#it will be devistating regardless

[rayofsun936]

!!!HELLS TO THE YES!!!

ITS FINALLY HERE!!

[thelovelyspirit-collab-fics]

@officialfeysandweek Day 4: Bargains

Read on Ao3

Summary: A fever has been sweeping the village for over a month now, devistating family after family. Already grieving their mother's death days before, Feyre is unwilling to lose her sister from the same fever. Without the help of the village doctors, she's now forced to take a less favorable route.

For her sister, she'll bargain with the fae.

AN: Happy Feysand Week, y'all. It’s @starfall-spirit and you’re watching Disney Channel I’m so happy to share the first chapter of my current collab with @thelovelymadone based off of this text post by @deluxeloy. Enjoy!

Passion is the truest state of the fae spirit. Follow your instincts and act on your impulses. Live life to the fullest without regard to the consequences—they will come about regardless of what you do.

~The Unseelie Code

Chapter I

The evening woods were eerily quiet as Feyre tracked the sound of a nearby stream. The almost-silence was enough to push her closer to the edge of fear, her nerves surrounding that night’s plan doing nothing to help. Because what waited for her when the stream met the lake…

Feyre couldn’t believe she was doing this. And yet, what other choice did she have? The fever had already claimed her mother, now Elain was bedridden too, eyes glazed more often than not, trembling with fever beneath the meager covers she and Nesta had managed to gather.

It had started about a month prior. Though winter had fully yielded to spring, a fever common to colder weather had started spreading among the children playing in the village streets, just as easily carried home to their doting mothers and fathers. Then four children from different homes died, one after the next. Their families had no one to support them in their grieving period.

All because that tragedy had been accompanied by a frightening word of the trusted village doctor: mutation. A virus one could brush off in a few days had turned deadly.

Less than a week ago her mother had shown symptoms, passed them to Elain two days later. If her sister was only meant to last the same span of time, she’d be dead by the next dawn. Even if they had money for a doctor, there were few in their village with true medical training, most of them too frightened of catching the illness to treat it.

Feyre was left with only one option. The Faerie Wood.

The enchanted forest seemed more sinister than enchanting with moonlight as her only guide. It fed that fear born of the tales her childhood nanny had told her some fifteen years ago to keep her in bed.

There is a portal just past our village border, invisible to the human eye, you know. Leads right to the Unseelie Court. It’s High Lord has servants and spies who stand at the veil, searching for naughty children to drag through. You girls best behave, or tomorrow morning it’ll be a few of their changelings waking in your beds.

Feyre and her sisters had stopped associating the kidnappings with household shenanigans a few years later, but that maturity hadn’t completely erased the fact some from their village had gone missing overnight. Whether human or fae, the abductors didn’t seem to favor an age group either. She was never quite sure how to react when she saw the people she’d known since birth wailing at the loss of a spouse who had been lured from their bed or an infant snatched from its cradle.

Would her wish be granted, she wondered, or would she be stolen away before she could voice it, simply for daring to ask?

A cold draft rattled the trees, chilling her down to her bones, far too cold to be considered natural for a spring evening in their region. Consulting her rudimentary map for what felt like the millionth time, she had to assume the biting air had something to do with approaching the Unseelie Gateway—if this was its true location.

The forest lightened then, startling Feyre enough that she paused on the trail, lifting her gaze from the parchment. Dawn was hours out still. The pale light wasn’t from the sun, but… starlight. If she wasn’t in The Faerie Wood, she would have thought she was suffering hallucinations without the fever that accompanied them. But sure enough, stars were lighting the trail like a dusting of breadcrumbs down to the water at the forest’s edge. Confident now she was on the right path, she quickened her pace until she broke the tree line, slightly unsteady when the shed foliage transitioned to pebbles and stones beneath her flimsy boots.

A dozen yards and she’d be at the edge of the lake. If the stories were true, the crystal clear water before her was the gateway itself. Even now, before she reached the edge of the water a faerie would sense her as a trespasser and weigh the question inside of her to deem her worthy of its help or declare her the next victim of some ruthless immortal’s game. If she was being honest with herself, she had no idea whether she wanted all of that to be the truth or utter nonsense. If it was true, at least she’d have a clue what she was getting herself into.

“Of course it’s true, darling. Outlandish as your childhood tales may seem, they need a bit of the truth to become anything significant.” Shaking from head to toe, Feyre frantically scanned the forest and waters to locate the voice seeming to pour in from every direction. “Here, darling.”

Finally pinpointing the voice, she watched a man—if a faerie could be called something so simple—materialize from a pocket of shadows, the slightest smirk she sensed he often wore illuminated by the waxing moon.

She couldn’t help but stare, taking in the high cheekbones, the hard line of his jaw, the breadth of his shoulders his clean cut jacket was unable to hide. He was tall, too. Enough so that she’d be forced to tilt her head back of he closed the few yards between them to get a better look at her. Not that he’d need to, with faerie senses being significantly better than those of a human.

Terrified—and worse than that, flustered beneath his undivided attention—Feyre couldn’t begin to think of a proper way to show deference. She fell back on instinct, dropping into a clumsy curtsy even the snap of a rod had never been able to perfect.

“I come in need of a favor,” she said simply, not wanting to risk offending the man by addressing him with the wrong title. Surely the curtsy had been safe. Dressed like that, carrying himself tall, he had to be some sort of gentleman or noble among his kind. Then again, most gentlemen she’d met weren’t built like a soldier in service. “My sister needs help.”

He cocked his head. “Come closer, darling. I can hardly hear you.” She stayed rooted to the spot. How easy would it be for a man like that to pull her beneath the surface of the glassy lake? Drown her or drag her down into his world of wicked things? No, she’d be staying right where she stood. “Have it your way.”

Just like that he folded into a flurry of shadow, reappearing mere feet in front of her, hand tucked casually into his pockets. It took everything in her not to scramble away. “Now, tell me more, pet.”

“My sister is ill. She’ll be dead by morning. I want to bargain for her life. If you’d be so gracious,” she tacked on.

He considered her request for a moment, seeming to study her more than anything. “Most young woman are warned against these woods.” He leaned forward slightly. “Yet you’re here intentionally, asking to bargain. My, things must be dire.” She swallowed hard. “Just what are you willing to offer, darling?”

