#it’s been 11 years and he yet I am still in awe of

[smracaraihc]

D.O. and Suhyun - Rewrite the stars cover

(their duet starts at 1:49)

[themultifanshipper]

Hello.

I have a question to ask. Are you up for a honeymoon fic Landoscar? With a lot of spicy things, hehe.

<3

When Oscar and Lando had woken up severely hungover that first morning after getting married at the Vegas GP, they knew they had made the right choice.

The only problem was how the hell they were going to go on their honeymoon without arousing suspicion.

Gonna go waterboard myself in holy water now brb

Warnings: Lando makes Oscar cry, but in a sexy way, sunburns, handjob, that’s it that's the plot, under negotiated everything, edging, Oscar being in denial, cum, facial, they're both fucking freaks

They got married on 20/11/2023 at 4:12 AM in the little Vegas Chapel after the Grand Prix. It was perfect (they barely remembered it) and the only people there were Alex and Logan (the best men) and the priest (who they had to track down later and make him sign an NDA).

All in all a brilliant night.

And the proof of consummation was… well, all over them and the sheets when they woke up.

How fucking romantic.

It was now a year on from that and they still hadn't been on their honeymoon.

They were determined though. But being in the public eye made any vacationing together quite hard.

So they decided to wait. Wait long enough that if they were seen, it would be reasonable to assume it was just a mates trip to a private Island.

They were currently on said private Island one morning, limbs tangled on a sunbed, sipping some pretty strong cocktails.

“What do you want to do today?”

“I don't care as long as I'm with you”

They giggled and a slap resounded on the empty beach.

“I hate you”

“That's not what you were saying last night when I had you-”

“Okay okay! I get it!”

Disgusting.

After another hour of lounging around, Lando untangled his limbs from Oscar's and got up to get more drinks.

“You want anoth- holy shit Osc!”

His eyes widened as he turned and took in his husband’s (he'd never get tired of saying that) appearance.

“What?” Oscar sat up, confused.

Oscar’s front was a similar shade of red as a lobster, the contrast in skin between his front and back making him look like a vanilla strawberry ice cream.

“Oscar you-” Lando couldn't contain his laughter “you forgot to put cream on again!”

Lando put his hand on Oscar's thigh and Oscar gasped in pain.

“Shit baby we need to go put something on that, let's go”

Oscar ended up laying on his back while Lando straddled his midsection and rubbed Aloe over his face and chest.

“Ah!” he hissed as a hand went over a patch of particularly red skin “careful where you put your bear paws!”

Lando laughed and squirted some more cream on his hands.

“Sorry baby, but it needs to be done. Besides you love my bear paws, especially when I put them on your-”

“Jesus, do you ever shut up!” Oscar laughed and Lando gasped at his meanness.

“Don't be mean to me when I'm helping you out!”

Oscar’s hands came up to cup Lando's ass over his shorts and squeeze lightly.

“You love it when I'm mean though, don't lie.”

“Oh yeah?” Lando smiled playfully “I can be mean too you know”

Oscar couldn't help the snort that escaped him. “Yeah right, I'll believe that when I see it, you’re just too sweet”

“I am not!” he tried to defend but Oscar just laughed at him “You just haven't seen my bad side, yet”

Oscar cackled and shot a look of disbelief at Lando.

Lando raised his eyebrows in challenge and shuffled backwards onto Oscar's thighs, making sure to rub against his crotch on the way.

“Shut up and let me finish putting the cream on” he scowled as he squirted a load straight onto Oscar's hot skin moodily.

“Aw… are you getting stroppy now because I laughed at you, baby?” Oscar cooed, hands reaching for Lando but he slapped them away.

“Touche me, or say another word, and I stop completely, understand?”

Oscar nodded, eyebrows almost fused with his hairline at Lando's harsh tone.

“And we'll see just how fucking mean I can be” the older man growled.

Well shit.

Lando quickly rubbed cream over Oscar's burns, before sitting back and ordering him to take his shorts off.

“Pardon?” Oscar wasn't used to being ordered around.

“If I have to repeat myself then I'll take them off, and I’m not going to be gentle”

That's a point, Oscar thought. He didn't want to take any chances with the burns so he peeled them off himself, making sure to give his skin a wide birth.

Once settled back into the sheets, Lando grabbed more cream and started rubbing it around Oscar's crotch, which was unnecessary given that the skin there was free of burns thanks to his shorts. But Lando apparently decided to turn this into a massage, because he was digging his thumbs into Oscar’s flesh, hard enough to make him groan at the feeling.

Then he dug his thumbs into Oscar's adductor muscles and the younger man yelped and stared daggers at him.

“What's the matter, baby?” Lando asked mockingly, “Am I going too hard for you?”

His eyes were inviting him to a challenge, one he knew Oscar wouldn't back down from.

Oscar shook his head, remembering Lando's warning from before, and quickly settled back down.

This was a new side to Lando. And it was getting Oscar a bit hot and bothered as his husband just carried on massaging/torturing him. The idea of being at his husband's mercy was turning him on enormously.

His dick twitched against his stomach and Lando chuckled.

“Careful Osc, one could think being submissive is turning you on” his voice was full of mirth but Oscar refused to acknowledge him, and stared at the ceiling while shaking his head.

“No? Must be mistaken then”

He continued along Oscar's groin, massaging the cream in and rubbing him in all the right places.

When Lando cupped his balls and pressed on his perineum at the same time, Oscar let out a strangled gasp.

He was dripping, he could feel it. But he refused to give Lando the satisfaction of asking him to touch him.

“You want me to stop Osc?” Lando had a teasing lilt to his voice. Oscar shook his head.

“If you want me to touch you all you have to do is be a good boy and say ‘please”

But Oscar, by some twisted sense of ego, refused to give in so he didn't answer.

Lando laughed softly and ran a finger up Oscar's cock, making the younger man shudder and his hips buck up of their own volition.

“That looks painful, Osc”

“Then fucking touch it”

Lando’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Not until you say please”

“Please” Oscar huffed out.

Lando tutted. “That wasn't very convincing, Osc.” His fingers ran along the tip and back down over his balls, but Oscar just about managed to stay impassive. He looked right into Lando's eyes.

“If you want me to say please you're going to have to do better than that”

Lando grinned like a Cheshire cat.

“Oh honey, I'm not going to stop until you're begging”

The look in his eyes was predatory and Oscar almost caved then and there.

But on principal, Oscar did not beg.

Cut to about 30 minutes later and Oscar was whimpering into his arm as Lando placed kitten licks on his dripping tip.

“Still not desperate enough to say please?”

Oscar just growled “nope” but it was so strained Lando barely heard it.

“Fine, maybe I need to try a different approach, then”

Oscar looked on as Lando grabbed the cream and squirted some straight onto Oscar’s cock.

Oscar hissed at the cold, but it was nothing compared to the feeling of Lando's large hand engulfing his cock and immediately starting a fast, tight, pace.

Oscar was writhing at the sudden intense pleasure after so long being teased, and he was having trouble getting air in his lungs as he hurdled towards an orgasm in record time.

His toes curled and his back arched as he felt the orgasm creep up his spine.

But just like that the feeling was replaced by a very tight hold around the base of his cock, the release his body craved ripped away from him.

“No! Lan-”

“Shhh, baby” Lando cooed “It's okay, I’ve got you”

While Oscar slowly came down from his almost-release, Lando reapplied some cream to make the slide as wet as possible, then proceeded to start stroking Oscar at the same pace as before, this time adding extra pressure.

Oscar was openly whining now, hands gripping the sheets so hard it’s shocking they weren't tearing.

“Now, I'm going to do that over and over again until you’re a good boy for me, okay”

Oscar couldn't contain the whine that came out of his mouth. He was getting close again and his eyes were filling up with tears at the white hot pleasure.

“Please” he let out a broken sob as his thighs started clenching with his impending orgasm.

“Oh you can do better than that, Osc” Lando’s pace didn't falter.

“Fuck- please Lan, I'll do anything. I need to come so bad, please, please. Please don't stop…” he was openly sobbing now, tears running down his cheeks as he took shuddering breaths.

He was so beautiful and pliant like this, Lando was unbelievably hard. He took pity on him and allowed him to come, other hand going to massage his balls for good measure.

“Good boy, Oscar. You can come now, go on.”

Oscar screamed as he came, hot spurts of his come landing over his abs and all the way up to his chin.

The sight of him, covered in his own cum, flush deepening the red of his burns, gasping for air, almost made Lando come on the spot.

He shuffled over to Oscar's head and pushed his shorts down to jerk himself off furiously.

“Open your mouth, tongue out” he ordered, grabbing Oscar’s jaw and aiming for his tongue.

It took him no time at all to come, and most of it landed on Oscar's cheeks and chin. It was absolutely sinful, the way his face was streaked with come, tongue hanging out, eyes unfocused, he looked like a sick man's dream.

Fortunately, Lando was a sick man.

“Shit Osc, I can't believe it took me this long to find out you’re a good little slut when you want to be”

Oscar took a long time to reply, trying to regulate his breathing.

When he finally did, a low growl came from his side of the bed.

“As soon as I get the feeling back in my legs, I'm going to fuck you until the sun sets, and I'm not giving you any breaks, no matter how many times you come”

Lando glanced at the clock.

It was only 1 pm…

Shit.

[numptypylon]

“Rayla is… not my lovebug.”

“Oh ho, now?" Nyx leaned obnoxiously close, her eyebrows raising. "Have you told her that?”

“She told me," Callum said, angry all over again suddenly that... she actually hadn't told him that and yet they weren't- "So I’m tentatively assuming that she knows.”

“Oh ho? So she broke up with you and yet you’re still adventuring together, risking your lives for each other, making love eyes at each other at every opportunity… ah, to be young and in love and a garbage fire of collective awkwardness of such radiance as to light up the heavens-”

“Yeah!” Ezran agreed, walking up to them. Oh no. Hopefully Nyx would tone down the… everything… around an 11-year-old, but… considering he had been 14 himself when he’d first encountered Nyx, he didn’t have high hopes. “It’s gross and they’re so dumb, and here I am, a doomed onlooker!"

“You got the family braincell, I see,” Nyx said, winking at Ezran.

Ezran nodded sagely. “My blessing and my curse, ‘tis true.”

Really?! Did Ez really have to form an alliance with every new person they met to tag-team roast him?!

Nyx turned away from Ezran, her unwanted attention firmly back on him now. “I still need the full status update on my favorite dysfunctional lovebugs!” Nyx would keep prodding, and Callum didn’t want her to prod Rayla- “You know there’s another ex-lovebug who could tell me-“ Did he just curse that idea into Nyx’s head?! “But you’re currently the less puke-smelling option, so…"

Nyx really didn't subscribe to the idea of sensitive subjects you should keep your trap shut about.

“We… broke up. Like you said.” One way to say it. But he wasn’t giving Nyx any ammunition to use against Rayla. “Then made up. Kind of. We’re friends, just not… lovebugs.”

“Friends with benefits?”

“What friends do you have?” Ezran asked, all wide-eyed, vicious innocence. “Do you not consider friendship a benefit?”

“Hey!” Nyx looked insulted. “I thought we were allies against yon magus of maladroit you tragically must call brother?”

“My allegiances are many and inscrutable!” Ez stuck his tongue out at Nyx.

“’Allegiances’? ’Inscrutable’? Sheesh, kid, how old are you? And what awful, terrible company do you keep?!”

“11. And… politicians.”

“Oh no, you’re serious?! Oh kid, the depths of my condolences is one of them yawning chasms of endless screaming-“

“Oi?!” Villads yelled. “Matey? Riggin’ snagged!”

“I don’t hold court with betrayers, anyway,” Nyx said, incredibly hypocritically for someone who’d stranded them in a desert, and she pushed off the deck and was airborne, heading off towards the center mast.

“What is the benefit of being ‘friends with benefits’?” Ezran asked, looking around to Callum and then Soren, who had just arrived with Hat perched on his head. “The friendship is pretty obviously a benefit of being friends without having to say it, so I know it isn’t that, I just said that because Nyx was being mean.”

“Oh, I know!” Soren said, eagerly. “It’s s-“

“Sandwiches!” Callum cut him off. “Sandwiches, Soren! Remember?”

“Riiiiight!” Soren winked, exaggeratedly. “Sandwiches. Got it. Corvus makes the best bread sandwich, extra mayonnaise-“

“Please, Soren,” Callum choked. “Please, let’s… talk about something else. Anything else. Please.”

———

Excerpt from an upcoming chapter of my S4-6 between-canon-episodes fic, Downtime’s Up (successor to my S1-3 between-canon-scenes fics Downtime in Wartime and Upside Downtime)

It’s wednesday and I have many wips I want to work on and no time, but I DO also have a lot of stuff written and not posted, so… hope you enjoyed some overgrown pigeon time and depraved sandwich innuendos. Once I get past the next 4 chapters of Downtime’s Up, I have most of the rest of the story written, just… it’s been rough going to write anything lately

[necroromantics]

🧺 — Laundry And Taxes

chapter 11. // christmas special // (masterlist)

AN: Helloo to all the readers of L&T, happy holidays to everyone and Merry Christmas for anyone who celebrates :] Heres my present to you 🔥

Standing on the station platform, tickets to Alabama in their hands, Natalie looked out at the approaching train. She leaned over to the boy waiting patiently next to her, and told him that she had never been on one before.

“Seems like we experience a lot of firsts together,” Toby grinned as Natalie punched his arm.

The girl sat on the window seat, resting her head in the palm of her hand as she looked out at the passing scenery. Toby laid back in his seat and closed his eyes, everything was in motion. The white winter landscape was complemented by tall, passing evergreen trees. Natalie watched the unspoiled morning skies mingle with the fluffs of clouds, and listened closely to the pleasant chatter of the two passengers seated behind her. By the sounds of it, they had only just met on that train, and were both headed south to see family. She glanced over at the boy resting quietly beside her and thought to herself how strange it is to meet someone you must’ve known lifetimes before.

The pair held fire in their eyes and their bags over their shoulders as they hurried down the streets sprawled with snow. Once they approached their destination of a tiny house decorated with an abundance of Christmas lights, Toby knocked heavily onto the front door. After waiting for a minute, the door creaked open, a familiar tall, blonde man wearing a Santa hat stood with a toothy grin on his face, welcoming the two inside. Brian gave Toby a hearty pat on the back as he led the boy to the living room, Natalie following silently close behind.

“Good to see you’re not in handcuffs yet, man.” Brian said

“Yeah, good to see you’re still growing out that awful mustache,” Toby teased back. In the living room, Tim sat in his recliner chair with an afternoon beer in his hand. He was sporting a red Christmas sweater that presented the words “Merry Christmas Ya Filthy Animal”. Beside him, there was a small Christmas tree perched atop the coffee table. Toby snickered to himself at the sight as he walked over and played with the plastic pine needles.

“Damn Tim, you really went all out this year huh.”

“Cut the shit,” Tim said, swatting the boy away.

Brian sat himself down onto the couch and grabbed the remote, turning on the television to whatever sports channel was on, letting it play quietly in the background. Taking a seat beside Brian, Toby looked over to Natalie who had been awkwardly lingering in the entrance, her arms crossed over her chest, her body pressed to the wall. The girl glanced over the room of men and furrowed her brow. She never liked proxies. Toby stared at the disinterested girl for a moment, watching her quietly reside in her own little world, before Brian spoke, catching the boy's attention.

“So you’re living in North Dakota now? How’s the weather up there treating you?”

“Uh, yeah, it’s alright. I’m used to all the snow from back home in Colorado, so it’s not too bad.”

As the two men continued to exchange their small talk, filling in the silence that hung over the room, Tim took another sip of his beer.

“You still hellbent on getting back to the old world?” Tim chimed in, causing Toby to look over with an irritated glare.

“So what if I am? Whats it matter to you?”

“Just wondering,” Tim lifted his bottle to his lips once again as he turned his head to look over at the football game. There was a long pause of tense silence for a moment, Toby’s gaze still directed at the man in a trained glare.

“Better to just leave all that shit behind anyways, right?” Brian said, leaning over to Toby to recenter the boy's attention over to their friendly conversation.

