#saving him from the bear was a vote of confidence | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

unseededtoast · 2 years ago

Text

Rectify | Bucky Barnes

Part 33/37 | Part Thirty Two, Part Thirty Four

Summary: I've lived every day for the past five years looking over my shoulder. I knew they'd come for me, it was inevitable. I was foolish to think I could outrun my past. It's followed me everywhere I go, lurking in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Never would I have anticipated that the shadows would lead me to the light.

Bucky Barnes x OC

Series Warnings: Discussion of human trafficking, alcohol consumption, graphic depictions of violence, sexual content, discussion of suicidal thoughts.

a/n: Hi everyone, thank you for checking this out, I appreciate any and all support! This series is also posted on Ao3 and Wattpad if you prefer those formats/platforms! This is a completed series, and it's going to take some time for me to transfer it to Tumblr, so please bear with me!

This all could have been avoided.

The door opens and there stands Steve in the doorway. His face gives me no indication of how this is going to go. Feigning confidence, I walk back out into the room, seeing Wanda and Bucky also. I give them a quick glance before Fury's voice cuts the silence,

"The council has come to a decision." I hear my heart beat and feel like my feet are superglued to the floor.

"All in favor of sentencing Adalyn Averina to life in prison without the possibility of parole reads as follows: Tony Stark, Secretary Ross, and Councilwoman Hawley." As the words leave his mouth my heart shatters. I look over to Bucky quickly and it looks as if he could go on a killing spree.

"Why? Didn't you listen to anything? She saved us!" Bucky cries out to the council. Secretary Ross stands from his seat,

"We heard everything loud and clear. At the end of the day Miss Averina illegally took two Shield detainees, failed to go through the chain of command, and disappeared for days. Not to mention one of the detainees died. We cannot let those actions go without consequences." His voice is firm.

I feel my hands be pulled behind my back, my injured arm bursting with pain. I set my jaw tight as I'm led out of the room without another word. Of course they would listen to Tony and what he wants. However, it's comforting to know Steve didn't vote for my sentence, I'm sure Tony is beyond thrilled with him for that.

I'm taken back through the room Nat first brought me to and led through the halls. I keep my head high, not letting anyone see how heartbroken and scared I truly am. Going to the Raft doesn't seem like it's going to be a walk in the park. However, I'm certain I'll be able to handle anything that awaits. I've already been through hell and back, so what's one more trip?

I'm put in the back of a truck and the door is closed. They're wasting no time in shipping me off I guess. The back of the truck is dark, everything is cold. I hear the engine start up and I take a deep breath. I wish they would've let me say goodbye to Bucky first. My eyes prick with tears as reality sets in, I'll never see him again. At least I was able to bring him justice, make him a free man. I'll always treasure and reminisce on our memories, the short amount of time we had.

The truck lurches forward as it starts the journey to my new home. I tap my foot on the floor of the truck to try and hype myself up for whatever awaits. I'm sure only the worst of the worst is being kept in a place named the Raft. I wish they would have sent me to Rikers instead.

I don't think I should be the only one serving a sentence, and that this one is a little overboard. As Bucky said before I was taken away, I saved them. I didn't break out Wanda and Pietro for my own gain. If I hadn't taken them from the Shield base it's likely that Tony's maniacal robots would've found them and exploited them. I have Bruce to thank, but I know I'll probably never see him again either. Being lost in space seems like a permanent situation to me.

I feel the truck stop moving. I hear footsteps come to the door and latches start being undone. The bright light blinds me as I feel hands rip me from the back of the truck. I squint in the sunlight, this may be the last time I see it. I'm pushed forward and start walking, seeing a helicopter in front of me. I step inside and get strapped in.

Moments later, we're flying hundreds of feet off the ground. I watch the ground beneath me, taking in the scenery of the city below. The sunlight reflects off the windows, creating a beautiful scene. I sigh to myself, trying to commit to memory the way the breeze smells, how warm the sun feels on my skin. The helicopter takes us to the middle of a body of water, are they going to throw me in there? Is that why it's a life sentence without parole?

I watch as the water begins churning and a building comes up out of the waves. That's a first. The helicopter lands on the top of the building and I'm dragged out. I'm taken down into the building and notice the dreary atmosphere. Everything is concrete, the lights are fluorescent. It all feels very artificial and monotonous. This is going to get old fast.

I'm led to a counter with a woman sitting behind it, typing on a computer. She looks up from the screen and sizes me up.

"Here for booking?" She asks.

"Yes ma'am." The man behind me speaks. She nods her head and walks around the counter.

"I got her from here boys." She says and pushes my back so I go forward.

I'm not sure where I'm supposed to go but I'm sure she'll make sure I go to the right place. She takes me to a room that has a height scale painted on the wall, I'm getting booked in. She undoes my handcuffs and I bring my arms in front of me, rubbing my aching shoulder. However, my hands aren't free for long as she restrains them in front of my body this time. I follow the woman over to a pedestal that has an ink pad and paper on it. I give her my hand and she takes my fingerprints.

I step back and wait for further instructions, not sure how this all works. She points to the wall with the height markers on it and I stand up against it. The lady walks over to another table and picks up a board. She writes some information on it with a white marker before handing it to me. I read what the board says. It's a string of letters and numbers followed by my name, the date is located on the bottom.

I hold the board in front of me and look into the camera as the woman presses the button. The flash is blinding and leaves floating specks in my vision. The woman grabs the board from my hands and leads me to the adjoining room.

"Strip." She says and uncuffs my hands. My eyebrows shoot up. Surely she doesn't want me to undress in front of her, right?

"Come on I don't have all day." She says, motioning for me to speed it up. I push the embarrassment from my mind and take off my clothes.

"All of it." She says as I stand before her in nothing but my underwear. I mentally block out what's happening and take off my underwear, leaving me completely exposed.

"Squat and cough." She says and instead of thinking about it, I just do it to get it over with quickly. I stand back up as soon as I cough and she opens a closet next to me. She turns around and looks me up and down before grabbing some of the clothes. She hands me a blue shirt and matching pants. I put my underwear back on, followed by the new uniform.

"Ready to see your new place? I think you're gonna love it. Everyone else here does." She says with a laugh, taking me to the cell block.

I step through the door and take in the environment. The room is circular, and people dressed in the same uniform as me look out of their cells at me. I avoid meeting their eyes and focus on the lady in front of me. She opens a door and I walk into it, she closes it behind me. The woman walks away, leaving me in the empty cell.

I look around and see a narrow, uncomfortable looking bed in the room. That's it. I sigh, I guess I'll have to deal with it. It's not like I should've been expecting a five-star hotel. I sit on the narrow bed and look out to the others, who I can see staring at me.

To my left is an ordinary looking man, dark hair and eyes. To my right is a woman, she's tall and slender. Across the way is another woman. None of these people seem particularly dangerous. But I guess neither do I. I look away from them and rub my hands together, the ink from earlier flaking off of my skin.

I put my head in my hands, this place is going to drive me insane. There's nothing to do, nobody to talk to. I'm just alone with my thoughts. I can tell I'm going to go stir crazy in here. Not to mention, we're underwater. It's worse than the bunker. I thought being stuck underground was the worst possible thing to happen, but this is ten times worse. At least I had Bucky in the bunker, now I just have the thoughts and memories of him.

I hope he's going to be okay. I know Steve will take care of him, I think Wanda will as well. I sniffle as I think about what may be in store for him. I know Shield is going to try to throw him right back into the fighting lifestyle, the one he wants to be free from. I hope he'll be okay and that he gets all of his memories back. I pray he never has another memory affect him like the Stark memory did.

It hasn't even been a full day and I miss him so terribly. I miss his smile, his liveliness. I miss everything about him, and my heart aches so badly. My lip quivers as I stare at the white floor. This isn't how things were supposed to end. Bucky and I were supposed to get out of all of this and live peacefully. I'll never get out of it now, but maybe he will.

Maybe he'll be able to get out and find somewhere nice to live. Somewhere away from people, a secluded place he can call his own. Who knows, maybe he'll find someone and have a family. It hurts knowing that can't be our future together, but at the end of the day I just want him to be happy. I want him to be able to move on and fulfill his wishes.

Tears drip from my cheeks on to the floor, hitting with a small tapping sound. Why did Tony have to do this? Couldn't the council see I did everything to keep people safe? I tried to save them from the monstrosity Tony created. The same monstrosity I warned him against. If he didn't have a personal vendetta against me and actually listened to what I had to say, listened to reason, this all could have been avoided.

If Tony had just waited for me to get back Pietro would still be alive, Bruce would still be here. I blame the death of Pietro and disappearance of Bruce on Tony alone. I shouldn't be paying the price for his mistakes. I know what I did was wrong, and there are consequences for what I did but I think Tony should also be sitting in here for unleashing the Ultron protocol on the world. He had an underdeveloped knowledge of the technology and made a faulty decision, one he was told to carefully consider.

There are a few choice things I'd like to say to Tony if I ever see him again, which is unlikely. I just hope he ends his power trip with me, and doesn't also try to go after Bucky. I know Steve took a deal, but I'm fairly certain Steve didn't hold up his end of the bargain, he wasn't in favor of this sentence. Who knows what Tony will do. The last thing I want is for Bucky to also be here, he's been a prisoner for most of his life, he doesn't deserve to be one once more.

Time will only tell what will happen. I'm powerless here, left to my own devices. I'm sequestered from the world. I doubt they have any activities for us to do here, we're probably just trapped in here full time. This isn't good for anyone's mental health. I can only imagine how long the others have been here and how it's affected them. I suppose I'll find out soon enough.

Home sweet home.

#bucky barnes x oc #james bucky barnes #bucky barnes fanfiction #bucky #hydra #bucky fanfic #bucky barnes fic #james buchanan barnes #marvel #steve rogers #winter soldier #the winter soldier #bucky barnes angst

1 note · View note

hanarutos · 3 years ago

Text

naruto and sasukes rivalry at the end of part one and the beginning of part two is so well written i think its sort of crazy

i wrote this on mobile so idk how to add a read more. sorry

the way in which the later half of part one the conflict becomes mostly about sasukes growing insecurity after itachi shows up and doesnt even acknowledge sasuke instead looking for naruto, and then sasuke immediately loses after training so hard, and itachi retruamatizes him into a fucking coma. but then naruto learns the rasengan and helps save tsunade (this part of the search for tsunade arc sucks cuz its riddled in misogyny and also frankly, boring, but like. finally seeing naruto learn the rasengan is epic) and so we are finally seeing naruto's underdog protag bit really start to pay off. we are finally seeing him starting to reach his full potential. But instead of this being good for his relationships, in a way it is part of what causes sasuke to leave. because the moment sasuke wakes up, he's already insecure bc itachi not only beat him in an instant, he didnt even care about itachi. he was after naruto. and then they have the rooftop fight and sasuke is relieved to see he made a bigger dent than naruto until he sees the back and he fucking punches a wall he's so upset that he's falling behind. and like. thats the reason he goes to orochimaru. because hes insecure about his lack of power as naruto starts to outpace him (and also cuz he has some crazy convoluted methods of self harm. he wont allow himself to be happy cuz he thinks it makes him weak. but like we all knew that)

and i think its interesting that sasuke has a very quick turnaround from openly insecure and upset at his own inability after search for tsunade, to confident by the time vote rolls around, because of his curse mark fully evolving. sasuke just gets a sudden power boost with minimal work put into it, although its painful and he did have to get locked in a jar for a bit there. he still clearly cant bear to actually kill naruto in vote1, and again his actions of choosing to go to a person who he knows is trying to use him and cutting himself off from his "precious comrades" naruto and sakura is absolutely an act of self harm. but in terms of actual ability, i dont think sasukes initial cockiness in vote1 is fake. its part of why he really freaks out when naruto gets his nine tails chakra cloak. every time he seems to surpass naruto, naruto somehow catches up. that terrifies sasuke. that he wont be good enough to kill his brother. that while he's been making friends and feeling somewhat happy again, he's forgotten his purpose.

sidebar. before itachi showed up again, sasuke really wasn't upset by narutos growth at all. remember when he said "i really want to fight you too" to naruto in chunin exams and naruto was super happy because sasuke was acknowledging him as an equal? sasuke also doesnt get that upset when rock lee beats him in their spat. sure he acts cocky beforehand, but when lee immediately annihilates him instead of having a like breakdown or smn, sasuke just steals aspects of his technique from lee, and improves. itachi alone is responsible for sasukes spiral from i think the mentally healthiest point we see him in the series (late chunin exams, konoha crush) where he openly admits he cares about his teammates, to sasuke denying himself affection for them to the degree he cuts them off entirely (or tries to anyways). so like. fuck itachi lol

but anyways, i think when sasuke says "theres no way youre going to be able to land a single scratch on my forehead" he really thinks he's going to come out of this fight on top. which is why narutos sudden power ups freak him the fuck out. at the same time though, by putting on the forehead protector, he actively acknowledges naruto as an equal. he respects (and loves) naruto, and hes open about this: "it wasnt meaningless, to me you have become my closest friend"

i remember watching naruto blind when i was 12, i was so certain naruto was going to win in vote. as he went into ninetails mode and threw sasuke around it seemed so obvious naruto would win. after all, the narrative so far has been about naruto catching up to and then surpassing sasuke. there was no doubt in my mind naruto was going to take sasuke home. other ppl can say what they expected watching naruto blindly (like truly blind. like u never knew sasuke left) but to me it seemed so clear sasuke was gonna lose. he'd basically lost the rooftop fight, he'd relied on naruto to protect sakura in konoha crush, even if his curse mark was fully activated and he upgraded his sharingan mid fight (smn that can only happen when u experience either extreme happiness or loss, so the fact sasuke felt like he was losing naruto to such a painful degree when naruto wasnt even dead is....yeah) theres nooo way this was going to end badly.

and yet sasuke wins. sasuke fucking wins. and i think this and the beginning of shippuden are so fucking cool because of this.

part one is about naruto getting stronger and beating his rival, to the point his rival becomes insecure. the underdog story finally pays off. of course we want naruto to win; its obvious sasuke isnt in a good frame of mind and is being manipulated, and that going to orochimaru is a bad idea. the guy literally wants to kill and use sasuke, and sasuke is aware of this and still so desperate for power that he's going to go. (before anyone says naruto just wanted to like. have sasuke stay in the village rn under the gov that killed his clan. nobody knew that at this point in the series. honestly i highly doubt even kishimoto had come up with that plot point yet) its always wild to me when ppl try to act super Deep and say naruto was in the wrong here. if your friend was about to jump off a bridge, any decent friend would do their best to stop them. sure narutos methods r a bit unsympathetic and violent but like theyre 12 year olds trained to kill ppl. grow up.

anyways the natural conclusion if we dont think about there being a ton more of the show left, would be narutos underdog story finally cumulating in him beating sasuke. after all, this is the first time we as an audience get to see them fight each other directly (? im pretty sure). all previous fights get interrupted (rooftop, which it seems to be implied by the water tower destruction naruto would have won) or were just them showing their abilities against some external opponent.

honestly, looking back, if naruto had won, there really wouldnt be anywhere to go from there. even if sasuke still left another way, if naruto clearly surpassed his goal of beating sasuke, a goal he talks about almost as much as being hokage, any further power growth from naruto would feel unfulfilling. from the pov of continuing the story, of course sasuke wins. but naruto still gets a scratch on his forehead protector, to indicate that they are much closer in ability than at the start of the series.

and so the end of part one effectively returns us to the original status quo of sasuke being stronger than naruto, although only barely, compared to his far superior abilities at the beginning of part one.

cut to part two/shippuden. narutos been training with jiraiya for 2/3 years. him and sakura nail the bell test with kakashi with ease. the narrative sets up naruto to be this new and improved stronger smarter version of himself. we cant wait to see what kind of new stuff he can do!

it turns out he cant do anything really.

in the gaara rescue arc, naruto's words are the reason chiyo ultimately changes her beliefs and entrusts things to the younger generation by sacrificing her life for gaara's, but fighting wise? naruto does like literally nothing. he yells at deidara a bunch and runs after him while sakura kicks ass

next, during that part where they meet up with orochimaru and he says "my sasuke" and narutos like "dont talk about sasuke like he belongs to you, especially in front of me!" it's exciting because oh hell yeah previously when naruto went into fox mode serious shit went down. he is going to wreck orochimaru. you feel it.

he doesnt. in fact he makes things worse by hurting sakura, and burning all his own skin off. orochimaru gets away. naruto effectively threw a gay temper tantrum and nothing improved.

then we get to naruto and sasukes reunion. after so long training in order to get sasuke back we're ready for another major vote style show down. weve seen how sakura has improved in the timeskip, and we are about to see how sasuke has improved (in fact, we maybe already have. i forget where the scene of sasuke surrounded by unconscious bodies is. if its before this scene then we've seen his improvement as well). its time to see the fruits of narutos training with jiraiya.

naruto and sasuke reunite. they stare at each other. sasuke comes down, and takes out his sword to kill naruto. and naruto. doesnt. do. anything. sasuke legit says "dont you want to be hokage? you should be training instead of chasing after me. im going to kill you now." pulls out his sword, and naruto just stands there and says "someone who couldnt save one friend hardly deserves to be hokagesai is the one who blocks sasukes sword. and sasuke even has a kind of obnoxious quip about "you used the correct block" also then he fucking goes into narutos headspace or whatever and fucks kurama up, all while insanely calm and seemingly apathetic. sasuke in part one tried to be unemotional but he was very prone to anxiety or anger. but now hes legitamitely (as far as we can see anyways) totally confident and totally unfeeling. (ofc we know this isnt true. but thats only cuz of later scenes.)