“I don’t…” It had to be a fool’s choice to tell a faerie to craft the bargain to his own liking, but Feyre had a fair idea of what men usually wanted and she highly doubted the man she now faced had any desire for mortal coin or the intimate company of a human woman. She wasn’t sure she could puzzle out something that interested him, being so unsure of faerie customs.

“Could I simply owe you a favor?” she offered, hoping and praying that would provide a solution for the time being and wouldn’t bite her in the ass further down the road. “To call in when you require assistance.”

He chuckled and the little flame of hope winked out. “Darling, you’re asking me to help you defy the nature of life. It’s going to cost you more than a favor. No, I fear this bargain will require something a bit more… substantial.” Feyre crossed her arms, but held her stance. “Your firstborn,” he purred.

She blinked, lost for words. “Excuse me?”

“Your firstborn child is the price I demand.”

“That—” She bit her lip, finally retreating a step. She couldn’t think with him so close, the combination of his salt and citrus scent and unyielding stare unnerving. “I never intended to marry, let alone have children,” she admitted.

“You wouldn’t change your mind on that to save your sister’s life? And you humans call my kind cruel.”

“I didn’t say—” Feyre huffed. “If that is the price, I will pay it.”

“Very well, darling.” There was a sharp tingling up her right arm. From her fingertips to her elbow a black swirling pattern crawled up her arm, the color much like tattoo ink. Before she could express her anger at being marked against her will the design vanished, leaving her arm bare once again. “The ink of the Unseelie Court can only be seen in the land of Faerie.”

