#we look at the moment she awakens her power as beautiful. we forget her father is dead in that moment. the champions are dead. hundreds of

[7-oh-ta1]

When I see ppl hating on king rhoam i start blacking out and seeing visions

[quazartranslates]

Welcome to the Nightmare Game II - CH53

**This is an edited machine translation. For more information, please [click here]**

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Chapter 53: Purgatory Reunion (V) {cw: attempted suicide, religious guilt}

There were too many demons. There were too many demons.

The space by his feet had already been filled with corpses, and the whole lake of fire was floating with the stench of sulfur and demon blood, but it seemed that no matter how he killed them, he couldn’t kill them all.

Ning Zhou watched the steady stream of demons, from the initial tension to the final numbness. He tried every demon with Maria's sword of judgment, and finally… tried himself.

After entering Purgatory, the burning wounds on his abdomen had become more and more painful, lost consciousness, and there was no divine power in the body that had once been filled with holy power to protect him. Then, the evil power had gradually returned to him.

Ning Zhou already knew what it was. For many years, his mother Maria's worried eyes and her awkward words have planted too many questions in his heart. Now, he finally understood.

When he was young, he had once asked her who his father was.

Maria had sat by the bed and watched the sunset, remaining silent for a long time.

He persisted in asking his mother again.

Maria took his little hand and gently answered him, "He was someone who was lost."

"It's a long, long road, and no one knows where the end is. Your father and I met unexpectedly. We walked along the same road, passed many beautiful sights along the way, and left many beautiful memories. We said goodbye briefly at a fork in the road and agreed that we would continue walking. But he got lost... He walked a long way and gradually forgot everything from the past. He gained power that ordinary people could not imagine, but he even forgot his name."

"Did he forget you, too?" the small Ning Zhou asked anxiously.

A faint smile appeared on Maria's pale face: "No, he hasn't forgotten me. He didn't forget me all his life. On the day we met again, he looked at me for a long time and asked me... ‘who are you?’"

Ning Zhou looked at her in confusion and asked, "’Who are you?’ Doesn’t that mean he forgot?"

But he didn't know that a man who had forgotten himself and everything else had found his true love in the vast sea of people. At that moment, no matter what question he asked, it didn't matter.

The fact that he could find this person had already shown that he had never forgotten his love.

　　&&&

In a dark room, a long table with more than a dozen seats was surrounded by people, each of whom silently looked at the magic mirror suspended on the table which displayed this scene of carnage from the bottom of his heart.

"Is it okay to let him kill like this again?" the Witch of Nothingness asked gently, with her eyes closed and her hands folded on her lower abdomen.

The Witch of Desperation, covered in a black robe, looked at the bright red lake of fire in the magic mirror, but there was no magic in her empty eyes: "It doesn't matter. As long as he can fully awaken his original force, it doesn't matter how much of that trash he kills."

"I'm afraid he won't want to. Don't forget, he was originally from the Holy See," the Witch of Nothingness warned.

"Haha, have you forgotten? His Majesty was also very close with the Holy See. To be precise, he and the Holy See’s Holy Nun was the object of his affections. Even when his original force had awakened fully and he forgot his whole family, he was still holding a Canon all day long. But wasn't it him who finally took us into the human world?" the Devil of Evil smiled, not sharing his colleagues’ worry.

The Witch of Resentment held her forehead in one hand: "Please, don't remind me of the days when I studied hard to please His Majesty with the scriptures. I have no interest in the things of the Holy See. I would rather boil my potions."

The Witch of Nothingness smiled faintly. "Have you ever noticed that all the Devil Kings have some abnormal hobbies? When you count them carefully, none of them looks like a normal demon. However, compared with the subordinates of the Devil of Slaughter, we should feel content."

The group of higher demons laughed meaningfully.

To the demons, following a Devil King did not mean that they agreed with that person’s personality, but that they followed the force that that person represented. Just like this group, who had tied their own destiny with the force of destruction, who had known both glory and utter ruin. In the twenty years after the fall of the old Devil, their power had also declined to even less than half of its heyday.

They were too eager to have a new Lord of Destruction and renew destruction’s original force. As for who that person was, they didn't care.

"I heard one thing. Our new Majesty had a lover whom he loves deeply, but he died. It's a pity that the Devil of Fraud killed him. If he was still alive..." The Devil of Evil smiled with interest. "How interesting it would be."

"Why did the Lord of Fraud kill her?" the Witch of Nothingness asked doubtfully.

"God knows. Oh, by the way, he’s a man."

"Isn't His Majesty a follower of the Holy See?" Even the Witch of Resentment was shocked. Those who had been around since the old Lord of Destruction were familiar with the Holy See’s teachings, and they were very clear about the Holy See’s attitude towards same-sex love.

"He was drained of the power of faith and expelled from the Holy See. Otherwise, do you think that with such little stimulation alone he could awaken the Devil’s force sealed in his body? That's the seal left by Maria." The Devil of Evil laughed very exaggeratedly. "Ah, for love, I am willing to abandon the glory of God! ...It is really a romance branded in blood."

"Unfortunately, it seems that this time I can't see the touching love story," the Witch of Resentment sighed faintly.

"Attention, His Majesty is beginning to show the form of a magic dragon. Record the time. It is... 8:47 in the evening. If you’re optimistic, he could be completely demonized within 24 hours. I can't wait." The Devil of Evil looked at the Devil's black body in the lake of fire and the human who had begun to show the Devil's characteristics, and couldn't help but smile with expectation.

"I hope nothing will happen in these twenty-four hours. Contact the Dragon Ant Queen and order that Purgatory be sealed off now, especially in the area around the lake of fire," the Witch of Desperation said. "Don't say it’s in our name... The seal on the Devil of Slaughter is suspected to be loose, other people will naturally associate this with the Devil of Power."

"I’m afraid that the Dragon Ant Queen can't be contacted. Considering the time, she is now busy with 'life events'," said the Devil of Evil.

"Then contact her maid, she still has the authority to deal with this matter," the Witch of Desperation said.

　　&&&

He was already in hell.

Ning Zhou looked at everything around him and suddenly had this thought.

After the crazy battle, there were countless bodies of demons floating in the lake of fire, some of which had been swallowed up by lava, and some of which were rushing towards the lower reaches of the valley with the burning current.

The air seemed to be filled with scorching flames, burning from his mouth to his heart, and even his soul was ignited.

He stood in Purgatory’s lake of fire, inexorably transforming from a man into a devil.

How fragile human will was, that it couldn't prevent a man from dying, or a saint from degenerating into a demon.

Sharp talons grew on his hands, and his skin became cold and rough like a cold-blooded animal. Black scales spread all over his body like a plague, and a pair of bat-like wings grew behind him. He couldn't control the power of destruction. He had lost his human form and turned into a huge magic dragon.

A devil among demons, a Devil King among devils, an evil magic dragon symbolizing destruction. According to legend, the ancient world was destroyed by such a magic dragon, which had woken from chaos, flew while spraying angry flames that spread in all directions, and destroyed the whole world.

This kind of magic dragon had really appeared once in history. Twenty-two years ago, when the Devil of Destruction had led the demons to break through the seal and come to the world of humans. His demon form was just such a magic dragon. He held the law of destruction, but also the madness of destruction, wishing to destroy the world at all costs.

What had been a vague feeling had finally come true. When the force of destruction awakened, he understood everything.

It was ridiculous. Those who fought against the demons eventually became demons. Those who stared long into the abyss finally fell into the abyss. The evil force sleeping deep in his body laughed at him: Your whole life is a joke.

Fate had taken away everything from him: his only relative, his beloved, and now it wanted to destroy his last treasure.

Everything about him as a "human" had ceased to exist. What else could he do? What else could he do for this miserable world? What was the value of his existence?

Immense grief struck his soul, and the desperate black dragon roared and wailed at the sky blocked by rocks in the lake of fire. The force of destruction even tore the rock wall and let the distant light fall into Purgatory.

He looked at the light dazedly, as piously as when he had prayed so many times.

"He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

But why had fate given him such a cruel temptation? And he had been banished from his homeland; would God still help him and protect him?

Not anymore.

He was doomed to fall to such temptation.

Because God had given up on him.

Like the man who gave him half his blood, he would gradually lose himself to the original force of destruction, forget everything about himself, forget how he had once guarded the world, and finally bring endless pain and despair to this world.

Let it all end here.

Suicide was a sin, but if he lived, he would eventually bring more disasters and misfortunes to this scarred world.

He couldn't end the cruel fate imposed by this world, so at least he could not bring more suffering to this world.

Let him end it with his own hands!

In this lake of fire in Purgatory, holding warm memories, he would put a full stop to his life with this heart that still belonged to mankind.

But at that moment, he heard a voice that was too familiar to be a memory: "Ning Zhou—!!!”

He stopped at the edge of destruction and looked up.

Looked up to see the love of his life, returned to him.

-----

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[darlingpetao3]

House of W (Multiple!Wells x Reader, Chapter 4)

Rating: T

Summary: After having to deal with the deaths of an infinite number of Harrison Wells in the Multiverse, you, a magic-wielding meta, have a breakdown and unwittingly create a happy, fictitious sitcom life with some of your favourite men. In a world of comedy and cameos, can Team Flash and an out-of-town magician break through your powers to save you? And what if you don’t want to be saved...?

A/N: Alright! Here’s where we continue from where Team Flash left off. We’ll see Chapter 3 from their perspective, and somethings might make a bit more sense as well as raise more questions!

Tag List: @fandomdancer @bluesclues-1234 @pinkdiamond1016 @crissymadlock @firstofficer-tilly @disneyoncerlover815 @marvel-lady10 @thecaptainsgingersnap @noctvrnalmoth @alexxlynn @dontbedumb3 @heyl0lwhatsup @ryou-cosmos @arianalilyblack @sonnensplitter @imagine-yourself-happy​

PROLOGUE | CHAPTER 1 | CHAPTER 2 | CHAPTER 3

Barry is the first to sprint out of the Cortex, leaving everyone else in the dust and papers flying.

The rest of Team Flash and Zatanna rush after the Speedster down the halls of S.T.A.R. Labs as fast as they can to the elevator. Only when they reach it are they met by Barry to inform them of your discovered whereabouts.

“She’s in the basement,” he tells them. “You have to see this.”

Indeed, they all take a ride down to the building’s lowermost level—an enormous concrete space and incredibly high ceilings. But there is one thing very much out of the ordinary here.

“Holy Forcefield, Batman…” Cisco says at the sight before them all.

A glowing, translucent purple sphere surrounds what looks to be an empty set—the set of your magical sitcom everyone had been watching for the past two episodes. It’s eerily dark and quiet. Chester can’t seem to resist its beauty and mystery as he walks even closer toward it and reaches out a hand.

“Careful Chester-!” Caitlin warns him a little too late. Chester yanks his arm back after touching the forcefield with a yelp. He looks at everyone.

“Are you hurt?” a concerned Barry asks.

“I…” Chester shakes his head in disbelief. “I saw something awful. It was, uh… from my childhood. I thought I’d forgotten it…”

“Why don’t you go sit down for a bit?” Caitlin ushers the poor traumatized man to a seat by the wall.

Meanwhile, Zatanna utters a few backwards phrases and moves her hands in the direction of the purple sphere. The gang waits to hear of what she’s learning.

“Just as I thought,” she says at last. “This forcefield (Y/N) has put up is embedded with Anarchy Magic. And it seems she’s made it so that whoever touches or tries to break through her magic will experience trauma and heartbreak from the trespasser’s life.”

“How tragically fitting,” Caitlin comments sadly as she thinks of you and all you’ve been through. Barry takes this information in and stares into the darkened sitcom set.

“What are we going to do?” Cisco wonders out loud.

“This could be our chance,” Barry says, already churning out the beginnings of a plan. “Zatanna, do you think you could breach through (Y/N)’s forcefield with your magic?”

“I’ll need a little more time to study it, but yeah,” Zatanna assures, “I think I can.”

“Great. We’ll prepare ourselves while we wait.”

“Wait for what?” Caitlin asks. Barry turns to her.

“For Episode Three.”

~ ~ ~ ~

The part of the S.T.A.R. Labs basement which Team Flash has access to has now been essentially transformed into half campground/half studio audience seating. The latter was Cisco’s idea, naturally.

Everyone had stayed the night on mats and foldable tents found in the Starchives. A certain longhaired engineer even made the correlation that this felt a lot like camping out in line in front of a theater for a much-anticipated movie release.

After staying up too late theorizing and plotting your safe return, the campers are rudely awakened by a jingle—a very groovy disco-sounding theme.

“Iiiiit’s startiiiing!” Cisco shouts, making sure to grab his pillow and a bag of pre-popped popcorn

The others—Caitlin, Allegra, and Chester grumble and mozy out of their sleeping bags, whereas Barry and Zatanna burst out of theirs with a raring purpose.

Through the forcefield, they can see a flurry of Wells men running around the house doing various tasks in preparation for your impending baby. It all feels very real to the onlookers, not fake or acting on any of the doppelgangers’ parts. They really do believe you’re having a baby.

Barry doesn’t want to fully believe it. Part of him still wants to believe this is all for show—a fictional world with pre-planned plots and storylines. It would be so much easier for him if that were the truth.

Because the other option was a lot more painful to deal with.

Even as everyone watches and laughs along at the antics, none of the ‘stars’ on the other side of the magic forcefield can hear them.

“She looks like she’s gonna burst,” Barry notes at your exponentially growing size. “At this rate, she’ll have the baby by the end of the episode. We need to help her. Zatanna, Caitlin, are you ready for what we talked about last night?”

“Ready as I’ll ever be,” Caitlin says.

“Let’s do this,” Zatanna replies. 

“Great.” Barry sighs a worried breath. “Caitlin, I’m giving you this comms so that we can keep in contact even on the inside. Zatanna has bewitched it to look like an earring. And I’m going to let Cisco take the reins on walking you through what to say since he is apparently this show’s number one fan.”

“Gotcha, boss.”

“Uh, guys?” Allegra pipes up. “Her water just broke!”

“It’s now or never,” Barry exhales.

Zatanna holds out her palms toward Caitlin, then speaks in a clear voice, “Mlaer moctis eht edisni ylefas niltiaC dnes.”

At this, Caitlin vanishes before the team’s very eyes. Everyone can only hope she is safely on the other side of the forcefield.

“And now we wait,” Zatanna confirms.

“Popcorn?” Cisco proffers his bag to everyone.

“Shhhhh!”

With Caitlin now officially in the sitcom realm—clad in a white doctor’s coat and a stethoscope hanging around her neck—the door whisks open in front of her to reveal Nash Wells. Even for her, seeing his face again is a shock. While she and Frost were away with Doctor Tannhauser for a time, she had received word from Barry saying that Nash and the other Wells had sacrificed themselves.

And yet, here they all are, standing in the doorway with panicked eyes about the fact that you’re having their baby.

Oh, right! This is my cue, she thinks.

“Uh, hi,” Nash says, a little confused. “Who are you?”

~~“Remember, you can’t give your real name in case (Y/N) catches on. You have to play along,”~~ Cisco advises in her ear. She remembers that he, along with the rest of Team Flash, can see her on the other side of the forcefield. To her, however, she merely sees a plain wall.

“Yes, hi! My name is C… uhh...”

~~“Say Elsa, say Elsa, say El-”~~

“Elsa?”

Dammit, Caitlin curses mentally. Frost laughs in the back of her head while Cisco cackles in her comms. The doctor, now thoroughly annoyed, plays with her earring to turn off communication with the outside world. Cisco’s prank could have cost them big time. She’s going to do this herself. No distractions.

“I’m a doctor,” Caitlin continues. “I was making the rounds in the neighbourhood and heard some yelling coming from your home. Are you in need of a doctor?”

“Actually, yes,” Harry confirms. It’s so strange. He’s looking right at Caitlin—they all are—but they truly do not recognize her. It makes your friend realize just how powerful you really are.

Meanwhile on the outside, Team Flash is having mixed emotions about the birth of your baby. Barry is still in disbelief that he is becoming an uncle before his eyes. Cisco, Chester, and Allegra are fanboying and fangirling over the moment. And then there is Zatanna, watching with a neutral expression.

They watch Caitlin help deliver baby Liberty, although entirely and conveniently out of view from the “camera” and the transparent forcefield.

But when the surprise of Belle arrives, well, that earns literal applause from Cisco.

“Do you think they’re real?” Barry quietly asks Zatanna away from everyone else.

“I’m still unsure,” she answers. “They sure all look happy, though.”

Barry doesn’t respond to this.

Once the babies are safe with their cooing fathers and you’ve magically seemed to have cleaned up from the ordeal of birthing twins, you approach Caitlin.

“Doctor Elsa, I can’t thank you enough for your help today,” you say to Caitlin. For a moment, she forgets you’re referring to her with the accidental alias. “What a coincidence that you showed up at my door just as I was going into labour! You must have a sixth sense about these things.”

“It’s a gift!” she says pleasantly. “But really, how have you been doing? Are you well?”

You give her a curious look. “Yes, of course I’m well. I have two beautiful daughters and four wonderful husbands. A house full of love. I couldn’t be happier.”

Caitlin knows she shouldn’t press on anything about the ‘behind the scenes’ of your sitcom reality, but this is all so confusing and mysterious that her scientific mind can’t help but form a myriad of questions.

“What is it?” you ask.

Caity, I’m not sure… Frost begins to voice her worry in her head.

“It’s just…” Caitlin drops to a whisper so as to not let the Wells men hear, “how are they here?”

Your face drops. “I’m not sure I follow.”

“Your husbands. They… died. Vanished. How did you do all of this?”

Your entire body glows with a purple aura, and Caitlin half-wonders if you’re starting to levitate slightly.

You look like a vengeful and magical angel of death.

“Get out,” you tell her.

“(Y/N), no, please, listen,” she tries, but it’s too late. A powerful blast of energy hits Caitlin in the gut, knocking the wind from her lungs and backwards. Her body comes in contact with something hard, then squishy, and…

“Ronnie?” she says. “No, please…”

What she sees is all around her as she’s pushed back through the forcefield—the death of her husband, Ronnie Raymond. It’s like it’s happening all over again, watching as he flies up into the windy vortex above the city as Firestorm. The last time she’ll ever see him alive again.

“Caitlin? Caitlin!” Barry worries over his friend. She looks totally out of it as she lays on the concrete floor, safely back in reality once more. “Are you okay?”

Caitlin grunts, her brow furrowed. She’s trying to keep everything she saw inside. For a second time.

“Yup, I’m good,” she claims. Allegra and Cisco help her up and over to their makeshift audience seats.

Barry sighs and soon becomes lost in thought. “You know what I still don’t get?”

“What’s that?” Zatanna replies.

“What about in the last episode where they were working at S.T.A.R. Toy Manufacturing? Those were our hallways upstairs. And I don’t see any extra sets. Do you think the forcefield, I dunno, moved with them?”

“If that’s the case, it would be as if (Y/N)’s magic is writing and rewriting itself. And if so, as she moves, everything around her gets recreated. Like the era-changing set. That’s what we see on screen. It’s like a battery that was left on.”

“So what, does that mean eventually she’s going to run out of power? Or short circuit?”

“That, I still don’t know. This kind of magic she wields is unlike anything I’ve seen before. I’m learning about it as much as you are.”

Cisco does a little jog over the two conversing theorists.

“How is she?” Zatanna asks the engineer.

“Not physically hurt… but I can see that she is inside. Emotionally.”

Barry’s lips press into a thin line.

“Hey, so, do you think the Wells can… get out of her forcefield radius?” Cisco asks the magician. Instead, Barry answers first.

“Knowing (Y/N), she wouldn’t have made that an option.”

[theoriginalcarnivorousmuffin]

ohh i saw your answer about the sequels of star wars. id love to read you tear through the whole trilogy

Well, I’ve avoided this ask long enough. Part of the reason is this is really a huge topic, far too much for one ask, so I’m going to have to do this at a very high level.

In short, the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy is what one gets when you slap together the goal of selling merchandise and making tons of money, being as risk averse as humanly possible, adding a handful of warring directors with incredibly different visions, and having virtually no imagination when it comes to the imagining and writing of characters.

And we get this beautiful, awful, franchise that for reasons beyond me people seem to actually like (though interestingly, no one seems to like all of it, they may actually like one or two of the films, but no one says all three are actually in any realm of good).

With that, let’s begin.

The Force Awakens

For me this is easily the most tolerable of the sequel trilogy: it’s not great, it’s not terrible. It’s thoroughly watchable, you can be taken along for the movie’s journey and not raise your eyebrows too much at the action and leave the theater feeling this maybe wasn’t a complete waste of your time.

There’s a good reason for that. That reason is called the most blatant form of plagiarism I have ever seen in cinema in my life.

“The Force Awakens” is just “A New Hope” wearing a mustache. Only, it’s one of those cheap mustaches you get from a party store that, if you stare at it too long, just looks like the most false and awful thing you’ve ever seen. The mustache actively makes it worse. “The Force Awakens” is “A New Hope”, but worse.

Seriously, every major character, every major plot point, every major scene I can go directly back to “A New Hope”.

Our story begins when the Resistance, at great cost to our valiant heroes including torture at the hands of the Emperor’s second in command, sends a file out into the wilderness to be received by his people. This file contains plans for the Death Star.

The film then focuses on Luke, er Rey, getting involved in the Resistance, boarding the Death Star, and successfully destroying at the same time even at the lost of a beloved mentor that she just met (trading in Obi-Wan for Han Solo). 

Our evil empire is run by an evil emperor who is so evil he sits in a chair, is served by very Moth Tarkin-esque human storm troopers, and has a second in command who revels in the Darth Vader get up (for no other reason that it makes him feel cool but we’ll get into this).

