#this perturbs me so much it shouldn't but it does

[thenightisland]

my night got completely derailed by a post that had a map of what constituted the midwest and i just want to take that person gently by the hand and tell them that no, memphis and nashville tennessee are not, by any stretch of the imagination, midwestern

[mirouie]

roommate!percy blurb because let's ignore that i haven't written anything in a month . . .

the funny scene in the movie should've made you laugh, but it didn't. if anything, it's made you grimace like you're in pain, because it's made percy laugh, and goodness knows what his laugh does to you.

you like percy's laugh. you like the boyish cadence that carries with it, the little roughness around the edges tickling your ears in the best way possible. you like his voice when he talks to you, low and soothing as if his words are secrets meant for you and you only. you like his smile, his eyes, his hair, the way he smells.

shit, you just like him, really.

but he doesn't know that. he shouldn't, he's not allowed to, because he's your roommate. and roommates don't like each other like that, right?

"hey." the single word is a bird's song when you hear it. your eyes snap towards percy's, strikingly blue under the fluorescent glare of the tv. he's so pretty, your brain reminds you, and you forget to listen or respond to him for a second. "... you okay? is the movie boring?"

"what? no." your voice feels weird in your throat when you speak, mouth dry and tongue heavy. it's like you forget how to talk when you're around him, and you want to slap yourself because it's stupid. "no, the movie's not boring, percy. i'm sorry, i wasn't paying much attention.”

"what's going on in that pretty little head of yours, hm?" he taps a knuckle against your temple, the chaste touch feeling like fire under your skin. he inches closer before you can reply, and then his thighs are pressing against yours and you feel close to exploding.

"is something bothering you?"

"no!" silly, stupid. you clear your throat. "i mean... no, no. nothing's bothering me, percy. i'm okay." you wish he'd go back to watching the movie.

percy frowns, a real deep one, as if he's greatly perturbed by your answer. "please tell me, sweetheart. please?"

"i don't like seeing you upset."

you're grateful for the dim lighting, because the blush on your cheeks would've told him everything he shouldn't know.

"i'm not..." you sigh. "i'm not upset."

"then what's going on? did i do something wrong?"

gods, no, percy, you're an idiot! you want to yell, but you don't think it's very fair. you're being an idiot, too.

"you laughed."

percy's visibly confused. you want to run away and hide. "i, what?"

"you laughed. i... i don't like how it made me feel."

his brows furrow like what you said is a serious problem. "you... don't like how my laugh made you feel?"

he chuckles, unsure.

"see, you're doing it again!" you groan, hiding your face in your hands. percy's gone from your sight for all of three seconds before warm palms are wrapping around your wrists, gently pulling your hands away from your face. you feel like exploding again.

"what's wrong with my laugh, honey?"

you don't meet his eyes, you can't. you'll combust if you do.

percy hooks a finger under your chin, tilting it upwards to face him. he's a menace.

"tell me why you don't like my laugh, sweetheart."

"'s not... 's not that i don't like it, it's just..."

"it sounds nice."

the grin percy sports is giant. nothing could've erased it in that moment.

"you're upset because my laugh sounds nice and you don't like how it makes you feel? do you feel good hearing it?”

"stop asking me questions, percy!"

he is a menace, really, because he does what you ask and pulls you into a hug instead, burying his teasing and grinning into your hair.

—

hey so i actually don't like this that much because i think i've forgotten how to write but yeah! sorry if it doesn't make a lot of sense, this is just smth off the top of my head :P i'll write something proper soon though hopefully! xx <3

[luveline]

hi jade !! this is me resending my hotch request bc of ur recent post 🤍 i sent the one about hotch taking care of bau!reader who has a really bad stomachache, thanks so much, i think you’re amazing 💞💞💞

thank you for requesting angel! fem

You do this sad thing with your hands when you're in pain. Aaron wishes he didn't know your tell, that he'd never had reason to understand it, but he does. Your fingers, in particular your pinky, curl toward your palm frenetically, and he has an ample view of your closed off face in the chair opposite. He can pin the moment he knows you're in pain down to the minute twitch of your lip. 

He peeks at Morgan where he lays on the couch before leaning across the table to touch your arm. The jet offers little privacy, so Aaron tries to be delicate. 

“L/N? Are you alright?” 

“Mm,” you hum, too high-pitched to have come out the way you meant it. 

“What's wrong?” 

“Nothing.” You say this, and yet you can't open your eyes, leaning less than subtly away from him as though your pain is catching.

Aaron keeps his head down as he stands so as not to attract attention. You've sat near the wall, leaving an empty seat for him to sit in. “Hey,” he says, touching the crook of your elbow, wanting to fix it, soothe the twitch from your hand, “you're in pain.” 

“It's nothing.” 

“Saying it won't necessarily make it true,” he says. 

“It felt worth trying.” 

He is genuinely perturbed to see you in pain like this without explanation. “You have to tell me what's wrong.” 

“Hotch, I…” you say, your voice wrought with embarrassment as you open your eyes, “it's just my stomach hurts. That's all.” 

“Sharp pains?” 

“Just hurts. Nothing dire.” 

“How do you know?” he asks. 

“Happens sometimes.” 

He puts his arm around you, careful not to jostle your back. You're tense as a rubber band about to snap. It's unlike you to be the more rigid of the two of you, less foreign for Hotch to have softened, especially when it's you. “How often?” he asks, wary of the tears brimming like silver at the corners of your eyes. 

“Just sometimes, I don't know.” You speak in a concise, panicked tenor. 

In this line of work, it could be anything. Not eating enough, not having time to stop for breath. You could be thirsty, sick, anxious, stressed into pain. It could be purely psychosomatic or you could be injured. He can't remember you taking any blows during the last few days away. It could be your period. You might not want to mention that. 

“Y/N,” he says, falling out of boss mode now he's sure it's not going to kill you, and into someone who cares for you, “what can I do?” 

You shudder a breath, slouched under his touch. “It's not that bad.” 

It's clearly a shocking amount of pain. Your shuddering worsens as he pulls you into his side. He's prepared to sit with you until you can give him better instructions, or until the pain passes, or, God forbid, things get worse. “I'm here,” he says, rubbing your arm gently. “Try to breathe.” 

He's wondering why you might think this amount of pain is normal, or acceptable. Wondering why he shouldn't just call for medical assistance here and now, but then you start to come around, your face shining with perspiration. “Oh,” you sigh, wiping your face with your sleeve, leaning into your hand, hiding. 

“Is it getting better?” he asks. 

“I think it's anxiety or something.” Your breath slips out in disjointed huffs. 

He can't guess what it is. Have you been to the doctor? he wants to ask, but perhaps in a moment, when you're steady in yourself again. “From the jet?” 

“No. Maybe.” You frown. 

“Jack doesn't understand that I'm on a plane.” 

You lift your gaze in confusion. Aaron moves onwards.

“He doesn't understand that this is a plane. I brought him by, once, to try to explain why I can't always answer the phone. It's thick metal, you know?” It was an easier explanation than having no signal in the sky. “But he didn't get that it was something that could move. I had to take him to the airport. We watched…” He slows as your eyes meet his completely. “We watched them take off for hours. Now he doesn't get so angry when I don't answer.” 

“Jack was angry?” you ask, half incredulous. 

“A bit.” He tries to string the story together before you can realise what it is he's doing, his arm curling around your from behind, fingers making the most tenuous of circles into the very side of your stomach. A barely there sort of comfort. “It's not like him. He reminds me of his mom when he's angry.” 

Your smile is a physical relief to see. “Does he have tantrums?” 

“Doesn't every kid?” 

You talk about Jack in dulcet tones while he tries to keep the pain at bay, his arm steadfast behind you, your faces closer than they have any platonic business being. He'll pester you into doctors appointments when you touch down, but for now, he just holds you and talks to you like everything is normal. 

You cover his hand with yours when the pain starts anew, talking through it, pain in the soft line of your bottom lip. 

“Am I hurting you?” he asks. You give him a weak smile. He feels awful, but it makes his heart race. So close, and so pretty, and so upset. “Is there anything I can do?” 

An embarrassing amount of weight lies in ‘anything’. You shake your head, whispering, “Nothing. This is enough.” 

Aaron pulls you in closer and wraps both of his arms around you, hiding you from the others, an aimless attempt to protect you from a pain he can't touch. Someone puts a cup of tea on the table for you, but otherwise you're left alone for the rest of the flight. 

[fierymiasma]

⨯ A Little Game // Sebastian x f!MC x Ominis - Silver Trio ⨯ Part 2

Summary: Ominis and Sebastian start the game of wooing the hero of Hogwarts. It's too bad that she's too dim to see it.

Words: 2.1k

|| Masterlist || AO3 || Upcoming ||

Part 1 Here

She still couldn't believe how much Sebastian and Ominis had changed over the summer…the flirty personalities, the growth spurts, their sudden, stunning attractiveness.  No one but her seemed perturbed by the newfound oddness of her the two Slytherin boys.  Natty had scoffed at her concerns ("That's just what puberty does to boys").  But the hero of Hogwarts knew better.  There was only one possible explanation…

…Sebastian and Ominis were both cursed by some type of evil ancient magic spell.

Nibbling on her quill, the hero of Hogwarts pretended to be listening along to Professor Binns's dull droning.  Back ramrod straight, her glazed eyes stared ahead at the blackboard.  Her thoughts whirled a mile a minute.  Something nefarious was happening to her two best friends.  Maybe it was Polyjuice potion, or some type of imperio, cursed objects…or a magic so ancient and evil it had not yet even been named.  Yes, something strange indeed was happening to her boys.  And she was going to get down to the bottom of the mystery if it was the very last thi-

"You've been quiet all morning." A silky smooth voice practically whispered in her ear.

It was foolish to even attempt to think rationally around someone as effortlessly attractive as Ominis.  The hero of Hogwarts stared straight ahead at the indecipherable blackboard, ignoring her urge to look at Ominis.  She hadn't been prepared for the intensity of the boy's appearance at King's Cross.  She wasn't going to make that mistake twice.  

Her mouth felt so dry. It was still a struggle to come to terms with how unfairly gorgeous he became.  "Ominis, I'm trying to pay attention to the lecture.  Don't distract me."

The corner of his lips tugged upwards.  Bitingly sarcastic, he replied, "Ah, yes, the lecture…and tell me…what are we learning about today?"

"Um…"  Her tongue darted out licking her dry lips.  “We’re learning…um…history?”

"’Learning history?”  His voice dripped with amusement.  "In our History of Magic Class?"

The back of her neck tingled with embarrassment.  Her heart ached, begging to sneak a peek at Ominis's amused expression. 

Perhaps sensing her unease, Ominis lightened up on the teasing.  He leaned closer, concerned.  Their clothed elbows briefly brushed against each other.  Blood traveled to her cheeks.  Was that a careless mistake or an intentional act to rile her up?

Ominis's voice was so gentle.  "Is everything all right?"

 'Was everything all right?'  What type of question was that?  Her two best friends have all of a sudden gotten possessed by…some type of magical…well by something!  And Ominis was just sitting here nonchalantly, completely not bothered.  She folded her arms, "Why wouldn't everything be all right?  You think something is wrong with me?" 

She couldn’t stop herself from glancing at his expression.  Immediately, she regretted it.  His face was so soft.  A brow furrowed in gentle concern.  "Sebastian and I are just worried, is all.  You haven't been acting yourself lately.  Sebastian told me that you weren't at breakfast today-"

Her heart lept into her throat. So the two of them noticed that she was avoiding them.

"-You must be famished.  Lucky for you, I saved you your favorite: apple tarts."

