#which ends up clouding his judgment and making him the one who's actually in the dark

[bahrtofane]

home is where the heart is

Hiccup x run away princess! Reader

in which you’re thousands of miles away from your home you fled. Now calling the edge home after months of tracking the dragon master till you were face to face with a man no older then yourself, with round eyes and a need to figure you out.

But whispers travel fast on the wind, disturbing everything you’ve built for yourself.

Word count - 4.4k+

Watch it - some angst w happy ending dw

Im binge watching race to the edge can u tell

On most days Hiccup barely has the time to think. 

There's so much to do, so much to be done. There's always more waiting for him. Go do his rounds, come back and deal with the endless squabbling that never ends, go out again and add more watch towers, do a lap around the island, patrol the neighboring ones, come back and yell some more till everyone listens, see who actually did what he asked of them, eat dinner and pray they listen to his new list of things to do for the next day. Rinse and repeat. 

And yet at the end of a day, when his bones ache and muscles are sore. Stiff and aching from the hours hunched over toothless, he’s glad he has you. 

He doesn’t know how to properly say it, not yet at least. He’s never been good with words in a way that really matters. Always failing him, never making it past more than a faint breath past his lips as the words fade into the wind. He wishes he could be more like the twins, pushing past any judgment and saying whatever they wish when they wish. But he is not them, and instead he tells you he’s happy that you’ve made the edge a home. 

He remembers the day you came to them. You had come searching for him specifically, begging for the knowledge that no one around you had. Which was funny considering you arrived on your own dragon. A desert wraith. Not many of those around here. 

Rmel is a dragon so unlike any he’s ever seen. Tidal class, yet completely content out of the water. He thrives in the sand. Burying deep into it. Breathing with it. You two complement each other. 

Here you are months later, with your own modest hut on the edge and more knowledge than you could have ever hoped for. And a few scars for your troubles. But it's a good life. 

Unfortunately, your time comes to an end and you have to go back to your home soon. Your real home. Hiccup has forgotten what it’s like around here without you. But it’s not your place to call your own. It's time to pack up and head out. If not for you, for Rmel. 

That's what you will continue to tell yourself. To avoid the trouble of thinking about your actions. 

—--

Hiccup finds you laying on the sand, watching the clouds as they roll in. 

“Hey there stranger.” He calls out, slipping off Toothless is one smooth motion.

You smile, sitting up and patting the sand off you. Rmel is half buried in it. But beach sand can never replace his true habitat. Can't replace what you’ve left behind. 

“Hey Hiccup.” you watch as Rmel comes out of the sand to say hello to Toothless, jumping up and down as they play. 

He takes a seat next to you, sighing softly. “You know, your hut will always be here.” an invitation. Stay please, he wants to say. 

You smile, "I know. But I have been away for too long. It’s not good for him.” It's not my place to stay. 

“I understand.” I don’t, don't go. 

But does he? No, not really. No one here does.

Oh well. 

—--

“Are you sure? You've made your own home here.” Astrid says, handing you a pile of metal as you sort through the store house. 

“What else is there for me to do? Rmel needs the desert, and I miss my home.” a white lie. The words home betray you as you say them, what is your home at this rate. 

“I know but- it’s nice having you around. We all think so.” she tries. And it only tugs at your heart. 

“I have my own duties.” 

“You and Hiccup are the same, you know. Always thinking of the people before yourselves. “ 

You shrug, “it’s the duty my birth has assigned to me.” a well repeated mantra that's been hammered into you for longer than you can remember. If you dare to reap the benefits of your birth, you must answer its calls. You mustn’t ignore your duties. 

How silly considering you ran away from them, only to regret it all on an island thousands of miles away from everything you know. 

You don't tell Astrid this, you tell no one. Instead you finish setting the mental scraps in the corner, old weapons in other. On to the next task. 

Astrid doesn’t say much more. Not thinking too deeply into the words

—-

“Fishlegs!!” A yell comes from above. You crane your neck to watch as Snotlout comes barreling into his hut, screaming as if all hell broke loose. 

You hold back and laugh as you watch Hiccup groan so loudly it wakes Toothless up next to him. He marches up to the hut, yelling obscenities and waving his arms around wildly. 

“What is going on?” Heather muses, back from patrol, sunkissed and watching the spectacle unfold fondly. 

“Oh Hiccup is going to kill Snotlout.” Ruffnut replies, flipping through a modest pile of sheep hide. 

“Thats nice..” she takes her leave, heading to her own hut and waving everyone a collective goodbye.

You sigh, leaning back in your chair farther, trying to make out if Hiccup is punching Snotlout or biting his ear off. Could be either or honestly. You'll miss this. 

—

You get knocked out of the sky during a training drill, Rmel isn't fast enough and you end up in the water. Thankfully close enough to swim to shore. 

“Thank you Rmel! All that training and you can't catch me from the sky!” you yell, fist in the air. 

Hiccup flies down with Rmel by his side. He bites back a smile as you wring your clothes out. Your dragon is indifferent, watching you grumble. 

“Dont even.” you warn.

He laughs anyway, “Im sorry im sorry!” 

You sigh, "I'm going to hide your leg then who will laugh.” 

It only makes him laugh harder as you stomp up to him, waving a finger in his face. “You will be the next in the water just wait.”

The laughs sputter and die in his throat as he looks at you with wide eyes. Watching the water droplets drip from your eye lashes, down to your lips. Where his eyes become fixated on. Unable to look away. 

You turn on your heel to scold your dragon. Ignoring him. 

Hiccup thinks you just might be the most gorgeous thing he's ever seen. More than a sunset at Berk, more than when the clouds give way to clear skies. More than anything at all. 

It hits him all at once really, the sinking realization that these really are the last few times he will be able to look at you like that. 

—

“Oh well today is ‘everyone hates Hiccup’ day then!” comes a shout from the armory. 

You turn to investigate, peeking inside and finding a very exasperated Hiccup on his knees digging through piles of weapons. 

“What are you doing?” you close the door behind you. 

“Oh, I'm glad to see you. Do you have any spare iron ore? I would say I'm on my last leg but it fell into the ocean." He points to his stump.

“I do not. But fishless does. Need a hand?” you offer your hand and he gladly takes it. Steadying himself as you wrap his arms around you for better support. Guiding him out of the armory and to his precious iron ore. 

You try not to pay attention too closely to the details. The curl of his fingers where they rest cautiously on your hip. His steady breathing. Just how close your faces are. Why did it have to be Hiccup? Beautiful smart Hiccup. 

