#not That bad....Could've Been Worse....at least it's the devil i know....just Have to deal with this; so i have to see the best in it

[unproduciblesmackdown]

also reminded like yeah billions is pretty incapable of depicting like moments of kindness, warmth, consideration even like wildly limited in the ways it does it & unconvincing to that point of like, exceedingly rare that anyone seems to genuinely enjoy anyone's company & these instances are probably for more "unimportant" dynamics & scenes. & it's not all about billions just Not being about nice heartwarming material or anything like yeah of course it isn't but it also definitely has that & does just Indulge sometime like yes you're supposed to go [aww] or whatever's close enough & at least does ask us to believe characters are affected & motivated by such things sometimes....but it's like oh shit the series that's yeah about Events hinging on Power but also asks about the interpersonal & emotional aspect of that where people are entitled to act upon others & others are treated as inferior but answers with just embracing there being superior & inferior groups but like hey we need the Really superior people with the power & the Really inferior people thusly more vulnerable....like nooo way that again like you just get victim blaming all around & best "good" characters can do is stay in the background as props for their Betters & best "bad" characters can do is Get Destroyed like whee that was so fun & validating of my superiority & power....nooo way that This Material is completely shit at showing anyone actually having a pleasant interaction with another character

like you get shit like how rian is just shown being flatout abusive just for funsies to winston & the comment on that is jeez rian you're being a bit too nice. rian only shown having a miserable time assigned with Just Sitting There so taylor can like say things at a character while billions writes wendy as too busy to remember taylor exists for a few months, except oh rian is afraid of how much she loves taylor & what magical times she had working in the same room for a season b/c billions was doing nothing else w/either character. oh taylor is just someone wendy remembers exists when she wants something from them & then she can cast them aside but otherwise she's in charge of taylor's life & enabling someone who treats them like his property is so important that if taylor deliberately outmaneuvers & thwarts her efforts in helping axe keep them trapped it was a real sicko immoral move from taylor that personally wronged her? her doing whatever she wants with taylor's life Regardless Of Their Consent was beautiful & necessary & so For Their Own Good thank you so much forever? great times on billions. & then like all wendy's beautiful complex romances being just. ungodly

like the Lovely Moments you can have on billions are spending money on someone, from axe's helpful bribing off of an ethics panel to taylor actually getting a thoughtfully personalized gift as a specific gesture for a friend, really wide range to that. &/or you can Tell Someone oh you're sooo superior to others. &/or it can be one of those scenes that are just invocations of Family(tm) or Romance(tm) & are just godawful wastelands lmao like this is miserable too. but isn't that lovely. isn't that What Really Matters. versus like glimmers of people acting like friends or actual peers who have basic consideration for each other & are sometimes being kind or having an actually good time interacting with this person like huh what is that. well who cares. back to wendy's relationship arc of the day

[aquaburst3]

One of the argument, fandom complaint, or whatever the hell you want to call it I've seen in the fandom lately is, "Why do people in the western fandom sympathize with Azul more than Vil?" To play devil's advocate, I think that's mainly thanks to how their backstories are written.

Azul's backstory is that kids picked on him for being fat and an octopus merman. This got to be so bad that he gained a lot of body image issues. After a certain point, he decided to change himself into a "better" to fuck the haters and to get back at them. That backstory is instantly relatable. Bullying someone for being fat or their race are very real and commonplace problems, so even if someone hasn't personally gone through something like that, they can at least understand where Azul is coming from.

Vil's is the exact opposite. The vast majority of us aren't celebrities or know anyone who is. So the concept of being an outcast because of taking villain roles and being so hot you are intimidating is very alien. (The reason why that is even a thing makes no sense. All of the characters in the game are inhumanely hot, so what the hell makes Vil such a special snowflake to be the only one singled out for that?) Hollywood typecasting is a thing. I won't deny that. The concept of kids bullying him based on only that is bizarre.

Plus, according to the flashback, the kids that picked on Vil for being like the characters he plays were around 10 or so. I think most people by that age would already know that actors aren't like the characters they play on screen. Hell, I'm surprised that Vil didn't pick on them for being that stupid.

What makes Vil come off even worse is the scene with him and his manger where he shoots down a role. To be honest, I always thought it made him come off as a spoiled diva whining about not getting exactly what he wants, especially when many IRL actors struggle to get any roles period. Being in a rescission puts that in an even worse light.

Don't get me wrong. Vil's one of my favourites in the whole game, but I do think aspects of his backstory and aspects of his character could've been written better.

I also think at the very least Vil and Neige should've been stepsiblings. If that was the case, then he would have to deal with becoming family with a guy he can't stand when he's a teenager and struggling to make things work for his father's sake. Hell, maybe his stepmother is like the Evil Queen who puts him down and lifts up her own son, who she forced into the industry to make her more money for herself like what happened with Jennette McCurdy. What I've just mentioned is a much more grounded conflict that a lot more people can relate with or at least understand than...that.

[theocddiaries]

"They can't order me to stop dreaming" or Why Cinderella isn't weak or a bad role model

Cinderella, as the other clasicall princesses, has been so overlooked. Sure, she doesn't stop a war like Pocahontas, saves her country like Mulan, saves her prince like Ariel and Belle, puts her foot down fiercely like Jasmine or confronts her abuser like Rapunzel did.

