#the war doesn't have to happen for his goal to happen but it makes it interesting

[kerink]

‘Fucked up that Bill is HAPPIER in Margaritabill than he is in Bill Wins lmao’ PLEASE ELABORATE!

one core feature of bill's character that is stable and consistent in my characterization of him is that bill does not compromise. he wants what he wants and he wants it exactly when he wants it and exactly how he wants it. i've said it before in another analysis but it's apropos so i'll repeat it: bill grew up hearing only no, being only ever denied and rejected, and now that he's the one in charge he refuses to ever hear anything other than yes ever again.

this is important for understanding how i conceptualize what is actually happening for bill's story in each au.

margaritabille follows canon exactly up until the next summer. this means bill has already enacted weirdmagedon, regained control over ford, begun evacuating the nightmare realm, had been defeated, and died. bill wins, however, only follows canon up until gideon makes his final deal with bill. in bill wins, bill is able to do all the things margaritabille is able to, except more. so much more. he doesn't just enact weirdmagedon, he successfully subjugates gravity falls and prevents any rebel faction from forming. he doesn't just regain control over ford, he is able to get ford to submit with minimal fuss and complaint, taking his family hostage to ensure ford is more or less compliant and amiable. he doesn't just begin to evacuate the nightmare realm, he makes tremendous progress doing so.

in margaritabille, bill has lost everything. he has lost the nightmare realm, the henchmaniacs, his kingdom, his control, his influence, his capture of those with the ability to harm him. he is vulnerable. but in bill wins, bill has everything he wants. (well, not everything, obviously bill has bigger plans than just coming to our dimension. but outrunning entropy and gaining a physical form are required for him to achieve the rest of his goals. and now that he's done it, he has no reason to doubt there's anything left standing in his way but time.)

this, however, means that in margaritabille bill has nowhere to go but up, while in bill wins the entire story revolves around not just dethroning him but killing him for good. bringing entropy to him.

in margaritabille, bill has a lot more than he actually thinks he does. he's on earth and out of entropy's reach. he has a physical form. the pines tolerate him and ford is sometimes even nice to him. bill may think he's hit rock bottom, but he hasn't! and maybe, this time, on his rise to power, ford really will join him willingly, maybe the pines will understand his goals and won't rebel against him. maybe there's a way for him to have his cake and eat it too.

while in bill wins, even though bill has peaked more than margaritabille ever did, it's not the life he envisioned. they're still trapped in gravity falls and it's hard to fit all the nightmare realm citizens into one tiny place. even if bill had been king of the nightmare realm there are still other gangs and warring factions that butt heads and challenge him. he needs to manage all the big personalities until he can break open the rest of the dimension and give everyone their space back. ford may play along with him but he's dead-eyed and bitter, obviously puppeteered, reciting the lines he's memorized. if bill had wanted ford this way he would have just rewired his brain in the first place! no, he wants ford to want it, and he can't figure out how to make that happen. the pines are constantly rebelling against him, so he's having to play 5-d chess and mind games with each of them in different ways at different times and it's a headache to keep up with it all. this isn't the party he wanted, he's on-call 24/7. (although, dw, he's still doing a lot of partying, but it's more coping than celebrating.)

there's a light at the end of the tunnel in margaritabille. in bill wins, bill is rapidly hurtling towards the ground without a parachute.

in margaritabille, bill is grieving a future he never really had. he didn't take the massive loss that he will in bill wins. he will never lose as much in the first as he does in the second. margaritabille is about how no matter the hardship, no matter the struggle, no matter the suffering, there is always a tomorrow for those willing to watch the sunrise.

in bill wins, bill is grieving a present he never got. it's a be careful what you wish for situation. he is fucking around and will soon be finding out. the more he tries to force things into their proper place the more they warp and misshape and try to wriggle from his grasp.

in acceptance and commitment therapy there's a framework for understanding acceptance that i think characterizes the two story lines well. in order to accept something you must be willing; we experience suffering because often we are instead willful.

willingness is the ability to say yes to life, however it comes. the example i give my patients is marriage: you know you and your partner will fight, you know you will both get sick, you know one of you will die first, but you marry them anyway because not having them at all is worse than having them bad parts and all. you are willing to live through pain in order to live through joy. i recently told a patient in order to have memorable experiences with friends you will also have funerals.

willfulness, on the other hand, is living life conditionally. it's trying to draw a perimeter and put up walls between you and what you will and won't accept. one metaphor for this i like is the shoe problem: you buy a pair of shoes online, they arrive and you discover they don't fit. if you are willing to accept the pain and frustration of this experience, then you're able to move forward to resolve it: can you return them? can you exchange them? if not, do you know someone they will fit you can give or sell them to? can you sell them online? can you donate them? if you are willful, however, then you will not admit there's a problem. in avoiding the disappointment of not getting something you really wanted and were looking forward to you force your feet into shoes that don't fit, you put them in your closet to collect dust.

in margaritabille, bill is moving towards willingness. not intentionally, not purposefully, but simply through conditioning. he's squatting in the shack and is unwelcome, he is aware of this. ford still has the means to kill or banish him, he is aware of this. if he toes too much out of line, the comfort and safety he has taken for himself will be his undoing. in order to live at the shack and be tolerated by the pines and build rapport with ford, bill must be willing to give up some of his control. he has to stop attempting to dominate the world and subjugate the pines, because if he does ford will just shoot him and that'll be the end of it. bill knows he has a good thing going here and he's not going to jeopardize it. he knows there is a future for him, he just has to grieve his loss and get back on his path.

in bill wins, bill is willful to a T. he will only accept the dimension, earth, gravity falls, the pines as he wants them. he doesn't understand why the nightmare realm citizens are behaving in ways that cause him headache, he doesn't understand why ford is faking it, he doesn't understand why he's trapped. he knows why, but it's not how this story was supposed to go and he will keep slamming the pieces on the table until they fit in the puzzle where he believes they're meant to be.

and he will lose everything, and he will suffer the whole time he does.

[trappedinacomputer]

I find it kinda funny how Blue thinks Bad is the one who's leading this war and he's the one with all the big plans when it's actually Tubbo lashing out and Bad is just sitting in a recliner with a pipe, reading a newspaper like "yes princess, that's very good, take my credit card and get whatever you want"

[icecream4starscream]

Spoiler Warning for Transformers One. Please go see the film, it's great.

Something occurred to me when rewatching Elita-1's firing scene:

Right off the bat, she's presented as an absolute unit in the mines. We see her being a very by-the-book character. She's incredibly competent, strong, serious, focused, and an effective leader.

Maybe a little too effective.

We learn that Sentinel goes out of his way to personally take care of any "anomalies" in his system and does so in a way where the blame always gets shifted away from him.

It's why he personally went to see Pax and D-16 after the Iacon 5000 race. He makes himself out to be the open-minded, compassionate leader he's been parading as.

When Darkwing throws Orion and D-16 into sub-level 50, neither bot suspects Sentinel for their demotion. In fact, they beg Darkwing to talk to Sentinel so he can sort out the "misunderstanding".

It's later confirmed that Sentinel never had any intention of talking with Orion or D-16 after their first meeting. When Orion reunites with his fellow miners later in the film, they mention that Sentinel put out a statement saying that they both died from "racing injuries".

Sentinel might've not even openly ordered Darkwing to dispose of them. Darkwing might've been manipulated into thinking everyone was mocking him for losing the race (thanks to lowly miners) making him want to get rid of them.

Subconsciously manipulating someone like Darkwing would've been easy for Sentinel.

Sentinel clearly does not tolerate anyone rising above the station he imposes on them.

So what does this have to do with Elita-1 being fired?

We see her rigidly following the rules, meeting all quotas, running a tight and efficient crew. She's doing her job as a miner, a role unknowingly forced upon her by Sentinel, perfectly.

Shouldn't Sentinel be happy about that?

Well sure...

If Elita wasn't actively trying to get promoted.

We don't get a lot of information about how promotion works in TFOne's mining system, but we do know that in other iterations of pre-war Cybertron, one of the only ways miners could rise out of the mines was by participating in ridiculously difficult gladiatorial fights in Kaon's pits.

In other iterations, this was how D-16/Megatron was able to escape his station and how he grew to be so strong.

So basically, whatever version you look at, the miners are told "if you work really, reeeeally hard, and do your job perfectly, and don't die in the process (which, odds are, you will) you might, MIGHT get a chance to get out of the caste you were born into."

It's BS.

It's an impossible feat. No one is actually supposed to be able to achieve that goal, but it's the metaphorical carrot dangling in front of the work mules so they don't notice the ever-tightening rope around their necks.

But every so often there's someone extraordinary, like Elita, who actually manages to meet this impossible standard and with whom it becomes increasingly difficult to deny this coveted promotion.

So what can Sentinel do about bots like Elita-1?

Simple.

Wait for a screw-up.

It must happen eventually.

A member of Elita's team, Orion Pax, in clear violation of evacuation protocol, goes back into the mines to save Jazz from getting crushed to death.

Despite managing to escape, the closing mine causes a tunnel support to be flung into nearby machinery (which doesn't look critical and could probably be easily fixed).

Then, right the heck outta nowhere, Darkwing drops in, SECONDS AFTER THE INCIDENT JUST HAPPENED, and immediately fires Elita.

No "What happened?" or "Who's responsible?" or "The supervisor wants to see you", he just pops into the scene and demotes Elita, arguably one of the best workers in the mine, to a bottom-tier waste management position.

As if he'd been on standby, actively waiting for a reason to fire her.

"But Elita herself wasn't the one who screwed up!"

Doesn't matter.

"But she told them to follow protocol!"

Doesn't matter.

"But Orion admitted he was the one at fault!"

Doesn't matter.

"But a bot was saved! Jazz would've died!"

Does. Not. MATTER.

Her firing is presented as the typical "one character says thing won't happen then thing immediately happens" joke, but given how so much thought went into so much of TFOne's background details, I can't help but wonder if this was a hint to how broken the system was and how it was always rigged in a way that ensures the miners will never get out.

Not to mention, once Orion, D-16, and Jazz safely escape, she chews Orion out by saying, "If I get fired for this..." meaning this abrupt, out-of-nowhere, baseless firing is absolutely typical.

That's what makes Elita's "I'm better than you" speech to Orion that much more meaningful, because in many ways, she is better than him.

She's a better worker, better fighter, better at completing the task at hand, better at making sure things run smoothly. She is, ironically enough, an efficient and perfectly-running machine.

But had Orion not dragged Elita to the surface, she probably would've spent her whole life obediently following the rules, never questioning why things were the way they were. She was so focused on rising up within the system that she could never look beyond it.

Elita might be the cog by which other cogs turn.

But Orion is the spark that shows them a better way.

That's why he was given the Matrix.

[michaela-o]

Hi hello everyone :D🧡

So a while back i made a post about Cybertronians witnessing humans being feral when in fight or flight response or how humans act when we are on adrenaline in general because i really like this idea. But hear me out- :D

Protective, scared and angry human = very scary human

We all have this natural need and drive inside us to protect. Wether it's the person we love, family or friends. I myself am very protective when it comes to anyone i love. I would throw myself in front of a bear if i had to. Or i would fight anything and anyone if i had to protect the people i love.

Now imagine if the human was the size as an average cybertronian: (slight warning for blood at the end)

The Lost Light got under attack by the infamous DJD and everything goes to shit so quickly no one has time to react as the deadly members tear through the ship and with Tarn having one goal in mind and that was to find Megatron. His optics burning with lust for killing him. Eventually he finds him and they both fight together. The human is watching this from the security office locked in with other members of the Lost Light. They all watch in horror and worry as they both fight. But Tarn doesn't play fair. As Megatron gets knocked by him the other bots notice as the human's breath quickens, their frame is shaking a bit and their teeth are tightly gritted together. Their protective drive has woken up.

Enough is enough..

You know what Megatron did..but no one has the right to take away someone else's life..especially someone like Tarn...Megatron was almost like the father the human claimed to never have..

As the human turns swiftly to unlock the door the other bots try to stop them but the human is determined and full of anger and adrenaline as they push past the bots who are taken aback. The bots are not fast enough as the human is already sprinting towards the scene where everything was happening. So many thoughts and emotions ran through them as they sprinted..anger, fear (you know because it's still fucking Tarn)

But no they aren't backing away now.

As they round a corner they barely make it in time because Tarn was already aiming his canon at Megatron.

The human suddenly jumps in front of Tarn and they srunch their nose and bare their teeth at him, their arms spread over Megatron. Tarn stares in disbelief and then he chuckles. You may be the size of a cybertronian but you're still a fragile dumb human.

"If you want him..you're gonna have to go through me first.."

As the human growled no one wanted and couldn't believe what they were seeing and hearing back at the security room on the cameras. Thats it the human has gotten crazy. NO ONE would do a thing like this. It's like you were asking to be killed. It's the DJD.. Even Megatron's expression almost changed to bewildered and wide eyed.

Of course the human got a good beating from Tarn but there was just something in them. This weird wild look in their eyes as blood dripped down their forehead into their eye and down their chin. Scratched and battered with at least 4 broken ribs they still stood with determination. Tarn was enjoying this but it was getting frustrating and on his nerves. Tarn is deadly and strong but the human was agile and quick. As Tarn was about to finish Megatron once again (because he thought the human was finished) they once again threw themeselves in front of him with this crazy look in their eyes and the next words rang out in everybody's ears.

"Over, my, dead body..."

The human was shaking, growling and huffing slowly loosing their strenght but reinforcements were quickly arriving and the DJD was in disadvantage so they had to fall back but of course Tarn would be back and would take the human with him the next time.

And this is how i think bots view this :3

From the cybertronian perspective:

The bots, often more concerned with survival and the war’s toll on their world i think would most likely react with shock. Tarn is a fanatic Decepticon who enforces ideology without mercy, would represent the last person they’d expect a human to stand against. They might interpret the human's bravery as foolhardy or even reckless, given Tarn’s terrifying reputation, but they may also see it as a powerful symbol that courage and conviction can transcend size and power.

From Tarn's Perspective:

I think Tarn, who worships Megatron’s original vision and detests any deviation from it, would be utterly incensed. The idea of a human—whom he views as nothing more than an insect—intervening to protect Megatron would enrage him. He’d view it as an ultimate insult to Megatron's legacy and to the Decepticon cause, likely intensifying his resolve to destroy them both to "cleanse" this offense.

Aaaa i hope you enjoyed reading as much as i did writing :3🧡 here i also drew a picture of the human so you could imagine the whole scenario better :3

[weebsinstash]

Now that we've witnessed the Invincible War, I can't help but think of a scenario of "it turns out you're Mark's partner/unwilling darling in every single other universe and when the alternate Marks show up for the big battle, they all freak out at the sight of you because all of them have lost you in their own universes"

Like it's almost a Spiderverse scenario where you arrive on the scene and you find out you're dead in every other universe. Maybe you're the only version of yourself that has powers. Maybe you're the only version of yourself that DOESN'T have powers. Maybe you're the only version of yourself that has Mark as a good platonic friend and every other version of him became Nice Guy Incel From Hell that felt like you belonged with them and either drove you to suicide, lost you in an accident, or accidentally killed you themselves, or maybe you were even totally cool with him and someone else killed you or even something tragic like dying in childbirth

Oh, so there's an evil version of Mark that missed his mom so badly he was going to kidnap an alternate universe version of her to take home?? So you're telling me these guys would absolutely have enough screws loose to immediately call up Angstrom and say that taking you is now part of the deal then?

The versions of Mark who were raised on Viltrum or joined his father, the ones who pride themselves in their superiority and violence, being so impressed by this powerful majestic, strong, superpowered version of you, oh so ready and willing to straight up kill them to defend Earth. But on the flip side, these vicious versions of Mark who knew you as that stoic hero now seeing you powerless and vulnerable and scared and so, so easily hurt.

Some of them can't help but immediately freeze up at the sight of you and stare, unable to look away as they process that, yeah, that's really who they think it is. Some of them start crying and beeline for you immediately. Some of them just start freaking out and all but hyperventilating, "holy shit is this for real?! Am I dreaming right now?! Is that really you?!"

Can you imagine one of them grabbing you and saying some WILD shit like, "oh my god, I'm so so sorry, I didn't mean to kill you, you just kept screaming and crying and i-i freaked out and I didn't realize I was squeezing so hard, I didn't mean to snap your neck, I promise it'll NEVER happen again" like genuinely that shit would make me u-turn right the fuck out of that battle and have Mark and Cecil or whomever the fuck get to fight this crazed psycho who looks and sounds exactly like your good friend, but let's be real, the second you try to run you would have EVERY version of Mark immediately after your ass

Picture this: one of the evil Marks is so genuinely euphoric to see you again that he rushes up to you and hugs you so tightly it cracks one of your ribs and makes you cry out in pain. Suddenly he's jerking back, his face cycling through several emotions. He's still holding on to a wrist or your shoulders and he and any other Marks present suddenly realize, oh fuck you don't have any powers? Like imagine trying to pull yourself away with all of your strength and they can all tell it's doing absolutely nothing as the one holding you just murmurs, "wait, why are you so weak...?" with obvious fear and concern trickling into his voice

All of them instantly detouring their plans to start fighting over you. Another Mark knocks out the teeth of the one who just cracked your ribs. A Mark whose entire goal was to use Angstrom to find another you completely unable to stop himself from scooping you up off your feet, promising he's going to tell you somewhere safe and about to fly away with you before getting suckerpunched by another Mark with the exact same idea. One Mark flying up. "Oh sorry, this was your little date-night buddy? They were my SPOUSE"

On the flip side, you being a viltrumite hybrid yourself or some other mutant or superpowered individual that they're completely unused to and the ones who lust for battle getting the biggest adrenaline/endorphin rush of their lives as you're actually strong enough to knock them around. More masochistic Marks all but having their eyes roll back into their heads as you punch or kick or throw them. You being so strong that it takes at least 2 or 3 of them to completely pin you down

Something something "evil Marks having to team up to take you down and once you're finally subdued and are pinned down and helpless they basically run a train on you in the middle of the rubble of a burning city" something something

The good guys and you and your friends managing to win and drive the variants away and kill Angstrom and you ultimately find out "your" Mark is just as equally obsessive and mentally unstable as all the rest and he was just the best one at hiding it. He was happy juat pretending to be your "platonic friend" and looking after you but he was intending to play 4d chess and work his way into your heart. Now that your life and safety were threatened, it finally triggers him to drop off the deep end and start making more drastic moves. Ok, so Cecil wants him to work for the government again and lead the Guardians huh? Maybe he'll consider accepting IF the GDA helps him contain you and keep you safe and healthy. Maybe he'll consider IF Cecil basically signs off on you being a captive of Mark's that the government turns a blind eye to as long as he protects the planet. Maybe you try and fly away and find out YOU have a thingy in YOUR head and Cecil basically knocks you out of the sky because damn it, he's not going to let another however many millions of people die just so you can stay single, let alone risk finding out what Mark is going to do now that he's starting to lose it

Whether you're a human or a hero, you'll be fucked either way

[gallusrostromegalus]

I did not care at all for Aizen Sosuke when I first read bleach. I found him boring, and worst, unthreatening.