With a minuscule flick of his wrist, Ominis summoned the pastries out of his bag.  They floated smoothly in front of her, gracefully avoiding Professor Binns’s notice.

She blinked.  She…had never told anyone that her favorite pastries were apple tarts.  How did Ominis find out?  "O-Ominis you shouldn't have.  Really, this is too much."

Ominis snorted, "It was hardly anything.  It's not like I made it myself."

Before she could politely refuse the thoughtful gesture, her stomach grumbled loudly.  It was so loud and embarrassing, cutting through the dull droning of Professor Binns lecture.  Several heads turned towards her.  Her classmates hid their snickers behind their hands. 

Blushing furiously, the hero of Hogwarts tried to shovel the food into her mouth as fast as possible, forgoing any need to breathe.

Ominis chuckled.  It was a well-known fact that the hero of Hogwarts was one of the messiest eaters in the whole school.  Even without vision, he knew that she had made a mess. 

His voice was light and teasing.  "I believe you got something on your face."  With his thumb, Ominis wiped away the apple syrup that he knew was hanging on the corner of her mouth.  His tongue licked the pad of his thumb, chasing the remnants of tarty sweetness.  Unable to look away from him, she unapologetically stared at him quite openly.  Her eyes traced his movements, watching how his mouth would suck on his elegant fingers.  She shivered.  What else could Ominis do with his mouth?

"It tastes just as good as I thought it would."  Ominis commented. 

Oh bloody hell.  Did Ominis happen to spend his summer in France with callgirls or was he always so indecent?  The only thing that he could do that would be more scandalous would be if they fucked on the table right now.

No…N-no…don’t think about that sort of thing.

Stiffly, she turned her attention back to the humdrum crooning of Professor Binns.  The pair of them sat together, both of them aching for something beyond the confines of the dull classroom. 

｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆

Minutes, hours, and days have gone back since "the apple tart incident.  Time made it all too easy for her guard to be slowly crumble around her.  Whatever, it was that happened in the "History of Magic" had clearly been some collective visual hallucination that they all shared in that they shall never, ever speak about.  Sure, Sebastian and Ominis were still acting quite strange.  The accidental touches, the gazes full of knowing and intent…

…But beyond those, nothing so scandalous as the incident.  So, she could hardly be blamed for being ill-prepared for things to come. It was supposed to be a normal potions class, how bad could it possibly be?

"Class, today we'll be studying the effects of Amortentia."

Oh, bollocks. 

She could practically feel the overwhelming weight of Sebastian's gaze on the back of her head.  She refused to look back at the potions station where the Slytherins were at.

Fuck.  This…this could be bad.

Not for the first time, the hero of Hogwarts was glad that Garreth was her potions partner.  It was easier to have a very private melt down when the Gryffindor boy was exploding a potion next to her.

As Professor Sharp explained the nuances of potion-making, she whispered to the boy standing next to her.  "Garreth, you and me, pal, for old time's sake?”

He grimaced before whispering back.  “Sorry, Natty just asked before class, and I already said yes.  Apparently she’s super behind and needs some help.  Some other time, yeah?”

Her head whipped around the room looking for Natty.  Sure enough, her backstabbing friend had a shit eating grin.  Standing in the Professor's blind side, Natty gave her a secretive thumbs up.  Her jaw dropped.  Unbelievable.  Even her closest friends were conspiring against her.  The savior of Hogwarts responded in a very mature, very adult way by flipping Natty the bird.

As Sharp's instructions ended, the rest of her classmates started splitting up into their usual pairs.  Her head whipped back and forth as she started to truly panic.  Her poor little heart could not handle the emotional turmoil of brewing Amortentia under the piercing gaze of her "friends".  Under absolutely no circumstances, could she be paired up with either Sebastian or Ominis.

｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆

….Well, lucky for her, she was not paired up with either Sebastian or Ominis.

Unfortunately, she was put into a three person group with BOTH Sebastian and Ominis. 

It was very strange that there was an odd number of students today.  It wasn't typical for Poppy to get sick out of the blue.

Listlessly stirring the nearly completed potion, she continued to ignore the two Slytherin boys.  She had done a fantastic job of ignoring them for the past two hours, and she planned on continuing her silence until the class was over. She wasn’t sure what Amortentia was supposed to smell like.  No doubt it was impossible to even ask someone else.  But she wondered if its aroma was supposed to be so…confusingly complex. 

As its characteristic spirals evaporated into steam, she recognized the comforting pillows of the Undercroft, a familiar heady cologne, and the earthy fragrance of something very masculine. 

But, as she stirred the potion with her wand, its aroma changed into the scent of rich parchment from library books, explosive gunpowder, and a deep musk that definitely reminded of someone very familiar to her.

"What do you smell?"  Sebastian asked, his tone sickeningly innocent.

Her whole body went red.  She hadn’t even noticed the other boy sneaking up on her.  "Never you mind, Sebastian Sallow."  Sebastian's eyes were wide and bright, almost twinkling with mirth.  "It's not like I could even pick it out anyway." She haughtily mumbled under her breath.

Ominis was on the other side of her.  Again, did he suddenly lose all concept of personal space?  "Sebastian can't help be curious, that's all."

She jumped.  Her feet stumbled back clumsily, only to bump her back against Sebastian's hard torso.  Blushing, she quickly pivoted away from him.  When did his body become so firm?  What on earth was that boy eating?

She was being flanked on both sides.  Sebastian to her left, Ominis to her right, with no escape from the conversation. She couldn't help but gape.  Were they…teaming up on her?

No…they couldn't be…

Their sixth year had been a horrendous nightmare for their collective friendship.  It started all from Solomon's death, and the animosity continued to spiral out of control. Ominis and Sebastian constantly at each other's throats, fighting over the silliest things and stupidest of arguments.  As the meditator, she would always find herself squished in the middle, like a doll they were forced to share with each other.  Why, she could recall a few moments where Sebastian literally tugged on her arm to pull her away from Ominis's side.

"I don't understand. Last year you two were constantly fighting, always at each other's throats-"

"Oh we certainly were at each other's throats." Sebastian parroted, a wide grin plastered on his face.

Ominis flushed deeply, hand subconsciously rubbing the side of his neck.

She blinked stupidly.  It seems like over the summer they had come to an agreement though she wasn't sure what exactly it entailed. 

"Now, let's stop avoiding questions, shall we?  What do you smell?"  Sebastian asked again.

"T-That is very private, Sallow!"  She felt lightheaded.  "I-it's not like people go around telling each other Amortentia smells like!"

"Hmmm….she's hiding secrets, Ominis."

"She is indeed."  Ominis  towered over her, and the savior of Hogwarts was reminded, yet again, of how tall he had gotten.  Why, she would have to stand on her tippy toes in order to kiss him.

Her face bloomed into an even brighter shade of red.  Stop.  Don't think about kissing best friends, no matter how hot they have gotten.

"I happen to think that our dear friend might recognize Amorentia's scent."  Ominis drawled.

"Oh?"  Sebastian arched a pretty eyebrow.

"Yes, perhaps it smells like someone we know…someone she must keep secret from us." 

Sebastian hummed.  His pink tongue dipping out to lick his bottom lip.  "Or…maybe someones?"

Her stomach dropped.  Natty had once described to her how some lions in Africa would play with their gazelles before eating them.

This is what they must feel like.

She puffed out her chest and put on a brave face.  Two could play at this game.  "Well, why don't you two tell me what you guys smell, if you both care so much.  It's not fair for me to share without you saying anything."

She expected them to falter, and stammer over their false bravado.  No doubt, they would lighten up on their teasing and the three of them could go on their merry way and pretend this incident had never happened. 

But it seemed as if she only walked into a trap.

An irrepressible smile was on Sebastian's face.  “I can smell the Undercroft, our Slytherin dorm room, and expensive cologne."

The description….matched very closely to the aroma that she smelled, with some minor differences.  It was impossible to hide her blush.  Sebastian's eyes dipped down, unabashedly staring at her lips.  "And I can smell something else that's soft and sweet."  She couldn’t help but duck the lower half of her face between her scarf, trying to shield herself from Sebastian’s predatory gaze.

Sebastian’s eyes flitted to Ominis, “‘Nis, what does the potion smell like to you?”

“Leather bound books, something smokey that reminds me of Bombarda-"

She tried not to look in Sebastian’s direction.  That was Sebastian's favorite spell.

“…and honeysuckle perfume and apple tarts.”

Her stomach flipped over, and an uncontrollable flush of heat melted into her entire body.  She was trapped under the intense attention of the two boys in front of her.  Oh dear Merlin.  

She did what any rational and logical person would do in her shoes.

"Um…Professor Sharp, I…I think I"m getting sick.  I'm going to the Hospital Wing."  Before the Professor could even respond, she fled from the scene.  Her poor heart was about to explode.

[inlovewithregencyera]

transcript under cut : )

Thornfield House, July 7th, 1818

Isabella: And you did write to her father informing him of this, right?

Max: Yes. He wrote back to me an hour ago, and they're leaving for Hollow directly after her birthday. I've asked him to keep this in confidence of himself and Lady Grey, and he says he will as it would break his heart to tell Aurelia himself.

Isabella: *clutching hand* When will you tell her?

Max: I don't know, and I don't know why you're all tasking me with the impossible. It's not fair, truly. *sniffling* If I had a lover and I lay dying of consumption I wouldn't have Frederick tell her. It should be an intimate moment between them.

Isabella: I think she shall be very upset.

Maximilian: *voice quivering* She'll be plagued with perturbation. Perhaps it would be easier if that idiot thought about how his actions effected others for once in his damn life. He overwhelmed her with affection and now I must tell her he's dying.

Isabella: Oh, please don't cry. More than anything, I hate seeing you upset. I don't care much for people's emotions, but yours always tug at my heart.

Max: Luckily for you I have no more tears left to cry. My eyes have been soiled with tears for the past 12 hours, I believe I'm done for today.

Isabella: Dear Max, crying that long isn't good for-

Max: Don't you stand here and tell me what's good for me and what's not. I don't expect you to understand. You've rarely been emotional a day in your life.

Isabella: have been emotional many times in my life, I just know that crying *THAT MUCH AT ONCE* does you no service!

Max: *scoffs* You are heartless sometimes, you know?

Isabella: How am I heartless for telling you the truth?

Max: I cannot help crying if I am again watching someone I love die.

Isabella: *scoffs* He's not dead! And there have been cases where people overcame this disease.

Max: And you think he will be an exception?! That he's some sort of miracle and will prevail through?

Isabella: He could be. Why you've given up on him I do not know.

Max: He's given up on himself! Why should I have hope for his survival if he's not going to even fight for it!?

Isabella: Because he's family, Max! You don't give up on someone even when they've given up on themself. When Eleanor gave up on herself, you-

Max: Damn it don't you bring her up. I told you I was done crying for today, so stop wherever you're going.

Isabella: Your tears won't bring her back, so what use is it?

Max: You are heartless! When you love someone, and they die-

Isabella: Damn you Max if you are trying to insinuate I didn't love her! I loved her more than anyone ever to walk this Earth!

Max: That's not at all what I meant Isabella and you know that! I just can't believe you're telling me that I shouldn't cry now. Name a time when any one of our household was dying and I didn't?

Isabella: When Uncle Percy had a stroke! He was as good as gone right after and I don't recall you ever shedding any tears then. And there's hope for Frederick, he's not coughing blood.

Max: Frederick is much thinner than the last time I saw him and that cough tops it all off. So no, I will not tell myself there's any hope. And I apologize for not crying in front of my sickly, invalid Father, SOMEONE had to be strong for him.

