#like HELLO?!!? whoever cut that part did NOT serve the fandom

[copias-juicebox]

i am kinda mad about the editing of mummy dust btw. I wish we would have gotten more closeups of papa‘s slutty mummy thrusts!! 😤

[esmeraldablazingsky]

I’ve finally hit my limit on the number of bad takes on the Lan parents I can see before I have to lay out all the reasons I disagree, so hello, I’m Blazie, and in this essay I will justify my visceral dislike of the assumption that Qingheng-jun married/imprisoned/had sex with Lan-furen against her will.

    Warning for mentions of rape (in context of Interpretations I Really Hate) and a very, VERY long post below the cut.

    Before I start going off about the finer points of all this, I want to make sure people are on the same page regarding what we actually know about what went down with Qingheng-jun and Lan-furen. What I say is based off the EXR translation of MDZS, for the sake of clarity, and although I don’t think the exact wording should be too important, feel free to let me know if you think I’ve missed an important bit of nuance or something (the whole story is in Chapter 64.)

    The story we get is told by Lan Xichen, and it goes like this: a young Qingheng-jun falls in love at first sight with Lan-furen, who doesn’t return his feelings, and at some point kills one of Qingheng-jun’s teachers over unspecified “grievances.” Although he’s understandably very upset over the murder, Qingheng-jun sneaks Lan-furen back to Cloud Recesses and officially marries her in order to announce to his clan that anyone who wants to hurt her has to go through him.

After that, he locks Lan-furen in one house and himself in another as a form of repentance. Wei Wuxian speculates that this was because “he could neither forgive the one who killed his teacher nor watch the death of the woman who he loved. He could only marry her to protect her life and force himself not to see her.” 

    A central detail of this story that I think people don’t give the import it deserves is that aside from marrying and protecting her, Qingheng-jun’s other option was to let Lan-furen be executed by his clan. His purpose in marrying her wasn’t just for kicks/out of a possessive sort of love, it was so she wouldn’t straight up die. How she felt about this arrangement isn’t stated, but I’ll get into that in a bit. In addition to that, Qingheng-jun and Lan-furen live separately, which was apparently purposeful on Qingheng-jun’s part, and runs counter to the interpretation that he intended to take sexual advantage of Lan-furen.

Though there aren’t many concrete details in Lan Xichen’s retelling, he does specifically inform Wei Wuxian that his mother never complained about remaining in her house. What exactly this signifies is unclear— whether she was simply putting on a brave face for her sons, or whether she was in fact at all content with the situation— but it at the very least serves to further muddy the waters on how she and Qingheng-jun felt about all this. 

Beyond what Lan Xichen and Wei Wuxian are saying out loud, there’s also quite a bit of subtext in this scene, especially in light of later events and revelations, like Lan Xichen’s confession for Lan Wangji at Guanyin Temple. 

So what is Lan Xichen trying to convey with all this? There’s a lot of memes about this scene, most of which err too far on the side of Himbo Airhead Lan Xichen for my liking, but one that I do find amusing emphasizes how Lan Xichen draws parallels between Wangxian and the story of his parents (Lan Xichen: [flute solo] please use your one brain cell to connect the dots.) If Wei Wuxian hadn’t completely lost his memory of Lan Wangji defending him against his own clan elders, one would assume that Lan Xichen’s story would have had a much better chance of hitting home. 

In hindsight and side by side, the parallels are much clearer— Qingheng-jun, “ignoring the objections from his clan… told everyone in the clan that she would be his wife for the rest of his life, that whoever wanted to harm her would have to pass through him first.” Similarly, according to Lan Xichen in Chapter 99, “for [Wei Wuxian,] not only did WangJi talk back to him, he even met with his sword the cultivators from the GusuLan Sect. He heavily injured all thirty-three of the seniors we asked to come.”

In that context, it makes a lot less sense to interpret Qingheng-jun as an aggressor towards Lan-furen, as in Lan Wangji’s case, the narrative clearly establishes that his actions are to secure Wei Wuxian’s safety. The action of Taking Someone Back To Cloud Recesses is— okay, actually, it’s a little more nuanced than I took into account when I started writing that sentence, so let me go a little deeper into Lan Wangji’s actions and how they relate to his father’s, story-wise. 

My intent is not to dive into the terrifying underworld of novel-versus-drama discourse, but simply put, Novel!Lan Wangji as he is written isn’t exactly the poster child for clear consent. (I’m going to entirely leave off the extra chapters for the sake of everyone’s sanity, so I’m just talking about the main body of the novel here.)

He means well, and I’m sure we can agree that he does actually love and want the best for Wei Wuxian, but his lack of communication on this point means that he accidentally gives Wei Wuxian the impression that he wants to imprison and/or punish him in Cloud Recesses at least twice off the top of my head (pre-timeskip, as we know, and post-timeskip immediately after Dafan Mountain when he actually drags Wei Wuxian back to his room.) 

That all likely has something to do with MXTX’s narrative kinks and regular kinks and all that, and can absolutely be taken with many grains of salt. However, these events establish how easy it is to misinterpret the action of Taking Someone Back To Gusu as an attempt to imprison rather than protect them (much to Lan Wangji’s chagrin.)

Failing to communicate his purpose to Wei Wuxian doesn’t mean that Lan Wangji actually had any intent of hurting or caging him— that was just a misinterpretation on Wei Wuxian’s part, and we, as the audience, find that out in due time— but as written in the novel, it can be really uncomfortable to read. Because of that, many people choose to accept CQL canon regarding Lan Wangji’s more possessive actions or mix characterization from different adaptations, which, to be clear, I completely understand and respect. 

However, Qingheng-jun doesn’t get the benefit of the doubt as often, which I frankly find baffling, because nowhere in the text does it state that Lan-furen objected to being taken back to Cloud Recesses, while even Wei Wuxian clearly objected the first few times. In fact, while we’re on this note, I’ll take it a step farther— I find it baffling that people seem to default to an unsympathetic view of Qingheng-jun, because nowhere in the text does it state that he overruled Lan-furen’s wishes in any way. The text doesn’t clarify a lot of things, actually, and that is part of the point. 

The narrators of MDZS are, in many situations, highly unreliable. This is, presumably, very purposeful! MDZS can easily be read as a sharp criticism of reputation and mass judgment and the concept of condemning people without knowing their motives! And I don’t want to sound mean, but guys… did any of us learn anything from that? Here, I’m going to put it in meme format for a second to convey what I mean. 

MDZS: It’s easy to condemn someone as a villain if you don’t know their story or the reasons behind their actions

MDZS: Anyway, here’s a character whose story and reasons behind his actions you know nothing about

Some Parts Of This Fandom: Ah, a villain 

    Memes aside, here’s what I want to point out. It’s entirely possible to assume Qingheng-jun was a bad person who disregarded a woman’s wishes in marrying and confining her when all you have is Lan Xichen’s (actually very neutral, thank you Lan Xichen for being an eminently reasonable and concerned-with-evidence character) account of what happened. It would also be at least that easy to assume Wei Wuxian was just an evil necromancer if he hadn’t un-died and brought his own story to light, or even to believe that Lan Wangji had somehow tamed Wei Wuxian into submission and being a respectable cultivator if you were an average citizen of Fantasy Ancient China with nothing but rumors to operate on. 