“Sure,” Toby muttered, looking down towards his feet for a moment, “What’re you up to now anyways?”

“Just working, trying to save enough up to get back to school, you know?” Brian groaned as he threw his hands back, stretching the tension out of his tired body.

“Yeah? Where do you work?”

“If I tell you that, I’m gonna have to kill you,” The man teased with a grin, to which Toby rolled his eyes in playful annoyance. Natalie watched from a distance as the men caught up with each other's lives, as if there had been no brutality between them. She watched as Toby joked with his colleagues; ones who had beaten him bloody many times before. She watched as Toby’s hands reached for the remote to switch on a channel that played Christmas music; hands that have killed countless people. She watched as Tim eased himself into the casual chatter, throwing in a sarcastic comment or two, bickering with the boy sitting across from him. They were a lively bunch, and as Natalie leaned back against the wall, her indifferent expression subtly hinting disdain, she wondered what gave them the right to act as if nothing had happened. The girl was no saint, and she knew this to be true, she was cruel and vicious, a killer, but she would never find herself sitting amongst men like these, pretending as if blood didn’t drip from her mouth from all the throats she had ripped out. They were rotten and vile, and it seemed her best friend was the worst of the worst.

A soft knock to the front door put a quick stop to the conversation, and Brian walked over to the entrance, past the girl who hadn’t said a word since she arrived. Toby’s head peered up, listening closely to the sound of Brian inviting somebody in. He wasn’t told of anyone else joining them that Christmas evening. As the stranger entered the living room, both Natalie and Toby’s eyes widened. The familiar man held his hands in the pockets of his dark gray sweater, his dark eyes glancing around at the three lounging around the room. Jack smiled awkwardly at Natalie as she shamelessly stared at his newly human appearance, her gaze meeting his. Toby, on the other hand, had been staring out of discomfort. The last conversation he had with Jack had been a fight months ago back in Mississippi. He knew Jack was never one to hold a grudge, yet the boy couldn’t help but feel a weird sense of unease when the man sat down next to him.

“Good to see you again.” Jack smiled.

“Yeah.”

Brian entered back into the room with a case of beer, breaking through the stiff atmosphere, and sitting on the couch next to the two others. He pulled out a bottle and handed it over to Tim, who had already drunk through his previous one, and then handed another to Jack, who shook his head.

“I’m not drinking tonight,” he declined.

“Suit yourself,” Brian exclaimed, popping off the cap and taking a sip. The four men talked amongst themselves as Natalie listened in, drumming her fingers along to the beat of the holiday tunes quietly playing from the TV. She couldn’t help but glance over at the clock, counting down the minutes until she could be free from that dreadful place. When she initially agreed to come to Alabama with Toby, she hadn’t considered how out of place she would feel. Tim never liked her much, Brian and her never really talked. They had both deemed her a weak point for Toby back in the old world — something in the way. There was always the expectation that she would turn on him, sell him out, be his downfall. And in a way, it was true. Whenever Brian snuck a glance over at the lingering girl, he noticed she would always be looking at Toby.

Once the clock had struck 5pm, Tim pulled himself out of his seat, tapping Jack to follow him into the kitchen.

“You too, Toby. I ain’t preparing dinner all by myself.” Toby groaned as he stood up, shuffling irritatedly behind the two men. As he passed by Natalie, he nudged into her with a sore smile, to which she playfully hit him back. The two would laugh at nonsense together as though it made perfect sense, bumped into each other as though it was an embrace. There was an awkward tenderness between the youths who had never been loved, and had to figure something out. Natalie had the tendency to lie through her gritted teeth. Not intentionally by any means, but she deluded herself for so long, so desperately, she was nearly a master at the art of self-deception. Brian had noticed this feat, and on that lively Christmas evening, begun to pester the girl.

“There’s plenty of seats, you don’t need to keep standing around you know,” he called out to the girl who only raised an eyebrow at him. He nodded his head towards the empty chair across from him, and Natalie huffed with annoyance at the bothersome man as she strolled over to take her seat. Brian sat with his bottle in his hands, the sound of bickering coming from the kitchen filled the open air.

“You and Toby live together now, huh?”

“I guess,” Natalie said with a stern look, crossing her arms as she leaned back into her chair, staring at Brian as if she were in an interrogation. The man only smiled back at her, his Santa hat draped over his head.

“Good to hear he’s found someone who tolerates his bullshit,” Brian said as he reached into his case of booze, “Want a beer?”

Natalie shrugged her shoulders in agreement as the man pulled out a bottle.

“Just remember, you can’t save that kid.”

“Great. I never wanted to. I wouldn’t know how to anyways.”

“So, do you love him?”

“What’s it matter to you?” she glared at the man.

“You got a fire between you two,” Brian continued to tease as he handed the drink over to the girl, who snatched it from his hand.

“Then I guess I should ask Santa for an extinguisher this Christmas.”

The man grinned at the witty reply, chuckling to himself as he glanced over towards the boy angrily storming into the living room, ranting to himself. Toby huffed as he collapsed into the couch beside Brian, sinking into himself.

“Toby, get your ass back in here,” Tim shouted out from the kitchen.

“Go fuck yourself,” the boy shouted back. Brian grimaced awkwardly as he took his leave, taking one last look at the girl who had once again been staring at Toby, before making his way into the kitchen to help with dinner.

Once Brian was out of the room, Natalie switched over to sit herself down beside Toby. She nudged her shoulder into him as the boy looked back at her.

“Stop being so cranky Toby, it’s Christmas.” The girl spoke as her eyes met with the boys who stared back at her. Toby let out a deep sigh and leaned into the girls side. He was warm, she was cold. The smell of the turkey and stuffing breezed past the two as Brian waltzed into the room once again, this time to alert them that dinner was ready, and to come get their plates.

The group, with food piled onto their plates, sat together as they made up for all of the lost time. On that drunken Christmas night, with loud chatter and laughter filling the fireplace warmed air, everything was fine. Bloodshed was past, sickness had wilted away. As five human beings sat victorious in that livingroom, ridden with battle of another world, their festive cheer only confirmed the triumph of man. The war was over, and they had earned their evening.

Toby sipped his booze as he watched Tim stumble over to his seat, sharing a tale of a time he had lied his way out of a speeding ticket.

“You’re a great actor, you should star in a film,” Brian teased with a grin.

“I will strangle you,” Tim threatened.

Natalie felt a hand shift over onto her own, and glanced down to see Toby’s fingers interlocking with hers mindlessly. She thought well of him. Even when he drank, she thought he was a good boy. The girl squeezed his hand back, and drifted away from the jokes and festivities to lose herself in her thoughts. He had already made plans to head back to Colorado to spend Christmas morning with his family, leaving Natalie to catch the midnight train back up north.

Once the late night tiredness had washed over the group, Toby found himself arguing with Tim, who alongside Brian, had too many drinks to drive the boy to his destination.

“How am I supposed to wait until morning? You agreed you’d drive me tonight.”

“I could drive, I haven’t been drinking.” Jack spoke out, stepping between the argument. Toby looked over at the man with his offer, and scrunched his brow with reluctance, before ultimately giving in and agreeing to the new arraignment.

Toby stood at the door with his backpack over his shoulder, saying his goodbyes to the drunken Brian and Tim as he waited for Jack to gather his things. Natalie hung around by the boy's side without a word as she waited for him to finish chatting with his colleagues. As Jack slipped on his shoes, and opened the door to head for the car, Natalie threw in a quick goodbye to her friend, and snuck away back into the livingroom as she waited for her train back home, which was going to arrive in two hours.

Tim and Brian chatted with each other as they sobered up, and cleaned the dishes in the kitchen, leaving Natalie alone in the other room after Toby and Jack had left. She leaned back into her chair as she stared mindlessly at the fireplace, watching the flames dance and flicker. In her dreams, her house is always on fire. She couldn’t bring herself to let go of the violence, even as it burnt holes into her. The dead girl with nothing to lose, the horrible girl who can’t escape. A loud ringing from her cellphone snapped the girl out of her daze, bringing her attention to the number presenting itself onto the screen as she flipped it open. It wasn’t one she recognized, but as she hesitantly answered the call, she knew the voice on the other end well.

“Merry Christmas, Natalie.” The woman spoke roughly. She sounded tired, a bit irritated.

“Mom?”

“Just thought I’d call and wish you a good Christmas. But if you don’t want to talk to me, just say so,” The woman snapped. Natalie’s heart began to beat like a snare drum in her chest. She hadn’t heard her mothers voice in years, it made her sick to her stomach.

“Why would you bother calling me?” The girl asked quietly, and harshly.

“I guess it’s a crime now to want to talk to you since you left home. You know damn well you’re all I have left, so show some respect to your mother.”

Natalie scoffed. It seemed she hadn’t changed one bit.

“Sure, whatever, Merry fuckin’ Christmas.” She slammed her flipphone shut as she ended the call abruptly, squeezing her eyes shut as she felt a flurry of rage and shock. The walls felt like they were closing in on her, suffocating, choking her. Natalie quickly stood to her feet as she rushed out the front door to get some fresh air.

The outside was quiet as she sat herself on the front door step. It was late into the night, and everything was still. Natalie blinked back the sting of tears rising to her eyes as she took a deep breath in of the frost and mildew. She knew something bad had happened, she tried her best not to think about it. The Christmas lights hanging off of the edge of the rooftop reflected off of the white ground, sparkling. Suddenly, it began to snow. The girl watched as the snowflakes danced gently down through the night sky, landing on the streets and in her hair. Natalie felt warmth fall down her icy cheeks as she surrendered to her tears, quietly sobbing to herself as she looked out into the dark. Despite everything, the world was still so beautiful.

Toby stared quietly out from the passenger seat window, watching the snow as it fell. Jack remained silent as he drove down the highways of Alabama, keeping his eyes straight and his hands firm on the steering wheel. The boy sniffled to himself once in a while, coming down off of his evening buzz. He had always hoped for a mother, a father, something bigger than himself to tell him who to become. But as he stared out of the window into the dark abyss of the night, wartorn and battered, the world seemed so empty.

A few miles into the drive, Jack pulled the truck into a gas station parking lot, announcing that he was grabbing himself a cup of coffee, and that Toby should take a bathroom break before they continued with their long drive to Colorado. The bell jingled throughout the store which was nearly completely empty as the two men entered, Jack heading towards the coffee machine, and Toby to the toilets. The boy pushed past the door and quickly noticed all of the vandalism scribbled onto the walls, like a page from a book had been torn apart and plastered everywhere. His hand ran across some printing on a bathroom stall and read over a confession of sorts a passerby had left in a place they must’ve known they’d never return to. He read the admissions of guilt spread across the room, as if God had been listening. Memories of the old world rushed into his mind like the Great Flood, and he thought about all of the times he would wake up in places like these, thrashed and wrecked, with no recollection of what had happened, or the times he’d find himself leaning over the dirty sinks coughing up blood. His lungs must’ve been rotting. He never knew of anything that didn’t hurt.

Toby spent no more time in that bathroom as he rinsed his hands and quickly left back outside to the truck. Jack quietly placed his coffee into the cup holder next to him and continued to drive down the dark highway, into the night. The silence remained still between the two men, only the occasional car passed by them. Toby tapped his fingers against his knee as he thought to himself.

“You’re living in Alabama now?” He awkwardly asked, avoiding eye contact as Jack glanced over to the boy.

“Yeah, I am. I moved there mid-November. I thought it’d be easier for me if I was around people I knew. Like dipping my toe in the water,” Jack explained. He had turned away from his college room with his head down, running to Latin texts in the depths of an isolated forest. Jack started to find himself seeing the dead through the midst of the maple and oak trees which dangled hanged men from its branches. It seemed that he had no choice but to face what he had done, and find himself in the bustling streets of humanity once again. He wrote letters to his mother explaining a false reasoning for why he had left his education. He wrote them praying. Every letter he received back he collected as punishment for the sins he had committed. Jack kept them in a box under his bed.

“And you? Has North Dakota been keeping you busy?”

“Oh yeah, definitely,” Toby replied, fiddling with his thumbs as he kept his gaze down to his feet, “I actually started a small lumbering business for myself. Chopping wood and stuff.”

“That’s great to hear. Good for you,” Jack smiled.

“Yeah, thanks.”

“Of course.”

“I mean, thanks for helping me out. Always putting up with my bullshit,” Toby eyed his shoes, he didn’t want to see the satisfied look on Jack’s face. He didn’t want to think about how smug he must’ve been after hearing those words fall from the troubled boy's mouth.

“You’re not as difficult as you think you are, Toby. I’m not the only one who puts up with you.”

Toby looked over at the man driving, and shook his head. He remained untended to, like an overgrown tombstone, sick with decay. It was as if, from the moment he was born, that boy had never needed anybody else. He never asked for help, or reached out for support.

“I’m on my own. Always have been.”

“What about Natalie?”

“What about her?”

“She’s always been by your side, hasn’t she?”

The boy stayed silent for a moment. Toby didn’t know how to tell Jack that she, too, had left him to dig his own grave many times. She, too, loathed him. It didn’t matter, he thought, he didn’t need her, or anyone, anyways.

“Everyone who tries to stomach me eventually chokes me back up, Jack. Nat isn’t an exception.” There was a childlike loneliness in Toby’s voice as he spoke. One that made Jack quickly come to the unfortunate understanding that Toby wasn’t a soldier, or a war hero, he was just a boy. And the burden of always being the one who grits his teeth and fights an old man's battle must be far too heavy for a boy to carry.

“Does that bother you?” Jack asked. Toby shrugged his tired shoulders.

“After you’ve done and seen all the shit I have, nothing really bothers you anymore.”

Jack looked over at the other once more, a golden boy made to conquer, his eyes were desensitized and dark. Toby was entirely indifferent to himself and the world around him. He knew nothing of the time that had passed him, only that somewhere, at some point, there was a war being fought, and he was now far from the battlefield. That boy had long since lost his innocence, and his homesickness lasted forever.

“Do you actually feel bad for the things you’ve done?” Toby spoke again.

“You know, Toby, my guilt doesn’t mean anything. Apologizing while I killed someone doesn’t make me any different than someone who didn’t. I still took somebody’s life, I still sinned.”

“When I killed my dad…” Toby’s voice trailed off for a moment, “It was the happiest I had ever been, like all of those years of fear finally amounted to something. And I would do it again in a heartbeat. I'd rather have all of that suffering make me into a monster than for it to be for nothing at all."

“You don’t think you had any other choice?”

“It had to be done. Sometimes things just have to be done.”

“I understand,” Jack replied softly as he continued to drive.

“Hopefully God understands,” Toby said quietly to himself, turning his head to look out of the window once again. He tried to describe something unfathomable. Fate, the God neither of them believed in, whatever explained it.

"I guess just knowing that somewhere, my dad is still out there... I can't help but miss him. And I don't know why." The boy confessed, staring up at the stars in the night sky as they shined down brightly on the two men. There was a sense of knowing that he would be carrying that rage with him until he died.

“Do you love your father?”

“No, I hate him more than anything. If you met him you’d understand. Why else do you think I do the things I do?” Toby sat up straight in his seat, chuckling sorrowfully to himself, “I became the exact thing I was so fucking scared of growing up. And nothings going to fuck with me ever again.”

“You’ve suffered enough, Toby. I know you have a lot to carry, you did what you had to do to survive, I get it, but you can put it all down and still be safe.”

“I know that, I’m not stupid. I know I’ll have to listen to everyone someday and just let all of this anger go. But it’s like it clings to me like some scared little kid and begs me not to. And I’m not going to betray myself like that.”

“It takes some time, but there’s always the option to make peace with the past whenever you’re ready. You just need to stop looking in the wrong places for redemption,” Jack said.

“Yeah you’re right, time for me to become Mr. Goody Good,” Toby joked back.

“It really is that simple, you know. One day, wake up and decide to be kinder to yourself, and maybe others. You have been through too much to treat yourself so badly.”

The boy stayed silent, the quiet ambience of the drive filled the air. Toby hadn’t realized that he had been doing nothing but torturing himself the entire time. He didn’t know how to treat himself with anything but violence.

