#losely based off that one lost boys scene

[obxsummer]

leave me again // jj maybank

pairing: ex!jj maybank x routledge!reader

request: Routledge reader and JJ broke up during the 18 months and now she watches him with Kie? 🫢👀

summary: based on the song by kelsea ballerini; after two years together, you return to outer banks only to lose jj to kiara in a blink of an eye.

warnings: minor szn 4 spoilers, angst hehehe

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--

You didn’t understand. You really didn’t. 

How could you go from such a beautiful relationship and one of the happiest times of your life to watching your best friend get together with your ex-boyfriend? It seemed like such a cruel joke to watch people who had been with you your entire life turn against you in this way. 

It took less than a week for JJ to cut things off after everyone came back from El Dorado, claiming he needed to reevaluate everything and take time for himself. Apparently, that didn’t last long, because three days later, you caught Kiara sharing his bed in Sarah’s rental condo, looking like the happiest he’d ever been.

"I can explain, just-"

The scene in front of you was sick. You'd heard JJ yell out in his sleep, something that was more common than not with his nightmares. Instincts had you in front of his door before you knew it, wanting to comfort him in case he needed someone. You didn't expect to find this.

JJ, shirtless, next to Kiara, of all people, who was wearing the boy's shirt. In bed. Together.

Whatever JJ wanted to say, you didn't give him a chance to hear it. Lips tucked in a thin line, you gave a nod. "Sorry for interrupting, hope everything's okay."

And with a smile on your face and no room for explanations, you closed the door.

“Are you still avoiding them?” Sarah’s voice came from behind as you watched JJ and Kie prep the boat for the upcoming dive. 

You huffed, “Do you blame me?”

She stopped to stand beside you, her eyes watching the duo on the boat move together. “There’s no chemistry.”

“Not a bit.”

Sarah watched you carefully as if she was waiting for the dam to break. In the almost three weeks JJ and Kie had been ‘together’, you hadn’t cried and you hadn’t lashed out. You’d told her the second you found them in bed and they started spewing excuses, you just apologized for interrupting and dismissed yourself with a smile.

John B was concerned. As your older brother, it was his job to defend you and watch out for you, no matter the circumstance. When the two of you first got together, John B made JJ swear that he wouldn’t do anything to hurt you, swearing there would be consequences. While you’d kept your cool, he did not and JJ managed to catch himself a black eye and swollen cheek as a result. 

“Has John B talked to them?”

“Has John B what?” Your brother interrupted your question as he joined the two of you in the shop, hauling a hefty backpack. He reached out to grab your shoulder and squeezed it lightly. “You okay?”

You nodded in response, clamping your mouth shut and looking back at the water. Kiara was going down on the dive with JJ, something about not leaving him alone which made your eyes roll. Pope and John B were going on the boat, leaving you, Sarah, and Cleo on shore to be lookout. 

“Are you lying to me?”

You’d lost so many pieces of yourself in the moments shared with JJ, allowing the vulnerability you had believed he would never take advantage of.  It was no surprise John B could see through the cracks you’d inevitably let form. You sighed, head dropping between your shoulder blades as you let out a steady breath. “I’m fine, Bee. Promise.”

John B was unconvinced by your words but didn’t push. He heard your almost silent crying at night. It was obvious you were hurting by the way you closed yourself off and hid in your skin. He hated that his so-called best friend was the one to treat you this way and cause you to feel like this. 

“You can take a break,” He reassured as his backpack dropped to the ground as he pulled you into a full hug and placed a kiss on your head. “Nobody would blame you.”

You hugged him back and fought off the tears that burned your eyes. There would be a point and time to talk about all of this, but it wasn’t here and now. If you were being honest, there was nothing you’d rather do than run away from Kildare right now, but it wouldn’t be the best option by any means.

“You guys ready up there?” JJ’s voice echoed around the morning air as he called out to John B. 

You hugged your brother tighter before letting go, forcing a smile on your lips. “Be careful, please?”

He rubbed your head lovingly, smiling when you tried to shove him away. “Always.”

You stepped away to give him time with Sarah and started to head back toward the house when someone called your name. JJ’s shoes stomped against the new wooden deck, the sound getting louder as he got closer. You froze in your spot as he rounded to stop you from walking away. “Can we talk?”

You stared at him for a moment, wondering how someone you loved so incredibly much could make you feel this way. “There’s nothing to talk about.”

When you moved to pass him, he grabbed your elbow gently to prevent it. “Please, I just want to get this out before… in case I don’t-”

“You’ll be back.” It was hard to avoid the instinct of reassuring him. He swallowed thickly and met your gaze. He would be back, you just didn't know if you'd be here to see it. The two of you hadn’t been alone since everything went down and there was plenty of awkwardness to show. 

“I just… I’m sorry. About everything. I should’ve told you, but it all happened so fast and-”

“Did you ever love me?” The question came out of your mouth before you could think about it. You wanted to ask it for a while, to find out exactly what went through his head when he let Kiara climb in bed with him that night.

The opening and closing of his mouth was enough of a response to shatter you. Tears formed faster than you liked as you nodded.

“Figured," You breathed out, "Goodbye, JJ.”

You left him on the dock and didn’t look back as you walked away. From him, from Kie, from the friends you considered family until they made you feel like anything but. You swore then and there that you would never fall for someone in that way again. 

After all, staying only made you get real good at pretend.

--

Coming back from the dive had been a mess of chaos. Kie and JJ were at the hospital recovering from nitrogen in their blood while the remainder of the group came back to the house with the amulet, hoping to figure out what was inscribed inside. 

John B called your name as he entered the house, practically bouncing in excitement to tell you what they’d found. You’d opted to stay back after speaking to JJ on the dock, which they didn’t fault you for, knowing you needed time alone.

When silence followed JB’s call, he frowned. Something wasn’t right. The main floor was empty, not a sign of you or your relative presence in the area. Room empty too, leaving John B to question where the hell you went. They had the Twinkie and the dirt bikes were outside which meant if you went anywhere it would be on your own two feet.

“John B.”

The tone in Sarah’s voice told him his intuition was right. She met him in the doorway of your room with a piece of paper in hand, holding it in his direction. He didn’t even need to read it to know the answer to his question.

You were gone. And you weren’t coming back any time soon.

--

part two here :)

a/n: i hate this i'm so sorry

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[absolutebl]

Lovesick 2014 versus Lovesick 2024

Rebooting the OG BL, Thailand? Are you sure that's wise?

I don't think anyone is ready for the depths I'm about to go to. But the gauntlet was thrown and comparisons must be made.

Generally when an IP is being remade by a different country I try to cut it slack and evaluate based on fresh eyes and different standards. But this is an actual reboot, not a reinterpretation.

Challenge accepted, Thailand.

A tiny bit of background......

I was one of those who watched Lovesick (LS14 aka the original) early on in my BL journey. No, not when it was airing, but the BL cut when it was first put up on YT (or maybe it was grey first?) hard subbed by fans way back before Netflix picked it up (and then dropped it). So yeah, it's been a while. and I LOVED it. I've rewatched it MULTIPLE times.

I like YA narratives and I enjoy high school BL and that is probably all Lovesick's fault. But nostalgia is a toxic emotion, so I'm trying to give the reboot (LS24 aka the new version) some credit.

But for those who don't know Love Sick is The Original Thai BL. Do not argue. It just is.

The plan is to do a general round up and comparison of broad aspects of script, filming, and acting at the very end, but as it airs I decided to do a "watch off." You ready?

And now......

Boys in Blue Shorts

LS24 Episode 1 versus LS14-s1 Episodes 1, 2, 3, 4 

They did a smart thing tailoring the whole thing down to just the BL thread from the original. And removing the opening party sequence is definitely a win.

However, with less time spent on all the ensemble characters in the opening three episodes, it’s a lot harder to keep such a large cast of characters straight (irony), especially the music club.

Also they materially damage the evolution of Noh & Phun's romance by losing the actual first sleepover and the "eating out with the girls" scenes, which really bonded the two boys in friendship prior to the "water fight crash into me" romantic beginning. By skipping to just the first flush of romance, PhunNoh feels rushed.

* UPDATE!! Spies report in that a lot of the stuff I complain about missing in the 2024 version is in the uncut version on iQIYI. (Which is longer by as much as 25%!) So I am rewatching it there and updating this post accordingly.

We got the entire arc of their first brush with love in just episode one of LS24. Which comes off as fast and cliffs-notes esk. However, it's more in line with modern Thai BL (which is rarely slow burn) and also more sexy and physical, less intimate and emotional. 

I've never liked the first two episodes of LS14, but episodes 3 & 4 are killer. Not to mention important to the plot and to the history of Thai BL.

In the end, because the cutting floor choices impacted the weight and emotional resonance of the main romance thread, I’m (still) going to give this one to the original. But you absolutely must watch the uncut version of the new version, it makes a massive difference.

2014 wins (but only just)

LS24 Episode 2 versus LS14-s1 Episodes 5, 6, 7 

The "Phun sick at Noh's house" is a lot more flirtatious in the new version but I missed the shoulder in the car and Noh snapping at Aim from the original. But I like Noh choosing to be a bolster pillow and offering himself (rather than being coerced), and the near kiss is better in the new version.

The new version also makes Phun more pitiable, like he sees Noh as a place/person of refuge. I like that a lot better for his character (and queerness).

Making Aim’s quandary (and personality flaws) nested in an actual queer crises (similar to Phun's) is a better tactic for sympathy, so this second ep really got me with some nice modernizations.

Phun freezing Noh out strikes hard in both versions but we lost Noh's identity crisis and Phun's crisis of conscience this time around.

The "letting go of the hand" is more powerful in the original, but it was also pretty good in the new one.

I hate to do this but, I have to......

2024 wins 

I say this knowing that the hand in the bookstore is and forever will be one of the most iconic moments in BL history.

If you disagree with me you can, literally, talk to the hand.

LS24 Episode 3 versus LS14-s1 Episodes 8, 9, 10 

The drunken confession, kiss, and the escape to the beach.

No kiss in the new version (which is WILD), but the old version hardly counted either.

In 2024 they have to make Phun have a long term crush and Noh be softer over gay feels to compensate for a tighter timeframe. These changes I don’t mind, but it does modernize the BLness of it all.

I really like that Phun was questioning his own sexuality when he initially asked Noh to fake date, and that the real reason was that he was testing himself. That is, frankly, more realistic to a queer coming of age, and makes the fake dating plot lest stupid. And it makes Phun a more likable character.

The shouting confessions in the new version were really cute too. As was the crying.

But I’m sad that we got no kiss and no back hug or chin down hug.

The original is so much more poignant, and so much more messy and so much more teenage about everything.

I cried in the original and I didn’t in the reboot.

"If it takes no time at all to fall in love, why does it hurt so bad to say goodbye?" 

Whatever way that script is translated, it’s a great line. 

Ep 10 from 2014 is a real dud tho. 

Argh! What to do? This one is a draw. 

No winner. 

An interesting thing about this show i never thought about during my many watches of the original: Phun has a harder time, even though he brought it on himself, partly because Noh is accustomed to being like where Phun is not. Phun, as the rich kid, is used to being envied and admired even respected. But not genuinely liked. The fact that Noh genuinely liked him for him (and not what he has) is a huge reason he can't let go.

I think the newer version showcases Phun's character in general a lot better than the original, and yeah I do think that is partly a superior actor this time around. Sorry, White.

LS24 Episode 4 versus LS14-s1 EPisodes 11, 12 & LS14-s2 Episodes 1, 2 

Earn loans the money and sports day commences.

Necklace drama and Phun’s jealousy, especially in the council room, is better in the new version. It’s just more vicious and petty and appropriate to teenagers. Plus a proper kabedon.

I did miss the face touch, forehead kiss, and “we don’t actually belong to each another” line. 

Argh that was SUCH are great line.

Not to mention the iconic standing in the street:

But, again, the opening eps of season 2 back in 2015 were very much not good, so condensing them down is an improvement.

Decisions, decisions.

No I can't, it's a draw again.

No winner.

LS24 Episode 5 versus LS14-s2 Episodes 2, 3, 4

Sports day continues, Phun thwarts Earn, the overalls scene du jour. 

Earn, the original, remains one of the greatest queer role models ever put into a BL. There is just no contest, sorry not sorry.

He is the King.

The new version has a public shoulder lean plus and epic "MINE" glare. You know I love a claiming.

But the big after party is much better in the old version.

But the switch of Golf’s character to Grace and the reason she left the school is absolutely genius and possibly my favorite change that has been made in the new series so far.

Oh but I really LOVE the drunken bathtub scene in the original.

This is a hard call.

But I simply must give it to the original. (Super props on Gracie tho, nice call 2024.)  

2014 wins 

LS24 Episode 6 versus LS14-s2 Episodes 5, 6, 7, 8, 8, 10

This new version speaks out loud more of the angst and messiness. The original let that simmer and be shown more than it was told. Interesting twist on the video evidence. 

(I love the tiny side couple of tough kid + the dork of the music club. Nice little ship, that.)

And...... We’re done with the beach visit already? The original took 4 eps! Which definitely could’ve been condensed down. Still no sunrise after sleeping in lawn chairs, no confession no nothing. Also lost one of the most iconic lines in all BL by leaving that section out.

It’s a terrible feeling, not knowing where the line is between us.

It’s so good. Hard to forgive the new version for losing it. Not to mention there's no Noh calling Earn to ask for his advice and Earn being torn over what to do with a bisexual crisis. Also "morning kiss krab."