    The thing about Qingheng-jun and Lan-furen’s story, then, is that there is nobody left alive who knows the full tale. Nobody knows what they thought about anything, really. Nobody even knows why Lan-furen killed Qingheng-jun’s teacher. Wei Wuxian asks why, and Lan Xichen can’t tell him, but I think the best answer would be something along the lines of I don’t know, Wei Wuxian, why did you kill people? Your guess on the motivations of your own thinly disguised narrative parallel are as good as anyone’s. 

    So, while it’s not technically impossible to assign darker motives to Qingheng-jun, the cautionary tale of MDZS seems to warn against that exact assumption. 

    I’ve refrained from getting too salty on a personal level thus far, but now that I’ve said a lot of the more logical and story-based points of my argument, I will say that at least some of my annoyance with the interpretation of Qingheng-jun as a possessive rapist and Lan-furen as his victim stems from the fact that I just think it’s straight up boring. Where’s the nuance? Aren’t you tired of reducing these characters to the flattest possible versions of themselves? Don’t you just want to add a little flavor? 

    In a slightly more serious phrasing of that criticism, I find that making Lan-furen a helpless prisoner strips her of whatever agency she might otherwise have. To be fair, she’s more or less a non-character in keeping with the general state of the MDZS universe, but making her a damsel in distress only consigns her more deeply to hapless, milquetoast innocence. 

    It’s perfectly valid to enjoy ladies who have done nothing wrong, ever, in their lives, but like… Qin Su is right there, if that’s your ball game. There’s also really no need to make Qingheng-jun someone who doesn’t respect women. Isn’t Jin Guangshan enough for at least one universe? 

    Anyway, ultimately, you do you. I don’t like arguing on the internet, and will just ignore things I don’t agree with (or write an 1800 word vaguepost) like a mature human being. I’m just saying, if it’s a cut and dry tale of imprisonment and assault you’re looking for… you probably don’t want to turn to a woman who committed a murder and a man who loved her enough to forfeit everything to keep her safe. 

[snowdice]

Road Trips and Missing Persons (Part 4)

Fandom: Sanders Sides

Relationships: Patton & Virgil, Virgil & Deceit, Logan & Patton (more to be added)

Characters: Patton, Virgil, Deceit, Remus, Roman Logan (more to be added)

Summary: Patton was just getting groceries. The next thing he knew, there was a knife at his throat and he was an unwilling uber driver. Virgil’s on the run after the murder of his dad, and it’s not just his paranoia that’s telling him he’s being chased down. He has to get somewhere safe, somewhere he can trust, and all he has is a couple of stories from his dad and a name: “Green Bellow Foods and Dispensary.”

Notes: Secret Agents AU, knives, carjacking, kidnapping, murder mentioned, guns mentioned, pepper spray, blood mentioned, drugs mentioned (more to be added)

This is a fic I’ve been writing on study breaks that you have probably all already seen at this point. I’ve affectionately named it the Goblin Brain Fic because it’s helping my brain actually get motivated for studying. I’ve slightly edited it for wording and grammar, but not for content from my previous posts. Feel free to send in asks to direct it because I’m not 100% sure where this is going and you can help decide if you feel so inclined! You can see the process I went through to build this at this link.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 My Master Post

Janus shoved himself to his feet and while Remus would usually find it easy to laugh at him for the way his hair looked, the cold glare the other man was sending him was nothing like the glares he usual leveled at Remus. He did not want to mess with that glare. Remus had some self-preservation instincts.

“Your brother?” Roman asked, still on his butt and looking confused. Now he Remus could laugh at right now.

Remus cackled. “You might want to find a new hair and make-up artist Ro-Ro.” Roman glared at him which just served to make Remus cackle more.

“I apologize for him,” Janus muttered.

Roman blinked up at him and a smile flickered over his face. “That’s a new one. I’m usually the one apologizing for him.”

Janus paused for a moment before he cracked a smile himself. “I guess you would be.” He stuck out a hand to help Roman to his feet.

“So,” Roman said. “You’re here for Virgil Gates then too?”

Janus nodded. “Yes.”

“I didn’t know he had any family other than his father and his uncle. Why didn’t D…” he stumbled over not calling Dad, “Dad”, “Sanders call you then?”

Janus’ mouth pinched in displeasure.

“It likely has to do with the fact that my mother killed his father,” Janus said blankly. Remus grimaced. Blank Janus was far scarier than glaring Janus. It meant he was feeling a whole bunch of things and didn’t want anyone to know it.

“Oh that’s…” Roman said awkwardly. “That’s heavy dude.”

“Yes. Heavy.”

“Well, we’ll snatch the kid up and make sure mommy dearest doesn’t get her hands on Baby Bop,” Remus said. “Won’t we Ro?” Remus gave Roman a look and he nodded once sharply.

“Of course, we will,” Roman said. “That’s why I’m here anyway.”

“I’m going with you,” Janus informed them.

Roman opened his mouth like he was thinking about arguing, but since Remus enjoyed having a brother, he cut him off. “Yep. Of course, you are Jay. Between the three of us, we’ll find him in no time. I mean, how far could the pipsqueak have gotten?”

Janus nodded sharply. He turned to Roman. “You were looking for him too, what do you know?”

“Not much more than you,” Roman answered. “There’d clearly been a break in when I checked the house and I found what I’m guessing was his,” he pointed a thumb at the unconscious man by the water fountain, “car down the road which a neighbor had said they’d seen someone come out of and go sneaking around the house. So, I figured Virgil and whoever broke into the house were probably still around,” Roman said. “I swung by the bus stop down the street, but no busses have left in the last half hour or so and I couldn’t see anyone around. Then, I thought to check the park and came here and heard you…er… talking to that guy,” Roman gestured to the unconscious body a couple feet away, “about finding him.”

“He didn’t know much else,” Janus told them. “Virgil pepper sprayed him and bolted.”

Remus snorted. “Good on him.”

A very small smile flickered across Janus’ face, but was gone the next second.

“Well that’s the park and the bus station checked,” Janus said.

“Would he go to any neighbors?” Roman asked.

Janus shook his head. “Probably not. He doesn’t know many of them well. Ms. Owens maybe or maybe she would have seen something. She lives next to them.”

“We’ll start there then,” Roman said.

“What about this guy?” Remus asked while poking him with the toe of his foot. “He’s still breathing.”

“Call the cops,” Janus suggested. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a plastic bag to toss to Remus who caught it. “Don’t leave fingerprints.”

“Why do you have a bagged-up gun in your pocket?” Roman asked.

“I was doing something before this,” Janus answered.

“Huh, see. That doesn’t answer my question.”

Remus ignored them in favor of rolling the body carefully over and shoving the gun into the guy’s pocket so it was visible, but didn’t look like it was supposed to be visible. He then handcuffed the guy to the water fountain and, just for funnsies, put a joint on him.