It’s “A New Hope”. Rey is Luke, Han Solo is Obi-Wan, Poe is a kind of Han Solo, Kylo Ren is Vader, Snoke is Palpatine, Hux is Tarkin, BB-8 is R2-D2, etc.

“But that’s not terrible,” you say, “I liked A New Hope?”

First, it is terrible, it gives a very bad sign of where the sequel trilogy is headed and is just lazy writing. It means that those who produced this franchise were so terrified of taking risks, of possibly ending up mocked as the prequels were, that they will deliver exactly what the original trilogy was. And what’s that? Uh, evil empires, scrappy desert kids, AND MORE DEATH STARS!

That brings us to point number two, the world of Star Wars after the events of the original trilogy shouldn’t support such things. And, if it does, my god what a bleak existence this place has turned into.

The First Order being able to rise easily from the Empire’s remains means that Luke accomplished nothing. Anakin sacrificed himself and had his moment of redemption for nothing. There was no happy ending to the Original Trilogy, our heroes failed miserably, and there is no indication that our new band of heroes can possibly succeed in their place. (More on this as the movies progress).

We now are in a galaxy where this new Republic is so pathetic that Leia doesn’t even give it the time of day and builds her own private army to battle the Empire. The First Order is able to not only rebuild a massive army by raiding villages on many different worlds and stealing children and do so successfully for at least ten years but is able to build a Death Star bigger than any we’ve ever seen before. 

And the movie tries to convince us these are completely new problems, that Luke Skywalker is a hero (remember this is TFA, not TLJ yet), and that somehow these things just sprung up out of nowhere. BUT YEAH, RESISTANCE, WOO!

As for Rey, she’s like... a worse version of Luke. Her only motivation through the entire series is her trauma at being abandoned by her parents. That’s it, there’s nothing else to her, nothing else she ever wants or feels conflicted by. She struggles with the dark side because... the dark side? Genetics? Unclear? She’s absurdly, ridiculously, powerful in a way that’s acknowledged but never that acknowledged (we’ll get into this) and the movies just fail to sell me on her in any way.

Honestly, an easy fix for me would have just been making Rey a much younger character. I could believe a fourteen-year-old having stayed in the desert, scrounging for scraps, believing her parents are coming back every day now. As a twenty-something year old... It starts getting hard to believe she never left. (Also, this gets the benefit of getting rid of Reylo, which is always a plus for me).

As for Kylo Ren, I legitimately walked out of TFA thinking he was supposed to be comic relief. He’s what happens when someone desperately wants a likable, redeemable, villain and we get... Well, as a reminder his opening scene is one of genocide: he pillages and destroys a town with no regret and brutally tortures a man for information. We’re told he’s like this “because evil evil Snoke” and that may well be but throughout the film (and the series) it becomes clear that Kylo Ren’s main motivation is he deseprately wants to be cool. He wants to be a badass like Vader, he dresses in Vader cosplay (either ignoring or not knowing that Vader only dressed like that because his body was completely destroyed), he has these huge temper tantrums and nobody respects him because he’s a toddler in a Vader suit. 

He murders his own father, his parents who (at least in the films themselves) show every willingness to take him back and forgive him what he’s done, so that he can fully embrace his own “evilness”. In other words, he commits patricide to feel cool about himself, then it doesn’t work. 

And the movie series really banks on me feeling conflicted about Kylo Ren or at least wanting him to be redeemed. Granted, the wider internet seems to love him, I just can’t.

Oh, before I forget, the other thing I love about Kylo Ren is that the movies insist he’s a) strong in the Force b) is equal to Rey. Rey consistently beats the shit out of him with 0 training. Kylo Ren has been training in the Force for years. Guys, they are not a Dyad, Rey is far far far stronger than he is and for whatever reason the films never want to admit it. Because I guess we like things coming in pairs now.

But yes, “The Force Awakens”, at a distance not great nor terrible, but a rip off of a movie we’ve already seen that left me going “Welp, the next one’s probably The Empire Strikes Back then I guess we’re getting Ewoks”. I was sort of right on that and sort of wrong.

The Last Jedi

So, JJ Abrams clearly had a vision of where he wanted this sequel trilogy to go. He set up these big questions such as what’s up with Finn, who are Rey’s parents and why was she left on this nowhere planet, will Kylo Ren be redeemed and how, who is Snoke, etc.

Now, I’m not saying these aren’t stupid questions. To be frank, they kind of are. Finn being Force Sensitive was the most inconsequential thing I’ve ever heard of, Rey’s parents should not have been used to drive the plot the way it was, as spoken above I’m clearly team gut Kylo Ren, and that Snoke was actually just Palpatine being the world’s largest cockroach is a beautiful but hilarious answer.

That said, what Johnson did was he decided, “You know what, I’m going to take every trope of Star Wars and completely flip it on its head and absolutely doom the sequel to this movie.”

And by god, he did.

We get a weirdly pointless movie in which Poe, SINGLEHANDEDLY, completely obliterates the Resistance. He first obliterates their bombers by failing to follow command, then goes and bitches about how he’s not put in command when he clearly shows no ability to understand how a military works, actively subverts orders which in turn obliterates the entire Resistance fleet until the only survivors can fit on the Millenium Falcon. They have no ships, no weapons, barely any people, and are ultimately doomed doomed doomed.

We have Finn’s weird subplot with a suddenly introduced character Rose in which the pair aid in Poe’s blowing up the resistance (they send sensitive information using the communication equipment of a guy they do not know, who fully admits to being shady and out for his own skin, and are flabergasted when he betrays them). 

Rose herself is this weirdly sweet person who seems forced into the plot to a) provide a love triangle for Finn and Rey b) provide this forced sunny outlook that I didn’t really need in the film.

We get Rey never really being trained, going into the Cave of Wonders for a few seconds, falling in love with Kylo Ren over weird Force Skype calls (where I did not need to see him shirtless, thank you film) and being horrifically betrayed when Kylo Ren turns out not to be a great guy. Never saw that coming, Rey. 

As for Kylo Ren, well... God, we get Emperor Kylo Ren. Kylo Ren, the Emperor. I’m not even that upset about the anticlimactic murder of Snoke (that was kind of funny, especially in the context of Palpatine going, “Bitch, please, you’re in my chair” immediately in the next film) but just Kylo Ren being emperor. And also that the Resistance only escapes at all because he’s so dumb he made their dumb plans seem smart (i.e. concentrates all his firepower on an illusion for ten minutes while Hux goes, “Emperor, sir, we could actually destroy the Resistance right now.”

Now, you’ll notice I didn’t complain about Luke. A lot of people are upset he became a grumpy, miserable, old hermit who sits around waiting for death. Frankly though, in this universe, that’s exactly where he is. He left “Return of the Jedi” thinking he’d saved the world, he’s resurrected the Jedi Order, and all is well. Only a decade later, his students are all murdered by his nephew, the Empire’s back, and he accomplished nothing. He’s an utter failure as a Jedi (though Luke never realizes he knew jack shit about the Jedi Order and was in way over his head but I guess that’s beyond him). Why shouldn’t he go sit on a rock and wait to die? 

Now, did he have to drink that blue dinosaur milk? Well, I guess it was funny, gross but funny so... Sure, I guess he did. But I do like that he gave Rey 0 training, they had one meditation session and then he whined about how Obi-Wan was such a stupid asshole. And then Rey ran off to be with her boyfriend, who then told her that her parents were gutter trash (which again, was funny, but I don’t think that was supposed to be funny).

Of the characters introduced in the movie, the only one I really liked was the hacker, and it was for the actor/the beautiful way in which he gracefully exited stage left with zero shame going, “You all knew I was going to betray you!” You beautiful man, you.

Rise of the Skywalker

First, when something is called “Rise of the Skywalker” you know you’re in for a rough time.

But anyways, TLJ was filled with a controversy Disney didn’t want (half their audience hated it, half loved it, but at least they sold those penguin dolls) so they desperately get Abrams back. Only, what he clearly wanted from his series has been shot to hell, and now he’s left with Emperor Kylo Ren, a completely obliterated Resistance, a dead Luke, a love interest he never planned to introduce for Finn, Rey’s parental crisis being solved with trash people, Snoke just suddenly dead, Hux planning revenge, and then some.

And so, Abrams goes the brave and hilarious route of shouting “PRETEND THAT LAST MOVIE NEVER HAPPENED”

We open to a fully functioning Resistance (their bomber fleet is back, their fleet period is back, they have all their fully trained personnel). We have Rey getting the Jedi training she needed this time from Leia, who is now a Jedi, because yay feminism rammed down my throat to make the audience feel better. Rose says “It’s cool guys, I don’t want to join the adventure this film, I’m going to stay here and work on robots” so that she can gracefully exit the entire plot. Kylo Ren is demoted from Emperor in two seconds when we discover that a) Snoke was apparently Palpatine b) for unexplained reasons Palpatine’s alive (and I am now convinced that man will never die). Kylo Ren tells Rey at the first opportunity that he lied about her trash parents AND REALLY SHE’S A PALPATINE! THIS WHOLE TIME, REY! THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. I’M SUPER SERIAL THIS TIME, REY.

Basically, in the course of an overly long movie, Abrams desperately shoves in everything he was trying to get out of the series, while sobbing, and sobbing even harder when things like Finn being Force Sensitive or Lando having a secret daughter get caught. I actually agree with the Producers on this, by the way, the Finn trying to tell Rey something scenes were weird and indicative of a love triangle but him being Force Sensitive instead... It says a lot that the movies did not change when it was removed, at all. And Lando was just this strange cameo who was in the film to make us feel nostalgic.

And this isn’t even getting to the ridiculous 24 hour time limit (which made me think there should have been some video game style clock in the corner letting us know when Dawn of the Third Day is coming), Palpatine’s other secret army on a secret Sith planet that can be easily taken down by taking out one navigation tower, Rey’s hilarious struggle with the dark side in which she has a vision of herself in a cape hissing, Kylo Ren’s hilarious redemption in which the movie in the form of Leia and Han Solo says, “Alright, Ben, it’s time to stop being evil” and he says “okay”, the fight with Palpatine in which I’m supposed to believe he dies for reals because... I have no idea why I’m supposed to believe he’s dead. The Reylo, god the Reylo, and Kylo Ren’s tragic, hilarious, death.

And then, of course, the ending where Rey decides she’s a Skywalker now.

I actually did laugh all the way through “Rise of the Skywalker”, you can’t not, I mean it’s a hilariously awful movie. The only thing that might have made it more hilarious was if we actually did get those Ewoks.

TL;DR

They’re all bad movies, if you want more specifics than this, you’re just going to have to ask me questions.

[awackyphdinadorkable]

Cherik Moodboard - The Snow Queen AU

Charles and Erik were the best of friends ever since they were small children. They didn’t just grow up together, but they also learned to master their special abilities together. Erik and his mother live in a small house just down the road, so Edie does not have to travel far to manage the gardens and all the flowers at Westchester.

These days, Erik helps his mother as best as he can, which, of course, always gives plenty of opportunity for him to spend time with his best friend to play chess or get drunk on Charles’s late step-father’s fine selection of drinks.

Now short before coming of age, Charles can finally claim ownership over his family’s estate and transform it into a school for the likes of them. Their dream is just within reach. A place for themselves, where others can hone their skills, unafraid of what others may think of them.

But a tragic accident during winter leads to Edie’s death, which leaves Erik petrified. Charles tries his best to console his friend, but even with his abilities, he doesn’t know how to help Erik look towards a brighter future to regain hope. Instead, Erik grows more and more obsessed with snowflakes and old stories.

After a night of heavy drinking to numb the pain together, Erik sneaks out into the night while Charles is fast asleep. Erik is visited by a beautiful woman made of ice, just like in his mother’s tales. The Snow Queen. She offers him a life of no pain, no suffering. Erik feels more than tempted to go with her, but when he hears Charles calling out to him, the Queen is already gone by the time he turns back around.

Wind picks up and something flies into his eyes, making his eyes burn with unshed tears. Charles ushers Erik back inside, and for the first time in a long time, Erik swats his friend’s hand away, arguing that he has no need for help.

In the days to come, Erik grows more and more irritated with Charles and his constant talk about the school, the dream. Was it ever truly his dream or was he just trying to please Charles? Erik is no longer sure. What if Charles went too far into his head to plant that seed there? What if he was a fool to ever trust him? People don’t accept them now, why would they ever change their mind? They are all the same in the end, aren’t they?

But whenever he addresses those matters to Charles, he just feels his heart clench with cold, seeing the other man’s sadness and disappointment. Most of these days, Erik wished Charles just left him alone, that everyone just left him alone so he could watch the snowflakes. When Erik goes to see his mother’s grave, he is visited by the Snow Queen again. She kisses him and he doesn't feel the cold anymore. The Queen offers to kiss him another time, to forget all this, all the people who’ve caused him suffering.

“And then everything will be in order again. Like snowflakes.”

Erik agrees and she kisses him another time. And just like that, his mother fades from his mind, Charles does. There is just endless white and the Queen guiding him to a sled of ice taking him away from a world that won’t ever accept him.

When Charles realizes that Erik is gone, he is desperate to find him. But no matter how far he reaches with his mind, he can’t detect him. Charles is in despair. His best friend is somewhere out there, and he can’t get to him. He can’t help him. Just what is he supposed to do?

In the nights that follow, Charles continues to be plagued by nightmares. Strange visions of a broken mirror dipped in blood. A castle made of ice. And inside it he sees Erik bowing to a woman wearing a crown made of ice. At first, he thinks this is just his mind playing tricks on him, the way it was when he didn’t yet know of his abilities and thought he was going mad.

Until Erik helped him see that he was, in fact, not mad. That the voices inside his head weren’t his own but of those around him.

When Charles passes by a river, thinking back to how they used to bathe in it as children, the images come back to him, like lightning striking in his head. Charles collapses into a wooden boat and blacks out, though the boat, without anyone’s doing sets sail. By the time he awakens, Charles finds himself far away from home in a boat sailing on its own accord.

Before he can sink into despair, he can feel the faintest of brushes of a familiar mind against his. Erik. He is closer to Erik now. He can feel him, however faint, but he can feel him. He isn’t dead. He is out there. And that means there is still hope.

The boat eventually finds its landing place in a faraway place Charles wouldn’t know how to find on a map, if he even had one with him. He wanders through the woods aimlessly until he stumbles upon a house guarded by a blue beast. Though Charles can tell at once that the beast is also a man, is someone like him and Erik.

As it turns out, Hank and Raven have taken refuge in this cottage after an experiment of his gone wrong. He worked on a way to rid himself of the abnormal appearance of his feet, only to amplify the effect and turn into a beast whenever angered or in danger. Raven possesses similar powers, able to change appearance at will. The two have since lost hope in humankind to ever accept them. They have also heard of the Snow Queen who seemingly wants to rally against humans.

Raven offers Charles to stay with them, but he kindly refuses. He has to find Erik, he has to bring him back home. Hank offers to accompany him, but Charles also refuses that offer, because he knows that finding Erik is his responsibility alone.

“But you will always be welcome in my home, as you welcomed me into yours. Together, we may be able to change the face of the world, not today, not tomorrow, but so long we haven’t given up, the chance is still there that the day will come.”

Better equipped for the cold awaiting him further up north thanks to Raven and Hank, Charles continues his quest to the castle made of ice. He lets himself be guided by the fragments of memories the Queen could not take away from Erik even with her second kiss. Because even if she stripped Erik of his memories, he is still there. Charles can still sense his light, and that will guide him to his best friend, no doubt.

But when he reaches the place he can feel Erik’s mind the strongest, he finds nothing but a frozen lake. No castle. Nothing except for ice and snow. Exhausted and discouraged, he collapses onto the ice, calling out to Erik, though he knows he can’t hear him.

Or can he?

When he opens his eyes again, Charles finds himself near a warm hearth inside a small cabin. A grumpy man greets him, putting on more wood for the fire. The man’s name is Logan, and for some strange reason, he seems to know Charles, even though Charles doesn’t know him. Even stranger so, he can’t sense the man’s mind, although he is sitting right next to him.

“That was by your own design.”

“I didn’t ever meet you.”

“Not in this world, but in the world I came from.”

“Another world?”

“You can read minds, and made it all this way to here alive. Don’t act as though this was the strangest thing you’ve heard or seen thus far.”

Logan begins to recall his time “on the other side of the mirror”. The Snow Queen with the aid of the mirror image of Erik, nearly succeeded in destroying all good in their world by completing a mirror that had burst into a billion pieces.

“The devil’s work if you asked me. But no one knows who’s made the mirror. I just know what it did to my friends. It made them angry, sad, cold. Until they saw no good in the world anymore and fell into despair. A world without hope… is really without hope. You were right about that all along.”

In a last effort to save their world, Charles with the aid of his pupils and Logan set out to fight the Snow Queen, a woman with special abilities much like Charles’s. But with Erik’s aid of completing the frame to hold the mirror in its place, their efforts were near in vain.

“I watched my friends turn to snow. I watched them fade away. Kitty and you came up with a way for me to cross the threshold to the other world, this world here. I heal fast.  I don’t get killed… so I took a shard of the mirror with me.”

He shows a scar on his abdomen. “The Snow Queen wants to complete the mirror in this world because she can’t complete it in the other. Because I have the last piece. You managed to hide me from her eyes. Only if I were to face her would she recognize me.”

“But she can complete the mirror in this world, if Erik sets the frame.”

“Yes, because the other me, the one belonging to this world… he is asleep, if you will, out of reach. And even if not, the moment I faced her and tried to break the mirror like I did last time… it would mean the end of all good in this world. I no longer have the claws to cut it. I had to leave those, too.”

“So there is no hope?”

“There is always hope. At least so long you don’t give up. If unleash your mind, if you let your abilities out, which I know you’ve learned to keep in check over the years, you will possess a power even greater than hers. You are the only hope we’ve got left. So you better make this work, or else I will be very angry with you.”

“But I can’t even find the castle.”

“Because you’ve only looked at it from one side.”

It is then that Charles understands what he has to do. He goes back to the frozen lake and cuts a hole into the ice. He dives into the dark waters below, and once again lets himself be guided by the faint light at the end of it, Erik.

When he lifts his head above the water again, he finds himself in the Snow Queen’s castle. Charles knows now that he has to do whatever it takes not just to save Erik, but everyone else who dares to put hope in him. Even if that means going to the edge of the world and further still. But will he succeed? Or will eternal winter be the end of all hope?

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

Author’s Note: Here’s my little Christmas gift to a fandom that is also very much a gift. Happy holidays and much love!

[fuckallthegood0nesweretaken]

Echuio CH. One

Movie - Unexpected Adventure

Title: The Meeting

Words: 2057

Warnings: Memory Loss

Translations: Vaen - Beautiful 

A/N: This is chapter one of my Fili X Reader series! It will follow the same plot as the Hobbit movies/book but with a twist. Echuio means awaken in Sindarin so do with that information what you will. Enjoy!