You would use your dragon, but you sent Rmel off to play on the beach for the afternoon. Go figure when you really need him huh. 

“Thanks again.” Hiccup mumbles, trying to concentrate and walking with only one foot. 

“No problem.” you hum. 

You get to fishlegs, even if your hands are clammy and face warmer then it was where you entered that storage room. 

Fishlegs only squints but takes Hiccup inside. Well you know what everyone's going to talk about at dinner. 

—--

“Go after her, or watch her fly away.” Heather says, watching Hiccup work on his newest creation. Well its more a hunk of gronkle iron right now but not the point. 

Hiccup can only sigh. “I can’t force anyone to stay here.” Hammering away at his work. 

“Yes, but you also can’t say anything.” Heather tries. 

“Why not. It's easy.” he grunts. “ I can go about my life,” thwap goes the hammer,  Settle down and forget.” the hot sizzle of coal echoes. 

“But will you truly forget? You aren't the most subtle Hiccup. Trust me.” she crosses her arms, raising a brow. 

Hiccup stops to look up at her, brows furrowed. 

Is he really that obvious? 

—-

“I heard you're leaving.” Snotlout says. Watching you get ready for one of your last patrols. 

“Not right now.” you mumble, tightening your girth and checking your buckles. 

“I know.” 

You don't say much more. Putting a few rations of food into a satchel. Scratching Rmell behind the ears for his good behavior. Should be everything. You hoist yourself up on the saddle, watching Snoutlout cross his arms. 

“Listen I know its breaking your heart to part from this much viking manliness-” 

You tsk. 

“But think about sticking around some. You know, it'll be cool.” 

You don't reply. Curling your fingers into the reins and taking flight. You don't look back, if you would you'd see Hiccup peek from around the corner, shaking his head while Snotlout shrugs. 

“I tried!” 

“Really Snotlout because she didn't seem to listen to a single ‘manly viking’ thing you had to say.” 

“You talk to her Hiccup why send me come on.” he storms off, muttering under his breath. 

In hindsight sending in Snotlout probably wasn't the best idea. But he was the only one available. 

Hiccup really does need to talk to you. 

—-

“When do you leave?” is the first thing Hiccup says to you when you're back from patrolling. 

You look around to an empty room “Where is everyone?” 

“Back on Berk. Picking up supplies.” 

“Okay,” you hop off your saddle, “I'm leaving in 2 weeks.” Undoing the girth and sliding the saddle from Rmel who rumbles in happiness. “I know buddy I know. Feels good huh.” you mumble into his neck, resting your head against him. 

“You always take his saddle off?” you're reminded Hiccup is in the same room. You've been trying to avoid him. 

“Of course I do. Don't you think it would be uncomfortable if you had to wear it 24/7?”

“Well yes but what if you need to get in the air fast.” 

“Then I'll ride him with no saddle. You complicate things, you know that Hiccup.”

“So I've been told.” he sighs. “Listen, I'm serious about you staying. We could use the extra dragon, and it looks like you could use a place to call home too.”

“I have a home Hiccup. This isn't my home.” You wave to the space around you. “You aren't my people, you don't speak the same tongue, you don't have the same way of life, I'm not one of you I will never be.”  don't make this harder then it is. 

The words sting, but he presses on. “Nonsense, you're always welcome here you know that.” 

“Listen, I know you need all the dragon ridders you can get around here but my people need me. You're not the only one with a father who leaves big shoes to fill.”

“I didn't know im-”

“I’d prefer if no one knows okay. I have my duties as do you. And mine are to return. Please don't ask me to stay again.” 

“Okay.” he gives in, nodding softly. 

—-

“You and Hiccup huh.” Astrid teases. 

You are both out patrolling. Spending 2 days doing the rounds before going back to the edge. They're using you while they can before you leave it seems. You don't blame them. 

You groan. “No! There's nothing going on.”

“Right right.. Sure.” she hums, nodding along. 

“Oh come on I haven't even been here that long. Besides, aren't you guys like, you know an item.”

She laughs, clutching her stomach while trying not to lose balance off of Stormfly. “No. I kissed him once or twice sure when we were kids but he’s not exactly my type.”

You roll your eyes, clutching onto your reins. “Sure sure.” 

—

“Youre seriously leaving? But we've made so much progress with the book!” Fishlegs says at dinner. 

You try not to let your eye twitch. “Yes. I'm sorry but I have to.” 

“Whose leaving.” Tuffnut says, wiping his head to you. 

“Leaving who?” Ruffnut echoes. 

You groan, putting your hands in your head. “Me. I'm leaving. It's me.”

“It is because she smells like fish. It's okay I'd leave if we didn't ride the same dragon.” Tuffnut nods. 

“Shes leaving because you never stop talking.” His sister rolls her eyes. “You can't go wrong smelling like fish anyway.” 

“No she's leaving because you guys are annoying," Snotlout says.

“No really please reconsider, for the book! It just needs a little more and we can even make a second edition.” Fishlegs tries again. 

“Guys enough.” Astrid tries, but it falls on deaf ears as everyone begins to debate the reason for you leaving. 

“She doesn't have to tell anyone, guys.” Hiccup says, but it gets drowned out by the rising voices. 

“I left but came back, maybe she's doing the same.” Heather shrugs. 

Everyone's voices overlap at once, giving you a migraine. You get up, shoving your chair in harshly, taking your dinner with you and leaving. 

“Geez someone's upset.” 

“Shut up Snotlout.”

—

Hiccup follows you. Of course he does. He comes to your hut, banging on the door and not taking your go aways as an answer. 

“Im not leaving!” he shouts from the door. 

You're crying. You don't know why but you're crying. Tears streaming down your face as you watch the moon rise from your window. 

Why must things become so complicated? Why are you so far from everything you know just for the chance and feeling in control for once in your life? 

You did everything asked of you, and now for just the start of freedom you are forced to pay dearly. 

The shouts and knocking stops, and a part of you wishes he would've tried harder. But you are too hard headed, cold hearted and mean it means for anyone to want to try harder for you. All you care about is chasing a feeling you dreamt up in the corner of your room as a child. Sticking your hands under the sun to feel a warmth that can not be replicated. 

You should leave now, no? 

—--

You manage to get Rmel ready in record time, slipping out the back of your hut and taking flight with blurry vision and a heavy heart. What you don't see is a night furry hot on your tail. 

“Stop! Don't leave now!” Hiccup's voice sounds from behind you. 