But episode 9 of the original is entirely unnecessary and large chunks of 8 and 10 are as well. I can’t believe I entirely blocked out forgot about the singing competition. I mean, this is me, I always fast-forward through most of the singing stuff, but I forgot this whole part of season two.

Again, I lament the loss of iconic moments from the original script more than anything else, but because of the sheer quantity of superfluous flack in the original, and the fact that the new Phun is the prettiest pouty baby, this point has to go to the new version. 

2024 wins

LS24 Episode 7 versus LS14-s2 Episodes 11, 12, 13, 14

New Phun’s bitch face really is exceptional. I kind of enjoy everybody ribbing the two of them because they have no idea what’s actually going on. 

End of the auditions and the “repairing the couch Earn flirts” scene. Phun v jelly. I do like the way Earn puts it in this one, basically “I can’t fight against you if you don’t even know what you’re fighting for.” AKA you aren’t a worthy opponent. 

He’s nicer in this version. In the original, the confrontation between these two was much nastier. 

I love how Noh consciously winds Phun up in this version. It was really nice to see Noh get a bit of his own back. Of course Phun is sulky about it. He didn’t deserve to be rewarded with Noh’s confession but at least he didn’t let it just rest there, but gave his own back. We lost the problematic “not gay” line in the new version, which is very good. BUT we also lost the original shouting “I like you” across the court for all the nongs to overhear. Which is sad. Plus new version has much less Pete. Original ep 12 was epic.

We lost the phone flirting from the original, which was very cute. So I did very much miss that. 

The party at Noh’s. 

In the original, this has probably the best sequence of scripting in BL history. (Noh & Golf through the door) Where Noh talks about what it means to truly love somebody.

Mostly because they cut that bit out in the new version, I’m afraid I have to give this one to the original.

2014 wins

LS24 Episode 8 versus LS14-s2 Episodes 15, 16

The clip is discovered, the after effects of the party, the showering with Ohm, and the confrontation over Aim.

Okay so the post it love note of sweetness is better in 2024.

The Per/Win story arc never interested me in 2014 and I’m not enjoying it in 2024 either. But Mick & Ohm are better in 2024. Nong Mick is a standout character, and a brilliant glow up in this version. Confident little shit (affectionate). 

Helpful boyfriend Phun was darling. The bits where they are together as a couple really are the best. It’s when the rest of the world intrudes that things goes south.

I absolutely loved Aim's confrontation with her mother in the new version. It was stellar. And something that would never have been depicted 10 years ago.

Ah those classic high school trials and tribulations when your boyfriend has footage of your girlfriend with another girl. We’ve all been there.

Honestly, this is a much more messy and much better break up for Aim and Phun. More dramatic and more public. I like that change. 

All that said we lost Earn and the rejection in the theater. Still this one was an easy call:

2024 wins 

(How crazy, by the way, that as I type this: Ngern is opposite Oat OF ALL PEOPLE in Fourever You, Pineare and Sammy are ALSO in that show, August is finally in a leading role in a different remake, Addicted Heroin, Gunsmile is BACK in a cameo and this is the show he returned too away from GMMTV. We live in wild times.)

LS24 Episode 9 versus LS14-s2 Episodes 17, 18

The music competition ends + the big break up.

I like Earn’s sincerity and open admission in the new version, and I like how genuine and delicate Noh is coping with someone crushing on him. Probably because he knows how painful it is from the other side.

The conversation between Phun and Aim was much better and more kind in the new version, too. 

Noh’s cute pink raver cartoon outfit was everything. 

All in all I’m not wild about the original episodes of this segment. Sure there were a few things that I missed but none that I remembered well enough without the rewatch. So for this and that great communication around the break up: 

2024 wins

Since the number of the old episodes being squeezed into the new version has gone down, I’m assuming they aren’t planning on encompassing all of Season 2 in 2024. I suspect we’re gonna lose the camp in the forest section. Which is a shame, is has some of my favorite scenes.

LS24 Episode 10 versus LS14-s2 Episodes 19, 20, 21

2024 Phun actually turns into Dangerous Babygirl when he is flirting, who knew? (Dangerous Babygirl is a new archetype I have just invented. Yes, I'm pleased with myself.) Noh, who is a nice goodboy, doesn’t stand a chance. Neither does Jeed, since Phun has damn near perfected “back off bitch" face.

The arm drape public claiming, it gets me every time. It has done since SOTUS. I love to see it show back up again in a show that's already harkening back to the early days. It's like they used a trope that wasn't in the original to remind us of the past.

Nong Mick is hands-down my favorite character in the new version. I love him so much I can’t stand it. Consistent Nong King behavior. He uses his cute for evil and I love it.

The dunk tank part is better in 2014 and very funny. The kiss not kiss is a thing (and was a thing at the time) but I'm hoping we get a much better one in 2024 so I wasn't sad to see it left out this time. The one thing Thailand learned before most other BL producing countries was that boys can kiss (but it would take another 3 year and MaxTul to learn 'em good.) The concert at the convent is too long either way, but it’s much longer in the original. So for that alone the original gets docked. You know me and singing. 

That said, Phun stealing Noh from the two girls is pretty epic in the original. Hard to beat. As is Per and the screaming girls. But that Per scene wouldn’t work in 2024 with his character since he's a completely different personality. Also that level of comedy kinda requires Sing to execute.

Finally we get the confession on the agreement become a couple.

Noh is a lot more game and sweet and kind and less awkward in the new version. And since secondhand embarrassment is rough for me I prefer this new one. Sure, it still feels like the 2014 is more authentic to this kind of high school queer experience. (Maybe that’s because Noh's confused awkwardness is old-fashioned and so am I.) But 2024's lap sitting and crying together was truly spectacular.

All in all a hard choice, but I'm afraid I have to say:

2024 wins 

LS24 Episode 11 versus LS14-s2 Episodes 22, 23, 24

Waking up together. first date, the famous piano scene, Yuri's lament + Yuri catches them kissing. 

This is where the teen awkward comes to the front of the class and misspells it's name...... in both versions. And it’s always a challenge to watch because Phun is so ready to come out to the world (despite the fact that he’s more at risk with his family) and Noh is so not ready (despite the fact that we know his family and friends would be happy for him). 

It stands in contrast to their personalities too, Phun who is reserved and introverted, while Noh is cheerful and outgoing. And yet it always felt (and feels) very true to character as well. Noh wants to be liked and he's scared of being teased. Phun is more sure of himself, and with fewer quieter friends.

All the couples are so sweet in the new version where as, frankly, in 2014 one I only ever gravitated to Phun, Noh, Earn, and Pete.

In this episode (11) I enjoy how they're using all these likable side couples to foil our main couple by depicting all the different ways coming out (and being out) can go: from the good to the bad to the ugly. It amplifies the angst and the pacing in this episode and it highlights that both Phun and Noh are correct in their (un)willingness to be openly together. Because they really don’t know what the consequences might be, or even if there are consequences. 

In general, this segement was full of pining, angst, and communication issues and I thought bundled together in 2024 made for a much more tense and engaging sequence than the original. So this was an easy win for the new version (even if I would have preferred a real kiss).

2024 wins 

Also props to wardrobe (HA!) for Noh's off duty outfits. I love his punk goes to Disneyland (with preppy boyfriend) aesthetic.

LS24 Episode 12 & 13 versus LS14-s2 Episodes 25, 26, 27, 28, 34

The away competition, the book carrying, pizza party, meeting the aunt, starting to act like a couple. pun v dad 

I like getting more Phun/Dad conflict backstory in the new one.

But I thought that Noh freaking out and coping with what he had to do to break up with Yuri in the older version was more authentic.

That sad I’ve never been wild about how resistant Noh is in the original to kissing and physical intimacy. That still bothers me, even though I know it’s a sign of the 2014 times. I like the more comfortable physical affection between the two characters in the newer version.

The confession to friend group was good in both versions but 2014 is ICONIC. The teasing Phun was way better than 2014. Still, the physical intimacy was so much better in 2024 so for me......

2024 wins

(close tho)

The matchup is getting a little uneven at this juncture we seem to be jumping around and borrowing bits from other parts.

LS24 Episode 14 versus LS14-s2 Episodes 35

They moved the Pam bit from the end earlier, which is actually a good idea. Although I would’ve removed it entirely. 

They also substantially took steps to fix Phun‘s dad character in the new version. I really liked that a lot. (I guess we know which political party that dad belongs to this time.) 

Honestly? The teaching part (prior to finals) in the original is one of my favorite mini sequences in BL. But the new version was even better. I didn’t think they were gonna beat it out. But they did.

Them sneaking around to sleep together at the camp never gets old. And I mean that, since it’s been 10 years and it still gets me in the throat. So good.

This is a hard call, but if they’re gonna cut out Noh giving Yuri the shirt, and Yuri’s defensive now in the girls bathroom......? The old one is definitely gonna win. As it stands right now I’m gonna give this one to the older version. But a lot of the changes that the new one made I really appreciated so I reserve the right to change my mind after the final ep.

2014 Wins 

The Leader Board

2014 = 4 points

2024 = 8 points

(source)

[harukamitsuki]

(spoilers ahead)

honestly, i think one of my biggest issues with my hero is how horikoshi is really good at setting things up, but fails in the execution of basically anything and everything. especially when everyone wants to see it prosper.

a world where everyone has quirks, except for our main character, who strives to be a hero despite that

the number two hero is anything but when behind closed doors.

the number one hero comes off as endlessly joyful, yet is more tired than anything

a world where your worth is based on your quirk

a world that is so obssessed with heroes that hidden crimes are just forgotten

a boy who was so hurt that he could only hurt in turn

a girl who was so restricted that she can't understand personal space

a boy who was neglected for being weak so he strives to become stronger and in turn only hurts himself more

a boy hated simply for looking different so he rejects the world for the world rejects him

and a boy hurt by everyone around him, but uses that to make the world a kinder place.

all of this is present within mha, but none of it is expanded on, or if it was, it felt like lip-service at best, and downright insulting at worst.

the powerless mc gets an incredibly powerful quirk and forgets he was ever quirkless.

the number two hero is abusive but it's totally okay because he regrets it and his abusive scenes are treated lightly later on

the number one hero goes back to his old ways when he finally gets a chance to be himself

there is no commentary on quirkless discrimination, and we barely see the impacts of having a 'weak' quirk

hidden crimes are explored, but there isn't anything regarding how the future generation will solve this issue

that boy who could only hurt after he was hurt so much? yeah he dies despite the mc wanting to save him so desperately, and there is no satisfaction in it. because he still didn't want to be saved

that girl who was so restricted that she couldn't understand personal space and boundaries? yeah, she never learns what they are, and nobody directly calls her out on this

that boy who was so neglected for being weak and only hurts himself the stronger he strives to become? well, it's actually his fault because he couldn't forgive his abusive father. his misplaced envy towards his abused brother is never delved into

that boy who rejected the world that hated him for being born? yeah, he's never shown any kindness from the people who should be showing it. instead, he's taken down while he's lost his mind and becomes a massive hypocrite

that boy who was hurt by everyone around him yet still wants to save others? yeah, he's still being hurt by everyone around him and is never praised for helping people, only scolded by others. he loses everything and isn't even allowed to work for it again.

the set-up for everything is so good, but the pay-off and the execution is just not.

i feel like horikoshi was winging it half of the time, hence why he forgot about the traitor plot point. something fans were speculating about for years, horikoshi just forgot. it's like - he set it up as early as the usj, forgot to build up aoyama's character, and speedran it. because of this, it didn't feel earned.

'you can still be a hero,' does not feel earned at all. why should we care about aoyama when the creator himself doesn't? the traitor could have been anyone, and it wouldn't have changed a thing, because the set-up was gone. by the time he'd remembered there was a traitor, everyone else forgot about it.

the same goes for the deaths.

i've seen people commend mha for killing people off, but, the things is, do we really care about who was killed off?

nighteye? he was a dick, and it was clear horikoshi was trying to do a whole 'redemption in death' thing, but let's be honest. we only care about the impact it had on mirio, which wasn't even much. it could have been anyone. nighteye surviving wouldn't have changed anything.

midnight? we did not spend nearly enough time with her to give two shits about her death. maybe if she were 1-a's homeroom teacher, as was originally planned, it may have meant more. as it was, who cared? she didn't even die on-screen. it could have been anyone.

native? i don't even need to explain. nobody cared.

star and stripe? did anyone really get attached to female all might? no, because there were no dimensions to her.

stain? what did his death serve? what would have changed if he survived? nothing

like, if you kill someone off, it has to mean something. what was learned by nighteye's death? heroes die? we learned that ages ago with the water hose heroes, and with stain's mini-arc. maybe it was to show, yeah, we're not afraid of killing people off.

but it didn't mean anything! at least have nighteye learn something. make it a proper tragedy - maybe he wants to apologise to all might but all might arrives too late. maybe he finally acknowledges that it was never his right to dictate who gets ofa and really apologises to izuku. maybe he can't even say goodbye to mirio.

maybe, in trying to do something, his sacrifice means nothing... until, when he's already dead, it's revealed that it did.

killing a character off to show how serious you're getting is fine... if it weren't already clear that it was serious.

people say killing off so many was mha being realistic, but they don't understand two things.

one: if you want to be realistic, kill someone off in the usj, because a bunch of kids just starting school should not be able to hold off against actual villain. if you want to be realistic, have the kids be shoved into counselling after the usj. if you want to be realistic, have aizawa die against the noumu. that's realistic

two: NOBODY GOES TO ANIME FOR REALISM!! seriously, if you want realism, go watch an indie movie or something. not anime, where everything is drawn and people have superpowers and tripping over means you accidentally grope someone.

the thing about killing characters off is that it has to mean something to both the characters and the audience. if we do not care if a character dies, it does not need to be there.

example: (spoilers for one piece ig) whitebeard from one piece. even now, people still quote his dying message. 'the one piece is real'. both this line and his death have a massive impact in-universe, and we the audienced cared, despite the relatively short time we go to know him. his death actually mattered. had whitebeard not died in marineford, i guarantee that nothing would be the same.

fishman island wouldn't have been taken over by big mom. marco and izou would not have appeared in wano, or if they did, the entire whitebeard alliance would have shown up too. there would still be a balance in the emperors. sengoku would not have retired.

there are ripple effects from whitebeard's death, and everyone one piece fan still remembers it clearly. and the same goes for every other death in one piece: ace, bellemere, kuina, hiriluk, tom, the rumbar pirates, rojer. every death had its meaning and affects either the world as a whole or specific characters who would go onto impact the world anyway.

mha just doesn't let you care about the characters it kills off, nor do their deaths have meaning, because there isn't a pay-off.

the set-up is there. the pay-off is not.

and that, guys, gals, and nonbinary pals, is my biggest issue with mha. horikoshi's execution.

