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thinkingisadangerouspastime · 4 years

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I hate to be an asshole, but I see this a lot and I'd like your take because while we have differing opinions on some things, your metas are spot on (and I binged half your stories last weekend, oops) and I know you'll be straight up with me on this. What "chemistry" between Zuko and Katara? I keep seeing that and not getting it? The chemistry when he roughed up her grandmother and threatened her village? The chemistry when he tied her to a tree and violated her boundaries? (1/3)

The chemistry when he hired a trained assassin to stalk her good friend and if collateral damage happened, oopsie? The chemistry when he stabbed her in the back after she was nice to him in the crystal catacombs? The chemistry when he demanded that she accept him? Or the chemistry when he showed he didn’t know her at all? The chemistry when both of them were grossed out being thought a couple? Or is it the chemistry when he saved her and Katara couldn’t wait to kiss another guy? (2/3)

I dislike r/eylo from Star Wars fandom. I think it sends the wrong message. But as much as I hate it, there was chemistry there from the first. Rey is attracted to him and Kylo is attracted to her. They don’t want to be, but they are and it plays out in the next two movies. There was none of that in ATLA and I can understand z/ks saying it but other people? What am I missing? Where am I not looking? I’m not even that huge on Katara/Aang but Zuko/Katara chemistry where? (3/3)

Obligatory disclaimer: this is my personal response to anon’s questions and my personal thoughts on Zvtara’s chemistry. I’m not going to put this into the main tags - much less the Zvtara tag! - because while I believe this is a genuine question, I don’t doubt there’s at least one person out there who will misconstrue it as “hate” because the A:TLA fandom is, uh, aggressive in its ship wars lol. However, if I have any Zvtara shippers following me, I encourage you to reblog this post with your own thoughts! Please refrain from sending your commentary on anon unless you’re going to be friendly about it, lol; I like to keep my blog positive and welcoming! Thank you :)

Firstly, I am EXTREMELY flattered that you enjoy my metas so much and binged half my fics!! I was grinning so gleefully as I read that part of your asks,, y’all are too sweet to me. 💛

Okay. Moving on.

So, the main question here seems to be this: What chemistry exists between Zuko and Katara in A:TLA?

Short answer? None, in my opinion.

Longer answer? For all the reasons you outline in your asks, I do not perceive any romantic chemistry between Zuko and Katara within the series run of A:TLA. Note the qualifiers: “romantic” and “within the series run.” I’ll try to break down what I mean!

“no romantic chemistry”

For one, a romantic interest with anyone in the Gaang would have undermined Zuko’s entire redemption arc, full stop. Yes, I mean anyone. For Zuko to have joined the Gaang because of romantic interest* would have been… counterproductive. Zuko joined the Gaang because he realized - to put it very simply - that the Fire Nation was wrong. He realized how he’d been indoctrinated since birth. He realized that he could help the Avatar (instead of trying to, uh, kill him lmao) by teaching him firebending. He realized he could help Aang defeat the Fire Lord and bring peace to the four nations. Zuko realized he could help end the war. He could help break the cycles of violence and abuse that had in part made his own life so miserable. For him to join the Gaang because of romantic interest? Completely takes away from all of that. A key theme of A:TLA is dismantling imperialist power, propaganda, rhetoric, etc. Zuko’s decision to fight against Fire Nation imperialism is crucial to his redemption. He could not have been redeemed without making that choice. Thus, if Zuko had joined the Gaang because of romantic interest, it would have been completely counteractive to his redemption.

(*That is, the relatively popular [? I think?] implication that Zuko and Katara’s moment in “The Crossroads of Destiny” was romantic-coded and thus Zuko should have joined the Gaang at the end of Book 2 because he had romantic interest in Katara and she in him. I genuinely am clueless how people interpret that moment as romantic - like to me it’s honestly heartbreaking! Katara offers Zuko tentative sympathy only for him to stab her in the back minutes later - so if someone would like to share some thoughts, please feel free to do so!!)

On a similar note, for Zuko to take the lightning for Katara at the end of the series because of romantic interest would also undermine his redemption arc. Please note: this does not mean Zvtara shippers cannot interpret the Agni Kai as being romantic-coded. Of course they can! That’s what fanon is for! Transformative works! But in terms of canon, Zuko did not try (and fail, rip) to redirect Azula’s lightning because he was romantically interested in Katara. (I mean, in terms of canon, Zuko and Katara were both romantically interested in other people, too, so… Moot point, lol? But I digress.)

Zuko taking the lightning is about him learning to earn forgiveness and accept unconditional love from his family (both Iroh and the Gaang). It is a selfless act, and it directly parallels Zuko’s selfish act in “The Crossroads of Destiny” to stand silently while Azula strikes Aang with lightning, thus becoming complicit in Aang’s death. The point of his “sacrifice” is that Zuko would have taken the lightning for anyone (and don’t get me wrong - the moment is doubly powerful with Katara, as she’s a primary protagonist!). Zuko did not attempt but fail to redirect the lightning because it was Katara he was protecting; he took it because it was the right thing to do. Zuko has learned to differentiate between “right and wrong” on his own. To at last put others before himself. To make his decision about romantic interest? To make Zuko’s most selfless act in the series (not to mention one of his only 100% selfless acts!) about out-of-the-blue “romantic love”? That not only lessens the impact of his decision, but it is also reductive to Zuko’s entire character and arc. There’s no romantic chemistry there.

Again, of course, fanon exists for purposes such as interpreting Zuko’s failed misdirection of the lightning to protect Katara as romantic. Go wild!! I’m talking strictly about canon.

So that pretty much summarizes why romantic interest with anyone in the Gaang would have been detrimental to Zuko’s redemption, hence why Zuko doesn’t have any canon romantic chemistry in the Gaang. It just ain’t there! It would have screwed over his arc! And again, because of all the reasons you outline, I cannot comfortably interpret any romantic chemistry between Zuko and Katara within the series run of A:TLA. Personally, romantic Zvtara would have been too sudden, too unexpected, and too… well, as I said: uncomfortable. Why would Katara have romantic interest in a guy who’d hurt her so many times? Who she’d only just forgiven? Why would Zuko have romantic interest in Katara, a girl he barely knew for most of the series? Especially when he already had feelings for a childhood friend? I, personally, just don’t get it.

But. You know what Zuko and Katara do have in canon?

A phenomenal platonic bond.

It develops very late, admittedly; Katara has only forgiven Zuko for the last five episodes of the series (5 out of 61… Katara was only on good terms with Zuko for 8% of the series, lmao). But Zuko and Katara are very, very similar personality-wise, so it follows that (eventually) they’d be great friends! Yeah, Zuko acts like an entitled dick for a good portion of “The Southern Raiders” lmao, but he ultimately respects Katara’s decision to spare Yon Rha (love that scene so much 🤧). Katara recognizes that Zuko is trying his best (if sometimes falling short) to redeem himself and earn the Gaang’s trust, and she also understands how - while she is completely justified in her anger! - holding that hatred close to her chest isn’t good for her. So she offers him a third chance (and honestly, Zuko should be forever grateful for that lmao!).

So what can a strong platonic bond lead to? Well, if it’s in your taste, a romantic relationship!

“within the series run”

As aforementioned, I don’t see any romantic chemistry between Zuko and Katara within the series run of A:TLA. I think Zuko has hurt Katara in too many ways - and again, she has only just forgiven him by the end of the show - for there to realistically have been any blossoming romance between them. I think romantic interest for anyone in the Gaang would undermine Zuko’s redemption. I also think M@iko and K@taang are well-implemented romances into A:TLA, so romantic Zvtara would not have fit into the narrative. (Doesn’t mean someone has to ship them!! I just mean they made logical sense and had narrative purpose within canon. That’s all.) But again, Zuko and Katara have a great platonic bond. So while I don’t see romance within the series run, I can understand why people might be attracted to Zvtara in post-canon!