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Echuio Masterlist

Fili Durin Masterlist

Book Masterlist

Masterlist

~~~~~~~

Waking up on a dirt road with someone staring at you intently wasn’t the best way to go about it. Your eyes went wide and you were frozen in fear. A whimper escaped your lips and the man backed away slightly.

 “Who are you? Where am I?” Fear was evident in your voice and the man took notice of it right away.

 “My name is Gandalf. You’re in the woods just outside of the Shire.”

 “Shire? I’ve never heard of that.”

 “Where are you from, Miss-?” Gandalf’s voice was kind and even though you were scared, you just knew that you could trust him.

 “My name’s [y/n],” you said. “And I can’t remember where I’m from.” You stood up before taking a step back.

 “You don’t remember?”

 “N-No.” You shook your head and Gandalf tilted his head slightly. You had a feeling he knew something about you but before you could ask, he said something.

 “You’re about as tall as a Hobbit, Miss [y/n]. But you are not one.”

 “I’m not a Hobbit. I don’t even know what a Hobbit is!” You were starting to panic and Gandalf furrowed his brows.

 “Do not worry. I will try to help you get your memories back,” Gandalf said.

 “You’ll help me?” You asked, tears on the brim of falling down your cheeks.

 “I can try.” Gandalf looked at you, lips muttering something in a language you didn’t recognize, before looking at the horizon. “Come with me.”

 “Where are we going?”

 You followed him, your legs trying to keep up.

 “I believe you were brought here for a reason. Something is just about to start and I think you are supposed to be a part of it.”

 ---

 You followed Gandalf and he told you about the quest he was endorsing. He could tell that you didn’t want to go on the adventure, but you didn’t say anything out loud.

 Soon, he had introduced you to about half of the Dwarves that were going to conquer Erebor. Despite your worries, you had made fast friends with Bofur, the two of you talking all the way back to the Shire.

 Gandalf had led the group to the top of a hill and Bofur rang the doorbell to the home built into the hill-face. You could hear someone yelling on the inside and when the owner of the voice opened the door, all of the Dwarves fell into a heap inside the house. You stifled a laugh as the Dwarves all groaned and looked up to see who you thought must be Bilbo.

 “Hello,” you said, giving him a small wave. He glanced at you before locking eyes with Gandalf.

 “Gandalf,” he said tiredly.

 The Dwarves let themselves in after getting up from the ground and started raiding the poor Hobbit’s pantry. Gandalf told you that Bilbo was a Hobbit and you weren’t pleased to find out that he was taller than you. You may be as big as a Hobbit, but they weren’t big to begin with.

 As the Dwarves wreaked havoc, you stood off to the side, observing everything. One by one, the Dwarves took food out of the pantry and put it on the table in the dining room. After a minute, a Dwarf you hadn’t met yet came up to you.

 “I don’t believe we’ve met,” he said. He gave you a smile and bowed slightly. “I’m Fili.”

 “I’m [y/n].” Your eyes met his blue ones and you could feel your cheeks heating up.

 “Supper’s ready. Would you like to join us?”

 “S-Sure,” you said. He held out his hand and you took it.

 Fili led you to the table and took a chair out, letting you sit down and pushed your chair up to the table when you were settled.

 “Thank you.”

 Fili answered you with a wink and you looked down at your lap before reaching for some food. Bofur was on your left, Fili on your right. All throughout dinner, you found yourself laughing and joking. You did feel bad for Bilbo, your eyes widening and pulse quickening when the Dwarves sung their song and did all of the dishes for him. It was only when a booming knock sounded on the door did the giddiness fade away.

 “He is here,” Gandalf said. The two of you made eye contact and you swallowed harshly.

 Gandalf went to open the door but you couldn’t see anything, all of the Dwarves blocking your view. You could hear Thorin speak and you could tell that everyone has great respect for him. Because you couldn’t see him, you decided to get him some food. Soon enough, everyone was back in the dining room and you saw Thorin for the first time.

 “I-I thought you might be hungry,” you said. “There wasn’t much left but I found some soup for you.”

 “Thank you,” Thorin said. He sat down and you noticed there was nowhere to sit and Kili waved you over.

 “Over here,” he said. “You can sit with me.”

 “But there’s no chair.” Confusion laced your voice and Kili just smirked and patted his lap.

 “Don’t listen to him, vaen,” Fili said from beside you. “Take my chair. I’ll go find another.”

 You shook your head, about to speak when Thorin beat you to it. They started talking about the quest Gandalf had told you about. Closing your mouth, you leaned against the wall and listened. Then you heard them mention a dragon.

 “Wait, what’s this about a dragon?” You turned to Gandalf. “You said nothing about dragons!”

 “I didn’t catch your name,” Thorin said.

 “This is [y/n]. I’d like for her to join us on the quest,” Gandalf said. Murmurs spread through the Dwarves and Thorin scoffed lightly.

 “What would another Hobbit bring to the Company?” Thorin asked.

 “I’m not a Hobbit, just as tall as one apparently,” you said. Your hands were on your hips and you glared at Thorin.

 “And I’m an Elf,” Dwalin snorted.

 “She’s telling the truth.” Everyone looked at Gandalf, disbelief on their faces.

 “If it helps, I’ve never seen her before. She also doesn’t have Hobbit feet,” Bilbo said. You lifted up your leg, showing them your shoe-covered feet.

 “Miss [y/n] is here for a reason,” Gandalf said. “I believe that the timing of her coming here was no coincidence and she is supposed to join us on our journey. It will help you and will help her.”

 “Help her with what?” Balin asked.

 “I’ve don’t have many memories,” you said. “I can only remember simple things.”

 “And what can Miss [y/n] offer the Company if she has no memories?” Thorin asked. Everyone turned their eyes towards you and you started fiddling with your fingers.

 “I-I know how to heal,” you said. “I remember that I’m very good at it.”

 “Do you know how to use any weapons?”

 “I know how to shoot a bow. I think,” you said, chewing on the inside of your lip. Thorin stared intently at you before looking at Balin.

 “Draw up a contract for Miss [y/n],” Thorin said.

 Balin nodded and got to work. While he did that, the conversation went on. You listened as they talked and argued, flinching back when everyone started yelling. Thorin shouted something in Dwarvish and everyone went silent immediately.

 “If we have read these signs, others would have read them too,” Thorin said. “Rumors have been spread. Smaug hasn’t been seen for sixty years. Eyes look east to the mountain, assessing, wondering, and weighing the risk. The vast wealth of our people may be lying unprotected. Will we sit back while others take what is rightfully ours? Or do we seize this chance to take back Erebor!”

 All of the Dwarves started cheering except for Balin.

 “You forget that the front gate is sealed,” Balin said. “There is no way into the mountain.”

 “My dear Balin, that is not entirely true.” Gandalf twirled a key and you saw surprise light up Thorin’s face.

 “Where did you get this?”

 “It was given to me by your father for safekeeping. By Thrain. It is yours now.”

 The Dwarves were silent, all of them looking at the key with hope on their faces.

 “If there’s a key there has to be a door,” you said quietly.

 “Aye,” Fili said.

 “You’re right. These runes here speak of a hidden passage to the lower halls,” Gandalf said, pointing to the map.

 “There’s another way in,” Kili breathed.

 “Well, if we can find it. Dwarf doors are invisible when closed.” Gandalf sighed. “The answer is somewhere on this map, but I do not have the skill to find it. It’s hidden very well. However, there are others in Middle-Earth who can.”

 Gandalf looked around the room and made eye contact with everyone.

 “The task I have in mind requires a great deal of stealth and no small amount of courage. If we are careful and clever, I believe it can be done.”

 “That’s why we need a burglar,” Ori said.

 “A good one too,” Bilbo said. “An expert I’d imagine.”

 “And are you?” Balin asked.

 “Am I what?”

 “He said he is!” Oin started cheering and some of the Dwarves chuckled.

 “Me? Oh no, no, no. I’m not a burglar. I’ve never stolen a thing in my life, thank you.” Bilbo had an incredulous look on his face.

 “I’m afraid I’ll have to agree with Mr. Baggins. He’s hardly burglar material,” Balin said. Bilbo nodded his head and you crossed your arms.

 “Aye, the wild’s no place for gentle folk who can neither fight or fend for themselves,” Dwalin said. He glanced at both you and Bilbo as he spoke and you narrowed your eyes at him.

 All of the Dwarves started talking at once and when Gandalf had had enough of it, he rose to his full height. It was intimidating, shutting the Dwarves up almost immediately and making your face scrunch slightly.

 “Enough!” Gandalf’s voice boomed. “If I say Bilbo Baggins is a burglar, than a burglar he is.”

 The powerful aura went away and you released a breath you didn’t know you were holding.

 “Hobbit’s are remarkably light on their feet and can pass unseen by most, if they so choose,” Gandalf said, his voice normal again. “And while the dragon is accustomed to the smell of Dwarf, Hobbit is all but unknown to him. That gives us a distinct advantage.”

 After a moment, Thorin nodded and looked at Balin.

 “Give him a contract,” Thorin said. Balin stood up, one contract in each hand.

 “This one’s for Miss [y/n] and this one’s for Mr. Baggins.”

 He handed you a contract and you looked it over silently. You could hear talking, but you were so focused on reading, you only looked up when you heard a thud. Bilbo had fainted and fallen to the floor. You put down the contract and went quickly over to Bilbo.

 “Did he hit his head?” You asked.

 “I don’t think so,” Bofur answered.

 “That’s good. What caused him to faint?”

 “The thought of incineration.” You just rolled your eyes, checking on Bilbo’s pulse. When he started to wake up, you pulled back and smiled at him.

 “How’s your head feeling?” You asked Bilbo. “Does it hurt anywhere?”

 “No. I-I think I just need to sit quietly for a moment.” Bilbo stood up and walked to a different room. That’s when Thorin approached you.

 “You’ve heard of our plans and what can happen if things go wrong. Are you still willing to come with us?” Thorin asked you.

 “I’m not one to believe in fate and destiny, but I do think that my being here isn’t a coincidence. I’ll help you get your home back.” You looked up at him and gave him a smile.

 “Why?”

 “Everyone deserves a home, Thorin. I’ll do what I can to help,” you said with a shrug.

 “I can’t guarantee your safety.”

 “That’s alright. I wouldn’t expect you to. You’ve just met me and you have others to think of first.” With that, you tilted your head and walked away.

 Thorin watched you go, a confused look on his face. There was something about you that seemed so familiar and he couldn’t place it. Shaking his head, Thorin turned his attention elsewhere. It wouldn’t do to dwell on things that hurt his head.

[petri808]

Underneath the Same Starry Sky

My piece for the @fairytailcharityfanzine 💜 we can now share it, please enjoy!

Nalu Reflective piece that takes place during the one year hiatus, focusing on Natsu’s feeling during his training, and Lucy.

Every single muscle in Natsu’s body ached worse than being electrocuted by one of Laxus’ lightning bolts.  His joints screamed like a banshee if he even thought about moving an inch for the rest of the night and he prayed that come morning’s light he could get up to do it all again.  The training routine he’d carved out for himself was ten times harder than anything he’d ever attempted before, but it’s a necessary evil and one that numbed his mind to the reasons behind its mission.  Tartaros was a wake-up call.  A proverbial slap to the ego that brought the mighty Fairytail guild to its knees.  Sure, they won the battle, but at a substantial cost.

He couldn’t afford to lose like that again.  Not when there were so many things at stake.

But tonight, there’s nothing more he can do except lie on his bedroll staring up at the sky.  If someone attacked him now in such a vulnerable state, they might win.  He doubted it.  Even the locals steered clear of the mountain he’d chosen.  Too afraid of the rumors of a crazy fire wielding man who could shake the very bedrock beneath their feet.  No, tonight it’s just him, Happy, and that sky.  A beautiful expanse of darkened heavens with no clouds to dampen its effects.

Ugh!  Nights like this were the hardest.  Each time he opened his eyes and gazed upon those twinkling stars his partner would drift into his mind and throw it back into chaos.  Lucy…. The golden queen who reigns over the celestial world, adored by her spirits, loved by her friends, and treasured by his truly.  

Everything he did was to protect the ones he loved.  And above all, her.

Just thinking about the attractive blonde sent a strange flutter through his core.  Natsu wasn’t immune to the desires created in any hot-blooded male when seeing such an attractive female.  But she’s different, special, not something treated like arm-candy or tied down by anyone unless of her own choosing.  Besides, he didn’t feel worthy of her attention.  Not yet.  Maybe one day, but not until he could truly safeguard her future, even from his own demons.  Besides, there’s still much to do.  It’s only his second month and already the drain on his mind, body, and soul pushed him to his limits.  But Natsu’s no quitter.  Once he set his heart on something, he would move all of Earthland to see it through.  Things would get easier over time as his body adapts to the training, so until then, no pain, no gain, and a blonde waiting at the end of this goal.

‘I really wish you were here Igneel…. Too many questions I never got the answer to….  Even new ones on things I don’t quite know what to do with.’  Natsu lets out an audible exhale.  ‘I miss you….  It’s like a huge part of me’s gone and I know I’ll never get it back.  Will that empty feeling ever go away?’  His eyes close for a moment as he remembers the pain of watching the fight between Igneel and Acnologia.  He’d held out so much hope that Igneel would win, only to have that faith dashed against the rocks like a ship, wrecking along the shore.  It was at that point, when Natsu felt like the small child again, alone and lost in the forest before Makarov had found and taken him to Fairytail.  He’d promised Igneel to keep growing, to keep looking towards the future, and he will.  He will get stronger!  But such pain and sense of initial loss from his childhood had never fully gone away, just sidetracked once he’d met Lucy.  

Again, with Lucy.  That day in Hargeon was the last time Natsu’d gone off on his own in search of Igneel.  Was that meaningful?  It had to be.  How else could one person, who he’d just met, unconsciously change his course in life if it didn’t have some major significance?  What would Igneel have said about her?  ‘Who am I kidding, he would love Lucy!  I bet he would tease me about her if he were here….  I know she would have liked him too….’  She would never be a replacement for his adoptive dragon father, but… ‘Lucy fills some void.’  A concept he couldn’t deny any longer.  

This training mission was the longest they’d been apart since, well, the day they met.  It’s a little weird, Natsu would admit, and he missed her along with all of his friends.  He wondered what they’re up to.  Are they rebuilding the guild hall right now?  Probably to be even bigger or better than before.  ‘Yeah…. It’s gonna be so nice to see it again!’  He should have stayed to help them rebuild, but this is more important.  ‘So, we don’t lose the next time!’  Did Gray miss their fighting, because he kind of did.  He loved to rile that ice queen up!  ‘I’m sure they’re all doing fine.’

But to take the power left to him by Igneel, he needed to strengthen his reserves and that took time.  He really didn’t understand how long he would be away for.  It could be months or even years; hopefully not the latter.  Mastering this new secret art is his primary focus and he couldn’t go back until he’d attained it.  It was his hidden weapon against his brother and it just needed to be perfect.  

Long blistering days had turned into weeks.  Laborious weeks dragged into months and as each one passed the physical pain had morphed into an emotional toll.  Now five months into his training, Natsu sometimes lost track of time itself, and it was only with Happy’s help that he knew how long he’d been at this.  The cheerleading Exceed made sure they had food or other provisions because the slayer would forget.  Even his hair was now past his shoulder blades, but he tied it back when it got in his way.  

Though it wasn’t all that bad, he’d made a lot of progress and was sure that it wouldn’t be too much longer till he could return home.  So, after another long day and a meal of roasted wild bird, Natsu submerges himself up to his neck in a nearby hot pond.  It was one of the few reasons he’d chosen this semi-isolated location.  The broiling waters were a bit too hot for any normal humans, but for a fire dragon slayer, something perfectly suited to soothe away his aches, and maybe some of his anguish.  Lately a few of Zeref’s parting words, “to kill or let live,” were toying with his mind.  “The one to reach me will be you or END…”  He still didn’t fully understand it.  Igneel also told him not to look at the END book.  But why not?  Who is this END person?!  “And what the hell did Zeref mean by passing to me, an even greater despair?!”  Regardless of not understanding, the message was clear.  Trouble was coming.

The steaming waters were making him sleepy, but he wasn’t ready to let it take him yet.  He just need to hash out these thoughts so he could move on because if he couldn’t, then he wouldn’t be able to focus on his training.  To concentrate the residual power, he needed a clear mind.  A long exhale escapes and Natsu closes his eyes.  Killing wasn’t the Fairytail way, so that wasn’t something Natsu even wanted to consider.  There had to be another solution, but it was difficult to figure out what that could be since he didn’t even know who or what this enemy was.  From the scant information they’d given him, END was the most powerful demon Zeref had ever created, one that not even Igneel could defeat.  That meant END could be his most formidable opponent to date, aside from maybe Acnologia.  

Acnologia…  all the hairs along his arm tingle.  The evil dragon born of a by-gone slayer era, is another problem that needed solving.  How were they supposed to defeat a dragon that other dragons were afraid of?  He remembered the quaking fear that all the slayers and dragons felt when Acnologia showed up.  Everyone’s panic and trembling emotions were palpable.  That vile creature had disappeared once more, but he’ll no doubt, show up at the worst time.  “Argh!”  Another beautiful part of being in the middle of nowhere, Natsu could scream all he wanted to.  He relaxes his eyelids, letting the feeling of the steam envelop his senses.  

Words unspoken passed between them as he hung his head whilst the tears flowed, and snot dripped.  Lucy held on tight, her arms wrapped around his middle, her face buried in the crook of his back like she’d done the night they’d defeated future Rogue.  Despite his promises to Igneel, Natsu’s heart had shattered and needed to fit back together like a jigsaw puzzle.  He was thankful that Lucy didn’t prod, just allowed him to feel, to process, like she just knew he would come out of this.  Her silent support meant so much to him, and she didn’t even know it.  

“Can we just go home?” he whispers under his breath.  “I’m tired.”

Lucy nods and moves to let go, but Natsu places his hand on her arm.  “To your apartment, just for tonight?  I’d… rather not be alone right now.”

“Sure, Natsu.”  

It was one of the rare occasions that Lucy didn’t kick him out of bed.  Maybe she was too tired.  After a shower, Natsu crawls under the covers.  Her calming scent of strawberry cream providing him some satisfaction, a reassurance that he wasn’t alone, and reminded him he still had a lot to live for.  And as his eyes close, the vision of her sleeping form, so peaceful, sends him off into a dreamless, yet fitful slumber.  

When light filtered through his closed lids the following morning, Natsu opens them to a fully awakened mind despite the pitiful amount of sleep he’d gained.  Through the night, Lucy had latched onto his side, keeping him pinned to his back.  She sighs, mumbling at his minute movements, before licking her lips and drifting away again clutched to his arm.  He exhales, turning to his side to gaze upon her better.  ‘Lucy…’ Natsu sweeps away some tendrils that had fallen over her eyes.  ‘How am I to protect her when I couldn’t even save my father?  How can I protect any of my friends from the dangers coming call?’  It wasn’t a matter of if he could, but a must.  He places a kiss upon her slightly furrowed brow.  ‘I promise you Lucy.  I swear on Igneel I will protect you at any cost!’      

Even though he’d decided that morning to leave on a training quest, he just couldn’t tell her, not in person knowing the pain it might stir back up for both of them.  All he could hope for a week later when he clutched the letter in his hand, that she would understand.  “Wait for me,” he whispers as he places the letter on her coffee table…    

Natsu opens his eyes.  Ugh, why was he dreaming about that now?  He twists his body in the steaming waters to rest his head on his arms on the edge.  How long had he fallen asleep for?  Couldn’t have been long since the position of the moon had only shifted slightly.  Maybe he was feeling a little guilty for leaving that letter the way he had.  It was a copout.  ‘Yeah…’ he sighs, ‘she deserved better from me, but I just couldn’t face her.’  Too late now to do anything about it.

It was almost over; he runs his hand over the new tattoo on his arm, reminiscing about the last 8 months.  All the power condensed in his body thrummed like a child excited to play with their new toy.  But it would have to wait and lay dormant for now.  Until the time was right, behind the symbols it shall remain.  This whole journey was one of self-recovery, through down-right struggles of the heart and mind.  So, unleashing the full power of the Fire Dragon King too early would be a waste of all that he’d fought to attain.  And that was okay, for through this self-discovery Natsu had become a lot stronger.  The control over his element was down to pinpoint accuracy, and whether as a stream of fire or as a conflagration, it was all by his manipulation.  He was giddy about showing this off and according to Happy, the perfect opportunity was coming up in just two months.  All the more reason for him to buckle down and finish his training.          

Lucy had hoped some of her friends would attend the games, even just to watch but no one did.  It was sad to think, ‘I’ve been looking this entire year…’ she breaks down against the wall filled with all the information she’d dug up on her ex-guildmates.  She knew where some were, while others…  Sigh, ‘Still nothing on Natsu.’  There’d been wild rumors that could be him.  Nothing concrete and they were always stories passed along from a friend of a friend.  But it was enough to comfort her sometimes, to know they were still under the same starry skies.  Ugh!  Lucy missed them all so much.  “Well, no point in crying about it tonight,” she laments to Plue.  Tomorrow was the finals, and she needed her sleep.  Lucy steals away to her bed and lets happier dreams bring her solace.            

Ten grueling months has passed by, but they’d made it!  The sun had yet to rise, but the pair arrived just in time to see the last day of the Grand Magic Games tournament.  Natsu turns his nose to the wind, scenting from atop a hill overlooking the large city of Crocus. “Happy, I think Lucy is here!”  

“But, why would she be here?” the Exceed queries.  “Could she be here for the games?”

“Probably.  We should look for her as soon as we can!”

“I thought you’re gonna challenge the winners?”

“Oh right,” Natsu smirks, “Imma go kick their asses and you look for her.”

“Aye sir!!”  

Morning’s light came and Lucy already knew it wouldn’t be very exciting.  The games only stirred up more pain from the loss of her friends and Fairytail, so it took a lot of self-motivation just to care.  Sure, there were exciting moments during the tournament but nothing like the year they won.  All the big guilds, their friends, no one took part this year saying it wasn’t worth it without Fairytail to compete against.  Lucy couldn’t blame them.  She takes one last longing glance at her wall and heads out the door.

‘Such a farce…’ Lucy stood there in the press box bored out of her mind.  Sure, Jason was excited after she’d pointed out Scarmiglione’s plan not only to win but to rake it in with the brokers.  Odds of 100 to 1 would pay out handsomely for anyone that bet on their win.  To her it was cheating and a blight on the games.  But no one had even noticed what they were doing.  Sad.  Then again, with none of the more powerful guilds in attendance, she guessed there wasn’t anyone around who could sense their true power levels except for her.  Surprise, surprise, she rolls eyes.  The crowds all jump to their feet when Scarmiglione’s last opponent falls, but Lucy is just happy it’s over.