[jasongracedefenseattorney]

i’ve seen this assertion and tweets like it several times so let’s actually check the text, shall we! first, what he is referencing is this moment during the war games in son of neptune:

notice how it says he’s fighting in “a completely unorthodox style” unlike how a roman would fight and this is why they aren’t prepared for his assault. it also says the sheer novelty of losing has thrown the defense into chaos. now considering jason is considered a sword master and spent MONTHS with the greeks, it’s safe to assume he’d have trained in their sword fighting methods. yes jason trained in one specific style of combat but so did percy, we just never see a situation where jason has to sword fight all of the greeks. in fact, he even says in house of hades that he struggled with the strict rules of the romans

now let’s get to the meat and potatoes: who would actually win in a fair fight? many people assert percy could and use this quote from mark of athena as evidence:

now if we look at this, we may think this proves anything but it doesn’t. two teenage boys having a pissing contest and each saying they’re better than the other is not evidence that either one actually is. so here’s the relevant parts of the fight that they’re talking about, which happens right before that scene

jason and percy are fighting and jason knocks percy off of his horse with a lightning blast (i would argue that bouncing lightning off of your sword is not predictable). he has his sword six inches from percy’s face when piper distracts him with charmspeak. this gives percy time to recover and he is able to sweep his legs under jason, making him hit his head and fall unconscious. percy almost kills jason until piper is able to charmspeak him. now piper is clearly a variable in this fight seeing as she stopped each of them from killing the other so if you take her out, what happens? easy. jason stabs percy through the face and wins. it is only because piper stopped jason in the first place that percy even had a chance to get that close to killing him at all. sure they are both highly skilled fighters and had he not used lightning, jason might not have won, but he did use the lightning because he has it along with flight and being able to harness air. percy discovered in tartarus that he was able to bend poison to kill akhlys; what happens when jason realizes he can pull the air from peoples’ lungs?

i understand percy is everyone’s favorite but can we please use our brains from time to time? yall hate jason for not being percy and refuse to acknowledge anything that makes him interesting because you base all of your info off of the lost hero in which he spends the majority of the book without a memory so OBVIOUSLY he wouldn’t be super interesting to read. even in his first chapter of the lost hero, he is knocking the socks off of his opponents AND by the end of the book, already learning greek fighting techniques of slashing rather than stabbing

anyway idk how to wrap this up i just want yall to acknowledge that jason is OP

[anthurak]

So I think we all understand at this point that much of the Fairy Tales of Remnant and various other in-universe folktales and legends that have been told or otherwise mentioned up to now are IMPORTANT. That these stories, particularly the ones that are given some kind of focus, are meant to relate to specific events or characters and generally foreshadow things that will happen or be revealed in the show. Whether in the direct sense of ‘this story is actually relating real events that are significant to characters’ like The Story of the Seasons to the Maidens and Oz, or in more indirect, symbolic fashion like Oscar and Ozpin idly discussing The Girl Who Fell Through the World in Volume 8.

Suffice to say, fairy tales in RWBY clearly MEAN something. Especially if a fairy tale is clearly being connected to a character or characters.

To that end, going forward I think we should really be looking at The Warrior in the Woods, and in-particular the animated short, as being narratively tied to Summer, Raven and Taiyang. And specifically meant to foreshadow what Taiyang’s relationship with Summer and Raven was REALLY like.

For one, the connection the animated short draws is not exactly subtle. The short is flat out framed as Tai reading the story to Ruby and Yang for bedtime, with the boy in the story looking like a young version of Tai while the titular Warrior looks literally like a combination of Summer and Raven. And to top it all off, the story even broadly reflects what we already know about the relationships of the three; with the young man losing the woman he so admired and loved just like Tai lost Summer and Raven. Again, the connections are not in ANY way subtle here.

So with that base established, what more can we potentially glean as foreshadowing here?

Well, as I’ve stated in previous posts, I think it is telling that while the Boy in the story did love the Warrior, it is ultimately a tragic, doomed love that was never meant to be.

And more than that, the story notably only gives us the perspective of the boy, and never the Warrior. And likewise, we never learn how the Warrior truly felt about the boy. She clearly cared about him, enough to consider him something of a friend, but did she feel about him like he felt about her? The story never makes this clear, and I think that in and of itself is rather telling: Despite the boy’s attempts to reach out to her, the Warrior maintains her distance. Whatever growing care or affection she might have felt for the boy, it clearly wasn’t nearly enough to get her to break her isolation or duty to safeguard the village in secret. While the boy may have loved the Warrior, it was a love that in all likelihood, could not and was not returned.

So when we apply this to Taiyang, Summer and Raven, a rather bleak picture emerges: That Tai’s relationships with Raven or Summer were NEVER going to work out. Or that neither Summer NOR Raven actually loved Tai in the same way he loved either of them.

And the thing is, this IS supported even by what little we have seen of Tai, Summer and Raven. Just like in the story, we have been told of Tai’s love for Summer and Raven, yet told precious little of how either of THEM felt about Tai. And what little we HAVE been told or shown has left it rather questionable how either of them cared for Tai.

Raven has made it clear that she cares little for Taiyang in the present, which really raises the question of how or if the two were ever in a relationship in the past. And while the existence of Yang might imply some kind of relationship, let’s also consider the possibility that Yang was actually an unplanned pregnancy. The result of a possible drunken, one-night-stand between Raven and Tai. Which would certainly put Raven’s reluctance to be a mother in a VERY different context.

Then we have Summer, and thanks to Ruby’s tree-vision, I think we can count her feelings for Taiyang as being at best ‘ambiguous’.

For one, as I’ve stated elsewhere, Summer’s scene with Taiyang is curiously lacking in especially overt romantic gestures. A lack of noticeable flirting or particularly romantic physical acts like a kiss. They do hug, but as I’ve said before, RWBY has used these close, intimate hugs just as much if not more often to convey platonic or familial affection. Note also that Taiyang is the one to clearly initiate the hug, not Summer

More than any of that, it’s clear that Summer is putting on an act for Tai in this scene. In the scene she is clearly pensive and uncertain and maybe even afraid, but the moment Tai walks in, Summer immediately adopts a mask of ‘everything is normal, don’t worry about anything’. Which calls into question how much of anything Summer does/says in this exchange is truly genuine, and how much is simply an act for Tai’s benefit.

Summer clearly does not trust Taiyang with the truth of what she is ACTUALLY doing. And the clear ease with which Summer assumes this mask implies that this is likely far from the first time Summer has done this.

Just compare Summer’s scene with Tai to both her previous scene with the sleeping Ruby and Yang, and her following scene with Raven; both showing Summer not putting on any kind of act for anyone else.

Most notably, despite whatever resentment she might feel towards Raven for leaving them (or perhaps just leaving her), Summer clearly trusts Raven, more than ANYONE, with helping her on this mission she considered so vitally important.

Summer certainly cared for Taiyang, that much is clear. Otherwise she wouldn’t put so much effort into reassuring him that everything was fine.

But did she love Tai in way that he loved her? Or was it simply a role she went along with for his, and possibly more-so Ruby’s and Yang’s benefit? Given the clear emotional mask and barrier we see her put up when around Tai, I would call the answer, at BEST, ambiguous.

Which all ties perfectly into what we see in The Warrior in the Woods.

The boy in the story, who is presented as looking just like Tai, loved a mysterious but noble warrior, who is presented as looking like Raven AND Summer. But the love the boy felt could not or was not returned and the warrior would instead vanish into the night. Just like Summer and Raven did.

Oh, and the ending of the story match-cutting a shot of the ‘cross between Summer and Raven’ Warrior to a shot of Ruby who likewise has a lot of visual similarities to Raven as well as Summer MIGHT be hinting at something too…

[kamisama1kiss]

Hi! I hope you are well :)

I watched the Haikyu movie Dumpster Battle and what an incredible movie!!! (I was so excited at the cinema that my friend had to calm me down so I didn't short circuit).

(DID YOU SEE THE POST-CREDITS SCENES?!)

I have one lost, I was thinking about the Nekoma boys (your choice) meeting s/o after losing the match

((I felt so bad when Nekoma lost but I was happy that my Karasuno boys won, urgh this movie brought me so many emotions))

Well that's! Sorry if there are spelling mistakes, I'm still learning :p (kisses from Brazil <3)

The movie was amazing! I loved it sm and planning to watch it again the moment I can!! Sadly, I walked out before the post crdit scene, but I went on tiktok to see the rest of it, which, by the way, was literally kissable!

Deicide to do 3 of my top favourite characters from nekoma 🫶

!!MOVIE DUMSTER BATTLE SPOILERS WILL BE MENTIONED!!

~~~

Haikyuu Nekoma Headcanons { How would they greet their lover after losing the match }

~Kuroo Tetsuro~

He had been previously talking and walking amongst some other of the nekoma team, such as Yaku and Kai. Kept an eye out for when he saw you, which didn't take too long, much to his enjoyment. Without much of a word, he went to greet his lover, who hadn't noticed him just yet. "Looking for a volleyball captain?" wrapping an arm around the lovers' shoulders.

"Tetsuro!" You jumped but quickly swaped to a smile, "I was looking for you." Lover had explained, looking up at him while intertwining their hands together. Slowly started to walk around the open room.

"Here I am. Did you enjoy the show?" Hummed from his height, squeezed your hand lightly yet in a wholesome move. "You all did amazing out there." Praising the effort they had put in only made his grin widend a little further. "Thanks, lovey." Planting a kiss on the base of your hairline.

~Kenma Kozume~

Having already hurried down to outside of the changing rooms to meet him, his lover stood there worried after seeing him getting actually hit to the ground and with the ball falling out of his hands. The train of through we're broken when the door opened showing Kenma. "Hey." A lazy expression resting on my face yet hinted with a smile.

"Are you feeling okay, after everything?" His lover spoke gently, tilting their head watching him, receiving a nod in exchange. "I had fun." Spoke simply looking at you. Placing both hands into his red sweatpant pockets. Standing in a shock for a mere moment as all the worry washed away into a happy content expression. "I am glad."

Pushing themselves off the wall while now wlaking down the corridor, "Should we get a snack?" He suggested in a light him, looking over with only his eyes, feeling his body exhausted. "I am down for a bite." You nodded, seeing his hand coming of the pocket reaching to hold pinkies with you.

~Lev Haiba~

Walking over to you with a visbal down smile, reaching for a tight hug. "Today was a lot." Whispering next to your ear, letting go of the embrace. Reaching for your hand, leaning forward when you spoke. "You did great, though." His lover muttered softly, making his frown turn upside down.

"Really?" If he had a tail, it would be going wagging behind him. Compliments always make him feel better, even if he won or lost a match. "Of course i think so." You said with a smile, straightened his back. Flexing the free arm with a the most shit eating grin this man ever had.

He might not have won the match, but he won the award for most supporting lover. "I appreciate your loyalty in believing my strength." Lifting your hand to place small peck on the top side.

~~~

Thank you, sm, for 118 followers!!! I'd never believe to have THAT many people would support me!! I appreciate and love every single of you very much 🫶🫶

[wordsaresimple-imnot]

Green Dress - Bill Guarnere x F!Reader

Summary: Easy Company hits the town for a much needed night of fun and relaxation in Paris. Reader, who's always in regular military wear and very tomboy, decides to dress up for the night and receives varying reactions from the boys.

Warnings: 18+ content, cursing, oral (f receiving), 1st person female POV (no use of y/n), I think that's it.

A/N: I have the biggest respect for the real life heroes of WWII (and all other wars, past & current), this work & all other works is based on the actor(s) and character(s) portrayed in the Band of Brothers series.

A/N pt2: This is my first time writing any type of explicit sexual scene, let me know what y'all think. As usual likes, comments, and reblogs give me love. Enjoy!!

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

I look at myself in the mirror and can't decide if I like what I see or should call the whole night off and stay in bed. I've styled my hair in a simple design, flowy but still away from my face. Light make-up highlights my eyes, cheeks and lips; just enough to make everything pop without being over the top. My hands run down my dress, picking away invisible lint. It's a deep, gorgeous green that almost shimmers in the light, falling just above my knee in a way that would cause outrage back home but is just this side of acceptable in Paris.