Isabella: Are you saying I wasn't Maximilian? Really? When you went off to do Ducal business and whatnot who sat with him that whole time until you returned? I endeavored just about as much as you to ensure his comfort, *voice cracking* and how can you accuse me of not being strong when you and I suffered the same trials?

Max: Bell…

Isabella: WHAT?! *covering eyes*

Max: I didn't mean to upset you, dear. I'm sorry, and you're right, we experienced the same sorrow. Perhaps we go about it differently when reacting to it.

Isabella: *sniffling* It just hurts that you'd call me heartless for saying crying does you no good. I'm not saying you shouldn't cry, because Lord knows I have moments sometimes, but I know it's not helpful in the long run. He's not dead yet, t-that is to say, *eyes welling up* if he was truly dying, *burts into tears* in which he is-

Max: *extending arms* Come here.

Isabella: *sobbing into chest* Oh Max! Whatever will we do?

Max: *kisses forehead* What we always do I suppose. Deal with whatever God throws at us.

Isabella: *sniffles* Yes. Let us not quarrel as we shall need each other more than ever in the coming weeks.

[otakween]

Digimon Tamers - Volume 4

The beginning of this volume flat out spoils things by putting characters that haven't been introduced yet on the character page. (MarineAngemon, the Juri clone, the D-Reaper queen...) Maybe that's a common practice with shounen manga...but it shouldn't be. Like, what's the point?

Ch. 22

Lopmon and Terriermon interacting will never get old. Love how they lift their ears with curiosity when they first see each other.

I think I prefer experiencing the ~sad~ part of Tamers better in manga form. I remember it being quite drawn out in the anime and I rather just blitz through it at this point. I think the whole Leomon death storyline just annoys me because they barely developed his character and then the writing expects me to be devastated. Juri was more developed, sure, but we barely got any insight into her relationship with Leomon so her deep, dark depression doesn't feel super warranted either.

Ch. 23

I think this chapter was pretty well done. They're giving an epic battle it's time instead of zooming past it.

It bugs me that there isn't a specific name for digimon/human digivolutions. In this translation they called it a "true mega form." On the wiki it's called both an ultimate and a matrix digivolution. IDK why it doesn't count as a jogress. I guess there's like...two different things: the way you digivolve (matrix) and the digivolution level (ultimate)? If it's confusing for me, I can only imagine it'd be confusing for a kid.

It's a bit weird for an English translation, but I like that Guilmon says "MMA!" a lot. I can totally hear him making that noise with his OG voice. Creative onomatopoeia.

Ch. 24

Grrr Jian said "crumbcakes," so done with this stupid translation

This chapter was hella short, not much to say about it.

Ch. 25

Okay, now they're calling it a "biomerge digivolution." I guess the localizers also thought "this needs a cool name!"

Casual 90s/early 2000s sexism sprinkled throughout this translation. Takato says he "screams like a little girl" in a previous chapter and in this one he says "easy to forget Renamon and Rika are girls when they're always kicking butt!" Eye roll...

SaintGalgomon looked super badass but for some reason when Sakuyamon appeared they chose to dedicate two closeup panels to her chest and high heels? Sus...

Ch. 26

Juri's face didn't look as sinister here as it did in the anime (when it's revealed she's possessed). I guess that's probably a good thing. More subtle.

I don't remember the sovereign digimon giving Culumon a "you're a real boy now" speech in the anime. That was sweet.

They cut the part where Beelzebumon gets zapped by a bunch a digimon. In this he just collapses after the battle with Dukemon, which I think I prefer. (But why'd he say he'd be "bunny chow?" He wasn't even fighting Terriermon...)

Ch. 27

The grotesque, over-the-top facial expressions the artist keeps drawing for Hirokazu piss me off. They're just so ugly.

Ugh...they really had to ruin a serious moment (Guilmon getting the ark to stop) with a poop joke. This manhua does NOT treat its audience with respect.

Hmm they completely cut out Juri's family. So much for developing her character I guess.

They kind of forgot to imply that the ark is sentient. I mean they showed it stopping on its own, but in the anime they really hammered it home by having Guilmon have a conversation with it and showing it's HAL-like eye. That was one of my fave parts so I'm sad lol

Ch. 28

Okay, this is starting to feel totally different from the anime, they skipped like 5 episodes worth of content. Also, IDK if the scanlation I'm reading is missing some pages because the ending with Dukemon being beat up was completely nonsensical (it cut from Beelzebumon being hit to a panel with Dukemon outta nowhere?) I'll give it the benefit of the doubt that there are missing pages...

The scene where Beelzebumon uses Leomon's attack to save Juri played out differently here. She doesn't seem particularly perturbed by it and Beelzebumon can't save her because he gets attacked, not because Juri recoils for too long.

Ch. 29/30

Lol they completely cut out Justimon. Makes Ryo's role even more pointless! Ryo doesn't even reappear at all...

This manhua series was crap to begin with but they really screwed the pooch with this ending. SOOO rushed. Grani appeared outta nowhere with zero introduction. Like they just went immediately to Grani's sacrifice. I still don't know if I'm missing pages or if the writing is just that garbage. Oh well! I tried.

[no-side-us]

Letters From Watson Liveblog - May 28

Wisteria Lodge, Part 1 of 4

I have some questions about this bit.

Why did Watson ask whether it was a man or woman who sent the telegram if the sender was named Scott? Was Scott a more gender-neutral name at the time? Or did he assume the telegram was sent under someone else's name?

Also, how come women didn't send reply-paid telegrams? Were there specific rules against it or was it just a cultural attitude that women shouldn't? It seems here it's because a woman would just go to a place instead of sending a telegram first. Why? Is that not okay in some way?

I will never get tired of Holmes lamenting the lack of glamour and excitement originating from criminals. He does it so much, and always so dramatically too, talking about it like it's a tragedy and that criminals will never be creative ever again. He's got such a flair about him.

Sounds like a real square. Watson read this man very quickly. Either he's seen this sort of person enough times to recognize the type, or Holmes' abilities have really rubbed off on him. Or both.

Now Mr. Eccles is obviously in a very perturbed mood, but I don't know why he would begin the conversation with this line. Not only is it impolite, it's also just not smart. Fortunately for him, Holmes is desperate for an interesting dilemma.

Something tells me Watson prefers Gregson over Lestrade. This is as complimentary a description as you can get from Watson (about an officer), and it's certainly nicer than the way he describes Lestrade. You'll notice the lack of comparisons to ferrets or rats, or any other animals really.

Damn, I spoke too soon!

I'm not sure how that's prudent, so I can only assume Mr. Garcia was absolutely dashing, just the most incredible looking man in the world, so handsome Mr. Eccles would be in the wrong to not mention it.

This feels like the sort of detail that will get called back to later. It's just so specific, with Garcia telling Eccles what time it was as if he needed Eccles to know and remember it. It was dark too, so we know Eccles couldn't look at his watch to make sure.

Spooky. Less so considering Garcia was found murdered later, but still odd nonetheless.

My current theory is that Garcia knew that someone was out to get him, perhaps due to his connection to the embassy, and he was using Mr. Eccles as a way to screen against any investigations. That's why he invited him, but didn't really put a lot of care into being a host. He just needed someone there. And like Mr. Eccles said, deserting your guest isn't really a police matter, so anybody looking too close would only find a frumpish man with a strange story.

Holmes is loving all of this. The description of him chuckling while rubbing his hands makes him sound like a supervillain with all his plans coming together.

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4

[ayosdesignz-blog]

I finally finished good omens 2!!

Some spoilers I guess for those later into it than me:

Metatron is a manipulative shit. Calling it now.

He was part of the party that fired Gabriel, was the one to insist he be searched for quietly and then acted as if the angel group might be in trouble when all was said and done.

The natzi zombie thing was...horrific. Those poor ppl they ate...🥺

No spoiler I came across warned of them.

The friendship between Shax and her buddy she made a deal w/ was cool. I like how they honestly remained honest about helping each other so far. 🤣 They even did a fist bump over her prospective promotion to grand Duke of hell meaning she could drag his ranking up too!! And it's cute how she goes to the Traitor Crowly for advice or clarification after having taken his rank and that he actually gives it even when mocking.

I can see why ppls feelings were hurt by the ending but it wasn't THAT bad. Tho I think I'm only able to think that cuz I saw posts about a season 3 incoming so...lol.

I could honestly see where both were coming from regarding the whole "be together in heaven" thing but I think Crowly had the better idea of things. Both sides are toxic. They also give a lot of pressure. And while Aziraphale may want to change things on the inside it doesn't mean he'd be able to, even with the 2 of them. Especially since he's so gung-ho still about heaven being right.

Speaking of, am I the only one who found that odd? He's been questioning and circumventing heaven while collaborating with a demon for...too many damn centuries to just insist that Heaven is the good side like that negates all the things he's witnessed and gone through and had to work around to help ppl.

I mean the true start of his disquiet and discomfort was learning that a favored human of God was being purposely bullied, harassed, tormented, bereaved, and forsaken for a bet. A lousy bet with no true stakes or real worth since God is "all seeing and all knowing" and therefore shouldn't feel need to do so because of a demon's needling.

He seems like he's not really liked by other angels much and he knows the other higher ups don't really respect him. If he felt it hard to bend rules and such before why exactly does he think he will have an easier time avoiding direct orders from the very tops? Disregarding his excitement. Who will actually, properly listen to him? When he himself can be easily led if not feeling stubborn.

The whole last conversation between the demon and angel was just...I mean it struck me that Aziraphale tends to not listen. Not properly anyway. When Crowly wants to say something important-urgent even, he's disregarded or made to wait because Aziraphale just has to say or do his thing 1st. And even if or when he listens...he doesn't do so fully. Not for the important conversations we got to witness. He'll insist on things having to go his way or no way at all unless he's kinda forced to reconsider or compromise. And sometimes that takes him awhile.

Like why was it such a big deal for him to admit he likes Crowly even now? After everything. He chose "its us against them" as his side but still looks perturbed when someone says they're friends. Still insists he's on the good side, heaven's side. He can say he needs Crowly and wants them to work together in heaven. But not try to discuss anything further because their viewpoints differ again.

Personally I don't see why they don't plan out how to make it all work in their favor, get heaven to make a few more concessions or whatever and if after both are now angels and still don't like the mindless/senseless harm heaven tries to make them do they can then run off far away together like Crowly has wanted since...before season 1 I think? It would make it only 1 faction likely to chase them instead of both as previously feared.

Also I'm disappointed that Aziraphale didn't defend Crowly when Metatron insulted him for having "too many fool questions". And was actually a warning flag for me. Yknow aside from the look he gave Crowly when 1st leaving.

Anyway!

I'm a little disappointed with the style Crowly chose to blend in to heaven. I mean he was cute or whatever but I missed the curl/wave to his hairrrrrrr 😫

I like that Crowly confronted Gabriel about how mean he was to Aziraphale before trying to kill him. He didn’t remember as it happened but I'm sure he remembers once he got his thoughts back. Still could've gave a proper thank you to both tho.

I also like that Aziraphale didn't push Crowly away from him for the kiss. Couldn’t tell if he kissed back. But he did rub his hands on Crowly's back so that's something I guess lmao.

Oh! But the end credits! That was interesting. Crowly maintained his upset but stoic disposition while Aziraphale kept trying to force his pleasant smile on his face over and over.

It occurs to me the whole promotion thing could be a trap.

[goldoanheart]

[ Sparkling Water ] - Fresh spring water that has been magically carbonated. Served with a squeeze of lime or a dash of one of the many fruit syrups available at the bartender’s disposal. 

