#we could’ve helped the people who tried to come to the US and kept them from going back

[l0std1adem]

I’m going insane all of my friends are going to see family after winter break

[empressdede]

Me, U & Jealousy - Chapter 1

Chapter One

“We’ll have Kayla give you the run around with how everything should be set up and she’ll help you get things going. Congratulations on your first day, good luck.” Eddie, a backstage producer had told me before walking off.

I was just hired on as an interviewer for WWE and I couldn’t really say I was that excited. Although this is a big opportunity for me, there was a couple people from my past who were here that I wish I could’ve left in the past.

But when my best friend, Jada, told me about the opportunity, I couldn’t let it slip through my fingers.

“I know it may seem scary but once you get acquainted with everyone, it’ll be easier for you.” Kayla starts as she takes over the tour. “Everyone here is very nice, so don’t be intimidated so easily.”

I let out a laugh, shaking my head at her. “Kayla I don’t think there’s a person here who can intimidate me. I don’t frighten easy.” It was true though. No matter how big, tall or muscular someone could be, it didn’t phase me at all. Not even a little bit.

Kayla laughed right back, “Okay, Good. I know most people come in and they’re so afraid to mess up because they work for such a big company; but I think you have enough confidence to do a great job.”

“Thank you Kayla, that really means a lot coming from you.”

“No problem girl. We’ll go around and introduce you to everyone backstage so that you can-“

“I know that ain’t who I think it is!” A voice called out from afar, and I had to keep myself from rolling my eyes. So much for keeping them in the past.

Kayla and I turned around to watched the entire bloodline walk up to us. Unfortunately I grew up with these fools, our parents were close and they always had us hanging out together. The Uso brothers and Roman were older so they didn’t hang out with me as much as their little brother did.

“We heard you was coming, but we thought Ma was just talking just to talk. Damn, look at lil Sorai.” Jonathon teased as he pulled me into a hug.

I gave him the hug in return but kept it short, pulling away from him. “I’m not lil Sorai, I’m grown now Jon.”

Joshua threw his arm around my neck to pull me into a hug as well. “She think cause she gain a lil weight she grown.” Josh laughed and I rolled my eyes.

“I’m a grown women, thank you.” I stated, pulling back from that hug as well. “I pay big girl bills now just like the rest of em.”

“Don’t think just cause you ‘grown’ you think you can walk around doing whatever. Joe on a mission to keep that whole locker room away from you.” Josh stated, throwing quotations around the word ‘grown’ as if it meant nothing to him.

And in reality, it probably didn’t. Seeing these boys did nothing but push those big brother instincts that they had over me back in high school.

They would run everyone away from me if they could. No boy stood a chance against these boys, and I wasn’t about to let them repeat my high school life all over again.

“Guys, Its been a couple of year. Don’t you think it’s time to drop this big brother act already? I mean We’re all grown now.”

It was Joe who spoke up this time. “Grown? You think she look grown Josh?”

“Nah not even a little bit, what about you Uce?” Josh asked, turning to his twin.

“Still look like the same lil Sorai from the playground. Ain’t that right Solo?” Jon asked his little brother.

Solo stared at me with the most intense look in his eyes before answering his brother. “Yeah, same lil Sorai from the playground.” He agreed, a small smirk on his face.

Solo fucking Sikoa. Damn I couldn’t stand him. Ever since we were kids, he would always teased me about every little thing and made sure to irritate my last nerve just to get a laugh. But it wouldn’t be like that this time around, I’m gonna make sure of that.

“I see you still can’t stand up for yourself Sefa. Guess some things never change.”

“It’s Solo.” He tried to correct but I shrugged him off turning to Kayla who looked amused from the whole interaction.

“Kayla, these fools are my wanna be brothers who tried to scare everyone away from me back in high school.” I stated, giving her the history of how I knew them.

“We don’t try to do nothing. We’ve successfully ran every lame away from lil Sorai because she don’t got time for heart break.” Jon bragged which caused me to roll my eyes.

“It’s a little too late for that. Listen as much as I would love to play catch up, Me and Kayla got things to do and I won’t be caught slacking on my first day. “ I turned around and started walking in the opposite direction of the group of boys to follow Kayla to wherever she had to take me.

“Aye Kayla, when y’all finish up bring her to our locker room so she can know where its at. That way we can play catch up!” Jonathan called out. Kayla let out a shout of agreement with a playful smirk on her face as we continued down the hall.

“So,” Kayla started as soon as we were out of earshot. “Wanna tell me the history behind that?” She asked teasingly.

Oh Lord.

_____________________________________________

Let me know watchu guys think so far. Gimme some love though😭🫶🏾 like, comment and repost

[fictionalmenxyn]

Can we get a Nightwing or Red Hood taking care of a sick yn if it hasn't been done before

Of course I can!! Imma do both in one if that’s ok! If you want them separate let me know and I can do that too!!

☞︎𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐮𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮☜︎

Pairings: nightwing x reader x red hood

Warnings: language

꥟꥟꥟

It’s been a long night. The day was slow, you felt unwell. You could feel the oncoming flu since this morning. But only when you were on patrol did it hit you like a brick wall. So much that Jason said “who the fuck keeps sniffing into their ear piece?!?” You tried to laugh it off saying it was Dick. But it was 100% you. You just didn’t want to tell the guys. Cause they’d go protective mode on you.

But it was after you all showered that they realised you were coming down with the flu.

So that’s how you ended up here. Wearing Jason’s t-shirt and Dick’s boxers. Laying in bed with Jason laying next to you. He held you closely. Not caring if he got sick, he rarely did. I mean since his ‘accident’ he never got sick. So he had Dick go and make you some warm food. Considering for some reason you had the opposite of a fever. Well you had one, but you were extremely cold. Hot at the touch, but you felt cold.

Jason has the remote on his one muscular thigh. The other held your legs on top. His one arm around your waist as the other hand caresses your thighs. He had put on the show you had been binging recently. But due to patrolling, you keep up with it as much.

Dick soon returned “how you feeling now, love?” You nodded “I’m okay, still feeling cold…” Jason pressed the back of his hand to your forehead “still feeling hot to me, baby…” you nodded “I know… I’m just having the chills…” he nodded and pulled you closer.

Dick holds out a hot water bottle for you “I’m not sure if this will help… but I did it cause I know you like it when you’re sick..” you smiled softly “thank you, Dee…” he kissed your temple and headed back out the room and downstairs to the kitchen.

Jason rested his cheek to the top of your head. “You know, you could’ve told us before patrol… Dick would’ve stayed here with you…” you hummed “I know… but I didn’t want you patrolling alone and also I was fine all day… it was like my luck ran out when I started patrolling…” Jason chuckled softly yet deeply.

As you ate your chicken and noodles, one of your favourites that Dick would make cause he’s really good at the dish. Due to Alfred’s handy knowledge.

Jason rubbed the side of your arm as Dick played with a few strands of your hair. You all in the large bed of your sheared bedroom. You practically squished in the middle of the two huge men. You smiled softly. Considering you three are crime fighting people who help civilians at night. You felt normal, like an everyday person who doesn’t stay up till ungodly hours fighting people.

After you were done with your food. You placed the fork into the bowl. Jason picked the plate up and left to go put it in the dishwasher.

Dick pulled you into his chest. He wrapped his arms around you. He mumbled into your hair “how’s the princess feelin’?” You sighed “like shit… but better now you two are takin’ care of me..” he smiled softly “you’re welcome, sweetheart.”

Jason returned. He laid back in bed with you two. He rubbed your back as you laid on top of Dick. Dick kept his lips pressed to your head as Jason moved closer to you both and continued to rub you back under the T-shirt. Jason pressed a kiss to your shoulder.

After some time, you felt tried. Jason and Dick noticed your half-lidded eyes. Jason saw you struggling to go to sleep. Something he often saw when you were sick. He reached over you both grabbing his book he was currently reading. He opened the page. Resting his head on your back as his mouth was close to your ear. He knew you loved when he read aloud. Both of their voices were attentive, but Jason when he would read??? Would make you melt on the spot. A guy who’s buff, crime fighter, badass and an overall hunk… who READS?!? Hot… very… very hot…

So as he read, Dick would occasionally kiss your temple and rub your side. Dick then reached over and grabbed an eye mask he’d use when it would be too light in the summer time. He gently pulled it over your eyes. Stroking your hair as Jason read to you.

Jason smirked softly when he heard your breathing. A thing he learnt when you were awake and asleep. The difference in your breathing. He did it, not purposefully. But when he’d have nightmares or he’d get anxious out of nowhere. He’d always liked listening to your breathing. So he could regulate his. So he naturally learnt the difference of your breathing. Jason whispered to Dick “she’s out..” Dick nodded. Gently moving you to the middle of the bed. Dick wrapped his arms around your shoulders as Jason wrapped his arms around your waist.

All of you calling it in for the night. The guys loved you dearly, so they were on full guard when you were sick. As you did for them. And you definitely did when Dick was the next one to fall sick after being close to you. Then Jason was the ‘part time nanny’ since he doesn’t get sick.

And best believe he got you both to make up for the fact he did everything for you both. He wasn’t leaving this empty handed. No chance. He loves you. But you owe him.

꥟꥟꥟

[the-vast-corner-of-the-galaxy]

KW 2024- Day 2: Protectiveness

Day 2 of Kataang Week hosted by @kataang-week

Prompt: Protectiveness/Bodyguard - Tuesday, July 30th

I basically remembered this picture by @ sheepnishly on insta and thought it would be cool using it for this particular prompt.

Rating: General Audiences

Word Count: 3K

Modern AU where Katara is a singer and starts to fall in love with her bodyguard, Aang. 

It was a lovely morning in Ba Sing Se, and Aang, who was a martial arts teacher at one of Ba Sing Se’s biggest martial arts centers, was looking for jobs on the newspaper. Aang loved loved teaching, but he was already getting a little bored of his job. It paid a salary that was enough to get by in the big city’s middle ring, but he wanted to do something different from being a simply martial arts teacher. He got through various ads, but none of them had a position that he was interested in, until he got to a particularly small ad at the bottom left corner of the page:

WE ARE LOOKING FOR BODYGUARDS 

MUST BE FROM AGES 20-29

REQUIREMENTS:

Military officers

Martial arts masters

Daofei

MEET US AT THE JAZMINE DRAGON TEA SHOP ANY WEEK DAY IN THE AFTERNOONS

“This is such a weird ad,” said Aang out loud. However, curiosity got the best of the master and he decided to go to the Jazmine Dragon Tea Shop in the afternoon. Luckily, today he did not have to go to the academy to teach, so he took the train to the upper ring and headed to the tea shop. 

When he got to the busy tea shop, he was not exactly sure of what to do. He walked up to the counter where an older man with a long beard was preparing tea with a few other workers. 

“Hello! Welcome to the Jazmine Dragon!,” greeted the man. “My name is Iroh, what can I help you with?”

“Hello! I saw this ad on the newspaper and they told me to come here,” said Aang, pointing at the ad in the page. 

Iroh looked at it and gave him a warm smile and said: “They are over there in the back, at the largest table with the blue flowerpot.” Aang thanked him and headed to the back of the shop to the table where Iroh pointed. In that table, four men with dark blue suits sat while drinking tea. They all wore black sunglasses and had stern and serious expressions. 

“Uh… hello?” Aang greeted awkwardly. “I was told to come here for the ad-”

“Yeah, yeah, come here,” said one of the men. He was a tall and lean man with a short, brown ponytail, an undercut, a goatee, and brownish skin. He let Aang sit down in front of him and tilted his dark glasses down, revealing his dark blue eyes. 

“Are you by any chance a military officer, a martial arts master, or part of the Daofei?” he asked sternly. 

“Well, yes, I am martial arts master,” replied Aang, humbly. 

