promises, very seriously. she is a woman of her word, at the end of the day. what would it take to blur her lines? you don’t choose who you fall in love with. you don’t choose when it happens, or how it happens. what you control is your actions, and lillian has both always believed that, and demonstrated it. so, what would she choose, in such a circumstance?
{ 3 } BEST LAID PLANS — she met cosimo capulet whilst on cassian’s arm, and it was over a glass of rosé, the man talked to her about her charity-work. he told her of the origins of the capulets’ particular brand of business: the robin hood reminiscent legacy initiated by one lucius capulet, of the revolution they had begun with, giving back to the impoverished lillian fought for as well. her mothers never would have understood how the good girl they had raised could level with a mob-boss, but lillian has, and it is how she has ended up a consultant to the capulets. but how far is she willing to integrate herself with their cause? how much of the necessary violence of a war can she truly stomach?
⋯ i told you: a dichotomy between honor & freedom. it feels like the crux of lillian’s story to me. i’ve got very strong headcanons in mind for the relationship she’s got with the capulets, purely because i would like for her relationship with them to stand on its own, as opposed to being more so reliant on the relationship her fiancé has with them. the fact that the capulets have given her a voice means a great deal to lillian, definitely more than she ever could have expected it to, and i would like to see that graciousness she’s developed drive her to make choices she might question under the lens of her own honor-code afterwards. you know me, i’m a sucker for internal conflict to drive character development, and i need it with lillian, for sure.
Are you comfortable with killing off your character? | honestly? i don’t think i could stomach lillian dying.
IN-DEPTH
♦ IN-CHARACTER INTERVIEW: 
NOTE: out of caution, i’d like to precede this portion with trigger warnings for sexual assault mention and ptsd                              
                              “benvenuti!” 
she is already greeting you before she’s quite done opening the door. welcome, is what must remind you that you are, in fact, a stranger in her house. the warmth the curve of her mouth radiates is one that seeps in through your pores; it is not easy to remember that this is the first time you’ve met signora lillian wen. you’ve heard it before: like the sun, she is hard to look at, yet her warmth is undeniable. 
“come in,” she invites, and the silken slip-dress she’s donned seems to ripple like peach-hued water when she sweeps her arm, waiting for you to step over the threshold and stand beside her, so she might match you, footstep-for-footstep.
— What is your favorite place in Verona?  
“that’s such a deliciously difficult question,” lillian enthuses, beaming, despite her brows that furrow in thought over it. favourite, after all, is no small word; she must ponder it, then, for she does so like to mean the things she says. “ – you know, i don’t know that i’ve only the one,” is what she settles on, pouring out the lemonde she’s fixed up a pitcher of herself just now. the smell of the mint leaves she’s peppered it with infuses itself in the house, and she can’t help but breathe it in, deeply, satisfied. 
“so much of this city is so very dear to me. i cannot give you a favourite between them all, not when they’ve their own charms, and my own memories attached to them,” she slides over a glass to you, ice cubes merrily tinkling within,  “but i will tell you that the oldest shall always be the home i grew up in. it was more snug than this, perhaps, yes, but my mothers made sure it brimmed with all that feeds the human soul. there isn’t a memory under that roof that does not make my heart ache with nostalgia, which, really, is the heart’s way of telling you it was worth it. don’t you agree?” 
lillian clicks her tongue against the roof of her mouth, a sound of regret that does not match the soft radiance of her mouth. 
“humble beginnings, hmm?”
— What does your typical day look like?
the living-room is far from lacking pieces of furniture, all of them as comfortable to sit in as they are to look at. you know this, because she has suggested you try each out to settle on a preference, and you’ve done it. it is only once your stomach hurts from laughter incited from such childish wonderfulness that you realise: she has broken the ice.
lillian herself sprawls out on a chaise lounge by the window, tipped on her side with her legs curled underneath herself. she looks like a mermaid. her words sound lyrical when her laughter laces them: “ah, always the same, and also never as well.”
the sip of lemonade is delicate, brief, though she tips the glass for a second, fuller mouthful when you’re sure she can’t possibly have swallowed the first that quickly. never mind –
“i like to start my day rising with the sun,” she tells you. “my absolute favourite thing about living by myself is the luxury of not having to speak at all until i wish to do so – which, of course, doesn’t take too long at all, for i might be my own fondest companion. i like to prepare my own breakfast, after; eat outside, if i want, though i rather rebelliously might crawl back into bed with a tray when i feel particularly blue. i never stay under the covers for too long, however. i simply can’t. there’s too much to do. so, i dress myself up in whatever ensemble feels the most myself that day, and set off to find another way to save the world.”
her nose crinkles when she grins. you cannot help grinning back, can you?
— What has been your biggest mistake thus far? 
unbidden, lillian’s mind whirls so quickly, her thoughts slip from her fingers like water. and she is back there, in that room, with that man. that man who smiled when she walked into the room. who smiled when he motioned her to costumery that felt divine to touch, silken & decadent. who smiled when he called her a vision. who smiled when he held her down, while she begged, when he left her on the ground.
believing that smile, she thinks.
          “ ––– signora?” you ask, tone tender, for she looks so fragile when she is still.
as if a button has been pushed, lillian seems to snap out of it – appears to back to life. there is an apology in her smile, and it feels like a shadow. the shadow darkens her words: “to call one the biggest seems like tempting fate, doesn’t it?” she wonders aloud. “such as when one says things can’t possibly get any worse, and right then, the universe shows you how wrong you were about that?”
