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embbarnes · 2 days ago

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This took me so long I'm so sorryyyyy. I meant to do this like, last week. I've just been busy prepping for my new addition lol.

I adored this one, you did such a good job writing him and I think this is one of my fav Logan fics from you!

Like always my thoughts and such are below the cut ~

He hates how commercialized the holiday is thanks to the multi-billion dollar corporations that fill department stores with trinkets the second that Christmas is over. He hates all of the pressure and unrealistic expectations that come with planning the perfect date. And as much as he hates to admit it to himself, he hates that it's a stark reminder that he's just as alone in this universe as he had been in the last one.

My first thought was yes, I feel this hard.

He'd never admit it aloud, but just maybe the fact that he can’t keep his thoughts from straying to a specific next door neighbor certainly doesn’t help. He hates to use the word crush at his grown age, but he can’t really think of a better word for it. If it’s not a crush, why else would he be wondering what your plans are for this evening? Why else would he feel the unmistakable, undeniable twinge of jealousy when he thinks of the mere possibility of you spending your night in the arms of someone other than him?

I love a jealous Logan. I love the neighbor trope so much too, it was one I never really thought about until reading your fics.

“Oh, no. Not a date,” you correct him quickly with a bashful grin. “Well, maybe. Is it considered a date if I’m dining by myself?” “You’re going to dinner by yourself?” Logan asks, unable to hide the surprise in his tone. “Looking like that?”

Ay ay ay...Logan, don't judge. Sometimes it's nice to go out and treat yourself

All it takes is one look at the table that the host takes the two of you to for Logan to realize that he has indeed never had Korean barbecue. You don’t appear to be the slightest bit confused so he assumes that the circular grill built into the middle of the table is normal, though he’s never seen anything quite like it in a restaurant before. You giggle when you notice the curious expression on his face. “It’s kinda like hibachi,” you begin. “Except instead of someone cooking it in front of you, you cook it yourself.” Logan takes in the array of various meats on the tray to the left of him. You pick up a piece of what appears to be some kind of beef with a pair of tongs, and place it on the grill. It sizzles, and he watches as you add a few more pieces of meat onto the hot surface. “Isn’t that kinda the whole point of going to a restaurant? To have someone else cook the food for you?” He asks the question as gently as he can, not wanting to hurt your feelings. He’s just happy to be here with you – even if he doesn’t fully understand the appeal of going to a restaurant to pay to cook your own food.

I've never been to a place like this or had Korean bbq at all and my first thought was the same as his, but I've always wanted to try it lol.

“Last week, when we got stuck in the elevator together,” you begin in a low voice. He swears that your eyes flicker to his lips for a split second before meeting his gaze once more. “Were you nervous?”

She's better than me I'd NEVER work myself to ask him this lmaoo

“Do you wanna come up to my place?” you breathe, nodding your head in the direction of the apartment building. “What? You don’t wanna come to mine and hang out with Al?” he teases, nudging you in the direction of the building’s entrance. “As tempting as that sounds…” You trail off, following his lead. The second that the elevator door comes to a close, his hands are back on you. He backs you up against the wall, his hands gripping your hips as you spread your legs enough to allow one of his thick thighs in between them. This time, he’s the one who kisses you, wasting no time in slipping his tongue between your lips. You whimper into the kiss, your tongue fighting his for dominance.

Yesss this is what I was waiting for! She's so playful lol and he's a big ol' tease.

“Fuckin’ hell,” you groan. “Not this again.”

No no...this is good.

There’s a mischievous look on your face. Before he can question you, you’re sliding down the wall until you reach the floor. You reach for his belt with your hands, making quick work of undoing the buckle and then the button to his jeans. Oh. All Logan can do is stare down at you in wonderment as you tug his zipper down. “This okay with you?” you ask, but the look on your face says that you already know the answer.

This okay with you - girl, he's about to bust rn. He's def okay with this lol

Later, he tells himself. He’ll get you naked later, in the privacy of your apartment, where there’s no risk of the elevator doors sliding open at any given moment.

A gentleman, don't argue w me.

Your cunt tastes as sweet as the fruity wine from the restaurant did on your tongue. He eats you like he wants to get drunk off of you, alternating between soft licks through your folds and fervent kisses to your swollen bud. He feels your legs quiver around the sides of his head. He supports you from below, letting you go all but limp above him. He glances up at you, your head thrown back in pleasure and your chest heaving with ragged breaths.

He is diving in there 😩 Grab his hair and tug -

“Do you.. wanna wait until we get back to your..?” “God, no,” you exhale, and pull him to you by grabbing his flannel in your fists.

LMAO same girl 😭

“Mind if I still come back to your place? I know we just…” He trails off, glancing down at where he’s still tucked inside you. “But I just realized I forgot to pick up cigarettes for Al and she isn’t gonna be too happy with me.” You roll your eyes, and playfully push him away from you so that you can tug your skirt back into place. “I think I can find a way to be okay with that,” you smirk. “If we ever get out of this fuckin’ elevator.”

This ending was so hilarious too I absolutely loved it from start to finish. The fin little moments and the build up, the smut scene was HOT and the funny little quips added into the fic were MUAH. You did sooo good with this one ~ 💕💕💕

either way, i'm going your way

logan howlett x reader (worst!logan x reader)

word count: 4k

summary: logan doesn't remember the last time he celebrated valentine's day, and he doesn't have any reason to believe that this year will be any different. then he runs into you, wade's neighbor, who happens to love the holiday despite not having anyone to celebrate it with.

warnings/tags: smut, 18+ only mdni, sex in a public place kind of, oral (m&f receiving), unprotected p in v, logan's pov, neighbor!reader, reader is afab, reader is described as being shorter than logan, no use of y/n, hints of grumpy x sunshine

this is my entry for @yxtkiwiyxt & @lubdubology valentine's writing challenge! thank you both for hosting this, i can't wait to read the other submissions ❤️

logan howlett masterlist

Logan has been alive for two centuries worth of Valentine's Days. He can count on one hand how many he’s actually celebrated, and he can't recall the last time he had a reason to even acknowledge the day.

To him, Valentine’s Days have always been just another Tuesday, or Thursday, or whatever day it falls on that year.

Technically he can't say that he's entirely alone. Romantically? Yes. Sexually? Yes.

Physically, however, he’s lodged between a blind eighty-year-old cocaine addict and a ten pound living tumor - the latter of whom keeps trying to French kiss him.

Wade might be out with Vanessa for Valentine’s Day, but for Logan, this is any other Friday night – watching Who Wants To Be A Millionaire reruns with Al and Mary Puppins.

Something about his current predicament makes him feel even more alone than if he actually were alone. Maybe it’s how unfamiliar and foreign this universe still feels in so many ways – he’s been here for some months now, but there’s some things that remind him that he still has a ways to go in terms of adjustment.

He has no one to blame but himself, and he knows it. He had the perfect opportunity to ask you out just last week, and he didn’t take it. The two of you were both taking the elevator up to your neighboring apartments when it broke down for the third fucking time in the last month. It took nearly an hour for maintenance to get it back up and running, and he couldn’t find the nerve to simply ask if you have any plans at any point during the time you were trapped in the fifteen square feet of space together. Instead, he awkwardly rambled about he had walked in on Wade and Vanessa in a compromising position the day before.

He cringes at the memory, tossing back another swig of whiskey when he realizes the bottle is empty. He sighs, earning a side-eye from Mary Puppins.

If this is how he’s going to be spending his evening, he should at least be a little intoxicated.

“I’m going to the liquor store,” Logan announces as he transfers Mary Puppins from his lap to Al’s before standing up from his position on the couch for the first time in hours. “You need anything?”

“Pick me up a couple of scratchers and a pack of Newports.”

Just her usual requests, then.

Logan throws on his leather jacket, dreading the cold and dreary February night but willing to face it for a bottle of bourbon and some cigars. He’s been out of those since yesterday, so a trip to the nearest convenience store is much needed, anyway.

The door to the apartment complex’s singular outdated elevator is sliding to a close when Logan hears a familiar, feminine voice call out.

“Hold up!”

Logan immediately pushes the hold button, freezing the door in place. A second later, you appear in the doorframe. You’re slightly out of breath, with a relieved expression on your face.

“Thanks,” you greet him as you lean against the wall of the elevator, smoothing your hands over the fabric of your plaid skirt. “I’m running late to my dinner reservations and really didn’t wanna have to take the stairs in these.” You glance down at the heels of the uncomfortable looking thigh high boots that you’re wearing.

Uncomfortable looking and hot, he thinks, before your words sink in. Dinner reservations – of course you’d have plans tonight. He feels a slight pang of disappointment (and jealousy, if he’s being honest with himself) at the realization, but he isn’t surprised.

“Well, let’s cross our fingers that we don’t get stuck in here again and that you make it to your date on time,” Logan says with a forced laugh and smile as he pushes the button once again to close the door, followed by the button that says lobby.

“Oh, no. Not a date,” you correct him quickly with a bashful grin. “Well, maybe. Is it considered a date if I’m dining by myself?”

“You’re going to dinner by yourself?” Logan asks, unable to hide the surprise in his tone. “Looking like that?”

Your eyes widen in shock. “What’s wrong with how I look? And what’s wrong with going to dinner by myself?”

“Nothing!” Logan begins to backtrack when he realizes how his questions came across. “You - you look great. I'm just a little surprised. Would’ve assumed that you had a date tonight is all—”

He trails off when he realizes that you’re pursing your lips together in an obvious attempt to hide a smirk. The mischievous glimmer in your eyes gives you away.

“I’m just fucking with you, Logan,” you snort with a playful slap to his arm. “I know it’s a little unconventional to take yourself out on Valentine’s Day. But I’ve always loved the holiday despite being painfully single, so I thought why not? Better than sitting at home and sulking all night.”

The corners of his lips threaten to twitch upwards at the words painfully single as he contemplates the rest of your response. He can’t help but admire your way of thinking. He was content with staying holed up inside the apartment and drinking himself into a stupor, but he can’t deny that your outlook on the holiday is far less depressing and boring than his.

“What about you?” you ask as the elevator comes to a stop with a melodic ding. You exit, looking back at him over your shoulder. “Are you on your way to your Valentine’s plans?”

He chuckles at the question. For a second, he considers lying to you. He considers telling you that yes, he is on his way to pick up his date right now, just so he doesn’t have to tell you the truth – that he’s on his way to buy bourbon, cancer sticks, and lottery tickets for him and his elderly roommate. But with his luck, you’d run into Wade tomorrow and he’d open his big fucking mouth about how Logan actually spent his night, and the thought of that is even more mortifying than telling you the truth to your face.

“Not unless you count making a liquor run as Valentine’s plans,” he sighs, averting your gaze as he opens the door to the apartment building for you. “The only thing I plan on doing tonight is listen to Althea scream at her game shows.”

You come to a stop outside of the apartment building, wrapping your coat tightly around your chest to fight off the chilly night air. There’s a peculiar look on your face that Logan can’t quite read – something between amusement and hesitation.

“You could have worse dates, I suppose,” you laugh.

“That’s true,” Logan agrees. “At least I have Vanessa to thank for a Wade free evening. But I’ll let you go, don’t wanna make you late for your—”

“Do you like Korean barbecue?”

Logan freezes, taken aback by the question. He snaps his mouth shut, realizing he’s staring at you like a deer in the headlights.

“Korean barbecue?” He asks lamely. “Don’t think I’ve ever tried it.”

He’s had barbecue. He’s had Korean food.. maybe? He’s been alive a really long time, he’s sure he’s had Korean food at some point in the last two hundred years.

But he can’t say that he’s had Korean barbecue.

A nervous looking grin appears on your face, and you cross your arms over your chest before taking a small step towards him.

“Are you hungry?”

••••••

All it takes is one look at the table that the host takes the two of you to for Logan to realize that he has indeed never had Korean barbecue.

You don’t appear to be the slightest bit confused so he assumes that the circular grill built into the middle of the table is normal, though he’s never seen anything quite like it in a restaurant before.

You giggle when you notice the curious expression on his face.

“It’s kinda like hibachi,” you begin. “Except instead of someone cooking it in front of you, you cook it yourself.”

Logan takes in the array of various meats on the tray to the left of him. You pick up a piece of what appears to be some kind of beef with a pair of tongs, and place it on the grill. It sizzles, and he watches as you add a few more pieces of meat onto the hot surface.

“Isn’t that kinda the whole point of going to a restaurant? To have someone else cook the food for you?” He asks the question as gently as he can, not wanting to hurt your feelings. He’s just happy to be here with you – even if he doesn’t fully understand the appeal of going to a restaurant to pay to cook your own food.

“It’s about the experience,” you explain with a shrug. “To be fair, when most people come to a Korean barbecue restaurant, they usually come with a group of people – hence the large amount of meat.” You nod towards the arrangement of the meats that have yet to be cooked.

“It’s a social thing. But all of my friends had plans with their significant others tonight, so…”

You trail off as the server places another tray on the table – this one covered in various colorful side dishes that he’s definitely never had before. He wouldn’t exactly describe himself as adventurous when it comes to trying new foods – for the most part, he lives off of ham and cheese sandwiches and frozen TV dinners. But he tried shawarma when he’d first arrived in this universe and ended up loving it, so he’s determined to try a bite of everything on this table.

“Sounds like it’s a good thing that you ran into me, then,” Logan murmurs when the server walks off.

You take your eyes off of the pieces of meat that you’re paying careful attention not to overcook, looking up at him through your lashes with a soft smile.

“I'd say that you’re right about that.”

••••••

Despite the breeze and the chilly night air, Logan feels perfectly toasty on the walk back to the apartment thanks to your tight hold on his arm and the wine that you had insisted that he try.

He'd learned a lot tonight – a lot about you; your hobbies and your interests. He’d learned all about Korean barbecue, and that he likes bulgogi and buldak.

Most importantly, he'd learned that he was stupid for ever being nervous about asking you out.

He feels at ease with you. He already knew he enjoys your company from all of the times that you’ve joined Wade’s movie nights and get-togethers – but he’d never been alone with you (with the exception of getting stuck in the elevator with you last week). Wade, Vanessa, Al, Peter, Yukio, and countless others always seemed to be present, making it near impossible for him to get to know you in the way that he’s wanted to since he first met you.

But now, with your arm intertwined with his and the scent of your perfume hitting him each time there is a gust of air, he knows that he is going to do all that he can to keep having moments like this with you.

“I have a question,” you state as the two of you turn onto the street where your apartment building is. Logan glances down at you in curiosity, but you’re not looking at him – you’re looking ahead, your teeth biting into your lower lip.

“What’s that?” Logan murmurs.

You hesitate, your eyes flickering up to him before quickly looking away again. “Did you actually like the kimchi?”

Logan can’t help but cackle, taken off guard by the question.

“That’s your question?” he laughs, thinking back to the spicy and tangy flavor of the fermented vegetables.

You come to a stop next to a streetlight outside of your apartment building, pulling your arm away from his to stand just inches in front of him.

“No,” you admit with a smirk. “Though I am curious about that, too.” You take a step closer to him, your chest ever so slightly brushing against his. He feels his breath catch in his throat at the way that your eyes twinkle in the glow of the streetlight.

He thinks back to his nervous rambling in the elevator, to how you looked so pretty that he found it difficult to hold direct eye contact with you, and to how it felt like half of his brain was screaming at him to ask you out and the other half was screaming at him to not make himself look like an idiot.

Yeah, nervous is accurate.

“That obvious, huh?” he sighs.

“Just a little,” you shrug. “But don’t worry. I was too.”

“Is that right?” Logan asks, trying not to give away just how happy the confession makes him. “And what about now?”

He doesn’t have to ask – he's standing close enough to you that your increased heartrate is easy for him to detect.

“Something like that,” you whisper, and before he fully process what’s happening, you’re raising up on your tippy toes to capture his lips in yours.

The taste of the fruity wine from dinner still lingers on your lips. He places his hands on the small of your back, pulling you flush against him. Your hands cradle his face, pulling him down closer to you. The warmth of you is a balm against the brisk night air, making him feel like he can’t get close enough to you. You don’t pull away until you’re breathless, looking up at him with dilated pupils in the florescent street lighting.

“Do you wanna come up to my place?” you breathe, nodding your head in the direction of the apartment building.

“What? You don’t wanna come to mine and hang out with Al?” he teases, nudging you in the direction of the building’s entrance.

“As tempting as that sounds…” You trail off, following his lead.

The second that the elevator door comes to a close, his hands are back on you. He backs you up against the wall, his hands gripping your hips as you spread your legs enough to allow one of his thick thighs in between them. This time, he’s the one who kisses you, wasting no time in slipping his tongue between your lips. You whimper into the kiss, your tongue fighting his for dominance.

It isn’t until he pulls away for air and opens his eyes that he realizes the elevator has come to a stop. It couldn’t have been moving for more than ten seconds –

“Fuckin’ hell,” you groan. “Not this again.”

Logan looks at the panel of buttons to his left. Sure enough, the number reads that you’re still a floor beneath your apartments. He beats his fist against the elevator wall, as if that’s actually going to help the matter.

Still pinned between his body and the wall, you pull your cell phone out from an interior pocket of your coat. You quickly find the number for building maintenance in your call history, but it just rings, and rings, and rings.