Post-A:TLA (disregarding LOK, which I haven’t even seen lol) Zvtara has some solid potential. I’m personally intrigued by the idea of how they’d navigate their relationship amidst all the politics! Basically, any relationship with a strong platonic bond can have potential for “more.” That’s why people ship T@ang, that’s why people ship Zvkaang, Zvkka, M@ilee, etc. So while Zvtara may not have romantic chemistry within the show - in my opinion! - they’ve got one of my favorite platonic bonds, so I can totally get people wanting to explore that bond in post-A:TLA and possibly translating it to romance.

So for some people, then, it might be less about “chemistry” in A:TLA itself, but more how their relationship could grow and change after the end of the series!

Quick sidebar: I mentioned that while I do not interpret the final Agni Kai as romantic, I’m fine when other people do. It’s fanon! Ain’t no big thing! But also, Katara has forgiven Zuko by that point. I, personally, am not comfortable with reading any of Zuko and Katara’s TSR-and-earlier interactions as romantic because of the imbalanced power dynamic. Example: I don’t think Zuko tying Katara to a tree and manipulating her with her mother’s necklace was romantic, and I don’t like the resulting implications when people do treat it as such. Zuko was still so indoctrinated by Fire Nation propaganda… Yeah, from Book 1 to about halfway through Book 3, I personally don’t feel comfortable shipping Zuko with anyone outside of the Fire Nation. Pre-redemption Zuko was not the most fun person to be around if you were non-Fire Nation.

But as I’ve said, these are all just my opinions! Again, if I have any Zvtara shippers following me, please feel free to reblog with your own thoughts! I would love to know where the idea comes from that Zvtara had chemistry within A:TLA, since I personally don’t see any romantic vibes (though platonic chemistry, of course, abounds.)

(For the record, I don’t know anything about Star Wars, which is why I haven’t brought up R.eylo, lol.)

TL;DR - To me, there isn’t any canon romantic chemistry for Zvtara. Narratively, I think it would undermine Zuko’s arc. Logically, because of how Zuko treated Katara for 92% of the series, I personally cannot interpret any of their interactions as romantic. But their platonic bond? Beautiful!! Thus, if people want to explore post-A:TLA, fanon Zvtara, I am all for it.

#hope this at least partially answers your question anon!#anon #amy answers #amy analyzes

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poppy-in-the-woods · 4 years

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DOPEMAN Part 1 - Chapter 4

Tags: Explicit language, sex talk, sex in general, masturbation, use of sex toys, drug use, fluids… not an accurate depiction of what being a cam girl actually is, and possible bad English (this text has not been proofread by an English native speaker, so it might contain spelling and grammar errors).

Word Count: 2162

Author’s note: Chapter four already? Wow, time does sure pass quickly. Thank you to all the people who left comments, reblogged and liked the other chapters. I hope you like this one and don’t hesitate to leave comments in this one or message me.

PS: I’m gonna put all the trigger warning in the tags in bold and italics, and if I forget one, please do tell me. I do not intend to trigger anyone with this story.

On with the show!

Dopeman [21:02]: Hello, gorgeous.

ArkAngel [21:02]: Hello, Dopeman.

Dopeman [21:02]: How were the exams? Come on, tell me.

ArkAngel [21:03]: I need to know the grade of one, but all the others I passed with flying colours.

Dopeman [21:03]: All A+?

ArkAngel [21:03]: Well, almost all of them.

ArkAngel [21:04]: Oh, and the professor of Film History has gave us back the papers graded. He has said that my analysis of Leni Riefenstahl's propaganda cinema during World War II is the best he has seen in the last five years.

Dopeman [21:05]: That's great, gorgeous.

ArkAngel [21:05]: How are you?

Dopeman [21:06]: Business is good. I pay the bills, I can afford a whim...

ArkAngel [21:06]: I didn't ask about your work.

Dopeman [21:06]: No? Well, there isn't much else in my life. Work, my friends... you. That's it.

Dopeman [21:07]: And all of that is going well.

ArkAngel [21:09]: Dopeman, are we friends?

Dopeman [21:09]: Sure.

ArkAngel [21:09]: Well then, I want you to know that you can talk to me about whatever you want. I will not judge you, and I will never tell anyone what you tell me.

Dopeman [21:10]: As in the secret of confession?

ArkAngel [21:10]: Something like that. I know that you move outside the law. I would never snitch on you, if that's your concern.

Dopeman [21:10]: I'm not going to talk to you about my work.

Dopeman [21:11]: Not because I don't trust you. I trust you. But I prefer to keep this, you, separate from my work.

ArkAngel [21:11]: Okay, but you can talk to me about whatever you want.

Dopeman [21:11]: And I already do, gorgeous.

ArkAngel [21:12]: I'd like to see you. Do you have any recent photos on your phone?

[21:13] DOPEMAN SENT YOU A PHOTO. CLICK HERE TO OPEN IT.

The photo showed a man in his twenties, quite tall in appearance, with many tattoos, and hair dyed blonde. He was wearing a plain white T-shirt, jeans, and sneakers. He wore a nose ring and a cross earring, and his eyes were so light blue they almost looked white. Behind him was the facade of a 7-Eleven.

She did a quick reverse Google search, but it didn't return any results. It was a genuinely photo of him. And his eyes… ArkAngel blinked, feeling the lenses on her own eyes, and she felt as if her heart skipped a beat.

ArkAngel [21:16]: Do you wear coloured contact lenses?

Dopeman [21:16]: No. I know it looks like they are contact lenses, but they are like that naturally, since before I can remember.

ArkAngel [21:16]: You’re handsome.

Dopeman [21:17]: Thank you.

[21:18] DOPEMAN SENT YOU 60 DOLLARS.

[21:18] YOU HAVE STARTED A VIDEO CALL WITH DOPEMAN.

[21:19] DOPEMAN WANTS TO TURN ON HIS CAMERA. CLICK HERE TO ACCEPT THE REQUEST. CLICK HERE TO DENY IT.

“Hello, Dopeman.”

“Hello, gorgeous.”

She wore a transparent white T-shirt, with silver wings embroidered on the front, a set of pink lingerie, and sports shorts in pastel blue; this time she had not put on her wings. Her makeup was subtle again, but she had painted her lips dark red, making them stand out powerfully against the rest of her features. Dopeman imagined those lips around his cock, and a shiver of delight ran down his spine.

“Turn on the light, I can hardly see you,” she asked.

He turned on the light. As always when he spoke to her, he was naked from the waist up. He was still wearing his pants, but she couldn't see that.

“Wow, you have a lot of tattoos, many more than are showing in the photo,” she commented, smiling. “What do you want to do today, Dopeman?”

“Did you take a shower this morning?” He asked.

“Of course.”

“And did you apply moisturizer?” He wanted to know.

“Not really,” she acknowledged.

“Go get your moisturizer,” he commanded. “And when you come back, we'll play a bit.”

“Okay!”

ArkAngel jumped out of bed and came out of frame. She came back after a couple of minutes, with a red bottle of moisturizer, although not the kind with a dispenser, but the kind where you have to squeeze the bottle to get the contents out.

[21:25] YOU HAVE RECEIVED 20 DOLLARS FROM DOPEMAN.

“Take off your clothes.”

“Yes, Dopeman.”

She took off her shirt and pants, leaving her underwear.

“Is that a thong?” He wanted to know.

“Yes,” she said, blushing.

“Show me.”

She rolled over on the bed, lifting her ass in the air so he could get a good look at it. The thong had a rose embroidered on the back.

“Beautiful. How about you start putting the moisturizer on?” he suggested.

“Sure, Dopeman.”

As expected, she started with her feet, slowly working her way up her legs, first one, then the other, in a sensual way. It was like looking at one of those Renaissance paintings in museums, if the paintings moved and the women portrayed in them wore lingerie and a blue wig. She turned around again so he could see how she was spreading the moisturizer over her buttocks, massaging it in perhaps a little more than necessary.

[21:49] YOU HAVE RECEIVED 10 DOLLARS FROM DOPEMAN.

“Take off your bra, your breasts need moisture too.”

