#shes willing to do fucked up things if she thinks it will ensure she keeps her 'family'

[tangledinink]

Sorry if you’ve already answered something like this and I haven’t seen it, but in the Gemini AU, does Big Mama, on some level, hold any actual affection for the twins? Or does she see them exclusively as tools to be exploited?

Yes, she does hold actual affection for the twins. She views them as her children. They view her as her mother. She loves them, and they love her. That doesn't mean that their relationship isn't super fucked up and abusive, because it clearly is, but it's not fair to just write it off as "they're tools to her and nothing else." There's a lot more nuance than that. If the twins were to die or leave her, Big Mama would be devastated. Likewise, if anything bad happened to their Mama, the twins would be heartbroken.

She loves them, or at least she thinks that she does. She also uses them like tools and exploits them. She always feels like she can justify her actions and motivations to herself, and that the things she does are for the greater good of their family. Right now, The Gemini Twins fully believe that, as a whole, the things that Big Mama says or does she does out of love and she does with their best intentions in mind. Even the things that hurt. Even the things that they don't understand. Even the things that make them angry and upset.

I mean, that's their mom, right? She loves them. Of course she loves them, even if she's not perfect... Besides that. Aside from one another, she's all they really have.

[transmascsteveharrington]

Steve grows up thinking that love can be earned. That it has to be earned. That if he is quiet and polite, invisible most of the time and puts on his too-tight white button-downs without making a fuss, his mother will call him good and while she won't say it directly, Steve takes her approval for love.

His father is harder to please, for a while it's winning sport trophies and talking about taking out pretty girls. But as time goes on, Steve learns that disappointment is far quicker and far more willing given than love. Love can also be taken away like a toy from a naughty child.

Despite trying his best to keep earning his parents' love it keeps slipping away from him more and more often, like smoke through delicate fingers. Steve doesn't know what he is doing wrong, just assumes that he isn't good, that he doesn't deserve their love. It never occurs to him that they simply might be incapable of it, hollow, cold, harsh caves that echo where their hearts should beat.

So Steve tries to get it elsewhere. Tommy and Carol's love is easier to earn. Drive them places, pay for their food, get them booze and let them throw parties at his pool. Be mean and arrogant, laugh at jokes that make him feel sick to his stomach and do it all with a smile. Keep them happy and they'll keep loving him. He never quite figures out how he earned Nancy's love and it makes him antsy. Not knowing how to ensure that she'll keep loving him. He only realizes once they break up that the reason he never knew how to make her keep loving him was that she never loved him in the first place.

The kids are easy: be a human shield for them, beat monsters with a baseball bat, get tortured by Russians for them. If danger isn't around the corner it's driving them to the arcade, paying for their food, letting them hang out in the cold, desolate house that once they are gone echos just as much as the caves in his parents' chests. It's not that different from how he kept Tommy and Carol loving him. Only that it feels different, better. Steve doesn't have to force smiles, still recognizes the person in the mirror when he hangs out with the kids. He has fun too, would still do all these things if it didn't earn him the kids' love.

It's nice. Almost. If it wasn't for the constant fear that one day he'll say the wrong thing, bring them the wrong snack and all of that love will go poof.

Robin just like Nancy, Steve can't figure out. And it's fucking terrifying because he doesn't think he's ever loved a friend hell not just a friend, anyone, the way he has loved her. There are days he wants to crawl into her skin and make a home hoping it'll be enough to make her stay. Though a home never made his parents stay either. He knows the day he is going to lose her love, he will completely fall apart.

Eddie, Steve is slowly figuring out. Or at least he thinks he is. It's hard to tell with Eddie sometimes. On one hand, it's easy, Steve knows how to please partners in a relationship, knows how to be a good boyfriend. And Eddie clearly seems to enjoy the way Steve keeps trying to earn his love. On the other hand being a good boyfriend had already once not been enough.

It all comes down to it when Eddie and Steve end up in a stupid fight. Steve can't even remember what it started or who started it, all he knows that when Eddie says, "I need a smoke," and moves towards the door, panic closes around Steve's throat like a hand and squeezes tightly. If Eddie goes out of the door, if he leaves, he might not come back. It's been over six months since Steve last saw his parents.

"I'm sorry," he yells, tears already spilling over the corners of his eyes, running down his cheeks and pooling at his chin. He reaches for Eddie's wrist and Eddie instantly stops.

"I'm sorry, don't leave please! I'll make up for it, I promise. I'll be good. Perfect. Let me earn it again! Please!"

Eddie looks startled by Steve's outburst. He tucks his cigarette back into his pocket and pulls Steve into his arms.

"What? I'm not leaving! Steve," he says and cups Steve's wet face. Steve can't stop trembling. "What do you mean 'earn it again'?"

"Your love," Steve sniffs and buries his face in the crook of Eddie's neck, hoping, praying that it wasn't the wrong move. He knows he can be too clingy and he knows he can't afford to lose more of Eddie's love.

"My love? Baby," Eddie tightens his arms around Steve, "I'm not gonna stop loving you just because we're fighting. I love you even when I'm mad at you."

It draws a whole new wave of tears out of Steve and he does feel a bit like drowning. "And you don't have to earn my love, it's not fucking conditional," Eddie continues and presses a couple of soft kisses to Steve's hair.

"All my love is freely given. Not because you cook me dinner or let me pick movies or offer to blow me all the time. But because I love you, just you Steve. You don't even have to do anything. Just be yourself."

Eddie is crying now too, horrified that Steve went through his life in constant fear of love being taken away from him. Having to constantly bend and twist himself until he was broken just to earn crumbs of affection. It's a first step, one I love you doesn't undo years of trauma and fixes everything in an instant.

But Eddie vows he'll do everything he can to convince Steve that he is loved, so, so, so loved without having to grovel and beg for it. Without having to always be good and perfect.

And Robin and the kids make the same vow, heartbroken when they find out how scared Steve has been of losing them, how he thought they only kept him around in case of danger and because he had money.

It takes a while, but eventually, Steve starts to believe them. And if he ever has doubts or forgets everyone in his life is quick to remind him just how loved he is. Free of charge and indefinitely.

[reddesires]

I have a NSFW request for you if you're interested. Could you please do smut piece on Koba x Female Human Reader where he's in the woods hunting something where he stumbles upon a small camp close by a river and he sees a head in the water not looking at him pretty much not noticing him. As he prepares to kill the human when they get out of the water he immediately stops in his tracks when he sees their naked body glistening with water drops dripping down their curvaceous body particularly their large chest and butt which keeps him entranced while they still don't notice his presence and go inside their tent. Later on back at the ape colony while he's alone Koba can't stop thinking about the reader's body where he finally relents and starts masturbating and after he's done he's filled with self loathing for falling for the seductive spell of the reader especially because she's a human. For several weeks he's constantly spying on the reader in secret especially when she's taking a bath in the river with her none being the wiser until one day he's finally caught after he made the mistake of masturbating right there in the open rather than wait until he's back in the colony and rather than run away in fear she admits that she had a feeling she was being watched and was waiting for him to show himself and invites him to her tent so that she can help relieve him. What follows is the reader and Koba fucking like rabbits a blowjob and squirting thrown in there both which surprise Koba at first until he finds out that he really likes both things being introduced to him. For the sex positions could you please include Missionary, Doggy style, and Cowgirl and please include breast play like breast squeezing and nipple sucking and the reader's personality is shy and timid and a bit submissive and a bit lonely which is why she wasn't afraid of Koba when she first saw him. Can't wait to see what you come up with.

Endeavors. [Koba x Human!Reader] Smut

Koba x Human Reader

Rating: Smut. (18+ MDNI!!)

Fandom: Planet Of The Apes

A/N: *sniff sniff* this all I got, this is all I got. I'm not the most experienced smut writer, so hopefully, it's still enjoyable.