“I could probably pry the doors open,” Logan muses as he begins to pull away from you. He thinks back to how it took maintenance nearly an hour to get the elevator back up and running last week, and knows that he wouldn’t have the patience for that now. The thought of having to wait even a fraction of that long to get back to your apartment…

“Let’s not do anything that could potentially put the elevator out of commission permanently, yeah?” You pull him back to you, grabbing his face in your hand and making him look at you. “I think that we'll be just fine right here for a while.”

Oh.

All Logan can do is stare down at you in wonderment as you tug his zipper down.

“This okay with you?” you ask, but the look on your face says that you already know the answer.

He nods, his mouth suddenly feeling too dry to speak. He helps you shimmy his boxers and jeans down enough for his cock to spring free. He glances around the elevator, double checking that there aren’t any security cameras. Considering this elevator is ancient and doesn’t even function half the time, he isn’t surprised to see that there aren’t any.

You take the base of him in your hand, languidly massaging the length as you tease his slit with your tongue. You lap up the beads of pre-cum before easing him past your lips.

The sight of you on your knees for him is enough to have him twitching in your mouth. Add in how your soft lips and tongue feel working his length, and he knows he won’t last long like this.

You bob your head around him, gagging when his head juts against the back of your throat. You pull off of him, leaving a thick rope of saliva that trails from his cock to your mouth.

He doesn’t think he’s ever seen anything prettier. He could spend hours looking at you like this.

But this isn’t how he wants to finish – in your mouth, before he’s even had a chance to make you feel good. So as much as it nearly kills him to do it, he pulls himself away from your sweet lips and yanks you back up by the tops of your arms. There’s the slightest hint of disappointment on your face, but it quickly disappears when he pushes your coat off of your shoulders and down your arms. It falls to floor, leaving you in still too many articles of clothing for Logan’s liking.

Later, he tells himself. He’ll get you naked later, in the privacy of your apartment, where there’s no risk of the elevator doors sliding open at any given moment.

For now, he settles for pushing the restrictive fabric of your skirt upwards, bunching it around your waist. He sinks to the ground in front of you, splaying his palms on your inner thighs and spreading your legs open for him. He rubs the pad of his thumb over the soft material of your panties, right over your clit. He feels shudder at the sensation, and notices the goosebumps that appear on the skin of your thighs.

He hooks his index finger through the cotton fabric, pulling it to the side. He looks up to see if there’s any kind of hesitation on your face, but you quickly pull him to your center by the back of his head, erasing any doubt. He chuckles lowly, and flattens his tongue over your slit.

He feels your legs quiver around the sides of his head. He supports you from below, letting you go all but limp above him. He glances up at you, your head thrown back in pleasure and your chest heaving with ragged breaths.

His name slips through your lips, your voice strained with desperation. He loves the sound of it, and wants more than anything to hear you keep saying it. He snakes one of his hands between your thighs, and teases your hole with the tip 9t his finger. You involuntarily sink down, nudging the tip of it past your entrance.

He groans against your clit at how fucking tight you feel around his finger. God, he can’t wait to be inside you. He pumps the digit, your walls already clenching around him.

“Logan,” you moan from above him. “I’m gonna—”

“I know,” he hums against your clit. “Let go. I got you.”

Your climax washes over you with a sharp cry of his name and Logan mentally prays that the elevator walls aren’t as thin as the apartment walls.

When you go still above him, he reluctantly takes his mouth off of you and stands up. His jeans and boxers are still bunched just above his knees, his erection painfully hard and his balls full. He wipes the excess of your slick from his mouth with the back of his hand, and then begins to stroke his own length in his fist.

“Do you.. wanna wait until we get back to your..?”

“God, no,” you exhale, and pull him to you by grabbing his flannel in your fists.

His lips crash against yours as he nestles himself in between your legs, teasing your slit with the head of his cock. He coats it in your juices and eases into you slowly. You groan into his mouth and he has to try not to cum on the spot.

You’re tight, and warm, and your walls flutter around him just right. He hikes one of your thighs over his hip, deepening the angle before he pulls almost all the way out. He rocks back into you, working up to a steady pace.

The small, confined space is filled with the sound of your body meeting his and the sweet noises you make that are music to his ears. You grip around him like a velvet vice and he knows that he isn't going to last long.

“Gonna cum, honey,” he warns in a grunt next to your ear. “Ya feel too fuckin’ good.”

He feels your walls pulse around him at his words and he can tell that you're just as close as he is. A few more deep thrusts that hit your cervix just right and he’s spilling into you as you cum around him.

When he’s empty, his movements cease but he doesn’t pull out. He nuzzles his face against your throat, pressing kisses to the soft but sweat-slicked skin.

“Happy Valentine’s Day to us,” you murmur in a borderline delirious voice. He laughs, pulling back just enough to press his lips to yours.

You roll your eyes, and playfully push him away from you so that you can tug your skirt back into place.

“I think I can find a way to be okay with that,” you smirk. “If we ever get out of this fuckin’ elevator.”

not my favorite thing i've ever written by any means, i've been feeling really unmotivated to write and have felt kinda burnt out, but i still wanted to get this out before valentine's day bc if i didn't then i never would have finished it at all, lol. so i'm sorry it's short 😭 hope you still enjoyed

reblogs/comments are always appreciated, thanks for reading!

#fic rec

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artsy-hobbitses · 2 days ago

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One of the images that would not leave my head is that of Prowl coming face to face with the man he once was, which happens during TTB's Functionist! AU arc and becomes a narrative testament to the growth he's gone through as a person inside, as opposed to the shiny, chrome outer growth of P7031 who sees him as a glitch that has to be eradicated. So they go Highlander on each other because THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE As an additional treat, a short fic under the cut!

Preston Wan Peirong - Prowl

Jace Zayden - Functionist!AU Jazz

Benjamin ‘Ben’ Bane - Functionist AU Bumblebee

Hanley Riordan - HotRod

Hale Donovan - Hound

Stefan Scavarro - Starscream

Spencer Rao Shouren - Springer

Breaking into Sentinel Prime’s base was a deathwish back in his own universe, and it was no different here, Preston Wan mused to himself as he slipped out of the shadows during the five minute window — just as he’d predicted — where the guards at the outpost were scheduled to change shifts before beckoning the rest of the ground crew to follow in his stead.

The first line of defense cleared, they silently made their way towards the heart of the self-proclaimed dictator’s operations, breaths hitching in unison every time a guard passed a hair’s breadth away from them.

The base schematics Jace Zayden had managed to hack into and download through one of the contractors’ stolen biometrics data revealed a network of utility corridors which saw little use from the guardsmen — minute cracks in the citadel’s defenses they could capitalize on.

“How close are we to the laboratories?” Jace inquired under his breath as behind him, Benjamin Bane surreptitiously peeked at the hologram of a map emitted from a prosthetic hand.

“There’s a turn 500m ahead—we gotta take a right from there,” the youngest member of the team murmured, frowning slightly before adding: “You really think that’s where we’ll find them?”

“If what we know about the Matrix is true and Stefan’s communications with us are found out — and I’m sure they have been — then yes,” Preston said with a nod as they moved deeper into enemy territory. “The Quintessons ate those of us they couldn’t use—with greed rivaling theirs, I don’t believe Sentinel would waste a warm body on a grave over a weapon. Ours included.”

Jace winced.

“A ‘We got this team, let’s not get caught’ would have sufficed.”

“Pep talks are your specialty,” Preston reminded the rebellion leader with a raised eyebrow. “Facts are mine.”

“Like you keep proving with every sentence, my man,” Jace responded with a resigned sigh as they were halfway to the turn, when he suddenly came to a dead halt.

The raised hackles, the snarl, Preston knew what it meant even before he caught the faintest sound of gravel crunching underneath metallic soles approaching them.

“It’s him,” came the low growl from the shambling mass of fur and muscle that was Hale Donovan, who suddenly loomed over them protectively.

“Hey, it’s five on one tin man this time, and between the lot o’ us, I like those odds,” Hanley Riordan pointed out, taking on a defensive stance, and immediately Preston could feel a migraine coming along at the risk of the plan derailing entirely.

“Listen to me. Any changes to the plan at this stage, and we risk losing both Starscream and the Matrix,” he said sternly as he held out an arm to bar the rest of the group from engaging with their pursuer. “Keep the pace. I’ll stall him.”

Ben and Hanley both opened their mouths to protest, though Jace’s voice cut through the tension first.

“We’re not leaving you to get smoked out here!”

“Don’t be dramatic, I have no intention of disobeying a direct order by dying out here,” came Preston’s brisk assurance with a wry, fleeting grin as the pistols hooked to his belt hummed to life.

“An order from whom?!” Jace snapped, his grip on the Autobot chief strategist 's shoulder tightening as the heavy footfalls echoed closer to them.

There was a pause as Preston clutched the grips of his firearms, stoic features softening with tender solemnity. Home. He’d been ordered to complete the mission and come home. Home to Spencer, who needed him more than ever now. Home to—

“You.”

Jace blinked and took a second to compute an order that seemingly never passed his lips; the thought was about as absurd as the idea of two Prestons inhabiting the same universe; One a hated nemesis, the other a fledgling friend.

“... Aight. Holding you to my order, Prowler,” said the rebellion leader firmly as he thumped the ex-cop’s chestplate twice with the side of his fist in a brotherly manner, gaze dripping with loathing for the figure that strode purposefully out of the shadows. “Go full Highlander on his ass.”

With a sharp flick of the hand, Jace led the rest of the crew and made a dash for the laboratory block, while Preston positioned himself to block any access to their path.

The figure, all sleek steel and titanium save for a face that he imagined was as devoid of warmth as his was from years ago, stopped nine feet away from him.

“I’m under directives from the Prime to take all of you in for questioning,” P7031 said emotionlessly, cocking his fist to activate a firing gauntlet.

“Affirmative. I’m under my own to see to it that you don’t, and my captain’s to ensure I survive this encounter,” Preston responded in kind as he whipped out his pistols.

P7031’s blank slate of a face suddenly rippled with something that looked like it could have been pompous scorn.

“Strong words for a glitch. And what exactly do you imagine you can do against a better version of youself in every conceivable way?”

There was a second’s pause as Preston thought back to the man he once was a lifetime ago, a perfect cog in the machinery he was told kept the peace for the good of the many. He’d been taught to view deviation from his purpose and the system as something that had to be fixed—a glitch, as P7031 had so eloquently put it. But if it was one thing his time with the Autobots, with Jace had taught him, it was that he was more than his purpose, more than his past, and more than the copy of The Art Of War which those who shared the barcode on his neck were ordered to memorize word for word from the moment their small hands were steady enough to hold a weapon.

“Improvise.”

#Maccadams #Humanformers #Prowl #writing #fic #art #Humanformers Art

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etherealval · 11 hours ago

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dating chris headcannons | a/n: these were actually so fun to write!! let me know if you guys want more :))

⭑𓂃 he’s the type to always have a hand on you, no matter what. whether it’s resting a hand on your thigh when you’re sitting together, intertwining your fingers absentmindedly, or draping an arm over your shoulders when you walk beside each other. he just likes the reassurance of your touch

⭑𓂃 he loves calling you “baby” more than your actual name. it just rolls off his tongue naturally, and half the time, he probably doesn’t even realize he’s saying it. “baby, pass me that?” , “baby, c’mere.” , “what are you doing all the way over there, baby?” he drags it out when he’s whining, murmurs it when he’s half-asleep, and says it so sweetly in passing that it makes your heart flutter every time.

⭑𓂃 he’s so dramatic about missing you, even if it’s only been a few hours. if you haven’t texted him back in a while, you’ll get something ridiculous like, “i’m wasting away over here, baby. do i even exist to you anymore?” he’ll call you just to sigh dramatically into the phone, groaning about how “life is so boring without you.” and when he finally sees you again, he makes a whole show of it, pulling you into a crushing hug, rocking you side to side, whispering, “never leave me again.”

⭑𓂃 he loves taking pictures of you, even when you’re not paying attention. his camera roll is full of you, some of them are cute, some of them are blurry mid-laugh, and some are just straight up ridiculous. he’s got a whole folder dedicated to candids of you, and he refuses to delete a single one. when he’s traveling without you, he scrolls through them just to feel close to you. and if you ever catch him taking one? he just smirks and says, “can’t help it, you’re my favorite view.”

⭑𓂃 he loves watching you get passionate about something. he could listen to you talk for hours, especially when you get really into it, whether it’s about a book, a movie, or some random niche topic you love. he’ll just sit back, watching you with this soft grin, nodding along, even if he has no clue what you’re saying. and when you realize you’ve been rambling and apologize, he shakes his head. “nah, baby, keep going. i love seeing you like this.”

⭑𓂃 he hypes you up like it’s his full time job. any outfit you wear? “damn, baby, you’re really gonna make everyone jealous today, huh?” any new project you take on? “they don’t even know how lucky they are to have you.” even if you’re just doing something simple, like making breakfast, he’s watching you like you just cured world hunger. “look at my girl, being all talented and shit.”

⭑𓂃 he randomly texts you the most unserious things. sometimes he sends cute messages, like “miss u, come over” or “thinking about u rn , just thought u should know.” but other times, it’s complete nonsense. “if i were a worm, would u still love me?” or “just saw a dog that reminded me of u.” and if you ever ignore him for too long, expect an “hello????? do u hate me now????” followed by an influx of dramatic emojis

⭑𓂃 he loves pulling you into his lap, just because. doesn’t matter if you’re in private or in a room full of people, he’ll pull you onto his lap the second he gets the chance. wrapping his arms around your waist, chin resting on your shoulder, acting like he’s just getting comfortable, when really, he just wants to feel your hips against his. and if you so much as shift against him, he’ll exhale sharply, fingers digging into your hips as he mutters, “you tryna test me right now, baby?”

taglist: @heartsforvin , @sturncakez , @matts-myloverboy , @mattsbitchh , @ilyttmatsa @sturniolosluttt , @emely9274

#etherealval ´ˎ˗#chris sturniolo x reader #chris sturiolo fanfic #chris sturniolo fluff #chris sturniolo imagine #chris sturniolo #christopher sturniolo #sturniolo x reader #matt sturniolo x y/n #matt sturniolo x reader #matt sturniolo imagine #sturniolo triplets

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sunflowerwriter · 1 day ago

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Show Me How You Burlesque

AN: Steve with a bit of Burlesque ... hopefully you like it. REPOST FROM DELETED BLOG :) Word Count: 2834 Summary: Steve finally asks you out, with a little push from Robin and a coworker Warnings: Small make out mention, some swearing and mentions of alcohol

Steve was walking into the living room, having finished getting ready for work, he saw you sitting there watching tv. His footsteps were what made you look away from the screen

“Cute vest” you said with a laugh

He looked down at his outfit, he was wearing a black vest without a shirt under and black jeans to match and laughed as sat down next to you making you lay your head on his shoulder. No matter how many times you played your head on his shoulder he couldn’t seem to get used to it, he knew for a fact that he was in love with you and there was no denying it

“You know Y/N I never got to thank you” Steve said making you look at him

“For?” You said tilting you head to the side looking very confused and god did he think you looked so cute

“For, letting me move in with you. I know you didn’t have to do it and if I’m being honest, I know you did it because I’m Robins friend and well she’s you sister after all plus you got me a job which you didn’t have to do” Steve said making you smile

“Well, yeah I didn’t have to but when Robin asked if you could come with her to LA I knew you must be really special to her because she never asked to bring someone. It was always just her when she told me she was moving out here and well the job well its really nothing I work at the club, so I know that we needed people” you said looking at him

“You know, I’ve always wondered, how did you manage to work at a burlesque club?”

“Ahh well you see I was wondering one night because my friends were really boring, and I found the club I paid to get in and fell in love with it and now here I am and I’m the happiest I’ve ever been” you smiled as the memory came to your mind of that night

“Yeah, it is actually very fun working there” Steve said with a small smile

It had been a year since Steve and Robin had left Hawkins to live with you, after the events of the upside down they needed out and since they were of age to leave Robin had suggested going to live with you in LA. You were Robins older sister, being as one day Mr. Buckley decided that he wasn’t happy with his wife and decided to look for love in the arms of another woman, that woman being you mother, never telling her that he was married until little Robin came along. Never once did you two ever hate each other much to the dismay of your father, he never liked the fact that you two were close given as you reminded him of the mistake he wished to forget about and act like never happened. Nevertheless, you and Robin remained in constant contact with each other and when she asked to move in with you had been more than thrilled to have her around and the fact that she brought a cute friend with her well was just a bonus in your book.