Raw dread chilled her down to the bone. “You intend to take me there?” Feyre asked. He raised a brow. “For the, um, conception?”

~~~~~

Rhys had no reason to bring the girl into his domain. He’d had no intention of claiming her beyond the bargain mark, if he was being honest. He assumed when making his proposal that she would find a nice man in the village to father the child and that would be that. Despite what rumors claim, most of the stolen children lived fulfilling lives among the court. Occasionally things got out of hand with the crueler crowd, but the same could be said of humans who kept servants and entertainers.

But dear Feyre had interpreted the bargain incorrectly, assuming he meant to drag her to his bed. Studying the human once again, it was far too easy to imagine her carrying his heir. And then a few more to follow. He could pretend he had a decision to make, but deep down, he already knew the path was decided.

“Your sister’s health has been restored. Your family and neighbors will forget the illness ever burdened her, though there’s nothing I can do to bring back your mother.”

“I understand,” she said softly.

“You will let me escort you to the Court tonight. After the child is born you can decide whether you wish to return to the human world or live among the Unseelie to raise the child.”

A strange sort of tension settled between them. He imagined leaving the child behind would be difficult, even if she didn’t desire a family.

Even if she thought the babe to be more monster than human.

“How are…” Feyre crossed her arms, curling in on herself a bit. “How are humans treated there? Poorly, I imagine. I just want to prepare myself for the worst.”

Rhys closed the distance between them in two strides, lifting her chin so she’d meet his eyes again. “My guests, Feyre darling, are treated with respect.” He let his grip tighten ever so slightly before bending to brush his lips along the shell of her ear. “No one touches what belongs to the High Lord.”

[white-lotus-pavilion]

WAAAIIITTTT

OMG WAAIIITTTT what the actual FUCK! Is happening right now????

Li Jianheng Noooo!!!!

This is so fucked wtf!!! Noooo!!! Li Jianheng noo!!! This is actually such a devastating read like oh my God? And the fact that Mu Ru stabbed him? That is actually so depressing. The fact that he was finally coming into his role as being the emperor after everything he has had to go through only for that to be shifted away from him at the very last minute by somebody who he thinks cares about him!?

That is just devastating.

Oh my God poor Li Jianheng. And now Xiao Chiye is it even allowed to mourn the loss of his brother and the decline of their relationship because of the political nonsense that they have had to go through, because these Nobles are now trying to come for him? Bro cannot catch a break! I was rooting for these two and their friendship so damn hard as I was reading this novel do you have no idea! I personally care more about platonic relationships than romantic ones and whenever I see a platonic relationship getting a lick of nuance and attention I run to it and the fact that they killed off my boy??? He was flawed but that's what made him such an interesting character he was deemed stupid but he was trying to become a better ruler for his people even though he had no idea what he was doing! AUUGHH!!! LI JIANHENG NOOOOO!!!! The devastation I feel right now is immeasurable.

And all this because of the fact that the army of LIBI is seen as treasonous because they don't function the same way is a Noble's function and the eight great clans function is actually so devastating. No wonder why Shen Zechuan hates this very system because it is so messed up. If you don't conform you're screwed. Which honestly is a great parallel to how human beings in general rally against anything that is abnormal in every sense of the word regardless of culture. Absolutely devastating.

And the fact that the death of Li Jianheng perfectly parallels the death of Shen Zechuan's brother is so not funny. Like oh my God. Chapter 96 omg chapter 96.

The fact that this chapter is also the end of volume 1??? I know that for the readers who were reading this novel as it was coming out this chapter must have been insane and also chapter 95 the revelations in that chapter and the truth of what actually happened at the chicia sinkhole… my god!

I'm going to be completely honest I barely understand what happened and all the scheming that was involved but what I did get was that it was all for the sake of money. All of those deaths that 100K death toll was all for the sake of money…

Diabolical.

And now the fact that they are going to frame him for the murder of Li Jianheng?! And the way that Xiao Chiye knew this the entire time but went along with it because he wanted to say goodbye to his brother to his best friend even after all of the trials and tribulations they have gone through in their relationship because of the politics! AUGH!! THE DEVISTATION, THE ATROCITY!!!

Shen Zechuan's betrayal??? HOLY HELL!

Qi Huilian too??? Dear god.

Teachers death??? Shen Zechuan crying??? omg… just omg so much happened in the last three chapters wtf! imma need a explanation and someone to talk about all this with because omg things went o shit so fast. they were too late and now everything's gone to shit… omg…

Qiang Jin Jiu: Ballad of Song and Sword

[cherryphobe]

Its just a very strong feeling of "first they came for the others, i dont care bc they havent come for me" type feeling full of people freaking out bc now they feel threatened by a trump presidency, when the last decades have been devistating for all marginalized people regardless of presidential political party

[postmoderntongues]

I can be patient with an afab person who doesn’t realize she’s complicit in their own oppression I have no patience or civility for Amab people who want me to accept a less safe world to spare their feelings and validate them. I never said the BIGGEST threat to afab people was trans women but that does not mean they don’t still pose a threat. There is no way to tell for sure who is a “good one” and who is a predator and like I said the safety of even one single woman on the planet earth is not worth risking to spare Amab feelings or be “fair”. Patriarchy isn’t fair. The fact that I can get pregnant from rape and an Amab person couldn’t isn’t fair. The fact that no matter how I present I won’t be safe but an Amab person couldn’t isn’t always take off the dress and cut their hair and regain their full Amab privilege if things get too scary/hard isn’t fair. I’m not obligated to be fair, I’m trying to be SAFE. Sad Amab people even devistated Amab people is a small price to pay for afab physical safety. True biological sex is 100% real, GENDER is fake/made up/a construct.

My anger and fear is not misdirected, all Amab people are privileged and all afab people are oppressed under patriarchy regardless of how you identify. You might not be more privileged than cis AMABs but you still have privilege over afab people. Our movements can even work together on 99% of issues but I will not be spoken over by an oppressor trying to infiltrate afab safe spaces. Birth sex privilege is immutable the fact that you experience oppression for not being cis does not mean you face the same oppression AFABs of any gender face.

Make. Your. Own. Spaces. Afab people had to fight for ours drop the entitlement and do a single step of your own fucking legwork. Also SA statistics across the board show Amab people of any gender commit 96% of sex crimes. Also the statistic for violence against Amab trans people shows when dissected that almost all trans women killed are killed by cis men and most of them are full service sex workers of color, white non-FSSW actually have a significantly lower rate of attack than cis women with the same qualifiers.

Womanhood is not for Amab people who “failed out of” manhood that’s disgusting to say and shows you think of afab people as inferior. Women are not failed men. And what you described is still literally male socialization afab people aren’t privileged to get to cry or do girly things we are allowed to do those things because they are considered degrading/training for subservience and afab people are considered weak by default. Also boo hoo you got called some names I was raped for the first time before I was out of diapers and grew up being called a “fat dyke” for not fitting into patriarchal femininity again the hardship u faced for not being cis is not worse than what afab people face for being afab let alone if you are non-cis on top of it.

