#think of all the misunderstandings dani would have in this situation though

[ekat-fandom-blog]

On Dani's tour of the world, she crashes through a weird T shaped building. It's a strange enough building that she decides to snoop around a bit. It's pretty interesting. There were planes and rocketships and a helicopter on the top floor. The next floor was storage. Then there were bedrooms. And bedrooms. And another set of bedrooms. Then there was a library and den. Then a rec room and a kitchen. Then a bunch of boring rooms. For how many bedrooms there were in the tower there was a surprising lack of occupants. She decided she'd bunk in the mostly empty bedroom for a few days before she moved on again.

A few days in, a boy in a red, green, black, and yellow outfit came. And a few hours later, another guy in a red helmet joined them. Both were unaware of their invisible guest. But then again, it seems the boy wasn't expecting anyone to be in the tower. And it was only made more obvious when he went on the defensive as soon as he saw the other boy.

the layout I used is this one

[poisonflowercorvidae]

Hey, while searching through ao3 I came around "My Other Half " and I just loved it (and I kind of finished really fast). Do you have some kadewave hc?

I'm really glad you enjoyed it! I never really expected anyone to pay much attention to that fic with such an out-there premise, but it means a lot to me that people did/do.

Sorry for the late response, but this got looooong.

My thoughts and headcanons for Kadewave are kind of all over the place because I've shipped these two practically since I first started watching Rescue Bots, and their dynamic changes so much over the course of the series that I think a lot of the specifics of how they get together and what their relationship is like depends on when it all happens in relation to the series and how canon compliant things are

Some headcanons I tend to hold regardless of all that:

Kade and Heatwave are monogamous. I think the idea of polyamory being normalized in Cybertronian society is pretty neat, but it's still not for everyone, and these two just strike me as the kind that would stand by one partner at a time

Heatwave is the jealous type. This is just canon, I think. (Blades: "Kinda scary, but I'm rethinking the whole Kade partner option." Heatwave: "Rethink again.") He's pretty good at reigning it in except for a snappish comment here or there, so Kade mostly finds it funny

Kade has more experience with relationships. It's not necessarily good experience--he messes up a lot in his relationships and/or falls for the wrong people--but he has dated more. While Heatwave has lived longer, even after accounting for stasis, he's kind of the "married to the job" type and spent too much time playing leader and eldest-brother-figure to the rest of Sigma 17 to really do all that much dating

Heatwave can still be a tease, though, especially after they get together, because it’s fun to rile Kade up

We know, from when Cody and Frankie time traveled, that Griffin Rock is more progressive with regards to racial issues than much of America has been, so I tend to think GR also has less of a homophobia/transphobia problem, so Kade doesn’t have to struggle so much with the gender/sexuality aspect of being attracted to Heatwave. The “He’s a giant alien robot” part still took some work, even after they start respecting each other more as firefighting partners

Most of the resistance on both sides to their feelings was still more about how stubborn/hotheaded the other one is

Heatwave does worry over Kade a lot. Like, it’s one thing if Kade stubs his toe or gets a paper cut because of his own stubborn carelessness; Heatwave will just roll his optics or huff some kind of, “Why do you always do that?” But if it’s even the littlest bit more than that--if Kade catches a cold or gets a burn on the job or something--Heatwave will obsess over it and what he could have done to prevent that

Usually, I think there isn’t so much a first to confess or realize their feelings; they just sort of gravitate towards each other over time. The exact timeline or AU could change that, and I can see either one of them spitting it out in a fit of passion after a tense scene, but especially in more canon compliant timeline, it’s just something they kind of...fall into, whether or not they actually talk about it

Neither of them are good at talking about their feelings in either universe. They eventually get better, but they rarely if ever say they love each other around other people/bots, even in timelines where they don’t go through massive misunderstandings before getting together. They’re excellent at showing each other they care, though

Their relationship isn’t 100% an Everyone Can See It situation--some people definitely assume they’re just Buds--but a few people can pick it out. Usually the rest of the extended family, but some faster than others: Cody, because he’s perceptive; Chief Burns, because he’s a Wise Dad; Dani, because she’s a romantic but also because she knows the difference between her own sisterly mocking of Kade versus Heatwave’s metaphorical pigtail pulling; Blades, because he and Dani love to gossip; and Blurr, because whether they mean to or not, Kade and Heatwave trying to train his recklessness out of him definitely results in them dad-ing him

Like I said, a lot of this plays out differently on timeline/universe points. For most of these, I’m going to either assume Kade and Hayley break up or ignore that they got together in the first place, though the polyamory or Kade cheating on Hayley angles are still valid for other people who want to explore them. It’s just for me personally, I really only see Kadewave happening if Kade isn’t with Hayley.

The most canon-compliant version is also probably the most laid back and chill version of them getting together. It wouldn’t happen until late in season 4 or after, because Kade is still dating Hayley through most/all of that season in canon, but by that point in the series, Kade and Heatwave have really mellowed out. Listen to them talking about Blurr at the beginning of “Need for Speed” (Heatwave: “He’s as stubborn as you are.” Kade: “And as hot-headed as you.”); just the way they say it, Heatwave’s done with Blurr’s shit but Kade shoots back all amused and kind of fond. They bicker and trade barbs, but it’s in that “Close enough to argue” (or, if you prefer, Old Married Couple) kind of way where how much they like each other still bleeds through, and by this point in the series, they aren’t arguing about important things like how to do their job any more. It’s smooth going. So, Hayley and Kade split, and after a little while, Heatwave and Kade move from, “Hey, actually, I like this guy,” to, “Oh, hey, I like this guy,” and that’s that.

My Other Half/The Parts of Me I Hide mostly follows that track but with the complications of 1) being set in an AU where sparklings can happen (and interspecies sparklings, specifically, can happen) and 2) Kade getting horribly, terribly broken-bones-and-blood hurt. It turns what could be a simple slide into a relationship into a dramatic mess via bumping against all their issues of not talking about their feelings and Heatwave reacting to Kade getting hurt etc etc.

If we go way back to the first season up through season 2′s “Changes,” this is where Kade and Heatwave are in full tsun4tsun mode. Neither of them wants to admit even to themselves that they like each other, even after they get over the initial friction of their introduction. This is deffo in the zone of, “If they get together, it’s probably after some kind of blow-up fight,” and even then it’s not likely because they’re both too busy going No, absolutely not, I do not find this aggravating creature attractive no matter how many dangerous situations we face down together. “Changes” definitely marks a shift in their relationship because Kade has to acknowledge that Heatwave does actually like him as much as the reverse (”Heatwave cherishes your partnership,” anyone?). It might still take him a while to process what exactly he feels and whether or not Heatwave cares about him in the same way, but it’s definitely the crack in the damn that makes him stop lying to himself that he doesn’t like Heatwave somehow.

Season 3 is the awkward middle ground where they know their own feelings, they have to know that the other likes them to some degree, and while they aren’t really pretending about it anymore, they aren’t ready to say anything about it, either. It’s this dance around it, and all it would take is one little slip to tumble head first into a relationship and--oh hey, new recruits! Let’s deal with getting them integrated into life here rather than deal with whatever we’ve got going on

Some My Other Half/The Parts of Me I Hide specific headcanons:

Heatwave is mad at himself for the first class of recruits hurting Kade because he thinks he should have been there to step in sooner. It might or might not have actually affected the outcome, but he blames himself a bit all the same

This was an exchange I had in mind for the fic that got cut, but Heatwave and Kade definitely had an argument about The Incident that included an exchange along the lines of “What if you’d lost a leg or an arm?” “I’d say I’d be the first amputee fire fighter, but someone already beat me to it. Guess I’d have to settle for the first in Milford.”

Their second sparkling is a daughter named Spitfire

“So, if we’re dealing with a universe without sparklings, where DID Kade go?” Yeah, I’m still working my headcanon for that one out myself.

[loquaciousquark]

Talks Machina Highlights - Critical Role C2E116-119 (Dec. 15, 2020)

Hi! I missed the first three minutes or so and opened the stream to Brian giving an absolutely incoherent ...ad? for some jewel game? Six thousand jewels just for logging in? Some app in the app store and he’s literally been talking about this now for six minutes and I don’t know what he’s talking about. He finally wraps up, Laura brings the show to a close, and we’re all a little worse than we were before.

Ashley tries to get us back on track and Henry bays over her. Brian tries to ask the first question and breaks off into feigned sobs halfway through. This is chaos incarnate.

Tonight’s guests: Laura Bailey & Ashley Johnson.

How’s Yasha feeling right now about Molly? She and Jester both are desperately curious about whether there’s a spark of Molly left in Lucien that can be brought back. It’s not the same as when Yasha was controlled by Obann; this seems more like just the way this is now. They’d settle for even finding the good in him, like they did with Essek. Brian jokes that they can monitor his mental state if Matt’s Irish accent starts to slip a little bit.

Jester is a little wary about scrying on Lucien now since he’s able to see her back.  She’s interested to try again now that Fjord’s given her the necklace.

Ashley has to run and grab a replacement set of headphones from Brian after hers get “crunchy.” It’s pretty cute seeing them run around and smooch on another screen. Brian teases that he doesn’t have any more questions for Jester since Caduceus has been doing all the healing lately. Laura tells us indignantly that she had Heal prepared for Caduceus in that last big fight, but Fjord got to Cad first. Brian explains how this is the same as all the good jokes he always lines up for Talks but never tells. Ashley’s crunchiness continues and we go briefly to a technical difficulties screen while Brian hops up to fix it.

Dani pips in to get this show back on track. Save us, Dani!

Ashley hadn’t thought about the aspect of Lucien controlling his friends’ minds, but finds it really creepy. It’s a cool game dynamic, and it’s a little different because they’re there willingly, but it’s really weird.

Jester thinks that “the tarot cards know all. She wants to buy into it real hard.” If it doesn’t make sense now, it will later. Laura has an Idiot’s Guide to Tarot Reading.

They’re super interested in why Aeor is like it is. Were they more advanced than us? Did they evolve along a different line? Ashley loves sci-fi and is all about this, especially since she wasn’t there for Happy Fun Ball time & hasn’t been able to get caught up on some of the things she missed in between, so she’s using this as an erstwhile replacement. She can already tell there are some things from this campaign that will bother her the way the unopened box did from C1. She and Laura both seethe at the camera about having to leave the spider behind.

Cosplay of the Week! Harland3r on instagram with a gorgeous winged Pike with a shield & mace. It’s an incredible photo and the wings look great.

Travis distracts Laura by dancing like a Trex offscreen. That seems right for this episode.

Jester’s encouragement of Yasha pursuing Beau was important in a lot of ways, not least because Ashley considered herself as uninterested in D&D romance as Travis & was a little unsure of activating a romance among her friends. However, it felt really natural within the game and it was really helpful to have Jester’s in-game encouragement. Yasha’s grown a lot and is in a much more positive place and is ready to find out what’s possible. Laura: “Jester from the get-go has seen Yasha as this wonderful soul from the beginning, and has seen how sad Yasha’s been through everything, and to see the difference that she exhibits when talking about Beau is drastic and wonderful. Jester’s joy in life is helping others find joy.”

Ashley points out it’s also so fun to “yes-and” with Laura because you’re like a little kid being dragged along by the hand - you don’t know where it’s going, but you know it’s going to be fun along the way.

Ashley does have a sense of “thank goodness Marisha isn’t jumping right into this” so she can coax herself into it, but when she tried to figure out the poem she had a lot of drafts that didn’t survive. She intentionally crafted the letter to give Beau an out if she didn’t feel the same way. There’s a lot going on with Lucien right now and there’s constantly a running thought in the back of her head about “maybe Beau is not into this.” Even the last couple episodes with Jester & Fjord have had Ashley finally understand shipping.

Brian brings us to the moment “almost as romantic as the pre-season finale of the Bachelorette.” Jester was “goo” afterwards. Early on in the campaign, Jester was very forward with her flirtations with Fjord & he shut her down. And then he kissed her underwater and immediately went and slept with Avantika, and Jester automatically shut herself down, because she thought she was misunderstanding & would only be hurt by those emotions. She deliberately focused on just being there with her friends, making everyone healthy and happy. These last few episodes where Fjord was flirting back felt like “my teenage heart again, my first kiss, the boy I like actually likes me back!” and she was able to open back up.

Yasha definitely has some instrument plans for those bones. She doesn’t know if she’s going to add to her harp or create a new one.

Ashley and Laura cheer about Travis stepping out his comfort zone. Laura thinks it was really good that he was doing it with her, his real-life wife, to see if he likes that sort of stuff in his D&D campaign. “It was just so sweet. It was just so sweet.” Brian says he’s actually a really romantic dude & Dani is so glad he asked before the kiss. Brian: “It’s going to be so sad when he breaks your heart and goes back to the corpse of Avantika.” Laura: “It’s fine, Jester will be long dead by then anyway.”