Which helps me elaborate my point: Rapunzel was able confront Mother Gothel because she has had growth outside her tower - where she has spent her 18 years of life, under narcissistic abuse and constant gaslighting - she has met many different people throughout her journey. She has seen thieves that were more than met the eye, has been treated kindly by Flynn, has had Pascal through thick and thin and was able to fulfill her dream of watching the lights first-hand. And later on, she could grow even more because she had her true parents, who loved her and never stopped believing she could come back to them.

Cinderella… Couldn't do as much (at least in the original 50's film, in the third one, she snapped at the stepmother and stood up to her).

Let's see what her life has been like: she had a loving mother, until she didn't. She had a loving father, until she didn't. And the only family she has left is an evil woman who has poisoned her biological daughters into believing their stepsister is the devil just because she was physically attractive. I dare to say she even envied the love Cinderella was given by his father, which meant 'less love' reserved for her, the wife. (Yes, it's sad, but there are parents like that).

So, Cinderella was left, from a very young age, to deal with solitude and ostracism in her own home. Her father remarried so she could have a loving mother, because he felt she missed a femenine figure in her life, and he chose wrong because abusers are just like that: they're chamaleons that won't show their true colours until they have you under their control. She can't count on her sisters because Tremaine has made sure to break the relationship even before it could be built.

The only things she has is her mice/birds friends and her dreams. She can't abroad these issues properly because of the time period and the lack of support system at home. How many children have gone through this? How many young and full-grown adults are dealing with the awful consequences of such upbringing - and even worse?

I didn't even realised I was verbal/emotional/mentally abused and neglected until very recently. And that's with the progress psychology has had in the last years. It's easy to judge actions of a past period with present eyes. We don't know what we'd have done had we been in that same situation in that time period, and being a woman, no less.

But coming back to Cinderella, I think she is one of the strongest princesses there is, not because she has done any of the brave things the princesses mentioned at the beginning of this rant had had in their movies, due to different backgrounds and personality traits. She could've turned bitter, mean, envious and cold-hearted, and instead, she remained good. That takes true courage. To still be good and see the good in people even when the ones who were supposed to take care and shelter you were the ones to bring pain upon you in the first place. Our homes and families, indirectly, shape the way we will perceive the world once we grow up and go into the real world. Since little, she has received nothing but dismissiveness, indifference and abuse, and yet, she never stops smiling, never stops believing, never stops dreaming.

Which lead us to a scene I think people overlook due to the famous song that comes afterwards. After her stepsisters ripped her dress - the last thing she has of her biological mother, mind you - so she can't go to a ball that was for everyone in the kingdom, she just breaks. Understandably so. (Which reminds me that she never wishes for a man or anyone to save her from her situation, at least, she wasn't vocal about it, but I'm sure she thought of it like anyone who has felt so alone, abused and hopeless, and there's nothing wrong with that. You have to do that before you realise you were strong all this time along). Seeing the shreds her late mother's dress is now, by the hands of her stepsisters, due to her stepmother's venomous tongue, is just too much for her.

She runs out and cries her eyes out, claiming that now "she doesn't believe in anything." And yet… her godmother appears, consoling her, replying: "If you truly didn't believe in anything, I wouldn't be here."

That right there, is the main example of Cinderella's true character and why she's so strong and why Tremaine wanted to make her forget about it: even when you stomp on her, repeatedly, relentlessly and mercilessly… She will always have some spark inside her, some voice, no matter how tiny, that refuses to give up hope and faith of a better future, of nice things coming her way.

That's Cinderella, that's her message. It's a story of inner strenght, of getting up each time people, life or your own mind kick you down. She's helping me a lot and I'm sure she is helping a lot of kids to this very day. Her story is inspiring, not only the Disney one, but the story of Cinderella in general.

In the original Latin Spanish dub, there's this beautiful adaptation of the lyrics to the song "A dream is a wish your heart makes", which I want to leave for y'all, for anyone who has had the kindness to read all this rambling about a fictional character.

"To dream is to wish for the happiness of our future. It doesn't matter who might erase your path for destiny is already written, and your dream will come true."

What is yours, will be yours. Keep on working, keep on believing.♥💪🏻

[demonsfate]

Reina and Lars both bother me more for the idea that Heihachi kept fucking after having killed Kazumi which I imagine would have limited his interest in relationships, whether romantic or only in it for the sex, and/or is very much a "I'll just clone myself" guy because he's also after the perfect child since Kazuya had Devil Gene, and Lee would later end up betraying Heihachi to ally himself with Kazuya between 1 & 2.

Since I don't think how Reina is related has been explained yet, since the question is how she has the Devil Gene if she's from Heihachi directly if he's not where the Devil Gene came from unless she's a clone child made from mixing Heihachi's DNA with Devil Gene samples.

Even then, there's not really a place to have that idea work since going by his Tekken 4 bio, he didn't have Devil Gene samples to mix with Ogre's DNA as it's partly why that tournament was held, get Jin for Devil Gene samples, Kazuya only became a factor again after the G-Corp raid went bad because of him.