“I wonder what’s taking Robin so long? She never takes forever to get ready” you said looking at the hallway

“Yeah, I know, normally it’s us waiting on you” Steve said looking at you with a smile

“You’re not even ready yet” you said looking at him

“What are you taking about I’m dressed and ready to go” Steve said gesturing down to his outfit

“Eyeliner my friend” you said which made him roll his eyes

“Right, I was hoping you would forget about that” Steve said making you laugh

“Come on, I’ll help you with it” you said as you stood up

He sat there staring at you which made you laugh and grab his arm pulling him up

“Come on Steve, you know Jess would kill you if you don’t have it on” you said pulling him towards your bathroom

You handed him your pencil and he just looked at it

“I don’t know how to do it” Steve said making you give him a look

“Steve, I taught you how many times already? But okay one more lesson because I’m so nice” you said and move home, so he was sitting on your toilet

You stood between his legs and helped him with the final step in his uniform. If Steve was completely honest, he knew what he was doing he just liked watching you focus on helping him. He knew you were talking and explaining to him what to do, but he wasn’t listening, he was focused on you. He noticed you had moved away from him and tilted your head with a smile

“All done, now come on its time to go” you said as you began to turn around

He grabbed your arm making you look at him. He pulled you towards him pressing his lips onto yours. He wasn’t sure if you would push him away of kiss him back, but he needed to tell you. You wrapped your arms around his neck as his hands went around your waist. He pressed you up against the counter and without even a second thought you hopped up pulling him towards you. His hands made their way up your thighs pushing your dress higher up as the kiss began to get a bit more intense when you heard Robin

“Hey Y/N, are you in here?” Robin said making the both of you pull away

“Yeah, I’m helping Steve really quick we’ll be out in just a sec” you said as you hopped off the counter

“I’m sorry I shouldn’t have kissed you, I didn’t mean to do that” Steve said

He walked out the door leaving you standing there confused. Robin walked into the room and looked at you

“You, okay?” Robin said as she stood in the doorway with her arms crossed

“Ummm Steve just kissed me and then said he didn’t mean it right before you got here” you said, and she looked back towards the room

“Let me go have a little chat with him” Robin said as she began to walk out the door

“Dude no, leave it” you said making her roll her eyes as she stood in place

The drive to the club was a bit awkward to say the least. The entire drive Steve was arguing with himself as to why he apologized for kissing you and saying he didn’t mean it, when he did, he really wanted to tell you how he felt but he chickened out and he might have just lost his chance to tell you. You on the other hand were thinking just what had just happened, why had he kissed you? Did he like you? Did he just do it just because? Confused is what you were

Once at the club you went backstage to get ready for the show while Steve and Robin went to the bar area where Sean walked towards them

“Hey Steve, Jess needs to see you” Sean said making Steve drop his rag on the counter and walk off to find his boss

“How is our whole plan to get them together?” Sean said looking at Robin

“He kissed her this morning and then told her he didn’t mean it” Robin said with an eye roll making the man laugh

“Oh boy, let me try something” Sean said making Robin look at him

“What are you gonna try?” Robin said as she leaned towards him

“Let’s just say that a little friend of mine has a crush on Y/N and I might just accidentally let Steve know” Sean said making Robin nod

“Good luck with that one” Robin said making the man shrug

“I mean if anything we can just lock them in the supply closet and not let them out until they confess their feelings for each other, but that’s so beneath us Robby we can do better” Sean said making Robin laugh

“Hey Sean, the zipper on my clothes ripped can you help me” you said walking up to the duo

“Of course, gorgeous, come on let’s go” Sean said following you towards the back

Steve had returned to the bar as the guest started to pile in and find their places getting ready for the show. Steve loved watching you perform and every night he couldn’t keep his eyes off of you, of course he got his job done but god was it hard while he stared at you on that stage dancing and singing captivating not only him but the entire crowd. Steve stood with his lower back pressed to the counter arms crossed as he stared at you from his place behind the bar. The smile on his face had not left since you got on stage, Sean laughed as he walked towards the man and leaned over the bar and stared at him

“So, are you ever gonna tell her that you’re in love with her or just stand there and stare at her” Sean said making Steve finally look away

“I’m not in love with her” Steve said looking at him making Sean laugh

“Yeah, and I’m straight” Sean said making Steve laugh

“Besides, even if I did tell her, it’s not like she even likes me back” Steve said looking back at you as you finished your performance

“Listen, she does like you, didn’t she kiss you in her bathroom today?” Sean said making Steve look at him

“Yeah, wait how do you know that?” Steve said looking at him

“Well, she told me … listen she tells me a lot while back there … I’m pretty sure the girls know about what happened between the both of you as of right now” Sean making Steve sigh

“I don’t know, I guess I just got scared” Steve said

“Let me give you some friendly advice, that girl is beautiful on the inside as well and she’s not going to be available for ever… see that guy sitting in that corner right over there?” Sean said pointing to the far corner where a man sat

They both saw as he handed Robin a pretty big box

“You mean Jack? Yeah, he’s a regular here” Steve said

“Yeah, and he’s rich, plus rumor has it he has the hots for Miss Y/N and I’m pretty sure the box is a gift for her as well” Sean said as Robin walked towards them

“Hey Sean, big shot over there said this was for Y/N” Robin said placing the box on the bar

“Told you” Sean said as he took the box from Robin and walked off

The trio knew that you weren’t going to accept the gift and Robin and Sean knew that you had rejected Jack because of your feelings for Steve but they weren’t going to tell him that just yet

“Do you think that if Y/N and Jack get married he’ll let us move in with them or will we have to stay at the apartment while she lives in a mansion?” Robin said as she looked at Steve’s annoyed look

“I don’t know Robin now get back to work” Steve said walking away from her

Robin tried to hold in her laugh as she walked away from the bar to attend to the costumers all around her. The fan favorite ‘Good Girl’ started playing throughout the speakers and you appeared wearing a blond wig wearing some white lingerie. You had a part where you were dancing on the bar and which Steve had to help you move from one end towards where the mirrors were behind him. You grabbed the hat off his head, which wasn’t part of the choreography you just did it because you thought it looked good, and winked at him as you continued the song, he laughed but moved out of the way giving the crowd a view of you as you dropped down and then stood back up.

After, the performance was over you had some time to kill before the next song, so you decided to take the gift back to Jack before you forgot about it. You walked towards his table holding the box

“There she is” Jack said as he smiled at you

“Hey” you said and before you could say anything else he interrupted you

“Did you like the shoes I got you?” Jack said gesturing to the obviously unopened box

“I didn’t open them, listen I really appreciate the gesture, but I told you that I can’t be accepting these gifts and that I didn’t like the fact that you keep doing this inspire of me telling you to stop” you said sliding the box over

“Well Nicole liked it, so I don’t see the issue” Jack said

“Well, I’m not her, so please stop and please just leave me alone like I have asked of you several times” you said as you turned to walk away from him

He grabbed your arm rather roughly and pulled you towards him

“Listen here, you little bitch you’re not going to disrespect me like that especially in front of so many people take the fucking gift and the benefits that will come with it” Jack said as you tried to pull your arm out of his grasp

You pulled your hand out od his grasp and walked away from him. You knew he was staring at you as you walked off seeing as you could feel him staring and the mirrors in front of you showed he in fact was looking at you

“Are you okay?” Steve said as you stood by the bar

“Yeah, god, I don’t get why he just can’t leave me alone no matter how much I ask and how many times I say I have a boyfriend he doesn’t stop” you said as he stood in front of you

“Maybe if he saw you with that said boyfriend, he would leave you alone” Steve said making you roll your eyes

“I don’t get it, why does he need to see me with someone to leave me alone and small issue I don’t have a boyfriend” you said

“I know, he’s a fucking ass but listen” Steve began to say but you cut him off

“I don’t even know why I’m talking to you right now I’m mad at you” you said

“What did I do?” Steve said looking at

“Oh, come on, you kiss me making me feel something and then say that you didn’t mean it like what is that all about” you say pushing his chest a but

“Wait, you like me?” Steve said and you laughed

“Um yeah, thought I made that pretty clear I guess not” you said crossing your arms over your chest

“Kiss me” Steve said as he moved closer towards you

“So, you can say that you didn’t mean it again?” you said making him laugh as your hands went to the side of his face

“Shut up” Steve said pressing his lips to yours

You smiled into the kiss as he pulled you closer towards him. Steve pulled away and kissed your forehead

“You can officially say you have a boyfriend” Steve said making you look around

“You found me one? Where? I’m kidding” you said with a laugh making him roll his eyes

You look over his shoulder to see Jack being escorted out by some security guards

“If he comes back in here let me or Jess know, he isn’t allowed back in” Sean said making you jump

You looked to your right to see him standing next to you and Steve with his arms crossed

“Jess and I saw the whole thing and the next time something like that happens and you don’t tell us we’re gonna have issues” Sean said looking at you

“But I knew that you were looking at me” you said with a smile

“Yeah, right, let’s go time to get ready” Sean said motioning you towards the back

You moved out of Steve’s embrace and walked towards the door when a newspaper hit your ass

“Hey” you said looking back at Sean

“Come on hurry it up” Sean said as he walked behind you making you laugh as well

You both walked to the door that led to the stairs up to the dressing room when Sean got close to you

“So, he finally made his move?” Sean said

“Yeah, about time” you said making him laugh

“Baby you could made a move on him too” Sean said

“Shut up” you said making him laugh

“It would’ve happened eventually. It’s pretty obvious you two are bound to be together” Sean said with a smile as he walked away leaving you standing in front of your vanity with a smile

#steve harrington x reader #steve harrington imagine #steve harrington #steve harrington x you #steve harrington x fem #stranger things imagine

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lovergirlscorner · 2 days ago

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LOVE ALWAYS - spencer reid x fem!reader

summary: spencer is haunted by the memories of the one he cannot stop loving, even if she’s not there anymore.

content warnings: angst, slight suggestive descriptions, brief fluff…

Spencer Reid knew the risks, of course he knew the risks. With his eidetic memory and his IQ he obviously knew them, but he loves you. Loved. He loved you oh so much.

And he let you go. He let you go out on that field alone when he knew the risks. One moment he had his gun ready as he searched the premises and the next he heard it. A clear shot. At first he thought you got the unsub, after all you were always a better shooter than him. But then he heard Morgan screaming for help. He ran as fast as his legs took him and he wishes he hadn’t. Because there you were…barely breathing as Morgan pressured your wound.

“No…no…no…!” He could hear Morgan. Falling down on the rough ground next to you he could feel his knees practically burn. He could worry about that later tho. Holding you close he begged and pleaded for you to stay.

“Please stay awake…please honey stay awake for me. I love you, please.” All his pleading was for nothing anyway. It took four paramedics along with Morgan and Hotch to pry him off of you, or the shell that was now left of you. It was for nothing as he stood in that hospital waiting room with the rest of the team just waiting for them to confirm you were gone. As they uttered those seven remarkably shattering words he lost every bit of hope he ever had in life. The cries echoed around him but he couldn’t focus. The words kept ringing in his head.

Nothing.More.They.Could.Do.

That happened a year ago. It had been a year since you left them all. Penelope,Emily and JJ couldn’t have a proper girls night as they felt like there was a huge hole where your presence used to be. Morgan couldn’t stop picturing you on that ground. It was hard to read Hotch and Rossi but both men were exceptionally distraught.

And then there was Spencer. He stopped his usual ramblings as he was mostly disassociated. He was tired of hearing people say they are sorry for his loss. He was tired of being given flowers and gifts. He was so tired.

Every night he went home to an empty apartment,slept in an empty bed. Cold without your warm skin on his. He missed holding you close, falling asleep to the scent of your shampoo. He would give everything and anything for just one more day.

Now you were just a memory, a ghost. His most painful story to tell. All of your stuff was sprawled around the apartment and it was breaking his heart all over again. He found himself holding one of your favorite sweaters as he cried in bed. A bed you once said you wished you could never leave. He remembers that moment clear as day.

The obnoxious alarm that woke you two up as early as 5am. You rolled over as you turned it off and snuggled against him.

“I wish we never had to leave this bed, and we could stay here all day and be warm and happy.” You giggled into his chest.

How his heart bloomed.

“Me too sweetheart, but work is waiting for us.” He pressed a soft and gentle kiss to your forehead as he held you close. He wishes you two never went and quit. That way you would still be here with him.

“We have time…plus we could be a little late. We never really got to be..” You giggled again and pressed your lips against his in a warm and gentle kiss.

Soon enough they were wrapped up in each other, and time was a long forgotten concept.

Now all he had was that memory.

Each part of the apartment he walked through sparked a new memory. The kitchen reminded him of the two of you cooking and dancing in the refrigerator light. The hallways you once used to run through to jump into his arms, and the living room where you two spent most of the time reading and simply enjoying being together.

All just memories.

He can’t even go to his favorite bakery anymore because it was your favorite too. He feels as if he’s betraying you by going to all the places you two used to love alone. As if he’s leaving you behind. How could he do that? He feels he will never be able to, and he’s quite okay with that.

The first holidays without you were more than rough. He spent Halloween alone watching movies instead of handing out candy with you. He spent Christmas by the sad and depressing tree he tried to decorate, but he just couldn’t make it as pretty as you could. The team tried to help but he just couldn’t let them in.

Because to Spencer getting help meant getting over you. He wasn’t ready to do that.

He wanted kids, he wanted to hear you calling him your fiancée. He wanted a big wedding just like you told him you wanted. He didn’t want a future without you in it.

So as he laid in bed with the half empty pill bottle he could only whisper your name into the air as he hoped to join you soon. To feel you again and to keep being loved by you.

As he woke up in the hospital surrounded by the ones he loved. He knew he needed help.

It took a large number of therapy sessions and many seconds,minutes,hours and days for him to start progressing.

Now as he walked into that bakery he couldn’t help but smile to himself. He smelt the scents of pastries and vanilla and you immediately took over his mind. Except this time he didn’t cry. He smiled as he remembered you the way you always were. Happy, happy to be there with him.

He drove with the quiet hum of the radio. When he stopped and parked his car he took a deep breath in before he headed towards your grave. Pastries in hand he set your favorite flowers down and took a seat on the small bench across from where you lay.

As he finished his meal he told you all about his day and anything he could possibly ramble about as he did every time he visited.

He packed up and traced over the letters of your name. One by one.

“Goodbye for now sweetheart. I will love you always.”

author’s note: I’m a sucker for some angst! I hope you guys liked it and I’m really looking forward to writing more for Spencer! I also hope this makes sense because I kinda rushed it..☹️

I hope everyone is having a good day or night whenever you’re reading this!

until next time <3

#spencer reid #spencer reid x reader #spencer reid x you #spencer reid x y/n #spencer reid x self insert #spencer reid x fem!readr #spencer reid x fanfiction #criminal minds #criminal minds x reader #spencer reid angst #spencer reid fluff #spencer reid hurt/comfort #spencer reid one shot #oneshot #blurb #writers on tumblr #fanficiton

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randomfoggytiger · 1 day ago

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React: A Late-Canon Reviler Gives the Revival a Try (My Struggle II), Part VIII

TLDR: Mulder's passenger princess episode.

AGENDA GOING IN

Okay.

We’re back.

It’s been awhile (five months) since the last update-- how time flies~.

My thoughts going in: please, enjoy my suffering. Know that these are the rantings of a mad man and don't take anything to heart. Come, let us all gather to loathe (with snacks, of course) this bloated behemoth that chased its own tail right up into its internal organs.

**Note**: All previous parts can be found under the Revival Reviler's first-time watch through and A Late-Canon Reviler Gives the Revival a Try tags; and all my previously documented react projects are easily accessible under the React tag.

MY STRUGGLE II

Welp, it’s time to press play.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII didn’t miss this. At all.

Oh, thanks for the succinct summary of My Struggle I-- you forgot to include the fact that Mulder hadn’t had a breakdown or disconnect from reality, that Scully left him fearing he would, and that she waited in the wings waiting for him to have a breakdown for x amount of months or years. And that she’s jealous of a young blonde woman who she effectively stabbed with a medical instrument when that woman as A. in her care and B. afraid for her life and trying to prove her innocence. And that Mulder already knew the world wouldn’t end right before or right after Colonization… so his breakdown (which he didn’t have) wasn’t connected to Colonization not happening.

And also that he and Scully are and aren’t and will and won’t get together.

And that she was nearly seduced by an Alex Jones type figure.

Just wanted to remind myself of aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaall the garbage I had to weed through in a previous post here. Sigh.

LET CSM DIE.

You can’t just have Scully start narrating-- well, CC can because My Struggle I was Mulder’s Struggle, and My Struggle II is Scully’s, as he said-- and show me all these cool moments and then… bring us back to present.

Why would you do this to my poor, woe-be-gone soul?

Also… most of the pictures we're shown make no sense because those were from private, no-camera-in-sight interludes between Mulder and Scully. Were there no pictures from interviews, or before Congress, or from identification photos, or on crime scenes (i.e. the one from The End) for the writers to grab, or…? YES this is a nitpick, yes I’m petty, yes this is only 2 minutes in.

I will say: this is the most recognizable "Scully" voice yet-- Gillian is tapping into that dreamlike, detached, floating accent that her character of yore used to narrate with. …And to know the camera is going to switch over to her off-brand Scully hair and off-brand X-Files story is… not great.

“Abducted from my home by unknown assailants--” MA’AM, even the FLASHBACK PHOTOS show Duane Barry. YOU KNEW HE WAS THE ONE KIDNAPPING YOU AT THE TIME, NOT THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS BEHIND IT. PLEASE, I’m barely three minutes in, spare me.

“Tests [that she was subjected to] that I now suspect are part of a larger conspiracy--” MA’AM. Only now?Pleaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaase.

“Questions remain… about their motives and final objectives.” Um… for a secret cabal focused on “consolidating” power “at home” and “across the globe”... I think, don’t quote me on this, but I think YOU GOT YOUR MOTIVE RIGHT THERE.

...Yeah. Um. Guess alien blinks sound like camera shutters.

