#seriously though can we talk about how hard this piece goes? that sunset lighting is my everything

[danganronpa-rejuvenation]

Moving onto Attack #4, we have this really cool piece by the user @mathes0n! I've been following their blog dedicated to their fangan campaign Camp Totis Viribus for a while now and, while it's been ages since it updated, the character designs / concepts hold a special place in my heart. As per usual, I ask for you to check out their stuff, and give their Art Fight profile some love, too!

Also, as a quick bonus:

Let's just say fun's definitely one way of describing Tsukiko 😉

[kitsu-katsu]

On kiribaku becoming canon and their evidence:

So I posted this on reddit earlier, but wanted to have it here where more KRBK shippers are, since I just ended up compiling a lot more than I thought I would.

Fair warning: A pretty big text with a compilation of kiribaku moments ahead.

We would all love kiribaku being canon, and I think it's not as much of a longshot as some may lead you to believe.

Honestly, if one of them was a girl, this would most certainly be canon, like, just in the anime we have:

Them becoming friends slowly in the background, leaving us with good development between them that is so seamless it can hit you hard once you notice how close they've become if you hadn't noticed before.

Them arriving and leaving the pool together while walking in the sunset.

They support and compliment each other (both on personality and quirks, like come on).

Kirishima can just lean on Bakugou or side hug him all the time and Bakugou lets him with no problem, which considering who we're talking about is a pretty big thing.

Kirishima can seem even more agitated than Deku about Bakugou being taken, and Deku is the one who idolized him since childhood.

The whole "It has to be you" thing and the precious hand holding (including that little scene after the rescue, where Kiri tries to grab Baku's hand again).

Kirishima bought expensive night vision googles in case they were useful for the rescue even though they had Yaomomo with them (this boy goes through extremes just to ensure his boyfriend's best friend's safety)

Kirishima is officially the one Bakugou considers an equal, and considering his conflicting inferiority and superiority complexes (making him perpetually place people as above him or beneath him) is vital information.

Kirishima is esentially Bakugou's first real friend (as Deku was considered more of an incomprehensible nuisance and his childhood troop seemed more like his followers who just put him up on a pedestal and followed what he did).

Kirishima has jumped in front of danger for Bakugou's sake quite a bit of times (including a time in the movie).

Kirishima is a central piece in Bakugou's character development.

Bakugou was the one who told Kirishima he was strong and gave him his confidence back, reminding him of what he said at the start of their friendship.

Kirishima unlocked fucking UNBREAKABLE because of Bakugou's encouragement.

Going to extra stuff:

Bakugou's favourite hobbie is hiking, and we're shown he takes Kirishima with him sometimes, thing he doesn't seem to do with other characters.

The whole festival thing, with the narrator outright assuming Bakugou must have given his coat to a pretty girl who was cold, only for it to be revealed in another picture that he gave it to Kirishima because as usual, he didn't have a shirt on.

On the movie Bakugou could have taken anyone to I-Island and took Kirishima as his plus one. They share a room. Kirishima bought suits for both of them, with the most detailed one with white roses being for Bakugou, and they decide to go to the party together.

In a BNHA Smash connected directly to the movie, Midoriya notices the white roses in Bakugou's suit and notes that they mean deep respect and "I'm the one for you", which prompts Bakugou to send an explosion his way (not to Kirishima who gave him the suit, mind you), which makes the flowers turn red (from blood), after which Mineta appears to say that red roses mean "beautiful and passionate love".

They are usually seen together in merch stuff.

There's this tumblr post talking about japanese fan's reactions to one of Horikoshi's drawings which I find at least hilarious:

https://exbrodokills.tumblr.com/post/187710597637/here-it-is

There are discussions regarding Kirishima's character sheet and the translation of him liking "tough guys" (here's a podt by aitaikimochi explaining the meaning of the translation: https://www.google.com/amp/s/aitaikimochi.tumblr.com/post/171127708911/amp) where even translator such as aitaikimochi have gotten into, and they have mentioned that there's a japanese stereotype of a type of gay guy who is obsessed with "manly behaviour" and usually stay away from women, prefering tough guys instead, which is interesting to say the least.

Some of the light novel episodes which show more slice of life moment feature some good kiribaku moments, with a prominent one being this one wich details their study date (it seriously seems like fan fiction, not even kidding, and this is supposed to be sort of canon):

https://www.google.com/amp/s/aitaikimochi.tumblr.com/post/171236111166/amp

Also there's a chapter where Kirishima tells Fatgum about Bakugou being extremely happy, and another one where they are arm wrestling between classes and they cheer for one another heavily.

(Honesly, just go through aitaikimochi's whole kiribaku tag, there are some pretty interesting things there)

Here are some analysis on their possible coding, if you guys are interested:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1dxO6Y0yK_wxOJDmRsBYvsVWKwsH7tKc92skxJ--R1m4/edit?usp=drivesdk

(Bakugou's one link can be found at the end of that one)

And in BNHA Smash, there are quite a lot of things, and we must not forget that the whole thing still gets approved by Horikoshi before being published, some of my favourite things are:

Kirishima inviting Bakugou to spend christmas together, with the translators noting christmas in Japan to be a romantic holiday in the same panel.

In one issue, Jirou falls for Kiri and him being oblivious just leaves her for Bakugou.

Once Bakugou becomes a shoujo boy after being his with a quirk and just involuntarily talks in flirt, and in one moment Kirishima outright flirts back.

Bakugou works his ass off to repay Kirishima for the night vision googles they used in the rescue.

Kirishima is literally described as the chicken soup for Bakugou's soul!

An interesting thing I found out is that in the chapter where all of 1A minus Bakugou turn into animals, one scene originally had Kirishima (as a dog) getting jealous of Kaminari and Midoriya petting Tsuyu (as a cat - yes I know, a cat) and giving all their attention to her, however, Horikoshi himself changed that scene, noting he didn't think their character relations worked well in that scene, and made it so that the one that ended up in smash contains Kirishima (as a dog) getting jealous because Todoroki (as a koala) has climbed up Bakugou's torso and won't let go. I saw this all in a tumblr post a few months ago, which showed the original scene in a book (I think it was in italian and was translates below) but I can't currently find the link, sorry, if someone finds it, It'd be appreciated if you could reblog with said link.

And in regards to meta stuff, the show already has some LGBT characters in it, with Magne and Tiger being trans and Toga being bisexual, so it's not as much of a lost cause to hope for this as it would initially seem.

(Please kirimina shippers, don't take offence because of this, it isn't my intention to insult your ship, I simply want to analize what has been given to us, so please try to take this lightly):

We should also take into consideration Krishima's first version in the sort of "beta" for the manga (where Midoriya was Yamikumo).

His character sheet mentions he's quite the delinquent and entered UA to impress a girl. Obviously his character evolved tremendously since then, but the girl was most probably intended to be Mina's equivalent. This was later changed to him liking "tough guys"/"hard liners" and his thing with Mina became more of an "I admired your bravery and heroic spirit when in middle school even if I hardly knew you", later seeing each other and establishing more of a little friendship. However, it hasn't really moved further from there, and Kirishima has already established much stronger bonds with our favourite exploding boy. All changes in characters are made for a reason, and Horikoshi clearly changed his mind on Kirishima's motives for wanting to be a hero and his relationship with Mina.

So yeah, all in all, this ship is great, it's precious, adorable, helps both characters grow, is balanced and has good chemistry. So even if after all these things they don't become officially canon, we still have so much canon material for them in the present I'd honestly still be happy, these dorks make me smile and melt my heart, so I hope they both have good endings.

[escxpedes]

loopholes (cont.)

I literally can’t even begin to tell you how much everyone’s support meant to me on the last chapter. All your comments and tags were so sweet, it was seriously the highlight of my day. I’m sorry for the delay, I meant to get this out a couple of days ago, but I’ve come down with a bad cold. This part, while fun, was so hard to get right. Angus Macgyver is a genius, his mind goes a mile a minute, and I wanted to do my best to replicate that. This part is a little slow in getting to the Macriley stuff, but I wanted to show how much he really thinks about things. He’s such a complex character, that if I didn’t do him justice, I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself. Also, there’s dialogue in this one! Sadly, Jack isn’t mentioned in this chapter, but he’s there in spirit. Clearly, we all love and miss him. I hope you guys enjoy, the last part will be out soon! x

~

loop·hole

noun | A loophole is an ambiguity or inadequacy in a system, such as a law or security, which can be used to circumvent or otherwise avoid the purpose, implied or explicitly stated, of the system

~

Riley finally moves into her new apartment, but struggles to adjust after the events of Codex and the realization of her feelings for Mac. When Mac finds her passed out over her keyboard after a late night of coding at Phoenix, he decides a talk is long overdue. Just some slightly angsty soft!macriley to help you cope with this season 5 hiatus.

~

of lips that i am yet to kiss (and eyes not met my own.)

It's highly unlikely that you'll find Mac walking down the halls of the Phoenix Foundation so late at night. Without the bustling energy of his coworkers fetching important documents or discussing the best way to break down one of the many mysteries the foundation deals with, the darkened hallways and quiet atmosphere can be unnerving.

Sure, he spends nearly every waking hour employed there, but he'd rather be outside the office in different countries, doing hands-on work and saving lives. When you work in his profession, It can be difficult to separate business and pleasure, but that only makes it more important—if only to conserve what mental health he has left. 

However, in the haste of putting together last-minute preparations for yet another meeting with the Department of Justice and trying to make it back to his house in time for something Desi whipped up, he managed to forget his cellphone.

It's funny, mainly because of how little the small device truly matters to Mac.

It only goes to show how insignificant material objects, or even human beings in general, are. The idea that something so meaningless can affect someone's life so much when, if they just looked past that obsession and considered its part in the profound scope of the universe, another perspective would take shape.

It's fascinating stuff, really.

There's a concept essential to understanding Japanese aesthetics, otherwise known as an ancient set of ideals important to Japanese society, called Yūgen. When applied in the right context, Yūgen underlines this deep awareness of the universe and the experiences we have within it. It's often the feeling interpreted when you gaze at the stars late at night or watch the sunset dip behind a hill.

Mac wouldn't think twice before breaking his phone, or rather, breaking the phone of his nearest friend, open for an obscure part that might make one of his many homemade devices come together. However, when he's the only person able to communicate the scientific specifications of an unheard-of-until-recently base plan for saving the planet, he's practically on call 24/7.

He remembers having it in the labs earlier that day when he stopped by before his meeting to remind Bozer to come by his house on Friday for the team's new weekly attempt in group-bonding.

After the betrayals that surfaced during the climax of taking down Codex, the team collectively decided to spend more time as a group in hopes of eliminating any lingering doubts. 

They used to hang out all the time before the government dismantled the Phoenix Foundation.

Mac still can't believe that, after everything they had been through, he allowed his friendships to dissipate over the year they had been separate.

Bozer is his childhood best friend, and Riley had become a solid foundation in his life. He didn't have anyone outside his team at Phoenix, and while he deeply cared for Desi, their first relationship was proof that too much time—and too little communication—with each other can do severe damage to one's sanity.

If Russ hadn't brought them back together, would they have tried to reconnect at some point?

Mac wants to say they would have but wouldn't blame them if they didn't; they all lost something they cared about, and each served as a constant reminder of it.

It would've been hard, but part of him feels like living without them is a lot harder.

When he manages to access the lab, flipping his shiny new I.D. card over his fingers and into its place in his wallet, his eyes scan the room. It's empty, which isn't unusual at this time, but years of military training have rewired his brain to notify him of threats, even if there aren't any.

Just like he thought it would be, the device sits untouched a few tables behind Bozer's workspace where Mac had been sitting.

Quickly, because he left the house in a hurry and forgot to leave a note, he scoops up his phone and makes his way towards the exit. There's a couple of missed calls, but it doesn't seem like he missed anything too important.

Not that they would let him. 

At any rate, they would probably show up on his doorstep if they couldn't get a hold of him. With days off so few and far between, that's the kind of interaction he's hoping to avoid. Hence, why he came to pick up his phone when he realized it was missing instead of waiting until the next day.

He's nearly made it to the end of the hall when a light flashes in his peripheral vision, coming from the I.T. department.

His body is tense with apprehension; his mind races with several different kinds of possibilities and outcomes. He slows his pace, his movements fluid, silent, and controlled from years of stealth practice.

The light is soft, he notices, as if only one or two monitors are in use.

When he gets to the doorway and nudges open the door, hands at the ready, his entire body sags in relief to see the dark wavy hair he's come to associate with one of his closest friends.

"Riles?"

The nickname falls from his mouth before he can stop it, and even though the light from the monitor creates a halo above her head, shadowing her features, it's unmistakably her.

She doesn't move. 

It becomes abundantly clear why as Mac moves towards her and notices the monitor's screen filling up with a sequence of letters that look nothing like coding despite his lack of knowledge in programming languages.

Her elbow balances precariously on the edge of the table, her arms creating a makeshift pillow for her head. The weight of her forearm bears down on the keyboard, causing the side of her hand to press down multiple keys at once.

He shakes his head a little, amused by the situation unfolding. 

Her cheek rests comfortably on her hand, a serene expression masking the signs of exhaustion that showed on her face.

Mac's lips curved into a soft smile, seeing Riley in any state that wasn't cloaked in layers of worry or anxious determination always washed away any doubts he might have about working in such a stressful field.

The scars that covered his body, the secrets he has to keep, and the pain he has to endure are so unbelievably worth it as long as she out of harm's way and able to sleep peacefully.

Of course, he couldn't imagine anyone else by his side on a mission, knowing they share the same love and passion for kicking ass and saving lives.

However, he also knows that more lies underneath the surface.

He wouldn't wish the hardships of this job on anyone. Seeing it affect someone he cares about, watching it break them down slowly pulls at his heartstrings and fills him with a knowing sadness. 

When a piece of hair falls into her face, his fingers don't hesitate to gently brush it behind her ear, lightly tracing her cheekbone and caressing her cheek.

Kneeling, his hand drops to her shoulder in an attempt to gently wake her.

After a couple of shakes, the expressive brown eyes he's come to look forward to seeing begin to flutter open and nearly render him speechless.

She blinks a couple of times, inhaling slowly, "Macgyver."

Her voice is full of sleep and breaks from misuse, but the way she says his name—like there's nobody else she'd expect to see when she wakes up —has him grinning from ear to ear.

"Good morning, sleepyhead."

Rising from her position on the table, she scans the room before meeting his eyes and scoffing, "It's hardly the morning."

He laughs softly, holding back the urge to mention that technically it is morning considering its past twelve. Instead, he focuses on the matter at hand, or more likely, the question at hand.

"What are you doing here so late?"

She's more alert now, sitting back in her chair and lifting her arms to stretch out the muscles that stiffened while she slept, glancing at her work on the monitor.

Her face drops into a grimace when she notices her mistake, "Matty and I were talking about updating the foundation's firewall and spyware," she yawns, "I must have been more tired than I realized."

Mac's eyebrows scrunch in thought, remembering something Bozer said earlier about Riley spending quite a few nights this week working late.

Between going over his mother's scientific data, trying to patch up whatever relationship he had left with Desi, and making sure he didn't go off the rails with grief, his effort to check in on everyone decreased significantly.

"Yeah, you've been doing that a lot lately," his hand returned to her shoulder to emphasize his point, "Everything okay?"

She waves him off, "There's too much work that needs to be done around here before we can get things running the way they used to."

Riley doesn't lie to him—if you overlook the whole situation with her ex, Aubrey, that is, but the movements she's making indicate otherwise.