"Kurthnaga!" He calls, but his voice is hardly more than a hushed shout, and he draws into the company of the younger, presenting a sparkling glass of cherry-syrup fizzling water ( for champagne wouldn't do with the younger's age, and if it would -- for Rajaion was sure he's forgotten some years -- he simply refused to gift his brother alcohol ).

"Or should I say Your Majesty," It's teasing -- a brother's jest against the younger, and he smiles behind his mask. "Regardless, are you having as much success as I with, as the Beorc call it, 'mingling' ?"

No terror perturbed the heart in the wake of festivities, and perhaps it was the homeliness of celebration that returned his feet to the earth and plucked his mind from dark depths. Either way, it was ... nice.

"It's customary, I've read," He continues, sipping on his own flavored drink. "To interact at these sorts of gatherings for the sake of one's kingdom. But," He looks to the younger, his gaze falling a long ways to meet that of his brother's, for perhaps the bones of their father were not yet sprouted within him. "I'll handle the politics. I want you ... to have a good time. You ... shouldn't have to be king so young, so for a night, simply be Kurthnaga."

He poises himself anew, rolling sore shoulders and aching bones, and straightens to his lofty height. And he plucks a white feather from his brooch, presenting it between forefinger and thumb to the younger.

"And have a feather -- think of the Herons with its whiteness. I owe it to them that I'm here." He smiles, head tilting. "How fitting."

Rajaion has gifted Kurthnaga a White Feather!

"Brother!" Kurthnaga lights up as Rajaion approaches him, taking the offered glass into smaller hands - less weathered hands. Hands more befitting of a young noble than any sort of wise king. He pouts slightly, at the sparkling liquid within, bright red and bubbling with carbonation, "I'm not a kid anymore though. We could have shared a drink."

He falters at the title, though his brother only means it in jest. Because it was a title that was never meant to belong to him. It was for his father, proud and strong - though ever so stubborn. And if not stalwart Dheginsea, then it should have belonged to Rajaion. It did not befit Kurthnaga, still so young with soft cheeks unaffected by age. But he does not say anything to that effect, and simply smiles, pushing his doubts down and away, "Not really, but I much prefer people watching during events like this anyway! You knew that, Raja!"

He clutches at the stem of his glass, nigh to break it if his grip was even a little bit tighter. His brother was right, he shouldn't be king so young. He shouldn't be king at all. He should have remained a carefree prince, but life did not seem to be that easy; now did it?

"Rajaion... I... I like politics! I wouldn't even mind it if I had to!" He can hear his voice trembling, a stubborn smile kept upon his lips, "You... you surely haven't had fun in such a long time! Please... don't worry about me, I can handle it!"

Kurthnaga tries to shake off the doubts as his brother offers him a feather from his brooch, taking it gently into his hands. He wasn't sure exactly what he was supposed to do with it, but a gift from his elder brother had to be treasured.

"Rajaion, take mine as well," He places a small jingling bell into his brother's hands with a smile. Perhaps one day it will be easier for both of them, to stand beside each other without any doubt lingering in Kurthnaga's heart. If only things could be as easy as they had once been in their childhood, when they had been able to just be brothers. If only...

Kurthnaga has gifted Rajaion a Small Bell UwU

[ladyemberswrites]

Korrlok [Drabble/Ficlet]

-

His first thought was that her lips were cold, freezing actually.

Her kiss reeked of desperation; one that overshadowed the chill of her touch.

His second thought was how on earth did this happen and why did it get to this point, and his third-well, Tenzin comes to mind.

The knowledge that his precious student practically grabbed his suit and forced her lips upon his would most definitely give the old air master a massive stroke. If not, fill him with enough rage to blast him out a window. Maybe break a few bones, as pacifistic as his colleague is-did not mean he is in any way harmless.

He grunted as Korra broke the ablietly one-sided kiss. He looked at her anxiety riddle face and only then realized that her cheeks were streaked with dry tears and her eyes were red.

She had been crying; a strange notion to him personally. For whatever reason he had thought her incapable of grief; she seemed so cheery and fool-hearted that seeing the remnants of her tears was abysmal to him.

He rubbed his tingling lips for a lack of anything to say "I'm….sorry," he heard her mutter, slightly perturbed by her meek display "I shouldn't have done that,"

"Well, you did - mind telling me what that was about, Avatar Korra?"

"Does it matter,"

"I believe it does-you bursted into my office, disrupted my work, threatened me then suddenly," he motions between them "I deserve an answer or you can at least help pick up the desk that you so politely careened onto its side,"

"I'm not apologizing for that!" Tarrlok snorted as he lifted himself from his chair in order to gather his scattered documents. But Korra does obliges him and helps, though she's just slapping them into a pile not caring which side is right or upside down. Repressing a sigh, he knows he'll have to reorganize them anyway, so he lets the matter go entirely. However, he is still quite peeved by her strange attitude, not so much the kiss which still leaves a cold sensation on his lips, as if hers had never left.

"So….," He breaks the silence once he realized Korra wasn't about to any time soon "are you going to tell me what's wrong,"

"Why do you care - just-can we forget I ever did that, please," She rubs her brow and bows her head and eyes away from him. Tarrlok didn't feel quite annoyed, but he didn't exactly feel placated by her pitiful act of embarrassment. Just exhausted by her antics and the speed at which her moods were flip-flopping around him. He vaguely felt like he was being punished for something he did not do.

Nonetheless, he decided in his infinite mercy to let it go.

"Very well, Avatar Korra, as you wish."

Instead of answering, she made an odd noise in the back of her throat. Close to a whine or a low groan. She all but shoved his papers back into his arms and flipped his desk back where it was supposed to be and left without another word. He thought of calling her back, but the words never left his mouth. Befuddlement wasn't exactly the right word to convey what he felt. Uneasy was one that came to mind, but he really didn't feel any odd sense of foreboding. Just trouble. The aggravating kind.

-

[untilteddocument]

Content Warning: death

Author's Note: I have Gotten A Little Silly with this one, especially regarding cheesy political-cartoon-esque naming.

--------------------------------

"That's it! That's right! The city is ours!"

Neon Tusk, whose slaver parents had admittedly decent taste in names, cheered as he threw aside the unconscious body of his foe, paying no mind to the metallic thud as they landed on the floor. His angular grey armor shone in the lights, an impudent and out-of-place presence, but one that insisted on being noticed.

Next to him, Gill Bates, codename Portals, was busy dismissing one of the many heroes who had been compromising with the villains for decades, culminating in them outright opening the doors to let them into the Hall of Progress out of a misguided belief that working with them would lead to a better city.

The dismissal, of course, involved throwing them through the window.

"We should be careful," Bates warned. "We've got our PR people snowing the reporters, running spin for us, but we shouldn't lean on damage control that much."

As if to emphasize his point, he adjusted his suit, made specifically to resemble the heroes' attire, as if to suggest he was one of them.

Next to him, Dolan Highcard, aka The Biggest, The Goodest, You've Never Seen Anyone So Big, At Least That's What People Tell Me, shook his head and patted his uneasy compatriot on the back. "Ah, whatever, you're being a big crybaby," he said, and then followed it up with a randomly-chosen slur.

Clef Clesos, codename Amazus Prime, concurred, though in less crude terms. "You worry too much, Gill. We own the city! We could go out there and wipe our asses with the press's inkwells and tomorrow's paper would talk about how nice it all smells, even that reporter Lori Salazar. Ah, I love that alive girl."

"Do you always have to call her that?" sighed Peter Thiel 2, the last present member of their group. "It's creepy and disgusting." He punctuated his revulsion by finishing draining the life force of the poor sap he was holding up by the neck.

On the ground, the normally-unflappable Captain Hope, real name Harry O'Hama, was clearly shaken.

"L-listen, l-let me be clear. We could...make another deal, like that time we let you guys suggest some changes to the city constitution. It doesn't have to end lik-"

"Listen, I'm just saying, we'll have an easier time if people think we're the actual good guys," replied Gill, not even paying attention as he resumed beating Captain Hope with a sack full of quarters.

Across from them stood the last remaining heroes, among the most stalwart of their number. First there was The Burner, real name Ernie Anders, who summoned his flame. Next to him was Alejandra Silver, the Silver Legend, who grimaced as she readied her guitar.

"Last chance to not make the biggest mistake of your lives, fellas," Ernie chuckled, waves of heat radiating from his gloves. "No matter how this fight goes, you're all gonna lose."

When this failed to have any impact, the two heroes sighed. With an nod, they began their desperate last stand...

...which was brought to a sudden stop when Tusk, eager for glory, unexpectedly ran in front just in time to get caught by The Burner's fire. His armor's completely-insufficient protection for its power cells failed, causing an explosion that knocked the two heroes sprawling and killed Tusk instantly.

None of this perturbed the others, however, who stalked towards the ailing pair.

"You assholes...not even gonna pause to remember your teammate? That's low, even for you," Silver snarled, hoping for at least a few seconds to think of a way to turn this back around.

"Ha, that's cute. She thinks we care," laughed Clesos, summoning the raw power that inspired his name. "Listen, just between you and me, doesn't matter if any of us die or not. All part of the system."

Silver narrowed her eyes. "What the fuck does that mean?"

"It means you're a big stupid idiot, boohoo, this is you, this is you crying like a big stupid idiot," said Highcard, pretending to cry.

Clesos sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "...Sorry, he does that. Point is, that's for us to know and you to find out."

Beaten as they were, the two heroes couldn't stop a little chuckle from escaping them, even as the villains made ready to finish the job.

Silver wiped the blood from her face, grinning up at them. "Can't believe I actually get to say it, but-"

A sharp burst of energy blasts echoed throughout the facility, a death knell for the age of heroes, but the villains found themselves staring down at their dying foes, frowning.

Bates was the first to break the tense silence. "...what did you just say?"

"I said...you fools...we were...holding them back...."

The villains shared looks even as she slumped down, their confusion quickly replaced with alarm as they felt a sudden shift in...reality. Suddenly they found themselves in a field of rubble and flame, extending as far as their eyes could see.

Bates's breath caught in his throat, his gaze looking back and forth in growing panic. "What just-"

Clesos fought the sinking feeling in his stomach, trying to look for any reassuring detail. "The Hall of Progress...it vanished...?"

"No." 2 shook his head, looking around. "It was never real in the first place."

"Now, you know me, you know I'm the humblest, the most humble, but people tell me I'm smarter than you because I talk about what's real, and the Hall of Progress, that was real. I mean, right? Are you people listening to this woke nonsense?"

2 groaned. "Oh, my fucking God, Dolan, shut the fuck up," he said as he jabbed Highcard in the balls so he would shut up for five seconds. "Yes, it was real, but...it also wasn't."

"Is this that holographic reality thing that Tusk kept talking about?" Bates wondered, scratching his head.

"No, no, I'm saying...it was real, but only because people wanted it to be. In other words, the people we just killed, so it's not here any more."

"OH, DING DING DING, I'M SURPRISED YOU GOT THAT."

The three villains still standing whipped around to see...someone? sitting on a chunk of rubble. Every time they looked, they swore they saw someone different, but in every case, they were nondescript. The outfit changed every time as well, such that none of them knew who or what they were looking at.

"I'm guessing you're the 'them' that those speedbumps were talking about," Bates threw out while creating new portals through which he could summon his powerful micro-edges.

"THAT'S RIGHT. I'LL SPARE YOU THE MONOLOGUE FOR NOW, BUT LET'S JUST SAY THAT THEY WEREN'T KIDDING ABOUT HOLDING ME BACK."

