#save me swank

[teddybearty]

Swanky Man 💰💕

[bisexualiteaa]

Burning Love

Benny x Fem Courier Six (Smut!! Also fluff and slight angst)

CW: NSFW MDNI! Mutual pining, slight OOC Benny, slight deviation from the game, black widow dialogue, established friendship, enemies to friends then friends to lovers, flirting, dirty talk, perverted thoughts, P in V, p0rn with some plot, unprotected seggs, 0ral (male and female receiving) praise, cursing, mentions of alcohol, briefly proofread, possible grammar/spelling errors

AN: Hey everyone! I’m back with some more content! It’s a little different than the usual Cooper Content ™️ I usually put out but it’s still Fallout themed. I wanted to try my hand at writing for Benny from New Vegas and allow some of my other character hyperfixations to have a moment in the spotlight to shine! I’m still rather new to Fallout in general, and especially to New Vegas so please be kind and patient with me if I have some things wrong, I’m still learning! 🥺 I know this wasn’t an ask from anyone, and I will be getting to those as I can! Writers block has been absolutely dreadful lately so I hope y’all can understand, I’ve only just started to come out from the hole and try to write when the days are good 😭 But I hope y’all dig this piece! Enjoy, and happy reading! 🥰

Taglist: @expirednukacola

This was bad. This was really, really bad. At least that’s what he proceeded to tell himself over and over internally as he paced around his room. Just what was it that was so bad? So bad that it left Benny Gecko, the head chairman, in a bind? You. You; the courier that he executed once upon a time for simply being at the wrong place at the wrong time. You; who just so happened to somehow actually be alive despite a bullet being discharged into your skull. You; who had come to the strip months ago on your journey through the Mojave, siding up with him and becoming his business partner. You; who not only managed to become his best friend, but now held a place in his heart as something more. How could he let all this messiness happen? There was a rule in business where you never allow yourself to get involved with the people you work with, especially when you were someone who was as powerful as Benny. Yet you were all he could ever think about. You were his inspiration and guidance in trying and gain power over all the factions, you were the reason why the Legion no longer stood in his way. You were his right hand through everything, there for his every plan, there to help in the execution of them no matter what it could cost. You were loyal, beyond that, you were a confidant and a friend.

It took him ages to finally put the pieces together leading up to this moment. To finally understand why he would feel so disgusted watching Swank flirt with you, or so angry when someone would threaten you. He knew you could handle yourself, you were your own person, independent and deserving to live how you wished. Hell there had been many occasions where, had it not been for you, he likely wouldn’t have made it out alive. When you saved him from the Legion, that’s when he finally saw it. Seeing him down on his knees before you, giving you the perfect opportunity to take your revenge if you wanted to for him killing you back then. You could have murdered him in cold blood, leaving him to the radroaches and feral ghouls like he did to you once. But you didn’t, instead you showed him mercy. You *saved* him. Something he wasn’t sure anyone else aside from his body guards, would have done for him had they been in your shoes. Since that day, it’s been all he could do to pry the thoughts of you from his brain. By day, you were always by his side, and at night you were always on his mind. How was he supposed to be able to work like this? Fuck, how was he supposed to tell you? Should he tell you? He wasn’t sure. But he supposed it was too late to back out now seeing as you were on your way up to his suite.

His heart jumped in his chest upon hearing the knock on his door, a signal that let him know it was his people coming by. “Come in” he said, finally pulling himself from his thoughts to see who was at his door. Of course, to no surprise, it was you. He let out a breath of relief upon seeing you. You had grown to become his comfort, even in a moment such as this, he took solace in your presence. “You came” he said softly, just above a whisper but his tone held something akin to disbelief in it that you were here. You spotted a rocks glass in his hand filled with a drink that was likely just freshly made, wondering what it was that was bothering him so much that it had him drinking before bed. He watched as you stepped inside his suite, closing and locking the door behind you to ensure privacy. “You called” you answered genuinely, wondering why he seemed so shocked to find you here when he had asked for you to come. “What’s wrong, Benny? You doin’ okay? I’ve never seen you so many glasses deep in one day” You asked, noting that he had been drinking earlier too, growing concerned for him and the way he seemed to be so caught up in thought. “You’ll have to forgive me, my mind is a bit mixed up at the moment” Benny said before taking a swig of his drink, watching as you sat down on his bed. He wished you hadn’t, because despite being the well-mannered gentleman he was, he was still a man with needs. Even he couldn’t help the thoughts that started to race through his mind as you sat on his bed. Thinking of what you would look like splayed out on it, free of your clothes and him on top of you. Normally he would be able to keep such thoughts under control, but with the buzz of the alcohol running through his system, he was finding it hard to keep them from running rampant. “What’s on your mind? If somethin’s buggin’ you, you know my hands can make light work of it. All you gotta do is say the word” you offered, making him chuckle. Your hands could make light work of him. What in the god damn? “stop that” he told himself, cursing himself for feeling this way towards his close friend of all people. “Afraid what’s on my mind can’t be helped that way, baby. What’s got me in a twist is all my doing” he replied, and it left you rather confused, he could see it in the way your brows furrowed in confusion as you looked at him. Your head tilted sideways a tad like a dog who couldn’t seem to understand what their owner was saying. You were so fucking cute. “Well then what’s got you all in a twist? You called me here for a reason, Benny. I just wanna help” you replied, pleading with him to give you something to work with. He could groan at the way his name fell off of your tongue so melodically. You just had to show up in uniform too, with your dress slacks hugging your thighs, your blazer really showing off your curves, and your blouse that dipped low enough for him to get a peak of your cleavage. He was eating you alive with his eyes, he knew it. He couldn’t help it, you were a sight to behold. You could tell he was lost in thought at the way he was staring, leaving you chuckling before you waved your hand to grab his attention. “Earth to Benny, you still in there?” You asked jokingly with a grin as he snapped out of it. “Maybe it’s time to lay off the booze for the night” you added with a chuckle as his eyes met yours. Everything was screaming within him to tell you, but at the same time, everything screamed at him not to. He was at war within himself on what to say. Does he tell you and risk losing you? Or does he keep it and risk hurting himself when there comes a time you fancy another man? Neither sounded great to the conman, but between the alcohol in his system and the respect he had for you to always be honest with you, he knew he had to tell you.

“Fuck it, I’m just gonna bite the bullet and hope we can still keep this in the groove, dig?” He asked, and his words weren’t slurred and he didn’t feel drunk. So why was his head spinning? His heart racing? He was a certified mess, and it was your doing. “Oh c’mon Benny, we been runnin’ this show for how long now? You know you can always talk to me! Ya got girl trouble?” You asked with a devious grin, knowing he had a new flavor just about every month if not more than that. He was almost amazed at the way you figured out what was wrong, but thankfully not down to the specifics. It was reasons like this he called you not only his business partner but his best friend. But god how he craved for you to be more than that. “I wonder sometimes if you’re a damn psychic with that prime intuition of yours, babe. Girl trouble ain’t even half the start of it” he replied, sitting across from you in a plush chair as he placed his glass down on the small table next to it. You gave a chuckle. “Ya never did have good luck in choosin’ broads, Benny. Kinda funny to see that hasn’t changed since Vegas became ours” you quipped playfully, making him chuckle. “Very funny. I think I remember calling you here for help, not to take jabs at me, pussycat” he replied, making you laugh. “Aww c’mon you know I’m just yankin’ your chain. What’s got you all in a twist then? You didn’t get one of ‘em pregnant, did ya? Because I can’t help you there with that one” You asked, an eyebrow raised at him in suspicion. “Fuck no, the Ben-man ain’t nothin’ if not responsible. Have a little faith” he said, making you playfully wipe your forehead as if you were super worried. “Whew, that’s a relief. I ain’t ready to be an aunt just yet” you joked, making you both laugh. You always were great at helping him calm down. “Well then what is it? She do something wrong? Steal from you?” You asked, killing yourself internally with each question knowing that it was another woman he was speaking of. “My heart maybe” he said boldly as he took another sip of his drink, and it was true, you had his heart in your hands at all times. But you didn’t know that. You gave a smile that hid the pain inside from his statement, believing he was speaking of another woman. You wanted him to be happy, he deserved it, and you knew when you started working with him that it could never be you that would make him feel this way. But damn if he didn’t have a way of charming himself into your own heart, making you hope that it could work. “Awww, well ain’t that sweet” you replied, trying your best to coat the poisoned words with saccharine falsity, to disguise the ache resting in your chest at the thought of another woman stealing his heart. “I said smooth, baby doll” he said, making you both chuckle. “What? A girl can’t be happy for her friend who’s in love? Sheesh. She sounds like a lucky gal” you joked, making him chuckle once more. friend. God how that word killed you. A constant reminder of what will never be, especially now. Or so you thought.

“Well, c’mon, don’t spare me the details. Who is it?” You asked, not really wanting to know the details but you could put your feelings aside for the happiness of Benny if that’s what it took. However that’s when his face turned red. He should’ve known you’d ask that question. His heart slammed against his sternum as he tried to think of what to say. He couldn’t just straight up tell you, not when he didn’t know if you felt the same way, and he’d be royally pissed at himself if he managed to scare you off. He couldn’t just not tell you either, you deserved to know. “Is it one of the broads over at Gomorrah?” You asked when he didn’t pipe up with an answer right away, making him scrunch up his nose in distaste at even the inquiry. You laughed at his response. “The Ben-man’s got taste. Didn’t know you thought so little of me, babe” he replied, making you giggle at him. “Alright I admit, bad guess there” you responded. He wondered if you would ever guess it, if you would either seriously or jokingly say yourself and then maybe it could be laid to rest easily. “Some of the frequent fliers here are a little questionable Benny…I’m starting to second guess on if I wanna know” you said with a joking grin, wishing you’d figure it out already and save your heart the pain. He shook his head no at all the ones you knew off the top of your head that frequent the casino, leaving you nearly out of options already. “Quit pokin’ around Benny and just tell me already! You got me hangin’ on the edge of my seat here” you said, making him take another swig of his drink to work up the proper courage to tell you the truth. It was now or never. “I ain’t got no other way of sayin’ this sweetheart, but the Ben-man has gone and caught a fever for the fine looker layin’ on his bed” he said, making you blink a few times as you registered just what he said. He was caught up on you? Was he drunk? Surely this was a joke, he couldn’t actually be serious…could he?

“Me?” You asked, sounding taken back by his answer. “You sound shocked, baby. Weren’t expecting to be the broad to catch my eye?” He asked, making you blush. Now this was suddenly going to be difficult on you. How do you tell a man who shot you in the head once that you’re in love with him? “Honestly no, I didn’t think I would. I figured out of all the women out there, the last one to catch your eye would be me” you replied, and how it broke him to hear you talk so little of yourself. To share in a vulnerable moment that wasn’t hidden behind false confidence and bravado. He always respected the way that you were a different woman outside of work, that you could detach yourself from the persona you had to carry with you in the casino and around the other chairmen. He wished he could be more like you, more in touch with his humanity, but he was a conman, and a good one. His work is all he’s really known until you came around. “You’re the prime article baby, ol’ Benny here ain’t ever met a broad like you” he replied, making you blush as your stomach started doing flips with excitement. It was everything you’d been dying to hear from him for so long now. It felt as if fate herself was shining down on you in this moment. “I certainly ain’t met a man quite like you either, Benny” you said with a growing grin, making him chuckle. “I guess what I’m trying to say is that it’s a real good thing I got a case of Benny fever then, huh?” You asked with a far more confident grin as you looked at him, sat across from you with his legs spread to help ease the growing tightness of his dress slacks. “Benny fever, is that so?” He asked with a mirrored grin of excitement, making you bite your bottom lip as you shook your head yes in response. “That bullet scramble your egg? Or have you always been a naughty broad?” He asked, finding himself more and more intrigued. Not to mention hot. The laugh you gave in response was breathy, and he wasn’t sure if it was just because it came from you, or the alcohol toying with his mind but he found it sexy. “What can I say? Girls like bad boys, and you have been downright awful” you replied, sensuality dripping from your tone as you flirted with him. “You’re one sick pussycat, baby. There’s quins and then there’s…I don’t even know what to call you” he commented, making you giggle playfully as you crossed your legs in front of him. “I’m saying I dig you too Benny, have for a while now” you said, making him grin even wider at your admission. Thank god, now he could no longer worry. “If I heard “dig” from you back then, I’d have told you all I can think of is a shovel. But you got a real twisted up way of showin’ the Ben-man your forgiveness” he replied, making you giggle once more. “I can think of another way to show you my forgiveness” you suggested, making him raise a brow at you and let out a sound of intrigue and excitement. “Oh yeah?” He asked, watching you bite your lip in excitement as your body language screamed for him to get closer. “And what idea is on that wild mind of yours, baby?” He said, making you hum. “How ‘bout i put my past profession to good use and I show you how well I can…handle your package? If you let me?” you responded. Oh, he definitely wanted you to.