Jester does believe the four-year time trade was worth it, but that the city leaves “a mark on your brain,” especially as in-depth as she saw it. “Jester’s always been reticent to talk about her age because she’s aware she’s perceived in a juvenile way by a lot of people, and she’s insecure about that. She grew up by herself without a lot of social interactions and is experienced in a lot of ways now and naive in others; she’s very aware of human emotion around her, but chooses to see it in a certain way.” Losing the time makes her wonder if she needs to grow up & become an adult about certain things now. Laura: “I think actually she’s closer to Fjord’s age now. Actually, I’m not sure about his age. I don’t know how old he is - I’ve never even asked Travis!” Brian: “I think he’s definitely fifteen.” Laura: “Travis, how old is Fjord?” Travis, off-screen: “Sixty-five,” but he’s had the Mask of Many Faces up this whole time. Later, he adds that he’s in his early 30s.

Ashley has really enjoyed digging into Yasha’s more humorous side lately. It’s how she gets comfortable as a player, making it fun and light in a way that this year needs. “It’s also really funny to think that Yasha doesn’t know how Message works.”

Brian congratulates Laura & Ashley both on their game awards nominations. Brian vamps trying to get himself in as the presenter, but incidentally refers to Laura as his sister in the conversation and it’s super cute. “I would like to be the one to give the award to either my fiancee, or my sister!”

Fanart of the Week: @ethanmaldridge with an illustrated page from the Katzenprinz book. It’s just beautiful.

Jester’s polymorph gambit was terrifying, but the stakes got even higher when everyone else got stunned. She does lament choosing a bunny at the start. “Frickin’ Fjord’s armor!”

Yasha loves being polymorphed lately. She thinks it’s kinda funny, especially given her rigid upbringing with such defined roles.

Laura feels like Jester and Vex are weirdly two halves of herself. Brian: “You see the very bargainy, I’m gonna use my wit & smarts to negotiate situations. But at the same time, you’re very open to what people are thinking & feeling and navigating that. What you end up putting out (though it comes across as innocent and naive) is something pure because she truly believes it.” Laura thinks Yasha and Pike are the same way for Ashley, though Ashley feels a little closer to Yasha right now. Sometimes you just feel really exposed. Laura compares how much idealism she put into Jester to her character from Fruits Basket.

Since Yasha didn’t belong to either side in the war, she’s not hugely concerned by the fallout; she more wants to make sure her found family are okay and safe. Jester is the same way, Laura tells us. Jester doesn’t have any greater vision of the Empire & Dynasty interacting; she cares about the people, and it hasn’t been until the vision with the city that she kind of woke up and realized they have to really stop this now. It feels bigger than the Dynasty/Empire. Ashley: “It seems more of a thing for Beau and Caleb to care about.”

Really, up to now Jester was mostly concerned about getting Molly back, but now the stakes seem much higher. “We have to do this. We have to complete this, to beat them, to keep them from doing this.” Yasha is just going with the flow for now. There’s a lot coming at them and they are ready to find out what’s next.

And that’s that for tonight! Brian thanks the crew especially for working incredibly hard on switching everything to home-based streaming. He then gets stuck halfway spinning around in his chair and the last thing we hear is him idly wondering “What’s Fjord taste like?” which seems pretty on brand for tonight’s show. Is it Thursday yet?

[ladylynse]

So, I've seen you reblogging some random My Hero Academia fanart lately, and I was wondering how much of it you know? Why? Because I'm curious if you have any idea about a possible crossover with Danny Phantom. (it's surprising how well DP can be crossover-ed with basically EVERYTHING and still make sense...)

I have seen the show. I...think?...I’m caught up on the show. I have not read a word of the manga. 

For a crossover with DP, I like the idea of Danny falling into their world rather than the other way around; it’s just easier, even if you toss in a time travel/dimension kind of quirk thing gone wrong and rely on Clockwork to get them home again. Me, I’d do this one of two ways, depending on whether or not Danny ever has a chance of going home again. Or, perhaps more accurately, how slim that chance is, because he’d still have a chance.

Option 1: Danny’s stuck in their world. Forever. Or near enough. Because he was trapped in a thermos for years, longer than anyone would expect him to be alive, and his time doesn’t exist, it’s past, it’s gone, because it hasn’t just been a day, it hasn’t just been a month, not even a year, and every human he ever knew and loved is gone. He couldn’t even find his family if he tried. It’s been too long, the world’s changed, and there are these things called quirks now, and he just.... He holds onto the faint hope that Clockwork can get him back home, that Clockwork will agree to let him go back home, that this can just be a few extra days or weeks or whatever lived in his life but otherwise it’s fine and like he was never anywhere else, but the stable portals he knew are gone, he doesn’t know how to find and can’t create the natural ones, and ghosts like Wulf and Cujo wouldn’t even know he was back. 

He can’t remember very well how he got into this mess. Maybe Vlad caught him and buried him on the other side of the world; maybe Vlad tossed him into the Ghost Zone, never really expecting Danny to get out. Everything is muddled, confused, coming back in pieces, and not like a moment frozen in time where he gets out and immediately remembers everything. It’s not like it normally is. But maybe it’s because he wasn’t released like he normally is, since he didn’t get out until the thermos degraded to the point that there was a hole he could slip through. Maybe it’s just because he was in there too long. He...he doesn’t know.

Option 2: AKA my old standby for DP crossovers to worlds that aren’t enough like his own, a door or portal in the Ghost Zone. Maybe Danny meant to go through, whether he was exploring or running from something with five sets of teeth that was faster than it had any right to be, or maybe it popped up in front of him and he was through before he could change course. He doesn’t have more hope of getting home in this scenario, exactly, but he’d be more hopeful, because this obviously isn’t the same world, it can’t be, so he can get back and get home and it’ll all be fine. 

In both cases, you can ignore the language barrier--write it off as a ghostly ability Danny didn’t realize he had, though that logic fails a bit when Tucker understands Wulf the best, or maybe Danny hearing it for years while in the thermos and just sort of absorbing it--through osmosis, if you like. But if you acknowledge it. If you accept the fact that Danny suddenly finds himself in a world where he can’t speak the language, can’t read or understand or even be sure he recognizes the language--because what is that, Chinese, Japanese, Korean? He has no idea. It might not even be any of those if it’s been how many years since, what with evolution of language. He just knows he doesn’t know the alphabet at all--then you can easily force other characters to interact with him once he gets in trouble (as will happen; it’s Danny) and maybe bring in a convenient universal translator hero support prototype, initially designed to help heroes better communicate with victims who don’t speak the same tongue(s) with plans for further development outside of heroing if it’s successful. Such a device would also give Danny a convenient excuse for when he says something that receives blank stares, as he can pretend it glitched.

Now. Danny will be trying to get home. That might be his entire thing--that and potentially acceptance that he can’t go home, depending on how things pan out. If he came through a portal/doorway, then he might be keeping an ear to the ground to find out why if there’s some reason why he’s here, but if he was just stuck in a thermos, he’s going to assume he got out because of pure dumb luck/erosion and focus most of his energy on finding a way into the Ghost Zone, which may or may not come back to bite him later. Especially if he didn’t just get out by chance or is here for a reason and doesn’t know enough to understand what that reason is.

The obvious thing to consider is how quickly Danny realizes these guys only have one ‘quirk’, even if they can use it in multiple ways. If he gets any inkling at all from them that having more than one quirk is odd and potentially suspicious, you can bet he’d try to hide it. He’s used to that. He’s had to hide from so many people. He can hide from these people, too. Or at least try his best. Me and my penchant for misunderstandings would obviously choose to have him hide his multiple abilities and not just, y’know, tell or show them straight away.

I mean.

Say they saw Phantom before they ever saw Fenton. Flying. Phasing. Shooting ectoblasts. That’s not normal.

And if Danny saw something happen and jumped in to help without entirely understanding the situation? He might try to take down both heroes and bad guys because geez, those people almost got crushed when that building fell, and another bystander nearly got flambéed, and he knows he’s destructive when he’s trying to save people, but still. Giant Lady is a pretty good distraction if you need a distraction, and she could get away from the good guys fast enough, and that guy just walked through a brick wall, so there’s a good chance he’s overshadowed even if Danny’s too far away for his ghost sense to go off, and--

Point is, they (some) might mistakenly peg Phantom as a villain, at least until the next fight where they have time to talk. Danny, who very definitely Not Going Ghost until he figures out what the heck is going on, is found in the aftermath and assumed to be a victim--a tourist, probably, since they can’t understand him and he can’t understand them--and probably picks an ability to call a ‘quirk’ even if pretending to be quirkless would be smarter because he’s not convinced he might not do something almost on instinct, and then where would that get him?

Danny does not overhear the speculation that perhaps this Phantom is after him. He does not overhear the concern of the UA students who witnessed the fight. He does not know how many strings were pulled to get him released from the hospital--where he Very Obviously does Not want to be, but he can write off weird abnormalities as, say, part of his Ice Quirk powers; after all, sneaking away probably won’t do him any favours, even if he has to get out of there before they realize exactly how fast he’s healing--or how difficult it was to get him released into the protective custody of the good people at UA (or, more specifically, those who rallied for him to get the opportunity). Because he’s wary and spooked and confused but still ready to fight, and they can see that, and they want to help him. They’re not even sure how much training he’s had with his quirk, since even after extensive questioning and a subsequent exhaustive search, they can’t find any record of a hero named Frostbite.

They can’t even find a record of Daniel Fenton. Not someone with an Ice Quirk who matches his description, anyway.

Which makes some people wary, even when others are eagerly including him, because what if he’s a plant, a spy, otherwise not on their side even if he’s not working with any known villains, and--

Hogwash. Poppycock. Pick your old-fashioned word for it, but that’s pretty much how your thinking is going, someone else would say. Because the kid’s got a good heart, and anyone can see that. He wants to help people. He does, even when it hurts him. He’s got the heart of a hero.

With what they’ve seen of him, it’s enough to quiet the mutterings.

Until the day Danny forgets himself and displays another Quirk in a way that can’t be explained, especially in light of all the other incidents that were.

(related - Dani)

[crappyfics]

Self-Sufficient

Pairing: Sehun x Reader

Wordcount: 6.7k

ONE

The sun was setting, the traffic of cars increased by the minute, and the city noise got louder as more people took their way home. You were late and you looked up at the sky every few minutes trying to get a grasp of the time without having to pull out your hands from your pockets. Your large steps were clumsy and wobbly due to the spring snow that surrounded you everywhere. It was hard to believe, but you were determined to arrive at the restaurant on time. When you crossed the street and turned the block, you found the door of the establishment you were not very familiar with and proceeded to enter. A hostess moved to show you the way to the table. Dani waited for you and, alongside her, Chanyeol, who looked unamused on his seat. You sighed. Moving closer, they saw you and instantly your friends got up to greet you. With a smile and stretched arms, Dani anticipated a hug. You could almost feel people looking behind their backs to check out the heavy winter gear you were wearing almost as if it wasn’t spring already. 

“You made it,” said Dani with a hint of relief. You moved back towards your seat, sitting across from the couple. A waiter passed by and left the menu at the table. The waiter returned shortly after to take the orders and you were still quite shaky with your pick. There was some small talk as you three chose your food, then a little more catching up as you waited to be served. 

“So how’s Sehun?” Dani continued trying a nonchalance that wasn’t a feature of hers. Chanyeol almost choked on his water very embarrassed that this was what his fiancee suddenly wanted to talk about. Your eyes didn’t leave hers afraid she would read too much into you darting them away. 

“What about him?” you answered trying to use a similar indifferent tone and, surprisingly, you succeeded. Chanyeol, who usually didn’t participate in these conversations, now felt completely immersed into the topic without even asking for it. You were good friends so this whole situation wasn’t that much awkward, but Chanyeol had been taking Sehun’s side for as long as you could remember. 

“Have you made up yet?” she pushed further. It seemed like you both were missing on something there. But that was just Dani completely ignoring the fact that things were more complicated than anyone wished they were. 

“Dani, you’re not being nice,” interjected Chanyeol in your defense. It felt as if it was the first time he stood up for you when it came to this whole drama. “Let her be, okay?”

“I just think they’re both being ridiculous,” she snapped at him before turning to you. “I need you two to be together again. Your fighting was not on my plans.”

“This isn’t about you, Dani.” you sighed, “And this isn’t just a fight. We’re broken up and, honestly, I think it’s for the best of Sehun and I.” 

“This isn’t right… “ she said toning down her voice. You saw her eyebrows knit in a slight frown. “You’ve been a couple for as long as I know you. There’s no Y/N without Sehun and vice-versa. This isn’t right.”

Before you could respond, your waiter came around with your orders and although you had lost your appetite, you wouldn’t just waste your food. You retreated in your seat and ate your meal like a child who just got scolded. Everyone was silent, no one dared speak another word. 

Dani made you think. You’d been in a relationship for so long that in the end, it felt like you couldn’t exist on your own. Though, you used to think that you wouldn’t survive a day without Sehun, and look at you, two months and running. You were strong enough to be your authentic self. Dani was actually wrong. Absolutely wrong, you concluded. And you were sure Sehun existed too. He had always been so self-sufficient, you sometimes felt like a decoration ornamenting his life. “There is no Y/N without Sehun” bullshit! Bullshit! There was so much you without him, that now you didn’t need to be his ornament anymore. 

xxx 

“It’s a little too tight,” you struggled in the dress hugging you in the wrong places. You definitely found the whole idea of bridesmaids a little too tacky for your taste. But when Dani invited you to be her maid of honour, you kind of could not say no to it. But being the maid of honour was much more difficult than you thought it would be, which made the dress fitting the least odious task of all. 

