#she doesn't even entertain the suggestion from the captain

[mortalscience]

Law and Order Criminal Intent - 1x05 - Jones Deakins: You can kick it over to the 1-5. Eames: Why? We got time for this. Deakins: Chief of detectives… needs a couple of bodies for the Mayor's Drug Task Force. Okay, I should know better. But it's a good opportunity. Eames: (waves Deakins off) Deakins: Suit yourself. (he leaves) Eames: (to Bobby) You like this case, too. Goren: Yeah, I like Angie. The captain's right, the task force is a good way for you to get noticed. Eames: I didn't take this job to get noticed.

[milaisreading]

SIR GIMME TODDLER MANAGER PT.4

Author: impacted the literature more than Romeo and Juliette ever could😭 here u go and thank u for the request🩷

Warnings ⚠️: Reader uses she/her. Requests are open

⚽️Blue lock belongs to:Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura⚽️

Pt1 Pt2 Pt3

"Come here (Y/n), your favorite person ever wants to carry you!" Oliver laughed as he picked the reluctant girl up. Niou and Sendo shook their heads at the way he was holding her and how uncomfortable she looked while being held.

"Oliver, I don't think you are doing it the proper way." Sendo added as Niou nodded along. The black haired boy looked at the two in confusion and then down at (Y/n), who looked like she was about to burst out crying.

"I don't get it, I watched children being held like this on movies. You must just be picky then, huh?" Oliver teased the girl as she looked up at him. It was silent for a moment and Niou sighed in relief, thinking that maybe this was (Y/n)'s way of acting out, but all that was chucked out of the window as Oliver put her in the same position and the girl burst out crying. Panicking Sendo ran over and grabbed the girl while Niou pulled on Oliver's ear.

"Ouch!" The player yelled as the long-haired boy glared at him.

"I told you she was uncomfortable!"

"But that was how babies were held in movies!"

"Yes, movies! Not real life!" Niou said as he looked over at Sendo, who was rocking the sobbing toddler back and forth.

"She calmed down?"

"A little."

Oliver watched in weird awe at how well Sendo handled it.

"How do you know to calm down kids?"

"I used to babysit from time to time." Sendo shrugged his shoulder as Teppei and Hayate ran into the room.

"What happened?!"

"We heard crying!"

"Is everyone alright?" Miroku and Teru poked their heads inside.

"Yeah, it's just that Oliver doesn't know how to hold kids." Niou explained as Hayate took the girl out of Sendo's arms.

"Hey!" The blonde protested, earning a shrug from the taller.

"You all had the chance to hold her, I didn't." Hayate argued and got no response, as the rest knew he was right with that part. Oliver sighed in defeat and sat on the floor as Niou let his ear go.

"You alright, captain?" Miroku asked as Teru ran to where Hayate was.

"No... (Y/n) is so comfortable with all of you and just cries when she is with me. Am I that bad with kids?!" Oliver wondered as Sendo, Niou and him paid attention to what he said. Hayate, Teppei and Teru were meanwhile busy entertaining the toddler, the laughter she let out from Teru's funny faces hurt Oliver even more.

"I see... maybe we can practice with you?" Miroku suggested.

"What do you mean?" Sendo raised an eyebrow.

"Easy, we can help Oliver meanwhile the others can play and take care of (Y/n)." Miroku said calmly as Niou looked over at the rest.

"I don't really think those three will mind that idea." Niou added, pointing at the group. Teppei was holding (Y/n) now on his shoulder while she was patting Hayate's head, meanwhile Teru was taking pictures of the scene.

"So, Oliver the first lesson you need to learn is how to approach a toddler!" Sendo exclaimed as Niou wrote down on the board something. Oliver nodded his head and told the blonde to continue.

"Alright, shoot!"

"The first mistake you make is the tone of your voice, well... more specifically the volume." Miroku said.

"Children, especially those of (Y/n)'s size can get easily scared, so you yelling might be more off-putting than you seem to think."

"Children need a level of calmness, especially when picked up. You saw how I did it the first time, right?" Oliver nodded at Niou's question, remembering how calm and collected he was when they saw her first.

"Just act like that. Let's practice then!" Sendo announced.

"Here comes the train~" Teru exclaimed as he fed (Y/n) her lunch. The girl happily opened her mouth and ate the food while Teppei wiped the excess food off of her face.

"Aww~ this is really adorable!" Teru said as Hayate nodded his head and put it on top of hers.

"How do you think Oliver is doing in those classes?" The white-haired boy asked as the other two chuckled a little.

"I don't know, but just the image of Oliver taking classes on baby care is funny." Teppei commented as (Y/n) looked up at him, wondering what was funny.

"Let's just hope be learns a thing or two." Teru said as Hayater removed his head from hers and started ruffling (Y/n)'s hair.

"Alright! After an hour and 45 minutes, you are finally a lot calmer, this is what we need!" Sendo said as Oliver flopped on the couch. Miroku smiled fondly at the captain and watched as Noui wrote down the 2nd lesson.

"Alright! Next lesson is feeding a toddler! Babies need to eat, and knowing how to properly feed them is very essential for you." Noui started as Oliver sighed.

'This is exhausting... and people have kids willingly?!'

"Come back here!" Teppei yelled as he chased (Y/n) around the empty field. After eating her lunch, the three players decided to let her play before it's her nap time.

"Make sure (Y/n) doesn't fall down." Hayate warned as he observed the duo closely.

"Shhh... I need to have this on video." Teru whispered with his phone out and following (Y/n) with it.

"Yoh are obsessed with taking pictures and videos." Hayate commented.

"Well yes, but it's of (Y/n) as a toddler, you don't see that everyday."

"...fair enough." Hayate nodded his head and took his own phone out.

"Alright! This one took us like...2 hours but you got the hang of it!" Niou sighed as Oliver rolled his eyes.

"You guys are really counting?"

"Yes, yes we are. Now off to the 3rd and most important lesson!"

They looked at Sendo as he wrote something down.

"And that lesson is holding and picking up a toddler, which you lack in the most. That's why we found some videos that show you those." Sendo said as Miroku opened his laptop.

"Shhh! Teru!" Teppei whisper/yelled at the boy as (Y/n) slept on top of Hayate.

"Sorry, I forgot." The boy apologized as they looked at the door.

"Ahh? How did the classes go?" Teru teased as Oliver sent him a glare while Sendo and Miroku snickered.

"Did (Y/n) eat?" Niou asked the other two, who nodded their heads.

"Yeah, she fell asleep like two hours ago too." Teru told them as Oliver walked past them and towards Hayate and (Y/n). The white-haired boy raised his eyebrow at the captain and nodded his head.

"Be quiet, she is still asleep. Anyways, how did your lessons go?"

"Pretty much ready to be (Y/n)'s new favorite." Oliver smirked as Hayate rolled his eyes.

"Sure..."

"He did it... I am so proud." Sendo sobbed as Miroku patted his back and Niou rolled his eyes at the dramatic acting. Teru, Teppei and Hayate were staring at Oliver in disbelief as he held (Y/n), who seemed calm and content in his hold.

"Good job, you two. I never expected him to work this out." Teru chuckled as Hayate took a few pictures.

"It's kind of adorable to look at it." He said calmly as Sendo and Teppei nodded their heads.

"So, am I your new favorite?" Oliver asked excitedly as (Y/n) looked up at him for a moment.

"Boooo...." She said back and Oliver cooed at the sound.

"I'll take it as a yes!" The captain chuckled. Then suddenly the door opened and in walked Rin with Hiori following him.

"What did you two need?" Sendo asked as he walked over to the two. Hiori ignored him and walked straight to grab (Y/n), but was stopped by Hayate and Teppei.

"Hey!"

"Hands off!" They warned as Hiori and Rin glared at them.

"We came to pick up (Y/n), your babysitting duty is over. Now hand her over to Hiori, Aiku." Rin said as he glared at the fellow captain.

"No." Oliver answered back, earning looks of disbelief from their rival team members.

"What do you mean with no? That's our manager, give her back."

"Calm down Rin, we just want to babysit her a little more." Noui added.

"Besides, she doesn't mind staying with us." Miroku said, pointing at the girl.

"Like a give a shit, hand her over." Rin demanded as he started an argument with the the team, meanwhile Hiori tried to bribe (Y/n) into coming with them.

[notiddygxthgf]

4. Taste Like Nicotine

★ pairings: aki hayakawa x fem reader

★ ❝ Go back to Himeno. ❞ ❝ No. That's not what you want. ❞

��� c.w.: suggestive themes, drinking (more content warnings and tags)

★ a/n: HELLO AGAIN MY POOKIE DOOKIES!! IM BACK AGAIN. bc i have nothing better to do atm and i wanted to give yall a lil sum sum before i moved away to uni. please excuse the pacing of this chapter -- this fanfic was supposed to be a oneshot and uh... now its 160 pages in google docs LMFAOOA.. things get spicy in this chapterrr! so yeah anyway, you know the drill, keep me entertained -- keep your funny little comments coming, I absolutely love reading them. You guys motivate me to keep going! Love yall

★ w.c.;4.1k

shameless ; chapter index

THE OFFICE WAS QUIET, the hum of fluorescent lights and the occasional rustling of papers the only sounds that broke the silence. You were alone, finishing up some last-minute paperwork after hours. The mission had gone surprisingly well—no casualties, a rare feat in your line of work. The team had even managed to kill a large Devil containing a piece of Gun Devil Flesh, a significant victory. Yet, instead of joining the others to celebrate, you had chosen to stay behind. Partly to avoid any awkward encounters with Himeno, but mostly because you felt restless, unable to shake off the events of the past few days.

As you finished up the last of your reports, you glanced at the new message on your phone.

HIMENO| you didn't come tonight.

Typing...

YOU

| I didn't think you'd wanna see me after the stunt I pulled.

HIMENO| I dont, but I wanted u to know that everyone is talking abt u

YOU

| ??

| wym

HIMENO

| your shadow didn't come tonight, either.

Typing...

YOU| look, himeno, ive actually been wanting to talk to you about that

| would you be able to meet up and talk it out?

HIMENO| id rather not honestly.

| ur a grown woman and i cant stop u from doing what u want

| but just know that people in pb. safety talk

| dont mess up a relationship with a perfectly good man for aki

| u should leave him for someone who can actually give him what he needs

YOU| I understand that I've hurt you, Himeno, and I'm sorry

| I have no intentions of being with Aki.

HIMENO| good

| dont get him mixed up in ur fucked up marriage

|  he doesnt deserve that.

You sighed, pocketing your phone. There were certain battles you simply couldn't win. This would undoubtedly be one of them.

It was late, and you knew you should head home. You gathered your things and made your way down the dimly lit hallways, your footsteps echoing in the emptiness.

As you passed the breakroom, you heard voices. One familiar voice, more specifically.

You slowed your pace, not wanting to intrude but curious enough to catch a snippet of the conversation. The door was slightly ajar, and you could see two figures inside.

"You look desperate, dude," the unknown person said, barely audible. "It's not attractive."

"I'm becoming ridiculous," Captain Hayakawa said, his voice low and strained. "I'm losing hope."

"Hope of what? Convincing a married woman to break her vows?" the other person retorted, a hint of incredulity in his tone.

Are they talking about me? You asked. You knew the answer. You simply did not want to confront it.

Hayakawa sighed. "I thought she would call me by now," he admitted, the vulnerability in his voice making your stomach churn uncomfortably. "I just... there was something there."

There was a pause, then the other person sighed, his voice softening. "God, you are ridiculous." After a moment, he added, almost reluctantly, "Shit, sorry, man. I know you like her."

"No, you're right," He replied, a note of resignation following his words. "She doesn't want to speak to me. I'm driving myself crazy waiting for someone who's never gonna call."

You felt a knot tighten in your stomach, guilt and confusion swirling together. You hadn't intended to eavesdrop, but now you couldn't just walk away without feeling a pang of something—regret, perhaps? The slip of paper with his number, still in your possession, weighed heavily in your mind. You had been avoiding the situation, avoiding him, and now it was clear how much it had affected him.

Aki's words echoed in your ears as you stood frozen in the hallway.

He was right; you hadn't called him. You hadn't even acknowledged the note, too caught up in your own turmoil and guilt to consider his feelings. Now, hearing him speak so openly, you felt a rush of emotions—sympathy, guilt, confusion. There had been a moment between you, an undeniable spark, but you had chosen to ignore it, to pretend it didn't exist.

When would it all come crashing down – your efforts? This whole situation?

The conversation in the breakroom continued, but you couldn't listen any longer. You turned away, your heart pounding. As you made your way to the exit, you couldn't help but replay Aki's words in your mind.

He had been waiting for you, hoping you would reach out, and now he was losing hope. Fuck.

He had been waiting for me.

The idea thrilled you, for some strange reason. Maybe because you hadn't felt desired like this in years – it made your head spin. But another part of you was terrified—of what it might mean, of the complications it would bring, of the impact on your marriage.

You couldn't help yourself. You did what you always did. You ran away from him.

You knew you couldn't avoid him forever, but for now, you needed time to think. .

7:45 PM

Typing... 

Hey. |

Typing...

Hello, |

Typing...

How are you? |

Typing...

Hey. They're taking me out for drinks tn as a sendoff party. I think you should be there.

SENT.

YOU | Hey. They're taking me out for drinks tn as a sendoff party.

I think you should be there.

| At the Sip-n-savor in downtown Tokyo

Seen 8:00 PM .

The night went on without a flaw. The atmosphere was infectious, and you had been trying to let loose, drink in hand, as you chatted and danced with the others. But as the night wore on, a sense of unease settled in. Maybe it was the drinks, maybe it was the memories of the overheard conversation in the breakroom, or maybe it was the subtle disappointment that someone hadn't shown up.

Excusing yourself, you made your way to the bathroom. The mirror reflected your flushed cheeks and slightly smudged makeup. You sighed, turning on the faucet and splashing some water on your face. As you washed your hands, you found yourself thinking about Aki.

Despite everything, a depraved part of you had hoped to see him tonight. You had been both relieved and disappointed when he hadn't shown up—relieved because it meant avoiding an awkward conversation, disappointed because you had been... well, actually looking forward to seeing him.

As you touched up your makeup, you couldn't help but reflect on your own conflicted feelings. You were married, committed, and yet, Aki had stirred something in you that you simply couldn't stand to ignore. It was confusing, disorienting. You weren't sure what you felt more strongly: guilt for being drawn to him or frustration that you couldn't just let it go.

"Ugh," You groaned, pressing your forehead against the sink. "'M g'nna be sick."

Feeling a bit lightheaded from the drinks, you decided to step outside for some fresh air. You left the bathroom and – completely drunk – maneuvered through the crowds to the nearest door.

The cool night breeze was a welcome relief against your warm skin, and you leaned against the balcony railing, taking deep breaths. The city lights twinkled below, and you watched them in a daze, trying to steady your thoughts.

That's when you saw him.

Aki was just entering the party, his sharp suit and dark hair making him stand out immediately. You felt your heart skip a beat. Then another. He was killing you.

He came, you thought, a strange mix of emotions flooding you. Relief, excitement, and that persistent undercurrent of guilt all tangled together.

He spotted you almost immediately and made his way over. As he approached, you couldn't help but think how painfully gorgeous he looked, the dim lighting casting a soft glow on his features. In that moment, he seemed almost like a knight in shining armor, a figure out of place in the lively, chaotic setting of the bar.

"Hey," he greeted, his voice smooth and warm, a balm to your nerves.

"Hey," you replied, trying to keep your voice steady despite the fluttering in your chest.

"What are you doing out here?" he asked, a slight concern in his tone. "You're not cold?"

He always seemed to be worried about you and the weather. Still, the chill felt nice against your hot skin, oddly enough.

I missed you, you didn't say. You didn't even think about it. You knew that in a day you would be back on the train and all of this would just be a bad dream, anyway.

You shook your head, a small smile playing on your lips. "No, I just needed some air. It's a bit stuffy in there."

Aki didn't respond immediately, and when you turned your head up to look at him, his expression was unreadable. The noise from inside the bar seemed distant, the world narrowing down to just the two of you in that moment. You felt a tug in your chest, a pull towards him that you couldn't explain, couldn't deny.