You weren’t sure when it all began, but the next thing you knew, you both were down to your underwear. You made a show of stripping yourself of your uniform, being sure to be slow and teasing as you slipped out of your blazer, blouse and dress slacks for him. You made a show of bending over when you took off your slacks, then moving to your bra that soon found its way to the floor to be forgotten about until the next day. “You are the prime article baby. Nice Charlie’s too! Give ‘em a shake for the Ben-man, would ya?” He asked, making you giggle as you shook them and made a show of fondling them and feeling them up in front of him to tease him. “Hellooo!” He responded as you straddled his lap, taking a seat and pulling him into a heated kiss. He relished in the way your lips tasted like the sweet bourbon cherries that rested in your drink from earlier that you shared with him while you were both still downstairs. He tasted of vodka and cigarette smoke, a mixture you’d have never found appealing had it not been upon the lips of the addicting man you were tasting it from. You hummed into it in delight as his hands rested on your hips, softly moving your hips to grind against his. You moaned softly as you felt your clit bump and rub against his clothed length through your panties, effectively working you up even more than you already were. As you opened your mouth to moan, he took the chance to slip his tongue in to dance upon yours, needing more of that sweet taste of you. Your hands rested on his shoulders, using it at leverage as you continued to grind your hips into his before trailing their way up to tangle in his hair. He moaned at the blissful feeling of your nails scraping his scalp and the occasional tug of his hair. “Fuck baby, got me all kinds of worked up and you haven’t even taken those cute panties off yet” he said, making you giggle as your lips started to migrate down his neck in search for a sensitive spot to suck on and nip at. “Gotta make you as crazy for me as I’ve been for you, baby” you replied with a grin, leaving small but dark hickies in your pleasurable wake. He groaned in response, making you giggle as you felt it rumble from his chest and in his throat as your lips were pressed to his pulse point. “Oh trust me, I’ve been just as crazy for you, pussycat. No doubt about that” he responded, making you grin as you worked your way down his chest and stomach before you were on your knees in front of him.

Your fingers hooked into the waistband of his boxers before pulling them down, watching as his dick slapped his stomach just below his naval as it was freed from its confines. You bit your lip at the wonderful sight, and it was like a dream come true in his eyes. Seeing you here, on your knees in front of him, looking up at him the way you were right now was the fuel to so many of his fantasies he had nightly of you. “Like what you see, baby? I saw those pretty little eyes light up just now” he teased, making you chuckle while your lips littered kisses along his inner thighs before working your way to where he needed you most. “Sure do sugar, wondering if you taste as good as you look” you said before licking a fat stripe from base to tip of the underside of his cock. He groaned, his fingers digging in and clenching tightly the sheets beneath him in his fists from your hot, wet tongue. You made direct eye contact as you did it, one of your hands coming up to cup and fondle his balls as you brought him into your mouth. “Shit…can’t believe this is what I’ve been missin’ out on this whole time” he said, tipping his head back some as you worked his balls with one hand and what you couldn’t fit in your mouth with the other as you started to bob your head up and down on him in a pleasant rhythm. “Can’t tell you how many nights I’ve pictured this baby. Mmm and I gotta say- fuck! You’re a dream come true, honey- oh fucckk…” he moaned, tilting his head to look down at you between his legs on occasion. If he wasn’t careful, he’d find his release too soon and he couldn’t have that. Not when the fun’s just getting started between you two. It was when he felt his tip hit the back of your throat, making your watery eyes look up at home through your lashes that he had to call it quits. “Oh baby, stop, stop, stop. Shit, you keep going like that and I’m not gonna make it to the fun stuff” he said, unashamed of admitting just how much you turned him on. You let off of him with a pop before standing back up.

“Treated me so good baby, least I can do is return the favor. Sit up here and give the Ben-man a taste” he said, lying on his back and motioning you to sit on his face. “Shit Benny, I haven’t done that before. Are you sure? I don’t wanna hurt you…” you said bashfully, making him chuckle and slip you a grin. “If it’s between these pretty legs? I would die a happy man, baby. Don’t be shy c’mon, promise I’ll take good care of you” he insisted, and you had to admit, you rather liked the idea of having such control and trying something new. He watched as you removed your panties, tossing them to the side where they too would be forgotten until the next day, then as you crawled your way up his body. Your legs straddled his head as your core hovered just over his lips, his hands soon resting upon your hips and ass to pull you down and onto his face. You threw your head back with a pornographic moan as his tongue explored your cunt. “Fuck, oh Benny, baby…” you moaned almost breathlessly as his tongue trailed your slit before coming to dance along your clit. “When were you gonna tell me you’re such a tasty treat, doll?” He asked, and it was a whole different sensation receiving pleasure this way, one that left you bucking your hips in rhythm with his tongue to feel more of that wonderful friction against your sensitive bundle of nerves. “Benny! Oh my god, just like that!” You moaned, getting lost in the feeling of his tongue swirling and fluttering against your sensitive bud. Your hand came down to rake your fingers through his hair once more in appreciation of the way he made you feel. “Keep moaning my name like that baby, tell this whole joint how good I make you feel” he egged on before wrapping his lips around your clit and sucking gently, making your body jolt in response before letting out a pleased yet surprised moan. “God yes! Oh I’m so close, please don’t stop…” you begged, looking down at the sight of him between your legs as you fucked yourself on his tongue. He gave a chuckle and a moan into you at the way you were riding his face, using him for your pleasure. It made his dick throb almost painfully. “Keep using me babe, fuck your pretty self on my face. Wanna feel you cum on my tongue baby, give it to me” he begged, drilling his tongue in and out of your entrance and then back up to your clit. “Oh fuck I’m gonna cum…oh god, yes! Benny!!” Was all you could get out before his head was squeezed between your thighs, your body spasming and shaking as your eyes rolled to the back of your head from the sheer force of pleasure your orgasm sent sky rocketing through you. If he had no restraint, he’d have cum just from the sight of you, paired with the way your pussy fluttered on his tongue and the way you moaned his name like a sinful mantra.

“Holy fuck…oh my god. Oh shit!” You said breathlessly, realizing you needed to release him from the tight grip your thighs had on him as you made your way off from his face to straddle his lap instead. “Are you okay?” You asked, trying your best to catch your breath and climb back down from cloud nine. He made a show of licking your slick from his lips as he sat up before wiping his mouth. “Better than okay baby, you’re fucking delicious. How do you feel? You look like you high-fived the heavens there, baby doll. I make you feel that good?” he responded with a confident grin, pulling you into a heated kiss once again, loving the way he made you feel so damn good. “Better than good, you’re fucking dangerous with that tongue of yours” you replied into it, making you both chuckle before seating yourself on his hips once more, gliding your soaking cunt along his throbbing cock as you kissed. “Insatiable little thing, you’re right up my alley baby” he said, making you giggle and moan into your shared kiss as he fondled your tits, lavishing them with kisses and hickies. “And so gorgeous, I’m a damn lucky man” he said, making you bite your lip as your fingers laced in his hair once again, your eyes fluttering shut in bliss as he brought your nipple into his mouth and sucked. “Damn right you are- fuck…god I need you so bad Benny, please” you pleaded, making him chuckle as he flipped you both over, your back against his mattress as your hair fell around you like a halo.

“You ready, baby? Benny’s gonna show you the Tops! Hope you’re built sturdy you crazy broad” he said, lining himself up to your entrance. You hissed at the painful stretch of his length sliding into you, as wet as you were, it still burned with the way he spread you open. He felt like he had the wind knocked out of him when he slipped in even just half way, you were a tighter fit than any of the girls he fooled around with. “Almost there baby, doing so good for me. Feel so good wrapped around me like this” he complimented, leaning down to kiss you softly and sweetly to distract you from the pain as he tried to fully slip the rest of himself inside you. You both moaned in unison as the last of him slipped inside you, his hips stilled, waiting for your signal that told him he could move. “Doin’ okay, baby doll?” He asked, checking on you to make sure you were okay and not in too much pain. It had certainly been a long while since the last time you had sex. You’d go as far to say that the last time might have been before you were shot in the head. You shook your head yes in reply, scared that your voice might betray you if you tried to speak. “I won’t move until you tell me it’s alright. Wanna make sure I’m making my girl feel just as good, if not better, than she gets me feelin’, dig?” He responded, making you bite your lip as you tested a roll of your hips to feel if it was okay for him to move. He took that as his sign, but just to make sure he wasn’t going to hurt you, he slowly slipped nearly out of you completely before slowly working his way back in. He watched as you laid your head back against his pillows, your eyes fluttering shut in bliss as you covered your mouth to keep you from moaning too loud. He wasn’t having that. “None of that baby, I wanna hear you. Wanna hear how good I make you feel” he replied, pulling your hand from your mouth and testing another thrust, making you moan in response. “That’s it baby, you moan so pretty for me. Love hearing you” he said, starting to set a slow but nice pace, enjoying being able to watch your expressions and the way your breasts bounced with his movements. His hand grabbed one of yours from beside you, pulling it up by your head and intertwining his fingers with yours as a sweet show of compassion. You smiled up at him, feeling him lean forward to close the gap between you before his lips connected with yours once more. It was gentle yet passionate, just like before. Your free hand traversed the expanse of his back, needing to feel every inch of him you could against your own skin. It was intimate, intimate in a way he hadn’t been in quite a long time. One could even say there was love put into it with the way he cared for you. You weren’t just any run-of-the-mill broad, and this certainly wasn’t just any night in the sack for him, no. He wanted to show you how much he meant it when he said all the things he did, how much he cared for you and wanted you. He wanted to make it apparent that he wasn’t fucking you, he was making love to you. And that wasn’t something he did with just anybody.

He felt your legs wrap around his hips, keeping him close to you. He groaned at the feeling, how your legs pulling him into you made him hit deeper inside, pulling a delighted moan from you. “You play a dangerous game there baby doll” he said playfully, making you giggle and bite your lip as you looked up at him. “Maybe it’s a gamble I’m willing to take, sugar” you said, and it was mighty tempting for sure, a thought that grew more and more enticing the closer he was to reaching his end. “Benny…” you moaned breathlessly as you felt him nudge your sweet spot inside, making you keen and dig your nails into his back each time he hit it. “That the spot baby?” He asked, making sure to angle his hips where he would be able to hit it repeatedly, even with his slower pace. “Yes…fuck, just like that honey. Feels so good” you replied, looking up at him with your brows furrowed and lips parted as your moans filled the room like a sinful symphony. His lips trailed down to your neck, littering your neck and chest with kisses and playful nips at your soft skin. “Fuck baby…feels like this pretty cunt was made just for me with the way you’re huggin’ me all nice” he said through a groan. “Just for you baby” you replied, feeling the coil in your stomach growing tight. The mixed melody of your shared moans and the sounds of skin slapping against skin filled the suite. With the way the bed seemed to creak and squeal beneath you in time with the movements of your bodies, you wondered if anyone in passing could hear what was going on behind closed doors. “So close Benny…please, don’t stop” you pleaded, looking up at him, watching the way his eyes drank you in beneath him like this. “Cum for me baby, wanna see that pretty face all twisted up in pleasure” he encouraged, using his free hand to slip between your bodies, rubbing gentle circles against your clit.

It wasn’t long before stars filled your vision, sending your back arching from the mattress as you tipped over the edge into sweet bliss. Your nails of your one hand dug into his back, your other gripping his hand, that still lay entwined in yours, tightly as you cried out his name. You couldn’t care less about those who may have heard you in passing, all that mattered to you right now was this moment, spent with Benny. He wasn’t far behind you, pulling himself from you to spill all over your stomach with a groan. You giggled as he collapsed next to you, but not before grabbing something to help clean you both up. You turned and looked to him with a dreamy smile plastered to your face. “That was a nice bit of hey-hey girly. You’re a real ring-a-ding broad” he said, making you laugh at his compliment. “Not so bad yourself, handsome” you replied through your grin, feeling his hand come to rest along your hip as you both settled in beneath the covers. “Did ya really mean it when you say you dig me, baby?” He asked, wanting to make sure it wasn’t just something said in the heat of the moment, and that if it was he could properly detach his heart and move on. He wasn’t usually the type of man to show his hand, but now all his cards were out on the table for you to see. He wanted to be sure he hadn’t mistaken your words. “Of course I meant it, Benny. I ain’t a fink” you replied, your hand coming to rest against his cheek softly, your thumb rubbing his skin gently. His hand came up to rest against yours, smiling back at you. “I know you aren’t. I can always rely on you to be real with me, just makin’ sure I’m not betting a losing hand” he said, making you scoot closer to him. “Far from it. So long as you’re the cuddling type, and that this ain’t a one time thing, I’m here to stay” you replied, making him chuckle. “I’d be a dunce to quit you, baby. You’re as addicting as a gambler chasing the high of a winning streak” he complimented, making you giggle as your faces rested rather close to each other now. You smiled as you looked into his chocolate brown eyes. “What’dya say we give this a shot, you and me? Be my dame” He asked, and you couldn’t have been more delighted by the idea. “I’d like that” you answered softly with a smile, your eyes flickering between his and his lips, making him smile happily at your answer. “Yeah? You’d be mine, honey baby?” He asked. “About time you asked me, we’ve been dancin’ around each other for long enough. Don’t you think?” You asked, making him chuckle as he leaned in to kiss you. “See that right there? That’s what I like about you. I knew I made the right call” he said into your kiss, making you giggle once more. “Good. Now hush up and kiss me, would you?” You said playfully, making him hum in amusement as he kissed you like it was his last day he’d ever have by your side.