“Of course! Did you know that the skin is thinner in that area?” She commented, starting to spread the moisturizer over her breasts.

“You don't know how it makes me see you do this.”

“Now you can show me,” she reminded him, moving into her arms.

“Right, I had forgotten about that.”

Dopeman moved the camera so that she could see the bulge in his boxer shorts. There was a darker spot where a few drops of pre-cum had leaked. Slowly, he pulled the fabric down, releasing his erection.

“Oh my God!” ArkAngel exclaimed, dropping the tube of moisturizer.

“What?

"I've never seen one this big. In the photo you looked tall to me, but I wouldn't have expected that in a million years. It's huge.”

“You’re saying that to stroke my ego,” he replied, returning the camera to its initial position.

“Oh no, it's the truth. Hey, if business doesn't go well, you can always change careers. You would be a very popular cam boy,” she joked.

Dopeman couldn't help but laugh, and ArkAngel laughed with him.

“Do you trust me?” He asked when he could stop laughing.

“I trust you.”

“How about you take out the G-spot vibrator? I know it can vibrate to the beat of the music you want, so I thought I could pick a couple of songs for you.”

“Okay, yeah, I like the idea.”

She went for her toys, returning shortly after with the vibrator and a bottle of water-based lube.

[22:12] YOU HAVE RECEIVED 40 DOLLARS FROM DOPEMAN.

“Do you have the playlist I gave you?”

“Yes,” she replied, taking off her thong.

“Can you use it?” he asked. “If not…”

“Don't worry, I can use it,” she interrupted, picking up her phone and accessing the remote control application for the vibrator. At the same time, with the other hand, she began to caress herself. “I have both accounts synced. Dopeman, I'm going to need some preparation to put the vibrator in, so why don't you tell me something in the meantime?”

“I dreamed of you the other day,” he said. “You were in my room, but I couldn't touch you, there was like a barrier in the middle.”

“Like a glass wall?” She asked.

“Not exactly… it was slightly elastic, but I couldn't get through. And you would say ‘Hi Dopeman, what do you want to do today?’ And I would give you orders, like we always do. But after a while you got bored, so you decided to come to my side of the room. Because you really could cross the barrier.”

“And what happened then?”

“I don't remember, but I'm assuming we fucked, because I woke up and had come in my underwear.”

“Wow, that's…” she began, and the movement of her hand stopped.

“I'm sorry, I shouldn't have told you.”

"No, it's kinda flattering, in a way," she reassured him. “I think I'm ready,” she added, and after turning on and smearing the vibrator in lube, she inserted it so that only the antenna, which was bright pink, was left out.

“Start with the third song and go from there,” he said.

“Okay,” she replied, wiping lube off her hands and playing the song. “Oh God! I feel the guitars in my soul!”

Dopeman laughed, but began to masturbate. After a moment, she began to stimulate her clitoris, even though he hadn't told her to do it, nor had he paid her for it. He didn't even realize the noise they were making until CC knocked on the door.

“Man, put your headphones on or tell that cam girl to turn down the volume! I'm trying to watch TV.”

ArkAngel covered his mouth, laughing.

“I'm sorry!” He yelled in the direction of the door, but was quick to put on the headphones with one hand.

“Dopeman, I don't know if I'm going to get to the second song…” she said, biting her lip.

But she did get to it, up to the first chorus of the second song, specifically. He watched her stiffen and jerk, grasping a handful of the sheets with her free hand.

“Oh, Dopeman!” She cried.

It was all it took for him to climax as well. Breathing hard, ArkAngel proceeded to remove the vibrator, and without his prompting, she brought it closer to the camera.

“Delicious,” he commented, making her laugh.

“I have to go clean myself, I have lube and vaginal fluids all over the place,” she said. “Would you wait for me?”

“Sure, gorgeous, go.”

While she was gone he took the opportunity to go to the bathroom too. When he returned, she was changing her clothes.

“Your knees are shaking,” he pointed out, amused.

“It's your fault!” She accused him in a joking tone. “Speaking of fault, ask your roommate to forgive me, okay?”

“I'll tell him, but don't expect him to forgive you.”

“He doesn't like me, eh?”

“Ignore him, he's just jealous because I'm spending time with you now instead of drinking beer and watching trash TV with him.”

As if summoned, CC opened the door.

“Are you done with the cyber-hooker yet?” he asked.

Dopeman flipped him of without looking at him.

“I'm sorry, gorgeous, duty calls,” he sighed. “See you next Friday.”

“See you later, Dopeman.”

[23:03] YOU HAVE ENDED THE VIDEO CALL WITH DOPEMAN.

[23:03] DOPEMAN HAS DISCONNECTED.

[23:03] YOU HAVE DISCONNECTED.

“Are you offended that I'm happy for a while?” Wes asked, leaving his bedroom after finishing dressing.

“Of course not, but you're neglecting work,” CC replied.

“Come on, don't lie to me: you hate her.”

“How can I hate her if I don't know her?” CC replied. “But next time remember to put your headphones on.”

“Bro, what are you complaining about? Free porn!” He joked.

“Wes, unless you invite me to watch, I don't want to hear you jerk off to that girl.”

“You'd have to pay me for that, and then her.”

Wes’ phone started ringing. The screen lit up, displaying a name: Bawser, followed by a flame emoji. Wes classified all his clients with emojisrepresenting the drug to which they were addicted, or the one they asked him the most. Bawser was addicted to ecstasy and to sex rolling on it. He needed help, but if Wes stopped selling molly to him, Bawser would go to another supplier, so Wes had given up on the moral dilemma of his job a long time ago.

“Man, do you have any molly left?” Bawser said.

He never said hello, Wes was used to that by now.

“You're in luck, I have a couple of doses left from last week.”

“Same place as always in fifteen minutes?”

“Sure. Bring the money, Bawser, this is not a favour, this is business,” he reminded him. “I'm not going to front you anything again.”

“No, yeah, sure,” the boy replied. “But I gave it back, didn't I?”

“Don't push your luck, Baws.”

They met with Bawser at the agreed point at the set time.

“You got my stuff?” The boy asked as greeting. He was so cliché that sometimes Wes wondered if Bawser hadn't come straight out of a crime drama from the eighties.

“Don't think I'm stupid, money first,” he replied.

“Fuck, Wes, it’s like you don't trust me.”

“And I don't trust you, Baws. Come on, give me the dough.”

“Okay, okay, I’m getting there! Fuck. Here,” he said, pulling some crumpled bills out of his pocket.

Wes counted the money before handing him the drug. Bawser didn't even wait to get out of there to take it.

“I love you, dude,” he said, hugging Wes.

“Whatever. Now get lost, kid,” he replied, pushing Bawser away.

#poppy writes #dopeman #machine gun kelly #mgk #mgk fanfic

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thekidultlife · 4 years

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The Most Convenient Escape | Jihoon Soulmate!AU (4)

⍟ Pairing: Jihoon x fem!reader

⍟ AU: Fantasy/ Soulmate AU

⍟ Genre: ANGST, SLOW BURN, fluff

⍟ Warnings: ANGST. family trauma, slight self harming, mentions of drinking (this chapter is heavy. Please read at your own discretion!!!!)

⍟ Word Count: 4.1k

⍟ Synopsis: For all your life, you have a deep disdain towards Soulmate Bonds, so much so that you are able to write opinions about it in a local newspaper. However, as life would have it, you wake up one day bonded to a person you hardly knew. Throwing in an investigation, annoying roommates, and a revolution looming just beneath the surface, you had to seek for the most convenient escape.

⍟ A/N: I need to really double my warnings because some content written in this chapter might be triggering to some people. It’s a heavy chapter but I need to show why Y/N hates the Soulmate Bond so much. So please read it ONLY when you are 100% SURE that it’s okay for you to.

I also want to thank @oprandomfeels and @zuvaati for leaving those comments on the tags and everyone who reblogged and commented on this series because it really kept me going writing this chapter! You guys remind me that there are people out there who are looking forward for more of this series. I was in a huge slump recently that it’s been difficult for me to write anything at all, even though how much I actually enjoy writing this before. So I’m really really thankful for everyone!! I’m so glad a few of you liked this one! Alright, that’s all! Here’s chapter 4!