Are you delusional about how bottom surgery works? A trans man can’t impregnate me. Putting birth sex markers on ID would be a perfectly easy solution.

Trans women are a risk to AFABs in afab prisons. I don’t care what happens to them in Amab prisons, a single afab person put at risk to protect an Amab one is patriarchal and unacceptable. If you don’t like how ur treated in Amab prisons once again demand for and fight for your own spaces like afab people did. The source on the sex crimes statistic was a 2018 MOJ study showing half of trans Amab prisoners had committed one or more sex crimes. Studies behind The Equality Act of 2010 came to the same conclusion.

Ellen is a narcissistic oligarch with ties to human trafficking so of course no right minded political activist wanted to back her but this literally isn’t about gay women, gay AFABs pose no statistical threat to other AFABs in these spaces? But yeah like I said all these spaces started integrated and had to be made separate because of the high rates at which Amab people sexually abused afab ones. I’m not talking about capitalism or the rich or the PIC I’m talking specifically about patriarchy that is the axis this conversation is about idgaf what other privileges you don’t have and if being told you don’t belong in a space you don’t belong in causes you to manipulatively threaten suicide you need to be in a hospital until you sort that out and can cope with a world that isn’t specifically catered to your validation at any cost to more marginalized people.

IDGAF who is “at bat” for feminism supporting a movement does not mean entitlement you to the resources of that movement that would be like me complaining that the NAACP doesn’t cater to me and should because I’m anti-racist. Once again your problem is entitlement. Idgaf about “outnumbering” you literally should not be extracting a single resource from the feminist movement to serve Amab people. If you actually support feminism you will continue to support it despite this.

Gender oppression does exist as an extension of the intersection of patriarchy and homophobia.

“You are like the white people who harassed Ruby Bridges or the cops at stonewall” could you be any more self important or obsessed with making yourself the victim? You are not Ruby Bridges for telling afab people we should sacrifice our physical safety to indulge your feelings/identity expression. You are a whole-ass entire AMAB oppressor throwing a tantrum about Afab people prioritizing our physical safety over your emotions. You are not the ally you think you are.

"OP is a terf" is a thought-terminating cliche meant to keep you from questioning the status quo and keep you afraid of being labeled a heretic should you come to your own conclusions about anything.

[the-firebird69]

Judge Engoron Denies Trump Lawyers' Request: 'No Way, No How' (msn.com)

this is a saga and trump a severe loser and yes they go to GA when our sons delivery most likeley will be there. and yes the two fight but bja is there and clobbers the sob and y es trump is to debase society for macs partially and he does and did. and hey instruct him. and this is it we say it he does it. we have a paralell of course and take over using him. and they say they think not and we say so what your daft too. and we took ten spain sized areas added in five portugal sized areas. and that is huge ok. not including the three states plus five spains and purtugals of the other day. and we have it we have a lot of area. soon more. tons more. and we do guage success by it. and need to due to it working on you s. yes. it works. weakens you. your resolve your technique and more andtrump falls flat regardless and is a flopping fish and fights only ou ppl and our son. we hit the faggot. tonos of times shortly

and garth is a faggot and laughs and more says he will tamper with the pb8 and tons hate the faggot. and our son says we need to ready for when he falls soon the ss administration will need shoring and we have it. bja moves in. trump and garth dead soon. and he knows it. sherry too and stan but sherry takes over. not for long and ok he saw it. flattened.

and we havenotes and the state wll county takes it no. mac daddy does no. and trump nope he dies. jason no. ok bja and true. recovers. well ok no. we do know what happens. and it is sad no. not bad. and the county does it no. the community no our lawyers do it no. the empire well they use it. own it nope. so what happens. morlock retake it eventually believe it or not and devistate the psudo empire fully. and yes due to numbers and get tot he ship refueling. and trump is pushed out other morlock are in. not jst bja. and he is upset starts they threaten him. tightly. and it goes on. but he manages to take over andtons look at him and no he is apig too. and make him kneel.. and he takes over for months ok no. he is repulsed by psuedo empire it falls and misc and minority morlock fill in. sorta. forgieners. nope

the empire does it. and fills the morlock full of lead.

and teh house is in limbo. and he send checks to sherry as stated. then she is out....others all fight over it. and has a month or so and then this e cant do this sh anymore. and then this. i send it to the biz and cant. sherry announces it and to all the renters. and has cards. and she has to knows itt too. and is there at tehhouse to accept rent yes. and does. and reparis it renovates. wont have himlol and good damnit and she sys it what am i going todo watch and all ive ever done and tries nope. wont. no. cant. and too hard roofing and stuff no.

doesnt askever. is odd.

and the events coming up are soon not later. tehempire will be under attack shortly. and will tak e overr but not here. and they take over their areas ok....so yousee

Thor Freya

Olympus what canwe say they are goiong tob e attaced soon

[placetneplacet]

VegasPete Novel Spoilers Speculation

Ok! (Sorry I had to figure out how to add the read more from the mobile app in order to accomplish this and I’m just very thrilled that I figured it out)

I keep thinking about how I’m 90 percent certain there is no Nop in the show and that Vegas is no longer a university student (honestly neither is Porsche, why did they keep it in that he was??).

These two things Nop, as a character and Vegas’ school, are both instrumental in breaking Pete out of the play that he is performing with Vegas and prompts his breakdown. Without Nop sewing distrust and discord and without the freshman as a focal point, what is Pete’s catalyst?

Pete’s catalyst in the show could be Porsche.

The show has spent a great deal of time pushing this Vegas seducing/falling in love with Porsche storyline, which obviously is also there in the novel, but I still think they’ve taken time to really emphasize it and for Pete to witness it.

I always thought the college “nong” was kind of a flimsy excuse for jealousy on Pete’s part anyway. If Pete is “acting” it just seemed silly for him to be taken apart so quickly, by one of Vegas college classmates texting him.

But I know (and we even get a glimpse of this in the novel) that Pete would be devastated to realize he was feeling jealous of Porsche. Porsche, his best friend, the reason he even stepped into the Minor House in the first place, when he knew he couldn’t succeed, to be jealous of him? To let this thing that had grown up between him and Vegas to start to hurt his relationship with Porsche?

That’s a reason to fall apart after fighting for so long. And it’s a real threat in a way that the college classmate never was, because Vegas did really want Porsche. And Pete watched Vegas pursue Porsche.

However you feel about what Vegas “feelings” towards Porsche were, I think it’s hard to argue that Vegas wasn’t attracted to Porsche, even if you feel Vegas had no real “feelings” for him.

It would be easy and shattering for Pete to see a text or video that showed Vegas still in contact with Porsche. It would also be a good way to emphasize Pete’s feelings of inadequacy, part of what Pete receives from Vegas that he hadn’t had before is the feeling of being special and desired.

Pete considers himself fairly average and, at least in the novel, lacking compared to the Theerapkyul family including Porsche. But Vegas calls him lovely and devotes all of his attention on Pete. The thought of Vegas still wanting Porsche, that Vegas is settling for Pete, because Pete is convenient. That Vegas wouldn’t treat Porsche the way he’s been treating Pete.

That is a something, that I think, is capable of ripping Pete out of the make believe world he has created for Vegas and back into reality where Pete has allowed himself to fall under Vegas spell and to actually believe that Vegas loved him.