“You look great in it,” Dani said, coming closer and adjusting the long skirt of the dress. 

“I’d look better if I could breath in it,” you retorted. Dani walked away and let the seamstress take a closer look. The woman took a few pins and marked the fabric with each of them. She then proceeded to leave the room telling you to go back into the cabin for she would be back to help you get out of the dress. Dani took the opportunity to approach you one more time. She’s got a strange look in her eyes, hints of embarrassment, feeling she was not very used to. 

“I want to apologise for the other day at the restaurant,” she said taking both your hands in hers but still hanging them low to your sides. “I was selfish and was a little bit of a bitch,” she laughed, “but you know I mean well. I don’t think you’re ruining my wedding.” you nodded.

You understood why Dani felt so emotional about your own relationship. It was because of you and Sehun that she was getting married. You remember when you introduced your friends to each other, coming from different circles and different stages on your life, but they hit it off well and soon after they were taking it further. Back then, it was all so natural, it did not feel like you had any responsibility in it. Though now, it seems to be a recurrent topic Dani brings around in order to try and mend things between you and your ex. Sehun wasn’t much of the sentimental type, this tactic could work on you, but if Dani tried it on him, she would have to deal with her failure. 

“Thank you,” you responded. 

You eagerly go back into the changing room to take off that dress that squeezed your lungs. You would be back at the dressmaker in a few weeks from then and you really wished next time would be a little more pleasant. 

“Do you mind if we pass by Roberto’s?” she asked as she fastened the seat belt. “I’m getting some takeout for Yeol, he’s busy at work.” she explained. You nodded not minding doing that detour and possibly getting some food as well. She drove off, and on the car you spoke wedding shenanigans which seemed to be the only thing you two spoke about. 

You liked to tell yourself that you didn’t really mind her gushing about the ceremony, the party, the honeymoon. You were genuinely happy for her, but it was still so hard to shake off the phantom of your just recently broken relationship. You thought that Sehun and you were meant to be… You believed that nothing could come in between you two, that fights and misunderstanding would occur, but they would end, and love would prevail. And sometimes you wondered if he thought the same things too. Though after so long together, marriage was never even mentioned, a future together was just happening but never acknowledged. Sharing an apartment was great, and it felt like home coming back to it everyday and knowing Sehun would meet you there. But moving in together sometimes felt like just a convenient decision, not a plan for the future. Then again, seeing your best friends getting married was a blast, but it hurt you deeply that Sehn never really gave you signs of wanting to be your husband. 

After the breakup, on a daily basis, you organized your thoughts and did your best not to think badly of him. Just because it did not go as you wished, it didn’t mean it was a failure. No, it was good, it was beautiful, and you truly loved him with all your heart. And you felt loved too, you couldn’t deny. Even when at times things were shaky, he still was your companion and he had love for you. 

You two got out of the car and went to order your food at the counter. Roberto’s was always really nice, it was the exact comfort food you needed after the seamstress poked you with her pins. You moved to search for your wallet, just to realise you left your bag in the car. You asked Dani for the car keys so you could go get your stuff. Getting an introspection of your love life was getting absent-minded, so you shook your head in a weak attempt to get back down to earth. Terrible idea when you’re crossing the doorway and someone else is walking in. You hit their front and lost your balance, but not enough to fall down. You took a step back and blinked your eyes open to find Sehun standing in front of you. His hand held you still. And there was someone else too, a very feminine young woman who stood just so close to him, you felt like the third wheel. You found your composure again, his hand no longer held your arm. You did not know what to say, or if you should say anything. It was just so awkward. 

“Sehun!” for you luck, Dani, who saw it all, took it upon her to get you out of that situation. “What a coincidence.” she said, forcing him to move past you and to greet her. The girl followed fast behind him. You didn’t want to look back, you just passed through the door and made your way to the car, deciding that you would not go back inside. Dani didn’t even have to ask, she just got your bill and ended her small talk with Sehun so she could grab the takeout and leave as well. From inside the car, you saw her leaving the restaurant and almost running to come meet you. 

“Do you think he’s on a date?” she asked softly. You wished you were indifferent, but it was quite hard to ignore that your ex was just a few feet away from you, just about to forget you completely and… move on.

Dani spoke casually as if trying to distract you. You couldn’t hear a word, there was just a buzz in your head and a tug in your heart. You felt vulnerable and for the first time then you didn’t have to hide how you truly felt. You let your tears fall and suddenly you were crying and crying, and couldn’t stop crying because that tiny little ball of hope in your heart vanished and then you knew he didn’t want you anymore. 

TWO

“You’re late,” Jean, Dani’s little sister, snapped at Sehun, who walked into the rehearsal  twenty minutes late. With the maid of honour too busy to scold anyone, someone had to be in charge. 

“Nice to see you too, Jeany.” he kissed her forehead before walking further where he was supposed to stand as the best man. Everyone watched him go to his place and by the look on Dani’s face, you couldn’t tell if she was angry or relieved. You turned away paying attention to the wedding planner who was giving instructions. She talked loud enough for everyone to hear but you were a bit too distracted to really absorb the information. 

“Now let’s try the entrance again,” the planner commanded. Everyone walked back to the door. Every wedding is different, you learned. Sometimes the groom enters from a door next to the altar, other times he walks the aisle. The bridesmaids and the groomsmen sometimes walk down the aisle separately, other times, in pairs. Really, there is no rule. And for Chanyeol and Dani’s wedding, you would be hooking your arm around Sehun’s and making your way to the altar together. 

“Hey,” Sehun greeted you coming to your side and standing there quite stiff. 

“Hey,” you responded. There was not much else for you to say. This whole situation was very awkward but you were trying to pull it off for your best friends. You turned back to Sehun to give him a smile, but he was looking away, also very uncomfortable with this whole thing. You listened to the planner give you instructions one more time. When she told you to get ready, you shyly hooked your arm around Sehun’s stiff one. He looked down at you and there he wanted to say something but then was not the time. You both slowly walked forward and then separated as you got to the altar. 

Twenty-five minutes later, and you could finally relax a bit. Moving on from walking up and down the aisle, everyone got ready for dinner. Around the table, you knew you’d be sitting next to Sehun, and honestly, a few weeks ago you thought it would have been easier. Maybe, it would even be, in a way, a delight. Then you could only think of how you could survive the next few hours with his presence reminding you of how hurt and jealous you felt. 

When he sat down next to you, that was when you couldn’t pay attention to anything else. You wanted to reach for his hand and feel his warmth again. Seeing him with someone else the other day was so wrong. He didn’t belong there with whoever she was. He fitted so perfectly right there next to you. You missed him and you wanted him back. You needed him back. Need him back. With all his flaws and his self-sufficient bullcrap. If you were not to have him again, then you would be alone forever. How does one move on from Sehun? How did you even think you were gonna pull it off? You already proved to yourself that you existed, and that you were authentic, and you were enough without him. You’ve always known actually! So there was no need to be away from him anymore, because although you could survive without him, you didn’t want to. 

He was shy to look your way, to start a conversation, and to be natural around you again. He didn’t know how to behave around his ex because for several years he didn’t have to deal with that kind of thing. You had been together for so long that social gatherings also felt very strange without one another. How did Sehun attend Chanyeol’s rehearsal dinner without you, the one who was there all along? And even if you were right there next to him, you were not with him. 

“I would like to give a toast,” said Chanyeol getting up from his seat and holding his champagne glass close to him. “To my best friends, Sehun and Y/N, for introducing me to the love of my life. Thank you for making this happen and thank you for being there for us through all these years. I love you two.”

Everyone raised their glasses, you smiled, you sipped. Simultaneously you and Sehun looked at each other, you shared this moment with a smile. You wondered if he felt the same way you did.

THREE

“How are you feeling?” you asked Dani who was taking her time washing off her make-up after the long day she had. She took a lot of space in the hotel room and you were happy she was enjoying herself. Having everyone just arrived a day or two ago, she had so much to take care of for her guests. With your help, everyone was well received and getting assisted regarding the wedding schedule. 

“I’m nervous,” she said. “More like, excited-nervous. Just one more night…” she squealed in excitement. 

“I’m so happy for you.” you smiled. Dani bent down over the sink and splashed water onto her face getting rid of the last residues of makeup. She finished up with a towel and with tired steps, she reached the edge of the bed where you sat. She hugged you. 

“I know this is all kind of… fucked up for you but you did great with Sehun earlier.” she said and you wanted to take it as a compliment even if she had no idea of how much you were shaking earlier. 

“Yea… we didn’t really talk.” you confessed, shrugging your shoulders not so proud of yourself. “I think he’s decidedly getting distant now.” Dani nodded. 

“How about you? Aren’t you distancing yourself either?” she questioned and you could only shake your head, slowly, side to side, trying to constrict your answer to that silent no. But then you sighed and it was heavy and it pained you. 

“I can’t and neither do I want to stop loving him.” you explained. “But I think it’s too late now to realise that. I… I don’t wanna talk about this okay? Right now it’s your moment and I don’t want to make it about me.”

Dani comprehended you very well. More than she normally would. Either was it because she was busy with her own wedding and had no time for the case, or maybe because she understood how much you must be hurting then. You talked a little more but when the clock hit eleven, you knew you should retreat from her room. Chanyeol would be showing up soon.  

You were tired enough to go to your room and sleep as well, but you were also so awake in your mind that you needed a drink or two before going to bed. You were not a great believer that alcohol could numb any pain, but that night you wanted to give it a shot. So you found yourself at the hotel bar and it was somewhat quiet, people were not chatting loudly and getting absurdly drunk. This was the mood you needed but it also felt like the calm before the storm. 

Of course he was there, sitting by the bar and sipping on his scotch. He never drank it cowboy, this time he was in for a change. Sehun never failed looking gorgeous and tonight, although he was clearly tired, he still shone before the golden light above him. It wasn’t a surprise that you felt the urge to approach and sit next to him. You debated shortly before starting to move towards Sehun and cautiously coming to stand right beside him. 

“Do you mind if I take this seat?” low tone, shaky hands tightly holding onto the chair’s backrest, he didn’t need to know you were insecure. Sehun turned to your direction with a visible scowl ready to tell you to go away. When he saw it was you, looking so soft and small, his expression softened as well, and the harsh response he was going to give to a stranger, turned into an also very soft “sure.”

You installed yourself on the seat and called for the bartender. Gin and tonic maybe? Sehun used to mock you for only drinking that. That day, he felt warm with the familiarity of the situation. 

“How have you been?” he asked you once the bartender walked away after fetching you the drink. You sipped from it taking your time to answer his question. Should you tell him the truth, say how emotionally wrecked you were, or should you just keep it casual, after all, it’s not like it mattered anyway? 

“Busy,” you responded. “Being a maid of honour almost felt like having a second job.” Sehun let out a nasaled laugh as he shook his head slightly. 

“If it makes you feel any better, I had to be in a room with a crying Chanyeol for three hours last Monday,” he continued. “And I still don’t know why he was bawling.”

You laughed thinking of Chanyeol being the big baby you knew he was. However, you also remembered how Sehun could be very gentle with people and caring with the ones he loved. He had a way of making his friends, and yourself, feel better with a hug and his supportive presence. He wouldn’t do much talking because he was too shy to say anything. But Sehun was always there when someone needed him. 

“What are you doing still up at this hour?” you asked him trying to find ways of not sitting in silence. He shook his head and took another sip from his glass.

“I had a rough day,” Sehun sighed, putting down his glass and staring at it avoiding looking up and meeting your gaze. You nodded feeling that you had a rough day yourself. 

You waited a little longer expecting Sehun to look back at you or to say something but he was quiet and concentrated on his now empty glass that sat in front of him. It was frustrating how you lost your touch, how you didn’t know how to approach that very man anymore. You didn’t want to become strangers but now your assumptions were proving themselves correct; Sehun was getting distant. You looked around, you looked for something to take you out of that situation or to just make it less awkward for the two of you. You quickly finish the rest of you drink without saying a word and proceed to get up from your stool. Your motion however didn’t make Sehun move an inch in his seat. 

“I know this is very awkward for you,”  your voice was as steady as you could possibly sound. But the words were hesitant like you didn’t even want to say them. “But it’s just until they’re finally married.”