Her eyes refuse to meet his, flickering down and to the right. When she talks, her head shakes lightly, and she purses her lips in an attempt to give off a careless impression. Maybe someone who doesn't know her or didn't train to pick up on it would believe her, but he knew better.

She was definitely hiding something from him.

Part of him understands that if she wanted to talk about it, she would. However, his instincts urge him to press harder, locate the problem, and bring back her contagious smile that always seems to fill him with warmth.

As much as he doesn't want to admit it, you can't patch some things together by sheer will and sellotape, so instead, he stands up and drops his hand from her shoulder.

"Let's get you home."

[actuallylorelaigilmore]

Lost In The Forest Of This Heart, Chapter 11: Time To Live, Time to Love

Lizzington, The Blacklist. Cross-posted on AO3. Important notes can also be found there. 

Summary: Decisions, understanding, truth. She knows Red will fight her every step of the way, if those steps take her closer to him and further from some fantasy he has in his head about the life she should have. But this is worth the fight. Whether he realizes it or not, he is worth fighting for.

This is it, everybody. I finished my second-ever-on-AO3 fanfic, which I started FIVE YEARS AGO--because sometimes life hits you hard. And canon breaks your heart. And you need ADHD meds. It’s over 40,000 words long in the end, and I’m pretty proud of how it turned out. I like to think I’m a better writer now, which probably means you can watch my style evolve over the years if you read the whole thing. A short sequel will be up next, concluding my imagined series. Here’s to finishing the things we start. ⭐

They don’t speak again while Red drives toward the Wisconsin sunset. As they reach Appleton, the night sky flashes with lightning. Thunder covers any sound of their arrival; the sleeping neighborhood is unaware of them passing through the suburban streets. Liz feels like a ghost--tethered to nothing, mourning the past and the future at the same time.

Their silence is heavy and frustrated when they arrive at the safe house. It’s raining hard, sheets of water drenching them before Red opens the front door and ushers her in.

Liz stands dripping on a woven rug, taking in their new temporary home while he locks up. It’s full of dark wood and expensive art. She wants to get a closer look at the nearest painting--is that a Degas?--but stays put, afraid to track water over the polished floors.

“I’ll get you a towel,” Red says. His footsteps squeak as he strides away.

She doesn’t respond to his words, and he has no idea if she wants a towel, but Red needs to put some distance between them. Just a chance to breathe. 

Last night, he was grateful she agreed to go along with the plan, even if he was also smart enough to be wary. But her behavior in the car--the arguing, the pushing, the demands--it was like she used to be. Like they used to be. He had hoped they were past that, after Lizzie got the answers she wanted. 

Maybe she will always find more questions to ask. All the more reason to send her on her way. 

But how is that supposed to work if she insists on staying? Digging her heels in, the more he tries to move things along? He doesn’t know how to lie to her, and he’s not sure she will accept anything less than the truth if he tries. 

“Thanks,” she says when he comes back several minutes later. It couldn’t have taken him that long to find a towel, and she wonders what he was doing. Bracing for the next storm? 

It’s not as though she likes being a hurricane. And Liz is prepared to do whatever he asks her to do, in the name of safety. She owes him that much, when all of this running is for her. 

But whatever is happening tonight isn’t about safety. Not from the Cabal or the Task Force, that much is clear. 

Reddington towels off his head and neck, removing his fogged glasses to dry them as well, while she watches. As soon as he put them back on, she smiles. She can’t help it--with the wire frames perched on his nose, he turns so easily from America’s Most Wanted into Someone’s Retired Accountant. 

“What?” He’s blinking at her, all the more confused because she was glowering at him a moment ago. 

“Nothing.” Liz shakes her head and lets the moment pass. 

These are the pictures she’s holding on to, saving up, tucking away in her mind to make a sort of scrapbook out of. The man she loves: domestic and adorable and sweet. She has collected others too, times when he was surgically violent and stubborn and passionate. They all make up the portrait that Red has carved into her heart by accident.

She is his now, and as he stares at her, it occurs to Liz that he doesn’t know it. 

Before he insists on sending them off in different directions, shouldn’t she tell him?

“Do you have things you need to do?” she asks. “Before Dembe arrives?”

“We have some time before he will,” he admitted. “He won’t even head in our direction until I alert him that we’re here.”

“You haven’t?”

“No, not yet. Just an extra precaution.”

Liz reaches out to grab his arm. “Don’t. Don’t tell him to come yet. Please.”

He frowns. “We can only stay tonight, Lizzie. This isn’t secure long-term, and Dembe is more than ready to--”

“I’m not saying I want to live here, Red. Just, wait an hour. For me.”

He’s watching her silently, waiting for her request to make sense, but it doesn’t seem like clarity will be forthcoming. Lizzie’s eyes are shining in the dim light of the hall, her fingers digging into his sleeve and his skin beneath it, and he has no idea why.

He can give her the hour. Maybe it’ll help. 

“Of course. Why don’t you dry off and I’ll get us something to drink?”

After taking a second to compose herself, Liz follows him into the kitchen, her dark hair sticking up in the back. “Does this place have wine? Wine would be great.”

Red turns toward her, already uncorking a bottle, and grins. “Great minds, Lizzie. Just a moment.” His smile doesn’t meet his eyes, but Liz allows him to play the amiable host as though she can’t see that.   

The soft pop precedes Red pouring a healthy amount into a glass for her, then for himself. He swirls the red wine and sniffs it. She raises her eyebrows at the display and gulps hers down like it’s water. 

Tonight feels like a crossroads. Her last chance, for something--she isn’t sure what yet, but she is certain she needs courage. 

“Let’s go sit down,” she says, once he has refilled her glass and topped off his own. If it concerns him,  Red says nothing about her need for libation. He just nods and follows her out.

“We need to talk,” she tells him seriously, as soon as they’re seated. He chose one end of the couch, expecting her to take the other, but instead Liz sits in a chair at his side, their knees brushing while she speaks. 

Red sighs. “Do we, really.” It’s always the same conversation at this point, going in circles. They’re calling it by different names and getting nowhere.  

“Yes,” Liz says firmly. She shifts so that her knee is pressed into his, rather than just near it. That gets his attention. 

“You agreed we could be partners, Red. That we’re in this together now.”

His back goes up, knowing her well enough to sense a trap. “I did. And we are. We’re equally at risk, both on the run, working together from different angles.”

“That!” Lizzie points a finger at him as he watches, bewildered. She isn’t drunk on half a glass of wine, but she seems less...poised than he is used to. “That right there. I don’t think it’s possible, okay? I don’t.”

“What, working together?”

“Doing it when we’re not together. That’s illogical. It’s ridiculous.”

Red takes offense at that. Maybe she is drunk. 

“Whether you think it’s logical or not, Lizzie, it’s the plan.”

“And why is that? Why, Red? Just tell me.”

“I already told you--”

“You’ve told me nothing. Your words, they don’t add up. We’re in danger, except not really. We’ll be safer apart, except we’ll be reuniting frequently. You’ll be using yourself as a decoy, to distract no one from a path that isn’t being chased.” 

She stands, tugging on her damp hair like it will center her somehow. “God, it doesn’t make sense--nothing about this does. I’ve tried to understand, but it’s like the puzzle is made up of two sets of pieces from different pictures. No matter what I do, I can make sense out of my half, but I can’t connect to yours.”

“Perhaps that’s for the best.”

“What about any of this is better?” 

She is nearly shouting now, not out of anger but out of panic. He’s retreating, she can feel it, and she refuses to lose him. Over her dead body, Liz thinks desperately, walking away to take a deep breath. 

“Do you just want me to go away? Is that it?”

She asks the question without turning back, afraid to be looking at him if he says yes. She doesn’t need to see the pity she can imagine coming with that admission, the guilt she so often inspires in him. 

“Lizzie…’ Red understands that there is more than one way to end their new intimacy. This is not the way he wants it to go. He doesn’t wish to hurt her. He ruined her life, isn’t that enough? 

“Sweetheart, no. Of course not. I thoroughly enjoy your company. I thought that was evident.”

When she turns back, she has her emotions under control--no small feat. She doesn’t cry. “Then why?”

“The most important thing to me has always been keeping you safe. Protecting you. That’s all I am trying to do. I don’t know how else to explain it,” he tells her, his shadowed eyes begging her not to press him further. “This is the best way that I know how to protect you.”

“And what about you?”

“What about me?”

“While you’re busy protecting me, what about you? If we’re partners, if we’re in this together, then let me ask you this: splitting up, you traveling alone while I go with Dembe...who will be protecting you?”

“I’ll have a driver, of course, just like you will. And we’ll both be armed. I’m not sure what your point is.” 

He is starting to feel cornered, sitting there while she stares him down, that profiler mind of hers at work. Red leaves the couch and paces a few steps away. 

“But is this plan the best way for you to stay safe? Is it a good idea for both of us?”

“What’s your point, Elizabeth?”

She takes a deep breath, and a big leap. She knows Red will fight her every step of the way, if those steps take her closer to him and further from some fantasy he has in his head about the life she should have. But this is worth the fight. Whether he realizes it or not, he is worth fighting for.

“My point is that I’m not going anywhere. We can protect each other. Look at me, Red.” 

Her voice has that brisk, professional tone that she used to use on him in the beginning. He’s certain that it worked wonders on her peers at Quantico, but for some reason it reminds him of a kindergarten teacher--as though Lizzie is used to dealing with delicate male egos, and knows that managing them requires as much finesse as firmness. 

It always makes him want to assure her that he already respects her. He doesn’t need to be charmed into it. 

When Red’s eyes meet hers, she asks the million dollar question. “Is there any mission-related reason why you and I need to leave here in separate cars, living apart until our first meeting with the Cabal?”

Red slowly shakes his head no. He has to swallow before he adds the words, her gaze never leaving him. Giving him no relief. 

“No, Lizzie. When you put it that way, there is not.”

Her eyes flicker, but a weight has been lifted, and her posture shows it. “Alright, then. I want to stay with you.”

Red begins preparing arguments before she’s done speaking--looking for the right words, building up extra barriers, sandbagging for a hurricane.

Lizzie meets his conflicted eyes with her own, determination and faith shining in the brilliant blue, and it’s all washed away even as he’s trying to cling to it. It’s just...gone. All there is, is her.

“You were right, that first week, Red. We do make a great team.”

Liz takes two steps toward him, while he remains rooted in place. Terrified to move forward, unwilling to move back. She is his siren song. Who is worth drowning for, if not her?

“Don’t we?” She doesn’t move any closer. She leaves the choice to him, the way he always has for her. Say the word, and I’ll go.

Red’s nod, his acquiescence–his surrender–is almost imperceptible. Such a tiny action, to change everything.

“Yeah,” he admits, his voice hoarse. “We do.”

****

Liz relaxes in the wake of the first battle she feels like she’s ever fairly won with him. She exhales. “Okay. So. Let’s be a team.”

Unable to find words, Red nods in agreement, watching her a bit like a deer in headlights. Giving up even that much control leaves him feeling unmoored. Where is he supposed to go from here? If he can’t control the course of the future, how can he expect to keep them alive?

It’s all connected, his feelings for her and his need to throw himself in front of any threat to her life and his ability to strategize to make sure that’s never a necessity. Unravel one thread, one grip he has on the situation, and it all unravels. It all falls apart--and he can’t fall apart. 

With everything they’ve been through together, everything he’s done and she’s seen...that’s still something he’s proud to say he’s avoided. He’s come close to death but he’s never fallen to pieces in front of her. 

It’s not much, but it’s something.

Liz interrupts his thoughts. "Thank you.”

“What are you thanking me for?”

“For being honest with me. I’m trying to do that, too.”

“How so?”

“Wanting to keep you safe is only part of why I don’t want us to split up,” she confesses, and his face goes blank.

Red doesn’t ask the follow up question. He looks too ashen for Liz to expect any response at all, so she forges on. 

“I like this. Us. Our routine. I know there’s a future you want me to have, that you’re trying to give me, but I don’t know how to explain that I don’t...want it. I don’t want to pretend I can have my old life back, Red. I’d rather be happy with this one.”

Red shakes his head, in denial of her words and their implications. “You can’t be suggesting that the life you have now is satisfactory. All of this is temporary, Lizzie, a means to an end. After the Cabal--”

“After the Cabal, there will be other options. I understand that! But that means we’ll have more choices, not less. If you want me to have the freedom to choose my future, then I’m sorry if this is hard for you to accept...but you have to let me have that freedom even if you don’t approve of my decisions.”

“I never meant to imply otherwise.” 

His insulted formality makes her lips twitch. Even so, Liz can see him looking for an escape from the feelings she’s trying to lay bare. She keeps her face as blank as she can, her tone matter of fact.

“I know what I want, Red. I’ve known for a while. And if it’s not possible, I can accept that. We’re not the same people we were two years ago...even two months ago. But there’s a difference between a desire that’s impossible, and one that’s within reach that scares you.”

Now he is not just pale. He’s frozen. He looks young--and so scared, just like Liz said, that her heart breaks for him. 

Never do it again. She remembers red and blue lights flashing; a man who refused to be cared about and the girl who ached to love him. 

Her instincts weren’t wrong then. They’re not wrong now. He’s afraid of her, of letting her in. She doesn’t want to hurt him. 

She doesn’t want to keep secrets anymore, either.

Liz moves toward him, reaches for his hand. He’s about to reach back out of sheer reflex, until she speaks.

“Raymond.”

It stops him in place. It feels like it stops his heart.

“Why…why are you calling me that?” His given name is used by old friends and older enemies. By his family. Hearing it from her lips is incomprehensible.

“It’s your name.”

“I’m aware of that.”

“Well, you call me by my name, always have. Whether I wanted you to or not.” She smiles at him, remembering his jarring familiarity back then.

“Yes, but you’ve always called me Red, or Reddington. There’s no reason to change that now.” He can’t explain the panic that grips him.

Lizzie watches him with her brow furrowed. She doesn’t understand. That’s fine, he doesn’t either.

“Red is a persona,” she replies. “Raymond Reddington is a man. You’re more than your criminal past to me.” Now.

Liz sees the pain cross his face but doesn’t understand the sorrow that clearly weighs on him in response to her words. 

“Sometimes,” he replies, his voice as low as she’s ever heard it, “the man becomes the persona, and the persona becomes the man. Eventually, it’s no longer so easy to tell them apart.”

He takes a step back. Defining the space between them, broadening the distance. She can see Red removing himself from the situation, from her, even as he prepares to speak again.

It’s like a curtain coming down over the part of him that most tugs at her: the human side he shows to almost no one. Liz has grown deeply attached to that part. She doesn’t want to let it go.

“Damn it, Red, don’t do that. Don’t try to deflect me with that wise advisor act. We’re both fugitives now. We’re both murderers. I’m trying to relate to you as a person. If you don’t want that, just tell me.”

Everything about him stills so perfectly that she isn’t sure he continues to breathe. For a long moment, silence fills the room.

“I don’t want that.”

He expects her tears, the frustrated ones that Liz is prone to when he isn’t who she wants him to be. Instead, she crosses the floor between them, pushes into his personal space. There is no disappointment in the way she looks at him, only banked fury.

“I thought you would never lie to me.”

She leaves the room, before he can. He stands alone with his confusion and guilt.

****

Red finds her in the solarium, staring up at the stars. He gave himself several minutes to think up a plan before going to find her.

His finely-honed skills are failing him tonight, because he has no plan but still felt compelled to seek her out. He can’t leave things between them on such a terrible note. He loves her too much to end it like this.

“I’m going to send for Dembe,” he tells Lizzie’s back when she doesn’t turn his way. “It shouldn’t take him long to reach us. A few hours.”

She spins around, eyes blazing. “You said you wouldn’t do that.”