“Right,” said the man, writing notes on a piece of paper, “I am going to ask a few questions and later we will test your abilities in the martial arts. Prepare yourself.” 

Aang did not know what he meant by that last phrase, but he answered every question that was asked with full honesty. This was probably the most interesting interview he has received by far, but he was not exactly liking where it was going. 

When the inteview was finished, the man with the ponytail led Aang outside and thanked him for coming. Aang was walking away from the tea shop, when he suddenly felt a pair of eyes observing him. He then heard footsteps coming from multiple directions. Who could’ve been following him? 

Aang turned around and saw two dark figures in front of him. They were wearing all black suits and carried weapons. Aang stopped and positioned himself to defend himself. Aang did not like street fights or attacking people with no reason, but sometimes, he had to defend himself in life or dead situations. 

Four more figures came from the other sides, and had him surrounded. They were looking at him attentively, seeing if he would make a move. Aang stood still and kept calm, waiting for the other cloaked figures to move. 

One of them sprinted towards Aang and tried attacking him with a knife. Aang removed the knife with a swift of his hand and stunned him. Another one tried jumping on him, but Aang quickly threw him on the ground. The third one tried kicking him from the sides, but Aang quickly reacted and in just a few kicks, had stunned him. 

Before Aang could catch his breath, another figured began choking him with a rope, but thanks to his skills, Aang broke away from the grip and stunned the figure. More figures came running to him and attacked him from all sides. “This is so weird,” Aang thought to himself. He was easily defending and stunning the cloaked figures, but was growing a bit tired and gasped for air. Luckily, the figures ran away from him in a few minutes and left Aang alone in the streets of the Upper Ring. 

When Aang finished catching his breath, a familiar figure came from behind him and clapped his hands. It was the man who interviewed him in the tea shop.

“Impressive,” he said, “You’re hired. Now come with us.”

“Wait I-” Aang tried to speak, but a black limosine stopped where they were and they all huddled Aang to get inside the vehicle. Aang was seated between two of the men with suits, and the man who interviewed him sat in front of him and took out a can of the famous Cactus Juice.

“Are you guys the mafia?” Aang asked, feeling worried.

“Oh no, you got it all wrong,” the man laughed, “We are actually the security team of the famous singer songwriter Katara. You obviously know her, right?”

“I only heard a few songs by her,” Aang replied. “Why didn’t you guys mention that early?”

“If we were to reveal the reason why we are looking for extra security, the tea shop would’ve been a chaotic place,” said the man, “So we wanted to make the hiring as weird and mysterious as possible.”

Aang simply nodded, still feeling uneasy. “So… Where are we going mister…”

“Sokka,” replied the man. “You can call me Sokka. I am Katara’s older and awesome brother, and I am her manager. You said your name was Aang, right?”

“Yes, my name is Aang,” the young master replied. “You didn’t answer my question. Where are we going?”

“Oh! We are going to the recording studio, where Ms. Katara wishes to meet you,” said Sokka, “Do you want some Cactus Juice? It’s the quenchiest!” 

Aang politely declined the drink and stayed silent through the ride to the studio. When they got to the place, Aang was shocked to see the humongous building in front of him. It was about 40 stories and had a white, round, shape. They went into the building and took the elevator to the 34th floor. A white door in front of them had the words written on a sign that said “Do not disturb”, but Sokka simply knocked the door and was answered by a smaller lady with black hair tied up in a bun, dark glasses, and a black suit. 

“Toph, is Katara in there?” Sokka asked.

“What do you think, dumbass?” she asked sarcastically. “Of course she is in here! She says you’re late!”

Aang entered the room awkwardly and tried not making any noise. When they walked into the studio, a lean woman was standing looking at a large window that showed almost all of Ba Sing Se. She had wavy, dark brown, hair, and wore a short blue dress covered with a denim jacket and tall, white platforms. 

“You’re late, Sokka,” said the woman. “Did you find the new recruit?”

“Yes, Kat” said Sokka. “We found you another bodyguard. He is a martial arts master, a skilled fighter, and really nice!”

The woman turned around and revealed herself, and when Aang saw her, he felt like he was struck by lightning again. The singer was probably the most gorgeous woman he has ever seen. Her long, wavy hair fell perfectly on her shoulders, her eyes were the color of the ocean, and you could even see the water reflected on them. Her lips were painted a light shade of red, but completed her face perfectly. Katara was absolutely stunning, and Aang could feel his heart skip multiple beats at the sight of her. 

“Hello,” she greeted nicely. “What is your name?”

“Uh… my name is Aang,” replied Aang, still bewildered by the artist’s beauty. “Nice to meet you, Katara.” 

Katara extended her hand and shook it. “It is also nice to meet you, Aang. Come here, let us talk.” Katara welcomed Aang into the room with the large window and offered him a seat. He couldn’t take his eyes off Katara, not just because of her beauty, but because there was something about her that he felt drawn to, an unspoken energy. 

“So, Aang,” Katara began. “Are you from Ba Sing Se?”

“Well… no,” replied Aang. “I am from the Air Islands, but moved here a few years ago.”

“Oh! That’s intriguing,” replied Katara, taking a sip of water, “I haven’t been to the Air Islands in a while. It’s such a lovely place to visit. The mountains are gorgeous to look at, and the temples are some of the most impressive architecture I’ve seen.”

“Yeah, it’s a pretty nice place,” replied Aang, trying not to sound awkward. “So… how is this job going to work?”

“Oh! It’s fairly simple!” said Katara, grabbing a folder from the other side of the table. “Aang, you are going to be my personal bodyguard. You are going to be part of my personal team, which includes Toph, who is in charge of security, the three guards, Sokka, my manager, as well as many other people you will eventually meet. You are not just going to be working at the concerts, but also as a companion, a member of Team Katara.”

Aang nodded with too much enthusiasm and seized the folder from Katara’s hands before she could fully give it to him. He read all of the terms and conditions to his contrat, his salary, which would be very generous and three times his salary he got from the academy, and his schedules. He was technically going to be with Katara almost 24/7, but he did not mind, except for the fact that he would probably be very exhausted by the end of each day and each tour. 

Once Aang finished reading the terms and conditions, he signed the contrat and handed it to Katara, who gave it to Sokka. Katara stood up and shook Aang’s hand, welcoming him officially into the team. 

A few hours after getting to know the rest of Katara’s crew, he left the studio and was escorted by Toph through the elevator. 

“Tomorrow, you must be in this address by 9 AM,” she said, taking out a card. It had the address of a house in the Upper Ring, which he figured was Katara’s residency. “Also, Katara can be quite temperamental, so be careful about what you say.” Toph took out her glasses and handed the card to Aang. The master realized that the woman’s eyes were covered with a thick, grey, film. She was blind, which made Aang wonder how she was in charge of a whole security team, but of course, he didn’t mind.

“We will see you tomorrow, Aang,” she said as the elevator door shut behind her. Aang headed outside the studio and took the last train to the Middle Ring, filled with determination about his new job. 

***

The next morning, Aang headed to the address he was given last night. He got there at 8:55 AM, five minutes exactly before the time. The house he was sent to was a large, and impressive Earth Kingdom mansion. When he knocked the door, he was received by Toph, who welcomed him into the residence. 

“This is Katara’s residence,” said Toph. “You might be wondering why it is so large. The crew actually lives with here. She likes the company of people and loves interacting with the rest of the staff.”

Aang was impressed by the entire house and gawkwed at its design. The outside of the house had the style of many Ba Sing Se mansions, but the inside was decorated with objects from the Water Tribe. 

“Aang!” Katara exclaimed from the stairs. “You’re here! And just in time!”

Aang smiled at Katara’s warm welcome, and then Sokka came and began to explain the details of the day’s events. “Today, there is going to be a press conference about the upcoming album. It’s going to be up in the North of the Middle Ring. We are expecting a large amount of expectators and interviewers, so we will need to increase the security. Aang, you will be near the exit of the press room ready to escort Katara at any moment, and Toph will secure the perimeter with the guards and extra staff given to us. Is everything clear?”

Everyone nodded and then got in the vehicles from Katara’s garage to head to the press conference.When they got there, there were already many interviewers and reporters in the room. Aang got to his position and saw Toph with the rest of the guards securing the area. The conference began with questions about Katara’s upcoming album and about the upcoming tour. As the hours passed, the questions started getting more personal and Aang noticed Katara was feeling uneasy. 

A particular interviewer from the Earth Kingdom was pressing Katara on questions about a relationship she had with a famous activist named Jet in the past. Katara was visibly uncomfortable and tried everything to evade answering any details about their rupture, but the interviewer was still pressuring Katara. Sokka yelled at the man for being too invasive and did his best to go to the next question. The singer glanced at Aang with a call for help in her eyes. Aang understood the signal in a glimpse and escorted Katara out of the conference room. Sokka kept arguing with the reporters while Aang escorted Katara cradling her in his arms and covering her from the cameras of the paparazzi. When the door got shut behind them, Aang took her to the nearest empty room so she could calm down and shut the door. 

“Are you okay?” Aang asked with a tone of concern. “Would you like some water? Something to calm down?”

Before Katara could answer, she broke down in tears. Aang was not exactly sure what to do in that moment. He wanted to calm her down, but did not want to be too invasive since it was his first day working and barely knew Katara. 

Aang crouched and got closer to Katara, handing her a bottle of water so that she could drink it. She took the bottle and sipped on some of the water. There were heavy tears streaming down her eyes, which was making her makeup cascade on her cheeks. Aang decided to give her some tissues he had in his pocket so she could wipe her tears. 

“Thank you, Aang,” Katara whispered, calming down. “I always hate when they begin pressing so much on my personal life. Why do they need to take personal information from my relationships and make entertainment out of it? I cannot stand it!”

Aang stayed silent for a few moments, but then said: “Because they have nothing better to do. They just want to make profit out of the life of someone, and you have all the right to not answer any questions willingly.”

“I know, but it still annoys me,” said Katara. “You wouldn’t like it if the papers began publishing details about your last romantic relationship, right?”

Aang shook his head and stayed silent for a few moments, not sure of what to say to Katara. 

“Would you like me to tell Sokka to get the car so we can leave?” Aang asked, heading to the door.

“Wait!” Katara exclaimed, pulling Aang’s hand. “Can you please stay for a bit?” Aang’s heart skipped a few beats, but he turned back to the woman in front of him. When Aang faced the singer in front of him, he did not just see a music star, but a simple woman, who was showing emotion and needed comfort. 

Aang sat next to Katara and stayed close to her. Katara then turned around and wrapped her arms around Aang’s shoulders and cried some more. The young bodyguard did not know what to do and froze for a few moments, but decided to return the hug lightly and wrapped his long arms around her. Katara tightened her grip on his shoulders, searching for more security in Aang. A few minutes passed, and Katara’s cries seemed to ease, and her breathing came back to normal. 

“Thank you, Aang,” she cooed, looking at his silver grey eyes while holding his arms. Katara noticed the color in her bodyguard’s eyes and saw how pretty they were. The dark silver flakes made his eyes look like diamond jewelry and gave her a sense of security and comfort, a security she has been looking for years. 

A faint knock was heard from the door, and Katara turned around hoping it was not the paparazzi. 

“Kat?” Sokka called from the door. “Are you in there? The press left. We can go now.”

“You can come in, Sokka,” replied Katara. Sokka entered the room with caution approached the bodyguard and his sister with caution. 

“Are you okay?” Sokka asked. 

“Yes,” said Katara, following Sokka to the door. Then, she turned to Aang, stared sweetly into his eyes, and said: “Everything is better now.”

Aang felt his cheeks turn pink, and really hoped Katara or Sokka did not notice. He was starting to like his job a lot more, even if it had its stressful situations. Aang felt like he was going to enjoy his job, not because he worked for a famous singer, but because he cared for Katara. 

