#she’s going to show everyone why she is a force to be reckoned with

[phamapple]

LOVE IN THE SPOTLIGHT

When Y/N, a shy and talented student, catches the eye of schools celebrity Karina, she's swept into a whirlwind romance. But as they navigate the challenges of fame and relationships, they must confront their own feelings and doubts. Will their love shine bright, or will it fade under the spotlight?

Warnings; fluff, angst, fem!reader, kissing, ups and downs, Karina is lowk down bad, freader is mean at first, mentions of bullying and past trauma, lmk if I missed anything cuz I think there’s a lot that I missed :P 8.7k WC

Karina was the kind of girl who commanded attention without even trying. Her stunning looks, athletic build, and charming personality made her the campus crush. Everyone knew her name, and everyone wanted to be her friend – or more.

As she walked down the hallway, her long legs striding confidently, she flashed a bright smile at her admirers. She was used to being the center of attention, and she lapped it up like a cat in cream.

But amidst all the chaos, there was one person who remained oblivious to Karina's charms. Y/N, the quiet girl who always kept to herself, didn't even glance up as Karina passed by. She was too busy scribbling notes in her journal, her dark hair falling around her face like a curtain.

Karina's eyes flicked to Y/N, a familiar pang of curiosity sparking within her. Why did this girl remain so immune to her charms? What was it about her that made Karina want to try harder?

As Karina continued down the hallway, she couldn't shake off the feeling that she was missing out on something special. And she was determined to find out what that was.

—

The crowd was electric, cheering and chanting Karina's name as she took to the court. She was a force to be reckoned with, her movements fluid and confident as she dribbled the ball down the court.

But amidst all the chaos, Karina's eyes scanned the crowd, searching for one person in particular. And then, she spotted her – Y/N, sitting at the back, her head down as she scribbled in her notebook.

Karina's heart skipped a beat as she caught sight of Y/N's dark hair, her slender fingers moving deftly across the page. She felt a surge of determination – she was going to make Y/N notice her, no matter what.

As the game began, Karina put on a show, sinking shots and making impossible passes. The crowd went wild, cheering and whistling, but Y/N didn't even flinch. She just kept drawing, her eyes fixed on the page.

Karina tried everything – she spun the ball on her finger, she did a behind-the-back dribble, she even attempted a slam dunk. But no matter what she did, Y/N didn't spare her a glance.

It was as if Karina was invisible, and it was driving her crazy. She began to wonder if she was just a ghost, floating around unnoticed by the one person she wanted to impress.

But then, Karina caught a glimpse of Y/N's profile, her eyes flashing with annoyance as she gave a side glare to the people sitting next to her. They were being too loud, and Y/N's patience was wearing thin.

Karina's heart skipped a beat as she realized that Y/N wasn't as oblivious as she seemed. She was just... selective. And Karina was determined to be the one she selected.

As the match drew to a close, Karina noticed Y/N getting up from her seat, an annoyed look on her face. Karina's eyes lingered on Y/N for a moment before she turned her attention back to her teammates, who were gathering for a group photo.

As soon as the photo was taken, the coach dismissed them to take showers. Karina quickly rushed out of the gym, her eyes scanning the hallway for any sign of Y/N. Her "fans" cheered and followed her, but she managed to lose them in the crowd.

Finally, she spotted Y/N in the hallway, packing up her bags. Karina's heart skipped a beat as she approached Y/N, a playful smirk spreading across her face.

"Look whose in a hurry," Karina said, leaning against her locker.

But Y/N didn't even glance up. She just kept packing, ignoring Karina completely.

Karina's eyes never left Y/N's back as she walked away, her smirk faltering for a moment. She was taken aback by Y/N's complete disregard for her. No one ignored Karina like that. Ever.

For a moment, Karina just stood there, frozen in surprise. Her fans, who had finally caught up to her, looked on in confusion, wondering why Karina wasn't reacting to Y/N's brush-off.

But then, Karina's expression changed. Her eyes narrowed, and a determined glint sparked within them. She pushed off from the locker and started walking, her long strides eating up the distance between her and Y/N.

"You know, I'm not used to being ignored," Karina said, her voice low and smooth, as she fell into step beside Y/N.

Y/N didn't even flinch, just kept walking with her eyes fixed on the floor ahead.

Karina's smile grew wider, her competitive streak kicking in. She was intrigued by Y/N's indifference, and she was determined to get a reaction out of her.

"Hey, are you okay? You seem a little... distracted," Karina said, trying to sound concerned.

But Y/N just kept walking, her silence a palpable force that Karina couldn't seem to penetrate.

Karina's eyes locked onto Y/N's, her heart racing with anticipation. She had expected Y/N to be beautiful, but nothing had prepared her for the intensity of Y/N's gaze. Those dark features seemed to draw Karina in, making her feel like she was drowning in their depths.

Y/N's words, however, were like a splash of cold water. "You know, you're quite talkative," she said, her voice flat and emotionless.

Karina's face fell, her excitement deflating like a punctured balloon. She had been expecting... something more. A spark of connection, maybe, or a glimmer of interest. But Y/N's words were like a slap in the face, leaving Karina feeling silly and exposed.

"Hey, someone's got to fill the silence," Karina said, trying to sound casual despite the sting of Y/N's words. She leaned against the locker, her eyes never leaving Y/N's face.

Y/N raised an eyebrow, her expression still unreadable. "Is that what you're doing?" she asked, her voice dripping with skepticism.

Karina's heart skipped a beat as she realized that Y/N was actually engaging with her. It might not be the most enthusiastic conversation, but it was a start. And Karina was determined to see it through.

Karina continued walking side to side with Y/N, her eyes still locked on Y/N's face. "So, what's your favorite subject?" she asked, trying to sound casual.

Y/N raised an eyebrow, her expression skeptical. "Why do you care?" she asked, her voice flat.

Karina felt a flutter in her chest as she met Y/N's gaze. There was something about Y/N's reserve that drew her in, made her want to chip away at that tough exterior. "I care because I'm interested," Karina said, her voice a little softer.

Y/N's eyes narrowed, her gaze piercing. For a moment, Karina felt like she was being stripped bare, her motivations laid out for Y/N to see. But then, Y/N's expression softened, just a fraction.

"Math," Y/N said, her voice a little less flat.

Karina's heart skipped a beat as she smiled, feeling a spark of connection. "Really? I'm more of a language person myself."

As they talked, Karina found herself becoming more and more attracted to Y/N. There was something about Y/N's quiet confidence, her sharp intellect, that drew Karina in.

But Y/N's past seemed to be shrouded in mystery, and Karina couldn't help but wonder what had made Y/N so reserved, so wary of connection.

As they talked, Karina couldn't help but notice the vast differences between them. Y/N was quiet and reserved, while Karina was outgoing and confident. Y/N was a math whiz, while Karina struggled with numbers. Y/N was content with solitude, while Karina thrived on social interaction.

Despite these differences, Karina found herself drawn to Y/N. She loved the way Y/N's eyes sparkled when she talked about math, the way her hair fell in soft waves down her back. Karina was captivated by Y/N's intelligence, her wit, and her quiet strength.

As they stood there, locked in conversation, Karina felt a sense of connection she couldn't ignore. She took a step closer to Y/N, her heart pounding in her chest.

"Hey, can I get your number?" Karina asked, trying to sound casual despite the butterflies in her stomach.

Y/N raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise flickering across her face. For a moment, Karina worried that she had misread the situation entirely.

But then, Y/N's expression softened. She smiled, just a little, and reached into her bag for her phone.

"Sure," Y/N said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Karina's heart skipped a beat as Y/N's fingers brushed against hers, sending shivers down her spine. She felt like she was melting into Y/N's eyes, losing herself in their depths.

Just as Y/N was about to hand over her phone, a loud voice boomed down the hallway.

"Karina, we need to talk!"

Karina's head jerked up, her eyes scanning the hallway until they landed on her best friend, Rachel, striding towards her with a determined look on her face.

"Rachel, what's up?" Karina asked, trying to sound nonchalant despite the disappointment coursing through her veins.

Rachel glanced at Y/N, her eyes narrowing slightly. "We need to discuss the party tonight," she said, her voice firm.

Karina sighed, feeling a pang of frustration. She didn't want to leave Y/N's side, not when things were finally starting to heat up.

But Rachel's expression was unyielding, and Karina knew she had no choice but to follow her friend.

"Sorry, I'll catch you later," Karina said, smiling apologetically at Y/N.

Y/N nodded, her expression unreadable. "Later," she repeated, her voice soft.

As Karina turned to follow Rachel, she felt a pang of disappointment. She had been so close to getting Y/N's number, to making a real connection with her.

But as she glanced back over her shoulder, she caught Y/N's eye, and for a moment, they just stared at each other, the tension between them crackling like electricity.

Karina's heart skipped a beat as she realized that this wasn't the end of their conversation. Not by a long shot.

Karina tried to focus on the party, laughing and chatting with Rachel and the other guests. But her mind kept wandering back to Y/N, wondering what she was doing right now, whether she was thinking about her too.

Rachel noticed Karina's distraction and raised an eyebrow. "Hey, what's going on?" she asked, her voice low.

Karina hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. But Rachel was her best friend, and she knew she could trust her.

"I met someone today," Karina said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Rachel's eyes widened with interest. "Who?" she asked, her voice eager.

Karina smiled, feeling a flutter in her chest. "Her name is Y/N. I met her at school today."

Rachel's expression turned thoughtful. "I think I know who you might be talking about," she said. " oh the quiet girl that her hair always covers her face?"

Karina nodded, her heart racing with excitement. "That's her."

Rachel grinned mischievously. "I can help you track her down," she said. "I'm sure I can find her socials or something."

Karina's eyes lit up with hope. "Really?" she asked, her voice eager.

Rachel nodded. "Yeah, I'll do some digging. But you have to promise me one thing."

Karina raised an eyebrow, curious. "What's that?" she asked.

Rachel's expression turned serious. "You have to be careful, Karina. We don't know much about Y/N, and I don't want you getting hurt."

Karina nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude towards Rachel. "I'll be careful," she promised.

And with that, Rachel set off to track down Y/N's socials, leaving Karina to wonder what the future might hold for her and the mysterious Y/N.

—

Karina's heart skipped a beat as she spotted Y/N on the rooftop, her sketchbook open on her lap. She felt a rush of excitement, remembering the way Y/N's eyes had sparkled when they talked about art.

As she approached Y/N, Karina noticed that the other girl was completely absorbed in her drawings, her pencil moving swiftly across the paper. Karina smiled, feeling a sense of wonder at Y/N's talent.

She sat down beside Y/N, trying not to startle her. Y/N looked up, her eyes narrowing slightly as she took in Karina's presence.

"Hey," Karina said, trying to sound casual.

Y/N nodded, her eyes dropping back down to her sketchbook. "Hey."

The silence between them was comfortable, but Karina couldn't shake the feeling that Y/N was still wary of her. She glanced over at Y/N's sketchbook, her eyes widening as she took in the beautiful drawings.

"You're really talented," Karina said, her voice sincere.

Y/N's pencil paused, her eyes flicking up to meet Karina's. For a moment, they just stared at each other, the tension between them crackling like electricity.

Then, Y/N's gaze dropped back down to her sketchbook, her pencil beginning to move once more. "Thanks," she muttered, her voice barely audible.

Karina smiled, feeling a sense of triumph. It was a small step, but at least Y/N was talking to her again. And as she sat there beside Y/N, watching her draw, Karina felt a sense of peace wash over her.

As they sat there, Karina noticed that Y/N's drawings seemed to be getting more and more intricate. She leaned in closer, her eyes scanning the paper.

"What are you drawing?" Karina asked, her voice soft.

Y/N's pencil paused, her eyes flicking up to meet Karina's. For a moment, they just stared at each other, the tension between them building.

Then, Y/N's gaze dropped back down to her sketchbook, a small smile playing on her lips. "You," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Karina's face flushed with surprise and delight as she took in Y/N's words. No one had ever drawn her before, let alone as a gift.

As she took the piece of paper from Y/N, Karina's hands trembled slightly. She stared down at the drawing, her eyes widening in amazement.

It was her, all right. Y/N had captured her likeness perfectly, from the shape of her eyes to the curve of her smile. But it was more than just a physical likeness - Y/N had somehow managed to capture her spirit, her essence.

Karina's eyes stung with tears as she looked up at Y/N. "It's beautiful," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Y/N smiled, looking pleased with herself. "I'm glad you like it," she said.

Karina's gaze dropped back down to the drawing, her heart swelling with emotion. This was more than just a gift - it was a connection, a bond between her and Y/N.

As she looked at the drawing, Karina felt like she was seeing herself through Y/N's eyes. And what she saw was a person who was worthy of love and acceptance, quiet personality and all.

Karina's eyes met Y/N's, and she smiled, feeling a sense of gratitude and affection. "Thank you," she said, her voice sincere.

Y/N smiled back, looking happy and relieved. "You're welcome," she said.

As they sat there, the drawing between them, Karina felt like she was on the verge of something new, something special. She didn't know what the future held, but she knew that she wanted to explore it with Y/N by her side.

—

Karina's mind was racing as she walked home from school. She couldn't stop thinking about Y/N's beautiful drawing, and she felt a surge of gratitude towards the quiet artist.

As she entered her house, Karina was greeted by her assistant, who handed her a stack of fan mail and scheduling commitments. But Karina's attention was elsewhere. She walked over to her desk, where she kept her own art supplies, and began to rummage through them.

She pulled out a set of paints, a canvas, and a few brushes. As she started to work on a new piece, Karina felt a sense of calm wash over her. This was her way of relaxing, of expressing herself.

As she painted, Karina's thoughts turned to Y/N. She wanted to create something special for her, something that would show her how much she appreciated the drawing.

Hours passed, and Karina lost herself in her art. Finally, she stepped back to admire her work. It was a beautiful portrait of Y/N, captured in a moment of quiet contemplation.

Karina smiled, feeling proud of herself. This was the perfect gift for Y/N. She carefully wrapped the canvas in paper, eager to present it to Y/N the next day.

The next morning, Karina arrived at school early, her gift in hand. She spotted Y/N sitting on the rooftop, her sketchbook open on her lap. Karina's heart skipped a beat as she approached Y/N, her gift at the ready.

"Hey," Karina said, trying to sound casual.

Y/N looked up, a hint of surprise in her eyes. "Hey."

Karina smiled, holding out her gift. "I made something for you."

Y/N's eyes widened as she took in the wrapped canvas. "What is it?" she asked, her voice curious.

Karina grinned mischievously. "Open it and see."

Y/N's fingers trembled slightly as she unwrapped the paper. And when she saw the portrait, her eyes went wide with wonder.

"It's beautiful," Y/N breathed.

Karina beamed with pride. "I'm glad you like it."

Y/N's gaze met Karina's, and for a moment, they just stared at each other. The air was charged with emotion, and Karina felt like she was drowning in Y/N's eyes.

As Karina and Y/N grew closer, Karina's fans began to take notice. At first, it was just a few curious glances, but soon, Y/N found herself surrounded by paparazzi and screaming fans.

Y/N was overwhelmed. She had always valued her anonymity, and the sudden attention was suffocating her. She tried to avoid Karina at school, but it was impossible.

Karina noticed Y/N's withdrawal and felt a pang of guilt. She knew that her celebrity status was the reason for Y/N's distress, and she didn't know how to fix it.

One day, as they sat together on the rooftop, Karina turned to Y/N with a concerned expression. "Hey, is everything okay? You've been avoiding me lately."

Y/N sighed, looking down at her feet. "It's just...I don't like all the attention. I like being invisible."

Karina nodded understandingly. "I get it. But I don't want to lose you because of my fans. Can't we find a way to make this work?"

Y/N looked up, her eyes searching Karina's face. "I don't know...I just feel like I'm losing myself in all of this."

Karina's heart went out to Y/N. She knew that she had to find a way to protect Y/N's anonymity, or risk losing her altogether.

As Y/N walked down the empty hallway, she couldn't shake off the feeling of being watched. She had been trying to avoid Karina's fans all day, but it seemed like they were everywhere.

Suddenly, she heard the sound of footsteps behind her. She turned around, and her heart sank as she saw the mean popular girl, Victoria, and her minions approaching her.

Victoria's eyes narrowed as she looked at Y/N. "So, you're the one who's been getting all the attention from Karina," she sneered.

Y/N tried to stand her ground, but she could feel her legs trembling. "What do you want, Victoria?" she asked, trying to sound brave.

Victoria sneered. "I want you to stay away from Karina. She's way out of your league."

Y/N felt a surge of anger, but before she could respond, Victoria's minions closed in on her. They pushed her against the wall, and Y/N felt a wave of fear wash over her.

Victoria's eyes gleamed with malice as she leaned in close to Y/N. "You're just a nobody," she hissed. "And nobody gets to steal Karina's attention from me."

Y/N tried to defend herself, but Victoria's minions were too strong. They pushed her to the ground, and Y/N felt a wave of hopelessness wash over her.

As she lay there, helpless and alone, Y/N couldn't help but think that she was right back where she started. The trauma of her past was repeating itself, and she felt like she was all alone in the world.

—

As Karina walked into the infirmary, her eyes scanned the room until they landed on Y/N. She was sitting on a bed, her eyes fixed on the floor, and her face pale. Karina's heart skipped a beat as she took in the sight of Y/N's bruises.

She rushed over to Y/N's bedside, her concern and worry evident on her face. "I heard what happened to you, and I'm truly sorry about that," Karina said, her voice filled with empathy.

As she sat down on the edge of the bed, Karina reached out to take Y/N's hand, but Y/N just gave her a cold gaze. Her normal expression and personality seemed to be back in place, and Karina felt a pang of heartbreak.

Karina looked at Y/N, trying to understand why she was pushing her away. "Y/N, I...I just wanted to make sure you're okay," Karina said, her voice barely above a whisper.

But Y/N just kept staring at her, her eyes empty of emotion. Karina felt a lump form in her throat as she realized that Y/N didn't want to see her.

"I'll leave," Karina said, trying to sound calm. "It seems like you don't want to see me right now."

As Karina stood up to leave, Y/N's gaze never wavered. Karina felt a stinging sensation in her eyes as she turned and walked away, feeling heartbroken and hurt.