It would also be a lot harder for Vegas to combat.

It would also be more devastating for Vegas, because Vegas knows exactly how it feels to be second best and to think that Vegas has made Pete feel that way? Vegas will be undone. They both will.

“I can’t be apart from you, Pete. I have no one but you.”

[thesacredtwink]

I'll be honest I've reread the update like, five times (because I do that when new things drop), and alongside all the exciting things everyone is yelling about (Wolfie rescue team! Time goes ape! Wild is most certainly about to square up with Dark Link Iron Knuckle!), I realized I genuinely can't tell what Time is actually doing.

Either that is some sort of magic, or he's using one of the last three Hidden Skills, and I can't tell which.

Of course regardless of the answer, it's badass as hell and cool as shit to see and I'm probably the only one focused on the details.

-Attllhak

OKAY SO

As far as I can tell it's a combination of Dins fire and Ending Blow.

Like that overhead swing? And what's getting me is that it's the first of the hidden skills Shade teaches to TP Link.

And the sheer power of the skill combined with Dins Flame AND an unbreakable two-handed sword is DEVISTATING.

[ofmoonlily]

Finally. The release of hard hands left the summoner's palid flesh covered in welts the shape of fingers. She knew they manhandled her, but she didn't realize they'd restrained her so hard.

Gentle hands gravitate near her person, palm lying flat against the bruises which blemished her skin. She rubbed her tired hands against the ache, agreeing to humor the prince with the knowledge she harbored.

Yuna doesn't stall her footsteps the moment the male made way for the adjacent room. She remained glued behind Zenos like a puppy at his heels.

Upon entering the sitting room Yuna hesitates before elegantly lowering herself down onto the seat where she smoothed out her plaid skirt, folding her hands near her lap.

The last thing she wanted to discuss was Death itself. Though Zenos didn't appear like somebody she could simply dismiss. He was a large man with an even larger sword. It wasn't a secret that his own servents and men alike feared him. Not as a noble…but something Yuna couldn't exactly place.

Regardless what she felt, she exhales before conjuring up the story spoken around her realm for a millenia.

"A thousand years ago, mankind waged war using machina to kill; A war between two powerful countries, Bevelle and Zanarkand.

"As the war raged on, the death toll spiked on either side. Machina came clean of the convayer belt and were used to devistate both sides of conflict. When things boiled over and reached a fever pitch, it was said that a weapon powerful enough to destroy the entire world had been assembled.

"When the conflict had no hope of armistice... Sin appeared, and it destroyed Zanarkand leaving nothing but a shell of the great machina city in it's wake—as it has been doing all over Spira since its birth.

"Sin is our punishment for allowing violence of that caliber to come to fruition while relying on machina to comit atrocities. And it will not go away until we've atoned."

❝Aeons... These 'aeons' sound similar to the primals, for which you might find are not favorable for us Garleans,❞ Zenos finally said with a musing tone. ❝But your aeons sound as though they are more of a... helpful sort, so to speak.❞

If she wished to know more of what this difference was between aeons & primals, he would answer then. But for now, he was more curious about her.

❝Come. We can find seats in one of the sitting rooms nearby.❞ This probably seemed generous, & to an extent, it were. For a man interrogating the woman in a non-threatening manner, he was courteous. Once checking that the woman was fully steady on her feet, no longer being yanked around by rough hands, the prince would beckon her to follow though it was clear that he was alert for her steps to falter or for her to be unable to move.

It would perhaps help if she weren't feeling hostile glares sent her way, for even with helmets on & thus shielding their eyes from view, the men posted were undoubtedly doing their best to make their disgust or anger known.

A room was readily nearby, thankfully, to which held plush seats that were often where guests or visitors of the Empire would wait for audience with the Emperor. With a flourish of a hand, Zenos waited for the other to at least acknowledge the offer to sit before he took his own. With his sitting, he no longer towered as imposingly as before, though he was still fairly tall until he came to rest his chin on the palm of his right hand, his posture shifted to something more comfortable (though his father would disapprove, as it weren't regal).

❝So. What is this 'Sin'? I would take it that it is a threatening creature or being rather than morals of man. ❞

[princess-of-the-corner]

So, ML question: I hated the part in Syren where Adrien was threatening to get rid of the Black Cat Miraculous. It was a moment similar to Chloe crashing the train in Queen Wasp, where I'm thinking 'this character has every right to feel the way they're feeling, but did you have to have them do something like that to show how bad they're feeling writers?', and it felt so out of character to see Adrien of all people be willing to leave Ladybug and the entire city of Paris high and dry (heh) in the middle of one of the most difficult and devistating Akuma attacks we've seen in the show over some hurt feelings, regardless of how valid those hurt feelings are.

You're really good at taking bad ML things and fixing them, got any ideas on how to fix that?

Honestly? I have very little problems with Syren. Or at least Adrien’s actions in it. 

If I were to ‘fix’ it, I would either A.) Have Fu be an actual decent mentor figure and talk to Adrien as much as he does Marinette, or B.) If Fu is still being a secretive son of a bitch, have Mari or Plagg say ‘fuck the rules’ and tell Adrien anyway. (But I understand why they can’t the blame would still be on Fu.). 

Adrien was kept in the dark about so many things. When they started, he and Ladybug were partners. Now, she gets to access the rest of the Miraculous, hand them out, know other Heroes’ identities, and let slip about some kind of mentor-figure that is obviously not talking to Adrien at all. And he’s not even given some kind of explanation why he can’t know!

Adrien tried asking normally. He asked Ladybug multiple times. He asked Plagg. He tried bribing Plagg with cheese to give him just a hint of information!

And then we get to the actual Akuma. Ladybug has run off again. And Chat Noir can’t even fight Syren. All he can do is sit on a roof and wait for Ladybug to come back with whatever help. What else can he do? Jump in the water and get his ass kicked and maybe lose his Miraculous to an Akuma with such an advantage over him?

So yeah. He snaps. 

As I said. Nothing he could do. And he doesn’t think he’s that important! He’s so replaceable, isn’t he? Ladybug could bring in one of the other Heroes. Or she could give someone else the Black Cat Miraculous. He doesn’t think it will matter, that no one will care about him. Ladybug will be fine without him. 

I don’t feel much of a need to fix Adrien’s actions in this episode. I know it’s one of the three scenes where the salters railroad him(and honestly the other two are nowhere near as bad as people make them out to be either.), but he didn’t do anything wrong other than finally break down and beg that he gets respected as a person. 

[inadaydream99]

May I request a fluff with Eric as your not so secret admirer and he finally confesses to you? I love your writing~ keep it up ❤

Hey! Thanks for sending a request, I hope you enjoy! 😊 I wanted to try and emulate the whole hiding your crush kind of idea, like when you don’t want to admit it because you just like having a flirt 😂 I hope that makes sense... Also sorry this took so long to write!

Two Can Play at That Game

Eric’s crush on you hadn’t gone unnoticed by anyone, including yourself. He’s not exactly the best at being discrete. But the fact you know doesn’t put him off, in fact it only makes him try harder to get your attention and to be the reason you’re smiling. He likes that you play hard to get, it gives him something to work for.

“(Y/N), have you got any plans for tonight?” Eric causally asks. He’s been trying a new way of getting your interest, and that is to also play hard to get.

He’d initially come up with the plan while he was whining to Juyeon and Changmin about how he can’t seem to read you. That’s when Changmin told him to give as good back, to beat you at your own game.