[just-a-casual-newtasaur]

Ask and thee shall receive:

His Tommy

His Tommy (Newtmas)

Word Count: 1.5k

Warnings: graphic descriptions, insanity, depressed Newt, SPOILERS, blood, self exiting, guns/knifes, please tell me if I missed any

Summary: Newt’s flare is getting worse and even Thomas can’t help him now.

(For @ssseashell and anybody else who’s been looking for this. Not my finest work but it’s something)

He stared blankly at the boy, not entirely sure what to do. He recognised him, there was warmth and happiness linking with this boy, but no, that couldn’t be right. The voices, they told him that the munies were bad, they kept him safe, the voices did.

His voice was soft but it sounded like one thousand tiny knives that pierced Newt’s ears, “Hey. Newt. It’s me, Thomas. You still remember me, right?”

That was it. Thomas. That greenie, the one who had hovered on the edge of his decaying mind for a long time. He was his friend, wasn’t he? And yet Newt would not forget how the boy had ignored his note.

How could he? What kind of friend would leave him like he was, trapped with his insanity and the voices. No, that wasn’t right, the voices were his friend, the voices kept him safe. But, wasn’t Thomas his friend? No, he couldn’t be, what kind of friend didn’t even fill out his final request.

“I bloody remember you, Tommy. You just came to see me at the Palace, rubbed it in that you ignored my note. I can’t go completely crazy in a few days.”

The boys hazel eyes filled with sadness and hurt but he felt no sympathy. This was not his friend, the voices told him so.

“Then why are you here? Why are you with … them?” He looked towards the cranks and Newt found the voices telling him what to say. Besides, the words were true, weren’t they? The voices knew best.

“It comes and goes, man. I can’t explain it. Sometimes I can’t control myself, barely know what I’m doing. But usually it’s just like an itch in my brain, throwing everything off-kilter just enough to bother me—make me angry.”

“You seem fine right now.”

Newt would have smiled if he wasn’t so angry with the boy. Did he really think he could ignore his note and then pretend that everything was fine and expect him to pretend nothing had changed. That he hadn’t changed.

“Yeah, well. The only reason I’m with these wackers from the Palace is because I don’t know what else to do. They’re fighting, but they’re also a group. You find yourself alone, you don’t have a bloody chance.”

“Newt,” Thomas started softly, “come with me this time, right now. We can take you somewhere safer, somewhere better to …”

Newt laughed humourlessly his head twitching as he did so. How could he possibly suggest him? Did he even know what Thomas had put him through.

No, Thomas is our friend, he wants to help us, it was a small squeak in the back of his head, the part of his brain not contaminated by the flare.

But the voices knew best, and so he should abide to their wishes.

“Get out of here, Tommy. Get away.”

“Just come with me,” Thomas was begging now, his eyes wide. “I’ll tie you up if it makes you feel better.”

This made Newt snap, “Just shut up, you shuck traitor! Didn’t you read my note? You can’t do one last, lousy thing for me? Gotta be the hero, like always? I hate you! I always hated you!”

But that wasn’t true, he didn’t really hate Thomas, did he? He didn’t even know anymore.

“Newt …” Thomas tried again but Newt continued, “It was all your fault! You could’ve stopped them when the first Creators died. You could’ve figured out a way. But no! You had to keep it going, try to save the world, be the hero. And you came to the Maze and never stopped. All you care about is yourself! Admit it! Gotta be the one people remember, the one people worship! We should’ve thrown you down the Box hole!”

He didn’t know why he was so angry but he couldn’t help himself. Someone shouted something from behind Thomas, “I’m gonna blast him! Get out of the way!”

“Don’t! It’s just me and him! Don’t do anything!”

Why the hell was Thomas defending him, he was evil. Evil, evil, evil, and Newt hated him. But did he really?

“Newt, stop. Just listen to me. I know you’re okay in there. Enough to hear me out.”

He almost laughed again, but instead curled his lip in disgust, “I hate you, Tommy!”

The boy looked hurt and even, a little frightened. He took a step away from Newt, with only added to his rage.

“I hate you I hate you I hate you! After all I did for you, after all the freaking klunk I went through in the bloody Maze, you can’t do the one and only thing I’ve ever asked you to do! I can’t even look at your ugly shuck face!”

He was becoming more and more riled by the second, spit dripping from his mouth as he glared at Thomas. The boy took two more steps backward and said quietly, “Newt, you need to stop. They’re going to shoot you. Just stop and listen to me! Get in the van, let me tie you up. Give me a chance!”

That was his ticking point. All his built up rage bubbled over and he let out an animalistic scream of fury, rushing towards Thomas. A fizz of electricity rushed past his ear but he ignored it, pinning down Thomas and continued to scream at him.

“I should rip your eyes out. Teach you a lesson in stupidity. Why’d you come over here? You expected a bloody hug? Huh? A nice sit-down to talk about the good times in the Glade?”

Thomas shook his head, gasping for breath, Newt saw him groping around for his gun.

“You wanna know why I have this limp, Tommy? Did I ever tell you? No, I don’t think I did.” His voice was cold.

“What happened?” Thomas asked, his fingers wreathing around his weapon.

“I tried to kill myself in the Maze. Climbed halfway up one of those bloody walls and jumped right off. Alby found me and dragged me back to the Glade right before the Doors closed. I hated the place, Tommy. I hated every second of every day. And it was all … your … fault!”

The voices told him to kill Thomas, to kill him for what he did to all of them, but he held out. The small sane part of him told him that Thomas was his friend. He deserved to try and redeem himself.

He grabbed the hand that Thomas had holding his gun and pressed it to his own forehead.

“Now make amends! Kill me before I become one of those cannibal monsters! Kill me! I trusted you with the note! No one else. Now do it!”

“I can’t, Newt, I can’t.” He tried to wrench his hand away but Newt wouldn’t let him.

“Kill me, I trusted you, I trusted you.”

“Newt I can’t.”

“KILL ME!”

“Newt I-“

He couldn’t take it anymore. All the rage he had ever kept bottled up seemed to gush out of him like a waterfall. His mind had completely slipped, that one sane part of him gone. He didn’t think, not in the slightest. All he knew was that there was a traitor in front of him. And so he complied to the voices.

Grabbed the knife out of his belt, he curled it in his fingers and brought it down on the boys chest, screaming loudly.

Scarlet spurted out of the wound and Thomas’ wide scared eyes fixed on him. His mouth curled into a twisted, manic smile as he watched the life drain out of those eyes. Thomas’ chest heaved and then moved no more, with eyes glazed over and his mouth hanging open a little.

Newt looked into his eyes and something shifted in his stomach. He was sent back to the time that he first saw those eyes. Wide and scared, glancing around wildly. He remembered when Thomas came up in the box. It was as though he saw him clearly for the first time.

His eyes flitted from the body of the boy and his own clothes, stained in scarlet blood. And he screamed. Screamed so loud it seemed to tear at his throat. His whole body shook and tears began to fall.

He had given in, lost to the voices. He had killed. Not just anyone. He had killed Thomas.

Thomas. Thomas, who would give him small soft smiles from across the glade. Thomas, who would grip at his arm when the grievers attacked the homestead. Thomas, who would curl next to him in the scorch, using his own body to keep Newt warm during the night.

He had killed him. His sunlight. His smile, His world. His everything. He had killed his Tommy.

And with that thought, he grabbed the gun from Thomas’ hand with his own shaking ones and pressed it to his forehead. He pulled the trigger, feeling a blinding flash of pain before a sort of numb feeling. His ears rung and his eyelids grew heavy.

He needed to sleep, if he were to just close his eyes for a moment. But he needed to do something first. His body had fallen next to Tommy’s and he looked into the boy’s eyes, lifting himself laboredly and pressing a soft kiss to the boy’s lips. They were still warm.

“Goodbye Tommy.” He whispered to the boy, and then he laid back, and went to sleep.

[cocogum]

Armand’s treatment and how it impacted his life.

(‼️ Spoilers for Wakfu Season 4 and its first four episodes ‼️)

One thing that saddened me a lot when I was watching episode 4 was how Armand revealed to Amalia that he had wished he could go on adventures with her and the brotherhood sometimes.

This surprised me at first but I soon realized that it made perfect sense.

Armand was always jealous of her but I initially thought that it was only because she had the most attention from people, even their father. But Armand is the type to keep his thoughts to himself which would explain why despite how we see him looking at Amalia with a disapproving look, we never really got to hear him express his thoughts to her. His reason for wanting to go on adventures with her is also made clear: not only does he want to explore the world because it seems like fun since his sister always felt happy because of it, but the major reason is that he wants his father to look at him just like how he looked at Amalia.

When he finally tells her all of his thoughts and what he wants, we can’t help but feel like what he wishes to have can no longer be granted. Their father died not long ago, it is now too late to do anything.

Armand could’ve spoken up during all those years Amalia went to go on adventures. He had all the time in the world because he was always beside his father at all times.

But no matter how close he was to him, Armand never had the strength to speak his thoughts just like how Amalia dared to do so. It’s ironic really, Armand had the time and the moment to tell his father everything and yet, he didn’t because he didn’t think it was in his right to speak about himself and what he wanted to try.

The years of constantly seeing how his sister was getting loved by the people, how she was being viewed and called a hero by the very same people he was working hard to protect in his own way, how their father kept praising her constantly for whatever she did, how she kept getting adoration for adventuring and risking her life to save her people, while he was instead cooped up in the kingdom learning and practicing how to become king, left him in a position where he believed Amalia always had the upper hand on anything even when he wanted to express himself.

He had learned that every time he proposed an idea or even said some of his thoughts out loud during a particular situation, he would always get shut down by either his sister or his father, sometimes even both (the time when he decided to use a barrier of vines to block Ogrest’s tears but his father told him that his attempts were just “alright” when they were actually very effective for some time, the time where he told Amalia that she can’t leave while his father is terribly sick but his father supports Amalia and encourages her to go with Yugo, the time when Armand stated that none of the rulers had come to support them but his father cuts him off by saying that the queen of Bonta at least brought Joris to them which made Armand’s words sound minuscule and not as serious as the prince intended, etc.)

Granted, sometimes he deserved it (like the time when he got slapped by Eva when he was disrespectful to Dally in the OVAs or the time he did not listen to Amalia’s warnings when she told him Nox was coming and when she tried explaining who Yugo and Adamaï were back in Season 1 but not being listened to despite having Eva to back her up) but the majority of the time, he was trying his best to please his father and barely got a good comment for it.

So it wouldn’t be far-fetched to think that Armand never spoke about what he wanted to his father because he had a strong feeling that the answer wouldn’t be a good one.

As if things couldn’t get any worse for him, when his father takes his last breath and Armand was the only one there for him, who has been by his side all this time, who has devoted his entire life to training, learn and work hard to be like his father, he had only words for Amalia.

To hear his father only speak about his youngest sister and not mention him at all, must’ve terribly broke him on the inside. Even when his father was on his deathbed, he did not address everything that Armand did for him.

And it’s sad to see this happening.

Even though his relationship with his father and sister was mostly shown in the background, it was pretty obvious that their family had some issues that no one wanted to address in the room.

I feel like, in a way, we can somehow relate to Armand.

To feel like we can’t speak our minds properly because of a sibling or a figure in our lives who has shown to be better than us, even when we do work very hard to get noticed we barely get any comments or praises of the same size as theirs, to feel like we don’t matter as much as them so we should just stop talking and let them have their spotlight at all times.

And when we finally get the chance to gain our confidence or get into a position where we don’t feel as self-conscious as we used to before, we come to find out that it’s already too late to express ourselves to the people we’ve been waiting to truly be honest to, because they’re already gone or have moved on from you.

Armand’s case is a bittersweet and albeit depressing one.

What could have been a story of adventure, even if just for one day, was never realized. What could have been an experience that could have felt like a lifetime never happened. What could have been an adventure where he finally has his fun and gains a unique brotherly sisterly duo bond in combat would never become a reality. And what could have been a special moment in his life where he gets to personally know his sister’s friends would always stay a dream.