“I’m proud of you, Toby.”

The words Jack spoke drilled holes into the boy's burning chest. Toby looked over at the man who was staring ahead, keeping his eyes on the road, before turning his gaze back down to his hands. He had to do the impossible when he left it all behind, but he was alive, and that was his start. The boy was given no other choice, he needed to make his way in that world, it was just another thing that had to be done. He had always assumed that everybody around him looked at him through his fathers eyes, full of hatred and disgust. Toby assumed that his bitterness had left him intolerable, and it had never occurred to him that there would ever be people in his life who would tolerate him anyways. The praise of his violence in the past was replaced with a soft ‘I love you regardless’ when Toby bared his teeth. He then thought to himself how awful it was that his happiness hurt too.

Soon, the sun began to rise over the western landscape and Jack pulled up to Toby’s mothers house. They sat silently for a moment in the truck before Toby spoke.

“Thanks for everything, Jack. You’re a good guy.”

“You too, Toby.”

The boy dragged his tired body to the front step of his childhood home and waved as Jack drove off back to Alabama. It was late into the day, and Toby hadn’t told his mother he was coming over for Christmas. He thought for a moment about all of the time he had spent fighting against the world, and he had slowly come to the understanding that soldiers either die, or they return home from the war. As his luck would have it, on that snowy Christmas afternoon, it seemed he had made it out of the combat zone alive, regardless of what he had done. And now, it was his job to find peace for himself despite it all.

When he entered through the front door with a spare key his mother had given him, he glanced over the empty house, a tall Christmas tree standing in the livingroom. Toby called out for his mom, and sister, only to find that nobody was home. He turned around to look at the driveway, and noticed both of their cars were still there. Closing the door behind him, a sense of dread building, the boy quietly made his way through the house, cautiously examining every room. In his mothers room, he noticed a suitcase on the floor which had been half-packed. Toby bent down to look through the items packed away, before jerking his head up as he heard the sound of the front door opening.

Toby slowly, and silently, walked towards the entrance of the house, lifting his hands up as he prepared himself for a fight. A loud scream filled the house as Lyra jumped at the sight of the intruding boy, putting her hand over her chest as she realized who it was.

“Jesus, Toby! What's wrong with you!” She yelled as Connie quickly rushed in after her screaming daughter, only to relax as she saw her son awkwardly apologizing.

Connie rushed up to Toby, hugging him tightly and laying a kiss on his cheek. Lyra rolled her eyes and shook off the lingering adrenaline, walking up to give her little brother a hug as well. His mother explained that they had planned a surprise trip to North Dakota to visit him, but he had gotten to them first.

“We were down the street visiting Mr. Mulner and his wife. You remember Caroline. She had a fall a couple of weeks ago. Everyone in the neighborhood has been bringing them giftsfor Christmas," Connie explained to the boy the exciting happenings in her life as Lyra rinsed off an empty cookie tray in the kitchen sink.

“Wow, spreading Christmas cheer. How’d you get Grinch over there to come with you?” Toby teased, nodding his head over to his sister who only rolled her eyes.

“So, are you going to be leaving again?” Connie asked with concern in her eyes. She could never keep tabs on him anymore.

“Yeah, eventually. I’ve been living up North with that girl I was telling you about and-”

“You’re living with a girl?” Lyra interrupted with shock, having been listening from the kitchen.

“Shut up Lyra, don’t act surprised,” Toby argued back.

“Don’t fight on Christmas you two,” their mother scolded with a sigh as she rubbed the bridge of her nose.

Toby spent the day with his family, helping his mother cook dinner, and listening to Lyra’s latest gossip. The sun seemed to set as quickly as it rose, and the evening draped its darkness over the sky once more. After dinner, Connie went to bed early, and Toby sat in the livingroom with Lyra as they bickered over which Christmas movie to watch.

“Die Hard isn’t a Christmas movie you dork,” she said.

“Fuck you, Die Hard is absolutely a Christmas movie.”

The warm glow of the lights that wrapped around the Christmas tree illuminated the livingroom as Lyra groaned and turned on Die Hard. Toby thought about all of the things he had talked about with Jack, and wondered if Natalie had gotten home safely yet. He thought about how strange that the place he thought of to be his home was no longer the place he sat in, but instead a small, old farmhouse in North Dakota. So many things had changed in such a short amount of time, and for once, as he sat by his sister under the roof he grew up in, he felt as if he could make something more for himself. For once, he felt a sort of happiness that didn’t hurt.

“Merry Christmas Toby,” Lyra whispered over to her brother, reeling him back in from his thoughts as he looked at her with a smile.

“Merry Christmas.”

[mik0is0bored]

Yuta Okkotsu x Reader

<<Previous--Next>>

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Description: No shibuya! Yuta x neutral!reader

[____] had gotten close with the special grade sorcerer, Yuta Okkotsu. Friends with benefits, if you will. They shared similar feelings. [____] knew of His mission to Africa, for at least 10 months, but what [____] didn't know, was that he was on a plane back to Tokyo.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

[____] missed Yuta, they truly did. Their feelings were a little too obvious, as Maki, Inumaki, and Panda knew about their little "friends with benefits" thing before he left for Africa almost a year ago.

The others knew of Yuta's return, but didn't tell [____], hoping it'd surprise them.

---

It was early in the morning when Yuta got back to Tokyo. It was a Saturday, so there wouldn't be classes for the others today. He went into his contacts on his phone and asked Ijichi to pick him up.

Once back at the dorm building, Yuta checked his phone for the time. 7:47 am. He knew that [____] would still be asleep, so he walked into his own dorm room and tossed himself onto his bed.

---

It was around 11:48 am when [____] woke up, the sunlight shining softly through their window. [____] was still disoriented from sleep and laid in their bed for a few more moments, scrolling through Instagram.

After a few more moments of waking up, [____] sat up in bed and stretched their arms out and yawned, as rhey stood up and headed into their bathroom.

---

Since Yuta got back from the airport, he hadn't slept at all, too excited to see[____]. At the moment, he was hanging out with the others; Inumaki, Panda, and Maki.

In the back of his mind, Yuta couldn't help but wonder when [____] would be waking up, or if they were awake, where were they?

---

[____] washed their face, brushed their teeth, brushed their hair, etc before slipping into their Jujutsu Tech uniform; something all the students wore, and it was accustomed to each person, so it was all similar, yet unique at the same time.

Usually in the mornings they would go to the training grounds, not to train, but there was a tree that had a branch that could be used as a makeshift bench. They'd climb the tree and sit on the branch. There was a pond a few meters away from the training dummies, so they would watch the wildlife around the training grounds, it brought them peace in the mornings.

Eventually, [____] made their way down the path that went from the dorms to the training grounds, unaware of Yuta having returning from Africa.

---

The morning continued on, [____] took their time, and Yuta continued to make up for lost time with the others, before he heard footsteps and turned around.

---

[____]'s eyes widened, they couldn't believe it. Was it really...?

"Yuta?"

He smiled, his signature soft smile showing and spoke:

"Hey, [____]. It's been awhile, huh?"

[____]'s lips formed a smile as they ran into his arms and wrapped their arms around him. Yuta chuckled softly, as he wrapped his arms around them.

"Missed me much?" He teased softly, resting his chin on their shoulder.

[____] huffed softly, not out of anger, but amusement. "...hey, don't act like you didn't miss me too" they said, as they buried their face in his neck.

---

Meanwhile, Maki, Panda, and Inumaki watched the exchange, they knew that the two missed each other. Maki's usual fierce demeanor softened slightly and held a small smile, finding the situation endearing. Panda smirked softly watching the two, and you could tell Inumaki was grinning, although half of his face was covered.

---

[____] kept their face buried in his neck for a few moments before pulling back to look into his eyes.

"I can't believe you're really back, like, you're here." [____] said, in awe and disbelief.

Yuta smiled and spoke, tapping their nose with his finger, "disappointed?"

[____] snickered softly and shook their head

"Not in the slightest."

[know-the-way]

The stages so far of me binging the entirety of Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries (spoilers if you haven’t watched it before):

1. “Yeah, the 1920s hasn’t ever really been your preferred vibe, but so many of your friends like this show, and you love ‘Clue’ which seems similar, so just bite the bullet and go.”

2. “Wait, they’re Australian? What? Did I know this before and forgot?”

3. “Ohhhh right, Miranda Otto was in this! I did know that. And she’s a cocaine lord?! Nice. Don’t get to see her in many villain roles.”

4. *first scene with Phryne & Jack* “Oh, he has a very nice deep voice, okay I see I see mmmhm okay. … Why is so he so sulky, though? Big ‘who hurt you’ vibes. Intriiiiigue… “

5. “OH dEaR oh mY, there is banter and cheeky looks, this is bad, coDE RED, pretty sure this is your LAST chance to exit before this becomes a #problem.”

6. *does not exit* *becomes a #problem*

7. “Oh, so she’s gonna be banging lots of men with no emotional attachment (when there is clearly some tragic past hiding under the surface as to why that might be)? So an emotionally damaged woman who copes with her traumas by deflecting said emotions through sex and other various reckless behaviors? Babe… *cups face gently* babe, babe, babe. You’ve made this beyond a problem now. Because every little glimpse of vulnerability among your extremely out-of-hand savior complex is gonna make me fall in love with you more and more… just like the tall, broody inspector man over there (who still has a very nice voice and sad, kind eyes and who you seem to be afraid of being smitten with for ~*some reason*~). Anyway, Jack and I, we’re both fucked.”

8. Wdym they both have traumas from the war & from past relationships, that they both witnessed an unimaginable amount of loss, and that both are broken so deeply that they built fortresses of ice around their hearts to protect themselves AND YET BOTH OF THEM THAW JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE WITH THEIR EVERY INTERACTION? Fuck OFF! This is not FAIR!

9. “Miss Fisher was actually on her way home.” He said that with a fully clenched jaw and a step forward. Fuuuuccckk, there’s gonna be smoldering jealousy, too? Just slap me in the face, the amount of longing I’m about to witness… Jack, it’s okay buddy, we’re in this together. There’s something special about you and she’s gonna figure it out… after what appears to be several seasons and perhaps a feature film. But she’ll figure it out! Stay strong, soldier! I’m rooting for you!

10. “Oh God, her little sister was murdered. As someone who loves my own sister dearly, that’s fucking awful, this is hurting me deeply, and I really do not like it. 🥺 … AND THE MURDERER IS DUE TO BE RELEASED? AbSoLUTELY not! … WDYM THERE’S ALSO AN ABUSIVE EX?! And he’s come back to MURDER HER over a naked painting of her younger self like a fucking CREEP?!*”

(*not a correct summarization of what happened, but not not correct)

Anyway, I found the tragic past!

11. “Abusive ex is played by Peter O’Brien? With a ‘French’ accent? *snort* I mean, okay, it’s a choice. Anyway… what a douche… moving on… “

12. Aw, they kissed! *claps* And so soon! I mean, it was under horrible circumstances, but it happened… and with lingering looks to boot? You know what, I’ll take it. ‘Cause, I mean, look at them… and like let’s not talk about the juxtaposition of Phryne’s panic over seeing someone who once hurt her being redirected by a kiss from someone who would never hurt her… and Jack subsequently lunging for an armed René to stop him from taking Phryne… we’ll just ignore that for now

13. Felt the “I am not afraid of you” in my bones. Good shit.

14. “You kissed me. … You kissed me back!” Children, please. This is a Wendy’s.

This is as far as I’ve gotten, but omg what a fun ride so far. Friends who tried to recommend this to me for YEARS, I am SO sorry I slept on it. I understand now and your taste is impeccable. *muah*

[rorywritesjunk]

There's no race, no ending in sight

r rating. title comes from "two of us on the run" by lucius

(enjoy. since i'm so invested in this now i wanted to do a ✨flashback✨ part and i love emporio ivankov and been hyping myself up on trans croc lately too so... this happened. mentions surgery but nothing graphic, threats to others safety. also mentions of someone's first time)

taglist: @hey-august @thoraeth

pt 1 + pt 2 + p3 + p4 + pt 5 + p6 + pt 7 +Pt 8 + Pt 9 + Pt 10 + Pt 11 + Pt 12 + Pt 13 + Pt 14 + Pt 15 + pt 16 + Pt 17 (End)

Pt 9

twenty years ago

"I'm sorry, what?" The nineteen year old looked confused by the demand. Sunny had only been at the job for five years, she still had so much to learn, but this customer came in, one she had seen frequently in the last year, making adjustments to their clothes when it didn't feel right in the arms, the chest, hips, and length.

"I said marry me, shop girl." The cigar smoke was awful, lingering in the air as it dissipated. He was grinning at her.

"M-Mister Crocodile, I can't. I'm only half way through my apprenticeship and... and we don't know each other very well." Sunny tried to reason with him. Why would he want to marry her? "Besides, um, I'm not... ready for marriage."

He chuckled, reaching across the counter to touch her cheek gently; she shuddered, his touch was dry and coarse, like sandpaper against her skin. "It's not in your best interest to say no to me, girl, not when I can show you everything in the world, all the riches you could ever want, the prettiest clothes you could ever wear."

"I don't-"

"Saying no to me means you care little for your friends and family, you know. It won't be hard to destroy their livelihoods in an instant." He continued, tilting her head to look up at him. He was so much taller than her, larger even, that she was scared. Was he threatening Miss Pins and her parents? Why? Why did he want her out of countless others?

"But-"

"Just say yes."

Sunny's eyes widened. She didn't know or understand what this man could be capable of but she feared him. She couldn't risk her family being hurt or her boss. She didn't want to die either, not yet.

"Promise?" She asked as he studied her face, raising an eyebrow at her question. "Promise... you won't hurt me o-or my family. And... and I'll marry you."

His face split into a grin. "Good girl. I'll make sure you're happy."

~

Sunny didn't understand where they were. A man taller than her husband greeted them as they arrived on a new island, calling him "Croc-boy" which Sunny found kind of funny. They'd been married three months now and while he would call her darling, she hadn't thought of a pet name for him yet. Nothing seemed to work for him.

"Who's this sweet young thing?" The man asked Crocodile, giving Sunny a look over. She stood beside her husband, trying not to stare up at either of them. She felt so small beside them even without the height difference.

"My wife." Crocodile said as the three started walking along. "I decided to get married before coming to you."

"Hello! I'm Sunny." She said, not wanting to be rude. "I, um, like your outfit."

The outfit being a one piece leotard with very little front, showing off his chest and stomach. Despite working with clothing, Sunny wasn't quite used to seeing someone that exposed but she shook it off. Her parents and boss always taught her not to judge someone's clothes or how they presented themselves.

"She's cute." He chuckled. "My dear, I am Emporio Ivankov, but you can call me Iva if you please." He didn't hesitate in pulling Sunny away from her husband, having her walk beside her with Crocodile behind. "So, he's finally settling down. I hope he's treating you well."

"He... is." She said, glancing back at him. "Um, he's kind to me. I appreciate it." She looked back up at Iva. "Why are we here?"

"Oh, he didn't tell you?" Iva hummed softly. "Figures he wouldn't, but won't worry about it. You'll only be here a few weeks and then you can continue on your way."

~

A few weeks of Sunny staying by Crocodile, making sure he ate while checking his bandages with Iva. The marks on the side of his body looked fine, they healed quickly, but the ones on his chest would take longer, according to Iva. He couldn't use his abilities to take care of that.

Sunny didn't ask questions at first. Her husband wouldn't answer them anyway, but when she was making lunch for him, she finally had to ask Iva.

"I don't understand what you did or what happened."

"Oh, honey, your husband just wanted to be himself, that's all." Iva told her as Sunny put the bowl of soup on a tray. He looked her over again, a grin on his large face. "You really don't know your husband, do you?"

"No, not really." Sunny sighed. "I don't know if I even want to."

~

Sunny only saw her husband naked once before his visit with Iva. It was the only time he seemed uncomfortable around her, his unwanted body exposed to her. She was kind, not saying anything as she kissed him, unsure of what to do, but she told him she thought he looked so handsome, that his body was beautiful, being mindful where she touched him. She meant it. Sunny never wanted someone to feel uncomfortable around her.