“I said I would wait an hour,” he corrects her. “I thought…” 

Red sags. “Well, it’s time, isn’t it?”

He takes a seat on a stone bench. Frowning, Liz crosses the room, examining his downcast face in the weak moonlight. 

“Time for what, exactly? Red, I thought we were in agreement now that we wouldn’t split up.”

“That was before.”

“Before…” Liz lets out a noise halfway between a groan and a sigh. “You are the most frustrating--we had a conversation. An honest one. We talked. And now you think something’s changed? Well, guess what. You’re not getting rid of me that easily. I’m not going away just because I find you irritating.”

The problem, though he refuses to admit it out loud, is that he can’t figure out why she wants to stay.

“Frankly, Elizabeth,” he admits after a pause, “sometimes I find you irritating as well.” 

That gets a grin out of her, even more baffling than her sincerity thus far. “Well, on that much we agree, I guess.”

“Hm.”

“By all means,” she adds with more cheer, “call Dembe. We could have him over for dinner.”

Red raises his eyebrows at that. 

“But I’m not going anywhere with him unless you are, too.”

He taps the bench seat thoughtfully. “You really want to stay together?”

“Is that so hard to believe?” Liz stares at him. “After everything, is it that strange that I would want to be with you?”

Red flinches. She sees it this time, sees it fully and thinks that for once, maybe she understands. Maybe she has enough of the pieces to put the puzzle together.

Finally.

She closes the remaining distance between them and sits, able now to stare into his deep, conflicted eyes. “I want to stay with you. That is what I want. And the only reason we’re here right now is because when you were given the choice of being with me or looking out for yourself, you wanted to stay with me too. 

“So if you think it’s time to move on--for you, not me--I'll be okay. But I’m done letting anyone else make my choices, Red. You kept me safe all these years so I could have my life back. I’m ready.”

He thinks he understands, and it’s a painful, glorious thing he sees in her eyes. A gift he can never accept, but one precious for even being offered. 

“We will face the Cabal together, Lizzie,” he agrees, nodding over the thick feeling in his throat. “We’ll clear the way for your future. And then you’ll have it.”

His emphasis on the singular is unavoidable. She shakes her head. 

“So will you, Red.” Break my heart now if you’re going to, she dares him with her eyes. Say the words. Tell me no. “I love you.” 

Liz watches the way his mouth twists. He’s turning her declaration around like a problem to be worked out, a puzzle to be solved--but it’s his eyes that give away his feelings. 

Shock. Hope. Terror. Devotion. She can finally read him, and the war within Red rages with no white flag in sight.

“You deserve better,” he manages to say, looking anywhere but at her.

“I deserve to be happy! And I’m happy with you. Don’t you get it?” She wants to grab hold of his shoulders and shake him. 

It’s not as though Liz expects him to say it back--she doesn’t need him to. Since the day she first walked into the Post Office, all of Red’s actions have been one long love letter. Infuriating and misguided, but loving nonetheless.

She needs him to accept that it’s real for her, though. Despite all his damage, he has to be able to understand that, or he’ll keep trying to push her away.

“You’re happy now because everything is in flux,” Red argues. “It won’t be like this forever, Lizzie, I promise you that. And when you have a chance to settle, to process things...you’ll see that I’m just doing my best to protect you.”

“From who?” She snaps. And then, softer. The clean slice of a knife, right to the heart of it all. “From you?”

“Loving me is the most dangerous choice you could make.” 

His tone is blunt. So often Red’s words feel chosen deliberately, with caution, but Liz knows this is different. He calls himself toxic the way he calls her lovable; as though both are simple truth. The sky is blue. He is hideous.

“First of all, that’s just inaccurate,” Liz replies. “I’ve made a lot of dangerous choices in my life. Shooting Connolly was much more dangerous than this, clearly, because we haven’t been able to stop running since. I mean, Red, loving Tom was more dangerous--he tried to kill me!”

That point makes him uncomfortable, but she keeps going, unwilling to cede any ground. 

“Second of all, even if I agreed with you--which I don’t--it wouldn’t matter. This isn’t a choice I made. It’s just what is. Everything I’ve learned since we went on the run only reinforced how I feel, so you’re not going to succeed in talking me out of loving you. Red...all of the worst things that I used to believe about you aren’t true. All of the best things still are.”

“You don’t realize what you’re saying,” Red says. “You don’t know.”

His self-perception is so skewed. Liz is pretty sure she knows him better now than he knows himself sometimes.

He’s been paying penance for thirty years because an attempt to help a friend one night imploded in ways that were outside his control. As though losing his family and his whole life wasn’t punishment enough.

He’s only as much a villain as the world has required him to be–and since her parents died, he’s also been her own personal hero.

“I know you,” she says quietly. With utter certainty. “I know you, Red.”

They sit hip to hip, almost–but not quite–touching. He can feel her warmth stretch across the fraction of space between them. He tries desperately not to feel it, not to acknowledge it.

Not to bask in it, a cat finding a beam of sunlight in the afternoon.

When she takes his hand, he lets her. Red is braced for the feeling of her skin on his, the way the world will contract to just those points where his pulse leaps against hers through fingertips and wrists.

It has always been this way. He has learned to handle it.

Of course, Lizzie…his Lizzie…can never be handled. He tries to calm her and she takes a pen to his neck; he tries to protect her and she shoots a man for threatening him.

He should not be surprised when she lifts their entwined hands and kisses the back of his, but he is. He is stunned by the small intimacy, the casual affection.

Nothing between them is small or casual. It all holds meaning, secret codes in ordinary actions, and he lacks the keystone for this.

His control has been fraying since she learned the truth about her father; there isn’t much of it left. When her lips meet his skin, Red jerks just a little, tugging her hand with his. But she doesn’t react, doesn’t back away. She lowers their hands, still joined, and gives him no easy way to slip away.

She holds his slightly trembling hand, while his world continues to revolve. Around her.

She keeps him.

[wheremytwinwatches]

[Where My Twin Watches]: Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood Episode 2

All right, time for the next episode! Following anime tropes, since the last one was scene-setting I’m guessing this one will be more world-building and backstory. Not a hard deduction, given the post-credits scenes of Baby Elrics. Onwards!

“Alchemy: The science of understanding, deconstructing, and reconstructing matter.” Thanks for the definition! Caveat that it’s not an all-powerful art, though: You can’t create something out of nothing. To obtain something, something of equal value must be given. And what the heck is with all the creepy faces in what I guess is a blood drop? Anyways, that’s the Law of Equivalent Exchange...

Equivalent Exchange Count: 2

...cornerstone of Alchemy. Which leads to an Alchemy-wide taboo: Human transmutation is strictly forbidden.

First thought:

Abridged!Nail: “There’s a special ability our people share, forbidden even amongst our most sacred clans.” Abridged!Piccolo: “...and we’re just going to abuse it?” Abridged!Nail: “Oooh, maliciously!”

Second thought: And “human transmutation” means what, exactly? You can only cast on objects like walls or elements? Cause my understanding is that the body is an object too. Last episode I saw people launching boulders and summoning fire. What makes the body different?

“For what could equal the value of a human soul?”

… well ok then, question answered? Alchemy only works on inanimate objects? Maybe a stretch to boil the water of another person or manipulate your own blood, but nothing beyond that? In any case, souls in this setting are off-limits. You hear that, Incubator?!

I’d then ask why the Elrics would attempt this forbidden technique… but given the sight of the grave in the last episode, I’m afraid I can guess. This isn’t going to be a happy episode, is it?

Intro sequence! Second viewing I can recognize a few more people, and can tell the difference between Roy and Hughes this time. Still don’t know the names of some others.

Ah well, even if things get sad later we can have fun with captions now! “[train whistle] chugga chugga choo choo”. Ed’s scowling out the train window. Finally caught their ride out of the city that Mr. Freeze delayed? Al asks Ed about ‘this priest in Liore’, if the stories of his miracles are true. Ed doesn’t seem that convinced that someone can transmute flowers out of thin air, thinks it might just be slight of hand… but it could be the “real thing”.

Flashback! Captions helpfully date Ed as Age 11, reading about a “celestial stone” that destroyed the Xerxes in one night. It goes by many names, but goes back to one consistent trait: some kind of object that amplifies alchemy. The Philosopher’s Stone.

Shot of Ed in a chair? Aw dang it’s after the botched Human Transmutation, isn’t it? Ed’s in a wheelchair sans arm and leg, and a big suit of armor’s sitting nearby. Ed’s saying that if they could get ahold of the Stone, they might be able to get Al’s body back. And then starts ranting about how the damn books tell everything but how to find it. Well, sure. If this Stone can actually subvert Equivalent Exchange, get something for nothing, it’d be the most valuable thing in the world. The only thing with value, really. Nobody’s going to write out “here’s a map to this priceless object” rather than go off and get it for themselves.

Flashpresent! Ed’s in a better mood now, says he has a good feeling about this one. Whelp, that settles it, this trip’s a bust. Buddy, it’s the second episode of a two-season show, and you just showed optimism. You’re doomed. Al just digs them deeper as the title comes up.

Episode 02: “The First Day”

Flashback, 10 years earlier in Resembool. A lady named Trisha is calling for Ed and Al. Momma Elric? She finds them *daaaaaawwww lookit the widdle babies with their books and chalk and dawww so cute!* Ahem. She finds them in their dad’s study, Little Al reading while Little Ed sketches out a Transmutation Circle. She says they shouldn’t scribble, but Little Ed says they weren’t and summons a small wooden bird in the circle with an electric shock. Trisha seems a bit shocked. Well, yeah? This is magic, in any setting an extremely dangerous tool, and these are a couple of kids, not even 11 since Little Al looks even younger than Wheelchair Al. Even Hogwarts knew better than to give kids wands before they were 11.

Trisha asks if their dad taught them that, Al fires back “How can he teach us anything if he’s not here?” Hmmm, that’s twice she’s said “Your Dad”, is she not actually Momma Elric? And dang, absent father already, that’s got to be a record. In any case, they just read the books. Oh, but Trisha’s happy about “her little geniuses”? So she is their mother? Yup, Ed’s saying Mom’s encouragement made them obsessed with learning alchemy.

But then, that same year, an epidemic came. And the sickness took her.

...Well dang, that’s what, thirty seconds screentime? What a ripoff, I was just getting to know Momma Elric! I demand more screentime!

(Edit: Oh good Alchemy why did I ask for this?!)

The Little Elrics are sitting in front of their mother’s grave. Little Al says that he’s cold and hungry, asks if they can go home. Once Dad gets back- Little Ed burst out yelling at the mention of Absent Dad, says that bastard doesn’t care about them. He didn’t even come for Momma Elric’s funeral? What the hell, Absent Dad?

So, yeah. Sad motherless kids sitting at a grave, sad music… and now comes the part I’ve been dreading, knowing that the Elrics are the way they are now from a botched human transmutation attempt. Little Ed suggests there might be a way to bring their mother back. Little Al says that all the books say that trying to make people using Alchemy is “A STUPID IDEA, DON’T DO THIS, SERIOUSLY DON’T”. Like, kids? I know it’s sad that your Mom died, but if it was possible to bring a person back using Alchemy, then there wouldn’t be any death in your setting rather than books saying “DON’T TRY IT IDIOT”. But no, Little Al says it’ll be their secret.

Someone named Winry thought she’d find them there? Oh, it’s the third Blond Kid! She says her Grandma says to not cry for lost loved ones, because it makes them feel sad in the next world too. Little Ed insists that they’re not crying, and that she cries anytime her own parents go somewhere. Little Winry insists that she doesn’t, Little Ed keeps teasing her. First off, if Momma Elric’s looking down she’s not very pleased with you teasing a girl in the shadow of her headstone, buster. Second, love interest? Because nothing says “potential love interest” between two anime children like teasing. Little Winry runs off saying she’ll tell her Grandma not to make them dinner, Little Ed immediately caves under the threat to his stomach and runs after her.

Later that night, all the kids are saying thanks for dinner at a house with an “AutoMail” sign out front. Ooh, is this where Ed got his metal parts from?

Granny - oh hey, it’s the lady with the dog from the intro! - says that Little Ed should drink his milk too. He refuses because he hates milk, she just says that if he doesn’t he’ll stay short forever. Ha! Whoa, and here’s a “You’re short!” “No, you’re short!” argument between the two. I like this Granny! Little Winry and Little Al are just eating their food with closed eyes that scream “I am so tired of you two.”

School bells! And the Blond Kids sound a bit older now but not Present age, I’ll call them Kid ____. Kid Winry’s asking about the weird books they’ve been reading in class, Kid Al says it’s a secret and Kid Ed’s a little less refined in his response. Kid Winry does not like this and pfft that is a silly face.

Later Kid Ed’s gushing about how the inventor of stew was a genius: it tastes good even though it has milk in it! But he might actually have a point: the leap of imagination to pour milk into soup for the first time? That’s how a scientist thinks!

I like how this setting is treating Alchemy as a science, all rules and stuff. For one, I get to have fun exploring the rules and trying to minmax it. For another, as much as I like some mystery in fantasy, I feel like it’s more impactful when you can grasp the reasoning behind it.

Although Kid Ed isn’t taking the best lesson from this, talking about how “all it takes is one leap”. Sure, some science comes in leaps, but you’ve gotta be careful where you land.

And so they studied, trained with a humourless-looking alchemy teacher, researched for years to see their Mom’s smile once more.

[optimistic, yet ominous music playing]. Well, that’s encouraging!

Kid Ed’s signing off on a piece of paper with a TC on it, says that they’re ready.

Gah crow! Ok, screw you show, did not need that. Guessing it’s sunset now, given how the spookily-angled house is in shades of red. I get it show, shit’s about to go down. Kid Ed’s reciting chemical amounts, pouring water and drawing out the TC. And finally, some “soul data”, aka blood.

Damnit, stop smiling boy. You don’t know it, but you’re about to cripple yourself and lose your brother in this effort.

The Elric Kids kneel by the TC, and there’s the noise of an eagle screeching as it lights up and starts sparking. Both boys look eagerly at the chemical mix in the center… and then start looking uncertain as the edge of the circle starts smoking and the light turns red. Not good. Al says something doesn’t feel right and music turns ominous as JESUS CHRIST THAT’S AN EYE.

A great big eye just opened up in the TC and oh no Al’s hand just shattered he’s screaming as small tendrils reach out. Ed screams as his own leg breaks and he falls down, seems shocked that it’s “a rebound”. And Al screams and screams as the tendrils tear away at him, his arm reaching for Ed is shattering and his face and

There’s a big black door against a white background, Kid Ed standing in front of it. Where is he? Kid Ed seems uncertain what he was just doing gah creepy voice. “Truth”? Kid Ed’s looking at a white humanoid form, specks of black around it. String instruments start plucking as Kid Ed asks who they are. Truth seems happy to be asked that, says that (she? voice seem female) is the world, the universe, God, Truth, all, one, and him. The door opens behind shocked Kid Ed and argh the Eye is back.

“You have dared to knock on the door. Now, the door is open.” Gah the tendrils are reaching for Kid Ed he tries to get away but they grab him and drag him back. Truth tells him to be quiet, isn’t this what he wanted? Kid Ed screams in terror as Truth says she’ll show him the truth, and then it slams shut. A piano plays as Kid Ed’s dragged down to streams of pictures. Present!Ed says that it was like all of the information in the world was being poured into his brain, he screams for it to stop. Pieces of him are flaking away… but he says for an instant, he was the truth of everything. Getting shades of black hole event horizon here.

