#only way out is through has been my tagline for people close to me lately

[pynkhues]

I don’t know if you’re a Taylor Swift fan but is it weird that I relate my emotionally abusive relationship with my stepdad to would’ve, could’ve, should’ve? Like I know that it’s very obviously about her relationship with John Mayer and like obviously not all of it is relatable but like in general it feels therapeutic to sing but I feel like that’s kind of dumb since it’s about a romantic relationship?

I know some of it I’m twisting the obvious meaning. Like 19 was when I got to leave and when I finally got out and free but I also started to process how angry I was so that pain was heaven. And like before him I did wonder what it was like to have a family with two incomes and a house with a yard but after him I do wish I would have never found out. And like I know when she’s talking about girlhood she’s most likely talking about virginity but like for me it was my childhood and who I could have been if he’d never been in my life.

My apologies, this is such a weird ask. I’m just trying to sleep and am spiraling instead, lol. You always give such thoughtful answers and since you don’t know me I feel like I’d really trust your take to be honest but if this is too heavy or weird pls feel free to ignore. Have such a great weekend! 🖤

You don't have to apologise at all, anon! I totally get it - in fact, absolute confessional, haha - but Forgiveness by Paramore is the song for me when it comes to my relationship with my dad, even though I know the song itself it's about a cheating partner.

I think what's amazing about storytelling (which is ultimately what lyric writing is) is that it's meaning becomes mutable. As soon as it's told, it no longer belongs to the author. Storytelling, at it's heart, is collaboration and community, because people are able to interpret it, to bring their own experiences to it, to derive meaning from it that's unique to them, and that's a huge part of what makes art - - well, art.

That's the beauty of it! Our experience of art is subjective, and it should be. We are creatures of habit, of history, of hubris, and however we experience something will be true to us, even if it's not something that feels true to others.

But more to the point of your ask, I think it's pretty normal for songs like that one to resonate on deeper levels, because regardless of what the relationship itself was, the themes below it of manipulation and feeling exploited and losing childhood, resonate in many very different types of relationship. We tend to stress, I think, romantic or sexual connections, in narrative - whether that be in art or tabloid or news - but the reality is relationships take a lot of different shapes and forms, and they're often complicated regardless, and unfortunately, a lot of the time this behaviour is broad.

You take what you get, and sometimes feeling your way out of a difficult platonic relationship means belting out the lyrics to a song about a romantic one. Embrace it! The only way out is through.

I'm sorry about your stepdad though. Families are complicated, and I hope you're okay. <3

[webbywatcheshorror]

Webby Reviews Horror: The Bye Bye Man (2017)

The Bye Bye Man. This movie has been meme’d to death, and I’m sure, if you’re reading this, you’ve at least heard of it. I first watched it for my 100 Horror Movies in 92 Days challenge in 2022, expecting it to be the kind that doesn’t take itself seriously. But it does.

The Bye Bye Man tells the story of three college students that move into a fixer-upper of a house and unleash an unstoppable force of evil that comes for you once you know his name. Now on paper, that sounds like a solid premise. In practice.... well, we’ll get to that.

Review under the cut, and as always, SPOILERS AHEAD!

The Bye Bye Man is a tragedy. It contains so many good bits and pieces, but they aren’t quite assembled right- like a puzzle missing some pieces, and somebody painted over some of the others.

It has a decently strong opening- Leigh Whannell murders his way through a quiet suburban neighborhood, gunning down friends and neighbors while shouting about a name that shouldn’t be said, and sometimes muttering the tagline- don’t think it, don’t say it. Nice and intriguing, good First Kill.

Even going into the next sequence isn’t bad- meeting our core protagonists, setting up the scenery, establishing backstories, etc. A bit slow, but it works fine. The slow ramp-up of the upcoming horrors is pretty decent, too- the scene with the kid opening one door while the Hound creeps silently out of the one behind her was nice and eerie! Not to mention one of my favorite tropes in horror movies- Spot the Thing. I managed to find him in mirrors and shadows at least four times before his big reveal, but there’s likely even more I didn’t catch.

The concept itself is promising! An entity that stalks you but only after you know it exists, and the more you think about it, the closer you are to death! That fucking RULES! I’d be so fucking dead! Trying not to think about something, especially when that thing is toying with your mind constantly? An impossible task for me, and a story genre I will always love.

The breaking of the protagonists is also fairly decent. Elliot, the main protag, is adorably in love with his girlfriend, and is so close to the other character John, they consider each other brothers; by the end, they’ve turned on one another, driven mad by hallucinations and suspicion. Heartbreaking stuff, honestly.

There’s a post that’s been going around on Tumblr lately about phones and horror movies, and how instead of simply not working, they could be utilized to invoke more horror as working devices. The Bye Bye Man actually has a good example of this! There’s a scene where one of our protags, trying to ease his mind, is looking through pictures on his phone, when he is treated a series of pictures of the titular entity, who taunts him.

So if it has all these elements, why does it not deliver?

Firstly, the name. Now, I know the original tale (both folk tale and published book edition) also has him named the Bye Bye Man, but reading it and hearing it just have very different vibes. Reading a story about a malevolent spirit with a goofy name? Sure, I can let my imagination run with that. Hearing people say it out loud with their mouth? It just doesn’t land for me, no matter how hard I tried.

It’s possible that it COULD have landed, with some tweaks to the movie: more instances of characters unintentionally saying it, or hearing it as an auditory hallucination; even the way it’s said might have heightened its fear factor. Here, try this- say The Bye Bye Man as though you are reading the title of the movie out loud. Now, say it slow, hesitant, breath shaky and as though you’re forcing yourself to stop saying it. There’s a noticeable difference, yeah? Well, mostly, we only get the first example. Even just a slight pause between each word gives it a different feel, or at least it does to me.

There’s few tropes in movies that annoy the piss out of me more than miscommunication/straight up lack of communication that drives the plot/drama. I know our protags are college kids, and as such are prone to reactions rather than sense, but it’s incredibly irritating to me. Had they stopped to think for like, ten seconds, they might have even survived.

The fact that they’re still kids might explain why they kept making the same mistakes over and over- constantly forgetting they can’t trust what they hear or see, automatically assuming the worst of people they’re supposed to love and trust, continuing to say the name OUT LOUD even after they know it’s dangerous. Ok so most of these sins are committed by the main character, but they’re all guilty of them at some point or another.

It’s possible, too, that much of their nonsensical behavior can be chalked up to supernatural influence. And it’s also possible that I’m far more paranoid than your average person. But talking and acting INCREDIBLY SUSPICIOUSLY in front of cops at a crime scene wherein you are a prime suspect? And then, when confronted by Carrie-Anne Moss’s character, Elliot continues to be suspicious as all hell. Don’t imply you have something dangerous to hide in front of a cop! Why would you do that!?

I also feel like they could have established a few more details that would have given more impact to the eventual character breakdowns. Elliot’s jealousy fueled hallucinations could have been even better, had he stated outright earlier that he trusted his best friend and girlfriend, instead of unconvincingly denying being jealous when his older brother points out the other two dancing during the party scene. Subsequently, his struggle to maintain that implicit trust would have been more impressive, as he is bombarded with hallucinations that imply they’re having an affair, including a full on vision of them having sex in front of him.

That being said, I do like that they set up Elliot’s fatal flaw early on- his cocky overconfidence. During the séance scene, he keeps smugly dismissing any mention of the supernatural as being illogical and beneath his consideration. When he later realizes how to keep the Bye Bye Man at bay, he lets this small victory feed into his ego and he seems to think he’s no longer in danger; he is quickly relieved of this notion.

His solution, when you really break it down, would never have worked long-term, at least not for him. Simply do not fear the entity! He thrives off of fear, much like Pennywise. With a name that silly, this should be easy, to be honest. (In my initial livetweet thread, I toyed with the idea of calling him The Baby Man.) However, unlike the dancing clown, denying him the fear that powers him only makes him get more creative. Upon returning home, Elliot immediately falls for another one of Bye Bye’s tricks. Shouldn’t have challenged him. You fool.

The Man himself is a decent looking monster, played by the wonderful, incredible Doug Jones; but despite the sounds and signs that precede his arrival, we never learn anything about him. Why the coins? Why the train sounds? What’s up with the Hound? Was he once a living person? The original tale has a few answers, but they are nowhere to be found in the film, which is a shame, because it could definitely have benefitted from the knowledge that Bye Bye created his canine companion out of the body parts of his initial victims, and it’s true name is the Gloomslinger. That’s fucking rad!

This movie feels like it drew inspiration from Candyman and Final Destination, in that there is power in a name, and once you’ve drawn its attention, there’s no way to escape it. The world itself will twist until you’ve fallen victim, no matter how clever you think you are. It also reminds me of an OLD, OOOOOOOOLD creepypasta that featured something similar- some sort of entity that hunts you down once you’re made aware it exists. I can’t remember much about it, other than the final line was something like “I’m so sorry. Now that you know it exists, it’s coming for you.” (If anyone knows what I’m talking about, please let me know, but be aware that I read it well over 10 years ago and cannot remember anything else about it.)

Lastly, I want to mention that I enjoyed the way it ended. Our protags are dead, as well as everyone they told his name to. With no way to spread his evil, Bye Bye should be defeated- then we’re treated to Elliot’s young niece saying she found the nightstand with the name carved into it. The wheel keeps on turning, and what a shame- but no, she couldn’t read it in the dark. THEN, we find out that John, the best friend, has survived the house exploding (how tho), and the movie ends as he whispers the name to Carrie-Anne Moss, thus ensuring the cycle continues. 

I give this one five ghosts outta ten. The framework for a great movie is there, but ultimately, it failed to achieve what it set out to do. I do believe, however, that had this movie come out in the 80s, it would now be a cult classic, and considered genuinely terrifying. Then again, if it had, we’d have been denied another instance of Leigh Whannell’s character dying horrifically, and that’d be a shame.

[dreamescapeswriting]

Beach Proposal ~ JJK [Request]

WORD COUNT: 1.3K

GENRE: cute, fluffy, proposal, lifeguard Jungkook

PAIRING: Lifeguard!Jungkook x lifeguard!Reader

A/N: I hope that this is alright for you my love, I know its a little short I’m sorry!

Being a lifeguard meant learning to live with the fact that people were going to flirt with you and your boyfriend at all hours of the day. Normally it wouldn't bother you so much but lately, it had begun to get to you. Instead of telling them that he had you, he would playfully flirt back and forth with them. You knew it meant nothing to Jungkook but for some reason, it was a big deal to you.

"What's up sugar plum?" You glanced over your shoulder to see one of the other lifeguards standing behind your chair. It was hard to miss his thick Australian accent, 

"Nothing choppo. What's going on on the beach?" You questioned looking around at a group of people all crowding around something. You were stuck in the watchtower all day with Jethro and Harris while the rest of them patrolled the beach. There weren't that many of you but just enough so that everyone on the beach was protected if anything happened. 

"Jungkook took off his shirt and showed his new tattoos," Jethro laughed as he stared through his binoculars over at the crowd,

"Of course he did." You mumbled keeping your eyes on the water in case something happened but the boys knew it was bothering you. It had been something up for discussion a lot whenever Jungkook wasn't around, even though most of the guys were taken or married they still flirted playfully. They never saw the big deal with it but you did and you were sure that their partners would if they heard about it too.

"You need to chill babe, you know he only has eyes for you." Jethro teased as he pushed your chair with his foot, you stared at him and up at his shoulder. 

"Do you want me to pop it out of place?" You teased rolling your eyes at him before going back to the ocean. It was only last week that Jethro had popped his own shoulder out of place and was laid up in the tower with you. The only reason you had been stuck up there for the last week was a punishment from your boss, he figured you could use it after disobeying his orders about going in the water. The rules were fairly simple, if there was a rescue mission someone always had to stay in the tower to keep an eye on things and you didn't. You'd seen someone else in danger and rushed out to help them instead of doing as you were told, resulting in your punishment. 

"I'm tapping out Rapunzel," Cappo said as he began to do his time card, it was getting close to the beach closing anyway. Once it hit 8 at night no one was supposed to go onto the beach or into the water. Since there were no lifeguards around but it didn't stop many people from doing it anyway.

"You're on lock up tonight, come and meet us at the bar though?" Harris asked as he got up from his chair and looked at you, it was five minutes until shut down time and you had the fun task of getting everyone off the beach.

"Might go home, I'm tired." You lied as you got up and headed out of the tower, hoping that Jungkook would help you get everyone off the beach. 

The two of you had been together since you were in college, one of the longest relationships you'd ever had and you were head over heels with one another. 

"Kookie! Make sure you get everyone out of the whirlpool too," You called down the radio as you made your way up and down the beach to make sure no one was around. Normally people would wait to sneak back on until all of the lifeguards had left by which time it wasn't your problem anymore and they had to deal with their own mistakes. 

"I know, I'm heading up there now. I'll check and head to the bar." The radio cut out and you sighed, why would he want to leave without you? Normally the two of you would head to the bar together but you said nothing and headed up to the end of the beach. 

Besides the usual drunk, there was no one on the beach for miles so you began taking all of the flags in and making sure there was nothing left out that needed to be put away. 

"Harris, just shutting off the main lights. I'll lock and post the keys." You spoke down the phone to Harris's voicemail and hung up, grabbing your bag before heading out of the door. All you wanted to do was get home and crawl into bed to get some sleep, there was something about the sea air that made everyone sleepier than usual. There was always some kind of myth as to why it made people more tired than usual but it was all science, something to do with the Sea air is charged with healthy negative ions that accelerate our ability to absorb oxygen.

As you were about to head off the beach something in the corner of your eye flickered and you frowned. A flame? Who would be having a fire on the beach this late at night? Slowly heading down from the tower you almost dropped your bag onto the floor seeing Jungkook standing there. Surrounded by small glass jars with candles inside of them, being protected from the wind so that it was still romantic. 

"Jungkook?" You laughed awkwardly as he looked over at you, smiling and beckoning you to move toward him. 

"What's all of this?" You quizzed as you got closer to him, looking down at a blanket that he was standing on and then around him. You were pretty sure you hadn't missed an anniversary or a birthday.

"I wanted to do something special," He whispered as he stood in front of you, shaking a little as he thought about what he was about to do. Something he had been planning for a while now and had been nervous about it since the moment it happened. 

"Jungkook? You're shivering, is something-" You stopped when he suddenly got down onto one knee, looking up at you as he held your hand in his. 

"I have loved you since we started dating...I fall more and more in love with you every day. Every day I thank the universe for allowing me to wake up next to you, to be together with you every day of my life from now until I die." Tearing up you looked at him as he began to stumble over his words, tears running down his cheeks a little as he said everything he'd been meaning to say all week. 

"I know I annoy you with the flirting and trust me it all stops now but I just...I love you and I can't even imagine my life without you Y/n." It was now that you noticed Jethro and Harris were standing up at the watchtower with their cameras out, watching you both. 

"Will you, Y/n Y/l/n, do me the honour of becoming my wife?" You knelt down onto the floor in front of him, taking his face in your hands as you both sobbed. 

"Of course Jungkook," You breathed out, kissing him over and over again until you both fell back onto the blanket. Making out as he struggled to pull the ring out from his pocket. Leaving the boys watching you in a fit of laughter before you stuck up your middle finger at them. 

"Let's go home, to celebrate," You whined as Jungkook placed the ring onto your finger while he chuckled at you, shaking his head. 

"I have to clean up and they want us at the bar," You pulled him closer to you, whispering in his ear all of the things you wanted to do when you got back to your shared apartment and you'd never seen him move so fast. Rushing to blow out all of the candles and clean everything up.

Tagline: @lyoongx @mitzwinchester @rjsmochii @taestannie @sw33tnight @sweeneyblue1 @jin-from-the-block @acciocriativity @mwitsmejk @taeechwitaa @justbangtanthingz @stillwithlix @misa0000​ 

[evanescentjasmine]

Writing Egypt and Egyptian Characters: Rusty Quill Gaming Edition

I’ve finally caught up with the Cairo arc of Rusty Quill Gaming, which I was anticipating and dreading both. Fiction set in my country usually reduces it to a caricature of itself, especially when it takes place in the Victorian era, but considering everything they’ve said in their metacasts I was hoping Rusty Quill Gaming was the exception.

It wasn’t. 

I’m aware the game world plays fast and loose with history and setting, but the problems in this case are more than just inaccuracies. However, because I want to help fic writers and artists be able to portray Hamid and his family well, this resource will be split into two parts. The first part will tackle details I’ve been asked about with regard to the setting; it may touch on things RQG went wrong, but I’m writing it primarily as a resource for artists and writers. The second part will be my criticism of RQG, and why I found the Cairo arc actively harmful. This includes discussions of Orientalism and some racist text.

I should also preface this by saying I’m not a historian. Everything I say in this resource is a combination of what I grew up with and what I remember from school, supplemented by Google and guesswork. I’ll be explaining my thought process throughout, which can help you see what’s actual history and what’s my extrapolation.

Part One: On Egypt

Historical Context:

Figuring out the history of Egypt in RQG terms is a bit complicated, so bear with me because this will take a while. 

In real-world history, Egypt was a Roman then Byzantine province from 30 BC to around the mid 600s AD, at which point the Arab conquest swept through and Egypt became Muslim. 

What this means is that when the Meritocrats took down Rome and took over the world, Egypt was still a Roman province. That gives us a several hundred year gap before the Arabs that may have maintained the same culture? Or morphed a little back to some pre-Ptolemaic Ancient Egyptian, given their Meritocrat, Apophis, is named after a great Pharaonic serpent?

Either way, given Hamid’s name and the fact they live in Cairo, the city built by the Arabs, we can assume the Arab conquest still happened somehow, despite having a Meritocrat in Egypt. Maybe a Meritocrat out there is Arab and settled in Egypt for a bit with or before Apophis? Maybe it took a couple-hundred years for the Meritocrats to get all the previous Roman areas under control? Maybe there was a whole war and the Arabs won and settled and eventually they got to a truce or got absorbed into Meritocratic lands?

Many Muslim dynasties ruled throughout the period from the mid 600s to the 1500s. Given the lack of Islam in this world, probably the Arabs were unified by some Pre-Islamic deity/deities and brought them over as well, because I refuse to just sweep everything under the broad Greek God rug. 

In the 1500s, another Muslim dynasty took over--this time, from outside of the country, which is why it’s considered separate from all the rest. At this point, Egypt became part of the Ottoman Empire until the 1800s, which is when the Mohammed Ali dynasty started to try and secede and rule independently. And there was a brief blip of the French occupation for two years around then as well.

And, of course, we can’t forget about British colonisation, which started in the late 1800s with a veiled protectorate.

Presumably, since France and Britain are also Meritocratic and it seems like Apophis is currently ruling, we can disregard everything from the Ottomans onward. This changes, or should change, a ton, because Ottoman rule informed a lot of things from fashion to slang to nobility and so on. 

What we’re left with is most likely a Cairo that is still Arab but with much more Pharaonic influence, as Apophis is in charge, as well as continuing Greek influence due to the Gods. I am not a Coptic Christian, so I cannot speak to how these changes in history and religions would affect the Coptic language and culture, but no doubt it would still be around.

There would also be a bigger, more long-standing connection to other Meritocratic countries. This explains why Hamid was British-educated and so many people speak such good English without a British occupation to create the power disparity that would make that necessary to rise in Egypt and such a mark of status. 

However, this presents several confusing and contradictory aspects of the world building:

Why doesn’t this go both ways? Why aren’t there people in England and France who know Arabic or are influenced by Egypt? All we get is that the Tahan family are big. That’s it. If these countries are equals, it sure doesn’t look like it.

If Apophis is pharaonic and Ancient Egyptian culture and knowledge are so ubiquitous...why would they hollow out a pyramid to put a bank inside? It’s a tomb. It’s made to bury dead kings in a way that follows possibly still-existing cultural and religious beliefs. It’s the equivalent of someone building a bank inside a mausoleum. It’s bizarre.

Relatedly, if Ancient Egyptian culture and knowledge are so ubiquitous, why is Carter mentioning the Rosetta Stone? Why would the knowledge necessary to translate hieroglyphics have been lost? 

I mention these questions so fic writers can keep them in mind while writing and, of course, it’s entirely possible to create a workaround. For example, maybe the Rosetta Stone is supposed to be translating something else, like an ancient hidden magic?

Describing Cairo:

I want to make one thing very clear: Cairo is not, despite Alex’s description, like Vegas. While we do certainly have hotels and casinos, to reduce the city to only that is very harmful for reasons I’ll go into at the end of this resource.

Cairo is a very old city with a mix of architectural styles and is very heavily Muslim in real life. In Arabic, its tagline is often “city of a thousand minarets,” so clearly RQG Cairo will be fairly different. Given Apophis’ influence, Ancient Egyptian styles might be more prevalent in Cairo, but very likely not in the form of pyramids unless those pyramids were for the dead. In real life, some buildings do incorporate Ancient Egyptian flavour, usually just in the form of lotus columns or hieroglyphs. These would only be found in public institutions, however,  or, frankly, tourist-bait. 

Residential buildings tend to be clustered very close together and, since it’s an old city, streets are crowded and winding as the city keeps building on itself and spilling out of its previous bounds. Estates do, of course, exist, but I’d suggest against using Bryn’s example of Alhambra as a setting for the Tahan home. Alhambra is a palace fortress in Spain and, although it’s Andalusian and therefore influenced by Muslim architecture, it’s very different than anything in Egypt. It’s as absurd as saying a posh British character lives in a house that’s basically Versailles and leaving it there. I’ve included images of some Egyptian residential estates below, all from the 1800s to early 1900s.

And here are some photos of Cairo in the 1800s:

As you can see, not quite Vegas.

A fic set in Cairo can certainly still have the Cairo strip with all the casinos, since that’s an aspect of canon, but a place like that would probably be geared more to tourists and foreigners than locals. So long you’re aware of this while writing, and that Cairo would exist beyond it, you should be fine. It might also be worth having characters explore the actual city.

Weather:

The stereotype is that Egypt is just hot and sand year-round. It isn’t. The further south you go, the hotter it will get, so that Upper Egypt (which is in the south, yeah), is hotter than Lower Egypt, which is where Cairo and Alexandria are. Alexandria, by virtue of being on the Mediterranean, has fairly cold (for us) and rainy winters and mild, humid summers. Cairo gets very occasional rain and has harsher summers but is also dryer.

And, of course, a thing to remember is that even in the depths of the desert, the morning might be quite warm but the night will be quite cold as well.

Sandstorm season (called khamaseen) takes place from April - May but in the middle of Cairo it’s more of an annoyance than anything else.

Language:

Since they speak Arabic, it’s important to note that spoken Egyptian Arabic is very different from written Classical Arabic. Egyptian is a mishmash of Arabic, Coptic, a bit of Greek, and a bit of French (and, in the real world, some Turkish too) all smashed together. Accents differ from city to city, and Cairene Arabic is best known for the fact we pronounce the letter jeem as geem (so all soft Gs are turned into hard Gs) and tend to replace the letter qaf with a glottal stop.

This means that a Cairene wouldn’t be called Jamal, they’d be Gamal. A Cairene would pronounce burqa as bur’a.

Since religion plays a big part in language, RQG Egyptian Arabic may be a bit different. For instance, the greeting most people associate with Arabic is “Assalam alaykum” but that’s very specifically Muslim or at least associated with Islam, and might not have been as wide-spread given...y’know, that Islam doesn’t exist. I’m not saying it’s incorrect to use, just explaining the context.

Alternatives could include “Sabah/masa’ el-kheir” which means “Good morning/evening,” and “Naharak/Naharik saeed” which is, “May you have a good day.”