After the surgery, however, he didn't have any problems with nudity around her. He seemed happier, more relaxed when he undressed around her, smirking at the way she stared at him as her cheeks reddened.

He was gentle with her the first time, knowing he was much larger than her, not wanting to hurt her or make it a horrible experience. It was a uncomfortable for Sunny but only because she didn't now what she needed to do for him. He insisted she just needed to let him do everything and that she just needed to enjoy herself.

~

She was allowed to visit her parents a few times. It was awkward introducing her husband to them. He really didn't care to meet them but he put up a front of loving husband, gifting them jewels, spices, and other things from around the world.

Her parents weren't stupid but Sunny insisted she was fine and that she was happy with him. He took good care of her and loved her, never raised his voice at her or threatened to hurt her. Everything was fine.

~

She didn't like Alabasta. It was too hot, dry, and she hated spending most of her time at home. Sometimes her husband would bring her to his casino, and sometimes she'd put on different clothes and sneak out to walk around the town but it wasn't often.

When that boy in the straw hat showed up and defeated her husband, allowing him to be arrested by the Marines, she finally felt free, even after interrogation after interrogation, she insisted she knew nothing, that she thought her husband just ran a casino and everything, she had no understanding of what he had been up to or what Baroque Works even was.

Which was a lie, Sunny knew more than others thought. She had listened in on some of his conversations when she'd bring him lunch and he'd hold her in his lap, giving her a kiss on the cheek while having a meeting over a transponder snail or in front of others. They didn't make any comments about his wife. They knew better.

~

Her freedom didn't last long. He managed to track her down in a little village far from Impel Down. She wasn't sure how he did, but seeing him again after time apart was heartbreaking. She didn't want to return to him but he maintained his original threat when they got married: he would never hurt her but the same couldn't be said for her family.

~

"I'm sorry, a clown owns you money?" Sunny thought that was the funniest sounding sentence to her and she snorted. "Why did you loan him money in the first place?"

"There was promise of repayment." Her husband replied, stubbing out his cigar on his plate. She had made him breakfast, one of the few things she enjoyed doing for him. She took a sip of her coffee and frowned.

"Huh." She grinned. "Good luck getting it back. Maybe he spent it all on peanuts for an elephant or something."

"I don't see how this is amusing, darling."

"It's not, really, but the idea of a clown owing you money is funny to me." She shrugged. "Have you talked to him about getting it back?"

"Not yet." He sighed. Sunny nodded and set her coffee cup down, sitting up in her seat.

"Can I go talk to him?"

Crocodile looked at her, raising an eyebrow. "Why would you want to?"

"Something to do." She shrugged again. "I'll talk to him and see if we can come up with an agreement about paying you back in a timely fashion, how does that sound?"

"We'll talk about after lunch." He said as he got up. "I have things to tend to."

[mustlovesteve]

20 questions for fic writers

Thank you @stevehairingtit for the tag! <3

1. How many works do you have an AO3? 16

2. What's your total AO3 word count? 224,199

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Nowadays I only write for Stranger Things. In the past, I've written for VLD/VDOTU, Avengers Academy, and SPOP (only a one-shot).

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

laughing at the broken glass (Stranger Things, Steve/Eddie)

in the heart of the jungle (Avengers Academy mobile game, T'Challa/Tony Stark)

mean ballerina (Avengers Academy mobile game, T'Challa/Tony Stark)

it's only skin and therefore so breakable (Avengers Academy mobile game, T'Challa/Tony Stark)

searching for sparkles (Voltron: Legendary Defender, Allura/Lance)

I am...shocked that my T'Challa/Tony fics based on a college AU mobile game got that many kudos. It wasn't a particularly popular ship even within that tiny subset of the Marvel fandom. Maybe MCU fans stumbled across the fics and enjoyed them anyway?

5. Do you respond to comments?

Almost always, unless they're a single word/emoticon that I don't know how to respond to.

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

All of my fics with angsty endings are one-shots--hum along till the feeling's gone forever (I kill Steve), but I knew that you were a truth (I kill Lance), and weakness (I kill Adora). I don't have the heart to end a long story in tragedy tbh (but respect to those who do!).

7. What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

Probably my Allurance series. LATBG ended happily but there were still some Issues (hence the sequel).

8. Do you get hate on fics?

I think I've gotten two mean bookmarks but luckily no mean comments (though, I only allow comments from registered users).

9. Do you write smut?

Technically yes but I haven't uploaded that chapter yet (and I'm Very Nervous about it lol).

10. Do you write crossovers?

No. I have no interest tbh.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not to my knowledge.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

Not to my knowledge.

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

No.

14. What's your all time favorite ship?

Ohhh that's tricky... 616! and Avengers (2012)!SteveTony will always have me in a chokehold. Even today, I'll listen to new music and immediately think of them. However, I've been searching for the Nana to my Hachi since I first read the NANA manga as a teen, and that influences my life in a major way. Also, VDOTU!Allurance has brought me the most unbridled joy.

Funnily enough, of my top 3 ships, I've only written fics for VDOTU!Allurance.

15. What's a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

I wish I had finished my AvAc!T'Challa/Tony Stark series many years ago, but that time has long passed. I'm working on a Stranger Things S3 AU, but I keep getting discouraged and questioning the characterization, so I'm not sure if it will ever see the light of day on AO3, let alone get finished.

16. What are your writing strengths?

Conveying mood and tension (mood whiplash ahoy!). Imagery, especially in horrific scenes. Utilizing limited POV (misunderstandings my beloved). Balancing relationships (platonic and romantic!). Realistic conflict (I try to avoid villainizing a character unless they're actually that awful). Plotting (logistics my beloathed).

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

Fluff and sustained sincerity (this probably says something about me as a person lmao). IC dialogue (not the message, but the specific phrasing/making it sound like the character, like yes he would fucking say that but probably not in those words, y'know?). Body language (when I'm writing, I usually have my body language document open, which gives me a good starting point, but I feel like I don't account for the specific character's mannerisms enough, so it becomes repetitive/paint-by-numbers).

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

I wouldn't unless my friend was fluent and wrote that part for me or it was a fictional language.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

................Gravitation...........

20. Favorite fics you've written?

LATBG is definitely my favorite. After that, I guess it would be my T'Challa/Tony series or my Allura/Lance series.

Tagging: @shushmal, @theheadlessphilosopher, @sevenmerrymagpies, @soaringornithopter, @emryses, @danadaria

[yuus-sentient-teddy]

"Yuu-Yuu hurt." Part 10

Part 1 | Part 9 | Part 11

"HUMAN!" Those around Sebek jumped. "YOU BETTER WAKE UP THIS INSTANT! You are worrying Lord Malleus, your upperclassmen, your helpless teddy bear, and your friends and peers!"

"What the hell? Is he seriously scolding them?"

"Wait, look."

Despite fuming at the sleeping body, tears were gathering at the corner of Sebek's eyes. "You may have given awful first impressions and you may still do things that are ridiculous, but your efforts and qualities are recognized and highly welcomed. We would not have put efforts to save you if otherwise nor if we didn't think you had a place in Night Raven College, so you better wake up!"

Silver sighs in exasperation, but then smiles fondly. It was nice seeing Sebek care for his friends, even if it was indirect. Lilia shared the same sentiment, chuckling and quietly remarking, "Ah, friendship."

"How beautiful! You wear a mask of indifference yet the compassion you hold for a close friend burns brightly through it!" Rook praises. "It makes me want to share a few kind words too!"

"Here we go," Trey says with a smile and shake of his head.

"Trickster, you have been brought to this world ignorant of its workings and wonders, only having your wits to rely on. You have struggled to make sense of things unfamiliar and were thrown into dangerous situations you could only conjure in nightmares and daydreams. Yet, despite it all, you persisted. You have led us in our most trying moments, guided your other half in academics and every day life, and made a home out of ramshackle. Truly, it is inspiring to see you grow as the Prefect of Ramshackle Dorm, the student from another world, and a dear friend to us all."

Rook shakes his head sadly. "However, I am dearly sorry that you and your other half had to suffer from jabs from unsympathetic cohorts."

"Frankly, it's unfortunate but unsurprising that Yuu and Grim would be treated rudely. I will say, though, that they've earned their title, and Sebek is right in that they have qualities that allow them to fit into Night Raven College." Vil gives a small smile and kind gaze towards the Prefect. "Even if first impressions were awful."

Ace and Deuce agree too: Yuu has a place in Night Raven, and things wouldn't be the same without them. "We sometimes cause trouble for them, even though we don't mean to," Deuce says, "but I'm thankful that they're still willing to hang out with us."

"Yeah, it's a miracle how much patience they have for you and Grim," Ace says slyly.

"Hey, don't pretend you don't cause trouble for them!"

"Before you two start bickering, could you also say how much you appreciate Yuu as your best friend?" Grim butts in.

The card soldiers' faces pinken. "H-hang on, that's an embarrassing thing to say!" Ace quickly says. "Can't we just leave it as someone we like hanging out with?"

"And we can't forget that they've proven they got what it takes to be in this school, even if they don't have magic. That's enough to say, right?" Deuce looks at the faces around him, only seeing amused smiles.

"But neither of you are denying what Grim said," Jack points out, smirking.

"Oh yeah?" Ace steps up to him. "Well, in case you've forgotten, you're also Yuu's best friend."

Now it was Jack's turn to get flustered. He started rubbing the back of his neck, muttering, "They just like to invite me to things because we're in the same year."

"Seriously? Why do you think you're part of the First Year Squad for then?!"

"It has 'First Year' in the name. Why else do you think I thought that?"

"You're dipping too much into the lone wolf schtick," says Grim, rolling his eyes a little. "Do you remember what the Prefect told us the last time we had game night? I don't think they would have told just anyone."

". . . Can't say I disagree."

"Yeah! And, you know, you almost always say yes to hanging out with them and us. I wouldn't be surprised if you have some nice things to say about Yuu." Grim was smirking, paws on his hips and looking at Jack expectantly.

Jack sighs deeply. "Something tells me you won't let me off unless I say something. All right. It would be disappointing if they can't come back to school. They have good morals and I appreciate that, even if they pull tricks sometimes. I can appreciate their dependability too and that they're genuine in looking out for their people." Jack didn't seem to realize he was smiling.

"I'd like to say something too," Epel says. "They've always been welcoming every time I went to Ramshackle. It kind of reminds me of home. Not to mention, they don't judge me harshly if I. . . erm, say anything off."

Ortho excitedly joins in. "They've been really kind to me since their teddy bear introduced us to each other! They've told me so many cool things about their world and I look forward to going on outings with them. I'm happy to call myself their friend!"

"I may not be as close to them as you, Sebek, and our other friends, but their patience and kindness to me has never wavered," Silver says. "They're trustworthy, and I would like to repay them back fully."

"As do I," says Azul. "Although, I believe saving them from their Overblot would be enough for them helping with mine. Still, I have a feeling that even if I couldn't repay them, they would have shrugged it off." A little to himself, he adds, "In any case, I'm still looking forward to hearing their thoughts on the recent field trip."

"Koebi-chan's livened things up since they got dumped here. It'd be a bummer if they couldn't come back," says Floyd.

"I whole-heartedly agree, especially since they enjoyed the mushroom pasta Malleus helped me prepare. I would love to share other dishes with them," Jade says with a pleased smile. He doesn't see his brother's nose crinkle in disgust at the word "mushroom."

"It's so heartwarming seeing youngsters say how much they care about their friend and classmate," Lilia comments, smiling warmly. "I think I'll say a piece too. Yuu, it has been refreshing to have someone like you mingle with the students, and I'm not just referring to your magiclessness. You and your teddy bear have imprinted something, whether you realize it or not. When you awaken, I would be glad to share some of my cooking with you as Jade is willing to do."

He ignores the small protests around him. "I know I've said this before, but I must say it again for the situation: thank you for being friends with the dorm leader of Diasomnia and his trusted knights. You have been a wonderful presence to them."

"I want to say my thanks too," Riddle says. "Our first interactions weren't pleasant, but I'm glad you still wanted to be acquainted with me in the aftermath of my Overblot. It was very kind of you and I had and still appreciate it."

"Oh! Me next!" Kalim pipes up. "Yuu, it really is amazing how you can still keep going even though you live in a busted building and on a small budget. You've always been willing to help all of us, but from now on, you should lean on us too. I know I keep saying it, but I mean it when I say that Scarabia is always welcome to you."

"I'll be honest, it baffles me that you keep helping people even though you already have a lot on your plate," Jamil says. "I doubt you need to hear me talking about that again, but at least keep in mind that you can put yourself first and say no."

"What about you, nii-san? Do you have anything to say to the Prefect?" Ortho prompts, causing Idia to let out a strangled noise.

"Ortho, what are you doing, springing that on me???"

"Most of us said something, so now it's your turn!"

"Do I have to?"

"Come now, what would be the harm in saying a few kind words?" Lilia encourages.

". . . Eugh, fine. They're. . . more approachable than most of the normies in the school." After a couple of seconds, he says, "That's it."

"That's so short!" Grim complains.

"You asked me to say something nice and I did. Take it or leave it." What Idia didn't say, though, was that Yuu had a genuine calming vibe that he appreciated. Not many people have that effect. Don't get him wrong, though--he's still bummed out that they won't let him pet Grim.

"Guess it can't be helped," Trey says, shrugging. "Well, I guess I'll say something before anyone asks. Yuu, what I appreciate about you is that you're a good influence on the freshmen, even if it's really tiny. I also appreciate you helping with the baking and trying to stabilize everything, although I've started to realize that chaos happens whenever you're around most of the time. Still, it's great having you around."

Sheepishly, he adds, "This is only my impression of you. I'm pretty sure other people can say much better things about you than I can."

"Come on, Trey, it's a nice impression!" Cater says. "Though, I'd have to agree with you on the chaos part. Other than that, they have pretty good vibes and they're super approachable, not to mention cute and likeable." And a great person to sit in comfortable silence with--them and their teddy bear. No questions asked and seeming to understand him when he comes to them with a low battery. He appreciates it.

"That only leave Leona Kingscholar Ruggie Bucchi, and Malleus Draconia," says Ortho. "Who wants to go next?"

Leona huffs. "Let's get this over with. Your niceness and magicless status makes you stand out like a sore thumb, but we both know you're not entirely nice, even though everyone keeps saying it. You manage to pull off tricks and even dupe Azul; a completely nice person wouldn't do that. You don't need my approval for being a little impressive."

"But basically, they have your approval anyway," Ruggie says.

"I didn't say that, but if you or they want to think so, I don't care. Anyway, it's your turn."

"Hmm. . . I guess for starters, I appreciate them helping me carry leftovers out of the kitchen without asking for something in return. And it's refreshing to have someone who isn't familiar with this world. Sure, they could be secretly judgmental, but they're genuinely open-minded. It's just nice."

"I agree with Bucchi," Malleus says. "Their naivety was what allowed them to approach me without fear, but even after learning of my true identity, they still treat me casually and are willing to invite me to various activities. Their friendship is something I highly cherish."

Grim peers at Yuu's face. "You heard all that, henchman? You got people who like you. But of course, it all wouldn't be complete without me saying my piece. You're a handful henchman, but I wouldn't give you up for any other person. There's no one like you and you're good at what you do, and I recognize that as your benevolent boss."

"Why don't you also tell them that you appreciate them as a best friend?" Ace and Deuce tease, speaking simultaneously.

"Fnya--!" Bickering among the three begin, much to the amusement of half of the crowd. No one notices the teddy bear whispering to the unconscious Prefect.

"Yuu-Yuu is loved by friends very much, and [teddy's name] and Papa love you too!"

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

He's suddenly in the grey space again. Yuu is smiling now and the teddy bear in their arms has a happy face.

"I miss home a lot, but at the same time, I don't want to say goodbye to the friends I made here. I'd be lying if I said they haven't made it bearable to be away from home."

Around Yuu, sepia figures faded into existence, frozen and in various poses like a photo. Upperclassmen, peers, and friends. He saw himself among those faces.

"The people here are so interesting and unique. I really, really like them, and I want to support them and see them grow. That's why I wish to go home and have a way to travel between home and Twisted Wonderland, without any consequence."