sasuke leaves, magically in fire, which is a technique we never see again, and naruto starts crying. so does sakura, who also did not do anything, but lets be real thats kinda standard for how kishimoto writes her. the fact naruto doesnt fight sasuke, after two previous fights where he actively didnt do anything really, sets us practically back to page one. juxtaposed with sasukes clear leaps and bounds in ability (knocked like a bajillion dudes unconscious -- ppl he coudlve easily killed but didnt want to -- somehow fucking can see kurama in narutos brain and also destroy the guy) naruto is seemingly stagnant. and even if its just due to emotional reservations, naruto clearly is not sasukes equal right now. he hasnt done a single actually useful thing for like all of part two so far.

and i just think thats. so incredible and engaging. because its not like naruto lost all his abilities or something -- he still can do rasengan, its clear in the second bell test hes better at strategizing snd teamwork -- but theres some new obstacle. not only a lack of ability compared to sasuke, but a lack of willpower as well. of course, its kinda obvious to me sasuke is incapable of actually killing naruto himself, but hes a hell of a lot better at hiding that, and we'd have no way to know that on first viewing. so its not a total retcon. but it also returns us to our old familiar rivalry between the two, except both naruto and sasuke have changed as people, and as a result, so have the contours of their relationship. but we have returned to the fundamental idea of sasuke being far stronger than naruto.

this is part of why part two/shippuden feel so romantically focused. the focus shifts a lot from becoming hokage to getting sasuke back. i mean naruto literally was basically like theres no point in being hokage if i cant save you *lets sasuke kill him* like. mentall illness aside thats so clear his focus is on sasuke above all else. something that will repeatedly be established throughout part two.

i also think its so human? kishimoto has always excelled at writing children like children and teenagers like teenagers. narutos actions as a 15 year old mainly consisting of crying, throwing a tantrum, trying to be threatening, resigning himself to others, and making things worse as a result is essentially how i acted at 15. its the kind of thing that speaks to the fact that he's still just a kid. and while we see less of that from sasuke, the ways sasuke interacts with taka, or the fact he blows up an entire portion of the hideout cuz he got woken up from his nap, also remind us these are young teens that we are looking at. theyre gonna act crazy.

by showing narutos not necessarily relapse but lack of growth, it perfectly sets up sasuke as his goal once again. something that everyone and their mother seems to notice and want to talk about. as naruto trains for the rasenshuriken kakashi thinks to himself about how sasuke is narutos sole motivation. naruto himself says "you became my goal" in kage summit. as we see naruto start to improve again and get to sasukes level we also see that sasuke is no longer insecure (he like smirks when he finds out naruto saved the village from pein singlehandedly) about his ability, and naruto catches up again. he doesnt surpass him this time though, which is made abduntanly clear by the fact that in vote2 they both lose and arm and are beaten to a pulp by the other. they are truly equals. blah blah blah.

but i just think it was so smart of kishimoto to find a way to keep sasuke as narutos goal and to return us to the original dynamic but in a new way. i think he nailed the crazy insane way 15 year olds act just like he nailed how 12 year olds act. he also made it so we would get to actually see narutos improvement happen, rather than it happening offscreen which would he pretty unsatisfying for our titular character. he also showed us how the core aspect of naruto that was impulsive and emotional and not super strategic still remained. i also think some part of kishi was aware sasuke as a motivator for narutos growth was way more compelling and interesting than ninja president, even if some ppl wanted naruto to become hokage eventually (i know i did). but yeah i just. i think its so good tjat instead of bringing naruto back stronger post ts or something, kishimoto had the awareness to let us see naruto fail and struggle just like he did in part one, because that struggle and determination are part of why we root for him. and he was also smart enough to make it obvious sasuke had improved a ton, so we'd have a readon for naruto to get stronger, only this time his desire to get to sasukes level wasnt out of a desire for acknowledgmenet, but out of a love for sasuke and desire to help him. like by doing that kishimoto showed the lengths to which narutos love goes. and also humanizes him and reminds us of his age and ARRRRGH PART ONE AND EARLY SHIPPUDEN WERE SO GOOD

anyways thanks no real thesis statement i just think aspects of naruto are so well written sometimes

#hana.txt #naruto #meta #naruto meta #this is obscenely long #long post

27 notes · View notes

inrainprose · 3 years ago

Text

32. Wa nyudo

First – Prev – Next – Masterpost – Ao3

“Why are we tailing him?”

“Shh, you’ll get us caught!”

Sasuke refrains from pointing out that between the two of them, the boy in an orange sweater ducking behind lampposts and trashcans and shushing louder than a train is more at risk to do just that. They’re lucky enough that the onmyoji has a very fast and purposeful walk. With all the discretion they’re trying to achieve, they barely manage to keep up with him.

Onmyoji are among the rare humans who can sense, and see, yokai in their most ethereal form, so it could attract the boy’s intention even more to shift into it. But Sasuke suspects that Naruto just likes to goof around in his human form more.

They follow him for quite some time, past the Kamo river and up and through a district of narrow streets and low houses. As the empty roads curve up into the hills, buildings get scarcer.

They reach the emptiest portion of the road just as the sun is starting to fall. Sasuke feels uneased and he doesn’t get why the boy doesn’t turn around. Doesn’t he get a sense of the danger approaching? Aren’t onmyoji supposed to be sensitive to this? They are nearing omagatoki, the crossover hour, where the human reign loses its dominion to the other world. Just because the humans have colonized those hours too, just because they stay out later and later, go out earlier and earlier, doesn’t mean they are any safer at night than when they had no artificial lights and online maps to guide them home.

As soon as the sun disappears behind the trees, they spot a faint glow up the road, moving down toward them. There is a sound growing too, a sort of grinding, like wood dragging against the road or…

“Oh shit!”

“What?” Naruto yelps. “What is it?”

In other circumstances, Sasuke would feel great satisfaction at finally having the upper hand on the situation, as it seems Naruto has no idea what is coming their way. But he will pat himself on the back later – for now, he yells at Naruto to “get that idiot out of the way!”, because the teen onmyoji apparently thinks he can win this fight, if his firm stance in the middle of the road is anything to go by.

Fortunately, Naruto is used to acting without thinking, and he goes to tackle the boy to the ground no further explanation needed. The vote of confidence is greatly appreciated.

And Naruto is not a moment too early, because they have just rolled to one side of the street when the wheel comes barreling in.

Because it’s a cartwheel. A giant, burning cartwheel with a head stuck in the middle. It’s a man’s head, bald and wrinkled, the face contorted in pain at the flames licking the skin and the wooden spokes jammed into it.

“Don’t look at it!” Sasuke warns. The boy will be cursed if he does – his family would probably find a way to break it, but curses are a pain, so better to avoid them if they can.

The wheel isn’t slowing down and Sasuke doesn’t have much time to think. He takes a deep, deep breath, and blows.

The wind bends the surrounding trees and snuffs out the flame.

It’s this, more than its strength, that stops the demon in its track. The flames are out, probably for the first time in decades or more. The head blinks, surprised. Before its lack of momentum tips it over and it crashes face-first on the road.

Sasuke hears its angry muffling and the onmyoji is stalking over already, fuming, talismans out and ready to strike.

Sasuke rushes there, riding the wind, and props the wheel back up. It’s not fair for it to bear the wrath of the onmyoji – demons do their jobs, just like humans do. Wa nyudo are hell servants, tasked to drag souls down to hell with them. Someone has to, right?

He sends it spinning before the boy can stop him.

“What the hell?” he yells, furious. Naruto is trailing behind, a little lost. “Why did you let it go?”

“Why not? I saved you, isn’t that enough? Shouldn’t you be grateful?”

He really didn’t have to do that. But Naruto would have been sad to see the boy get run over in front of him. Sasuke is a good friend.

“Grateful? I didn’t ask for your help! What about the children it took?”

Well, Sasuke forgot about that, but it’s not like it’s his problem anyway.

“What about them? If the wa nyudo snatched up a few kids, he probably ate them already. Nothing you can do now. Not like you could have!”

As if such a young human had a chance against this kind of demon. In the boy’s back, Naruto is making strange gestures, either urging Sasuke to shut up or to strangle the other boy. It’s hard to tell.

The boy is very red in the face and for a moment Sasuke isn’t sure he’s even breathing. His fists are bawled up, shoulders tense – Sasuke doesn’t want to have a fistfight with an exorcist, but he squares up just in case.

Naruto, having no insight into when not to barge into any given situation, takes a few steps to come stand right in the boy’s face.

“Please don’t fight,” he says lamely, though heartfelt too, like he’s really distressed at the idea of them fighting. He might be, the soft-hearted fool.

The boy huffs, throws his arms up, and storms off. He actually starts running, that’s how fast he wants to get out of this situation. Sasuke and Naruto are left standing like idiots in the middle of the road.

“Well that could have gone better,” the fox comments.

Sasuke should have stayed home.

(click for today's yokai)

#yse #yse au #yokai student exchange au #naruto au #update #sasuke is starting to know his friend well haha

7 notes · View notes

holylulusworld · 5 years ago

Text

Her decision

Summary: Consequences are something the mobsters never experienced. Bucky and Steve will learn they will get more than they bargained for...

Pairing: Mobster!Bucky x Reader x Mobster!Steve

Characters: Peter Parker, Dr. Helen Cho

Warnings: angst, pregnant reader, threats, mentions of violence, angry reader, I use the word rape & non-consensual (nothing happens but I mention it just in case), mentions of groping, bratty reader

Ours to keep masterlist

Divider by @firefly-graphics

“How did it go?” Bucky smirks, watching his friend press a hand against his bleeding forehead. “Great I assume,” the lamp hitting the closed-door answers the mobsters’ question.

“She’s angry, pissed, and demanding,” Steve huffs, looking at the door. “I will not enter that room again. Not today or like ever.”

“Let me tame this wild little kitten,” self-confident Bucky opens the door to poke his head in. “Look at her, Steve. She sleeps peacefully.”

“I wouldn’t count on her being calm and nice. I can tell, she’s ready to murder you, me, and the whole organization. If not for Peter, I bet she would get a gun to shoot us all,” Steve winces feeling blood run down his neck.

“What did you do, Rogers?” Bucky blinks seeing Steve’s cheeks flush pink. “You couldn’t keep your dirty hands to yourself. No wonder she wanted to kill you with a lamp.”

“A Tiffany lamp, the one my mother gifted to me,” grumbling Steve points toward you on the bed. “Y/N Y/L/N is an angry mother bear, ready to attack when you get to close.”

“Rather when you try to touch her goods,” pissed Steve storms off, not caring if you kill his friend and partner in crime.

“Doll?” sneaking toward the bed, eying the lamp on the bed warily Bucky calls your name. “Y/N, darling I need to talk to you about a few rules. Can you not throw a lamp at me?”

“He deserved getting hurt!” You grumble, hiding underneath the blanket. “Bastard tried to touch my private parts,” snickering Bucky crawls onto the bed, aware you grasp for the lamp.

“He tried to touch our girl, doll. Don’t be such a prude. We both know you came so hard on our cocks that night,” Bucky purrs, glancing at your ass sticking out of the blanket. “I could fill you so good.”

“Is that what you want? Coming to this room to rape me?” Dumbfounded Bucky gasps when you wield the lamp in front of his face. “I agreed to come here to save Peter’s life, not to let you touch me.”

“I thought you know we want our girl back, including nakedness,” not giving in the mobster moves closer to touch your cheek but the lamp hitting his shoulder is not what he imagined would happen. “Doll, we just want you to be ours.”

“I don’t care,” you poke Bucky’s chest with the lamp, angrily clenching your jaw. “I wanted to give my innocence to someone loving and adoring me. Not to two guys who used me, took turns only to kick me out of their house like a random whore they can use. The only thing you forgot to do was paying me for my service.”

“We never pay for sex but you’ve got a point there, doll,” Bucky admits. “Listen, we are bad guys, okay. Bad attitude. Bad reputation. Rotten to the core.”

“You could’ve just left me alone. I had a nice life, you know. No one was paying attention to me but that was fine. I just wanted everyone to leave me alone,” you sniff, hiding your face in the cushions.

“Doll, I must admit at first, we liked the chase. But after the first rush subsided, I didn’t feel good for the first time. I kinda missed you,” you snort, closing your eyes. “We didn’t send Peter to have an eye on you for no reason. We wanted to know how you are doing and if he can find a weak spot to make you fall for us again.”

“Fuck off, Barnes,” you want to hit him with the lamp again, but Bucky is faster. Taking it out of your hand he throws it over his shoulder. “That was granny Roger's second Tiffany lamp.”

“I’ll take the blame,” Bucky smirks when you nod eagerly. “I know you do not have any reason to believe me, us, but we tried to win you over by using Peter.”

“…that’s the reason you wanted to fuck my colleagues. This must be the stupidest and lamest lie I ever heard. Call my parents, they can give you advice on how to lie to me,” voice thin now you sit on the bed, covering your bump.

“I heard about your parents, doll,” the mobster sits next to you, glancing at the bump you try to hide. “I promise, none one will touch you against your will. Steve and I are bastards, but we are not the kind of guys forcing ourselves on a girl.”

“What do you want from me? I’m no one special to you or anyone else. Can’t you just let me go back to my apartment?” Pleadingly looking at Bucky you sigh deeply. “Please?”

“We got a deal, doll,” Steve clears his throat, warily watching your hands ball into fists. “I’m sorry for touching you but the babies, they are ours, just like you. If one of our enemies gets to know you are our girl, they will hurt you.”

“I hate you,” a huff later Steve sits onto the bed, handing you a manila folder. “What’s that?”

“Pictures of Peter and his treatment. He’s doing better, his arm is fine,” you don’t like the way Steve looks at the pictures. “For now.”

“Can you for once not threaten someone? I like Peter, stop hurting him to get to me,” sniffling you close the folder, clutching it to your chest. “He’s a nice guy.”

“Did you fuck him?” Bucky’s voice raises when he must watch you hold the pictures to your chest. “The boy is dead.”

“Unlike you, I do not fuck anyone coming to my path. Peter is a friend and a boy. Jesus, I don’t think he’s at age. The boy is like my broth…,” your eyes water at the memory of your little brother.

Steve nods at his friend, not missing the way you cling to the pictures. “You miss your little brother.”

“I guess I like Peter as I imagined my little brother would be like him one day. A bit shy, but smart. Strong if he needs to and protective. He tries to make the best out of a bad situation,” Bucky nods, understanding how you feel.

“I had a younger sister,” the mobster moves closer to place one hand onto your belly, slowly rubbing it. “Rebecca, but everyone called her Becca.”

Bucky’s eyes sadden when you try to shove his hands off your baby bump. “Where is she?”

“Died years ago. It’s been ages since I talked about her,” you can see tears form in Bucky’s eyes and for the first time, you wonder if he can love someone. “My father, he was a notorious mobster, hard, unforgiving. When he crossed another line, my mother and sister paid the price.”

You gasp, clasping one hand over your mouth. Suddenly too aware of what could happen to your babies you look at Steve. “He’s telling the truth, Y/N. One day after his mother and Becca left church on Sunday they got shot. A drive-by.”

“That’s awful. Did they ever find the murderer?” Bucky nods, giving your thigh a tight squeeze. “Your father, he killed them.”

“It was a massacre. People still talk about it behind closed doors. After my father was done, Steve’s father, Joseph had to stop him. This is how we ended up uniting the empires our grandfathers founded.”

“Bucky’s father, he didn’t stop until his bloodthirst was satisfied. My father stepped in as George, Bucky’s dad was close to starting another killing spree,” you're horrified at Steve’s explanations. Your hands tremble and you feel like you are going to pass out any minute.

“Doll you need to take deep breaths,” Bucky brings you into his arms before you can fall out of the bed. “No more horror stories, Steven. Our girl just passed out,” Steve hums, moving his hand to your belly. “No touching without her consent.”

“I wanted to feel my baby…”

“Prenatal what?” Steve looks at the brochure the doctor hands to him. “I got no clue about this stuff, Dr. Cho. Can you explain it to us?”

“It means we will find out who the father is before Y/N gives birth,” Helen Cho, explains. “I can explain the whole procedure if you want me to.”

“Is it dangerous?” Bucky looks at your belly, not wanting anything to happen to his heir. “We will not risk anything. Y/N must agree too.”

“There is no risk, Mr. Barnes,” you chuckle, watching Steve turn pale when the doctor gets a syringe out.

“You will not put that into my girl,” protesting Steve tries to grasp for the syringe. “I will not allow you to poke her,” Peter snickers silently glancing at you now and then, or rather anytime none of the mobsters is paying attention to him.

“Mr. Rogers, I need to collect DNA from the mother with a simple blood draw. Later we will gather you and Mr. Barnes DNA using a cheek swab. I will not hurt Y/N or her babies,” the mobster eyes Dr. Cho warily, not trusting her with his baby.

“Gosh, don’t get your panties in a twist, Rogers. Months ago, you treated me like trash, tossed me onto the street, and never looked back. Do not act as if I mean anything to you. I’m a breeder to you and your friend, nothing else,” you don’t hide your anger, even purse your lips when Steve tries to argue.

“She could hurt you with that syringe or the babies. What if she tries to kill you?” you roll your eyes in an attempt to stop Steve from saying more stupid things in front of your doctor.