So it's pretty jarring for me that I have been OBSESSED with him in your AU. I'm rotating him at great speed

Walt Disney was a jackass who was flat-out wrong about a lot of very important things, but he employed a great many geniuses of storytelling, and there's a piece in Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life by Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnson that discusses a key feature of Disney Studios Character Design:

"Of all characters, villains are the most fun to develop because they make everything else happen. They are the instigators, and always more colorful than the Hero. They may be dramatic, awesome, insidious or semi-comic, but they MUST be appealing. Almost any story becomes innocuous if all the evil is eliminated, but we do not necessarily gain strength by being frightening. we want a character that will hold the audience and entertain them, even if it's a Chilling Type of Entertainment."

And I've found that to be an important principle of character design, especially the kind of canon restructuring I do.

Aizen had a LOT going for him in canon- for all of Bleach's other faults, Aizen's conspiracy and THE REVEAL are spectacularly constructed and executed. I legit screamed and threw my mug across my dorm room when I read it in the manga the first time. He's also conventionally attractive and the translations I was reading gave him the speech patterns of Every Douchebag In Your 101 Political Theory Who Thinks He's The Smartest Man In The Room, which made him a terrific combination of Unfortunately Charming, Menacingly Competent and Engagingly Obnoxious.

...But he falls flat in a few key places.

Aizen's reasoning could be MUCH more sympathetic- After all, he is RIGHT. Soul Sciety does suck ass and all the options kind of suck. Who designs a universe like that? An asshole who needs killing, that's who. The best kind of Unhinged Madmen are the kind who spell out their reasoning and you realize that there but for the grace of Not Having Super Powers Go I. Canon!Aizen makes a few Good Rhetorical Points, but seems to lack any personal connection to his all-consuming plan.

Another issue is that nearly every villain with A Plan has a clear end goal AND a lot of the menace is drawn from the fact that the plan *could* work. Aizen's plan for betraying the court guard and then killing them off before proceeding into the Royal Realm to Kill God sorta falls apart when it's clear he planned to use pretty much all his accumulated forces dealing with the court guard and doesn't seem to have a plan for the Even More Powerful Royal Guard, let alone God. For how meticulously planned the rest of the plot is, the last two VERY IMPORTANT steps are just handwaved.

So I sat down and started with the plot beats Aizen MUST hit, and tried to imagine what kind of guy would he have to be to get there? And I came up with this:

Sosuke Aizen is a fundamentally good man with genuinely good intentions who is really trying his best for the whole world.

Think about it- what lengths would you NOT go to if you think you found a genuine shot at Fixing Everything Wrong With The World Forever? We all talk about killing Hitler if we found an actual Time Machine- would you do it if your only chance was when he was a baby? Would you kill an infant if it meant you could stop World War II before it starts? Of course you would! One small life for over 75 million? You'd be insane not to! What if you found out that you could prevent the future extinction of Humanity by killing your best friend today? Ten Billion lives? For theirs? It's simple, really- Hell, it's your Moral Obligation to do that if you were SURE!

-And Aizen IS sure. He is absolutely, totally, completely sure that He Can Save Everyone if he just gets rid of that idiot sitting on the throne of heaven. He's seen the plans! He knows where the gate of heaven is! It's So SIMPLE he just has to get inside, and he knows EXACTLY how to do it, yes it'll be hard and there will be... unpleasant parts but. IT. WILL. WORK.

He is of course, insane.

Aizen didn't have One Bad Day that set him irrevocably on the path of madness. It was a succession of catastrophic disappointments and realizations that he was living in a fundamentally irrational world that made irrational thinking look sane. The Catastrophe that befell his family, working for the central 46 and later the court guard and seeing how the organizations were inept to the point of abuse or corrupt to the core, learning that The Actual House Of God is a place he can just? Go to? Anyone would start thinking you were just a handful of white lies and homicides away from Fixing Everything, Forever.

Not only is Aizen insane, he is nowhere near as smart as he thinks. He is smart- He does have a knack for being able to guess just what will spur someone to action or make them recoil in fear. But mostly he gets extremely lucky Many, Many, MANY times. On some level I think it gives him Confirmation Bias that this is what he's supposed to be doing. Aizen is also nowhere near as smart as (nearly) everyone else thinks he is. His bizarrely good luck makes him look like a hyper-competent genius when really it was really the catastrophic failure of Soul Society as a Society that let a merely mediocre conspirator to evade detection for so long.

Being that he is at most, mediocre, he had to have Outside Help, specifically Gin's emotional support and Tousen's Competence- and if there's a part of the fic that stays true to canon, it's this.

Gin is Aizen's emotional rock in Canon. He's the ONE guy that Aizen genuinely trusts, and considers his 'my only real partner' in his scheme. There's more than one occasion in the manga where Aizen more or less asks Gin "Is this actually a good idea?" and Gin backs him up every time.

...Which is more than a bit at odds with Gin's later stated goal of "I did all this to kill you at your most vulnerable to protect rangiku" . It never rang true to me. So I started thinking why on EARTH Gin would be backing Aizen up like that, and realized there was a hole in my world building that he slotted into nicely :)

On the other hand, the entire fic was started because I didn't like how Tousen's character arc ended, so you can imagine how much he's changed.

But in canon, TOUSEN DOES ALL THE FUCKING WORK.

Lab work? Tousen.

Supervising the arrancar directly? Tousen

Actually getting victims for the Hogyoku experiments? Tousen.

Altering all the archives to keep Aizen's plot hidden? Tousen.

Sending all the Orders allegedly from the central 46? Tousen.

Making sure Unohana believes Aizen's fake body is real? Tousen.

Managing all the day-to-day operations at Las Noches? Tousen.

There's even this little exchange, which is Tousen's first appearance in the Manga:

Aizen establishes this entire meeting is a little fake-out a few pages later with "now isn't that a convenieint time for the alarm to go off?"

which makes him look like he's investigating, but he's also going "Good job on disrupting everyone with the alarm Gin!" It's ballsy of Aizen to do a check-in on his plan with his main nemesis in the room, but also his style.

I think the same thing is happening here with Tousen. To make sure Ukitake wouldn't raise a huge fit about the proposed execution of his beloved lieutenant, which might fuck everything up for Aizen because Ukitake is one of like, three people Yamamoto will listen to (sort of).

...So he had Tousen poison Ukitake to keep him out of the way.

ALL. THE. FUCKING. WORK. It's even in his name! The characters for "Tousen" Refer to a legendary scholar the emperor of China sent out to discover the secret of immortality- only to kill the scholar when he returned with that secret. The character for "Kaname" means "Necessary/Vital/keystone" or "to organize/take account of". His name LITERALLY means "Scholar who is essential for the plan (that we're going to kill later)"

Another thing Kubo did well in Bleach: his name game is Off The Fucking Charts.

-but I digress.

In AEIWAM, it's much the same only this time Aizen sees this very dangerous witness who is immune to his illusions but also extremely snart and capable young man and instead of risking being caught out by the one damn guy who can see right through him, opts to Curse Kaname into doing as Aizen says, and doing all the fucking work of this conspiracy against his will.

It's Not Nice, but Aizen genuinely thinks he's doing Kaname a favor by subjecting him to this degrading and incredibly painful servitude- I mean, Aizen's only other option was to Kill him to keep his silence, and isn't it wonderful that you get to help fix the universe? You're the one always going on about Justice, I don't understand why you didn't jump at the chance to mete out some Divine Justice.

An Excerpt from the captain's meeting in between the Massacre that made the visored and Zaraki's arrival, when Kaname realizes Yamamoto is 100% serious about his promotion to captain of the 9th and goes to throw up in the garden. Aizen offers to go check on him while Unohana very politely reads the general the riot act:

---

"You broke your toy Aizen." Kaname coughs.

"…I really am sorry for running you ragged like this. I really shouldn't have gotten so mad about you hiding the the hogyoku- it was very petty of me." The bastard sighs, taking off his glasses and rubbing his face, entirely genuine.

Kaname stayed on his hands and knees, weaving slightly as another wave of nausea flowed through him, powered by disgust and rage.

"How about this- I've got a lot coming up with the new job, training Gin and disposing of Kiganjo- So how about I promise to not give you any orders for a while? You will have to keep our arrangement a secret and not interfere, of course, but other than that, you're free to do as you please for- a year and a day is traditional isn't it? No, that's not going to heal by then- Oh, would you look at that!"

Kaname didn't have the strength to offer his usual rebuttal that he won't look at anything, ever. The sides of his head tingle like his skul was being pressed between two enormous hands made of static electricity.

"It's 11:11! Alright, I won't give you any Orders until 11:11 am on November 11th, 1911. That's easy to remember! What do you think?" Aizen continued cheerfully, patting his back and the Curse nails.

"…I can't." Kaname groaned. He could scream if he had the energy, but due to Aizen's Illusions, nobody would hear him. "I actually physically can't think. Please…"

"Of course! You really are such a help to me, it would be a shame to lose you. I'll even amend our contract, so you don't get paranoid-" There was a sizzling sound and a new stroke of hot pain up Kaname's spine as Aizen did something to the wretched Bakudo. "There. No compulsions for eleven years and a day. What do you say?"

Kaname grimaced, but dropped his head. Save the energy to fight another day. "…thank you, Aizen-sama."

"Good man! Let's get you on your feet." Aizen beamed, putting his glasses back on and offering him an arm.

---

He genuinely thinks that he's doing everyone a huge favor and if they don't get it it's because they're just not smart enough, but it's alright, He's a Benevolent God and they'll appreciate all his hard work the next time around :)

Aizen is a man who is FULL of joy. He loves what he does! He actively takes pleasure in it! And I think that's something that REALLY delivers in terms of sympathy AND horror for him. Who *Wouldn't* have a great time actually fixing the universe? He's a good man who enjoys doing good works, and this is the greatest work of all!

It also Delivers on the Horror when I get to write the deliciously fun scenes where Aizen is Elbows-deep in a novel War Crime and waxing poetic about how GREAT this is, or being confused why the people around him are reacting with fear. Don't you want to make everything better too?

[comicaurora]

Tahraim is my fav absolutely adore him! I love that you’ve made the smith deal in introspection and cryptic bs, a lot of times smiths are very straightforward characters in stories. What made you decide to shake it up?

Can gods be tied to concepts as well as cities? As Tahraim seems to be a god of blacksmithing (or at least has some serious motifs) does he have a city thats just forges?

He also seems a lot more mobile than the other gods, or is he just “tied” to Danix?

Tahraim is a conceptual god, a class of deity considered grander and more untethered than city or nature gods. Also in his weight class are Emnis and Erebas (dreams and nightmares), Shanyasi (music), Sennaia (knowledge), Jiya (war), and a whole bunch of others. They're gods of ideas, and their domains are in the collective consciousness of mortals. They can manifest anywhere they hold sway, and several of them have constructed domains of their own in pocket dimensions; Sennaia has a transfinite library hidden away somewhere, and Tahraim has a forge.

Tahraim's personality comes from my own experience with artists and craftspeople. Many artists are acutely aware that in order for their work to be better, they need to be better. The process of creation and introspection becomes inextricably linked. Forging a tool changes the forger, little by little.

There's also an element I've observed from teachers. I was always a firm proponent of "don't be cryptic or cute, just tell me the thing and I'll get it," and while that's true a lot of the time, there are concepts that cannot be Just Told in any meaningful way. They don't hit or stick if the person doesn't put them together themselves and construct a way that works for them. Teaching isn't always the impartation of information; a lot of the time it's guidance so the student crafts the tools that work for them. Even if the teacher can perfectly communicate what method works for them, everyone is different, and a student that does the exact same thing exactly right might gain no benefits or be actively harmed by the process. Instead, the student has to parse the lesson and create their own tools to execute the same goal.

Personal example under a readmore because it got a little long:

I've sporadically dealt with intrusive thoughts my whole life, though I didn't understand what they were at the time and they've mostly gone away on their own. When I was little, upsetting thoughts would get stuck in my head and stay there; things would give me nightmares that lasted for weeks, or I'd be stuck awake in the wee hours ruminating on every time in my life I'd done something shameful or harmful or wrong. My dad recognized I was upset, and tried to teach me a method of "counting thoughts" that worked for him, where I could sit for a few minutes and just passively observe the thoughts floating by, counting them and observing them and thus becoming aware that they were small, fleeting things with no power on their own. The problem is, this method didn't work for me at all, because "count the thought" didn't communicate to me "and that makes the thought not a problem anymore." The thought still hurt just as bad, all I was doing was reminding myself how many bad thoughts were happening. I would get overwhelmed and end up more distressed, and the fact that this thing that should have worked didn't work just convinced me that I was trapped and nobody could ever help me.

It took actual years before I found a method that clicked in my brain, and it was just one step further down the path of counting thoughts:

"Having that thought is harmless."

Every thought that got stuck in my head was about times or ways I might've harmed people. The things that distressed me most were things I'd done wrong that I had zero power to change, so the wrongness would just haunt me forever, making me miserable forever. But the root of the distress was that I had messed up and hurt people.

The thing that clicked was that having the thought does nothing to anyone but me. The thought is harmless, even if the event the thought is about wasn't or wouldn't be. Having the thought hurts no-one else. And since 90% of my distress was distress at the thought of hurting other people, it hit me that in reality, even in the depths of my angst, I was just sitting there, hurting no-one.

And suddenly I found that the last few intrusive thoughts rattling around in my brain withering, because the last thing that had been feeding them was gone. I was given the technique for Counting Thoughts, but it wasn't made for my hands. I had to make my own version out of it. And just because it worked for me and my own personal brain doesn't mean this method would work for someone else, just the same way the method that worked for my dad didn't click for me. If I wanted to teach someone a way to bypass intrusive thoughts, all I would have to work on would be what worked for me, but I could try to guide them through a path similar to the one I followed to find my method so they could maybe find their specific hangups and what specifically would work for them. Every mind is different.

This is also why it's so frustrating to hear someone say stuff like "Oh I used to worry about that too, but it's actually fine, you can just stop worrying about it!" And it's like, "oh, fuckin brilliant, just stop worrying about it? Absolute genius, I just hadn't thought of that-" like yea it sounds flippant and yea it's not helpful, but they are using the only frame of reference they have and describing what they did. They stressed about something, realized it was not actually a problem, and knowing that was enough to make it leave their mind alone. But saying that they "just stopped worrying" doesn't make you understand or internalize how they did it. And because they can't seem to help you, it makes you mad. But then sometimes, with time and perspective, you look back and think "wow, yea, at some point I really did just stop worrying about that." It doesn't mean their advice worked, it just means somewhere along the line something clicked in your mind and started working.

Tahraim is a smith who sees no difference between shaping a tool and shaping a person, but there are some ways that people can't be shaped from the outside, and instead have to shape themselves. He likes to be subtle and cryptic, but he also has good reason to be. The only way to make something click in someone's head is to guide them towards it and nudge them when necessary. It's not all hitting stuff with hammers.

[tiredandoptimistic]

I've seen the take floating around that Henry's death at the end of season three was unnecessary, so now I'm feeling the need to ramble a bit about why it had to happen that way.

We all know that the vibes of MASH gradually shift over the run of the show, and that the first three seasons are a lot more lighthearted overall than the later ones. More Requiem for a Lightweight, less Death Takes a Holiday. While the show is never exactly "hijinks at the front" and does have some early episodes that lean into darker themes (such as, famously, Sometimes You Hear the Bullet), it's still more comedic than dramatic in the early years.

Because of this tone, the audience is set up to expect things to be a little angsty here and there but still turn out alright overall. Sure, soldiers die all the time (even named ones like Tommy), but all the main characters were supposed to get out okay. From a Doylist perspective, they need to survive because they're leads on a show and they're getting paid to come back regularly. Not Henry though. McLean Stevenson chose to leave after season three, and the writers had to give Henry a proper sendoff.

I'm not feeling the need to go on a tangent right now about how great Henry is, but rest assured that I love his character. The show makes it clear that he's the one with the most waiting for him back home. Sure, Trapper and Frank have wives and kids too, but Henry gets multiple episodes about how much he loves Lorraine and even home videos of his happy domestic life. Plus, he's got a baby son born while he was overseas, someone he desperately wants to meet. Out of all the characters, he's got the most American dream and apple pie life waiting for him across the ocean.

All of that makes Henry a great person to send home, and it's why he could never make it there.

Once Stevenson decided to leave MASH, Henry was fated to leave as well. He got the discharge letter and the celebrations; everything all the characters had been dreaming off since their deployment. It would have been so easy to just let him return to his family. He's off the show either way, why couldn't the writers let him be happy? Because it's a fucking war, and even a plane home doesn't guarantee anyone's safety. The show needed to kill Henry off to remind the audience that they are watching a tragedy dragged across dozens of countries and millions of people. The closer they let him get to home, the more pointless his death was in the grand scheme of things; the more important it became.

Killing Henry is how MASH fully lived up to it's own expectations. The show is full of little tragedies and people with rich lives who never returned to live them, but we never really felt that loss as more than a concept. Sure, Tommy is instantly likeable and his death his deeply impactful, but we the audience only get the implication of Hawkeye's deep friendship with him. Henry is someone we've come to love on our own. All these deaths are pointless and cruel, none of them had to happen. Because we've spent three seasons getting to know and care for Henry (and are aware that the writers could have easily let him live), we finally feel that pointlessness.

Going forward after Henry's death, nothing is quite the same. Death is suddenly a true option, and no one is entirely safe from needless tragedy. When Trapper goes home and Hawkeye doesn't get to say goodbye it isn't just sad because he can't throw his friend a party or give him a hug, it's heartbreaking because he doesn't know that Trapper will even make it back to Boston.

Going home will always be the ultimate goal of all the characters, but it can never be a simple "get out of trauma free" card. The war will always follow them.

[writinginatree]

This Wasn't Supposed to be About Horses

Relationship(s): Xaden Riorson & teen!sister!reader, Bodhi Durran & Garrick Tavis & teen!Riorson!reader

Summary: Finally being back home in Aretia is a lot lonelier than you thought it would be, but at least you have your horse.

Warnings: Swearing, loneliness, mentions of parental death, minor spoilers for Onyx Storm (Garrick's signet), reader is a total horse girl™. Set during Iron Flame.

Anonymous requested: I'd love to maybe see a Xaden X Sister Reader where, in a similar vein to him in 'Jealous Little Puppy' he doesn't spend time with her. Maybe he misses quite a few of her milestones where she really 'wanted' him there but he just wasn't, please?

For three days — the whole duration of the ride so far — you've been pestering the soldier babysitting you with questions, but there isn't much he will — or can — tell you.