"Did you pregame the bar, or something?" You laughed quietly. It felt nice, being able to pretend nothing had ever happened between the two of you and just... enjoy each other's company. "You smell like beer."

"I was having a few drinks with my roommate before you texted me," He answered. Then, looking out onto the street, he added, "He told me I shouldn't come tonight. Said you're driving me crazy."

"So, why are you here, then?" You asked.

He looked at you. "I think you know why I'm here."

There was a brief silence, comfortable yet charged with the unspoken. You glanced at him, noticing the way his eyes lingered on you, soft but searching. It was the same look he had given you in the seminar, the museum, everywhere else, and it stirred something deep inside you.

You hated the way he made you feel.

"Can I buy you a drink?" He asked you. His voice was as deep and rich as ever, and you had about half a mind to take him up on the offer.

You shivered. You knew it wasn't from the cold air. It was him – the smell of him, his cologne, the distinct scent of nicotine that let you know he had just finished smoking a cigarette. It was an aroma so unique to him that you had grown to like it.

You were looking at his lips before you knew it, giving way to a craving you couldn't explain, "I'll try a cigarette, if you have any."

He smiled softly, reaching into his pocket and flipping open a carton of cigarettes and a lighter. He placed a cancer stick between your lips, and you felt a part of you die a little. He struck the wheel of the lighter, bringing the cigarette to life.

You coughed so hard that you nearly hacked up a lung. It had been years since your last cigarette.

Hayakawa stepped behind you, cupping a hand around your elbow, sliding it up your arm, your wrist, your fingers before he plucked the cigarette from your digits.

"First time?" He asked, warm voice hot against your neck.

"Wanted to give it a try," You shrugged. You didn't know what, exactly, had gotten into you. It seemed that with every sip of liquor you took lately, you crept closer and closer back to your old self. The sort of liquid courage that made people make very bad decisions. "Sorry. I'm a little," You waved your hands around yourself, trying to gesture 'drunk' without actually saying it.

"How brave of you," He murmured, pulling a hit from your cigarette and exhaling. He was the picture of sin – face flushed with alcohol, messy bangs, pink lips wrapped around a cancer stick. He was so pretty it hurt.

"I'll try it again when I'm sober," You offered.

"When?" He asked, breathing smoke out into the air. "Where?"

As persistent as always, you thought. Still, you didn't necessarily mind the attention anymore. You told yourself that it didn't matter – you would be out of here soon anyway, and everything would be far behind you before you knew it.

"Why is it that every time I'm inebriated... God tests me by throwing you in my way?" You laughed, Truly, you wished you had considered the implications of your words a little more before you had said them. "Just as I thought your manners had improved since the party. You behaved badly, then. You know that? Very badly," you hiccuped. "You should be ashamed of yourself, throwing– hic–throwing yourself at a married woman like that."

He didn't acknowledge your drunken ramblings, and he also didn't deny the fact that he had been doing exactly that – throwing himself at a married woman.

"Hardly my fault," He breathed out. "I just can't seem to resist you."

"Don't worry," You replied, eyeing him up dubiously as he pulled another hit from what was left of your cigarette. "I'm leaving tomorrow. Won't have to worry about resisting me after that."

"I know," He answered back. "Selfishly enough, I spent the last few hours wishing your train got delayed one more day, or something like that," He exhaled, then snuffed his cigarette out on the balcony, "Still, I'm glad I could see you before you went home."

"I wish I could say the same about you," You replied before you could stop the words from coming out.

He poked his tongue through the inside of his cheek, retorting, "You're gonna sit here and act like you didn't invite me? Like your eyes didn't light up like a child when you saw me pull up?" He turned around, commanding even more of your attention, standing at least a foot and a half taller than you. "You wanted me to come tonight."

It was true. That's the worst part. Everything he said was the truth.

"So that I could say goodbye," You said with remarkable finality, "I'm leaving after this."

You hadn't originally planned on leaving so soon, of course, but you wanted to get the hell out of here before you made another bad decision.

"Already?" He asked.

"You're the one who ran late," You replied. "This ends tonight. I'm going to say bye to everyone else, then I'll be gone."

With that being said, you made your way back to the door. You would go inside, bid everyone farewell, collect your belongings, and then–

He called your name before you could go back inside. You froze in place.

"Am I misreading the signals?" He asked.

You sighed, turning around one last time to clear the air, "This has to stop, Aki. You make me feel like... like I'm guilty of something."

He implored you, "What do you want me to do?"

"Go back to Himeno," You answered, a biting undertone seeping through your words. You were undeniably bitter about the whole situation, and under any other circumstances, you would have tried to be a good sport, but...

Himeno's words were a heavy weight on your heart.

'Don't mess up a relationship with a perfectly good man for Aki.'

'You should leave him for someone who can actually give him what he needs."

You could never be what Aki wanted. He wanted all of you – not just a week of you, clearly. You were married, and you couldn't let all of that go over a guy you'd been toeing the line with for what seemed like ages.

He was a young man. The fact of the matter was that you were a grown woman. A married one.

"She's a sweet, kind woman," You continued. You felt like you were going to be sick just being near him. Unknowingly, tears began to prickle at the corners of your eyes. "Go back and beg her to forgive you. Go be with someone who wants to be with you. Who can be with you."

"No," He answered simply. There was an intensity in his eyes that frightened you, like he would die without you, as he continued, "That's not what you want. I think we both know that. I refused a mission in Hiroshima to stay here with you. I planned to let go of another one in Beijing," He swallowed, "I can change my mind, and you'll never see me again."

"If you have any consideration for me," Your voice was a shuddering whisper, like someone could walk out any minute and hear the two of you going back and forth. "Any semblance– a shrivel of compassion, you'll give me back my peace."

He shook his head, "I can't. You know I can't. You've consumed every inch of my peace, every inch of my mind. How can I give you your peace?"

Fair point.

You had nothing to say to him. So, silently, your vision blurred with tears, you glared at him. Glared and frowned like that would make you believe he was the sole contributor to this issue. Then, again, you turned on your heel and went for the door. You entered the bar quickly.

He followed not too long after you, "I'll go to Beijing, then."

"No." You said. Your teary-eyed fury caught the eyes of more than a few confused bar patrons. "I don't want you to go."

Everyone was looking at you. Seriously, everyone. Your old coworkers, the bartenders, everybody.

You swallowed down your pride, bowing down before them all. "Good night, everyone," You said. You plucked your purse and your jacket off of the barstool. "Thank you for everything. I'm leaving."

Ignoring the confused looks and hushed whispers from the patrons, you exited the bar, your mind a whirlwind of emotions. The rain had started to fall, a soft drizzle quickly turning into a steady downpour. You barely noticed, too wrapped up in the turmoil inside your head. The cold, wet sensation of the rain soaked through your clothes, but you couldn't bring yourself to care. You just needed to get away, to clear your mind.

But of course, Aki followed after you. You could hear him calling your name, his voice barely audible over the sound of the rain. You quickened your pace, almost running, your heels splashing through puddles as you made your way down the block. His footsteps pounded behind you, matching your speed. You couldn't escape him, couldn't outrun him.

Finally, he caught up to you, grabbing your arm to stop you. "Wait, can we please talk?" he pleaded, his voice breathless and desperate.

You turned to face him, rain pouring down around you both. His hair was plastered to his forehead, his suit jacket soaked through. The intensity in his eyes matched the storm, a fierce determination that made your heart ache. You met his gaze begrudgingly, not wanting to deal with this, not wanting to deal with him.

"Have I really been imagining all of this?" He asked. He sounded broken. "Is it really all in my head? Tell me if it's a lie. Tell me to leave you alone. Tell me you mean it—all of it," he paused, taking a shuddering breath. "Or tell me the truth."

You swallowed hard, the weight of the situation crashing down on you. "I don't know how to feel, Aki," you finally admitted, your voice barely a whisper. "I'm trying to be good, but you just keep fucking—popping up everywhere. And you say these pretty things to me, and," You choked back a sob, struggling to find the right words. "I can't help myself around you."

"Running from your problems won't make me go away," he said, stepping forward to put his hands gently on your waist.

There was a long pause as you stood there in the rain, staring at each other. The world seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of you. The storm, the bar, everything else was just a blur. You were tired—tired of running, tired of the confusion, tired of pretending that everything was fine when it wasn't.

He added, "You can't run from your feelings."

This time, it was his eyes that dropped to your lips. His tongue darted out to dampen his own, and then his eyes flicked up to your face. When he spoke, his voice was huskier than before, as if it had been tainted by an emotion that hadn't been there before. Was it lust? Passion? Whatever it was, you wanted more of it.

Your eyes widened. Your mouth had run dry. You didn't know what to say. Even being like this right now -- as close as you were, -- was against your wedding vows. This was wrong, and you couldn't do that to your own husband.

Your own husband who loved you so dearly.

Your own husband who left you hanging so many nights on end.

Your own husband, who acted as if he couldn't care if you lived or died.

As if he had sensed your train of thought wandering, Aki placed two fingers beneath your chin, lifting your face up until he was the captor of all of your attention. Him and him alone. Not your husband, but him.

"I could treat you like a princess," His eyes wandered down to your lips again, but this time there was an unspoken hunger within them. "All you have to do is ask, and I'm yours. I already am."

And, God, what a fool you had been in uttering the words, "Don't toy with my emotions. You don't want me."

He paused, awaiting something, anything. His eyes pleaded with your own, luring you in with promises of pleasure and happiness. Gently, he grabbed your hand, placing it over his breast, right above his heart.

"I want you so badly it hurts," He breathed, "For a night, for a day, for a week..." Aki closed the gap between the two of you – brought your faces closer together. Closer, until you could feel the warmth of his calm breath fanning out against your cheek. Closer, until he uttered, "As long as you'll let me have you."

"Aki, I can't-...." You paused. Yet, still, you never moved. Your body betrayed your words, dilated pupils and trembling hands giving way to your internal dilemma. "This is wrong. You know I can't do this."

You were being a hypocrite. You knew you were. One spare glance down at the placement of your hands on his chest -- one over his breast and one looped around his tie -- and you knew he could tell you were only putting up a front.

"I know," he murmured softly, words practically dying beneath the volume of the rain, "But I can't stop thinking about you."

You folded. Your eyes dropped down to his lips one last time, and that's when you knew he had already won.

Fuck it.

"Fuck you," you muttered, feeling a surge of reckless abandon.

Without thinking, you reached out and pulled him towards you, crashing your lips against his in a desperate, frenzied kiss. It was messy and wet, your tears mixing with the rain, your hands tangling in his hair as his arms finally wrapped around you.

The kiss was filled with all the pent-up emotions, the longing, the frustration, the desire. It was passion, it was anger – it was tongue and teeth and lips smearing your lipstick over the lower half of your face. It was two black holes finally colliding after circling around each other far too long.

"I can't make sense of it. I want... you," you sighed, pulling away, voice trembling, "I don't know what any of this means anymore. I don't know what to think."

"Then don't," he whispered, his breath warm against your lips. He tasted like cigarette smoke, beer and mint gum – a flavor so utterly addicting that you couldn't seem to get enough of it. "Don't think. Let me take you back to your room."

You hesitated, the reality of the situation hitting you. This was crossing a line, a line you couldn't uncross. But as you looked into his eyes, saw the same turmoil reflected back at you, you felt your resolve crumble.

You were tired of pretending.

"Okay," you whispered, your voice barely audible over the rain. It was a final, resigned acceptance, the last nail in the coffin of your restraint.

You were tired of running from the inevitable.

a/n: dont hate me. LMFAOAOAOOAOA. i had to! i absolutely loved writing this chapter and i loved writing tipsy obsessed aki. i headcannon that he's a touchy needy bf and no one can tell me otherwise. i think you all know what happens next. im not sayin nothin tho. hehe. ANYWAYYYYY LMK WHAT YALL THOUGHTTTTT i look forward to hearing it!!! lmk what yall wanna see in the next few chapters/over the course of the story. and if youve already watched anna karenina (or read, in which case... how...) shhhhhh youve seen nothing. muah! x

credits: UNKOWN ATM. I found the cover pic on pinterest unfortch. If you know the artist, please let me know, so I can credit them properly for their work!!! This is NOT MY BEAUTIFUL DRAWINGGG. I obviously do not own csm or anything related to it. please do not reproduce, copy, or translate my works anywhere. dont fk w me im a bruja.

also: come find me on my wattpad if u wanna interact more!

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wanna join the taglist? | shameless ; chapter index

[desswright29]

CLASS 58 (Co-Captain)

Pairing: CopShuri X Cop reader

Contains: Reader Crushing hard, hints at cheating (that’s about it)

You pull into the parking lot, in your all black 1967 Mustang, 5:30 am on the dot. The sky was still pitch black and there were only two other cars in the parking lot that you assumed belonged to the instructors. You turn off your car, get out and sit on the hood, taking a deep breath, staring into the sky. Early morning was your favorite. The still and quietness of the morning had always helped you start your day off right. Popping your airpods in, you lay back and stare into the sky waiting for the sun to rise.

 Your mind wondered as “Angel numbers/10 toes” poured into your ears. You could only hope that this was the new beginning you needed. This offer from the FBI came at the perfect time. Right in time to give you a new beginning after you and your wife of 5 years divorced. You had the need to get away. Especially, after she’d taken the son you’d adopted together. Going through this would give you an outlet during the nasty custody battle you found yourself in. You didn't want to take him from her, just for the two of you to be able to co-parent cordially. But, she was making it so unnecessarily difficult.

“Get the fuck out y/n!”

“Baby please. Listen to me please!” You sat on your knees infront Riri, begging to be heard.

“What am I listening to? I saw everything I needed to see!”

“I was lonely, Ri! You're not even affectionate with me anymore! We hardly see eachother. Don't act like you haven't checked out of this relationship!”

“And who’s fault is that? How dare you!? How dare you turn this shit around on me to cover your ass. At least I was trying! I never even entertained the thought of cheating!”

The look in her eyes broke you. The tears spilling out of her big pretty brown eyes, onto her beautiful face. Since you were teens you’d worked hard to keep those eyes sparkling, to make her smile so hard that the dimples in her cheeks would show up. Now she was broken by you.

“I’m sorry.”

“Y/n, just go.” She seemed exhausted with the conversation.

“What about Amari?” You say in tears. A look of disgust came over Riri’s face.

“You should have thought of that shit before you placed your face between another bitches legs. Right now I don't want you around me or my child. Get out.” She spoke softly, walking away as though it took all her strength to hold her body upright.

You huffed, rubbing a hand over your face. To stop the tears from escaping. You had to shake it off, push the memory back into its space on the back of your mind, and prepare yourself for the day. 

“Today you will have your first P.T. test! It’s purely to gauge where you are physically right now and will not affect your grade. But, if I were you I'd give it a hundred percent! I suggest you don't waste our time or yours. When I release you all, you’ll head from the training building over to the gym and prepare for the push up and sit up segment of your test.” Mr. Kaufman looked over the class as they stood at attention, stern, serious. Making sure he got his point across.

“FALL OUT!”

The class fell out of formation, grabbing the belongings they would need to head to the gym when a voice called out to you.

“Aye yo Y/l/n wait up!” Benson scuffled, catching up to you. “What’s up, boss lady. We get assigned to dorms today. You think we’ll be roommates?”

“Prayerfully, my luck isn't that bad.” You continue on your way trying to avoid conversation not in the mood, however she doesn't take the hint.

“Ahh man you do me so bad. You're gonna love me when this is all over.” The two of you walk inside of the gym and find a weight bench to sit on, waiting for instruction.

“You’re very confident. You should direct that towards someone who won’t ruin that for you.”

“Loosen up, pretty lady. You can't be stuck up the entire six months.” You shot daggers at her and she finally took her cue. Laughter erupted from the other side of the gym, and you peered over seeing Shuri and a group of the guys from the class entering the gym. Damnit was she fine! When she walked into a room everyone had to sit up and take note, and you had to admit it had you intrigued. The girl that everyone would soon find to be the class whore, lingered closely pretending to be interested in whatever was being talked about. Laughing and twirling one of her cornrows around her finger.

“You could look a lil less disgusted by the sight.” You look back over at Benson’s amused face.