It was all her fault, Karina thought, as she walked out of the infirmary. Y/N had told her that she wanted to remain anonymous, but Karina's celebrity status had blown her cover.

Karina's feelings of guilt and regret quickly turned to anger as she realized who was responsible for Y/N's pain. Victoria. That mean, popular girl who thought she could bully Y/N just because she was getting attention from Karina.

Karina's eyes narrowed as she made a mental note to confront Victoria. She was going to make sure that Victoria paid for what she had done to Y/N.

Karina stormed out of the infirmary, determined to find Victoria and give her a piece of her mind. She marched through the hallways, her eyes scanning the crowds of students until she finally spotted Victoria and her minions hanging out by the lockers.

Karina's anger boiled over as she approached Victoria. "You're the one who hurt Y/N, aren't you?" Karina accused, her voice loud and clear.

Victoria looked up, a sneer on her face. "What's it to you, Karina?" she asked, her voice dripping with malice.

Karina's eyes flashed with anger. "You're going to regret what you did to Y/N," she said, her voice low and menacing.

Victoria just laughed, but Karina could see the faintest glimmer of fear in her eyes. Karina smiled, satisfied. She was going to make sure that Victoria paid for what she had done.

Karina's eyes narrowed as she confronted Victoria. "You're going to apologize to Y/N," she said, her voice firm and commanding.

Victoria sneered, her eyes flashing with defiance. "Why should I?" she asked, her voice dripping with malice.

Karina's face darkened. "Because you bullied her, and now you're going to make amends."

Victoria's ego wouldn't budge. "I'm not apologizing to anyone," she said, her voice rising.

Karina's anger boiled over. She took a step closer to Victoria, her eyes blazing. "You're going to regret saying that," she said, her voice low and menacing.

And with that, Karina began to bully Victoria. She mocked her, belittled her, and made her feel small and insignificant. Victoria tried to fight back, but Karina was relentless.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Victoria broke down. She collapsed to the ground, tears streaming down her face. "I'm sorry," she sobbed. "I'm so sorry."

Karina's expression softened slightly. "Apologize to Y/N," she said, her voice firm but not unkind.

Victoria scrambled to her feet, her eyes red and puffy. She stumbled over to Y/N, who was watching the scene with a mixture of confusion and concern.

"I'm sorry," Victoria sobbed, throwing herself at Y/N's feet. "I was wrong to bully you. Please forgive me."

Y/N's eyes widened in shock. "What happened to you?" she asked, her voice filled with concern.

Victoria just sobbed, unable to speak.

Y/N's gaze turned to Karina, who was watching the scene with a mixture of satisfaction and guilt. "Karina, what did you do?" Y/N asked, her voice firm but curious.

Karina's expression was enigmatic. "I just made sure Victoria understood the importance of apologizing," she said, her voice neutral.

Y/N's eyes narrowed. "There's more to it than that," she said, her voice firm. "Tell me what really happened."

Karina sighed, knowing she couldn't keep the truth from Y/N. "I may have bullied Victoria a bit," she admitted, her voice sheepish.

Y/N's eyes widened in surprise. "You bullied her?" she repeated, her voice incredulous.

Karina nodded, looking guilty. "I just wanted to make sure she apologized to you," she said, her voice defensive.

Y/N's expression was thoughtful. "I appreciate what you did, Karina," she said, her voice sincere. "But next time, can you just talk to me about it instead of taking matters into your own hands?"

Karina smiled, feeling relieved. "I promise," she said, her voice filled with conviction.

And with that, the two girls shared a warm smile, their bond stronger than ever.

—

Rachel had always been Karina's closest confidante, but lately, she'd noticed a change in Karina's behavior. Karina seemed distant, preoccupied, and Rachel couldn't help but wonder if it had something to do with Y/N.

As she watched Karina and Y/N interact, Rachel's suspicions grew. She saw the way Karina looked at Y/N, the way she smiled at her, and the way she seemed to light up in her presence.

Rachel's instincts told her that Karina had developed feelings for Y/N, and she wasn't sure how to feel about it. On one hand, she was happy to see Karina happy, but on the other hand, she was worried about the potential consequences.

What if Y/N didn't feel the same way? What if their relationship became public and damaged Karina's reputation?

Rachel decided to meddle, to try and protect Karina from potentially getting hurt. She started by casually mentioning Y/N's name in conversation, trying to gauge Karina's reaction.

"Hey, Karina, how's Y/N doing?" Rachel asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

Karina's eyes flickered, and she seemed to pause for a moment before responding. "She's doing okay, I guess," Karina said, her voice neutral.

Rachel's eyes narrowed. She knew Karina well enough to recognize the signs of evasion. "What's going on between you two?" Rachel asked, her voice probing.

Karina's expression turned guarded. "Nothing's going on, Rach. We're just friends."

Rachel raised an eyebrow. She didn't believe Karina for a second. "Save it, Karina," Rachel said, her voice dry. "I know you too well."

Karina's eyes flashed with annoyance. "Rachel, drop it, okay?"

But Rachel just smiled sweetly. "I'm just looking out for you, Karina. You know that."

Karina's expression turned skeptical, and Rachel knew she'd planted a seed of doubt in Karina's mind. But as she watched Karina walk away, Rachel couldn't help but wonder if she'd just made things worse.

Rachel was determined to prove that Y/N was using Karina for her fame. She started by snooping around Y/N's social media accounts, looking for any clues that might suggest Y/N was taking advantage of Karina's celebrity status.

As she scrolled through Y/N's posts, Rachel's eyes narrowed. She noticed that Y/N had been posting more frequently since she'd started hanging out with Karina, and that many of her posts seemed to be subtly referencing Karina's favorite music or movies.

Rachel's suspicions were aroused. She decided to do some more digging, and started by asking around to see if anyone else had noticed anything suspicious about Y/N's behavior.

She approached some of Karina's other friends, trying to casually bring up the topic of Y/N. But no matter how hard she tried, Rachel couldn't seem to get anyone to agree with her. They all seemed to think that Y/N was a great person, and that she and Karina made a wonderful couple.

Rachel was frustrated. She knew that she was right, and that Y/N was just using Karina for her fame. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't seem to prove it.

Just as Rachel was about to give up, she stumbled upon a cryptic message on Y/N's social media account. It was a post that seemed to be referencing Karina's latest basketball match, and Rachel's eyes narrowed as she read the words.

"Seems like someone is trying to ride the coattails of fame," Rachel muttered to herself, her mind racing with possibilities.

Meanwhile, Karina had been oblivious to Rachel's meddling. But when she stumbled upon Rachel snooping through Y/N's social media accounts, she was furious.

"Rachel, what are you doing?" Karina demanded, her voice low and angry.

Rachel looked up, startled. "I'm just trying to protect you, Karina," she said, her voice defensive.

"Protect me from what?" Karina asked, her eyes flashing with anger.

Rachel hesitated. "From Y/N. I think she's using you for your fame."

Karina's face darkened. "That's not true," she said, her voice firm. "Y/N is my friend, and I trust her."

The two friends argued back and forth, their voices growing louder and more heated. They stood in the hallway, attracting the attention of passing students.

"You're just blinded by your feelings for her," Rachel accused, her voice venomous.

"I'm not blinded," Karina shot back. "I know exactly what I'm doing. And I know that Y/N would never use me for my fame."

Rachel scoffed. "You're so naive, Karina. You think everyone is as nice and genuine as you are."

Karina's eyes flashed with anger. "I'm not naive," she said, her voice cold. "I just choose to see the best in people."

The argument continued, with neither side willing to back down. Finally, Karina stormed off, leaving Rachel looking upset and worried.

Y/N, who was sitting in the library studying, couldn't help but notice the tension between Karina and Rachel. She wondered what was going on, and felt a pang of concern.

Is everything okay between Karina and Rachel? Y/N wondered.

As she watched, Rachel got up and walked out of the hallway, looking upset. Y/N's curiosity was piqued. She decided to go and talk to Karina, to see if everything was okay.

Y/N got up and walked out of the library, looking for Karina. She finally found her sitting in the courtyard, looking upset.

"Hey," Y/N said, sitting down beside Karina. "What's going on?"

Karina looked up, her eyes flashing with anger. "It's just Rachel," she said, her voice cold. "She's being ridiculous."

Y/N's eyes narrowed. "What's going on with Rachel?" she asked, her voice concerned.

Karina sighed. "She thinks you're using me for my fame," she said, her voice bitter.

Y/N's eyes widened in shock. "What? That's not true," she said, her voice firm.

Karina smiled, her eyes softening. "I know it's not true," she said, her voice gentle. "I trust you, Y/N."

Y/N's heart skipped a beat at Karina's words. She felt a rush of emotion, and suddenly realized that she had developed strong feelings for Karina.

—

As Y/N stepped into the school, she was immediately bombarded by whispers and giggles. She tried to ignore it, thinking it was just the usual morning chatter, but as she walked down the hallway, she couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off.

She noticed students glancing at her, smiling and nodding in her direction. Y/N's confusion deepened. What was going on?

Finally, she mustered up the courage to approach a student who was standing by her locker. "Hey, can I ask you something?" Y/N said, trying to sound casual.

The student turned to her, a bright smile on her face. "Of course, Y/N! Congratulations, by the way."

Y/N's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Congratulations for what?" she asked, her voice hesitant.

The student's smile grew wider. "For you and Karina, of course! I'm so happy for you both. You make a great couple."

Y/N's eyes widened in shock. Couple? What was she talking about?

And then it hit her. The rumors. The whispers. The giggles. It all made sense now.

Y/N felt a wave of panic wash over her. She didn't want to be involved in any dating rumors. She didn't want to be the subject of gossip and speculation.

She quickly excused herself and made her way to Karina's locker. Karina was standing there, chatting with her friends, but when she saw Y/N approaching, she smiled and walked over to her.

"Hey, what's up?" Karina asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Y/N took a deep breath. "Karina, can I talk to you for a minute?" she asked, trying to sound calm.

Karina nodded, and Y/N pulled her aside. "I need to ask you something," Y/N said, her voice low. "Can you please shut down the rumors about us?"

Karina's expression turned confused. "What rumors?" she asked, her voice innocent.

Y/N sighed. "The rumors about us dating. I don't want to be involved in any of that."

Karina's face fell, and for a moment, Y/N thought she saw a flash of hurt in her eyes. But then Karina nodded, a small smile on her face.

"Of course, Y/N. I'll take care of it."

Y/N nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. But as she turned to walk away, Karina called out to her.

"Y/N, wait."

Y/N turned back to Karina, who was looking at her with a concerned expression.

"Is everything okay?" Karina asked, her voice soft. "You seem a little distant."

Y/N hesitated. She didn't want to hurt Karina's feelings, but she needed some space to think about her own feelings.

"I'm fine, Karina," Y/N said, trying to sound casual. "I just need some time to myself, okay?"

Karina nodded, looking a little sad. "Okay, Y/N. If you need me, I'll be here."

As Y/N walked away, she could feel Karina's eyes on her. She knew Karina was sad, but she needed this time to herself.

Over the next few days, Y/N kept her distance from Karina. She stopped sitting with her at lunch, and she avoided her in the hallways.

Karina noticed, and she was sad about it. She missed Y/N's bright smile and her infectious laugh.

But Karina respected Y/N's boundaries. She gave her the space she needed, hoping that eventually, Y/N would come back to her.

As the days turned into weeks, Karina couldn't help but wonder what was going on in Y/N's mind. Was she okay? Was she still thinking about their conversation?

Karina's heart ached with longing. She missed Y/N, and she couldn't wait to see her again.

But for now, she would wait. She would give Y/N the space she needed, and hope that eventually, they could go back to the way things were before.

—

Karina and Y/N were both surprised when their teacher, Mrs. Johnson, assigned them to work together on a project. They had been avoiding each other for weeks, and the thought of spending time together again was daunting.

But Mrs. Johnson was insistent. "I think you two will make a great team," she said, smiling at them. "You both have unique skills and perspectives that will complement each other well."

Karina and Y/N exchanged a skeptical glance, but they knew they had no choice. They reluctantly agreed to work together, and Mrs. Johnson handed them a folder with the project details.

As they left the classroom, Karina turned to Y/N and asked, "So, where do you want to start?"

Y/N shrugged. "I don't know. What did Mrs. Johnson say the project was about again?"

Karina pulled out the folder and flipped through the pages. "It's a multimedia presentation about the impact of social media on society," she said, scanning the assignment sheet.

Y/N's eyes widened. "That sounds like a lot of work."

Karina nodded. "I know. But we can do it. We just need to divide up the tasks and work together."

Y/N hesitated, clearly unsure about working with Karina again. But Karina could see the faintest glimmer of interest in her eyes, and she knew that Y/N was intrigued by the project.

"Come on," Karina said, smiling at Y/N. "It'll be fun. We can work at my house, and I'll order some pizza."

Y/N raised an eyebrow, clearly tempted by the offer. "Okay, fine," she said finally. "But just for the project."

Karina grinned, feeling a surge of excitement. "I'll pick you up at 3 pm tomorrow."

As they parted ways, Karina couldn't help but feel a sense of hope. Maybe, just maybe, this project would be the start of something new between her and Y/N.

The next day, Karina pulled up to Y/N's house in her sleek black car. Y/N was waiting outside, looking adorable in a pair of ripped jeans and a faded t-shirt.

"Hey," Y/N said, sliding into the passenger seat.

Karina smiled, feeling a flutter in her chest. "Hey."

As they drove to Karina's house, the tension between them was palpable. But Karina was determined to keep things light and friendly, at least for now.

When they arrived at Karina's house, they settled in at the kitchen table, surrounded by laptops, notebooks, and snacks. Karina ordered some pizza, and they spent the next few hours brainstorming ideas and working on their presentation.

As the sun began to set, Karina realized that she was having more fun than she'd had in weeks. Y/N was laughing and joking with her, and for a moment, it felt like old times.

But as the night wore on, Karina couldn't shake the feeling that Y/N was still holding back. She seemed hesitant to meet Karina's eye, and her smiles were fleeting.

Karina wondered what was going on in Y/N's mind. Was she still unsure about her feelings? Was she afraid of getting hurt again?

As they packed up their things and prepared to part ways, Karina felt a pang of disappointment. She didn't want the night to end, didn't want to lose the connection they'd reestablished.

"Thanks for tonight," Y/N said, smiling at Karina.

Karina smiled back, feeling a sense of hope. "No problem. I'll pick you up tomorrow at 3 pm again."

Y/N nodded, and Karina walked her to the door. As they said their goodbyes, Karina felt a spark of electricity as their hands touched.

It was a small moment, but it gave Karina the courage to keep trying. She knew that she still had a long way to go to win Y/N back, but she was willing to do whatever it took.

As she watched Y/N walk away, Karina felt a sense of determination. She was going to make this project count, and she was going to win Y/N's heart back, no matter what it took.

As they finished their project, Karina and Y/N felt a sense of pride and accomplishment. They had worked tirelessly to create a stunning multimedia presentation, and it had paid off.

"I'm so glad we got to work together on this," Y/N said, smiling at Karina.

Karina's heart skipped a beat as she met Y/N's gaze. She had been wanting to tell Y/N how she felt for weeks, but she had been too afraid.

"I'm glad too," Karina said, trying to sound casual. "We make a great team."

Y/N nodded, and they both sat back to admire their handiwork. The presentation was impressive, with sleek graphics and smooth transitions.

As they sat there, Karina couldn't help but steal glances at Y/N. She was beautiful, with her long hair and bright smile. And she was smart and talented, too.

Karina felt her heart fluttering in her chest. She knew she had to tell Y/N how she felt, but she was scared. What if Y/N didn't feel the same way?

As they packed up their things and prepared to leave, Karina realized that she couldn't let the moment slip away. She had to tell Y/N how she felt, no matter how scared she was.

"Y/N, can I talk to you for a minute?" Karina asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Y/N looked at her curiously, but she nodded. "Of course, Karina. What's up?"

Karina took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest, but she knew she had to be brave.

"Y/N, from the moment I met you, I knew that you were someone special," Karina said, her voice trembling with emotion. "I was drawn to your kindness, your intelligence, and your beauty. And as we worked together on this project, I realized that my feelings for you went far beyond friendship."

Y/N's eyes widened in surprise, and she looked at Karina with a mixture of shock and curiosity.

"I know that I may have scared you off before," Karina continued, her voice filled with regret. "But I want you to know that my feelings for you are real. And I was wondering if maybe, just maybe, you feel the same way."

The room was silent, the only sound the quiet hum of the computers. Y/N's eyes were fixed on Karina's, and for a moment, Karina thought she saw a glimmer of reciprocation.

But then Y/N looked away, her face flushing with embarrassment. "Karina, I...I don't know what to say," she stammered.

Karina's heart sank, but she refused to give up. She took a step closer to Y/N, her eyes locked on hers.

"You don't have to say anything, Y/N," Karina said, her voice soft. "Just know that my feelings for you are real. And I'll be here, waiting for you, whenever you're ready."

Y/N looked up at Karina, her eyes searching hers. For a moment, they just stared at each other, the tension between them palpable.

Then Y/N looked away, her face still flushed with embarrassment. "I need some time to think, Karina," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Karina nodded, feeling a sense of disappointment. But she also felt a sense of hope. Y/N hadn't rejected her outright, and that was all that mattered.

"I understand, Y/N," Karina said, her voice soft. "Take all the time you need. I'll be here, waiting for you."

As they parted ways, Karina couldn't help but feel a sense of uncertainty. Would Y/N ever feel the same way? Or would Karina be left waiting forever?

But one thing was for sure: Karina had confessed her feelings, and now all she could do was wait and see how Y/N would respond.

—

Y/N's eyes searched Karina's face, looking for any sign of insincerity. She had been hurt before, and she wasn't about to let her guard down again without being sure.

"Karina, I need to ask you something," Y/N said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Karina's eyes locked onto hers, filled with a deep sincerity. "Anything, Y/N. What is it?"

Y/N took a deep breath. "Is this...is this just a publicity stunt? Are you just doing this to get attention or boost your image?"

Karina's face fell, and for a moment, Y/N thought she saw a flash of hurt in her eyes. But then Karina's expression softened, and she reached out to take Y/N's hand.