Koba took the initiative to hunt for the colony, not bothering to round up other apes to join him. He was more than willing to avoid the company of others at the moment, taking refuge in his lonesome.

Whilst following the tracks of his appointed prey, he came across the river that resided outside the colony parameters, the apes tend to avoid this area, incase of running into any humans that could possibly be migrating from the fallen city located outside east of there.

Koba notices the huts haphazardly placed on the opposite side of the watercourse, he crouches down in caution as he's on the lookout for any human life within the camp but there's an obvious lack of any.

His eyes catch movement in the crystalline waters of the stream. The figure isn't aware of his presence as their back is turned to him.

Koba's muzzle is pulled back in a snarl as he raises his spear, intending on ending the pathetic human's life right then and there, ensuring the colony's safety from their pestilence.

He waits for the right moment to strike, the hackles on his back raising in anticipation as the figure stands the river's water. He's immediately struck by the sight of the female human, her bare body on full display for him to see.

The spear that he held in the air is glued to his palm, the tension traveling from his arm all the way to his navel as he watched the crystal like water droplets drip down the curves of her body, her skin glistening as the sun's rays hit her body in all the right angles.

Koba noticed that the human was well endowed in both her chest and buttock areas, his gaze mesmerized by the sight before him the more he observed.

He watches the female human as she retreats into her hut, taking no heed to his presence as she does so. Koba skidding backward into the woods behind him, retreating back to the colony.

○●○●○

Later that night, koba was overwhelmed with the thoughts of the human and the image of her body. The depiction of her malleable breasts and curvaceous ass has him reeling in ways that he's never experienced before.

The more time that passes, the more the tension located in his navel grows before finally he relents and secludes himself with the thoughts that have been hounding him since the encounter.

He growls as he takes himself into his thick skinned hand, his thumb grazing the precum off the tip slowing smearing it down his length, only more to procure as he allows the image of the human in the forefront of his mind, his hand on automatic as he thought back to how the water glided down her body and imagined it was his hands bruising the supple skin of her hips including him pounding into her her, her ass slapping the tops of his thighs and her taking him into her so gratefully.

As the last thought came into his mind, he finally felt the high hit him, a deep groan tumbling from his chest and feeling the wetness of his pleasure coating his palm as he finally came down from the high, he was struck with the realization of what he had just done.

The malice filled his body within a millisecond and he was unsure whether it was directed towards his lack of self-control or the female human that managed to entrap him in some kind of seductive spell, as he contemplated further he sat with the self-loathing that bubbled in his chest at the notion that he lasted for a human.

A human of all things, the very species that he wanted eradicated from the earth. A snarl crossed his features as he tried making sense of the complicated bundle of emotions clouding his judgment. He'll just have to see what his next course of action is.

•○•○•○•○•○•

For the next several weeks, Koba has made it a routine of stalking the female, taking note of her every move, but he's especially watchful during her bathing rituals.

Observing the way her body fluidly moves, the way her hair falls against her in neck in such a delicious way that he feels a tingle in his jaw at the thought of biting into her tender neck, marking her his.

He can just just imagine her cries as he has his way with her body in any way he sees fit.

She's always so unaware of his presence that it reminds him of small prey that has no idea it's being hunted, a trace of electricity travels down his spine at the idea of him hunting her with it ending with absolutely demolishing her, making her cry with the pleasure that he so graciously gives her.

As he watches her from the clearing, he's uncaring as he openly begins to stroke himself becoming so immersed with the pleasure and image of her that he's late to notice he caught the attention of said human, his movements halt as his gaze is caught by hers.

He notices there's no trace of fear or resentment in her expression but rather surprise by his unexpected presence. "I had a feeling that I was being watched.." she utters timidly, her gaze tracing down the length of his body to the hold he had on himself, her eyes filled with a longing and intrigue.

"Please.. let me help you.." she says, an implication that even he understood what she meant by as slowly trailed towards her tend, she looks back at him with a diffident look in her eyes before disappearing into the shelter.

He's unsure if he should follow in after her, but he's hit with the scent of her arousal, and the decision is made for him.

•○•○○•○•○○•○•○•

The female human holds an apprehensive air as she kneels before him. He has a watchful stare as he's uncertain as what she's intending to do. She lacks her lips, wetting the dryness away.

Her hands trail from his abdomen down to the tops of his thighs, her gaze following along down to his navel. He can feel himself getting hard under her stare. Before he could make sense of her action, she takes him into her mouth, the warmth of her tongue sending a jolt throughout his body and he instinctally grips her hair into his strong grasp, she whimpers in response but she pushes through as she licks the underside of his dick, a deep growl crawls its way up from the back of his throat.

It's unlike any sensation he's encountered before, and he greedily indulges in it as the human takes in his facial expression before continuing with more vigor than before.

Koba forcefully pushes the female onto her back, her legs falling open upon the impact and as she goes to timidly close her legs in embarrassment but he places his calloused hands in between her thighs to keep them open for him, he noticed the arousal flowing out of her, the smell encasing all his senses in the most delicious way.

With no hesitantance, he dives into her intimate area, lapping up her essence, her moans abruptly filling the small space, and he realizes that it proves to motivate him to continue with the action.

He feels her up as his tongue dips into her, his longer forearms easily catching hold of her tender breasts, he squeezes and pinches her supple nippes, her tone picking up in pitch as her body shakes in response to his actions.

He continues on, and her body tenses like a coil, just waiting to spring before he knows it. She's releasing a substance from her entrance, and she's practically wailing in pleasure. He doesn't fully understand what just happened. He just knows that the sight filled him with overwhelming arousal.

°•°•°•°○°○°•°•°•°•°

Over the course of the next couple of days, Koba would break away from the colony to back to the human to continue on with their daily endeavors of sex.

He'd pin her down as he thrusted into her, feeling her walls squeeze him delightfully, her legs locking him place as he took what was rightfully his.

His growls intermingled with her light and airy moans as he licked her chest, taking her bruised nipple into his mouth, her face inflamed in flusteredness as he stared right back into her eyes.

With ease, he tossed her over and onto her knees. She shrieked in surprise at the motion. He took in the sight of her rounded ass, his hand slapping down drinking in her startled jolt as she whimpered in need.

He grunted as he inserted into her, relishing in the way her back arches in pleasure at his length, her ass bouncing by his onslaught.

He grips her hips firmly, absolutely pounding into her as if he was trying to fuck her breathless and by the sounds she was releasing, she loved it.

Now with the intention of fucking his seed up into her, he forces her on top of him, her mouth falling open and her eyes rolling up as she feels his length hit the deepest spot in her.

She begins bouncing on top of him, chasing the high that is bound to come crashing down onto them. He feels the tension building up in his navel, the feeling hot and heavy.

Koba throws his head back as his seed rushes from him into her. He holds her hips down, breeding her with vigor.

It'll be a wonder if the colony didn't already know his endeavors already.

[thowawayuntilfurthernotice]

CW: Racism and slavery.

Alright, let’s open up this can of worms.

Let’s talk about race and how it pertains to Viv’s shows.

No, I don’t think Viv and Adam are inherently racist, they just don’t know how to write for a BIPOC audience.

Viv’s shows (Like most western shows) are written with a white audience in mind. Because let’s face it, white folks don’t like to talk about race. That’s why a lot of shows that do tackle the issue of race and racism do it in a way that’s very surface level, as they don’t want to make white folks uncomfortable.

Even shows that are written by BIPOC writers have to dumb everything down when it comes to race because that’s sadly one of the only ways to get white folks to listen.

For example the Brooklyn Nine Nine episode Moo Moo (Which was written by a black writer) does tackle the issue of racial profiling, but it does so in that after school special way. Where it’s so basic and surface level that it almost feels insulting? And the fact that the episode completely ignores all the systemic racism that’s prevalent in the NYPD somehow makes it even worse.