As you both pulled away for air, he couldn’t help but get lost in your eyes as he looked at you, feeling his chest grow warm with joy. Finally, he no longer had to worry about the way he felt, or wonder if you felt the same. He had you, and you had him, and to Benny that was the way he felt it should be. Like this, all felt right in the world. When he laid here in your arms, head resting against your chest, he felt at peace. He only hoped he could do the same for you. “Hold me, will ya? I swear you wore me out” he said, breaking the peaceful silence and making you giggle as your arms wrapped around him, your fingers carding through his dark hair. He let out a sound of contentment as you did, making you smile happily as you continued until you too fell blissfully asleep.

It was earlier that next morning, about the normal time the chairmen would meet up to discuss plans and all things business for the day. Swank, who normally stopped by your room to have someone by his side to talk to for the trip up to the thirteenth floor to Benny’s suite, was left rather confused when you hadn’t answered his knocks at your door. Normally you were either already out the door and waiting on him, or you’d be out the door the moment he knocked. He’d tried for a good ten minutes to get to you. He stood outside your door knocking at least five or six times, not knowing that you weren’t inside your room before finally giving up. He assumed you were either dead asleep and going to be chewed out by Benny later for being late, or up and there already and for some reason decided not to wait for him. Needless to say, it came as a bit of a shock when Swank knocked on Benny’s door, came inside, and didn’t already see you sitting there. Where were you? Had Benny sent you out for a personal errand maybe? Something didn’t feel right. “What can I pour you to drink, baby?” Benny asked as you were still in the bathroom, leaving Swank confused. He must have invited another girl up to his room, something he hadn’t done in a few months now that he came to think about it. You gave a chuckle, and soon his question about where you were was answered. “Interesting way to start off the morning, sugar. I can think of a far better way to start it than liquor could” you said suggestively, completely unaware of the added person in the room and only earning a chuckle from Benny in return. Swank watched as you walked out from the connected bathroom in nothing more than Benny’s dress shirt that looked as if it nearly swallowed you whole, clearly just fresh out of the shower. It was as you were drying your hair with a towel when you padded into the room to see Swank sitting in the chair across from Benny, leaving you wide eyed in surprise and red in the face. “Shit, Benny! You didn’t tell me you were having the meeting now!” You said, and both Benny and Swank gave a laugh from seeing you so flustered. “Busted. Now I know why I didn’t get an answer when I knocked on your door earlier” Swank said with a grin, eyeing the hickies adorning your neck that gave away what you were up to last night. His eyes soon dragged to the exposed skin of your legs, before coming back up and delighting in the slight peek of cleavage from the dress shirt you were wearing. His eyes soon came to the few hickies that seemed to peek from Benny’s collar, further answering his suspicions. “Warn a girl next time, would ya?” You asked, tossing your towel at the back of Benny’s chair before going back into the bathroom to change into your uniform and hopefully hide your embarrassment. “Have to say, rather jealous of you Ben-man. Been chasing her for a while. She seems like the real deal” Swank said after blowing his cigarette smoke out after a drag of it. “I take it you two had an…eventful night last night from the looks of it” he added, Benny chuckled with a grin that told Swank all he needed to know. “You sly dog you” he replied with a grin of his own and a laugh as he poured himself a drink. Once you stepped back out, this time in uniform, you made yourself a drink before sitting next to Benny, a dusting of red still lingering on your cheeks from embarrassment. “Been wondering why you’ve been holding off on your monthly flavors the past few months there Benny, guess I know why” Swank spoke, wiggling his eyebrows in your direction before taking a sip of his drink. “Don’t sound so jealous Swank, the girls over at Gomorrah got you wrapped around their pretty little pinky” you bit back playfully. “He’s just mad I stole a prime article from right under him” Benny teased back, making Swank laugh. “Well unless you’re just here to cock-block me from having a good morning, I suggest we get this meeting started” you spoke, making Swank grin at your sass being thrown his way as business ensued. But not to worry, you and Benny had your share of fun once you were alone again.

[mlmxreader]

Securing Reservations | Billy Butcher x m!reader

『••✎••』

↳ ❝ heyyy bud, is me Aldo on a brand new blog and I have a request :]

If you could write the prompt "Try getting a reservation at Dorsia now you fucking stupid bastard! You fucking bastard!" Whit Billy Butcher from the boys and an m!reader I would absolutely adore that!

Like maybe getting kicked out of a restaurant somehow or just him arguing whit somebody about restaurant reservations, also some soothing from the reader afterwards, anything unhinged and possibly gore-y is welcomed :]

Have a nice night too! - @slutordo ❞

: ̗̀➛ getting reservations for swank restaurants is a ball ache, but when it comes to you, Butcher is at least willing to try... however that looks.

: ̗̀➛ eyeball gore, gore, fighting, swearing, smoking

•───────────────★•♛•★──────────────•

You and Billy had decided a while ago that Sundays would be your date nights, as usually, there wasn’t much going on those days and it tended to be a lot quieter than normal; you both took turns planning where you would go and when, and while his ideas were often relatively small and intimate, yours weren’t exactly huge and extravagant either.

The biggest thing that the two of you ever did for date night was when you had had the idea of going into the city centre to check out the holiday markets that were littered along the high street; stalls adorned with various cheeses and chocolates and beers, clothing and jewellery, different little trinkets as well as every form of media from old school vinyls to blu-ray DVDs.

Billy wasn’t huge on the big and flashy, the lavish and luxurious; a pint down the pub and a takeaway chip shop meal would do just fine and he could grin and brag about it for the next week.

Yet, he knew that you deserved better than that; he scrimped and saved and skimped whatever he could, knowing that you deserved better than a pint down the pub and some shit Chinese takeaway.

He was trying his best, for fuck’s sake.

It was Saturday night, when Billy found a fancy restaurant that was taking cash reservations, but there were only a select few left, and the queue consisted of him and some fucking Vought cunt who proudly wore the company’s name on his briefcase beside his full name - Sean Patrick Bale; Billy clenched his jaw, eyeing him up.

He was muscular in build, but the type of muscle that was lended more to starvation and constant exercise rather than actual strength; neatly styled dark brown hair that came down to his white shirt collar; hazel eyes that were full of malice and contempt.

He wore a long black coat that went down to his calves, designer black shoes, designer black blazer, designer black trousers. Designer white shirt. Designer red tie with a subtle white pattern.

Billy knew the type, shallow and all shout flaunting Daddy’s money; he knew the type, middle class White men from suburbia who got into the big business because Daddy got him a high position job.

The type of cunt who went to that type of restaurant frequently; clearing his throat, Billy dared to approach, tapping him on the shoulder as he smiled falsely.

“Sean!” He hoped he sounded friendly enough as he leaned back slightly. “What are you doing here?”

Sean looked disgusted, sneering at Billy as he scoffed. “Who are you?”

Billy grinned, licking his lips. “Y’know, Donald! From accounting!”

Sean rolled his eyes, he never much cared about those on the floors beneath his office, so he sighed, and upon realising there were other people around, forced himself to smile. “Right! How could I ever forget! I’m so sorry, Donald! What are you doing here?”

Gotcha. Billy did his best not to laugh as he stuffed his hands into his pockets, smiling. “Well, I was just gonna book a reservation for me and my… partner.”

Don’t be too obvious, Butcher. He knew what Sean was like, the contempt held for anyone different. He had to watch his fucking mouth, but Sean merely shrugged as he nodded slowly. 

“What a coincidence,” Sean hummed. “So am I.”

“Tell you what,” Billy hummed, taking a quick look around. “Why don’t we got a smoke, eh? Only us two here, anyway.”

Sean was apprehensive, but shrugged as he followed Billy into the alleyway; the fucking cunt kept muttering under his breath about how much he hated to spend time with underlings, and once the two were well out of earshot and eyesight, Sean sneered at Billy once again. 

“Look, man, I’m not in any position to fucking promote scum like you,” he started, “and I’m certainly not going to fucking promote someone who dresses like he hasn’t seen an iron in years… do you even summer outside of the State? No. You’re just a-”

Billy didn’t hesitate, grabbing the back of Sean’s head and slamming it against the nearest wall; the bloody imprint stayed there as Billy dragged Sean’s face up and down the harsh bricks, slowly grating away the sloughing skin right down to the muscle.

But Billy wasn’t done, putting Sean on the floor and straddling his waist; he brought his fist up, slamming it down against his face again and again and again until he could hear the crunch of teeth falling from gums. The grinding of bone.

But the cunt was still breathing, so Billy pulled the knife from his back pocket, and shoved the blade into Sean’s eye; he could feel it pop as it deflated upon the blade, blood and fluid spurting as he dragged the knife out before slamming it into the other eye. He grinned as the blood spat upon his face. 

“Try getting a reservation at Dorsia now you fucking stupid bastard!” Billy howled, plunging the knife into Sean’s throat and dragging it down to his sternum. “You fucking bastard!”

Panting heavily, Billy got up, and wiped the blood from his face on the back of his leather jacket before he went back to the restaurant; the only one in the queue, he managed to get the very last one available, and relief crashed over him like wildfire as he smiled calmly.

He checked his phone, and nearly grinned when he realised that he had a text from you asking to meet at the end of the street; a slight skip in his step, he was surprised when you prevented him from hugging you, tilting his head and furrowing his brows. 

“What’d I do?”

You gestured to the wet patch on his leather jacket, daring to smile a little. “Care to explain?”

Billy shrugged, lighting up a cigarette and offering one to you. “Nothin’ really, just some cunt from Vought got in me way.”

“Billy,” you gently took his hand, examining his knuckles. “Look at your hand, love.”

He did as told, his gaze dropping to his knuckles for a moment before he opened his mouth to speak; but he knew that you were already a step ahead, as usual and as always, so he just raised his brow slightly, and frowned. “What?”

“I appreciate what you did,” you said soothingly, shaking your head before pressing a kiss to his bloodied and bruised knuckles. “But you don’t have to get violent, y’know. I would’ve been okay to have gone anywhere else.”

Billy scoffed, taking a step back as he lit up the two cigarettes. “Would you, though?”

You nodded, taking a long drag as you hummed. “Bills, as long as I’m with you, I’m happy to be and do whatever the fuck. I do not give a pig’s tit, as long as I’m with you.”

“I got the reservation.”

You grinned, doing your best not to laugh as you shook your head so fondly. “Fuck’s sake… you’re a nightmare, y’know, my favourite fucking nightmare.”

At that, Billy grinned. He knew that he had done right by you, and if he was honest?

The fight had taken a lot of the frustrations of the week from him as well; he was just about ready to take you home, to spend the night doing whatever you liked, and then getting to bed quite early.

He wasn’t so tense about everything, and he wasn’t so on edge either. But then he looked into your eyes, and even more of that tension dropped as he gently reached for your hand and held it rather tightly; not enough to make you uncomfortable, but enough that you would know he was actually listening, and that he did actually want you to open your mouth.

“You’re too good for me,” he told you. “Y’know that, don’t you?”

You rolled your eyes at the remark. “Billy. I’m your boyfriend. As far as I’m concerned? We’re good enough for each other as long as we’re happy.”

[yakool-foolio]

Out of all of the Amaterasu employees that we see in the game, if you had to list them from most morally good to least, how would you list them?

Obviously, they are all terrible people in multiple ways, but I'm just curious

Hmm, interesting! I haven't even really considered how much they'd be weighed on a scale for their morality. I like contemplating new ways to 'rank' characters though, and the peacekeeper higher-ups, other than Yomi (and Hitman Zilch since they basically come in a package deal in my brain), do deserve some more attention from me, so I'll give it a go! I'll just stick with ranking the higher-ups since we have the most info on what we see of them in canon, so sorry Huesca, your judgement day will have to come another time (not to mention we don't have enough info on the specifics of how bad he really was other than him 'sacrificing others for his own research' and conspiring to kill Yakou's wife, but honestly that should be enough to send him into the murky depths of the river Styx). This list will go from least morally corrupt to most morally corrupt, but I think we can already tell who's at the top.

First off, it's our lil sickly guy Seth! Poor guy honestly did the least things wrong, probably couldn't even hurt a fly if he really tried. While he did threaten to sink the sub and arrest the detectives on scene, he did give them a time limit to investigate and find the culprit. It was a very restrictive time limit, but still a chance to save themselves nonetheless. He was just doing as he was ordered to by Yomi in regards to taking money from the church, who knows what would've happened to him if he disobeyed. Guess we'll never know, sorry Seth.

Next up is Martina. I've been debating on where to put her, but honestly compared to the others, she somehow manages to scrape by as the second least morally corrupt. Most of my reasoning is due to her actively realizing that Yomi was an awful influence and resigning as a peacekeeper. No peacekeeper other than Seth had that kind of hindsight of their actions being the cause of Yomi being Yomi. Martina's above Seth on the moral corruption list cause she still actively threatened to shoot two young detectives and definitely would've pulled the trigger had she not been stopped.