You wipe the tears from your face, slowing down till he flies beside you. “What do you want, Hiccup? Just let me leave. “ 

“Come on, I'm sorry for the way they acted, but don't make any rash decisions.” 

“There's nothing more to decide. I'm on my way home. “

“No you're not.” 

You turn to look at him with enough furry to knock him out of the sky. “Dont tell me what to do Hiccup.” 

“Im not trying to!” 

You glare at him, “That's exactly what you're doing.”

“You don't have all your things, your girth isn't tightened. You're slipping right and you haven't noticed. Just- come back so we can get you properly sorted out.” He pleads. 

“I don't care.” 

“Dont do anything you will regret.” he tries. 

You look down, your center of balance is off. Your girth is hanging open, you're missing a lot of equipment honestly. It's not worth running Rmel to the ground to prove a point. You fly in silence for 10 minutes before you stop. 

“Just you.” you mumble. “I don't want anyone else to see me.”

He smiles. “Then no one will. You have my word.”

Silently you follow Hiccup back to the edge, landing back to your hut. 

—-

You work in silence refitting your saddle, tying your knots and double checking everything. Toothless is half asleep while Rmel fights off his own exhaustion. All the patrolling has really given him a run for his money. 

Hiccup is on the other side of him, fitting a satchel to his underbelly. 

You can't leave now, you risk him falling out of the sky. 

“Hiccup, stop. I can't leave now.” you mumble softly. 

He looks up at you so tenderly it's as if you're the moon. Shining his way.  “Okay.” 

So he helps you take everything off. Setting it in the corner and letting Rmel go to bed. “I should take Toothless to bed.” 

“Come back after?”

He perks up.” I will.” 

—-

He comes back as promised. Sitting in your one chair while you sit criss-cross in yours, now in your pjs. 

“What made you change your mind?” he picks at his fingers. 

“Rmel, you. He’s in no shape to fly all the way home. I would be cruel to ask him that.” 

He hums, “You don't owe me an explanation, but why do you need to go back?” 

“I need to go back to get married, Hiccup.”

Silence. 

“It’s my duty to my people. You understand as the son of the chief. Our roles are so much different to everyone around us. And mine is to marry well. To bridge gaps through alliances. I have studied my whole life for this, and I finally feel ready to actually do it.”

You bite back the feeling of a lie. 

You escaped the first engagement, your intention was to stay here. Far away from where anyone could find you. But with news of a brewing war between your home and that of your ex fiance, you are the only hope to end the budding violence. 

You crave freedom more than you can ever express. And you got it with Rmel, but as everything in this life, it costs a price. A hefty one of war. You can not live while your home becomes painted in bloodshed. All because you wanted something more. You wanted to be selfish. 

The neighboring prince is pig-headed, stubborn, with very little interests outside of ruling. But if it means saving your people then so be it. You were promised to him and you ran. Now you answer to war. 

“That's not the real reason is it?” he whispers. 

You look away. “What is it to you?”

“I care about you. You've been here for just about a year you think I'd just let you loose without trying to understand.”

You sigh. “It's complicated.”

“Everything in life is.” he tries, getting up and taking a seat right next to you. Hand on your knee. He’s warm, radiating heat that feels closer to the feeling of sunbathing on a cool fall day. Closer to the one you've been chasing. 

“I’ll tell you about it some time.” you rest a hand on top of his, smiling softly.  “Thank you Hiccup. Really.” you give him a chast kiss on the cheek. And he blooms pink like a tulip in May. 

“Of course. I'll let you sleep.” he slips out of your door and you try to sleep. But your worst fear is coming true. Falling for another while on your way to go home and get married to end a possible war. 

What a life you live. 

—-

You tell Hiccup, you tell him everything. It becomes too much. 

“I have to go back. Too many will die and it will be on my hands.” You confess, huddled in the corner of his room. 

“How do you know it's true?” his face is grim, hand on your shoulder while you pour your heart out. 

“I have an inside man, my cousin who's been keeping in correspondence.”

“And you trust him?” 

“With my life.” 

Hiccup shakes his head, “verify the information before you leave. Any can be a trap. Trust me.”

“How? Go all the way there to see if it's a war and then come back?” your shoulders sag, eyes narrowing. 

“No. We’ll ask Johan. He’s been south.” 

Johan. Oh you know him. Who doesn't. 

—-

“Ah Princ-”

“Oh Johan, so good to see you too!” you interrupt him with a glare. 

He sighs. “Yes, very good to see you, this far north.” 

The other riders and Berkians are busy looking through his ship while you and Hiccup look for answers. 

“Any news from down south?” you ask. 

“Same old same old. Your father is furious at you leaving. But he’s sort of adopted a policy where you don't exist.” he strokes his beard thoughtfully. 

“Thats nice. And the war?” 

He blinks. “War. What war? With the mosquitos sure. But no bloodshed on that side of the sea as far as I know.” 

“Are you absolutely sure Johan?” Hiccup stresses. 

“Master Hiccup, what would I gain by lying? The young woman seeks to stay in Berk, that is her business. I continue my trade through her sea ports nonetheless.” 

—

Hiccup takes you for a ride with him, to clear your mind and give Rmel a break. 

“You know, when I first started flying I had this little cheat sheet for his tail.” he tells you fondly. 

You hum, arms wrapped around him and face pressed into his back. “How many times did you crash?”

“Honestly not that many. could have been way worse but we sorta just I don't know- clicked.”

“I knew Rmel since he was a weee hatchling. He used to play in our garden before he got too big.” you chuckle. 

“Yeah? I wonder what Toothless looked like as a baby.” Toothless whines at the mention of his name, shaking his head. 

“Hmm prolly a small little guy, less spines. Soft.” 

“Sounds about right.” he chuckles softly. 

“Knowing him for that long made it much easier to ride him. I was a friend.”

“Cant say the same for us.” he clicks his tongue.  “I shot him out of the sky.” he mutters. 

“Oh I've heard. Quite the coming of age story.” you tease. 

You feel him laugh, “that it is. What was yours? Coming of age story.”

“This is.”

He brings a hand to cup yours, letting Toothless cruise through the clouds with ease. Bringing your hand to his lips, pressing a chaste kiss. You're only making it worse for yourself. 

—--

“I have to go see for myself.” you tell Hiccup. 

He lets you go. Even though he knows if it is true, you won't come back. He helps you pack up, fingers brushing against yours and you tie your leather together. Buckling pieces and looping knots. 

