#machine learning has good humour actually

[poisonf0rest]

I saw the prof raf brainrot and now I have Thoughts about the others also being professors so uh I hope the shitty hc dump is ok

zayne is ostensibly a bio professor but I imagine he’d also be a good chem professor. like objectively the best one, takes everything seriously and pushes his students but doesn’t drop piles of work on them when midterm week rolls around, makes interesting labs, etc. everybody wants to work in his lab but like 4 people a term actually make it in

xavier is hard to think of but I feel like either astronomy (we all know why) or quantum physics (he can teleport) is his field. I hate to say he’s the worst prof but I just feel like he’s so much more into his research than teaching. notoriously hard courses but also very veeery interesting ones. I mean why pay tuition if you can’t get your brain melted by your phys prof

caleb is a mech eng prof, easy. curves grades and is very smiley, but leaves slightly sarcastic comments when grading your tests. and the tests themselves are probably pretty rigorous: not so difficult that everyone starts crying, but def very thorough. it’s fine tho cause you walk out of it with like a 94, a very very strong appreciation for the wonderful world of physics, and probably a godawful crush for the rest of the year

sylus is hard for me. I want to say literature. like his courses would hyperfixate on, idk, 18th century gothic lit. you’d go in with three pages worth of analysis on some obscure poem and then he’d systematically rip everybody apart, then you’d walk out a fundamentally changed person. But! For the purposes of humour, sylus is a CS prof (canonical programmer), which instantly drops any hotness factor he had by like 234322.

sorry sylus rip. sadly programming is the act of swearing at your screen at 2am while scouring the same 12 lines of code over and over for any kind of bug (you will find the actual source of the bug 100 lines down). not even he can make that cool

MHMMM ANON YOU'RE COOKING!!

Zayne is definitely an orgo professor-- everyone wants to hate him since they're failing his class and lab, but honestly he's just strict with the material and has little tolerance for error because error in the real world costs human lives. But should you come to his office hours with the intention to learn then you'll find he's actually a very patient, receptive, and likeable professor with an amusingly dry humor. Everybody definitely wants to work in his lab.

Absolutely agree with Xavier lol, his students hate him since he does NOT want to be there.

Caleb would be the type to answer stupid questions with a little more bite and subtle snark that makes any students who are actually paying attention snicker and hope not to get on his bad side. Would be the campus professor crush, no doubt.

HOW DARE YOU TALK DOWN ON CS PROFESSOR SYLUS- HEY, CS PEOPLE CAN BE HOT :( He absolutely would teach either machine learning or maybe game theory if not then a high level C++ class be so fr. He absolutely can make coding cool, if anything than for the fact that he has a stacked resume and single-handedly proving that you CAN be a CS major and still end up running your own company, marrying the love of your life right after college, and raising a happy family while still being a nerd. and taking more than regular showers

[fangdokja]

do you think if Jesus saw the jokes we make about him or the bible (like people impersonating Jesus and act silly. you know those vids), he would go "haha, that's very funny"? Do you think God has a sense of humour and would get a chuckle over them?

♡ WC. 613

Jesus Has a Sense of Humor, Bro—Here's Proof

You ever read the Bible and go, “Wait… that’s actually hilarious”? Because same. People act like Jesus is this super serious, always-frowning figure, but if you actually read what He said and did, you'd realize He’s got jokes. Not disrespectful ones—just the kind of humor that makes you go, oh snap, He really said that.

1. The Fig Tree Incident (Mark 11:12-14, 20-21)

Jesus walks up to a fig tree, expecting fruit. The tree has none. Instead of shrugging it off like a normal person, He straight-up curses the tree and it withers overnight. Like, imagine pulling up to a McDonald's, they say the ice cream machine is broken, and you just—boom, McDonald’s is no more.

Lesson learned? Don’t be fruitless around Jesus.

2. The Woman at the Well (John 4:16-18)

Jesus meets a Samaritan woman and, out of nowhere, says: “Go, call your husband.” She’s like, Uh… I don’t have one. And Jesus just casually responds, “You’re right, because you’ve had five husbands, and the guy you’re with now? Not even your husband.”

HELLO?? He just called her out with divine-level accuracy but in the most nonchalant way possible. No “judgment,” no yelling, just pure I-know-everything-about-you energy. That’s like someone saying, “I don’t even have a Netflix account,” and Jesus replying, “Yeah, because you’re using your ex’s login.”

3. The Speck vs. the Plank (Matthew 7:3-5)

Jesus: “Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye but don’t notice the plank in your own eye?” Translation: “You’re out here calling people out for their problems when you got an entire wooden beam lodged in your face.”

That’s not just a metaphor—that’s satirical. Imagine someone with a giant log sticking out of their eye going, “Hey man, you got something in your eye.” Jesus INVENTED roast comedy.

4. Camel Through the Eye of a Needle (Matthew 19:24)

Jesus: “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” You ever see a camel? They’re huge. You ever see the eye of a needle? It’s tiny.

That’s an impossible, over-the-top visual. It’s like saying, “You have a better chance of squeezing an elephant into skinny jeans than getting in like this.” He meant it, but He also said it in a way that would make people remember—and probably laugh.

5. The Disciples' Constant Cluelessness (Too Many Verses to Count)

Jesus, explaining things clearly: “Beware the yeast of the Pharisees.” Disciples: “Oh no, we forgot to bring bread.” Jesus: “…Bro, I just fed 5,000 people with like five loaves, and you think I’m worried about bread??” (Matthew 16:6-11, paraphrased)

Disciples were basically the kids who don’t get the joke and Jesus had to be like, Guys. Come on. Think.

So, Would Jesus Laugh at Our Jokes?

Honestly? If it’s not mocking, if it’s just lighthearted fun, I think He’d absolutely laugh. God literally created humor—there are verses that encourage joy and laughter:

Proverbs 17:22 – A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. (See? God wants you to laugh.)

Ecclesiastes 3:4 – A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance. (Laughter is literally ordained.)

Psalm 126:2 – Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy.

So next time you see a Jesus meme or a silly impersonation that’s made in good fun, just remember—the Bible itself proves that Jesus had a sense of humor.

And honestly? Some of y’all would get roasted harder by Him than by your best friend.

❤︎ Fang Dokja's Books.

♡ For Reader-Inserts. I only write Male Yandere x Female (Fem.) Reader (heterosexual couple). No LGBTQ+:

♡ Book 1. A Heart Devoured (AHD): A Dark Yandere Anthology

♡ Book 2. Forbidden Fruits (FF): Intimate Obsessions, Unhinged Desires.

♡ Book 3. World Ablaze (WA) : For You, I'd Burn the World.

♡ Book 4. Whispers in the Dark (WITD): Subtle Devotion, Lingering Shadows.

♡ Book 5. Ink & Insight (I&I): From Dead Dove to Daydreams.

♡ Library MASTERPOST 1. The Librarian’s Ledger: A Map to The Library of Forbidden Texts.

♡ Notice #1. Not all stories are included in the masterpost due to Tumblr’s link limitations. However, most long-form stories can be found here. If you're searching for a specific yandere or theme, this guide will help you navigate The Library of Forbidden Texts. Proceed with caution

♡ Book 6. The Red Ledger (TRL): Stained in Lust, Written in Blood.

♡ Notice #2. This masterlist is strictly for non-con smut and serves as an exercise in refining erotic horror writing. Comments that reduce my work to mere sexual gratification, thirst, or casual simping will not be tolerated. If your response is primarily thirst-driven, keep it to yourself—repeated violations may result in blocking. Read the RULES before engaging. The tag list is reserved for followers I trust to respect my boundaries; being included is a privilege, not a right. You may request to be added, but I will decide based on trust and adherence to my guidelines. I also reserve the right to remove anyone at any time if their engagement becomes inappropriate.

[leo-fie]

Translating fiction is a delicate balancing act to preserve the content and tone of a story without tripping up the reader or making it too complicated. It requires a deep understanding of both languages and how they are used, but also knowledge about the target demographic, what they are used to and what they put up with.

When translating Terry Pratchett, translators faced the additional challanges of the pun heavy humour and the half a dozen layers to each joke. The German translators (Andreas Bradhorst, Gerald Jung, Regina Rawlinson) have done a good job.

Example: In German there are 3 forms of politeness in the second person. Du, Sie, Ihr. There are complicated traditions about which to use for whom and under what circumstances. Ihr is very outdated and not used in everyday speech, but all over fantasy literature.

As it relates to Pratchett, introducing different levels of politeness into a work that (to my understanding) doesn't really have that in the original language, potentially introduces unintentional layers to the social commentary. The solution? No politeness! Everyone is just Du. Skips the issue and makes it more whimsical!

Example 2: Puns. As a rule, puns aren't really translateable at all because they rest on coincidences of speech (sun and son). There are lower level puns, I guess, which are just "character has a funny and/or ironic name". Those are no problem, just translate directly. Carrot Ironfoundersson can be Karotte Eisengießersohn and Samuel Vimes can be Samuel Mumm. But the gag that Karotte would "grow out of growing up"? No chance! So? Different gag! Karotte can "sich das Wachsen abgewöhnen" ("unlearn/break the habit of growing up"). Still funny.

Besides becoming an archivst or librarian, translation was the one thing I made actual academic steps towards. Even 10 years ago we feared that machine learning would make us obsolete. Ironically the first thing you learn about translation is also the reason machines will never be as good as a person (see above). My disabilities and the discrimination thereof made it impossible for me to persue any officially recognized apprenticeship or degree sadly. But I won't forget what I learned.

[ali-anne-undertale-stoof]

Snowdin Adventures Roll Call!

Part 1 - The Brothers Themselves!

The protagonists of this little Undertale fanfic series. Here's some info about them.

Both:

Twins. Sans is a couple of minutes older than Papyrus.

Age - Late teens, early twenties (I'm thinking about 19 when they moved to Snowdin)

They're not from the underground. They're not from the surface, either.

Basically just a couple of goofballs.

They're both autistic. It's not explicitly stated, but if you look closely, you can see the signs.

Sans:

Slightly older than Papyrus. Likes to tease him about it, but other than that, he doesn't take the whole "twins age gap" thing seriously.

Nerdy boi. Loves to learn.

Finds comedic situations easier to navigate (and also just really likes potty humour. He doesn't know why, it's hilarious!).

Sometimes puts on a creepy, mysterious persona for a laugh.

Is a deep thinker who tends to let his thoughts spiral out of control at times.

Adores animals!

Apathetic when he wants to care, cares when he doesn't want to.

Has extremely accurate high intuition. It's kind of like a sixth sense for him. He uses this mainly to keep Papyrus out of danger.

Genuinely looks up to Papyrus, and sees teasing as a love language.

A mischievous little gremlin who WILL eat your food if you let him inside!

He takes a while to adjust to Snowdin, and just the Underground in general. Deep down, he's really homesick and wants to see his friends from the other world. Is currently trying to fix a machine right now. We know the result of that endeavour, though, don't we? That's gonna be explored more in the second part, but after that, ooh boy... It's downhill for Sans from there. =)

Papyrus:

He doesn't actually care that he's a few minutes younger than Sans, but he plays along with his teasing.

Very athletic and health-conscious, even though he considers stuff like oatmeal with dinosaur eggs and kiwi and mayonnaise pizza healthy.

His main driving force is approval. He finds it really difficult to make friends, and he's painfully aware of his struggles, but he keeps trying anyway because The Great Papyrus never gives up!

Notoriously stubborn and a bit hotheaded at times.

He doesn't have Sans' intuition, but what Papyrus excels at is staying grounded in reality. He's more attentive to his surroundings than anyone gives him credit for. He can still be clumsy sometimes, however.

Is "secretly" a huge nerd (note the quotation marks).

He didn't actually like his old home very much. While he believes in the good of everyone, he truly feels that there's a lot more going for him in the Underground than there was back "home." Therefore, he adjusted to Snowdin really quickly.

Can be surprisingly manipulative when he wants to be. It's never for malicious reasons, though.

Can be quite selfish at times. Overall a good person, though.

Spoiler warning: Papyrus ends up learning about the resets at some point. I won't say when, but let's just say Sans can't keep secrets from him for long.

[annabelle-creart]

I lost Lightwave's introduction post, same her post where I talk about how she would be in other of my universes, so:

Borealis [Lightwave] and W-33 [Radiowave] intro post:

Lightwave

Profession: Mercenary, Bounty-hunter, space traveler

Pronouns: she/her

Main hand: Left-handed

Psyquiatric disorder: not (known, at least)

Main treats:

Loud, high-pitched laughs

Terrible influence

Has no respect

Taste: Lesbian, asexual

Living family: Heatwave, Shockwave and Soundwave (siblings), Salvage, Sissi, Predaking, Skylynx, Darsteel, Rumble and Frenzy (nephews and nieces), some bounty-hunters are dear friends of her

Status: Alive

Radiowave

Profession: Ex-constructicon, decepticon soldier

Pronouns: he/him/it/its

Main hand: left-handed, learned to use both

Psyquiatric disorder: anger issues, dissociative

Main treats:

Bear's growl

Hyperactive as fuck

Would run a thounsand miles if he could just seeeee youuuuuuuuu, tonight🎶 (just shitting)

Taste: The blood of his enemies... (he likes bots who can kick his aft)

Living family: Lightwave, Heatwave, Shockwave and Soundwave (siblings), Salvage, Sissi, Predaking, Skylynx, Darsteel, Rumble and Frenzy (nephews and nieces), one or another decepticon that ended up dying just like him...