The light solidifies as the form of Momma Elric, Kid Ed calls out to her. She reaches out

Kid Ed stands before the Door again, gasping for breath with hand still outstretched. Truth sounds smug as she asks “How was it?” I don’t think I like you, lady.

Kid Ed turns back to the door… and starts rambling that his theory wasn’t wrong, just missing something. Oh dear. Kid, your alchemy theory is great and all, but I think you have more pressing concerns, like the demon you just turned away from.

But Truth says she can’t show him anymore, all that was for the toll of his leg. And suddenly Truth has a smug mouth, says it’s the law of equivalent exchange-

EEC: 3

-and Kid Ed seems to come to gripping the bleeding stump of his leg by the sparking circle. Well, that ain’t good. And crap those are Kid Al’s empty clothes, he’s really gone isn’t he?... ok, all this badness is kinda being undercut by the bouncy, almost carnival-like music playing right now. What’s up with that?

Kid Ed cries about how Kid Al’s gone, how this wasn’t supposed to happen, calls for help, calls for Mom

Oh. Oh God.

The… the TC has stopped glowing. And in the middle there’s an overturned bucket and…

Something that I really hope isn’t alive.

Kid Ed, still bleeding profusely from his missing leg, knocks over the suit of armor and drags himself over saying that they won’t take Al too. Draws a bloody pentagram while calling out that they can take his leg, arm, heart, anything. And casts Alchemy.

…

Wow. Ok then, that was brutal.

Whoa, hold up, that was only the first half of the episode? Jeez, I wasn’t even looking at the time, what else is gonna happen?

Hmm, seems it’s the present again. Clipboard with file on Mr. Freeze? Ah, Hughes is surprised to see Roy still in Central, who says he’s heading back to Eastern Command in the afternoon. Hughes jokes that he expects Roy to come back with a promotion. He gives Roy the final report on Isaac McDougal/Mr. Freeze, since it… hasn’t reached his office yet? Any reason for that?

Roy checks it out, seems shocked to see “Xingese Alkahestry”. Hughes says it’s something “they” have. Who’s “they”? Neither of them know what it is. Something for later?

Walking down the hallway now, Hughes attempts conversation by asking how the Elrics are doing, Roy says that he’s their CO, not their father. Where is good old dad, anyways? Still not shown up? Hughes asks why Roy decided to make Ed a State Alchemist, even though he’s just a kid. Military life’s rough, after all. Roy doesn’t seem to say anything, just waves goodbye… but walking away he thinks that both boys have seen plenty of hell already.

Flashback, four years earlier. [epic strings] as a slightly younger Roy looks down at the bloody TC. Someone named Hawkeye asks Roy oh hey it’s that short-haired blonde lady who had his dry gloves, she reports they aren’t in back either. Roy demands to know where the Elric brothers are. Looks like the authorities know what they attempted. But seriously, Hawkeye? First Fury, now Hawkeye? How many other Avengers are we gonna get out of this?

At the AutoMail building, Granny tells the dog Den to not bark and opens the door- before Roy strides right past her. She chides him for barging in, but Roy just looks around… and sees Kid Ed sans arm and leg, wheelchair held by giant suit of armor with glowing eyes. Roy grabs Kid Ed by the shirt and yells at the shocked kid. Kid Ed lowers his head, and an armored hand gently grabs Roys arm and a far, far too young and sad voice says that they’re sorry, that they didn’t mean it what the HELL is wrong with this show?

Roy’s sitting at the table now talking to Granny as Kid Ed and Al stand by, says that he’d heard about a brilliant alchemist in town so he came to check them out. But he didn’t expect to find someone skilled enough to attempt Human Transmutation or bond a soul to armor. More than capable to become a State Alchemist. If he accepts the position, he’ll serve the military in times of national emergency, in return for privileges and access to restricted research materials, with the potential to recover their bodies, “or even more”. Well, that’s one hell of a carrot. What’s the stick?

Granny raps the table, says that after the boys arrived at her house she went over and saw that… thing. She says that alchemy created that abomination, nearly killed them, and now Roy wants to throw them headlong into it:?

Hawkeye is sitting in the living room, when Kid Winry offers her some tea. She then takes a seat and talks with the Lieutenant, who says to just call her Riza (thank goodness, I couldn’t take her seriously as just Hawkeye), who seems pleasant enough. But Winry seems too subdued for a handshake… and then asks if Riza has ever had to shoot anyone. Jeez, going for the heavy questions here.

Winry says that she hates what “you soldiers” do, that they’re the reason that her mom and dad left during the war, and the reason they’re dead. Um. Wow, ok. And now they’re there to take Ed and Al away too. But Riza says the decision to go will be theirs and theirs alone? Really? Cause here I was expecting a pretty sizable “You attempted a forbidden Alchemy so we have cause to lock you up and throw away the key” stick.

But no, it’s just an offer of a possibility, the chance to move forward rather than stay still. Sit in the chair and wallow in self-pity, or stand up and seize the chance of the military. Their choice, their own path. The slim hope of getting their bodies back. This doesn’t seem to be getting through Ed though, he’s staring ahead with dead eyes.

Winry seems thoughtful now, asks why Riza became a soldier. Riza just smiles and says that there’s someone she has to protect. Roy walks out and says they’re leaving, but Winry shakes Riza’s hand before they go. Roy seems confident that the Elric brothers will follow, but Riza says she’s never seen someone look so defeated. But Roy says he saw fire in those eyes.

Back to the present with [train whistle] chugga chugga chooooo. Aaaand back to the past, Granny asking if he’s sure they won’t regret it. Not why we needed a few seconds back with Present!Ed, but whatever. Kid Ed’s in an operating room now, looks like this is when he turns cyborg. Surgery and rehabilitation will take about three years. Determined Ed says that he’ll do it in one. Granny remarks that he’ll be spitting blood doing that, but he’s eager to get Al his body back soon.

[inspiring chamber music] as a longer-haired Ed spars with Al, trying out his automail arm and leg. Al remarks that he seems to be in perfect shape, and now to try alchemy… huh. Al is surprised and amazed that Ed can now perform alchemy without a TC, like their Teacher. But he can’t, and didn’t see the same Truth that Ed did.

...and then wrench to the head, from a frustrated Winry telling him not to mess up her automail. Heh, ok, after all the gah that’s been this episode, seeing this simple-drawn scared Al and beat-up Ed is a nice change of pace. Heh, and the snarking continues between Ed and the girl who made his automail. Ooh, and a smirking Al? Methinks there’s a shipper on deck!

At Central now, a man with the unfortunate designation of [Subordinate] remarks it’s unusual for Fuhrer Fury to observe the examinations, I assume for State Alchemists. But it’s also unusual for a 12-year-old take the test as well. Fury cheerfully asks about Ed’s automail arm, and Ed’s… confused about who this guy is? You’d think that he’d recognize the Boss, who his neighbor says is… ok, what? “Fuhrer King Bradley”? So the title is Fuhrer King? Pretentious much. Ed likewise does not seem that impressed with the title.

Fury starts the examination as Roy watches on, an Alchemist asks if Al needs something to draw with. [chugging adventure strings] start as Al casts on the ground, Roy is shocked to see he’s not even using a TC as he pulls a spear from the ground. Only Fury seems nothing more than cheerful as he remar- Ed what the hell are you doing? Ok, um. Ed just charged at Fury and got his spear to his neck, at gunpoint he remarks that the examination as is would be a good chance to take out a VIP. Yeah, “nerves of steel” is one way to put it Fury. But Fury walks off saying he still has much to learn about the world… and wow the tip of Ed’s spear just slid off. And now we see Fury walking off with sword drawn, cartoony “ha ha ha ha” symbols above him. Ok, legitimately impressed there. Fury is fast to put it mildly. When did he draw his sword?

Wind blowing the hair of an older-looking Winry, she’s standing next to Al. So Al’s not a State Alchemist, just traveling with Ed? Aw, but Winry’s asking if they’ll go away if Ed passes the exam and becomes a State Alchemist.

Oh, we don’t see the rest of the exam? Just Ed getting a silver pocket watch for his badge? And Fury shows his ironic streak, assigning Ed the code name of “Fullmetal”. Officially Ed is now known as “The Fullmetal Alchemist” (titledrop!). And aw no kid, don’t make that face. Yeah, the name is “nice and intimidating”, but thanks to my lovely commenters I understand the snark behind it.

Back to the train again! [thundering train sounds] chugga chugga. And Ed’s finally sleeping, before being woken by Al because they’re almost there. And yup that’s the cathedral we saw the Goths in last episode. Things are about to go down. Ed’s thinking “Could it really be there? The key to finally getting Al his body back… The Philosopher’s Stone!”

I’m gonna go with “No.”

Post Credits! In Liore, the Elric Brothers encounter Father Cornello, a priest who claims he can perform miracles. Ed does not seem impressed in this scene, though. A lady kneeling at an altar? “Blinded by his promises”, his followers fail to see the blood-red stone on his finger. Which… isn’t a Philosopher’s Stone, is it? Because seriously, there’s no way it can be the all-powerful macguffin this early. So what’s the secret?

Episode 03: “City of Heresy”

“What happiness can possibly be gained by looking away from the truth?”

[swiftpng]

❥ — taylor swift’s fall netflix list // gettin’ deep & personal task.

Taylor’s a sucker for binge-watching a television show and ignoring the fact that she should be replying to emails about work, so what’s a better way to procrastinate than answering a bunch of fall related questions while watching a baking show? (click on the picture for hq!)

what’s your favorite part of fall? Everything. I know, I know… I might’ve said summer was my favorite season, but honestly? I love this time of the year so much. The leaves here are beginning to change colors. Soon they’ll fall to the ground in an array of golden-tones, stripping the trees bare in the process. We’ll all soon follow, wiping ourselves clean of the year’s hard times in anticipation of the better that’s sure to come. Pumpkin flavors can now be requested in coffee shops all over, and in just a couple weeks time, children will line the streets in costumes. There’s something in the breeze that heals. I can’t explain it, but I can feel it. Goosebumps litter my skin and at times I have to question whether I’m cold or whether my body is coming alive for the first time in ten months. Fall has arrived and so has my spirit. 

what about your least favorite? Hm, hard call. Maybe the colder weather? I don’t mind it, but I don’t really enjoy the feeling of my limbs feeling numb from the coldness.

what’s a song that always makes you think of Halloween? Thriller by Michael Jackson! If you don’t do the dance when you hear this song, we can’t be friends.

describe your quintessential fall outfit? Fall fashion is some of my favorite and, in my opinion, often the most creative! Usually, I’m always wearing fall colors with jeans, boots, and a sweater. Scarves, hats, and gloves can be found in my wardrobe during this time of year, too.

have you ever played with a ouija board? No, I wouldn’t do that. I’ve seen one too many horror films to know that it never ends well when you mess with those things.

do you feel that fall makes you happy or sad? Happy, most of the time! Although, it does make me feel slightly nostalgic, so that can always bring up unwanted feelings to the surface.

what’s your favorite Halloween-related movie? I always go for more light-hearted movies rather than all out scary movies, so I would have to say Hocus Pocus. But, I like Practical Magic, too.

now that the weather’s getting colder, what’s a go-to comfort meal for fall? Mac and cheese is my comfort food. It’s homey, warm, and so delicious. 

do you believe in ghosts & spirits? A little bit. I’m the kind of person to hear a mysterious noise and think “ghosts!” because that’s just who I am. I believe there are things we can’t see that exist, but I don’t really believe in the traditional ideas of what “ghosts” are. Maybe I’ll Buzzfeed Unsolved it one of these days and see if they’re truly real for myself.

favorite fall-related scent? Freshly made pumpkin pie from the oven is such a good smell, but I also love the smell of nature after it rains.

are you a generally superstitious person? I’m not overall superstitious, but I believe that there are things we can’t see or fathom. I believe there’s things we can’t explain, yet or ever. I believe that the number thirteen is my lucky number, and whenever it pops up randomly, I always believe it’s good luck for me.

do you rake up the leaves in your yard, or leave them fall where they may? I just leave them on the ground until I know it’s supposed to snow, and then I rake them up for them to burn. Fallen leaves make for a good bonfire.

if you were home alone and heard footsteps in your house, what would you do? I would probably check my security camera footage, and if I felt really spooked out, I’d call a friend to come over and stay the night!

hot apple cider or pumpkin spice coffee? Oooh, don’t do this to me. I love both, but a mug of hot apple cider is amazing when you’re at the window and reading a book.

pick a team of three people to go with you to a haunted house if you wanted to survive? Let me see… I think I’d choose Bill Skarsgård because he’s taller than me and I trust that he could protect the rest of the team; James McAvoy because he’s hilarious and I’m sure he could calm my nerves and lighten the mood; and Delta Goodrem since she’s my soul sister and I would need her for moral support. Bill, James, and Delta – those three would be my team if I had to go into a haunted house to survive.

do you use the pumpkin seeds once you’ve scooped ‘em from the jack-o-lantern? I usually save them! I roast them in the oven and eat them as a snack.

favorite Halloween costume that you’ve ever worn? Getting the chance to wear Ryan’s Deadpool costume was pretty cool. Didn’t think it would fit at first, but I’m glad it did!

what’s your favorite fall time activity? Going out at night and walking against the brisk air, warm coffee in my hand, feeling free and abandoned with my loved ones; sitting outside in the afternoons with a cozy sweater and writing/drawing; watching the darkening of the days, giving way to even brighter sunsets and sunrises.

graveyards at night: yay or nay? Uh, no. I don’t even like going to them in the daytime, so going to one during the night would not be for me.

do you enjoy baking during the fall season? Of course! Imagine if I didn’t bake almost everyday during the fall season? If you can name it, I can bake it. Cookies, pies, cakes, bread – those will fill my kitchen at all times.

are you more into Halloween parties or trick-or-treating? Since I’m older, I would say Halloween parties. Though, now that I’m living in Bayview, I’m hoping to get a chance to pass out candy to kids. Seeing little ones dressed up in their costumes is so cute.

what role do you play in a horror movie: the final girl, first to die, comic relief, the brain, or the murderer? Honestly? Depends on my mood. Kidding. Well, maybe. I feel like most people would assume that I would be the first to die in a horror movie and they might be right, but I feel like I could be the brain to come up with a plan to save us all. I’d be the comic relief if I’m nervous or feeling stressed during it all, the final girl if my plan goes like it should, and the murderer if I saw someone I disliked.

have you ever changed your appearance with the season? like dyeing your hair or doing different makeup? A lot of people dye their hair darker as the seasons change, but I don’t think I can pull off brown hair, so I just stick to blonde. I usually change my makeup to more darker tones.

after a scary movie… lights on or off? On, always. And I have to watch something more light-hearted afterwards otherwise I can’t go to sleep.

what’s your favorite candy that you look forward to getting around Halloween? Definitely Reese’s Pieces or M&M’s. You’ll never see me with candy corn, though. Whoever likes those are wrong. Very, very wrong. They have no taste, they’re boring, and they’re just not a good Halloween candy. Or even candy in general. Honestly, just don’t even talk to me if you like candy corn. Please. Also, if you have any in your presence, you should do yourself a favor and throw them away.

you’re a witch or warlock… what’s your familiar animal? Would it be too predictable to say a cat? It would be cool if they could talk like Salem, too.

it’s an apple, and it’s coated with what: chocolate, candy or caramel? A chocolate M&M covered apple would be my pick. I never eat it from the stick, so I usually cut it with an apple slicer and then have my way with it.

do you believe in any urban legends like moth man or chupacabras? Can’t say I do, only because I’m not really familiar with either of those. I will say that I believe in Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster.

are you more into the fall aesthetic, or just in it for Halloween? Both? I love fall because of the crispness of the air against the gentle warmth of sunlight, the reemergence of cozy dark clothing and boots, a fresh brew of coffee as the sun rises and the chill starts to nip at your nose and cheeks, the faint scent of cinnamon, shorter days in exchange for softer evenings and brighter sunrises, greenery turning over to bold reds, oranges, and yellows, a tangible feeling that you can do anything… I could go on forever, I just really, really love autumn, my soul feels so at home when it’s this time of year. But, I do love Halloween and I refuse to believe it begins within the plane of manmade time, and is not an atmospheric state that graces us mere mortals every year without fail, bringing with it an odd chilly peace and natural pleasantries and a sort of magic, all of which is willed by the Gods of Spook. Yes, I know, I’m weird.  

supernatural time: do you wanna be a vampire, werewolf, or zombie? I’ve been a zombie once, and let me tell you, sitting for six hours in a makeup chair is not fun. But in all seriousness, if I had to choose based off of what I’ve seen in TV shows and such, I think I’d go with being a werewolf. I mean, having to turn on a full moon and have every bone in my body break doesn’t sound like too much fun, but it does sound better than having to live off of blood and never actually dying (unless you get stabbed in the heart with a wooden stake). With how much the world is changing, I don’t think I would to live long enough to see how it all ends.