Swank takes a spot right smack dab in the middle on the Amaterasu morality scale. This dude is greedy af and worked alongside Hitman Zilch to frame Yuma for the massacre on the train. And he would've gotten away with it too, if it weren't for that meddling chief! As soon as Yakou stepped into the scene, Swank's disposition took a surprising turn. He surrendered Yuma over to Yakou when he could've easily still arrested Yuma and moved on with his day. And yet, all it really took was for Yakou to say 'I'll tell WDO about your bad behavior and they'd be so mad at you >:T' and Swank took the hint and backed off. MAN DIDN'T EVEN GET BRIBED WITH MONEY! HE JUST TOOK THE L AND LEFT! That's the power of the charismatic blue father figure for ya. Honestly, Swank could've been ranked lower than Martina, but as far as we know, he never got that same sense of hindsight, so he could still be a money-grubbing, mass-murder framer to this day.

And now we move up to Guillaume and Dominic. These two are inseparable, so they shall be treated as such. I think its safe to say these guys like the thrill of hunting down Yuma and want to beat him and his allies to a pulp despite his pleas for mercy. They punch first and ask questions later. Not to mention they view all citizens as slaves, easily manipulated the power of Amaterasu. At least they gave up on harming Yuma when they were given the actual culprits, but Yuma would've easily been turned to paste if not for the detectives' intervention.

And finally, earning the top spot for most morally fucked by a landslide is Yomi! Do I even really need to go into the specifics about why this guy is so damn horrendous? Well, let's do a lightning round! Yomi hired a hitman to kill anyone who criticized or went against him (such as Yakou's wife), violently abused and almost had his 'girlfriend' killed, planned the Amaterasu Express Massacres, physically punished many of his coworkers, manipulated Yakou into killing Huesca, kicked down a dying Yakou, threatened to kill the detectives multiple times, and attempted to leak info about a militaristic experiment to create immortal soldiers to other facilities for some cash. Fuckin' bitch.

[noahl-art]

Hi!

Don't get me wrong, I don't mean it I don't like your art or anything. Really really sorry if it sounds rude, I'm just interested. So.. Are there any cis ghouls? I've just often seen you draw different ghouls as transgender.

I was just wondering about your headcanons about it and stuff..

Hey anon! 😊

No worries! As long as questions like that are asked respectfully and without bad intentions, I don't mind at all!

To be honest I don't really know 🤷 I don't have any fixed headcanons about their genders... I just vibe with it depending on what I feel like drawing! Which most of the time means they'll end up trans because that's what makes me really happy to draw!

It's more that I've spent a good part of my life drawing cis characters, and I've grown bored of it. So now, I just go full force and draw what I wish to see more represented, trans moments of joy and love, this warm feeling of community... And the ghouls just happen to be a very good vessel for these kinds of things! ✨

As always with these kind of asks I'll leave you with an extract that I love! It's by Hanneli Victoire a french transmasc author and journalist. It has been roughly translated via Deepl and corrected by my french ass so sorry if it's a bit cluncky! It's a bit long but very worth it! (link to the full french post on instagram)

The more I eat up feminist and lesbian theory, the more I understand that we don't exist. To be a man, a guy, a trans guy, a transmasculine or non-binary person is to look for yourself wherever possible, and to find yourself nowhere. Transmasculinity is a complete unthought issue in feminism, a question that is swept under the rug because no one knows what we're talking about. When you're a kid, you've got Hilary Swank getting murdered in Boys Don't Cry and not much else to tell us that being trans is shame, shit and death. Who wants to go through Preciado's or Bourcier's books to find mirrors of themselves? Who knows that Stone Butch Blues exists and that this book saves lives, even though it's far removed from activist circles? There's no space for us among lesbians, feminists, cis men or even queers. Once you've abandoned the idea of the definitive "she", and you're oscillating between "he", "they" or "it" and sometimes even a bit of "she", sexuality is a laughing matter. What are we becoming? Straight, lesbian, gay, transgender? There's nothing that really fits, and above all, we're attacked as soon as we dare to assert one or the other, because in any case, straight, queer, bi or transgender is not for us, and our bullshit erases the real holders of the title. Transmasc we're kicking up a fuss, because no one expected us to turn up in such numbers, or that we'd be in the vanguard of blowing up the hegemonic masculinities. That we'd be 1.50m tall, with huge breasts, long hair, a craving for make-up, dresses and heels, and that we'd grab the whole world by the collar and say "he" without looking down. Let's be proud of that. Of breaking down the "gender" category, and profoundly changing the face of oppression and struggle with our bodies that make everything go haywire. We're going to knock it out of the park, and we're not going to apologise. Saying, "Yes, but it's not just girls" at 100% of feminist meetings, events and speeches, and forcing people to add the cis prefix when talking about the men who ruin everything. And we know when we look like rude jerks wearing a cap, a mask or a hoodie, when we're called "sir" and we don't dare speak up because we don't want to get burnt. And we know when we have to deal T, find vial leftovers, hold hands during injections, support each other during shortages. And we know when we're sharing the names of psychiatrists, endocrinologists and surgeons to do our top surgery. And we know when it's time to start a fund-raising campaign to remind ourselves that we're beautiful, and to help each other find a new name. We know. With our non-muscular bodies, our squashed tits, our mini moustaches, our voices that go off the rails, our scars on our torsos, our outbursts when we cut our hair and our hips that are too wide. We know when we've been told to get lost, that we're scary, that we've become too masculine, that T has made us freaks, that we've joined the oppressors' camp. We know when we're in relationships with dykes, straights or fags and no one understands what kind of couple we are. We know when we date each other and no one understands, because T4T is like nothing we've ever known and we're even more exposed that way. Violence everywhere, transmasc nowhere. And yet, every time I needed help, every time I wasn't feeling well, a transmasc person was there to offer me a hand. Solidarity is in our blood, because there's nowhere else to go. Hanneli Victoire - "Transmasc, a kick in the ant hill"

[claudia1829things]

"THE BLACK DAHLIA" (2006) Review

"THE BLACK DAHLIA" (2006) Review

Judging from the reactions among moviegoers, it seemed quite obvious that director Brian DePalma’s adaptation of James Ellroy’s 1987 novel had disappointed them. The ironic thing is that I do not share their feelings.

A good number of people – including a relative of mine – have told me that they had expected "THE BLACK DAHLIA" to be a docudrama of the infamous 1947 murder case. Others had expected the movie to be an epic-style crime drama similar to the 1997 Academy Award winning film, "L.A. CONFIDENTIAL" - another Ellroy adaptation. ”THE BLACK DAHLIA” proved to be neither for many fans. For me, it turned out to be an entertaining and solid film noir that I enjoyed.

Told from the point-of-view of Los Angeles Police detective Dwight “Bucky” Bleichert (Josh Harnett), ”THE BLACK DAHLIA” told the story of how the January 1947 murder of Hollywood star wannabe, Elizabeth Short aka “The Black Dahlia” (Mia Kershner) affected Bleichert’s life and the lives of others close to him – especially his partner, Lee Blanchard (Aaron Eckhart). The story began over three years before Short’s murder when Bleichert saved Blanchard’s life during the Zoot Riots in 1943. After World War II, the pair (who also happened to be celebrated local boxers) participated in an inter-departmental boxing match to help raise support for a political bond issue that will increase pay for the LAPD, but with a slight tax increase. Although Bleichert lost the match, both he and Blanchard are rewarded by Assistant District Attorney Ellis Loew (Patrick Fischler) with promotions and transfers to the Warrants Department and the pair became partners. Bleichert not only became partners and friends with Blanchard, he also became acquainted with Blanchard’s live-in girlfriend, a former prostitute and artist named Kay Lake (Scarlett Johansson). Although Bleichert fell in love with Kay, he kept his feelings to himself, due to his relationship with Blanchard. Thanks to Blanchard’s penchant for publicity, the two partners eventually participated in the murder investigation of Elizabeth Short (nicknamed the Black Dahlia). The case not only led the pair to a rich young playgirl named Madeleine Linscott (Hillary Swank) and her family, but also into a world of prostitution, pornography, lesbian nightclubs and the dark underbelly of Hollywood life.

Written by James Ellroy and originally published in 1987, ”The Black Dahlia” became the first of four novels about the Los Angeles Police Department in the post-World War II era (”L.A. Confidential” was the third in the quartet). In my opinion, it was the best in Ellroy’s L.A. Quartet. I believe that it translated quite well to the movie screen, thanks to DePalma’s direction and Josh Friedman’s screenplay. Like the movie ”L.A. CONFIDENTIAL”, ”THE BLACK DAHLIA” turned out to be superior to its literary version. Not only did DePalma and Friedman’s screenplay recapture the ambiance of the novel’s characters and 1940s Los Angeles setting, the plot turned out to be an improvement over the novel. Especially over the latter’s chaotic finale. Despite the improvement, ”THE BLACK DAHLIA” never achieved the epic style and quality of ”L.A. CONFIDENTIAL”. If I must be frank, I really do not care. Movies like the 1997 Oscar winner are rare occurrences of near perfect quality. Just because ”THE BLACK DAHLIA” was another film adaptation of an Ellroy novel, did not mean that I had expected it to become another ”L.A. CONFIDENTIAL”.

Mark Isham’s score for the film did not turn out to be that memorable to me. All I can say is that I am grateful that he did not attempt a remake of Jerry Goldsmith’s scores for ”L.A. CONFIDENTIAL” and ”CHINATOWN”. On the other hand, I was very impressed with Vilmos Zsigmond’s photography for the film. One sequence stood out for me – namely the overhead shot that featured the discovery of Elizabeth Short’s dead body in the Leimert Park neighborhood in Los Angeles. Ironically, part of the movie was shot in Sofia, Bulgaria substituting as 1946-47 Los Angeles. Production Designer Dante Ferretti and Art Director Christopher Tandon did a solid job in disguising Sofia as Los Angeles. But there were a few times when the City of Angels seemed like it was located on the East Coast. And I could spot a few palm trees that definitely looked false. However, I really loved the set designs for Kay’s home and the lesbian nightclub where Bleichert first met Madeline. I loved Jenny Beavan’s costume designs for the film. She did an excellent job of recapturing the clothing styles of the mid-to-late 1940s and designing clothes for particular characters.

One of the movie’s best strengths turned out to be its very interesting characters and the cast of actors that portrayed them. Characters that included the ambitious and sometimes malevolent ADA Ellis Loew, portrayed with great intensity by Patrick Fischler; Rose McGowan’s bitchy and shallow Hollywood landlady/movie extra; Elizabeth Short’s frank and crude father Cleo Short (Kevin Dunn); Mike Starr’s solid portrayal of Bleichert and Blanchard’s immediate supervisor Russ Millard; and Lorna Mertz, the young Hollywood prostitute portrayed memorably by Jemima Rooper. John Kavanagh and Fiona Shaw portrayed Madeline Linscott’s parents – a Scottish-born real estate magnate and his alcoholic California society wife. Kavanagh was charming and fun in a slightly corrupt manner, but Shaw hammed it up in grand style as the alcoholic Ramona Linscott. I doubt that a lesser actress could have pulled off such a performance.

Not only were the supporting characters memorable, so were the leading characters, thanks to the performances of the actors and actresses that portrayed them. I was very impressed by Mia Kershner’s portrayal of the doomed Elizabeth Short. She managed to skillfully conveyed Short’s desperation and eagerness to become a Hollywood movie star in flashbacks shown in the form of black-and-white audition clips and a pornographic film clip. At first, I found Scarlett Johansson as slightly too young for the role of Kay Lake, the former prostitute and artist that both Bleichert and Blanchard loved. She seemed a bit out of her depth, especially when she used a cigarette holder to convey her character’s sophistication. Fortunately, Johansson had ditched the cigarette holder and Kay’s so-called sophistication and portrayed the character as a warm and pragmatic woman, who turned out to be more emotionally mature than the other characters. I found Aaron Eckhart’s performance as the passionate, yet calculating Lee Blanchard great fun to watch. He seemed funny, sharp, verbose, passionate and rather manic all at once. There were times when his character’s growing obsession toward the Black Dahlia case seemed to border on histrionics. But in the end, Eckhart managed to keep it all together. Another performance I truly enjoyed was Hillary Swank’s portrayal of the sensual, rich playgirl Madeline Linscott. Just by watching Swank on screen, I got the impression that the actress had enjoyed herself playing Madeline. I know I had a ball watching her reveal the charming, yet dark facets of this interesting character.

Ellroy’s novel had been written in the first person – from the viewpoint of LAPD detective, Dwight “Bucky” Bleichert. Which meant that the entire movie had to focus around the actor who portrayed Bleichert. I once heard a rumor that Josh Harnett became interested in the role before casting for the movie actually began. In the end, many critics had either dismissed Hartnett’s performance or judged him incapable of portraying a complex character. Personally, I found their opinions hard – even impossible – to accept. For me, Harnett did not merely give a first-rate performance. He ”was” Dwight “Bucky” Bleichert. One must understand that Bleichert was a difficult role for any actor – especially a non-showy role that also had to keep the story together. Throughout the movie, Harnett, DePalma’s direction and Friedman’s script managed to convey the many complexities of Bleichert’s personality without being overtly dramatic about it. After all, Dwight was basically a quiet and subtle character. Harnett portrayed the character’s growing obsession with both the Black Dahlia case and Madeline Linscott without the manic and abrupt manner that seemed to mark Blanchard’s obsession. You know what? I really wish I could say more about Harnett’s performance. But what else can I say? He perfectly hit every nuance of Bleichert’s personality. I personally believe that Dwight Bleichert might be his best role to date.