— What has been the most difficult task asked of you? 
cassian bhatt. the syllables of his name sit at the tip of her tongue, burning, and lillian cannot say them. she cannot betray her mothers so. she knows, already, the looks on their faces would ache more—inevitably, unbearably more—than that of letting her jaw clench, and teeth grind, to keep that truth inside, until she swallows it down.
there can be more than one truth, lillian knows. she reminds herself: once, twice, three times. and then, over the rim of her glass, she smiles a smile she can mean. “that isn’t a mindset i agree with,” she states, “if you believe it is the most difficult, it might feel near impossible, might it not? that just won’t do. forget most difficult–” she sweeps it away with a wave of her hand, like a makeshift broom-limb, “–let’s only say we’ve all got our challenges, and we aren’t the most enthusiastic to rise to all of them.” 
she breathes a laugh, then. “my maman likes to remind me; mind over matter, petit fleur. i can hear it in my head already!”
— What are your thoughts on the war between the Capulets and the Montagues?
lillian’s brows crawl up her forehead. she looks so perplexed, you can’t help but wonder if you accidentally said a word wrong. her home is easy to relax inside, involuntarily, and the possibility would not be unfounded. she explains it herself, all the same, when she asks: “is it a war?”
it is difficult to discern whether the question is rhetorical or not. her head cants, and she answers it herself, “h.g. wells once wrote: if we don’t end war, war will end us.” her sip is pensive, now. “i believe that, truly. there are no winners; only those who are left in the wake of one. and so, i can only hope that is not what this is.”
her eyes are kind. “don’t you?”
♦ EXTRAS: 
✴ pinterest → here;
✴ tag → here.
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mw-moriearty · 4 years ago
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Superman III is an Anti-Capitalist Parable and Way Ahead of its Time
No seriously. Here’s the skinny.
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Superman III came out in ‘83 and was directed by Richard Lester, who also directed the markedly inferior theatrical cut of Superman II three years earlier. Lester had a very different approach to the Superman series than his predecessor, Richard Donner: he insisted, ostensibly at the studio’s urging, on taking the series in a more camp comedy direction rather than the Old Hollywood epic movie tone Donner brought to the table. It makes sense, then, that audiences would push back against the goofier, lower-stakes tone of III. They were used to the (comparatively) operatic tone of the original Superman and, to a lesser extent, its sequel.
Superman III was a financial success, but it was negatively received by audiences and by critics, a negative reception that helped send the follow-ups Supergirl and Superman IV: A Quest for Peace to the bottom of the trash heap (not that they needed much help).
But, unlike those two installments, Superman III, when watched today with an unbiased eye, holds up much better than its reputation would suggest. The emphasized comedic undertones don’t stand out so much in this era of light, bantery Marvel films.
And, what’s more, Superman III is probably one of the most plainly anti-capitalist superhero movies of all time. Its maybe not “woke,” but its pretty damn close.
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At the core of the film, and perhaps its most controversial element, is the comic relief character played by comedian Richard Pryor. Pryor’s character in Superman III may not be the most nuanced character of color in film, but he is also certainly not the Jar Jar Binks minstrel clown some make him out to be. What he is, is a naturally-gifted computer programmer so brilliant that he is able to hack into a government weather-controlling satellite while completely blitzed and effortlessly design a supercomputer so sophisticated it gains self-awareness. It is obvious the only reason that he lives on unemployment and can’t keep a job rather than being the next Bill Gates and giving the millionaire villain orders is the deep institutional racism upon which capitalism is founded.
The film is well aware of this racism, highlighting it in ways both big and small. Pryor is blackmailed into serving the rich white Trump-esque antagonist, played by Robert Vaughn, after being forced by his ridiculously small paycheck to commit embezzlement (the only victim of which being Vaughn himself, who is so dripping with surplus wealth that he has an artificial ski slope on the roof of his skyscraper). Their first interaction is full of condescending microaggressions on Vaughn’s part, such as cringe-inducingly calling Pryor “my man” in a manner that brings to mind the dad in Get Out.
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When Pryor travels to Smallville, Kansas later in the film, he is visibly aghast at how eerily lily-white the whole place is, particularly staring in horror at a trio of porcelain-tinted mannequins in a store window. I’m sure his discomfort would be echoed by many black men taking their first step in rural southern America. Later, to infiltrate one of the businesses that he plans to hack in the small town, Pryor wears one of the awful suits worn by the aforementioned dummies and puts on an affected “white voice” to earn the trust of the drunken redneck that watches the place at night, a fitting commentary on how black men and women are expected to homogenize and “act white” to be above suspicion in white America.
And what happens when Pryor convinces Vaughn to give him the resources to construct his incredible supercomputer? Why, Vaughn and his sister appropriate it for themselves and put its unique capabilities to nefarious ends, shutting Pryor out of any control of his baby and leaving him out in the cold. 
Pryor is much more than a victim through all of this, however. I already mentioned how he took the initiative to bolster his paltry computer programmer’s paycheck by using a clever scheme to embezzle from his greedy millionaire boss. He also doesn’t let said boss kick him around, either. Though his circumstances leave him with little choice but to be a cohort in Vaughn’s schemes, when push comes to shove, he stands up for himself. He refuses to allow Vaughn’s order for complete control of the oil tankers to be irreversible, he fights for his fair cut of the loot when Vaughn starts profiting off of his brilliance, and in the end he stands by Superman against his bourgeoisie bosses. He even saves Superman’s life on multiple occasions, using both his computer smarts and eventually a fire ax to come to the big guy’s rescue. 
Given that Pryor has at least as much screen time as Supes throughout the picture, one is left wondering, who’s the real hero here? Why, its the guy running around in the frilly pink tablecloth, of course!