Ah, screw it. Let's have some fun. With a final twirl, I flash myself a smile and excite my hotel room to meet the guys downstairs. I stop briefly at the top of the stairs and look at the group waiting for me. We've been through a lot together; Toccoa, Sobel, jumping (literally) into Normandy, countless battles won and lost, losing fellow brother's, etc. Never once did they make me feel alienated or less than, each providing different facets of friendship and overall making a family.

In a weird way I was nervous to have them see me so feminine and semi dolled up. I've never wore anything other than the standard OD uniforms and was always down for "boy activities" in the down times. I was constantly referred to as "one of the boys" and never really cared until this moment. I was worried my effort would be turned into a joke. Just once I'd like them to see me as an actual woman. Well, at least one of them to anyways.

Just as I started my decent towards them, Luz catches sight of me and gives a loud whistle before beginning to clap. This catches the others attention and pretty soon the lobby is filled with whistles and claps until I reach the bottom of the stairs. I give them all an embarrassed smile, fully aware that my face is burning a deep red and I'm fighting the urge to run back upstairs and hide.

"Lookin' good kid!" Toye comes up and gives me a small kiss on my cheek, smiling as he motions for me to twirl around. I do a small spin, setting off the whistles and claps again.

"Oh, stop you hound dogs." I laugh lightly, waving my hands at them to quiet down.

"You knew a lady was underneath all those clothes and dirt." Luz shoots me a cheeky smile, grabbing my hand and giving it a kiss. I flip him off once he releases my hand, making him laugh. "There she is!"

"Alright let's get out of here, I'm dying for a drink." I start to make my way through the group to the exit. This causes a small, playful scuffle to erupt as some of the guys move towards me to grab my hand and be my escort. In the end Liebgott wins, shooting everyone a smile and me a wink. As we all spill out into the streets in search of the bar, my eyes briefly connect with Bill and I'm left wondering what's caused the frown on his face.

Two hours later, I'm on my fourth beer and loving the buzz I'm feeling. I've just finished another turn around the dance floor, being passed between Tab, Luz, Bull, and even Martin joined for a few beats. Needing to catch my breathe, I settle on a barstool and wait for my water to arrive. Before my water can get there, a few shadows come up to my side. Expecting it to be some of my group, I spin around with a wide smile and am met with three strangers faces.

"Oh, sorry. I thought you were part of my Company." I give a small laugh, slightly embarrassed. The one closest to me just smiles and shakes his head slightly.

"No need to apologize ma'dam, if you'll have us we'd like to keep you company though." His English was nearly perfect, made sweeter by his French accent. What's the harm in a little flirting?

With a soft smile, I extend my hand out to them and give my name. They each take turns telling me theirs and giving my hand a kiss afterwards. While definitely being more flirty than I imagined they'd be, they were pleasant enough to talk to and even made me laugh a few times. When a new song started to play Pierre, the first one to speak to me, asks if I'd like to dance and I agree.

We are halfway through the song, having a really good time, when someone taps Pierre's shoulder. To my shock and confusion, there was Bill. He looks like he is holding himself back from killing Pierre, for what reason I have no clue.

"Mind if I cut in." It was a statement, flat out. No room for but's or giving a raincheck. I see Pierre is ready to go toe to toe with Bill, but that is a fight he'd never win and I don't want the night to turn sour.

I pat Pierre's shoulder and tell him it was alright and I've had a lovely time. He looks skeptical at Bill, but gave me a perfect smile mirroring my sentiments and gave my hand a final kiss as he walks back to his friends. Without wasting anytime, Bill grabs the hand that was just kissed and tugs me flush against him.

It takes a few seconds to get into a comfortable rhythm after that awkward start, whatever the hell that was, but we manage and are soon swaying between the other dancing partners. I was torn between reveling in the feeling of the heat of his hand on my waist and the skin to skin contact of our hands, and how confused and frustrated I am with how he acted.

"I don't know why you did that. Pierre was a nice guy." I speak low enough so the words stay just between us and can't float out to the Easy boys that seem to be watching us with barely concealed interest. They must have witnessed the exchange too.

Bill scoffs and his hand squeezes my waist for a half second. "Pierre. What kinda name is that for a man. Fucking French." I shoot him a small glare.

"Don't be rude. He was a gentleman." Bill rolls his eyes at me then spins me out then back in.

"Gentleman my ass. He was only interested in getting to know you because you're looking like a lady."

His words turn my body into stone and I frown up at him. "Looking like... Fuck you." I rip my hand out his and push him slightly, it doesn't do more than make him shuffle his feet but it's definitely got his attention.

"What the hell is your problem?" His jaw is set and his eyes are burning daggers at me.

"My problem? I don't have a problem. What's your problem? I'm not some dumb little girl that doesn't know what men are like. I know he was flirting with me, hoping for me to go off with him. He wasn't going to get anything, but guess what...I liked the attention! I liked having someone notice that I'm a woman and reminding me that I can be desirable. I'm not just looking like a lady, I am a damn lady you asshole." With a final shove, I turn on my heel and leave the bar before him or anyone else can try and stop me.

I'm halfway down the street, heading to the hotel, when I hear someone jogging behind me. I decide to ignore them and pray it's someone wanting to get someplace fast and not actually coming to talk to me or convince me to come back. Sadly, my prayers are not answered as a hand grabs hold of my elbow spins me around. I'm once again face to face with Bill.

"I don't want to talk to you anymore." I growl out, trying to yank my arm back to no avail.

"You don't gotta talk, just listen. I need to set some things straight." He's using his stern, Sergeant voice, and normally that'd have me blushing but I'm too angry for it to have it's usual effect on me right now.

"No thanks, I've heard enough for the evening." I make another attempt to pull my arm out, but he just pulls me closer and wraps his arms around me arms and waist, pining me against him. All I can do is glare.

Bill scans the sidewalk and road quickly, slightly nodding to himself as he makes some internal decision and lifts me off the ground, walking us a little ways into an alley to our right. We are far enough in that no one can stumble upon us easily but we can still get some of the street light so it's not pitch black.

"What the hell Bill? Have you become a psycho killer?" I push a little away from him, but that only presses me against the alley wall. He uses this to his advantage by taking a step forward, caging me between him and the wall. My brain short circuits a little at being so close to him.

"You're wrong." When he doesn't immediately continue, I raise an eyebrow hoping to encourage him to elaborate. After a few more seconds he continues. "We know you're a lady. The whole damn battalion knows you're a lady. Wearing OD's doesn't hide the shape of your ass when you bend over to help with the car engines or the outline of your breasts when you take your jacket off to cool down. All you have to do is glance around and you'll see the boys drooling all over themselves staring at you." His hand lands on my hip and squeezes. Hard.

I have to take a few deep breathes to steady myself before formulating a response. "If that's true, then what was the big deal about those guys flirting with me tonight?"

"Because they don't know what everyone in the battalion knows. You're my girl. It's one thing to have the boys dance with you or give you compliments, they'd never cross that line or I'd kill 'em. Those French twats wanted to cross that line." I barely registered anything after his declaration: my girl. His girl.

"You're girl?" My words come out in a whisper. Bill's face finally starts to soften and an easy smile starts to spread across his face.

"You really are oblivious. It's the worst kept secret in Easy Company. You drive me fucking crazy, sweetheart. Gorgeous, funny, sweet, and just the right mixture of feminine and tomboy. Everything I've ever dreamed of. And you're wrapped up like a damn present in this dress and I've been dying to get it open all night." By the time he's done speaking his mouth is a hairs breathe away from mine, eyes searching mine for any sign of rejection.

All words have left me so I decide to respond with action and close the distance between us. What starts out as gentle and timid, quickly transforms to rough and frenzied. Bill gives my bottom lip a bite, causing me to gasp and allowing him access into my mouth. I don't bother putting up a fight, I'm putty in his arms and give him full dominance. The hand not squeezing my hip so hard I know there will be some type of bruise, grasps the back of my neck and angles my head to the side to give him better access.

My hands have made their way up his chest, to his shoulders, and finally still with one in his hair and the other at the back of his neck. When the need for air becomes to much for me, I turn my head slightly to the side and break the kiss. Bill's breathing just as heavily as I am, but doesn't stop his assault. He moves my head again and starts trailing kisses up and down my neck, alternating between nips and licks based on my reactions. When he hits a particular sweet spot, I can feel him grin before biting there again hard enough to leave a mark.

"Fuck." I moan out, scratching the back of his neck. "That's gonna be hard to hide." With a final kiss on the new mark, Bill lifts his head to meet my eyes. His eyes are dark with lust and he can't stop smiling.

"That's the point, sweetheart." I roll my eyes at him, but smile back.

"If you get to mark me, I think it's only fair I get to mark you."

"Baby, you can do whatever you want to me. I'm yours." His voice is so deep, it makes my legs shake and I'm instantly happy I have that wall to hold me.

"I think you owe me an apology for what you said to me at the bar before I decide what I wanna do you with you." I mean more as a joke, but he seems to really be thinking about. Before I can reassure him that I'm not upset anymore, he gives me a kiss that has me seeing stars.

Before it leads to another make-out session, Bill breaks away from my mouth, trails kisses down the other side of my neck and then suddenly drops to his knees in front of me.

"What are you doing?" The situation wasn't bad enough to do this.

"I'm apologizing." Bill's eyes are so dark they could pass for solid black and his voice is deep and sensual. My response is cut short as I feel his hands run up my legs, going under my dress and grasp my thighs. With a smirk, he slowly finishes his trek to my underwear and starts pulling them down.

"Bill." I don't know if I say his name to make him stop or because I'm praising him. Either way, I have nothing to follow it up with. He keeps his eyes on me as I shift my feet helping him get my underwear completely off, noticing that he stuffs them in his pocket.

"Just lean back and enjoy baby. Be a good girl and hold this for me." He pushes my dress up to my waist, waiting for me to take hold of it. Good girl, Jesus.

"Sir, yes, sir." I take note of the tightening of his jaw and how his eyes somehow become even darker. There's something to explore later.

Bill grabs hold of my thigh and drapes it over his shoulder, trailing soft kisses on the inside. As he gets closer to my center, he bites and sucks a mark just for us to know about. A small moan escapes and my unoccupied hand lands in his hair. Before the sting has completely faded from his bite, I'm taken over by the sensation of his tongue gliding through my folds.

The only sounds to be heard is our combined groans, my heavy breathing, and his tongue working me like a man starved. His hand not holding my thigh in a death grip, maneuvers around to spread me more open for him and I nearly pass out when he sucks on my clit. I yank on his hair which only seems to spur him on as he starts starts alternating between licking and sucking.

The only words I seem to be able to say is his name and fuck. As my approach to my orgasm comes closer, I'm able to mumble out that I'm close. Bill tabs my thigh to make me look down at him and I nearly cum at the sight.

"Let go, sweetheart. That's an order. Cum. Now." His words, combined with the determined look on his face and a final hard suck on my clit has me falling over the edge chanting his name over and over again.

Bill doesn't let up as my orgasm washes over me, licking and drinking up my release until I start to whimper at the overstimulation. Slowly he places my thigh back on the ground, gently stroking my legs, and tugs my dress back down to cover me again. My hands grip his shoulders as he stands back up and I take in the sight of him. Hair completely wrecked from my fingers, face red from his efforts, breathing heavy and looking like he might drop to knee's to do it all over again.

I grab his jacket and pull him flush against me, kissing him with all the strength I have. He returns the kiss with as much force and pulls my thigh up around his hip, making our hips meet. I moan into the kiss at the feeling of his erection so close to my center and roll my hips to grind against him.

"If you don't stop that, we won't make it back to the hotel." Bill growls between kisses.

"Then you better get us there quickly." I give his lip a quick bite, before a laugh slips out at how fast he starts pulling by the hand back to the sidewalk and towards the hotel.

I think I'll wear this dress more often.

[girlfriendsofthegalaxy]

tuesday again 7/16/2024

how your backyard hurricane go, the houston area? pretty good it doesn't seem

to be clear other than losing everything in my fridge and developing some mold around the windowframes IM personally fine and so are the girls and so is the lair. we lost power sunday afternoon and got it back friday morning (upside down smiley emoji x16)

listening

THREE CANONICALLY BISEXUAL CLUB BANGERS!!! also, trying out a new thing with spotify and youtube videos for songs bc my readership is about 70/30 and i want to streamline the process of actually listening to new music for ppl. it must be really annoying this week but that's bc there's three songs. sorry. it will rarely be this long

anyway.

ANXIETY by Lilyisthatyou is new to me, off the spotify autogenerated dance playlist. a chiller groove in the spelling-things-out genre of dance music. VERY flashy-lights music vid fyi

Why do I feel so alone? Does it show That I'm dancing to fill the void with pretty girls and pretty boys?

i know about kesha's joyride bc i happen to be an alive queer woman. im SO happy kesha is also alive and making music more regularly. this one is canonically bisexual bc kesha is bisexual. also a really flashy-lights lyric video. the most classically recession-pop/early KESHA sound of all three tuesdaysongs this week. im always fascinated when an accordion shows up.