THIS IS THE END says the title card. 'Kay.

Oh, so we're focusing on Scully this episode. Mulder's not in the basement (or will be found? in the basement?) ...Does this parallel My Struggle III when Mulder finds Scully in a coma on the basement floor? Is that in MSIII?

That's it, I'm putting this on 1.75 speed.

Okay, six weeks have passed since My Struggle I. ...You know, what is a reasonable timeline? What is canon? What is anything, really?

Go AWAY Tad O'Malley. "What may seem like science fiction is now scientific facts" UGH.

...What's with the strange up-close, snap out, and float in dramatic angles? ...I know it's for the updated show, but sometimes it's too... it's too.... Goofy. There, I said it. It's goofy. They're wasted on inconsequential moments to build artificial tension. Those effects should be saved for times when it matters, not "Character A walks in, sits down, listens to under 30 seconds of alien DNA stuff, ZOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM, SWOOSH, WHOOSH, PHONE CALL, floooooooooat iiiiiiiiiin."

Ugh.

FURTHER PROOF THAT SEASON 10 HAD THE WORST MAKEUP:

This, this, THIS is Gillian's up-close shot? THIS?? Crust between her eyebrows creating an almost unibrow??? Cracking under her right eye???? Green poking through her concealer????? Cakey, pasty vinyl on her cheeks?????? Is she molting?????????

Compare to Milagro and you'll see that OH, WOW, the above is bad.

This plot is so mind-numbingly convenient:

Scully shows up at the office, Mulder's not there.

Scully sits down because Mulder's device is playing Tad out loud.

Just as she reaches the pertinent part, Tad calls (not because he's a weirdo who was waiting for his show to reach that beat, noooooo, just because he needed to call her, of course.)

Tad needs to talk.

Scully drives to Mulder's house where Tad is: her partner's missing: he had a meeting with Tad there and never showed.

Convenient. Just soooooooo convenient. And this one minute of drama all conveniently comes together six weeks after the Revival's first episode. Despite other cases she and Mulder investigated that would require a ton of time to solve and catalog. Uh huh.

This is definitely, absolutely, 100% realistic. Definitely.

Tad talking sense into Scully. Nope, don't like that.

1.75x is the perfect speed for this, it really highlights how random and nonsensical all these actions and passing conveniences are.

Scully doesn't listen, calls police to find Mulder.

Skinner and Einstein are in the office? And she's consulting them? Idon'tcaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaare.

"I'm afraid he fears my judgment," says Scully about Mulder not leaving a note. "That I might think he's crazy or not."

...

......

.........

..............

You can't hear it, but I'm sighing away Deep Throat and the Season 4 Max two-parter and Folie a Deux....

Scully.

Writers.

Don't insult me.

Bumping this up to 2x.

"No one has the right or the ability to tamper with your DNA," insists Einstein.

"Unless we gave them that ability."

...What. (Note from the future: That line still doesn't make sense.)

IWTB hospital and first wave of patients (unbeknownst to Scully and Einstein.) Sigh.

Mulder lookin' not too good in his car. Sigh.

I wish I had a 3x opinion.

WHY are we looking at characters through IVF pols and etc. while they deliver (rehashed) important dialogue (again)? Because it's artsy? It's stupid.

I'm not even 10 minutes in.

"The science that we were taught takes us but a distance towards the truth."

Setting that statement aside-- because it contradicts many high and noble monologues from the original series that Scully HERSELF spoke-- Einstein talks with "ums" and snappy, modern lingo while Scully still speaks as she did in the original run: a touch flowery, a touch otherworldly, a touch pastiche or purple prose.

This not only distracts but frustrates because the Revival dialogue flip flops on this distinction constantly: Mulder and Scully sounding like themselves (sometimes too young and too purple-prosy) one second then "updated", modern mouthpieces-- using words like "homey" and "the internet" unironically-- the next.

I'm so... look. Okay, yes, we're going there.

Actually, no, I need to go outside for a bit first, then we're going there.

...I'm back.

So. Let's be super, super honest here: Chris Carter is trying to appeal to a (then) mass, general perspective of his intelligence. He wants to be seen as the smartest genius TM when it comes to discerning "the truth" and seeing through "the lies." He did this more deftly with characters such as Deep Throat, Max Fenig (who Morgan and Wong created, actually), and other like-minded tie-ins to a greater conspiracy. Fox Mulder was the epitome of how to do this concept right: Mulder routinely fought to separate his message from the pencil pushers and the quacks-- those who implied he was "in on it" because he was a Fed (and therefore, a Jew) and those who went too far in their conspiracies while on an earnest hunt to expose the truth (the fringe radicals or not-so-radicals.) Carter even played with conspiracy theorist nuts well with The Lone Gunmen (who were also created by Morgan and Wong), three dudes who felt betrayed by the government but could also trip up over the strip of metallic paper in their $20.

Why did all the aforementioned examples work whereas Tad O'Malley does not? It's not because conspiracy theories were on the rise in 2015-- that just removes any excuse from the writers, who could have studied and cleverly built up on that "phenomenon." And no, it's not because CC secretly likes or encourages those fringe or peripheral thought experiments-- his bent leans the opposite way, which makes this situation even more irritating.)

You cannot have a conspiracy theorist be right about everything. Not only does it hinder your message, it then promotes that vein of thinking: that all counter-culture is probably correct because it chooses to explore what others are too afraid to (Scully) or what the government is suppressing for their own interests. And why is this so... for lack of a better word, idiotic?

Conspiracy theorists are just people like you and me: they're human, and they're often wrong. Their motives might come from a universal place, and they can be right about a few things (broken clock is right twice a day, etc.), but that doesn't mean they're infallible, either.

Tad O'Malley, meanwhile, is proven right over Fox Mulder and Dana Scully. Fox Mulder. And Dana Scully. Again and again.

What the writers were trying to do is point out our own perception bias and highlight our own ignorance, ala Max Fenig. Why they succeeded then-- Max was right enough and wrong enough-- is why they failed now: Tad is right, always, because the plot needed him to be. His irrationality-- believing in chemtrail and microwaves and etc.-- still serves as a truth machine to the people; and he is still painted as a heroic figure bringing hope to the masses in times of crisis.

I know the writers' point: truth and hope can come from the unlikeliest places because we're all human and we all want each other to survive. That's nice. Put it in the script next time.

In short: it's because Carter and his writers, all of them, were lazy. In trying to subvert the new norm-- the rising growth in conspiracy theorists like QAnon or Alex Jones-- and trying to prove how they could take an established trope most of the public disliked and invert it (as he did with UFOs in the 90s), CC fell into an obvious trap: he forgot to make it make sense-- or, worse, didn't see the value in doing so and, thus, didn't care.

And why does this boil down to laziness? Because CC has the next goal to reach, the next car to explode, the next up close shot and lens flare to chase!!!!! HE doesn't have TIME for piddly quibbles!!!! He doesn't have TIME to flesh out what should remain a mystery!!!!!!!! He has to chase the mystery, guys, don't you get it, guys, there's ALIENS out there, guys, but it's NOT aliens it's THE GOVERNMENT, GUYS!!!!!! Aren't I so clever??? YOU THOUGHT IT WAS ALIENS THIS WHOLE TIME BUT IT WAS THE GOVERNMENT, HAHA!!! YOU THOUGHT SCULLY WOULD STAND BY MULDER EVEN IF SHE THOUGHT HE WAS CRAZY, HAHA!!!!! YOU THOUGHT TAD O'MALLEY WAS LIKE ALEX JONES, HAHA!!!!! I FOOLED YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!

Laziness. Absolute laziness.

Also: Tad's show is called SQUAD. He and his squad'. I just... wanna die.

Also also: Tad's show sure is getting a lot of press. And do you know why he's getting a lot of press? Because in canon, his show was forcibly shut down by the government.

Hm. Now wouldn't that be a more honest and interesting plot line if the writers wanted to set the show in current-day politics (a show that wasn't about politics to begin with, but I digress)? That Tad might be so wrong that his program became dangerous; and that the government then overstepped their power to suppress those claims and, in effect, gave him a microphone because of that unlawful suppression? And wouldn't it be more complicated if Tad got his hands on valuable information right before everyone became ill, and the public then began to buy into his message because he "predicted" what would happen while the government was divided into two camps: those who were ignorant and those who were effecting global change (i.e. the Syndicate remnant)? Like Kersh and CSM, for example? Y'know, the threads that were established and dropped previously? Wouldn't that fit The X-Files in the modern age, that the government can't get away with outright suppression like it used to? That even those who try to do good can effect evil if they handle it wrongly? Wouldn't that also prove to the audience that Mulder is in a different class than regular conspiracy theory nuts; and that Scully was intelligent enough to clock that he was being duped and save him from swallowing the lie?

Again, absolute laziness.

Also also also, the vaccines are attacking these peoples' immune systems because they've effectively been immunocompromised.

And while that's all maybe scientifically fine and dandy, you've gotta PROVE THAT, CC. Instead, Scully sees one patient-- who she doesn't know is a military vet-- and just. A. assumes he's a vet, B. that he's had a mandatory anthrax vaccine, and C. that it's the vaccine that's killing him because it's suppressing the veterans' immune systems....

Oh by the way, we're TOLD all that because it would be too much work to devote any time to building up to or even proving that assertion, claim, or theory. ...WE HAD A BLUE PRINT IN F. EMASCULATA, FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE, IT SHOULDN'T BE THIS DIFFICULT.

Scully jumps on a global contagion theory... because... Tad's guest said it would happen. And she jumps on that because... Mulder's gone and also because.... she trusts that he's figured out a similar conspiracy theory. And she jumps on this before waiting for Einstein's DNA results because... there's not enough time (despite doing two time-consuming medical tests later on.)

The writers' intent: to show off Scully's intelligence, to prove she trusts Mulder's instincts and her gut despite her scientific brain shooting those instincts down as conspiracy.

The reality.... she just jumped on a random theory to keep the plot rolling. ...WHY.

Scully... never checked... Mulder's computer... to track... his phone....

And Miller just stumbled across it on Mulder's OPEN LAPTOP.

I'm.

LAZINESS. Lazy, lazy, LAZY.

I hate the dialogue in this episode so much:

Characters flip ideas on a whim, seemingly at random because the writers needed to stall the episode's progress.

Characters announce themselves not by name but by, "I was there for you when you needed help [last time]" because the writers needed a "who's that????" for commercials.

Other ugh-ery factors. >:///////

"Agent Scully."

"Agent Reyes. Monica."

Thanks for the unnecessary exposition.

"I wish this were in better circumstances. I wish a lot of things were different here today."

"You have something to tell me?"

"Something you need to know."

...Shut up. This dialogue....

"How long have you been at the FBI?"

SCULLY THIS ISN'T IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW.

Firstly, literally the stupidest explanation for CSM's return.

Secondly, I don't care about this scene or this reintroduced character because Monica goes full-on villain arc later. Here, Gish plays her as someone strong-armed into compromises for the greater good... but since that doesn't last....

Pffffffft, I don't care.

WHY. ARE. THERE. SO. MANY. UP-CLOSE SHOTS. OF. THEIR. FACES. FOR. NO. REASON.

Wait, ALIENS ARE BACK ON THE MENU, BOYS. But they were never evil, oh noooooooooooooo, definitely not. We just used their incredible science for evil and blamed THEM. (Despite those innocents abducting and cutting Mulder open. And turning the Requiem population into super soldiers-- yeah, remember those? You're right-- I don't either. )The truest shame the human race ever did. Tragic.

So, Monica compromised because she wanted to be "one of the chosen"/"one of the elites" to survive.... But tries to frame it as she did it to help? Scully? Who was already "one of the chosen" because her genome was already tampered with during her first ever abduction?

So.

Monica effected nothing, is bound to he CSM forever, and will live.

And... how does that help anyone, exactly?

Honestly. What's her plot. she's just a coward. She did nothing and achieved nothing except get "sealed" and serve CSM smokes.

Lot of unnecessary lingerings on CSM smoking, btw. Could have cut that down so the episode doesn't feel so rough-shod.

"He loves Mulder," blabs Monica. "He sent a man to him to offer him a deal."

Mulder fight montage. ...Okay, fine, nice, you got your punches in, that's okay, fine. But there had BETTER be a reason for this sequence.

I'm waiting--

WAIT, THE GUY'S TRYING TO KILL HIM OR CHOKE HIM OUT, WHAT. CSM SENT HIM OVER TO SAVE MULDER BUT, BUT, WHAT--

Okay, now the fight's becoming too long and silly.

GUN'S OUT??? How is this supposed to SAVE Mulder, again??

More fighting, uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuhhhhh, I just know this is going to end with a "Wait, wait, I'm here because--" moment....

Even worse: Mulder gets the upper hand, asks, "Who sent you?", and goes to CSM anyway.

THAT WAS A WASTE OF TIME.

I hate, hate, hate the dialogue. "I've always won badminton"/"You never won, I controlled the game in your and my favor before you were born"/"I don't believe my beloved badminton is rigged"/"You don't want to believe."

Florals? For spring? Groundbreaking.

Pause for smoking again.

Do you know that every word on a script's page is calculated for time spent to film, down to a second's worth? That not only do the writers'plot out sequences, but someone else they hire cuts through and marks their writing with that timetable, leaving very little flexibility for too many add-ons or add-libs (unless succinct, quick, and carefully slotted in?)

And the writers plotted for how many neck-smoking sequences?

Wow.

Mulder smacking CSM's cig away would have been nice if it hadn't been squandered by the up-close DID YOU CATCH IT shots back and forth. And the fact we had a better moment from a better era (Talitha Cumi) that did this, too. SEE, FANS, YOU CAN DO PARALLEL GIFS NOW-- aren't you happy?????

CSM sounds so Canadian. Guess WBD didn't watch out for his vowels anymore? I guess?

At this point, just.... Is there any reason why Mulder doesn't pull the trigger? YES, I KNOW real Mulder wouldn't. But this is Earth 2 Mulder. This is Clone!Mulder. This is... what did I call him in my Weremonster review (post here)? Oh, yeah: this is Ken; and he'd leave a slug in CSM's head for his Barbie. Why not? For me, do it for meeeeeeeeee.

We're back to this: Tad O'Malley 's characterization is, perhaps, THE PEAK EXAMPLE of lazy writing. (That or Scully's continued butchery....)

"The mainstream media doesn't cover" etc. etc. Well guess what? Both sides don't cover what's not advantageous to their narrative; but further, WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WOULDN'T COVER THIS NEWS STORY? We haven't established in canon if the media is or isn't in pocket with the Syndicate. Regardless, they'd be scrambling with 24/7 coverage for answers or an attempt at a cover up. What should have happened instead was that the media wasn't following the story to public's satisfaction and Tad filled that void, which would reveal a selfish, megalomaniacal streak to his nature-- the classic tale of drunk on power and corrupt with unchecked influence. INSTEAD, he's right.

And Chris Carter, by proxy, turns himself and his writing and his analytical prowess into a mere, perfunctory jape. (I'm not the type to hate, despise, or even dislike CC. I'm really not. But this is a stretch too far; and his later dogged insistence that we didn't get it is an even further, even more insulting stretch.)

I think? Chris tried to inject nuance-- that Tad was wrong because he deduced the cause of the virus to CHEMTRAILS, of all things-- but... the episode hasn't said it's not chemtrails, NOW HAS IT. You can't have one thing be held up as possible proof without debunking it or, I don't know, at least addressing how stupid that is.

Wait, did they even explain how everyone got sick? Or why was the military hit first? Or why there weren't huge swatches of the immuno-compromised population that came down with the virus first?

DON'T ASK, JUST CONSUME PRODUCT.

I'm only half-way through.

Spartan virus.

Oh, so Monica Reyes told her about the virus. Off-screen. ...So Monica's scene was still a waste because it established nothing important in two or three minutes, then kept necessary information off-screen so Scully could relay it later on x2 speed. ...Got it.

Laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaazy. And stupid.

Stupid.

"I'm on the king's throne, it's soft like the king"/"On the contrary--" ARE WE IN MIDDLE-SCHOOL??? "MY INSULT IS BETTER THAN YOURS"? "I'M CLEVERER THAN YOU BECAUSE I USED THE SAME WORD BUT TWISTED IT A DIFFERENT WAY"?????? WHAT IS THIS.

CC's trying to have his Grand Inquisitor Talitha Cumi moment but forgot it was David Duchovny, not himself, that managed to pull off those concepts... because they were DD's ideas and interests. And because he was, I dunno, not cringe about it.

Welp, we've skipped past Dostoevsky and gone straight to Leroux. Or more likely Webber, since he popularized Phantom of the Opera.

I'm so.

My Struggle II isn't even angering because all of it is rehashed Wattpad: early elementary and middle school creative writing exercises. At least something's HAPPENING. It's just... eye roll worthy.

CSM's still lustin' after Scully?????? Bro just won't let it go.

Okay, I'm gonna say it: CC's setting this guy up to be a virile patriarchal figurehead-- as in, be fruitful and multiply. Mulder's become his Cain son (cursed by God) and he intends to build a new legacy through Seth, i.e. Jackson, I presume; or a second miraculous baby from Scully. BECAUSE THAT'S THE IMPLICATION, btw.

Scully's alien DNA's gone. It just comes and goes when the plot needs it to, huh?