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And Pryor’s not the only example of a downtrodden minority not being allowed to live to their full potential in a white supremacist patriarchal capitalist society. Perhaps the most interesting character in the film is the villain’s girlfriend, who is initially presented as a vapid, gold-digging bimbo until we learn that this is all an act on her part and she actually is a computer-wise, philosophy-reading secret genius herself. She only plays the part of the brainless trophy girl because life has left her few other options. It is a very fun subversion of the typical villain-moll dynamic, and it is a shame we don’t get more of this character, though she like Pryor is ultimately disturbed by Vaughn’s increasingly villainous actions and bails on him in the end.
But lets talk about Vaughn’s villain, and how he’s emblematic of the film’s ideas on rich white privilege as a whole. This is a guy who is so used to getting everything he wants that he sics a freaking hurricane on Colombia just because the country is competing with him in the coffee export industry. If that ain’t capitalism at its finest. He even repeats the tired adage “it is not enough that I succeed, others must fail,” misattributing it to Genghis Khan like an idiot. I mean seriously, who does this sound like?
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This is the guy who gives us probably the most immortal line from the whole movie.
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And that’s only the tip of the white entitlement iceberg. There’s also the running joke of the old white couple who win the Daily Planet’s vacation lottery and get sent off to Colombia, where we are treated to the wife saying things like, “look dear, a native wedding!” Cut to the most conventional looking church wedding ever. After this parody of cultural voyeurism, we have the couple later threatening to SUE Daily Planet Editor-in-Chief Perry White because A HURRICANE RUINED THEIR VACATION. What a couple of Karens.
The whole film is about the struggle between the working class and the rich. I’ll paraphrase one of the Smallville locals who, after seeing the chaos caused by the gasoline shortage brought about by Vaughn’s forced oil monopoly, says “I don’t know what’s going on, but I guarantee you, someone’s getting rich off of it. Someone’s always getting rich off of it.”
Oh yeah, and Superman is in this movie too a little. There’s a plot wherein Vaughn tries to synthesize an artificial kryptonite in an effort to kill Superman and prevent him from foiling his dastardly deeds. But, this being a kryptonite forged in the capitalist machine, its a lazy, half-assed copy that doesn’t even work right (leading to the above line).
That doesn’t mean that the kryptonite has no effect, though. Indeed, the symptoms of this knockoff kryptonite are fascinatingly similar to the effects of living under the crushing wheels of the capitalist regime. 
We actually see Superman, through this physical manifestation of the exertion of capitalist oppression, deteriorate into a selfish, depressed, bitter shadow of his usual self. As this happens, the colors of his costume subtly grown more dark, drab, and dingy. Superman becomes concerned only with doing what is best for himself without regard to anyone else, giving up the whole “saving people” thing and even letting himself be coerced by the moll into ripping a giant hole into an oil tanker in exchange for a little nookie (the subsequent disturbing image of a massive oil spill creeping across the surface of the ocean is maybe the film showing its hand a little bit). Many socialist and anarchist thinkers have raised the thought that this exact selfish mindset is the natural effect of being socialized in a capitalist society.
Let’s be clear, this isn’t just “evil Superman”. This is Superman so crushed by self-loathing and the futility of his actions that at the lowest point in his decline we see him looking like this:
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Indeed, this sad, alcoholic Superman very deliberately mirrors another character in the film: the aforementioned drunken yokel, who is also the former star quarterback of Clark Kent’s high school graduating class. This is a character who found, after graduating, that his celebrity status in school translated to nothing in the adult world, leaving him woefully unprepared for a real life where he is a functional nobody. Cue binge-drinking and pining for the glory days.
This all culminates in the movie’s most iconic scene, wherein Superman crash-lands in a junkyard and splits into two separate individuals: the above Superdick, and plain old Clark Kent. They then proceed to beat the shit out of each other.
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Obviously, we aren’t meant to read this scene as literal; it isn’t actually, physically happening. It is a clever visualization of the internal struggle between the character’s two halves: Clark and Superman.
In fact, this very conflict is the heart of Superman’s story throughout the picture. This is examined in the form of Clark’s re-kindled relationship with childhood sweetheart Lana Lang. After the always tragic will-they-won’t-they of Superman and Lois, Clark and Lana’s romance is refreshingly positive and healthy. The obvious reason for this is that, unlike Lois, Lana isn’t just interested in the Superman persona. She loves Clark for Clark. He can be himself around her. Indeed, any romantic incursions between Superman in costume and Lana are portrayed as downright toxic, as in the unsettlingly realistic scene where Superman, first beginning to feel the effects of the faux kryptonite, makes several forceful, sexually aggressive advances on Lana in her own home. The obvious fear and discomfort on Lana’s face during this scene is incredibly telling. She isn’t interested in an inhumanly privileged, aggressive thug in spandex. She likes Clark Kent, the regular guy.
So it is no accident that in this climactic junkyard scene, Clark comes to represent the character’s “good side” and Superman the “bad”. Because this is not simply a struggle between Superman’s good and bad halves, it is a struggle between Clark Kent, the spectacularly unspectacular working man, and Superman, the ridiculously naturally privileged enforcer of statist status quo. Proletariat vs. bourgeoisie. And Clark Kent, the proletariat revolutionary fighting his way out of the bourgeois Superdick’s corruption, wins.