“All done,” he said after he’d positioned the man perfectly.

Roman was still side-eyeing Janus a bit but was on the phone talking to the police saying something about finding an unconscious guy with a gun.

“And we handcuffed him!” Remus whisper yelled. Roman glanced at the unconscious guy.

“We handcuffed him to a water fountain because he seemed dangerous and we didn’t want him to get away.”

As Roman continued to talk to the operator, Remus sidled up to Janus and elbowed him in the side. Janus shoved him away grumpily, but not enough to send Remus stumbling. Remus took that as a sign that he was willing to talk.

“The little bastard’s fine,” Remus promised. “We’ll find him in no time.”

“He’s my little brother,” Janus said, and his tone was level and informative, but Remus could tell he was a screaming mess on the inside.

Remus nudged his shoulder a bit and Janus scowled at the ground and stepped away. Remus narrowed his eyes at him. Roman must have looked over and read the intention in the wiggle of Remus’ shoulders because he said. “Remus! NO.” That, however, did not stop Remus from launching his whole body at Janus and tackling him to the ground.

“Remus get off!” Janus yelled trying to smack him, but Remus just dodged and tucked his face against his chest. He was whacked on the back of the head, but not nearly as hard as he could have been.

“Forced affection!”

“Roman, come get your dammed brother off of me,” Janus groused while shoving at Remus’s head.

“Remus,” Roman groaned and Remus felt a hand pulling at the back of his shirt. Remus just clung tighter. “Let him go.”

He nuzzled his cheek against Janus’s shoulder. “But I love him.”

“You are a menace to society,” Janus retorted which was basically saying it back as far as Remus was concerned, especially with the way fondness seemed to leak into his tone. He shoved at Remus’s forehead again and Remus relented, hoping to his feet.

Janus sighed heavily and pushed himself into a sitting position.

Right as Janus made it to his feet, his phone dinged. It was his phone from Dad not the one from Janus’ mom, Remus noted as he took it out of his pocket. Remus leaned over his shoulder to get a look at what the text said. Janus spared him a glance but didn’t protest him looking.

Mission details were attached, and rather formal message read ‘Be at Bucking Bay in 30 minutes for a pickup. Please confirm.’

Remus could tell and he knew by the look on Janus’s face that he could tell too that Dad did not think Janus knew his brother was missing.

He silently opened the attachment and read the mission details before dropping the phone onto the ground and stomping his foot onto the screen until it shattered.

“No offence,” he said calmly, “but fuck your father.” He turned away toward the entrance of the park without another word. Remus swallowed thickly and shared a glance with Roman.

“We should probably follow him,” Roman said. “He knows where the neighbor lives.”

Remus nodded though he’d planned on following Janus even if he didn’t have information about the mission they were on.

They followed him down the street back towards where Remus knew Virgil and Remy’s house was (had been?... He didn’t think Virgil would be living there anymore if his dad was dead.).

Janus knocked on the front door of a house next door without preamble. It took a few seconds for the door to open. Even after working with Janus for the last two years, Remus was still surprised how quickly the other man’s face could transform.

“Good evening Ms. Owens,” he said smoothly, an apologetic smile on his face and a slight crinkle to his brow. “I was supposed to pick Virgil up to take him to a school play tonight, but he wasn’t home when I knocked. Would you have happened to have seen anything? I believe he may have left his phone at home.”

The woman who’d opened the door blinked at him in confusion for a few moments before a smile lit up her face. “Oh, hello Janus,” she said. “I did see him run out his backdoor a few minutes ago and hop the fence.”

“He went out the backdoor?” Janus said, a small frown flickering over his face for a moment before it disappeared. “Towards the grocery store perhaps?”

“He did seem to be going that way,” she confirmed.

“Hmm. Well I did tell him I would help him sneak in snacks to the play,” Janus said. “Perhaps he forgot and ran to get some. When did you see him?”

“Oh, about half an hour ago, give or take. I’m surprised he’s not back yet.”

Janus chuckled lightly. “Probably got tied up in the chocolate aisle. I’ll look for him there. Thank you, ma’am.”

“Oh, it’s no problem sweetie. Have fun at the play.”

Janus continued to smile until the door snapped shut. Then his face fell back into a neutral expression and he turned away.

“The grocery store,” he said. “Let’s look there. He does know the area so it would be a good place to hide.”

“Yeah, dude,” Remus replied. “I’m sure he’s off hiding in the chocolate aisle just like you said.”

Want to read more? Click below!

AO3 Part 5

[carryonsimoncarryonbaz]

Little Secrets

for @nightimedreamersworld from the prompt list and tags you posted. Thanks to @ninemagicks for leading the way. 

From a tumblr prompt list by @mraculous and sent to the Carry On fandom by @nightimedreamersworld : ‘a mutual friend tried to introduce us, but we already knew each other from LARPing but we’re both too embarrassed to admit that so I jokingly said we used to date and oh god now our friend won’t stop interrogating us about it’ AU

Little Secrets, a Snowbaz LARPing AU (2774 words)

Simon

“Do you want to come over Friday? I can order in curry and I’ll even watch that Netflix thing you’re obsessed with, if you like,” Penny says, before taking another bite of her sandwich. I’ve already finished mine but I take the chance to steal one of her crisps. She never finishes them. I hate seeing them go to waste.

No one should ever bin salt and vinegar crisps. It’s a crime against humanity.  

It’s been harder to coordinate our schedules this term. Even meeting for lunch is a treat. We’ve not had a night in for weeks. It’s not as easy, now that we don’t live together.  

And it’s not often that Penny offers to let me decide what we watch. Says she’s got standards and I watch too much ��brain numbing rot.”

Castlevania is not rot. It’s fucking brilliant. My costume for this campaign is based on Trevor Belmont. It’s wicked good.  

I’m gutted to have to turn her down though. Friday’s going to have to be a no. We’ve been gearing up for this campaign for weeks and I can’t miss it.  

“I’m sorry. I can’t Friday.”

Penny looks at me over the top of her glasses. “Why not?”

She doesn’t know about this. About the LARP club I joined. It’s something I started doing over the summer, when she was away in India with her family.  

I was bored. And lonely.

I don’t know why I haven’t mentioned it. It’s not that I’m embarrassed about it. I’m not. It’s a hell of a lot of fun swinging a sword around and taking part in campaigns. Even the costume workshops are entertaining.  

Everyone’s so friendly. Well, most of them are, at any rate.

Penny tends to frown upon things like this. Things that don’t serve a purpose. Making new friends doesn’t count as serving a purpose. She’s told me more than once that having too many friends is an unnecessary burden. “There’s only so many hours in a day, Simon. Two, three people, that’s all any of us have time for.”  

That’s all Penny has time for. I’m lucky to be one of her three people.  

Telling her I’m spending two nights a week LARPing with near strangers while dressed as a medieval monster hunter likely won’t go over too well.  

Especially as that amounts to two nights a week I’m not doing my coursework or revising. Sacrilege.  