[unhingedandi]

Hello! I participated in the aos Rarepair exchange! I wrote for @robotgort I combined both of your prompts so I hope you enjoy this! Never written for Mackelena before so this was fun, I hope you like it!!

The Piece I Was Missing

Elena’s life was routine. She gets up in the morning, goes to work, goes home, and repeats. When she first moved here, to this new and strange country, it felt like everyone around her was moving at a faster pace and she was being left in the dust.

She had always been a fast learner though, so she caught up quickly.

Now? Life was boring. There were no races anymore. No race to find a house, to find a job: those races had ended. And she had won. So now, she was ahead and bored.

She voiced her complaints to Daisy, one of her close friends and also her roommate, who only replied with, “You just need to get laid.”

Elena rolled her eyes. “Why is that your solution to everything?”

“I’m serious! If you’re so bored, spice things up a bit! It’s what I did.” She shrugged nonchalantly. “And look at me now.”

“Wow, an annoying and unhelpful friend, exactly who I wanna be,” Elena sarcastically quipped back, flicking a hair tie at her. “You just got lucky that your experimental phase landed you a girlfriend.”

“At least I have someone. When was the last time you were in a relationship, hm? Or at least…you know… got a bit naughty?” Daisy wiggled her eyebrows, laughing when Elena threw an entire pillow at her. “All I’m saying is, you can’t change your life without changing. Dude, if you do the same thing over and over every day of your life, obviously nothing’s gonna change. You gotta go out and do something. Meet people. Try new things. Figure out what makes you…not bored.” Daisy shrugged again and settled back into the couch, seemingly having decided that that was enough pep talks for one day.

Elena was quiet for a moment, dwelling on her words before slowly nodding. “I guess you’re right. Though change for me isn’t gonna be sleeping with every man and woman that looks at me.”

“Hey, it got me Piper. No regrets.”

When Elena drove home the next day, she passed by a cluster of stores and decided to stop. In all of her almost five years of living there and driving past the area, she had never stopped by. It was time for her to take Daisy’s advice, and change up her life a bit.

She walked along the sidewalk, seeing different clothing and jewelry stores. She paused a few times to look through windows, finding a few interesting things here and there. She passed by a music store, staring at the instruments and thinking about what it would be like to learn. Maybe that was what she needed, a bit of music to mix things up.

Elena had almost worked up the nerve to walk in, when something else caught her eye. A small store, much smaller than any of the others, with art on display outside of it. Beautiful colors painted over canvases, forming captivating landscapes and portraits. The words Painting with Hope were written at the top of the store. Intrigued, she walked closer, admiring the amount of detail that seemed to have been put into it. She looked at the sign advertising the paintings. Without pausing to think about it or second guess herself, she walked in the store.

It was small and humble, two of the walls covered in different paintings. A counter was sat in front of them with a cash register, and the other side of the store had multiple easels, chairs, paints, and brushes.

A large man, almost twice the size of her, stood from one of the chairs, separating himself from the canvas he was working on. He approached her, a small smile on his lips and his eyes sparkling.

“Hi, welcome, you looking for anything?”

Elena stared at him for a moment, struck by how the fact that he was towering over her didn’t even intimidate her due to the waves of kindness practically rolling off of him. “Um, no actually, just passing through. Did you do all of these?”

He nodded. “You’re welcome to make requests and I can do a specific painting for you. Or I even do portraits of people if you want. I warn you though, you have to be able to sit and do nothing for a while.” He chuckled lightly. “I also do lessons, if you’re interested in learning.”

She walked over to a painting, the Eiffel Tower with a sunset in the background, quietly observing it. Something about this place just lit a match inside of her, and the boredom that was eating away at her insides was slowly fading.

“I would like that, I think. What times are you available for lessons?”

•

“Well, well, well, someone looks happy. And you’re home late. Which has never happened before. What’d you do? What’d you do?”

Daisy was attacking her with the question before she had even gotten the chance to put her keys down.

“I signed up to take a painting lesson.”

Daisy’s excitement seemed to deflate at those words, and she raised an eyebrow, her nose scrunching up. “A painting lesson? Like-” She waved a hand through the air like she was holding a paintbrush. “That kind of painting?”

Elena rolled her eyes. “No, the kind of painting where you ride unicorns.”

Daisy huffed in return. “That’s how you’re gonna spice up your life? I thought Jem was the nerd!”

“Yes, because I should be doing something cool, like hitting a gay bar with you and Piper.”

“I mean…you could.”

Elena sighed, pulling out the card Mack had given her with the studio’s number. Off to the side, it had a picture of him holding a brush to a canvas, giving a wonderful view of his bicep, which she knew would get Daisy’s attention. “This is what the guy teaching me looks like.”

Daisy grabbed the card, eyeing her skeptically before looking at it, her eyes widening. “Damn,” she breathed. “And here I thought you weren’t looking to get laid.”

“I’m not!”

“Mhm, sure.”

•

 As she walked into the shop Mack gave Elena a warm smile that she couldn’t help reciprocating.

“Hey, you ready to dive right in?” She nodded, tying her hair up into a messy bun. He handed her an apron that she slipped on, tying it around her waist. “Okay, come here. We’re starting with a simple landscape. I’ve already done the basic outline, all that’s left to do is paint it.” She walked over to where a canvas was set up with pencil marks on it, resting on an easel.

He handed her a brush, holding out a pallet with different colors on its. “Start with a shade of green to be the base for the grass. Don’t use too much paint at once, and use light strokes.”

She carefully dipped the brush into the green, and went to the canvas, nervous about marking the perfectly blank piece in front of her. She tentatively dragged the brush across, looking over at Mack for confirmation that she was doing okay. He nodded encouragingly, so she continued with renewed confidence. She made a few marks before she heard him chuckle beside her and grip her elbow gently to stop her from doing more.

“You’re not doing bad, don’t worry. Just slow down a bit. Take your time, art takes patience. Don’t go too fast.”

She laughed lightly, blushing. “That always seems to be a problem with me.”

“That’s okay. Just try and let the brush go smoothly across, don’t press in too hard, and don’t rush it.”

She nodded, sticking her tongue out in concentration. When Elena still couldn’t seem to get it, Mack set the pallet down and reached over, his hand hovering over hers. “Can I lead your hand for a bit? So you can get a feel for it?” She nodded, giving her consent for him to wrap his hand around hers. His hand was warm, albeit a bit calloused, and it dwarfed her smaller one. He moved closer to be able to comfortably reach the canvas, his body warmth reaching Elena through the small distance apart they were. She held back a shiver as goosebumps erupted up and down her body. 

He led their joined hands with the brush back towards the painting, swiping it across is slower strokes. Elena watched with fascination as the paint swirled across, Mack carrying the brush, and her hand along with it, with ease, as if he had been doing this his whole life.

Eventually, he let go, stepping back. “Think you got it?”

“Yeah.” She bit her lip, dipping her brush in paint again and trying to mimic his movements.

He grinned. “There you go.”

“So slowing down is the trick. Got it, Turtleman,” She joked, unable to help the teasing smile that played on her lips.

Mack laughed, shaking his head. “I’m looking forward to lessons with you.”

Too fast, an hour passed by, and Elena was forced to pull away from the canvas, that was actually starting to look like something was forming. She scheduled another class for the next week, and paid Mack what she owed him before bidding him farewell.

When she got back to her apartment, she found Jemma, Daisy, Piper, and Bobbi all waiting for her. They looked up at her arrival, eyes glowing.

“So how was your painting class?” Bobbi asked, smirking from where she was sitting on the couch.

Elena rolled her eyes, sending a pointed glare at Daisy. “Seriously?”

Daisy shrugged in response. “They asked me where you were, since you never go out. So I answered.”

Elena scoffed, sure Daisy didn’t need much prompting to spill. She plopped down on the couch between her and Jemma, stealing the beer from her roommate’s hand. Jemma elbowed her playfully, grinning. “So what was it like? Finally doing something different? Painting must’ve been fun.”

“Nerds,” Daisy mumbled under her breath, earning her a glare from both Elena and Jemma, causing her to bury her face into Piper’s neck to hide her smile.

“The lesson was great, I’m going again next week, Mack was very nice, and no, we didn’t make out or anything like that,” Elena said quickly, directing the last part to her roommate before taking a drink.

“Okay, but was he like, polite nice or ‘I’m into you’ nice?” Bobbi raised an eyebrow.

The latina rolled her eyes again. “You’re all unbelievable.”

Piper raised a hand, looking offended. “I haven’t done anything to you.”

“You and Daisy keep me awake all night. This apartment has thin walls.”

Piper slowly lowered her hand.

•

As the lessons continued, Elena was slowly starting to get the hang of it, leading to Mack not having to correct her as much. Instead, they made conversation, learning more about each other. Mack told her about growing up and learning how to paint with his mom before she passed, and his struggle to get a business up and running. In return, Elena told him about coming to America and learning a whole other language in order to get a job. Every once in a while he would offer feedback on her painting, giving tips and suggestions. Eventually, the lessons started feeling less like lessons and more like coming to chat with a friend. 

Elena found herself disappointed when she looked at the clock and saw that the time was almost up on their latest session. She pushed a strand of hair out of her face, leaning back and looking at the painting. It was close to done, hardly any white left at this point. As if he could read her thoughts, Mack chuckled.

“Don’t think you’re almost done. I still have to teach you how to blend in more color and add in shading.”

Elena huffed. “How long does it take you to finish a painting?”

He shrugged, a smile playing on his lips. “Around a month, if I hurry.” She gaped at him, causing him to laugh and raise an eyebrow. “Well did you think it happened over night?”

She scrunched up her nose. “Turtleman.”

Mack grinned back at her, before checking the time himself. “Well, it looks like we’re out of time, but you want the same time again next week?”

Elena nodded, heading over to the sink to wash the paint off of her hands. When she was done, she reached into her purse to pay Mack, but looked up to see him biting his lip to stifle laughter. “What?”

He pointed at her. “You have paint on your face.”

She rolled her eyes, looking at herself in the camera on her phone, finding a smudge of paint across her cheek, probably from scratching herself. She looked up again to see him offering her a rag, a knowing smile on his face.

“Don’t worry, that’s happened to me more times than I can count.”

She rubbed at the spot on her cheek, and without meaning to she let out a whine of frustration when it wouldn’t come off.

“Here, mind if I try?”

She eyed him, before sighing and handing him the rag. He placed it under the faucet to get it wet before returning it to Elena’s face, rubbing at the spot again nowhere near as violent as she was being earlier. Eventually, he pulled away with a satisfied smile. “Got it.”

She examined her face before smiling. “Gracias. I did not want to go get lunch with this on my face.” Now she did reach into her wallet, handing him money.

 He took it, and as he walked around the counter he said, “I was about to go get lunch too. Where were you headed?”

Elena shrugged. “Probably Taco Bell.” She bit her lip, debating something, before blurting, “Want to join me?”

He seemed to think about it too, but he eventually nodded. “Sure. Let me lock the place up first.”

She sat down in one of the chairs as Mack put things away, grabbing the cash that was in the register and stuffing it in his wallet. He grabbed his keys and made his was back over to her, that warm smile on his face. Elena briefly wondered how someone could just so naturally always have a smile on his face. Especially one that calmed everyone it was directed at. At least, she imagined it calmed everyone, because it definitely had that effect on her.

“Ready to go?” His voice snapped her out of her thoughts, and she nodded, leading the way into the parking lot. She was about to climb into her car, but she froze when he called out, “Wait.” She turned to look at him, a questioning look on her face as he pursed his lips nervously, seemingly unsure. “Do you have anywhere to be?”

She thought over his question for a moment, glancing at her phone screen to make sure Daisy hadn’t texted. “No. Why?”

“Mind if I show you something? I know a scenic route that leads further into town, if you want to ride with me. Its really nice this time of year.”

“Trying to kidnap me, Turtleman?” She teased, even as she was already walking towards his car.

He opened his mouth quickly as if reassure her that that wasn’t the case before he seemed to notice she was joking, to which he only rolled his eyes, opening the passenger door for her.

Elena climbed in, buckling her seatbelt as he started the car. She reached towards the radio, shooting him a questioningly look. “Do you mind?”

Mack shook his head. “Be my guest.”

“Technically I already am.” She gave a cheeky grin as she turned music on. As soon as the first song started playing, they both began singing along, laughing at each other while doing it. Elena watched in a fit of laughter as Mack belted out to Adele.

“You have to make the note even higher!”

“Oh my bad.” He cleared his throat before making his voice ridiculously high pitched, only being able to hold it for all of two seconds before they both erupted in an uproar of laughter. 

“Why are you a painter? You’re missing the opportunity of a singing career.”

“Honestly, I don’t know what I was thinking.”

She sighed, shaking her head. “What a waste of your gift.”

The act finally dissipated, Mack glancing over with a grin as she snickered.  

The car slowed slightly, prompting Elena to look out the window. A gasp unconsciously left her mouth as she took in the landscape in front of her.

They were on a road with a dense forest on one side, the leaves turning warm shades of red and oranges, and on the other side was an open field, a river running through it.

“Ay Mack! Que belleza!” She pressed her face to the window, eyes dancing over all of it and trying to take it all in before they passed it. 

He chuckled. “That means pretty right? I don’t know much Spanish.”

She turned to look at him, beaming in adoration. “It means beautiful. You’ve painted this, no?” Her mind briefly remembered seeing something similar hung up in his shop.

He nodded. “There’s a spot I like to sit at a few miles ahead. We’ll stop by it.”

The window begged for Elena’s attention again, and she turned to look, watching as the colors flashed by in a blur. Eventually, Mack turned off the main road, heading down a smaller path that was slightly inclined. He stopped the car a couple feet before a ledge, shooting Elena a smile as they both got out of the car. Together they walked over, Elena’s eyes widening at the view. It looked like the kind you only saw in photographs or artwork, not something you could witness in real life with your own two eyes.

And Elena understood. She saw Mack’s love for painting in new light, because she wanted nothing more than to take this beautiful image and replicate it so she could keep it forever. A photograph taken and viewed on a screen could never be enough to capture everything in the moment. It had to be something real, something that a person had poured their entire soul into. 

Mack watched Elena, a peaceful smile on her face, the wind softly blowing her hair back, her eyes gazing in awe at the landscape. Part of him wanted to gaze at her like this forever, and he briefly wondered if she could ever give him the honor of painting her. The idea seemed impossible, it wasn’t like the fiery blaze that was Elena Rodriguez could every be perfectly shown in one painting.