“And then what happened?”

It was, as always, a glorious day. The weather was warm despite the season, the breeze was cool to the skin and the perpetually blooming wisteria trees gave purple shade to anyone who would sit underneath.

With an intense headache that could only be remedied by a hangover potion you have discretely snatched from your father’s wares, you were once again seated next to two of your very best friends, who were more or less intrigued by what had transpired last night.

“Like I told you! Nothing happened!”

You exclaimed, now grumbling because it had shot another pang of dull pain to your temples.

“What do you mean nothing happened? He brought you to your room, plus you were drunk! Don’t tell me you didn’t at least kiss him?” Soonyoung objected, quite concerned about your unintentional celibacy.

“And why on earth would I kiss him?” You shouted back, scratching your head. “Just because he took me to my room, something is bound to happen?”

“The situation couldn’t be anymore suggestive than that, you know?” Wonwoo quietly added, twirling a pen on his fingers. “You can’t blame us for expecting something.”

Groaning at this, you took another dose of the disgusting potion on your hands. It tasted like fish left for days out in the open, and weirdly, of cinnamon. While you were trying to quell your headache, another comes in.

“Could we just put a stop to this?” You asked as you pinched the bridge of your nose. “I don’t know why you both are so curious about my night, but don’t we have more pressing matters to attend to?”

On your words, both Soonyoung and Wonwoo turned their gazes to somewhere else; anything else other than you.

“Oh Wonwoo, don’t you think the weather is so nice today?”

“This tea sure is delicious. Where did you buy this, Soonyoung?”

You could feel a vein in your head tick in irritation.

“Surely, you both don’t mean that my sacrifice to attend that stupid ball, to spend a night with Lee Jihoon...all of it,” you began as the two of them gulped at the dangerous intent you were emitting. “Was it all completely useless?!”

Hurriedly, Wonwoo held a hand at you. “Alright, alright! Calm down! Let me explain.”

You narrowed your eyes at him; your arms crossed. “Do, pray tell.”

“Look,” Wonwoo sighed as he glanced at Soonyoung who was being a bit sulky. “The meeting was cancelled. Someone had probably tipped them off, we don’t know. It was a good idea that we didn’t go inside the room, or else they would’ve known we’re on to them.”

Your scrutinizing gaze suddenly transformed into something tinged with concern. Sighing, you exchanged looks with them.

“Are you sure no one that night has realized who you two are?”

Wonwoo nodded gravely. Soonyoung followed suit. “Absolutely.”

“That’s good, but we should be more careful from now on. We don’t know who to trust and anyone could put the two of you in difficult situations,” you warned in a hushed voice. “You could’ve walked out of the Crystal Palace as criminals framed for sex trafficking.”

Soonyoung suddenly realized the gravity of their actions and frowned. Wonwoo was no different, but a lot calmer than his friend.

“We’ll proceed with caution from here on out. Yet there is absolutely no way I will walk out from this investigation,” Wonwoo declared, his eyes determined.

“I second. We will get to the bottom of this,” the other male added, glancing at you and Wonwoo.

You nodded at them and smiled softly, understanding their convictions. “We're in this together.”

There was no way of knowing what the next few months would look like for the three of you and your small publication, yet you have to push on; you have to gamble your own safety for the truth. It was frightening of course, but the fear was not enough to quench the fire within you.

“But the matter still stands,” Wonwoo interrupted your thoughts, taking a sip of his tea. “You really should have kissed Lee Jihoon.”

◇

The man in question pushed through the French doors leading to an expansive rose garden.

The cultured autumn roses were in full bloom in late September as its scent wafts through the air, creating a romantic feel throughout the area. Devoid of any tall trees, one could easily see the breadth of the garden as it extends to the forest of oak at the far end of the estate. The beauty of the garden was stupendous yet not surprising as the owner of such place was a high-ranking noble of ancient pedigree. A blue grey pavilion lay at the center where Lee Jihoon easily spotted the people he was about to meet.

Fresh from a hearing, Jihoon still had his uniform on, just minus the heavy robes he was required to wear in Parliament. Every third week of the month or so, a meeting is usually scheduled between his longtime friends. Just to check up on each other of course, or often times, something more.

Marching towards the pavilion in undeterred steps, Jihoon was greeted by a warm call and the scent of brewed coffee.

“Aren’t you running a bit late, Jihoon?” An older male asked, his military uniform easily indicating that he was a five-star general, and someone no one wanted to mess with.

“I apologize, Seungcheol. The hearing went on more than I thought it would,” he replied, finally taking a seat on one plush cherry wood arm chair with an exhausted huff.

“Coffee or tea?” Another asked, his lips curving into a small smile as he offered Jihoon the refreshments on the table.

“Coffee, please. And make it black. I need something to liven my spirits up,” he replied as the other poured him one on a dainty cup commonly intended for tea.

The man named Seungcheol simply chuckled at his friend. “Oh? Is something the matter? You look like you haven’t had a good day lately. Don’t you think so, Joshua?”

“He certainly needs coffee, in my opinion.”

“Oh, don’t you know it,” Jihoon dismissed as he slumped on the chair, covering his tired eyes with an arm.

“I suppose the recently discovered Cilvekan agents aren’t making anything easier,” the man named Joshua added as he placed the cup of coffee in front of Jihoon who had eagerly sipped on it at once.

“It is making things a lot worse. It’s the reason why the hearing for today had become so long-winded,” Jihoon sighed, placing down the cup. “There are some who just can’t decide what to do with them.”

“To be perfectly honest, it would’ve been more useful if they were interned to the military intelligence department. We could’ve used them to double cross,” Seungcheol added, leaning back against his chair. “Now that they have been publicized and a hearing is in full swing, they’re practically useless.”

Joshua simply tutted at Seungcheol, knowing full well that he was part of the military and thus biased on his views.

“Nonetheless, it is best advised that we steer clear from such strategies. Espionage during times of relative peace is questionable in varying degrees. It could lead us to a war we never wanted. Notwithstanding the fact that it is me who would have to clean this up if something happens,” he took a sip from his coffee cup. “I reckon we double, even triple our counterintelligence measures against agents here in Porta Persa. We clearly have no idea who we are to trust these days.”

Jihoon listened to Joshua’s suggestion, understanding what the Minister of Foreign Affairs meant.

“I’m still undecided on my opinion but I’m leaning on Joshua on this matter. A war with Cilveka is totally uncalled for when there’s one looming just underneath our fingertips,” Jihoon remarked, crossing his arms with a serious expression on his delicate features.

Seungcheol took a sip from his cup gravely. “I suppose it is inevitable of a future. Considering that we ourselves are partially responsible for not taking action.”

Jihoon and Joshua glanced at Seungcheol with grim look. They knew.

“As Jeonghan isn't here, I might as well ask if you're to release more material for him to use, Jihoon,” Joshua remarked suddenly as the other simply heaved a sigh, brushing his dark hair with his fingers.

Jihoon once again sighed, another burden heavy on his shoulders.

"I don't think I can do it any longer," Jihoon said. "The deeper my bond with her gets, the more I'm convinced that the songs I write is all propaganda. It weighs on me."

The two men furrowed their brows at him, wondering what he was talking about.

"Her?"

"Propaganda?"

"You know," Jihoon replied, doing gestures with his hands since he found it difficult to articulate what he was trying to say.

For a while, Seungcheol and Joshua simply glanced at Jihoon with bewilderment. He wasn't exactly making sense with how he was just making shapes with his hands. That is until the general remembered their past conversation from last month.

“Ah, this is about your soulmate, isn’t it?”

“Did something happen between the two of you?” Joshua asked with curious eyes.

"No, I just…" he groaned again, "How do I say this? It's all… it's all so confusing! She's confusing me!"

"Why is that? Isn't a soulmate bond supposed to prevent confusion between parties?" Joshua asked.