“Uh. I’ve got . . . uh, there’s a study group.”  

“On a Friday night?” Her eyes widen.  

“Yes.” The shorter the answer the better with Penny. I can’t get caught in a lie if I’m barely saying anything.

“For which class?”

Fuck it all. I can feel my leg starting to jiggle. She’ll know the gig is up if I don’t answer soon.  

“Medieval Literature.” Thank fuck I’m actually taking that class this semester or she’d be onto me.  

It’s not that far off, anyway. Most of the costumes qualify as Medieval.

“Dedicated lot.”

“Quite.”

“It’s good to see you being so devoted to your studies, Simon, what with applications for graduate programs coming up.”

As if I needed the reminder.

“Maybe we can try to find some time next week, then.”

“That’d be great.” I reach out to steal another crisp. She smacks my hand away. “I do miss you, Pen.”

Penny pushes the bag of crisps over to me with a sigh, but she’s smiling. “I miss you too, Si.”

It’s not until the next week that we manage to make plans. And it’s not for curry and Netflix.

We’re at Foyles, having spent the last hour listening to one of Penny’s favorite poets do a reading and a Q & A. Penny’s dead gone for Nikita Gill. I thought it was mostly because she’s a femininst and Indian but I see the point, now that I’ve heard her read from her latest book. She’s brilliant.

Penny’s in line to get her book signed and I’m just sort of shuffling along with her, feeling like a bit of a tit, seeing as I’ve not got a book myself.

Should I? I feel I ought to at least have something, but it’s too late now, we’re almost to the signing table.

Predictably, Penny gets into an intense conversation with the author while I stand there, shifting from foot to foot uncomfortably and nodding every so often. The store clerk finally gets Penny to shove off. She drags it out for another minute and then we’re finally clear of that scene.

I’m ready to head to the pub for a bite, but Penny stops down the line to talk to someone from her seminar and I’m left at loose ends again. It’s mostly uni types in the crowd, nearly all of them intense and bright eyed as they talk over each other now and indulge in some excitable hand waving. There’re a few blokes here and there, moody looking types with man-buns, horn rimmed glasses, and oversized jumpers. I recognize one or two from my classes but no one I know well.

Penny stops to talk to another person and I’m in despair over dinner. I wander over to a book display and idly flip through some paperbacks as I wait for her. Thankfully it’s not more than a few minutes later when I hear her call out to me. “Simon!”

I trot over, more than ready to make a run for the pub but her first words aren’t “let’s get out of here.”

“Si, I want you to meet my friend.”

Oh, fuck. We’re never going to get to the pub at this rate. I plaster a smile on my face and turn to say ‘ hello’ to whoever it is Penny is bound and determined to have me meet.

And I freeze.

“This is Baz. He’s in my Modern British Poets seminar and he’s almost as keen about vampire lore as you are.”

I raise my eyes and meet Baz’s cool stare, that one eyebrow of his arched as he meets my gaze.

Fuck. I don’t need to be introduced to Baz. I know Baz. He’s the Mage in our campaign. He’s a fucking ruthless one too, dead brill with his spells, even though he’s a bit shit when he’s got to do any swordwork.

That was my main job on the summer campaign--give him cover so he could cast his spells and decipher his runes and whatever else it is that Mages do.

I’m front line offense now--cut down anyone in my path, long before they can get near the rest of our party. It’s up to Gareth and Niall to have Baz’s back this time around.

I can’t very well pretend I don’t know him, but I really don’t want to be explaining that I’m in a LARP club to Penny in the middle of this bookstore, not in front of Baz.

Fuck.

I give Baz a pleading look which I’m sure only confuses him, based on the way his eyebrow arches up even more. I don’t know how to convey “don’t tell Penny you know me from the Dragonknight campaign��� with just my eyes.

“I’m well acquainted with Simon, Bunce.”

I am well and truly fucked.

“You two know each other?” Penny gives me a penetrating look.

Baz keeps talking. “Yes, we’ve been--” but I interrupt him before he can say anything more.

“He’s my ex.”

I have literally no idea why I said that. And there’s no taking it back, now that it’s out there.

Two sets of eyes goggle at me, both of Baz’s eyebrows reaching for his hairline now. Penny looks scandalized.

“Your what?” she asks.

“My ex-boyfriend,” I clarify, literally begging Baz to go along with this with my eyes. I probably look like a gormless twat. Just go along with it, I try to broadcast that thought across the two feet of space between us.

“Your ex-boyfriend,” Penny says flatly. “How do I not know about this, Simon?”

Baz looks just as curious, but thank Christ he doesn’t say anything.

“Oh, you now, summer romance, short-lived fling, gone but not forgotten.” I’m literally babbling.

“Very short lived,” Baz says drily. “So short lived I’d be surprised if he had mentioned it, Bunce.” He’s smirking, the smug bastard. Arms crossed over his chest, that one fucking eyebrow mocking me now.

“Yes, ah, you know, summer.”

“I’d say I don’t know at all, Simon.” Penny’s looking between us, a suspicious look on her face. “Why don’t you fill me in. I’d love to hear about my best friend and my study partner getting together and me being none the wiser.”

Baz is full on grinning now. “Yes, why don’t you tell her, Simon? Unless you’d rather I did?”

I think the fuck not.

“Ah. Well. You know we met  . . . ah . . . at the library.”

“What on earth were you doing at the library?”

What the fuck was I doing at the library? I never go to the library and Penny knows that.

Fuck.

“Wasn’t that when your laptop was being wonky?” Baz chimes in.

I scowl at him. Only one of us needs to be fabricating this tale and that someone is me.

“At least that’s what I remember you saying, when you came in that night.”

Bloody hell.

“Uh, yeah. That’s what it was. Had to come in and do a lit search on premises.”

“It’s a good thing I was working the desk that night,” Baz says, uncrossing his arms and sliding his hands into his jeans pockets.

My eyes follow his hands down and keep going.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen Baz in jeans before. Tunics? Yes. Majestic robes? Yes.

Elegant, fitted jeans that are snug all the right spots? Well, I’d remember seeing that before, is all I’m saying.

I drag my eyes back up to his face. “Uh, yes, um, good thing.”

I didn’t know he worked at the library.

“Simon came in, just before closing time, with the idea that he was going to do a search and print it all out in mere minutes.” He’s really warming to the subject and I’ve lost control of this whole situation.

“Typical,” Penny says and I’m outraged.

“What?” I sputter.

She nods her head at Baz. “He gave you those puppy dog eyes and that crooked little smile of his, didn't he?”

“Now, see here, I’m the one telling the story and–”

But Baz steamrolls right over me. “Oh, you know he did, Bunce.” He gives me a fond look that makes my face heat up.

What’s he playing at? I rub at the back of my neck, feel the clammy sweat starting to form there.

“Got you to do the whole thing for him, didn’t he?”

This is pure slander. I’m not going to stand for this.

“I couldn’t resist his roguish charm.”