You wanted to stay and wait to see if he would look at you. But the embarrassment of it not being a possibility made you walk out of the bar and take your way to your room. You had had a rough day and now more than ever you needed a good night of sleep. Feeling empty and dry, you never thought Sehun would make you feel this way. Years of relationship were going down the drain and it pained you endlessly. You were too silly to believe that you two would have lasted forever.

xxx

You did not sleep well, not to say you didn’t sleep at all. Your hotel room was nothing like your home, it was way too neat and clean, in a very impersonal way. You missed your apartment. You missed the apartment you used to share with Sehun. He would leave his wet towel on the bed, and an argument would begin right then and there. He used to complain about your hair that was simply found everywhere you went, especially in the bathroom, and it drove him crazy. And then again, another reason to bicker. One time, Sehun spilled coke on the bed and for a split second you wanted to kill him. That night, you had to flip the mattress upside down so you wouldn’t lay down on the wet side. The sheets were stained after that. Still, you kept them, using it every once in a while when all the other sheets were dirty. You didn’t sleep well just in that hotel room, you didn’t sleep well anywhere else. After moving out of the apartment, it was hard finding peace when you were left alone with your thoughts. Sehun kept the apartment. He also kept most things in it, and you wondered if he had any trouble sleeping. Before, he used to curl up on your side and wait for your hand to rub his back. If you weren’t there, was there anybody else taking your place? By his side, with her hands on his back, maybe leaving a peck on his neck as he dozed off. You didn’t want to imagine that scenario. Perhaps yes, he could have found somebody else, but you liked to tell yourself that at least she wouldn’t do the exact same things as you did. 

It was almost morning when the phone in your room rang. You let it ring a couple of times more before you answered thinking it was just a mistake. You moved on your bed quite clumsily and reached for the phone. “Hello?” you said when you brought it to your year. There was a silence on the other side of the line. “Hello?” you said again a little more irritated now.  You were about the hang up when you heard an answer. 

“I thought you were sleeping,” he said. Sehun’s voice was low and raspy as if he had just woken up, however, he hadn’t slept a wink. He cleared his throat. 

“I should be,” you answered. “Why didn’t you call me on my phone?” you asked not really knowing where this conversation was going. 

“I thought you wouldn’t answer if you saw I was calling” he answered, making you let out a small laugh through your nose. But then again, you fell back into silence. There was nothing for you to say at that point, not on the phone at least. And by the sound of it, nothing else Sehun had to tell either. He was quiet on his side of the line perhaps just waiting for you to make the first move. But when seconds were passing and you did not give any sign of speaking up, he decided he might as well just do it. “I can’t sleep.” Your heart was suddenly beating so fast, you could swear it was going to come off your chest any second then. But you kept your composure, not jumping to conclusions. 

“Are the bed bugs biting?” you said, very impressed you could still make a silly joke to hide your feelings behind it. Sehun let out a weak laugh almost like yours. You could almost see him in his bed, shirtless, sitting against the headboard, sheets covering his lap, his hand rubbing on his face. You assumed he was as tired as you were given the odd hour to be up and on the phone. “I can’t sleep either.”

“Can I come over?” he asked and your heart skipped a beat. The effect he had on you was unbelievable and you were sure he knew of that. He heard your silence. “I just… wanted to talk.”

“You didn’t give me a chance to say anything earlier. You didn’t stay to listen.” you felt in the wrong after hearing what he said. It was already hard enough to move on from him, you didn’t need to make it even worse by hearing his rejection one more time. He sighed. 

“To be honest, I didn’t think you had anything else to say.” you retorted but then regretted your tone. You breathed recollecting yourself in order not to overflow with emotions. “You have never reached out.”

“You haven’t either,” he retorted just as sharp.

You hung up the phone. You were a coward, that’s what you were. Unable to say what you wanted, unable to express how you felt. Though you weren’t alone in it, Sehun was very much of a coward himself too. So you sat back on the bed still a little high on whatever had just happened, feeling like a teenager again, loving and fearing in exaggerated dozes. You took a deep breath in order to ground yourself back. And then another breath to get you thinking straight again. Then you heard a knock on your door and you knew exactly who it was at 4 a.m. You got off the bed and dragged yourself to the door opening it in faux confidence.

“You never let me speak,” he said walking into your room without waiting for an invitation. “You never show up anymore. I only see you now if it’s either because of Chanyeol or for Dani.” he spoke rushed and desperate. “You avoid me yet say I never reach out!”

As he spoke you closed the door quietly and turned around to meet his gaze. It was quite difficult trying to maintain eye contact when he didn’t even bother putting on a shirt before running to your room. Not knowing where to put your hands, you crossed your arms over your chest holding yourself back from whatever it was you feared then. 

“What did you want me to do? To go to all the places I knew you were going to be?” you scoffed. “Last time I saw you, you were with another girl.” you spat at him. “You broke up with me and never reached out. I respected that. Of course I wouldn’t imagine you had anything else to tell me. You were already going out with somebody else short after!”

“That day!” he scoffed, copying your tone. “That day you didn’t even say hi.”

“Why would I? So you could introduce me to your new girlfriend?” you laughed. 

“I wasn’t even going out with her. That wasn’t a date. You love jumping into conclusion, don’t you?!” Sehun rubbed his face with both his hands, then proceeded to pull his hair back just to have it falling over his forehead again. You tigheted your arms over your chest and it didn’t go unnoticed by him. “She is a client. We had just gotten out of a meeting, if you ask me.”

“She was too close” you responded back trying to catch him in a lie. 

“I don’t know. I didn’t notice.” he said. “I was happy to see you, until I noticed you just wanted to leave.”

Maybe because it was late and you had not slept yet you started to see things. This was not the conversation you thought you would be having with Sehun in those given circumstances. Yet, there you were, not sure anymore of how to behave. You had spat out all your jealousy and insecurity, there was nothing else to hide from him except that you were dying to kiss his lips again. And from his part, he didn’t know what else to say though he knew there was something else yet to be addressed. He also craved your kiss even if it hurt his pride to admit it right then. After all, the break up decision was mostly his, and taking back on his choices was not something he was used to doing. 

“Why did you wanna split up?” your voice was lower now and in reflexion Sehun stepped closer to you, his chest less than a meter away. If he came any closer you wouldn’t know how to control yourself anymore. “You saw me pack my things away, clear the apartment from any evidence of me, convince Dani and Chanyeol that everything was fine, that we still could be there for their wedding. You made me cry and you know that. And I still do sometimes. And why now you tell me you were happy to see me when it was your decision to part ways?” you saw Sehun walking closer as you gave your speech, close enough to make you feel his breath hitting your face as you looked up at him. 

“I thought we could be happier without each other,” he said. “The fighting would stop,” he sighed. “I was getting irritated and I thought you were getting too. There were times I just wanted to be alone, so I thought it would be best if I could just be alone for sometime.” he shook his head left to right, eyes closed as if collecting his thoughts. 

“That doesn’t make it any easier for me,” you confessed. “It still hurts the same.”

“I know,” he sighed again. “I am hurt too, and I regret what I’ve done. If I could just turn back in time… I wouldn’t have given up on us like that. But the truth is, I had to make this mistake to realize how much I wanted you in my life.”

Still, it wasn’t any easier for you to hear these things. It didn’t erase the pain of the breakup. Yet, you wanted to fix things with him. You believed you could still mend what was broken and take him back just like you wanted. Though, you didn’t want to feel like an ornament in Sehun’s life again. He could make you feel that way sometimes and it was just as unpleasant as the current situation. You said to yourself once that you wanted him back with all his flaws, but his self-sufficient demeanor shouldn’t be in the way of your happiness.

“I wanted to marry you,” you said quite out of the blue. “I thought we would one day. I don’t know… I see our friends getting married now, and I think about it even more. I know we never spoke about it, I know.” you breathed, “ I just- I know you’re not that type of guy but I-”

“I was going to propose,” he cut you off. You saw Sehun lick his lips before speaking again. “I even asked Junmyeon to help me buy a ring. But I chickened out, you see? I wasn’t sure if it was the right time, if ever I would know when was the right time, I mean.” he explained and your heart was responding in a funky way, making you wanna hold it back against your chest. 

You were both scared. Everyone else made it seem easy to live a life as a couple, but in reality, you knew how difficult it was. They said “communication is key”, and for as much as you wanted to live by that motto, you never really did. Communicating was an issue in your relationship because you didn’t wanna take risks, and neither did Sehun! The both of you constantly feared losing each other but honestly, there was no good reason to! With all the flaws and mistakes, fights and crying, you just wanted to be together and communicating was terrifying if it meant you both had to open up and be vulnerable. Your thoughts started to make your head feel quite heated and your cheeks were burning like flames. You were going to faint if your body got any hotter. 

You didn’t know what else to say, and neither did he. But he sure knew what he wanted to do, so he took you into his arms in a tight hug, the type of hug after longing for someone. You felt that too. You needed that embrace. You rested your cheek on his chest while his face hid in the crook of your neck. You felt his breath fanning against your skin. It finally felt like home again. You felt his arms around your back, holding you so close, there was no escaping from it. Not that you intended to. You could feel his accelerated heartbeat against your own chest; you sighed. You knew he felt the same way. 

“I’m sorry,” Sehun whispered onto your neck. He left a kiss there and nuzzled onto your skin with his nose. You nodded in response and let out a sigh of relief. 

It was already five in the morning when you both went to bed. Still a little high on whatever had just happened but you were able to fall asleep. Sehun’s warmth kept you cozy under the sheet, with his body serving as a shelter for your smaller figure. You loved this. You loved being there, with him, like you always used to. Like when you had started dating back in college and his dorm bed was a bit too small for you both. It felt right just like that. 

FOUR

It was a busy day for everyone involved. Your hair and makeup were done by four in the afternoon, very short before the ceremony took place. Dani did have an argument with you for being late to meet her that day, she scolded you for not sleeping at night, she was also mad that you were eating a burger as the hairdresser worked on you. Though you hadn’t even told her about anything that happened the previous night. You wanted to share, of course! But there were other things more important at that moment and by the way your best friend was stressed and nervous, you could not suddenly make things about you. . 

It was not your day, really not your wedding, but when you saw Sehun coming your way and meeting you at the entrance of the chapel, it felt like no one could make you think otherwise. His suit fit him perfectly, his hair was pushed back with no strands falling out of place, and the sweet smile on his lips matched wonderfully. He looked like a prince coming out of the book, and his eyes that looked at you and you only, made you feel like you were the only one for him. Jean and the other bridesmaids were lined up behind you and for a moment you wanted them to just see how lucky you were. He took your hand in his and gave it a chaste kiss followed by another small smile. He took the opportunity to take your arm and wrap it around his own and wait til it was time for you both to walk down the aisle. 

“You were late again, Sehun,” Jean pointed out, making the man laugh and give her a look from over his shoulder. 

“I’m here, aren’t I?” he gave her a cheeky smile making you laugh with his antics. 

“Are you gonna be late for your own wedding?” she provoked him starting their usual bickering, the youngest always seeming more rational than Sehun who usually just said whatever to piss her off. 

“I’ll sleep at the church if it’s necessary,” he retorted, earning a laugh from her.

xxx

The lights were warm and they illuminated the dancefloor making it look like a fairytale dream, a place you would never want to leave. It did look like a magical place, and the newlyweds made a perfect choice of song for their first dance. Everybody watched and they looked so happy. You were especially happy and emotional for them, for seeing your two best friends making a promise of forever. It was probably the feeling Dani was hoping you had for her. You stood beside Sehun, who was much more soft now that all he had to do was watch. You rested your head on his shoulder and continued to watch as the couple danced until the song ended. Then another romantic song started playing and every single couple present came closer to dance along. It was so cheesy, but love was in the air and it was undeniable. Sehun didn’t want to admit it either, but he took you by the waist and guided you through the song. 

“This is the cheesiest song I’ve ever heard,” he whispered, faces so close you could feel his breath. 

“You love those.” you laughed at him. He nodded slightly and gave you a small smile. 

Sehun’s lips were brushing against yours, he was teasing you but at the same time, he was scared you would ever pull away. It was an irrational fear, he knew, but he also knew that he hurt you very much before and though last night things seemed to be fine, he could never be too sure. You felt his grip on your hips get tighter causing you to close the proximity of your bodies even more. You held your breath. You closed your eyes and he closed his, and his lips touched yours so delicately and slow, almost like a wind blow. 

“I love you,” he said when he pulled away just far enough for you to hear him.  

“I love you too, Sehun. And I will never stop loving you.”

[yvvaine]

ASOIAF hot takes ?

I’m not in the best mood right now as I have been working on an essay on the legality of war crimes all week (which is very uplifting in case you were wondering), but that kinda means I want to take out my frustration on something SO LETS JUMP IN:

1) Not much of a hot take but Dany is going be a villain, loves. Don’t misunderstand me: NOT. CRAZY. Nor will to be a sudden, last-minute twist either, looking at you Dumb & Dumber. She’ll be fully in control of her actions, impulsive with violence like she has a long habit of being, and it will end up having dire consequences that solidify her tyrannical tendencies. She’ll hurt and kill a lot more innocent people (more than she has has already….which is still more than a lot of people are comfortably admitting). And it will only become more apparent as the books continue. As the GRRM approved Meereenese Knot Essays basically stated: the dream sequence in the last novel was ultimately a turning point for Dany toward an even darker path where she embraces the family motto to a draconian degree. 

2) It’s worth saying just for the record that I love Daenerys’ idealism and her crusade for a more just, equitable world (how much you think that crusade is actually for personal gain, survival, and/or ambition under the general guise of righteousness is on you though), but it ended up being pointless and ill-executed.