If only he knew that even a brotherhood member, Evangelyne, has a sister, Cleophee, who had her fun in the group. And even if it was just for a few days, a few moments, Eva’s sister had cemented her place in the Brotherhood and became an official member. To think that even if he had stayed a bit in the group, he would have not just become a part of their lives, but also become a part of their brotherhood.

But despite it all, Armand kept his chin up and looked forward to the future. He did not wallow in his sadness or blame Amalia for his silence during all these years. Instead, he pulls her up and tells her to not be saddened by their father’s departure, especially in front of his tomb tree, and consoles her as they hug.

Unlike anyone else, I believe Armand was able to push his selfish thoughts away (which involved blaming his sister for everything) and instead behaved like a king, someone who, despite not gaining everything he wanted in life, kept going and faced forward for what was to come.

Even though he has not been abandoned by his family, he did feel like he might've been behind everyone else at some point in his life.

He may have not been a part of the brotherhood but he’ll always have a place in his sister’s heart after what he did for her.

And I believe that his competence and his will to protect his kingdom without leaving for adventure would make him get along greatly with a certain white dragon.

[cameronspecial]

Before The Last Petal Falls (Part 3)

Pairing: Rafe Cameron x Reader

Warnings: Drinking and use of drugs.

Pronouns: She/Her

Word Count: 2.5K

Summary: Moving on is hard but it helps to have the input of the people you love and a new prospect on the horizon.

Masterlist

Y/N would never pass up on an opportunity to babysit her two favourite cousins, so when Aunt Millie asked her to watch them, she was quick to say yes. She decided to take them to the one place that England could never really beat—the beach. Y/N is relaxing on her beach chair, while Bella and Franklin are building a sandcastle. The beach isn’t too busy with only a few parents taking the day off of work to take their young children out. She takes out her book to read while they aren’t in the water and she makes sure to check on them every few pages. Her escape into a fictional world is interrupted by the yells of the children. “Rafe!” They run over to the tall figure and jump to give him a hug. Even with their break up, Rafe didn’t stop being in her cousins' lives. How could he when he meant so much to them? “Can we please bury you in the sand?” Bella begs with puppy dog eyes. Frankie is already tugging Rafe towards their sand toys. Rafe wants to say no when he spots who is babysitting them, but the children aren’t really giving him a choice.

They mindlessly place him beside Y/N without another thought and get to work on the hole. It makes her heart flutter when Rafe tries to help them out with it to avoid having to be near Y/N alone, but he keeps getting shooed away. “You’re just going to ignore me,” she whispers to him, putting her book back in her bag. He looks at her with an annoyed look, “What do you want me to say? We stopped talking to each other a long time ago.” 

“I know. You could’ve just told them no, so we didn’t have to do this awkward thing.”

“Well, you didn’t need to start talking to me. We could’ve just sat in silence or you could’ve just kept reading. Plus, when has anyone ever been able to say no to them? They could ask you to murder someone and you’d help them.”

“We don’t have to be strangers anymore.” 

“That’s rich coming from the person who avoided the whole country for years just because it’s where I was.”

“Yeah. Well, it’s not like you made any effort to contact me.”

“Don’t try to bla-“

“Rafe, get in the hole, please,” Franklin orders. Rafe turns away from her and does as the boy instructs. She pretends not to watch as Rafe happily plays with her cousins. Even after their little argument, he wouldn’t dare to take it out on them. He brings some more sand onto his legs, “How about we make me into a mermaid? I think I’d make a beautiful mermaid.” Bella beams at that idea, pilling more sand onto him to make him a coconut bra while Franklin goes to make the tail. “That’s the best idea ever! You’ll be the prettiest mermaid ever!” Bella screams. 

Y/N gives Rafe a warm smile, discretely she believes, turning back to the book she is reading. Little does she know that he caught her looking and he can’t explain the little flip his heart does when he does. For a brief second, he let himself believe that this is what the future could hold for them. They could have beach days in the summer where Y/N reads while Rafe plays with their children. For that brief second, everything felt right for him. He quickly brings himself back down to reality and he remembers he is engaged to Blythe. His smile falls for a split second, but he puts it back on and goes back to playing with the kids. 

——

Lacey and Y/N sip some wine while they paint their nails. “So… you’ve been on the same island as Rafe for two weeks. How are we feeling?” Lacey checks in, not pausing to look up from her nails. Y/N pauses her movement for a second, “Honestly, I don’t know. One minute I’m adamant that I did the right thing with the break up and the next minute I’m literally crying on the floor.” 

“It makes sense. Y/N/N, he was a big part of your life and you just left him behind without giving yourself actual time to grieve your relationship. You kept forcing yourself to move on which made it so you didn’t get to process your emotions properly, so now your body is trying to catch up with feeling like you are moved on and actually moving on. It’s like cognitive dissonance. You believe you moved on but the action of your crying says otherwise.”

“Okay, Miss. Psychologist. I get what you are saying. Maybe, seeing him will actually help me move on. Who knows, maybe, I’ll even find someone to spend my life with.” 

“It would be good for you to go out with someone else. Not because you need a man in your life, but because it might help you move on. You’ll realize all of Rafe’s faults by being put in front of someone who could be a little more perfect.” 

“Yeah, yeah. How come we always talk about my relationships? What about you? The last time you dated anyone was Jordan in your first year of culinary school.” 

Now, it is Lacey’s turn to pause what she is doing and look up at Y/N. “I just don’t think a relationship is what I want for my life right now. Or ever. Sure, I’ve been on dates and had sex and that’s fun. But when I think about having to stay with someone for more than one night. I feel all cooped up. Right now, I’m fine with it just being me, you and our businesses.” Y/N nods at her friend’s statement and goes to hold her hand, “I know society makes it seem like you have to have a steady relationship to be happy in life, but don’t listen to it. I personally think you’d be an awesome wine aunt to my kids.” “Yes, I’d be such a cool wine aunt. I’m gonna spoil your children rotten,” Lacey exclaims with a laugh. Both girls giggle at the statement and continue to do their nails. 

——

It’s rare to find Y/N Y/L/N at the island club. She isn’t a fan of golf, she has her own pool and she much prefers eating at The Wreck. However, for some reason, the universe told her that she needed to be there. She sits at the poolside, listening to music and people-watching. She is deep in her own thoughts when a feminine voice pulls her out of it. “Y/N! It’s so good to see you. We didn’t get a chance to say goodbye at my engagement party.” Y/N looks up to see who it is, “Hi Blythe, it’s good to see you again too! I’m sorry about leaving in such a rush at the party. I wasn’t feeling well.” Blythe nods and takes a seat on the pool chair beside her. She sits up so the both of them are facing each other. 

“Yeah, I know. Rafe told me that he saw you talking with his dad. I’m sorry that that happened. If I had known that you and Ward had such a rocky relationship, then I wouldn’t have asked Mason to bring you. I was just hoping to help fix your and his relationship. I know how much you mean to him as an ex and a childhood friend.”

“Does he talk about me a lot?”

“Yes, well, actually no. Not as much as he used to before we started dating. Most of the time it was about how angry he was with you and how he thinks you were a coward, but I think he is getting over his anger about your break up.” 

“Oh, he’s really been so angry about it all this time?” Y/N asks with guilt in her voice. 

“Of course, he’s been. Based on how much it seems he loved you, he wouldn’t just be okay with a sudden break-up. I mean aren’t you still grieving your relationship a tiny bit?”

“I guess I have, but I think it’s only because I’m back home. And he must’ve moved on before you guys dated, you guys are getting married for heaven's sake.”

“I know. But I honestly think he needed me to help him move on. Before we started dating, it always felt like he was mad at the world for something and he would never let any girl in like he was scared. It took him a while to open up to me.”

“Not that long if you guys started dating five months into knowing each other.”

“Most people open up to me immediately. It’s my personality. You are literally doing it right now,” Blythe points out with a serious face. 

“Yeah, I guess. Still not very long for normal standards.”

“True, but enough about Rafe. How about you? You said it was hard to see Rafe since coming back. Are you okay?” 

From the look on Blythe’s face, the question is laced with genuine concern and not jealousy or anything else. “Yeah, I am. I’ve had my time to process everything. I think I finally am ready to go out on a date and try to move on,” she says with a hint of untruthfulness. Blythe smiles at her, “That’s great! I know a few great guys if you are ever looking for someone on this side of the pond.” At that moment, something unexpected happens. “I don’t believe my luck. Is that Miss. Y/N Y/L/N that I see?” The face of the towering figure is blocked by the shadows created because his back is facing the sun. The British accent clues Y/N in as to where she might have met this person. As if on cue, the person moves out of the way of the sun and she can finally see who it is. His medium-length curly brown hair and dark brown eyes start to become in focus. The only thing that has really changed since she last saw him is that his diamond face shape now has a little stubble on his jawline. 

Cole Weisner stands before her in all of his glory. “Cole, hi. What are you doing here?” she questions as she gets up to give him a hug. He returns the hug with a smile, “I was wondering if I might bump into you eventually but I didn’t think that you were here. I’m here for work. The company is looking into opening an office here.” 

“Really? Are you still working in publishing? Why would they want an office here?” 

“I am. And they seem to have noticed a pattern with popular authors cropping up in this area.”

Y/N’s cheeks heat up at his flirtatious words, “I wouldn’t consider myself popular per se.”

“Don’t sell yourself short, Y/N/N. You sold around a million copies of your debut book in the first year of its release. That is no small feat.”

“Okay, I believe you. So how are you enjoying the OBX experience?”

“It just got better, to be honest with you. It’s been great though. A little hot but from what you told me it is expected. Although, I can’t seem to find any good food places. Maybe you could show me some places.”

Y/N and Cole had done this dance before a long time ago. In her first year of university, she had gone out on a date with the boy and even though he said he felt sparks, he noticed she didn’t have her heart open yet to a new relationship. They had remained friends up until they graduated which is when they fell out of touch because of how busy they were with work. However, with her newfound belief that she is ready to move on with her life, she feels as though fate is trying to tell her something by bringing her here at the same time as Cole. “Yeah, I think I can do that. Are you free tomorrow night?”

——

Rafe is working on some files in the kitchen when Blythe gets back home from dinner with her friends. She gives him a kiss on the cheek before going to sit down, “Hey baby. Finishing up your work for the day.” “Yeah, Dad needed me to look over some paperwork before I went to bed. How was your day?” he asks, briefly looking up at the girl before going back to work. 

“It was good. You’ll never guess who I ran into at the country club this afternoon.”

“Really? Who, babe? 

“Y/N. We had such a nice talk. And she has a date tomorrow night with what sounds like an old flame? Isn’t that wonderful? Maybe when I get you guys talking again, we can go on a triple date with Mason and whoever I can find for him. He can’t live the bachelor life forever.”

The news just shared with Rafe causes him to stop working and look at Blythe completely. “She’s going on a date? What was his name? Wilson? Lewis?” Blythe shakes her head, “No, none of those. He said his name was Cole. I think maybe they know each other from publishing. At least, that’s where he says he works for anyways.” Rafe’s mind races at what she says and he starts to overthink everything. Without saying anything, he gets up from his chair and gets on his dirtbike. 

He, once again, makes the trip back to Barry’s house to help his brain turn off from the spiral he is about to experience. “Got through what you bought already, country club? That was fast,” Barry comments, walking out of his trailer. Rafe shakes his head and holds up his own baggie, “Nope, just need a place to do this shit.” He doesn’t say anything, walking into the house and getting his lines ready. If she didn’t meet Cole in high school, then she must have met him in university, which means she dated after they broke up. How could she do that to him? She broke his heart and was okay with moving on like it was nothing. Now, she’s trying again. To forget about them. To forget about the pain she caused. That’s all he wants to do too.