“Listen, now--”

Baz just keeps talking. “I had no idea he was such a shameless flirt.” He shakes his head at me and actually manages to look almost mournful, the lying bastard. “Charmed me, wined me, dined me. But once his laptop was functional and the research project complete, just a few short weeks later, he dumped me without a second thought.”

“Simon!” Penny’s glaring at me now. She’s bought his whole fabrication and I’ve got no one but myself to blame for this farce.

“Just wait a bloody minute!” I yelp.

Baz hunches his shoulders and lowers his head. “By text, no less.”

“Really, Simon, how could you?” Penny’s all righteous indignation, her hand coming to rest on Baz’s arm, eyes blazing as she rakes her gaze over me. “I go away for a few weeks and you not only manage to seduce my friend but then unceremoniously dump him by text? You know better than that. You were a bloody wreck when Agatha did that to you!”

And now she’s airing my entire sordid dating history to Baz in the middle of a bloody Foyles on a Thursday night and I’ve not even had dinner. This takes the biscuit, I swear to god.

“Penny, listen, it was nothing like that, really, I swear.”

She’s got her arms crossed over her chest. “Then how was it, Simon?” Cold as ice. You’d think Baz was her best friend and confidant, not me.

This is a fucking disaster. I’d have been better off telling her about the LARPing.

I am going to tell her about the LARPing. It’s the only way out of this mess.

“Listen, Pen, I’m sorry. I thought you’d be upset I was wasting my time--”

“Wasting your time?” Baz interrupts. “Is that what you’re calling our two weeks, then?”

“That’s not what I meant!” I’m going to let a berserker just go by me and wreck Baz this week, I swear I am. Won’t even brandish my sword at him, I’ll just point him in Baz’s direction. It’d serve the bastard right. “Listen, Penny, I was going to tell you, but I was a bit embarrassed--”

“As well you should be, the way you behaved.” Penny interrupts me this time and I have reached my fucking limit.

“Would the two of you let me finish one bloody sentence?”

Two expectant faces meet mine but I swear there’s a glint in Baz’s eyes and his lips quirk like he’s trying to keep himself from laughing. Arsehole. I may go after him myself this week, if he’s not careful. Go rogue. It’d be worth it, just to wipe the smug look off his face.

He’s got his hair down tonight. I don’t know why I didn’t notice that earlier. He’s usually got it up when we’re–fucking hell, why am I thinking about his hair right now?

“Ok, so let me finish what I’ve got to say or I swear to Christ I am going to go off.” Baz inclines his head and waves a hand at me in a ‘have at it’ gesture. Penny frowns but holds her tongue. “So, while you were gone this summer I got a bit caught up in LARPing.”

“You did what?” Penny asks.

“LARPing. Live action role play.”

“Whatever for?”

“I don’t know. For something to do.”

“And why are you telling me this now?”

I pull at my hair and groan. “Because that’s how I met Baz. He’s not my ex. I’ve never gone out with him. I just made that all up, rather than tell you about the whole LARP business.”

“Why on earth would you concoct all that nonsense, Simon?” Penny’s looking completely perplexed but Baz has this cheeky grin, the absolute wanker.

He’s got a dimple in his left cheek.

Fuck.

“Because I thought you’d be irritated. It’s not something that serves a purpose.”

“Why would I care what you do with your free time?”

Oh my fucking god.

I give my hair another yank. “Aren’t you always telling me I should spend more time on my studies? Keep my social life a bit more contained?”

Penny has the audacity to shrug. “I’m not your keeper. If you need to swing a sword around to let off some steam, far be it from me to argue.”

She turns to Baz and smacks him on the arm. “What were you thinking, going along with all this nonsense of his tonight? I’d not expect that kind of foolishness from you, Baz.”

Baz leans against a bookshelf and flashes her a grin. “Let’s just say my curiosity was piqued, when he threw that ex comment out there. And you know how I love to spin a good story, Bunce. He certainly wasn’t going to pull one over on you by himself.” His eyes light on me and there’s something smouldering in the depths of them. Something I’d like to get a closer look at.

“Well, you’re ridiculous, the both of you,” Penny says. “You deserve each other, honestly.” She shakes her head. “Anyway, I’m starved. It’s past time we went to dinner.”  

“Enjoy the rest of your evening.” Baz’s eyes never leave mine. “I’ll see you Friday then, Snow?”

He used my LARPing alias.

I liked it better when he was calling me Simon.

Penny hooks her arm around his. “Come join us, Baz. Since you and Simon already know each other so well.”

He adjusts his book bag on his shoulder. “I suppose I could do with some dinner.”

Penny keeps her hold on his arm and leans back to look at me behind Baz’s back.

And then she winks.

I think I’m the one that’s been played.

And when Baz’s knee knocks into mine as he squeezes into our booth at the pub I realise I don’t mind one bit.

also on ao3 Little Secrets

[melyaliz]

@0hmydeku​ Blue gray eyes behind hipster glasses, freckles galore, and red hair with green tips (my hair grew out and havent redyed yet). Been called too serious/sensitive/literal, i have a volatile temper, and if caught in a good mood i can be very whimsical. I am a huge myths and legends/folklore nerd. When i was a baby, i had to wear cabbage patch doll clothes as i was too tiny for normal baby clothes. Between Anxiety, depression, and Adhd; i am regularly contradictory. I tear up when frustrated.

Fandom: 

Pairing: Rahne Sinclair X Ship 

Notes: I feel like I should call these something like Messy ships. Have I ever shipped you with a Marvel Character? If not… here you go. 

 I honestly wanted to ship you with a woman because I always feel like I ship you with men but I honestly didn’t really like any of the women that came to mind (mostly because I try to keep them to characters people know) So thank everyone who made the New Mutants move. I wanted you to be part of the small town they run to after they escape. But I also want you to be a mutant. So here is what I came up with. 

All Masterlists @melyalizarchive​​

Connect with me! AO3 / Website / Pinterest / Newsletter 

DONATE or REQUEST

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You worked in a small town at “Ma’s Dinner”. You had known Ma for years coming here since you could remember. This was your home. She had taken you in when your own mother had left and your father was too busy working to really care. It sounded sad but honestly this was all you really needed. This dinner, the regulars, and Ma. 

Long nights of you studying in the cafe drinking warm milk and listening to the old lady’s stories about the crazy adventures she used to get into. 

There had always been a bunch of interesting characters who came in and out of the dinner. After all this town felt like it was on the edge of the world. 

So when 5 young teenagers all the same age as you came falling into your dinner looking half dead you didn’t think too much about it. Simply getting some waters for the troop. One look at Ma and you knew their meals would be on the house. 

Ma was kind like that. Always taking in strays. 

Rahne’s large brown eyes met yours hand you pulled our your notepad “What can i get ya?” you asked, feeling a rush of something as your own eyes met hers. 

‘We… just water” one of the boys said with a thick Kentucky Accent. 

“Ok burgers then.” you said turning back to the kitchen, “and maybe some pie?”

“We can’t…” Rahne started to protest but you waved it away. 

“You can always help clean up if you want to pay us back.”