2B) On that point, I’m vehemently against those who counter any criticism of her crusade, specifically how she handled the crucifixion of all men wearing togas (which were a symbol of wealth, not just of owning slaves) over the age of 14, as being “pro-slavery” when that’s usually far, far from reality. I’d argue that though she tried to make the situation better, which is again admirable, she eventually becomes a glorified slaver herself, literally. “Mysa is a master”. Think about it, I mean at first she “liberates” cities based upon opportunity, and impulse, and what they can offer her, at that moment. But it’s a short term power/resource grab, and all she ends up doing is creating a bigger mess for the mostly-innocent people that live there, sentencing them to lives in horrid conditions like hunger, death, violence, and poverty. In Meereen she uses the people that she liberates (and its not like these “ex”-slaves had better options other than to follow her, or families elsewhere, etc. … plus to them she’s this albino goddess come out of ashes to save them who has these magical, thought-to-be-extinct dragons; it seems reasonable she’d amass a following on that alone) as her unpaid labor force in various inhumane conditions. Then the city becomes so mismanaged, chaotic, and violent because she is so inept at actually, ya know, ruling, that she allows said people to sell themselves BACK into slavery, SO LONG AS SHE GETS A 10% CUT…. sort of like A SLAVER. I just don’t think the metaphorical America in GRRM’s Afghanistan, considering how anti-war he is in real life, and how disastrous he’s said that that expression of imperialism actually was, is going to end up being the good, ethical guy you want in charge by the end of his novel allegorizing the triumphs and pitfalls of power. His whole point is that good intentions don’t guarantee good actions or good outcomes, however honorable that they might be. Short term decisions are just that; short term. 

3) Sansa is not like Lysa in any way besides their casual connections to Littlefinger (of totally different natures) and their red fucking hair. I see a lot of gifsets or meta —usually by extreme Arya stans (which to be fair: you do you! I’m not about to sit here and tell anyone how much they should or shouldn’t love a particular character; the whole point of literature is that its entirely subjective and based off of emotional connection) — that states to some degree or another Arya = Lyanna and Sansa = Lysa when like….. no. I agree its very apparent that Arya shares a lot of personality and appearance-related attributes with her paternal Aunt, but that does not foil to her sister and other Aunt. If anything Arya has a stronger Lysa-connection with the whole “jealous of the more beautiful and dutiful red-haired older sister” thing. But that’s a silly and superficial parallel at best, just like claiming a connection to Lysa/Sansa because of shared geography and a “Tully look”. Moreover, on the Tully note, there’s nowhere that it says Sansa and Lysa look alike the same way the text explicitly says Arya and Lyanna do. They just both have red hair and blue eyes. That fact alone is not enough to constitute a parallel; in the books their face shape, eye color, physical figures, and other attributes like cheekbones are described totally different. Even the color of their red hair is described in different shades. 

4) People need to stop discounting Sansa’s connections to Lyanna. Yes, they are not alike in looks or personality the way that Arya and Lyanna are, but their stories align very closely in many ways that Arya and Lyanna’s do not. Both were Northern princess with broken betrothals to “Baratheons”. Both were debatably romantically involved with Crown Princes. Both were given tourney roses. Both “kept/imprisoned” in the South. Both’s strengths were underestimated because of their beauty (Porcelain, Ivory, Steal, vs. You saw her beauty, but not the iron underneath). Their siblings went to war for them (and independence too) and their fathers and brothers were executed in the south, on the King’s orders. Both have strong song motifs, rose motifs, etc. And they share a lot of literary quotes besides their famous beauty v. metal parallel (i.e. “like a ghost, dead before her time” is repeated once in regards to Lyanna, and once again by Sansa, no other times). Just…. stop discounting them. 

5) Arya’s story is not one of duty and ladyship, stop trying to fit her into that mold. She doesn’t want to be the wife, mother, or queen. In her own words: “Thats not me, that’s Sansa”. She’s finding herself and trying to survive while being true to who she is at the same —  that’s her journey of personal growth. To accept her rebellious nature, her untamed wildness, her adventurous spirit and know it doesn’t make her a freak or bad at being a woman. While I know a lot of people might hope that the end of her journey is like, “I’ll be a queen of the people sitting at my desk doing paperwork and running a castle and kingdom and all that it involves”, but I would be sorely disappointed if that’s her endgame, the woman they’ve been trying to mold her into since the beginning. I can understand why: she understands the common folk and their needs, wants, and humanity, in ways that no other contender for queen does. Daenerys has always been a degree removed from the people, even when she wast technically supposed to be a part of them re: her marriage to Khal Drogo, and she has become further and further removed from the people she rules over ever since. Margaery doesn’t truly, truly care about them, but rather sees them and their love as a source of popularity/power. Cersei is Cersei. Sansa bought into the role of the “high dignified lady” and the class system that unwittingly upholds the duty she’d been taught to model, and though she is learning that its a load of crap - especially as the “bastard” Alayne - and has always been very, very kind throughout her imprisonment in Kingslanding to dealing Sweetrobin in the Eryie, she still has a long way to go before she is truly a lady of the people, (which i think is the crux of Sansa’s journey).

I think I’ll stop there - thats enough ranting for one day! It did make me feel a little bit better though, I have to say! Thank you for the ask dear

Xx 

[allons-ymrholmes]

Justice - a GoT Fix It Fic

The ending we DESERVE! AO3 (X) FF.net (X)

The ash in the air has finally started to dissipate by the time Sansa and Bran arrive in King's Landing.

Sansa's nose twists in disgust as the acrid smell of destruction hits her.

She looks over to where Bran rides beside her, strapped into his modified saddle. He seems unfazed by the stench, keeping his eyes front.

Bran told her they had nothing to fear riding to answer the Dragon Queen's summons, and though the thought of returning south terrified her, Sansa has learned not to doubt her brother.

All her other advisors warned her against this trip, they were being summoned to face a trial for treason after all, but Bran insisted.

The Red Keep comes into view, and Sansa swallows back a satisfied smirk as she sees its half-collapsed form, smoke still rising in some places.

Jon is waiting to greet them, looking as solemn as ever.

He greets Sansa with a nod, and begins helping the guards unload Bran's chair.

When it's ready, Brienne pulls Bran from his horse and moves him to his wheelchair.

"Why did you ride south?" Jon asks quietly, leaning in so only Sansa can hear him.

"Bran insisted."

"She's waiting for you in the throne room… or, what's left of it," he tells them.

Sansa sighs and takes a step forward before Bran's voice stops her.

"Tell her to meet us in the Godswood," Bran says, and then he waves a guard forward to push him.

"Bran, now isn't the time to make demands of the queen," Jon argues, agitated.

"All will become clear."

The guard begins to push Bran away from the front of the keep, and Sansa glances back and forth between her brother and her cousin.

She chooses to follow Bran, hoping that his three-eyed raven gift holds the answer to overcoming their precarious situation.

I suppose though, she thinks, if I must be executed, I'd prefer to be defiant to the last.

Despite the destruction of the city, the Godswood seems almost untouched, much to Sansa's surprise.

The even bigger surprise, however, is the fully grown Weirwood tree in the center of the clearing. It wasn't their before, and she knows that enough time has not passed for one o sprout and grow so massive.

Bran positions himself beside the tree and waits, cryptically silent.

It takes fifteen minutes for Daenerys to join them.

She marches in, expression as dark as the storm she was born into. Jon is two steps behind her, followed by Grey Worm, several Unsullied, and Tyrion.

Sansa's eyes are drawn to her former husband, and her stomach twists uncomfortably as she sees the manacles on his wrists.

"Am I to understand you wish to pray before admitting your treason?" Daenerys demands.

"We are not here to answer for treason," Bran tells her. "We are here to give you the justice you deserve."

The Unsullied rally to their queen, weapons at the ready.

"You dare threaten me?"

Dany's eyes are all fire as she stares Bran down, her upper lip twitching.

"It was not a threat. I've come to help."

Dany laughs.

"How can you help me? I have accomplished what I came here for. The Seven Kingdoms are mine. The Iron Throne is mine."

"Did you accomplish it in the way you had hoped to?" Bran asks. "By burning women and children as they fled, looking for safety?"

Daenerys' expression shifts, and for a brief moment sadness fills her eyes.

"I… did as I had to," she says, quietly. "I took back my throne, with fire… and blood."

Sansa can hear the tremble in Dany's voice, and for a moment she sees a scared, vulnerable girl before her.

"Did you do it because you wanted to, or because you lost control over yourself?" Bran presses.

"You're implying that I'm going mad, like my father! I assure I am noth—"

"You misunderstand me. You didn't lose control because you are going mad, but because you were being influenced by darkness not of our world. Let me show you."

Bran reaches one hand out and places it flat against the side of the Weirwood tree. His eyes close, and lips start moving. He's mumbling beneath his breath, but Sansa can't make out his words.

A sound like lightening cracks loudly, emanating from the tree and the trunk splits open, orange light spilling from inside it.

Everyone stumbles backwards, away from the tree.

Sansa finds herself next to Tyrion and she glances down at him nervously.

He's looking up at her, and seeing her trepidation, reaches his bound hands up to hold her hand reassuringly.

Another loud crack blasts from the tree and two figures fall out of the hole in the trunk.

Bran removes his hand and opens his eyes. The orange light fades and the tree closes itself back up as if nothing happened.

The only evidence that something had happened is the two men now huddled at the base of the tree.

Sansa has no idea where they came from.

Surely they weren't both hiding in that tree?

They are wearing the strangest clothes she's ever seen. The material seeming to be of very high quality, but the style is something only a peasant would wear.

Slowly, the men find their way to their knees. They begin to stand, but the Unsullied move forward and keep them down, aiming spears at the newcomers throats.

They look extremely confused.

"What the hell, guys?" one of them asks. "Did someone forget to pay the extras?"

The one who spoke has dark hair, shaved almost to the scalp, and a dusting of hair on his face.

"Emilia, what's going on?" the second man asks.

This one has hair longer than the other, dark as well, at least on the top of his head, the sides are shaved closer and are starting to silver.

"Emilia?" he asks again, looking at Daenerys.

"My name is Daenerys Targaryen, Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. You should beware the way you address me."

The two men exchange looks, clearly confused.

"These are the men responsible for what was done to this city," Bran says. "They are from another world, and they are the ones who rewrote your fate."

"Isaac, what the hell is going on?" the man with the shaved head asks.

"Who are you?" Daenerys demands.

"Em, it's us. Daniel," he says pointing to himself, "and David."

He points at the other man.

"You are the reason I… I did what I did? To those people? To this city?" she asks, voice cracking.

Her face is so hopeful, wanting so badly to believe there is a reason for her barbaric actions other than madness.

"We've been over this. It had to be done. Dany going mad was the quickest way to end it," David says.

"What dark magic is this?" Jon asks, stepping closer to Dany protectively.

"Kit, man, come on. Joke's over."

"They are also responsible for Tyrion freeing his brother, and for Varys turning on you so suddenly," Bran says. "They are the ones who made Sansa decide to share Jon's secret, and have made Jon withdraw from you."

"It had to be done," Daniel says. "Just like we had to kill Missandei, Jorah, Rhaegal, Theon… we've been over this before. What is wrong with you guys. Show's over."

Daenerys' shock turns to fury.

"Bring them to the pit." Dany orders, turning on her heel and marching away.

The Unsullied force David and Daniel to their feet and urge them forward.

"Ouch! What the fuck," David complains as he's prodded with a spear.

Sansa releases Tyrion and goes to push Bran's chair.

"What is going on?" she asks, wheeling him to follow the procession.

"I am righting what needs to be righted. Our fates were shifted by those men, but now we can release ourselves. We are in control once more."

"Who are they?" Tyrion asks, falling into step beside them.

"In their world they go by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss. They make money off of writing our futures, and by making us suffer."

They walk in silence for a while, until Sansa can't help herself.

"I am sorry for your loss," she tells Tyrion. "I may not have liked your brother, but he did help save my life in a way. And I know how much he meant to you."

"He was a good man," Bran adds. "Much better than they wrote him."

"Thank you… both," Tyrion says, sounding choked up.

In front of them they can hear the men trying to talk to the Unsullied.

"What is happening? What is going on with this set?"

"Who put this together?"

"This is spectacular."

They enter the Dragon Pit and the Unsullied force David and Daniel to kneel in the middle.

Everyone else lines up around the edge of the pit.

"Can we please get these off?" Sansa asks, pointing to Tyrion's chains.

Dany looks over, thinking for a moment before nodding in agreement.

Grey Worm comes over and produces the key to release the bonds.

"Thank you," Tyrion says gratefully, looking up at Sansa.

Dany approaches the center of the pit, walking towards the kneeling men.

"You are horrid, terrible men," she says. "Despicable dark magic wielders who dare to interfere in our fate. And I, Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen, first of her name, Queen of the Seven Kingdoms and Mother of Dragons, sentence you both to death."

"Alright, Emilia, enough is enough!" David shouts. "We get you aren't happy with your new arc, but it was time to end it. This has gone too far, and I am not goin—"

Wind rushes around them, followed by the sound of great flapping wings.

Drogon appears, descending from above, landing right beside his mother.

David and Daniel shout and fall back in fear.

"What the FUCK?"

"Holy fucking shit! Oh my god!"

"Fuck… that's a fucking dragon?!"