As for Lars, him being a Mishima by being a son of Heihachi is just unnecessary and feels like it was only done to give him a reason to be involved apart from just being a Tekken Force member, when that sounds like the better story.

The thing is. Lars didn't bother me as much. Just because one secret child is, ridiculous, but not really a big deal. Pluuuus I actually liked the TK7 explanation. Which might be super controversial 'cos a lotta ppl had problems with TK7's story LOL. But like, I actually dig the idea of Heihachi being forced to kill his wife, that traumatizing him, and then pretty much going insane with paranoia. Of course, I don't care for any attempts to make him appear as a "good guy" - but I do like the cautionary tale of paranoia and how it can make people even worse. (Perhaps because, unfortunately, I've lost people in my life to paranoia. And even I myself, tend to struggle with anxiety and paranoia to the point where it controls my life. So these stories tend to be interesting to me on a "relatable" note) So, the idea of Heihachi having another child just to make sure he isn't infected with the "devil" was interesting to me.

Yeah but in the end of Tekken 4, Heihachi did kidnap Jin. Not only kidnap him, but had him knocked out for a lil bit.

He tranquilized the poor bastard lol. So within this time of getting Jin, transporting him to Hon-Maru, chaining him up, Heihachi could've easily gotten a sample from Jin in this time. So for now, I'm gonna assume Reina is either a regular child who was experimented on with Jin's devil gene, or is a clone child who was mixed with Jin's devil gene.

Hoooonestly. Lars was made to be a Mishima because he was the main character of Tekken 6 (and perhaps was intended to be the New Main Character of the series?) and Tekken is allergic to having main characters that are not directly related to the Mishimas. But that's one of the reasons why I didn't understand Lars' point in Tekken 6. I mean... what was the point of turning Jin, whose thing was that he's the Only Good Mishima, into a bad guy... only to introduce a new main character who's the Only Good Mishima? Like at that point, why not just keep Jin? Unless they were also planning on turning Lars bad (as I think Heihachi or Kaz, I think the former, told him about Mishimas and how they all betray each other and are assholes) but then decided against that after Jin got so much backlash. But I really don't know. Honestly, who knows about anything when it comes to this series.

But anyway, I was much more critical of Reina than I was of Lars because... Lars was the first to be the Surprise Child of Heihachi. So Reina just felt like a repeat of that, and honestly, an even poorer execution of it. (Hell, at least Lars did a lot in his story. Again, Reina only blabbered about the devil gene in t8 lmao) So, to do the "HEIHACHI HAS A SECRET KID WE NEVER HEARD ABOUT OR WAS NEVER EVEN HINTED AT BEFORE-" was just felt silly and lazy.

[cartelheir]

" well... yes? " the comparison makes it sound so much worse than it actually is, but it's true, isn't it? you meet someone, you're infatuated, until a reason not to be arises; how is it different from a child excited about a new toy, then discarding it when they don't like it anymore? " it's a crush, not a marriage proposal. " pat shrugs, finds that she doesn't necessarily feel bad about the analogy. chishiya's growing confusion and bafflement only amuses her further. it feels as if they're both beings of completely different species, trying to understand how the other thinks and behaves. " it's different when you get closer. but you can't fall in love with someone without knowing them. so you'd know if they were stupid. "

she gives a small hum of defeat. " yeah, maybe i don't. " she'd miss the thrill of being in love, or simply to feel a strong connection with someone ━━ be it romantic or purely sexual. even no strings attached sex feels better when it's with someone she feels drawn to. still, her feelings bounce between two conflicting stances. " i don't know. you have no idea the kind of shit i had to go through that could've been completely avoided if i'd just never fallen for a fucker who wasn't good to me. so much that i feel free in his place, 'cause at least i don't have to deal with him anymore. " as bad as it gets, at least he's not here. " and you ... probably never had to deal with that. it must be nice. "

lying on the floor only felt good for the first few minutes. now, her back is starting to hurt, her shoulders tense. with a soft sigh, she pushes herself up, runs her fingers through her hair to get rid of a pebble that had gotten stuck to a curl. she raises an eyebrow at his suggestion, intrigued. " now that's what i call high stakes. " they'd be putting their lives at risk. creating more near-fatal games, when they were supposed to be taking a break from them. yet pat knows that, if it was a possibility, she'd be the first to give it a try. maybe it's a good thing that they're forced to stick to snacks and batteries. " deal. "

" yeah. i used to play a bit. never thought it would come in handy like this. " it had been a bit of a guilty pleasure as a teenager, a nerdy interest she was too embarrassed to tell her friends about and be made fun of. come to think about it, she's always liked games. challenges. it's no wonder she's adapted to these lands so well. her grin widens as she looks at him. " i know people at the beach who'd think we're the devil incarnate if they heard this conversation. "

Chishiya STARES at her when she laughs at him. It's not an experience he has often, and he finds himself with a frown that is as close to sulking as he might get. " What? It just goes away? " For someone who is a master at concealing their thoughts or sits like they already KNOW the entirety of a situation, it's rare to see the blank expression as he tries to turn it over in his mind. He can't FATHOM it. " Like a child's interest in a toy? " It's the BEST analogy that he can settle upon for a theoretic understanding of a crush. THEORETICS. It is, ultimately, how Chishiya often understands the world when there are so few that can even gain his interest. Humans aren't machines, but their MOTIVES often can create an accurate prediction of outcome. ( BUT, laughter from amusement rather than mere relief is something of a nice sound in this world. )

" I don't think you do. " He may not know much of the past; but she's far too attached to her ideas, to her emotions. " Maybe in some things it would have saved you trouble. But not others. " Heartbreaks, messy entanglements? Sure. At a price of apathy. He's seen so many patients die because money or influence changed orders. He should have felt something. He didn't. When patients whispered deathbed confessions and requests, he found it unfortunate when he was the one beside them instead of another nurse or doctor. He should have felt something with his life on the line in his first game. HE DIDN'T.

