#ok i went seeking spoilers just to find out her name

[alyss-kelly]

My opinion about Another Code Recollection Part 4

It's the last part, I promise and it's the just the last point of the negative...

That one character This... This I still don't get... Why ? Change their story so much ? I saw the hints and choose to think that maybe I was just thinking too much... Well, I was right and I really hate it. That's the second thing that pissed me off the most in the game. I'm wondering if I would've liked the plot they went with, if I didn't know anything on the game and quite frankly... I don't think I'd enjoy it either. That's a problem in itself. I don't think I'll be able to say much without explaining the changes that were made and how I feel about them. I'll avoid naming the character and refer to them as "X". But I'll talk about plot point from Two Memories, R and Recollection. So heavy spoilers ahead.

/!\SPOILERS/!\ Where do I start... This character shares similarities with Ashley. Three to be exact. 1) They both have a scientist parents. 2) A father that worked so much that it created a rift in their parent/children relationship, inadvertently or not. 2) Both characters had the same traumatism of watching their mother get killed in front of them when they were kids. It ends there but what's interesting is how the living parent reacted to the death of their wife and what they did to help their kid. Richard obviously left Ashley with Jessica, his sister and proceeded to find the truth about Sayoko's killer. Being so young when her aunt took her custody, she forgot her dad's face and didn't saw him again before Blood Edward Island. We don't know much else beside that Jessica was very caring with her and that she loves her very much. So, we can only conclude that she grew up as a happy kid and it shows in her personality too. "X" was older than Ashley when they saw her mom die. And this traumatized them to the point that they started to emotionally distance themself, it broke them. Their dad, decided to use the Another or something similar to erase the memories of their mom and the accident. I supposed he did it out of love because he didn't want to see his child suffer any longer. This is where Recollection decided to changes things up. In the Wii version, "X" 's lived and their dad made them believe he was just their mentor. In the Switch version, the character dies and their memories are stored in a container, in their dad's lab. Recollection tried to use a more "modern" way to deal with the character, maybe to make us feel more emphatic toward them. To make them less violent ? I'm not sure. They decided to kill "X" when their dad experienced on them as a kid but kept on living as a somewhat Artificial Intelligence, unknowing of their parent. In R, "X" grows up to become a sociopath and it is believed that deleting their memories damaged the part of their brain that process emotion. Growing up "X" follow their "mentor" 's path and becomes a scientific too. They later learn that what they always believed was "just" their mentor was in fact his dad. This character is very intelligent but also manipulative, they mask their emotionless side from everyone and the reveal about their dad made them resentful to the point of seeking revenge. It is also shown through the game that they could be suffering from depression too, explaining what they do at the very end. "X" didn't feel any fondness toward Sayoko in R like they showed in Recollection. In R, the character actually manipulated the one who killed Sayoko in order destroy their dad. It wasn't the only thing they did to ruin their parent but it's one that involve Ashley. In Recollection, they made it feel like it was ok to do crime because it wasn't a real person after all. In the Wii version, they did terribles things but in the end, they had to take accountability for everything they did. It felt right, it felt realistic. I wasn't even a fan of that character in the first place, but when you see that every meaning they had was deleted... it's a bit infuriating. Because it doesn't just erase their character but it affects Ashley too. I liked how you could understand that if Richard took the same steps as "X" 's father, Ashley could have taken the same road "X" took. I really like how they kinda reflect each other. Their motive was petty and a bit childish but very human too, you could understand their circumstances but you could still think they were bad and fucked up. Take away the humanity aspect of the character and now the rest is meaningless. What can you do about an AI only Ashley can see to make them amends for their wrongdoing ? Not much. /!\SPOILERS END/!\

(Something I couldn't put it either category, because it's not related to Another Code's story, is that I enjoyed to see the little Hotel Dusk cameo a lot !)

In conclusion, I enjoyed the Another Code Two Memories part of Recollection (even if it was missing some things), and I didn't like Another Code R from the remake. My issues mostly lie in the second game. And in the loss of characterization for a Ashley and the others. Once again, I have mixed feelings about it, which sadden me with how happy I was when it was first announced. But I'm still glad this game exist.

It's the first time I'm doing something like this so I hope my points and everything makes sense to everyone.

End of Part 4

---

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4

[ladyvillainous]

Midway City: Swirling Ring of Trash in the Sky

Inclusion of my OC Suzanna Walker AKA Fade into the Suicide Squad. She is a former colleague of Rick Flag, a childhood friend of Harley Quinn, a former member of the Joker's gang after his escape from Arkham and Harley’s transformation and now a member of the Task Force X team. She will also be getting up close and very personal with our favourite Aussie, Captain Boomerang.

Description

Follows the events of the 2016 movie after the Joker’s interference  

Midway City Part 3 of 4

Warnings

I think every member of the Suicide Squad is a warning all by themselves but to be clear there will be violence, swearing, a complete lack of morals or ethics of any kind at times. Spoilers!

Word Count: 6680

It was a sombre group that made its way back down to the lobby of the building, in yet another crazy turn of events Harley was gone and so was her Puddin’. As Fade had predicted the Joker had come for his queen, no one and nothing was going to get in his way. Lawton had surprisingly come through for his new friends, refusing to kill the woman even as she flew away from them. Fade was grateful but it hadn’t been enough to save her from Waller’s wrath, the fact that the woman’s chopper went down minutes later was poetic justice, but just meant that this never-ending nightmare of a mission wasn’t over.

Fade wasn’t even aware of the tears rolling silently down her cheeks, she only knew that her heart was broken over the loss of her oldest friend.

Digger wrapped an arm around her shoulder keeping her close as they made their way out onto the street, she was grateful for the warmth and the comfort. The man had pulled her to her feet and forced her to keep putting one foot in front of the other, without it she felt she might keel over at any moment.

The rainfall mirrored her misery beautifully, the water falling on her face to wash away her grief leaving an open wound gaping in her chest. She was so lost to it that she didn’t hear Digger quietly saying her name or notice that he was pointing to something a short distance from them until she heard a voice calling out “Hey guys’ I’m back! Did you miss me? I missed you all so much”  

Eyes snapping round to the source Fade broke away from Digger, bolting towards the soaking wet and shivering blonde perched atop the black car. Jumping up onto the hood as Harley slid down the windshield into her waiting arms, each woman clutching the other to her.

Fade relieved to find her friend still alive, Harley seeking comfort against the sting of loss.

Rick paused wanting to give them a moment, but they needed to keep moving, catching his eye and nodding at him over Harley’s shoulder Fade pulled back, the women breaking apart with a quiet sniff and reddened eyes. Digger reached out a hand to help Fade down, not trusting her footing in her current state, rewrapping a protective arm around her once more as Lawton pulled Harley into his arms and set her gently on the ground “We’re glad you could make it”  

Digger offered the woman a small smile as he attracted her attention “Hey craziness” tossing her the bat he’d snagged from the roof.

Fade held out her hand to the woman Harley lacing her fingers through hers, falling into step with the pair of them, as a trio they wended their ungainly way along the street following the course Rick laid out for them.    

***

Fade wasn’t sure how long it took to find the downed chopper, but she was feeling far more herself by the time it came into sight, though a lot wetter than usual. Digger was no longer wrapped around her but had checked she was ok before he moved off, now walking with Diablo and Croc a short distance ahead. Her friend had merely raised an eyebrow when he’d left them alone, but not asked any questions. She was intrigued to understand what was going on, if anything, between her friend and the big Aussie, but it was all too painful to think about when she’d just lost the love of her life. Fade was grateful for her silence on the subject, she wouldn’t know how to answer her questions anyway. She couldn’t deny she found the man attractive, and he’d made it clear he thought she was too, but what intrigued her was that while his personality was abrasive on the surface, there seemed to be something more underneath. He was definitely a puzzle, but one she would have to figure out another time, right now her friend needed her.    

Harley hadn’t said anything about what had transpired after she left them on the roof, but Fade knew that just meant she was still processing it. Just from the simple fact that the woman wasn’t gambling about like a bunny on crack told Fade she was hurting, especially as she hadn’t let go of her hand since they’d left the building behind. Fade kept her silence too, letting Harley deal with it in her own way but squeezing her hand gently from time to time to remind her that she was there, an answering squeeze telling her that she was doing the right thing.

They hung back as Rick and Alpha team inspected the chopper with Lawton, declaring Waller missing and moving out once again. Once again Lawton and Rick seemed to be disagreeing about their next course of action, though she felt he had a point this time. Heading directly to the source of the swirling ring of trash in the sky did seem blatantly idiotic, but they were also out of options.

The rain bucketing down out of the sky was obscuring visibility and generally making things more miserable than they needed to be, thankfully the rain itself wasn’t icy but being drenched to the skin wasn’t a pleasant experience. Faces screwed up against the driving rain no one noticed that Lawton wasn’t with them until the binder hit the car next to Rick, the clearly incensed man shouting at him to tell them all the truth.

What was left of Alpha squad and the task force gathered curiously, even Fade finally locating some interest in this evening’s events.

She watched Rick closely the man looked ready to snap, more defeated than she’d ever seen him before, stepping towards him his gaze snapped up to hers. The concern etched on her features finally breaking through to him, nodding he cleared his throat, a long overdue explanation finally forthcoming.

“Three days ago, a non-human entity appeared in the subway station. Waller sent me and a woman with incredible abilities… a witch. See nobody could get near this thing but the witch could” Fade frowned, the man looked on the verge of tears but she didn’t understand why, he had a personal stake in this that was yet to be revealed, that much was clear to her “Needless to say…” he continued “The whole thing was a bad idea, that’s how she escaped from Waller” He gritted his teeth glaring at Lawton levelling him with a ferocious look, sneering at the man “So now you know”

Fade looked at Lawton the man nodding along as Rick spoke eyes on the floor, finally lifting his head to declare “You can just kill me right now…” looking round he pointed to the building next to them, Fade glancing up to see it was some kind of trendy wine bar “But I’m going to have a drink”

He strode away without a another look in the soldier’s direction, Rick shouting after him, almost pleading with him “Deadshot I need your help!”

“No sir” Deadshot called back, pausing on the threshold to look back at him “You need a miracle”

Entering the bar, he disappeared from view, Fade looking to the others for their reaction.

Harley curtsied deeply and flounced into the bar after the assassin, Digger shot Rick a contemptuous smile before following, Diablo pulling Croc along with him as he too left.

The remaining members of Alpha squad shook their heads and continued along their path, they were soldiers after all and this was their mission, whatever their personal beliefs might be. Rick looked to Katana hoping for some support, but she wouldn’t or couldn’t meet his eyes, turning and heading into the bar after the criminals, a move Fade would have never expected. Leaving her alone in the rain with her former CO, Rick looked to Fade eyes dropping to the floor defeated. He’d been treating her poorly all evening, whatever his motivations might have been, he didn’t expect any support from her.

She sighed heavily, stepping forward to place a hand on his shoulder, the man’s head snapped up hope flaring in his eyes only to be extinguished a moment later as she too walked away.    

Entering the bar, she found Harley playing bartender, pouring shots of whatever she’d laid her hands on first and handing them round. Lawton and Digger were propping up the middle section of the bar, Diablo at the far end, Croc taking up residence in one of the booths nearby. Pulling herself up onto the bar Fade swung her legs over placing her feet on the bartender’s side, she could see everyone from there and reach the good liquor on the top shelf.

Waving away the shot glass Harley held out to her, she instead reached up and grabbed down a bottle of single malt, cracking the top off and swigging directly from the bottle. It burned on the way down but in a pleasant way that reminded her she was still alive and helped shake off the chill of the rain permeating her very bones.

Even Katana accepted a shot from the pretty psychopath pouring drinks, but she refused to toast to honour among thieves as declared by Lawton, stating she wasn’t a thief and walking away from them, Fade sniggering at her reaction.

Lawton didn’t take it personally though he mocked her lightly, clinking his shot against Harley’s blue umbrella’d concoction and Digger’s can of beer before downing his shot.

As had been her way most of the evening Fade found herself zoning out, occasionally swigging from the bottle in her hand, half aware of the conversation but not really paying attention. Lawton was holding court for the most part, but then Diablo spoke up. He’d been the quietest out of them all so far, hanging back not wanting to get involved but based on what they’d seen back in the building he was also the most powerful amongst them. Judging by what he was telling them about his past and the groups reaction to it, he probably had the one of the most tragic backstories too due to misuse of the same powers, it certainly explained his reluctance to use them.

Fade couldn’t help but see the irony, she was sat in a room full of thieves and murders, herself included, even Katana couldn’t say her hands were clean whatever her reasons may have been. Yet none of them were comfortable with the thought of hurting women and children, she didn’t doubt some of them had killed women, when required, they’d probably even justified it to themselves as a necessary evil but the thought of killing an innocent bothered them all.

Fade eyed Croc as Diablo spoke, he was the only one she wasn’t sure of in that regard considering the man or beast, whatever he identified as, was a self-confessed cannibal. Perhaps he too drew the line at kids but then again he might consider them a delicacy.

It was Digger’s quiet question that brought her focus back to Diablo “and the kids?”  

Harley the one to respond her voice shaking “He killed them” the horrified look on Digger’s face surprised Fade but because his eyes were watery too betraying the big Aussie’s bleeding heart for all to see. Scooting sideways along the bar slightly she leant forward reaching over to place a hand on his shoulder, offering and the same comfort he’d given her this evening. He looked up at her, blinked a couple of times and pulled her hand from his shoulder to hold it tightly in his own. Fade was distracted but looked up when Harley shouted at Diablo, his own eyes tearing as he thought of his family, confessing his sins to the rest of them. The blonde continued to have a go at him though the volume of her voice dropped, Lawton attempting to get her to leave him be, but she ignored him. Fade frowned Harley had a sharp tongue at times but this wasn’t her, this was her grief talking, her mouth running away with her before her brain could catch up.

It was Digger that was the one to silence her “Why is it always a knife fight every single time you open your mouth” he demanded coldly, glaring at her across the bar Harley’s eyes widening at the challenge, but refusing to back down considering the way he was talking to her.

Fade didn’t exactly blame him, but she extracted her hand from his immediately, not that he noticed. Letting her go without sparing her a glance as he continued, a nasty edge to his voice “You know outside you’re amazing but inside… you’re ugly”

Harley bit back straight away declaring in a whisper “We all are… We all are” her voicing rising as she repeated her words driving her point home.

Digger opened his mouth to argue some more but Fade cut him off testily, a look of loathing on her face as she defended her friend “That’s enough”

The Aussie raised an eyebrow at her shocked by the look of blatant hostility on her face, a nasty snarl gracing his own as he opened his mouth once more, eyes flashing with anger locked on hers.

The sound of the door opening attracted everyone’s attention, whatever retort Digger was going to make dying on his tongue as they watched Rick enter the bar.  

Fade watched him walk across the room settling on the stool between Diablo and Lawton unsurprised, he wouldn’t have just walked away from them, they were assets and his responsibility, it would be his ass on the line if he just let them walk away.

It was Harley that addressed him first, shaking her head at him “We don’t want you here”

Rick looked up to her face and then around to the rest, the truth of her words reflected back to him everywhere he looked, even by Fade.

“Did you get to the part in that binder where I was sleeping with her?” Rick admitted his attention on Lawton. No one else had seen the binder but no one reacted to the new information, it made sense when you thought about it now she had the last piece of the puzzle, but the hypocrisy of it was what pissed her off.

“Unbelievable!” She muttered swinging herself from the bar and dropping down to the floor, adding “I need some air” for whoever might be paying attention to her.

Striding from the bar into the street she was relieved to find it had stopped raining at last, she never intended to go far but she needed a moment alone. Eyeing Alpha Squad who had apparently returned to wait for their CO she turned, disappearing into the small alleyway that ran between the bar and the next building, dropping down onto her haunches her back against the wall.

Shaking her head, she fumed quietly to herself at the man’s gall, the way he’d been talking to her all night grated on her. He’d been treating them all as freaks and degenerates, but yet whole time he’d been sleeping with someone just like them. Acting like he was somehow above them, but the whole time he was no better, a murderer for his country rather than money but a murderer, nonetheless.

The sound of hurried footsteps pulled Fade back into the present suddenly aware that she was somewhat exposed and on her own, which given the current situation could be potentially hazardous to her health.

Standing and peering out into the street she was astonished to see Digger march swiftly past “Hey Digger!” she called out as he moved out of her eyeline. Backtracking he arrived back at the entrance to the alleyway moments later, an apprehensive look on his face considering they’d been on the precipice of an argument when Rick had entered the bar.

Fade shrugged waving her hand indicating she’d moved on instead cocking an eyebrow at him “You trying get your head blown off? You know Flag won’t hesitate right? He proved that earlier if you remember”

Digger nodded at her acknowledging the wordless dismissal of their almost disagreement with a small grateful smile, explaining “Flag said we were free to go”

Fade hummed in response “Seems unlikely?”

Digger laid a hand on his chest over his heart, the other palm up in front of him “Swear on me mums’ life. Smashed the gadget that makes our heads pop right in front of us and everything”

She scoffed eyebrows flying up to her hairline in shock “Well shit. Didn’t know he had it in him, the explosive is still embedded in your neck though” she pointed out.

He nodded with a smile “I know a guy back at central city” frowning slightly he appeared to be considering his next words, finally opening his mouth his decision made “Fancy comin along for the ride?”

That took Fade aback, it was quite possibly the last thing she expected him to say, “You want me to come with you?” she clarified, wondering if she misheard.

He shrugged “Why not?” downplaying the request he continued “Someone with your skill set could come in handy in my line of work”

Fade smirked at him “Oh I see it’s my skill set you want to take advantage of… nothing else”

Chuckling he stepped into the alleyway away from the interested eyes of Alpha squad, crowding her to the wall “If there’s more on offer Darl, I won’ be saying no”

“You want to get up close and personal, do you?” Fade teased as he grinned down at her “How close were you thinking?”

Stepping firmly into her personal space he placed a hand on the wall either side of her head leaning down his lips a beath away from hers “Reckon this is a pretty decent start alright”

Pausing he waited for her to decide, he’d made it clear what he wanted but she needed to decide for herself. It was only a few seconds that they stared at one another, but it felt like an eternity until Fade leant forward connecting their lips her hands flying up to wrap around his shoulders pulling him to her and pressing her body against his tightly.

She felt him smile into the kiss, pushing her back against the wall, crushing her between the brick and his bulk, arms dropping to wrap around her, holding her tightly as their mouths moved in sync.

His lips were insistent on hers demanding the surrender she was only too willing to give with the way his hands were exploring her body. When one large hand slipped underneath her jacket, she gasped his hands cold on the warm skin of her back.

Chuckling at her reaction he slid his other hand under the jacket as well sighing he used her as a hand warmer, Fade squirming under his touch. Slipping his tongue into her mouth while she was distracted the kiss turned heated in a heartbeat. Plundering her mouth, he tangled his tongue with hers enthralled with her taste undercut with the whiskey she’d been drinking moments earlier.

Fade knew she needed to stop him, she was rapidly getting punch drunk on his kisses, if she allowed this to continued much longer, she suspected she’d agree to anything he might suggest.

Placing a firm hand on his chest she pushed him away from her, stifling her own whine at the loss of contact, the world rushing to them the stillness of the night buzzing in her ears as loud as the pounding of her heart.

Digger blinked rapidly appearing a little dazed himself, recovering himself enough to grin down at her “That a yes love?”

With a deep and somewhat regretful sigh she shook her head, stepping out of his arms as his face fell “You’re really going back?”

She paused at the entrance to the alleyway “I made Flag a promise, besides I can’t leave Harley”

He nodded disappointment and resignation on his face “Shame. You and me coulda had some fun. Reckon I coulda shown you a real good time” He leered at her, his roguish charm coming as easily as breathing.

Chuckling she nodded, but not willing to say goodbye completely “Maybe you still will sometime” a grin spreading across his face when he realised, she wasn’t saying no, just not now “See you around Digger”

“Later Darl” he called after her as she exited the alleyway leaving him behind.

Returning to the bar, sad that Digger was gone but not believing for one second that it would be the last she’d ever see of him, she reached for the door just as it opened from the other side. Lawton nearly knocking her on her ass as he exited the building “You running too?” she quipped, but the man shook his head “Nah we’re gonna get this shit done”

Fade smiled when Harley appeared behind him moments later a answering wide smile on her face and a determined look in her eye.

Rick exited next, stilling when he saw Fade surprised “You’re still here?” he asked disbelieving, despite her presence in front of him.

She shrugged “Couldn’t leave Harley could I”

“I can take care of myself” the blonde countered at once slightly put out.

“Oh, I know that” Fade retorted turning to look at her as the others filed out of the building behind Rick “I was more concerned about how many of the others you’d get killed in the process” She added sweetly, motioning to them with an incline of her head, Rick snorting and then quickly covering his laughter as the woman scowled at him.

Regrouping with Alpha Squad who were actually pleased Rick had managed to talk them round, they left Rick standing awkwardly in front of Fade, a hand scratching at the back of his neck betraying his unease.

“Look Suz..” he started but she cut him off not needed the apology “It’s Fade now… and don’t worry about it”

Rick smiled tightly but nodded relieved he was getting off so easily, he should have known better.

“You know I don’t judge” she winked at him turning to join the others.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” He called out hurrying after her and falling into step at her side, the group moving out with a nod of his head.

“So you’ve got a bit of a taste for the bad ones now” Fade continued, causally checking over her guns and reloading them as they walked “I don’t blame you, heart wants what the heart wants” She added slapping a fresh magazine into place with a reassuring click. Turning to look at him with a grin spreading slowly across her face she added “Then again we could be talking about something slightly further south of your heart” she dropped her gaze pointedly to his groin with an accompanying wink to finish off her point that had him barking out a loud laugh, several of Alpha squad looking around startled by the noise.

Stifling the noise quickly he grinned at her, more the man she knew right now than he’d been all night “I haven’t missed you” he declared.

Chuckling she nudged his shoulder with hers “Yeah, you have. Now come on let’s get this kamikaze mission underway”

Lawton snorted at her comment looking over his shoulder at her to ask, “In a hurry to die or something?”

Fade shrugged “I’m wet, cold, tired and let’s be honest, more than a little bored of traipsing around this damn city. If I die, well at least I know hell will be warmer than this” she finished with a smirk on her face, in no doubt where she’d end up if this mission ended badly for her.

Chuckling Lawton called over his shoulder “Meet you down there?”

“You’re on” she called back, turning to Harley as she fell back from the others to talk to her

“Where’s Boomer?” she enquired, looking over her shoulder as if the man would magically appear at her words.

Slotting her now reloaded weapons back into her holsters Fade explained with a small pang of disappointment, not that she blamed him “He took off”

Harley watched her friends face closely, spotting the flicker of emotion, a small smile springing onto her face in response, it had been a long time since she’d seen Fade interested in anyone. Even though he was gone she considered it progress “That’s a shame” she murmured still smiling even though Fade was now rolling her eyes at her tone.