Drogon leans in to nuzzle Dany.

"Any last words?" she asks the men cowering before her in pools of their own piss.

"Please, please, no," David begs.

"We… we just wanted to do Star Wars," Daniel sobs.

"And I said I will end all wars," Daenerys tells them coldly. "Dracarys!"

X X X

After the dark wizards were reduced to ash, it was like a cloud lifted. Everyone felt it to some extent. Like a cloud of despair that had plagued them was suddenly gone.

Despite the reassurance it wasn't her fault, Daenerys mourns for those she hurt. She doesn't have the burning drive to be queen any longer, and she and Jon decide to sail to Essos together, both just wanting a fresh start.

She surrenders her throne to Sansa before she departs, much to the Northern girl's surprise.

Bran returns to Winterfell.

Arya and Gendry decide to travel west together, looking for adventure in the unkown.

Brienne becomes captain of Sansa's Queensguard.

Sansa and Tyrion remarry and rule the Seven Kingdoms peacefully, and justly, providing their people with more prosperity than any have ever known.

THE END

(we deserve)

Author's Note: Fuck D&D... enough said <3

[howlsmovinglibrary]

So i noticed you reblogged a lot of got. I followed you bc of your book reviews. I wonder if you read ASOIAF? It'd be cool for you to review it. And also it'd provide me see your stand towards the writing of the last season, & your perspective towards Arya as retconned Night King slayer, the dull (and abusive) romance bw jnerys, jon's character assassination and the lack of his POV, and the show being Dany's show (at the expense of other chars).

Oh wow anon, it’s very rare that I get asked to go off, but I’m more than happy to take you up on the invitation to rant!

In answer to your first question, I have read the first book of ASOIAF, but unfortunately I personally feel George R.R. Martin’s strength is his plotting, and now that the show has kind of unmasked the plot of those first books I find it difficult to slog through his writing style, just because it’s not suited to me. I got to 100 pages from the end where Ned Stark is wondering whether or not he’s gonna die and was like…I kind of know how this ends.

As for my manifold problems with the writing of this last season, I have them, although they don’t seem to be lined up with yours exactly. I have placed this under the keep reading tag, because Long Post. And Spoilers.

Arya

Ok, so as for the Arya plotline, I actually didn’t mind this. I realise it goes against a lot of the material of the books (which I haven’t read), but I think that however much of a retcon it is it makes a lot of logical consistency within Arya’s storyline itself. I was personally getting to the point, with Arya going around Winterfell and not really doing much, of wondering “why did she go to assassin school again?” I think that her getting to kill the Night King validates a lot of her plot arc, whereas before her training was slowly becoming useless and irrelevant to the current situation the writers had put her in - of course this goes out of the window come the last war.

I would actually argue that this decision, bar its illogical and rushed execution, had elements of why I loved GoT’s more established plot twists. You had a strong fantasy genre trope, the Chosen One, in Jon, and then reality intervenes and breaks it. Jon is trying to fight a fucking huge dragon, and is therefore, logically, preoccupied. So someone else gets the kill. I liked that. I mean, it seems like prophecy has just been UTTERLY DISREGARDED in this entire season rather than twisted or subverted, so I guess if we’re feeling particularly generous (which no one is) it might even be “making a point”.

 And yes, we haven’t seen any of her assassin powers over the course of this season (because the writers are retconning her into a nicer ‘antihero’ and not outright eviscerating psychopath), which makes me wonder why she even has them. But I’m actually ok with her getting the Night King kill.

And I’ll dream of the alternate universe where Arya kills Cersei wearing Jaime’s face, actually utilising her skills, getting her ‘green eyed’ kill, and fulfilling Cersei’s prophecy.

Danaerys

So, I hate Danaerys, but I don’t really agree with your viewpoint of her. I don’t really feel like this became ‘her’ season at all. In fact, I feel like this season was just a lesson in how to gaslight a woman into madness and relegate her entirely from her own fucking story.

I will outright state that, I wanted Danaerys to go Mad Queen. I think her character has had problematic elements from very close to the beginning: regarding her sense of entitlement which is not underpinned by an actual competency in regards to ruling, her idealism, and her tendency as a white character to weaponise the brown people she essentially colonises for her own goals. These are not the reasons D&D give to justify her ‘madness’. In fact, they say she’s always been mad for punishing abusers. It just shows now…because of a bad break up.

Danaerys’ “descent into madness” was so badly written that I get mad just thinking about it. It essentially comprises all the men around her having conversations with each other saying “I think she might go mad”, and then her doing a Bad Thing for no discernable reason. This is 1. BAD WRITING, because SHOW NOT TELL. Also, NARRATIVE CONSISTENCY. If you have to have Tyrion outright narrate what you are retconning as her evil past, which is what he did in the final episode, you have not written a consistent plot. Viewers are not stupid. And 2. It’s just awful in terms of gender. Literally, Dany is a woman who becomes isolated and the men around her pathologise her as mad rather than communicating with her and allowing her the agency to authorise her own existence. It’s like The Yellow Wallpaper. There’s so much gaslighting! Everyone says she’s mad for thinking people will betray her as they betray her in the same breath! Jon says he loves her and then punishes her for desiring him! It’s just absurd. I wanted this to happen and they still fucked it up.

Once her sexual desire is just for her and no longer consumable by the male viewer, because its incestuous, and her ambitions outstrip the men around her, suddenly she’s evil. 

And do not get me started on all the awful racial connotations of her story a) being fuelled by the pointless fridging of the only named black woman and b) being utterly endorsed by all the people of colour within the show unquestioningly while all the ‘good’ white men suddenly have their doubts. The way Dothraki war cries were basically used as background music to signify evil savagery made me sick. They literally weaponised race as a way of connoting fear and evil. The fact that her “evil speech” was basically a straw feminist recycling of her liberation rhetoric in a way to condemn all her thoroughly understandable and initially intentions from the very beginning was just a way to validate every Incel’s fear about SJW discourse. Instead of, I don’t know, CRITICISING HER AS A COLONISER. Maybe unveiling her hypocrisy? Nope! All black people are evil and will never question orders because they have been consistently stripped of their humanity! They are a faceless army of non-whites! And oh yes, all women are evil for wanting to enact violence on those who want to abuse them!

Honestly, I think this season of the show has been as much at the expense of her character as anyone else’s. Because it’s not been written well, or believably, and it feels like a complete reduction of the very real potential she had as a critique of imperialism. She’s just a mad woman. 

Jon

I can’t really talk that much about Jon. I kind of cover it above. I’m not sure if you think Jonaerys is abusive to Dany or to him, I would argue the former because of the gaslighting. 

But I will say, he must’ve taken his refresher course in Stark Honourable Stupidity after actually being competent in Season 7. According to D&D’s logic, if he had simply slept with Dany, a woman he loves, she wouldn’t have gone mad. It’s only in GoT that I can justify incest, but he should’ve taken one for the team. 

And maybe kept secrets better.

Just…the show in general

Really, I’m just so disappointed with the show in general. The plot, like Jaime’s characterisation, is so profoundly circular.

We still have an iron throne. We still have an utterly corrupt council elected through nepotism (although I guess we’re supposed to like them now?) Fuck, we still even have a wall even though ALL THE WHITEWALKERS ARE GONE.

Everything was so rushed and irreverent to the point of incompetency - I mean, everyone has seen the coffee cup. Prophecy and foreshadowing was utterly disregarded (I’ve spared you my Jaime Lannister rant because you didn’t ask), nuance was completely lost. I cannot believe that Cersei’s death was an anticlimax, that she didn’t do anything in that final battle but shed a manly tear, had barely any lines of dialogue despite the fact that she is one of the strongest characters of the entire series. And yet EURON GREYJOY got a triumphant death. It is so disingenuous. I really don’t think the fanbase would’ve been that hard to please but it seems like everything was denied us in the name of ‘subverting expectations’.

And however well shot the battle scenes were, I found it profoundly boring because there was no real motivation to drive the action. It was just screaming, and death, and oh yes some gratuitous rape because that’s what every viewer is here for, right?! I watch Game of Thrones for the character intrigue, not the violence or the blatant misunderstanding of what “authentic medievalism” entails. The fact that I watched the finale of my favourite show and did not cry once - me, who cried four times in a single Critical Role episode - is just a testament to how hollow and heartless the writing became.

[wickedgamesfanfic]

Chapter 6

Shani

"Good morning sunshine." Imena chimed as I entered the kitchen.

"Good morning." I said less than enthused. It was Monday morning and I was still in a funk behind Friday nights events. I still couldn't believe that bullshit really happened.

"Girl if you don't fix that chubby little face of yours. It's been two days. And you're still mad. Let it go." She rolled her eyes as she placed a hot cup of joe in front of me.

"I'm not mad." I lied placing the cup against my bottom lip and enjoying the scent.

"If you're not mad then why haven't you returned his car?" She asked with a raised brow.

"Shit. After what he did he's lucky I haven't trashed that bitch." I scuffed. Imena laughed as did I. I talked a lot of shit but had no intentions of doing any such thing. But it felt good to say it.

"I'm surprised he ain't called the police on your crazy ass." She shook her head and I shrugged my shoulders. "I honestly do believe there was some sort of misunderstanding Shani. From what you've told me something just isn't adding up."

"Yeah he misunderstood the difference between my and our. As in this is 'our' house, not 'my' house." I joked taking a sip of coffee. "He also misunderstood the difference between me and other bitches. As in 'other bitches' play those games but not 'me'."

We shared a laugh. A knock at the door however quickly caught both our attention. I raised a brow in confusion. It was 8 o'clock in the morning. Who could possibly be knocking at our door this early.

A smirk spread across Imena's face causing me to cut my eyes at her in suspicion. "You should probably get that?" She said nodding her head toward the door.

I peeped through the peep hole to find Darwin on the other side. I let out a sigh of relief before unlocking the door and pulling it open.  For a moment there I thought maybe this nigga had indeed called the cops on my ass.

"Good morning Darwin." I said after opening the door and stepping aside.

"Good morning Shani." He said with a smile. I turned to walk away and stopped dead in my tracks upon hearing another set of footsteps. My eyes locked with Imena's. She giggled so hard that she began to softly choke on her coffee. 'Good' I thought to myself.

"Good morning Shani." Michael said sending a cold chill down my spine. I rolled my eyes before heading to my bedroom as my bare feet slapped against the hard wood. I grabbed his keys and made my way back to him.

"Here." I said holding his keys out for him to take. I could feel him peering down into my face although I refused to look at him. It's not that I didn't want to. More like I couldn't.

"Can we talk?" He asked gently. But there was nothing left to say as far as I was concerned. I placed his keys in his pocket and took a seat at the table.

"Darwin remember that thing I had to show you in my room?" Imena said standing to her feet.

"What thing?" Darwin asked confused. She softly slapped his arm and he finally got the hint. "Oh that thing." He said following behind her.

I rolled my tongue against the inside of my jaw and folded my arms across my chest as the door closed behind them. I could hear Michael take a few steps closer to me but I refused to look at him. "I gave you your keys. I really don't see what else there is we have to talk about." My tone was flat and icy.

He took a seat across from me as if I'd offered him one. It was clear that he wasn't going to leave anytime soon. I realized that and decided if my tone hadn't been enough maybe my glare would achieve more. My eyes met his and to my surprise he simply stared back unmoved by my scowl.

He took his keys from his pocket and placed them on the table. "If you think I came here to get the car you're wrong. You can keep it for all I care, as long as you agree to hear me out." My eyes softened. "Just hear me out. That's all I'm asking."

I was completely caught off guard by his move. Did this man just offer me a six figure car in exchange for my time? Was he crazy? Or just that serious about what he had to say?

"I'd rather you had brung my shoe." I joked pushing his keys back across the table. There was no way I was accepting such a lavish gift from a guy I barely even knew. Even if the little time we had spent together made me feel as if I knew him better than I actually did.

He smiled placing his fingers against the side of his forehead as if to say 'he had forgotten'. "How about I take you to go get more shoes?" He offered. I raised a suspicious brow.

"I'd rather have that one back. They're my favorite. Besides they have sentimental value." I admitted and he raised a suspicious brow in return. I didn't want to elaborate on why it was important he returned the other half of my lucky pair of shoes. It wasn't something he deserved to know at this point.

"Here I was thinking all women saw shoes as disposable objects once they served their purpose." His shoulders relaxed a bit. He was getting comfortable.

"Well I'm not most women." I declared returning to my original scowl.

"I'm noticing that." He admitted. This time he looked away but at nothing in particular. I was giving him a hard time. But he deserved it.

"Look can I take you out to breakfast? I just wanna explain myself." He returned eye contact. His eyes pleading for my acceptance this time.

I laughed coldly. " First you offer me your car, then new shoes and when all else fails, you offer to take my fat ass to breakfast. Let me guess ... it's because most girls never turn down food!" I yelled slapping my hands down on the table. His eyes bulged and he looked genuinely alarmed by my response.

The door to Imena's room was swiftly yanked open and Darwin attempted to come out before being snatched back in by Imena. I rolled my eyes before returning my attention to Michael. Darwin had better sit his ass back down before he was next.

