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kentobb · 2 months ago

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hiromi higuruma x female secretary (AU).

chapter 20 > chapter 22

chapter 21

The tree’s shadow falls over Higuruma as he stands silently, his posture rigid, his hand gripping yours tightly. The sun is muted behind the heavy gray clouds, casting a somber hue over the funeral. A few dozen people are gathered around a casket in the distance, the quiet murmurs of grief blending with the soft rustling of leaves in the breeze.

The pastor speaks, his voice carrying across the space, solemn and steady.

“We gather here today to lay to rest a man who carried the weight of his pain in ways many of us could never understand,” he says. “A son, a father, a brother—a man whose life was defined by struggle but also resilience. His actions, though not without fault, stemmed from love—love for his family, love for the life he built, however imperfect it may have been.”

Higuruma stares at the scene, his face unreadable, but his jaw tightens with every word. He watches the mourners, their heads bowed, their expressions a mixture of sorrow and quiet reflection.

You stand beside him, your hand in his, sensing the storm of emotions brewing beneath his calm exterior. His grip on your hand is firm, as though holding onto you is the only thing keeping him grounded. You look up at him, searching his face, but his eyes remain fixed on the scene ahead.

From behind the tree, the three of you—Higuruma, Nanami, and yourself—keep your distance, watching as the ceremony unfolds. Nanami had arrived minutes earlier, his presence a quiet acknowledgment of the moment’s gravity. He stands just to the side, his arms crossed, his expression stoic but reflective.

The pastor continues, his voice unwavering.

“His family remembers him as a man who carried his burdens alone, who fought for his loved ones with all that he had, even when it seemed there was little left to fight with. He was stubborn, yes, but also unyielding in his convictions. Today, we honor not just the man he was, but the humanity within him—the struggles, the triumphs, and the love he gave in his own way.”

Higuruma exhales sharply, the words cutting deeper than he anticipated. His mind flashes back to Toji’s final moments, the blood, the bitterness in his voice, the despair masked by anger.

Your fingers squeeze his, pulling him slightly back to the present. “Are you okay?” you whisper, your voice barely audible.

He doesn’t look at you, his gaze still locked on the casket. “I will be,” he mutters, his voice heavy.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps behind you breaks the quiet. Higuruma turns, his sharp instincts flaring for a moment, only to see Geto walking toward you. He’s holding Gojo’s hand, steadying him as they approach.

Gojo looks pale, his arm in a sling, his movements slow and deliberate. There’s a light bruise under his eye, and though his usual confident smirk is absent, his presence alone is a testament to his resilience.

Geto nods at Higuruma in acknowledgment before guiding Gojo to stand beside him. You glance at Gojo, relief washing over you at the sight of him upright, even if still recovering.

Gojo’s eyes drift to the casket in the distance, his expression hard to read. “So, that’s it,” he says quietly, his voice hoarse, likely from both injury and exhaustion.

“Yeah,” Higuruma replies simply, his tone flat.

The four of you stand together, a quiet unity forming as the casket begins its slow descent into the ground. The mourners around it grow quieter, the sobs of a woman breaking the silence intermittently.

Geto’s grip on Gojo’s hand tightens as they both watch the ceremony from afar. Neither speaks, though Geto’s gaze flickers briefly toward Higuruma. He doesn’t say anything, but there’s an understanding in his eyes, a silent acknowledgment of the weight Higuruma carries.

As the casket reaches the bottom, Higuruma finally looks away, his eyes falling to his own hands, still stained—at least in his mind—with the guilt of everything that’s happened. He feels your grip on his hand again, grounding him once more.

“It’s over,” you whisper, your voice gentle.

He nods slowly, though the tightness in his chest doesn’t ease. The four of you remain standing in silence as the mourners begin to disperse, their grief lingering in the air. From afar, you watch the final shovels of dirt cover the casket, the chapter finally closing on the chaos Toji had brought into all your lives.

Though no one says it, there’s a sense of shared understanding in the air—a fragile peace that binds you all, even if the scars of what’s happened will remain.

The city lights flicker outside as Higuruma drives to his apartment, the low hum of the car filling the silence. You’ve noticed the shift in his demeanor these past three days—his quietness deeper, his thoughts distant. His grip on the wheel is firm, almost too tight, and his jaw is clenched as if holding back something he can’t say.

When you finally arrive at his place, he moves mechanically, unlocking the door and stepping inside without a word. He doesn’t even turn on the lights, heading straight to the window. There, he stands, his silhouette framed by the faint glow of the streetlights outside. His gaze is fixed, unseeing, as though he’s somewhere else entirely.

You follow him, your footsteps soft, and wrap your arms around him from behind. Your cheek presses against his back as you hold him close, planting a gentle kiss between his shoulder blades. He doesn’t react at first, but his breathing hitches, just barely.

“How are you feeling?” you ask softly, your voice breaking the stillness.

“I don’t know,” he admits after a long pause, his voice heavy and distant.

You feel his muscles tense beneath your touch. He turns slowly, his movements deliberate, and when he faces you, he pulls you into his arms. The hug is tight, almost desperate, as if he’s holding on to you to keep himself from falling apart.

“What about you?” he asks, his voice quieter now, his breath warm against your hair. “How are you feeling?”

You rest your head against his chest, your own emotions stirring. “I don’t know either,” you whisper, and your voice trembles with honesty.

He leans back slightly, his hands coming up to cradle your face as his forehead rests against yours. “We’ll figure it out,” he murmurs, his lips brushing your skin. “We’ll get through it together.”

When your eyes meet, you see them—tears forming in his dark gaze, threatening to spill. Your hand instinctively reaches up to cup his cheek, your thumb brushing against the dampness trailing down.

“Hiromi,” you say gently, your voice trembling as your heart aches for him. “Tell me what’s wrong. Please… just let it go.”

His composure cracks, and the weight he’s been carrying finally collapses. A ragged sob escapes him, and he buries his face in your shoulder. His body shakes as he clings to you, and his cries fill the quiet room.

“I feel… so guilty,” he chokes out. “I killed him. I had to, but… I can’t stop thinking about it. About him. About how angry, how broken he was. I saw it in his eyes, and I…”

He pulls back slightly, his face crumpled with anguish. “I feel like a monster. How can I feel sorry for him when he hurt you? When he nearly killed Gojo? What kind of person does that make me?”

Tears well in your own eyes as you shake your head vehemently. “You’re not a monster,” you say firmly, your voice breaking. “You did what you had to do. To protect us. To protect yourself. That doesn’t make you a bad person—it makes you human.”

He lets out a shuddering breath, his tears falling freely now. You lean forward, pressing your lips to his cheeks, kissing away the salty trails. You hold his face between your hands, your grip firm yet tender, grounding him.

“I’m here,” you tell him, your voice steady despite the tears streaming down your own face. “We’ll carry this together. You’re not alone in this, Higuruma. I’m with you. Every step of the way.”

Your foreheads press together again, your breaths mingling as his hands come up to cover yours. His grip tightens slightly, as if anchoring himself to you.

“Together,” he whispers hoarsely, and in that single word, there’s a promise. A fragile, beautiful hope.

[Three weeks later..]

The night is quiet, save for the hum of the air conditioning and the soft rhythm of Higuruma’s breathing beside you. You’re curled up against him, his arm draped protectively over your waist. But something feels off—a strange, churning sensation in your stomach pulls you from sleep.

You lie still for a moment, hoping it’ll pass, but it only worsens. Before you know it, you’re slipping out of bed and rushing to the bathroom. The sound of retching fills the silence, waking Higuruma instantly.

“Hey, hey,” he murmurs, his voice groggy but laced with concern as he hurries to your side. He kneels beside you, his hands already gathering your hair and holding it back as you lean over the toilet. “What’s going on? Are you okay?”

You groan softly, wiping your mouth with the back of your hand as the wave subsides. “I… I don’t know,” you manage, your voice weak.

Higuruma’s brows furrow as he rubs soothing circles on your back. “Did I mess up dinner again?” he asks, half-teasing, though the worry in his tone is unmistakable.

You glance up at him, exhausted but touched by his attempt to lighten the moment. “I don’t think so,” you say, managing a faint smile. “I’ve just… I haven’t been feeling great lately.”

Higuruma tilts his head slightly, his hand never ceasing its comforting motions. “How long has this been going on?”

“A few days,” you admit. “I thought it was stress… or maybe anxiety. Everything’s been so overwhelming.”

He hums softly, his other hand brushing against your forehead to check for a fever. “No fever,” he mutters to himself. Then, looking back at you, he smiles gently, his tired eyes soft with affection. “You’re worrying me, though. I’m starting to think I’m cursed in the kitchen.”

Despite yourself, you let out a weak laugh. “You’re not a bad chef, I promise.”

“Debatable,” he teases, but his gaze grows more serious. “Still, we can’t keep blaming anxiety for everything. Maybe we should check this out—just to be sure.”

You nod, leaning into his chest as he pulls you into a gentle hug. “Okay,” you whisper, your voice shaky but comforted by his presence.

For now, Higuruma helps you back to bed, his arm wrapped around you as if shielding you from anything that could hurt you. Both of you drift off, your thoughts lingering on what could be causing this strange turn in your health.

The soft sizzle of eggs fills the quiet kitchen as Higuruma expertly flips them in the pan. His morning routine had become something of a solace lately—a moment of calm before the day unfolded. As he grabs a pinch of salt, his phone buzzes on the counter. Glancing down, he sees Gojo Satoru flashing across the screen.

He sighs but picks it up, already bracing for whatever chaos Gojo might bring to his morning.

“Gojo,” Higuruma greets, his voice calm but slightly wary.

“Chef Higuruma! How’s it going? Burned breakfast yet, or are you going for round two of ‘How to Ruin Eggs’?” Gojo’s voice comes through, cheerful and relentlessly teasing.

Higuruma lets out a rare chuckle. “Not today. Though I’ll be sure to send you a plate if I do.”

“Spare me, man. I’m still recovering,” Gojo quips, a playful edge in his tone. “Speaking of which, you and your better half doing okay?”

“She’s fine. A little under the weather lately,” Higuruma replies, keeping his voice neutral. “She’s been throwing up a lot.”

“Oh?” Gojo hums, his mischievous tone creeping in. “Well, congratulations, dad.”

Higuruma pauses, confused. “Dad?”

“Yeah, you know… a father? Papa? Otoosan? Sounds like someone’s pregnant!” Gojo declares triumphantly, as if he’s cracked a life-altering mystery.

Higuruma shakes his head, suppressing a laugh. “That’s impossible. We’ve been careful.”

“Pfft,” Gojo scoffs. “Careful? My man, the number of times I’ve heard that line? Every ‘careful’ couple ends up knee-deep in diapers nine months later.”

“I’m serious,” Higuruma says, though there’s a faint smile on his face.

“So am I,” Gojo replies smugly. “I can already see it now—tiny little Higurumas running around, all serious and brooding, carrying baby gavels.”

Higuruma finally lets out a laugh. “You’ve lost it, Gojo.”

But even as he brushes it off, a nagging thought slips into his mind. She didn’t take the Plan B after the…Could it really…? No. That’s ridiculous. Surely you’d have noticed by now.

“Higuruma? Hello? You there, or did you just realize I’m right?” Gojo’s voice cuts through his thoughts.

“Sorry,” Higuruma mutters, brushing it off. “I was just trying to remember why I answer your calls.”

“To brighten your day, obviously,” Gojo says without missing a beat. “Anyway, I gotta run. Try not to burn the eggs—or the house.”

“Have a good day, Gojo,” Higuruma replies, shaking his head as he hangs up.

He’s setting the eggs on a plate when he hears soft footsteps behind him. Turning, he sees you padding into the kitchen, your expression scrunched up as you immediately cover your nose.

“What’s wrong?” he asks, concerned.

“The smell of eggs,” you mumble, waving your hand in front of your face. “It’s making me nauseous.”

Higuruma pauses, his mind snapping back to Gojo’s joke. “Do you want some fruit instead?”

You nod quickly, looking relieved. “Thanks,” you mutter, already turning back toward the bedroom.

Higuruma watches you leave, the gears in his mind turning. The conversation with Gojo replays in his head, and his brow furrows. Could it really be…?

He shakes his head. No, that’s ridiculous. You’d have noticed by now… right? But as he starts slicing some fruit, a small voice in his head refuses to let the idea go.

Gojo’s words echo obnoxiously in his mind: “Congrats, dad!”

Higuruma groans, shaking his head. “If you jinxed me, Gojo, I swear…”

He shakes his head again, trying to push the thought away, but it lingers, stubborn and persistent. Could you be pregnant?

Higuruma stands in front of the mirror, adjusting the cuffs of his white dress shirt, his expression focused and calm as always. His suit is pressed to perfection, the dark fabric complementing his composed demeanor. You, still in your soft nightgown, approach him quietly, holding his tie in your hands.

“Let me,” you say softly, gesturing for him to stop fidgeting with it.

He steps back slightly, allowing you to stand in front of him. You loop the tie around his neck with practiced ease, your fingers brushing against his collarbone as you carefully tie it into a neat Windsor knot. There’s a quiet intimacy in the moment, the soft morning light framing both of you.

As you finish, your eyes meet his. “There,” you whisper, smoothing the fabric of his tie against his chest.

He looks down at you, his eyes softer than usual. “Thank you,” he murmurs.

You smile faintly and lean in to kiss him, your lips pressing softly against his. The kiss is unhurried, filled with a quiet kind of passion. When you pull back, your hand lingers on his chest.

“Why can’t I go with you?” you ask, your voice gentle but tinged with disappointment.

Higuruma sighs, his fingers brushing lightly against your cheek. “You won’t be back at the office until you’re feeling better,” he says firmly, but there’s no harshness in his tone—just concern.

You pout slightly, your lower lip jutting out just enough to tug at his heart. He leans down, capturing your lips in another kiss, this one more lingering, as if he’s sealing the conversation. He pulls away to kiss your forehead, letting his lips rest there for a moment.

“Don’t worry,” he murmurs against your skin, his voice warm.

He reaches for his bag and car keys on the counter. As he adjusts the strap on his shoulder, you cross your arms and call out, “Oh, before you go—Utahime’s paying me a visit later.”

He pauses near the door, turning back to look at you. His brow lifts slightly, but he offers a small smile. “That’s fine,” he says, his tone easy. “Just don’t let her convince you to overdo it. Rest.”

You roll your eyes playfully. “Yes, Dad.”

Higuruma chuckles under his breath, his hand on the doorknob. “I’ll see you later,” he says softly, his gaze lingering on you for a moment longer than necessary. Then he’s gone, leaving the room with the faint scent of his cologne still in the air.

You stand there for a moment, the quiet of the apartment settling around you. Even as he leaves, the warmth of his kisses lingers, making you smile faintly before you head to prepare for Utahime’s visit.

The massive federal detention facility loomed, its stark gray walls and barbed wire a grim reminder of what lay within. Higuruma stepped out of his car, his briefcase in hand, his sharp suit cutting a striking figure against the bleak backdrop. He spotted Nanami standing at the entrance, his own professional demeanor a perfect match to Higuruma’s.

Nanami extended a hand. “Higuruma.”

Higuruma nodded, clasping it briefly. “Nanami.”

Without wasting time, they strode toward the main entrance. Guards in tactical gear checked their identification and thoroughly searched their belongings before allowing them to proceed. They passed through metal detectors, the cold hum of security devices adding to the sterile atmosphere.

As they walked through the endless corridors, Higuruma broke the silence. “Sukuna is…an unconventional individual.”

Nanami arched a brow, a faint chuckle escaping him. “Unconventional? Coming from you, that’s a surprise.”

“He’s unserious,” Higuruma said, his voice flat. “Despite the gravity of his situation, he treats it like an inconvenience rather than the severity it warrants.”

Nanami shook his head, skeptical. “The most dangerous man in the country cracking jokes? I’ll believe it when I see it.”

They reached a reinforced steel door, where armed guards stood at attention. One of them punched in a code, and the door hissed open, revealing the room beyond.

Sitting at the table, wrists shackled but posture exuding confidence, was Sukuna. He leaned back in his chair, a smirk plastered across his face. His red tattoos stood out vividly against his pale skin, and his eyes gleamed with mischief.

“Well, well,” Sukuna drawled, his voice laced with amusement. “I was expecting Higuruma and his lovely partner, not…” His gaze slid to Nanami. “A sausage party.”

Nanami blinked, visibly caught off guard by the audacity of the remark.

“Sukuna,” Higuruma said evenly, ignoring the comment as he placed his briefcase on the table.

Sukuna’s grin widened. “Oh, come on, Higuruma. Lighten up. You’ve been the talk of the town. I heard through the grapevine you were out there living a Fast & Furious sequel. Car chases, shootouts—what’s next? Jumping out of a plane?”