"You do know our bond is different…" Jihoon remarked, and taking note of his friends' expressions, he took it upon himself to explain. "Like I told you before, she hates our bond, she hates our connection. She tried to with tamper it so I couldn't get through, but that simply made the bond unstable. Now, whether she likes it or not, her thoughts are constantly on my mind like a thick fog of ideas. It's virtually impossible not to be influenced by them."

“Have some more coffee, Jihoon. You need it,” Joshua offered as he poured into Jihoon’s cup.

“Thank you,” the other casually took it, and continued. "Her thoughts become mine. Her passions make me doubt my own actions which I never had to before. It's…she's changing me, and I don't know if I like it or not."

The two men were quiet, Seungcheol more so because of his own soulmate bond.

“Honestly, I’m so confused,” Jihoon confessed. “I don’t know what to do. I can't even tell her any of this.”

"Yours is a special case Jihoon," the general began as he thumbed on the ring on his left hand. "I won't pretend I understand everything about what you're going through, but all I can say is that these soulmate bonds are meant to change you. You can't be mere individuals anymore, living different lives on this earth. You have been bonded by magic and by the Universe; both your minds and hearts have become one single unit. If she has influenced you, it would be the same for her. If you are confused, she is too. And that's natural because both of you are transforming into beings that will eventually live your lives together and form a healthy family."

"I don't know Seungcheol. I want my freedom in my thoughts and in my actions. Everything I've known is turned upside down and it's making me uncomfortable."

"She must be feeling the same way too. Didn't you say she hated the bond itself? She must have hated how someone else's thoughts are entering her mind as much as you do," Joshua interrupted, his voice calming and sweet on Jihoon's nerves. "Look, Jihoon. You're a strong person. You're someone who's intelligent, hardworking and efficient in everything you do. You can do everything by yourself. But that is also your greatest weakness. You're too comfortable on your own. You're afraid to let anyone else in because it could ruin the balance you've maintained in your life. I admit that soulmate bonds are frightening in its own way, but it's there in order for us to grow."

"But I've got you, my friends and my family to share my burdens. Isn't that what I'm doing right now?" He asked, now a bit frustrated.

"But you hold us at a distance. You've never been able to truly share that side of yours that is raw and vulnerable. You know you can't stay like this forever," Seungcheol continued, parrying Jihoon's argument.

Jihoon sat himself straight in a huff, unable to reply because he knew Seungcheol had hit the target directly. He is afraid, yet he refuses to admit it. He thought that having a bond would make things easier for him, but everything proved to be much more than he can swallow.

For a moment, Jihoon sat there in silence as he took a sip of lukewarm coffee from his cup, yet his feelings of tension refuse to calm down, the hairs on his back standing in aggression. It was unusual since he was no longer conversing with Seungcheol and Joshua, and tried to dive deeper into the feeling.

In an instant, he knew it wasn't his.

A pang of pain flashed inside his chest, making him clutch on it with a tight grip. The cup he was holding fell to the ground into pieces, as Seungcheol immediately raced to his side.

"Jihoon! Is something wrong?" He exclaimed, watching the other groan in pain and then turned to Joshua. "We have to take him to hospital!"

"I'll prepare the carriage!"

"No!" Jihoon suddenly shouted, his breaths turning shallow. "No…no….I need to go back to the dorm. I need to find her."

◇

Exhausting your supply of hangover potions, you went back to your house in town to steal from your father's wares. You never really had a problem with brewing potions, proving that you had an affinity to the craft which could've been passed down to you from your father but come heaven and hell, you will never admit that.

With a small wooden box attached with a leather strap that hangs from your shoulders, you sneaked into the empty house and to your father's now closed shop. Much to your surprise though, the lights were on and heavy crates tower beside the ingredients cabinet.

"Oh, you're here."

A familiar voice greeted you from the office, making you turn around swiftly.

"Father…" you replied, your face marred with sharp eyes and a deep frown.

"Are you staying at the Royal Academy now?" He asked, stepping out from the shadows and into the light pouring from the glass windows of the shop. He was much tanner and thinner, a clue that he has been to the tropics for some time.

"Yes. I'll be taking some potions and some stuff with me. I'll be gone as soon as I can," you told him with a cold voice as you filled your box haphazardly with numerous ingredients in a way that they almost slipped out of the container.

“How is Soonyoung and Wonwoo?”

You curtly replied. “They’re good. Still the same.”

“Are you eating well? Are the dorms good enough for you?”

“They’re fine. I’m living comfortably.”

“Have you met any new friends?”

“I’ve met a few people.”

“Who are they and where are they from?”

You huffed, annoyed and impatient that this conversation was still ongoing. “I can send you a list later if that makes you happy.”

“Don’t join those sororities or fraternities, do you understand? They’re dens of insurgents.”

You chose not to reply, his subjects gradually turning sour in your opinion. Talking to him always felt like talking to a machine.

If there was any way much faster than the rate you're going right now, you would've done it. You wanted to leave as soon as possible with just a few words and greetings exchanged. Heart thumping with adrenaline, you were fueled by the darkness inside of you, yet you kept it concealed before things could get ugly.

"I heard from Mr. Kwon that you're still running around with that little tabloid of yours," your father began and you knew instantly where it would lead to, "You better stop this childish play and find something meaningful thing to do."

If there was anything stopping you before, it was long gone now.

"It's not childish play!" You screamed, ignoring the fact that Alizarin berries had scattered on the floor. "You don't understand how much this means to me! You never even tried to understand me! So don't try and pretend you know what's good for me when you don't know who I am!"

Your blood was pumping wildly in your veins, your fists tightly clenched. Anger that has long been restrained now broken free and flowing rapidly in your blood. But you knew this was exhausting, so you tried to slip away as fast as you could.

"Have you forgotten how much I sacrificed for you, you ungrateful child? How much I worked so hard so you would be able to live comfortably?" He retorted back, watching your once retreating figure stop from reaching out for the door.

"I never wanted any of those! I never begged you for luxuries! We could be hungry and homeless right now, I don't care! I know we could crawl out of that eventually!" You shouted, your shaking back was the only thing he could see, until you turned to him, your cheeks wet with tears. "I only want one thing, Dad! Just one thing! I wanted you to stay with me… For you to show me that I still had a father even after mom died. Yet you couldn't give it to me."

"No, you listen to me. I had to leave for you to have food to eat! I had to work hard for you! Don't you know how much I love you? How much I did for you? I don't think you understand that because you keep on running around with that silly paper pretending you know everything about the world."

It was always like this. You already knew. Arguing with someone like him, you felt, was like talking to a wall. He was in a different page and refuses to see your own. The real child here, you begin to question who it really was.

Yet you kept going, the fury in you refusing to subside.

"Do you ever listen to anything I say?Yes! Just neglect your own daughter and give her all the money in the world and expect her to be grateful! Yes! That's what a good parent is! If mother was still alive, she would've loved me more than all the food you could ever give me! You would never know how much strength I needed to have when you left me here all alone!"

Your jaw was rigid with sorrow rage, teeth gritting. Yet, much to your surprise, all he did was laugh at you mockingly.

"Isn't that great? You being so strong after all!"

It hurt you, more than anything. The look on your father's face, the dismissal, the invalidation of all your emotional needs, your need for his love and compassion, you never thought a parent was capable of doing that to a child.

More tears stream down your face as you were shaken into silence. The pain in your chest unbearable, your breath turning into laboured heaves. It had hurt. It hurts so much. It wasn't really the words themselves, but the intention to mock, to belittle; that was the one that struck you to your core.

"I hate you…" you muttered in a low voice, shaking and begging to be understood. "I hate you so much! I needed your love back then! I needed unconditional love! Yet where were you? Where were you, huh? Soonyoung and Wonwoo are much my brothers more than you are my father! They were there for me come hell and high water!"

You took a breath and continued, your voice rising.

"But it's too late now. You can no longer take back the words you've said. No matter how much you tell me you love me, I would never believe you! You never loved me! Or mom! Or anyone! You only loved yourself and your money!"