Fashion:

Although this didn’t really feature in RQG, I’ve received a lot of questions about the period’s fashion and honestly it’s my favourite thing ever so I probably would have touched on it anyway. I’ll only go into broad strokes, as there are plenty of regional variations and, again, I’m no expert 

Women

Egyptian women covered their heads and sometimes their faces not out of religiosity but out of a cultural expectation of modesty. This may well have come about as a result of the Arab/Muslim cultural majority, as to my knowledge this wasn’t the case in the Greek and Roman periods, but women of all religions covered their heads so that would likely still be the case in RQG’s Arab Egypt.

This isn’t with the hijab we know today. It may have been a cloth or kerchief tied over their heads and then the melaya laf (which is larger cloth, almost a sheet) that they wrap around themselves and over their head, as follows: 

The black face-covering was called a burqa or bur’a (not the same as a Muslim burqa, which serves similar modesty functions but is a separate thing) or a yashmak and may have been opaque black, white, or netted, such as in this picture:

Underneath the melaya they would be wearing a long, loose, patterned dress:

Upper class Egyptian women tended to wear Western dresses with a white yashmak that covered their faces and heads. A yashmak is Turkish, however, and without Ottoman influence this style and name might not have caught on in Egypt.

Men

While the melaya laf and yashmak have disappeared from Egypt, the traditional men’s gallabeya and ammama, or turban, are still seen widely today. The gallabeya (or jellabiya, outside of Cairene Arabic) is a long, loose garment with wide sleeves and no collar. It’s in muted, neutral colours, usually lighter ones like white or beige in the summer and navy blue or grey in the winter. You’ll have seen examples of it in the pictures of Cairo above, and here’s another one: 

Middle to upper class men and civil servants, however, tended to wear English suits with a tarboosh, or fez. Since fezzes were also a result of Ottoman rule, RQG Egyptians might not wear them.

And yes, impressive moustaches were also very much the fashion.

Names:

The running joke is that Hamid’s name is unnecessarily long, but my name is longer, and I don’t think that’s particularly unusual. We don’t usually go around introducing ourselves with all of them, admittedly, and I’m not sure whether Hamid does this as a way to indicate he’s overly fancy or because Bryn doesn’t realise it, but four names is not long. My ID boasts five, and I know of at least one more.

Arabic naming conventions use patronymics for all children, regardless of gender. What this means is that my name and my brother’s name is identical except for our first. 

Mine is Jasmine + Dad’s name + his dad’s name + his dad’s name + his dad’s name

And my brother is also First name + Dad’s name + his dad’s name + his dad’s name + his dad’s name.

Egyptians do not typically have last names, but an important family may all choose to identify under a name and use that as their last, such as the Tahans. In my case, I use my fifth name as my last name and introduce myself in everyday life as Jasmine Fifth Name. Notably, my brother does not, and goes by First name + Dad’s name instead. This isn’t unusual. On paperwork, however, we still have the same name.

Additionally, Egyptian women do not take their husbands’ last names in marriage, nor do children take any of her names. 

I’m not sure why, according to the wiki, Hamid’s sisters seem to have taken their mother’s name. Following Arabic naming conventions, they would all be First Name Saleh Haroun al Tahan, and their father would be Saleh Haroun al Tahan. A possible workaround might be that halflings have their own naming conventions that mean daughters have matronymics and sons patronymics. 

A note to podficcers: please google name pronunciations beforehand because Alex and Bryn’s are actually often wrong. Ishak, for instance, is not pronounced Ee-shak. It’s Iss-haaq or Iss-haa’, because of quirks of the Egyptian accent I mentioned earlier.

Part Two: Criticism

I understand it can be difficult to portray a country different from yours with accuracy. I understand the RQG crew will not have had the perspective on Egypt and Cairo that I do by virtue of living here. I do also acknowledge that I’m sure none of this was actively malicious or on purpose.

But it doesn’t have to be on purpose to hurt, frankly, and given how often the RQG crew have talked about their responsibility with a game that’s intended for an audience, I expected better. Bryn has spoken about not wanting to fall into stereotypes for Hamid and, to be fair, by being a non-religious fancyboy Hamid does neatly avoid the religious zealot and the noble (or ignoble) savage routes. Unfortunately, he falls into another, which was hammered home by the portrayal of Cairo and the Tahans as a whole.

Our first glimpse of Cairo, after the sandstorm clears, describes it as “basically Vegas,” with hotels and garish casinos catering to the rich all along the “Cairo strip.” From then on, our only other images of Cairo are vast estates and a pyramid in the desert. 

The only named Egyptians we meet are the Tahan family, who are introduced through an absurdly lavish estate compared to the palace fortress of Alhambra, a gambling problem that apparently runs in the family, murder, and corruption, as the head of the family who has already covered up a crime for one son then turns himself in to protect the other.

Then, to top it all off, Hamid is apparently utterly incapable of understanding why letting his brother get away with murder is an issue until the paladins point it out.

Do you see the pattern, here?

I understand this was aiming to be a criticism of the rich and powerful, but the fact remains that the Tahans are the only representation of Egyptians we get. While this may not be harems and hand-chopping levels of Orientalism, the image presented is of Cairo as a den of excessive wealth and vice, and Egyptians as corrupt and immoral.

This isn’t new.

The Middle East and North Africa (as well as India and China and everywhere else considered “the Orient”) has often been tied to images of wealth and overt splendour, usually hand-in-hand with the Oriental despot and corruption. This view went beyond just fiction and influenced the policies with which we were ruled. 

Cromer, Consul-General of Egypt, wrote books called Modern Egypt. He had this to say about us:

“The mind of the Oriental, on the other hand, like his picturesque streets, is eminently wanting in symmetry. His reasoning is of the most slipshod description. . . . They are often incapable of drawing the most obvious conclusions from any simple premises of which they may admit the truth.”

In his opinion, our inability to follow logical reason led to us being inherently untruthful and, therefore, immoral. Similarly, British statesman Balfour was of the belief that:

 “Lord Cromer’s services during the past quarter of a century have raised Egypt from the lowest pitch of social and economic degradation until it now stands among Oriental nations, I believe, absolutely alone in its prosperity, financial and moral.”

Egypt was under British colonial rule from 1882 - 1952.

You can see, I hope, why a storyline focused on an Egyptian family’s corruption in an Egypt characterised almost entirely by its casinos and one lavish mansion was very uncomfortable. The fact Azu was one of the people trying to explain morality to Hamid keeps it from sliding into a clear East vs West dichotomy, but the fact remains this is a British show featuring British players and this is the story they chose to tell. 

The rest was just salt in the wound, really. 

I expect mispronounced names and pyramids and jokes about camels in most media, but rarely do the makers of said media then go on to pat themselves on the back for doing their “due diligence” on a metacast about sensitivity.

I see weird naming conventions and mispronounced names and “basically Vegas” and “crocodile steak” and “camel’s milk froyo” and I do not see due diligence.  

I see a setting that barely looked past Cleopatra and I do not see due diligence.

I see a storyline that shows only excess and immorality and corruption and I do not see due diligence.

I see a disregard for me and mine, and I do not appreciate it. 

Literature I’ve referred to in writing this criticism:

Orientalism (1978), by Edward W. Said

Orientalism in the Victorian Era (2017), a paper by Valerie Kennedy

Orientalism in American Cinema: Providing an Historical and Geographical Context for PostColonial Theory (2010), a thesis by Samuel Scurry 

Popular Culture, Orientalism, and Edward Said (2012), an article by Robert Irwin

[brawltogethernow]

So, I don't think I've ever asked you this... what IS the whole point of the Spider-Sense? It really seems like something that only exists for writers to ignore or work around when they want to inject Legit Tension into a story.

I’ve thought about this power so much, but never with an eye to defend its right to exist, so I needed to think about this. The results could be more concise.

Ironically, given the question, I have to say its main purpose is to ramp up tension. But it’s also a highly variable multitool that a skilled creative team can use for...pretty much anything. It does everything the writer wants it to, while for its wielder always falls just short of doing enough.

I went looking through my photos for a really generic, classic-looking example to use as an image to head this topic, but then I ran into the time Peter absolutely did not reimburse this man for his stolen McDonald’s, so have that instead.

A Scare Chord, But You Can Draw It

That one post that says the spider-sense is just super-anxiety isn’t, like, wrong. It’s a very anxious, dramatic storytelling tool originally designed for a very anxious, dramatic protagonist. I find it speaks to the overall tone of the franchise that some characters are functionally psychics, but with a psychic ability that only points out problems.

Spidey sense pinging? There’s danger, be stressed! Broken? Now the lead won’t even KNOW when there’s a problem, scary! Single character is immune to it? That’s an invisible knife in the dark oh my god what the fuck what the fU--

Like its counterpart in garden variety anxiety, the only time the spider-sense reduces tension is in the middle of a crisis. But in the wish fulfillmenty way that you want in an adventure story to justify exaggerated action sequences, the same way enhanced strength or durability does. Also like those, it would theoretically make someone much safer to have it, but it exists in the story to let your character navigate into and weather more dangerous situations.

For its basic role in a story, a danger sense is a snappy way to rile up both the reader and the protagonist that doesn’t offer much information beyond that it’s time to sit smart because shit is about to go down.

Spidey comic canon is all over the board in quality and genre, and it started needing to subvert its formulas before the creators got a handle on what those formulas even were, and basically no one has read anything approaching most of it at this point, so for consistent examples of a really bare bones use of this power in storytelling, I’d point to the property that’s done the best job yet of boiling down the mechanics of Spider-Man to their absolute most basic essentials for adaptation to a compelling monster of the week TV series.

Or as you probably know it, Danny Phantom. DON’T BOO, I’M RIGHT.

DP is Spider-Man with about 2/3 of the serial numbers filed off and no death (ironically), and Danny’s ghost sense is the most proof in the formula example of what the spidey sense is for: It’s a big sign held up for the viewer that says, “Something is wrong! Pay attention!” Effectively a visual scare chord. It’s about That Drama. And it works, which won it a consistent place in the show’s formula. We’re talking several times an episode here.

So why does it work?

It’s a little counterintuitive, but it’s strong storytelling to tell your audience that something bad is going to happen before it does. A vague, punchy spoiler transforms the ignorant calm before a conflict into a tense moment of anticipation. ...And it makes sure people don’t fail to absorb the beginning of said conflict because they weren’t prepared to shift gears when the scene did. Shock is a valuable tool, too, but treating it like a staple is how you burn out your audience instead of keeping them engaged. Not to go after an easy target, but you need to know how to manage your audience’s alarm if you don’t want to end up like Game of Thrones.

The limits of the spider-sense also keep you on your toes when handled by a smart writer. It tells Peter (everyone’s is a little different, so I’m going to cite the og) about threats to his person, but it doesn’t elaborate with any details when it’s not already obvious why, what kind, and from what. And it doesn’t warn him about anything else-- Which is a pretty critical gap when you zoom out and look at his hero career’s successes and failures and conclude that it’s definitely why he’s lived as long as he has acting the way he does, but was useless as he failed to save a string of people he’d have much rather had live on than him.

(Any long-running superhero mythos has these incidents, but with Peter they’re important to the core themes.)

And since this power is by plot for plot (or because it’s roughly agreed it only really blares about threats that check at least two boxes of being major, immediate, or physical), it always kicks in enough to register when the danger is bearing down...when it’s too late to actually do anything about it if “anything” is a more complex action than “dodge”.

Really? Not until the elevator doors started to open?

That Distinctive, Crunchy Spider Flavor

The spider-sense and its little pen squiggles go hand in hand with wallcrawling (and its unique and instantly identifiable associated body language) to make the Spider-Person powerset enduringly iconic and elevate characters with it from being generic mid-level super-bricks. Visually, but also in how it shapes the story.

I said it can share a narrative role with super strength. But when you end a fight and go home, super strength continues to make your character feel powerful, probably safer than they’d be otherwise, maybe dangerous.

The spider-sense just keeps blaring, “Something’s wrong! Something’s wrong! God, why aren’t you doing something about this!?”

Pretty morose thing to live with, for a safety net! Kind of a double edged sword you have there! Could be constantly being hyperattuned to problems would prime you for a negative outlook on life. Kind of seems like a power that would make it impossible for a moral person to take a day off, leading them into a beleaguered and resentful yet dutiful attitude about the whole superhero gig! Might build up to some of the core traits of this mythos, maybe! Might lead to a lot of fifteen minute retirement stories, or something. Might even be a built in ‘great responsibility’ alarm that gets you a main character who as a rule is not going to stop fighting until he physically cannot fight anymore.

Certainly not apropos of anything, just throwing this short lived barely-a-joke tagline up for fun.

One of my personal favorite things about stories with superpowers is keeping in mind how they cause the people who have them to act in unusual ways outside of fights, so when you tell me that these people have an entire extra sense that tells them when the gas in their house is leaking through a barely useful hot/cold warning system that never turns off, I’m like, eyes emojis, popcorn out, notebook open, listening intently, spectacles on, the whole deal.

It also contributes to Peter Parker’s personality in a way I really enjoy: It allows him to act like an irrational maniac. When you know exactly when a situation becomes dangerous and how much, normal levels of caution go out the window and absolutely nothing you do makes sense from an exterior standpoint anymore. That’s the good shit. I would like to see more exploration of how the non-Parker characters experiencing the world in this incredibly altered way bounce in response.

It’s also one of many tools in this franchise hauling the reader into relating more closely with the main character. The backbone of classic Spidey is probably being in on secrets only Peter and the reader know which completely reframe how one views the situation on the page. It’s just a big irony mine for the whole first decade. A convenient way to inform the reader and the lead that something is bad news that’s not perceivable to any other characters is youth-with-a-big-exciting-secret catnip.

Another point for tension, there, in that being aware of danger is not synonymous with being able to act on it. If there’s no visible reason for you to be acting strange, well...you’re just going to have to sit tight and sweat, aren’t you? Some gratuitous head wiggles never hurt when setting up that type of conflict.

Have I mentioned that they look cool? Simultaneously punchy and distinctive, with a respectable amount of leeway for artists to get creative with and still coming up with something easily recognizable? And pretty easy to intuit the meaning of even without the long-winded explanations common in the days when people wrote comics with the intent that someone could come in cold on any random issue and follow along okay, I think, although the mechanic has been deeply ingrained in popular culture for so long that I can’t really say for sure.

It was also useful back in the day when no artists drew the eyes on the Spider-Man mask as emoting and were conveying the lead’s expressions entirely through body language and panel composition. If you wiggle enough squiggles, you don’t need eyebrows.

Take This Handwave and Never Ask Me a Logistical Question Again

This ability patches plot holes faster than people can pick them open AND it can act as an excuse to get any plot rolling you can think of if paired with one meddling protagonist who doesn’t know how to mind their own business. Buy it now for only $19.99 (in four installments; that’s four installments of $19.99).

Why can a teenager win a six on one fight against other superhumans? Well, the spider-sense is the ultimate edge in combat, duh.

Why can Peter websling? Why doesn’t everyone websling? Well, the spider-sense is keeping him from eating flagpole when he violently flings himself across New York in a way neither man nor spider was ever meant to move.

How are we supposed to get him involved with the plot this week???? Well, that crate FELT dangerous, so he’s going to investigate it. Oh, dip, it was full of guns and radioactive snakes! Probably shouldn’t have opened that!

Yeah, okay, but why isn’t it fixing everything, then? Isn’t it supposed to be why Peter has never accidentally unmasked in front of somebody? ('Nother entry for this section, take a shot.) That’s crazy sensitive! How does he still have any problems!? Is everything bad that’s ever happened to characters with this powerset bad writing!? --Listen, I think as people with uncanny senses that can tell us whether we are in danger with accuracy that varies from incredible to approximate (I am talking about the five senses that most people have), we should all know better than to underestimate our ability to tune them out or interpret them wrong and fuck ourselves up anyway. I honestly find this part completely realistic.

*SLAPS ROOF OF SPIDER-SENSE* YOU CAN FIT SO MANY STORIES IN THIS THING

The spider-sense is a clean branch into...whatever. There is the exact right balance of structure and wishy-washiness to build off of. A sample selection of whatevers that have been built:

It’s sci-fi and spy gadgets when Peter builds technology that can interface with it.

It’s quasi-mystical when Kaine and Annie-May get stronger versions of it that give them literal psychic visions, or when you want to get mythological and start talking about all the spider-characters being part of a grand web of fate.

Kaine loses his and it becomes symbolic of a future newly unbound by constraints, entangled thematically with the improved physical health he picked up at the same time -- a loss presented as a gain.

Peter loses his and almost dies 782 times in one afternoon because that didn’t make the people he provoked when he had it stop trying to kill him, and also because he isn’t about to start “””taking the subway’’””’ “‘’“”to work”””’’” like some kind of loser who doesn’t get a heads up when he’s about to hit a pigeon at 50mph.

Peter’s starts tuning into his wife’s anxiety and it’s a tool in a relationship study.

It starts pinging whenever Peter’s near his boss who’s secretly been replaced by a shapeshifter and he IGNORES IT because his boss is enough of an asshole that that doesn’t strike him as weird; now it’s a comedy/irony tool.

Into the Spider-Verse made it this beautiful poetic thing connecting all the spider-heroes in the multiverse and stacked up a story on it about instant connection, loss, and incredibly unlikely strangers becoming a found family. It was also aesthetic as FUCK. Remember the scene where Miles just hears barely intelligible whispering that’s all lines people say later in the film and then his own voice very clearly says “look out” and then the room explodes?? Fuck!!!!

Venom becomes immune to it after hitchhiking to Earth in Peter’s bone juice and it makes him a unique threat while telling a more-homoerotic-than-I-assume-was-originally-intended story about violation and how close relationships can be dangerous when they go sour.

It doesn’t work on people you trust for maximum soap opera energy. Love the innate tragedy of this feature coming up.

IN CONCLUSION I don’t have much patience for writers who don’t take advantage of it, never mind feel they need to write around it.

[whythinktoomuch]

~pARt thREe~

(pt. i.)  (pt. ii.) 

“She told you, didn’t she?”

Lena stirs, rubbing at her bleary eyes as she sits up—all of which Kara protests in her sleep with a small groan, the arm thrown over Lena’s middle wrapping all the more tightly, insistent yet gentle. 

“We’re doing everything we can to find him,” Alex continues, and Lena thumps firmly at her own chest. “We don’t need your help, Lena. We just need you to focus on getting better, okay?”

Lena rolls her eyes. At this point, she could have said it along with her if she wanted.

U NEED A NEW TAGLINE, Lena writes out.

“Well, hurry up and get better already, and I’ll look into changing it.”

Rolling her eyes again, Lena lets out an emphatic hmph!, and it’s enough to get Kara to jerk awake.

“Mornin’,” she murmurs, her voice is still gravelly from sleep. She flops onto her back and yawns, hair out of place, eyes half-lidded and blinking, and it’s the most perfect ensemble of loveliness that Lena’s heart has ever encountered. Kara grins upon noticing Alex. “Oh, hey… Aw. My two favoritest people in the world…”

Lena feels her entire body stiffen. She shoots a hasty glance back at Alex, who’s already watching her reaction with a curious squint. 

“What time is it?” Kara asks.

“Half past eight,” Alex says.

“Pfft, no, it’s not,” Kara says, snorting. Then she catches sight of the tiny 8:37 in the corner of some news segment playing on TV. “Oh no, oh crap. God, I’m so late! Okay, all right, um... I’ll see you guys later, okay?”

Kara pecks at Lena’s temple before grabbing her jacket and rushing out the door. Lena looks back at Alex; she somehow feels both smug and embarrassed in equal measure. 

Alex just clicks her pen with a sigh. “Yeah, we are so not going to talk about that.”

Lena smiles, treating Alex to a flash of steel and a zipping motion in agreement. She’s more than happy to replay certain moments for herself on her own time.

—

Few weeks later, Lena’s arm is both cast and pain-free. Her elbow’s still creaky and stiff from disuse, but according to Alex, it’s now in perfect working order.

“So, we can be arm wrestling buddies now?” Kara holds out her hand and Lena automatically grabs it—any excuse to touch Kara is a good one, after all.

“Absolutely not,” Alex cuts in, ever the professional spoilsport, tugging at Kara’s collar until she lets go of Lena with a sheepish grin. “I don’t need you undoing all our good work just ‘cause you wanted to impress Lena.”

Kara scoffs in supposed disbelief, but her cheeks betray her with a rather bright shade of pink. “I wasn’t… I wouldn’t even—hah.”

The pleasant color in Kara’s cheeks only serves to embolden Lena though, and she reaches out to give Kara’s bicep a comforting squeeze. It makes the blush about a 1000 times worse.

“Jesus, just let me finish my checks and y’all can go back to being weird together,” Alex says.

“We’re not—” Kara starts, but her grumbles are cut short by some breaking news taking over the TV: a gas main explosion at a children’s hospital.

“Kara,” Alex says, whipping her head around. 

“Already on my way.” The cheery warmth in Kara’s tone has given way to something much more assertive. A hard edge casts over her entire face and form, her shoulders squaring, her glasses whipped off then abandoned.

Lena barely has time to wonder if a CatCo writer really needed to be at the site of such a dangerous scene when Kara disappears in whirl of dust and wind, sending little knickknacks flying everywhere in her wake. Then Supergirl appears on her screen, saving people and taming the blaze in real time.

And suddenly... Lena can’t breathe.

“Lena? Lena!” Alex rushes to her side. “What’s wrong? What is it? Is it your elbow? Lena, what’s—”

Lena shoves at Alex, but the momentum is all but lost amid all the gasping, her lungs already cramped and struggling to accommodate the violent heaves of breath. She feels sick. She feels like she’s dying. She feels like dying. She feels like the world is closing in on her, tightening around her steadily contracting throat, and she can’t see anything past the overflowing tears, and she just can’t—she simply cannot—fucking breathe…

“Lena, come on! You’re all right. You’re okay,” Alex insists as she catches Lena around her wrists, stilling her flailing arms with a grunt. “Hey! Look at me! You’re okay. Just let me help you.”

But Lena tears herself from Alex’s grip, covers her face with trembling hands and just cries and cries.

“… Lena, come on… You gotta work with me here. What’s wrong?”

Lena jerks away from the gentle touch. She slams her eyes shut, unable to witness what would surely be an extraordinary display of heroism depicted on the small screen. “Kara.” It hurts her jaw and everything else inside her to say it, but she does. Sobbing, practically wailing the name over and over again.

“What about Kara?” Alex demands, incredulous. “It’s… it’s just a fire. She’ll be right back. She’s been in way tougher scrapes than this. She’s going to be fine.”

But Lena refuses to be consoled, clawing at Alex’s arms whenever she tries to approach her again. Then gradually—irrevocably and just so very regrettably—it dawns on Alex.

“You didn’t know,” Alex says with a resigned sigh, and Lena can barely hear the words over her own wheezing. “You don’t remember.”

—

Lena eventually allows herself to be sedated, giving Alex the go-ahead only once all the aching has exhaustively passed the point of tolerance. But still, she tries to fight it. Struggles against the medically induced respite for as long as possible. Because it’s only a matter of time now. All she has left to do is wait.

—

It’s dark when Lena is roused from her shallow slumber. The room smells like ash, windswept smoke, and gasoline. Supergirl’s leaning against the far corner, arms loosely crossed at her chest.

“Hey,” she says, and Lena just waits. “I’m sorry... I thought you knew. This whole time, I thought we were…”

A single tear rolls down Lena’s cheek. She waits even longer this time.

“Lena…” Kara takes one step closer, freezing in place when Lena makes no move to receive or repel her. “Look, I know… I know I should have told you so long ago, I know, I know.”

Then she goes on to explain. The excuses she’s told herself. The misguided attempts to keep Lena as a friend despite her differences with Supergirl. Her own selfishness. Her fears. All the inevitable regrets that came with all of the deceit…

It sounds heartfelt.

It feels rehearsed.

