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call-of-daydreams · 3 months ago

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18th Century CoD Characters - Types of jobs they have

Before we start this, I am well aware that most of this farming was not a thing in the 18th century. While I am researching to keep everything correct, I decided to add other forms of farming to make things more interesting. This long drabble does not only talk about the type of farming they do but also possible side jobs they might do.

DO NOT copy, translate, or change this drabble in any way. This is my work and my research. I've spent a lot of time researching and I would appreciate it if it was enjoyed but not stolen. Reposts and comments are more than welcome, and feedback is always accepted.

Word count: 2,325

Estimated reading time: 9 min 18 sec

John Price-

He absolutely owns and maintains a subsistence farm. He loves to provide for you and possibly kids but he also likes providing for his community. I also feel like he dedicates all of his time to maintaining his farm and expanding it to be able to accommodate his community so he has no “side job” per say but he definitely helps his mates out with their side hustles when he needs something to keep himself busy. However he mostly spends his free time hanging out with Simon, helping Simon repair guns.

Subsistence farming is all about personal use. This is the type of farming you do to feed yourself or your family but can also be used to feed your community. Mostly done for trade not profit.

Johnny MacTavish-

Absolutely owns a dairy farm and no one can tell me otherwise. He owns just enough cows to not only provide for the two of you and maybe future kids but also to trade with your neighbors that are about a mile away but you're still close to. cough cough John, Simon, and Gaz cough cough. Anyways, since he doesn’t own a lot of cows he doesn’t have to do much other than to make sure none of them go lame and to make sure they have water and are fed. Speaking of, he does grow his own hay so he doesn’t have to buy it from anyone. It’s cheaper. He also starts to dabble in blacksmithing because he found out that he can make his own gates so he can expand his land whenever he wants to for his cows to roam. Though, you do tell him to stop before he really injures himself, he tells you and I quote “It’ll be fine lass, it’s cheaper this way anyhow.” You do also help milk the cows, it saves his back.

Dairy farmers are responsible for caring and managing the milk production process. They oversee the feeding, breeding, milking, and herd management. They also grow crops to feed the herd.

Simon Riley-

He is a Commercial farmer. He grows crops and raises animals to make money so he can spoil you. Almost every week he goes into town to sell his crops or to sell an animal for money or sometimes trade. However, there is an animal from almost every species that you made him promise he can’t sell. The hen that has pretty spots and lays the brown eggs you collect every morning for breakfast, he can’t sell. The cow that Johnny sold you years ago that’s not making milk anymore because she can’t have anymore calves, Simon can’t sell. You helped him raise that girl since she was a baby, he can’t just give her away. Anyways, when he’s not working on his farm with any free time he has where he’s not spending with you he’s being a gunsmith. He’s a very well known gunsmith in town and people are always going to him so they can fix their guns or so they can sell them for extra money.

Commercial farming implies that you raise animals and crops and you sell them to the open market to make profit. It performs as a large-scale production of crops and livestock. Usually, commercial farming is a full time occupation.

Kyle Garrick-

I see him as a rancher. I feel like Kyle is the one who has all sorts of animals such as cows (obviously), chickens, horses, pigs, goats, sheep, etc. (Between me and you he definitely is the one who gives Simon's wife all the animals Simon can’t sell because he likes to rile Simon up). That’s not to say Kyle is safe from you, his wife. Because there are animals that he owns that he cannot get rid of either because of you. He simply cannot say no to you. You even talked him into letting you feed and keep a stray cat even though he insisted that the two of you have enough animals to take care of. The power you hold. Also you use the wool from the sheep to make/patch up Kyles' clothes. As for his side job I believe he’s a printer. He loves it because he gets all the town's gossip to print out and distribute but you also enjoy it because you’re kinda the first one to know everything. And best believe that he validates his sources so he asks questions. He doesn’t want to be the one putting out false information. In conclusion, he loves working on his farm but he loves gossiping and could spend hours doing so.

Ranching is a large farm for raising horses, beef cattle, or sheep. Ranchers care for and manage livestock. Thet maintain the land and equipment needed for livestock care. They oversee breeding and medical treatments of their animals. And finally, they handle tasks related to farm equipment and facilities.

Kate Laswell-

Definitely see Kate as a Mixed farmer. She likes to be very hands on with his work so why doesn’t she not only take care of animals but also crops. I feel as though the only animals you two would raise on the farm would be horses and barn cats. Don’t ask me why, it’s just a feeling I have. Also there is a little garden that she set up on the side of the house just for you so you could have fresh fruit and vegetables to make delicious meals for you and her. As for a side job can we see Kate as a cobbler?? Because I can vividly see it. She makes you the most comfortable shoes she can so you don’t have to worry about your feet aching after a long walk around town, looking at all the different items being sold. Of course she has other customers than you but you're like her little guinea pig when it comes to testing new materials or a new style of shoes because she knows that you’ll be honest with her.

Mixed farming takes place when your farm comprises at least 10% and at most 49% of animal breeding. This means that your profit is made from around half of the animal products and around half of the crops you’re selling. Mixed farmers engage in agricultural practices that combine crop cultivation and livestock rearing on the same farm. This approach allows farmers to diversify their production, use resources more efficiently, and improve soil health through crop rotation and animal manure.

Valeria Garza-

She’s a hay and wheat farmer. Hay is a very high-demand product and why would she not grow it in bulk? Why would she not sell it when there’s a drought and farmers run on hay? Why wouldn’t she want to make a profit with something that’s in such high demand? And because you have wheat in supply year-round baking has become your new favorite hobby. Especially when it comes to trying new flavor combinations. She loves coming inside after a long day of work to a nice cozy home that smells absolutely delicious. She also steals a sweet treat to taste when you’re not looking. Valeria’s side job? Something with alcohol. I’m thinking about her being a tavern keeper or a bootlegger, or both. It’s Valeria, I gotta let her keep her bad girl persona in some way. She definitely runs her tavern under the guise as something else and only select people know that her tavern exists. There used to be more, I wonder where they went-

A hay farmer will always be popular, simply because the demand for hay has increased tenfold in the last couple of years or so. The more time passes, the higher the demand for livestock is. Which is why commercial farmers need more and more hay to feed their animals. Therefore growing hay is quite a lucrative means of making money. Farming wheat is about the same thing.

Konig-

Konig is also a rancher. I’m sorry but you’re telling me that when you see this big beefy man you don’t automatically think about him being a rancher. That’s like the only type of farming I can picture him being into. Even though he is so big, I can see him being extremely careful to not hurt his baby goats or to not hurt one of his chickens. He also most definitely built you a garden so you can feel helpful around the house. After all, he is a big man. And that big man has a big appetite so it’s important to him that he has fresh big meals for each of his three daily meals. I’m leaning towards Konig being a logger as his second job. I don’t really know why, but I feel like based on his size and muscle, he could cut down trees and split logs so fast. I also may or may not be thinking about him building you both a little cabin and little buildings where you can go to do your hobbies in peace.

Keegan-

Pastoral farming. Keegan likes to keep busy and therefore he likes to keep a lot of animals. Mostly for selling their products at the market (Most of which you make). Butter, yogurt, bottling milk, eggs, and meat (which he takes care of) gets sold for profit. Yes, you and Mrs. MacTavish have a little bit of friendly competition between you both since your husbands sell almost the same thing. However, you both help each other out, especially since her husband Mr. Mactavish keeps her with child almost year round. For his side job I can see him as a cabinet maker for some reason. I don’t know why I see this but I like to imagine that he makes good profit from it since everyone needs the extra storage space or just to replace cabinets. Plus, it would be hot watching him using a handsaw and cutting wood from the kitchen window, leaning on a counter he built.

Pastoral farming essentially refers to raising livestock and poultry for mass production of animal products such as milk, chicken eggs, or meat. The animals need to be kept in special shelters, and they are usually fed every type of food out there that can get them bigger and more efficient at producing the animal products.

Phillip Graves-

Organic farming. You cannot tell me that he doesn’t seem like the type of man to only eat organic fruits and vegetables. So, why wouldn’t he also have you eating only the best? This is more of a side job for the both of you and not a full time farming job. But he has been thinking about introducing some more animals into the two of your lives instead of the 2 dogs you two own. Phillip’s side job is definitely him being a saddler. Yes, you both own horses because that's the main form of transport and he just wants to make sure that whenever the two of you ride somewhere that you're comfortable. So one day he dabbled in fixing your saddle to make it more comfortable for you and after that you urged him to make a profit off of this new found skill.

Organic farming is the type of food that you get without the use of modern artificial additives, like for example pesticides or any sort of chemical fertilizers. On top of that, they’re natural in the sense that they’re not treated with radiation, industrial solvents, etc.

Alejandro Vargas-

Sedentary Farming. He owns a large property and he’s invested heavily in taking care of his animals. He likes this type of farming since it is very simple and it easily makes him money. Yes, he does use most of his land just to go horseback riding with eachother but without having to go be social with other people. Not that you both don’t like social interaction, Alejandro loves talking to people. In fact, you can’t take this man anywhere without him finding someone he knows but sometimes he just wants to be alone with you spending some much needed quality time with you. Outside the house that is. Alejandros side job is being a gunsmith. Like Simon, I just feel like this job is very fitting and I can’t really think about a job that is a better fit. He mostly fixes guns while asking Rodolfo to make a certain part that he’s missing so really the two of them are a partnership.

Sedentary farming is the complete opposite of nomadic farming. Instead of moving with the herd, constantly changing your location in search for greener areas, you use the exact same land every year and you don’t move the animals in the slightest. It’s a good choice if you wish to heavily invest in an area and not worry about expanding anytime soon. It is a very simple lifestyle, but it is also effective at making you a lot of money.

Rodolfo Parra-

I don’t know why but I see him as Alejandro’s farm hand. They’re best friends so why wouldn’t they help each other out? If anything they both invested into the land so they work together to raise the animals. Plus, with the two of them, it takes the workload off of both of their shoulders so they can spend more time with their wives. And something about Alejandro and Rudy being best friends and raising their kids as almost siblings does something to me. Rodolfo’s side job is being a blacksmith. Since he works as Alejandro’s farm hand most of his day is spent making sure everything is in order. He takes up blacksmithing so he can better his job.

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mypoisonedvine · 2 months ago

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previous anon here. i don’t think you support jk rowling purposely. i didn’t say i did. all i said was that being active in fandoms helps creators to get viewership, readers, and profit for their works. that’s a fact. but to answer your question, i haven’t felt the need to say anything to someone writing about good omens because none of the writers i support have done so. if they did, i probably would. rowling has made it abundantly clear than she views any participation in fandom of her work as support of it and therefore support of her though it. as have many of the people (i.e. terfs) who support her. whether we like it or not, fandom effects brands for better and for worse. and jk rowling would be nothing without the popularity of Harry Potter and the money it has brought and continues to bring her. i wholeheartedly believe that you don’t support transphobia. and to be clear, i don’t think negatively of you. i am genuinely just trying to start a dialogue because i believe conversations like this are important.

I didn't say that you said I supported her I just wanted to make sure that was clear for everyone seeing it, JKR and transphobes/terfs can go shove it up their asses and I'll never skip an opportunity to say that

I know she's said before she perceives any tangential enjoyment of her works as support of her views, but I feel like that responsibility can't be put on the fans because like, of course she would see it that way because she's delusional but she's wrong. at this point it seems like most celebrities or artists have done or said something offensive; obviously she's on a whole other level as she rarely says something that ISN'T offensive but, I don't think it's fair to put the responsibility on the fan creators who don't profit and keep their works in these hidden corners of the internet.

it's a matter of opinion, and each person's own boundaries and comfort level. I've had to accept that this fictional world and its characters are just too important to me and I hold on to the good parts of it while remaining firmly opposed to the creator and critical of the harmful and downright shitty pieces of the work itself. if anybody chooses not to participate in anything HP related, even going so far as to block or unfollow me for occasionally writing fic, that's reasonable and it's their choice. but I'm not going to not write porn about jkr's characters, at least not specifically. right now I'm not writing anything and the first time I even lightly considered the idea on here, this was the response, so I'm really regretting even trying to get involved on the website again. not because I'm butthurt that somebody "called me out" (clearly that's not really what you're trying to do here, I appreciate that) but because it's a reminder you can't do a goddamn thing without pissing somebody off and they'll never just scroll past it.

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docholligay · 1 year ago

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I know GoT only by reputation, and what little I've seen of it on tumblr, but... sometimes, I feel like fantasy, as a genre, has been absolutely ruined by the success of GoT. Everything these days seems to be about making settings and characters as nasty, brutish, and dirty as possible. It's incredibly tiring, and really frustrating, to the point of feeling like these sorts of tropes are being repeated for their own sake rather than because they actually do anything for the story or characters.

(Also, being the sort of person who easily becomes queasy at the sight or thought of blood, and has issues with everything being so darned loud, this tends to be a particular pet peeve in television, but even books aren't completely immune to this effect either, which makes it doubly frustrating.)

I mean this in the nicest possible way, please imagine me saying this with a big smile on my face and laughing as I take a swig from my beer, but you and I are SO diametrically opposed on this!

I mean, anything can be written BADLY, of course, but I fell out of reading fantasy as i got older not because it all became A Song of Ice and Fire but because it all seemed to be "a brave young woman!! IS the chosen one!! And she will prevail over SUPER DARKNESS. And only the parental figure will die, to motivate her, and everyone's intentions and clear and good, and also there are dragons I guess." There's so much narrative safety. There's so many last-minute asspulls to save someone. I would LOVE some well written political machination but there are dragons though. That's why I liked Locke Lamora!

I think we have a tendency to notice the things we hate. So for me, Fantasty now is fucking lousy with ~queer retellings~ that are all very life affirming and nice and all that but all the eating each other out in the world isn't going to get me over the hump of wishing there were actual, painful consequences for being an idiot, or even just unlucky.

Part of why people named Doc, who are me, really like Song of ice and Fire (please note I actually DON'T like Game of Thrones) is that anyone COULD die. The books would not CHEAT TO HELP THE GOOD GUY WIN. And for me, that was everything. As a young teen who had read so so so much fantasy but was starting to feel really resentful of the way it never seemed to mirror the moments of difficulty and pain in life, it meant so much (I think the show edged too hard toward Cheating To Help The bad Guy Win, but that's another matter)

But obviously you and I are totally different people. You admit to being squeamish, so of course you don't care for things that involve violence. I, on the other hand, am an excellent person to have in any given bloody crisis, as I have Done Time in Ag. I am, to give a real life example, the person you calmly call into the kitchen to help when you've nearly taken your finger off with a meat slicer. I have a smile and a "We can handle this!" to give. I, on the third hand, have had life experiences that make, "the magical salvation of being nice and believing really hard" feel like an actual-ass insult. I never met a war that didn't take its chunk, and you don't get to pick where they come from.

These are just differences of personality. Fucking magical princess witches in the forest running from the bad guys but overcoming it all with sass and gay love because we're twelve I guess exists for you, and grimdark machinations toward a lead crown of thorns where evil brings profit and virtue none at all because fuck happiness everyone should be a German concrete salesman is for me. I think there's probably more of what both of us like than either of us are actually admitting.

However, everything is too loud for me all the time also, I really recommend eargasm earplugs, which come with a very small container and are nearly invisible and discreet when in. They block some of the sound but not all of it. Many people in my life casually don't even know I have them or sometimes put them in for louder places.

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frankendykes-monster · 5 months ago

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Man of Steel arguably belongs to a wave of pseudo-religious epics from around this time, including Noah, Godzilla, Prometheus and Exodus: Gods and Kings. Central to these movies is the idea that maybe God does exist, but He is at best indifferent to human suffering and at worst actively delights in it. Man plans, and God laughs. Praying to a man in the sky is going to get you killed.

I know Skull Island set up the “hollow earth” thing, but it’s weird how casual everybody is about this stuff. I’m more impressed by a new flavour of pop tart than these people are by discovering that their entire understanding of how the world works is wrong. To be fair, this is just a side effect of the modern franchise age. Audiences have seen dozens of these things, so what’s the point in even pretending any of this obviously impossible stuff is even unusual? It’s just another day at the office for everybody. To be fair, I suspect this is how a lot of fans view the media that they consume. People obsess about “spoilers”, as if they are waiting to be surprised by this experience. In truth, they don’t want to be awed. If anything happens that they don’t expect, they are horrified.

[...]

It’s worth just writing down some of the stuff that happens in King of the Monsters. The characters discover that one of the monsters is also an alien. They then discover that Atlantis is real. Then Washington is flooded. None of this is given any room to breathe. The characters never get to sit with any of this, or process it. At the very least, the world should look like the third act of Independence Day, but there’s just so much stuff happening non-stop. It could be argued that this is ultimately what makes King of the Monsters a very 2019 movie, in contrast to Godzilla as a very 2014 movie. In 2014, the idea that God cared not for us mere mortals was horrifying. By 2019, the prevailing mood is, “look, the apocalypse is happening, just roll with it.”