Rev my engine ’til you make it purr Keep it kinky, but I come first Beep-beep, bitch, I'm outside Get in, loser, for the joyride

thank u new releases spotify playlist. also canonically bisexual bc the singer is, also an early KESHA feel but she is a metal artist first and foremost. very fun to headbang to at a stop light. i don't totally Love how it's an emasculating song but given how dudes in the metal scene generally are? i think she should make it more emasculating actually

Take you down a peg (And peg and peg and peg) If you're a macho man then beg (And beg and beg and beg) Bend you over the bed (The bed the bed the bed) It's time to take you down a peg (And peg and peg and peg)

-

reading

fun fact i still haven't seen this movie. i got this from the library the day before the hurricane proper and it gave me a really lovely two hours of not thinking about the active hurricane the day after. enormous format photographs! full-length shots of every look! ithe little personal notes from each designer were so fun to read, and i think this genuinely healed my heart a little. everyone was so excited to go into detail about what choices they made and what inspired them, and even though i would have loved more specific construction details, specific fiber types, and full-length shots of the Back of every look, i recognize i am a freak.

-

watching

watched a truly bonkers assortment of films at my bestie's house this week. her husband is big into godzilla and i sat down not really paying attention or planning to pay attention to Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024, dir. Wingard) but found myself actually paying attention. i unfortunately was a character i hate, Person Who Stops The Movie Halfway Through To Demand A Recap. loved these guys, whatever the fuck they were

the most fun thing about this movie is that it is not a silent film but it acts like one. there are long, long stretches of movie without dialogue bc all the political action is happening between a bunch of giant monkeys. this is going to sound like im damning it with faint praise but they really thought carefully about directorial and artistic choices here! there was a vision and they executed it! it's fun to look at and not just because there's a big monkey in most of the shots!

-

playing

got a look at characters for the new fire-themed land coming up this fall. ppl are understandably big mad that the land is based on Ring of Fire cultures and everyone is paper-white. i think it is correct to be mad and ask them to do better, and they have tweaked designs before release before, however, i don't think this will bring about a sea change in gacha games.

i am rolling along clearing out map markers and achievement hunting and my GOD are there a lot of time-gated achievements in inazuma (electricity-themed legally-not-japan). so so so many of them i originally got halfway through or did 1/5 and then wandered off bc i didn't realize there was a quest or achievement locked behind doing something for three or five days in a row. i now have a post-it on the corner of my monitor with nine different things i have to keep checking in on this week. please someone give me a REAL JOB!!!!!!

-

making

cross stitch progress. this was the only thing i did last week aside from shake like a chihuahua and sleep. very slow going! may have to ship the package off to my brother with an IOU bc it is already stressfully late.

made the bean influencer soup (creamy miso coconut butter beans). i made a batch before the hurricane last week so most of my notes are from then. the grocery did not have canned butter beans so i made the same thing (big lima beans) from dry. i have not made beans from dry since i was very small. these beans were so large, so pale, so aggressive.

changes: i was able to find a little carton of straight coconut cream at the grocery but they were out of miso paste. i did have miso soup mix and plopped that in. i also used frozen spinch bc it’s cheaper and i felt better about it than the somewhat questionable fresh spinch on offer. also used two onions instead of one and a hearty dollop of minced jarred garlic bc who do u think i even fucking am. i would have loved to use fresh dill, bc i did plant some and it was growing very well, but the caterpillars were very intense and ate almost everything on my balcony.

going in the rotation! im making it AGAIN as im typing up this post! pretty cheap, very tasty, i don't regularly keep butter beans or coconut cream in my pantry but that can change!

[thesevenwondersofawitch]

Watching Agatha All Along Death's Hand in Mine

Agatha All Along episode 7 spoilers

Agatha pausing between saying ex and best friend when talking about what she was to Wanda👀

Oh my God I can't be the only one that sees like sadness or emotion that flashes in her eyes when he says that Wanda isn't his mom 😭 because she saw just a much Wanda was willing to go to protect her kids and damn

"Hey you want straight answers ask straight lady."😭😂

"The road is a fickle mistress."

Omg the way her expression changes when he says he wonders if she's ever been on the road 😭 like she is remembering what she lost? (Thinking of the head canon where she unknowingly sacrificed her son for power, maybe bringing him with her only to lose him?)

The way Agatha said that the wicked witch was based off of her is so funny and especially her face when Billy says to prove it

Billy: "The horse drawn carri-"

Agatha unimpressed: "Chariot?"

Billy hurrying to fix his mistake: "iot." 😭

The way he said the Sphinx' represent her mysteriousness

WHAT SHE'S BEING TRUTHFUL 👀👀👀

Oh my god she almost killed him with the sword flying 😭😂

Oh my god the ceiling is closing in👀

The way Lila is wondering where they're going and now Jen is like I was literally following you bitch Idk where we're supposed to go

Oh my god I'm sobbing

"how long has it been?"

"centuries"

"eh, long time for you." 😭

Oh my god the way Lila travels through time😭

I feel like the older lady is familiar but I can't place her

Wait what subway station

I wonder if Lila has a family curse too 👀

Oh damn, she experienced her life out of sequence 😭😭😭 that would be so scary

"We are not cool teenager."

"damn using his full name."😭😂

OH MY GOD BILLY IS READING HER MIND😭

"Aren't you furious?"

"I mean always but collectively we've moved on."

The way Lila decides to trust Jen and then proceeds to instead panic over their outfits 😭😂

Awwwwww the way she wanted to protect him by giving him time😭

Lila doing her little stop stop stop dance is me anytime I have a panic attack/PTSD flashback

OH MY GOD IT'S TEEN'S BOOK

Ngl I too would want to put the power away if all I could see was death

I love his little Queer joke😭😂

The way Agatha kept trying to influence what Billy asks😂

Aw my boy doesn't know if he is William or Billy😭

Aw I'm sobbing the way Lila saw how her whole coven would die and she couldn't stop it

Awwwwww the way Lila realizes she's gonna die by falling and decides to use her remaining time to save her new coven because she loves them😭

OH MY GOD THE SEVEN👀

Ngl I kinda dig their vibes

I'm sobbing the way Lila calls Jen her sister in the craft with such emotion

Oh my god I'm bawling

I think she's gonna sacrifice herself because that's the way to save her coven😭😭😭

The way Agatha represents three of swords and that scene has me sobbing

Rio😭😭😭😭

Oh my god the way Rio has arrived to collect Lila AHHHHHHHHHHHH

And the way Agatha shoves the card down on the table, I think Lila knows that Agatha knows

"What can I say, I like the bad boys."😭😂

Oh my god the way she wants them all and gifts Billy back his book😭

"I loved being a witch."

FUCK NO😭

The way she turned the cards so that they would all be impaled 😭 I have chills

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO IM GETTING FLASHBACKS TO BLACK WIDOW'S DEATH

Awwwwwwww the way Lila starts her journey again 😭 there's something kinda nice about it showing us how life always starts anew 😭

Soooooooo I'm sobbing and this episode was one of my favorites I think, because it was beautifully done.

[youreobsessedwithtoomanyfandoms]

Stop...You're Losing Me

Words: 872

Warnings: angst, no dialogue, probably poor writing and OOC characters but whatever

DC Masterlist Main Masterlist Join My Taglist

Takes place a few years after Bruce adopted Dick and a few before Dick left. Y/N, also from a big and prominent Gotham family, and Bruce have been together for 6, going on 7, years

Sorry that this took so long! I kept getting distracted while writing it/lost motivation. Plus I've been really busy this summer (saw Waterparks & Bring Me The Horizon/Fall Out Boy and I've been seeing different films and getting into other things, but I still love DC! I even finally finished the films for the DCAU)

Also this whole thing is NO HATE to Selina. I love that woman more than anything. She's just the one of Bruce's love interests I'm the most familiar with (followed by Talia then maybe Vicki?)

Based off of her new and technically unreleased song, You're Losing Me by Taylor Swift, specifically the bridge and outro

Part 1 here

Anywho, enjoy

Love Z <3

Y/N stood across the room from Bruce. The moment after they walked into the room together, hand in what she was starting to think was an unloveable hand, Bruce had dropped it. He dropped it and immediately made his way to Selina Kyle.

She sighed as she grabbed a glass as a waiter walked by with them on his little tray. If she was going to have to go through another one of these events where Bruce made a promise beforehand just to immediately break, she didn't want to have to go through it sober.

She didn't want to have to take another night of her and her champagne problems sober again.

--------

Five hours had passed and Y/N knew that Bruce was not planning on leaving any time soon. She had already called Alfred for him to come pick her up. She was tired and felt pathetic. Finally burnt out from trying to keep her and Bruce afloat for so long just for him to always push her aside.

So many times had she tried to stay and be brave for them. Stay and not act like she was dying behind the scenes. She was tired of the constant begging for his attention. The constant reminding him that she was right there by his side, fighting for him, supporting him unconditionally.

But she was finally done.

Done with the rumors and the reports. Being left alone at parties and events. Promises that they would work it out but then Selina would show her face and he would float towards her.

Even when Y/N was right there in the best-dammed dress she owned. Looking and being the best damn thing at the goddamned party.

And as she sat in the car next to Alfred with a sleeping Dick in the back, she couldn't help but stare at her hand. In most relationships, there would be a ring on it. But there was nothing. And it wasn't that she didn't get why that was. She lived to make everyone else happy first. It was a compulsive act of hers. So often she would get sleepless nights just trying to make sure no one would come and sneak up on Bruce during his Batman nights while finishing up a report that was needed. She would always do it.

But the reality was that she just needed Bruce to be there and remind her he was. Perhaps that was why she wished there was some ring on her finger to signify that. To remind her that Bruce has and will always be hers.

And when they got back to the Manor, she ushered Alfred to go finish whatever it was he had been doing before and she would get Dick to bed, those thoughts still stayed in her head.

As she readied herself to sleep and Bruce still hadn't returned, the thoughts stayed.

As she laid in bed, body facing the door and his side of the bed, the continued rampant.

Worry that maybe she wasn't good enough for him anymore. That he was happier when around someone like Selina.

Someone more like him.

--------

It would be worse the following days after these events. Those feelings of doubt and betrayal. Days when she wouldn't be able to do anything without an article reminding her that Bruce never said a thing to her the entire night. That she left alone. That he had his arm around Selina for most of the night. That they had left together.

Every single time she saw one, she prayed that she would see something about Bruce defending her. Bruce saying it was a lie. Him saying anything.

But it never came.

And she knew it was with the fear that he would ruin his reputation. But at this point, she didn't care. All that she wanted was for him to do something. Say something. To lose or risk something. To choose something. Chose anything. Even if it wasn't her. Because truly, she had nothing to get from him anymore. Because all of this made her just think that she had nothing anymore.

--------

So when it was the dead of the night. When he was off being Batman, she finally gave up. She finally grabbed the bags and stuffed everything into them. Stuffed all that she could before he got home.

She no longer could find a pulse in their relationship to cling on to

And the moments following when Bruce got back, he was confused. She was there in the Batcave, head laying on the keyboard as she was falling asleep. She wasn't jumping up, excited that he was back. It was silence.

A silence that cut the air.

A silence that stayed as he walked up and to their shared his room.

A silence that stayed as he opened the door to find the bed made.

That stayed as he walked into the bathroom to find all of her things gone.

That stayed when he ran into the closet to her clothes and shoes gone.

That stayed as he slumped onto their his bed.

That stayed because he had finally done it. He had finally lost her. Because all of her warnings and worries finally became the truth and reality.

[channiechxn]

Masterpiece

lee felix x reader

word count: 700+

You sat in your studio staring at the blank canvas. You had a show coming up and you  needed another canvas done by next week. You typically had a lot of inspiration. At least you did when Felix was around. You had created paintings based on the moods he had been feeling. The stories he told you. The memories you created. Inspiration has never really come easy to you. Everything you had created before included dark colors and a dark aura. Creating a visual of the loneliness and emptiness you felt. When Felix came into your life, you began experimenting with more brighter colors, creating the works that you’re most known for. He became your inspiration. He filled that dark void.

Now, Felix wasn’t here. He hasn’t been here for a couple weeks. Not by his choice, he was just busy practicing and attending events for their new comeback. You were so proud of him but you missed him. Deeply. You miss the feeling of his arms wrapped around you, his voice, his smile. You missed the way everything seemed to be brighter when he was with you.

You looked over to see one of the photos on your mantle. It was one of your favorites. Felix with his arms wrapped around you kissing the side of your head while you faced him smiling. It was your favorite moment from your vacation and you thanked Hyunjin a thousand times for taking that photo. 

That's when it came to you. The inspiration hit you like a truck. You quickly grab your brushes and paints and got to work. You didn't want to lose this like you have lost the others. This feeling. The feeling of love. Joy. Happiness. Each stroke of the brush. Each color on the canvas. It came together beautifully.

You worked on your masterpiece night and day. You wanted it to be perfect. It had to be perfect. Once you learned that the boys finally had a day off, you had Hyunjin come over to give his opinion on the painting. "It's beautiful." He said, as he took in the scene in front of him.

"You think so?" He hummed, nodding in approval. You sighed in relief. "I appreciate this."

"Felix doesn't know, does he?"

"I want to surprise him at the show tomorrow. Do you think he'll like it?" Hyunjin nodded with approval.

-

You stood in the museum, fidgeting with the end of your sleeves. "Y/n, relax." Hyunjin said as he adjusted one of your paintings.