“Grapevine? You mean your cell partner?” Higuruma asked with a scoffed.

Nanami cleared his throat, still processing Sukuna’s brazen attitude. “You’re certainly…not what I expected.”

“I get that a lot,” Sukuna said, winking.

Higuruma straightened, his tone sharp and professional. “We’re not here for entertainment, Sukuna. Let’s discuss the offer from the government.”

Sukuna’s smirk faltered slightly but didn’t disappear entirely. “Ah, yes, the grand offer. Lay it on me, Counselor.”

Higuruma opened his briefcase, pulling out neatly organized documents. “The federal prosecutors have proposed a sentence of 190 years in maximum security, with no possibility of parole. This includes acknowledgment of the plea deal, sparing you from the death penalty.”

Sukuna threw his head back, laughing loudly. “A hundred and ninety years? What do they think I am? A vampire?”

Nanami’s lips twitched, but he said nothing.

“Be serious,” Sukuna continued, his laughter subsiding into a mocking grin. “I’m not even going to be alive by the time half of that rolls around. They may as well just say ‘forever’ and save everyone the paperwork.”

Higuruma ignored the quip, sliding the document across the table. “The terms are non-negotiable, but there is room to discuss sentence reductions for cooperation.”

Sukuna raised a brow, leaning forward slightly. “Reduction to what? One hundred and eighty-nine years? Tempting.”

Nanami interjected, his tone measured. “You might want to consider the alternatives, Sukuna. Cooperation could significantly influence the conditions of your sentence, if not the length.”

Sukuna tapped his fingers on the table, pretending to mull it over. “Let me guess, you want me to give you the names of all my little friends? Hand over some juicy intel, and I get to spend my days in a slightly nicer cell?”

Higuruma met his gaze without flinching. “The specifics of cooperation would determine the benefits. Otherwise, the 190 years stand.”

Sukuna sighed theatrically. “You lawyers and your numbers. How about this? You convince them to shave off, oh, I don’t know, a hundred and eighty years, and I’ll think about it.”

Nanami leaned back in his chair, observing. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Sukuna. Your choices here will determine the rest of your life—or what’s left of it.”

Sukuna’s grin faded slightly, and for a brief moment, his eyes darkened. “Oh, I’m well aware. But tell me, Higuruma, what’s in it for you? Are you here to make the world a better place, or are you just another cog in the machine?”

Higuruma didn’t hesitate. “I’m here to do my job. And if doing so ensures you don’t harm another soul, then it’s a job worth doing.”

The room fell into a tense silence. Sukuna leaned back again, his smirk returning but less genuine this time. “Fine. Let’s talk options, Counselor. But don’t expect me to make it easy.”

Higuruma nodded curtly, adjusting his papers. “I never do.”

Nanami glanced between the two men, his respect for Higuruma quietly growing as the negotiation continued, layered with tension, wit, and unyielding professionalism.

The soft knock on the door drew you from your restless thoughts. You made your way to answer it, each step heavier than the last, your mind already tangled in the uncertainty that had been weighing on you for days. When you opened the door, Utahime’s warm smile greeted you, her arms opening wide for a hug.

Without hesitation, you stepped into her embrace, her hold comforting and grounding. “It’s been too long,” she murmured, squeezing you tightly.

“It really has,” you replied softly, leading her inside. “Come on, let’s sit in the bedroom.”

The two of you made your way to the room, collapsing side by side onto the bed. The weight of her presence, so familiar and safe, was a balm to your unsettled thoughts. The two of you stared at the ceiling in companionable silence for a while, the soft hum of the air conditioning the only sound in the room.

But the thoughts you had buried couldn’t stay hidden any longer. You took a deep breath, the words catching in your throat before you forced them out. “Utahime… I think I might be pregnant.”

The silence that followed was deafening. Utahime shot up, turning to face you with wide eyes. “Wait, what? Are you serious?”

You nodded, your hands instinctively covering your stomach as you avoided her gaze. “I’ve been feeling weird lately—dizzy, nauseous all the time. The smell of food is unbearable. I can’t even look at eggs without wanting to throw up.”

Utahime’s brows knit together in concern as she sat up fully. “How long has this been going on?”

“Maybe two weeks,” you admitted, your voice barely above a whisper. “I didn’t think much of it at first… I thought it was just stress.”

Utahime stared at you, her concern deepening. “Have you taken a test? Anything to confirm it?”

“No,” you said, shaking your head. “I’ve been too scared. What if it’s positive? What if my life changes forever? What if it’s negative and I’m just overreacting?”

Your voice cracked, and Utahime reached over, gripping your hand tightly. “Why didn’t you say anything? Does Higuruma know?”

You shook your head again, your throat tight. “He doesn’t know. I don’t even know how to bring it up to him. He’s been through so much lately—I didn’t want to add this to his plate unless I was sure.”

Utahime sighed, her expression softening as she looked at you. “I get it. But you can’t carry this on your own. You have to know, one way or the other. Not knowing is only making this worse.”

Tears welled up in your eyes, and you turned away, staring at the ceiling. “What if it’s positive, Utahime? What if I’m not ready? What if we’re not ready?”

Utahime scooted closer, wrapping an arm around your shoulders. “Then you take it one step at a time. You’re not alone in this. You have me, and you have Higuruma. You’ve been through so much together. You’ll figure this out, no matter what the outcome is.”

Her steady, unwavering presence gave you the courage you hadn’t been able to find in yourself. You turned to her, your voice trembling. “What do I do now?”

Utahime squeezed your shoulder and stood, pulling you up with her. “We go to the pharmacy. Right now. You need to know, and I’ll be there every step of the way.”

Her words were firm, her determination infectious. You nodded, wiping the tears from your cheeks. “Okay… let’s go.”

As the two of you grabbed your things and headed for the door, a flicker of hope stirred in your chest. You didn’t know what the answer would be, but you knew one thing: you weren’t facing this alone.

Sukuna lounged in his seat, a smirk tugging at his lips as he casually tossed out demands that bordered on the absurd. “No prison time. Not even probation. Hell, I don’t even want to see a parking ticket on my record when this is over,” he declared, leaning back with an air of defiance.

Higuruma’s expression remained stoic, though disbelief flickered in his eyes. “That’s… ambitious,” he said, his voice carefully measured, professional.

Nanami, seated beside him, let out a heavy sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Ambitious? That’s putting it mildly. This isn’t a negotiation; it’s a fantasy list.”

Sukuna chuckled, thoroughly amused. “Come on, gentlemen. I thought you were supposed to be the best. Surely, you can make a little magic happen?”

“This isn’t magic. It’s the law,” Higuruma responded coldly. “You’re asking for the impossible, and frankly, it’s wasting everyone’s time.”

Sukuna’s grin didn’t falter. Instead, it grew wider. “Alright, how about this? I want to see my wife and kid.”

The room went silent. Higuruma’s brows furrowed slightly, though he kept his tone neutral. “The wife who testified against you? The one who cooperated with authorities to ensure your capture? I find that request… curious.”

Nanami, who had been doing his best to keep his patience intact, leaned forward. “You’re delusional if you think that’s an option. Not only has she disappeared, but there’s no indication she’d want anything to do with you.”

Sukuna’s smirk faltered for a moment, replaced by something more solemn, though his tone remained sharp. “They’re my family. She’s my wife. My son is my son. No matter what she’s done, no matter where she’s gone.”

Nanami scoffed. “You think she’s waiting around for you? She testified to get as far away from you as possible. Even if we could find them, what makes you think she’d agree to see you?”

Higuruma cut in before Sukuna could retort, his voice cold and deliberate. “Your family doesn’t owe you anything. You’ve given them every reason to run and none to look back. If you truly cared about them, you’d let them live their lives in peace.”

Sukuna’s eyes darkened, his smirk gone. “Let them live in peace? You think that’s easy for me? Knowing they’re out there somewhere? If you had a family, Higuruma, wouldn’t you do everything in your power to see them? Wouldn’t you tear the world apart to find them?”

The question hung heavy in the air, and for a moment, the confident Sukuna seemed almost vulnerable.

Higuruma didn’t respond immediately, his expression unreadable. He adjusted his tie, straightening in his seat. “What I would do is irrelevant. You’re here because of your actions, Sukuna. Whatever you feel about your family now, it’s too late to change what’s been done.”

Nanami crossed his arms, his tone curt. “You’re not getting what you want. Not from us, not from anyone. Accept the reality of your situation and stop dragging this out with impossible demands.”

Sukuna leaned back again, though his eyes were colder now, his smirk more forced. “Reality, huh? Alright, boys. Keep your reality. I’ll be waiting for you to deliver something worthwhile next time.”

The tension in the room was palpable as Higuruma and Nanami exchanged a glance before gathering their documents. As they stood to leave, Sukuna’s voice followed them, taunting.

“And, Higuruma… maybe think about my question. Might give you some perspective.”

Higuruma didn’t look back, his steps steady as he exited the room, but Sukuna’s words lingered in the air like a shadow.

#jjk #jjk angst #jjk fluff #jjk smut #angst #fluff #smut #higuruma hiromi #hiromi higuruma

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wintersettled · 2 months ago

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Ongoing Batfam recs

disclaimer! this is being written primarily off the top of my head so don't expect insane quality! also I'm aware a lot of people aren't sure where to start or what's current -- for that I recommend looking through reading guides but I thought I'd talk a bit about current ongoing batfam comics I'm aware of. To read these you could go to your local comic store, use the DC Infinite app or do what I often do and use alternative sites to read comics, many of which can be found by searching "where to read comics free reddit" via your internet browser.

not all batfam characters are currently appearing very much in comics so I'm afraid there will be a distinct lack of many favourites such as Tim Drake, Helena Bertinelli, Stephanie Brown, Jason Todd, and Jean-Paul Valley, however it should be noted that in Batman: The Brave and the Bold there is always a chance that an issue will feature one of them. This series features 60 pages containing multiple short stories which vary in length, some occurring across multiple issues. While it is labeled "batman" it regularly features characters outside of the batfamily.

I'd also like to not that due to DC's All-In there are many new authors and storylines starting up so most are barely any issues in! These are really just early on thoughts BUT it's a great time to start reading!

Regarding Bruce Wayne himself, Batman is currently (as usual) appearing in two new all-in arcs in both Detective Comics and Batman (2016). Can I say I like either? No! It is a long established fact that I am most definitely not Taylor's biggest fan and him deciding to rehash already done and in fact tired storylines as well as making minor adjustments to origins is no surprise nor do I care -- still I'll be fair and tell you that the story involves, you guessed it, the no-killing rule woah! Something so deftly written you can spot the killer from the first couple pages except this time the issue ends off with perhaps one of the most ridiculous and bad plot twists I've ever seen... enough hating on that. Now with the Batman series itself, I fear I dropped it ages ago. I'm understanding there's some conflict regarding the return of previous characters but following Gotham War I struggle to car about this run and I'll admit so far what I've heard from those who have read the recent series is mediocre at best.. still I recommend checking it out for yourself seeing as I can't actually speak on it.

Nightwing aka Richard Grayson is having a seemingly better time. With the introduction of Dan Watters as the new writer we're getting a new Nightwing (2016) story that I am feeling really positive about! I fully recommend checking this one out, just going off the first issue it looks good and I have spent the last month yearning for more! Titans (2023), however, I'm a bit more sceptical of... I'm liking the change in dynamics (always love a Roy feature and Donna leading) which see different characters taking the forefront of the team. I'm not a big fan of Beast Boy nor his dynamic with Raven so it may not be the best but I think the Titans are a super important part of Dick's story so I'll say if you're not keen on this, maybe run it back and pick up The New Teen Titans (1980) which is the start of the team and even sees Dick become Nightwing!

A new writer has finally joined up on Catwoman (2018) and let me say that I loved that first issue. Someone is trying to kill Catwoman and all of her previous identities. We hearken back to her international thievery and what a huge scale Selina Kyle was once on! I'm very excited to see her travel as the story progresses!

Damian Wayne continues as a main character on Batman & Robin (2023) which I am not caught up to so I can't comment on the story but at least in the past it's had its moments! I can't say I've always been totally into the portrayal of Talia however this series has in the past emphasized Damian's relationships with his father as well has others like Nika aka Flatline!

Both Barbara Gordon and Cassandra Cain have been appearing in Birds of Prey (2023)! I enjoy the series but I will admit I feel like it's still finding its footing and I loath the occasional portrayal of Barbara as Batgirl -- something I feel is actively harming the quality of the story. Most of the time she is portrayed as Oracle, and while her wheelchair has yet to make a comeback, I'm hoping somebody explodes the dark spirit of Dan Didio from that office so ableism and misogyny can finally die a cold and lonely death in their buildings janitorial closet. Anyways! Cass has also been appearing in her new solo Batgirl (2024)!! This is so exciting! If you don't know Batgirl (2000) is possibly one of the best things ever written in history and every one should read it so I'm so excited to see her back! This first arc seems to focus a lot on the dynamic with Lady Shiva, Batgirl's mother. While the first issue was more set up for the rest, I cannot wait!

outside of elseworlds I'd say that about wraps things up for current batfam! pick one up, I'd love to chat about it!

#batfam #batfamily #batman #bruce wayne #cassandra cain #cass cain #batgirl #barbara gordon #oracle #dick grayson #nightwing #richard grayson #damian wayne #robin #okay cool!!!! see you all next way too long list 3 people will read from

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warping-realities · 1 year ago

Text

Dalton Academy - Prideful Son (Final)

"Trip, what kind of deal did you make with the old man? Things are weird here man." - Vincent Carmichael was sitting in the leather armchair of the luxurious apartment that came with the position of Dalton's headmaster. He had just gotten out of the shower and poured himself a generous dose of Scotch. But not even the velvety taste calmed him down because he knew that something very unusual was happening. He had led Dalton for many years and had handled the transition of several boys, many of whom had been powerful sources. None of them, however, had done what Jaime Sanchez had done. He himself had been a source although as always happened after the sealing of the contract little of that previous life had been preserved. Precisely because of this he knew that something was not happening as usual. Nothing in that situation went as expected from the beginning, so Trip Hartfield needed to clarify some things.

"Vince, you need to calm down, what the boy may think he knows is certainly not enough to change his destiny. What happened in that room is between me and my ancestor. Dalton never made a mistake, it won't be now that he starts." - Was the answer coming from the phone speaker.

"He manipulated me Trip, do you have any idea how dangerous it can be for someone who thinks like one of us to not be linked to us but working against us? And there's still the matter of Leonardo Reis, he came here for a contract at the request of Flip Thompson and I had assigned the Bear Club boys to deal with him..."

"I asked Flip to take Reis. He was one of the sources of my group and he agreed to do me this favor."

"What? Why? And why didn't you inform me?"

"Because it's part of the deal I made with the old man. He gave me a list of names of interest. Reis' name was separate from the others, not even Chad knows he was on that list . But he is as important as the others."

"What kind of game is the old man playing, Trip?"

"I don't know Vince, but we need to trust him."

…..

The boy was very good at understanding when something was wrong and that day he had the feeling that something very wrong was about to happen. The winter had been merciless, they had little food and the fight for their territory in that land had been incessant. The warriors are few and the mouths to feed are many. In that situation a seven-year-old blind boy was a burden that few were willing to carry. Of course he didn't understand all of that rationally, but instinctively he knew something was coming. His mother had been tearful all morning and his father, who never paid him much attention had hugged him tightly. Ulf knew they were both heavily criticized for letting him live, but they were in a new land and had lost so many on the journey there that sacrificing the first baby born in that place seemed like a bad omen. And when the boy started to grow it became clear that despite his visual impairment he had something different, a connection with the gods themselves and because of that they let him live. But in that winter morning that connection was the cause of his doom. While he was playing with the puppies that were his main companion the men from the village came and took him away.

The journey took a few minutes and the entire time he felt his father's hand guiding him. At times he seemed to tremble, but Ulf knew that must have been a figment of his imagination. When they finally stopped he heard his father comment.

"So much blood spilled because of this place and now this."

"They are tireless and in much greater numbers than us, Njal, and they know this land like no one else. If we want to survive we will need the help of the gods, otherwise we won't make it to summer."

"I know Gorm and I'm here, aren't I? About to sacrifice what is most precious to me, Thyra hasn't conceived again in all the years since Ulf was born."

"Then ask the father of all that this blessing be granted to you and your wife. But don't try to stop what will happen. He always belonged to the gods and Odin himself came to me in a dream asking for the boy."