I made my own variation of the statement of "shit has gotten so bad that people want to go back to a decade ago" upon seeing appraisal for Clash of The Titans (2011) in the context of more recent blockbusters, and people may recall any number of variations of my sentiment that you are an absolute lunatic if you think Jurassic Park (1993) or The Lord of The Rings represents the height of artistry in filmmaking, buuuuuut I am a bit surprised looking back at the transition from the likes of Transformers (2007) to Transformers: Rise of The Beasts (2022) or Man of Steel (2013) to The Flash (2023), in the sense that there was a relatively recent time where IP tentpole films were still nominally expected to be "about something" and carry some sense of thematic and physical weight to their proceedings.

Personally speaking it'd be very easy for me to blame The Avengers (2012), the most important and influential film of the 2010's, with how it functionally perfected the model of how to maximize profits with existing IP and ensure brand loyalty amongst audiences to return for the same thing next year, but I'm not sure that's satisfactory explanation for me.

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heretherebedork · 1 year ago

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Sorry I’m sort of late to the wedding impossible discussion, but some of your posts inspired me to watch it. I just finished episode 3 where it ends with jihan telling ahjeong he’s going to steal her away and….am I supposed to like jihan? Because I don’t, at all. He thinks dohan and ahjeong are in a real relationship right now doesn’t he? He thinks they’re actually getting married bc they want to? Did I miss something where he knows it’s fake? Am I supposed to root for him to destroy his brother’s relationship and life so that dohan can inherit a company and jihan can profit? I recognize I’m early into the show but how are people calling dohan selfish when every single thing jihan has done for the past 3 episodes has been for his own gain? The only redeeming thing he’s done is recognize he was wrong for getting ahjeong that role, but then he kind of messed that up for me by being violent to that worker on the drama. Because sure that guy was an asshole but so are you jihan!!! I don’t think that makes it ok or attractive (it felt like the show wanted me to find it attractive) for jihan to be physically aggressive. At this point I dislike jihan more than i even dislike the older siblings who are clearly supposed to be the villains lol.

I have no idea, anon. None. Don't ask me, I'm part of the Do Han defense squad who's barely watching the het parts of this show frankly.

Ji Han definitely feels like a selfish asshole for the vast majority of the show and, yes, he has some trauma that explains some of his actions but dear lord is he an asshole to Do Han.

From pressuring him to get married and take over the company which Do Han obviously doesn't want and is clear that he doesn't want to trying to seduce the woman he thinks his brother loves to just generally harassing Ah Jeong every chance he gets.

But he's the male lead, so a lot of people are going to just decide that he's Right. No matter what. Apparently.

Or they just assume that being in the closet automatically makes Do Han selfish because that's lying and we can't lie! Nope! No lying here! If you lie to protect yourself, that makes you selfish. /s

Yeah, I hate that.

Do Han was protecting himself and we get to see that he has a reason to do so when his grandfather literally stops him from coming out! There was a reason Do Han stayed in the closet and ran to New York. I still don't understand why his grandfather wants him to inherit the business. He's a gay artist who's been aboard being a gay artist for five years!!! Why should he be any good at business?!

(I saw someone complain that Do Han never let Ji Han visit him in New York and it's like... no fucking duh? Man was living his best gay life out there, he was no about to invite the little brother he was in the closet to into that life both to protect himself and not to force Ji Han to carry his secret as well.)

But, yeah, Ji Han's an ass. And the show tries to redeem him but not for what he did to Do Han until much, much too late for me. And Do Han deserves better.

#in defense of do han #wedding impossible #kdrama #asked and answered #do han defesne squad #dohan defense squad

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readingsby-valentina · 1 year ago

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Motherhood (and how it changes their relationship)

Hi friends! NONE of this is confirmed to be true. These are posted for strictly “entertainment” purposes and I’m not making any profit off this information. Please take all of this information with a grain of salt. If you don’t like it, don’t read it. Also please note that I am granted permission to look into these energies by their spirit guides. Anything that is deeply personal will NOT be posted. Thanks for reading!

Motherhood is a sensitive subject for all women. I think it’s something we either feel extremely called to or we don’t feel called to it at all. Some people dream about it their whole life, and I think the SM is one of those people. They naturally have a very strong maternal instinct that helps nurture those around them. I sense children feel drawn to them. They naturally have a way with children too. I immediately channel a child crying in a store, making eye contact with them, and immediately stopping. That’s not saying they’re a miracle worker lol but it works sometimes 😂

Now when it comes to a child of their own: Do I channel they will give birth to their own child? Yes. But that’s not to say they’re against other ways to have a family. This will just be a decision they make. I can absolutely see them being an advocate for other ways people can be parents like, adoption, fostering, IVF, surrogacy, etc.

When it comes to pregnancy: A lot is blurred out here. That’s totally okay. It’s a very sacred time in one’s life and personal. The one thing their guides are showing me is big t-shirts and sweaters. Baggy clothing. Basically drowning in fabric lol. They’ll most likely hide it from prying eyes. Nothing wrong with that choice!

When the first child is born, everything changes. They feel a new purpose in life, which most parents will agree with. But also everyone better understand that kitty will CLAW. Do not mess with this mama’s baby. Protection is the number one priority. Things could get very very very ugly if the SM feels their baby is in any kind of danger.

But in terms of how it shapes them as a mother: They’ll use motherhood as a way to heal their inner child and any childhood trauma they may have. Not to say that they didn’t have a good life, but they definitely want to give their child the life they wish they had. I see a lot of patience, kindness, compassion and respect. They will be teaching this child early on that all people deserve kindness and respect.

I also pick up on it changing their relationship with Harry. Not in a bad way (obviously lol) but in a way that really completes the two of them. It tests their limits but also shows one another that they have a greater purpose. I see the two of them laughing over silly things the baby does and straight up being like “What did we get ourselves into?!” when changing a diaper.

Overall: This is really going to complete a missing piece in their life. I definitely see it as one of their life’s missions. Motherhood will teach them things that their soul longed to know.

I hope you enjoyed this reading!

#soulmate #channeled reading #harry styles #harry 🌱#sm #harry styles soul mate #readingsby valentina #tarot reading

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swoomoo · 8 months ago

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I usually am not one to get anxious about TTRPG games because I feel they are an outlet for me but have been feeling so with us coming back to our VTM game. It isn't the game itself that is causing it but the circumstances that others find themselves in. We have Vesper and Niccolo on the chopping block. Usually this would just be business as usual since the world is basically ending in our game but Amare is in a position that feels like her actions will be directly impact if either of them make it out.

Obviously she will do everything in her power to help Vesper, who is in a much, much trickier situation than Niccolo. She is, at this point, Cammie through and through, but helping Vesper is causing her to work increasingly with the Anarchs and basically break the rules of her working with a Scourge (in hopes to become one). This is a lot of fun though because she gets to hang out with characters and make connections she normally wouldn't. She is even starting to, dare I say like the girl who likely has a thing for Vesper (she is hot and I'm punching the air that I made Amare probably straight). On the other side of things is Niccolo. I know the Giovanni are very popular on here and I am sure they are usually lovely, but I've come to hate everything they touch in our game. We ended our first season with Amare and Niccolo, once again, getting into an argument. They have done this several times but this one was different. Usually Niccolo has issues with Amare questioning his judgement but this time they got into an argument about his family. Niccolo's (embrace) sister is his enemy. He has refused to accept this until very recently. Niccolo and Amare were together when he had a premonition uncovering a plot where she is teaming up with a Tzimisce to create possessed szlachta that have a fun gimmick of rapid regeneration. In the vision this "army" was marching through the streets, while seemingly obfuscated attacking those that needed to be dealt with. They marched into the court and no matter how many times these things were destroyed, they kept coming back.

The Camarilla was basically going to crumble and the Giovanni's would replace them. Niccolo told Amare of his vision and she questioned if the family would support his sister going rogue. He said they would only if she succeeded and would cut her out if she failed as to save their own ass. Amare then asks Niccolo two questions, "Would you do the same thing as her for the family?" and "Are we (your coterie) expendable to you". His answers were "Only if I knew I would succeed" and "No, those who are close to me deserve not to suffer" (said with a bit less spark). Remember, Amare has a daughter in the city and shutters to imagine a large-scale attack of any type happening in the city. She said the Hecata were no better than the Sabbat and were practically the same but with an Italian mobster flair and were equally if not worse when dealing with humanity. She said she fled from the Sabbat for that reason yet he stays and talks about how "Peace is profitable" when it goes against everything the clan of death stands for.

At his point he had to leave to pick up a Lamia to judge if he is guilty or not. Upon leaving Amare was just screaming at the door. Now go to last session. Niccolo has already contradicted himself multiple times and was caught lying to the Gorgon. He is definitely going to be executed unless he is helped. Vesper is sadly getting mind fucked by the biggest creep in London and Owen literally so new, the Camarilla doesn't even truly know who or what they are.

Imagine this now, when Niccolo was giving a tour to the Gorgon of his museum she stepped away to view some artwork. Niccolo grabs Amare's hand and starts shaking and looks to her with fear in his eyes knowing what is happening to him. He doesn't want to outright ask for help, but has shown that he wants it. He expects his coterie to run behind the Gorgon's back and fix all of his necromancy issues when, none of us are necromancers.

This being said, Amare is going to speak to him next session when Vesper talks to the Lamia privately. Amare is going to cut him a deal, his entire, extensive knowledge on necromancy for her help in dealing with his family issue. It is a big ask, I know and would get a lot of people pissed but frankly Amare doesn't care. He may say no but if he does she is going to wipe her hands from his mess and not lift a finger to help him from the pit he willingly jumped into it.

I have made a plan on how to deal with his business already but that might go in trash after next session. We shall see.

#cheryl rambles #the brainrot is real

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brainfuzz · 1 year ago

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Yeah, I was dm'ing for my oldest's friends once, when they were all asshole teenagers. I started them off in a tavern where they had all been seated at the same table, because taverns are busy and empty chairs get filled, which is how they all met. We did the introductions and shit and then the server came over to them, asked if they wanted to make some money. Obviously they said yes, and then I laid the hook. One of the brats decided his character wouldn't want to risk life and limb for just whatever loot they could get and their share of the pay, so he said he character wouldn't go. The other kids started trying to convince him to join in and were getting getting pissed, because the whole point of D&D is to PLAY. I let them go for a bit trying to work it out among themselves (they offered the character 1/2 the total pay and his pick of any loot and he still wouldn't do it) and I finally said are you sure character won't go? He smirked at me and said yes, and I replied with "Ok fine, you can stay in the tavern. But it sounds like they're taking the job. Also, other character is the bard, and he's the one earning you free drinks and food, so if you don't go with the party, the innkeeper is going to charge you for yours, you've had…x amount by now, at y cost, so pay up." He started spluttering that he didn't have any money yet. "Well, if you go with them, you'll be able to get money, and you won't own the tavern anything, but if youstill don't want to go, I'm sure the innkeeper will let you work it off." Shithead then tried to con the innkeeper into letting him off, rolled a nat 1 on persuasion and literally got chased out of the tavern after the innkeeper's bouncers took all of his possessions in payment. Kid kept a dagger and his leather armor, and that was it.

Shithead then decides that since he's lost everything, he was going to loot everything he could - he was trying to make my life difficult. After a two encounters in which he picked up every single goblin weapon and skinned every wolf and took the skulls, I told him he was now encumbered and was moving at half speed. It was up to the party to decide if they slowed down with him or left him in the dust (they were getting tired of his shit at this point). He thought he was being a smartass because mathematically he wasn't carrying too much, and then I asked him what he was carrying it in. Again, tried to talk his way around it "I've wrapped up the weapons in a wolf pelt and turned it into a backpack" "When? You haven't taken even a short rest to have time to do that." I decided it would take 7 days to tan a hide, and another week to make something from it, so no dice. He tried convincing another character to carry shit for him, promising that he'd share the profits, they did a head to head persuasion check and of course shithead failed. The argument was loud, and none of the other party members believed him after that either (head to head persuasion vs insight, with advantage +1 for each prior failed attempt vs disadvantage). Shithead grumbled but left the useless shit behind.

Once he realized I wasn't going to tolerate a deliberate breaking of the game, he settled down and was mostly fine for the rest of the game. Any time he started getting stupid or metagaming, I dropped something on him - the boss would go for him instead of someone else, raise the DC for a check he had to do, etc. Nothing major and nothing obvious, just enough that it was a question of bad luck, or am I being a shithead.

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jentlemahae · 2 years ago

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am i the only one that thinks that the girls work better as a group? yes there is an insane amount of toxic solo fans in the fandom and all their solos did well although imo all their solos were really mid.. solo (the song lol) is still my fave. also i don't remember lisa getting the most promo?? i was actually shocked how little promo she got. money became a hit through tiktok and not bc yg promoted it. i thought rosé got the most promo bc i remember she had several interviews in the us, even the kelly clarkson show and she promoted way more on korean music shows. ultimately it doesn't matter bc yg promoted all of them poorly, especially jisoo. i personally would love for the girls to leave yg but still remain a group but as you already pointed out idk how realistic that is. yg did it with ikon but they obviously didn't bring in as much profit as bp and idt yg is just gonna let their most popular/successful group continue promoting if they don't get any profit from it. i definitely will be sad if bp disbands bc imo they shine the most as a group they just have so much synergy together and it would be a shame to see them disband now when i know they have soooooo much more to offer. but staying with yg they'll never live up to their full potential tbh. maybe if they actually do leave and pursue solo careers their solo music will be better as well if they finally get to work with other producers but so far none of their solo endeavors (under yg) has really impressed me (would LOVE to hear more from jennie like one of the girls) i know a lot of people make fun of bp's "lackluster" performances and their repetitive sound but there is a reason they're the most successful/popular kpop girl group rn and it's bc the girls just work sooooooo well together i'm really gonna be upset if they disband... and a lot of people assume that lisa didn't resign but what does that mean for bp if the other girls stay with yg???

oh i disagree!! i (obviously) love them as a group but i always thought that one of the main strengths of bp is that all the girls can actually hold their weight as individual artists! i like all their solo stuff (some more than others ofc) and im sure that if they get to have more control over their own solo work it will get even better, so im 100% okay with them parting ways :) and hey! even if they go solo im sure they’ll still be close so they could always collab 🤷🏻‍♀️

and yg is *always* gonna profit from bp as a group bcs they own rights to various things (group name and trademark, masters, sync rights, etc) unless they decide to sell them, but that is veeeery unlikely bcs bp will always bring in a lot of profit for the company.

(also not that it matters but flower actually got more promo than solo lol)

#anonymous #sophie ask

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saltedpeppermintmocha · 3 years ago

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how sweet it is (to be loved by you) - Chapter 7 / 9

Summary:

You are the head baker and owner of a struggling bakery. When pro hero Creati comes in for a wedding cake, of course you accept.

As a business owner, you are excited about the boom in profits resulting from the publicity of working a hero wedding.

As a baker, you are ecstatic to work on an extravagant cake - your most ambitious one to date.

As a woman, you are terrified as you begin to grow feelings for the one person you REALLY cant: the groom.

NOTES: NO infidelity, NO cheating, NO divorce!

Chapter One

Chapter Seven

MATURE : MINORS DO NOT INTERACT // 18+

2 Weeks Until the Wedding

You stare up at the ceiling, vision a bit blurry and headache threatening to begin any moment. There’s no alcohol to blame this time. No, it’s a bit more complicated than that. You take a few deep breaths and try to calm your racing mind. It doesn’t help.

You don’t know what to do.

When you had seen it, you hadn’t known how to properly react. You had frozen, watching it happen in what seemed like slow motion. The feeling of just needing to leave this situation clawed at your throat. You practically threw Momo’s card on the table, mumbled something about a phone call, and hightailed it up to your apartment. And well…that’s where you are now, completely planning to hide out here until they leave.

Your phone vibrates, another concerned message from Momo. Maybe you should feel bad about ignoring her, but you’re too stressed to really care at the moment.. Sure, it hadn’t been the most graceful of exits, but what else were you supposed to do?

And what are you meant to do now?

Is Momo really cheating on Todoroki? You never would have believed it if you didn’t see it with your own eyes. Even still, you’re unsure. That kiss replays on a loop in your brain. At first you tried to rationalize it: maybe you saw it wrong somehow, maybe they are just really close friends that kiss, maybe they’re french, maybe maybe maybe . But none of the maybe’s make an real sense.

Does Todoroki know? He doesn’t seem like the type of guy to stay in a relationship with someone who cheated on him. Then again, Momo didn’t seem like the type of person to cheat, so maybe you’re just a worse judge of character than you previously thought.

Then you wonder if they are in an open relationship. That’s a thing, right? It sort of makes sense, since Pro Heros are not known for their monogamous relationships. Maybe they’re all in one large open one?

What the hell am I thinking? That makes even less sense than cheating. You groan and roll onto your stomach, hiding your face in your pillow.

And now, really, what are you supposed to do? Do you say nothing and let Todoroki marry someone who obviously doesn’t feel the same? That seems so wrong, a betrayal of the man who has been so kind to you. But, also, is it even your business? Sure, they have been kind to you, but they are heroes . Its practically in the job description. And it’s not like you have any proof. What if you say something and he gets upset at you?