Status: offline

Life of Rescue Bots Au

Lightwave is an obstinated, edonist and great insult for every Cybertronian moral. As the oldest of the group, she's the tiniest, because the bigger the frame, the more time a spark takes to get into a frame, and she's the oposite, a bit smaller than Boulder, thin of frame but has big, squared arms, she's agile and her humour is greasy and vulgar. Lightwave, managed to see her siblings before they could recognize her, except Radiowave, she was taken away from the world to be an apprentice and maybe future Cityspeaker but the moment the war started to get rough, she went away as far as could, finally living the freedom she never had before, until she discovered what remained of her planet was save on planet Earth, going in search of Shockwave and Soundwave and also learning Heatwave was alive all this time

Radiowave as the biggest was the youngest, couldn't met Lightwave and the moment he was made he was sent to be a constructicon, so, never met the other three, all his life was confined on the dark underground or watching the sunset on the high of the cranes, until decepticons emerged from the pits of Kaon and he decided he didn't wanted to be confined anymore to only receive orders, and fortunately, he was really good exploding things. Never meeting Shockwave or Soundwave because he was also confined to the battlefield, but at least he enjoyed that, the bloodlust made him feel alive what the fuck has he being doing? Until the day he finally... well, united to the Allspark, only leaving a piece of his spark behind a new bot that finally could met his siblings, and even became a rescue cadet

Outlier Au

Borealis is like a beacon of light for the people, she's kind and perfect, a cityspeaker that lives for her people and loves her people. Nonetheless, she's just a really highligthed and powerful outlier, yes, she talks with a titan, but not because of her own hand but because of her mental power, as the oldest she always cares for her siblings, even if Heatwave doesn't like that. Also she was the giniest but because her frame modifications was the tallest, at least before Heatwave's frame modifications

Heatwave was already done with Lightwave, despite how much Boulder encoraged him to reconciliate with her, but definitely this was not just the beginning of his retirement (and almost of his dead), this was also what made him be done with the entire world, because- wait a damn minute- HOW IN THE ACTUAL FRAG CAN A SINGLE DAMN BOT NOT JUST EVADE ALL HIS MOVEMENTS AND BE COMPLETELY UNPREDICTABLE BUT ALSO MAKE HEATWAVE SHOCKED ONLY BY A LOOK AT HIS OPTICS?!?! Radiowave, or better know on stage as Wrecker Machine, is a bot that first was constructicon, but because of an "accident" at work was removed from his position and almost became a dalit if it wasn't because of gladiatorial arenas, and unfortunately, like Heatwave, he's really good at his job when his mind decides to disconnect and his ability takes care of everything. His outlier ability is to disconnect and neutralize other abilities, basically, shouting them down at touch for a short period of time (Characters' resume actualization with Radiowave's backstory)

Adventure Bots Au

Lightwave, mercenary, the funny type that chases people for a good price and hides perfectly despite being a big bot, she transforms in a velociraptor and is like the typical bounty-hunter, the difference is that she likes to be with her siblings and loves them so much. She managed to take care of them using her work as mercenary before they decided to go to be independent

Radiowave works with Lightwave since he has age to do so, but unlike her, he's a damned wreck machine, he's crazy, out of control and acts without thinking, so, she and Heatwave are always scolding him, which he hates. He transforms in an allosaur

The 13 Primes Au

Borealis, the terrorcon reincarnation of Unicron's herald, mother of terrorcons and real Prime of Earth, dedicated to dominate all human race for stealing her father's land and end her mission of killing the last piece of what stays of the old Primes...

And Radiowave... I have to admit, I didn't thought of anythimg for him, so, let's say he's offline for now as on LoRB

Hunters of the Cosmos

Lightwave and Radiowave met in this one, so, the quintuplet is together now. Light and Radio transform into reptiles but Lightwave can fly like Shockwave and Soundwave and Radio is a land-reptile, Heatwave is a sea reptile

Shattered Glass

Lightwave is, and not just is, she IS THE most loyal, hateful, and sinister cityspeaker Optimus Prime has, agile, tiny and murderous, she is the reincarnation of terror and dead itself...

Radiowave is a cutie, if you need something just tell him and he will have what you need in seconds! He's almost an expert in weapons but is a pacifist and a lovely giant

Valley of the Sacred Au

As you saw, the quintuplet is together

Lightwave is the oldest, so, she is a caretaker, but not as much as Soundwave and Shockwave, she's smiley, smart, agile and adventurer, but yet she's also mature and always thinks twice, she's also curious

Radiowave is also here a gentle giant and the youngest, he's modest and gets emotional easy, he's also shy but brave when needed

---

And that's all I have for him now :v, as said, he's dead, so, he will not be in the main Au, nonetheless, he's alive in all the others (except 13 Primes), so, if he appears, you know why

[everybodyshusband]

🛏️ 🦷 for the ask game

Happy new year Felix :)

happy new year moth :)) <33

🛏 Is there a new trope you'd like to write this year?

honestly i'd love love loooooove to try and write a proper fluffy, mushy, silly meet-cute...

🦷 Is there a chapter, scene, or WIP you're dreading to write (but is necessary to your plot)? Share a snippet or tell us about it!

not for any specific reason but the next chapter of uni ghouls has been kicking my entire ass for months and months because it doesn't want to be written no matter how hard i try lol i've got a snippet i can share though, so for those who want to read a bit of it (900-ish words), it's under the cut !! :) and not at all edited lol please be nice

As he reads through the overview section of the first chapter, Aeon notes that it’s nothing too difficult for the most part—not yet at least. There are some harder biological topics in this chapter specifically, but it all looks manageable enough so far. And if it’s not, then maybe Aeon can ask Aurora while they figure out the note-taking capabilities of his well-loved tablet; she’s always had more of a head for science and maths than him, ever since they were children.

He’s jolted out of his thoughts by Swiss coming over to place his drink and muffin down in front of him. “Hitting the books early, huh?”

“Hmm? Oh, yeah,” he smiles, and with a deep breath that his head tells him is unnecessary, he tries for a joke. “Just lightly though, wouldn’t wanna scare away your customers with my powerful displays of intense masculinity…” He laughs awkwardly as he finishes speaking, hoping that Swiss understands his attempt at humour.

It takes a while, but soon enough, recognition lights up in Swiss’ eyes and his mouth splits into a grin that he so desperately tries to fight in an effort to carry on the joke. “This cafe welcomes people from all walks of life,” he chuckles. “You feel free to hit those books as hard as you want. They deserve it for what they’re about to put you through…”

“Oh no,” Aeon groans. “That bad?”

“I can’t speak from personal experience, but yeah. Dewy was whining about that General Sciences textbook all through the first semester last year.”

Dewy… “Dewdrop took General Sciences last year?”

Swiss nods. “Uh huh. All you science-y people have to, no matter what degree you’re doing. I’m studying music, I have no idea how you folk manage to do all that. Over half of my grade is performance based, I don’t do shit. It’s fantastic.”

Aeon sighs dramatically, heaving his shoulders. “Fuck, maybe I should switch degrees,” he jokes. “Screw my ten-year plan, I wanna study music with you if it gets me out of textbooks and exams.”

Swiss tilts his head, a curious glint in his eyes. “You play?”

“Barely,” Aeon snorts. “I picked up guitar a couple years ago, but I’m not very good.” He purposefully neglects to mention that the only reason he plays guitar even a little bit is because his therapist from high school encouraged him to pick up a casual hobby to keep himself entertained and his hands busy whenever his mind starts racing.

“Hey, that’s fine,” Swiss reassures him. “You’ve still got plenty of time to learn! And hey, if you ever want a teacher…” He trails off, wiggling his eyebrows at Aeon and not so subtly pointing to himself, “then let me know. If I like you, I won’t even charge you.” He cements his joke with a wink and Aeon tries his best not to blush. He’s not sure he’s very successful in his attempts.

“Anyway,” Swiss continues, clearly remembering he’s at work and should be helping his coworkers and actually doing his job. This theory of Aeon’s is proven correct when he glances over to the coffee machine and spots Rain glaring at Swiss from behind the register, holding up a pile of order tickets that they need Swiss’ help with. Aeon pointedly does not think about the stormy expression on Rain’s face, nor about what he would do if it were trained on him instead. Luckily for the sake of Aeon’s dignity and his clean pair of shorts, the barista’s smile immediately brightens as they spot him. He tries not to make a big deal of it as they place the pile of dockets back onto the counter to wave at him with both hands, another thing he fails spectacularly at—how could he not, when Rain looks like he’s made their day just by showing up? Aeon wonders if that’s what Rain looks like when they smile at Dewdrop… Fuck, he needs to stop.

“Earth to newbie,” Swiss calls, carefully waving his hand in front of Aeon’s face, effectively blocking his view of Rain. Aeon does his best not to pout. “Down bad, huh? Don’t worry, we all are,” he whispers, smirking. He raises his voice back up to a normal volume when he speaks again. “I hope your hot chocolate hasn’t gone cold from how long I’ve kept you from it. Let me know if it has and I’ll make you another one,” he smiles warmly.

Aeon nods and manages to murmur his thanks just before Swiss continues speaking.

“Maybe after I help Rain with that mountain of orders though. I don’t even wanna think about where my body would be found if I didn’t help them… But if I do remake it for you, I won’t be giving you extra marshmallows like Rainy did, okay? You’re lovely, but I’m not as obsessed with you as they are,” he winks yet again.

As he pretends that his whole worldview hasn’t been shattered by the notion that Rain might like him back, Aeon can’t resist the opportunity to tease. “As obsessed?” He smirks as Swiss splutters in mock outrage, the man’s faux annoyance melting into laughter as he begins to slowly walk away from Aeon’s table.

“Alright, alright. Enjoy your drink, newbie!” Aeon just about hears Rain’s “his name is Aeon” over the whirr of the coffee machine and blushes into his hot chocolate as he takes a sip. Despite his chat with Swiss, his drink has miraculously stayed relatively warm and it’s just as delicious as when Rain had made it the other day.

[seven-re]

What do you think of Leon's new personality in the remakes? I think it's very realistic his personality change so radically between RE2R and RE4R due to the trauma. He was so sweet and gentle in RE2R and then turned into a killing machine in RE4R 💔. At least Ashley is the only person who brings back the old gentle Leon.

I think just like Ada pointed out, Leon didn't really change who he is (she did though), he simply matured. He still wants to save people, he still wants to do something, but this time he realizes not everyone is a victim and that he has to be wary of his surroundings.

However his kind heart allows him to actually warm up to Luis, and kind of let Ada show her intentions. It does shine when he comforts Ashley, which is really cute, but he is being overall really gentle.

He gives both Ada and Luis many chances to show their intentions before doing what could be easier (shoot them in case they're a danger to the world, or Ashley). He even tries to talk Krauser back into his senses, before realizing it's no use.

See how he doesn't even let Ramón talk and shoots him lmao, because Ramón showed him he's not a good person, at all.

His humour and his skills honestly are just an evolution to his RE2R self, I don't know about the remake's canon on this but Leon was addressed as extremely talented in the original, so he had potential from the beginning. In RE2R he does make some jokes from time to time so I think it was always his way to cope with fear.

I like that they made the "change" more seamless, more logical to what a real person would go through. Leon already went through this so fear is lower, but tension is much much higher (which shows in his face, he's tense a lot of the time) because he knows what to expect, he just doesn't want to fail.

But in his heart Leon is, both in the remakes and in the original timeline, a man with a heart of gold, he doesn't let himself judge someone without giving them a chance to show who they are. Leon is sweet and gentle, he's just learned he needs the strength to protect good people and that he can't be gentle with just everyone, or he'll get manipulated/used.

[dameronology]

dating steve harrington hcs

a/n: this was my second most popular request after the eddie ones lmao y'all have made your faves clear and i love it because they are also my mine

you & steve started dating in high school; maybe in like junior or senior year?? it's nothing serious, literally just two kids messing about, and eventually you break up before you graduate just because shit happens, as it goes, and honestly it's nothing that deeply scarring

then one day, maybe a year or so after you graduate, your mum sends you out on a friday evening to get something for movie night and you end up going to family video

lo-and-behold, steve harrington is sat behind the counter. you had always wondered what he was up to these days, but you sort of lost contact

his face lights up when he sees you - even more so when you look him up and down and say "we're both here on a friday night, so i guess things worked out for both of us, huh?"

steve can't help but smile; he'd always loved your humour and he was glad to see it hadn't changed in the last two years

when you ask for movie recommendations, he just happens to list every film that you & him used to watch together

when steve gives you that stupid goofy smile of his, you know it's not a coincidence

you end up renting a new hope, per steve's insistence and apparent new found love for the star wars franchise (thanks dustin!!)

before you leave, he asks if you want to hang out ("as friends - not weird high school exes, but i don't blame you if you haven't moved on yet")

so a few days later you meet him after work & you lull around the arcade for a bit exactly like you did when you were teenagers

steve is different now; he's..wiser, maybe. still goofy & dumb as ever, but everything he says is a little more insightful and his face lights up when he tells you about how he's the unintentional babysitter to nancy wheeler's little brother and all his friends

at the end of the night, he asks you if you want to go on an actual, proper date. and it's hard not to accept, because he still has all the features you loved so much about him as a giddy teenager, but the maturity he used to lack is there now, clear as day

you go into the whole thing with no idea what to expect, but after a few dates it's clear you've got a good thing going and within two or three months, you and your high school boyfriend are in some weird new, committed relationship

it was unexpected, which was nice

in a way it's like no time has passed at all - he still has all his old habits, like opening the car door for you, driving you home all the time & leaving you dumb notes around the house

he's so, so caring in his own little ways - he leaves the coffee machine on a timer for when you wake up, buys your favourite sweets every time he sees them in any store, and he's always bringing home videos from the store that he think you might like

steve's pretty basic with nicknames: it's normally baby, and sometimes sweetheart, but mostly commonly a shortened variation of your name, or even just your first initial

ngl he's a fucking nightmare at remembering actual anniversaries but somehow remembers the smaller things??

like making you breakfast & a packed lunch on the days you have big meetings, or learning the names of every single one of your extended family, or filling up your car in the morning so you can stay in bed an extra five minutes

or one time you mentioned in like january that there was this really pretty necklace in the window of a store downtown; it was sold out the next day sadly, but then around the summer he sees it again and buys it for you

he can be a little frustrating at time. steve grew up in a very well-off household so he's not the best with money. he'd much rather splash out on a cool new video game or a nice present for you than save for the future

and you can't really argue with that?? because how fucking cute is it but also rent is important too steve god

steve can also be difficult. he's stubborn as anything and once he has his mind made up, there's no changing it. that means you guys sometimes clash, but you always make up

he has two polaroids of you on his nightstand; one is you guys outside the arcade in your junior year and the other one is basically identical, except it was taken on your third anniversary (the second time you're dating lmao)

[seasonofthewicth]

nobody does it like you do - act 2

Thank you so much for all your reactions to part 1! I hope you enjoy part two just as much :)

CW: mentions of past minor character death (incl. a pregnant woman)

7.3k - masterlist - ao3

--

Her first day of shooting isn’t great. It’s not bad by a long way, but it could have easily been better. They’re on location in a forest somewhere in the outskirts of Rifthold and she didn’t even know there were places in the city like this, she’d assumed it was all the sprawling metropolis of skyscrapers and crowded streets, but apparently not.