“Thank you for everything Hiccup. If I don't come back-”

“Dont say that. Have faith.” He stops you before you can finish, holding your hands. 

“Do you?” you look at him, eyes searching his.

“I do.” he whispers, pressing a kiss to your lips. 

You part, looking into his eyes for the last time before you are set for the skies. For a home you fear will never be as you left it. 

—--

As your oasis town comes into view your heart drops in anticipation of the worst, but in the end you were right after all. It isn't the same, it will never be. 

The father you once treasured more than life itself tries to shoot you out of the sky the moment you are seen in the clouds. Standing from his perch on a watch tower commanding legions of the men who were sworn royal to you, now raising their arrows into the sky, right at you. That's okay. 

You manage to make it to your cousin's home. It's empty save for a few scrolls. When you open them your heart drops. 

His handwriting has been copied, word for word letter for letter. They've found out he was speaking to you. There lies a single note on the wall, marked with the nickname he used for you growing up. 

To my little princess. If you're reading this it means I too have long left. I will find you, do not fear. But your search for freedom has inspired more than you know. Until next time, little dragon.  

And Johan's words are confirmed. There is no war. It was all to get you back. It’s time to go back to the home you've been building. 

“Youre not my daughter you hear me! You're a pathetic excuse for a princess!” Your father roars, shooting any kind of weapon he can get his hands on. You only smile. Looking down at the people, safe and sound. Going about their days, even if their minds have been filled with hatred for you. It will heal in due time. 

Your brother, the oldest prince will take the throne, your sister will mary, and you will become like a phantom. Only spoken of on occasions that deem it a necessity. But your family has chosen their side. And it is not with you. 

You will never be a princess again. Gone are the days of lavish nights and slow mornings. Your wealth is reduced to nothing more than what you can carry. Once smooth hands now replaced with callused ones from holding reigns for hours on end. 

A completely reimagined version of yourself. One that dares to take what you yearn for.  Something that was almost taken from you. 

You hope the neighboring prince is having a horrible day. 

It's time to head back. After Rmel gets his fill of desert sand of course. 

—

You come back to the edge 4 months after you first left. Lights on and everyone is home for dinner. Perfect. 

A dramatic dismount is in order, diving from the sky and shooting a few shots. Heads peek out and shouting before it dissolves into shouts of joy, of cheers. 

“Miss me?” you don't have a second more to speak before everyone piles onto you for a hug. 

“Oh thank thor.” Hiccup sighs when you manage to break away from the pile. 

You laugh, loud and bright. “No war after all.” you hum. 

He kisses your lips, slotting them against yours as you hold into his arms desperately. You get a few fake gags but you only roll your eyes. It's good to be back. 

[khattikeri]

nie huaisang may say "i don't know" all the time but the person who Really doesn't know or even want to know is lan xichen. thanks for coming to my tedtalk

[wtfaniii]

Can you pleaseeee do a Namgyu x reader story where he’s your mean ex boyfriend that secretly still wants you 🙏

Of course! That man has something and you know it girl

From love to hate

Nam-Gyu (player 124) x reader // you

Fem reader!

Summary: You were so miserable that out of 456 people in this game you met again with the man who made your love life miserable a year ago.

Warning: Some emotional abuse, unstable relationship on both sides.

Note: I understand you girl, that boy has something that makes him attractive, I hope this is to your liking and meets your expectations!

The second game was over, the girl just wanted to calm her nerves sitting silently on her bed but she was startled a little when Thanos appeared next to one leap.

—Get lost —she said, rolling her eyes and continuing to play with his fingers.

—How pretty —he said sarcastically.

—You were nicer before —Gyu said, coming to her left side.

She sighed and got out of bed ready to move out of there, she wanted to have zero contact with him after having found in bed with her best friend.

—Fuck you

—¿You kiss with that vocabulary? —Nam-gyu hurried to stop her from escaping and stood in front of her.

—¡Move! ¡I don't want anything to do with you!

Yes, the guy was an idiot, he acted like an idiot throughout their entire relationship and he would always be an idiot.

She thought could tolerate him, she loved him enough to do it but there was a limit she wasn't going to cross, infidelity was something she was never going to get over.

Nam-gyu wasn't going to give up now that he had her so close, she was the only one who loved him just the way he was and even though he had made a mistake by getting between the legs of her slut friend he still couldn't stop thinking about her.

He took her arm with a little more force than he should have, it was inevitable, he wanted to tell her to please stay but instead he said something more hurtful.

—Stop being such a bitch and listen to me.

In his mind he wanted to regret it but the laughter deep inside Thanos made his ego as a man grow.

That was one of his many problems, the influence that third parties managed to have on him.

However, he couldn't think of anything else when he felt the girl's hand crash into his cheek, both becoming the center of attention of the other players.

—If you call me a bitch again, I'll kick you where it hurts the most —she warned him, pointing a finger at him in a threatening manner, to which Nam-gyu raised his hands in a sign of peace while backing away.

—She's a real sweetheart —Thanos said for the second time, amused and sarcastic.

—You have no idea....

[...]

It was time for the third game, the girl managed to overcome each and every one until it was time to pair up and take a cubicle before the rest.

She was alone, she thought that this time it would be the end for her.

Meanwhile Nam-gyu and Thanos had already managed to get an empty cubicle but just before closing the door 124 stopped at the entrance and looked in all directions.

—¡¿What the hell are you doing?! ¡Come in already!

But he ignored it completely, the drug in his system raised his adrenaline and clouded his judgment but the only thing he was quite clear about was that he had to make sure his damn ex-girlfriend was still alive after this.

Seeing her disoriented in the crowd, he didn't think twice and ran towards her, hearing Thanos shouting at him but he kept his eyes on the girl.

As soon as he got close to her, he took her by the shoulders and led her to a cubicle where, after having beaten the players out, he managed to close the door with her.

She was just about to thank him when Nam-gyu waved his hand at her to shut up.

—Not a word —he said, taking deep breaths.

—I was going to tell you that you are an idiot.

He gave her an annoyed look, but she was actually grateful even though she wasn't going to say it out loud.

Despite hearing the screams and gunshots through the door, the tension between them was also palpable.

They had so many things to say to each other but it was neither the time nor the place, Nam-gyu only needed to be so close to death to know that among so much shit in his life she was the only one he needed.

Their relationship had been so close and strong that all it took to end it was a one-night stand with another woman, and now he regretted it.

—I was drugged when I slept with her —he said without turning to look at her and watching through the small crack in the door as the pink soldiers collected the corpses of the eliminated players.