Tad's back. Microwave radiation as far as Europe. Cute.

The lights go out. Scully remarks they're already in the dark. The lights come back on. Scully has a ground-breaking idea. Subtle.

Einstein's up-close makeup is also crusty and gross. Sigh.

THEIR SAMPLE OF SCULLY'S ALIEN DNA WAS TOO SMALL??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? THEY DIDN'T FACTOR IN THE POSSIBILITY OF NEEDING ENOUGH TO TEST ON/WITH AND TAKE A LARGER SAMPLE FROM THE GET-GO OR SOMETHING????????????

Oh, Mulder didn't even bother to leave CSM's place?? (In South Carolina, btw. That's a callback for us Earth 2 theorists, as the writers referred to us fans via TLG and Mulder in Blood.) Mulder just gave up and laid back on CSM's comfy chair to die?????

MULDER DIDN''T LIMP BACK TO SCULLY'S SIDE TO DIE WHEN HE KNEW CSM WAS IMPLYING HE WOULD SCOOP HER UP-- NOT EVEN TO WARN SCULLY, AND JUST DECIDED TO LIE BACK AND DIE???????????????????????????????????????? WHAT HAPPENED TO HIS "GET UP AND FIGHT" REALIZATION in AMOR FATI?????? WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM ALWAYS GOING BACK TO HER BECAUSE SHE MAKES HIM A WHOLE PERSON????? WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM DOING THE IMPOSSIBLE TO WARN HER SHE'S IN DANGER????????????????????????????????? WHERE IS MULDER, AND CAN SOMEONE PLEASE GET A REFUND FOR EARTH 2 MULDER AND SCULLY?

Miller found him. Just. Peachy.

Why did I just get a flashback to Bill Mulder's death? Probably because Mulder Lite is saving older gen Mulder. UGH.

Little Mulder Lite has more grits and guts than his predecessor. That's... that.

CSM-- who was just chillin' as Mulder lay fully consumed by the majesty of impending death on a comfy cushion-- lets 'em go, I guess.

The scientists are just rehashing dialogue. That's all they do this episode, unfortunately.

CSM literally waddled out after them to see Mulder off and tell Mulder Lite to say "Goodbye" from him.

...

.....

........

How far The X-Files have fallen.

That's a fancy car. Guess Miller, too, has a stack of cash we Earth 2 theorists can headcanon that his parents left him after some tragic fate. Whatevs.

Look at the pathetic mew mew-- the absolute wet, sopping beast-- in the passenger seat. Glad it's not Mulder-- that would be demoralizing, ha ha ha....

Only about 7 minutes left.

Wait.

WAIT.

WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.

Scully's giving everyone alien DNA. How's that gonna--

And also: they already have alien DNA. They were all born with it. It's junk DNA in their system. We learned this from the ORIGINAL SERIES.

Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh.

Tad, I do not CARE.

Scully just stops someone from causing havoc and chaos because she... begs them? To go to the hospital? And promises them help is on the way?

Lady, they don't know who you are. And if these are disaffected rioters and looters, they're not gonna listen to, let alone believe, you.

WAIT.

THEY HAVE A VACCINE?????? JUST LIKE THAT??????? IN A MATTER OF HOURS???????????????????????

Also, Tad O'Malley just got a text and that's how everyone found out? Who texted him? Miller? How did Miller know? Did Scully tell him? What? What, what what, WHAT.

...Is the hospital using Scully's DNA now to make more vaccines? Is that why she's free to run around the city? Free to meet Mulder and Miller and help them? UM.

UM.

Are there even any reported deaths? Legitimately asking that.

It's all so illogical I'm not going to try to parcel it out.

This episode is brought to you by a man who believes only six weeks have elapsed since My Struggle I. More knucklehead comedy after the break.

Scully meets up with them at the bridge.

Mulder says... Mulder says: "He saved your life. Old Smokey. I suppose I should thank him."

...Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh. Yes, it's a quip. At least it's supposed to be one: Mulder, irreverent to the last. EXCEPT HE MIGHT BELIEVE IT BECAUSE THE WRITING'S SO LAZY WE'RE NOT SHOWN WHAT HE ACTUALLY THINKS OR FEELS.

SCULLY takes ONE look at him and thinks, "Ah, snap, he needs more than what I brought, snap. A vaccine might not save him, snap." HELLO, how do you know that, ma'am. How does she know that, writers? IS ANYONE AWAKE IN THE WRITING ROOM?

PLEASE GIVE ME A SHOW OF HANDS BY WAVING YOUR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS.

Embarrassingly lazy.

OH, SUDDENLY SCULLY NEED TO FIND WILLIAM. Not because she has guilt for him, not because she wants to atone and make things right, not because she wants closure.... but BECAUSE MULDER NEEDS HIS STEM CELLS, PROBABLY. WHAT???????????????

EVEN IF YOU DO, SUDDENLY, FIND WILLIAM ASAP,

MULDER WILL BE DEAD

BY THEN.

Oh, look: lens flares. Because that's what's important.

UFO's here, I guess.

Uh.

Also.

Um.

Wouldn't it be funny if that was William and he was riding down to join his parents after the aliens reclaimed him at some point, like Gonzo's alien family in one of the Muppet movies? I wouldn't put it past the show in all honesty.

What a ghastly but whimsical mess. Aspirational child's first major writing project. It's kind of sweet through that lens.

And then you remember who wrote this and die a little inside.

Let's consolidate this madness:

The Syndicate gained alien technology from the aliens (it's in the name) in the 50s. The aliens were peaceful creatures, I guess, who didn't really want to cause anyone problems.

Colonization didn't happen in 2012 because the aliens weren't going to colonize because humans were going to destroy the planet through global warming.

Mulder knew Colonization wouldn't happen before 2012, which means his depression didn't stem from that. He just got uber depressed (and diagnosed with the wrong depression, ahem ahem) and... yep.

Scully left before Mulder's depression got really bad. There is no mention in canon how bad it got, ONLY that she feared it would be worse and left. The best explanation we're given (in S11) is that she had to work on herself, too.... So, I guess that means leave your depressed-but-not-really-but-maybe-but-not(?) partner without giving us, the audience, a plausible explanation for that break.

Scully is surprised she has alien DNA... despite her knowing she had alien DNA since the original run; and despite she and Mulder knowing everyone has junk alien DNA in their system.

Mulder has alien DNA, so he shouldn't have gotten sick here. Everyone has alien DNA, so they shouldn't have gotten sick here.

Monica Reyes joined CSM to survive and tells Scully about the Spartan virus and... dips? Her scene served no purpose other than to show us formerly-exploded CSM. The meaty information necessary to the episode was given off-screen.

Scully jumps from wild conspiracy to other wild conspiracy without proof.

CSM sends a guy to save Mulder and that guy... tries to kill Mulder? Such a stupid tv/movie trope.

Mulder never disconnects/turns off his phone while driving to get vengeance on CSM... and Scully never thinks to check if his phone location was on.

Mulder drives to CSM's just to collapse on his couch and give up.

The writers wanted a parallel to Amor Fati where Mulder lies "dying" with "the devil" outside his door, and tried to recreate that motif (or straight up rip it off) when Miller arrived: CSM was literally on the other side of the door from where Mulder was dying, again.

CSM just lets Mulder and Miller leave despite wanting to see Mulder die. 'Kay.

Scully manufactures a vaccine in a matter of hours...? From her DNA?

Scully takes one look at Mulder and assesses he's too far gone and thinks she needs to find their son to use his stem cells on Mulder to save him. ...How would Scully know this, given her particular practice, current vocation, and lack of expertise?

While Scully flails and loses her mind (and core character traits) in My Struggle I, Mulder slumps over and gives up in My Struggle II. It's not out of character for him to do so in extreme situations (ala Little Green Men-ish and 3 and One Breath and One Son) but it has to be JUSTIFIED.

Also: the conspiracy theorist is ultimately right all along. He's just mistaken about his chemtrail theory-- it was the government weaponizing vaccines instead. Yippee.

CONCLUSION

Nancy Yi Fan wrote a better and more engaging story at 11-years-old than Chris Carter (and Glen Morgan-- he signed off on this) did in his 50s or 60s.

Lazy.

Thanks for reading~

Enjoy!

38 notes · View notes

anotherjheastan · 5 hours ago

Text

This Will Be Our Year - A Jey Uso x Rhea Ripley FanFic

CW: suggestive, drinking, drinking alcohol

Chapter 1: Tequila Blues

August 19, 2024

Rhea downed her third tequila, neat. Her chest burned and she welcomed the heat. It helped sear away the image of Dom and Liv rubbing noses on another episode of Raw. This had become her new Monday night ritual since SummerSlam. Since Dom not only chose Liv, but betrayed her.

Rhea looked at her phone, thinking about texting Damian. He had told her to stay in his room. He offered to watch a movie or play Uno, but Rhea had really just wanted to drink. He said he was worried about her and she reminded him she was fine. Heartbroken, but fine. He usually went with her to play bodyguard, but he was tired. And probably also tired of this song and dance, but he didn’t say that. She closed her messages.

Someone sat at the bar a few chairs down. She looked. It was Jey Uso. She smirked. Jey always appeared at the bar when she was there. He usually had one drink or beer that he nursed through the night. She had talked to Damian about it last week.

“He’s always here when I’m here,” Rhea said, stealing glances at Jey.

“Oh how odd that he would be at the bar in the hotel we’re all staying at,” Damian said sarcastically.

Rhea laughed before she could stop herself. “But sometimes he stares at me.”

“Hasn’t he admitted a few times on national TV that he has some sort of feelings for you?” Damian asked. “You’re surprised he’s checking you out?”

“No. I’m surprised he hasn’t approached me,” Rhea said, stealing another glance.

“Cuz he knows I’ll stop him,” Damian said.

“I’m not even that drunk today,” Rhea said, shrugging. She picked up her glass, considering another drink.

“Not yet,” he said.

With her bodyguard upstairs, she wondered if he would approach. But she felt her liquid courage fueling her curiosity. The bartender handed Jey a Corona and Jey thanked him. Rhea kept her eyes on him. Jey was attractive for sure. And he was funny. Who didn’t love to laugh? But how serious were those feelings of his? Could she drown her sorrows in Jey for the night? Would he be okay with that?

Jey turned his head and their eyes met. Rhea smiled and Jey smiled back.

“Are you finally gonna come talk to me or are you gonna keep staring at me from far away like you’ve been doing?” Rhea asked.

Jey froze for a second. He chuckled and took a sip of his beer. He got up and walked over to her. He sat in the chair right next to her.

“I can talk to you if you’d like,” he said.

She looked him up and down. “Yeah, I’d like that.”

Jey bit his lip. He was trying to play it cool. It was cute.

“So how’s your night been?” he asked.

Rhea shrugged. “Pretty boring actually.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“You can make it more interesting though,” Rhea said, a grin slowly appearing on her face.

“Oh? How so?” he asked, eyebrows raised.

Rhea put her hand on his chest, the prospect of feeling something other than sad and drunk surprisingly giving her butterflies. “How about we go back to my room?”

Jey smiled and took her hand, keeping it on his chest. “How about I walk you to your room so you can get some rest?”

Rhea’s brow furrowed and she pouted at the rejection. The heat of embarrassment threatened to take over the heat from the tequila.

“I thought you liked me,” Rhea said quietly, squeezing his hand.

“I do,” Jey replied, his voice quiet as well. “I don’t want this to be a one time thing.”

“What if that’s what I want?” Rhea asked, her eyes searching his.

Jey looked away from her for a second, the grip on her hand relaxed a little. Her heart sank. It wasn’t a complete lie. She did want him for tonight. She just never thought about him and her being more than coworkers, let alone friends. She was with Dom when his advances started so she never entertained the thought. But maybe in the morning, she would.

“Well Miss Ripley,” he said, looking into her eyes, holding her hand firmly, “if that’s how you really feel, you can tell me again when you’re sober.”

“Okay,” Rhea said, her liquid courage fading. She felt small. She dropped her head and let go of his hand. A wave of sleepiness washed over her.

He lifted her chin up and her heart pounded in her chest.

“It’s okay,” he said gently. “Let’s get you upstairs.”

Rhea nodded. Jey made sure both their tabs were closed. He held out his arm and she held onto it as they walked over to the elevator.

The elevator ride and the walk to her room was silent, but not uncomfortable. She leaned against her door and looked at him. He smiled.

“Where’s your key?” he asked.

“Let me see your phone,” Rhea said.

He narrowed his eyes at her, confusion on his face. “You sure?”

She nodded. He handed it to her. She put in her number and called her phone. She handed his phone back to him and took the key out of her pocket.

“Goodnight Jey,” Rhea said. She looked him in his eyes before turning around.

“Goodnight, Rhea,” he replied.

She tapped the key on her door and pushed it open. She looked at him one more time, leaning against the doorframe.

Jey smirked. “Go lie down.”

Rhea bit her lip, holding back the words ‘Make me.’ She smiled and waved before closing the door. He gave her a head nod. She heard his footsteps fade away after she locked the door. She grabbed her phone and saved his number. She sighed as she stripped off her sweatsuit, down to her bra and panties.

Of course he was a gentleman, she thought, rolling her eyes.

She took her bra off and rummaged around in her bag for her big tee. She found it and slipped it on. She climbed into bed, her eyes closed before her head hit the pillow. Jey was the last thing on her mind for once. Not Dom, not Liv, not how Damian would come waking her up early with her hangover cure. Just Jey. And the way her hand felt in his. The way he said Miss Ripley. The way he looked sincere and not judgmental. She drifted off to sleep with a small smile on her lips.

#Spotify #jey uso x rhea ripley #jey uso #rhea ripley #jhea #jhea fanfiction #wwe fanfiction #cw drinking #cw alcohol #cw suggestive #this will be our year jhea

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deadtired-highkeyenergetic · 2 days ago

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Bucky's Valentine

Yes yes I know I'm late to the party but better late than never. I was also busy with assignments (still am) cos they were due on Valentine's Day itself. I also know Silco won that poll but I'm having some difficulty coming up with more than 200 words at the moment so here's my Bucky brainrot.

Got inspiration from this prompt list, much thanks to @/creativepromptsforwriting for the list.

You really need to stop drinking.

Even so, you reach for yet another bottle, drowning your sorrows in the clear liquid as the music fades to a low hum, your mind buzzing from the alcohol. It's a party, celebrating this famous occasion called Valentine's Day but there's this stupid ache in your heart that won't go away.

Each time you lock eyes with a certain super soldier, his ice blue eyes piercing into your very soul, you pull away behind your wall of sharp remarks, afraid of exposing your heart. So of course he finds someone else, why would he think you were interested in him? Still, it hurts to see him laughing with someone else, leaning in close to whisper something into their ear that makes them giggle.

You want nothing more than to feel his lips brush against yours, his voice a deep murmur in your ears but you keep pushing him away, even on Valentine's Day. You can't risk being hurt like that again, your heart can't take it. You're better off watching from afar, keeping him safe from your demons, seeing him happily live the life Hydra has stolen from him.

Your vision is starting to spin, but you keep knocking back more bottles, eager to escape the yawning feeling in your chest that threatens to bury you alive. Tomorrow everything will go back to normal, there won't be a party to remind you of what you can't have, of the person you keep at arms length for his sake.

"Friendly reminder, I will laugh my ass off if you fall out of that chair like an idiot." A hand rests on your shoulder, steadying you.

"I'm not going to. Sheer spite will keep me on this chair." You scowl, slamming the now empty bottle on the counter and reach for another. A metal hand moves the nearest bottle just out of your reach and the chair next to you shifts to make space for the newcomer.

"Sure it will, doll, but I don't think sheer spite will keep you from face-planting the table. You're almost there anyways." The newcomer pushes all glass out of your reach, ruffling your hair. "I'm going to record it when that happens."

"In your dreams," you mutter, shoving his hand away. He laughs when each attempt misses by a mile, your intoxicated movements a far cry from your usual precise ones.

"If I said I was dreaming right now?" He leans in, a smirk plastered on his face. His soft brown locks sway forward, framing his handsome face and gentle ice blue eyes filled with amusement come into view.

"Then you need to dream harder." You push his face away with a huff, leaning over the table to reach for any bottle that hasn't been emptied and nearly fall over when a pair of arms wrap themselves around you, catching you before your body dips.

"I think you've had enough for today." His voice is laced with a concern you've never heard before, and his movements are gentle, nothing like the rough housing he usually does. "Let's go outside, we both could do with some fresh air."

"Don't need your help. I can walk by myself." You shove him away, harder than intended and stalk out the door, grabbing a drink along the way.

Steve looks over, worried, but Bucky waves him away, shaking his head and follows you out. You're standing at the balcony, the wind blowing at your hair and even in your drunken state, you look ethereal.

"Don't go jumping off either," Bucky hums, walking over to stand next to you.

"If I jumped off I'd be dragging you along with me. Can't go about dying before you." You look away, staring at the empty glass in your hand. Your chest is bursting from how close he is to you, hands mere inches away from each other and your heart is pounding in your ears.

"Well, that's quite the tall order. I happen to have the super soldier serum, I don't recall you having any superpowers aside from being the most spiteful person to ever exist." He raises an eyebrow at you and you roll your eyes.

"I also have gravity manipulation, if your old man memory can keep up. Which, by the way, means I can't exactly die from jumping off a building."