Not that Superman then becomes a perfect champion of the working class for the rest of the film. He does defeat Vaughnald Trump and blow up the evil computer, but he also remains something of a parody of typical movie “white savior” figures. This is mostly clearly shown in the denouement where Superman, obviously thinking he is providing some great act of charity, drops Richard Pryor’s character off at a dirty coal pit far from his home and recommends him for an entry-level computer job there. Pryor understandably decides he’d rather not slave in a coal mine in the middle of nowhere for the rest of his life, and chooses instead to walk the nine miles to the nearest bus station. There is also the final scene where Superman (who in evil mode had straightened the Leaning Tower of Pisa earlier in the film in an extreme act of pettiness) returns to Italy and “fixes” the tower, smiling and waving in smug self-satisfaction at the locals below, oblivious to the poor souvenir salesman who has just finished making his setting up his new display of now-straight replica towers.
tl;dr, I think that Superman III deserves reevaluation not as the moment where the Superman franchise began its descent into crappery, but instead as a flawed but biting satire on privilege and capitalist corruption in America.
That’s my two cents.
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xspideyimaginesx · 5 years ago
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Shoot to Thrill, Kiss to Kill | ONE
Summary: Beware of those with soft lips and guns at their hips. 
Pairing: 1920sMafia!Sebastian Stan x Reader, 1920sMafia!Tom Holland x Reader
Words: 2.5K
Warnings: cussing, violence, mentions of smut
A/N: If you have any requests, my ask is always open! Thank you for reading!
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“There's no surrender And there's no escape Are we the hunters? Or are we the prey?”
“Hey darling,” You murmur as you enter Sebastian’s office, adding a little extra sway to your hips. His mouthed turned up in a smirk, nearly hidden behind his steepled hands that were resting against his lips. His eyes tracked your movement before angling his chair towards his desk. 
You learned forward, wrapping your arms around him from behind. One hand slid just beneath the opening of his buttoned shirt. You could hear Sebastian hold his breath as your lips found his neck. Your lips were light, almost teasing as you left each kiss. 
“And what do I owe this pleasure?” He rasped out before quickly clearing his voice. 
“Chris came by and told me you needed to see me.” You mentioned as you moved around to lean against Sebastian’s chair. 
He hesitated. 
He never hesitated. He always went into everything with his whole heart or nothing at all. 
Sebastian’s throat bobbed as he turned his chair to face his desk, causing you to have to stand up to avoid falling over. His fingers scrambled for the brass box that sat in the left corner of his desk. “Seb…” You tried to catch his attention, but he was set on grabbing one of the neatly placed cigarettes from the box. He shut the box with a loud clang, echoing in the silent room. 
He yanked the lighter out from his suit jacket pocket that was draped on the back of his chair. He stumbled to get the lighter to ignite. Flick. Flick. Fli-the flame finally decided to stand tall enough for Sebastian to light his cigarette. 
“What aren’t you telling me, Seb?” You muttered, suddenly thankful that you were able to have control over your voice, because inside your body was bracing for impact. 
He didn’t have a chance to answer and you didn’t know if he took that as a blessing or a curse as the door swung open, slamming against the back wall. Chris filled the doorway, not paying much heed to our privacy as he lumbered in. Sebastian would never take crap like this from anyone except for Chris and possibly you. He had a standard to uphold around here, but Chris never cared for logistics. 
“Someone a tad bit stressed?” Chris chuckled to himself as he sauntered straight to Sebastian’s desk and took one of the infamous cigarettes from the brass box. He knew Sebastian’s notorious habit of smoking when stressed. 
Sebastian rolled his eyes, trying his best to ignore his second in command. “Don’t mind if I do…” Chris mumbled with the cigarette dangling from his lips as he bent over the desk to retrieve Sebastian’s lighter. 
Flick. It lit in one try. 
“So, what’s the verdict?” Chris asked after a stream of smoke left his lips. He sat himself on the arm of the armchair that stood to the left side of the desk, which was part of Sebastian’s ensemble of a large office. He had a sitting area to the left of his desk with two armchairs and a lamp. Bookcases lined the far walls making the room feel more like a library or study. You would never guess what kind of business Sebastian was in by looking at his office. 
You furrowed your brows, not sure what he was referring to. 
“Chr-“ Sebastian started, but was cut off.
“You haven’t told her yet, have you?” Chris asked in an accusatory tone. He pushed himself off of the armchair, proceeding to pace in front of the sitting area. Back and forth…back and forth…
“It’s not just something I can jump into-“
“The plan was supposed to be implemented this weekend.” Chris shot back.
“I know, but-“
“Do you even care about the business? We are sinking deeper and deeper each day, but you want to take your sweet ass time-“ Chris rambled on stridently with his hands poised on his hips.
Sebastian cut him off, standing quickly, causing his chair to roll back, finally ceasing as it hit the wall. He slammed his hands on the desk, surprising all of us. “Do you dare to question my commitment? Do you honestly think for a second that I wouldn’t lay down my life for what we’ve built here?” His words came out quickly, like throwing knives with each of his words hitting some part of Chris that made him halt his tirade. “I am taking my time because I am not going to rush into this. I am trying to come to peace with what I am going to ask Y/N to do, but it makes me sick.”
Chris stood there almost helpless as he didn’t have some snarky comeback. He let out a slow, lingering breath of smoke.
“Get out and leave me to handle this.” Sebastian ordered, and without a word, Chris followed his orders, not hesitating to shut the door with a bang. 
The room was silent. No moving. No fumbling of papers. No teasing. No releases of smoke from smooth lips. 
His whispers resounded like screams in my ears as they broke the silence, “It’s all gone.”
“What?” Your voice cracked as you finally found your will to speak.
“All our money is gone.” He muttered bitterly before taking a drag from the cigarette that had almost reached its end. “We’re broke.”
“How did this happen?” Your tremulous voice echoed in the room, as you broke the pattern of whispers. 
“Holland,”  He replied in a disheartening, taut tone. “He infiltrated the biggest deal that I’ve had in years and now holds power over our suppliers. They won’t deal to me and I don’t have any leverage over them any more. He paid them off and is providing protection for them in case I retaliate. I spent thousands of dollars trying to make sure this deal went through and he took advantage of that.”