Turning around you reached for the door, not even listening to his outraged tantrums behind you. Your own anger too loud in your ears.

"Since you care about gratitude so much," your voice was still hoarse yet resolute, as you were halfway out of the door. "I'll give you two carriages full of gold within five years from the profits we gained from that silly newspaper. That's for everything you bought and did for me since I was born. Think of it as severance pay. You lost me. Goodbye."

Leaving those scathing words behind, you ran as fast as you could. Faster and faster than the wind could ever take you. Your tears were streaming down your face, the wooden box slinging carelessly as it bounced against your hip, yet you continued running down the cobbled road to a destination no one really knows.

All you could hear was your heartbeat slamming against your chest, the muffled cries you attempt to quiet down, the sound of your heel clicking on stone. Running away felt liberating as the wind slapped harshly on your cheeks. Yet your heart was in so much pain that you forget everything else.

Reaching the Royal Academy dorms, you forcibly opened the door to your shared room as you immediately raced towards your own room; afraid to encounter someone you didn't really want to see.

Yet of course, he was there. Lee Jihoon was there.

Waiting at the common living room, he rose at your presence, his expression tinged with great worry at your state of ruin. He ran up to you, trying to make you stop moving away.

"Y/N! What's the matter? Why are you crying?"

His question however were brought to deaf ears as you pushed him away, shaking your head at his close proximity. You didn't want to see him. His presence simply amplified the pain you were feeling.

"Leave me be, Jihoon!" You screamed, pushing him further from your doorway. "I don't want to see you! You're the last person I want to be comforted by!"

You slammed the door, the desolate sound reverberating across the expansive room as you sat there on the floor, still crying.

You were tired, exhausted. Legs that were trembling with fatigue, lungs that were almost bursting at the seams. Your heart was aching with so much pain and heaviness.

I will no longer believe in anything. Love is temporary. Love will eventually fade away. Soulmate bonds are stupid and fake. It's stupid. Stupid. Stupid. This is stupid.

You choke out a cry.

Gathering all the strength left in your body, you crawled to your bedside and pulled out a huge and heavy trunk from underneath. As you unlocked it with not much gentleness than trying to break it, you were greeted by various bottles of potions.

If soulmate bonds could really bring happiness, then why is it that I'm in so much pain? Why did mom die then?

Eyes spying on the clear glass bottles, it didn't take much time for you to decided what to do.

If this is what love is, then I don't need it. If I'm just going to suffer, then I don't want it. I'm fine on my own. I don't need stupid soulmates to make me happy.

Picking up a familiar bottle, you harshly pulled out the stopper and swallowed everything in one gulp. Instantly, you felt the effects moving under your skin, making you shiver, yet it didn't matter, the pain in your heart was far more painful than anything you’ve feeling right now. The magic wrapped itself around your wrist, tighter and tighter like a vice suffocating the bond.

From now on, I'm living for myself, by myself. I don't need love from anyone. I won't beg for love from anyone. No one could ever give it to me but myself.

Another set of sobs spilled itself from your lips as you clung tightly on anything you could get your hands on. They continued gushing like an uncontrollable waterfall, as your heart rejects the words your head was conditioning you to feel. You knew you wanted love more than anything, but that would only make you weak. And weakness is the last thing you needed right now.

I need to erase every last bit.

Pulling the glove which was hiding your bond mark, you gazed at it with extreme disgust on your face. The thick horizontal bars only reminded you of your father's mocking laugh.

I hate this. I hate this.

You rubbed on the black lines with your thumb, hoping that it would lighten the color. But of course, it didn't, so you continued to rub it off. Again and again, and again until your thumb was warm and your wrist an inflamed red.

Disgusting. This disgusting thing! I wish you never came into my life!

In desperation, you scratched it with your sharp nails, teeth clenched. It was ugly. It felt like chains binding you to a future you never believed in. Straight bruises of scratch marks mar your skin, yet it didn't matter to you. The pain was dull and empty compared to the weight on your chest.

Stupid. Disgusting. Ugly. I hate this bond. I hate this so much!

"I'm so tired…" you muttered to yourself, burying your face on the soft mattress.

"Why can't I just be happy?"

-Hyeri

#seventeen #svtcreations #seventeen fluff #seventeen angst #seventeen imagines #seventeen scenarios #seventeen woozi #lee jihoon #the most convenient escape

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thisweekingundamwing · 4 years

Text

This Week in Gundam Wing July 26 - 01 August 2020

Here’s this week’s roundup!

Remember to give your content creators some love! And join in on the events at the bottom!

~Mod Hel

Fanfiction/Snippets/AU Ideas:

@bobo-is-tha-bomb

Unraveled https://archiveofourown.org/works/25379161

F/M, Trowa Barton/Reader

Trowa Barton, Reader

Romance, Fluff, Reader-Insert, Bathing/Washing, ritual bathing

His little witch, he mused with a slight tilt of lips. Even after years of being with you, he still couldn’t get enough of watching you.

Tonight, he vowed, he would keep you company while you bathed.

Lazy Day https://archiveofourown.org/works/25379695

F/M, Heero Yuy/Reader

Heero Yuy, Reader

Romance, Lemon, Lime, Reader-Insert

You would enjoy this day. Every minute of it. And, you vowed, you would have a repeat of it in New York.

Twenty Kisses (Ch. 6 & 7) https://archiveofourown.org/works/24038704/chapters/61620076

F/M, Heero Yuy/Reader

Heero Yuy, Reader

Romance, Kissing, Drabble Collection, Reader-Insert

Kissing Heero is something special.

Deadly Intent https://archiveofourown.org/works/25576657/chapters/62069890

Mature

F/M, Heero/Reader, ???/Reader

Heero Yuy, Duo Maxwell, Wufei Chang, Lady Une, Relena Peacecraft, Reader

Reader Insert, Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Drama, Angst, Romance, Violence, Lime

Eleven years is a long time for a ghost to come back and haunt him. But Heero Yuy finds himself unable to dodge or outrun it. It’s the start of a dangerous cat and mouse game between one of the most powerful organizations in the world and a loner who has every intention of dragging him down with her. After all, she has come with deadly intent.

@coffeetailor

Emergence (Ch. 12) https://archiveofourown.org/works/13322880/chapters/62023231

Duo Maxwell/Heero Yuy

Duo Maxwell, Heero Yuy, Quatre Raberba Winner, Trowa Barton, Chang Wufei, Sally Po

Crossovers & Fandom Fusions, borrowers fusion but don't call them borrowers, disturbing themes like people trafficking from the bad guys, Size Difference, Will probably be a series, alternate canon events, Macro/Micro

Series: Part 1 of Emergence Series

When the war ended, things went a little strange. First, Duo vanished after never having let them see him in person. Then, years later, a tiny race of people are discovered. And that's just the start of things.

@lifeaftermeteor

LAM!Verse https://lifeaftermeteor.tumblr.com/post/625293600094355456/private-island-location-redacted-fiji-south

Private Island [location redacted]

Fiji, South Pacific

14 August 211

Une and Sally arrived on-island to blue skies, a functioning jeep, and a personal escort by Lucrezia Noin.

perryvic & Zaganthi (Caffiends)

All Go Unto Once Place https://archiveofourown.org/works/25520368

M/M, Chang Wufei/Treize Khushrenada

Treize Khushrenada, Quatre Raberba Winner, Change Wufei

Cameos, Anxiety, Mental Health Issues, Aftermath of Torture, ZERO System (Gundam Wing), Alternate Universe - Stargate Atlantis Fusion

He chose the study because it was formal and the least used room in the house, and brought in coffee and water because he needed something to do with his hands. "I'm sorry to request the house call. I haven't been in a reliable enough state to leave the house."

"I quite understand," Bedelia murmured. "Is this the place you feel most comfortable talking?"

He took the coffee and sat in one of the low overstuffed reading chairs rather than at the desk. "Yes. I, what we discussed a couple of weeks ago, you know. Surprising only to me, apparently, it went terribly." He cradled the coffee, watching her select where to sit, posture and movement impeccable as ever.

