#obviously a lot of emotions that are involved for her but the thought process i like to think is very that.

[magilament]

morrigan dragonage was not only brought up in a way that will skew over someone's worldview but as it is known she had no frame of reference of save what she herself said she had observed from afar. it could be argued that her lack of empathy towards other people who like her desire bodily autonomy (ie zevran) or situations where the same question is brought up (ie caradin asking to destroy the anvil) comes not only because the whole 'survival of the fittest' rhetoric was the main ingredient in her personal torment nexus orchestrated by her mother but also for her to express empathy would mean separating herself from her mother in a way that would have morrigan take the first step where she admits she IS like her mother

[sewersewersewercouch]

Microphone and ADHD: yet another very rambly analysis

GUESS WHO’S WRITING LONG TUMBLR POSTS ABOUT MIC AGAIN!!!!

i’ve been trying to formulate this post in my brain for a while and i’m finally writing it. I should add a disclaimer here: while i’ve done my own research for this, i’m also mostly writing from my own experience, which a) obviously every case of adhd is different, and b) while adhd is my only diagnosis at present, there are various other things that i’m questioning and in the process of being evaluated for which might also bleed into my experiences with adhd. If there are any issues please feel free to point them out! Also i don’t want to imply that if you don’t have adhd you can’t relate to mic, i’m just discussing the things i personally am seeing in canon. Also also, if this is weird and disjointed and rambly, well, you signed up to read a very long post by someone from adhd about blorbo from their shows.

I think what first comes to mind with Mic and ADHD traits for me is her impulsivity. This is something we see trip her up again and again—for example, when she yells at Fan in Tri Your Best, not considering how the noise could boost him into the air and ahead of her, or in Mazed and Confused, when she calls after Knife in the maze without realizing that Test Tube is in there as well. (And yes, she didn’t hear Baseball say that Test Tube was in there, but if she’d thought before she’d acted she might have considered looking around to make sure there were no Bright Lights missing as well.) Hell, another example I noticed was that during Mine Your Own Business, when Taco and Knife are arguing, Mic physically shoves Knife into the gem, and like, not gently, either—he slams into it pretty hard. It’s been pretty well established at this point that Mic is very averse to physical violence, and she definitely wouldn’t do anything like that intentionally, but the fact of the matter is, when she’s stressed like that, she just kind of makes a snap action without using her head.

This also ties into my second point, her difficulties with emotional regulation, which is something that’s very common with ADHD. I kind of struggle to describe how this shows up in Mic, because honestly, a lot of her seemingly overblown reactions are more of a “straw that breaks the camel’s back” type of situation where she takes so much shit from her teammates that obviously, who wouldn’t be upset? However, I do think it’s fair to say that she’s someone who’s quite easily frustrated, and can have a tendency to lash out quite harshly when she’s in this state. For example, in A Kick In The Right Direction, she’s pissed off about being relegated to goalie, which is fair, but she takes this out on Dough, who wasn’t involved in this decision, just because he happens to be near her, and she’s, like…pretty mean about it, too? Like, when he says he’s bored she says “so am I but not enough to talk to you” and then later flat out tells him to jump off a bridge. Yes, this second one was after he was distracting her and the Bright Lights got a goal past her, but still, it does feel like a pretty dramatic reaction. Especially as in general, Mic’s demeanor is friendly and outgoing, she clearly is someone who cares a lot about others’ well-being, and she’s just a nice person all around, but when something gets under her skin she’s immediately on the defensive and says stuff like this.

Also, just in general, Mic is very outwardly emotional. It’s one of the ways the narrative contrasts her with Taco, who for much of the story is incapable of giving up her facade, whereas Microphone is incapable of not wearing her heart on her sleeve. You can usually at any given time tell from Mic’s expressions and tone exactly what she’s feeling. This is especially noticeable as she’s frequently in a position where she has to lie, and she is…not good at it. Some of the time she falls back on the aforementioned defensiveness—for example, in Alternate Reality Show, when Suitcase asks what she’s painting and she replies, “Uh, zilch! Why are you picking today to talk to me for the first time ever?” and when Knife immediately after asks why she was late, she says, “I got other places to be? What’s it to you?” A lot of the time, though, she just gets all nervous and awkward. Adorable, undeniably, but not helpful when she’s in the position she’s in. (I was very charmed to find that she keeps this trait even after the game, what with her telling Taco to act natural and then going “Heyyyyy!!!! I, uh, found someone! :))))” as if that’s at all acting natural. Never change.) Mic feels everything very strongly, and she can’t naturally hide that like Taco can.

I also wanted to bring up Mic’s extreme sensitivity to negative feedback, or what’s often referred to as Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria—which, yes, I know that isn’t actually technically a diagnostic trait, but I would say it’s kind of an offshoot of emotional dysregulation combined with a response to being ostracised for being neurodivergent in a shitty ableist world. A lot of the time when Mic shows the traits I’ve mentioned here, and they trip her up, her teammates show her very little patience and compassion. (Baseball and Nickel are particularly guilty of this—Cheesy does it as well, but he also apologizes to her and it seems like they get along afterwards. Baseball, however, will be on thin ice until I hear a goddamn apology from him.) And while she tends to respond to their disparagement with anger externally, as mentioned above, it also clearly really upsets her in a deeper way. For all the amount she takes it out on others, she takes it out on herself tenfold: look at the words she uses to describe herself in her diary. “Annoying, harmful, random, useless, insignificant, loser.” This treatment, along with her previously mentioned sensitive emotions, make her very reactive to any form of perceived criticism or failure. Even in the finale, when she’s been through her own arc and had a while to heal from the toxic environment of the show, the image shown in the red line game shows that this is still what upsets her the most—the idea of being ignored and rejected by others.

I think this also goes the other way—she’s so sick of being disparaged that it turns into a desperation for approval and connection. This is kind of the foundation of her entire arc. I noticed this one moment in Mazed and Confused, where Taco offers to help her out and Mic says “Really? You would help me out?” as though she’s completely shocked by the idea of someone offering her help. Which makes sense—the only person who’s actually been there for her is Soap. And one could ask, why does Mic stay in her alliance with Taco? Clearly she realizes, deep down, that what she’s doing is unethical. Mic is someone who has a strong moral code that I think in most circumstances she’d care about more than the money. (Yes, I know, I know, the twist, but it’s been proven several times that contestants are more than capable of putting other things above the game. Look at Marshmallow, Clover, Lightbulb, and obviously, eventually Mic herself!) But I don’t think what keeps her pushing her cognitive dissonance down is actually anything about the money. It’s the approval she gets. Baseball, who as I’ve said is normally quite hard on her, compliments her when she does something right as a result of her cheating, and in so doing cements in her mind that cheating=people liking her. She also gets approval from Taco, which fuels this even more. And as this alliance goes on, it transforms into…well, I don’t know if I’d call it a friendship, per se, but it seems that Mic really does value Taco’s company and wants to connect with her on a more personal level, rather than just as a means to an end. This just muddies matters further, as Mic now has not only approval at stake, but also one of the few actual relationships she has in the game. It takes Taco killing two people in front of her for her to decide that’s not worth it.

I think I maybe got a little sidetracked from my point there, as I am very much wont to do, but I think this leads Mic to display some kinds of masking behavior. One facet of this is politeness/friendliness—and this is not to say that Mic isn’t genuinely an outgoing, friendly person. In my own experience, masking isn’t as cut and dry as “not acting like yourself”---rather, it’s often more putting certain, more socially acceptable aspects of one’s personality forward and suppressing the less acceptable ones. Her politeness also comes off as very stilted to me. For example, in Theft and Battery, where she says, “Guys, not to sound rude, but didn’t MePhone5S and 5C just try to kill MePhone4? Didn't this guy create them? Why would he support us if he just tried to kill us?” It seems like a weird thing to have to tack “not to sound rude” onto—it’s a completely valid and truthful point. But she’s so used to being perceived as rude that it seems she feels like she has to say that. There’s also another example I already talked about in a different post but will go back over here—in Mine Your Own Business, when Mic and Taco are trying to sneak past Knife, but Mic sneezes and then follows it up with “Sorry! ‘Scuse me!” Which, as Taco points out, isn’t something people normally do. And immediately Mic falls back on her other defense mechanism, lashing out. If you listen to what she’s saying when they’re arguing, it’s “What was I supposed to say, ‘bless me’ and bless myself? You’re the one who’s always trying to be proper, what’s your problem?” I think this moment says a lot about her—when she knows she’s messed up, she tries to cover for it with politeness, but she also doesn’t quite get the social rules right. It’s very much something that’s put on, not that comes naturally to her. (This is where I realized she has many parallels with my other favorite Cabby, but that’s a whole different can of worms.)

However, she also masks in kind of the other direction, that is, putting others down to boost herself up. The Grand Slams are not the healthiest of teams, to put it lightly, and Mic mimics the behavior she sees in others that brings them social success. For example, when she jokes to Baseball about not wanting to “pull a Balloon—” Balloon being unpopular as he is, she knows other people will find mocking him funny. And it works! Baseball laughs! She tries this again later, when she says to Knife “talk about emotional baggage” in regards to Suitcase, but this time he doesn’t respond well. Mic seems genuinely surprised at this—this method has worked for her before, so she’s put off by the fact that it doesn’t work this time. And I should say—this isn’t something Taco tells her to do. She does it entirely of her own volition.

Actually, looking at this more, it seems more like part of something she mostly does during her alliance with Taco—an unaffected, jokey front she tends to put on when she’s lying or messing with people, to…limited success, as discussed earlier, but I think she also uses it when she’s lying to herself, or trying to convince herself that what she or Taco is doing isn’t wrong. I had a few examples in mind. The first is in Kick the Bucket, right after the Nickel and Balloon double elimination, when she says, “Well, ha, what a lively experience! Well, not much to gain from sitting around and doing nothing. See ya!” It’s oddly nonchalant when clearly everyone around her is upset, and we see her look concerned for a second beforehand before she goes into this. I interpret that as her…kind of seeing that what just happened messed things up for a lot of people and that it was her fault, but she’s not ready to accept that truth yet. She also uses this affect throughout Mine Your Own Business—both with Taco, as an attempt to get her to open up, and with Knife, I think in some ways trying to mimic what Taco did to recruit her in order to do the same with him. Neither of these are successful. Knife being Knife, he’s someone who’s very able to see right through people (figuratively speaking, that is, because now people can literally see right through him! Get it? Because he’s a ghost? Please imagine the sound of Cheesy slapping his knee from somewhere in the distance). He plants seeds of doubt in Mic’s mind by telling her about Pickle—and she’s still not ready for those seeds to grow, but they certainly are there. In fact, the next time we see her use this behavior, it’s in Hatching the Plan, when she jokes that Taco will “inevitably drop me too or whatever.” She says it casually, but clearly what Knife said is still on her mind, and she’s trying to convince herself that what happened to Pickle won’t happen to her even though she doesn’t at all believe herself. I also think looking at this behavior has really clarified my view of her in the movie—at first I was frustrated at how she seemed much more calm and collected than I would have expected her to, both about the general horrors happening to everyone, and specifically about Taco. I talked about those criticisms in another post, and I do still stand by them to some extent, I would have written her differently. But I don’t think it’s as incongruent with her character as I did before—in fact, I think there’s plenty of precedent for her masking like that in situations of greatly conflicted emotion. (Oddly enough, I think it’s something she has in common with Taco, but Taco’s just better with it.) I kind of doubt she was quite mentally ready to reconnect with Taco yet, but in such a dire situation she doesn’t have time to process all that, so she just kind of shoves that to the back of her brain. Not to say that I don’t think she genuinely cares for Taco, but I do think there’s a lot of processing she hasn’t done yet about her that will hopefully be a topic of discussion later please please please AE please for me???? Anyways, I do think this is a response to her aforementioned emotional dysregulation tending to create problems for her, and it’s definitely a masking technique in my eyes.

I also want to touch briefly on Microphone and Soap’s friendship, because while it’s not evidence for my point exactly, per se, I do think it’s relevant. While unfortunately pretty stereotypical representation, I would say it’s generally considered true that Soap is coded as having OCD. Now I’m not going to say that all neurodivergent people can easily be friends with one another, I know that’s not true. However, looking at the scene we see with the two of them in Rain On Your Charade, it certainly plays a part in this specific friendship. Mic helps Soap cope with her compulsions, and Soap is the only person at this time who really values Mic and doesn’t see her as a burden just because she’s accident-prone.

One minor thing I also wanted to point out was how it’s pretty common for people with ADHD to struggle with controlling our voices, including the tone, speed, and…well, volume. I can’t count the amount of times I’ve had people tell me that I’m talking loudly and I didn’t even realize it. I trust I don’t have to explain how this point is relevant to Mic, and it does very much fit.

There was one specific line that inspired me to write this post, from Everything’s A-OJ: “I’m trying harder than anyone else, so why do I always lose?” One of the diagnostic traits for ADHD is described as making “careless mistakes” in activities, and I never have particularly loved that phrasing. It may look careless on the outside, because it’s often mistakes that other people can easily avoid, but when you have a disorder that affects your attention, impulse control, memory, executive function, et cetera et cetera et cetera, you doing your best might look like someone else half-assing it. Not to get too personal on my blorbo post, but I keep thinking about this one teacher I had in middle school who, when I messed something up in a class, said “oh, that’s such a Clonnie move!” I’m sure she doesn’t remember that, but I do, because when you hear over and over again that people associate you with making mistakes, that shit sticks with you, and eventually when nothing you do helps you start to feel like you’re the mistake. That’s why Mic as a character resonates with me so much. God willing AnimationEpic will bring my girl back because I would like to see how Mic heals from that mindset as time goes on and where she goes from here.