"I know, so let's get this over with. Ulf, boy I need you to be brave like a warrior should be. Soon you will meet with the father of the world and I need you to ask him to intercede, to help us give what is necessary to survive on this earth. Until then I need you to lie still." - Said his father, placing him on a hard surface. Where he lay waiting as he was ordered until he felt a searing pain in his chest and felt the life drain away along with the blood coming from the wound.

When the boy thought it was all over he heard a strong and serious voice as one would expect from a king.

"Open your eyes boy."

He opened his eyes and for the first time he actually saw and before him was the father of all, Odin himself smiling at him and he was also blind in one eye. On each of his shoulders was a crow perched.

"Very good Ulf, you behaved like a true warrior. Now your real work begins.

....

The situation at Hartfield Manor could be described as weird if one weren't making a huge understatement. Jaime and Leonardo had woken up and it was up to Mike Jones to deal with it while Chad made desperate phone calls to his father, Carmichael and the other Crows. Sanchez's transformation seemed to confirm that the work was done, but what had happened to Reis put everything in doubt. The fact that they acted as if nothing had happened and had always been that way should put an end to that doubt, but how could they be sure? Until Chad talked to his father and Carmichael they couldn't be sure and Mike knew that as he stared at what should be the final version of Jaime Sanchez, the seal of their contract. And that he spoke to him as if they were friends. He knew that this was how it should be, but then why didn't he feel it?

"... with you and Chad in basketball, Eddie on the mats and if the twins accept to join you will also have two talents in football. I think the Crows have a great chance in the competition between the clubs. And if you accept him, Leo has a great talent in soccer, although his size may not seem like it. In Brazil they called him Hulk, which is also the nickname of a famous player there. I feel useless for not having anything exceptional to contribute. Unless my latino sex appeal counts for something. - Said Jaime smiling.

"Get real Jay. You look like a pimp selling us." - Interrupted Leonardo Reis.

"Well, the Crows value ambition, don't they? And Carmichael himself said we could apply to join."

"The decision of who enters or not is made together Jaime, but the final approval depends on the president." - Still uncomfortable with the situation.

"So I'm going to have to suck up to Chad? Nothing new under the sun for him. By the way, where is he?"

Chad was at that moment sitting on the balcony of the second floor of the family mansion, on a call with his father. The same feeling of uneasy that Mike felt dominated him.

"Dad, with the others it seemed right, we fit in well. Just the way you said it would be. Sanchez however... It's just that he looks and behaves the way he should be, but there's something that bothers me. And there's still the question of Reis.... What do you mean? And why couldn't I have known this before? ... I understand, but it would have saved me a lot of anguish. But what should we do now? .... Yes, maybe when he formally entering the club we will feel as we should. Until then I will do as you say and try to get to know him better and see if we fit in. At the same time I will look for anomalies. I will also talk to Carmichael in person.... Yes, I'll keep you informed. I'm going to hang up now, the other guys are arriving... thank you dad, it's very important for me to know that you're proud of me. - Chad said, finishing the call and observing the four others arrive in Eddie's car. If their integration with the twins was also strange, he would have a problem that he might not know how to solve.

….

They were dead, all of them. His father's children's children had perished and the colony was no more. Over the past few decades Ulf had learned to channel the power of the father of all into those who came to him, boys becoming warriors under their combined power. But what was a source of hope for his people in that land became a source of fear for the natives. The gigantic and brutal warriors born there were feared and hated with such intensity that a union between the different nations was made with the sole objective of eradicating them. Ulf used all the power that he was born with and that he had received through the countless sacrifices made in the name of the father of all through him and it was still insufficient. The losses for the natives were massive, but Ulf's people were completely decimated. They spared only the small children and took them out of his reach.

The God also left, without worshipers he would not survive in that place, but Ulf was trapped there, he was born there, he died there and was reborn there. His destiny was linked to that land and so was he. The father of all left leaving two little crows as company for the companion who had helped him so much. And so Ulf waited, years became decades, decades became centuries and legends about the place spread among the local population. He was already in a state of dormancy when fate smiled at him again. And smiling was what he did.

….

"I propose a little drinking game to see if you have what it takes to take become members. - Eddie said smiling to Leonardo and Jaime.

"So these are the high standards required to join the Crow Club? To be able to drink as much as the old members?" - Jaime replied.

"I wouldn't say just that, but we can discuss some other tests later. Alone." - J.B. replied, eating Jaime with his eyes.

"Be careful Sanchez. Roberts is insatiable.- Commented Jacob Miller. - I have experience and I can confirm."

"If I were you, I wouldn't doubt my boy Jay's capabilities." - Leonardo replied smiling.

"Okay, another thing. We have three Jays around here and this isn't going to work, we need to get organized." - Commented J.B. - I'm J.B. and I was the first to arrive so I'm not going to change."

"I'd really like to know why you have that nickname, Roberts." - Said Leonardo.

"It's a diminutive of Johnny Boy, Eddie started calling him that and we ended up adopting it." - Chad replied next to Mike.

"Well, then if that's a nickname of a nickname maybe he should change it." - Leo replied.

"Fortunately I arrived earlier and have primacy, while Jaime here hasn't even joined the club yet." - J.B. responded with a smirk.

"Hey, I didn't even say anything. Stop picking on J.B. Leo." - Jaime intervened.

"You can call me Jake and that's fine." - Said Jake Miller

"Leonardo is easy, we just call him Leo. Which brings us back to you Jaime. We can't have someone without a nickname between brothers." - J.B. continued, being interrupted again by Leo.

"I didn't say you could call me Leo."

"Dude, stop teasing, that's already your fucking nickname, come on!" Jaime intervened again before addressing J.B. - So, any suggestions?"

"Jaime Sanches... J.S. no, it doesn't sound..."

"That's not his full name. - Chad commented while sipping his bourbon, the arrogant expression back on his face. - Our dear colleague is Jaime Caetano Sanchez."

"So we're talking about a J.C. - said Greg, sitting side by side with Jake"

"Better than J.S. but there's still something missing." - replied J.B.

"J.C. um... how about Jace?" Jake said thoughtfully. "I can already imagine the repercussion of the posts. Jace and Jake. The contrast between the skin tones will draw a lot of attention. Apart from the fact that we're both hot." "

"If that's what you're looking for, Jake, maybe Mike would be a better option. But hey, Jace is a good nickname." - J.B. replied.

"Ah, don't worry, he won't escape, in fact none of you will. You are all an excellent source of followers." - Jake said smiling and making all the Crows look in Jaime's direction at the mention of the word source. But he didn't show any reaction to that.

"Well, if you want me to be Jace, so be it. So how is this game going to work?"

"That's easy, we ask, you answer, everyone drinks." - Eddie replied.

"What's the point of that if everyone's going to drink?" - Leo asked.

"Exactly." - Eddie replied, smiling and filling several glasses of tequila.

….

Ulf watched the two native boys approach his territory. The clearing had shrunk a lot over the years, nothing was left of the old village except some broken utensils long forgotten. It was precisely the boys messing with the rusty trinkets that had once belonged to Ulf's people that woke him up. He approached the edge of his territory and waited for the boys to approach.

"Kitchi, we shouldn't go further, it's dangerous. The elders..."

"I had no idea you were a coward Keme."

"I'm not a coward! Take it back brother!"

"I'll take it back if you accompany me to the clearing and prove me wrong."

"Fine, but if the elders find out we did this..."

"They'll only know if you talk. Let's go"

Ulf followed the interaction between the brothers with interest. They didn't speak his language but that wouldn't be a problem. He waited until the boys were in the middle of his clearing before appearing.

"Hello, I'm Ulf" - He said smiling and scaring the two boys who immediately got into a fighting position.

"Get away from us evil spirit." - Said the one called Keme. While his brother Kitchi relaxed.

"Brother is just a little boy, one of the invaders."

"He's too far from the cities to be one of them."

Invaders? And cities? Had his people returned? If that were the case, the God could have returned with them and Ulf would no longer be alone.

"I'm not going to hurt you, I've been alone for a long time. I just want to talk. Tell me about these invaders."

"Get away. We shouldn't have come here. Let's go Kitchi. - Keme said pulling his brother. Ulf could have stopped them, in that place his power was absolute although it was a pale shadow of what it once was. But he noticed something about that one called Kitchi, there was the same kind of power in him that Ulf himself had possessed before the God. And the boy had felt that connection between them. So Ulf let them go knowing that the one he was interested in would return.

There was no need to wait long. Within a few days, barely a blink of an eye for Ulf, the boy was back.

"What are you?" - He asked from the edge of the clearing.

"Come here and I'll tell you."

"I'm not stupid if I go in there you'll kill me or worse."

"If so, why didn't I do it when I had the chance?"

"I don't know, but I don't trust what you say."

"It's okay to stay where you are, I won't force you to come in. One day you'll choose to come in on your own."

"I will never do that, spirit"

"We'll see" - Ulf replied smiling as if he were the most innocent being in the world.

….

"Sexual orientation?" - J.B. asked, holding the glass of tequila in his hand.

"Straight." - Leo replied.

"Boring as expected, Reis." - Replied J.B.

"Open to experimentation." - Jaime replied with a smile.

"That's what I'm talking about! Drink!" - shouted J.B. happily before chugging the entire shot in his mouth, followed by the rest of the boys. The question game combined with alcohol had helped them all to integrate, there were still fights here and there, but that was expected given the fact that they were not clones of each other and each should have their own personality. Almost all of the Crows seemed to have accepted that Jaime, or rather Jace, was fully integrated and that Leo had come to them as a bonus. But both Mike and Chad, who were in fact the most similar among them, still didn't completely accept that as true.

"Favorite sexual position?" - Greg asked. But before the colleagues could respond, Chad interrupted them.

"Put your glasses away and try to keep a slightly convincing face, gentlemen, we have visitors. Carmichael is coming here."

"Why would the headmaster come to your private home Chad?" - Leonardo asked.

"Because you idiots made such a fuss that the neighbors complained to him."

"You speak as if you haven't done the same."

"I beg your pardon. Chad Hartfield would never do something unworthy like a fuss. - Jaime said in a mocking tone. Making everyone, even Mike, burst out laughing.

"I'm serious, glasses in the kitchen now. - Chad scolded, but without being able to completely hide a smile as he watched with satisfaction that bunch of gigantic grown men carry out his orders, with a feeling that it was too good to be true. And that was precisely the problem, that uneasy feeling didn't go away.

"Either he really is one of us or he is a great manipulator which in a way makes him one of us." Mike commented next to him.

"I asked Carmichael to observe him. He is the alive person with the most experience on the subject. But I agree with you, I saw my father with his group my whole life. Or at least I have memories of it. - Chad corrected himself before saying continue - And the truth is that when they are together it's like watching a machine in action, the gears fitting together perfectly. It seems like one knows what the other is going to say or do before the other has even finished thinking about it. That's the kind of thing I expected here. The morning was amazing and I liked them both, we needed someone to slow down J.B. when necessary and Leo does that perfectly and as for Jaime, I mean Jace, he's the most similar to you and me out of everyone, It's like he's a third part that we're missing, Mike, and we don't even know it. I really want to believe him. But there's still something forced, don't you feel that too? I can't even call him by his nickname without feeling my tongue curl as if I wasn't saying something true.

"I know man, I have the same feeling, I want it to be true I feel like it should be true but at the same time it's not... let's wait for Carmichael and see if he sheds any light."

While the two were having that conversation, two others were talking in the backyard of the house in whispers so that they would not be heard by anyone inside.

"You think they suspect something, man?"

"Despite all the bro talk they are tremendously intelligent Leo, I believe we did a good job and that they should at least be willing to believe in us. And that will have to be enough."

"What a mess you've gotten me into, Sanchez."

"I didn't mean to, Leo. But I won't lie and say I'm not grateful to have an ally."

"So what do we do now?"

"We'll wait until we get back to Dalton. You'll have to find a way to get rid of his bones. I'm sure they're behind that red door in their headquarters."

"And you?"

"I'll take the hardest part. Find a way to get us there."

….

Kitchi was waiting for him at the edge of the clearing, always avoiding putting himself within range of Ulf's power. But it had been a long time since the boy who wasn't a boy decided he wouldn't do anything to the boy. Because he had learned to like the other boy. He was brave and fierce in the way Ulf had been taught by his people and his God to admire. And through him Ulf discovered what was happening in the world outside his clearing. That was how he discovered that the invaders Kitchi had spoken of the day they met were not Ulf's people or if they were they were very changed, they did not have the same gods or the same customs and did not seek the glory of death in battle. Strange as it was, Ulf had learned to respect and like a member of the people who had decimated his own people and made the God leave. Also he hated to think that these new invaders with their strange customs could be what his people across the sea had become.

"What news do you bring from the world beyond brave warrior?" - He asked smiling. But without getting a smile in response.

"I came to say goodbye Ulf. My people go to war against the invaders. They never found out that I came here. I broke traditions for too long and even though I see that they are mistaken about you now I am a man and I don't I can act like a boy anymore. Goodbye, spirit."

"Kitchi wait..." - But the boy didn't listen to him and left while Ulf resigned himself to returning to the helpless existence he had known over the past few centuries as he had known would happen someday, but had hoped it would not be so soon. Kitchi's few occasional visits had been a relief from the centuries of solitude. So much so that when he felt the boy approach his domain after just a few days he felt a sense of relief that in his entire long existence he had not known he would be capable of feeling.

"I thought you wouldn't see me again, great warrior." - He spoke in a mocking tone towards the approaching figure. Only to have another surprise. Kitchi crawled towards him, injured in so many places that he didn't know how the boy had survived. - Boy, come to me, let's go. You can do it, just a little longer. - He said encouraging the boy, who little by little crawled towards him, only to fall to the ground a short distance from his territory. And when everything seemed lost, contact was made when the boy managed to enter into the clearing. And Ulf set to work, using what little power he hadto heal the boy until he could speak again.

"They're dead Ulf, all of them, my father, my brother... there's nothing left, there's no one left."

Ulf felt it as if he were experiencing the death of his own people again. Which was curious since it was the people of Kitchi who had caused that to them, not that the boy had any responsibility for what happened.

"I want…. I need..."

"What?" - Ulf asked, knowing exactly what the request would be.

"Give me. Your blessing. The one you gave to the warriors of your people."

"What good would it do you now, if your people no longer exist?"

"It's good for me to take as many of them as I can, it's good for me to be reunited with my people knowing I did what I could to bring them justice."

"I can do what you ask of me but the source will be you, and you will be different, more like the men of my people than yours. You will become what your ancestors gave their lives for detain. It may be that when your time comes you will not have a place among them."

"I don't care. The men who killed my ancestors are dead, the men who decimated my family are still breathing and I want to be the one to take their last breath."

"I can't deny you that, it's my mission, the reason for my existence. But I'm going to miss who you are."

"Just do it, spirit!"

And Ulf did. Between the screams of pain and despair he felt the boy he knew change before him. Ferocity exacerbated to the limit of cruelty, cleverness becoming malice, a mind modified with a sole purpose of revenge and decimation and a perfect body for that. Gigantic arms ending in hands powerful enough to crush skulls. A massive torso capable of withstanding the most powerful blows and legs strong enough to carry all of that.

It was done and Ulf for the first time since he had been given that fate was unhappy about doing the work assigned to him. The monster in the form of a man that he had created turned his back on him without even saying a word and he did nothing to stop him even though he knew the fate that awaited him, just as he knew his own fate. He was destined to fade into oblivion or continue to create monsters like that. For the first time in all those centuries, oblivion seemed to be the best option.

…

"I can't answer you. Both he and Reis seem quite integrated to me, but the whole situation is atypical. The contract that your father made... well, what's done is done. Who knows, maybe things will work out after the initiation ceremony, with the old members here in Dalton." - Carmichael said to Chad in front of the entrance porch of Hartfield Manor.

"I thought the ceremony was just symbolic, that the act of acceptance and the transformation itself were what validated the contract."

"Usually yes, but as I told you, everything about this particular contract is unusual. You ended up with one more member than expected. Two in fact, if you count the fact that Gregory Miller was a side effect. Extremely unusual . I don't even know how to explain what happened to Reis. And unless Dalton himself does it..."

"So what should I do?"

"Keep an eye on him, on both of them. Maybe they'll reveal themselves if they're pretending or maybe Dalton himself has some more surprises in store for us. Now let's all go back to school and wait." - Director Carmichael concluded as he headed to his car, leaving behind a thoughtful Chad.

...

"Knock, Knock" - J.B. said in a jovial and cheerful voice at the door of Jaime's bedroom.

Jaime himself, upon hearing that, smiled. He had managed to get rid of Greg so he could have the place to himself and his target. Practically naked with his muscular, tanned body on display and a bright smile on his face, he opened the door.

"Jace, you pervert trying to seduce me?" said J.B., admiring him with hungry eyes.