She’s cold. There’s a machine beating down torrents of fake rain on her and Fenrys where they stand opposite each other on the muddy path through the trees, they’re filming the scene where their characters first meet. Her feet are soggy inside the canvas trainers she’s wearing and they keep spraying water on her hair to keep the wet look running throughout all of the takes and she hates it. She’s uncomfortable and stiff but she comforts herself with the knowledge that Fenrys is the same if the frown he wears whenever the camera isn’t on him is anything to go by.

It helps, barely.

She keeps having to spit water out of her mouth between lines, she swears it never rains this heavily in real life but who is she to comment, and she watches Rowan’s lips twist in displeasure where he sits behind the camera every time she does it. Aelin’s not sure what else she’s supposed to do, he can sit there out of the line of the water all fine, but she can’t speak with her mouth full.

It can take time to fall into the natural rhythm of shooting a new project, even the shitty ones she’s done in the past have shown her that, but there’s something about the way Rowan watches her that prickles the back of her neck, his stare intense and heavy as he watches, that adds the pressure. She wants to show him that she can do this. She wants his approval.

She ignores the reasons why.

After they finish and Rowan has called cut she sulks back to her trailer, she’s only just managed to change out of her sodden clothes when there’s a knock at the door. It’s Fenrys, warm and dry now in his own change of clothes.

They’ve sort of become friends recently, after swapping numbers after the table read he had texted her first. The studio has put him in the same complex as her and they’ve shared a car back there a couple of times after some of their meetings. She likes him a lot actually, and while she knows his reputation of infamy with the ladies follows him around like a bad smell, she feels comfortable with him.

“That could have gone better,” he tells her as he flops down onto the two-seater sofa at the end of her trailer, the other half has a mound of clothes dumped on it that she hasn’t bothered to sort through yet.

She just shoots him a look that she hopes says tell me about it.

“Tomorrow will be better,” he tells her, reassuringly. He would know she supposes, he has far more experience than her.

“I hope so.”

“How’re you finding it so far, working with Rowan?” he asks, and she frowns, bristling at the fact that he somehow knows the worst question to ask already. Aelin doesn’t think she’s behaved weirdly around Rowan since the day at the table read, in fact she’s tried to avoid him where possible. Maybe that’s it.

“Fine,” she says, but that’s not quite true. It messes with her in a dangerous way every time she knows he’s watching her. She should be able to turn that part of her brain off during a scene, she trained for years to learn how to do that, but he gets to her. She’s working on it.

Fenrys laughs, seeing right through her.

“He’s not bad once you get to know him, the first time we worked together I thought he was a total dick.” She gives him the same look as before as she clears the clothes and sits down next to him.

“I swear he’s not that bad. He’s just-” Fenrys pauses, weighing her up with a look, and something that he takes in from the way she stands, gnawing on her lower lip with her hair still wet, has him saying; “He’s got a lot riding on this.”

“Why?”

It doesn’t feel like he has a lot riding on this, his last piece was nominated for the Oscars, how much higher than that can you get? It’s not like he’s in the same position as her, desperately clawing herself back to a place where she can be cast in a role and it not be followed by a stunned, oh?

She knows there were articles written when her casting was announced that were doubtful of her ability to do this movie, that questioned whether she’s up to the task and whether she’s good enough to be standing next to names like Fenrys and Rowan. Some of the articles were straight up mean, and she only knows that because she searched them up like a masochist when all the ones Elide sent over were far too nice.

A dark part of herself can’t help but fall prey to some of the headlines. The ones that throw around words like nepotism, the ones that question whether Aelin is talented enough to be where she is cut deeper than any knife, and only half of it is because she sometimes wonders the same. She should be better than that, but the reminder catches in her throat that she really does have a lot riding on this.

“It’s not really my place to say.”

That’s a load of shit, and she tells him so. He only shrugs, not willing to so openly gossip about their boss.

“How well do you know him exactly?” She’s fishing for any details, but it definitely could be passed off as casual curiosity.

“He directed my debut, we keep in touch every so often.” He’s nonchalant. “He asked me to audition for this.”

“Nice humble brag.”

Fenrys only flashes her his movie star grin, in combination with the wink he throws at her it’s almost an effort not to blush.

“He wanted you cast, you know?” That she didn’t know, but it’s nice to hear.

“Why? He doesn’t know me.”

“You’re hard work, you know?” He’s joking but it doesn’t sit quite right. She knows it’s true. “Come with us tonight. There's a group of us getting dinner, and you can ask him yourself.”

It’s an olive branch. She knows it’s obvious to everyone that she’s uncomfortable, still hasn’t quite found her feet on set after taking such a break, and it’s one that she’s grateful for. No matter how closed off she knows she still seems to them.

“Okay,” she says and Fenrys’ smile is genuine and a part of her lifts, it’s a start.

They share a car to the restaurant and he fills the journey with easy chatter. She appreciates it because she feels really fucking rusty. It’s been a while since she spoke to anyone outside of her immediate circle of friends and family, and it’s always been easy with them. This is different, but not unwelcome.

Sometimes she worries that, as much as they love her, Aedion, Lysandra and Elide are inclined to tread lightly around her. She’d like to think that she’s not that fragile, that she could take the full front of their humour and teasing like she used to, but then remembers when Fenrys’ joke fell flat for her in the trailer and she thinks again.

Either way, the cast and crew here don’t treat her like she’s broken, or even breakable, and it’s refreshing.

Fenrys leads the way into the restaurant, and there’s definitely paparazzi down the street snapping away at them as they cross the short distance from the car to the door. She tries to ignore it, she’ll text Elide once they’re done here, even though Elide will probably be overjoyed. It’s probably (definitely) easier to publicise your talent when she’s out there doing things with other famous people compared to staying inside her home alone.

Fenrys greets the staff on the door and they lead them through the restaurant to a staircase at the back of the room and it leads up to a private space with only one table. Right, privacy. Some of these guys are proper celebrities.

They’re the last ones there, and there’s two seats left at the table. Manon is here, so is Rowan and one of the executive producers who she thinks is called Gavriel.

“Alright guys, you all know Aelin,” Fenrys says and she smiles as they greet her.

Fenrys holds a chair out for her, the one next to Rowan, and she slides into it as he takes the one on her other side.

Rowan offers her a quirk of his lips, one she returns as she takes him in. He’s wearing short sleeves this time and she gets a good look at the tattoo snaking the whole way down his left arm. It’s in the Old Language and she can’t read it, even though her father had spent hours trying to teach her when she was a kid, but the lettering is beautiful and neat. She wants to reach out and touch, to trace the lines that roll down his golden skin.

She doesn’t. Obviously.

A waiter comes over to take their drink orders, Fenrys gets a beer, Manon and Gavriel opt for wine, but Rowan asks for an orange juice. He’s not drinking either and she wonders if it’s related to the reason he needs this movie to go well. So she’s nosy? So what?

She sits back and observes as the conversation flows, laughing along at the easy banter that flows between the three men and the sarcastic quips Manon throws in. Fenrys clearly understated his relationship with Rowan, they seem tight and have a clear fondness for one another. It’s easy to slot herself in as the night progresses, snarking with Manon and joining in with the general light-hearted mockery of Fenrys.

She thinks maybe so far she’s got Rowan wrong.

Tonight he’s quick-witted and charming, and he makes his best effort to include her in the conversation which she appreciates. It’s a contrast to the dark and teasing side of him she’s seen so far in the hallway and the table read. Maybe he’s decided to just start again, pretend they never met before she was cast, and she can do that too.

“So, Aelin.” Manon turns the spotlight to her after a while. “Tell us the scoop. I’ve not seen you in anything for a while.”

It’s not a nasty question, Aelin can just tell from the way she asks it, nothing more than genuine curiosity lies in her tone even if the phrasing is somewhat harsh. Manon might not be the bubbliest of characters, she’s blunt and doesn’t beat around the bush, but she’s not unkind, and Aelin doubts if she knew the truth she’d ask that question in such a way.

Elide managed to keep the worst of her… career break? One could phrase it more like breakdown, out of the limelight. She somehow managed to keep the worst of it hidden, and Aelin will owe her that for the rest of her life.

All the world knows is that Sam was murdered when they were both still newbies to their respective industries, neither of them had had their big break yet, and after that she took a break. For three years.

She remembers the headlines from the time, most were in smaller magazines, Sam wasn’t famous enough to make the front pages. Her mouth tastes like bile.

Singer-Songwriter Sam Cortland, 20, murdered in random street attack in Orynth, girlfriend Aelin Ashryver unharmed and working with police to identify suspect.

No one knows she knelt there in his blood begging for him to open his eyes, not even Aedion, or Lysandra or Elide, and she blinks back the image now. Her hands are curled into fists below the table and she forces herself to uncurl them and lay them flat against her jeans.

“Yeah,” she says after clearing her throat. “I took a break from it all for a few years, but I’m back now obviously and really excited for it.”

Manon nods and Gavriel raises a glass. He’s been nothing but kind to her all night. He kind of reminds her of her father, though he’s not that old, probably not even forty yet. He’s softly spoken and counters each snarky comment from Fenrys or Manon with something softer but no less amusing.

“Good to hear,” Fenrys says with a grin, clinking his glass against Gavriel’s.

The way Rowan watches her as he raises his own glass in a toast to her, careful and without speaking, tells her he knows. At least the basics about Sam, and it seems like maybe he did google her just like she joked back at the table read.

Their meals arrive then, mercifully taking the attention away from her. She needs to find a better way to deal with the attention than shutting down, especially if this film is going to be as big as everyone thinks it will be. She should call her therapist.

She will.

Eventually.

They leave the restaurant not long after, Fenrys covering the bill, emphasising that this was a celebration and an initiation for Aelin. She almost blushes for some unknown reason at his words, but she likes it. It sounds good. Like she really is back, or at least will be.

They each give her their numbers, and she likes the way he’s in her phone now as Rowan rather than Rowan Whitethorn, it feels like he’s not just someone from work. Not just her boss.

They each say goodbye and share a series of embraces, ignoring the small group of paparazzi that follow, desperate for any kind of incriminating image of any of the five of them. It’s clear that most of them are here for Fenrys, but she still makes sure to keep her expression clear and guarded as Rowan wraps her into a one-armed hug when they leave. It’s not just for the paparazzi.

Back in her apartment, when she’s tucked up in bed knowing she should be asleep, she can’t stop herself from googling him. She’s honestly surprised she’s lasted this long.

The first few news articles to come up are all about the movie and she scrolls past them, instead pulling up his Wikipedia page and scrolling straight to the personal life section. Maybe this is the weirdest way anyone’s ever got to know a friend, but she’s intrigued and still slightly flustered by him so it will do.

The section on his personal life is relatively bare, and it doesn’t surprise her. His Instagram account alone told her pretty explicitly that he’s a private kind of guy. She almost scrolls away after the first few lines, they don’t give her much information other than the college he went to and the languages he speaks, but she reads the final few lines of the section anyway.

In March 2018 Whitethorn’s fiance, Lyria Woods, passed away as the result of a road traffic accident. The driver of the other vehicle was found to be under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident and was later sentenced to 6 years in prison for death by dangerous driving. Woods was 12 weeks pregnant with their child at the time of the accident.

Only a couple of weeks after the Oscars that she and Lysandra watched. She does the maths and realises this is his first film since then and thinks she knows what Fenrys meant.

Fucking shit.

Her second day of shooting goes better than the first, just as Fenrys said it would.

She’s more relaxed when she crosses the set from her trailer with a coffee in hand and she thinks she knows her place a little better now, even after only one night spent with the others.

She lies back while her make up is done, chatting to the make-up artist instead of sitting silently like the day before, and she’s almost ready for the discomfort that her wet hair will bring. The weather adds to the atmosphere of the film, dark and dreary and moody, and she gets why they’re doing it, but it still sucks.

Fenrys is ready when she gets there, and while she’s not avoiding Rowan today after finding out about his… past, she just finds it difficult to look him in the eye knowing what she does. He probably wouldn’t be surprised that she knew, if it’s on Wikipedia it’s public knowledge and they have made jokes about googling each other, but she feels weird in a way that she didn’t learn it from him. It feels intrusive, or invasive, to find out about something like that through Wikipedia.

But even though they bonded somewhat last night, and he greeted her this morning with an easy hey, they’re still not close. No matter that she thinks she might want them to be. She’s trying again to ignore the way she feels drawn to him, the way her eyes seek him out without her permission.

She knows she kills the take. Knows it from the high five Fenrys slaps against her palm once Rowan’s called cut and from the swift nod he offers her when she glances towards him.

There seem to be two Rowan’s too, there’s the award winning director Rowan Whitethorn, and then just Rowan.

Rowan Whitethorn is cool and calculating and distant, quiet while he watches their scene from his place behind the camera, the big black headphones he uses pushed down around his neck. His eyes are as sharp as a hawk’s while he watches for all the minute details of their expressions and any improvements they could make. He doesn’t give her that many she’s pleased to note.

The way he instructs them is impressive, with clear directions and thoughtful analyses. She’s been here two days and she knows how he got the Oscar nomination, he’s scarily intelligent and seems to know exactly what’s off about a performance before she figures it out herself.