He looked genuinely dumbfounded. I smirked internally waiting to see if he would eat the bait. I was still very upset with him but a big part of me wanted to at least hear him out. I was mildly impressed with him at this point. He was trying very hard to prove himself to me. But he needed to understand that I wasn't like other girls. He couldn't use his money to apologize to me.

"Shani listen. I'm sorry if I hurt you or disrespected you in any way. Those were not my intentions. I really like you ... and I'm just trying to explain my side of this fucked up situation. I get it. You're not like other girls. Why do you think I'm here? I noticed that from the first moment I laid eyes on you." He pushed his seat back and stood to his feet. "And I asked you to breakfast because I thought maybe your fat ass was hungry." He snarled before beginning to walk away.

I noticed he left the keys on the table yet again. He reached for the door knob but before he could turn it I spoke up. "Michael!" I yelled at his back. He stopped taking a sharp breath and turning toward me.

"I'm always hungry." I admitted with a toothy grin. He cut his eyes at me as a smirk spread across his lips.

****

He took me to a diner he used to frequent and we enjoyed a nice breakfast as he tried his best to explain Lydia and her insane actions that night.

I listened very intently trying my best to keep up. And to my surprise I actually felt kind of bad for the girl. I always found myself sympathizing with women in situations like this. It's clear that she had mistaken his attention and affections for something more. But looking over into his face I couldn't blame her.

I was no stranger to falling heads over heels in love with a charming cutie. I wasn't sure if it was the woman in me or the writer in me that tended to run away with my thoughts. Either way I was left disappointed once I realized the feelings were one sided. I just hoped like I had that Lydia had caught the hint and would carry on with her life. Though something in me strongly made me feel otherwise. This wasn't just a cutie. It was Michael B. Jordan.

"Please excuse me." He said before heading to the restroom.

I took this time to blow bubbles into my half drunken cup of chocolate milk. I had been suppressing the urge to do so in front of him for the fear of him deeming me childish for doing so. If this was childish then childish was I.

"Old habits die hard." An all too familiar voice said.

I closed my eyes and wished the voice away. I had to be hearing things. There was no way I was hearing what and who I thought I was hearing. My greatest fear was confirmed as he took a seat next to me, placing his arm around my shoulders.

"Long time no see twin flame." He said nuzzling his face into the side of my neck. I was completely frozen and unsure of what to do next. I could feel my heart began to thud against my chest. I was sure that Dani could too at this point.

"Dani I ... I ..." I stuttered over my words in fear. A part of me was thankful we were in public but a part of me knew Dani.

"You ... You ... you thought I'd never find you." He whispered wrapping his hand around the back of my neck and digging his nails into my skin. I winched but knew better than to make a scene. "You can't fucking hide from me. Not even in Hollywood. You're still mine no matter how hard you try and convince yourself you're not. You belong to me just like that money you took. And I plan to collect on all debts very soon." He whispered into my ear.

I wanted to scream but nothing came out. He released his grip just as Michael approached our booth. "Hi, I'm Michael." He said cautiously as he extended his hand toward Dani. I was still paralyzed with fear so I hadn't bothered to look up into his face. "Shani are you okay?" He asked in a concerned tone. I felt Dani dig his nails into my knee beneath the table and quickly caught the hint. I placed a fake smile on my face and nodded as Dani placed his hand in Michael's.

"Dani." He said proudly giving Michael a firm handshake. "I'm a huge fan man." He admitted before digging into my knee once more and stepping to his feet. "Nice meeting you man. Shani I'll be seeing you." He said with a wink before walking away.

I sat in a daze for a moment until I felt Michael place his hand on my shoulder. "What was that about?" He asked with a raised brow.

[kateinvogue]

Against All Odds || Dani + Kate

TAGGING: @kateinvogue and @acupdaniharper

DATE:  Thursday July 26th, 2018 

PLACE: ACup

NOTES: Kate runs into an emotional Dani in the ACup bathroom just hours before Battle of the Bands. 

DANI

The last twenty four hours had been hell for Dani. She couldn't believe that she got into another fight with Sam, and during it let out the insecurities she had been holding onto for weeks. Yet again she was about to perform while fighting with her girlfriend, and it sucked. She had no idea if Sam would show or not. Honestly, she had no idea if they would stay together or not. Those fears were what had the typically bubbly and carefree Dani crying in one of the A CUP bathrooms. April had been so worried about her, that she told her to finish her shift early and try to pull it together before her show that night. She had also offered the singer a shot of something, but she turned it down. She was scared that if she started drinking then, she wouldn't stop which would not be conducive. Rachel and Kate would probably murder her if she was drunk right before a show. 

KATE

"Excuse me," Kate politely stated as she eased her way past the line of people waiting at the counter. It was late Thursday afternoon and she was surprised by the sheer number of people milling around Acup. Surely they weren't already waiting for Battle of the Bands? Regardless, Kate was on a mission. Vogue was currently swamped in preparation for the September issue and she had worked right through her lunch in order to meet an editing deadline. The rest of the band would be furious if she showed up hungry and unprepared to rehearsal, so Kate had stepped out of work a half hour early with the intention of picking up a quick meal for her trip home.  She pushed her way into the bathroom with the intention of washing her hands and paused at the sight of Dani leaned up against the sink crying. "Dani?" Kate moved slowly over to where her bandmate stood and put a reassuring hand on the other girl's shoulder. "What's going on?" 

DANI

When Dani heard Kate's voice, she wanted to ask the universe what kind of sick humor it had. Having the woman who inadvertently is the cause behind all the drama her relationship be the one to comfort her was not ideal. She was hoping she could pull herself together before she saw Kate, so her friend didn't have to feel bad about it all. Apparently, there was no way of that happening. "Hey," she said meekly after trying to get her emotions under control. She wiped a bit of the tears from her eyes and took in a deep breath. "Oh, it's probably nothing. Just got into another fight with Sam yesterday." 

KATE

Kate reigned in the cringe that was fighting its way onto her face.  Just last week she had talked to both Sam and Dani about the impact her mistakes had made on their relationship. It wasn't hard to guess that she might have played a part in their fight today. Blair's words from a couple of nights ago echoed in her head and Kate swallowed down the feeling of shame quickly rising up her throat. "Oh, Dani- I'm sorry. That's not nothing- you love her so of course it's going to affect you. Is there anything I can do?" 

DANI

"I don't know about love yet, but I'm falling for her. She just can't see that," she said with a shake of her head. Dani straightened herself up as she ran a hand through her hair. She was exhausted. Not just from the fighting, but from the fact that she had picked up an extra shift at the bar last night to avoid staying alone with her feelings. Once she said them, it was like a dam opened that was overflowing her mind with hurt. She needed to keep busy. "I said something that I can't take back, and now, I all the hurt I've been feeling about it won't go away. Before I could shove it to the side and just think that it was going to get better. Now, I just don't know, Kate." 

KATE

"Have you ever considered that maybe saying it was the best thing to do?" Kate knew the question was a huge wager, especially not knowing exactly what Dani had said. "Because if you're thinking it and have been thinking it perhaps having it out in the open is better for both of you. So if you do regret saying it you can have that conversation about why it was a thought in the first place?"  She glanced at her reflection in the mirror and tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear nervously. "Or, you know, you could talk to me about it. Because maybe some of that hurt is directed my way. I wouldn't blame you."

DANI

"It wasn't though because now it's like the flood gates have opened, and I can't push it back anymore," she said after sniffling. When she heard Kate offer herself to essentially be a punching back, Dani's head snapped to look at the woman. Sure, Kate had complicated her situation unknowingly, but the other woman was her friend. She could never blame her for something that honestly isn't her fault. "None of this is your fault. I fought with Sam about how carefree, happy, and trusting she was when she was with you. She rooted for PL, she didn't fight with you about people in your life, and she was all in. I don't have that, and living in your shadow is a little hard, but that's not your fault," she said with a sad smile. "How Sam is dealing or acting with me isn't your fault. Sam has to see it and make it better." 

KATE

Dani's renewed focus on her made Kate's stomach drop. She was certain this was the moment that her friend would confirm that all of her worst fears were true; that she was indeed a terrible friend who played games and broke hearts to her own benefit. The feeling of dread was so overwhelming that it took Kate a few seconds to process what her bandmate was saying. "Before I say anything else can I just say how sorry I am for the part I continue to play in this?" She asked, leveling her gaze to meet Dani's own. "You can say it's not my fault, but I did create a reason for Sam to be so cautious. I'd like to own that. Past experience has shown me that she's willing to try and see the other side of an argument. Call me naïve, but I think you'll find that pointing those changes in behavior out to her will allow her to see it and make it better Perhaps in the meantime I can do my best to clear the air between her and I." 

DANI

"You can apologize," she said softly after trying to clean up her eyeliner as much as possible. Luckily she wore waterproof makeup because she expected her hormones to be crazy so the damage was minimal. "And I accept your apology even though I don't feel like any of this is directly your fault. But yeah, Sam does attribute the way she is right now to you. She thinks she's broken when really she's just scared. It's frustrating." Dani had tried pointing out how different Sam was when it came to her, and well, all she could do was hope that when the woman calmed down that she would listen to it. Last night she was far too stubborn to actually hear what Dani was saying. "I pointed that out to her yesterday, and now all I can do is hope that she listened when she cooled off. I think you two clearing the air would be good though. Not for me or our relationship, but for both of you. It doesn't do anyone any good to hold on to all that pain and regret." 

KATE

"Can I tell you something?" Kate asked, her hand flitting to grab another tissue in case Dani needed it. The conversation she had had with Sam last night was still fresh in her mind. She hesitated a moment before continuing, aware that revealing the details of a private discussion had already landed her in hot water once this week. All things considered she figured Sam would be okay with it in this instance. "Sam and I actually had a great conversation last night after my blow-up with Blair. I'm not sure what will come from it, but I'm hoping it will be good. I think we were able to sort out some misunderstandings and, at least from my perspective, I think I might have gotten through to her." Kate hoped that her words would prove to be true. The last thing she wanted to do was give Dani false hope about the situation. Pushing the worry aside for now, Kate moved in to give her friend a hug. "Have I ever mentioned what an incredible person you are? Neither of us should be carrying this weight during the performance. Think April's got something in her stash to shake it off?" 

DANI

Some people might have gotten upset at the idea of their girlfriend talking with their ex girlfriend, but Dani wasn’t one of them. She was genuinely happy they were trying to talk and work things out. The two of them needed the closure for themselves more than anything else. “I’m really happy you two are talking. Thank you, Kate. I know you root for us.” Dani smiled and happily returned the hug from her band mate and friend. “You have, but I think you’re being too kind. I just try to spread love and sunshine honestly. As for that, amazing idea. I’m sure she does. Let’s go get a shot of something.”

[sergeant-angels-trashcan]

so I, myself, cannot believe the words I am about to say, but here it is: 

the show did something better than the books.

that thing is Jorah Mormont.

Now, I feel like show!Jorah being an exceptionally better person than book!Jorah has more to do with the fundamental misunderstanding of the character by d&d than any active thought process on their part...

I think book!jorah is an obsessive dudebro. He’s inappropriate and creepy, and Dany still has to deal with him because he has experience of her home, etc, etc, though with Selmy on the scene Jorah’s narrative function is no longer his alone and Selmy does it better. 

Show!Jorah is another thing entirely. I feel like it’s partially Iain Glen’s fault. Does anybody else look at Iain Glen and hear I Need A Hero playing in the background or is that just me...?

A lot of show decisions are based on actors. The way an actor handles a character is going to change how you write them, and who you cast is going to change dynamics as well (look at what happens when you cast Missandei as an adult, not a ten-year old child) Honestly I think a lot of choices d&d make can be attributed to how they feel about their actors (like everything that’s gone on with Sansa but that’s another post)

So basically, Iain Glen is a dreamy sort of fella. I want him to be a romantic hero. Hell, in the show I root for him to wind up with Dany because--stay with me here--show!jorah has none of the super offputting dudebro qualities that book!jorah has in spades.

book!jorah is creepily projecting his wife onto dany, while show!jorah...doesn’t? I don’t think we get that big of an exchange about her in the show but it’s been a while, I could be wrong

Where book!jorah tries to keep other men away from Dany, show!jorah encourages her to have other advisors. he doesn’t jealously guard her time or try to scare other people off (particularly if they could be military allies!) just because they are attractive men who his queen likes

where book!jorah touches dany without permission, coming into her rooms while she’s naked and kissing her, show!jorah, while occasionally reaching out to touch dany, immediately takes his hands off of her when she says “no.” I’m going to talk about this more in a bit, but how Jorah physically interacts with Dany is a huge difference between the book and the show.

show!jorah sees Daario leaving Dany’s rooms and instead of acting like a jealous pissbaby, acts like a decent person and doesn’t try to make her feel bad about it--apart from general “he’s a sellsword they aren’t exactly honorable” kind of thing, which i believe any of her advisors would do in that situation. jorah then goes on to give her good advice! and make a really great plea for mercy! a plea that, imho, only works because Dany has a good relationship with Jorah, one where he doesn’t creep on her.

show!jorah has matured and learned from his mistakes in a way book!jorah hasn’t, and i’m not sure if he ever will. 

book!jorah tells dany he loves her, expecting it will change her mind--expecting he will get something in return for it (a Nice Guy). show!jorah tells her he loves her as an explanation in and of itself. I don’t think he actually believes it will change her mind, he just wants her to know. She tells him it’s a shitty reason and exiles him, and he goes because he knows she’s right to do it.

book!jorah then goes and finds a prostitute that looks like dany....show!jorah just takes up alcoholism. both have problematic interactions with Tyrion, but while book!jorah seems to be passively accepting his fate when they are captured by slavers, show!joarah still has a pretty single-minded purpose--to deliver his Lannister bargaining chip to Daenerys. This might not seem great--his actions to get to fight in front of her might not seem great, either--but I still think there’s an...an intent, there, that book!jorah is incapable of. The opening of the fighting pits is a multilayered dramatic device in the books and the show, but in the show I think it seems as more of an active penance for Jorah. This is his way of helping her--trying to lessen the amount of pain and bloodshed she has to witness--but also, if if his death will help her, will make her stronger or atone for this crime against her, he’s willing to do that. 