[pzychojinx]

as I said, act two left me with genuinely mixed opinions. that said, I slept on it and I think I'm able to verbalize it a little bit.

let's start with what I think went right in this act. first of all, obviously, the animation and art. if possible, they're outdoing themselves. I love the experimentation, I absolutely adored the pastel tones they used for vi and jinx's childhood memories, the way isha's point of view sequence feels like it's straight out of a ghibli movie, I loved the distortion effects used on jayce and every single visual effect they used for viktor to convey this sense of absolute inhumanity, the entire messianic visuals were insane, warwick was gorgeous especially during sequences where we didn't get to see him but rather we got to see the camera following his massacre. gorgeous. no notes.

episode four, in my opinion, was near perfect plot-wise too. seeing the new state of the military situation in zaun, getting to see sevika as the rallier of the revolution, isha's drive to be a fighter for zaun leading her to impersonate jinx when needed, the whole mission to enter stillwater - I genuinely think it was incredible. most of all, it was probably my favourite jinx episode to date. and that's saying a lot. this is a character I've resonated with and held very very close to my heart for three years now. seeing her gain not only a younger sister through whom there could be a process of reclaiming her own past, but also very importantly seeing her gain new objectives and seeing her gain community, was deeply healing and heartwarming to me. that one scene where her followers touch her, not only as an idol but as an equal, is so so moving and good. isha was the kickstarter to jinx's reclaiming of powder and a sense of stability, sure, but living in a fantasy with isha alone could have very easily led her to the same old mechanism of co-dependency - thus never breaking the cycle that silco himself perpetrated onto her. but no, they made her respected. they made her see a nation of people who saw something in her. they gave her goals, even if she reasonably only started giving a fuck about said goals when her sister/child went missing. it was everything I never thought could happen to her. it was healing.

episode five is where the issues start, I think. first of all, there's been way way way too much space dedicated to the black rose. much as I love mel, much as I find her truly intriguing, her plotline is so severely disconnected from everything else and it feels un-cohesive. before s2 started, one of my main fears was that they would give noxus an excessive screentime in order to prepare the viewers for a future noxus project and I hate to see that I was right. this leads to the second issue, which is pacing. and specifically, vi. vi stans, how are you doing? because to be fair, the show kind of fucked you over and there's no sugar-coating it. the fact that vi's fighting pit era lasted three minutes was genuinely ridiculous. the entire plotline involving her, jinx and warwick in episode five was way, way too rushed in order to make space for black rose content - and again, I love mel, I love ambessa. but there's no doubt something was off here in terms of pacing and screentime. now, I don't think the episode was bad. I loved the dynamic between jinx and vi. with jinx having gained some sort of a stability (at least, for her standards) and vi having nothing else to lose, the fact that their conflict turned into a half unwilling cooperation felt very real and believable to me and I loved their interactions, especially in the micro expressions; it all screamed family bond where something went awfully wrong but here we fucking are and the love is still there at the roots. I just, you know, would have liked to see more of it. the final hug with warwick felt, to me, less earned than it could have been if we just had a little more time with these characters in this arc. was it emotional? sure, but could it have hit harder if the episode was just structured a little bit differently, a little more cohesively, especially regarding vi? yeah. and another question: would the zaunite revolution arc have needed more than just one episode before being pushed aside and sort of forgotten? probably, yeah, even though there's no comparison with how vi's arc was reduced to three mins. so again, pacing issue. still, I had no particular issues with the plot and the contents of the story itself. I would say episode five was rushed, crammed and structurally weak, but the story still hit me in all the right ways when it needed to. vi and jinx's reluctant steps to some sort of understanding hit me hard, in spite of any structural weakness.

episode six... well. episode six leaves me so conflicted. 'cause the thing is, it's dope. I think it's a fucking bomb. they managed to fit nearly (nearly - mel being, again, dissociated from the main storyline and in this case, absent) every character's plotline into a cohesive arc. it kept me on the edge of my seat near the whole time. there were so, so many things I absolutely adored - the imminent attack on the commune from ambessa, the way they managed to make warwick a center plot point and use that plot point to show us both the benefits and the limitations of viktor's hexcore messianic utopia cult, everything regarding jayce's return (whom is getting so much hate, but come on, it's clear the man has seen Some Things), the way the episode starts off with a plan but not necessarily a sense of deep urgency and then the urgency slowly creeps in and it explodes into a fucking battlefield. again, warwick. vi and jinx's slow re-building of some trust, slow reclaiming of family love. viktor. man, I adored their work on viktor. I just found it dope. the thing is, episode six has two major, major issues that I just can't seem to get past and this time it's plot issues, which makes it worse than 2.05 for me.

the first one, caitlyn. sure, I get that caitlyn wasn't fully onto ambessa's methods. but there's a very huge leap from 'I distrust this person and I question her methods' to 'my ex told me that this savage monster that just brutally mauled our men is her father so I'm just gonna help her save him'. like jesus, come on. caitlyn deserved better than this. (again, shoutout to vi stans, cait stans and caitvi stans, they did you dirty.) especially when I think they did such a good job on her descent in act one. the second one, isha. look, I'm gutted if she's dead. like fucking gutted, mourning, red-wedding level in shock, like, can't even think about it without wanting to cry. but this is not just an emotional thing. in fact, I love some good angst. no, this is a narrative issue. they spent the entire act - the entire season - building up jinx's healing and to take it all away like this, to bring her back to step one, just feels like fucking trauma porn for the sake of it. it feels unnecessary and cheap, and cheapness is the one thing I can't forgive arcane. like, what was the point? why not have her spiral from 2.01 if this was the direction? it's beyond me and it makes me feel so bitter, so sick, that at times it's hard for me to remember that there were so, so many things I adored in these three episodes. again, 2.04 is up there as my favourite jinx episode to date. 2.05 gave me some of my favourite siblings moment in the entire show. 2.06's work on viktor and hexcore and magic is otherwordly. I'm so glad I got these episodes, genuinely. and yet.

'cause the thing is, - not considering the isha thing for a minute - aside from my critique regarding caitlyn, and aside from having to make peace with how rushed/crammed the pacing is, this show is still absolutely gorgeous to me. it's still gorgeous art to me. sure, s2 has its very real issues. and for sure, it's absolutely reasonable to recognize them, critique them, and still find it an incredible story. but this. fuck, this could change everything to me. if isha's truly dead, then it means they wasted six episodes on what could have been one of the best, most genuine, most earned stories of unexpected healing I'd ever seen on my screen just to throw it away and I'm not sure how to forgive them for that. episode six itself was dope. episode six isn't really where my gut-deep fear and bitterness comes from. it's where it could lead from now on. I'm so holding out hope on ekko saving the day, even if it's a deus ex machina. it's a deus ex machina I'd accept if it means not throwing away jinx's entire road to recovering. but I don't know, guys. I don't know. making her spiral as a general s2 choice would have been one thing, and I would have been on board, but this is something else entirely. this is cheap betrayal and if true, if confirmed, if real, it's a sour taste.

[thequeenofneverland1]

Damon and Stefan Salvatore////In the shallow of Katherine Pierce Part Four

Warnings: Emotional Manipulation, Violence and Threats, Grief and Loss, Character death, Emotional Distress, Romantic Conflict, Psychological Manipulation , Supernatural Elements, Alcohol Use and Identity Crisis

The morning sun streamed through the windows as you sat in the kitchen with Elena, sipping a cup of coffee. You’d hardly slept after everything that had happened with Elijah, the kiss still playing over and over in your mind. Knowing you couldn’t keep it in any longer, you decided to confide in your sister, hoping she’d help you make sense of the chaos swirling in your heart.

“Elena,” you began hesitantly, setting your mug down. “I need to tell you something. But you have to promise not to freak out.”

She raised an eyebrow, already intrigued. “That depends on what it is. But fine, I promise… no freaking out.”

You took a deep breath, avoiding her eyes. “Last night, I bumped into Elijah.”

Elena’s brow furrowed, but she stayed silent, waiting for you to continue.

“And he…kissed me,” you admitted, your voice barely above a whisper.

Elena’s jaw dropped. “What? You kissed Elijah?”

You immediately shook your head, correcting her. “No! He kissed me. I mean, we were talking, and I wasn’t expecting it, but then he just… kissed me.”

Elena leaned back in her chair, eyes wide. “So… did you like it?” she asked, a mix of curiosity and concern in her voice.

You hesitated, running a hand through your hair. “I don’t know,” you admitted. “I’m confused. It caught me off guard, and I wasn’t sure how to feel. But…” You trailed off, trying to put your feelings into words.

“But what?” Elena pressed, leaning forward intently.

You sighed, staring at your hands. “When I’m with the Mikaelsons or one of them. it feels different. It’s intense, almost like they see a part of me that no one else does. But when I’m with Damon or Stefan… it’s just…”

Elena tilted her head, studying you closely. “It’s just what?”

You met her gaze, your voice soft but certain. “It just feels like home. Like no matter how complicated things get, or how lost I feel, they’re always there to pull me back. It’s not just one of them; it’s both. They understand me in a way that no one else does. And despite everything, it’s always them. It’ll always be the Salvatores.”

Elena blinked, absorbing your words. “Wow,” she said finally. “That’s… a lot. So, what are you going to do about Elijah?”

“I don’t know,” you admitted, shaking your head. “I think I need to set boundaries with him. Whatever that kiss was, it can’t happen again. My heart and everything belongs with Damon and Stefan. Even if I don’t fully understand it yet.”

Elena reached out, giving your hand a supportive squeeze. “I get it,” she said gently. “But you need to be careful. This love triangle or whatever it is has the potential to get messy fast. Just make sure you’re honest with everyone involved, okay?”

You nodded, feeling a little lighter after sharing your feelings. “Thanks, Elena. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

She smiled, her usual sisterly warmth shining through. “You’d be lost, obviously,” she teased. “But seriously, you’ll figure it out. Just trust yourself or maybe don’t go kissing any more Mikaelsons.”

You rolled your eyes, laughing despite yourself. “Noted. No more Mikaelson kisses.”

As the two of you continued to talk, you felt a renewed sense of clarity. Whatever was happening between you and the Salvatores and now Elijah. you’d find a way to navigate it. One step at a time.

The night air was cool against your skin as you walked through the quiet streets, your thoughts swirling. You needed space, time to process everything. your hybrid revelation, the kiss with Elijah, and the undeniable connection you felt with Damon and Stefan. It felt like your world was spinning out of control, and for once, you just wanted silence.

But, of course, silence wasn’t something Katherine Pierce would ever allow.

“Ah, there she is,” came her familiar, taunting voice from behind you.

You froze mid-step, your heart sinking as you turned to face her. Katherine emerged from the shadows with her signature smirk, her dark eyes gleaming with amusement.

“What do you want, Katherine?” you asked, exhaling sharply.

She took a slow, deliberate step closer, her heels clicking against the pavement. “Oh, I just wanted to check on my darling daughter,” she said mockingly. “You’ve been busy, haven’t you?”

You crossed your arms, glaring at her. “I’m not in the mood for your games. Just say what you came to say and leave me alone.”

Katherine chuckled, tilting her head as if studying you. “You know, it’s fascinating watching you. You think you’re so different from me, but you’re not. In fact, you’re exactly like me.”

Your jaw tightened. “I’m nothing like you.”

“Really?” she drawled, arching an eyebrow. “Because from where I’m standing, you’re following in my exact footsteps. First, you kiss Elijah. What’s next? Damon? Stefan? Maybe both? You know, it’s only a matter of time before you do more than just kissing.”

Your cheeks flushed with a mix of anger and embarrassment. “You don’t know anything about me or what I feel.”

Katherine laughed, a sharp and cold sound. “Oh, sweetheart, I know everything about you. You’re my daughter, after all. You crave attention, just like I did. You want them all to love you. And guess what? They do. The Mikaelsons, and the Salvatores are all falling for you. But let me give you a little spoiler: it won’t end well for you. It never does for people like us.”

You clenched your fists, your anger boiling over. “I’m not you, Katherine. I don’t manipulate people, and I don’t destroy lives for fun. Whatever choices I make, they’re mine. not yours. So stop projecting your twisted life onto me.”

Katherine’s smirk faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered, her expression turning icy. “Keep telling yourself that, Y/N. But one day, you’ll realize I was right. And when that day comes, I’ll be waiting to say, ‘I told you so.’”

She stepped back, her figure melting into the shadows as quickly as she’d appeared.

You stood there, shaking with frustration and disbelief. Katherine’s words lingered in your mind, poking at your insecurities. But deep down, you knew she was wrong. You weren’t her. You could never be her.

Taking a deep breath, you turned and continued walking, determined to prove to everyone and to yourself that your path would be different.

The morning sun streamed through the windows of the Salvatore kitchen as Damon whistled a tune, flipping a pancake with a flick of his wrist. The delicious scent of batter and sizzling butter filled the room, making your stomach growl. You wandered into the kitchen, still in your pajamas, rubbing the sleep from your eyes.

“Morning, Princess,” Damon greeted with his trademark smirk. “You’re just in time for a culinary masterpiece.”

You raised an eyebrow, leaning against the counter. “You? Cooking? Should I be worried?”

“Ha, ha,” he said dryly, pouring more batter onto the skillet. “I’m an excellent chef when I want to be. You’re about to experience breakfast art.”

As he flipped another pancake, you noticed something unusual about the stack already on the plate. Picking one up, you stared at it, then burst out laughing.

“Damon, not again with your vampire pancakes.” you said, pointing to the pancake. It had two berry eyes, a bloody red syrup mouth, and jagged whipped cream fangs.

“Excuse me, Princess?” he asks, pretending to be offended. “You like them so don’t lie and besides don’t they look cute?”

You laughed harder, clutching your stomach. “It looks like a deranged cartoon character. And what’s with the syrup? Did the vampire eat a victim or spill its lunch all over itself?”

“Excuse you, this syrup represents lifeblood,” he quipped, taking a dramatic tone. “Art must provoke emotion.”

“Yeah, my emotion is confusion,” you teased.

Stefan walked into the kitchen at that moment, eyebrows raising at the scene. “What’s going on here?” he asked, glancing at the stack of vampire pancakes.

“Damon’s Picasso phase, apparently,” you said, showing him the pancake.

Stefan sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Damon, can’t we just have a normal breakfast for once?”

“Normal?” Damon scoffed, gesturing toward his creation. “Normal is boring. This, dear brother, is art. And Y/N appreciates it. Don’t you, Princess?”

You smirked, holding up the pancake for closer inspection. “I mean… it’s definitely something. But I’m not eating this one. It looks like it’s judging me.”

Damon snatched the pancake from your hand, mock-offended. “Fine, I’ll eat it. You don’t deserve the brilliance of Vampire Pancake Damon.”

Stefan rolled his eyes and started pouring himself some coffee. “Why do I even bother? I’ll make normal ones for myself.”

Damon leaned closer to you with a wink. “Don’t worry, Princess, I’ll make you another. Just wait till you see the vampire bat pancakes.”

You laughed, shaking your head. “Only you, Damon. Only you.”

As you sat at the table, watching him create yet another pancake masterpiece, you couldn’t help but smile. Moments like these reminded you that, no matter how complicated your life had become, there was still room for laughter and pancakes. in your little vampire family.

The autumn air was crisp as you strolled down the main street of Mystic Falls, your arms looped through Damon’s and Stefan’s. Damon walked on your left, his typical smug smirk in place, while Stefan was on your right, offering his usual calm and reassuring presence. The brothers had insisted on accompanying you, claiming they wanted to “keep you out of trouble,” though you suspected Damon was more interested in flaunting the bond you shared.

“I’m just saying,” Damon was saying as he looked over at Stefan, “if she’s walking with both of us, it’s clear who the town’s favorite brothers are.”

“You mean me,” Stefan countered, shaking his head with a small grin. “You’re just here for comic relief.”

You laughed softly, looking between the two of them. “If you two keep bickering, I’m going to start walking by myself.”

Damon leaned closer to you with a smirk. “You wouldn’t dare, Princess. You love us too much.”

Before you could respond, you heard the unmistakable sound of approaching footsteps. Your heart sank as you looked ahead and saw the Mikaelsons brothers. The three of them stopped in their tracks, wearing matching smirks that instantly set Damon on edge.

“Well, well,” Klaus drawled, his blue eyes sparkling with mischief. “If it isn’t the Salvatores and their charming companion.”

Kol’s grin widened as his gaze landed on you. “Ah, Y/N. Fancy seeing you out and about. Taking the brothers for a stroll, are we? How domestic.”

You felt Damon’s grip on your arm tighten slightly as he muttered under his breath, “Great. Just what we needed. The Originals on parade.”