The other side to him, the side that is just Rowan is…

Just Rowan is the one she likes more.

She suspects the smile he gives her later, after they’ve nailed the bulk of the scene in one take and she’s being twirled around by Fenrys, comes from him.

She has two full days off in a row, and she decides the best use of her time is to go and stay with Aedion and Lysandra. Fenrys isn’t free, and the reason she is is that he has a load of solo scenes to shoot, and she doesn’t envy him at all.

Lysandra is ecstatic when she announces via a group text to her and Aedion that she’ll be at their house for lunchtime, and she loves it, but it makes her feel a little guilty. That she’s let it get to the point when her friend reacts like that at her promise of a visit is quite frankly appalling, but she finally feels as if she’s taken the first step. She’s on the bottom rung of the ladder, and it’s taken her a while, but she’s there now.

Aedion and Lysandra live in a disgustingly big house in a gated part of the suburbs, and she knows the house isn’t exactly what they would have chosen in an ideal world, it’s too big and garish and grey, but there are gates by the entrance and 24 hour security.

It still messes with her head that Aedion is that famous. Aedion. Her gangly cousin, always too tall for his own good, who used to pull her hair when they were kids and sneak her extra helpings of cake at family parties before her parents divorced. She doesn’t know that much about football, so little in fact that her dad and Aedion teased her relentlessly for years, but everyone tells her he’s good.

Like really good.

The salary he gets from the Ravens is more than enough proof.

She rings their front door bell and she can hear Lysandra’s quick steps before the big wooden door is pulled open.

Her friend is glowing. Her dark hair falls into waves near the end and her staggeringly beautiful face is free of any make-up and unblemished and dewy. She’s had time to get over the insecurities that come from being friends with Lysandra so it barely phases her as she wraps her arms around her friend.

“I’ve missed you,” she whispers into Lysandra’s hair. It smells like coconut and citrus and just Lysandra.

“I missed you too. So much,” Lysandra sighs as she pulls back, dragging Aelin into the house and shutting the door.

Their hallway is grand and open but there’s a pile of their shoes by the wall and a rack of coats that make it feel more homely. There are framed photos carefully arranged on the sideboard in the entry way that show the two of them with their whole family and all of their friends.

There’s one on there of Aelin and Lysandra at eighteen, their arms thrown tightly around each other while they grin massive, excited smiles at the camera, or more likely Elide behind it. She remembers the day it was taken, Lysandra had signed to her first agency and arranged to move to Rifthold, and they had taken her out to celebrate.

It was around the same time she signed for her first movie, a tiny role with two lines and twenty seconds of screen time but it got the ball rolling with her first proper acting credit, and she’ll never forget it.

A head of golden hair pokes around the kitchen doorway at the end of the hall and she lets her cousin sweep her up into a hug, swinging her up and around so her feet dangle above the floor.

“Alien, we’ve missed you.”

A stupid nickname from when they were young, the kind of young where he thought it was hilarious to replace her name with an extraterrestrial, but it only makes her smile now, squeezing her cousin tight before he puts her back down.

“Yeah, I bet you’ve been lost without me.” She beams at them, taking a moment to soak in how it feels to be with them even as Aedion rolls his eyes. “I’ve missed you both too.”

“Lunch is ready, come on,” Aedion tells her as he takes her case and drags it through the house, leaving it by the bottom of the stairs. It’s then that she spots the frilly pink apron tied around his waist.

“Alright,” she laughs. “I can’t wait to try what the domestic goddess has in store for us.”

Peals of laughter burst out of Lysandra and she grins back at her, forever grateful that they managed to keep their relationship with each other from ever impacting on their relationship with Aelin. At first she had been worried that Aedion and Lysandra would become AedionAndLysandra and that she wouldn’t have a place left with them, but she needn’t have worried, and they worked too well together for Aelin to have ever wished for anything different.

“Gods, shut up,” he mutters, slinging an arm around her shoulders and leading her to the kitchen. “So annoying, both of you.”

She grins as she hears Lysandra smack an overly dramatic kiss to his cheek.

Aedion’s a surprisingly good cook, the lunch he’s made is tasty despite being carefully planned to fit into both his and Lysandra’s strict meal plans. If they’re the cost needed to be able to live in a house like this, Aelin doesn’t want it.

“So,” Aedion says after he’s finished chewing a mouthful. “How are things going?”

He asks it with a gentle kind of sensitivity that she understands what he’s really asking. She knows it’s code for are you still sober? but she also knows he hasn’t asked it because he doubts her. Aedion and Lysandra have always been in her corner, even in her darkest moments they were there.

She never wants to put them through anything like that ever again. Never wants them to experience anything as terrifying as the last night she ever touched a drug. That night, almost a year ago now, will forever be the bottom of her pit. She doesn’t remember much of it, other than the devastation on Aedion’s face as he carried her out of the men’s toilets of a seedy nightclub in Perranth. The way he’d bitten his lip as he picked her up off the sticky floor, pulling the hem of her dress down to cover her underwear where it had ridden up.

The thought makes her sick.

He’d had to skip a game, leading to a bollocking from his coach, but he’d done it for her. Had carried her out of the club and into a car, waiting to take them back to his house. Lysandra had stroked her hair where she lay on the cool tiles of the bathroom floor while Aedion called a doctor to the house. Even through his panic he had thought of her and how little she would want it publicised that she’d been pulled out of a club, off her fucking rocker on whatever substance she’d been given by the lowlives she had fallen in with. She’s really, really lucky that for once Aedion hadn’t been followed by paparazzi.

She takes a sip of her sparkling water before she answers, it feels like all she ever drinks these days and it tastes like shit but it’s worth it if she never reverts back to where she was.

“I’m good.” She’s almost surprised to find that it’s true. “I’m feeling much better.”

She can barely look at them, can barely take the level of subdued joy on their faces.

“We’re glad Aelin, really glad.” Lysandra’s voice is sincere.

“So, how’s the new project going?” Aedion asks her, sensing her discomfort almost immediately.

“That’s good too actually.” It is. It feels good to have something positive to focus on, something that she feels is productive and worth doing. “It’s nice to be back and be busy even if the morning shoots begin disgustingly early. It’s good to be on set, surrounded by it all again and to remember that I can actually do this.”

She stabs her fork through a piece of tomato a little aggressively as she finishes and the look Lysandra shoots her tells her she’s not impressed with the self-deprecation but that she’ll let it slide for now.

“And Fenrys Moonbeam, is he really that good looking in real life?”

Aelin laughs. “More actually, sometimes it's too much.”

“Nice,” Lysandra nods appreciatively.

“Is he alright though?” Ever the overprotective older brother figure, she expected some version of this question from Aedion.

“He’s great. He’s hilarious and it really helps on the long days,” she says before taking her next bite.

“And Rowan Whitethorn’s directing isn’t he? What’s he like?”

Aelin blinks and finishes chewing slowly. “He’s… fine.”

She knows she’s fucked it when Aedion and Lysandra share a look, matching smirks beginning on each of their faces.

“Fine,” Lysandra repeats. “What exactly does fine mean Aelin?”

She purses her lips. “He’s a great director.”

Lysandra rolls her eyes. “And?”

She could probably lie here, they’d probably let it slide if she said some bullshit about how they’ve not spoken much and how she barely knows him, but she honestly needs to talk to someone about this. You know, to set her straight.

“And he’s really hot.”

She’s blushing as Lysandra laughs and Aedion chuckles.

“You’ve got a crush,” Lysandra sing-songs, and when she doesn't respond she says, “Have you got a picture of him? I don’t think I actually know what he looks like.”

She can’t blame Lysandra for that, she’s still kicking herself for not recognising him that day in the hallway, but he was only on screen for a few seconds at the Oscars and it wasn’t long after Sam so it wasn’t like she was paying attention in that way. She still thinks she should have noticed.

She pulls her phone out to find the only picture she has on there with Rowan. She had only taken it this week when they were eating breakfast with Fenrys one morning, in one of the tents that had been set up for them to sit in between takes, and Fenrys had pulled his phone out to snap a photo of her for his Instagram story.

She’d been wrapped up in one of the huge parkas they’re given for the times in between scenes holding her croissant high up in the air when he’d taken it. He’d captioned it she could have dropped her croissant and tagged her, and she’d gained a good few thousand followers. She’s almost at a million and they’re only a couple of weeks into shooting.

She had taken one of him in response and then spun around to force Rowan into a selfie with her, he’d protested but she’d pouted until he relented, grumbling something about actors that she knew he didn’t mean. She didn’t post it anywhere, she kept it to herself and she can’t lie, she’s looked at it way too many times since.

She’s smiling a wide smile, cheeks stuffed full of her croissant and it’s really kind of gross, but the small smile on Rowan’s face makes it bearable. More than bearable, she has to resist the temptation to make it her lock screen because that would be weird.

She remembers the heat of his chest where he had stood behind her to lean down so their faces were level, the hand he rested on her shoulder to steady himself and the way his fingers had brushed against her neck in the lightest caress.

She hands the phone over to Lysandra and wants to pull it back almost immediately.

It’s not that she’s embarrassed or whatever, even if they think it’s a bad idea they’d let her down gently, it's just that their opinion matters to her a lot. And while they haven’t exactly approved of her string of random hookups in the years since Sam, they’ve never tried to comment on it other than to check she’s in a good place with it, but she knows they’re waiting for the next person she sees seriously.

There’s a fairly large part of her that thinks her first relationship since Sam shouldn’t be with her boss. And that fucks her up a bit, because since when was she considering a relationship with him?

“Oh yeah,” Lysandra says, scaring away the intrusive thought and raising one perfectly arched eyebrow. “He’s hot alright.”

Aedion nods along, peering over Lysandra’s shoulder. Lysandra’s eyes are far too knowing when she looks back up at Aelin and passes the phone over. She doesn’t say a word before locking the phone and sliding it back into her pocket.

“You’ll have to invite us to set sometime.” Lysandra is sneaky but not subtle.

“I will,” she agrees.

The next week flies by, she shoots every single day but one, and she’s far too exhausted each night to do anything other than scrounge up a measly meal that can be pulled together from her cupboard basics and the limited vegetables in her fridge before falling straight asleep. They’ve made good progress so far, and she knows it's going to be good, but she’s tired.

She’s seen a lot more of the process outside of her own character by now too, and she’s amazed, but not surprised, when she persuades one of the crew to let her watch back one of Fenrys’ solo scenes from the previous week. He’s a phenomenal actor, that much is clear, but she had allowed herself to get caught up in Fenrys as her friend, the happy and funny guy she spends her time with, forgetting the talented and driven lead actor of their movie.

Not that she can forget it in the scenes they share, but she’s mostly concentrating on the emotions her character is going through, and responding to what Fenrys gives her. It almost feels too natural for him, and she forgets that it takes work.

His text meets her at lunchtime on the Sunday they both have off, when she’s still in her pyjamas on the couch, debating whether to start a new series or watch the latest cheesy rom-com that Netflix has released.

She auditioned for one of them a couple of years ago, and she’s far enough past the bitterness that comes with not getting the role that she could enjoy it. Maybe a little, cynical part of herself thinks she’s glad she didn’t get it. What she has now is far better. She’s being a snob, but she straight up doesn’t care. It’s not like anyone else is here to judge her.

Fancy coming to Rowan’s to watch the game? I’m leaving in 20 his text reads.

She didn’t plan on doing anything today, but the invitation sparks something in her, and she’s never been to Rowan’s place before. The studio put him in a house about thirty minutes from set, and she’s curious. How much luxury does the big name director get compared to what she and Fenrys have got? She’s lucky really, that Dorian managed to negotiate the same for her as they offered Fenrys.

rowan’s??? She replies, followed by what game????

She gets up off the couch, putting the lid on the tub of yoghurt she was tucking into with a spoon and walking through to the kitchen to throw it back into the fridge.

Tall, grumpy guy that bosses us around all the time comes through a minute later and she grins at her phone at the description. It’s followed up by Ravens v Panthers.

She taps out, getting changed will be ready in 15 and he replies with three smiling emojis.

She doesn’t think it will be anything fancy if her impromptu invitation is anything to go by so she only swaps her pyjama bottoms with tiny cartoon sheep down the legs for a pair of black leggings and throws a sweatshirt over her oversized t-shirt.

Manon is there when they get there, sprawled across the two seater sofa at the far side of Rowan’s living room, and she gives them both a wave when they enter the room. The house is a pretty modest, two-up two-down in a sweet neighbourhood and it’s cosy inside with relatively modern decor. She doesn’t know for sure whether or not that fits Rowan, but she feels like it does.

He doesn’t let them in, Fenrys swings the door open and marches in like it’s his own place and she wonders how much he and Rowan have hung out, or whether that’s just him. Rowan appears in the doorway about a minute after they come in, a bowl of snacks in his hand that she thinks could be popcorn and he puts it down before coming over to wrap Fenrys in a hug. They slap each other on the back in the way that guys do before pulling back.

Aelin stands at Fenrys’ side watching the exchange, unsure whether to greet Rowan or just take a seat, and once they’re done he seems to regard her with the same sort of uncertainty. Fenrys darts around Rowan to throw himself onto the other sofa and she doesn’t give herself long enough to doubt her decision before she opens her arms and steps towards him.

“Hey,” he says simply as he wraps her into a brief hug. “Thanks for coming.”

She wraps her arms around his own broad shoulders, and it feels nice. He’s warm and strong beneath her hands and the way his arms loop around her waist, so far his hands reach back around to her stomach, gets her in a way that she really doesn’t need to think about. It feels really good pressed up against him like that.

“Hey,” she breathes as he pulls back, and she knows he sees the blush on her cheeks. She’s not fifteen, she really needs to sort herself out. “Thanks for having us.”

“Of course, make yourself at home.” He gives her another half smile, offering a flash of his straight, white teeth, and again she’s struck by him. That his place is behind the camera is a crime. “I’ve got more snacks and drinks in the kitchen if you want.”

“Beer?” Fenrys asks her, already heading to a door that she assumes leads to the kitchen.