—That doesn't make it better —she replied without much enthusiasm.

Just by hearing her voice he knew that she had not let go of the past either, he knew her well enough to realize that the feeling of wanting to return was mutual.

But neither of them took the step that was required.

Once the doors opened, they both silently left there, Nam-gyu was the first to go towards Thanos who looked at him with his eyes half closed.

[...]

During the voting, the players looked at each other with hatred and other mixed emotions, Nam-gyu's gaze remained on the girl who was on the side of those who had chosen the tag, it was curious how now he too was questioning whether he should choose the circle again or this time make the decision to end the games.

—¡Press the circle! —Thanos shouted euphorically, bringing him out of his thoughts.

Min-su was slightly startled by the sudden shout, "Pathetic" Nam-gyu thought but he also felt somewhat pressured to make a decision.

After Thanos went to vote, he approached the poor trembling boy and spoke into his ear.

—If you don't press the circle you will be left alone without anyone to defend you.

It seems that this was enough to keep the 125 votes in his favor, with that they would win and continue participating, but when it was his turn his hand deviated towards the huge check mark.

He clearly heard Thanos' frustrated groan.

He took the red badge that the guard gave him and stood next to those his companion so hated.

—I honestly thought you would vote to keep playing —the girl murmured, standing next to him —¿What made you change your mind?

—Shut the fuck up —he mumbled angrily.

She still smiled softly at him and took his hand, a simple but meaningful sign that she was still by him side. Just as she had promised him since they met

The votes ended in a tie and now Nam-gyu had to continue playing and tolerating the irritable Thanos, he did not consider him his friend but his partner, he only hoped that this decision making would not influence their bond of trust too much.

Unfortunately, that was not the case and the tension between both sides of players increased with every second in the men's room.

—I'm not mad at you —230 said, approaching him while splashing some cold water on his face —I would also bend over backwards for a hottie like her.

He wanted to avoid fights but 333 butted into his conversation.

—Stop bothering others, you must understand that not all of us want to die in here.

Thanos laughed amused. —Oh look! The two lovebirds want to get out of here just because their girlfriends asked them to!

—I think we've collected enough money —Nam-gyu interrupted with a stern expression and a defensive posture. —Friend, we can still get out of here.

Maybe if 230 hadn't been under the influence of drugs he would have listened to him and they would have had a formal conversation where everyone would have come out a winner.

But that wasn't the case, instead he blurted out the following words.

—¿Why don't I just let you two die in the next game? You two can relax, I'll take care of your girlfriends so they won't be alone, if you know what i mean...

He barely finished the sentence with an arrogant smile when 333 threw a punch that Thanos managed to dodge.

He was going to make fun of it if it hadn't been for Nam-gyu punching him in the face, leaving him stunned and unleashing a fight between the Circle team and the X team.

Nam-gyu may have been a jerk to her, but she was still his girl and even if he had to kill other contestants, he would make sure they both came out alive and with a good amount of money.

Yeah... he did love her.

[withallthingslove]

Have you seen the press kit on Hulu’s website?

They are basically doing a 180 arc of Nick with him still not stepping up to Gilead but even worse, following his father in law into the dark side, after him and June said they love each other in the present. Lizzie and max speak about Nick betraying June mid season and June not letting her love cloud her judgment anymore and finally see him for who he really is, a commander in Gilead.

I mean if they wanted to achieve a fail final GOT style, I think they are succeeding… I know we have to wait and see but I’m really disappointed with this storyline. But Lawrence on the other hand will help fight Gilead…

Yes, I was commenting on the Reddit thread.... *super long post and spoilers incoming*

Overall, I'm not surprised. They've done this since season 2. If they completely scrap Nick's Testaments characterization in favor of redeeming Serena or Lawrence I will be big mad. But why would they rewrite Luke's character to be like how he is in The Testaments but not Nick's? The answer is I think they are still pushing Nick to be underground and I think we could still have a NickxJune endgame or an ambiguous she chooses no one.

Before diving into the press notes, let's look at what we have so far:

Max is listed 4th on the cast list, in front of Ann Dowd. The season synopsis says he will face tests of character. This to me implies a big increase in screen time

Both Elisabeth and Max chose the bridge kiss as their favorite show moment

On the giant billboard, Nick is shown right beside June. Luke, Aunt Lydia, June, and Nick are also all in a group together, which to me is the characters who make it out alive to be in the Testaments.

The season summaries for seasons 1-4 were Nick heavy with his rebellious acts while only the season 5 was Luke heavy

In the fan tweets video they have O-T read a fan wish about June and Nick ending up together

The trailer is pretty Nick heavy like the season 4 trailer

Now the press notes:

June's character description: It does not mention Luke, but does mention Nick. "Over the course of the series, June becomes a completely new person, a person who does find her voice, an angry voice, a powerful voice. She’s a different person than she was. A lot of the romance with Nick is because of that. They are two people who understand and share the burden of Gilead’s tyranny."

This is reaffirming that Luke is included in June's past, Nick is her present. Back in the day we compared Nick and June to Katniss and Peeta, and this is almost verbatim what Jennifer Lawrence once said about Everlark.

Nick's character description: "I think some of the edges fray on Nick this season. His moral center is actually shifting. He has been quite selfless for much of his life, especially in this dynamic with June. And so maybe his gas tank for that is starting to run out. He’s speaking up from himself a little bit more and sometimes in quite misguided ways"

For seasons I think Nick has been a fuse waiting to blow. He was manipulated into joining a cult, survives in said cult, meets the love of his life and makes her his north star. Everything he does is for her but that is not sustainable and is uneven. Part of what I love about June and Nick's relationship is that he soaks up all of her stress and desires. But what is his outlet for that? When you take June away who is Nick? Where is his moral center if he is not acting out of love for one person? He has to figure that out this season if he actually wants a future outside of Gilead. If June ends up with him now, you would have a long list of people saying it's not good enough. So Nick needs to do more than be seen as good because of his connection to June.

"There’s something in Wharton’s masculinity that Nick has been searching for. One of the things that this season explores is the notion that a lot of these men in Gilead have broken relationships with their fathers. I think Nick sees in Wharton a mentorship that he craves. This season is the first time Nick’s been tempted by the dark side on a fundamental level, primarily because of that relationship."