“What’s a shame?”

Looking around sharply, at the familiar but unexpected voice Fade smiled in welcome, shaking her head. Harley merely shooting him a knowing glance as joined them, finishing his beer and tossing the can over his shoulder.

“You came back?” Lawton called out, acknowledging the return of the Aussie with a note of surprise in his voice.

“Yeah well, the crazy bitch is trying to destroy the world” Digger hollered back “So I figured I was screwed either way, might as well go down swinging”

Fade snickered as Rick tensed as his words “Hey that’s his girlfriend you’re talking about” she admonished him, earning a glare from the soldier “Could you not?”

“There’s no accounting for taste” interjected Lawton the disgust in his voice evident.

“Hey!” Rick reared up defending his love “June’s a good woman”

Lawton snorted at his misunderstanding “Hey I got no dispute it’s her taste I’m questioning, she went slumming with the likes of you”

“He’s got a point” Fade laughed out loud, grinning good humouredly.

“Shut up” Rick growled but couldn’t seem to prevent the smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

***

Getting to the swirling vortex of death hadn’t been a problem strangely, with no sign of any more of the bubble headed creatures that used to be people. Rick informed them when asked that Enchantress’ brother Incubus feeds on a person’s lifeforce, suggesting that with the city evacuated he might be snacking on their own army. Fade scrunched up her nose in disgust at the thought, though it did mean less bad guys overall it also meant the big guy was likely to be hungry by the time they got there. Despite having scuttled away as soon as he was free to do so, now Digger was back with them, he was actively participating. Producing some sort of surveillance boomerang when they were discussing how to best find out what was going on in the station without putting anyone in danger, up until that point the best suggestion was for Fade to go have a look, something she wasn’t too thrilled about.

She was impressed when he revealed he’d made it himself, not taking offense at her amazement he just smiled at her “I might talk rough love, but I’m not as stupid as people think”

Shooting him a quick smile they followed the others to the closest subway entrance, with the intention of retrieving the demo charge that Enchantress had come so close to blowing up Rick with earlier, but found the tunnel flooded.

Luckily for them it turned out that GQ and the remaining three members of Alpha squad were Navy seals before they joined ARGUS, I quick call back to base and their scuba gear was on the way, the four of them dashing off to the rendezvous point.

Now all they had to do was sit and wait, which was easier said than done, everyone was running on adrenaline by this point amped up and ready to go but instead they could only busy themselves with checking their gear. Fade handed Harley one of her spare Mags the blonde popping out the bullets one by one transferring them to her six shooter. She went to tuck the rest of the magazine into her bra but Fade just frowned at her and snatched it away, slipping it back into her vest securely with a shake of her head. It wasn’t as bad as tucking a loaded handgun into the waistband of your trousers, but it wasn’t exactly sensible either.

Fade checked over her guns repeatedly thumbing the safety on and off, ensuring it wouldn’t jam and then reloading. It was a nervous habit she’d developed over time, something she didn’t even notice anymore but the near constant clicking of her weapons had Rick chuckling, the sound drawing her attention. Snorting with amusement as she realised what she’d been doing, the woman checked over the guns one last time and holstered them with a smirk, but now she had nothing to occupy her hands or her brain.

Watching the others instead, she found they all had their own rituals, Rick and Lawton checking over their guns as she had been, though slightly less obsessively. Digger sharpening the already razer sharp edge of a Boomerang with a small whet stone and Katana talking to the smoking sword in her hands in hushed rapid Japanese, the emotion clear in her voice.

Fade already knew Katana’s backstory, but it was no less sad hearing Rick explain it to everyone else, somehow it hit different today. They might be nothing but a bunch of morally and ethically grey criminals, but none of them had to be here each of them had chosen to take on this fight, to protect something or someone. A quiet had settled over them that bordered on uncomfortable, each lost in their own thoughts. It was Digger that broke first, unable to bear the tension he made a snarky remark, as was his way “Yeah well… you know what they say about the crazy ones”

Fade chuckled looking up at the man to find he was staring at her, a strange look on his face that she couldn’t place, but she offered him a smile that he returned as Harley called “Huh?” making them all laugh quietly.

“Good to go” GQ called into the entrance they were clustered around, Rick responding back with an affirmative, motioning for the group to follow him with a clipped “Let’s move”

Entering the main hall of the train station through the devastated subway beneath they were able to witness first-hand the damage Incubus could cause. Dead bodies and ammunition casings littered the floor, while more of the black spikey substance they’d seen earlier hung from walls and the ceiling.

Moving quickly but quietly up the stairs, they darted behind the stone pillars surrounding the open area usually full of commuters, but today only containing Enchantress and her weapon.

The light show they could see outside was emanating directly from her like glowing smoke it was mesmerizing to watch her body undulating ceaselessly as they watched enthralled.

“Hey, everyone can see all this trippy magic stuff, right?” Harley murmured quietly, a nervous edge to her voice.

Lawton nodded as Rick asked, “Yeah why?”

Harley smiled at him relieved but still not entirely convinced, explaining “I’m off my meds” something that had Fade stifling a snort of laughter.

The sound of Enchantress’ voice calling out to them was strangely unnerving, despite speaking softly her voice not raised, each of them could hear her as clearly as if she was stood next to them.

“I’ve been waiting for you all night. Step out of the shadows I won’t bite”

Fade raised an eyebrow, did the witch seriously think anyone of them would fall for that, the next second biting back a yelp of surprise as Harley deemed it a perfectly reasonable request and trotted off towards her.

"Harley!” she hissed, lunging for her almost out of cover, but Digger wrapped an arm around her waist and dragged her back, holding her against him as Lawton did the same to Harley.

She stopped struggling to get to her crazy friend settling for shooting her an aggravated look that just had Harley shrugging.

“Why are you here?” the witch continued undeterred “Because the soldier led you? and all for Waller. Why do you serve those who cage you? I Am your ally and I know what you want, exactly what you want”

Fade shook her head as a strange buzzing sounded in her ears her entire body prickling all over but not unpleasantly. Closing her eyes, she felt a warm breeze on her face the warmth of the sun on her skin, a feeling of peace in her soul with only the sound of the sea surrounding her. Confused she blinked, opening her eyes to see the endless expanse of the glittering blue ocean before her, leaning back and twisting she realised she was stood on the deck of a massive sailboat, completely alone. The quiet comforting rather than fear inducing as she’d been trained to expect, she leant into the feeling, turning back to the water, and gazing over the wide expanse with a deeply satisfied sigh.

The sound of bare feet padding across the wooden boards drew her attention, but she didn’t turn, a pair of strong arms wrapping around her from behind, warm lips caressing the skin of her neck “So where to next Darl?”

The familiar cadence of Digger’s accent broke her from the trance, shocked that he would appear in what she guessed to be her most deep-seated desire. Jerking forward as she awoke from the witches’ spell, Digger’s arm still caging her dragged her back, his face buried in her hair as he muttered to himself with his eyes closed.

Looking to the others they all seemed to be locked within the spell, dazed expressions across their faces only Diablo was fighting, his face screwed up against the onslaught. A pained shout ripped from him as his eyes snapped open “Can’t change what I did and neither can you!”

Breathing hard he looked around, seeing only Fade awake and staring at him, she could only guess what the shaking and angry man had been shown. Pointing at Digger and Katana he turned to Lawton, Rick and Harley “Wake them up”

Twisting in Digger’s strong grip she fisted her hands in his jacket the best she could do in the confined space, shaking him roughly “Wake up!” he didn’t react, continuing to murmur to himself. Fade felt almost guilty waking him, his expression was so peaceful she didn’t want to tear him away from whatever he was seeing, but that wasn’t something she could allow him right now.

Reaching up she gripped his chin harshly and shouted again, louder this time but still nothing. Frowning unsure what to try, a wicked thought stole across her tired brain, if this didn’t work nothing would.

“Oh my god Harley! Put your shirt back on and stop kissing Katana” she all but screamed in his face.  

Jerking awake so quickly it was almost comical Digger’s gaze cast wildly around, finally coming to rest on her upturned and grinning face. She expected a harsh rebuke or a furious complaint for tricking him, but he just gazed at her confusion clouding his eyes, hands bunching into the fabric of her jacket at her waist, seemingly unwilling to let her go.

“Digger?” She whispered gently, hand coming to rest over his chest, his heart beating wildly and erratically under her palm as he calmed slowly.

“You looked lovely in that dress” was his quiet response, Fade’s mouth falling open in surprise at his words “What dress?”

Her words and shocked expression seemed to clear the lingering traces of the spell from the man, shaking his head he let go of her abruptly, stepping back quickly and then around her. A pink tinge climbing his cheeks as he followed Diablo down the stairs into battle.

***

Groaning Fade sat up too quickly the tiles appearing to jump up and smack her in the face as she almost collapsed back down onto them. The last thing she remembered before everything went dark was being lifted up in the air, every nerve ending screaming her body taut and rigid feeling as though she was being ripped apart.

“Woah there love, steady now”

A familiar voice broke through the fog, warm hands propping her up against something just as warm but hard like the floor she was sat on.

“Feels like I got hit by a truck? What the fuck happened?” She muttered rubbing her face, peeling open her eyes and blinking rapidly up into Digger’s concerned face, confirming that she was leaning against his chest, propped up between his legs.

“She did something to ya darl. Stopped ya phasing or some shit, and then chucked you across the room” he explained, Fade nodding along it sounded familiar she just couldn’t remember it happening.

Looking slowly round Fade took in the darkened room, the earlier light show absent, chaos and devastation all around them “Did we win?” she murmured eyes straying to the panicked desperate witch surrounded by the others, Rick towering over her with her heart in his hand.

Moments later a devastated Rick crushed the heart he held in his hands falling to his knees and sobbing unashamedly, for the second time tonight Fade’s supposedly non-existent heart broke. She wanted to go to him, but her legs felt disconnected from her body, instead she leant into Diggers warm embrace, a single tear falling for her friend.

The man was surprisingly comforting though he’d had plenty of practise already this evening, making quiet shushing sounds to sooth her as she cried, she wasn’t sure why he was being so gentle with her but was too tired to question it.

A commotion by the steps drew their attention back to their fallen foe, only to see Rick rush forward with a surprised sob, pulling his lost love into his arms.

It took a moment for Fade to stop crying relief, making her tears fall even harder but it gave her enough time for her head to clear. Wondering how she had come to be tucked between Digger’s legs, in a far corner of the training station surrounded by debris, she frowned up into his tired face. “Did I land on you?” the only conclusion she could draw from their positioning.

“Sorta” he confirmed with a small wince rolling his shoulders, his aching joints cracking with the movement.

“What do you mean sorta?” she muttered still trying to make sense of what was going on

“He caught you babes” Harley announced, having bounced over to check on her now that June was once again up and about, lost love restored.

“You caught me?” Fade peered up into Digger’s face surprised.

Grabbing her friend under the arms Harley attempted to haul her to her feet, she was surprisingly strong, but Fade had to help her, pulling her shaking legs under her as Harley responded to her question matter of factly.

“Well, he cushioned your fall more than anything else, but otherwise I reckon you’d be splattered across the floor about now”

Standing upright on legs that still felt like jelly Fade raised an eyebrow at the Captain commenting “That was surprisingly selfless of you”

He barked out a laugh “What can I say sweetness I’m a nice guy”

“Yeah, I’m not buying it” Fade snorted a grin on her face as she held out a hand to help him up.

Miming an arrow to the heart he clutched at his chest “I’m wounded Darl”

“No, you’re not” she shook her head at him waving her hand in his face “Come on gimme your hand”

Reaching for her they were all surprised when Digger’s hand passed straight through hers.

Frowning Harley watched her for a moment as Fade stared at her own hands, watching herself fade in and out but without control.

“You ok babes you’re kinda flickering” she murmured taking a small step back from her, as though she was a bomb that might go off at any moment, instead holding a handout to help Digger clamber to his feet.

“Well, that’s irritating” she muttered still staring at her hands “Hope it goes away”

[flowersdaggersviolasandblood]

Blood, Flesh, and Tears

Name: Torment (He/Him)

Race: Zariel Tiefling

Class: Paladin (Oath of Vengence)

Background: Haunted One

WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD!

After speaking with Jaheira and getting acquainted with Last Light Inn, the crew decided to go meet Isobel. After a brief conversation, we, of course, fought the traitorous Flaming Fist who attempted to take Isobel away. I was nearly tempted to let that happen, but because I decked out my peeps and just did too well lmao. However, the urge to harm Isobel was an ever present desire within Torment. With Last Light still standing, Torment agrees to reach Moonrise Towers and go renegade while also figuring out what magic was used on the parasites.

To further assist in our journey, the Harpers intend to ambush a traveling Absolute cult group who has access to a lantern that will help further against the darkness. This is where we are on the opposite spectrum of the fight between the Absolute cult vs the Harpers where we can fight with the Harpers instead of the Absolute cult. Once we obtained the lantern, I decided to let the pixie go, despite Torment wanting to kill the small creature.

While resting at camp, Mizora decides to pay us a visit asking that Wyll go free a devil that's currently trapped at Moonrise Towers. Unlike Pero, Nalanthar, and Admaer who were able to see that Mizora was in a desperate situation where she NEEDS Wyll to succeed; Torment is silly and wasn't to sus her out.

As he went to sleep, we got another visit from our imp-goblin butler.

Sceleritas Fel, ever the most dutiful butler, comes to use with a proposition that we should go after Isobel and murder her in cold blood. Despite Torments' arguments against this, Fel gives a warning against not harming Isobel as he reminds him of the fate of poor Alfira and how he killed her after spending so long not killing an innocent life. It's becoming a reoccurring theme that murdering those who deserve death isn't enough for Torment and his urge. He needs the blood of lambs, to torture and stomp out the hopes of innocents.

During another night after exploring for a bit, apparently, Wyll and Torment are on exceptionally good terms lol. Wyll offered a dance with Torment, and despite the Tieflings' push back, he joins Wyll. In Torments mind, he wants to experience a semblance of normalcy so dancing with Wyll, while it might've was making him sick because he wanted to snap the guys' legs, it did make Torment feel good. However, Torment saw the indicators that Wyll wanted something more from the relationship and silently refused his advances.

Afterwards, while speaking with Withers, Withers made note of Torment not having any maidens, which Torment expresses that he wouldn't want to burden anyone with his bloodlust.

While explore more of the Cursed Lands, we stumbled upon a curious sight! I've never met this individual with Pero since I explore the most of the Cursed Lands with her. They call themselves, He Who Was (We'll nickname them HWW) and they're hellbent on getting vengeance for some victims that were killed by a individual whom they were speaking with. The only thing is, the killer is already dead. But HWW wants to find further evidence of their crime so that they may be judged again. Torment agrees to help and places it in his back pocket to look for any clues about this past murderer. Also, HWW's bird is fucking hilarious XD.

While exploring, we also met the kid Oliver. Ok, imma admit, I had to look up a guide for this kid because I wasn't sure if I was doing anything right. I wasn't doing anything wrong, just looking in the wrong place since the answer to Arts' blight right now can be found at the House of Healing. But, for the sake of the future, I had Torment play hide & seek with the kid. As we inched closer to Reithwin, we rediscovered Rolan and saved his sorry hide. Much like Pero who wasn't taking his shit, Torment asked if it was better that he left Rolan to die. Regardless of the Tiefling's complaints, they ran back to Last Light Inn.

Once we reached the town, I made a beeline to go after Arabella because I thought I saw somewhere online where it's possible to save the girls' parents. After inviting her to camp, I immediately went to the side building not too far to see if I could save them. But nope, they're still dead. I even checked some game articles to see if I was missing something, but nope, poor girl is doomed to loose her parents apparently. Unless I'm missing something. Torment, like Pero, decided to be forth coming about her parents death, though he could've handled it better since he decided to speak in detail what happened to their corpses lol.

I decided to kill the nurse there and that might be want I will do on this gameplay with Torment and see how many of the Thorm family I can kill myself instead of telling them to KYS. Before ending this, Torment had a brief conversation with Astarion about his scars and whom else Cazador assaulted. Astarion talks about his other "brothers and sisters" and explains how he was the favorite of them all.

[eirenical]

Killer and Healer |  Hen Jun Bu Si Jiang Lou Yue | 恨君不似江楼月 | Episode 1

In which Cheng-xiaojie is faster on her feet and calmer under pressure than I could EVER hope to be, especially when facing down a horde of police yelling at her in another language while the fugitive they’re seeking is hiding in her bathtub, possibly drowning by inches. 

WE STAN A LEGEND.

(ETA: YIKES. Just realized I labeled this ep. 2 and it’s ep. 1.  OOPS. Fixed now!  OTZ)

Guys, seriously. I’m two episodes into this series, I just met Cheng-xiaojie a little over one episode ago, I DON’T EVEN KNOW HER PERSONAL NAME YET, and yet I WOULD DIE FOR HER.

I... almost think I care more about her than the two males leads at this point.  I was HER story.  I HOPE WE GET TO KEEP HER FOR A WHILE.  *_*

Anyway, I watched this scene so many times and loved it more and more each time, so I finally caved in and giffed it.  There is so much going on here that I love, from Cheng-xiaojie’s coolness under pressure, to that little half smirk she gets when she uses something often thought of as a feminine weakness to gain the upper hand over a roomful of boorish police officers, to the way they can’t run from that bucket of bandages quickly enough.  It’s all brilliant and I was NOT expecting a scene like that in a Chinese Republic-era drama.  ...hell, I’m not sure I would have expected it in an American modern drama, either.  XD

Anyway.  Cheng-xiaojie.  We stan a legend.  ^________^

[marvellouslymadmim]

Calanthe Knew.

Alright, this is gonna get wordy. So hang with me. I'll go into full detail below the cut, but for the half-interested scroller:

Calanthe already knew most (if not everything) about Duny and certainly knew about the pregnancy before the banquet. Let's expand on that. (Spoilers for season one of Netflix Witcher, and spoilers for season two, I guess?)

Ok, first, the basics that are in canon:

Roegner promised young Duny to be repaid via the Law of Surprise. Now he did not reveal this until just before his death, so Calanthe was oblivious for a few years. Common sense dictates that he told Calanthe the man's name, so that Calanthe didn't just give up their daughter and their country to any rando claiming to have aided the king.

Calanthe is known and touted as being well-informed and well-connected. She is a tactician who plans for every eventuality.

When Pavetta throws up at the wedding, Calanthe's first question, in both book and show canon is "Are you [pregnant]?"

Second, let's expand upon that.

You really think her hubby dropped a bomb like that and Calanthe didn't IMMEDIATELY seek out as much information on this Duny dude as possible? You think she didn't have spies who went out, realized this dude just popped up OUT OF NOWHERE right around the time of the Usurper's overthrow of Nilfgaard (maybe she didn't put those two together, I'll grant you that)? You think she didn't know about him being a DAMN HEDGEHOG? You think she didn't go "hmm, ok, monster. Lemme find a good witcher to handle this shit"? I think we can all agree that Geralt did not arrive in Cintra by any measure of accident. And Calanthe was not surprised by his arrival in the least. She arranged for the most celebrated witcher to be in attendance, knowing Hedgie Boi would most likely show his monstrous face that night. I think the books say so outright, but it's been a hot minute since I've read them and I'm lazy.

Let us remember a very vital part of being a royal, particularly a princess: You. Do. Not. Do. Your. Own. Laundry. This means a pretty sizeable amount of people know about your "proper functioning" as the film Elizabeth put it. (y'all. someone was collecting her period underwear and sheets, multiple other people were washing them, etc, is what I'm trying to say). And someone noticed that...it had been awhile. You really think anyone wanting to keep their head didn't fucking relay that information to the fucking queen?? You think there weren't people immediately tasked with keeping track of that, from jump?

Which brings us to Cal asking Pavetta if she's pregnant. Bc very rarely does someone see a person throw up once (and at like...midnight-ish? definitely not during the traditional "morning" time attributed to morning sickness) and immediately assume it's pregnancy related UNLESS THEY HAVE SUSPICIONS ALREADY. Do you think Calanthe being like "yep, let's throw a feast for her birthday and IMMEDIATELY marry her off ASAP" was like...on a sheer whim? Homegirl was trying to get her baby onto a "respectable" timeline (aka a miraculously healthy baby born "a few months early", and only 6-7 months after the wedding itself, a tale as old as time). Pavetta's birthday must have been the closest event that seemed plausible without being *too obvious* as a rush job. Calanthe is also aware that Pavetta has someone else in her affections--she all but outright tells her daughter that she can continue seeing her secret lover, as soon as she's got a respectable beard (Crach) to step up as the unborn child's father and keep everything "legitimate". She's genuinely trying to clean up this teenage hormonal mess. And perhaps, up until Pavetta confirms it, Calanthe convinces herself that it isn't really happening. After all, Pavetta literally just turned fifteen. Young girls can have hella unpredictable cycles. Calanthe is an avoidant attachment style to a muthafucking Tee, so I doubt she ever directly confronted Pavetta about it, though she probably hinted that she knew. But once Geralt claims the Law of Surprise, Calanthe's fear runs rampant and she can't help but know the truth.

The one thing Calanthe didn't know (and the one thing that counts the most) is that DUNY is Pavetta's secret lover and the father of her unborn child.

So when all of this is revealed, why doesn't she just accept it and rejoice that everything worked out so perfectly?

Well. Calanthe would also know by now that Duny is SEVENTEEN* FUCKING YEARS OLDER THAN HER DAUGHTER and the power imbalance would be astronomical, giving Pavetta very little real chance to cultivate, much less hold, her own power as a queen. This is a worry Calanthe obviously has, and one she has outright stated earlier in the evening. Calanthe knows what it's like to be a young impressionable teenager thrown into the role of supreme monarch, and she's trying to help Pavetta from repeating her own mistakes.

Crach is still also older, but only by a few years (in fact, if I remember correctly, it's the same age difference that existed between Calanthe and Roegner, which would certainly feel more comfortable to Cal than say...the fact that Duny is literally only 2 years younger than her, Pavetta's own mother).

So even when Pavetta announces her love for Duny and admits to seeing him in secret FOR (at least) A YEAR (y'all....this means a thirty year old man was "reading poetry" to a thirteen year old girl. just...let that sink in, mkay?), Calanthe just sees it for what it is: this dude groomed her daughter and is using her as a fast-track to power. Law of Surprise be fucking damned, bro. She'll kill him just for being a hebephile and seducing her still-very-much-a-child daughter.

In the end, Cal doesn't accept the marriage (or Duny) because of the Law of Surprise, or because she "sees reason" (real shitty patriarchal reason, to be exact). She sees that Pavetta, with her newly found power, can hold her own against anything and anyone. Her greatest fear (Pavetta being reduced to a figurehead, a captive in her own life) is put to rest by the fact that her baby girl can vocally hurl people fifty feet into the air like fucking ragdolls.