But it wasn’t Klaus or Kol who had your attention. It was Elijah. His expression was more controlled, but you could see the flicker of something in his eyes. something he didn’t bother to hide. The memory of the kiss you shared just days ago flashed in your mind, and you quickly looked away, your cheeks warming despite the chill in the air.

Elijah, however, kept his eyes on you, his usual poised demeanor softening for a fraction of a second. There was no smirk on his lips, only a subtle intensity that made your pulse quicken. Damon noticed and stepped slightly in front of you, his posture protective.

“Enjoying the view, Elijah?” Damon quipped, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Elijah didn’t rise to the bait, his gaze still locked on you. “I was merely admiring the company you keep,” he said smoothly. “It seems you’ve developed quite the attachment to them.”

Kol chuckled darkly. “Oh, I’d say it’s more than that, wouldn’t you, brother? She seems to have a talent for charming all the wrong people.”

You shot Kol a warning look, but it was Klaus who stepped forward, his grin as sharp as a blade. “Careful, Y/N. Too much time with the Salvatores, and you might end up just as tragic as them.”

“Enough,” Stefan said firmly, his voice cutting through the tension. “Why are you even here? Looking for someone else to torment?”

Klaus shrugged innocently. “Torment? Us? Never. We were simply passing through.” His eyes glinted with amusement as they flicked between you and Elijah. “Though it seems some of us might have other motivations.”

Damon narrowed his eyes. “Whatever game you think you’re playing, Klaus, it’s not going to work. She’s with us.”

Klaus’s smirk didn’t waver. “Oh, I don’t doubt that. For now.”

You could feel the tension radiating from both sides, and you took a small step back, your stomach twisting. Elijah’s gaze softened just slightly as he noticed your discomfort, but before he could say anything, Damon spoke again.

“Unless you’ve got something important to say, why don’t you all run along?” Damon said coldly, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Klaus chuckled, clearly amused by the hostility. “Very well. We wouldn’t want to overstay our welcome.” He looked at you one last time, his smirk fading into something more calculating. “But do remember, Y/N, alliances can shift. Don’t let these two convince you otherwise.”

As the Mikaelsons walked away, Elijah glanced back once, his eyes meeting yours for a brief, heart-stopping moment before he turned and disappeared with his brothers.

Stefan let out a slow breath, his hand resting lightly on your arm. “Are you okay?”

“Fine,” you said quickly, though your heart was still racing.

Damon tilted his head, studying you with a knowing expression. “You’re a terrible liar, Princess. Want to tell us what that was all about?”

“Not really,” you muttered, looking down at the ground as you tried to steady yourself. But deep down, you knew this wasn’t over not by a long shot.

The Mikaelson brothers were gathered in the grand living room of their estate, the crackling fireplace casting shadows across the ancient walls. Kol lounged casually on the arm of a chair, his playful smirk firmly in place as he tossed a coin between his fingers. Klaus stood by the fireplace, swirling a glass of bourbon, his sharp blue eyes narrowed as they focused on Elijah, who sat stoically with his hands clasped in front of him.

“Elijah,” Klaus began, his tone dripping with suspicion, “care to explain why you were staring at Y/N like she was the Mona Lisa come to life? It was… noticeable.”

Kol’s smirk widened as he leaned forward. “Oh, come now, brother. We all saw it. The long, lingering looks, the softening of those usually stiff features of yours. Quite unlike you.” He arched an eyebrow, his tone teasing yet sharp. “So, care to enlighten us? Or shall we just assume you’ve joined the club?”

Elijah adjusted his posture, his face calm and unreadable as ever. “I’ve no idea what you’re talking about,” he said smoothly. “I was merely observing. She was walking with the Salvatores. Naturally, I was… curious about her condition.”

“Her condition,” Klaus repeated, his tone dripping with disbelief. He took a sip of his drink before shaking his head. “That’s rich, even for you, Elijah. Admit it. you’ve developed a… fondness for her.”

Kol laughed, flipping the coin in the air before catching it. “Fondness? Oh no, Nik, it’s more than that. Did you see the way he looked at her? Like he’d just seen the sun after a thousand years of darkness.”

Elijah’s jaw tensed, his hands folding neatly in his lap. “You’re both mistaken,” he said firmly. “I have no such feelings for Y/N. I was merely ensuring she wasn’t being manipulated by the Salvatores. We’ve seen how their… attachments can spiral into disaster.”

Kol rolled his eyes, clearly not buying the explanation. “Oh, please. You think I don’t recognize that look? It’s the same one Nik gets when he’s plotting how to win her over.”

Klaus shot Kol a warning glare but didn’t deny it. “Careful, Kol,” he said coolly. “You’re not exactly subtle yourself. I’ve noticed how you’ve taken to conveniently showing up wherever Y/N happens to be.”

Kol raised his hands in mock surrender. “Guilty as charged. Can you blame me? She’s enchanting. But this isn’t about me, is it? It’s about Elijah.” He turned his gaze back to his older brother, his smirk sharp and probing. “So, Elijah, tell us are you planning to woo her with your endless speeches about honor and morality?”

Elijah stood abruptly, his calm demeanor finally cracking just a little. “Enough,” he said sharply. “Whatever you may think you saw, it’s irrelevant. My interest in Y/N is purely protective.”

Klaus arched an eyebrow, his lips curling into a sly smile. “Protective, is it? That’s an interesting word, considering you kissed her.”

Kol’s grin widened in delight. “Oh, now this is getting good! Tell us, brother was it a chaste little peck, or something more… passionate?”

Elijah’s expression darkened, and he turned to leave the room, clearly done with the conversation. “Believe what you will,” he said over his shoulder. “But I suggest you focus less on me and more on how you intend to handle your own feelings for her.”

Kol and Klaus exchanged a glance as the door closed behind Elijah. Kol’s playful smirk softened just slightly, and Klaus swirled his bourbon thoughtfully.

“Well,” Kol said after a moment, “this just got a whole lot more interesting.”

Klaus chuckled, though there was an edge to it. “Indeed it has, brother. Indeed it has.”

As you walked your mind was swirling with everything that had happened. the secrets, the lies, the strange attraction you felt toward both the Salvatores and the Mikaelsons. It was all too much to handle, and you needed some time alone to think. You weren’t paying much attention to where you were going as you rounded a corner, and then—

You collided with something solid.

“Whoa, careful love,” Klaus’s voice came, smooth and tinged with amusement.

You stumbled backward slightly, but strong hands gripped your arms, steadying you. Looking up, you met his piercing blue eyes. He was standing just a few inches from you, his presence as commanding as ever. A faint, teasing smile played at the corners of his lips.

“Sorry,” you muttered, stepping back to regain your balance, though your heart was racing from the unexpected contact.

Klaus’s gaze never wavered, a knowing look passing between you as if he could sense the turmoil inside you. “No need to apologize. It’s not every day I get to run into someone as… distracting as you.”

You raised an eyebrow, not sure how to take that comment. “Distracting?”

He shrugged, his expression more serious now, though the playful glint still lingered in his eyes. “You are, aren’t you? With everything that’s happened recently… the Salvatores, my brothers and me, the confusion. It’s only natural that someone as fascinating as you would be caught in the middle.”

You narrowed your eyes, the weight of his words settling heavily on your chest. “What do you mean by that?”

Klaus’s hands slipped into his pockets as he leaned slightly closer. “I’m just saying that, whether you like it or not, you’re a part of all of this now. And let’s be honest, Y/N,” he said, his voice dropping lower, “it’s not just the Salvatores you’re thinking about. It’s us, too. You’re torn between two worlds. And honestly, I can’t help but wonder what choice you’ll make when the time comes.”

You took a step back, startled by his directness. “What are you talking about, Klaus? I’m not… torn between anything. I–.”

He interrupted you with a soft chuckle, his voice almost a purr. “Oh, but you are. I can see it in the way you hesitate when you’re around me. The way you look at me when you think no one’s watching. It’s like a dance, Y/N. and I’m sure you didn’t expect, but one that you’re caught in all the same.”

Your heart was racing now, and you hated that he was right. There was something about the way he spoke, the way he made you feel seen something that made your emotions all the more complicated.

Klaus tilted his head slightly, studying you with an intensity that made your breath catch. “I’m not here to make things more difficult for you. But if you ever decide that you don’t want to be tangled up in all of this… You know where to find me.”

His words hung in the air like a promise, and before you could respond, Klaus turned and walked away, his movements as graceful and assured as always. You stood there, frozen in place, feeling the weight of his gaze even after he was gone.

What was it about him? What was it about them all? You didn’t know how to answer, but one thing was certain: your world was changing, and the Mikaelsons were at the heart of it.

As you walked away from the spot where you had just encountered Klaus, still processing his cryptic words, you turned a corner and nearly collided with Kol. You hadn’t heard his approach, but then again, it wasn’t surprising. Kol was as stealthy as he was charming.

You froze, heart racing slightly. “Kol,” you muttered, startled.

He flashed a mischievous grin, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “I don’t bite darling well, not unless you ask nicely.”

You rolled your eyes, attempting to regain some semblance of composure. “Don’t you ever watch where you’re going?”

“Not really my style,” he said with a wink, leaning against the wall casually, arms crossed. “Though, I’m starting to wonder if it’s fate that keeps bringing us together.” He took a step closer, his gaze never leaving yours. “Every time I turn around, there you are, looking all… mysterious. Are you always this evasive, or are you just playing hard to get?”

You gave him a look. “I’m not playing anything. I’m just… trying to get through this mess.”

Kol tilted his head, his expression shifting to something more thoughtful. “Mess? I’m not sure I’d call it that. It’s a fascinating little game we’ve all found ourselves in. But I can see it’s taking its toll on you.” His voice softened, though it still carried that signature teasing tone. “You’ve been acting distant lately. Something on your mind?”

You hesitated. How much should you tell him? Was it wise to open up to a Mikaelson, of all people? They were unpredictable, dangerous. but there was something about Kol. Something that made him seem… different from his siblings. Still, the last thing you needed was to let him get too close.

“I’m fine,” you said quickly, brushing off his question. “Just trying to figure things out.”

Kol’s smirk didn’t falter. “Ah, yes. That old ‘I’m fine’ excuse. We both know that’s never the case, darling.” He took a step closer, his voice dropping lower, softer. “You’ve got something on your mind. You’re always thinking, always questioning. It’s written all over your face.”

You clenched your jaw, not wanting to give him any more than he already knew. But there was something about the way he said it. so disarming, so genuine that made it harder to keep up the walls you’d been so careful to build. Kol wasn’t like Klaus or Elijah, with their heavy stares and intense, brooding nature. Kol was more… playful. And in some ways, that made him even more dangerous.

“I’m just… confused, OK?” you finally admitted, your voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t know what to do anymore. There’s too much happening. too many people involved, too many emotions flying around. I can’t make sense of any of it.”

Kol’s expression softened, just a hint. He stepped closer, and for a moment, his playful demeanor disappeared, replaced with something else. something that looked almost like concern. “It’s alright to be confused, Y/N. You don’t have to have everything figured out right away. Life’s not like that, especially not with us. We’re all… tangled up in things we didn’t ask for.”

You looked up at him, your heart racing. His words were strangely comforting, but at the same time, they only made everything feel even more complicated.

Kol reached out then, his hand brushing against yours in an almost casual manner, though there was an undeniable spark in the touch. “You don’t have to figure it out alone. We’re all in this together, whether you like it or not. And who knows? Maybe it’ll all make sense eventually.”

Before you could respond, he flashed that devilish smile again, the playful Kol you knew, and took a step back. “But, for now, I’ll let you think it over. After all, I wouldn’t want to overwhelm you with all this charm.”

you found yourself at a loss for words. Kol was right about one thing: he had a way of making things seem… simpler, even if they weren’t.

“Just think about it,” he said, his voice lingering in the air. “We’re not all bad, you know. Some of us might even surprise you.”

And with that, he turned and walked away, leaving you standing there, your mind reeling once again.

As the evening settled in, casting long shadows across Mystic Falls, you wandered through the quiet streets, needing time to think. The tension between the Salvatores, the Mikaelsons, and everything else in your life was weighing you down. You turned a corner, only to stop short as you found yourself face-to-face with Elijah Mikaelson.

“Elijah,” you said, your voice a mix of surprise and hesitation.

He stood with his usual composed demeanor, hands tucked neatly into his pockets. His dark eyes studied you, and for a moment, you thought you saw something flicker behind them. regret? Concern? It was hard to tell with Elijah; he was always so carefully guarded.

“Y/N,” he greeted, his voice warm but measured. “Out for an evening stroll?”

You nodded, unsure of what to say. His presence always made you feel a strange mixture of comfort and unease. He had a way of looking at you, as if he could see right through the walls you tried so hard to keep up.

“I needed some air,” you admitted. “Everything’s been… a lot lately.”

Elijah took a step closer, his gaze softening. “Understandable. Your world has been turned upside down, and you’ve had precious little time to adjust.” His voice carried that calm, soothing tone he always seemed to have, and it eased some of the tension in your chest.

You looked away, feeling vulnerable under his watchful eyes. “I don’t even know what I’m doing anymore. Everyone has these… expectations of me. The Salvatores, you and your brothers, and Katherine. It’s like I’m being pulled in a hundred different directions.”

Elijah tilted his head, his expression thoughtful. “And what is it that you want, Y/N? Have you allowed yourself the chance to consider that?”

His question caught you off guard. You hadn’t had much time to think about what you wanted, caught up as you were in everyone else’s agendas. You sighed, running a hand through your hair. “I don’t know,” you said honestly. “I just want some peace. Some clarity. But it feels impossible.”

Elijah stepped even closer, his presence steady and reassuring. “Peace is not easily found in a life such as yours,” he said gently. “But clarity… that is something I may be able to help you with.”

You looked up at him, confused. “What do you mean?”

Elijah hesitated for a moment, as if weighing his next words carefully. Finally, he said, “I see a strength in you, Y/N. A resilience. It’s what sets you apart from others. But I also see the weight you carry, the doubts that plague you. You don’t have to bear it all alone.”

His words struck a chord, and for a moment, you felt the urge to lean on him, to let him take some of the burden. But then you remembered the kiss, the lingering feelings of confusion it had left behind. Being around Elijah was complicated, no matter how comforting he seemed.

“Elijah,” you began, your voice uncertain. “About the other night—”

“I was out of line,” he interrupted, his tone sincere. “I allowed my emotions to cloud my judgment, and for that, I apologize. I would never want to cause you any distress.”

You blinked, taken aback by his candor. “You didn’t—well, it’s not that. It’s just… everything feels so tangled right now. I don’t know what to think or feel.”

Elijah nodded, his expression understanding. “Then take your time, Y/N. You owe nothing to anyone, least of all me. Whatever path you choose, it should be one that brings you peace, not more chaos.”

His words were like a balm to your frazzled mind, and for the first time in days, you felt a small spark of clarity. “Thank you,” you said softly, meeting his gaze. “I mean it.”

Elijah inclined his head, a faint smile playing on his lips. “Anytime.”

As he stepped back, giving you space to continue your walk, you couldn’t help but feel a pang of something unnameable. gratitude? Fondness? Whatever it was, it only added to the complexity of your already tangled emotions.

You watched as he walked away, his figure disappearing into the shadows. And as you turned to head back home, you couldn’t help but wonder if maybe, just maybe, Elijah understood you better than you realized.