But what’s this?  A rumbling murmur filters through the crowds.  She and Jason look over and see a heavily cloaked man walking into the arena.  Who is that?  What is this?!  So much power!  The hairs on her neck stand on edge.  “Evacuate the arena….” She cries out, but…  “Eh!”  The power and heat radiating off of the figure is burning her top off!  “Kiyah!”  Her arms frantically wrap around her bust, forgetting all about the danger.  As the smoke clears enough to see, she sees the culprit.  Her eyes widen.  “Natsu?!!!”

Screams of his name bounce around her.  Everyone is excited to see the slayer!

“Long time no see, Lucy!!!”

She turns around to see the flying Exceed.  “Happy?!!  What are you doing here?”

The other participants rush out to challenge Natsu but when his power and heat spikes even higher, they turn tail and run, screaming monster.  How hot does his power get?!  This was a lot stronger than she remembered him to be!  

The Exceed chuckles, “Natsu always tends to overdo things.”

But by then Lucy had stopped paying attention to the chaos going on around her.  The stadium was melting, members of Scarmiglione were out cold on the arena floor.  And all she could do was stare at the man she’d been wanting to see for so long.  It was really him and not a figment of her imagination!  A deluge of emotions floods her mind so quickly that there is no processing any of it.  Happiness, sadness, anger, nothing.  It was simply, in shock.  

With the rest of the challengers running in fear, Natsu finally realizes something.  He looks up and they lock eyes for a moment.  So fired up from his entrance, he’d almost forgotten she was here.  

“Yo!” his grin so wide it covers from ear to ear.  “Been a while, huh?  Lucy!”

Same old Natsu, she sighs, what had she expected?  With a crinkle of her eyes and a softening of her expression.  “How’ve you been?”

[dreamingofscully]

7x02. “The Sixth Extinction II: Amor Fati” (part 3 of 3) - X-Files Rewatch

“Scully, I was like you once-- I didn't know who to trust. Then I... I chose another path... another life, another fate, where I found my sister. The end of my world was unrecognizable and upside down. There was one thing that remained the same. You... were my friend, and you told me the truth. Even when the world was falling apart, you were my constant... my touchstone.” - Mulder “And you are mine.” - Scully

Pretty long analysis. Let me know what you think of my interpretation of Mulder’s vision!

Mulder’s vision on the beach is the future in a vision/dream that doesn’t quite make sense to him yet. The couple represents him and Scully and William.

The future he wants, subverted by the vision given to him by CSM. It’s purpose: to make Mulder give up and abandon Scully.

Scully is THE ONLY THING separating Mulder from his destruction; whether that is the desertion of his quest through his complacency or his death. CSM wishes to make Mulder into his copy, not caring about anything except himself, but if he can’t have that he’ll settle for killing him.

Diana doesn’t care if Mulder chooses her of his own free will, just as long as she possesses him. She is unaware that CSM doesn’t care if Mulder dies until he tells her so, which makes her change her mind and give the tools to Scully to help him.

The only person who knows that Mulder and Scully are involved? Krycek. He has his hands everywhere, and keeps most of his knowledge to himself so he can take advantage of it in the future. Remember: CSM tried to kill Krycek. He’s working with him now only out of necessity, just waiting for an opportunity to get the upper hand. It’s not as simple as killing CSM, he wants him to suffer and he wants power. 

How can CSM read Mulder’s mind? Because he can’t. He’s giving this vision to Mulder as soon as he enters the room. The same way they make him sicker (Diana at Mulder’s apartment), they have some sort of technology to force a vision on him (I don’t know the exact mechanism, but I also can’t explain how they impart Mulder’s specialness to CSM through a brain operation, so...). When Diana says to Mulder in the last episode “Now we can be together” it indicates to me that there is a purpose to putting Mulder through the dream he is experiencing.

CSM as Mulder’s father. This would throw Mulder off. He wants to trust people and is susceptible to being manipulated because of it. Perhaps there is a small part of Mulder that believes CSM might have good intentions because he thinks he is his father.

Scully sleeping at Mulder’s desk, awakened by Kritschgau. She has her notes on the computer, so I’ll assume she also has the diary she was writing. Kritschgau threatens Scully, like that’s going to stop her from doing everything to help Mulder.

Mulder’s true vision comes back again, and it’s the first time we see the boy. IT’S WILLIAM. The future, again. Interrupted by CSM.

CSM gets Mulder to think he’s dying, that there’s little to be gained by returning. His first thought is to contact Scully, but CSM claims she’ll be in danger. Why doesn’t he return? He doesn’t return because of the chance that what CSM is telling him is correct, and because he wants to see what the purpose of all of this is. Mulder’s guilt plays heavily in this decision as well: he’s always felt responsible for the things that happened to Scully and that he doesn’t deserve Scully, now he has a chance to do something that will, perhaps, make her safer. It’s easy for him to give up what makes him happy when he feels like he’s doing what’s right. Also, if Mulder is anything, he’s curious. He wants to explore what it is that CSM is showing him before abandoning it. By this exploration, however, he tacitly accepts this dream and it unfolds before him.

Scully has another vision. She is the spiritual tether, the only thing that keeps Mulder from completely abandoning himself for the vision. Hosteen was the one responsible for bringing Mulder back from the brink of death in “The Blessing Way”, so now he confers that responsibility to Scully. The importance of bringing him back “for the sake of us all”. More allusions to the tragedy that will befall humanity if Mulder were to abandon his quest. 

Mulder’s mother seems to be involved. It COULD be a shapeshifter alien, but I think if she thought that this was the only way to keep him alive she would go along with CSM’s plans.

“I felt responsible for your death.” - Mulder “You can let that go.” - Deep Throat

Lulling Mulder with absolution. He doesn’t have to be the martyr. He doesn’t have to FEEL. Letting go of his guilt means giving EVERYTHING up, the good along with the bad.

Mulder's forced vision keeps getting interrupted by his true dreams, by his connection to Scully (in the form of William). The message is to keep trying, to persist, to FIGHT AND NOT GIVE UP.

His vision with Diana and the handcuff symbolism. She releases him which implies that now he is ‘free’ but in reality he is only shackled by his choice to forget and give up. A sense of freedom exists in forgetting all the tragedy that came before this, in living another life instead, starting over. He can have everything (his sister, perceived happiness), but in order to do so he receives nothing, he must live a lie. Perfection only in a complete lack of feeling, numbness. If you can’t be hurt, you cannot feel joy either.  

Scully confronting Diana. FUCK YES. Diana’s argument is incredibly stupid. “Oh yeah? Well I may have betrayed him but at least I didn’t not prevent it!!” What? (Remember, she doesn’t have any idea about the nature of Mulder & Scully’s relationship yet.)

“I just want you to think. Think of Mulder when you met him. Think of the promise and the life in front of him. Think of him now. And then try and stand there in front of me, look me in the eye and tell me Mulder wouldn't bust his ass trying to save you.” - Scully

Love Scully’s counter-argument (even though it’s like she’s debating a two-year-old, she could say anything and fucking win). Making it about Mulder. Reminding Diana the reasons WHY she wants to possess him so badly, that she is turning him into something else, and the point of it all will be lost. The fucking spine it takes for her to acknowledge that Diana did love him at one point. Again, she’s not jealous anymore, she knows where she stands with him.

Mulder’s final vision of the boy. He finished his project but is now destroying it. Mulder is destroying all the work, and the progress he’s made over the years. For nothing (LITERALLY nothing - emptiness, hollowness and superficiality).

Following, and directly linked to, Scully’s vision. Part 2 of Albert Hosteen. Again, emphasizing her spiritual connection to Mulder. Needing to look for him through her heart. “There are more worlds than the one you can hold in your hand.” This links the spiritual with the unexplainable things she can hardly stand to believe in, not yet anyway. This is one of her first steps towards belief, to acknowledging the fantastical as truth. She’s not ready to believe fully, but she does have faith.

When Scully prays, we see Mulder on his deathbed. Hearing about all the deaths of those around him, but the only one that affects him is Scully’s. The only one who matters. The symbol of all he’s given up. Not only did he walk away from his guilt, but he walked away from his love and from the truth.

Scully comes to him as she is in reality, representing the truth instead of a fantasy. Mulder isn’t really dying, this vision is fake. She wakes him from his comfortable dream, always tells him the truth even if it’s uncomfortable. ALWAYS.

Scully at the DOD. She told Mulder in his vision that he’d been lulled to sleep, he’d been living a lie, living a shallow existence. She wakes him with her tears and her kiss, her emotional pleas. A return to reality and all the beauty and ugliness that living in this world means. 

Mulder’s “You... help... me.” Finally. The help he’s needed, she gives. Through her spiritual journey (visions through Albert Hosteen) and through her strict adherence to finding the truth and standing up for what’s right (confronting Diana).

One Week Later…

Scully’s been caring for Mulder while he’s been recovering, staying at his place. She’s been filling him in on everything she saw, going over the notes she gathered, but until this moment she hasn’t let herself consider the implications. She’s been on auto-pilot, happy to have him back and worried about his health. She returns to him the morning before her first day back at work. 

Mulder knows how much this confirmation of his beliefs leaves her shaken and confused. He also knows her and what she’s afraid of. He saw into her mind for a brief period, knows the shining truth of her intentions. He can wait for her, just happy she’s there with him. KNOWING that this is the right path, guilt and all.

Mulder’s words are just… so him. No simple “I love you”’s for this fellow. They are each others’ anchor, the most important and guiding force in their lives. Mulder has been dealing with his guilt for so long, and while he still has it and will always carry that with him, he realizes that he can’t just move on. The guilt serves as a reminder, and to forget it would mean forgetting all the good as well.

And... the gazing, the lingering kiss and her fingers grazing tenderly over his lips. So plAToniC. 

She leaves because she’s going to work. I’m envisioning Mulder calling out before she gets onto the elevator, asking her to come back later. Scully’s like “haven’t I always?”

The last vision Mulder has, of him and the boy working together, finishing their project. He’s on the right path. Their connection is stronger than ever, now. ❤️

[zuffer-weird-girl]

How u think kai will react if he raised his hand during argument&his s/o flinched thinking thst he will hit her? He didn't know but s/o was abused by her*hero*parents for being quircklss&went through inhuman experiments to activate it.They abandoned her in orphan announcing their*precious daughter*died while the truth thy didnt want her 2 bring shame 2 them.Kai discovered that latter bc those info are top hero secrets&she didnt tell him thinking kai will hate her if he found shes hero's daughter

HAHAHA, HOW WOULD KAI REACT?! KAI CHISAKI?! OVERHAUL. REACT TO THIS?!

My god; he would be enraged, completely surrounded by hatred and desire of execution of these two worms considered to be your biological parents.

Discussions between you two were normal; you are a couple, it happens; but even knowing that Kai would never lay a finger to hurt you, you couldn't help but squirm in terror and guard youself with your arms at the moment he raised his hands to only emphasize his point in the argument.

He immediately stopped talking as soon as he saw your scared look; sadly, he knew that expression way too well; and ended the argument right then and there.

Hearing your back story was enough for making his blood boil in a way it never had before but he maintained his composure for your sake.

Now, really, you only increased like, 100x more his hatred for heroes... Congrats.

"They're all sick. This hero syndrome has to be cured, look at what happens when we let those verms in the street... Absolutely disgusting."

Chisaki would become a little more affectionate after this just for ease your nerves. But when he is certain that you're at peace again...

That's when the real show begins...

The hero entered his home completely exausted due to his busy day at the agency as he took off his boots and called for his wife. When he heard no response he went in allert; knowing that she had taken a day off, she must had stayed in home.

He called once again checking every room in his big mansion. When he entered the living room he went rigid when he saw, not his wife, but a man in a green jacket holding one of his extremely expensive cups looking at the window.

Frightening and cold golden eyes; that seemed to pierce his soul; found them qs he finally spoke

"You're late." He spited the words before the hero felt something strongly hit the back of his neck, causing him to pass out immediately.

The man awakened feeling extremely sore as he heard his wife pleading for him to wake up. When he finally got back to reality, he noticed that both of them were chained tightly with their backs against each other.

"W-we were kidnapped dear...!" She whispered in fear "Use your quirk to get us out before the raptors come back, hurry!" She pleaded.

"Alright don't worry, we will be out of here in no time."

Suddenly, a bullet came out of no wear and hitted him straight on his chest, causing the woman to scream if her husband was okay.

"I wouldn't move around too much if I were in your shoes..." spoke a man covered in a plague mask and white hoodie aproaching the trembling couple, never once lowering down his gun.

The man winced in pain before trying to use his quirk to attack the shooter.

Sickes bitch

"W-what?" The man spoke in shook "W-what happened with my quirk?! What ylu did to me your fucker?!"

"Language." Spoke coldly the man before merciless shooting the woman's leg.

The female hero cried in pain letting out a few curses at the stranger.

"For two heroes, both of you are completely useless and disposable, aren't you?" A hushed voice spoke in the shadows of the cold building.

"What do you want from us, damn villain?" Struggled the man in the chains.

The young yakusa boss lifted himself from his place on the dark and slowly walked toward the frightened couple; looking at them with murderous, wide, psychotic eyes; following right after them two mans with also plague masks covering their faces.

Actually now that they notice, there was eight in total... all of them around.

"W-wait a second-!" Said the woman in realization "You're that young leader of Shie Hassaikai! That young yakusa group, his name is Overhaul!" Chisaki didn't seem to even listened the woman, opting to look down in nothing but disgust at the quivering man in front of him.

"Despicable, you and your wife are just disgusting... Not only carry in your veins the hero syndrome but also did something that I can't just let slide..."

"We didn't even once got into the yakusa young man, I swear on all of my career-!"

"Your words are simply equal to trash to me so don't even need to spend your breath." Interrupted the villain, extending his open hand at his side.

A black thing that was on the shoulder of a much taller man gave it to him what seemed like an really old newspaper. When the young leader grabbed, he immediately oppen it on one od the pages, reading out loud.

"'Today, unfortunately, we announce the loss of our beloved, quirkless yet respected only child (Y/N) ... While we were just enjoying the few but precious family moments together, a despicable villain attacked us and took her life during the combat. We, with pure grudge and thirsting for justice, have put the evil factor in behind the bars, but still it does not fill the void that our beloved deceased daughter left us ... rest and peace my sweet (Y/N), we will always have you in our hearts.'" Chisaki read all of what was written in pure rage.

"You two are quite the actors, to have to say that on a jornal." The man wearing a white hoodie spoke coldly.

"Actors?" Laughed nervously the woman "Our daughter died during a villain's fight long ago... She was quirkless, couldn't even protect herse-"

"I don't even need to use my quirk to identify your lies woman." Spoke the man on Overhaul's side "Those are beautiful words but clearly false."

"You really think we are that dUMB YOU PUNks?!" Screamed Mimic in offense.

"What will be your orders boss?" A blond with green shirt spoke in pure sadistic exciment.

Overhaul raised his hand, demanding silence with his gesture, as he messed in his jacket pocket before pulling out a small picture.

He abruptly shoved both of the old newspaper; which had the photo of the supposed deceased child; and a picture that he had took it of you.

"Don't you verms think that these two are a A BIT too similiar?!" He couldn't contain his wrath and shouted at both at them making both heroes flinch in fear.

"Abandoned by you both in a shelter just because they couldn't reach your expectations of being what you two are..." Spoke coldly Chrono aiming his gun close to the womans forehead.

Overhaul gave the paper back to Mimic and right after, saving the photo back in his pocket.

"Usually I don't like dirting my hands, but you two are a real special case..." he started to lower his gloves down.

"Wait a second, please!" Pleaded the man almost tearing up "H-How about a deal? Me and my wife can give you all of our money we earned as heroes! Think about about it!" The woman gave her husband a glare due to his offer.

Greddy woman... despicable. They didn't remind him any of you... thankfully.

"How much you're willing to gave us?" Spoke in interest Mimic.

"Anything really! Just let us go and don't mention about... her to anyone." Chisaki wanted to rip this man's head out of his body at the way your "father" mentioned you.

"Give them all of your credits cards and you passwords. Now." Demanded the quivering man at his wife who hesitantly showed where it was in her purse.

Chrono took all of them, right after giving Kai a silently sign that it was real and he got them right.

"Everyone, except Chrono and Mimic, get out of here and wait outside." Commanded Overhaul which everyman respind with an "yes sir."

Right after Nemoto closed the door, Mimic unchained the couple, but just as them got up to their feet, Kurono headlocked the woman as Chisaki punched the man with all his force, making him hit the floor.

"HON-" Chrono pressed the gun in the women's temple.

"Shut your mouth if you don't want your brain to explode it with this damn bullet."

Overhaul marched his way and grabbed the man's collar shirt staring at him what only could be described as a death glare.

"B-but our deal-!"

"Yo punk, we accepted the money but we didn't say anything about letting you go." Said Mimic checking all of the credit cards while holding a phone.

"You didn't really think I would let go that easy did you?" Groaned Chisaki "After everthing you and your project of a wife did to my angel..."

"Y-your what-" the man couldn't even complete his question when Chisaki merciless touched his forehead and overhauled him on the spot.

The woman screamed in terror. Trying to get out of her captor's hold.

"Don't worry I didn't forget about you... disgusting." Overhaul muttered as he rubbed his hand.

"MONSTER! WHY DID YOU DO THAT?!" the woman shouted not even caring about the gun glued to the side of her head anymore.

"You really are just as dumb as your husband here. I will bring him back, his punishment isn't over..." he looked at her with threatening eyes "Monster huh? Look at both of you, damn hypocrites... Listen closely." He approached the woman who trembles in fear and hate at the villain.

"For every moment of pain; physically and emotionally; for every single tear that escaped from my angel's eyes due to your actions... I will kill; torture even; you both and bring you back over and over again until I am deeply satisfied..." the woman started to sobbing in fear as she pleaded for forgiveness and beged for let them go.

"Isn't it glorius? Feeling completely vulnerable, useless and totally submissive at the power at someone else's hands? I am not the person who you should be begging for forgiveness, but I guess you let that chance slip years ago, didn't you? What a great mother..." he spoke in pure sadistic sarcasm.

In a quick move Chisaki comanded that Chrono let go of the woman, making her hit the cold ground. And just before her eyes could've had catch it, he touched her face with all of his hand and overhauled her.

"Despicable creatures..." mumbled Chisaki as he saw the mess on the ground. He made his way to your once father when Chrono called his attention holding his cellphone for Kai to see.

"It's (Y/N), she's asking how are you doing and if we will take too long to come back. What should I respond?"

"Hey Overhaul? Isn't tommorow or after the day when you meet her or something?"Asked Mimic pointed one of the many credit cards at his boss. Subconsciously giving the young villain an idea.

"Tell her is going to take a little more than we expected, my job here isn't totally complete... But tell that I have a surprise for her so just be patient." Chrono nodded as Mimic snickered.

"Getting lucky with your partner Overhaul?"

"Shut your mouth Mimic."

[sp00kworm]

I'd love anything seteth omg pls write anything seteth and I'd love it uwu

A/N: Yes...now we write the good Seteth and his family piece...and him being teased by his brothers while they shower Flayn with love and affection. 

SPOILERS WARNING!!

--

Ancients (Seteth x Female Byleth mentioned)

Seeing his brothers locked to their draconic forms opened up something very deep in Seteth’s chest. The realisation that he was pathetically weaker than he had been a millenia ago was apparent, but to see even his own brothers falling to the same sickness, it was saddening. They were old, ancient in the history of Fodlan, but they were fading, losing their memories and their powers. Perhaps they too, were never intended to last this long, but rather be another failed project of their Mother’s. He smiled nonetheless, looking to his brothers, sitting before them in their cave of lustrous relics and ancient technology. Indech lowered his head first, dipping his neck so he could press his head to Seteth’s, greeting his brother with fondness before Macuil repeated the motion. 

 “Indech, Macuil, I am...” Seteth felt his throat go thick with feeling, “Nothing can express how happy I am to see you both again. With brief looks to one another, the two brothers rumbled, Macuil’s beak clicking and Indech’s great armoured back creaking, before they shrank down, eyes glazing with green power and light, burning away at their weak dragon forms until two familiar faces stood before him. Swathed in feathers, heavy robes and large sleeves, Macuil shook his hair first, the great wild locks falling about his shoulders before Indech yawned, armour clinking as he crossed his legs and removed his helmet, the feathers fluttering as he placed it on the stone floor. Indech remained silent, feeling naked without his great helmet, his short mossy, messy hair matted to his face a little, short goatee still as sharp as it had been when they were younger.

 “We have missed you too, brother.” Macuil started, knowing that Indech would be unlikely to start such a conversation and be able to continue it.

“Yes…Truly.” Indech offered quietly, still a little perturbed that he had been beaten not days before this chat. Though, Cichol was the one to insist on it.

Seteth smiled at them, a soft and genuine smile, though age reflected in the creases of his eyes, “It has been many years…I assumed that you had both faded, though I would not know. I have watched Flayn for nearly…” He paused, eyes looking to the stone, “I don’t believe I know how long. She was not long awakened before we returned to Seiros’ side.” He offered and watched his brothers stiffen, though Macuil tensed less noticeably.

The tactician pulled his thick hair away from his face, brushing his feather collar, “There was a reason we did not return… That woman. I do not…” He reserved his opinions for the sake of his brother, and turned his attention elsewhere, “Did you bring the little one?” Macuil’s eyes delighted at the thought of his niece, and Indech brightened at the idea.

 “Uncles!” Flayn was flustered, only now daring too peer out from behind her father’s back, “You both almost ruined my identity!” She only fumed for a moment, her uncles both peering at her face, Macuil studying her intensely, before growing embarrassed.

“Cichol! She is no more than a kitling, surely?” Macuil puzzled before beginning to pull at her cheeks.

“UNCLE!” Flayn whined through Macuil’s ministrations.

The elder pulling at her cheeks smiled with glee before looking at Seteth with a raised brow, “She is still a child, brother?”

Seteth sighed and pulled Flayn back a step, patting Macuil’s hands away from his daughter, “The restorative sleep.” He said simply as Flayn sat back by his side, his face sour.