“I’m the mother ans got three votes, you only got one. I have the saying,” looking at Dr. Cho you nod. “Do it doctor. I trust you.”

“I have a vote too,” Bucky grumbles, stepping closer to you. “This makes two against three.”

“Yeah, I’m glad you can count, Barnes but I’m still the mother and got three votes. Now shush and let me handle this,” the mobsters do not like you start acting like a brat, but you are determined to show them you are in charge.

“How long will you keep it to yourself? I want to know about the results too,” Steve grasps for the envelope but you slap his hand away. “Doll, let me have a look.”

“I want to talk about a few rules,” Bucky grunts, tugging at the envelope you hold in your hands. “Y/N, give me the goddamn envelope.”

“First, Peter will be my personal bodyguard. No more threats or I’ll be gone, just like my babies,” jaw tense Steve looks at you, close to just taking the envelope out of your hands.

“Fine. One false step and he’s dead,” you narrow your eyes, at Bucky who suddenly starts to sweat. “No more threats got it.”

“Next, no touching or groping. I’m not your toy,” Steve sighs, ogling your growing cleavage longingly. “I would kill to suckle at those tits.”

“I don’t care and …gross,” you slowly open the envelope, checking on the results. “So, if you want to know who will become a father in five months you’ll give me your word that I will be safe here, just like my kids.”

“Promised, no tricks,” Bucky points toward the piece of paper in your hands, licking his lips. “Tell us now doll.”

“I’m not done,” grinning you stuff the letter into your bra, not caring Steve starts to growl. “You will not play your sick games with any girl again. You are mine now, which means no sex with other women.”

“Wait…you don’t want us to touch you,” Steve points out, hating you grin devilish. “You can’t be serious!”

“No sex for you at all,” both mobsters do not like your conditions but threatening a pregnant girl is not their style. “I want enough money for me and my children. Peter will not do anything illegal again. You will not go out with other chicks, this includes sex.”

Whilst both men crowd you like lions ready to pounce on their prey you hold their gaze. “We have a few rules too.” Steve purrs, dipping one knee into the mattress.

“You will stay here. We will sleep in the bedroom we prepared, together. No other guys, no sex with other guys. The babies are ours, just like you. No leaving us,” you pinch the bridge of your nose, a frown on your face.

“No sex,” you cross your arms over your chest. “I mean it…”

“Negotiable, doll,” Bucky joins his friend onto the bed, looking at you hungrily. “Now be good and give me the letter.”

“I don’t think so, Barnes,” you scramble away, squealing when Bucky flips your over, covering your body to slip his hand into your bra.

“Where is the letter?” Bucky grunts. “Doll, I’m losing my patience here.”

“I will tell you the results if you sign the contract Peter prepared for me,” you smirk at Steve. “I told you he’s shy but smart. Now be good little daddies and sign it. If you do so, I’ll stay and tell you about the results…”

“I fucking hate you,” Bucky mutters, pacing around the new bedroom. You are unimpressed. Legs crossed you relax on the soft mattress a smug grin on your lips. “You’ll get half of my money if I dare to cheat on you?”

“Correct.”

“Same goes for me, Buck,” Steve is still fuming. He had to sign a contract handing you his balls on a silver plate.

“As you were such good daddies,” you coo, lips curved into a grin. “I’ll tell you about the results.” Both men sit onto the bed, leaning closer to glance at your belly.

“Tell us…” Bucky places one hand onto your belly, rubbing it slowly. “Please, doll. Stop torturing us.”

“According to Doctor Cho I’m going to be a mother,” you snicker, turning around to close your eyes. “I’m too tired now. Maybe tomorrow I’ll tell you more. Now be good and stop moping. You’ll learn your place…”

“Learn our place?” Bucky chokes out, looking at Steve. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Oh-pretty mobster,” you open your eyes, grinning wickedly. “Did no one ever tell you to never underestimate a pregnant girl? You’ll do anything I want you to do when I want you to do so…”

>> Part 3

All works Tags

@yolobloggers

@shikshinkwon

@miraclesoflove

@mogaruke

@shatteredabby

@soryuwifeyxx

@letsdisneythings

@i-love-superhero

@psychicforest

@thevelvetseries

@deanmonandnegansbitch

@sabascio

@goodgodimaweirdperson

@that-place-called-middle-earth

@trumpettay

@zxph-yr

@belovedcherry

@matsumama

@rynabarnesrogers-reading

@emoryhemsworth

@buckybarnesplumwhore

@wonderlandfandomkingdom

@kitkatd7

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

Marvel Tags

@stuckys-whore

@notyourtypicalrose

@voltage-my2dlove

@officialmarvelwhore

@randomgirlkensy

@juniorhuntersam

@lumar014

@doctorswife221b

@sister-winchesters99

@sweetkingdomstarlight-blog

@the-soulofdevil

@dayasvalkyrie

@redroomproperty

@natura1phenomenon

@chaoticfiretaconerd

@heartislubbingdubbing

@hhiggs

@sea040561

@midnightsilver16830

@rvgrsbrns

@fandom-princess-forevermore

@amandamdiehl

@grincheveryday

@thelostallycat

@lunaticgurly

@xxlikeheavenxx

@supernaturalwintersoldier

@jumpingmanatee

@mrsdeanwinchester19

@fanatic343

@pandaxnienke

@just-a-littlebit-of-everything

@tdbooth

@iloveshawnieboi

@vicmc624

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

Steve Rogers/Chris Evans Tags

@roonyxx

@stylesismyhubs

@multisuperfandom

@mrspeacem1nusone

@fallenoutofrose

@rynabarnesrogers

@denisemarieangelina

@gabifernandessn

@heyiamthatbitch

@rosalynshields

@void-hoechlin

@patzammit

@donutloverxo

@saiyanprincessswanie

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

Bucky Barnes/Sebastian Stan Tags

@rynabarnesrogers

@marshyrebelcloud

@buchanan-lover

@rosalynshields

@neii3n

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

Stucky Masterlist

@marshyrebelcloud

@animegirlgeeky

#Her decision #steve rogers #steve rogers x reader #steve rogers x you #steve rogers x y/n #bucky barnes #bucky x reader #bucky barnes x reader #bucky barnes x you #mobster au #MOBSTER!AU #mobster!bucky #mobster!Bucky x Reader #mobster!bucky x mobster!reader #mobster!steve #mobster!steve x reader #sequel to ours to keep

471 notes · View notes

knight-engale · 4 years ago

Text

Grudging Romance (Valerius Route)

This idea seemed to be well-received, so here goes! Everything here was written by me, copied from my AO3.

There was something about you that intrigued him the first time you met. You unabashedly spoke to him in a casual, if sometimes disdainful manner; a way no one had really spoken to him before. You seemed to be his opposite in many ways; passionate and fiery where he was calm and collected.

And you know what they say; opposites attract.

It started out as “coincidentally” being near you during your investigation efforts. He might not have approved of it (as far as he was concerned, Devorak was guilty and there was no disproving it), but he was curious to see how it played out.

He would be in the library, browsing books, while you were going through Julian’s desk. You’d be pacing in the gardens, talking to yourself and surrounded by floating diagrams made of light, and he’d be doing paperwork on the veranda.

Any way to be close to you without raising suspicion.

(You realized what he was doing after the first few times, of course. Even though you were busy, you definitely noticed him around. It was a little weird at first, but you got used to it.)

One day, you presented Nadia with every scrap of evidence you had in Julian’s favor. Valerius found himself enamored with the way you came to your conclusion. Your determination and confidence almost swayed him.

Almost.

Once you’d finished, he shook your hand. Having your hand clasped in his own felt far better than he wished to admit.

He wasn’t surprised when the execution was cancelled. Disappointed in Nadia, yes, but not surprised. You seemed so thrilled to have come out on top. Seeing you reveling in your triumph gave him a strange feeling in his chest.

The Masquerade soon followed. He wanted to keep to himself, content to do as little socializing as he could get away with (and drink as much wine as possible). You, apparently, had other plans.

You asked him to dance and were pulling him away before he could refuse.

Dancing with you was...pleasant. He guided you through unfamiliar steps during a slow song, and you led him during a faster, more energetic song. It was surprisingly enjoyable.

But all good things must come to an end.

When the Masquerade started becoming Hell, you only panicked a little bit. Relatively speaking, anyway. He was far more shaken up than you were. This was not what was supposed to happen.

When the palace started literally coming apart, your quick thinking saved his sorry behind. It was unbearably attractive. (You saving him, I mean. Though I don't doubt that he has a nice posterior.)

When you, Nadia, and the magician Asra determined that the Devil--the Devil!--needed to be bound and defeated, you turned to him for support. Not to ask him to help you, really. Just for a vote of confidence.

Why you went to him is a mystery he doubts he will ever solve.

You admitted to him that you were scared. So you had that in common. It was strangely comforting to know that you were scared, despite the brave front you put on. (Such a front was a good trait. You’d be an acceptable leader one day, should the need arise. Perhaps at his side…?)

He has never been a particularly emotional person, so comforting you was endearingly awkward. Your amusement at his stumbling only made it worse.

Then you kissed him. Any train of thought he might have had was tossed out of his mind.

He added this moment to the list of ways you’ve baffled him. He had a feeling that the list was far from complete.

When a strange compulsion called the wayward pawn back to the Devil’s side, yours was the first name he called as his mind fought against his limbs. When your efforts to follow appeared to be in vain, and you shouted empty words of comfort, his heart hurt.

When the Devil gloated over his victory, Valerius held to the hope that you would succeed against him. How fitting, that the person he had initially looked down on should be the one he turned to for salvation.

Days passed. That is, he assumed it was days. In the Devil’s world, time seemed to move differently. He clung to the hope that you would arrive and...and save him. Not just from his imprisonment. He knew what he had become, over the last three years. He wasn’t entirely human anymore. He wanted out of these deals. Needed to be in control of himself again. No one else would do it for him. You were his only hope.

Endings:

Upright Ending

When you arrived in the palace, empowered by the magic in the air, power crackling at your fingertips, his heart skipped a beat. Maybe multiple. He didn’t care that Nadia or Asra were there--all that mattered is that you were there. You’d come for him.

You were understandably startled when you saw him, stumbling out of a partially ruined hallway. Then you were relieved. No, he wasn’t hurt. Yes, he’d been as safe as he could be, under the circumstances. Yes, he wanted you to help him. You sent Nadia and Asra ahead so the both of you could have some privacy.

The first few moments after you nullified three years’ worth of deals felt surreal. He felt more like himself than he had in far too long. The delight in your eyes was more than he could bear. He initiated the kiss this time. It was time to own up to how he felt.

His confession was not flowery. It was not emotional or drawn-out. It was a simple statement of fact, spoken plainly as you held each other. Somehow, you had won his heart without knowing and without trying. And more surprisingly, his feelings were reciprocated. As stern and cold as he was, you had somehow come to love him.

The next bit was something of a blur. You confronted and bound the Devil. He doesn’t recall the details; his head was spinning too fast. The magical and temporal realms divided again. There was still work to do. Restoring order would not be an easy task, but you would work on it...together. (Well, together with Nadia.)

Reversed Ending

You were notably startled when you saw him, stumbling out of a partially ruined hallway. Then you were relieved. No, he wasn’t hurt. Yes, he’d been as safe as he could be, under the circumstances. Yes, he wanted you to help him. You sent Nadia and Asra ahead so the both of you could have some privacy.

He was still dazed when you confronted the Devil. Dazed enough, in fact, that he almost didn’t realize when all red-hot chains pulled him away from you. Then an all-too-familiar panic came over him, worse than it had ever been.

He could barely breathe. Couldn’t shake the dread and terror writhing in his stomach. He’d disobeyed a god, and the time of reckoning was at hand. He’d been a fool to think that maybe you could have helped him escape the consequences.

He saw you as if through a fog. There was horror written on your face. There was pain where the chains touched him, where the Devil’s claws tapped harshly against his throat.

His heart pounded in his chest. Then it very nearly stopped when he heard your trembling words.

“I want to make a deal.”

No. No, you couldn’t. His voice died in his throat even as he tried to make you change your mind.

The terms were set. His safety, in exchange for your surrender. As long as you did not fight back, the two of you would come to no harm. And so the deal was struck.

For the second time that day, the chains binding him fell away. This time, there was no tender moment of peace shared. This time, you ran. Ran as far away from the palace as you could get.

You finally found some form of rest in what you said must be the Heirophant’s realm. What was left of it, anyway. You hoped that the promise of safety would postpone the realm’s collapse.

And so began your life in hiding. It was deceptively peaceful, yet Valerius could not help but glance over his shoulder every so often, anxious that somehow the Devil had found a loophole in the deal.

Perhaps one day, someone else would come along and do what you had not had the strength to do. Perhaps, if the world survived that long. At least you had each other.

#the arcana #the arcana game #the arcana fanfic #the arcana valerius #fanfiction #consul valerius

82 notes · View notes

agentrouka-blog · 4 years ago

Note

Loved your Arya Dany transition . Can you do a Jon Sansa transition considering their chapters also come many times one after the other ?

Hi anon!

Thank you so much!

Jonsa chapter transitions are a fun fun fun thing to look at. This has been done much better by other people. I tried it myself a little.

The obvious ones are in ACOK, where Jon flanks the chapter of Sansa’s flowering, and in ASOS, where it’s basically Jonsa Festival of Unsubtle Hints.

Sansa I -> Jon I

Sansa I: She meets the Tyrells, goes bibbledy over Jon-like Loras, hears the song The Bear And The Maiden Fair with the honey in her hair, gets an offer of marriage and is asked “Are you fond of fools?” Fools in feathers, specifically. Final line: “But look, here comes my cheese”, (which is supposed to be served last as the servant points out), which is followed by... -> Jon I: Mr. Cheese walks with the free folk, is referred to as a crow flying free (feathers), meets Mance singing the Dornishman’s Wife, which is a song later amended to “Northman’s daughter”. We have another reference to Bael the Bard, which ties to Lyanna (Jon’s true parentage) and Sansa both. Love and cloaks and motivations for leaving the Watch are mentioned extensively, and then Jon lies his way into the confidence of an invading monarch. THIS is followed by… -> Dany I.

Jon II -> Sansa II

Jon II: A tense confrontation with Mance is disrupted by Ygritte’s lie about her relationship with Jon and ends with his sexual entrapment. (I emphasize that I view this as sexual abuse.) -> Sansa II: ‘“A new gown?” she said, as wary as she was astonished.’ - This feeling basically mirror’s Jon’s emotions. This gown is the one she will wear to her surprise forced wedding to Tyrion, so Jon and Sansa are absolutely mirroring each other’s journey’s here, but more than that is also falls into Sansa’s gown-theme, which ties to her more general “marriage to a prince”, “the dragon’s heir”, “stained with fire and blood”, “I will make you a new one” theme, which hints at the idea that all the messed up or borrowed or treacherous dresses will eventually be replaced by a proper one for the real wedding.

Even if Dontos was right, and it is Winterfell he wants and not me, he still may come to love me for myself. Sansa hugged herself tightly, wondering how long it would be before the gown was ready. She could scarcely wait to wear it.

This chapter is followed by Arya III, who HAD promised to make Sansa a new dress at one point.

Jon III -> Daenerys III -> Sansa III

Jon III: Jon sends Ghost away the day before climbing the Wall, cave scene with Ygritte where he very very out of nowhere suddenly “loves” her, while still arguing about how he didn’t steal her and refuses to answer if he would sleep with his sister. Ygritte never wants to leave the cave. (Dany has her own cave with Drogon later, btw.) -> Daenerys III: She buys the Unsullied and has her first absolutely devastating and brutal act of warfare: Dracarys, dracarys, dracarys! -> Sansa III: Sansa’s gown is ready. Her forced wedding mirror’s Jon’s sexual entrapment and the cave scene.

Dany’s dragon threat separates Jon and Sansa here. He feels shame and conflict in a duplicitous relationship, Sansa is entrapped by marriage vows to Tyrion who will be in Dany’s service.

Sansa VI -> Jon IX

Sansa VI: She is shipped off to the Fingers by Bael-ish who reveals his Evil Masterminding and then marries her aunt, while Sansa is almost raped by a singer. Lysa offers that she marry her cousin, who likes stories about animals pretending to be something they are not. Sansa thinks “No one will ever marry me for love” and is told she must be obedient. “Yes, my son will have a humble and obedient wife.” -> Jon IX: Holds the Wall against the Wildling siege that mirrors Dany’s attack on Meereen (especially the turtles). Jon’s rest is interrupted by Janos Slynt and Aliser Thorne, who call him a turncloak. Jon remains calm (humble and obedient…) but gets violently angry and attacks Thorne when they besmirch Ned’s honor. Stark loyalty 180%. (The visuals here mirror Ned attacking Littlefinger and Show-Jon attacking Littlefinger, both of whom defended the honor of their loves.)

Jon XII -> Sansa VII

Jon XII: He contemplates Stannis’ offer of Winterfell by revisiting his recent experiences, his bastard trauma, his dream of rebuilding his home. Ghost returns to him and Jon has his answer: who am I? A Snow. He goes off, is voted Lord Commander, celebrates with his friends. Then he has a king to face. -> Sansa VII: She rebuilds Winterfell from Snow, with snowflakes like lover’s kisses, and defends herself from Bael-ish, and fights a Little savage giant. Someone kills a murderous, jealous aunt to protect her.