"Please, as if you need convincing to do anything." - Jaime replied with a smile, slowly approaching his colleague's face, until their lips were about to touch.

"Sanchez you are playing with fire."

"I'm not afraid of getting burned." - He replied, grabbing J.B. while giving him an intense kiss and dragging him to the bed.

"Jace you rascal, hiding the game all the time." - J.B. said breathlessly as Jaime took off his shirt.

"And I thought I had left obvious signs in response to your advances." -Jaime replied as he kissed J.B.'s neck and powerful chest.

"We're going to need to talk about what you consider to be obvious."

"I don't think so, I won't be able to answer anything for now." - Jaime said, approaching his colleague's now fully erect member and engulfing it with his mouth.

....

Leonardo was pissed about the whole situation. He had tried to adapt to that place, he had chosen to ignore his more aggressive instincts towards that country, controlling his bad temper and for what? To become a pawn in a damned game of manipulation controlled by the spirit of an old megalomaniac capitalist.

He almost pissed his pants off in that vision. The damned crows seemed to have flown towards his face and after what he saw happen to Dalton's eye he threw himself to the ground like a scared boy.

"Get up Leo, we have little time and I don't know what I'll be like when I wake up, I'll need you to be my anchor and I don't even know how to do that right." - Jaime said while extending his hand to him.

"I don't want any part of this." - He responded without extending his hand back.

"I didn't want to either, but unfortunately we're stuck with this. All of us. Help me find a way to end this once and for all." - And Leo extended his hand.

When he woke up he was completely changed physically and he felt that something had changed in his mind too. But he still knew who he was and what he would have to do.

However, he was amazed at how far Jaime was willing to go to get what he wanted. And now in Dalton's basement, as he looked for a way to get rid of the old man's damned bones, he wondered if his colleague hadn't already gone too far on the path to becoming one of them. That train of thought was interrupted when he found what he was looking for.

"Perfect" - He said, looking at the gallon of kerosene with shining eyes. Without realizing that perhaps he already had walked a few steps along that same path.

....

"Turn your back." - Jaime said to J.B. with a commanding tone after giving him one of the best blow jobs he had ever received. Which made him obey immediately. - So, Johny Boy, I was thinking. What do I need to do for me to be formally accepted into your Club? Greg and Jake were accepted immediately while I'm still pending- Asked as he positioned himself on top of the other.

"I don't know, I thought Chad was going to announce it at Hartfield Manor..."

"I thought I was important.-Jaime said, now holding J.B.'s hair tightly.-That I was special.-He continued with a kiss on his colleague's neck.-Even irreplaceable." - He concludes by placing his swollen cock close to J.B.'s ass but without making any effort to continue.

"Jace...I don't know...ungh."

"Don't you know or don't want to tell me?"

"I don't know if I knew...."

"I believe in you. - Jaime replied, gently penetrating his classmate ass. - But there is something you know and can tell me." -He continued while increase his pace.

"Ungh...no...don't stop. What? What do you want to know?" - J.B. asked amidst waves of pleasure. Causing Jaime to increase his pace even more and open a wide smile.

…

For 150 years Ulf remained silent, ruminating on his own existence, determined to ward off any man who approached him. He knew he couldn't deny it if someone entered his territory and asked for his blessing and even though the probability of that happening was very small after what happened to Kitchi, he took precautions. The forest area around his clearing became surrounded by wild and cruel creatures. And quickly the legends about the cursed place spread among the few remaining natives and also among the invaders. But that introspective calm didn't last as long as last time. One spring morning many men approached his territory and set to work. Just like Ulf himself. Quickly the entire region was filled with wild animals. Crows attacked men while they were working. Wolves howled at night, scaring the pack animals and making them flee, bears invaded the camp and destroyed the food. And yet they continued to work.

An iron will drove that men, an unstoppable force of the kind that Ulf would have admired if it hadn't been bringing those men closer every day to his territory and to the possibility of him being forced to resume the role he wanted to avoid at all costs. And despite everything he did that day came. He watched the men approach his clearing, some armed to the ground shooting at the animals he sent, others cutting down the little brush that still separated his clearing from the new road they had opened and then... Ulf felt his territory. suddenly increase, regaining almost all of its original size. The place where his village had been now housed the beginning of a large construction and beyond that there was already a small village in formation.

He did not introduce himself to those men, resisting with all his might the impulse to do so. He held out until night and then brought hell upon them.

The next day the men left, leaving behind them the unfinished construction, dead animals and some of them buried. Ulf watched this with relief, believing that he could once again return to his state of contemplation.

For weeks it seemed to him that it would be so. Then one night the man arrived.

….

"What the hell are you carrying around there?"

"The solution you asked me for."

"Man, we could burn down the whole school if we use this."

"I don't plan on using it here, dumbass. We go in, take the damn bones, put them in these backpacks I brought and take them to the middle of the woods where we can set them on fire."

"A forest fire isn't much better than a school fire."

"I haven't seen you do anything useful so far."

"Then see." - Jaime replied. He approached the digital panel next to the large door of the Crows headquarters and entered the password as he spoke it out loud.

"0 - one - nineteen - eighteen - 0 - nine. Edgar Allan Poe's birthday, it was kind of obvious if you stopped to think about it. It would only be more obvious if it were Dalton Hartfield's birthday."

"If it was that obvious you wouldn't have needed to suck Roberts' dick."

"Shut up, asshole. We're inside, now we just have to go to the damn red door and..." - Jaime began to say, interrupting himself when looking at a solid wall without a single door.

" Puta merda" - Said Leo when faced with that.

"I don't understand, everything pointed here." - Jaime said, running his hand over the exquisite wallpaper in the hope of feeling a hidden door behind it.

"We're fucked man. Why did you have to drag me into this shit?"

"I didn't ask for this either man. I just wanted this shit to end."

"Good, we can still finish." - Reis replied, lifting the gallon of kerosene.

"Are you crazy, dude? This could turn into a huge mess."

"You said yourself that you want to end it all."

"But not like this. Let it go, no one is going to burn this school down." - Jaime said, making Leo release the gallon.

"Certainly not. - Chad said standing at the door - You almost fooled me Jaime. But your mistake was believing that just because he's a slut J.B. would be stupid. He's a Crow and a Crow is always smart. Which proves you're still not one of us. I knew there was something wrong with you two.”

"Fuck you, you psychopath" - Was Leo's response. While Jaime pondered what to do.Then cursing himself for choosing that path he made a decision.

"You're right. I'm sorry for using him like that although he certainly liked it. But the truth is that Reis came to me thinking I could help him and at the same time I felt like you still didn't trust me Chad. So I came up with a plan to find out what Reis intended to do and at the same time gain your trust."

"You fucking piece of shit. What do you think you're doing? I trusted you!" - Leonardo shouted, lifting the gallon again.

"I already told you to turn that shit down!" - Jaime shouted back and again his colleague obeyed him. Something Chad can't help but notice.

"If what you say is true Jaime, why don't you prove it!"

"Call me Jace, man - Jaime said in an attempt to convey confidence - and what do you want me to do? How am I going to convince you?"

"Nothing you say will make me trust you... Jaime. - Chad replied, highlighting the name. - But you can prove it by making our dear colleague one of us."

"I... I don't know how..." - Jaime began to respond.

"Fuck you, Chad. I'm going to get out of here..." - Leonardo interrupted.

"Tell him to be quiet" - Chad said.

"Leo, shut up and stay still." - Jaime said and to his surprise and that of Leonardo himself, he remained motionless and quiet in the middle of the room."

"As I suspected. Looks like you'll get the chance to prove yourself after all...Jace." - Chad said with a bright smile. And while mentally apologizing, promising to fix it when he could, Jaime turned towards Leonardo and instinctively began to do the work assigned to him."

….

Ulf watched as the man approached and sat on a rock right in the middle of his center of power. The man reminded him of the God. He was old in appearance although he was infinitely younger. But the aura of power and the absolute certainty of deserving that power were the same. Very different from what Ulf himself felt, forever trapped in that contradictory state between a child and a centenarian being. He was already ready to try to scare away that figure when the man spoke.

"I know you're there, I feel you there. I came to talk and come to an understanding." - And then Ulf realized that the man just like Kitchi and Ulf himself had the power within him. The man's light was weak, blurry and Ulf realized he wouldn't have much time on this plane. But also that that light should have been as bright as Ulf's own had once been. That made him consider listening to what the man had to say. But what made him lower his guard was the fact that one of his crows flew and landed next to the man and he didn't even flinch.

"Hello. I'm Ulf" - he said, becoming visible to the man.

"Hello, Ulf. I'm Dalton. I think we have a lot to talk about." - Dalton Hartfield replied to the boy who wasn't a boy. For several hours they talked. At dawn both had a new understanding of various things and an agreement was made. And for the first time in decades Ulf was happy with his purpose.

….

"What's the purpose of all this hate, Leo? All this poorly disguised anger. Because no matter how much you try to hide it, they're there. What did we do that was so bad to you?" - Jaime asked his colleague, now sitting and staring at him with vacant, distant eyes. - You can talk."

"Where to start? Maybe it's because I'm trapped in a place full of psychopathic troglodytes guided by an evil spirit who intends to turn me into one of them? Or maybe because someone I thought I could trust turned out to be exactly like them? "

"He has a good point. - Jaime said to Chad, still trying to make the other trust him. - But it's not just that, you hate America. You hate our country but you're still here enjoying our blessings." - Jaime continued, not believing he was saying something like that.

"I had no choice in being here and I don't hate America. The entire continent is..."

"Cut that leftist bullshit. You're in America now, in real America. Where the real football is played, the real land of opportunity and you know what else I think you know it and resent it, don't you? That's where all this anger comes from." - Jaime continued, at the same time hating and feeling a perverse pleasure in those words.

"No... no... it's not true. I love my country."

"No one said otherwise, Leo. After all, you are a typical Brazilian. A happy, funny guy, concerned with enjoying life and a bit of a rogue when needed."

"These are stereotypes man... the worst... about Brazil"

"Liking soccer is also a stereotype and you like it."

"It's different, not every Brazilian likes football. And it's not just because it's a stereotype that I need to stop liking it."

"Exactly! Just because it's a stereotype doesn't mean it isn't true, does it, Leo? Which makes what I said about you true."

"No... I... I'm not a playful kind of guy... I'm not a clown... I have goals."

"Of course you do, you're in Dalton and to be in Dalton you have to be ambitious. You can't wait to get your hands on your grandfather's fortune."

"I never... needed it."

"Which doesn't mean you don't want to. Imagine everything you'll be able to do with all that money, make the most of the countries you love so much, the one in which you were born and the one that welcomed you and that you chose for yourself ."

"I... no...."

"Let the anger go and call it only against your enemies, America is your second home, the home you chose and we are your brothers, the ones you chose when you agreed to come to Dalton and we chose you, you are not a clown, you are our priest, you are the one who makes us smile when we need it and you are the one who controls J.B. because he is the only one who can make you impatient even though he wants to enjoy life as much as you do, and because all of this your place is among us so accept it." - Jaime concluded, almost believing his own words at the same time that Leonardo tried to avoid getting carried away by them, with his hands covering his face. And Chad looked at them both in amazement. The seconds seemed to drag by until Leo uncovered his face. And there was a combination of joy, malice and arrogance in him. There was no doubt. He was one of Dalton's Crows.

That realization opened a hole in Jaime's chest. He had done that, he had plotted and deceived and manipulated and finally done that. He could justify all he wanted, he could say he dit it just to gain Chad's trust and thus be able to figure out how to reverse it all. ...but it still didn't change the fact that he had done it. And Chad seemed to think the same way.

"I was wrong, you are one of us. Only one of us could do this. Welcome brothers." - He said smiling with what seemed like genuine joy combined with a great deal of relief. Jaime had thought about denying it, about throwing everything away, about punching that face until that bright smile was erased. - "Thanks, bro" - He heard Leo say next to him with a voice that was both arrogant and happy at the same time that made the feeling of nausea he felt increase. He turned around thinking about what he was going to do... but before he could decide what it was he found himself staring at the same wall where he had unsuccessfully tried to locate a hidden door minutes before, a red door that had appeared to him in dreams, that had tormented him for days without revealing what was behind it, a red door that didn't exist but was still there right in front of him. He stepped towards hearing Chad and Leo calling for him but ignoring them. With his hand shaking with anxiety he turned the handle, opened the door and physically walked through it for the first time.

….

The door that existed only when Ulf allowed it opened and the one he expected to see entered. He assumed the form the man expected to see and addressed him.

"Chadwick Wentworth Hartfield the third, what brings you here?" - He asked, knowing exactly what brought the descendant of his old friend there. The old friend whose image he used at that moment in a replica of the room he had planned and never got to occupy in the Academy that bore his name.

"Hello, sir. I... I come with an offer to make to you.

"Proceed."

"There's a kid in California, Jaime Sanchez, one of my scouts found him and..."

"I'm aware of the kid, Trip, your scouts are my scouts after all."

"Sir, I didn't mean to..."

"Calm down, you gave them the necessary resources to reach the boy. And I recognize that. So answer my question, what brings you here?"

"It's my son, he is... a disappointment, sir. Unworthy of your legacy. I failed... I failed the Academy, I failed you, and I failed him."

"I understand. But you still haven't answered my question, what brings you here?"

"I need you to do your thing with him."

"I see, that's all? Sanchez is extremely promising and you found him for me."

"Well, if you can ensure that the Hartfield legacy continues without major obstacles, it is your legacy as well and the one that helps ensure Dalton's survival."

"So you want a contract? Is that it?"

"If possible."

"Yes, it is possible. Both requests are. But it will not be easy. The blessing in its pure form, without the help of a source is a different experience from what you are used to seeing. But it will be necessary, your son should be the one who will guide the contract and in his current form he is totally inadequate. After that the steps must be followed specifically. I will give you a list of names of boys who should be brought to Dalton, boys who in the future will be a source of problems for the Hartfields and other people of interest to the perpetuation of the academy. Your son must be informed of what to do with all of them with the exception of one. He must not know that the last one came with the same objective as the others, find someone to be the sponsor in your place, not even Carmichael must know that he is a party to the contract until we are close to completion. When they and the source are under the roof of the academy things will have only one direction to go. Now Seek your son and prepare yourself, you You won't be pleased with what you see."

"Yes sir." - Chadwick Hartfield III responded respectfully, leaving and closing the door behind him.

Ulf waited in anticipation. It had been a long time since he had used his original method of working, after Kitch and before Dalton the prospect of doing so would have saddened him. But in just over a century and a half he had learned much more than in the entire previous millennium. And knowing that made him smile when he saw the door open.

...

The door opened and Jaime entered.

"You have got to be kidding." - He said when he saw where he was. For he was in the old familiar office of the Dalton headmaster.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't resist." - Someone said but he wasn't who he expected. - I'm Ulf and I think I owe you an explanation. - Said a blond boy smiling.

"I don't understand..." Replied Jaime.

"Let me help you." - Said the boy. And suddenly Jaime found himself standing in a snow-covered village where a blind blond boy was playing with puppies.

…

"I must say that you are the first since Dalton himself to know my whole story Jaime. Pitty."

"Why?" - Jaime asked.

"Why don't we clarify your doubts? I imagine you have many." - Ulf replied with a smile that Jaime had already seen mirrored on many of those who frequented Dalton.

"So this whole time it was you? The dreams, the visions? My grandmother... I thought... And the bones?

"Oh, where do I start?" Your grandmother. An unforeseen event, something rare in my plans. And what a formidable woman she is! It is very difficult to make the journey back to this plane. And she did it quite easily twice. But she couldn't be a match for me, not here in my territory. I had a conversation with her and she agreed to leave when she understood that there was nothing she could do against me. But she was not as upset as one might think because she understood that I like her want the best for you." - Said the boy with a friendly smile.

“Is she allright?”

Yes Jaime, there’s nothing she could offer me that you couldn't either. I released her. Which brings us to the visions. Each source manifests his power in a different way, since Trip Hartfield's scouts found you I have longed for know what yours would be. Many of my current skills came from the different sources that attended Dalton. The choice of your club mates came through the ability to look into the future that I inherited from one of those sources. But I will talk about that later. When It was clear that you were a dream walker I used that to guide you in the direction I wanted and I admit I had a lot of fun in the process. The physical limits to which I am restricted do not allow me to know the world with my own eyes. But Dalton gave me ways to interact with different people from different cultures and expanded my horizons. Plus I'm proud of our library, the books took me to places I could never physically go. I like spending my time there among them. And we had some interesting conversations there."

"I…did we?"

"I'm very proud of my impersonation of a grumpy old lady."

"The librarian? Mrs O'Malley? Was that you???