Elena tore her eyes away from the world in front of her, instead looking at the man responsible for showing it to her in the first place. They locked eyes, and something fluttered deep inside her chest, her breath catching. She found herself unable to look away, Mack seemingly feeling something similar. They stared into each other’s eyes for what simultaneously felt like an eternity, and not enough time.

Eventually, his eyes darted away and Elena could breath again. She broke the silence, her voice barely above a whisper. “Thank you for bringing me here.”

He nodded, a soft smile on his face. “We should actually get food now.”

They got back in the car, and Elena leaned her head back, that relaxed smile returning to her face as they drove. She didn’t reach for the radio this time, and they drove in a peaceful silence. It was comforting, and Elena had never been more grateful to Daisy for urging her to do something. This moment right here, this was exactly what she needed. She figured she could live in this moment for the rest of her life, and still be perfectly content. 

They stopped for food at a burger place, the nearest place they could find, sitting down across from each other to eat. They had argued for a while at the register over who would pay.

“I pay you to teach me to paint, Turtleman, not to feed me.”

“You already pay me enough though!”

They eventually paid half and half.

Halfway through their food though, Mack got a call. He frowned at the caller ID, picking it up and saying, “Sorry, do you mind if I take this?” Elena gestured that it was okay, and he pressed the phone to his ear.

“Hey Fitz, what’s up?” A small smile played on his face as he slapped away Elena’s hand, that was trying to sneakily get close to his fries. The smile slowly melted from his face as the voice on the other end of the phone replied.

“A pipe burst in your shop. I heard it and went over and tried to save as much of your stuff as I could, but a lot got ruined. There’s a hole in the ceiling, the place is flooded. You need to get here.”

Mack cursed under his breath, his heart sinking. How on earth would he muster the money to pay for the damages? He barely made enough to get by as it is. “Okay, I’m on my way now. Thanks Turbo.”

He hung up, reaching a hand to rub his temple.

“What happened?”

Elena was eyeing him with concern, her teasing forgotten.

“We have to head back. A pipe burst.”

Her hand reached out to grip his forearm. “Ay Mack, I’m so sorry.”

Mack mustered a weak smile, reveling in the warmth her hand gave for a moment before standing up. They rushed out of the restaurant and back into his car, Mack driving right at the speed limit until they finally pulled up. A man was standing outside, running his fingers through short, light brown hair. He turned as they pulled into the parking lot, rushing over to them.

“How’s it looking Fitz?”

“Not very good. The cost for fixing that bloody pipe and the hole, not to mention all your equipment that was damaged…” He sighed, shaking his head. “Its a lot, Mack. I don’t know where you can get that kind of money.” Fitz pointed over to a stack of paintings on the sidewalk in front of the store. “That’s all your work that I could save.”

Mack let out a defeated sigh, rubbing his face. “Okay, okay, I’m sure we’ll figure something out, alright? We just have to think.”

Elena’s hand once again grabbed his arm, a soothing and welcome feeling. He looked at her.

“Think we’re going to have to stop lessons for a while. I have to go deal with this, you should head home.”

She nodded slowly before asking for his phone. He frowned, unlocking it and giving it to her. She plugged her number before handing it back, softly saying, “Keep me updated.”

As she drove back home, an idea slowly began to blossom in her mind.

•

Elena: Any news on the cost?

Mack: Pipe’s gonna be $3,000

Mack: Still trying to figure how bad the rest of it is, but the paint’s were pretty expensive

Elena: Have any ideas yet?

Mack: On the total cost? I’d guess anywhere from 5,000 to 7,000 dollars

Elena: I’m sorry

Elena: How are you?

Mack: Trying to handle it.

Mack: Got to go. Meeting with the real estate.

Elena: Good luck!

•

Elena: Hey can you guys put up some flyers for me where you work?

Bobbi: Sure, what for?

Daisy: Elena’s trying to save her boyfriend’s shop

Elena: Not my boyfriend.

Jemma: What happened to his shop?

Elena: Pipe burst

Elena: So can you guys put up flyers or not?

Elena: [image.png}

Jemma: I’ll drop by to get some

Bobbi: ^^^

Daisy: What if we made a website?

Bobbi: What’s this? Is Daisy being helpful and not being annoying for once?

Daisy: Oh I already regret it

Bobbi: Kidding kidding

Elena: A website’s not bad idea actually

Jemma: FUNDRAISING PARTY!!! Tonight at casa Rodriguez/Johnson

Daisy: What have we done?

Bobbi: The demon has been released

Elena: Run for cover

Jemma: I hate all of you

Jemma: Do you want my help or not?

Elena: See you all tonight

Daisy: Piper wants to join so she’s gonna come too

Bobbi: Whipped

Daisy: I’m not the one creating a fundraiser for someone

Elena: Shut up

•

Elena: Can you get Mack away from his shop for a while?

Fitz: Who is this?

Elena: Mack’s friend. Elena Rodriguez. I looked you up, there aren’t very many people with the name Fitz

Fitz: Why do I need to get Mack away?

Elena: I might’ve gotten some money for repairs

Elena: I want it to be a surprise that the shop is fixed

Fitz: How long do you need?

Elena: A couple days so I can get people to clean the place up

Fitz: Consider it done

Fitz: Can I ask why you’re doing all this for him?

…

Elena: He’s a good man

•

Mack headed back to his store, after almost a week away from it. According to Fitz, a group of people needed to make sure the water wasn’t dangerous or filled with chemicals, so he wasn’t allowed in until it was clear.

He pulled up, frowning at seeing all the blinds drawn closed. Fitz, who was standing outside, smiled warmly reached up to pat his shoulder. “Everything’s great. I’m gonna head off though, you go inside and take a look.”

Mack furrowed his brow, heading inside, his eyes widening as the lights flickered on. All the water was gone, the roof fully repaired, the place looking brand new. His eyes fell on Elena sitting casually on top of the counter. He gaped, slowly walking in.

“Wha-how is this even possible? Did you do this?”

She slid off the counter, heading over with a wide grin on her face. “I set up a couple things. Spread word and a lot of people were willing to donate. Paid for the damages.” She held up a thick envelope filled with cash. “This is for the supplies. There’s more money that was donated online.”

He stared, not even knowing how to react. “Elena…this is…wow.”

She nodded, a satisfied smile playing at her lips. “Your days running this shop are far from over, Turtleman.”

“You’re amazing, Elena Rodriguez.” Without warning, he barreled into her, easily lifting her off the ground and into his chest, spinning around.

She laughed, squealing in surprise, and hugged him back, his body wrapping around her.

Eventually, he slowly set her down in front of him, and Elena inhaled deeply. His arms hung loosely around her waist, as if not wanting to let go, and she looked up at him.

“Thank you,” he breathed, much like she had that day on the ledge. That day that was perfect but also so horrible at the end.

They searched each other’s eyes, still not backing away, as if searching for confirmation that they were both feeling this.

This connection.

She didn’t know who moved first, all she knew was that in the next second Mack’s lips were on hers, and nothing ever felt more right.

It was a rush, the most amazing kind of rush that she had been missing all her life. There, in his arms with their mouths connected, she felt complete.

It felt like coming home.

[festfashions]

I seriously can’t believe how much fun I had at EDC this year. A weekend that started as a last minute decision became a totally great experience -- but don’t they usually start that way? I was hesitant about attending EDC this year because this weekend coming up I have Lightning in a Bottle, and I didn’t want to be too exhausted or get sick. I told myself, you know what, f-it, yolo, I’ll just not go too hard at EDC.

Then I saw the sunrise two nights in a row.

And I regret nothing.

EDC 2018 - My Electrified Experience

Truly I still didn’t go “hard” I’d say, I only attended the rave Friday and Saturday because I couldn’t take off another day of work to go Sunday night. This way I also gave myself some time Sunday to recover. I am still a little in shock of how late I stayed up each night, how time just flew by and all of a sudden it was 4:30 am.

EDC is an absolutely crazy place. I’m struggling with how to explain it exactly… if you like to party, this is the event. There’s so much going on, there’s lights on everything and music coming from every angle. It’s a carnival for adults with rides and alcohol and costumes.

Insomniac is the best at throwing big production raves in my opinion. Their events are a combo of Disneyland-meets-Cirque-du-Soleil — two of my favorite things. My favorite part though of any event is getting ready, and you can see at Insomniac shows this is a lot of other people’s favorite part as well. We get to be creative and be colorful and just have fun.

Friday I wore my eyeball crop top from Pretty Little Thing and these little white booty shorts from iHeartRaves. My glitter was applied with highlighter (personally using this is my favorite because it holds the glitter, comes off easy, and adds extra shine behind it!) and I use a biodegradable brand called Universal Soul. I very carefully applied some of the glitter to my eyelids as an eyeshadow and on my lips as well. You have to be SUPER careful around your eyes because you can damage them with a loose piece of glitter.

We left for the festival around 6pm and it didn’t take us too long to get there. We had some fun moments in traffic with other headliners as we approached the event. At one point we almost missed a turn and had to cut in, and the other car said we only could if I did a shot with them. We “cheer”sd from our cars and they let us in. A couple minutes later we ended up next to them in some stopped traffic and I popped out to trade kandi really quick. It was hilarious because everyone was yelling from the other cars cheering us on. I live for these vibes.

I went with one friend to EDC, Rob (@PinkyPinkston on Instagram) this year. We stayed at the Luxor which I would not recommend going forward (lol already wrote them a review on Tripadvisor). Rob’s great because he’s always down for whatever and we have a lot of fun together. He doesn’t mind if I lose him for a bit to take photos and stuff. Plus it’s always nice to go with a guy just to feel safe.

Once we got to the festival we took the route that leads you down the bleachers, where you get a full view of the whole racetrack as you walk in. This is my third time to EDC and my first time ever walking in this way, and I’m so glad I finally got the chance to! It’s one of those moments people always talk about, and I felt like I’d missed out so much before.

They give you a few moments to take a photo then make you go down all the way. It’s pretty cool to see the WHOLE event from that view.

Once inside we had tons to explore. Seven main stages, art cars, rides, interactive art pieces, sponsored interactive areas and so many people to meet. I feel like every step you take at EDC you’re meeting someone new. People just love to talk to new people here!    

Friday night, and I’m not totally sure how it happened, but I ended up meeting this group who had these cool bikes they were riding around the festival. They invited me to join them so we rode around and even went behind the stages to ride on the racetrack!

That whole night flew by, Kaskade’s set was amazing, per usual, and that was about when I realized that I TOTALLY lost Rob so I struggled with failed texts then finally found him. We danced through a few more areas then made our way back to the exit. On the way there we found this awesome art piece that had a LED ceiling and was playing classical music. Everyone was just laying underneath it relaxing. I knew one of the songs and busted out some ballet moves which ended with a round of applause from everyone there. What a moment.

We headed home, made it out of the parking lot really easy at 4am and went to bed.

Saturday AM I pretty much felt like I couldn’t do this another day, but we rallied and headed to the pool to relax. After spending some time in the sun and eating some lunch I decided it was nap time, so we did a 2 hour nap before it was time to get ready for day 2.

Saturday I wore a mix of pieces from “old” outfits I’ve worn to raves. The top I actually wore to my very first EDC back in 2014. I liked this look a lot because it was one that I really couldn’t see myself wearing to any other event besides an Insomniac one. There’s definitely a look and feel to EDC that’s different than say Coachella or Lightning in a Bottle. As someone who loves fashion, I love that I get to dress uniquely to each of these events!

Saturday we left the hotel a little earlier, more around 5pm and had no traffic getting in. It was nice to see the festival grounds with some daylight before the sunset. I liked being able to take a lot of photos during magic hour as well!

We had VIP access passes so Saturday we spent a lot of time checking out the VIP areas. At EDC these are over the top with so much more to do and see. One area had arcade games, and another allowed us to go backstage behind the DJ booth!

We also saw a pool and even a ball pit which to play in. Inside one of the VIP tents we found two people with typewriters offering free haikus. Mine said:

On the runway and In the crowd she knows both sides An aerial view

I really loved seeing the crowd from the Quantum Valley VIP area best, and it was here that we watched the fireworks Saturday night.

Each night the fireworks at EDC are something else, they’re over the top and a perfect addition to an electrified night. I had these awesome glasses they were giving out at the Smirnoff Experience that changed the light into little hearts, and watching the fireworks with these was so cool.

As we were leaving for the night I turned back to look at the grounds one last time and could not believe I was watching the sun come up over the mountains. Time flies when you’re having fun.

We got to our car and it took us roughly an hour to get out of the parking lot this night. The traffic flow out was terrible, the only way we were able to get out was to weave through parking rows.

We ended up driving home Sunday am, which gave me a little FOMO for day 3 but I had to be realistic, Lightning in a Bottle is my favorite event of the year so I needed to rest for a few days so that I can live it up there.

EDC was an amazing time though. I got to meet a lot of awesome people and dance for hours and hours. I just love how late EDC goes when most of our big production raves end at 2 am. According to my health tracker I climbed 9 floors each night of EDC with the number of steps I took. This equalled roughly 10 miles each night. You’ll all be happy to know I didn’t even have to break out my knee brace once this weekend :) I was taking it easy!!!

Well that was a super long recap, and there’s still a lot I didn’t cover, but I’ll share little bits as I go with photos I post of people’s outfits. So be sure to watch as I share them all with you! I’m glad I decided to go to EDC, sometimes the last minute decisions are worth it!

[ugyeoms]

D(onghy)uck//Donghyuck Scenario

Title: D(onghy)uck

Pairing: Reader x Donghyuck

Plot: (Requested) Four year old Jae, also known as your little brother, strongly dislikes your boyfriend for stealing your attention all of the time and giving you “cooties”. You and Donghyuck come up with a plan to finally get Jae to accept him.

Word count: 2.1k+

A/N: Another scenario only two days after I posted one?! I must be sick or something!! No but really, I’m so happy i’m finally having time to get through some of these scenario requests! This was such a cute and fluffy Donghyuck one, and I really hope you all enjoy it!

“Y/n quick, the car is about to knock down the castle!” The small voice booms throughout your house.

“Coming!” You say, jumping up to follow the sound of your little brother’s voice. Your feet pad against the floor frantically as your rush up to you brother’s room. When you finally enter, you’re met with the exact kind of mess you would’ve expected from a four year old. Toy cars are scattered across the floor, and a lego castle lies destroyed on the ground.

“You missed it y/n! I tried to stop the car, but it was too late! Sir Taeyong’s castle is destroyed!” Your brother says with a pout.

“Awe it’s ok Jae, we can just build another castle ok?” You say smiling sympathetically. It’s so amazing to you what a broad and creative imagination your little brother has. Truth be told, you could play with the little guy all day and not get bored. Trying your hardest not to step on the tiny lego pieces while also making sure that Jae doesn’t, you start to collect the parts to rebuild the castle. Jae simply watches you collect the pieces, only anticipating the part where he gets to see full castle again. In the early midst of rebuilding the giant lego, your phone buzzing indicating a text. You glance over to the screen to see it lit up with the name of your boyfriend.

Hyuck<3: Hey babe, are we still good to hang out today?

A small smile is sporting your face as you pick up your phone to respond.

You: Of course! My parents aren’t home yet and I’m watching Jae so I can’t leave, but you’re more than welcome to come here to spend some time with us before we go out later! 

Hyuck<3: On my way! 

“Jae guess what? A special friend is coming to visit us today!” You say excitedly. The light enters his eyes and he begins to jump in excitement.

“Ooh! Ooh! Ooh! Who is it? Is it Sir Taeyong?!” He asks rapidly.