“Ah.” Macuil nodded, “Forgive me, Cethleann. I am old, my mind forgets these things.” The mage nodded his head before patting the top of his head, “Neither of you chose to tell my about my hat?”

 Flayn gasped softly as Macuil clicked and twisted his wrist, hand glowing with blue magic before a pointed wizard’s hat appeared in it, clutched by the brim.

He set about shining the golden decoration, chuckling at Flayn’s joy, “Child, you can do magic, yet you are fascinated by the simplest tricks.” He clutched his hands together and blew on the fingers before revealing a fluttering butterfly before it flickered into dust.

“Uncle that was beautiful!” Flayn laughed before sliding a little closer to her Uncles.

“He is a showman.” Indech rolled his eyes, looking at his niece with a smile, “Those tricks, however, saved armies on the battle.”

Flayn smiled before flashing a bolt of white magic, forcing Macuil to blink rapidly, “Ah, Flayn, what…Oh that is a rather adorable trick. Most useful before pincer movements.” He observed.

Seteth coughed, “Brother, are you quite finished cooing?” He gave Indech a concealed withering look directed towards Macuil.

“I can continue cooing over your precious daughter, if you would like, brother?” Macuil snapped before pulling Flayn into his lap, the young girl fitting easily there.

 With a flick of his wrist, Macuil summoned his tome, opening the pages with a gust to show his niece. Indech shook his head before turning back to Cichol, his head tilted.

“You knew it was us…yet you still attacked us, brother…Why?” He tilted his head and looked on sternly, “That woman you were with…She seemed familiar.” Indech leaned over to ruffle Flayn’s curls, smiling as she batted his hands away, pouting at her uncle before she looked back at the pages of the book Macuil was showing her.

“Oh, she is a…work collegue. Her name is Byleth” Seteth nodded to himself before looking up, seeing the smirks forming over his brothers’ faces, “No, both of you, it is not like that. She is human!”

“That never stopped you before you were married, brother.” Macuil droned from his spot, flicking his hair over his shoulder before covering Flayn’s ears, “And it certainly never stopped you from chasing your wife’s tail for fifteen years.”

 Seteth groaned, clutching his face as Indech laughed, enjoying Macuil’s teasing instead of scolding the mage.

“Perhaps she is something more to you?” Indech offered after he finished laughing, tilting his head to the side, “That blush would suggest so.”

“Indech, please, silence yourself.” Seteth glared at his brother, the icy stare sent Indech’s way making Macuil laugh even more.

“Just ask to court her, Cichol.” Macuil let Flayn hold his tome, winking at Indech, “She would be perfect for you…She is just your type. Able to kill you with one hand.” Macuil laughed rambunctiously as Indech took Flayn from him, sitting the girl in his lap, covering her ears with his large, battle hardened hands. The girl continued to read, humming softly before looking at a rune and the markings on her uncle’s armour.

“It would do him well to have another woman in his life.” Indech nodded in agreement.

“Can we please move away from this topic?” Seteth groaned once more but was met with ignorance again as his brother swapped his daughter between them, showering her with gifts and tomes before ignoring him completely.

 “Father, can we take these tomes? Uncle Macuil insists I learn the applications of this white magic!” Flayn was overjoyed to learn, her uncles’ gifts making her blush with a pure smile.

 With a sigh, Seteth smiled, looking at Flayn as she laughed and joked with the old beasts. Perhaps one day, they could have a family again.

[bellemorte180]

Caroline the Vampire Slayer

“In every generation there is a Chosen One. She alone will stand against the vampires, the demons and the forces of darkness. She is the Slayer.” The vampire uttered the old prophecy that Caroline heard a thousand times. It was the mantra used by slayers that came before her and the fact that this vampire knew of it told Caroline one thing. He was old.

Very old.

“Well that’s a load of horseshit.”

“I suppose now it is, Sweetheart.”

Written for Klaorline Week 2020-Day Three-Crossover-Buffy the Vampire Slayer/The Vampire Diaries

Thank you to @klaroline-events, for arranging this. 

The cemetery was dark and haunting. The tombstones stood tall around the grounds, imposing as though they were death itself. The shadows created by the darkness did not help the haunting feeling Caroline felt tingle all over her body. The only light she had was by that of the full moon. Caroline’s paced quickened as she walked alongside the tombs of New Orleans, wooden stake in hand. She was there for a reason. She read each and every crypt she bypassed; looking for a specific one. She turned a corner and listened to the rustle of the leaves as the wind blew around her.

She wasn’t alone. She could sense him watching her but Caroline was not an amateur. She had been doing this for years and could tell when she was being followed; stalked and preyed upon. Caroline hated feeling weak and took pleasure in putting those in their place who assumed that she was nothing more than a pretty face. Vampires.

They always had a thing for hunting and torturing their victims. The more beautiful they were, the more pleasure they drove from the act. Caroline had come across her fair share of vampires and they always had one thing in common; they underestimated her-and that was their mistake.

Once Caroline reached the crypt that she was looking for, she walked up to the fresh engraving and read the name of the recently deceased. Caroline saw his obituary online and knew there was a chance he would rise again. Neck abrasions? Check. Drained of blood? Check. Caroline was unsure what disturbed her more, the fact that she knew what to look for in a corpse that would raise from the dead or the fact that she had the obituaries set as a favorite on her smartphone.

“I supposed you’re not going to help me break into the crypt instead of standing there staring at me like a creep, right?” Caroline stated and turned around. There he was, leaning against another tomb; his arms crossed o ver his chest and he appeared far too comfortable for her liking. He had sandy blonde hair and by the smirk on his lips, she could see his dimples from where she stood. “I wouldn’t break in there if I were you.”

“Why? Scared your friend is going to drink me dry?”

“Perhaps.” The vampire chuckled and Caroline scowled. She hated this part. The part where the vampires used sarcasm and quips in order to try and disarm her. Caroline never had the patience for it and wished that they would just attack her so she could steak them and be done with it. “Or you could have a drink with me.”

“I’d rather die of thirst but thanks.” He full on laughed at that. He pushed from the tomb he was leaning against and strolled towards her. Caroline took in his appearance. He wore perfectly fitted jeans and a dark Henley. He had a chain around his neck that Caroline wondered if it could be used to sever his head. He was attractive and with that English accent flowing from his lips, she could see why any girl to go weak in the knees; but Caroline was not any other girl.

“In every generation there is a Chosen One. She alone will stand against the vampires, the demons and the forces of darkness. She is the Slayer.” The vampire uttered the old prophecy that Caroline heard a thousand times. It was the mantra used by slayers that came before her and the fact that this vampire knew of it told Caroline one thing. He was old.

Very old.

“Well that’s a load of horseshit.”

“I suppose now it is, Sweetheart.” The vampire was still smirking at her. “However, I remember the days when there was just one vampire slayer. From what I heard she was a fearsome thing to behold. I personally stayed out of her way and let the lesser beings pick a fight with her. Perhaps that was my mistake.”

“And why is that?”

“Because there is not just one anymore, is there?” Caroline remained silent, allowing the vampire to speak. “She made all potentials into slayers and now we have an infestation. Wouldn’t you say so?”

Once upon a time, Caroline’s life had been just fine. She lived in a small town in the middle of nowhere Virginia with her mother and father. Her mother was a cop, her dad was gay; not perfect but she was happy as she could have been.

And then on one ordinary day in May of 2003, Caroline felt the change. She felt the strength flow through her and she never felt weak again. She was stronger, faster and just better. Caroline would be lying if she did not fall in love with the feeling of power coursing through her; and she was only eleven at the time. Once it became apparent that her powers came with great responsibility, she hesitated. She never wanted to admit the rush she felt when in the midst of a fight or how the relief she felt the moment she was inches from death. Yet, to have that pull towards the power that the higher ups didn’t want her to have was infuriated Caroline. There was apart of her that wanted more.

“I would say that the slayers were not the ones who caused the infestation.” Caroline rolled her eyes at him and scowled. “Are you done now? Can we move onto the part of the night where I kick your ass? Because the thing is, I already have a date.” She stated as she motioned towards the crypt and the fresh tomb.

“As you wish Sweetheart.” The vampire’s face morphed and the demon presented itself. Caroline thought it was a shame how handsome he once was but the moment the bumps appeared on his face and the fangs descended, he became hideous. Although, she supposed that was the point. The face of an angel hiding that of a demon.

The vampire advanced but Caroline was ready. She went for the gut but he was faster. He knocked her to the ground and was on top of her in an instant. Caroline quickly leveraged herself up and threw him backwards with enough strength that he landed several feet away on his back. She jumped up quickly and ran towards him. She jumped, pushed off the mausoleum beside her and kicked him square in the chest. Caroline continued with her assault but it became apparent that he was not even trying to fight her; only just defending her kicks and punches.

And that pissed her off.

“Seriously!” She hissed between her teeth. She threw another punch and the vampire blocked easily. She gripped her steak and moved to shove it through his heart but he grabbed her wrist; knocking it from her grasp. He pushed her backward but the motion was gentle. The vampire cocked his head at her. “You’re like, not even trying.”

“You can’t win, love. I’m stronger than you.” Caroline narrowed her eyes and scowled. How many times has a vampire said that to her and just ended on the wrong end of her steak? “But you know that. You know that I could kill you easily; with little effort and yet you still fight. I admire that.”

“Yeah well, I admire nothing about you.” In a flash, the vampire was in front of her but did not attack. Instead, he just peered down at her with curiosity. Caroline just stared right back and could not help but admit that he had the bluest eyes she had ever seen.

“We’ll meet again, little slayer.” The vampire quickly gripped her shoulder’s and before she could react, the vampire lowered his lips to hers and kissed her. Caroline could not move as she felt their lips meet. She did not know if it was shock or something else but she couldn’t stop her eyes fluttering shut. When they opened, the vampire was gone. Before she could process what happened, the tomb beside her burst open and the newly formed vampire she had been waiting on crawled out.

“Oh, come on!”

*

“He kissed you!” Elena was hung up on that part of the story. In typical fashion, Caroline would tell her best friend of her nightly patrol and this one was far from normal. She entered their living room and sat their drinks down upon the coffee table, while looking at Caroline in disbelief. When Caroline met Elena, the other girl spoke little to no English. They were the same age and when the awakening happened, the higher ups decided to train them together.

Elena came from an old gypsy family in Bulgaria and once they learned that she was a slayer, her family was more than happy to turn her over to the council. Apparently, being a slayer was high praise for her people. They became fast friends and were often stationed together. Currently, they shared an apartment in the middle of New Orleans Garden District.

“I know, right?! I mean, I have had my ass handed to me by vampires before but I never had one kiss me.” Caroline pulled a disgusted face at the thought. In truth it wasn’t the kiss that bothered her, it was the fact that she didn’t anticipate it.

“Have you spoke to Alaric?” Elena asked, bringing her soda to her lips. “He should know. He always wants to know if something seems off on a patrol.” It was true, Alaric took her and Elena’s safety to heart. He was their Watcher and practically raised them through their teenage years. Of course, her family had no idea what was truly going on with Caroline. They all assumed she became friends with the new foreign girl and spent a lot of time at her home with Elena’s Uncle Alaric.

To this day Caroline’s family did not know she hunted vampires for a living.

“No. I will in the morning.” Caroline replied as there was a knock on their apartment door. Both Elena and Caroline looked at one another and rolled their eyes. It was late but their neighbor Sophie was a bartender and had a tendency to forget her keys. Elena pushed herself from the sofa and walked to their entrance way. Caroline’s senses went on high alert and her head shot up. She didn’t hear either Elena’s or Sophie’s voice but a second later, Elena rounded the corner and came back into the living room. She seemed dazed and confused but a second later, she shook it off. “You okay?”

“What? Yeah, just Sophie being Sophie.” Elena sat back down but Caroline could not shake the chills that ran down spine. Something seemed off but Elena seemed to be fine compared to how she had been a second later. “I just cannot get over the fact that he kissed you.”

The following morning had both Elena and Caroline sitting around Alaric’s table going over the previous night’s patrol. Caroline found herself going over what happened multiple times, answering all and any questions Alaric had. Bonnie, a witch who frequently helped them, was flipping through old book trying to see if she could find the vampire Caroline described.

“And he never mentioned a name?” Alaric asked for what seemed like the thousandth time.

“No. But he was super old and super British, I think. Maybe European?”

“That really narrows it down Caroline. Shall I just make a list of all the old European vampires in existence? Because there are a lot.” Bonnie replied and Caroline rolled her eyes. In truth, she did not want to make what happened a big deal. She wanted to forget about it. Not because a vampire got the better of her but because there was something about him that felt etched under her skin.

“Look, next time a vampire decides to randomly kiss me instead of taking a swing, I’ll ask for his name tag first.” Caroline snapped.

“It’s not her fault. Old vampires are strong and Caroline said he wasn’t even trying to fight back.” Elena replied with a small smile. She was always good at calming the waters when tensions ran high. She was a peacemaker and the one who held their little band of rebels together.

“Do you want me to go out with you tonight?” Jeremy asked. He was Alaric’s actual nephew from Denver and was training to one day become a Watcher. He was eager and readily enjoyed the hunt. He had a knack for it but Caroline preferred patrolling alone but there was something about this vampire that unnerved her.

“Sure. Why not?”

And that went on for weeks. Caroline and Elena would alternate their patrols but they came up with nothing. They had little to go off of and their hundreds of vampires that matched the description Caroline provided. Elena wanted to think that maybe the vampire moved on or left New Orleans. However, Caroline thought differently. When she patrolled, she felt as though she was being followed and watched. He never showed himself but she could tell that he was there.

There were times when she was facing a vampire, demon and on an occasion a bad-ass witch that was causing her problems. If there was a second that she was about to lose, it was like her opponent was thrown from her, giving her the upper hand. When they were dead and Caroline looked around, she always found that she was alone.

“What about him?” Bonnie asked, three weeks after the first encounter. Elena was on patrol with Jeremy and the rest of them were doing research…again. Caroline looked at the page and shook her head in the negative.

“No. That’s Damon Salvatore. Turned 1864. Looks nothing like him.” She paused, not wanting to mention that Alaric had shown her the same portrait of the same vampire just a few days earlier. In truth, Caroline was just tired of this. Tired of flipping through the same dusty volumes and coming up empty. She knew that Alaric was contacting the council and the higher ups to see if they could provide more information but thus far, they have come back empty handed. “And the vampire I faced just felt older than that. I can’t explain it.”

“I wish we had more to go on.” Bonnie replied and almost instant, she got her wish.

“Alaric!” Jeremy’s voice called from outside the small house Alaric rented. Alaric ran and opened the door standing by for Jeremy who was carrying Elena in his arms. Tears were streaming down his face as he laid her on the table.

Elena was dead.

“What happened?” Alaric’s voice was hoarse and he couldn’t take his off Elena’s body. Her eyes were closed but there was blood covering her blue long-sleeved shirt. Her neck looked as though it had been mauled and that gave everyone a bad feeling. Bonnie sank down onto the chair, speechless and defeated. “He came out of nowhere. Old vampire matching Caroline’s description. Elena was no match for him. She fought him with everything she had but he was just too strong. I tried to help but he knocked me out. When I came too, she was already dead.”

“Why?” Caroline asked furiously. She had tears falling freely. “Why her? I fought him and he didn’t even try. It was like he enjoyed the sparing. Like it was some kind of game. Why would he put all his strength into fighting and killing her?”

“I don’t know.” Alaric whispered. “I just don’t know.

                                                              *

Elena was buried in the same cemetery that she died in. They had a small service for her. No one outside of their small group and a few other slayers who were stationed in the surrounding cities attended. The funeral was heartbreaking. They all said their goodbyes, Bonnie breaking down completely and Jeremy had to take her back to Alaric’s in order for her calm down.

Caroline stayed because she didn’t have any other choice.

Elena Petrova A Warrior at Peace

“She is not though, at peace.” Caroline said, staring at the engraving. It was a lie. A façade. “This feels wrong. She always wanted to be buried back in Bulgaria. She wanted to be put to rest by her ancestors. Not in some cemetery in some city that she was stationed in for some never-ending war against good and evil. She was better than this.”

“You know why we had to bury her here Caroline.” Alaric told her and she knew he hated it to. They had three days to bury her. There just wasn’t enough time to send her body to Bulgaria. They all hated it. It was not what Elena would have wanted. “Can you do this?”

“I have to.” Alaric nodded. “You can go. I need to do this alone.” With that, Alaric left the cemetery, but looked back at his last slayer. He should stay. He should help her but he knew Caroline needed this; and if he was honest, he couldn’t watch Elena die a second time.

It wasn’t long for her grave to burst open. Caroline didn’t jump or flinch. She knew it was coming. She expected it. Elena came crawling out, except it wasn’t Elena. It was the demon wearing her face. It was a gut punch that Caroline wasn’t prepared for. Her friend was dead and the fact that this monster wore her face was an insult that was irrevocably burned into Caroline’s soul.

Elena attacked first. Caroline was quick but Elena was faster. They knew each other’s moves perfectly. They trained together for years. They knew each other weaknesses and strengths. It was easy to predict what each would do next. Despite everything, Caroline found that she didn’t have the strength to drive that steak through her heart and it was as though Elena wasn’t trying to kill her.

“I have a message for you.” Elena taunted when she knocked Caroline to the ground.

“From who?”

“Klaus.” Elena smirked. “His exact words where ‘Tell Caroline, that I will see her soon.’ The plans he has for you, well they are just sinful.” Elena wasn’t going to kill her. Not because she didn’t want to but because she was told not to. She was a pawn in someone else’s bigger plans. A piece moved in some sick and twisted game. “Who knows? You might actually enjoy it. I know I did.”

“Stop it. This isn’t you and you know it.” Caroline hissed out.

“Are you trying to make me feel bad about being a vampire? Don’t you get it? I don’t care.” Elena looked at her with not a single ounce of compassion. “I’m dead Caroline. Maybe you should try it. You might stop whining about how much you hate being a slayer, even though we all know you’re lying. You love the thrill of the kill and the fight more than any of the rest of us. Added bonus, you won’t have to feel guilty about all the dirty thoughts you have about Klaus.”

It was a low blow. Caroline had confided in Elena that there was a small part of her that enjoyed that vampire’s kiss. That there was a dark part of her that wondered what it would be like to give into that darkness. It was the same part of her that loved the power she had as a slayer. They were thoughts that she never would have voice aloud to anyone, especially not Alaric, Bonnie or Jeremy but Elena was different. Elena understood what the darkness meant to a slayer.

“Shut up.”

“Make me.” Elena taunted her and it just pissed Caroline off. This wasn’t her friend but instead a demon that knew all her secrets. Caroline lost it. She pulled herself up and wailed on Elena. Elena fought back but she didn’t have the anger and devastation that was driving Caroline. For a brief moment, Elena no longer began her friend but instead a faceless vampire that needed to be stamped out. The realization that her friend was truly dead and gone didn’t hit Caroline until the steak was lodged in her heart.

Elena looked at Caroline in disbelief, as though she did not expect her to be able to actually kill her. Caroline gazed at her, never breaking eye contact until Elena faded into nothing but ash. Once Caroline was left standing along, surrounded by the pile of ash that had once been her friend. Unable to stand anymore, she sunk down, rested her back against the stone of Elena’s tomb and cried.

Hours later, when she was able to collect herself, Caroline made her way back to her apartment. She could hear the never-ending party that was New Orleans but it did faze her. It was like the lives of those she protected didn’t exist in that moment. She felt as though there was nothing left. Once she reached her apartment, Caroline let herself in and just listened to the empty apartment. Part of her was waiting to hear Elena on the phone, speaking in Bulgarian to someone from her home or perhaps to see her on the sofa writing in her journal; but there was nothing.

Caroline shook her head and went to her bedroom, tossing her coat on the armchair. She kicked her shoes off and went to her dresser to pull out a pair of pajamas in order to turn on a shower. She was making a mental note to call Alaric to let him know she was all right when something caught her eye. There was an envelope resting on her pillow. Caroline walked over to it and pulled out a folded piece of paper. Once it was unfolded it revealed a drawing.

It was a drawing of her, crying below Elena’s grave. At the bottom there was a signature.

Klaus

“I never invited him in. How did he get in Alaric?” Caroline asked an hour later when both Bonnie and Alaric rushed over after her frantic phone call. She was pacing back and forth in her entryway. Bonnie had a spell book open and was burning sage, muttering words that would revoke any invitation made to a vampire. “I don’t know. You never saw him around? He never knocked on the door. Anything at all? You never invited him in?”

“Of course not-“Caroline paused, her eyes growing wide. She ran over to the door where Bonnie was still chanting and looked at the key holder. There, among the rest of their keys stood one that should not be there. Caroline reached and picked it up. “Sophie’s key. It shouldn’t be here.”

“Caroline?”

“The night I first met Klaus. I came home and was talking to Elena about it. It was late and we had a knock on the door.” Caroline paused but Alaric told her to continue. “It’s not unusual. Our neighbor Sophie is a bartender and comes home late. Sometimes she forgets her key. That night when Elena answered the door something was weird when she came back in.”

“Weird how?”

“She seemed dazed. I asked if she was okay but she just said that it was Sophie and I didn’t think anything more on it.” Caroline began to cry again. “He must have caught her off guard. Used some kind of mind control on her. She must have invited him in.” Caroline sank to the ground and just lost it. Bonnie put down the spell book and pulled her into an embrace.

Neither girl moved until the sun came up.

                                                              *