You scream into your pillow.

Soon you are going to have to get your ass up. The bakery doesn’t wait for your internal struggle, and you do have to help Tanaka close for the night. You pat the bed blindly looking for your phone, checking the time when you finally grasp it. As you expected there are a few notifications from Momo. You scroll past them and set an alarm for ten minutes. Ten minutes to get yourself together.

The alarm goes off in what feels closer to five minutes. You peel yourself off the bed, sliding towards the bathroom to make sure you are at least somewhat presentable. A few minutes later you make your way downstairs to the kitchen. The bakery is closed by now, so you won't have to actually interact with anyone. Perfect. You listen to Tanaka sing off-beat in the front area he cleans and starts to pack up the kitchen. You are almost done with the main portion when he calls your name.

“Yeah?” No response. Odd. You wipe at your hands as you make your way out front. “Tanaka, what's up…” You tail off as you take in a familiar figure standing beside him. “Oh, uh, hello. I thought you left.” You look at Tanaka, who simply shrugs.

“I wanted to make sure that you are alright.” Was she here the entire time? A quick glance around the bakery proves that Jirou and Mina are gone. You look back at Momo, whose expression is serious. “Can we talk?” I’m kind of busy right now.

No, I don’t want to talk to you.

I think I’m going to be ill.

Thoughts race past your mind, half-baked attempts at ways to escape this conversation. But you look into her eyes, ones that look just as upset as you feel, and don’t have the heart to say it. “Yeah, okay. Can I get you a tea or coffee?” “No thank you.” She says, calmly denying you the time to get yourself ready that you had hoped. She heads to the furthest table. It’s the only one still set up as if the bakery is open.

“Sure.” You sigh, grabbing your own coffee for something to do with your hands. You follow after her.

There is a long moment where you both sit in silence. It’s awkward, so very awkward. Momo takes a deep breath, seeming to steady herself. It makes a part of you feel a bit justified that she also feels a bit put upon by this conversation.

“Please, can you tell me what is wrong?” She asks. “You disappeared so quickly, and Tanaka wasn’t able to fetch you. I’m concerned.” You swallow, not sure how to even begin with a response. To give you some time, you bring your coffee up to your mouth and take a sip.

“I don’t understand.” She continues. The look on her face is one of pure concern, which puts you on edge. Why is she the one concerned? “First you start to ignore Shouto, and now me. What did we do?”

Oh god, she sounds truly upset. Pain goes through your heart. You don’t like being the one to make her like this, even if you feel justified in your reaction. You’re going to have to just come out and say it, aren't you? “I saw you and Jirou kiss earlier.”

Momo’s eyes widen. Ah, there it is. She sits up straight, a tenseness in her face that wasn’t there a moment before. This is where she says I didn’t see what I thought I saw. Or maybe she’ll skip to the part about not telling Todoroki. Whatever her reaction is, part of you feels like this will be your last time seeing her. You bite your lip.

“Is it…because Kyoka is a woman?” She asks, voice a mere whisper.

What?!

“No!” You immediately reject that notion. “I never even-no!” You stumble through your words, confused and unstable. Momo gives you a moment to find your words, dark eyes staring intently. Eventually, you manage. “That part didn’t bother me at all.”

“Then what is it?” She leans forward, insistent. Your hands fall lightly on the table as you stare back at her. Is she serious? What is happening here? How come you feel like you are the one on trial? “Please tell me, why are you so upset about me kissing Kyoka?” What am I missing?

“Cheating.” The word slips out, less than a finished thought. At her surprised expression, you’re forced to elaborate. “It’s the cheating that I’m having trouble with, that’s all.”

Now, you’ve never called someone a cheater before, but you expect more of a reaction than pure confusion. She tilts her head a bit to the side. “Cheating? Who is cheating on who?”

This circular conversation is getting frustrating. You are exhausted, confused, stressed, and now starting to feel stupid. Your headache is threatening to begin anew, and you just want to go back to bed. This needs to be over. You look away. I give up. “You are cheating on Todoroki with Jirou, right?”

Momo’s mouth opens, undignified in a way you’ve never seen her. There is a long moment of silence. The air is thick with tension.

“I am married to Kyoka.”

What? “What?” You look back up, eyes locking immediately with hers.

“I am married to Kyoka.” Momo repeats, reaching into her coat pocket. “It’s been almost three years now. The anniversary is in a few months.” She holds out her phone to you, showing you the lock screen. The picture shows a gorgeous wedding, with Momo and Jirou in the middle. They both look amazing, laughing in the photograph. They look happy. It looks completely legit. You look up from the phone, mouth open but unable to speak. “We aren’t public with our marriage. Both of us are in enough danger daily without adding another target to our backs.”

“But…you’re marrying Todoroki??”

“I’m not marrying Shouto.” She frowns, tilting her head to the side. “Why do you think-” Her eyes widen. “The wedding?” For the first time since you’ve known her, she looks completely nonplussed. For a long moment, you both stare at each other without words. Then, she suddenly laughs. It's a quick thing, quiet too. “So that means…” She brings a hand to her mouth, mumbling words you barely catch. “Oh my, you two are both so clueless.”

“What?” You prompt, hoping for her to let you in on whatever she just figured out. She doesn’t respond to you, standing up and grabbing her phone off the table. Wait. Is she leaving? Now?!? Your attempts to protest fall on deaf ears.

“Please wait a moment, I’ll be right back.” Momo slides on her coat and wraps her expensive scarf around her neck as she walks outside. It’s only the fact that she leaves her purse on the chair that makes you truly believe she’ll return.

“Sooo, what's happening?” Tanaka asks, using the excuse of wiping already clean tables nearby to talk to you. You don’t have it in you to say anything about it.

“I don’t know.” You respond honestly. “But she seems to know something.” You let out a frustrated sigh, feeling dumb like something obvious is going right over your head. “Was she here the entire time?” “Yup.” The two of you fall into silence, with Tanaka eventually moving back to his other closing tasks. He’ll be done on time, but you’ll be late. You can’t blame it on Momo, really, it was your own decision to disappear for hours.

About five minutes later, the bells above the door chime. The delicate sound makes you look up. From across the room, you can see an odd smile on Momo’s face, but she seems to school her expression as she gets closer to the table. She doesn’t sit down.

“Um…” You attempt to restart the conversation.

“I’m going to head out now. It was nice talking with you, as usual.” Her normal, kind smile is back. It’s both confusing and relieving.

“But- wait- what’s going on?” You press.

She shakes her head softly. “I don’t think I’m the one you should be talking to you about this.”

“I…respectfully disagree.” You respond. “Momo, please, I’m really confused here.”

There’s a moment where she looks like she’s about to give in, face soft and pitiful, but she gets over it soon enough. She straightens her back and looks away, the set of her shoulders telling you she won't back down on this. You know better than to argue with a hero. “It will be okay.” She promises. You open your mouth to protest uselessly. “As a friend, I am telling you it will be okay.”

Those are the words that shock you into silence, they hit you hard. For the last few hours, you were certain that you had lost any potential friend in Momo. Either you would lose her by exposing her secret ‘affair’, or not expose any secrets and still be unable to face her. That knowledge had weighed on you in unexpected ways. When you first met Momo, you had been certain it was a one-time thing. You would make her a cake for her wedding and that would be it. It was a mutually beneficial, transactional meeting. But she -and Todoroki- just kept popping up, kept making an effort to talk to you and learn about you. Without you really acknowledging it she had pushed the boundary of acquaintance to friend. You had resisted at first, the hero was nice to everyone. After all, there is no way someone like that wanted to be friends with someone like you. Someone unremarkable. Yet, despite your best efforts, you really began to see her as a friend, someone you would continue to be friends with after the wedding. So, when you were faced with the prospect of ruining the first new genuine friendship you’d made in a long time, it had really done a number on you. Her words just now, that confirmation that despite everything, you haven’t lost her, lifts a weight off your back and shocks you into silence.

“I’ll see you later.” Momo’s voice brings you back to the present. She shrugs her purse onto her shoulder and turns around. “It’s nice to see you again, Tanaka.” She says. “Thank you for letting me stay so long. “

His cheeks redden. “Any time!”

Momo wishes you a good night and leaves the bakery. You watch her in silence until you can’t see her anymore. While you feel even more confused than you did prior to the conversation, there’s a bit of hope there now where there wasn’t before. Maybe things aren’t quite as bad as you thought? Somehow? Maybe things will turn out alright?

“That was odd.” Tanaka’s voice finally breaks the silence. “You said it.”

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

You resolve to try your best not to think about it. It works during the evening when you can blast loud music to drown out any thoughts while you clean and prep the bakery. However, once the night truly falls, quiet hours start and you can no longer escape. It keeps you up at night, of course, but at least your thoughts are a bit less aggressive than before. Your mind replays her words and tries to find meaning in them. It’s futile, honestly. While you can come up with a lot of ‘what if’ scenarios, you can just as easily come up with ways to denounce them.

You wonder what is going to happen next. In the end, you can assume Momo wants you to talk to Todoroki, but the man is on a mission. He isn’t meant to be back before the wedding, right? That’s just under 2 weeks away.

Ugh.

Eventually, you manage to pass out, exhaustion winning.

When you do wake up, the alarm blasting from your nightstand, you feel surprisingly alright. It’s a bit suspicious, and you have a feeling that it won't last long. You take a mental note to have a lot of caffeine today.

Going through your morning rituals, you are mostly successful in avoiding thinking about any unnecessary topics. You are well aware that if you let yourself linger on it, your day will be ruined. You don’t want another repeat of yesterday.

You play some soft music on your phone, humming along to the songs as you turn on the industrial ovens and make your way over to the coffee machine. It makes an odd screeching noise as it pours, a reminder that sooner or later the thing will just stop working. Still, for now, it manages alright. You sip at your coffee as you go unlock the back door. Tanaka still hasn’t texted you to let you know if he found his keys. You really hope he did, keys like that can be expensive to replace.

After downing the coffee, you make your way to the fridges and start pulling out the necessary prepared dough. Even after all this time, seeing the dough ready in the fridge sends a small thrill through you. The next part -kneading and shaping the dough- has always been your favourite. It brings back memories of being a kid and helping out grandfather. You take out one of the labeled containers and place it on the counter. Now is the time to shape the dough into your ‘famous’ danishes. You can’t wait.

One by one you make it through the containers, savory and sweet pastries slowly filling your trays and headed for an oven. You are covered in flour and the air around you smells absolutely delicious. For the first time in quite a while, you feel at peace again in your kitchen.

Of course, that's when things go horribly wrong.

The back door opens, metal scraping against metal. Tanaka must be here for his shift. You shove a tray of chocolate croissants into the oven, triple checking the heat before closing the door softly. You immediately go back to the dough you had been shaping, humming a little tune as you work. It’s only then that your eyes go to the clock. You look away, then look back.

Huh. It’s still quite early. Why is Tanaka here? For a man that chooses a lot fo the morning shifts, he really isn’t a morning person. You hear him shuffling about in the small coat area. Maybe he’s hungover? It’s weird that you haven’t heard anything from him yet. Normally he’d be ‘projecting’ across the room. Even a tired Tanaka is a loud Tanaka.

Someone steps quietly into the kitchen, pausing at the door.

Tanaka isn’t quiet.

A chill goes up your spine. Your hands freeze in the dough, curling deep enough to leave holes.

That’s not Tanaka.

“I-” You scream at the voice, turning on your heel to chuck the dough at the intruder. The second the dough leaves your hands, you reach for the rolling pin, hands clutching hard at your only close available weapon. Your eyes focus on the area you know the intruder is.

Two-toned eyes stare back at you, wide. An expression, unlike one you’ve seen before on a familiar face.

Um.

You freeze completely, rolling pin clattering to the ground.

Todoroki??

The hero stands a few feet in front of you, one hand holding a white take-out cup. Your own shocked expression mirrored on his…surprisingly powdery face…

Flour. Your brain supplies. The dough. Oh my god, the dough.

Slowly your eyes trail downwards, following a trail of flour down his expensive-looking dark sweater to the floor where the dough is splattered. You swallow, slowly bringing your eyes back up to meet his. By now, his face has softened out of its shocked expression. His lip twitches. The hand not holding a cup raises to his mouth. His shoulders shake. Is he laughing???

You break free. “I am so sorry!” You immediately step forward and reach out to his sweater, desperately trying to wipe off the flour. It’s futile, you know. It’s like glitter, almost impossible to get off without washing. Still, you don’t know what else to do but try. You do manage to get a bit off, moving upwards on the jacket until…

Oh. You’re really close now.

By now he’s stopped laughing, but the mirth on his face is plain to see.

“I'm so sorry.” You repeat, quieter this time.

“At least I know you can protect yourself.” He smiles, a bit wider than any you’ve seen before. Oh god, it does something to your heart.

Your face heats up immediately. “I still have some of your shirts from before. I’ll go grab you another. Watch the ovens.” Turning away, you practically bolt up the stairs. Once you reach your door at the top, you slide through and slam the door -a bit too loudly- behind you. You lean against the door for a breath.

What the hell is happening?!

Todoroki is in your bakery. Todoroki - who was meant to be many kilometers away on a mission at this very moment- is in your bakery at six in the morning. Todoroki is is covered in flour that you just chucked at him in your bakery.

Somehow repetition didn’t make it feel more real. You groan and bury your head in your hands. What even is my life right now? Your phone vibrates in your pocket. A quick look shows a new message from Momo, just a happy face. She knew. You also see a few messages from Todoroki, informing you that he was coming by. You hadn't seen them at all before. Of course.

After another breath, you push off the door and go in search of his shirts. You find them piled in their usual spot and look for one that might match what he’s wearing. You find one that looks like it maybe doesn’t cost double your rent, and start your trip downstairs. Passing the backdoor, you see his coat hanging neatly beside…well, his other coat on the rack. You peek around the corner as you near the kitchen. Yup, still there.

Todoroki somehow still looks ridiculously gorgeous, leaning back against your kitchen counter and looking at the ovens. Those eyes flicker over to you briefly, before returning to their post. You let out a small chuckle at that, stepping into the room.

“Aren’t you on a mission?” You ask, passing him the shirt. He takes it. “Is it over early?” You wonder if you’ll see anything about it on the news tonight.

“No.” He responds simply, down to grasp at the bottom of his sweater. In one movement, he gracefully pulls his sweater off.

Oh my god. You let out a sound and step back, covering your face with your hands. You had forgotten his tendency to do…this. You fight the urge to peek. “How are you here then?”

“Momo called me. Apparently, she is cheating on me.” He replies. Uh, oh no. “I was able to get a flight back the same night.” There’s a moment of relative silence as he pulls on his other shirt. “It was a good thing she called. I was supposed to be on a stakeout with my father all night. You saved me from that.” A pause. ”I’m done.” It takes you a moment to realize what he said and lower your arms from your face. A part of you wants to ask more about what he said. There have been articles speculating about that particular relationship for years, but well, it doesn’t seem like the right time. “Uh, well that's good then?”

“Very.” Todoroki agrees, looking around the kitchen. “Do you need any help?”

“No, uh, you did a good job watching the ovens. Other than uh, well, that -” You grimace at the dough still splattered on the ground. “I’ll be okay for a little bit. Thank you.”

He nods, passing you the take-out cup he’s been holding. “I brought you some tea.” You can see the logo of the cafe from before on the side. Damn. Your stomach feels wiggly. You thank him and take the cup, unable to resist a small sip for taste. It’s perfect.

The two of you lapse into silence. Somehow, after everything, it’s not awkward to be in silence with the hero. Then again, you started this interaction by screaming and chucking dough at him, so silence might just be the preferred thing right now. He seems perfectly content to look around the kitchen as you sip tea and check on the pastries, interested as if he hasn’t been here many times before. It’s nice, really nice, after avoiding him for so long. After missing him.

It feels like almost an hour later -but could not have been more than 10 minutes- when he breaks the silence. “We do need to talk.”

Ah, right. That. Your mood plummets. “Of course.” You say shakily, happy butterflies turning to nerves in your stomach. This is where something is going to happen, you just can’t figure out what. “Do you want to go sit in the front to talk?”

“That isn’t necessary.” He says. Todoroki looks at you a moment longer, eyes locked on yours and seemingly searching for something before he steps forward. It’s a purposeful step of long legs, bringing him to the edge of your space. “I am not marrying Momo.” “Right.” You understand that part, at least.

“She is married to Kyoka.” “Okay.” You nod slightly.

“I am not getting married.” He insists, taking another step forward. You have to crane your neck to look up at him. Your legs shake a bit, and you lean back a bit on the counter. Two-toned eyes stare intently into yours. So, he’s not getting married at all?

Oh. You breathe out shakily.

Another step and there is barely enough room for your tea in between you. You clumsily place it down on the counter. “I think you misunderstood my intentions.” “Intentions?” It’s a squeak of a response. His mouth twitches.

“I like you.”

“Oh.” You reply instinctively, then it clicks. “OH!” Your mouth opens in shock, a dozen of half thought words all trying to escape your throat at once. What comes out is a stumbled mess of words. Damn.