He forms the final line of powder and brings his nose down to snort each line he prepares. He slowly starts to feel himself forget about her. Just when he thought he was in the clear, a new image of her with his so-called Cole permeates his thoughts. Does she laugh at Cole’s jokes in the same way she did his? Does she let him pull her by the waist to place a kiss on her lips? Does she let him do all the things she used to let Rafe to her? His normal amount of cocaine doesn’t help him forget, so he needed more. “I want more,” Rafe orders to Barry. Barry shakes his head, “You know I love the business, man, but I don’t think you should be doing anymore. You did a lot already.” Rafe gets up and punches the wall near Barry’s head. “I said get me more. So do it. I don’t need your opinion,” Rafe growls close to Barry’s face. Barry has no other choice but to obey the intoxicated man. 

Taglist: @sublimepenguinpeach-blog @gillybear17 @f4ll-for-you @winterrrnight @maggiecc @magicwithaknife @loves0phelia @jiarapamuk

[potionsprefect]

All From One Comment

Pairings: Ethan Ramsey x Victoria Clarke

Word Count: 977

Summary: The internet finds out Doctor Ramsey is off the market

Rating: General Audiences

Category: Fluff

“Doctor Ramsey please tell us you’re single” we’re quite possibly the worst words Ethan could have heard at that moment in time.

He wasn’t, that was the truth. But having to keep himself composed on live television was not ideal. He couldn’t blurt it out so he had to play it cool. Something Ethan was not always good at.

Ethan was sat in his office, the interview had been posted online and he had rewatched it several times, replaying the same clip over and over, each time watching a new face.

The host grinned as he said it, he should’ve known a question like that was coming. Other people’s love life’s were all society was interested in. And from rewatching him, he looked very pleased with himself.

Ethan looked at himself, he could just make out the slight shade of red he had turned. He remembered his cheeks feeling slightly warm but he was able to answer the question without stuttering.

Then he looked at Victoria who was struggling to suppress a laugh. He was not surprised she was finding this funny, she knew what he was thinking and from watching her reaction, she found it hilarious.

All of this just made things clear for them. Ethan knew he was dancing dangerously with her but he had to remain professional. But now he knew what he had wanted for so long.

He would be a fool to say he didn’t like her, both in a professional and leisure capacity. She had impressed far more than he could ever have dreamed of. She was talented, an expert in her field and was capable of defying the odds. She had loyalty to her patients, always going above and beyond for them even if it meant defying the odds.

They had gotten close, sometimes Ethan would say too close. He has tried to deny his feelings but he couldn’t deny them any more. He decided that he didn’t care about staying away from Victoria. He wanted her and he was determined to get her.

There was no chance anyone could find out. They had to keep whatever they had a secret.

Otherwise things could become very awkward.

Ethan was never one for social media but he knew he made the odd medical article every now and then. He always kept an eye on what was said and whether he agreed with it. But he wasn’t making articles for medical reasons now.

Ever since the Senator attack at the hospital, Victoria had gained a bigger following on social media. She took it in her stride, sharing tips and advice on how to stay healthy. Some would even say she has become as influential as Ethan but on social media. Ethan was proud that she was using what had happened for her to drive her forward. She was able to share her experience and help others.

When Victoria had posted that they were engaged, there was a lot of excitement from what Ethan would describe as strangers. He didn’t realise why people he didn’t know would relish in this news but he learnt not to argue. It was best to just take the compliment and move on. He had learnt that a lot over the years. And there was a lot of them.

“You are never gonna believe this.” Victoria said as she sat down on the sofa.

“Probably not.” Ethan put his book down.

Victoria showed him her phone. It was an article titled:

Doctor Ramsey is off the market, now we finally know who the lucky lady is

“What on earth?” Ethan said incredulously.

“They’ve even linked the interview.” Victoria laughed.

Victoria found the original video and the comments that came with it. Lots of them were regarding his comment and the reaction to it.

Whoever is dating him is a lucky lady

No way! I was ready to shoot my shot!

He could’ve been my giraffe any day of the week

“The giraffe comment still makes me laugh to this day.” Victoria laughed.

“No surprises there. Why are so many people interested?”

“Because it’s you! And the article is very complimentary of how you are able to keep business and pleasure separate.” Victoria winked.

“We both know that wasn’t true.”

“Yes but everyone else doesn’t need to know that. It can be our little secret.”

Ethan read the article. There were several pictures of him and Victoria in a work capacity and mentions of the Senator attack as the supposed start of the relationship. He had to give it to the writer, they were accurate on every paragraph.

“I’m quietly impressed.”

“Good to know. Unfortunately the internet is not happy that you are now taken forever.”

“They’ll just have to accept it.”

“I did like this part though.” Victoria pointed to the end.

It sounds as if Ethan Ramsey and Victoria Clarke have been through a tumultuous few months. And they have found happiness with one another after a very dark time. Congratulations to them both.

“That is a nice sentiment. All of it rings true.”

“Tumultuous is an understatement. But I’m in a good place now and that’s all thanks to you. How many more articles like this do you think we should expect?” Victoria asked.

“Because it’s you I’d say a dozen. I expect articles analysing who we are and everything we do next.”

“And more about you and how hot you are.” Victoria winked.

“Now that would be totally unnecessary.” Ethan rolled his eyes.

“Not for me. I will enjoy ready every article posted about my fiancé.” Victoria laughed.

Whilst it was true they had been through many highs and many lows together, they were now happier than they could ever have dreamed of.

This was just the start of something very special for them both and they couldn’t wait to see what would come next.

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[bridgyrose]

Weiss slowly put away her clothes, tired from a long day trekking through the forest and fighting grimm. She still wasnt thrilled about being on a team with Ruby, Yang, and Blake, and even less thrilled that Ruby was assigned as the team leader. Though, she did have to admit that Ruby’s plans did seem to work and she led everyone without issue. 

Still, it wasnt like a child was qualified to lead a team. Everything that happened during the initiation was just a fluke. Pyrrha should’ve been her teammate, she should’ve been called as the leader of her team, and she could’ve taken care of all the grimm she ran across without help. All she had to do was use her powers and-

Weiss paused as she finished hanging the last of her suits and looked at her hand as ice started to form on her palm. She could tell flames were in her eyes without checking in the mirror anymore, all too familiar with the cold burn. It was one more thing to hide, just like wanting to be a woman from her father or hiding that she was born a boy from her team. Not that she could keep that one hidden for much longer. Even if Klein were to get her the new combat uniform, her class uniform was still going to be the men’s uniform and it’d be hard to explain away the suits and other male clothes that she had. 

So why did it feel like these powers were more important to hide than anything else? Even more so than who she was from her team or who she wanted to be from her father. It wasnt like she’d get disowned for these powers, and they were easy enough to hide with her semblance as long as she kept to the same elements as her dust. But no matter how many times she used them or practiced to keep them under control, thoughts about being betrayed or killed came to the back of her mind and wouldnt leave. It was almost like these powers were a death sentence. 

“Weiss, you still in here?” Yang asked as she opened the dorm door. “You’re missing out on the fun.” 

Weiss tried to focus to let the fire in her eyes die down as the ice on her hand started to melt and disappear. “As much as I’d like to meet the other students and spend time mingling around to make new connections, I’ve never been great with parties.” 

“You’ll be fine. Even Ruby’s enjoying herself, and she hates crowds.” 

“Its not about the crowds, its about not wanting to feel overwhelmed already.” Weiss closed the closet door once she was sure her clothes were put away. “We just finished running around the forest killing grimm and trying to find relics, and now we’re expected to mingle with others? When do we get to rest?” 

Yang sighed and put a hand on Weiss’s shoulder. “We’ll have plenty of time to rest before classes start. All I’m suggesting is that you come by, meet the people we’ll be going to class with, and then you can come back and finish whatever you’ve been doing. Maybe you can get to know Blake too-” 

“And I’ll get to know you all as the days go,” Weiss interrupted. “For now though, I’m tired and I’d rather not deal with more people than I want to.” 

“Then I’ll stay here with you.” 

Weiss almost froze the closet door shut at the surprise of the offer. It wasnt that she didnt want Yang to stick around, but at the same time, most people didnt offer to stay with her. “I-I’m fine alone-” 

“I get it, its been a long day and you want to rest, but that doesnt mean you have to rest alone.” Yang walked in and took a bed near Weiss. “If it makes you feel better I’ll stay quiet while you finish unpacking.” 

“No, its fine, but I… are you sure you dont want to be with everyone else?” Weiss went to the bed she took for herself and started to double check the uniforms she was provided. She frowned when she saw a pair of mens uniforms. “Sticking here is going to be a bit… boring.” 

“Boring’s fine,” Yang said. “I just dont want you to be alone.” 

“And if I want to be alone?” 

“Then you can pretend that I’m not here.” 

Weiss rolled her eyes and unpacked her uniforms to get them hung up, already dreading being asked why she had a male uniform. It was bad enough that her combat gear already made her look like a boy with the way the armor was made to fit her, but being asked to wear something like this to classes? At least on the brightside she could say it was a mixup. It wouldnt be too far-fetched to believe with the amount of students that attend and then she could talk to Glynda about getting it fixed. 

Still, even the thought of wearing a men’s uniform even for a day or two didnt sit all that well with her. Not that the idea of a skirt made her feel that much more calm. Sure, a skirt would make her feel a bit more comfortable, but wearing one around others with the possibility of her secret getting out…

Yang looked over. “Did they give you the wrong uniform too?” 

“Y-yeah, how’d you-” 

“Same thing happened to Ruby. It should be pretty easy to get those switched out. I’ll even come with you.” 

Weiss looked over the uniform she had in front of her and slowly started to fold it back up again. Yang seemed nicer than she expected, nicer than Winter even. “That… that would be nice.”

Prev

[blueikeproductions]

Welp EarthSpark is officially done in Japan via the latest Figure King magazine.

Sorta rubs the Nucleon in the Energon wound that the news of cancellation comes in a magazine celebrating 40 years of Transformers, with a cover drawn by the Kiss Players guy no less, huh?

It’s also looking more apparent EarthSpark is finito in the States too. And some staff of the show are looking to blame fans for being the b-word and the p-word. Look fella, those words lost meaning just as much as “woke” did, just take your lumps like the rest of us and admit your show didn’t work because people simply had no interest in it. Also just terrible, TERRIBLE writing and pacing. I can forgive Rise of the TMNT’s faults due to Nick not knowing what to do with it and giving the staff unhelpful feedback that kept changing it (the Netflix movie finale was a much better look at what the show was trying to be and could’ve been, but alas), but EarthSpark I have no such compunction.

Hasbro was allegedly pretty hands off and was fine with what they were doing (at least at first) so the blame can only land on the writers who clearly misunderstood what they had. I detest modern shows that have uneven pacing, tone and characterization. It’s why I don’t look fondly on Adventure Time the moment it stopped being a goofy kids show and started being some college art student’s angsty wet dream.

Clearly something changed for EarthSpark internally, and I can’t help but think Hasbro and Paramount looked at the abysmal launch of the first batch of episodes and told the staff to drastically change the story for S2. That the trailer is a more traditional Autobots vs Decepticon conflict with them hunting for Emberstone pieces ala Transformers Animated and most importantly having evil Decepticon Terrans (something fans had stated as happening in some form from the start), shows they wanted to make this into a better boy brand thing again.

The first season overcompensates by focusing too heavily on the female cast, most of them bordering on obnoxious, while making most of the male characters into morons, again Robbie dying for contrived reasons but the Maltos instead choose to love up Mo while Robbie lays there clinging to whatever life force he has left at that moment.

Instead Robbie seems to be the primary focus, with a b-plot about him having a crush on someone. I’m guessing this is where the rumors saying Hashtag comes out as gay comes from as I suspect Hashtag remarks on Robbie’s female crush being adorable and tries to be his wingman (with probably the same results when she tried helping Jawbreaker).