She still keeps an eye on Duny, though. She may not know everything about him, but she knows enough.

And if she does know everything...it explains every ounce of why she behaves the way she does, prior to the fall of Cintra. She's playing chess against a man who took her only child from her, first emotionally and then physically, and who has no compunction about doing literally whatever it takes to have power. She loses, but she still denies him as much victory as she can.

Because she knows. She's known who he truly is, at least on a moral standing, even if not in actual identity, from the first night they met.

{*So the show itself ages up Eist, Calanthe, and Ciri by 3 years, versus the events of the book. However, certain key events, such as Calanthe's age at Pavetta's birth (19) and Pavetta's age at Ciri's birth (15) are kept the same. Duny's birth, according to the books, is c.1220. This puts him either two years young than Cal (book timeline) or five years younger (show timeline). Either way, he is at least 14 years older than Pavetta, and does meet her either just before or just after she turns fourteen. Give or take a few years...still gross, even by medieval standards, even if it was a common practice for nobility.}

[artemis-entreri]

Hey, following up on the anon who asked you about the Drizzt FR canon, do you have any recommendations for FR books that aren't by Bob?

[[ Hey there, thanks for asking! I've got lots of recommendations, so it depends a lot on what you like/what you'd like to read about. \

People who find FR through the Drizzt books tend to be into drow, so if you like those, I really recommend the Starlight & Shadows trilogy by Elaine Cunningham. It's a much more nuanced, detailed and just overall better portrayal of drow culture (both Lolthite, Eilistraeen and otherwise) with a more interesting and mult-faceted drow protagonist. It's ok if you have a hard time liking her, she's meant to be a spoiled little princess who's proud of being a Lolthite at the beginning, so I think Cunningham intended the reader to dislike her. What I find compelling about that trilogy, other than the good storytelling and good writing overall, are two things: First, unlike Drizzt and his all-too-overdone need to be different from society trope, Liriel is proud of her drow heritage and goes to the surface with one of her main struggles being how to hold onto the part of her identity that is that heritage. Second, Cunningham fully embraces the existence of factors that have the potential of taking away from Liriel's uniqueness simply by existing, i.e. other drow who seek out the surface and/or forces other than Lolth. Unlike Salvatore, who aggressively erases those elements to force an artificial reality in which his golden boy is the only one, Cunningham tackles and successfully accomplishes the much more difficult task of incorporating all of those elements to the fullest and making her character stand out nonetheless. These two things really speak to me because they feel real: love it or hate it, heritage is an important part of our identity, for it shapes us with our efforts to embrace it or to reject it; every person is unique, which if you think about it, with about seven and a half billion people on this planet, no two things being exactly identical seems like a statistical impossibility, and yet it is reality even within the confines of environments that have been artificially manipulated.

The War of the Spider Queen series by a collection of authors is also a decent read, although it does suffer from having been overseen by Salvatore. They weren't written by him, so they are more nuanced and acknowledge members of the Dark Seldarine aside from Lolth, but especially the later books do a not great handling of Eilistraee. What I don't recommend reading is the Lady Penitent series by Lisa Smedman, as it takes the worst traits of WotSQ and continues them. It's quite shocking that someone other than Salvatore would do so much injustice to Eilistraee, but sadly, Smedman went there. I personally found the Lady Penitent trilogy really boring, but some people really like it, although I can't understand why. The plot is slow, the characters are insipid, the only kind of neat thing is that it travels to Sshamath, but even then it was so glossed over that it felt more like a name drop than anything else. All the events covered in the Lady Penitent series gets retconned or diminished, and one of the two major outcomes that is portrayed as being this awesome thing is, if you think about it, actually really horrible. I'm happy to discuss the details, but I didn't want to spoiler them if you or anyone else reading this post does end up reading that series (although again, I highly do not recommend it).

If you like elves in general, Evermeet: Island of Elves by Elaine Cunningham tells of the history of the elves (and drow) on Toril. A lot of people like Paul S. Kemp’s Erevis Cale books, which I found all right, definitely much better than Salvatore, but I wouldn’t rave about them. Erin M. Evans’ Brimstone Angels books are also popular, and I really thought that they’d give the Drizzt books a run for their money. I was really surprised that WotC canned them along with the other novels, as they definitely had the potential to go on and on like the Drizzt books do. Personally, I thought the first book was great, the second one ok, and then they just started falling off for me, suffering from the same kind of thing that the Drizzt books do with a feeling of repetitiveness. There were of course people who swear by them and don’t feel that they got repetitive, but those are the same kinds of people who keep the Drizzt books going on. However, as those kinds of consumers are what most consumers are, because the Brimstone Angels books have the kind of draw that appeals to those types of consumers, it would’ve done well as a long serial, even if they aren’t to my tastes. They’re worth giving a fair shot, especially if you like tieflings and dragonborn. I will also give Evans a ton of credit for her LGBT+ representation in the books without making them token character tropes, which is incredibly important in a world like the Forgotten Realms. 

A friend of mine really likes the Brotherhood of the Griffon series by Richard Lee Byers, so I’ll throw that out there too.

My personal favorite FR books are the Blades of the Moonsea trilogy by Richard Baker and The Reaver by Richard Lee Byers. I tend to like stories about average people, local heroes instead of characters gunning to be the Realms’ Top Five. Not every hero has to be a Drizzt Do’Urden, not every villain has to be a BBEG, not every threat has to be a Realms-Shaking Event. I like to now more about a world by learning about what its average denizen is up to, and how someone who comes from among those denizens becomes a hero. The deeds that are done are not striking down demon princes, which really gets old when it happens every other book or so. It probably is no coincidence that both of those recommendations feature human protagonists. In a fantasy world with so many fantastical races, preferring humans might seem a boring choice, but I don’t know, there’s just something about that, “I’m a member of a short-lived race so my ambition/motives/actions will make up for that” that’s really compelling to me. It also really helps that there are some beautiful imagery in Blades of the Moonsea, with turns of phrases that stick with me years after I’ve read the books. Both it and The Reaver detail the setting so well that I came out of them feeling like I’d personally seen regions of the world that I’ve grown to love so much.

Oh, one final recommendation before I end this post: for getting to know one of the most iconic FR locations while also being treated to a good feel of this magical world as a whole, check out the Waterdeep series. Six different authors, six different stories, six different perspectives of Waterdeep make for an excellent experience. My favorites among the six are Mistshore and City of the Dead, with The God Catcher and Blackstaff Tower being my least favorite. I also really enjoyed Downshadow, which also features LGBT+ inclusion done in an organic way. Downshadow has sequels, together forming the Shadowbane series. The others are standalones. ]]

[link4eva]

Kiro’s Seeking Date Translation [CN]

Hey, everyone! Just a couple of things before you begin reading. I don’t actually know any Chinese so this translation was done through the power of Google Translate. A HUGE shout-out to @keliosyfan and @cheesy09 for helping me with edits and revising. Thank you!!! 💛

Here’s a link to the date video uploaded by @keliosyfan​ that you can follow along with.

 Also, here’s a link to the call that comes before the date.

*TW: I feel like I should note that this date has mentions of human trafficking.*

This translation contains spoilers for a date that has not yet been released to the ENG server. If you wish to not be spoiled, please don’t look below the cut. 

Hope you enjoy~ 💛

*Spoilers for future content below!*

[First Part]

??: What are you doing kidnapping her, idiot?! 

??: She has been with Helios for so many years, she must be his most important woman.

??: With this woman, we can make him write off his debts and also crush his spirit as a gift to those foreigners.

In the dimness, two male voices drifted into my ears.

My hands were tied behind me, and the rope bore through the cloth on my body. The rough and wet touch made me very uncomfortable.

??: If he really cared about this woman, would he always keep her by his side? Tell everyone that she is his weakness?

??: This woman is a target he bought four years ago to get rid of trash and see who in the city found him unpleasant!

Although I was very certain that these people were telling the truth, after hearing those words, my heart still couldn’t help but ache.

??: This is the end of the matter. This woman can’t stay.

??: Sooner or later, that beast Helios will know what you have done. He would never let us get away with it. *Changed some wording*

??: This person has just been taken away, and Helios won’t be so fast.

The icy sound of a knife unsheathing made me clench my teeth. My whole body shook.

The hemp rope had been cut with the blade hidden in my sleeve, and I waited for the opportunity as it gradually approached.

Even though I closed my eyes, I could always see that person’s face and a pair of indifferent blue eyes.

If I died, would he be sad? 

??: Hope... is the most precious thing in this world. 

??: Do you want to go with me?

I can’t die yet.

But just before I acted, someone ended up being faster than me.

With a “shink”, it seemed that a sharp weapon pierced the glass and embedded itself into the wooden board. The sudden noise made my heart constrict.

??: Don’t open your eyes.

After an extremely cold and commanding voice sounded, there were shrill screams. In the continuous plethora of sounds, there was the harsh sound of bones being twisted.

I closed my eyes and curled up tightly, worried that this was just a dream.

Until I was hugged in a strong and warm embrace, with the fragrance of smokey tobacco wrapping around me. 

I opened my eyes blankly and caught sight of the silver hair that was eye-catching and dazzling in the gloomy thatched house.

Those blue eyes, which were normally calm, were now mixed with a little anger.

MC: ...Am I dreaming?

Helios: Do you often dream of me? 

The man gave me a look, held me, and walked out the door. It seemed to be the warehouse of a wine shop.

(Cut to outside)

Suddenly his figure stopped, and I lowered my eyes to find that a man was holding onto his trousers tightly.

??: Mr. Helios, boss, please forgive us this time. We will soon have a big deal, and then we will be accommodated…. 

Helios: Is the restaurant I run like an orphanage?  

Helios: Repaying debts is justified.

He turned a deaf ear to the man’s pleading and the whispers from the bystanders. He moved his long legs, and the man fell to the ground.

At the same time, a group of people began to move in and out of the store.

MC: Should I first….

Helios: Don’t move. 

His voice sounded impatient. I blinked and didn’t speak anymore.

After the fight was over, Helios raised the corner of his mouth and gave a slight retort to the kneeling man.

Helios: Mr. Cao, you’re welcome to visit Spring Moon Pavillion next time. 

??: You foreign devil, don’t lie! Go to hell! 

The curse echoed behind us, and the sound of a solid, steady heartbeat fell upon my ears.

Here, people called him many things-- Mr. Helios, the boss, foreign devil. 

No one knew his origins. There was a rumour that seemed to say he was of mixed race.

Most of the restaurants, diners and pawn shops in the city were under his name, and there were many other shady places.

Countless people ate his meals, and countless people enjoyed his turf. They were his business partners, his subordinates, and his debtors.

He was the unspoken ruler of this city.

Everyone here respected him and feared him.

MC: Are you hurt?

I felt the person stepping forward seem to pause, but it was only momentarily.

Helios: No. 

I leaned into that somewhat cold embrace, and in my sorrow, it seemed to overlap with the heavy snow from four years ago.

[Second Part]

(Flashback)

I stretched my arms strenuously, trying to grab the flying photograph.

The man behind me tightened the chain on the back of my neck, leaving only the muddy photo in my blurred vision, which ended up crushed with shoe prints on the ground.

Like unforeseen freedom, it broke free, but also decayed. Like my freedom, slowly slipping away with each step.

The world was covered with a film and the insults behind me were drowned out, and only cold white noise remained.

Suddenly, a pair of delicate leather shoes stopped next to the photo, and someone picked it up in the next second.

I blinked slowly, and found an eye-catching and sharp silver light under the extremely gloomy sky.

It was like the first speck of snow that one would find stunning in the late winter, burning straight into people’s eyes, beautiful and cold.

The boy looked around the same age as me, and a pair of azure blue eyes met my own.

The biting cold caused my reaction to delay and another pair of distant and similar pupils appeared before my eyes.

But they were warmer and brighter.

??: Snap out of it!

When my consciousness was pulled back to reality by the pain, I heard screams that did not belong to me. The force that restrained me suddenly disappeared, and I fell directly to the ground.

I reluctantly raised my eyes and found that the silver-haired boy had come over at some point, twisting the man’s wrist with one hand. His gaze shifted from the photo in his hand to me.

??: Did you stay in the orphanage in the east of the city as a child? 

I looked at him dumbfoundedly and lost my voice for a moment.

??: Answer me.

MC: [flustered] ….Ye-yes! I stayed there for a year.

The boy’s eyes seemed to light up for a moment because of my answer, and then became alienated in the blink of an eye.

He threw the man aside, lowered his eyes and wiped off the mud from the photo with his white sleeves, then squatted down and handed it to me.

??: I’ll only ask once.

??: Come with me?

I stared at him in a daze, and the roaring from the outside world came to an abrupt end. Only the voice of the boy in front of me and my own heartbeat could be heard.

MC: Ok.

As soon as I spoke, the boy threw a few silver bills at the man.

The heavy snow fell silently, and I was taken into his arms, like a fragmented snowflake.

The blood, water and frost all mixed together, and I heard his voice in the dizziness.

??: Starting today, you are mine. 

??: My name is Helios.

??: But I don’t like this name, so don’t call me that.

MC: My name is MC….Then um….what should I call you?

His attitude left me a little perplexed.

Helios: If you have something to say, I will acknowledge it.

Helios: Is that photo important?

In the heavy snow on the quiet road, I lifted my head laboriously, trying to muster a smile.

MC: [smiling affectionately] Very important. He was my best friend in the orphanage and a big star in the city.

MC: Everyone loved to hear him sing. He never cared about who his audience was; he shined nonetheless. 

MC: It’s just… He went abroad six months ago, so he must be an even better person now.

The boy’s footsteps froze for a moment as if his feet were bound in ice and snow.

Helios: He’s just an actor. 

Helios: A useless profession.

MC: But….it was his smile that gave me strength.

Without him, I would not have been able to hold on till the day I met you.

(End of flashback)

I opened my eyes and turned my head to see Helios sitting on the sofa, casually reading the newspaper. As usual, he should be in the restaurant at this time.

Looking at his profile, the dream I had just now made me a little confused.

It turned out that I had stayed by his side for so long.

He took me back to the small restaurant, healed my injuries and taught me all kinds of things.

Literacy, singing, dancing, medical skills, business….

He was the most ruthless and sharp blade. I had witnessed how he, with his own power, had expanded this small restaurant to its current size in just a few years.

Helios: Get up and eat if you’re awake. 

The sudden words interrupted my thoughts. Helios didn’t look up as he slowly took a sip of tea from his teacup. Seeing him frown, I immediately got up from the bed.

The food had been arranged on the wooden table, the temperature just right; neither too hot nor too cold--

Obviously, the people who prepared this had carefully taken time into consideration.

I looked at the man sitting aside from the sidelines and saw the teacup he put aside. I was a little puzzled.

MC: Is that pot of tea not brewed?

Helios: It’s poisoned. 

Helios: Tastes terrible. 

I almost choked on the spring rolls in my mouth and sighed inwardly at his calm demeanour.

I went up to the cabinet, skillfully took out the bottle of medicine and poured out a pill. I walked up to him and handed it over.

Helios: I won’t die.

After hearing the expected answer, I picked up the pill and brought it to his mouth.

He didn’t open his mouth but stared at me coldly.

MC: You don’t need to stare at me. I’m not afraid of you.

With that said, I continued to pry open his mouth with the pill.

Probably moved by my fearlessness, his mouth finally opened slowly and swallowed the pill.

I smiled with satisfaction and when I turned around to continue enjoying my spring rolls, a pair of cool palms swept over my waist.

The incense stick burned quietly, and a small sigh and familiar body temperature covered me closely from behind.

Helios: Don’t you blame me for using you as bait? 

He closed his eyes. His long eyelashes were covered with sunlight and his brows were furrowed.

MC: You taught me that there is no meaningless business in this world.

MC: You bought me. My life is yours.

Helios: That’s the spirit. 

The person behind slowly opened his eyes, his pupils full of jest and scrutiny.

MC: Today I just wanted to go to the temple to ask for a peace charm like in previous years. 

MC: I was going to go there by myself, but I didn’t want to cause you trouble.

He probably didn’t believe me. Even so, I explained it word by word.

A cool finger stroked my neck and entangled a few strands of my hair.

Helios: How many years have you been with me?

His sudden question had me stunned for a moment.

MC: ….Three years and two hundred and seventy-five days.

Helios: It’s three years and two hundred and seventy-six days.* 

*This is a little Easter egg that @keliosyfan spotted.  “When Helios asked MC how long she has been with him, she says "3 years, 275 days" but he corrects her saying "3 years, 276 days". If you put the numbers together you get 3276 which in CN numeric slang means "love Qiluo(Kiro) for life" or "生爱棋洛"So in a way, he wants MC to say "I love Kiro for life"(3276/生爱棋洛). 🥺😭🤧”

Although his voice was faint, it was conclusive.

I thought about it and didn’t argue with him. For me, there was no difference between one more day and one less day.

Helios: Want to leave?

MC: ….?

He laughed suddenly, but only slightly mocking this time.

Helios: I can teach you enough to live a better life.

After that, he stood up. The sudden drop in temperature made me feel a little cold in this midsummer weather.

Helios: Since you want to leave, I won’t stop you.

Helios: But leave before the seventh day of July. 

[Third Part]

Helios left after saying this, leaving me alone in the room in a daze. 

Compared to his sudden expulsion, I was more concerned about another thing.

The seventh day of July.

What was going to happen on that day?

The annexed restaurants, and suppressed merchants….I know what Helios has been doing for several years.

Would my existence cause him any trouble?

I looked at my bare wrists and couldn’t help laughing at myself.

Maybe I was locked in place by a pair of invisible shackles.

I pursed my lips and walked to the closet to take out the bag hidden in its depths. Perhaps it was just my illusion, but it seemed to have been turned over by someone.

(Outside of room)

Outside the dark room, late at night, I tiptoed over with my bag. There were faint sounds of firm punching and kicking coming from inside the room. 

Helios stayed alone here every night, not letting anyone come close.

But this was my hidden secret, and I could secretly monopolize Helios at this moment.

As usual, I opened the window a crack.

In the room, Helios was half-naked, and the small old silver locket hung with silver bells, reflecting sharp lines of bright silver light in the cold moonlight.

His movements were swift and fierce, harder than usual as if he was venting out something.

His wet hair was weighed down, and sweat dripped slowly from his lower jaw and down his strong and undulating chest.

He stood at the junction of light and shadow, with most of his face hidden in the darkness.

The sound of cicadas in midsummer made people feel a little restless, and the silver locket on his chest heaved slightly as he panted hard.

Helios stood there and didn’t move. I don’t know what he was waiting for. *The music from the first Valentine’s Day event starts playing so it’s getting steamy 😏*

In the next second, those blue eyes passed through the window and were firmly locked on me.

MC: ….!

I instantly withdrew my head and squatted down.

Helios: ….Come in. 

Helios: I’ll only say it once. *Don’t need to tell me twice!! 😩😩 *

Hearing the slightly stiff tone, I stood up, lowered my head, and pushed the door open. I only took a single step in and then stopped.

Helios: I don’t see you this compliant on weekdays.

MC: ….You knew?! Then why did you never let me go before….

Helios: For my own pleasure. 

I suddenly raised my head and found that he had positioned himself right in front of me. His scorching body temperature seemed to be able to cross the distance between us and set me on fire.

MC: I-I didn’t come here today to take a peek, I just….

He lowered his eyes and his gaze flicked across the bag I was holding behind me. His smile melted into a bit of a smirk.

Helios: If you’re saying goodbye, you don’t...

MC: I want you to teach me some martial arts.

I held my breath and did not miss the momentary surprise that flashed through his eyes.

MC: What you taught me isn’t enough.

Helios looked at me condescendingly, his eyes dim. A breeze flitted past my ear as his hand smacked against the door frame behind me.

Helios: Not enough? 

In this tense atmosphere, I tried my best not to avoid his gaze.

MC: You taught me a lot, but….it felt like things had become even serious today.

MC: So I…. I still need you.

Before I finished speaking, Helios suddenly grabbed my left wrist from the outside and at the same time stretched out his leg to hook behind me. 

When I lost my balance, his left hand instantly reached out to support my waist, and his right hand came out from under my arm and clasped my wrist from the front again.

When I came back to my senses, I found that I had been directly pinned to the floor, and the bag in my hands had been tossed aside.

The entire movement was executed clean and smooth, and there was only the faint sound of the silver bell on the old silver locket swaying in the silent air.

Helios: There are many people who need me in this city. 

Helios: I can teach you. Want to learn?

He lowered his head slightly, and the old silver locket grazed my chest, which made me take in a sharp inhale. My entire heart and lungs seemed to be occupied by his breath.

I tried to lift up my wrists and lower limbs, but it wasn’t enough to shake off the person above me.

MC: In this bag is the money that I have saved over the past few years. The money you bought me for back then, plus four years’ worth of interest, will be given to you.

Helios: I’m not short on cash.

MC: If you accept the money, I won’t owe you anything, but I will still help you.

I tremblingly stroked the old silver locket on his chest. It carried his body temperature and made my fingertips hot.

It coincided with the seventh day of the seventh month of the first year we met. For the first time, I heard someone cursing him and wanting him to die.

I had cried and went to the temple to ask for a peace charm and an old silver locket. When I got home, I gave them to him together.

I knew that many people in this city hated him, but I wanted him to be safe.

He had just smiled sarcastically at the time, and I threw it away when he turned around. Who knew that I’d see it dangling on his chest here that night.

The silver bells chimed, just like my unstoppable heartbeat. 

MC: You still wear this old silver locket.

Helios: I forgot to remove it.

His hot breath fanned my face, entangling with my own breath in the scorching air.

My fingers followed the silver chain of the old silver locket and stroked his chest. I could clearly feel his taut muscles under my fingertips.

MC: There are many orphans like me in the restaurant.

MC: Those merchants who were suppressed by you could always open new shops.

MC: Underground, the losers will always be the bureaucrats who usually bully others and gain funds out of ill will. 

MC: I don’t know why you want to be a bad person in the eyes of the city, but what I see is different from others.

Helios: Ridiculous.

MC: This is what you taught me.

Looking at my smile, he snorted coldly, but the moonlight sneaking in illuminated the faint smile in his eyes.

Helios: You just said it wrong. 

He glanced at my bag and lowered his body even further.

Helios: Don’t owe me anything?

Helios: The three years and two hundred and seventy-six days with me were enough for you to repay me?

MC: [confused] You didn’t even see how much there is inside…. 

Helios: I’ve seen it.

He pulled slightly hard, making me stand up instantly.

Helios: You owe me too much. 

Helios: I’ll ask you to settle the tab later.

Helios: However, you do need to learn some self-defence skills.