“Niklaus Mikaelson. Turned roughly around the year of 1001 by an unknown vampire. He was a Viking in his human life and a nasty one at that. Conquered a lot of land, enslaved a lot of people. Once turned he made his way home to his native land of what is now known as Norway. He murdered both his parents, his entire village and then turned all four of his siblings into vampires. All still alive except for Klaus’s eldest brother, Finn. He was staked through heart about a hundred years after he was turned.” Bonnie read off everything she found on him. Once they had a name, it was far easier for them to find the information that they need. She and Jeremy had poured themselves into research mode and Caroline just soaked up everything they told her.

“A thousand-year-old Viking vampire is obsessed with me. Perfect.” Caroline read everything she could about Klaus. Despite the fact that he was highly dangerous, murdered her best friend and was tormenting her, there was something fascinating about him. She would deny it but she couldn’t help but be drawn in by the face in the books Bonnie produced.

The gifts kept coming. She would have a drawing slid under her door almost nightly. Once there was a knock on the door and a small jewelry box was waiting for her on the other side. The bracelet that was nestled inside was gorgeous.

Originally worn by a princess almost as beautiful as you. Klaus

Caroline would never admit it to anyone but she kept the bracelet and the drawings were pressed between a few books on her bookshelf.

“I contacted the council to see what they knew about the siblings.” Alaric stated. “Kol seems to be in the east, last known location was Italy. Elijah seems to be in England but is known to visit Klaus when he can. Rebekah is rarely away from Klaus so there is a good chance that she is also in New Orleans.” Caroline did not say anything and Alaric knelt down beside her. “We will kill him. One way or another. I refuse to lose you both to this monster.”

“Yeah.” Caroline did not know what to say, instead she just stood from her seat. “I have to go and, I don’t know. Kill something.”

“Do you want me to go with you?” Jeremy asked as she picked up her a steak and shoved it inside her coat.

“No.”

Before they could stop her, Caroline was out of Alaric’s house. The sun had not set but it would soon. While she waited for the darkness to grow around her, Caroline just walked around the streets of New Orleans. She wanted a vampire or something to cross her path but at the same time, she was tired of fighting. She knew that despite the fact that her heritage prepared Elena for the possibility of her calling, deep down Elena hated being a slayer. While Caroline outwardly professed her disdain for it, deep down she knew the truth.

She loved the strength and the power. She loved the fight and the feeling of taking another beings life.

She loved the darkness.

“Hello Caroline.” She paused in the middle of Bourbon street, people milling all around her completely unaware of the danger that surrounded them. She turned and there he stood. He seemed handsome and innocent enough. He was smiling at her and her heart fluttered; but what worried Caroline more was the fact that she could not tell if the flutter was from him, or the fury she felt at Elena’s death.

“Klaus.”

“You received my message I see.”

“Yeah. Loud and clear.” Caroline stated, crossing her arms. She shook her head in anger and frustration. She focused on the anger, in hopes of burying down that darker part of herself. “Next time you want to send me a message, trying using this ancient gadget called a telephone instead of killing my friends.”

“I didn’t kill Elena.” Klaus told her. “I sired her. You’re the one who drove a steak through her heart and turned her into dust.”

In a fit of rage, Caroline went to grab her steak that was still inside her coat but Klaus was faster. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her to him. He spun her so her back was pressed against his chest. He pulled the steak from her coat and tossed it down an alleyway to their left before any of the people could see.

“Let go of me.”

“Right here Caroline? In the middle of the street? You would turn me to dust right here for a hundred eyes to see?” Klaus chuckled. “I’m sure your superiors would just love you for it.” In truth, they wouldn’t. Both Klaus and Caroline knew that the council wanted to keep vampires, demons and slayers a secret. It was the reason why she could never be honest with her family about what she did. It protected them and after Elena, she could understand why.

“If it meant being rid of you. Then yes, I would steak you in front of all these people and not think twice.” She tried to get out of his grasp but he just held her tighter. She thought about head butting him and running but he would catch her in the end. She knew he would. She could only wonder at the small part of her that would let him.

“You and I both know you’re not being honest.” His breath was hot against her ear and he could feel the pulsing of her blood through her body. “I know you’ve kept my drawings. I know you kept the bracelet I gave you. I know that each night before you go to sleep you slip it on, but only for a few minutes. Never underestimate the allure to darkness Caroline.”

“There is no allure to darkness.”

“Really? So, you’ve never felt the attraction that comes from someone who is capable of terrible things who for some reason only cares about you?”

“Why me?”

“I fancy you.” Caroline huffed in response and Klaus seemed to enjoy that. “Is that so hard to believe?”

“Yes.”

“Why? You’re beautiful. You’re strong and full of light. I enjoy you."

“Yeah, well. Stop it.” Klaus turned Caroline in his arms. She looked deeply into his eyes and for a second, she could see the good in him. There was something human about him. She had fought hundreds of vampires and they all seemed so demonic to her; less than human and repulsive but Klaus was different. Perhaps it was because he was so old or perhaps it was something else entirely.

“I don’t believe that you mean that.” Klaus whispered to her and his eyes flickered to her lips. He hesitated for a moment, wondering if she would stop him but when she didn’t, he leaned forward, molding their lips together. Like their first kiss, Caroline closed her eyes. She pressed herself into the kiss and just let herself feel. Once he pulled away, Klaus kissed her forehead. “Soon Caroline, you’ll have no reason to fight anymore.”

Then he was gone and Caroline was left standing in the middle of a crowded street, people milling about as though she had not been kissed by the one creature that she should hate most of all. She turned and ran. She ran through the streets, ignoring the irritated looks she got from those she passed. She should go directly to Alaric and tell him what happened. But she couldn’t. She didn’t want to admit it to herself but she knew deep down that Klaus was right.

She was being pulled to the darkness and she was barley putting up a fight.

It terrified her that Klaus knew her better than she knew herself.

                                                              *

The gifts kept coming. It wasn’t every day but she would get a drawing here and there scattered throughout the week. On occasion he would send her jewelry or even a letter detailing his life. He spoke about a trek through the Andes and about the first girl who broke his heart over a thousand years ago. It was hard for Caroline to separate the demon and the man. She was always taught that they were not one in the same but with Klaus, it felt different.

On the day of Caroline’s twenty-third birthday, a knock was heard at her door. She expected something today. She knew that Klaus was watching her and he would have learned that it was her birthday. While he was many horrible things, he was at least consistent. So, when Caroline opened her door, she was not surprised to find a big box waiting for her. She picked it up and brought it into her bedroom. Inside was one of the most beautiful ball gowns she had ever seen. It was blue with hints of purple throughout. The bodice had silver diamonds all linked together in an intriguing pattern. The skirt was full and made of tulle.

Happy Birthday Caroline, Save me a dance. Klaus 7:30

“Are you sure you don’t want to do anything?” Bonnie’s voice chimed through the phone. “I can come over and we can watch movies. Eat horrible food and just talk.” When Caroline didn’t respond, Bonnie pressed on. “I know you’re going through a lot. The loss of Elena hit us all hard and with Klaus out there, I know you’re terrified.”

“Yeah. I know.” Truth was she wasn’t terrified of Klaus. Not anymore. She was more terrified of herself than anything else. She glanced at the dress and made her decision. “I want to be alone Bonnie. I’m not in the mood to celebrate.”

“Okay. If you change your mind. Call me.”

“Bye Bonnie.” Caroline hung up the phone and glanced at the clock. She showered, pulled her hair into an up-do and put on the dress. It fit her perfectly and she really should not have been surprised. She pulled out the bracelet he gave her and snapped it around her wrist. Her did her make-up simply and just before the clock hit 7:30, Caroline slipped on some flats and grabbed her steak; still undecided on what the night would bring.

At exactly 7:30, there was a knock on her door. When answered a man she did not know what waiting for her.

“Ms. Forbes?”

“Yes.”

“Follow me.” Obeying his command, Caroline followed the strange man down the hallway of her apartment building. Outside of the building was a limo waiting for her. Wordlessly, she slipped into the back of it. She watched the city fly by as they approached whatever destination Klaus had in mind for her. It wasn’t long before they pulled up in front of the mansion of Delphine LaLaurie, New Orleans famed serial killer.

“Well this is highly appropriate.” Caroline muttered as she climbed out of the limo. The man indicated for her to follow him. She allowed him to lead her into the mansion and through the dark halls. Soon enough the man opened a door to a gigantic ball room and there waiting in the middle of it was Klaus. Only Klaus.

“You came.” He replied as though he was unsure if she would show. Caroline looked down at the steak in her hands and back up to him. He was handsome. He wore a tux and his hair was slicked back like Caroline would have imagined a man in the twenties would have done.

“Are you going to kill me?”

“On your birthday? Do you really think that low of me?”

“Yes.” In an instant Klaus was in front of her, gazing down at her. She did not move. If it had been anyone else, she would have moved to attack and strike but she refrained. There was a war waging inside of her. The part of her that hunted vampires for the majority of her life told her to kill him, to end his existence. However, there was a smaller part of her that wanted her to trust him.

“I love birthdays.”

“Yeah. Well, aren’t you like a billion or something?”

“When you’re a vampire, Caroline, you have to adjust your perception of time. Celebrate the fact that you are no longer bound by trivial human conventions.” He leaned down and kissed her cheek softly. “I could kill you. If that is what you want. If you really believe that your existence has no meaning beyond the destiny that was given to you.” He paused and Caroline could see behind the monster that he was. “I’ve thought about it, once or twice over the centuries, truth be told. But I’ll let you in on a little secret, there is a whole world out there waiting for you. Great cities, and art, and music. Genuine beauty. It could all be yours and all you have to do is ask.”

“Why are you doing this to me? Why are you tormenting me this way?”

“If I was tormenting you, why did you come tonight?”

“To kill you.”

“Sweetheart, if you wanted to kill me, you would have already driven this steak through my heart, and I would have let you. But you didn’t.” Klaus reached out and traced his fingertips down the side of her arm to her wrist. He touched the bracelet he gave her gently before taking the steak from him. He tossed it to the floor and Caroline could hear the clank as it hit the ground. He stepped back and held out his hand. “Dance with me.”

Caroline slid her hand into his and allowed herself to be led to the dance floor. Klaus began twirling her around the dance-floor despite the fact that there was no music. She found that they did not need any. Klaus was creating his own rhythm and Caroline could not help but follow along. They twisted and turned.

Caroline kept going back and forth between what she should do and what she wanted. She loved the power of being the slayer. She loved the darkness and the hunt but she was tired of the expectations and the need to please the idea of what was right by everyone else. Part of her wanted to take what Klaus was offering her. But he was the bad guy. He tormented her for months; stalking her and watching her. He turned Elena just to watched Caroline be forced to kill her. He sent her gifts and whispered sweet nothings to her as though he was a lover.

Klaus was the devil but he was so tempting.

“I’ve caught myself wishing that I could forget all the horrible things that you have done.”

“But you can’t. Can you?”

“I think I already have.” The words came out as a whisper and if Klaus had not been a vampire, she was not sure he would have heard it. He gripped her waist and moved them backwards. Caroline’s back hit one of the walls of the ballroom and before she could react, Klaus’s lips were devouring hers. The kiss was bruising and passionate.

Klaus moved his lips down her throat and Caroline tossed her head back, allowing him better access. Her hands trailed down his clothed chest and ripped it apart, buttons flying everywhere. Klaus discarded his coat and pulled the bow-tie from his neck, tossing it somewhere in the room. He reached for the hem of her skit and pushed it upward. Once it was bunched at her waist, Klaus lifted her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist. His hand traveled up her leg and brushed against her clit; causing Caroline to hiss.

“Tisk tisk, no panties?”

“Shut up.”

Caroline pulled his head to her and kissed him again. His fingers still playing with her while she rode out the feeling of his fingers. Soon it wasn’t enough and she reached down to undo his pants. She opened them the best she could and pulled out his standing erection. Klaus reached down and aligned himself with her. Within a second, he pushed himself inside her and Caroline hissed.

Klaus was not gentle. He pushed himself in and out of her with such force that Caroline was not used to. She did not hate it but instead encouraged him to continue. Begging him not to stop but to continue fucking her until she felt nothing else. It was dirty, dark and wrong but Caroline knew that she had given herself over to that long ago. Long before Klaus entered her life.

Klaus grabbed her hair and tilted her head to the side. Caroline saw his face transform and the monster come out to play. He sank his teeth into her neck, piercing her skin and she let him. Caroline wasn’t afraid anymore. She was done running from this and done pretending that she didn’t want to fall into the darkness he spoke of. Klaus continued to move in and out of while he drained her of her blood. The feeling of him inside and her killing her all at once was more euphoric than she would have ever expected. Caroline could feel her heart begin to slow. She could sense herself drift off into the void. When she was just about to go, she felt something press against her lips. It was sticky and tasted like copper.

“There now Sweetheart. Drink up.” Caroline realized that Klaus was offering her his wrist and she latched on. She bit into his skin deeply and let the blood flow down her throat. She drank as much as she could until Klaus pulled his wrist away from her. Slowly the darkness began to overcome her and she Klaus pull himself out of her. He lifted her and she felt herself being laid on something soft. “When you wake, my love. I will show you the world. However long it takes.”

[bamon4bamily]

TVD 9x11 - Jukebox Feels (part 1) Enjoy! =)

Cut to - 2018 prison world, the Salvatore mansion. Katherine walks through the front door, dazed and confused. She must be having a nightmare, she thinks to herself; this can’t be happening, she can’t possibly be where she thinks she is. Although her intuition tells her the contrary, she gives it a shot, on the slim chance it might not be true…

KATHERINE: Hello? Anyone there? (She searches the house; as expected, it’s empty. She tries different techniques to escape the situation. Pinches herself to wake up, nothing. Taps her feet together, and with her eyes closed whispers: There’s no place like home, there’s no place like home… doesn’t work either). Maybe if I go to sleep, I’ll wake up and everything will be back to normal… Yes, I need to sleep (she goes into Stefan’s room, puts on one of his pajamas and lies in his bed. Not even a minute in, and she’s off dreaming of sheep.

Cut to – Akumal, Mexico. After a beautiful moonlight dinner, Damon and Bonnie sit on the beach, admiring the full moon’s glow, and some real good tequila.

 DAMON: (Randomly) Truth or dare…

BONNIE: (Laughs) Are you serious?

DAMON: I’m dead serious, come on, scaredy-cat!

BONNIE: Please! I just don’t want to humiliate you, cry-baby!

DAMON: Oh, it’s on! Brace yourself for defeat!

BONNIE: Bring it!

DAMON: One rule, no magic or psychy stuff!

BONNIE: Fine, no vamp tricks.

DAMON: Deal. Truth or dare?

BONNIE: Dare.

DAMON: I’ll start easy, (smirks) don’t want you loosing so fast. I dare you to take a shot of tequila while doing a handstand.

BONNIE: Piece of cake! (Delivers to perfection) My turn, truth or dare?

DAMON: Truth.

BONNIE: Okay, let’s settle this once and for all; do you steal from the bank when we play monopoly?

DAMON: (Grins) Not every time…

BONNIE: (Whacks him with her elbow) I knew it!

DAMON: What can I say, Bon, too much temptation. Okay, truth or dare?

BONNIE: Dare.

DAMON: I’m sensing a pattern here, but suit yourself. I dare you to go up to one of the people at the bar and tell them, in a very low and creepy voice, I see dead people…

BONNIE: I’m gonna get you back for this one! (Although hesitant, she delivers; freaking the hell out of the poor soul unfortunate to be approached by her. They go back to their spot) Okay, Mr. smarty pants. My turn, truth or dare… and you better choose dare!

DAMON: Dare… I say truth!

BONNIE: I’ll break you, eventually. What is the most embarrassing thing in your room?

DAMON: Oh, you’re going there! You already know the answer…

BONNIE: I do, but I want to hear you say it.

DAMON: Fine, my unicorn onesies.

BONNIE: With a butt crack… can’t forget the butt crack (she laughs)!

DAMON: They’re cozy! Okay, missy, shit just got real! Truth or dare…

BONNIE: I’m going with truth; just cause I know you’ll make me do some crazy shit after that one.  

DAMON: (With a wicked grin, rubbing his hands) Excellent…  What is your guilty pleasure?

BONNIE: Oh, come on! You know that…

DAMON: I do, but I also want to hear you say it, so, go on…

BONNIE: Fine… occasionally I like to dress up like Whitney Houston in the Queen of the Night video from the Bodyguard, and perform in front of the mirror…

DAMON: Occasionally? More like every other Sunday... and it’s HOT AF!  

BONNIE: Can’t believe you caught me doing that!

DAMON: One of my fondest prison world memories! I have to hand it to you, Bon, you really got creative with the costume.

BONNIE: I’ve perfected it since then… Well, there, I said it! Happy now?

DAMON: Never been happier… (leans in to kiss her) and you are, beyond a doubt, the queen of the night…

BONNIE: Don’t think for a second that’s gonna get you out of what’s coming…Truth or dare?

DAMON: I’m a mix it up and go with dare.

BONNIE: (With a wicked grin, rubbing her hands) Been waiting for that since we started.

DAMON: I’m instantly regretting my decision.

BONNIE: (Laughs) Oh, and you should! You’re in trouble now… Mr. Damon Salvatore, your mission, which you have no choice but to accept, is to (she opens a portal to their room, goes and comes back).

DAMON: Hey, we said no tricks!

BONNIE: You said no magic, no psychic stuff, but you never mentioned teleporting, so suck it! Here (hands him one of her outfits and her make-up kit) Put this on, make-up and all. Once you are ready, and looking gorge, you are going to perform Queen of the Night to the guests at the beach bar. Good luck, doll! (Laughs hysterically).

DAMON: Oh, Bon-Bon… when you least expected, I’ll get you back.

BONNIE: (Mocking) I’m sure you will; but for now, come on, dancing queen, your audience awaits. (Damon performs, surprisingly well, or at least good enough to receive and applause from his audience, who, although very confused, found the show quite entertaining. They go back to their spot). You did great, almost nailed the choreography.

DAMON: Well, I learned from the best.

BONNIE: I think it’s safe to say I won this little game.

DAMON: This time around… 

BONNIE: How bout you get out of those clothes, I get out of mine, and we go for a night swim?

DAMON: Don’t have to ask me twice! (As he is taking the high heels off) How do you guys walk in these things??

BONNIE: You get used to it, (teasing) just don’t get too used to it... Ready, my night queen?

DAMON: (Carries her) Let’s go, witchy! (They swim under the moonlight; then make love till sunrise).

Cut to - The secret facility, Edward’s cell. He has been sleeping for quite some time. He slowly begins to wake; as he opens his eyes, he sees someone lying on the floor under a pool of blood, right next to his bed. He jumps up in a scare.

 AUGUSTUS: Oh, don’t be alarmed, son, it’s not me, I’m doing just fine. Meet your uncle Pete; granted it might not be the best introduction, but hey, you wanted to meet your family… well, there you go.

EDWARD: (Disgusted and in shock) What is this!!??  

AUGUSTUS: It’s a dead body, son. And, from what I hear they start to smell pretty bad once they decompose; so, I suggest you move fast and bring your cousin Matty back. Feel free to use our tech if it helps, Eddie here (points to the strange man that has been standing outside his cell everyday) is more than happy to help.

EDWARD: (Crying in despair, looking at the corpse) Oh god, oh, god!!! (To his father) You are fucking insane!!!

AUGUSTUS: Language, boy! I taught you better manners than that… guess I should have never left you in Tamara’s care; what a waste of an ivy-league education. My fault for bringing in the trash. Oh, well… time is ticking, and that body is stinking… Ha, that rhymed, maybe I should pick up poetry? I always did love Literature… Anyway, (belittling) Mayor Powell, let’s see just how smart and powerful you really are. Rest assured, if you get the job done, I promise I will make it worth your while (he leaves; Edward can’t stop crying, imagining Matt’s pain).

Cut to - Munich, Germany. Sam, Elena, Sage, and Alex, are having some drinks, after their first days of the program.

SAGE: I knew this program was going to be out of the ordinary, but it’s totally blowing my mind!  

ELENA: I agree, it’s amazing! The equipment we have access to is unbelievable! Never knew those types of tools and tech even existed.

SAM: (Putting his drink up for a cheer) Here’s to an unorthodox quality education, and to new awakenings!

ALL: Cheers! (They drink, share some laughs and anecdotes; at some point, the boys get into their own conversation in another area of the bar. Elena and Sage have no option but to interact more closely).

ELENA: Listen, I’m sorry for calling you a bitch.

SAGE: I’m sorry for being one. (Holds her hand out for a handshake) Do-over?

ELENA: Do-over (shakes her hand). So, tell me, why are you so obsessed with Pietro? Not judging, just curious.

SAGE: I know a lot of people think he is just an entitled jerk, but he is so far from that. I mean, yes, he is arrogant and pretentious, but when you’ve accomplished what he has, you kind of earn the right to be.

ELENA: Still don’t get it, what has he accomplished? He’s not even a Doctor…

SAGE: He owns the world’s most groundbreaking technology companies. Ai, IoT, nanotech, you name it, he is behind it. He might not be the science side of the operation, but he is the business side that makes it possible. Just between us, I’m pretty sure he is a vampire. Get this, while I was doing research on his background, I stumbled upon some pretty crazy documentation that dates his birth back to 1865. It’s either that, or he stole some real old dead guy’s identity.

ELENA: That is definitely not a coincidence… Do the names Stefan and Damon Salvatore ring a bell?

SAGE: Never heard of them, who are they?

ELENA: Besides my ex-boyfriends, I think they might be Pietro’s half-brothers.

SAGE: (Laughs) That’s impossible…

ELENA: Put two and two together…

SAGE: Oh, they’re also…? OMG! So, you slept with two vampires, and they were brothers??!! I totally miss read you, you’re a badass!! I love it!! (Holds her drink up) Cheers for that!

ELENA: Well, the brothers thing is something I’m really not proud of. I was young and gave in to my darkest desires; but I guess karma got me served, because they both fell in love with my best friends; so…

SAGE: Hey, nothing to be ashamed of; more power to you! I mean, it’s okay when men do it, but as woman we get shamed for it… Fuck that shit!

ELENA: Good point... (holds her glass up for a cheer) Here’s to woman equality!

SAGE: Fuck yeah! So, tell me, how did you end up getting involved with vampires?

ELENA: It’s a long and complicated story… Let’s just say I look exactly like someone they were once very obsessed with, and it grew from there.

SAGE: Who did you go out with first?

ELENA: Stefan… my first true love; but then I fell for the bad boy, who just happened to be his brother. Like I said, not proud, but that’s how it went down.

SAGE: Was it serious?