He tilts his head at the offer of a game. " Sure, it was rather fun for a card game. " But what to gamble? " It would be INTERESTING if we could exchange visa days. I would gamble my visa days if I could. " It's a statement that he says with flippant casualness as if it were a common thought. Then again, he might have so many days from playing people that he'd never have to do a game again. ( He would, regardless. ) " We could bet snacks? Or good batteries. My radio's going to run out soon by the sound of it last night. " He observes the soft smile but doesn't comment. The game has meaning for her if he had to guess.

" Oh? A chess game? " Interesting. It's not far fetched after all, though what would even qualify as farfetched in this world? " I'm sure many people have experienced such a sensation in their time here. Satisfaction and pride to be able to win. There's nothing wrong with that. " Chishiya at least doesn't think so. Games costed lives, better to gain and learn more about yourself than take away nothing from the experiences.

[bleepblopbloop56]

The Murder in the Dressing Room

Chapter 8: Because I Love You

Just a small note: im so excited for you guys to read this one you have no idea. going through the editing process this week has somehow made it my favorite chapter in the whole story i swear. Alright also need the routine stamp of Edited By @pathos-logical who made this what it is today i swear

Warnings: unsympathetic deceit, abusive deceit, manipulative deceit, toxic relationships,slight blood mention, slight medication mention, unwanted kissing, a litttlleee bit of unwanted touching.

---

"Hey there, beautiful~" A handsome stranger in a yellow button up smiled down at him, sliding into the stool at his right. "Can I buy you a drink?" Normally Roman wouldn’t have thought twice about refusing the offer, but the irritation lingering in his chest made him reckless. He traced his eyes over the man’s face, gaze catching on his green eyes. He couldn't tell what it was, but something in them made Roman want to say yes, want to listen to every word he said. 

… Just one drink can’t hurt, he decided, requesting just a diet coke while raising his eyebrows at the man. He didn't complain, which Roman took as a good sign.

"I'm Ethan, but you can call me Dee," he introduced himself, offering his hand.

"Roman," he said, taking the hand and holding it for a moment longer than necessary. He couldn't help it- those eyes were sucking him in and putting him in a daze. 

"So what are you doing here, Roman?" The way the man- Ethan- said his name made his heart skip a beat. "Looking for anything from tonight?" The way he smirked made it clear he didn't mean anything so much as anyone, and he was looking at Roman like he was the most beautiful man in the world. It felt good to be flirted with. Logan sure as hell didn't do that too often. 

Logan… 

"Me and my boyfriend are fighting," Roman chuckled nervously. “I just wanted to have fun for a bit and forget about him." Roman scooted away, suddenly rethinking coming here. He loved Logan, he just… got so frustrated with him sometimes. He'd spent nearly every day at work for the past few months, even his days off. He worked and worked and left no time for Roman. All he wanted was some attention. That wasn't too much to ask, right?

Ethan frowned like Roman had just told him Logan had locked him up in a tower. He leaned forward a little, seemingly unconsciously bridging the space Roman had put between them. The shifting lights of the club shadowed his eyes and threw the scar on his face into sharp relief for a second, making him look… dangerous. "You deserve better."

Roman laughed purely out of shock, a little taken aback by how serious he sounded. He tried to deflect, to take some of the blame off Logan, but Ethan steamrollered right over him. "You look lonely. Don't you want to forget yourself and be someone else for a night? Don't you want to the star of the show for a change?"

Ethan had seen right through Roman- hell, he'd practically read his mind, reaching down into his soul and pulling up wants he couldn't even admit to himself. Roman wanted to move back and put some distance between himself and Ethan- or maybe just the uncomfortable truth- but then Ethan smiled, slow and deadly as any poison. "A guy like you shouldn't be lonely tonight."

Roman’s breath sped up against his will. A hopeful grin crept across his face in a way he hoped didn't look too eager. "Maybe…" He leaned in, maybe a little more than he should. "Could you… could you make that happen?" 

Ethan… no, Dee, quirked an eyebrow at him, his smirk deepening to something lethal, and struck the killing blow.

"Anything you want…" 

And god, Roman wished he could have the excuse that he was drunk that night, to say he wasn't thinking clearly when this man pulled him away into his huge house and made him feel like he was the most precious treasure in his collection. To say he was high or drunk or drugged when he woke up in another man's arms wishing this movie star life could always be his. He wanted to say that he didn't enjoy that night, that he thought of Logan the whole time, that he didn't mean any of it. But he couldn't lie to Logan… Not like that. 