The man had shown up at the estate where you've been fostered since the apostasy to spirit you away in the dead of night, scaring the hell out of you. The only reason you'd even trusted him enough to go with him was the letter in Xaden's handwriting he showed you, proving your brother had sent the man to collect you. But he either hadn't told him why, or given him instructions not to tell you. All he would say was that, apparently, Xaden was up to something that might anger leadership and wanted you out of their reach.

You're not even allowed to know where you're going until you get there, because knowing would endanger the whole revolution should you be captured on the way — whatever the hell that is supposed to mean.

It's on the tip of your tongue to ask What revolution? but you know you won't get an answer, so you simply add it to your mental pile of unanswered questions. A pile that is starting to get decidedly too big. Where are you going? Why are you going there? How angry will leadership be when they find out you disappeared? Won't this get the other marked kids in trouble? Or are they being taken to safety too? And why didn't Xaden come get you himself if having you out of Navarre's reach is so important?

So many questions, and so few answers.

It's not like being left out of the loop is new to you — during your father's rebellion, you'd been too young to be told much about any of what was happening, and since then, you had only twice been allowed to see your brother. You wrote letters back and forth, but since there was no knowing who might read those, Xaden diligently avoided telling you anything interesting in them. Never a single word about Navarre's lies, nothing about his goals or what he was doing beyond basic stuff about his experience at the war college. He couldn't even tell you more about those venin monster things. That those are apparently real is one of the few things you'd learned during the rebellion, thanks to eavesdropping on Xaden and Garrick.

Unfortunately, eavesdropping isn't currently an option. You hate not knowing where you're going. Aside from the prospect of getting to see your brother again, it feels a lot like you're being kidnapped.

It's only the hope to see Xaden, and the fact you're finally sitting your horse again that make this journey bearable. It's been way too long since you were allowed to simply take Gaoth for a ride, without having to worry about staying in sight of the estate, without worrying about being back in time for whatever nonsense curfew they gave you, without fear of being punished for the abundance of mud on your boots when you return. Finally, a small taste of the freedom you've longed for.

Just you, your loyal black steed, and the mountainous range of Tyrrendor.

Well — and the soldier babysitting you.

But if you look the other way, you can almost pretend he isn't there, that you're riding home after an adventurous day of playing in the woods with Xaden, like you'd done so often until Dad's rebellion threw your whole world into upheaval. Those had been good times. You had rarely been allowed to hang out with the bigger kids, but sometimes Xaden would ditch his friends to spend some time just with you. Sometimes Bodhi would tag along, too, but more often it was just the two of you and your horses, and thanks to Xaden being the big responsible brother, you had always been allowed to stay out long past sundown, bringing sandwiches or fruit for lunch and dinner and eating by a fresh mountain stream or in some cave you'd explored. He always knew the best places to go for anything; where the best trees for climbing were, which mountain lake was the best for swimming, or where some fallen trees made the perfect obstacle course to race with the horses.

You wonder if you'll ever get to go riding together again. Are dragon riders even allowed to ride horses in their off-time, or would that be insulting to his dragon? You grin when you realize you might actually get to ask him that yourself soon. Sure, your babysitter hasn't explicitly said that Xaden will be present wherever you're going, but since it was his idea to get you there, surely that means it's somewhere he has access to.

By the third day of traveling gods-know-where, the soldier is officially sick of your pestering, urging his horse into a canter to escape your questions every time you open your mouth.

"We'll be there soon," he deflects when you try to insist on being told where you're going. "Then you'll see for yourself."

But when you ask when exactly soon is, he refuses to answer again. Eventually, night falls, and you make camp under the shelter of a copse of trees. Clearly, soon does not mean today.

"When will we get there?" you ask for the thousandth time while scarfing down the stew your companion made from the provisions he carries in his saddlebags. He's decidedly better at cooking than at answering your questions. "You said soon, and yet we're still not there, so when is soon? Tomorrow? In a week? It can't be that far, right?"

Your babysitter heaves a sigh, like escorting you is the worst task he's ever been given and he's wishing he were outside the wards fighting monsters instead. You almost think that'll be the only answer you get, but he relents and gives you a tiny piece of information after all. "Tomorrow," he confirms. "Now shut up and go to sleep."

Sure enough, the area becomes more and more familiar with each hour you travel the next day. There, the river you used to swim in, and, there, Xaden's favorite hill. That tree, that's the one you climbed too high into and were too scared to come back down without Xaden's help.

Despite all the signs of nearing your home, it's not until late afternoon, when you actually see Riorson House in the distance, that you let yourself believe that's where you're going. Seeing Aretia before you — smaller than you remember, but bustling with life — has you so slack with shock you almost topple from Gaoth's back. It only lasts a second. Then you tighten your knees and adjust your grip on the reins, leaning low over your mare's neck to gallop straight for the fortress, leaving your babysitter in the dust, forgotten about. You don't care about him and his stupid secrecy anymore, don't care how what you're seeing is possible, that Aretia should be ash and rubble, nothing but scorched ruins. You're home.

People jump out of your path with startled yelps as you race straight through the town. Gaoth doesn't need any directions, as familiar with the way home as you are, so you give her free rein, merely urging her to go faster occasionally while you stare at the new houses flying past you. Some are still under construction, while others look like they might have been standing for a couple years already.

It's Aretia, and yet it's not. Some landmarks you remember from your childhood days are still there, but many are not, replaced by new buildings or simply vacant space. Gaoth finds her way through town all the same, straight toward Riorson House.

Your heart beats faster the closer you get to the fortress, pounding in time with Gaoth's hoofbeats. Only minutes later you're past the last of the houses. Almost there. The ground flies past as Riorson House grows bigger and bigger, until it's all you can see.

Gravel sprays under Gaoth's hooves as you skid into the courtyard. Coming to a halt in front of the stables, you leap to the ground and look around, feeling like you're in a dream. Home. You're actually home after all this time. It's almost too good to believe. And then you spot Xaden. You recognize him instantly, despite all the time that has passed since you last were allowed to see him. Descending the steps from the main entrance and striding across the courtyard toward you, he looks every bit the fearsome warrior. The years at Basgiath have hardened him, but you barely see the scar on his face or the swords strapped to his back. You only see your big brother.

You drop the reins — Gaoth will stay put, anyway, she's a good horse — and run at him, not slowing the slightest until you literally collide with your brother's strong frame.

He doesn't even waver under the impact, just looks down at you with a amused glint in his eyes as you wrap your arms around him. He hugs back for a moment, then pushes you back to look you over with his hands on your shoulders. Then he grins. "You still haven't learned how to live without being constantly covered in mud, huh?"

"I've been traveling for four days!" you defend yourself, though he isn't entirely wrong. You've gotten in trouble for trailing in dirt after sneaking into the stables countless times in the last month alone. As if it's your fault you're more cut out for the stables and the outdoors rather than the fancy parties the nobles who fostered you are so fond of.

"Speaking of, where'd you leave the guy who was supposed to bring you?"

"I kinda didn't wait for him when I saw Aretia. 'm sure he'll be here soon." You rub your neck, a little embarrassed of your own rashness. "His horse can't be that slow. Besides, if he'd just told me where we were headed, I could have prepared myself and maybe wouldn't have raced the rest of the way like that."

"No trouble on the way?"

"Nope."

Though you try to focus on the conversation, your eyes keep drifting. It's hard to decide what sight to focus on. Your brother, so much older and tougher and tired-looking, and actually here in front of you!; or the buildings all around you that you'd thought you'd never see again, somehow still here despite everything.

"You're staring as if you've never seen the place before," Xaden chuckles.

"I just can't believe it's still here. I thought there was nothing left of Aretia."

"There wasn't much left of the city itself," Xaden agrees. "Most of the houses are newly rebuilt. But as for Riorson House..." He shrugs. "Stone doesn't burn."

"I know that, smartass. But somehow I thought they just, you know, smashed everything they couldn't burn to rubble with their dragons."

"I guess they didn't think it worth the effort." Someone calls to him from the doorway, and Xaden nods in acknowledgement. Turning back to you he says, "Listen, I'm running late for a meeting. Your room is just as you left it. I take it you remember how to get there?"

"Duh."

"Good. Then we'll talk later, okay?"

He's already backing away, turning his back as soon as you nod.

Watching him disappear inside the house, you suddenly feel like crying. Finding out your home still exists, that Aretia has been rebuilt — or is in the process of it, anyway —, finally seeing your brother again and him just leaving you standing in the courtyard; it's all too much.

You take a deep breath and swallow the tears, turning back to Gaoth. As eager as you are to run into the house and see if everything is as you remember, to find out if Bodhi is here, too, to flop down on your bed and cry with relief — your horse comes first. It's not until she's in her stall, thoroughly groomed and happily munching on a huge portion of hay, that you give in to the wish to head inside.

When Xaden said your room was just as you had left it, you thought he simply meant your things were still there, but as it turns out, he meant it's literally as you'd left it — a fucking mess. In the hurry to evacuate before the Battle of Aretia, you'd left clothes, toys, and books strewn all over the floor, forced to take only the most essential things. The sheets hang down the side of the bed in a tangled mess, a single stuffed animal you'd left behind looking terribly lonely in it's place beside the crumpled pillow. The closet doors are open, its contents spilling out onto a drawer lying turned over on the floor. And on top of it all, a thick layer of dust.

Clearly, no one has entered the room since the rebellion.

You're not sure what you expected. Not for someone else to have cleaned up your mess, no, but you would have thought some preparations would have been made for your return at least.

You slide off your rucksack, letting it thump to the floor by the door. A cloud of dust flies up from the carpet and makes you sneeze.

Tidying all this up is going to be a pain in the ass, so you decide it will have to wait until you've had dinner. But before you head back downstairs to eat, you cross to the window, opening it in hopes the wind will take care of some of the dust in the meantime. Unlikely, but it's worth a try. A faint smell of smoke lingers in the curtains, so you make a mental note to take them down and wash them later.

You cross to your bathing chamber — kicking up more dust with every step — to at least wash your hands. The chaos isn't as bad in there, but the dust seems even thicker, and cobwebs hang from the bathtub's faucet.

Later. You'll deal with all of that later.

On the stairs, you run into Garrick and Bodhi, talking to some other riders. Garrick spots you first, and nudges your cousin. "Look who's here."

A smile lights up Bodhi's face at the sight of you. He pulls you into a hug, and you instantly feel a little more welcome. So what if Xaden barely had time to greet you and no one bothered to check what state your room is in? They can't think of everything.

While you bask in Bodhi's warmth, Garrick takes it upon himself to introduce you to their friends. "Everybody meet the little mud-monster, otherwise known as Y/N Riorson."

"I'm not little anymore," you grouse as you step back from Bodhi's hug, though standing between this bunch of black-clad, muscle-packed fighters sure makes it feel like you are.

"No?" Garrick taunts, and steps closer, propping his elbow up on your head to show off how much taller he is. "Should we start calling you the big mud-monster, then?"

"No! Fuck you!"

Garrick pretends he didn't hear, and Bodhi grins. "Want to come have dinner with us, little mud-monster?" he asks.

You sigh in defeat. There's no getting rid of that childhood nickname the boys had assigned you after a much younger and wilder Gaoth had thrown you off in a field and you'd returned home covered in mud from head to foot. "Yes. I'm starving."

Bodhi chuckles. "We can't have that. Come on, let's get some food into you."

Xaden is late for dinner, but eventually, he does come to sit beside you and joins Bodhi and Garrick in telling you about everything that's happened — though you suspect them of leaving out some details they deem too scary for you. Still, it's nice to just sit and talk with them again instead of only communicating through letters, in which they had to carefully weigh every word and could never tell you about anything that's actually happening in case the wrong person read them.

When you've all finished eating and they're about to leave to do whatever it is that riders spend their evenings doing, you remember you still need to do something about the state of your room.

"Soo, you guys have magic now, right? You, uh, couldn't maybe use it to help me clean my room? Please?"

Xaden looks torn between annoyance and amusement. "I wield shadows, Y/N, not brooms."

"Right..." You turn to Garrick. "But you control air, don't you?"

"Yeah. And?"

"And that means you could totally make some wind to blow the dust from my room."

"Seriously? You want me to use my signet to dust off your stuff?"

"Pleeease?"

"Fine," Garrick groans, "but only because I have nothing better to do right now."

"Thank you!"

When you get to your room, Garrick stops in the doorway and whistles. "Damn," he says. "What the hell happened in here?"

You shrug. "I had to pack up in a hurry the last time I was here."

"Ah, right. I forgot you haven't been back since the apostasy. I can see why you wanted help with all that dust."

You nod, glad he understands and doesn't think you're just lazy.

Garrick lifts his hands, and the air starts to move, lifting clouds of dust and blowing them out the already open window.

You stare in wide-eyed wonder, well aware how silly your fascination must seem to Garrick, but unable to hide it. It's one thing to know that the boys you grew up with are now dragon riders with magic abilities, and quite another to actually see one of them using that magic.

Done clearing the dust from the room, Garrick leans against the door frame with his arms crossed and smirks down at you. "Cool, huh?"

You can't even be annoyed by his bragging, because he's right — that was cool as fuck.

"Yeah," you say, because you know that's what he wants to hear. Then, "Can you do the bath too?"

"Sure."

He repeats the process in your bathing chamber, and just like that, not a speck of dust remains, gone in a fraction of the time it would have taken you to dust everything off by hand.

"Have fun picking your shit off the floor," Garrick says and pats you on the back as he leaves.

You grimace, wishing getting rid of the remaining chaos were as easy as clearing the dust was for Garrick. So much of it is stuff you don't need anymore — toys you're too old for, clothes you've long outgrown. For a second you imagine hurling it all out the window after the dust. It would probably feel very satisfying, but wouldn't solve the problem, so you resign to putting the things you want to keep back into their places and piling all the things you don't need anymore into a heap by the door. Surely there are some families with kids living in town. You'll go and see if any of them have use for your old things tomorrow.

The elation of being back home and reunited with what remains of your family wears off much faster than you would have ever expected.

The whole house is stuffed to the brim with riders and fliers, and as far as any of them are concerned, you're just an annoying kid constantly getting in everyone's way; nevermind that it's your damn home they've been allowed to take refuge in.

Worse, even Xaden doesn't seem to care for your presence. He has hardly spoken to you at all since you got here.

Left entirely to your own devices, you spend most of your time with the only being who is always happy to see you — Gaoth. When you're not riding, you're helping out in the stables. There aren't as many horses at Riorson House as there were in your childhood, but plenty enough that there's always something to do.

You don't know if a school is part of what's been rebuilt of Aretia, and you don't ask. No one says anything about the way you spend your days, either, so you suppose they agree there's no need to further your education.

Sometimes when you've led the horses to their pasture to graze, you sit on the fence, watching the cadets practice flight maneuvers up in the snow-heavy clouds, and think about the future. Now that the older marked ones have deserted Basgiath and are openly rebelling, you suppose you won't have to attend the war college after all when you come of age. You're not sure if you should be relieved or disappointed about that. As terrifying as the thought of riding a dragon is, it also holds a certain adventurous appeal. But when you lower your gaze from the dragons in the sky to Gaoth, grazing a few feet away, the relief definitely wins out. In the end, you'd much rather ride your horse than a dragon.

There are more pressing things to worry about than the distant possibility of whether or not you'll have to become a rider in a few years. The unusually high number of dragons in the area makes the horses nervous. Even inside the safety of the stable, most of them are jumpy, and outside, they're prone to shy and bolt.

Even Gaoth, calm and even-tempered as she normally tends to be, panics whenever she sees them, and outright refuses to go anywhere near the valley where they reside.

Maybe she senses your own unease about the scaly beasts. Because even though you don't like to admit it, it's not just the horses that are frightened by the proximity of so many dragons. The damn things are not just huge and terrifying, they also don't keep nearly as much distance to the fortress and surrounding pastures as you would like. You wouldn't mind seeing them fly far overhead, but when they're close enough to make out their sharp claws and gleaming teeth, that's when things get uncomfortable. The only time you've seen a dragon from that close before was the Calldyr executions, when Codagh set fire to your father and the other separatist officers, which is not something you like to be reminded of. Not that you could ever forget. The sight of the flames erupting from the dragon's maw and the stink of sulfur and burning flesh are etched forever into your memory, despite Xaden's best efforts to shield you from it.

Knowing that these dragons are not your enemies, that they probably won't kill you or anyone you care about, doesn't make having them around any less unsettling. And unlike you, the horses do not know that. All they know is that there are giant flying predators roaming the area, and that they do not wish to get eaten.

After a dragon sweeping down to devour a sheep right next to the horses' pasture frightens a chestnut colt so badly he ends up breaking a leg in his panic, you decide something needs to be done. You understand why the dragons are here, and that they need a lot of space, that it's not in their nature to care for the feelings of lesser creatures than themselves, but enough is enough.

Assembly meetings are open to whoever wants to attend, that's what Bodhi had told you when he explained the concept to you. Well, you do want to attend. Someone has to advocate for the poor horses, after all, and apparently, that someone will have to be you, so when the Assembly holds their next meeting, you square your shoulders and step into the chamber.

Seven heads turn to stare at you, all frowning.

You glare back, refusing to be made to feel like an intruder. You're allowed to be here.

"What do you want, girl?" asks an old man with an eye patch.

Not having had anything to do with the Assembly until now, you're not sure if they're aware of who you are. You don't care. You don't know their names, either, and intend to solve this matter so quickly you won't have to learn them.

"I have a complaint."

"A complaint," Mr. Eye-patch echoes.

"Yes. Your dragons are scaring the horses. You shouldn't let them so close to them."

One of the women scoffs at your audacity, someone else laughs.

Glancing at your brother, he gives you a disapproving look like you should have come straight to him with the problem. As if you hadn't wanted to do that! You'd meant to ask Xaden to do something about the dragons first, but every time you see him, he's too busy to talk. Bringing the issue before the Assembly seemed like the best way to get something done about it quickly.

"Let me get this straight. You're wasting our time," the older of the women says slowly, like she finds it hard to believe, "because a few horses are scared of the dragons?"

"Yes. Something needs to be done about it, preferably before one of them hurts someone in their panic."

"If it's such a big deal to you, why don't you do something about it?"

"This is me doing something about it. They're your dragons, so it's your job to make them behave."

The woman gives you an indignant look and starts to say something that will probably be along the lines of Listen here you little shit, but the other, dark-skinned old man interrupts her.

"We can't help that the horse pasture is so close to the nearest flock of sheep," he says, not unkindly. "The dragons have to eat."

"They don't have to it so close to the horses, though."

Xaden sighs. "We'll ask them to be more considerate of the horses. But it'll be up to them whether or not they listen. Dragons don't take orders from humans."

"Yes, and when they hear about this complaint they might just decide to eat one of your precious horses out of spite," the hostile woman says, a mean glint in her eyes like she's hoping for that to happen.

Your heart speeds up. Did you really make everything worse, or is she just making empty threats to be mean?

"No, they won't," Xaden interjects, leveling a murderous glare on the woman. "Stop scaring my sister."