“What are you talking about?” You say defensively.

“You look like you wanna snatch Auguste up by them thick ass cornrows for being all up on Udaku.”

“I dont give a fuck about that girl. I don't know her.”

“Yea. Well you look like you want to.”

“Whatever.” You stood to your feet, rolling your eyes, and walking away with Bensons chuckle trailing behind you.

Mr. Kaufman entered the gym instructing you all to place out the green mats assigning you all to your respective lines. You were all called up by three’s for the push-up portion of the test. The class captain being one of the first up. She walked up confidently placing herself in a push up position. Sgt. Sanders called start and you watched Shuri work. Biceps protruding from her short sleeve compression shirt, and veins popping from her forearms and neck. She moved so effortlessly, even with her weighted vest on. You found yourself in a slight trance. She must have felt your stare, because her eyes found yours, her bottom lip curling into her mouth as she pushed them out faster. Your mouth fell open slightly as your mind traveled to places it shouldn't, her eyes never left yours as she put on a show.

“TIME! Damn good job Udaku! You knocked that out of the park!” The sergeant called out. Snapping you back into reality. You finally let out the breath that you never realized you were holding. What kind of spell did that woman have you under?

“I’d pay money to be the mat underneath that woman.” Auguste said from behind you.

You swallowed to ignore the way your body had gotten hot under Shuri’s gaze. A smug smile sat on her lips as she walked past you.

“Good luck, battle.” (Military jargon to acknowledge other military personnel. short for “battle buddy”)

She knew who you were.

“Y/l/n, you're up!”

You sat on your knees on the mat looking ahead seeing Shuri standing in between the lines arms crossed, focused directly on you. You got in position and when start was called, you looked straight forward, avoiding Shuri’s eyes that burned a hole through you. You knocked out your two minutes effortlessly.

“TIME! Udaku’s got some competition! Great job y/l/n!” You found Shuri once again, as you stood to your feet. She stood in the same position she was in before. A small smile plastered on her face as she gave a slight nod in your direction, before walking over to her group of friends.

The rest of the test breezed by. You and Shuri taking the lead the entire day. She left you in the dust on the running portion. She was Olympic level fast. And you were impressed.

“Alright everyone! Settle down. Get to your seats! Great job today. We’re gonna go ahead and release you all so that you can get settled in the dorms. Good news. You all will be the first class to use the new dorms. So only two to a room. You’ll share a a kitchen and bathroom. The bedrooms are seperate.”

The class began to cheer.

“Dont get too excited you dont get to choose your roommate. The list is on the board in the hall. Check it out. Get settled, curfew is at 9 pm. That means toe to line for count at 8:59! Get out of here.”

The class stood to their feet, the chairs squeaking against the floors as they rushed into the hall to find out who they would be spending the next six months with. You stayed behind, pushing in chairs waiting for the crowd to clear out. You pulled out your phone turning it on, checking to see if there was any word from Riri. Once again nothing.

You shot her a quick message before placing your phone back into your pocket and walking out into the hallway. 

You were met with Bensons smiling face at the end of the hallway. 

“Whaddup roomie!” Her face lit up with a smile and her arms spread wide. Your eyes widened.

“No way!” You rushed over to the list, your finger roaming over the paper until you found your name; low and behold your name was listed below Bensons in room 306. 

Your head dropped as you let out a sigh. 

“Don’t act like you don’t love the idea of being alone with me 24/7” You let out a groan. 

“We’re gonna have to set some clear boundaries. Atleast I know what to expect from you.” Benson pumped her fist yelling. “This is gonna be a fucking blast!”

“No yelling in the halls!” Sgt. Sanders yelled from the office. 

“My bad sarg!” She yelled back. You shook your head and started walking out of the building.

“I’ll meet you at the dorm Benson.”

As you walked to your car, you felt the hairs on the back of your neck stand at attention, you felt someone quietly approaching, your guard went up and you turned quickly ready to strike when you came face to face with Udaku herself. Your hand went up to your chest as you let out a breath. 

“Shit!”

“I apologize. I didn't mean to startle you. Wasn’t trying to sneak up, I'm just naturally stealthy…..Like a cat.” She stood in front of you, her smirk showing just a sliver of her perfect teeth, today her hair was braided back, and she had changed into a simple black sweat suit, she made it look like she’d just stepped out of vogue, and It made your body visibly tremble.

She noticed your reaction as her gaze traveled over your body, “Cold?”

“Uh yea. It is pretty chilly.” You say once again avoiding her eyes. 

“Yes it is.” She stuck her hands into the pockets of her jacket. “Y/l/n right? I noticed you didn't come get my information after class yesterday.”

“I think I'm capable of listening and getting the same information you receive. I won’t be needing it.” You say, and she smirks.

“The other Army recruit, huh?”

“How’d you know?”

“Kind of my job, and I can tell you’re very strong willed, competitive, and prepared.”

“Competitive?” One of your brows shot up, your arms crossing in defense. 

“Yes, I saw your attempt at beating my scores, and though I admire your resolve, you can’t beat me.”  A smirk spread across your face. 

“Is that so?” She nodded very sure of herself.

“It is very much so.”

“Riiiiight Captain. We’ll see.” You say with a salute. She gave a chuckle, the soft sound made your ears perk up, you could listen to that forever, my God was everything about this woman attractive!

“But since you can’t beat me. I was thinking you would consider joining me.” You cocked your head to the side waiting for her to continue.

“You see I need a Co-Captain. And turns out I get to choose. I’ve watched you and think you would be the perfect partner.”

“Oh do you?”

“I haven’t seen anyone more qualified than you.”

“Co-Captain?” She placed prayer hands in front of her, before putting on her best pleading face.

“Pretty pretty pleeeease?” Those intense eyes focusing on your own, paired with her sexy accent had you looking away quickly trying to avoid the blush from rising on your cheeks. 

“Your one hell of a negotiator. Where’d

 you learn?”

“I’d say it was my military training, but that one in particular seems to work best outside of work.” This time you couldn’t escape the blush.

“I’ll do it.”

“Yes!” She said pumping her fist just like Benson had earlier. She held out her hand and you firmly grasp it; The two of you shook on it. “I look forward to doing business with you.”

“Same.” The handshake lingered a bit before the two of you let go.

“That yours?” She said her head nodding towards your car. Your face lit up. Not going unnoticed by Shuri.

“ ‘67 Reborn. My dad passed it down to me. His dad passed it down to him. She’s my baby.”Shuri nodded her head, cocking it to the side, her smile getting bigger.

“Cute.” She said, Your head snapped towards her. “The car. She’s beautiful.” Her gaze lingered on you, and the two of you stared at each other for what felt like minutes. In reality it was only a few seconds. She turned towards the building, throwing a “See you at the dorms partner,” over her shoulder before walking away.

You stared as she swaggered her way into the building. Leaving you with her clean scent lingering and your heart racing.

This was going to be a long 6 months.

Once inside your car you check your phone again. Heading straight to you and Riri’s text thread. The only thing ther was the several read text messages you’d sent over the past few weeks. Including the one you’d just sent.

Ri, I’m sorry. Just let me see him

Shuri watched from the window inside of the training building, as you hit the steering wheel in frustration. You sat back staring at the sky for awhile before you finally placed your key in the ignition and headed towards the dorms.

[empressofmankind]

The Show Must Go On - Pt. 1

Buggy x F!OC

Waitering at Baratie is not a bad life, but that doesn't mean life couldn't be better. That life didn't use to be better.

It's Wednesday evening, and that means entertainment is on the menu for the restaurant's late night diners. She enjoys doing so, truly, but her mood has been spiraling and she's not feeling it today. (Un)fortunately, she is not the only entertainer in the room. And the show must go on.

Tags: Fluffy like black cotton candy. Pre-amble to a whole lotta will-they-wont-they. No smut (yet) :(

Word count: 4.7k

{PART II}

A/N: For those of you new here, coming in from the OPLA tags: I enjoy writing character driven stories - thus the OC and not a Reader-insert. I am the type of author that gleefully goes through their baggage and holds a yard sale. And Buggy has a lot of baggage.

PS. I know it's no longer the 90s, and this isn't geocities, but please listen 'Party at Baratie' with Buggy's entrance. I promise, it won't disappoint.

Baratie wasn’t full yet, but it would be by the time the clock struck ten. It always was on Wednesday nights. Shivs cleared the table as the couple rose to shrug on their coats and leave. They were regulars, a fisherman and his wife who liked their baked cod with a generous helping of Zeff’s home ground mustard. More often than not, they brought the fish for their dish. She liked them. They were nice people, quiet people. Baratie’s late night diners tended not to be.

“Ah, a free table.”

Shivs didn’t like the tone of his voice, and never had. “And you are?” she said as she turned around. Even though she knew perfectly well.

“Captain Nezumi of the 16th Branch,” the marine standing behind her said with a huff that made his mouse-like whiskers twitch.

Tall, slim and pointy-faced, he always reminded her distinctly of that rodent. Where’s a cat when you need one, she thought. Shivs crooked an eyebrow, slow and deliberate. “Who?”

“I don’t have to ask who you are,” he hissed, whiskers trilling. “Goji berry red hair, missing eye: short-straw Shivs. A pirate.”

“A waiter.” Shivs wiped down the table. “Reservations go through Xavier.” She raised her hand to alert the maître d’ at the top of the stairs.

“Illegal seaters,” she said as the timid fishman approached them.

“Well, have I never!” she heard Nezumi sputter as she left. Making her way to another table in need of clearing, she was stopped by other regulars — louder regulars. Toby and his crew. Four in all, they were about her own age. She looked at the hand on her elbow, old bruises around the knuckles.

“What is it?” she said as she turned to them and shook it.

“Will there be a show tonight?” Toby grinned, showing off a silver canine through black bangs.

“No, I don’t think so. Can I get you boys anything?”

“It’s Wednesday!” Toby spread his hands in mock disbelief. “There cannot not be a show! We put in real effort to stay sober this long.” The way his grin was lopsided suggested otherwise.

“Tough luck,” Shivs said as she stacked their pint glasses.

A hand around her wrist, the one steadying the glassware. She followed it up his arm and to his face. He’d plastered a preposterous pout on it. “I don’t need luck.”

She considered tugging her wrist, letting him smash the glasses as he pulled her back. And stabbing him in the face with one. “Does that grimace ever work for you?”

Sanji appeared at her side, a tray on his fingertips. “Leave madam alone or I’ll have you lot banned permanently this time.”

Making the smart choice, Toby let go.

“Your drinks, gentlemen,” Sanji said as he took pints from his tray and put them in front of the four pirates. Shivs left while they were distracted. There was not going to be a show tonight, she decided. Fuck them.

At the sudden shouting, followed by a deafening roar and a cackle, Shivs abruptly turned to look behind her. Yet the commotion was up the steps and near the restaurant entrance, where Xavier attempted to calm the motley crowd roused before him. Which included a lion. A large lion with a lilac coat and mane, and red face paint daubed on his snout. Customers seated below had risen to look, too. A woman screamed when the lion roared once more, the sound reverberating through the wooden beams of Baratie’s hull.

“Animals are not allowed inside, good sirs.” Xavier’s nervous voice rose only just above the ruckus.

“Animal? Richie is no mere animal —.”

Shivs squinted, her jaw jutting a little forward. Is that a clown?

“—he is a founding member of my troupe!”

“Richie?” Xavier’s voice pitched as he leafed through his register book. “Oh, ah, he’s on the list. I see. That makes, um, how many?”

“Thirteen.”

“Why yes, of course.” Xavier pushed his glasses up his nose and closed his book. He turned towards the dining room at the bottom of the stairs and caught Shivs’ gaze, motioning her towards the long table in front of the hall’s modest stage.

Taking the hint, Shiv shook out her cloth and went to it.

Xavier coughed for attention, and the few diners that hadn’t been staring up yet turned to do so now. “Captain Buggy,” he announced with sober dignity. “And, hrm. Crew.”

“No. No-no-nono. That is no good!” The blue-haired captain shooed Xavier out of his spot. In red stripes, baggy pants and schmink, he did look like a clown. One that had slept the past week in the bilge. Shivs wondered if he’d reek.

“Spotlight!” He said with a wave of his gloved hand. Benji, the techie that worked the stage lights and curtains during shows, obliged with a nice bright beam, sparkling off the captain’s wide grin. Where the jaunty music came from, Shivs had no idea.

“I am Buggy,” he announced, and it animated his whole face. “Buggy, the Star Clown. Buggy, the Flashy Fool. Buggy, the—.”

“Pirate.”

The music scratched to a stop as Buggy turned on his boot heel to the speaker. It was Nezumi, standing prim with his unit beside the table he’d been denied.

“And your name is?” Buggy pulled a grimace as if he’d found three-day-old cotton candy stuck to his glove. Then it became a grin again, though this time it didn’t reach his eyes. “Nooo, let me guess: Captain Obvious?”

Shivs snorted as a woman in a glittery leotard held up a sign that read ‘laugh’ in gaudy calligraphy, and the diners did.

“My sincere apologies, captain Nezumi,” Xavier said as he ushered the marines away. “But you have no reservation and I must therefore ask you to leave.”

“Toodles!” Buggy said with a little wave.

The spotlight trailed after the marines slinking away, but Buggy snapped his fingers and it promptly returned to him.

“Now, where was I?” He straightened to his full height and adjusted his hat. “Ah yes, I am Buggy!” The music restarted as he flicked out his coat tails behind him and sashayed down the steps, his timing to the tune and his own words impeccable. “Buggy, the Star Clown. Buggy, the Flashy Fool. Buggy, the Genius Jester!” He spread his arms wide as his grin. “Has come to your magnificent establishment with his fabulously flashy troupe!”

Acrobats spilled from behind him, flanking his descent with handstands down the steps and sliding along the curving railings. There was a fire-breather too, causing many ohs and ahs. And the lion, of course, roaring once more.

Shivs gave the table a quick wipe down as they came towards her, spotlight and lion and wide smiles and all. Buggy paused beside her, head cocked, bicorne comically askew.

“What?” she said.

He pouted and pointed at the table. “Missed a spot, candy cane.”

She realised her mistake the moment she leaned forward to look, but he’d already flicked her nose with a cackle. At least the laughter around her sounded forced.

She was going to say something about polishing someone’s overly large nose but didn’t. Up close, she wasn’t so sure it wasn’t real. And she’d glimpsed half a dozen stilettos lining the inside of that tacky fur coat when he bend towards her. No one carried that many unless they knew how to throw them.

Instead, she pulled out the chair at the head of the table for him, and he seemed properly surprised for a moment.

“Such service,” he said as he crossed his long legs and sat down, his grin broad and toothy. She moved her gaze up and narrowly avoided it lingering on his nose. His eyes were as blue as clear ocean skies and framed by impressively long lashes for a man. They batted up at her and that did something. She wondered if the red lipstick covering half his face would smear even further if she kissed him. Wondered if Zeff might actually fire her for it. She had a suspicion this was the ‘special guest’ the old cook had alluded to.

He certainly looked special.

The lion’s grumbled roar drew both their attention.

“There are only twelve seats,” Buggy observed with a note of displeasure.

Xavier all but appeared at his elbow out of nowhere. “Apologies, truly. Perhaps, a divan for the noble beast?”

Buggy glanced at Richie, who sat down with a plop like an overly large dog. He motioned between his own and the seat of a man in a poorly done bear costume. Or was that meant to be a lion also?

“Put it here,” he said, then turned to Shivs, an edge of teeth peeking through his red smile. “Honey cake, the menu?”

“I’ll fetch the chef,” she said. “Would you like something to wet your tongue, in the mean time?”

“North Blue gin?”

She’d somehow expected him to order a cocktail. “Not something sweet?”

His grin managed to split wider yet as his blue eyes flicked down and up. “Are you ‘something sweet’?”

“No.”

He winked and clicked his tongue for emphasis. “Then no.”

“A’right,” Shivs said and made her way back to the galley at the rear of the restaurant. She spotted Zeff by the stove, tasting a creamy-looking soup.

“Needs more oregano,” the old chef muttered under his breath.

“A whole damn circus just arrived,” she said as she walked up to him.