"Y/N, I promise you, this has nothing to do with publicity or image," Karina said, her voice filled with conviction. "My feelings for you are real. I've never felt this way about anyone before, and I wouldn't dare cheapen them by using them for publicity."

Y/N's eyes searched Karina's face, looking for any sign of deception. But all she saw was sincerity and honesty.

"Okay," Y/N said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. "I believe you."

Karina's face lit up with a radiant smile, and she leaned in close to Y/N. "Thank you, Y/N," she whispered, her breath tickling Y/N's ear. "Thank you for believing me."

As they stood there, Y/N felt a spark of electricity run through her body. She knew that she was taking a risk, but she couldn't help the way she felt.

Karina's eyes locked onto hers, filled with a deep longing. Y/N's heart skipped a beat as Karina leaned in closer, her lips brushing against Y/N's in a soft, tender kiss.

The world around them melted away, leaving only the two of them, lost in the magic of their first kiss. It was a kiss that spoke of promises and possibilities, of hopes and dreams.

As they stood there, wrapped in each other's arms, Y/N knew that she had made the right decision. She had taken a chance on Karina, and it had paid off in the most wonderful way.

Their kiss deepened, becoming more passionate and intense. Y/N felt like she was melting into Karina's arms, becoming one with her.

As they finally pulled away from each other, gasping for air, Y/N smiled up at Karina. "I'm so glad I took a chance on you," she whispered, her voice filled with emotion.

Karina's eyes sparkled with happiness, and she leaned in to kiss Y/N again. "I'm glad too," she whispered, her lips brushing against Y/N's. "I'm glad too."

As they stood there, wrapped in each other's arms, Y/N knew that this was just the beginning of their love story. And she couldn't wait to see what the future held for them.

—

Y/N was determined to teach Karina how to bake cookies. She had been baking for years, and she loved the way the sweet aroma filled the kitchen.

Karina, on the other hand, was a disaster waiting to happen. She was clumsy and accident-prone, and Y/N had visions of flour covering every inch of the kitchen.

But Y/N was determined to make it work. She gathered all the ingredients and equipment, and stood patiently as Karina measured out the flour.

As soon as Karina started mixing the dough, Y/N knew they were in trouble. Karina was using a stand mixer, but she had no idea how to control it. The mixer started to spin out of control, covering Karina in a cloud of flour.

Y/N couldn't help but laugh. "Karina, stop! You're going to cover the entire kitchen in flour!" she exclaimed.

Karina looked up, her face covered in a fine layer of powder. "I'm sorry! I don't know what's happening!" she cried, laughing.

Y/N rushed over to help Karina, and together they managed to wrestle the mixer to the ground. The kitchen was a disaster, but they had managed to salvage the dough.

As they slid the cookies into the oven, Y/N couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. Despite the chaos, they had managed to make something beautiful.

Twenty minutes later, the cookies were done. Y/N and Karina pulled them out of the oven, and the aroma of freshly baked cookies filled the air.

They sat down at the kitchen table, surrounded by the chaos of their baking disaster. But as they took their first bites of the cookies, all was forgiven.

The cookies were perfect - chewy on the inside and crispy on the outside. Y/N and Karina sat there, munching on cookies and laughing together.

As they ate, they started to get sleepy. The warmth of the kitchen, combined with the comfort of each other's company, was too much to resist.

Before long, they were both leaning on each other, their heads nodding forward. The cookies were forgotten, left to cool on the kitchen counter.

As they drifted off to sleep, Y/N felt a sense of peace wash over her. She was exactly where she was meant to be - surrounded by the chaos of the kitchen, and the love of her life.

The next thing Y/N knew, she was waking up to the sound of Karina's gentle snores. They were still sitting at the kitchen table, surrounded by the remnants of their baking disaster.

Y/N smiled, feeling a sense of happiness wash over her. She leaned over and gently kissed Karina's forehead, trying not to wake her.

As she pulled back, Karina's eyes flickered open. She looked up at Y/N, a sleepy smile on her face.

"Hey," Karina whispered, her voice husky with sleep.

Y/N smiled back, feeling her heart skip a beat. "Hey," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

They sat there for a moment, just looking at each other. The kitchen was still a mess, but they didn't care. They were happy, and that's all that mattered.

[understandableparadox]

a comprehensive list of everything wrong with hazbin hotel.

quick note before i lose myself in madness, my standards for helluvaboss are non existent because its a free show on youtube. also i kinda like helluvaboss and i will indulge in any bias i damn well please.

oh and spoilers. i guess.

the greater narrative of the entire season is "White lady civilize inner city hoodlum". ex: The blind side. rich girl, affluent family yadda yadda.

the story is set up to be like amphibia, owl house, svtfoe, steven universe, that being starting as something episodic then transforming into story driven narrative. why? because we know the benefits and drawbacks, episodic starts allows us to wander the world, it allows us to understand the dynamics, we are not forced to reckon with anything because there is no deadline. characters are allowed to bloom and shine and the audience can actually get attached.

the source material is Vary Clearly formed from remnants of something out of a middle school edgelord narrative. the usage of transformation, the big spooky grins, the "and then i smile as my eyes glow and-"-isms which in most cases i don't mind because in some instances but in a vary Particular case its astoundingly annoying and that annoyance is like a mold, shit spreads quick.

the color Red. as a lover of homestuck cherubs and karkat and aradia, as someone who fucking loves the color red, it is so painful to say but holy shit tone it the fuck down, i know its hell but their are so many other colors that you can use, its everywhere, the streets, the air, the windows, the screens, the characters, i know the pride ring is represented with red but change up the palates every so often for backgrounds

the rush, this ties into the second point made but i think the story itself is rushed. we know everything way to early. i know way to much and it makes it hard to care about anything because im still trying to digest the last chunk of info. "oh ok, so they clear out hell once a year. oh hell has a heaven embassy? ok. oh that adam the angel, i though he wou- oh its every 6 months now. wait the exterminators die a lot? then why is everyone sca- people in hell already have weapons that can kill angels? w- oh we are in heaven now, ok ma- no one in heaven except for the elites know the exterminations occur? how do-" and its that, just this incessant rush to explain everything to you. notably that's just the god damn spark notes, we need to know everything about the characters now, every single bit of their story, their insecurities, what charlie needs to fix, how she can fix them, the major bad guys, everything. you are never allowed to dwell on a character because we need to rush towards something else. it almost feels like this should have been like... season three, it would have been a fantastic season three if you dropped the introductions honestly.

the concept of redemption. for a story of redemption to work you need to look at three things. What is there crime, Do they want to change, What is preventing them from changeing? there is only one single character that has a notable path of redemption, angel dust, but if you look through their story it feels off. What Exactly is he guilty of? he has sex, does drugs and drinks. his apparent nymphomania is tied to his sad backstory as someone forced into the sex industry so how is that their fault? then if you think about it you start to spiral and notice "hey why are most of these people in hell?" like sure some of them may deserve punishment but then you see the fucking dichotomy and its like "I was a inventor in england and died of the fucking plague, i may have made evil little contraption hoohoohoo" vs "I was a cannibal, a full on cannibal, i fucking killed people and ate them and then someone shot me". ONE OF THESE THINGS ARE A LITTLE MORE FUCKING EXTREME. i'm going to go fucking nuts, the thing they went to heaven with when presenting a case to angels on the idea that redemption and becoming a better person is actually real was angel dust not drinking at a party and not having sex with consenting adults and i want to go fucking insane. WHAT IS THE CRIME, WHO IS THROWING THE BOOK, WHAT DOES THE BOOK INTEL, ARE WE ON GOOD PLACE RULES?! half the cast dont Need redemption they need fucking help, and the other half of the cast do need redemption but they do not seek it making the point moot. sir pentious acts like he has the brain of a hyper intelligent toddler tossing about toys, its almost like he did his one bad thing of spying and then got caught, sank his little diddy about forgiveness and second chances and become a null point through out the rest of the series, sure their was Some weight to him sacrificing himself, he was a decently funny character and he had good moments but him popping up in heaven felt like a fore gone conclusion, he didn't deserve to be in hell so why do i care that he is suddenly in heaven? because its working on the concept the good place already made. no one actually deserves eternal punishment they just need help processing what makes them a dick, but instead of looking at all the parts of the afterlife that make it bad, inefficient and then creating and trying ideas to see if it work instead over a few seasons, we crash dick first into all the major plot points in regards to that and say "tada, we fixed it.".

having a sub-plot about sexual assault and its victims then having multiple sexual assault related gag ruins your point.

don't make a bunch of stereotypically jewish characters into cannibals, that was a big thing, really shouldn't have to say it.

if you are going to make a character black, make them black, you can say alastor was black but sweet seren-fucking-dippity that's not a black man.

pot meet kettle but yeah the cursing could be a little less liberal. maybe just blue hair or the pronouns, not both.

there is a very distinctive art deco/jazz aesthetic which normally i love but i feel as though it is not used to its full extent and in some cases really hurts the character design in and of itself.

this is a vary obvious bit but the story is a million times more interested in gay men then it is of lesbians, which culminates in this insane thing where the writers clearly have more talent or perhaps it would be more abt to say practice writing male gay pining then they are with lesbian pining. which i personally think is hilarious because i did not know you could min max fujoshi-ism that hard.

this next section is more to do with each character on a fundamental level, for the sake of brevity whatever there is left, i'm just doing ones with speaking roles.

13. Charlie:

(see what i mean about that red thing?)

as originally stated charlie fits rather comfortably into every white saviour narrative, though that seems to be part of her joke. though i'm not entirely sure how much of a joke it can be when its rewarded and expected to advance the plot.

her character design says nothing, it has the motif of old puppets or dolls, she wears something vaguely similar to service suits, her demonic form is just some extra horns.not to say every character needs to have their life on a clothes rack but some more snake and goat imagery would be nice

its not the chol design of charlie with snake hair, not an actual problem but its a problem to me, damn you @cholvoq for ruining my ability to look at any of the characters without wishing i was seeing your designs instead.

character wise aside from the white savoir bit, i'm having a bit of trouble understanding what the arc of the character is. she is shown to be naive, someone who doesn't understand how the world works but everytime she says something its something astoundingly clear like "people can actually get better". and its treated like someone demanded faygo in every water fountain. is the joke that the world around her to cynical or is so to naive? please pick one or the other.

now if you know me, you know i fucking hate overpowered characters with a blinding passion, one that would set alit the god damn abyss but in this one special instance, i feel like its warranted, she's the direct descendant of fucking God, she can swing her weight around a little, i mean god damn. she in so many instances looks like shes cowering so often, why would the daughter of lucifer get backed down by some rando pimp? why wasn't she the one to fight adam? sure you can say she is young but how young? her parents were there since pre-abrahamic times, most of the characters showed up in hell in the 1900s, some of them showed up in the 1600s, how old is charlie??? how long does it take for her to learn how to be strong? The story does not suffer if charlie is strong and knows she is strong. it can easily be a case of "i don't believe in violence to a weird degree". fit it into her apparent naivety about the world to believe that violence is never the answer even when dealing with a being that is unilaterally horrible and abusive and monstrous.

she ga- no im kidding, i do think her romance was waysided a bit, it would have been fine to have more scenes of them togather and in love you know?

14. Vaggie

why did you name the lesbian vaggie...? Don't do that maybe?

I like how her design is almost moth like but again i feel as though you could have amped that up.

she feels as though someone tried to combine undyne and pearl from steven universe, same story beats and design elements. it makes it hard to really distinguish her as a character.

i honestly dont have much to say about her. she is fine.

christ kill me, lets just get the big one out of the way

15. Alastor.

God Damn

where to start.

"alastor is mixed race" mixed with fucking what? concrete? there is not a single black feature on that creature, now im not saying you have to make him a png of louie armstrong but it wouldn't hurt to add a curl to the hair maybe? make it a tiny bit more wavy? Something? a crumb i beg of thee?

his symbolism is all over the god damn place, native american monsters (you know the one), voodoo, radio, puppets, stitches, circuses??? and Tentacles i guess. two of those are from closed religions so if you dumped those you would actually get a more concise character focused on the concept of vox populi as a means of societal control and influence as we see in his first song. but again that gets drowned out repeatedly by all the other random toy box bits shoved into him.

tumblr sexy man bait

he serves no purpose in the story. he does spooky stuff, pretends to do things and then goes back to sitting around looking spooky. i understand that his motif is supposed to be aloof mastermind but maybe have him do more mastermindy things? if you remove most of alastors scenes, bar the songs, it doesn't change all to much. husk and nifity can still be at the hotel, they could be looking for outs in their contracts the same as angel dust. hell it even helps with the one scene where he dose some spooky shit, asking charlie for a favor in exchange for his help in the fight with the angels instead of asking him about angel weapons which should have remained a strictly vaggie scene.

his presence in a way delegitimize the story, as I noted in in the section regarding redemption, the three parts are "what is the crime, do they want to change, what is stopping them?" and alastor kinda just spits in the face of that. he is a serial killer cannibal that has no qualms about how evil he is and apparently must continue being evil due to being under the control under someone legitimately called the Root Of All Evil. show him take a slight interest in the idea that maybe shit for him could be better, make him Want Change at the bare fucking minimum or dont have him at the hotel.

his stupid little fucking horns, big shot the troll liker wants characters to have big fucking horns, make them noticeable or dont have them.

he looks more like a dog boy, which could have been an interesting thing with the collar motif but fuck me i guess.

personal pet peeve but i fucking hate characters that have a million plus powers, stick to a set number, be creative.

im getting more petty as i go on so last point: he could have been in less episodes, he didn't need to be in dad beat dad, that should have been just a lucifer and charlie episode. inverse the red and black and i think he would be fucking great color wise, his body type is the same as ten different characters, he isnt radio enough, aside from the voice and and staff if you told me he was the fucking Cat Demon i would have been just as convinced.

16. Angel Dust

what the fuck, gay spider? its hard to actully articulate all the thoughts i have on angel dust, not in the sense that he is a deeply thought provoking character but in the fact that there is not much meat on the bones.

all around i think angel dust is kinda middling. he has a decent enough romance with husk, he has a decent enough story line that revolves around battling addiction and removing yourself from an abuser (which the story tries to brand as "Redemption???")

I dont like that most of his jokes would qualify as sexual harassment, i don't mind him being sexual as a character but continuing on when clearly someone doesn't like the jokes hurts the character.

not a critique but he is pink, which honestly ill fucking take at point, as long as its not more fucking red.

i think his design is an improvement over some of the old vivzie designs but it feels like it could have done with going a few more rounds of design changes.

same thing with alastor, charlie and vaggie, there is not enough of the animal that they are supposed to be. You could have told me angel dust was a fucking bee or something and i would have had to believe you. nothing about angel dust initially says spider, hell he dosent even have enough limps to be a fucking spider.

17. Carmilla carmine

are... are you supposed to be a rabbit...?

Big Yoai Hands

ballet fighting style, could have been cool, wish she fought more like sanji or chun li.

A single mom that works to hard, who loves her kids and never stops-

her song was decent, not great, decent. it feels as though the actress has experience singing but not in the way they tried to make her sing during her two songs. they have a obvious mexican influence, honestly just let her sing in spanish in the english dub. go listen to the spanish dub, "out for love" sounds great in spanish.

i wish i had more thoughts on them, fucking rip.

18. cherri bomb

that's not a punk aesthetic that's 2010s alt

decent character, they showed up once or twice i guess, no real thoughts.

19. egg boiz

absolutely perfect, i have not notes on them, these are perfect creatures.

20. Emily

im so fucking happy to see a singular blue character

does the naive dreamer bit better then charlie

We really shouldnt have seen her until the end of season two or middle of three.

good contrast with the other angels on screen.

Wait she is supposed to be black??? Where???

21. Husk

keith david you absolute delight, Why on gods green earth did they only give you one singing part?

one of the few charecters where its clear husk is a cat, i do like the kinda... marquee design, he is a magic cat, thats neat. i still think you can toss the wings and eyebrows and still have just as good of a charecter.

has a deeply intresting story of someone who died as a nobody, became the fat cat of hell and then was forced back to the bottom by their own vices, not used at fucking all.

huge potential, little pay off.

22. lillith

I know nothing about her except she ditched her kid and husband to vacation in heaven and i think thats kinda funny.

alot of werid things floating around her, again she shouldnt have been shown in the show at all until next season.

23. lucifer morningstar

no notes, funniest charecter, did a song based on friend like me.

few notes: i do like the idea that the immortal symbol of pride is a constant emotional wreckage constantly seeking approval through grand showmanship and manic energy that threatens to take over anything they touch.

would have liked more snake stuff on him, maybe some more goat things like horns.

that is such a stupid fucking staff lmao.

24. Adam.

alex brightman you absolute fucking delight, you should have had more songs.

I wish his design was more focused on the idea of him being a glam rock wash up

I fucking hate his mask

We shouldn't have met him until the end of the season.

25. Niffty

again she is supposed to be a bug or cockroach but nothing about her points to that.

token straight

keeps rocketing back and fourth between sexulization and infantilization

you had kimiko glenn but didnt give her a single fucking song?

26. Sir Pentious

the secret season one redeemed.

the pilot version of him felt more like someone that could do a season one redemption arc, a megalomaniac constantly attempting territory grabs, there is something you can work with, actual character flaws to work through.

essentially a child after the first episode.

actually a snake which i appreciate.

no where near steampunky enough.

27. the villians of the show dont make much sense, each one feels like they should be season long deals on their own instead of a bunch of team rocket esque idiots that show up on occasion, do a bad thing and then leave.

28. Valentino

gOD THERE IS SO MUCH RED

only a moth some of the time.

sucks as a villain, maybe they need more screen time to show why they suck in a more substantial way aside from being told that he sucks.

it is interesting that angel dust is only under his magical control when in the studio, it shows that angel dust has to make a conscious choice to return, which in turn can be made to show how abusers can draw back their victims. I do not think it was done well in this circumstance as it shows him to be cartoonishly evil, constantly flying back and fourth between sweet and utter psycho, there is no actual reason for angel dust to ever actually go back to the studio, he just does so every so often.