Seriously, the episode ends with Terry’s application for a liaison job getting denied because he filed a complaint against a racist cop. And Holt’s all like “At least you did the right thing.”

Now, I haven’t really talked about any of the Hazbin/Helluva lore in great detail because it’s a hot gigantic mess of titanian proportions. And trying to make any sense of it from a narrative perspective is headache inducing, but for the sake of this analysis I decided to make an exception.

It’s pretty obvious that the Imps are supposed to represent the lower class, the majority of Imps we see in the series are stuck with low level jobs, involved in shady activities or are willing to kill to survive.

A good writer would have used the concept to highlight the many injustices that are caused by systems that are hell bent on keeping systemic racism alive to ensure that white elites stay in power.

But Viv and Adam don’t give a shit about that, as they know that tackling those sorts of issues is bound to upset their white audience. So they just don’t bother.

The lore feels like set dressing, i.e something that’s only there to make the audience think that there is much more to Viv’s shows than meets the eye, but there really isn’t.

Helluva Boss’ racist class system is introduced, but it isn’t really all that fleshed out. Because Viv doesn’t really care about exploring themes that mirror real world issues, all she cares about is watching her characters fornicate or make out with each other.

Not saying that every adult show has to have a deeper meaning or challenge people’s worldviews, but having a toxic relationship between a slave and his slave master in a dumb demon cartoon is pretty fucked up, not going to lie.

[sinsmockingbird]

Considering people are saying to share the Omegaverse and Monster Fucking ideas swirling around in my head again, I suppose I can write a few quick thirsts for a small Halloween Special. Enjoy some degeneracy that came to me in the middle of the night.

CW: Smut (Omegaverse & Monster Fucking) under the cut

✧ OMEGAVERSE

Ningguang being an Alpha that bought you, a cute little Omega that's so quick and willing to please your Alpha in anyway they want. Being commonly seen by Ningguang's side, on your knees and waiting for whatever she wanted you to do.

She wanted you under her desk sucking her cock? Done, you'll have it stuffed so far down your throat that you'll gag with every little movement she makes. She decides she wants to pin you to her desk and mercilessly fuck you? You'll let her manhandle you however she pleases, making sure to not keep your voice quiet, letting everyone know whose Omega you are.

Kelvin being your sweet little Omega that's always willing to serve you, her Alpha, in anyway that you desire. She'll cockwarm you whenever and however long you want. She one time allowed you to stay shuffled close to her, your cock buried in her cunt as she made food.

She can be seen sitting on your lap, arms wrapped around your shoulders and face buried in your neck. On lookers would assume that you two were a couple having a cute moment together, but in reality your cock was shoved into her pussy, cockwarming you under the pretty skirt she wore that day.

✧ MONSTER FUCKING

Zoya who takes great care of her little Omega, especially when you go into heat. She'll make sure you'll have a perfect nest to bundle yourself in when your heat hits you, filled with all sorts of things that have her scent. She mainly made this after coming home from a mission for the Legion, finding you in your shared bed that you made into a makeshift nest in the middle of your heat.

From then on Zoya made sure to be there for everyone of your heats, making reminders for herself when it gets closer, because she doesn't want to leave her little Omega all alone and in pain like that again. She'll make sure your comfortable in your nest before she'll tend to you.

She'll have you laying on your back, with her over you as she ruts into your aching cunt. She makes sure to vum deep inside you, to ensure your bred. She'll continue until you really can't take anymore, and then she'll stay buried inside you while kissing you and giving you praises and wrapping you up protectively in her arms.

Yae Miko going into an intense heat that leaves her not in control of herself. So she'll hide herself away into a deep cave away from any people to try and wait this heat out, only for you to go looking for her when her Shrine Maidens report her missing. You end up stumbling upon her in her feral form, overcome with desire and need.

Her mind is so clouded by lust that she doesn't realize the person there is you. So she attacks, pining you to the ground, growling and snapping, but no death ever comes. Instead you find your clothes torn off your body, leaving you bare for Miko's feral eyes.

Next thing you know, your being brutally fucked, bred, and knotted by Miko, her feral form pinning you to the ground, growls and whines escaping her mouth as she finally gets relief. The next morning Miko wakes up back in her human form, covered in dirt laying in the cave with you wrapped in her arms, naked and with her cock still buried deep inside you.

Stelle being an oversized werewolf that constantly wants to feel you wrapped around her cock. They're always whining and pawing at you in need that you'd think they were constantly in heat. But no, they were simply addicted to the feeling of your walls being wrapped around their aching cock.

Cockwarming them as punishment, not allowing them to move a muscle. They're whining and crying into your neck, begging through broken sobs to allow them to start moving inside you. You'll either ignore them or tell them that this is what bad dogs get.

Shalom who enjoys nothing more than drinking on your blood whenever she pleases. Being her obedient little blood bag that will sit on her lap, your neck or wrist on display for her to sink her fangs into whenever she pleases.

But as soon as you allow them to move, they're rutting into you with sloppy thrusts, pining you below them as they're clouded with lust. They'll make sure to fill you up with extra cum.

She'll finger fuck you as she drinks your blood, leaving you whining mess until you pass out from overstimulation and blood loss. During these times she'll stop feasting and will just continue to finger your sleeping form until you cum a few more times for her, satisfying her hunger with your sweet cum.

[acknowledge-reigns]

Swipe Right | Roman Reigns x Black!fem OC (18+)

Description: Roman is determined to make things right with Iris.

Chapter: 4/6

Word Count: 1211

Warnings: Praise, very mild arguing, mention of previous divorce.

This is set in an AU in which the og bloodline reunited before wrestlemania 40 and Roman retained. As always my stories are about Roman, not Joe. While there is not smut in the first couple of chapters, there will be in others. This is very much an 18+ BDSM based romance with some comedy thrown in there. You have been warned.

Iris walked into the meeting room, feeling a mix of nerves and excitement. Setting in the room with some the icons of her childhood such as The Rock, Triple H and Shawn Michaels with them all depending on her to secure the best deal possible for the company.

As she took her seat, she saw Roman sitting across from her. He gave her a small nod, but Iris quickly looked away, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of 'acknowledging' him because well, fuck that.

The meeting began, and They started discussing the details of what WWE would want out of the deal. Iris listened intently, taking notes and asking questions when necessary.

Iris was impressed by the ambition and determination of the WWE executives and top stars. They wanted to expand their reach and increase their revenue, and they were willing to go all out to make it happen.

As the meeting progressed, Iris noticed that Roman was paying close attention to her. He would glance at her every now and then, as if he was trying to gauge her reaction to everything that was being discussed.

"I understand your concerns, but I think we can work out a deal that benefits both parties," Iris said, her voice calm and professional. "We can negotiate terms that ensure that the deal is mutually beneficial and that the rights of both parties are protected so that we get everything WWE requires of the deal, I don't see Netflix or their Attorneys giving us very much push back on any of this."

The WWE executives nodded, impressed by her knowledge and confidence.

"We appreciate your input, Ms. Taylor." Triple H said. "We were looking for a lawyer who can handle the details and help us navigate the legal landscape of the deal in a timely manner so we can get the ball rolling on getting the product out to our fans as soon as possible."

"We knew you were the right choice when Roman recommended you" The Rock spoke up.

Iris could barely hide her surprise at The Rock's words. She hadn't expected Roman to recommend her to the WWE, especially after the way things had ended between them.

"Roman recommended me?" she asked, trying to keep her voice neutral.

The Rock nodded. "Yeah, he said you were a lawyer and that he trusted you to do a good job."

Roman shifted uncomfortably in his seat, clearly not expecting his cousin to bring him up.

Iris glanced at Roman, trying to read his expression. Focusing back in on the task at hand, the meeting continued, with the WWE executives discussing the logistics of the deal. Iris tried to focus on the conversation, but her mind kept wandering back to Roman. It was driving her crazy being this distracted when she's used to being laser focused when talking to a client.