“Ah, good, I was expecting him.” Zeff put the soup ladle down and he turned to her. “Pirate captain. His name is Buggy—.”

“—the clown,” Shivs finished with a chortle. “The face paint gave the surprise away. You know him?”

“We met, briefly. Long time ago,” he brushed her question aside as he wiped his hands on a dishcloth.

“Haven’t seen his mug on paper?” she said. Though that in and of itself wasn’t so strange. Zeff kept Baratie free of that sort of tacky wallpaper. Those who knew, knew. Those who didn’t, dined none the wiser. And she hadn’t left Baratie in… some time.

“It graces a few towns and forts, I imagine,” he said with a smile. “Though probably not as many as he’d like.”

Yes, that ego had been hard to miss. Shivs tilted her head. “How much is his bounty?”

“Twelve million, last print I saw? Probably gone up since then.”

“That’s not bad for the East Blue,” she said, actually surprised. He must have some tricks up his sleeves. It made her think of the knives. And those cheeky blue eyes batting up at her. “Xavier seated them at the oval table. Asked for the menu, told him I’d fetch the chef.”

“Is that so?” Zeff chuckled. “I best get to them then.”

“Zeff.”

The chef paused halfway moving past her.

“I am not performing,” Shivs said. “Not tonight.”

He turned back to her, a frown drawing his bushy eyebrows down. “You like doing it?”

She set her jaw. “If you want a show, ask the clown. I’m sure, if you ask plenty nicely, he’ll have his whole freakshow up on the tables in no time.”

Zeff gave her a fond look. “Our Wednesday guests come for you.”

“No doubt he has some in his troupe as well, if that’s what they want to see.”

“If you want to become better at it, you’ll have to practice.” Humour sparkled in the old pirate chef’s eyes. “Maybe you can get some professional critique, huh?”

From a clown? Her thoughts scoffed. Although, he did have all those knives. People weren’t always 'one act' wonders.

She pursed her lips. “Fine.”

“Atta girl.” He gave her shoulder a good squeeze and a little shake. “Can you start on the dishes until then?”

“Sure.”

By the time ten o’clock came around, Baratie was packed. It always was on Wednesday nights. Shivs had taken off the blouse she wore under her waiter’s vest. This way, she had better freedom of movement. She removed the scarf she wore around her throat and tied up her red hair in a bun. Then adjusted the diving knife in her left boot, concealing it from view.

Coming out of the employee’s toilet and left around the stage from the back, she saw Xavier already stood upon the planks limed in the light of Benji’s spotlight.

“Dear ladies, honoured gentlemen,” Xavier said with solemn dignity. The diners quieted as the lights in the hall dimmed and the spotlight brightened, setting a shimmer to the maître d’s well-manicured scales. “May I introduce to you—.”

“BoooOOOooo!”

Buggy, hands touted beside his mouth like a megaphone as he rose from his seat.

“Sir!” Xavier admonished at the blatant breach of proper etiquette.

The spotlight jumped to the clown, who stood in it like a flower turning towards the sun.

You really love yourself limed in stage lights, don’t you? Shivs thought, standing in the shadows off-stage.

“This is not a show,” Buggy said in a tone as if a great offence had been committed. He spread his arms wide. “This is a farce!”

Before anyone could stop him, he’d hopped on stage, the spotlight kissing his heels. He blatantly stepped in front of Xavier and turned to the diners.

“Grand folk! Welcome, welcome!” he proclaimed with animated gestures — he talked with his whole body. “Tonight, you will have the rare pleasure, the absolute singular privilege, of being the very first to witness Buggy’s Astoundingly Flashy Impromptu Diner Show!”

The lights did a little colour switching dance at his last words. Benji was having fun, at least.

The dinner guests applauded even before the woman held up her sign. Visibly delighted, Buggy turned to Shivs. “You need an introducing act, caramel popsicle.” He beckoned in the direction of his crew without breaking his gaze away. “Cabaji!”

A lanky young adult rose, followed by several fellows. Acrobats and jugglers, turned out. The diners liked it well enough, but the applause was notably less than before. Shivs frowned at the flicker of irritation flitting under the surface of Buggy’s expression the split second before his perpetual grin reasserted itself.

“Next, all the way from the deep, dark South Blue,” Buggy announced, his tone low and dangerous. “A true wild beast, a known man-eater!”

The audience gasped unprompted as the lion came onto the stage with a great roar, the man in the poorly made suit in its wake. Its handler, Shivs supposed.

An elderly lady at a front table, attired in a fabulously expensive appearing gown, waved her fan all but on the brink of fainting.

“Fear not, sweetest of candied apples,” Buggy said, leaning forward from the stage to take her hand and allow for a dramatic pause. He kissed the air just above her silken glove. “Fear not. For the monster is no more.” He rose, spreading his arms as he turned towards the lion while addressing the diners: “He is now Richie, the dancing lion!”

And, sure enough, at a prompt of his handler, the lion rose on its hind legs and danced. It stepped from one paw unto the other, side step here, side step there, turning in a circle and pawing with a front leg punctuated by a much sweeter roar.

The applause was genuine and excellent as the lion sat down with a plop and yawned.

“And now~,” Buggy started.

“FuCk oFF!”

Toby, from somewhere in the rear. Shivs saw Buggy’s hand twitch at his interruption and knew what that meant. Short fuse.

“I am here to see my girl!” Toby added, supported by the hoots of his friends.

Buggy glanced at her and she made a puking face that returned a grin to his. He beckoned her and as she climbed on stage; she resisted the urge to ask if his act was throwing knives, perhaps? But only just. She had about reached his side when Toby opened his mouth again.

“Nobody is here to see your ugly mug, you red-nosed freak!”

Buggy froze.

His crew shrank away.

And those were all the tells Shivs needed, really.

“What did you say…?” Buggy said as he turned slowly towards the audience, a wink of spotlight along concealed blades as his coat shifted with his movement.

“Captain Buggy!” His blue eyes snapped unto her and she held them. “It is time for my act now, isn’t it? It’s been such a wait, is it my turn finally?”

“It is!” he said and his grin split to show teeth again. “It is time!” Buggy spread his arms in sweeping gestures towards her. “For the one, and only, fabulously flashy~!”

He leaned towards her, his tone and mime overacted confusion. “I didn’t catch your name, popcorn pop?”

The audience laughed.

“Shivs,” Shivs said.

He made a comically stabby gesture, and she chuckled despite herself, and the audience with her. “Yes, just like those.”

“The Superbly Spectacular Shivs!” Buggy concluded with a sweeping arch of his arms. The spotlight jumped on her as gold foil poppers showered her in glimmering sparkles and the audience clapped.

He turned to her, his smile all tooth and wide as an oar. “What is your act?”

Not what you think, she thought at the sparkle of cheek in his blue eyes. Instead of an answer, Shivs lifted her left foot slowly, and drew the arm length diving knife from her boot. She flipped and caught it midair, holding it now by the hilt, the blade tip down. Stretching her arm, she lifted it above her head, never breaking their gaze until she had to.

Shivs stretched, straightened and tipped her head back, aligning her esophagus with her spine. She took a deep breath, then let it escape as she slid the blade down her throat. Unblinking, she held her breath and watched the hilt approach. When she felt the short crossguard rest on both corners of her mouth, she let go of the hilt and spread her hands.

Applause exploded from the audience as she turned a full circle, showing a bare neck all around.

She retrieved the blade with care and bowed.

Rising, Shivs glanced at Buggy and saw his eyes were positively gleaming. He clapped no less excitedly than the diners.

“Encore!” an elderly man called as he rose while vigorously clapping, and the call was taken up by the others.

“The audience wants more,” Buggy said, chuffed as if he’d done it himself.

“This is all I can do.”

“No no, that’s no good,” he said with a click of his tongue. “The show must go on.”

Buggy turned to the audience. “Do you want to see the Stunningly Flashy Shivs swallow another blade?” he asked, and the response was unfortunately deafening. “Or two?!”

“Are you insane?” she hissed, grabbing his sleeve.

Buggy turned to her, smiling wide as ever.

And out came the knives.

Four stilettos, similar in type if not in make, precisely. He held the hilts clenched between the fingers of one fist.

“Pick any two.”

This was a terrible idea. She hadn’t done double blades before. His knives were shorter and thinner than her own blade, sure. But multiple meant more insertion time, a longer breath.

Sword-swallowers fucked up only once.

She picked the two that seemed most similar, digging the hilts from between his fingers. She weighed them, one in each hand, gauging their balance.

Then held them up to the audience, eliciting a few encouraging cheers.

She flinched at the twin ‘thunk’ of Buggy throwing the remaining two into the stage’s floorboard. “No foldables here,” he assured the diners, who held onto his every word with baited breaths.

There were many people. Familiar, unfamiliar. Sitting, shifting, fidgeting. She turned to Buggy, training her gaze on him. No distractions. Easier to focus on one face than on a crowd. His expression was eager, his mouth a fraction open. She could see an edge of teeth, the tip of his tongue.

This better not be the image I am taking with me to the grave, she thought as she tilted her head and rolled her eyes at the ceiling. She flipped one stiletto, then the other, bringing the tips up above her head.

She closed her eyes.

Banished that look on his face.

Focus.

She steadied herself, breathing in time with her heartbeat. One deep breath. Two deep breaths. On the third, she blew out and let one stiletto slide down her throat.

4… 5… 6… So far, so good. No new trick, this. But now for the second one, and no deflation to aid the ease of passage.

9…10… She guided it along the blade of the first, counting her heartbeats since breathing out.

15…16…17… The slow heat of suffocation started its ascend from within her chest.

24…25… The second crossguard joined the first. Sweat beaded on her forehead. The applause came from miles away as she spread her trembling hands.

28…29…30… She turned on her heels for an eternity.

32…33…34… Her vision tunnelled as she grabbed their hilts. Her throat shifted, her tongue twitching backward.

And then they were out, and she drew in the breath of the drowning, great gulps of it as she blinked stars from her eyes.

They focussed on Buggy.

His eyebrows had drawn up into a pout, but cotton candy clouds drifted past his wide blue eyes. Her gaze dodged his nose and landed on his mouth. He was biting his bottom lip. Her eyes flicked down, but his baggy pants and sash revealed nothing, or hid everything.

She flipped the stilettos and held them hilt first out to him. “These are yours.”

He snapped out of it with a smile, taking them off her hands and bending down to fetch the ones sunk into the floorboards.

Shivs pursed her lips, watching his butt shift. It was only fair, that look on his face had been a whole lot of something. Stupid clown.

He farewelled the show with the same flourish and drama he’d initiated it. The spotlight dimmed, the curtains closed, and the audience applauded one final time.

“That was more than perfect cherry tootsie,” Buggy beamed as they walked off-stage.

“I regret everything,” Shivs said. A slow, pulsing headache whined at the back of her neck. Her throat was sore. She hoped she hadn’t nicked anything.

Buggy’s face fell faster than the curtains at her words. “You are a talent, a natural, unique,” he said, all hands and exaggerated encouragements as he spoke. “You will be great one day, the greatest! Famous! Performing on the Grand Line, in the New World!”

He was right in front of her now, all but nose to nose. “You are a class act. You are one of a kind. You are—.”

“—in pain.”

“Chocolate toffee you must rest,” he said in a tone people usually got before launching into a hug or some other type of physical reassurance. It never came. He just looked at her with a concerned pout and held his own hands.

She smiled weakly. “I’ll live.”

“You must,” he grinned, then produced a shimmering golden ticket from an inside pocket of his coat. He held it between two fingers and out to her. “You should join my crew.”

“I’ll think about it,” Shivs said as she took the card without really looking at it, and out of politeness more than anything. Short fuse.

She watched him leave with a spring in his step.

It was a long while before the last diners had left, and longer still until the gold confetti had been cleaned up. Shivs sat at the bar, broom leaned against the stool beside her. Baratie was presentable once more. There was a pile of dishes, but those could wait till tomorrow. The ticket Buggy had given her laid on the bar beside her glass of water. It was a gaudy, gold foil iteration of an old-timey circus entrance pass. The front was graced by a red-nosed Jolly Roger, and the back told her on which slip the ship was docked and when they’d leave. Big Top, slip 9. Tomorrow, at 07:00. She’d smiled at the name, wondering if it would look as ridiculous as its captain. Probably.

“Saw you talk,” Zeff said.

Shivs spooked out of her thoughts at his words, not having heard him approach. He stood beside her, drying the last of the pint glasses.

“Any good feedback?”

She pinned the ticket with her middle finger and slid it towards him across the bar. Zeff put the glass down, the dish cloth across his shoulder, and wiped his hands before picking it up.

“Asked you to join his crew?” he said as he read the ticket.

“Hah. Told me to join his crew, more like.”

Zeff handed it back to her. “Will you?”

Shivs wound the ticket around her finger, making the foil crinkle and crackle in the silence. She ran her tongue past her teeth.

“No.”

The short word sounded dry and definitive.

“No,” she repeated as she shook her head and let the ticket unfurl from her finger and fall onto the bar. “He’s weird and pushy.”

“He’s an odd one.” Zeff set the broom aside and sat on the barstool beside her. “Though all pirate captains are, this old cook included.” There was humour in his tone. “The sea gets peculiar with you, you know this.”

She bit the inside of her cheek. It’d been years since she had sailed. She’d thought it would have been different, that last time. That their bond would have mattered. She pulled a stray bang free and watched the red strands slip through her fingers. You pushed your will with smiles, but pushed it all the same.

Zeff gave her a gentle nudge. “He asked you to join his crew, not to marry him.”

Privately, she wasn’t so sure all of them understood the distinction. She did miss the ocean. Baratie was ever at sea, but it was not the same. She realised, she’d held out hope he’d come back. Even though he had told her — 'I am not coming back.'

It made her angry. Angry with him, for leaving. Angry with herself, for. For what? Defaulting to existing instead of living?

Zeff observed her in silence.

“I like my life,” she said. “Here, with you and Sanji. The restaurant, our guests. It’s nice.” And it was, and she refused to be ungrateful. To just… leave.

“Your dream is not becoming a cook,” Zeff said as he tried to catch her gaze. “You’re young yet. You enjoyed being a pirate.”

Shivs looked at the ticket, wrinkled but shining no less for it.

“What is your dream?” he asked gently.

To not be miserable, she thought, then shrugged, half-heartedly. “Swallow the biggest sword on the Grand Line, I guess.”

That drew a chuckle from the old cook. “You are still a pirate, and you want to become the best sword-swallower across the Blue.” His gaze flicked from her to the ticket and back. “Sounds to me, this is the crew to be.”

12 million, she thought. It was not nothing, but. “I don’t want to tie myself to an anchor thrown into the East Blue.”

“You know, I once met a captain along the Grand Line while searching for the All Blue.” Amusement tugged at the corner of Zeff's lips. “Decent fellow, solid crew. Though I distinctly remember being mouthed off by someone with a red nose.”

Shivs cocked her head. “He’s sailed the Grand Line? Under whom?”

“A good captain. Went before his time, really.” Zeff’s face clouded with sorrow. “Famous now only for his last words and lost treasure.”

Shivs speared the ticket with a finger. “That’s a former Roger pirate?” Impossible. “He can’t be that old.” He was maybe a few years older than her, tops. “He’d have been—.”

Zeff smiled. “—half as tall as he is now.”

Shivs sat back, crossing her arms. Thinking.

“Why would he leave the Grand Line?”

Now it was Zeff who shrugged. “Ask him?”

“That’ll go over well, I am sure,” Shivs huffed, amused despite herself. Hi, why did you tail it out of the Grand Line? Oh, it was embarrassing? Oops. No, not bloody likely that she’d ask.

Zeff observed her for a moment, then said: “Will you be skipping breakfast, tomorrow?”

Shivs glanced at the ticket. The ship, the slip, the time. She smoothed the creases out of the jolly Roger, running a finger right across its big red nose.

“I’ll think about it.”

Zeff patted her shoulder and rose. “You do that, girl.”

Shivs watched him leave, listened to the tap of his peg-leg receding. Then rose, crumpled the ticket and threw it on the ground.

Tag list: @gingernut1314 @gabegade

Stupid clown.