"You know," said Highcard as he got to his feet, drawing exasperated sighs from his teammates, "I was talking to a real smart guy, very high quality guy, he's amazing, and he says to me, he says 'I don't know what it is about these heroes, but-'"

"OKAY, LISTEN, BEFORE WE START FIGHTING FOR REAL, IS IT OKAY IF I KILL HIM FIRST?" the figure interrupted, pointing at Highcard. The rippling chorus of "Yes, please, God"s and "Yeah, sure, go for it"s stopped Highcard's rambling, which had devolved into a mix of grade-school insults and slurs anyway, and he stared at his teammates with mute horror and betrayal an instant before the figure blurred into motion and punched him in the face. An eyeblink later, he was gone. Not dead. Gone.

After some nervous glances, two of the remaining trio of villains squared up to fight their new enemy. Peter Thiel 2 hung back, carefully observing the fight using his special technology, the Panopticon Protocol, inspired by the hit fantasy novel The Panopticon Protocol Is An Illustrative Example Of The Abuse Inherent In A Surveillance State, For How Can The State Claim To Serve The People When It Attacks Them For Disobeying It.

No matter how much data he took from the fight, he found himself stymied to figure out a counter-strategy, in no small part because their powers kept changing. When Clesos went for a direct attack, they slipped away like water through loosely-cupped fingers. When Bates tried to interfere with their healing factor, they simply stole his and copied it for themselves. When 2 tried bombarding them with the Bribery Beam, it just drew mocking laughter.

The villains raged and sputtered as the battle went on, all their vast resources straining to keep up with the impenetrable foe set against them. Each racked their brains, trying to understand how they could be eclipsed so completely. The mystery hero's tactics made no sense to them; they all seemed so inconsequential, they had so little raw power behind them, so why did they keep working?

In a sudden flash of insight, Peter Thiel 2 shouted, "Wait! I know who you are."

The fight paused as all parties turned to him, curious as to what he would say next.

2 pointed at the figure. "That punch you used on Highcard...it's just like the one that took down Rick Hardspencer. You're the Antifa Supersoldier."

"NICE CATCH."

"You're also the Water Defender."

"AS CHARGED."

"And you're the Catalonian....and Squatter...Exarchic...the Bakuninja...you're all of them! All of those D-list heroes that we took down years ago. What's more, you're the one we've been talking about, the one we keep prepping for. The Event."

The figure smiled and shrugged. "I GUESS THAT PANOPTICON PROTOCOL ISN'T JUST FOR SHOW."

Clesos interrupted with another attempted punch, which was dodged easily. Scoffing, he said, "Yeah, well, we beat you down then, and we'll just keep doing that. You can't stand up to us forever! We have all the power. None of you heroes ever figured out why we always kept coming back!"

"OH? REALLY? WHY DON'T YOU CHECK ON YOUR FRIENDS?"

Ready for any pounce on the momentary distraction, Bates took out his phone to check the status...of...

"...What the fuck is going on?"

Bates scrolled with increasing urgency.

R&D. Tusk was still gone.

Clark Cluckerbird, keeper of the Meta-Book, gone.

Logistics. The Malton clan, gone.

The Kotch Twins, gone.

Hall of Progress infil team. Highcard was still gone.

Sleve Dannon, gone.

Thomas Clarence, gone.

The PR wing. Rick Hardspencer, still gone.

Anna Ploughshare, gone.

Lex Lones, the Info-Warrior, gone.

Carl Tuckerson, gone.

He kept going, the list blurring as he scrolled. The most powerful villains, the ones who kept the city under their thumb for so long. All of them. Even their counterparts in neighboring cities. Not that they were all on the exact same team, per se, but...

2 was shaking, overcome by dawning realization. "How did you do...no..."

"TWO POINTS FOR THE CURRENT CHAMPION. YEAH, I KNEW ABOUT YOUR SYSTEM FOR YEARS. KEPT TRYING TO TELL THE OTHERS ABOUT IT, BUT THEY DIDN'T LISTEN, SAID IT WAS PUT THERE TO HELP US, OF ALL THINGS. THE TWIN GIANTS...I'LL GRANT YOU IT DID ITS JOB FOR A WHILE. KEPT YOU IN POWER, EVER SINCE YOU OVERTHREW THE OLD LORDS, AT LEAST THE ONES YOU DIDN'T INDUCT INTO YOUR NEW CLUB. BUT I'LL LET YOU IN ON A LITTLE SECRET."

Despite themselves, the villains leaned in.

"I DIDN'T HAVE TO DO ALL THAT MUCH."

"I-I call bullshit," said Clesos, pulling up the diagnostics. "The Twin Giants were designed to keep running and growing forever! It was going to manage the..."

He trailed off as he saw a litany of error reports, so many of them unaddressed or papered over. Buck-passing, temporary fixes taken for permanent, every last excuse used over and over.

"...future..."

"SEE WHAT I MEAN? YOU GUYS WERE SO HUNG UP ON CONTROLLING EVERYTHING, FLEXING YOUR NUTS ABOUT IT. YOU IGNORED THAT YOUR CONCRETE'S ROTTEN, YOUR INFRASTRUCTURE'S FADING BY THE DAY, AND ALL ANY OF YOU WANT TO DO IS PLAY PHILOSOPHER-KING OF A BURNING WORLD."

The villains tried to interrupt them with a half-baked combination attack, but a few swift moves left each one smashed against rubble, half-dazed, but with flagging will to fight back.

"YOU EVEN WORKED THE OTHER HEROES OVER, GAVE 'EM ALL THAT 'PARTNERSHIP FOR THE FUTURE' MALARKEY. THE FUNNIEST PART IS, THEY DIDN'T LISTEN TO YOU, NOT ALL OF THEM. THEY THOUGHT A REAL FIGHT WOULD BRING THE CITY DOWN, SO THEY TOLD ME TO LET THEM HANDLE IT. SAID THEY BELIEVED THEY COULD MAKE IT WORK. NOW, SURE, I KNEW THEY WERE BEING SNOWED, AND I MADE SURE THEY HEARD IT, BUT YOUR PR HAD THEM EATING FROM YOUR HAND, I'LL GIVE YOU THAT. I FIGURED, IF THEY MANAGED A MIRACLE, GOOD FOR THEM, SO I HUNG BACK AND DID MY BEST TO POKE HOLES IN YOUR PLANS FROM THE BACKGROUND. THAT IS, UNTIL YOU MADE YOUR MOVE, AND YOU BROKE THE COMPROMISE IN THE PROCESS. THANKS TO THAT, I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT HOLDING BACK ANY MORE. LUCKY ME."

The rest of the battle was sharp and short, the villains already ailing knowing that their system was fundamentally broken. Soon, they faded into nothing, and the last hero soon stood, looking around at the rubble from the battle. Here and there, beaten-down civilians, who were ignored by the villains even up to the end, were picking among the ruins, helping each other up, clearing piles and looking for more survivors.

Taking off their hoodie, the last hero looked at it for a time before throwing it away. The time for heroes, for gods and lords deciding for the city, was over. Now...

Now, the people could truly rebuild.

The villains finally managed to defeat the league of heroes. But unbeknownst to them the league did not exist, primarily, to fight them, but to keep an even bigger threat in check: you. And you are about to demonstrate to the villains what happens when there is no one around to stop you.

[weebswrites]

Gremlin Mc is ME! Literally I am a tiny stupid gremlin but I'm cute so it's fine. Also may I say hello, I love your content and You🥰. But may I request gremlin Mc coming home with a duck or some type of bird. I want this because this is what I LIVE for. O have a chicken,KFC, Duck, Quaker Jacker, cow, Betsie, and pigs, Bacon and Pork chop.

The Demon Bros When You Bring Home a DUCK

A/N: my 200th post hehe. Also that's so cool that you have so many unique pets! I visited my family in California recently and they have seven ducks, it was super fun. I don't remember any of their names though except one is called Luna

(more gremlin mc content here)

Lucifer is perturbed. He just doesn't get why..? He'd get a cat, dog, or even a rodent. But a duck?? They live in parks and ponds, not the House of Lamentation for Diavolo's sake. Definitely gives you shit for it, but lovingly. Kinda. Over time he and your duck friend grow a weird bond and you often find the two of them spending good ol quality time together in his office. One day a small bed appears for le duk. Their bond is unspeakable and who are you to question it

When you show Mammon he gets super excited, matching your energy way better than you anticipated. Then he stops, after about two minutes, and asks why. You laugh, appreciating that his instinct was to match your energy. After explaining why getting a pet duck was the coolest thing you've ever done and will ever do, he gets it. Very much on board and is right by your side when you introduce them (gender neutral duck) to the family

Leviathan matches your energy, but gets it from the start. You walk into his room holding your new friend and whisper "Levi, look who I found", shit eating grin plastered across your face. He looks from you, to the duck, back to you. "What the fuck, MC". You burst into laughter and bring the duck to him, placing them in his lap. He looks the duck in the eyes, and instantly the two are best friends. I mean, this duck even quacks along with the intros to their favorite anime ops. When I say best friends, I mean best friends. They're hardly even your duck anymore

"Satan, come here" you whisper. He does, of course, and you lead him by intertwined hands to your room. You've completely renovated the balcony of your room to a duck sanctuary (shhh MC definitely canonically has a balcony I promise), complete with duck. He stands there for a few minutes, taking it all in, and then turns to you. "MC, I love you" he says. This was something so you to do, it made him fall even more for you. Simp! (can be interpreted platonic or romantic, readers choice)

Asmodeus' first concern is the mess. Also Lucifer finding out, but you reassured him that you and Lucifer were close enough friends that you'd get him on board. Or at least to tolerate it. Once he was sure you weren't going to get destroyed by Lucifer, he was So excited for you. From a distance. Fr tho he loved this for you and thought the duck was the cutest thing he'd ever seen (next to himself of course)

Beelzebub thought to himself how good duck tastes, but decided he probably shouldn't say that about your new pet. Instead, he smiled, wrapping an arm around you as the two of you watched them waddle around and inspect where they'd be living now. You discussed possible names, and your plans for making sure they got enough exercise during the day without getting ~attacked~ by a random demon

Belphegor thought it was a dream. When you showed him at first he was fresh out of a nap, and then went right back to bed once you showed him. But when he went to your room later and heard a series of quacks from behind the door, he realized you finally got the pet duck you'd been wanting for so long. The two of you low-key parent this duck together, like it's a child of your own. He checks to make sure they're getting enough exercise, fed enough, and more

[foodieforthoughts]

Sand and Stars - Chapter Ten

Series Summary: After the water pump being blown up, the insurgents in Baqubah are taking a hold of the food supply to the village. Camp Warhorse is in dire need of reinforcements. It has been eight months of submitting countless requests when the High Command commissions Sergeant Olivia Ross to take her group of men and women and help Captain Syverson and his team to restore a semblance of normalcy. But with the war raging, does it get two hearts closer too?

Pairing: Captain Syverson x OFC x OMC

Word Count: 3.5k

Warnings: 18+, angst, mentions of war, military technicalities, character held fugitive

A/N: Heya everyone! The update to this series took too long. I had kind of lost my muse, but I'm back at it again. Third-last part to the series really. Lots of things happening in this chapter, you might even hate me a little. 👀

And as always, big thanks to @thelastsock for beta reading this series. I love you so so much babe 💖

**divider by @firefly-graphics

<Chapter Nine

Title: Chapter Ten

Liv looked from one captain to another, her hands behind her back as she was commanded to stand at ease. The tension in the room was palpable. Standing to her one side was Pepps, watching the cold exchange between his superiors with his hands resting on his vest. While on the other side, Liv’s and Alex’s second-in-command stood with a straight face.