A lot of it, Lena is sure, must come from some place indistinguishable from the truth.

Kara ends on a tearful note, begging Lena to please say something in response, setting the mini-whiteboard onto Lena’s lap so carefully, so gently with hands that could destroy entire worlds and lives on the simplest of whims.

After a long enough pause, Lena drops her gaze down to her lap. Her fingers twitch as she eyes the marker sitting by her hand. She slowly reaches for the whiteboard, grip tightening on the corner so hard that the melamine creaks. Then, with all the force she could muster with her newly repaired arm, Lena flings the board across the room.

It bounces off Kara’s perfectly stoic face and clatters to the ground.

The silence rings out, disrupted only by Lena’s breath heaving through painfully gritted teeth.

Kara’s jaw clenches, then she swallows hard and nods. “Understood,” she says, and is gone from the room in the next instant.

Breath hitching and sobbing out uncontrollably, Lena falls back onto the bed and sheds tears that she was so sure had already long since been spilled by now. 

(next part here)

[gra-sonas]

Chris Hollier serves as showrunner for The CW’s hit series Roswell, New Mexico. The show first premiered back in 2019 and is now heading into its third season. Season 3 premieres on July 26 and new episodes will continue to air Mondays at 8:00 – 9:00 PM. Roswell, New Mexico was already renewed for a fourth season as well!

I spoke with Hollier about all things season 3, the one year time jump, getting renewed for another season, which episode he’s most excited for fans to see, the show’s relationships, which new duos we’ll see on screen, and so much more! Keep reading to find out everything he told me.

First off, we ended season two with a big cliffhanger. So how can you tease and set up how the premiere is going to kick off and and resume from that? Chris Hollier: Well, I think much like you said, we have to at least answer that question, we left him on; “howdy, partner” is quite a way to go out. So, we got to get our partners involved there. Then I think by the end, I want to tease out that much like in life, you don’t always know the best response right then and sometimes it takes a little time, and we gave our character some time to really evaluate all of their decisions with the jump, but also romantically.

The show will be doing a one year time jump; what made you decide to go this route, and is there a character that you were most excited to apply this to and see where they would be a year later? Chris Hollier: I think that what we try to do is honor the decisions of people that age, which what I mean is sometimes you don’t know, you need distance and perspective for things, even if they’re good. You need to knock that against something, you need to go after the dream that you said that you want and stand in it for 10 minutes to realize, is this really where I want to be or should I jump ship before it gets to be too late? And time just does that to you.

Which of the characters’ storylines do you think after the time jump is going to shock fans the most? Chris Hollier: Is going to shock fans the most? Interesting. I think ultimately throughout the season, what Liz realizes about herself is going to be a journey that they don’t quite expect; that as it gets up and running, it’s going to feel as the episodes roll on, and she is growing and running through a gauntlet to push her to places that I bet she never would have said, “this is what I want to do, say, and be,” in seasons one and two.

What can you tell us about the relationships? Chris Hollier: What I would say is they’re on the poster; what I would say is also what we want to do is when we look at Max and Liz, we always look at them as two sides of the same coin. How are they the same? How are they different? But like two sides of the same coin, they are linked together in ways that you cannot pull them apart. So, we put that up on its feet to explore really what does that mean? It doesn’t mean that you end up loving that person or sometimes it means like this is the only person for me, and we put that larger question to them to really decide like, “Are we gonna make a go at this or are we better apart?”

Congratulations are in order as well because the show has already been renewed for a season four and season three hasn’t even premiere yet. So what was your reaction when you heard the news? Chris Hollier: I found out on set– quick funny story, I called the two people that like, make the show with me there on the ground, my line producer and my producer/director, and I said, “I’ve got a problem that only the three of us can fix.” They said, “Oh no, what is it?” I said, “They’ve given us 13 more.” So, the greatest thing that I got to do though was go down when they announced it to tell the crew that all of their hard work meant something and that we can continue to employ all these families that I love, during a pandemic, which meant a lot to our entire Roswell group. We make the show together. I truly believe that and so that was the best moment for me is to say, “They’re responding to what we’re doing, they want more of it, and we all get to find a way to be together, even though times are crazy.”

You brought us to our next question because you all filmed this season during the pandemic, and that is such a huge accomplishment. What was it like filming with these insane circumstances and then finally wrapping? Chris Hollier: The biggest thing I think it did for sure is that I think when you watch it for the most part, you’re not gonna feel that. We made that decision again to like– we didn’t even know where the world was gonna be by the time we got to a premiere date; we didn’t know who was going to be president, you know? We had to look at all of that. What I would say the biggest thing that it changed were some of our protocols of the closeness that people could be and I mean that like when it comes to kissing and fighting. I feel it really made us look at telling a story, leaning into telling a story more like a romantic comedy where it’s about longing, rather than necessarily like being together. So we leaned into romance as a way to bolster some of the things that our hands were tied with a little bit.

If you could do a crossover between Roswell, New Mexico and any other CW or Warner Bros. show, which would you pick? Chris Hollier: Oh, that’s funny. I think I have to go back into the Plec universe, where I came from. We gotta mix them with the vampires. Aliens and vampires, I’m ready.

Well, going off of that question, which characters would you be most excited to see interact from those universes? Chris Hollier: I would love to see Hope Mikaelson meet Liz Ortecho. Or Hope Mikaelson and Rosa might be a good pairing; I bet those two could get into some trouble. A little science, a little magic, what could go wrong?

If you could create a tagline or phrase to get fans hyped for season three, what would you pick? Chris Hollier: I would say that this season is a crossroads moment for all of our characters. They’re going to have to make the next huge decisions of their life, and the villain that shows up is forcing all of them to redefine who they are as people and their relationships with one another.

Are there any themes that you’re excited for fans to see in this upcoming season or is there any sort of message that you hope to give them with the season? Chris Hollier: I would say almost as a reaction to everything going on the world last year, while we made this, that we saw a lot of stories of people trying to divide people. We were drawn to ideas about how you’re tested to do that and how you still come together. So, these are stories about how there are always people and always ideas that will try to divide us, but a real hero, really good people stand up and find a way to still bond with others in that time.

Are there any memorable moments that when you look back on filming the season now that you’re preparing for the premiere, that really stick out to you as a nice memory from the experience? Chris Hollier: There’s a nice memory where there was a moment in the middle of the season, around episode seven, where a lot of our characters on the show were all in one space together and that’s something that doesn’t happen. That’s also something because of COVID, we started off this season like we can’t really even do that. So, there was a moment where we’re all standing outside and we were gonna blow something up, everyone was there and there was a great energy that we were doing it safely, together.

Is there a favorite dynamic that you enjoy creating and seeing come to life on screen? Chris Hollier: Let me answer it this way, for this season, we looked at characters on our show that never had scenes together and we found ways to put people together in ways that we never have. We looked around like Max and Alex have never had scenes together. So, we found ways to put them together. Rosa and Michael have never had scenes together, so we found ways to put them together. That was most fun and it added a level of joy to all these actors who started to realize like, “Oh my god, I love this person off screen. I get to act with them now!” So, it gets everyone invested.

Lastly, is there an episode that you are most excited for fans to see? Chris Hollier: I think that episode eight is a highlight for me, it’s a Maria heavy episode. It’s an episode that a third of it takes place in people’s minds. I think that’ll be fun. I’m excited for where we’re going near the end with some of the crazy places that the show ended up in that I promise fans won’t see come episode one. We really just pushed what we could possibly do and how to get there; we continually, especially, I’d say the last half, wrote ourselves into corners that we couldn’t see the way out of, when we did that episode. So, I think that’ll be challenging for the audience to have to come back like, “How do they get out of this?”

[hopeintheashes]

For Writer Ask Game

💜 ⭐️ 😢 💻

Hi! Thanks for the ask! <3

💜- top 3 favorite lines

1. Some people have a gravity like the sun, and the way they burn blinds and wounds: the collateral damage of incandescent love. To lose them is to be knocked out of orbit. - Maps

(Criminal Minds, JJ re: Morgan and [his effect on] Reid. Casefic, sickfic [sick!Reid]. A fic I'm really proud of and wish had gotten as much attention as its sequel.)

2. Neal’s a damn good conman. False sincerity, though, has this sheen, this glamour, in the oldest sense of the word; an enchantment that’s only surface-deep. The charm shatters under the weight of sick certainty, and he’s on his feet so fast his vision greys. - Stay

(White Collar/Suits crossover, Neal/Mike. Sickfic [sick!Mike], hurt/comfort, and a little bit of smut. Another one I wish had gotten more traction, but I get it, it's a niche ship.)

3. They seal up that night like a fever dream, stitch shut their lips, and drive on. [...] Dean’s been keeping the volume down— sign of the apocalypse right there— but Sam reaches over and turns it up. He closes his eyes against Dean’s surprise and focuses on the pulse of the bass in his chest. He dreams of fire, but that heartbeat is a tether, a rope he can use to pull himself out of hell. - Sinking

(Supernatural, from a full decade ago. Sick!Sam, set early in Season 1. Tagline: At first, the weight on his chest is indistinguishable from grief.)

In terms of 9-1-1 fic... I have scenes I really like, but not any standalone favorite lines. Yet. Lots more writing to do. :-)

⭐️- how do you get your inspiration?

Sometimes I decide to write something (as in, "Have I written [enough] sickfic for this fandom yet? Nope? Better do that!"), sometimes I'm working through some stuff of my own, sometimes I'm sad and angry about canon, sometimes it's because of a 300-year-old hymn, or a gifset, or an episode, or sparked by another fic. Most of the time, I'm not really sure until I look back at it later, if at all!

😢- a line that made you cry

Doesn't happen too often, but I think the closest I've come lately was getting in the right headspace for and then writing Christopher and Eddie in the truck in Chapter 3 of Hazards. There's something about watching a kid you love get to that desperate, over-the-edge kind of crying that physically fucking hurts. That section, especially paired with the comfort that comes after, is really cathartic for me, even when I'm not exactly sure why.

💻- three works of yours that are must reads

I already plugged Maps and Stay above, so to bring things back to 9-1-1:

> If you're in the mood for pure, hurt/comfort sickfic: Gravity > If you would like some unresolved heartache, because in life we are often in the middle of things and the happy ending still feels out of reach: not like it hurts much anyway > If you would like slowburn hurt/comfort and becoming a family and something that does have a happy ending (even if we're still a couple of chapters shy of the finish line right now): Home

That was fun! I like how much these made me think. :-)

(Send me an ask for the Writer Ask game!)

[amandaoftherosemire]

IDGAF -- One-Shot

Fandom: Marvel AU

Pairing: Bucky Barnes X Reader

Characters: Bucky Barnes, Natasha Romanoff

Author: @amandaoftherosemire

Rating: Mature

Word Count: 6539

Format: One-Shot

Warnings: Language, angst, fluff

Summary: Standing in line for coffee, cursing the ex-boyfriend who won’t leave you alone, you lay eyes on Bucky Barnes for the first time.

A/N: I started to write this months ago because my darling @hellzzzbelle was having a hard day and I wanted to make her feel better. Unfortunately, once I got half-way through I couldn’t get it out of my brain and onto the page. Once my long fic was out of the way, however, this was one of the first things I finished. I figure this is another opportunity to make “Better Late Than Never” the tagline of my life. I hope y’all like it, especially you, peach.

As you stood in line for coffee, you glared down at your phone in disbelief.

I don’t know why you’re being so childish about this.

“Oh, fuck you and everyone who looks like you, James.” You were muttering under your breath and figured no one in the coffee shop could hear you but to your surprise, the giant in front of you turned around.

“I beg your pardon?”

When you'd gotten in line, the part of your brain that has nothing to do but search for eye candy had noted the man in front of you with approval. Tall and broad, the muscles of his back, shoulders, and arms stretched the long-sleeved t-shirt he wore in all sorts of fascinating ways. A tight ass and thick thighs only added to the allure. You'd been too involved in cursing James six ways to Sunday to pay close attention when you came in, but you couldn't help but think if the face matched the body, he'd be downright lethal. You’d been looking for a new coffee spot since your ex ruined your previous haunt and you were pretty sure you’d found the one if guys this hot hung out there.

As your eyes climbed up from your phone into ice-blue eyes set in a face carved by gods to drive mortals crazy, you realized you were absolutely correct. Lethal.

The man was just plain beautiful. His dark brown hair was pulled back into a stubby ponytail with a few loose locks falling to frame his pretty face. His jawline and cheekbones were sharp enough to cut glass, but his lips were plump and full and looked soft enough to sleep on. His eyes, though, were bright and amused as they caught and held yours.

You realized you'd been staring when that gorgeous mouth quirked up at the corner.

"I'm sorry," you stammered out. "Text message pissed me off."

"Ah." He nodded with a smile. "My given name's James, so I thought you were talking to me for a second." His voice was low and warm and sent shivers down your spine.

Desperate to keep him talking, you asked the first thing that came to mind. "Given name?"

He smiled wider and you had to fight the whimper that wanted to escape your mouth. "Most people call me Bucky."

You stuffed your phone in your back pocket and held out your hand to shake. James could go fuck himself. You had much, much bigger, hotter fish to fry. "Nice to meet you, Bucky. I'm y/n."

Bucky took your hand in his and the feel of his callused palm against yours was delicious. You'd never met a man more physically magnetic than this one, so when he held your hand a little longer than necessary, it made your heart beat faster at the thought that he might be as interested in you as you were in him.

"Pleasure's mine," he rumbled. "How'd James piss you off? If you don't mind me asking."

You laughed, a little breathlessly and you hoped he didn't hear it. "Have you ever been dumped and then had the asshole try to come crawling back?"

"Can't say that I have," he replied with grin.

"It's both immensely satisfying and incredibly irritating." You were grinning back at him, neither of you noticing that the man behind the counter was waiting on Bucky.

The 40ish woman behind you, who'd been eavesdropping and was thoroughly enjoying the meet-cute happening right in front of her, leaned around you and said to Bucky, "If it was your turn, handsome, what would you do?"

Bucky blushed and you thought it might be the cutest damn thing you'd ever seen. Seeing a man this big, this muscled, this gorgeous so sweetly embarrassed was devastating. As he turned around to speak to the barista about his order, you turned to the woman behind you and rolled your eyes as you mock swooned. She grinned back at you and murmured almost inaudibly, "Get it, girl. Do it for all of us.”

You stepped forward when Bucky moved down the counter towards the pick-up window, though he appeared to be taking his time. You hoped it was because of you, but you couldn't believe a man this unbelievably attractive would genuinely be interested.

Except when you pulled out your wallet to pay, the barista smiled and jerked his head towards Bucky, who was acting like he wasn’t listening. “Already taken care of.” You shrugged and stuffed a couple ones in the tip jar before moving to stand next to the gorgeous creature that had just bought your coffee.

“Thank you,” you said with a shy and quiet smile. “You didn’t have to do that.”

“Consider it an apology from the Jameses of the world.” Bucky was hunching his shoulders a little and his face was going pink. The sight of this big, beautiful man smiling so shyly made your heart sigh a little and you damned the thing for being so easily wooed.

“I’d rather consider it a present from my new friend Bucky.” You didn’t know who was more surprised at the flirtatious words coming out of your mouth, you or Bucky, but his face flamed just as you felt your own cheeks heat.

Bucky, who was cursing himself for ordering ahead to save time, picked up the three drink carriers on the counter in front of him as he replied, his expression pleased. “I like that better, too.”  You were astonished to see him balance them with an almost uncanny ease, but the way his biceps moved under his shirt distracted you. When at his words you met his gaze, he shot you another blushing smile before ducking his head a little.

“I hope I see you around, Bucky, and not just ‘cause you buy me my favorite coffee.” You winked cheekily at him as you said the last. You were astonished at your own forwardness but unable to stop yourself. You’d never forgive yourself if you didn’t throw yourself at him just a little bit.

Bucky had opened his mouth to reply as he lifted his eyes to yours when his eyes caught something over your shoulder. His face went sheet white and you glanced behind you. You saw nothing but other patrons and no one looked upsetting enough to disturb a man this well-muscled.

When you looked back, Bucky seemed to be hiding behind his hair as he mumbled, “Yeah, nice to meet ya.” You stared as he turned and fairly bolted from the café.

“Y/N!” You jumped when the barista called out your name, so stunned were you by the sudden change in Bucky’s demeanor. You knew it was foolish to be hurt by the behavior of someone you’d only just met, but that didn’t stop the tears that were pricking at your eyes. You grabbed the hazelnut macchiato and turned to leave when the woman who’d been behind you in line placed a hand on your arm.

“I bet this is what set him off,” she said, her face and voice kind as she placed a newspaper in your hand. On the front of the paper was the man who’d just bought you coffee in handcuffs next to Captain America under the headline The Winter Soldier: Truly Reformed?

Your mouth fell open with a pop. You vaguely remembered hearing about this, but as you'd been buried in graduate school when the trial had been going on, the bearded man with his hair in his face hadn’t made an impression. You looked at the door Bucky had run through and remembered how he’d seemed to hide behind his hair just before he’d run out.

When you looked back down at Bucky, because it was undeniably Bucky, though he was clean shaven now but for a little sexy stubble, the woman who’d handed you the paper murmured, “Didn’t seem that bad to me, but I’ve always been a sucker for a killer smile.” You gaped at her as she tipped you a wink and breezed by you with an airy wave. She was gone before you could find your voice to remind her you still had her paper.

You read the article. Of course you did. Then you spent all of your free time over the next three days searching for any other information you could get your hands on. Now that the man had bought you coffee and you weren’t living off caffeine, nicotine, and occasionally Adderall to make it through your Master’s thesis, the story caught you and you couldn’t get enough.

Also, you needed to understand. Bucky had seemed totally normal, except for being possibly the most beautiful man you’d ever personally laid eyes on. However, the one thing you remembered was that the Winter Soldier was a Russian assassin. It didn’t make any sense.

Once you started reading about James Buchanan “Bucky” Barnes, Captain America's oldest and best friend, prisoner of war and unwilling HYDRA test subject, you couldn’t stop yourself. Using everything you knew, which was considerable, about researching and verifying information, you had learned enough to come to a conclusion of your own.

Based on the testimony at his trial, you thought the verdict to acquit obvious. You simply couldn’t see how he could be held responsible for what he’d been forced to do when what had been done to him had been taken into account. The fact that he’d not been caught but turned himself in once he could no longer be used as a weapon, proved beyond a shadow of a doubt in the courtroom when the trigger words had been read aloud to a stoic, persistent Bucky Barnes, spoke volumes as to the kind of man he was.

You weren’t going to judge before you knew him. Hell, if you saw him again, you were going to buy him coffee.

Bucky slid soundlessly into the elevator with a sigh of relief. He jabbed repeatedly at the door close button; he was almost home free. He could tell by the look in her eye that Natasha had noticed his new habit of haunting the coffee shop. He had no doubt she’d be following him soon.

As the doors slid closed, Bucky breathed a sigh of relief, cut painfully short by the slim redhead slipping into the elevator at the last second.

“You want some company today?” Natasha asked, the corner of her mouth lifting in quiet amusement.

Internally, Bucky was cursing viciously, but he answered quietly. “If you want.”

Though Natasha wasn’t looking directly at Bucky, she could see his thunderous expression out of the corner of his eye. She didn’t know why the people in her life insisted on trying to keep things from her. “For future reference,” she remarked casually, “the door close button doesn’t do anything.”

Bucky paused for a fraction of a second before answering, considering how best to NOT confirm that he’d been trying to avoid her. “What?” he asked, infusing as much puzzlement as he could into the word.

Natasha tipped him a long, vaguely insulted look. She would never understand how this man in particular could so often underestimate her. “It’s called a placebo button. It doesn’t do anything but it’s still there because people like to believe they have some control over their lives.”

Bucky stared in disbelief at Natasha’s impassive profile. “Gee whiz, Natasha. If you’re gonna be this much fun, can you come with me every time?”

“Is that a dare?” Her head turned slowly as she spoke, and the look of challenge on her face sent a chill of fear running down Bucky’s spine.

“God, no.” Bucky spoke fervently as they exited the elevator. “I haven’t forgotten.” He didn’t know how exactly, but Steve always managed to find the most dangerous women on the planet. He now had a scar at his temple where he’d cracked his head open in fright thanks to Natasha.

When Bucky had first come to live with Steve, he’d expressed doubt that she was capable of sneaking up on him. Over the next week, she’d scared the shit out of him dozens of times before he’d finally admitted defeat. He’d kind of loved it; it had been nice to be not be treated like he was broken.

Once they were on the street, Natasha slipped her arm through Bucky’s and smiled winningly up at him. “Do I need to interrogate you? Or are you gonna make it easy on yourself and just tell me why you’re always going to the coffee shop?”

Bucky refused to look at her, well aware of how uncannily observant she was and hoping to avoid giving himself away. “I’d cop to an interrogation.”

Natasha smiled fully this time. “They all think that.”

Bucky slanted her a look out of the corner of his eye, then burst out laughing at the sly grin on the little redhead’s pretty face. “I met a girl.” He gave in with a wry laugh. He didn’t know why he bothered to resist. The Black Widow wasn’t dangerous simply because she was deadly; she could have her prey fully wrapped in silken bonds before they even knew they were trapped. “I’m trying to run into her again.”

“May I ask why you do not already have this girl’s number?” Her tone told him she already suspected he’d fucked it up. “If she’s worth this much effort.”

Bucky ducked his head, hiding behind his hair, something Natasha considered a terrible habit. His voice low, knowing she’d disapprove, he confessed. “I met her the day that big article about me came out. I panicked and bolted before I could work up the nerve to ask.”

Natasha’s secret tender heart melted a little, but she kept her expression sardonic. “Story checks out.”

“Shut up.”

“You’re too sensitive about it.”

Natasha’s airy tone had Bucky snarling. “Am I?”

“You should at least pretend it doesn’t bother you.” The spy that always lived under the surface of her skin spoke absently, her attention caught by the scuffle up ahead on the sidewalk between them and the coffee shop they were heading toward.

Bucky couldn’t be sure, but he thought he detected a touch of wistfulness behind her words. His voice gentler than it might have been otherwise, he murmured, “Is that what you do?”

“Get fucked, James.”

The sound of your voice, ripe with the same loathing he’d heard the first time he’d heard you speak, had his head snapping up to scan the street in all directions.

Next to him, Natasha was smiling again, having noticed Bucky’s sudden alertness. “Are my thoughts audible now?” she asked, mock concerned. “That’s not good.”

Bucky wasn’t listening, his attention entirely on the drama unfolding in front of the coffee shop where he’d met you. His heart was galloping in his chest, either in terror or anticipation, he wasn’t sure which. He was trying to think of a greeting that didn’t make him feel like an asshole when he realized the slickly handsome man in front of you was blocking your path.

“Come on, Y/N!” The man’s voice was a wheedle, and immediately set Bucky’s teeth on edge. “Give me a chance to explain.” With this he reached out and grabbed your arm as you tried to walk around him.

Your eyes went cold as ice as you looked down at James’ restraining hand. He’d gotten completely out of control lately. It was time to remind him who he was dealing with. Your hand closed around the pen in your jacket pocket. “You’re gonna want to take that hand off me.”

James’ eyes narrowed and you felt his hand tighten on your arm. Typical. Quick as a snake, you struck out with the pen, stabbing him in his pretty artist’s hand with vindictive glee.

James yanked his hand away with a yelp and a plaintive, “Look, I’m sorry.”

A few feet down the sidewalk, Bucky and Nat slowed to watch the tableau. Now that it was abundantly clear you had the situation under control, he was happy to stand back and observe. Natasha murmured out of the corner of her mouth. “Did she just stab him in the hand with a pen? I approve.”

Bucky breathed out, attraction and admiration warring in his chest. “That’s her. I think I’m in love.”