Jon makes a choice that is later revealed to be “Winterfell belongs to my sister Sansa”, and Sansa repays this by granting Jon an indelible place in their rebuilt home.

These are pretty popularly known chapter transitions.

One less looked is in AGOT:

Sansa IV -> Jon VII

Sansa IV: She is summoned by an evil queen, pleads her loyalty and her love, is accused of future treason, and ends up writing letters urging loyalty to the evil queen, in order to save Ned. -> Jon VII: Bodies are found that are not what they seem, after Jon has nightmares about the Winterfell crypts. Jon hears of the king’s death and Ned’s treason. He is especially worried for his sisters and attacks Thorne for besmirching Ned’s honor (again!), he badly burns his hand when fighting the wight. “Dark snakes” spill from the belly of the wight. (Dragons?) and Jon prays that the corpse burns.

“Let it burn, he prayed as the cloth smothered the corpse, gods, please, please, let it burn.”

This is hard to parse, but if you consider reverse foreshadowing it might be that Sansa does write treasonous letters urging disloyalty to a certain evil queen in a way that pertains to Jon, while Jon is worried for his sisters, hoping dark snakes and fire don’t do their worst, after scary times with wights and violent confrontations with enemies.

One I am reeeeaaaaally curious about is Sansa’s TWOW sample chapter.

Alayne I ends with a pretty anvilicious line:

He grinned. "I will hold you to that promise, my lady. Until that day, may I wear your favor in the tourney?"

"You may not. It is promised to... another." She was not sure who as yet, but she knew she would find someone.

Hypothetically and chronologically, if he didn’t have to split the books, this HAS to be followed by a ADWD Jon chapter, doesn’t it? But which one? I’m not totally up on my timeline work yet, but it might coincide with Alys’s wedding in ADWD, chronologically. Alayne, the bastard girl, dances and dances, Jon refuses Alys’ offer while watching a different barstard dance (Satin) and worries for his safety.

And will GRRM follow this by a Jon chapter in TWOW?

Anyway, this is really fun. I’m working on something alittle more coherent about the chapter transitions for Arya and Tyrion because I think that’s going to be A Thing. A violent thing.

#asoiaf #jonsa #chapter transitions #Long post

74 notes · View notes

littlemisswriter · 4 years ago

Text

Saving London - Part 2

Summary:

Now a Rook with a more structured calling to his life, Jacob finds himself delighted to be apart of the gang. Though his mind runs wild with opportunity as his ambitions tempt him to want more.

[I’m finally giving you the update you deserve! I want to make this a longer series because I have so much in store for this series! Posting more Jacob Frye content gives me so much life and I’m so excited to share it with you all! :)]

“You’ve got to be joking.” The monotone voice of his sister had come as nothing of a surprise to the newly found Rook.

“Oh, come on, Evie!” Jacob huffed, readjusting his cap as he looked onwards at his sister who sat with perfect posture at the small table. Her brows furrowed as she focused in on her activities of sewing up one of her dresses that was in dire need of a touch up. She hadn’t been too fond of the clothing yet saw no other option if she were to continue her day-to-day life without ridicule of the others. “It’s not as bad as all that!”

“You’re parading around the streets in a gang, Jacob. Tell me what part about that sounds remotely responsible.” A light huff then came as she pricked her finger, jaw clenching as she decided to lay off her efforts of the dress. It was too strenuous a task in the wrong mindset, especially with Jacob having been gloating about this new so-called gang he had found refuge in.

“I’m doing what is best for the city.”

“You’re being a bloody fool!” She stood abruptly, scraping the chair back against the hardened floor as her glare bore into the twin across from her. “I will not have my only brother run amuck of the city when he can barely put one foot in front of the other! This is dangerous, Jacob. We’re talking about the possibly of life or death. How can you not fathom that?” It seemed her lectures only came more often, and even from the pit of concern, Jacob could only bear so much from his twin. For once he wanted her to see things how he did, and the benefit of what joining the Rooks would do for London.

“You worry too much, dear sister.” He shook his head, glancing back at the door which he entered. “Anyways, I’m off.” She groaned, fists balling as she watched her sibling descend out of the room and towards the exit of the building. “Duty calls and I have a very important meeting to attend.” He opened the door, standing in the frame as he threw an empty grin. “Wish me luck!”

“Bloody halfwit.” Evie mumbled, hesitantly coming back to her seat as she regained her composure, while her brother had made haste through Southwark. It hadn’t of been the most welcoming of all boroughs at this time of night but knowing that a handful of his gang were awaiting his presence, it gave him confidence to continue through the dark streets.

The Duke of York pub had finally come into view after rounding the final corner, the sights and sounds of the liveliness from within already echoing down the street. He was eager to make way from his abode and indulge in a few drinks with pleasant company, though he also held a hint of doubt. His intent was more than just a few easy drinks on a night out, but a promotion in a sense.

The numbers to the gang were rising and he had yet to utter a word directly to its leader. It had been eating at him ever since he pulled the green jacket on for the first time. To be apart of something greater than himself was one thing, but to contribute in ways that truly mattered was another. He wanted proper training, combat skills, defense techniques… the lot. And by the way he had seen Lily hold herself in any sort of confrontation against the enemy gang had led him to believe that she was the one to train him towards his ambitions.

But the question was… would she find interest in training another mere Rook? A lump came up in his throat as he forcefully swallowed it down again. He just wanted more than what life had offered him, and perhaps with a push in the right direction, he could become so much more than he imagined.

Entering into the bright lights of the pub had him hold a hand over his eyes; the darkness outside in the streets a complete contrast to the environment inside. The music and chatter were louder than ever, a crowded atmosphere with more than half of it being Rooks had him physically relax. He was safe, now surrounded by those he was familiar with.

A few Rooks made use of their night by swinging themselves around the open floor, mostly too intoxicated to properly watch their footing or those around them. A handful gathered around the piano singing away any worries with sloshing drinks in each hand. Some stood chatting behind the bar while most had a seat on the tables surrounding. It was a sight to behold, and a few rough pats on the back in acknowledgement to his green colors had Jacob smile.

He came to the bar, turning to lean back on it while his eyes searched the perimeter. His sights sought out the woman that had brought all these people together, a confident leader which aspired others to fight for what was right. And the mere memory of her youthful appearance had Jacob’s fists ball subconsciously as his gaze darted around.

“Lookin’ for someone?” His head turned to the woman leant next to him, a pint in her hand and cool grin plastered to her lips.

“Ah, yes actually.” He cleared his throat and stood tall once more. “I’m looking for Miss Harvard.” There hadn’t been an immediate response but rather a slow chug to finish her drink before slamming back on the counter behind them. Jacob’s brow raised as he watched the woman wipe her mouth with the back of her hand before sticking it out in use of a greeting.

“Name’s Belle.” His eyes flickered between her own and her hand before exchanging a firm shake.

“Jacob.” A nod. She had obviously been sizing up the young lad, sights set from his feet up to his cap with a devilish glint in her eye. It hadn’t of made Jacob uncomfortable per se, but rather eager to find his leader before he lost an opportunity.

“You’re quite young. Fit too. We need more like you in this gang.” She pulled wider to the corner of her lips, exposing a toothy grin before flicking hair from her face and simply nodding over her left shoulder. “Boss is over there, and quite entertained she is.” Jacob followed her line, finally setting eyes on the woman sitting at the back corner of the pub. Her feet crossed over the edge of the table as a pint sat comfortably in her lap. Once again was her hood down, allowing her locks to sit around her shoulders.

Jacob couldn’t help but swallow the lump in his throat as how withheld she appeared. She looked like a leader, one that would ravage anyone that put a hand on her Rooks. And against all the rough and ready Blighters splayed throughout each burrow, she was exactly what London needed.

“If you wanna talk to her, go right ahead.” Belle paid for another pint as she leant off the counter, eventually grabbing her drink and smirking down at the young man. “But try opening with somethin witty and clever.” Jacob locked eyes with Belle once more. “She’s a hard woman to impress.” A wink was all he was left with as Belle left him alone at the bar.

“Well,” he muttered, watching Lily down more of her drink, a smirk subtly spread across her lips as she listened in on the conversation, “thanks for the vote of confidence.”

The Rooks around her had been passionately stuck in a card game, voices rising, and money exchanged in a competitive manner. She had simply sat back to watch her members indulge in a bit of gambling; a nice turn of events in celebration to just having reclaimed another stronghold in Southwark. Her gang was expanding and growing in size which aided her cause to bring down Crawford Starrick. The man had been nothing but a heavy weight over the city, and the people in it suffered terribly from the oppression.

It had to stop.

“You’re a bloody cheat, you are!” The large brute beside her, Travis, threw his cards down onto the table as he pointed over at the man across him, Pete. With his own hat and moustache adorning his nimbler features in comparison, he laughed at his friend as he took his money.

“You’ve a large head with nothing inside it!” Lily had laughed, taking another swing at her drink as her eyes cast over the pub. It was lively and loud, the people in it seeming to have been enjoying themselves after a genuinely long time.

Though the sudden movement of a Rook caught her eye, brow arching as she watched a young man slick back his hair under his cap and maneuver through those around him. He appeared to be making his way towards her which in turn had sparked her curiosity. He was easy on the eyes and held himself rather well, though seemed unfamiliar. He must have been new.

Jacob bravely came to the edge of the table, hands tensely by his sides as he lifted his sights to the very person that had made this event possible. His voice catching in his throat to see she was already looking at him, eyes slipping up along him as if to size him up. A lump caught in his throat once more as he did his best to ignore it, fingers rubbing against each other in nerves in contrast to how relaxed Lily had been.

His throat cleared catching momentary attention from those around the table. Travis took a gander at his before serving out another round of cards. “Yes, boy?” Lily looked between the brute back to Jacob, waiting to see how he would respond. He was out of his element, yet here he was.

“I uh,” he ran a hand down the side of his pants, clearing any sweat as he made memory back to Belle’s words. Witty and clever. “I wanted to introduce myself. Properly.” Not so much witty and clever as he had hoped, but upfront and honest which had to count for something. “I’m Jacob, Jacob Frye.”

“You a new recruit?” Pete had asked, looking beside him to get a glance at the man. Though he hadn’t appeared to take interest, eyes flickering back down to his cards as he threw coins into the center of the table.

“Yes, saved from my factory job down by Waterloo station.” Recalling which factory that had been, Lily bounced her brows with a shake of her head, throwing back the rest of her drink as she internally sighed. She was all for new recruits and leaving a good mark with them yet had somehow been waiting for a spark of some kind to flare. Greenie had been the only other assassin there to offer her any real company, but he was too pure; his mission set on finding the precursor artefact and allowing Lily to do all the field work. She wouldn’t have minded a little spice to her daily life.

“Well, you wanna play then, kid?” Another woman adorning green asked, looking between him and the free seat beside her. Jacob took a moment to glance between the offer and back to Lily shyly, watching as she sighed and pushed to her feet. And in that moment, he couldn’t contemplate what it was or why his brain snapped the way it had. But he felt his opportunity slipping and spoke without thinking.

“No, I’d rather buy the boss a drink.” The blurting had all movement stop. All eyes finally turned to him, most surprised and some with hidden smirks. Travis could only quietly chuckle to himself as he looked over to Lily, the woman’s interest having peaked as she stood tall, laying eyes on her Rook properly for the first time.

A spark. A bold use of words that had definitely drawn her attention. Jacob couldn’t believe what he had said, but bit back any fear and kept strong his stare. There was no taking back those words now, so why not simply own them?

Lily then chuckled, slowly making her way round the table to come before him. Watching her walk so casually had his fists ball as his cheeks began to burn. Now she stood before him, a short distance from each other as she simply tipped a grin at the man. He had her full attention, and a flare which she was willing to explore.

“I accept.”

She led them to the bar, others seeming to part for the woman as she stood side by side with Jacob. His hand ran through his hair again, lifting his hat merely to do so before returning it snuggly on his head once more. He actually had her by his side and couldn’t even think on where to begin in conversation.

“Two pints please,” Lily grabbed the bartender’s attention, turning to face her usual grin at Jacob, “on my Rook.” With a nod, their drinks were fetched as Lily slowly turned to face Jacob. Having a good look at her attire for the first time made his breath withdraw. It was a suit of armor, no doubt. Costing more than most at how intricate the patterns along her robes had been. A mix of red, dark grey, and black sewn precisely from top to bottom. Her coat covering most but seeming to accentuate her hourglass figure. A belt wrapped multiple time around her lower torso carried more than enough weapons to threaten any man.

Jacob was impressed and absolutely enamored to say the least.

“So… Jacob Frye, was it?” She teased his name on her tongue for the first time, satisfied with the quick nod that came from him. “How are you finding yourself settling into the gang?” The drinks were pushed between them, Lily watching as Jacob pulled a few coins from pocket and pushing it back across to the barkeep. The older man nodded before moving along.

“It’s thrilling,” he dryly laughed, seemed now caught up in every new aspect of his life. “I have the freedom to roam the borough. Not stress about money and putting food on the table. And,” he shrugged, straining a grin behind the mug lifted to his lips. It had Lily curious as to why he hid such an action, “I like the fights.” He had audibly quietening, as if relaying a secret he shouldn’t know. He knew it was a topic he couldn’t speak so freely about without receiving a lecture or a whack on the back of the head.

“There’s no shame in a little combat.” Lily turned, leaning onto the corner as he had had, almost mirroring him as she looked at her drink. Jacob turned to look at her, eyes openly laying to her features as she took her first sip. “Besides, you’re a Rook now. I would expect you to get into mischief every now and then.” She pointed her finger teasingly at him. “But not too much trouble, or Freddy will gut me alive!” Jacob hadn’t known who this Freddy was, but laughed along anyway as the humorous manner.

“Well, I’m glad you think so. Because,” he clutched tighter to his drink while subconsciously rubbing a hand to the back of his neck, “I wanna train. Under you.” Her eyes widened slightly at his forward motion, internally reassuring himself as he went on. “I’ve seen what you can do. What you’ve accomplished, and I want to do more.” Lily threw back her drink this time as he went on. “Being in this gang has given me a purpose to do right by the people. And now that I have the opportunity to explore this avenue, I wish to do it.”

His eagerness had been taken well; Lily unable to help her large grin at how willing her Rooks were to aid her cause.

“Your enthusiasm is delightful, Jacob. And most welcome.” She stood tall, leaning sideways on the counter as her hand perched on her hip. “I’ll tell you what. I’ll train you,” his own smile suddenly broadening as excitement shot through him. He stood straight, meeting his boss eye to eye intently as she went on, “and in exchange I’ll need you to do some running around for me when I’m not here. There is a lot of work to do, and I will no doubt need help seeing as I cannot be everywhere at once. Even though I practically am.”

The glint in his eyes at the new thrilling opportunity hadn’t gone unnoticed as Lily fed into all reactions he was giving her. There was strength, drive in this Rook, and she was happy to follow through and see how far this rabbit was willing to jump down the hole.

“If you do this for me and apply the training I give you, then I’m sure we can find more suitable tasks for you.” This was it. His leap of faith had served in his favor. “So… do we have a deal?” Her brow perked as he nodded eagerly, lifting his mug up to clink her.

“Yes we do, boss.” Lily took hold of her drink and the pair knocked them into each other before throwing back their contents. The use of her rank had only complimented her ego, Jacob feeding into it as she had personally agreed to train his growth in hand to hand combat. He always had an interest but never an opportunity nor the right mentor. But it appears that fate had something in store for him.

“Meet me here in three days, around noon I would assume. We’ll start your training then.”

Let the fun begin.

#assassins creed #jacob frye #fandom #assassins creed syndicate #assassin creed syndicate #evie frye #assassin's creed syndicate #frye twins #ac syndicate #Lily harvard #au #series

13 notes · View notes

sexiestpodcastcharacter · 3 months ago

Text

Sexiest Podcast Character 2024 — Scripted Undefeated Bracket — Round 2

Propaganda

Michael Walters (WOE.BEGONE):

He walks around his cold Latvian apartment shirtless to show off his chest scars even though the only other person to see them is his younger self

He confidently gave his younger self a pep talk about how to shoot correctly, and then missed the bottles he was shooting at

He is often described as a sheep dog or a guard dog, ready to lay his life down for his loved ones at the drop of a hat

His cowboyness convinced the mad British scientist who was torturing him to rebel against his shitty job and become a cowboy himself

He flirted with a cute boy by lifting up his shirt in public and showing him the stomach wound that almost killed him

He cried when his younger self moved out of the apartment because he was going to miss him

Almost drowned but was more upset over losing his cowboy hat

Offered himself up as a hostage and then had to be hog tied and carried out of his prison by his new boyfriend

Mod Note: This is specifically about Michael Walters, who beat out Mike Walters in the preliminaries.

Antigone Funn (Wooden Overcoats):

Amazing character arc/growth; shadows follow her around; afraid of the sun; methanol is her drink of choice; is often told “I thought you were dead” despite a complete lack of evidence other than her deathly paleness; the morgue is her personal sanctuary; absolutely hilarious character; demanded to be co-owner of Funn Funerals with her brother rather than allowing him to continue running the business alone;(spoiler) decided NOT to get with her frenemy who she had been doing a will-they-won’t-they thing with the entire series!; writes smut in her free time

Art of Michael Walters courtesy of @dracolichen.