I feel like the intention may have been to have Mo be the focus of S1 and Robbie for S2, but it doesn’t fully come off that way as the focus is too rambling on top of trying to focus on the Terrans and Bumblebee in an RiD15 style role again.

Also what the slag is this?

If there’s one thing I hate more it’s lazy photoshopping.

Not only do they just swap Bee and Prime’s renders around, they just crudely put the kids heads on these altered bodies from their preexisting stock art… Like no Quintessons or Terracons or nothing. Nothing to make you more legitimately excited for something new. Just the same Autobots and the kids in ReBoot Guardian Code suits, ick. It’s a bit of a downgrade compared to the Prime Apex Armor suits the toys use.

Despite the cancellation, the Japanese magazine refers to a “Slash Malt”(o). Presumably this might be a Terran version of the Dinobot Slash, whose only proper media presence has been a minor cameo in Japanese manga as the kid sister of the Dinobots and a supporting role in Rescue Bots Academy.

Frankly becoming a Terran might be the best thing for Slash, and it’s something I’m surprised toy wise wasn’t attempted anyway with characters like Lightbright, Lickity Split, Rubble, Gauge, Nightscream, and others.

So once again, what comes next? We don’t know still as of typing. Skybound is still knocking it out of the park with its Energon Universe, with the Joe portion moving on to Destro and Scarlett after having wrapped up Cobra Commander’s miniseries. Of note on Destro is the possibility MASK might be getting another go again, as what appears to be Miles Mayhem, the leader of the villainous VENOM faction, makes an appearance. The MASK and VENOM teams tend to be depicted as off shoots of Joe and Cobra in modern material, and with the pitch of the EU mentioning Energon being able to power machines, the transforming vehicles might be among the first specially designed vehicles developed to combat the Decepticons… Especially since Destro took interest in the idea of a transforming jet when he learned of Starscream.

The next cartoon is being worked on now, but we don’t know yet what it is. The easiest assumption is it’s a spin off of TFONE like how Mutant Mayhem has Tales of the TMNT, but it may be something else altogether. Barring anything TFONE does, EarthSpark was the last hold out of IDW’s post war ideas, and with Autobot Megatron mark II being viewed like this:

I think Autobot Megatron is largely done as a concept and with how merciless Skybound Megs is shown to be (though interestingly he did spare some Cobra-La guys when they told him what he wanted to know after stepping on one), I think we’re gonna be back to a traditional Megatron.

People are still not really feeling TFONE via recent upload on a TF fan convention YouTube channel, calling it terrible and cringey, so at this point I’m honestly just writing it off now (even though I’ll personally like it fine like the new Garfield Movie).

I stand by a new TF anime with a fun Mini-Con like gimmick built in the story is the way to go, because this incessant need to reject its toyetic roots is aggravating. At this stage I say let Skybound do the comics, and let Japan handle the cartoon, because clearly most people working now can’t write a decent TF cartoon without getting out of their sanctimonious way.

It’s time to Transform and Rise Up from this nonsense, and hopefully One helps with that more, but atm it’s all on Skybound until the next cartoon is ready. No pressure.

[bisexualfemalemess]

*HSMTMTS SEASON 4 SPOILERS*

Question; Is it already appropriate to stop putting a spoiler warning on my posts? lmao

Anyway, Let’s talk about 4x05 specifically, Ricky’s line “Last summer, I was terrified, when I realized i had real feelings for gina.”

Because maybe this will put the pw/rini fans down and help them accept that rina is and was supposed to be endgame no matter what happened with liv and josh. Also, I’ve literally never seen anyone talk about this and maybe i’m just exaggerating lmao.

I think Ricky could have just as easily said something along the lines of “when i realized i had feelings/ when i realized i developed real feelings for gina” but he didn’t. Because he knew he liked Gina from the moment she kissed his cheek in that orange bug after homecoming, we’ve seen them flirt and we’ve seen him shoot a shot several episodes after that and I don’t know about you but i don’t give a spin hug to my friends. He stopped pursuing Nini as soon as gina came into the picture and that’s a fact, they didn’t bring the rickyxnini couple storyline back until after Gina moved, he didn’t actively pursue nini until Gina told him to stop calling and even then he kept texting her and we see him distracted throughout the next episode, the almost kiss didn’t happen until after Gina had replied and told him they were leaving early, only once he knew gina was completely out of the picture, did he go back to nini. He said it himself, he reverted back to his old self because he didn’t have gina in his life anymore and when gina told him she wouldn’t quit on them if she wasn’t moving away he genuinely looked upset about it as well. In episode 1 of season 2 at Ashlyn’s new years even party, that boy did a Triple Take when gina went to get a root-beer, the feelings were still there, they were just buried because he didn’t think he would see Gina again when he made his confession to Nini so he held on to what he used to know and who he used to be, because we all know that ricky bowen is not good with change. Now, in episode three of the season, the iconic valentines episode, The way he looks at her, the way his voice softens while talking to her, his line “I think you’ll get yours too.” After gina told him that every girl likes a sweet gesture, THE NEXT SCENE BEING THE CHOCOLATES, the fact that ricky got messages from nini and gina only seconds apart but he only looked onto his face once gina’s message came on, all of these things hint towards ricky’s feelings, even in 2x04 when Nini came to surprise the group in the bomb shelter, Ricky and Gina looked like they just got caught cheating even though all they did was talk and laugh. Last point, Episode five and six, He was in awe of gina when she was dancing (gina porter effect) and only went to gina for advice on nini because she had helped him the previous two times when he hadn’t even actually asked for advice in 2x04 and 2x03, The boy probably thought she was trying to get over him. In the next episode even though she had already tried to break off contact with him, he still asked to partner up with her and smiled at her when she looked at him while saying she doesn’t know what her heart desires. Even during Ashlyn’s retention of home we see ricky look at gina when he comes back in. RICHARD BOWEN HAS ALWAYS HAD FEELINGS FOR GINA PORTER, THE SEASON 3 PLOT LINE WAS NOT RANDOM OR CAME OUT OF NOWHERE. Ricky just finally realized what he could’ve had if gina didn’t move away once he lost it. RINA WAS ALWAYS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN AND BE ENDGAME. THEY DIDNT COME OUT OF NOWHERE OR ONLY HAPPENED BECAUSE OLIVIA LEFT. Because, fact-check Season 2 was filmed before the drivers-license drama, they did not break them up because things between liv and josh got tense. Your ship was not supposed to be endgame.

(In tomorrows post i will rant about the people who say that rina copied rini and portwells scenes And that gina is the new nini because literally where?)

[gosecretscribbles]

Rise August 2024 Day 13: Hamato Atsuko

Summary: Leo and Raph have a short, tense conversation about their views on Hamato Atsuko.

A/N: Hey, so Leo with abandonment issues because of an absentee father and utter lack of self-esteem. ‘Tis delicious writer chow. I didn’t go at it directly but man I love the angst.

Raph sat on the couch, playing Animal Crossing. Leo was upside-down on the couch next to him, scrolling through his socials (or ‘so-shells,’ as Mikey put it). Donnie was out scavenging or stealing computer parts. Mikey had holed himself up in the dojo. Raph had been surprised at first, until he realized it was where Mikey went to meditate.

Raph sort of wanted to get up and train, but it felt weird to be in a room where Mikey was actually holding still. Even weirder that he could be talking to their family and having whole conversations. Not bad-weird, just…weird. Raph waffled back and forth between wanting to talk to them, too. He wasn’t even sure who he’d talk to.

Well. He’d want to talk to two people, actually.

He glanced down at Leo. “Do you think Mikey’s talking to regular-Gram-Gram?”

“Who?” Leo asked, still scrolling.

“You know, Splinter’s mom. Our grandma. Just not, like, fifty times great-Gram-Gram.”

“Oh.” Leo kept scrolling. His tone had gone flat.

Raph fiddled absently with his phone. “I wonder if she lives in Karai’s village. Mikey said it’s beautiful, with lots of trees and ponds and stuff.”

Leo was staring determinedly at his phone. “Who cares if she’s there, too?”

“I do! And I think Dad would care.”

“Whatever.”

Raph poked Leo in the forehead. “What’s with you?”

“I just don’t think Dad would care that much,” Leo said coldly, swatting him away. “You told us about the memory. She ditched him.”

Raph winced. “You can still love someone who hurts you. I saw her when I went into Dad’s memories. She looked like the choice to leave him was really hard for her.”

Leo’s tone was ice. “Yeah, but she still made it.”

“What if she’s sorry?”

“What?”

“What if she regrets it? The Dark Armor was put together anyway. It might have happened sooner if she’d stayed with him, but she could’ve helped deal with it. Maybe she’s sorry. Maybe she wishes she’d stayed.”

Raph’s heart hurt thinking about it. Maybe it was his built-in big-brother instincts. The idea of family hurting themselves over dumb mistakes made him want to reach out and hug her. Maybe he really should get Mikey and Draxum to teach him how to meditate.

Leo sat up sharply, legs still over the back of the sofa. “What’s with you and your happy-ending fairy tale? She left, Raph. She never came back.”

“What, like you almost never came back?

Leo’s eyes were unreadable. “Don’t do this, Raph.”

“I’m not. You made a really hard choice for a really good reason.”

Leo rolled off the couch and stood. “Do you hate me?”

“No!” Raph stood, dropping his phone. “Leo, no. I could never hate you.”

“Then why are you bringing it up? We’re not the same! She made a choice based on a hypothetical. I made a choice about an active apocalypse! It was right there in front of me, Raph! It’s a little different than just leaving Dad for who-knows-why to go and do who-knows-what!”

Raph fidgeted. “I don’t think knowing would make a difference.”

“You’re right. She left. That’s it. That’s all we know about her.”

“We know why she left.”

Leo stepped back. “Why are you so insistent on defending her?! We don’t even know her! She left Dad when he was a kid, raised by someone to be a living weapon against a five-hundred-year prophecy that might never have happened! He was raised to be a weapon and she wasn’t there!”

“Hey, hey. Raph’s sorry. I wasn’t trying to make you mad.” He moved forward, tried to catch Leo’s wrist.

Leo pulled free. “I’m not! I wasn’t! I don’t know why you brought this up. She left. Didn’t come back. The end.”

“She was there when we fought the Shredder.”

“She was DEAD, Raph!”

“Yeah,” he said quietly. Raph wished Mikey were here. It was weird seeing Leo get emotional and upset like that.

Leo made a disgusted sound and stalked towards the tunnels. “I’m going out.”

“I’ll go with you –”

“No. I just – want to blow off some steam.”

“Okay,” Raph said weakly. He wished he’d never said anything. “…Hey, Leo?”

“What.”

“Uh…nothing. You have any dinner requests for when Mikey gets home?”

“No. Whatever. You pick.”

“Okay.”

Great. It wasn’t a fight. It wasn’t not a fight.

Raph stood by himself. He still wasn’t used to the new sounds the wind and pipes made in their new lair. He hurried to the dojo. Mikey sat in a corner, legs crossed, eyes closed, floating half an inch off the floor. Raph was right, it was spooky to be in the same room with Mikey when he wasn’t bouncing off the walls.

He wrapped his fists anyway and went to work pounding sand. Literal sand – he’d burst their last sandbag a few days ago. Donnie was supposedly ordering another, but in the meantime, he’d made a tall, sturdy sandbox that Raph could punch down into.

The outing seemed to have done Leo good. He came home like nothing was wrong. Not the usual Faceman stuff, either. He whined about the declining quality of New York bodegas, lavished praise on Mikey’s cooking in hopes of additional dessert, and draped himself over Raph like a sleepy scarf to avoid doing the dishes. He seemed to have let it go entirely.

Raph still wasn’t sure what had set Leo off, but he was more than glad to put it behind them. He spared a passing thought for their paternal grandmother to wish her well. Then he focused on wrestling Leo into the bathroom to brush his teeth.