Whatever emotion he had, there was an underlying warmth from knowing that someone thought of him in such a kind light (not that he would say it, of course).

[tortoisesshells]

Writing ask: 4, 7, 11, 16 & 18

4. ... with dialogue I'm proud of:

I've yet to find a character whose dialogue I've enjoyed writing quite as much as Jed Foster's. From the Mercy Street (but with vampires!) extended universe/pastiche/whatever -

“Are you this surprised when the rains arrive in April, Nurse Mary? Or, if I may dabble in plain Yankee with you, when the sap begins to run in March? We are in an army hospital. They send us, among other things, their dying.” “These men were not dying,” Mary insisted. “The difference between ailing and dying is a very thin one, then.”

7. ... that I nursed in a daydream before finally writing:

Ch. 21 of Customs and Duties was a weird one - I had it in mind for over two years before I got to it, but because it was, at heart, a chapter about imperfectly understood illness and quarantine I ... sort of lost heart for it, by the summer of 2022. Still, it's a turning point for Customs, and I had been looking forward to writing it.

Would she pick a fight with him, next? He supposed she might, though he was not inclined to give it to her. After a few moments of uneasy silence, Norrington took a risk and held out his hand for the pry-bar, and Elinor Treat reluctantly handed it to him. Without the tool she had been half-brandishing as a weapon, she seemed – exanimate. A puppet with its strings cut. The pry-bar felt damp in his hand, and he was unpleasantly surprised to find it had left red marks where he had taken hold of it: blood. Not his. “Mrs. Treat,” he said, very quietly and slowly, “Mrs. Treat, are you hurt?” “What? – oh. That.” Elinor Treat seized a kerchief from her pocket, and wrapped it around her hand. “I thought it had stopped bleeding days ago.”

11. ... with characters I want to write more in the future:

I miss Them (the cast of characters of potc). Here's from the last non-drabble I wrote for them.

Here, Elizabeth began to sift through her assets. It was a quick endeavor: a few dozen palm trees, a few dozen casks of rum, the damned pistol that Jack was guarding as though it were a token of a lover, the fire which was too small to even be seen clearly from the other end of her new home. In her great-grandmother’s time, when London burned nearly to the ground, the smoke could be seen from the surrounding counties as though it were a tower to the heavens – but she had not London to burn. That made lumber precious, didn’t it? Elizabeth had a brief, frustrated sense that she might have a better idea of how long she could keep the island ablaze if she had paid more attention to the consumption of fire-wood in her father’s household, but of late she’d shied away from the house’s accounts as though she could keep her future away likewise. She sized up the palm trees she did have, and, careful to be quiet, padded through the darkness to get a sense of how great around the trunks were – how long they might burn. If she were to set the island alight –

16. ... from a recent piece I want to brag about:

This is clever only to me, but, from nor light, Nor certitude, nor peace

"Her fingers were numb – centuries had changed many things about Collinsport, but the wind at Widows’ Hill was ever the same – bone-cracking, blood-chilling, cold. She struggled with the knot at her neck."

I cannot resist some foreshadowing - Vicki, the narrator, eventually is hanged (she gets better. mostly.) - hence the attention paid to the struggle with the knot at her neck. No one said anything about it when I posted, so I'm being annoying about it now. (there's also a point where Jeremiah quotes one of the first things his doppelganger in the 1960s said to Vicki, which clearly a man in the 1790s couldn't know anything about. surely.)

18. ... from that one WIP everyone has that has no plot, just vibes:

From my "Will Turner finds promotion to authority vastly overrated" post-AWE fic:

“The only deal I am prepared to offer you, Mister Beckett,” said Captain Turner, wearily, feeling as impatient as he ever had alive, “Is that which is available to all deceased souls. If that is of interest to you – see Mister Maccus, there. If not, get out my way.” Will didn’t look to see what choice Beckett made, and either his half-hour’s practice of the posture of authority or the dreadfully carved doors dissuaded any further complaints. The pipe-organ of the cabin seemed to be laughing at him.

send me a number and I'll send you an excerpt of my writing!

[idiotwithanipad]

How Agatha met Rogh

(TW: Death, Injury detail, Panic, Trauma from past abuse, Blood)

Agatha couldn't feel anything. No pain, no weight about her chest and middle, no saturated burlap sack against her face. Her eyes adjusted and could see nothing, the candles must have burned out. The basement and it's lack of ventilation became a furnace flue in the dark, fresh air a blessing in this part of the manor.

Her hands still remained bound above her head, but she could no longer feel the rough ropes. Almost as if to test her luck, she tugged her arms forwards quickly and felt no resistance. They weren't tied anymore. Agatha sat bolt upright, reaching her hands up to the sack covering her head. She wrenched the foul bag from her head and dropped her legs from the side of the table.

A man stood before her. A different man from the last two. He looked strange, Agatha didn't get a chance to take a closer look at him, as the burlap sack somehow, in the blink of an eye, materialised itself back over her head, plunging her back into darkness.

Agatha released a shrill scream at the sudden realisation that another man was with her, and at the fact that the terrible bag was back over her head. Did he put it back there? Was she to be punished further? Yet, there was no time to worry about the bag. Agatha fell from the wooden table and splattered onto the floor on her side, quickly gathering herself and getting to her knees, her hands grasping and feeling around on the floor for the strange man's shoes.

"Oh please, sir, no more! I hath taken such beatings on this night, sir, I hath wailed so! I can take no more weight, sir!" Agatha pleaded and sobbed, tears pouring from her swollen eyes. Her little hands grasped onto an object, a soft object; it felt as though she had gripped onto an animal. The silence that followed only made her sob and quake even more, her shoulders and covered head wincing and shying away at every second.

The softness of whatever her hands grasped began to move, shifting slightly and brushing against her fingers and wrists, the heavy aura the man gave off seemed to hover over her like a giant. Unseen to Agatha, the man hand crouched down and began to inspect the heavily blood stained sack.

"I hath been falsely accused, sir. I committed no such crime nor sin, I hath only breathed for 11 years, sir. I hath never bedded another, nor hath I wished so". Agatha sobbed, her fingers still clutching onto what she assumed to be a large, fur lined coat.

A small sound caught her attention, even the snuffling of a mouse would've alerted her in this state; the slightest noise making her picture those two awful men charging back into the basement to tie her hands again and lash her with leather.

The sound rippled above her head, slight at first, but it's volume and intensity grew by the second. Fearing her pleading sobs had been taken as an offense, Agatha retracted her hands and held them together before her covered eyes, reciting the prayer that her mother had taught her in times of sorrow.

The sound was of a man, the man she had just managed to catch a glimpse of before her vision became clouded by the blood soaked burlap. Breathing. Inhaling and exhaling. Sniffing.

"Look like it hurt..." Definitely a man's voice, the gravely drawl of it seemed to send shards of ice through her flesh. Agatha froze as she heard the scraping of fingers against the burlap above her head.

"I beg of thee, sir... No more, no more... I cannot take no more..."

Her cries were cut short when a warm, somewhat calloused hand came to gently hold onto hers, the thumb rubbing softly over her bloodied knuckles.

"No more" The voice agreed. The tone and depth of the voice changed to one of pity and understanding, the kind her father would take to her when she would cry.

"Why does thou seek me? I am but a scullery maid, sir. Hath I overlooked a chore? The dogs hath their meats? The candles hath been lit? The fires been stoked? I should cease my tongue, lest I wish to have it torn from my throat" Agatha winced. The unseen figure remained silent for a moment, for what reason, Agatha couldn't tell, nor see.

"Not maid no more. No pain no more. No more blood. Bad man not squeeze feet in rocks no more. Is done now. No more"

Come to mention it, Agatha didn't feel anything, she could barely even feel the Rocky basement floor grazing her knees beneath her skirts. All she could feel was the man's hands slowly and gently move to her underarms, lifting her off of the ground and onto the table again. Carefully, being gentle so as to not frighten her.

"Feet in bad shape. Pressed too hard. Snapped. Broken like stick" The voice seemed full of pity and concern, yet Agatha couldn't feel anything which the voice described. The description the voice gave made her mind conjour images of what her abused feet would look like if she could see them, the very mental image of it turning her faint.

Agatha rose her hand to pull the burlap sack away once again, before the man's gentle hand came up to clasp at her wrist to stop her.

"No. No look. Won't lie, it big bad, but me not want little girl to see it"

Agatha jolted at the sudden contact.

"How am I to go about my chores, sir? I hath work to tend to. Must be nearing my time to awaken, I must light the fires to warm the house before the family rises for morning prayers" Agatha panicked, fearing another lashing.

"No need to work no more. You ghost now, same as me" The voice spoke, reassuringly. The word rattled Agatha's pounding brain.

"You die on table with two men putting heavy rock on chest, you stop breathing and spit blood. Now you ghost, so no more work and pain"

The man couldn't see, but beneath the burlap sack, Agatha's eyes bulged in horror and confusion. Agatha had always been taught that St Peter would greet her after death. But there was no St Peter here.

"Bad men, bad death, painful. Even other ghosts didn't want watch" The voice commented, followed by a stirring from the floor above. A second voice called down into the basement from the wooden steps.

"Have they stopped yet? I couldn't bare to watch it, turned me stomach and that's sayin' a lot" A man called, his face peering between two balusters, his jagged and awkwardly set teeth chittered in his protruding jaw.

"Looks like they're gone now, Mick" A woman's voice soothed.

"They were 'oribble to 'er!" The strange looking man, presumably 'Mick' cried.

Agatha turned her covered face towards to source of the noise, but she still couldn't see past the burlap.

"Sir, this wretched bag will not keep itself from smothering me, sir. I cannot remove it" Agatha remarked, her fingers toying with the frayed fabric.

"You stay how you die. You die with bag on head, you stay with bag on head" The man said, almost too calmly, like he was well experienced. Agatha wasn't ready to accept that word, 'die'. Had she died? Is that why she felt nothing? How could she possibly survive a crushing that would kill even a grown man?

"Sir, I doth need air, sir. I must excuse myself" Agatha croaked, bowing her head slightly to the man and shuffling to drop herself down from the wooden table. Her twisted feet landed on the floor but soon after buckled when she took a few steps toward the stairs. She went hurtling forward, her arms flailing to find something to grab onto for leverage, only to collide with the stone floor.

"Oh. You okay?" The man called from behind her, shuffling closer and patting her back with his hand.

"I cannot seem to walk proper, sir. I'm to be given the boot, sir? Cast out to become a woman of the night?" Agatha whimpered, rubbing at the palms of her hands from her rough landing on the floor; she expected a few grazes, but felt no damage at all.

"No. You ghost, me told before. But can still go up there, come me show you" The man chimed. He carefully gathered the eleven year old maid into his arm and began up the stairs. The sickly looking, boil covered ghosts backed themselves against the walls as they watched the caveman pass. They looked at the state of the young girl, although they didn't see her face, they saw the state of her chest and feet, their eyes bulging in shock. One of them even started crying.

Agatha made sure to turn her face away from the man's; she was terrified that he too would scream and yell at her, her fists still clasped together as extra measure just in case she needed to say a quick prayer.

"There, this a big room, I call it 'Big Room'" The man finally spoke, Agatha could feel that he stopped walking and stood turning left and right in place.

"Sir, I cannot see much through this bag. Tis a task" Agatha mumbled.

"Oh... Well, is big room, red walls, picture of ugly man on wall with ugly woman and ugly boy, got swords on hip-"

"I should like to go back downstairs now, sir!" Agatha blurted, a harsh rattle in her voice.

"Ey? But only just got here. Said needed air-"

"Yes, sir, indeed I did, sir. And I hath gotten air now, sir... " Agatha's arms came up about her chest, forearms crossing over each other, the lace of her leather corset tickling down her cuffs.

The strange, still unseen man gave a small grumble of confusion and mild annoyance and turned on his heel, Agatha still in his arm. She flinched and practically buried herself under her own arms, snapping her face away from him and shielding her head with them.

"NO no, I beg thee, sir, don't!"

The man froze, his wide eyes stared at the state of panic the girl had gotten into from a mere few seconds; surely she didn't think that he'd hurt her, did she? Had he given that impression?

"Ey, me not hurt, have I?" He spoke, gently, being careful not to panic her further. It took a few seconds for Agatha's trembling to stop, her arms slowly lowered to rest neatly in her dirt covered lap.

"No, sir. Thou hath not risen thy hand to me in fury, sir..." Agatha agreed meekly.

The man began slolwy walking back towards the basement steps, carefully trying not to jostle her anymore, he didn't want her to think she was in danger.

"And my name not 'Sir'. It's 'Rogh'..."

[whomst-art-thou-whomst-whomst]

Tale of the Nine-Tailed Meta: Roleplay Therapy in Episode 11, or, What Am I To You?

Intro:

Okay sure it’s an elaborate act to trick Evil Baddie #2 but in episode 11, when Rang and Yeon switch places, pretending to be each other to lure the Imoogi in and get Rang out of his deal with the Evil Baddie #2?? They need to sell the family drama, right? They could have done it a lot of ways but they chose this way. Why? Maybe because it's easier to sell a lie that contains truth in it?

So I rewatched. And rewatched. And have come to the conclusion (again) that the writers are geniuses. Because this is fucking family therapy disguised as baiting psychopaths. Please note that I have not done family therapy, this is just my take.

I shall explain *starts powerpoint* So:

The latter half of this season has been about these two siblings coming back to each other, and while key actions have taken place that show they care (the forest rescue, the underworld guy confirming that Yeon is Rang's most important person), they are still lacking on communication.

This comes up twice with Yeon--first, when he's numbly enraged that Rang has shown Ji Ah her past life, and is preparing to give him a verbal (and boardgames) beatdown. He asks what Rang would want to be in another life, making the kind of idle conversation that makes Rang uncomfy because wait, what's the catch? And Yeon admits that he's realized they haven't talked, actually talked about something other than schemes or hostile banter in so long.

Later, after Rang's near death experience, Yeon takes him out to his ice cream spot and lets him steal some ice cream--again, Rang is jarred by this surprising indulgence. We don't see any of their interactions in the 600 years or so interim between The Execution That Wasn't and the present day, but we have to assume that things have been, uh, tense.

And Yeon admits it again--the thing we are all thinking, why didn't you just reach out to him? I mean this for both of them, but especially Yeon because hello, you STABBED YOUR TEENAGE BROTHER and waited 600 years to clarify that you weren't trying to kill him. All this time, you could have reached out, and so much pain and time and miscommunication could have been prevented?? How awful, on top of your existing guilt, to recognize that that was all it would have taken, and that you almost lost the chance to fix it. And yes, it's more complicated than that, but still--these two struggle a lot with communication.

The scene in question:

Which brings us to the scene where they are pretending to be each other, and act the way they believe the other one would act. It's a good cover, and yet. And yet. It’s also actually the only way they can be honest about their insecurities in their relationship.

It's not really an accurate representation of "this is how you think," because they don't know how the other really thinks about so many important things. “This is how you would act” becomes “This is what I believe you think of me, or what I think you SHOULD think of me” 

I don't think it's a coincidence that this whole arc removes the final barrier between them as siblings: after this, they speak about their feelings a lot more openly and honestly, Rang gets onboard with the squad planning to fight the Imoogi, and all it took was Yeon reaching out, Rang deciding not to betray his brother, and the two of them sitting at a table revealing what they believe the other thinks of them after 600 years of poor communication.

It's fitting that the Evil Baddie #2 is there for it--Yeon hates the guy for what he did to Ji Ah and his involvement with the Imoogi but in this context, this guy also represents Yeon's failure to protect Rang. If he hadn't stabbed his brother...if he hadn't stabbed him and then walked away...this guy wouldn't have had the chance to coerce Rang into a fox debt...

The brothers have to face each other and themselves at the same time. And if they want to sell it, they have to show the discord that is real between them, they have to use real material.

Essentially, it's an almost therapeutic exercise: here’s what you look like through my eyes.

For Rang:

Rang thinks his brother is disgusted and uncaring about the trauma he’s been through. He (acting as Yeon) brings up Ji Ah as an example of someone who "doesn't complain even though her history is as tragic as yours."