Additional propaganda below the cut:

Michael Walters (WOE.BEGONE):

He's a cowboy he's a bear and he's in his 40s what else can I say

Emotionally stunted cowboy. Kills other versions of himself with no problem. You wouldn't think he's hot from that description but he is, trust me. He has perfect eyebrows

He‘s a rugged old cowboy, who would kill and sacrifice himself to save the people he cares about.

#This is a no brainer guys cmon #AND BY A NO BRAINER I MEAN VOTE FOR THE GRIZZLED OLD COWBOY

#michael is sexier period.

#MICHAEL WALTERS

#VOTE MICHAEL

#michael i miss you every day

Michael my love

Antigone Funn (Wooden Overcoats):

#antigone!!!!!!!!! #i just need one chance with her #she's perfect

#antigone!!!!!

*Cracks knuckles* Team Antigone is back and ready to do some damage. #antigone sweep year 2

#YEAR TWOOO

#Antigone sweep #!!!!

#thrilled to participate as always

This is propaganda for all the female characters. Voters please remember how pretty all women are and factor that into every single vote you make. Thank you.

#2024 Round 2 #Michael Walters #Antigone Funn #WOE.BEGONE #Wooden Overcoats #W.BG

39 notes · View notes

elizabeth-mitchells · 4 years ago

Link

would you have it any other way? | Andy x Quynh

The Old Guard Mini Bang 2020 | @theoldguardevents | Art created by @elenorasweet can be found here

Fandom: The Old Guard (Movie 2020) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Andy | Andromache the Scythian/Quynh | Noriko Words: 6773 Summary: If you put together the age of all the other immortals, it still wouldn't match the number of years that Andy and Quynh have loved each other. Their love, the oldest, the strongest, and the truest thing they both have ever known in their endless lives, might be about to go through the most challenging test yet. The entire team, the entire family, is going through one of its most difficult times so far, including the appearance of a new immortal. Meanwhile, Andy and Quynh have a secret within themselves that they also have to deal with, but, at least, they're happy to be dealing with all of it together, as they were always supposed to do.

aka basically just the exact same plot of the movie, but Quynh is there the entire time because canon is too cruel and i said no thank you

Golden light filled the streets of Morocco and two women walked there as confident as if they could command the very sunlight to their will.

Andy wore black from head to toe and nobody dared stare at her long enough to notice the details. The gun on the waist of her pants, the knife on the heel of her boots, the thin thread from which an ancient pendant hung from, the backpack filled with gifts for her family, and the dark dragon printed on her t-shirt. She looked ready to kill, but so heavily charged with emotional specifics that nothing she did could possibly be taken as meaningless. In conclusion, she looked like she had plenty of reasons, several people in fact, that she was more than ready to kill for. One of them, and pretty obviously judging by the way her otherwise stone-cold face lighted up with a smile every time their hands so much as brushed, was the woman right beside her.

The lightness of Quynh’s outfit, much more fashionable than Andy’s, didn’t exactly make her look any more approachable. She wore a fresh white shirt and stylish, cream-colored pants, but she knew how to hide a dagger in any kind of attire, and if her purse carried nothing but a gun, that was still a deliberate fashion choice. Both women wore dark sunglasses but, where Andy’s frown warned people she wouldn’t hesitate to begin or end any kind of trouble by whatever means necessary, Quynh’s little smile was more of a promise there would be trouble following her.

Still, when the annoying sounds of a bike got impossibly close and a man finally caught up with the women, stopping his bike right ahead of them, Andy and Quynh grinned with genuine affection.

“Booker,” they greeted him in unison.

“Ladies,” the frenchman playfully bowed his head, parked his bike, and then with easy familiarity wrapped his arms around both women, “You guys good? Did you travel?”

Andy fondly patted him in the back and when they all pulled back from the hug she answered, “We did. And I brought you something.”

While Booker admired his first edition copy of “A Hundred Years of Solitude,” Quynh chuckled and led them forward.

“Don’t be fooled, Sebastien, I got the gift for you, Andromache only carried it on her cute little bag,” Quynh looked back once, smirking at Andy, and reached out to brush her fingers to the other woman’s wrist, teasing.

When the doors of the hotel room opened, for an instant, time stopped. Time crashed, time got all tangled up on itself, turned over on its own head. Time was meaningless. Because, how many times had this exact scene played itself in the past thousand years? Andy embraced Nicky with all solemnity and all-encompassing care they felt for one another and the people around them. Quynh pretty much jumped into Joe’s arms, almost, but never completely, catching him off guard. He spun her around once and when he put her down she kissed his cheek with all the unmeasurable love that to this day still made him happily blush. The hugs continued, of course. Joe lifted Andy up in a bear hug that got a laugh from her unlike any other in the world. Then Quynh hugged Nicky, allowing herself a second of safety and warmth surrounded by his arms before playfully doing her best to lift him up. He laughed like only the people in that room had ever heard him.

Greetings, jokes, and gifts exchanged, Quynh let herself fall on one of the couches beside Andy. She had a feeling this moment of bliss wouldn’t last too long and that was the only reason she didn’t allow herself to truly get comfortable at least resting her legs on top of Andy’s. But, she was content for the time being, watching the love of her life get absolutely, almost inappropriately lost in a sweet piece of baklava.

It’s been centuries and this never gets old, Quynh thought, shaking her head fondly as she broke her own gifted baklava in imperfect halves. As always, she ate the smaller half. As always, she saved the rest of Andy.

All too soon the conversation shifted to the reason behind their reunion. It’s a job, we can do some good, this is what we do, we’re not helping, they said. Andy sighed and stood up, walked to the window, and addressed Quynh. “What do you think?” Andy asked her, even though she probably knew, even though it was always the same.

Quynh, who, at that point had twisted herself on the couch into a more comfortable, most probably improper position, thought about it for a second. All around her, her family had felt compelled at one point or another to aid humanity for all possible reasons. Duty, sheer goodness of the heart, guilt, nothing better to do. Personally, she was a restless person. She couldn’t stand being still in a place for long, let alone be useless for longer than to catch her breath and have some fun, her mind wouldn’t let her, her heart wouldn’t allow it. But she didn’t let the struggles of the world plague her every thought, not like Andy did.

“Let’s hear him out,” she said finally, unsurprisingly. If they had had to vote at the moment she wouldn’t have said yes. She would have agreed with Andy, it was too risky, and probably useless. But, every time, as soon as she heard the details of whatever horror humanity was currently inflicting on itself, she’d be the first one out of her seat, ready to right all the wrongs of the world.

Carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders for thousands of years, Andy got used to the feeling. But that didn’t mean it ever stopped being so fucking heavy. It got heavier each passing day and, just lately, Quynh was finding it increasingly difficult to soothe that burden on her lover’s back, to get her to share a little of the strain. She could see, like she didn’t ever remember seeing, Andy truly struggling with the weight of it all or, more specifically, with the conviction it was any worth it to keep holding on. Handling her part of the weight, plus her determination to help the love of her life, it was its own kind of burden on Quynh’s shoulders, but she wasn’t focusing on her own pain, physical, psychological, or of any kind, she didn’t want to.

Almost without Andy noticing, Quynh walked up behind her. The shorter woman wrapped her arms around Andy and kissed her shoulder. They stared out the window for a moment longer before Quynh stated, “This one’s special,” she murmured, fearless as always to put into words what the other woman felt to her core, “I am going with you.”

Usually, Andy would meet with their contacts alone or with Booker, they made a good team. And it was always useful to have a plan B, to make it seem like they had a trick under their sleeves, like they were more in numbers than anyone would ever know, to hold back laughter when poor devils that thought they could play smart with them had to face a meeting with Quynh and Nicky. So, that day, Andy, Quynh, and Booker, met with James Copley.

They accepted the job.

Even if Andy didn’t secretly hold the belief that her own heart continued to beat after countless deaths partially out of sheer desire to beat along with Quynh’s heart. Even if she wasn’t forever, eternally in love with the other woman. Even still, Andy would have been thankful to have her on her team, to travel with her, to fight alongside Quynh.

Nobody would question Quynh’s professionalism. She hadn’t selfishly or accidentally endangered her team or their missions too many times more than any of the others had throughout the centuries. She just had the strange little talent of knowing exactly when and where and how much she could push the boundaries of their professionalism in order to make the most out of their time on Earth.

In helicopters, she playfully disregarded security measures. In deserts, she walked with a spring on her step. Wearing a picture-perfect ponytail, dark sunglasses, and all-black clothes that somehow she had forced to fit into a greater fashion sense than any mercenary had ever been known for, she did every little thing only she could get away with. Starting with genuinely trying to distract Nicky when he was about to shoot two guards at once, as she had dared him to do, but just because she trusted him, because she’d taught him that move herself. Then, being the only one quick enough to shoot just once before the five of them died on that kill floor. Lastly, winking at Andy as they came back to life, with holes on their clothes and wounds still healing and just seconds away from tearing down a small army of men.

Quynh was a synonym for life, Andy thought, she is life, I am alive because she is life, and I will live as long as she is with me. Quynh lived her endless life in bold, bright strokes of a brush. And things, the best and worst of them would have probably been so much easier, simpler, if Quynh had been just that, excitement, energy, a mischievous smile. But of course, she was so much more

Quynh was gentleness in places that knew only hostility. She was capable of conjuring patience and calm in the blink of an eye. She was endless conversations and fantastic stories. She carried little kids when they saved them, she found ways to make women feel safe and men believe in peace. She washed Andy’s hair with all the care in the world, and she made sure none of the boys had any blood left in their beards after a battle. She held Andy’s hands because she could tell Andy needed her, but she held so tightly because she needed Andy. At times she was quiet. She was thoughtful. With really big events she took her time to process them instead of any relatively usual impulsiveness. A trait of hers that pained Andy because she knew, the longer Quynh thought about something, the longer she was hurting.

Quynh believed in revenge. She always had. Her heart could fit millions of good, selfless, benevolent feelings, but she still believed in revenge. If the stars aligned for her, she’d kill James Copley herself. But it was never so easy, was it? They had made mistakes too, that day. Could she get revenge on herself? Self-recrimination was one excruciating characteristic she shared with the love of her life. There was no use in pondering about it, if it was a coincidence or if they had picked it up after the other one. At least, one thing more powerful than that was the fierceness with which they’d protect the ones they loved, resulting in them perfectly protecting each other, even from themselves.

They were on a train somewhere away from their latest mistake. Booker had started to snore and Joe and Nicky had been perfectly still in each other’s arms for a while now. Andy’s thoughts were too loud to let her sleep, and Quynh’s thoughts too dangerous to keep herself awake for them. She was laying down, with her head comfortably resting on Andy’s lap, even if the rest of her body was unusually uncomfortable in the rough surface where they lay.

“Sleep,” Andy would tell her every few minutes, mindlessly slipping into the old habit of a dead language that only they could remember.

“I can’t, not without you. Sleep with me, my heart. Sleep,” Quynh replied, again and again, the ancient words coming out almost easier than modern English ever did.

“Sleep,” Andy insisted, soothingly running her fingers through her lover’s hair, even after Quynh fell asleep, just until she slept too.

It didn’t last long though… there was Nile.

“She’s beautiful,” Quynh said, somewhat sadly, a minute later as they all discussed what they saw of the new immortal in their dreams, “and smarter and braver than she knows what to do with.”

She exchanged a look with Andy, silent understanding of what it all meant. It wasn’t the most convenient of moments, but it had never been convenient at all, right? Together they had welcomed four other immortals, and it never got easier. Not when Lykon died. Not when having to explain to Joe and Nicky why they’d never win the war one of them had started. Not when watching Booker lose himself when he lost his family. And it certainly wouldn’t be easy to explain to the new kid how an endless life would mean the ending of the life she already had.

But Nile Freeman was beautiful, smart, and brave. Quynh could tell. Just as she once said Lykon was a hero unlike anybody else, and Joe and Nicky were naturally kind, and Booker was, well, he had been mostly just tired. Her favorite judgment, however, remained that one of a day thousands of years ago when she woke up from a dream, firmly convinced that she had just dreamt of the love of her life.

“Good. You’re awake,” Quynh smiled down at Nile.

While Andy was driving the car, Quynh had insisted on sitting in the back to keep company to the new kid. Nevermind the young woman was unconscious after Quynh had allowed Andy to go pick her up by herself.

“Who- What’s going on?” Nile mumbled. Her head hurt and she could barely make sense of the scene around her beyond being in a strange vehicle with an unknown woman gently smiling at her.

“I know you probably have a lot of questions- Ugh, fuck!” Quynh’s explanation was cut short when Nile’s knife pierced through her chest.

An instant later, the young woman had kicked open the trunk of the car and fallen off it.

“What the fuck?! Quynh are you okay?” Andy slammed the brakes of the car and quickly got out. She had been trying to be nonchalant about this whole thing, but a line had been crossed. “Did you just stab my wife?!” she yelled at the retreating figure of Nile, and pulled out her gun.

“Andromache, don’t!” Quynh reached her just in time to make it so that Andy shot only at the ground near Nile. The surprise made her stumble and fall, but it could’ve been worse.

“She stabbed you!” Andy protested, frowning and the blood that was tragically staining Quynh’s otherwise perfectly white t-shirt.

“And we kidnapped her,” Quynh gave her wife a pointed look and with a hand on her arm prompted her to walk forward to properly introduce themselves to the newcomer.

“Who are you?” Nile asked when they were close enough to talk. She was still on the ground, breathing heavily and trying to think of a way to get out of this situation. In front of her were standing two women, one with short brown hair, a black tank top, and a look in her eyes incredibly threatening. Beside her was another woman of long black hair, wearing a now blood-stained white t-shirt with rolled sleeves and looking a little too put together for the desert they were in, she was smiling, but she somehow didn’t seem much more friendly than the other one.

Before replying, Andy shared a look with Quynh, as if finding all necessary answers there. “Don’t worry,” she said at last, “You’re safe, you’re not in any danger. We are… we are people like you. I know you just figured out you can’t die, we can’t either. I know it might not look like it at the moment, but we are saving you from much worse situations. We don’t have all the answers, kid. But you don’t have to figure it out alone, okay?” There was a pause then where Andy and Quynh exchanged another look. It might have been reassuring or encouraging, teasing, or amused. It could have been an entire silent conversation in the span of a second. But the point was that Andy looked at Nile once more and with more relaxed features added, “Now, could you please get back in the car?”

Andy offered Nile her hand, and helped the young woman stand back up. When Andy started walking away, Quynh turned to look at Nile. “Her name is Andromache, you should probably call her Andy. And my name’s Quynh,” She offered her hand to Nile, smiled when she heard her name, and then immediately tightened her hold until it almost hurt. “If you stab me again, you’re going to regret it,” she winked, and she was smiling, and Nile was fascinated by the perfect balance of menacing and welcoming in that gesture. “Welcome to the team!” Quynh added in a sing-song, turning around and following Andy back to the car.

Throughout history, Quynh had to sleep in the strangest of places. It was just a part of their lives, warriors couldn’t be picky about a place to rest their heads for a few hours. Besides, with one of Andy’s arms draped over her waist, Quynh felt safe enough to fall asleep even in the sketchy plane of an even sketchier… businessman, of sorts. However, her sleep was interrupted after a while when, in a matter of seconds, she made a move to turn around, found herself restrained, her struggle woke up Andy, they realized they had their wrists chained to the seats of the plane, and the new kid was pointing a gun at the pilot of the plane.

“Oh, this will be fun,” Quynh mumbled through a yawn, getting comfortable in her place.

She smiled when the pilot played dead as instructed by Andy. “Yeah, I do not recommend it,” she said when Nile swore she wouldn’t jump off a plane. “Not me?” she playfully pouted when Nile freed Any first. And she grinned expectantly as she watched the two other women engage in a fight that she knew was necessary and more meaningful than any outsider would have guessed. She teased Andy, cheered Nile on, and threw her head back laughing when the young woman got two hits at Andy’s face.

After the fight was over, Andy took the keys from Nile and got Quynh out of her restraints. The newest immortal was still standing, looking a little lost and teary-eyed in the middle of the plane, when Quynh stood up and faced her. “My turn?” she playfully asked, and felt her heart swell with affection at the sight of the confusion and hint of irritation in the young woman’s face. “I’m kidding,” Quynh said softly and smiled genuinely this time. Then she opened her arms, a silent offer that she wouldn’t push and wouldn’t be offended if rejected but-

Nile stepped forward and lightly wrapped her arms around Quynh’s shoulders, accepting the hug. It was strange, it was completely unfamiliar, but so much had happened in the past day or so. She had died, for fucks sake, she deserved a hug. “I’m sorry for stabbing you,” Nile grumbled.

In response, Quynh chuckled, “It probably won’t be the last time. And you can thank me for the clothes, Andromache alone would have kept you in your bloody uniform.”

“You two are the oldest,” Nile stared seriously at the two women at the other side of the table.

Andy and Quynh exchanged a look. “Andromache is a little bit older,” Quynh said with a smile.

“How old?” Nile asked.

“It’s not our first millennium I can tell you that,” Quynh took a sip of wine and leaned back on her chair.

“How old?” Nile insisted.

“Too old,” Andy said with finality.

The night wasn’t quiet, it never was in that place though. They were all accustomed to the sounds of the planes, and Nile had been exhausted enough to fall asleep despite the noise. Still, Quynh was so in tune with her lover’s mind, that she felt Andy’s thoughts to be even louder than the planes above their heads. When everyone else had gone to sleep, she had stayed in one of the armchairs, talking with Andy about everything, and nothing, and their upcoming mission. At least, they had been talking about that, until Andy’s worries got the best of her and she was rendered silent, staring at her own hand as if it was the first time she saw it.