She huffs, muttering something about kids these days under her breath, but doesn't interrupt when you dare to suggest, "Maybe you could make some kind of schedule so they only take sheep from near the horses when none are outside? And when the horses are there they get sheep from further up the mountain?"

Judging by the looks the Assembly members give each other, that's too much to ask.

"We'll consider it," the slightly younger man says. "But I'm not sure the dragons will be agreeable. They like to do what they want, when they want, where they want."

"Right. It's just—"

"Maybe," Xaden interrupts, "you could train with the horses to be less scared when they see a dragon, hm? Might come in handy, not just because of the pasture situation but in general."

The look he gives you makes clear what remains unsaid: unlike them, you have nothing better to do anyway.

You nod. You'd thought about that yourself already, but the truth is, the horses' fear of the dragons is a convenient excuse to hide your own fear behind. Looks like you'll have to work on that along with the horses.

"Sure."

"This meeting was not supposed to be about horses," Mr. Eye-patch snaps before you can say anything else. "So if that was all, we have real problems to discuss here."

You leave, taking with you the impression that most riders are just as unpleasant as their dragons.

Waking up on the morning of your birthday, a smile spreads over your face at the sight of your room. Home. For the first time in six years, you are home and will get to spend this day with your family. Okay, maybe not the whole day. Bodhi can't just ditch classes just because it's your birthday, and Xaden always has lots of stuff to do, too, but getting to see them at all is gift enough.

You jump out of bed, so eager to start the day you only throw a jacket over your pajamas and slip into your boots. Getting changed can wait until after you've feed Gaoth. Then you'll have breakfast with the guys, and—

Your smile falls when you open the door and see the plate of cake waiting for you, a piece of paper folded into a card beside it. You open it and read.

Happy Birthday, little mud-monster! I'm sorry I can't be there — something came up, and I have to leave without delay. I'll be back soon. In the meantime, there's a surprise for you in the stables. Love, X.

The paper crumples in your fist, its edges digging into your skin, but you barely feel it, too focused on keeping the tears at bay. You refuse to let them fall. This will not become the sixth time in a row you spend your birthday crying your eyes out. Every year since the apostasy the sadness had won and turned what was supposed to be a happy day into one spent in misery. Year after year you'd hidden in Gaoth's box and cried, missing your father, your brother, your cousin, even the mother you could barely remember. No matter how hard you tried to have a good day in spite of that, or to simply ignore what day it was altogether, you'd succumbed to the tears every time. But not again. You refuse. There will be no tears today, no matter what the day brings.

And really, what does it matter that Xaden can't spend the day with you? You're home; that alone should be reason enough to be happy.

But it does matter. Coming home was supposed to put an end to your loneliness; instead, it has only made it more noticeable. Before, being alone equated being safe. It was your best option, surrounded by enemies as you were at all times. But now you're back with your family. Xaden and Bodhi are right there, you get to see them every day, and yet, you still spend the majority of your time as alone as you had in your foster home. It isn't fair.

Taking a step back, you shut the door, telling yourself you should be glad Xaden remembered your birthday at all, that he took the time to write you a note and leave cake, presumably in the middle of the night, despite being in a hurry to get to wherever it was he'd had to go.

It doesn't make you feel better.

You set the plate on your desk and try a bite of the cake. It's your favorite. You haven't had cake like this in years, made just the way you remember from childhood. If you weren't so disappointed by Xaden's absence, you would devour the slice and run to the kitchen to see if there is more of it. But the enthusiasm you'd woken up with has left you, drained away as quickly as it came. You decide you should get dressed before leaving your room after all — you're too old to run around in your pajamas, really, no matter how early it is.

You dress slow and listlessly, in between bites of cake. Disappointed or not, you savor the taste of it nonetheless. Maybe you really can get another slice later. There has to be more of it, right?

As you head out to the stable to feed Gaoth and muck her box, you keep thinking about the note your brother wrote you. He's always coming and going, trying to be everywhere at once, but as far as you're aware, it's rarely this sudden when he gets called somewhere. You wonder what happened, if maybe Tyrrendor is being attacked by Venin or the riders loyal to Navarre. Xaden's note isn't very informative. Something came up. Could he be any more vague?

Gaoth stops you from overthinking by being especially affectionate. She greets you by nosing at your hair and keeps abandoning her breakfast to rub her head against your shoulder while you go about changing the straw in her box. She always knows when you're sad, no matter how well you hide it from everyone else.

Outside her stall lays Xaden's surprise for you: A new pair of riding pants, with extra warm lining for the winter. Your favorite color, too, matching Gaoth's saddle pad. They're lying on top of a small crate. When you open it, you see that it contains a set of new grooming tools — brushes and combs and a hoof pick, everything you need for Gaoth. You'd had to leave your old set behind, and have been using those of an old horse who'd died recently. Part of you is surprised Xaden paid enough attention to know that, considering he's not exactly present in your day to day life.

You'll try them out later, after both Gaoth and you are fed.

Back inside the house, Bodhi waves you over to sit with him at breakfast. He's already halfway done — you've spent longer in the stable than you'd thought.

"Good morning, birthday girl," your cousin cheerfully greets as you slide into the seat next to him, and you find your mood improving a little, as it usually does around him. He doesn't even need to try; somehow his presence alone has a soothing effect already.

"Hi, Bodhi."

He reaches into his bag, which sits by his feet, and produces a book he hands to you. "Sorry, I didn't have time to wrap it."

"That's fine," you assure him, thumbing through the book. "Thank you."

It's a collection of short stories — all centered around horses, naturally. Bodhi knows exactly what a book needs to make you like it, and he even got a pocket-sized edition that you can comfortably take with you to read in the stable or when taking a break during a ride. Gaoth will love it, too. She might not understand the words when you read to her, but you always get the impression she enjoys it nonetheless.

"Do you know where Xaden is?" you ask, putting the book aside to start on your breakfast. "He wrote a note that he had to leave, but it didn't say why."

"They need him at the border, I think. Don't worry. He'll be back in a few days." Bodhi sounds like he's reassuring himself more than you, and adds, "Garrick is with him, too."

You nod, forcing a smile. Truth be told, it hadn't even occurred to you to worry about Xaden until now. He's so powerful, his dragon so big and scary, that it seems impossible anything could happen to him. A stupid way to think, naive. He is strong, but not undefeatable. No one is; your father's death taught you that. He, too, had always seemed invincible to you, until he lost the fight against Navarre and your world went up in flames.

A moment ago, you were merely disappointed that Xaden isn't there to spend your birthday with you, but now that Bodhi unwittingly put the idea into your head, you're scared something might happen to him, too.

Your cousin seems the sense the shift in your mood, because he throws his arm around your shoulder and brings up the one topic that always cheers you up. "Did Gaoth wish you a happy birthday yet?"

You snort. "So far I haven't had any luck teaching her how to talk, but I went out to feed her before getting my own breakfast, if that's what you mean."

Bodhi smiles, shaking his head. "Really? Even on your birthday?"

"Of course! Gaoth always comes first. Besides, to her it's a day like any other. If I fed her later than usual, she'd just think I forgot her."

You don't add that you know exactly how much feeling forgotten hurts, because it is something you've become very familiar with as of late. Bodhi would only feel guilty if he knew, and that's the last thing you want. It's not his fault. Not really Xaden's, either, though he is the one who most makes you feel so left behind. There's no one you can blame for your loneliness, except maybe the gods. It's the circumstances causing it, you know, and not malice or uncaringness. Your brother and cousin are grownups with grown-up responsibilities that demand their time, while you're just a teenager dedicating your days to your horse. There's not much the both of them have in common with you anymore. A depressing thought. You used to be pretty close when you were younger, despite the big age difference, bonded by your shared love for horses and adventure. Looking at Xaden nowadays, it's strange to think he used to be just as crazy about horses as you are. Did he really outgrow that love, or has he merely shoved it aside out of necessity? When you're as old as he is now, will you be such different a person from who you are now, too?

You shake your head. Pondering nonsense like that isn't how you want to spend your birthday.

Chatting with Bodhi about this and that is a good diversion, but after a while he checks his pocket watch and gives you an apologetic smile. "I really have to go now. See you later, yeah?"

"Sure." You already knew he can't just skip classes, so why are you so disappointed? "I was going to take Gaoth for a ride anyway. I'll try to be back for dinner, but don't count on it."

"Alright," Bodhi laughs, and ruffles your hair. "Enjoy your day."

Left alone once again, you take the rest of your breakfast out to the stable to finish it in Gaoth's company. When you're done, you stuff your new book and some food for later into a saddlebag and get to work with your new brushes, grooming Gaoth until her black fur is so clean it gleams in the bright morning light. Then you saddle up, and leave all your worries behind as you ride out into the snow dusted landscape.

It's late at night when Bodhi finds you sitting in front of the wall with family portraits.

You rode far up into the mountains with Gaoth, and only returned a few moments ago, long after the moon had risen. After a long day of riding and fresh mountain air, you should have fallen into bed and slept like a baby, but restlessness and a deep longing for the way things used to be keep you awake. You know you should at least try to get some sleep. You'll have to be up as early as always tomorrow, or Gaoth will be very unhappy. You just can't bring yourself to get up.

You're not even sure why it was that your feet had carried you here, of all places. Staring at your father's face on a portrait isn't going to bring him back. Still, you don't have it in you to look away, even when you hear footsteps and notice Bodhi in your peripherals.

He wordlessly sits down beside you, leaning his head back against the wall to look up at the same painting you're fixating.

It shows a much younger version of him sitting beside a much younger Xaden, who holds a tiny toddler you on his lap. Your dad and Bodhi's mom stand behind the plush armchair the three of you are squeezed into, and everyone is smiling. There are other pictures; just your dad, just your aunt, two more of the whole family — one from before you were born, another from when you were seven or eight, your mother notably absent in all of them. But you like this one the best.

After a few minutes of looking at the painting in companionable silence, you finally make yourself look away, and lean your head against Bodhi's shoulder.

Wrapping his arm around you, he scrunches his nose. "You smell like horse."

"I was out riding. Just got back like half an hour ago," you answer in the same quiet tone Bodhi used. You glance up at him from the corner of your eye without moving your head. "You smell like dragon."

The corner of his mouth twitches up. "I was out riding, too."

"Aren't your flight lessons in the afternoon? You could have showered."

Bodhi shrugs, chuckling softly. "I guess I could have. I saved you some cake from dinner, by the way."

"Yeah?"

You totally forgot about the cake. It makes sense they offered it at dinner, since you hadn't shown up for more, but you're glad Bodhi saved you another piece. He just is the best.

"Yeah. Want to go have a midnight snack?"

"Fuck yeah."

Today is the day. After weeks of practicing with Gaoth to be less scared of the dragons, you want to try riding right past them, closer than ever before. Not so close as to anger them, of course. You're no fool. You don't like getting too close to them, and they don't like it either, which is just fine by you. You'll get only close enough to comfortably ignore each other.

At least that's the theory. While Gaoth has gotten pretty good at ignoring them while you gradually reduced the distance you kept to the dragons, a risk will always remain. It isn't easy for a horse to fight the instinct telling it to flee from predators.

But you believe in her.

Setting out along the path that leads from the fortress up into the mountains, you make sure not to look at the two dragons standing somewhere to the left with their riders, doing gods know what. Even without looking it is a conscious effort to keep your posture relaxed. But you have to. If Gaoth feels you tensing up, she'll mirror you and you'll make each other more and more nervous until one of you spirals into full-blown panic. You can't have that.

From your peripherals, you note one of the dragons stretching its wings, getting ready to fly. Gaoth's ears twitch at the sound of its wingbeats when it takes off, but she doesn't balk. Pride flares in your chest. Weeks ago, she would have reared and fled. Now she just keeps walking, despite the other dragon looming a little to the side of the path further up ahead.

You really wish Xaden were there to see your success, but he's stuck in some meeting or other, and had impatiently waved you away when you'd tried to ask if he had time to show him the progress you made in getting over Gaoth's fear of dragons.

You do tell him about it later, though. He nods along and tells you "Good job", but it sounds halfhearted.

"Challenges are about to start. Why don't you go watch?" he suggests as soon as you finish talking. "I'm sure you could learn a thing or two."

He's been making comments like this for weeks now, ever since you accidentally reminded him that you were among those of the marked kids who hadn't received any combat training by the families who fostered them. It doesn't matter to him that you don't want to be a fighter, that you're perfectly happy just working in the stables. No, just because he likes to fight, he thinks you would too, if you only gave it a try.

You pull a face and stare down at your boots. They could really use some cleaning. "I dunno what's supposed to be so interesting about people beating the shit out of each other."

Xaden heaves a sigh. "There's more to it than that. You could learn a lot about the techniques behind it by watching."

"I don't care about fighting techniques."

That was the wrong thing to say. His face darkens. "You should."

"What's the point?" you argue, just like you do every time you have this conversation. Usually, he doesn't have the time to listen to you list the reasons why you don't feel the need to learn about combat, but this time, he lets you go on. "It's not like I'll have to attend Basgiath, now that you guys are doing your own thing. And even if that wasn't the case, I have years—"

"You need to able to defend yourself, even if you don't end up becoming a rider. We're at war, and nowhere is truly safe. Knowing how to dodge a blade could make the difference between being killed or getting away in case Aretia gets attacked." He folds his arms over his chest, a hard look on his face that tells you he's made up his mind even before he continues. "You are going to train, Y/N. I tried to be nice and convince you to learn willingly, but since you won't, you can consider this a fucking order. Be in the gym at six tomorrow morning."

Out of all the protests that come to mind, the one that comes out of your mouth is, "But that's the time I usually feed Gaoth!"

"She'll survive it if you feed her a little earlier."

With that, he walks away. It would be no use to run after him to argue further. Once Xaden has made a decision about something, it's practically impossible to change his mind, so you might as well accept that starting tomorrow, you'll have a new hobby.

The next morning, you make sure to be in the gym five minutes early to avoid giving Xaden a reason to scold you before the training even starts, but he is nowhere to be seen. Instead, it's Garrick who walks in. Watching him approach, it dawns on you that Xaden hadn't specified who would be instructing you. Foolishly, you had assumed he would do it himself. It stings a little that he won't, even though you know how many other, more important things he has to do.

Garrick beckons you to an unoccupied mat in the corner. The gym is still relatively empty at this time, which is fortunate — you're sure you'll be making a fool of yourself in no time. You're not normally clumsy, have good balance and strong muscles from riding and tending to the horses, but you're not sure how much good that'll do you. This is all completely new. Even the mat beneath your feet feels foreign. You have no clue how to hit someone, or stop them from hitting you, and knowing Garrick, he won't take it easy on you. He'll expect you to learn fast, to double your efforts for every mistake you make, which there will certainly be a lot of.

Sure enough, he throws you right in the deep end. "Alright, punch me. Come on."

You eye him with a healthy dose of trepidation. "You're not going to punch back when I do, right?"

"Nope. For now I'm just taking the role of the punching bag we're lacking."

That would have been a lot more reassuring if it wasn't for the two little words for now. He can't really expect you to handle yourself in a fight against him in the very first lesson, can he?

"Come on," he urges again. "Just try it."

"Shouldn't you show me how to do it first?"

You can tell you're already getting on his nerves by being so hesitant. It's beyond you why Xaden picked Garrick for this. You love the guy like another brother, you really do, but in your humble opinion he's not a good choice for teaching anyone anything. Maybe you're a little biased. You remember all too well being five or six years old and struggling to learn how to tie your shoes on your own. Xaden and Garrick had made it their mission to teach you, but all their well-meant tips had only confused you more. When you'd misunderstood their instructions for the umpteenth time, one of them — you're almost certain it was Garrick — had started yelling, you had started crying, which led to more yelling from both of them, this time at each other, which made you cry even more. You had run off to hide in your father's office for the rest of the day, and in the end, Bodhi's mom had been the one to teach you to tie your shoes.

So while you might not know anything about combat, you do know that it takes patience to teach someone something, no matter what it is. And though you have no doubt that Garrick is a brilliant fighter, patience is something he has always lacked.

"You telling me you don't know how to make a fist?" he challenges now.

"Of course I know how to make a fist, but—"

"Great, then do it and hit me. Today, if you don't mind."

Okay, fine. You're starting to want to hit him, even if you know damn well it will probably hurt you more than him. You ball your hand into a fist, draw back your arm, and punch him right into the middle of his broad chest.

Garrick doesn't even blink. You punched him as hard as you could, and he fucking stands there like he didn't feel anything.

You shake your hand, glaring up at him. This is bullshit.

"You held your hand at the wrong angle," Garrick explains. "Try again, but this time make sure your middle knuckles take the brunt of the impact. And don't bend your wrist."

He holds his fist against the palm of his other hand to demonstrate it, then gives you an expectant look.

You obey, and it continues like that for a while. Garrick tells you to do something, you do it wrong, he shows you the proper way to do it and makes you do it again and again until you get it right.

Only you keep getting everything wrong, and Garrick's meager patience is quickly exhausted.

"Whoa, no!" He stops you from completing the move he just demonstrated for the third time. "Not like that you fucking idiot! You'll hurt yourself that way. Do it like I showed you."

"I'm trying!" you yell back, fighting tears of frustration. Idiot is far from the worst insult anyone ever called you, and you know Garrick doesn't even mean it, that he's just annoyed because you're not catching on as fast as he would like, but that doesn't make the words hurt any less.

"Really?" he scoffs. "This is really the best you can do?"

"Yes!"

"Gods, you really know nothing about hand-to-hand combat, do you?" he groans.

"Yeah, no shit," you snap. "That's exactly what I've been telling you for the past hour!"

You're not sure if it really has been an hour already, but that's how long this session was supposed to go on for, and you're fucking done.

"No need to be a brat about it," Garrick growls back, just as frustrated by how badly the lesson went as you are. "I didn't think that just because you've never fought before you'd be this fucking clueless. Did you never at least watch a fight?"

"No."

"Why the hell not?!" Garrick asks, completely exasperated. It seems the idea that anyone could not be interested in fights is too absurd for him to believe.

"Because I don't like it."

"I'm getting the feeling you don't like anything besides Gaoth." When you don't contradict him, he shakes his head, saying "There's more to life than horses, you know."

"To you, maybe. Are we done now?"

To your relief, Garrick nods.

Without another word, you turn on your heel and storm from the gym and then the house. You'll probably get sick, going out into the cold without a jacket and soaked in sweat like this, but you don't care. Quickly bridling Gaoth, you swing yourself onto her bare back and urge her outside, too desperate to get away to bother with a saddle.

You're never doing that again, you think as you gallop away from Riorson House, the wind driving the tears you've been fighting from your eyes. Not in a thousand years. You don't care what Xaden says, if knowing self-defense is important. You're not a fighter, and you never will be. He can't change that. Garrick definitely can't. Deep down you know you're overreacting, but you don't care. You hadn't wanted to learn how to fight in the first place, and your failure to follow Garrick's instructions only solidified that. Fuck hand-to-hand combat. If you ever need to defend yourself, you can always let Gaoth kick the foe in the head.