Todoroki’s mouth curls back up at the side, neither completely a smirk nor a smile but something in between. Every large breath pushes your chest lightly against him, each breath sends individual strands of your hair across your face. Shivers go down your spine, and heat pools in your stomach.

For a brief moment, you both look at each other, searching. Then he steps back. “I won’t pressure you.” Immediately you mourn the loss, reaching out to grab his arm lightly.

“Wait! I-” Your face is red, mouth still unable to fully align with your brain. You know what you want to say, but forming that sentence is proving extremely difficult.

Todoroki shakes his head lightly. “Take time to think it over.” When he looks back, the expression on his face is soft. “I don’t want you to rush into anything you are not sure about.” A pause. “I look forward to hearing your answer later.” For some reason, that sends another pool of heat through your stomach.

Slowly your hand uncurls from his arm, dropping to your side. “Right.” You get it, you do. You thought he was getting married up until a moment ago. Your feelings are weighed down by your own assumptions and expectations. You both deserve an answer free from those.

Still…

’I like you’.

It literally just happened, and you’re already replaying it on loop in your head. Damnit, this man has ruined me.

Your phone vibrates in your pocket, breaking the tension of the moment. It startles you, to be honest, so out of touch you are with anything except the man in front of you. You reach into your pocket and bring out your phone.

[ Contact: Ryunosuke Tanaka ]

You stare at it a moment, knowing you need to pick it up but also not feeling like you want to go back to ‘real life’ yet. Mouthing an apology to Todoroki, you panswer and bring the phone up to your ear.

“Hey, boss!” His cheery voice echoes through the phone. “ Good news, I found the key!” You know where this is going, “And the bad news?”

“Who says there is bad news?” You let out a sigh. “Tanaka, please, what happened?”

“Ah, well. It’s a funny story. I was looking for the key this morning and found it. So I got super hyped, right, and went for a victory jog. It wasn’t even a big one, I did worse in my high school days. So I do the jog and then get home and wouldn’t you know it-”

“You’re locked out of your house.” You say, interrupting his rambling story.

“Yea, and the key is inside.” He sighs. “I already have the building owner on the way, so I’ll be there as soon as I can!”

“It’s okay.” You reply, rubbing your temple with your free hand. “There’s not much else you can do anyways.” Tanaka apologizes again before you say goodbye and hang up.

Well, this is a problem. You are a little behind in the kitchen due to Todoroki showing up, and you doubt Tanaka will be here in time to properly set up the front for opening. You haven’t had to open alone in a while, and hope you’ll be able to open on time. You can’t really afford to open late.

You look around the kitchen, worried eyes finding Todoroki’s concerned ones. A desperate idea pops into your head. “Can I…still take up that offer for help? Or do you need to leave soon?”

Todoroki glances at the clock, before reaching into his pocket to retrieve his phone. “I can ask the plane to wait an hour or two.” Asking a plane to wait?! Can heroes do that?

“Oh, no please don’t!” Your voice stops him from typing a message. “I don’t want anyone else to be held up because of me.”

He tilts his head a bit to the side. Cute. “It’s a private plane. Nobody else will be waiting.”

You blink. Right. Rich people. At least he wouldn’t be stopping an entire commercial plane. Still, you feel a bit bad about the staff it takes to get a private jet working. At least they’ll be getting paid, right? Todoroki types a bit more on his phone before it starts vibrating in his hands. He picks it up.

“Hello, father.”

Your mouth opens. Oh my god, that's Endeavor on the other side. You shudder as you think of the imposing hero. That man always terrified you.

“Yes. No. I know. Yes. I will.” And he hangs up. He doesn’t look affected by the call and just slides his phone back into his pocket. The hero looks up at you. “How can I help? His voice is different from the phone call, you notice. It’s softer. You like this voice much more.

So you bring Todoroki to the front and explain what needs to be done. You don’t expect perfection, it’s not like he’s been trained on any of this. Still, he rolls up his sleeves and takes to it with ease. You suppose opening a bakery is one of the least stressful things he’s done. You smile at the sight and head to the kitchen.

The time slips away as you work. Todoroki pops into the kitchen a few times to ask some questions or grab supplies, but overall it’s pretty quiet and peaceful. It’s comfortable and reminds you of the many mornings he’s spent helping you in the kitchen. Of course, your mind often shifts to whatever the hell just happened and so you have to pause multiple times to just freak out a little.

‘I like you.’ said so simply and matter-of-factly. It’s something you never thought you’d hear from the hero. And he’s single. Oh damn, you actually have a chance at all that. You can feel some self-doubt threaten to claw up your throat and push it away. You are not going to let yourself get in the way of your own happiness. Not anymore.

“I’m hereee- oh, hello Todoroki.” Tanaka’s shout can be heard easily through the bakery.

“Hello Tanaka.”

You smile and set aside your supplies, brushing your hands off on your apron as you make your way to the front. Tanaka looks -reasonably- surprised to see the hero, but brushes it off and makes his way to the backroom to put away his coat.

“I guess that means you’re free.” You say to Todoroki, looking around. Honestly, he’s done a pretty good job…although the display looks a bit crazy. Maybe you’ll leave it like that, just for today. “You did well.” “Thank you.” Despite his quiet words, he seems to shine under the praise. He reaches into his pocket and grabs his phone, looking at the display for a moment before sliding it back in. “I have to head back.”

Tanaka passes you both as you head towards the back door. Todoroki slides on his coat, wrapping a scarf around his neck. “Thank you again for…well, everything.”

“For you, anytime.” He responds, smooth in a way you did not expect. You feel your cheeks heat again. He smiles. “Come here.” It’s his only warning before you’re pulled into the most comfortable hug you’ve ever had. You breathe in the faint scent of cologne and warmth as you wrap your arms around him. His arms tighten a bit around you. You wonder if he can hear your heart beating rapidly in your chest.

He sets his chin lightly on your head. “I’ll see you after the mission.” And then his arms slowly let go. You pull back, already regretting it.

“Yea, see you soon.” You respond, taking a deep breath in to settle yourself. “Please be safe.” He nods and begins to turn to leave. Two weeks feels too long, although you know realistically it isn’t. The next time you’ll see him should be at the wedding. Wait.

The wedding.

“Wait!” Suddenly you call out. He stops and looks back. “If it’s not your wedding, whose is it?”

“Izuku and Ochako.” He says simply.

Izuku and Ochako? It takes you a second. Izuku Midoriya, Deku, the pro hero. Alright, that makes enough sense. But Ochako? Your mind fills with images of round cheeks, a large smile, and big brown eyes.

‘The Uraraka’s spoke wonders of your grandfather’s work’

‘You are very highly recommended by the Uraraka’s.’

Your hand raises to your mouth in shock, things slotting together like a well-made but very confusing puzzle.

“Uraraka?” Your question. “Ochako Uraraka?”

Todoroki nods.

Oh my god.

The man does have to leave. You watch him until he rounds a corner, mind swimming with the information you just learned until Tanaka comes to pull you back into the bakery.

Tagged As Requested

@shoutocakie

#todoroki x reader #todoroki shouto x y/n #todoroki shouto x you #todoroki shouto x reader #todoroki x y/n #todoroki fic #bnha fanfiction #bnha fic #fanfiction #fanfic #j writes

88 notes · View notes

sevlgi · 4 years ago

Text

what we want

requested: yes x2

group: blackpink

pairing: jennie x fem!reader

genre: angst, fluff

contents: idol!jennie, idol!reader, pr relationship

warnings: none

synopsis: Jennie’s lost herself somewhere along the way of achieving her dream. Behind that tough, cruel mask of hers, she doesn’t know what she wants, and maybe uncovering the mask you wear is what will help her realize it.

a/n: this is so much heavier than either of you guys asked for asalknasdfkj... but i wrote my longest fic yet in less than 2 days!!!! i think that’s an achievement :D

word count: 6k

Kim Jennie did not have a good reputation, and she didn’t really give a shit about it.

At least, that’s what everyone thought. That’s what everyone knew, with the numerous articles a week about South Korea’s resident fuckgirl, with Dispatch’s 20 cameramen hired just to follow Jennie. She was careless, she was cold, and she care what anyone else said about her.

What no one cared about was Jennie’s reasoning. Because while the first time sneaking out to a club and losing herself in fruit-flavored shots and skimming touches was simply for the fun of it, it was the aftereffect that made her keep going. Because with the articles of Kim Jennie’s newest scandal, Blackpink’s album sales shot through the roof, YG’s stocks completely flipped around, and Jennie herself decided it was worth it. It didn’t matter if her members looked at her a little differently, like they didn’t recognize her, or if she was the only one constantly excluded from appreciation tweets on Twitter. If acting out would help promote them more than her agency ever did, she could do it.

And she did. For almost a year, Jennie became Kpop’s most well-known idol, for better or for worse. For almost a year, Blackpink’s sales were unmatched by any group or artist around the world and Jennie couldn’t read her Instagram comments without wanting to throw up.

It took a year for YGE to finally do something, and by then, Jennie wasn’t sure she particularly cared anymore.

“Jennie.”

“Youngshik.” Her voice was scarily steady and her face just as calm; Jennie knew that the her from ten years ago, the teenager who was accepted into the company under Youngshik’s watch, wouldn’t be able to recognize her as she sat before the man with crossed arms and a blank expression. But as he stared at her with disappointment glazing his eyes, Jennie lifted her chin higher, almost daring him to speak.

When he did, he sounded almost cautious of his words. “Jennie, I know you. This isn’t like you at all, you can’t carry on like this.”

“What do you know about me?” She had to keep herself from wincing at her own tone, sharp enough to draw blood. “Huh? You haven’t cared about me for the past year, haven’t cared about us. And who the fuck said I can’t carry on? I’m doing just fine.”

Youngshik shook his head. “Please. Ch-- your members know. I know. All you may see right now is the attention you’re gaining, the fleeting ecstasy you get every night, but you aren’t doing yourself any favors right now.”

As much as she hated it, Youngshik’s words cut deep. She wanted to scream out that she was doing this for her members, for the company, and that it didn’t matter what her reputation was like, but Jennie schooled herself into the person everyone believed and knew her to be. “I’m the only thing keeping you afloat right now. You’re wasting them-- Chaeng, Lisa, Jisoo. They keep practicing but you waste them. I’m only doing what you won’t,” Jennie defended herself, anger seeping into her voice at the thought of her members.

“Jennie. MNet has threatened to drop you from the next season of Queendom.” The man’s voice was quiet but deadly, and Jennie couldn’t seem to open her mouth at the thought of her members’ practice being wasted because of her. Youngshik took that as a sign to continue, “I realize that what you’re doing is increasing sales, but netizens hate you right now. You know that, don’t you? We’re trying to help.”

“Oh yeah? How’re you going to help?” Jennie sighed. “Lock me up in your dungeon again?”

“Quite the opposite,” he answered, leaning forward. “We’re going to keep you in check. The only thing that Dispatch likes more than clubbing scandals is leaked couples, and that’s what we’re going to give them.”

She crossed her arms and leaned back. “And how is that going to keep me in check? Dispatch already knows I like girls, giving me a well-behaved boyfriend isn’t going to be believable.’

Just as the words left her mouth, a knock sounded on the frosted glass pane in Youngshik’s office door, and the man stood. “You’ll see once you meet her.”

Her?

Jennie didn’t turn even when she heard the door open, or when Youngshik murmured, “Junho, thank you for coming.”

“Of course. This is her?”

“This is her. Jennie?”

She finally turned, face impassive, but Jennie couldn’t stop her eyes from widening when she saw the person standing in the doorway. You-- she recognized you, specifically the polite smile you wore on your face as you offered a handshake. She remembered hearing you be praised for your constant professionalism, your sterling reputation, and your bubbly personality. “Hi, I’m Y/N. I’m a big fan of yours.”

“Jennie Kim, but I’m assuming you already knew that,” she said by way of greeting. You nearly winced at her flat tone, but the mask remained on and you gingerly took the empty seat just by her. “So. Am I the only one in the dark here?”

“Not anymore,” Junho smiled. Unlike Youngshik, he looked pleasant, a smile crinkling at the side of his eyes, but Jennie disliked him nonetheless. “The two of you know by now that you’re being set up in a fake relationship. Jennie, YGE’s main concern with you is your reputation. You club, you drink, you... sleep with people.”

She simply nodded, waiting for the point. Youngshik jumped in, “Y/N, on the other hand, has a stellar reputation. Never has had a scandal in her career, except when she publicly came out, and even that had a good reception.”

“How nice,” Jennie deadpanned.

Junho sighed, folding his hands in his lap. “Miss Kim. Despite your shortcomings and the methods that you achieved such fame, you are nonetheless the most well known female idol in the world. From this relationship, you’ll gain stability as well as a cover, a perfectly sweet girlfriend who’ll lighten your image up. And Y/N will receive more attention by your side, exactly what we want for her and her group. Is that clear?”

Jennie wished she could say no-- after all, you obviously weren’t going to-- but she also knew that the two men were right. She could profit, achieve exactly what she was trying to do, but with less damage done to Blackpink’s image. And as much as she wished she could rebel, she found herself sighing through tightened lips. “Clear. I agree.”

“You didn’t exactly have a choice.” Still, Youngshik slid a contract and a pen across the table, and Jennie signed in the blank without a second glance. “Good. Though we realize that this relationship is fake, we want you to at least pretend to be in love, so get to know each other. It’ll be a while.”

“Great,” you sighed. Jennie was slightly surprised by the hint of sarcasm in your voice, but she lost interest when you assumed a polite smile yet again. “How do we do that?”

Junho exchanged a glance with Youngshik but answered by himself, “If it was me, I’d start with a coffee.”

“Can I order something for you?”

“I’m good.”

Your smile was tight, and Jennie wondered how many snide comments she could make before you snapped. But apparently, one wasn’t enough, as you tugged your mask up. “Okay. I’ll get something for you when you feel like it, just wait for me in that booth.”

Without something to argue about, Jennie could only obey, sliding into the booth furthest away from any people. She sighed, staring at the ceiling; she hated that you were being pushed into the contract to save her, and she hated even more that she was purposefully being so difficult for you to deal with. But the truth was that Jennie couldn’t let you keep her in check, couldn’t let you get under her skin or change her from the way that she had been for years. No matter what YGE said, she was succeeding, and she wasn’t having the worst time in the world while she did.

“Uh. I got you a green juice, I hope you don’t mind.”

Jennie stared at you as you slid the bottle over the table to her, removing your mask just to flash her an annoyingly sweet smile. “I didn’t ask for it.”

You shrugged, “Oh, I know. But I read somewhere that you liked green juices, and I didn’t feel right letting you- letting my girlfriend go without a drink.”

“Don’t call me that.” Jennie cleared her throat when she realized how cruel she sounded, and rephrased it softer. “Don’t.”

“Okay. I understand,” you mumbled, clasping your hands over the iced Americano you held. “So. When did we start dating?” When Jennie frowned in confusion, you clarified, “We’re supposed to have a believable, synced story, right? To seem more real?”

The other girl bit her lip but nodded in agreement. “You’re right. Would two months be enough?”

Jennie wanted to tell you to stop pursing your lips when you thought, wanted to make you stop looking so approachable and sweet when you were sitting across from the most-hated idol in Korea. But she shut herself up, if only not to offend someone who she’d be spending a lot of time with. “I think so. We could say that we met at the Gayo Daejeon, since that was three months ago. I asked for your number,” you hummed and pulled out a notepad. “And a month after becoming friends, you asked me on a date.”

“Why did I ask you on a date?” Jennie asked, eyebrows raised.

“I asked for your number, let’s keep it fair,” you answered with a slight chuckle. “Okay. What would you want to do on a date?”

She considered the question, tapping her nails against the table. “The Han River? Lots of people go in masks, so it’s possible for us to have gone without anyone seeing us. There’s food, nice scenery, we could take pictures--”

“You’re a real romantic, Kim Jennie,” you smiled, pen scratching against the paper of your notepad. “Okay. And we don’t live with each other, since you have a dorm... one of us has to be caught on the route between to make it believable.”

“I don’t think we have to.” Jennie crossed her arms, not moving even when you turned your notepad so she could see. “We just need to be seen in public together a couple times, hold hands once. Dispatch will eat it up.”

You sighed softly and tucked the notebook away. “Okay. At-- at least add me on Kakao. So we can communicate and stuff.”

She stood, tugging her jacket on and her hat down to hide her eyes. “Don’t have Kakao. Have a nice day, Y/N Y/L/N.”

And just like that, with a jingle of the front door’s bell, she was gone, and you could only stare at the untouched bottle of juice across from you or the glass door swinging closed.

Jennie liked practicing with her members. Of course she did-- there was no one she loved more than those 3 girls, and spending time with them was always exactly what she needed. And practice reminded her of better, simpler times: learning a new choreo with Lisa for the next evaluation, practicing English with Chaeng, or asking Jisoo for help with vocals. There were memories in the scratches on the floorboards of the practice rooms, and Jennie liked feeling them every time she stepped inside.