“He cannot be trusted.” Alex banged the table with his hand, the cup of coffee placed on the metal surface shook with the impact.

Sy looked pissed. He was glaring at the maps and pictures strewn on the table, his face descending into a frown. His lips pressed together and his nostrils flaring the longer he stared. Liv knew something was wrong. She had seen Sy get angry before, but today he seemed like he was hanging by the last nerve.

“I say we grill him until he squeaks.” Alex stood up straight, looking at Liv for a split second before he averted his gaze. “You should have been more careful when you approved of the insider info.”

Alex’s words were laced with absolute venom, the caustic cut of his statement caused Liv to stare at her feet. His tight grip on her arms last night had left bruises on her skin which throbbed on hearing his words. She took a deep breath and looked up again, trying to avoid looking at Alex and concentrating on Sy’s face. Mahmoud was their friend, she was left perturbed by the intel blowing up, but she never second guessed Mahmoud's intentions about helping them.

She thought Sy would disagree with Alex. Sy knew how much effort she had poured into helping the Special Forces to combat the militia. There had been days when she had voiced her feelings to him about staying back at the camp. The sole purpose of her coming to Warhorse had already ended. They had been lagging behind on the food truck retrieval, with her chopper destroyed, her best friend dead, the only thing keeping her in Baqubah was Sy.

"No one touches a hair on that man." Sy's voice was authoritative. Looking at Alex with narrowed eyes glinting with ferocious vexation, Sy spoke again. "You want to stir unrest amongst the people who decide to help us. I am not going to allow that."

"It was you who asked for assistance. Wasn't it because you knew you failed?"

The air in the room vibrated with challenged machismo from both Captains when Alex questioned Sy's ability to handle his job. Liv could see Sy was suppressing his fury, letting his hands hang to the side. She had to ask herself in that moment, was she the reason why they were in disagreement or was it her guilty conscience?

"What do you suggest?" Sy asked with gritted teeth.

"We go to the leader's holding and attack. Cut them at their roots."

Like her lips couldn't stop themselves, she stepped forward and blurted out, "We shouldn't do that."

Two sets of fiery eyes looked at her in that instant. She gulped as she glanced from one man to another. Sy averted his gaze to look to the side with a scowl that pierced her heart. It affected her deeply, confused her even, but she had an important issue at hand.

"Sir, we don't know whether the locals would help us or not. And ambushing the militants, with their last known residence in the city, I don't think we should endanger-"

Her sentence was cut short when Alex covered the distance between them and stood over her. She took a step back, heavily reminded of how small she felt, how she cowered away from him last night.

"You do not speak out of turn, Sergeant. Have you forgotten how this works?"

"Alex…" She whispered, feeling weaker than ever under his piercing stare. Liv met Sy's cold stare over Alex's shoulder and felt dispirited with the lack of support in the room.

"You're dismissed, Sergeant." Alex spat out the words, glaring at her with his sea green orbs.

She spared a glance to her second-in-command and nodded her head, trying to avoid the creeping sensation of inferiority rearing it's head. Her eyes quickly flicked between Alex and Sy before she walked out the door, resisting the urge to look back.

***

Liv grabbed her gun and slung it across her shoulder. Picking up her helmet from the table, she strapped it to her chin, securing it tightly to sit on her head.

"Go ahead. Mount up the ammo, I'll be out in a moment." She told her men who ran out with the boxes of ammunition to load up the Humvee. On her way to Sy's office, she came across soldiers from other units, walking in hurried steps as they were about to roll out.

After she was asked to leave, Sy and Alex had come to the decision to ambush the militant leader. She had been ordered to ready her unit as they were to attack the enemy with full force. She had her doubts but after how Alex treated her, she knew her opinions meant nothing. She had gone off to find Mahmoud's whereabouts and was informed that a team had been sent to bring him to the camp.

Liv reached Sy's office and stared at the door for a long minute. She had to talk to him, ask him if he was okay. She had to see him before they left for the desert which was about to turn into a warzone. Knocking at the door, Liv entered the small office and found Sy putting on his combat vest with a sulk on his face. He looked up the instant she crossed the threshold to the room, staring at her for a moment before going back to his task.

"Sy," Liv closed the door behind her, covering the distance between them and latching onto his back for a hug. She breathed in his scent, feeling warmth at the contact, only then realizing she had missed him tremendously. "Is everything okay?" She whispered, trying to keep the calm of their shelter intact, away from the chaos outside.

Sy did not respond, detaching himself from her embrace to grab his holster from the table. Liv watched him with confusion, feeling the coldness that was emitting from him.

"Sy-" She began but he spoke before she could finish her sentence.

"It is Alex, isn't it? The friend who you screwed up with?" His voice was sharp like the edge of the sword, cutting into her heart with each syllable. "Is that what you do, fuck your Captain where you go?"

Liv's heart sank, his words burned like hot metal on her skin. She stared at the back of his head, going over his words over and over again in her mind. Sy turned around to look at her, eyebrows scrunched, and an infuriating gaze accusingly boring into her.

"What?" She could only ask, left stunned and hurt.

"I saw you both last night, up on the roof. Is that what you wanted me to see? Let me know subtly that you didn't love me?"

"No." She asserted. Taking a step forward, she reached out her hand to hold his but he pulled back the instant her fingertip grazed his skin.

"You take me for a fool? You think you can string me along like that?"

This time Sy stepped forward, walking until her back hit the opposite wall. Liv could feel the sting of tears in her eyes. She could see the hurt, anger, scepticism in Sy's flaming blue orbs and she wanted nothing but to tell him what the truth was. But he caged her in with his arms on either side of her face, leaning so close to her face that his breath washed over her skin.

"I told you I love you, I asked you so many times if there was anyone else in your life. I gave you my everything." Sy closed his eyes taking in heavy breaths for a moment. "And this is how you reward me. Seeing you in his arms…"

Liv was rendered speechless. Her tears had overflowed, trickling down her cheeks in a hot trail. She brought her hand to grab onto his shirt when, shaking her head to deny his accusations when he pulled back.

"When we are done today, you leave for Baghdad, Sergeant." Sy grabbed his gun and his pistol from the table and walked out the door, slamming it behind him and tearing Liv's spirit to shreds.

***

“Sergeant?” Liv heard the gruff voice of her private speaking from above her. She opened her eyes, clutching her head in her hands as a buzzing noise reverberated in her ears. The hot desert sun blinded her eyes as she took in her surroundings. Looking at her arms she noticed her skin was matted with a thick black concoction of sweat, dirt and blood.

“Let me help you.” The private said, putting his hand on her back and gently pushing her to sit up. Liv shook her head when she sat erect, blinking her eyes several times until everything came to focus.

The compound was abuzz with people, soldiers in a hurry to mount the cars with ammo. She saw a few of the men sitting on the ground with injuries visible on their skin. Some were being given water and helped to stand up, while others were just lying on the ground, groaning in pain and agony.

Liv ached in several places with her head fuzzy from the hit she had taken to the side of her face. But even in that incoherent haze, she could figure out which vehicle had not made it back to the compound. She refused to believe he was dead. But her blood ran cold when she thought it was a possibility.

The last Liv remembered was running towards Sy’s unit with her men flanking her sides. The RPG had barely missed Sy’s truck but was close enough to overturn it on impact with the ground. Their envoy had stopped to cover fire Liv and her unit, while they made their way towards the upturned car lying on its side. Everything was only a few feet away when the militants had ambushed them from the side, forcing them to take shelter behind the remains of blown-up vehicles.

Gunfire had raged everywhere. Bullets were hitting the rusted metal parts of the car’s frame, missing Liv's body by inches. Liv had advised over the comms to cover her as she saw movement behind the smoky remnants of Sy’s truck. She could hear Alex’s commands over the other voices; he was sending the rest of them back to the camp, saying how his unit was only a few clicks away from her location and they would be there to assist her team. She could hear them trying to get anyone from Sy’s unit to respond but all they got in return was deafening static.

Liv could feel her heart beating in her ears with the fear of losing Sy and with the probability of dying herself. She had run behind a boulder, taken cover and waited for her troops to join her. She had looked up from behind the stony mass when all of a sudden, the back of a rifle had come from the side and hit her temple, knocking her out cold.

Groaning at the memory, Liv’s hand instinctively went up to the place of impact on her forehead. She felt the crusted ruddy line dripping down the side of her face, winching when her fingers touched the sore spot. Bracing her weight on the outstretched hand of her private, Liv stood up from the ground on shaky legs. She thanked the private for his help, dismissing him to look after others needing assistance. She watched him jog away when her eyes spotted Alex with his Lieutenant.

She had no idea what brought on the rage inside her, but her insides boiled when she looked at him. She stormed towards Alex, throwing her helmet to the side. She briefly took note of her men staring at her wide eyed, halting their activities to watch her figure cross the length of the compound with furious eyes and heavy steps.

Pulling at his Kevlar vest, Liv turned Alex around to face her, ignoring the shock on his Lieutenant's face at her disdainful behavior. Feeling lost, scared and angry at the one person who had fucked up the sanctuary she had built with the one she loved, Liv wanted to ask him only one question.

"Did you leave him on purpose? Did you leave Sy to die?"

“Sergeant! You better watch your words.” Came the Lieutenant’s order, coming to stand in front of her face. But Liv did not pay him any heed, she looked into Alex’s eyes, searching for her answer.

Alex clenched his jaw; his lips were pressed tightly in a thin line. Liv waited for him to answer, listening to Alex’s heavy breaths and keeping her eyes fixed on his. He scrunched his face, the lines near his nose deepening, until he moved to come closer to her. Liv had to crane her neck to look him in the eye, but she held her ground.

“Sergeant Ross, you do realize you are talking to your Captain?”

The anger in her was dissolving and was getting overcome by fear; fear of losing Sy. She felt her hands tremble as she balled them into fists with her eyes beginning to sting with the forming tears.

“We have to go back to get him, Alex.” She spoke in a raggedly calm manner. “We don’t leave our men behind.”

Liv hated him for many reasons, but right now all she needed was a friend. She spared a glance to the Lieutenant and then at the others standing behind them. Alex let out a heavy breath and momentarily closed his eyes before tapping her on the shoulder.

“Get to the medic, you’re bleeding.” He bluntly instructed, before turning to talk to the Lieutenant and walking towards the building which housed the office. Like on command, a trickle of blood trailed down Liv’s eyebrows, hanging onto her eyelashes before she swiped her hand over her forehead.

Fresh crimson liquid on her hand glistened under the sun, the metallic scent of blood lingering in the dusty winds. She felt her eyes blur for a second, her footing became unsteady until a set of strong hands came to hold onto her arms.

“It’s okay, Sarge, I got you.” She had no idea who it was, only that it wasn’t her friend or her lover.

***

No one could stay calm after returning from the warzone. No one could rest.

Liv had passed out again on the makeshift medical center’s bed. The docs said it was because of the blow to her head and the bleeding coupled with heat, but Liv wanted to add a few more things to the list. Topping everything else was the fact that it was almost night time and they were yet to find out if Sy was dead or alive.

She watched the rusty old blades of the ceiling fan whirr with metallic creaks. She looked to her side and noticed the groaning man beside her. He had his arm bandaged and his eye looked swollen shut. She recognized him to be from Alex’s unit, one of his privates maybe, someone who was out in the warzone for the first time.

Taking a deep, shaky breath and willing herself to sit up, Liv slung her legs from the edge of the bed. She touched the bandage on her forehead, dabbing at the bump of the material on her skin. She grabbed her shirt hanging from the metal railing of the bed and started putting it on over her t-shirt.