After another hour or so of discussion, the meeting finally came to an end. The WWE executives thanked Iris for her input and left the room, leaving her alone with Roman, and Paul who left when Roman shot him a look requesting privacy.

Iris gathered her notes and papers, shoving them into her briefcase. She was about to leave when she heard Roman's voice.

"Hey, can we talk for a minute?" he asked, his tone surprisingly gentle.

Iris hesitated for a moment, unsure if she wanted to talk to him. But something in his voice made her stop.

"Fine," she said, turning to face him. "What do you want to talk about?"

Roman took a step closer to her, his expression serious.

"I just wanted to apologize," he said. "For what happened at Smackdown. I was an ass, and I shouldn't have treated you like that."

Iris raised an eyebrow, skeptical.

"You're apologizing now, after?" she asked. "Why? because I'm representing the company you work for in negotiations?"

Roman sighed, running a hand through his hair.

"No, it's not just because of that," he said. "I've been thinking about what happened, and I realized that I was wrong. I let my emotions get the best of me, and I took it out on you. I'm sorry for that."

Iris studied him for a moment, trying to gauge his sincerity.

"You know, you could have just said that instead of making things worse at Smackdown," she said, her voice laced with a hint of bitterness.

Roman nodded, looking down at the floor.

"I know, I know," he said. "I was stupid. I let my pride get in the way, and I hurt you in the process. I'm not used to being... vulnerable. I'm sorry for that, too."

Roman looked up at Iris, his expression soft.

"I just got divorced," he said quietly. "It was a messy, painful process. We have five kids together... And I don't know if I'm ready to feel again. I don't know if I'm ready to open myself up to someone new."

Iris softened a bit at his words. She could see the pain in his eyes, and she understood what he was going through.

"I'm sorry to hear that," she said, her voice gentle. "Divorce is never easy, especially when it's messy and there are kids involved."

Roman took a deep breath, steeling himself for what he was about to say.

"I know you have no reason to say yes," he said. "But I was wondering if you would let me take you to dinner. As an apology for everything that happened between us."

Iris hesitated, torn between her anger and her curiosity. She didn't want to give in to Roman's request, but there was a part of her that was tempted.

"Why should I?" she asked, her voice guarded. "You've already apologized. What more do you want from me?"

Roman looked at her, his eyes pleading.

"I want a chance to make things right," he said. "I want to show you that I'm sorry"

Iris was silent for a moment, considering his words. She knew that she shouldn't give in to his request, but there was something about his sincerity that made her reconsider.

"Fine," she said finally. "One dinner. But don't think that this means anything."

As Iris agreed to have dinner with Roman, he smiled at her, relieved that she had accepted his invitation. But then, as he was about to thank her, the words slipped out before he could stop them.

"Good girl," he said, his voice soft and low.

Iris's eyes widened in surprise at Roman's words. She hadn't expected him to say that, she felt her breath hitch in her throat.

Roman realized what he had said and quickly tried to cover it up.

"I mean, thank you," he said hastily. "Thank you for agreeing to have dinner with me."

Iris tried to push down the arousal that she felt at Roman's praise, but it was too late. She could feel her body responding to his words.

She took a deep breath, trying to compose herself.

"You're welcome," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Roman could sense the change in her demeanor, and he couldn't help but notice the way she'd been flustered and it sent a thrill through him.

"I'll pick you up at 7," he said, "Wear something nice."

"Yes, My tribal chief." She said sarcastically

Previous Chapter ●◉◎◈◎◉● Next Chapter

[necrotic-nephilim]

Psst this makes no sense timewise but fucky Stephjay where teenage Jason briefly worked for Cluemaster to pay for food/rent.

I doubt Jason would be a drug runner as a kid but I can see him as a lookout or maybe bodyguard/errand boy for the Browns.

YOUR MIND MY GOD THIS IS SO GOOD

Jason working for Cluemaster is *so* good, my god. especially if Jason doesn't want to be there and doesn't like it, but he has no other option to pay the bills (i think this would be a fun AU to keep Catherine alive in, maybe he's trying desperately to pay medical bills to ensure she keeps getting medication she needs which makes him even more desperate for money and willing to do things he wouldn't normally) so he starts working for small time villains, ones he thinks won't be as bad as Joker or the like. which lands him as a goon for Cluemaster and somehow, he's either useful or interesting enough to Arthur that he decides to keep promoting Jason. until one day, he offers a very high pay raise for Jason to look after Steph. it's not necessarily that Arthur cares about Steph or her mother, but he does care about his reputation so when someone threatens his family, he needs to save face.

i think this could be fun to explore before Jason becomes Robin (maybe making him Robin a *little* later just so he and Steph have a significant time together as teenagers). and Jason ends up sort of close to this spunky, angry kid of Arthur Brown who calmly tells Jason she is going to do everything in her power to get her father behind bars and she's sorry but not sorry if and when that lands Jason out of a job. bc maybe she's suspicious of Jason first, bc what kind of guy willingly works for Cluemaster, but then, as she learns more about where he is in life, she Gets it. she understands bc she sees the shady things her own mother, Crystal does to get by under Arthur's thumb.

when Jason vanishes bc he becomes Robin, Steph is disappointed but she gets it. Bruce Wayne suddenly publically has a new ward and hell, Steph can't blame a guy for taking that chance bc that kind of money will *definitely* help Catherine. Steph's life goes on with her father being her father.

it's a bit unrealistic but. i sort of like the idea that when Jason dies, Bruce is so caught up in grief and funeral proceedings and anger that he sort of forgets about Catherine. and Steph will be damned if Catherine Todd is forgotten about and left to rot as a childless mother. i'd love to write Steph and Crystal finding the money to manage to keep Catherine afloat as well and Steph getting really close to Catherine bc of it. also would be fun if Steph becomes Spoiler partly in honor of Jason bc (not knowing he was Robin) she wants to do the good he never got to.

and THEN the fucked up-ness of it all that Steph finds out Jason was Robin when she takes up the torch and so quickly dies afterward she never fully gets to process how she feels about that. how to handle her pride in Jason for getting to be more than what he was versus her anger at Bruce for letting him die. and on the horrible flip side, Jason comes back and finds out Bruce let another kid die as Robin, and that kid was *Steph*. he finds out it was Steph who kept his mom alive, Steph who died in a mantle that should've ended with Jason and he's even angrier at Bruce. i do think he'd kill Black Mask in a slow, painful way to avenge her since clearly, Bruce can't.

and then Steph comes back and there's all the complicated feelings i just. oh your brain this is such a good idea i want to write it so bad. anything that explores connections Jason and Steph could've had before Bruce because they truly deserve to be more entangled than they already are. let them be weird about each other DC.

[phoenixshusband]

If you think Spider saved Quaritch for no reason you’re wrong, like entirely. Spider is 16. Keep that in mind for all of this. 16. Your brain finishes developing in your mid-20’s, Spider is still a teenager.

More below the cut cause I know people hate scrolling for ages through long text posts lol

Spider is a teenager that has grown up never fitting in, physically he’s human, but he’s grown up with the Na’vi and so the way he acts and thinks is that of the Na’vi. Because of this he simply will never fit in, he will always be an outsider no matter what he does. This is a child that is viewed as different and wrong in many ways, those he looks up to look down on him in all possible ways, quite literally treating him as a stray rather than a child. No, Neytiri and Jake have no obligation to raise or treat him like one of the family but as adults they do have an obligation to ensure a child is being raised right and being treated right, all adults have that no matter who they are.

So you take a child that feels like an outsider, doesn’t fit in, is mentally struggling and you have him kidnapped by the RDA and a man who is technically his father, have a guess what happens. Yeah, he gets more fucked up. I don’t know what the fuck that thought extractor machine thing is but it’s looks horrific, if Spider didn’t have epilepsy before I’m willing to bet he does now. And in this time of torture, imprisonment and fear it’s not Jake or anyone else from the camp that come save him, it’s Quaritch. Quaritch saves him, that instantly creates a bond as Quaritch gives him a freedom and safety he wouldn’t get otherwise.