This honestly hits home--Yeon has a bad tendency, I think, to compare them as some guilty sort of avoidance, a claim that Rang should just get over it all; while Rang and Ji Ah both lost parent figures, their life experiences have been dramatically different, suffering and resilience are not competitions, and I like that Rang calls out how unfair this is (to both him and Ji Ah).

Similar to Ji Ah, Rang has likely spent the evening wondering whether to sacrifice Yeon. His life is at stake here.

(I’m still not sure how Yeon figured that part out?? Please someone explain how Yeon figured out Rang was on a deadline???)

But like Ji Ah, we will never really know what decision Rang would have made on his own. My headcanon is that one of the reasons Rang and Ji Ah are so antagonistic toward each other are because they are incredibly similar in how they love--almost feral, and ruthless if they’re desperate.

For Yeon:

Yeon (pretending to be Rang) complains about things he thinks Rang is angry about, which really reveals more about things Yeon is upset about.

It's clear during his act as "Rang" that Yeon knows he has let down Rang’s trust in him, and feels guilt for not openly acknowledging that Rang was in as much danger as Ji Ah: “If you worried about me half as much as her, I wouldn’t have done this. I couldn’t have.”

I think this also goes back to Yeon's guilt for leaving Rang and the mountains burning in his single minded focus to rescue Ji Ah. Like he’s saying he blames himself for Rang’s actions all these years.  There are so many subtle moments highlighting Yeon’s guilt. Mainly in his efforts to pretend Rang is fine or downplay Rang’s feelings. But here, Yeon expresses it the only way he can, removed from himself.

And I think Rang (as Yeon) finally releases him from the weight of that guilt by just responding, “You idiot,” you are an idiot for carrying this weight and thinking you are totally responsible.

Because Rang was influenced horribly by the things that happened to him, but he also made his choices.

“I wouldn’t say we made up, I just let him off,” he tells Yu-Ri later. Obviously they made up, but I think that’s more accurate wording. He lets go of his anger because he finally sees himself as Yeon sees him, and finally hears Yeon’s most honest expression of guilt.

Yeon still doesn’t think he "abandoned" Rang (Yeon and I still need to discuss that) but he more tellingly admits that he knows his brother looked up to him and totally trusted his brother would protect him--his heroic love sacrifice for Ji Ah was also, ultimately, a betrayal of trust for his brother.

UGH this script. UGH these characters.

I love that the writers finally got them into some therapy for five minutes. They didn't have to do the whole song and dance, because sure the Evil Baddie #2 is watching remotely but they could have had a quick "well it's shitty to see you, drink your coffee you dumb bitch" chat or sit in tense silence like the rest of us do with estranged family members and it might have been convincing enough, but they took the opportunity to talk, really talk, through a safe medium of the other.

Love this show.

[friendly-books]

Dresden files Peace Talk Live Blog

Content warning: Brief mention of SA I go off on a rant.

Dresden files Peace talk live blog

“My brother ruined a perfectly good run by saving “Justine is pregnant.” pg. 1 What a way to start a book

“He was one of the men who were so good-looking that it made people check around to see if they were being pranked.” pg. 1 Bi Harry 45

“Sorry to spoil your man time, Hemingway.” pg. 2 Ha

“I’ll have you know I’ve been a full time dad for well over a month, and Maggie isn’t dead yet. I clearly have mad parenting skills.” pg. 11 Ha and aw dad Harry

Carlos!

“The supernatural world had been kind of topsy-turvy lately. Some lunatic had managed to wipe out the Red Court of Vampires completely, and the resulting vacuum had destabilized balances of power that were centuries old.” pg. 16 Yeah Harry I wonder who would do that. Truly only a lunatic

“Marcone?” I demanded. Gentleman Johnnie Marcone, former robber baron of Chicago’s outfit was now Baron Marcone, the only vanilla human being to sign the Unseelie Accords. He’d managed that a few years ago, and he been building his power base ever since.” pg. 8 First Marcone mention and in the first chapter! Harry you were one of his signatures

“That was all him. Tell me that the Council doesn’t want me to be our emissary.”

Ramirez blinked “Wait what? Oh…God no, Harry. I mean…no. Just no.” pg. 8 Ha

“I took off the weighted vest with disgust and tossed it on the beach. It made an extremely weighty thump when it hit.” pg. 8 Nice Rock Lee moment

“I wonder if Harry Dresden is still Harry Dresden or if the Queen of Air and Darkness has turned him into her personal monster” look

I get that one a lot these days. Sometimes in the mirror.” pg. 9 Aw :( poor Harry

Mister!

Maggie!

I love Maggie and Bonnie

“As dumpy as it had been, that grotty little apartment had been my home. Damn the vampires, for burning it down. Damn Marcone, for buying the property and putting his new headquarters on the ground where home used to be.” pg. 21 I also miss Harry’s house. Also Harry, do you wonder why Marcone built his headquarters on your own house.

Is…is Harry sick?

“Runes and sigils of green light spangled the walls.” pg. 27 I don’t think Harry’s magic has always been green?

Ebenezar!

No wait Thomas is here and Eb doesn’t know they’re related oh no is there any chance they can all sit down and talk? Can we please all be grownups and communicate with each other just this once

“What is that thing here?” Ebenezar demanded

Thomas lifted his eyebrows. “Thing? Pretty bold assertion of righteousness from the White Council’s hatchet man.” pg. 30 Eb that’s rude to call Thomas a thing

“There has been a motion raised before the general Council to strip you of your status as a member of the White Council entirely.” pg. 33 Oh no

“If you look up unnecessary risk in the White Council’s dictionary, my picture is there. And my address. And all my personal contact information. And my permanent record from middle school.” pg. 34 Ha

“I’m being set up” pg. 36 Yep

“Stars and stones”

“Don’t say that,” he said, his tone slipping into a more familiar, grouchier cadence. “You don’t even know what it means.” pg. 40 Interesting

“Maggie,” he said quietly. His voice sounded rough. “Hello, young lady.” pg. 41 Aw

“How’d that work out?” I asked him. “Let’s ask Mom. Oh, wait. We can’t. She’s dead.” pg. 43 Poor Harry poor Eb

“Your mother is dead,” Ebenezar said. “Your father is dead. The woman who bore your child is dead. And you are the common denominator.” pg. 45 EBENEZAR! >:(

“but only a fool squared off against Ebenezar McCoy.”

(Yes. I am aware of the implications of that statement; I’d been doing it for like ten minutes.) pg. 47 Ha

Murphy!

“I don’t get to be me anymore,” she whispered” pg. 52 Poor Murphy :(

“So instead, I kissed her.” pg. 53 Harry/Murphy kiss!

“He was on the tall side of medium height, good-looking,” pg. 56 Bi Harry 46

Boo Rudolph

“And Marcone owns Rudolph,” Karrin said. She pursed her lips. “Or so we assumed.” pg. 64 He is!? When was this assembled?

“New colors”

“He made an alliance with a powerful guardian entity.” pg. 68 Interesting

Lara and Mab

“There?” pg. 71 How did Lara get three favors from Mab?!

“The embassy was on fire-and my daughter was inside.” pg. 74 Oh no :(

Earthwalk sounds terrible

“Why is everyone so shocked that I have a girlfriend?” pg. 80 Ha

Hope Carpenter!

Why ware the svartalves trying to take Maggie?

“Who did you lose?”

“Austri” pg. 87 Oh no poor Austri

“It was Thomas” pg. 90 What!? Why would Thomas try to assassin someone?

“And that’s why you’re sending me back?” Maggie asked” pg. 96 Aw poor Maggie :(

I love that Harry has plans for Maggie if he were to die again

“She hugged me tight again” pg. 99 Aw my heart :)

“He says you are,” Maggie said. “That you’re a good man. One of the best he knows.” pg. 99 My heart :)

Justine!

“Justine went limp and wept.” pg. 106 Poor Justine :(

“My friend. I recall you telling me about how one should respond to loyalty, once upon a time. That when you get it, you gotta give-it back, or else a man starts looking at those people like they’re things to be used.” pg. 112 Interesting shows Ebs teaching

Aw Harry and Eb are fighting :(

“If I do what is right, they’ll throw me to the wolves, huh?”

“Look in the mirror,” Ebenezar said harshly. “You are a wolf. That’s the point.” pg. 114 Ouch

“Outsiders” pg. 117 Oh no

“My mentor, my teacher, the most feared wizard on the planet, was frightened.” pg. 119 Oh no

Eb is so cool

This fight is so cool

Now they’re being chased

“why it’s damned stupid thing to trust vampires’ course.” pg. 126 You’re bringing this up now?! Now?

“Power against the Outsiders” pg. 128 So cool so Harry can fight the Outsiders. Wait did Harry’s mom plan Harry’s birth? Is that why Mab wanted Harry as the winter knight?

“please also observe that every single point of the plan is vampire-free.” pg. 130 Ha

“The whole pack is here. Now they’ll get serious.” pg. 131 The whole pack that’s a lot

“I don’t know.” pg. 133 Oh no

“Conjuritits? At your age?” pg. 134 What?

“Consulere Rex!” pg. 135 What. What kind of spell is this?

“Having a friggin’ Tyannosaurus Rex roaring out the tune of “Happy Birthday to You” at full volume is an entirely appropriate birthday present for Waldo Butters.” pg. 135 Ha

“And many moooooooooore!” pg. 138 Ha and yes I counted the o’s there’s 10

“God, I love working under pressure.” pg. 143 That’s good? Is this sarcastic? I think it’s sarcastic

“And I felt them.

Inside my head.

Felt the Outside.” pg. 145 Oh no

“I saw an image from their point of view-a being made of coherent light, a column of glowing energy centers, and pure dread, standing like an obelisk before the cornerhounds, a bolt of terrible lightning gathered around its upraised fists, head, and shoulders, like a miniature storm front.

I saw what they saw when they looked at me.

And I felt their fear.” pg. 145 So cool

“Because they took someone from me.”

“Mom?” I asked

His jaw muscles tightened. “Her too” pg. 148 Did vampires also kill Ebs wife? Whole family?

“Just…hurt.” pg. 149 Poor Harry

Butters!

“Okay. So the White Council wants to give you a hard time. So what else is new?” pg. 154 I’m with Buttes this isn’t new behavior from the White Council. This does bring back that quote from Elaine in Summer Knight “God, Harry. You can’t see it, can you? The Council doesn't care about you. They don’t want to protect you. They will only put up as long as you toe the line and don’t become an inconvenience.” pg. 150 The Council has never liked Harry. I’m more shocked that it’s taken this long.

“to recover is a solid sleep cycle” pg. 157 Knowing Harry that’s not going to happen

Andi!

Marci!

“He’s an adult human being, guys. And I’m tired. Draw conclusions, Harry.” pg. 159 Ha and throuple?

“Damn. Little guy had gotten all grown up on me.” pg. 160 Aw I’m so proud

Sayna is in town. Something is about to go down

“Who are you, and what have you done with Harry Dresden?” pg. 163 Ha

Riley! My guy you don’t get paid enough. Switch sides. Marcone probably has better benefits.

“Sister?” I asked “Oh, Sigrun Gard?”

“Freydis Gard.” pg. 170 Oh Gard has a sister

“Lara was a beautiful and dangerous as a hungry tigress, and very, very smart.” pg. 171 I’m seeing similar vibes to how Harry describes Marcone and Lara

“I thought it was closed to all outsiders then.”

She grinned and moved her hip in a little roll that made me want to stampede. “Have you looked at me?” pg. 173 Is Lara half Japanese or Korean or Chinese? Or is it because she’s pretty?

“Have you told his grandfather about him?” pg. 175 What!? Lara knows about Ebenezar?!

Okay don’t mess with Lara’s family good to know

“None of them were smiling.” pg. 186 Oh no

“Mistrusting me right from the get-go huh?” pg. 186 Not off to a great start

Can someone please de escalate this situation

“We’re friends” I said

“Then let us be your friends,” pg. 191 This isn’t how friends act. They don’t stalk, pull over their car, pointing weapons at them! Just let Harry explain and trust him.

“The last time I’d faced off with this many Wardens, they’d been there to arrest me, after the death of Justin DuMorne. I’d been sixteen. I’d remember how frightening those grim spartan figures had been.” pg. 192 That’s a lot of wardens after one warlock. Why so many?

Rant start

“He’s been with at least one sexual partner in the past several hours,” pg. 193 What. Is that the spell? Why would you make that spell? Why would you do that to Harry?

“And, as I realized what they’d been doing, my own anger started swelling dangerously. The Council had poked its nose in my business my entire adult life. It didn’t need to start poking it there. My heart started beating faster.” pg. 193 HOW FUCKING DARE THEY. >:( They have no right to know that information. The spell only seems to say that at least one and it seems to make no indication whatsoever if it was consensual. Maybe it wasn’t they (wardens) know that. They’re accosting Harry. Why do they care who Harry sleeps with? It’s none of their business. They don’t react this way to Mab when Harry becomes the Winter Knight. This is such an invasion of privacy. 

“Who was it?” Ramirez asked me, voice hard

“The nerve” I snarled

“Was it Lara?” he pressed. His jaw set like stone. “Harry, has she gotten to you?”

My fingers tighten on my staff until the wood cracked. “You’re crossing a goddamned line, Carlos.”

“Harry,” Chandler began, his tone soothing. He reached out to put a companionable hand on my shoulder.””

I struck it away

Chandler hissed and withdrew his arm, holding it close to his body.

“We have to know, Dresden,” Ramirez said. “Who did you sleep with tonight?”

“Because your sex life is a disaster, you pull this crap on me,” I growled” pg. 193 It’s none of their business. The nerve is right. They are crossing so many lines. Good if Harry doesn’t punch every single one of these Wardens by the end of the book I’ll do it myself and they deserve the backlash/back talk.

“Carlos face drained of color, but his expression never changed. “Believe it. Who?”

“Suddenly I remember why I have authority issues,” I said “Go fuck yourself Ramirez. And tell whoever ordered you to do this to me to pound sand while you’re at it.”

“Captain Luccio ordered me to do this,” Ramirez said quietly. “She’s still your friend. She wants to help you, too.”

“I don’t need this kind of help,” I said. “We’re supposed to be on the same side.”

“We are,” Chandler said emphatically. Then his face fell. “Unless. . . we aren’t, I suppose.”

“Ever word I’ve said to you is true,” I snapped. Or at least not a lie. “I’ve had enough bullshit from the White Council for one night.” pg. 194 Yes Harry has every reason to have authority issues. Tell him off Harry. LUCCIO! Why would you order this? I’m so disappointed in you. Did she think this was a good idea because of what happened to her and Peabody? If that’s why it doesn’t mean you get to be suspicious and be an unreasonable jerk to Harry. Why would the wardens agree to this? I thought they were Harry’s friends. Harry’s actually friends would sit him down and talk to him and trust him. This is an order you have to look at and disagree. You need to think for yourself. Why would anyone think this was a good idea?

Rant End

“Margaret Katherine Amanda Carpenter,” I chanted rhythmically, “I call you.” pg. 200 Ha

“I’m human. But this mantle isn’t like yours. It’s an order of magnitude more complex.” pg. 202 Interesting

“Molly had definitely become someone darker and more dangerous.” pg. 203 Oh no

“And more than anything else, it’s where you build that world that you want.” pg. 212 I love the passage about home

“My comfy, dumpy old apartment was gone, flattened by Gentlemen Johnnie Marcone to make way for his stupid little castle and the Bigger Better Brighter Future Society. I mean, that had only been after the Red Court of Vampires had burned my home down, but I guess I’d settled their harsh not long after. I was willing to call that one even.” pg. 213  Marcone mention! It’s a cool castle.

“I bowed my head at a light and wept.” pg. 213 Poor Harry

“Then perhaps you are the right person, in the right place, at the right time,” Michael said “Again. Have faith in that. And get some sleep.” pg. 218 I love this

Oh dear Molly hasn’t told her parents about being the Winter Lady

Pretty suit

Gary!

Sanya!

“He’d shaved his head entirely, and his scalp was the color of dark chocolate, covered with beads of sweat, and the blazing afternoon sun shone gratuitously upon all the muscles.” Bi Harry 47

“But knowledge good, too, da?”