The evening had grown heavy, and so had your heart. After much deliberation, you decided it was time to come clean to Damon and Stefan. The weight of your secret. the kiss with Elijah and it was eating away at you, and though you didn’t want to hurt them, you knew they deserved the truth.

When you arrived at the Salvatore house, they were sitting in the living room, their usual playful banter filling the air. Seeing their carefree smiles only made the task ahead more difficult.

“Hey, princess,” Damon greeted, his voice as smooth as ever. Stefan looked up from his book, offering you a warm smile. “Everything okay?”

You hesitated, shifting on your feet. “I need to talk to you both. It’s… important.”

Their smiles faded, concerned about taking over as they exchanged a glance. Damon gestured to the couch. “Alright, spill. What’s going on?”

You took a deep breath, sitting down across from them. Your hands trembled slightly, and you clenched them together to steady yourself. “There’s something I need to tell you. And before I do, I just want you to know that I never meant to hurt either of you.”

Stefan leaned forward, his brows furrowing. “Y/N, what is it?”

“I kissed Elijah,” you said, your voice barely above a whisper.

The silence that followed was deafening. Damon froze, his signature smirk wiped clean from his face. Stefan’s expression crumpled into something between shock and pain.

“You what?” Damon finally said, his voice low and strained.

“It just happened,” you explained quickly, your words tumbling out in a desperate rush. “He was talking to me, and… it wasn’t planned. I didn’t mean for it to happen, and I—”

“You kissed Elijah?” Damon repeated, his tone sharper now, laced with disbelief.

“Actually,” you corrected softly, “he kissed me.”

That didn’t seem to help. Stefan stood up, pacing the room, his jaw clenched. “And you didn’t think to tell us sooner? Or were you just hoping we wouldn’t find out?”

“It wasn’t like that!” you said, your voice breaking. “I was confused, okay? I didn’t even know how I felt about it until—”

“Until now?” Damon cut in, his voice cold. “Well, thanks for letting us know where we stand, princess.”

His words stung, and you felt tears prick your eyes. “Damon, please, it’s not like that. I—”

“Save it,” he said, standing abruptly. “I think we’ve heard enough.”

The room felt suffocating, the tension unbearable. Stefan avoided your gaze, his expression one of quiet devastation. Damon wouldn’t even look at you.

“I should go,” you said, your voice trembling. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

Neither of them stopped you as you left. The weight of their pain followed you as you stepped outside, your heart feeling heavier with every step you took.

As you walked aimlessly through the dimly lit streets, your phone buzzed in your pocket. Hoping for a distraction, you answered without checking the caller ID.

“Y/N,” Elena’s voice came through, choked and panicked.

“Elena?” you said, immediately alarmed. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s Jeremy,” she sobbed, her words barely coherent. “He’s gone. He’s… he’s dead.”

The world seemed to tilt on its axis. “What?” you whispered, stopping in your tracks.

“It happened so fast,” Elena cried. “I couldn’t save him. He’s gone, Y/N. Jeremy’s gone.”

The phone slipped from your hand, clattering to the pavement. Your knees buckled, and you sank to the ground, the tears you’d been holding back finally spilling over.

First Damon and Stefan, now Jeremy. It felt like your world was shattering piece by piece, and there was nothing you could do to stop it.

You stayed there on the cold pavement, sobbing into the night, the weight of your choices and losses pressing down on you. The sound of Elena’s cries echoed faintly from the phone, a heartbreaking reminder of just how much had been lost in a single, devastating moment.

The night was eerily quiet, save for the soft crunch of leaves beneath your feet. Your heart felt like it was breaking with every step you took, tears streaming down your face as Jeremy’s death and your confrontation with Damon and Stefan replayed endlessly in your mind. Every breath was a struggle, every beat of your heart a painful reminder of everything you’d lost.

You barely noticed the familiar presence until a voice cut through the stillness, smooth and calculated.

“Sweetheart, why are you torturing yourself like this?”

You froze, turning to see Katherine standing in the shadows, her arms crossed and a knowing smirk playing on her lips. She stepped closer, her dark eyes glinting in the moonlight.

“Katherine,” you muttered, your voice hoarse from crying. “What do you want?”

“Me?” she said, feigning innocence. “I just want to help my darling daughter. You’re clearly falling apart. It’s written all over your face.”

“Don’t,” you snapped, trying to walk past her, but she moved swiftly, blocking your path.

“Don’t what?” Katherine said, tilting her head. “Don’t tell you the truth? Don’t remind you that this pain you’re feeling? It doesn’t have to be like this.”

You glared at her through tear-filled eyes. “I don’t want to hear it.”

She sighed dramatically, stepping even closer. “Of course you don’t. Because you’re stubborn, just like me. But let’s face it, baby. you’re drowning. Jeremy’s gone. The Salvatores are heartbroken. And you? You’re carrying all of it. It’s going to destroy you, Y/N. Unless…”

You didn’t ask her to finish. You didn’t want to hear it, but she continued anyway.

“Unless you do what I do sometimes,” Katherine said, her voice softer now, almost soothing. “Turn it off.”

Your stomach twisted at her words. “No. I won’t do that.”

Katherine laughed lightly. “Oh, but why not? What’s left for you here? Pain? Heartbreak? Guilt? Why carry it when you don’t have to? You’re a vampire now, Y/N. You have the choice to shut it all out. No more tears, no more hurt, no more weakness.”

You shook your head, stepping back, but her words burrowed into your mind like a poison. “I can’t,” you whispered.

“Can’t or won’t?” Katherine challenged, her tone sharpening. “You’re scared. You think holding onto this pain makes you better than me, but it doesn’t. It makes you weak. And you know what’s worse? All this guilt you’re carrying for other people. Damon, Stefan, Jeremy. it doesn’t matter. They’re not here. You’re the one suffering.”

Her words hit a nerve, and fresh tears spilled down your cheeks.

“Stop it,” you whispered, your voice trembling. “Just stop.”

Katherine leaned closer, her voice dropping to a near whisper. “Turn it off, Y/N. Do it, and you’ll finally be free. No more heartbreak, no more crying yourself to sleep, no more pain. It’s all just… gone.”

You clenched your fists, trying to fight the temptation. But her words lingered, and the pain in your chest felt unbearable. Katherine was right about one thing. you were drowning. And in that moment, the idea of escaping it all, of not feeling anything, seemed almost… merciful.

“I don’t want to feel like this anymore,” you admitted, your voice cracking.

Katherine’s smirk returned, triumphant. “Then don’t. Just let it go. Turn it off.”

You hesitated, the war inside you raging. Part of you wanted to fight, to hold onto the part of yourself that still cared. But the other part. the part that was tired, broken, and desperate was louder.

With a shaky breath, you closed your eyes and let go. The emotions that had been suffocating you. the grief, the guilt, the heartbreak began to fade, replaced by a cold, numbing void. When you opened your eyes again, the tears had stopped.

Katherine stepped back, studying you with approval. “There it is,” she said, a satisfied smile on her lips. “Now you’re ready to really live, Y/N.”

You didn’t say anything, your expression now blank and unreadable. The pain was gone, just as she promised. And with it, the weight of everything that had once mattered.

As Katherine turned and began to walk away, she glanced back over her shoulder. “You’ll thank me for this one day.”

You didn’t respond. You simply stood there, staring into the night, the world around you feeling strangely distant and hollow. For the first time in days, you felt nothing.

The moon hung low in the sky as you wandered aimlessly through the woods, your once vibrant demeanor replaced by a chilling indifference. The wind rustled through the trees, but its soothing whispers didn’t reach you. You weren’t the same anymore; you couldn’t feel the ache, the pain, the crushing grief. All that was left was a cold emptiness, and you welcomed it.

“Y/N.”

You froze at the sound of a familiar voice and turned to see the Mikaelsons stepping out of the shadows. Elijah, Klaus, and Kol stood before you, their expressions somber, each of them carrying an air of hesitation.

“We heard about your brother,” Elijah began, his voice gentle, as if he was treading carefully. “And we wanted to offer our condolences. If there is anything or anything at all that we can do, we are here for you.”

You stared at them for a moment, then burst into laughter. Not the kind of laughter that brought joy, but one that was hollow, biting, and unnerving. It echoed through the woods, cutting through the quiet night like a blade.

Klaus frowned, stepping closer. “Y/N, are you all right?”

“All right?” you repeated, your laughter dying abruptly as you took a step forward. “Oh, I’m better than all right. I’m finally free.”

Kol’s face darkened, suspicion flickering in his eyes. “What does that mean?”

Elijah studied you intently, his gaze sharp and assessing. Then it hit him. He took a step forward, concern etched on his face. “You turned it off, didn’t you?”

You tilted your head, a wicked smile creeping onto your lips. “And here I thought you were the smart one.”

“Love, no,” Klaus said, his voice firm, though there was an edge of worry. “This isn’t you. You’ve let Katherine get inside your head. Turn it back on. You need to grieve properly.”

“Grieve?” you scoffed, pulling out a stake from behind your back. The sight of it made the brothers instinctively tense. “Why would I want to do that? All grief does is hurt. And I’m done with that.”

“Y/N,” Elijah said softly, his calm demeanor unwavering despite the weapon in your hand. “We understand your pain. Losing a sibling is—”

“Don’t you dare talk to me about pain!” you snapped, your voice like venom. “You have no idea what I’ve been through. No idea what it’s like to have everything ripped away from you and be left with nothing!”

Kol tried to step closer, his tone gentle but wary. “We’re not your enemies, darling. We just want to help.”

You laughed darkly, spinning the stake in your hand. “Help? That’s rich. If you’re so concerned, then leave me alone. But if you insist on pushing, I’ll happily remind you why they call me dangerous.”

Klaus’s jaw clenched as he exchanged a glance with Elijah. “Y/N, you don’t mean that.”

“Oh, don’t I?” you said, your voice dropping to a deadly calm. “Try me, and you’ll find out just how serious I am. You’ll end up just like anyone else who gets in my way will end up dead.”

The Mikaelsons stood frozen, a mixture of shock and heartbreak on their faces. The warmth they’d always associated with you was gone, replaced by a cold, detached version of yourself that they barely recognized.

Elijah’s voice cracked as he spoke, his composure slipping. “This isn’t who you are, Y/N. Please, don’t let this define you.”

You tilted your head, smirking cruelly. “Maybe this is exactly who I am. Maybe you just didn’t know me as well as you thought.”

For a moment, silence hung in the air, the tension suffocating. Then, without another word, you turned on your heel and disappeared into the night, leaving the Mikaelsons standing there, their hearts heavy with the weight of your transformation.

“Did you see her eyes?” Kol whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

“She’s gone,” Klaus muttered, his tone unusually soft.

Elijah straightened, his face resolute despite the pain in his eyes. “No. She’s still in there. We’ll bring her back.”

The Mikaelsons watched the direction you’d vanished into, determined but broken. They knew the road ahead wouldn’t be easy, but they weren’t ready to give up on you. not yet.

The night was alive with music, laughter, and a carefree energy that felt almost foreign to you. You found yourself in one of Mystic Falls’ more discreet underground venues, the kind of place that Katherine knew all too well. Neon lights flashed in rhythmic patterns, casting a kaleidoscope of colors over the crowd. The air buzzed with the scent of alcohol, sweat, and exhilaration.

You were seated in a plush booth, leaning back with a glass of bourbon in your hand, watching the chaos unfold on the dance floor. Katherine was beside you, dressed to kill figuratively and, knowing her, probably literally. She looked like she owned the place, her smirk as sharp as ever.

“See, darling,” Katherine said, sipping her drink with a satisfied grin, “this is what life should be about. No strings, no guilt. Just fun. No one to judge you, no one to hold you back.”

You tilted your head, your lips curling into a smirk that mirrored hers. “It does have its perks. Though I didn’t peg you for the ‘mother-daughter bonding night’ type.”

Katherine laughed, tossing her hair over her shoulder. “Oh, please. I’m not that sentimental. But I couldn’t resist showing my baby girl how to truly enjoy the perks of being… well, us.”

She gestured to the scene around you and humans laughing and drinking, oblivious to the vampires in their midst. You could feel the pulse of their blood, the intoxicating allure of it calling to you, but tonight wasn’t about hunger. It was about indulgence in a different form.

Katherine suddenly stood, pulling you to your feet. “Come on. You can’t just sit there looking pretty all night.”

You raised an eyebrow, amused. “What exactly do you have in mind?”

Her grin widened as she led you to the dance floor. The crowd parted for her as if they instinctively knew not to get in her way. The music thumped loudly, and before you knew it, you were dancing alongside her.

At first, you felt a bit stiff, the weight of everything still lingering in the back of your mind, but Katherine wasn’t having it. She spun you around, laughing, and leaned in to shout over the music. “Loosen up, Y/N! You’ve already turned off your humanity. This is your chance to let go and have some real fun!”

As the beat picked up, you decided to follow her lead. You allowed yourself to sway to the music, to feel the energy of the crowd around you. It wasn’t long before you were laughing alongside Katherine, caught up in the wildness of the moment.

After a while, you found yourselves back at the bar. Katherine ordered another round of drinks, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “You’re getting the hang of it,” she said, nudging you with her elbow.

“Guess I had a good teacher,” you quipped, earning an approving nod from her.

As the night went on, you found yourself genuinely enjoying her company. Katherine might have been manipulative and self-serving, but tonight, she felt almost… human. She told you stories of her wildest escapades, some of which had you rolling your eyes, others that made you laugh so hard your sides hurt.

But the fun wasn’t without its edge. Katherine occasionally shot predatory glances at unsuspecting humans in the room, and you knew she was testing you, waiting to see if you’d follow her lead in a darker way.

When a particularly bold guy tried to flirt with you, Katherine’s smirk turned deadly. She stepped in, placing a protective yet condescending arm around your shoulders. “Sorry, sweetheart,” she told the guy, her tone dripping with fake sweetness, “she’s out of your league. Run along.”

You burst out laughing as the guy scurried off, and Katherine shrugged. “What? I can’t have anyone ruining our night.”

As the hours ticked by, you started to realize what Katherine was doing. She wasn’t just showing you how to have fun. she was pulling you deeper into her world, the one where consequences didn’t exist, and pleasure came before anything else.

For now, you let her, because it felt good to forget. But somewhere in the back of your mind, a small voice whispered that this wasn’t who you were.

For tonight, though, you silenced that voice.

The Mikaelsons entered the dimly lit club, their sharp eyes scanning the crowd. Klaus led the way, his jaw set with determination, while Kol followed close behind, exuding his usual air of mischief. Elijah, as composed as ever, trailed them, his eyes darting through the room in search of you. They had heard rumors of your activities with Katherine and were determined to find you, whether it was to bring you back or to confront you.

Suddenly, they spotted you standing by the bar, a glass of bourbon in hand. Klaus stepped forward, his voice commanding. “Y/N.”

You turned slowly, a sly smirk spreading across your face. “Oh, no, no, no, handsome,” you purred, your tone dripping with mockery. “I’m not Y/N. I’m Katherine.”

Klaus raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. “Do you take us for fools? We can tell the difference between you and your mother.”

Before you could respond, another figure emerged from the shadows. Katherine herself. She sauntered over, her smile identical to yours, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “No, my sweet daughter,” she said, her voice laced with sarcasm, “I am Katherine. Oh wait… no, I’m Y/N.”