29. Vox

legit who cares? the only thing about him that is in any way substantial is all the dope ass fan art we get.

propaganda machine angle that is not explored at all, just hinted at. no actual barring on the story whatsoever.

why didn't he try to do the same shit as alastor by the way? he knows its bad if alastor gets in good with charlie so shouldn't it be a ass kissing race?

same body shape as literally every other male character.

tumblr sexy man version of pyrocynicals fursona.

30. Valvette

the actual poster child of the shows huge problem of "Show me, don't tell me".

apparently the glue that holds the villains together. never shown.

apparently the one that makes the love potions that valentino is famous for. had to learn about that in the fuckin wiki trivias

we know so much about her from things outside of the show.

was there to call carmilla a coward, that's her plot contribution. she shows up every now and again but its never anything substantial and serves to more around take up run time for people We Don't Need To Know Yet.

im not trying to be mean, animation is animation, we need smaller studios to have success in the industry so that other indie studios can have that success, felling a tree makes it easier for others to follow. showing that its possible to number brain rot exacs helps all animators.

but this show has so much bullshit attached to it, it has so much fucking potential that it fries my brain with unyielding frustration.

this took a bit to write, im tired, thanks for reading.

[luveline]

hiiii not sure if your requests are open but if they aren’t just ignore this😭

imagine getting into an argument with james, sirius, and remus because you brought a stray kitten or something home and you really don’t have the room for a kitten

“but look at him🥺”

“no”

“🥺”

“… no” *less convincingly*

You hold the kitten in your hand. Remus strokes her head, her little damp ears. “It's not about that, Remus, I just couldn't leave her there, the box was falling apart and… I thought that only happened in movies.” 

Sirius leans forward on his knees to give the kitten a stroke of his own. “She's lovely,” he murmurs, scratching under her chin and grinning when she moves into it for more. “It's too bad the flat's so small. Otherwise we could keep her.” 

She's tortoise shell with a white half circle around her mouth, eyes squinted closed as she shivers. You've wrapped her in a tea towel like a blanket. She is, without a doubt, that cutest and saddest creature you've ever seen. “Where is she supposed to go, Siri?” you ask gently. 

“People love cats.” Sirius puts his hand on Remus' thigh casually, giving it a loving squeeze as he settles in. “Everybody wants a kitten.” 

But not everyone will be nice to a kitten. She feels like your responsibility now; how can you leave her? She's burrowed into you from the moment you picked her up, shushing and murmuring, your knees sodden in the puddle of rainwater beneath you both. 

“We have to keep her, please,” you say. 

There's a mutual surprise. “Dove, we can't,” Remus says. “The bathroom barely fits the toilet, shower, and sink, we'd never be able to have a litter box.” 

“It wouldn't be fair,” Sirius agrees, “on us or the kitten, she'd have no room once she turns into a cat.” 

You bring the kitten close to your chest and show them her helpless face. “But look at her,” you say softly, widening your eyes gently, your brows bunched together in the beginnings of heartbreak. 

“No,” Remus says, shaking his head sympathetically. 

You frown at him and Sirius in turn, your bottom lip jutting out ever so slightly. 

“No,” he says again, sounding unsure. 

Sirius rubs his leg. “Stay strong, my love.” 

“There's just not enough room.” 

You fear you may be losing this battle, and if they really don't want a cat, maybe you shouldn't force them. But then your trump card comes out of the bathroom with a towel around his neck, shirtless, grey joggers low on his hips, and you know you still have a chance. 

“Wow, Jamie,” you say, not having to act very much to give your voice a hoarse rasp, “you might need to shower again.” 

His smile is magnetic. “Yeah?” he asks, immediately delighted by such a brazen comment. “How's the little sweetheart? Reckon we can leave her alone?” 

“She's cold still,” you say.

James visibly melts at your sad tone, while Remus rolls his eyes. “She's just trying to get you on her side, James. I've said we can't keep the cat and she's–” 

“Taking advantage of her feminine wiles?” Sirius suggests. 

“Cheating,” Remus finishes. 

James leans over the back of the sofa between your head and Remus to kiss behind your ear, a brief press of the lips. “Why should I care? Doesn't she deserve her own way?” 

“It's not as though I'm lying,” you say guiltily. 

James laughs and kisses your jaw. You bring your shoulder up to your chin and flush with heat at such a simple thing, trying your hardest not to jostle the kitten in your hand as he wraps an arm around your front, resting his face against yours. The wet curls of his hair are cold on your skin, and the straight line of his jaw digs in. “I know,” he says. 

“Catch on, Jamie,” Remus says. 

“Shan't, won't.” Another kiss to your cheek. 

“Please, Remus, I promise if you don't want her then I won't make you, but if it's about room, of course there's enough. The four of us manage to squeeze in, don't we?” You lean into James’ embrace, eyes melty-soft. You're practically batting your eyelashes at him. 

Sirius flops into Remus’ lap with a resigned sigh. “If you don't say yes, I will anyway. Look at her.” 

You don't know if he means the kitten or you, but you choose to believe it's you he's complimenting, and you react accordingly, your little smile pushing Remus completely over the edge. 

He sighs. “Yes, alright. Fine.” 

You pass James the little warm parcel of fur and use your freshly emptied hands to grab Remus by both arms. “Thank you! Aw, thank you, Remus. Sirius. I'll be so absolutely clean and if it does seem too small I promise, I won't make anyone suffer.” 

“I never thought you would,” he says. “If you really want to keep her, I can't stop you. I'm your boyfriend, not a prison warden.” 

“Well, we share a home–” 

“I know,” he says warmly, “it's alright. Keep your kitten, dove. Looks like you've found her for a reason.” 

You laugh happily and gather him up for a hug. “Oh, I love you.” 

“What shall we name her?” Sirius asks around you. 

“I'm not fussed. What do you like?” James asks. 

Sirius meets your eyes as you and Remus pull apart. “You always get your way, hmm? Why don't you name her?” 

Oh, you could hug him to death too. He looks comfortable where he is, his face on Remus thigh, hair fanned out over his joggers, and you don't want to disturb him (he's not quite as tactile as the others), so you stroke a curl from his cheek and offer him a cheeky smile. “Don't you have any ideas?” you ask. 

“About you, or the cat?” 

You laugh at his teasing. “Which one do you think?” 

Remus nudges you in the ribs. “Don't start. If we're keeping your cat, we need to go out, don't we? You'll have to go get dressed again.”

You give them all a glowing smile and clamber off of the sofa to find your shoes. 

[techhiz]

Hi👋 love your storys as first, and I have an small request, how would earthspark characters, even the decepticons, react to thare s/o, partner, gn reader having an dragon Alt mode that is bigger and more bulkier than Grimlock but smaller than tham in general and...

🥰DROP🥰

❤️‍🔥DEAD❤️‍🔥

🫶GORGEOUS🫶

I hope you understood my request and have an good day/night💜💗🌌

Thank you so much for your kind words! I love your request and am super excited to write it! Here’s how the EarthSpark characters (Autobots, Terrans, and Decepticons alike) would react to their S/O having a gorgeous dragon alt mode:

Autobots

Bumblebee

The moment you transform, Bumblebee freezes mid-step, his optics widening as he takes in the sheer size and majesty of your alt mode.

"Whoa... I mean, I knew you were cool, but this? This is next-level awesome!"

He immediately wants to race you—dragon wings versus his speed. Spoiler: he loses but doesn’t mind because he’s too busy staring at how graceful you look in the air.

Absolutely gushes to the Maltos about you later. "Did you see how incredible they looked? My partner’s got a DRAGON alt mode. I’m officially dating the coolest bot in existence!"

Optimus Prime

Ever the composed leader, Optimus silently admires your transformation. The sheer scale and intricate details of your dragon form earn a soft, approving nod.

"Your form is... remarkable. It inspires both strength and awe. I see why Bumblebee speaks so highly of you."

He’d absolutely call on you during high-stakes battles, confident that your form alone could turn the tide.

Elita-1

Elita whistles low as she circles you, taking in every scale and wing joint.

"Well, aren’t you the shining star of the battlefield? Grimlock better watch out."

Loves sparring with you—testing your strength and dexterity. Always challenges you to see if you can carry her mid-flight.

Terrans

Twitch

Twitch is absolutely starstruck. The first time you transform, she stumbles backward, her optics wide with excitement.

"You’re... a dragon! A real dragon! Can you breathe fire? Can you fly super fast? How big are your wings?!"

Constantly bombards you with questions about your alt mode and begs for rides through the sky.

Thrash

Thrash is immediately hyped. He runs circles around your massive form, shouting praises.

"This is insane! You’re a DRAGON. This is the coolest thing ever!"

Would totally try to jump onto your back for a ride, and when you agree, he makes it a point to yell, “Yeehaw!” like he’s in a Western.

Nightshade

Nightshade’s fascination is purely intellectual at first. They analyze every aspect of your form, intrigued by the mechanics of how your wings fold and the way your tail moves.

"The engineering behind this transformation is exquisite. Did you design it yourself, or is it natural?"

Loves sitting on your back while you fly, though.

Would fly with you in her alt mode.

Jawbreaker

Jawbreaker is in absolute awe. He sees your dragon form as the epitome of strength and grace.

"You look... amazing. Like something out of an old Cybertronian legend."

Wants to spar with you occasionally, though he’s always careful not to overdo it. Loves just hanging out, staring at the stars while you rest your wings.

Hashtag

Hashtag immediately takes a thousand pictures.

"You’re going viral, babe! The internet is going to eat this up!"

Loves riding on your back and getting all the best angles for her "Dragon Date Chronicles." Absolutely brags about you to everyone.

Decepticons

Megatron

Megatron is momentarily taken aback when you reveal your alt mode, but he quickly masks it with a smirk.

"Impressive. Your form commands respect. Use it wisely, and you’ll become a force to be reckoned with."

Secretly thinks you’re the most awe-inspiring bot in the room and sometimes catches himself staring when he thinks you’re not looking.

Soundwave

Soundwave doesn’t speak, but the way he tilts his helm and the faint flicker of his visor shows his intrigue.

Immediately calculates your capabilities in battle and silently approves of your power.

You catch him replaying footage of your transformation later, but he’ll never admit to it.

Starscream

At first, he’s annoyed. "Oh, great, another show-off. As if I needed more competition for attention."

But then he sees how utterly magnificent your form is and gets a bit flustered. "Well... I suppose you are rather impressive."

Secretly jealous but also fascinated. He might ask (in his own roundabout way) if you’d ever team up with him.

Knockout(If he would be in the show)

Knockout is floored. "Darling, you’re an absolute vision! The wings, the scales—perfection!"

He’s obsessed with your aesthetics and is already planning ways to accessorize your dragon form. "Maybe some polished chrome here, a pop of color there..."

Definitely insists on taking you out for a joyride just so everyone can see you two together.

[ann1-wr1tes]

You Came?...You called.

Synopsis: You find yourself falling into the horrors of your job, but come to find out that you don't have to be alone.

Warnings: Slight angst, crying, hurt and comfort

Word Count: 2,642

A/N: Okay, so if you've seen this fic before, it's because I posted this on my previous account. I didn't plagiarize or steal anyone's work. I just have all of this saved and I plan on posting the other fics I have. Anyways hope ya'll enjoy!

Part two

------

You felt pathetic as your quivering voice spoke into the phone. You couldn't stop the steady shaking in your hands as you try your best to sound normal. You didn't want him of all people to hear you like this. In fact you weren't even sure why you had called. Not that it mattered. The call went to voicemail anyways so it's not like he'd even show up.

"I..I don't know what I'm doing right now, honestly. I shouldn't have called so uhhh sorry for....for bothering you." you rasp out. Then quickly, with a shaky finger you hang up the phone and drop it in your lap.

You cover your face in your hands as you try to take deep breaths. For some reason though, taking in air seemed harder than it once was. It almost felt like your lungs were being crushed by some invisible force as you felt your heart beat speed up to a million miles a minute. You were having a panic attack and for good reason too.

Everyone had told you that being an agent was far from easy. The D.S.O was an agency that was dedicated to stopping bio-terrorism. The people working under the agency were always seen as intimidating, competent, and effective in whatever their job was. The agents were also a force to be reckoned with. After all you had to go through hell just to be considered a candidate for becoming a D.S.O agent. Little did you know that actually being an agent was a whole new type of hell.

The job was a test to not just your physical health, but also your mental health. It was stressful and draining. You always had to be on alert and sometimes on the run during missions. It felt like it never ended. But the last mission you went on was a disaster. Actually describing it as a disaster was an understatement. It could better be described as a tragedy.

You were thrown into Russia. You and your partner were tasked with investigating a certain lab that was suspected to have some sort of vaccine that was turning people into B.O.W's so of course it was dangerous and risky.

Your partner that you went with was actually a good friend of yours. Maybe that was the first mistake. You can still remember the look of horror that played out on your partners face as she got shot with an injection of some sort. You took out the person who injected her with the infectious syringe, but it was too late. The injection had already started to wreak havoc on her body and there was no cure.

You still remember how she pleaded and begged you to kill her before whatever she got infected with could run its course. But you wanted to believe that you could save her. That was your second mistake.

In the end she shifted into this mutated, horrific, B.O.W and you almost died. At the last second you finally killed her but not before you hesitated and tried to convince yourself that there was still some way that you could save her. You eventually learned that it was over though and you had to stop her before she could infect you.

When you returned to the D.S.O, you came back with no partner, many injuries, and a few samples of the vaccine that you were supposed to get. The mission was successful but now you were starting to wonder at what cost? Was it really worth it?

You remember the first day back. You felt like a zombie. Your body was numb, you couldn't feel the numerous injuries you had gotten but you could feel how heavy everything felt. It felt like there was lead in your shoes as you walked down the bright hallways and you felt like you could collapse at any moment. Then you saw him.

Leon Kennedy.

Looking handsome as ever. Right when he saw you he was already on his feet, bounding towards you in a few wide strides and he had a hand on your cheek. You numbly watched as his bright blue eyes darted back and forth across your face.

You did look like hell to be fair.

Then when he asked if you were okay, you pushed him away and kept walking. In the moment you just wanted to leave and go home. You felt like if you told Leon about what happened right then and there you'd either pass out, cry, or scream but now looking back on it you felt like an asshole. You remembered the softness in Leon's eyes as he looked at you, his lips slightly parted as he took in your disheveled appearance. You even remembered how gently he grazed his hand against your cheek.

Why were you such an asshole?

After that you went home, took a shower and slept. You actually were quite sure that you had slept for a few days straight. The only time you went out was when you attended your friends funeral and that was horrific in itself. Then the nightmares began and it became impossible to close your eyes for more than a minute. You'd immediately have flashes of images and memories in your head from the mission. It was like torture.

So now you sat there. One in the morning. Your body heavy and slumped over as your phone sat in your lap and you looked down at it. When the screen turned black you could see your reflection looking back at you.

Your face was paler than usual, your eyebags had eyebags and your eyes were slightly glazed over as you looked at someone who you didn't seem to recognize. You seemed to be a shell of yourself as you sat there on the edge of your bed in the dark. Your legs limply dangled off the edge and you could feel tears start to build in your eyes. You didn't even notice until a tear slipped down your cheek.

So this was what it was to be an agent. Fun stuff.

Maybe you should've listened to all those who warned you. You were stubborn, determined, you always knew what you wanted. So when everyone warned you about the dangers of being an agent you shrugged it all off.

Even when Leon was your mentor and he took the time to train you, he too was one person who tried to warn you about the dangers of being an agent. At first you were offended. You thought that he was telling you all this because he thought you were incapable or weren't fit to be an agent. It turns out that wasn't true at all.

Leon was endeared by you from the moment he laid his eyes on you. You were bright and full of life. You were always willing to do whatever it took to please him, whether that be in training or missions and then he got to watch you evolve into your own person.

But now as you sit in the dark by yourself, tears streaming down your cheeks in a silent show of the pain going on inside, you were starting to wonder how you'd ever be able to live like this.

Knock knock knock

You practically jump out of your skin with a soft cry. Almost on instinct your hands fly to your bedside table and you pull out your gun that you keep handy. You've been far too paranoid lately not to have it around so you grip the gun in your hands as you walk through your apartment.

You turn on a lamp for some much needed light and with a deep breath you open the door a crack and peek through the small opening.

"Who is it?" you hiss through the door.

Suddenly you catch the sight of a leather jacket and bright blue eyes.

"Mind opening the door?"

Your heart speeds up and you can feel your cheeks grow warm as you hear the husky voice of Leon. His voice sounded like honey and god did it send chills down your spine sometimes but right now you were shocked that he was even here.

You open the door fully this time and stare for a moment. God why was he so beautiful. Sure he looked a little aged and a tad bit on the tired side but he was still beautiful. It was just the way his hair perfectly fell over his face and how he had a chiseled jaw that was paired with some light stubble and his eyes. Oh, you wouldn't even get started on his eyes.

Though you soon realize that right now isn't the time to be staring at Leon. He gives you a look and you sigh and rub your eyes tiredly.

"You came?" you say, almost as if you were in disbelief.

"You called." Leon responds simply.

He watches as you stare at him for a moment more. This time you just look tired. You look him up and down. A small pout in your lips as your tired eyes practically drooped. With that a sigh you step aside and you let him walk into your wreck of an apartment. You shut the door behind you and carelessly plop your gun down on your counter.

"Ignore the mess. It's been a long week." you mutter as you sit down on your couch. Leon's gaze follows you as you stumble onto the couch and you almost seem to collapse into yourself.

He sits down next to you and you can still feel his eyes on you. You almost love it and hate it at the same time. You loved it because his attention was on you, as pathetic as that sounded you always knew that you seek out validation and attention from Leon. Even if you didn't want to admit the fact to yourself. But you also despised that he was looking at you right now. You knew how pathetic you must've seemed to him. You sat next to him, you hadn't showered in a day or two, your hair was a straggly, stringy mess, the sweatpants and tank top you had on were wrinkled and probably needed a good wash. It almost made you want to beg him to not look at you at all.

"So do you want to talk about it?" Leon asks, his voice came out soft. Almost like a whisper but loud enough to be heard out in the air. It was unlike his usual sarcastic tone that he always responded to you with when you both were together on a normal day.