“Actually, I don’t.” You respond, half expecting Eric to jump in and ask you to do something with him.

Except he never does.

“Neither have I. I think I’m gonna just have a quiet night in, you know?” Eric warmly smiles, sliding his phone into his jean pocket as he stands from the sofa, leaving the room without another word.

He exits with a proud smirk on his face, his causal stroll out of the room adding to the layed back vibe he is aiming for.

“Did she watch me?” Eric whispers to Juyeon who has been hiding behind the opposite side of the door, listening into the conversation and watching through the tiny gap.

“Yep, with the most confused look I’ve ever seen.” He lowly chuckles, trying to keep his voice hushed so you can’t hear them converse.

~

“And that’s just one example of all the odd behaviour from Eric!” You have been filling Kevin in on all of the random encounters you’ve had over the last few days, starting with how Eric had been acting really uninterested and moving onto his lack of clingy, attention seeking behaviour (not that you don’t secretly love it when he is clingy).

“I mean any other time he would have asked me to do something with him, but all of a sudden he’s not? What if he’s lost interest in me!” You gasp, coming to the realisation mid rant, your eyes growing wide. The thought alone is enough to make your heart sink. Why did you have to play so hard to get? It’s only done the opposite of what you intended.

“I’m sure he’s not lost interest in you.” Kevin comforts, placing his hand on your shoulder to shake you out of your daze. “Just the other day I heard him talking to Chanhee about why his favourite colour to wear is blue because you once told him that it’s your favourite colour on him.” Kevin continues, trying his best to restore some of your peace of mind.

Kevin is the only one who you’ve told about your feelings for Eric. He’s the one you trust the most to guard your secret and look out for you in any given situation. That’s why he sympathised so much with you and your frantic mind. He can read the distress from your body language and see the heartbreak behind your eyes.

“Why don’t you tell him how you feel if you’re worried?” Kevin suggests. Though the thought alone makes you visibly tense.

The only reason you’d never actually made your true feelings known is because you are scared. Scared to be hurt and to ruin all the amazing friendships you have built with the group. Regardless of knowing that Eric reciprocates you’re feelings, you’re afraid to take the risk, plunging into a relationship together all for it to fail and fall apart.

“Because what if we break up? I’d lose all my friends too.” You mumble.

“But what if you date him and it’s the best descision you’ve ever made?” Kevin counteracts, raising his brow at you. You can tell he’s all for you and Eric, he always has been. And for some reason the possibility of you breaking up doesn’t worry him. “And besides, no matter what happens, you’d never lose us as your friends, especially me.” He smiles, pulling into into his side.

You can’t help the wide grin on your face. Maybe Kevin’s right...

~

“Eric we need to talk.” You march into the practice room, filled with confidence. You’d decided that it was now or never, you’re finally going to lay all your cards on the table. To make sure that you go through with your confession you’d texted him that you were on your way, just so he would expect you.

“Hold on one sec...” He briefly pulls away from the phone and whispers to you before resuming his call.

You have no idea who he is taking to but you feel a little unnerved when you hear him say something about looking forward to tonight.

“What are you doing tonight?” You question as soon as he hangs up. Eric turns to face you with a smile, pushing his phone into his back pocket.

“Oh, I’m meeting with this girl I met through Juyeon. Apparently she’s been into me for a while but wasn’t sure if I was interested.” He explains, shrugging his shoulders like it’s no big deal.

You feel your heart sink. How can you possibly confess now. You’d feel humiliated and rejected.

“So, what was it you wanted to talk about? It seemed pretty important.” You zone back in when you hear Eric’s voice.

“Oh... it’s nothing. Just needed to know if you were around for dinner tonight... apparently Hyunjae wants to know numbers.” You fumble over your excuse, trying to sound believable enough so you can get away. And it seems like it does the trick, Eric nodding his head as you head towards the exit without another word.

~

“You’re an asshole you know!” Kevin storms into the studio the next morning. He was so hurt when he found you upset the previous evening.

You’d relayed all the information you had to him about how you hadn’t managed to confess and about Eric’s date.

“What are you going on about?” Eric challenges defensively.

“All this time you’d lead (Y/N) on and then you suddenly just go and date someone else.” Kevin folds his arms. He’d really thought more of Eric than this, truly believing that he had really liked you. But now he’s not so sure he ever did.

“She clearly wasn’t into me and I got tired of chasing someone I was never gonna get.” Eric calmly explains, dropping his defensive attitude as soon as he realises that it’s about you. He understands Kevin’s anger towards him because his actions were very sudden and harsh. But that doesn’t mean he’s going to fall out with one of his best friends over it.

“Well clearly you don’t know (Y/N) very well because she was going to ask you out yesterday.” Kevin mutters before walking out.

Eric stands stunned in the middle of the room, like a bombshell has just been dropped on him. He feels like a complete idiot because there never was a date, he’d made it up to make you jealous and now he’s afraid he’s taken his little game too far and ruined all his chances with you for good.

~

You were devistated upon hearing Eric’s news, confiding in Kevin for hours about how much you had liked him and how stupid you feel for not letting him know that. But then Juyeon returned home and found you in a state. That’s when he’d revealed everything. From the initial plan of just acting distant all the way to full blown fake date. It was all to make you jealous.

At first your were furious at Eric for messing with your feelings like this, and at Juyeon for helping him. But then you’d decided to get him back just as good. So you and Kevin spent the rest of the night making a plan.

Kevin put the plan into action by blowing up in Eric’s face the next morning. He knew that Eric would feel terrible if he found out you were going to confess, so he revealed exactly that.

Now all you have to do it wait for Eric to come rushing to you and tell you the truth himself. Except the waiting game is no fun and you’re beginning to get impatient.

“He’ll be here, I know it.” Kevin reassures you, taking in your anxious expression.

You meekly smile at him, nodding your head as you chew on your bottom lip. It’s a nervous habit you’ve had since you were a kid that you only find yourself doing subconsciously when you have something troubling you.

“What if he doesn’t?” You speak up after a moment of silence. You watch as Kevin takes a minute to process his answer. But as it turns out there’s no need for him to give one.

At the very moment he is about to respond, you hear to sound of a door clicking shut and footsteps echoing in the quiet.

Your heart skips a beat when Eric rounds the corner, his eyes instantly connecting with yours. It’s like there’s a sudden surge of electricity between you and it seems that Kevin noticies it because he instantly excuses himself and slips away.

Without a single word you stand from your seat, meeting Eric half way across the room.

“There was never anyone else.” The words stumble out of Eric’s mouth softly, no need for him to speak any louder, you’re barely a meter away from him.

You let out an airy chuckle, allowing the relieved smile to grow across your face.

“And I’m sorry for messing with your feelings like that... I was stupid and wrong.” He continues, now with a subtle smile on his face.

You nod in acceptance, your gaze not once faultering.

“Would you give me a chance to make it up to you?” Eric nervously asks.

“You don’t need to make anything up to me, I played you too...” You laugh, reaching out to take his hand in yours. He snickers at your coy responce, shyly looking down at your hands before making the effort to intertwine your fingers together.

“How’d you do that?” He tenderly inquires, confusion flickering across his face.

“By making you feel guilty, Juyeon found me upset last night and revealed everything.” You cheekily inform, a devilish grin on your face.