Unlike his usual touch, his fingertips caressed my eyes, ears, nose and neck.

Helios: People have many weaknesses.

Helios: Eyes, ears, throat, heart…. *The way he said this sent shivers down my spine 😳🥵*  

As he whispered, his fingertips kept moving downwards, making me nervously hold onto that hand.

Helios: [more sexy whispering] What’s the matter? Don’t you want to learn? 

Helios: I gave you the chance to leave.

Helios: But you refused. 

[Fourth Part]

Helios implemented his teaching method, “diligently” teaching from the most basic style, which made me extremely embarrassed.

MC: [flustered] ….Can you put on some clothes next time? *MC, no!! What are you even asking?! You enjoy it and you know it! 🥵

Helios: I can wear what I like. 

Seeing the obvious teasing in his eyes, I ran away completely.

Finally, I asked him about what would happen on the seventh day of July, and his expression became a little solemn under the clear moonlight.

Gradually, I became even more sure that this was related to what he had done for so many years.

(Cut to store)

In the early morning of the seventh day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar, a few foreigners in suits and arrogant expressions came to the store.

These people seemed to be a little unkind, and my heart felt uneasy.

Waiter: Miss MC, a guest of the boss, made a reservation at Spring Moon Pavillion.

MC: Let me take care of it.

With a smile, I went to the foreigners and led them to the booth. I didn’t expect that Helios would already be waiting there.

The moment he saw me, his brows lightly furrowed and he tilted his head slightly.

“Leave.”

I blinked and instantly understood what he meant. After the foreigners walked into the booth, they positioned themselves again at the door.

MC: Boss, your guests are here.

After that, I took a step back and then ridicule suddenly rang out.

??: Leaving already?

Unexpectedly, a foreigner walked over, grabbed my wrist and dragged me directly into the booth.

??: Helios, you must have misunderstood.

??: What is the meaning of a group of men when talking about business?

The foreigner smiled sarcastically. I restrained the urge to shoot and looked at Helios cautiously.

In the next second, an invisible cold front flew past my face, grazing the wrist of the foreigner and leaving behind a small, bloody wound. 

No one knew when he fired the shot, and Helios was still leaning on the sofa, lazily looking at the wailing foreigner. He made no effort to hide his coldness and murderous intent.

Helios: Next time, it’ll be your head. 

Helios: Come here.

I stood cautiously behind Helios, and saw a man in a white suit standing up with a feigned smile.

Foreigner: Just kidding. Don’t get upset, Helios.

Helios: Is that what you learned by spying on me every day?

My heart sank and I tried my best to calm my nerves.

Have these people been spying on him?

Foreigner: Don’t say that, we just need to confirm whether you are worthy of our cooperation.

Foreigner: After all, with this kind of business, ordinary people are not eligible to participate.

Foreigner: But….we also have to look at the sincerity of the boss.

His eyes moved from Helios to me with an arrogant smile.

Foreigner: I heard that you have a well-trained girl who is clever and easy to use. I wonder if you are willing to share?

I was shocked and couldn’t move. I waited quietly for Helios’ answer.

Helios: I can. 

The cicadas kept humming noisily, and for an instant, I seemed to be back to that moment from four years ago, when there was only haziness left in this world.

But I just blinked and walked respectfully from the back of the sofa to the foreigners.

It sounded like a serious matter. Maybe he wanted me to be an undercover agent for these foreigners?

Or maybe he just changed his mind again and didn’t need me anymore.

My vision became a little blurred.

Helios: Did you really think I would say that? 

Helios’ arms encircled me from behind. His familiar breath came over me, and his voice was filled with pure mockery.

Foreigner: Helios, what do you mean?

Helios: Your nonsense... will anyone still want it?

The foreigner was stunned as if he didn’t expect him to say that. But in the next second, his expression became fierce again.

Foreigner: So it was you who brought those people…!

In the horrified eyes of those foreigners, Helios’ smile became even more ruthless.

Helios: I’ve been tired of looking at the faces of you idiots for a long time now. 

Helios: I asked you to come today to settle the account.

At Helios’ signal, I slowly withdrew from the booth.

(Cut to lobby)

I didn’t know what would happen to them next, but maybe something would briefly end today.

I returned to the lobby and asked for the guestbook from the front desk. I wanted to distract myself but there was one face that was stuck in my mind.

Helios won’t get hurt, right?

Helios: ….MC.

Did I trouble him again just now?

Helios: MC.

An impatient sigh sounded in my ears and I felt my figure tilt, and in the next moment, I was trapped in someone’s arms.  

Helios: Didn’t you hear me calling you?

MC: Helios….!

Helios: I should’ve said that only you can’t call me by that name.

In this lighted corner, the ambiguous gazes of the other guests in the lobby wandered over to us.

MC: Did you just call me? Wait… Has your matter been resolved?

MC: And let me go first. Th-there are other guests here.

Helios: This is my restaurant.

His fingertips rested on the guestbook, and a faint chilly scent emanated from him.

Helios: Did you really think I would give you to those people just now?

MC: ….

He narrowed his eyes, his voice carrying with it some faint, dangerous warning.

MC: …. I didn’t.

Helios: You’re a terrible liar.

Helios: Why did you walk over?

MC: Because I believe in you. I know you have your reasons.

I couldn’t help holding onto his drooping lapels. At this moment, Helios seemed to reveal all those sharp edges and corners of his heart. 

There were only some unfamiliar ones left, which belonged to the insecurities of youth.

Helios: Ridiculous.

As he said this, he pulled me up and walked into the depths of the lobby.

MC: ….Sorry.

Helios: I’m talking about myself. 

I looked up in surprise and saw his slightly ironic expression.

Helios: They have a large munitions factory behind them.

His voice was indifferent, but what he said was like a time bomb, going off in my brain.

MC: Munitions factory?!

Helios: Those foreigners have been smuggling arms into the city.

Helios: I couldn’t find the buyers and sellers, but there was always a steady stream of arms that kept coming into the city.

Hearing this, I felt cold sweat ooze from my back.

I knew what the meaning was behind all of this.

I remembered the unfinished words under the hideous faces of those foreigners just now.

Helios had found those people now.

MC: Why…. are you telling me this?

Helios: Because I want to.

In the midst of my wildly racing heartbeat, his words were sure and firm, as if something seemed to be coming to light. 

MC: The merchants and bureaucrats that you suppressed were all related to this, right?

Helios’ silence secretly confirmed my suspicions, and my heart couldn’t help but race.

He always carried all the dangers by himself; walking alone in silence.

Why not ask other people for help?

Just as I was about to ask, I immediately thought of the answer.

With the continuous delivery of arms, both buyers and sellers were in the dark, and easy actions against them would only be a surprise.

Did he destroy those arms?

Helios: Strength and weapons are necessary. 

Helios: Those who really need it will use them to protect important things.

He said this matter of factly with determined eyes as if understanding what I was thinking in my heart.

We walked through the corridor of the hotel and came to the street from the side door.

The dusk was heavy, the red lanterns softly brightening the sights of the entire street, and it was full of liveliness.

The girls blushed as they cuddled up with their partners under the lights and the crescent silver moon.

Such a quiet night made my nose itch.

MC: If those goods were sold to the original sellers.

MC: What would tonight have been like?

I turned my face to look at Helios by my side. The warm yellow lights shone on the side of his stern face. He didn’t say a word, probably accepting something reluctantly.

MC: What you said about this world… What do you think it will look like in the future?

Helios: There is only brief peace at the moment. 

Helios: But suffering will bloom into a flower. (Sidenote: what he means to say is "no pain, no gain." It's one of Kiro's character themes :>)

He raised his head slightly, and the cold moonlight reflected in his blue eyes, like the sea under the moon. 

Silent and immense, as if it could contain everything.

Seeing him like this reminded me of those distant eyes.

In a ghostly manner, I took out the crumpled old photo from my purse and held it beside his face.

Helios: Why do you carry this person’s picture with you everywhere?

MC: [smiling affectionately] Because he is special to me.

Helios: And yet you still follow me?

MC: This is different.

Looking at his teasing smile, I snorted at him and looked at the boy in the photo with a warm smile.

MC: You said that when technology advances in the future, this photo will definitely become the colour in my memory.

Under the blue sky, the blond boy was like a passionate golden sun under the eyes of the crowd.

He smiled and seemed to be able to become a source of invincible courage.

He could gather endless amounts of enthusiasm as long as he stood there.

His voice turned into notes and tunes, dancing along with the wind, driving some of the darkness away.

In this devastated generation, he was like a burning flame.

Kiro: I’m Kiro. 

Kiro: Thank you for listening to my song. 

Helios looked at the yellowed black and white photo, looking a bit dazed for a while, and a little lonely.

Helios: No one in this city remembers him anymore. 

MC: I still remember.

MC: Even if the whole world doesn’t, I will remember him.

In those turbulent years, I had always remembered the embers left behind by that meteor.

Once, there was a young man named Kiro who helped me through countless dark and dull times with a smile.

Until the day I met Helios. I gained the strength to live again from this person.

MC: I think you are very similar.

MC: Although your methods are different, you are both using your own strength to illuminate and empower others.

Helios’ pupils contracted unconsciously, and became deeper with my words.

The slowly rising paper lanterns glowed with a gentle light, quietly surrounding us, like a tender embrace.

Helios: You haven’t asked for this year’s peace charm.

Hearing what he said, I suddenly remembered that because of the previous kidnapping, I couldn’t find a peace charm.

MC: Seeing your attitude before, I thought that there was something that was making you anxious, so I kept following you.

Helios: What attitude?

MC: You said I should leave before the seventh day of July. I asked you about it later, but you didn’t say anything. Wasn’t it about that serious matter?

Hearing my question, Helios froze for a moment and then turned his face to the side, his earlobes slowly turning red.

MC: Was that not what it meant?

Helios: …. 

He pursed his mouth and the lights shone behind him like a splendid landscape painting.

Helios: Because “weakness” really does become a weakness.

MC: Huh?

Helios: You are the only person here who wants me to be safe and live a long life.

Helios: I was reluctant to wait until the Qixi Festival this year.

Helios: Although, I don’t understand why you would want to wish for peace during the Qixi Festival.

My heart was beating fast, and seeing Helios’ face turned to the side, I found his eyes to be brighter than the stars.

MC: [blushing] Because, because I just happened to run into you at that time. *Changed some wording*

MC: And if it’s the New Year, the wishes would all pile up on top of each other, and God won’t be able to hear them.

MC: During the Qixi Festival, maybe God is used to hearing the wishes for marriage, so he can hear my request for peace without needing it to unheard.

Helios: Then today, in addition to asking for peace, you can also wish for marriage.

Helios smiled slightly with some clarity and sincerity.

MC: ….In that case, a name is needed.

MC: But you never let me call you by this name.

I held my breath nervously and saw his face slowly leaning towards me. I didn’t mind the attention around me, and his breath slowly entangled with mine. 

Helios: Let me see.

His protracted tone was a bit tempting and bewitching as if it had lost a thick shell; more naked and intimate than usual, and finally landed on my lips.

Helios: Ki-Ro. 

Helios: Please use that name.

End

 You can find the call that comes after this date here!

[why-this-kolaveri-machi]

please. i can’t do this alone.

Titans 3.01

thoughts! thoughts! thoughts! some red hot thoughts!

SPOILERS ahead.

1. one episode in, and this season already looks set to give me everything i want. its abandonment of plot and storytelling conventions as it goes from one point to the next at breakneck speed; its cheerful bastardisation of iconic storylines from the comics; the ‘as-you-know-bob’ clunky exposition on one end and extremely restrained, subtle explorations of complex character dynamics on the other; endless shots of neon bleeding into black and blue corridors, shadows and silhouettes; my delight in seeing it celebrate and deconstruct the dark nolan-y batman aesthetic at the same time; my bafflement that it’s so fucking goddamn obsessed with the batfam when it’s supposed to be about the TITANS; kory just... saving every overburdened, clunky scene that she’s in by her sparkling charisma. just... *chef’s kiss*. muah. my show is back, in all its glory.

MY SHOW IS BACK, Y’ALL!

1.5. i mean... this show is so artful and weird and not afraid to go absolutely bonkers in exploring its characters’ psyche, but can just about barely stage a passable comic book fight when every tom dick and harry and their new streaming services can deliver ones that are far more exciting. i love this show with every atom of my body.

(there’s something to be said about rooting for the underdog as well. a pleasure in finding something to love about what other people dismiss. but! enough navel gazing! i have fictional characters’ navels to look at! metaphorically! and maybe literally!)

2. i expected jason’s death to come about pretty early in the season as soon as i heard rumours that red hood was showing up, but for it to happen in the first five minutes of the first episode... that’s a record. 

(well. “happen.” still don’t know what exactly went down there.)

2.25. GOD. jason is such a tortured and tragic character in this show, used and passed around by people with alleged good intentions, never really fitting in anywhere. he’s veritably bleeding vulnerability and the need to belong, the need to be known, and yet the tragedy is that his death proves that nobody in his life knew anything about him at all; that they only saw the flimsy walls he put up to protect his soft core, and thought that that was all there was. that they say they loved him, but blame him for his own death. 

dick is flabbergasted that jason can read, though we know from last season, from what jason revealed to rose, that he has a love for plays and music. barbara is quick to dismiss his actions as ‘impulsive’. bruce has no idea that his supposed son was building his own little chemistry lab right under his nose, and beyond that, no idea that jason needed structure, stability and validation beyond being left alone in a huge house with a treasure trove of dangerous weapons. kory thought his decision to fight the joker was from not learning and growing when the guy tried to kill himself last season and nobody apart from dick even tried to talk to him about it! did you consider that he might still be suicidal? especially after the titans admitted to having “given up” on him because he was just “too hard”?

2.5. the one thing that’s been consistent across all three seasons (so far) of the show is the unreliable narrator trope. there’s a reason why the characters’ dismissals of jason’s actions as impulsive is so repetitive; why jason’s death is a mystery dick feels compelled to solve. it’s a flailing attempt to know his brother much too late--but with red hood, maybe he gets a second chance, just like he got one with the titans. this is what jason’s arc has been building up to. this is ‘death in the family’ but more fucked up in some ways. it didn’t linger on the death because the death wasn’t the point. the joker isn’t the point. everything that came before it is.

this way it will also make perfect sense that the red hood’s main enemy becomes the titans rather than batman.

2.75. goodness knows what’s going on with jason’s little chemistry project. at first i thought he was immunising himself to joker gas or something, but maybe it’s what passes for lazarus pit juice in this universe? 

anyway, it’s pretty impressive that jason learnt all of that from a college chemistry textbook. STOP BRINGING UP THAT HE READ SOMETHING, DICK--

2.8. i’m glad that dick doesn’t immediately sink into self-loathing and guilt and tries to investigate jason’s death while also acknowledging how he failed him. it’s like he actually learned something from the last two years! 

anyway. more about dick later. 

3. oh how i love titans!bruce. a lot of characters had a lot of Opinions on his reaction to jason’s death in this episode, but again, i ask you to consider that they’re unreliable narrators, and this universe’s bruce is a product of how it shaped him. bruce wayne has become a phantom to himself--an artifice borne out of vigorous discipline and crushing self-denial. 

bruce has been batman for a very long time, and without a robin for much longer. (dick must be... in his early thirties? so he was robin for about, say, 10-12 years according to the timeline of the show. that still makes bruce pretty old when he took on his first robin.) things have... calcified (possibly parts of his brain). the personal cost and the collateral from the mission he’s taken up for most of his life is too much to countenance; it has to be a war, and war requires sacrifice. 

on some level bruce knows that’s a lie. he’s so goddamned alone. what’s he going to do? sit down and cry? who’s going to listen to him now? oh, is he going to just stop being batman? who’s going to stop gotham from consuming herself then? he’ll just have to forge ahead, do better next time, maybe he’ll be firmer with them, or kinder with them, or notice more things, or train them harder, or spend more time--

3.25. don’t get me wrong: titans!bruce is an asshole and a half. his roster of potential robins was honestly bone-chilling. the fact that there’s a twisted root of compassion makes it more disturbing. 

3.5. alfred’s dead! it must’ve been pretty recent, because i could’ve sworn that dick tried to call alfred in the very first episode of season 1, or at least considered calling him... 

what a devastating double-blow for bruce then, losing his father-figure and his, uh.... son-figure so close together.

4. i don’t know about barbara yet. i mean, i like her, but she had so much clunky expository dialogue to deliver this episode, and for an episode that was named after her, she only showed up halfway through it. but i like the weight of history behind her interactions with both bruce and dick and her compassion to bruce before he cruelly crossed a line. i also like the implication that she and dick have been in touch recently, and that she didn’t immediately try to guilt-trip dick about some perceived abandonment. it’d be too repetitive.

4.5. there’s also a sense that she ran interference for dick a lot whenever there was something Too Big and Emotional for him to confront directly, and i like and appreciate that character beat.

5. dick, my man! it really does feel like a substantial length of time has passed between the end of s2 and the beginning of s3... kory’s got a new costume, they’ve become celebrities in SF, working missions together, and dick’s actually smiling! genuinely enjoying his work and having fun with it for possibly the first time in the entire series! it’s really a far cry from the fractured, dysfunctional mess that they were at the end of the last season.

i just hope this doesn’t mean that they’ve magically reached a resolution off-screen to all of their fucked-upness from last season, and that the repercussions--for gar in particular--are actually addressed on screen. 

5.25. i mentioned this briefly above, but it really is so refreshing that dick doesn’t wallow in guilt and self-loathing after jason’s death; he acknowledges his and the titans’ failure, is able to admit to barbara honestly that he’s not doing great, and is actively trying to reach out to bruce to make sure he’s ok, is trying to investigate what made jason seek out the joker on his own, and is probably the only person not immediately buying that it was jason’s recklessness that got him killed. i love that dick is finally beginning to trust his instincts or just employ them at all after years of guilt and paranoia and self-loathing. we love some positive character growth!

5.5. another thing i love? the bruce-dick interactions on this show. every scene they’re in together is so fraught with tension, both of them holding themselves back, their emotions on a whipcord-tight leash. dick wants to reach out to bruce, is even somewhat familiar with this brand of denial in the wake of grief, but wants barbara to make the first move because he genuinely does not know how to get bruce to open up. his instincts are right, and wonderful, and genuine, but his expression has been smothered by years of trauma, emotional and physical self-discipline, and what i suspect is poorly treated mental illness. 

it takes a lot for him to finally explode at bruce at the end of the episode--in a way he hasn’t done even when his only opinion of bruce was ‘fuck him’--and it’s all the more startling for how subdued he’s been through the episode, how much he’s been holding back his emotions for bruce’s sake. love it.

5.75. it sort of hurts my heart to see the flying graysons poster in jason’s room. there are a few implications:

a) jason settled into dick’s old room despite living in a giant mansion with dozens of other rooms he could’ve used

b) he didn’t take down dick’s poster--not when he moved in and was idolising him, not when he moved out of the titans and was sort of hating him. i wonder if the reminder of what dick was before robin--that he was forged out of unspeakable tragedy--gave jason the connection to dick that he so desperately wanted in real life

c) dick moved right back into the room and slept on the bed that was now jason’s. grief can be so quiet and piecemeal sometimes.

6. i spy the beginnings of actual arcs for both gar and kory! i just hope that with the move to gotham their stories don’t fall to the wayside...

6.5. i’ve known tim drake for less than ten minutes but if anything were to happen to him i’d kill everybody 

7. this review has gone on for too long and i am tiRED. however, before i leave: i miss some of the dedication-to-aesthetic that titans season 1 used to have. remember how the first few episodes didn’t really feel like a superhero show but something out of gothic horror? there was something gorgeous and raw about that, about open landscapes and the road and creepy buildings looming up at the end of it. moving to titans tower in s2 really ruined a lot of that for me, given its ripped-from-architectural-digest aesthetic, all smooth and clean and artificial. 

i hope that we really explore gotham’s hellscape in interesting and innovative ways instead of camping out in the batcave all the time and indulging in the show’s unending love for long corridors, neon backlights and silhouettes.

8.....

9.  wait, fuck, HOW CAN I FORGET ABOUT HOT PSYCHIATRIST GUY (TM)??? NONE of you prepared me for his return! NONE OF YOU! i gasped! i got up and did a happy dance! 

listen, titans writers, if you’ve had a peek at my titans s3 wishlist, please go ahead and give the other items on the list a go too, thankyouverymuch.

[smokedstorybara]

I have so many bnha fanfic ideas, they’ve just been popping into my head every few days for weeks now

So I’m just gonna share them all on this one post instead of making a million new fandom posts out of nowhere (ok, it’s closer to, like, ten - but still!)

If any of y’all want me to actually write any of them, don’t hesitate to say so - or if you just want to ask questions and talk about the ideas I’d be totally down for that too

Also, if any of them inspire you to write or draw something, please send me a link when you’re done!

(under a readmore cause it’s long and also there’s spoilers)

Fae courts AU

Nedzu - Spring King

U.A. / The Spring Court - also known as the Court of Lost Children, all members of the Court were once human children or children of one of the other Courts and they view it as their duty to care for the lost, neglected, and abused children of the world (one of two child stealing Courts)

All Might - Summer King

All For One - Winter King

Objectively, the Summer and Winter Courts are not as different as they like to believe - a Summer fae is just as likely to trick or turn on you as a Winter fae, they just prefer to play at benevolence while Winter fae make no secret of their nature

Shie Hassaikai / The Autumn Court - used to be more like a lesser version of the Summer and Winter Courts, until Overhaul put the King to sleep and made his research into humanity the Court’s focus - they’re now the second child stealing Court

Eraserhead was once human but has made enough deals over the years - most notably with Nezu himself - that he’s practically fae now

Deku and Kachan are human children who were taken in by the Spring Court, though Deku only after catching the attention of All Might

Endeavor - High Fae in the Summer Court - wants to become Summer King but knows he’s not powerful enough to overthrow All Might, married a High Winter Fae in hopes that combining their powers would make one of their kids powerful enough

Dabi fakes his death and eventually becomes a High Fae in the Winter Court

Shouto seeks sanctuary in the Spring Court’s halls

(I don’t actually have a plot for it, but I’m enjoying figuring out the world and stuff)

Evil All Might AU

The underworld knows that young Yagi Toshinori is a con-artist, and a very good one

The kid’s quirkless, and from a bad neighborhood, so of course he gets involved in shady dealings to get by

But he never ever gets caught

See, he’s mastered the eager, innocent, “I know I’m quirkless, but it’s my dream to be a hero! To fight crime! To be someone people can look up to, put their faith in! To be a… a symbol!” act, he’s been running that con any time he’s found in the wrong place at the wrong time since he first started walking - no one with even a single good bone in their body ever questions it

He gets involved with AFO, who’s like “I could give you one of my lesser quirks in exchange for your loyalty, or you could do a long undercover mission for me and get one of the most powerful quirks in existence out of it”

His mission: pulling his signature con on Shimura Nana, being given One for All, becoming a hero, becoming the Number One Hero and Symbol of Peace and the singular pillar holding up hero society, maintaining that status for long enough that everyone grows a little complacent, finding a weak and manipulable child to pass One for All on to, setting them up to fail, and then retiring

(I’d either have this one be All Might-focused and end with the reveal, or have it be Izuku-focused and give it a happy ending where All Might totally chose the wrong kid, cause nothing about Izuku is weak)

Commission analyst Izuku au

Member of the commission overhears him muttering/catches a glance at his notebook while watching a hero fight, strikes up a conversation

The commission tracks him down, shows up at his home with a similar offer to the one they gave Hawks - but instead of a hero they want him to be an analyst for them

Like Hawks, they take away his name, only calling him something like Eagle Eye or something (I’d go with Hawkeye but Hawks already exists so it might be weird?)