I wish I could explain or even understand why ”THE BLACK DAHLIA” had flopped at the box office. Some have complained that the film had failed to match the epic qualities of ”L.A. CONFIDENTIAL”. Others have complained that it failed as a docudrama that would solve the true life murder of Elizabeth Short. And there have been complaints that Brian DePalma’s editing of a film that was originally three hours ruined it. I had never expected the movie to become another ”L.A. CONFIDENTIAL” (which did a mediocre job at the box office) – a rare case of near Hollywood perfection. I really do not see how a three hour running time would have helped ”THE BLACK DAHLIA”. It was a complex story, but not as much as the 1997 film. Hell, the novel was more straightforward than the literary L.A. Confidential”. And since the Hollywood publicity machine had made it clear that the movie was a direct adaptation of the novel, I found the argument that ”THE BLACK DAHLIA” should have been a docudrama that would solve Short’s murder rather ludicrous. Since I had read the novel back in the late 90s, I simply found myself wondering how DePalma would translate it to the movie screen.

In the end, I found myself more than satisfied with ”THE BLACK DAHLIA”. It possessed a first-rate cast led by a superb performance from Josh Harnett. Screenwriter Josh Friedman’s screenplay turned out to be a solid job that slightly improved Ellroy’s novel – especially the finale. And director Brian DePalma did an excellent job of putting it all together. I highly recommend it – if one does not harbor any high expectations.

[nekioka]

Seven is a lucky number - 1/5

Next

(Cut panels and ramblings (but mostly ramblings) under the cut)

Here we go, part one of this comic project! Originally I meant this to be read a bit like a webtoon, as one long comic, but since long images get blurry on tumblr I had to cut the comic to "pages". It's really bugging me that these pages are different sizes, but it is what it is!

So this part is mostly about setting things up. I needed to show Bingo doing something cruel and the fact that Benny doesn't like it. Even though the game literally starts with him shooting the player in the head I've always got a feeling that violence isn't usually his first choice.

In the end I decided to have Bingo scalp some unfortunate person. It honestly made me uncomfortable to draw it (for multiple reasons!) but in-game Swank did say this:

"Without Mr. House, we'd still be wearing gecko skins, poking around the ruins with pointy sticks and scalping people for giggles."

I'm still second guessing if I should have made Bingo do something else instead...

Other events of this page are inspired by these lines from Benny:

"We were east of Vegas when the first Securitron we ever saw rolled up on us. We junked it in a minute flat."

"The next day twenty roll up. So we listened."

Unfortunately I didn't keep my original sketches for this page, but late in the process I did change two panels from the first page. Since I had almost finished doing lineart I saved them. Here they are:

[pyropsychiccollector]

Yuma Harem: Down Came the Rain 1/7

Time to begin the third series~... I wanted to make sure to do all of the poll winners first, so that's the initial reason for spreading the love between series. :3 And now it's Rain Code's turn~...

As always, this will be an AU. Rain Code killed off... a good half of this harem. And Guillaume might as well be dead for all that she drops off the map after Chapter 3... XD So Fubuki and Kurumi are the only canon survivors. And the game ends on a pretty somber note with Yuma just leaving after regaining his memories, moving onto the next adventure. Very typical in shounen series, honestly. It's not "bad", just...

I want to fix things. (人◕ω◕) Too much death. Too much hurting the Kokohead. The Kokomelon, as some fans might affectionately call him. (人◕ω◕) And moreover, the "Yuma" we come to know "dies" as he regains his memories. Sure, it's strongly hinted that his feelings and experiences are just integrated into his original self... But we don't know the former #1 of the WDO. We know "Yuma", the amnesiac. Maybe Yuma had principles before he gave up his memories, maybe he did have morals... But if Makoto showed us anything, he was frankly a ruthlessly cunning individual that crossed any line in order to reach the truth. You can see this in how he assigned a great many detectives to Kanai Ward, and most of them died.

... I know I'm rambling, but the point I wanted to make is that I'll be focusing on the Yuma that we know. Not that the former #1 isn't interesting to think about... But Yuma has heart, you know? I wish to reward that. Reward the nice guys. Reward the goobers. (人◕ω◕) It does mean Shinigami will be sticking around, and you could count her as an unofficial member of the harem (... I mean, c'mon. What? You want Shinigami to bonk her Master silly in the Mystery Labyrinth? Perverts. (人◕ω◕) Not that I'm much better.)... But as you'll see, I've tweaked the idea of Mystery Labyrinths. If Kodaka's going to have a game just short of Persona, I'm gonna go "all the way" with those ideas. Put my own spin on the concepts. (人◕ω◕) I regret nothing.

The Beginning

To absolutely no one's surprise... Kurumi won the poll. lol I don't mind, she's essentially "Detective Chiaki". Finally, a series where "Chiaki" lives... For those who played Danganronpa, they were just brutal with her, tearing out and stomping on our hearts. Again and again. XD As a consequence, though, Kodaka killed off just about everyone else. ... He just can't let us be happy, can he? (人◕ω◕)***

But this lets me get Kurumi-chan outta the way. Again, not that she's bad... She's honestly a really sweet girl, and I won't pretend otherwise. It's just that we know Kurumi's story, know her dynamic with Yuma. And I personally like saving my dessert - that is, the girls that I most strongly support with the protagonist - for last. ... Didn't completely work out for Fate, but aw well. (人◕ω◕)

... I'm rambling again. There's stuff I gotta elaborate on. The first thing to note in this AU is that through a miracle, the train gang - the detectives that Yuma first got to know before reaching Kanai Ward - are all spared, save for Zilch. What ended up happening is that Yuma passed out in front of the detectives, fell over and bumped his head. This allowed the detectives to figure out that he was drugged - likely by the coffee he drank - and the fake Zilch was left to improvise and have Swank and the Peacekeepers deal with the detectives after faking his death to pin on the detectives.

Yuma still goes to the Mystery Labyrinth and Shinigami executes fake Zilch at the end of it. Yakou still arrives to help get the Peacekeepers off Yuma and friends' backs, and they all successfully make it to the Nocturnal Detective Agency. I bring up this background information just so there's not any confusion about Pucci's survival, later on... And why I'll be bringing up the train detectives in subsequent Chapters. XD

Chapter 1 still goes the same way. So we'll skip right to the relevant bits: the Aetheria Academy arc. Chapter 2. (人◕ω◕)

Chapter 2 is... more changes. Due to a few more detectives moving around in Kanai Ward (Pucci, Aphex, Zange, Melami), the NDA is a little more known. Which is why one of the "Aetheria trio" (Yoshiko, Waruna, Kurane) approaches Yuma first, as opposed to Kurumi. Kurane-chan wanted to desperately explore one last non-violent option to expose Karen, and avoid blackening Waruna and Yoshiko's souls. (人◕ω◕)

... I won't go into full details just yet, save that for the appropriate posts. However, I will say that Kurane's actions do wind up saving herself, Waruna, and Yoshiko from becoming killers. It doesn't all go to plan, and they do throw Yuma under the bus when crap hits the fan... But they live, and are able to atone for screwing Yuma over. The Aetheria trio still has futures. (人◕ω◕)

With all this background explained... Let's talk about Kurumi~ Because Kurane was the first to approach Yuma, Kurumi is initially unaware of who "Yumi", one of the new girls at the academy, is. She doesn't know he's a detective looking into Aiko's death (Kurane is testing him, which is why she didn't give him all the details), just that "Yumi" cares enough to ask about Aiko and what happened to her. ... And "Yumi" is rather cute. Kurumi-chan totally fangirls over Yuma's female disguise that he got from Desuhiko. Fooled into thinking he is a girl, and just another student at the academy. (人◕ω◕)

Kurumi and Yuma hit it off pretty well. For the week or so leading up to the fateful rehearsal, Yuma pokes around, trying to pinpoint the truth behind Aiko's death, whether it was a suicide or if someone killed her. Initially, Kurumi tries putting the brakes on his investigation because Yuma's a "civilian", and she doesn't want him getting in trouble with the Peacekeepers... But after Yuma half-lies and says he has connections with the new detective agency in town, promising to get them involved if Kurumi lets him investigate... Kurumi allows it, and gives her all in supporting "Yumi".

... Then the rehearsal happens, and "Yumi" stands accused of Karen's murder. Kurumi is still kept out of the loop as Yuma, Desuhiko, and Melami give the Peacekeepers the runaround while investigating the new murder case. She does what she can for "Yumi" by asking the theater club members and comforting them, but unfortunately Kurumi's not able to do too much with all the Peacekeepers locking the theater hall down.

It's not until after everything blows over that Kurumi finds out the truth about "Yumi". ... I mean, she saw him exposed as a man when Martina cornered the detectives on stage, but she wouldn't get the full story until the case's bumpy resolution. Kurumi didn't take it very hard she was kept in the dark for so long; Yuma had his reasons, and while he couldn't keep a new murder from happening he did help expose the truth and bring closure to Aiko's death. And it was a relief that her doubts about Yoshiko, Waruna, and Kurane could be put to rest. All four of them were close friends of Aiko, and it hurt that Aiko is gone... But they're able to move forward now, even if the trio has regrets and feel they need to atone in their own ways.

Kurumi helps Yuma with his investigation into Kanai Ward, filling him in on the information her grandfather uncovered before he disappeared. That Amaterasu was dabbling in homunculus research. Kanai Ward is still a broken city in dire need of hope, but Kurumi feels more optimistic now that detectives have finally arrived. The perpetual rain feels a little less oppressing~

The Middle Act

Kurumi bonds with Yuma and the other detectives in the coming weeks. (人◕ω◕) Kurane does, too, clinging to Yuma pretty hard... And Waruna and Yoshiko come around at their own paces. The bottom line is, Yuma becomes a good friend to the Aetheria girls. (人◕ω◕) He can never replace Aiko... But he fills the role she left behind. Yuma's an earnest, kindhearted young man that won't stand for injustice. Yet he won't give into despair, won't stoop to murder or similar extreme methods. The ends don't justify the means. In his unwavering beliefs and how he slowly gains confidence the more time he spends in Kanai Ward, Yuma helps the Aetheria girls to remain grounded. He helps them to have hope once more. (人◕ω◕)

Of course Yuma's got a giant target painted on his back because of the Peacekeepers running everything, but Kurumi stands by Yuma. Not just because she's the city's only informant, but because Yuma is her friend. And he helped her connect with Yoshiko, Waruna, and Kurane.

... So when Yomi still nukes the sub, a couple of weeks after the Aetheria case... Kurumi is swept up into urgency by Kurane, who's the most worried about Yuma, especially after he gets spirited away by the Resistance... It's not like there's much they can do. Needless to say, Chapter 3 is pretty rough for the Aetheria girls. While Waruna and Yoshiko are still in the middle of reflecting and bonding with the detectives at their own respective paces, and while they have varying doubts about how much the detectives can really impact Kanai Ward's situation with Amaterasu... They still didn't wish harm on the detectives. Not after being given a new lease on life. Kurumi and Kurane are the closest with the detectives, and it hurts to see the sub blown up, to not know if the other detectives are alive... To know that someone kidnapped Yuma...

And later, events go further downhill. Yuma and the detectives get pinned as bombers, as terrorists... The Aetheria girls have to be careful with the Peacekeepers suffocating Kanai Ward more than usual in their hunt for the detectives, but they can't just stand by and not help Yuma find the truth behind the new case. Marunomon District doesn't get flooded this time around, but bombs going off and killing people is still... pretty bad... Kurumi does everything she can as an informant to glean as much evidence and testimony as possible. And Kurane looks to her, emulating Kurumi in her own way. Kurane's greatest strength is that people rarely notice her, even the bumbling Peacekeepers that are so dead-set on tracking down Yuma. It's an awesome investigative power, and Kurumi's grateful to have Kurane's help in gathering clues. Waruna and Yoshiko help in their own ways; Waruna's the fiery, overprotective girl, the "muscle"; and Yoshiko has... connections. Mostly schoolmates, but she's on good terms with people outside the academy, too.

Regardless of Kurumi and the Aetheria trio's help, Yuma, Aphex, and Fubuki still end up cornered. ... And then through some miracle, all the detectives come out of the woodwork, and they're saved and the Peacekeepers grudgingly stand down when Amaterasu's CEO shows up. Kurumi's not sure what to make of Makoto, he seems like a pretty laidback guy, but there are undertones of... something more, beneath the surface. He saved the detectives, saved Yuma, but Kurumi can't help wondering what Makoto's angle is. And she's even more baffled when the CEO gives the detectives their sub back, with everything inside pretty much the same as it was before it got destroyed.

About a month flies by before they all know it, after that debacle. The detectives are all reunited, Kurumi and the Aetheria trio can still hang around them, and even the Resistance leaders are coming around now... Kurumi was a bit intimidated by the Resistance before the detectives came to the city, only really having rumors to go off of. But really, the Resistance leaders are pretty goofy, even if they're capable in their own right. They're not as extreme as the rumors would have you believe.

With all of them coming together, it really feels like they can effect change in Kanai Ward. The Peacekeepers are still wary of the detectives, still want to arrest them... Or at least some of them do. Kurumi begins noticing that some Peacekeepers are, however grudgingly, allowing the detectives to look into cases. At least the small-time stuff. ... If Amaterasu is linked at all in incidents, they're still pretty defensive and ornery. But there's a lot of crime in Kanai Ward, and Amaterasu isn't tied in everything... Just the most serious stuff.