He took your hesitation to respond as a cue to continue, “He’s smart…more than I anticipated. I underestimated him and now it’s come back to get me. It’s humiliating. He got the best of me when he’s barely in his twenties.”
“Why don’t you do what you usually do? Get a man on the inside, and destroy from within.” You muttered, trying to not let your fear seep into your tone.
“Got the news last week.” Sebastian talked under his breath as he slid a file across the desk to where you could see. You forgot how to breathe as you saw the pictures clipped to the file. You couldn’t see the faces, but the ferocity of the pictures made your stomach queasy. Two men were pictured face down in various angles showing multiple gun shot wounds and non-self inflicted injuries. “He knew we had people on the inside.”
You wanted to reach out to him. You wanted to tell him that you both will get through this, but you knew Sebastian wasn’t one for wasted pleasantries. He didn’t care for you to tell him, ‘everything is going to be alright.’ He wanted to hear the truth no matter what cost. 
“So where does that leave me?” You exhaled, struggling to keep your breathing even as your anxiety started to mount. 
Sebastian wouldn’t meet your eyes. Fuck. 
“Sebastian.” You tried to get his attention away from the butt of his cigarette that he was fumbling with. “What was Chris talking about?” 
His face paled the moment you said Chris’ name. 
“A plan was drawn up, but I wasn’t the one to come with it. I tried to shut it down every time it was brought up, but I couldn’t think of any other way. I just-“ He cut himself off as he struggled to find the words that could match the war that was occurring in his head. 
You finally found the will to move to him. You carefully moved to kneel in front of Sebastian, being mindful of your dress as you lowered yourself to the ground.He turned his chair to face you, not quite sure what to do. You grabbed his right hand, wrapping both of your hands around it. You hesitated before looking him in the eyes because it killed you how much the man before you was unraveling because of fear. Fear of failure. Fear of losing the kingdom he had built. Fear of losing you. 
“Sebastian, what do you need me to do?” You asked softly, looking into the storm swirling in his eyes. You wanted this to end. You wanted to take away this torture that he was going through. 
“We need you to be my eyes on the inside.” His voice was gravelly as he spoke, like he had to rip every word from every part of him that was telling him not to go through with this. 
“What?” His words reverberated in your mind, not quite sinking in. This seemed like suicide. You weren’t even sure you were capable of doing such a thing. You were Sebastian’s girlfriend, not one of his trained men. 
“We need you to get intel for us. Straight from his lips. He won’t be expecting it.” Sebastian still hadn’t dared to look you in the eyes. 
“Expecting it from a woman?” You asked cursedly.
Sebastian paused before answering, knowing he should choose his words carefully, “We hear that he only sees women as being useful for…certain purposes.” 
“And how am I supposed to do this?” You wondered aloud.
“Gain his trust. Do what you need to do.” Every word falling from his lips were clipped. Short. Not wanting to take the time to say more as this was taxing him more than he would ever wish.
You knew from the look on his face that if you said no, that’d be it. You wouldn’t have to do it, but what other option did you two have? Sebastian made sacrifices constantly to look after you and his men. He did everything to give you a life that you had always dreamed of. You had a home. He gave you access to an education. You had a purpose. Sebastian gave you opportunities during a time that wanted to keep women in the shadows. It was your turn to make a sacrifice for him.
“What about my gin?” You asked softly.
“You’ll still have time to perfect it. We’ll figure it out.” He murmured, running a soft hand through your hair before cupping your cheek. His look was too tender that you did not want to look away in case you missed it. 
Breathe.
You would still be able to have more times when Sebastian would find you in your workroom, taste testing your creations. He would try to distract you by wrapping his arms around your waist and leaving soft, teasing kisses along your neck, hoping that he could catch enough of your attention for a few stolen kisses. 
For almost four months now you have been working on creating a cocktail that you hoped would be made and sold across New York once it is released. Maybe one day it would find its way across the country and over seas. Your main roadblock was that you didn’t quite have the equipment you needed. It was extremely hard to come by during the Prohibition and would be hard to keep a secret. You were limited to experimenting in the bathtub. Literally. 
The bathtub was only supposed to be a temporary tool until Sebastian could get a large still brought in, but the chances of that were becoming slimmer. Bathtub gin was low quality and could never reasonably be sold on the market so you were blindly experimenting when you added the juniper berries and other botanicals. You weren’t able to tell how it would taste with better quality tools so you were almost at a standstill. 
Sebastian loved watching you work. He loved seeing you so passionate about having ownership over it. He couldn’t wait for the finished product so he could have all of New York raving over it, raving over the empire that you both had anticipated creating. Sending you away was merely a…pause in these plans. Sebastian clenched his hands into fists as he questioned what the hell  he was doing and what he was asking you to do. Is he seriously losing his mind?
You separated the torturous waves of thoughts that were crashing through Sebastian’s mind as you broke the silence, “I’ll do it.” Your voice was so timid, you weren’t sure if the words had even left your lips.
Sebastian’s expression wasn’t readable, but you knew that he had heard you. His eyes were still darting every which way, not quite settling on anything. “Angel…are you sure?” His eyes softened as he called you his favorite pet name.He had called you Angel the night that you two had met.
“You must be an angel, I reckon.” He had murmured as he moved a piece of hair out of your eyes.
“Oh, you do?” You had slightly slurred, having enough alcohol in your system to hold your bearings, but enough to have the nerve to be running your fingers lightly over the back of his hand as it rested on the bar.
“Yes, but I am still trying to figure out if  you’ve been sent down to save my soul or entice me to sin. With legs like yours, I’ve come to think it may be the latter. What do you reckon? Are you my guardian angel?”  He pursed his lips, seeming happy with his response. 