So they did. They even helped serve food and do the dishes. Ma soon had them laughing over stories and warm cocoa as the night shift slowly made their way into her small 24 hour dinner. 

“You all have a place to stay?” she asked trying the group. “Because my farm isn’t far.”

Their protests fell on deaf ears. 

And two months later the 5 of them had slowly become part of the town. doing odd jobs for whoever needed it. Hanging out on Ma’s farm just relaxing under the stars in a cuddle pile. Just healing in a place of safety. 

Your romance with Rahne was slow. She was shy and her past with her own small town made her feel uncomfortable with herself and her powers.

Until she saw yours. 

You had the power to control plants. 

Something you had learned about at a young age. Helping Ma in her gardens. Always taking a love to plants and the earth they grew in. 

Rahne found you helping a rather pesky plant grow, the faint green glow coming from your palms as you cupped them around the small plant coaxing it up into the sunny day.

You were scared at first she would hate you because of your powers. There were still plenty of humans who hated muantas but to you surprise she showed you her own. 

Smash cut to Xsavior showing up offering you all a place to stay at his mansion.

But honestly… you all were way too happy in your safe cozy little farm. Also his sexual tension filled feud with Magneto seemed like more drama than it was worth. 

So the 6 of you on Ma’s farm for wayward children and started your own mutant home. And you and Rahne ended up being the badass couple of the year finding other kids like you and taking them back to a place where they could feel accepted and loved. 

The end

-GET TAGGED!- 

Forever tag:  @coffee-randomness​​​ @0hmydeku​ @xx3fsxx​ @daisyboobear​​​  @jason-redhood​​ @hello-i-lovespiderman-blr​  @pinkwitch21 @tomhncharliep  @cdwmtjb8​ @thespacebuns​​

Shout out to @the-shadow-of-atlantis​ who a. Rekindled my love of X-men and also jokes endlessly about Charles and Erik’s endless flirtation with each other

[jaredharrisfest]

Law & Order: SVU

TITLE: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

EPISODE: 906 - “Svengali”

ROLE: Robert Morten

SUMMARY: A grisly murder scene at the bottom of an elevator shaft leads SVU detectives to a group of individuals who are under the spell of a charismatic, imprisoned serial killer.

YEAR: 2007

We start with a dead body (as you do on these shows).

Please enjoy the snappy Law & Order dialogue:

DETECTIVE OLIVIA BENSON: Looks like she was dressed for her dream date.

RANDOM FORENSICS TECH: Yeah, it ended when the perp strangled her repeatedly with her own pantyhose.

And it gets worse (doesn’t it always?). The killer cut off her breasts and walked out with them. Ew.

Tina, our victim, was headed not to her dream date but to mine: a really cool-looking underground party in an abandoned subway tunnel under the Waldorf Astoria Hotel where everyone dresses up in their vintage-looking finest and watches a screening of Double Indemnity. Count me in!

The whole thing is organized/run by this guy, Edgar Rabinowicz (but he’d prefer to be called Agent Mayhem), part of the hipsteriffic Silk and Cyanide Corp (”We’re secret agents of adventure”). 

But of course he didn’t kill Tina. He only left her alone and hammered at a bar after their last “mission” - a shit thing to do, yes, but not murder.

Bartender Cecilia is shocked at news of Tina’s murder and claims she left at last call with some asshole guy but refuses to describe said douchebag as she  “doesn’t want to get involved.” 

After being convinced to sit down with a police sketch artist (which leads to a plethora of useless tips), Cecilia calls Detective Benson to tell her that the asshole is back while she’s closing by herself. Maybe the asshole is her manager because WHO LEAVES A WOMAN ALONE TO CLOSE ANYTHING? HELLO! MURDER CITY!

Which is pretty much exactly what happens as the detectives find no Cecilia and the Venus de Milo recreated in blood on the bar floor.

DUN DUN!

The bloody Venus was also inspired by artworks of currently incarcerated serial killer Robert Morten.

(Is it wrong that I think he looks very handsome in his mug shot? It is, isn’t it?)

The detectives conclude it must be a copycat, and if he’s following Morten to the letter, Cecilia’s got twelve hours left to live before he kills her. 

Our creepy boy! Hooray!

The detectives are turning his cell inside out to look for clues to the name of his new partner. Detective Stabler, as Bad Cop, tears one of Morten’s artworks in half to “motivate” him.

"Am I bovvered? Am I bovvered though? Look at my face. Is it bovvered?”

“Arks me If I'm bovvered! Look, face, bovvered? I ain't bovvered!"

But then Benson, as Good Cop, tempts him with tasty victim headshots.

“They’re sublime,” he says in his creepy-yet-alluring-because-it’s-Jared-Harris Hannibal Lecter voice.

“What I could do with those.”

“But obviously-”

*faux bashful head tilt*

“-I’m innocent.”

Benson ain’t buying it.

Morten doesn’t like it when they start to go after his mail...and especially his fan letters.

(The disdain! I love it.)

The non-Stabler and non-Benson detectives (aka Ice-T and That Other Guy) go out to talk to the writers of said fan letters and learn that there’s a Free Robert Morten committee working on an appeal. Benson and Stabler bring in the vice president, ex-con Jasper Grice.

JASPER: He took care of me. 

STABLER: Three years as his cellie? You were his bitch. 

Well, you would know, Stabler. Or should I say...

...Chris Keller from HBO’s Oz?

(Oz was my first fandom and Beecher/Keller was my first ship. I was in sixth grade. Other kids were freaking out about a stupid kiss on Dawson’s Creek; I was telling them how I saw a man get gutted like a fish in the showers. 

I...was not popular.)

Jasper advises the detectives that the copycat is killing based on covers of an AU comic book series about Morten’s crimes in which he doesn't get caught and continues killing.

Tina was issue #9, Cecilia is supposed to be issue #10.

The detectives go to the apartment writer/artist and learn that the issue #10 murder takes place in Morten’s childhood bedroom. They rush to the dilapidated old house and kick down the bedroom door.

Et voilà! A barely alive Cecilia.

Cecilia wakes up in the hospital and discovers that unlike Tina she’s still got boobs but they've been mutilated and she’ll need plastic surgery. She blames talking to Benson in the first place for everything and asks her to leave.

Back at the precinct, Detective Ice-T (I don’t care what his character’s name is, he’s Detective Ice-T) tries to give Benson a pizza...that she didn’t order. 

DUN DUN!

“Hotbox” indeed, foreshadowing pizza box! Because it turns out the pizza...

..IS A BOMB!

While the precinct is evacuated to the street, the random forensics tech from earlier approaches the detectives with a report.

A similar knife was used on both Tina and Cecilia, but Cecilia’s mutilating boob cuts taper away from the midline and differ in angle and depth.

Translation: they’re self-inflicted!

DUN DUN!

The detectives obtain a search warrant for Cecilia’s apartment.

It seems she was an intern for his lawyers and had been writing to him for years beforehand. She wasn’t on the detectives’ radar because legal visits and correspondence aren’t on inmate logs.