"Talk about what?" you asked simply. You knew what he was alluding to. The day you came back to the report on the mission. The moment he saw how miserable you looked, in fact you looked more than miserable. Leon was all too familiar with that look. It was a look of fatigue and loss. Like all the innocence and naivety that you once possessed was drained out of you by the time your mission was done. It was a deep look within your eyes that showed all the horrible things you had seen, that you did, that you had to deal with and survive through. Leon knew about it all. He had gone through it all and he remembers the exact moment that it all came crashing down on him like it had on you now. It was Spain. Spain had always haunted him. It was almost like he never left that hellish place since he always seemed to be trapped there in his dreams and it was always something in the back of his mind.

"You called me for a reason." Leon says, trying to look you in the eye. You refused to look at him though. You turned your head downwards to look at your hands. You watched as you fidgeted with your fingernails and still felt Leon's stone gaze on you.

"I don't know why I called you. It was a mistake. I shouldn't have." You utter.

There's a moment of silence and suddenly Leon's hand comes into view as he reaches out and grabs one of your own. It effectively grabs your attention and you look up at him as he grips your hand in his. He starts to softly rub circles into the back of your hand as you look at him, being slightly startled.

"It wasn't a mistake. You can talk to me, sweetheart." he coos.

Fuck. You almost want to melt with how the pet name rolls off his tongue or how he looks at you with all his undivided attention.

Your mouth opens and closes. You go to speak but no words come out. Your mouth goes dry and a choked sound leaves your throat.

"There's...nothing to talk about." you meekly say.

That's when the first tear fell from your eye. Then another and another. Then suddenly you were shaking. Your lungs were burning, your chest ached, your lips trembled. In a pathetic attempt to stop Leon from seeing this sudden emotional display, your free hand goes to cover your face as a sob leaves your throat.

Before you knew it a pair of arms lifts you up and you are pulled into Leon's lap. Your face buried in his neck and his one hand softly combed through your tangled hair as the other hand was tracing circles in your back.

"I know...I know it hurts. Let it out sweetheart." Leon mutters into your hair.

Its like the world crashes around you as you let out sobs and cries. You clutch onto Leon like he's a life line, like he's the only thing grounding you right now. Which may actually be the case as he continues to stroke your hair, rub your back. You even feel a few kisses being pressed to the crown of your head as he talks you through it all.

Even when your breathing starts to become more shallow and it feels like you're suffocating Leon is still there, being calm and grounding you.

"I know it's hard but just breathe for me baby. You can do that can't you?" he softly asks as both hands cup your cheeks so he can fully look at you.

You weakly nod as ragged, choked breaths come in and out of your mouth. You start to feel dizzy but Leon keeps his hands on your cheeks and continues to talk.

"Okay take a deep breath in..." Leon deeply inhales, waiting for you to do the same. You deeply inhale and then watch as Leon slowly exhales. You slowly exhale. He deeply inhales again and you do the same. Then you both exhale and repeat.

"Good girl, that's it. Just breathe." Leon encourages you, still rubbing your cheeks gently. Soon enough your breaths begin to even out as Leon continues to run his thumbs along your cheek bones, soothing you in the process. He especially makes sure to wipe the tears that are still streaming down your cheeks.

As you continue to cry you notice him lean closer and press his forehead against yours and his hands slowly leave your cheeks until they rest on either side of your head.

"I know its hard. Trust me. But I promise you i'll be here, if you allow me to be." Leon whispers as he stares into your eyes.The silence hangs between the both of you, thick and tense, heavy with emotions. Leon pulls you close, wrapping his arms around you as tight as possible.

You almost feel like a child as you grasp onto him. You're still a little teary eyed and weary.

"Will you stay with me...please..." you mutter.

His arms tighten around you a bit more and a slight smile comes to his face. "Of course sweetheart."

[azrielsdove]

hi, i love ur fics so much, they are all so well written! can i request a fic where reader is feyre + rhysands daughter and is secretly seeing tamlins son. rhys and tamlin catch them and all hell breaks loose, while feyre is just trying to calm everyone down.

Thank you lovely!!!! I am SO happy you are enjoying them. I hope this was what you wanted <3

Spring’s Son

Warnings: Suggestive, 18+

***

“I want to come with.” You said, waiting for your parents reaction. Your mother looked at you curiously, your father shrugging.

“Why not?” He replied, a smile coming onto his face. “Let’s make it a family affair, bring Nyx too!” Your mother rolled her eyes, knowing your father liked to flaunt their family in front of her old lover.

“Fine. Be ready after lunch, we are heading out then.” You nodded, bounding to your room in excitement. You took a long bath, cleaning every inch of your body. You took the time to perfectly do your hair, choosing a dress that you felt would pass with your parents. Truly, you were too old for them to argue you, but the High Lord and Lady were not forces to be reckoned with most days. You admired yourself in the mirror, appreciating your reflection. You looked lovely.

You met your parents after lunch, your brother already waiting with them. He looked at you, a knowing smirk on his face. “Dressed to impress, dear sister?” He teased, your eyes flashing a warning to him. Your mother had that look on her face again, like she was trying to solve an equation. Your father scoffed at your brother, batting him on the back of the head.

“She’s dressed like a Night Court princess should be.” He said, holding out his arms to grab yours. He admired you, ever the proud father. “My beautiful girl.” It was your brothers turn to roll his eyes, a trait he picked up from your mother.

“Alright, alright. Can we just go?” He asked, ready to get to the Spring Court. Nyx was especially good at pushing Tamlins buttons, that trait he took straight from your father. You mother tutted over him, smoothing his jacket down and ruffling his hair as the four of you prepared to winnow away.

***

You landed in the Spring Court with your father, your mother and Nyx close behind. Your parents linked their arms together, you and your brother following dutifully behind as you walked up to the manor. You spotted Tamlin at the top of the steps, his wife next to him. You strained your eyes, looking for the familiar mop of blond curls. You were dismayed to find that his son had chosen to not greet your family.

“Tamlin! Camellia! How good it is to see you, old friends.” Your father spoke, shaking hands and kissing cheeks.

“Rhysand. Feyre. Children.” Tamlin replied, nodding to each of you. “Come, let us head inside.” He led you into his beautiful home, you pretending to simply be admiring the decor as you looked around.

Where was he?

He was usually waiting with his parents whenever you had come, ever the polite Son of Spring. You knew you couldn’t ask, couldn’t draw attention to the fact that you came just to see him. You sat at the long table in the dining room, the seat across from yours remaining empty. You tried to ignore the disappointment rising in you, putting a polite smile on your face as dinner was served.

Dinner went rather uneventful, casual chatter happening over the meal. Your parents and Tamlin had long since forgiven each other, but that did not mean the teasing ended. “Now, Tam, can we be promised one of your delightful concerts after dinner?” Your father asked, a twinkle in his eyes. The High Lord of Spring looked up to the ceiling, as if asking the Mother for the patience to deal with the High Lord of Night.

“Why, Rhysand? You wish to show off those dance skills again?” Tamlin replied, a smirk on his lips. You let out a small laugh, remembering your fathers so-called ‘skills’. He shot a glare to you, a look that said You’re supposed to be on my side. You smiled at him, teasing.

At the end of dinner Tamlin stood, extending an arm to your parents. “Please, if we shall meet in the study. We have much to discuss.” Your parents stood as well, following Tamlin and Camellia down the hall. You were certain there wasn’t actually anything to discuss, just an excuse for the four of them to drink and gossip together.

You got up from the table, intending to go search for the son you so desperately wanted to see. Nyx clicked his tongue, calling your attention to him. “What?” you asked, arms crossing defensively in front of you.

“You could be less obvious. You looked like a wounded puppy when you saw he wasn’t here.” Your brother answered, leaning back in his chair. Your cheeks flushed at his words, teeth clenching.

“You have no idea what you’re talking about.” You defended, heart racing. Were you truly so easy to read?

Your brother sighed, picking at his nails nonchalantly. “Sister, please. I know everything about you.” His words were cocky, the know-it-all bastard. You released your arms, turning to walk towards the door.

“Stay out of my business, Nyx.”

***

You carefully prowled the Spring Court manor, hoping you’d catch him at any turn. You stayed mostly to the areas you knew you were allowed to be in, not knowing how to explain yourself if you were caught. You ended up in the giant library, standing in front of the windows overlooking the gardens. There was a delicate beauty here, one that almost rivaled the deadly beauty of the Night Court.

You startled when two arms wrapped around your waist, lips pressing against your neck. The familiar scent of grass and honeysuckle swept over you, realization dawning. “Where were you?” you asked, sinking into his arms.

“Why? Did my Nightingale miss me?” He teased, leaving a trail of kisses on your skin. You softly moaned, hands clasping over his.

“I always do.” You said, turning in his arms. You looked at the long blond curls, the brilliant green eyes. He was as handsome as his father, with the beauty of his mother shining through. “Cyrus.” You whispered, a hand coming up to twist a lock of gold around your finger. “You have been ignoring me.”

He gave a small smile, leaning down to kiss you ever so gently. “Never, my dear. I have been out hunting from dusk to dawn with my father. Strange creatures are being seen on the edges of our court, I couldn’t let him go alone.” Cyrus explained, a hand coming to cup your face. “I am always thinking of you.” He murmured, his voice heavy. “Especially on lonely nights.”

A shiver shot through you at his words, desire spreading quickly. “Is that so?” You teased, leaning up to press kisses to his jawline. “What, exactly, do you think about?” You let your kisses fall to his neck, licking a stripe over his adams apple. He groaned, his arm tightening around your waist, the hand on your face coming to grasp your throat.

“You know better than to play with me when we have been apart so long.” He growled out, the hand on your throat tightening pleasurably. You moaned out, eyes blown wide with desire. Cyrus was good at this, at reducing you to a puddle in a matter of moments. His hand released your throat, sliding to the back of your neck so he could angle your head up to his. “Oh, how i’ve longed to hear that sound again.” His lips came down to yours, quickly convincing your mouth to open. You knew it was a bad idea to be doing this where anyone could walk in, but your mind was so clouded with need that you didn’t care.

Cyrus pushed you back, pressing you to window behind. “Cyrus,” you gasped out, “anyone can see.” His lips tore from yours, resuming his initial attack on your neck.

“I don’t particularly care.” He said against your skin, a soft bite bringing a whimper from you. Your nails dug into his back, the hand around your waist dipping under your skirts. “I had to skip dinner, I knew if I saw you I wouldn’t be able to keep from touching you.” He whispered as he gently bit under your ear. His fingers toyed with the delicate lace covering you, an embarrassingly needy noise coming from your mouth. He brought his lips back to yours, kissing you hard as his fingers slid to where you needed him.

“What, may I ask, is going on here?”

The two of you froze at the cold voice, the haze of lust shattering around you. Cyrus pulled his hand from your skirt quickly, hiding the wetness on his fingers behind his back. You pushed off the window, straightening your dress as you looked at your father. In that moment, Rhysand looked ever the dangerous Dark Lord he was rumored to be.

Your gaze turned to Tamlin next to him, the same anger visible on his face. You knew his claws were seconds away from coming out, not able to believe the sight in front of him. You paled, shame creeping up your spine.

“Father, I-“ Cyrus began, ever the gentleman. Rhysand cut him off.

“You better have a good reason for having your hand up my daughters skirt.” Your fathers voice was nearly shaking with anger. Tamlin scoffed, turning the attention to him.

“Please,” he said, looking to your father. “With the way you Night Court fae act, she probably seduced him herself.” Your face flushed at the two of them, humiliated by the scene they walked in on.

“Enough!” Cyrus boomed out, hand reaching to grab yours. “There is no dark magic here. Rhysand, Sir, I love your daughter.” The room went speechless, the quiet deadly. Feyre and Camellia chose that moment to enter the room, catching the end of Cyrus’ confession. Your mothers eyes find yours, a knowing look in them. That gave you the strength to step closer to Cyrus, your hand coming to rest on his arm.

“Father, Tamlin, I love him.” You declared, looking up to smile at the handsome blond. Your father gave a great roar of laughter, rounding on Tamlin.

“What kind of a game is this, Spring?” He seethed, getting in his face. The other High Lord rose against him, his anger as equal.

“Who’s to say this isn’t your game, Night? You come into my home, send your daughter to whore out my son!” Tamlin yelled, retaliating against your father.

“Stop!” Your mother cried out, stepping between the two of them. She turned your father, grabbing his hands in hers. “You truly haven’t felt the love coming off her in recent months? The way she suddenly wished to accompany us every time we came here? Tell me you aren’t so naive, husband.” She spoke, calming the rage inside him. Camellia did the same with Tamlin, whispering soothing words to him.

Your father looked slightly ashamed, realizing he hadn’t noticed the change in you. He looked back to you and Cyrus, an apology in his eyes.

“Aw Mother, why did you stop them right when it was getting good?” Your brother drawled from the doorway, commanding the attention of the room. Your mother sighed at him, shaking her head at her eldest.

“Now is not the time, Nyx.” She chided, turning back to you. “How long?” She asked, gesturing between the two of you. Cyrus cleared his throat, unsure if the answer was going to create more anger or help dispel it.

“Around a year.” He said, holding his breath while he waited for a reaction. Your mother smiled, walking over to embrace you.

“I am happy for you, my darling.” She said, holding you tight. “Why keep it a secret for so long?” She asked, looking at you quizzically. You gestured to the two fathers, looking ready to attack each other again.

“Have you ever met them?”

***

[ylangelegy]

harrowing kae (pt. 3)

DINO DAUNTLESS DINO DAUNTLESS DINO DAUNTLESS ✊ i would absolutely spar (and lose) to dauntless dino

tara, my dearest, i have nothing to show for my dauntless!dino wip except bullet points and one too many photos of how i imagine he would look like... as a dauntless security force member :)

[set pre-pre-divergent canon, which means eric and four are not yet in dauntless]

chan who is born in amity, and it's good, it's nice, it works, but it doesn't feel right. he's from a family that's fairly well-off in the faction. if he chooses to stay, he'll be set for life. marry some nice girl, farm his days away! he should be happy... right?

except he obviously isn't, and everybody knows it. his family is restless about him moving factions; their refrain/whispered prayer is relatively to-be-expected. go to erudite, go to abnegation, sure. anything but dauntless. anything but dauntless.

alas, chan lives to defy expectations. the more he's told "don't do it", the more he thinks the idea is appealing. next thing you know, he's cutting his palm over the coals of dauntless with that almost dopey grin on his face.

except chan kind of sucks. he passes initiation through the skin of his teeth. he's good with the physical aspect— body trained with years of toil— but he barely gets by through the emotional/mental aspects of the tests. he's goaded for being a pansy, one of those 'tree-hugging amity fuckers', and he gets into just enough fights that he's threatened by his trainers that he'll be factionless by the end of this whole thing.

he survives. by the grace of his old faction's gods, he survives, and chan is assigned to be a fence guard. he thrives a little more here, his amity sensibilities making it ideal for him to interact face-to-face with people. he gets promoted to the security force, where he maintains a cushy position involving keeping the City safe.

[branching plot points — need to decide which plot to go with considering this ↑ chan!]

dauntless!mc - either 1) dauntless born!mc who was in the same initiation class as chan. was so good that everyone thought she'd end up a dauntless leader, but has a seeming 'fall from grace' when she ends up in the security force alongside a bemused chan. "doesn't matter where we came from. we all end up in the same place, don't we?" or 2) dauntless!mc who works as a nurse and has to deal with chan's bullshit. "why are you always getting injured?" "maybe i'm trying to find an excuse to see you. ever think of that?"

amity!mc - the girl/life that chan left behind. she's a counsellor now, and chan is assigned to be one of her security detail. "do you ever regret the choices that you made?" "i don't. i can't."

factionless!mc - the factionless are restless, and prior to the arrival of evelyn johnson-eaton, there was mc. mc struggles to manage the ragtag group of factionless into a more coherent system, and chan has to reckon with what the City is expecting to be an uprising.

[dr-spencer-reids-queen]

Reckoner: Part One

Pairing: Spencer Reid x Female!Reader

Word Count: ~2.3k

Summary: Your world is turned upside down when you get in trouble for something you didn't even do. The entire team is in uproar over this but Hotch says he will take care of it. Can he? Or are you doomed to live out the rest of your days in misery?

Warnings: canon violence, canon language, canon talk of death, methods of kill

Author’s Note: I do not own anything from Criminal Minds. All credit goes to their respective owners. If there are any warnings that exceed the normal death/kills from the show, I will list them.

x

"Justice without force is powerless; force without justice is tyrannical." - Blaise Pascal

"How is your knee feeling?" you ask Spencer when you walk out of the elevator.

"Still hurts, but the brace you have around it is helping. I'm not moving it too much."

"I might not be a doctor in medicine but I know a thing or two."

You two walk into the bullpen where the rest of the team is. Derek, Emily, and Penelope are huddled around JJ who is showing them pictures on her phone.

"What are you guys looking at?" you ask and set your things on your desk.

"Pictures of Henry."

"My Godson? Let me see!" You and Spencer head over to her and admire the pictures of her son. "Look at his chubby cheeks. He's so cute. You guys are still bringing him over this weekend, right?"

"Yes. Will and I are very excited to go out of town."

"Well, don't worry. Spencer might be crippled but we can take care of him," you joke.

"Hey!"

You look up and see Hotch and Rossi in Hotch's office with an agent sent from the Witness Protection Program. Everyone knows it's Jack's birthday so it's especially hard on Hotch right now. The agent leaves promptly, leaving both older men to talk alone.

"How he is doing?" you ask and nod to your boss.

"How do you think?" Derek sighs. "That agent came by earlier to show him a video of Jack. It sucks but that's about as much as Hotch is gonna get for it."

"We're gonna catch Foyet before something bad happens," you promise.

"We should get to the briefing room," JJ announces and puts her phone away.

You're about to follow everyone when you see several Virginia police officers walk into the bullpen.

"Excuse me, where can I find SSA Y/N?"

"Right here. What can I do for you?" you ask and step forward.

"You're under arrest for the murders of Juan Lopez, John Dimateo, Chase Williams, Eric Price, Jeffrey--"

As the officer is speaking, he turns you around and handcuffs your wrists behind your back. Your gun and badge are still on your person which he also removes. He says two more names which makes a total of seven people he thinks you're responsible for. The entire bullpen is in chaos as Spencer and JJ protest against your involvement, Penelope is just confused and asking why, and Derek immediately gets Hotch and Rossi involved.