Clearly, he hopes she will save him. And she doesn’t, but the all hell breaks loose and he helps save her. 

show!jorah works to return to dany, but when she tells him to go, he does. even when he is exiled, he is still looking for ways to protect her, or to get her to her end goal of Westeros. It’s not so she owes him anything; it’s to pay his debt. 

show!jorah goes to rescue dany, with Daario, a dude he hates as a person, but who he respects as someone who has done good service for Dany. Then, when Dany is tearing herself up a bit about what to do with him, Jorah is basically like “you don’t have to un-banish me, you actually really need to banish me because I’m going to die a slow horrible death by greyscale”. I don’t think book!jorah is capable of that. If he is, it will be a huge turning point for his character, because this is a very selfless thing to do. I think it would be more likely that book!jorah would use catching greyscale as a bargaining chip with dany (if he does contract the disease in the books, which i find highly unlikely, at least while they’re in essos)

is show!jorah perfect? no. I’m not arguing that. he’s a flawed character. he does good things for bad reasons and bad things for bad reasons. but show!jorah is in a completely different league than book!jorah re: ownership, women, and what he’s owed.

the way iain and emilia play this relationship is a huge deal for me, too. particularly once he comes to dragonstone, iain’s jorah is very careful not to touch dany without her initiating it (the reunion hug, their farewell on the beach where she reaches for his hands). he doesn’t impose. the way book! and show!jorah physically interact with dany is so different and I think it’s so important. 

and while i am surprisingly grateful to d&d for once, i do think they miss the point with jorah.

book!jorah is that creepy coworker/boss/regular customer that all women have to deal with at some point in their lives. he’s a very clear stand-in for the sort of “casual” sexism women often face. the show has boiled away almost all of that for dany’s storyline, though, so i guess i’m not surprised. show!jorah is like...the antithesis of the Nice Guy™. sure, he screws up, yes he has flaws, but he doesn’t think he owns dany, or that she owes him anything (and if he did ever think that, him getting caught out as an informant put and end to that).

to sum up: i think show!jorah feels remorse. book!jorah is just sad he got caught

so bascially show!jorah>book!jorah, and if you ever see me say nice things about him, rest assured it’s show!jorah

[scatteredmoonlightt]

Dear Creator [Darkest Night]

AO3: scatteredmoonlight

Dear Creator,

Thank you for creating something for me! I'm really excited to read anything you write and can't wait! I've listed by DNW and Loves below, and included some prompts for each request.

General Things I Love: I really love winter, rain, nature, forests, snow, autumn, autumn leaves, sweater weather, hurt/comfort relating to cold weather. Mission fic, case fic. Competence kink. When characters are being smart, using their skill sets (especially as transferable skills). When characters communicate to each other and bypass misunderstandings. Loyalty. Trust. Action/adventure. Thriller, suspense. Explosions. Wilderness survival. Journeys/epic quests. Espionage. Secret identities, identity porn. Rescue missions. Angst. Hurt/comfort. Purple prose and characters being turned on by clothing, military uniforms, uniforms, anything to deal with clothing.

Romantic Things I Love: Fluffy possessiveness like sharing clothes. Working out problems as they arise and communication. Get together. Obliviousness. Pining. Best friends pining and afraid to ruin the friendship or feeling out of their league. “Oh no, they could never love me!” Sharing a bed. Mistaken for a couple. Trapped in small spaces and feelings occur. Kissing to avoid being seen by the enemy. Resolved sexual tension.

Smut Loves: More on the vanilla-ish side of things than hard kink. Dirty talk. Teasing. Vaginal (fingering, PIV). Pregnancy (getting on off on how you COULD get pregnant but won’t this time, especially for historical/quasi-historical fandoms), dirty talk, smut after huddling for warmth, morning sex, angsty pining sex, blowjobs, cunnilingus, belly buttons, coming without being touched, coming too quickly

I Love Dark Themes, Too: Wilderness survival, vanishing hitchhikers, urban myths, folklore, demon deals, hauntings, vengeful spirits, Phyrric victories, necromancy, accidentally opening up Pandora’s Box when you thought you were saving the world, political backstabbing, conflicted loyalties, curses

DNW: All the AO3 archive warnings. Vomit, urine, shit, other bodily fluids like urine, feces, vomit (sexually and non sexually, including any kinks relating to it as well as toilet humor). Mpreg, pregnancy, kidfic. Rimming. Internalized homophobia. Biphobia. Omegaverse, A/B/O. AUs not requested by me. Using the word “bitch” outside of dialogue. Mental illness. Insomnia. Suicidal thoughts. Eating disorders. Unrequited pining/unresolved sexual tension.

* * * * *

Game of Thrones (TV) Jon Snow/Sansa Stark (GOT)

Carrying (One Character Carrying Another)  Orotective!Jon carrying a whumped!Sansa, or a Sansa who isn’t strong enough to carry a wounded Jon, but there’s no choice unless she wants to leave him to die.

Confession of Love Ends Disastrously I feel like they’d have a lot of reasons to resist getting together (incest, politics, Jon/Dany, emotional baggage, so much more). I’d love this with anguished pining.

Hypothermia Sansa isn’t used to the cold at the Wall, the Long Night is more frigid than either are used too, they get lost and one is succumbing to the cold and needs some hurt/comfort.

Incest - incorrectly believe they are related/more closely related than they actually are I’d love if they never find out they’re not siblings, or they find out they’re not siblings once it’s too late.

time loop can only get broken by kissing love interest/confessing their feelings I like the potential for angst and pining, resisting their feelings, and the horror once they realize what it will take to break the time loop, especially if they weren’t aware of their feelings before the time loop.

In a love triangle for someone's requited affection only to fall for the seemingly unrequited rival I’d love if it Jon is at the center, he has feelings for Dany and it’s mutual, Sansa loves him too but it’s seemingly unrequited (incest, political!Jon going undercover for the sake of the North).

* * *

Shadowhunters (TV) Magnus Bane/Alec Lightwood (Shadowhunters TV)

Badass in Distress They’re both such badasses, I’d love them broken and whumped and needing help.

Honeypot Seduction Magnus is a spy for the Downworlders during a Cold War-ish situation, and so he spies on the Shadowhunters by seducing the closed, broody Head of the NY Institute.

Hypothermia  Hypothermia that magic can’t fix.

time loop can only get broken by kissing love interest/confessing their feelings They’re on two opposing sides, very different people on the surface, Alec repressed his feelings, Magnus has good reason to avoid Shadowhunters, they never got in each other’s orbit without Clary... so much to make this time loop agony for either of them. I’d love it especially if they’d never met before the time loop started, and a slight preference for Alec being caught in it.

Haunted Houses I’d love something creepy for a mission.

Folklore & Urban Legends Similar to the show Supernatural, in the first season where the cases are based on urban legends. I’d love if Magnus and Alec are solving cases/completing missions based on folklore and urban legends like the hook man, la llorona, haunted paintings, seven sisters, etc etc.

* * *

The Vampire Diaries (TV) Damon Salvatore/Elena Gilbert (TVD)

time loop can only get broken by kissing love interest/confessing their feelings I don't mind any particular setting for this, though I would be partial to season 1 or season 2, and for Elena to be stuck in the time loop.

Bodice-Ripper This is asking for shameless smut, but Damon seriously needs to rip those Founders Day dresses off her. 

Blood Kink Damon feeding on Elena. Pining, hurt/comfort, angst, whumped the hell out.

Choking I'm choosing this more for smut that anything. Manhandling, choking, etc especially if Damon feeds on Elena.

Marriage as Consequence Neither Intended of Winning Ritual Combat Against The Other Maybe Elena has to evade being hunted by Damon or it's a shoot out of sorts. As long as Damon doesn't punch Elena or there's any violence toward Elena specifically like that, "combat" can be whatever strikes you! I'd love some sort of AU where vampires have a more powerful presence in society.

Twisted and Fluffy Feelings Fluff that's just wrong somehow. Maybe some fluff where Damon is feeding on Elena or Elena gifts him with blood from a fresh kill.

unresolved issues from their past They both have so much baggage and angst I'll never grow tired off.

* * *

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (TV 2018) Harvey Kinkle/Nicholas Scratch (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) 

Badass in Distress Neither of these two will won't want to admit to being in so much danger that they need to be saved by the other one. Maybe there's banter, denial of how serious their injuries are and then needing to be slightly carried out, trouble in the mines and only magic can get Harvey out, Nick in danger over something only mundane human abilities can save the day.

Caught in the Rain I'm thinking of kisses because I love kisses in the rain -- but the dark version of this.

Character Discovers They Aren't As Human As They Thought They Were Harvey has magic.

Common Cold can be Fatal for Nonhuman(s) I want more of Nick pushing past the pain/downplaying how seriously ill he is, then after much whumping, Harvey comes with comfort.

Dependent on Enemy for Survival I loved the episode with the witches attacking first borns in Greendale and how Nick wound up having to save Harvey, and he needs Harvey’s help to do so. I’d love more of that push and pull dynamic where they wind up having no choice but to rely on each other for survival.

Twisted and Fluffy Feelings I love fluff SO MUCH, and I’d love the darkfic version. Maybe Nick tries to court Harvey the warlock way and it’s all kinds of fucked up... but it’s weirdly sweet of him.

Wilderness Survival Harvey’s a hunter and been in the mines. Nick is familiar with the woods very well. I’d love to see them tested in the wilderness.

Dark Magic & Magic Curses & Witchcraft I coupled these three individual freeforms together because I like the relationship between them all. I love the style of magic in the show so much and would love more of it in fic. 

[thecatsaesthetics]

I do think Rhaegar and Lyanna were in love. With that in mind, I really dislike them both (understandably something frowned upon in regard to Lyanna). Obviously I most of my dislike falls on Rhaegar who was a grown man with responsibility to his wife&children and the realm. He abused his power. Now Lyanna, while I feels sad for her because she was so young and suffered a tragic fate, I cant get over the fact that someone who understood the shame in infidelity would willingly dosowithamarriedman.

I don’t really like blaming Lyanna too much, she was 15/16 year after all.

That being said I think the Rhaegar and Lyanna relationship is something we can criticize GRRM for. Often times people misunderstand my opinions on them, it’s not that I believe the relationship is healthy, or okay, or something I would personally write. I just tend to be a realist about things, I don’t like making elaborate headcanons in order to suit what I want or what I would personally write myself. 

My stance is, as the books stand right now I don’t believe what happened what Rhaegar kidnapped Lyanna or raped her. I think GRRM will write them as a romantic couple in A Winds of Winter. (We���re probably getting flashbacks from Bran) I think it’s obvious Rhaegar was in love with her and from the Knight of the Laughing Tree he’s setting up that Lyanna was in love with him also. 

It’s not that I want this to have been the case, or that I ship them (I’ve been accused of that), nor do I think this is something good GRRM is doing. It’s just I don’t see evidence that points to anything but this happening. I’ve seen interesting meta’s on Lyanna and what her motivations were,  which I think would be great ideas for other stories or for fanfictions but I just don’t think GRRM is doing that. 

We have to be honest GRRM has a problem in his series with age gaps and problematic relationships, whether it’s S@nsan, or Dany or Drogo. I don’t think we have a lot of evidence for GRRM caring deeply about age gaps. It doesn’t seem to be an issue for him. 

That being said I understand how this situation arose with GRRM, remember A Game of Thrones wasn’t written to be a literary piece like LOTRs was. GRRM didn’t intend the series to become what it is today. He didn’t expect feminist critics to be scouring through it with a fine tooth comb. GRRM though being a feminist himself I believe has attempted to make his last two books very feminist in nature (hence why fantasy dudebros don’t like them) but I don’t think he can go back and fix the problem of Rhaegar and Lyanna this late in the game. 

GRRM from what I understand has expressed some remorse over how young he made the characters in ASOIAF, when he started the series out he always intended to age them up eventually but that has proven to be impossible. 

I think this why authors need to be careful about their writings, you never know what is going to get extremely popular. I don’t think GRRM set out to romanticize an unhealthy couple with extreme power dynamics, but I think this is going to be the endgame case for the series.