You were so fucking done with this bullshit. James had been bugging you for days about getting together “for closure.” You’d naturally been ignoring him. As far as you were concerned, your James chapter was closed. “For what?” You raised your voice, fully prepared to make a scene. “Touching me without my consent or all the other douchbaggery you’re guilty of?” You snarled, using your hand to punctuate your words and ready to brawl if he didn’t back off. “Get it through your thick skull: I. Don’t. Give. A. Fuck.”

Though Bucky was enjoying watching you tell this asshole off, he and Natasha had gotten close enough that it felt weird to not speak. Clearing his throat, Bucky said quietly, “Hi, Y/N.”

Bucky’s voice brought you up short. You had started to give up on running into him again. To do so under these circumstances was less than ideal, but you weren’t the type to question Lady Luck.

You spun around and the smile broke on your face like daybreak, lighting you up. Bucky thought you might be the prettiest thing he’d ever seen.

“Bucky! Hi!” You worried you were being too enthusiastic but based on the look on Bucky’s face when he’d fled, he needed the encouragement. To be fair, you tended to wear your heart on your sleeve on a good day. “I’m so glad I ran into you again. You have to let me buy you coffee this time.” You’d recognized the beautiful woman at Bucky’s side immediately and turned to greet her warmly. “Hello!”

Bucky ducked his head and shot you a shyly embarrassed smile before performing quick introductions. “Sorry. Y/N, Natasha. Natasha, Y/N.

Natasha rolled her eyes at Bucky and offered her hand to shake with a quiet smile. “Pleasure to meet you.” If you hadn’t already seen Bucky, you’d consider making a play for the gorgeous woman in front of you. It’d be quite a ride, but you were pretty sure it’d be worth it.

“Excuse me, we’re trying to have a conversation here.” James’ voice made you jump. The moment you’d seen Bucky you’d completely forgotten about the asshole you’d wasted entirely too much time on.

Your head snapped around, your mouth open to blast the bastard when Bucky replied, his voice low and dangerous. “A conversation she seems to want to escape.” His face had fallen into dark and cruel lines and he looked at James like a roach beneath his boot. To you, however, he shot a sweet smile and asked, “Would you like to have coffee with us?”

You weren’t proud of it, couldn’t explain it, but that darkly violent expression had your underwear going damp. You felt like everyone on the damn street could hear your heart pounding. “I would love to,” you replied with a delighted smile, “but would you mind giving me a minute or two? I really should deal with this.”

Bucky sneered with disdain at “this.” James glared back but said nothing. He wasn’t a fool and could tell when he was painfully outclassed. He was a fit and good-looking man, but Bucky Barnes was intimidatingly thick. He didn’t stand a chance.

Next came the cocky smirk and you were starting to get offended at the level of sexy you were required to endure. “Sure. We’ll wait over there.” Bucky and Nat passed by you and James to wait by the door to the coffee shop. They seemed far enough away to give you privacy, but with his heightened super soldier hearing he couldn’t help but overhear. Natasha overheard because Natasha always overhears. No one knows how; it just is.

“Alright.” You turned to James with a sigh. You couldn’t imagine why he was being so persistent; he hadn’t really cared about you at all. You were thoroughly done and couldn’t understand why James wasn’t. “What do you have to say that it’s worth slipping into stalker territory and has me considering a restraining order?”

James reached out, palm up, as though he expected you to put your hand in his. You grimaced at his hand as he spoke, his voice low and throbbing with emotion. You wondered how he turned it on and off like that. “I miss you,” he said, lifting his hand as though he’d touch your face.

You took a step back. “Uh-huh. What happened to what’s-her-face?”

James hand fell away when he realized you weren’t going to give in that easy. “We broke up when I realized what I’d lost with you.”

The rude snort you gave in response had both Bucky and Natasha choking back laughter. “Translation: she dumped you and now you’re bored and lonely.”

James moved closer, crowding you in to make you more aware of his body. It was his signature move as it could be used for both intimidation or seduction depending on the situation. “When did you get so cynical?”

You’d acquired an immunity to James’ signature move. You stood your ground as you replied, refusing to give a single fucking inch. “When you told me you were only with me because I was fun until something better came along.”

At that, Bucky’s eyes narrowed in fury and only Natasha’s restraining hand kept him from returning to deck the other man. Starting brawls was more Steve territory, but he’d make an exception in this case.

“I didn't mean it.” James’ eyes were limpid pools of chocolate brown and had once been your downfall. You’d acquired an immunity to that, too.

You replied with truly astringent sarcasm coating every word. “Of course you didn't.” You shot him a look rich with derision and waved your hand dismissively as you continued, “Look, this is boring and stupid so I'm gonna go have coffee with my ex-Russian assassin friends. You and I are back where we started. Get fucked, James.”

With that parting shot, you turned and walked toward said friends, both of whom were grinning at you, Natasha in approval, Bucky in relief and the first real stirrings of hope. Once the coffee shop door was closed behind you, the glee was bursting out of you like light. “Oh my god thank you! You guys just gave me the best exit line.”

Bucky was grinning like a fool at you, already utterly infatuated. Based on your ex-Russian assassins comment, you knew who he was and apparently didn’t give a fuck. “Absolutely my pleasure.”

Lucky for you, the pleasure turned out to be yours. Coffee with Bucky and Natasha was a riot, the two of them making you laugh until you laid your head on the table, tears of mirth streaming down your face. Natasha had a wicked sense of humor and she used it to tease Bucky without mercy, but with affection. He mostly teased her back, but it was clear she had the upper hand in their interactions.

After she left the two of you to go back to work, Bucky explained that her loyalty was to Steve, first and foremost, but because Bucky’s was, too, she had happily made him one of hers. You wondered at that explanation, because even you could see the infamous Black Widow had a soft spot. It occurred to you that Bucky might not see himself very clearly.

Since both you and Bucky had the day off, neither of you even considered following her lead. Two hours later, time that had flown by as Bucky kept you telling him everything about yourself, he noticed the time when his phone lit up with a text from Steve.

Couldn’t help but notice you went out for coffee three hours ago and haven’t returned. Everything okay?

“It’s Steve,” Bucky said. His pretty face was sweetly nervous as he went on. “Should I tell him I’ll be back soon, or would you like to have lunch with me?”

The next second, Bucky was struck stupid by the smile lighting up your face. You’d been smiling all morning but this one was something special, sparkling and sweet. Though you seemed completely at ease, he had been on edge, terrified that he’d end up frightening you. This smile was too beautiful, too open, too sweet. The likes of him could never inspire such a thing, let alone deserve it. He was starting to worry that he’d misheard you and when you found out who he really was you’d hate him.

“If you keep giving me options like that, you may never see Steve again.” You couldn’t help but flirt. He was too pretty and something about the dumbstruck look he was giving you made you bold. “I’d love to have lunch with you. It’ll give me a chance to hear everything about you.”

Bucky’s face fell along with his stomach and he ducked his head to hide behind his hair. The sight had the smile falling from your face. “You don’t want to hear everything.” He muttered it, but it seemed to you the pain was crystal clear.

Your voice was a gently teasing caress when you answered, and the wounded animal inside the man lifted its head warily. “Maybe not today. After all, lunch would be a first date and horror stories are generally fourth date material.” You tipped him a sly wink. “Considering the horror story, we can play it by ear.”

Bucky lifted his head a little to stare at you through his hair in disbelief. Were you… joking? If the half-smile and kindness in your eyes were any indication, you were. The only other person to make light of his past was Clint, but Clint was fucked up.

You were certain now. Bucky didn’t see himself at all clearly. Not only was he sweet, and funny, and intelligent, and easy to talk to, and you could go on all day, he was also so goddamn dreamy, you’d actually gotten lost in his eyes more than once. You were pretty sure he noticed, because he’d gotten an infuriatingly sexy smirk on his face each time you had to shake yourself out of it.

“Sergeant Barnes, I’m a fact-checker by trade and by inclination. I would never consider my due diligence done if I didn’t spend a little time with the primary source. But I don’t give a fuck about your history right now. I’d rather hear about your todays.”

As you spoke, a soft smile played around your lips. The sight had Bucky lifting his head, a spark of hope lighting in his chest. The sound of his rank and last name told him without doubt that you knew. As a matter of fact, you probably knew everything in the public record. Yet your face lit up every time you looked at him. Bucky couldn’t understand it, but couldn’t resist it, like a stray responding to a soft voice and a gentle hand. “My todays are pretty boring,” he replied, his sweet smile creeping back.

“I’m still interested.” Your expression turned sultry and you hoped he caught the double meaning behind the words. From the wicked grin he flashed, you weren’t disappointed.

“Let me text Steve back and then, how do you feel about pizza?”

You spoke seriously, without the barest hint of amusement but your eyes were twinkling. “I have very warm, deeply sensual feelings about pizza.”

Bucky’s whole face seemed to light up as he laughed out loud, his eyes squinting tight with mirth while his mouth stretched wide. You couldn’t help but laugh with him, this the most carefree you’d seen him yet.

Bucky was still chuckling as he bent over his phone. So far, so perfect, he thought. He hadn’t yet found anything to dislike about you. Somehow, you seemed to feel the same and that made him the luckiest man in New York.

Her name’s y/n and I think she has the prettiest smile I’ve ever seen.

Steve snorted when Bucky’s response came through. A girl. Typical. His face spread in an absolutely delighted smile. Nothing made Steve happier than when his friend was typical. You say that every time. 🙄

Bucky was helping you on with your jacket when his phone buzzed again. When he saw Steve’s reply, he glanced at you. With a cheeky grin, you offered your arm. Laughing again, Bucky held up a finger before tapping out an answer as quickly as possible. When he was done, he dropped his phone into his pocket and took your arm with an amused half-smile.

I can’t remember any others. And since she just agreed to have lunch with me, I’ll see you whenever she’s done with me.

Of course, it didn’t end at lunch. After a long meal punctuated by a lot of laughter and good-natured flirting, you ended up walking together, first through a nearby park, then through your favorite bookstore. Before you knew it, it was time for dinner and Bucky was asking you to join him again.

You were agreeing before you’d even fully thought about it. At this point, you’d come to a conclusion. Bucky Barnes was a fucking sweetheart. As long as he kept asking you to spend more time with him, you were going to keep saying yes. And if he kept smiling like that whenever you did, you didn’t know how you were ever going to say no.

Much, much later, after dinner, dessert, and more coffee, Bucky walked you to your door. The two of you had done everything you could to stretch the time out longer and longer, neither of you willing to part, too enthralled with the other’s company, but neither of you could think of any further excuses.

Bucky had his hands in his pockets and his head down, hiding again behind his hair as you unlocked your front door. Instead of opening it, you turned back to him, a soft smile playing at the corners of your lips when you saw him blushing behind the curtain of his hair.

“Bucky,” you said, and the throaty promise in your voice had him easing forward, “it wouldn’t be too forward to kiss me at the end of our first date.”

Once more the grin broke over his face, this one pure male appreciation. “I was hoping that’s what this was.” He teased gently as his bare hand came up, his thumb brushing against your cheek.

You laughed a little breathlessly. That look, desire and humor, had you fluttering coyly at him. “It will be if you kiss me.”

Bucky smiled, but he didn’t touch you except that big warm hand cupping your cheek and tilting your face for his kiss. Your heart was beating like a drum as he eased closer, lust and excitement tangling inside you and leaving you a little dizzy. Your breath caught at the sight of Bucky’s normally arctic eyes burning like the searing blue at the base of a hungry flame as he dipped his head to close his mouth over yours.

The kiss started out soft and sweet, almost chaste, but the feel of the full, pink mouth you’d been fantasizing about for most of the day set your body ablaze. Bucky didn’t move in, however, and it seemed he held you in place with that single hand against your cheek and neck as with lips, teeth, and tongue he coaxed your mouth open. Truthfully, coaxing was not necessary as you were as eager to explore that tempting mouth as he was for yours.

Bucky was close enough you could feel the heat of his body, and between that and his heady scent of leather, tobacco, and spice your head was spinning. The taste of him on your tongue was as seductive as the way he kissed you as though your breath was the only air he needed to survive.

Somehow, that chaste hand in juxtaposition against that blazing hot kiss combined with the other sensory overload to make this the most erotic experience of your life. You weren’t certain you’d live through having sex with him. You were having a hard time convincing yourself to not drag him inside and find out.

“God,” he whispered against your mouth, his breathing ragged, “you really are perfect.” He couldn’t remember another kiss so bright and warm but also dark and hot. He’d found in your mouth the reminder of both happy sighs and wanton moans and the mixture was a dizzying combination of elation and confusion.

Your eyes fluttered open and at your breathless chuckle, his other hand, which he’d kept gloved the entire day, came up to cup your other cheek as he brushed his lips gently over yours once more.

Bucky was nearly shaking with need. He wanted more than anything to yank you against him and feast on the honey and spice he’d discovered inside the sweetest mouth he’d ever tasted. He was determined to be a gentleman, however, because you were entirely too perfect to risk scaring, no matter how fearless you seemed.

“So, first date implies a second,” he murmured. The soft rumble was unbelievably sexy and had you wondering how he sounded first thing in the morning. You didn’t normally move that fast, but lust was clouding your brain.

You knew you had a ridiculous smile on your face. What you didn’t know was its dazzling effect on Bucky, who could hardly believe you were real, the perfect mix of sexy and sweet. He snatched another kiss, unable to resist that sparkling smile.

You laughed a little and reluctantly pulled your face from his gentle hands. You held yours out in front of you palm up. “If you wanna hand me your phone I’ll put my number in it. You can shoot me a text the next time you want to see me.”

Bucky pulled out his phone and unlocked it before handing it over. He toyed with an idea while he grinned at the top of your head where it was bent over his phone. Once you’d handed it back, he stepped back, afraid if he touched you again, he’d end up pushing too far too fast and frightening you.

With a wink and a sultry “Good night,” you slipped into your apartment and leaned against the closed door, your heart pounding in happiness, excitement, and healthy lust. You were so lost in starry-eyed memories of the best first-date of your life, you jumped a little when you felt your phone vibrate in your pocket. Pulling it out, you saw an unfamiliar number.

Is it too soon to ask to see you again?

Laughing, you swung the door open, shot a hand out to grab the edge of Bucky’s jacket and dragged him inside. Maybe it was too soon. You didn’t give a fuck.

The attractive 40ish brunette in the bright red dress caught your eye and winked as you and Bucky walked into the coffee shop. Bucky was stopping to pick up the Avengers coffee order on his way back while you were on your way to work. You grinned back at her, recognizing her as the woman with the paper the first time you met Bucky all those months ago.

Outside on the sidewalk once more, you pulled Bucky off to the side and took advantage of Bucky’s full hands to take his beautiful face in yours for a kiss. Since his arms weren’t free to pull you close, maybe you could escape before you were having to sprint to avoid being late for once.

When you reluctantly pulled away for the third time from that delicious mouth, it occurred to you that you may not be blameless in these long morning goodbyes. “You’re going to be late again,” Bucky murmured against your lips, the warning weak.

You pressed your cheek to his, affection and something that felt a lot like love rising up to become an ache in your throat. In the last few months, the least favorite part of any day had become this one, when you had to kiss him goodbye. “Ask me if I give a fuck.”

Bucky turned his head to nip at your bottom lip with a quiet chuckle. “I will not. I know the answer.” It was one of the things he loved most about, your absolute refusal to care about the little shit. Too busy living on your own terms, you were a master at ignoring opinions you didn’t already value. He found it weirdly inspiring.

Bucky spotted a vaguely familiar face in his peripheral vision and smirked. You were busy nuzzling into his throat; Bucky had already cursed himself for not kissing you before he’d loaded up with drink carriers. His voice was an amused drawl as he asked, “Speaking of things you don’t give a fuck about, is that James?”

“James who?” You were humming against his skin, struggling with the rush of emotion, like fluttering wings inside your chest. Because you were cuddled against him, your face buried in his throat, you couldn’t see the downright smug grin on Bucky’s face, but James could. The other man simply turned and walked the other way.

“You really are perfect,” he said as he pressed a kiss to your hair, still frustrated by his full hands. You tilted your head back with a laugh. He’d been saying that from the beginning and it always made you melt a little. You didn’t know it was what he’d taken to saying when he wanted to tell you he loved you. He hadn’t yet gotten the courage to say it out loud.

So tenderly you could help but wonder if he was struggling with that same flutter in his chest, Bucky pressed a soft kiss to your lips and stepped back with a teasing grin. “Get goin’, doll. You’re too tempting, and I don’t want you in trouble again.”

“I like being tempting,” you replied with a flirty smile. You glanced at the time and groaned; you were gonna have to haul ass now. “See you tonight!” you called while walking backward a few steps and blowing noisy kisses. Bucky was still laughing as you turned away to start your run to work.

Bucky was still grinning when a couple of blocks away, he came around a corner to find himself face-to-face with the guy you’d dated before him. He didn’t even try to stop himself from saying what he’d wanted to for months.

“Hey buddy! I wanted to tell you: on the one hand I want to punch you in your fucking face for treating my girl like shit, but on the other if you hadn’t, she wouldn’t be my girl. So, thanks. Asshole.”

With a taunting smirk, Bucky walked around the gaping man and kept walking. Behind him he heard James’ outraged shout. Bucky neither stopped nor turned. “I’d give you the finger, but my hands are full,” he shouted back instead.

That had probably been immature and had definitely been unnecessary. Bucky didn’t give a fuck.

The End

Permanent Taglist:

@suz-123 @cheekygeek05 @lbouvet @rishlo @diinofayce @bibliophile1773 @thatawkwardlittlefangirl

[engekihaikyuu]

Hyper Projection Engeki Haikyuu

Stage Natalie - Interview Translation with the new Karasuno generation!  Fly High everyone!

======

Full interview translation and more photos under the Read More! Please do not repost my translations.

Q1. Please write a tagline for your character.

Daigo Kotarou: He jumps a lot.  -The Ultimate Man of Positivity- Akana Ryuunosuke: The model of a volleyball maniac.  A genius setter that controls the court with perfection. Yamamoto Ryousuke: Karasuno’s one and only, lazy heartthrob.  ~Lately, volleyball’s gotten fun~ Oribe Yoshinari: “I won’t let anyone call me a coward anymore, I’m going to save my team in this pinch situation!”  Once he has the jump floater serve as a weapon, the one he shows of in the Aoba Johsai match, I thought that Yamaguchi was so manly and so dependable so I want to use that line for his tagline.  

Q2. Who is your rival? Please explain why.

Daigo Kotarou: The Hinata Shouyou from the manga.  The reason: His positive personality, his never-give-up attitude, the strength to put in the work necessary to improve, he’s someone I respect as a person, and a presence I want to surpass.   Akana Ryuunosuke: Everyone else in my generation.  Even though we’re the same age, there are people who can give others hope and I think they’re amazing.  They might be athletes or actors, there are so many different types of people, but they’re all my rivals.   Yamamoto Ryousuke: Our director, Worry Kinoshita-san.  I’m working hard every day to make a play that goes above and beyond what Worry-san wants or expects of us.  When he says that something’s funny or interesting, I get excited. Oribe Yoshinari: As Yamaguchi, Kinoshita is a pinch server too, so he’s my rival there.  But because of that, we encourage and motivate each other.  For me personally, everyone is my rival and my friend.  

Q3. When it comes to Engeki Haikyuu, what’s something you want to challenge yourself to do?  

Daigo Kotarou: I want to be able to incorporate all of Hinata’s good points, like his positivity, into my daily life and not just on-stage.   Akana Ryuunosuke: Bungee jumping or sky-diving. So that I can “fly high.” Yamamoto Ryousuke: Overseas performances!!  Haikyuu is popular overseas too, so I want to go overseas.  I think the reactions will be different compared to Japan, and that’s a challenge I’d love to take on.  

WE’D LOVE IT TOO

Oribe Yoshinari: I want to try going on a trip with all of the Karasuno members.  And then we can all challenge ourselves in different ways and grow even more unified and close.  It’s not just because I want to go on a trip or anything, okay!!!!! (laughs)

Q1. Please write a tagline for your character.

Kanegae Kou: With his special attack, Enter the Dragon, captain of the first squad, with a mind of STEEL, who’s sometimes nice. Kitazawa Yuuma: He loves everyone!!  A man among men!!  Nishinoya Yuu!!  Someone that any man would look up to!!  That’s Nishinoya Yuu!!!  With an excellent sense of humor!!  On top of that, a volleyball genius!!  He can easily switch on and off and many many people can’t help but feel his charm!!  Karasuno’s leading actor is ME!!! Nakatani Yuushin: With short bangs, a refreshing and serious boy.   Osada Sean: I have no confidence and I’m really pessimistic, but I’m a passionate kouhai that’s loved by all.  

This entire section is just a lot... from all four of them.

Q2. Who is your rival? Please explain why.

Kanegae Kou: Everyone on the cast.  We have such a great cast with so many great individual personalities.  Simply put, everyone has their own charm that just can’t be compared, and we all motivate each other, help each other improve, and I want us all to push forward toward the actual performances.   Kitazawa Yuuma: Nishinoya Yuu.  He’s so manly and so bright and strong, I look up to him a lot.  I don’t have that level of manliness or fighting spirit, or that mental strength.  In order to present all of that, I’m going to borrow Noya-ssan's passion and apply them to myself.  As a man, I want to grow and improve!!   Nakatani Yuushin: Myself.  I’m trying to stay mindful so that the character I play can be even more charming within the play.  For the Ennoshita that already exists in Haikyuu, in order to make him even more wonderful, I have to face myself, I have to face my character, and go to war within myself.  I want people to love Ennoshita more and want to get to know him more because of how I play him.   Osada Sean: My biggest rival is probably myself.  Because this is a show that’s always seeking new ideas, my task is to constantly do better than myself.  I have to not shut myself away in a shell, I have to struggle with myself while exploring for solutions and these days have been very fun.  I want to keep challenging myself from here on out.  

Q3. When it comes to Engeki Haikyuu, what’s something you want to challenge yourself to do?

Kanegae Kou: In my life as an actor, I’ve never played a character like Tanaka Ryuunosuke before, so the role in and of itself is the one major challenge for me.  It’s so fun playing him, and I’m excited every day because of rehearsals.  As we work on the show, I want to keep having fun like this right up until we start touring.   Kitazawa Yuuma: I want the Japanese flag to fly into the world again.  I want the scale of this show to get bigger and bigger.  I want to raise it up with everyone else in our Gekidan Haikyuu family, and I want to be friends with them forever and ever.   Nakatani Yuushin: As the tour goes on, I want to try things I’ve never experienced before.  Since I’m personally very keen on trying new things, I think the tone of our new Karasuno genearation will come through too.  Also I’m very excited to tour in places I’ve never been before. Osada Sean: Since my character, Kinoshita, has been limited to the manga up to this point, there’s not a lot of information about him, and my biggest challenge is figuring out how to create my interpretation of him.  From now on, Kinoshita will be getting more and more encouragements from his teammates and accumulating experience in matches, so I’m looking forward to seeing how he’ll fly.

Q1. Please write a tagline for your character.

Higano Shou: With his huge, expansive heart, he makes the ground on which Karasuno stands. Their reliable captain, Sawamura Daichi.   Ichinose Ryuu: He’s always looking after those around him, Karasuno’s refreshing leader.   Fukuda Yuuya: A man who’s given up once but has since gained immeasurable strength and will.  As the Ace, he’ll inspire his team and rise up again.  

Q2. Who or what is your rival? Please explain why.

Higano Shou: Personally, my rival is myself.  I always want to do better and better and go further and further than I did yesterday.   Ichinose Ryuu: Kitazawa Yuuma.  In this group, he’s the only one that’s the same age as me.  Twenty-two.  He’s such a good guy to his core that I can’t hate him!  He’s always doing something funny or interesting, and I feel like I can’t lose to him.  I feel like he probably said something cool like, “my rival is myself,” or something like that.   Fukuda Yuuya: Azumane Asahi-san.  He’s going to be someone I coexist with from now on, but also someone I have to tackle head-on.  I want to take all of Asahi-san's strengths and weaknesses, the parts that we have in common and don’t, and absorb them all into myself as I face him.  