“You okay, man?” She placed a gentle hand over the private’s shoulder, nodding her head at him when he replied with a weak ‘yes’. She was about to ask him if he needed anything when the ruckus from outside the window pulled her attention.

Liv was staring wide-eyed at the commotion through the infirmary's window. Someone was being dragged by the collar of their shirt into the centre of the compound to where Alex and his men stood. Without wasting any time, Liv buttoned her shirt and ran out the infirmary, ignoring the protests of the doctor present in the room. She rushed down the stairs towards the exit, out into the yard to find Mahmoud pushed to stand in front of the men.

“Mahmoud! What is happening?” She ran to stand next to her friend, holding onto his arm as he stumbled forward. He had scrapes on his face and his nose was bleeding. His camo shirt was disheveled, the buttons on the front straining against their holes.

Disregarding her question, the man from Alex’s unit turned his scowling face towards the Captain. “We found him making his way to the camp. He refused to come with us as a fugitive and when he resisted-”

“You hit him?” Liv looked towards the poor man who had been nothing but helpful all this time. Sy always counted on him, he always told her how Mahmoud was like the beacon of hope for restoring some sort of peace to this place. “Sir, Mahmoud has been helping us all along. He has been important for everything that we have accomplished here.”

Alex crossed his arms over his chest while regarding Liv with contempt. “This man and his intel have led to my men getting injured. He was the one who set you up with the insider who betrayed you and now, your Captain’s missing. And yet you trust this guy?” He nearly spat out the last words to her, anger flaming in his eyes as he stared at Mahmoud’s form.

“Believe me Sergeant, I did not know about the boy. I did not know he would betray you.” Mahmoud held onto Liv’s arm, quivering in his place as he spoke. “I am not lying. I saw him myself. Captain and his men are alive and they’ve taken them captive.”

“How do you expect us to believe you?!” The man from before bellowed, grabbing Mahmoud’s collar again and yanking him backwards. Liv was quick to react, holding onto the soldier’s arm, grasping it tightly and pulling it away from Mahmoud’s shirt.

“Stop it! That is not how we treat them!” Liv turned to look at Mahmoud, ignoring the wild thumping in her heart. Her hands were beginning to tremble again, but she was also filled with the warmth of relief in finding out that her Sy was alive. “Mahmoud, please do not lie. You know Sy trusted you, more than he trusted anyone from around here.” She took his hands in hers, looking the man in the eyes with a pleading gaze. “Is Sy alive?”

“Yes, Sergeant. But-

“But what?” The beating of her heart was so loud in her ears, she was certain everybody could hear it. She had a sinking feeling in her gut, that whatever Mahmoud was going to say next would move the ground beneath her feet.

“They-the leader, he plans on executing the Captain and his men… make an example of them. To show what happens to anyone who helps the Americans.”

Blood drained from Liv’s body the moment those words left Mahmoud’s mouth. He went on to describe things he saw, but everything was a blur after that. Liv took a few staggered steps away, looking at the ground under her feet and feeling dread seeping into every fiber of her being. She had to pull in trembling breaths through her thoughts to finally calm her nerves.

Sy was hurt, they had beaten him. They were going to execute him.

Liv just wanted to crumple to the floor, lose all semblance of sanity, her mind fixated on how they had ended things. But she closed her eyes and willed herself to focus on her training. She had to save him or die trying. She loved the man and now that she knew he was alive, she had to give her everything to bring him back.

“Sir,” She said with a renewed fervor. Alex and his men looked at her at the same time. She could be reading wrong, but it seemed like Alex’s eyes had softened, the fury in his eyes was replaced with concern. “If you could hear me out sir, I have a plan.”

🌟 Series Masterlist 🌟

Chapter Eleven>

[spirestar]

Suzaku glances about to check their perimeter before glaring back at C.C. They both know he'll wait for her: Lelouch and C.C. are something together that goes far beyond the stupid titles Britannians used for them before. What had he called them once? Accomplices? A king and a witch. Only one is a chess piece, but the two of them are both the true players. What does that make Suzaku — Their smoking gun? Surely nothing so important. He grits his teeth to keep from biting back at her immediately, the martyr in him dying to push back against the slightest suggestion that he might have had enough. Gino used to call him a glutton for punishment more times than he could count. Suzaku never bothered to correct him. How can he explain himself in a way that makes people understand? He can't. Only Lelouch seems to see through him — Just as they're the only ones who know Nunnally's smile.

He mutters, soft but sharp, brow furrowed, "Noble?" Reason for living. So she's making fun of him. Or, at least, prodding at him to see if he'll react. C.C. always seems so bored. Maybe that's all it is — He knows she has little interest in his perspective. Suzaku drops his wrist into his other palm / His heart is never a quiet thing to touch, even as he wills it to die. He watches her sweeping movements with only a dash of perturbation; She'll be fine, of course, Suzaku's already seen her die. A bloody leg won't last long. He clears his throat. "You'd suggest I ignore my orders?"

No, he wasn't told to follow C.C. That doesn't change anything, though. Lelouch needs her. Suzaku would risk much more than his life to keep everything in its right place for their future. Not that he has to worry about dying either. He has his own Geass / wish to thank for that. "You've never been very loyal," something Suzaku resents ( so hypocritically, oh, and how he knows it ), "but I don't think you'd want that. From me, at least." If he ever turned on them, unthinkable impossible, but if, then he might destroy the foundation of Requiem. Neither of them can force him to do anything. He already has to live. It's enough of a punishment. "When you're not yet trustworthy," pointedly, he gives a flat sort of smile, one that used to make him look young, happy even in the face of so much misery, but now only leaves his features stretched and tired — Lelouch may depend on him, but Suzaku knows C.C. will never forget what he's done / Will never trust him, and she shouldn't. "There's nothing else to do but prove it."

❝ i said no, didn't i? ❞ naturally he doesn't rise to the occasion or even nip at the bait. she hadn't expected him to, really, she may have even been disappointed if he had, in some morbid, morose sort of way. even the slightest of confrontations in regards to suzaku's outlook on life and constant need to die is similar to taking a stroll through a minefield on a sunny sunday afternoon —— it may be amusing for her, may even bring her joy and contentedness and happiness for the time being, but only wit that constant threat of the world imploding all around her. not that the threat of explosions are especially terrible by any means, but still.

❝ i was managing well enough on my own, ❞ loftily and honestly —— c.c. has time and time again dragged herself from repetitive mockeries of death, anything and everything that could feasibly be concocted or considered or imagined by the terror that is the human mind. she's rather an expert at it, really, whether half her body be torn away or none of it / and A BROKEN LEG is nothing to her, in the grand scheme of things.

still, she acquiesces, makes something of a show of it as she goes, a put upon lingering sigh, the tumble of her hair as she releases it from the piles she had created, cascading all around her as she turns with nothing less than absolute grace half innate and half learned. what was it that priest had said to her so long ago, something about stillness for the sake of modesty and avoidance of temptation? forgive me father for i have sinned, or whatever. hand slides from suzaku's elbow to his wrist, maintaining a dainty ( almost princess-like, and isn't that an ironic thought? ) grip upon his wrist as she perches herself lightly upon a piece of wreckage, broken leg stretching out in front of her, well in the throes of healing. ❝ he's always waiting for me, ❞ a cant of her head, a whisper if amusement in her void, a crooning coo, an implied i'll always go to him. she holds lightly onto his wrist, still, tilts her head back to glance up at the clear skies / feels his pulse beneath her fingers, a muted thing, muffled by the silly flight suits they wear.

a brief glance again, noble profile considered, before she lets her head fall back and back and back ( a metaphorical beheading ; not the worst way to die, really ) tracking the sky and wreckage as she leans and leans. a distant breeze, far off birds, scared away by the sounds and detritus of battle after battle after battle. a witch and a knight —— now that is a tale that never ends well / though c.c. has never been skilled at crafting happy endings. ❝ is it not tiring to only exist living in service to others? ❞ a rhetorical question / she taps her fingers against his pulse before relinquishing her hold on him / wiggles her half healed leg, amused in a distant, macabre, ghastly way by the flash of pain.

❝ —— hmm, i guess it wouldn't be, to you. the ever noble raison d'etre. even coming to my rescue. ❞

[koulakoukoula2003]

Listen, I just read BHSL while waiting for BBSF updates. First of, I'd like to thank you for writing all of these fics. Let me assure you that I greatly enjoyed them. The only thing that pissed me off (for a lack of better term) was how it seemed like she chose Levi cause Erwin died. After everything that Levi and her went through, it seemed to me that she got together with Levi in the end because she has no choice? That's pretty low for Nat. I know she went through very very hard and tough times but c'mon you chose this person, you chose to love this person, shouldn't that count for something? Is love really this fickle? (Yes, I'm a hopeless romantic, I'm sorry 😔) I was really upset when she was thinking about how she should've chosen Erwin. I know, I know her marriage with Levi wasn't all rainbows and cupcakes but didn't she knew that when she married him? Do the vows really hold no value anymore? 😭 And back to BBSF, seeing the current chapters, it seems Nat is about to Levi her husband, Erwin this time with Zeke. Zeke, the murderer of her husband and many other scouts, Zeke who didn't gave Nat the whole truth so he can have her for himself. Nat is toxic, Zeke is toxic, Erwin is toxic too but personally I don't think Erwin deserves the 'I should've chosen someone else' narrative. Especially when that someone else is Zeke. Zeke may or may not die in this fic, but if he dies and Nat goes back to Erwin because 'Zeke is dead' it would really really perturb me. I just hope that maybe you can redeem Erwin and won't let him remain as this 'the world depends on me workaholic so it's alright if I won't give attention to my long lost wife whom I so loved but could never tell'. Because to be honest, Erwin deserves better. I absolutely love how you write Erwin in this fic, it's very close to canon actually. But I hope we can see again the Erwin who selfishly married Nat because if the world's gonna go to hell anyway, might as well enjoy the time he has with the one he loves. And Nat, I understand that Nat feels lonely and maybe even unloved because Zeke is treating her the way Erwin never does. So I get it if she falls for Zeke, but as to whoever she may chose in the end, I hope its because of what her heart truly desired. I hope its really out of love and not of convenience because the other person died. And if she ever decides to go back to her husband, the one she vowed everything to, I hope its because she realizes that he is the one she truly loved despite everything. 'Love is patient, love is kind, love rejoices with the truth'. Nat may have loved another man in the time they were separated and that is the truth, and I hope that the kind of love they have won't use this truth against each other but instead use this to make their love more stronger than ever, to make up with the times lost, to fill the gaps, to renew the broken vow.

I know you're not writing a fairy tale, and my ideas may seem like one, but I just feel like letting you know. I'm really thankful that you're writing this fic and the fact that I am bothered to this extent just shows how efficient your writing is. I really appreciate you reading this and continue blowing us away with your writing! <3

First of, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING THOSE HUGE FICS!!!!! This ask made me so happy today when I saw it omg THANK YOU cuz like those fics are too big I don't expect many ppl to read them ehehehehe

About BHSL (Levi x OC)

Aaaaand yes anon, you're right. In the end of BHSL Nat kinda SETTLED for Levi lmao, cuz Zeke died, Erwin died, her other "alternative" men died and only Levi was left and she settled for him lmao I KNOW that after 150 chapters of fic this ending is soooooo not satisfying LMAO and even though I GAVE them a happy ending, it's not really happy, is it?

I'm not the kinda writer who likes happy endings and I was really considering to let them both die (when Nat got injured pretty hard and Levi committed suicide when he realised she was dying) I WAS GOING to let them both die (and let Armin and Annie raise their two kids).