When you return — shivering and numb from the cold, but calmer inside — Bodhi is waiting for you in the stable with your jacket. Shouldn't he be in class?

"I take it your lesson with Garrick didn't go well?" he asks, holding it up for you to slip into.

"He can shove his stupid fighting lessons up his ass."

"Who?" Bodhi asks, buttoning the jacket for you, since your own fingers are practically frozen stiff. "Garrick? Or Xaden?"

"Both of them."

Bodhi sighs. "I could have told him Garrick isn't a good choice as your instructor. I think he wanted to teach you himself at first, and when he realized he doesn't have the time he just picked the first person who came to mind. It's not your fault. Garrick just doesn't have the patience for this kind of thing."

"I don't care. I don't want to learn how to fight."

"Which certainly didn't help matters."

"I tried!"

"Of course. I'm not doubting that. I'm just saying you probably weren't in a good mood to begin with, so it's no wonder you and Garrick clashed. You know that just because you're not good at it right from the start doesn't mean you can't learn, right? You just have to keep trying."

You grab a carrot from the grain room, taking two angry bites before giving the rest of it to Gaoth. "I don't want to."

"It's for your own good—"

"Not you too!"

"I know you don't want to hear it, but Xaden is right. Just imagine if Aretia gets invaded!"

"That won't happen. And if it did, I'd just get on Gaoth and hide somewhere until one of you comes to tell me it's safe."

"And if the enemy blocks the way to the stable before you can get there? What then, huh?"

"Then... Then I would... Uhh..."

"Then it'd be very helpful if you knew how to fight, don't you think?"

"I guess..."

"So how about you give it another try with that in mind, hm?"

Bodhi says it so gently, the way you would talk to a skittish horse. You don't like that thought, but it's true you're still agitated, even now that the worst of your frustration is gone. You understand his point, but that doesn't change the way you feel.

"No."

"Y/N—"

"No! I don't want to fight!"

"I don't want you to have to fight, either. And you'll hopefully never have to do so for real. But, as we just established, you need to know how to do it just in case. Sparring can actually be pretty fun once you get the hang of it, you know." He rubs his hand over his face, sighing when you don't reply. "What if I train with you? Will you give another try then?"

You're about to say no, that you won't try again no matter with whom, but then it occurs to you that letting Bodhi give you fighting lessons would mean you'd get to spend more time with him. And he would definitely be more patient with you than Garrick was, kinder about all the mistakes you're bound to continue making.

Realizing something else, it's your turn to sigh. "I don't really get a say anyway, do I? I'll have to try again, whether I want to or not."

Xaden is so set on making you learn how to fight, there's no way he'll let you off the hook just because the first lesson didn't go well. But if Bodhi could convince him to let him teach you, maybe it would be bearable.

Bodhi nods, smiling apologetically. "It's for your own good."

"Fine. You can try if you can teach me how to fight. But only you. And only if there's cake after lessons."

"Deal."

You just got back from practicing with the throwing knives Xaden had gotten you upon Violet's suggestion. As sceptical as you had been of the idea at first, you find yourself enjoying it, much more so than the hand-to-hand fighting moves you begrudgingly practice with Bodhi thrice a week now. You can even do it on horseback! Well — theoretically. Your aim is not yet good enough to hit the target even with both feet on the ground, nevermind while riding. Nonetheless, it's fun to try.

You've almost reached your room when Xaden's door opens, and he and Violet come out, dressed for flying and strapped with weapons.

"Are you going to one of the outposts again?" you ask. If he's taking Violet with him, he must be expecting to stay away longer than usual this time.

But he shakes his head. "We're flying for Basgiath."

Oh. Right. You've heard about Melgren's prediction of the Navarrian outposts being overrun by Venin, and Violet's theory that the real battle has to happen at Basgiath. It hadn't sounded like the Assembly wanted to do anything about it, though.

"I thought the vote went against helping them?"

"Yeah, but we're going to do it anyway. Some of us, at least. Stay out of the Assembly's hair while I'm gone, yeah?"

"Sure." You push down the fear of knowing he's headed for battle; there's no way he'll listen if you ask him not to go. "Be careful."

"Always am."

That doesn't seem likely, but you've never seen him fight except for practice, so you can't argue.

With a last look at his and Violet's retreating forms, you slip into your room and send a prayer to Dunne that they'll make it back in one piece.

[higuchisora]

Seeing as they clearly didn't know what the hell to do with Jinx/the political repercussions of her bombing the council in season 2, I'd like to explore the possibilities of how Zaun would've reacted to this that would've made way more sense than what we saw.

1. Jinx becomes an extremely controversial figure.

Few are neutral to her. This would be largely because, outside of knowing she blew up the council, no one actually knows WHY. What were her motives? Were they politically charged? Was she trying to start a war? What exactly was her goal? It was never really stated that she was infamous prior to this, but I recall in season 1 act 2 that when Vi went looking for her, people knew OF Jinx, and that she worked for Silco, but weren't really aware of any further details. So those that are aware of her connection to Silco- who objectively did make many of their lives worse with Shimmer- wouldn't be happy. They'd be scared of what will come next.

Those who don't know/don't care might fill in the blanks with their own guesses, maybe that she's some kind of activist- which would split them further into the subgroups of "Oh fuck the enforcers are gonna kill us and it's her fault" and "Finally, a war!" The second of which I'd argue would actually be a very small group. I could imagine the Jinxers being seen by the rest of Zaun as crazy radicals who don't know what they're getting themselves into/are gonna drag the rest of Zaun into danger. I think it would cause a LOT of infighting. Like a civil war inside another civil war.

How Jinx would handle this would be.... interesting. Especially if the Jinxers start making moves on their own. She never really shows much interest in activism- she works for Silco because he's her new dad, and while she doesn't seem to DISAGREE with his opinions, it doesn't seem she's all that invested in actually working to make it happen beyond just wanting to help her dad. His death seemed to take her interest with it.

Now, they could either lean into this, and make people question her motives/actions because of her clear disinterest, maybe increasing some of the controversy around her (no follow through on her action, letting Zaunites suffer the consequences, etc.), or they could make her actually take a genuine personal interest in it. But that, I think, would take a bigger arc that might be more work for arguably less payoff when considering you'd probably have to change a great deal of her character to do it, especially when you could probably achieve similar plot points/outcomes even without her intentionally becoming a political figurehead.

2. Zaun becomes fractured politically/other "symbols" of Zaun

This can be in tandem with idea 1, actually, but can still be it's own idea. Basically, after the fall of the council, and Silco's death, Zaunites are terrified. They've been run so far by Vander, Silco, and then some vague council-like oligarchy of Chem-Barons, who could be interpreted as functioning like very large gangs. The Chem-Barons have always been around, but with Silco's sudden death (and no one who was primed/expecting to replace him), this leaves a massive power vacuum that the Chem-Barons and smaller gangs are scrambling to come out on top of.

The fear of the unknown and the extreme instability would lead to people desperately throwing their lot in with whoever they think would be a better/less dangerous leader, and by extension, political symbol. Season 2 shows a bunch of new people joining the Firelights. In that case, I can imagine that before long, several new potential leaders surface, even if they didn't expect it. Namely, Ekko, Jinx, and Sevika.

Ekko because as I said, people were apparently coming to his base in droves. They don't tell us Jack shit about the Firelights besides the fact that A) Ekko leads them B) they don't fuck with Silco OR Piltover C) Piltover thinks they're terrorists and D) they look rad as fuck. That being said, considering Ekko's Everything, I think we can all gather a general picture of what the Firelights are about. Plus his cool tree would be a great symbol (@srslylini for the idea) of growth, healing, etc.

Sevika, because those that knew her as Silco's second might be hoping for some kind of stability with her. Even if they didn't like Silco, it's better the enemy you know and all that jazz. They'd feel safer with someone who at least seems to know what they're doing, even if Sevika herself has no interest in becoming a leader. I think some would just naturally gravitate towards who they see as "second in line". This could also be in connection to Jinx, as she could possibly been seen as someone who could "rein" Jinx in (again, most people don't actually KNOW Jinx, they just know OF her and that she worked for Silco and was volatile. Think how Finn referred to her as Silco's "attack dog").

Speaking of Jinx, she'd probably be treated similarly to idea 1. Extremely polarizing. Her followers would be seen as crazy, like she is. They'd be seen as warmongers and/or people who have no idea what they're getting themselves into. They'd basically be seen as the stereotypical "young rebels". The average Zaunite would see the average Jinxer as a young, angry, maybe idealistic radical who doesn't understand the cost of war. I'd argue that, again, they'd probably be the smallest and most controversial group just because most people don't necessarily WANT a war, even if they're willing to fight for it. And the suddenness of the bombing would've scared even some of the rebels who DO want war, because they weren't prepared. It wasn't a PLANNED attack, so both Zaun AND Piltover are basically caught with their pants down, which would also bring some ire from the other Zaunites.

There's another option for a faction I'd like to explore, also thanks to srslylini (thank you icon), but it takes a bit of setting up.

In a hypothetical situation in which Vi did NOT become an enforcer, I think it would happen like this: Vi hangs around in Piltover at first out of guilt/feeling like she has nowhere else to go. She's still not on board with being an enforcer, but she attends the memorial out of a sense of obligation. Her and Caitlyn have a falling out over Caitlyn calling Zaunites "animals", and here is where she storms off and goes back to Zaun, with the final words to Caitlyn that "You Pilties are all the fucking same" (or something to that effect). She's still feeling lost, and so maybe this is where she stumbles around, having maybe a similar pitfighting arc (just not as distraught, more like she's broke and angry and has to pay rent somehow so she might as well get paid to punch someone's face in). Because she's not in a massive spiral, there's unfortunately no emo arc (sad), but the bright side of this is that she's recognizable. I don't think she's FAMOUS, per say, but Babette and Ekko recognized her right off the bat in season 1 (yes you can say Ekko was really close to her, but Babette? C'mon), and considering she was older than Powder when she went off to prison, I don't think it's a stretch to assume her face was a little better-known than her sister's (especially considering she was already going on jobs, and in act 1 she gets into a fight with Deckard who I'm pretty sure knew her name, but not Powder's).

This is to say, I think a lot of the "old heads" knew who she was, especially those who liked Vander. It helps that she tattooed her name on her face LMAO. So I'd imagine she'd show up in the ring, no hair dye no makeup, and eventually after consistently knocking her opponents around and winning every time, she'd become a bit locally famous again- to the point that those same "old heads" who remember her make the connection and come looking. Maybe rumors start swirling, especially once they learn she was gone because she'd been in prison- not unheard of, and probably the first conclusion they drew when they realized she wasn't dead.

So eventually Vander's old followers/younger people who idolized him from their childhood start seeking her out. Sensationalizing her. Asking her what she's planning on doing. Is she taking back the Lanes? Will she get those Chem-Barons under control? What about Jinx? Could she hunt her down, rein her in? Hell, maybe even put her to use? Will you give us our relative safety, our security back?

And Vi, who just wanted to knock some heads around and maybe take a nap in her apartment and cry, is suddenly faced with being "Vander 2.0" and Jinx is the new "Silco 2.0" and all the weight of expectations and legacy and history and literal war and politics are being shoved in her face. She, like Jinx, is now faced with becoming a figurehead when she never wanted to be, which could lead into option 3:

3. A joint approach to Zaun

This would primarily be driven by Sevika even if she wasn't one of the possible leaders, because SOMEONE has to be the responsible adult here and it's certainly not any of these traumatized losers (affectionate). She'd be the glue to keep it all together, the reluctant team mom who WILL make this work because she WILL have Zaun even if she has to die to get it.

This could work with either Jinx and Vi, or Jinx, Vi, and Ekko (I genuinely can't imagine season 2 act 1 Ekko willingly teaming up with season 2 act 1 Jinx AND Sevika without some kind of buffer). Basically, once the other "leader candidates"/political symbols have been established, Sevika would round them up with the intention to use their influence to unite Zaun against Piltover. This would take a LOT of arguing, but ultimately I think she'd be able to get them to shut up and hear her out for a moment. Regardless of how different their beliefs are about what the "ideal Zaun" looks like, they can all agree that Piltover isn't in any of those pictures. She could convince them to set aside their own squabbling for the time being, for the greater good: aka, the independence of Zaun.

At the very least, I think she'd be able to get them to agree that Piltover coming down and hurting Zaunites in revenge shouldn't be ignored, and that they're currently a bigger threat than their fellow Zaunite. So eventually they'd reach some kind of truce: behave like a united front against Piltover, push them out of Zaun, stabilize Zaun, and then worry about tearing each other apart later. And because all of these characters- ALL of them- have shown (prior to season 2) anti-Piltover sentiments, they'd at least be able to agree that enforcers shouldn't be allowed to beat down on their people (especially in this version where Vi has better, more consistent writing lmao).

Of course, Rome wasn't built in a day, so maybe they don't reach a total agreement immediately- maybe they just agree to a ceasefire at first, but still refuse to work together. But once Caitlyn becomes a dictator? Once enforcers start gassing the streets, rounding people up, implementing martial law?

That's when the gloves would come off.

I'd imagine this could also be part of how Vi and Jinx slowly start to repair their relationship. They've got bigger fish to fry, but also, this time their enemy is connected to their own personal conflict with each other. Jinx might ask, "what happened to your enforcer girl? What happened to being a Piltie lapdog?" And Vi would essentially, in perhaps more emotionally constipated words, explain that it wasn't really about Caitlyn, it was about being needed. It was about trying to find Jinx, about trying to stop Silco, about trying to "fix" things, only realize that she couldn't. It was about trying to make things better, but that she realized the person she was trying to do that with didn't actually care. That all she wanted was to make sense of the destruction of her old life, and find meaning in a new one. And I think Jinx, too, in her own emotional constipation, would resonate with that, would understand that. It wouldn't fix things between them, but I think it'd be a start.

It could also help their relationship with Ekko. Since Vi isn't an enforcer this time, and season 1 (the One True Season) showed their sibling relationship, I think her and Ekko's bonding would be more like "reconnecting with an old friend", whereas Jinx and Ekko would have a lot of work to do, too. There'd probably be a bit of a cold war between them for a while, once Ekko agrees to help, because he knows actually talking to her would piss him off. But eventually, through Sevika's manhandling of these three, and being forced to make nice with reluctant-figurehead-Jinx, they'd connect again.

Perhaps part of a plan is for them to develop new technology for Zaun. Whether that's weapons against Piltover (unlikely on Ekko's part I think), or just safety gear/ safer city infrastructure ideas for the betterment of their people, I think eventually they'd figure themselves out, too. He'd see the Powder in her, the part he saw on that bridge, and maybe it would give him the ability to try and understand Jinx. And Jinx would realize that maybe these people in her life DO love her, DO care about her, more than just for what she used to be but for who she is now. And somewhere along the way, they'd be friends again (or they can date IDK or care man I just want them to stop trying to kill each other).

Whatever happens next is so wide in possibility that I can't possibly cover it here so this is where it ends, lol.

[domiiomii]

Sevika is my favorite character but it is hard for me to analyze her because I feel her ending is so unfitting for the rest of her writing and feels so forced it makes me second guess every other thing that was established about her, it is truly sad to me how the conclusion for such an interesting character ends up being imo a lazy way to tie lose ends for the rest of the abandoned Zaun vs. Piltover class war plot line.

I was thinking about this because I found this concept art of how Sevika would use Silco's office as her room after his death and it is so harrowing how for Sevika her entire life was Zaun's liberation.

The thing about her is, unlike Silco who at least had Jinx, she 100% sacrificed her whole personal life for revolution and thus perhaps her compromise to it was even higher than Silco's and then she becomes part of the same system that she spend her whole life fighting against? How do we make any sense of that?

I see Sevika leaving Vander, because of his refusal of fighting against Piltover, as such an important point for her character and I would argue probably the most important we see in establishing who she is, her ideologies and how much she is willing to sacrifice for that dream. Then Act 3 happens and it is such a weird watch for me because clearly the writing was trying to re-establish her as a sort of Vander figure with the whole "we don't hand over our own people" thing (even though I would argue her motivations where ideological while Vander's were personal), her giving a speech on Vander's statue, under his shadow. It feels like an attempt to make her into a "good-zaunite" by making her into a completely de-fanged version of herself and what that ends up meaning is her becoming non-threatening to the status quo and instead becoming part of the system, legitimizing it and therefore protecting it.

In this regard I think that Sevika choosing to follow Silco might be as important as her abandoning Vander. I find their relationship very interesting because they have similar ideologies and Silco is so dependant on Sevika and they both know it, for over 7 years she could have abandoned, betrayed or disposed of him but she didn't because she understood that violence was the only way to liberation and in that path she did all sorts of reprehensible things just like Silco for that ultimate goal again with the understanding that violence was necessary, she chose Silco because she understood that liberation would come through struggle not by manking deals with your oppressors like Vander did... And then just like Vander she ends up doing exactly the same thing, rendering all those years of struggle, all those actions, violence and atrocities meaningless.

And so for me most of what we knew of her character and what was established about her ideology becomes nonsensical when we see how she ended, either you take it as she completely betrayed herself and what she fought for her whole life or she was never the person the writing showed us her to be and just acted without thinking all those years (?). Furthermore we are shown just few episodes before the end how the people of the undercity don't even listen to her, so again it is just confusing how she ends up as a council woman for a city that doesn't even want her.

Ultimately if this was some sort of commentary about how revolutionaries can become sucked into politics and be de-fanged in favor of becoming part of the system rather than fighting it I could accept it even if I didnt like it but with how reactionary and anti-revolutionary s2 is, it just feels more like a "see? violence is never the answer! if you want change just become a diversity hire and change the institutions that oppress you from within!" /sarcasm

[q8qwertyuiop8p]

The fact that they killed off silco at the end of season 1 and STILL managed to completely butcher his character in s2 irks me so much. And it got worse with every scene like

The burial and the sucker montage was perfectly fine, though they forgot silco can't close both eyes and had a bullet wound in his chest

The way he is still encouraging Jinx to be Jinx in her ep4 hallucination is a little odd since he died accepting her before she truly chose Jinx but overall it was good

Warwicks hallucination was neat but Silco's hair is completely inconsistent with what we see in s1 (and just looks trash imo)

The letter was a disaster because it is such a cheap reason for the betrayal

The Felicia thing made their reasoning so much worse, they don't need to be godfathers to adopt those kids and the scene was just so pointless

The au scene- I don't even know what to say. Vander literally tried to murder Silco but it's OK because aw forgiveness and they are back together?! If Vander tried to kill Silco because he genuinely believed he was protecting his people from further bloodshed maybe I could get behind it but no, he tried to kill Silco because his friend died (which wasn't even Silco's fault) and he just 'lost his head'? And does Silco just not develop trust issues after that in the au? How is his scar somehow less bad if he doesn't have shimmer to heal it? It literally makes zero sense.