She shakes her head, “do you have sparkling water?” She directs the question to Rowan who nods.

He doesn’t have to speak before Fenrys says “on it,” and leaves the room.

She assesses the seating choices left in the room, there’s a cream two-seater sofa opposite where Manon lies, and that’s probably her best bet, but Rowan has already taken his seat on it, an ankle crossed over a knee as he settles into the cushions. There’s plenty of room to sit by him and not touch, and she weighs it up against having to ask Manon to move.

She’s friendly with the girl, but still feels slightly intimidated by the calculating and sarcastic blonde despite the fact that she’s a few years younger than Aelin herself, so maybe Rowan is the safer choice.

Fenrys comes back into the room just as she takes her seat.

“Move your feet, Blackbeak,” he demands as he hands her a glass of sparkling water, it’s chilled with a couple of cubes of ice and she appreciates it.

Manon lifts her legs for Fenrys to sit, but plops her legs back down across his lap immediately and sticks her tongue out at him as she does. Aelin feels herself smile at the display, and the fact that she’s included in this circle of friends. She hasn’t really made an effort with anyone new since Sam, the only people she’s really spoken to are Elide, Lysandra and Aedion, and they were all there for her before Sam. It feels really damn good.

She really, really, doesn’t understand the rules of football, but it’s easy enough to cheer along when the others do and laugh at their outrage when something doesn’t go their way. It’s the most animated she’s seen Rowan so far, and she’s not quite sure which way their allegiances lie, but it’s probably with the Ravens being in Rifthold and all, and she knows her own is.

Everytime Aedion gets the ball or is shown on screen she can’t hold back the cheers. She’s proud of him and she knows how hard he works to be as good as he is, and even knowing as little as she does, it's special to watch him excel.

Rowan and Fenrys both seem a little starstruck that he’s her cousin, to her he’s just Aedion and they’re the real, scary celebrities, but they gush about him like starstruck little boys.

“And you were at his house last weekend?” Fenrys cries, almost outraged that this is the first he’s ever heard of it, but honestly? They’re both Ashryvers; it’s not like it's a secret.

“Yes,” she laughs. “He’s basically like my brother.”

“Gods, Aelin.” He sounds almost pained that she hasn’t brought this up before. “You've been holding out on us! Please give me his number or introduce me or something.”

“Sorry.” She laughs again and throws a smile to Rowan that he returns with another quirk of his lips. “Invite me earlier next time and I’ll ask him to sort a box for us at the stadium.”

“Seriously?” Even Rowan sounds awed now.

“Yeah, just let me know,” she says. “It’s no big deal.”

It really wouldn't be, Aedion has been telling her for years to invite any friends she wants to games, she would just need some friends outside of him, Lysandra and Elide first.

“It’s definitely a big deal,” he says, watching her with a smirk still playing on his lips.

She shrugs. “Just make sure you text me early next time.”

“Oh, I will,” he says, and she has to look away from him. The way his voice curves around the words, all low and intense, is definitely about more than just the game.

She tries to pass it off as just looking to where Fenrys is cheering loudly at the next play, but Manon is there again, looking at her with such a knowing expression that she immediately focuses back on the TV.

At half time she needs to use the bathroom and Rowan gives her a quick rundown of the layout of the house. She’s quick to do her thing and runs by the kitchen afterwards to grab a refill of her drink and find something to eat.

Rowan had told them all to help themselves, explaining that he felt they had as much right as he to poke through the cupboards in the only just filled rental property and she gets it. The places the studio rent out for them are nice enough, and she’s more than grateful that they do, but it’s never quite home. Even if her home is somewhat impersonal, it’s still home.

She’s on her tiptoes, scanning through the relatively well stocked cupboards on the hunt for anything chocolate, when someone enters the kitchen behind her.

“I know I said help yourselves, but you’re going to eat me out of house and home at this rate.”

It’s Rowan, and he leans against the doorframe as he watches her startle and spin to face him, his legs are crossed at the ankles and his arms are folded over his chest. The pose highlights his powerful arms that she wants to be wrapped up in again and he looks really good in the dim lighting of the kitchen. It bounces off the lines of his tattoo, shining and highlighting the swirls that she can barely look away. She wants to ask what it means.

Aelin scoffs and pushes the cupboard door shut gently, they’re not eating that much and if they are it’s definitely not her, Fenrys and Manon are another story.

“There’s nothing stopping you from kicking us all out,” she says and he laughs, shaking his head.

He tilts his head to the side, his gaze picking her apart by the second before he says “maybe not all of you.”

His words and the way he shifts in the doorway as his eyes run her up and down gives her the confidence to bite her lip and look up at him through her lashes. He pushes off the door frame and comes to lean against the counter by her side.

He opens a cupboard door on her other side and rummages through a shelf before handing her a foil packet.

“I have a feeling this is what you were after.”

She accepts the chocolate and tucks it onto the counter at her side as she mirrors him and leans against it too.

“Unsurprisingly, you’d be correct.”

He presses his lips together before his lips twist again, it’s the same expression from before that she knows means he wants to smile but he can’t quite commit, and she feels her body loosen like she wants to lean forward to press into him. She doesn’t though.

What she does instead is take a sharp breath and a step back. “Thanks.” She waves the bar of chocolate in the air before stepping around him and making her way back into the living room, forcing her steps to seem calm and collected as she feels his gaze heavy on her back.

“Anytime.” His words follow her out of the room, they’re a promise.

Luckily, Fenrys and Manon both ignore it when Rowan follows her and retakes his place next to her.

[stargazer-sims]

@dandylion240 this is for you!

Yukito "Mochi" Matsumoto (Good - Bookworm - Goofball)

Pronouns: he/him

Sexuality: homosexual

Yukito got his nickname "Mochi" because he's soft and sweet. His sister stuck him with that nickname when he was a young teen, and it's become so common for people to call him by it that many people he knows actually think Mochi is his name (and they secretly wonder what his parents were thinking).

He comes from a close-knit middle class family. His mom is a psychologist and his dad is a mechanical engineer. He has two siblings, an older sister and a younger brother. He loves spending time with his family, especially his mother and older sister, who he’s particularly close to.

Mochi knows Yuri, Seiji and Takahiro, as they were all in the same class together in school. He had a secret crush on Taka, but never pursued it because he felt that Taka would not see him as his type. (btw he's not Taka's type.) He's had a lot of dates, but hasn't had a long-term relationship yet. He thinks he might be in love with the idea of being in love with another friend and former classmate, Tatsuki, but Tatsuki has serious commitment issues and Mochi is worried things would be too complicated.

He's a soft-spoken guy, but he's definitely not shy or introverted. He loves to socialize and has a sometimes offbeat sense of humour, and really enjoys funny, harmless practical jokes. He laughs a lot and is generally quite a happy person. His favourite pastime is reading, and he'll devour any kind of book from biographies to manga, although his favourites are romance and historical fiction. He loves watching anime too, and is a bit of a geek. Another one of his hobbies is collecting action figures and stuffed animals. He also loves to shop.

Mochi's style might best be described as "soft boy". He loves to look cute, and enjoys dressing up. He likes pastels, big comfy sweaters, bow ties and Converse.

He's a physically demonstrative person, and is definitely a hugger. Given the chance, he'd happily crawl into his partner's lap to cuddle or hop in the the bath with them.

He's a librarian, which is his dream job. Being around books all day and helping people discover the joy of reading and learning new things is something he's very passionate about.

He's fascinated by robotics and artificial intelligence, and wants to build up his handiness and robotics skills to the point where he can some day build his own android companion.

He speaks two languages; English and Japanese. His English is very good, but not perfect, and sometimes he forgets the words for things and has to ask Koichi or another English speaker who may be nearby.

His favourite colours are pink, purple and blue. His favourite holidays are Spooky Day (because candy and costumes!) and Winterfest (Christmas) His birthday is 10 February.

Justice Romario West (Loves the Outdoors - Self-Assured - Dance Machine)

Pronouns: he/him

Sexuality: pansexual

Justice is an only child. He grew up with his single dad, who is a physical education teacher and scout leader. Justice’s mom passed away from cancer when he was three, and he doesn’t remember her. His dad never found a new partner, and Justice was always okay with that.

Justice met Koichi and Yukito when he decided to take a year to travel internationally, and came from his home in Newcrest to Mt. Komorebi on a working holiday visa. When he first went there, he was staying at a youth hostel, but it wasn't long before his new friends invited him to be their roommate. Because he's confident and adventurous and sometimes a bit impulsive, he agreed, and things have been going great for the three friends ever since.

Justice is a sporty guy. He loves to be active and enjoys all kinds of sports such as basketball, swimming, skiing and cycling. His favourite physical activity is dancing, and he's good at it. He can often be found in the club on the weekends, putting on a show of his spectacular dance moves. He enjoys music and would like to learn how to play the guitar. He also likes adventuring in the great outdoors, and likes camping and hiking. He's an amazing cook and likes to try new recipes.

He works as a fitness coach and personal trainer, which is a job he's really happy with and excels at. He's always trying to get his friends to work out with him, but Mochi is not sporty at all, and Koichi hates to sweat. Mochi will often agree to work out or play some sport with him, though, despite being terrible at it.

Justice's style is casual. He typically wears jeans and t-shirts or sweaters, and he often wears sweatpants or shorts. He doesn't really like dressing up, but he cleans up very nicely when he does.

He's outgoing and makes friends easily, and is the sort of person who will casually touch people on the hand or arm when he's talking to them. He's had various partners, but none of his relationships have lasted for more than a year, and most lasted about four or five months. He's looking for someone who can keep up with his energy, or who can persuade him to come down to their energy level.

He speaks three languages; English, French and Japanese.

His favourite colours are yellow and red. His favourite holiday is Harvestfest. His birthday is 17 April.

Koichi Shiba (Creative - Neat - Squeamish)

Pronouns: he/him

Sexuality: bisexual

Koichi comes from a privileged background and is used to moderate wealth and the lifestyle that goes with it. His mother is a prominent cardiac surgeon, and his father is a businessman who owns a small chain of electronics/technology stores (think The Source). He was brought up by his tutor and his nanny just as much as by his parents.

He is Kenji Okamoto's personal assistant. He was also in school with Mochi, Yuri, Taka & Seiji, but he's two years older than them and was therefore a couple of grade levels ahead. He got to know Mochi from being in chess club together. Now, the two of them are best friends and practically inseparable. He has ongoing contact with Yuri as well. Being Yuri's father's assistant, he's frequently around the family. Yuki is his favourite of the Okamoto family, and he often looks after her. Yuki has a little crush on him, which Koichi thinks is adorable.

He's somewhat on the shy side. He'll happily talk to new people, but they have to make the first move because Koichi wouldn't typically walk up and introduce himself to a stranger in a non-work setting. He's friendly, but not as outgoing as his roommates, Justice and Mochi, and he finds it harder to make friends than they do. He's a kind, gentle guy who likes to help others.

He's highly organized and routine-oriented, liking everything to be clean, tidy and orderly. He doesn't do well with anything messy, and can get nauseous at the slightest provocation (bad smells, mud on his shoes, dirty dishes being left out, soggy food, etc.) He hates being sick and turns into a huge baby whenever he's under the weather, much to the amusement of Mochi and Justice.

Koichi's style is preppy and "business casual". He tends to dress up even when he doesn't have to, and always likes to look fashionable.

Some of his pastimes include chess, reading, playing video games, shopping, and going to the spa. His favourite kind of books and films are historical romances and biographies. He's learning to play the piano and he's also learning how to do cross-stitch.

He's not as physically demonstrative as his friends, and would typically not be the first to offer physical affection, although he'd be comfortable with it if someone approached him with an offer of physical affection. He prefers to be approached gently, and is not into the kind of tackle-hugs that Mochi likes to give to the people he cares about. The sort of things Koichi enjoys the most are holding hands, walking with his partner's arm around his waist or shoulders, and shared baths.

Koichi has been in one serious relationship. Currently, he's content to date casually until he meets The One.

He’s fluent in both English and Japanese, a skill that his employer often praises him for.

His favourite colours are white, yellow and royal blue. His birthday is 8 December, and his favourite holiday is Winterfest (Christmas) despite his birthday being so close to it.

[nightguide]

intent is knowing beauty on the face is removed once known, like i don't speak from the books anymore,

like when learning the Qur'an, it got to the point where i quit reading all of them (i went agnostic to learn about the books more in depth promising i would get back to it once i known peace) and Anson resonated to me as someone who has more tranquility than grace (i always see that first when looking for a partner naturally to learn from to feel safe feeling removed from the world known without love via sex) and Anson was the man (@advicewithanson on instagram); he came across as a man wanting to learn more about the world by heartbreak as he came between strength and death (why i fell in love with him).

Anson is like the type of man i would end up with so i stayed with peace when knowing love from him (via intuition) is how i make myself at home knowing my dream come true (any girl can imagine that) and dare i say i hoped for the best when it did not go to plan, he looks sexy as i know i see his potential for being as his music came to my remedy that i fell in love with the enemy to make peace (autism in me makes me conditionally married to being a theologan before belief in the books comes to me as a believer before i become of age by theory on TV making me (my Dad originally intended me to get married to someone famous for that reason only) and how i saw Anson was that i put my Dad first in what he would have wanted if he was a villager (it's like a multi-tasker for highly intuitive creatives as they are with language, like Anson would have been well trained than looking like a dumbass with his humour being more comfortable around Pakistan than in America than i sooner than later realise what did not go to plan and i went with it). My Dad (may Allah raise his peace and forgiveness), would have definitely loved about his hands and speech of a machine gun able to make upgrades to a car much than he can (because knowing he is a Virgo sun with an Aries moon, he loves that how my Dad (Capricorn Sun, Virgo moon) would have loved about how his intuition comes at a cost despite his Scorpio rising making him look good for combat if not, his half Brazilian side would have looked too imaginary for a Pakistani man's fetish (knowing what you know about my Dad about his intuition being on Doctor Who rn (shoutout to NPH for being that guy X), Anson is easily said than forgotten if not for how i was abused right back because Islamic repentance learned the hard way was that nothing gives but earned and learned to no default, so i lived as a mind and he moved with time and now i see him like my father's grave (like i talked to myself like i was documenting my life for him as i do crave and learned the begetting ways of drowning in love with knowledge than love for a man to see how i lived despite how i died to make ends meet to see my career trapped if not, a confident american-pakistani (he would have called himself) is the splitting image of my own father (now his emotional equal like he met his death) is him but the Brazilian is him being in his own element if not, cancelling out Will Smith in the middle if i was known to be his wife, he would have had it any day (even Will Smith intuitively says that he was naked and Anson Seabra was that amount of sass that got away is how the world ended for him right now knowing i am typing his regalia (never removed his name) but Anson was the Prince's ego enough that he eventually eat the actual singer songwriter alive out of believing in a God to now Rogers Nelson agnostic to Tom Carlisle Walker's arabic (as his music shits on him for being that to Sinead O' Connor in real life (why she went Muslim)

MISGUIDANCE MEANS ANYTHING

[aeempress]

Apritello Express Evidences, part 1

Greetings, Apritello enthusiasts and attention! Here comes a loong post is written by totally nerd. You've been warned. Here we go.