(Basically this fic idea is just an excuse to have Izuku and Hawks as the ultimate team, and helping each other get out from under the commission’s thumb - maybe revolutionizing hero society along the way)

Canon rewrite w/ Monoma as main character, somehow

All I have for this one so far is just:

Monoma copies afo, uses copied afo to steal afo, AFO is now defeated

After getting better at controlling her quirk, Eri rewinds Kurogiri back into Shirakumo Oboro

But he’s the age he was when he died

So he joins the current class 2-A

As in Izuku’s class

Basically it’s just his old best friends having to teach him and him making friends with all Aizawa’s problem children

Time travel

(I have multiple cause I really like time travel)

Aizawa-centric time loop fic

Loop stretching from day before Oboro’s death to towards the end of the liberation war (diverging from canon in at least the first loop cause he fucking dies during the fight)

At first he thinks maybe he just, like, dreamt up those 14(?) years

But then things are happening the same way and so he starts changing things and he dies and wakes up the day before Oboro’s death again

He experiments a lot with the loops, figuring out that they’re definitely not time based - unless it’d loop back at the end of the liberation war even if he survives? Requires further testing

Details he changes throughout the loops (culminating in a loop in which he successfully changes all of them):

Oboro’s death

Shimura Tenko being taken in by All for One, All Might’s injury(?), Izuku accepting One for All, and more I haven’t fully decided on

Time travel fic where Pro Hero Deku accidentally time travels back to just before Aizawa’s first year as a student at ua and somehow gets hired as a teacher

Gonna be a two-parter

Part one: Izuku has to teach teen versions of his old high school teachers, channels their future selves a little

Part two: Aizawa, Yamada, and Kayama have to teach the teen version of their old favorite high school teacher, and end up channeling his future self - in different ways

(I’ve come across a couple different “Izuku gets accidentally sent back in time to when his teachers were students” fanfics and they keep making me think about how Aizawa & co would react to meeting him in canon timeline after meeting him in high school and then I took the natural step forward from there to “let’s parallel their nostalgia, make him their high school teacher so it can really hit hard”)

Izuku is related to rooftop trio aus

(I’ve come across a bunch of “Izuku is the biological son of at least one member of the rooftop trio” aus but only one acknowledges that in canon he’s only 15 years younger than them and that one has a very angsty explanation, so I wanted some that fit with canon and also aren’t too heavy - cause like, sure you could go with the complex extremely angsty trauma reason or you could go with the “these 13-16-year-olds(idk Inko’s canon age and as long as I never look it up I can pretend I’m not going against canon by making her only 2-ish years older than them) did what teenagers do and went to a party and made some relatively innocent mistakes and ended up with a pregnancy”)

Dadoro

Oboro and Inko have been neighbors and best friends their whole childhood, despite being a couple years separated in age

The fall before Oboro starts high school, Inko takes him along to a party with her high school friends

They get drunk and sleep together

Inko gets pregnant

They talk it through with each other and their families and agree to keep the baby (they’re both actually pretty excited to be parents) and raise it together platonically

Some months into first year (maybe second), Oboro tells his friends about his kid

Spends the rest of his life gushing about Izuku to all his friends (sorry for the word choice fjdhshshx)

Oboro dies and his friends make pact to help Inko take care of Izuku once they have steady income and stuff

But Inko’s family has moved and she’s married and they can’t find her

They keep searching, for roughly 14 years

And then Midoriya Izuku enrolls in UA’s hero course and his big green eyes and curly green hair match the pictures Oboro used to show them and his smile is identical to their old friend’s

And his mom’s name is Inko

But they’re not sure (His quirk doesn’t match Oboro’s nor his Inko’s after all)

Not until after the first term and the summer training disaster camp and Kamino, when All Might and Aizawa go house to house talking to parents about the dorms and All Might tries to insist on visiting the Midoriyas alone but Aizawa insists right back cause this is the closest he’s come to confirmation

and then he’s face to face with a woman he’s only ever seen in photographs

And then they talk about everything or something idk I haven’t got that far

Dadzawa and Dadmic (trans!aizawa)

A year and a half before he starts high school(I know I changed the timeline a whole year here but shush, how’s he supposed to get into U.A.’s hero course while pregnant?), Aizawa’s middle school and one or two others have a Joint Event, at which he meets a loud but cute blonde who keeps flirting with him

They hook up

He gets pregnant

His dad insists he get an abortion but he doesn’t want to and his mom supports his decision, they convince his dad to let him go through with the pregnancy on the condition that he gives the baby up for adoption immediately

He has twins, both boys (one with green eyes like the blonde’s(but darker) and the other with purple like Shouta’s mother’s)(that’s right, Shinsou is also their son in this, you’re welcome), and he gives them up for adoption to separate families

But with conditions

No one from his blood family is allowed to initiate contact with either boy without the kid’s knowing consent (he’s terrified of his father changing his mind, tracking them down, and hurting them)

With the one exception being that he’s allowed to send each one a birthday present and card every year

Which he does

Then he starts at UA and then gets into the hero course and there he is… the blonde… the father of Shouta’s children… who does not recognize him now that he’s started transitioning

This time Shouta’s the one who flirts - or tries to, the kid’s a little too oblivious

Of course they do eventually get together, and even end up married! (Haven’t decided if they get together during high school or after they start teaching there or what(probably the latter, for plot reasons))

The first time Midoriya Inko contacts Shouta is after Izuku is diagnosed quirkless - she knows the young man loves her son as much as she does and might be able to reassure him where she already failed

His next birthday, Izuku’s mystery card says he can be a hero even without a quirk; it makes Izuku’s year

Hitoshi’s parents also contact Shouta that year, the boy struggling to make and keep friends ever since his quirk came in; Shouta’s birthday card to him isn’t much different from Izuku’s, really

The Shinsous get in an accident and Hitoshi is placed in foster care and suddenly Shouta can’t send him his yearly gift and card anymore cause nobody will tell him where the boy is now because of the contact portion of the adoption contract

They also won’t tell Hitoshi that he was adopted and his birth father is out there looking for him, so Shouta’s pretty sure they’re trying to hide that he’s being mistreated wherever he is

Inko continues to contact Shouta now and then whenever she thinks Izuku will need extra encouragement come his birthday (she never tells Izuku about being adopted - even after he enters his teen years - cause after his diagnosis, everyone but her left him and she doesn’t want him to internalize the idea that his birth parents didn’t want him - Shouta’s not happy with the decision, but he understands)

Then one year he sends Izuku a Present Mic figurine and she writes him to share how excited the boy was and how Present Mic is one of his favorite heroes and he listens to his radio show all the time and Shouta simultaneously melts and has a minor breakdown at the realization that he hasn’t told his husband that they have sons, he can’t tell Hizashi that their son listens to his radio show regularly when Hizashi doesn’t know Izuku even exists

So of course, being the rational man he is, he finally tells Hizashi about Izuku and Hitoshi

Hizashi freaks, of course (in a good way(mostly))

And then, one of the worst days of Shouta’s life

He’s on patrol and sees a figure on a rooftop and rushes to get there - just in case it’s a jumper - and it’s his son, his Izuku

They talk(it doesn’t breach the adoption contract, he didn’t know it was Izuku when he approached and the kid spoke first) and Izuku tells him “everything” about his encounter with All Might, Shouta tells him to tell his parents - they’re there to support him - and also that All Might’s full of shit and a quirkless hero is totally possible with the right training and enough willpower

Then after they leave the rooftop his kid gets in trouble again, rushing in to save a classmate from the same sludge villain that attacked him earlier that day

Of course Shouta swoops in and pulls the kids out of danger before All Might arrives to “save the day”

This time Shouta insists on walking Izuku home to make sure he actually gets there safely

But then All Might shows up again wanting to talk to his kid privately and he wants to tell the man to fuck off but he’s not legally allowed, really, so when Izuku says it’s fine he reluctantly leaves

Inko asks to meet him just days later

She tells him that Izuku told her everything about what happened that day - including what Shouta told him - and she tells him that she’s realized she needs to properly support her son in pursuing his dream

She understands that Shouta wouldn’t feel comfortable training him one-on-one with the kid not knowing who they are to each other, and she’s still not ready to tell him yet, so she asks for a list, for him to help her get in touch with people who can train Izuku or ways for Izuku to train on his own, ways for her to help

He puts her in contact with seven pro heroes (Midnight, Gunhead, the Wild Wild Pussycats, and - somehow - Sir Nighteye) and a vigilante team (the Naruhata Crawler and his team), all of whom he talks into helping - and has to tell about his connection to this boy they’ll be teaching

(Each have something important to teach him: Midnight - using words and body language to throw off opponents, Gunhead - martial arts, Wild Wild Pussycats - stamina, teamwork and use of your environment when out in nature, Sir Nighteye - analysis and planning, the Naruhata Vigilantes - use of gadgets and weapons, use of your environment when in the city, having the heart of a hero, and - most importantly - that quirkless people can be fucking strong and skilled and terrifying and certainly aren’t weak or useless (they were trained by a quirkless vigilante after all, they’re bound to have a different perspective on the idea of a quirkless hero than anyone else, a perspective Izuku could really benefit from))

Ten months later, Izuku passes UA’s entrance exam and is placed in Shouta’s class (he’s pretty sure Nezu did that on purpose)

When the school year starts, he and Hizashi discover that Izuku isn’t the only one in one of their classes - Hitoshi is in Hizashi’s homeroom

They are, of course, fucking extatic

They just need to, y’know, figure out how to tell him that they’re his parents and maybe possibly would love custody of him if he wants

(Again I haven’t gotten any further than that yet)

(Also, if you can’t tell, in this au Izuku turns down All Might’s offer of One for All, cause Eraserhead said he could be a hero without a quirk and was honestly a lot kinder and more responsible (like, making sure the kid got home safely instead of leaving him on a roof) and stuff than All Might and honestly might be his new favorite hero)

[valkyrieofsmut]

Mk so the previous ask of mc with a kid got me thinking, what about pregger mc who’s boy friend/husband/father of the child ditched her upon finding out she was pregnant and because of being pregnant she was one of the first to get canned at her job (since from what I recall it’s unaviable to have that kind of job while carrying) when they started making cuts and with her being unable to pay rent and the ‘no kids’ policy of her apartment complex she had to move into her trailer at the boys land >:3.

Um... I’d love to answer all of this/ more exactly to the question... but I have a few problems here for understanding... That whole first part, easy to understand, got it... The part about her being one of the first to go: she was, in the story; they don’t care if you’re preggs or not, they only care about how much money they’re spending to pay you. So it definitely wouldn’t matter if she was pregnant, they don’t care, and any risk is defined as risk you took; they’re not liable (not like you could really prove much, anyway). And lastly, the “no kids” policy? ...? Where tf do you live that has that?! It’s been illegal to refuse to rent to anyone because they have kids since 1968 due to the “fair housing policy”! I! I don’t know, but if you’re living somewhere they’re telling you that, look that shit up and let them know you know. Fuck them! They can’t do that shit to you! (there is an acceptance for places classified as “retirement/ old age/ whatever tf” but she couldn’t live there because she’s not old enough, anyway.)

Other than that stuff, I see it just as a “what if MC was pregnant when she got there and asshole left her” question, so I’ll answer that.

Classic- He doesn’t even really think about it for a long while, not even when she starts showing. It literally takes until she can’t walk anywhere without having to try to catch her breath/ not being able to stand for long/ about to go into labor (aka very pregnant) until it is something that he even has to keep reminding himself, just so he doesn’t get irritated that she can’t keep up. And then when she goes into labor, it suddenly comes to him- there’s going to be a tiny human here soon! Fuck! He needs to do something, doesn’t he?! Where do humans have babies?! Right. The hospital. Ok. Panic over. He’s going to get her there right now.

Creampuff- She’s mated? Oh... her mate left... unfortunate... Humans don’t live in such a small community that they can all just stay around each other and raise their children together like they sort of did in the Underground. He’s not sure exactly how humans do it normally, but monsters all pitch in, and he’s ready to help! He likes kids! They’re so amazed at the world around them and look up to him, and are so sweet! He’s always glad to help with the little one when they get here, and until then, he’s going to make sure that she’s as comfortable as possible, almost to the point of being underfoot, like the stereotypical nosy mother in law.

Red- Eh, kid ain’t here, yet- and that means he’s got free range, since there’s no chance that he’ll knock her up! He is his same self, flirty, trying to get in her pants, just normal Red! And then she starts showing. And he spends lots of time watching her baby belly. Any time anyone ever even curses around her, he yells at them, completely missing the hypocrisy. “what th’ fuck ya sayin’ shit like that ‘n front a the kid fer?! shut yer yap!” The more she shows, the more he’s by her side and doesn’t want to leave. More invitations for nights of just cuddles than orgasm relief start coming. He... likes touching her belly... and imagining that it’s his kid in there... don’t fuckin’ tell anyone! He really is a family kinda guy when it gets down to it, and he’s going to be one of the first to offer to help with the kid, and not in the helpful friend kind of way that Creampuff is. He’d... “uh... like ta have one wit ya, too... whadda ya say, sweetheart?”

Edge- It does not affect him, until it does. When she starts to get cranky and irritable from being pregnant, he’ll be wary of her, but he’ll also seek her out at times, because he knows that yelling and arguing helps when you feel so aggravated. Yep, he’s actually trying to help (Y/n) relieve some stress when he's arguing with her. His brother isn’t around to do it, and- ... he... can’t bring himself... to offer that kind of stress relief after being the cause of a lot of her irritation for so long... He hopes that she’ll be able and/ or willing to move past that after the baby is born. When she goes into labor, he seems completely cold and in control, belittling those around him for being stupid as usual- but inside he’s really freaking out. When the baby is born, he’ll be walked in on holding the baby, looking parental, maybe... almost... maternal...? Breath a word of it to anyone, and you’ll be regretting your own birth...

Blue- He’s smarter, and more mature, than people give him credit for! And that’s going to show itself in the way he fights with Red while trying to get her “nest” ready. He always “just happens” to find things that would look great in the lodge! And some of the ladies at work were talking, one’s niece was going to have a baby, too! And he heard that you need to have this specific type of thing when you’re having a baby! And he just happened to see it while he was at the store, and thought he’d save her the trouble of having to get it later when she’s all achy and sore! Spoiler, he’s actually joined some mom groups and has started asking the ladies at work about when they’d had their kids and is doing a lot of research. He wants to make sure she’s as prepared as she can possibly be! And... all the while, he’s going to be working himself into her life so that after the baby is born, it’ll just be natural for him to be around! And then he’ll just- stay there... in her life... and it’ll already be like they’re mated by the time he actually asks her.

Stretch- He’s not phased by it- until she gets to about the third trimester and is really showing. He hangs out around the lodge a lot, “just happen to be workin’ in the lab a lot lately.” He’s pretty chill, hanging in the background, but he’s, y’know... keepin’ a socket out for her... incase she needs anything, or anything happens... humans are fragile, after all, and that’s a complicated stage to be at... He’s not going to be in the foreground helping, like some of the Papyri, and he’s not going to be doing things behind the scenes, like some of the Sanses, he’s actually the one worried that he’ll break the kid, despite knowing, scientifically, that he won’t. He’s doing what he can to make sure the baby’s doing well and is taken care of, though- even if it is mostly by “casually” mentioning to Blue that something needs to be done or gotten- his bro is better at that stuff, anyway.

Black- He doesn't quite notice at first- not that he doesn't know, just that whole "out of sight, out of mind" thing. So he doesn't really take it into consideration, after all, she's a human; she'd know her limits when pregnant better than he would, wouldn't she? He starts doing research to see if there's something he should look out for and finds so many troubling things! Humans die from this?! They could be hospitalized?! They could lose the baby if something as small as that happens?! Yep... he's fallen into webMD... He's now going to make Mutt do everything for her while he keeps her by his side to stop her from getting hurt.

Mutt- It doesn't really matter to him. The kid isn't there, yet, so it sounds like the perfect time to be trying to get her to keep her pants (and the rest of her clothes) off and stay in bed with him all day, every day. If he does manage to get her in bed (or she gets the pregnancy hornys and takes him up on his open offer), he's not pulling out. All his magic is going inside of her. He thinks it's so fucking sexy, until he realizes that he's poured all his magic into her and... possibly her kid... um... oh... And now the kid is also his. Whether he was there to start the kid or not (obviously not, since she was already pregnant when they met), his magic is all over the kid, and he wouldn't be surprised if the kid turns out to be a mage.

Axe- When he first sees her, he doesn't know, or care. It really doesn't affect him other than being a bonus tastey treat inside... When he gets to know her, and she starts to show, it changes. There are two responses to pregnancy in the Underground; the fear of having another mouth to feed, of losing them before you even name them, due to the famine- but, before everything went to hell, pregnancy meant hope. It meant future... And with plenty of food around- it reminds Axe of that. He will begin stockpiling food, it will be everywhere. He will come make (Y/n) eat, even if he has to come ask her to make a meal for him, and then slowly trick her into eating most of it. She’s going to gain a lot of weight if she’s not careful.

Crooks/ Bun- He jumps on that the moment he finds out, even if she's not showing. He uses it as a reason not to hurt or eat her when reasoning with Axe, he holds her forth as a symbol of hope and future. He still becomes her best Bun! But he's also like the one who goes to all the classes and everything with her, Lamaze classes, shopping for everything she could need... He is there for her. And also... maybe... mother henning her a bit- but only in the good ways!

Dusty- It really doesn't cross his mind at all, until there is visible evidence; she starts showing. And then he's pretty weirded out that there's a baby- an itty bitty human, growing inside her. He keeps a wary eye on her, and especially after she delivers. He’s very nervous about what havoc this little one could wreak! ... but then... he realizes that... with this one starting out brand new, without any pre taught awfulness... he could teach it- he could train it how to be good... and then he has a little bit of hope...

Ask Masterlist?

[druigsfavwitch]

It’s Ok- Natasha Romanoff x Daughter! Reader

warning- angst, endgame spoilers, mom! nat (my specialty) there no fluff, it’s only angst sorry :(

summary- after the snap, natasha had lost everything: her family, friends and others. the one thing she didn’t lose was you. scott comes back with a plan but everything has a price, even happiness

words- 1553

~~~~~~

Natasha could remember that day so clearly. She watched as everyone around her just disappeared into dust. He first reaction was her child: you.

You were also in wakanda, fighting thanos and his minions with your mother. She ran around, calling for you. She would walk past piles of dust, hoping it wasn’t you. She walked back out onto the field and saw half of everyone. She did a quick once over and saw you stand up from the ground. She sighed, letting out a breath she didn’t know she was holding. She ran across the field and engulfed you into a hug. “I’m so glad you’re ok.” She said, tears forming in her eyes. You looked around at the piles of dust, some being swept away by the gust of wind.

“What happened, mama?” You asked, your voice small and quivering. She looked around and let a tear slip. “I have no clue, моя любовь. We’ll make it right, though. I know we will.”

~~~~~

A few days passed and you all were no closer to bringing everyone back. Your birthday was the day after everyone got snapped. You didn’t even want to have a party. You refused to get any gifts but, of course, your mom got you something. You felt guilty. Why did you have to get gifts when your family was killed? You guys should be trying to save them. A day or two later, you lose count when you don’t sleep, a space alien lady came with tony and nebula who, surprisingly, stuck in space. It turns out steve had told her tony was in space.

She had brains. You guys managed to find out where thanos was because he had used the stones again. You guys set off to find him.

When you guys landed, carol, wrapped her in a headlock while you guys arrived. It turned out he had used them to destroy them. Thor wasn’t having any shit from him and he sliced his head off. “What, i went for the head.” Your eyes filled with tears, it’s all over.

~~~~~

Years passed this time. About 5, you lost count. By this time, you were 22. You had lost the happiness to do anything really, it was like you were numb. Every year, your mom would try to throw you a tiny party, something to lift your spirits, but you just laid in bed.

Until, one day, a crazy dude waved at the entrance to the compound. They let him in and explained it was scott or ant man. He explained that he didn’t get dusted because he was in the quantum realm. He said that we could do a back to the future type thing and get the stones, reverse the snap and return them.

When they were going over the stone, you took extensive notes. That night, when everyone fell asleep, you read about the most confusing stone to you: the soul stone. It’s found on vormir and the price for it is another soul. You knew you had to be the one to sacrifice their soul. Everyone else had a purpose. You snuck back to your room and started to sleep but couldn’t. If you were going to die, you might as well let your mother know. You grabbed a piece of paper from your dresser and a pencil and started writing. When you were finished, you smiled with tears in your eyes and folded it. You grabbed the pencil again and wrote her name on the top. You sighed and fell asleep.

~~~~~

When the day came, you laid the note on your pillow and ran out to get in the suits. “ok, you all know your goals. the stones.” Your mom turned to steve. “See you in a minute.” She said. She turned back to you and grabbed your hand. You smiled at her and everyone went their separate ways.

~~~~

You, Clint and Natasha landed in vormir and climbed the mountain. When you got to the top, you saw a man in a good. He spoke up. “Natasha, daughter of Ivan. Clint, son of Edith. Y/n, daughter of Natasha” Your mom spoke up next. “Who are you?” He responded. “Consider me a guide. To you, and to all who seek the Soul Stone.” “Oh, good. You tell us where it is. Then we'll be on our way.” Your mom said. You looked at them. He guided you all to the cliff. “The stone is down there.” Your mom said. Your heart rest quickened. “For one of you. For the other... In order to take the stone, you must lose that which you love. An everlasting exchange. A soul, for a soul.” The three of you sat down on a log. “Whatever it takes.” They both sais. “Tell my family i love them.” Clint said. Your mom tackled him. “Tell them yourself. You saw this as an opportunity. You bolted only to be yanked back. “i don’t think so!” Clint said. You swept your leg out and knocked him down. You ran over and tried to jump off the edge but your mom caught you causing you both to fall. Clint jumped down and grabbed her hand and shooting an arrow. He was holding on to natasha who was holding on to you. Natasha had tears on her eyes. “You’re gonna love kid.” Clint said, choking on tears. Natasha wrapped her hand around as you gave her a smile. “I love you. I do, mama. So much, please, don’t forget me.” Natasha sobbed. “You’re gonna be next to me. You still have so much to live.” You smiled through your tears and your fear. “I lived my journey. Part of it is the end.” You kicked your leg off the rock, knocking your mom off balance and letting go of your hand. She screamed as she watched you fall and eventually land with a sicking crack. She hid her face in cried. Then, both of their visions went black.