The two of you burst into laughter, your voices blending into a perfect harmony that only added to the Mikaelsons’ confusion.

Kol folded his arms, leaning casually against the nearest surface. “Well, this is entertaining,” he drawled. “A game of Who’s Who. Tell me, ladies, how long do you plan to keep this up?”

You exchanged a glance with Katherine, your smirks widening. “As long as it takes for you to guess,” you said in unison, your voices perfectly synchronized.

Elijah’s patience was already wearing thin. “Enough of this,” he said firmly, his eyes narrowing. “We’re not here for your games. Y/N, we need to talk.”

Katherine placed a hand dramatically over her chest. “Oh, Elijah,” she said, feigning shock. “You’re breaking my heart. Can’t you tell it’s me, Katherina?”

You mimicked her gesture, your tone dripping with mock offense. “No, no, Elijah. It’s me, Y/N. Don’t you recognize your favorite human-turned-vampire-turned… well, whatever I am now?”

Klaus’s temper flared. “We don’t have time for this nonsense!” he snapped. “Enough with the charade. Y/N, since you have your humidity off, you just have made a grave mistake. And as for you, Katherine—”

But Katherine cut him off, stepping closer to Klaus with a playful smile. “Oh, Niklaus, you always did take everything so seriously. Relax. Enjoy the show. It’s not every day you get to see a mother-daughter duo working together, is it?”

You tilted your head, meeting Klaus’s glare with your own defiance. “What’s the matter, Klaus? Feeling a little out of control? You’re used to everyone bowing to your whims, aren’t you?”

Kol laughed, thoroughly enjoying the chaos. “I have to admit,” he said, his grin widening, “I quite like this side of Y/N. Spunky, unpredictable. Very… Katherine-like.”

Katherine clapped her hands together, beaming. “Finally, someone with good taste. Thank you, Kol.”

Elijah stepped forward, his tone sharp. “This isn’t a game, Y/N. You’re playing with fire, aligning yourself with Katherine. You’re better than this.”

You rolled your eyes, your smile fading for a brief moment. “Am I? Because right now, it feels pretty damn liberating to not care. Maybe Katherine had the right idea all along.”

Katherine smirked, throwing an arm around your shoulders. “See? She gets it.”

But before anyone could respond, you both started walking toward the exit, leaving the Mikaelsons standing there, visibly frustrated.

As you disappeared into the night with Katherine, Kol chuckled softly. “Well, that was fun.”

Elijah sighed, rubbing his temples. “Fun isn’t exactly the word I would use.”

Klaus clenched his fists, his expression dark. “We’ll get through to her. One way or another.”

Elena stormed into the Salvatore boarding house, her face pale and frantic, but her words were met with silence. Damon and Stefan were sitting in the living room, Damon swirling a glass of bourbon while Stefan stared out the window, lost in thought. Neither of them looked at her when she entered.

“Really?” Elena snapped, throwing her hands in the air. “You’re both still ignoring me? I get that you’re mad at me for not telling you about the kiss with Elijah, but right now, I don’t care! I’ve been calling you all day, and neither of you is answering!”

Damon glanced at her briefly, raising an eyebrow, but then went back to his drink without saying a word. Stefan didn’t even acknowledge her.

“Fine,” Elena said, her voice shaking with frustration. “Be mad at me all you want. But if you actually care about Y/N, you’ll stop sulking and listen to me!”

At the mention of your name, Stefan’s head turned slightly, though he didn’t fully face her. Damon’s grip on his glass tightened, his jaw clenching.

Elena stepped closer, her tone softening. “I can’t find her. She’s not answering my calls, and she hasn’t since I told her about Jeremy.” Her voice cracked, tears welling up in her eyes. “She was devastated, and now she’s just… gone. I don’t know where she is.”

Damon’s head shot up at that, his cocky demeanor replaced with worry. “What do you mean, gone?”

“I mean, she’s disappeared!” Elena cried, her desperation spilling over. “She walked out of here after you two didn’t stop her, and now I can’t find her! She’s not at her usual spots. She’s not with Bonnie or Caroline. and you know that’s not like her.”

Stefan finally turned to face her, his brows furrowed in concern. “You think something happened to her?”

“I don’t know!” Elena admitted, her voice breaking. “But I told her that Jeremy died, I thought maybe she’d call me back, maybe she’d yell at me for not telling her sooner. But nothing. It’s like she’s completely shut down.”

Damon stood up abruptly, his glass clinking against the table as he set it down. “She wouldn’t just disappear. Not without a reason.”

“And what if the reason is us?” Stefan said quietly, guilt evident in his tone.

Elena shook her head. “No, it’s not you. It’s Jeremy. She’s grieving, and she’s doing it alone because none of us were there for her. I should’ve been there. You two should’ve been there. But instead, we’ve been wrapped up in our own drama while she’s been falling apart!”

Damon cursed under his breath, grabbing his jacket. “Well, sitting here isn’t going to fix anything. Let’s split up and find her.”

Stefan nodded, already heading toward the door. “We’ll check the usual places again, and then we’ll expand the search.”

Elena followed them, her heart heavy. “Please, if you find her, just… tell her I’m sorry. Tell her we’re all sorry.”

Damon glanced back at her, his expression softening for a moment. “We’ll find her, Elena. And when we do, we’ll make this right. Somehow.”

With that, the three of them headed out, each of them silently praying they weren’t already too late.

Damon and Stefan had been searching tirelessly for you all night, and when they finally caught your scent leading to an abandoned mansion on the outskirts of town, they didn’t hesitate. The moonlight barely lit the crumbling structure, but they moved with purpose, their hearts heavy with the weight of guilt and determination.

They found you in the main hall, lounging in an old armchair with a glass of red wine or was it blood? in your hand. The flickering candlelight cast a mischievous glow on your face. Your mother, Katherine, was seated elegantly on the arm of your chair, her smirk a mirror of your own.

“Well, look who finally decided to show up,” you said, your tone dripping with mockery. “My knights in tarnished armor.”

Katherine chuckled, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “Oh, darling, don’t be too hard on them. They probably got lost chasing their tails.”

Damon rolled his eyes, stepping forward. “Really, Y/N? This is what you’ve been doing? Playing house with Mommy Dearest?”

You raised your glass in a mock toast. “Why not? She’s a lot more fun than you two. No lectures, no guilt trips, just pure, unfiltered freedom.”

Stefan’s jaw tightened, his eyes pleading as he spoke. “Y/N, this isn’t you. Turning off your humanity doesn’t make you free it traps you.”

“Oh, spare me the lecture, Saint Stefan,” you replied, standing up. “You and Damon think you know me so well, but guess what? I’m not your precious little Y/N anymore. I’m Katherine 2.0.”

Damon let out a dry laugh. “Katherine 2.0? Please, you’re barely a beta version. At least Katherine had an original act.”

Katherine gasped in mock offense. “Rude, Damon. And here I thought you liked my original act. You know, back when you were my little puppy.”

Damon shot her a glare. “Let’s not rehash ancient history, Katherine. We’re here for Y/N, not for your stroll down memory lane.”

You tilted your head, your smirk widening. “Oh, but Damon, you’re forgetting the most important part: I’m the one who decides where I go, not you.”

Stefan stepped closer, his voice softening. “Y/N, I know you’re hurting. I know turning off your humanity feels like the only way to escape the pain, but you don’t have to do this. We can help you.”

You rolled your eyes, stepping toward him until you were inches away. “Help me? Like you ‘helped’ me by hiding everything? Like you ‘helped’ me by not being there when Jeremy died? No thanks, Stefan. I’ve got all the help I need right here.” You gestured to Katherine, who gave an exaggerated wave.

Damon crossed his arms, his expression shifting from frustration to a sly grin. “You know, Stefan, I think she’s right. She really is just like Katherine.”

Katherine raised an eyebrow. “Excuse me?”

“Yeah,” Damon continued, his grin widening. “She’s got the whole drama queen act down, the condescending smirk, the superiority complex. it’s uncanny. It’s like you cloned yourself, Katherine. Bravo.”

You narrowed your eyes at him, but before you could retort, Stefan chimed in, playing along. “You’re right, Damon. But there’s one thing missing.”

“Oh?” Katherine said, crossing her arms. “And what’s that?”

Stefan smirked. “The charm. Y/N’s got her own charm. She’s not you, Katherine, and she never will be.”

Katherine scoffed, but you could see the flicker of annoyance in her eyes. You stepped between them, glaring at both brothers. “Nice try, boys. You think you can just waltz in here, throw some clever insults, and fix everything? Not happening.”

Damon’s grin softened into something more genuine. “We’re not trying to fix you, Y/N. We’re just trying to remind you of who you really are. The girl who would never turn her back on her friends. The girl who cared, no matter how hard it got.”

Stefan nodded, his voice steady. “We’re not giving up on you. No matter how long it takes, we’re staying right here.”

You hesitated, their words cutting through the walls you’d built around yourself. Katherine placed a hand on your shoulder, her grip firm. “Don’t let them get to you, sweetheart. You’re better off without them.”

But for the first time since turning off your humanity, doubt flickered in your eyes. You pushed it down, plastering on your smirk again. “Nice speech, boys. But I’m still not coming home.”

You turned on your heel, Katherine following you as Damon and Stefan exchanged a look. They weren’t giving up. not yet. They’d find a way to bring you back, even if it meant facing every wall you put up along the way.

The tension in the room was suffocating as the Salvatores and the Mikaelsons stood in a rare alliance, strategizing their next move. It was a surreal sight. two rival factions united with one goal: to bring you back. Damon leaned against the fireplace, his arms crossed, while Stefan sat in deep thought. Klaus, Kol, and Elijah loomed nearby, their expressions varying between irritation and determination.

“This is ridiculous,” Klaus finally said, breaking the silence. “If we want Y/N back, we need to cut off her anchor. Katherine. She’s the one feeding into this madness.”

Damon scoffed. “Trust me, Original, we’re not big fans of Katherine either. But Y/N’s loyalty to her is on a whole new level right now. She’s not going to just let us walk in and take Mommy Dearest.”

Kol smirked, clearly relishing the chaos. “Then we don’t walk in. We take her by force. Y/N’s dangerous, but she’s not invincible. If we get Katherine, we can use her to snap Y/N out of this delusion.”

Elijah’s voice was calm but firm. “We’ll do it carefully. No unnecessary harm to Y/N. She’s still under the influence of her mother’s manipulations. If we can remove Katherine from the equation, Y/N might begin to see clearly.”

Stefan nodded. “Agreed. Let’s move before they relocate again.”

The plan was set, and the group tracked Katherine and you to a secluded estate. Night had fallen, casting an eerie glow over the place. The Salvatores and Mikaelsons moved stealthily through the shadows, their combined power a formidable force.

Inside, you and Katherine were enjoying what seemed to be an evening of indulgence. Katherine was reclining on a luxurious sofa, sipping wine, while you stood by the window, gazing out at the moonlit landscape.

“It’s quiet tonight,” Katherine mused, swirling her glass. “Too quiet.”

Before you could respond, the doors burst open, and in stormed the Salvatores and Mikaelsons, their presence commanding the room. Katherine didn’t even flinch, a sly smile curling on her lips.

“Well, well,” she drawled. “The cavalry has arrived. Took you long enough.”

You turned, your gaze icy as you assessed the group. “What is this? Some kind of intervention?”

Stefan stepped forward, his voice gentle but resolute. “Y/N, this has to stop. We’re here to help you.”

Damon, as always, added his signature sarcasm. “Or at least stop you from turning the world into your personal vampire playground.”

Katherine laughed, clearly unimpressed. “Oh, please. Do you really think you can just waltz in here and take me? You’re outnumbered, and I dare say outmatched.”

That was when Klaus made his move. In a flash, he had Katherine pinned against the wall, his hand gripping her throat. “You’ve meddled enough, Katherine. Time to see how long you last without your daughter to hide behind.”

“Let her go!” your voice rang out, sharp and commanding.

Everyone turned to see you standing there, a stake in each hand, your expression deadly. The room fell silent as your words cut through the air. “Let my mother go, or I’ll give you something to scream in pain for.”

Klaus raised an eyebrow, amused despite the situation. “Is that a threat, love?”

You took a step forward, your voice dangerously calm. “No, it’s a promise.”

Elijah, ever the diplomat, raised a hand. “Y/N, this isn’t the way. We only wish to help you—”

“Help me?” you interrupted, laughing darkly. “The only thing any of you want is to control me. Newsflash: I don’t need saving, and I certainly don’t need any of you.”

Katherine smirked from her precarious position. “That’s my girl.”

Kol stepped forward, his playful demeanor gone. “Y/N, if you want to pick a fight, you’re outnumbered.”

You tilted your head, your smirk matching Katherine’s. “Outnumbered doesn’t mean outmatched. You want to see just how far I’ve fallen? Try me.”

The room bristled with tension, the factions standing on a knife’s edge. Stefan’s voice broke the silence, his tone filled with quiet desperation. “Y/N, please. We love you. Don’t let Katherine destroy the person you are.”

For a moment, something flickered in your eyes. hesitation, doubt. But you quickly pushed it aside, your smirk returning. “The person I was is gone. You can’t save someone who doesn’t want to be saved.”

With that, you took another step forward, daring anyone to challenge you. Damon and Stefan exchanged a glance, the heartbreak evident in their eyes. Elijah’s jaw tightened, while Klaus and Kol prepared for whatever came next.

But before anyone could act, Katherine spoke up, her voice cutting through the tension. “Enough. If you want me, come and get me. But be warned. Y/N won’t let you take me without a fight.”

The standoff continued, the room a powder keg ready to explode. It was clear that no one was leaving unscathed, and the battle for your soul had only just begun.

The sun hung high in the sky as you and Katherine strolled through the quiet streets of the small town. The two of you were practically mirror images, from your perfectly styled hair to the way you carried yourselves with effortless grace. Katherine had insisted on a girls’ day out, and while you were still reveling in your humanity-free lifestyle, you went along for the fun.

“Let’s grab a drink,” Katherine said with her signature smirk, gesturing to a cozy little bar tucked into the corner of the street.

You shrugged, your voice light but laced with mischief. “Why not? Let’s see if these humans can keep up with us.”

The two of you walked inside, your heels clicking against the wooden floor. The atmosphere was warm, the smell of whiskey and chatter filling the air. Katherine leaned against the bar, ordering two drinks with a wink to the bartender, who was clearly smitten.

But just as she handed you your glass, the door slammed open with a gust of wind. In the blink of an eye, you were yanked backward with an incredible force, slamming against the hard chest of Klaus Mikaelson. His iron grip held you in place, and his piercing blue eyes bored into yours with a mix of anger and desperation.

“You’re not going anywhere,” Klaus growled, his voice low and dangerous.

Behind him, Elijah and Kol stepped forward, their expressions a mix of tension and curiosity. A few paces behind them were Damon and Stefan, their eyes filled with heartbreak and frustration.

You smirked, the same dangerous glint in your eyes that Katherine often wore. “Oh, handsome,” you purred, tilting your head. “I’m not Y/N. I’m Katherine.”