"One of my multiple personifications within these walls. I like interacting with the boys under my tutelage. But as I told you Mrs.O'Malley it's the personification that I'm most proud of and that allows me to spend my time with the books. I'm particularly interested in Mr. King's work. I don't know how he managed to escape Dalton when he lived so close to me. But it takes one to recognize the other. And his work on The Shining made me to think that he was always aware to some degree of what we were doing here. It's a shame indeed that he managed to escape me. I wonder what I could have done to someone like him. But in a way I'm not sad, I don't know if there would have been much left of his light or shining as he called it, if he had come to me and me. Then I wouldn't have his wonderfull works to help me kill time. And he was useful for my plans, he helped me put you on the path of The Crows Club.” - Ulf said, pausing and looking at Jaime, waiting for any doubts. When the boy didn't speak, he resumed his long monologue.

“Which brings us to your third question. The bones. Dalton was a genius and a true warrior of his time. He showed me that there was another ways to perform my role. That times were different and that I could create another type of warrior. A new kind of warrior for a new time and since then I have been adapting to the times and looking for new ways to expand my influence and share my blessing. And it was Dalton Hartfield who made me realize that what I do is indeed a blessing. And also who gave me the means to ensure that it reaches every corner of this country. His bones were crushed until they turned into powder and were mixed into the very mortar that built the walls of this institution. Which is the Destiny that part of the bones of every Academy student shared after the end of their passage through this plane. The other part of the bones of these former students is buried in their respective home states. I can't leave my territory, Jaime, as you yourself testified. But everyone who steps on it is subject to my influence and those who receive my blessing receive a part of me. A part that remains in the soul, but also in the body, in the bones. And it is these bones with my essence, buried in every corner of this country that guarantee my influence no matter the distance from my center of power. Every time one of our recruiters goes to visit a prospect, he takes with him a piece of Dalton on his body, a ring, a pendant. Made from the bones of deceased former students, some of these objects are so old that they were made from the bones of Dalton himself. Bone magic Jaime. Something that my own people did and that a source from Scandinavia brought to me about a century ago. And so I answered your questions. But let me get ahead of you. You're curious as to why I chose each of the others.”

Jaime was actually more concerned about reversing that situation. He had done things that he never thought he would be able to do with that single goal and now he saw no alternative to completing it. Then he let the apparition continue with his speech. - "Of course"- He replied thinking that at least he would buy some time to try to escape that trap he had found himself in.

"Liar - the boy replied without letting his smile waver - But I'm indulging myself so you'll have to put up with it. Michael Jones would become a public prosecutor who, together with the workers' union leader Jacob Miller would launch an investigation into one of the main arms of the Hartfield conglomerate after the death of Miller's twin brother in one of the Hartfield's slaughterhouses . A completely accidental death due to the drunken state of Gregory Miller, a notorious drunk stuck in his glory days as a college football player who had a career interrupted by an injury. The Hartfield Company would win the case but at the expense of a lot of money. Money that would already be compromised because Edward Chang,whom after inheriting his father's restaurant empire would transform them into a vegan chain, thus cutting one of Hartfiled Company's main contracts. To make matters worse the ore export contract for the steel industry another of the Hartfields' main sources of income would be suspended when Leonardo Reis, a staunch Brazilian nationalist, took control of his grandfather's mining company and decided to strengthen the Brazilian national industry. Crowning the disaster, Senator Jonathan Roberts managed to approve a new law increasing taxes on large fortunes. All of this being published in the country's biggest newspapers, including a particularly incisive article written by the famous political journalist Jaime Sanchez. The Hartfields are one of Dalton's biggest sources of funding, this could never happen and thanks to the good work done by both of us, Jaime it won't. Thanks."

"I didn't help you, not willingly!"

"Jaime, you chose to leave the twins under the influence of the Crows. You seduced Roberts to gain access to the club headquarters. You used, abandoned and remade Reis in Dalton's image just to achieve your goal without knowing that in doing so you achieved mine. You are mine Jaime Sanchez. And you gave me the chance to have my men in the place where the greatest dynasties in the world were born and died with secrets that could be useful to me, in the place that houses the largest unexplored area in the world, I found myself excited just thinking about what the Amazon has to offer me. You gave me an unexplored past through Chang and Reis, and promising future through the Millers. With them you gave me the opportunity to extend Dalton's ideas to millions through the screen of a cell phone. "

"I... I didn't mean..."

"Of course you wanted Jaime. You are a Crow. You accepted being the moment you sought out others of your own free will and thus sealed the contract, what came after were only the consequences.Everything happened as planned as always happens. As the board predicts. The board never makes mistakes Jaime, because I am the board. Our time It's ending. The last part of my blessing will fall on you. And as I said, it's a pitty. To be fully integrated with your brothers, you'll forget. Forget what you saw here. Forget me. You'll just know that Dalton changed you and that you are grateful for that. If it serves as compensation, know that your work is not finished yet. The old sources become my main scouts, using what is left of their light to locate other potential sources and continue with the good work. And This ends our conversation Jaime." - The boy concluded and Jaime realized that it was indeed true, that he had no escape.

"Before I go I would like to ask one more question."

"I think you've earned that right."

"Why do you do this? Those men killed you and forced you to act like this, why continue?"

"Eternity is too heavy a burden to bear without a role, boy. For a while I hated what I did as you saw for yourself. But then Dalton gave me the chance to do what I was created to do in a way that I didn't hate it. And at the same time gave me the opportunity to grow in a way that was denied to me by my own people. Although they taught me something that continues to be real to this day. This world needs warriors, leaders, the alphas of the pack. And I provide these leaders without prejudice of race, origin or sexuality. And that is why I will continue." - Understanding that the final moment had arrived, Jaime asked one last question.

"I never had a chance, did I?"

"Jaime, this is your chance. Goodbye, You have my blessing. - Jaime closed his eyes one last time. - It's time for Jace to wake up."

….

It was graduation day. Chad had been the valedictorian, praising the way of life and legacy of Dalton, drawing applause from everyone, even though they knew he was preaching to the converted. After tha he had called Senator Roberts to speak. J.B.'s father had become much more receptive to Dalton's culture after a visit there a few months earlier, even more so after Eddie and Chad's parents talked to him about his chances of running for president.

After the ceremony, a big dance was organized in the school's main hall, welcoming the families of all the graduates. The Miller twins were a sensation among the girls, being stopped all the time to take selfies or record a video. Their Tik Tok had boomed and they had already been invited to participate in talk shows and even a Netflix series. The other Crows had also shared that fame to some degree. Videos featuring the three Jays were particularly popular. The twins father to the surprise of the closed-minded community where they had been raised supported them unconditionally after a conversation held at the Academy and a good portion of land annexed to the family property.

Jace was very interested in visiting the place in the company of Caroline, the twins' younger sister, and he was not the only one to strengthen relations between the families. Melissa, his own sister, was talking to Leo and something more serious had already been established between Mike and Amelia, Chad's sister, who in turn was already engaged to the English socialite Charlotte Humphries sister of Louise, Eddie's current girlfriend, whose sister Lilly, in turn, was involved in a serious but secretly very open relationship with J.B. Only the twins were single for marketing reasons as they should be available to satisfy the desires of fans of both sexes. Which didn't mean they were inactive, because at that moment the two were leaving the room accompanied by three girls and a boy, probably for a quick orgy.

Jace suppressed his smile as he glanced across the dance floor where Mike and Chad were dancing with their respective partners, moving on to the table where Eddie and J.B. were secretly exchanging caresses while their ladies did exactly the same, and turned his eyes to where Leo, in turn, courted his sister in an undisguised way. He would have a conversation with his friend about that. Nothing would give him more pleasure than being Leo's brother-in-law with his millions of dollars, but if he somehow hurt his sister the other Crow would see an entirely different side of Jace. Finally his eyes fell on Caroline Miller and he prepared to do exactly what Leo did with his sister. He was interrupted, however, by an unknown man, clearly a Dalton alumni.

"Jaime Sanchez I have longed to meet you. I am Philip Thompson."

"Ah, of course. From the same class as Trip Hartfield. You can call me Jace Mr. Thompson, it's my nickname between brothers."

"So call me Flip, Jace. My partner Brent Woodward have wanted to talk to you for some time, but due to the nature of our work we haven't been able to attend the official meetings."

"You're scouts, aren't you? Chad mentioned that you two were the sources for his father's group."

"Yes, we were. We were much less powerful than you were. I can't tell you how much because..."

"Because you don't remember. I understand the feeling. I confess that I don't know exactly how a scout job works.

"That's why we'd like to talk to you. I know Vince Carmichael expects you to replace him one day at the head of the academy. But that's not going to make your job as a scout any easier. So why don't you wait until that job is no longer necessary to take on a position here? Until then we would like to offer you another official job offer."

"I still have college ahead of me sir."

"Our offer won't interfere with your studies, boy. You can start as an intern, paid of course. Woody and I are senior partners at Alpha, one of the biggest marketing agencies in the country and we'd like you to join us. I've read some of the your written works and they are excellent. Furthermore, constant work travels are a great way to justify absences due to scouting jobs. You will need to be in different parts of the country looking for sources and ensuring their recruitment and transfer to Dalton. If If you want to get married one day, believe me, you'll need a solid excuse for your absences. And by the way you can't take your eyes off that beautiful red-haired girl, I believe it's in your plans."- He finished with a smile that Jace couldn't help but return.

"Flip, I feel honored to accept your offer. When do I start?"

"The day after tomorrow, when you've recovered from the tiredness that redhead will give you."

"Flip, please, we are proud Dalton’s sons it takes a lot to tire us out."

….

Epilogue - 30 years later

"Jem, calm down. - Jace said with a serious tone of voice to his eighteen-year-old godson sitting next to him in the backseat of one of Alpha’s luxurious car. - If you're going to be the leader of the Crows this year you can't just be anxious for going to visit a prospect. What would your father say about that or your uncle Chad?"

"I'm sorry, Uncle Jace. I'm doing my best to honor the legacy of the family and the Academy. But I can't completely avoid the anxiety. We are meeting the most powerful source in the last 30 years."

"Indeed, and do you know who was the most powerful source before him? Me. And I'm here by your side, a man from Dalton. You may be thinking you'll find some terrifying thing waiting for you, but in reality you'll find a scared boy who doesn't know why a prestigious school is offering him a scholarship. And it's up to you as president of the Crow Club to turn this scared boy into the terrifying thing. Your cousin Fritz went through this two years ago and Teddy Roberts last year. They had help from their brothers, Fritz had Eddie Miller and Teddy had Johny Miller and Mike Chang. You already have the upper hand Jem, I'm going to take over as Dalton's headmaster and take the twins with me and Leo Jr. will be there too You're covered, so put on your best smile and go to battle James Wentworth Hartfield-Jones." - He concluded as their car parked at a suburban house, making the boy relax a little.

Later while Jem was talking to the source he did the same with his father.

"In Dalton your son will be surrounded by the best professionals that the education system has to offer in addition to the company of extremely promising young people, Mr. Ansari. Jem, who is talking to your son now, is my godson and the son of the Supreme Court Judge Michael Jones, one of the youngest to hold the position during President Roberts' term. Theodore the president's grandson, studied at Dalton last year. And I know we only met and I'm taking over the institution, which may seem like a bias to you, but I studied there and I am a partner in one of the largest marketing companies in the world. From my class came great businessmen from the most diverse fields, in addition, Judge Jones himself also an Oscar-winning actor and a former football player, I'm talking about the Miller brothers, my brothers-in-law who you certainly know. Believe me you couldn't be putting Kamal in a better place."

"I believe you, Principal Sanchez. But I can't help but wonder what a place like Dalton could want with my son."

"I understand you, I thought that about myself one day, Mr. Ansari. The best answer I can give you is that I see a lot of myself in him." Jace replied with his usual arrogant smile.

#corruption #reality change #mind change #male tf #fratification #jockification

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snobgoblin · 3 months ago

Text

too tired to draw but I got Danny brainrot so I'm gonna take this ask game and just fill out the ones I want to lmao

💛 How easy is it for your character to laugh?

see you really have to catch him off guard because he tends to be kind of stern and standoffish? he wants to be respected (and is very socially awkward) so he generally won't laugh unless you really throw something unexpected at him- or unless hes very comfortable with you. also he hates puns and will groan when hearing them (glances at Julian)

💛 How does he put himself to bed at night (reading, singing, thinking?)

stimming... often he'll fall asleep watching some weird little moving doohickey. he can't let his thoughts get to him or he'll be up all night. this way he sleeps like a rock. sometimes he sleeps against the window if it's not too cold and watches the fog swoooosh in the moonlight

💛 How easy is it to earn his trust?

depends on your definition of "trust". like he trusts Portia pretty easily because she spilled secrets to him first and he knows he has leverage over her, in a way. but he will NOT let you have any leverage over him unless he has something on you first. part of it is paranoia from living in a world with magical beings- he won't even give his full name to strangers for fear of them having power over him. he doesnt trust easily to say the least

💛 Does he consider laws flexible, or immovable?

pretty flexible. part of him is like "rules i must follow rules i must have defined boundaries" but another part of him is like "all these rules are made up and arbitrary anyway so I should just be guided by what I consider to be right or wrong" so he's conflicted about it I guess. he does pay his taxes though. unlike Asra and Lucio

💛 What was he told to stop/start doing most often as a child

READING PEOPLES MAIL. he's naturally curious so he would go through his father's satchel when he was home and snoop in people's business. he learned how to not leave any evidence he was in them, which he uses for some investigations

💛 Does he swear? Does he remember his first swear word?

he doesnt usually. he may occasionally say "damn it" or "gods" if he's really screwed but he's really not one to swear. he's super tame with it. if he's really done with Lucio's shit in any route he might say "let's kick his ass"

💛 How does he cope with confusion (seek clarification, pretend they understand, etc)?

INVESTIGATES. if he's confused he will ask questions. if he can't ask questions without drawing suspicion he will Find Out Another Way whether that be books or going through your belongings, in extreme cases

💛 What color does he think he looks best in? Does he actually look best in that color?

he thinks he looks great in gold and he does but honestly he looks good in any color he's very handsome. my favorites to put him in are deeeeep red and purples

💛 What animal does he fear most?

you would be hard pressed to find an animal he IS afraid of tbh. he happily approaches snakes, wolves, and poorly trained (biting) hunting dogs- he's not afraid of bugs either

💛 How does he speak? Is what he says usually thought of on the spot, or does he rehearse it in his mind first?

he lives in his mind and lot. he thinks more than he speaks and he doesn't always realize it. if it's a planned meeting or something he'll often rehearse or try to prepare but he's not generally *too* anxious about it. just socially awkward. but he doesn't dwell on it too hard usually especially if he's working at a higher goal

💛 Is he easily embarrassed?

yes.

💛 What embarrasses him?

being perceived slash being vulnerable in any way shape or form. if you see him doing anything that can't be seen as cool and mysterious or respectable in some way he thinks he's ruined

💛 What is his favorite number?

might revisit this game later but for right now I have satisfied the brain worms

#apprentice danny

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princeloww · 1 year ago

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Hello, its me again, telling the Takin Over the Asylum fandom about Scotland, despite being from Ireland.

My last post was about Scottish slang and a rough guide on how to actually use it. (Aye, Nae, Cannae, etc)

Today, not because of any specific reason, and just because I feel like it, I'm going to talk about how education works in Scotland, since I know a lot of TOTA fans are NOT from the UK, yet probably still wish to write fanfiction, and might want to get it more accurately right.

Again, I am not Scottish, but I've done research, and this is just a rough guide for people wishing to write fanfiction about Campbell Bain. - and a lot of people may already know this stuff, of course, but this is just for those who might not.

"High school" is generally not a used term. Some schools are CALLED "high school" in their actual names, for example, Perth High School, but they aren't high-schools like in the USA.

School starts for Scottish kids in primary one. This is the equivalent to elementary school, in other places. Usually kids are around 4 or 5. Primary school lasts until P7, which is the equivalent of year 7 in England. You would be 11 in P7.

After primary school there is no middle school. It is straight to secondary school, in S1 (equivalent to year 8). Secondary school is basically middle school and high-school combined. You're there from 11-ish until you're ready for college.

Secondary school lasts from S1 (yr8) until S6 (yr13).

The Scottish education system is much different than in England/Wales and Northern Ireland, so here's some things that will explain it better than I can:

National 5 is pretty much the equivalent to GCSE, which are exams taken in the rest of the UK when you finish school. In the rest of the UK, once you've done your GCSES, you can go onto complete your A-levels, which is basically just a higher qualification.

A-levels are equivalent to Scottish Highers.

You do your National 5s in your last year, and then can go onto do higher education.