[pvffinsdaisies]

The Nordics as Taylor Swift songs

The UK & Ireland as Taylor Swift songs.

DENMARK: Castles Crumbling (feat. Hayley Williams) (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault)

“Once I had an empire, in the golden age. I was held up so high, I used to be great. They used to cheer when they saw my face, now I fear I have fallen from grace.

And I feel like my castle’s crumbling down, and I watched all my bridges burn to the ground, and you don’t want to know me, I will just let you down. You don’t wanna know me now.

(…)

Power went to my head, and I couldn’t stop: ones I loved tried to help, so I ran them off. And here I sit alone, behind walls of regret, falling down like promises that I never kept.

(…)

My foes and friends watched my reign end, I don’t know how it could’ve ended this way. Smoke billows from my ship to the harbour. People look at me like I’m a monster, now they’re screaming at the palace front gate, used to chant my name, now they’re screaming that they hate me. I never wanted you to hate me…”

FINLAND: the Lakes

“Take me to the lakes where all the poets went to die. I don’t belong and, my beloved, neither do you. Those Windermere peaks look like the perfect place to cry. I’m setting off, but not without my muse.

What should be over burrowed under my skin in heart-stopping waves of hurt. I’ve come too far to watch some namedropping sleaze tell me what are my words worth.

(…)

I want auroras and sad prose, I want to watch wisteria grow right over my bare feet, ‘cause I haven’t moved in years. And I want you right here. A red rose grew up out of ice frozen ground, with no one around to tweet it. While I bathe in cliffside pools, with my calamitous love and insurmountable grief.”

ICELAND: A Place in this World

“I don’t know what I want, so don’t ask me, ‘cause I’m still tryna figure it out. Don’t know what’s down this road, I’m just walking, tryna see through the rain coming down. Even though I’m not the only one, who feels the way I do.

(…)

Got the radio on, my old blue jeans and I’m wearing my heart on my sleeve. Feeling lucky today, could you tell me what more do I need? And tomorrow’s just a mystery, but that’s okay.

(…)

Maybe I’m just a girl on a mission, but I’m ready to fly!

I’m alone, on my own, and that’s all I know. I’ll be strong, I’ll be wrong, oh but life goes on. Oh, I’m alone, on my own, and that’s all I know. Oh, I’m just a girl, tryna find a place in this world.”

NORWAY: Evermore (feat. Bon Iver)

“I replay the footsteps on each stepping stone, trying to find the one where I went wrong. Writing letters, addressed to the fire.

(…)

Hey December, guess I’m feeling unmoored. Can’t remember what I used to fight for.

(…)

And I was catching my breath, barefoot in the wildest winter, catching my death. And I couldn’t be sure, I had a feeling so peculiar, that this pain would be for evermore.

Can’t not think of all the cost, and the things that will be lost. Oh, can we just get a pause? To be certain we’ll be tall again. Whether weather be the frost, or the violence of the dog days. I’m on waves, out being tossed. Is there a line that I can just go cross?

And when I was shipwrecked, I thought of you. In the cracks of light, I dreamed of you, it was real enough to get me through. But I swear, you were there.

And I was catching my breath, floors of a cabin creaking under my step. And I couldn’t be sure, I had a feeling so peculiar, this pain wouldn’t be for evermore.”

SWEDEN: Foolish One (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault)

“You know how to keep me waiting, I know how to act like I’m fine. Don’t know what to call this situation, but I know I can’t call you mine. And it’s delicate, but I will do my best to seem bulletproof. ‘Cause when my head is on your shoulder, it starts thinking you’ll come around. And maybe someday when we’re older, this is something we’ll laugh about over coffee every morning, while you’re watching the news.

But then the voices say, “you are not the exception. You will never learn your lesson.”

Foolish one, stop checking your mailbox for confessions of love that ain’t never gonna come. You will take the long way, you will take the long way down. Foolish one, stop checking your mailbox for confessions of love that ain’t never gonna come, you will learn the hard way, instead of just walking out.

Now I’m sliding down the walls with my head in hands, sayin���, “how could I not see the signs?” Oh, you haven’t written me or called, but goodbye screaming in the silence, and the voices in my head are telling me why.

(…)

Ain’t never gonna come, oh, you will learn the hard way now. Foolish one, sittin’ round waiting for your confessions of love, they ain’t never gonna come. And thinking he’s the one, you should’ve been walking out. Foolish one, the day is gonna come for your confessions of love, when all is said and done, he just wasn’t the one. No, he just wasn’t the one.”

[randomingoftherandomness]

I wish i had the power write it myself but, the paralel of them before the minister(li bing’s dad) death, all childhood sweethearts and after it all went down, tied with a ribbon of a sentence. I imagined something like “we could’ve worked together” between them as kid imagining themselves in the future, and them in the future talking abt their current relationship (qiu qingzhi(if im not wrong writing his name) keeps taking li bing’s cases for ‘protection’)

A/N: I’m taking that ribbon bit seriously 😚ྀིྀིྀིྀིྀི

—

“What’s this then?”

Li Bing merely smiles in reply, licking his lips as he one handedly tries to tie the end of a red string around his pinky finger. “Come here,” He instructs, immediately looping the other end of the string around Qiu Qingzhi’s left little finger.

“Are you trying to cut off circulation to my finger? Is this how you succeed in killing me?”

“Oh, hush,” Li Bing grouses, unable to hold a serious face for too long at the way Qiu Qingzhi is wiggling his eyebrows. “We still have to make good on working our way up the Court of Judicial Review. Both of us as Vice Ministers under my father, remember?”

“Of course,” Qiu Qingzhi says agreeably with the tone of someone used to playing along and indulging with whatever his most precious person says. “But it still doesn’t tell me what this is all about?”

“Silly. I’m making rings for the both of us.”

Qiu Qingzhi makes a curious noise, scooting closer to see the neat knot Li Bing used to tie off the string around his finger.

“We could just as easily buy ones from the market? I’m sure there’s a craftsman there who can even shape our rings in whatever designs we want.”

Li Bing clicks his tongue disapprovingly. Putting on an air of ‘I know things that you don’t’, he takes a pair of scissors and snips the loose string between the down so that the threads on their fingers are sitting snug and flat.

“I overheard the matchmaker talk about red strings today. She was saying that fated people have red strings that tie them together,” Li Bing explains. Infinitely patient while he hums in satisfaction at his handiwork. “There. All done.”

Qiu Qingzhi holds his hand out to the sky, examining the red against his pale skin.

“You know that’s not how it works, right? You can’t just make a red string of fate,” He says, hooking his finger around Li Bing’s. “You either have a red string of fate or you don’t at all.”

Li Bing shakes his head. Tightening the hook of their fingers, he sits closer. “I don’t believe that.”

“Stubborn.”

Smiling ruefully, Li Bing shrugs. “Only when it comes to you.”

-

He finds it threaded into a belt charm. Tucked under all that armour that Qiu Qingzhi wears, it would have looked like nothing to anyone who didn’t know what it was.

But Li Bing wasn’t just anyone and he definitely knew what that was. What it meant and still means to the both of them.

“You kept it,” Li Bing whispers. Awe and guilt seizing tight in his chest.

“I never took it off. Even when…”

Li Bing nods. Understanding what Qiu Qingzhi still can’t say out loud. The hurt is still there and soon they’ll need to address it if they want to keep doing this. And by the heavens above, Li Bing will do it whatever it takes to keep this stupid man with him for forever.

“Don’t move,” He sighs, immediately reaching out to help Qiu Qingzhi sit up in bed. “You’re still healing.”

“I can’t help it. You kidnapped me from my perfectly fine bed—“

“Someone needs to keep an eye on your foolish ass and you’ve got your men too cowed to say a word against you—“

“—practically tied me to your bed—“

“So that I can watch over you—!”

“The Jinwei Guards have perfect access to medical personnel and we have just as good of resources as the Court of Judicial Review.” Qiu Qingzhi raises an eyebrow. “Just admit it. You’re stubborn. It has always been your way or no way at all.”

“Only when it counts. Only when it comes to you,” Li Bing says. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he exhales, shoulders slumping. “Can’t you just… Let me do this?”

If Qiu Qingzhi has anything to say, he keeps it locked away. When Li Bing looks back to him, the man is serenely watching the way the rain is sluicing off the rooftops.

“I can’t lose you. Not when I almost lost you for good.” Li Bing admits, offering the truth uncoloured by any intent other than to be honest.

Reaching out a hand, he hooks their pinky fingers together. “I made a red thread for both of us. I chose you. I’ll choose you, every single time. I made the mistake of not fighting hard enough for you the first time round and I won’t do that again.”

“You…” Qiu Qingzhi huffs. Shaking his head, he slowly smiles, indulging and fond. “I can’t ever win against you.”

Scooting closer to him, Li Bing folds a hand over their joined digits. “It’s only because you always let me win.”

[thearchiviste]

Music Analysis: Backburner - Niki

“Hey, are you still there? Good.” ━ Hope and Despair of Niki’s Backburner.

Have you ever been in a situation where you are the second choice of someone you adore most? This is the perfect song for you who have or are experiencing the same thing.

Nicole Zefanya, also known as NIKI, is an Indonesian singer-songwriter under the record label 88rising. She has been a hot topic lately amongst the recent generation with ever-better songs, such as “Every Summertime” and “Highschool in Jakarta.” In this post, we will discuss one of her tracks from her full-length studio album “Nicole” with the title “Backburner.”

Being on the back burner is an idiom for something being temporarily not being dealt with or considered, especially because it is not urgent or important. This is how Niki portrays unrequited love in the song titled Backburner. The song delves into the deep realm of heartbreak and yearning for unreciprocated love with the same frequency. To summarise, Backburner is about being the “second option” in someone’s love relationship despite showing love and attention to the person. Though there are bits of hope that the relationship could’ve been something more for the better, there are still struggles and despair throughout the song.

Let’s name the two personas in the song story as Niki and person A. The first part of the song explains the situation between the two people in the relationship, with the line ‘I can’t lie it feels nice that you’re calling / You sound sad and alone, and you're stalling.’ They’re living in an on-off relationship, with A returning to Niki whenever they need her attention and care. Foolish for her, she stayed for A every time they needed. To add to the scheme, Niki doesn’t care a single bit about the conversation, as long as they keep talking. Even though it might’ve hurt her, she’s glad that A’s calling her. The song escalates to Niki reminiscing their past, about how much they’ve made it through the storm. The lyrics ‘Asian Calvinism, we made it out of that’ explain their precious shared experience throughout their relationship before. Niki does realize that her choices are wrong, and she never learns her lesson despite knowing it. The pre-chorus talks about how A kept talking about their past, explained through the line ‘The Goo Goo Dolls are dead to me / But you bring them up’ which makes Niki long for A’s existence. Their relationship should’ve ended times back, but they kept on going as her desire to have a better relationship grew.

‘Maybe I'm just not better than this, I haven't tried / Maybe life's less romantic when I don't wanna die’ talks about how Niki felt that she wasn’t doing enough in the relationship, not willing to risk herself for the romance part in their life. She pushes the idea of her not doing what she’s supposed to do. She does it because she could never get her love to be reciprocated by A, although her effort might not be the actual problem. Niki thinks that A would think that she’s a fast learner, learning from her mistakes. But instead, she drowned in that small spark of hope and accepted being a backburner in their current relationship.