Look I love Nick but by anyone's definition he's a war criminal with daddy issues. And that's fine because he's a fictional character and it's nuanced. He's nowhere near as responsible for Gilead as Fred, Serena, and Lawrence are. But he is still complicit. He's a Commander now, and he may still have ties to the Martha network and friendlies and Mayday, but he is not operating a secret operation out of his house like Lawrence that we know of. Being complicit as a driver is different than being complicit as a Commander. You go from being a cog in the system to upholding the system. The show has repeatedly driven home that Nick and Lawrence are good but flawed men. But if June is to truly choose Nick and end up with him, he has to turn away from Gilead for himself. Not to protect her, Nichole, and Hannah. And I don't think Nick has done that kind of work yet. At least not the show's version.

Now for his daddy issues. I think Nick is morally good, but even in earlier seasons he thought Commander Pryce was a good person. He looked up to him and trusted him. But Pryce was still a founder of Gilead who designed and upheld the system. When Pryce died Nick started depending on Lawrence. It makes sense that he would be drawn to Wharton. He's messed up from losing his family before Gilead and craves acceptance and stability and a paternal figure. It's how he got manipulated into the SOJ in the first place.

I don't think Nick could go underground at this point, even if he is working with Tuello. He's not ready. He has to work through the issues that got him into the SOJ, and that might mean he backslides. Healing and doing internal work is rarely linear and I doubt it is linear in a totalitarian regime.

So while I can't see him turning June in, I can see him ruining the rebels' plans by abandoning his agreement with Tuello. I can see Wharton taking advantage of a distraught Nick and having him kickoff the Return Baby Nichole campaign 2.0. Because Nick might not trust systems but he trusts people. And trusting the wrong people got him roped into Gilead.

So while yes it may suck for us fans of Nick and I don't trust the show to do it well, but I can see the writers thinking that Nick's path in season 6 involves backsliding. Because his history can suggest that. I will also add that when I first read The Testaments and was reading so fast, I interpreted Nick being underground as a commander on the run/rumored to be dead for protection almost like a myth. Not an active resistance operative. The show could easily go that route where Nick backslides and then redeems himself when he realizes his mistake and goes on the run vs officially joining Mayday.

Luke's character description: Doesn't mention June, just Hannah.

Tuello's character description: By the end of Season Six, a lot of the alliances that Mark had hoped for have fallen apart. Lawrence may be Mark’s only last, desperate hope to retaliate for all of Gilead’s many atrocities.

I could see Nick's betrayal being to Tuello and by extent of that to June, not him betraying June herself. It also makes sense that Nick makes a choice in the Jezebels episode after he sees June in disguise, and she hears about it two episodes later.

Elisabeth about Luke: "He is ready to go. So as soon as Mark gives him that opportunity, he doesn’t hesitate. June is furious with Luke’s choice. She’s trying to keep everyone safe, and Luke signs up for this most dangerous of missions."

What about that says June is choosing Luke?

Elisabeth about Nick: "In this season, we see Nick and June together for the first time in quite a while. Finally, they can talk about things that have been left unsaid. They finally admit that they love each other now, not just in the past but now."

Praise be we're getting extended Nick and June scenes. We're getting them talking like an actual couple and confirmation that they are the people they would choose to be with. Hopefully they discuss his role in the takeover and his history, because as one of the EPs said years ago, because June and Nick only have fleeting moments they try to keep it light when they see each other and they push down or forgive the bad. They NEED to have an actual discussion that fans see if an endgame is going to be possible. Or else they will be a resentful conflict avoidant couple.

"But then, toward the end of this season, Nick betrays June’s trust. It’s the biggest thing that’s ever happened to the two characters. It’s inevitable in a way. June has been shown over and over again that Nick is a member of Gilead’s hierarchy and will abide by their rules. But, she just doesn’t listen. Love clouds her judgement. Now, finally, she is able to see who he is and what he’s capable of. It’s devastating"

She says towards the end of the season, not at the end. So there is time for Nick to redeem himself before it ends.

Love clouds all of our judgements. We love Nick as a character so we see the nuance and we know his backstory as a resistance member in the novels and how his season 3 scenes were cut and that he was originally going to get Hannah out. But the average viewer doesn't. For better or worse, the show made Nick a commander in the system with a shady past. For him to go underground they have to address it and rectify it, not avoid the direction a great deal of viewers see him going in.

We love Nick for how he supports June and that he is a complex character. But he has been capable of bad things in Gilead by "following the rules." Would disobeying them get him killed? You could argue yes. But his character as written in the scripts is one who finds a way to do things for June within Gilead's official and unofficial rules. And after season 2 he's also bombed Chicago, killed commanders, married a high commander's daughter, supported starting New Bethlehem and probably a bunch of stuff offscreen. June hasn't seen that, but we have. And we chose to see through it and love him as a character anyway. But June has to do the same.

About it being inevitable, Tuello implies Nick has had multiple opportunities to leave Gilead. But he never did. Why? I think of what June said to Lawrence about "how long did you think it would be until they came for you?" The longer Nick stays in Gilead, the more likely it becomes he ends up betraying June in some way, either by active choice or association.

Also, we don't know what his big betrayal is? Why freak out about it yet when season 4 hyped up him capturing her and him being married as betrayals. Because that season also got us great Osblaine scenes that ended on a high note.

In a glass half full look, maybe seeing June distraught over Nick will be super angsty and amazing in a way so painful it's great.

O-T about Luke and June: "they are united as a couple to save Hannah. On the road to that mission, they sometimes have to make sacrifices. They have to sacrifice intimacy, home life and romance"

Nothing about this says happy rebel couple in love.

"It’s difficult for Luke to see June and Nick together because their connection is palpable. These are two people who are deeply energetically connected. They have a dynamism that he and June lack. Also, Nick is a man of action and, so far, Luke has not been.... And Luke definitely feels that when he sees Nick - so handsome, so confident, so strong. Max plays Nick with so much nuance and charisma that you totally understand why June is drawn to him. But, of course, Nick is still a commander in Gilead."

We're getting Luke, June, and Nick together!! Luke realizing that June is in love with Nick!! Luke realizing that they have something he and June will never have!! I've prayed for times like these.

"Luke is going to love June forever no matter what, although Luke fears that she might end up with Nick. I think he understands their connection is eternal, and he might have some uncertainty about how it’s going to ultimately play out."

So, so far Elisabeth has mentioned June being angry at Luke and in love but betrayed by Nick, and O-T has mentioned June and Luke not having romance and Luke coming to terms with June ending up with Nick.