In Takin Over the Asylum, Campbell is 19 (I believe), and his father says he has not finished his exams, and wants him to go back to school.

I'm assuming the education system was generally the same in the 90s, and working off of that assumption. If it was not, then this is a waste of your time, but oh well.

Either Campbell did not complete his National 5s at 15-16ish, or his father is pushing him to finish his higher education. I think both options are interesting, when it comes to possible headcanons or fanfiction ideas. Either Campbell struggled with his (basically GCSEs) and was unable to complete them, having no qualifications at all, or he did complete his exams, has some qualifications but his father wants him to do more, finish his education and strive to achieve more.

I like to headcanon that he really struggled in school despite being bright and well-able. He always seemed to get in trouble when he didn't mean to, probably for being too loud, energetic and "disruptive", in a way that the teachers didn't understand to NOT be him misbehaving.

Most of this is just food for thought, really, and a wee bit,,, entirely useless, but I thought it was a bit interesting.

Again, feel free to correct me in the replies. I am but a simple Northern Irish David Tennant fan, who wants to help people feel more confident writing fanfiction, for my own selfish desires.

Hope this was somewhat helpful to someone out there!

#takin over the asylum campbell bain #takin over the asylum #campbell bain #takin over the asylum fandom #takin over the asylum my beloved #i am obsessed with david tennant #yet i am not scottish #so please dont take me as a reliable source #this is also probably kinda useless #but anyway #i love campbell bain #eddie mckenna #fergus mackinnon

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kaylinalexanderbooks · 6 months ago

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Personality through quotes

Thanks @willtheweaver here, @melpomene-grey here, @somethingclevermahogony here, and @awritingcaitlin here!

Rules: give quotes from your OCs based on the given prompt!

Got long, under the cut!

Prompt: Being caught red-handed

Lexi: *sobbing* “I am so so so so so sorry please - please I understand if - if you don't see that but - but I really mean it! You should understand! You do, right?”

Maddie: “Fine, I did it. But if you think about it, you were supposed to look out for that, so in a way, it's both of our faults.”

Ash: “I did it, that's true, but lookey here...” *pulls out $5* “diiiid I?”

Gwen: “Well, you got me... I'm really sorry I was... I was trying to help, y'know? I try my best and sometimes I mess up, and it's not good enough. I had no idea this meant that much to you. I'm really sorry. If I knew, I would've been much more careful. You know me, right?”

Robbie: *standing up straight, hands on hips, but noticeably bouncing on his toes* “Look, I know it looks bad. But in my defense...I literally forgot. And I was stressed.”

Akash: *trying not to panic* “Please, just believe me when I said that it was an accident. Genuinely. You won't to put me in too much trouble for an accident, right?”

Jedi: “My sincerest apologies. I am humbled by this experience. I admit that I did this terrible thing. You must think little of me. Perhaps I went a bit too far. It shall not happen again.”

Carmen: “I cannot believe I'm being interrogated! You actually think you've caught me doing a wrong-doing? Tt. You haven't caught anything! Who are you going to get me in trouble with? No one! Agh! This is a pointless conversation. If you're going to ask me questions to get answers from me, the least you can do is not sound idiotic.”

Prompt: About someone they wish they could forget

Lexi: “I wish I could forget Shelby entirely. I mean, I don't remember first grade to begin with, other than that something happened that made me hate her forever. I wish it could've all gone. Then again...maybe it helped Ash, in the end. I'm not entirely sure.”

Maddie: “Hm. Brycen. I miss him sometimes since he used to be a friend. I wish I could forget him, so I won't have to miss him.”

Ash: “I want to say Frank, but I dunno what effect that would have on Mikey, so I'm picking Mr. Jimenez. Whatever creepy thing happened at his house I'd like to forget.”

Gwen: “I don't want to forget anyone. It's shaped me into who I am today. However... There was this one rude girl, Chailey, in elementary school. I guess her.”

Robbie: “Jason Sturges. I called that guy so many insults, I can't regurgitate them all.”

Akash: “Jason Sturges. Middle school was bad enough.”

Jedi: “I would not mind forgetting the man my father was.”

Carmen: “My uncle. I hope he is not resting in peace.”

Prompt: You're completely lost in ____(fill in the location)

Lexi: “If I'm lost, I'm gonna be honest, I'll panic. Before I found out I had teleportation, that is. Though my instinct may be panic first anyway. It felt so weird being in Alium for the first time. I felt more lost there than ever.”

Maddie: “I get lost in places like the mall. I only visit, like, three stores, so I don't know where I am if I'm not in my usual stops.”

Ash: “I get lost in my aunt Reyna's house. Is that normal? It's almost a maze.”

Gwen: “On my first morning run, I got lost in my neighborhood. I think I took a wrong turn and got to a street I've never been on. So it threw me off, and it took about ten minutes to find my way back. Maybe it was shorter. But it felt like ten minutes.”

Robbie: “I get lost in my school all the time. It's pretty big, which is pretty annoying when I space out. It took me forever to find my classes on the first day. First week, actually. I kept forgetting.”

Akash: “I don't usually get lost, actually. I have a good sense of where I am. So I'm usually Robbie's guide that first week of classes. But when the whole Alium thing happened, it freaked me out.”

Jedi: “I believe we are speaking literally, for I have become lost in my work before. In the case of the former, I have found certain cities hard to navigate, even when I studied maps beforehand.”

Carmen: “Tt, I don't get lost.”

Prompt: A quote about bad weather.

Lexi: “Oh, I hate bad weather! It completely ruins my plans that I make with my friends. I mean, yeah, rain is good, but come on! Why when I have an outdoor activity plan!?”

Maddie: “Hm. I dunno, I don't care about bad weather. I mean, sometimes I want to be outside but I can't, but I don't mind the rain.”

Ash: “I don't care if rain ruins my plans. I'll just do something else. But I don't like if I can't do what I want, like if a hurricane keeps me trapped inside my house. That's the worst.”

Gwen: “Well... Bad weather has its ups and downs. I don't like the rain ruining my plans, but if I'm inside all day, it's really nice atmosphere for reading!!”

Robbie: “Ah, bad weather...would be a lot more fun if my mother didn't fuss about how dangerous playing outside is.”

Akash: “Logical brain says bad weather is natural. Emotional brain says I agree with Lexi, I hate bad weather.”

Jedi: “Sector 2 is rather small and completely surrounded by water. We have many powerful hydrokinetics whose job it is to prevent flooding or destruction. Sector 9 has less of those, but we are close enough to a coast to get a lot of rain and occasionally potential flooding if the season is right.”

Carmen: “Miss Morgan and Mr. Singh had a point when they said they hate bad weather. I happen to strongly agree, though my reasoning is irrelevant.”

Prompt: [A quote about reading]

Lexi: “I like reading, but I usually will gravitate towards audiobooks so I can multitask. Sometimes if I don't feel like music I'll turn on an audiobook while I'm riding my bike or working on my garden! And sometimes I'll peek at some fanfiction....”

Maddie: “Sometimes I'll read a cool sci-fi book. And sometimes nonfiction stuff about technology. Also decided to check out some Star Trek fanfiction. I'm not sure if I should be doing that.”

Ash: “My shelves are full of high fantasy and cool robotics stuff. And puzzle books.”

Gwen: *lights up* “Oh, I love reading!!! My walls are lined with shelves that I got when I ran out of room on my bookshelf! It feels so cozy being surrounded by books, and I usually curl up and read a book in my little reading corner to wind down at night.”

Robbie: “Reading is super cool for something I don't do as often as I'd like. I've been reading more Webtoons lately and some manga. That's awesome.”

Akash: “I'm still reading the book series I loved in fourth grade, like Wings of Fire. Who cares that I'm a high school freshman now? That's basically still middle school. And sometimes Robbie will pester me until I read a web comic.”

Jedi: “I have been so busy with my work lately that I do not often read for pleasure. Even still, reading for pleasure usually included science or speculative fiction.”

Carmen: “I don't read often. Just research papers.” [she likes historical romances even if she'll do nothing but complain about them I know it]

Tagging @mysticstarlightduck @cherrybombfangirlwrites @mk-writes-stuff @monstrouswrites @drchenquill

+ ANYONE ELSE

Your prompt: [A quote about the ocean]

TSP intro

TSP tag list (ask to be +/-): @thepeculiarbird @illarian-rambling @televisionjester @finchwrites

@nebula--nix @literarynecromancy @honeybewrites @the-golden-comet

#the secret portal #teaspoon #tsp #my ocs #oc tag game #personality through quotes #writers on tumblr #writing community #writers of tumblr #writing on tumblr #writeblr #writeblr community #writing tag game

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rock-and-compass · 9 days ago

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Angel Season 5 - Episode 18 - Origin

(I wrote this series of essays many years ago, probably around the time that the season 8 comics were being published. They were originally published on my LiveJournal and I'm re-posting them here, mostly for personal archival purposes.)

Okay, so Angel has been told that he’s batting for the wrong team, he now knows the senior partners want him working for them just so they can keep him busy while they get on with business. His blinkers have been taken off, he knows where he stands and that he’s been played, big time. So, right about now you’d expect a rebellion, the sniff of an escape plan, plotting, strategising, and mustering the forces of good? You’d think …

Contrary to expectation there is no movement on the ‘get out of Wolfram and Hart’ front. Angel and company stay put, it’s very much just another day at the office; business as usual. Sure, Gunn is trapped in a Wolfram and Hart holding cell and the team is finding it very slow going as they try to figure out how to get him back, but that’s not the reason they remain in subordination to the senior partners. No, the reason is that despite everything that has happened, everything Angel has learnt, the original terms of the deal are still in place - Angel’s servitude in return for Connor’s new life and new memories. That is the origin of the situation; this is the anchor that keeps them tied to the firm. As long as Connor is living a normal happy life then Angel will not rock the boat, no matter how precarious the voyage has become for him and his crew.

Wesley looks terrible. He is unshaven, his eyes are red-rimmed and he’s tired. He watches Illyria with obsessive interest. Illyria is merely doing what she does; counting oxygen molecules, analysing petri dishes, kinda sleeping- but Wesley can’t take his eyes off her. Angel doesn’t think this is a good idea and suggests that Illyria is not his sole responsibility, that she is a shared burden. Angel wants her tested and studied but Wes indicates that this could be difficult without seriously injuring someone. Angel volunteers Spike’s services (insinuating that, a) he doesn’t care that Spike could get hurt, b) knows that Spike can handle himself or c) a little of both). Wesley hardly hears the snide joke, too intent on watching his quarry.

Wesley: she doesn’t understand our world. She needs someone to guide her. She needs-

Him? Wesley casts himself as Illyria’s Watcher, willingly taking on the role of educator and spiritual guide to this lost warrior. It may seem the thing to do to Wesley but it only succeeds in raising Angel’s ire:

Angel: when was the last time he slept? You’re not her saviour! I need you here, working, not of drinking yourself into a coma, chasing ghosts. Fred’s dead Wes, you’re still alive. Start acting like it.

The words seem cruel. They are. But, to give Angel the benefit of the doubt, this is ‘tough love’ in action. Angel, always a paternal figure to Wesley, only knows one way to love his ‘sons’ - in a brisk, acerbic manner, the same way his own father loved him. In ‘The Prodigal’ (A1.15) we see Angel’s father express anger and disappointment at the actions of his wastrel son, but the harsh words are not fueled by loathing - they are said with the desire to see Liam achieve more than drunkenness and whoring. It’s a harsh parenting style, not what is considered ideal nowadays, but it’s the only way that Angel knows. He learnt it at his father’s knee and we have seen him use it, at one time or another, on all three ‘sons’; the metaphoric son, Wesley, the vampiric grandson, Spike and the biological son, Conner (S4).

And Wesley, who is used to a hard to please father (as demonstrated earlier in the season in ‘Lineage’) responds; the next time we see him, he’s in his office consulting with prospective clients, very much as Wesley of old.

The clients are a couple who are concerned about their son. He was hit by a speeding truck yet survived with barely a scratch. One of the policemen investigating the case suggested that their son might be ‘different’ and recommended Wolfram and Hart for their expertise in matters such as these. Wesley feels the case is important enough to warrant Angel’s inclusion in the discussions. It’s exactly what they need, a good old-fashioned helping of the helpless to sink their collective teeth into.

Angel walks through the lobby when suddenly he hears a voice that stops him in his tracks. “Hey Dad” it says and causes instant recognition. Angel turns slowly to have his worst fears confirmed. Connor, his Connor, is standing right behind him, standing right there in the foyer of Wolfram and Hart, the last place on earth that Angel ever wanted to see him. Angel is confused. He even begins to ask what Connor is doing there but is forestalled when the younger man is beckoned to join his parents in Wesley’s office. Angel is clearly agitated. He meets the Reilly’s and their son with distracted interest then flatly refuses to take the case. No discussion, no arguments. Now it’s Wesley’s turn to be confused; isn’t this what they do – what they’re supposed to do, help the helpless. The Reilly’s seem like good people, the kind of people they should help (and the lind of people that the old Angel Investigations would have helped).

Angel: All the more reason to get them out of here. We know what this place does to good people.

And that’s true, but it still doesn’t explain why Angel is so determined not to assist in any way. Curious, thinks Wesley.

Meanwhile Spike is ‘studying’ Illyria. Well… Spike is getting pummelled by Illyria, but it’s all in the name of research. Spike tries to explain the rules of engagement, making a particular point of the fact that he doesn’t like to be hit in the face and that her cooperation is required for them to make progress. This is all said in his very best (and totally affected) working class accent, almost as if he needs to summon his most wily street-brawler incarnation to assist him in fighting this superior opponent. Illyria, on the other hand is having a grand time. She enjoys hitting the half-breed. He makes noises.

Wesley joins them in the training room to check on progress. Illyria notes that he reeks of frustration. It curls off him like smoke. Spike suggests it’s actually Scotch, twelve year old Lagavulin, if he’s not mistaken. They are both right. Illyria seems to have heightened emotional recognition while Spike is an expert on the subtleties of using alcohol to dull said emotions. Wesley tries to explain, he’s had a disagreement with Angel, its nothing. Spike jokes about Angel’s inability to, um, relieve frustration in a pleasurable way without going ‘crazy’. Illyria accuses them of insolence, that in her day they would have been punished with death for such disrespect. To Illyria, if it is not unquestioning submissive loyalty then it is mutiny. There is no middle ground. She doesn’t understand the ways of humans (or vampires) who can question, doubt, or even joke but still remain loyal. Wesley tries to explain:

Wesley: It’s just, uh… I don’t always understand Angel. Illyria: Yet you follow him willingly. You’re loyal to him. Wesley: He’s earned it. I…trust he knows what he’s doing.

Wesley trusts blindly. He doesn’t have all the information; he doesn’t know he’s missing huge chunks of data and that the loss of this knowledge is all Angel’s doing. Would his trust be so unshakable if he had the full story?

That Wesley’s trust is somewhat misplaced is made very clear in the next scene. Angel paces angrily in his office until Marcus Hamilton arrives. Hamilton is calmness and reason to Angel’s agitation and irrationality. Angel wants to know how Connor ‘just happened’ to walk smack bang into the middle of Wolfram and Hart, he’s sure the senior partners are behind it. He’s sure, even knowing what Lindsey told him in the previous episode, that this is the Partners, about to reveal their hand. Hamilton assures him that the Senior Partners are not the ones behind the stunt. As far as they are concerned they couldn’t be happier with the deal; it is all still in place and they have no desire to make changes to the partnership. So, is it all a coincidence? Oh no, says Hamilton, while the Senior Partners aren’t involved, someone else is certainly trying to send a message to Angel…

Next, we get a good look at the new and improved Connor. He is driving with his parents, riding in the back seat. He pokes his head between his Mum and Dad and reveals he knows the reason they visited the law firm was because of the van incident. He has an easy, open relationship with his parents; he displays good humour, maturity and in the face of this sudden twist in his seemingly normal life, admirable bravery. Angel got exactly what he paid for – a lovely, well adjusted young man, a son any father would be proud of.

As the family arrive at their hotel the back door of the car is ripped off its hinges and Conner is torn out and thrown across the car park by a vicious demon-type. When his mother is threatened Connor struggles to his feet and instinctively retaliates punching the demon so hard he sends him flying a considerable distance.

Connor: Whoa!

This is a new and surprising development. Understandably he’s momentarily distracted by his newly discovered super-strength allowing the demons to renew their efforts. Angel swoops in, every inch the super hero, and comes to his rescue. He puts on a brutally efficient display of fighting prowess and makes short work of the attackers. Connor is impressed. Angel is chuffed. But as soon as his parents emerge from behind the car, his father injured, Angel and his heroics are quickly forgotten. Connor runs to his parents exclaiming “Dad” with deep concern and reminding Angel that no, he’s not ‘dad’ anymore, he’s just some guy who did something momentarily impressive that was relegated to unimportant as soon as the impetus of real familial love is felt.