But besides that, it was a secure place. No Dispatch, no cameras, and certainly no PR stunt girlfriends. It was supposed to be her happy place, her home away from the dorm, and the last resort for time alone.

Of course, you had to change that.

“Jennie, Y/N’s here to see you.”

At the sound of her manager’s voice, Jennie’s ankle twisted and she fell to the ground, still panting from dancing. Jisoo bent down to help her up, Chaeyoung and Lisa stopping their practices too. “What?”

He raised an eyebrow, tilting his head towards the hallway outside. “Your ‘girlfriend’. She’s here to see you.”

Lisa gasped at that, her head whipping towards Jennie. “Jennie unnie! You have a girlfriend? Since when?”

Jennie winced and waved Jisoo off before walking towards the door. “I... I’ll explain later. Don’t worry about it, keep practicing. I’ll catch up.”

As soon as she stepped outside, she found you standing there, your smile so wide, as if she hadn’t been so cold to you since the beginning. “Hi, Jennie.”

“Why’re you here?”

You barely faltered at the tone of her voice, holding out one of two bubble teas towards her. “I brought you boba, I thought you might need a rest from practicing. And don’t worry, Dispatch got the pictures they needed, I ‘forgot’ to put on a mask when I got out of the car just outside the building.”

Jennie sighed, but she accepted the offered cup anyway. She was thirsty; all she could hope was that you wouldn’t take it as a sign to keep coming to see her. “And? I thought we agreed that we only needed to be seen in public when our companies schedule it.”

“Well, I’m not just here for the PR,” you frowned. “You’re obviously opposed to actually dating me, or even from becoming friends with me, but it’ll be miserable if we’re both mean to each other. Let’s at least be civil, okay?”

Why? she wanted to ask. How? How can you be so positive even when faced with me? She pursed her lips, taking a sip of the drink. Somehow, you’d gotten her favorite flavor just right, and maybe the sugar rushing in her blood was what prompted her to say, “Civil. Sure. Thank you for the boba, Y/N.”

“Of course!” you grinned. You startled Jennie when you went to take your flannel off, even more so when you reached out to give it to her. “Here, take this.”

“Um. Why?”

Sighing jokingly, you pressed it into her hand. “Next time, you’re coming to see me. If you wear this while you’re caught on film, it’ll raise a lot of suspicions. Exactly what we want, right?”

Jennie nodded at that, closing her fist around the fabric. “Right. So, are you... planning to watch us practice?”

“Oh, no,” you shook your head, waving your hands. “No, I’ll probably just hang around. Unless you want me to?”

Some tiny, annoying section in the back of her mind wanted to say ‘yes’, but Jennie could hear Chaeyoung laughing in the practice room, and the thought of introducing you to her members wasn’t exactly appealing. “No. That’s okay. Thank you for stopping by,” she attempted a smile. Thankfully, you just bowed and waved goodbye again before turning around the corner, and Jennie relaxed with a sigh.

But your smile lingered in her mind. The first time she saw you, she thought it was genuine-- maybe you were just that polite, just that professional, even with how impossible it was. But talking to you on her own, she saw too many false grins, too much effort being put into keeping that likeable, fun personality up.

Perhaps she wasn’t the only one who was lying, but that fact did nothing but scare her more.

“So. Are we gonna talk about Y/N?”

Jennie sighed, keeping her eyes on the road. “No.”

“Really? Because you didn’t exactly look happy after talking to the person who’s supposed to be your girlfriend.”

The rapper raised her eyebrows even though Jisoo couldn’t see it over the phone. “Well, she isn’t exactly my real girlfriend.”

In the background, Chaeyoung asked, “What? Then why did our manager say she was?”

“It’s a PR stunt,” Jennie said bluntly. Her manager sighed in the front seat but didn’t speak. “That’s it. Y/N has a good reputation, I don’t. I’m in the biggest girl group in the world, she isn’t. We’re benefiting from each other.”

Lisa groaned into the phone, her voice tinny over speaker. “Is that seriously it? I only heard you guys talking, but she’s trying so hard, and you’re shutting her down. It could be good for you, unnie.”

Jennie pinched her nosebridge and pleaded, “Can we please not talk about this? I’m just doing this-- it’s a PR stunt. Nothing else to it. I gotta go anyway.” She ended the call before anyone could say something, leaning back and pressing her hands to her eyes.

“I don’t understand why you’re so opposed to this, Jennie.”

“Please. Shut up,” Jennie groaned, reaching for the flannel on her lap as the car lurched a stop. The smell of perfume swept over her as she tugged the clothing on, leaving her mask off but donning the sunglasses that she’d been paid to wear. “Thank you for driving me, I’ll see you in half an hour.”

Her manager called out, “One hour. Try to have fun, okay?”

It wasn’t like Jennie couldn’t hear the click of cameras following her as she buzzed herself into the apartment building, couldn’t see the flashes half-hidden in the surrounding bushes. But she schooled her expression and let herself into the building, engulfed in silence once again for the 7 minutes before she reached your apartment door.

“Hi, Jennie,” you greeted when you opened the door. It was disarming to see that perfectly crafted, perfectly kind expression, but Jennie followed you inside anyway. To be honest, the way you decorated your apartment was almost a perfect reflection of the you that you presented-- sweet, comfortable, but a completely blank slate that could be arranged easily. No pictures decorated the walls, just like how your easy smile never left your face, and the only things on your expensive glass shelves were awards and your own albums. But you smiled, “The flannel looks good on you.”

“Thanks. You can have it back,” Jennie mumbled, peeling it off and draping it over one of the acrylic chairs that tastefully decorated your living room. “It’s a nice place. You’re lucky to live alone.”

You hummed, clearing a pile of papers off the couch so that she could sit. “Sure, I guess. It’s a lot lonelier than the dorm, but it is nice to have all the space to myself.”

“Right.” She sat obediently and accepted the petite cup of coffee that you pushed towards her. “So, what are we supposed to do for an hour?”

“I thought we could watch Netflix and grab some takeout,” you chuckled embarrassedly, reaching for the remote. “I can’t really cook, but I’ll pay for anything you want to order.”

Jennie should’ve asked for pizza, jajangmyeon, something inexpensive but universally enjoyable. But the more she looked at you, the more she realized that for all your effort, nothing she did could possibly break you. Making dinnner for you once, even becoming friends with you and pulling away again, wouldn’t change anything when everything she saw of you was... false. So she stood, made her way to the kitchen, and opened to the fridge. “I can cook. What have you got?”

“Oh, you don’t have to,” you protested and followed her over. “I’m serious, I can pay for anything you want.”

The rapper ignored you and frowned at a tub of kimchi. “How does kimchi jigae sound? You’ve got close to nothing in here.”

You were silent for a moment, but sighed and moved to open your cupboards. “Kimchi jigae sounds great. You’re going to be carrying this dinner, I hope you know.”

“That’s no problem,” Jennie chuckled, turning to you slightly. “By the way, have you got any soju?”

“I thought you’d have a better alcohol tolerance.”

“Why?” Jennie groaned, head clutched in her hands. The steam from the cup of coffee that she convinced Chaeyoung to buy for her was absolutely going to melt her makeup, but under the LED lights of the waiting room, she wasn’t sure she cared.

Lisa sighed and patted her shoulder softly as she passed by. “I mean, wasn’t there a month where you went to a different club every night? It’d be weird if you did that completely sober.”

Jennie frowned; she wished she could tell Lisa that she actually spent every night of that month huddled in the corner with a mocktail, hoping to the heavens that Dispatch didn’t burst their way inside and find her hiding. But she shook it off and replied flippantly, “Drinking a lot doesn’t increase everyone’s tolerance, believe it or not. Maybe Y/N just had really strong soju.”

Before the dancer could respond, Jisoo opened the door and popped her head inside. “Hey, guys, they’re ready for us to start filming. And, Jen-- you have a visitor.”

“Who?” she groaned in answer, struggling to her feet and wincing as she removed her sunglasses.

Her question was answered as she reached the stage, finding a familiar face among the camera directors. “Y/N?” she squinted.

“Hey, Jennie!” you shouted with your hands cupped around your mouth. The smile on your face was a little wider than usual, poked into your cheeks differently. It was pretty, Jennie realized, and more genuine. “Good luck!”

Before she could ask what you were doing, huddling with the cameramen while she prepared to film her first Queendom stage, she was called up on stage. But for once, Jennie could feel a smile tugging at her lips as she got into formation, a smile that she hadn’t been able to pull off for a while.

You startled her by cheering her name just before filming began, and inciting laughter from the crew. Some warm flower blossomed in her chest as Jennie spoke her first line, her voice more steady than it had ever been during practice.

As soon as she finished the first attempt at the group shot, Jennie bent down at the edge of the stage and beckoned you forward. “Hey. What’re you doing here?”

“I’m cheering you on, of course.” Jennie found a banner with her name on it in your hands as you approached, the tip of your nose cold from the air-con in the studio. “You did great.”

“Thanks,” she chuckled softly, feeling the banner between her fingertips. “Where’d you even get this?”

You shrugged, “Bought it. I had to make an account and all, so you better be feeling more energized.”

“I am.” Jennie herself was surprised at how true the statement was; for some reason, seeing your dyed hair in the crowd of cameras was like a shot of pure adrenaline, just more intense and gratifying. She smiled, “I am. It’s really nice of you to come, Y/N.”

“Of course,” you said, waving the banner around with a grin creasing in the corners of your eyes. “We’re girlfriends, after all. And I’m your friend.” At the call of a director, though, you stepped back. “I should let you film.”

“Y/N?” Jennie called after you. When you turned to face her again, Jennie allowed her customary gummy smile to take over her face as she said softly, “You can call me Jen. All my friends do.”

You were too far away for her to hear your answer, but the excited little jump you made as you walked back to your spot kept the grin on Jennie’s face as she stood again. She missed the relieved glances her members exchanged behind her back, but she could feel a new kind of energy coursing through her as the director started his countdown again. And-- she kind of liked it.

You hated the popular belief that idols who presented the sweetest, kindest version of themselves to the internet got absolutely no hate. Fans, family, managers-- they all believed that never letting your smile slip and never having a single scandal would protect an idol completely. When you were deciding on your persona for your debut, you thought the same, and so you forced yourself into the happy, positive personality that the world knew.

However, for all your effort, for all the things you had to endure with that same smile on your face, people hated you. They called you fake, tried their best to get under your skin just so they could see you fall. But it was too late to fight back, because that wouldn’t become the kind, sweet Y/N. It was too late to ask for help, and it was too late to let yourself cry.

When you met Jennie, you were determined to keep her on the outside of that precious mask you could never remove. After all, what would she understand? She did what she wanted to, didn’t care what people said about her, and she was strong. Jennie was as strong as you wished you could be, and you were sure that she would never understand. But the more that you saw her and the more that you talked to her, the more you understood that you were one and the same. That tough, carefree version of Jennie was what protected her, just like your perfectly engineered smile.

The first time you saw Jennie laugh, you knew that you were in deep. She didn’t know a single thing about you, but she was letting her walls down and letting you in-- or at least, the you she knew. But you liked her smile so much that you wanted to keep it there, at any cost. And maybe it meant sacrificing yourself.

“Are you ready?”

“For what? Walking through the street, undisguised enough that Dispatch will recognize us but no one else will?” At your pout, Jennie stopped her grumbling and laughed softly, still adjusting her scarf in the car mirror. “Yeah. I’m ready.”

A beat of silence passed as she grabbed your hand and led you out of the parking garage and onto Garosu-gil. “Hey. Y/N, I want to tell you something.”

“Yeah?”

“I... I’m glad it’s you.” Jennie squeezed your hand, her skin slightly cold with the wind blowing softly around the two of you. “I’m glad you’re the one I’m doing this with.”

You wished that she wouldn’t say that. You wished she’d feel anything else towards you-- contempt, hatred, even, despite everything you’d gone through just to become civil. But you squeezed back, flashed a smile that didn’t quite reach your eyes. “Me too. You know, it’d be a lot worse if they set me up with a guy.”

“Why would they?” Jennie frowned in answer. “You came out on your own.”

“Unlike you, I didn’t prove it. You know Korea, you aren’t gay until you prove you are,” you sighed, scuffing your shoes against the cobblestones. “They wanted to set me up with a guy at first, but they decided that accepting YG’s offer for me to date you would be more beneficial.”

The other girl paused, and you didn’t quite dare to look up. “Oh. So you didn’t choose to help me, did you?”

You shook your head quietly, expecting Jennie to react badly. But she huffed out a breath and pushed your arm softly. “That’s okay. We’re friends, anyway, and it was hard for you to get us here already. I appreciate you, you know.”

Opening your mouth to respond, you noticed yet another camera flash, just between two buildings ahead of you. “What?” Jennie asked, following your gaze.

“I-- Don’t hate me for this, okay?” you whispered, stopping in the middle of the road. Before she could say anything, you placed your hands lightly on her jaw, pulling Jennie towards you; before your lips actually met, though, you gave her a second to pull away. Instead, she leaned forward just the slightest bit, barely enough to connect.

You didn’t quite dare to move, but Jennie’s hands rested on your waist and pulled you into her, just enough that your lips slotted together. You could barely hear the clicks of the camera, the warmth of the girl that you were kissing completely clouding your brain.

Before anything else happened, you released your grip and stepped away, lips suddenly cold. “I think that’s enough,” you whispered, linking your hands again and lowering your head.

Jennie laughed breathlessly and continued to stroll along when you prompted her to. “That’s all you have to say?”

“Um. Sorry?”

She only giggled harder at that, shoving you slightly. “What are you even sorry for? You’re a good kisser, Y/N.”

“Shut up,” you groaned, heat rising to your ears as you shoved her back. “How do you even say that with a straight face?”

“Hey, I had to listen to Lisa say ‘bitch I’m a star but not Patrick’, I think I can handle this,” Jennie joked. Despite all your effort not to, you found yourself staring at her smile again, losing yourself and any other worries bothering you in it, and her, once again.

Jennie frowned at her phone-- or actually, at the blankness of her texting history with you. After the little PR stunt at Garosu-gil, you hadn’t contacted her once, and she didn’t dare to surprise you at your apartment or properly ask you what was going on.

“Haven’t you heard the saying that a watched kettle never boils?”

“I’m pretty sure it’s a pot,” Jennie replied listlessly, still staring at her screen. “But I have heard it, yes. I’m just hoping the universe proves it false.”

Chaeyoung sighed and hugged her older member from behind, swaying back and forth. “Why don’t you just message her? Or go see her? Our manager won’t say anything about it if you just say it’s for PR.”

“It is,” Jennie frowned, turning to her member. The Australian girl raised an eyebrow, and Jennie bit her lip. “Okay. Maybe it isn’t.”

“It definitely isn’t,” Chaeyoung rolled her eyes. “I saw those kiss pics, you know. And no one kisses like that if it’s ‘just PR’. You like each other, unnie, and it’s time to face it.”

Jennie swatted Chaeyoung’s arm. “That’s so cheesy, shut up. But... do you really think I like her?”

“That’s a question for you to answer,” the younger girl pointed out. “But I’ve known you for close to a decade. If I’m right about this, and I’m sure I am, everything’s about to change for you.”

“Ugh, cheesy again,” Jennie groaned, but she stood hesitantly nonetheless. “But... I guess I’ll give it a shot.”

On her way down the stairs, the rapper dialed her manager on her phone and held it up to her ear while she waited for the dial tone to fade. “You’re driving me to Y/N’s house,” she said by way of greeting. “And it’s not just for PR.”

She was sure that no car ride had ever gone slower; Jennie fidgeted the entire way, cursing every bus that blocked her way and scowling as the sun began to set behind a set of buildings in the distance. The more she thought about it, the more definite it was-- she liked you, more than she thought she could like a person. And while that fact would’ve scared her, should’ve scared her, it didn’t. Because it was you, and nothing about you could scare her anymore.

Somehow, the process of buzzing herself in at the building’s front, taking the same elevator up to the 67th floor, and hurrying her way down blue-carpeted hallways had become familiar. Jennie knocked persistently on the door of your apartment and called out, “Hey, Y/N, let me in. It’s Jennie.”

It took a while for anything to happen, and Jennie was almost backing away by the time that the door finally cracked open. For once, the smile on your face was missing, replaced by a guarded, harsher expression than the other girl was used to seeing. “Jen. What’s up?”

“Uh,” she hesitated, “can I come in? I don’t think we can talk in the hallway.”

You looked like you wanted to say no, but with a pleading look from Jennie, you backed away and let the door swing open. Jennie shut it quietly, following you into the living room, where you stood with your arms crossed. “So. What can’t we talk about in the hallway?”

Jennie wanted to say outright the words that were beating in her throat, but the expression on your face alarmed her. You were like a stranger-- or, maybe, she realized that you had finally let your mask down. “I... Y/N, are you okay?”

“I don’t want to talk about it,” you responded. Suddenly, the roles were reversed; Jennie was the one reaching out for you, maybe even chasing after you, and you were somehow the one who was turning away.