{PART II}

[evviejo]

i will not get into silly spats with random users on threads (which i barely use anyway), just because an absolute rando said star trek: legacy doesn't have a good premise, but let me remind everyone why it does and why paramount would be absolutely BONKERS if they didn't grab this opportunity:

goes back to the origins of trek, with a motley crew on board the flagship

has an interesting, complex character for captain, one that is established and well-loved in the universe and fandom

on top of that, she would be the first openly queer captain in trek

there's also an incredibly entertaining and complicated character in the role of first officer

both seven and raffi have oodles of untold, unexplored stories from their pasts to talk about

and that is not even including the mess of their relationship

on top of that, they have kids of actual trek legends, exploring whose stories could also be intriguing - like digging into what it's like to be a daughter of geordi la forge, or what picard is like as a newly-found father

that also means a lot of potential for cameos and guest appearances of fan faves

and that is without even considering any other members of the crew and their stories

add to it all the complications of the current state of the federation, the past entanglements with other species (borg, most notably, but also changelings or synthetics, if only to mention the picard ones)

and if they chose to go the classic route, they could simply have fun and wacky episodes, discovering new planets and saving new species

and, last but not least, the two actors who would be playing the central roles are eager to do it

to finish, you could say the idea for any post-tos show wasn't a good idea, since a lot of what they look like is similar. and yet, trek is great at differentiating between its shows, making each a unique story with unforgettable characters. there is nothing that would suggest legacy would be any different.

unless that silly rando finds a trek show focused on two queer women uninteresting, but then, i guess we all know where they are coming from 🫢

[val-writesstuff]

Dear Diary

Prologue

Summary: Your brother and his best friend that you're secretly in love with, go missing. Peggy thinks somehow you’ll be able to find them. Will you find them, or will you lose yourself in the process?

wc:1.1k

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x reader

a/n: Am I starting a new series to procrastinate from my other one? Maybe. My brain doesn't listen when I tell it to focus on one thing, so here ya go.

Italics are writing

Main Masterlist | Series Masterlist | Taglist form

Dear Diary

It's been a month since Steve disappeared. With him gone, nothing feels real. It feels like I'm drifting through life. I haven't felt like this since our mom died, Steve and Bucky were the only ones who could bring me back and now they're both gone.

Gone, not dead. Neither of my boys came home, neither had bodies. I think that might be worse, the not knowing. They could be stranded somewhere, freezing, and injured. I wish I could help them, wherever they are.

It’s weird being in this house alone. I don't go out anymore. I spend most of my days wrapped in my bed. I’ve been too scared to enter his room or move his stuff, what if he comes home and everything he knew is gone?

Peggy keeps coming by the house. She brings groceries, she cooks for me. Sometimes we sit and have tea together. She used to try to make small talk, but the past few days she just looked nervous around me. I know she feels bad about what happened but I can't help but blame her a little.

Our lives used to be relatively normal. Then Steve somehow gets into the army which, I know was his dream but it was crazy. I hoped they’d give him something easier like being a medic or something but he sends me a letter saying he's going to be experimented on. I didn't hear from him for a long time after that. Then ‘Captain America’ starts going around doing shows. I guess he was busy entertaining the masses. The next letter i got, he said something had happened to bucky and he was going to rescue him.

Then I got a knock on the door. Peggy herself was standing on my doorstep. I had never met her before but from the look on her face, I knew something had happened. Diary, I’m not proud of what happened next. There was a lot of screaming and crying, mostly from me. I know you'll say it's not very ladylike, but when have I cared about that before?

I still hate her a little, even if she's not the reason he joined. She got him involved in the stuff that got him killed. Got bucky killed too. I don't know if I’ll ever forgive her.

When I hear the knocking on the door I know it's her. I close up my diary and shove it back on the shelf before I open the door. Her smile wavers a little and I take a step back to let her in the apartment. I close the door behind her and busy myself with making tea so I don’t have to look at her.

I hear her sit at the table and take a deep breath before she finally says something. “Listen, I know I keep showing up and I'm probably the last person you want to see right now-” I scoff as I set the tea on the table and sit across from her. “But this time I'm here to suggest something and it's going to sound a little crazy, so please don't kick me out yet.”

From what I knew of her, Peggy’s version of crazy could be ‘come out and have a drink with me and some of the guys your brother knew’ or ‘Come get injected with an untested serum so you can fight bad guys.” Neither option sounds great right about now. 

“Your brother told me about you. He told me about the things you can do, and how you're special in ways others aren't.” 

“I don't know what he said but you have to believe me when I say it's not true.” I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. “Stevie has always had a very active imagination.” I tried to muster up a chuckle as I rambled about my brother. “It's probably from all his time locked inside. You know he used to get sick easily? So, mom, wouldn't let him go play with the other kids. He’d spend all his time reading fairytales or drawing them and-”

She leaned in close and whispered as if somebody might overhear her. “He told me because he thought you could help us. He knew if anybody could get you in, it’d be me. He told me how you always used to take care of him, he wanted to take care of you.” 

I cross my arms and glare at her. “He had no right to tell you that. You shouldn't know about that.”

“You might be right, but I'm glad he told me. I want you to do a job for me. My little team wants to search for them, Barnes and Steve. I convinced them you're the right person for the job.” Now I knew why she had looked so nervous recently, she was offering me a small ray of hope in the darkness.

“That sounds great and all but I don't have any experience with this kind of thing. My abilities wouldn't be of any help to you.” I didn't like the idea of anybody knowing what I could do, but if it helped find Bucky or Steve I’d do whatever I could.

“Dear diary…” I mutter as I pull my coat tighter around me as the wind blows snow in my face. “Today I get to explore the middle of nowhere because my stupid brother's insane girlfriend thought it would be wise to send me out here after a month of training. Truly a match made in heaven, those two.”

“I know it seems impossible but you're their only hope.” Peggy's voice crackled out of the portable radio I was clutching in my hand. “Howard's equipment picked up activity out there and we have high hopes it's him.” 

“Peggy I admire your optimism, I do.” I sighed as I paused and looked around. All I could see was whirling snow and rocky cliffs. “But it's been months… He fell off a train for god's sake. On the off chance he is alive, he would've had to survive with probably very serious injuries and no rations. If he found a way to do that…I don't think he’d still be himself.”

“Please, you have to find him.” I could hear her voice crack even through the static of the radio. I knew she wanted me to do this so she’d have a justifiable reason to send me after Steve, that's what she wanted. 

In the distance, I saw something silver glint in the sun and I took off running toward it. I fell to my knees as I pulled a pair of dog tags on a chain out of the snow. “Peggy I found-” my body couldn't decide if I wanted to sob or laugh. He was somewhere out here and he had survived the fall.

I was so distracted by what I found I never noticed the man creeping up behind me. Didn't realize I wasn’t alone until I felt the sharp pain of a needle in my neck.

Remember, likes are nice but reblogs/feedback are golden!

Tagging people i think might be interested (unless you ask/fill the taglist form, i will not tag you in future posts): @wakandabiitch2 @james-bucky-barnes-bitch @piperstofu101 @holyhumorliteraturelight @moonlissworld @matchat3a @vicmc624 @hw-shorty @juliapowers @jobean12-blog @jamesbuchananbarnesslut @buckyownsmylife @cjand10

[sweetmage]

Isabela/Aveline Modern AU WIP!!!

⚠️Suggestive

In which Aveline, who doesn't know how to use her newish phone, is convinced that Isabela keeps sending her skimpy photos. However, Isabela is just posting on her own public social media and Aveline is getting notifications for it, but, she uses technology with all the grace of an 80-year-old, she's confused and thinks they're direct texts to her 😅

Aveline had never quite gotten used to the feeling of a phone in her hand. Call her old-fashioned or simply resistant to change, but never quite enjoyed the new age of technology. But Isabela had insisted she get one. Good for keeping up the guard and keeping tabs on the Hawke's, she said, and Aveline couldn't argue with that.

But the more time that passed, the more she wondered what ulterior motives Isabela might have. Every day the blasted thing pinged and when she checked it, there was always some new photo of Isabela, barely dressed, sometimes not at all.

She couldn't understand why she kept doing this. Was it to make her work life harder? To put her job in jeopardy? Or was it some sort of sick joke? The more she thought about it, the more irritated she grew. She was just trying not to think too much about it when the phone buzzed in her pocket.

With a heavy sigh, Aveline pulled it out and looked. Sure enough, there she was, all tits and ass, winking at the camera.

Just like every time, she clicked the little box beneath the photo to let her know just how she felt about it.

'Some of us have jobs to do. I do not need to see your tits at 11 in the morning. Do you not have better things to do?'

After a quick re-read, Aveline clicked the send button. It wasn't anything she hadn't said before, though in recent months the frustration in her messages had grown. She was, of course, frustrated by Isabela's utter lack of shame and dignity, but she was far more frustrated by what those photos were doing to her.

Every time Aveline saw her, her body responded—heat in her cheeks, a flutter in her stomach. The first few times, she'd had been able to pass it off as embarrassment, but she wasn't so naive as to think there wasn't more to her feelings than that.

Her phone pinged again, this time with words from Isabela.

'Don't be so stuffy, Big Girl. We can't all be in a meeting at 11 am.'

Aveline huffed. She wasn't in a meeting and was bloody glad for it. She couldn't imagine how embarrassing it would be to be caught opening a text like that while surrounded by her men. She'd never talk her way out of it!

'Neither am I, but you don't see me flashing my bits to everyone. You know this is inappropriate.'

Isabela's reply was almost immediate.

'That's because you have no sense of fun. Come on, live a little. ;)'

She wasn't even going to entertain that. She simply turned off the screen… for a moment. Then impulse won over and she opened the message again, stealing another quick glance at the photo.

Maybe she didn't have a sense of fun, though she couldn't see what the fun was in flashing her breasts for everyone to see. At least not for the one posting…

Her throat had gone dry, her cheeks hot. The more she stared, the worse she felt. What was wrong with her? It was just a picture. It was just—

"Guard captain, a word."

Aveline jumped, dropping the phone to the desk as if it were suddenly red-hot then scooping it up again because of course the thing landed screen up.

[yujo-nishimura]

"Told you so..." - Part 2

This is a private ongoing fic just for me and @lostfirefly

Since tumblr doesn't let me post it privately I need to share it publicly, but feel free to scroll through the content, since this is just for our own amusement. ;)

"Okay, where to next? Fantastic plan, by the way, my love!" Buggy chimed sarcastically as he and Helga narrowly escaped the pursuit of three Blugoris on Level 2.

Helga, a skilled martial artist, had managed to incapacitate two of them with her bare fists, but she knew there were more of them to come and her strength was not endless. Thinking quickly, Buggy seized three knives from the fallen beasts, arming himself for defense.

"I believe this way is the right direction!" Helga gasped, pointing towards a set of stairs. "That's where we should head!"

Buggy jokingly remarked, "Oh, it looks incredibly safe and trustworthy!" earning an eye roll from Helga.

Just as they were about to proceed, another Blugori approached, swinging its oversized axe menacingly. Without hesitation, Buggy hurled his knives at the creature, landing a precise hit that rendered it unconscious.

"Wow, baby... that was impressive and kinda… hot!" Helga admitted, gazing at her captain with admiration.

"Thanks. It's good to know my skills can entertain you even in perilous situations. Shall I showcase more of my talents? Perhaps we can hide in that corner and... well, you know," Buggy mischievously suggested.

Helga rolled her eyes, finding amusement in her captain's adorable foolishness. "Not now, darling. Can't I give you a compliment without it immediately going to your head?"

He chuckled, retrieving his knives from the defeated beast and taking her hand. "But I know you enjoy it, cutie pie. Just as much as you enjoy me!"

Before Helga could respond, Buggy took off running downstairs, pulling her along with him. Gasping for breath, she managed to say, "Suddenly so eager to believe me?!"

"Well, we've come this far. Let's see if we can go even further!" Buggy replied, determination evident in his voice as they continued their rapid descent.

Downstairs, Yujo stood up, carefully inspecting the prison cell bars, searching for any weaknesses or potential means of escape. She refused to give up easily, feeling restless and uneasy due to the worry for her crew. As she reached out to touch the bars, she immediately felt her strength diminish, the sea stone draining her energy. With no windows or sunlight in the deep confines, the stone walls offered no option of escape either.

For about an hour, she wandered around, attempting to find any possible opening, but her efforts yielded no results. Her restlessness ultimately tested Crocodile's patience to its limit.

"Give up, missy. Your aimless wandering is making me nervous. Sit down and accept your fate," Crocodile finally snapped, his purple eyes gleaming from the dark corner.

"You may be the type to surrender easily, but I won't!" Yujo retorted, trying to avoid his piercing gaze.

"I've been here for a while, believe it or not, and I've tried everything. We can only wait for the Marines to make a mistake or for the other prisoners to start a riot. Without outside help, it seems impossible to free ourselves," Crocodile calmly and reasonably explained. It was the first time he had spoken to her with a touch of kindness.

Feeling exhausted from her search, Yujo reluctantly sat down, brushing her long dark blonde hair behind her ears. "I'm so worried about my crew..." she whispered softly, stifling a sniffle. She didn't want to show any vulnerability in front of the former warlord, but her emotions had built up. "Do you trust your crew?" Crocodile's low voice resonated through the cell. "I genuinely do," Yujo replied with a shaky voice. "Then they'll be fine. You must trust them as their captain," Crocodile assured her.

A single tear trickled down Yujo's face, caught off guard by Crocodile's unexpectedly kind words. Hoping he couldn't see it from where he sat in the darkness, she discreetly sniffled. "Don't you dare cry, woman. I won't offer you any comfort," he gruffly remarked, causing her to blush once again.

"Not like I asked for your comfort, dammit!" she retorted, her voice tinged with embarrassment. Later, when Yujo heard the faint sound of snoring emanating from the other side of the cell, indicating that Crocodile had likely drifted off to sleep, she found herself silently weeping, finally releasing the emotions that had been building up inside her. As tears streamed down her face, she held herself tightly. In the darkness, she couldn't help but wish that the former warlord would wake up, come over, and offer her a reassuring embrace. Any human touch, no matter how small, would have brought solace in that darkness that was Impel Down.

[sezja]

Febuwhump Day 21: Shackled Alternate 3: Soft Words Fandom: Final Fantasy XIV Characters/Ship: Nourval, Original Character, Sanson Smyth/Guydelot Thildonnet Triggers/Content warnings: n/a

Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five, Part Six, Part Seven

Sanson can't believe they made it out of the prison without being caught.

It's a stroke of luck - perhaps even providence - that the guard on duty doesn't know Commander Heuloix well enough to identify him at a glance, and that he wasn't dutiful enough to look closely at the two men leaving: Nourval's disguise is a flimsy one at best. The clothing fits poorly. The coat is too tight across his shoulders; his sleeves an ilm too short... but he is an elezen. The guard saw two men, a hyur and an elezen, enter. The guard saw two men, a hyur and an elezen, leave.

People will see what they expect to see.

He's walking briskly now, leaving the prison well behind before anyone thinks to check Nourval's cell. If an alarm should be raised, if they should be caught... gods, he can be of no help to Guydelot from inside a cell. Nourval hastens along at his side, keeping his hat tugged down.

A part of Sanson, guiltily, is surprised the man seems to be keeping to the plan. Other men would have bolted at the first taste of freedom - and however this night should end, Nourval will find himself once more behind bars, with no one but Sanson, Vorsaile, and - gods willing - Guydelot aware of his heroism.

Well. And his sister.

"We're to meet Miss Raicheille at the docks," Sanson says, softly, under his breath. "From there, she swears she will tell us where your uncle has taken Guydelot."

"And we must hope he may still be found there," Nourval replies, equally quiet, pale beneath the brim of his borrowed hat. "Sanson... what will you do if Astarnaix has already begun putting his plans into action? If-"

"No." He's louder, sharper than he means to be. He shakes his head. Quiets. "No. Nourval, I cannot do this thing and entertain the possibility that I waited too long to realize something was wrong. I'm defying every rule I've ever held dear for this, and likely throwing away my career in the bargain; if I allow myself to think it's all for naught, I-"

"There you are!"