From her place curled up in the other chair, Quynh stared at her. She wouldn’t be surprised if she had figured it out before Andy herself. She could say with certainty she knew Andy’s body better than she knew her own. Their way of living had made it so that at times they went years without facing an actual mirror. In all her years Quynh had stared at Andy way more than at herself. Had loved her intensely, tenderly, carefully, hurriedly, in every way they had possibly thought of. She had held her in her arms as she died and came back to life more times than she could count. There was no language, in all languages humanity had ever come up with, for Quynh describe the intimate connection she shared with Andy. It would have been a deadly offense to her for anyone to think that she hadn’t noticed a change, in Andy’s eyes, in her hands, in her skin, in the very way she was breathing.

Andy had been lost in her thoughts until she noticed Quynh perching herself on the arm of the chair she was in.

“I’m sorry, my love, what were you saying?” Andy looked up at her, just realizing she had stopped listening and talking a while ago.

Quynh sighed and met Andy’s eyes, kicking through any and all walls the other woman could attempt to put up to hide her real thoughts. Andy’s eyes widened a little when she realized Quynh was already caught up with her train of thought, but she didn’t have anything to say, not yet.

“I was saying…” Quynh started to say, picking up Andy’s hand to kiss her knuckles and then hold on tightly, “That you look beautiful tonight, my heart,” She felt a knot on her throat and it only worsened when Andy smiled at her. It was a unique smile, amused, genuine, she was thankful, she wasn’t afraid, but there was an apology in there somewhere. “As beautiful as the first day I saw you,” Quynh added with all the conviction she could muster without breaking down.

Both women were still silent, staring at their intertwined hands when Nile woke up from a nightmare, gasping for air.

“His name was Lykon,” Andy said, trying to explain to Nile why she’d just had a nightmare of a warrior dying from a wound on his stomach. “He was the third immortal. Only Quynh and I got to know him. He died before the rest of you were born, way before.”

“He was dying,” Nile whispered, “He was… he was bleeding so much, and there was no way to stop it. He was calm, he felt… ready but, it hurt. It hurt too much, and I don’t think he wanted to die.”

Andy didn’t need to turn around to know that, behind her, Quynh was standing by the dining table, holding to its edge until her knuckles were white, and her eyes were burning a hole on the ground. Lykon’s death would never stop hurting them, not really. He was Quynh’s best friend in a way that nobody could ever match again. He was far from the first soldier Andy lost, but definitely the one loss that hurt her the most. Plus, only with his death, and after thousands of years of life, the two women had to face the reality that they weren’t completely immortal, and losing each other would forever be a possibility.

“He was the best warrior, and man, I’ve ever met,” Andy stated, her voice steady, unwavering, honoring him, even thousands of years later, “He was all full of courage, light, skill and… smiles.” She made a quick pause, allowing herself to remember one of the most painful days of her entire existence on this Earth. “We were fighting a small battle, nothing we hadn’t done a hundred times before. Everything was going according to plan, seamlessly. We got hurt, we stood back up. Until… he didn’t. He got hurt, and his wounds didn’t heal. Just like that. His time had come. Nothing we can do about it.”

Nile closed her eyes for a second. She still had an arm holding on to her own abdomen. “Why am I dreaming of him?” she asked, opening her eyes to glare at Andy.

“The dreams stop when we meet. Then they restart, when one of us dies. Those dreams, memories of them, they aren’t constant, but they don’t stop,” Andy explained, taking a quick look at the rest of her team, the three men that had dreamed of Lykon their entire lives without ever meeting him. “They won’t always be of his death, I promise,” Andy tried to explain, but a second later Nile was standing up and hurrying out the door.

After another meaningful look to the other half of her family, Andy grabbed a gun out of habit, and followed the young woman outside.

“I’m going with you,” Quynh said, as Andy passed beside her, “I need some air.” And the group was split in half, for longer than any of them could have expected.

“Wait for my signal,” Andy said to Nile before turning around, accepting the sword Quynh was holding out for her. Then the two of them confidently moved toward the abandoned church, to wait for a group of soldiers that during their last seconds of life would deeply regret ever taking that job.

“I could have done this by myself, you know?” Andy smiled at Quynh from their hiding place among the shadows.

“You could, doesn’t mean you have to,” Quynh replied, making an effort to not even hint at the fact that for the first time ever Andy’s mortality wasn’t as certain as it had always been. Instead, Quynh put on the playful smile that she knew Andy needed to see in her. “My heart, it’s been an eternity already, please accept that for as long as I’m here, you’ll never have to do anything alone.”

Quynh kissed Andy’s cheek and a second later she urged her lover to get out and dive, almost literally, into the fight waiting for them. Quynh let her go first, Andy always went first, and usually, Quynh didn’t complain. She loved looking at her wife conquer a battle fearlessly, almost effortlessly, it was a sight worth all the treasures in the world. But then, of course, as soon as one of the men showed even the remote intention of pulling a knife from behind Andy, Quynh was already there, making sure he didn’t live enough to even picture Andy hurt because of him.

It went on and on, almost too easily. Andy and Quynh fighting side by side, picking up guns and swinging their swords and not letting their enemies even a chance to think about the goddesses of war that had stepped in their paths. It was over as quickly as it started. The whole place catching fire, Joe and Nicky already too far away, Nile and Booker in the backseat of the car.

Quynh had been there to guard Andy’s back, and keep her from any serious injury, and maybe she was the only one looking for confirmation of her greatest fears, but the fact remained that she could hardly tear her eyes away from Andy’s bruised knuckles holding the steering wheel. Insignificant little bruises, but they were there, not healing as they should.

Quynh had to take a step back when Nile explained to Andy why she couldn’t go along with them. That experience was hurting Quynh more than anyone realized. She felt physical pain in a way she couldn’t explain. She had accepted Nile as a member of their family, she already felt protective, and charmed by the young woman. It hurt to watch her go, it hurt to watch her pick a different side when they needed her.

Andy seemed to understand though, of course she did. Andy had been a leader for pretty much as long as she had been alive, which was… a lot. Andy could make sense of why everybody did what they did, in and out of battle it seemed, and she always explained it to Quynh in a way that was too forgiving of the others. It hurt Quynh to watch Andy understand what was the right thing to do, it hurt because there was no one and there would never be anyone like Andy. It hurt Quynh because she could never do what Andy does, be like Andy, and she didn’t ever want to take over that role, didn’t even want to picture it, and now she might have to.

So, it was only Andy, Quynh, and Booker stepping into Copley’s office. It felt wrong, Quynh couldn’t explain why but it did. What kind of man is so calm when three immortal warriors are pointing at him with guns?

Well, the explanation lies with the third immortal, Booker, who wasn’t aiming at Copley at all. He was shaking, making the most difficult decision of his life, even if it was just a small part of the worst decision that he had already taken a while ago. He was thinking about how long they take to heal. He was thinking about who would react the quickest, and who wouldn’t hesitate to shoot him in the head for shooting her wife. So, he shot Quynh in the heart, killing her instantly, and buying himself enough time to shoot Andy near the stomach. Andy had enough time to shoot him in the leg, but her gun fell off her grip, and she fell to her knees.

By the time Quynh came back to her senses, there were tears streaming down Andy’s face, and there was a wound on her stomach that wouldn’t stop bleeding. Quynh gritted her teeth and accepted the pain, forced herself to accept Andy’s mortality, Booker’s betrayal, her own rage, and her even greater heartache. She wanted to reach out to Andy, she wanted to kill Booker a thousand times over this, she wanted to just lie there and hope for it all to be a nightmare. She didn’t have a chance to do any of that before she was restrained by a group of strange men taking her and her broken family away.

“Fuck! Let me go,” Quynh groaned as she was being securely tied down to one of the beds in Merrick’s lab. She was the only one fighting it. “Let me kill him just once and I’ll gladly settle down after. Fucking-”

Andy was staring at her while the doctor sedated Quynh for the third time already. If she had had the strength, maybe Andy would have smiled. It was the natural reaction, to smile when she watched Quynh fight, smile when Quynh was bold, when she was playful, when she loved Andy in every way possible, and beyond. It didn’t feel right then, to look at the love of her life and feel only the need to start crying. From her point of view, this was the end for Andy. The weight of the world had finally become too much for her to bear. The world had finally crumbled down around her, taking her family down with it, turning Booker against her, rendering Joe and Nicky helpless, and Quynh… Quynh would lose her any moment now. Was this where all their promises would break?

Their time in Merrick’s lab was anything but boring. Quynh had been angry enough, had been quick enough, to knock out one of the doctors and free one of her hands on one occasion. That was as far as she got. She was sedated two times more. Each time she woke up was more frightening for her than the last. Andy’s name was the first thing coming out of her lips, and the first thing she heard was her lover’s reassuring “I’m here. Still here, Quynh, still here.” But it could only be so reassuring when “here” was one of the worst places they had ever been.

Two memories had made its way to the forefront of Quynh’s mind. One, the first time Andy and her died after Lykon’s definitive death. She had never felt as scared as she was during the seconds it took Andy to come back, and she had never been as desperate to come back to life, back to Andy, as she did that time. The second memory, the witches’ trials, the iron coffin, the feeling of being trapped, entirely hopeless. Andy had escaped just in time to follow in a different ship, but she couldn’t stop them from throwing Quynh to the ocean. She jumped right after her, but it still took hours to free Quynh from her prison. Some nights she still had nightmares where they didn’t manage it at all. This couldn’t be it. Not again. Quynh knew she had to fight with everything she had but, what if it wasn’t enough?

Andy wasn’t putting up a fight. Her hopelessness pained Quynh more than she could put into words, but it also inspired her to fight harder, to get all of them out of there. But it was difficult. It couldn’t be impossible, but it was difficult. She couldn’t even hear herself think. There was Joe fighting Booker, and Quynh related to that anger, but she had new priorities. There was Nicky trying to calm Joe down, and Quynh understood his silent rage, but she didn’t have time to listen to all their words. Least of all, she couldn’t stand the noise of Booker trying to defend himself. Loudest of all, however, was Andy’s silence, and Quynh’s own heart, breaking in her chest.

Nile’s arrival had been the closest thing to a miracle the four immortals had seen in their long, long lives. Quynh grinned as soon as she saw her, because it wasn’t a miracle, it was the most, if not only reasonable thing she’d seen in days. She had known, maybe since the moment that Nile had stabbed her, that the young woman had the potential to be everything the world needed, and more. At least, at the moment, she was everything the group needed, and that much was clear. Nile was hope, and just the sight of her was enough to send the five warriors up to their feet and ready to fight.

Andy convinced Booker to stand up, and convinced Joe to postpone the arguing. However, nobody, except for Booker, flinched at all at the moment Quynh confidently and calmly walked up to him just to punch him in the face strong enough for him to require a few seconds to recover. It was enough, for the moment. They had bigger problems waiting for them on the other side of the doors.

The fight was equal parts exciting and terrifying. It wasn’t the most difficult thing they’d done, but it was the first time they did it while one of them was mortal. It wasn’t easy, trusting their backs to Booker during the fight, but it came naturally enough. It was their priority, but it was undeniably difficult, to think of protecting Andy. Andy, who always moved first, Andy who regularly died for them, Andy who barely adjusted her fighting to be a little more defensive than usual, but not enough. Quynh and Nile found a common ground there, fighting anything and everyone, including Andy herself, to make sure the newly-mortal woman remained safe enough. If Andy slipped away from them at one moment, well, that much was inevitable.

There was one moment, right before the worst of the fight.

“Are you going to let her do this?!” Nile asked Quynh, talking about Andy refusing to wear any protection and insisting on entering the fight first.

Quynh was resting her back against the wall, eyes closed and breathing heavily. She had never felt this exhausted for as long as she could remember. Her body was screaming, her mind was beyond overwhelmed, and her heart couldn’t exactly handle the emotional stakes of the situation. There would be pain in seeing Andy risk her life, the only life she had. There would be pain in seeing Andy be careful, in seeing the love of her life, who Quynh had associated with invincibility for all of her life, act anything but unbreakable. Quynh could ask, she could very seriously ask and she could probably get Andy to take a step back for once in her life.

“I can’t stop her,” Quynh replied finally. But not in the way Nile thought right then. She couldn’t stop her, because Quynh knew and understood her wife and so she knew that to ask this of Andy at that moment, it would be an offense she wouldn’t be able to take back. Andy needed this moment, even if it was the last one, especially if it was the last one. They would walk into this battle as they always had and if it was up to them, they would also walk away from it as they always had.

Finally, it was all over. The boys were chasing the elevator down to catch Merrick, Andy and Nile were standing by the window, talking. Quynh was just rounding a corner, walking toward them with a smile, when something hit her in the head hard enough to knock her down to the ground.

Quynh fought with everything she had to stay conscious. She opened her eyes, and Merrick was pointing his gun at Andy. She closed her eyes and heard gunshots. She opened her eyes, and only Andy was standing there, looking proud as ever.

“Is it over?” Quynh asked Andy with a smile while the taller woman offered her a hand to get her up to her feet.

“Which part?” Andy laughed.

They were both a little unsteady on their feet but, holding on to each other, they walked over to the elevator and started their descent. It was the first quiet moment they had to themselves in days. They could finally breathe, they could finally take a good look at each other and let the reality of their situation settle in around them.

“How do you feel?” Quynh asked.

“How do you feel?” Andy turned the question around on her. She smiled when she noticed the confusion on Quynh’s face. “You’re bleeding, my love,” she explained, her voice breaking just slightly. Andy moved a hand to Quynh’s face and one of her fingers just lightly grazed the small wound where Merrick had hit her with the handle of Andy’s labrys. Quynh hissed in pain. She had felt it for a short while already, and the confirmation wasn’t as startling as it should have been. She wasn’t healing either. “But you were out there, risking yourself for me,” it was just a statement on Andy’s part, not really a question, but not completely a reprimand either.

“Well, obviously,” Quynh replied, smiling as genuinely as ever, smiling in that particular way that Andy loved more than ever, brighter than any star, more meaningful than any combination of words could dream of being.

“We will figure this out together,” Andy said, taking Quynh’s bruised hand and interlocking their blood-stained fingers with all the tenderness they had accumulated through three thousand years of love for each other and the world around them. “Just you and me,” she promised.

Quynh looked at her, her best friend, the love of her life, the person she admired the most, the person she’d die a thousand times and come back for, her favorite endless source of happiness and passion, purpose and strength. They had first made this promise back when they didn’t know an “end” was even possible for them. This time would be the most difficult occasion when Quynh would have to say the words, but also the most important. “Until the end,” she swore, meaning the words more than ever before.

The doors of the elevator opened, and Andy and Quynh walked out, hand in hand, facing the beginning of their end bravely, happily, ready, as long as they were together.

#ToGMiniBang2020 #the old guard #andy x quynh #andromaquynh #immortal wives #andromache the scythian #quynh #tog #the old guard fanfiction #my fic #i said no to canon #here it is!!!

44 notes · View notes

snkpolls · 4 years ago

Text

SnK Episode 64 Poll Results (for Manga Readers)

The poll closed with 227 responses. Thank you to everyone who participated!

Please note that these are the results for the Manga Readers’ poll. If you wish to see the results for the Anime Only Watchers’ poll, click here.

---

RATE THE EPISODE 218 Responses

As has been the trend, the episode received mostly positive reviews, with over 90% of respondents giving the episode a score of 4 or 5. Not too shabby for one of the most anticipated episodes of the season!

Absolutely loved it!

MAPPA's winning streak continues with a near perfect adaptation.

Epic as hell wonderful adaptation.

I was on the edge of my Seat the whole time, even tho I read the Manga. It was amazing.

Best cliffhanger yet

PHENOMENAL!! THE TENSION DIDN'T LET UP FOR A SECOND

I really liked the episode. People can criticize, but Mappa couldn't have done the episode in another way. They're doing an amazing job, the animation is beautiful, the musics are amazing

Fairly good 8/10

It was ok, would've preferred a better climax.

Almost perfect episode

I thought this episode was adapted incredibly well; I enjoyed it more than I did previous episodes. The opening theme still isn't working entirely for me, though.

Best episode of season 4 so far. Also, Rage Mode is back…

Most anticipated episode and Mappa 100% delivered. MAPPA GOAT

WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING MOMENTS WAS YOUR FAVORITE? 220 Responses

As expected, the cliffhanger of the episode was the most favored moment (with 40.5% of the vote) with Eren transforming during the declaration of war was finally brought to life. The subsequent favored moments all contained various partts of Eren and Reiner’s basement reunion.

Reiner ready to protect Falco over himself made me love him even more, this moment needs more spotlight

Eren and Reiner's voice actors really went out of their way this episode. Their performance was ✨phenomenal✨

Reiner is really well-done in this episode. They were really able to capture his inner torment, not to mention the voice acting is amazing.

WHICH INTERPRETATION (BY RBA) OF THE OLD MAN’S STORY DO YOU THINK IS CLOSEST TO WHAT THE MAN ACTUALLY THOUGHT? 217 Responses

At 56.7%, the majority believe Bertolt was correct in that the old man RBA spoke with wanted to be judged before his death. 23.5% agree with Reiner that there’s no way they’ll ever know, and only 19.8% agreed with Annie in that he wanted to be forgiven.