“I thought Sir Taeyong lived in the castle that was destroyed?!” You question laughing. Jae scurries up to your side and gets on his tippy toes to whisper in your ear, “Don’t tell the guards, but he told me he snuck out to get some ice cream today!” Giggling ensues between the both of you, completely joyed by your brother’s antics, until the doorbell rings.

“Sir Taeyong!!” Your brother yells, running out of his room at what seems like lightning speed.

“Jae don’t run so fast, it’s dangerous!” You scold, panting as you chase after him. Jae reaches the door before you do, so you have to reach over his head to pull the door open. 

“Sir Taeyong!” Your brother repeats at the same volume as before, not even looking at the face of the person at the door before reaching out to hug his legs. Donghyuck looks down shocked, but a giant fluffy smile is on his face nonetheless.

“Jae, that’s enough! At least let Donghyuck in the house first!” You grunt out while trying to pry your brother off of your boyfriend’s legs.

“Dongwho?” Your brother asks, immediately pulling away at the sound of the name. “You’re not Sir Taeyong.” Jae pouts, cuddling into your side in toddler sadness.

“No I’m not sorry, but I’m sure Sir Taeyong will show up soon!” Donghyuck says with his best voice of optimism before gently rubbing the top of your brother’s head.

“Hi babe.” Donghyuck then greets you, kissing you lightly on the lips.

“EW!” Jae screams, pushing Donghyuck away from you and wrapping himself around you tightly.

“Stop it duck! You’ll give her cooties!” Jae spits out in disgust while sticking his tongue out at Donghyuck. 

“Did he just call me duck?!” Donghyuck questions in disbelief; however, you’re too busy laughing at your brother’s unforeseen nickname for your boyfriend to answer.

“Jae, Donghyuck came over to play with us today!” You muster out after finally catching your breath.

“But I don’t want to play with duck, I want to play with you!” He says, crossing his arms.

“Why does he keep calling me duck?!?” Donghyuck exclaims pouting.

“Maybe it’s hard for him to say Donghyuck!” You say, leaning in automatically to kiss the pout off Hyuck’s face.

“Stop sharing cooties y/n! I don’t want you to die!” Jae pleads frantically tugging on your leg.

“I won’t die Jae! Donghyuck is just my boyfriend, it’s normal for us to do that!” You say smiling adoring at your sibling.

“I should be your only friend that’s a boy.” Jae refutes, with as much sass as a four year old could possibly have.

“This is different!” You say laughing. “Now head on to your room, we’ll be there in a second.”

“Ok, but make sure duck goes home first!” Your brother taunts at Donghyuck, making sure to stick his tongue out at him, before running into his room and shutting his door. You can’t help your amusement as you see Donghyuck’s shoulders visibly relax at the abscence of your brother.

“Why does your brother dislike me so much?” Donghyuck whines, sounding almost identical to your brother’s whines.

“I don’t know Hyuck, I think you just have to give him time to warm up to you.” You console, reaching over and gently pulling Donghyuck into a hug.

“But how am I supposed to do that when he doesn’t even say my name right?” Donghyuck questions.

“Donghyuck, he’s four!” You reply, amused over how much your little brother’s antics are affecting him. “Why does it matter to you so much anyway?”

“I want your brother’s approval y/n! We’ve been dating for so long now and I don’t plan on breaking up anytime soon, so he’ll have to like me eventually!” Shaking your head at your boyfriends persistent, yet cute antics, you lock your hands in his while still hugging, beginning to slowly sway. There would only be a good minute or less until Jae would start screaming for you again, so you figure now would be the time to squeeze in all of the quiet alone time with your boyfriend you can get until you two go out later. Hyuck, almost as if reading your thoughts, sways along with you and touches a benign kiss upon your head. Sweet and memorable moments like these, swaying in your living room while your brother calls for you, is what makes you and Donghyuck’s relationship so engaging for you. Whether it be slow dancing to nothing in your living room, leaving your house at midnight because Donghyuck suddenly has the urge to go late night bowling, or waking up earlier than anyone should be awake just because you want to watch the sunset at the beach one morning, the two of you are never bored with one another. Not even a second after his lips retreat from the top of your head, you are being summoned from none other than the room of Jae. You sigh while breaking apart from your boyfriend’s warm embrace. The time you spend with Donghyuck is never enough, and although you love your little brother to death, you can’t help but feel annoyed at him for disturbing your alone time with your lover. 

“Y/n!!!” Jae screams again, this time, his volume magnified by way too much.

“I’m coming!” You yell back impatiently. Grasping one of Donghyuck’s hands, you drag him to your brother’s room. When you open the door, you see the castle that you had to rebuild and your brother playing surprisingly quietly next to it.

“I thought I told you not to bring duck.” Your brother complains once he sees Donghyuck with you. Sensing Hyuck’s disappoint from the way his body slouches slightly, you soothingly rub small shapes into his hand aiming to comfort him a bit. Donghyuck is seriously one of the sweetest people out there, and even though you think it’s unnecessary, you know he just wants to get your brother’s approval because he loves you. So, you decide to make it your goal today to make Donghyuck and Jae the best of friends, or at least to get Jae to like him. Pulling Donghyuck closer, you stealthily whisper your plan into his ear. He nods with his devilish smirk upon his face. He’s going to win your brother over even if it kills him.

“So Jae, you like cars?” Donghyucks questions.

“Yeah..” Jae answers while trailing off, making it more than obvious that he doesn’t want to be talking to Donghyuck right now. 

“What do you say we have a race?” Donghyuck asks, picking up one of the toy cars that your brother threw to the side due to lack of interest. Jae’s eyes light up at Donghyuck’s suggestion, and he’s soon hurrying to find his favorite car to race with. The two of them set up their race cars at the starting line, also known as Jae’s carpet, and get ready to take off.

“On your mark... get set... go!” You announce, lifting you arms up signaling for them to go. Both boys are making what they believe to sound like car noises come out of their mouths, full dedication on their faces in order to get to the finish line first. Donghyuck is in the lead when suddenly, a magical car fairy, courtesy of you yourself, swoops in a rips his car from the racing track. Jae laughs manically as he approaches the finish line now in the lead, while Donghyuck is faux crying in his seat next to you. Jae’s car crosses the finish line and he jumps up into the air, screaming in excitement.

“And our winner is... Jae! Yay!” You exclaim, pulling your little brother in for a hug of congratulations. As he’s hugging you, Jae notices Donghyuck’s “crying” over your shoulder. Pulling from your arms, Jae runs over to Donghyuck and pulls him into a hug while patting his back.

“It’s ok duck, better luck next time!” Donghyuck looks over your shoulder and smiles widely shooting you a thumbs up. “Wanna race again?!” Jae asks excitedly.

“You’re on!” Donghyuck says, grabbing his car and getting ready. The three of you play with the race cars for about another half an hour or so, until your mom finally returns home.

“Mom, mom, mom! Guess what happened today? I beat duck in racing five times!!” Your brother yells before plummeting himself into your mother’s legs.

“Duck?” She mouths to you confused, but you just point to Donghyuck as he’s walking out of your brother’s room.

“Oh Donghyuck! It’s lovely to see you dear!” Your mom says smiling, Jae still not detached from her legs.

“You too Mrs. y/l/n!” Donghyuck responds, bowing politely in return.

“I hope you don’t mind too much mom, but now that you’re home we’re going to go out for a little bit.” You say.

“Of course, you two kids have fun!” Your mom grins, taking herself and Jae into the kitchen to get something to eat.

“Bye y/n, bye duck! Make sure you don’t get too many cooties!” Your brother shouts from the kitchen, causing the both of you to laugh.

“I think your brother really likes me!” Donghyuck mentions as the two of you are walking out of your house.

“See? I told you he would! You just had to give it some time.” You reply, intertwining your hand with his once again. “You know, you’re really good with kids.”

“I am, aren’t I?” Donghyuck responds cockily. A scowl paints your face, but Donghyuck is kissing it away before it’s even fully there. “I’m kidding y/n! Jae would’ve never opened up to me if it wasn’t for your stellar plan!” You roll your eyes, but still lean your head in between his shoulder blade and his neck.

“I really do love you Hyuck, thanks for dealing with me and my family.” You say.

“Of course y/n, I love you. I’m happy to do those types of things. And it’s not like you don’t have to deal with my family. Do you know how many times Taeyong has texted me since I’ve been here? 12!” He exclaims. Giggling in response, you start to pull Donghyuck along with a jog when you see the cafe you two have been walking to. Suddenly, Donghyuck’s phone vibrates with another notification.

“Ugh!” Donghyuck sighs loudly, turning the screen towards you so that you can read the text message.

Taemom: I see that you’ve left y/n’s house! Where are you going? Is y/n with you? How are you getting there? Text me when you get this!

“Next time, you’re dealing with my family!” Donghyuck says, lovingly messing up your hair. 

“Sounds like a plan to me.” You reply, looking up at him and leaving a light kiss on his chin. 

[thebestplltheories]

PLL 7x19 Farewell My Lovely - Thoughts

- Brilliant episode from start to finish.

- Got it right! Mona killed Charlotte. I loved the entire scene with Charlotte and Mona. It was really intense because I actually was not sure if Mona would back out, like Charlotte was provoking. I loved the whole reveal. I will admit though - during the 8 month hiatus between 7A and 7B, I saw some pretty damn intricate theories as to why Charlotte was killed. I think the motive they went for was pretty generic, and absolutely safe. We can't find a single plot hole with this. “You never did get better, I want to protect the girls from you so I can prove my worthiness, I want to prove I am stronger than you” is so simple, it’s almost bland. But, it does work. And as I’ve always said with this show, I’m no longer looking to be shocked. I’m looking for logic. And there is logic, so I can't and won't complain. On balance, I did like this reveal.

- I understand red herrings, I really do. This is a mystery show, and every single one of them needs red herrings to survive. But seriously - this baffles me. What. are. the. odds. that. Melissa’s. suitcase. handle. broke. AND. that’s. the. size/shape. of. the. object. that. crushed. Charlotte’s. skull. The odds of that are 0.01%. There has to be more to Melissa’s story. I liked and I have accepted that Mona killed Charlotte, but Melissa’s story can't be explained as a coincidence like that. I get red herrings, but this one is just so damn corny. 

- The “he’s coming for you” scene was pathetic. I despise the way that played out. I find it hard to believe that a nightmare was always the original plan. I feel so mislead. I really wanted there to be a “him” coming after Ali. I guess they lead us down that path in 610 because they had just revealed ChArlotte and they didn’t want us to think that the story is over. They wanted us to keep watching for the time jump, and to know that there is another villain. So I can see why they lead us down a false path. I get it. But I hate this feeling anyway. It was a good scene, but what it represented... not too happy. (Side note: laughing that they spelt Varjak wrong... c’mon writers, lift your game.)

- Another anticlimactic moment was that the mystery location on the board game was Aunt Carol’s house. Yawn. 

- I thought Caleb could’ve played it smarter when he sat down with Mona at the 2 Crows Diner. Rather than asking her “who are you going to meet?” he should’ve just said “I’m here. It’s me” and pretend that he is the one she is meeting. And then see where the conversation goes. He could’ve got answers out of her then and there.

- I really really really enjoyed the girls’ fresh new attitude this episode. “Leave it alone, or else our graves will get dug” is the approach they’ve needed for a while. I’m so glad we got a glimpse of that before the show ends.

- Literally zero romance in this episode, which suits my personal preferences. So I loved it in that regard.

- I thought this episode was filled with nice light humour. “To whom?”, Aria talking to Dunhill’s body and taking an answer in terms of the body ‘moving’, Ezra saying he can do anything with his Masters in literature, etc.

- Mary Drake, oh my god. Forget all my theories where I proposed this is Jessica, and Mary is really dead. That can't happen now. This is truly Mary. I love her so much. Giving her the Lost Woods was a nice gesture. She said it was to pay for lawyers, but then she goes and saves Spencer anyways by confessing to Archer’s murder? I thought that was a bit inconsistent. Unless she thought of confessing after she gave Spencer the Lost Woods? Whatever the case is, I loved her gesture and when she told Spencer that she owes her a lifetime. We actually got to see her repay that and I love it. And I also loved how Spencer felt sympathy towards her and didn’t see it as “good, you owed me”.

- So Ali found out who killed her own mother just like that? They brushed over that really quickly. I guess Ali never showed any emotion to her mother’s killer because at the same time, whilst Ali may hate Mary, Mary did just take the bullet to save Ali (and the others). So maybe that’s why the writers waited for Ali to find out now in 719 rather than 714 when Spencer found out, because now Ali might not be as angry about it.

- AD knows the girls killed Archer. AD knows Mary is covering up. So why is AD ending the game when he/she knows that the incorrect person is being arrested? Is Mary AD? AD isn’t a very good death-avenger so to speak. AD has the videos of the girls burying Archer, why not release them? Why not free Mary? Why is AD accepting this nonsense of Mary taking the blame!?

- So the puzzle pieces ended up meaning nothing? Other than signalling game over, the actual contents of the pieces meant nothing. Anticlimactic at its finest.

- I enjoyed seeing Mona revert to her prior nerdy-self. I thought that was actually sad. I loved her line about warning Hanna not to get involved. She knew it was coming. And I can see why Janel said 719 is her favourite Mona episode to date. She got to play so many sides to Mona in just one episode.

- Tanner’s line about the girls not being criminals was a really good way for the show to end its constant negative relationship between the girls and the Rosewood police. I liked how Tanner didn’t admit to believing that Mary killed Archer. Either it’s because she still thinks the girls did it and that Mary is simply covering for the girls, or, she just doesn't think Mary had it in her to be a murderer. Either explanation is interesting, and I like that element of never knowing.

- We are NOT getting answers in the finale. The writers spoke to us through Tanner when they made Tanner say that the DA likes simple answers, rather than theories for loose ends which no one can prove. That’s literally us, the PLL fandom. They’re telling us we aren’t getting answers to our loose ends.

- I loved the final scene. It reaaallllly hit me that the show is ending when the lights on the board game went off. And then the music rolled in and that's when I got a bit teary eyed, especially when the camera panned across the board. I loved that sense of the girls having won and finally being able to move on with their lives.

- I think AD is off to go kill Mona, since she killed Charlotte. But I really liked that final scene with AD driving off into the sunset. It came across like “my work here is done, I know who killed Charlotte”. (How does AD know Mona did it? Microphones or some shit. Somehow AD heard Mona’s story time.)

- I pressed start on the episode, and within what felt like 10 minutes, it was finished. It went so damn quick. I think that means I enjoyed it so much, or that they tried to cram too much into one episode. Can confirm now that I’ve spent longer on this post, than watching the actual episode!

-  I did get Twincer vibes throughout this episode!!! When I do a re-watch I’ll come back and post them. I never take notes whilst I’m watching, it ruins the experience. But I do remember one thing. Mona was sitting in the diner waiting to meet someone, and then lo and behold Spencer rocks up at the diner. Spencer, out of all people? Was that Twincer, going to meet Mona? Why didn’t the writers make Emily show up? Why Spencer? It could’ve been Twincer. And Lucy’s comment “A is a lot closer than you think, you guys” has me thinking that the place-swapping between Twincer and Spencer is happening this frequently. If Haleb mention them being married, Spencer may react like “what, since when?” and Caleb will say “I already told you” --- “no you didn’t? When?”

- Normally at the end of these posts I do a reaction to next week’s promo too, but I have a feeling I’ll have more than usual to say for the finale’s promo so I’ll do that in a separate post, this is already long enough!