Moving to the second verse, Niki’s pathetic self still appreciates the fact that A still calls her every time they need help from her. ‘How do you feel lucky and appalled at the same time?’ tells about how she’s slowly getting tired of A begging at her, though she’s happy that she’s lucky enough; Lucky enough that A still needs her despite living as a second choice. Even after everything that had happened to them, Niki still puts hope and trust in A. Then, comes ‘But I know in a week or so / You'll fade away again’ which explains how Niki is used to this relationship. The relationship where A comes to her only when they need to then disappears as if nothing ever happened. As the title of the post, ‘Hey, are you still there? Good’ explains hope mixing with despair as Niki wishes that A is there with her, desperately asking for A’s presence. It’s portrayed as if they were on a call they used to do, with A disappearing on the other side of the phone. Both parts of the song describe her low self-esteem and evolving co-dependency to A.

The second chorus served new lyrics, such as ‘Maybe I blame my mother bleeding into my stride / Maybe it was my father and his wandering eyes’ suggesting an unhealthy lifestyle of her family. Her mother taught her how to act as her father is always thinking about someone else despite being in a relationship. These two aspects made her reliant on this second-choice relationship subconsciously. The song ends with an outro with lyrics repetition of ‘Backburner’ as if Niki’s convincing herself that it’s fine to be A’s backburner. The part ended with ‘As long as you still think of me’ as it highlights the parts before clearer.

The rhythm and tempo of “Backburner” provides an uneasy sense of urgency in the narration. The key of the song also complements these aspects, making the song somehow heart-breaking yet optimistic. Despite the slightly complicated wording style of Niki herself, the message of the song is easily comprehensible as you listen through it over time. Overall, it is an intellectual masterpiece to the mind of the listener.

The song choice is because I have experienced it personally, though it might not be fully a “second-choice” type of relationship situation. It’s crazy how the lyrics resonate to me so smoothly as if it was flowing through my blood. I personally relate to the co-dependency and yearning cut. If I was told “please”, I might do anything but ignore the fact that I was competing in a losing game. Anxiety and overthinking are also a common characteristic of unrequited love, which is presented in the lyrics of the song. I feel like I’m ready to do anything as long as I can feel the same love back, even if that means crying in the corner of my room from never feeling enough. And, this song is the perfect theme for it. This song is exactly what I feel, and I thank Niki for creating this beautiful track. The moral of the story? Learn how to move on from that deep hole of uncertainty and pain. Or maybe, you could play this song on repeat while you’re at it. Krow’s signing off!

[slitherred]

Humor me for a moment here...

It’s been 9 years and I still believe they should’ve kept Obito alive.

If they can pardon both Orochimaru for his human experimentation, Kabuto for his war crimes, and Sasuke for being a dumbass, they can think of an excuse to make Obito a functioning individual of society and have him face the fact he was the cause of most world-altering events in the span of the entire series. I think killing him is a coward’s way out, and he didn’t deserve the peaceful ending he got.

And Instead of Boruto, we could’ve gotten a series focused on Kakashi in his Hokage era. The man is as popular as Naruto and Sasuke, and I’m tired of anime shows that base sequels on the “new generation.” It’s been done too many times. I believe Kakashi is beloved enough by the fans that this idea would be profitable like the original.

Plus, Kakashi has had enough trauma to make a script three seasons long. You can cover stories about losing people, dealing with grief, depression, PTSD, clan politics (what’s it like to be the only person left in a clan that isn’t the Uchiha or what were the consequences of owning a sharingan as a non-Uchiha), being a former child soldier, being a burnt out child prodigy, etc. instead of being relegated as a Hokage that blew up the moon once.

Listen. Imagine a series where Kakashi finally spoke with a Yamanaka therapist since his emotional crutch wasn’t the ideal hero that he thought. Imagine a series where the big bad villain acknowledges the pain he left in the world and actively tries to do his best every day in a place where everyone wants him dead. And imagine Mr. Worldwide, creator of 1000 Years of Death, Kakashi Hatake, trolls the world with Obito “Tobi” Uchiha.

Imagine the shenanigans! We can finally see what these two can do as a pair after it was hyped up in the Kakashi Gaiden arc but fell flat in the 4th Shinobi arc. If these two can frustrate people in their immediate vicinity as individuals, picture them working together and in a position of power. It would be glorious!

Click Keep Reading for extra filling:

***

Address Neji’s death by having Gai be nice to everyone, except for Obito. Obito understands his anger and, due to guilt, stupidly comes up with an “eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth” approach by being his sparring partner i.e. his punching bag.

Kakashi is Stressed™ managing his two best friends. This will also test Gai’s capacity for forgiveness (and finally have a storyline about him that isn’t about youth, challenges, and taijutsu). Meanwhile, we can also have a role reversal where Kakashi is the one helping Gai out of unhealthy coping mechanisms and grief.

***

To calm down people who see Obito as a threat, they seal most of his chakra so that he can perform basic techniques, enough to complete unpaid B to S rank missions as part of his “community service.” His Sharingan, both of them, will be inaccessible so he can no longer perform hacks. In secret, only Kakashi, Naruto, and Sakura, AKA the heroes who ended the war, are trusted enough to be able to unseal it (they can have matching tattoos for this, other characters think it’s just an OG Team 7 thing but it’s a key lol). So if a major threat like, say, the Otsusuki comes, and Naruto and Sasuke needs an extra boost to turn the tides in their favor, there will be an epic scene of Team 7 (minus Sasuke) unsealing Obito’s chakra, and his eyes slowly bleed into red and spins into Mangekyou. He charges into the battlefield with Susanoo in Mokuton armor.

(Bonus scenes of Kakashi partially unsealing his chakra so that Obito can use Kamui to buy the Hokage precious “reading material” from other nations. Obito loudly complains about his chosen book topic.

Sakura asks Obito to bring her medical plants from different parts of the world.

Naruto pleads with Obito to take Sasuke and him to the Kamui dimension since they are no longer allowed to spar in training fields due to excessive property damage.)

***

Naruto gets frequent Hokage training with Kakashi. Obito is there to keep him from falling asleep by constantly challenging the policies and ideals set by former Hokages.

Naruto watches Kakashi and Obito debate and then later argue topics until they end up burning the original handbook to rewrite their own.

(Naruto is surprisingly good at editing and quickly finding loopholes in writing. Later, they visit the memorial stone to pray for Jiraiya.)

***

Part of Obito’s new job description is to be the Hokage’s 24/7 bodyguard (if he’s not out doing missions). It’s partly because the Anbu commander who usually handles the ninja president’s security is tired of Kakashi’s antics, and partly because the people are more comfortable if one of the war heroes is beside the Major Threat™ all the time. Obito has to constantly juggle between keeping them away from both his and Kakashi’s enemies and making sure the Hokage isn’t late to any meetings. Somehow, the latter is harder than the former.

Obito wonders how an ex-terrorist became a glorified secretary.

***

Obito and Yamato acknowledge their history in the 4th shinobi war. Surprisingly, Yamato forgives but doesn’t forget.

They compare notes on their solution and regularly train in the Forest of Death. The forest became five times larger and deadlier. The chuunin exams became harder.

***

Kakashi tries to diplomatically pass anti-violence, and pro-mental health laws, and raise funds for the orphanage and veterans. Meanwhile, Obito uses his talent in gaslighting and gatekeeping to out-manipulate the elders into losing debates.

It would be satisfying to see Danzo’s best friends disappointed and angry while Kakashi does his eye smile thingy. Behind him is Obito sticking his tongue out because he secretly never grew up.

(I can’t believe the elders are still alive in Boruto, like wtf.)

***

Remember the time Obama hired an Anger translator? That, but it’s them.

***

Sukea and an “unknown” anbu that suspiciously looks like Tobi messes with the kids wanting to know what’s behind Kakashi’s mask. Sukea creates the intrigue to unite the kids into a single goal and trick them into practicing teamwork. Not-Tobi does the subtle sabotage.

***

If the children ask Obito his backstory, he replies with, “That’s classified.”

If they ask Kakashi, he keeps telling them different ridiculous stories until Obito becomes some kind of myth to the kids.

“The Hokage said he was an orphaned circus performer and he got adopted by a vigilante to save us all from a demonic tree!”

“Woah! The Hokage said he protected us from a moon alien by challenging her to a dance-off!”

***

Tobi and Sukea annoying their way into infiltration missions.

Their backstory: Sukea is a photographer and Tobi is an aspiring actor. They got lost on the road to life and whoops accidentally stumbled upon this secret base. Can we have directions to the nearest artist convention, please? And that dead body was already there before we got here, what do you mean?

***

Adults are afraid of Obito. Teenagers think he’s lame for being a nerd that knows too much history. Grandmas still like him. Kakashi still makes fun of him for being a crybaby. Naruto makes fun of them both for being old. Sakura makes fun of Kakashi, Obito, and Naruto for being weirdos. Ino makes fun of Sakura for being teammates with the weirdos.

***

They visit Rin’s grave yearly. Kakashi keeps thanking her for slapping Obito back to life.

***

The Hokage gets invited by the academy to discuss the origins of Konoha. Obito keeps correcting him like, no, that’s propaganda bullshit, this is what happened.

He made twenty-eight kids and their instructor cry.

(He had also discussed in length how Madara Uchiha can't pee when strangers are near him. That he's still bitter about not being a better stone skipper than Hashirama "God of Shinobi" Senju. That he had an annoying habit to ramble and then laugh like a loon. And he has a face on his boob. Kids, when a centenarian ancestor offers you to help fix the world, say no.)

***

It has been apparent to all paper desk ninjas that to expedite their documents to be stamped and signed by the Hokage, it needs to go through their bodyguard so the bodyguard can bully the Hokage into prioritizing their paperwork.

In retaliation, Kakashi uses his knowledge of Obito’s history with handling Akatsuki and Kiri’s financials*, then points out major flaws in Konoha’s fund allocation, making Obito frustrated enough to audit everything for him. Despite being a mastermind manipulator, he falls for it all the time.

Tsunade visits the office and could not believe the lack of paper towers. Kakashi takes all the credit. Tsunade is impressed. “Damn, kid, I should have made you Hokage years ago!”

*Flashback: Back in his time as a villain, Obito had to audit Akatsuki’s expenses because Kakuzu is known to allocate part of their funds to his account. As for Kiri, Obito was puppeteering the Mizukage and to be convincing, it means doing the Mizukage's job. Realizing the role was a drag, Obito’s dream of becoming Hokage was buried in piles of paperwork and died six feet under.

***

Obito is still helpless when it comes to old people in need.

But at least now he can force Kakashi to help.

***

After discussing in length about Sasuke’s trauma from the Uchiha massacre, and Obito’s trauma as the black sheep of the family, they start working on rebuilding the clan’s name.

They’ve also found a rule in Konoha that once a clan has more than one person, a clan head should be identified.

No one wants to be the new clan head. It’s too much mind-numbing work even if the population of the clan is just two so they started arguing. Obito argues Sasuke is the son of the former clan head, and Sasuke argues that Obito is older than him, and has experience with “handling foreign affairs” (if you can even call it that).

This doesn’t get resolved until Sasuke marries a poor soul who gets voted by them to become the new clan head. Sasuke ends up in multiple divorces.

***

Kakashi starts using his father’s tanto again. He stops being the Copy Nin and starts being the new White Fang of Konoha.

***

On the anniversary of Sakumo's death, Obito uses his monologuing skills to aggressively defend Sakumo's last mission. Backed up by Team 7 with Yamato and Sai, they are fighting for Sakumo's grave to be transferred to the resting place of the heroes as he deserved.

Kakashi covers Obito's mouth once he starts insulting the council and elders. "Will of fire, my ass! You preach about teamwork and nakama, but easily sacrifice one of your own for the sake of a mission. You're all hypoc-!"

Naruto pitches in. "Those who break the rules are scum, but those who abandon their friends are worse than scum, dattebayo!"

Needless to say, they are finally realizing that, oh god, there are two Narutos now and they will never know peace until this gets resolved.

***

The series ends once Naruto becomes the Hokage. Handing over the hat went off without a hitch…

Except for Kakashi being two hours late. Kakashi and Obito were busy retelling Naruto’s life to Kushina’s grave.

***

What do you think?