With Quaritch Spider gets freedom, he can test the limits as all children will, he gets to ride on an ikran right at the front as though he was flying it, Spider gets to see even more of Pandora. Not to mention literally no one came for him, the adults (and I mean all of them not just the Jake and Neytiri) abandoned him despite knowing that the RDA is cruel enough to torture a child, they knew what he might be facing and they just left him. This kid must be in mental hell.

And it all crescendos when Neytiri tries to kill him. I do not care what you say Neytiri was justified in killing every single person on that ship brutally, they all deserved it but not Spider. He’s a teenager and innocent, she was not justified in doing that. I’m not here to shit on Neytiri though, she’s an incredibly complex and deep character written beautifully and I adore her, but that doesn’t mean wrongful actions can’t be recognised.

Which perfectly leads us to the moment. Spider is underwater, there isn’t time to think only time to act and Spider, traumatised and scared, does. And he does the stupid move of saving Quaritch. But as I’ve said he had a reason to do it, a motivation, just as Neytiri had one to put a blade to his neck.

Spider saving Quaritch does not represent the failings of his morals and his character but instead represent the failings of those around him, the scientists had an obligation to raise him and at the very least Jake had an obligation to ensure a child wasn’t being damaged mentally as he grew up, both failed in doing this and as a result a teenager was pushed to the point of breaking and he did.

Spider is not a bad kid. Neytiri is not a bad person. Jake is not a bad father. All of these can be true and so can the fact that they each did the wrong thing, and that’s a fact.

All it takes is:

Jake: Hey Norm, Spiders been hanging around the kids a lot more and I’m worried some issues might start developing, mind checking in on him?

Norm: Yeah sure Jake, no problem.

And then he talks to Spider and they can find a way to help him with his issues. That’s it! Easy.

[kuromori4]

Gabriel Agreste's despicable request

I started this rant after watching the London special and I figured I should finally finish it and post it.

"Make sure Adrien never knows the villain that I was, and instead try and remember the times I tried to be a good father."

Who the hell does he think he is to make such a request?? He's relying on Marinette's desire to protect the boy she loves. He KNOWS that she'll do as he asks for Adrien. He's counting on it. And that's AWFUL. He has to know exactly what he's putting on her shoulders. He knows that she knows what an awful father he's been to Adrien. This isn't a heartfelt request to protect his son. This is a CURSE ON HIS ENEMY. A way to ensure that Marinette Dupain-Cheng, Ladybug, the major thorn in his side since day one, continues to suffer long after he's gone. Ladybug foiled all of his plans from the start, Marinette dared to win the heart of his son, whom he had promised to someone else without his knowledge. She was his downfall, and surely, in his mind, the (albeit indirect) cause of his impending doom.

If he really cared about Adrien, if Adrien's well-being was his real goal and final wish, then he should have given in. He should have decided, "You're right Ladybug, I fucked up. let's try and fix this, for Adrien." But NO. He chose to attack her, even after she gave him a chance to make things right. He wasn't willing to let things end on someone else's terms. If he was going to go out, he was going to do it HIS WAY. And he was going to make sure that his memory would never die, one way or another. So instead of doing the right thing and finding a way out of it that was less harmful to his child, whom he was about to leave an orphan, he steals the Miraculous and makes damn sure that his death will go down in history.

I don't give a shit if he changed the initial intention of his wish. He still wasn't sacrificing himself for some greater good. That's just how he wanted Marinette to perceive it, because she is good, and a child, and therefor easy to emotionally manipulate. He knowingly put both Adrien and Marinette into a position where a future of hurt and pain was inevitable. Everything Gabriel does is self-serving, right to the very end. His final act of villainy ensured that he could maintain control over his son's life even after his death, and keep his enemies suffering long after he's gone. And what's worse, he used the girl his son loves to enforce it. Which is the ultimate fuck you to Mari/bug if you ask me; forcing her to become the new keeper of his son's ignorance, maintaining that Adrien stays in the dark and never learns the truth about anything.

You could argue that he gave his life for Nathalie and that's somehow redeeming, but I argue that it was just another way for him to guarantee that his affairs were taken care of after his demise. Sure he does seem to care about Nathalie in some manner, maybe there's even some love there. (But as we well know, Gabriel's twisted 'love' seems to come at a price.) I'm sure Nathalie knows how to run his company in his stead, to make sure his assets stay in tact, and to a certain degree, maybe even thinks that Nathalie might carry on his mission, or at the very least protect his secrets. Even if she had a change of heart in the end and tried to stop him, she has been complicit all these years and knows most of, if not all of, his secrets and goals. She also has a position of authority over Adrien. She knows that he's a Sentibeing and where his Amok is, and has used it on him before. I truly think that Gabriel believed that Nathalie would help wrap everything up with a nice bow for him. Who else could he trust to handle his final affairs? Certainly not Tsurugi.

If Gabriel had turned himself in to Ladybug, he would have died alone, pretty much then and there. Without his wife. (Emilie's status of dead or nearly dead being unknown to us) Nathalie would have died, His company would fail, his contracts with Tsurugi enterprises would allow Tomoe to pick the Gabriel company apart like a vulture, and his empire would shrivel up. His son would know who and what he was, and would hate him. The plans he put in place for Adrien's future would fall apart, allowing for Adrien to grow and be who he wants without his father's influence. Maybe he'd be remembered for his villainy, but his accomplishments in life as Gabriel would be forgotten, lost, even resented. And what's worse, he would have lost everything to a couple of children. His son's girlfriend and her pet cat would be his downfall, his undoing. The great Gabriel Agreste, Monarch, bested by a young girl. Gabriel's blatant pretension would never stand for it.

His wish ensured that he got to be together with his wife in the end, Which was always his goal. It ensured that Mari/bug (And by extension, Chat Noir) would continue to suffer for daring to oppose him. He got his way. He won. IDGAF if he died. HE WON. He destroyed so many lives. He doesn't deserve the little comments in the special talking about "Rekindling what was still good in Gabriel Agreste" or "What finally made him a good father to Adrien." HE KNEW WHAT HE WAS ASKING OF HER. He knew what it would mean for her, and his son! The power he holds over Marinette and Adrien from beyond the grave guarantees that even with a new Butterfly holder, that he will ALWAYS be the formidable villain who defeated them. He will ALWAYS loom over their heads, wrap his fingers around their throats. He got to defeat his enemy AND look like the hero. He gets to have his cake and eat it too. He gave both of his identities a fucking LEGACY.