And the thing with Silco telling Jinx to 'break the cycle' was just an absolute insult to his character. He literally died choosing war/violence rather than giving up Jinx. His whole goal was to keep fighting for what he believed in. And is he seriously encouraging Jinx to kill herself? The man who chose to keep fighting rather than give in to the 'peace in water'? The man who would do anything to keep Jinx alive, even when death was the kinder option? The man who gave up his dream, everything he'd ever been fighting for, just to keep her safe?

They messed up so bad that the only flawless scene of him was a one second shot of him sitting in a chair 💀

The only good thing about what happened in this season is I'm genuinely not even upset that he is a minor character in season 2 anymore. I can't believe I'm saying this but I genuinely can't be mad about it. Because if they can ruin his character this much with his little screentime I can't even imagine the harm they would have done if he were still a main character.

Sometimes death is a mercy after all.

[phoward89]

Professor!Coriolanus x Innocent!Reader

Masterlist

WARNING ⚠️ Coriolanus Snow is a warning in and of itself. Dark!Coryo, Obsessed!Coryo, Innocent!Reader, Sweet!Reader, Naive!Reader, manipulation, obsession, professor/student relationship, power imbalance, age difference, cussing, drugging, dacryphilia, smut, dub con, non con?

Based on a request a while back where your professor's obsessed with you and manipulates you to be with him.

Part 1

Coriolanus Snow flourished in his studies at the University: a double major in Political Science and Military Strategy. He also impressed Dr. Gaul while interning with her as a gamemaker. But, although his ideas were implemented and well liked by the mad scientist, Dr. Gaul didn't feel like Mr. Snow had the raw, insane, sadistic gumption that it took to be an official Gamemaker.

The mad scientist also didn't like Coriolanus’ presidential aspirations. Truthfully, she feared the young Snow because, in her opinion, he was too ambitious. Ambition is a very dangerous thing when given the absolute freedom to bloom into real, tangible, outcomes and goals. Dr. Gaul knew if Coriolanus became an Assistant Gamemaker that he'd stop at nothing to attain her job; use that position to further his goal of politics.

Coriolanus Snow dreamed of becoming the youngest President Panem has ever had. And Dr. Gaul knows that in order to do that, well, her little pupil has to win people over; kill a lot of them too in order to clear the way for his stepping stones to the Presidential Palace.

Coriolanus Snow as the president is the last thing Dr. Gaul wants on God's green earth. Her former student is very cunning, but uncontrollable. He likes to be in control; doesn't want to be told what to do. Has a godlike complex too. And the mad scientist can't have that because, in reality, the President of Panem is just a figurehead- a puppet that Dr. Gaul pulls all the strings of.

And after mentoring Mr. Snow for his 4 years of University, well, Dr. Gaul has come to the conclusion that he's a failed experiment. To a certain degree he passed some of her tests, but not the one where ambition and falling in line were concerned. Plus, the woman has a suspicion that Coriolanus poisoned Highbottom a few years back; no way in hell is she letting an arsenic happy little sociopath work close to her.

She's not crazy enough to trust Coriolanus Snow not to poison her. Give Dr. Gaul some credit, she didn't become the Head Gamemaker and the Head of the War Department for nothing. She's very bright, just a bit insane and morally evil.

But, since Dr. Gaul, his personal mentor during his entire University career, claimed that he just wasn't the best of the best or the brightest star out of the University students under her tutelage, Coriolanus wasn't offered any positions that could be of power or use to him in his dreams of politics. He was blackballed from the Citadel and from anything Gamemaker related, per Dr. Gaul's request.

But he was offered a position as a professor in the Political Science department of the Capitol's prestigious University. But the class he was assigned to teach just happened to be an elective class.

Political Policies In Utopia/Dystopia Pre-Panem Literature/Media

It was basically a class that broke down what was right and wrong with the politics of various pre-Panem books and movies that were usually apocalyptic or post-apocalyptic (sometimes even sci-fi in nature). Coriolanus felt that the class was idiotic, but he was stuck teaching it. Apparently the class was designed as something fun for the Political Science students, as something light amongst their heavy coursework. But still something that'd keep their minds on the strengths and weaknesses of politics; the importance of them.

The first couple of years teaching the course, Coriolanus would cringe at some of the books and movies he was forced to make the class read, watch, and disect. But as the years went on, well, he got immune to some of the source material he was teaching. Sad to say, but after a while the shocking things in his lessons didn't phase him.

So, as his old classmates and acquaintances made their mark in the world in either politics, banking, or business, Coriolanus was a University Professor. He was trapped in a mundane life, year and year.

And one day he woke up, a man nearing 28 and going nowhere. He was frustrated with his life: bitter over his dead dreams. But, when you walked into his class on the first day of the Fall semester looking like a fresh faced innocent school girl that had recently graduated from the Academy during early July, well, he knew that his luck had changed.

Yes, he might be stuck being a professor of a useless elective class forever, but at least now he had a sweet angel- you- to lust after and corrupt. And the darkness looming inside of Coriolanus’ soul demands that he corrupts you; takes you as his life partner to smother and never let you.

He swore to never fall in love again and he intended to keep that vow, but that didn't mean that he had to keep fucking useless, faceless, nameless whores. No. It was time for him to get a good girl and unfortunately for you, well, your youth and innocent aura attracted Professor Snow to you like a moth to a flame.

Except he's not the one that's getting burnt in this scenario, but you are.

You're one of the only girls enrolled in Professor Snow's class, but that's because it's a Political Science course. Actually, it's an elective class for Political Science majors of all year levels. But still…it's a political class.

Your parents weren't too thrilled when you enrolled at the University as a Political Science major. Your father, Colonel Javanis Halvir, felt that you should've joined the Nursing Core or should've settled on becoming a socialite and looking for a husband like other pretty Capitolite girls did.

But much to your father's disappointment you did neither and decided to study politics instead. You're older brother, Rein, who was an Officer in the Peacekeepers thought it was hilarious that you defied your father. He backed up your decision to major in Political Science. Your mother could care less; she even told your father to ignore your University major and course load; that you’d either get tired and quit because it was too hard or you’d find a future politician to marry.

So far neither of your mother's assumptions have come to pass. You're still enrolled in all of your classes and you're still single.

Your last class of the day was Professor Snow's and you found the class to be very interesting. Very intriguing in fact. Oh, how you found the class to be unlike any you've ever taken before.

Political Policies In Utopia/Dystopia Pre-Panem Literature/Media.

Oh, the class made you think about how things could be worse in different realities or universes. Yes, you're only on the first assigned book for the semester’s reading, but so far The Handmaid's Tale seems like hell on steroids. Fuck, that book makes you shudder and you're only halfway thru it. You honestly can't wait til it's over and Professor Snow lets you move onto the next one.

When you walk into the classroom, Professor Snow's sitting behind his mahogany desk. He's got reading glasses on and he's nose deep in a book. It's not one of the class assigned reads, so you quickly figured out that it's a personal book.

As you take your usual seat, you can't help but think that your professor (who’s a good decade older than you) looks handsome in reading glasses. That the dark frames make his icy blue eyes pop and contrasts against his slicked back platinum hair. Shaking your head to clear any and all wandering thoughts of Professor Snow, you open your bag and take out your supplies for the class.

Coriolanus discreetly looks over the top of his book to check you out. Oh fuck, how he thinks you look so goddamn perfect and sexy today in your sweater, blouse, skirt, stockings, kitten heels, and your pearls.

Fuck, a simple strand of pearls around the neck and simple pearl earrings in the ears always makes his cock twitch. Oh, how he wants to do some pearl play with the strand and your pussy.

Oh, yes, with how young you are and how innocently pretty you look, he's sure that your cunt's tighter then a Nun's chuff. Oh, how he'd love to take your strand of pearls and slide them up and down your wet slit; tease your clit with them until it's swollen and you're begging to cum. He wonders if you’d suck your juices clean from the pearls too.

But then Coriolanus remembers where the hell he's at, his classroom in the damn University, and suddenly he's thinking of his ex, Livia Cardew, to make his dick soft. Ugh, that shrew can kill a wet dream.

And when he sees all of his students are sitting in their respective seats, he eyes the clock on the wall to check the time. When he sees that it's about time to start class, he closes his book and places it on his desk before standing up and standing in front of the large blackboard. He writes on it in his impeccable handwriting.

The Handmaiden's Tale Chapters 26-28 Review

You listen as Professor Snow goes over the material you read over the last couple of days, literally giving a cut and dry summary that barely touched the topic of the latest chapters. But then, when he's done, he starts asking the class questions. Questions about the book that makes the class think and ponder.

“In chapter 28 Offred muses about the fall of the United States and the creation of Gilread. Now, we find out that women's rights are slowly striped and all bank accounts women have are given to the husband or male in the family, amongst some other revelations about the occupation Gilread slowly does to the government. Now, my question is, do you think the flashback Offered provided about the fall of the United States and the subtle, but sure, takeover of Gilread could happen today in Panem?”

A young man with beige hued hair raised his hand, only for Professor Snow to nod and acknowledge him with a simple, “Mr. Arnoult, you share your answer with the class.”

Eros Arnoult, in your opinion, was a pain in the ass; know it all. Or at least he thought he was a know it all. And he just had to answer Professor Snow's philosophical question with the idiotic and incorrect answer of, “What happened to the United States in the book would never happen here in Panem. Panem has Peacekeepers.”

And you knew Eros’ answer was wrong by how Professor Snow’s cerulean blue eyes narrowed and turning into a pair of cold icicles; how his lips frowned in a thin line.

Before thinking better of it, you turned around in your seat to look at Eros and told him, “You’re such an idiot, Eros. You're wrong, because what happened to the United States could happen to Panem.”

“Miss Y/N, please elaborate.” Professor Snow insisted with a spry smirk on his face.

You turn around to face your professor before telling him and the entire class, “What happened to the United States in the book A Handmaiden's Tale could happen to Panem if, gods forbid, the Districts rise up again like they did during the war; the Dark Days.”

“The Districts would never dream about rising up again. Not with the Hunger Games keeping them in line.” Eros told you before Professor Snow could even make a remark about your thoughts.

Turning around to face your classmate, again, you counter his remark with one of, “The Hunger Games can only do so much to keep them in line. People, if pushed too hard or if they feel too hopeless will try to rebel or will follow the pied piper into something worse than what they have and everyone else will be stunned when it happens because they never thought it could.”

Coriolanus was very impressed with your political insight. For being in your first semester of your first year at the University. At first your beauty and innocence caught his eye, but he has to admit that the more time you spend in his class the more he discovers he appreciates your wit as well.

So much so that he tells you, “Very good answer, Miss Y/N.”, before explaining in length what the United States did wrong in the book to fall and become Gilread and, of course, explaining how those lessons can be implemented and used in politics today.

One day after class you're walking with your neighbor in the courtyard whenever Professor Snow comes marching up to you, seething. You didn't understand what was wrong; why he seemed so upset.

“You need to leave my student alone.” Professor Snow ordered your neighbor, Odysseus, in a firm baritone while using his hand to separate you and your bronze haired neighbor.

“It's fine, Professor Snow. Really, he's my neighbor.” You assure your tall and imposing teacher as he places a protective arm around your shoulder; pulling you into his side while acting as a large buffer between you and Odysseus.

Odysseus’ lips curled up into a deriding smile that dug into his dimples cheeks. Cocking his head slightly at the pristine platinum haired professor, he remarked in a mawkish tone, “Yea, Professor Snow, I live across the hall from her so we'll be seeing plenty of each other.”

Keeping you under his protective wing, Coriolanus craned his neck forward as he towers over the peacock of a bronze haired boy, while coldly stating, “I know exactly what boys like you, Mr. Odair, want from girls like Miss Y/N and I’m not going to let you taint her reputation. Neighbor or not.” Waving him off with a dismissive flick of the wrist, the professor ordered your neighbor to, “Stay away from Miss Y/N or else you might find yourself on an academic probation.”

Odysseus shook his head in disgust and disbelief before stalking off. Honestly, he couldn't believe that you just let your cold, overbearing, astute professor take control over the situation that was your neighborly friendship and turn it into some knight in shining toilfoil coming to an unneeded rescue moment. The sea-green eyed man couldn't help, but have an uneasy feeling about Professor Snow swooping in on you under the guise as your protector.

You're a freshman at the University, you don't need some distinguished professor that's all washed up (everyone in Capitol City knows how Coriolanus Snow aimed high and fell short in his ambitions) ‘protecting’ you from a young man your age.

Coriolanus couldn't help, but to let a smug, triumphant smirk paint his lips as he watched Odysseus Odair slump his shoulder and scurry off in defeat. Yes, once again Snow lands on top.

And Snow’s going to be the only man landing on top of you too. That he'll make sure of.

Coriolanus’ face contorted from a smugly victorious to stricken with concern before he turns to you. His baritone is deep with care as he tells you, “Although Mr. Odair's your neighbor, you need to stay away from him, darling. He's a skirt chaser with a nasty reputation on campus; boys like that'll just use you and leave you.” Patting your cheek, he adds in, “I'd hate to see my best and brightest pupil get hurt.”

Unable to believe your ears, you ask in awe, “I’m your best pupil?”

“Yes, Miss Y/N, you truly are.” Professor Snow nods. Clutching the strap of his leather satchel, he informs you with a thin lipped smile, “In fact, I find your insight on the course material we're currently working on to be very refreshing and mentally stimulating.”

Did you just hear him right? He can't mean that, can he? “Really?” You blurt out in a surprised tone.

“Really.” Your platinum blonde professor nods. “Do you have a class I could escort you to before I leave, just to make sure you're safe from Mr. Odair's nefarious intentions?” He asks, sounding like a concerned angelic man with a heart of gold.

But little do you know that he's as angelic as Lucifer himself; his heart of gold is pitch black and full of selfish desires.

“Oh, I don't have any more classes. Yours was my last one.” You innocently inform Professor Snow, causing the cunning and calculating man to do a mental happy dance hidden behind a neutral mask.

Coriolanus knows that what he's going to do is unethical, but he doesn't care. As long as he gets what he wants, which is you in his bed, he'll break every rule. All of his other dreams are unobtainable, but not you.

No.

His dream of being with you is right in reach and he's going to snatch it up greedily in his large hands.

Coriolanus gives you a smile that's more manic then friendly, as he suggests, “Why don't you join me for a bite to eat? We can always discuss your thoughts on politics or anything related to my class, if you'd like.”

Professor Snow thinks you're his best student and wants to grab something to eat with you to discuss politics and his class with you. Oh wow! You can't believe it. You didn't think you were that great of a student, surely one of the boys must have a higher aptitude for politics. It is, after all, usually a man's world and subject.

“Okay.” You simply reply with a small, flattered smile.

“I know the perfect place.” Coriolanus told you, guiding you into the direction of the parking lot and in extension his black luxury sedan was parked. “I'm positive you'll enjoy the food there.” A slightly sinister smirk crossed over his face as he lightly remarked, “And the wine’s to die for.”

“I'm not old enough to drink wine, Professor Snow.” You remind your professor, who has to be close to thirty.

“Well, you just let me order for us and nobody’ll know how young you really are.” Professor Snow tells you, his tone sounding mirthful and secretive, as he sips his face a bit too close towards yours.

His disposition changes as he holds his head up high and points his car out on the approaching lot. “That's my car right over there, darling. Nice, isn't it?”

“Yes, it's very nice.” You agree with a nod. In fact, his car seems nicer than the one your family has. You even tell him that too, earning you a chuckle from him.

The place Professor Snow took you to was a quaint, but upscale restaurant close to the Corso. The food was very delicious and the wine, as he said, was to die for. True to his word, your professor ordered for both of you and nobody was none the wiser that perhaps you shouldn't be drinking the wine.

But right before desert was going to be served you excused yourself to go to the bathroom. And that's when Coriolanus decided to enact the most vital part of his plan. Something that you knew nothing about; would never believe if told either.

As you wash your hands in the powder room, you look in the mirror and wonder if it's odd that you feel a bit giddy from eating with Professor Snow. You'd be lying if you said that you didn't have a tiny crush on the handsome, distinguished man. Because, you really do have a teeny tiny crush on him. But a girl would have to be blonde not to simp over the man with the perfectly styled platinum curls, striking baby blue eyes, prominent nose with a set of perfect pearly whites.

Deciding that you needed to stop being silly, you splashes some water on your face and took a deep breath before exiting the ladies room.

“Our deserts just arrived, darling.” Professor Snow smiles,gesturing towards the rich dark chocolate cheesecakes set in front of your place settings.

“Oh, you didn't have to wait for me, Professor Snow.” You tell him, feeling a bit embarrassed that he's been sitting and looking at his cheesecake instead of eating because he was waiting on you.

“Nonsense, Y/N.” The platinum blonde picked up his fork. “My Grandma'am taught me that a gentleman always waits for a lady arrive to start a course.” Professor Snow scoops a piece of his cheesecake with his fork while you reach for your own fork. Bringing his bite of the chocolate desert to his lush lips, he smirks, “That includes desert.”

You're using your fork to dig into your own desert whenever your professor pulls the fork from his lips and tells you, “Please, call me Coriolanus.” Digging back into his cheesecake, he adds, “Or Coryo, if you'd like.”

In between eating your desert, you ask, “Is that allowed? I'm your student.”

“I can't see why we can't be friends outside of class. We're two adults that can manage a friendship, aren't we?”

“Yes, but you're like 30.”

Coriolanus narrowed his icy eyes; his mouth sourly puckered as he tarly told you, “Oh, darling, don't age me. I'm a Scorpio; I’m only turning 28 this All Hallows Eve.”

“Oh, you're the same age as my older brother.” You blurt out, causing Coriolanus to just let out a silent huff.

Honestly, he already knew that. He knows that your older brother's Rein Halvir. He remembers the idiot from their days in the Academy. And, frankly, he's glad he hasn't run into him since being back in the Capitol.

“Yes, I believe I attended the Academy with him.” Coriolanus said, pretending to take his brain for your sake. “Is he faring well?” He asked, his eyes lighting up with a slight sparkle as you reached for your win glass.

You think it's nice that Coriolanus asked about your brother. So, of course, you answer his inquiry with, “Rein’s an officer in the peacekeepers. He's stationed in District 12; has a girlfriend and two kids.”

“Capitolite or?...” The cerulean man asks, his deeply smooth tone falling of a cliff of a silent question. A question of District.

“Ashlie's from District 12- the Seam to be exact. Their kids were born on PK Base-D12 so they're registered as Capitol citizens.”

“Aha.” Coriolanus lifts his nose up, in both superiority and disgust.

Coriolanus once spent the summer of his 18th year of life in District 12 as a peacekeeper grunt while foolishly fancying himself in love with the songbird victor of the 10th Hunger Games. Unfortunately, it didn't end well. Sometimes he'd wonder if things could've been different, but then he remembers that him and the songbird were too different to ever work. And that if she truly loved him she wouldn't have betrayed him; try to poison him with a snake and leave him to die.