You sighed before looking at your masterpiece. “I’m trying to. I just really hope he likes it.” Hyunjin rubbed your arm in comfort. The show felt like it was speeding by. Greeting fans and presenting your work was something you loved to do. You tried to hide your distraction, waiting for blonde hair to walk through those doors. Seungmin and Jeongin had come by to congratulate you and compliment your work. Even Jisung showed up with Chan to invite you over to celebrate your new accomplishment.

None of that mattered the moment you saw Felix walk in with Hyunjin. Hyunjin had left earlier to grab his maknae to bring him to you. You pushed the tears you felt away as you smiled at the passing admirers. “Hi love.” You greeted as the two approached you. Felix didn’t say a word but pulled you into a hug. You melted into his touch as a tear fell. “I missed you.” You whispered as he hugged you tighter.

“I missed you more.” He said as he pulled away, wiping the tears from your eyes. He took a moment to take you in. You looked even more gorgeous than the last time he saw you. He looked at pictures and called but nothing can compare to having you in his arms. “Hyunjin told me you made a piece for me?” He chuckled as your face turned red. 

“I-yes. Yes, I did.” You turned so the two of you faced the wall. Silence fell between the two of you as Felix took in the piece of art. The silence became deafening. “What do you think?” You whispered.

“Is that us?” He asked, not turning away.

“It is. Our love was my inspiration.” Your eyes widened as a tear slipped down his cheek. “Felix-“

“It's beautiful honey.” He cut you off. “I’m speechless.” Relief and love rushed through your body as he kissed the side of your head.

"I love you, Lee Felix."

Taglist: @yxngbxkkie @mxnsxngie

[schoopsahoy]

you’re here, that’s the thing

steve harrington x female!reader {2.8k} takes place after the events of s3. angst to the max. a lost connection, healing wounds and long awaited apologies. hurt/comfort. no use of y/n.

cw : light drug use (weed)

based off the prompt “you’re either really desperate to be coming to me, or you think I'm a lot stupider than I am.” for @wndalovebot ‘s writing challenge.

It was far too late in the night for you to justify being awake. The cool light of the moon dulled by the netting over your window, seeping into the inky dark around you as you perched on your windowsill and stared at the blurry garden scene beneath you.

Your unfinished joint sat still smoking in the ashtray next to you, a vain attempt at quieting your mind enough to allow you to sleep. Constantly working late shifts at the diner had destroyed your sleeping pattern, slinging coffee to late night truckers into the early hours leaving you existing mostly after sundown. You couldn’t remember the last time you’d woken before midday, let alone been up and about.

The diner had seemed to attract more late night patrons over the last week, the whole town seemingly losing sleep after the fire at starcourt and seeking the comfort of fluorescent lights and cherry pies. You’d been home a couple of hours, so it was definitely past three in the morning, probably closer to four.

You’d pretty much accepted your fate of another sleepless night in an empty house, your mom working the night shift over at the hospital, finding some comfort in the fleetwood mac tape that was playing in your walkman.

You closed your eyes and leaned your head against the window pane, the cool glass soothing amidst the sticky heat of the summer night. You’d finally got your breathing to a steady pace, deep breaths lulling you into a relaxed state, when a frantic knock at your door jolted you up in your seat.

It was too early for your mom to be home by a good few hours, plus she had a key and knew where the spare was hidden. There was nobody else who would come to your house at this time, nobody in their right mind would decide to pay you a visit in the early hours of the morning. But a burglar wouldn’t knock, right? And you were pretty sure Hawkins was too small for even the most rookie of serial killers. You repeated those facts - well, statements - to yourself as you hopped down from your perch and padded down the stairs, knocking the lights on as you went for added confidence.

“Jesus, alright.” You mumbled to yourself more than whoever was on the other side of the door, standing on your tiptoes to look through the peephole to check that it definitely wasn’t a murderer before you opened it.

The distorted image of Steve Harrington standing on your doorstep was probably the last thing you’d expected to see, and pretty close to the last thing you’d wanted - second only to the hypothetical murderer.

You were in half a mind to just walk away from the door, leave him standing there to knock until he got the hint, but if he was darkening your door at this time of night there had to be a reason and curiosity did tend to get the better of you.

After a deep breath you unbolted the door and pulled it open, keeping one hand on the wooden frame as your body filled the open space.

“You do know it’s like, four in the morning right?” Your eyebrows raised as you stared up at the boy in front of you, your body backlit by the warm light of your hallway.

“I know, I - I know.” He nodded as he spoke, pressing his lips together as he flicked his gaze between you and his shoes.

“Who the hell pounds on someone’s door in the middle of the night?” You were trying not to raise your voice, overly aware of how silent the world around you was and not wanting to disturb your neighbours just to have to face their wrath when you eventually woke later that day.

“I know.” He sighed, repeating his words. “I’m sorry. I just, I didn’t know where else to go.”

Your stomach felt like it was twisting up inside you, some horrible mix of anger and confusion and long buried upset.

“So, what? You came here? You’re either really desperate to be coming to me, or you think I'm a lot stupider than I am.” You let go of your grip on the door to fold your arms across yourself, suddenly conscious of the skin of your midriff on show from your pyjama top.

“You’re not stupid.” Steve almost sounded like he was defending you, and maybe if you weren’t so deep set in your grudge you’d have laughed or at least have cracked a smile. But instead you just scoffed.

“So you’re desperate then.”

“No. Well, kind of, yeah. I guess I am.” He was shuffling from foot to foot, practically forcing himself to hold his eye contact with you.

There was a pause, a silence hanging in the air between you as you weighed up your options. You could just about make out the cuts and bruises that were scattered across his face in the dim light, and as much as you wanted to stand your ground and shut him out you decided to swallow your pride.

“Fine.” You stepped out of the doorway, leaving the space open for him to step inside. “Before I change my mind.”

Steve stepped into your hallway, the light now illuminating the full extent of his injuries.

“Jesus, you look like shit.” You stepped around him to close your front door, bolting it up again before you moved back to him to get a proper look at his face.

“Yeah, I was at Starcourt when it, y’know-“ Steve imitated an explosion with his hands, cracking a weak smile with a shrug.

“Oh.” Your mouth hung open a little, tongue pressing against the inside of your cheek. “I’m sorry.”

“You’re good.” Steve shook his head at your apology, staring around at your house as it sat lifeless around you. “Your mom on nights again?”

You hummed a response, swaying back on your heels as you chewed on your cheek. “So, what now? You want me to smoke you out?”

Steve chuckled at your question, hands shoved into the pockets of his sweatpants. “Whatever you want. I just needed out the house.”

“Right. Okay.” You could feel the tension thick in the air each time there was a break in conversation, the silence sitting heavy on your chest. “Come on then.”

Your feet were moving upstairs towards your room before you had a chance to actually think about it, deciding the best course of action was to just push past your urges to rant and rave about how ridiculous it was that Steve had turned up to your house.

You could hear his footsteps behind your own as you made your way back into your dark bedroom, knocking the lamp on your bedside on to fill the room with more light than the moon was providing.

“There’s like, half a joint in the ashtray on the windowsill if you wanna smoke that. I’ll roll us another.” Your hands were rooting through your bedside drawer, speaking down into the mess instead of to the boy who was lingering in the doorway of the room.

“Your room looks different.” Steve was standing in the middle of the room now, eyes roaming the poster covered walls and trinkets that stood atop of your desk and shelves.

“Yeah, I’ve developed a passion for interior design, you can’t tell?” With a small ah you pulled out the wooden box you used to hide your stash, opening it up and pulling out your grinder to check what was remaining in there. You passed Steve as you returned to your seat in the bay window, legs crossed so you could place the small box in the gap. “C’mon, sit.”

Steve walked slowly to the window, taking in all the things that had changed since he’d last visited. It must’ve been what, well over a year now? Probably more like 18 months. It felt like an eternity after everything that’d happened in Hawkins during that time.

He sat himself across from you, his legs mirroring your own as he sat back against the wall and watched as you carefully filled the paper in front of you.

Without even looking up, your hand went to the ashtray and lifted the joint you’d been smoking earlier that night to hold it out to Steve. “Go on, it’ll help with all the… shit.” Your eyes looked up then, a small smile on your lips as Steve took the joint from you and lit it.

“Thanks.” Steve took a deep inhale, a sizzle coming from the joint as the embers glowed brighter. “I didn’t just come here because you’ve got weed y’know.”

You shrugged your shoulders, licking along the paper to seal your next smoke and smoothing it out before lighting it. “It’s fine if you did.”

“But I didn’t.” Steve continued, the haze of the smoke in the space between you blurring his image.

“I know, we already established you were desperate.” Your words came out in a cloak of smoke, your hand resting against your knee as you ashed into the tray between you. “It’s fine, Steve.”

You both continued smoking in silence for a little while, passing the fresh joint between the two of you once Steve had finished the first. The buzz in your head was numbing the pounding in your chest that you’d felt since you’d first seen Steve at your door. It was easy to be in his company, almost too easy. Like an old routine, getting back on a pushbike for the first time in years but still knowing how to cycle the pedals enough to stay stable. Your eyes were closed as you leaned your head back, breathing slow and steady and peaceful.

“You took the photos down.” Steve broke you out of your trance for the second time that night, though this time you stayed still with your eyes still closed.

“Yeah, what did you expect?” Your voice was soft, surprisingly so considering how you’d imagined this conversation to go. In your mind, mulling over things for all those months, there was a lot more shouting and probably some tears.

“I d’know. Guess I didn’t think about it.” You slowly opened your eyes over to him, his gaze already focused on you. “I thought a lot about things, about you.”

“Don’t, Steve.” You sighed out, tiredness now catching up with you. Maybe at one point those words would’ve been exactly what you wanted to hear, when the wound was still fresh. But now, months down the line with no contact, it was like digging into an old wound.

“I really missed you - do miss you.” His eyes were soft, the brown of them almost black in the weak light of the room.

You put the end of the joint down into the ashtray, letting the thin stream of smoke filter up and out into the air as it began to die out.

“You don’t get to say that, you totally blew me off.” The familiar ache in your stomach was starting to build, like there was a piece of lead tied to your heart and it was being dragged down deep into your body.

“I know, but I was with Nancy, and we were hooking up and we couldn’t exactly keep doing that-“

“We were friends first.” You cut off his words, not ready to hear whatever excuse he was going to give you. “We were always friends. Even when you’d let your dickhead friends talk shit about me, even when we started hooking up and you wanted to keep it some big secret. You didn’t have to just cut me off because you got with Wheeler.”

As soon as you’d finished speaking it felt like all the air had been ripped from your lungs, like you’d just let out every ounce of yourself and now there was no way to get it back in.

“I was a dick.” Steve pulled his knees up to his chest, arms wrapped around his legs as if holding them in place. “I’m sorry. I wanted to talk to you, when me and Nance broke up, but you just avoided me all the time.”

“Yeah, no shit.” You scoffed, shaking your head. “Just forget it, no point dragging it all back up.”

“No, I don’t wanna just let it go. I want to apologise, I want to make things right.”

You exhaled deeply, pinching the skin between your brows. “Steve, this-“ You gestured between the two of you and the now lifeless joint “it’s nothing, right? Like you needed somewhere to go, and I was up. And that’s fine. You don’t have to be a hero.”

Steve sighed out your name, his eyes pleading with you to just hear him out, just this once. “Please. I miss you.”

“You’re just high.” You shuffled in your seat, self conscious as his eyes stayed fixed on your every move.

“No, well, yeah I am. But I do miss you. I came here tonight because you’re who I wanted to see. Not out of desperation, or because you were the only one awake, but because it’s you.”

You blinked your eyes hard, hoping the stinging you were feeling was just from smoking too much and not from tears wanting to spill from your lash line.

“If you wanna fix things, or whatever it is you want, do it at a normal time. Not fuckin’ four in the morning.” You cocked a brow at him, the corners of your mouth turning up ever so slightly into a smile. A small one, one that could be easily missed or put down to a trick of the light, but it was there.

Steve nodded, a grin spreading over his lips. “I know, I will. I promise.”

“Slow your roll, Harrington. You’re not back in my good books yet.” You tipped your head back again to that familiar spot on the wall, keeping your eyes on the boy in front of you.

“But I will be.”

“Shut up, you’re high.”

“So are you.” Steve leaned over to give one of your knees a light shove, his hand lingering on your bare skin a little too long to be accidental before pulling it back.

“Yeah, and I’m tired.” You lolled your head to the side to gaze over at your bed. “You can stay, if you want. Don’t think you’re safe behind a wheel right now.”

Steve chuckled, a few loose strands of hair falling into his face as he nodded in agreement before he quickly pushed them back into place.

“If you wake me up before twelve you’re back on my shit list.” You pushed yourself down off the windowsill, legs a little shaky from being crossed so long.

“Understandable. I promise to be the perfect house guest.” Steve followed you over to your bed, climbing in after you but keeping a little distance between your bodies.

“Perfect went out the window when you practically beat my door down at 3am.” Your words were muffled by your pillow, duvet thrown down around your hips to try and keep you from melting once the sun started to rise. “Turn the light off.”

You felt Steve’s body shift as he leant over to flick the switch of your bedside lamp and plunge the room back into quiet dark before he settled back into his previous spot.

“Thank you, for tonight, for hearing me out.” Steve whispered, hand brushing your arm briefly. It was comforting, more than you were willing to admit, but almost as soon as it was there he’d pulled it away.

“Mhm.” You mumbled, eyelids feeling heavy despite already being closed. “G’night Steve.”

“I mean it. I’m gonna make it right.”