Katherine chose that moment to step out from the shadows, her arms crossed and her smirk wide. “No, no, no, sweetheart,” she drawled. “I’m Katherine. You’re Y/N.”

Your smirk deepened as you adjusted your posture to mimic hers exactly. “No, darling, I’m you.”

Katherine raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying the game. “Nice try, but everyone knows I’m the original queen of deception.” She took a step closer to Klaus, her smirk a carbon copy of yours. “Care to test me?”

The room fell silent, the two of you standing side by side in identical outfits, hair styled the same way, even wearing matching lipstick. both the Salvatores and the Mikaelsons looked between the two of you, utterly baffled.

Kol let out an exasperated sigh. “Oh, this is bloody fantastic. It’s like a vampire version of ‘Who’s Who.’”

Damon’s jaw tightened as he glared at both of you. “Enough games. Y/N, if you’re in there, cut the crap.”

You chuckled darkly, stepping closer to him with a mocking smile. “Oh, Damon, always so serious. That’s why I prefer Klaus.”

Klaus’s grip on your arm tightened slightly, and he gave you a warning look. “Don’t test my patience, love.”

Meanwhile, Katherine took a step closer to Elijah, placing a hand on his chest. “Elijah, surely you can tell the difference between me and my daughter.”

Elijah’s jaw tightened as he looked between you and Katherine, his normally composed demeanor faltering for the briefest moment. “Both of you stop this nonsense. Y/N, if you’re in there, you need to remember who you are.”

Katherine rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed. “Oh, come on, Elijah. You’re supposed to be the smart one.”

Stefan, ever the voice of reason, stepped forward cautiously. “Y/N, if you’re really there, think about Jeremy. Think about Elena. They need you.”

You froze for the briefest moment, but then your smirk returned, sharp as a knife. “Jeremy’s gone. Elena will survive without me. I’m finally free, Stefan. No more guilt, no more pain.”

Katherine let out a triumphant laugh, throwing her arm around your shoulder. “See? She’s finally starting to see things my way. You should all be proud of her.”

The boys exchanged glances, their frustration mounting. Kol broke the tension with a sarcastic clap. “Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. We’ve officially lost the plot.”

Klaus, however, wasn’t ready to give up. He leaned in closer to you, his voice a low whisper meant only for you to hear. “If there’s even a shred of you left in there, fight this. You’re not Katherine, no matter how much you want to be.”

For a split second, your eyes softened, a flicker of something genuine breaking through the icy exterior. But it was gone as quickly as it came. You pulled away from him, your laughter filling the room.

“Nice try, Klaus,” you said, tossing your hair over your shoulder. “But I’ve made my choice. And it’s not you, not Damon, not Stefan. It’s me. Just me.”

Katherine grinned, clearly proud of you. “That’s my girl.”

As you and Katherine walked out of the bar, leaving the stunned and helpless group behind, a chilling silence settled over the room. The war for your soul wasn’t over, but it was clear bringing you back would be harder than anyone imagined.

The Salvatores sat in the dimly lit living room of the boarding house, the weight of the recent events pressing down on them like an unrelenting storm. Damon leaned against the mantle, a tumbler of bourbon in hand, while Stefan sat slouched on the couch, his head in his hands. Both brothers wore the exhaustion of the past few days on their faces, their expressions tight with a mixture of pain and frustration.

Elena burst through the door, her face pale with worry. “Where is she? Did you find her?” she demanded, her voice shaking. “Tell me you found Y/N and she’s okay.”

Stefan looked up at her, his expression hollow. “We found her,” he said softly. “But she’s far from okay, Elena.”

Elena froze, her heart sinking. “What do you mean? What happened?”

Damon downed the rest of his bourbon in one quick gulp before slamming the glass down on the mantle. His voice was sharp, almost bitter. “Your sister has officially gone full Katherine 2.0. She’s turned off her humanity, Elena.”

Elena staggered back as though she had been physically struck. “What? No… no, she wouldn’t do that. She…she wouldn’t.”

Stefan shook his head, his voice breaking. “She did. And she’s not herself anymore. She’s cold, unfeeling. She doesn’t care about anything or anyone. We tried to get through to her, but it’s like she’s a completely different person.”

Elena’s legs gave out, and she sank into the armchair, her hands trembling. “Why didn’t you stop her? Why didn’t you stop her before it got this far?”

Damon let out a hollow laugh, pacing the room like a caged animal. “Do you think we didn’t try? She’s not just a regular vampire, Elena. She’s a hybrid, with magic she doesn’t even fully understand yet. She’s stronger than both of us combined. And on top of that, she’s got Katherine whispering in her ear, encouraging her every move.”

Elena’s eyes filled with tears. “This is my fault,” she whispered. “I told her about Jeremy. I…I thought she deserved to know, but I had no idea she would spiral like this. If I hadn’t told her—”

“Don’t do that,” Stefan interrupted gently but firmly. “Don’t blame yourself. Y/N’s pain was inevitable. We all loved Jeremy, but she… she loved him in a way that shattered her. She lost him, and she felt like she had nothing left to hold onto. Katherine just swooped in at the right moment to take advantage.”

Damon turned to face Elena, his usually confident demeanor replaced by raw vulnerability. “She hates us, Elena. She blames us for not letting her die when she was turned, for not giving her a choice. And now she’s punishing us for it. She’s not Y/N anymore. She’s… something else.”

Elena buried her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking with silent sobs. “She’s my sister,” she choked out. “I can’t lose her. Not after losing Jeremy. I can’t lose her too.”

Stefan crossed the room and knelt in front of her, his hands resting on her knees. “We’re not giving up on her, Elena. She’s still in there somewhere. We just have to find a way to bring her back. But it’s going to be hard. She’s not making it easy.”

Damon scoffed, though the pain in his eyes betrayed his attempt at indifference. “Hard is an understatement. She’s playing games with everyone. us, the Mikaelsons, even herself. She’s spiraling, Elena, and if we don’t stop her, she’s going to cross a line she can’t come back from.”

Elena wiped her tears, her jaw tightening with determination. “Then we stop her. Whatever it takes. I don’t care how long it takes or how hard it is. we get her back. We save her.”

Damon and Stefan exchanged a glance, a silent agreement passing between them. They had already made that vow to themselves, but hearing it from Elena solidified their resolve.

“Whatever it takes,” Stefan echoed softly.

Damon sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Then let’s hope we’re not too late, because if Y/N keeps going down this road… we might not recognize her when we find her.”

The night was heavy with tension as you and Katherine, both dressed to perfection and armed with devious smirks, stepped out of the car. The Mikaelson mansion loomed ahead, its grandeur accentuated by the moonlight.

Katherine turned to you, adjusting a strand of your hair like a doting mother. “Remember, darling,” she said with mock sweetness, “it’s all about confidence. Channel me. After all, you’re me tonight.”

You rolled your eyes but smirked. “And you’re me. Just try not to ruin my reputation more than you already have, Mother.”

Katherine laughed, a sound that sent chills down spines. “Oh, sweetheart, ruining reputations is what I do best.”

With synchronized steps, you entered the Mikaelson mansion. The brothers were scattered in the grand living room. Klaus lounged in an armchair, his glass of bourbon untouched, while Kol leaned against the fireplace, tossing a coin in the air. Elijah, ever the composed one, stood by the window, lost in thought.

“Ah, Katherine,” Klaus drawled, his piercing gaze locking onto you. “To what do we owe the pleasure?”

You cocked your head, channeling your inner Katherine. “Oh, don’t look so sour, Klaus. Can’t a girl visit her favorite originals without it being a crime?”

Kol snorted. “Funny. Your ‘visits’ usually come with strings attached.”

Elijah turned, his sharp eyes narrowing as they scanned you. Something in his gaze lingered, a flicker of doubt. “You seem… different,” he noted, stepping closer.

You kept your smirk intact, despite your heart pounding. “Different? Maybe I’ve just missed you, Elijah.”

As he studied you, Katherine, disguised as you, sauntered in, mimicking your softer demeanor. “Elijah, Klaus, Kol,” she greeted, her tone almost shy. “I hope I’m not interrupting.”

Kol’s coin dropped. Klaus sat up straighter, his suspicion palpable. “And who, exactly, are you supposed to be?” he asked sharply.

Katherine-as-you widened her eyes, feigning innocence. “What do you mean? It’s me, Y/N.”

Klaus’s gaze darted between you and Katherine. His jaw tightened as realization dawned. “A game,” he hissed, rising to his feet. “You’re playing games.”

Kol, ever the mischief-maker, looked amused. “Well, this just got interesting.”

Elijah stepped forward, his composure fraying. “Enough,” he said coldly, his eyes locking onto yours. “Who are you?”

You let out a slow laugh, dropping the act. “Oh, Elijah, you always were the perceptive one. It’s me. Katherine. Did you really think Y/N could pull off my charm?”

Katherine dropped her mask as well, her smirk widening. “And did you honestly think I’d let my daughter have all the fun? I just had to see your faces when you couldn’t tell us apart.”

Klaus growled low in his throat, his temper flaring. “Get out, both of you. Now.”

But Katherine only laughed, grabbing your arm. “Come along, darling. Let’s leave the boys to their sulking.”

As you turned to leave, you couldn’t resist looking back at Elijah. His gaze burned with a mixture of anger and… something softer. You held it for a moment longer than necessary, then smirked, walking out with Katherine.

Hours later, you and Katherine pulled the same stunt at the Salvatore boarding house. The brothers were sitting in the living room when you entered, Katherine striding in first, playing your part.

“Stefan, Damon,” she greeted warmly, her tone sweet. “I just wanted to check in.”

Damon raised an eyebrow, suspicious but intrigued. “You’re being awfully polite, Y/N. What’s the catch?”

You followed a moment later, wearing Katherine’s signature smirk. “The catch, Damon,” you purred, “is that you have no idea who you’re dealing with.”

Stefan stood abruptly, his eyes narrowing. “Katherine.”

Damon groaned, running a hand down his face. “Of course. Should’ve known.”

Katherine laughed, dropping her facade. “Oh, come on, boys. Don’t act so surprised. You know me. always up for a little fun.”

Stefan’s gaze shifted to you. “And you’re…?”

You tilted your head, biting back a laugh. “Y/N. Or am I? You tell me.”

Damon rolled his eyes. “Great. Double trouble. Just what we needed.”

The brothers exchanged a look, their frustration evident. But before they could act, Katherine grabbed your hand. “We’ve had our fun, darling. Let’s leave these poor men to their misery.”

As you walked out, you caught Damon muttering to Stefan, “She had it to be Katherine’s daughter.”

You and Katherine burst out laughing as you disappeared into the night, leaving chaos and confusion in your wake.

[fatalism-and-villainy]

Got to Field of Fire in this rewatch and I am rotating Ezri and Joran around in my head like they’re in a washing machine. And having a LOT of thoughts about how Ezri relates to the other hosts.

So much of what we see in Jadzia and how she carries herself as Dax is serenity. Things like the way she remarks on the novelty of being female again, and her comfort at discussing her past hosts, indicate a sense of curiosity and acceptance between symbiont and host. It’s mentioned in Playing God that a strong sense of identity and force of will are necessary to be joined, as there’s a danger of the symbiont overwhelming the host’s personality, but being open to influence and new experience is also obviously necessary, and what you’d expect from someone who wanted and trained to be joined. There are cracks in that, as I’ve discussed before, mostly involving Curzon and Joran (arguably the events of Rejoined constitute a disruption in that balance as well), but for the most part Jadzia Dax is a fairly harmonious melding of beings.

Ezri is different in that she didn’t want to be joined and wasn’t at all prepared for the cacophony of personalities that were crammed inside her. And one of the most fascinating things about her to me, especially early on, is that she seems to have a tendency towards very rigorous self-analysis and a strong need to differentiate herself from the symbiont and its former hosts (and in fact that very force of will is likely why she was able to survive being joined at all!), but she’s frequently swept away by emotions and impulses that she can’t anticipate or control.

When Jadzia was confronted with anomalies in her sense of self, she generally tried to reconcile them through the kind of open acceptance that guided her joining process. With Curzon in Facets, she’s able to reintegrate him into her by having that moment of tender understanding with him; similarly, the way she deals with Joran making himself known is to embrace him (and then, according to him, bury him deep down and subsume him so thoroughly into herself that she doesn’t have to think about him).

Ezri’s way of coping with having all these memories and voices in her head, on the other hand, is to separate them out from herself as much as she can. She comes to know herself by attributing different traits and tastes and memories to different people. Her impulse is to source her new emotionality to Emony, comment on Audrid’s experiences with hiking, reflect on Tobin’s parenting experiences when talking to Garak, etc. It feels like a very systematized approach to self-discovery - a psychologist’s response, to take all these personalities and emotions and impressions and tag and sort them. But she can’t always separate herself from them, especially in emotionally fraught moments - she shifts to the first person with Worf, when she says “I was your wife!”, and does the same thing with her family when she says “my son” instead of “Audrid’s son.”

And Joran is the source of the new impulses that disturb her the most, and much of Field of Fire is her struggling to separate those impulses out from herself while knowing that they are ultimately a part of her. When she talks to Bashir, he keeps trying to reassure her that she’s nothing like Joran, and she keeps reiterating that she knows firsthand what killing feels like, owning those feelings as hers. (In fact, Bashir is the one who has to make the connection to Joran, as she brings up her violent impulses without reference to him at all.) But when she actually calls on Joran, performs a ritual that does mentally split him off from her, she’s the one reiterating Bashir’s point and insisting she’s nothing like Joran. And meanwhile he keeps reminding her that he is part of her, that she’s really only talking to herself, and that putting him back won’t make him go away, as there’s nowhere for him to go but within her.

And she is able to resist his influence, and peacefully reintegrate him into herself, but her interactions with him are a showcasing of the push and pull in how she tries to reconcile her identity post-joining, and her difficulty in delineating the borders between herself and not-herself. (There’s sometimes discussion of what Ezri’s zhian’tara would be like, and it’s something I find interesting to consider given how ritualistic the zhian’tara is, versus how impulsive and situation-based Ezri’s approach to getting to know the hosts as separate beings is.)

[suhlinah]

my serial killer storyline theories

okay so i was watching a video on tiktok from @ lanisfandoms where she was talking about her theories for maddies kidnapping storyline in 8b and it got me thinking up some theories

so it could go 2 ways: buck gets kidnapped first, maddie helps a lot in the investigation and that results in her being targeted by the serial killer

OR

some random person gets kidnapped first, maddie helps in the investiagtion and then ends up being targeted (id love a maddie heavy episode esp with the whole dispatch crew being in it) and then buck hears about her disappearance from chim, bobby or athena and then he tries to help with the investigation (this could be ep 9)

(during this period of time hes still dealing with his feelings-realization-spiked-abandonement-issues shit w eddie thinking about moving to el paso so hes really not thinking his best)

anywho! buck goes off on his own trail and gets himself too involved with everything which results in him getting kidnapped BUT this is after the serial killer sets his apartment building on fire and then the 118 respond to the call and like buck was late to work or something so they left without him and called him on the way (tho chim would probably have pto to look after jee) and then they get to bucks apartment after not seeing him with the other residents and then hes obviously not there and athena gets called and now theyre looking for both buck and maddie and boom episode 10 ends there

cue an eddie and chim centric episode where theyre looking for maddie and buck and because this has taken over his thought process, eddie has put his moving thoughts on hold, tho perhaps he has a very emotional facetime call w chris where chris is like “you have to get buck back dad he promised me hed never leave me” which cues eddie realizing that he cant leave buck and his life in los angeles behind which cues his feelings realization/gay realization

for chims storyline, id love for him to get really involved w the case and spend lots of time with athena cause we need more scenes with the two of them

(also i hope the buckley parents get cut off after this all because fuck them)

and then the storyline concludes with chim and athena finding buck and maddie and then eddie and buck are just talking about everything theyve never talked about and then eddies like “you me and chris are a family and hes your son too and it would be cruel of me to take him away from you, so im going to temporarily go to texas and get our son and then bring him home” cue buck feeling everything and then eddies like “move in with me into your home” after he tells buck his apartment doesnt really exist anymore

[barksdalesballs]

headcanons abt Donnie b.