- Overall, for a non finale episode it’s clearly a 10/10. You cannot compare an episode of this quality to episode 619 for example where the most action we got was Alison falling down the stairs. (I still laugh about that.) So, 7B is a massive step up. A couple things annoyed me this week, but taking them for what they are, and the overall pace and raw emotion, it was PLL at its best. Which is good to say for another week, because 7B has been killing it recently. 

- 7 MORE DAYS.

[philipshay]

i loved and i loved

requested by @tsk47

au in which philip is in a car accident (its super angsty. be warned.)

We don’t often realize the danger in a choice until we’re staring them in the face, grasping for the chance to go back. When we look it in the eye and it hits us like a train and we’re scrabbling for something to hold onto. The world twists on its axis, and what once was is now not, and everything falls to pieces around us.

It isn’t fate that brings our downfall. It is choice.

Lukas didn’t understand that until today. Until his choice changed everything.

-

“I thought you were coming.” Philip said through the phone. Lukas frowned, and looked to where his father was waiting in the car.

“I know. It’s just-my dad-he-“

“It’s okay.”

“Philip.”

“Seriously. It’s okay. I’ll just see you later. It’s just some flea market. We can go any Saturday.”

Lukas paused, gnawing on the inside of his cheek.

“Bring me back something good?” He asked. He could hear Philip’s smile through the phone.

“I will.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright, Lukas.”

It wasn’t. Lukas knew it wasn’t. But he let Philip hang up, and got into the car with his dad anyways.

-

It’s all fragments of time. One minute, he’s standing in the hardware store with his father. Then, sirens fly by. Then, his phone ringing.

“Are you with Philip?” Helen asks frantically when he picks up. Lukas’ grip tightens around the phone.

“No. What’s going on?” Lukas says, a pit forming in his stomach.

“There was an accident. Just outside of town.”

Lukas nearly drops the phone; everything inside of him breaks at once. It’s all he can do to hold on to the phone in his hand, the one that connects him to Philip.

“Tell me he’s okay.” Lukas says.

Helen doesn’t say anything, and it’s the worst thing she could have done.

“Tell me he’s okay, Helen.” Lukas whispers, the world blurring at the edges of his vision.

“Helen. Please.”

For a moment, all he can hear is the slow intake of breath. Then, she says, “Get to the hospital.”

Before he can ask anything else the line is dead. Without a word to his father, Lukas shoves through the front door, and climbs into the front seat of the car. He’s about to leave without his father when Bo climbs in the passenger side, and buckles his seatbelt.

“Dad-“ Lukas says.

Bo shakes his head.

“I’m with you.” He says. Lukas’ brows furrow, and he starts the car.

Then he’s driving towards the hospital. Toward Philip.

-

It’s Gabe who greets them in the waiting room. It’s nearly empty, which isn’t rare for a hospital in such a small town.

“What happened?” Bo asks.

“The car flipped. Philip got pinned beneath it. He…” Lukas’ attention is pulled from Gabe’s words to the paisley wallpaper, the antiseptic smell.

It doesn’t seem like it fits, the calmness of it all. The quiet.

“He’s alive?” Lukas asks, tearing his eyes from the walls. Gabe’s face contorts, and he nods.

“He’s in surgery. They-they don’t know much right now.” Gabe says. It’s the first time Lukas has ever seen Gabe falter. It’s what clues him in on the words Gabe isn’t saying.

He might not make it.

“Helen is upstairs. You’re welcome to come wait with us.”

Bo nods, and places a hand on Lukas’ back, nudging him forward.

He follows blindly as they enter the elevator, as it carries them up, as he’s led into a dimly lit unit.

Helen is sitting in the small waiting room for those in surgery, her head in her hands, shoulders shaking. She isn’t crying; she’s either far past it or hasn’t reached it yet.

Gabe drops down beside her, his own face heavy with exhaustion.

Lukas can’t stay here. He can’t sit here while Philip is in some operating room, dying or dead or somewhere in between. He can’t sit here and wait. He can’t sit here and look at Helen and Gabe who’s boy is in that operating room, dead or dying.  

Without a word, he turns and heads into the hall, following it until he reaches the end, stopping in front of a large window. The sun lights up the area around him, and he’s reminded of the last time he was in this hospital.

He thinks of waking up wondering where Philip was, and hiding in that hospital room, Philip talking about riding into the sunset together.

A hand touches his shoulder carefully, and he flinches, turning to find his father watching him with a twisted expression.

“Lukas…” He says. He doesn’t say anything else, because there isn’t much he can say. They’ve been down this road before. He can’t tell Lukas that Philip will be okay, because he doesn’t know that. Just like he didn’t know if Lukas’ mom would live.

She didn’t. And now, Philip might join her, wherever she is.

Instead of saying anything else, Bo wraps an arm around Lukas’ shoulder. Lukas has never been all that close with his father, especially after Philip moved to town.

Even now, things are different. Some silences can’t be filled, and there are some things-mainly Philip-that don’t often come up in conversation.

But he’s Lukas’ father. That counts for something.

Lukas closes his eyes, taking in a shaky breath.

“He can’t die too.” Lukas says. Bo tightens his grip on Lukas, comforting him in the only way he knows how.

-

Lukas spends three days at the hospital. The first day, Philip is fighting for his life in the ICU, in and out of surgery. The second, he’s recovering in the ICU. The third, he still hasn’t woken up. He’s stabilized, all the internal bleeding fixed, all the broken things put back in place.

The doctors don’t know if he’ll wake up. Lukas heard Gabe and Helen talking about what it would be like if he were to wake up.

His skin was cut to ribbons. He’ll have scars forever. He won’t walk, not at first, not until the bones in his legs heal. He’ll have to fight to get back to normal.

He heard them wonder if it was worth it. If his coming back would be worth it.

He wonders the same thing.

-

On the fourth night, Gabe shakes Lukas from sleep. He’s curled up on one of the chairs in the waiting room.

Both Gabe and Helen have rotated shifts at the hospital, waiting. But Lukas has been there the whole time. He’s scared that if he leaves, Philip will die.

Lukas pulls himself to a sitting position, wiping the sleep from his eyes.

“What is it? Is he okay?” He asks. Gabe’s brows knit together.

“He’s being moved out of the ICU.”

“That’s good. That’s good, right?”

“They don’t know if he’ll ever wake up, Lukas.”

“He has to. He has to wake up.”

Gabe sits down beside him, letting out a sigh.

“Coming back won’t be easy. He’s going to have to relearn how to walk. The damage-it’s not going to go away immediately.”

“But he’ll be fine eventually, right?”

“In theory.”

“Spit it out, Gabe. Please.”

“Helen and I aren’t sure if this is a world he wants to come back to. With everything that’s happened the past few months.”

“Of course he’ll come back.”

“I don’t think it’s up to us, Lukas. I think Philip has to make that choice.”

“Can I see him?” Gabe pauses, but nods, and gets to his feet. He leads Lukas to a hospital room, but doesn’t go in with him.

“Can he heard me?” Lukas asks. Gabe shakes his head.

“I don’t know.”

Lukas presses his lips together, and goes in, stepping around the curtain that covers the bed.

What he finds laying in the bed isn’t Philip, but the wreckage of him.

He has IV’s stuck in him, and tubes down his nose. His face and arms and all visible skin is covered in scratches and burns and even stitches. His legs are encased in casts.

Lukas sits down in the chair beside the bed, carefully taking Philip’s hand in his.

“I don’t really know if you can hear me. If you can’t, this is pointless and a little embarrassing.” Lukas says.

“I get it if-if everything that’s happened is too big. Not just the accident. The cabin and Ryan Kane and-and your mom. I get that it hurts, and it’s hard. I get it if you don’t want to come back.”

Tears well in Lukas’ eyes, and his throat starts to close.

“I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anything. I want you to come back to me more than I’ve ever wanted anything. But I was a dick after the cabin, because I was only thinking about what I want. I don’t want to be the guy in the cabin. The one who was selfish and scared. So I’m gonna say it once, and then I’ll be done.”

Lukas takes a breath, and closes his eyes.

“Please don’t leave me, Philip.”

He opens his eyes, and clears his throat, trying to shove the tears back; they don’t listen, and rake rivers down his cheeks. He bends down, and presses his lips to Philip’s hand.

“If you see my mom up there, tell her about us. Don’t tell her I got shot, though. She’d freak out.” Lukas says, lifting his head, smiling through the boulder on his heart.

He stands up, and reaches out, brushing the hair off of Philip’s forehead.

Then he leaves, stopping to say goodbye to Gabe, making his way down the stairs and out into the dark night.

-

An hour after Lukas leaves, Gabe comes into Philip’s room and sits down beside his bed.

“Me again, kid.” He says. He sits back in the chair, and closes his eyes.

Then Philip opens his eyes. He takes a breath, coughs. Then he looks at Gabe and says, “Tell Lukas I came back.”

[dallasareaopinion]

Well another April Fool’s day has come and gone……. Plus, a bit of the start of another story

So, I got pranked on April Fool’s day at work, quick one, but 15 seconds of frustration for me and 10 seconds of laughs for everyone else. Life went on except I am sicker than a dog right now.

 Otherwise the Democrats are still clueless, Trump is still an unlaughable fraud and the Republican Party has their head so far up their back end it is unrecognizable.

 And in a Vanity Fair piece a hedge fund billionaire talks about his fear of revolution, you know, he seems not to be a fan of pitch forks stuck up his back end. What thoroughly ticked me off is he proposes some very worthwhile public policy goals. Here we are after almost forty years of wage stagnation for the middle class and one billionaire who makes money off market movement, not real business is smelling the tea leaves and thinks better public policy is a good idea. Shaking my frigging head. Seriously, so what is he going to do about it, probably nothing and sell (sail would be appropriate, but sell is more his style) off into the sunset of American Democracy on his 180-foot yacht.  And add the CEO of JP Morgan, Senor Dimon is going to donate $375 Million to some fund for better education or something. So, he wants a few people proficient in technology serfs so his business can survive all the hacking many corporations have to endure. Seriously, he is cherry picking some education initiative he thinks will make a real dent in America’s lack of education especially in technology. I thought business people were supposed to invest their money wisely. Why doesn’t he take some of that money and invest in his lobbyists lobbying for better public education all around; or better healthcare, or initiatives to open up more opportunity for all lowering college expenses or invest that money to help close the wage gap he so immensely enjoys. So, who is more clueless, the elitists or the Democrats? A tie I guess.

 The Democrats should pursue the problems with Trump and his fraud, but they should not make this the sole reason they are in the headlines. They need to spend their days creating strong moderate public policy initiatives to force Trump’s hand with the part of his base that cares about this country and their well-being. Not everyone who supports Trump is an alt right nut trying to destroy our country and Constitution. Many are hard working Americans being defrauded. And the best way to wake them up is plaster the print and airwaves with proposals for Social Security, Medicare and Healthcare, Education, affordable college, real infrastructure initiatives, and tax reform of the tax reform. If anything, saying you have a better tax plan after people are seeing some discrepancies between what they heard and what they are getting might help. And policy on lowering tax burden on social security payments will make more than a few Trump supporters stand up and listen. Trump would not be able to handle a policy battle. He can’t and won’t. The Democrats need to stay calm through his madness and keep proposing solid public policy. If they need any ideas, my 2012 platform is still available, otherwise they need to get creative themselves. Trumpet public policy between now and 2020 and keep the investigations on the back burner publicly so when Trump leaves office some of his base will have left him. The alt right destroyers of Democracy will still cry foul and attempt to fight, but the majority of our country will be headed in the right direction. Or we can do what I always say we need to do,,,,,, we need new parties that represent the Middle and working class. Honestly, I am more conservative than my policy initiatives, but I am also practical. Go back and read my stuff from 2012. It may not be perfect, but is better than anything right now, oh except for that clueless billionaire’s ideas mentioned above. And they sound so familiar to me…hint hint hint

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

 And occasionally, I type a bunch of words trying to coalesce them into a viable story. As regular readers know, I do this over several posts, adding bits and pieces in an ad hoc fashion so these stories take some strange twists and turns, and some have serious plot holes. Well believe it or not I have started the process of editing these stories that hopefully there may be real product from my ideas. For the time being this is an idea that in some shape form or fashion has come up in my imagination before and reared its head again today. This is truly based on this one idea that I am about to start today, beyond what is about to be written is going to be interesting to find out. And so it goes

  He woke up walking along a corridor. Waking up is the only way he could describe it. He could say he became conscious but waking up seemed more appropriate. He felt like he came out of a dream of some life he could not remember and found himself in this corridor. The corridor was not too thin, not as wide as maybe a city street, yet much wider than walking down the hall of an office building. For some reason he thought about what he was wearing, taking notice of this was important, yet he did not know why. He was wearing pants like what we think of as blue jeans, something similar to a flannel shirt untucked with a t-shirt underneath, and tennis shoes, nothing fancy, a nice pair of walking shoes. He did not use this description in his head. He knew he was wearing something over his body, for us to understand though this description is used. There was nothing on his head. He felt comfortable.

 Also, as he walked he heard the continual hum of some type of machinery or activity coming from inside the tall structures that lined both sides of the corridor he walked. The corridor was long, yet he had not noticed. He was just walking and walking along the same corridor. The same tall structures lined both sides. And the stretched up into something he did not recognize, in fact he could not determine how tall were the structures. He could feel the top of them, maybe not see them. Looking up he saw what looked like a horizon where they met something, but he still couldn’t distinguish a definite top of the structure versus what they stretched into. Also, as he walked along the corridor there would be other corridors that branched off at precise right angles. He didn’t measure them; it is a description for us so we might have an idea of the environment he found himself. The corridor seemed to have no end.

 He kept walking and passing by each turn. It was quite a while before he even thought maybe he should turn into one of these side corridors. He stopped at one and peered down it for some time. Time as we think about it did not exist for him or at least in this place. He stared without understanding why he was staring. The corridor looked the same as the one he was walking. He did not know of making a decision, yet he was deciding. He stayed in the same corridor and walked on. The corridor continued and so did his walking. The sound also continued. Occasionally he sensed changes in the sound, a pitch higher, a change in, was there a minor repetitive change, or the humming become interspersed with very subtle breaks, maybe nanoseconds of silence in between the hum. He could not tell exactly what he was hearing, he just sensed something in the humming wasn’t 100 percent smooth.

 There were also flickers of light in the structures, or was it flashes, or lights on in the structures yet he could only see partially in a structure. He couldn’t tell. He became aware of the slight differences in the sound and the potential for some type of lighting maybe even different colored lights only after having walked a long time. He did not remember when he became aware or if this was a change. It was slowly dawning on him as he walked. He started to consciously watch and listen and see and he stopped. To what? Did it matter? He wasn’t sure, but since he noticed the sound and lights, he paid more attention. And he continued to walk. How far had he walked? This was not something he thought about it. It is something more we think about. Is he tired? He didn’t know. He had senses. He had feelings, but tired wasn’t something that concerned him. Time didn’t exist. Distance didn’t exist. He just kept walking trying to perceive the slight changes in the humming and the lights that seemed to appear in the structures. And suddenly it occurred to him this may be endless and then that thought may have come about because an end seemed to appear. In the distance along the long straight line of structures something about the perception of the structures coming together seemed different. As you know from basic elementary art class you draw two lines coming together at the horizon point whenever you want to show something going on for a distance. He had seen the structures down the corridor always coming together at some type of horizon point as he walked, now he saw them seem to stop farther down the corridor. Something was there, yet he could not tell what it was. What we call curiosity hit him. He did not feel curious as we feel, but now he was driven to reach this new point and find whatever it may be. Unconsciously he picked up the pace.

  To be continued.

And Cheers