“Yeah, yeah, tomorrow. Later. G’night.” Your voice was barely audible, thick with sleep and maybe contentment if you listened close enough.

“Goodnight.” Steve exhaled, settling into your mattress. It was probably the first night since Starcourt that he’d actually felt comfortable, like he’d sleep through the night and not wake in a cold sweat ready to grab at his bat. He made a mental note to tell you that when you woke up, or at least a version of it you’d understand.

He did tell you, the next day when the sun soaked through your window and bathed you both in its warmth. He made another note about how good it felt to see you smile at him again.

thank u for reading <33 if u enjoyed please reblog/share and message me if u have any requests !! ily

[aerascreamer]

Me, You and Regret

Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Major Character Death

Chapter 3: A Scream

Chapter: one | two | four (TBA)

Damian waited by the sidewalk with Tim leaning on his shoulder. He managed to get the older vigilante down from the roof and called Father to come and drive them home in the Batmobile. As the streetlamps highlighted Red Robin’s face, Damian noticed that he had his characteristic lost-in-case-solving expression while he bounced his injured leg out of habit.

“Stop moving your leg. And what are you thinking about?” Robin asked with a huff.

“Tonight’s fiasco reminded me of something, but I can’t wrap my mind around what…”

“You should be focusing on not worsening your leg’s condition.”

Tim let out a loud grunt of annoyance.

“I had a building explode in my back and singe my hair off. A stab wound is nothing, I’ll be fine.”

“You’re lucky that stab wound didn’t cut your femoral artery!”

The rumbling of the Batmobile’s engine cut their discussion short. The vehicle sharply took the corner and stopped with a loud screech in front of the two young men. Batman jumped out of the cockpit and turned to them, eyes piercing right through his acolytes even when hidden behind the white lenses of the cowl.

“Status report,” he ordered while wrapping one of Tim’s arms over his shoulders.

“Red Robin and I were observing a weapons deal when Red Hood arrived on the scene,” Robin declared.

“He made a deal to retrieve a dangerous gun from War World and managed to bug one of Two-Face’s men,” Tim added. “But his arrival triggered a brawl. I got injured and Red Hood had to carry me and Robin out, losing the gun in the process.”

Batman grunted in response. Damian entered first into the Batmobile before Batman set Tim next to the youngest vigilante. After a quick scan of the wound dressing, Batman sat behind the wheel and closed the door. As the car sped up, Robin grabbed a medical kit from the back of the vehicle and changed Red Robin’s already soaked wound dressing. Tim grabbed a tablet left by someone else on the car’s back seat and started browsing through the files, leg bouncing again.

“Drake, stop moving your leg.”

The young man stopped, but not before giving Damian a middle finger. Damian flipped him the bird back.

“Boys,” Father scolded without taking his eyes off the road.

The rest of the drive remained silent. Damian tried his best to halt the bleeding, but Tim’s movements started slowing down, either due to lack of sleep or blood loss. He almost let out a sigh of relief as the Batmobile entered the tunnel leading to the Cave. Soon enough, the floodlights of the base’s main room came into view. Batman quickly parked the car and jumped to his feet to open the back door and grab Tim with a practiced fluidity; years of caring for his brood had automated the motion.

The three vigilantes rushed to the medbay to be greeted by Alfred preparing all the tools necessary to close Tim’s wound. As Father set the boy down, Alfred turned to Damian, brows frowned in focus.

“Are you injured Master Damian?” Alfred asked.

“I am fine.”

“You should put ice on your nose,” Tim pipped up.

“I don’t need-”

“Go get some ice,” Father said. “Don’t let it swell.”

Damian huffed but obliged. He reached for the mini fridge of the Cave and stared down at the content inside. There were energy drinks, cakes, pastries, leftovers, and even a bowl of cereal… Back at home, the fridge was pretty much empty since so few people came back to base each night.

Damian quickly grabbed an ice pack from the freezer section and blinked fast to stop his tears. He found a chair on his way back and set up again in the shadows. Alfred and Father made quick work of Tim’s wound and helped him sit up once a proper dressing was in place. Still clutching the tablet from the car, Tim frowned at the screen and bit his lower lip, eyes darting back and forth now that he took off his mask. Then he held the device above his head with a triumphal shout.

“Found it!”

“What did you find?” Alfred asked.

“The case I just remembered!”

Alfred raised an eyebrow but didn’t push the discussion further.

As Tim leaned back in the bed, tablet set on the nightstand, Father motioned Damian to follow him. The two headed for the second cot of the medbay and Damian sat on its foot before his father took the icepack and started examining his nose. He carefully brushed the young boy’s face as he looked at the bruise, eyes sharp and focused. It always surprised Damian that these hands could be so gentle when treating injuries or comforting people. Yet, they could rain fists upon fists onto enemies who hit one of the Bats a little too hard. Finally, Father let out a satisfied sound.

“Nothing’s broken, though a bruise is starting to form. Any bleeding?”

“No. But it’s swollen, and I can’t breathe very well.”

Father let out a hum.

“Keep the ice for the moment. Then you should hit the shower and go to sleep.”

Damian nodded. He watched the man as he cleaned up the med bay before deciding to check on Tim. As he peaked behind the curtain surrounding the bed, he saw his brother already asleep, his chest rising steadily. Damian sniffed in disapproval. Tim coould fall asleep extremely fast and at the most incongruous place on Earth, so he should be taking advantage of this fact instead of drinking monstrosities after monstrosities. The young boy let out a deep sigh and headed upstairs for his quarters.

-

A loud explosion

A sinking ship

A bloody cot

A fading heartbeat

A shredded uniform

-

Damian jolted awake. His heart pounded against his ribcage and blood rushed to his temples. Using a breathing technique from Mother, he managed to calm down his body and shrug off the nightmare. The boy whipped the sweat off his forehead and sat on his bed for a few minutes when he noticed a silhouette in the darkness stretching under his desk.

Alfred the cat stared at him, eyes glowing with intelligence and wary. Damian got up and headed towards his cat when the feline arched his back. The boy stopped and crouched to see Alfred eye to eye. The cat’s eyes narrowed with clear suspicion despite the unchanging expression. Alfred must have realized Damian’s scent didn’t match the Damian from this dimension and didn’t trust the intruder pretending to be his human.

It stung, as Damian really wanted to take the cat in his arms. The boy opted to lie down on his belly, putting his chin on his crossed arms.

“I’m not him, but I swear I would never do anything to hurt you,” Damian said as softly as possible in Arabic.

Alfred narrowed his eyes, swishing his tail. Damian sighed and headed for the window. With the cat’s appearance, Damian decided he could take care of a major plot for the plan immediately instead of later. He climbed down the vines attached to the wall leading to his chamber and headed as silently as possible to the barn located further away in the Manor’s grounds. He unhooked the planks locking the two massive doors closed and stepped inside.

The familiar smell of hay and animals caught his nose. It reminded him of the time he took care of his pets in the company of his siblings but also of the Kent farm, where Jon often took him to spend the holidays. Damian couldn’t thank him enough for lending the Fortress’s technology that allowed him to dimension hop.

Deep in her sleep, Batcow didn’t twitch as Damian passed her stall. And with the flap of leather wings, Goliath landed in front of Damian from his perch. The red demon bat sniffed Damian and tilted his head in confusion. Damian carefully put his hand on the beast’s snout.

“I’m not your Damian but… I really need your strength.”

-

The morning light filtered into the Manor’s kitchen. Damian stood next to Alfred as he watched the man prepare breakfast. The familiar smell and motion soothed him, which didn’t help his mind still groggy with sleep.

“Is it ready?” Damian asked.

“Almost, you can wait at the table Master Damian.”

With a yawn, Damian took his seat and kicked his feet in the air as he pondered his plans for the day: Since it was Saturday, Damian didn't have to worry about school, so he should be taking advantage of the free time to investigate all the family’s activities. He already knew Jason would be leaving Gotham for a mission in two weeks and hoped to use that fact to his advantage. Maybe fabricating a lie that Jason had to cut all communication for this mission could delay the time it will take for the Bats to figure out his scheme enough...

A loud yawn snapped him out of his thoughts. Father stepped into the kitchen, the dark patches under his eyes matching his black shirt.

“Hi, did you sleep well?” he asked.

“My nose’s bothered me for a while, but I’m fine now.”

Father nodded and leaned back into his chair when Alfred brought the breakfast. As they ate in silence, Damian looked at the empty chairs around the table. Regret tugged at his heart to see how the family in this universe doesn't come by often at the Manor too. But Damian hoped to fix that once he will be back home.

After a few minutes, Tim stepped in the kitchen with a crutch to take off some weight from his bad leg. The young man looked exhausted with his hair all over the place and mismatched pyjamas. But at least he wasn’t as pale as the night before. He headed for the table when he took notice of Damian and stopped dead in his tracks.

“Get off my chair Damian,” he ordered with an exasperated tone.

Damian only stared at him.

“Bruce, tell him to move.”

“Father, tell Drake to take any of the free chairs.”

The older man pinched the bridge of his nose and hid behind his newspaper. Tim sighed in defeat and took Dick’s chair. The group ate in a rather comfortable silence for once, instead of the tense atmosphere following the reveal of major secrets. Satiated, Damian left the table and decided to head for the Cave.

The boy quickly made his way down the stairs, and as he headed for the Batcomputer, he heard the echo of someone whistling. He followed the sound to the armory and saw Jason packing different items into duffle bags.

“What are you doing?” Damian asked.

Jason turned to him with a raised eyebrow.

“Looting dear old dad for my out-of-town mission?”

“Aren’t you supposed to leave only in two weeks?”

“Maybe I am. Maybe I lied.”

Damian squinted.

“Then when are you leaving?”

“That’s not something I want you or Bruce to know.”

“Why?”

Jason rolled his eyes and went back to stealing.

“I know he’s going to be a jerk when comes to my plans and preperations. I am not in a good headspace right now to deal with it. And why are you so worked up about this?”

“Because I want to know my teammates whereabouts. What kind of leader will I be if I don’t?” Damian replied and crossed his arms.

Jason laughed and closed his bags.

“Sure, little demon,” the young man said while ruffling Damian’s hair.

The boy swatted his hands and pretended to be offended. But his heart tugged as he realized how much he missed those kinds of gestures.

-

Damian went over his plan once again as he held onto Goliath’s fur. The dragon silently glided over the city and with the moon hidden behind the thick cover of fog and clouds, no one would notice him. As the red bat approached the borders of Crime Alley, the boy took a deep breath to clear his mind. He wished he had more time to prepare, but with Jason’s ability to pull the rug from under everyone’s feet, he didn’t have time to waste on mental preparation. Jason was still in Gotham, but Damian wasn't sure if he would leave in an hour or a few days, leaving him no choice but to take action tonight. Damian enjoyed the coolness of the wind before Goliath decended. As the bat-dragon reached his lowest point, the young vigilante jumped off his back.

Robin landed with a forward roll on a high rooftop. Surprisingly for the neighborhood, everything was silent. Usually, Crime Alley always buzzed with gunshots, car chases, and restaurants completely swarmed by customers or people holding conversations from window to window in the middle of the night. From what Damian gathered, Red Hood had been extremely active the past few weeks, probably putting as many criminals as he could out of commission before leaving the town. But although it made the boy uneasy, the silence could work in his favor for his plan to get his second older brother.

He wandered around the perimeter while keeping as close to the walls and shadows as possible. He listened for any cue of the Red Hood’s whereabouts when a couple of gunshots ran. Robin headed towards the noises as people shouted, threw projectiles at each other or traded blows before the silence fell back. The vigilante peeked down at the street below him and caught the unmistakable red shine of Jason’s helmet. Dread danced in Damian’s stomach, but he pushed down all his worries as he dropped down to the floor and screamed.

He poured all the built-up pain, restlessness and worry from the last few days into his acting as he writhed and shredded his vocal chords. Soon enough, heavy steps landed on his roof and rushed toward him.

“What the- Robin! Status!” Red Hood shouted as he kneeled next to Damian. “What happened?”

The young boy kept screetching, hoping his brother wouldn’t see past his charade.

Jason grumbled a few colorful words before holding Damian down with a firm grip. The boy felt hands poking at his face, neck and chest as the older vigilante checked for injuries that never existed.

“Nothing external. Hey, I need to take you back to the Cave to check for poisons, you hear me?”

Damian stilled his body, making sure to keep all his limbs limp.

“Shit-”

Jason lifted Damian in his arms and set him on his shoulder. The boy waited a few heartbeats and plunged a needle in the man’s exposed neck. He felt Jason’s body tense in surprise before he collapsed.

Damian managed to catch his brother’s head before it hit the floor and let out a clear whistle echo in the cold air of the night.

Then Goliath shadow swiftly carried him and his brother away.

[artist-issues]

i have three movie recommendations for you! I haven't seen Twisters yet, but based on your description I think that these are right up your alley, I love all of them so much.

Lady Hawk- a adventure/comedy/romance kinda deal. set in medieval Italy, this petty theif, Phillipe Gaston who truly 'prays without ceasing' and is really funny, breaks out of the most secure prison in the region, something no one has ever done before, and runs into this guy, ex-Captain Navarre, who has an odd secret and a odd hawk who always accompanies him. Without spoilers, they set off to go confront the Bishop that Phillipe was imprisoned by, with lots of good action scenes.