Street lights lit up Dee's face as he drove down the winding streets. He'd been quiet since they'd left the hotel; whether that was good or bad was anyone's guess. Roman sat beside him just as silently, lost in thoughts of the night everything went wrong. The first of many "worst mistakes of his life". Without even realizing it, tears began to slip down his face.

Dee's hand rested on Roman's knee, thumb rubbing in small circles but not moving any farther up his leg like they usually did. He glanced over and put a fake pout on his face, the kind he was so good at. It made Roman sick. 

"Why are you crying, baby?" Roman stayed silent. "We're going home! Don't you wanna go back home with me?" Dee took his eyes off the road to wipe off the tears, and despite being a sweet gesture, Roman could only read it as a threat. Everything Dee did now felt like one- he'd never be safe around him again, not after this.

He forced himself to nod his head slightly, sniffing and wiping at his own eyes. He was lying, but he had a feeling saying "no, I want to go back to Logan and I want you to leave me alone forever" would make Dee slam the car into a tree. Dee smiled at him, turning back to the road.

“Why are you doing this, Dee?” Roman asked quietly. He didn't know what he was expecting to hear. Maybe “because I'm evil’ or ”because you’re mine”- something he could understand, something that would make sense, at least with Dee’s twisted worldview in mind. What he did not expect was the soft “because I love you” that came from the man, sounding as genuine as it had all those months ago.

“Because I love you, Roman,” Dee smiled, cupping his cheeks in his hands, "and I want to marry you." Dee hadn't waited for an answer after proposing- he’d immediately slipped the ring onto Roman’s finger, pulling Roman back in when he stumbled back in surprise. He leaned down and kissed Roman, not caring that he didn't reciprocate, ignoring how Roman tried to squirm out of his grip.

Roman's mind was racing a million miles an hour. Marriage? He had been trying to work up the courage to break up with Dee for weeks, and now he thought it was the time for marriage? 

"Don't you think that's a little fast?" Roman tried nervously, putting his hands on Dee's chest in an effort to keep him away without showing it. "I mean- Dee, baby, we've only been dating for a year," he chuckled, trying desperately to keep his voice light. He looked down at the ring. The bright diamond caught the light, a promise of more of this picture-perfect life to come… The sex, money, clothes, attention- all of it was right in front of him. Everything Roman had ever dreamed of, and all he had to do to get it was say yes.

"Do you not want to marry me?" Dee's eyes held something dangerous in them, and Roman read the question for what it was- not a question at all, but a threat.

Roman stared back at him, trying to make his mouth form any words that weren't "of course I do" trying to say that this had gone too far, that he wanted to go home, to see his friends, family, Logan, all the people Dee had made him cut ties with. 

"I'd love to, Ethan," he smiled wearily, standing on his tiptoes to kiss his cheek.

Even at that moment, he’d felt like he’d made a deal with the devil, and every time he looked at that ring he was reminded of the price he paid.

"How's your head, baby?" Dee asked. "I have some ibuprofen in the glove box if you need it." Roman wasn't all that willing to take anything Dee offered, but he was reluctantly grateful to hear it- getting slammed into a wall hadn't exactly left him feeling peachy. It could've been worse, I suppose, he thought. At least he didn't hit hard enough to dent the wall… or my skull.

He reached in the glove box, muttering a meek thank-you as he did. His hand hit against something long and thin wrapped in cloth, and when he peered in to get a better look, he was met with the sight of spots of dark red covering the fabric. He almost jerked his hand out and slammed the glove box shut, and only the knowledge that Dee was watching kept him from doing it. He slowly pulled out the bottle of pills, shaking so badly that he almost couldn’t unscrew the cap.

When his hands finally steadied, Roman took three and popped them into his mouth, wincing as he swallowed. While mumbling out another thanks to be safe, he vaguely made the connection that when Dee had apologised, it was specifically asking for forgiveness, not to make Roman feel better. Had it always been like that? No… He had to have been earnest in the beginning. Roman wouldn't have gone with him if he wasn't. Right? 

"Why are you so quiet, my prince?" Dee cooed, glancing over every few seconds to look at his love. His Prince Charming… 

"Hey, Prince Charming!" Virgil called, throwing a pillow across the room at the pair. "Back off on the PDA, I have virgin eyes." He dodged the pillow when Logan threw it back at him, laughing. He had started calling Roman that after he’d walked in on Roman serenading Logan with Disney songs in the kitchen, and Roman would be lying if he said he didn't like it.

Roman dropped to a knee, bowing to Virgil with a look of mock regret on his face "Oh King Virgil the Virgin, how will you ever forgive my misdeeds?!" He threw a hand on his forehead, flopping onto his back like a Victorian mistress who’d just gotten a whiff of her vivid green wallpaper. "My only hope is that you continue to let me rule over this humble kingdom under you!" Roman kept his eyes shut tight, trying not to break, but when Logan of all people started snickering, he burst out laughing and let the act drop. Virgil was laughing too, they all were, and that was the best thing about them. They were always laughing, everything was fun with them.

And now Virgil was gone… 

And now he was back with Ethan… 

Now he'd ruined it all.

Roman let his tears fall freely. Sitting beside the murderer of his best friends and his brother, it occurred to him- not for the first time in the relationship- how completely and utterly trapped he was.