It sounds to me we are getting the dissolution of June and Luke's romance, and an angsty high stakes faux-lovers to enemies back to lovers June and Nick arc.

Max on Nick and June:

"I don’t think that Nick has ever had any apprehensions about Luke... He’s often been quite compassionate toward Luke. I think he recognizes and understands that the situation is painful for both of them."

King shit.

"I think his relationship with Rose definitely factors into the changes in Nick’s relationship with June, but time is honestly a big part of it. We’ve spent a long time with these characters and in turn, they’ve been in these relationships for a long time, and relationships evolve, and resentments grow, especially when there’s so much external drama and chaos. I think it’s understandable that we would start to see the edges fray on this dynamic between June and Nick."

Just like I said earlier. Nick has been selfless towards June for pretty much the entire show. How long can that selflessness go unreturned, especially if he feels that every time he makes an effort to save her she is causing havoc again to try and save Hannah or bring down Gilead? And that brings Nick and June to two different pages.... June trying to bring down the horrible system Nick lives in BUT WON'T LEAVE because he has family obligations, daddy issues, and a low self esteem. A turning point would have to come eventually.

And Max's description might sound bad, but edges fraying just means uncertainty. It doesn't mean ending. The only reason Nick and June have been stable across seasons is partially because distance makes the heart grow fonder. They can push aside the bad when they are together and wish for each other when they are apart. I believe 100% they can be a couple in the real world, but to do so they need to rock the boat a little bit.

It looks like this season will let them face some hard truths so they can actually move on to the other side. S1-2 they were I think as much of a couple they could be, but s3-5 they've just been in a purgatory limbo of not being able to see each other or discuss anything. Because of how deep their love is they still hold a candle for each other, but they've been holding that candle while metaphorically moving farther apart.

Warren Littlefield about the love triangle:

"June’s married to Luke but she’s in love with Nick. She’s having Nick’s child, but she still loves Luke."

Even a producer knows that Nick is who June is in love with. Luke she still has love for, but she's no longer in love.

CONCLUSION

Obviously I'm using this to comfort myself because of how much I wrote. But honestly, when I read through the press doc for the first time I didn't read it as the end. As much as I would love for Nick to join the resistance midway through, I can see why the show is not taking that path. They are choosing to go with the storyline they've been building for seasons to (hopefully) get to Nick abandoning it all in a huge, dramatic, finale way.

But this doesn't have to be a bad thing. I read the press doc as an opportunity for June and Nick to actually overcome the challenges that have been keeping them apart.

And nothing about the character descriptions says June is choosing Luke. It says her and Luke are only bound by Hannah, and she and Nick are in love but drama is keeping them separated.

So let's get ready for some angsty, horrible, amazing, intoxicating drama.

[qwordavoider]

The 911 writers' room should have character advocates.

People who look at the actions of the other characters in the show, solely through the perspective of their assigned character. Some way to check themselves so they don’t abandon the fundamental aspects of the characters. Or even just straight up forget about some of them.

For example the Buck advocate point out all the storylines that include his family not really giving a damn about his well being in recent episodes. Or that Buck can make his own decisions, which the 118 should respect. Give him a chance to yell at them or speak up for himself for once.

Or Chimney’s advocate highlighting the fact that Chimney hasn’t gotten a storyline of his own all season. All of it has been connected to Maddie or the rest of the team. He got a little bit of a storyline with whether or not he thought Jee should have a sibling, and even that decision was taken out of his hands when Maddie says she’s pregnant.

Or Hen’s advocate asking for a storyline outside of having her kids taken away. Or even outside of having to choose whether or not her job is a priority (choosing being a firefighter over med school in s6 and later in Masks having Karen get upset about the job Hen’s had for years).

Or Eddie’s advocate could have pushed for Eddie to go back to El Paso to get Chris back sooner instead of letting the storyline be shoved aside in favor of more screen time with Brad. Or to let him actually acknowledge his mistakes and let him be human instead of (intentionally or unintentionally) making him an asshole.

Or Athena’s advocate asking for her to actually get a rookie so we can see her in that mentoring role she seemed to want to take on. The rookie wouldn’t even have to be highly involved or fleshed out, but just be around when she goes on calls.

Or Maddie’s advocate requesting to give her a spa day so she can breathe after everything she's been through this season (serial killer, kidnapping, her throat being slashed, and now Chim being trapped by and infected with a deadly virus). And let her do fun pregnancy stuff that she didn't get to do with Jee because of covid. Let her go to Lamaze classes and get to know other pregnant people that whom she can discuss things with.

*edited the Maddie one because @comradesummers rightfully pointed out that a character advocate wouldn't advocate for their character's storyline to be dominated by another character. I let the recent bucktommy discourse surrounding her cloud my judgment, and it ended up being my wants for the character in regard to the ship and not what would be good for Maddie.

Or Bobby’s advocate speaking up for him to talk to Athena about his dad, or even just dealing with his guilt and trauma from that on his own in a meaningful way. Or the advocate could suggest giving him a storyline about his damn heart attack and having to focus on his health more or dealing with the fact that he almost died.

Hell, give me an advocate for the recurring characters. Someone who looks at the episodes they have written to find ways to include them in the story when/if it makes sense. Prioritize characters we haven’t heard from in a while. Add additional people for us to care about (and potentially kill off instead of the main cast, but with more emotional impact than just the victims on calls).

I think it’s been said a million times by so many people, but I’m going to say it again: 911 has a hard time balancing all of its main characters and their storylines. They can’t focus on one without sacrificing the others. They also can’t seem to follow through in a satisfying way for a lot of their storylines.

Denny coded after being hit by a car and was fine the next time we saw him. Give him a recovery time that puts strain on Hen and Karen’s relationship to give them a different conflict. Mara never went through any sort of difficult transition back to living with the Wilsons or resentment over being sent to the group home. Athena and the rookie story could’ve been fleshed out more or even just been a background c or d plot. The black book from the opening episodes just disappeared after it was wrapped up way too quickly. Eddie and Chris took way too long to address. Buck’s hopes of being Captain or just any kind of career aspirations just faded away. Bobby coming back to the 118 with no problems after having an existential crisis where he retired, his house burning down, having a heart attack, and being ousted by Gerrard.

Not everything needs to be wrapped up in a nice neat bow after 1 or two episodes. It’s okay to let the storylines have breathing room. This last episode proved that it is possible. And I think they need to keep this energy going through the end of the season and hopefully keep their act together for season 9.