"Hotch! Rossi!" Derek yells.

Hotch looks through the window and sees you in handcuffs. He and Rossi are out of their seats and out of the office in record time.

"Excuse me, what is going on?"

"Who are you?" the officer who handcuffed you asks.

"I'm her superior. What is going on here?"

"She's being arrested for the murders of seven men."

"Hotch! I didn't do it!" you say but they're already pulling you away.

"Wait, where are you taking her?"

"Virginia Police Department for questioning."

"Hotch! Spencer!" you say as they practically drag you away.

For five seconds, no one can say anything. No one can believe what they just witnessed. You? Murder? You dedicate your life to helping others, not to end their lives. You've had so many bad things happen to you and by doing good, you think you're making up for the bad. Why would you go out and murder seven people? When would you have the time to? If you're not at work, you're at home with Spencer.

After those shocking five seconds, all hell breaks loose. Everyone starts talking over each other. What is going on? Who are these victims? There has to be some kind of mistake. Y/N would never murder anyone. They've got the wrong woman. Even people who are not on the team start whispering to each other.

"Everyone calm down," Hotch says loudly. He turns to Rossi who is trying to keep a confident face on. "Take the team with you to Long Island." He addresses the team. "Listen, I'm going to go down there and figure out what's going on. In the meantime, there is still a case going on that needs our attention. JJ and Rossi will brief you on the case. When I'm done, I'll fly up there on my own."

"Let me go with you," Spencer says.

"Spencer, I know how hard it is for you right now, but I need you with the team. I'm going to take care of it."

Everyone hates that they can't be there for you right now but they understand where Hotch is coming from. When Hotch was released from the hospital, they all wanted to take care of him but stayed with the team and worked on other cases. However, Hotch was bedridden. You're in fucking jail.

After Hotch leaves and the rest of the team is getting ready to fly to New York, Spencer is still stuck in his spot. He can't seem to move from it because all he is thinking about is you. He wants to cry. He wants to break down at the thought of you being all alone in that interrogation room. Derek does a double take and walks over to Spencer.

"She's going to be okay, man. They have the wrong person. We both know this."

Spencer has to believe this otherwise he doesn't know what he is going to do. Everyone piles into the briefing room but it's like they are zombies. No one knows how to act because your chair is empty. Spencer won't be able to concentrate on a word JJ says much less anyone else, but she begins the briefing.

"Last night, Ben Vanderwaal was killed in Commack, Long Island. He was shot at close range once in the heart, once in the head with a .22 caliber. They found hair and blood trances from Ben's wife, Heather."

"Not Heather?" Rossi asks.

"No, she's still missing and presumed dead. The caliber and placement of the bullets match that of two previous victims. The first is Rita Haslat. Eight months ago, she went missing from her home in New Jersey. Four weeks later, she was found in a trash bin."

JJ puts pictures of what Rita looked like before and after being found.

"She went from that to this in under three weeks? She's totally emaciated," Emily says.

"Ligature marks on her wrists and ankles indicate she was constrained." Derek looks over at Spencer to see him staring at the desk. "One in the heart, one in the head like Ben."

"It sounds more like an execution," Rossi says. "What about the third victim?"

"His name is Bill Levington. His appearance was certainly altered."

JJ allows the others to read about what happened to Bill. There's no way she's going to put those pictures on the screen. Spencer grabs the file and flips through it but he's not really reading it. He's only doing this so he doesn't get in trouble for not paying attention.

"His genitals are missing. Though the method of mutilation is different in each crime, there is clearly a signature. The question is, what?"

"In Ben's case, his hands were taken. Bill's genitals were taken. Rita was completely different. She was starved, tortured, and executed. There's no sign of postmortem mutilation," JJ says.

"Why would he take Heather and not simply kill her?"

"Maybe he hasn't and she's still alive," Derek says.

"The only thing concrete is the MO which depicts an efficient no-nonsense murder. We need to figure out what each act of mutilation means to the unsub or to the victim. Wheels up in twenty," Rossi announces.

He gets up, takes out a file from his inner jacket pocket, and places it in front of Spencer. The noise of the paper slapping the desk is enough to break Spencer out of his trance. He looks at the file and then up at Rossi.

"What's this?"

"You told us you were cleared to fly. You lied."

"Naughty boy," Emily chuckles.

"No, I didn't. I am a doctor, so technically, it wasn't a lie," Spencer stutters.

"What was it, then?" Penelope asks.

"Second opinion."

"You're my bitch now," she smiles and walks out of the briefing room. Everyone else walks out leaving Spencer alone with his thoughts. He allows his tears to fall now that he's alone. Penelope pauses when she hears him sniffle so she backtracks into the room. "Spence..."

"I'm fine," he sniffles and wipes his eyes.

"No, you're not. We're all not fine. She's going to be okay. Hotch is going to get her out of this."

"Yeah, I know," he whispers.

Hotch arrives at the Virginia Police Department sooner than he thought. He won't let you go down for something you never did. He's known you for around five years. He knows the kind of person you are, especially when you tackled him away from a car bomb and stayed by his side when he was stabbed by Foyet. He's not going to let anything happen to you.

The police department must know he was coming because they are on his ass as soon as he walks through the front door.

"You can't be here. You have no authority. This case isn't Federal," the arresting officer says.

"Like hell, I can't. I am her boss. She has rights."

"Which have been read to her. She hasn't lawyered up."

"There is a big misunderstanding here--"

"There is no misunderstanding. Y/N committed these crimes and didn't try to hide it very well."

"With what evidence?"

"Oh, we got a buttload of evidence and it all points to her. Sorry, but you're not on the case. I can't release that kind of information."

"I need to see her. I have a right to talk to her as her superior and as a lawyer."

The officer knows he's not going to win this argument so he decides to let it become his supervisor's problem.

"Be my guest."

The officer leads Hotch to where you are. They took you to one of the interrogation rooms as soon as you arrived, and you've been sitting here with an incompetent officer asking you questions. You're handcuffed to the desk even though you've shown no signs of being violent. You've complied with all of their rules but you haven't said a word to them. You know how interrogations work. You know how someone can incriminate themselves just by talking. You're going to let them get all their questions out before lawyering up.

"Care to explain to us why we found your DNA on all seven men?" No answer. "All seven men were murdered with different weapons that we traced back to your apartment. Your possession. Care to explain?" No answer. "My question is how did you manage to murder seven very fit and strong men that brutally? You're an FBI agent. You must know how to cover your tracks, no?"

"I want my lawyer."

The officer sighs and closes the file they have on you. He can't ask any more questions until your lawyer arrives. He chooses to leave the file there and exits the interrogation room. You immediately grab the file and look through it to see what they have. All seven men were brutally murdered like he said, but you didn't think it would be this bad. You're a strong woman but not strong enough to do this kind of damage.

Each man was killed with a different murder weapon--all that you recognize. They're items from your and Spencer's apartment. A kitchen knife that JJ gave you as a set for you moving into Spencer's apartment, a worn-down hammer you got from your parent's house to put up more shelves, one of your heels that Spencer got you as a present just because he loves you, the fire extinguisher you keep underneath the sink, the iron you keep in the bathroom, one of your phone chargers, and a box of Spencer's matches.

All of these items can come back to you since you're the one who bought them all besides the heels. Who are these men? Who actually killed them? They were all killed in close proximity to your home and work, so whoever killed them must be local to the area. Why frame you for the murders? What does this person or people get for framing you? There are a whole lot of questions that the police aren't asking.

It seems like all they see is murders, some DNA that belongs to you, so you must be the killer without asking the important questions. The door opens and you quickly close the file and return it to the spot in which you found it. You go back to the stoic look on your face but that drops when you see Hotch at the door.

"Hotch!" He closes the door to give you two some privacy even though you know someone is watching you. "I didn't do it. You have to believe me."

"I know. I believe you," he nods and sits across from you, "but someone did and they really want you to suffer for it."

"I've never even met these men in my life. I don't know who they are. How could I have murdered them? I practically live at the BAU."

"They say they have strong evidence against you but they're not saying what it is. I'm not your lawyer."

"How's Spencer?"

"As much as you'd expect him to be. He wanted to come here but the team is on a case on Long Island."

"Hotch, what do I do?" you sigh with tears in your eyes.

"I'm going to do everything I can to get you out of here. It's just a matter of time. You might be spending a few days with PD."

"Yeah. You should go to Long Island and help the team. Like you said, they're not gonna let me leave anytime soon. I'll probably still be here when you get back."

"I can stay here."

"Hotch, go help the team. People are dying. I'll be fine."

"Okay."

Hotch gets up to leave but you stop him before he can.

"Tell Spencer I am okay. My family has a lawyer I am going to use. Tell him I will be home soon."

"Alright."

As soon as Hotch leaves, your confident shell fades away. You're not sure if you're going to be okay. PD has their suspect in custody. They're not going to let you go easily. 

x

Follow my library blog @aqueenslibrary​​​​​​ where I reblog all my stories, so you can put notifications on there without the extra stuff :)

[blueberry-pride]

DORM PLAYLIST SCREEN

Playlist screens are back and are here to celebrate over 800+ followers in the past year! Go to my page to see the specials. The Follower Event will be from March 1-25, 2023. Come celebrate with me!

Meaning behind each song:

Heartslabyul "Then she aimed at my chest with love in her eye."- This song overall is catchy, a jumpy song that I'd think would fit Heartslabyul as a whole. Having that whole talk about madness but at the same time just playing it off and like its normal for them. This song sounds mischievous to me, something I see all peeps from this dorm are capable of.

Savanaclaw "We like it dangerous, we like to see you sweat, turn up another notch, you ain't see nothing yet."- This dorm is known for living life on the more rugged and rough side of things, hard work and often times by physical means to get what they want. And just like their dorm leader, they have a few tricks prepared when you least expect it.

Octavinelle "I don't belong among the angels, and baby that's just fine with me."- I like to think Octavinelle students are opportunistic as a whole, see something they like? they'll take advantage of it before anyone does. They can be as nice and as giving as the generous Sea Witch just remember not to go too far into the deep end cuz they sure know how to.

Scarabia "Can we go back, this is the moment. Tonight is the night, we'll fight til it's over."- Honestly one of the best songs at a party sure to get everyone dancing which is why I wanted this song for Scarabia. I see this dorm as both fun and seriousness. Planning and carefully plotting so that they can give it their all and they would still have enough energy in the end. You can't contain them!

Pomefiore "Pop culture was in art now art's in pop culture in me."- I like to think each Pomefiore student has some form of creativity in them and they all would pursue it through hard work to have it in the image that they see fit. A song that I see fit this dorm (one of the reasons being because its freaking Lady Gaga) because everyone here wants to get recognition by showing their own kind of beauty.

Ignihyde "Looking to the ways of the ones before me, looking for the path of the young and lonely."- A dorm that revolves around updating and improving on pre-existing things so that it becomes more stronger and something to better even more so for the next gen of starry-eyed students. Though with their diligent work, it's not shock that this dorm is the most introverted out of all. Mostly focusing and tending to themselves with one another. (Another reason why I chose this song is because its from Wreck it Ralph with the tech and all)

Diasomnia "Tell you you're the greatest but once you turn, they hate us."- I could list a lot of why I chose this song for Diasomnia but generally, it's about the main theme which is...well, enemies. It even says on the wiki, that they have a track record of having students with a lot of magical capabilities. So in a school that trains wizards with said magic, it comes as no surprise that with their greatness comes with people trying to see them as competition *coughs* Savanaclaw *coughs*. But besides that, Diasomnia is a force to be reckoned with and I could see it with this song

[wanderinginksplot]

Commander Fox + Mercenary!Reader

As a mercenary, you travel in and out of Coruscant a lot. You find it more than a little strange that Commander Fox himself always seems to be on the Coruscant Guard team investigating your transport when you come back planetside...

Commander Fox x gn!reader (platonic-ish, with a hint toward future feelings)

Thanks to @nowait-whathappened for the prompt!

Word Count: 3.4k words

Warnings: mentions of weapons, mentions of bodily injuries, implied lack of trust

Masterlist

---

“Transport 47816, prepare for boarding.”

The groans that echoed through the transport ship were instant and harsh. None of the familiar faces around you held an expression more pleasant than ‘irritation’, but you were well used to this by now. 

“Why?” Kann bit out harshly. You tried not to roll your eyes, but it was a close thing. As the Lament’s near-constant pilot, Kann knew exactly why you were being boarded just outside of Coruscant’s airspace, but that didn’t mean he was going to make things easy. 

“Transport 47816, you’re returning from a neutral star system. It’s protocol.”

Kann snarled. “Shove the protocol up your-”

“Shut up and let the troopers on the ship,” Skoh ordered. “I don’t have time for you to argue with the whole damn Guard.”

Despite his previous eagerness for a fight, Kann clenched his jaw and nodded. “Dropping shields now.” 

Kann was one of the more reckless members of the Lament, but Nakte Skoh was a force to be reckoned with. When the tall Togruta spoke, every one of the mercenaries on the team listened. Disobeying him was a good way to get killed - sometimes by the enemy and sometimes by Skoh himself. 

The troopers who boarded the transport were wearing the familiar Coruscant Guard colors. You even recognized a few of the patterns and greeted them with a slight nod. You wouldn’t have minded being a little more exuberant, but not among your coworkers. It would be unwise to show too much emotion surrounded by mercenaries. 

“Everyone stand.” Grumbling. “Leave all weapons here. We will be interviewing each of you separately.” More grumbling, even as everyone started to reluctantly comply. 

The trooper issuing instructions was none other than the commander of the Coruscant Guard, Commander Fox. You could recognize him by his visored helmet easily enough, but there was something in his voice. What exactly made his tone was hard to pinpoint, but if pressed, you thought you could pick it out of a crowd. Even if that crowd were made up of other clone troopers. 

So you stood with the others, smoothly pulling your blasters and blades out from their usual places. The pile they made on your empty seat was respectable, the wear on the weapons a mark of your ability to use every one. With a last quick count to make sure none of the other mercenaries decided to take something that wasn’t theirs, you followed everyone to the link between your ship and the Guard’s. 

“Hope they’ll be less stupid about their weapons checks this time,” Yarrex muttered to you. The Kiffar was impatient at the best of times, but she knew her stuff better than most. “Last time, they misaligned the power pack on my rifle. If I hadn’t checked, it would have taken all of us out.”

You nodded fervently, remember how close a call that had been. Yarrex’s rifle had been actively overheating by the time she returned to the transport ship and she had hissed loud curses the whole time she fixed it. You couldn’t blame her - the smell from the flesh of her fingertips burning had lingered in the ship for days. 

There was a Coruscant Guard trooper just inside the larger ship, ushering you to your ultimate destination. “This way, down the hall-”

“-And to the right,” you finished. “I know, I know.”

“Been here a few times?” Yarrax asked over her shoulder. 

You shrugged, glad there was no one else behind you. What you were about to say could easily turn into tales of bad luck, and eventually spiral into you not being hired onto as many jobs. “Every single time I come back to Coruscant.”

“That’s not fair,” one of the trooper protested. 

You aimed a dry look in his direction. “We both know it is, Chase.” 

“I didn’t know they had names,” Kann remarked as he was led to one of the interrogation rooms. 

Yarrax hissed disapprovingly at his back. The trooper stammered, “I- I’m not Chase.”

“Save it,” Skoh advised with a nod in your direction. “That one can smell lies.”

Chase glanced at you, clearly nervous even through the protective cover of his helmet. You gave him a broad smile and went to sit down. 

Chase and the trooper who had directed you to the interrogation area were watching the room. The unfamiliar one had a medic’s cross on one shoulder and you wondered idly whether the Guard was expecting trouble. 

They shouldn’t, honestly. The standard Coruscant Guard procedure was to pull everyone into individual rooms to ask questions about the most recent mission. The Lament had some latitude in the way they conducted business, but everyone made a point of being as vague as possible in their answers. It was an entertaining game you all played when you came back to Coruscant. 

Though, apparently, no one played it as often as you. 

There were two interrogation rooms being used at the moment. The ship had at least a few more, but Lament missions were made up of ten mercenaries by rule - no more, no less. With Kann and another mercenary in the interrogation rooms, there apparently weren’t enough of you to warrant using more rooms. 

Mercenaries weren’t the most lively and talkative bunch, especially not after a long mission. A few of them shut their eyes to catch a few moments of sleep. The lone Nautolan in the Lament, a female named Veng, worked on repairing a tear she had gotten in the shoulder of her shirt. The needle flashing in and out of the ripped halves was mesmerizing, but your attention was caught by Skoh. 

Your leader was watching the room, gaze intent as he studied the mercenaries and the troopers watching you. There was no real tension in him, not even the kind disguised by the specific relaxation he took on when a negotiation was leading toward violence. But he was awake and alert, so you decided that you should be, too. 

Not that there was any reason to, of course. Skoh and Yarrix were the next to disappear into interview rooms as the first two went back to the transport ship. You weren’t among the next two to be called, or the ones after that. When it was only you and Veng left on the Guard ship, the door opened for Khyr to step out. Commander Fox stood in the doorway, sternly announcing that you were next. 

Veng didn’t glance up to see the amused look you gave her, but that was fine. It hadn’t really been for her, anyway. The commander stepped aside for you to enter the interrogation room, then closed the door before following you to the table. 

“Commander Fox,” you greeted with a nod. “How are you? How’s the wife?” 

The commander removed his helmet, all the better for you to see the confusion and exasperation mingling on his handsome face. “The wife.” 

“Or husband,” you amended. “Or partner. Non-specific.”

“I don’t have any of those,” he told you. “Did you get hit on the head during this massacre?”

You rolled your eyes at him, the way you always did when he disparaged your line of work. “Not a massacre. Not this time, at least. We do things other than kill people, you know.” 

“Yeah? What was the objective on this mission?” 

It just so happened that the mission you were returning from had been far more violent than expected, so you stepped neatly around the question. “Anyway, the point is that I see you so often, I feel like I should get to know something about your life. With anyone else, I would know about their partner or children or pets or hobbies. I see you more often than my parents.” 

“That so?” Fox asked, tilting his head to deliver his skeptical expression to best effect.