ELENA: Very. With Stefan I could see my entire future; it was like a fairytale love. With Damon, I lived for the moment and was consumed with passion.  

SAGE: Sounds like you were quite in a predicament.

ELENA: I was, for a while; but I ended up choosing Damon.

SAGE: So, what happened? Why did you two split?

ELENA: There were many reasons, but every time I go back to it, I think it’s because we got off to a wrong start. When I became a vampire, I was sired to him… not the best way to start a relationship.

SAGE: Wait, you are a vampire!!? Are you kidding me?!! This story keeps getting better and better!

ELENA: No, no! I’m not one anymore, but I was.

SAGE: Oh, okay, you freaked me out there for a sec! Anyway, then, what happened? Spill!!

ELENA: Well, a whole bunch of crazy stuff... then I took a cure, became human again, only to be put into a three-year sleeping spell, then I woke up. At first it was bliss, but then, once we moved in together our deeper problems began to surface…

SAGE: Did those problems have to do with him falling for one of your best friends?

ELENA: Not expressively… but in part, yes. I knew he was in love with her, and that there was nothing I could do to change that.

SAGE: Ouch, that’s gotta hurt.

ELENA: I mean, he never cheated or anything like that, they didn’t even get together until recently, but just knowing he would never love me like her, hurt for a while… then I met Sam…

SAGE: Wow, that’s quite a story!

ELENA: Straight out of a supernatural YA book, am I right?

SAGE: I’m a big fan of YA drama, and supernatural lure, so, right up my alley! Okay, let me ask you one last question. If you could go back, would you make the same choice?

ELENA: What do you mean?

SAGE: Stefan or Damon? Who would you choose?

ELENA: (Laughs) Uhm, okay, that’s a weird question…

SAGE: Oh, come on, just for fun, and keeping with the YA context.

ELENA: I’d say as a human, I would choose Stefan; as a vampire, Damon. But I guess it wouldn’t matter who I would choose, since they wouldn’t choose me a second time around, that’s for sure.

SAGE: (Teasing) Well, good news for Sam.

ELENA: Okay, I shared my stories; now it’s your turn.

SAGE: Well my stories are quite boring compared to that!

ELENA: Still, spill! It’s only fair, you have leverage on me, I should have some on you.

SAGE: Fair enough. What do you want to know?

ELENA: You and Alex, what’s the story there?

SAGE: Oh god, no! Nothing like that, he’s like a brother to me.

ELENA: Aw, that’s too bad, you two are cute together. How about you and Sam, anything ever happen between you two?

SAGE: This conversation is getting dangerous...

ELENA: Oh, come on, what’s in the past is in the past; there’s nothing dangerous about that.

SAGE: Fine, you asked for it. Long time ago, one crazy drunken night; that’s all.

ELENA: I know, he told me; just wanted to check if you would be honest with me.

SAGE: (Teasing) Now who’s the bitch!

ELENA: Sorry, trust issues. Now, for real, any past epic loves?

SAGE: Uhm, not really… I mean, I’ve had many relationships but nothing serious. I’m not the deep connection type; I just like to have fun, and I don’t like to put in the time, so short and sweet works out perfectly for me.

ELENA: Crazy hookups?

SAGE: Now that is my area of expertise! Wow, where do I start… I’ve done all the clichés, mile high club being my favorite one. But I have to say, the craziest has been with someone you actually know, (mocking) the renowned city Mayor of Mystic Falls.

ELENA: (Spits out her drink) Are you serious? You had a thing with Edward Powell? How do you even know him?!

SAGE: From NYC, our hometown. We were both part of the upper east side elite; a real Gossip Girl type thing. And let me tell you, he might seem like a Nate on the outside, but inside, he is a full-on Chuck Bass. Anyway, we went to this masquerade ball at an exclusive mansion outside the city. Long story short, we ended up covering for a murder which turned out to be anything but that; it was just a really drunk-ass Wall-Street magnate, that passed out in a tub filled with red wine. Good thing he woke up before we finished filling the whole… and that he didn’t see us having sex next to what we thought was his corpse. In our defense, we were also really drunk, and high as fuck.

ELENA: Holy shit! And you call your stories boring? Wonder what the exciting ones are like!

SAGE: (Laughs; then sees that Alex and Sam are heading back to their table) Well, that’s a conversation for another night… this has been fun, but I think our girl time is over; I’m glad we had a chance to talk like this.

ELENA: Me too, and I’m sorry I was so quick to judge you.

SAGE: Dido. Friends?

ELENA: Friends.

Cut to – Akumal, Mexico. Bonnie, Damon, Stefan and Caroline are having a nice beachfront brunch.

 CAROLINE: I can’t believe this is our last day! Time went by way too fast!

BONNIE: I know, seems like we just got here.

STEFAN: How about we make a deal, right here, the four of us.

DAMON: (Teasing) Bro, we are not even done with brunch; plus, it would be way too weird…

STEFAN: Of course your mind would go there… Anyway, no, Damon, that’s not what I want to propose. How do you guys feel about spending some money and investing on a property down here? That way we can come back whenever we want.

CAROLINE: I love it, yes!!!!

BONNIE: I’m in!

STEFAN: Damon?

DAMON: Just tell me where to sign!

BONNIE: La Bruja is coming over for dinner tonight, maybe she can give us some tips on property here.

STEFAN: That be great. I’m thinking nothing too fancy, but definitely beachfront.

BONNIE: And secluded.

CAROLINE: 2 master bedrooms, 1 kids room, and two or three guestrooms for when Ty, Lexi, Matt and Alaric come visit.

DAMON: So much for “not too fancy” …

CAROLINE: I’m not saying it needs to be fancy, just spacious, there are way too many of us.

BONNIE: We’ll also need a garden, good footprint area so we can grow our own food.

CAROLINE: And a pool of course, for the girls.

STEFAN: And I think we can all agree, we need a big bar.

DAMON: And a wine cellar.

STEFAN: Maybe we’re gonna have to build it from scratch, I’m pretty sure we won’t be able to find a place that checks all of our boxes.

BONNIE: If we have someone design it for us, I’m pretty sure La Bruja and I can pull it off.

DAMON: It’s settled then, we’ll brief La Bruja over dinner and start to plan our perfect Belvafore hide-away!

STEFAN: Belvafore?

DAMON: Yes; Bennett, Salvatore, and Forbes… Belvafore!

BONNIE: (To Stefan, mocking Damon) I’m telling you, not even with his vamp back on…

CAROLINE: I like it! It’s like Steroline and Bamon!

BONNIE: Steroline and Bamon?

CAROLINE: Yes, Bamon, aka, Bonnie and Damon; isn’t it perfect?! Stefan came up with it.

STEFAN: Sorry, Bon, just a fan.

BONNIE: (Laughing) Oh, Stefan, didn’t see that one coming... And Steroline, is Stefan and Caroline...

CAROLINE: You got it! (With pride) I came up with that one!

BONNIE: (With a y’all crazy look) Okay...

DAMON: Oh, come on, Bon-Bon; Bamon, gotta love it!

BONNIE: Fine, I’ll admit it... y’all crazy but I love it!

CAROLINE: (Holds her mimosa glass up for a cheer) To Belvafore and building new traditions!

ALL: Cheers!

Cut to – The Salvatore school, Alaric’s study. Alaric, and Radka, are trying to figure out their next steps.

ALARIC: How could I have been so reckless and stupid…

RADKA: It was an honest mistake, Ric. How were you supposed to know what would happen?

ALARIC: I know how dangerous that little gadget is, it was my responsibility to keep it under lock and key. Now, thanks to me, Katherine is probably being hunted down by a psychopath.

RADKA: Katherine is strong and witty, if anyone, Kai is the one that needs to worry. I’m sure she’ll be fine; we just need to figure out how to bring her back.

ALARIC: The only one that can help with that is Bonnie, and I’m not letting her go near Kai. We need to figure out a way to do this without the need for Bennett blood.

RADKA: How about 2 werewolves, 2 vampires and a hunter… think we could pull it off?

ALARIC: The problem is not getting in, but out… there’s no way out without the right ingredients.

RADKA: Okay, I might be thinking crazy here, but we need to think outside the box. What if we ask Margo to summon a Bennett witch, she can open a temporary spirit realm and do an incarnation spell so she can be materialized; then, we go to this prison world, get Katherine and use the blood of that Bennett witch to come back…

ALARIC: That sounds insane… but it might actually work. Isn’t Margo still on sick leave?

RADKA: She’s better now, called me up this morning to let me know she’d be back tomorrow.

ALARIC: Do you think she would be up for it?

RADKA: Not sure, but it doesn’t hurt to ask.

Cut to – 2018 prison world, Stefan’s room. Katherine wakes up to find herself tied up with her mouth covered. Kai is sitting on a chair, reading. He looks quite different than expected; very clean cut and intellectual, glasses and all.

KAI: I’m sorry I had to tie you up, but I do not appreciate intruders. God, these new generations have completely lost their manners. Sneaking into other people’s homes, putting on their nightclothes, sleeping in their beds… The audacity!

(Kai gets up, walks towards one of the many jukeboxes he has installed around the house, and plays a song...)

TVD 9x11 (part 2), coming soon! Hope you stop by, read and enjoy! =)

[amethystaqua]

Of mugs and secrets (Or how Dante found out about your relationship with Vergil)

I finally finished after entire week of writing and editing! I never thought my first fanfic would be of 2223 words! I really hope you enjoy it! :D

The room was still dark as calmness reigned; the only sounds were the soft breathing on your ear of the man sleeping next to you. Vergil was spooning you, the warm feeling making a real struggle having to get up to start your day. You wiggle trying to move the least required, not wanting to disturb your boyfriend’s sleep, you almost made it, until he made some soft grunts. You froze fearing you might have woken him up, but he just turned to his side of the bed.

A smile found its way into your lips as you approached to kiss him ever so lightly on his mouth, then proceeding to leave the bedroom. You started to go through your day’s agenda in your head, the pendant paperwork waiting at work, visiting Nico to pick up your beloved, just repaired sword Polaris, and the appointment with a possible client. However, all your plans came to a halt the moment you notice a dark figure lying on the living room’s couch. Quietly you summon your spear Morgenstern out of thin air and approach the figure, looking around to see if something else was hiding in the shadows.

“Well now this is what I an exciting welcome (Y/N)” a sleepy familiar voice said making you jump out of the impression.

“My god… Dante! I was this close to stab you!”

“As you know, you wouldn’t be the only one sweetie” he sat on the couch while stretching his arms with an audible pop from his bones.

You met Dante when you were just a kid, with no family left, he rescued you from being a sacrifice for a greater demon since you were a Nephilim, however that seemed to be only the beginning of your problems. Demons appeared to be drawn to your blood like moths to a flame and thus, the week that you hadn’t been attacked by a demon, extremely uncommon. So instead of going to every orphanage or school you assisted to save you, Morrison decided it was for the best if Dante just adopted you. That way he could keep an eye on you, so no more civilians were put on danger, and also train you. Dante wasn’t in any sense qualified to adopting a little girl, but with your help (The motherly interventions of Lady and Trish, and some extra cash from Morrison) you two worked it out and in the process, perceived each other a bit like father and daughter.

“What on earth are you doing here?” you made Morgenstern disappear, heartbeat slowing down now that there was no real danger “And how did you get in?”

“Perks from my brand-new powers, and as for your first question… Let’s leave it I had kind of an emergency”

“Ok let’s review your concept of emergency” You leaned into him, taking carefully his face on your hands checking for any sings of cuts or bruises “does it involve injuries?”

“Not this time” he chuckled as you were still inspecting the rest of his body. After confirming the man was in one piece, you decided to head to the kitchen to start making breakfast with Dante following right behind you.

“An angry Trish or Lady?” you opened the fridge to start looking for the ingredients to make pancakes, you really stomach really needed some food now.

“Nah we just had drinks last week” he took a seat on the small kitchen table.

“Another powerful demon king about to be resurrected?” once you gathered everything you needed; you poured some flour along milk on the crystal bowl you took from the kitchen cabinet.

“Funny (Y/N) but no, not a demon, and somehow way more terrifying then one…Patty wants go out on a date with me” you almost dropped the egg you just grabbed for the batter, staring at him in disbelief on what he just said heard.

“Wait… so you broke into my apartment at” you looked at the clock next to the fridge “at 7:00 am just because you’re scared of a 19-year-old who wants a date with you?”

“I was coming back from a job! Morrison called me and he said a miss was waiting for me at DMC! Then I heard her voice on the phone! I’m not going anywhere with her when she’s faking a promise!”

“Dante…” Calm, take a deep breath you thought as you focused on inhaling deeply, he sure had a talent for making you lose your temper sometimes “are you serious? Both Morrison and I were there! I perfectly recall you saying when she’s turned old enough you would date her!

“Damn, so you’re saying she isn’t lying and I must keep my promise?”

“Yeah sure because I definitely want Patty to come on our already uncomfortable family dinners at Nero’s home” you answered sarcastically as you mixed the bowl’s ingredients “Just take her out to eat pizza or something, keep it as casual as possible so she doesn’t get her hopes up”

“Or... you could allow me to stay for a few days”

“Dante...”

“Please (Y/N) only 2 days!” he lifted up the chair and moved next to you “Just until she’s tired of stalking me!”

“Since you’re here not like I have much of a choice, do I?”

“I knew I could count on you!” Dante said while lifting you off the ground, on really strong hug just like he has done all these years since you were a kid.

“Be quiet!” you whisper loudly, squirming a bit in his tight embrace “Vergil is still sleeping!”

“Wait, what’s Verge doing here?”  he dropped you while looking at you quite confused.

Oh, you just fucked up big this time… Dante was the only one who didn’t know about your relationship with Vergil. Unknowing of your past together when he was V, Dante’s father instincts awakened, as he warned you to stay away from Vergil, after noticing the constant glances you shared with his twin, fearing his brother got interested in you just because you were a Nephilim.

“He uh... went on a job yesterday, and uh he got poisoned by a demon so he needed someone to cure him!” That was the only excuse your sleepy brain was able to scheme in those few seconds, thinking Dante would buy it… then you remembered the eldest son of Sparda never asked for help.

“So, he decided to come here was the best idea?”

“Yeah” you tried to smile at him to look as convincing as possible.

“My brother looking for you to heal him?... All right never thought I’d see the day the dumbass put his pride aside and ask for help!”

“Heh… guess he still remembers one of the times I cured him when he was V” You sighed in relief, turning your attention on the coffee machine to prepare some, thinking you got away with your little lie until…

“But why he didn’t return to Devil May Cry?”

“I-it was really late and cold outside so I suggested he spent the night here “blush adorned your checks, once you realized the size of the stupidity you just said. “Al-also, I needed to be certain I cured the wound properly.

Dante just hummed and returned to his seat, whether he believed that poorly made answer or not, he didn’t say it. You were about to change topic, but were interrupted by a growling.

“Geez...” you couldn’t help but laugh lightly “I suppose you haven't eaten anything”

“Can’t lie at this point” You smiled at him. Once the coffee machine finished you poured some coffee on 3 cups that you placed on the counter. With all the noise, probably Vergil would join you both for breakfast.

“Stay right here, and don’t touch anything” you said as walking past beside him.

A shower was really much needed. You were already a bit late and didn’t want to waste more minutes, after all, you could always buy something to eat at work if you didn’t have time left. On the hallway to the bathroom you found the elder son of Sparda already got up.

“Oh, hi I thought you were still asleep” you stood on your tiptoes to give him a quick peck on his cheek “Didn’t want to wake you up”

“To whom I must thank for making Dante grace us with his presence this early in the morning?” his icy blue eyes showing an evident annoyance.

“That would be Patty… apparently the poor girl really wants a date with your brother to the point she’s waiting for him at Devil May Cry as we speak”

“I’m afraid that doesn’t justify why he’s here” a frown taking over his features.

“Well… “you played with a loose lock of your hair “Lady and Trish aren’t home, Nico still wants to bang him and I’m not letting that happen, and finally Nero made crystal clear last time I spoke to him, he wanted Dante at least 10 mts away from Kyrie and Credo” Your best friends had just had their beautiful son, the last thing Nero needed was having Dante in their house with Kyrie so delicate after her pregnancy.

“Hmpf still he isn’t staying here” Vergil crossed his arms, his answer just as you predicted.

“Please I can’t kick him out of the apartment just like that! I bet if you were the one in his…”

“I would never find myself in such a ridiculous situation like this”

“Right, forget what I just said” you said a bit ashamed while scratching your head.

“Even if I did unlike Dante, I could find a solution on my own”

“My point is! He needs help” you cupped his face in your hands “I know we had plans but come on, it’s going to be just a couple of days” you gave him the best puppy eyes you could.

It wasn’t as frequent as you wished for Vergil to stay in your apartment, between your jobs and the constant efforts to hide the truth to Dante. That’s why those days where two of you just sat on a couch to read, or did any other silly activity together, became so precious memories.

“I promise I’ll make it up for you when he leaves” you whispered in his ear face turning red with the possible implications.

He pushed you carefully against a wall lifting you face and grazing with his thumb your plump lips.

“You should not take promises so lightly my dear angel” you melted at his words, his lips mere inches from yours “I fear you may have acquired my brother’s demeanors”

“Have I ever broken my word before?”

An almost imperceptible smile, one only you got to recognize adorned his face as he claimed your mouth on a passionate kiss, that to your perception didn’t last enough. But you didn’t complain once Vergil separated from you, the risk of being caught by Dante was way too high.

“He’s in the kitchen” you cleared your throat, trying to control your small gasps for air.

“I expected no less” he fixed his hair and clothes, erasing any sings of the kiss you just had.

“Welp I’m going to shower now, not taking long” you passed beside him and closed the bathroom’s door only to open it a few seconds later “Vergil wait! Geez I almost forgot; I left some coffee for you and Dante on the kitchen counter. I’m pretty sure you’ll know which mug is yours since your favorite mug broke in our tiny accident a few nights ago”

You winked playfully at him, but he only limited to clicked his tongue in disapproval and directed to the kitchen. Once Nico knew about your relationship with Nero’s deadbeat father (as she always called him) the mechanic wasted no time to tease, giving you a little present: a white mug with big blue letters that read I’m your daddy for your boyfriend to use. Obviously, once Vergil found out the existence of the mug, the first thing he wanted was to toss it on a trash can, but you didn’t allow it being a gift from Nico.

While you showered the guilt took over you for hiding Dante about you and Vergil. Maybe it was time to tell him the truth, after all, didn’t he always wanted for his brother to embrace his humanity and live a somewhat normal life? You stepped out of the bathroom once you finished, so deep in these thoughts that it wasn’t until you were on your way to the kitchen, that you noticed how quiet the house was. At this point you were so used to whenever the twins were together their heated conversations escalated quickly to an argument that sometimes required a third-party intervention, so the silence was really unusual.

“Ok now, is it okay for you guys to eat pan…cakes...”

Your voice lowered the volume as you looked at the scene before your eyes. Vergil and Dante were staring fixedly at each other with a murderous gaze, each one with a hand around the infamous cup, now you knew the real reason for the unusual silence, Dante must have assumed the mug was his.

“So…” you laugh nervously “I guess the cat is out of the bag.

The end

[irinapaleolog]

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker had raised the hopes of Reylos, fans who longed for Rey and Kylo Ren to end up together in the end, healing the wound inflicted on the galaxy two generations earlier by Emperor Palpatine and Anakin Skywalker. The marketing certainly hinted at such and, at least for less-invested viewers, the film delivered on its promise of romance: Reylo (and Bendemption) did occur, and Rey and the redeemed Ben Solo shared a passionate kiss, which is why it may be so perplexing for the general audience that Reylos hated the ending. Two weeks after the release, they're still mourning on social media, and demanding for Disney to #RealeaseTheJJCut, a reference to an edit that would have delivered the conclusion they wanted, and purportedly what director J.J. Abrams intended. So, what happened, exactly?

While romance is certainly not a new concept to Star Wars, it was never depicted from the perspective of a woman. However, The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi made moves to remedy that: The camera stays with Rey when she interacts with Kylo; the lighting, music and the chemistry between the actors drew in many women. The trope being trapped was "enemies to lovers," a classic of romance literature. In The Force Awakens, Kylo is infatuated with a "lowly scavenger," despite himself and his training. In The Last Jedi, the two characters establish a connection that goes deeper than their pasts, ripe with wedding imagery from around the world, before separating again.

The comparisons with the doomed romance of Anakin and Padmé popped up. If the tragic lovers of the prequel trilogy married in the second movie and died in the third, surely the sequel would turn it around, allowing the last descendant of Anakin Skywalker to fix what he had broken and to triumph where he had failed.

It's easy for a certain segment of the audience to dismiss the power of romance, but it remains most lucrative literary genre in the world. Romance writers master the art of the promise and the delivery, which is a happy ending for the main couple. There are tragic romantic novels in which one or both of the lovers die, but that's not what Disney was promising with Episode IX. From that perspective, The Rise of Skywalker punishes the male lead by killing him the moment he chooses to save the love of his life. Abrams and his co-writer Chris Terrio were going for a parallel with Return of the Jedi, but that movie was never promoted as having romance at its core, and Darth Vader didn't have his entire life in front of him.

The Rise of Skywalker then goes out of its way to show how little Rey really cared for Ben, to the point where, after watching the final scenes, it's difficult to assess what impact he had in the plot. The film also does that to Hux and Rose, but in the case of Ben Solo it's particularly egregious because he's the last of the Skywalker bloodline. If they were going for Return of the Jedi parallels, they could have included either a funeral or a Force ghost, but the audience is denied that, which is a strange and cruel narrative choice.

Even worse, the ending broke the promise made in the promotional material. Yes, there was a kiss, but it's swiftly punished: The heroine ends up alone in a barren planet; the Byronic hero is never mentioned again. The other side of fandom might argue that Star Wars should have never catered to romance, but they would be the first to complain if a film advertised like Fast & Furious turned out to be a family comedy; false advertising elicits the same kinds of reactions in everyone.

Ben Solo's death, isolated from the romance, is also problematic because he was coded as a conflicted, groomed, abused, abandoned and brainwashed child soldier fighting to break from his programming. The ancillary material supports this, and in Marvel's The Rise of Kylo Ren, it's shown he never attempted to kill Luke Skywalker, he didn't burn the Jedi temple, and he didn't attack his fellow students. It was a set-up designed to turn his family against him and place him within the First Order. Han, Leia and Rey work  for two entire movies to try and bring him back. By killing every single character that even attempts to turn around, the film confirms their worst fear -- that the only way out is death.