[ludinusdaleth]

i feel like the mere idea of bringing up orym & ludinus and their entwined threads of fate is taboo, but i cant stop thinking about it.

orym is a rare, nearly impossible kind of protector - a guard, somehow not attached to a corrupt, brutal system. he just wishes to protect his home, his leader. but ludinus, via otohan, attacks this peaceful place. he turns the ashari cautious & agrieved. he turns the society of air into the eye of a hurricane. orym is turned into a widow. his title as guard is marred; he failed. maybe zephrah is forever marked as a battleground & graveyard, now.

orym walks across tal'dorei & marquet, slowly healing beside his friends, protecting them as best he can. but then he learns who killed his family, and she kills his friends, too - and him, for a moment, giving him visions of his dead husband, reopening the wound. he is in the eye of a sandstorm, tinged red by the moon. he is a pilgrim no longer. his attempt to be a guard has once again been thwarted. maybe you cant have peace if you're a protector.

orym is at the center of the goddamn planet, the leylines aligning as he witnesses his leader fall at the hands of otohan, again at the center of his home's wound, and ludinus, again pulling the strings. a protector far stronger, more capable, than him, adorned in feathers, alight with divinity, falls worse. his friends are flung to the far sides of the world. he once again fails as a guard. maybe a guard is too small in the scale of this world's forces to impact the tide at all.

and so, orym nods to laudna as she rips bor'dor's life from him. he shears his hair ever more, adorns tougher armor. he makes a deal with a hag, desperate for any chance someone he cares for could maybe fucking make it out okay - even if his vastly increased sternness to keep them safe pushes all of them farther into fear of their own. he sneers with unfathomable anguish as he sees ludinus at the volcano and wastes every one of his action points to rip his soldiers apart. he uses ludinus's harness. he takes the willmaster's power. he keeps pushing into the bloodred storm. he could never be a guard right. so it is time to be a soldier. to truly protect must mean to run to the source of all of it and end it once and for all.

all of the bells have been forged by ludinus, a horseman of war, but orym takes it most viscerally. he does everything in his power to stop ludinus, but in a way the elf has already won - or perhaps, in his need for exandria to be "saved" (as he percieves his actions will do), he's failed, but the bells have still lost. because this new generation isnt at peace. they arent even heroes. they are soldiers. orym more than anyone else has accepted that is his life, his death, his fate. there is no goal of his that doesnt end at ludinus. ludinus, who just like him, lost everything in a war involving gods. who has felt the way the world keeps turning, unbothered by what destroyed his society. who uses that accursed harness to take power for a cause. who doesnt want to force someones mind to get what he needs, or kill, but does, because it is necessary. who has pushed himself to the point he is a means to an end more than a person, willing to rip himself apart because he doesnt matter, his goal does. who cant see anything but war on the horizon anymore.

when the two are mentioned together it causes folk to bristle. the idea orym could be in ludinus's shadow is seen as a suggestion that orym is evil as him. but, thats not what i intend. it is a terrible thing, watching someone's gaze harden after tragedy. once a long time ago, as the gods fought across exandria, ludinus saw his world destroyed. and so he enacted a plan to ensure that would never happen again. that they would suffer, and mortals would thrive. but his plan was a god's foot, trampling mortal society upon society. and so orym saw his world destroyed. and he knows killing ludinus is how to let it mend. as the two march forward, in a second calamity, i can think of nothing but the first scene of exu: calamity, when pelor & asmodeus fought as avalir fell below them. despite ludinus's raging, incredible hatred of the gods, the biggest tragedy of all is that mortals really are crafted in the gods' image: and he, & orym, are most representative of that endless cycle of war, of this war, a failure of the past generations, of ludinus, to ensure a "true" freedom of mortals. of peace.

willmaster edmunda was a terrible person, but i fear she was on the right track when she spat at orym "some would like to live in harmony [with Exandrians]. some... know the nature of violence, that others like you carry."

he would never have carried it if ludinus had not dropped it at his feet.

[self-indulgent-paw-patrol]

You know something I don't see anyone talking about? In the climax of the Mighty Movie, when the giant meteor is coming down, Ryder's response is to tell Skye to save herself, that meteor probably would've destroyed all of Adventure City and maybe even beyond, and there's no telling if they were able to evacuate the whole city by that point, I doubt it, Ryder was willing to let a whole city get destroyed and potentially a bunch of citizens get killed all for the sake of his pup, just goes to show how much Ryder cares for the pups, cause when it comes down to it, he'd choose them over a whole city

Dude THAT SCENE FROM THE MIGHTY MOVIE HAS SO MUCH TO UNPACK I WANNA SCREAM EVERY TIME I REWATCH IT

Also as much as that might sound weird because "he would sacrifice the city for his pups" (it DOES sound terrible), THAT WAS PROBABLY THE HARDEST DECISION EVER IN RYDER'S LIFE SO FAR and I'm gonna explain now why I'll always defend this boy with my life

Under the cut bc it gets long and I'll be talking details about a still kinda recent movie and I know some people who didn't get to watch it yet XD

First, YEAH, they were NOT able to evacuate the city on time. There were still a lot of people on the streets, including the very Paw Patrol team. Just like in the beginning when the first meteor came down and when they needed to secure a landing path for the plane, we see they first make sure the streets are empty before they look for shelter themselves. Same thing happened in the first movie, remember? During the storm, they secured the streets around the skyscrapers first, and only then the pups went for shelter in the building as well. This time, though? There was just not enough time for that. It wasn't about emptying a whole avenue or a few blocks, that giant fucker was going to obliterate AT LEAST HALF THE CITY.

Man, Victoria was indeed crazy. Just where the fuck was she planning to have that shit land as she pulled it down to Earth???

Which brings up another point...

The Paw Patrol was still there too and none of them had a crystal to power up and use their powers to escape. All crystals had been handed over to Skye just a few minutes before.

DO YOU GET WHAT THAT MEANS???

Ryder knew that was it. If Skye wouldn't be able to stop that giant meteor, they were all going to die.

Skye could die trying to stop that meteor.

If she would be successful and save everyone, she could still die while at it.

If she failed, she would die along with everyone else.

Ryder refused to let her sacrifice herself like that, even if there was a chance to save everyone, the risks were just too high. The biggest chance was that they would ALL die there- so if there was one way to save at least ONE of them, he was going to take it.

As much as the franchise relies on crazy and surreal odds (Dinosaurs? Merpups? I think Dragons too, I didn't get there yet? We can just keep going lol), Ryder is still a realistic kind of person. He's a dreamer, sure, but he's also realistic. He's a science kid. He knows the numbers, he calculates odds very quickly, he analyzes every situation faster than you can think so he can choose the best course of action and instruct his pups on where to go and what to do.

The best case scenario there? It was to ensure at least Skye would survive. She had the crystals, she was already out there in the air, all she needed to do was to get out of the way and fly far to stay out of the impact shockwave. No biggie. Anything else, any other idea to try and save the other pups, it would take too long and they wouldn't get away in time, and it would only bring Skye to die as well. Skye wouldn't be fast enough to fly all the way back to redistribute the crystals. She would get there, but then they wouldn't have enough time to run or hide, only Chase would be fast enough to get away and he wouldn't be willing to run and leave everyone else behind.

And there's also the fact that Ryder always puts his pups' safety and well being above his own too. He will make sure they're safe and sound in any given situation before beginning to consider about his own safety. It's his main duty to make sure they'll be okay. They're his responsibility.

And if even just one of his pups would be left behind to die, he wouldn't go either. Even if that meant letting the city get destroyed and taking several other people with them in the process.

The world be damned, his pups are well trained and always putting themselves at risk for the people, but when it comes down to it, their lives will always come first for this kid. And if one stays behind, he's staying too.

On a last note, I don't remember how it is in the English dub right now, but in the Brazilian dub his voice CRACKS SO HARD when he's telling Skye to save herself. He sounds SO DESPERATE and, and, like, he's trying so damn hard to keep his shit together, to get his point across and he knows they have zero chance of escape and survival, he knows these might be his last words to her, IT HURTS SO FUCKING MUCH--!!!!