“Why? Does someone need to be saved?”  You asked, before taking a sip of your glass of wine.
“You could say that, Angel.” He matched your move as he brought his glass of gin to his lips.
You met Sebastian’s eyes, “Yes.” 
His lips trembled ever so slightly as he brought your hand to his lips, sealing the deal.
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oceanstrology · 6 years ago
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venus signs in love (libra-pisces)
venus in libra
how they attract others: venus in libra loves to impress whoever they’re interested in. because they are very charming, flirting is easy for them. sometimes they do it accidentally or just because they want to, even if they aren’t attracted to the person they’re flirting to. no one is better at flirting than a libra venus. when flirting, they show that they are sweet, sensitive, cute, and attentive. they love to tease and partner up in a project with the person they’re trying to pursue. they will also gently touch that person. 
what they want in a relationship: libra venus wants someone who will treat others fairly. they want their partner to try and fix any issues that may be present in the relationship. they love partnership and dates where they are alone with their partner. though they love one-on-one companionship, venus in libra men and women will still want to socialize with many people, bringing his/her partner along. they love the idea of love and want a relationship that can be viewed by others as “goals”. they want a relationship with romance, both joking around and being serious, adventure and devotion. they want the relationship to have intellectually simulating conversations.
how they act in a relationship: every venus in libra person is fair. they put lots of effort into the relationship. they can be sensitive and sometimes accidentally start acting more like the person they think their partner wants them to be. they are clingy and always try to compromise. libra venus falls in love easily and sometimes it’s not with the right person. because they love the idea of love, they can forget about how the relationship is in reality and focus on what it looks like from the outside instead.
how the relationship can end: libra venus needs to be treated like a king or queen. they want to feel loved and like they impress their partner. it’s easy for them to fall in love, so they might start slipping into that with someone else if the relationship isn’t 100% perfect. because every libra venus is so in love with the idea of love, they will ignore some problems to keep the relationship “happy”. this can make it easy to take advantage of them. they will notice, but not say anything. after a while though, it will tear the relationship apart. 
venus in scorpio
how they attract others: scorpio venus men and women don’t even need to directly flirt. there is simply something magnetic about them. they seduce more than they flirt. they are capable of seducing people accidentally, but when they do it on purpose, it almost always works instantly. they have a mysterious and powerful personality that they use to attract others.
what they want in a relationship: scorpio venus wants a strong, committed relationship. they want the relationship to last long. they want to have power in the relationship, even too much. scorpio venus wants someone who doesn’t run away from commitment, emotions, or intensity. they want a partner that is loyal and will be extremely focused on the relationship. scorpio venus loves a passionate relationship. they want to know everything about their partner.
how they act in a relationship: the partner of a scorpio venus receives tons of attention. scorpio venus is the definition of emotional intensity. they can get very jealous and are good at manipulation. they love to be very close to their partner, “staying in” dates are their favorite. because scorpio venus is so focused on his/her partner, showing off the relationship doesn’t matter to them. they don’t even think about showing off their partner. when they’ve been hurt, it’s obvious and difficult to earn their forgiveness. venus in scorpio people are not afraid to address any issues. they are romantic and sensual. they love physical affection.
how the relationship can end: if the scorpio venus does not feel like there is equal commitment in the relationship, it will be over. the scorpio venus’ partner needs to be dedicated to the relationship. if the partner is closed off or feels threatened when analyzed, the relationship won’t work out. when a scorpio venus is hurt, they take a while to get over it. so if there is too much drama in the relationship and if the scorpio venus’ partner is insensitive, it will not work out. it will also scar the two.
venus in sagittarius
how they attract others: when trying to pursue someone, sagittarius venus likes to befriend that someone and talk to them constantly. they show that they are adventurous, interested in many things, funny, and intelligent. they are able to be both care-free and philosophical. this mixture makes people very attracted to them. sagittarius venus may act more “free-spirited” than usual when flirting. they act clumsy and show off their very optimistic attitude. they show that a relationship with them is a “best friend” relationship.
what they want in a relationship: sagittarius venus wants to learn new things. when dating someone, they include their partner in this exploration. they want their partner to help them gain new experiences. they want a partner who will take interest in their beliefs, opinions, and goals. sagittarius venus loves freedom. they want a relationship that doesn’t have too much planning. they want to just have fun with their partner whenever they want. and when they do plan, they usually bail because that’s just not what they want to do at the time. a sagittarius venus person would love to have a partner that is intellectually simulating.
how they act in a relationship: a sagittarius venus doesn’t like commitment. they love to include their partner in their adventures. they might try and ignore any problems that there are in the relationship because problems just aren’t important to them- having fun is. they tend to leave when it gets too rough. it is noticeable when they are upset. they are blunt, social, entertaining, optimistic and wise. 
how the relationship can end: when the relationship doesn’t have much adventure or spontaneity, the sagittarius venus is unhappy. they will likely end the relationship because their happiness is incredibly important. they don’t want to feel too tied down so discussions about the future of the relationship can drive them away. because they are so optimistic, they are incompatible with pessimists. if the partner of the sagittarius venus shies away from intellectual conversations, learning, or deep thinking, the two are incompatible. if the partner notices every flaw in the relationship and constantly brings them up, the relationship will not work out.
venus in capricorn
how they attract others: venus in capricorn attracts others with their reputation. this can mean their job, social standing, or wealth. they don’t brag about it, they just make sure it’s mentioned once and leave it at that. anyone can easily see their responsible, mature and hardworking self. they use their wit when flirting. people end up very curious about the capricorn venus because of how “loner-ish” they are.