There'ss another horrifying message lurking in The Rise of Skywalker, however, if you are coming to the film from this perspective: that your family will disown you and forget you the moment you misbehave, replacing you with a "good child." That's exactly what happens to Kylo Ren; despite his efforts to come back as Ben Solo, neither Luke nor Leia nor Anakin help him. Ben has to imagine a conversation with his father to move forward, and in the end, his mother and his uncle replace him with Rey, who becomes their "found child" and assumes the Skywalker name.

But Kylo was filling a different role too -- the monster boyfriend, whose most famous example is Beauty and the Beast. While the original purpose of tales like Beauty and the Beast was to prepare girls for marriages in which they would be under the authority of their (potentially monstrous) husband, the tale evolved, and the monster became a focus for those that society had misunderstood or repressed. It's the grown-up version of little children, who feel powerless most of the time, preferring the Hulk over any other superhero, only with romance, darkness and danger thrown in; it's a way to explore a problematic aspect of reality through fiction. Unfortunately, instead of allowing fiction to play its role for women, the monster boyfriend trope is incredibly policed ("it's toxic!"), a criticism that doesn't extend to monster girlfriends (see Mara Jade's murderous origins and her eventual marriage to Luke Skywalker in Legends).

Many women in Star Wars fandom identified with Kylo Ren for those reasons, and the more the character was attacked on social media ("he killed his father!" "he's ugly, unworthy of being a hero!"), and the more stories about what really happened to him were published, the more affection he drew.

And while we are talking about ancillary material, The Rise of Skywalker contradicts almost every single narrative thread about Kylo published to date, which were hinting at redemption as far back as 2017. Most Reylos engaged with that material wholeheartedly. Despite the amazing talent involved in its creation, those fans view the ending of Episode IX as a slap in the face, and many women feel like they have wasted their time buying into a franchise that ultimately never cared about fulfilling its own promises about happy endings, telling a complete story, or even offering hope and compassion to the characters that needed it the most.

However, all of that might have been better received had the film been generous with the heroine, the first woman to be the primary protagonist in the Skywalker Saga. For two and a half movies, it even looked to be a story in the fairy-tale tradition, with a poor orphan discovering her inner power, defeating an unspeakable evil, forging friendships and, ultimately, finding the love of her life and becoming the leader of her people.

Instead, The Rise of Skywalker leaves Rey effectively where she started, on desert planet, taking with her someone else's droid and someone else's name. She doesn't grow, and she doesn't even confront or integrate her inner darkness. Rey, who had been wonderfully feral up to that point, becomes a creepy Stepford smiler.

That, in a nutshell, is why Reylos are angry, despite getting their space kiss. For many, The Rise of Skywalker felt like a bad punchline after a long con from Disney, and Star Wars has the bitter taste of a franchise that accidentally tapped into women's interests but had little interest in them as intelligent viewers engaging with the material.

[cutegirlmayra]

BOTW 2 - Zelink Prompt

Because.

Prompt:

Link washed his face in the shallow water, squatting as the droplets sounded out an unorganized melody when they fell.

It was cold and damp in these underground caverns beneath the once noble standing castle that held so many memories to him. Memories that were like dreams now.

Then he heard a faint echo of humming, slowly rising into a song that lured his heightened hearing and stimulated his mind towards the musical piece. It was calming, something he hadn’t felt in a while.

Though his face looked poised with peace, he was rather worried about Zelda. She had just returned. He could tell she was distraught about confronting the true evil that lurked in every nightmare and plagued her all her life.

But now, he could recognize the sweet and perfect pitch of her singing. The low riding key to a heavenly high, rising with the tune.

He was curious. He tilted his head towards the large mammal that snored heavily with all their accompanying supplies, especially the particularly large clippers that frightened Link when he saw Zelda sneak off with them. He was still on edge as his instinct to follow her pressed him to her side. When he shuffled through the dense forest, he was surprised to see her cutting her hair. To him, it was a sign of her stress, but she assured it was a release for her.

He helped braid her hair back, turning and twisting the silk-thin, blonde hair back into a noble accessory to her already regal demeanor. Anything to help her with the stress.

He had thought their worries would finally leave them, but picking up the Master Sword again sent a chill of uneasiness back up his spine. He had held the steel against his nose in a warrior’s prayer, closing his eyes as he took a deep, brave breath.

At this moment, he had already rededicated himself to Zelda’s protection and aid, along with that of the land. When he got up and followed the music, he found Zelda with a wet stick, deep brown as she scribed song notes and music-script into the lower part of an already artistic decorated stone.

Link looked upon the drawings of legends told long ago before his eyes glazed back in longing to Zelda.

How could he possibly comfort her? What warmth could come from him in such a cold, dark place?

Above her was once her home, surrounded by familiar faces and friends she could rely on. At one time, he had heard from her own voice that she had begun to see him as one such friend. But what was it like now? Had nothing changed, to his relief, or had too much changed?

She stopped singing and extended her relaxed back up, turning around as though spooked before seeing him.

She smiled when she saw his face. “It’s something my mother would sing to me. When I was afraid of the dreams I kept having.” she crawled with her arms back to an upright position on the ground, staring lovingly at her creation upon the ancient stone. Dainty and lean, she seemed rather sincere in her suffering. “I couldn’t help but think of it now. If this is our history, I wanted to leave the world with something of her in it.”

Link gently, slowly approached. This was now a sacred stone, as far as he knew.

He was trying to carefully approach the musical score, kneeling beside it to take a closer look at how she had crafted the notes and arranged the accompaniment.

He lightly skimmed his fingerless glove over the song, admiring it.

She stayed silent a moment, staring at him with a wonder and awe. She hadn’t thought she would ever be in his presence again, it was so surreal. The cold may lick at her now but his face filled her spirit with a courageous flame.

She giggled, moving slightly away, “I know we haven’t any instruments... but would you mind singing the accompaniment?”

“Ah!” He was shocked to hear her request that, turning with a look of surprise and puzzlement on his face.

She smiled encouragingly, “You can read music, can’t you?”

Well... of course. But singing?

He blushed and looked away, seeming shy as Zelda decided to put him a bit to the test.

“I’ll be greatly disappointed if you don’t even try.” she gently mocked, trying to bring out his chivalrous, soft side.

He remained facing away, but it gave her a moment to notice his matured features, the dip in his chin line down his cheek...

She felt something tickle at her chest and immediately looked away as she placed her hand on the starting note.

“I’ll give you the key.”

She began to sing the song without any lyrics, the beginning was a solo anyway.

Suddenly, when Link’s part came up, she could hear a silent but strong vibrato. The perfect vibration rang through her ears as the silent but gentle man sang while her heart beat with the sensational depth it had.

She almost stumbled in the song she had memorized since she was a child, but quickly regained herself as she sang louder, trying to drown him out.

It confused him at first, he wondered why she was getting louder, but immediately remembered words and didn’t want to disappoint her. He matched her range, deciding the song would be better harmonized when the accompaniment ended and the solo began.

Memories flashed through Zelda’s mind of her father and mother singing to her at her bedside. Back when her father was... much more considerate of her dreams.

The beautiful singing caused her to stop and dip her head down, feeling the welling up of emotions begin to pound at her head, but Link’s singing brought that feeling back down to a calm.

He stopped when, after a few seconds, she didn’t pick the melody back up, and turned to now fully address her.

“Zelda?”

What a relief.

His voice was still as caring and kind as the day she met him.

“I was so taken aback by your talent, Link.” She masked her true emotions, not wanting to worry him.

But worry gripped at his heart.

He watched her patiently, waiting for an explanation to her obvious emotion sketched upon her countenance, but she remained beautiful and aloof.

“Is there anything you can’t do?”

There was a double-edged sword in her words, and it stung Link to his core.

She had done so much. Was she still not feeling enough?

Learning that the ancient evil that had stolen her previous life, all her friends and all her family, was still somewhat alive... lasting to torment their lives further... her very pride must have been ripped from her being in grief.

Link, shaking in his inability to know what to do, rose a pleasant hand to her shoulder.

She lifted her head up and nodded, wiping some sweat off her brow and looking fondly to him. “I’m alright, Link. Just... ready to do what must be done.” she nodded, thinking about getting up when Link came closer, startling her.

“Link..!?”

He gave her a firm stare, furrowing his eyebrows a little more.

His eye was trained to lies, she couldn’t fool him.

After all...

He knew her.

He remembered everything. All the times they’ve been together.

They would never leave his side again.

She saw the itched glances of a mighty hero in the wrinkles of his concerned face, and gave in to them.

She sighed, “Very well. But who could blame me? I’m upset Calamity Ganon wasn’t completely destroyed. And now, I’m forced to rely on you once again, when you should be enjoying peace with the others.” She turned away, as though somehow placing the shame on herself again. “If only I had awakened my ancestorial power sooner... if I had know-!”

He embraced her.

It was swift, strong, and absolutely necessary.

‘I mustn’t crumble... I have to remain strong, like him. I have to... I...’ Tears rained from her eyes down her cheeks.

All over his shirt, her tears were smeared as she cried silent sobs into his welcoming hold.

He lifted his hand to her head, as though granting her permission to move deeper into his arms.

After a moment, she did so, gripping his back and pulling herself to him.

It was much needed, but she had refused to yield until this moment.

Her touch was like acid to Link, because he didn’t know what else to do to heal her. So much pain... the trauma from her youth, a hundred years ago, could not be beaten in a day.

He had fought with all his strength, done everything he thought he was supposed to do, called to do. And yet... the very being he had sworn to serve was still wallowing in anguish.

Every cell in his body wanted to sing for her, bring back that one moment of joy he had briefly heard in her voice as she sang louder and louder. That moment will never be forgotten either. No matter how many times he may have to sleep, he would never forget her gentle climb to that triumphant, melodic climax.

But now, he held a fallen angel in his hands, and he refused to leave her till he stroked her wings back to a mighty, upright position; returned her noble halo, a heavenly crown, back to its radiant destination above her head, and placed clouds beneath her feet that would raise her up with that saintly smile.

“You’re always so strong, Link. I doubted so many times if any of us could be strong, but you’ve proved me wrong time and time again.” she wept, summoning a deeper desire from Link to crush the inferiority out of her, to slay Calamity Ganon and all other cares that haunted her even now. “How could I compete? How can I help now? I’m only as useless as my magic allows me to be. I can summon it, but what can I actually do with it? It wasn’t enough to destroy him, Link. What if we’re not enough?”

He dipped his head into her neck, gritting his teeth as hold never wavered.

It was his declaration that it would be enough, that they would both make it through this again.

“No more death, Link... I cannot fathom another lost friend. I can’t... I can’t lose you, Link...” she grew weaker and weaker in his grasp, and he quickly caught her without a second’s hesitation and kept her up on his chest.

Taking a quick glance up, he noticed her hazy eyes, vacant of life and hope again.

Drained from her tears, she barely breathed. “It’s so cold,” she complained, making him melt into her charming ways again. “It’s so cold... and wet.” she leaned up and rubbed her eyes. “If I’m no longer a reigning princess,... then am I a common girl?”

The question was strange to Link. What brought it out of her?

She turned back to Link, “You needn’t answer that, but I truly feel its sound to say that I now am.”

Link pulled back, shaking his head as he released her, seeing that a deeper problem had surfaced now.

She would always be Princess Zelda to him. She was born to be a light, and that would never change.

She smiled, seeing how serious his face became and poked at it. “You’re only saying what I think your eyes are saying because you consider yourself a common boy. But you’re not, are you, Link? You’re the hero we’ve desperately counted on, and you’ve never failed us. Time and again, you’ll be what this land deserves.”

He leaned forward.

He would be anything she wanted him to be.

His never shifting eyes communicated that to her, and she felt some breath strain itself as though her wild heart beckoned the reunion of the warm embrace again.

Her breath seemed to agree, shaking and causing her chest to rise in unnatural motions.

She moved away and shifted from him, growing strangely timid and nervous all of a sudden.

She placed a hand delicately to her chest and then removed it, not wanting to acknowledge the strange occurrence.

“You act as though me being common is repulsive.” She wondered why. “But if I was common... you’d treat me differently... wouldn’t you?” She turned back, fearing the red on her face would be misinterpreted. Clearly, she was just cold... although her body felt very, very warm at the moment.

He saw her move away and worried he was being too direct with his distaste of her words, and sat back to a normal position, running his hand through his hair, awkwardly embarrassed at his rash behavior.

How else could he explain how precious she was? Her kingdom needed her. He... his regards didn’t matter compared to them.

“If I were common...” she saw him withdraw, and taking some faint courage, she leaned closer towards him again. “Would I not... be someone you could look upon... without such high admiration?”

‘Link... wouldn’t you be able to feel something for me... more than friendship if I was-’

Before she could finish her thought, he slowly let his eyes rest upon her face again.

The two stared at one another, a moment of confession, before Link looked away and got up.

He fiddled with his clothes a moment before moving over to their large friend, patting his back down and pretending to look over their supplies.

She withdrew the topic as well, though it frustrated her quite a bit. Was he really saying that it didn’t matter to him? That he would still protect her? Common girl or not?

In her heart, she knew he must feel something, but she blamed her noble birth that he kept it back.

But in Link’s heart... was a nervous, shy little man who quaked at having such a beautiful girl call herself common and rank her divine spirit as part of his own kind.

She would always be Zelda, someone he must protect, and he didn’t care what other details companioned those facts.

He offered her her hand with a blush he tried to mask with his hand, and she took it and let him hoist her up onto the beast, who gave a moan and let Link lead it along the stony path down the corridor of leaky tunnels.

He had to flex his hand a few times, feeling a residual sensation of ‘touch’ on his fingertips at feeling her smooth skin of her hand as he lightly held it, the curves in her sides as he lifted her upon the creature...

His face was broken from its once proud, resigned strength... to a boy desperately in love with his liege.

[psychoangiethings]

The Bloodline [Roman Godfrey x Reader]

A/N: I would like to thank everyone who are reading this. I’m not sure I am really back in tracks with this story since my Word pissed me off and didn’t save a lot of pages I wrote a few weeks back. But let’s hope that bitch will listen now. Sorry for typos, obviously even turned off automatic correction doesn’t mean shit to Word. Leave some comments, if you like. I’ll be glad.

Warning: Adult themes & language, murder

Other tags: Magic, friends to lovers, slow build, nightmares, witches, upirs, swearing

Summary: After very suspicious car crash that killed both of her parents, Abigail Wolff moves in with her aunt to Hemlock Grove only to discover a truly interesting family history which her father kept from her. As she awakens her powers, something much older and terrifying is coming after her. Or maybe not after her at all.

Chapter 10

Masterlist

Chapter 11 - You’re an idiot

After one class at school I could tell it would be boring day as fuck. It was shitty morning, followed by even shittier class in which my thoughts were similar to someone who's planning some kind of murder. What the fuck was he thinking? Was he an idiot or something? Obviously he was, because what kind of person asked how was it for me to watch my parents die? Retard. And what did he expect for answer? Yeah, man! It was terrific! You should try it sometime with your parents, you'll be thrilled.

I was sitting by my desk, looking out of window and waiting for my biology class to start. Some places in the classroom were still empty but I didn't pay attention. I was thinking about how one could brutally but efficiently kill Roman fucking Godfrey. My grip around my pencil was deadly and my tapping with the pencil's point against pages of my notebook was loud.

"Tell me how it felt to see your parents die."

"Spoiled. Rich. Little. Fucker." I furiously muttered under my nose.

"Aren't you a ray of sunshine today?" Peter mocked me and sat down beside me. I didn't even look at him, just tried to calm myself but then I heard the giggle our class dumb bitch let out only when certainsomeone was near. Just to make myself sure I looked around. Yep, there he was. My pencil broke in two.

"Whoah, someone is clearly pissed. What the hell happened?" Peter asked as I bend down to pick what remained of my pencil.

"Nothing. Your retarted friend tried to ask me- No, he did ask me, how it felt to see my parents die. And then he was surprised I didn't answer. What did he expect? Five star review with recommendation?" I wanted to scream at him but I couldn't and knew Peter wasn't in fault here. He didn't do nothing wrong.

"He what?" O-okay, that was so not quiet. Everyone turned their heads in our way and I rolled my eyes.

"Couldn't you be even more louder? I think the principal didn't hear you quite well."

"Idiot, idiot, idiot. He's just an idiot," Peter mumbled to himself as his hand ran through his hair. Then he stood up and made his way to Roman's seat, whispered something to his ear and both of them disappeared. Huh.Weirdos.

×

"It's official. You're an idiot," Peter started even before he could close the door of empty classroom.

Roman rolled his eyes and openedone of many windows to lit up a cigarette. "Why? Because I asked her what basically everyone would ask her if they would know about what happened to her? I don't think so."

"You don's ask people this kind of questions. You ask them how are they, if they slept good or something but not this, Roman. It's like you're from Ice Age. No filter and no empathy." Peter sighed and shook his head.

"It didn't even worked, Peter. If it worked, she wouldn't remember a thing. I was just curious."

"You... You tried your thing on her, right?" Peter was really amazed. Not only Roman was sometimes dumb as shit but he couldn't tell Abigail was a witch and that was the reason his mesmerizing didn't work out.

"Yeah. It never happened before to me. How's possible it didn't work?"

"Maybe because she isn't into you, is stubborn as fuck and isn't trying to get into your pants? Just guessing," Peter offered his opinion and Roman made a face. Again.

"You just made that up, right?"

"Hey, listen, I don't know but maybe it is because she is stubborn. Look at every other girl in this school or town. They want you and they are easily influenced. This one? Right now she hates your guts."

"Yeah, maybe you're right."

×

In my last class of the day I said to our teacher I'm not feeling well and if I may go to the Girls. And because of this class was our teacher a man, he just waved it away and let me go. And that's how I, ladies and gentlemen, ended up about an hour earlier in my room. I just went home. And theoretically I didn't lie. I was pissed at Roman and tried to ignore him all day but wasn't sure if he didn't prepare another stunt after school like yesterday. So I went home.

I sat on my bed cross-legged, my notebook in front of me, earphones plugged in and I tried to relax. I think I did deserve it. Just a little bit of time for myself. A moment where I could forget my parents were dead, that I was a witch.

Knock. Knock.

It was loud knocking. Not my aunt Erika's knocking. Maybe Peter? I huffed and went to get the door.

As soon as I opened it, I immediately regretted it and tried to close it. A fancy leather shoe stopped me from that. "I just want to apologize."

"You just did. Now get out."

"Come on, just let me in, hear me out."

"Will you then piss off?" Probably not the answer he wanted but I let him in anyway and sat on my bed again, before he could say a thing. Now there was definitely awful silence between us. I was looking at him, he was looking at me and neither of us said a thing.

"I think you wanted to apologize. Is this some kind of special silent treatment?" To be honest he did look a bit nervous.

"Let's be clear, I don't know how to do this properly, let alone right. I'm sorry, okay? I shouldn't have asked that question. I was just curious. I've never met another person who lost parents."

"What do you mean by another person?"

"When I was a child I found my father dead. He blew his brain out."

"Okay, I did not see that coming," I said after few awkward minutes of silence but the anger was still inside. "Still, it's no excuse to ask how it felt for me. You just don't go and ask people this. It makes you look like Neanderthal man."

Roman raised his hands up in defense and nodded. "Okay, okay. I'm sorry. Can we start again? I promise I won't tell anyone and if someone will have stupid talks how you are my new sex toy or something I will put end to it. Do we have a deal?" He said, surprisingly calm and serious with outstretched hand.

There was this tingle in the back of my neck when I said, "What worse could happen. Fine. But I will deal with gossipers myself. And I try not to comment your sex life. Deal?" I outstretched my own arm and we shook on it while he accepted those terms.

"You, trying not to comment something? Will we have something to talk about at all?" Roman asked with pretended worry in his voice.Little fucker.

×

Olivia Godfrey was old. Very old, came from old blood, bloody money and combination of these two gave disgustingly powerful lineage which was surviving through centuries with no problems.

Head of Godfrey family was spoiled like a brat and even more manipulative bitch. Let's not forget she was also rich and influential, at least for the rest of her subordinates. Many feared her and only people on high positions were able to talk to her. And still it didn't matter if you were head of some department, she would be still looking at you like driver looks at smashed bug on his windshield. Disgusted and unworthy of her attention. There weren't many things that could actually move something inside her - not people, not their opinions and certainly not their actions.

There also wasn't a lot of things that made her afraid. She was surrounding herself with expensive and beautiful stuff using everything she could to distract and cloak herself from reality. Because reality could be boring and somehow a bit dull for Olivia.

But there, sitting in her workroom, fingers gripping edge of desk so hard it hurt, the reality for Olivia was dreadful. Yes, she was old but not that old to live through stories her father told her about. About powerful creature who made their lineage wealthy and... well, almost immortal. How was the creature deceived and banished back to his world.

And now it was back. She knew it, she could feel it inside of her. Like some connection.

Once servant, always servant. I think I will find use for you, Olivia Luspec.

She let out a breath she didn't even know she was holding. So there it was. The old, ancient, terrifying evil. Interesting how in one moment you are on top of the game and one second later you're trying just to be alive. Of course there wasn't any visible threat but-

"It's nice to see I still have some effect on others after so many centuries."