IN THE SAME VEIN, WHICH OF THE AFOREMENTIONED INTERPRETATION FITS REINER’S STATE OF MIND IN THE BASEMENT SCENE? 217 Responses

In that same vein, the majority (52.1%) also believes that Reiner wanted to receive judgement, perhaps from Eren. Just a little under 31% believe that in addition to receiving judgement, Reiner also wants to receive forgiveness. Few believe Reiner solely wants forgiveness. Finally, a little under 9% simply aren’t sure what Reiner wants.

He knows what he's done and he knows it's unforgivable so I think he just wants a release from it all

He is depressed, has PTSD, and feels tremendously guilty.

He wants to die for his sins, I don't think it's either for for forgiveness or judgement, but his own internal quilt..

He wants to be free (of this world) da guilt too much

He wants to be judged and killed

He wants to die

WOULD YOU LIKE TO GET A HUG FROM PIECK? 219 Responses

An incredibly serious question with a lopsided result. Just under 84% would like to receive a hug from Pieck, in contrast to a miniscule percentage who’d rather not. 12.3% don’t really care about stuff like this.

DO YOU THINK HELOS ACTUALLY EXISTED? 217 Responses

The plurality (little under 42%) believe Helos was a complete fabrication, down to his very existence. Some others (26.7%) think he existed, but wasn’t anybody special or (17.5%) think he existed and was actually involved with ending the Great Titan War. A bit under 14% just don’t care.

“I’M THE SAME AS YOU.” EREN SAID THIS TO REINER A FEW TIMES IN THE EPISODE. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT? DO YOU THINK EITHER OF THEM HARBOR A GRUDGE AGAINST THE OTHER? 108 Responses

One of the episode’s (and the adapted chapters’) focuses is the meeting between Eren and Reiner, in addition to their general relationship. Many people seemed to give their thoughts on the central motif of the meeting, and whether either of them bear a grudge against the other:

yes and no- they’re both broken by what they’ve done (and will continue to do) to each other, and those feelings are as mixed as can be.

No, they understand each other, and the horrible acts they do is the result of seeking the best for the ones they love, in an unbearably cruel world they were born into

Probably not, from Reiner i think it's just a lot of remorse for what he did, as for Eren, he's probably beyond all of that.

They were forced to do what they had to do and both were ignorant as kids.

No grudges. And I think Eren believes he and Reiner are the same, and therefore that Reiner can understand what he is about to do and why. Eren didn't need to have this conversation with Reiner, and yet, he risked Reiner possibly interfering in his plan to talk to the one person he believes understands what he is about to do. Eren no longer believes his friends will understand his actions, which is why he did not confide in them, but he clings to the idea that Reiner will. However, I personally do not believe they are the same. Reiner's actions, while horrible, were those of a brainwashed child. Eren is an adult, about to set in motion genocide on a much larger scale. There is just no comparing it.

There's definitely animosity between them/they genuinely dislike each other from this point on. Last battle of Shiganshina Made it clear imo.

No, if circumstances were different, they would be best friends.

They share a lot of similarities, but it all comes down to the path they take by the end of the story. While Eren decided to commit mass genocide, Reiner is regreting his past actions and trying to save the world. I don't think they absolutely despise each other, they understand their struggles but both are ready to stop one another even if it means killing them in the process

Not sure. Reiner took Eren's family so not completely same-same trauma

Yes and no, feelings aren't particularly concrete between any two people ever. There are parts of Eren that still hate Reiner, and parts of Reiner that still hate Eren, but the same can be said of their comradery. Their relationship is pretty complex

No. Reiner doesn't hold a grudge for Eren because he is guilty. Eren doesn't hold a grudge towards Reiner because he also sees himself as a mass murderer.

Yes, Eren still wants to inflict pain on Reiner. He just claims that Reiner didn't care about his/his family's suffering either.

No, there are no hard feelings between them. Eren has forgiven Reiner since he has understood the current state of the Eldians and how Marleyans are ( they are humans just like him). But still, Eren will keep 'moving forward' and suffer from his actions like Reiner did (him talking Bertolt and Annie into breaking the outer wall and carrying the burden).

They both know it's inevitable. There is no other option.

Not consciously, at least: both of them came to understand the larger systems and powers at play, and both of them were manipulated as children by them

DO YOU THINK THAT EREN AND REINER ARE EFFECTIVE FOILS TO EACH OTHER? 215 Responses

The vast majority (88.4%) seem to agree with the notion of Reiner being a foil to Eren, be it a complete or partial foil. Some others dissent and argue that there’s no comparison.

They mirror each other, they have different reasons but they did the same things and had I believe very similar baseline motivations

I had learned that a foil is defined as a character who brings light to another character's traits or motivations through the contrast between the two. So if Eren and Reiner were foils to each other, then they would have had opposite personalities, as how foils are used. But Eren said 'I'm the same as you' and they do indeed share a lot of similarities. The only significant difference is that Reiner is at the point of giving up whereas Eren still keeps moving forward. So, no, they are not foils I believe.

I think they're more like tragic, star crossed lovers (minus any romance)

aren’t they parallels of each other? can they be foils and parallels of each other simultaneously? or i guess just don’t be know what either term means

SO, WAS THE DECLARATION OF WAR EVERYTHING YOU HOPED FOR? 219 Responses

Overall reception of the execution of the Declaration of War was positive, with 47% stating they were “quite pleased” with it, and another 33.8% barely being able to contain their hype at all. There are some who felt a little overwhelmed by it for one reason or another, stating it could have been better but also wasn’t bad. Others think MAPPA did the animation well but didn’t pair it with the right kind of music. A small percentage were just disappointed in it, period.

It was pretty much a 1:1 from the manga, so it was great.

Absolutely incredible, while the last music choice wasn't the best (it isn't a huge deal tho, it still fits), the rest of the episode was marvelous (direction, lighting, voice acting, music for most of it, animation) and managed to make justice to the manga chapters

i really don't care about the declaration so i wasn't hyped for it either way

It was great though music was a bit too triumphant for me (though ruined is way too strong)

I feel like such high expectations were held upon this chapter, so we're really critic about it. I would've liked a more intense music build up and manga-like animation of crushing the stage.

I loved the music choice throughout the episode, but for the declaration itself it could have been a bit more horrorish. Still loving it. No hate for the studio, they are doing great!

I wasn’t too happy about it at first but it’s grown on me so quickly that I think it’s well on its way to being my favorite episode out of the entire series.

The build up was amazing. Sure we hoped for more actions, but Mappa couldn't have organized the episode in another way. It was really well executed and the final scene simply left me breathless

It was perfect, but I'd have preferred having either the coordinate/attack on titan/S4 trailer theme playing but music choice didn't ruin at all the experience

BACK WHEN WILLY ACCUSED EREN OF WANTING TO INITIATE THE RUMBLING, DID YOU ACTUALLY BELIEVE THAT WAS EREN’S GOAL WHEN YOU READ THIS CHAPTER FOR THE FIRST TIME? 212 Responses

Are we still allowed to say “hindsight is 20/20?” The majority of the fandom had more faith in Eren back when these chapters were first published, with 25.5% saying they had a suspicion that he might, but didn’t want to accept that possibility and believed in the better of him. 19.3% felt that Willy was genuinely full of crap just for the sake of demonizing Paradis, and 14.6% felt that though the Rumbling would happen, Eren wouldn’t be the one at fault. On the flipside, a smaller amount of voters fully saw this coming, with 14.6% believing this to have been Eren’s goal, but with the hope that he wouldn’t make it a reality, and 11.8% now having the pleasure of saying, “I told you so.”

At the time i just thought it was willy's assumption he used to get the other nations to side with his agenda

I cannot even remember what I thought... too long ago

I didn’t think the rumbling was gonna happen at all, actually.

When I read the chapter the rumbling had happened

I already knew the Rumbling would happen before I read the chapter, so I don't have an opinion on this other than Willy ended up being right, even if it's only because it's a self-fulfilling prophecy.

I sadly had that plot point spoiled :(

At this point, I genuinely did not think the Rumbling would happen at all.

I thought that Willy and Eren were playing along for the sake of "common enemy - unites the world". With sacrifice on both ends.

WE’VE GOTTEN A SNEAK PEAK OF YELENA IN THIS EPISODE. NOT SO MUCH THE DESIGN, BUT MORE SO THE VOICE. IT’S QUITE LOW. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT IT? 217 Responses

When it comes to Yelena’a introduction, it’s about as mysterious as it was in the manga. The difference however is the inclusion of a voice. The reception came out to be overwhelmingly positive, with people deeming it fitting, sexy and cool (in that order). Some others (24%) thought that it was as low as it was now only because she was imitating a soldier. Just a little over 10% simply didn’t care.

I assume it's low right now because she knows Pieck will recognize her, but also Yelena could sound like a literal elephant and I'd still want her crazy beautiful ass to step on me

I didn't hear it well.

Reminds me of the voice actors in Claymore. It was perfect.

ANNIE STILL HASN’T REUNITED WITH HER FATHER, DO YOU THINK SHE EVER WILL? 217 Responses

In spite of both Annie and her father coming back to the forefront in recent manga chapters, they still haven’t been reunited. A plurality believes that they will. Just under a third thinks that it’s a possibility. Finally, a little over 20% don’t think that the meeting will happen.

THE NOTABLY IMPORTANT SCENE BETWEEN WILLY AND MAGATH RIDING IN THE CARRIAGE AT THE BEGINNING OF CHAPTER 100 IS MISSING IN THIS EPISODE. WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENED TO IT? 214 Responses

When it comes to the rather important scene between Willy and Magath and its lack of inclusion in this episode, most people (57.9%) came out thinking that the next episode will open up on that exact scene before transitioning into Willy’s death. Some others believe that it’ll instead be shown either sometime in the next episode or just before the arc ends. On the flip side, 20.6% believe that the scene was simply cut and that’s that.

Either it's completely cut or will appear in a flashback again

Has to be shown at the start of episode 6 otherwise that's a colossal fuck up on Mappa's part and will affect how I view this episode

Much of it was implied through the fear on Willy’s face the whole episode.

THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM - THE MUSIC. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE CHOICE AT THE END OF THE EPISODE? 218 Responses

The music choice for the climax of the episode wound up being very controversial, as many had different expectations than what MAPPA’s final product delivered to us. Though, it seems that overall the majority weren’t bothered at all by the music direction. 28% felt that it worked well with the scene, 22.9% very much enjoyed the music direction. 17% didn’t even notice the music much, being more immersed in the animation and overall development. Some felt let down, but realized in hindsight that maybe they expected too much for certain tracks (new and old) to be utilized. The rest either don’t care about the music or were massively let down by the execution overall.

It felt like Tyburs orchestra was playing them throughout the episode. It felt immersive.

Dude it was bloody brilliant, what's everyone on about?

Not a let down, but I found it kinda funny that they chose that one. It seemed too... intense, upbeat, I'd say. Though if I was an anime-only I probably wouldn't care, because I wouldn't know what Eren was really gonna do.

I imagined *that track* behind this scene since reading ch 100 years ago so it was weird to hear different music, but as I rewatched the ep a couple of times I changed my opinion: the music they used fits just as well.

What I cared about most was proper execution of the scene, not the music. They could have used no music at all for all I care. I seriously can't believe some "fans" were so bitter about them not using YouSeeBigGirl for the declaration of war that they personally attacked the director and made him feel bad. Have we already forgotten that if it wasn't for MAPPA, we wouldn't be getting a season 4 at all?! The ungratefulness and toxic criticism is something else, man.

I was waiting for intense music, I didn't care which, but I was let down by the lack of intensivity build-up for me.

My month is ruined

It could've been better, but fuck the assholes who harassed the director over it.

During the whole speech it was just perfect, you can really feel that growing tension. End music could be better though

If they had just synced up 2volts explosive chorus right as Eren busts through the building in his titan form, then I think it would've worked out so much better. But yeah, I think I just over anticipated a different OST for the scene. Overall, it's okay.

It was ok, an 8/10 choice of music

While watching I was so focused on what was happening that I didn't even notice the music so when I saw the complaints I was shocked. Keeping that moment low key until the very end with no musical signals of what was to come was perfect! Anime audiences (you know, the people this is actually for) were completely caught off guard by Eren's transformation. They legit thought Eren was befriending Reiner in that moment by lending him a hand. Having musical cues would've ruined it.

WHEN WILLY TYBUR NOTED THAT HE WISHED FOR THE EXTINCTION OF ALL ELDIANS, THE MANGA SHOWCASED A PANEL OF ZEKE, FORESHADOWING HIS ULTIMATE PLAN FOR THE FUTURE. IN THE ANIME, THIS IS JUXTAPOSED WITH REINER’S SUICIDAL PLEAS. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE CHANGE? 213 Responses

MAPPA seems to be keeping the audience even more in the dark about Zeke’s motivations than Isayama himself did in the manga… by excluding just about everything hinting at him having any motivations other than pure loyalty to Marley. In episode 64, the opted to juxtapose Willy’s speech with Reiner and Eren, leaving Zeke out of the equation. 43.2% overall were disappointed in this decision, with 24.9% feeling let down by the lack of foreshadowing of Zeke’s plan, and the other 18.3% feeling saddened by the lack of narrative contrast between the Yeager Brothers. 17.4% are hopeful for some anime-only foreshadowing.

i don’t really care about the juxtapositioning because i think the average anime only would not pick it up. but i am disappointed that the scenes that made zeke more enigmatic and suspicious were cut

Didn't even notice

I never noticed this detail in the manga, but i feel like it was better being left out to keep it as a secret.

I found it to be an effective way to make Zeke's motives even more mysterious. I also didn't mind the scene being juxtaposed with Reiner's scene because it serves as a reminder of Reiner's guilt and brainwashing from the past. Both of these things have torn him apart mentally.

It works either way for different reasons

WHICH SCENE FROM THE PREVIEW ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO? 218 Responses

The majority (52.3%) were most looking forward to Eren’s fight with the War Hammer Titan. 19.3% were hyped for Eren’s initial emergence from his titan form during the fight. 9.6% were looking forward to the Survey Corps throwing Pieck and Porco off guard, 8.3% were looking forward to Eren’s assault on the military and the remainder were looking forward to seeing Udo and Zofia die. Magath got a very tiny sliver of the pie.

Can't wait to watch Eren giving them the deaths they deserve again

ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS ON THE EPISODE?

I felt tense most of the time, just like when I was watching most episodes of s3 pt. 2 :')

The suspense truly killed me!!! Even tho I knew what was to come!

....I just want to know if miss tybur gets a goddamn given name already... but considering how long it took for us to get “Pieck Finger”? Dx

I likes the addition of the marley soilders approaching where eren and reiner were talking, it gave it an extra bit of intensity.

Was on the edge of my seat for the entire episode despite knowing what would happen. The VA's also delivered some of the best performances of the entire series so far.

I absolutely loved the whole episode, the overall atmosphere, the tension building during the speech, and of course the soundtrack was excellent imo, I was not even expecting YSBG myself as I don't watch SoulMadness' videos, so in my mind that scene played out to some botched mental version of Counter Attack Mankind instead... :P

I may have known what was happening... But the music made it so much better and intense.

Also I wholeheartedly believe those professional and experienced directors know better than randoms on the internet who never directed anything. I never thought such a thing could be so controversial. :) - Ryuuhime (I lurk on reddit but almost never post)

Amazing aside from the ost at the end and the lack of direction for the transformation

We should thank Mappa for the amazing job thus far!

Intense. Somehow even more intense than the manga at times.

People really need to shut the fuck up and just be grateful that such an amazing studio is giving us what we never thought we’d see in a thousand years. Mappa has been going above and beyond to give us a great season and so far it’s taken the top spot of my favorite season, knocking Season 2 down to my second favorite. The voice acting, the added scenes, the directing, the animation, the character designs, I’m just grateful we’re finally seeing all of these things in the quality we haven’t gotten since Season 2. Bless Mappa 💖💖💖

Okay I'm kind of hoping we'll get the big panel of Eren emerging in the next episode cause that was pretty sick, but s4 is looking awesome so far and I think MAPPA is doing as well as they can- and exceeding expectations IMO considering WIT did so well and we all thought whoever took up SnK was gonna flop.

Fantastic adaptation. There was a lot to love. People need to calm down about the ost.

It was rushed and lost some of its impact from the manga, but it was an otherwise excellent piece of anime storytelling when detached from the manga experience.

Isayama probably got a say in the play's direction. It was amazing.

I genuinely enjoyed watching this episode! I don't really understand all the hate towards it.

Overall, phenomenal and everything I had wanted it to be.

AMAZING Episode. Wished for a better ost at the end but the current anime version is growing on me

Very well done, the next one's gonna be fire! 🔥😎

talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show stopping, spectacular, never the same, totally unique, completely not ever been done before, unafraid to reference or not reference, put it in a blender, shit on it, vomit on it, eat it, give birth to it.

Not as strong of an adaption as other episodes, but great because the source is great.

I was so hyped for the declaration of war that I forgot that most of the episode would be dialogue. A LOT of it. Uyy. Next episode will be better.

The songs are very important on a scene, but i don't think that justifies hating on the anime just for that, the episode was great, and Mappa is doing just fine.

It pisses me off how ungrateful this fandom can be. I'm not saying we cant criticise, because that's important and valid. But seeing a vocal minority, harass the director over a song choice (which had been well made, 2Volt was great for the moment as well as the OST throughout the episode) to the point where he locked his twitter account just takes it too far. People should remember that the Anime is made for anime onlies in the first place, and I have seen VERY few anime watchers complain about the episode, next to none, actually. It's always some of the Manga readers. We literally got a perfect episode, what else do you demand? Without Mappa we wouldn't have AOT. I'm just happy we finally get the story animated.