Cecilia reveals that at seventeen she learned that her father hadn’t died in a car crash but had been imprisoned for bank robbery. She wrote to Morten asking for information about dear old dad, and Morten replied. 

“Your daddy said you had eyes like summer and hair as soft as lamb’s wool. You were the best thing he ever did in his life. I’d love to see if you look like him. Please send me a picture.”   

JK, of course. Morten never even met her dad. 

But he’s not one to pass up a free picture of a pretty lady!

PS In this scene, Mr. Harris is shifting between his Hannibal Lecter voice (when talking to Stabler) and his writing-to-Cecilia-to-gain-her-pity-and-trust voice (when reading the letters), and it sent a chill up my spine the first time I heard it. Kudos, sir.

PPS THIS TRANSITION. I’m in love.

Also, Jared Harris? How did you get your eyes so dead? Kudos AGAIN, good sir!

(Murdery) teeth gap!

Back to the plot: Morten convinced Cecilia that she was the only one who could help him with his appeals. He told her to get that internship with his lawyers so they could have visits without being monitored.

MORTEN: We had complete privacy. Complete privilege.  

STABLER: Sounds cozy.

MORTEN: Oh, it was. She was a virgin. I plucked her.  

And I know I’m a broken record here, but look: I love Jared Harris. He’s a very attractive gentleman, even when playing a serial killer. But when he said that? I was repulsed and horrified to my core.

Cecilia is convinced that Morten loves her and that they’re soulmates. Morten says the only way to prove that they are is for Cecilia to kill somebody. Tina was  an “artistic offering” from Cecilia to Morten, and he knows where the trophies (i.e. Tina’s breasts) are.

(GUYS HE DID A LITTLE EYEBROW RAISE AFTER THE WORD “BREASTS” I’M DEAD) (probably because his character killed me)

The breasts are found where Morten said they would be, and the Assistant District Attorney declares they’ve got enough to charge Cecilia with murder. 

Morten would like a peek at the evidence for helping.

Benson violently disagrees.

And gets blown a creepy little kiss for her troubles.

All the good detectives are heading home after a long day. Benson tries to just open the door and put her groceries away, but she’s attacked by the AU comic book guy.

Can I tell you how much I appreciate that Benson beats the shit out of him with a big heavy book? That’d be my first weapon at hand too.

The detectives are done. It’s time for the trial! 

Cecilia takes the stand, testifies about her suicide attempt, and shows the jury her self-inflicted boob scars. She’s got them eating out of her hand, so the prosecution calls in some special help.

The A.D.A. subpoenas him as a rebuttal witness.

MORTEN: That’s a new one. What do I get in return?

A.D.A.: Nothing.

MORTEN: And if I refuse?

A.D.A.: We’ll hold you in contempt of court.  

MORTEN: I’m already serving eight life sentences. Contempt of court’s hardly going to make it worse.

Morten realizes that they need him bad and is able to bargain for a deal - the possibility of parole and a transfer to the federal prison system. The A.D.A. angrily agrees. 

Bonus creepy screencap! THE EYES OMG

The next day Morten swaggers into court and is greeted by his adoring cult fans. The judge warns them he’ll clear the courtroom if there’s any more outbursts. 

Morten eats it up with a spoon.

And it looks like our murderous boy has something up his sleeve judging by this unseen-by-the-A.D.A. wink he gives Cecilia! Let’s watch.

Of course he’s going to absolutely tell the whole truth! Would this face lie? 

Yes, repeatedly, as he denies everything he told the A.D.A. in their chat the previous night.

For example: did he tell Cecilia to kill?

“I’ve told many to express themselves. No one had the emotional fortitude to do it until Cecilia.”

The A.D.A. is sick of this bullshit and decides to hatch a cunning plan.

A.D.A: You think of yourself as an artist?

MORTEN: I think my work speaks for itself.   

The A.D.A. shows Morten a photo of the crime scene and asks Morten to “compare this artist’s work with [his] own.”

Remember, Morten hasn’t been able to see any of those sweet, sweet crime scene photos he’s been craving, so he is INTO IT.

Cecilia waits for her grade.

But wait: something’s off.

MORTEN: At first blush, you might think this is unique. But it - it lacks understanding. Depth.

Yeah, doesn’t look like you’re going to get that A in murder, girlie.

"With the human canvas you have the opportunity to do true action painting.” 

“Where’s the energy? Where’s the spatter? This is lifeless dreck! A cheap knockoff of my work.” 

"Whoever did this is a talentless hack.”

Cecilia loses her shit at the criticism and storms the witness box declaring that she did this for Morten and that she loves him.

Morten is feeding off of the drama. 

(Bonus sceencap in case you ever wondered what a vampire!Jared Harris coming for your neck might look like. I know some of y’all are probably into that.)

He cuts Cecilia down even further by declaring that she’s nothing like him and  could never understand him.

Cecilia continues to proclaim her love as she’s dragged away.

Morten is pleased.

But don’t get cocky, kid. 

Even though Cecilia got off (insanity), the A.D. A. is still sticking to her end of the deal. Morten’s getting that transfer to a federal prison he wanted.

A supermax prison. 

A.D.A.: 23-hour lockdown, no visitors, no mail, no phone calls. No human contact for the rest of your life.

Morten whines that she can’t do that to him and they made a deal, etc. but too bad so sad.

He’s shoved into the van and whisked away.

VERDICT: A performance so adroit and layered it took me several days to get through this hourlong episode. The things this man can do with his face, I’m telling you! Three out of five Croziers.

[larissel]

Day 1: Stars/LETTERS

Fandom: Legend of Korra

Ship: Baavira

Words: 1863

Summary: The many letters she sent him throughout the years and the one she didn’t.

A/N: Baavira Week has officially begun, and I had fun writing this so I hope you all enjoy.

[AO3]

174 AG

Dear Baatar,

Hey, how are you?

- Kuvira

Two weeks later, the letter was sent back to Kuvira, unread and unopened. She held it tightly in her hold, staring down at it with an unwavering gaze before slipping the envelope under her thin mattress without a word or even a single sound escaping her lips.

174 AG

Dear Baatar,

There are many things I often overhear from those chatty guards who are unfortunately standing guard to keep a close eye on me, as if I can actually cause harm in here. It’s pitiful having to listen to their dreadful lives, how boring it is—it’s no wonder one of their spouses left them. I, at the very least, like to believe I’m the first exciting thing that has ever happened to them. However, I must admit that their companies aren’t unwarranted.

It gets so quiet here, especially at the night where I am surrounded by these wooden walls and floors. My wrists are tied down to the very element I speak to, but all I receive in return is nothing. I am dreading the night. The nightmares are back and I’m tired.

Yet, this is still more than I deserve. I hope you’re doing all right.

- Kuvira

174 AG

Dear Baatar,

Problems are beginning to arise in this forsaken city. Criminals fighting amongst criminals, the rich taking an advantage of the weak, an unfit president who only cares about his own imagery and hide, and worst of all, the Avatar chose the wrong time to disappear again. The people are furious and I should also add the fact that the spirits are somehow involved too. I guarantee none of this would’ve happened if I was in charge. To make matters even worse, the Earth Kingdom is currently sitting in an unrestful state and the fools here are too damn stubborn to admit they need my guidance.