"Wouldn't take my chances while drunk." He glances down, grimacing. "Nat's going to have my head on a gold platter if anything happens to you while I'm around."

You snort, "good thing I'm here to save your skin then."

"You have my utmost gratitude." Sarcasm drips from every word of his, accompanied by a flick to the forehead which you return with some difficulty due to the height difference but it's not a problem that can't be solved by a little jump.

"So what sorrows are you drowning today?" He probes gently, prying your fingers from the empty glass.

"All of them, clearly." You lean against the railing, letting out a deep sigh. "Including you."

You don't know why you said that, but it's a bit hard to take them back now. His facial expression shifts, going through surprise, confusion, then sadness. You really shouldn't have said that, Bucky being sad is the furthest thing you want for him.

"Did I…what did I do wrong? Please, tell me doll. I need to know, I promise I won't do it again." There's desperation clinging to each word, a strained plea that begs for your forgiveness. You take the empty glass from him and clench your fist, causing it to shatter. Glass shards fall to the ground at your feet as hot angry tears stream down your cheeks. Bucky takes a step back, warily eyeing you and you let out a scream of frustration into the empty night.

"What did you do? Everything and nothing!" You snarl. Glass shards dig into your palm, drawing blood. "You know what your problem is? Making me actually care about you! I can't stand it!"

You inhale sharply, bloody fist shaking as you take a step towards Bucky. "I hate that I care so much about you! I hate that giddy feeling in my stomach whenever you talk to me, the way I scan the area for you every time I step into a room, the way I think about your safety first and foremost whenever you're on a mission!"

Tears fall faster now, blurring your vision. "I hate that I can't stop having feelings for you, that I can't confess them to you because it'd only put you in more danger, that I need you so badly but I also want you to be happy and live the proper life you deserve."

You choke back a sob. "I've always loved you. But I will never tell you."

Bucky catches you again for the second time tonight as you collapse, body wracked with sobs. He holds you tightly, ignoring the way your blood stains his suit and buries his face into your hair.

"I've always loved you too, I was just too afraid to tell you. I wasn't sure if you returned my feelings, wasn't sure if I was really the best choice for you." His words come out as a whisper but you catch them all. "Tomorrow, I'm going to ask you out, properly, and hopefully you won't be too hungover to reply."

His fingers gently run through your locks as he presses a kiss to the top of your head. "We can just stay like that tonight if you want, but I'd like to bandage that pretty hand of yours before it bleeds out, alright?"

"No." You choke out but let him carry you to his room anyways, eyes squeezed shut. His warmth feels nice, and his embrace is even better than you imagined. His touch is gentle, safe and he's careful when cleaning out your wounds.

Through the drying tears, you can make out his blurry image focused on bandaging your hand and let out a sniffle. He presses a small kiss to your neatly bandaged hand and rises, letting your hand drop onto your lap.

"You should rest. You can use my bed, I'll just steal yours in return. Nobody will bother you, promise." He smiles, giving your body a gentle push onto said bed and you lie there, staring up at him.

"Stay." You say after a while, swallowing thickly. "Please."

He blinks, taken aback but gives you the biggest genuine grin you've ever seen and nods.

"As you wish, doll."

"Thank you, James."

Bucky tucks you and himself in, watching as you drift off to sleep with a giddy feeling in his chest. Maybe he should get you drunk more often if it means hearing you say 'thank you'. Besides, he likes the way his name rolls off your tongue, it makes him the happiest man in the universe hearing it fall from your lips.

"You're welcome, Y/N."

#marvel #mcu #mcu x reader #marvel x reader #marvel bucky #bucky #bucky barnes #james buchanan barnes #bucky x reader #barnes x reader #winter soldier #winter soldier x reader #valentines day #happy valentine's day

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bringmeanangel · 1 day ago

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Struggling

Pairing: Aaron Hotchner and Reader

Tags/warning: gentle Dom Aaron Hotchner, spanking. Crying. Hugging. Use of good girl. Non-sexual submission. Caring Aaron Hotchner. Mildly proofread

Synopsis: you struggle to take care of yourself from time to time and Aaron steps in and reminds you.

You got up and tried to write, but your brain felt foggy. You wrote some things, but then you got up and turned to watching tv. You didn't eat all day, you had coffee, but that was it.

Finally you went to your friend's house. You two had dinner and made cheesecake. Then you watched two episodes of a reality show and went home.

When you got home, Aaron was there.

"Hey sweetheart" Aaron said, kissing you. "Did you have fun?" he combed his fingers through your hair and you sighed at his touch.

"I did have fun. There's cheesecake for you" you smiled.

"Ooh" he said. He noticed that you looked a bit tired. "What's wrong, baby?" He kissed your forehead.

"Mmm, nothing. Just the dinner was the first thing I ate today."

Aaron sighed, a hand wrapped around the back of your neck. He looked at you sternly.

"Sweetheart. That's not good. You know you need to eat."

"I did" you whispered

"Only dinner isn't healthy. Over my knee." He soothed, cupping his cheek.

"Seriously?" You said and his eyes softened.

"Yes. We made a deal. You need to learn to properly take care of yourself or ask for help when you can't. When you're struggling to do that you will be disciplined."

Aaron was always a gentle dom, except when you asked him to be a bit rough. He was always careful with his words.

He always said disciplined instead of punishment. He never used the word "fail" for describing something you struggle with.

He knew you tried your hardest and some days, like today, were more challenging for you.

He led you over to the couch and sat down. Aaron undid your jeans, pulling them and your underwear to your knees.

"I'm not mad, honey. I know you try. This is just to remind you to try a little harder or..."

"Or ask for help" you whispered looking down.

"Good girl" he praised.

He helped you over his knee and hooked a leg over yours to keep you in place.

He rested a hand on your lower back, Aaron's other hand went to massage your neck a few times helping you relax.

"Eleven sound fair?" You knew he wasn't really asking. "Here we go."

A sharp hard smack was brought to your right butt cheek. You gasped and braced yourself for the next one.

Each were firm and sharp. Alternating sides. He didn't give you a break. He knew not to drag this out

You yelped at the last one. It was harder than the other ones. You hadn't even noticed you were crying.

"Good girl" he praised, helping you up.

He pulled your pants up and you knelt between his legs.

"You need to eat. You need to take better care of yourself."

"But-" you started and he gripped your chin.

"Do. Not. Argue with me" he said and you nodded. "Good girl. Come on baby, let's get you in comfy clothes" Aaron helped you stand up.

"M'sorry" you mumbled and he cupped your cheeks and kissed your forehead.

"I worry about you, honey." He whispered, rubbing his hands up and down your arms.

You nodded, sniffing a bit. Aaron reached up and wiped your tears. You wrapped your arms under his and pressed yourself close to him.

Aaron rubbed a hand up and down your back, placing a gentle kiss on your forehead.

"Come on, honey." he soothed.

Aaron lifted you up and carried you to get changed.

#aaron hotchner x you #criminal minds #ssa aaron hotchner #aaron hotchner fanfiction #aaron hotchner #aaron hotchner x reader #aaron hotchner one shot #caring aaron Hotchner #gentle dom Aaron Hotchner

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headlinxr · 3 days ago

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( 分解 ) TRAUMA, HIP-HOP LINE ، ҂

𓏲 ┈─ ៵ trauma got me, baby ๋ ོ⁩❟

̼ ̼ ̼ ̼ ̼ 𓆸 TO THE OTHER SIDE ⸝⸝ You meet the hip-hop line after their breakup ˖ ៹

𓈒 𓄹 ⊹ , 夫妻 hip-hop line x fem!reader × ִֶ

𓆤 ; 廣告 IN THE NIGHT, I SPILL THE LIGHT ຳ

٬ ៶ ૂ 通告 , This is a work of fiction. Unless otherwise indicated, all the names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents in this book are either the product of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. ༉‧₊˚

៹ 𓂃 HEADLINXR ִ ۫ ּ ֗ ִ 為了你，為了我 ؛ ៹

S. Coups: The phone vibrated on the table, breaking the oppressive silence of the room. A short, insistent buzz, like an echo of everything he had lost. Seung-cheol looked at it with his heart caught in a fist, the air heavy in his lungs. That sound, insignificant in any other circumstance, was now a dagger in his chest. It was a cruel reminder of everything he had let slip away, of every second he had let pass without realizing that time was eating away at the only thing that really mattered.

Your name glowed on the screen. His throat closed up. His hands shook.

The shock of reality shattered him like an unyielding wave. How long had it been since he had last seen your sincere smile? Since he had felt your voice filled with love, instead of resignation? He had allowed himself to be consumed by the deceptive glow of his success, by the false assurance that you would always be there, waiting in the shadow of his chaotic world. —I don't have time—, he had repeated to you so many times, until those words became an impenetrable wall between you. Until they became the dagger that finally made you leave.

And now, here he was. Alone. With the unbearable weight of his own pride turned to ashes.

He took the phone with numb fingers. The screen was still lit, the opportunity still dancing in front of him. Knew this call could be the ultimate end, the last time he would hear your voice before you disappeared forever from his life. But if he did not answer, if he did not at least try to hold on to the fragments of what they once were, then only absolute emptiness would remain.

He breathed deeply, as if the air entering his lungs were his last breath of hope, and slipped his finger on the screen. The silence on the other side of the line was worse than any reproach. A charged, intense pause with the tension of a thousand unspoken words.

—I miss you—. His own voice sounded broken, a whisper drowned by guilt. Seung-cheol closed his eyes, as if he could see you again, as if he could go back in time and undo every mistake.

—I love you...— The confession floated in the air, naked, vulnerable. Despair seeped into every word, into every syllable pronounced with the weight of all that had been so long silent. —I don’t know how to do this without you. I don’t know how to move on if you’re not there anymore—.

The silence continued. His chest tensed, each beat a torture. The anguish grew with each second of unanswered, with each little air gap separating them further.

—I know I failed you—. He closed his eyes tightly, trying to contain the knot in his throat, the tremor in his hands.

—Please give me a chance. Just one more. I don’t know how to live with the certainty that I lost you forever—. The silence of the line felt eternal. His mind cried, begged, begged for an answer, a sign that there was still something to rescue. He could hear your breath on the other side, he could imagine you biting your lip, hesitating, fighting with yourself. But he knew that he could no longer ask you to stay when he had pushed you so many times to leave.

Finally, he heard your exhalation, a deep sigh that tore apart the distance between you. And though you had not uttered a single word, he understood. He understood everything.

The time, that same time he had wasted, now mocked his despair. And for the first time, Seung-cheol knew what it was like to lose something he could never get back.

Min-gyu: The last time Min-gyu looked into your eyes, so full of deep pain that it seemed to break him completely, he felt his world crumble. For so long he had lived under the arrogant conviction that his love was unbreakable, that nothing could destroy what they had. His mistake, in his mind, was insignificant, a fleeting adventure, a spark of emotion without consequences. —She will never know—, he thought, confident in the lie that he told himself. But the truth, ruthless and cruel, always finds a way to break through, tearing apart even the most solid facades.

The confrontation was a fierce, devastating gale. Your words, full of anguish, lacerated him like a thousand sharp blades. —I gave you everything, Min-gyu. Everything… And you failed me—, whispered between sobs, each syllable impregnated with a pain that burned his soul. He wanted to talk, he wanted to fight back, but his voice died in his throat. And then you stepped back. At that moment, Min-gyu realized the magnitude of his mistake, although his pride prevented him from accepting it completely. He let you go, convinced that time would cure everything, that, in the end, you’d come back to him.

But life went on, and its existence, once full of brightness and promise, became opaque. He sought refuge in other lips, in nameless nights, believing that the momentary pleasure would fill the void that consumed him. But no caress had the warmth of yours. No laughter could silence the echo of your absence. The applause that once intoxicated him now seemed distant, insignificant noise. The truth struck him with the force of a hurricane: He had lost you.

Desperate, Min-gyu returned to you, a broken man trying to collect the pieces of what he had destroyed himself. He stood before the door that he had closed with his own indifference, with his selfishness.

Desperate, Min-gyu returned to you, a broken man trying to collect the pieces of what he had destroyed himself. He presented himself to the door that he had closed with his own indifference, with his selfishness. —I miss you... I’m sorry... I love you— he muttered, his voice broken, his eyes on the edge of the abyss. His despair was tangible, an open wound that begged for redemption. He looked in your eyes for a sign, a glimmer of hope, something that would allow him to hold on to the idea that not everything was lost. But you, with devastating serenity, looked at him without hesitation, as if the love they once shared had been buried in the past.

—I loved you, Min-gyu—, said you, your voice imbued with an unfathomable sadness, but firm. —But I can no longer crawl for someone who did not value me, who saw me as an option and not a certainty. I can no longer wait for you. I can no longer lose myself in this pain—. Every word was a sure blow, an irrefutable sentence. And although inside you a part wanted to give, wanted to surrender to the memories, you knew that you deserved something more: peace, freedom.

—I let you go, Min-gyu— you concluded, with a trembling but determined voice.

—Not because I have stopped loving you, but because I must love myself more.—

The door closed, and the sound resounded like thunder in the void that was now his soul. Min-gyu stood motionless as the weight of her loss rested on his shoulders with indescribable brutality. He felt the true meaning of loneliness, a darkness that enveloped him mercilessly. All that he had taken for granted, everything he had believed to be eternal, was now only ashes between his fingers.

And at that moment, with cruel and irrefutable clarity, Min-gyu understood what it really meant to lose something he never thought would go away. And for the first time in his life, he wished with all his strength to have been wiser, to have valued what he had before it was too late.

Vernon: Vernon sank into a whirlwind of strobes, out-of-control laughter and deafening music that devoured his senses. Every weekend he slid through the shadows of clubs saturated with ephemeral bodies and cups that never stopped filling. He believed that was the essence of his youth, his ultimate freedom. In every fleeting glance and whispered word, he found a passing satisfaction that never managed to calm the growing anguish in his chest.

You became a distant echo, an increasingly distant presence in their world of excesses. Calls were shortened, messages became sporadic. He no longer listened to you, he no longer looked for you. Your insistence, your need for more-more attention, more presence, more of him-suffocated him. Why didn’t you understand that heI just wanted to be free? He thought, raising another cup, surrounded by empty faces that never filled the abyss of his soul.

For him, your love became a chain, a burden that he refused to carry. His nights were chaos, and in that chaos he believed he could find comfort. But as he drowned in an ocean of indifference, their relationship crumbled without him even deigning to look at the rubble. Every cup he drank, every shallow laugh, every blurry sunrise, drove him further away from the only thing that was real: You.

And then, one night, between the roar of music and the artificial glow of the party, the emptiness he had ignored for so long manifested itself in a frosty blow to his chest. The noise enveloped him, but inside there was only a terrifying silence. The alcohol could not dispel the truth that, like a poison, had already settled in his mind: He was completely alone.

The laughter around him was a meaningless echo, and in his memory, only shadows of what he had lost.

He remembered, then, every word of yours, every night you held him when he could not himself with his own weight. He remembered the deep conversations, the shared dreams, the fears confessed in the intimacy of your embrace. He remembered that you loved him even when he was not able to love himself. And he understood, with a heartbreaking lucidity, that while he was drowning in his own emptiness, you had already made the most difficult decision: To leave.

Desperate, with a fast pulse and cold sweat running down his back, he looked for your number. His breathing was erratic when the call rang. And when he finally heard your voice, his whole world broke apart.

—Sorry... I’m so sorry—, whispered, voice broken, almost inaudible.— I never understood what I had until I lost it... And now, now I have only this void—.

The silence that followed was more cruel than any answer. And when you finally spoke, your voice did not tremble, it did not hesitate. It was firm, serene. Definitive.

—Not enough, Vernon. I can’t wait around for someone who doesn’t know what they want. That you see me as just an escape, when I was always there for you—.

Your words pierced him like a cold dagger. He tried to answer, beg, tell you that this time he understood, that this time he was going to change. But your next words were the final blow.

—I loved you, but I can’t be your shelter. I don’t want to be part of your excuses—.

The sound of the finished call became the echo of his own condemnation. The truth struck him with the force of a devastating wave: The door that he himself had closed with his indifference was no longer open. And you weren’t gonna be the one to open it again.

He stood there, the phone still in his trembling hand, while the party was still vibrating around him, oblivious to his internal catastrophe. But he could no longer ignore it. The cage of his own void had closed around him, and this time there was no way to escape.

For the first time, he understood what it really meant to lose you. And for the first time, he knew there was no turning back.

Won-woo: Won-woo became a distant shadow, a wandering ghost trapped in a body that still breathes, but whose soul has been lost in the abyss of his own mind. He walked beside you, yes, but it was as if an invisible barrier separated him from the world, from you. His eyes, once full of life, were now two bottomless dark pits, unable to reflect anything but their own inner storm.

The conversations that once flowed with the naturalness of a river were now just cold murmurs, loose phrases, single syllables that stuck together like blades. Every attempt to reach him, to regain the spark of emotion in his gaze, ended up crashing into the icy wall of his indifference. —Where are you?— you wanted to yell at him, but you knew the question would not have an answer. The only thing that returned was silence... And that silence hurt more than any cry.