“Da,” I said, firmly.” pg. 230 Of course Harry thinks knowledge is good

“And directly through Sanya’s wrist.” pg. 233 Oh dear

“He suddenly frowned. “Hey” pg. 234 Ha

“With an angel inside,” breathed Butters” pg. 239 So cool

“I accidentally ran it through the laundry once.” pg. 239 Ha

“The fete was being hosted at the Brighter Future Society’s headquarters, a small but genuine freaking castle that Gentleman Johnnie Marcone had flown over from somewhere in Scotland, stone by stone, and rebuilt on the lot of a burned-down boarding house.” pg. 242 Marcone mention!

“My old house.

Gone now

In fire

I wanted to go home.” pg. 242 Poor Harry :(

“When it got fully dark, Marcone’s castle would look like it was holding a flashlight under its chin.” pg. 243 Marcone mention and ha

“Technically, this wasn’t my first visit to Marcone’s little fortress, but it was the first time I’d done so physically.” pg. 247 Marcone mention

“M-Baron Marcone, the White Court, and the Paranetters have formed an alliance against the Former here in Chicago the past few years,” I said “Too many kids had gone missing.” pg. 248 Yep and I love that Harry has to stop and correct himself from just saying Marcone

“Wild Bill scowled darkly. “They turned to criminals and the White Court for help, did they?”

I straightened and turned slowly to Wild Bill, lookIng directly at him. “Their kids were being taken. And it wasn’t like we were helping them.”

Wild Bill quickly averted his gaze from mine. There was an uncomfortable silence.” pg. 249 Yep what were the White Council doing while Harry was dead? And the years after. It doesn’t seem like they were helping people. Where were the people supposed to go? Marcone and Lara were offering protection.

Childs!

German Shepherd! Doggy!

“My employer’s main concern tonight is that no one brings any explosive compounds inside,” he said calmly.

“Yeah. That would suck, if everything blew up and the place burned down,” I said “I speak from experience.” I might have given him a toothy smile as I said it.” pg. 250 Ha and come on Harry’s here. There’s going to be a fire.

I’m halfway through the book

“Marcone keeps a platoon of Einherjaren on standby. Remember?” pg. 251 Marcone mention

“Me, too. Just remember what I taught you.”

“Never start the fight. Always finish it.”

“Not that.”

“Make your bed and do your chores?”

“Not that”

“Something, something, never let them see you sweat.”

A grin flashed over the old man’s seamed face, there and gone. “Close enough.” pg. 252 Ha

“Marcone’s little castle had a large central hall that took up what had to be a goodly portion of its ground floor.” pg. 253 Marcone mention and this castle is so cool. I can’t wait for Harry to get it.

“And apparently, Baron Marcone had convinced them to help him.” pg. 253 Marcone mention and it’s interesting that Marcone got the Summer court to help

“And they were playing for Marcone’s party.” pg. 254 How many favors does Marcone have? And to who? How many did he cash in for this accord meeting? Why?

“I thought about the vaults we’d partially wrecked in the basement of Marcone’s bank, where he’d been entrusted with protecting assets from a dozen different supernatural nations at least. Just how many markers had Marcone given out? How many truly scary beings were in the man’s debt?

I frowned. The robber baron of Chicago was becoming a real concern.” pg. 254 Yep and I can’t wait to see him

“I blinked. Lara wasn’t exactly a ditzy party girl, but she was doing a damned good impression.” pg. 258 Oh Lara’s plotting

Oh interesting that the favor have an effect on Harry

Oh no ghouls are here

“I considered setting them all on fire for a while, until I started getting looks from the table. It was only then that I noticed how wildly I was smiling and moved along.” pg. 264 Harry hates ghouls so much

IVY! She’s here!

Where’s Kincaid?

Has it really been years since Harry saw Ivy?

I want Marcone. Where’s Marcone? This is his event. Hmmm =| 

Vadderung!

Ferrovax is here too?!

Genoakwa survived?! He’s here?!

Oh good it’s just RiverShoulder’s

The Forest People are joining the Accords!

Yes Harry is a good friend. I wish Carlos remembered that yes I’m still mad about it

“Blood on His Soul won’t forget.” pg. 270 That’s his name?! And he survived!? Ahhh!!!

“Yeah. Marcone had plenty of people here.” pg. 270 Yep

“Yeah, these parties are a hoot,” pg. 272 Yeah Harry isn’t great at parties

“Beowulf. Vadderung.” pg. 273 VADDERUNG was Beowulf! That’s so cool

River Shoulders is old

“You know what, Hoss Dresden?” pg. 275 So far three people have called Harry ‘Hoss’ Eb, Listen-to-Wind, and River Shoulders

“You pretty good about defying folk who need defying. And you’re getting better about fighting out who those folk are.” pg. 275 Yep

“Sometime, you want to learn more, come find me.” pg. 275 I hope Harry learns from Rivers

“Baron Marcone has given his permission, as host, for me to deal with this matter.” pg. 281 Marcone mention

“Baron Marcone, as host of this gathering, offered to hold my brother prisoner until the matter had been settled through an Accorded  emissary.” pg. 283 Marcone mention

“My read is that this whole conference is Marcone’s baby.”

I grunted agreement. “He’s actually doing what Cristos only thinks he is,” I said. “Building alliances.”

“And if you screw up Marcone’s plan? Karrin asked bluntly.

“His reputation takes a hit,” I said

“And he will respond to that.”

“Marcone is actually aware of the concept of payback,” I agreed.

Karrin glowered. “I don’t know all of the beings you deal with very well, Harry. But I know Marcone. And he scares me.” pg. 286 Marcone mention. Yeah Marcone is scary. So this is Marcone’s pet project.

“I love you,” I said.” pg. 292 Ahhh!!! :)

Yelp now they’re getting tailed

Why is everyone looking at Justine?

How do I only have 12 chapters left?

I like Freydis

“Are you seeing anyone?”

Murphy blinked.

“Mortals cheeks turned bright pink. “Um.”

Freydis frowned slightly and glanced from Murphy to me and back. “I don't mind sharing.”

“I’m . . . I’m Catholic,” Murphy said.

Freydis’s eyes shone with a wicked sparkle. “I don’t mind conflicted, either.”

Murphy gave me a somewhat desperate glance.

Huh. I’d officially seen everything now. Murphy asking for a rescue. From monsters and madmen, she’d never cried uncle.

It had taken a redhead.” pg. 309 Ha and Murphy didn’t say she wasn’t straight just Catholic so I’m putting that down as a Bi Murphy 2

“Marcone owns it.” pg. 317 Marcone mention

“It’s bullshit. However inconvenient you might be for them, whether any of them like it or not, you’re a wizard Harry.” pg. 319 You know what’s bullshit your intervention. I will be forever be mad about it

“Yet a wizard, Harry,” I growled.” pg. 319 Ha

I’m almost done and it’s only been four days

“Point is, I’ve already cast my vote on your behalf. So have most of the other Wardens.”

I was quiet for a second, with my throat a little tight. “Oh. Thanks.” pg. 319 That doesn’t make up for the intervention

“Don’t you like parties, Harry?” pg. 320 Ha and is that an understatement

“Wham. It was nearly audible, how fast his expression became a closed door.” pg. 320 Ah right Bombshell

“Why would he?

He was a friend. He trusted me.

I felt sick.” pg. 321 Is Carlos really your friend after the intervention. Does he really trust you? He was the one to mistrust and track Harry first

“Baron Marcone was a handsome man of middle years dressed in an immaculate gray business suit. Perhaps slightly taller than average, he had barely changed in all the years I’d known him. The few marks of age that had come upon him only made him look more reserved, severe, and dangerous.” pg. 322 Bi Harry 48 and MARCONE my guy is here finally! Look at him! I love him probably far too much. And yes Harry Marcone is handsome.

“Marcone glanced up as the White Council’s delegation entered together, and he looked at me for a moment, his expression neutral.” pg. 323 Marcone mention and I love that Marcone looked at Harry. I wonder what he’s thinking?

“I returned the look with as much of a poker face as I could, and we both looked elsewhere at the same moment, as if we’d planned it.” pg. 323 Ha

“I briefly toyed with the image of Marcone, with several missing teeth, reclining in a dentist chair for repair work while Gard and Hendricks menaced the poor DDS with their glowers, and it made me smile.” pg. 324 Ha

“If any underworld boss in the world had a dental plan for his employees, it would be Marcone.” pg. 324 Yep

“I should probably be looking into a checkup for Maggie before she went to her new school in the fall,” pg. 324 Ha and yes dad Harry

“Oh. You just went from a three to a six, seidermadr. I like men who look past the surface of things. And you can dance.” pg. 328 Ha and yes Harry can dance

“One of Marcone’s people in the in the red jackets looked like he might disagree with me going up the stairs to the gym” pg. 331 Marcone mention

“The guard looked from me over toward Marcone’s camp. Marcone didn’t look up from  his conversation, but Hendricks, his right hand, gave the guard a nod.” pg. 331 Marcone mention and what is he thinking?

Why are Harry and Lara undressing?

“Marcone had to give in with grace and installed dumbwaiter doors.” pg. 333 Marcone mention and ha

Why are they getting in the dumbwaiter? How can they both fit? How can Harry fit?

“Oh. You and the policewoman? Congratulations, wizard.” pg. 334 Yes true love protection

Wait I need to go back I missed Gard and Hendricks description because I was distracted by Marcone

“had grown out a short beard that had come out several shades darker than his hair,” pg. 323 Hendricks has a beard!

“on top of Lara in the boxing ring, making out furiously.” pg. 336 What. Why? Out of all the illusions you go with that one? After that “intervention” if anyone sees it won’t be good for Harry

I hope the guard will be ok

“Because it was my door.

My door, mine, from my old apartment; the door to my sub basement lab.” pg. 347 Harry’s basement! Does Marcone know it’s Harry’s lab? Why did he keep it? Has Marcone gone into the lab? Can he? Ah it’s a piece of Harry’s home.

“Hells bells, I wanted to feel like I was home again. And instead, I was standing in Marcone’s house.” pg. 346 Well it’s going to be Harry’s house soon.

Poor Thomas :(

“You’ve got conjuritis? I’ve heard about how awkward it can be when wizard kids get the disease. Aren’t you a few. . . decades old for that?” pg. 354 Interesting could Harry have gotten it from Maggie? Does being isolated to just him, Justin, and Elaine in their adolescence play a part? Does Harry have a longer lifespan than other wizards so now in his 40’s he still considered young enough to get conjuritis? Why does Lara know about conjuritis? Did Thomas, Molly, Maggie, or Charity? ever get conjuritis? Am I massively overthinking this probably

“The whole time I got dressed, I did my best to ignore the image in the boxing ring” pg. 355 It’s still going on?!? Why?

The potion from Fool’s Moon!

“He loved books.

He took me to see Star Wars movies.

Him and me.” pg. 360 Aw Harry’s dad got him into Star Wars :) My heart

Oh no Ferrovax can see Harry

Oh good Vadderung is helping

“None of the valets or staff survived.” pg. 367 Oh no

Noooo Gwynn ap Nudd I liked you

“YOU DARE! YOU ARE A GUEST IN THIS HOUSE!” pg. 374 Oh dear Mab is mad

“I remember how you wept when Merlin cast you out.” pg. 813 What!? Mab and Merlin

What

Just

Happened

Did the being just kicked Mab through the wall?

Who is the bronze lady?

“Gentleman John Marcone stepped out from the unmoving Gard, impeccable in his suit. He didn’t look frightened, though he had to be. He simply stepped forward, clear of his guards, and said, “Good evening, madam. I am Baron John Marcone. This is my home. Might I have the pleasure of knowing how you wish to be addressed?” pg. 378 Marcone mention and what are you doing Marcone?

“The goddess narrowed her eyes, watching Marcone with the kind of revulsion that one normally sees reserved for a swarm of maggots. She shook her head, dismissing Marcone from her attention as she fixed her gaze on Vadderung again.” pg. 378 Marcone mention and don’t you look at Marcone like that.

“This is your host?” she demanded. “You permit a mortal among you? Where is your dignity? Where is your pride?” She shook her head. “This world has gone astray. We have failed it. And I will no longer huddle fearfully in the seas and watch the mortals turn it into their filthy hive.” pg. 378 Who made you the judge, jury, and executioner? And Marcone is cool.

“The goddess walked forward, starting down at Marcone. She circled him, shaking her head in judgement and still no one moved.” pg. 378 Don’t you shake your head at Marcone

“Chicago fell into total darkness.” pg. 381 Oh no

“A solid quarter minute of stunned silence followed before Gentleman John Marcone hauled himself to his feet, looked around at the destruction and confusion in the hall, and mused, “It would seem we have the Formor’s answer with regards to the peace process.” pg. 382 Marcone mention and yes Ethniu made her statement quite clear

“The dead, it would appear,” Marcone said. He started for the high seat and offered a hand to Molly. She glowered at him but took his hand and rose with a polite nod. He spoke in a low, intent voice that wouldn’t be overheard by most of the room. “Assess Mab, please, Winter Lady.”

Molly stared at him for a second. Then she went over to the hole in the stone wall behind high seat. She stared for moment and said, “What’s on the other side of the wall?”

“Storage,” Marcone said

“On the other side of that,” pg. 382 Let Marcone help you up Molly.

Yes Marcone call out LaChaise

“Are you a coward, sir,” Marcone asked, his voice deadly quiet.

“A question, sir,” Marcone said. “Not a statement.”

“Tread carefully, mortal,” LaChaise said. “I would be pleased to use your own entrails to make sausage links.”

“I ask the question,” Marcone said, “because your next actions will show everyone here what you are, LaChaise.”

“Marcone’s voice cracked out. You are a guest, sir. In my house.” pg. 384 Let him have it! Marcone’s so cool

“Once you awaken them, frighten them, you anger them. They will lash out at any supernatural threat they can find” pg. 386 Yep humans are scary

“It meant that the Last Titan was in league with the Outsiders.” pg. 390 Oh no

Yes Marcone taking control of the situation

“But Chicago’s streets had changed.” pg. 394 Oh no

“And being initiated to the supernatural world was difficult even when it happened gently-much less when it rolled up and ripped someone’s face off.” pg. 396 It’ll be interesting to see what happens when the masquerade comes off

“You fool,” he said. “You damned fool.” pg. 399 Oh no

“Don’t you see, boy? You’ll be vulnerable, compromised. Mab, and this creature, they’re isolating you. That’s what abusers do.” pg. 402 Yep

“And then me and the old man went to war.” pg. 403 Oh no

“But he deserved the truth. Had to have it, really.” pg. 411 This is how you’re going to tell him

“Good talk.” I said. “Wizard McCoy.” pg. 413 My heart :( ow will they ever recover from this?

“It hurts” I said quietly. “Oh God. It hurts.” pg. 416 Poor Harry :(

“The Eye of Balor” pg. 420 The what?

Alfred!

Lara stop

“Murphy was holding a live grenade to either side of their heads.” pg. 439 Murphy what are you doing?!?

“Gods, that’s hot,” pg. 440 Ha

“I’d heard the tone before. Back when I’d had to put the fear of, well me, into a vampire named Bianca. We’d sort of been amicable opponents up until that point. Things changed when I’d made her feel helpless. Things had gotten a little complicated.” pg. 441 Bianca just keeps haunting the narrative she’s been dead for what a decade? We’re still dealing with the repercussions of her party.

Ok so Harry’s plan is to trap Ethniu

“I thought of the hideous scarlet light of the Eye, tearing through Marcone’s little fortress.” pg. 455 Final Marcone mention and how are they going to get Ethniu to DeamonReach?