A happy ending is when the protagonist gets what they want. Nat didn't get what she wanted, did she? Actually, Nat didn't even know what she wanted. She wanted Erwin? She wanted Zeke? She wanted Levi? She wanted Anya? She wanted to marry her research and dedicate herself to science? She had no idea lmao.

I realised, if they both died and they got to rest in peace, then THAT would be a happy ending. (Cuz Nat WANTED to die. Nat WANTED to rest. But ofc I didn't let her, AND THAT'S her punishment for regretting her love for Levi).

If I let them both live and keep struggling to fix their unfixable relationship, wouldn't that be an ACTUAL sad ending?

BUT she loved Levi. She did, because, I DID give her the choice to leave him and die. She was in a comma and she was in Paths and SHE COULD HAVE chosen to stay in paths WITH Erwin. But she didn't do that, she chose to wake up and stay with Levi. Now, partly ofc she did that because of their children, but she also did that, cuz she WANTED a normal, non-toxic relationship with Levi EVEN THOUGH she knew that this kind of normality she could never have it with Levi.

Now that I think about it, maybe the only reason she woke up in the first place was their children LMAO MAYBE YOU'RE RIGHT ANON, she settled for Levi in the end cuz there was no one else.

Honestly, anon, Nat is a pretty indecisive character. She has no idea what she wants. I'M THE AUTHOR AND IDEK WHAT SHE WANTS LMAO. She doesn't know whether she truly loves Levi or not.

I thought that I WOULD mend Nat and Levi's relationship in a sequel for BHSL, BUUUUTTTT then I started writing the sequel aaaaand I fucked it up even more AHAHAHAH

(Sneak peek in the sequel of BHSL:

It is revealed that Anya is Levi's older sister, but she eventually dies because of her curse, so they name a child of their own after her. But that child ends up being autistic and Nat spends the rest of her life tryna "fix" her and Levi just loves little Anya the way she is. She's his favourite and he believes there's nothing for Nat to "fix", so they fight all the time about it.

PLUS I also wanted to reveal that - remember all those miscarriages that Nat had? It was never the serum's fault. She caused them herself LMAO LIKE the Burgess Devil, her second personality, was ALWAYS there. It didn't just show up when they started experimenting on her. As a matter of fact, the Burgess Devil killed Miche in BHSL TOO! She just doesn't know it. The whole thing with the Beast? She imagined it AHAHAHHAHA

Also, notice how I'm not mentioning Nat's name in the 30 year timeskip where we got Nat and Levi's kids being all badass and working together?

'her mom' ehehehehehehe I do not mention Nat's name BECAUSE NAT ISN'T THERE MUAHAHAHAHHA

ahem, yes, Nat in BHSL is also locked in a mental asylum and Levi has moved on with someone else that ACTUALLY LOVES HIM AND MAKES HIM HAPPY lmaoooaojdfgh

So yeah, I'm not gonna post the sequel because it RUINS EVERYTHING LMFAO DFNFJK)

So, yeah sorry for the spoilers and the very terrible ending, I just love torturing both my readers and my characters MUAHAHAHAH

About BBSF (Erwin x OC)

YOU'RE RIGHT Erwin sure as hell does not deserve the same treatment. Erwin really NEEDS someone who can love and support him cuz especially now (in my version of s4) everything has fallen on his shoulders and even if he wanted no part in it, he still has no choice but to do everything. Everyone is incapable to lead Paradis in the right path rn tbh and it's only him who knows what to do and how to do it right.

So he really CANNOT afford to have Nat doing whatever tf comes into her twisted mind.

And Erwin loves her so very fucking much. Honestly, Erwin would NEVER marry anyone, but he DID marry her cuz he simply can't do without her. He loves her madly and when he was being toxic, he simply did what he thought was best for her.

Now the problem is, that Nat is absolutely insane LMAOOOO

Hear me out, anon, I am so sick of everybody writing OCs that are PRETTY AND PERFECT AND LOVELY AND AMAZING AND OP lmaooooooo Nat seems to be all of these, but she is literally none of these.

When I created Nat, I was like, I'mma create a character who LOOKS perfect, but she IS the worst there is.

And that's exactly what Nat is. All the characters love her. She's everybody's favourite, and the 104th's mother figure, and she always talks so sweetly with all these 'darlings' and 'sweethearts' and 'sweeties' and she's so warm and gentle and PERFECT in literally anything she does (whether that's science and fighting and leading and whatnot).

EVERYBODY loves her.

But they shouldn't because all of this 'perfection' is just an act to hide how twisted she truly is. Actually, it's such a good act, she's even convinced herself that there's nothing wrong with her. She's convinced herself that she's always right. She's convinced herself that she must please everyone. Whether that's Erwin, or Zeke, or Levi or idek who else.

She becomes the very thing they want and when either of the three men ends up wanting her so much, she's revelling in it.

I think I just figured out what Nat wants (AND IT'S ALL THANKS TO YOU, ANON)

Nat wants to be wanted.

In other words, she's an attention-seeking little slut AHAHAHAH what? is that too low for Nat? Honestly, anon, Nat has created a whole other level of... lowness AHAHAHAHA

Yeah, I don't know how she ended up like this, I just wanted to create an OC that's FAR from perfect.

I WILL bring back selfish Erwin who just loves her madly AND HE WILL tell her he loves her in chapter 95 eheheheh it's gonna be UWU AND IM SO GLAD you think my erwin is close to canon, I've put SO MUCH EFFORT into writing this man on character it's keeping me awake in the nights LMFAO

This man's too smart, my feeble brain cannot handle to write his genius.

IDK if I'll do the same with Zeke and Nat and Erwin that I did with Erwin, Nat and Levi in BHSL. At least, that's what I'm planning to do, butttttt i promise my plans never work out with those fics AHAHAHAH

I think Imma go with the narrative where Nat doesn't actually LOVE Zeke. She has convinced herself that she does because Zeke is giving her everything Erwin never gave her and she's like YES HE'S PERF FOR ME lmao even tho he's not, her heart is still aching for Erwin.

Especially when she finds out that Zeke KNEW about Erwin being alive and still didn't tell her, I think that would be the end for her and Zeke BUT IDK YET OK? I'm figuring out this fic as I go (this method worked splendidly in BHSL too LMAO)

All I've planned so far is that Erwin and Nat will have a massive fight (cuz ofc Nat won't tell Erwin that she had a thing with Zeke) but Erwin will put the pieces together when he sees how Eddie prefers Zeke as a dad and how comfortable she is around Zeke (taking food to him and taking care of him and all).

After that MASSIVE (I repeat) fight, her relationship with Erwin will become happy and healthy again and no worries, SHE LOVES Erwin. She really does, she's just very complicated as a character.

Now after that, I've no idea what happens yet LMFAO

It's def not gonna be a fairy tale BUUUUUTTT you're right, they SHOULD renew their broken vows and all AND THEY SHOULD end up happy (which I'm thinking Imma give them a happy ending).

The entire point of BHSL was to show that Nat just wasn't meant for Levi.

BUT I THINK she is meant for Erwin. Like, there were so many times that Levi felt 'lesser' around Nat. She was just too good, too perfect for him and he was always scared she might stop loving him and that's why Levi did what he did. Levi's insecurities and self-loathing doubled every time she was around.

But Erwin doesn't have that problem. Erwin's smart and perfect just as much as she is AND HE KNOWS IT. He's got no insecurities about himself. I don't think she can love a man who has. A 'lesser' man - a man like Zeke or Levi. Zeke is not the smartest guy and for a Burgess like Nat, smartness is what matters most to her.

So yeah, no worries, she LOVES Erwin, truly, and she WILL choose Erwin in the end.

BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH, ANON, as I said, this ask made me so very happy, I LOVE INTERACTING WITH MY READERS, I'm literally LIVING FOR IT and I'm so glad you like my writing THANK YOU FOR READING MY FICS and don't hesitate to send me more asks about anything you might wanna talk about 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

[hoebaring]

Open Books (36) | Kim Namjoon

An unpredicted switch of journals brings two strangers close. Strangers with similarly perturbing experiences, and beautifully healing souls. Abused, bullied, and traumatized, they help each other, and those around them break away from similar experiences, heal and grow gracefully. With thoughtful emotions, and ever growing minds, Y/n and Namjoon are delicate heroes.

They understand the best in each other, and the worst, like open books.

Tags/Warnings :- Child abuse, domestic violence, traumatized characters, bullying, self harm, mentions of toxic relationships, angst. I know it's dark but trust me it gets better! namjoonXreader, Namjoon and Y/n, A slow burn romance, fluff, strangers to friends, strangers to lovers, self love, healing, etc.

Cross posted on Wattpad

Written by Author G

Word count :- 645 Words

Masterlist   Previously Next

~A New Start~

This was a new start indeed, considering the fact that as Namjoon sits on the bed in the new dorm, his journal placed on his lap as the tip of the pen touches the page, it imprints heartwarming memos from the last few weeks, unlike the previous entries in the diary.

The colorful images that replay themselves in the depths of his thoughts are described dreamily on the trusted paper, a small smile present on Namjoon's face the more he dwells on the thoughts. Right from the first meet of theirs in the clocktower, to the meaningful conversations they would have on their evening breaks, the wind swaying the trees around them gently, as if nature herself knew that the fondness hidden behind those moments were sweet enough to help the trees drift off to sleep.

Soon, the subtle differences between his platonic thoughts, and romantic feelings come into scene, and he laughs at it, penning his way through the journal, recall that fated moment on the bus when the first sliver of those emotions presented themselves.

The excitement that the flutter of his heart brings when he thinks of the cute, yet awkward moments with her, slowly evolves into something more calm, and peaceful when he is reminded of how being around Y/n makes him feel safest. Maybe that's why he hasn't found the need to write in his diary ever since he returned from Seoul with Dahee. The realisation that she had turned out to be much more than just a friend hits him with a pleasant blow.

She is the only one who knows his thoughts inside out, be it the silliest of them or the most pensive, she knows them all. Every chapter, every page, every line, she knew him.

So, why shouldn't she know of how he feels about her then?

What was it that was stopping him from pouring his heart out to the very girl who knew him like an open book?

She never made him feel insecure, so why does he think his feelings towards her would make her do so?

He doesn't know.

All he knows is that he trusts her with all of his heart, and that's all that matters.

As Namjoon continues to pour his thoughts out into his journal, ever so absorbed in the self - reflection he was receiving from it, Seok-Jin walks into the dorm, a can of soda in his hand as he greets Namjoon with a casual 'hey!', only to be unconsciously ignored by the younger lad.

"Hellooo" Jin comically sings as he sits down next to him to get his attention, succeeding only after he taps Namjoon on the shoulder gently.

"Seok-Jin ssi! I didn't hear you come in" Namjoon exclaims with a small smile to which Jin rolls his eyes, before asking him what he was doing.

"Ahh. Just writing.."

"Lyrics? Wanna show me?" Jin assumes to which Namjoon shakes his head 'no' with a quick laugh.

"They're not lyrics, no" The bright smile on Namjoon's face slowly turns into one that looks grateful once he is hit with a thought. "But.. that would work, wouldn't it?"

"What would work?" Jin asks confusedly once he notices a shade of red painting his friend's face.

"No. Nothing Jin-ssi" Namjoon quickly dismisses the question with a smile as he gets up from the bed, journal and pen in his hand.

"Ok, if you say so" He doesn't stress on the conversation, understanding that his friend didn't want to talk about it right now.

"I'm heading out for a walk. See you later!" Namjoon says, stepping out the main door once Jin replies with a hum.

It may work.. it may not. But Namjoon doesn't seem to care about that. All he wants for now is to try. And he would give it his all.