No, he's much better off without that Covey frontrunner whore in his life. Her love was toxic, made him feel like a fool. And if things had worked out with her then we would've never met you.

Coriolanus is without a doubt certain that you're the girl for him. Innocent, beautiful, young, and intelligent. Oh yes, he's surely met histch in you. And he's certain that you'll never betray his love.

No, not with how kind and gentle your smile is.

“My family's proud that my brother followed our father's military footsteps, but they're not too fond of his girlfriend or their kids.” Your father's still pissed that his grandchildren are half-District. “Believe it or not, I'm the family disappointment.” You admit to your professor, even tho a part of you knows you shouldn't, before taking a large sip of your wine.

Your admission took the platinum haired professor a back. He was quite befuddled by it. How could you, a smart and innocent angel of a girl be the family disappointment? It doesn't make any sense.

Scratching his chin in a pondering way, Coriolanus asked, “Why would you be a disappointment?” Resting his elbow on the table and curling his hand into a fist, which he rests his jaw against, he remarks in a stunned baritone, “You're my best student and I'm sure you're excelling in your other classes as well.”

Yes, Professor Snow just couldn't fathom why you're not good enough for your family. In his eyes, you're absolutely perfect. But yet again he does have an obsession with you that's just crossed over a dark line; maybe even a sick one too.

“I'm studying Political Science instead of enlisting in the Nursing Core or taking my place in society as a socialite.” You wanted to go back to eating your desert, but you were suddenly feeling a bit odd. You felt as you were getting a bit hazy. Maybe it was too hot in the restaurant? “My mother told my father to just let me study politics as a way to find myself an aspiring politician to marry.” You add, concluding your explanation of why you're a disappointment to the Halvir family name.

“I once had political aspirations, but alas it wasn't meant to be and I'm a political professor for the great University in all of Panem instead.” Coriolanus said with a bit of veiled excitement in his smooth timbre.

Oh, Coriolanus was internally giddy. His plan was perfect. Just a few more minutes and he'll have you right where he wants you.

“Are you alright, darling? You seem a bit flushed.” Coriolanus asked, fake concern in his baby blues, as he placed his fork down on his plate.

“I'm not sure, Coriolanus. I feel a bit hazy.” You honestly tell him. Oh no, are you tipsy? You can't be, it was only a glass of wine. “Maybe the wine was too strong?” You offer as you begin to feel as if the room's going to start spinning.

Coriolanus’ brows knit as he gives you a worried look. “I think we should get the check and leave, Y/N. You really don't look well and I'm a bit concerned.” Your professor suggests, making you believe that he truly was concerned about your well being.

“Okay.” You nod, feeling dizzy and drowsy.

You must've passed out because the last thing you remember is feeling dizzy and drowsy while getting ready to leave the restaurant and then the next moment you're waking up in a strange bed. You automatically start panicking as you sit up. But before you can scream or scramble off the bed, a voice next to you sounds out with, “Oh, you're awake. Are you feeling better now, darling?”, and kills your fight or flight reactions.

You're with Professor Snow- uh Coriolanus. And he's not in his three piece suit anymore, instead he's in lounge pants and a casual shirt. What the?...

You look over at him, only to discover that he's laying on the bed, legs crossed at the ankle with his back leaning against the headboard. A pair of black frame glasses are perched on the bridge of his prominent nose as he reads a book. A book that’s cover looks well worn and battered.

“What happened? Why am I in bed with you?” You ask, feeling a bit confused.

“You don't remember walking out of the restaurant and falling out in the parking lot near my car?” He asked, closing his book and setting it on his nightstand before taking off his reading glasses and placing them on top of the book.

‘No.” You shake your head. “I don't.”

“Well, my darling,” Coriolanus gave you a sympathetic, but pointed look with his icy eyes, “Since you blacked out before I could get your address I brought you to my Corso penthouse.” Placing a large hand on your knee, he gave you a closed lip smile. “I don't want to startle you, but I took the liberties of changing you into a shirt of mine, for comfort.” Raising his hand up, to stop you from even thinking about opening your mouth, he said in a gentlemanly tone, “Don't worry, I didn't cross any lines; your underwear is still on.”

You should be creeped out, but instead you find it endearing that he was worried about your comfort and changed you into one of his shirts while you were passed out. Oh, no. Now you feel so embarrassed and stupid blacking out after a glass of wine. What's wrong with you? The wine couldn't have been that strong, could it?

“Thank you.” You murmur, casting your eyes down to stare at the hand that's on your thigh- Coriolanus' large hand. “I guess the wine was too strong for me.”

“Yes, I suppose it was.” The platinum blonde man next to you nodded. “I was worried about you; kept vigil by your tipsy side.”

Pushing his hand off your thigh, you tell him, “Thank you, but I should probably dress and catch a cab home.”

“Darling, you don't have to leave. You can stay here til you regain your senses; you'll be safe with me.”

“I'm fine.” You assure him, tone a bit snappier than you meant for it to be, as you sat on the edge of the bed.

Knowing you’d be dizzy and at risk for another blackout, Coriolanus leaned over and took your arm in his hand; stopping you from getting up. When you turned around to look at him from over your shoulder, his icy eyes had a hint of something guileful in them.

“Don't go, darling. Please.”

“Profes- Coriolanus, I can't stay here. You're my professor; it'd look bad and you could get into trouble.”

“Why would I get into trouble? I'm just letting you rest after getting tipsy off of some very strong wine.” The imposing man, who's more dangerous than sinai poisoning, pointed out while quickly taking a seat right next to you. Taking his hand off of arm and placing it on your chin, tilting it in a way so you'd be able to look him in the eye, he huskily asks, “Or are you afraid to stay with me because you want to get fucked by your cold, stoic, and oh so serious Professor Snow?” His face inches closer to yours as he asks, “I know I'm quite a handsome man, Y/N. So, I must ask, do you get all hot and bothered for your teacher?”

“You shouldn't be asking me this.”

“No, I shouldn't.” Coriolanus agrees with you, his lips ghosting over yours.

Your brain's in a fog and you're beginning to feel a bit woozy again whenever Coriolanus’ lips press against yours in a kiss that's a bit hard and hungry. A kiss that makes you feel lightheaded. And when you attempt to pull away from him, to break off the kiss, he places his hands on your cheeks and pulls your face into his.

His hands, so large and strong, hold your face still as his lips press against yours over and over again with messy enthusiasm. You gasp for air, parting your lips slightly, but it's all Coriolanus needs to deepen the kiss. His tongue slips effortlessly into your mouth, exploring it, as feelings of both dizziness and pleasure wash over you.

Honestly, you don't know how to feel. Your brain's like scrambled eggs right now. You can barely think, can barely tell what's up and what's down right now.

All you know is that your head’s spinning and your body feels like it's on fire; that your professor’s making out with you on his bed as if you've been lovers for years instead of barely knowing each other then inside of his classroom.

“Coryo-” You say when he ends your kiss, allowing you both to catch your breath, but you don't say anything else since that feeling of falling into a dark abyss threatens to take over you once more.

Your eyes grow spotty causing you to blink them in an attempt at clearer vision. All the while, Coriolanus is tenderly stroking your cheeks with a strange look on his face. “I know you're a bit tipsy still and as the older one amongst us I should do the honorable thing and let you rest, but after that kiss we shared I'm afraid I can't be a gentleman with you anymore.”

Coriolanus knows that you're about to lose control of your senses, from the spiked wine you drank, but he needs to have you agree to what he wants to do. He has to get you to say ‘yes’ so that he can remind you later on when you're fully functional that you want him; that you agreed to spend the night with him in his bed- fucking.

Yes, he might be a manipulative bastard that's a tad bit possessive and obsessive, but he's not a monster. Coriolanus does want you to trust him, despite that trust coming from his own tongue weaving a silver tale for you to believe and feel comfortable with.

“You want me, don't you, darling?” Coriolanus asked, softly running his thumbs over the apples of your cheeks while cradling your face in his large hands. Gazing into your eyes with his icy orbs, he demanded, “Tell me you want me to fuck you.”

Your a bit light headed and Coriolanus' words float around your head. It's as if you're underwater and his voice is just a garbled echo. Your ears seem to be ringing and you feel dazed.

All you can manage to do is give Coriolanus a lost look. You're feeling a bit wonky, can barely even make out what he's saying.

Coriolanus’ chest heaves and he internally chastises himself for being a bit heavy handed with drugging your wine. Yes, he wanted you pliable and to his will, but he doesn't want you blacked out the entire time he has his way with you.

Deciding that he needs to do something to sober you up, Coriolanus slaps you across the face. “Snap out of it, Y/N!” He orders in a deep, loud shout.

That seemed to stir something inside of you. Yes, you still felt a bit hazy, but the slap across your face paired with Coriolanus' loud shout seemed to cause your focus to return to you for a moment.

“I'm sorry, did I space out?” You ask your professor, whose baby blues are burning like hot coals with desire.

“Yes, baby, you did.” Coryo told you, soothingly stroking the cheek that he had just slapped. “I asked if you wanted to be with me; wanted to fuck me, but you just stared at me with glazed over eyes.”

“Coryo…” You sigh, feeling an unbearable heat cross over your cheeks. “We shouldn't do anything.”

“You haven't done anything before, have you?” The platinum blonde professor asked knowingly while subtly guiding you to the middle of his king sized bed.

“No.” You shake your head. Wringing your hands in your (his) shirt, you avert eye contact with him and add in, “Not really.”

“You're very special to me, Y/N. I've never met anyone as beautiful, bright, and innocent as you.” Coriolanus reveals in an eloquent speech that has your heart beating fast against your ribcage.

Truthfully, your heart's probably beating fast due to the drugged wine in your system, but since you're unaware of your state you just assume it's a romantic effect from his words. His carefully woven words.

“There's nothing wrong with us taking pleasure from each other, my darling.” He tells you like the master manipulator he is. He's working his magic on you, making your resolve start to crumble under his smooth and amorous words. Pressing his forehead against yours, he promises, “I’ll stay with you and I'll protect you, baby. I won't hurt you like those pervy boys your age would.”

Coriolanus pulled his forehead away from yours, only to press a kiss to your lips. A kiss that was soft and sensual. A kiss that he meant to be persuasive.

Time was ticking and Coriolanus knew that you'd be going back into lala land soon. Either he got you to say yes or he'd just tell you that you said yes once you came to later. But either way he's fucking your tight cunt.

“You want me to fuck you, right, baby.” The platinum blonde with a regal air around him told you, not asked.

You felt yourself begin to grow hazier by the minute. Your limbs even feel a bit heavier. Your tongue began to feel dry and heavy in your mouth and all you could manage to do was nod your head.

You felt as if your head was plunged back underwater. You felt everything around you feel muddled, but you did see Coriolanus give you a Cheshire grin before eagerly shedding his shirt and kissing you. A kiss that you barely felt due to the feeling of falling into an abyss.

You blink your eyes and seem to come back to your senses once again as Coriolanus, your handsome professor, is naked above you, thrusting his cock in and out of your pussy.

You couldn't help, but wonder how drunk you got to agree to this. Yes, you find him attractive, but Professor Snow's your teacher at University. This violates so many cod of conduct ethics.

“Oh my God!” You blurt out, causing Coryo to smirk at you.

“My big cock feels good in your tight cunt, huh, baby?” Coriolanus asked as he snapped his hips in a certain way that had his cock pressing deep against that special spongy spot deep inside of you. “Fuck, your cunt feels so good. So fucking good ‘round by cock, darling.”

Your cunt’s dripping wet and every movement Coriolanus makes causes you to shudder. It does feel very good. Hell, it feels better then all of the times you've ever been fingered.

“It feels good, Coryo.” You admit in a wispy moan.

You try to move your arms, but they feel a bit heavy. As if they're asleep. Coriolanus notices you trying to move your arms and just takes his hands off of your wrists and laces his hands in yours, all while telling you the saccharine lie of, “You're still a bit drunk, baby. Just let me hold your hands while we fuck; you can hold my back or something later."

He brings his face close to yours. His breath fans against your lips as he tells you, “You’re my good babygirl with such a sweet, tight cunt.”

“Coryo…” You whined as you felt pleasure begin to wash over you.

“That's it, baby. Cum for me. Cum right now like my good girl.” Coryo ordered in a husky tone as he pounded your pussy with such force that your body was moving up and down the bed.

His hard and fast thrusts had you cumming harder then you've ever cummed in your entire life. His name's spilling from your lips; your legs shake and spasm from your orgasm as you soak the sheets.

“Oh, I knew you were perfect.” Coryo groans at the sight of you squirting. Watching your juices gush out of you, only to roll down your crimson coated thighs has him in overdrive. His cock’s even harder and his balls are twitching; begging to empty their cum deep inside of your cunt.

Coriolanus wants to grab your legs and bend you like a pretzel so he can fuck you into his mattress, but he's afraid that you might try to lift your arms again. The less you move (without his help) the better. He can't have you realizing what he did to your wine, now can he? So, he settles for just using your laced hands to brace himself as he digs his knees into the mattress and fucks into your cunt as fast as he can.

Your limbs feel tingly as Coryo pistons into your cunt mercilessly. You feel a bit overwhelmed, perhaps even a bit oversensitive. “Coryo, it's too much.”

“You're getting oversensitive, baby. Just be a good girl and take what I give you for a few more minutes, yea?”

“Coryo, please.” Feeling a bit overwhelmed from everything, you cry. “Please.”

As sick and twisted as it sounds, seeing salty tears leak from your eyes and roll down your cheeks has Coryo shooting thick ropes of his hot cum deep into your puffy cunt while moaning out your name.

Coriolanus lets your hands go, only to slowly pull his cock out of your cunt. His icy eyes roll back into the back of his head at the sight of his white cum dripping out of your abused hole alone with a trickle of crimson- the proof that he took your virginity.

You're all his now...

He lays down next to you and pulls you into his side. “Don't worry, Y/N. You're my girl now and I'll take very good care of you.” He assures you while covering you both with his duvet.

“I'm your girl now?” You ask with an arched brow.

“We'll talk more about it in the morning when you're a bit more sober.” Coriolanus kisses you, making you think that when you were in the thick of your tipsiness you must've agreed to get involved with him.

Oh hell, how strong was that wine to make you so tipsy that you became Professor Snow’s girlfriend?

“Just rest, baby. You're safe here with me.” The platinum blonde, whose arms are protectively wrapped around you, coos in his deep baritone; lulling you back to dreamland.

A place that you've been in and out of all night.

And as you doze off Coriolanus looks at you with obsession shining in his cerulean eyes and a manic grin spread across his face. The darkness in his soul's quelled with the thought that you're his forever now.

Oh, yes. Now that he's got you in his penthouse he's never letting you go. But before he can truly begin to be the doting and devoted boyfriend to you, he needs to get rid of Festus Creed- the old Academy friend that gave him the drug he spiked your wine with. Well, Coriolanus supposes that if he poisons him at a teahouse and drinks the poison as well, but in a smaller dose, he'll be able to kill two birds with one stone.

He'll get rid of Festus before he can talk and he'll get you moving into his penthouse to take care of him after a near death experience.

Snow lands on top. And who knows, maybe one day with your father's backing Coriolanus might be able to wiggle his way into politics. And if not, well he has you.

And that's all that truly matters, isn't it? It should, considering what dark deeds he did to get you into his bed.

Tags: @kuroosbby001 @purriteen @poppyflower-22 @meetmeatyourworst @whipwhoops @bxtchopolis @readingthingsonhere @savagenctzen @ryswritingrecord @erikasurfer @tulips2715 @universal-s1ut @thesmutconnoisseur @squidscottjeans @sudek4l @wearemadeofstardust0 @mashiromochi @gracieroxzy @belcalis9503 @shari-berri @aoi-targaryen @whiteoakoak @spear-bearing-bi-witch @gisellesprettylies @loverandqueenofdragons @qoopeeya @mfnqueen1 @permanentlyexhaustedpigeon88 @v-love @swiftieblyth @joyfulyouthlover @harvey-malfoy @chxrrybomb22 @marvel-hiddles-stark @xjinnix @devils-blackrose @zombicupcake3 @jacesvelaryons @tempt-ress

[haine-kleine]

The entire manga ending is a burning trash fire that falls on its head in all of the established thematic purposes, but what was done with Shigaraki's character might be one of the stupidest and plain evil writing decisions.

Shigaraki was established as an immature and arrogant AFO's heir and since they were separated after Kamino, his journey was all about learning to stand on his own, developing his own agenda, establishing and chasing the goals he set out for himself. In other words, since AFO's imprisonment, Shigaraki was gradually healing from years of grooming, brainwashing and social isolation.

His backstory revealed in the My Villain Academy arc had challenged the readers and their views of this character, showing his extreme trauma, his guilt as a 5 years old boy who had killed his entire family in a quirk accident. It also finally explained Shigaraki's fervent devotion to AFO, the only one who had reached out, who wanted to help, who cared.

Of course we were aware AFO's motives can't be pure. He was preparing Shigaraki as a future vessel for himself, a means to achieve his dream of living forever.

Then, by the last war arc, Shigaraki has all the agency, individuality, autonomy ripped away by AFO stealing his body. He spends the entire second war fighting for control, silenced by AFO and the narrative barely giving him any chance to talk. One of his main goals was protecting his comrades and their dreams - this is taken from him as well, the League spent the entire second war separated, not even getting one final chance to see each other. Shigaraki dies while thinking of his friends, of his goal to save them, which he will never be able to achieve. While Izuku was at least given a chance to directly confront Shigaraki on his final quest of trying to save him, Shigaraki spent the entire time even before the second war delirious, and until his death, he had never even learned what happened to his friends, the people who chose to follow him, trusted him and supported him.

The very last thing that happens to Shigaraki before his death, is learning that his entire life, everything that had happened to him, was caused by AFO and his schemes. This strips Shigaraki of the last of his agency, turning him into a martyr. His story is no longer one about the unfairness of the heroes-adoring society and hypocrisy, good VS bad victim, trauma and coping with it. His story is about becoming a victim of a creep who had been grooming him since he was 5. One who had tried his best to make a life for himself outside of his abuser, and then had this life cruelly taken from him. Shigaraki doesn't even get to talk or react to the fact he has to sacrifice himself for AFO to die. Izuku doesn't ask him, doesn't apologize to him, he just presents the fact plainly. Shigaraki just has to deal with it.

He went from a victim to a martyr and the story barely even acknowledges it. Deku and Shigaraki were the only people who had learned the truth and neither talks about it or is allowed to share this with the world. Shigaraki died an unwilling martyr, and is remembered as a monster no better than AFO. The public draws no line between the abuser and his victim. Izuku or Allmight don't exhibit any intention to reveal the truth, and we already have Dabi's example on how this turns out.

What is the point of this character ending? Life is unfair and everything is horrible? Just deal with your trauma without causing problems for others, or you will be punished? Always abandon your ideals and your friends if a cop tells you to, or you will be murdered?