~~~~

When they woke up, they were in a puddle. Natasha looked in her hand and saw the soul stone. She looked up the sky and screamed. She had lost the one thing she had been living for.

Her and clint made the journey back, none of them saying a word to the other. Natasha was to busy staring at her hands. The hands that held her baby, the ones that failed her.

~~~~

When they arrived back, everyone had their stones. Steve looked at Natasha and saw her bloodshot eyes. He looked to the spot next to her and saw you were missing. “Natasha, where’s y/n?” At the mere mention of your name, she broke down. She fell on the ground crying. Clint tried to comfort her but she just screamed and cried. She had lost her will to live.

~~~~

Bruce had been the one to make the snap. Just seconds after, the compound blew up. Natasha and clint were trapped together They fought their way out.

They had witnessed the portals and everyone come back. Natasha almost cried again. Her baby did this. “Avengers....assemble.” Captain America yelled and everyone started to fight.

When thanos grabbed the gauntlet, Natasha thought it was all over. Her baby’s death for nothing. But then, he snapped and nothing happened. Turns out tony had taken them. He said “i am iron man” and snapped.

~~~~

Natasha and the others watched as tony slowly died, his finally words being “hey pep.” They all took a kneel. Natasha cried. She had lost two people in a day.

~~~~

At his funeral, she sat in the back, on a bench, looking at the sky. Carol walked up and cleared her throat. “Um, i found this is the rubble of the compound. It’s for you.” She looked at her hand and saw a note folded up with her name on it. She could recognize your handwriting. She started to tear up as she unfolded the letter and started to read it.

‘Dear Mom,

Chances are, i’m not there with you. If i’m being completely honest, i knew one of us wouldn’t come back from vormir. It had to be me. Think of it as every animal or flower has their time. Then, they wilt or die. I wish i could hug you and stop your tears. Trust me, i really wish i could but this is how it was meant to be. You have chances. I finally got to be a hero. You don’t have to cry anymore. I’m ok, i’m happy. It’s ok. I love you and i’m safe. I’ll save a seat for you. I’m happy mommy. Don’t cry, i’m right here. Always and forever

Love, your baby- Y/n Romanoff

She sobbed and looked up to the sky, smiling. You weren’t there with her but you had tony. You both were happy. She would see you eventually. She would eventually get to hold her baby again. It would eventually be ok.

(ok, not gonna lie, i cried writing this)

tag list- @emmaloo21 @ssebstann @xxxtwilightaxelxxx

[gwoongi]

(abandoned) it’s late, just stay

john wick / reader genre: sugar daddy au rating: general, mature themes words: 2.4k warnings: sugar daddy relationship, slight john wick 2 spoilers i guess a/n: this 1 is for me. i wrote her in a heat,,,she’s literally not finished. but im adding her to my online portfolio 4 the memories. Also fyi the profile was made before i indulged in seeking arrangements and as a sugar baby i know that ur not allowed to mention 90% of brooklynbaby’s bio in ur bio but who cares man this is fiction and im making it up

At that, she tossed her head back with a laugh and leant forward. “And since when are sugar babies a relationship status?”

Sometimes, John doesn’t really know how he gets himself into awkward situations.

The first few occasions, he figured it was merely a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. While, actually, this always worked out in his favour, John began to notice that it was more frequent that he ended up at a bar with some people he didn’t really know, or being invited to a baby shower as the date of a woman he had never even met before. Granted, John enjoyed company whenever he could get it, and whenever it avoided conflict; however socialism has never been his strongest asset. No, he simply prefers silent gestures or glances across rooms, ‘eye conversations’ where he says hello and nothing else for the remainder of the evening.

“You just need to loosen up a bit,” is what Addy had told him, whilst slipping him a glass of straight Bourbon. It had been a relatively quiet evening in the Continental, and just when John thought he could have five minutes of peace and quiet, Addy has slipped in his line of sight. “You know, go out. Make new friends.”

“You’re my friend,” John replied. He made no room to elaborate on that statement, swallowing the contents of the drink and pushing it back to her with a short nod. She sighed and rolled her eyes, doing her job.

“No, you know what you really need?” He didn’t answer, glancing at her through his hair as she filled his drink and rested her weight on her elbows. Instantly, John didn’t like the feeling in his stomach when Addy raised her eyebrows suggestively, tugging on her bottom lip with newfound excitement: “I think you need to get laid.” 

And when John scoffed with humour, she tried again, “and not like, laid as in you have a one night stand. No- hear me out, John! You should invest in a sugar baby. You know, someone you can spend time with when you’re not doing the dirty work for everybody else. It’s fun, and frisky, and also means you can start spending some of the millions you have stashed somewhere not being used.”

She tutted like a scolding mother, “Selfish boy.” Addy then smiled, “Maybe instead of retirement, what you really need is something to help you unwind.”

John scoffed, gulping back the Bourbon. “I’m married.”

At that, she tossed her head back with a laugh and leant forward. “And since when are sugar babies a relationship status?”

That’s really all the thinking he had done on the subject of John- John fucking Wick- investing in a sugar baby. He simply took it in stride, almost complimented by the assumption that he was attractive and rich enough to have someone leaning on him for money and sex, and stored it away for future thought when he was lost and drunk. John never actually considered the possibility of “putting his bills to good use” until fucking Santino D’Antonio decided to light a bonfire inside his house. Having lost virtually everything related to Helen, he found himself back at the Continental, back to listening to Addy sympathetically give her condolences and five seconds later, introducing him to Seeking Arrangements.

John doesn’t know why he’s doing this, staring at the laptop screen that smiles at him. For circumstances, Addy had loaned him her laptop for the evening he spends at the Continental, and he’s too busy browsing the elaborately made profiles that he barely registers the fact that he is still wearing his suit. He pulls at the cuffs of his blazer and is midway through taking it off when he stumbles across a profile- one of which is oddly amusing- titled brooklynbaby. He racks his mind for the reference but can’t seem to place it.

“A sugar baby suggests that I sleep with them, and as I said,” John had mentioned back in the bar, “I’m married.”

Addy had grabbed his hands and groaned, “Look- you might surprise yourself. And, I’m not suggesting that you throw your wife away for somebody new. I’m just saying you need to...make use of yourself. Honestly, you’re too sexy to be stored away like this. Most sugar babies are dumb and unobservant, they won’t even know who you are.”

brooklynbaby makes an adorably hilarious first impression, and John is hesitant to browse her profile. If he wanted to “make use of himself” by investing all of his personal time into somebody who in truth wanted him for his dick and his bank balance, then it needed to be somebody at least near to his wavelength. Somebody who was smart, but clueless at the same time, and somebody who was the complete opposite of Helen. The last thing he needed on top of a handful of a baby was the guilt of moving on. But still, even when he pinned her tab and returned to scrolling through the profiles, John realised that most sugar babies were simply trolls hidden behind pretty pictures, or girls who wanted money for pleasure and not for need.

He went back to brooklynbaby. Three times. Three times, before he pinched the bridge of his nose, muttering a quiet, “Oh, fuck it,” and favoriting her account, and pressing to send a message.

Even online, John was never great with words. He typed, and backspaced, and typed again, trying to come up with something interesting to make up for the bland profile he made around thirty minutes ago.

From: johnwick So. You like dogs?

If Addy were here, she would have slapped him.

Almost immediately after it sends, John lets out a frustrated noise and tears his gaze away from the screen. Dating just wasn’t like how it was when he met Helen. Why did everything have to be so complicated, and mysterious, and why the hell does he even have to waste his money on somebody when he could be saving this money to eventually, whenever the day comes, retire? John wrestles with the dilemma of deleting the whole account when a notification bell rings through the laptop speakers.

From: brooklynbaby yes, I love dogs!!! :D (typing) do you have a dog?

John breathes a sigh of relief.

From: johnwick Yes. I do.

From: brooklynbaby oh, great. :) (typing)

John’s leg begins to bounce quickly, the table wavering with the glass on top, like an earthquake. Suddenly, brooklynbaby stops typing and John stills. Why did she stop? Did he do something wrong? Honestly, women are so hard to please nowadays.

From: brooklynbaby want to be my sugar daddy?

Never mind.

From: johnwick I would.

From: brooklynbaby cool

Neither him or brooklynbaby says anything for a few moments, and John doesn’t notice. After-all, he is still a working man, busy with life and revenge and trying to stay alive for more than three seconds. When he goes back to the laptop and sees no reply, he frowns.

From: johnwick I am sorry. I really don’t know what I’m doing. What am I supposed to say?

He makes a mental reminder to have words with Addy later.

From: brooklynbaby /(*u*)/ you’re cute we could make dinner reservations and talk over terms if you’d like!!! i say reservations because they’re fancy and if anything goes wrong, we can pretend we’re… business partners? discussing business?

Without even really realising, John finds himself laughing shortly, settling back into the chair. All of this feels weird, as in typing to a stranger he’s planning to spend his money on and occasionally fuck. John quickly revisits her profile and spends four minutes analysing her profile picture. If this is her, then she’s really very beautiful. A steal.

From: johnwick When are you free for dinner?

From: brooklynbaby hmm well i’m dogsitting tomorrow, but i can be free for the day after!!!! is that okay ^_^

From: johnwick That would be fine. [Address] at 7pm, does that work for you?

brooklynbaby pauses.

From: brooklynbaby omg am i gonna have to dress fancy?

From: johnwick Don’t feel pressured. I only own black.

From: brooklynbaby well….guess i’ll bring out like one of my old uni party dresses :( but you have to promise not to judge me!!!

John laughs again. At some point during the evening, he ends up with a planned dinner reservation at one of the most expensive restaurants in Brooklyn, and he’s also 2 grand poorer thanks to the generous donation in brooklynbaby’s bank account for a nice evening outfit.

When John returns the laptop to Addy the following morning, he was admittedly expecting the rant that followed. She had glared at the laptop being handed back over the bar and refused to serve him until he came up with a reasonably valid excuse as to why he wasn’t putting himself out there for a bit of company. John had blinked with an unimpressed look and drummed his fingers.

“I have dinner reservations with someone tomorrow at 7pm. Also- can I have a drink?”

But of course, with work being as tedious as ever and with his whole day being completely ruined by a blood stained shirt and poor room service for the first time in his many years of frequenting the Continental, John didn’t amuse himself with brooklynbaby until he logged onto the site on his phone, and saw that she had messaged thrice during the day. He almost felt guilty, until he saw a string of numbers at the end of the last message. He deemed it less necessary to read her above messages and instead went right to texting.

brooklynbaby ok. so should i just ask for mr john wick when i get to this restaurant??? sorry for so many texts im just kinda nervous

me Yes. I booked under my name and I will be waiting for you when you arrive. Why are you nervous? Didn’t you ask me to be here?

brooklynbaby well if we’re going to be technical then YOU asked me to dinner first :P and im nervous because i have nooo idea who you are send a picture?

John sank into bed.

me Maybe I like the element of surprise.

brooklynbaby seems a lil unfair that you get to see me but i dont get to see you :( ive seen ur dog before you thats saying something

me You could have used any image. If we’re going to be technical, I don’t even know your name, or if that is really you in the image.

John really hadn’t been expecting a full blown nude image at 4:15pm in the afternoon, but he will admit that it was nevertheless what he needed to break some steam. He had arrived at the restaurant twenty minutes earlier than expected, but that’s okay, Mr Wick. Right this way! Now that he was sitting here, at an empty table overlooking Brooklyn and the lights, with an already ordered bottle of wine, John could understand and relate to the first date nerves. He hadn’t felt this way in a long time. Not since-

brooklynbaby uhhh im kind of here like ten minutes early should i wait outside for you :3

He laughs, mostly to himself.

me I’m already up here. I ordered a rosé, is that alright?

brooklynbaby YES IM RUNNING

And, surprising himself also, John had clammed up and reached for his glass. Thankfully, the owner of this restaurant knew John by face and order, because, after-all, this had been his go-to with Helen. These days, he doesn’t have time to go out to new places and eat new things, and so had panicked, and picked a place with sentimental value, and a history of good food. He gulped back his glass of Bourbon and waited until the door at the other side of the room opened meekly, and he tried to appear vacant as the waiter led a woman across the room and towards him.

“Your date, Mr Wick.”

He left curtly and brooklynbaby followed his body as he left, her feet firmly glued to the floor as her head looked back over her shoulder. John took this as an opportunity to look at her body, covered in a beautiful dress he felt proud of paying for. Finally, brooklynbaby looked towards him and paused, observing him and his clearly surprising appearance. John then remembered the gash on his cheekbone and the way he probably looked very off-putting with an unshaven face and long hair, but brooklynbaby smiled softly and raised her brows, beating him to helping her in her chair as she quickly sat down and looked at his glass.

“How did you know I liked beards?”

John didn’t say anything for a moment. “I didn’t.”

brooklynbaby rolled her eyes with a grin. “Of course you didn’t.” She looked up, then, properly taking in his face. John did the same, looking at every feature present and coming to the quick conclusion that yes, she was definitely the woman in the pictures, and yes, she was one of the most gorgeous humans he had ever seen on planet Earth since Helen herself.

“You’re not what I expected,” she said honestly. “But, more than my expectations. I don’t believe I’ve really introduced myself- I’m Y/N. Y/N L/N.”

He tried it out in his head. Y/N. Y/N L.N, Y/N L/N, Y/N Wick-

“John,” he replied and she sniggered and rested her chin in her palms.

“You’re seriously so handsome,” she complimented. “Are you sure you’re not married, or something?”

Her gaze panned to his hands where she noticed the wedding band, and for a moment, she hesitated. John wasn’t ashamed of the ring, nor embarrassed to be seen wearing it. He toyed with it on his finger, looking at her from across the table. “It’s complicated.”

Y/N nodded meekly. “I see.” She cleared her throat, “divorce? Planned divorce? Affair?”

“No, I’m widowed,” he tried out a joke, but she only looked more uncomfortable. Her mouth gaped and she fumbled for words.

“Oh, John, I’m really sorry- no, really, I’m so sorry,” she stumbled, and John watched her carefully across the table. “God, how fucking insensitive. Sorry, I guess that just. Wow, that never really crossed my mind. That sucks, I’m sorry.”

“It’s in the past,” John said, finding finality in that sentence. “I’m trying to move on from it.”

Y/N nodded sympathetically. “No, yeah, wow, I get it. Completely. I...hope I live up to great expectations, then?”

John smiled and looked past her, noticing the waiter rounding the corner with the bottle of rose. “You’re getting there, Miss L/N.”

[scaredandbored]

frailty, thy name is leonard mccoy

(title is a rip-off of shakespeare’s line “frailty, thy name is woman” from hamlet)

warnings : THERE ARE SPOILERS IN THE WARNINGS

 1- look bones gets kidnapped by aliens who are totally against their planet’s agreement with the federation and he gets beaten up pretty bad. im not sure how to warn specifics for this, but there’s physical violence and blood and stuff so if you don’t like that, this isn’t for you

2- this is my first time writing with a vague plot in mind so please feel free to tear into it with the ol’ constructive criticism

3- there IS a lengthy discussion of a “global viral pandemic” but it ain’t covid and it ain’t earth so s’long as words like “outbreak” “viral” “pandemic” “global pandemic” “isolation” etc don’t bother you it should be ok

4- bones is in it so there is cursing. also spock kinda gets Overly Protective so if yall dont like that give this one a skip (not that im always shit at writing spock anyway)

5- oop character death didn’t expect that but the plot goes where the plot wants to go

no editing we die like men

it IS a spones fic who do you think i am   

words : 3,523

When the Anti-Federation Rebels did not return by the time Leonard’s throat had begun to itch with thirst, he started to realise that he wasn’t critically injured Had any properly trained Starfleet officer been put in his situation, they probably wouldn’t even bother showing up to medbay at this stage. But he wasn’t properly trained. Just a bumbling country doctor the fleet had stupidly thought would thrive while being held responsible for the lives of the entire crew of their flagship. He wasn’t built for this kind of thing, he wasn’t trained. Physically and emotionally weaker than the rest of the crew, and completely ignorant of the politics and mind games involved in space travel; he was in pain. All he had wanted was to try and stop the spread of the virus, and look where that had gotten him.

He’d strong-armed Kirk into taking this mission. Pulled in a few favours. He’d not been keeping a particularly close eye on the negotiations happening between the official representatives of Caughlaigh and the United Federation of Planets, but when he’d heard about the viral outbreak on the main content of the planet, Leonard McCoy knew they weren’t equipped to handle the situation. The night he first heard about the outbreak, he’d asked Kirk what he’d known about Caughlaigh, to which the captain had responded : “To be perfectly honest, not much, Bones.”, before neatly taking Spock’s rook with a knight. Spock had raised an eyebrow at Leonard’s sudden breaking of the comfortable silence in the room. The eyebrow crept a millimetre higher at the captain’s unprecedented move. Leonard decided to drop the conversation and forget about it. He knew he didn’t know everything about the situation. He knew Starfleet would’ve looked at the medical capabilities of the people of Caughlaigh and reacted accordingly. He knew Spock was underestimating the importance of that particular move made by Jim. He’d thought maybe he was underestimating the Caughlaigh officials. Jim had won that particular match. 

Two days later, a recommended news story on his personal PADD told him the situation on Caughlaigh had escalated from an outbreak to a pandemic. There were cases in every settlement on the main continent, and the spread of the virus to the other two smaller continents was inevitable. He’d hung behind after watching Spock destroy Jim at chess three times in a row to tell the captain what he’d learned. Jim had smiled softly in the way he always did when Leonard was being unnecessarily worrisome. “I’m sure the powers that be are making sure no-one is in any real danger.” A friendly clap on the shoulder that the rest of the crew would’ve taken in their stride shook McCoy slightly. “Now, I recommend you get yourself a good night’s rest, Bones.” Leonard had grumbled something about not knowing Jim had gotten a medical license.

Another two days later, another recommended news story. The first deaths from the virus had happened in the epicentre of the pandemic, the largest settlement on the main continent had lost their main healer and her most trained assistant. McCoy set up his PADD so that any articles regarding the Caughlaigh Pandemic would be automatically downloaded, available to read even if they entered some electromagnetic storms or some other astro-phenomenon he didn’t fully understand.

A week later, three inhabitants of one of the smaller continents passed away. Leonard had gone to Jim with the intention of seeking comfort from the closest thing he had to a friend on this godforsaken tin can. He’d come back six hours later with a promise from his captain and Starfleet that the Enterprise was going to assist with the Caughlaigh situation.

A day later, Leonard hand picked multiple ensigns and a few nurses to take with him to the surface to work on the frontlines. Commander Spock had formally contested the logic in sending down the ship’s chief medical officer to work in a hospital instead of working on a cure back at the ship. Leonard’s friend Spock had requested he be unwavering in his sanitation and self-preservation on the surface.

He’d only been on the surface for a week when he’d been knocked out while he was scrubbing up for a surgery. The anti-federation rebels had noticed his uniform and taken him for a great deal of questioning. They used a method that was rather... forceful. 

They had left him alone, finally. Maybe they had realised he wasn’t going to cooperate. Most likely they were taking a break to make sure they didn’t render him useless before they could exploit him for information. Lucky for him.

Leonard McCoy didn’t enjoy bright lights at the best of times; as a boy growing up in Georgia he’d always been mocked by his peers for his adverse reaction to the harsh sunlight, whether it was violently scrunching up his face or wearing sunglasses every time he stepped outside the door. He’d eventually stopped wearing the sunglasses, migraines be damned. A kid can only take so much ridicule. Now, decades later, he found himself irrationally wishing he’d taken his sunglasses with him. He had to focus on how much the harsh, almost surgical lights were paining him. Had to, unless he wanted to focus on the rest of his aching body. 

He could heard the sound of his captors making their way back into the room he’d been strapped up in, and began to pull helplessly at his bonds, which did nothing but give him friction burns around his wrists and ankles. He tried to speak but instead of his voice, a pained hiss of air rushed out from somewhere low in his throat as a clawed foot connected with his stomach.

Clinically, Leonard registered the puncturing of the skin over his stomach, but failed to extrapolate any further medical analysis as pain seared from the wounds. A fist connected with his nose. There was a crack, then more pain. He could feel blood rushing down his lower face, could feel it looking between his lips, could taste it when his mouth opened in a gasp for air as something constricted his breathing.

Thrashing his head, Leonard desperately tried to get a glimpse of who was in the room with him, tried to figure out where they were coming from, where they’d hit him next, but the lights were blinding him, his eyes were burning, he was pretty sure his nose was broken, he was bleeding, he... he was alone.

An open palm struck his face while another clawed foot pressed painfully at the base of his spine. It was probably his imagination, but Leonard thought he could hear his old bones creak and groan under the pressure.

His lips grew tacky with the blood that continued to gush from his nose, and his head spun. He couldn’t stop himself from jerking his arms instinctively to press against the throbbing wounds to his stomach, which caused the restraints on his wrists to dig into his skin.

A cold, almost-leather strap was clamped around his neck, and it was tight, much too tight. He tried to tell them, desperate mewlings that went ignored as his nose kept bleeding and his stomach kept churning and he couldn’t think and then there was a strong, cold, seven fingered hand gripping his jaw, forcing his chin up.

A growl, from someone Leonard couldn’t see, corresponded with a significant tightening of the grip on his jaw. His head was full of feathers, he was sure of it. A soft, swan-like down that was probably stained brick red from the steady stream pouring out of his nose, out of his gut-

He felt his jaw shatter and his head hit the ground.

***

“Bones, please respond.” The captain had been comming his CMO for upwards of an hour now, ever since he failed to give his morning report. He hadn’t been particularly worried about Bones’s failure to report precisely on time; he’d always had an awful internal clock. The only reason he was starting to worry now was that his away team hadn’t seen Dr.McCoy since lunchtime yesterday. 

Now, if it had been an away team of senior officers, he’d believe Bones would’ve felt no need to check in with the crew, but he’d taken down a bunch of ensigns to try and give them some experience on the field, and Bones was the biggest mother hen Jim had ever met. “Spock, life signs?”

Spock hadn’t looked up from his console all morning, which was a worry in itself. “The doctor removed his comm badge before retiring last night, earlier than normal, captain. He has not reattached it since.” 