- Kuvira

174 AG

Dear Baatar,

Your mother is still an idiot.

- Kuvira

174 AG

Dear Baatar,

I was right…once again: they do need my help. I try not to be cocky about it, but I couldn’t help it but to let it slip out. I’m going to be temporarily released under the watchful eyes of the Avatar. None of her friends trust me, which I don’t blame them for their resentment but it’s not like I care about their opinions either. I am not doing this for them. I am only here for the people…our people. They still have the best interest of my heart. I would do anything to keep them safe and bring order back, even if it means I’m the one who’s no longer leading this cause. But who knows what will happen, maybe our people still wants me and my voice to lead the cause. I just hope I haven’t lost my touch.

It’s been a while since I my fingers touched the earth and the warmth of the sun kissing my skin.

- Kuvira

175 AG

Dear Baatar,

I hate to admit it, but this new order they’re implementing for the Earth Kingdom may work.

- Kuvira

179 AG

Dear Baatar,

It’s happening. I’m finally being released from prison after serving for five years, but I’m not a free woman just yet. Apparently, the court wanted to sentence me to life or send me to death row, I was lucky enough to have Korra by my side and vouch for me. I know, right? It’s hard to believe my former enemy is now a friend, a very good friend. She have been coming by three times a week, these meditation sessions we have together have been helpful to ease my mind. I don’t deserve her friendship.

Well, this may be the last you’ll hear from me for a while. By the time you get this letter, I have been sent out to work for the United Republic under the watchful eyes of the United Forces. I have been contracted to work off the rest of my sentence as a hard laborer. They say it’s awfully pitiful if my talent were wasted away behind bars. I just hope they don’t change their minds, I’m not as skilled as I used to be.

Until then, I’ll talk to you later.

- Kuvira

P.S. I hear you opened your first business. Congratulations.

180 AG

Dear Baatar,

It’s quite amazing to see how far the teleological boom has spread throughout the Earth Kingdom in just a few years; things we weren’t able to achieve during the Earth Empire’s reign, and speaking of that, I have been thinking more and more as of late, reminiscing the past…albeit, nothing fondly. I realized that there were things I could’ve done better, things that wouldn’t make me into the monster I was...still am perhaps. I did my best to apologize to those I had hurt…which reminds me…

I’ve never apologized for all of the physical and emotional pain I caused you. When I shot that warehouse, thinking you were dead, part of me at that very moment died too and so did my humanity where I felt like I was drifting into an eternal and cold darkness until Korra pulled me back to reality…and when I first heard you survived the ordeal. You have no idea how relieved I felt, crying with tears of joy and tears of sadness because you could’ve been dead because of me.

There’s nothing I can do to take back what I did and there’s no amount of fantasies and thinking about all of the what-ifs could ever change anything. All I could do is to say sorry. You don’t have to forgive me or ever; no amount of forgiveness could ever erase the things I have done. I accepted that fact. The prices of my sins are being paid for right now and maybe throughout my future lifetimes. I’m willing to take that burden for you too.

Tell your family – especially your mother – that I’m sorry for everything.

- Kuvira

180 AG

Dear Baatar,

Give Bolin and Opal my congratulation and best regards. I heard they’re tying the knot on this very I have written this letter, I’m glad; they really are my favorite couple. But I just realized today would’ve been our fifth wedding anniversary if things went according to plan.

- Kuvira

180 AG

Dear Baatar,

The Earth Kingdom is always more beautiful up north, the sky is clearer and I can see the stars better. It’s breathtaking, but it still doesn’t beat the view back at Zaofu. Are they still as beautiful as they were like the many nights we used to share when we were younger? The tales you would often tell and ones I’ve never get tired of hearing, my favorite is still about the Four Symbols in the sky. But I am not here to discuss old memories and the sake of nostalgia…

The first snowfall is here now, winter has arrived. You know how dangerous it can be in this region at this time of the year. This may be the last you’ll hear from me until spring comes.

- Kuvira

189 AG

Kuvira never thought this day would come when she stepped out of the Republic City’s police department, today is finally the day she’s a free woman; a fifteen year sentence completed, what a journey it has been. Her eyes lingered on the spirit portal from the distant, the city illuminating under its ethereal glow and how the shadows are dancing on the building walls.

Her gaze eventually turned away, turning to the empty streets. It was past midnight, no one could be seen walking in the street where others thought it would be the best and wisest idea that she should be release at this hour where she wouldn’t be met with a large press and an unwanted crowd. She knew well enough that she still wasn’t the most popular figure and it would take a long time for others to at least not view her with contempt.

She was waiting for her pickup that should’ve been here moments ago, dropping her off at her new home in the city. Her arms clutched the box she held tightly where it contains her old uniform during her time as the Great Uniter, a few of her personal items, and the many letters she sent through the years. She must have sent hundreds – thousands – of letters. Many of which were returned to her while others she’s sure enough have been lost…or burned.

However, there was only one that she hadn’t sent out. One of which that was fresh and pressed.

She knew what words were contained within the envelope:

Dear Baatar,

I missed you. I still love you.

- Kuvira

She really is a coward, too afraid to know the truth that he moved on and finally settled down where he no longer loves her. The very thought of this disappointed her, wanting to hit herself over and over again for having such feelings, it was only a few years ago she encouraged him to move on…find someone nice he can settle down with. Oh how quick the mind can change, regretting sending that letter out.

Maybe he finally moved on…married with kids that his mother can spoil…happier than he was with her.

Her thoughts were cut off when she heard a roar of an engine, looking up to see a satomobile was parked by the sidewalk in front of her. She felt nervous when the figure exited out of the vehicle, not knowing who they are as they approach her. Kuvira hoped whoever this may be held no ill feelings for her. However, as the figure got closer, her eyes squinted to get a better look at them before her eyes widened. “I-It’s you…” She began, feeling as though her entire world stopped for a moment.

“B-Baatar…”

He gave her a smile. “Hello.” He greeted her.

“What are you doing here?” Kuvira asked, confused.

“The chief sent me to get you.” His eyes moved down to the box she was holding with the letter resting on top catching his attention immediately.

“You don’t have to read it!” she squeaked out, a noise she never thought she would ever make in her life; embarrassingly, she sounded like a young and shy schoolgirl. Unfortunately, her words fell into deaf ears when Baatar was already reading the letter, quickly shutting her eyes shut tightly and kept her head down where she felt fear thundering in her chest. Her fear only increased when it became quiet for too long, her rapid heartbeats are the only ones she could hear pounding in her ears right until he called out to her with a note of his own waving in front of her face. “Is this…for me?” She asked warily.

“You really are a stubborn fool who doesn’t know when to quit,” he said gently, amused. “Go on, read it.”

Kuvira stared at the note for a moment before she slowly took it reluctantly into her hand, eyes welling up with tears when she read what he wrote:

Dear Kuvira,

I love you too.

- Baatar