The thing is that Apritello is a double-edged sword. The series shows us established friendship of these two, give us a lot of content with them. We can see development of relationship through interaction between the characters, their reaction about the situations they are put in. We can sense their synergy and bound through the show.

Donnie and April have incredible chemistry, and both options, brotp and otp seems fine to me.

But let me tell you why I ship them.

Apritello is the kind of pairings, which consists of small details, hints, that's hidden, but if you're sharp and attentive one, you will notice that. Apritello has a strong foundation: the best friends trope.

And from the very beginning, it works as planned.

When I start watching show, I could say that April and Donnie are best friends. It is worth noting that April is like an older sister to the other brothers, more of a sisterly figure than a friend, but with Donnie she behaves somewhat differently, namely, as best friend. Obviously, she sets him apart from his brothers, although girl tries to pay attention to all of them equally. And Donnie behaves as well.

Dee's battle shell designs for April needs as well as his. His shell transform into comfy spot for taking ride for April. Special and only for her. Because his bros are not supposed to use it (at least, he carries no one on his back), Donnie carries them by his techno-bó or his limbs.

This tiny detail shows his special treatment to her. April is a very, very special occasion to D. Don does care about her comfort, he accept the way she is. Donatello does not try to prevent her from participating in their affairs because he respects her decisions and is pleased that April can be shoulder to shoulder with him.

D is glad to be at her service.

Yeah, Dee's still playing cool, he has image to perform as tough and coolheaded guy. So Don doesn't show his intentions, interest and feeling to other people (he's tryin', but fails). Because his actions matter. They are always small, hidden, but meaningful.

April, in return, trusts Dee and depends on his tech, even knowing what his inventions are the opposite of success (usually).

Go on. Look at Donnie's facial expressions and body language when April is near.

Donnie seems more relaxed when she's around, happier. His emotional response is always different from his brothers ones.

Oh, and look, he wanted to be first to give her a high three.

They worry about each other. Look at Don. He does worry about her way more than his brothers. Yeah, they all want to protect her, but Donnie is more expressive.

Mayham has no particular sympathy for the brothers: he is afraid of Raph and behaves aggressively, he is indifferent to Leo and Mikey. Mayham immediately takes a liking to April. And then the details come back: he let Donnie touch his neck. The most vulnerable place for any living creation, for a second. Let him to study an important vial without any hesitation. Mayham depends on April trust for Donnie. When everything goes wrong for Don, the little doggie comes to his rescue, just as April would have done. Is the hint transparent enough?

We can see links with "A mystic library", wher�� Donnie begins to look for solutions to save April's pet. Yes, this may seem like his next leap, "sit down, I'm smart, and now I'll solve all the problems, watch and learn," but Don says one phrase that opens up the veil of the second plan, what happens behind the scenes. "My illiteral colleagues and I was conducting a mustic research, with a life of the beloved pet, hanging in a bounce".

Strange wording, Donatello. Beloved pet? Not yours, as we can see. I can say, that everything in this sentence is true, but Donnie and Mayham has something more.

Continue. Next episode "Origami tsunami". Interactions are kept to a minimum, as April herself appears for a maximum of 5 minutes in the series itself. But devil is always in the details, dear friends.

When April was attacked and hung up, the only one who excitedly called out to her was Donny. Raph is furious that the thieves have escaped, Leo is frustrated that their plan has failed, and Mikey is worried about the salami.

Yeah, we didn't see his worries about her when she fell, because Donnie is on the mission and must be coolheaded turtle, and second, he's calm because now April life is safe and sound, out of the danger.

Dear passangers, Apritello Express arrives to the next station - episode "War and Pizza".

Bare facts:

1. April has Donnie's number on an emergency call.

2. "Anything for you"

3. Donnie is the reason why Alberto knows April's name.

No one calles April by her name (except for Donnie, while phone call, but Alberto wasn't nearby) it was "Captain O'Neil" by her chief, her badge seems blank. And yeah, you can say, that's just economy of budget, but I assure you: in the first episode we were shown the name of the delivery guy. The animators were not lazy bones and wrore "Stewart" on his badge. So if something isn't there, then it either shouldn't be there, or it really isn't, that's how this show works.

So, the reason explained in the episode. When Al has short circuit, parts of its new code flashed through its mind.

Info about April was in its memory, in its code. Alberto was a lame animatronic, and it seems somewhat outdated. I do really doubt about Alberto is being something smartass machine with complicated AI like Freddy's Pizza's ones. Quite questionable. Donatello fix Al's brain and wrote code, synchronize with his remote control. He put information about Cap O'Neil into animatronic's head. All this pictures are kind of massage: "You was created for birthday celebrations. You are machine, and there concepts of "life" and "birth". Do great party for this birthday kid and April won't be like this". Or, something like that.

So Alberto did - do a memorable party. And he do what his creator programmed him to do, but in his way.

4. In other words, Alberto was a tool to impress April. Don flaunts himself in front of her, stating how he did the upgrade while doing the upgrade, even though April is fully aware of his tech wizard. And his abilities supposed to help Cap O'Neil to finish the birthday party, so she will stay at her job, not fired. All thanks to Donnie and his upgrade Alberto. (Or not)

By the way, Donnie was the last to leave April in ruined "Alberto's". And it's not an isolated case, it is a pattern.

5. They understand each other without words.

First, Donny came at her at the speed of light. Second, she hadn't even finished speaking before Dee was taking Al apart. Third, their chaotic, well-coordinated work? Donnie was a distraction (although he wanted to just take a break from the battle or let Alberto's guard down, while April just knocked him out). Donnie and April are great team, and sometimes the DonniexApril team is much more precise, coordinated, and interdependent than the DonniexBrothers one.

D&A feel each other and anticipate each other's actions, their skills complement each other, creating an incredible synergy of their interaction. They act as a whole, while it's not always possible with his brothers, even though they're family and know each other the way more Donnie know April. And Dee hasn't trained with cap O'Neil.

Donatello didn't show his crush for April. No puppy, loving eyes, no lovey-dovey speeches, no planning schemes (at least, the audience don't see one) . He just want her attention, but stays cool and hidden. D is already her BFF, but still.

The same thing is claimed in 5B episode - Mascot Melee. Donnie has no problems with interaction with idol of his childhood - Atomic Lass. She'd put Leo in a stupor, but Donnie? He playfully challenges her to a dance duel. Yes, he adores this character, who may have become his measure of the attractiveness of others to Donatello, determined his type. But still, he's playing all cool and confident guy, he's really smooth with girls, so you will never see a puppy loving eyes from him. Only two things can betray him at this point: his voice and his body language. Remember, how's soft his voice became for Atomic Lass? Now I want you to remember the scene before, in turtle tank, when April sent guys a meme.

D is the first to respond to the message, despite the fact that Mikey is sitting closest to the screen. And the responding is a little too emotional for this situation, don't you think?

And this face of his. And he comments it. He likes her sense of humour.

The only difference between April and Atomic Lass is that the first one is a real girl who is a friend of their family, practically a member of it; and the other one is just a fictional character. It is easier to say about love for a fictional character, because it brings less problems for a teenager, especially when he is living with three brothers and a father who likes to tease as well. Donatello needs to be careful and outline the area of emotions he could show, so that he does not get hurt.

Now, dear passangers, we are returning to the previous episode, shall we?

Donnie presents to his brothers his precious Turtle tank, but she's gone, and it's really necessary to find out, who has taken her. And the first person to suspect is April.

Something is odd, don't you think? Yeah, Raphael has taken tyre for their "Midnight special", Leo claimed that Donnie's stuff is common, but they are D's beothers. It's natural for family to borrow(stole) stuff of each other. But this trend was not observed in April. She would never steal anything from Donnie, much less steal anything from him.

Actually, there is a good, logical and solid explanation here. April was number 1 in Donatello' suspect list, because he simply told her about Turtle tank. His brothers didn't know he were working at Moon buggy, except Mikey (Orange helps Dee get the vehicle from Repomantis), but they didn't know what exactly Donnie was working for. They didn't know he build the Turtle tank, he kept it a secret, to surprise his brothers. But April knew.

- Alright you! Where's our turtle tank?

- Hi, DONNIE. You have 9 seconds to say, why are you just broke my door.

- Someone's stole Donnie's turtle tank.

- Haha-ow, I see. As your best friend, you naturally suspect me.

- She gets it!

- Oh-ho, don't give me that! You're the only one could taken it!

The only one, because she knew about it.

As Splints said in this episode - "April is not a snitch"

Donatello does trust April and share with her both, sorrows and joys. But we are not shown this directly. We do not see the action itself, we do not see their calls and conversations on the phone late at night, we only see the consequence. We have no choice and take it as a given.

And the way she cooled him down? Fast, efficient, and Donnie seems to used to it. Moreover, she slapped everyone, but still, she throw Don out of window the last. However, why such a large time delay between him, being slapped and him, was throwing out of the window?

And my favourite scene. It was obvious that Donnie had taken the hardest hit (judging by his scream and the way he was putting his knuckles back in place). Don then claims that their inner circle is secure, Mikey tries to make amends for everyone, and April agrees, blowing them a kiss and closing the window. Cute and mean, isn't it? (You're cute! but mean! why do I always go for your type?! - ep. War and Pizza)

Nota bene: Donnie wouldn't apologize to April. Tough, not caring badass boy image, remember? Even to best friends. It's hard to him to express his feelings by using words, he cannot do it in proper way. But he has Mikey, who is so alike inner him. Michelangelo apologizes not only for himself, but for D mostly, because D starts suspected April.

Let's continue: the episode 8B: Hypno Part Deux

• Donnie put "Donnie's blocker" at April's phone to protect her.

It's common thing that your friend install some programs or apps on your device. But you will always ask your friend to do such a favour, and you will always know about what, when and where were installed on your phone.

And April didn't know Donnie had done something with her phone. It was a real surprise for her, to see blocker with "Donnie says no-no-no".

And you know, the interface of his app. The way he tell this current phrase. Donnie could put a huge banner "THE APP YOU WANT DOWNLOAD TO IS A REAL PIECE OF GARBAGE", as usual antiviruses do. But no, voice interface. It makes the app more personal and thoughtful. Because when Don made gifts for his brother, the program was voiced by a computer-generated female voice. Yes, the tank's interface is voiced by Donatello himself, but his voice sounds more like Google than the real Don. And, we talking about HIS BABEY, for a second. Bit still, the point remains.

• Also, Dale.

Dale is nerdy boy in purple, wow, how convenient for making a parallel with certain purple turtle.

But thing is, April doesn't like Dale. He's clingy, remora guy, who has a little obsession with April, even he's not harmful, still, such behaviour freaks girls (and not them only) out. Her classmate is usually tell her what April O'Neil is "his favourite person" and he loves her. There is little that is attractive about this behavior.

So, there is nothing new and unpredictable here that Dale was rejected. Because April didn't, doesn't and won't like him because of his lame personality and strange behaviour. Our girl in yellow do right thing: she clearly sets personal boundaries and does not allow any dubious personalities to invade them. So that's the reason she refuses to go on a date with him at the end. He's weird, obsessed, and she doesn't like him.

Donatello, as far as I concerned from different versions of TMNT, was always a little obsessive with some things. And, you know, putting a blocker inside your best friend's phone seems a little weird, because it's, in simple words, violation of privacy and personal space. And there are people who may regard this as stalking or sorta.

Yeah, for the most part, he gets away with it, not only because April's focus is in a different area, but also because their bond is stronger than April's with anyone else at school.

She has known him for years. Donnie is her best friend. I can't say that it's fine to her when Dee violates her personal space - her phone, but April can accept Donatello's personality in general.

And he does really have good intentions. Donnie installed this blocker, developed by himself only for one reason: to protect personal space April from fishy apps from nowhere, from being hacked and etc. Don knew her too well, how much she depends on stupid apps that will distract her. He also knew well, that he can't be with her 24/7 to fix problems with April's phone, so Dee put a part of himself to prevent any harm in the future.

And again, "Donnie's gifts"'s vibes. Donatello genuinely cared about April, because he wrote, coded, developed, designed, and dubbed it, turned on the database, and installed it all on April's phone. 'cause, you know, writing programs in general is a bit of a hassle, but writing an antivirus is much more difficult, because viruses are changing, and questionable applications are finding ways to bypass. Do you feel how much effort Dee put in for her?

But Donatello didn't mean to fix April, as he tried to do with his brothers. Purple turtle accepts this girl the way she is, and tries his best to play smoothly with April, by adjusting, not being passive aggressive jerk. It's his outstanding way to show his caring nature, soft side.

Remember, small but meaningful actions.

Maybe, Donnie also can foresee that April may be forced to download some suspicious program, but still, it work: he managed to prevent April being hypnotized, even if couldn't be physically with April at the this moment - Dee was working for Repo Mantis, building dog's paradise for Todd. That's why, by the way, Leo and Raph were dragged into this whole situation. Mayham would teleported literally anyone to help his hostess. Donnie just wasn't at the Lair at the moment.