“You’re telling me we can’t find him?” Jim was trying to keep his professionalism, but when his friend was unaccounted for on a politically volatile planet, he thought he could be forgiven a little terseness. 

Spock took longer to reply than usual, his hands fiddling with what Jim knew to be more sensitive equipment than their general sensors. “There is no terran life-forms outside of the planet-side transporter location within our sensor range, captain.” 

“And what exactly is our sensor range, Mr.Spock?” Angling for less confrontational, Jim found himself using a tone of voice he knew Spock had difficulty discerning whether it was angry or not. To make up for this, Jim perched himself on the edge of Spock’s console, placing his hand on the back of the chair and leaning in closer so he could look at the readings himself. 

“We can scan the entire surface of the planet with the assistance of the numerous towers planet-side. However, we can only penetrate approximately six feet below the surface due to the composition of the planet’s soil. It contains isotopes which-”

“Thank you Mr.Spock, I understand.” Normally, Jim would indulge Spock in his analysis, but time could very well have been a resource they were lacking. “Six feet, you say?”

“Affirmative, captain.” Spock was looking directly at him, his normal micro-expressions invisible to Jim. 

“Well, at least we know he’s not dead.” 

“Captain?”

“I’ll explain later, Mr.Spock. Mr.Scott?” The crackle of the infamously bad reception from the engine room rang over the bridge’s intercom. 

“Aye, captain?”

“Any chance we could get those sickbay kids back onboard?”

“Aye sir. I had someone repair those transporters this mornin’.”

“Excellent. Bridge out.” Kirk took a steadying breath. Just one. He couldn’t let the panic he could feel settling low in his chest affect his ability to command the ship. Especially when the livelihood of the ship’s CMO depended on that ability. “Transporter room?”

“Sir?”

“Have we got a lock on the away team?”

“All bar one, captain. Do you have the coordinates of Dr.McCoy?”

“Not right now, no. Beam up the rest, and have them report to my ready room.”

“Aye, sir.” 

Jim closed his eyes for a moment, vaguely aware of Spock standing up from his station. “Alright, Mr.Spock. Let’s find out what we can from these officers before we go jumping to any conclusions.” 

***

Leonard woke as his head was thrown against what felt like a stone wall, blood bubbling in the back of his throat. He could only hope the blood was from his nose and not his lungs, although both his face and chest were aching equally. 

A hand pinned him to the wall by the back of his neck, grinding his face against the gritty surface. Tiny pebbles scraped at the skin of his face, and he could feel his head spin as concern about an infection flitted in and out of the overwhelming bouts of different kinds of pain. A burning pain on his face from the fiction between his cheek and the gravely wall, a sharp pain in his nose (broken, if the amount of blood pooling above his upper lip was anything to go by), another sharp pain somewhere on the back of his head (sticky substance on back of neck: sweat or blood?), various, almost insignificant pains along and around his torso, an overall stiffness, and, oh Jesus. 

A shriek ripped its way out of his severely dehydrated throat as a scaled fist collided with his side, tugging at the skin which they had haphazardly sewn back together while he’d been knocked out. The area around the wound was warm, and the second the fist made contact with his side he could feel something oozing out of it. Not good, his brain helpfully supplied. The scream that had perforated the room left him whimpering in pain, his jaw a horrific cocktail of sharp, stabbing pains and dull aches, a bitter metallic taste stinging at his taste buds. 

A voice, speaking a language he didn’t know, was coming from somewhere in the room, too far away to be his assailant. Then, right beside his ear, from a tongue not designed to verbalise Standard : “They come.” 

Leonard could feel a sharp talon being pressed against the junction between the hinge of his jaw and his ear, not piercing the skin, not yet. It took him a while to try and figure out what they meant, then he gave a sharp, barking laugh followed by a coughing fit, splattering the wall he was pressed against. Jesus Christ. “You’re on some goddamn dumb shit if y’all think they ain’t halfway across y’all’s galaxy by this point.” 

The faraway, foreign vocalisations. The talon jabbed forcefully into his skin, making him groan, feeling a warm trickle of blood slither down his neck to pool with whatever was dripping down the back of his neck. 

He’d been crying since before he’d woken up, at least he thought so. “They ain’t comin’ you goddamn idiots, get your paws the fuck offa me.” His voice was thin and non-threatening, even to his own ears. The talon dragged itself down, towards his carotid artery. Leonard’s shriek was trapped in his throat as he squirmed, pressing himself further into the wall in a pathetic attempt to escape the motion. He could hear the owner of the slowly advancing talon release a hiss, before jerking it back up to his ear, deepening the wound. 

He could hear his own sobs bouncing off of the walls, echoing around his head. They weren’t coming. They couldn’t come, they’d get caught too, they had to leave him. The shudder that ran through his body tugged at the rancid stitches in his stomach, the shifting of his clothes hitting him with his own stench: dried blood, fresh blood, sweat, urine, and vomit. 

Must’ve thrown up while unconscious.

Why didn’t I choke on it, damnit?

His stomach heaved, his stitched popped, and he felt himself crumple, but was unconscious before he felt to the ground with a dull crack.  

***

“Captain it’s been three days-”

“I won’t give up the search-”

“I would not suggest we cease our search, captain. I was suggesting you allow me to proceed ahead at my own pace, as I believe I will be more efficient in locating the doctor than the security team.”

“I need you here, Spock.”

“You do not.”

Jim had never seen Spock like this before, never born witness to his unwavering loyalty secondhand. He was used to being found by a Spock who had already begun to lose his  version of a frantic disposition. He did not know what to do with a Spock who looked like he was going to go ahead with his own plan regardless of orders received. “Spock-”

“You have many competent officers aboard who would be willing to assist you in interviewing the locals.”

Jim tilted his head, giving his first officer a warning look which he had a feeling went ignored. “Are you suggesting my search team is incompetent, Mr.Spock?”

His eyebrows jumped as Spock clearly opened his mouth to give his agreement. Spock quickly checked himself and closed his mouth, took a deep breath, then leveled Jim with a look he knew all too well. Spock had picked it up from him. “I am merely noting your CMO has been missing for three days, presumed in mortal danger.” It was a vulcanised version of the look Jim got before disobeying a direct order from a superior.

“I need you back alive. Both of you.” 

Spock blinked once in what Jim hoped was a promise before he was gone.

***

The team of redshirts trailed behind Spock as he followed the sound of a gentle scraping his human teammates had not been able to hear. The sound grew louder as they wound their way through a cave system that was almost too dark for him to see in. Spock’s already brisk pace grew even faster as a pained groan joined the scraping noise, an eerily human expression of pain. 

The team following him broke out into a full sprint the second they heard a yell coming from directly ahead. Spock froze at the familiarity of that yell. He’d heard it more times than he cared to, and his stomach lurched at what it implied. Snapping into action, he easily outstripped the rest of the team, who yelled for him to stop. 

Spock did not stop.

He burst into a wide open cavern flooded with bright light, felt his second eyelid slide shut, and in the split second it took for his eyes to adjust, there were three pairs of eyes fixed on him. Two threatening, reptilian humanoids watched him carefully, as Spock stood, frozen. McCoy was looking at him, but his eyes were glazed over, his face gaunt and bloody, his bare feet slipping in a puddle of his own shockingly red blood as he was held up by his neck by one of the two friendly locals. Spock felt cold, and he could feel his heart drop to his pelvic girdle as he was unable to see the rise and fall of the doctor’s chest. He couldn’t move. The captors were stood in shock, uncertain what to do with their intruder.

“S....Sp....” McCoy blinked slowly and tried to speak. The sound of his voice struggling up through a restricted throat, past a mangled jaw, desperately trying to form the sounds of his name brought a fury Spock had never known.

He felt a growl rumble in his chest, and when the lizard holding McCoy by the neck gave the doctor a shake, Spock launched himself. He was vaugly aware of a scuffle ensuing behind him, but his focus was totally on pulverising this creature who had dared to try and take Leonard from him. 

Wrapping an arm around Leonard’s chest elicited a pained mewl from his tiny doctor, which sent another surge of red through Spock, as he shoved the creature away from them instead of trying to pull Leonard away, but the creature dug its talons in instead of letting go. Spock could feel Leonard jerk forward, pulled by the nails embedded in his neck. A strangled noise left Spock as he leaned forward and sank his teeth into the hand, which released Leonard in surprise. Immediately, Spock slipped McCoy behind him, his concern slowly growing to outtake his anger as Leonard’s pained noises grew more and more frequent. Backing into a corner, Spock’s eyes did not leave the advancing opponent.

There was a flash of light, the lizard fell, and Spock immediately turned to Leonard, his hands flying to the psi-points on the doctors face without hesitation, totally unaware of the frail hands shakily trying to pry him away. Spock joined to McCoy without hesitating, ascertaining the extent of the damage.

That wasn’t a very good idea, darlin’. 

Spock had not wanted his first meld with Leonard to be like this, not filled with more pain than he knew the doctor could withstand, not feeling the ghosts of what he knew, logically, were recent, fatal wounds, and older, debilitating lacerations and fractures.

You may not leave. 

Since when have I ever done what y’told me to, Spock?

His thoughts were... surprisingly direct for a human untrained in vulcan ways, but the way they were growing gradually quieter was enough to send Spock into a panic which he tried desperately to tamp down. 

On Vulcan, one’s spouse always  obeys their husband.

Who’s t’say y’ain’t the one who’s ‘posed to do th’ obeyin’?

Spock felt a flash of pain as Leonard tried to smile, then the connection went dead. 

Leonard had slammed up a mental barrier, and Spock did not have time to wonder where he had learned to do that, not as he was desperately pressing at Leonard’s psi-points while fixedly staring at the increasingly unsteady rise and fall of the his chest. Spock’s gazed fixed in horror at the stark white slip of collarbone protruding from the skin with every inhale. 

By the time the familiar fizz of the transporter surrounded them, Spock was no longer fighting against the mental barrier, but was still unable to make contact with the spirited doctor.

***

Jim had known Spock’s expression had meant he was going to disobey an order. He’d hoped by giving the order Spock had wanted, to bring his two best friends home, to avoid that. He should’ve known better.          

[nyongsimp]

truly, madly, deeply (pjy)

pjy x female reader word count: 4.1k genre: fluff fluff fluff warnings: it’s based on One Direction’s song, so you might cry. also, very domestic jinyoung. there miiight or might not be a proposal. mature content: just fluff.

summary: waking up besides the love of your life has always been a blessing, and today is no exception.

The not-so-subtle light was entering the room, the rays falling right on your eyes, making you struggle to continue sleeping. You’ve never liked when the window curtains weren’t fully down as any tiny ray of sunshine would make your peaceful sleep drift away. The sheet moved over the night, so now it wasn’t fully covering you but covering only from your waist to your feet. With your eyes still closed you tried to go back to sleep, taking advantage of the state you were in, between sleep and awake.

A tug in your waist was all you needed to know that he was still asleep, so being really cautious not to wake him, you turned between his arms to contemplate him while you could. He had never been a fan of people staring directly at him. Yes, he has been an idol for a while now and an actor too, and he loves his jobs. He shows himself as someone tough and neat, sometimes people take him as cold and a bit of a bully, he has portrayed an image for so long that now he has to maintain it. But people who really knew him were aware that he’s someone with some big insecurities and really shy. He loves to admire art and beauty so much, and he doesn’t notice that he is both things too.

You opened your eyes little by little to find Jinyoung laying on his back, head tilted to your side. His eyes were closed, eyelashes touching his skin like feathers. Lips slightly parted and doing a small pout, which you adored, there was a little stubble around his mouth, which he hated and would surely shave as soon as he woke up. He moved a little, trying to spoon you to keep you closer to him, but you moved too and he stopped; his arm still around you but his legs allowing you to fit one of your legs between his.

Still looking at his face, you laid your hand on his chest, feeling the beating of his heart. He frowned a little, those full thick brows changing his peaceful state to a worried one. The hand you had on his chest moved to cup his face and then your thumb stroked his frown away as lightly as you could, once it faded his lips curled a bit, making his cheeks look puffier.

You knew you were the luckiest girl in the world if you were able to see the Park Jinyoung like this.

There were still some occasions when you questioned yourself if this was just another dream of yours, as this was too good to be true. But that’s how life works, sometimes things that seemed impossible for you end becoming true. You were sure there was something you did incredibly well in your past life, had someone up there that really loved you, or destiny was on your side, because there was an almost zero-chance possibility for this to happen, nevertheless, it was real, and it was your present.

You went back to the first time he saw you, three years ago.

You were rushing to one of your Master’s classes, coffee on one hand, bag beneath your arm, some books being held with your forearm against your chest. Professor Han would be pissed if you arrived late again, but it wasn’t really your fault that the classrooms were at different ends of the campus. You cursed at your twenty-two-old-self for taking the decision five years ago of coming to South Korea to do a Master’s in Korean Language, thinking it would be easy which, spoiler, it wasn’t. You fastened your pace.

Your phone in your free hand buzzed and you took a look at it; it was a twitter notification: GOT7 would hold a meet & greet at your auditorium. Great, this would be their first OT7 activity after all they went through: getting out of JYPE, winning the lawsuit to keep their name and songs, and the korean members going to their military service. And you will be missing it because you had to deliver your final paper to professor Han or you’ll have to face taking his class again next spring. Which you couldn't or wouldn't as this was your last year here and it would mean saying another year but this time without the scholarship.

Muttering curses in your native language, you didn’t notice a large group of people coming until it was too late; your blouse had a huge stain of coffee, the books you held were all over the place, the only good thing was that your paper was safe. You didn’t even have time to say anything before lots of screams were making you deaf, hands were all over the place collecting your stuff, phones were all around you. What was this?

‘Is she ok?’, ‘she should be more careful’, ‘look, another idiot who falls so they have to pick her up’, those were some of the things people were saying.

“Here, let me help you,” a voice you recognized pretty well told you, a hand was extended to your direction. “I’m sorry for the trouble, but you have to be more careful of your surroundings, if not you’ll get hurt” he flashed you a friendly smile.

You took his hand to get up and thanked him, another man gave you your bag, other your books, and the last one gave you your coffee mug. You thanked them once again before saying you were sorry and bowing a couple times. They left, and so did the security guards and the fans, you stood still. 

Park Jinyoung had smiled at you and helped you get up.

Shortly after that first encounter you started bumping into each other, and after six months of doing so, you joked about hanging out sometime and he agreed, so he asked for your phone number and you gave it to him. A few days later you started hanging out with him and a few months later he asked you to be his girlfriend, the only downfall: you had to go back to your native country, so he helped you to find a job at his agency. Jinyoung asked you to move in with him while celebrating your first anniversary, and six months later he traveled to meet your parents.

With that travel the scandal exploded, everyone wanting to know more about the secret girlfriend of the most secretive members of GOT7. Most fans took the news pretty well. After all, Jinyoung was turning thirty-three and everyone was waiting for a dating scandal from him as he was the only missing from the seven men. And now, a year and a half later, you were laying between his arms, admiring his features, appreciating his warmth.

You felt his hand sneaking under your shirt to touch your lower back. “You’re staring” his morning voice finally made its appearance, ears turning red.

“Yes, I am,” he moved closer to you and opened his eyes, staring directly at yours. “I love watching my boyfriend.”

He laughed and you smiled. You weren’t lying, you loved watching him doing anything. To you, he was the most perfect human being you could share your life with. Both of you fitted so well, of course there were some fights, but nothing that couldn’t be fixed. You were truly in-love with him, no matter what others said.

His stomach growled, of course he was starving. Last night when he arrived he went straight to the bedroom, practice being really tiring to him as the next comeback was being prepared. He didn’t even eat something on his way to your place, and when he fell on the bed you had to help him to change his clothes so he could sleep more comfortably. And as today was his free day, he slept as much as he could, and by that you meant around twelve hours.

“Good morning.”

“Seems like someone’s hungry.”

“No, I’m not,” he said, placing your head on his chest and finally hugging you with both arms.

“Jinyoung…” you warned.

“Let’s stay like this a little longer,” he hummed, his voice vibrating on his chest. “We can go eat later, let me enjoy being like this with my girlfriend” he placed a kiss on your hair and you felt your heart warm.

Even though you knew it was a bad idea as he would fall asleep again, you let him have the opportunity of being like this. He was playing with your hair while you were drawing circles on his chest’s exposed skin. Last night was too much struggle for you to try and put him on a shirt as he was really sleepy for his own good, so you let him shirtless and enjoyed the warmth of his skin while you could. As soon as you heard the light snores, you decided it was time to make breakfast, and against all your desires to keep sleeping along your boyfriend, you got up. He immediately seeked your body, pouting and frowning when he couldn’t reach you. You tied your hair and walked over to his side, gently brushing his hair out of his face and kissed his cute nose before going to the kitchen.

You put some coffee to brew and scrambled some eggs, then chopped two tomatoes, sliced an apple, and took out a banana and a few strawberries. Once the eggs were finished you put bread to toast while serving some yogurt and granola in a bowl. As you were finishing, you placed the food in a tray so you could move all of that at once. You made your way to the bedroom and hoped for Jinyoung to be asleep. His idol agenda was crazy, and with his upcoming movie filming he would need as much rest as possible. He’ll hate not being able to give his best and will keep blaming himself for it.

He was still sleeping when you entered the bedroom. You placed the tray on the nightstand, and then walked over the window to open the curtains a little bit without disturbing Jinyoung. Now it was time to wake him up. So there you went again to his side of the bed, sitting on the edge of it, hoping it wouldn’t make that much noise.

You couldn’t help but look at him again, seeing him this calm and relaxed would always bring peace to your life. You were sure you could explode from love right then. This was one of the highlights of your relationship with him; him trusting you enough to show you his defenceless self, his fears, his worries, his tears and also his joys, his wonderful laughs, his playfulness, and everything he often had to hide from the rest.

You leaned over to kiss him on the cheek to wake him, but he surprised you when he trapped you with his arms over him, you let out a small and quick scream. The kiss intended on the cheek ended up on his lips. He laughed fondly while kissing you.

“God, I could wake up like this every morning and never get tired of this,” he said, eyes half-closed and lips brushing with yours. “Good morning.”

You laughed lightly. “Good morning,” a peck on his lips was all he got before you could escape to get the tray. “Here, I made breakfast.”

The look Jinyoung was giving you made you weak in the knees. It wasn’t a lustful one, even though the shirt you were using was his and you weren’t using a bra and he knew it. His look was a fond one. The one that can make you feel all warm from love, because you know that their eyes light up like that only for you and you’re the only one able to see it. His eyes never left you as you approached him again, left the tray on his legs and then sat beside him.

Both of you started eating, sharing what happened this week. He was being really secretive about the comeback, more secretive than he ever has, and it only intrigued you more. He knew you were a fan, but that hasn’t matter before, maybe this time there would be something bigger, and you respected that. It was exciting anyways. He told you that next week he would be coming home later than usual as Jaebeom asked him to run some errands with him, you told him that your parents were coming next weekend so there would be a dinner being held as they missed you a lot and your dad wanted to make sure that his princess were being well treated.

Jinyoung’s free day went faster than you expected. You decided not to go out, and instead to watch a movie and order in, so he could have a relaxing day. He didn’t decide which movie to watch though, this time it was your turn and you decided to watch the live action version of The Beauty and the Beast, he knew you would cry when Evermore came up, so he hugged you closer when Dan Stevens started singing. He made fun of you when you started saying the dialogues in your mother tongue, but he loved hearing you speak another language than English or Korean, he just would never say that to you out loud.

At the time you both had to go back to bed he went into the bedroom first as you wanted to wash yourself before going to sleep, when you went into your bedroom you saw Jinyoung sitting at the edge of the bed. You kept drying your hair with your towel until you were kneeling in front of him.

"What's going on?" you touched his knee and he looked at you, your thumb was caressing his skin and he placed his hand on top of yours. "Nyongs, are you ok?" "Yeah, it's just…" he gave your hand a squeeze and then placed a kiss on top of it, his eyes drifting to his drawer and then to your hand again. "I feel like this is too good to be true, as if I'm going to wake up at any moment and you won't be here. I'm afraid that I could lose you."

You stood up and your hands cupped his face and you made him look at you, "listen, Jinyoung, there's no way on Earth that you could lose me or that I would ever leave you. You're all I've ever wanted and more, much more," you kissed him on his lips and then hugged him.

"You promise?" he asked, his voice trembling a little.

You knew he was afraid, that was your fear too. Your relationship was never too vocal when it came to feelings. Yes, you mocked each other at times by calling each of you by boyfriend or girlfriend. But there weren't tons of I love yous, and the pet names had died long ago in the relationship, those were saved for special occasions. You hugged him tighter and he enclosed you in his embrace, his head on your chest and arms wrapped on your waist.

"Princess? Do you promise?"

He was really affected, so you nodded, "yes, Jinyoung. I promise."

Jinyoung broke the hug and then stood up and looked you in the eyes. He was holding your hands and then he was kneeling in front of you, "then say yes."

"What do you mean?"

"Let's get married," he opened the little velvet box you didn't notice he was holding until now. "Promise me that from now on it'll be the two of us forever. That, of course, until and if you wanna have kids."

You were speechless, like you forgot how to breathe. Your hands were covering your mouth and he was looking at you waiting for the answer. How long has he been hiding this ring? was the first thing that came to your mind but you shushed your thoughts before making Jinyoung stand up again.

"Then let's do it. Let's be us forever, with kids and everything" you said with a smile on your face and your eyes full of tears of joy.

He placed the ring where it belonged and then hugged you.

________________________________

It was Saturday morning when you decided to hang out with your parents for the day as Jinyoung had to record something for their fans. Your mother was extremely excited to go out and know Seoul while your father was still struggling with the jet lag. They told you about the family, how your cousins, aunts and uncles were doing. It has been so long since you last saw them, you missed them but you also didn’t have the time to go back to your hometown as much as you wanted.

You three spent all day together, your mother even bought you a beautiful casual dress as she wanted to gift you something. You ate at one of your favorite restaurants knowing how picky your dad was about food, walked beside Han River and watched all the people on their bikes or spending some time with their loved ones. It was almost dawn when you received a call from Jinyoung, letting you know that he would go and pick you and your parents up to have dinner together with his parents.

Jinyoung and you had decided to tell your parents about the engagement over dinner, hoping that none of them would collapse right there. Once you arrived at the restaurant you made the reservation, Jinyoung introduced your parents to his and, much to your surprise, your parents bowed politely.

After that, dinner became complicated, your parents speaking their respective mother tongues, and you and Jinyoung working as translators, but it seemed like it went good anyway. When you and Jinyoung broke down the news to them it felt like an avalanche of emotions; your mom was crying, your dad was shocked and consoling your mom, Mrs. Park was clapping while telling you how much she wanted her baby to start having babies of his own, and Mr. Park was coughing as he was drinking water when Jinyoung spilled everything.