Angel can live with that. He loves that much that he would rather see Connor safe and happy and forego the recognition. It hurts, but he can live with it. The obvious success of the deal at Connor’s end deems it bearable. Yet with his son in real danger Angel offers help. He has no choice, it is his son.

So they are all bought back to Wolfram and Hart, Mr. Reilly to receive medical treatment and Connor to have a chat, about those enhanced abilities he seems to possess. Connor is intrigued by all around him, and takes everything in his stride:

Connor: And you are a vampire. So… Demons, vampires, doctors with claws… And I’m some sort of superhero. OK. Angel: You’re taking this pretty well. Connor: What am I supposed to do, complain? I just don’t know how I’m gonna explain it to my parents. You got family?

Angel answers in the negative even though that’s not strictly true. But that is the price he had to pay for this level headed, adaptable Connor, a complete contrast to the bitter, angry, dissatisfied Connor of old who yeah, would have complained. A lot. And of course, there is his other family member…

Spike comes crashing through the training room doors landing at their feet; calls Illyria a harlot (you can take the boy out of the 19th century; you can’t take the 19th century out of the boy) then storms back into the room. Angel offers to introduce Connor to some of his ‘co-workers’, a description that is not quite apt for either recipient. For Illyria it is too generous, for Spike not nearly enough recognition of the connection they share, still, it does cut two very long stories short. Connor’s interest gets absorbed in Illyria. Her powers, besides being able to hit like a Mack truck, selectively alter the flow of time and talk to plants, would seem to include the ability to feel the temperature radiated from the humans.

Illyria: Your body warms. This one is lusting after me.

Conner is embarrassed. It's the outfit, that and he’s always had a thing for older women (you can take the boy out of the life but you can’t take the life out of the boy – no matter how grand the magic.)

So it turns out that Connor’s attackers are the henchmen of one Cyvus Vail, a powerful warlock who heads a vast demon empire and no, he’s not trying to remain anonymous. Angel’s response is swift; he bristles up, goes on the defensive and will brook no interference, no discussion, no assistance. He is at his dictatorial best and he’ll deal with this by himself, in his own way. Wesley wants to argue about it but he’s quickly put in his place. Angel’s attitude has the opposite effect than the one desired; far from quelling interest in the situation it only raises suspicion. Wesley, in his own way, is the rebellious son, he loves Angel, wants his good opinion but he doesn’t fear him or heed his every word. Instead of ‘leaving It’ as requested, he asks for everything that can be found on the mysterious Mr. Vail to be bought to his office.

Angel goes straight to Vail, goes in blazing. The warlock hardly seems worth it, he’s decrepit and hooked up to all manner of tubes and potions. Angel doesn’t care. He threatens Vail, to back off or else. But Cyvus has an ace up his sleeve; he knows things about Connor, things that couldn’t possibly be known:

Vail: When Connor was five he got lost in a department store. He wandered off while his family was shopping. It scared the poor child nearly half to death. Angel: That never happened! Vail: But he remembers it happening. He remembers screaming in the middle of the store. He remembers his mother rushing towards him. He remembers his father sweeping him up into his arms.

Vail built Connor’s memories; some of his finest work. The new memories are quite a contrast from the real ones, a childhood stranded in Quor-Toth where it was survive or die and terror was his constant companion. In the new memories fear was met with love and the reassurance where previously he had only known the brutality of ‘survival of the fittest’. So what is Vale’s interest in Connor? It seems that he wants a particular demon dead; Sahjahn, who is, of course, is well known to Angel. They have a history. Sahjahn has always been interested in Connor, feared him because of a prophecy which suggested that Connor would one day kill him. Sahjahn went to a lot of trouble to ensure that it didn’t come true (see Angel, season three). But Angel circumvented the prophecy, and sealed Sahjahn in a mystical jar.

End of story.

Not quite. Cyvus Vail has the jar and an existing enmity with Sahjahn. He wants Sahjahn dealt with permanently by the one who is supposed to do at and thus, Connor must be reminded of who he is. Vail uses threats too. He holds a glowing magical box, an Orlon Window, which contains the world as it once was. It has the power to restore memories, should it break in close proximity to those with altered minds. He gave Connor his happy life; he can take it away with infinite ease. That’s the last thing Angel wants, those memories to escape, the truth would destroy his son so he volunteers his own services to kill Sahjahn.

Vail: If it were that simple I’d do it myself. No, the prophecy is quite clear - there is only one person who can kill Sahjahn. Angel: Connor

Meanwhile, back at Wolfram and Hart, Wesley is inching ever closer to the truth. With Lorne’s assistance he is going through a stack of paperwork related to Vail and they discover that the warlock was paid a fortune by the firm to orchestrate a massive spell; a reality shift of some kind is Wesley guess, on the day they were handed the reigns to Wolfram and Hart. Angel and Connor join them. Angel brings the information that Connor is to kill Sahjahn. Connor is incredulous –why does he have to do it?

Angel: because you’re special. There’s a prophecy that says you’re the only one who can kill him.

Wesley can’t believe they are even considering this. Vail can’t be trusted. But Connor is determined – his family is in danger. He’s willing to act even though this world of fighting and prophecy is completely foreign to him. He doesn’t have a choice and Angel doesn’t have time to find another solution anyway. Truth is running against him.

Just in case we’ve forgotten, Gunn is still labouring away in his holding cell, enduring the daily removal of his heart. This is a waste of a valuable resource. The senior partners want him back at work; they want their investment working for them. Hamilton arrives with the deal. He’ll get Gunn out if…

But Charles has learnt his lesson. He doesn’t make deals like that anymore; he doesn’t want to escape his punishment. He doesn’t let Hamilton complete his sentence, he just asks for his necklace back. Come on Sparky, this heart ain’t gonna cut itself out.

Angel tries to prep Connor for the big fight. Says he’ll be there to back him up:

Connor: You’re gonna hold Sahjahn down while I stab him? Angel: Prophecy doesn’t say you can’t have a little help. Connor: Hardly seems fair Angel: That’s not something we worry about. Connor: Maybe you should. I’m not a bully. If I’m gonna do this, you gotta let me do it my way. Now I just got figure out what my way is. Angel: You have your whole life for that. Connor: Might as well start now.

Conner is noble and righteous; he believes in fairness and next to him Angel looks positively Machiavellian. For Angel fairness doesn’t matter in the short term, you’ve got to do with what you’ve got to do to win. Fairness, personal integrity, they are only of concern for the dim, distant future. But Connor contradicts him – there is no time like the present, it’s what you do in the ‘now’ that matters. Hmmm - that sounds kind of familiar...

Angel’s approach to this case has lit a fire beneath Wesley. He is in archives searching through files, looking for answers. He is accompanied by his shadow. Illyria doesn’t understand his concerns with times and dates. But Wes is determined; reality has been changed and he wants to know why:

Illyria: Define change. The world is as it is. Wesley: Not necessarily. Illyria: You are the summation of recollection. Exchange is simply a point of experience. Wesley We are more than just memories.

That may be so but memories are vital to existence. Without them we are shadows of ourselves. Memories and experience inform our behaviour, they initiate change, they teach, they motivate. They are a safety net in difficult times; they are cautionary in times of excess. They are invaluable. The robbery of them is inexcusable. Cordelia was right when she likened it to rape. Tara was corrected to assess it as violation. The mind, with all its thoughts and memories, is the true domain of the individual. As Wesley continues searching Illyria reveals that Fred’s memories were changed. He is thrown. He hadn’t thought that this involved them personally. Illyria can’t see what went before, that is all gone.

Illyria: Does this change your view of Fred? Is she still person you thought she was? Wesley: No, none of us are.

He has found what he’s looking for, all the evidence he needs; a contract with Angel signature signed in blood.

Connor and Angel arrive at Vail’s. Connor is determined and brave and awkward and endearing as he promises to get the Sahjahn thing done to ensure the safety of his family. He goes to meet Sahjahn but Angel finds it very difficult to suppress his Fatherly urges, straightens Connor’s collar and freaks him out with too much good advice. Once Connor is in the room with Sahjahn’s urn a magical barrier is activated. Angel and Vail can see Connor but Connor can no longer see them. Vail explains:

Vale: I can’t risk Sahjahn getting loose. He has a nasty habit of trying to kill me. But don’t worry, you’re boy is very brave. I’m sure he’ll do you proud.

Connor opens the jar. Sahjahn emerges. They chat. Connor reveals they are supposed to fight and the demon realises who this boy is. Sahjahn inquires as to Quor-Toth but Connor has no idea what the demon is talking about. Sahjahn attacks, he’s beginning to think that these prophecies are over rated, that he went to an awful lot of trouble for nothing. Free will, that’s the ticket. Angel wants to get in there and go to Connor’s rescued but the magic barrier prevents his entry.

Vale: sorry, not your fight

Angel is frustrated he wants to get in, help his son. Vail produces his magic box, reminds Angel where he stands.

Vail: Relax. Your son has to grow up sooner or later. Sit back and watch his future unfold. There’s no need to bring back the past if we don’t have to.

It’s not going well; Conner is a complete amateur in this reality. He has no idea how to fight. Sahjahn and has him on the ropes. Angel is getting desperate he turns to Vail to demand entry but something is not right – Vail is in some sort of suspended animation and the box is no longer on the palm of his hand. Wesley and Illyria have arrived, Illyria has done her trick with time, Wesley now has the box and wants the truth. He feels betrayed, that they had been sold out. Angel doesn’t want the box to break. He wants to protect his son from the truth, from all those horrible, disappointing memories. He wants the box kept in one piece.

Wesley: You changed the world. Angel: He’s my son Wesley. Connor’s my son. Wesley: Did you trade her? Did you trade Fred for your son?

So, Wesley has jumped to a pretty wild conclusion, that their memories were traded, that Fred was sacrificed for Angel junior. He wants to know if the box can change it back, make it how it was, how it should be. Angel says it won’t bring Fred back but he’s lost Wesley’s trust. Wes throws the cube to the ground shattering the fragile container and releases a glittering explosion that sends everyone reeling backwards. Memories come rushing back, memories that affect them all - the whole sordid history of Connor from Darla’s mysterious pregnancy through to his sacrifice by Angel in order to give him this new life…

Conner is prostrated against the table, Sahjahn throttling him. Suddenly, Connor’s hand shoots out and he throws his assailant away, twists turns and strikes are menacing pose, axe in hand. He makes short work of Sahjahn now, a few punches and he’s set for a simple beheading. Prophecy validated. But only because the memories were restored; without the memories he was useless in the fight, he would have been killed. With the memories he’s skilled, he’s a survivor. It’s ironic, if Sahjahn and had never interfered then Connor would never have gone to Quor-toth and been forced to hone those fighting skills, he wouldn’t be the warrior he is today but rather, would have been a two year old baby living with his not-so-normal daddy and would have been no imminent threat to the demon. Or was it all meant to happen this way?

Wesley is a shattered man.

Illyria: You betrayed Angel. You stole his son. He tried to kill you. Wesley: Yes.

The sins of yesterday have come back to haunt him en mass. He’s suffering, paying all over again, for the things that he has done, things that had been lived with, been dealt with, been forgiven… and learning the truth didn’t bring Fred back either. He feels guilty and shamed all over again, only the second time around he’s lost the conviction that he was right to take Connor in the first place. In the midst of it all he forgets that Angel betrayed him, he lets it slip beneath the weight of his own burdens. Illyria observes that it is confusing, two sets of memories, it’s hard to tell which is which. Wesley advises her to push the new memories, reality, aside; focus on the other ones, they were created for a purpose.

Illyria: To hide from the truth. Wesley: To endure it.

Remember those walls that protect from the devastation of truth?Oh how Wesley needs those walls now.

Angel’s stands in front of the windows looking out as he’s done so often this season. Connor stops in to say goodbye. He’s kept the full truth from his family. He’ll tell them that he’s…different; that it’s not a bad thing. They’ll feel better knowing that Angel is taking an interest.

Angel: We still haven’t found Vail, but we will Connor: I’m not too worried. Nothing he can show me I haven’t already seen. Anyway…I just want to say goodbye. I gotta go back to my life now.

We see a glimpse of the world weary, jaded Connor than returned from Quor-Toth but, like Wesley, he chooses to resume the manufactured life. It’s understandable; who would choose horror and displacement and hate over safety, belonging and love. The memories haven’t destroyed Connor as Angel feared they would, they’ve made him stronger. Angel doesn’t want him to go, wants to stay with him longer. It hasn’t been nearly long enough. But Connor’s priority is his parents, this isn’t their world. He wants to protect them.

Connor: You gotta do what you can to protect your family. I learnt that from my father.

He leaves Angel with a gift; acknowledgement of their connection and assurance that he understands why Angel did what he had to do. Finally Angel was able to teach his son something other than fear, mistrust and hate. Loyalty, commitment and unfathomable love are much better lessons.

…But that’s not all there is to this story. Sure, it’s about Angel and a prophecy he can’t fulfill, it’s about Angel and his son. But look deeper and you’ll see that it’s also about Angel taking the first steps towards accepting his growing conviction that there is another prophecy that is not his to vindicate. Since Spike got the soul it’s been in the back of his mind that he was no longer the only candidate. In Destiny he was practically beaten over the head with the idea that a chosen soul has got to be superior to one gained by curse, and hell, Spike won the freaking cup. It might not have meant anything much in the scheme of things but it meant something to Angel. It sent him into a spiral of self-doubt and further weakened his already fragile sense of purpose and hope. What if he’s not the guy? What if there is no great and glorious prize waiting at the end of the rainbow, for him? It’s almost too unbearable to consider…and yet, Spike says he doesn’t want it, doesn’t need it and he doesn’t labour under the weight of his past. He worries about today, not tomorrow or yesterday. Even Angel recognises he’s a champion now, and surely the fated champion vampire with a soul wouldn’t be, how shall we say – reward oriented, as Angel knows he has been on the *odd* occasion. And was it really so bad, watching your son fulfill a prophecy? He got to see his son succeed and he got to feel incredibly proud. Nah, it wasn’t so bad...

All season long there’s been a substitute son living in the kingdom and, not surprisingly, said substitute is hardly seen while the real thing is in the house. We see Spike only briefly in this episode as he ‘studies’ Illyria. But the short scenes serves to remind us of one thing; like Connor, Spike is amazingly strong. The pair also share similar philosophies, have both changed dramatically and become better people before they re-entered their father’s house. Connor and Spike are reflected in one another just as Sahjahn’s prophecy reflects the Shanshu. Don’t be mistaken, this is not about making a definitive judgement call on which of the vampires might get ‘Shanshued’ one day. It is about showing us what is going on in Angel’s head, what he is thinking. He gets told throughout the episode:

‘It’s not you’re fight.’ ‘Don’t worry, you’re boy is very brave, he’ll do you proud’ ‘Sit back and watch his future unfold’

And it doesn’t matter that these things are said about Connor – he hears the words and takes them on board in regard to that particular thing that’s been on his mind. Then, at the end of the episode he’s standing in front of the windows in his office, his thinking place, his epiphany position. And right about now he’s starting to come to the conclusion that he’s not the prophecy boy, probably never was. Then, just before he leaves Connor tells him the thing he’s grateful to have learnt from his father – you gotta do what you can to protect your family. Angel finds himself at a critical point. He’s pretty much suspecting that the Senior Partners have the wrong guy, they don’t seem to realise Spike’s full potential, yet…but its only a matter of time. And Spike’s here, a loosely affiliated member of the team, dangerous place to be for a vampire with a soul. So now the clocks ticking, you gotta do what you can to protect your family. . .

Next up: Angel Season 5 - episode 19 - Time Bomb

#Angel season 5 #Angel #ATS #Spike #Wesley #Connor #Gunn #this is not saying the shanshu is spike's its about what angel thinks about the shanahu

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misscammiedawn · 1 year ago

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hello! im writing a paper on recreational hypnosis, and i was wondering if you had any good sources i could use for it? you seem super knowledgeable about everything hypnosis! thank you :D

Thank you. I try to be as read up as I can be and teach in whatever capacity available when I'm feeling up to it.

I should note that though I have two* professional certifications I lean heavily towards hypnokink and much of my perspective is painted from my participation in that community.

I find the best way to learn recreational hypnosis is to learn clinical hypnosis and work backwards.

Within the realm of therapy and clinical hypnosis you will get a lot of understanding on how suggestion and modalities work and that will be able to inform a lot of how consent and ethical practice will be impacted. For instance in clinical setting it will teach you how to phrase a question in a way that does not lead or suggest.