And with Vivia's latest intel, they've been trying to locate a secret lab where the homunculus research is being conducted. To no avail, but it's the best lead they have to go on. And so a month after that last debacle... Kurumi is anxious when the detectives go straight to Amaterasu and get wrapped up in another incident. She, her friends, and the Resistance can't do much but wait for the detectives to come back, and it's an agonizing wait...

Thankfully, the detectives do make it out of Amaterasu's HQ in one piece. And they bring good news: Yomi's been arrested, and it truly seems like Kanai Ward will change for the better after this. Kurumi's glad. The detectives still have their mission of discovering Kanai Ward's Ultimate Secret... But for the first time in years, Kanai Ward seems to have a bright future ahead of them.

... To Kurumi and everyone else's dismay, however, the tragedies aren't over yet. Apparently, after they see the news of the World Detective Organization getting bombed, everyone in the sub at the time is knocked out. And when they wake back up... Yuma is gone. Nothing else was taken, no threatening note was left behind... Yuma's just disappeared.

They all have a bad feeling about this. The detectives are determined to settle this themselves, to keep the "civilians" out of harm's way... But Kurumi, the Aetheria trio, and the Resistance absolutely refuse to sit this one out. While the detectives go straight to Amaterasu HQ to confront them about Yuma's abduction, the Aetheria girls and the Resistance scour Kanai Ward, just on the off chance that Yuma was taken by someone else...

To their great horror and discomfort, however... Yuma is nowhere to be found. They investigate hard over the next two days... The detectives return with their conclusion Yuma isn't in Amaterasu, they were even allowed free roam of the Amaterasu premises by Peacekeepers and researchers alike. And... he wasn't there. The Aetheria girls and the Resistance didn't have any luck, either - no one had seen or heard from Yuma. It's like he disappeared from the world completely...

And that's around the time that the detectives decided it was time to confront the one area they'd left untouched: The Restricted Area. If Yuma was nowhere in the Kanai Ward that they knew... Then he had to be there. Determined to save Yuma, everyone bands together to bust into the Restricted Area, rules and laws be damned. (人◕ω◕) They take one of the Resistance's vans and use it like a battering ram to plow through the electric fence around the perimeter of the Restricted Area. Then they take another van and drive on through the opening, not trusting at all what might be on the other side...

The Restricted Area is unlike anything they'd seen in Kanai Ward. It was rundown, and it seemed like an older area of the city, nowhere near as bright and illuminating as the rest of the city. It was like... darkness lurked in the Restricted Area. A deep darkness that made Kurumi feel anxious and worried, but they needed to take the plunge and find Yuma at all costs... He... He had to be there. There was nowhere left. No other possibilities. Kurumi and everyone else were unable to accept the possibility that it was too late to save Yuma... that he was already gone.

After finding that the Restricted Area was not an easy place to navigate by car, and that the people roaming about it seemed... strange somehow... the "Yuma Rescue Squad" got out to explore the area on foot. Servan and Aphex would stay with the van, driving around where they could and keeping an eye out. But the detectives, Kurumi, the Aetheria trio, and Shachi, and Iruka all split up to cover the most ground. They weren't dumb enough to search on their own, not in such unfamiliar territory; they formed pairs or groups. Kurumi stuck with her friends, and bravely forged on ahead.

... It was such a spooky, spine-tingling place. The locals were gruff and unresponsive to them, and not a single teenager was keen on approaching them more closely. They vaguely knew that this area was rumored to have had a gas leak in the nearby mines, and that Amaterasu labeled this town as uninhabitable... So maybe the locals were so strange because of that gas leak. Amaterasu might not have been able to do anything for the people here.

All Kurumi could do was keep searching for Yuma... He had to be okay. He had to be. Seeing this place so desolate and brought to utter ruination... A heavy weight was in Kurumi's chest and refused to go away. If Yuma was here, there was a good chance that he hadn't eaten or slept well... But they would save him. They wouldn't leave a single stone unturned.

To their immense relief, Kurane was able to find Yuma after what must have been an hour... He was holed up in a random house, after barricading the door and windows. Yuma... Yuma was bleeding. It looked like someone or something had tried gnawing his shoulder and neck, and his clothes were all roughed up. Kurumi and Yoshiko did what they could, scrounging around for any First Aid supplies in the home, bandaging Yuma up and sterilizing his wounds. He was horrified at seeing them in the abandoned village, fearfully asking if they'd encountered anyone... If everyone else had come here.

Yuma was not that relieved to hear that was the case. When asked what had happened to him, why he was holed up here, all Yuma could say was that the people in this village were wrong... They weren't normal. Weren't sane. He even went so far as to call them zombies... Yuma wasn't sure how or why he was brought here, but they needed to round up everyone and leave. He didn't want to endanger his friends...

He didn't feel that he was worth the effort to come here. Yuma had been prepared to just die trapped in this abandoned house. But now all he wants is to just get everyone safely out of the village... go back where they came. If they have to leave him behind, so be it.

Yoshiko and Waruna gave Yuma an earful about his self-sacrificial attitude, and Kurumi and Kurane just did their best to comfort him. They'd make it out... But Kurumi came to the realization that they should investigate this place. Yes, safety was paramount... But if they just left, Yuma could get dragged back here by whoever kidnapped him. Hell, the Peacekeepers might punish them for breaking in here, or they'd just seal off the Restricted Area again... This was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to find out what this place was, what happened here, and why Yuma was brought here.

... Kurane doesn't like the thought of lingering somewhere that almost got Yuma killed, but Waruna and Yoshiko uneasily agree that Kurumi's right. They can't just... leave without answers. They'll look around while searching for the Resistance and the detectives.

In subsequent events, they skirt around the locals that Yuma's deeply fearful of. They investigate an old post office, and find the order to evacuate amidst papers left behind. Soon enough familiar faces show up, and the girls have no choice but to believe the "zombie" story that Yuma fed them. There's no other explanation for seeing Karen and her father approaching them sluggishly, moaning and groaning incomprehensibly. They make a run for it, and somebody outside shoots an arrow attached with a note that explained a little bit about defective homunculi... They don't have the time to sit and reflect on it, so they keep moving, and eventually run into the Priest from the church, as well as that Worshipper. And before long, more and more familiar faces emerge from the woodwork, none of them can be reasoned with so Yuma and the girls keep running.

Gradually, they hook back up with the other Rescue Squad members, who are thankfully in one piece, if not spooked by the seemingly cannibalistic residents. They eventually reach the ominous factory, and uncover more information about homunculi and the true nature of Kanai Ward. Some Rescue Squad members are already in the factory and surrounding areas, poking around. They learn the uncomfortable truth that the meat buns of Kanai Ward are made from human corpses, and they just keep learning more and more...

The final "stop" on their tour is an old bathhouse up high. They all can see this is where the unending rain originates from, and when they turn off the equipment... everyone but the detectives pass out, and the residents of the abandon village go berserk. Makoto arrives to restore the rain, but only after Yuma "lends a hand". Right after the rain is back, Makoto and the detectives have a tense standoff, and Yuma has no choice but to access the Mystery Labyrinth one more time to resolve everything. Thankfully, however, he's not alone as all the Nocturnal Detective Agency personnel join Yuma on this last eye-opening adventure. (人◕ω◕)

The Future

Players should probably know by now how the final adventure goes. (人◕ω◕) Yuma uncovers everything, and this time he's got his NDA friends supporting him, not just Shinigami. It's an emotional rollercoaster for all of them... But they get Makoto to change his ways, to leave the labyrinth and reveal the truth without killing him.

I haven't really mentioned up until now, but the chief difference with the labyrinths from canon is that it's possible to talk it out with the culprits' souls and have them reveal the truth to everyone outside the labyrinth. There's no need to execute the culprit every single time. With the soul returning to the culprit, changed, the labyrinth fades away on its own. So essentially, Yuma and co. won't have to use Shinigami's emergency exit. (人◕ω◕) Shinigami can remain contracted to Yuma.

Of course that means Yuma won't regain his memories... But he's fine with that in the end~ Because all the mysteries have been solved. Makoto is going to tell Kanai Ward everything, and he's going to strive to open their city up to the world and allow them opportunities to leave. Amaterasu will develop innovations to help them deal with their weakness to sunlight. Hearing the truth will be hard for the citizens, especially for the Rescue Squad... But the people of Kanai Ward will endure.

And the NDA... Well... (人◕ω◕) Yakou thinks he'll be on his own again, everyone else returning to the WDO for new assignments... But he's floored when he's wrong. Yuma, for one, resolves to stay and help the NDA. Kanai Ward still needs detectives... They're at a crossroads now, with Peacekeepers receiving a major overhaul, Amaterasu coming back from years of corruption. Yuma might not have the memories, but he knows that he used to be #1 of the WDO, and as he currently is... He can't lead the organization. Yuma would rather work here, where he knows he can still make a difference. (人◕ω◕) The train gang that he came here with pretty much agree to stay, too, for their own reasons. Desuhiko, Halara, Vivia, and Fubuki will at least go back to the WDO for the election to decide the new #1, but then they'll probably come back to help as detectives~ Their time here wasn't long, but they're loyal to each other and to Yakou. It's enough to make the poor guy bawl his eyes out. He's touched. (人◕ω◕)

Kurumi graduates from Aetheria Academy soon after everything resolves, and she remains the city's informant - although with the detectives' help, she may find new informants willing to step up, to learn from her~ Yuma remained here because of his bonds with the few people of Kanai Ward that he's gotten to know these past several weeks. He has an ever-deepening bond with Kurumi and her friends, and the Resistance.

Yuma still has plans to travel the world someday... He may or may not settle in Kanai Ward forever... But he's in no rush to leave. And even if he ever does depart, Yuma will have a bunch of... buddies... tagging along. (人◕ω◕) ... Alright, they're his girlfriends. No use beating around the bush. He can't deny that he loves them all, and they love him. ... A lot. (人◕ω◕) Sure, certain girls are more competitive and greedy... But Kurumi's one of the ones willing to share Yuma. Yoshiko, Waruna, Kurane, Fubuki, Pucci... They're all good people. She wouldn't keep Yuma from them~

... Guillaume is an interesting one, but more on her later. (人◕ω◕)

Surprisingly, Kurumi is slower on the "I wanna marry Yuma" campaign... She's content to just be with him. Yoshiko, Waruna, and Kurane are more ambitious. ... Or in Kurane's case, she just... needs him. Very badly. (人◕ω◕) Pucci is ambitious, too. Fubuki more goes with the flow. Guillaume is... Guillaume. There's no rush for baby Yuma's, either. Not for Kurumi, at least. Not to say Kurumi wouldn't like having a family with Yuma; the idea is very appealing. It's just... Kurumi's deeply flustered with that intimate stuff. The really, really intimate stuff. Hugs and kisses are great, she likes cuddling, but taking off clothes and doing..... that... Kurumi's not horny. It's too embarrassing for her. In the beginning, anyway. Kurumi is beaten out by her friends in this instance; each of them having their reasons for craving Yuma on that physical level. (人◕ω◕)

Nevertheless, Kurumi does form a family with Yuma someday. Makoto was gracious enough to give Yuma and his ladies residence in Kanai Tower, and later he also helps oversee the building of a proper "home" for all of them... Of course it has to be big. There's seven of them plus Yuma. And then you throw in their kids... Yuma's life is very busy with seven lovers, but he doesn't regret loving them. (人◕ω◕) Kurumi's one of the gentler, "fun" moms. And she's second in maturity, only losing out to Yoshiko on that front. ... But that's cuz Yoshiko's used to being a mother figure, even before her children were born.

The rain never stops in Kanai Ward... But now Kurumi and everyone else knows it's there to protect them. And with the NDA alive and thriving in the new Kanai Ward... With Yuma there... Life had never been sweeter for Kurumi-chan. (人◕ω◕)

[biggie-chcese]

ship ask game. points at you ominously. My Wawa

THE WAWA!!! beloved... of course my liege

(spoilers for halara's DLC and chapter 4)

Yuma - 12/10 and you may be wondering "wait this ranking is different from the yuma post" my rankings are relative and dynamic. keeps you on your toes. this is hands down my favorite halara ship they are among my favorite dynamics in the game hands down. i am just super enamored with the sides of themselves they draw out in their gumshoe gabs

Yakou - 5/10 this is one i like more platonically but like im down for it. i really love the their interactions in the DLC and halara saving yakou was really epic

Desuhiko - 6/10 i just think this one is funny. i dont see them being serious but desuhiko is definitely their side bitch

Fubuki - 8/10 this one's cute. i don't think about it much but the DLC definitely sold me on it. halara placing trust in fubuki's abilities is a pretty big thing and it's really nice to see how fubuki kinda brings out halara's softer side

Vivia - 4/10 there is something that can be said about their conflicting work ethics and philosophies as detectives, especially from the group confrontation in chapter 4, but it still doesn't personally compel me enough to brainrot over this one

Shinigami - 4/10 i like the fact that shinigami canonically said she was pretty okay with the idea of having a threesome with halara but other than that im not that interested

Zilch (Real) - 9/10 yeah these two should bond over their love of animals and i follow the "zilch's ears are organically attached to him also he has a tail" headcanon which i think halara would love. that's halara's pet freak

Swank - 6/10 picture this: halara visits the biggest casino in kanai ward and gets into a win streak in poker. they're attracting a crowd. swank is there gambling his blood money and goes to check the commotion to see halara at the center of it. their eyes meet, and there's this spark of competition. they play a long and tense game of poker- one in which halara comes out on top. swank is seething at his loss, but he also cannot deny the heat in his loins after spending all evening closely observing every detail of halara's face. halara sends him a wink, and the scene insta-cuts to them making out nasty style in a luxury suite. later that night, they both indulge in expensive gourmet foods and aged wine, bonding over the people they've swindled money out of. when the sun begins to peek over the horizon to mark a new day, halara dismisses themselves and returns to the NDA with brand new peacekeeper insider information. all according to keikaku

[danses-with-dogmeat]

☠️🦖 with “You only care about yourself.” For Benny?????