[starcurtain]

hihi sorry to rant in your inbox but i hate when people use aven's line about jade that says her kindness comes with a price to make their relationship seem worse than it is. while the ipc is. well. the ipc i dont thinl it would benefit her to harm him like theyre both stonehearts AND hes her subordinate. personally i think the price he mentions is like, testing him like she did in her social media post with the ores. it certainly would be less incongruous with her want to guide those that come after her..

I think that people really struggle with Jade. They took one look at her dommy mommy appearance and her status as one of the top three in the Stonehearts and they just want her to be unrepentant evil soooo bad.

Don't get me wrong, she is definitely a master manipulator and she definitely has a specific personal goal she's working toward using the IPC as her vehicle to do so. Her overall idea of creating an endless vortex of desires that can't ever be sufficiently met is very Voracity-coded and not really the kind of idea a very well-adjusted person would be espousing. We have no idea how loyal she really is to the IPC's goal of aiding Preservation against Destruction in the War of the Aeons.

But she's also, over and over again, been painted as having "True Neutral" moral alignment in-game. She's literally xxxHolic's Ichihara Yuuko with a bad case of capitalism: She always demands a price, but never asks more than is fair.

It's literally Fullmetal Alchemist's first law of alchemy: Human kind can not gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost.

All of Jade's exchanges are equivalent and none of her customers enter into a bargain without understanding the price they are paying. In fact, she won't even let Firefly try to make a deal at all without doing her research in advance to truly realize the extent of what she is asking for. Jade is inherently an honest businesswoman.

The issue is that greed is all-encompassing. The ability to have any wish granted is a temptation that virtually no one can escape in the end.

Therefore, I think the best way to understand Jade is as the Honkai Star Rail equivalent of Mephistopheles. In the legend of Faust, the eponymous Dr. Faust longs for more in his life--he is endlessly pursuing knowledge and power, but has hit the limits of his own ability. He meets the devil, Mephistopheles, who agrees to enter into a pact with him: Mephistopheles will fulfill all Faust's wishes while Faust is still alive, but then Faust's soul will belong to the devil when he dies. The deal is fairly presented. The terms are not unclear: If Faust agrees to the bargain, he knows what will happen to his soul in the end.

Mephistopheles doesn't trick him or force his hand when it comes to this bargain. Faust could say no. He could resist. But he doesn't. He agrees, because human greed and pride are simply that overpowering. He thinks he's smarter than the devil; unlike the thousands of others who have come before and suffered damnation for their deals with the devil, Faust thinks he is different, better than others, more deserving... The actual temptation doesn't come from the devil. It comes from human hubris.

Like Mephistopheles, like the serpent in the Garden of Eden, Jade merely presents the choice--it's humanity's endless desire that leads to the downfall.

It's a snake and an apple and a contract for a reasonnnnnn, Jade haters.

So, I don't think that Jade represents any danger to anyone who can resist temptation. Firefly walks away from Jade's exchange entirely unscathed. Trailblazer isn't pressed into surrender.

But Aventurine?

To be honest, I think his relationship with her is a bit more complicated.

Aventurine likes Jade. She did him a solid when he was at his lowest in life. His character stories make it clear that he views her as, essentially, someone "safe" in the IPC, unlike other Stonehearts.

But... I do agree that Aventurine approaches Jade more cautiously than he approaches others. And I think that probably stems from a couple of different factors:

Jade has positioned herself as Aventurine's "pseudo-mother," and Aventurine responds to her as if she, indeed, a mother figure he has to obey. He is more respectful of her than anyone else we see him interact with in the game--Diamond and Opal get called by name, but Jade is always "Ma'am." Which is very close to "Mama;" this is not an accidentttttt. When Jade disrupts his banter with Topaz, Aventurine immediately does as he is told, hands over his room card, and simmers down. Even in joking social media posts, when Jade asks Aventurine to do something (judge the uncut jade stones she sent him), he does it even when she rejects his high demand for profit sharing.

But:

2. Jade actually failed Aventurine's moral litmus test. From the beginning of his adulthood flashbacks, we see Aventurine explicitly troubled by the fact that his human dignity was denied and that a market value was assigned to his existence. And not even a high value. He was sold for pennies. It's the ultimate mortification, and we can tell it is still bothering him to this day because even "future" Aventurine brings up the sting of that bone-deep insult during Aventurine's long walk through Penacony. In response to the indignity, Kakavasha gave his original master a moral test: Kakavasha says that he'll go willingly into the hellscape of the death maze if his master will give him 30 copper Tanba, just half his market value. His master refuses, demonstrating that he does not view Kakavasha as a human being, worthy of any respect. By refusing this tiny, insignificant request, the master exhibits his utter moral depravity, from which there is no return. In response, Kakavasha ultimately kills him and takes the 30 copper coins he asked for (nothing more, nothing less) from his corpse.

When Kakavasha meets Jade, he then makes the exact same demand: He wants 30 copper coins and exactly 30 copper coins. At this point, it is very clear that--to Kakavasha--the coins are emblematic of his value as a human being. (I promise you, somewhere in his apartment right now are the 30 bloody coins he took from his master's cold corpse.) His freedom, his dignity, his worth... All of these things hinge on being able to acquire the original 60 Tanba coins. Thus, those who refuse his requests for the coins also symbolically refuse his request for basic respect, his request to be seen as an equal human being who deserves to not be reduced to mere pennies on a bill of sale.

And Jade refuses this request. She treats the demand for Tanbas like a paltry sum and instead ignores the specificity of the request to give a general "We'll give you riches beyond your imagine, more than you could have ever thought to want." But that isn't what he asked for. She stepped over the request he actually made in order to supplant her ideas, on her terms. Kakavasha made the tiniest, most easily completed request in the world, and in failing to actually just respect what he personally wished for, Jade demonstrated that she ultimately will not really respect him.

Just like his slave master, Aventurine represents a value on a page to Jade. For this reason, even if she extends pseudo-maternal behavior to Aventurine and he laps it up like a starved kitten drinks up milk, we see that he remains more cautious toward her than he does to any other female character in the game. Aventurine comes across as more comfortable talking to Acheron than he sounds when he talks to Jade... Because in failing the most basic and seemingly meaningless test, Jade revealed exactly to what extent Kakavasha can--and cannot--trust her.

Does Jade actually mean Aventurine any harm? No, I really don't think so, and you're right, those who claim that she does are really over-exaggerating Jade's negative traits, mostly because they've almost universally got a strong anti-IPC agenda and hate everything from the IPC except Aventurine on principle. Everything in Jade's character stories points to her honestly wanting to develop the hidden talents of others, to "polish" rough cut stones into true gems, and to see her fledglings thrive. Kakavasha is someone she picked up out of the dirt and dusted off. If he excels, that means her faith was well-placed, her judgment was correct, and her team as a whole excels.

It's exactly like a business owner who takes great pride in producing a fantastic product. Only when the product succeeds can the business itself succeed.

But business owners see their products as objects, not equals.

Jade is a fairly neutral figure and I think she wants to see Aventurine grow and achieve greatness. But at the end of the day, their relationship is very predicated on the notion of investment (Jade puts up the original capital to make Aventurine great, and he repays her faith in him by generating wealth for the IPC). It is clear she just can't be trusted to value Aventurine as a person above a means of profit--and Aventurine knows (and accepts) that too.

[blackmoonowl]

can you do a sfw alphabet for the synth detective please? 😼🙏

SFW Alphabet - Nick Valentine

Fallout 4 x reader

𝐀 = 𝐀𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧  (How affectionate are they? How do they show affection?)

‪‪❤︎‬ Nick Valentine prefers to keep things classy when it comes to affection. He's not all over you, but he enjoys having at least some form of contact with you. The synth likes showing you off, his beautiful partner.

‪‪❤︎‬ Usually it's a hand on your lower back, holding your hand or linking arms together. Sometimes he'll press his cold synthetic lips against your temple for good measure, if you'll allow it.

𝐁 = 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝 (What would they be like as a best friend? How would the friendship start?)

‪‪❤︎‬ You're not just his best friend, you're a fellow detective now. He loves having you with him whilst he investigates. The two of you have each others back. It makes the miserable wasteland and circumstances a little better.

‪‪❤︎‬ It likely starts shortly after you saved him from vault 114. He's interested as to why someone would come to save a old robot detective. Nick quickly becomes invested in your story, in who you are. After that it happens quick, you become someone to rely on, someone to help him bring justice to the Commonwealth.

𝐂 = 𝐂𝐮𝐝𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐬 (Do they like to cuddle? How would they cuddle?)

‪‪❤︎‬ Not an absolute need for him, if you don't want to cuddle then that's okay for him too. He doesn't really feel anything, but he'd still enjoy cuddling you, purely due to the knowledge you're comfortable and close with him.

‪‪❤︎‬ Valentine prefers laying on his back with you beside hm, your arm across his torso. He can hold you close whilst reading or doing something else whilst you rest.

𝐃 = 𝐃𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜 (Do they want to settle down? How are they at cooking and cleaning?)

‪‪❤︎‬ Nick Valentine would love to settle down with you in Diamond city, as close as a pre war life as he can get. You both have a job and a cozy little home to return to. It's perfect in a way rarely found in the wasteland.

‪‪❤︎‬ He can cook okay. He doesn't eat, so he usually doesn't bother, but you wouldn't die eating his cooking. Decent at cleaning as well, he keeps his space tidy and always organizes his things so he knows where to find them.

𝐄 = 𝐄𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠  (If they had to break up with their partner, how would they do it?)

❤︎ Nick would put it bluntly, but wouldn't be rude. He's disappointed things didn't work out, but he'd like to avoid drama as much as possible. Maybe the two of you could still be friends, but this clearly doesn't work.

❤︎ Handles the break up okay. He doesn't like it, he's not happy, but he can live with it. Nick doesn't have any ill will towards you, but he does feel let down. He also prefers some distance for the time being.

𝐅 = 𝐅𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞(𝐞) (How do they feel about commitment? How quick would they want to get married?)

❤︎ Nick would like to have a committed relationship. He's old fashioned like that, marriage is definitely his end goal. After all, the two of you can just have a small ceremony in Diamond city and go home married.

❤︎ Doesn't rush into it, takes his time. It also depends on how quickly you want to get married. He'd like to at least wait a couple months before he pops the question, but he takes your wishes into consideration as well. If it were up to him, he'll get on one knee during your one year anniversary,

𝐆 = 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐞 (How gentle are they, both physically and emotionally?)

❤︎ Physically gentle. Nick really doesn't want to cause you any pain or discomfort, and the last thing he needs is more damage done to his body. He prefers always being gentle when it comes to touch.

❤︎ Emotionally he sometimes likes to mess around a bit with sarcastic comments. He knows your boundaries and won't cross them, but that won't stop a smartass comment slipping out every now and then.

𝐇 = 𝐇𝐮𝐠𝐬 (Do they like hugs? How often do they do it? What are their hugs like?)

❤︎ Nick Valentine likes hug a decent amount, he's not the worlds biggest fan of them, but in moderation he appreciates them. Once again he doesn't feel anything, but he still enjoys holding you close to him.

❤︎ One of his arms goes around your back, planting the hand on your lower back, the other hand cradles the back of your head as he holds you close to him.

𝐈 = 𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 (How fast do they say the L-word?)

❤︎ Not immediately. Nick really wants to mean it when he says it. The first time it comes out of him is during a love filled confession, your hand in his. When the time is right and he's certain on how he feels towards you.

❤︎ After that he says it in passing moments. When he kisses your temple before he leaves on a case, when he comes back after solving one. The moment doesn't really matter to him as much as assuring you that you're the one for him.

𝐉 = 𝐉𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐲 (How jealous do they get? What do they do when they’re jealous?)

❤︎ Nick isn't that jealous. He gets annoyed when people hit on you, but it's not really because he feels threatened. If you love him, you'll shut it down. If you don't, he knows he's not your priority. Last thing he wants is to come off as overbearing.

❤︎ When he does get jealous, he'll step in with a cynical remark to whoever irritated him, linking his arm with yours. Or he'll make sure to subtly emphasize the fact he's your partner.

𝐊 = 𝐊𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 (What are their kisses like? Where do they like to kiss you? Where do they like to be kissed?)

❤︎ Nick Valentine has a preference to kiss you on the temple or cheek. It's something he does whilst he walks past you, busy with one thing or another.

❤︎ As for where he likes to be kissed, he likes you kissing him on the lips. Soft, quick pecks are a quick way to put a smile on the old synths face,

𝐋 = 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬 (How are they around children?)

❤︎ He's fond of children. He can't bring himself to dislike the little rascals. You can easily leave him alone with any kids and he'll take on a responsible role. As long as they're not scared of the way he looks, he can easily keep them in line.

❤︎ The detective is a robot and can't have any kids of his own, but he would be a pretty good stepdad, if not slightly strict. He's someone your kid can rely on no matter what.

𝐌 = 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 (How are mornings spent with them?)

❤︎ Valentine is usually the one waking you up in the morning. Since he doesn't sleep, he's usually the one getting things ready while you sleep in. It's not uncommon for him to have breakfast ready for you when you get up.

❤︎ He usually gives you some time to wake up before he starts talking about any possible work the two of you need to get done today. The synth understands you need more time to be fully there.

𝐍 = 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 (How are nights spent with them?)

❤︎ Nick joins you in your nightly routine despite not needing to. He'll sit with you during dinner, lean on the wall talking to you as you wash yourself and brush your teeth. He likes seeing you do mundane things, it never gets old for him.

❤︎ Usually the two of you spend some time alone, either in your bed or sitting on an old couch. Sometimes it's you playing on your pipboy while he works on his cases, or you simply talk to each other until you drift off.

𝐎 = 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧  (When would they start revealing things about themselves? Do they say everything all at once or wait a while to reveal things slowly?)

❤︎ Nick doesn't open up to you immediately. He doesn't see why he should drop his entire life story on some random vault dweller he's helping. Your plate is full, he doesn't need to add to it with his own problems.

❤︎ But when he sees how willing you are to help him out, he'll ask for your help. He needs peace of mind, he needs Eddie Winters gone before he can move on. The moment you agree to help,

𝐏 = 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 (How easily angered are they?)

❤︎ Nick is decently patient. He doesn't just flip out and let his anger get the best of him. Although he'll let you know when he's upset, he tries to put it calmly the first time around.

❤︎ If he's really pissed, expect far more cynical and sarcastic comments from him. Best to let him cool off and then talk about what happened like adults.

𝐐 = 𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐳𝐳𝐞𝐬 (How much would they remember about you? Do they remember every little detail you mention in passing, or do they kind of forget everything?)

❤︎ Nick is a bit forgetful, but he is pretty perceptive to what you say. I mean he's a detective, so he naturally picks up on the small things. He'll make sure to remember every important thing you tell him.

❤︎ Sometimes he writes it down, his desk has a small stack of notes with your favorite foods, drinks, your favorite spot to go in the Commonwealth and things you said you still needed.

𝐑 = 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 (What is their favorite moment in your relationship?)

❤︎ Nick could honestly call all your outings his favorites and not be lying. He loves spending time with you no matter the circumstance.

❤︎ But if he really had to pick one, he'll pick a date the two of you went on in Diamond city. It wasn't anything big, you just headed to the Dugout inn so you could get a few drinks and enjoy the atmosphere. Seeing you so relaxed and having fun is his all time favorite.

𝐒 = 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 (How protective are they? How would they protect you? How would they like to be protected?)

❤︎ Nick knows you can hold your own, and he's not overbearing by any means. He'd still keep an eye out for your own safety. He'll use his connections to keep an ear out to make sure no one has it out for you, and he's joined you to save your hide a few times.

❤︎ You have pulled some risky stunts to help Nick out. If the synth had the ability to, he would have had a heart attack a long time ago given your antics. He prefers you just verbally protect him from anti synth crap.

𝐓 = 𝐓𝐫𝐲 (How much effort would they put into dates, anniversaries, gifts, everyday tasks?)

❤︎ He loves taking you out on dates, it's the perfect way to unwind for him. there aren't much date spots to take you out to, but he'll find fun wherever he can find. He'll also do his best with every day tasks, keeping everything clean whilst you're asleep.

❤︎ This man has a special place in his non existent heart for anniversaries. Every year he makes sure to plan something nice for the two of you to do. At least one time an evening got derailed to a surprise murder mystery case.

𝐔 = 𝐔𝐠𝐥𝐲(What would be some bad habits of theirs?)

❤︎ Really forgetful, like I said before. His memory is limited and it's not uncommon for him to forget things you told him, or events the two of you went through together. He feels bad about it, but it's not something he can help.

❤︎ Gets a bit too invested in his cases sometimes. He'll sometimes spend days mulling over a case, completely frustrated over something he seems to be missing that he doesn't have much time for you.

𝐕 = 𝐕𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 (How concerned are they with their looks?)

❤︎ The guy is practically falling apart, and it's the end of the world outside. Good looks and appearing fancy aren't exactly his main concerns. His suit has been patched up a few times and his synthetic skin is somewhat filthy.

❤︎ That being said it's not like he's a total slob. He still tries to make himself look presentable to you. Just don't expect prince charming, he's still just an old synth.

𝐖 = 𝐖𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞 (Would they feel incomplete without you?)

❤︎ Valentine can hold his own pretty well. That being sad, he would be a lot less content without you in his presence. You made his mundane life so much brighter, you made him realize he was his own person, after all.

❤︎ Sometimes he does things from his old routine, finding himself by your bedside, only to remember that you're no longer occupying it. Or he buys an extra bowl of noodles, forgetting that you're no longer there to join Ellie in eating them.

𝐗 = 𝐗𝐭𝐫𝐚 (A random headcanon for them.)

❤︎ Sometimes talks to you about the pre war world. He didn't experience it himself, but he still holds the memories. Sometimes he'll ask about certain things from the original Nick's memory, it bring him a sense of comfort.

❤︎ For a second one, if you have technological skills, he'd trust you to help with maintenance of his body. Sometimes it's just an excuse to have you close to him, though.

𝐘 = 𝐘𝐮𝐜𝐤 (What are some things they wouldn’t like, either in general or in a partner?)

❤︎ He wouldn't tolerate a nasty attitude or cruelty towards others. The wasteland is a miserable enough place as is, and you really aren't helping. He'll give you a few warnings before he becomes completely fed up with you.

❤︎ Predjudice, especially if you're in the Brotherhood. If you have a hatred towards synths and ghouls, then what is he to you? It leaves a hypothetical bad taste in his mouth.

𝐙 = 𝐙𝐳𝐳 (What is a sleep habits of theirs?)

❤︎ Nick doesn't sleep, instead he tries to get work done whilst you're off snoozing. He likes working on cases and searching files whilst he's in the room with you. Having you close to him feels comforting and he can keep an eye out for any danger.

❤︎ Sometimes he sits in bed with you, letting you wrap your arms around his synthetic body whilst he reads or simply watches you. He'll brush the hair out of your face, rub your shoulder or place his arm around you.