PART 1.

word count: ≈670.

TW: s/a, domestic violence, the MENTION of racism & homophobia & LITERAL OPINIONS DON'T BE MAD.

Alright, I want to begin this by discussing the way I personally view Donnie Barksdale. Unlike a lot of people who have seen The Gift, I don’t view Donnie as this great and terrible monster. Some people simply see the racism and abuse and run with it, and while I see that, I also take into consideration that Donnie could have REASONS for behaving that way. Of course, nothing actually justifies racism or abusing your spouse/partner.

This post won’t JUST be headcanons, either, but instead it will be a mix of headcanons and some evidence that I have picked up.

---

Starting with evidence that is most believable: I think Donnie Barksdale was molested or sexually groomed as a child, as well as being physically and mentally abused. Why would I believe that? Well, Keanu Reeves himself HAS said those exact words himself. Not only that, but Donnie deliberately cheats on his wife, even though he knows it is “unchristian” and makes him a bad husband, to have sex with another woman. For some victims of S/A, hypersexuality comes from it as a result. Just because he is aware that it could be wrong, doesn’t mean that he will stop. Hypersexuality can override logical thought processes for some. This desire to go out and cheat on Valerie could also be a projection of childhood trauma involving a father figure. There is no telling WHO did it, but it could have been his father on a drunken night, or maybe some of his fathers friends. It could even be his mother for all that we know.

The emotional and physical childhood abuse could come from MANY different aspects. Donnie’s father could have been cheating on his mother and could have hit Donnie to ensure that his lips stay shut, but it could also be something as quiet as his father infiltrating his thoughts with racist thoughts and opinions that he may not have had before. One of the biggest things I think his father engraved into his head is homophobia. BUT, I strongly believe that Donnie is bisexual or queer of some sort.

It may just sound like I am projecting onto him, but if his mind IS filled with those thoughts, why would he be SOOOO insecure about Valerie leaving him? Sometimes, a queer man like that will force himself into a marriage with a woman, happy or not, just to disguise the fact that he is queer. Perhaps he really is so dependent on Val’s loyalty because he is hiding something like that. Also, if his father would have found out about potential queerness as a child, it would give him another reason to hit Donnie. This physical abuse could have left Donnie with a desire to scare “weaker beings” (his wife, Annie, Annie’s kids), because he NEEDS to be seen as a tough, dominant man, not as a queer weakling, like his father would have seen.

On top of probably hitting / S/A’ing Donnie, his father most likely hit his mother, too. Donnie could have been raised in an environment where it was “normal” for a husband to beat wife—after all, sometimes kids don’t know better until they are in their teens.

And lastly, for discussing the reasons as to why I think he behaves this way, I think his fear re-manifests inside of him. I mean, look at the scene where they find the body in his pond. He’s obviously terrified to see her body there, but then a few seconds later he’s yelling and spitting at Annie while he gets dragged away by the police. The one officer, when Annie calls them to her house after Donnie breaks in, quite-literally says that Donnie is “high-strung��. Which…if you don’t know what that means, it means to be nervous and easily upset.

---

here's the video of Keanu mentioning Donnie being possibly abused so I don't look crazy:

anddd this isn't everything I want to post, I'll eventually add more head canons about him in the future. for now I wanna focus on his background.

[tehrevving]

Rev, Rev dear- Rev darling, chapter 18 has me reeling with emotions, soft and fluffed one moment then hornier then a whore in hell the next. And who I dare say, is chaos making his appearance known yet again to help get the reader to come? Holy. Fuck.

Had me wide-eyed like a doe blushing redder than Vincent's cloak, I swear! I loved it so much, and the reader not actually saying the word love, but knowing damn well that's the emotion she seen in his eyes when he looks at her afterward! Tysm for this fanfic that was fluffy, angsty and panty soaking! 💖 honestly can't wait til they finally get around to finally giving us a vincent DLC honestly

I am so damn desperate for Vincent dlc honestly. The Yuffie one was actually pretty good lore wise lol and I know if they did one for Vinny it would just be insane.

I am so happy that you enjoyed the fic and chapter 18 too. There were a lot of emotions to process before they could even get to the smut, and then had to process even more during it hehehe.

I love the Chaos jumpscares, obviously it's not like he'll appear every single time, but he wants to be involved lol. I'm a monsterfucker at heart so I just couldn't help myself.

It's way too early in their relationship to say the word love, or anything like that, but I thought it was important to address that's what's happening here lol.

I feel like Vincent, especially after having been in the coffin and been emo for so long, has barely any defenses against developing feelings and falling hard. I think for him, finding someone that actually accepts him is more than he ever hoped for.

I also thought it was kinda important to talk about how from Reader's perspective, she's made the call to be involved with someone like him, and those emotions are going to develop faster and be more intense than they might be with a regular person.

I think I rambled here, anyway. Thanks so much for your message ❤️❤️

[strawbunnysposts]

I binged a lot of Arcane edits and I have a disagreement with a common view on the character Silco. A lot of people say that he's the best father figure as in comparison to Vander.

I disagree ☝️🤓

Obviously, don't take my opinion seriously, I just want my opinion down because I love talking. It seems like the people behind Arcane purposefully made their interactions uncomfortable: reminder, that weird "baptism" scene.

Silco might have gained some fatherly-esque affection towards Jinx later on, but everything he does involving her just feels selfish and manipulative. At the end he says he would have never given her up and while it's a touching moment, she did just shoot him and he was dying. He didn't have to tell her the truth. His whole goal was to separate her from her family, which he did. Even if he really wasn't going to give her up, why? Is it because he cares about her or would it because he loses one of his biggest aspects?

But the thing about saving her life? Yeah, I'm a bit torn on that, because he saved her, but at what cost? I don't know if Vander would have done the same thing, I doubt it, but it just felt icky to me.

I just think it's weird that the fanbase romanticizes a kidnapper 😅 Like, yes, Silco is a good villain because his emotions and thought process are complex, but to say a man who manipulated and kidnapped a girl (and also killed her family) was the best father figure to said girl - I just think its weird.

Again, if you like the character Silco, I get it. I do like Silco as a villain, or antagonist, I'm merely stating my opinion because I like yapping 😋

[cake-writes]

stupid question queen but what inspires u to write? like is it other content or music or your own thoughts and imagination

Aw this is such a nice question 🥺🥺 (tw: SA mention)

Sometimes music will do it! Usually stuff with good bass lmao, primarily EDM or alternative. I tend to maladaptive daydream with music, not often, but then I write whatever the original idea was--but the writing usually goes in a totally different direction because I don't plan beforehand what happens. I usually have, like, plot point A and B in my head that I want to get to but everything that leads me there is totally unplanned.

Most of it is my own imagination though. My traumas actually 💀 I go on writing benders for 1-2 weeks at a time every couple months where all I do is write. Like straight up hyperfixated 8+ hours a day (that's on ADHD and it's actually super unhealthy, don't do this lmao) and I switch between multiple WIPs, very rarely do I finish one and post it unfortunately. I've got so many like 50k+ word WIPs that y'all are seriously missing out on 🥴 but they aren't cohesive enough to post.

The hyperfixation is usually triggered by something in my own life I'm trying to escape (may or may not be related to the writing I do), and then after my bender I sit back and look at my writing to try and figure out what the recurring theme is. So, for example, the last few have been primarily sex pollen, substances, or like ABO heats--all of which involve reader losing control in some way due to an external factor basically, but that's obviously me trying to process my SA where I was drunk and lost control. (I'm like 99% fine now dw it's just old stuff I'm clearing out of my head!)

Another example is like, I know one of my triggers is when I'm feeling unwell for a few days, sick or depresso or whatever. So then some of my writing might reflect the reader being taken care of in some capacity bc I didn't really get this as a kid. Lots of stuff like teacher/student or age gap dynamics--I have a sex pollen WIP that's of this exactly, reader gets hit with sex pollen and Kakashi, her mentor & 10 years older, has to help her through it. He's soooo sweet about it too and 🥺 I really want to finish this one bc it's so SOFT and the smut is 🤌

Side note if you're into astrology I've got Moon in the 3rd house which is literally my inner emotional world + processing things via writing and communication hahahah

I get inspiration from random everyday things though too, like I might be out on a walk and see a mom wearing a red coat and it'll trigger some idea for whatever reason??????? idk 😭😭 But I usually just get a basic plot idea like "reader is on a mission doing X" or "reader is a (job) and encounters X" and start there, then the rest of the plot develops as I'm writing! Zero planning whatsoever.

Thank you so so much for this lovely question!!! I really enjoyed answering it 🥺💖

[the-ace-with-spades]

Some like a monkey pilot lore/behind-the-scenes no one asked for because there's a lot and I love this fic with my whole heart...

It's first title was a supersonic man (Don't Stop Me Now by Queen obviously) but I've used this song as Ice's ringtone for Mav in slow down (in a future chapter 6) and it just seemed to suit Mav better

Second title option was (I am) the man in the making, from Number One by Chaz Jankel - Number one is a hard time in the making / Number two is the one plane I'm not taking and I am (I am) / The man in the making / I'll stake (I'll stake) / My claim (my claim) / I'll make (I'll make) / My name (my name) / My love (my love) / My game, my vocation. In the end, I thought it might sound too literal and cliche.

The story was originally supposed to be about Rooster transitioning but without the running away from Jake bit - so sort of like a small AU of this fic - where Jake would still be very dense about stuff and a lot of the breakdowns and emotions would still be in place, but Rooster stayed in Lemoore with Jake and they got married while he was in transition. Jake still had a hard time adjusting even if he personally thought he was adjusting very well - at some point when Jake was on deployment, Bradley's state got bad enough that he still landed in the hospital and Mav and Ice were called and he moved in with them. It's part of life for many trans people (family and loved ones thinking they're supportive while not really and getting better at it only when drastic stuff happen) and it is something that hit me a bit too hard and emotionally, it'd be difficult to write so the story was changed.

First Jake POV deleted scene from earlier chapters (1 or 2?) was him and Coyote talking about the topgun winner with some squad buddies and Jake hearing 'Bradshaw' and going a bit crazy only to get all depressed when he hears it was a dude (in 2016, about a year before the recall), missing finding out about Bradley by a minimal chance

Another deleted scene that was never finished because I emotionally couldn't write it was the bar scene but in Jake's POV, when he meets Bradley for the first time. He and Coyote actually leave the Hard Deck when Bradley starts playing the piano and have a talk about how Jake feels about all this new info. While I get finding out your loved one is trans can be a lot, I personally never would have cared even a bit so it was just emotionally draining to try to express Jake's thought process

There is also a deleted scene of Ice talking to Slider and Sarah (who are married in this fic) about Bradley's hospitalization and the start of his transition (from Ice's POV) -- it concentrates on how bad Bradley's mental health is at that moment and how visible it is to them, as well as the guilt Mav and Ice have for not intervening early. And a scene when they get the call from the hospital (from Mav's POV). Both are not finished and stuck as mostly dialogue.

So far there are also two more deleted scenes: Mav and Ice being at Bradley's first T-shot appointment while he's being taught how to do the injections and a scene where Bradley is at Ice's doc appointment when he finds out about cancer

Chapters 9-15 are post-canon and a bit Jake's POV heavier. He's going to be such a dumbass in them.

This fic might or might not have a sequel about reintroducing Bradley back into the Seresin family. Some readers hopefully realized that Jake's mom wasn't Bradley's fan when he was still female-presenting and certainly isn't after he transitioned. There's a whole lot of drama in that sequel involved, especially about her -- Jake's the youngest sibling (a miracle baby born a few years after his last sister) and has always been babied a bit by his mom and never experienced how bad she could be the same way his sibling had and he'll have to face it along with her awful behavior toward Bradley.

[teaveetamer]

i read through a lot of your analyses and i still can't tell what some of your stances are, but i just wanted to know how much you agree with my own stances on edelgard and dimitri/3H.

3H is obviously not a well thought-out political treatise on the ramifications of war and different styles of political change. it just isn't. it ends far too quickly and is too simplistic to ever be anything similar.

what 3H is incredible at is character writing. this is why i simply don't understand why people "hate" edelgard OR dimitri. neither of these people are saints. they've both done horrific things. but they both portray trauma in such fascinating and complex ways that you rarely see in videogames. the parallels they have and the way they see the world are just so compelling to me that i actually avoid finishing CF/SS/AM because it always leaves me feeling so emotional afterward and sometimes i just want a nice comfort game.

that being said, i do take issue with the way dimitri's arc resolves. i think it's extremely unrealistic how he just "snapped out" of his intense mental problems. as someone who has also struggled with mental health, it's a very slow process and often it feels like one step forward, two steps back. i wish that they had left his recovery a lot more incomplete, or that the game had lasted longer so his recovery felt more organic.

this is why i prefer edelgard purely as a character because i think the way she represses her emotions completely and is slowly corrupted by her inability to trust or love herself is a story that makes a lot more sense to me.

I'm not sure in which respects my stances are unclear, but I'm always happy to clarify if you just ask! Keep in mind that this blog is like three years old at this point so if you go back far enough you'll probably find contradicting things, as my opinions have developed and changed over the years. So if that's the problem just assume the most recent stuff is the most accurate.

I will say that while 3H can have some very good character moments, I also think it's incredibly disappointing in a lot of ways. The plot, writing, and worldbuilding being so messy just doesn't give the characters a good foundation to stand on, so character moments often come across extremely hollow to me.

I could name countless examples but I think the most obvious one that everyone picks up on is Gronder Field. First, we're told that this is extremely sad and difficult for all of the characters involved, despite never or almost never seeing the students from different houses interact with each other at any point during the main story. If you don't recruit then it's entirely possible to go the entire Academy portion of the game without seeing a single cross-house interaction beyond the house leaders.

They all point to the feast they had after the battle of Eagle and Lion in the Academy part, but that happens entirely off screen. It's not even really described beyond "it was fun" and "we were all sitting together". Emblem Claude in Engage gives a better idea of what happened there than 3H ever does. A piece of DLC for a completely different game in the series describes what is supposed to be a key interaction better than the game it was actually from!

And then you actually get there and it's contrived AF. There's literally no reason for the BL and GD to be fighting each other at any point but they all kill each other anyway. There's no fog of war. Characters will even recognize each other before they fight and then continue fighting each other anyways despite having absolutely no reason to?