“Okay,” Jennie said quietly. You were about to turn away, probably assuming that she was going to leave, but if Jennie had learned anything from you, it was that she couldn’t give up that easily if she wanted you to open up. “What do you want from me?”

“I don’t want anything from you,” you responded instantly. Your words only hurt more when you didn’t look up from the television, continuing, “I don’t want you, and I don’t want anything from you--”

“You don’t get to say that to me.” Anger was once again rushing through Jennie’s veins, though not the kind of anger she was used to experiencing. No, she wasn’t mad at your words in the slightest, or even offended-- she was simply pissed off about the fact that you were shutting her down, and she didn’t know why. “Not when you were the one who started this. Y/N, you wanted me once, you don’t get to go back on that without an explanation,” Jennie gritted her teeth, gripping your forearms in her hands.

You finally turned when she shook you lightly, your face blank. “What, I don’t get to shut myself down? You did it the entire time I was trying, giving my all so that you’d talk to me or even just be civil.”

Jennie pleaded, “You succeeded, didn’t you? You’re right that I was a total bitch when all you were trying to do was be nice and make this tolerable for the both of us, but you succeeded. Okay? You-- you’ve made your place in my heart, and I’m not even angry about it. I just... I just like you that much.”

A derisive scoff escaped your lips as you twisted your arms out of her reach, stepping away. “You like me? Jennie, you don’t even know me. This me, the smiles and boba and everything, it’s a facade.” You threw your hands up in the air, biting down on your lip before sighing out, “It’s fake. All of it.”

“I know it isn’t,” Jennie shook her head desperately. She searched your eyes, scanned the sea of the color she’d grown to love, for some semblance of the person she remembered kissing her. “Look, you kissed me. And I know it was for the cameras, but you can’t tell me that you felt nothing from it. Y/N, you’re a good liar, but you can’t lie to me, not about this.”

You were quiet at that, glancing down at the floor as if you had nothing to say. “I didn’t,” you finally answered, tone firm. “Maybe you did, but I--”

Unable to stop herself, Jennie rushed forward again and tugged you into another kiss, her hands scrunching into the hair splayed over your shoulders. She was almost afraid that you’d push her away, curse her and throw her out of your apartment, but she felt your lips moving against yours. She felt your hands splay on her back, and she felt tears slipping down your face.

When you finally did push her away, it was gentle, though you were rough when you wiped the tears off your face. Jennie wished you’d speak first, but she brought herself to speak. “If your smiles were fake, think of the real ones you brought to me. Even if my smiles were from your facade, that’s still a part of you. I know that though you weren’t trying to, you let me see the real you. And I’m willing to see the rest of you,” Jennie smiled, clasping your hands within hers. Sometime along the way, she’d started crying too, but the salt of those tears was almost honeyed on her lips. “If you want me to.”

“I do,” you sighed, accepting the kiss that Jennie pressed to your forehead with a teary smile. “I want nothing more than that, Jen. And-- I’m sorry.”

“Why?” she laughed, wiping the tears of your face so much gentler than you did. “I know what I want now. It’s you, and it has been you since you tried buying me a green juice in that damn coffee place. I like you, Y/N. So much.”

You tucked your face into the crook of her neck and snaked your arms around her waist again. “I like you too. More than I ever thought I could.”

And maybe, just maybe, you knew what you wanted too. Somehow, that mask you wore had long been tossed to the side. Somehow, each kiss pressed to your face by the girl you never knew you needed to find lingered on your skin like the touch of a miracle, and the smile on your face was finally, finally genuine like you had always wanted it to be.

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fandomlovingfreak · 4 years ago

Text

Glacial Passion (5/?)

Regulus Black/Reader

Rating: SFW, T+

Trigger Warning: Arranged Marriage

Word Count: 1998

MasterList Link I AO3 Link I Wattpad Link

Summary: Glacial, cold, icy… all words that described Regulus Black’s grey eyes. Was there truly no emotion behind those eyes, or did a caring man exist beneath? Could she defrost those glacial eyes?

Disclaimer: Regulus Black (Walburga Black, Orion Black, and Sirius Black) is a character from Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling. Reader or y/n is not owned by Rowling. This work has not been created for profit or financial compensation, and is a transformative fair use work in accordance with Section 107 of the United States Copyright Act.

Notes: My only note is that the characters in this fanfiction do some questionable things. This does not at all reflect my personal morals or anything I would do (and certainly hope you would not do). Please don’t read this story if you can’t separate fiction from reality. Fanfiction is for entertainment and should not be something that teaches you to be or act a certain way. Thanks!

Enjoy

***

Regulus is met with silence when (y/n) climbs into their bed after the fight and more silence when she doesn't acknowledge him in the morning, dressing silently before sitting on the balcony with her book.

He glances out of the glass door, watching her devour the words on the worn book. Sighing loudly, he looks back towards the parchment on the desk. He didn't exactly know what to say to Sirius. He knew he wanted his older brother to know about the developments his life had taken in the past month, but how do you complain without sounding entirely pathetic? Especially when your complaining was truly aimed at your own actions and attitudes. Sirius would love (y/n); he was sure he would. In a way, (y/n) sort of reminded Regulus of his brother. She was so adamant about not following the rules that people like them followed. Obviously, she hadn't been able to escape Pureblood society the way Sirius had... He doubted, though (y/n) would have tried. It had to be harder to be a woman in the circles they found themselves in. He honestly couldn't imagine living at the level she was expected to.

It's not like he had any special freedom from the constricting nature of their society, but he could do many things she couldn't while still maintaining his reputation. He could have affairs, he could (but personally wouldn't) abuse his spouse, he could even live separate from her without causing a stir. All these things happened within marriages like their own, and only the women seemed to be ruined by their actions and the actions of their husbands and fathers.

Regulus picks up his quill, intending to finally start this blasted letter. Where does he even begin?

Sirius,

I do not have any great excuses for my lack of communication, other than the last month, which has been one of the most hectic of my life. I am unsure what you have heard. I doubt you have a full picture of what my life has become, as I would hope you would reach out to congratulate your younger brother on his recent nuptials if you had heard.

My new wife, (y/n) Black née (y/ln), apparently checked off the boxes our parents found necessary for the next Mistress Black. Funnily enough, though, I'm not sure they did much research into who she is as (y/n) could hardly be considered the traditional Pureblood bride.

But that is hardly a bad thing; if anything, I find her refreshing, if not a bit maddening at times. I had been somewhat afraid to have a meek and mild wife who would cower under my gaze. (y/n), despite being brought up similarly to us, she seems to have developed her own personality outside of Pureblood society. She isn't bitter or greedy like the other girls. The only piece of jewelry I have been able to give her without argument has been that horrible engagement ring-- you know, the one from mum's side. She doesn't want the things most of these Pureblood girls want. Jewelry and expensive things don't seem to make her happy the way mother said they would.

Even as she is different, I have this ever-increasing fear that I might drive her towards the other's level of bitterness and unhappiness. I will be the first to admit that I have no idea what I am doing with women; this fact has not changed in my marriage. It's become even more apparent that I haven't a clue how I should behave as I've been forced into this relationship.

It has also become clear that Mother's advice has been shit, as every attempt I've made with my bride has been met with annoyance from her. I can't seem to give her what she truly wants. Embarrassingly enough, what she talks of-- craves from me is some sort of romantic connection. This is something I hadn't planned on in an arranged marriage, and I'm not sure if I will be able to indulge her without a bit of deceit.

Which I would feel horrible for doing-- pretending.

Last night, like many nights in recent weeks, I found myself in an argument with my wife over this exact topic. Something she said triggered a memory, hopefully, a memory that you have a recollection of as well.

Do you, brother, have any memories of our dear mother when she was-- well, motherly, to say the least. Warm and loving, as a mother should be. When she would admit to us in hushed tones that the love we showed her was the replacement for the lack of love between Orion and herself?

During the heated exchange with my wife, I was struck with that strange memory, and I realized deeply and uncomfortably that I was in the early stages of pushing my own wife towards becoming our mother. Something, I realize now, I cannot allow to happen.

Pushing this girl towards unhappiness when she was forced into marrying me by her parents is unacceptable on my part. I'm completely aware that it is me who is making us miserable. I should be happy, or at least satisfied enough in the marriage to indulge her, to try. (y/n) is beautiful, everything a man could want in a wife. And I do want her.

Yet, I do not know how to want her the way she is expecting me to. And, I have to reiterate that I don't know how to even-- fall in love, I suppose.

Through my woeful letter, I hope you see a solution to my dilemma. Or at least can offer advice as I have no idea which direction I should go at this time.

Sincerely,

Regulus places his quill to the side, reading over the content of his letter. At times, he sounds like a pathetic child whining, but he hopes his brother can see he sincerely wants his advice.

Very much requires any advice Sirius may have.

None of Sirius's advice could be helpful on the trials and tribulations of marriage per se, but if anyone had experience in relationships, it was Sirius Black. Sirius, who wooed and flirted his way through life, would know exactly how he would be able to win (y/n) over and hopefully form a romantic relationship with her.

Slowly, Regulus gets up from the desk, taking his time to cross the room. Opening the glass door to the balcony, he pokes his head out. When (y/n) doesn't look up, he clears his throat.

She freezes, slowly lowering the book enough for their eyes to meet, but doesn't say a word.

"I'm going to go to the lobby to have this posted." Regulus feels the light pink of embarrassment on the tops of his cheeks.

(y/n) nods once before giving her attention back to the blasted book. Regulus's lips pinch before he shuts the door a bit louder than necessary.

Much to his annoyance, the banging noise doesn't seem to faze his wife.

He stalks down to the library in a mood, the letter to Sirius gripped tightly in his right hand.

A young witch greets him, asking if he needed any assistance with anything.

"I require an owl. I have a very urgent letter that needs to arrive as soon as possible."

"Okay, if you'll follow me, we can get your letter sent." The witch leads him up to the rooftop, showing him the hotel's fastest owl.

***

A sharp knock on their suite's door startles Regulus, who had been reading the Prophet to pass the time. He gets up off of the room's couch, opening the door to an older gentleman.

"Mail delivery, Master Black." The old man hands him a hastily folded piece of parchment addressed to him in Sirius's messy excuse for handwriting.

"Uh-- thank you." Regulus digs in his pocket, pulling out money to tip the man. They exchange the items, and Regulus hurries over to the desk. Hurriedly, he breaks the wax seal and opens the letter.

You got married?

Ah, yes. His ever eloquent brother didn't even bother to address the letter, jumping right to the point.

Regulus reads on...

You got married? And I didn't even get an invitation? I'm sort of hurt, but yet again, mum would've been pissed if I showed up. How fun would that have been, though? Me crashing your wedding in my Docs and my worn Led Zeppelin shirt. Mum would've freaked.

We really missed an opportunity, Reggie.

But, wow. You married. That's wild. And she's a bit wild as well? How did you manage to end up in an arranged marriage with what seems like the most unique of the Pureblood lot? Besides me, of course.

I'll have to meet this fascinating (y/n) (y/ln)-- or should I say (y/n) Black? Weird-- I have a sister-in-law. That feels too grown-up and stuffy.

Maybe it feels wrong, mostly because you never dated anyone, or at least anyone I knew of.

The point you made about you knowing absolutely nothing about women is incredibly accurate, I'm afraid, Reggie. The poor girl, I hope you haven't been ignoring her like Orion does to Walburga. But, I'm almost certain that you have been sort of an ass to her by your letter.

You want advice though, do you now, little brother. Here is my advice to you:

I have dated plenty of people in my days-- plenty. If you truly wish to make your wife (what the hell that is so odd to write!) happy, Regulus, you need to get to know her.

Ask her questions about her likes, her dislikes. What her childhood was like, who her friends are. Even silly things such as how she takes her tea or what she grew up wanting to be as an adult. But you must be prepared to be vulnerable and answer questions she has for you as well. If you can't open up and be vulnerable, you will never be successful in

A) forming a "romantic connection" with (y/n) and

B) falling in love with your wife.

I hope that I have been helpful. My advice is simple, but knowing the woman you promised to spend eternity with is necessary to live a peaceful life. Maybe the whole "happy wife happy life" saying is accurate. Not like I would know, but still.

As for the memory of Walburga you brought up, I do remember instances like that. I hadn't thought about those instances in a very long time. I hope you are successful in your attempts with (y/n). I would hate to see another woman turn out like our mother.

Your brother,

P.S. Take your wife out somewhere romantic! For Merlin's sake, Regulus. You have to have some romance somewhere hidden within you!

***

Regulus decides there's no better time than the present to follow Sirius's advice. Unfortunately, he already used up his one "romantic" idea (really Orion's, but still) with their disastrous dinner the previous night.

His only option would be to find a local who would know of spots he might take his wife to. He reckons the logical locals to ask where these locations would be are the hotel's staff.

The same witch that helped him with the owl still sits at the hotel's lobby desk. She grins widely when she notices he's walking towards her, "Oh! You're back!"

Regulus controls his mild annoyance with the woman as she bats her eyelashes foolishly.

"I wonder if you know any places around the city that you recommend for honeymooners?"

The girl's face falls slightly before she's grinning again, "You're on your honeymoon?"

"Yes, you've probably seen my wife with me," he says, asserting that he does have a wife and that the girl shouldn't get her hopes up, "I'd like to take her out this afternoon, but I'm afraid I know little of the spots couple's usually visit around here."

The witch thinks for a moment, "I think I have a perfect place in mind."

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riftwalker-limbro · 2 years ago

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3, 4, and 8 for kelth and 3, 13, and 15 for kali!

Ooooo many!! i will put this under a readmore because knowing myself this will be long. Thank you for the ask!

Kelth, 3: What is this character's favourite colour? Hajhdbg i haven't thought about this from Kelth's own POV. i personally love blues. you may notice this in screenshots i throw on here sometimes. and as a result kelth's whole ingame world is also very blue. so i'm just gonna say that my preferences are kelth's too, and they also like blue a whole lot

Kelth, 4: Does this character have any pets? the simple answer is yes but i haven't thought about which ones & why yet so i will take this opportunity to make that shit up properly. me personally i just have a kennelful of kubrows & a charger, so I'm gonna go ahead & say that on the Zariman, kelth had one dog who followed them around everywhere & they were really good friends, and that's why they have a bunch now again. the one kelth had on the zariman was of course rather. distinct. from the strains available to them now: the current-day strains they are able to get from the incubator are still obviously influenced by their direct wild/feral ancestry, whereas the orokin dog was probably more like a labrador/lap dog/comfort beast, with genetically-modified-dull claws and such. not that they don't appreciate the combat ability of their current companions - they're very good as guards, and helping them find resources, and they never complain - but sometimes they do miss their old buddy.

Kelth, 8: Do they have any hobbies? Yes!! But there's a History. at first there was just so much shit to do they didn't really let themself have a true non-combat-related hobby. they let themselves have void relics: the puzzles, getting random stuff & then trying to sell it to still make a profit, the hard work that went into it, was very fun. but it definitely did not help take their mind off of... well, everything. eventually, they realized that no matter how hard they mop, the state of the origin system is very much a stuck-open faucet, so they picked up recreational programming again. solving logic puzzles, making up little games to share with others, and such. if they're really not feeling like doing anything (mentally) intense, reading and listening to music are their go-tos. do notice how none of these hobbies require other people.

Kali, 3: What is this character's favourite colour? You're making a Chroma choose a favourite colour? :D god. i haven't even gotten another chroma (prime) yet in game so i haven't yet been able to fashion wars but given kali's slowly forming personality in my head i'm literally just gonna say the whole rainbow. it likes different colours more on different days. often together with other colours. theres nothing so fun as mixing and matching colours. bright and shiny and showing-off.

Kali, 13: Why/under which circumstances did they get turned into a Warframe? See this is why I love ask games. I am being forced by peer pressure to develop these guys. OKAY. Kali got caught doing something she shouldn't have been. That something might have been planting explosives in the vicinity of an Orokin outpost. Because it didn't care about what the Orokin thought of it, it admitted everything immediately, spouting insults and jokes at their expense all the way to the experimental facilities. It's a good thing that the Helminth mostly capitalises on what's already present to make a warframe - Kali had always known how to make the best of a situation, and after the changes were made, it didn't take her long to escape at all. They never found it again.

Kali, 15: Do they have anything that still ties them back to their days as human? All of her weapons and other gear had been confiscated when she'd been caught, and once she'd gotten out of the facility, she never looked back, so nothing physical. However, even though the Helminth completed the physical transformation, the scientists never had the chance to break its mind. It is still as shrewd, boisterous, cunning, and vindictive as it was back when it was still human, just now as much on the outside as on the inside. Other than that, nothing. It tries not to think about it.

#ask game answers #kelth #kali #carefully hiding certain details about kali >:) gonna find out soon enough

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stxleslyds · 4 years ago

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You always seem down on the idea of the Batfam. I mean, it is hard to take seriously when writers make Bruce hostile or downright abusive towards his kids, or when Batfam members never interact. But do you think the concept itself is good, and it's just been the victim of bad writing? Or do you think the Batfam is a bad idea that can never work?