Q3. When it comes to Engeki Haikyuu, what’s something you want to challenge yourself to do?

Higano Shou: I would like to take this world that Worry-san has made and give everything a new and fresh feeling, not sparing even a single second to present on-stage!   Ichinose Ryuu: I want to be proactive about talking to all sorts of people!!  I’m shy and really not good with first-meetings, so I want to do my best and not hesitate so much this time.  If I want to become friends, it’ll be faster if I can at least start there!   Fukuda Yuuya: I want to be able to take everyone to a place where they can all go about their day as they like.  I want to know about everyone’s hobbies and interests, and share in them if possible.  I would love for a day like that to become possible.  

=====

Translated by @nimbus-cloud Please do not repost my translations

If you appreciate the work I do for this blog and want to support my translation efforts, please consider donating a ko-fi!  (x)

If you’d like to read the original interview, you can find it here: (x)

[lowkeyaesthvtic]

Evil Karma - Chapter 10

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9

Word Count: 1,922

Summary: Sofi’s feeling a bit angry, but that anger turns to fun when she realizes the Isle has a special visitor

Pairings: OC x platonic!Gil, mention of Ben x Mal, mention of Jay x Carlos

Rating: T 

Warnings: swear words, violence, murder, blood but not gory, choking kinda?

Tags: @descendantofthesparrow @hookedradge @newtshairdryer @curse-brekker @amityravenclawelf AND @batmanwearsabowtie bc they’ve been such an active/amazing follower and I love them with all my heart.

The Isle is usually quieter when night falls. The day had gone by incredibly quickly and it was quite busy to say the least. I looked down at my bronze timepiece. Good, I still had about 15 minutes to get back to the Chip Shoppe before Harry would overworry and send Gil and the crew to get me. It’s not something that I entirely believed he would live up to, especially considering that he’d have to ask Uma first. Still, there was that slim chance that she would permit it. I didn’t think I would have to tell them, but I’m not some kind of princess that needs to be looked after constantly. Was there a chance that my episode in Uma’s room had changed their opinion on that?

I don’t need protection anymore! I had to teach myself nearly everything I knew after realizing that my demonic excuse for a dad wasn’t going to teach me shit. I know a dagger so well that one swift flick of my wrist could slice even the toughest skin as easily as a letter opener would tear a piece of paper! I can fire an arrow from the highest point of the Isle and still hit my target square in the eye! I’ve got the venom of a cobra and the tongue of a rattlesnake luring its prey! The little girl who got scars and bruises and tossed around like a worm on a hook died when she slipped that bottle of thick, black Dreamshade poison into her father’s wine. I will do absolutely anything to prove that.

A smile tugged at the corner of my lips when I saw Gil at a pickled egg stand in the marketplace. The bone-thin, wrinkled lady running said stand was giving him quite some trouble. “Get this through your thick skull, kid! These eggs ain’t free!” The voice was nasally, overly crisp, and far too forward for the woman to be anybody other than - 

“Yzma, Uma said that I get these for free!” Gil continued slipping the thick yolks into the basket. This was exactly the opportunity I needed. I quickly rushed to Gil’s side and place my hand on his shoulder, leaning onto him.

“Hey Gil, is everything okay? I see you’re out for pickled eggs again.” He looks at me with the eyes of a confused puppy. Gil and I hadn’t spent a lot of time together outside of shifts at the Chip Shoppe, but he was someone I wanted to protect. His loyalty towards Harry and Uma is as indestructible as a diamond and as never ending as the open sea. He showed this ray of sunshine type of kindness but Harry and Uma know there’s a sliver of evil somewhere. Maybe I know it’s there too, but I’ve yet to see it. So, for now, I want to protect him.

“Uma said I get these eggs for free!” He looked over to Yzma, a soft yet angry expression forming on his face. “This empress won’t let me take them!” I looked to him, exaggerated shock and hurt in my eyes. Then, I turned my attention to the wrinkled witch in front of us.

“You can go and tell that pirate rat that her words don’t mean shit to me! You pay for the eggs or I throw you to the fish! You hear that, kid?” I wrap my fingers around the handle of my dagger, getting ready for a quick fight. Fire bubbled in my chest and I could feel my smile widening with a sense of madness. Since arriving on the Isle, I tried my best to keep a calm composure. But in cases like this, how else is one supposed to show that they’re not to be messed with?

“Oh, she’s not gonna like the sound of that. Come on, empress, you should know more than anybody how annoying it is when one doesn’t listen to the woman in charge..right?” Yzma gave me a scowl that was semi-threatening at the most.

“I’ve seen you riding around here. You think that just because you’re on the pirates’ good side that people will forget how much of an outsider you are? I’ll break you the news, girl. You can parade around with two buff pirates at your hip and a fancy dagger in your pocket...but it ain’t gonna bring those kids back from the dead.” Before she could let out another word, I remove my dagger from my left pocket and slash her left arm. A crimson trail starts leaking down the small, skinny limb as she goes to grab the arm in pain. I press the dagger against her throat, pushing up her head so I can see the fear and pain starting to taint her eyes.

With a maniacal laugh, I leaned in close and lower my voice. “Oh PLEASE say that again. I haven’t spilled some blood in quite a bit.” I look behind me to see Gil in a way that I hadn’t seen often. His eyes were slightly widened, possibly in shock of what I was about to do. There was a playful smile tugging at the corner of his lips. Not a teasing kind of playful like Harry’s, but like the playful smile of a kid who had found their way into the cookie jar. “You’ll get your eggs, Gil, don’t worry. We just may have to throw a body in the ocean afterwards.”

With the fear in her eyes growing stronger and more blood spilling out of her bony arm, Yzma makes an attempt at a soft smile. “You know what? Maybe giving free eggs to a regular customer isn’t such a bad idea after all...at least somebody would be eating them, right?” Fear shook her voice until it was a quivering mess. The old skeleton of a woman tried everything she could to hide it. It was a valid attempt, I’ll give it that.

“You see, Yzma? Was that so hard?” 

“I did what you asked, girl. Now let go of me!”

I tsked in disappointment and began to tighten my grip on the dagger. I pushed the blade closer to her throat, hearing her breath hitch as she began to lose control. I wasn’t going to let anybody condescend me. Nobody will ever be allowed to make me feel like a street rat ever again! I will make sure of it. “I would...but you pissed me off, empress. Not only did you insult my Captain, but you disrespected my boys. Nobody does that and survives the night. So...Yzma..any last words?” She attempts to speak, her voice coming out much in a much raspier tone than usual. “Oh, that’s right. You can’t talk. Oh well.” With a quick swing of my arm, her skin is broken and blood begins to spray from her throat. Her weak body immediately falls to the ground as she attempts to save herself. But the attempt is futile, and after a minute or so of meaningless flailing, her body goes limp. I look up to Gil with an innocent smile and gently place my hand on his shoulder. “There you go, Gil. She won’t be bothering you anymore. Now come on, let’s go home. I’m sure Harry and Uma are expecting both of us.”

As Gil and I began walking, I feel a harsh bump against my right shoulder. Out of instinct, I pick up my dagger once again and pin it to the man’s throat. Almost immediately, I realize who he is. His hair was light and long enough to nearly cover his light brown eyes. He carried the aura of weakness, of pity and mercy. The thought of it made me sick. “Well, look who we have here. Another street runt that doesn’t know how to watch where they walk.” It’d be perfect to play dumb. Nobody on Auradon had seen my face before. The four VKs who attacked Neverland were gone by the time I made the portal to escape. None of them knew who I was, so it’d be perfect logic to pretend I didn’t know them. But I knew, and I knew well.

“Hey man, hey! H...hey, hey I know you!” I look over to Gil, a grin tugging at the corner of my lip. We had found the King, and if we could find a way to distract the entourage behind him, we could snatch him up. 

“Uh, no...don’t know you either, man.” Ben replied, choking out his words through the firm grip my dagger had on his skin. The three around him were nervous, but they did a lot better at keeping a calm composure. It was easy to tell that they used to have a life here.

“Uh, yeah you do. Come on man, really? Dude, I’ll give you a hint. My dad is quick...slick...and his neck...huhhh..is incredibly thick.” Gil points to his neck as if to give some kind of demonstration. I keep the dagger hilted but look over my shoulder to speak to him.

“Gil. Really?”

“Why doesn’t he know me? Everybody knows me…” Gil asks, a little twinge of both confusion and sadness in his tone. 

“Gil, of course he knows you. He’s lying to you to save his ass. You know him too..right?” Gil took a longer look at Ben, racking his brain to come up with a name, but there was nothing. “Gil. Come on, use your brain.”

“My dad said I don’t have one of those.”

I rolled my eyes and pointed to a nearby poster of Ben and Mal, which had been tagged with our crews’ own ‘we ride with the tide’ tagline. “Then at least use your eyes!” Gil pointed back in forth between the poster and Ben. The entourage surrounding Ben followed Gil’s gaze as he looked back and forth. 

Finally, his eyes widened in recognition and with a gasp, Gil spoke up. “Oh! You’re King Ben!” The four of them immediately tried to reject the claim, but it was far too late. “Yeah, no..you’re totally King Ben! And J-Jay, Carlos, Evie, hey guys!” The three of them stood there awkwardly, not knowing what to do. 

“King Ben, huh? I had a run in with your girlfriend earlier..or should I ex-girlfriend? A bit of trouble in paradise?”

“Mal and I aren’t broken up.”

“Why else would she come to the Isle, huh? She’s not welcome here anymore, and there is no way that Uma would give her back her old territory.” I lowered my dagger. King Ben would be an essential tool in my plan with Uma, just not yet. Not when he has an army around him ready to fight. I looked up at Ben and slowly brought my finger to his neck, wiping off the blood that my dagger painted onto him. “Well then, welcome to the Isle, your majesty. Enjoy your stay.” I mockingly bowed and extended an arm away from the stand. The blue haired girl, who I now knew as Evie, grabbed him by the back of his shoulders and lead him away. Jay and Carlos soon followed, their hands interlocked to as a way of affectionate protection. I looked over to Gil as they left, he soon smiled and jumped up and down in excitement.

“Oooh! Uma’s gonna love this!” He taps me on the shoulder and turns toward the direction of the Chip Shoppe. “Last one to the Chip Shoppe is a bucket of shrimp!” He shouts giddily, and I run alongside him back home.

[xserpentlife]

Saving You

Hello. Can I request a fangs x reader where she like saves him from the farm or something? Maybe like she tries to stop him from joining during the play but can’t so she loses him they can already be dating if you want and she confides in Pea or something to help save fangs idk something like that if you want

A/N: I am so so so in love with the way this story came out and I hope that you love it too. thankyou to my beta @wayward-river chech her out and join her follower special where you can submit stories based on her prompts!

Warnings: Fangs being a dick, violence, cult discussion (Farm), cursing

Word Count: 4971

You and Fangs had been dating for years, you loved him - more than loved him. You had been through everything together. The ups and downs of the Serpents, the Northside vs Southside feud, and everything else that had hit your relationship in the past. You had been going stronger than ever for the last few months, nothing truly affecting you too bad except when Fangs started dealing. You understood why, and you understand the things he had to do, but you found him an out and he took it. That took a toll on your relationship. You were so scared for him then, but you saved him and got him back. After all the drugs and rejoining the Serpents, he wanted his mind off of the drugs and off of the Serpents so you both decided to join the play. Theatre was one of his favorite things, and if it made him happy you would follow.

You were both doing the play together alongside your friends Toni and Sweet Pea, so everything was looking up until Kevin told everyone that there would be a new co-director. You had met the co-director one other time when she walked into the class for the first time, you had ignored her name then. Evelyn Evernever apparently her father ran the “Farm” more so the cult that had made its way into Riverdale. You knew Betty Cooper was investigating them due to her mother joining but you didn’t know anything more than that. You didn’t trust Evelyn, but as a co-director, you had to at least follow her and her views. Evelyn got close, so close that she pulled someone away from you. You ignored her until you couldn’t anymore because it meant risking the loss of the one person you cared the absolute most for.

*Flashback*

For weeks now Fangs had been acting funny. He was one of the leads in the play so he was always busy, but on most nights he would come home even later than you would see Sweets and Toni coming home and they were leads as well. Fangs kept saying that he was either at the play or on Serpent business but you didn’t believe that to be true. He told you again he was going to be out, that he was on Serpent business, he told you he would be home but he still was out and you had begun to worry. Even though he had been lying or so you thought he always came home on time. You waited till an hour after he was supposed to be home before you called him.

“Fangs baby?”

“Hey Y/N what’s up?”

“Uh are you coming home, it’s late”

“I will be home when I get there what is your problem”

“Well uh you told me you would be home at 9 and it’s 12 now I just… I was worrying”

“Well, you need to stop I will be home later” You waited till he came home, hours later. It was now 4 am and he was just walking through the door.

“Where were you Fangs!”

“I was out! What does it matter?”

“Becuase I fucking worry Fangs, I fucking worry that you won’t come home in one piece when you are out on those jobs, don’t you get that”

“You need to calm the fuck down babe, there really isn’t anything to worry about. I am safe where I am, no one would hurt me Y/N”

“What do you mean no one, rival gangs you idiot”

“Oh yeah well”

“Oh my fucking god you weren’t on a job were you!”

“Why do you keep questioning me” He stepped up trying to appear bigger, almost trying to tower over you more than he already did, as if he was trying to make you fear him. You ran out of the trailer that night not turning back and you had slept in your car. You couldn’t sleep next to him, not with him being like that.

The next night you followed him to the “serpent job” that he was on. As you did you found him standing over a fire with Kevin and other people you had never met before,  but at the end of it stood Evelyn Evernever. By the time you had got there, Fangs had already been walking on the hot coals and you heard the tagline you had seen on the majority of Evelyn’s shirts. “May the one become many and the many one” You ran, tears streaming down your face, you ran to one of the places you felt safe, Sweet Pea’s trailer. Knocking on the door frantically you waited for him to answer but he hadn’t. You knew Toni was working so you couldn’t go to the bar because you didn’t want to see people, so you waited on Sweet Pea’s doorstep tears streaming down your face.

“Y/N!”

“Pea!” You stood up pulling him into a hug

“Pea they… they got him”

“Got who Y/N what’s going on?”

“Fangs! The Farm!”

“Wait… wait, slow down”

“He has been acting funny, angry just not the normal Fangs I questioned him on it the other night because he lied saying he was at a Serpent job. He stood up almost trying to tower over me and I ran out of the trailer and slept in my car, I was so scared Pea I have never seen him like that. Then tonight he told me he was going on a job again so I followed him Pea “

“Where did he go”

“It was odd small paths deep in fox forest. He walked across a lit coal pit and then Evelyn was there I think it was some sort of induction or something, I don’t know. Pea, I can’t lose him not like I almost did before. I can’t go through that again Pea I can’t” Pea slowly lowered the both of you onto the steps pulling you to him as you cried into his chest.

“We will get him back, I promise”

*Flashback over*

That night meant that he was a part of it, but you couldn’t say anything, you knew that if you did he would be defensive like he had been all those nights that he came home late. You told Pea that night and he was the only one that knew. You both said nothing, knowing that if you did he would be as defensive as he was before. You and Pea both let Fangs go on and on about how good the play was going and how he was becoming very close with Evelyn and the other people from the Farm. You both pretended to be supportive, pretended to understand the things that Edgar was doing.  It had been weeks since Fangs joined the farm. A month and two weeks to be exact. You dropped out of the play without Fangs noticing. Even opening night he didn’t notice you sitting in the crowd. You were taking care of everything including his own mother. Fangs wasn’t noticing or doing anything lately, he didn't care about anything. Anything including the fact that you were pregnant. The only person who truly knew was Sweet Pea.

*Flashback*

You sat sitting by the bathroom counter not answering the multiple phone calls and text messages you had. It was as if you were frozen in time. Fangs was not answering like always and he was the only person you needed in the situation you were in. You were scared beyond anything for multiple reasons but you needed him and he wasn't there. You sat there sobbing for what felt like hours the anxiety welling inside of your chest. You hear a knock and someone enter your home but you didn’t care you couldn’t in that moment. Only the people you trusted the most had a key so you knew you would be fine. You sat there sobbing your chest feeling tighter and tighter each moment. Then you heard the bangs on the bathroom door and the shouts of Sweet Pea through it.

“Y/N, Y/N are you okay?” but you couldn’t respond. You tried but all that came out was louder cries. “Y/N open the door please” you tried to move but your body felt numb. He kept banging and banging but you couldn’t do anything. “Y/N move away from the door, try to. I am breaking it down if you don’t open it” You heard the kick and then the snap of the door knocking off of its hinges. You looked up with clouded vision into Sweet Pea’s eyes as he fell to the floor grabbing you tightly.

“What’s going on? Did he hurt you!”

“N, no”

“Talk to me Y/N, please” You couldn’t you were lucky “you” came out of your mouth. So instead you handed him the stick that was clutched inside of your hand so tightly you felt the tingles when you had given it to him. Sweet Pea remained silent as he stared down at the stick that you had placed into his hand.

“Pea.. say something please”

“It’s gonna be okay”

“That is the worst possible thing you could have chosen Pea. You have no idea what is going to happen. Hell where the fuck is Fangs, he was supposed to be home and he is not, how am I going to do this?” Your cries were louder and your shaking harder as Sweet Pea held tighter rocking you back and forth.

“Hey, hey, hey. Y/N listen to me. We are going to figure out this shit with Fangs okay? Fuck I will do whatever it takes to get his ass out of the farm okay. But you listen to me and listen well okay. If he doesn’t stop with this bullshit. I will be here for you and this baby. He is my best friend and he may be a crazy psycho right now, so I will take care of you no matter what, I promise.”

“I, I can’t ask you to do that Sweet Pea, you have your own life to live. I, I can’t Sweet Pea”

“You stop it Y/N. You are not asking I am telling you. I will take care of you and this baby I want you to know that. I will be here for you through everything okay. You aren’t alone”  

*Flashback Over*

You had tried to tell him multiple times but each time he had ignored you completely. The only person who really knows again was Sweet Pea. He was your rock through all of this. He even took you to your first appointment when Fangs was a no show. Now a month and a half into this pregnancy Sweet Pea was more of a figure to the child growing inside of you than Fangs was. You were going to try to tell Fangs again, hoping that maybe this time he would listen.

“Baby before you go can I talk to you”

“About what babe”

“Uhm… us”

“Baby I don’t have a long time to talk about “us” can we talk later I need to go”

“Wait!”

“What are you up to tonight”

“Well Edgar is going to take away my pain”

“I thought you said he has been doing that”

“Well yes he has but this is more in-depth he will cure me of all the pain I have by taking the places that are infected with the pain”

“Oh… uhm, will you be alright”

“Yes, of course, Edgar takes great care of us, baby. I will be home later alright”

“Okay” He left and you called Sweet Pea instantly.

*Phone Call*

“Sweet!”

“Y/N calm down what’s going on? Is the baby alright?”

“Yes, yes the baby is fine. It’s Fangs. He said that Edgar is going to cure all his pain tonight”

“No! We need to get to him Now! Get outside! I’m picking you up!”

“Pea! Pea will he be okay!”

“We are going to save him alright. I promise”

*Phone Call Ended*

Pea pulled up in his pickup truck right next to your trailer and you hopped in quickly. You needed an explanation. You needed to know what was going on.

“Pea! What the fuck is going on”

‘Well earlier Jones had me help him get Betty out of the farm, you know how she was doing recon”

“Yeah, yeah I know”

“Well the Farm is an organ farm Y/N apparently Betty found human organs, Betty also said when people heal they sometimes disappear without a trace”

“I’m… If Fangs is being “fully” healed I’m afraid that Edgar is gonna cut into him”

“Pea I’ve almost lost him so many times. I, I can’t do it again”

“I know, we are gonna save him okay. I know the path he always takes. I assume he is going to pick up Kevin like usual meaning that If we cut through the one road we can make it and block the entrance before he gets there. I called Jones, Topaz and a few others and they are going to meet us there”

“Okay”

“I need you to stay calm okay, for you and the baby, can you do that for me Y/N”

“Here’s the plan. We meet them and we stop him basically detain him and then we bring him back to the trailer. Hopefully, we can knock some sense into him”

“Alright, we can do this” Pea squeezed your hand as slowed the car to a stop next to Toni and Jugheads bike as well as a few of the other Serpent’s vehicles. You got out slowly making your way across to everyone thanking them for coming to help. Toni stopped you midway.

“Y/N are you alright?”

“Yeah why”

“You just look… different”

“Sweet Pea told you didn’t he”

“Yeah, sorry”

“Don’t be I knew he would tell someone I’m glad it was you. Wait why did he tell you though”

“When he bought you that stuff and picked your prenatals and stuff up I went with him. He tried hiding it didn’t work too well. For a while, he said he got someone pregnant but I didn’t believe that then I finally found out since he couldn’t keep his lie straight, but if you need anything. Or to stay anywhere you can always stay at Thistle House with me, Cheryl and Nana Rose”

“Thank you but after tonight I’m hoping everything will be back in place. That Fangs will be back in place”

“Hey, we are going to get him back” You left Toni finishing your circle around before making it back to Sweet Pea.

“Sweets”

“Is it soon”

“Yeah my time he should be here in like 2 mins, but when he does I need you to stay in the truck. I can’t have you getting in the center getting hurt. You are going to try and talk him out of it I know it and he is gonna fight back and may not see you. So to be safe please stay in the truck or at least near it”

“Alright”

“No Y/N I’m being serious, please fucking listen for once. Not just for you, but for the baby too”

“Fine, Why are always pulling the damn baby card now?”

“Because it’s the only way I can get you to listen”

‘Ugh you're impossible”

“Yep” Just as you said it you heard the rustle of tires against the rocky dirt road and you saw Fangs' truck in the distance. “He’s Coming”

“Stay in the truck, please”

“Okay” You watched as Fangs pulled up all the Serpents halting his truck and dragging him out. They tried to make him go peacefully but all you kept hearing was “They are going to take away my pain, you don’t understand, let go of me” You couldn't bear to hear it so you sat in the truck with your hands over your ears trying to block all of the noise that you possibly could. You didn’t even hear Sweet Pea get in the truck until you felt his hand rub your arm.

“Stop!”

“Hey, hey it’s just me”

“I’m sorry Pea”

Are you okay?”

“His, his screams I don’t know, I just yeah I'm fine”

“You sure”

“Did we get him”

“Yeah look behind you” You looked behind to see Jones with Fangs in handcuffs and tape over his mouth. “Jones is going to help us get him in the trailer and then he is going to leave is that okay?”

“Yeah, thanks Jughead”

You tried not to look in the rearview mirror on the ride to the trailer. Every time you ended up catching a glimpse you saw anger in Fangs' eyes something that you would rarely see unless something terrible was happening to him or the people he cared about. He couldn’t have known what Edgar was going to do to them. There was no way he would want to go to him and do it if he knew, at least that is what you had hoped. The drive to the trailer seemed so much shorter than usual your breath never really settling. Sweet Pea told you to wait in your bedroom as they brought Fangs inside and got him situated. You waited for a knock on the door from Sweet Pea for what felt like forever and finally, when it came you were more nervous than ever.

You walked out. Fangs was tied to a chair with the tape removed from his mouth.