For instance, in memory work if you ask "what is your father doing?" it implies strongly that your father is doing something and the mind will try and fill in that blank where a suggestion of "What is drawing your attention right now? Can you describe it for me?" allows the hypnotee to drive the content of a guided imagery scene.

Understanding those mechanics is core to being able to dip your toe in this pool.

I'll throw some reading links in, but hypnosis is all about communication, trust and rapport. These are things that are best learned in experience. My biggest recommendation for learning hypnosis is to learn how to be a hypnotee and then dive into being a hypnotist. Learning what works is a matter of learning how it feels, what modalities you are personally drawn to and what you are best impacted by.

Though, once you have the feel for it down and you know where you want to go with recreational hypnosis. The Reading is a vital step. It just shouldn't be the first one.

For clinical resources I usually go to the classics.

Hypnotic Realities by Milton Erickson was one of my first books when I was a teenager and I'm sure PDFs can be found in a number of places.

A lot of people I know really swear by Dave Elman's work too so I'll throw out a link to his book Hypnotherapy which again, I'm sure can be found in PDF format.

Lastly, she's expert level but Melissa Tiers is who I consider to be the absolute best clinical hypnotist on the planet right now. Her mastery of language is so incredible that I feel like reading her work reprograms your brain like the movie Arrival so you think and communicate in hypnotic patter. Her book Integrative Hypnosis is what I'd recommend.

Within the hypnokink community, however I can offer far more direct resources.

First I'd highlight Wiseguy (tumblr: @hypnoobiwan) . Author of Mind Play a How-To guide that has been boosted as the gold standard for starting off in hypnokink. He also runs a bi-annual certification class. I have taken the class and it is incredible.

Next off Secret Subject (tumblr: @secret-subject). A YouTube personality (and fellow Wiseguy alumni) who offers a lot of educational resources and has done powerpoints and videos on the topic. Seems the 101 and Consent in Online Hypnosis videos are currently not public, though.

There's also sleepingirl (carrd info) who has a very conviniently titled website named Learn Hypnokink and has written some incredible books on the topic. I personally recommend Kinky NLP which tries to decouple the actual psychological methods from the negative branding that PUA has put on the topic in recent years. Though that may be a little more than a beginner resource.

Anyway. Thank you for asking and good luck.

#camden asks #hypno asks #hypnosis #hypnokink #community resources #hypnokink writings

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superfanficnatural · 9 months ago

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The Son: Chapter 7

Pairing: Poe Dameron x Male!Reader (The Son)

Summary: You’ve finally broken free of the forces controlling you at a great cost, though the cost of doing so was even greater than you thought. Now, you fight for the antithesis of what you had been representing, and have to grapple with finding your own place in the galaxy while grappling with the person trying to find their way into your heart. Will The Son choose the light? Or the dark? Whatever the answer may be, may the force be with us.

A/N: Ahhhhh a lil training arc you guys! I hope you’re liking the pace of this story and just the story in general! As always, I hope you enjoy!

Warnings: None

Word Count: 3,146

Italics are your thoughts

Masterpost

You were woken up by your alarm in the morning. As you turned to silence it, you pulled the blankets over and placed your feet on the floor, sitting on your bed.

You sighed, “Alright, Y/N, There’s no time to waste. You have to get in control of your emotions, and do whatever you can to assimilate and learn to prepare for the nexus event.”

There was simply too much going on. While the universe might have kept turning in time, you didn’t. Your sister’s and father’s deaths were less than a week ago in your mind. In less than three days, you found kyber crystals, built a ship, built your lightsabers, learned to pilot and assemble droids, and now you were training to be a Jedi. Not to mention, that... annoyingly charming Poe Dameron you now had to deal with. I don’t have the time nor the emotion to entertain anything with anyone. I’ve never been attracted to someone, and I never will. I know from Leia the Jedi weren’t allowed any kinds of romantic relationships as they feared it could be a cause of turning to the dark side. I have to heed that message, I will never allow that evil to consume me once more. Not to mention, I don’t think I’m his type, I’ve seen the looks from the women soldiers we’ve walked past towards him.

“How can the Jedi before me possibly condone me rushing the process this much... let alone my mental state... I’m not so sure they want me to be a Jedi after all,” you spoke aloud into the empty room.

You looked around as if they were hiding before rolling your eyes and sighing once more, getting up and heading to the shower. After you had cleaned yourself, you prepared for the day and got dressed, leaving your room to head towards command. As you walked in, the room was busy as usual but you had caught Leia in the back speaking with a few others. You walked up to them and made yourself known.

“Y/N, I was hoping to see you, it’s time to begin your training. I trust you have gotten to know the base and our people a bit better?” Leia turned to you as she noticed.

You smiled, “I have, there are truly good people here.”

She smiled in return, “I’m glad to hear it.” She waved the two workers off and guided you forward with a hand on the small of your back, “Your sabers are complete, which means it’s time to learn how to use them.”

You allowed her to guide you, “I understand. After I built them, I knew I had to learn as well.”

The two of you walked on for a while until you reached a small clearing in the forest, “We’ll begin our practice here. We’ll start with the first form. Good thing is, it can be adapted to the use of multiple sabers. Though for now, light only one,” Leia instructed, already beginning to teach you.

“Alright, first form,” you muttered out loud to remind yourself as you unclipped your white saber, as it was on your dominant hand, and ignited the front half of the blade.

“The first form is called Shii-Cho, it’s the most basic, and was designed with simplicity and adaptability in mind,” Leia informed. “It focuses on wide sweeping strikes, fluid and relaxed movements, and circular motions with an emphasis on blocking or redirecting. Have your feet shoulder width apart, with your blade held in a neutral position with both of your hands.”

You listened intently and tried to learn as much as possible and apply yourself. You placed your feet shoulder width apart and held your lightsaber with both of your hands right in front of you.

“Good, now, you want to bend your knees slightly and keep a balanced state of gravity. Every time you move, it will be either to take a step forward, or backward. Whenever you do so, your opposite leg from the side of your body that you are using to mainly execute your move, will be the first one to move forwards or backwards to brace your attacking or defending side and follow through with your movement. Got it?”

You nearly tripped over your own thoughts but actually understood exactly what she had said. She was alluding to your movements with your saber being tied to your body, as it moves, so does your body to support it. She also talked about shifting your weight in tandem with your strikes for more power.

“I think so.” “Alright, now, make a diagonal slice from your left shoulder to your right hip as if you were attacking.”

You brought your right knee forward and took a step, twisting the upper half of your body slightly and raising your saber up to your left shoulder and angling it as you did so. As you did this, you could feel the synergy between your sabers and your body, and your connection with the force felt effortless as your sabers were ignited, as if all you had to do was hold them to channel the force. Because of this, you could feel the wisdom in the movements through the force, feel how it was ever so slightly guiding your body in the right direction. It was just slightly shaky as you didn’t feel completely confident, but you slashed diagonally, your left foot coming up to plant next to your right to support a perfect finish. As you finished your slash, the whoosh of the air was visible in front of your saber as you completed a powerful strike.

“Very impressive, Y/N, you grasped my intentions and executed the slash beautifully, just need to solidify with more practice,” Leia commented.

You smiled at your accomplishment, “That felt... amazing. My sabers felt like they were a part of my body and it was like stretching for the first time.”

“Let’s take advantage of this, next movement.”

She walked you through the movements of the first form and you managed to grasp it rather quickly. You were sometimes unsure of what you had done which led you to try a few of them once or twice more.

It was slowly beginning to get dark but you still had plenty of daylight when Leia spoke once more, “You’re making incredible progress, how about we introduce more than one saber to the form? Do you think you could apply it the same way?”

You were panting as you had been at it for hours but still had a smile on your face, “I’d be more than happy to.”

You ignited the other half of the blade and shifted your grip, holding it with an inside grip with your left hand and an outside grip with your right hand. You maintained the form completely, though, instead, you hunched just slightly lower and brough the saber at level with your neck, holding it horizontally in a ready position. You raised your blade similarly to how you sliced diagonally at the beginning of training and made the same slash, this time with the other half ignited. Though, this time, you let go with your right hand at the end of the slash and twisted your saber to have the bottom half come back up for another strike and grabbed the saber again with your right hand to flick your hand backwards and throw a third slice before readjusting your grip into the same position it was in before.

“You incorporated spinning without me having to say anything, I’m truly impressed, Y/N,” Leia commented as you deactivated your saber.

You walked up to her, “Yeah, I thought since the form had an emphasis on circular motion and adaptability, if a dual-blade is introduced it makes sense to use spinning moves to curb multiple attacks.”

She nodded with a smile, “Exactly right.” She looked into the darkening sky, “I think that today is probably a good time to call it. I’m gonna head back, but I want you to sit and meditate for a while, I want you to remember how you felt with the force as you practiced, it’ll help your body memorize it. Tomorrow, we do it again.”

You nodded, “Of course, thank you for training, Leia.”

As she left, you returned to where you were standing in practice and sat down comfortably. Closing your eyes, you connected with the force and thought back to what you felt as you were practicing your forms. You felt light, but also the dark. It’s not that I’m afraid of the dark side anymore... I’m afraid of what it might do to me once more. But I can’t fully wield my lightsabers or the force without it, it’s... a part of me. My journey will simply have to be harder than any Jedi before, actively using the dark side without letting it influence me.

“Who said you were the only Jedi who used the dark side?” a voice within your mind resounded.

“Who are you?” you tried to communicate with the voice within your head. The voice responded, “You don’t know me, but I’m Mace Windu, Jedi Master.”

You furrowed your eyebrows, “You said you used the dark side?”

“I used my anger, my frustration, and I channeled it in a way that I had complete control. I developed a variant of the seventh lightsaber form, Juyo, called Vaapad, that channeled the dark side to increase attack power while still being in control. Though it doesn’t channel pure dark, it employs emotions that are representative of the dark in a righteous and controlled purpose,” he said rather proudly.

“So it’s not impossible to use both? If you were at the precipice, then perhaps I could push it even further,” you whispered aloud.

“While the light and the dark are in opposition, it doesn’t mean that we can’t feel both, employ both to our own uses. Though there is a reason not many Jedi learned the form,” he remarked.

You hummed, “I assume it depends on the individual on whether or not they allow themselves to be overtaken by their emotions.”

He grunted in approval, “While it’s normally random on whether a Jedi is tested by the dark side or not, you have the unfortunate circumstance of actually being imbued with the dark. You’re going to have to reach full control over yourself, or risk losing everything,” his voice faded out and you ended up completely losing the connection with him.

You pondered his words for a few moments longer before getting back up and deciding to go get some food before turning in for the night. You managed a small conversation with a few soldiers in the cantina as you ate and got along nicely with them before retiring to your quarters. You couldn’t lie and say you didn’t want to go see Poe at least and ask him about his day but after the conversation you had with Mace, you realized that you couldn’t introduce any foreign elements yet when you hadn’t even figured out everything you were dealing with anyways. For now, you had to focus on allowing yourself to channel the dark side without letting it consume you, and practice your forms. Anything else would have to wait.

The day after was spent much like the one you just had, waking up to get some food and meeting up with Leia at the spot you trained previously.

“Today, we’re going to be doing forms two and three,” Leia announced.

“Makashi, Soresu, right?” you questioned, not even knowing those were the names until they left your mouth.

She looked a bit shocked, “Yes, actually. How did you know?”

You shrugged, “I had a conversation with a previous force user, Mace Windu. He advised me on a few things and I must have gained some knowledge about the forms that way?”

She hummed, “Your connection is extremely strong, to be able to speak with the dead through the force. Luke once told me how his master, Obi-Wan, had come to him in physical form through the force and spoke to him when he was training with Master Yoda.”

You didn’t recognize the name ‘Yoda’ but for some reason it felt familiar to you, as if you had once spoken to them even...

“I haven’t seen any physical manifestations but I have spoken to a force user before, someone wise, that helped me get my crystals,” you responded, thinking back to Utapau.

She thought to herself for a moment, “It’s entirely possible that you have a much different kind of connection with the force than the rest of us do. You’re human right?” The question seemed so absurd but strangely completely relevant, “I- I think so. For as long as I can remember, my family and I lived on Mortis, a realm where the force originates from.”

“The origin of the force?” she questioned, intrigued.

You made a face, “Not exactly. The force originates in a plane outside of our existence, in a place you know as the cosmic force. Think of it like... if we did not have the means to travel into the galaxy, and never knew it was out there, so vast, the galaxy would be the same as the cosmic force.”

She hummed as she put the pieces together in her mind, “You mean it’s a place that we cannot reach because we do not currently have the tools to understand it?”

You smiled, “Along those lines. Mortis is essentially the one place that is a pocket dimension of the cosmic force. There is a well there called ‘The Font of Power’ where I drank from to increase my power with the dark side. My sister would increase her power of the light from bathing in the 'Pool of Knowledge.' It is where we received our immortality. I remember nothing of my life before my immortality but based on my physical appearance, I would say I am human.”

“Most likely, through drinking the water from the well, you must have developed some kind of internal pure connection with the force, which is why your power comes so easily to you.”

You thought to yourself for a moment as well, “You might be right. It’s arguable that my family and I were physical manifestations of the force. However, once my father lost his power, I lost my immortality. I don’t quite understand it myself but I have gained my fathers power, yet lost the immortality it provided.”

“And do you regret that?”

You were taken aback, “W-what do you mean?”

“Do you regret that you’ve lost your immortality? That your father and sister passed away?”

“Leia,” you said incredulously, “what are you-”

“I asked you a question, it’s up to you whether or not you allow my words to give you a reaction,” she calmly responded.

The anger that was swelling within you paused, this is a part of my training, she needs to know if I can handle my past, especially if I’m becoming a Jedi.

You sighed and closed your eyes, willing yourself to calm down, “Of course I regret it. Not my immortality, I couldn’t care less about that, I regret what I did to my family.” Your voice broke as you spoke your final words, “What I did.”

She shook her head with a soft expression, “What you did, or what the dark side made you do?”

You thrusted your arms out, “I don’t know! Yes? No! All I know is that it was my hands that was stained with my sister's blood, my clothes that were stained with my fathers blood because he wanted to stop me. Me.”

She was unbroken, “And what did your father and sister believe? Did they think they had to stop you or the dark side?”

You were once again struck silent from her words. Isn’t that the same thing? You were taken back to your final moments with your father within your mind as the scene played out again.

“I don’t know how it took me so long to see, but I realize that your actions are not your own. You are governed by the dark and I will not allow my son to be a slave to evil.”

Suddenly, you thought of your sister and your kyber crystals.

“I do not blame you for my death, my brother. I simply hope you may live the life I had lost in my place.”

“All they ever wanted was for me to be happy, because they... loved me,” you whispered out loud as you came to your realization.

“Everything they ever did was out of love, how can that possibly mean that they gave up on you? Do you think for a second, that if your actions were truly your own, they would have done what they did? They saw the light in you, your potential, ripped away by the dark side,” Leia came and placed a warm hand on your shoulder as she consoled you. “I know, that the dark is a part of you, and it has done unspeakable things to you, but you have to accept the fact that the darkness is a part of you. Yet, it is not who you are.”

You sniffled and smiled, “Thank you, Leia, that was exactly what I needed to hear.”

“Of course, do you think you’re ready for your training now?”

“I couldn’t possibly be more ready,” you smiled confidently, her words raising your confidence in yourself and your abilities.

You began your training session much like the day before, Leia explaining the forms and you attempting to get the technique down. The day passed on and you felt like you were even more productive than the day before, as if the realization you had made had quelled your inner conflict and allowed you to channel yourself cleaner. You struggled. As you let the dark side in, you could feel the rage and anger inside of you, but you accepted it. It was so freeing, like a weight had been lifted off of your shoulders. While it did mess you up a bit in your forms, you felt more whole and the aura you radiated became even clearer. You ended the day with another meditation session, no surprise visitors this time as you allowed your mind to let in the darkness. You would flinch and grunt as the cruelty and ferocity of the dark invaded your senses but attempted to stay balanced regardless. It was a struggle, and in the end, visions of you murdering your sister appeared in your mind and you snapped your eyes open and rushed to your feet with a gasp.

“Maybe not everything in one day,” you breathlessly affirmed to yourself before leaving and heading toward the cantina.

Next Chapter

Forevers Tag List: @magssteenkamp @shadowsinger11 @donnaintx @flamencodiva @impalawrites-blog @talesmaniac89 @malfoysqueen54 @writercole @hintsofhoney @lassie-bird @never--doubt

Male Reader Tag List: @myybebe @denim-devil @spnfanboy777 @brymalibu

#series #male reader #male reader insert #poe dameron #poe dameron x male reader #star wars #star wars fanfiction

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