Pretty good overall. It felt really well paced compared to the previous episodes that seemed hella rushed to me. I understand the music complaints, but otherwise a good episode :)

WHERE DO YOU PRIMARILY DISCUSS THE SERIES? 199 Responses

Thanks again to everyone who participated! We’ll see you again next episode!

#snk poll #snk polls #shingeki no kyojin #attack on titan #snk #aot #snk spoilers #snk s4

18 notes · View notes

monomonomagines · 5 years ago

Text

For the Anon that Requested the V3 Boys Finding S/o Dead and Being Mocked in the Class Trial

Thank you thank you thank you anon for being so understanding about my issues with gore and blood. I'm normally ok as long as I don't go into more than general details so I hope it's still to your liking.

As I said before, I love you and am elated that you were so understanding. I hope you enjoy this anon!

Rantaro

Rantaro hadn't expected the Body Discovery Announcement to play so early in the morning but when did anyone expect it to go off really.

It was always a premonition for another terrifying class trial and that's all they ever would be for him.

He expected to be able to talk to you asking you to help him investigate per usual but when he approached the gym and saw everyone surrounding what presumably was a body but his heart sank.

Why weren't you there? If you were the only one he couldn't pick out then were you really what everyone was surrounding?

Before he comprehended it his hands were already parting the sea of his fellow classmates when there in the center you lay in a puddle of your own blood and a knife nearby.

Rantaro thought this was a nightmare and he wanted to wake up but when Shuichi and everyone else continued with the investigation he knew this was real.

He thought this couldn't get worse but then during the trial when the murderer began mocking you he couldn't help but feel like he was being kicked while he was down.

How dare he tell him about your screams of help, of how he wasn't there to protect you. How dare he!

Although he was normally fairly calm all hell broke loose in that trial.

Meaning, if not for the rules he would've definitely beaten the murderer.

Ryoma

Ryoma was in his lab when he heard that accursed announcement ring out in the same manner as always.

Great, another trial. He groaned audibly just wanting to see you.

He knew he'd have to help with the investigation but being with you always helped him stay grounded.

That's why he didn't even know how to react when the very ground he used to stand upon was somehow pulled from under his feet.

He didn't even know how to react when he walked in and saw everyone part for him.

There you lay so silent, so still. Not a drop of blood or anything tarnishing your image.

He could quickly put together that you were still dead, you were poisoned maybe he thought and when that blasted murdered mocked you.

When they dared to mock how the light left your eyes and told him of your demise well, it wasn't much of a shock that he watched that execution the whole time.

He'd make sure they'd pay for what they did to you.

Korekiyo

Kiyo already lost his sister so you were all he had.

He wasn't normally shaken up by this murder game as much as he should've been but he still didn't expect to hear the Body Discovery Announcement going off so late into the night.

He was confident that you'd all be able to find the murderer though so he wasn't too worried.

He'd simply stick by you the entire time that the investigation was occurring and would assist where he was needed only.

His confidence, however, was short-lived when he saw everyone looking at him, surrounding a body and some rope on the ground.

He pushed through immediately needing to know if it was what he thought and when it was, all he could do was laugh.

He laughed and laughed until he began to sob for you were all he had left and now you were gone.

Without you, he had nothing so he would do anything to make whoever did this suffer.

He is by far the most vengeful and is equally methodical.

He'd purposefully corner the murderer to the point that all they can do is mock him. Mock him about how you struggled against your bounds how you slowly stopped breathing how you were in agony and most of all how he wasn't there.

Like Ryoma, he'd watch their execution to the very end but under his mask is his own sinister smile.

They would pay for taking you from him.

Gonta

Gonta was always by your side so as soon as he heard the announcement go off he was already bounding to be at your side.

However, when he got to the Dining Hall, he knew that'd be impossible.

You were on the table and he couldn't even bear to look at what they had done to you.

There were forks and knives and all sorts of sharp pointy things in the dining hall and kitchen but Gonta never thought he'd see a single one used against you.

That's why he couldn't help but to cry out immediately.

He wasn't there for you and he regretted it.

However, he was also enraged. That's why when the murderer began to mock him he wasn't able to be stopped by anyone but Shuichi calmly trying to get him to focus more so on getting that person voted the blackened rather than Gonta beating him to a pulp.

Gonta won't watch the execution but he'll still cry at another classmate of his being taken away.

They might've killed you but they were still his friend. If only you guys weren't stuck here. Then Gonta wouldn't have had to lose both of you.

Kokichi

Kokichi always rushed to the scene of crime whenever he heard that announcement rear its ugly head.

He always had to know what was going on so when it was another locked room mystery he picked the lock without much thought other than that it was as easy as the last.

He proudly walked in with Shuichi and the others so proud of his own skills that at first, it didn't sink in that you were dead.

At first, it wasn't you that lay face down and bloody on the ground with the murder weapon lying nearby.

No, it was someone else. It wasn't the one person he got close to. Not at all.

Even during the trial, he'd act chipper as ever trying to lie to himself until the murderer begins to mock him.

How dare he!? Not only did he take the one person that Kokichi had truly opened up to but now they were mocking the way that you trusted him so much, how you called for him even as you were slowly fading from this world.

It wasn't fair at all! He'd expect something like this but being mocked just made the damn break.

Suddenly Kokichi was doing more work than Shuichi to finish up the class trial, not even one bs statement coming from his lips.

He was serious about avenging you and he certainly did just that when the killer was voted the blackened.

Like Gonta he wouldn't even bother to watch the execution. He'd just excuse himself as soon as it was possible to go back to his room. He needed time to isolate himself for a while.

Kaito

Kaito was terrified each time he heard the Body Discovery Announcement but he knew that he'd be needed to help so he'd have to come to the scene of the crime.

Normally he'd catch you on the way and you'd head in together but it seemed like you beat him.

Alright, he guesses he doesn't really mind in the end since it's not like he can't catch you then but when he notices a strange vial next to your body sitting in a chair as though you were just asleep he still lets out a shrill scream.

You were gone. He couldn't save you. How did this even happen? Why did it have to be you?

Kaito would immediately get angry trying to get an answer out of everyone through yelling and hitting things but no one would answer him.

It wouldn't be until the class trial when that same question comes to bite him in the ass.

As soon as Shuichi pinpoints a murderer Kaito finds himself in shock and soon even more anger as they immediately begin to mock him, telling him how much you screamed for him to save you. How even as you died you continued to utter over and over that he'd be there to protect you even when he wasn't.

Kaito knows he can't beat them up but he definitely would scream his head off even as the voting is taking place.

He wouldn't watch the execution but he wouldn't be himself for a long time after that trial. He'd always blame himself for not being there, for not being your knight in shining armor.

Kiibo

Kiibo was always extremely worried when that terrible announcement would sound.

It was terrifying whether you were a robot or human and all he really wanted to do was to see you.

It'd help him calm down he thought but he couldn't have been more wrong.

He made his way to the pool but he'd never expect to see you floating lifelessly in it.

He didn't care how you died or who did it at the moment. What he wanted to know was why someone would dump you into the pool like that why they'd have to add insult to injury.

He'd be trying so hard to seem helpful the entire investigation but at times he'd need a moment.

He just couldn't fathom how this could happen. Why did he let it happen? Why wasn't he there for you?

He thought that'd be the worst of it. That'd they be able to vote your murderer the blackened and be done with it but when the murderer started mocking you and him he didn't know how to respond.

He knew he should've been there and that you'd probably tried to attract his attention somehow but he just couldn't react much.

Kiibo would stop functioning and even as the blackened would be executed would not move from his spot. All he was capable of doing was thinking about you when you were alive and how much he missed you.

Shuichi

Shuichi never had much confidence but with you by his side, he always felt so much stronger.

He wasn't looking forward to dealing with another murder when that sickening Announcement played but he was still ready to use his talents to help none the less.

He felt determined to take on this case but when he opened the door to your research lab and saw the same things you used for your talent being the cause of your death he just froze.

This couldn't be real he thought.

This was just a bad dream and he'd wake up and see you in the dining hall with everyone else.

He wanted to believe that and at the same time knew he was lying to himself.

He'd force himself to work twice as diligently as normal in order to expose your killer.

He needed to for your sake and his own peace of mind but when he cornered the killer with all his evidence he wasn't ready for what his ears heard next.

He didn't want to know that you called out for him, that you cried and begged, he didn't want to hear any of it.

He'd continue to work against them but as he did plenty of tears would make their way down his cheeks.

He would make sure to get them voted the blackened but he wouldn't watch them in their execution.

He made peace by focusing only on honoring your memory. He wasn't out for blood, he was out for your approval even if he could no longer hear it.

#danganronpa #danganronpa imagines #drv3 #danganronpa killing harmony #danganronpa x reader #x reader #imagine #rantaro amami #ryoma hoshi #korekiyo shinguji #gonta gokuhara #kokichi ouma #kokichi oma #kaito momota #kiibo #K1-B0 #shuichi saihara #ask #mod toko

333 notes · View notes

pettyelves · 4 years ago

Text

lachesism I

Compounding pressure, stacking situations which teetered on the edge of a tumble and threatened to break apart Eilithe at every turn. Weeks continued to pass into months and she was no closer to accomplishing anything.

Shadeala was still alive. Shae and Aydri were still dying. Azura and Nyllaen’s grove withered by the hour. Her Aunt still suffered in the Maw. Kurel grew further away from her each day, until it felt like strangers brushing fingers in the night time.

She focused on the former three in burst-- digestible pieces, where she could swallow a few more bites of shit fed to her. And on the night she decided to make a jump, she’d been fed the whole shit pie.

Weeks before, Azura had called to Eilithe and it was that night she discovered that what was draining Nyllaen’s grove was most certainly the unnamed cult headed by a Shal’Theran apostate, Is’Stallae. And years before that, they’d collected a tablet from said cult and hidden it away in a place potent with Light.

And for years it had sat. Safely. Until Eilithe had decided it was worth the risk to take it out and read it. If there was even a chance something in its dark magic could tell them how to undo it all--she deemed it worth it. Only to essentially send a beacon to Is’Stallae.

“Thank you, little witch,” she cooed in a voice too familiar. “We have been searching long for this.”

And so, Eilithe had handed it to the cult. A means to bring raise their Champion, and ultimately their Death god into this realm to do gods knows what to it. Sitting there with the tablet in pieces, its magic freed. Eilithe felt something..cracking, and like all of her meltdowns-- she went to have it in private.

When she was a little girl, she’d often spend her free time watching Feril as he sketched. His wife, Is’Stallae herself, would braid her hair and read her poetry. And so it was only fitting that Feril came to her then, as she sat sobbing into her knees. “I really fucked it up this time, Feril. I told them I would help them save his grove. I told them I could read the tablet without danger. And.. she is going to ascend to fuck knows what. Our kids..those effigies. She got to them so fucking easily.." She inhaled through cries,"Why is it-- that I cannot seem to win against a single force that opposes me. Shaedala's still alive. Is'stallae. Still alive." This is not your fault. It wasn’t enough-- or perhaps she didn’t believe it. "This is not your fault. Thy have had nearly a thousand years to plan this. I have no answers. What I do know though, is that you and those your surround yourself with are survivors. Not ones to give up. Nor to lose hope. You have beaten both of these forces before. You will do so again." Afterwards, he once more lapsed into silence, letting her take any time she needed.

"I'm tired of just fucking surviving, Feril.” And that was the size of it. The utter exhaustion she felt which only came from thousands of years of merely treading water. “I'm so fucking tired of happiness and peace being a fleeting fucking moment. Any time it gets close, either I spit on it or someone else does."

"The world has always known turmoil. You are so close. Nothing but these final death rattle of forces that have tried and failed again and again. Can you see that light? Shining at the end of the tunnel?"

No. No, she could not see it because she had been running away from it. Shortly before her death, her a had told her simply, “You have all the tools you could ever need, you must be unafraid to use them.”

It was time to take her place then.

"I want to call the Shan. I want to mobilize the Shal'Thera,” she started with-- but there was much more. “ Do you believe..that I could unite the Shal'Thera again. As Shan'di." As her Aunt had intended.

“I do,” was all she needed to hear from Feril’s lips.

Just as the hours ticked over into evening, the magi joined forces to open two large portals, one after the other. For anyone nearby to witness, two large parties of mostly Kaldorei shimmered through the portals.

At the front of one party, an elder Druid with dark hair and silvery eyes. He bore a striking resemblance to Shaedoril Seawalker. He was accompanied by a man with similar features, though his hair was an aqua color. The were accompanied by roughly ten others. Most of them druids, though there were a few mages, and hunters within the ranks. Two of the elves in the first crowd held banners, a stark white flag with a black circle and two arrows pointing straight up.

The second group was led by a tall woman in white. Her hair, brows, eyelashes-- even her gown were all in the most bright shade of white. She nearly glowed. Accompanying her, was an even taller woman-- whom some might recognize as Yria. Her hair and eyelashes were all the same as her sister's, though she dressed more in furs than pretty gowns. While the first group had a mix of races, this one seemed exclusively to bring more Kaldorei to Dead Sun. They were overwhelmingly priests of one kind or the other. Two of those Kaldorei carried banners like the first. Stark white flags with a circle, the difference being that these flags bore the silhouette of a leaf instead of the upward facing arrows.

Assembled to greet them were two more parties, those chosen to receive the other two families of the Shal’Thera. The first was led by Reveria, dressed in a rich black gown with stark white bear furs draped over her shoulders in contrast. Beside her was Azura, those in their party mostly elves with a variety of other races mixed in. They looked to be the roguish types, with a few hunters, sailors, and druids mixed in. The Shan'Min's own ship captain, Jin'sarr - a tall kaldorei with dark hair wielded their banner, white with only a dark black circle.

Along side them, awaiting the arrival of the other two families stood Thaereus Stormwalker, dressed in deep sea blue dress leathers with a cloak of white hanging from his left shoulder. His emerald hair flowed in the wind, tied into a ponytail. Beside him stood Shaedoril, dressed in similar dress leathers though his cloak hung from the right shoulder. While mostly elves, there were humans, orcs, and even trolls among their number. Most were clearly sailors, though some were discernible as priests or roguish outrunners. A mage, here and there as well. Their standard of white bore the black circle, with three white wavy lines within. Meanwhile, Eilithe-- Fadrina's polar opposite cared very little for this welcoming ritual. Inside of the Reach, she was dressed in her formal gold and black dress, slouched back into her chair as though it was a throne. When the parties entered the Speaker Court-- she wasted no time, rising from her chair to get started.

"Thank you all for coming," Eilithe said, pulling her hands behind her back. Her golden paulder glimmered in the evening light that seeped in through the open arches behind her.

"Now more than ever-- we require a united front. Direction. A Shan'di," Eilithe said, getting straight to the point. "I stake claim to the title, formally. I will lead this family with as much ferocity as my Aunt and Grandmother did. Do I have a second?" She searched, Ur'Sen and Thaereus particularly.

There was no hesitation in Thaereus, who rose a confident hand. "I second her claim. The Tel'nar have had the chance to witness Eilithe's leadership first hand, through struggles that saw her save many innocents. Her First priority is always those lives and it would be with honor that I followed her."

Not long after Thaereus spoke up, did Reveria predictably raise her hand. "The Thal'Ana support Eilithe Duskbringer's claim as well. For many years she led us with unwavering and unflinching resolve. Capable of making the difficult choices any leader has to. It would be our honor as well, to follow her as Shan'Di."

Ur'sen was quiet at first-- the same way he had been after Elsennia had died. He looked across the way at Shaedoril for a long time before he seemed to get the will to take action. "The Quel'later support Eilithe An'diel's claim," he said, dipping his head to Eilithe. A quiet came-- as the fourth vote was awaited. A vote which had to be unanimous. "You did not deserve to be Shan'min, and you do not deserve the seat of the Shan'di," Fadrina said, in calm and collected tone. "It was under your direction, that we nearly lost our foothold in Stormwind. It was under your direction, that the Thal'ana nearly turned apostate. It was under your direction that Shan'di Stormsinger died. How many more people will die? The Shal'Thera was never meant to be a monarchy, Shan'an Seawalker..Keeper Duskbringer.. I should think you would remember that." Her eyes never left Eilithe's, "Your only claim is your blood, and blood should not be the only decider here. I reject Shan'min Duskbringer's claim." It was only then, that Idorin showed himself. The woman’s own lifemate. He stepped forward and looked Fadrina in the eyes. "You are blind with jealousy and hunger for power. It pains me, to see you have fallen so far. I do not speak for the Alor'Anir but I hear Eilithe's claim and support it."

Chaos erupted but Eilithe waited until the exact height of it to interrupted. “I challenge Fadrina Whitemoon to Tal'ashar. If I win, I take the seat of the Shan'di. And if I lose, I will remove myself entire from the Shal'thera. For good."

The two exchanged a stare-- Fadrina’s nearly white eyes more sharp than the dull ones Eilithe maintained. Fadrina could not refuse her. Eilithe spoke first "Tomorrow. The Shans deserve a night of rest." Eilithe stretched her neck from side to side, "We will fight at dusk." Fadrina’s gazed turned to a sneer, "So be it."

@ferilclawmane@kurel-andiel @theshalthera @azuraduskwalker @revthepunchbear

#the shalthera #part 1

11 notes · View notes