And then it just ends and we're all told to feel very sad about it, but why should we? It's not earned. These characters don't know each other or care about each other, most of them weren't even on opposite sides. It comes across as feeling dumb and unearned, which makes the characters reacting to it completely 100% straight as if it were this huge but unavoidable tragedy come off as confusing and overwrought.

Edelgard's writing as an entire other can of worms that I've gotten into too many times to count, so I'll try to keep this short.

I'll preface this by saying I don't have a problem with people liking or relating to Edelgard in any way. Also, just because something has problems doesn't mean you can't have found meaning in it. I can tell you really enjoy the character anon, and that's great! I wouldn't want to take that away from you.

Buuuuuut since I'm giving my opinion here... I don't agree with her being a well written depiction of trauma. I feel like, especially now, the fandom tends to engage with the Edelgard we all wanted instead of the one we actually got.

Again I'll use a specific example (well actually two) to illustrate my point.

It's hard to take her trauma seriously when it's immediately undercut by her doodling pictures of her crush, getting embarrassed about it, and getting teased. This happens twice. They do this twice! Once in the explore section immediately after Ladislava and Randolph literally die right in front of her, and once after you could have potentially killed Claude and she's talking about being locked in a fucking dungeon!

Like it blows my mind that more people don't talk about this, especially the latter example. You have just potentially killed someone. She's sitting there. Talking about being locked in a dungeon, tortured, and experimented on. And then your character's reaction is to tease her for doodling a picture of you. And they did this two times, so it's not like it was an accident!

So like how am I supposed to read this, exactly? Either the entire scene is bunk and you're not really meant to take the trauma portion seriously, it's all just a big joke, or... or you're supposed to find teasing someone going through a genuine trauma response endearing and enjoyable..? It's just. I've been looking at this scene and the numerous other Edelgard scenes like it and I just don't get there. I don't understand how to read this in a way that isn't incredibly belittling or sexist or SEVERELY undercutting what should be a serious character moment.

But people want it to be this serious, well-written character moment for her. I don't blame anyone for that, because that's what I would have wanted too! But it's just... it's so crazy disrespectful on every level, to treat a female character's trauma like it's a funny quirk or an opportunity to flirt/tease? I can damn well guarantee that no male character would be treated with that amount of disrespect, and we know that because Dimitri exists and at no point is his trauma ever played for a joke or undercut like this! It's not perfectly written, but it's written with respect to the subject and the character.

There's an absurd degree of sexism baked into the writing of 3H that just doesn't get addressed by the fandom at large, so I kind of find it frustrating.

And worse, sometimes when you try to engage with that and critique it you're shouted down or treated as if you are the problem, like I somehow spoke the sexism of the game into existence just by pointing it out.

I could go on but I'll cut myself off here

[whisplion]

After a full day to process the new episodes and just finished rewatching the last three episodes I have collected my overall thoughts.

Before I began I just want to say that despite my small critiques and wishes I did very much enjoy this finale.

I think my biggest issue with this new batch of episodes was the episode 19. The second hand embarrassed I felt from Jawbreaker was a lot to say the least. I enjoy his character was looking forward to seeing him get his alt mode. I like that Elita and Hashtag were also involved in this episode it makes sense as they all were involved in JB deciding to wait for his alt mode. JB’s behavior is very reminiscent of a child which makes sense but it overdone in a sense like his personality changed and I didn’t really like it that much. I’ve seen some people point out that his dinosaur design is a bit weird mostly that it doesn’t have a beak.

It basically takes away from the overall design of the dinosaur as a whole. Now as for how he got his alt mode. That felt way too brushed over like it is something they could have talked about more. Though I’m sure in s2 we we will explore it more. I thought Grimlock was great in here and I love that his nor any of the trauma anyone has experienced is brushed aside.

Episode 20 was not bad I do love the lore dumping as it’s something I highly enjoy in any franchise. Just Optimus opening his chassis and having the Matrix was *chef’s kiss*

Also that line from Dot got me so emotional.

Episode 21 was fantastic I’ve been waiting to get a proper introduction of Starscream! I’m not that familiar with g1 or any of the other installments (yet) so I don’t much about his and Megs history. I can appreciate them addressing the fact that Megs was awful and is still obviously working on doing better. Millions of years of behavior can’t just be changed in short periods of time. I think Hashtag is the perfect mold in this situation and I feel with her involved in further in trying to help Starscream and Megs to have a good long talk of some kind.

I also thought that the Dweller would may be involved in the finale guess not 😅

Episode 22 while good I think would have fit better maybe earlier in the season. The kids having tools to have fight is awesome really! I also think that Robby having a shield and Mo having a sword is very befitting especially with the opposite roles that Twitch and Thrash have as fighter and protector.

Episode 23 I was happy to see Bee back and up my bby 🥺 I have to talk about that meeting with him and Optimus! I said this to someone else but I feel like him and Optimus have a bit of strained relationship after being apart for so many years. It’s shown throughout the season how they do small talk and it is awkward sometimes. In this instance Bee is mostly just a soldier not the apprentice and young scout anymore. Maybe this will be touched upon in s2? (Hopefully)

His relationship with the terrans is so sweet I adore it and them wanting to help their teacher. Scholder being a Bumblebee fan is so funny to me but I totally understand. Also Optimus standing by Megs in these past few episodes is perfect!

Episode 24-26 were amazing to say the least I feel like it got stalled in a few spots but otherwise a rollercoaster of emotions. I honestly wasn’t expecting to see with Shockwave again but it was good. Mandroid he’s really good for a villain I’ll say though I honestly thought Croft would be the overall antagonist. Them killing her off felt so underwhelming she could have been a really great overall series baddie along with Mandroid though he’s still around.

Twitch coming into her own as a leader was beautifully done this entire season but in this last installment she really stepped up

I was so happy to see Breakdown back! Though I was hoping that arm of his we saw was actually him missing an arm. Would have made for good representation as a character with disability and angst. I do love that the Decepticons didn’t admittedly join the Terrans if makes sense. They’ve been treated like fugitives and hunted like animals.

The climax was a lot of fun with everyone calling together one more time and fighting the Autobots. Just the whole Optimus running into Bee was hilarious also OP confirmed metal head is so funny lol.

Thrash protecting Twitch was really good also and

her busted optic 🥺 I think it would have been interesting if some of them had kept some damage done to them though.

I know some feel that the ending felt underused but honestly if felt right for the first season’s ending. GHOST is over and the Decepticons stuck around to help. It feels like a new clean slate so going forward the more heavy stuff can come to the surface. As many things feel uncertain for the future but for the time being everything is come.

[eleanorbloom]

Which of your characters are seeing Barbie and which are seeing Oppenheimer?

Ooohhh such a great question! And I was so excited to see your ask on my notifications, as I can talk about my babies, so thank you so much for asking, anon  😭❤️

Well, let’s see:

Amelia Rose(CoP) is definitely watching Oppenheimer. She’s a history fan, so obviously would love a good history movie. However, she’ll watch Barbie too, because Trystan needs someone to go to see Barbie for the second time (the first time was with Marguerite). In the end she will love Barbie because the feminist message was deeper than she thought it would be. (I imagine Trystan giving her side looks every five minutes to see if she’s enjoying the movie and be very excited when he hears her cackling with some hilarious scenes, and falling in love even more when he sees from the corner of his eye she's wiping a tear in the emotional scenes).

Eleanor Bloom, (OH, When You’re Ready Universe) is 100% Barbie. She and Bryce bought tickets weeks in advance and had their matching pink outfits ready like a week in advance. People at the cinema will ask him for some photos because he’s a Ken personification lol kinda look like a cosplayer XD and Bryce will be on cloud nine because we know the man loves this level of attention, and Eleanor will enjoy every minute of it because she knows his man’s worth. If her Goldie is happy, she’s happy.  And probably Bryce will act like Ken in the following weeks (spoiler alert: being submissive asf, in a playful, flirty way). In the next few weeks, she’ll probably going to see it again with Sienna or the rest of the gang. The movie has a lot of messages you cannot process with just one watch.

I also think she’ll watch Oppenheimer too, but because Keiki asks her to go with her (I feel like Keiki is a super fan of Christopher Nolan, so she would watch every film from him. She liked Interstellar, but after some time she started to like it beyond all the astronomy thing: she liked the way Nolan tells stories, so she became a fan of all of his work). Keiki would go alone or with some friend the first time, but when she wanted to see it for the second time, she asked Eleanor if she wanted to join her, and Eleanor obviously said yes, because she never says no to alone time with her favorite sis-in-law 💕 but she actually liked the movie because she has liked other of Nolan films before, like Inception, Interstellar and Batman.

Matilde Luna (OH, Moonlight Universe) is an Oppenheimer gal. Will absolutely refuse to watch Barbie because she doesn’t see the appeal of it. Not so much because she’s kinda punk/gothic/dark clothes girl, but because as a child she was never a Barbie girl, more like a baby-doll/taking-care-of -others,/spending-time-in-nature kind of girl. HOWEVER, she will watch it, once it's on a streaming platform. She will watch it alone, won't tell a soul, and will die before admitting to anyone she did it. Unfortunately, as she is a person that usually relate the things she sees on internet, movies, tv shows, etc, to daily life things or work things, at some point she will make a Barbie reference and will expose herself, probably in front of Bryce, much to her disgrace, and she will never hear the end of it lol. She’ll have to admit to Bryce she liked the movie, Bryce will make her to watch it together, and just then Bryce will stop teasing her (just a bit) 🤣

Victoria Spencer( TRR, Drake romancer) is totally going to see Barbie first, and with Maxwell of course. Drake never seemed very hyped about it so she didn’t pressure him about it. Drake was supposed to go to see Oppenheimer alone, because his alone time usually involves being in the nature or watching some movie at the cinema, but when he casually drops the “I suppose you’re not interested in seeing Oppenheimer with me, right?” Victoria just couldn't refuse, even if he was right at saying she wasn’t interested in it. She remembered the thousand of times Drake must’ve pretended to be interested in something she liked, just to be with her, so she had to return the favor, and honestly? Just being with her husband was tempting enough for her. In the end she enjoyed the movie, but specially because it was alone time with her hubby, and he was very happy to go with her 🥰

I know I’ve never published anything about Victoria or TRR but I have some WIPS and headcanons about them, so they’re my characters in some kind of way, so that’s why I added her to this list lol

Thank you again for asking! This was fun. Probably you were expecting some straight answers, but the headcanons just flowed into my mind, so I had to put them into words.

What about you, anon? Did you go to see Barbie or Oppenheimer? What are your thoughts?

I am planning to go to see Oppenheimer during the week, though I wanna watch Barbie again, because, as I said about Eleanor, the movie has a lot of messages that are hard to digest in one watch. I don’t know if I’ll have time for both, but we’ll see.

[thebreakfastgenie]

ok curious since ur a Trekkie… do you have any thoughts abt david marcus? sometimes I forget about him but then i feel bad but i also find it hard to believe that kirk would just … be ok with never speaking to him even tho carol told him he didn’t want him in david’s life to but meh i never know what to do with that part of trek

Hey!! Sorry this took so long to answer; I'm visiting family in Maine so I haven't been online as much!

I'm pretty much with you! I forget about David all the time. It's always felt weird to me too, that Kirk is just fine with not being in his life at all, even with it being what Carol wanted. It would have been really easy to have Kirk not know about David, or have only learned about him recently, so I have to wonder why they chose that route. I suspect it may have been an attempt to show a future where families looked different; Carol doesn't seem to have any stigma for raising David as a single mother, and the only one who seems to care about Kirk not being in David's life is Kirk. This vision of a future where adults could just decide to raise a child this way feels consistent with some of the other attempts at progressive ideas, especially in the Roddenberry era and I think he still had some involvement in Wrath of Khan. If that's the case, it doesn't quite land. I don't think William Shatner was ever quite comfortable with it, because one of his books includes a scene of Kirk watching David sleep as a baby, and suggests Kirk wanted to make it work and Carol prevented him from having contact with David.

David's death fits oddly into The Search for Spock, because obviously the real emotional weight is Spock. Kirk blowing up the Enterprise to get Spock back is a fantastic emotional arc. But David also gets killed in the process of recovering Spock, and that sort of throws a wrench in how triumphant it is, but like, not really because we barely know David and don't really care about him. Sarek says "your ship, your son," and Kirk immediately says it was worth. It always makes me feel a bit bad that I don't care about David but... I don't. I was interested in his illegal use of unstable protomatter because he was desperate, but that never really got explored much. And then in The Undiscovered Country Kirk says he's "never forgiven [the Klingons] for the death of my boy" and has a picture of David... which would make a lot more sense if Kirk had known him for more than a couple of weeks.

It's just kind of an awkward piece of canon. And then Into Darkness brought in Carol but didn't even have Kirk sleep with her so I guess Abrams wasn't setting up David in that universe...

[whatsstheteeeeaa]

https://www.tumblr.com/whatsstheteeeeaa/775971606111682560/how-do-you-think-men-choose-the-wife-i-saw-a-blog?source=share

girl you could yap all u want im all ears 😁😌 this actually sense about the whole mom thing…. Like you have a lot of knowledge on this 🤔 this is so interesting and kinda makes sense to me about this whole ordeal tbh… like maybe Denise encourages Jude to be open with her about his relationships and thats why he introduces some of them to her… I kinda wanna know if she met Laura 😭😭🤣🤣😁

Girl, I only have a lot of knowledge on this because in my family I am the only girl and I have a lot of brothers. They tell me stuff I constantly ask some questions, especially when it comes to men and dating and like I said I wanna know why men act the way they do and why they do the stuff they do cause I’ve seen my brothers do a lot of questionable things and I’m just like why did you do that like what was your thought process especially when it comes to women oh my god the drama. Like my brothers had me meeting all the girls that they were dealing with and them girls felt so special. I had all their numbers too 😂😂

Like I said, I feel like when it comes to mothers and their sons. They are a little bit more easy-going than how they would be with their daughters so I’m sure Jude has that open communication with his mom so where he feels OK expressing certain things to his mom especially when it comes to the women he’s seeing and Laura may have met his mom i’m not sure so take what I say with a grain of salt but around that time, his mom was actively around and taking him everywhere and also just because the recent stuff that came out involving her like everybody was over here acting like she was delusional and the whole time she really wasn’t I mean she kinda was but not really like it makes sense now (me personally I wasn’t a fan of Laura. I don’t like her whole aesthetic. It just doesn’t seem like real). Like with rmarni I do think she’s kind of crazy and I feel like there was obviously something going on in the background between them two that we don’t know that was making her act the way she was but I feel like Jude be making these girls crazy just because like he’s a cancer man and I’m not gonna lie cancer men are like super sweet and genuinely nice to everyone. They have very high emotional intelligence and they’re kinda easy to connect with, but they can be manipulative meaning they know how to get what they want and they’re moody af (that’s why when you see Jude like going off on refs and everybody and even in some of his pictures, he be looking like a sad little puppy. It’s because that man is moody af and I’m not gonna lie. I kinda like that he expresses his emotions like it’s cute and sometimes I think it’s kinda hot but I don’t be taking how the way he expresses himself to heart. I just know that’s him a cancer man same thing with vini another cancer man). Look at me… not me over here talking about zodiac signs even though I said I wasn’t going to this will be the last time maybe😂