“How could you do this to me Y/N”

“I am trying to save you don’t you get that Fangs”

“I thought you cared, I thought you understood”

“I do care about you, but the farm… what they are doing isn’t right hell it’s illegal”

“No they helped me Y/N, fucking untie these ropes please” You looked to Pea as he nodded at you. He knew that he could keep Fangs down. Fangs was strong but Pea had gain on him in both weight and height, Fangs stood no chance. Sweets untied him slowly but kept his hands cuffed.

“Your hands stay cuffed Fogarty”

“Fine but can I talk to my girlfriend alone please?”

“No”

“No?!”

“I will stand in the corner and you can talk to her, but I will be here, and I will but if I have to understand”

“Yes, okay fine” Pea stood by the doorway to the hallway, at a stance daring Fangs to do anything as minuscule as move a single step forward. You saw in Pea’s eyes, the worry he had finally coming to the surface.

“Fangs…”

“Baby please”

“Do you even know what they are doing Fangs”

“Yes Edgar was going to do a treatment to help ease my pain, he has been helping me so much showing my mom getting better and so much more baby, this was going to be one of my final treatments”

“Fangs baby that treatment is bullshit”

“No, it’s not Y/N don’t say that! Edgar is healing me”

“Baby you need the truth. Your mom is not getting better. She is on bedrest, I have been taking care of her me and Sweet Pea. I started working extra shifts to buy her a new medication. You haven’t been around Fangs, you wouldn’t even begin to know what has been going on”

“But Edgar told me she was fine!”

“She’s not fine Fangs”

“But he showed me, I talked to her, I…”

“Fangs I have no idea what Edgar told or showed you but your mom is not better”

“Your lying”

“I’m not, the only person lying is Edgar, He told you he would heal your pain, but he hasn’t done shit. I don’t know what these treatments are but this final “cure” could have killed you, probably would have killed you Fangs. Edgar Evernever is nothing but a cheating con artist. He is taking people like you, people with sorrow and pain and using them or their…” Before you could even finish you were being pushed down to the floor. You had luckily landed on your butt. You looked up into Fangs' eyes the pure anger rushing to his face as Sweet Pea pulled him back and onto the chair tying his hands and legs to it once more.

“Let me go!”

You couldn’t speak, he wasn’t the Fangs that you knew. The Fangs you knew would never push you to the ground. The Fangs you knew would kill anyone who made you cry. The Fangs you knew wasn’t the Fangs in front of you. Pea helped you up and before you could even speak he began screaming into Fang’s face.

“You fucking dipshit you could have hurt her or… You know you are a fucking idiot, all she does is care about you. All she does is want to protect you to get you back the way you used to be, but then you go and do that shit. You push her to the ground like trash. You could have seriously hurt her Fogarty. What the fuck is wrong with you!”

“Yeah well, I don’t need her to pay attention to me! I was perfectly fine with what I was doing before she watched me and found out where I was going!” You were tired of the bad mouthing from him. You were tired of him being angry because of you caring.

You stepped up getting very close into his face knowing he couldn't touch you because he was tied up. “I stepped in Fangs, Yeah I fucking did and you know why? No? I stepped in and hovered because I almost lost you once. Actually no I almost lost you more than once so yeah I stepped in and I cared but you know what that isn’t even the main reason Fangs. I stepped in because I almost lost you all those times but this time I couldn’t lose you because it wouldn’t be just me Fangs. It isn’t just me who would lose you anymore” You looked down to your stomach your hand going up in protection as Fangs looked to you almost as if he had gotten slapped in the face.

“Your…” You remembered you had put the stick in your pocket before leaving the house so you grabbed it out setting it in his lap.

“Yes Fangs, I’m pregnant with your fucking child. The farm almost took you from me forever, You know what Edgar was going to do. He was going to harvest your fucking organs Fangs. Your Organs!. If we would have let you go in their tonight you may have never came out. I can’t lose you!”

“Baby don’t cry I’m right here”

“Are you Fangs, I am staying with Sweet Pea tonight I’ll tell Jughead to come over and check on you”

“Baby ple…”

“Stop Fangs, or I won’t come back at all”

You left the trailer without another word or glance at Fangs. You saw Sweet Pea come out of the trailer and make a phone call before hopping into the truck with you.

“I'm proud of you”

“Thank you pea”

“No seriously Y/N you stood your ground, now I guess we just have to wait and see what he does. But I have a question… will you forgive him easily? What if he goes back?”

“I’m hoping this child will keep him here with me… with us. I hope it at least shocked him into reality or maybe the talk of his organs did”

“yeah”

You stayed with Sweet Pea. He let you sleep in his bed that night, and he slept on the couch. You constantly told him that it was fine, and he knew the both of you were only friends but he still wanted you to have your space to yourself. The only time he ever ended up in the bed with you was when you had a terrible night terror about Fangs dying in the farm. Now you realized maybe that terror wasn’t so wrong, and you fell asleep almost peacefully knowing at least he was somewhat safe with Jughead in the trailer you shared.

You woke up the next morning to eyes looking into yours. Eyes that you recognized instantly. You jumped back fear going through you as you sat down onto the floor.

“Baby stop” he reached to you and you flinched slightly “are, are you afraid of me?” you stood tall standing your ground. You didn’t want to appear weak in front of him.

“Yeah well, the last time we talked without you tied up I was pushed to the ground, by the way, thanks for that. Luckily I landed the right way or I wouldn’t be saying thank you right now and neither would our child”  You saw the tear well into his eye as he turned around walking directly out of the room. You threw on one of the sweatshirts you left at Sweet Pea’s before walking out into the living room. Fangs sat on the couch with a basket next to him. A basket filled with baby things of every shape size and color. His head hung into his hands soft hums being heard from him. You knew he was crying. You didn’t want to feel bad, but you couldn’t deny the pain you felt for him. When you are with someone for so long you feel what they feel and this was no different. You went over sitting on the couch and pulling him into a hug.

“Baby I’m sorry about the farm. I couldn’t. I didn’t know what was going on. I barely remember how I even became a part of it. It was like I was in a trance of some sort. Like I was in control but I also wasn't. I’m sorry for what I did to you. For the pain I caused. I can’t forgive myself for that.”

“Hey, hey calm down… wait where is Pea? He wouldn't leave me.”

“He is outside, told me I had 10 mins before he was coming in”

“I know I left for a while baby I am so sorry, but we are having a baby why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“I tried you didn’t care Fangs, you pushed me off every time going to the farm “to heal” by the way I'm glad your organs are intact”

“Baby I didn’t know… and my mom I saw her today, she… she isn’t doing good. The farm told me she was. Babe I saw her. The farm showed me her. It must've been a hallucination. I… what if she died while I was with the farm”

“Hey… calm down you're here now, you need to breathe Fangs. You didn’t mean for any of this to happen”

“What if I lost you…”

“You will never lose me”

“You shouldn’t forgive me Y/N… what if I would have hurt you”

“You may have been mad Fangs but last night you could have slapped me, punched me, all you did was push me. You would never intentionally hurt me Fangs. I know you too well. Even in that state, you wouldn’t hurt me bad. I love you Fangs. I will always love you. We will always love you” You grabbed his hand placing it gently onto your stomach.

“How long… how long have you known?”

“I’ve known for a little while… Pea took me to my first appointment. He bought me the stuff I needed. He has been really helpful Fangs”

“I’m sorry I wasn't here” you watched his face drop again but you pulled his lips to meet yours. Locking your lips together for the first time in which felt like an eternity.

“You're here now. I’m fine, You're fine. We are going to be okay, I promise. Me, you, this baby. Together. Forever Fangs”

“Forever baby. I promise you I will never leave again. I promise I will try my absolute hardest to stay away from anyone associated with the farm, but baby if they are doing this. If they did what they did to me or well almost what they did and all the other shit. The lies, the hallucinations everything... what about Kevin? What about Betty’s mom, and everyone else in there? I need to help Jughead and Betty”

“I get that Fangs but you need to be all in if you're not then I will take care of this baby myself without you. You can help them but right now… I need you, here with me. I’ve been alone… I mean I’ve had Pea helping but, I can’t handle you leaving again. Not for a long time Fogarty”

“I don’t dream of it. I will be with you and this baby until the end. I promise” He pulled you to him his arms wrapping around your middle as your head rested in his neck. His lips connecting to your forehead. “I will never break that promise Y/N. I will be here always”

“I know Fogarty, I know. I love you”

‘I love you too baby, and I love you baby, whatever you are”  Even in a time like this, a time where you were learning to forgive everything that happened, he could make you so soft for him. You loved him for that, and you loved him despite everything that had happened.

[dreamescapeswriting]

Relapse ~ MYG [Request] [TW]

↱↱↱Word Count: 2K

↱↱↱Genre: Fluff, and ansgt

↱↱↱Pairing: Min Yoongi x Reader

↱↱↱WARNING!!!! Please note that the following imagine mentions talks of the reader having an eating disorder, if you’re not comfortable with this please do not read any further, I love you.

↱↱↱A/N: This was requested and I’m keeping the screenshot as a private since it contains their name, hope you understand. Please remember that you’re all beautiful and I love you all! To the user that requested this I hope this is okay for you sweetie and if you ever need someone to talk to I’m always here. No tagline on this for obvious reasons.

Yoongi blew out the candles when he realised how late you were going to be home he'd spent the night cooking dinner for you both but you'd just text him telling him you were doing overtime and wouldn't be home until after midnight. He'd been trying to spend a night with you all week since he hadn't seen you much and tonight was supposed to be the one night you would finish early, he'd cooked you dinner knowing your favourite meal was anything cooked by him but you weren't home to eat it. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't disappointed but he knew how important your job was to you and he couldn't be selfish since you'd been the loving girlfriend for him with his job as well, he washed up the dishes and headed up to be alone for the fifth time that week. Yoongi had the week off but he'd hardly seen you since you were working and studying at the same time, he was used to not seeing you much but it suddenly felt awful not to be around you, even when he was busy with work he would still come home to you in bed and this time you weren't here.

You walked through the front door of your apartment and dropped your bag on the floor, the weight of it being lifted from your shoulder made you smile a little, you kicked off your heels before you went into the living room. It was clean which meant Yoongi had probably spent the day cleaning since he wasn't in the studio all week, the thought of Yoongi being home alone while you worked made you upset you missed being able to spend all your time with him but your job was getting chaotic since it was busy season and your boss liked to make your life a living hell. There was a note on the fridge telling you there was food waiting for you so you pulled open the fridge to find leftovers, you took them out before putting it into the bin and cleaning up the plate. You weren't hungry since you'd grabbed something quick at work earlier, slowly you made your way up the stairs and into the bedroom where you found Yoongi asleep clutching your pillow in his arms which made you giggle at the sight of him, he looked adorable with small snores coming from his mouth. 

"Oh Yoongi," You giggled walking over to the wardrobe and grabbing one of his hoodies, you had about two hours to get some sleep before you had to be up for your college classes so you decided to sleep downstairs so your alarm wouldn't wake up Yoongi later. 

"Goodnight baby," You whispered kissing his forehead and quickly leaving the room in case he woke up, you headed down to the sofa and put your phone on charge laying down and closing your eyes. You were used to this, you used to do this a lot whenever you had exams and were too busy trying to stay on top of studying and work it was no big deal. 

Yoongi woke up expecting to find you in the bed beside him but when he rolled over you were nowhere to be seen and it looked like you hadn't been in the bed all night so he began to worry thinking you hadn't come home at all, he rushed down the stairs to find your heels by the front door and your work bag sitting there te only signs that you'd been home he frowned when he couldn't find you anywhere until he saw a note on the table written on the back of a napkin in your handwriting, 

"Early class, I'll be home late as I have an extra shift." He groaned rolling up the napkin threw it into the bin and looking around the apartment he was running out of things to do and he didn't want to be at home alone all day so he called up friends to do something instead. 

At first, Yoongi didn't even notice that it was happening you were just a little busier than usual but he thought everything was fine, your relationship was going well you were staying on top of work and college work so it wasn't a problem until it was and it was unavoidable and he began to notice. It had been three weeks since Yoongi had the week off and since then you'd still been just as buy, not coming home until 1 am and leaving again at 6 am for classes and Yoongi hadn't noticed since he was back at work and busy with his own life it wasn't until Hoseok pointed it out one day that he'd even noticed a change in you physically and then he began to worry about you.

"I came to drop this off," You said to Hoseok as he stared at you, you thought it was because you'd suddenly entered the genius studio but he was eyeing you up because you looked different but didn't want to say anything.

"Don't leave it at home again, I have to get to class." You kissed Yoongi on the cheek trying to make a swift exit but Hoseok stopped you by calling out your name,

"Pizza tonight? You in?" You shook your head giving him the excuse that you would be at work and left the studio to get to class and Hoseok stared at Yoongi from across the room, Yoongi was booting up his laptop not really paying attention. 

"Has she been eating at home?" He asked frankly, Hobi knew everything about your past experiences with eating since he helped you and Yoongi a lot with it whenever you needed. 

"She's been eating at work," Hoseok stared at Yoongi resisting to urge to smack the older member for being so dense, 

"Are you sure?" The three words that made Yoongi realise what Hoseok was getting at, 

"She is looking a little skinnier..." Yoongi whispered looking over at the door where you'd been and then over to Hoseok who was nodding, 

"You should mention it to her." Hoseok mentioned looking at Yoongi who had a worried expression on his face but he knew what you were like. You didn't go to people for help because you were stubborn and knew you could look after yourself.

When you came in from work that night at 1 am you walked into the living room turning on the light and screaming when you saw Yoongi sitting on the sofa, 

"Why are you sitting on the sofa in the dark?!" You yelled while you laughed holding your hand over your chest trying to calm your racing heart but Yoongi wasn't laughing, he had a serious look across his face which worried you. 

"How was work?" You frowned sitting on the sofa next to him, he looked at you and noticed you were wearing trousers instead of the usual skirt and you had a belt around them meaning it was true. You were losing weight and not in a healthy way either, he took in your appearance your had bags under your eyes from the lack of sleep you were getting and your cheekbones were starting show, your shirt was slipping from your shoulders and he could see your collarbone.

"I ordered pizza, there are leftovers we should watch a movie and cuddle." He said to you trying to give you a chance to get out of this and tell him you weren't eating. He'd taken it upon himself earlier to ring one of your co-workers and ask if you were eating at work to which they replied that you never left your desk unless it was for classes or to get more water.

"I had something at work-"

"When? Because Maria didn't see you today or yesterday." You stared at him and you felt angered that he'd been calling up your work friends to find out what you'd been doing, 

"Why are you ringing my coworkers to talk about me?" You asked trying to change the subject but it wasn't going to work, 

"Don't change the subject, when did you last eat something?"

"I had an apple for breakfast." You quickly replied looking at him and he continued to stare you down, 

"When was the last time you had a real meal?" You stayed silent not wanting to talk about it but knowing he would still go on and on until he got an answer from you,

"Yoongi I'm tired can we drop this-"

"No we can't drop it, when did you last have a real meal." He continued to ask the same question over and over again and it was bugging you, you already had a headache from your boss and now your boyfriend was asking you the same question over and over again like a child. 

"I don't know! I can't remember!" You yelled holding your hands over your face as you cried into the palms of your hands, it was the truth. You couldn't remember the last time you ate something that was a meal and not something like an apple or a banana, and you didn't want to admit it to him or yourself that you were relapsing back into your old habits.

"Why didn't you tell me you were feeling this way again?" You sobbed as he brought you against his chest rubbing the back of your head as he laid you down beside him on the sofa.

"I-I didn't want you to think I was being weak." You whimpered as he held you close to him, he'd been through this with you the first time you told him about your eating disorder and he helped you through it. 

"You know I would never think that." He whispered rubbing the small of your back as you continued to cry into his chest, telling him about how busy you were with work and that your boss was being his usual asshole self and throwing more hours onto you than anyone else. 

"Why don't you quit..." You wiped your eyes as you stared down at the slice of pizza that was in front of you, he wasn't going to pressure you into eating anything you didn't want to and he even offered to go driving around until you found something you wanted but you told him you could eat some pizza.

"Quit my job?" You asked leaning forward and taking a bite from the pizza and he nodded at you,

"I have bills to pay-"

"I can pay them, we live together baby." You'd be lying if you said you hadn't thought about it before and it would be nice to have to just focus on your studying, 

"As soon as I leave college I'll be working again," You told him as you looked up from the pizza to meet his eyes, he tucked hair behind your ear and nodded just happy you were trying to eat something. He knew he was going to have to keep an eye on you over the following weeks or months but he also knew that it didn't matter as long as you were okay, 

"Whatever you want." He whispered glancing up at the clock, he was going to take the day off to be with you since it was 5 am on a Saturday morning, 

"Do you have work today?" You shook your head and he smiled glad that it was going to be the two of you for the whole day and he could spend some much needed time with you,

"We can spend the morning in bed resting, and then I'm cooking your favourite meal." He promised you watching as you finished the slice of pizza before sitting back in his arms and smiling at him.

"Yoongi, I love you." You whispered closing your eyes and relaxing a little more. You felt better for telling him what was going on in your mind and now you were taking appropriate steps to tackle it with him it felt even better.

"I love you too. Let's go up to bed, the sofa isn't comfy at all." Yoongi groaned picking you up in a quick movement and walking with you towards the bottom of the staircase, he knew you'd been sleeping on the sofa for a whole and he no longer wanted you to do it. He looked down at you already asleep in his arms and smiled at the sight, he'd miss seeing you sleep peacefully, he laid you down on the bed and went to get you some clothes so he could change you into them.

[cruddyborderlandstheories]

i walk in 20 hours late sipping a starbucks hot cocoa

i don’t like coffee

promethea!!! 

awwwwww yis

tl;dr: uhh wow i talked a lot today, sorry. Mostly about whatever the fuck that thing Rhys is handing us is, how it ties into the dig site we see like maybe it’s a piece to activate it, maybe the dig site isn’t a Vault but instead a teleporter or something and needs multiple pieces to activate. so i guess kinda like a Vault but not that kind of Vault. Also if said dig site is actually on Promethea because that’s, like, DEFINITELY Elpis behind it. and like, okay, maybe we used the giant space gun to destroy the asteroid fields and make room for elpis and teleport elpis there, or maybe we teleported the dig site to pandora because it needs to be opened since Moon = Key and maybe Promethea’s moon was destroyed by the giant space gun (TM) and turned into asteroid belt, or maybe the dig site was always ON pandora and it’s not actually a Vault (because the Map would have pointed it out), but still. lots of possibilities here. oh and i go over the Battleborn easter egg and talk about Tannis is Not What She Seems (and pray she won’t end up being evil bc I love her) and I wanna believe the Eridians sent that message, not the cult ‘cause fuck those guys they probably can’t see the future they probably just adopted the name. also I ramble about how gorgeous this planet is for like... 30 minutes. but damn it really is pretty.

man this was a fun thing to wake up to and then have to wait like 8 hours to actually fully take a look at lmao

“Home to the Atlas corporation headquarters, Promethea is a metropolitan world covered in futuristic towers of chrome and glass. A recent siege by Maliwan has turned the urban environment into a warzone; their mechanized infantry patrol the streets, rodent/insect hybrids known as Ratches infest the sewers and back-alleys, and the Children of the Vault are seizing the opportunity to recruit displaced and disgruntled citizens. Atlas CEO Rhys Strongfork is getting desperate.“

“... Children of the Vault are seizing the opportunity to recruit displaced and disgruntled citizens”.

yeah that’s the most important part of this description for me. I really really like the idea of that, and it could tie into the whole Mayhem is Coming tagline for the game as, like many people have speculated, the Mayhem we hear about is the spreading of the cult/the psychos across the universe. A very interesting tie-in to the marketing campaign, as it’s clear we’re now the target of this cult propaganda, like the citizens of Promethea are (were? this is all past-tense since marcus is telling this story, isn’t it?)... like the citizens of Promethea were.

And we know that Atlas is trying to protect the citizens in the tunnels, so it’d be really interesting to see the two get into a direct conflict over a group of citizens. Like Lorelei tells us it's a hostage situation or whatever and we run in and it’s more of a brainwashing situation. Worse if the citizens decided to switch over without any brainwashing. oof.

im also curious about the number of hexagons we see on Promethea. The shapes look identical to the ones on Pandora’s page, so I’m curious if this is an accurate representation of how many areas will be on each planet.

just sayin’.

We do know that Pandora has more than those 3 listed areas (from Supmatto’s new video! can’t believe i missed the stream. ah well.)

“Covenant Pass”. I wanna believe this is near the area where we go find Sanctuary-III, at the very least that one tunnel-y area?

you know the one

this one, it’s right next to Sanc-III afterall.

Also thinking it may not be the name of a huge area, but instead the name of one of the smaller areas within that area? like the ones where when you discover it you get experience points? yeah.

the name makes me think this is someway related to the CoV cause of the word ‘covenant’, an agreement. We also know this area is directly near this one bandit camp which I’ve theorized before is a sun smasher camp

(you can see the back of sanctuary-III near both areas) 

so it’s possible there was an agreement made and both could pass freely through that one tunnel, or the twins were able to build that wall close to this camp. idk, just spitballing ideas.

So then it is possible there’s only 3ish areas on Pandora, but I really hope not unless they are BIG areas. There are most likely more than 3.

oh but we’re here to discuss Promethea

sorry i forgot.

For Promethea we got the Titan Skyway, the Atlas Campus, and the Meridian Seaport.

Titan Skyway reads to me like that giant road we keep seeing in the trailers 

like this one, which is giving me huge Bloodshot Stronghold (Damtop) vibes. Which is one of my favorite levels to play as melee Zer0 with execute and many must fall so... please let this be what i think it is. i may end up running that map just for funsies at the end of the game. mm if it didn’t take running the actual bloodshot stronghold every time i wanted to play the damtop level, i’d be running it all the time. sigh.

Atlas Campus immediately made me think of the Meridian Metroplex, but that’s definitely not it. In the instagram trailer we see Rhys on the ‘Atlas HQ rooftop’ with Zer0, so I’m gonna imagine Rhys is somewhere in the Atlas Campus.

Now if this is like an actual college campus, which i don’t think gearbox would do due to the implications, that’d be wild. I heard they had a mall designed for somewhere in the meridian metroplex, but we’re probably not actually allowed inside. which makes me sad, but also it probably holds no significance on the story. but then again... neither did caustic caverns. hmmmmmmmmm

oh also rhys is holding

whatever the fuck this is

uhhhhhhh... huhhhhh...

tbh i legitimately thought this was their attempt at macgyvering a vault key at first lmao

i know it’s a mission object because it has those glitteries, but... it reminds me a bit of Gortys’s core but i really don’t think that’s it. maybe another Atlas project to try and open a Vault? It just doesn’t look Eridian to me.

then again

this appears to be at the eridian dig site so... maybe it actually is Eridian. Definitely new to me.

some way to get inside the Vault area maybe? I can’t imagine that’s the actual Vault Key, because the one we see in the We Are Mayhem trailer doesn’t match.

you know i’ve been thinking more about vault colors

this one appears pink which... alright. maybe something to do with seraphs/seraph crystals.

The bl1 Vault was blue, the bl2 Vault was purple, the Vault of the Sentinel was... purple? blue? pink? all of the above? ... bisexual? tbqh there was a LOT going on there lol. wasn’t the Vault of the traveler yellow? either way

the big question here is: does each Vault have its own color scheme?

I wonder what that means since the Vault Mey has turned red now... it’s probably leading us to the big boy. the Vault to end all Vaults. 

now wouldn’t that be fun

right back to Promethea sorry

final listed area we get is called the Meridian Seaport. Which, if you know me, has got me all like 👀👀👀👀👀👀

water area? why yes PLEASE

i was actually talking to someone on reddit about said ‘seaport’ and it got me wondering if maybe this area is where we’ll find that one car from the Mask of Mayhem trailer. 

i can’t imagine what else those wing-like things on the side would be for. but i am definitely not a car person, like the closest i get is being a fan of Transformers, so maybe someone can enlighten me.