@simulacraryn

Higurashi https://archiveofourown.org/works/25592344#main

Heero Yuy

Higurashi = Mundane life, living hand-to-mouth. This is a VERY old fic of my (from 2008...), about what life might have been like for Heero after the war.

The Manwell

The Silencer and the Sicarian (Ch. 1 & 2) https://archiveofourown.org/works/25478938/chapters/61805053

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Relationships: Trowa Barton/Duo Maxwell, Chang Wufei/Solo

Characters: Duo Maxwell, Trowa Barton, Chang Wufei, Solo (Gundam Wing), Hilde Schbeiker, Catherine Bloom, Kyouju H | Instructor H

Additional Tags: Wufei POV, Duo POV, Trowa POV, Solo POV

Series: Part 4 of The Brothers Maxwell

It was just one vow. A simple but necessary promise to respect life -- both human and fey -- but can Duo hold to it when his resolve is put to the ultimate test?

@tziganecaffiends & Zaganthi (Caffiends)

Dust to Dust https://archiveofourown.org/works/25519633/chapters/61915789

M/M, Chang Wufei/Treize Khushrenada

Treize Khushrenada, Chang Wufei, Mariemaia Khushrenada, Duo Maxwell

Domestic Fluff, Bondage, bottom Treize, Mental Instability, Mental Health Issues, Aftermath of Violence, Aftermath of Torture, Rape Aftermath, Attempted Rape/Non-Con, Kidnapping, Subspace, Subdrop, Diplomacy, Alternate Universe - Stargate Atlantis Fusion, ZERO System (Gundam Wing), Graphic Dipictions of Violence

It was unbearable, it was too much, and his heart was trying its best to jump out of his chest. Treize managed to get his knees pulled up, and pressed his forehead against them, struggling to breathe as the anxiety crawled up from his gut and clenched around his heart. Not there, anywhere but there, and he'd been fine seeing it in ZERO, not fine, but okay, livable, but being there, smelling the familiar antiseptic hell and must of the place, took his legs out from under him.

He could play forward on all of the other scenarios he hadn't wanted to explore, and he knew when that door opened it wasn't going to be Wufei. It was never going to be what he'd wanted, no matter hard he'd played at it back home with Wufei.

Fanart/Crafts/Photo Manips:

@2pcbiscuit

https://2pcb.tumblr.com/post/625195682010120192/am-i-a-furry-artist-now-quatre-is-supposed-to-be

Raccoon!Trowa, and other cute surprises.

@antarespromise

https://antarespromise.tumblr.com/post/625175674322305024

WuFei Chang

https://antarespromise.tumblr.com/post/625274951362117632

Duo Maxwell

@bobo-is-tha-bomb

https://bobo-is-tha-bomb.tumblr.com/post/625096842616717312/having-waaaay-too-much-fun-rediscovering-art

Trowa Barton

@grey-sentry

https://grey-sentry.tumblr.com/post/624917334680829952/next-batch-of-artwork-for-the-gw-art-discord

Heero & Doktor S

https://grey-sentry.tumblr.com/post/624917124777951232/art-made-for-the-gw-art-discord-i-tried-to-follow

Relena & Catherine

@gundayum

https://gundayum.tumblr.com/post/625232214658056192/i-relish-in-being-a-terrible-human-being

Relena & Heero

@oekakimemo

https://oekakimemo.tumblr.com/post/625242524130361345/20200728-digital

Relena Darlian/Peacecraft

@tatakaumono

https://tatakaumono.tumblr.com/post/625240776436252672/its-evens-propaganda-month-dont-tag-as

Quatre/Duo

Photosets/Gifsets/Screenshots/Manga Pages:

@bobo-is-tha-bomb

https://bobo-is-tha-bomb.tumblr.com/post/625161359751036928/im-so-lucky-to-have-awesome-friends-thank-you

GW T-shirts

@cynthiaandsamus

https://cynthiaandsamus.tumblr.com/post/625268346914586624/like-everyone-in-gundam-wing-is-a-ridiculously

Zechs Merquise

@janaverse

https://janaverse.tumblr.com/post/625277358889451521/aannnnndddd-theyre-done-3-the-process-was-a

Heero & Duo silhouettes

https://janaverse.tumblr.com/post/625280260361093120/for-scale-btw-they-are-perfectly-framed-from

For scale - Heero & Duo silhouettes

Head Canons:

@disturbed02girl

https://disturbed02girl.tumblr.com/post/625254324341194752/gw-fashion-mix-day-off

GW Fashion Mix - Day Off : Duo, Heero, Trowa, WuFei, Quatre

Fandom Discourse:

@lifeaftermeteor

https://lifeaftermeteor.tumblr.com/post/625289823670927360/whats-all-this-then-although-the-gw-discord

Discord Meet-up! 0900 EST on both Saturday (August 29) and Sunday (August 30)

Quotes:

@incorrectgundamwingquotes

https://incorrectgundamwingquotes.tumblr.com/post/625002948624318464/iria-father-quatre-youre-family-you-shouldnt

Iria & Rashid

https://incorrectgundamwingquotes.tumblr.com/post/625184158043570177/duo-to-trowa-are-you-trying-to-hurt-my-feelings

Duo at Trowa

Calendar Events:

@gwcocktailfriday

Cocktail Fridays!

Post responses on Friday, during Happy Hour between 3 & 5 pm in your own timezone.

Here’s the prompt for Friday, August 7th! https://gwcocktailfriday.tumblr.com/post/625255859848642560/cocktail-friday-post-responses-on-friday-august

In need of SUMMER & FALL/AUTUMN prompts!

@gwoc-october

GW OC October 2020!

Help pick out prompts! https://gwoc-october.tumblr.com/post/621130082429337600/hello-gundam-wing-folks-thats-right-gw-oc

@seasons-of-gundamwing

Summer of Hilde!

Check the page today! The full prompt list was set to post at 10AM!

We also have an AO3 collection now! Come check it out. https://seasons-of-gundamwing.tumblr.com/post/624191236146855936/seasons-of-gundam-wing-archive

@thisweekingundamevents

Events Calendar

https://thisweekingundamevents.tumblr.com/post/624053314842230784/event-calendar-update

If you are hosting an event currently, or are planning on one, hit us up with links and dates! We’ll add them to the Calendar and reblog your notices to get the word out!

#Gundam Wing #This Week in Gundam Wing #Weekly Roundup #July 26 - 01 August 2020

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tea-earl-grey-thot · 4 years

Note

16, 17, 19, 21, 22, 24, 25

16: (truth) What is your dream job? (dare) Post the four most recent pictures in your camera roll.

DARE:

17: (truth) Where is the last place you went that took over two hours to get to? (dare) Post screenshots of your phone’s lock screen and home screen.

DARE:

19: (truth) What is the first thing you remember having to keep secret? (dare) Tag five bloggers who you associate with being obsessed with something particular, and list what each of them is obsessed with.

TRUTH: lol I hit my sister @mae-and-not-band-stuff

21: (truth) What three fictional characters would you most like to meet? (dare) Write your name down on a piece of paper and draw a quick picture of yourself. Take a photo of it and post it.

I’m actually doing both because they both seem fun

TRUTH: Dr. Leonard McCoy, Rapunzel, and Peter Parker

DARE:

22: (truth) What are three things you’re looking forward to? (dare) Tag the last three people you reblogged posts from, and estimate how many followers they have.

TRUTH: moving away for college, setting up my new laptop, and watching Scoob! for the first time for my little bros birthday.

24: (truth) If you could only own five material objects (not counting life necessities like food/water/a house/etc) what would they be? (dare) Put your music player on shuffle. Post what the first three songs are, and for each one, tag a blog that the song reminds you of.

DARE:

Board of Governors from Jekyll and Hyde, @helena--bertinelli (because we were buddies during Bring On the Men in that musical)

Runnin’ With the Devil by Van Halen @hell-propaganda

Synchronicity II by The Police @mae-the-bass-clarinetist (cause we are twins get it lol)

25: (truth) What is the last thing you lied about? (dare) Tag three people you want to know better and ask them each three questions about themselves.