Hi there Anon! Thank you for the ask!

Hmm, this is a difficult question. Maybe I can answer this better if I do it in parts because the concept of “Batfamily” is used in different ways currently. A way to separate them can be, DC’s Batfamily, Fandom’s Batfamily and Fandom’s Batfamily lore being introduced in comics’ canon.

DC’s Batfamily:

My rejection of this version of Batfamily comes from all angles, it is not a good concept within comics lore anymore, it’s badly written and used to hide and move on from truly horrendous actions done by Bruce towards the rest of the family, and DC uses the concept of “Batfamily” that fandom has become so attached to, so they can profit off of it without writing anything of real essence with it.

Why did I say that the Batfamily isn’t a good concept anymore? Well, because the Batfamily that I first came across in comics included, Bruce, Dick, Alfred, Barbara, Tim and Cassandra. It was rather small and their books interconnected and had pretty solid relationships with one another. Dick and Tim got along and spent time together, Barbara mentored Cass so she could become Batgirl and so on and so forth. The family was smaller and more connected. But they still had problems and bad habits then. So, I liked them as a group of people that worked together and the name they received was “Batfamily” as a way for DC to profit from it.

Right now, the Batfamily is huge, I don’t know if you have seen those splash pages with all the members of it for Rebirth and Infinite Frontier, but those promotional pages were crazy big, characters like Harley and Clownhunter are now considered part of the “Batfamily” and all that. Then there is the kind of characters like Cass, Steph and Kate who are all connected to Batman but that haven’t been appearing in books for very long, so putting them on that page really feels like DC is trying to prove that their “Batfamily” actually has women on it, but it’s just for show.

And then there is Dick, Jason, Tim and Damian, the most recognizable faces of the Batfamily aside from Bruce and Alfred (but Alfred is dead now so he doesn’t really count), all of them have had issues with Bruce or are indifferent to the existence of one another. Yes, Tom Taylor has included Tim in Dick’s book but here is the thing, it feels like he put him there just to make fans shut up about the lack of content with both of them acting as they used to do. But its false and lazy, Taylor just brought Tim to the book but we don’t get to see Tim and Dick interact in ways that can explain why they drifted off, it kinda seems like all those years where Dick and Tim were pulled apart never happened to DC and that makes me think “cash grab”. I would have loved to see them interact again if it meant that we would have some solid story for them to develop their relationship once more.

At the end of Rebirth, Damian was pissed off at Bruce and they had a fight and Damian left the manor completely. Bruce beat up Jason, then gave him a hug but still told him that he was banned from Gotham and all that abuse and manipulation was swept under the rug when DC came out with Urban Legends: Cheer, all they did with that story is lie and made-up stories about Jason wanting Bruce to go on a killing spree so Gotham can finally be the home to his beloved family (lies, lies, lies).

On top of all that we have the neglect, abuse and manipulation that Bruce had going on with Dick, ever since Bruce manipulated Dick into joining Spyral his actions haven’t faced any consequences (the family still believes that Dick was the one who lied about dying). And as recently as the end of Rebirth, Dick suffered from a head injury that left him amnesiac and Bruce absolutely didn’t care enough to look after him when he was so vulnerable and alone. DC had the audacity of having Bruce say that he was looking after Dick while Dick went from one villain manipulating and hurting him to another, and if we look at Batman’s run, we can see that he spent some of that time in a weird pit or playing catch the pussy with Selina in a tropical island.

So, taking all those things into account, I honestly believe that the Batfamily is a concept that absolutely does not belong in comics. If it were to be taken seriously then DC should come up with (organic, not forced) stories that make these characters connect once again, but they have to be careful, just because they can connect it doesn’t mean that everyone gets along and they have group chats and eat dinner together of Fridays, that would be a blatant lie and just too out there for their kind of dynamic, so, they should take things slow, start re-building what once was an make it better (if they want to make it work and feel like less of a cash grab).

I heard that there is a book with Cass and Steph being mentored as Batgirls by Barbara coming out in December, that to me is a good thing, what was done in Robin #5 was awful, Jason didn’t have or want to be there, Tim, what the hell was Tim doing there? The only ones that have gotten along with Damian and have had a solid relationship with him were Dick and Steph. Dick had a very nice moment with Damian in that issue, but Steph didn’t, they preferred to have Jason wanting to hug Damian instead (what the actual hell was that?).

Fandom’s Batfamily:

Fandom is a place where people can take any concept from anywhere and transform it into whatever they please. This fandom is just like any other in that matter, but I have noticed that sometimes the Batfamily Fandom tends to blur the lines between what’s fanon and canon. Their lore is so deep and established among people that they sometimes (willingly or not) make new readers or other people believe that how things and perceived in fandom is how things actually are in comics, and that is a huge problem.

Things like “Dick sent Jason to Arkham when the Joker was just a cell away”, “Jason has pit madness and when he gets mad his eyes turn glowy green”, “Dick was a horrendous brother to Jason before Jason died”, “Jason would be good friends with Tim and Cass”, “Jason is the only one that sees the world differently from Bruce and the other robins because he is the only one that comes from a life with no luxury” and so on and on and on…

All of those things are sometimes treated as the absolute truth by fandom and no matter how many times people have debunked and explained that those things aren’t part of comics’ canon because they are simply not true, fandom stills treats those things as the basis of their Batfamily lore.

That lore would be actually fascinating if people didn’t lose sight so easily of the fact that at the end of the day none of that lore can be applied to comics’ canon.

When you enter this fandom things can be extremely confusing and the way some of the characters are characterized are completely different to their canon characterizations, I knew that the Dick fandom was writing about was not real, but I had no idea that Tim being a coffee addict that hasn’t slept in five months and is an absolute genius in everything and anything that he does was completely out of character for him, I just thought that was true to his character in comics too. Something like that happened to me when I took a peek at Jason’s side of fandom, by that time I had read Red Hood/Arsenal, UtRH and New 52 RHatO (yeah in that order, Red Hood/Arsenal wasn’t finished yet though), with the already conflicting characterizations of those books, the first look that I had at fandom’s Jason confused me even more. After considering all those I decided that the Jason that I wanted to see and actually looked appealing to me was UtRH Jason.

Not all people in fandom read comics and that is ABSOLUTELY VALID, I have zero problems with people not liking the comic characterizations of the “Batfamily” characters, but that in itself also creates a rift between fans themselves.

Fandom’s Batfamily lore being introduced in comics’ canon:

This is obviously the intersection of the other two points and this is the biggest problem that I have with the Batfamily concept. The fandom lore has been leaking into comic’s canon for a while now but right now we are kinda drowning in it. Decisions that have been made recently in DC like, Jason giving up his guns, the group chats in Nightwing issues, the family dinners that were hinted at in Cheer #6, and Bruce having had at the ready a Red Hood suit for Jason with a Batman logo in its chest, have been proof enough that DC is planning on skipping any kind of solid writing for these characters to actually get along. We are never going to see these people sit down and talk about their differences and respect each other’s work ethics.

We are never going to get stories of actual essence that prove that these characters understand and care for each other, we are just going to be told that “all is good” and now everyone loves one another and they will build from there.

That is a problem for me.

And it also takes away duality from Gotham’s vigilantes, I know I say this too much but it’s the truth, putting all these characters under the ruling of Batman makes them all bland. Jason shouldn’t be part of any sort of group that involves Bruce! My god, I don’t want to see them interact anymore! Bruce has been absolute trash to Jason ever since he came back from the dead and I am tired of DC trying to make them be on good terms!

Jason and Bruce not getting along can co-exist with the fact that Jason isn’t a villain to Batman’s legendary hero. Jason is his own character, with his own morals and he doesn’t need a bat symbol on his chest or book logo to be relevant. Same with Dick, Tim and Barbara, let them be characters that can stand on their own because they have already done that!

Barbara as Oracle worked WITH Batman if she wanted, she had her own logo and had passed on the mantle of Batgirl because he had grown out of it.

Dick is Nightwing and has become an even better hero than Batman could even aspire to become, he has contacts with everyone in the DC universe, has led countless teams, he doesn’t NEED a batman logo on his book or to be constantly dragged back to him just to make the Bat more compelling.

Jason, my sweet Jason, he had his own logo! It was gorgeous and then Lobdell had the audacity to stamp a Batman logo in the middle of the book name and in Jason’s chest! Have we gone absolutely mad? Why did they do that? Lobdell’s constant back and forth with Jason and his feelings for Bruce, he respects him and he doesn’t, he kills and he doesn’t… each issue felt like a new take on the character! It was crazy!

And that has happened with everyone in the “family”. I will end this by saying that Bruce/Batman being at the centre of this “Batfamily” dynamic is the most laughable thing in the DC Universe. Batman isn’t family to any of the people that they constantly surround him with, he is a piece of shit.

Anyway Anon, I hope this answer doesn’t ruin your day and that you understand that even though I really don’t like the “Batfamily” concept, you and everyone else are allowed and encouraged to think differently!

Hope you have a marvellous day Anon!

#jason todd #red hood #dick grayson #nightwing #tim drake #damian wayne #batfamily #batfam #dc comics #asksss

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mi6-cafe · 4 years ago

Photo

THE FINAL DRABBLES ARE IN!

COME READ THEM AND DECIDE WHOSE IS THE BEST, BETTER THAN ALL THE REST!

But first, what was the prompt again?

Our writers had to use the phrase “be careful what you fish for” in their 300-word drabbles verbatim.

See the drabbles below the line and VOTE!

(Image description: James Bond off on a fishing expedition)

But how, mods, how do we vote? you ask.

Step 1: Read the drabbles, making notes along the way.

Step 2: Pick three favourites and vote for them in the VOTING FORM while adding feedback for others if you so choose!

Step 3: Profit! (Because it’s all anonymous and even the writers you didn’t vote for end up getting your lovely feedback and it makes them so happy!)

You have until Sunday at 8:59 9.m. PST/11:59 p.m. EST/3:59 a.m. UTC to cast your vote.

Now, come READ&VOTE! (You can also read on wordpress for nicer formatting)

Title: Compliments Author: sunaddicted Warnings: explicit flirting Summary: Q wasn't expecting to hear such a compliment

Seeing Silva bent down over his computer still sent a thrill down Q's spine; despite the fact that the man had become a more or less permanent fixture in Q-Branch, it didn't mean that the adrenaline kick he got out of facing the former rogue agent had gotten any weaker.

"That's some of my best work."

"Is it."

Q swallowed as he went to stand by the other man, peering down at the lines of code that Silva was studying with the kind of keen eye that made Q squirm, feeling naked even when Silva was looking at his work rather than directly at him.

Though, what was his work if not an extension of his being?

"Are you fishing for compliments, Quartermaster?"

Saying his title in such a caressing and satiny voice should have been made illegal. "Do I need to?" Q tried to ignore the hint of neediness in his voice, even as the flush he could feel blooming up his neck surely betrayed him. He couldn't help it: in his life, he had only met a man who was his equal - better, he had only met a man who could code circles around him, pushing him to do better; to think faster; to outgrow himself. It was exciting.

Raoul slowly turned around, a smirk already painted on his lips. "You have a great arse I would like to bend over this sturdy desk of yours."

"Wh- what?!"

The blonde bent down, lips ghosting against the shell of Q's ear in a caress that was barely there. "Be careful what you fish for, Quartermaster," Silva reached down and closed his hand on the other's hip in a steadying manner, fingers digging into the jutting bone there "You never know what kind of compliment will get thrown your way."

Title: A Fine Kettle Author: Anyawen Warnings: none Summary: LIke shooting fish in a barrel, really.

"This isn't what I had in mind when I said I needed an exit," Bond groused as his feet squelched in his ruined shoes. He'd never get the stink of fish out of this suit. He'd be lucky to scrub it off his skin.

"Well, you know what they say, 007. Be careful what you fish for," Q said, snorting at his own joke as Bond groaned.

"Don't even start, Q," Bond growled. Well. Tried to growl. If it came out as an amused whine Q was polite enough not to call attention to it.

"I'm sure I don't know what you mean," Q said primly. "I found you an exit and left your adversaries floundering. You didn't even pull a mussel."

"I've endured torture more pleasant than—"

"Stop your carping; you’re giving me a haddock."

Bond inhaled slowly. Exhaled.

"What will it take to make you stop?"

"You'll have to shell out more than a few clams."

"Q," Bond begged. Yes. Begged. And yet, he knew that if he were standing in front of a mirror right now his reflection would be grinning. Q's jokes were terrible, and his puns were worse, but hearing him so lost in his amusement was a glorious thing.

"Bring all of your gear back for a start. No losing or breaking anything just for the halibut."

"I'll do my best," Bond promised.

"And dinner."

"I beg your pardon?" Bond asked, shocked. He'd been asking the Quartermaster to dinner for weeks.

"You need time to mullet over. That's fine. Just let minnow."

"Yes, Q. Obviously, yes."

"Excellent. I'm thinking sushi."

Bond couldn't help the laugh that slipped out. He could hear Q's smug grin.

"Just squidding," Q said, then hurried to add, "About the sushi. Not about dinner. And dessert. And afters."

"Afters?"

"Cuttles."

Title: Retrieval Author: stormofsharpthings Warnings: none Summary: Q knew it had never been about her

Q came upon Dr Madeleine Swann serenely fishing from the riverbank. “Got one,” she announced, before handing the rod to him and walking away. Bemused, Q tugged, and the fish leapt from the murky river into his hand, scales flowing like water to engulf his entire arm. Face to face, it gave him a toothy grin.

“Be careful what you fish for,” it snickered as the trees around him exploded with gobbets of blue flame. Q dove into the river to escape and was dragged deeper, drowning, webbed hands holding him tight.

He flailed awake to a bed stained green with murky water, strands of river weed draped about. The windows were wide open, moonlight making the wet marks on the floor glisten.

“James?” he whispered. There was no answer. Not since James had taken the damn car and driven off. But there had been enough clues.

----

He took the river road, heading north. Every bridge was washed-out, every access to his destination blocked. He finally came upon an old-style ferry, its raft drawn along a heavy cable strung across the river.

The old raftman eyed him, then shrugged. Halfway across, the raft slowed as if hung up on something. The ferryman cursed and stamped his boot on the boards. As the raft drifted free again, he gave Q a wry look. “Hope you know what you’re about, lad.”

----

The waterhorse waited for him at the loch edge, burning eyes watching him warily as he approached.

“I never believed you left for her,” he said, tangling his hands in the wet mane. “And all the warnings of all the fair folk in the world couldn't keep me away.” He swung astride and held on. “You can either drown me or come home with me, James. It’s up to you, now.”

Title: Gone Fishing Author: Hexiva Warnings: None Summary: Alec is just trying to have a nice vacation. James has other plans.

Alec is fishing. He’s taken some much-needed vacation time after a knife to the leg on his last mission, and he’s chosen to go to Jamaica, in part because of how James’ face falls when he learns Alec is going without him. James loves Jamaica. Alec, for his part, loves having anything that James can’t have. The sky is blue. The ocean is a beautiful shade of blue-green. Alec lets his line dangle down into the warm water, and leans back in his boat with a sigh of contentment. And then the peace of the summer day is shattered as the water erupts, and a black-clad figure in scuba gear surges up out of the sea, gasping, and clambers into Alec’s boat, almost upsetting it. Alec’s hand flies to his gun, but before he can draw it, the diver pulls off his mask and reveals James’ familiar face. James is bruised and bleeding, and he gasps out, “Near miss. Good thing you were here.” “What the hell are you doing here?!” Alec demands. “I’m on vacation, James!” “Underwater base,” James explains, pointing down into the depths of the ocean. “Spying on our submarines. Blew it up and escaped.” “How do you do it, James?” Alec says, acidly. “How is it that no matter where you go - no matter where I go - there always seems to be some madman with an increasingly improbable scheme gunning for you? Can’t I have one vacation to myself?” It’s not James’ company he minds. It’s that this was supposed to be something he could take away from James. A chance to one-up the always charming James Bond. “Well, Alec,” James said, leaning in with his charming smile. “You know what they say. Be careful what you fish for.” “I hate you,” Alec said, with feeling.

Title: Dare to Wish Author: sorion Warnings: none Summary: A very nice welcome-home.

"Are you going to put away that blasted machine?" Bond asked, not even looking away from his skilled cooking.

"Hm?" Q hummed distractedly, not ceasing his typing.

"Your laptop, darling," Bond complained, making 'darling' sound more like a demand than an endearment. "Hm." The typing never faltered.

Bond reduced the heat on one of the other pans that he was juggling on the stove. "I was gone for over a month," he grumbled. "I even dared to hope that you were looking forward to seeing me again."

Q smiled, and the typing slowed. "One minute, and I'll be all yours, and yet you'll still be giving your attention to our dinner."

Bond couldn't help but grin. "What's so terribly important anyway?"

"Oh, just some matter of national security that I'd like off the table before we eat."

Bond laughed. "Bare feet, unbuttoned shirt, and saving the world. A marvel, you are."

"One step up from working in my pyjamas," Q quipped.

Bond sighed. "I'm never going to live that down, am I? What about the incident where you basically plugged Silva into our network?"