And on this note, we'll take a break for now. Stay tuned, expect parsing of the series, there's a lot to discuss.

Part 2

Part 3

[ayatosmlktea]

best boyfriend series | bokuto

A/N: thank you very much bri for making this banner after I gave up! We all know bokuto is the worlds best boyfriend, and if you don’t agree I hope this convinces you!

Tags: @bakugoustanaccount @hoekaashi

I got really carried away with the backstory aha oops

‧͙⁺˚*·༓☾　　☽༓·*˚⁺‧͙

- You and bokuto meet your first year of high school, you happen to get stuck together during orientation and you like his talkative extroverted nature

- You end up being in the same homeroom together while you situate yourself in a seat near the back of the class by the window bokuto makes his way over to you and sits down next to you

- You guys shared one other class, science, one of your better subjects and one of his worst, so you spend lots of time helping him understand the work

- The humour flows really well between the two of you, you enjoy his company as much as he enjoys yours and more than once you guys get called out for goofing off too much

- Lots of moments are spent where he’s making you laugh so hard you have to keep it all in and your cheeks burn from how hard you’re smiling

- You guys text each other outside of class, he asks for help doing the english homework which results in you guys calling each other and laughing over him pronouncing the vocabulary

- He finds your laugh the cutest thing he’s ever heard and goes out of his way to make you laugh ever opportunity he has

- He asks you to come to a few of his volleyball practices - to show off obviously- he lives for the praise you give him but you know this so you often tease him for his mistakes just to see him pout although you’re always sure to remind him that he’s talented

- During his games when he nails a really good spike he’ll search you out in the crowd after and seeing you cheer him on excitedly makes him feel like he could play 100 matches and not get tired

- It’s the end of his second year when bokuto begins to realize that he likes you as more than a friend, that the erratic beating of his heart is because he has feelings for you that go deeper than platonic friendship it makes him nervous

- He starts to notice the things he didn’t pay attention to before like the way you bite your bottom lip when you’re deep in concentration or the way your eyes shine when he makes you laugh

- The nervous shy smile you get when he pulls you into him so you don’t get bumped into in crowded spaces

- He’s never gotten jealous over another guy touching you before but Konoha clearly trying to flirt with you sparks something in him to make you his

-Bokuto starts to think about how his life would be if you weren’t in it and comes to the realization that you’re different from his other friends, he sees you as something more but he’s scared to ruin the relationship you have and doesn’t think you would ever think of him that way

- Spends the entire summer thinking about being in a relationship with you and there were many times he hyped himself up to text you and tell you but every time he backed out

- He doesn’t think you’re in his league, especially when you showed up on the first day of your third year looking like an absolute goddess, you guys hadn’t hung out at all that summer and he almost didn’t recognize you

- Your smile is different than before, it makes his whole body tingle with nervous excitement, its brighter like you’ve become more confident in yourself and he can see why

- He thinks you’re absolutely radiant

‧͙⁺˚*·༓☾　　☽༓·*˚⁺‧͙

- The day he asks you out comes when you’ve stayed late after school to work on a project

- You both finish at the same time, he insists on walking you home like he’s always done before

- You hadn’t planned on leaving this late and were met with a cold wind upon exiting the building

- Bokuto quickly bounded up to you offering you his volleyball jacket which you gladly took without a second thought, it was something you’d done a hundred times before but this time had Bokuto wishing that he could grab your small hand in his and pull you in for a kiss

- “Bo? You good?” you inquire waving your hand in front of his face calling his attention back to the present

- You notice that he’s fidgeting more than usual and he looks ..kinda constipated

- You were no stranger to calling Bokuto out when he started getting weird and in his head so you stopped walking and turned to face him telling him to spill whatever was on his mind

- Bokuto’s eyes widen clearly not expecting to have been called out so soon, you can see the uncharacteristic indecisiveness swimming in his eyes and it makes you start to feel uneasy

- You were expecting him to say something about not wanting to be friends anymore, you knew you had changed over the summer and maybe he didn’t like who you were now

- What you weren’t expecting was for him to practically scream a confession at you

- When he was done you both stared at each other, you not knowing what to say and in shock at the fact that the guy you’ve had a crush on for 3 years has confessed that he feels the same way you do

- Your silence is his eyes indicates rejection and he feels as though he’s been kicked in the gut but he tells you to forget what he said and shoves his hands in his sweater pockets mentally berating himself for being stupid enough to think you would like him back

- You reach out and grab his elbow stopping him from walking away, you don’t say anything and instead stand on your tiptoes to place the softest kiss on his lips

- Both of your faces heat up but neither of you move away from each other, you whisper that you like him too and have liked him for years and he can’t help but laugh in relief

- He pulls you into a hug and spins you around before holding your face in both his warm hands and kisses you again making your headspin and your heart race

- The next day all your friends are relieved when you show up to school holding hands claiming that watching the two of you pine over each other so obviously and not doing anything about it was painful

- Bokuto as your boyfriend!!!! finally

- Bokuto is your #1 hype man, for everything

- Doesn’t matter how big or small it is he’s always happy when you succeed

- Every time you post a selfie on instagram he’s always the first one to comment in all caps exclaiming how beautiful you look

- Also the kind of boyfriend to make you stop when you guys go out so he can a bunch of pictures of you, tells you to pose, tells you how pretty you look with the sun making your skin and eyes pop

- He kisses you every chance he gets, just peppers your face with kisses because his heart is overflowing with so much love for you that he doesn’t know what to do with himself other than to express it through kissing you

- Loves skin to skin contact, when you’re lying in bed together he’ll lift your shirt up and press your back against his chest with his arms cuddling your stomach

- Screenshots every snapchat you send him, even the ones you think are ugly because he thinks you always look beautiful especially when you’re being dorky

- He loves going for hikes, being the active person that he is he’d def be down for a lot of outdoor activities

- Kuroo still has the pictures on his phone from when you all went down to the lake for the weekend and Bokuto tipped your kayak over. At the time you had been anything but happy with your clothes and hair soaking wet but the memory of it now made you chuckle

- Your size difference is his favourite thing about the relationship, you’re so small you barely reach his shoulders and it makes him feel fuzzy inside knowing that only he gets to hold you close against his big beefy chest

- Insists on paying for literally e v e r y t h i n g

- It doesn't matter how much money you make, he always wants to treat you because you’re his baby, don't bother trying to fight with him bc you're going to lose

- Not only can he physically overpower you from being able to read the machine to pass your card but he’ll just pull some shit out like “can’t a guy treat his beautiful girlfriend?”

- If you mention in passing something you’ve been craving like food/candy/snacks etc he’ll go get it for you, if he notices you are looking at something you've been wanting to get yourself for a while but are hesitating bc its too expensive or you don't think you deserve it - you got it, he’s going to buy it for you

- Everyday is valentine’s day for Bokuto so there’s never a day you don’t feel loved and cherished, he buys you new flowers every week with a cute note attached saying something he loves about you

- On the actual day, he just sees it as an excuse to go all out for you, breakfast in bed, your favourite chocolates and/or candy waiting for you in the kitchen, obviously he’s gonna insist on waking you up with his favourite meal...if you know what I mean

- He insists on picking you up from work when he has the chance, especially if you’re working late

- When he has to leave early for practice he spends the few moments he has between waking up and getting dressed to cuddle you, buries his face in your neck and enjoys the sound of you snoring softly

- Always kisses you goodbye, one on your forehead and one on your lips

- Sends you a good morning text so you wake up to something happy because he knows you get sad when you wake up and he’s gone all day

- If he has to leave the city for a game or something else work related he makes sure his side of the bed smells enough like him that isnt overpowering but is enough for you to hug while he’s gone and have some comfort

- Sends you pictures everyday until he’s back and while you learn to cope with him being gone he nevers sleeps right without you

- He misses you even more than you miss him, he’s a clingy baby and needs your validation that you love him as much as he loves you

- Everyone gets insecure sometimes, including Boktuo and when he’s having one of those days all he wants to do is lie his head down on your chest while you play with hair and cuddle

- Bokuto is the kind of guy who knows he’s going to spend the rest of his life with you, I feel like depending on his mood he’s either antsy to propose or he’s not in a rush because he’s enjoying the lives you two are leading right now

- He’s had the ring he’s going to use to propose to you with for a solid year before it happens

- I also feel like he’d do some shit like pull the ring out while you’re not looking and take a picture to show you on the days leading up to the proposal

- He’ll take you to the beach to watch the sunrise with you and although you’re cranky and complaining that it’s too early to be awake you know the view will be worth it

- What you aren’t expecting is for him to get really serious as the first splashes of blue and pink hit the horizon while he talks about how he never imagined you’d become so important to his life

- He recalls the moment he fell in love with you, it wasn’t anything romantic or particularly cute and it was a little embarrassing now that you think back on it but he remembers the two of you joking around during lunch and him making you laugh so hard you snorted out milk through your nose

- He doesn’t know what it was about that moment but it had stuck with him all these years, he talks about how he wants to spend every morning waking up to you, bed head and morning breath and all

- He thanks you for being so patient with him during his time growing up in high school, he tells you he’s grateful you were there for him when he was feeling the worst about himself

- He starts to choke up as he talks about knowing that he wants the spend the rest of his life with you and that he’ll spend everyday making you the happiest woman alive and making sure you know how loved and appreciated you are

- By the end you’re both crying and when you choke out a yes he grabs you into a tight bear hug and can’t stop smiling the rest of the day

[llendrinall]

Hello, Endrina, I hope you are well!

I was recently introduced to a new ship: Snarry. Never though I could like it, but the fics I read were very well written, so I can see potential now.

What are your thoughts on this ship (if you have any), would you ever write Snarry?

Actually, I'm asking this bc I miss your Snape. So maybe, the question is more, can we have more Snape?

Sending love and inspiration, tai <3

Hello, Tea.

I’m well. Busier than I would like, so I don’t have the focus I need to write long-form, but I’m doing very well. I even got my vaccine!

So, Snarry. It’s not a pairing I see myself writing. It has too many issues and some of my biggest squicks, like teacher/student relationships (god, no) and age difference. The age difference I can get past, because it’s so prevalent that I’m inured to it. I think most, if not all, of Jane Austen’s heroines have +-10 years difference, for example, so one learns not to pay attention. Still, it’s not a pairing that calls to me.

That said, while I won’t write it and it’s not my first reading choice, I have read it occasionally and I agree that the fics were quite good. They managed to make a difficult and very unlikely couple believable, so kudos to the authors. I just hope none of them pursue a career in politics or public relations.

You ask about Snape. The thing about him (and most of HP characters) is that there is an incoherent element to them.

Snape stands on the edge between hero and villain, between human and monster. Snape is a survivor of childhood abuse and teenager bullying, the poor dear. Snape became a supremacist and joined a terrorist group, the bastard. Snape is a horrible, horrible, teacher. Snape is the only remotely competent actor in the Order of Phoenix.

I actually think this is the reason why the HP fandom is so popular, after so many years, and still produces so many fics. Almost all characters have this tension (I’m actually struggling to think of a character without internal strain. Fleur, maybe?), this internal conflict as two things that cannot be exist in the same person. A character cannot stand that internal contradiction for long, and yet it is never resolved in the books. Was Dumbledore well meaning, if inefficient? Or was he a manipulative bastard?

Because the characters are left in that state of incoherence, we write fic and meta to resolve that tension. To do that, we have to choose some aspects and bury or hand wave others because they simply can’t cohabit. This means that when people say Snape was a creepy bastard who doesn’t deserve our good opinion, they are right. It also means that when I choose to see him a kinder light, as a flawed man who is denied the chance to heal from his trauma, I am also right.

My Snape.

What I like best about him is that he is a very efficient and unapologetic jerk. Even in the most positive portrayals (like The Secret Language of Plants) Snape is the personification of drinking orange juice after brushing your teeth. He doesn’t play well with others.

Because he is very efficient, there is the danger of going the Sherlock route (or House route, or… you know, any other show) in which his genius is used to justify him being a cruel prick (sidenote: I want more Sherlock fics in which John gently points out that when Sherlock does X thing or says Y he is hurting people’s feelings, and Sherlock adapting his behaviour in hilariously wrong but well-meaning ways). I prefer to use Snape’s cantankerous attitude to bring up conflict and humour. Snape is the man who will stab Lockhart to shut him up. He is also the friend you hex in an attempt to re-educate him into being a tolerable member of society.

What else? I see Snape as a gay man. The foggy ficlet I’m writing right now might be the first time where I am unsure, he may be bisexual there. Mostly, I prefer if his relationship to Lily is one of friendship. I actually think it’s nicer, and speaks better of him, if his heel-face turn is born out of friendship rather than a desire to save the life of the girl who got away. It’s still love, just not sexual or romantic love.

Some other thoughts about him.

- He is a bad teacher. Not that there are good teachers, since no one goes through teacher training, but he is bad and doesn’t like the job.

- He is a brilliant researcher and experimenter. He would be much happier in a university-setting where you can get away with not seeing students and at least the ones you are forced to see will be slightly interested in the subject.

- Canon Snape went through a lot of trauma and wasn’t allowed to heal. Instead he was picked up by Voldemort and Dumbledore to be used as they wished. If he had gotten away, even if he didn’t go to therapy, just time and distance would have done wonders.

- Despite his acerbic personality, Snape is very good at managing teams. We know that all the other Hogwarts’ houses gang up against Slytherin, and yet until Harry arrived, Slytherin had won the House Cup six times in a row. Six times. This can’t be attributed to Snape giving a disproportionate amount of points to his students, because he only has so many occasions to do so and in any case it would only work one time before the rest of the teachers started to give points by the hundreds. Either the Slytherin students were so good that other teachers, despite their animosity, were forced to recognize their talent; or Snape provoked the other houses to fight between them and grabbed the cup from under them. Either way, Snape is wasted in that school.

- No, really, who gets a bunch of teenagers and turns them into such a well oiled machine?