I am wondering if this area is the one we see in the instagram trailer with Moze

here

also i know we see water near where we find Zer0 in the demo, but that’s not really a dock area, more just a viewpoint. this has me thinking it’s an actual dock because the buildings are all off in the distance. It reminds me a lot of NYC actually lol

and interestingly enough i write about an assassination mission at a port on Promethea in one of my fanfics, but tbh i wasn’t actually expecting anything like it to be in-game. That was kind of an assumption I made since the area with Zer0 had water and I can’t believe I’m going to have to go back and edit it to be canon-compliant, cause I legitimately didn’t...

anyway.

Should i go over the instagram stuff now? I feel like i should go over the instagram stuff now.

see here is my problem with this

no moon

you’ll understand why once i compile my evidence

no moon

no moon!!

no moon

i even watched both time lapses during the amd stream and there was no hint of the moon (i understand promethea is in a state of perpetual twilight, but i thought maybe it would show up somewhere. it doesn’t. in fact it only shows the sun and this asteroid belt).

where is my moon, randy?

well let me tell you what i’m thinking here so you’re not even more confused

let’s go through that instagram video showcasing Promethea again

you should recognize this!

this is from that one video i reblogged like 4 times because i kept debating whether or not it was on promethea or pandora. now we can assume it’s on promethea but let me ask u something

if promethea doesn’t have a moon...

what the everloving fuck is that?

in fact, let me ask something

what does elpis look like in bl3?

look familiar?

hell yeah it does

now...

is this actually promethea?

I can’t imagine gearbox would be using footage that ISN’T from the planet they’re showcasing in a video about said planet. because that’s naughty. Plus, Rhys is shown giving us something that looks very similar to the tech in that area, and I can’t imagine we’d go through all that trouble just to get that tech then immediately go back to Pandora with whatever it is. whatever happened to the Promethean Vault Key we see in the We Are Mayhem trailer?

so there’s 2 options here if we’re under the assumption that dig site is/was on Promethea.

This dig site was moved from Promethea to Pandora

OR

Elpis was moved from Pandora to Promethea

Now i went over ALL of this in an old post. (seriously, give this a read if you haven't already, i go into this in a lot more detail than i will here). but we kinda got some new information.

My first instinct is that this dig site is on (or moved to) Pandora. just, 100% Pandora. the moon, the spiky rocks in the background, what look like Rakk near the back, there’s no asteroid belt in the sky. etc. etc.

do the blue sparkles have anything to do with it? maybe!

Also again, im not 100% certain this is actually a Vault. It just... doesn’t feel right to me. If this was actually on Pandora the entire time, then we’d have known about it through the Vault Map. We would have gone to open the 3rd Vault on Pandora before bl3 even began. If this really has been on Pandora the whole time, I do believe this isn’t actually a Vault. I go over this in that previous post I’ve made and I’m still standing by it. I think this is just an Eridian ruin and the Vault shape is just a statue or whatever. I could be 100% wrong, but that’s my first instinct if we’re being lead to believe this is on Pandora. 

Now I’m curious why this dig site was never mentioned in bl2 if it WAS on Pandora this whole time. And, again, if it actually does end up being a Vault, there’d be a huge plot hole with the whole Vault Map thing if it was on Pandora all along.

So was it moved here? Yeah... probably. For what reason? I... have no idea. How? similar answer. Lily couldnt’ve done it, she doesn’t have her powers anymore. Maybe activating it with whatever Rhys gives us makes it teleport to Pandora. For... reasons.

If it is a Vault, maybe it requires Elpis to open it. for some reason. We know Moon equals Key, so it could play into that. It definitely looks like it’s positioned directly in line with elpis.

but why would a Vault built on Promethea need a moon from a totally different planet to open it?

Because Promethea’s moon was destroyed.

That asteroid belt? I don’t think that’s there just for funsies (okay maybe the artists had funsies but the actual writing? yeah). And that big gun looking thing we see in both concept art and in the trailer? i think that thing fucked up Promethea’s moon to the point it shattered. So they couldn’t open that Vault.

alright, we all cool on this version of the theory?

let’s flip it on its head.

let’s consider:

Elpis was moved from Pandora to Promethea

NOT possible i hear you say

but hear me out.

what’s our reasons for saying this is Pandora?

“the moon, the spiky rocks in the background, what look like Rakk near the back, there’s no asteroid belt in the sky. etc. etc.”

Elpis? teleported! bah!

Spiky rocks? Well! We hear typhon mention a quarry, don’t we? one with brittle rock. This very well could be the quazmarian quarry he talked about where he found that very first Vault (and Vault Key). After all, if he fell into a hole and found it, it makes sense that there would be a shitload of dig teams trying to clear it out for easy access.

Rakk? We see those on Athenas, too, during the Happy Together trailer. Plus, they’re super chubby on the bottoms compared to what we see of the Rakk in the Claptrap Presents Pandora video. Maybe they’re not even Rakk.

Finally. Ah. The asteroid belt.

Well, if you believe that that giant gun could’ve obliterated Promethea’s moon, then is it so hard to turn around and believe that it’s actually obliterated the asteroids surrounding Promethea?

in fact, if we really ARE moving Elpis to Promethea, wouldn’t it make sense that we can’t have asteroids hitting Elpis for fear of worsening the Crackening and breaking our own moon?

In FACT, do we even SEE any asteroids above Promethea in that trailer shot of the bigass gun?

I THINK NOT.

There’s more to this theory, though.

from claptrap presents pandora

from the we are mayhem trailer

yeah, they COULD be celebrating the destruction of Elpis (because i would not be surprised if those are both near the same area)

lets think of something new, though. Elpis being blown up was totally 2015, with Zarpedon. That’s SO last season, Calypsos.

Plus, why would the calypsos even want the moon destroyed? is that not the home of a Vault that would allow them to see the future? how fucking powerful would that be, being able to see the future??? Jack knew what he had to do to win the Pandora games (even if he uhhh didn’t get to see that last bit because of Lilith), so why wouldn’t the Calypsos want to see their own futures?

There is the argument that they’ve already gone to Elpis and didn’t like what the Vault showed them, but I kinda assumed that they’d have gotten the funky eye things like Zarpedon did if they really did see what the Vault showed them. Given that Jack’s was interrupted by Lilith, we don’t really know if that’s truly the case.

I’m 100% down to blow up the moon cause Good Riddance, but also it needs to make sense WHY the calypsos want it blown up other than like shits and giggles? which... fine, but the story..? Elpis has to be important somehow. They have to want it blown up for some reason. A show of power? awesome, maybe they got that giant space gun. Moon = Key, so maybe they think if we can’t get this Vault, nobody can? sure why not. Destroying Pandora? Sure, but why blow up elpis when u could just also blow up pandora? 

either way, if the game gives us an actual reason as to why the twins are blowing up the moon, we’re all fine and dandy. if they’re going it just because then yeah, im gonna get kinda testy. 

anyway my point IS

The effect around elpis here looks strikingly familiar to the effect that appears around Lilith (and the cultists) when they’re teleported.

so it would be much cooler if, instead of blowing up Elpis, they were actually celebrating its movement. 

And it would be very interesting then, if this tied into that Easter Egg we got.

You know the one:

Because yeah im still iffy on the implication that this is from the Calypso twins. Why wouldn’t they want the Vaults opened? isn’t that the grand plan?

maybe this could be from the Eridians or the Guardians on Elpis. If Elpis was teleported from Pandora to Elpis, maybe the translation from Eridian -> English is slightly off, or simplified for the message. (on vs orbiting for example)

Visit Promethea -> Where we are right now, or where we’re going to go. We need you there.

Children of the Vault -> Yes, it could be the CoV cult that’s being referenced, but the way this is broadcasted, through morse code, spoken like an actual cryptic message and not, you know, with that Calypso flair... me thinks the cult simply adopted the name “Children of the Vault”. I think this may either be referencing Sirens, or the Vault Hunters/Crimson Raiders. Maybe the twins picked up this broadcast and that’s why they immediately head to Promethea after they steal Lilith’s powers.

We are not on Pandora anymore -> shit dudes we got yeeted to Promethea, help us. Or... we’ve moved elsewhere. We’re not nearby, we escaped, we fled, come find us on Promethea. 

Tannis is not what she seems -> this one... I don’t believe the Calypsos actually know anything about Tannis. If they do, then she was possibly the one to rescue/experiment on them, turning them into artificial Sirens or whatever, but then... isn’t Tannis exactly what she seems? She’s crazy, she totally would experiment on the twins. That is EXACTLY what she seems like. 

The people who would know about Tannis not being what she seems... the people who can see the future? The Guardians of the Sentinel’s Vault (maybe just the Guardians/Eridians in general). The Watcher can speak (speak? she uses telepathy, doesn’t she? that’s why Brick asks Lilith what she says) eloquently, I imagine there has to be more than one Watcher-like Guardian. Or this is the Watcher herself sending the message. 

Either way, if, later on in the game, Tannis starts showing signs of not being what she seems, then... wouldn’t it make sense that the only characters who knew this were the ones who could see the future? And given the new info, it makes sense that the Guardians/Eridians/yougetthegist would know her by name, because she could be the one who turned herself into an artificial Siren.  Or figured out how to create artificial Sirens. Whichever (both?). Which is kinda big news in the Eridian world, I’m sure. Plus, the wording using ‘What’ instead of ‘Who’ is kinda a big pointer. I’m almost leaning towards the idea that Tannis tried to give herself Angel’s phaseshifting abilities. I can’t see Tannis with actual offensive abilities... It wouldn’t really fit her character. But I can 100% see her with mad computer hacking skills, to the point she could ruin anything with a flick of her wrist. Yeah, I can see that. 

And I really hope Tannis doesn’t end up being a villain. She could do so much good with her intelligence and newfound powers and tbh it’s really nice seeing a character with autism not treated like Sheldon from the Big Bang Theory (the butt of every joke). She feels real to me (as someone with autism)- she’s got her obsession (Eridians/Sirens/the Vaults), her crazy intelligence, the social phobia/unawareness. I really like her as a character (going from betraying us in bl1 to realizing her mistake and immediately trying to help and assisting the Crimson Raiders) and I’d really hate for her to become the villain just for... idk a shock twist? The shock twist should be that she’s a Siren or whatever, not that she’s going to betray us. I like Tannis :( And all the message says is Tannis is Not What She Seems, not that we shouldn’t trust her or that she’s going to betray us.

Do Not Open the Vaults -> well this is the whole thing, isn’t it? this is why I think this message has some sort of Eridian origin, instead of the Calypsos cult. The Calypsos WANT the Vaults open. They want that ‘universe-destroying’ power. They want to absorb the powers of the Vault monsters. Shit, even we Vault Hunters want to open the Vaults for some of that sweet, sweet loot. But who doesn’t want the Vaults opened? The Eridians.

oh yeah we were talking about Promethea. how the fuck did i get here?

oh the moon

yeah it could have just been a shot in the Instagram trailer they used to show off the ‘Eridian alien technology’. that’s not fun to talk about tho lmfao. plus the thingie Rhys holds matches up so well with the cool technology we get

anyway

the instagram trailer. we’re not even like halfway done with this post btw. still gotta do those beautiful screenshots

oh

trailer

sorry it’s like 1am im starting to lose focus im shifting into sleepy mode

i just love the aesthetic of this city.

also. that one building with the 0 on it? you can’t convince me Rhys didn’t give Zer0 their own skyscraper.

oh, you want an entire building to store all your loot and trophy kills? OF COURSE ZER0 ANYTHING FOR YOU

yes....... Eridian log.

im really excited to see it glowing. especially since it’s glowing red, like the Vault Map/key/you know. I hope that has some significance. 

i did boost the brightness and noticed it was part of a wall, not just one slab found elsewhere. makes me think this is part of a Temple. maybe part of the dig site below? we know that one is connected to some sort of building. and if it glows red, that’d be a really neat tie in to why Atlas always has that glowing red aesthetic going on in their bases.

still not done talking about this shot. yeah the stuff on the right looks similar to the thing Rhys hands us. NOT why i brought it back up tho. The guardian statues in the back seem very ‘low poly’. VERY different to the guardian statues we have on Pandora. they’re also holding staffs which is new. 

compare

these ones also seem much buffer than the guardians we see. with shorter necks, as well.

Maybe these are statues of ACTUAL Eridians? not just Guardians or any other construct (further proof for my theory Pandora was a Guardian production planet lol) but like what Eridians actually look like.

shorter necks, thicker limbs (because why would the constructs NEED muscles?), actual bodies that aren’t thin as twigs. I think we found it boys

this is the ideal Eridian body

no cause, seriously, if they ARE guardians, why are they so BUFF?? i don’t GET IT

also weird  this atlas gun isn’t wrist mounted. Atlas sniper confirmarinoed? or just an Old Atlas gun. sure. that too.

Moze on a turret near what i assume is the Meridian Seaport. She has what i think is an Atlas pistol equipped. There’s a dead guy leaning up against some cinder blocks, all cozy-like. 

better shot of the area. We talked about this earlier, so moving on!

Okay... so is THIS the New Atlas sniper? it looks like nigel thornberry’s nose

smashing.

we saw this before, too. im actually really excited to look out over the Promethea skyline from the top of a skyscraper. also, idk, rhys’s hand looks like a yaoi hand to me. like his fingers are above the F in strongfork, right? look how far away his thumb is. YEESH.

it’s actually ONLY rhys lol

An Atlas soldier at work! I like that their gear has the crimson lance logo on it. And the new Atlas symbol. I feel like if we have to fight these guys, the crit spot is gonna be that backpack.

maliwan robo!!!

a big boy. one of the flying ones too iirc from the We Are Mayhem trailer. 

Atlassss in the back. it’s weird that the second A in Atlas is the logo, not the first one. the first one is a triangle. that’s weird is it supposed to be signalling something else? a triangle with a circle around it. i don’t even know what that might be a logo for. hm.

oh also police bots i guess, but we see these dudes a lot.

im more interested in this thingie in the back. wonder what happened to it/what it is

ratches. blegh.

i hate these things jfc. they’re so gross.

i like that maliwan is just claiming things by throwing their flag up on it. that’s not how this works! that’s not how any of this works!

anyway.

how are those screenshots lookin

pretty good.

im pretty sure i’ve mentioned this before, but i love that they named this part of the city Meridian and then kept the Eridian logo in the spelling. it’s so fuckin dorky to me.

also i know we’re supposed to hate these robos, but at least they’re getting some characterization as enemies. the loaderbots in bl2 do this but not to a degree that they get their own interactions (LB being the exception of course). I like this.

also i love that parts of the city are color coded. like red and blue parts are different areas. It’s such a neat way to help people not get lost (cough, me) and it fits great into the design of the city with the neon lights and bright colors. I noticed this in the gameplay demo as well, tho i don’t remember if it was followed. Also I’m pretty sure that symbol up there

is what the blue area is called. could be wrong. but i think i saw this during the demo as well.

i think this is going to be my favorite area to visit on Promethea, hands down. I love this little living area. It feels so unlike anywhere we’ve visited in previous games, like it feels like somewhere Gaige could be from. Actually, iirc Roland was from Promethea, wasn’t he? Be wild if we visited his house here. Anyway, I’m also excited about the trees. Fucking! Trees!

and cars!!! holy shit yeah on Pandora we only ever saw like light runners or bandit technicals and the occasional bus. all the cars were broken down and stripped for parts! It’s really cool to see actual full cars here.

wow i am excited over the most mundane shit lol

wait till you guys hear about the PARKING LOT

OHHHH YEAH

CROSSWALKS TOO

lol im actually- i just love this area. i love it so much. this is lovely. i love the giant glowing reactor in the background too, i 100% hope we get to interact with that (posssssibly blow it up. maybe just a little.) I can see this area being the area we have to run through to reach the entrance of that thing. I mean, it’s just RIGHT THERE.

Also would not be surprised if this KV fellow is waiting for us there. “Who wants to BANG a billionaire indeed”. He’s totally gonna be a boss fight. BANG i imagine means more shooty shooty than innuendo... innuendo...

it sounded better in my head.

the symbol for the red area possibly on that tower in the back?

I’m like, 60% sure this isn’t the area we explore with Lorelei, so maybe this is the Titan Skyway? also maybe the bridge Moze and Fl4k drop off of in the Happy Together trailer.

hate. i would quote AM here but im tired so just imagine the entire ‘Hate’ quote here because i HATE these things.

there’s also a big skelly in the back, i wonder just how big these fuckin things can grow. hopefully uhhh like a cow died here or smth. cuz fuck man.

this area is also super green and watery so i wonder if this is a sewer or smth. that’d be wild lol

Another shot of the city. It’s so fucking beautiful. I really love how they went all out for this. Opportunity was great, but it wasn’t nice to look at. Promethea is fucking STUNNING. I love this place way too much. Never even been here before.

also i love the fog coming up from the bottom. Maybe this shot is taken from the water? god if we get to go on the water and then it starts fogging up i might actually start crying lol.

this building is my favorite by far i think. I love the way the middle turns in. I have no idea how that’d work like... from an inside standpoint, cause the ground would just be slanted under you but im sure they made it work somehow.

anyway. im gonna go cry myself to sleep over how beautiful this game is. sorry i talked like... WAY too much during this one lol.

also i just thought of this while writing the tl;dr but maybe that item rhys gives us is after all the Promethea stuff is over, even the Vault(s), maybe we need it to activate something in that vault statue area on Pandora and that’s our way to like some important Vault or the Eridian homeworld or smth and we gotta collect all the pieces to activate it. like it’s a teleporter. Maybe Rhys had a piece because that’s what was in the Vault of the Traveller. I mean it would make sense because if you didn’t want someone to have something, you fuckin hide it in a box that’s teleporting across the galaxy at random intervals. That might be our way to the Eridian Homeworld. Now wouldn’t that be neato...

[neshabeingchildish]

The Man for the Job

He had lost a lot. His childhood being the first casualty of gaining a superpower, and most recently, the woman he loved enough. He couldn’t say for sure that they would have lasted. He’d loved and lost before, but not like that. He’d been the one to end or at least drive away most potential relationships. But… This one was harder to let go of, mainly because he hadn’t been prepared to. It reminded him of how fragile everybody around him was. How human. 

It could have been any one of them that day. It could be any one of them tomorrow. Every mission was a cause for panic for him and he always had to pretend that he was okay with that. Hell, it was his tagline, for crying out loud. But, he was not okay. He was early years of knowing Piper (when she was merely Henry’s sister) NOT OKAY with constantly worrying about them, being out in the field. Now, he had to worry about them being in politics, as well? 

It was terrifying to think of what would have become of the Man Cave if Spoiler had actually shot her. She was a young mother, a wife, a daughter, a friend, and a public figure. So, while they tried to mourn or tried to help her recover, it would have also been a media storm. He’d done this already with Henry. He’d done this already with Mimi. He. Did. Not. Want. To. Do. This. Anymore. But, what was the alternative? To quit? To retire early and leave Swellview to Piper to defend? 

She hadn’t left the hospital in days. There was a collective of V-Force heroes guarding Billy Thunderman’s room, but she was still there, in her Lady Danger costume with no mask, hoping for the best. They tried to get her to at least go home and get cleaned up. But, she was worried that if she left and something happened, it would be “like that episode of the L Word.” Henry brought her a bag of clothes and toiletries, but after crying, pulling herself together, and imagining that Billy moved every time she headed for the shower, she couldn’t risk even the few minutes it would take her to get cleaned up. 

She had gone through this with Henry. She had gone through this with Mimi. Neither of those times was she able to bear sticking it out and being there with them. She didn’t want to do that to Billy. He was a lonely guy. He felt misunderstood and left out. He felt like while he was close to his siblings, being a middle child, he missed a lot of opportunities to connect with them in certain ways. She wanted him to know that there was somebody who felt a connection. She wanted him to have somebody here for him. Maybe she was getting soft. Maybe she had fallen for him. She couldn’t really figure that out at the moment, but she couldn’t leave, either. 

Captain Man was working alone for the time being. Mr. Danger tried to help out, but people took those opportunities to try to come to question him about being Henry Page, about Piper Hart being Lady Danger, and about him being able to walk. At first, he’d try to remind them that they were venturing into an active fight scene. Punching and begging them to leave because he was in the middle of something. They’d refuse and he tried to answer the questions, “Yeah, I’m Henry Page. Sorry. I don’t have any excuse for you. I can’t speak on Lady Danger. Yeah, I can walk, but I do need braces in order to do what I do. My legs aren’t what they used to be, so the chair isn’t a complete lie. PLEASE GET OUT OF THE CRIME SCENE!” People continued to do it until Simone and Charlotte decided that it was a hazard to citizens to have Mr. Danger there. They just couldn’t help themselves. 

Away from Swellview, though, people were less likely to be as concerned, though they were certainly interested in it all. So, Thunder and Danger was generally the go team for missions away from Swellview and the Thunder girls helped Captain Man, when needed. By the time Charlotte looked at overall crime and the distribution of heroes, she decided, “I don’t think that Swellview needs a hero.”

Simone shook her head and said, “It never has, but it had one because the hero in question was from Swellview and didn’t want to travel or relocate. Captain Man’s record would be abysmal if he weren’t indestructible. So, there was no reason to pressure him onto a team, aside from you’d have an indestructible man on team. He used to be in rotation, but my mom let him have his tenure in Swellview when she came on board, in order to decrease some incidents without making it seem like he was being demoted. What does Lady Danger want to do?”

“She hasn’t decided. She’s waiting for Billy to wake up. She’s getting more and more angry that he isn’t and that none of us are there, so I thought that we could maybe send out some VForce to some of these assignments and be sure to gather there for them soon.”

“Yeah… I don’t think it  would be very tactical considering some of the tasks that Danger Force is currently handling, but…” Charlotte gave her an exhausted look and she shrugged and smiled gently, “I’m not gonna argue with you. You’ve got a knack for finding solutions. And… What has Captain Man said about the offer?”

“I want to ask him when he’s not thinking about all of this. He’s a simple guy and a lot of complicated stuff has happened lately. I don’t want him to feel pressured.”

“He’s going to be President of the Hero League. There is no other way to feel but pressured.”

“Yes, /I/ get that. /You/ get that. But, he’s fine with the world burning while he relaxes, if he feels too much under pressure. If it isn’t about Swellview, he’s not that concerned and even then, sometimes his motivations are questionable. I just want him to be in a receptive headspace when I ask him.”

“Listen. The position is unchallenged. After that assassination attempt, none of the political types want the gig. They’d rather die fighting than on stage politicking. And those who would consider it, we’d be placing in danger to even extend the idea. The non-pows are looking at us and thinking that as expected we can’t handle issues in the supers community. They might stage a takeover. All of my fears may be realized. In order for that not to happen, I’ll ask him,” Simone said.

“But… You don’t know how to communicate with him. I’m telling you, he’s something else…”

Simone opened up the line to connect with him and Charlotte simply threw her hands up in surrender then folded her arms shook her head and gave Simone “the look.”

After a moment to transform, he answered the call in the Man Cave. “OH! It’s just you two. What’s up?” He didn’t get this team up. He did realize that sometimes you had to come to an understanding with people that you didn’t agree with, but I thought for sure Charlotte would stand her ground with this piece of work. And he couldn’t tell whether or not trusting her would be the same as it was for Charlotte trusting her husband years before. He wasn’t sure how that made him feel; he only knew he wasn’t okay with it.

Simone said, “Captain Man. You have given many years of your life to fight for justice. Through the ups and downs, you remain brave and honest.”

“I know this,” he said, a bit suspiciously, because he honestly wasn’t sure where they were, as a group, with this girl. 

First off, she was married to a douche, who he hated. Secondly, she really hurt Charlotte’s feelings. Third, he didn’t know her very well, but he knew that he didn’t like her for those first two very good reasons.