[mr-payjay]

big taco analysis ramble i did at like 3 in the morning last night

it's hard to know if Taco cares about Pickle or not because the letters are "instructions" which possibly implies they're cold. reaching for the portal and wanting a second chance could mean she wants to have another chance to win. repeating the same thing she did in s1 with Mic now could mean she just tries to repeatedly manipulate people over and over. it's difficult! because she is so. so. sooooooo closed off. she has lied so many times to so many people including herself to the point she has absolutely no fucking clue who she is other than "bad". she has aspd too so she doesn't feel much remorse. but at the same time she still cares. but!! that goes against her Badness. which she believes in. she "knows" she is bad, she's always believed she's a bad person and that's the only consistent trait she believes in. so she tries to avoid thinking about Pickle.

the closest she's ever gotten to loving herself was around mine your own business. because she started to care about Mic and hadn't realized it yet. but she didn't want Mic to Leave her. "I could stand to be a bit more open." she was actually trying to change her behavior this time, to ensure Mic stayed, even if it was subconscious (likely on purpose, in a way. trying to avoid Thinking about it because she doesn't like caring about people so she ignores those feelings and once again LIES to herself!!!!).

see what's so weird is that. at a first glance. it just seems like Taco is repeating the cycle. she teams up with a partner, she exerts control over them in some way or another, she befriends them to get their trust, and then eventually it fails. but the way she handled Pickle and Mic is. so so different.

with Pickle, her whole thing was advertising herself! she was trying to show themselves as a cute duo by being sweet friends with him, being silly and stupid for the audience, and controlling him very subtly mostly by heavily helping with certain challenges to keep him in the game or manipulating the audience rather than him. the big thing was Fake Friendship. and in the end, Taco left him. as she was planning to all along. it was a very self centered plan where Pickle was a sidekick to her that she used as a way to get further in, then dropped the moment she didn't need him anymore. doesn't mean she doesn't care about him though. but that's for later (if i can figure out how to word it).

now, with Microphone, her situation was completely the opposite in many ways. she COULDNT advertise herself! she put herself out there as much as possible in ii1 but in ii2 her entire existence is in hiding. she is not falsely befriending Mic to please an audience, but rather gaining her trust to use her as a puppet in a show she is no longer able to participate in. the way she controls Mic is much more aggressive than with Pickle. she's quite an angry person, it seems. anyway as you know, she tries to demand Mic do certain things (even if she is uncomfortable with them) and will reprimand her if she refuses to follow her plans. she kind of assumes everyone is stupider than her, including Mic at first. when Microphone manipulates Balloon using a better strategy than Taco had set up, she's impressed! she always expects that she's the smartest person in the room, Tricking everyone around her. this is part of why she sees herself as Bad while also being Superior. smarter and sneakier and cut out for manipulation.

anyway as time goes on she grows to actually trust Mic and see her as almost an equal, to the point she is willing to budge on things she would've never even considered changing before (such as being more open, actually listening to Mic's ideas, etc). she still struggles a lot with overstepping boundaries, such as in hatching the plan where she promises Microphone she won't physically hurt anybody and then immediately breaks that promise as they get on the ship because it's "necessary". it's not something Mic would understand, she thinks. she is just trying to get Mic further into the game. Taco doesn't seem to see Mic's discomfort either because she's very self centered, even if it is FOR Mic. Taco is trying to get Mic some praise and appreciation and a chance to win now. and that's what changes, that's what's odd. before this, she didn't actually care if Mic was getting Praised by the other contestants or not. she was manipulating and controlling her as best as she could, on her own. she didn't really care as long as she could get further in. and i would have a different view on this IF she didn't start talking about how good it must feel for Mic. because you could say it's so that the contestants wouldn't vote out Mic. but Taco didn't actually say anything about that. she was hoping Mic would be happy. she made sure the mission went as well as possible so that Microphone was clapped for and so Taco could, at the same time, feel good about herself for doing everything right and getting everything done Properly. her plan was Better than Mic's. it did everything right. they were both on the right path and now Mic was going to be happy and thank her for being oh-so-smart and would listen to her even more from now on. naturally that did not happen. Taco Wants to win. she wants the prize so, so badly. but in s1, she wanted to win alone. in s2, she wanted to win *with* Microphone.

[checked her for npd at this point and found it to be positive]

Microphone is someone who could actually be Taco's friend, someone who Maybe, would Listen to her Genuinely, and Want her around for once. Microphone wanted her to be more open and so she said she would be. she's far off from being vulnerable with anyone just yet but her heart aches for it. she's so lonely.

and especially because she deceives people so often, Taco ALWAYS feels like people love the mask but not her. when Microphone leaves her, it's like. impostor syndrome. she thinks that she's been deceiving herself all along into thinking she's Not a bad person. when clearly she is. because the only person she shared some of her Real Personality with, now hates her. so she must've been wrong to think she could ever be good, that she could ever be better than this, that someone could ever care about her. she's destined to be bad and she's going to accept that.

[dentalcaring]

it is a little annoying when people focus more on curly’s reaction than jimmy’s action. like i think at this point curly is getting more heat than jimmy.

it’s also annoying bc you can tell that jimmy will abuse and manipulate pretty much anyone around him to stay the perfect martyr. a victim. someone so put upon and in need of pity.

curly puts on a strong face but i’m not convinced that he isn’t a victim, too. maybe what jimmy does to him isn’t physical at first, but the manipulation remains. i think that curly’s “inaction” is more careful calculation— what will he be able to do realistically to ensure that 1. anya is safe 2. the crew is safe 3. they get their job completed 4. they get *paid* for their work. also, they are in space and have nowhere to escape to, they are isolated, and need to survive at least 240+ more days. he knows anya specifically really needs that money, and if they lose a big chunk of it due to whatever pony express views as a failing (which has been demonstrated to be pretty much every little thing), then what she went through will be “for nothing” so to speak. killing jimmy would likely result in more problems, not the least of which being a likely pay cut, and the fact that jimmy is co-pilot and may be needed in a technical emergency, even if he is a deplorable person. imprisoning him could also result in fines, and i imagine the main difficulty is sorting out the logistics of that for those 240+ more days. add in the fact that curly is not sleeping (and the already only get 5 hours of allotted sleep time) and actively having psychosis…. well.

unfortunately curly makes a grave miscalculation in what jimmy is willing to do. especially when he finds out that anya is pregnant.

make no mistake—i don’t think that curly’s actions were perfect by any means, i don’t think he acted fast enough or decisively enough, but i don’t think he was thinking of protecting jimmy, even if he said to jimmy’s face that they would figure it out and everything would be fine. when you’re facing down with a dangerous person, you will often placate to keep the situation de-escalated. outright fighting would be financially and physically risky.

i also don’t think it’s babying curly to think about the position that he’s in mentally, and as a manager AND as a friend (especially to anya). he fucked it up, though, absolutely. and we see the end result of that. i think that’s part of what makes it such a tragedy.

[dirtyoldmanhole]

so it's a plot point that corrin's very naive, right.

the whole 'didn't read the room and kill the prisoners on garon's orders' shtick (or at least pretend to lie), the endlessly trusting people, being kind and fucking up when it actually causes more casualties, etc.

a lot of this time i've been puzzled about how why gunter wouldn't train the worst of that out.

i mean, he's had his life irrevocably screwed over by trusting garon briefly, he's corrin's combat instructor/caretaker. feels like part of the package, and something he'd be willing and able to do to ensure corrin's psychological safety. but it's usually xander or camilia who are the ones to bat aside such "unpleasant" topics. 'don't talk about such depressing things around corrin' etc, a little (unintentional?) forced infantilism.

and i'm wondering if corrin's stunted naievity has to do more with the royal's coping mechanisims.

they want corrin in the northern fortress to have the peaceful, idyllic, pleasant childhood that they never had.

because think about it, those two would have had to "grow up" the quickest and learn life's most brutal lessons too fast. and it doesn't take a long shot to guess that xander/camilia effectively ordered gunter to keep strictly to combat. (I'm not counting elise since she's not old enough to influence corrin's rearing one way or another.)

interestingly, i think leo would be in gunter's camp of 'no corrin needs to know how to lie effectively at minimim'; he thinks his disapproval as much in the manga; but he's also slightly young enough to actually do anything when it counts.

[cal-daisies-and-briars]

🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸 🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸

96 for Long Death!

---

“No luck,” Eddie sighs. 

“Me neither,” Maddie frowns. That surprises Eddie. “He turned it off for me.”

“I have it,” Sophia says.

They both turn to look at her. Eddie feels slightly betrayed, honestly. He imagines Maddie does, too. But then he remembers all Sophia and Buck went through, together. Maybe he thinks she’s the only person willing to do the same batshit crazy stuff in Eddie’s name. Maybe he’s right. 