Undercover Blues- another comedy/action. Jane and Jeff Blue, a married couple who are recently retired CIA agents go to New Orlans with their baby daughter for a fresh start, but the thrill of spy work follows them, with minor but funny criminals as well as large and dangerous terrorists, and they have to take care of business while keeping their daughter safe, with the help (and detriment, sometimes) of two cops who have them under suspicion for their work.

The Boys in the Boat- the best and classiest movie ive seen this year. a inspirational sports/drama. set in 1936, during the Great Depression, a group of boys at the University of Washington train to compete at the Olympics, while they struggle with poverty and class. it also has a really cute romance and everyone in this movie is so well rounded, I could gush about this movie for hours.

if you decide to give these a try, PLEASE tell me what you think!! :)

I watched Boys in the Boat but haven’t gotten to the rest yet! I liked what Boys in the Boat was trying to do with “enjoyment vs. necessity” or “passion vs. need” and the main actor was very compelling…when he emoted. Like when he realizes someone he knows is serving soup at the soup kitchen, so he won’t get to eat—that reaction and expression was compelling and perfect. I felt that disappointed pride.

But I was telling doverstar, I kept looking for that level of perfect-reaction emotion from him for other parts of the movie—like the one with his dad, for example. Instead, he was basically the same Steve-Rogers-Stoic for the whole movie. And I love Steve Rogers. But I just felt like the movie lacked a little emotional pacing. It was even hard to care whether or not they won the Olympics…because they never lost.

I also felt like they fumbled the symmetry at the end. The whole movie they’re going “it’s the want-tos versus the have-tos” and the coach is like “I love the view, I just wish I could enjoy it like I used to,” and the girlfriend is asking Joe, “do you enjoy rowing?” because the idea is, it’s the Great Depression, the United States is in it’s most “underdog” phase, everyone is working because they have to, just to survive; nobody’s doing anything for the love or enjoyment of it. And then at the very end, Joe’s grandson goes, “did you like rowing eight-man?” And Joe goes, “we were never eight. We were one.”

It felt like a hard pivot. Instead of saying something about the difference between “want to and need to,” or “enjoyment versus necessity,” or whatever, the movie says something about…unity. Everybody rowing together. All for one, one for all. And I get it, I get that Joe was, in a sense, out for himself and his tuition and then had to kind of become a team-player.

…But what does that have to do with the whole setup of “the coach never smiles anymore,” or “Joe’s not even rowing because he likes it, it’s just because he needs it,” and all that? I don’t mean to pick apart your favorite movie—I actually hope you respond because it sounds like you caught something I missed—I guess they were maybe trying to say, “Joe was only rowing because he needed to, but once he was faced with losing it, he realized that he enjoyed his crew like a new family, and he not only enjoyed, but needed them—they all needed and enjoyed each other, and that’s what got them through!”

I guess you could argue that that’s what they were trying to say. That need and want were united when the team was united.

But…I didn’t feel that. You know why? I didn’t really know any of the guys in the boat. The movie spends little to no time building them as human characters. They all look blandly similar. There’s only about four of the eight that you really know: Joe, Gay Guy, Shy Sick Guy, and Genius Cox. And those nicknames I gave them are all you know about them.

I felt compelling emotion about any of those men once. And it was when the Shy Sick Guy was zoning out, until he heard the music Genius Cox was singing, and then he snapped out of it. Because they built up to that. They showed one scene of him being shy, of the Genius Cox forcing him to use his “comfort zone” to get out of his shyness, and then they brought that back for the climax. That was nice. But it was just one moment.

Gay Guy? No dialogue or character development beyond hints that he’s gay.

Genius Cox himself? One line indicating that he was kicked off the boat once for not following instructions…and then he has no character development because he never follows instructions for the rest of the movie, and it always turns out fine. He’s got personality. That’s all.

What about the rest of the four in the boat? I think the thing about it is, if the movie is about eight men uniting during the Great Depression—when uniting should be really hard, because everyone has to “look out for number one” to survive—then you have to show us who those eight guys are. All of them. You have to give us a glimpse of how they each look out for themselves—and then they each find commonality and start to care about each other in sync. Then parallel that with the sport of rowing in sync.

But they didn’t do that. Only Joe can be considered a “loner” on the boat, and maybe Shy Sick Guy, just because he’s shy. And maybe Gay Guy, because he’s gay. But none of them are shown growing out of individualistic mentality. They’re all kinda buddies as soon as they make JV, and then they continue being kinda buddies until they win a gold medal. None of them are shown to be passionately upset or concerned that they’re losing a member of the family when one of their number, Joe, gets kicked off the boat, (except for Gay Guy because he’s gay.) Joe is concerned when Shy Sick Guy is demonstrably sick—but just a normal level of concern. Not a “you’re my family, I care more about you than the boat” level of concern. No human moments where you see what each of these other 7 guys are even in the boat for. None of them telling stories about how they always wanted to row, or finding commonality with Joe’s poverty, beyond one random moment where one of them calls him a hobo then confesses to stealing sometimes.

I see what they were telling me. But I wanted them to show me, so that I would feel it.

That was my impression. I wanted to like it. You're the second friend to recommend it to me. But I felt like I just kept waiting for it to shift gears and shift momentum and it stayed basically the same for the whole movie. Anyway, tell me what I missed!

I haven’t seen the other two you recommended, but I’m excited to look!

[krimsonkatt]

Ji (Spirit Roamer)

The main character of a future game I'm making called "Spirit Roamer", a sci-fi RPG inspired by Star Wars, Xenosaga, and Gnostism. Her title is Ji and that's what she goes by at the end of the game, but her original name was Zin. Zin is destined to be the legendary "Spirit Roamer" JI, the savior of the universe and the liberator of the light spirits, whatever that means. Here is the full plot of Spirit Roamer:

Zin is a 16 year old human boy living a peaceful life on the colony of Phantos-5. He lives in a futuristic society capable of interstellar travel, where every piece of technology no matter how big or small is powered by special crystals called "NRG Gems." In this galaxy, the vast world of Galaxio, there are two opposing factions: The Republic of Jeto and the Gordoom Empire. Recently, the Gordoom Empire has been blowing up Republic-aligned planets using their "annihilation class starships," seeking to harvest the planets NRG crystals for some mysterious goal, though this news has not reached Phantos-5 which exists on the outer rim of the galaxy. But one day, a crazy old man named Kino No Hakama arrives in town warning that in mere hours their planet will be destroyed and that they all need to evacuate immediately. Kino takes special interest in Zin and when they get close to one another, both of them receive a strange vision where first Zin's planet is blown up before showing other scenes of flying in a spaceship, Zin's arm being chopped off, a female android awakening, and a ghost of light fighting against a massive purple ghost of darkness. Both are shocked by these visions, and Kino reveals to Zin that he is "The Ji," a legendary warrior spoken in an ancient prophecy that will "free the world from its shackles," though Kino does not know exactly what that means. However, the Gordoom Empire has arrived and the planet is going to be blown up, so Zin runs away with Kino on his dinky spaceship. They escape the planet's explosion and Zin swears revenge on the Empire for destroying his planet.

While on the spaceship Kino tells Zin of the empire's plan and that they must head to the resistance base in empire territory to get help. The Jeto Republic signed a strict peace treaty ages ago with Gordoom after losing a war with them that required them to never take action against Gordoom and start another war unless Gordoon "starts another war or invasion of allied planets." The republic also lost all their stocked weapons and military grade starships. Since Gordoom destroyed planets instantly from space, they technically haven't broken the contract and thus the republic is helpless. Zin also tells Kino of his backstory, that his mother disappeared 10 years ago suddenly and without reason and since then he has been living with his aunt and uncle until his planet was destroyed. Kino then gives Zin an ancient weapon called a "Razor Saber" that can only be activated by one in-tune with "phantos," a mystical energy source at the core of the NRG Gems.

However, their conversation is cut short as their spaceship runs out of energy and crash lands on a small moon. Luckily, that moon happens to have tons of NRG crystals within a lunar cave. Zin enters alone at Kino's suggestion to do some training and starts hearing voices calling for help, but doesn't know where they're coming from. Zin reaches the bottom of the cavern and finds a massive NRG Gem, just the right size needed to power the ship. However, the NRG Gem begins to move on its own and stabs into a nearby rock, turning the rock alive and prompting a fight with a giant rock monster powered by the NRG Gem. Zin's blaster has no effect on the rock monster, but by focusing his willpower Zin is able to tap into the "power of phantos" and awaken the Razor Saber to cut right through the rock monster and disable it. Zin then grabs the crystal, leaves the cave, and heads back to Kino. They then make their way to the resistance base on their spaceship and meet with the leader, a woman named Cypress. 

Cypress is currently testing out an artificial human made out of metal named Fades, and after Zin tells his story of the crystal causing the rocks to become alive, Cypress decides to merge an NRG crystal into the android's cortex chip and it ends up working, awakening Fades for the first time. However, soon after Fade's awakening the empire is able to find their base and attack it, and leading the charge is a mysterious general known as the Crimson Samurai. Cypress orders the resistance to evacuate and find a new base, as this current base is a lost cause since the Empire now knows where it is and can destroy it at any time. Everyone is able to escape, but the Crimson Samurai corners Kino and Zin while they are all separated and fleeing for their lives. Kino decides to sacrifice himself to hold the samurai off, and Zin watches helplessly as he runs away, seeing Kino being cut down by the samurai right as they're leaving on Kino's spaceship. Zin is consumed by rage and wants to run in guns blazing on the Empire's base to get revenge on the samurai for killing Kino, but Cypress warns him not to and forbids him to leave. Zin escapes anyways and makes his way to the Empire's home planet, sneaking in as a maid. The opportunity was there and he took it, he didn't mind crossdressing to achieve his goals. Actually, he kind of enjoyed it. He then made his way into the Samurai's chambers and fought against them in an epic battle (after getting changed of course) but upon cutting open their mask it was revealed that the Crimson Samurai was actually Zin's missing mother, shocking Zin. The Samurai took this opportunity to chop off Zin's arm, causing him to lose the Razor Saber in the pit below. Zin, now weakened, was kicked into the pit and fell into the eternal blackness of space…

Zin wakes up without a body in a strange, ethereal plane. There, Kino visits him and explains to him the truth of his destiny. Lore-dump time. In primordial times, the physical world did not exist. All life lived as transcendent spirit beings able to shape reality as they pleased, one with the phantos. However, everything changed when a wicked spirit named Gordoom wanted to control everything. So, Gordoom trapped all life within crystal and created the physical world along with "false vessels" for their true spiritual forms to be trapped inside, stuck in an endless cycle of death and rebirth. These crystals are the "NRG Gems'' that make up all technology. The goal of the Ji is to destroy all the NRG Gems and free everyone's spirits, eventually destroying the entire physical realm and revert the world to a primordial non-material state. Zin is initially hesitant to do so, but when promised that in this new world there will be no more suffering and that it is the only way to free his mother from her brainwashing, Zin is convinced. Kino then finally tells Zin of Gordoom's ultimate plan, to use a superweapon known as the "Zohar Emulator" in order to destroy all of reality and create a new reality in Gordoom's image, as Gordoom realized over time that he cannot control the physical beings he created to be his slaves because of the spirits held within that possessed free will.

However, the spiritual world that Zin now resides could not interact with the physical world unless Zin gets a new physical vessel, as his body is now dead, frozen, and lost in space. However, Kino has an idea, and as Zin and Kino say goodbye for the time being Kino sends Zin's spirit to possess an old, broken down model of Fades within Cypress' storage, giving Zin a female android body. However, Zin's new body did not have arms or legs, so Zin had to make quite a bit of noise to get Cypress' attention, who was grieving both the loss of her mentor Kino as well as Zin, who seemingly died in his raid of Gordoom's base. Cypress is shocked to see Zin still alive and in one of Fade's old bodies as well, and Zin agrees to be upgraded and repaired in order to return to fighting shape. Zin suggests that her new body stay female for the time being and to give her a new voice, which Cypress accepts. Zin then emerges as the new and improved Zin 2.0, a stunningly beautiful female android with both the spiritual powers of the Ji and all the strengths that come with being an android, greatly improved physically from her previous form.

Zin 2.0, Cypress, and Fades all then begin their full assault on Gordoom's base, eventually leading to Zin's rematch with his mother. However, with her new powers as an awakened Ji, Zin is able to free her mother from her brainwashing and she joins the party as their final member. At long last the party finally faces off with Gordoom, the big bad controlling everything who has a massive robot body with the Zohar Emulator embedded into it. However, once Gordoom's body is nearly destroyed, he activates the Zohar Emulator and destroys all of reality, killing everyone but him and Zin who opposes the will of Gordoom as the Ji. At the crux of the new world's formation, Gordoom explains to Zin his reasoning.

While yes, the primordial spirits lived in peace and harmony, their strong resonance with the universal flow was causing a tear in reality which would cause Elzakalas, the dark god, to break free from his 100 trillion year long prison in the farplane, a realm beyond regular reality. So, Gordoom resorted to drastic measures, trapping the primordial spirits in physical bodies in order to stop the tear in reality from growing any bigger. However, Zin regardless wants to set the spirits free and stop Gordoom from creating a new world where he is the sole ruler and erasing all the primordial spirits from existence, so the final battle begins between Zin the Ji and Gordoom the wicked spirit. Zin is victorious and proceeds to reverse the power of the emulator and restore the world to how it once was and the spirits that inhabited it, bringing peace to their world. However, in the post credits scene, Elzakalas is seen breaking free from his prison in the farplane and says "Kill… I will kill the goddess… I swear it."