“I guess we’re even then.” He peaks back up at you, shooting you a smirk.

“For now.” You shrug, both of you breaking out into joy filled laughter.

~ bonus ~

“Wanna help me get revenge on Juyeon for being a snitch?” Eric eviliy proposes, casting you a look that tells you he’s had an idea.

You shake your head in disbelief, laughing heartily when you are dragged away by Eric on a mission.

And you know for sure that there’s never going to be a dull moment being in a relationship with him.

[chushanye]

i think hermie should wrestle with the fact his dads abandoned him and then when taylor inevitably goes to visit his dad in hell and meet his grandparents he should bring hermie with, and for hermie to... go absolutely fucking insane on the king of hell

[justaghostingon]

Kodya, Self-Worth, and a Soldier’s Place

An analysis of Kodya

So in chapter 116, we got a look into the mindset of Kodya when it comes to leadership in war. To sum it up briefly, to Kodya, the role of self-sacrifce lies in the subordinate, whose job it is to ensure the safety of their leaders. This mentality makes sense considering his background. He’s a soldier from 1812 Russia, long before the concept of Communism was even invented. Russia, which still had serfs (the practice where lords practically own the people on their land) well after Western Europe had dropped it. So it makes sense he would see the leaders, who were probably wealthy and noble, as being more important than the common soldier.

This mindset however, depends on two things. First, the afformentioned service and self-sacrifice, and second, absolute faith in the leader to make decisions worthy of their sacrifice. He expects the people who are in charge to have the answers. And both of these come up again and again in Kodya’s character.

First: Service and self-sacrifice, which comes up again and again with Kodya. In this chapter he outright states that in the past as a subordinate he prioritized Gyrus’s life over his own. A mindset he continues to show around Gyrus even after he resets. He goes after Gyrus in the shadow hour after all, stating to Nephthys “without him this will all have been for nothing.” He even dies for him, or at least, his mind and body are seperated.

To Gyrus’s credit, he really tries not to take advantage of Kodya’s self-sacrifical attitude, calling him out when he places Gyrus’s life over his own, choosing to sacrifice his arm to save him, leaving him a choice over whether or not to follow him into exile, and giving him the dagger regardless of what he chose. That dagger is particularly important because it shows that Gyrus trusts Kodya as much as Kodya trusts him, as he essentially places his entire plan and his freedom in Kodya’s hands. But Gyrus can’t risk explaining what the dagger means without putting Kodya in the line of fire, so Kodya doesn’t realize how valued he is.

But Gyrus isn’t the only leader Kodya follows. Don is also his commander, a fact of which Don takes full advantage. When Gyrus “kills” Hinju, Don tells Kodya he might be the only one who could calm Gyrus down if he returns. Kodya admits that gave him an added sense of responsibility kept him in the room of swords, even though it should not be Kodya’s job to do so. By taking advantage of Kodya’s willingness to do anything to serve the group, he effectively stops Kodya from leaving when Gyrus asks.

And then again when Gyrus “kills” the twelve, Don is lying helpless in the wake of an obvious threat. So Kodya sees his leader in trouble, and once again his instincts take over. He prioritizes Don, because Don is his leader, over Gyrus, since Gyrus has just “killed” 12 people and so no longer counts as a leader.

Which brings us to the Second point: Belief. Because a leader isn’t just anyone. They need to be someone that Kodya wholeheartedly believes will make the best calls, and has the whole plan in mind. Break that trust, and Kodya no longer sees them as a leader worth following. It’s why he chooses Don over Gyrus at Gyrus’s death. Although even in that moment, there’s a part of Kodya that still believes in Gyrus, which he admits to Gyrus as he is dying. A part which only grows after Black Box Gyrus provides suitable proof that there was both an explanation for his actions and a grand plan that has everyone’s best interests at heart. It takes a whole lot more persuading, but Kodya does eventually comply with Gyrus’s new plan and leave to join Maria’s crew. Kodya’s no longer acting in blind faith, he’s no longer naive, but there are still traces of that old soldier’s loyalty.

And then there’s Don, who uses Kodya’s faith to the fullest advantage. Before the incident Don when he tells him that Gyrus is suicidal, Kodya believes him instantly because why would his commander lie? After the incident when Kodya is devistated and the others don’t trust him, Don vouches for him, and then proceeds to send him, alone, on a mission to bring Gyrus back. From the two other missions we’ve seen of the Room of Swords after the incident, muliple people are supposed to go. So why is Kodya alone? Its a serious risk, and very nearly gets him killed. And yet never once does he question it.

Don even calls Kodya out on his blind faith, not in Don of course, but in Gyrus, and how that complete trust always gets him hurt. And he’s right. Valuing Gyrus’s life over his own does always get Kodya hurt. That’s the beauty of Don’s manipulation, he’s not lying.

But blindly following Don out of fear instead, which is clearly what Don wants him to do, isn’t the solution either. Kodya needs to realize his own worth is no less than Gyrus’s, or anyone else. Only then will his faith stop getting him hurt.

[docgold13]

Would you vote for George W Bush over Donald Trump if those were your two only options? Cause that’s pretty much what your asking Bernie supporters to do in voting for Biden..

A). What the fuck you going on about? Biden was never my first pick, but I was always going to support the Democrat against trump. Why venture out of the woodwork and target me with such a question?

B). Regardless, at this point any anti-Biden content will be interpreted as pro-trump propaganda, Russian trolling or what the spyscraft refer to as the work of ‘useful idiots.’

C). yes, I’d vote for the junior Bush over trump if that was my only option. I hated Bush, but trump has been a million times worse.

D). Voting trump out of office will not magically cure all of the US’ many ailments, but it a good step in the right direction. A second trump term would so devistate the country as to leave it non-repairable. Seeing the travesty that has befallen Beirut, and Lebanon in general, acts as a frightening visage into our potential future.

[queenofimagines]

Request: “Hey, can I request a MacGyver imagine where he and the reader/oc were in a relationship but decided to break up because of his job, but they just can't get away from each other”

Warnings: none

You and Mac loved each other as much as any person could love another, but you and he both lived busy lives. He was always being called away on missions while you were always working in the lab with Bozer when he coul stop by. You happened to be one of the people the Phoenix Foundation often lended our to other branches of the government, which meant that you were often pulled away for weeks at a time. Your constant traveling coupled with Mac’s many missions lead you both to agree to call it quits, no matter how much you didn’t want to.

It had been weeks since you and Mac broke up and even though you had both decided to stay friends, both of you found yourselves visiting each other much more than any normal friend would. He would often stop by your apartment or the lab to “go over mission stuff” as he liked to say, although it would usually end with you guys getting burgers and fries and talking about anything but the mission. It also didn’t help that Matty had started to bring assign you to go on missions and unofficially made you part of the team. You knew what she was doing and you were pretty sure Mac did too. When you guys broke up everyone was devistated, believing that you guys were truly meant to be. You understood, you thought that too, but maybe it just wasn’t the right time.

“Ready to go?” Mac asked as you had finished packing up the last of your things. He offered to give you a ride from your apartment to the airport for your next mission.

“Almost, I just need one more thing.” You said, turning around to find just the thing you were looking for in Mac’s hand.

“You left them at my house last time you came over.”