Raicheille bounds out of the darkness, nearly startling both men half to death. She marches directly to Nourval, peering up under his hat. "It is you! I was worried-"

"You," Nourval says, steering her away, back the direction she came from. "Were meant to wait for us at the docks, I have been informed! What you're doing here, I can scarce imagine."

She wriggles in his grasp, stubborn. "You were taking forever! I thought-"

Sanson stops listening, letting the siblings bicker as he follows; his thoughts are too much in turmoil to do more than let it wash over him. It's a blessing the streets are empty tonight - the very last thing they want is for someone to wonder why two officers of the Twin Adder appear to be accosting a young girl.

Guydelot would find the whole thing tremendously amusing.

I'll tell him all about it, he thinks, clinging to hope. Every bit of it, if only he lives.

"Now," Nourval says, as they reach the docks at last. "Where has our dear uncle gone?"

Raicheille folds her arms, pursing her lips in a way Sanson doesn't like. "I'll take you there," she says. "Take me with you."

"Absolutely not," her brother replies, in a tonne that - to Sanson's ears - suggests he's not surprised by the demand. "You must return home immediately. Doubtless they know you've run away by now; can you imagine the chaos you must have sown? If it should come to light that Captain Sanson was visiting me in gaol today with you in tow, how swiftly do you suppose our plans will unravel?"

She flushes, but stands her ground. "Without me, you'd still be in that cell!"

We're wasting time Guydelot may not have. Sanson fights the urge to shout; makes himself speak softly, evenly. "You truly won't tell us where we need to go unless you are permitted to come with us?"

She tips her chin up, defiant.

Sanson eyes Nourval sidelong. "Now, where have I seen that particular stratagem before?"

Nourval has the good grace to look abashed. "I'll remind you I was not a girl of fourteen summers, my good Captain."

"No. But I daresay we'll be just as successful at convincing her to stay behind as I was at convincing you. And the stakes are far higher." He sighs. "She comes. I'll see to her safety myself; you have my word... but we must be off. Every moment we waste..."

I cannot bear to think of it. Guydelot, please... please, be alive.

[phoenixduelist]

When I say Rozy is definitely not your typical pirate, I might as well say she isn't a pirate at all. She holds no desire towards hoarding wealth ‘weighs down the ship’, lavish accessories even if it is a sword ‘the amount of precious stones imbalanced the blade. Pity.’, she loathes the sea with a fiery passion, she has to fight off literal panic attacks at the thought of being confined in a wooden box. Not to mention thalassophobia and aquaphobia. She does care for trinkets but not enough to wear them to not let anything influence her fencing.

Why does she accept Captain Véghváry then?: If the course of her life went undisturbed by the Habsburgs, she eventually would've inherited Hungary's border forts from her father and the person in charge of even one fortress is also called Captain. This title is a small reminiscence of who she could've been if fate was less cruel. Furthermore, she didn't even want to be a captain in the first place: she suggested Marcell and she was entirely confident in her choice. Only for him to step down with the excuse that there will be harsh decisions ahead which he might not be able to make. Not knowing how greatly he foreshadowed the future and Rozália's abilities.

If not pirate, what then?: Well...she did come to terms with that label. As ‘serial killer with a ship’ didn't sound better either. It was said earlier how traditional pirate values/views of life completely differs from her own, it also concerns the importance of the hat & captain coat. Hers is usually a rich crimson velvet: used as a distraction among the duller colors. To ensure most eyes, weapons are on her instead of her crew, her family. In her eyes, if you have a fancy hat but no skill to defend the position, you aren't considered a captain. And to say it rather bluntly, she doesn't give a flying fuck about the Pirate Code either. Guitar music stops in the distance Parley? She will run them through before they could even finish uttering it.

On madness & brilliance: Without question she is an incredibly skilled tactician, her strategies relying on: underestimation, shock, her skill with blades, the surprising unity of her crew and her sheer brutality; while also quick witted enough to improvise within seconds. Can it be said she's ‘mad’? Absolutely. Who, in their right mind would build an underwater ram, switch the second row of canons with iron spikes? She has spent a relatively short time on the sea, participating in naval warfare and mostly on the offensive. The real question is would she be as great if she was sane; and the answer is no. To achieve this level of skill, mindset, she had to be shattered before: which happened when left alone with the promise that next dawn her left hand will be ruined beyond repair after she accidentally showed she's ambidextrous. That promise was her point of no return, so far she's been in war, watched her father's execution, became a political prisoner and a source of entertainment thanks to her duelist skills. To have that one last passion, good thing in her life ripped away did damage beyond repair.

Rozália is not only a strategist in the battle heated moments but an expert reader of people, their physical weaknesses, their desires, their mindset & ruthlessly exploits all of them and she does it without lies. She can stab without swords, rip into worldviews, confuse, shake beliefs, calling out any foul play or hidden secrets with great delight. Although this side of hers is more prominent in her Queen verse, as on the sea she very much preferred the sword. She could use her skills to negotiate but most of the time she doesn't want the hassle just to be done with it. Her method of choosing to not lie is both a matter of remaining personal values and an another example of ‘madness & brilliance’ ; after all who would believe a pirate? This is also where her underestimation pillar for most of her plans come to play. Rozália has used her Countess title in colonies far from Europe where word of the affair couldn't possibly reach to ensure a safe, sturdy cover. Most notably in a thread with @ashortdropandasuddenstop ; she's telling the truth but to hear her rightful title denied again, brushed off as a lie brings forth true anger and eagerness to punch the individual questioning her words. Which is rare, not the violence nor the anger but her to use her priceless hands for such act. The explanation is that her true identity is not given out/away lightly considering the price the Habsburgs put on her AND even when she bares part of her identity to have it thrown back to her face?

She may be insane, but there's no doubt regarding her intelligence even if it is a simple swordfight. First of all, there's no thing as simple. It requires not only knowledge over her body, skills but the opponents as well along with movement prediction in split seconds and the correct way to evade, get through (preferably) without getting injured in the process. People often forget how important intelligence is in the clash of swords and this importance multiplies on her level as she is lightning fast, precise, at least two steps ahead of the enemy if not multiple foes. She's not only a whirlwind of blades but her mind has to be even faster than her body.

Murder: Her first kill which wasn't ordered by the Habsburg court, which was fully her own decision to do so was the Spanish Captain of the soon to be Vihar. He foolishly bet his ship in the duel, back then Rozy only had her left hand intact; underestimation. And when he was bested she felt the price isn't enough and slit his throat. Her ship was won by blade & sealed by blood as none of them had any valuables to buy a ship, simply stealing one was against their moral code. So was unnecessary murder but they trusted her decision even if it was the first sign of what she actually became.

Rozália has no regrets for the lives she takes, either them or her family, the choice is rather easy to make. Her methods especially when only having one capable hand were even more diabolical, pouring rum down to the lower decks and setting it ablaze to prevent the use of canons and solve the possibility of being too outnumbered. She is unshakable to the agonized screaming, pleas for mercy, desperate reasonings; the match was lit. There will be a thread with my girlfriend's @winters-club 's original character who is the manifestation of guilt and the entity is unable to touch Rozália. Her fragmented, shattered mind is completely devoid of guilt over her actions as she sees them necessary. She doesn't deny how awful they are, she acknowledges her actions but doesn't feel remorse. Murder is now almost a task which she carries out with cold precision, only when she doesn't. Ottomans and anyone sailing under the Habsburg flag with or without the intent to capture her bring forth bestial, infernal wrath which has been boiling beneath the surface of her facade. Then she fights with fury, hell in her eyes for all what was inflicted on her and she's not above torture either.

If we are looking at the fantasy elements of Pirates of the Caribbean, skeleton undead pirates, octopus man with a fish crew, cursed Spanish ghouls running on water; she does cock a ‘the fuck’ eyebrow at first take. But after the brief initial surprise they all become the same: an obstacle in her way, a threat to her family and she's immediately searching for a counter be it physical, mental or magical.

What is she then?: Firstly, a victim. But she would do many unspeakable things than to EVER admit that. Her father, her future, her title, her sanity, her health were all ripped away in the most brutal way possible, shaping her into the merciless cunning killer she is today. Secondly, the storm of vengeance itself. After she was rescued from the dungeon by her now crew, Rozália actually died during their escape voyage. Both her body and mind received tremendous shock, again it was the ruination of her left hand which did her in causing her heart to fail. Marcell, unable to accept that he couldn't save his best friend's daughter slammed his fist down her chest, the force enough to restart her heart. They haven't told her & every time they hear her hiss “I died in that cell and what remains is the echo of wrongfully inflicted evil.” their stomach twist because even she doesn't know how true that statement is. Thirdly, an insane pirate captain. The Hungarian Devil alias is well deserved for multiple reasons and as years passed she started to fully embrace the new title, even though her methods are questionable. She is still capable of mercy, specially targeting slave transporter ships to free the people, going after other pirates with the reputation of sexual assault, also rescuing people captured by pirates, sparing them when she or the crew discover them during an attack. For more I recommend this post about her moral compass. By no means she is a good person, but it's worth mentioning that her current state is not entirely her fault. Some might have used their second (well, third) chance at life differently: settle down somewhere nice and very, very far away. But Rozália Véghváry was unable to come to terms with being robbed of her family, her origins, her land, her innocence, pushed into exile in a vast prison of the seas and leave such tremendous deeds unpunished, therefore she literally rose from the grave for a chance to avenge everything has been done against her.

Disregard of death: This woman holds absolutely no fear towards death and will laugh if accused. It isn't overconfidence but acceptance. She can accept that all it takes is a good marksman, a sneaky blade for everything to be over & decides to go so what ? Rozália enters every battle with the knowledge that she's only one step faster than death behind her; while it frightens most, she finds peace in the knowledge & this calamity of mind makes her an even formidable opponent. She actually longs for death but here's the catch: she wants her death to worth something, not a random, nameless nobody dancing on her corpse. That, coupled with her talent in fencing is something almost unattainable. Still she values the lives of her family much more than her own, not only due to the feel of debt for risking everything to rescue her. She feels her life has ended and now only driven by the incredibly strong instinct to protect along with a sliver of hope of returning to her homeland for that one last duel. And when that happened and she literally killed the Holy Roman Emperor, she had plenty of time to escape yet she waited. Watched the sun rise with peace for the first time in more than a decade. She considered her life done, a closed book, she wanted to escape from the traumas haunting, mauling her mind at last. But that wasn't granted. Rozália always kept on living because people kept giving her purposes, Captain, rebellion leader, rightful queen; and it felt selfish to let her people down when she knew no one was capable enough to fill those positions, to make hard decisions, to not be swayed by power or tricked by others. She is alive out of spite and with the knowledge that she will never be free but always serving as a shield, as a leader for other people.

Duelist. : Again, an another lengthy post for even more details. Perhaps that is who she Rozália truly remained beneath all suffering, death and blood. When fencing, her old personality breaks through the hardened layers, her smirk carries pure excitement and unbound joy. It is not treated as a battle, but a dance, an art which cannot be captured by paper or canvas. A great example is a thread in her Queen verse with @ashortdropandasuddenstop , a little twist that she's wearing her old pirate clothes as a bold jest but the opponent is someone who can match her skill and that gives a glimpse of who she was, who she could've been. And the song I listened to when writing the reply where the action starts is Livin Vida Loca by Ricky Martin & honestly? It fits her syle, her personality extremely great & James has an...interesting taste in women. The rhythm is incredibly quick, setting an unforgiving pace, not letting up the slightest not even towards the end, the lyrics is actually perfect as well (minus the stealing line), the ‘her lips are devil red’ is just a perfect alignment; because Rozália is a captivating, commanding even if you aren't dueling her. She has an imposing presence and not because she radiates pure fucking evil more akin that she is aware of her skills, what she's capable of & her confidence stands like a looming pillar. The song also shows that with the right partner, these duels can get...spicy with actual seduction mixed with adrenaline high. To the right person she IS addictive, will make you momentarily forget everything else, never getting bored of figuring her out. She is fire and lightning, playing with her opponent and the true matches for her will be able to keep up no matter how wildly she spins.

[aqpippin]

Please talk some more about Barracuda AU because I may or may not be also lowkey invested 👀

pls I've done nothing for it for like a YEAR but I'm still so obsessed with it -- it's an s12 jankie + crygi (minor halldoll like they're there but it's not a major moment) / rivals to friends/lovers / swimming au fic it's massive sjsjsj it's angsty and smutty (?maybe ?? not 100% sold on smut yet) with some cute fluffy moments but we've really gotta ride through the angst to get to it 🫠 jackie's new, jan's threatened, gigi hates everyone except crystal, crystal's injured, nicky's just having a great time -- everyone gets to interact with everyone, like if I ever finish this it's gonna be so long (well a lot longer than I've ever written as a oneshot girlie)

I'm gonna show what I have under a cut bc otherwise this is just gonna be long as fuck

I've put so much effort into worldbuilding and ironing out details and yet I have no fic to prove it 🥴🥲 I have a pinterest and a playlist, fake lil instagrams, a notion spreadsheet, and so many quotes and small segments but not a single completed chapter AHAHA this fic has been like nearly three years in the making and there's fuck all to show for it 😌 it's very rich kids with rich kid problems but also queer young person problems what a time honestly

jackie is the new kid, so good at her craft she's there on a sporting scholarship, so unbothered by the whole vibe of everyone else on the team. she's quick to make friends with crystal, who shows her the ropes to surviving college with the team. in turn, jackie teaches crystal some important lessons. she doesn't get along with gigi, she knows gigi hates her but she doesn't have the energy to give a fuck about it which pisses gigi off even more. she knows jan also doesn't like her, but in all honesty, she doesn't really care enough about that either. she's there for the degree and swimming keeps her entertained

jan is the overachieving, hard working team captain -- real take no shit, I'm going to the olympics even if it means I have to drown you. she's popular and well liked although she's known to be very overbearing, she works hard and her position has never been threatened until jackie's arrival - cue sexy tension. jan and gigi have been best friends since childhood, they know what the other is going to say and do before it even happens, they have no idea what they would do without each other

gigi is jan's best friend, she also works super hard but isn't has nice or over the top about it, she has a rep for being a bit of a blonde cunt. she doesn't have time for people who aren't worthy of her time. she hates jackie with an absolute passion, which is a problem considering they have most of the same classes. her soft spot is crystal, her sweet girlfriend who she would do anything for. gigi knows swimming isn't her forever, but she's gonna milk it while she lasts -- she's well perceived on social medias and always has a brand deal under her belt

crystal has just been dropped from the team post injury, she's just had shoulder surgery and knows that her swimming career is over. she watches and supports her team from the stands, even though it kills her to watch them go on without her. crystal and gigi have always done swimming together, and now that she's out, crystal isn't sure that they have that much in common. crystal and jackie quickly become friends as the two outsiders of the group, with crystal giving jackie litle tips and tricks on how to become 'part of the team'. crystal loves jackie's view of swimming as a hobby and not a lifestyle, and it's an ideology she has to adopt herself

nicky loves everyone -- she gets in and gets the job done and will always suggest smoothie bowl dates after training. she's good friends with jan and gigi but isn't as intense, but she's super close with crystal, they're the team idiots who have a real protective streak for the other. she's a bit standoffish towards jackie at first, but warms up to her in due time. she's often caught hitting her head on the wall because she's too busy staring at a certain diver

pinterest / playlist

[indigo-ra]

HOW TO HAVE AN ANIME ADVENTURE IN SECOND LIFE✨

If you're anything like me, you probably don't know WHAT you're burning your time doing in the metaverse other than spending too much money! The allure of it tends to grant just enough freedom of choice to make the average "ready-player-one" type, bored of the subjective (open world) nature of autonomy instead of objective (goal oriented) game play.

In-game Interaction depends on the goals of each individual player. However, in a space as antisocial as Second Life, that can be challenging! Most metaverse residents tend to keep to themselves, which can make finding friends or romance frustrating. However lonely Meta life could seem after 13 years without anyone to call a true friend in-game, SL photography became a medium for both my artistic and narrative expression to sharpen my digital art and storytelling skills. Eventually "To have an adventure and tell a story" became the only two reasons I wanted to log on! For years where I'd only dabbled in exploring the mysteries of the metaverse, I'd finally found my true purpose in game also aligned with my goals and development as a constantly evolving graphic designer, illustrator and Bodhisattva.