what they want in a relationship: capricorn venus is picky. they like to be certain of who they are dating. they are attracted to someone who is hard-working, mature, ambitious and goal-oriented. they want to feel safe in the relationship, so predictability is a must. they want a committed relationship. they also want the relationship to be very calm and peaceful.
how they act in a relationship: once a capricorn venus feels safe in a relationship, romance rises. even though they don’t seem like it, they can be very romantic. they just don’t show it in an extravagant way. they’re quieter about it, and the romance can be shown in small but very meaningful gestures. they love to learn about their partner and help their partner succeed. sometimes they aren’t very expressive about their love, especially not in public. it’s not because they’re embarrassed, it’s just that they simply don’t think about it. they are very dependable. 
how the relationship can end: capricorn venus doesn’t like dating someone who is unmotivated. this can turn them off. if their partner is unpredictable, loves activity and loves change than the two aren’t compatible. capricorn venus doesn’t like being pressured into doing things. they need to be comfortable. if the relationship has too much drama or fighting, capricorn venus won’t hesitate to end it. of course they’ll try and fix problems, but if they don’t get fixed, the relationship is over. they’d rather be focused on work or goals instead of relationship drama.
venus in aquarius
how they attract others: aquarius venus acts more quirky than usual when flirting. they like to seem more original than others, often talking about being rebellious. they make it known that they are free-spirited and encourage the person they’re interested in to just be however they want to be. aquarius venus loves to discuss their opinions and views on the world when trying to pursue someone.
what they want in a relationship: aquarius venus is attracted to “unconventional” relationships. they don’t want a traditional relationship. they don’t want a relationship that makes them feel tied down. they’d rather roam freely. they want their partner to be smart and intuitive, and they want to be recognized for their own brains an intuition as well. they want to be with someone who will join them in advocating for fairness. aquarius venus loves intellectual conversations and wants the relationship to have plenty. 
how they act in a relationship: venus in aquarius people never stop trying to impress their partner. they treat their partner like a best friend. they love to include their partner in adventures and share all of their thoughts with them. they love to be artistic with the person they’re dating. they are curious about their partner’s opinions and interests. rather than following the typical structure of a relationship, aquarius venus wants to redefine it. they may even start some new strange but fun traditions for their relationship. they are open to fixing problems in the relationship, but not if it’s gonna take away their freedom. they are quite emotionally detached. they want their partner to join them in dreaming and fantasizing about the world. aquarius venus loves to exchange knowledge with the person they’re dating. they don’t like to commit and will run away from talking about relationship issues.
how the relationship can end: every aquarius venus needs a partner that will have similar interests. if the two have nothing in common, the aquarius venus will feel discouraged. if they date someone that is very clingy and emotional, the two will not work out. aquarius venus needs to feel like he/she has freedom. trying to control them or constantly protect them does nothing but damage the relationship. the relationship needs to be fun, productive, active, and have tons of intellectual simulation. if not, then the aquarius venus won’t be happy and will most likely end it.
venus in pisces
how they attract others: pisces venus flirts playfully. they try to appear cute, playful, childlike and sweet. they’re very good at it. when flirting, the person they’re trying to pursue will immediately think of them as a very fun, loving person. they have an alluring look in their eyes that is very hard to resist. they make sure to offer help as much as they can to the person they’re interested in.
what they want in a relationship: pisces venus wants a romantic relationship. they want creativity and they want security. they want to feel needed and be appreciated for everything they do to help. the relationship a pisces venus has in mind is very peaceful. they want to be with someone who is sentimental and gentle. it’s very important to a pisces venus that the relationship is secure. they want to make sure that their partner loves them unconditionally. they love dates like painting, small “photoshoots” or going to the beach. they won’t flaunt the relationship around, but they do want other people to know how happy it is.
how they act in a relationship: a pisces venus person can be very sensitive. they look deep into their partner and fall in love with what’s inside. they don’t care what other people think about the relationship. because they try to be as sweet as possible, they bend the truth a little bit just to keep their partner happy. they are humorous and enjoy physical affection. it’s hard for them to commit. they love to try new things. overall, they want their partner to be happy, so it’s hard for them to say no. this can cause them to be taken advantage of. they are great at listening and don’t hesitate to help anyone out. they can be pretty moody.
how the relationship can end: when someone is very closed off, the pisces venus will try as hard as they can to open them up, but this might just make them seem invasive. this relationship won’t work out. because it’s difficult for them to commit, their partner will be unhappy if he/she is 100% committed. it’s easy for a partner to be jealous of attention and care the pisces venus gives other people. pisces venus just care about everyone’s happiness, not only their partner’s. they aren’t very reliable so this can bring up some issues in the relationship. pisces venus is sensitive, so it’s easy to hurt them or take advantage of them sometimes. this can go on for a while, but in the end, it’ll just end up hurting both the pisces venus and the partner. 
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screentimeblog-blog · 5 years ago
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Who Killed Bryce Walker? A review of Season 3
13 Reasons Why Season 3 shifted the focus onto a new storyline. Who Killed Bryce Walker? In typical fashion of the series we quickly learn that everyone had a motive, including new girl Ani who serves as the narrator for events that unfold.
There will be spoilers. So read on only if you have watched season 3 or you don't mind finding out what happened based on this review. 
The first two seasons focused on Bryce and all the bad things he did trying to show he was the king of Liberty high school. Season 3 shed new light on Bryce as he made an effort to try and change his ways and realize all the hurt he had caused his classmates over the years. We quickly learn where Ani falls into this mix as her mother takes the job as an in home nurse to Bryce's ailing grandfather. She quickly becomes intertwined in the web of deception that surrounds the students of Liberty. 