Q pulled a face. "That was... my first week as Q, and I desperately wanted to prove myself, and I may have-"

"Q," Bond interrupted. "I won't let you live it down, but I'm not holding it against you."

Q smiled. "Thanks. I do, on very rare occasions, get insecure."

"There's no need. Everyone knows how brilliant you are. And there's no need to be fishing for compliments."

"Not tonight. I'm just... fishing for affection."

His typing instantly stopped when a small box of unmistakable shape was put in front of him.

Bond caught his eyes and smiled. "Be careful what you fish for."

Q's breath stuck in his throat, and his eyes lit up. "Never."

Title: A Fishy Companion Author: Nana-chan Warnings: Summary: Bond makes friends with a merman

“Bond,” said the creature, his tone quite serious.

Bond merely grunted as he continued to mend his nets. He would not even look at the creature as he swam around him in the shallow water, his movements graceful. A bloody merman, for god’s sake. He’d found him tangled in his nets after a fishing expedition some way from the island and the merman, having been rescued, refused to leave Bond’s side ever since.

Now he queried: “Why is the fisherman so stingy?”

“I’m sure you’re going to tell me whether I want to hear it or not,” said Bond brusquely.

The merman replied, “Because his work made him sell-fish.”

Bond closed his eyes briefly. He’d been a double-O agent— a bloody good one— once upon a time. So long ago, it seemed. Retirement on this remote Caribbean island, in a wooden house with its own small pier, had been something he’d dreamed of, until retirement became more like exile and solitude gave way to loneliness.

Until this.

Bond found himself smiling despite himself as the merman persisted, “Why did the fisherman start doing drugs?”

“I don’t know. Why did he?”

“Pier pressure.”

The merman was beautiful, with dark hair and large green eyes that gazed into his rather owlishly. For reasons of his own, he’d named him Q.

Bond looked away. “I think I need a massage,” he said, wincing as he flexed his biceps.

“Have you heard about the Sauna that serves food?” Q piped up. “Their specialty is steamed mussels.”

“Why you—” Bond laughed before he could stop himself. “I ought to have left you in the nets. That might have made you less talkative.”

The merman swam up to him and settled his head boldly on his lap.

“Be careful what you fish for,” said Q, smiling.

Title: Go Fish Author: soufflegirl91 Warnings: adult humour Summary: Q Branch tech must be recovered no matter where the double-ohs lose it.

“Another bloody spoon,” Bond complained, releasing it from the magnet and tossing it on the pile building up at his feet. “How do people even lose spoons in a lake?”

“Oh, I don’t know, maybe the same way you lose proprietary weaponry?”

“Q, for the last time, I didn’t-”

“Can we get any closer to the middle?” Q cut him off, tapping a few times on his tablet screen. “Maybe if we start at the deepest point and move outwards?”

Bond sighed, dropping the line back into the boat with a clatter. He pulled the engine cord, and with a roar, they were moving.

“THIS SHOULD DO,” Q yelled over the din.

Bond brought them to a stop, but Q didn’t wait for the engine to die down before continuing:

“I’VE ACTIVATED THE HOMING BEACON. THE LAKE’S DEEPER THAN I’D LIKE, BUT I SHOULD GET A SIGNAL ONCE WE’RE-” the engine died down with a final splutter, leaving Q yelling, “DIRECTLY OVER IT - oh.”

“You don’t get out on the water much, do you?” Bond quirked a grin at his flustered Quartermaster, flinging out the line on the starboard side.

“I wouldn’t have to get out on the water at all, if you didn’t go throwing away rocket launchers like they were crisp packets. Bond, what are you doing? I haven’t got a signal, yet.”

“Signal or not, I’ve caught something.”

Bond pulled on the Q-branch reinforced line, trying to reel it in. Whatever the line had caught, it was heavy. Finally, his catch cleared the water line.

He stared.

“Is that a tentacle dil-?”

“Well, you know what they say,” Q cut in.

He giggled. Giggled. Bond had a terrible feeling he knew what was coming next.

“No. Don’t you dare say it.”

“Be careful what you fish for!”

Title: Do I Really Want To Know? Author: IrishWitch58 Warnings: none Summary: Mallory contemplates a recent mission and the behavior of agent and Quartermaster.

Mallory hadn't gotten to his present position without understanding the value of differing approaches to acquiring information. There were circumstances when a simple question was all that was required. There were others when a figurative bludgeon was necessary. That was more often the case when he had someone dead to rights and just wanted an admission. But when something was more delicate, a search for something he suspected but hadn't been able to prove, he needed the skills of a wily fisherman tricking a trout out from under a rock to rise to the bait.

It was unacceptable that his Quartermaster and 007 had gone off coms for eighteen hours. True, the mission was completed, but Bond's bad habits seemed to have rubbed off on Q. Interviewing both had been useless. 'Yes', 'no' and 'equipment failure' were the sum of the responses. Utterly respectful but complete obstruction from both.

They were hiding something and he was worried. Certainly, disloyalty was possible but he had thought better of both of them. There was a chime from his computer and he glanced at the incoming message from accounting. “Can we have some clarification on these charges, please? Uncertain whether these are mission related.”

Mallory scanned the receipts. A moderately expensive hotel suite, room service, and a concierge fee for a trip to a chemist. All charged to one of Bond's aliases. On impulse he called the hotel. Five minutes later he ended the call and stared at the phone. Well, better than treachery certainly but still, Bond and Q? The concierge had found the couple charming and was sure they were a couple. Be careful what you fish for. Now what was he supposed to do? Better that they hadn't admitted anything. He didn't have to act if he didn't officially know.

Title: Shark Bait Author: Venstar / 1amvengeance Warnings: violence? People dedding Summary: what would you do for those you love?

Bond swam to the ladder access of the dock. A creak of the boards and he froze in place. He swung himself up, his movement was swift and deadly. The guard dropped as suddenly as he had appeared. Bond rolled him into the water. Through the mist, he could just barely make out the tip of a fin. He smiled. It was cold, calculating, and lacking in teeth.

“Almost there.” Bond smiled as a soft breath was let out over comms. “Were you worried?”

“About you or my mortgage and two cats? Because if you live, then maybe M won’t find out about this.”

This time Bond’s smile was wide and bright. “I’m glad we agree then.”

Bond cut a slit through his wetsuit until he could see his skin underneath. Slightly tan with a smattering of darker freckles. Was that a new mole? Maybe he should have it checked out. Too late. Blood welled up from where the mole had been. He grimaced.

“Bond? What are you doing?”

“Chumming the water.” He heard Q’s sharp intake of breath at the sound of him re-entering the water.

“Bond. This is the worst idea on the list of bad ideas.”

“I know what I’m doing, Q. Moving in, now.”

Silence from the other end as Q listened to him work. He slid through the water, coming up just under the opening of the warehouse. He pulled himself out, his eyes on his targets. He spared one glance for his lover, hoping that Felix could keep the two men distracted enough for him to...yes...to do that. The two men were tossed cut and bleeding into the dark water behind him. Their shouts of surprise turned into screams of pain and terror.

"Be careful what you fish for." Bond murmured, smiling at Felix.

#10

Title: Witnessed Author: oldestcharm Warnings: n/a Summary: James observes Q's methods. It pays off. Q is flexible. He can play an agent like a fiddle. Any time, any place. He knows exactly how to approach his agents — something James is rather impressed by. He'll let them stew for half an hour when necessary; he'll cosy up to them, all charm and innocence; or play up the socially inept IT intern. Sometimes, he gets mean. James particularly likes that part of Q. Whichever it is, though, Q's got them all wrapped around his long capable fingers. James can't look away. He hears from 002 about the 'banger of a DnD game' she apparently raked in the loot for. He also learns about the Deck of Many Things. It's surprisingly accurate for whatever happens next.

009 loses a chess match and gets equipped with a tractor instead of the Jeep he'd requested, although it goes 300 mph and has multiple cannons attached.

005 fails a coin toss and gains a squirt gun full of holy water for her mission at the Vatican. With a quirk of a smile, Q suggests Russian Roulette to Alec. He wins, but just barely.

Q equips his agents with the bare necessities, but unlike his predecessor, they all have to earn the goods. Q's gambling and James is determined to get his own. Q, ever the gentleman, asks what he's willing to play.

"Let's Go Fishin'," James tells him and just for a second Q looks startled. James' lips twitch into a reluctant smile.

"Be careful what you fish for," Q tells him, voice low and enticing. James leans forward, distracted.

"I win," Q says, eyes alight with excitement.

"It's a draw," James corrects, hoping his exhaustion won't show. Q's gaze grows sharp.

On his next mission, James finds an exploding pen in the inside pocket of his suit jacket.

#11

Title: To Fish or Not to Fish Author: scarytheory Warnings: none Summary: Someone is sending weird presents to Q. He needs to figure out who that someone is.

The mug was ugly. Big, brown, and with a ceramic trout holding a plate “I fish you very much!” engraved in bold letters. It wasn’t the only thing that had been anonymously sent to Q for his birthday this week (other items included cheap chocolate and a teddy bear).

“This is getting ridiculous. Who would give me something so hideous?”

“You know what they say – be careful what you fish for!”

“That’s… not what they say.”

James smirked, obviously happy with himself.

Q continued: “Can you at least pretend that you’re jealous? It used to be you, sending me obnoxious gifts!”

“Don’t act like you thought it was romantic now, you hated it.”

He did. But he still had all the awful trinkets that James had sent him from missions before his retirement. They were displayed in his office, he couldn't force himself to throw them away. Maybe he was sentimental, after all.

“Perhaps it’s from a criminal who wants to infiltrate the MI6,” Q wondered.

James laughed. “I can guarantee you that it’s not a villain, the gifts are indeed from the heart.”

Of course he had something to do with it!

“And you can’t just tell me?”

“Nah. Let minnow when you figure it out!.”

“James, this was a terrible pun, even for you.”

“It’s not kraken you up?”

Truly not.

The question was who could send him these kinds of gifts? It seemed that they weren’t from some admirer either, seeing as James didn’t feel threatened. On the contrary, he was amused.

“Oh my God!”

Suddenly he knew. And it was horrifying.

“It’s from my mum.”

James grinned: “I love that woman. She understands that fish puns are fin-tastic!”

With horror, Q realised that against his better judgment, he had ended up marrying his own mother.

#12

Title: One Hell of a Strange Fish Author: Misha / artsytarts Warnings: none, just lols Summary: Fishing at lake Erie can be more exciting than you think.

Felix sighed happily as he sat on his little bench in his little boat and let his mind wander. Bliss like this was hard to come by. A weekend of fishing, peace and relaxation was awaiting him and there was nothing that could spoil it.

Just as he’d finished the thought, a sudden tug at his fishing rod almost made him topple over the rim of his boat. Felix caught himself and cursed, put his feet down and with all his strength, he started reeling in the gigantic fish. It was putting up one hell of a fight. Gritting his teeth, Felix pulled and pulled, until, with an almighty splash, it broke the surface and screamed, just as the hook zinged past Felix’ ear.

Wait… Screamed?

Felix blinked.

“What do you think you’re doing, you bloody idiot!!” the man, not fish, exclaimed and ripped his diving mask off. He glared daggers at Felix, who still stood poised with his rod in hand.

Then the man frowned. “Felix?” he said incredulously.

“James?!”

“What on earth are you doing up there?”

“Me?! What are you doing down there?!”

James huffed, paddling against the water. “I asked first.”

“Well, I’m on holiday.” Felix held up the evidence. “Fishing trip. What about you?”

“Assignment,” James answered simply.

The mental image of a mushroom cloud above lake Erie filled Felix’ head. “Hell. Should I be worried?”

“Not particularly,” James said. “Anyway, should get going. Nice chatting with you.”

“Hold on, James, what –”

“Next time… Be careful what you fish for!” James called out, shoved his mouthpiece back between his teeth and submerged.

“Did you just…” Felix began, but James was already gone.

With a sigh, Felix let himself fall back into his seat and rubbed his forehead. They had to stop meeting like this.

#13

Title: Gone Fishing Author: Merc / the moon of mercury Warnings: none Summary: sometimes Bond prefers not to talk about his missions.

“Now you’re just preening,” Q says, rolling his eyes for dramatic effect. “Fishing for compliments. Really, Double-O-Seven, must you always make such a show of everything?”

Bond shrugs and finishes straightening his tie, not bothering to argue. He had been admiring his own reflection on the window of the newly painted DB10.

“Quite a dashing image, if I do say so myself. That’s the point, isn’t it? It’s the Geneva Motor Show, no one’s going to take me for a collector if I don’t look the part. What do you think?”

“I’m not the one you need to convince. All I care about is that you get the job done and bring back my car in one piece.”

“Why so grumpy, Q? I’d hoped you’d at least extend the sentiment to my person besides the car. And maybe wish me good luck? I have a feeling this one won’t be easy.”

“Bollocks, you’re going to seduce her, get the intel, and spectacularly blow things up. All of which you invariably accomplish every time. So, off you go and lay your bait. But please, do me a favour and think of the poor car while you’re at it.”

* *

Q is right. The rich widow falls for his charms, spills her secrets, and buildings explode. Even the Aston survives. A success, all things considered.

Still, it takes him a week after returning to London to face his Quartermaster. The ugly love bites have faded and the overwhelming stench of perfume is nothing but an unpleasant memory. But Q has recordings of the events that went down in her boudoir, and Bond knows for sure he won't let it go.

Unfortunately, his foresight proves right.

“Be careful what you fish for,” he quips the moment Bond steps in, dissolving into laughter.

#14

Title: Look at the Bright Side Author: MrKsan / starrboned Warnings: none Summary: The Quartermaster's job is never easy.

When Bill entered the office, it was dark and quiet. Q sat slumped, painted pale blue under the light of the computer screen.

“Q?” Bill whispered, unsure what he stepped into.

Q looked up, blinking slowly.

“Bill. What are you doing here?”

Bill approached the desk, turning on the lamp. Q flinched from the light, like the sleep-deprived vampire that he was.

“It’s midnight, Q.” Tanner sighed, taking in the wide eyes and the dark shadows under them. “Bond came back hours ago. Why are you still here?"

Q blinked. Bill could almost hear the gears turning in his head.

Christ.

Q pushed a glass bowl from behind the screen. The water inside sloshed wildly from the sharp movement, stirring awake the creature inside.

“It's a... fish?"

“Bond brought it,” Q said. He glared at the fish like it's the source of all of his problems.

“He got you a fish?”

“No,” Q said, eyes narrowing. “He brought back the micro-sized, water-proofed, indestructible hard drive made especially for this mission, containing all the stolen information M asked for."

Bill glanced back at the fish. The fish, who had very sharp teeth inside its slightly gaping mouth.

“Is the hard drive -”

“It's inside the damn piranha!" Q hissed, smacking his head on the table.

Bill couldn't help it.

"Be careful what you fish for, huh?” He said, earning a sharp stare from under the dark mop of curls.

“At least he brought back the equipment this time,” Bill said, smiling apologetically. “Come on, you won’t get anything done by glaring at the fish.”

Q sighed, heavily, but took Bill’s offered hand and stumbled to a stand.

“At least it’s not a komodo dragon this time,“ Q said, as they stepped into the empty parking lot.

Bill couldn't help but laugh.

#15

Title: Cracked Author: solarmorrigan Warnings: n/a Summary: Bond and Q bring down a villain and have a few laughs.

Waves lapped at the sand, offering a gentle, rhythmic backbeat to the sounds of a madman’s island base crashing down in flames.

Bond and Q stood side by side on the beach, each sooty, disheveled, and soaked to the bone. They were sporting various bumps and bruises, some scrapes and burns, but they were pleased with themselves, nonetheless. It had been a grueling few days’ work, filled with more fire, gunplay, and close encounters with sharks and other sharp-toothed marine life than Q was usually comfortable with, but they’d done good work. Yet another villainous plot soundly foiled.

“Well,” Q sighed, “I suppose it’s true what they say.”

“What’s that, Q?” Bond asked idly.

Snickering preemptively, Q answered, “Be careful what you fish for.”

The expected eye-roll and long-suffering sigh never came. Instead, Bond’s expression went curiously blank, before a smile cracked over his face and he began to laugh. It started as a small chuckle before morphing into true, shoulder-shaking amusement, and Q’s own smile slid away in alarm. The joke wasn’t that funny – not that Bond ever laughed at his puns to begin with.

“Oh god, did you sustain head trauma while I wasn’t looking?” Q demanded, his fingers twitching towards Bond’s scalp.

Bond shook his head, still chuckling lightly. “I’m fine, Q. In fact… I’m fintastic.”

In spite of the suspicious anxiety churning in Q’s chest, he couldn’t help it; the pun was so terrible, so ill-timed, so entirely out of place, that Q had to laugh. “Oh, that’s it,” he gasped between giggles, “you’ve finally cracked.”

“I’m fine, Q,” Bond said again, then leaned in to press a kiss to the corner of Q’s smiling mouth before giving him a small shove in the direction of their getaway boat. “Now let’s get out of here.”

*****

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