As a result, over the years, I've developed a few preferences for how I conduct my affairs or (narrative) in SL.

Reputation matters!😆But not really. Everyone pretty much minds their business in Second Life, but as massive as the world map is, it's also a small world. Reputation is easy enough to spread when it's chaotic, but what about lawful? And why does it matter?

On some tabletop gaming level, I apply certain aspects of identity to my Avatar. For example my alignment ranges a sliding scale between "True Neutral" and "Chaotic Evil"

Establishing a plot doesn't necessarily have to be consistent, but personally, for me, it obviously makes more sense in sequential order, since it is a "life" to observe; which makes the story unfold in a natural way that doesn't necessarily require fiction to fill every plot-hole that may come up.

The main "problem" with telling a consistent story that involves your avatar as the protagonist is refining their moral character and narrative consistency. All the themed varieties of Marketplace content available in the metaverse can make this a daunting task if you are indecisive on a theme. For example; It's too inconsistent to be a Steampunk Airship Captain in the daytime and a Billionaire Cyborg Playboy at night. But depending on any man's inventory, those ideas can stretch the imagination's possibilities into a sinking quicksand-box of inconsistencies.

I've been "Out-of-order" for almost a year now in terms of digital art. Art is my life, so I obviously miss doing it, but mental illness is the majority leader in the "hemo-goblins" that have the audacity to open their mouth to explain to ME, that I "...quit doing art because I just don't want to do it anymore." And explain to everyone else that it's definitely NOT because of lack of clean and safe facilities (wifi or an electrical outlet that isn't daisy chained with extension cords to explode). I bet you wonder how anyone could misinterpret the difference, but my Mother has a "gift" for gaslighting everyone to believe that she believes she's right. If you assert a fact or an educated opinion of your own, she will say she isn't finished talking, even from a full-stop dead silence 🤐

Anyway, while I am obviously missing the artistic productivity of my Second Life activities, life does go on; and though I haven't had the opportunity to update my SL adventures as of late, I have come up with a guide for the average poor, bored, yet creative player that has been left behind to entertain themselves without me! 😭

If you have friends in SL these prompts can be adapted to include them, but for the most part, I came up with these suggestions for the Lone wolf 🐺 like me to add interest and narrative to your photography. I hope you enjoy them!

10 Ways to Have an Anime Adventure in Second Life:

1.)📖 "The Journey is the Destination"

Think about the beginning 5 pages and the final 5 pages to your lifestyle narrative (a chapter or an age in time) and outline these plot points first to build a foundation to open up the life² plot into a saga.

2.)🏝️ "Desert Island"

Choose 5 items from your inventory that you absolutely cannot live without. Write about surviving isolated with these things on a desert island of your choosing, for up to a month.

3.)🔮"Curios"

Choose the most bizarre or Magical item(s) that defy explanation (or possibly even logic😂) in your inventory to make up an adventure story completely surrounding unlocking the functions of the object, how you found it or it led you to meet friends, lovers, celebrities, etc... for the first time!

4.)🧳 "Enthralling²Travel⁴"

First, think about to where you are going, then what for? On the one hand we have a variety of 6 transportation methods: 🚘⛵✈️🚂🐎🚀; on the other hand, 6 reasons one would travel so often, like: 🍝👠🗼🏘️💔🪖 Using a pair of dice align each numbered side with an attribute. Roll the dice and plot the photo journey!

5.) 🥀"Horror vs Reality"

Elimination is essentially the name of the game. Choose 5-6 weapons from your inventory OR a simple elimination gift like the🌹rose from "The Bachelor", then, choose a matching number of characters (anime, game, or real friends if you have them.) Draw playing cards for each character's elimination order via Reality TV by gift or Horror flick by unique weapon!

6.) 🏁 "Drag Racing"

Technically, racing is available as a secondlife hobby, though not by very competitive rank. What I'm proposing, is, if you need your GTA and Forza needs for speeds met, as a truth or dare contest, SL residents can drag race for clout! The loser has to take a photo of the winner's car looking cool OR write about the legendary defeat in their profile bio for a week at a time 😂 (to promote the winner's reputation.) Photo documenting your wins are great for growing your local SL reputation, but even cooler when your legend drives fear into the hearts of your "Xbox lives matter" playmates.🤣

7.)🛅 "Lost and Found"

Choose an artifact (tech or magical item/object) from your inventory. Write about Finding it OR Losing it mysteriously and journey around it to meet new friends of the realm (animals, creatures, monsters) while unveiling its origin and discovering it's mysterious powers!

8.)🦸🏻"Play Vigilante"

Take a generic disaster survey of a random (yet interesting-looking) sample of people. Whether they answer your riddle or disaster question correctly OR wrong, flip a coin to decide IF, then, HOW you would save them. Depending on the calamity in question and the answer of the person, how you would save OR abandon them is the narrative builder; and, as the plot thickens, so too does your moral alignment chart!

9.)😳"Ecchi"

Ecchi is, plainly put, fan service; therefore, not very plot driven. However, through these exercises I'd like to excavate plot from the desolation of Anime and scantily clad SL thots everywhere! First, choose any backdrop set at Backdrop City. Alone, or with help from a friend, take turns filling in mad libs or finishing each other's sentences in how utterly ridiculous a sexual encounter or overtly perverted scenario would unfold in that setting. The more ridiculous, the better! For the most extreme and amusing final product, think about "How to explain cheating if you were caught red handed!"😆

10.) 🤤"Hentai"

Hentai, or anime porn, also has about as much plot as your average porn intro. So with regards to addressing the challenge of making character development and arcs that revolve around a well-adjusted individual, it's not possible, because the themes of Hentai are generally depraved!!!! Choose from categories of Hentai (netorare, shota, futanari, femboy, ahegao, etc...) OR between a few deas of taboo (Adultery, rape, incest, beastiality, necrophilia, pedophilia, snuff) and cross them to minimize their seriousness. Add a perilous downfall of cascading failures if "the others" found out OR *include* the ripe delusion that *you* could NEVER fail; and it's nearly impossible to break, until, the delusion is broken with sex. An example of minimizing two taboos by crossing them is pedophilia and bestiality=a kid with cat ears and sharp teeth, so you don't feel as bad for dehumanizing it. Obviously this is for fictional narrative purposes only, but for the abstraction of what makes Hentai fun, instead of horrific, take these elements for storytelling into account!

And remember to have fun! But not too much, because it *is* Second Life. Fly that freak flag quietly.

😁

[dontpetmeibite]

Ravage's voice comes through the overhead speakers. She sounds tired--because she is--this would be hard for her even if she weren't injured and even if she could maintain control without telepathic assistance--but she doesn't sound the least bit willing to bargain.

"How do you think you are going to steal a shuttle when I have the pods they are in locked down? Nobody is moving freely throughout this ship except the Magnus, Ratchet, Drift, and the Captains. Everyone on our side is stuck where they need to be, and everyone else is stuck wherever they happened to be at the time."

She sighs. "Nobody will be harmed. We do not allow people to stay at Sanctuary Station unless they are willing to abide by the community standards and engage with Truth and Reconciliation if someone has Filed Intent against them. We're going there because I want to go home, and also because none of the people you're trying to sell Megatron to--with Prowl's tacit consent--are anywhere near there."

Her face appears on a screen, but the background is blocked so that nobody will be able to tell where she is.

"In the meantime, I suggest you consider the following. Every planet whose population was destroyed by Megatron's orders had been claimed for the Decepticon Empire. Megatron has killed more Decepticon subjects than anyone else in the universe, and far more Decepticon subjects than Autobots. He owes a greater debt to Destron, from which he has separated himself, than he does to anyone else. The worlds the Galactic Council claims right of vengeance for were overwhelmingly not part of the Galactic Council; until we claimed them by right of conquest, they were independent civilisations. If you think I'm dragging Megatron back with me so that he won't have to face the consequences of his actions--think again.

"By the way, the whole ship can hear this. As part of our in-flight entertainment, I will provide evidence that you have been erasing people's memories and that you have been in contact with rogue elements in the government of Cybertron, the Galactic Council, and the Decepticon Justice Division. The time stamps and metadata will show that I have not altered the evidence in any way, shape or form. You're screwed. I'll be delighted to cooperate with the Magnus in handing you right to Optimus Prime on a platter with a pretty bow around your neck.

"Pro Tip: don't ever try to fuck with the memories of a Senatorial Recorder. We can compare the amount of remaining storage in our short-term memory buffers to time elapsed since last defragmentation, and it quickly becomes apparent that something has been erased."

The blast doors are opening and closing again. This time they close off the room in which Atomizer and Blaster and Hound are having an argument, leaving Getaway alone in a very small room with Drift, an unconscious Megatron, and a whole lot of energon on the floor. Drift, who has been trying to sound much better than he feels on comms, has been doing his best to look far, far worse than he is in person; but suddenly he lunges forward, reaching for Getaway's feet to pull them out from under him.

[writer-monster]

11 reasons why cap 4 should reintroduce Bucky Barnes as the love interest, an essay

to start this off, i am not writing this essay from a shipping place nor do i believe that this would have any influence at all over the upcoming movie. i expect nothing. this is simply something that i would personally like to see. (of course no hate to anybody who thinks differently)

here are 11 reasons why i think making Bucky into Sam Wilson's love interest in Cap 4 would be a good move for Disney.

-

1. on the Chinese film market - and why it's an irrelevant argument against the inclusion of homosexual themes in Cap 4

the Chinese film market is something that has been blamed for a lack of diversity in Hollywood films a lot lately. many people claim that this market with a lot of buying power has been responsible for the lack of gay and black representation in particular within Hollywood films.

and we have certainly seen Hollywood treating it as such, going so far as to cut gay scenes from movies for their Chinese releases, and vastly minimising John Boyega's (a black actor's) presence in the Chinese poster of Star Wars The Force Awakens.

[image ID: on the left is an image of the American poster for Star Wars The Force Awakens, featuring John Boyega prominently on the right-hand side. And on the right is the Chinese poster for the same movie, in which John Boyega is barely visible.]

so we know at the very least that Disney believes this through their own actions and efforts to self-censor for the different markets.

but Captain America 4 is a black-led movie, don't you forget. and Disney can't minimise Sam Wilson/Anthony Mackie in the movie or the poster because it's his movie and his poster. and no amount of creativity in the editing room can change that (thank God!).

so if by their own argument the film is already going to be either banned, panned or slammed in China... then what do they have to fear from making it a gay movie too?

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2. oh, the queerbaiting

queerbaiting is an unusual cultural idea. and sometimes i find myself thinking that the term is far too easily used, but then all of a sudden i will stumble upon a movie or show that is so quintessentially cruel and overt in it's... well... queerbaiting that i will start to wonder what the hell kind of a bizarre relationship all these straight people seem to have with their friends. take Troy and Abed from Community or John and Sherlock from Sherlock as the perfect examples of this. (in which my reaction to the show's creators saying the show wasn't gay was to ask so then why did you make it so gay?!)

i felt that Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes in tfatws were getting quite close to this level of queerbaiting.

there was the field scene, the couple's counselling scene, the boat scene, the couple's counselling scene, Bucky going with Sam to face Karli when she told Sam to come alone, the couple's counselling scene, ALL the staring scenes, Sam checking out Bucky's ass here as they said goodbye, the "i would move in with him but" hidden scene, "Uncle Bucky" showing up at the cookout scene, the romantic walking off together into the sunset together ending scene, and the couple's counselling scene. did i forget anything? but i mean seriously, the couple's counselling scene!!! that thing they did with their legs and their crotches while staring deep into each other's eyes, would any straight guy willingly do that? do straight guys crotch-snuggle now?

[image ID: an image of Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes during the therapy scene with the quote, "Isn't anybody going to drag me into impromptu couple's therapy and slot my legs firmly between theirs before staring deeply into my eyes?"]

(yeah i stole this image from a buzzfeed article on the fan reactions to the couple's therapy scene. but given that they stole 80% of the content of that article from fandom tumblr, i think it's pretty even-steven.)

there's also the fact that people started talking about bisexual Bucky Barnes a lot after the tiger pictures line, and the lead writer Malcom Spellman responded to the talk of Bucky's bisexuality with "just keep watching". well we watched, Malcolm. but it's beginning to feel like you were just jerking us around.

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3. the writing

seriously though, what else is Bucky Barnes doing right now in the MCU? his only remaining connection to anything going on right now is through Sam. there is literally nothing else established that's left for him to do that doesn't involve Sam. he moved to Louisiana to be closer to Sam (canonically), he hangs out with Sam's family (canonically), and Steve is presumably gone and is definitely not coming back for more adventures.

he has no villains or loose ends left. he has no other superheroes that he appears to be in contact with. he has no girlfriend or potential love interest, or even other friends or family. he is living in a tent that he has secretly set up in Sam's backyard and is mysteriously appearing from the bushes when it's time for dinner like a stray cat.

in my opinion there is no other meaningful and pre-established progression for Bucky's character that wouldn't just feel cheap.

plus, i don't think the general audience would be all that surprised if they kissed. i think a LOT of people picked up on all that tension. i think a lot of straight people picked up on all that tension too.

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4. the chemistry between the actors & the chemistry between the characters

the original pitch for tfatws was essentially just this, it was the chemistry between Sebastian Stan and Anthony Mackie and their respective MCU characters of Bucky Barnes and Sam Wilson.

now obviously Anthony and Sebastian are simply friends, and i wouldn't mean to imply anything more. but they are also not their characters.

Sam and Bucky's scenes together before tfatws were both limited and short, and yet audiences still fell in love with the dynamic between the two characters.

in interviews, these two actors are constantly slipping into character and flirting with each other and frankly it's adorable. plus it's really entertaining. i'd love to see that dynamic, unfiltered, in a movie.

because believe it or not the flirting is actually even more open in their interviews than it was in tfatws. and i'm leaving some links as proof.

this here is known as the "married" compilation

and here's a "lucky dip" selection of interviews - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,

and here's Anthony trying to get Seb to take his jacket off.

i'm just saying, why not let their chemistry shine? these two are so talented and so entertaining, especially when you put them in a room together. and can you imagine how absolutely hilarious and brilliant it would be to watch them navigate being a couple?

(and for those who bring up the "friends would be uncomfortable pretending to be dating" argument, i'm not here asking for a sex scene or anything. i don't think anyone would expect them to show any more intimacy (physical or emotional) while playing a couple than what they've already shown together in say... tfatws or in their own interviews. not that i actually expect anything regardless.)

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5. if they were a man and a woman they would've gotten together in tfatws

i have no more to add here. just that... yeah, they would've.

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6. and i'm not talking about the comics here, i'm talking about the MCU.

i understand fully that none of what i'm saying here falls in line with these characters from the comics. but the mcu itself doesn't fall much in line with the comics either, and these two characters especially are very different from their comics counterparts.

i'm not asking for these two to get together in the comics. tbh i don't think that it would work.

but the mcu Sam and Bucky are different and closer than their comics counterparts. they've got different histories, different backstories, and a very different dynamic. please rest assured that i am only talking about them in the mcu.

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7. Bucky Barnes is believably bisexual. and Sam Wilson has never been proven to be straight in the mcu, nor has he had a love interest.

(now please continue to keep in mind that these points only stand for the mcu versions of Bucky Barnes and Sam Wilson, and not at all for their comics counterparts.)

Sam Wilson has never had a love interest, which is crazy because have you seen that man! he has had two blink and you'll miss it moments of verbal expression of attraction to women, both in TWS. and that's the extent of it, through his entire history in the mcu.

Bucky Barnes has had a number of surface-level female love interests, but none of them even came close to the level of connection and chemistry that Bucky shares with Sam.

and i'm sorry SarahBucky fans, but i just don't think there's very much to their relationship either. i love Sarah, i really do. but it's Sam who shares all the meaningful moments and history and chemistry with Bucky. and i don't see what making her into a love interest would do for Sarah's character either, what would that add to her story?

[Picture ID: Bucky at the cookout with Sam, Sarah, Cass and AJ. Bucky and Sam are looking at each other and smiling.]

and also there is the whole tiger pictures thing... again. which does strongly suggest that Bucky is bisexual whether this was intentional on behalf of the writers or not.