Season 3 started off slower than the first two taking time to really dig deep into what has transpired since the ending of Season 2. What happened to Tyler? How would they help him heal? Could they help him heal? All of that was addressed and more and as the season progresses we learn the truth as to what each student is hiding and why. Starting with Tyler who went to confront Bryce after Monty told him the beating Tyler received was at Bryce's command. Tyler accepts his truth throughout the season and shows his friends that change is possible leading to the ultimate question of whether or not a man as evil as Bryce is capable of redemption.
Next up is Tony Padilla. Already having been arrested twice for assault we learn that during the trial the Walkers were able to find out that Tony's parents were illegals and they were then deported by ICE. Bryce swore up and down to Tony that he had known nothing about what happened but Tony didn't care. In his eyes all of this happened because of Bryce because his actions lead to the trial which lead to Tony being separated from his family. Tony spends most of the season trying to keep this secret from his friends leading to them thinking his rage may have gotten the best of him. 
It's safe to say that none of the audience actually believed Clay Jensen was the one who killed Bryce Walker but he was the number one person on the list of the police. This thanks in large part to multiple threats from Clay, including the events from last season where he pulled a gun on Bryce. Clay with the help of Ani, who we learn had an intimate relationship with Bryce look to clear Clays name for good. Clay just doesn't want to see anyone else's secrets exposed and once again protects his friends at all costs. Clay is both an admirable lead and a complete idiot at times. His courage is good for a lead, but for being a smart kid he does an awful lot that does make him look suspicious. His new found brotherhood with Justin Foley makes things even more complicated as he is willing to take the fall in order to protect Justin and the things he is hiding. 
Then there's the truth. That 3 people directly lead to the events that took Bryce's life. First up is Zach Dempsey. We learn Bryce deliberately set out to hurt Zach because of Chloe (Bryce's ex who had an abortion). Zach then proceeds after the football game to assault Bryce leaving him with a broken arm and leg but very much a live laying on the pier. Which leads to the second and third person. Alex and Jessica. They roll up as Bryce had asked Jess to come see him so he could give her something. We learn that was a tape with his confession and apology. After Alex reluctantly agrees to help Bryce up he begins to swear at Jess and promise to ruin Zach prompting Alex to push him over the edge. 
This is where it gets even more complicated. Ani is called into speak with Deputy Standall where she tells him Montgomery De La Cruz is the one who killed Bryce after the game as a way to keep him silent about the assault on Tyler. Standall agrees in order to protect Alex. Monty has been killed in prison. Yet we learn that Monty had a solid alibi. He was having relations with Hillcrest student Winston. Monty was very protective of sexual orientation and even assaulted Winston following their first hook up in order to protect the secret. 
It was a very engaging season with the murder mystery central premise. It allowed Justin Prentice (Bryce) the chance to show more emotional range than he had been given in the previous two seasons. He was given the daunting task of humanizing a character that had been portrayed as the clear villain if the first two seasons. At times it was hard to feel any different towards Bryce but as the season went along he did make strides. He made an effort and he wanted to realize how badly he hurt people. Prentice has always been one of the best actors on the show and this was his chance to solidify that. He was easy to hate for the first two seasons and during season 3 he was easy to both hate and want to see do better. 
Brandon Flynn as Justin Foley is probably my favorite performance. Justin is probably the most troubled kid in the series and even more so now. We learn he has not given up drugs like he tells everyone he has. Justin often says the dumb thing. He often is the weird comedic relief despite all the negative things going on his life. Justin is loyal. He loves deeply and is thankful for all the things his friends and family have done to try and turn his life around. He comes clean about the lies with the Jensen's at the end who vow that they will help him no matter what the cost. Justin is a troubled character but he has many layers and Flynn gets the chance to show us all of them very frequently throughout this season given that the truth is revealed in pieces as we go a long. 
Hearing both Alisha Boe and Devin Druid deliver monologues about surviving sexual assaults had me tearing up multiple times. Boe played Jess as a new found badass ready to find justice for people who may have lost their voice because of a trauma while helping Tyler find his voice without even realizing. The assembly scene where the survivors stand was both powerful and emotional. Druid expressing all his heartbreak and sadness as Tyler confesses to Clay what happened was very emotional as well. 13 Reasons Why has always been a hard show for me to watch as a parent and just 10 years removed from High School. Now my experience of school was not as distressing as the events depicted on the show, I do remember the days of being pushed into lockers because I was not friends with the jocks. I remember being the kid who sat in the library to avoid the halls because of bullying from kids whose parents were prominent contributors to the school and no matter what happened I was always the bad kid.
13 Reasons Why is a powerful show for those who have never felt like they could be heard. For those who feel never felt like they had friends they could count on to do the right thing. It reminds the good kids to do the right thing. It reminds the bully's that you will face the consequences of your actions. Yes it does make these points in the most exaggerated way possible but unless they did that it's doubtful that people would listen in the first place or pay attention to the fact that all these things are happening. The show reminds us to pay attention to differences in behaviour, to see changes in our friends and to stand up for the people who deserve it most. I think it's safe to say that anyone who has been bullied or stood up to bullies or both women and men who are survivors of sexual assaults can see a little bit of themselves in Clay, Jessica, Tyler and Justin. 
With the announcement of a fourth and final season I can say that I am invested in seeing what they do to wrap this season. I know both seasons 2 and 3 have been given very negative reviews but all of that seems unfair towards a show that has only ever tried to start a conversation and help those struggling with mental health and their secrets. There is no doubt that season 4 will be just as good as the first three and will continue the conversation about seeking help if you need it. For those struggling don't be afraid to reach out to counsellors and trusted adults. 
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