I want him to fake his death and go live in the French-Speaking side of Canada and finally get a chance to figure out who he is. And when Percy Weasley inevitably stumbles across him, they will simply nod at each other, share a look of “I’m so tired of their bullshit” and carry on without a word.

[ask-the-crimson-king]

More Stuff from Betrayer

[While on the topic, I want to show the various humans out there a very interesting scene out of Betrayer.

Two, technically, but one that's a bit longer than the other. Image IDs will be provided at the end of the post, cause there's going to be a LOT.

Some interesting insights into how Lorgar views Chaos and a bit about the Emperor as well. I always find this scene to be fascinating, especially since he's borrowed the astropathic choir of the Conquerer to listen to worlds dying across Ultramar while he muses on this.

And then there's when Angron walks up.

Some interesting, albeit a bit morbid, banter between brothers. I do like how Angron even greets Lorgar on the way in, and Lorgar is just standing there stunned. The insights into how Angron views the Devourers is also neat, and it is to be expected at this point. Lorgar trying to argue for them and trying to get Angron to stop ignoring them outright is another neat touch.

The two begin talking of Ultramar, and Lorgar reveals that Nuceria is going to be the capstone for his ritual. Angron asks why, and the following is said:

I like this passage for a few reasons. Firstly, how Angron "dreams" has always been something of interest to me. Because I doubt he ever really gets much rest and respite. Here we get some insight into this, although this also was already expressed a bit earlier. This passage also leads into Angron's recollection of the Night of the Wolf, but I wanted to focus on this.

Lorgar and Angron's "bond" is something that's always intrigued me. It definitely feels more one-sided, with Lorgar seeking for brotherhood that isn't really there, but there are a few moments to make it feel a bit more genuine. However, there is still something missing from these interactions. I can't really describe it other than a barrier between two primarchs who will never see eye-to-eye. Lorgar does, to his credit, try to be understanding and patient throughout, but I can also definitely feel his annoyance coming through at certain places.

In a way, I can almost feel a similar sort of vibe to how Magnus interacts with some of his brothers. Namely with Perturabo in one of the opening chapters of his primarch novel. However, the bond between those two is still very different from the one Angron has with Lorgar; those two actually do have a deep connection, while these two don't. There's a misunderstanding and underestimation coming from both sides in certain aspects; Lorgar in almost sounding condescending to Angron, and Angron still thinking Lorgar a weakling.

TL;DR, Betrayer good.

Image IDs below the cut:

Image ID 1 & 2: A scene from Betrayer where Lorgar is standing and listening to worlds burn. It reads:

Serving as conductor for an astrological orchestra was more taxing than he’d dreamed, though his blunter, more militant brothers would struggle to grasp the finer points of his efforts. Exhaustion left him wondering, even if only briefly, whether absolute peace would create a stellar song as divinely inspired as absolute war. Fate had played its hand and Chaos was destined to swallow all creation whether or not Horus and Lorgar raged against the Imperial war machine, but if what if they’d stayed loyal to the Emperor? What then? Would the Great Crusade have shaped a serene funeral dirge, to play behind the veil as humanity died in a defenceless harrowing?

Therein lay the fatal flaw. The Emperor’s way was compliance, not peace. The two were as repellent to one another as opposing lodestones. It didn’t matter what enlightenment the Imperium stamped out in its conquering crusade when obedience was all its lords desired. It didn’t matter what wars were fought from now into eternity. The Legiones Astartes would always march, for they were born to do so. There would always be war; even if the Great Crusade had been allowed to reach the galaxy’s every edge, there would never be peace. Discontent would seethe. Populations would rebel. Worlds would rise up. Human nature eventually sent men and women questing for the truth, and tyrants always fell to the truth.

No peace. Only war.

Lorgar felt his blood run cold. Only war. Those were words to echo into eternity.

He didn’t trust the Ten Thousand Futures the way Erebus claimed to. Too many possibilities forked from every decision made by every living thing. What use was prophecy when all it offered was what might happen? Lorgar was not so devoid of imagination that he needed the warp’s twisting guesswork to show him that. Anyone with an iota of vision could imagine what might happen. Genius lay in engineering events according to one’s own goals, not in blindly heeding the laughter of mad gods.

More than that, Lorgar sought to keep one thing in mind above all else. The gods were powerful, without doubt, but they were fickle beings. Each worked against its own kin more often than not, spilling conflicting prophecies into their prophets’ minds. Perhaps they weren’t even sentient in the way a mortal mind could encompass. They seemed as much the manifestations of primal emotion as they did individual essences.

But no, there was a wide gulf between hearing them and heeding them. Gods lied, just like men. Gods deceived and clashed and sought to advance their own dominions over their rivals’. Lorgar trusted none of their prophecies.

Image ID 3-5: A series of screenshots from Betrayer. Angron comes into the scene. It reads:

Angron entered the basilica, armoured in his usual stylised bronze and ceramite and with two oversized chainswords strapped to his back. He even wasted time with a greeting, raising his hand in the first time Lorgar could ever remember such a gesture from his broken brother. The Word Bearer tried not to let his amazement show at his brother’s new consideration.

‘Lotara says you stole her astropathic choir.’ Angron’s lipless smile was a ghastly thing indeed. ‘I see that she may have been correct.’

‘Stole is a strong word. “Appropriated” seems much less ignoble.’ Lorgar spared a glance for the skies above the cathedral, as the Lex ripped onwards towards Nuceria.

‘What do you need them for?’ Angron asked. His wounds from being buried alive had already faded to scrunched scar tissue pebbling his flesh, just another host of scarring to overlay the last.

The Devourers lurked behind him, stomping into the cathedral without the primarch sparing them a glance. To be one of Angron’s bodyguards was no honour, despite how fiercely the World Eaters’ champions had fought for it in the first, optimistic years. Angron ignored them no matter where they went, never once fighting alongside them in battle. In their Terminator plate, they’d never managed to keep up with their liege lord, and they were as prone to losing control as any other World Eater, meaning any hope of them fighting as an organised pack was a forlorn one at best.

Lorgar watched the Devourers – those warriors who’d spent a century learning to swallow their pride and pretend they weren’t ignored – speaking amongst themselves at the basilica’s entrance.

‘Hail,’ he greeted them. They seemed uneasy at being addressed, offering hesitant and wordless bows.

Angron snorted at his brother acknowledging them. ‘Bodyguards,’ he said. ‘Even their name annoys me. “Devourers”, as if I’d named them myself – as if they were the Legion’s finest.’

‘Their intentions are pure,’ Lorgar pointed out. ‘They seek to honour you. It’s not their fault you leave them behind in every battle.’

‘They’re not even the Legion’s fiercest fighters, any more. That rogue Delvarus refuses to challenge for a place in their ranks. Khârn laughed when I asked him if he’d ever considered it. And do you know Bloodspitter?’

‘I know Bloodspitter,’ Lorgar replied. Everyone knew Bloodspitter.

‘He beat one of them in the pits, and carved his name into the poor bastard’s armour with a combat knife.’

Lorgar forced a smile. ‘Yes. Delightful.’

Angron’s face wrenched again, at the mercy of misfiring muscles. ‘What primarch ever needed guarding by lesser men?’

‘Ferrus,’ Lorgar said softly. ‘Vulkan.’

Angron laughed, the sound rich and true, yet harsh as a bitter wind. ‘It’s good to hear you joke about those weaklings. I was getting bored of you mourning them.’

It was no joke, but Lorgar had no desire to shatter his brother’s fragile good humour. ‘I only mourn the dead,’ Lorgar conceded. ‘I don’t mourn Vulkan.’

‘He’s as good as dead.’ The World Eater smiled again. ‘I’m sure he wishes he were. Now, what are you doing with Lotara’s choir?’

‘Listening to them sing of other worlds and other wars.’

Angron stared, unimpressed. ‘Specifics,’ he said, ‘while I have the patience to hear such details.’

‘Just listen,’ Lorgar replied.

Angron did as he was bid. After a minute or more had passed, he nodded once. ‘You’re listening to the Five Hundred Worlds burning.’

‘Something like that. These are the voices of the freshly dead, and those soon to join them. The mortis-moments of random souls, elsewhere in Ultramar, as our fleets ravage their worlds.’

‘Morbid, priest. Even for you.’

‘We’re inflicting this destruction on them. We mustn’t consider ourselves distant from it. It may not be our hands holding the bolters and blades, but we are still the architects of this annihilation. It’s our place to listen to it, to remember the martyred dead, and to meditate on all we’ve wrought.’

‘I wish you well with it,’ said Angron. ‘But why steal Lotara’s choir? What happened to yours?’

‘They died.’

It was Angron’s turn to be surprised. ‘How did they die?’

‘Screaming.’ Lorgar showed no emotion at all. ‘What brings you here, brother?’

Image ID 6 & 7: Two screenshots from later in the previous scene, when Angron asks 'Why Nuceria?'. It reads:

‘The metaphysics are complicated,’ said Lorgar.

That had Angron growling. ‘I may not have wasted days in debate with you and Magnus inside our father’s Palace, but the Nails haven’t left me an absolute fool. I asked the question, Lorgar. You answer it. And do so without lying, if you can manage such a feat.’

The Word Bearer met his brother’s eyes, and the rarely-seen palette of emotions within their depths. Pain was there in abundance, but so was the frustration of living with a misfiring mind, and the savagery that transcended anger itself. Angron was a creature that had come to make his hatred a blade to be used in battle. He’d weaponised his own emotions, where most living beings were slaves to theirs. Lorgar couldn’t help but admire the strength in that.

‘We’re going to Nuceria,’ he said, ‘because of you. Because of the Nails.’

Angron stared, and his silence beckoned for his brother to continue.

‘They’re killing you,’ Lorgar admitted. ‘Faster than I thought. Faster than anyone realised. The rate of degeneration has accelerated even in the last few months. Your implants were never designed for a primarch’s brain matter. Your physiology is trying to heal the damage as the Nails bite deeper, but it’s a game of pushing and pulling, with both sides evenly matched.’

Angron took this with an impassive shrug. ‘Guesswork.’

‘I can see souls and hear the music of creation,’ Lorgar smiled. ‘In comparison, this is nothing. The Twelfth Legion’s archives are comprehensive enough, you know. Your behaviour tells the rest of the tale, along with the pain I sense radiating from you each and every time we meet. Your entire brain is remapped and rewired, slaved to the implants’ impulses. Tell me, when was the last time you dreamed?’

‘I don’t dream.’ The answer was immediate, almost fiercely fast. ‘I’ve never dreamed.’

Lorgar’s gentle eyes caught the warp’s kaleidoscopic light as he tilted his head. ‘Now you’re lying, brother.’

‘It’s no lie.’ Angron’s thick fingers twitched and curled, closing around the ghosts of weapons. ‘The Nails scarcely let me sleep. How would I dream?’

Lorgar didn’t miss the rising tension in his brother’s body language – the veins in his temples rising from scarred skin, the feral hunch of the shoulders, no different from a hunting cat drawing into a crouch before it struck.

‘You once told me the Nails stole your slumber,’ Lorgar conceded, ‘but you also said they let you dream.’

Angron took a step closer. He started to say ‘I meant…’ but Lorgar’s earthy glare stopped him cold.

‘They give you a serenity and peace you can find nowhere else. Humans, legionaries, primarchs… everything alive must sleep, must rest, must allow its brain a period of respite. The remapping of your mind denies you this. You don’t dream with your eyes closed. You dream with your eyes open, chasing the rush of whatever peace the Nails can give you.’ Lorgar met Angron’s eyes again. ‘Don’t insult us both by denying it. You slaver and murmur when you kill, mumbling about chasing serenity and how close it feels. I’ve heard you. I’ve looked into your heart and soul when you’re lost to the Nails. Your sons, with their crude copies of your implants, have their minds rewritten to feel joy only in adrenaline’s kiss. Those lesser implants cause pain because they scrape the nerves raw, thus your World Eaters kill because it gladdens their reforged hearts, and ceases the pain knifing into their muscles. Your Butcher’s Nails are a more sinister and predatory design, ruining all cognition, stealing any peace. They are killing you, gladiator. And you ask why I’m taking you back to Nuceria? Is it not obvious?’

End Image ID.]

[lis-likes-fics]

⚓ships: Teen Wolf and The Vampire Diaries (male preference)

I'm 20, Biromantic Pansexual and Genderfluid (She/Him is my pronouns), and Southeast Asian. Chubby with short brunette hair and chocolate brown eyes, I may have introverted and awkward tendencies but actually deep, complex, and brilliant once you get to know me more. They always assumed I'm too nice, sweet, and very modest because of my religiosity, the truth is I'm sometimes hyper, giggly (laughing for stupid reasons), confident with my words, determined, procrastinator, laid-back, loud, funny, sarcastic, swears like a sailor, young-at-heart, clumsy, feisty and some people call me "cool" (for being chill but could managed to be a top student and an ambitious person), possessed an extreme anger issues because of my beliefs, overthinking, fears, insecurities, and pressure, crybaby, intimidating when I get snapped out and gets frightened so easily, yet I still recognize a soft spot for dumb jokes, cheesy pickup lines and prefer people with a good sense of humour who see myself as equal. I love arts, choir (I sing a lot,), poetry, karaoke, literature, history, makeup, beauty pageants, fun/deep/dumb conversations, expanding my knowledge in Christianity, documentaries (about saints), reading interesting stuffs, talking about social issues, and creative writing, chilling both indoors and outdoors.

Oh, wow! I can see you being shipped with Stiles Stilinski.

Stiles has very quick wit and he's very smart. Because of his own anxieties and socializing issues, I think he would have a lot of sympathy with you in whenever things became overwhelming. He would know how to handle you because I feel he would be able to identify with you. He's very protective of his friends and family, and is very steady in his beliefs (whatever they may be). You'd both be really good at supporting each other, learning the facts and fiction to be able to know how to handle a situation or issue. If someone put the two of you together, you would be firing off comebacks and witty remarks like a machine gun!

Thanks for the ask!