"I'm just… thinking about Remus," he whispered, wiping his tears with the top of his shirt. It was only partly a lie; he wasn't just thinking of Remus, he was thinking of everyone. Remus, Virgil, Thomas, Logan- all of them were clawing out of his brain and finding their way down his face. But Remus was family, and hopefully that was someone Dee would allow him to grieve for…   

But Dee didn't look sympathetic. "You didn't need him," he said coldly, pulling into their house- no, his house. Roman didn't belong there anymore. "I did you a favor, Roman. Now you can focus on me." Roman must've done something with his face, because Dee's coldness turned right back to sweetness. "Now we can focus on us."

Roman nodded even though he knew that wasn't right, stomach twisting in knots at the reminder that he was the reason people died- that no matter how indirectly, it might as well have been him who’d killed them. That he was only here so Dee wouldn't hurt anyone else

"Remember the rules?" Dee asked, staring down at his passenger before unlocking the doors. The light, casual malice in his voice made Roman think of the knife in the glove box, and he nodded jerkily, biting the inside of his cheek to keep from crying. They'd gone over them three times in the car; they’d been drilled into his brain by now. He thought he’d break down if he had to hear them out loud one more time, but- "Say them," Dee demanded, and Roman obliged. 

"One hand on you at all times." He started with the easy one, voice strained to the point of breaking to keep from bursting into tears. "If I run, you'll kill Logan. If I scream, you'll kill Logan." His voice was cracking. "If I call for help, you'll kill Logan…" Dee smiled at him, leaning in and kissing Roman sweetly as he unlocked the doors to the place Roman had once called home. Hand on Roman's back, Dee pushed him gently through the house. They walked through the living room, spare bedrooms, the small library, passing everything until they were in the very back. Roman almost lost himself in the haze of familiar scenery for a few minutes, but then-

"Dee? Dee, our room is back there, Dee where are we going?" Roman couldn’t help how his voice pitched up in terror, and his attempts to dig his heels in were to no avail; Dee just shoved him forward more forcefully. He threw open the door to the basement- the one room in this huge house Roman had always been too afraid to go into, the one that locked from the outside. 

"I have some business to do, my prince, I'm going to have to leave you here for a bit," Dee said with a fake pout. Nonsensically, almost hysterically, Roman thought that all his expressions were fake- nothing about him was real. Not anymore.

"Please don't leave me here, Dee," Roman cried, trying to follow him up the stairs. "Please, I promise I won't leave, Ethan-" but the door slammed shut, and the lock clicked behind him.

---

One thing that Ethan didn't mention was that no matter how closely Roman followed the rules, no matter how good and obedient he was, Ethan had always planned on killing Logan. Nothing Roman could do or say would've convinced him otherwise. 

Ethan was in love with the idea of Roman, in love with having someone beautiful to wake up beside and do everything he said. He loved having his little plaything, and one person was trying to keep that from him. And that just wouldn't do… 

The murder in the dressing room taglist:

@cataclysm-al @knightinsoftpastels @intrurality-fusion @katie-the-noble-fangirl @whizzie72 @grayson-22 @i-have-n0-idea-what-im-d0ing @winterwonderland7669 @missieluvsmurder @sign-from-god-complex @dragonindigo245 @angryfanboyscreaming @ninja-wizard101 @sombraookami @crystalistrappedintheinternet @imtooaromanticforthis @why-should-i-tell-youu2 @dragon-hair @satanblessi @spookilyfingergunsoutofexistence @skruffy901 @selectivereality @nonbeenary-enbee @imbasicallyshakespear @cats-vetal-miking-vomit @incoherentfangirl @oofmood @nonbianary-pineapple @royalnerd829 @unicornlogansanders @magma-llama @chumo-cookie

[punkscowardschampions]