The air became dense between you, laden with an invisible weight that crushed even the purest of your love. Anguish was filtered in every corner, in every shared space. The house, formerly a refuge, became a maze of painful memories. Every time you spoke, that you exposed your pain, your fears, the desperate need to cling to what little was left of it, you only received a —sorry— empty, dry, meaningless. And then more silence.

But you weren’t ready to give up. Not yet. Not without fighting for what was once your all. You clung to one last hope, one last chance to save them from the abyss that opened beneath their feet. You arranged a rendezvous, a truce in the midst of the silent war that was being waged between you. You asked him to come, talk, at least try. And you waited.

You waited until time itself became an enemy. Every second that passed without its arrival was another nail in the coffin of your hope. The hours passed and anguish ate you inside, his absence was the fine thrust.

The hours passed and the anguish ate you from inside, his absence was the final thrust. Messages remained unanswered, calls were devoured by emptiness.

He never came.

And at that instant, you understood. You needed no words, no formal goodbye. His absence was his most cruel response. The night wrapped you in its icy embrace, and with the last shred of strength left, you made the decision you should have made long ago. You didn’t scream. You didn’t ask for an explanation. You just walked away.

But as you were rebuilding the pieces of your broken soul, Won-woo was drowning in his own torment. He did not understand it at that moment, not when he could have changed it. Not when his body was so present and his mind so distant. It was then, when the echo of his loneliness became a deafening cry, when the shadow of what he was became a specter that pursued him without rest.

The emptiness he thought he could ignore became unbearable. The distractions, the attempts to fill the abyss with fleeting moments, all were useless. He found himself alone, trapped in the prison of his own fear.

He remembered that last appointment, the one he never went to. And he understood, with a lacerating pain, that it was not just an oblivion. It was a reflection of his cowardice, his inability to open himself, to face his own demons. It was his fear that condemned him. And when he wanted to make amends, it was too late.

—I’m sorry... I’m so sorry—, he whispered in the dark of his room, throat broken and soul torn to pieces. But his words were lost in the wind, like everything he ever had and let go.

The love that once saved him was gone. And now, the refuge he found in his solitude had become his curse. There was no turning back. Only the weight of his repentance remained, an irreversible condemnation from which he could never escape.

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apollabarnes · 2 days ago

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fluffebruary day 16: au: didn't know they were dating

all right, so this is a little thing based off of this post that i made last week. i love tracker, and tommy is definitely a guy who would spend his life running around the country solving other people's problems.

@bucktommyfluffebruary

"All right, so I'm thinking — uh, am I interrupting?" Tommy looked up from his laptop. "You could knock, you know." "It's an Airstream, what's the point? Are you on Grindr?" Evan asked, peering suspiciously at the computer. "At the kitchen table?" "Hey!" Howie's voice came through the laptop speakers, offended. "I'm right here, you know." Evan leaned in front of Tommy, waving at Howie and Maddie. "Well it's hard to tell, he is shirtless. You know, I think my sister and my brother-in-law have seen you shirtless more than I have." "Gross," Maddie wrinkled her nose. "Too much information, Buck."

"What are you doing here, Evan?" Tommy asked. "I thought you were still in Washington."

"I — Maddie, are you done with him?" Evan asked, resting his hand on the back of the breakfast nook. Tommy could smell his cologne.

"Just wrapped up, bye, have a good night, tell me nothing about it." Maddie closed the video chat, leaving Tommy blinking at a blank screen.

"What are you doing in Portland, Evan?" Tommy repeated, turning to look up at him.

Evan blinked when they were suddenly face to face, looking away and closing Tommy's laptop. "I was meeting with a new client. Nailed the account. Now I'm thinking we need to celebrate. Come on, time to go out and have dinner. You're paying."

"You're the one who just got a new client. Sounds like you're coming into some money, why do you need mine?" Tommy asked, smiling wryly.

"The person celebrating doesn't pay," Evan reminded Tommy. "Come on, our reservation is at eight. We better get moving."

"You made a reservation without checking that I was free?"

"You dodge plans if we give you advance warning. I know you just finished your case, come on. We're taking my car."

"I can drive myself," Tommy protested.

"And mysteriously miss the turn for the restaurant and head straight out of town? Yeah." Evan laughed. "Grab your wallet, get in the car."

"Really, that's it?" Tommy asked, sliding out from the booth and forcing Evan to take a step back. He arched an eyebrow.

Evan paused, his gaze lingering on Tommy's left shoulder. "You're right, it's a no shirt no shoes no service place, you should put some clothes on."

"A little privacy?" Tommy prodded. Maybe if he could get Evan out of the trailer he could make a run for it anyway.

Evan crossed his arms over his chest. "The Airstream is all windows, Tommy, and it's just a shirt. Stop being a baby."

"Fine."

"Oh good, you're still alive."

Tommy blinked at Howie over his coffee, yawning. "Yes? Why wouldn't I be?"

"Well. Buck." The video call shook as Howie laughed at him.

Tommy laughed too, shaking his head. "He got a new client, he took me to dinner and made me pay."

"And how often does Buck do that?" Howie asked, looking up from the file he was reading.

"Just show up?" Tommy shrugged. "When I need a lawyer or when he's nearby, I guess."

"Right." Howie paused. "When was the last time he showed up? Before last night?"

"Uh." Tommy frowned, tapping his keyboard as he thought. "Spokane?"

"That was last week. What about before then?"

"Butte."

"Tommy. Have you seen Buck every week?"

"I… that sounds about right."

"Tommy," Howie sighed. "You've seen Buck once a week for the last month. At least. You realize you've been dating him, right? Please tell me you, Mister-I-can-find-anything, found that clue."

"Howie, we—"

"Slept together last year, yeah, I know," Howie rolled his eyes. "I heard about it in great detail. Too much detail, really."

Goddamnit, Evan. Tommy flushed and looked down at the table, tapping his fingers against his mug. "Right. Evan's still mad that I—"

"Left before he woke up, yeah. Heard that part too."

Tommy's head made contact with the table. God, he really hoped Evan had left out a few details, or he wouldn't be able to look Howie and Maddie in the eyes for a month.

"He's been on dates. In front of me."

"Who, Natalia?" Howie cackled. "She is very much not interested in him like that. Okay, different question. When's the last time you hooked up with anyone?"

"Why are we talking about my sex life?" Tommy wondered aloud, to distract from the fact that he had to think about it. "I guess it was that deputy in Jersey."

"Eight months ago?!" Howie's eyes bugged out.

"Well, yeah, Evan showed up and he had a lead, so…"

Howie sighed so deeply Tommy could see his eyes roll. "You've been dating my brother-in-law for eight months and you didn't have a clue. I should up the percentage for my services."

"Tommy, take Buck out to dinner and apologize for last year and then hopefully the two of you do something that will break your dry spell that neither of you will ever tell me about. I don't want to know."

#bucktommy fluffebruary #day sixteen #alternate universe #bucktommy #evan 'buck' buckley #tommy kinard #maddie buckley han #chimney han

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effable-as-f · 2 days ago

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Outer Wilds reminds me of this dream I had once where we knew that the world was about to end because the Sun was expanding into a red giant and was about to consume the Earth within its mass, and I decided that for some reason the one thing I really wanted to make sure I got to do before I died was to drink an Ale8. So I went to the Circle K near my house and got one and just held it up to the cashier and was like "Can I just... take this? Since... y'know." and they said they didn't see any reason why not. I asked them why they were even still at work given what was happening, and they said that like it just didn't occur to them that they could just leave, or else they just couldn't decide what else to do with their time.

So I drank my drink, and we had a heart to heart although I don't remember anything else that was said. Then after a while I went out to the parking lot, laid down on the ground, closed my eyes, and just waited. I felt this sense of incredible heat and pressure that got more and more intense, but then eventually I realized, I was still fine, I wasn't burning up. So I opened my eyes, and the sky looked just like it had when I got to see a solar eclipse, almost as dark as night but still weirdly bright. Somehow (probably because my brain didn't know how to simulate the feeling of my entire body being melted by the heat of the sun) the outer edge of the sun had just passed through us harmlessly and we were now inside it, and it was still expanding quickly so the sky was gradually going back to normal, except the sun was no longer there. The last thing I remember before waking up was just driving around my hometown, coming to terms with the fact that everything was still here and wondering what was going to happen now.

So yeah the experience of playing Outer Wilds is kinda like that

#outer wilds

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thisischeri · 7 months ago

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1 year since I resurrected the blog!

I don’t typically commit to passion projects for this long, but best believe, this was one of my favourite decisions I’ve made in such a long time.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t born out of a loving space — but to cry for help.

Circumstances have really tried to destroy the one thing that was consistently within me — tech and the internet. I had to take back my power, honour my younger self, and this just felt natural.

In the past year, I lost so much of my everyday foundation - both figuratively and literally. Most weeks I was going through some insane shit but ever since, this blog has always been my North Star.

So thank you all so much for interacting and enjoying my shared love. I feel like I’m part of a community, and belonging is something I always struggle with. I also never thought I’d be able to post edits of myself, and just being me, not some watered-down trying to fit a mold typa shit. Thanks for bearing with it, it gave me so much confidence that I never had. I’m encouraging you too to wear old tech as fashion!!

Special shout out to my new internet friends, you know who you are.

...and somehow, writing this on a Friday night during summer just makes so much sense.

01101001 01101100 01111001

-- c̸̹̞̠̓̈ḥ̷̓e̴̫͖͒̈́̚ṟ̴̾̇ǐ̸͉͔͚

#still robot girl #chericore #i would've written so much more tbh #im still sad digital girl #im now on a handful of medications too lol #but at least i have help now #still so much to build #FUN FACT #I WORK WITH ONE OF YOU AT THE SAME PLACE!!!! AT THE MOST UNASSUMING NON-TUMBLR PLACE EVEr #this reminds me that this one time i got really really close to here #do you still read my oversharing in the tags lol sorry #tech #technology #internet #thisischeri

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alongtidesoflight · 4 months ago

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so here's my honest thoughts on dragon age: the veilguard, after ~40 hours of playing. i finished the main quest after having finished all companion quests and major faction quests. just to clear up what content i saw, i played as an elven transmasc rook who is a member of the lords of fortune. he romanced lucanis (although after finishing the game i'm now leaning towards taash). i don't know what's happening in playthroughs that have a different race, gender identity, romance or faction going on.

full spoilers ahead, i mean it. don't read further if you want to avoid them. i don't want complaining about it in my asks.

oh and also, if you're worried because of a few negative reviews online i can comfort you by saying don't give a fuck about a certain big name youtuber who is very much tied to bethesda franchises giving this a negative review. i'll explain why.

i'm starting off with the things i liked

the game looks really pretty. i was worried it wouldn't feel like thedas anymore (with them trying to "focus on northern thedas only" i thought they'd make a clear cut in environmental design. they do and they don't. it's complicated. i'll elaborate on it when talking about the negative stuff). anyway it does. minrathous feels like kirkwall. treviso enchanted me like the winter palace did. the hossberg wetlands reminded me of the hinterlands and a couple other inquisition maps. arlathan looked like... arlathan. the crossroads were different, but familiar. overall i like the way it looks and feels. it's thedas, with a twist. it's a good one, and gives everything a solid but unique feel.

combat is top tier. if you're a hardcore dragon age player you WILL miss the tactical aspect of it for a bit, but i promise you, once you're used to the way the combat works, you will be lapping that shit up. and once you get to ability combos you'll mourn the control you used to have over your companions in battle a bit less

the MAIN quest and its story. i expected worse, way worse. and for a while the game even had me tricked (harr harr you'll get it in a second) it is Really That Much Worse. but holy shit was it good. i walked away satisfied ngl.

your choices have SOLID weight. there's consequences, good AND bad. i got minrathous blighted, ruled over by venatori, and the leader of the shadow dragons ultimately died because of my decisions. i made those at the beginning and throughout the game. he died at the end. DAVRIN died because i didn't expect what i was saying to have that much weight. i thought i was in the clear. he had hero status. well turns out, your choices can still get your companions killed even if you do everything right. i fucking love him. he shouldn't have made that sacrifice just because i told him to do everything it takes once.

the inquisitor, morrigan and dorian being there, surprisingly. there's also negatives to this though, see below.

speaking of companions dying and the inquisitor playing a bigger role: the final quest feels like me2's suicide mission. i was blown away by it and the fact that i got to see the results of all my efforts playing out in front of me.

bioware are NOT trying to redeem solas. they love him as a character yes, but i wasn't forced to see any good in him. he betrays you. he fucked my rook over twice. he fucked him over right back, for good this time (the veil wasn't torn down, i anchored it by binding him to it, he's doomed to uphold it). but solas really lives up to his name as the trickster elven god. rip to all the people who grew really attached to him over the years.

varric died. if you like him that's probably as hard reading it as it was watching it. varric died and the game lies about it until the very end. when the realisation hits, it hurts. but in the very best way.

the amount of care they put into gender expression and trans identities this time around. (i'll add onto this with negative points as well too).

rook feels very much ingrained in the world of thedas. he doesn't ask questions that expose the player to lore through dialogue as if he's stepped foot into thedas for the first time. those conversations feel very solid and good. i hope other faction players got as much joy out of this as i did.

and the things i didn't like and boy there's a lot unfortunately

the music. let's just get that out of the way holy shit. it doesn't feel like it belongs in this universe. it gets so incredibly sci-fi-y at times you'd think it's taken straight from mass effect andromeda. there's not a single song unique to veilguard that i really enjoyed. it broke my immersion, real bad. hearing a busker play the tavern songs from inquisition on a lute right after i killed some venatori with wobbly bass songs playing in the background is just odd. weird tonal shift. don't like it. it's made for people who like flashy light-weight cinema.

tevinter nights is required reading. the podcasts are required listening exercises. the game is so fast paced, especially at the start, that there's no time to introduce you to characters and how much weight their names carry in-game. i would not have known who half these people are if i hadn't skimmed over tevinter nights. i'd care even less about them than i already did. there is no time to get properly attached to them. people will act as if you're talking to a legend personified and you'll be thinking man goddamn which chapter of tevinter night were they in again and what did they do???

there's a weird mismatch with the animations. you'll have beautifully fluid ones, like emmrich casting spells. and then you'll have rook's face animating in the most unnatural manner that's sorta reminiscent of mass effect andromeda's "my face is tired" addison, when their emotions SHOULD be landing with the player rn instead.

i'm not vibing with the art style. sometimes it works. most of the time it doesn't. at points i felt like i was watching tangled.

that also brings me to some of the dialogue. same issue. i am watching frozen. i am watching tangled. someone on the writer's team really likes the adorkable trope. bellara is its victim.

for all the talk about identity, bioware sure doesn't like theirs. the grey warden armor got a redesign again and it just makes them look like a generic army. i hate it lol

in general, i don't like the armor design. the wardrobe/appearances system is fine, but it's just not helping if all the armors are just... kinda bland or downight bad looking? and don't get me started on the lords of fortune armor. that is orientalism personified.

the world states should have been carried over, full stop. i know they said they didn't because they want to separate what happens in the north from what happens in the south, which... i could have lived with that. but the inquisitor sends you letters that keep you up to date on... the south of thedas. you learn that there's a blight again, that people are standing strong but it's difficult, denerim's fallen, the rulers are taking care of it, orlais is fighting and they're successful for a while, etc etc. what's good bioware. i thought we don't care about the south this time around. why are you feeding me so much boring generic information. if you're not gonna show any of it and just write letters, then carrying the world state over should not have been an issue. i have a game dev background. those few lines of code would not have broken your budget or pushed your engine's limits. fuck right off.

this gripe of mine carries over to all the cameos. as a lord of fortune you have to deal with isabela a lot. it's fun. i missed her. you get to go drinking with her and taash and bellara! also my hawke romanced her. she's not mentioned once. they had the opportunity to put a sentence or two about her in there with not a lot of effort, trust me.

when varric dies, all she has is a single line about it. for gold, for fortune, for varric. she only says it if you interact with her on your way to the final push. that's not mandatory.

morrigan is there. kieran isn't. the old god soul that mythal and then solas absorbed? who cares at this point, the gods are dead now and solas is locked away for eternity. i suppose? why is morrigan there. she feels unneeded. i wish they'd just left her down south, at least that way i wouldn't have had to witness her god awful redesign.

dorian at least feels as if he belongs in this story. the shadow dragons are a crucial part to protecting minrathous. he's also weirdly underutilised. isabela and morrigan had more lines than him in my playthrough.

on the topic of romance: bro that was underwhelming. no, genuinely. you know when romance picked up a bit? after the point of no return. i heard maybe two lines of companion banter about it before that. maybe i missed something which i honestly doubt, but romance did not play much of a role in lucanis's storyline. i saved his grandmother as he wished me to (and if you read tevinter nights you know she was rather abusive and their relationship not the healthiest) and told him to focus on his family. a reunified family my rook wasn't even introduced to as a partner at the end of all that.

really, do not buy this game if you're only in it for the romances. others might be better, lucanis's basically gave me nothing. except for an outing (the second coffee date i had with him, it was getting repetitive) all of it played out once i committed to the final quest. the sex scene was a fade to black. annoyingly right after davrin died. if you're looking for well paced and good spice, pick up something else. the sweet talk and the final goodbye were nice though.