Dayum, yeah, this is a good one. Benny deserves some shit. I love the guy, but... yeah, he still deserves some angst.

I hope you like it! 😁

And sorry about the cliff hanger, but... I thought it was more fun that way 😈

"W-what?"

"Take care of The Tops for me," He repeated, more slowly this time, "And tell Swank no hard feelings, 'kay?"

Six's face was contorted with confusion, their head shaking mutely as Benny sheathed Maria in it's holster and wiped the dust from his iconic checkered suit jacket.

"Where are you going?"

"Well, sweet cheeks," He adjusted a cuff link as he spoke, "You made it transpicuous as a wedding rock that House is the big man on top at the strip, and that he's got more than a fat cat's share of robot goons to do his dirty, so, I'm turning tail. No other options, really, not when he knows how, ah, fond of him I am."

"But I saved you Benny, I... Even after you left me, after you refused to trust me, after we..." Six bit their lip, a heat rushing to their cheeks involuntarily as the memories of their shared night washed over them.

"Look honey, that wasn't on you." He smiled at them, almost patronizingly, "That night... it lives fond as an old friend in my cranium... and in my 'hey hey', if you know what I mean." He winked at them, an action leaps and bounds more charming than the words leaving his curled lips.

"But it just can't be done. You seen what those tin cans are capable of, and now he's got oodles of the damn things. That's not a game we can win, cherry pie."

"Not if we don't try, but... I just took down half the Legion for you." Six gestured behind them, to the plumes of smoke rising from the rubble of Caesar's tent, their eyes pleading as they tried to keep their voice firm. "It can be done, if we do it together, if you let me--"

"Toots, we're in over our heads on this one. I know you believe in us, and that's a sweet sentimentality, but it ain't ammunition, it ain't enough, baby."

His hand felt like an affront as it grazed over their cheek, the roughness of his knuckles a stark contrast to their smooth cheekbone. Six's own hand moved slowly upwards, an ache traveling from their chest up their left arm as they reached out to grasp his wrist and pull it away.

"It's not enough for you, you mean." They stared ahead, almost blankly, numbly as his words, at the memory of his actions set in and took firm hold of their conscience. "I'm not enough. Nothing is, or ever will be enough for you. You've only ever cared about yourself. All this time, I thought..."

Their hands tightened into fists by their sides, and Benny's eyes flashed down to them, fear shining there for a brief moment as he took a step back.

"You know what?" They continued, still refusing to look directly at him, "It doesn't matter what I thought. About you. About us. Because it doesn't matter to you. Nothing I say or do will change the fact that..."

Their chest pounded, another cruel ache making them flinch, making their teeth grit as they spoke.

"That you're just another asshole who thinks the world owes him something. Even after all the shitty things you've done."

"Baby..." He started, his voice more uncertain than they'd ever heard it, "You can't mean that, I... Let's not end it this way, huh? We had a good run, you an' me."

"Yeah?" Finally, the courier's gaze snapped to him, searing through his false sense of security like an iron brand. "A 'good run?' You tried to kill me, Benny, and I forgave you. I found you, slept with you, and you left me before the sun rose." Benny shrunk away as they stepped closer, feeling caged in, even among the vast bleakness of the Mojave.

"I just saved your fucking life, something you would never do in return, offered to help you take down House, offered to forgive you again for all the bullshit you've put me through, and again you try to leave me. Now you have the fucking gall to say that 'we had it good?' Are you serious?"

He swallowed hard as they glared at him, their nose less than a breath away from his as their scowl ruled his vision.

"I could kill you now." They whispered lowly, their tone frigid as cutting winter winds, icy enough to send a chill down the chairman's spine. "Return the favor, you know."

His eyes darted briefly to the prominent scar above their brow, and Maria's holster felt like solid lead upon his hip.

"Y-you don't mean that, Six." He tried, his voice shaking, "All this trouble you gone to, just to scatter me to dust. What was all this worth, then, huh?"

"Nothing." Six's furrowed glare was unyielding. "It was worth nothing at all."

[anotherprojectsekai-nah]

■□■□■□■□■

Saint Mary of the Infirmary, Maria Akeboshi - DARK STEAL (Main Story) Part 3

■□■□■□■□■

When all hopes are to be lost, a woman who's grace is undeniably blissful shall save all from salvation. But who she is, isn't what most will expect of someone with hidden motives.

Previous Part - Next Part

(Saint Spring Infirmary Room)

Woman in labcoat: Quietly humming

Step, Step, Step

Woman in labcoat: "...?"

Kuro: "Excuse me, but is this the infirmary? We got someone injured."

Woman in labcoat: "Huh?"

Woman in labcoat: "Oh dear. What happened?"

Kuro: "They tripped and almost fell from the stairs."

Kuro: "Besides, we also have some questions to you after you help that student out."

Woman in labcoat: "I see, very well."

Woman in labcoat: "While at it, do you want some tea as you wait?"

Kuro: "...Sure. Do you want some aswell Swank?"

Swank: "I guess."

...

(A Few Minutes later)

Woman in labcoat: "Do make sure to not trip, ok?"

Student A: "Yes Maria sensei. Thank you."

Kuro: "..."

Kuro: "...So."

Woman in labcoat: "?"

Kuro: "Your name is Maria? Am I not wrong?"

Woman in labcoat: "Oh, it's actually Maria Akeboshi in full, but you are correct about my 1st name."

Maria: "How exactly did you know?"

Kuro: "I listened to what the student here said while you were talking to them."

Maria: "Really? Well, you seem quite a good listener, but on the contrary, you wanted to ask me some questions right?"

Kuro: "Yes, that would be that."

Kuro: "...Ah, right. We forgot to introduce ourselves. My name is Kuro Starling, this man who is with me is Swank Catsonell."

Maria: "Kuro Starling, and Swank Catsonell."

Maria: "Hm, I see, I think I heard of one of you from the students in class."

Kuro: "Really?"

Maria: "Yes, it's quite surprising, but on the questions of yours. What did you want to ask me about?"

Kuro: "That? Well, we were asked to work on a case that had happened here about 2 students."

Kuro: "Do you perhaps know of these two individuals? Mr Kowase Tsubasa, and Miss Shikimi Kumiru. It was said that they went missing with no traces of where or reason of why."

Kuro: "Do you know anything about what happened to them?"

Maria: "..."

Maria: "...No. I actually don't, it has been several months or days or so, I have never seen them come back to school yet."

Kuro: "Is that so?"

Maria: "Yes, that is all."

Kuro: "Well then, next question, do you know any students that died? Mostly by being manipulated to do the thing they shouldn't do."

Maria: "..."

Kuro: "..Miss Maria? Is something wrong?"

Maria: "...? Oh, it's nothing."

Swank: "Nothing?"

Maria: "Yes, nothing at all."

Kuro: "Miss Maria, if there's anything you wish to talk about, just call us. Ok?"

Maria: "Ok then, is there anything else you want to ask me?"

Swank: "Yeah, I have one."

Maria: "And what is it?"

Swank: "Who was that person who made that student, you treated earlier, trip down the stairs?"

Maria: "Oh, who do you mean by that?"

Swank: "I meant by the white haired kid."

Maria: "...You mean Kinugawa, one of the students here?"

Swank: "Huh?"

Kuro: "Kinugawa?"

Maria: "Yes, that's his name."

Kuro: "I see...we will keep note on that."

Maria: "Well, is that all the questions?"

Kuro: "I believe so, for now. But there may be alot more if possible."

Kuro: "So I thank you for your assistance, Miss Maria."

Maria: "No problem."

Kuro: "Come on Swank, were gonna look around the other areas."

Swank: "Right, also the ramen, I'm already hungry."

Kuro: "Yes. Were gonna go eat ramen later, just try to stay stable please."

...

Maria: "..."

Maria: Sighs (Seems like those 2 aren't who I expected to meet.)

Maria: (I better be more careful, I had almost got myself caught.)

[jurrasicworldcc]

Jurassic World CC OC Fanfic

Title: April

Setting: Season 4, during “Turning Dr. Turner.”

I do not own anything

Casey sighed as Dr. Mae Turner opened the door to her home on this new island. It was really refreshing to see something that wasn’t Camp Cretaceous or the genetics lab…but Casey still had his suspicions over the hollow forest and how Mae’s bosses managed to get T. Rexes from Isla Sorna seeing how that island is pretty much myth or is it?

Sammy sat down on the couch. “Wow. As far as caves go, this one’s pretty swank.”

“You live here?” Darius asked.

“Live, work, play surprisingly competitive games of poker with my daughter.” Mae answered. “Usually win.”

“Daughter?” Brooklynn asked.

“Oh, yes. More like adopted in the case. April. Come out please.”

“Coming, Mum.” A voice said.

Then stepped out a really beautiful girl that Casey was hypnotized to. She had green eyes, red hair tied into a ponytail, fair skin compared to Mae’s Black skin, and wore a grey shirt that Sammy couldn’t help but see that the logo on the shirt was familiar, she wore a long-sleeved sky blue shirt over the grey shirt, tan shorts, and brown boots. The girl stepped out and asked, “Are these guests, Mum?”

“Yes, they are.” Mae answered. “All right, I’m gonna go whip up some sandwiches.”

She left and April looked at Casey. He was pretty much blushing really hard and April smiled warmly at the boy. She walked over to him and Casey’s mine was on the fritz. OH, GOD! SHE’S COMING RIGHT TO ME!! WHAT DO I DO?!?!?! BE COOL, BE COOL, BE COOL!!!! JUST USE KENJI AND BROOKLYNN’S ADVICE WHEN PRETTY GIRLS TALK TO YOU!

“Ello! I’m April Turner.” April said.

“H-H-Hi. I’m Casey…Casey Johnson.” Casey said while nervously shaking her hand.

“That’s a good name.”

SHE LIKE MY NAME!!!! Casey kept his blush and played with a loose strand of his unkept hair. “S-So…You…Uh…”

“What’s wrong?” April tilted her head in confusion.

Yaz put a hand on Casey’s shoulder and replied, “Sorry. He’s a bit nervous around pretty girls. Also, we haven’t talked to another human being in the last six months expect for a doctor and his gang of mercenaries.”

“Don’t forget Mitch and Tiff…” Casey whispered.

“Don’t worry. I don’t bite. Unless if you have to brand your claws to get some triceratops meat around here.” April giggled.

“W-Wait. Claws?” Casey asks.

“Oh, I’m a human-dinosaur hybrid. Had them when I was a baby.”

“What kind of genes?”

“Raptors.”

“Oh, me too! Actually I’m the first human-Dino hybrid in existence, and my mother, Caroline Johnson, was the one who made the formula to make us who we are.”

“How old are you?”

“Sixteen.”

“Same here. Say, you want a cup of tea while we talk?”

“Sure even though I’m a coffee guy.”

April walked over to make the tea and Yaz looked at Casey. “What was that?”

“What was what?” Casey asked.

“You have feelings for her.”

“What?”

Yaz raised an eyebrow smugly. Casey sighed as there was no fooling this girl and he blushed again. “I…I’m starting to. I mean, she’s beautiful, she’s sixteen, and she’s a hybrid just like me.”

April showed up with two cups of tea and the two sat down. Casey sipped from the cup and it was probably better than coffee. Even better than the coffee he made during the six months trapped on Nublar. Casey sat his cup down and asked, “So, how did you get on this island?”

“Well, Mum has worked at a lab back in London and I attended a private school so I could at least be entertained for a few hours while she was away. I did show some of my hybrid skills once in a while to my classmates. Then, Mum got a job and we dropped me out of school and we moved here.”

“Well, I was born somewhere in Costa Rica. Well, I spent mostly all of my life on Isla Nublar where I was “tortured” into being a dangerous hybrid. It was until my friends saved me and got me into Camp Cretaceous.”

“Camp Cretaceous?”

“It was a summer camp thing that my friends and the staff were testing out six months ago.”

“What made you stuck on that island?”

“Well, it was this hybrid dinosaur called the “Indominus Rex” that got us lost on the island and also these two poachers named Mitch and Tiff. Tiff really wanted my head on Mitch’s wall and she met an…ahem…gruesome death by some Baryonyxes.”

“Must’ve been hell trying to survive.”

“Yeah, it was.”