Grace & Janis

Grace: Did you even tell anyone you were staying out?? 🤔🤔 Janis: Did YOU warn the fam you were inviting the devil inside? 🤔🤔 Grace: Rude! Grace: Someone woke up on the wrong side of the barista's bed Grace: OMG is he that bad? How shaming Janis: Wouldn't you all love to know Grace: Like you would anyway, you don't have anything to compare him too Janis: Again, you wish you knew Janis: but yes, I text them Janis: that it? Grace: Oh honey, we ALL knew you were a virgin Grace: Did he? Grace: Before you made it obvious, I mean Grace: You should have come home first, me & the girls could have helped you out Janis: It's cute Janis: all the things you THINK you know Janis: yeah, that'd be fun Janis: Mia must've dropped the invite on her way out Janis: with the story, likw Grace: 🙄🙄 Grace: girl please Grace: Mia'll get over it Grace: Unlike ME! You could've told me! Janis: Get over herself? Janis: Unlikely Janis: Told you what? Grace: OMG how hungover are you!? Don't be dense Grace: THE GOSSIP obvs Grace: I have to hear it from Mia Grace: so UNACCEPTABLE Janis: It's gossip 'cos she made it Janis: as if I had a chance to tell you or anyone, even if I wanted, when she went live with it Grace: There's always time to give me the real story Grace: You've got a phone Grace: Look how quick you answered this morning 🙄 Janis: 'Cos I thought you might have some real concern Janis: shoulda known better Grace: I AM concerned bitch Grace: you could be in a ditch Janis: Yeah, new boy's a serial killer Janis: this ain't the CW Grace: I didn't even know you were with HIM, did I? Grace: You never tell me anything Janis: Now who's being dense Janis: 1+1=2 Grace: Excuse me for having a nun for a sister Grace: Usually Janis: Again Janis: get a clue Grace: OMG Grace: I'm trying Janis: Bless 💕 Grace: Are you coming home TODAY? Janis: Are the coven gone Grace: I wouldn't bother asking if they hadn't Grace: I'm not stupid Janis: Probably then Janis: I got stuff to do Grace: One of them better be 🚿 Grace: Whelan's is soooooooo gross Janis: Not like you've ever got inside to know Grace: It's not like I want to Grace: like I said, ew Janis: Not with that baby face 😂 Grace: Shut up Janis: Like I said, bless Grace: I hate you so much Grace: This is what I get for being nice Janis: Nice Janis: Where? Grace: This WHOLE convo Grace: From the moment I checked you were still alive Grace: & I defended you last night GOD KNOWS why Janis: Shouldn't have to Janis: if your friends weren't cunts you wouldn't be in such a mood Grace: You're the only one being a bitch to me, Janis Grace: Newsflash Janis: Nah Janis: I'd have to be interested for that Grace: Yeah we KNOW you're only into barista boy Janis: Why would I be interested in anything you're doing Janis: it's them with the fucked priorities for giving a shit Grace: OMG get over yourself Grace: getting one boy to sleep with you doesn't make you God's gift Grace: 🙄🙄 Grace: Like I told you before, he'll get bored Janis: You first Janis: Like I told you before, get a hobby Janis: pass it on Grace: Whatever Grace: Don't come crying to me when he realises how much of a bitch you are Janis: 😰 Janis: Don't come to me when you grow a backbone and/or personality of your own Janis: still won't be interested Grace: I already have both thanks Janis: 👌 Grace: 👋 Janis: Cute 😂 Grace: At least one of us is Janis: Sick burn Janis: If only someone that weren't Mia thought so, eh babe? Janis: Sad times 💔 Grace: Take your own advice and get a clue Janis: 😂 #exposed Janis: get some self-esteem Grace: You need it more Grace: Letting that boy use you like this....tragic Janis: I'm God's gift, remember Janis: Can't have it both ways baby Grace: I said you think you are Grace: Not that he does Janis: SELF-esteem, Gracie Janis: not 'this boy would chuck it up me from behind' esteem Janis: poor thing Grace: Faking having it doesn't mean you really do, hun Grace: We can all flex on the snap Grace: You're honestly so embarrassing Janis: I don't need facetune to flex Janis: no filters gonna fix all...that 💋 Grace: You DO need it, you just don't USE it Janis: Nah, I don't though Janis: tragedy Grace: Sure Jan Grace: Keep telling yourself that, babes Janis: You keep telling yourself Janis: can't talk someone into feeling as bad as you do Janis: let your bestie in on the secret and maybe you'll both stop being such poisonous little trolls 💕 Grace: 😂😂😂 Grace: You wish Grace: Can't be bullied without a bully, but you're not that important to Mia 💔 Janis: Oh no Janis: not queen Mia Janis: suck her dick a lil better and she might love you back Janis: story of your life though, that 🤷 Grace: You're actually disgusting Grace: Save it for your boyfriend, I'm sure it makes him really 😍😍😍 Janis: Yeah, and I'm the Nun Janis: the swings and roundabouts you have to go on to make me the bad guy Janis: no wonder you're braindead 😵 Grace: Yeah sure 🙄 Grace: I don't have to say things to cover up the fact I don't know what I'm doing Grace: You sound 12 Janis: Lie of the year goes to Janis: that's all that comes out your mouth Janis: fuck what's going in it 😂 Janis: I'm glad I don't like you, it'd be exhausting having to pity you as hard as is needed Grace: Again, you wish Grace: You tell me to get a hobby, you make the same 'argument' over and over again Janis: it ain't an argument Janis: irrefutable facts Janis: don't like it, change it up Janis: we all got bored a long time ago Grace: Exactly, it isn't, it's you trying to throw shade TERRIBLY Grace: You don't know a single fact about me, babe Grace: Clearly you don't like THAT if you have to keep pretending you do Grace: Hm? Sounds like me with his convo Grace: Don't you have a boy getting bored rn? You might wanna focus on that Janis: Nothing to know Janis: Shadow of a shadow Janis: Literally how are you the blandest granola ass bitch outta the lot and they're all white as hell Janis: not even earning them mixed points, it's a real talent how uninteresting you are, truly Janis: tutorial