Sophia turns the screen to show them.

“Here,” she says. “He’s here.”

Maddie grimaces. “Alright. Let’s go.”

💧💧💧

If he had wanted to, Buck could have waited until Kim was home to kill her. 

It was easy to narrow down Kim’s neighborhood, based on her very active Instagram feed. Easy enough to find her from there. Buck hates that it was easy, actually. He hates that things he learned in the interest of keeping Eddie safe, of being a protector, have turned him into a predator. Someone dangerous. Someone vile. Because that’s what this will be right? A vile, horrible act. 

Buck knows that. 

He just had to keep in mind, she started it. She hurt Eddie first. She destroyed things. 

This isn’t all Buck’s fault. 

Although, deep down, he knows… It kind of is. 

He’s not sure how he wants to play this exactly. He can’t just show up at her work and what? Shoot her. That’s a surefire way to get caught. He can’t break into her house while she’s there. That is also ending in a 9-1-1 call and Buck’s arrest. He considers waiting behind her house for her to get home, and coming from behind as she unlocks her door. But again, that leaves a lot of risk. Anyone could see him. 

Instead, he thinks about where the police first found Eddie. Abandoned, near the Long Beach Marina, bleeding to death. Truck left in a parking lot not far away. And he thinks that’s fitting. 

Kim drives a Prius. Buck knows this because she’s posted it to her Instagram several times. It’s baby blue and the license plate starts with 2Y. He doesn’t know the full plate because it’s never fully visible, but he knows that much. That’s enough, he thinks. 

He ensures Kim is working. He calls the store and she answers. He hangs up without saying anything. He parks far enough away from the main sea of Long Beach Promenade parking that his license plates won’t be caught on any nearby cameras. 

Crime is hard, he’d once said. 

Time to find out. 

The sun is setting and he’s dressed in dark, concealing clothing. He walks to the Promenade parking, and scours the large, seemingly endless lot for the right vehicle. He finds four Priuses, but only one of them is baby blue. When he is confident no one is looking, Buck uses a knife to flatten two tires. She won’t be leaving here on time. Maybe he should have researched how to cut brake lines. But that comes with the risk of her crashing and hurting or killing someone else. He really doesn’t want anyone else to get hurt. Plus, when Eddie hears about this - there will be no way around that - he doesn’t want the image of her involved in a vehicular death. That’s just a little bit more fucked up than it already needs to be. 

So here’s the plan. Kim will be done work in approximately fifteen minutes, based on store hours. Maybe a bit longer, depending on how long it takes to close shop. Even now, as business is winding down, the parking lot is beginning to empty. People are leaving from a long day of shopping, eating, and generally hanging out. Kim will be one of the last out. Buck will wait for her to arrive. He will keep low, behind a nearby EV charging station, and wait. When she bends down to check her tires, he will approach from behind, inflict a fatal wound with his hunting knife, and walk away. Fast. He will book it away, actually. 

Kim will die. At home, Eddie will die. Kim won’t wake up. Eddie will. Whatever happens from there, happens.

Buck knows he could get caught. Go to prison. He knows this will fuck him up, haunt him, either way. He knows Eddie may be angry with him. Hate him, maybe. But he still has to do it. He has to do it, so he doesn’t find Eddie staked to death one day. He has to do it, so Eddie doesn’t have Chris taken from him if his parents ever find out there’s a vampire in the house. He has to do it, so no matter what happens with vampires, it doesn’t ruin Eddie’s life. He has to do it, because he loves Eddie more than he loathes the consequences. 

And that love is a hill he’s willing to die on.

It all goes according to plan. The parking lot empties. There are only a few scattered vehicles by the time he sees Kim walking towards her Prius. 

[takemetothemoon-fics]

Helpless || 2

Title: helpless || 2

Pairing: Killian Jones x reader

Word count: 936

Warnings: blood, swearing

Tags: angst, hurt-comfort

Synopsis: when reader gets really hurt, she has no choice but to go someone who is not really her friend....

A/N: hihihihi part two lets go

MASTERLIST

"Take your time. I am not going anywhere until I get the whole story. This Sunamo is someone I have had my eye on for a while. You are not the first to suffer at his hands. What did he do?"

"I was alone, and suddenly he and his men were just there. They were everywhere. they circled around me and I had no where to go." you exhale deeply "before I knew it, they got me. They grabbed my hair and kicked me when I was down. They cut me.. They got me in the places they knew it would hurt most."

His face softens into a sympathetic expression as you describe. He looks down at the ground before continuing "You did not deserve this. I am sorry. You did not deserve this. What happened afterwards?"

"I passed out. When I woke up, they were gone. So was my sword. I was far from home... and I knew you lived out here."

He lets out a slow breath "This was far worse than I expected. What about Sunamo himself? Why did he do this? What did he want?" His eyes fill with concern.

"Who knows what that sadistic fuck wants? For all I know it could be just to see me suffer."

"Tell me what you were doing when he found you. This could be of importance. And believe me. Sunamo is a monster. But he is a calculated monster with an intellect that is matched by none I have encountered. So this was intentional and he wanted something from you."

"I was alone at the old harbour."

A look of horror crosses his face "… That monster did this to you just because you were alone? Nothing else? No motive whatsoever?"

"I don't know, it's not like he told me" You snap at him.

"I know this may be a shock to you y/n. But your enemy is willing to put a hold on his hate for you to help you. We can put our rivalry away temporarily and focus on this matter at hand. All I ask is for you to tell me who did this to you, so that I may ensure this does not happen to you or anyone I may care for again."

"...sorry."

You can hear his teeth grinding behind a sigh. He steps back, shaking his head. It is a miracle you survived. "I hate him. That monster needs to pay for what he did to you. I swear it, y/n. I will see him suffer for this."

"You don't need to do anything Killian. I will handle this on my own"

"What if he kills you next time? You were so badly injured from a surprise assault that he may just decide to finish it."

"If that means the last thing I do is running my blade through his chest, then so be it."

"You have a second chance at life. Why are you willing to give it up?"

"Why do you care?"

He looks at you in the eyes "You are an enemy. True. But nobody deserves to go through what you just did. You are strong y/n, but you are in no shape to face that monster. You should rest and recover. If you need anything, anything at all, to help you with that, I will get it for you. In the meantime I will keep my eyes on that Sunamo. He is no longer just some problem, some obstacle on the seas. He is the new greatest terror of the seas because of what he just did."

"Don't go at him alone. at least let me help. This is my fight. Let me fight it"

He thinks for a moment "… Fine. But we do it my way, and when I give an order, you follow. This means I won't spare that bastard for your personal vendetta. Do you agree?"

"You know I can't do it your way."

The look of horror returns to his face. You're still so stubborn. This man just about killed you today and you aren't willing to put your pride aside to do this the right way? He stare at you in shock as his eyes fill with anger. He speaks in his most serious voice "Do you want to see him killed or not?"

"I do. your way won't do the trick. Trust me."

He stares you down and takes a deep breath "Very well. I will play by your rules. We will do this your way. But mark my words. This is going to be messy. And I will not be happy about it."

"Stop being a dick. you're the one that so eager to help." You snap at him again. All your defence mechanisms are down, and you feel this is the only way you can still defend yourself.

He sigs. "Fine. You want to be rude to the man who is willing to throw away all his principles and ideals to help you? So be it. You're too stubborn to be reasoned with anyway. Take care of yourself, y/n. He starts to leave, but pauses as he nears the door "And… good luck."

"Wait.'

He turns, looking at you with a raised eyebrow.

"I'm sorry." You say through gritted teeth.

You exhale. You don't want to say it, but you need him. you're just too stubborn to ask him for help.

His eyes study your face. He finally looks away and sighs. "… Alright. I forgive you. I am willing to help you. Now tell me how you want to get back at this Sunamo."