Final thoughts

Good book. I liked the fights and thought it was funny. I wish there were more Marcone moments but I always want that so that’s not new. We're up to Bi Harry 48 moments and Bi Murphy 2. Not sure how everyone is going to defeat the Formor and trap Ethniu. I’m sad about Eb and Harry’s fight. I was too sad to comment much about the fight. Poor Thomas I’m not sure how he’s going to come back and I have no idea what’s going on with Justine. I want someone to punch Carlos and co. for their “intervention” and I want to punch Luccio. That was such a long rant not sure if it made any sense. I think that was the fastest I’ve ever read a chapter book before. Only six days. While I want Carlos to get punched I am concerned about him. With his talk of pliers in cold case, the talk about lower power practices, and how he’s always been more of the White Council favorite than Harry. I can see him getting more extreme or more in line with the fanatics. I liked the dad Harry moments. I loved the Harry/Murphy moments. I can’t believe I’m saying this but I can’t wait for Harry to be kicked out of the White Council. What have they done for Harry?

Onto the comics. Not sure how I’m going to format that. Yes I’m procrastinating reading Battle ground. I’m not ready.

[euclydya]

For the song asks 11, 28, and one of your your choice!

We'll also give you a favourite lyric too from each song cuz why not lmao

11: A song that you never get tired of - Hmm... Sleep by My Chemical Romance. This song's extremely important to us, and though we don't listen to it often due to a lot of shit associated with it (it's one of Those Songs ya gotta be in the right Mood for, to us) when we listen to it we'll absolutely never get tired of it. It's gotten us through a lot over the years tbh!

Favourite lyric: The hardest part's the awful things that I've seen

28: A song by an artist with a voice that you love - You'll get two answers for this one since we can't decide, so, firstly we have Alone With My Thoughts by Chonny Jash! Not the first CJ song I was gonna choose but the one I had in mind (Be Born) doesn't actually showcase his Real Voice lmao. We May Still Be Biased™ but Chonny's got a great singing voice imo. I'd say more but it is nearly 6 am and we haven't slept yet ajsjdjsksjdjsjd

Favourite lyric: This will be my final entry

I'm tired, I'm done, I'm empty

My spirit's all but left me

The end of the universe doesn't impress me

Second, we have Geek U.S.A by The Smashing Pumpkins! Sayyyyy what you will about Mr. William Corgan's Voice™ but the high pitched whininess really fits TSP's sound imo. His vocals are,, unique I think in that Whooo the fuck else sounds like that lmao. He most certainly Sounds Like A Rat In A Cage™ and it's awesome actually. Synesthesia-wise his voice can make any song sound pastel as fuck (Very Good) unless it's drowned out by some loud ass guitar, which they do sometimes FHDJSJFJ

Favourite lyric: And then I knew we'd been forsaken,

expelled from paradise

I can't believe them when they say that it's alright

3: A song that reminds you of summertime - She's A Handsome Woman by Panic! At the Disco! The whole album this is off of is a huge Summer album for us actually! But this song in particular always gave off Summer vibes a bit more than the others, I dunno why. We have a lotta good memories associated with this song; going out to parks and fishing with our family, staying outside all day on swing sets singing along to our favourite songs with our siblings... Fun times! We miss em tbh. Haven't done any of that shit in years fhdjsjdjf

Favourite lyric: Beat backbones

Grazed the poem and made it strange

I wasn't born to be a skeleton!

[thisisevenharderthannamingablog]

Liveblogging notes for ep 11.

Sorry shippers, I gotta click the fast-forward a few times here, hope I don't miss any important bits. Did by sheer coincidence pause on "no legacy is so rich as honesty." Interesting.

Gun straight in with a clearly practiced right to the jaw. What a lovely family dynamic. Pete's like I am being tortured in a whole other way now, fun!

Gun doesn't want Porsche hurt...? This is the most we've seen of Gun all season, and his overt violence is a sharp contrast to Korn. Pete obviously isn't supposed to leave that room alive even before the gun is handed over, and he is side-eyeing Gun so fucking hard ah, I think I see the root of the problem here.

Vegas arranging for Pete to have "vacation" is certainly A Thing. Grandma appears to have total knowledge of Pete's job situation. Vegas is so wonderfully awful, as in I am in awe of how this character is constructed. The camera angles are constantly shifting and off-kilter in this scene.

Kinn actually checked up, too. Interesting. Trying to be a better boss these days? And he wants to let Porsche leave like Chay wants. This is the most relaxed outfit we've seen him in since the date, too. Korn looks way more distressed about this development than he did about getting Ken's head delivered in a gift box; Khun has Opinions. Kinn, you set yourself up for this, but well done with the declaration. Khun is so fucking delighted for his little brother.

OMG everybody listening in at the door. Discipline has gone straight to hell around here since Porsche joined. Arm is the best. Chan why is your gun drawn wtf.

Longest. Pause. Ever.

So there's like 5,000 rules in this place but none about fraternization?

Porsche is not sure this is a good thing. That's smart of him. All of his friends are cute though.

Interesting what they did with the lighting here to establish visual continuity with the minor house dungeon. Ah, the (in)famous hedgehog. Bizarre pet choice.

Porsche what? The number of times now that I have watched a scene in the show and said, "I thought that post about this was a JOKE" is fairly high now.

Back to Kim, still on the trail, trying to figure out who killed Porsche's parents, thinking that they are a link that might explain why his dad is so invested in this guy. We learn here that Porsche's parents had money and the details of the accident have been redacted.

Chay's got a new thousand-yard stare since the kidnapping. Poor kid. So much money and y'all don't have any therapists on staff. Real talk going on here, about time. (My chess theory, Chay is Porsche's king piece. He's in Korn's house now, danger zone.) And Porsche you've almost gotten killed like six times in this job, what is this bullshit.

On the one hand, Chay has a good point. Anything happens to Porsche, wtf is going to happen to Chay now? On the other hand, Porsche has been forced to be parent and provider and everything to his brother for most of his life. Any parenting book will tell you that parents need to keep something in reserve for themselves; Porsche deserves his own life and his love.

A choice looms. With Porsche's reply, this is the first time the narrative has raised the possibility of a third way, a solution that doesn't leave anyone out.

And skip right to Vegas and Pete for the thematic emphasis: "Do you think you can choose?" "I'm not choosing." Yet another lens on the issue -- what happens to choice if you reject the validity of the paradigm? If one of the options isn't a choice at all? Shit's getting deep in this goofball show.

So let's switch to domesticity and Kinn's friends being menaces. (Didn't Kinn used to sleep with a gun?) Porsche is so not used to any of this, but you gotta love how they're basically married already. I'm glad he has Yok looking out for him.

Aaaand back to Gun winning "father of the year" wow. "Childhood's End" huh real subtle choice show. Gun you do realize he's gonna fucking kill you one of these days?

Love every second of Khun winning hearts and UH-OH I was wondering when this was going to drop. Chay's little world has just ended. (Maybe you would feel differently if you had seen how amazing he looked coming to your rescue? No, I suppose not.)

Vegas you're lucky he isn't dead already wtf do you usually not play with your toys this long.

Forgot to mention this earlier but I really love the jewelry choices for all the characters.

Never failing to make everything AS WEIRD AS POSSIBLE love you Vegas. This scene is hella compelling though. Bonding with your torturer over a shared history of child abuse, check.

Wow Kim, that was ice cold. (Also WTF are you doing there? Thought you never visited.) You broke Chay. You heartless bastard.

We seem to be bringing the city views into more and more focus with these two? Honestly it's such a relief when things go well for a character.

WTF Gun do you stop by every day just to beat your son and then leave? This is getting even weirder. So Pete's going to try staying alive to see what happens? I'm more than a little surprised that they decided to make Vegas a reader. Just doesn't seem like he'd have the patience.

Kim still working and annoyed enough about all the dead ends that he's started throwing his family name at the problem. So it was Korn who had the accident hushed up. Doesn't it suck when you're right about something.

[vaugarde]

Aim to be a Pokemon Master! Episode 11: The Rainbow and the Pokemon Master!

It's bad scoob.

I feel mean saying it's as bad as it is, but like... honestly, I don't see the need to hold back. This was a sendoff to one of the most recognizable anime characters of all time, a character that's been around for years and years and years, so his final episode should've been handled with the upmost care. Otherwise, it'd just be disrespectful to the fans AND the characters themselves.

So how did they handle it? Badly. Under the cut because this got really long. Sorry in advance if the readmore breaks.

The episode is a mess of "throw a dart at the wall" style quicktime events with a kinda tangentially related question about what being a Pokemon Master even means. Which, the more you think about it, makes the entire miniseries feel like a waste of time.

Again- I am fine with this miniseries being a relaxed time calling back to old filler episodes by just having Ash, Misty, and Brock chill out and interact with the world. But it really feels like they wanted to have their cake and eat it too with the Eon Duo plot. You cannot act as though the miniseries is just going to be cute filler and then act like there's actually an overarching plot that we should absolutely care about.

What makes the Eon Duo plot feel even weaker is that it barely plays a part in this final episode. It is the reason Ash is now home. Because... the Latis also went home, I guess. Yeah they don't really connect it all that well. But beyond that, and Ash reminiscing about them a couple of times, they have zero relevance to the final episode. It really makes the whole thing feel like a waste of time more than anything.

I'm three paragraphs in and I haven't even talked about the actual plot so let's do that. Although in my defense, the pacing in the episode is awful, so if anything, this post being poorly paced is kind of an artistic choice if you think about it.

So, Ash, Misty, and Brock all say goodbye again in kind of a hilariously underwhelming way (I get that they've done it before, these characters will most likely see each other again, and they were never going to do anything as impactful as the OS finale, but... still) and Ash just kinda fucks around at Professor Oak's the whole time. There is a missing Charmander quicktime event that has nothing to do with the conflict, but it gets Gary to appear and ask Ash if he's closer to becoming a Pokemon Master, which sets up the "main conflict". If you can call it that.

I actually think Gary presenting this question is a good idea. Ash has been chanting about being a Pokemon Master for so long, yet has never had an answer for what that means. So his original rival who used to put him down so often being the one to really make him think about it is nice.

But... why on earth did they put it in the final episode and not the first? Why not have the entire miniseries be about this question? Hell, the marketing made it seem like that was going to be the case by having Gary pose the question in the trailer, implying that this was going to be the main conflict of the miniseries... and then it isn't. It's just the characters dicking around for ten episodes, and THEN we ask "what's next?" and that's really weird to me. Now the conflict has no space to breathe because we've only got like 15 minutes to cover, and any answer he has is going to feel rushed.

Speaking of rushed- boy howdy is this episode just a series of sidequests all shoved out as quickly as possible! Team Rocket's shitty breakup plot has ONE SCENE where they all just sorta huff at each other before they reconcile for the simplest reason ever (they all want to capture Pikachu. Which they were doing anyways and there's no reason why they would think the other members weren't in on that after the breakup). The missing Charmander sideplot leads into nothing and is an episode prompt that was done better in several other episodes before this. Gary is shoved out of the plot as soon as he's said "Pokemon Master".

And then there's Pidgeot who gets its own paragraph because this part of the episode actively annoys me and it's probably the most mean I'll get... I just wanna say... does any actual fan of the show (IE: people who still watch the episodes, keep up with the show, not someone who just kinda accepts stuff like "team rocket are teenagers" at face value because they haven't seen the show in years) actually care about Pidgeot as a character? Because I don't. Pidgeot is nothing to me. Pidgeot has absolutely no substance as a character. All it did was try to eat Caterpie that one time, pop balloons, do search parties, and then leave.

It might seem silly to insist it has no character when it's an animal that can't talk, but that feels like an empty argument when the other Pokemon are so expressive, even if it's just in certain episodes. Even Primeape, who spent muuuch less time on the show, left more of an impression with it's character arc before it left.

But in any case, the reason it seems like the bird has stuck around is because of it's release episode, which caused several people to write clickbait articles about how Ash is actually this fucked up horrible trainer because "he said he'd be back for Pidgeot!! He ABANDONED Pidgeot!! I can't believe the show wants us to think he's good when he was so HORRIBLE to Pidgeot!!" Ignoring that the line was actually a dub-exclusive one and there was never any implication that Pidgeot wanted Ash to come back for it. The idea that Pidgeot was abandoned is fanon. There's nothing to correct. There's nothing to "redeem" about Ash because he did nothing wrong.

But of course JN LOVES its clickbait- I mean, respectful character cameos! So of course we have to spend time in this episode bringing Pidgeot back in the most underwhelming and contrived way possible (Team Rocket nabs Pikachu and Ash left his Pokemon behind for... some reason.... and Pidgeot is just there and helps out and Ash is like "Wow Pidgeot you should join the team again!"). It had to right this horrible sin the OS committed! We gotta redeem Ash in the final episode you guys!! Now all those clickbait articles- I mean loyal dedicated fans are satisfied!!

So basically, they canonized something that people who actually watch the show don't actually care about, because we gotta get those clicks in I guess. Keep in mind, there are other Pokemon that got released that could've used the spotlight way more, that actual fans would have appreciated a lot more than this. Like I dunno... Ambipom? A character that was notoriously done dirty by her original season? Butterfree, a Pokemon more people love and remember? (We even got a glimpse of that in the JN finale so like... obviously it was a plot they knew people would have liked to see) Hell, why not bring it around to the first JN episode and have Pikachu reunite with Kangaskhan? Have a little cohesion and really make the journey come full circle?

Nah, obviously the bird no one cares about beyond misconceptions is more important here.

The actual reunion isn't even good. Usually, when a Pokemon returns to the team, it's an event. It's a stinger, like when Gliscor came back during the Sinnoh league and ended off the episode, and then the beginning of the next one builds off from that. Here... it just kinda happens. Pidgeot rejoins the team and then the episode runs off to the next sideplot with no space to let it breathe. Nothing about the plot would change if Pidgeot just stayed with the Pidgey flock. Wow. What fanservice. They really did care about this plotline you guys.

Anyways. So after that happens, while Delia is trying to give Ash the ugliest shoes I've ever seen (poor woman, her son runs out on her so much that she hadn't had time to make anything better) Ash and Pikachu get stuck in a rainstorm, and they watch the same gen 1 Pokemon they've oogled at all season, go "wow the world is HUGE!!!!" again because of course they do, and Ash is like "Well, I didn't actually feel the champion thing all that much. I think being a Pokemon Master is about loving all Pokemon. So let's go love more Pokemon!" and then he takes the shoes without saying bye to his mom and then he's out of the show forever.

... What

He's been.... he's been doing that the whole time though? Why are they acting like this is an epiphany and this is something Ash has to change if he wants to be a Pokemon Master? Shouldn't he be one already by that logic? If Ash didn't care about becoming champion, why did we spend so much time on that? Doesn't that undermine a lot of the show?

What was the point of any of this?

And I think that's my main issue with this miniseries: there is no point to it. It barely feels like a finale, it just makes the weakest gestures possible to make it seem like a finale, and then it just ends. It's a mess.

It feels less like a respectful conclusion to the character, and more like... "Eh we're gonna try something new next season, but we don't wanna leave Ash off the table if it bombs, so let's just kinda put him on the sideburner and wait and see". It's non-committal. It's frustrating.

"Well, why is that so bad? Pokeani always clings to the status quo, they never let the characters age and grow, why would they stop now?" Well... because it's literally the end of Ash and Team Rocket's time on the show? Because they ARE about to change the status quo by bringing in an all new cast and setting? Because this whole miniseries was advertised as an ending and celebration of Ash, and therefore the expectation is that something substantial has to happen to justify him not being in the show anymore?

Ash not changing after DP or XY or SM is a little strange, but it's also fine because he's gotta keep on trucking for several episodes. Part of the point of Pokeani was it's longevity, so keeping the general setup and characters the same was part of the point. But now, there's no expectation for Ash to keep up the same routine. He's passing on the mantle to Liko. Why SHOULD he stay the same? Why not take the chance to substantially change up his life to justify him leaving? Why leave Team Rocket in such a depressing spot where they apparently just keep chasing Pikachu their whole lives when that's not actually what their fans wanted?

Why end the character's arc the exact same way the other series probably would have ended it? What exactly is the point of ending it at all or having a celebration in that case?

This episode isn't the worst thing ever, I don't even know if it's one of my least favorites, but it is definitely one of the more frustrating ones to me. It could have been good, but... why challenge anything if we don't want to?

Very disappointing. I'm sad this is the end for Ash and Pikachu. They deserved better.

Oh also some psychic damage for reading this far. I have to end off this long ass project with something worthwhile