“Oh! I’ve been looking for them everywhere! You know I can’t live without my headphones.” Mac laughed. He did know. He remembered all those mornings at his place after you had stayed over when you would gather your things for work and desperately find your headphones that you were sure you’d lost. You always left them on the kitchen counter right next to the coffee machine. Ironically, you placed them their so you wouldn’t forget.

Mac missed that. He missed you. He missed the little things about your relationship. He missed holding your hand when you and the team met up at his place after missions and taking naps with you and having sunday brunches at fancy places that neither of you really liked just so you could spend time together and be stupid. But work got in the way, like it always does for him, and he felt a little defeated at the thought that he probably wouldn’t have anything outside of his work.

“Okay! I’m ready.” You said, breaking Mac out of his thoughts. You were smiling at him. That mission dollar smile he loved so much. He smiled back and helped you pack your things into the car.

The entire ride to the airport was silent. You weren’t sure what was going through Mac’s head. You just knew he was a little off. You, however, wanted to reach over and brush your thing over his forhead to smooth out the wrinkles that appeared when he furrowed his eyebrows, a tell tale sign that he’s upset. But you couldn’t do that, you guys weren’t dating anymore and you were afraid that doing something so familiar would be too personal so you decided against it. You also decided that the feelings you had for Mac were too dangerous. There was a reason you and Mac broke up and you were sure he was certain about the outcome, so you needed to spend as much time away from now on as possible.

The mission was a success but you turned down the nonverbal invitation to Mac’s place. The whole team tried to convince you to come and you wanted to, god how you did, but you didn’t know if you could stand pretending like you didn’t love the love of your life. So you said something about how you were tired and we’re just going to go home for a shower and then go to bed.

Mac new you were lying. He always did. But he let you go at first, not wanting to make a scene in front of the team. He also knew that you wouldn’t be going to bed. You always had so much energy after missions regardless of whether you slept on the plane back or not and he knew that you would probably find some activity to do in your apartment before going to bed.

He had the usual night in with the team but everyone could tell something was up. Mac was unusually quiet and extra fidgety.

“Just go man.” Bozer told Mac.

“I live here?” Mac replied, obviously confused at the sudden change in topic.

“No go to Y/N. It’s obviously bugging you that she’s not here so go get her, Romeo.”

“We broke up remember? I can’t just go after her anymore.”

“Mac,” Matty piped up. “I know you guys broke up for work reasons but what you guys have is a once in a lifetime opportunity. You both love each other, we can all see it. Don’t let something as silly as work get in the way of that.” Mac was still unconvinced, but after seeing the hope in his friend’s faces he decided to go after you.

He was nervous. Very much so. He was sure that you didn’t want to be with him after the breakup, especially since you had both agreed it would be for the better and despite your clumsiness and dumbassary you pulled on a day to day basis, you were practical, and didn’t often act on emotions like he had.

He arrived at your apartment in record time, the whole way hyping himself up to tell you that he loved and that you never should have broken up. He stood outside your door, wiping his palms on his jeans and taking deep breaths to try and calm his racing heart. He knocked once. Then twice. Then three times. No answer. He took that as a sign to leave, maybe you really were asleep, and began to walk away but stopped dead in his tracks when he heard your voice.

“Mac? What’re you doing here?” You asked. Your voice was soft and gentle, aware that most of your neighbors were probably asleep. He turned around and took in your appearance. You were dressed in sleep shorts and his old MIT t-shirt. You were drying your hair having just gotten out of the shower.

He couldn’t help it as he stepped closer, pulling you into him and kissing you like he had wanted to for so long. He gently pushed you into your apartment, making sure to close the door first before pressing you against a small table in your hallway.

You responded right away, missing the familiar feeling of his lips on yours. You pulled him closer by his shirt, trying to eliminate any space that remained inbetween you two. After some time you pulled away. Delighted but confused at the recent event.

“Mac-”

“I know. We broke up. But I love you, Y/N. It was a mistake and we shouldn’t have let work get in the way but I can’t keep looking at you and not being able to hold you and kiss you. I can’t keep pretending that I’m okay with this anymore. I love you, please let me love you again.” His eyes pleaded for you to understand, to feel the same.

“I love you too.” With those three simple words Mac kissed you again, this time more desperate than before. He gently pulled you off the table and placed you on your feet before guiding you to your bedroom where you and he would be for the rest of the night.

[breathlessangelrh]

This will seem kinda out of character for this blog. Maybe I ought to make a second blog just for my rambles and musings. I know a lot of people are sick of hearing about it or are suffering very real complications to their routine because of coronavirus. Being empathic, I’m just overwhelmed right now.

In times like this, I’d normally turn to my spiritual nature for comfort. But I feel so far removed right now that spirituality isn’t even a comfort. The doors of churches around the world are closed, some for the first time in centuries. Bustling streets are eerily silent as we, the loneliest generation in human history, isolate ourselves further.

For some, isolation will be a piece of cake. They’ll stay in, binge watch tv shows, maybe read a book or do something creative. For others, it’s inspired panic buying of anything they can get their hands on, preparing for an apocalypse. The isolation has split families, both those who cannot visit elderly relatives for fear of infecting them, and for the families, like mine, who are sending their children somewhere safer for the duration.

My heart is breaking. I know that FaceTime exists. I know that I can reach out to them any time I need. But I can’t help thinking of worst case scenarios. Running out of toilet paper is inconvenient. What happens if governments collapse? What happens if civilization as we know it falls to pieces? Let’s be honest - America was already pretty shaken after impeachment, regardless of your political ideology. Already individuals are fighting over goods in the stores and creating artificial scarcity of everyday items. There was a stabbing in our store last night and four people were injured. People are scared and tense. It’s not a big stretch to see how a catastrophe like a health crisis could completely devistate our entire way of life.

Things may get worse before they get better. Things may be overblown. This could be a government conspiracy, or a normal mutation of an otherwise common virus. But my fear is real. I worry for the elderly. I worry for the children. I worry for those who are pregnant. I worry for the immune compromised. I worry for those with underlying health concerns. I worry for the workers who rely on hourly wages but can’t work. I worry for the students who are stranded away from home. I worry for the students who are in limbo by their truncated semester or school year. I worry about what could happen when people get desperate if the stores close down and there is no way to get supplies. I worry about the potential for violence.

And yet there are stories of hope emerging, triumph of the human spirit. A woman buys a stranger’s groceries because the elderly couple was afraid to enter the crowded store. I cried listening to the voices of Italians singing to each other from their balconies. Isolated, and yet singing in harmony. There is hope yet.

Maybe my worry is unfounded. Maybe I have let media hype get to me. But I have older parents with health issues. I have nieces who are immune compromised. I have students looking to me for guidance. And I’m choking back the lump in my throat as I pack my children up to send them to the country, as far away from crowds as I can.

If you are a praying sort, spare one for me. This mother’s heart is shattered.