“Not in the slightest,” you admitted easily. “But it has come to my attention that not every Lament mission gets investigated by the Guard when they return to Coruscant.” 

Fox stiffened slightly. “We do our best to stop every transport, but our team is spread thin…”

“I’m not doubting your work, Commander,” you assured, “just your selection methods. Why is it that my team is always the one to be stopped?” 

“Coincidence.” 

Now, it was your turn to be skeptical. “You’ll have to do better than that, Fox.” 

His eyes widened briefly and you wondered if you had offended him by dropping his title, but he recovered in the next instant. “Are you suggesting that we should be suspicious of you?” 

“No, but you are,” you countered. “Otherwise, why would you always be focused on my missions?” 

“I told you: we aren’t.” 

Despite the way Fox’s teeth were gritted, you pushed on. You had a trump card, and you intended to play it: “Then why are you here? You, specifically? The Head Commander of the Coruscant Guard, investigating a transport full of mercenaries? You have better things to be doing than this. It’s suspicious.”

“I’ve told you, it’s a coincidence.” Fox sounded overly stubborn, even for him. 

You lifted your hands innocently in front of yourself and leaned backward in your chair. “Fine, fine. Total coincidence. Your complete lack of supporting evidence or further arguments has convinced me. Proceed with your interrogation, Commander.” 

He scowled intensely at you, but sat in the chair across from yours and started with the typical round of questions. Name, address, interplanetary work-travel permit number, employer, job title.

When you had answered them all successfully, Fox set his datapad down on the table between you. “Now, tell me about the mission you completed just prior to coming back to Coruscant.” 

“We were on Raydonia,” you answered easily. “We were hired to protect a village.” 

Fox gestured for you to continue when you stopped. “And what were you protecting them from?” 

“They were hit by two unknowns a few weeks ago.” The explanation was a little shaky, but it was the only one you had been given. It was still more than you usually got for a job and you were fine with that, but Fox seemed determined to think you were untrustworthy. “They took some of the most powerful warriors in the village. The village elders were worried some of the surrounding people might take the chance to attack them. They were right.” 

“Were there any casualties?” Fox asked, carefully not looking at you. 

You smiled despite yourself. “No Republic citizens were harmed.”

It was a vague and a polite way of reminding him that he had no jurisdiction over things that happened outside of Republic-controlled planets. Technically speaking, Fox had no jurisdiction over things that happened outside of Coruscant, but you wouldn’t bet on that stopping him. 

“And among your team?” he asked. “No injuries or deaths?”

“Nothing major,” you told him with a shrug. “You can count. I’m sure you noticed all ten of us are here and accounted for.” 

“What about minor injuries?” he pressed. 

You knew better than to shift in your chair, or look away from the easy eye contact you had maintained up to that point. Fox was an expert, and a sharp one at that. The smallest possible tell and he would know everything there was to know. That was what made him dangerous.

“None to speak of.” 

Even your flawless delivery left him looking distinctly skeptical. “Then why are you limping?” 

Despite the surge of frustrated exasperation that rose in you, your lips curved into a smile. “You’re too observant for your own good, Commander.” 

“Which isn’t an answer.” 

That made you chuckle aloud. “No, it wasn’t. But since you’re so insistent on an explanation, I sustained a minor injury on the mission. I treated it promptly and it is well on its way to healing.”

“How were you injured?”

Dimly, you wondered if Fox realized that he had leaned forward slightly under the weight of his own intensity. But only dimly, because most of your attention was drawn to the way he was even more handsome from a shorter distance away. 

“Why?” 

Fox blinked, and it seemed to break the spell he had put himself under. An instant later, he was scowling again - a fairly regular expression for him during these stops. “Because I’m the Head Commander of the Coruscant Guard and I asked you a direct question.” 

“I don’t answer to you,” you reminded him, privately savoring the look of profound irritation blossoming on his face. “Not about missions that take place in independent systems. Even if they result in injuries.”

“Maybe I have cause to believe that you sustained that injury in Republic territory,” Fox proposed. “Maybe I need proof you aren’t lying to me.” 

For a mercenary, you were even-tempered. Remarkably so, in fact. It helped you get along with your more volatile coworkers. But you did have a temper, and when it sparked, you were far from subtle. 

The slam of the chair’s front legs reconnecting with the floor was loud. Fox didn’t jump - he had too much control over himself for that - but his eyes darted to yours in a way that made his surprise evident. Your hands connecting with the top of the table between you was loud, too, the sound specifically and purposefully sharp.

You leaned in toward Fox and the expression on your face was unpleasant enough that he looked concerned. “I like you, Fox. I think you’re a good man doing your best in the galaxy’s worst job. That’s why I’m gonna give you this one warning: I do not appreciate being called a liar.”

“I didn’t-” 

Your gaze was hard as you stared him in the eyes. Fox looked startled as well as concerned by that point. He had never seen you truly pissed before. 

“Yes, you did,” you said firmly. “I will be the first to admit that I exaggerate. I dramatize. I embellish for comedic effect. But I do not lie. I have never lied to you or any of your men, despite what is verging on harassment. I do not intend to lie in the future, and I don’t want to file a harassment charge, but all of that depends on you.”

It was honestly a shock when Fox didn’t take advantage of your pause to speak. It told you that he understood how deadly serious you were. With his attention sharp on you, you told him, “I’m a reasonable person. I am willing to overlook this misstep… once. And that offer is entirely dependent on what you say next.”

“I’m sorry,” Fox said, honesty ringing in the simple words. You waited for more and he obliged: “You’re right, you have never lied to me - to any of us. Not about anything big. It was unfair of me to accuse you of it.” 

“And why did you?” you asked. 

The question felt a little like twisting a blade in an injury, but you needed to know. You needed to know that it wasn’t going to happen again, and if it did, you needed to know enough to anticipate it. Because you had grown to respect Commander Fox, damn it, and it had hit surprisingly hard to have him misjudge your morals so dramatically. 

“I… don’t like the idea of you being injured,” Fox admitted, sounding mystified. You understood, since that explanation left you feeling a little mystified yourself. “I would like to know about your injury if you’ll agree to tell me.”

You watched the commander for another long moment, doing your best to gauge his sincerity. It wasn’t easy - especially since it required you to look past those lovely eyes and flawless bone structure - but you managed. It was one of your most reliable skills, after all. Fox seemed to be telling you the truth.

When you leaned your chair backward again, the tension in the room shattered. You sent him a cryptic half-smile. “You know us mercenaries,” you drawled. “We don’t give away anything for free. You ask your question and I’ll ask mine. A truthful answer for a truthful answer.”

Fox considered it for only a moment before he nodded. “How did you get injured?”

“One of the attacking villagers had better aim than I expected,” you said, smiling wryly. “After I pulled his vibroblade from my calf, I changed my previous opinion.”

“Do you have a bacta patch on it?” Fox asked. “If not, I can get you a fresh one before you go back to your transport.” 

“I already have one, thanks,” you assured him. “And I’m feeling generous, so I’m going to point out the fact that I let you ask two questions. Now it’s my turn.” 

Luckily for Fox, you really were in a good mood again. You only let him dangle in his discomfort for a few moments before you asked your question. “Do you always stop my transport on purpose?” 

“Yes.” 

For all that you had suspected that answer, hearing it directly was shocking. 

Instead of responding immediately, you paused for a moment to take a breath. If Fox was targeting you specifically, you had to believe there was a reason. And since you had already come this far, you may as well find out what that reason was. “Why?”

Fox looked reluctant and faintly uncomfortable. It was the look you imagined most of the troopers got when they were asked to do an unpleasant chore. But, to Fox’s credit, he gave the answer he had promised. 

“You’re not the typical mercenary.” You frowned, already opening your mouth, but he quickly went on. “Not that you don’t have your skills, but I’ve been keeping a close eye on the missions you’re a part of. That is, the Coruscant Guard has. There is a concern among the men that the Lament would leave you behind on a mission or allow an injury to go untreated.”

Well, it was an explanation, but you felt like it left you with more questions than answers. “Nice to know you guys worry about me, but I still don’t understand why you care.”

Fox shrugged, but the casual gesture was belied by the way his eyes were locked with yours. “You look at us like we’re human.” 

You frowned again. 

“And I… admire you,” Fox added quietly. “You have a code and you follow it. Unusual, especially for a mercenary.” 

“Again with the insults about my work.” Despite your heavy sigh, your tone was playful, and you knew he would take it as the tease that it was. “I look forward to seeing you too, Fox. That’s why I haven’t complained about being stopped every time we come back to Coruscant.”

He gave you a disbelieving look and you laughed. “Okay, fine. That’s why I don’t complain too much.”

Fox didn’t immediately reply. Normally, the two of you traded barbs and witty remarks back and forth so quickly that it would make an onlooker’s head spin. But you didn’t feel the need to say anything further and, apparently, neither did he. The room filled with a surprisingly comfortable silence, warm and cozy in a way that durasteel interrogation rooms rarely managed.  

“So you’ve decided against filing harassment charges?” Fox asked at length. 

“I have no intention of it,” you told him. “We made a deal. Guess that’s more evidence of my rare and admirable moral code…”

Fox rolled his eyes and you laughed. Before he could say something sarcastic, you added, “Besides, I think I would miss seeing you guys if you stopped checking up when I return from missions.”

“You would miss us?” You would have accused Fox of fishing for a compliment if he hadn’t sounded so charmingly stunned. 

“Of course,” you told him, narrowly stopping yourself from winking at him. He really was a very attractive man. “But I need to get back to the transport now. They wouldn’t leave without me, but one of the others might get a little grabby with the weapons I left behind. Especially since I have a sharp new vibroblade.”

Fox stood when you did, leading the way to the door with a suspicious look on his face. “This isn’t the vibroblade that…” He finished the question only with a vague gesture toward your injured leg.

“If someone stabs me with a knife, I get to keep it,” you told him seriously. “I believe that is common courtesy.”

“No new weapons on this next mission, then,” Fox said as he stood aside to let you pass. “No risks, no injuries, no killing.”

You shook your head in exasperation, already starting down the hall back to the Lament’s transport. “I’m starting to think you don’t understand what being a mercenary is, Commander.”

---

Author's Note - Happy Fox day! I knew I wanted to write something for 10/10, and big thanks to @nowait-whathappened for giving me this prompt! Thank you for reading and have a wonderful day!

You can find other works on my masterlist or sign up for my taglist here. As always, I'm happy to remove you from the taglist if it's no longer in your interests.

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[mariacallous]

“America is going to have to save herself,” said LaTosha Brown, the co-founder of the national voting rights group Black Voters Matter.

She compared Black women’s presence in social justice movements as “core strategists and core organizers” to the North Star, known as the most consistent and dependable star in the galaxy because of its seemingly fixed position in the sky. People can rely on Black women to lead change, Brown said, but the next four years will look different.

“That’s not a herculean task that’s for us. We don’t want that title. … I have no goals to be a martyr for a nation that cares nothing about me,” she said.

...

Tenita Taylor, a Black resident of Atlanta who supported Trump this year, said she was initially excited about Harris’ candidacy. But after thinking about how high her grocery bills have been, she feels that voting for Trump in hopes of finally getting lower prices was a form of self-prioritization.

“People say, ‘Well, that’s selfish, it was gonna be better for the greater good,’'' she said. “I’m a mother of five kids. … The things that (Democrats) do either affect the rich or the poor.”

Some of Trump’s plans affect people in Olivia Gordon’s immediate community, which is why she struggled to get behind the “Black women rest” wave. Gordon, a New York-based lawyer who supported the Party for Socialism and Liberation’s presidential nominee, Claudia de la Cruz, worries about who may be left behind if the 92% of Black women voters who backed Harris simply stopped advocating.

“We’re talking millions of Black women here. If millions of Black women take a step back, it absolutely leaves holes, but for other Black women,” she said. “I think we sometimes are in the bubble of if it’s not in your immediate circle, maybe it doesn’t apply to you. And I truly implore people to understand that it does.”

Nicole Lewis, an Alabama-based therapist who specializes in treating Black women’s stress, said she’s aware that Black women withdrawing from social impact movements could have a fallout. But she also hopes that it forces a reckoning for the nation to understand the consequences of not standing in solidarity with Black women.

“It could impact things negatively because there isn’t that voice from the most empathetic group,” she said. “I also think it’s going to give other groups an opportunity to step up. … My hope is that they do show up for themselves and everyone else.”

Brown said a reckoning might be exactly what the country needs, but it’s a reckoning for everyone else. Black women, she said, did their job when they supported Harris in droves in hopes they could thwart the massive changes expected under Trump.

“This ain’t our reckoning,” she said. “I don’t feel no guilt.”

Feeling betrayed by increased minority support for Trump, Black women say they’re stepping back

[siconetribal]

Put it on My Tab Part 12

Pairing: Jason Todd x Fem!reader

Tag: @vbecker10 @wordsfromshona @harlequin-hangout @harpy-space @tild3ath @gone-batty-fics @princessbl0ss0m @dakotali @antiquecultist

Warning: Mild swearing, Jason is in trouble, Siblings will be siblings

Summary:

Everyone deserves time off, and the vigilantes of Gotham are no exception to the rule. The boys decide to take a weekend to let loose. Who knew a few drinks would lead to a stranger in bed?

Author Note:

I'll probably be out of commission for a couple weeks due to a surgery that's coming up soon. I'll try to have part 13 out before then though. Thanks for always reading!

Timothy “Tim” Jackson Drake was gifted with high intellect since birth. Coupled with the training he has received from Batman and Nightwing, he was a force to be reckoned with and proved worthy of the Robin title time and time again. Now as the Red Robin, he continued his work with his Batfamily. 

Tonight was supposed to be nothing more than routine work. Acquire the target (most likely by force), extract the necessary information (most likely through force), and use the data to get to their true goal. As expected, things were going down the track of ‘by force’. The target ordered his henchman to try to stop them and ran when it was evident they were unable to stop them. The chase was on, and the man went flying through a window. The location mattered little since it was vacant, or so Tim thought. He noticed the barista only after he turned to speak to the first Robin. From there, everything diverted.

He silently observed the young woman who wisely chose to turn a blind eye to their work, but he also kept an eye on his partner. Nightwing showed great interest in this young woman, more so than he would any other civilian that happened to be in the vicinity of their work. The amount of time he said her name and how he said it were also telling.

He’s not warning her, so why is he constantly saying her name? When she turned her back to them to make the drinks, he turned to his eldest brother to ask him what he was thinking but stopped himself at what he saw.

 So this is the famous young lady who’s got our Grumpy in such a fix. She’s certainly cute and pretty sharp, too. Is that why he’s not given her the money yet? Nightwing gently rubbed his chin as he contemplated on what to do. This was purely a stroke of luck on his end, since Red Robin had done the tracking and surveil on tonight’s target. We can’t just leave her with a broken window. She’s even managed to stay calm enough to take our order instead of becoming a mess. What ever shall I do? The right corner of his lip slowly tipped upwards into a smirk as an excellent idea came to mind. He pulled out something and a $100 bill. He folded the bill around the other piece just before she turned around with their drinks.

“Perfect,” he smiled in approval. “Thanks again, Y/N, and here, something for your troubles.” He winked, slipping it into the tip jar before grabbing the tied up man. “Until next time,” he flashed her a grin as Red Robin held the door open and the two walked out as if they had not just come crashing through one of the windows. Red Robin watched Y/N as she slowly looked around at her surroundings. He could not help but wonder why she was so interesting.

That fateful night, Tim had made it his goal to find out what he could about her. He knew asking the elder vigilante would not produce much information, but he asked anyway. The non-answer of ‘no reason’ and ‘it’s nothing’ were provided. Red flags that meant there was indeed something. With the spelling of her name and place of employ, he began to dig. He was a detective after all, a good mystery was always enticing, and there was nothing better to do while they waited for the next move of the organization they were monitoring.

Y/N stared at her phone for what felt like an eternity. Citlalli had been watching her for the last forty or so minutes since her loud and angry proclamation of ‘I’m going to text this ghosting hotshot pretty boy and demand he pay me the due money and leave me alone’. It was a sudden outburst in the middle of their takeout dinner that had been abnormally silent until then. It was then the young Latina had learned two things. One, he had not texted. Two, Y/N was going insane waiting for him to text, which was rare and quite entertaining.

Daaaaaamn, no text yet? It's been what, three weeks now? And she’s made no effort to reach out? There’s no way in hell she’d forget, she’s slavin’ away tryna get it cleared. But I thought he’d  have reached out by now. Poor mija, she’s really out of luck. She watched as Y/N picked up the device, angrily tapped away at the screen, read whatever she typed, paused, deleted the text, placed it back down, and slump. This is what, her sixth time? It was funny at first, but now it's just crazy. “Just text his ass already!” 

“Text him what exactly? He’s the one that texted ‘Hi’ from my phone to himself! Technically, he should be texting me!” Y/N threw her arms in the air before crossing them tightly, glaring at her phone. “Augh, forget it! I'll just text him whatever!” Grabbing it once more. 

<So, Wonder Boy, when you said you'll ‘send me the details’, was it code for ‘never gonna happen’ or are you saving some DID as the capeless crusader?> She proudly hit the send button, shoving any and all nausea and regret from anxiety down into the depths as best she could.

“That proud of your message, huh? What did you send?” Citlalli curiously asked, reaching for the phone in Y/N’s hands when it suddenly buzzed. Y/N jumped, sending it flying into the air. She juggled the little rectangle a bit as it buzzed a few more times, narrowly saving it from crashing onto the floor. “What the hell was that for?!”

“I didn’t expect it to vibrate all of a sudden,” Y/N scowled, waking the screen to see it was a text from the one and only ‘Your Hero’. She froze on the spot and Citlalli pushed her cheek into Y/N’s to see the screen and gasped.

“Holy shit, he texted back?! Are you sure he said he was going to text you first? Cause it looks like he was waiting on you.”

“I know what he said! I have no idea why he’s texting now. And some space, ya crazy!” She lightly nudged her friend to move and unlocked the thread.

<SHIT!>

<I did NOT mean to ghost you like this.>

<I swear I got busy with work. Also, what’s a DID? And didn’t I say to stop calling me that?> Y/N rolled her eyes at his texts, pulling up the keyboard.