TRUTH: my mom was talking about mailing addresses in college and how I should keep having stuff sent to her house and I said “okay” even though I already knew I was not gonna do that (I don’t want her to have access to my tax information and things like that)

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whetstonefires · 5 years

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someone mexican just reblogged the post about domestic propaganda in the context of the US going to war with iran today from me and tagged it with ‘i hope when iran invades the US we don’t take any refugees’ ‘you put our children in cages’ ‘drown in your own misery’

like yeah okay us bad and all but also thanks, i was managing not to have a useless panic attack about this bullshit until you walked up to my face like DIE DIE DIE YOU PERSONALLY ARE EVIL FOR WHAT YOU WERE TOO PATHETIC TO STOP YOUR POLITICAL ENEMIES FROM DOING AND NOW YOU WILL PAYYYYYYYY

#hoc est meum #war #us iran war #politics #anxiety disorders #dude srsly #the fact that it's an unlikely scenario #because this is in fact a grotesque political stunt to boost trump's poll numbers #makes it a less fucked up thing to say #and i'm over here near canada anyway #but egad

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egregiousderp · 8 years

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@gayrazeb

Being polite isn’t a problem! I don’t think you said anything rude. And I only noticed a bit late that your was tagged “personal” so I hope it’s okay I reblogged. ^^;;

I tried to put this up in a separate post just in case.

(I’m also on mobile so I can’t really do a readmore. Sorry, my dash! I’ll tag this with “long post” and hope for the best. Lotta rebels talk and tangential talk about Kalluzeb as a ship.)

I was kind of confused by the “problematic” ship label is all. And most of what you’re saying in the follow-up sounds like a critique of Kallus’s character. Not the ship itself?

My thoughts on that are actually that both characters are traumatized. Assuming you think Kallus was telling the truth about the incident with the Lasat Mercenary and his first posting. (Which isn’t to say it’s an equal level of trauma, but I think both of them handle trauma differently?)

Kallus’s reactions when under pressure afterwards COULD be interpreted as a reaction to that trauma, or as a speciesism in the aftermath.

Even Zeb reacts with shock hearing one of his own cut down helpless people, which in my mind means either Zeb’s a straight-shooter a little naive about his own people (possible. He was very young when he was the honor guard captain.) or that that kind of thing IS NOT DONE.

There’s subtle stuff in watching Kallus get thrown around in episodes and how quickly he gets up. There’s subtle stuff in the sheer panic on his face when he’s injured, weaponless, and Zeb has a rifle trained on him.

He’s filmed as a traumatized character pretty clearly in my mind, anyway.

Kallus got out on Lasan AFTER the thing on Onderon. If you hold that he’s traumatized as a result, then…

Strategically speaking if this is a man who “knows” he’s up against a bigger, stronger creature. He also has every reason to believe they slaughter even the helpless.

Zeb we know is a more honorable character but he still tears through stormtroopers like they’re wet paper, and talks about how he likes punching them. That’s ZEB. Zeb is one man.

So…you’re a human being being deployed against an army of creatures, any one of which if they close will tear through your entire platoon in moments.

Wookiepedia gave me a lot of Kallus info.

For one he’s quite tall. Small next to Zeb, but huge next to everyone else.

He’s trained in both heavy and riot combat. (Think fn-2199 in Force Awakens. Nines is a riot trooper.)

And he’s actually turned down a promotion I think so he can stay active in the field. So he’s very physically fit and powerful for a human but his troops are NOT.

If that’s your situation your only hope is to range your adversary and not let them close (since close combat gives a very clear advantage to the Lasat.) You’ve got to show it as little mercy as it would show you or it’ll tear you apart.

What Kallus’s use of the disruptors does is it takes a metaphorical fight between Lasat as Cavalry and Imperials as Infantry, and essentially pulls a Rommel. Rommel turned his anti-air weapons on tanks during World War II, and ranged them.

So it depends on how you look at it.

In the course of Imperial Propaganda, what Kallus does, if he’s the man who gave the order (which I think he is) actually saves thousands of trooper lives.

…By massacring a planet full of Lasat.

What I find really interesting and can’t find info on is how Kallus ended up on Lasan after the incident on Onderon. Did someone literally assign a PTSD guy to a planet of people he should be terrified of? Did he volunteer for revenge? (Either would give you a lot of detail about his character, yeah?)

You could say his entire drawing Zeb away during the first season antics could be to protect his men. Although it might be a bit of a stretch and I understand if that doesn’t sit with you.

What Kallus does makes perfect sense to me from a strategy perspective though.

It’s ruthless, but he’s a soldier in a war.

There’s more than one way to read Kallus’s early actions, I mean. Especially if he’s deep in the Imperial Propaganda and thinks what he’s doing is the only thing he can do.

What he does that makes him a remarkable person is he turns these situations consistently and elegantly to later advantage.

Using an unconventional weapon on an organic being is grisly but decidedly brilliant.

Turning a defecting colleague into a martyr to stir up people to hunt the rebels themselves is also brilliant and effective.

Withholding supplies from a planet in order to whittle down the limited rebel ships attempting to run supplies in is likewise kind of harsh but ultimately very well suits the goal, AND if Imperials show up later with supplies it makes the Empire look absolutely great, yeah?

He uses his past trauma as a weapon.

Rebel activity’s been going strong for a while by the time you meet Kallus in season one, so his empathy for others has been deadened to almost nothing when we first see him.

As such he feels nothing when straight-up murdering colleagues or goading an enemy into an angry opening by talking about genocide. Those are means to an end and his primary goal is to serve the Empire. To “do his duty”. Because this is what Kallus does.

If you read him in as a character who has always believed he was in the service of doing good even by dubious means then the progression isn’t so unusual.

This is a person who believed that competence and loyalty in executing a duty was enough to assure you of a place in the Empire.

Then…

He flinches when Tarkin executes two of his colleagues for incompetence.

He executes Tua for disloyalty.

The Empire is not loyal to him when he’s lost on the ice moon.

There is…a progression.

On top of that you have his interactions with Zeb, who is honorable even when it puts him at a serious disadvantage. Zeb, who preserves even the life of an enemy he has every reason to hate.

Zeb, who is traumatized too.

But while Zeb is traumatized he also seems to run from it by “forgetting”. He forgets his own title and rank, even. He says nothing about his past or his life. Barely interacts with his own people even after rescuing them because it’s easier to run than to face those things.

He oscillates between anger at Kallus, I think, and refusing to touch the elephant in the room. It’s in how he handles the disruptors issue in the first episode.

Running from trauma and “forgetting” is a valid way people deal with such things. But it usually comes out later and there are consequences in roundabout ways.

I look forward as much to Zeb snapping and hitting that final straw, that one last thing that sends him over the edge.

I’m also down for potential Rebel!Kallus encountering the Mercenary again.

And for Zeb, who said he’d show the way home for his people to have to deal with the members of his people he doesn’t like, that he doesn’t think are worthy of being among his people again.

There are…schisms among the rebels themselves I mean. And whether or not the show wants to get into that or not is another question but…

I haven’t found the takes on either of those character’s personal traumas particularly badly done. I just expect Zeb’s has a slower fuse and it’s going to be ridiculous when he finally does face it?

Plus there’s some stuff within the warrior/child/fool Dynamic that suggests the roles shift.

There are two people with bo-rifles.

And we still haven’t seen one give himself up for the others. (Though Kallus seems more than set to try.)

IF this is what’s going on but it’s going on kind of behind the scenes and from a place of genuine admiration? Of…wanting to be more like what Kallus thinks Zeb is? What Kallus thinks the rebels are? Does that…work a little better for you?

#I'm not really sure what to tag this with for you #but I really wanted to reply to it.#if there's sideways stuff going on in here or material about Kallus I don't know please feel free to tell me?#I don't always know where I get the material from these days.#long post #not intended as discourse I just don't think I should be PMing someone I don't know?#sorry I am awkward and like to talk character theories

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