“At least, you have friends. I didn’t have any except for Mum. She’s pretty much my only family.”

The two smiled and then Mae showed up with plates of sandwiches.

[cutielatias]

🎆Músicas de 2022✨

●Sacrifice(by T.A.T.U)

●Crawling in the dark(by Hoobastank)

●Lost my DS stylus(by KidSnorlax)

●Woman(by Doja cat)

●sueños muertos(by Bitter end)

●we shall all bleed(by deadlock)

●melodia envolventemente envolvente 4(by Montage, DJ Dudah)

●Bite me(by Avril lavigne)

●niwaka ame(by Tsukiko amano)

●animal i have become(cover español by naranjo)

●hoshi no hate (by Fumiko orikasa)

●LOLLIPOP (spanish cover by piyo,lena etc)

●try (by Patrick brasca & jay chou)

●Clear eyes (by Aidan swank ft bleachblonde)

●Start a fire (by Ryan star)

●Cinderella(by Miss papaya)

●Hero (by Miss papaya)

●Maps (rock version)(cover by our last night)

●Fire (by ÍV)

●Levitating(cover by archers)

●More than friends(by Victoria duffield)

●U know what's up (turning red soundtrack)

●Celestial being (Princess kaguya ost)

●Dominion (by Skillet)

●y voy (by Zion y lennox ft daddy yankee)

●Bimbo doll(by Tila tsoli)

●My boyfriend (by Bubbles)

●Do you think i'm pretty(by creamy)

●Stranded(by plumb)

●Can you feel the sunshine(sonic R ost)

●Totalmente demais(by Perlla)

●Love mist (by Alexis jordan)

●PASSINHO DO MAGRONES(by montagem, Dj mandrake)

●One that I want(by PUBLIC)

●Love me back (sped up) (by Trinidad cardona)

●redchinawave (by zzx3rown)

●The once and Future king (by bloc party)

●lay it down (by steelix)

●papi (by Jennifer lopez)

●Love the way you hate me(by like a storm)

●Hang up (by WRLD ft Savoi)

●opening (dragon hunters soundtrack)

●set it on fire (by my darkest days)

●beautiful mistakes (by maroon5)

●kogda ryadom ty (by Vintage)

●vem de chicote,algema,corda de alpinista(sped up)(by deize trigona)

●This is me(the barbie diaries soundtrack)

●Shine(barbie in 12 dancing princesses soundtrack)

●elevate (by Big Time Rush)

●i know you know (by Big Time Rush)

●Dance like an african(by Lou Bega)

●song for clay (disappear here)(normal+instrumental)(by bloc party)

●i still remember(normal+instrumental)(by bloc party)

●Never again(by Breaking benjamin)

●Substance(nightcore)(by 03 greedo)

●Brisé (by Maitre gims)

●Laissez passer(by Maitre gims)

●Earth to move (by Maroon5)

●Love veritable(by pony pony run run)

●Boyfriend(cover by ISSUES)

●stitches (cover by State champs)

●Goodbye (by Forrest isn't dead)

●Michael(by Remi wolf)

●Waiting for the 7.18 (by bloc party)

●Vision of heaven(by Bloc party)

●Main theme (bleach live action 2018 ost)(by Yutaka yamada)

●Mosquito bite (by ALEXANDROS)

●little thoughts(by bloc party)

●storm and stress(by bloc party)

●skeleton(by bloc party)

●kto tebe skazal (schastlivy vmeste ost)

●want more before I go home(mashup)(jason derulo vs usher)

●love nwantiti(by Ckay)

●V.A.L.I.S (by bloc party)

●Crina negra(by banda patrulha)

●Garden in the air (by BoA)

●Back to back (by Bray me)

●Eu tenho Cristo (by Bem da hora)

●Um norte (by Bem da hora)

●Save me (by my darkest days)

●4 early demos (by bloc party)

●Hurricane venus(by BoA)

●Clock work (by Tsukiko amano & hanatan)

●ASSOMBRA MATRIX 2 (sped up)(by montagem)

●Best I Ever Found (by Mitchell Marlow)

●You Make Me Go Crazy(by Jaco Caraco)

●Maybe you saved me(by Bad suns ft PVRIS)

●We will always win (by Mitchell Marlow)

●Mean (by Bloc party)

●Truth (by Bloc party)

●Summer sunshine(barbie in a mermaid tale soundtrack)

●One in a million(by breathe electric)

●letting go(dutty love)(by Sean Kingston ft Nicki minaj)

●You & me(by Marshmello)

●Just like you (by set for the fall)

●The last song (by 12 Stones)

●Three nails (by set for the fall)

●Anima rossa (by Porno graffitti)

●Got ur number(v2)(by Bugcried)

●Who i am (bratz rock angelz soundtrack)

●Grow up (blah blah blah)(bratz rock angelz soundtrack)

●NASA x E.T(mashup) Ariana grande, katy perry

●Home (by set for the fall)

●Desconfio (by CPM 22)

●Fantasize (by Ericdoa)

●I don't care(bratz rock angelz soundtrack)

●Collapsed (by Al & Aj)

●Go off (by Dawin)

●Ain't it funny (by Jennifer lopez)

●Red is blue (by Ben Folds)

●Tree critter (Hoodwinked soundtrack)

●All I wanted (by Paramore)

●For a pessimist, i'm pretty optimistic (by Paramore)

●The Last first born(by celldweller)(Audiotec,Klayton remix,normal)

●Sha la la la (by hye kyo)(full house ost)

●I think I (by BYUL)(full house ost)

●geu deh ji geum (by Lee boram)(full house ost)

●Glad you came (boyce avenue cover)

●My pace (by Sunset Swish)

●Stand up be strong (bleach ost)

●Happy girl (by bubbles)

●Until the day i die (annaliese cover)

●Perfect enemy (tatu metal cover)(by Synthetic graphics inc)

●I H3ART YOU (by Boy fantasy ft G0r3c0r3)

●papaoutai (by stromae)

●Bodaiju (by Tsukiko amano)

●Super freaky girl x luxurious (tik tok remix)

●Closer (tik tok remix)|KToo Music

●Attachment (by Kanii ft Bossa)

●Stutter (by My darkest days)

●The way we talk (by the maine)

●You're a god (by vertical horizon)

●Say jambo (by mohombi)

●All hail shadow(by magna-fi)

●all things she said(rock/metal cover by lena scissorhands ft Chase the comet)

●We were lovers (by bloc party)

●It's a jungle out here(by Philip Lawrence ft UAKTI)(brazilian version)

●ALWAYS DO (Sandrø reggae remix)(by the kid Laroi)

●Take your shirt off(by millionaires)

●So bitter(by stxlkin)

●Lovin (by Mohombi)

●Do me right (by Mohombi)

●dirty situation(by Mohombi)

●Sex your body (by Mohombi)

●Blue kush bday (bk beats tool)(by merca bae)

●Molitva cowboys (by kanzler gi)

●Welcome home (by Coheed and Cambria)

●Psycho in love (by patent pending)

●Hero (cover by Youth never dies and ankor)

●Rumors (by NEFFEX)

●Faces (by Lene Marlin)

●Pegasus (by Horsegiirl)

●The love bug (by M-FLO ft BoA)

●Starsiigns(by Horsegiirl)

●She's wild( by Merk & Kremont,the beach)

●Cain said to abel (by bloc party)

●Bob Dylan(by fall out boy)

●Boop boy (by caramella girls)

●party party (tik tok remix)(by yally)

●when you cry (by vertical horizon)

●lola (by superbus)

●Secret (by austin mahone)(slowed)

●STAY (No resolve cover)

●Pressure (by RAINS)

●Ohio is for lovers (by hawthorne heights)

●Bleed (by stxlkin)

●Death city (by Garelyhuman + syris & 03osc)

●Popstarz (by syris, hoshie star & maxo xoxo [pixelhood])

●Victim (by 1stress ft xofilo)

●Callum is a snake (by bloc party)

●Nerve (by set for the fall)

●Let go (by set for the fall)

[wander-over-the-words]

For the ask game: Benny Gecko

send me a character

character: hate them | don’t really care | like them | LOVE them | THEY ARE MY PRECIOUS

ship with: ....M....M..My....My Courier.....

important friends: I have a fondness for his friendship with Swank, despite how easily it falls apart in canon. I think it's fair to assume they're childhood friends (or at least have known each other most of their lives), considering they're from the same tribe, and I like the vibe that they have. Yes Man is his Securitron Buddy and it's apparently canon that Benny just sat around chatting with him so that's cute.

general opinions: He's a dick but we love him anyway 💙 It frustrates me how wasted he is as a character though, what with the way he just. disappears from the game if you save him at the Fort. He doesn't even get an ending slide ffs! The game just flatout forgets him, the dude that started the plot of the damn game. It honestly feels like there should've been the option of working with him, whether that turns him into a companion or not (and yeah yeah I know his whole deleted "No one rules Vegas except me, got it? You're a lowdown gofer! You deliver mail!" interaction but that's what the Character Development is for. and the developers wanted him to be a companion so.). In the very least, instead of disappearing from the game entirely, he should've just. gone somewhere on the map and you could still go and interact with him. The only satisfaction I get from saving him from the Legion is the fact that I don't have to deal with the death of another blorbo (and I mean. big ol middle finger at Caesar lmao). Get four short conversations with this guy who drove the plot and then he disappears from the game?? nah.

But anyways yeah I adore him and the story of why Matthew Perry got to voice him warms my heart and makes me very happy c:

[kaldorei-shadows]

Opal shouldn't be drinking

Meanwhile at the Shady Lady in Stormwind...

Opal: *whispers* I shouldn't be drinking, I'm just here for the amazing--secret--Nathrezim ambience.

Balnazaar: *whispers back* Oh, of course! My lady, your husband is one of our best patrons.

Opal: I can't believe this is a swank winebar run by a Nathrezim in old Cut-throat Alley. This is Stormwind! A real dreadlord in Stormwind? Ah, that takes me back.

Balnazzar: *pours her another virgin cherry spritz* Oh? Were there many of us when you lived here?

Opal: Oh I am just flying! These are so tasty.

Balnazzar: Thank you, mistress.

Opal: I really shouldn't say. I mean I'm not drunk at all, but I just feel so good, I want to confess everything. *leans in* I used to be locked up here, in Cathedral Square. As a Twilight Cultist.

Balnazzar: Oh, that's A-list corruption! Exciting.

Opal: Opal's Bane, they used to call me. Stormwind was different then, a lot of evil thrived in the underground scene. This bar was built right over the site of Cut-throat Alley. Don't pretend you didn't know. *playful pout*

Balnazzar: Well, how could a decent dreadlord ever resist gentrifying such a choice property? *evil grin*

Opal: Back in those days, all the best cultists found me exotic. Irresistible. I was engaged to an old god. I was going to be bonded to him in ritual, as his high priestess. Well, before they caught me, dragged me here in shackles all the way from Silithus.

Balnazzar: Damn shame whenever the mortal races decide to get organized. *sighs, polishes a bar glass*

Opal: I swear I'm not bragging or anything, but I was going to be a virgin sacrifice.

Balnazzar: Cheeky! Now that's rare. No wonder you were locked away in the highest tower, as it were.

Opal: In my day, I was quite the spiteful little thing. I knew how to claw my way up the ranks. I was practically a celebrity among the cultist underground. But then, things change. You mature...

Balnazzar: More responsibilities.

Opal: A marriage, a child. I just didn't have time for it anymore. Becoming a high priestess of some powerful void entity seems so mundane now. Though, I guess it's also how Al and I met.

Balnazzar: Oh really? *finishes mixing a fel cocktail, tries a sip*

Opal: Al saved me by murdering all the cultists in this city, including the lead priest Father Benactus who turned out to be corrupt, and the the small cultist army that pursued us to Darkshore.

Balnazzar: *spits out his drink*

Opal: He's an assassin you know. He sat across this bar from you, day in, day out, and never told you that?

Balnazzar: I... I assumed a spy, but not--

Opal: Oh, he's sweet! Before all that, Al was a serial killer for, oh, near ten thousand years? After I went straight, I think I reformed him pretty nicely.

Balnazzar: *demonic face looks pale*

Opal: Now, then. You are going to stop trying to poison my husband whenever he comes in here, right? No more trying to turn him to evil and undo all my hard work to make him... Well, he's not exactly nice, but let's agree to keep him chaotic good, shall we?

Balnazzar: *sweats*

Opal: Because if I had no qualms being a virgin sacrifice to that handsome Night Elf monster instead of the terrifying old god I once worshipped, you'd better believe I'm a dangerous enough woman to handle the likes of you today.

Balnazzar: ...

Opal: Do we understand each other?

Balnazzar: Y-yes mistress. But, um, i-is this establishment within your gift? I can keep my bar?

Opal: Oh my, yes. The drinks are too yummy for that.

[booklovingpixies]

RELEASE BLITZ - The Curse Keepers by Denise Grover Swank

I have seven days to the save the world…we’re screwed. The Curse Keepers by Denise Grover Swank is now live! Blurb When the keepers meet for the first time, the gate will be opened.Two little rules have kept me safe since my mother died protecting me: always trust your instincts and forget everything about the curse.But when I accidentally activate an ancient catastrophe I’ve spent my life…