“We need you to do something for us. As you know, less than a week ago, there was an attempt on Mrs. Page’s life. The shooter had terrible aim and it was most definitely going to end with me receiving the attempt. My brother-in-law was brave and quick and he threw himself in the line of fire for my sake and the sake of my children. Unfortunately, he isn’t indestructible. We have a superpowered healer who made sure that he didn’t die while he got medical attention. We’re waiting on the news of his recovery.”

“Nice of you to say ‘as you know,’ before telling me everything that I know. Why are you calling me and why isn’t Charlotte talking? Did you do something to her?” He was already angry at the thought. Charlotte must have been being held hostage to sit here through whatever this was! But, he noticed Charlotte’s amused face and figured something out. Whatever was happening, Charlotte had told her not to do it and she did it anyway. So, he wasn’t about to cooperate with little miss Poison Ivy. The only dealings with her would be at the approval of his little Charlotte.

“Captain Man. We need you. Charlotte wanted to do this under other circumstances, but if we wait too long to set things in motion, the non-pows, the supers, the heroes, and most importantly, the villains will think that there is no order, no peace and no plan. We have to act fast, I’m afraid. We need to ask something of you.”

“If Charlotte said no, that’s the answer,” He said.

Charlotte cleared her throat and watched the green veins in Simone’s temples flair. “Actually, Captain Man, I wasn’t saying “no,” I just wanted to do it better than this. But, she is right about it.“ Now, they sort of had his attention. Charlotte could see that he wanted to at least give her the chance to say her piece, but she could also see that he still wasn’t with it. "We need to figure something out as soon as we can, and we think that you’re the only person who can help us.”

“It was actually her idea!” Simone added. Captain Man was listening, more now. To Charlotte, not to stupid green girl head. 

“We need you to take up the mantle of President of the Hero League,” Charlotte said, ripping off the bandaid, since Simone had gotten them here. She had a feeling this would be a new component of their future as his presidential staff. He sat down and shook his head. “I know what you’re thinking. That sounds like a lot of work. You’ve got Swellview to think about. You’ve got a dog to take care of, and a Schwoz in the Man Cave. You’ve got to make sure that Lady Danger is okay. You can’t just leave Swellview to anybody. Swellview is your baby. The Man Cave is you haven. I can see that all those things have been troubling you, especially since you still haven’t been given a reasonable amount of time to grieve over Mischief Minder and this is a huge responsibility.”

“Glad you understand,” Captain Man told her. He was ready to end the call now. Bringing up Mimi was hard whenever he wasn’t prepared for it. Charlotte knew that. And now, he wasn’t prepared for it and that girl was next to her, looking like she was expecting something from him too. He didn’t even know or like that girl! ‘That’s right. Direct anger at her. Charlotte means well. Her. She means… green. Mean green. Mean Girls. Wait, what?’

Charlotte broke into his tangent of panicked thoughts. “I hope that you understand this: We’re all going through it, Captain Man. We didn’t all lose what you’ve lost, but you know that I have lost before. You saw me whenever I couldn’t wake up Henry and you know that the last thing that I want is to trouble you while you’re in the state of mind that you’re in. Trust me when I say that all I want to do is go home and cuddle with Hammy, with some ylang ylang firing through the vents and the room at 72 degrees. I want my hair deep conditioned and to get a facial and sit in a steam room and come out and make love to my husband. I want…”

“I get it!” Captain Man said.

“But, I can’t do any of that right now. I have to try to fix what was done with Gwen’s transformation and the destruction left in her wake, to non-pow and supers relations, to the sanctity of secret identities, to the reputation of the Hero League and to those personally affected and impacted, just trying to make sense of their lives now. You get it and you know. But, what you might not know is that I can’t do it without you. How many times have you heard me say that in all the years that you watched me grow up?”

“Why me?” Captain Man asked, tearing up.

“Most importantly, I won’t lie to you - your indestructibility is something that we obviously need. People are trying to murder those of us who aspire to this position and you can’t be physically harmed that way. But, in addition to that, you’re perfect for this, Ray. You know what it’s like to be a regular person, even though it’s been many years since you were.”

“Not that many! I’m not that old!” He fussed.

“You were born a non-pow,” she corrected herself. “You became a super early enough that it affected your childhood in a way that supers extremists can relate to. Your non-pow dad exploited you from the moment you had your accident and raised you like some kind of experiment, so you have no reason to trust or like them, but you’ve been surrounded by them most of your life and they love you now, enough to care about what you say and do. You’re very handsome.” He smiled at this. “You’re charming.” He smiled brighter and covered his heart with his hand. “And, you’ve been a hero with a good standing with the Hero League, and with the city that you serve, and you’re recognized nationwide! Remember that time that you saved Double G? He still lets me see shows for free!” They were both smiling and Simone wanted to gush about Captain Man, too, but she had a feeling that might ruin it. He didn’t seem that fond of her. “Captain Man, you were like a second dad to me. You gave me my first job. You gave me a recommendation that helped me to be in the position that I’m in today, and I thank you for that. Now, I need you to do a job for me, and you’re literally the only person who can. It will be a lot of hard work, but I have your back, always. I promise.” 

“Okay, then. I’ll do it,” he said, looking like he was holding back tears. “I’ve gotta uhh… go to the bathroom, Bye!” He hung up on them and she just knew that he was gonna go cry. 

Charlotte looked at Simone and said, “I learned that trick from him, but it’s actually an age old saying. You attract more flies with honey than with vinegar.”

“An old non-pow saying, I presume? Why would I want to attract flies?” Simone asked. 

Charlotte sighed and repeated the phrase into an app she’d been working on in her fired time to translate non-pow specific language to supes language, for all of those who literally grew up around zero of them. The phone recited, “Your heart disarms an opponent much harder than your fists.”

“OHHHH!” Simone said and nodded. Then, she thought about it for a moment and defended herself, “I didn’t feel like I was being rude to him! I listed all of his accomplishments and the reasons why we needed him.”

“Yeah. You didn’t say anything about how he looked (his love language) or anything sweet to him, though.”

“I can’t lie as easily as you,” Simone said. “I grew up in Metroburg. I didn’t have to be secretive about stuff.”

“You planned an entire coup right under your mother’s nose.”

“She doesn’t pay attention to anything I do. I barely had to distract her,” Simone shrugged her shoulders, but Charlotte could tell that was still a raw subject, probably especially since not even a week ago, Charlotte was picking at the wound. “Anyway. We have our president, so I’m collecting my babies from the nursery and going home.”

“By yourself? Henry and Max are still on assignment… You wanna… You’re welcome to stay with Hammy and I…”

“I don’t need your pity protection, Charlotte. I can take care of myself and my kids.”

“I just didn’t want to be alone and since our husbands are working together, I thought… I mean… They could touchdown at my place afterwards and…”

“Okay,” Simone said. “Sure. Want me to grab Hammy from the nursery too?”

“If you will. Thanks.”

Simone nodded and headed towards the nursery. She wasn’t super excited to go to the empty temporary quarters without Max and she wasn’t really in the mood to stay at her mom’s either, having just thought about how easy it was for her to not pay attention to her while she staged the escape of their most dangerous fugitive. She certainly had a lot of raw feelings about Charlotte, but she had them about Evelyn too, and those were longer. 

Besides, Evelyn’s home had a guest room. Charlotte’s had guest quarters. That was more room and relaxation for the babies and her while they waited for the men. Max and Simone still hadn’t been able to find a suitable space, with their history. Simone peeked into the president’s office, where Evelyn was there, getting things ready for the next in line. “Hey, Mom… We’re gonna crash at Charlotte’s into the guys get back. I was headed to the nursery, if you have time to say goodnight to the girls?”

“Of course, I have time!” She said and dropped everything that she was holding. They were in a much better place, but Simone figured she needed super therapy before they’d be “good.”

.

Henry nor Max realized how tired they were from all of the traveling and working that they had been doing until they got back to Charlotte’s house. A simulated tour guide, which was simply a Henrygram (you remember the hologram that moves about the house) came to collect Max and escort him to the guest quarters, “Where your wife and children are anticipating your arrival, even as they sleep,” it said. “Mr. Page. The woman of the house is in the heir’s nursery reinforcing his crib.”

Henry looked confused by that, but he and Max went their separate ways and whenever he saw Charlotte, her face brightened and she rushed to hug and kiss him. Hammy looked annoyed that she had abandoned her mission to secure his crib. They finished kissing and saying hello, only to look at Hammy and see that he seemed to be finishing the job, himself. “He looks like he knows what he’s doing,” Henry chuckled.

“Of course he does. He’s a genius,” she joked and picked the baby up to hand him to Henry. “Say hi to Daddy. Mommy’s gonna finish your crib so you can go back to sleep.”

“What’s wrong with his crib?” 

“The sensors didn’t pick up his swaddle because some wiring got damaged in the sync device. I’m reinforcing it so that the swaddle doesn’t squeeze him too tightly while the crib can’t evaluate his vitals.”

“You wanna sleep on Daddy while Mommy does smart girl shit?” Henry asked.

“Henry!” Charlotte said.

Hammy laughed and laid against Henry’s heart. He was asleep within moments. After they put him back into his crib and swaddled him with Charlotte’s perfected perfect swaddle, it was Char’s turn to lean against Henry’s heart and fall asleep. They had one of those beds that you could pull out of the wall, for nights whenever the Danger life got to them and they just had to be near their precious baby - which was pretty much any time Henry was away for long, or any time that he came home.

There were a lot of things that he hated at the moment - the fact that Simone and Charlotte had been so ugly to each other through the campaign (when they had been on the same page on the mission that set Team Danger in stone), having to be away from his family for so long, knowing that Lady Danger would be taking over Swellview by herself sooner than he felt like she was prepared for (especially with all the ruckus about her unmasking after the election debate), Charlotte going back to work for the Hero League… He made a pillow of his worries and collapsed into them. 

Charlotte’s interface scanned him and he heard a whirring that made him wake up, panicked. The sound was from an opening in the headboard that pushed out a crystal before shutting and leaving it there. “What is?” he whispered.

And, judging from his whisper, the interface knew that meant he was trying to be quiet, so she also spoke at a low volume, made gentle for sleeping purposes, “Sardonyx provides you the stabilisation and strength required to have the endurance, energy and fortitude to create good fortune based on good moral ethics… Would you like me to continue reading sardonyx facts to help you return to sleep?”

“Yes, please,” he said. And so, that happened.

.

Ray got ready to go to the hospital. He had zero attachments to the Thunderman kid. He didn’t think that he liked anybody from that brood, at this point. But, if he was going to be President of the Hero League, Charlotte thought that he needed to show the supers that he cared when one of them fell.

The kid had woke up a week after his attack, conveniently when all of his loved ones were present. They said that he’d been ecstatic to find that Lady Danger was THE Piper Hart. They said he kept referring to her as THE Piper Hart. Ray knew one thing - that definitely went to her head. Piper Hart was one of those online personalities that people followed, but didn’t necessarily love. She gave a good show, but her ways rubbed people the wrong way and those who knew her before loved getting on the Internet and speaking about how horrible she is in real life. Ray would agree but he had gotten used to it by now.

Still. Most of her love these days came from being Lady Danger. It was nice to have a fan who also had a crush, who knew you as two different people, but knew you as you and as your better self. Ray had that not too long ago… 

He made his way to the room with a tray of meatballs. "Here, Kid. This is for you.” Billy looked confused as he thanked him. “Piper! You’ve finally cleaned yourself up!" 

She smiled a little and pointed her thumb at him, "This is my boss, Ray.”

“Oh!” Billy said. “I thought it was just a friendly meatball man.” After a while, he thought about it again. “OH! It’s your BOSS!” He looked starstruck, now. Ray patted him on the back and asked, “Mind if I sit?”

“No. This is so cool. You know… You’re gonna be the first new official President in my lifetime!" 

Ray sat down and nodded. "Kickbutt wasn’t president when I became a hero, but she was a pretty good fighter. I worked with your dad before, too.”

“Yeah! That’s awesome.” They talked for a while, then Ray and Piper left and Billy ate his meatballs. Piper didn’t comment on how weird of a gift that was because Ray was never any good at that sort of thing. He gave her an autographed photo of himself after she already knew his identity and had been working with him. But, in hindsight, that was an excellent gift, because she sold it for a lot of money.

“It wasn’t supposed to happen this way. I was supposed to become an internet sensation, get my degree as I grew in reality TV fame, build up my career and become a household name, marry rich, and be hashtag goals for at least a generation. Kid Danger wasn’t supposed to be my brother. I wasn’t supposed to become your sidekick, have some of the worst years of my life trying to prove myself to him and failing, get a permanent scar on my face and now have to take over the top hero spot in Swellview AFTER I unmasked in my freaking sophomore year of college? My life is over. I’m not okay.” She said it calmly, but he still felt it deeply.

“Yeah, Kid. Me neither,” Ray finally admitted out loud to someone.

.

He looked okay. Now that Billy was awake, he healed up quickly and was going to help Piper out in Swellview. He crashed at her place and Jasper asked him several questions. Piper insisted, “My actual brother didn’t do all of this!”

Jasper eventually must have been pleased with the responses, because he finally left them alone. “Always gotta humor older siblings,” Billy said.

“He’s not my sibling,” Piper said. “Well… not by blood, anyway.” She shrugged her shoulders. “Well… I guess tomorrow we start serving Swellview together.”

“We’re a good team. It’ll be great. My sisters will help whenever we need them.”

“My brother tried and was cornered by groups of people who wanted to know his personal life. What if that happens to me?”

“I’ll very quickly get them away from you,” he said and smiled. 

“And you don’t mind being the sidekick of someone who hasn’t been a hero even a portion of the time that you have and has no superpowers?”

“Well, you’ve been a leader all of your life. And I’ve seen you do many amazing things without any powers. Besides MR. DANGER took his wife’s last name. Women are who to follow to be honest.” She just smiled, and reflexively covered her scar when she did. “You know… you never have to cover that around me. You’re not less beautiful because of a battlescar that you won being brave for your team.”

She scoffed, “I’d have preferred she slit my throat.”

“Not me. Then, we wouldn’t have met. Now, we get to see each other every day. I’m grateful she didn’t slit your throat.” Piper took a deep breath and then lunged forward to give him a quick peck on the lips. She sat back quickly and held her own hands. She used to be able to flirt with the best of them, but since her scar, she had been hiding. She’d been shyer. Billy smiled and reached for her hands. She took his and played with it in both of hers. “We’re gonna be fine, M'Lady." 

"Thanks for saying that. I think I’m okay now.”

[statusquoergo]

Part I

Back with Samantha and Lucas, we’re getting right into the unofficial PTSD diagnosis with all of Samantha’s usual tact and subtlety (“You have PTSD, don’t you?”). Lucas denies it, claiming that he went to an MD while he was on tour and begged him not to put the diagnosis in his file, resulting in his being diagnosed with and medicated for anxiety and sent on his merry way with the hope and expectation (Lucas’s, not the doctor’s) that it would clear up all on its own once he got out of the military. Of course, it did not, and Samantha’s solution is to get someone other than his (now former) employer to “pay.” I assume for treatment.

I have a few problems with this whole scenario.

For one thing, it doesn’t make any logistical sense; it sounds like Lucas is well aware that he has PTSD, but is desperate to avoid that specific diagnosis for some reason. He has no problem going to a doctor for psychoactive medication, but dammit, he does not have PTSD. The thing is that while a diagnosis of PTSD, or anxiety, for that matter, would have prevented him from enlisting in the military, and should have prohibited him from continuing to serve, research data suggests that many are skirting the rules; if PTSD could have gotten him kicked out, anxiety should have carried the same risks, and either way, a diagnosis was unlikely to do him any actual harm. Or much good.

For another thing, from a narrative perspective, this probably sounds terrible of me but I genuinely do not care about Lucas, or his problems. I’ve never heard of him before and I just met him like twenty minutes ago, and all I’ve picked up in that time is that he not only didn’t seek treatment for his illness but actively avoided it, despite seemingly knowing and acknowledging, at least privately, the reality of it; it sounds like his employer did his best to accommodate him (e.g., rearranging the furniture in his office so that his back wouldn’t face the door) but was completely justified in letting him go. The script ticks off the usual PTSD symptoms—flashbacks, nightmares, aggression, trouble sleeping, trouble getting out of bed—but this is all the usual Suits MO of telling without showing. (No seriously, it literally ticks them off in a list: “Of course I saw a doctor.” “And why was that?” “Because I had trouble sleeping.” “Because of nightmares, flashbacks?” “I don’t wanna talk about this.” “Well, we’re gonna talk about it because I can’t defend you if you’re not being honest with me.” “Honest about what? About how there are nights I’m afraid to close my eyes and days I never get out of bed?”)

The problem is that the show puts much more focus on Samantha trying to win Lucas’s case than it does on demonstrating the difficult position Lucas is in, or the allegedly close relationship the two of them have (or had); she keeps insisting that he’s suffering, that she feels bad for getting out of the service while he stayed for two more tours, but we don’t spend enough time with him for me to see it, and they don’t seem to have much more camaraderie than, say, Harvey and Teddy Doyle, his old client who shows up in “Inevitable” (s07e13) to ask for his help. I keep being told to empathize with Lucas, or maybe feel anger at what he’s suffering through, but I just…don’t. It feels more like the show is capitalizing on an increasing public awareness of PTSD as a legitimate disorder and is banking on viewers having some reflexive response to the words being thrown around; “anxiety,” check, “nightmares,” check, “flashbacks,” check. But in reality it’s so much more complicated than that, and the symptoms can be so varied beyond what people have been taught to expect. And this may all boil down to my hypersensitivity to PTSD stories being told right, but this one is done so, so poorly that I’m really annoyed by it more than anything.

On a lighter note, Harvey approaches Thomas to take the firm back as his representation, thereby avoiding the need for Faye to meet with him about his departure. Harvey lays out his “Yes we asked you to perjure yourself but technically if I’d followed the law you would’ve lost out on your expansion” argument (well done, sir), and Thomas…brings it all back around to Donna. Who is she to Harvey? Why, she’s the most important person in his life, he claims monotonously with deadness in his eyes, and furthermore, she knows it. Thomas agrees to hire them back on the condition that Harvey represents him instead of Alex, on the grounds that Harvey just honestly answered “the most difficult question [Thomas will] ever ask,” and all is forgiven. Well, that was easy.

Faye sees through Samantha’s bullshit story about taking Lucas’s case before Faye showed up and forbids her (I’m just going with it now) from using firm resources to work on it, so naturally Samantha asks Katrina if she can use her expense account. Katrina, being of sound mind, refuses; Samantha bemoans the fact that Lucas has PTSD while she wears expensive dresses and has a good job, and Katrina, having apparently lost her marbles all of a sudden, agrees to help on the condition that they do it “on the up-and-up, and pick a fight [they] can win.” Not at all sketchy.

Harvey drops the bomb on Alex about Thomas, Faye has what I’m going to call a bonding moment with Katrina, and we’re back to Camp Darvey for a late-night chat.

So in the last episode, I was none too pleased about the writers taking Rick Sorkin and trying to make it into a Darvey thing, but they’re really dead set on going for the jugular here as Harvey boasts that he always makes it feel like everything’s gonna be okay because…he’s Superman. Recall, if you will, this lovely observation of Louis’s from “The Arrangement” (s03e01): “[Harvey] always was [alone]. Harvey’s not Superman anymore. He’s Batman. And Batman needs Robin.” Now tell me with a straight face that they��re not Darvey-fying everything Marvey.

Next up, Faye derails Louis’s attempt to tell the associates that her presence is a non-issue and Alex interrupts him yelling at Benjamin for not hacking the Bar’s password-protected digital bylaws (again, freely available), and Alex and Louis decide to relieve some stress by going bowling, because why not. Louis hasn’t tried it since he was a kid and his fingers were too fat to fit in the holes, but once he starts imagining Faye’s face on the pins (top-notch CGI here, truly), it turns out he’s a natural, and the guys have some cute bonding time as the writers finally manage to fit Dulé Hill’s tap dancing ability into the script.

Meanwhile, Samantha’s case hits a bit of a snag as she tries to bully the CEO, whose name is apparently Tom, into admitting that he knew Lucas had PTSD and didn’t get him treatment (conveniently forgetting the part where Lucas specifically avoided a PTSD diagnosis because he didn’t want treatment) and Tom points out that doing so would require an official diagnosis, which Lucas doesn’t want (there it is). Samantha bitches to Katrina that the company’s $25,000 offer is too low and she wants to exhort a higher settlement, and Katrina seems to regain her lost marbles enough to point out that Samantha’s emotional involvement is blinding her to the fact that what Lucas really needs is treatment, and this isn’t the way to get it.

We’re back to Louis being awkward as he tries to tell Donna how happy he is for her and Harvey— Well, he’s thrilled for her but even happier for Harvey, because she’s “the best thing that’s ever happened to him.” I’m officially convinced that a threesome with Harvey and Donna is somewhere near the top of Louis’s bucket list. Also that Louis and Donna would be a way better couple than Harvey and Donna.

But I digress! Turns out Thomas hiring them back wasn’t so easy, because he can’t actually handle being Harvey’s client when he’s apparently not quite so much over Donna, so Donna takes it upon herself to fess up to Faye about why he really left.

Almost.

She does sort of gloss over the part where he left because Harvey made him lie at the deposition, implying instead that he left the first time around for the same reason he left the second, i.e., they were a couple and now they’re not. Faye buys it, and I’m a little disappointed in her, but I doubt Samantha is over Robert’s name being taken down, so maybe there’s hope it’ll come up again later.

Samantha informs Lucas of the result of the not-a-lawsuit, namely that he’s being awarded $25,000 and also that she invented a company to contract to SW Industries for $100,000 for a year’s worth of treatment for him, which he’s suddenly tearfully willing to admit that he needs, and this is such a hollow storyline that now I’m just offended.

A small saving grace comes in the form of Faye grilling Louis for getting Benjamin to hack the Bar’s (freely available) bylaws and delivering the truly inspired accusation that the firm is populated by “a bunch of wild dogs running around, defecating all over the legal standards [they] swore to uphold,” which I would dearly love to see become this season’s tagline.

Donna and Harvey put a damper on things by contemplating celebrating having successfully lied to Faye by breaking out the can opener, but thank god they’re interrupted by Louis loudly trying to fire Benjamin for getting caught doing the exact thing Louis directed him to do. Donna and Harvey storm the…IT department, I guess, to stop Louis from acting crazy, and let me tell you, the Darvey red flag that’s raised here is big and it is bright.

I’ve been worried for awhile about Harvey losing his agency and sense of self once he enters into a relationship with Donna, and this is a great example of why. Donna tries to stop Benjamin’s termination by putting it to a vote, Louis says that the hiring and firing of support staff isn’t subject to a vote (I’m inclined to agree), and Donna furiously retorts: “The hell it isn’t! Right, Harvey?”

Right here is a perfect encapsulation of Donna’s habit of using Harvey’s affection for her against him (see again the COO example [s07e02]). They’re in the middle of an argument where she has no standing, and rather than try a different tactic, or try to convince Louis to come around to her side, she turns to Harvey to back up her original point. And he does it, promptly replying “Right” (despite the fact that she is probably not in fact right). Louis, thankfully, accuses Harvey of siding with Donna because he doesn’t want her to be mad at him now that they’re together, Donna claims that that’s ridiculous, and Harvey’s anguished expression and refusal to answer immediately validate all of my concerns. And I hope they follow this up in the coming episodes, I truly do, because this is a very real issue that’s been oncoming for a very long time.

Then Faye corners Louis in his car and stops him firing Benjamin and strips him of his status as managing partner, but like…whatever. The promo indicates that he tries to resign, but he’s done that before and we’ve only just started the season, so I don’t know that it’s going to stick.