<Didn’t you also say you’d text me details? And just so you know, it stands for Damsel In Distress.>

<Touche, lol. And noted, I’ll be sure to update the name of my file.>

<You should. It’s the official title. So says the famous kids cartoon movie. You’re still in trouble though.>

<Damn and here I thought I managed to get out of it. Should’ve known you wouldn’t let me go that easy. How about I make it up to you?>

<I’m reading.>

“What’s he saying?” Citlalli eagerly leaned in closer once more. “Don’t just sit there texting, that’s rude! I'm here, too! Don't make me get my chancla!”

“Ok, ok, relax! Sheesh, you don't always need to choose violence. He said he got tied up with work and has offered to make it up to me.”

“Oh, how so? By paying for the hotel and buying us a new apartment? What, don't give me that look! He could buy a neighborhood and still be fine!” Citlalli scoffed. “A girl can dream of a proper kitchen.” She grumbled, leaning back into the sofa. 

“I'm sure he could but I haven't gotten the chance to tell him about the bill because the last time we met, I was a little preoccupied trying to kick out trouble.” Citlalli colorfully cursed out her cousin in rapid Spanish for not only trying to trouble her best friend, but for trampling on Y/N’s chances with a Wayne.

“Cici, it’s fine! Really, I got his number at least. I'll figure out a way to bring it up in person. Deep breaths, ok?” She gently coaxed her fired up friend back into a more zen state before looking at her phone again. 

<How does lunch, you, and me sound? I’ll even recommend a few good books.>

<Consider me intrigued. Where and when?>

<TBD. I’m wrapping a few things on my end. I'll be able to give you all of my attention after that, sweetheart.>

So he did call me that last time. Is that just a thing he does, like how older waitresses and nurses tend to call people ‘sweetie’ or ‘honey’? She eyed Citlalli from the corner of her eye and shifted over, feigning getting comfortable, to avoid any misunderstanding. <I look forward to seeing how different all your attention is to now.>

<Ouch, lol! But fair, I fucked up on this one. I deserve that. You can hold me to it, just give me some time.>

<Also, you can just text me if you’re bored or wanna talk.> His next text popped up onto the screen.

<What about work?> She rolled her eyes at his new promise, though a small smile began to tug at the corners of her lips. Citlalli watched her dear friend curl up just like she did when reading a good book.

<I’ll make time for you.> 

<Even when I’m not in trouble?>

<Even then.>

<Also, text me when you’re in trouble.>

<So demanding for someone who never texted like he promised. Do you always order around the people you save?>

<Just the sassy ones. 😏>

<Keep this up and I might start think I'm special..>

<Yeah, you are. Never met a gal who charged for questions and refused to ask for my mame.>

<What can I say, I’m one of a kind. 😉>

<That you are and sadly, I need to start focusing on my job or I'll get my ass kicked.>

<Don't let me distract you and potentially endanger your fine derriere. Night, Little Lordling.> Slipping her phone into her pocket, she sat there with a smug look of victory to which Citlalli laughed.

“What happened?”

“He said he's going to let me know the details as soon as he's got work wrapped up and I'm allowed to keep him to his word.”

“Oh? Well that's promising. Seems like the two of you are getting along quite well.”

“Oh no, don't even go there, Cici. I know that look! I don't need you trying to match make me like your grandmother does. This is purely business, Platonic if more, and it's going to end once he pays the bill.

“Mmmhmmmm, sure, whatever you say, mija. On that note, we need to head to bed. We have the morning shift.”

“Must you remind me?” Y/N groans, forcing herself out of the comfortable position and stretching. “I’m just grateful Mr. D didn't take the window outta my paycheck. Thank you, security cameras for proof.”

“I still can’t believe it happened! The café was said to be in a safer part of town! The cops are due to come in some time today or tomorrow from what I know. You'll have to give them your account on what happened to get a proper report filed for compensation from the city.”

Fiddlesticks, I forgot that’s supposed to happen! What do I even say? Her shoulders sagged, and her head dropped backwards. I say one thing they don't like, and Nightwing will definitely make my life a living hell. He doesn't kill, but he does know how to torture, I’m sure of it! She wondered how they intended to get the information they wanted and what methods they would use on her. The thought made her shudder.

“Y/N, hey, are you ok?” Citlalli waved her hand in front of her face.

“Huh? Yeah, I’m fine. Just,” she paused for a moment. “Just tired, it’s crazy thinking that was just two nights ago. Never thought I’d serve one famous person, let alone two, and vigilantes at that. I should sleep, can't look like some dead zombie, or they might think we're pulling a fast one.” She forced a yawn and walked into her bedroom, wishing her friend a good night.

The precinct office was a buzz with its usual hustle and bustle. There was rarely a dull moment thanks to the nightly work of the vigilantes that ruled the night. Many of the officers hated them, feeling as if they were failures and their pride bruised by the ‘handouts’ left at their doorstep. The commissioner was not of that mindset, though, and the newer recruits even idolized the lawbreaking individuals.

“Detective, are you ready to head out? We’ve got a bunch of shops claiming they got damaged by those masked weirdos. I rather we get this shit don't and over with as soon as possible. Those freaks in tights are more trouble than they are help!” The older detective gruffly grumbled his complaints, waiting for his partner. He was a younger detective, a greenhorn that was better than most veterans, which rubbed all the seasoned personnel the wrong way, but they had to admit it.

“Come now, they aren’t all that bad. I’d say a few of them are a bit dashing in their own rights.” The young man stood from his seat, making sure his things were in place. “Plus, I just got back from my medical leave, can’t you keep your grumbling down to a minimum? These people didn’t ask for all this damage control.”

“I did not miss your attitude.” He sneered. “C’mon, get your ass in gear. We gotta go.”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m coming.” He scoffed, walking out of the precinct as they headed towards the first location. It was the first on the list only because it promised dome good fuel for the day.

“Hello detectives, thank you for coming on such short notice.” The man greeted them at the door, letting them into the busy establishment. “Please, follow me to my office.” He quickly led them to the back, catching the eye of one of the employees. Signaling them to follow, he let them get comfortable before the employee arrived. “This is Y/N, she was the employee who was present at the time of the incident.”

“I’ll handle it from here. Nolan, why don’t you go with the owner and get the surveillance footage?” The younger detective offered. With a grunt of approval, the two men left. “Y/N, was it? Please, have a seat. It’s a pleasure to meet you, I’m Detective Richard Grayson, but you can just call me Detective Dick or Grayson.” He flashed her a charming smile.

Author Note:

A huge thank you and shout out to @harlequin-hangout for the amazing banners you made for me.

Please comment, like, share, and reblog! If you'd like to be added to the tag list, let me know!

If you’re new to the story, please check out the master post for the rest of the chapters or find chapter one here.

[wisefoxluminary]

Arcane Season 2 Act 2 my thoughts (+analysis)

Wow just wow…this show really is a rollercoaster and this set of episodes really delved into the family dynamics of Vi and Jinx, two broken characters trying to fix what was lost between them. Jinx being forced to reckon with who she is as a leader in Zaun, inspiring those to stand up against the injustice wrought by the enforcers and this time we get to see the innocent and more soft side of her as she realises all these people look up to her as their saviour when all her life she was led to believe she was a monster who gets everyone she comes close to killed but she realises that she is making an impact on everyone around her including Isha who reminds her of her past self that she buried and is bringing that back out to the surface. Their sibling relationship was really beautiful to witness because they would save each other every damn time. It was cruel watching that get taken away from us because Isha’s final act was saving Jinx from Warwick’s rampage, though her life was short lived just like Powder’s, her sacrifice really showed the impact Jinx had made on her life and that act of preservation and love will help her finally embrace the role of a saviour complex the people of Zaun need, in the shadow of Viktor’s passing, a fallen messiah who used his power of healing for good. Jinx takes that chance and must weaponise her own destruction for good, to liberate her people and what remains of her family from Ambessa and the Piltover Guard and also Jayce who seeks to wipe every last remnant of Hextech.

I really liked the twist that Vander was Warwick as it added loads of tragedy to his character and really fuelled the emotional beats for the reminder of the story, in particular Vi and Jinx’s journeys respectively. The idea of Vander's love being the one thing that ties the sisters together was really beautiful to me because every time he saw Jinx, he was reminded of Powder which brought back his humanity which was slowly being corrupted by the beast. Powder is his tether to humanity thus why he protects her with all his might (“they don't touch my daughter” scene comes to light). This link to humanity, his memories of Ponder is what helps him overcome his monstrous impulses. He's a dead man who has turned into something unrecognisable and yet the memory and warm love Vander once embodied still resides within him and Vi and Jinx are working so hard to persevere that. This is shown in the memory sequence Viktor observed in his mind because Vander's impact is always felt on Vi and Jinx. He gave Vi her name, he was a loyal friend of their mother. His dying words to Vi was for her to protect Powder. That's why he recognises Jinx and sees her for who she used to be, why he saved her. Jinx may blame herself for his death but that only brings him closer to her. So when that perfect image of family was taken away from them, the monster from within won and every last memory of Vander is stripped away from him because that light Viktor was trying so hard to untangle from him was gone the moment he was killed.

Jayce really lost his mind because who knew one senseless action could cause this horrific chain of events to happen because being trapped in that anomaly caused him to see a false and corrupted vision of the future and it descended him into madness. Jayce is the reason Viktor loses his humanity because as he said in his dying moments the greatest good can also become your greatest evil. So what Jayce believed he was doing right by killing Viktor and stopping him from going down the wrong path only was the fuel to the fire that caused it. Betrayal and the tragedy it brings and how it melds us into the worst version of ourselves is a very integral theme in Arcane as seen with Vander and Silco, Vi and Powder, Vi and Caitlyn etc. Jayce and Viktor is just another representative cursed by the narrative and the ramifications of this betrayal will be dealt by them in terrifying ways and how they'll overcome that is going to be very central heading into the last three episodes. There is no changing the past, but there must be a way to make a better future with it as well.

The only way this show can end is if Vi and Jinx finally forgive each other and themselves and finally use love as their greatest weapon against the evil that threatens to supress them, how sacrifice impacts them and encourages them to carry on what the people who are gone had taught them. Love is what united them rather than hate and I think that's a beautiful thing. The resolution of their arc would be those two sisters reconciling, living in peace knowing their family is in a better place. For Vander to be ressurected and for Zaun to return to what it used to be under his resistance, finally at a peaceful agreement with Piltover where no more blood is shed. Where Hextech isn't used as a weapon anymore.

But overall, this episodes truly were a masterclass in storytelling and animation with its vibrant and colourful visuals. Truly can't wait for Act 3 because the symbolism of this show goes crazy.

[666silco]

Been thinking about the plot hole everyone is mentioning, that being how Silco probably knew Vi and Powder, and why did he want to kill them, why he recognized Powder but never told her, all that. I think the answer that we will get (realistically) in some form is that Silco was very distant by the time Powder was born and Vi was not old enough to remember him, especially after the drowning incident and him getting older. I also think Silco knew it was them the whole time, in fact I think he had an eye on them (lol, Eye of Zaun) the entire time, not just when he was planning an attack on Vander. The problem is that the time between the drowning and Vander’s “death” Silco was so blinded by hate (even if he had respect for him) toward Vander that he didn’t even care that much. It wasn’t until he held Powder that his mindset changed. “We will show them all.” Powder was done wrong just like he was. She was just like him. He needed to show her the way to heal.

Which also speaks to why s2ep2 is very fascinating. It’s the healthiest Jinx ever felt, when she went into hiding. As well as her even mentioning when she spoke to Silco’s empty chair, that Isha softened her and maybe he felt the same when they met.

Between the drowning and Vander’s death, Silco was relentlessly fighting for Zaun (he wasn’t known by the council yet, but that’s not the point) and also so full of anger for Vander, he was not a force to be reckoned with. I still think that about him in ep4-9, but thinking about how Jinx softened with Isha, it’s very possible that Silco did the same, to a certain extent. Sevika called him out in ep4 for letting things go too easily, sitting and waiting. Dude didn’t even check if Vi was actually dead or not. He wasn’t even actually prepared for if Finn actually was going to have Sevika kill him or not. Think of it as a test all he wants, he was terrified. Similar to the Enforcers not even recognising Jinx when she revealed herself.

I do want to say that im not justifying the plot holes with this post, just sharing some thoughts. I have some gripes with s2 at the moment, I just prefer to not be negative as I have a long line of history with shows that felt a little rocky at times. I prefer to keep my major critiques to myself or save them for the show to be over.

I hope that we get at least a few more minutes with Silco and Vander, I feel like the flashbacks created even more questions than we had before.

Im very highly anticipating Act III at the moment.

[sammysnaughtygirl]

'Fire Country' Showrunner Gives Update on Jared Padalecki's Arrival

Jared Padalecki's dynamic debut in Fire Country as Camden Casey is a game-changer for the hit firefighting drama.

Showrunner Tia Napolitano teases Padalecki's character as a maverick with a surfer swagger who flips the script in Edgewater.

Fire Country's success has already led to spin-offs like Sheriff Country, showcasing Padalecki's potential as a lead in his own show.

Fans of Supernatural star Jared Padalecki are ecstatic with his inclusion in Fire Country. The CBS’ hit fire-fighting drama created by Max Thieriot, Tony Phelan and Joan Rater is among the top TV shows currently and is already developing a universe with spin-offs. The Walker alum has signed up for a three-episode arc in the upcoming third season. In a recent conversation with TVLine, showrunner Tia Napolitano gave an update about Padalecki’s dynamic debut in Season 3.

“We launch Camden Casey in a really dynamic way,” Napolitano said of Padalecki’s character, who is billed as a SoCal firefighter and a “maverick with a surfer swagger.” Camden is a force to be reckoned with and has a penchant for spotting talent. In the upcoming season, Cadmen will immediately recognize “Bode’s raw talent.” Sharing the team’s excitement, the showrunner further said, “We were so excited about casting Jared,” adding “he’s really going to ‘flip the script’ in Edgewater.” Further teasing Cadmen’s flamboyant attitude, she adds,

Everyone sort of treats Bode (played by series co-creator Max Thieriot) as this tiger theyre trying to tame, and Camden kind of says, Why are you trying to tame a tiger? Let him out!'Fire Country has been a hit with CBS viewers right from the start, with the explosive reception of the first season, the network saw the spin-off potential. The seeds were sown with Morena Baccarin’s introduction as Mickey Fox, Sharon Leone’s estranged sister, and soon a spin-off, Sheriff Country, was picked up for the 2025-26 season. Given Padalecki’s track record of leading successful shows like Walker and Supernatural, it seems a good idea to let the actor lead his own show as Cadmen, who sounds like a very interesting character. 

Fire Country follows Bode, a young convict with a troubled past, in hopes of reducing his prison sentence, he volunteers with the California Conservation Camp Program. Things take a turn when he is assigned to his hometown in Northern California where he works alongside old friends and other convicts and faces the ghosts of his past. The series cast some compelling performers including Thieriot as Bode, Kevin Alejandro as Manny, Jordan Calloway as Jake, Stephanie Arcila as Gabriela, Jules Latimer as Eve, Diane Farr as Sharon, and Billy Burke as Vince along with a slew of recurring stars.

Fire Country Season 3 premieres on October 18.

[crimsonbastard]

My thoughts on Episode 4:

Aegon finally snapping after realising that everyone only sees him as nothing more than a puppet king was satisfying. The desperate need to prove himself, to his mother, his brother and the council by going to war himself, to show that he's good at something was so good to see. However I'm still bummed out that he wasn't actually part of the plan. Him leading his army head on as Cole gives that rallying speech was one of my favourite moments in the book. Too bad that it was changed to him appearing unannounced prompting Cole to give that last minute impromptu speech.

Aemond speaking High Valyrian and regaining some ground over his brother after that brothel incident. We've seen Team Black saying that Alicent's children aren't true Targaryens. Well we can put that claim to rest after seeing Aemond practically take his brother down a peg in High Valyrian. Something even Jace Could not master.

The Alicent Plan B scene. Honestly, after years of being used as a broodmare, I understand why Alicent resorted to using moon tea. Although she has a consensual sexual relationship with Cole where she gets to regain some semblance of that autonomy that she couldn't get because of Viserys, getting pregnant again and going through another painful, life threatening child birth is simply a big "no" for her. Irrespective of her finally being able to explore her sexuality, bearing a child again is still something very traumatic for her that she still closely associates to Viserys and the neglect she was dealt whilst she was at her most vulnerable.

The Criston Cole glazing. I love how almost every council member of Team Black acknowledges Criston as a force to be reckoned with, which he is. It sheds light on the fact that he's more than some brute who acts on Alicent's Whims. He's an experienced Commander and he truly shines when he finally gets to be in his element. I've seen several reactors begurdingly admit that Cole's strategy was sound, despite clearly hating him and it was so satisfying.

Jacaereys and Baela taking Rhaenyra's stead whilst she was away and doing their best in putting out the fires in the Council Room was a delight to see. Jace being eager to join the battle and help his mother save her crown was refreshing and we got a good character moment from him.

The Rhaenys and Alyn scene was.....meh considering the fact that she was harsher in the books. I was expecting her to lash out at Corlys with her barbs but again, she was just mum about it, it feels like the writers forgot to give her some agency when it comes to how she acts around her Husband. And the fact that people are comparing her to Catelyn Stark and tearing the latter down is annoying. Can y'all stop with the Catelyn Hate? It's been decades.

Rooks Rest was amazing in the beggining. We've got Gwayne's inexperienced ass doubting Criston at every step until he gets silenced. The plan was perfect with Cole and Aemond using Vaghar as a trump card in case any of Team Black's dragons come knocking. But that is where my appreciation for that battle ends. We've Sunfyre being absolutely butchered all though he puts up a decent fight in the books. Where the fuck is Rhaenys charging at both Aemond and Aegon with a glad cry? Where is Rhaenys having a "dragon rider's" death that Team Black likes to harp about. The Aemond scene where he blasts at both rider's was dumb and pointless, a cheap attempt at creating some conflict between the brothers when we had the Brothel scene just the episode before. This would've been a wonderful opportunity for them to show how despite hating eachother's guts the brothers will still die for eachother. But alas, I guess only Team Black can have good familial relationships.

Sunfyre being the goodest boy xD