on that, please Grace: 😂😂😂😂 Grace: But you're STILL talking to me instead of him Grace: What's the matter? Not everything you hoped it'd be? So sad Janis: I got more than one braincell Janis: can talk about put mascara on Janis: though the memes of you failing in your last vid have been amusing, tah for that Grace: You should try doing it Grace: Obvs you need more that mascara but every little helps Janis: Not with a face like that Janis: but you know, more is more and it almost constitutes a mask at this point Grace: 👏👏👏 Janis: There you go, now when you cry like a little bitch about it, you've got reason beyond your victim complex Janis: welcome ✌ Grace: MINE? You're the one who thinks that we're so invested in your little love story that we're all out for sabotage Grace: Please Janis: You know you can see when people watch your stories, yeah? Janis: she was like, the first view Janis: so much for not being important, don't worry, I won't steal your girl Grace: She's mad 'cause you outshined her coffee date moment Grace: Like I said, she'll get over it Janis: Should stop making herself vom Janis: wreaks havoc on your natural glow, but that's neither here nor there Grace: And she's the evil one Grace: That's not funny or true Janis: Cry me a river Janis: not gonna if she kills herself making herself look even worse than her personality Grace: OMG STOP Grace: You're as bad as she is Grace: Obsessed with each other 🙄 Grace: Get a room or something Janis: Awh, wanna be BFFs then?! Janis: 😏 Grace: Shut up Grace: I'd rather be the one who dies Janis: Didn't think so Grace: The first thing you've got right this whole time Grace: Well done, babes Janis: I ain't the one in remedials with the rest of the thickos Grace: Stop calling me stupid Janis: Any time you fancy stopping Janis: be my guest Grace: And what? Be more like you? 😂 Janis: You wish Janis: Be less braindead, would be a start Grace: YOU wish Grace: Caring about what I look like doesn't make me braindead Grace: It makes you a judgey bitch Janis: Yeah, that's the issue Janis: look like Sephora threw up on your face all you want Janis: at least be a person with it, not a painted fuckdoll Grace: So sorry I can't get top marks in maths or whatever OMG Janis: 🔬 Grace: I don't even know what you're talking about now Janis: Just trying to find your last surviving braincell Grace: Find it with the last place you cared about anything Janis: 🔭 Janis: Nope Janis: no signs of life Janis: soz Grace: So glad I could make you feel better about your crap shag by insulting me Grace: But I'm the idiot 👌 Janis: Awh, don't do yourself down Janis: never let it be said you don't have your uses Grace: I'm not here to be used by you, hun Grace: Deal with that Janis: Just a cumdump and Mia's personal bitch Janis: coolio 👍 Grace: Says you Grace: You've known that boy for like a day Grace: & Mia's more concerned with you right now, like I said Janis: 😱 Janis: Are you SLUT SHAMING me Janis: dundundun Janis: know you're 💔 but babes, girl code Grace: I'm stating a fact Grace: You think you're better than me, you aren't Janis: You think I am Janis: I just don't disagree, that's all Grace: I think you're the worst person this family has so far produced Grace: But whatever you need to tell yourself Janis: A dagger through my heart Janis: good thing you've got no place then init Grace: Yeah Grace: Bad enough I have to have the same last name as you all Janis: Marry the first boring white boy who will settle for you and no one ever need know Grace: And follow in your footsteps? No thanks Janis: You couldn't fill these shoes, figuratively and literally Grace: I don't want to Grace: You dress worse than your boyfriend Grace: At least he gets paid to look like that some of the time Janis: as much as I'd LOVE to look like topshop's sale rack Janis: you rinse 'em every time, what's a girl to do Grace: Obvs Grace: It's all my fault you look a state Janis: I don't, so don't trouble yourself Grace: You do, but I won't Janis: Mia don't seem to think so 😘 Grace: She hates you, that's her obsession Grace: Keep looking like that, it fuels her Janis: What, the body she's actually killing herself for? Janis: Will do and it's so effortless Grace: 🙄🙄 Grace: I'm the one who needs a hobby and is soooo uninteresting but you keep talking about Mia cos that's really not Grace: Go into her inbox, please Janis: Like I said, get a personality and we might stand a chance Janis: surgically remove yourself or are you less of a Siamese and more parasite? Grace: Sure, I'll turn myself into her so you can be obsessed with me Grace: You two are ridiculous Janis: 😂😂 Janis: Oh honey Janis: you clearly can't, been trying for years Grace: You wish Grace: Does your boyfriend know you're in love with my best friend? Grace: You might wanna share before he catches feelings Janis: Do you know your best friend kinda hates you? Janis: 😬 too late for you, awkies Grace: Rn the feeling is mutual Grace: Get over it Jan-Jan Janis: 💔 Janis: You'll get over it Janis: well, she'll walk over you, doormat Grace: Like you care Grace: either way Janis: What's the point Janis: You're never going to Grace: I care bitch Janis: You're never going to stand up to her Janis: Why should I be waiting on it with baited breath Grace: You've never waited on me Grace: Don't act like it's Mia's fault Janis: It ain't, it's yours Janis: she's a decent scapegoat though Grace: Again, you wish Grace: Nothing's all my fault, sorry about it Janis: Trust, no part of me wishes for you as my sister Janis: especially what you've become Grace: That makes two of us Janis: You said Janis: with all the care and concern you're claiming Grace: I do care, I just wish I didn't Grace: and that you weren't my sister Janis: Get over it Grace: You can try and tell me what to do as much as you like Grace: Not gonna happen Janis: I know, you're hopelessly pathetic Janis: like I said, no baited breath here Grace: Me? Oh babes Grace: Like I said, tragic Janis: Yeah, you Grace: 😂 Janis: 😥