Once everyone went back to their senses the questions began, and you told them not to worry as both of you wanted to do something small and private, just some relatives and your closest friends. Both fathers nodded while your mothers were lost now in their recent talk about grandsons or granddaughters. When the dinner came to an end your mothers exchanged numbers with a promise to try to communicate as much as they could while Jinyoung’s father flinched at your father’s handshake. You looked at your dad, scolding him with your eyes as you had previously told him that their handshake wasn’t as strong as the one he was used to. You said your goodbyes and left the restaurant.

After dropping your parents at their hotel you went back to your place. Jinyoung was driving with his hand on your thigh, and you looked at him when he drove by your building.

“Jaebeom-hyung sent me a text, seems like I forgot something with him,” he smiled at you and you relaxed, you hated surprises.

You looked out of the car, loving the way the lights were on at night, it was like magic. Seoul’s traffic was really troublesome, that was one of the reasons using public transportation was better. You didn’t remember quite well where Jaebeom lived, so you decided to sleep a bit. You knew the pair too well to know that it wouldn’t be just ‘picking it up’, it would take an hour or so to go back to your place, so Jinyoung would wake up once you were there.

Jinyoung was caressing your arm to wake you.

“We arrived?” he hummed in response, you stretched yourself and took off the seatbelt. “Alright, let’s go.”

“Here, let me help you” his hand was extended to help you out of the car.

“What−” you stopped yourself when you noticed you weren’t at the city, but at an observatory. “Nyongs, what’s this?”

He just shrugged his shoulders and offered you his arm. As you walked you saw a square piece of cloth laying on the ground and some candles around it, the view was amazing. You looked speechless at the man walking beside you.

What was going on?

As you got nearer the cloth you noticed a lot of flowers and petals laying around it and a bouquet of it at the center of the cloth. Pink, blue, yellow, red… you didn’t know a lot about flowers, you loved them, yes, but you knew nothing about the meanings and all that. The only flowers you could remember their names to were the orchids and the sunflowers. The city lights made it impossible for you to see the stars but you still had the moon.

When you finally arrived at the place Jinyoung wanted you to be, he handed you the bouquet and hugged you.

“Wait,” you said in his embrace. “Am I forgetting something? Why are we here?” your impatience made its appearance.

“What? Am I forbidden from doing something special for my fianceé?” Jinyoung retorted, grabbing the guitar you didn’t even notice was on the mat.

“But−” he kissed you.

“But nothing, be quiet.”

He started playing a song you knew too well, after all GOT7 wasn’t the first band you loved and he was well aware of it, constantly dealing with your love for Harry Styles. How and when he memorized the chords and lyrics from the song was a mystery to you, but there he was, singing Truly Madly Deeply to you. Tears started to form in your eyes and you smiled up to him. You took in the smell of the bouquet.

“Truly, madly, deeply I am. Foolishly, completely fallen. And somehow you kicked all my walls in,” he placed the guitar on the floor and came nearer to you and placed his hands on your hips making you slow-dance. “So, baby, say you’ll always keep me truly, madly, deeply in-love with you.”

"What are you doing?" you wrapped your hands around his neck.

"Dancing with you," he stated as if matter of fact.

"I mean, what's all of this?"

"Oh. Well… this was the actual proposal. I told the boys that I wanted to marry you and Jaebeom-hyung told me to ask you already, so he and Mark-hyung helped me a little. Jackson and Bambam accompanied me to look for the ring a couple months ago."

"What? Months?" you frowned a little.

"Yeah," he laughed. Oh, you loved when he laughed. "And actually Yugyeom was the one who told me to go for something simple and not the ring the other two were thinking,” he shrugged. “He was right, though."

You stopped dancing and sat on the mat, "and what about the song? I have never told you about it."

"That was Youngjae, he heard from his girlfriend that you said that that was the proposal song. But the other day seemed like it was the right time to do it, and this was because you deserve it," Jinyoung placed an arm over your shoulders and kept you close to him.

"Be honest with me, you did it anyway because you didn't want the boys to be all whiny at you after all you put them through for this, don't you?"

"Well…"

"Don't you?" you squinted your eyes at him and poked at his side.

As Jinyoung wasn’t saying a thing, you decided to tickle him. He started laughing from the tickles and fell on his back on the mat, you on top of him, his hands keeping you in place while you kept tickling him. His hands left your hips to grab your hands, placing them at his sides to stop you from tickling him.

He pouted, "yes." 

You knew he knew his pouting was one of your weaknesses, and still both of you enjoyed how this ended.

You give him a peck before he could deepen the kiss.

Jinyoung couldn't help but to feel like his chest was about to explode. Everytime he looked at you, he could picture you wearing your white bridal dress while he was trying to be strong as he looked at you walking down the aisle, everyone else blurry but you. He could also picture how the two of you started having children of your own, he dreamt of the day he could experiment a pregnancy with you, or to adopt if you didn't want to get pregnant or couldn't, either way those would be your kids.

He could picture all his life from now on, holding you close, being sure this wasn't a dream.

Hearing his heartbeat, you did that too. 

And Seoul’s night sky was your witness.

[dilliebar]

The Story of Dinah: A TLOUP2 Theory

Hey guys! So during this quarantine I’ve been looking for stuff to do to keep myself busy, and among playing The Last of Us for the billionth time I also decided to continue analyzing the content we’ve gotten so far. Tbh I gave up a while ago trying to find out what’s gonna happen in TLOU2, but after one google search, though, I actually think I’ve found a pretty solid theory that explains a lot of what we saw in the trailers/screenshots/etc.

!!! Note that this does include content from the leaked gameplay videos and from the leaked screenshot that surfaced a while ago. only read on if you’re okay with knowing spoilers !!!

**Note: I was not raised around a specific religion and my only knowledge of the subject has come from what I’ve read on the internet and the information I’ve gained from different Jewish and Christian interpretations of the passages talked about in this theory. None of these are my personal opinions and please correct me if anything is misinformed. Thank you.

So the majority of us know that something is going to happen to Dina and/or Ellie, and the first question is, what?

Well, obviously what’s different from the original game and p2 is that p2 is going to have to do a lot more with religion, as Dina is confirmed to be Jewish and we also have the Christian group, the Seraphites. The theme of religion is pretty much the basis of this theory, and it all starts with the origin of Dina’s name.

Now when you probably saw the title of this post you were like “yo that’s not how you spell her name”, and that, my friend, is where you’re wrong. After digging a little bit into the origination of Dina’s name, I found that it stemmed from the Hebrew name, Dinah. The first famous holder of this name was a woman who had a small, yet significant role in one of the books of the Jewish bible (or the Torah, please correct me if I’m wrong). Now, I would’ve written this off as a coincidence, but after looking into the story of Dinah I noticed some similarities between her story and bb Dina.

The passage basically tells the story of Dinah, who ventures out to meet the people of the world, and while doing so is sexually assaulted by the prince of Shechem. When her two brothers hear about this, they’re enraged, and slaughter all of the men in the city and rescue her.

The reason this caught my eye is because Dina and/or Ellie being sexually assaulted is a pretty common theory among the fandom right now, and after applying this to the trailers, screenshots, leaked footage, and the leaked screenshot, it makes a lot of sense, especially with Dina being Jewish. So without further ado, let’s look at what this means for the story.

                                               I. What Happened

So if we’re following the original story of Dinah, the first thing that would happen is that Ellie and Dina head out on patrol the night after their kiss. Obviously this would mostly serve as a tutorial-like introduction, but it would also serve as the setup for the rest of the game. This is where the basement scene comes in, in which both of them are attacked and/or assaulted, and for whatever reason, they take Dina and Ellie escapes.

A lot of people have been speculating that the game revolves around the sole idea of revenge, and while Ellie’s clearly pretty jazzed off about whatever happened in the gameplay and release date trailers, it’s likely more of a “side quest” aside from her actual goal: to get Dina back. Naughty Dog games in the past, including The Last of Us, have always had a certain goal in mind that you’re working towards throughout the game. This also aligns with the story of Dinah, as she isn’t killed, but taken.

In addition to the supporting story, much of the leaked footage aligns with this, as well. For example, in the leaked gameplay in which Ellie wakes up bruised and beaten in a theater and calls out for Dina and Jesse, but why would Dina be there? If Ellie’s main goal is to get revenge on the group who wronged them, then neither Dina nor Jesse being there would make a whole lot of sense unless they all just want to have one big traumatic experience together; however, if Dina was taken, it would make sense as to why Ellie and Jesse would go after her, because they both have strong feelings for her, want to get her back, and want to seek vengeance. At the same time, by the cuts and bruises littering Ellie’s back, we can see that something clearly went down very recently, which was likely the rescue of Dina. We can also confirm that this wasn’t a dream or some wacky acid trip, too, because in the leaked screenshot we can see Ellie and Dina exploring Capitol Hill in Seattle together.

Now of course we all want to know that Ellie and Dina live happily ever-after, and this might (?) be true according to the story of Dinah, in which both of the brothers (represented here by Ellie and Jesse) return safely home with Dinah. Since this is where the story ends, is this where the game takes a twist? Possibly, but we’ll never know for sure until we play it. 

                                               II. Whodunnit?

Alright, so I’m gonna break this down into the two groups that are confirmed to be in The Last of Us 2: the Seraphites and the WLF. Though none of this is stemmed from the story of Dinah, the biblical meanings behind their names matched up pretty darn well with what we know about them already. 

Now, the thing is, after trying to look up the Hebrew origination of the word “seraphite”, I found that it wasn’t actually a word at all. What I did find, however, was the definition of the word “seraph” which is “of the highest order of the nine-fold celestial hierarchy, associated with light, ardor, and purity”, with another description being a “six-winged angel”. The Latin suffix, “-ite”, means to be a follower. In other words, the Seraphites see themselves as either messengers or followers of god. This description makes a lot of sense, as in the trailer with the mystery-woman, the Seraphites say to “clip her wings” in reference to Yara.

When it comes to the WLF, the meaning behind their name is much more simple. As we can recall from the gameplay trailer, we hear the Seraphites shout out “WOLF!”. In addition to this, poster released shortly after the mystery-woman trailer portrays a wolf shaped by flames. Thus, I decided to look up the biblical meaning of a wolf, as the two groups are likely at odds. Unsurprisingly, the term “wolf” is generally used to describe those who pray on the weak.

After looking at these two groups, I concluded that the culprit is ultimately the WLF for a few reasons:

1. The meaning of the wolf in a biblical context (which was first mentioned to describe one of Dinah’s other brothers, by the way)

2. In the release date trailer, we can definitely see the attire of those who attacked the two. They’re wearing jackets; the man who initially attacked Ellie is wearing a cap. If we look at the gameplay trailer, the Seraphites distinctly wear robes, and so they are likely out of the question.

3. In the release date trailer, Tommy says “you don’t know how large that group is; how armed” all the while displaying a group of men with guns, and one verrrryyy important dude that I haven’t really seen a lot of people talking about. And that is this guy: 

OK, I know, it doesn’t seem like that big of a revelation but take a look at this guy’s face, and then scroll back up to the beginning of this section. Look similar? They’ve got the same hair, skin tone, attire, etc. In addition, the people with guns in the photo also have similar attire and weaponry to those in the release date trailer. At the same time, in the basement scene, we can also see a man in similar attire and a similar skin tone holding Ellie down (though to be fair, we can’t see his face, and so this may not be the same guy, but the attire definitely separates them from the Seraphites). 

Did maybe the Seraphites get a lil’ chilly and decide to wear jackets if the attacked Ellie and Dina? Maybe, but my bet’s on the WLF.

                                   III. Patching Up the Plotholes

Alright, so this theory definitely leaves a couple of plotholes that I wanna possibly cover (though it should be noted that these are speculation):  

1. As we see multiple times in both the screenshots and gameplay, Ellie entered Seattle alone. Where did Jesse come in?

2. Joel is in multiple screenshots, and also talks to Ellie in the release date trailer. What does he got to do with this?

So first of all, answering the question of where Jesse came in is fairly easy to answer, and it’s that he followed Ellie. As seen in the release date trailer, about a handful of people in Jackson left to go out on patrol other than Ellie and Dina, one of them being Jesse. Given the incident that happened in the basement, I’m guessing Ellie didn’t decide to keep scavenging for supplies and returned to Jackson early in order to recover and spread the news, which means Jesse likely wouldn’t have been back yet, and didn’t hear the news and go after Dina until he returned to Jackson. Then the question of the change in seasons comes into play. If this theory is true, I’m guessing that the basement scene took place near the end of winter, while Ellie/Jesse going to Seattle took place in early Spring, or that Ellie/Jesse left as soon as possible and the journey took longer than expected due to multiple obstacles like what happened in the first game. 

Now, when it comes to Joel, I returned specifically to the story of Dinah. A while after the incident, when Jacob (the father of both Dinah and the brothers) is blessing his children, he expresses his disappointment in the two brothers as “in their anger they slew men” and “cursed be their anger, for it was fierce, and their wrath, for it was cruel”. Based on this, I believe that the multiple screenshots from the game are in the context of Joel expressing his disappointment in Ellie, as she likely went out of her way to kill more people than she had to in order to get to Dina. This also correlates to the reveal trailer in which Joel says “you really gonna go through with this?” and Ellie replies, “I’m gonna find, and I’m gonna kill, every last one of them”. 

                                                  ~Conclusion~

Alrighty, so that’s pretty much it. Again, I don’t know if a lot of the biblical stuff is accurate since I wasn’t raised in a strictly Jewish nor Christian household, but I was intrigued by some interpretations and frankly I really wanted to get this out and see what everyone else thought about it. Please, if you have any additional thoughts about this, correct something I said, or point out any other plotholes, leave a comment! I’m in desperate need for some TLOU2 action.

[holeinotomemind]

MLQC Fanfic: Hearts of Storm - Ch 5 - Carnage

WARNING: NSFW/18+ fic. No smut this chapter. Trigger warning for bombing and violence. Dub/non-con, eventual 3P, spoilers, long dragged out fic and angst. Not morally correct. Turn away if this is not your thing. Pairing: Shaw x MC, Gavin x MC, Shaw x MC x Gavin AO3 Link: [here]

Notes: [See full notes on AO3] Catch up post. Big thanks to Lutz and sushikitty (aka Aelyxandra) for betaing this chapter again! Plot plot plot in this chapter. I swear there'll be more Shaw and Yui interaction from the next chapter on!

There was no warning. Yui only saw a flash of light in her peripheral vision as the unexpected sound of an explosion erupted so loudly it made her ears rang. She jerked her head up and felt the slight rattling of her walls as she watched small debris clatter on her balcony floor after hitting her windows.

It took her a few moments to understand what happened, but before she knew it, she had already clambered on her feet. She looked out the window and saw pedestrians fleeing in every direction.

Perhaps it was her instincts as a producer that kicked in or perhaps with all she had gone through in the past year that even though she could hear her own heart racing in fear, she knew she had to do something. She hurried back into her room to put on some warm clothes and grabbed a few essentials before running out the door and towards the scene.

She already saw the scene of the explosion from her home, but nothing could have prepared her for the carnage awaiting her. As soon as she exited her building, the painful moans of the injured filled her ears and the metallic smell of blood mixed with charcoal-burnt human flesh filled her nostrils. In the corner of her eye, she saw a limb lying on the ground, its lifeless body lying several feet away from it.

She was frozen in place, her feet rooted to the ground as her body shook in fear. It wasn’t until she heard the faint sound of a child’s cry that she snapped back into action, running towards the sound.

Yui found the little boy sitting on the ground behind a vehicle. He couldn’t have been any older than five. He had tears streaming down his face, but looked unharmed otherwise.

“Are you hurt anywhere?” Yui asked, just to make sure.

The boy shook his head, still sobbing, “I want my mommy!”

“Ok, let’s go find her.” Yui patted the boy on the head to comfort him before asking him about the name and physical appearance of his mother.

Although the child was unable to give her much detail, finding his mother turned out to be an easy task as she was already running down the street, frantically calling his name.

As Yui handed the boy over to his mother, their hands brushed and suddenly, her body tensed. The scene of a second explosion slammed into her vision. Yui saw the people who scattered eastward running right into the second bomb, exploding less than a block away from the current location. Many more were injured and killed, including the mother and the boy who were standing right in front of her right now.

Yui snapped her eyes open, grabbing the mother’s wrist tightly. “Run the other way. Don’t go eastward.”

“What?” The mother was puzzled at the sudden command given by the stranger in front of her.

“Just do it. Now!” Yui yelled, this time looking at the woman dead in her eyes.

Without further questions, the mother picked up her child and obeyed, the urgency in Yui’s tone, too difficult to ignore.

Screaming at the others on the streets to do the same, Yui, too, picked up her feet and ran but only got a few steps in before the second explosion erupted.

BOOM!

Yui barely had the time to flatten herself against the ground. Clouds of debris swept over her as she flinched at the small objects hitting her exposed hands and arms used to shield her head.

She tried to get back on her feet once the dust settled, but felt disoriented. She stumbled on her feet as the loud ring in her ears continued. Shaking her head, she tried to get rid of the pain and regained her bearings.

Finally, she stood up to look around. There were even more bodies on the ground. The second bomb went off when the residents from the nearby buildings came out to either help or to flee the scene.

This was no accident. It was a planned attack!

Who would do something like that? And, more pressingly, were there anymore bombs waiting to go off?

Yui closed her eyes, trying to use her evol to see if there would be another explosion when she felt a hand wrap weakly around her ankle. She let out a little yelp in surprise.

The man on the ground said something to her, but she couldn’t hear him properly. Her hearing still muffled from the deafening explosion.

“Are you ok?” She quickly knelt beside him. It took her a moment to recognize the man. He was Mr. Qin, her upstairs neighbour. But the man who was always expressionless and rude now looked at her with pleading eyes, his face twisted in pain and lying in a pool of his own blood.

It took her shaking hands a moment to find the open wound on him, a deep gash on his abdomen, which must have been caused by a large piece of flying debri.

“Mr. Qin, hang on! The ambulance will be here soon.” She comforted him. But even as she put pressure on his wound, she knew she was unable to stop the blood from gushing out of his body. Slowly, his life slipped away from under her hands.

Tears rolled down her face as his hand fell lifelessly on the ground. Like a deflated balloon, she sat on the ground, staring at her hands, now covered in crimson.

She was told she was the Queen. She was told she was the one who can change the future, but people were dying right in front of her and she couldn’t do a thing. What was the point of having precognition when she couldn’t prevent these disasters? What was the point of having the Queen gene when she could only watch others die in front of her?

“Stop spacing out!” She vaguely heard someone yelling at her. The voice sounded far away, but her arm was grabbed and she was yanked to her feet in an instant.

She slowly turned her head towards the man and found herself staring into a familiar face, one that belonged to the person she least wanted to see.

Shaw!

She jerked her arm back in reaction and took a few steps away from him. How dare he appear before her again. As if glares can kill, with all her might, she glared at him - at the person who caused her so much pain the last few days. She didn’t understand why he had to appear before her again. Did he want to hurt her more or…

The dots suddenly connected.

She had been holed up in her apartment for the last several days and had ignored his calls, not only because she didn’t want to talk to the person who caused her so much pain, but also because she didn’t think it was important.

But now that she thought about it, the information in the USB key she got from working in the amusement park included a date, a time and list of chemicals amongst some other information. She had a very short time frame to steal the information, so she hadn’t had a chance to go through all the details. But if she remembered correctly, the date was… today.

Could it be that his calls were for her to go retrieve more information so that they could prevent today’s bombing? If she didn’t ignore his calls, could she have prevented this?

She looked towards Shaw again, horrified.

Before she was able to ask the question, Shaw already took a step towards her and snaked one hand around her waist to lift her up.

“What are you doing?” She pushed at him.

“Stop wiggling.” He tsked as he jumped on his skateboard and started skating away with her in his arms at top speed, somehow able to dodge the bodies on the ground. “It’s not my fault if I drop you.”

“Let me down! Don’t…”

BOOM!

The arms around her tightened as Shaw threw the both of them on the ground and the world spinned around her. Once again, debris swept over her, but this time she felt none of the pain she did earlier. She opened her eyes gingerly to find Shaw braced over her, covering her with his body, his hand on the back of her head holding her safely against his chest.

Shaw had always been the type to tell her to just run, teasing her for not running fast enough just before grabbing her hand and dragging her along with him. This was the very first time he actually shielded her.

Partly paralyzed with how to react and slightly confused from the blast, Yui simply stared at the man who just protected her. She watched as he slowly propped himself up. Placing a hand over his ear, he frowned as he shook the dust off his head.

She wanted to say something to him, but didn’t know what. She wanted to have nothing to do with him, but he was the one who protected her today when she needed it the most.

She saw his lips moving, seemingly asking her something after he helped her up, but she couldn’t hear a thing. The hearing she slowly regained a few moments ago gone again. He said something to her again, but this time, although she still couldn’t hear him, she was fairly sure it was something that would have annoyed her.

“Stay here!” Shaw yelled even though he knew from the absent look that she probably couldn’t hear him, so he gestured to the ground to emphasize his command.

He waited until she nodded at him before running off to retrieve his skateboard that, surprisingly, hadn’t blown far in the blast.

As Shaw moved from her line of sight, Yui noticed a familiar figure appear just a block away from where she stood. Standing tall in his dark colored uniform, the figure's short brown hair blew in the wind as he gave out order after order to his team to secure the area.

“Gavin.” She whispered, craving for his comfort, for the warmth of his embrace. She yearned for him to take away her fears and to help her to be brave again.

She took a step towards him, but quickly held herself back.

How could she still try to seek the comfort of Gavin after what she had done? And even if she was shameless enough to do so, this Gavin was not hers. If she went up to him now, he would only look at her with his cold gaze, much like their last encounter at the alleyway. He would probably think she was stalking him again.

She couldn’t bear that treatment from him. Especially not now.

Yui dragged her gaze away from him and noticed more and more soldiers in the now-familiar NW uniform began to appear at the scene.

A team of soldiers attempted to direct bystanders and those who were uninjured away from the scene, but it was obvious from their expressions that even they did not know if they were directing them towards safety or towards the danger of another explosion.

Another team went to check for survivors, but one after another, they checked the pulse of the victims lying lifelessly on the ground. One after another, they grimly shook their heads.

The iron-rich scent of blood and the charcoal scent of burnt flesh permeated the air.

She stood there unable to take her eyes off the scene. Her feet rooted into the ground and her body shook like a leaf in the wind.

Once again, Yui was overwhelmed by her own powerlessness. She was the Queen, and yet all she could do was stand there helplessly watching people die in front of her.

A large hand covered her eyes. The back of her head fell gently against a muscular chest as Shaw’s still somewhat unfamiliar warmth surrounded her.

Vaguely, she heard him saying in a gentle voice, “Let’s get you out of here.”