for all the good the ever-presence of gender identity does, it is brought up in such a disruptive manner too. it doesn't even play out naturally if you CHOOSE the lines that are meant to be said. hearing the words trans and non-binary in this setting doesn't feel right, and i'm saying this as a trans guy. i think it could have been handled more gracefully. the amount of times my rook went "i'm a MAN" as if he's about to start drumming on his chest and roaring any second now got super nerve-grating. "i'm so glad you're into me... the me who is trans. remember?" just. tell me one trans person who'd talk like that to a person they've grown close with and are trying to romance. this game doesn't handle sexuality well, so all this hey my body might not look like the way you're expecting it to look talk amounts to nothing anyway. i feel about this the way i feel about krem: this is partial exposition to trans experiences... packaged up for cis consumption. the ONLY exception to that is interacting with taash. holy shit was all of that heartwarming and bro did it feel good and natural to talk to them about theirs and rook's gender.

rivain and nevarra are new locations added by veilguard. they're also incredibly underwhelming, small and constricted maps. rivain is a coastline with a few ruins. the hall of valor is a partial ruin nestled into a cave on a beach, with a fighting pit. isabela is there in her skimpy outfit commentating your pit fights. that's it. i'm sorry if you were looking for a bustling pirate cove or whatever. you're not gonna get it. the nevarran crypts btw are a long ass dungeon crawl. that's it.

speaking of maps. i thought people were being dramatic when they said you're gonna be fighting the same enemies on them again and again. i thought they were figure of speeching it. they're not. you WILL fight the same amount of enemies. in the same spot. every time you reload the map. best to stay on a map and clear out the enemies and do as much questing on that map as you can before leaving, because you WILL have to do it all over again once you return.

the three choices i made for my inquisitor didn't matter lol she didn't have to face solas and therefore couldn't stop him at any cost as she had sworn (maybe because my rook tricked solas into binding himself to the veil, there was also an option to fight him. would she have stepped in? who knows). blackwall wasn't mentioned. and either her using a small amount of her forces in the final fight was the reason the civilians of minrathous fared so well..... or it just didn't matter. ultimately i think she had very little impact on anything

#datv #datv spoilers #dragon age: the veilguard #oh wow i hit a limit typing this #anyway to tie this up a bit: the good and bad to the environmental design being that well-known architecture like minrathous and dwarven #ruins look fire and remind me a lot of the previous games #but newly added locations are very... generic... very bland #i was very excited for rivain. i thought we'd get to see ships. not a bunch of ruins and a fighting pit and that's it #and why did i say to ignore a certain guy's review? bro because he was complaining about taash being ace and that taking up their screentim #and them being too up in your face about their identity. he did all this while she/her'ing them constantly #but my man they're trans. nb. not ace.#y'all need to be careful about bad reviews. they're coming from people who are upset about gender identity being handled as a topic in this #game. meanwhile they have no clue what they're even talking about. i don't think matty knows the difference between ace and trans #and neither do the hundreds of people who are one star rating this game currently #i liked this game. it's not top tier. it's not something i'll sink hours and hours and hours of my life into #it has tonal issues and it's moving away from what made dragon age stand out for me #but i do think that it's a genuinely fun play and people who are very invested in dragon age will squeeze joy out of it wherever they can #i had a hard time warming up to the new characters (taash and lucanis being the exception because they have an older bioware air about them #but solas's and varric's story (and don't get me wrong that's what veilguard is about) is GOOD. that is how bioware used to be.#and i wish they'd given us that energy all over the game. that direness. that grit. serious and mature writing.#that consistency is lacking #and whether you're gonna enjoy this game or not is entirely dependant on what you came here for and how well the game delivers on it #i think their weakest points are ironically the thing they advertised the most: the new companions and their writing #you won't find nuanced and good enemies here (i already reblogged something about this. you can go scroll around a bit and catch up on that #really the only thing that had me super invested and emotional was the main quest.#so make of that what you will. ultimately i was more frustrated with the game than i got enjoyment out of it. i was close to just put it #aside for now... until i went to minrathous to end ghila'nain's and elgar'nan's ritual. that all blew me away. still on a high off of it.#anyway yeah that review got cut short by the character limit maybe i'll add more to it tomorrow but rn... i am heading to bed #thanks for coming to my ted talk. also i'm sorry. zevran REALLY isn't in this.#dragon age

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sysig · 4 months ago

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Requestober 2024 Sketches

The playlist is...well, it will be posting very soon! Keep an eye out for your req(s) every Wednesday and/or Friday after the 6th (I think?), pretty sure I got ‘em all >:3c

Doing the full season this time around! The entire mixed bag o’ candy haha

Day 1 had my beautiful boys!! ♥ I’m so happy that Yanderapy took the lead this year ah! It’s too bad I’m so out of practice with them haha, unconfident lines, but the idea was solidly in place from the word go - this was really the only image that came to mind for them, their weird dynamic hehe <3 Made for each other! I am glad their expressions came together so well in the final version, though I didn’t get to show Micchan kneeling! That’s alright tho ♪ Cute enough here hehe

Day 2 got a lot of notes! Kabu’s clothing design is So complex lol, just toss him behind Larry who’s like second nature to draw, suits are so so simple in comparison haha ♪ Still only ended up hiding bits of him! He did end up with his shoe on the outside of Larry’s, boxing him in that little bit <3 And look! His smirk!! As well as the “hiragana” on his sleeves while I was still under the impression that it was text and not Flame Texture lol

And yes, as you can see, I ended up going with the alt doodle, they got more! I was quite tempted by Larry holding Kabu since he’s so tiny lol, but that would’ve required drawing his details! No! Hide him!! The pose is fun and silly and cute tho haha, very plush-coded ♪ And then also a little smech for funsies <3 Just to follow up their staring-at-each-other-in-a-gay-way they ended up with ♥ Rather a fan of Kabu’s hands pulling Larry in :)

Day 3′s was such a pose change!!! Mostly for Edgar, though he’s still kneeling here, inexplicably haha - the angle changed for the final version, and both of their head angles and just, ah, nothing more than a general outline of what I was going for. I’m pleased with both tho! I think the final is much more clear and readable, but there’s always a bit of fun with Edgar looking down/Scriabin looking up haha. I suppose it’s more appropriate than an angel would be looking down on a devil, isn’t it? Haha

Day 4 was another easy one at least, the pose immediately came to mind to show off Nny’s clothes on an even ganglier, thinner frame haha. Like I said, I really tried for more fullbodies this year, so I had to give the tiny version a proper swing on-page! Ran out of room for the larger one, but I really wanted to draw him holding his shoe with his hand haha. You can see the goopmonster on his shirt here too! :D I think his annoyed face is quite cute hehe <3

Day 5 was practically a freebie, and I took absolute full advantage hehehe ♪ If I get the prompt of “soft” of course I’m going to opt for plushies! I’m back in my Webkinz era, and Tala is big big big on Webkinz as well :) And her being a plushie has something of an impact there too lol, but it was really fun to look over all my little guys! I ended up having an extra handful of thoughts about all of them so they’ll be getting their own post(s) :D Good too, since I didn’t talk much about Embroidery’s closet cosplay haha

Day 6 was actually a bit of a question mark for me at first! :0 Not as though I don’t love when Edgar has to clean up Scriabin’s self-inflicted problems haha, I just wasn’t sure what it should be! Making it seasonal helped a bit there - lots of sticker burrs around here when we go walking haha. The bonus ended up being a digital-only, but it was a good motivator to finish these, and then the full poses came to mind - I’m not sure why I was more excited to work on full body poses, but I really was! Maybe the success of meeting my self-imposed challenge haha

I ended up scrapping the alt since it reminded me a little too much of one of the ‘22 reqs - trying to keep things fairly fresh! It was also a little too cartoony haha, where would Edgar suddenly pull such strength from! This doesn’t look like a dream! At least it wouldn’t have been a nightmare of Scriabin being hurt :’) Rescue!

Day 7 was another insta-idea! Really going back and forth on those lol, it sprouted into my head fully formed! This was actually one of a couple I wrote down as I was away from my notebook while brainstorming, so it came back as a mini script; one of more dialogue-heavy ones! Chicken or egg, I wonder, hmm. I always draw Smoker with her sleeves up even though she usually wears them down haha, I dunno. Had a heck of a time with Angie’s hair! I tend to make hair super super fluffy but hers is long and straight and presumably weighs itself down! Doesn’t floof! You’d think having heavy hair myself would incline me towards knowing anything about it but nope lol

Little bouncy concepts haha, and poor Mousey so jealous in the middle, surrounded with them having the most fun!

Day 8 was fairly simple with such a focused ask of them eating Specific Food - can do! Chibis just felt right for such a cute food haha. Would Edgar have a crepe pan, I wonder... I suppose a lot of it comes down to the batter, I haven’t made crepes in such a long time so I wouldn’t know anymore haha

Day 9 featured the slouchy throne! You can see I like the little leggies haha, I did make it a touch more proportional in the final version but who can resist the sillies! Had to draw it and Mettaton separately so I could easily see their silhouettes, I think it all came together in the end fairly well :) Had one heck of a time getting the bottom of his shoes to play nice, but I’m proud of how it turned out!!

Day 10′s, who can resist skelehugs ♥ No I! Not me!! The original had them a lot more upright, I’m glad I went with my note of leaning them back a bit more. Also had Papyrus’ legs on either side of Sans, protective <3 I do like both, but I think they look a bit more reasonably comfortable in the final version, figuring out contact points with one of Papyrus’ legs all the way to one side was too much haha. No boots on the couch! I think they look a bit younger in the final version too, maybe from their eyebrow expressions? Interesting how such small changes can make a big difference ♪

Day 11 was originally going to feature a bunch more Pokemon!! Several of my pink-and-purple faves all gathered around MewTwo <3 Flaafy and Musharna and Sableye my beloved 💜 And of course Whismur!! Can’t but Whismur all the time haha, but in the end I opted to go for the simpler(?) option of just the two ‘mons interacting

Whismur is so spooked by you, even lying down!! Even tho I drew it so I can see it right in front of me, I just can’t imagine MewTwo lying down to investigate haha. More posing changes! Lot of ‘em this year. Pls to quiet, cats have very sensitive hearing, you don’t need to shout

Day 12 started off with probably the Correct Amount of confusion lol, considering even @cutiebetutie didn’t expect this to be the matchup lolol, still deeply hilarious to me. But hey, what was I going to do, question a crackship?? Do I look like the kind of person who would say no to exploring some possibilities? Of course I had to give them a scope lol

Haha, “Alt” in quotes as I knew this would actually be the full version, the handholding is cute but where’s the dynamic! There is something there after all! I think so anyway, some tiny tiny sliver that they could start from, and what more foot in the door do you really need? If Nny’s on his charm that drew Devi in, I don’t see why someone a little more airheaded like Jake couldn’t be beguiled haha, if he lasts long enough for that ♪ It’s very tense! I wish him well, I wonder if he could protect himself... Just cut and run, Jake!! Makes for an interesting suspense, that’s for sure haha

Day 13‘s kigurumis!!! Yay!!!! Smol and I successfully wore ours for Halloween this year, we’re them fr fr haha, definitely one of my favourites from this season <3 <3 They’re so cute! Biggest change from here to there is probably where the legs start/end haha, kigurumi have funny little legs hehe. And also Papyrus’ gloves! Sans ended up without any, I can’t resist a hand plate here or there ♪ Also him closing his one good eye to pun about was an accident until it wasn’t haha, just another excuse to do a touch of rereading :3

Day 14‘s turned out so good for how cramped the sketch was!!! Gaster’s hardly there at all! Which is appropriate in its own way haha, filling in the rest of his details was pretty fun tho :) Papyrus looks a lot more desperate in this version which I do like, but him openly enjoying himself is very sweet, who could deny him that <3 Quite pleased with how his arm and hand posing came together in the end as well, fairly minor changes but I think it all flows together much nicer :D

Day 15′s word bubbles turned out way cleaner in the sketch than the final version?? Calls for more practice I suppose; it is asymmetrical, but it does look nice! Maybe needed more colour swatches haha, more and more rows! Edgar’s unimpressed look in the final version is quite good I think but there’s almost a kind of urgency with no eyes behind blank glasses hmm, they both have their merits! I applaud everyone who caught Scriabin holding the bi flag as his swatches! :D Good eye!

Day 16 began The Sleepies lol, I was a bit tired while doodling the first go and it uhm. Well. I mean. You can see lol. S’a bit goofy haha

The alt was much much better! I did end up leaving out the grass which I’m a Little disappointed about - feels too manicured, too sterile in the final version! But I really couldn’t figure a way of adding a bit of visual noise that wouldn’t look flat as well! Minecraft, eh, lol. I am quite pleased with how round Moomin turned out tho :D He looks like a marshmallow in the final version! Yay!

I actually doodled Day 17′s concept before 16 since it came to me so strongly - I do kind of like how much more upright Mob is here, him being as hunched over as he is in the final version adds to the moodiness of the piece I feel. He really is such a good boy! I don’t wish him dark and upsettings!

Day 18‘s didn’t get a paper sketch as I was verrryyyyy tired and had no energy to scan, so skipped the step that would make scanning necessary haha. For all that, I do rather like the digital sketch tho! I think Snufkin’s left leg is a bit better proportioned, and his expression is maybe a bit cheekier? Moomin’s perfect, no notes haha. I also ended up really liking their tail expressions, how Snuf’s is kind of straight and flat while Moomin’s is very roundy hehe <3

I know I said Day 20 doesn’t count but I mean, it’s on the same page! It got the “Day 20″ label! Sketch can go here why not haha. Happy belated Ace Week! I thought it was fun to put a bunch of pink lovehearts around the big central ace heart for me specifically hehe 💜💗

I mentioned in the tags that Day 26‘s original concept was too big to try to do all at once and ahhhh I wish I’d been able to swing it!! I wish I’d been able to do the whole thing!!!! I love scenes like this the most!! Little isometric rooms with little isometric characters all chatting and interacting and being cute and silly and tiny!! I love that! Alas, it had to stay a sketch, but here it is!! Can you recognize everyone here? The main three got the center, but who could the rest be :3c And what of their costumes! Hehe ♪

Still fighting back the sleepies for what ended up being the final version so the dialogue was left much more vague than the caption haha, the aliens don’t even have feet here! I suppose they are meant to be in fish costumes lol, it tracks that only the fully-human Captain’s legs would end there, but definitely not intentionally done so lol. I like ZEX’s expression here so muuuuch ahh I wish I’d been able to capture it a bit better in the digital version! Always something for next time haha

I actually ended up drawing Day 30′s sketch very very last, so this was the last doodle of the season! Me, projecting my tiredness onto the Vargases? Nooo <3 Another one that ended up very very different from the final version, I just needed Something down to paper and out of my head to work with really - I knew even while drawing this that I was going to end up with something very different haha. Sometimes hand just does whatever it wants pft. The dialogue was the star of the show here! And you can see what Scriabin was up to, obscured by the couch haha

Day 31, penultimate sketches for the final day! I really do love Scriabin hiding behind Edgar - wants to be included but not That close, very much with Edgar in the way of anything bad happening to him haha. More pose changes! I like both versions, Todd holding Shmee for comfort or him spilling out of his lap as he focuses all his attention on Joel <3 Both cute in different ways!

Cats are still not one of my strong-suits, but I have been drawing them a bit more recently! Admittedly of the cartoon variety, but even that has had some effect I think! Like their little triangle noses, and the way their ears scoop inwards, and whiskers - little things! I like it! I had fun with these little concept poses, Joel kind of curiously huddling on Edgar’s chest, looking at the world from a safe vantage spot haha. Hold him gently! He deserves it!

All the sketches from this year! I ended up having a lot of fun this season even if it was a little lighter than previous years haha, thank you again to everyone who joined!! ♥

#Doodles #Requestober #Oh hey there wasn't any blood this year was there! How unusual haha #Here we go tag roundup - Yanderapy hehe <3 - Pokemon (both 'mons and canon characters!) - Vargas of course - Handplates ♥ - Webkinz :D -#RespectAWoman! Yeah!! Their first digitals whoo! - Undertale non-AU haha - Moomins and Minecraft - MP100 - Damned! So happy to have one ♥#I really wasn't sure if I was gonna get one! I spent so much time thinking about Damned this year ahhh <3 <3 Niche of a niche but delight ♪#A very fun spread this year - as is every year haha but it's always fun to see which ones are new and which ones return!#Much higher proportion of Handplates this year :D Not surprised there considering how the year started haha ♪#Always happy to draw those lads <3 They're a delight #And as usual my focus tends to drift towards whatever the req is so I've found myself doing some rereading all over! Which is quite fun :D #Still holding off on Vargas for the time being but everything else got some attention which was very enjoyable ahh #Being caught up has its perks - like reading new things hehe ♪#It does feel funny to have Vargas stuff in a sketchdump when I've still got the VLH-specific sketchdump in the backlog.... Remind me lol #Still lol for as much fun of a season as it was I am ready for it to come to a close haha #And luckily this didn't break even once so I'm getting my ask without a fuss!! Yes!!!#Tired!! Ready to take a short break!!! And it really will be short since I want to start up again at the beginning of next week lol #But I get my break!!! I definitely feel like I've earned it haha #And then it'll be back to doodling and editing and writing ahhhh - plenty of other things I'm looking forward to!!!#Thanks again for such a fun season <3 Couldn't do it without you hehe

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