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8. it's representation... AND it feels natural

marvel hasn't had a lot of queer representation that's been noticeably present in the MCU at the time of writing this.

there have been a lot of failures so far, from the bisexual erasure of Valkyrie in Thor Ragnarok to the wlw erasure in Black Panther.

there was queerbaiting almost identical to the bisexual Bucky baiting for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2. when asked if he had considered featuring a gay hero in gotg2, director James Gunn stated that "We might have already done that. I say, watch the movie." after the movie's release audiences were understandably confused about the lack of queer representation. To which the director followed up his comments with, "But we don't really know who's gay and who's not. It could be any of them."

there is also Loki, considered by most fans after the airing of his six episode series on Disney+ to be both a poor attempt at both genderfluid representation and bisexual representation. with both attempts being summed up fairly well by the term "blink-and-you'll-miss-it". (also it's just terribly written and Loki doesn't wear any interesting clothes! fanficcers are a Goddamn blessing in this hard time!)

and let us not forget that Andrew Garfield was apparently FIRED for pushing for a bisexual spiderman. a bisexual spiderman within an interracial mlm relationship no less.

so for all these failures, marvel, why not allow us queer fans this? two brilliant and heroic men in a loving interracial relationship. two heroes that we can look up to.

now, one of the biggest detractions from the argument for representation is the idea of "forced diversity". and some poorly written characters certainly do end up feeling forced into the narrative. take Iceman in the comics for example, with Jean Grey just straight up suddenly telling him he's gay. like, marvel, sweetie, that's not how this works! and i don't know a lot of queer people who thought much of that "representation".

but the crux of the "forced diversity" argument is almost always that it feels unnatural within the story, right? and i don't think that anyone could say that about MCU Sam and Bucky ending up together, given these characters' existing chemistry and their history. they've both played characters in gay relationships before so we know that it's not outside of either actor's wheelhouse. and y'all know that Anthony and Seb can act, people. if it's in the script i believe that they'll make it seem like the most natural thing on earth.

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9. it'd be a nice change

there's been an ongoing meme lately about "Disney's first gay character", the joke being that they continually announce gay characters without really ever including gay characters in their films.

this is to the point where Disney has formed a reputation amongst queer audiences of being homophobic.

if Sam and Bucky were to become a couple, then Disney could have its first actual gay character within a gay relationship. AND have him be in the lead of his own movie, no less.

it's also worth keeping in mind that there's likely an overlap between the people who were outraged by a Sam Wilson Captain America, and the people who'd be outraged by a gay Captain America. and if they were already not seeing the film, then i don't think much is gonna change that.

queer audiences would definitely love it, and the media attention would be guaranteed to be huge. i mean, simply look at the amount of media attention mere rumours of a character's queerness gets you and multiply that by a canon confirmation of said rumours.

but i'm pretty sure that Disney already knows this.

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10. and yet, in truth, it's not about the representation

in truth i've never felt that i had any trouble relating to characters of any sexual orientation, race, gender, sex, body type, etc. (although that is not to throw any shade at all on people who do wish to see themselves represented) but for me, i think it's more about the story than the packaging.

and yet, a love story is still just a story. straight or queer, monoethnic or interracial. when two characters have chemistry and history and have sacrificed for each other time and time again, and they also can't keep their hands or their eyes off each other, then i'm pretty sure that that's a love story.

straight or queer, monoethnic or interracial, it shouldn't be about these simple labels. it should be about how well written the relationship is. it should be about chemistry, and history, and sacrifice.

because i'm fucking sick of all the hollow, forced romances in media no matter the genders of the participants. i'm sick of lazily written, shallow relationships where any two people sharing the same space for any extended period of time will simply fall in love. it's boring, it's repetitive, and as a writer myself it drives me up the wall!

romance stories suck! and everyone knows that romance stories suck. between twilight, and most of the entire YA genre, and love triangles (so boring), and romance used as poorly-written throwaway subplots in Hollywood movies, the world is in agreement that the romance in western media is simply dreadful. and yet we still want love stories. it's an entire genre that sits at the heart of the human experience (<3), and yet one which so few of today's best known writers seem truly able to capture.

i don't think that i'm the only one who feels this way, either. i suspect it's actually a large part of why fandom is so romance-centred in the first place, that we're all just starving for a good love story.

(btw i think fandom has a reputation for being something that as a whole that it is not. it has this reputation for straight up demanding things and harassing people until they get their way. while unfortunately there are a few people who do this, they're fucking annoying and i swear that they're far from the majority.

in my experience fandom is mostly about writing a five thousand word story at three am while drunk off your ass because it might make someone whom you've never met smile, editing it in the cold light of day, and then posting it. expecting nothing. sometimes getting nothing. and sometimes getting someone send you kudos or a comment so heartbreakingly wonderful that it makes you smile in return.)

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11. so once again, it is all about the writing.

i want to see Sam and Bucky get together in the mcu, not because they would be a gay couple but because i genuinely believe that their story has potential to be an amazing love story.

and i know the mcu isn't about the romance. it's why in my personal opinion we haven't gotten a lot of good canon romances besides Peter Quill and Gamora. and i don't think that the mcu should be all about the romance either. i fucking love the action and the fighting scenes. i love the comedy. Captain America: The Winter Soldier had no romance and it was a fucking treasure, it was an amazing spy-action-thriller and it made my little gay heart dance. Thor Ragnarok had no romance, and it was an utterly brilliant comedic spectacle action film. not every movie needs romance.

but mcu Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes were doing couple's therapy and fixing a boat and walking off into the sunset together in tfatws. they were inseparable on the battlefield. they've got a dynamic. it's beautiful, it's romantic, and it's gold.

a budding relationship between them in the next movie would be a good way to explore both characters more without the narrative feeling too stilted and separate. at the end of tfatws, both Sam and Bucky fans found that their respective fave felt somewhat underutilised and that their characters were underexplored.

now, that problem would be even more difficult to remedy in a movie, because the plotline of a movie needs to be really tight to work (giggity). and we know that the central conflict of the movie is gonna be action-based (which is good), but we still need each character's personal journey and growth to tie into the main conflict. (which is another issue that some fans found with tfatws, that these characters didn't really feel connected to the action-based plot on a more personal level.)

if Sam and Bucky are already in a relationship, however, this whole dynamic changes. first, their relationship has already been set up for nicely since TWS and through tfatws and they would officially be the best-fleshed-out couple in the mcu. but most importantly, a relationship gives them a perfect vehicle to explore both of their pasts comparatively and connect them personally to the action-based plot.

do you want to establish that Sam is a little too trusting and naïve? then establish this through his relationship with Bucky, and through showing his placing his trust in Bucky. (rather than through having him sympathise with a villain who threatened to murder his sister and his nephews).

perhaps you want to show Bucky recovering from his trauma? show us how comfortable he is with Sam. they get along, they're enjoying each other's presence, we see more of Sam's life and of his family, and then let Bucky tell Sam something that's raw and dark and honest about his life as The Winter Soldier. something about a memory, one that he only just recalled. he's opening up. and maybe what he tells Sam is even something that sets up the future action-based conflict, to ground that in something real.

you want to explore that Sam has trauma too? do this through Bucky. he tells Bucky a story about his time in the military. in the form of a flashback, he shares his own story of loss to evoke before the audience the shared theme of feeling at fault even when you're simply a helpless bystander to an act of pure destruction.

then, action sequence! and it's directly connected to Bucky's time as the Winter Soldier. explore the grief of someone whose life the Winter Soldier tore apart manifesting into a villain perpetuating the cycle of pain. establish your villain.

Later, Sam is dragged into battle against this villain for protecting Bucky. But Bucky doesn't want Sam to protect him. He feels guilt for what he can't control and he doesn't want Sam getting hurt because of him. Bucky reminds Sam that he has a family, one who needs him and who loves him. He tells him to go home.

Sam reminds Bucky that he's a part of that family. And that sure Sam's a hero and his job is to protect anyone and everyone, but that he's doing it because he wants to. It's not simply to prove that he can, or to prove that he's not a bystander (this connects to Sam's trauma here), but that he's doing it to help people.

and this gets Bucky thinking about who he is and what he's doing here. is he a hero who stands by Sam's side? or is he an ordinary man who stands aside? or perhaps, does he stand alone? what does he stand for? Maybe Sam knows. But does Bucky?

Sam and Bucky fight off the villain again, and for the first time Bucky meets this adversary face to face. And Bucky recognises this villain, and has a flashback to the genuine pain that he inflicted upon them in the form of the Winter Soldier. Bucky freezes mid-fight, he almost dies, and Sam has to save him.

Sam chews Bucky out for almost getting killed because he was afraid for him. but Bucky takes this the wrong way and goes off to fight the villain alone, or perhaps to die alone, he's not quite sure.

He puts up a half-hearted fight. He apologises for what the Winter Soldier has done, and he waits for the killing blow, when Sam swoops down and he saves him. He asks Sam why he saved him and Sam calls him a moron. And then, Sam asks him what sacrificing himself would solve. He tells him that you can't choose your past but you can choose your future (connecting to his own experience of loss and guilt and grief). And that no matter what Bucky Barnes still has a future, whether that's as the Winter Soldier or the White Wolf or just some dork with a day job. And that he has a future as a part of Sam's family too.

Sam fights the villain, and it's toe to toe. He delivers a few good blows, but receives a fair few himself. And then the villain tears off his wings, first one and then the other, in a manner reminiscent of what the Winter Soldier did to him in TWS. Through Bucky's eyes there's a flashback to highlight the parallels. Sam gets back on his feet and he fights his best fight, but is now losing.

And then the heavily injured Bucky steps up and fights by Sam's side, and only together do they take down the villain.

"So... I inspired you, huh?" Sam teases with a smile, utterly exhausted. "With my heroism and-"

"You inspired me." Bucky said, equally exhausted. "Let's leave it at that."

Together, Sam and Bucky go back to the safety and warmth of their family. Sam fixes his wings. Sam goes back to being Captain America. And Bucky... he's around, but it's unclear what he's doing.

That is, until the very end. When Sam is in a fight, and suddenly Bucky shows up and helps him out.

"What are you doing here?" Sam asks.

"I've made up my mind." Bucky says. "I'm the Winter Soldier. But now I'll save lives, Sam. Now, like you, I'll be a hero."

Sam smirks. "So does this make you my sidekick, then?"

Bucky smiles. "C'mon, at least make me a partner." He says.

"How about co-workers." Sam says (in flashback, he remembers back to the death of his last on-the-job partner).

"How about friends." Bucky says, with a wry look.

"Bucky... I don't want to see you put your dumbass self in danger." Sam says.

"Oh, and it's ok for you to go running off into danger on your own all the time?" Bucky asks.

"Yes." Sam says stubbornly. "Absolutely it is."

"Why?"

"Because I'm not a dumbass?!"

"Sam, if you think I'm not gonna be watching your back for the rest of time... then you're the biggest dumbass I know. And I don't care if you need me or not, I will be there for you."

"Because Sam, you're more than Captain America. You're more than a good soldier. You're a good man. And I think sometimes, the world forgets what the difference is."

-

...or something like that.

(i only spent like 15 minutes on that. you know if i were actually writing this movie i would come up with something much better. and if anyone from marvel is seeing this, yes i can come work for you. i will make the time, let's do this thing right!)

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finale

at the end of the day, whether or not the mcu chooses to make Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes a couple, it's their decision. and they don't owe me anything.

i'm just some random person on the internet. who thinks that Captain America 4 should #givecaptainamericaaboyfriend

[meili-sheep]

Diluc's Mondstadt Relationships in detail 2/4

So here is part 2!

0 / 1 / x / 3 / 4

Diona and Diluc

Sooooo first off. Diona likes the Darknight hero more than Diluc. But it's through that relationship they are slowly getting closer. Diona still doesn't openly accept Diluc but enjoys hunting with him. She really admires his combat and hunting skills. Though she always says her daddy is better, Diluc will agree (I don't think he actually is, but ya know).

They would be such good friends because they can relate to each other so well because of their father's Issues. Cause I believe Diluc Realized the Crepus well a good man... was not a good father to Diluc. And he kind of sees a similar situation with Diona. And he knows he won't be able to force anything, but he'll stay and support her as best he can. And should anything happen to Draft Diluc will be the first to pick Diona up and make the Winery her home? He makes sure Elzer and the others BACK THE FUCK OFF. He probably does even try to help her make awful alcoholic drinks... And probably teachers he how to makes juices and nonalcoholic Drinks... Maybe even suggests she only make Delilous nonalcoholic drinks that people might like that taste of better.

And that's the final action that would endear Diluc to Diona forever

Eula and Diluc

Eula was strictly taught to look down on the Ragnvindrs for not being True blue bloods. Ragnvindrs are servents! They were meant to protect The Lawrences.

This always kind of confused Eula. Because at the same time, Eula's father tried to suck up to the Ragnvindrs, trying to work marriage between Eula and Diluc. Eula gets now the idea was just for their Money. But of course, Crepus would never entertain the idea. So she only ever met Baby Diluc once. And Is he was one of the first people who was so honestly lovely to her. And that's stuck with her. And it's why his aloofness now bothers him so much.

She doesn't know his reason for hating the Knights, but he totally seems unapproachable compared to how he used to be.

And I think, though, she still catches him taking out camps or helping people around town. And maybe they do run into each other once

"Oh... Hello Master Ragnvindr."

"Hello, Captain Eula."

Eula is a little surprised and low-key upset he used her first name, but I think Diluc would catch that quickly then awkwardly backtrack

"Ah... Apologizes, I thought with how much you've been fighting against the stereotype of your surname... I thought you liked being called by it? Was I wrong?"

And it's their Eula learns how much respect Diluc has for her and her struggles. And how he will never look down upon her. It's honestly a little Embarrassing! So she probably does her thing about having revenge.

This is pretty much my 1 straight ship with Diluc. Because it's something, I can start off with deep mutual respect. *chef kiss* We love healthy relationships here. Also, they totally have light novel vibes, something like "I Married my family's aloof enemy to take revenge on my evil father!" Also, Just... 2 highly traumatized people bond by who they are related to searching for freedom. Goooooood shit.

Fischl and Diluc

I don't think Fischl gets a lot of acceptance from the people of Mondstadt. Very very few people believe she's a princess. And Most don't of the Town play into her ideas even if they believe her. But Well. Diluc does. Diluc calls her "her highness," to him, it's just like creating a foreign diplomate or something. And honestly, though he doesn't believe Fischl, Diluc sees no problem in playing into her dream. It makes her happy. She's not hurting anyone. So he plays along.

I think that Fischl is good at her investigation job. And Diluc sees the potential in her. And often slips the pieces of information she might need. Might even start teaching her ... some spy ways. Definitely Teachers her infiltration and how to subtle prey information and put clues together.

If there was a detective agency in Mondstadt, it would be Fischl and Diluc. With Fischl being the face and DIluc just standing in the background helping her along the way. (Bruh, now I'm typing this out, I wanna write it)

Jean and Diluc

Now, this is a tricky one. I feel Jean still has a lot of trouble because she hardly feels good enough to be grandmaster and can only think... Had things not gone down the way they had. Diluc would be in her position. Diluc was Acting Grandmaster, and Diluc would have better-handled things. (My low key Kaejean bonding is them feeling they live in Diluc's shadow but realizing they both are blaming Diluc for their own insecurities and slowly learning to build each other up)

In Short, she has trouble seeing Diluc outside of being a night. It's hard for her to see him as a merchant. It a hard to see he's happier now.

Diluc realizes this, and he very much dislikes it. Partly because it's doing Jean no favors herself. And he feels responsible, so he does try his best to be friendly with JEAN, not the acting grandmaster, JEAN.

I personally think Diluc isn't the best at communication and often doesn't know how to express himself. So he just often does these actions that don't always come off the way he wants, but it's at least more apparent he's trying to express himself (See my bird chiluc post). So often, if Jean comes down to the tavern, she often gets a free drink specialty drink. Usually just handed to her and Diluc telling her just to drink. Kaeya will complain, but Diluc will often play it off like "I owed Jean a favor."

And it is a little reminder, even if a small once Jean needs to relax.