Inspired by this post from @johanna-swann about the writer’s intentions and whether they notice the patterns for Buck. Which led to thoughts on all the characters and a lot about plot lines in general.

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

Hello! I am SO hyperfixated on the fact that the overblot form CAN be controlled??? That’s the case with Malleus isn’t it? And I guess on one hand I can see how Idia can control it too because of his “curse/blessing” (and sheer will and spite).

Maybe this is foreshadowing that maybe it’s possible for the other OB boys to do so as well???? I don’t know how it’ll work with them but I’m so excited. Overblot cards potential AAAH

I’d love to hear more of your thoughts on this!

[Referencing this post!}

Yeah, I definitely think that OB Idia battle segment opens the floodgates for potential SSR Overblot Troublemaker(s) cards 💀 (RIP to the OB gang fans)

As a refresher for everyone (since it has been a while), alllllll the way back in book 1, Crowley and Cater describe “overblot” as thus: “[… being] overcome by negative energy and[…] losing control of [one’s] magic and emotions,” and “evil berserk mode”.

We’ve seen many examples of these traits in the main story campaign; oftentimes, the OB boy in question is impossible to reason with and has to be subdued via battle. However, it’s important to note that while the OBs may be primarily driven by their emotions, it is not purely rage but rather negative feelings in general. Yes, many OBs (Riddle, Leona, Azul, Vil, etc.) do attack others—but other OBs demonstrate moments of calm (ie when their demands are met). For example, Jamil is tame when he believes he has banished Kalim, secured hypnotized Scarabia mobs, and reigns over the dorm as its new leader. I do believe anger is still a large component of the behavior of one who has overblotted though; that rage most certainly clouds a person’s judgment and compels them to strike out at the slightest thing.

Now, about the idea of “controlling” OBs… I don’t that that can actually be done?? We have to remember that Malleus is a VERY powerful mage—and this alone could give him an “edge” that others don’t when it comes to being fully aware while in OB (though I believe both Malleus and Vil indicate early on they notice their blot building). As Idia’s dad states, Malleus is drawing his magic from nature itself and therefore has a limitless supply it. Secondly, I wouldn’t call Malleus’s OB “controlling” it to begin with. It’s clear that he’s still running high on emotions and is unwilling to hear others out or have them interfere with his plans. These are still traits associated with OB; it’s not as though Malleus is “overriding” the unreasonable thoughts, he is still ruled by them and acts on them. I think what you (maybe?) mean is that Malleus has a much more calculating approach and more precise control over how he wields his power rather than indiscriminately smashing stuff in his path. This, again, could do with his insane power level compared to his peers. Unlike most other OBs, his goal (at least in his own framing) before he overblotted to begin with wasn’t to “take away”, but rather to “gift” happy endings to everyone. This sets him apart just based on interests alone, and that’s perhaps why he acts the most different in the lot.

Now let’s consider the circumstances under which Idia OBs a second time: it’s in a dream, meaning it’s questionable whether or not this would transfer over to real life. Because it’s Idia’s dream, he has more autonomy in it, particularly because he is now “awake”/conscious of the fact that it is a dream. Secondly, Idia bears the Shroud family’s curse/blessing, which allows him to “power up” the more blot is present, as it serves as fuel for his magic. This alone makes him a “special case” which could explain the unusual amount of control he exerts over his OB form. (Again though, I’d wager it’s mostly the dream environment.)

I do see maybe the other OB boys doing a similar “oh, lemme OB to help you guys fight” in a dream situation where there are fewer limits on what they can do, but not in a real world setting. It would put them all at risk anyway, as they lack Idia’s curse/blessing or Malleus’s fae powers. Is that worth the risk, knowing they could all die or potentially turn on their classmates?

I just don’t see OB becoming a “tool” or a magical girl transformation the characters could pull out for combat purposes in the story (though this is possible for like the gameplay outside of the story). I highly doubt OB is like something you could train yourself to control; it’s less like bulking up at the gym and more like pushing yourself to keep exercising while you’re high on adrenaline… Sooner or later, you’d burn out and injure yourself in that overexertion.

If there ever are OB cards, I can easily see them as being the type that don’t come with vignettes because… what reasonable story could you conjure up to explain the OBing again? If there are vignettes, then they most likely won’t fit into the main story canon. You’d have to frame the OB cards as “within the moment” of whatever book they OB’d in, and perhaps go more in-depth about the trauma or something along those lines.

[satansapostle6]

Angel With A Broken Wing | Jonah Simms

And if I may just take your breath away / I don't mind if there's not much to say / Sometimes the silence guides a mind / To move to a place so far away / The goosebumps start to raise / The minute that my left hand meets your waist / And then I watch your face / Put my finger on your tongue 'cause you love to taste, yeah / These hearts adore, everyone the other beats hardest for / Inside this place is warm / Outside it starts to pour

Warnings: Mature language and themes. Sexual content.

Chapter One

Chapter Two: They Just Seem A Little Weird

“Stop looking at her!”

“Wha—I’m not looking at her!”

“Yes, you are, now stop it, it’s getting weird!”

Garrett McNeill was getting more tired of Jonah’s childish dilemmas by the day. The day before, Jonah had made the mistake of trying to ask out Sophie, one of the new hires at Cloud 9, which ended tragically for him. Not only had Jonah inadvertently harassed a coworker, but he had also accidentally asked a single, working mother of a five year-old if she had a ‘wild side’. Needless to say, Jonah felt humiliated and apologetic. This, of course, seemed to work out for everyone except for Garrett.

“Dude, I get that you like her, but I’m gonna be honest, man… I don’t think she likes you!” Garrett pointed out to Jonah, “And not even in the kindergarten like-like way, I mean I don’t even know if she considers values you as a human being after what you said to her yesterday!”

Jonah’s face falls with regret, “I know. What I said yesterday was… Horrible. A total lapse in judgment. I don’t know what I was thinking. I’m not even thinking about trying to get her number anymore, I just… Wish there was a way I could at least apologize to her. You know?”

Garrett looks down at his lap, actually feeling sorry for Jonah, and understanding his perspective.

“I don’t know, man,” Garrett provides, “She might just not wanna talk to you anymore after that, and you can’t blame her.”

Jonah nods, listening as he understands Garrett’s point.

“Just… I don’t know. If you get the chance to apologize to her, just leave it at that, you know? No pick-up lines, no asking her out. Something tells me an apology gets cheapened for a woman if it’s followed up by male gross-ness.”

Jonah nods understandingly. “Yeah, I just… hope I didn’t offend her.”

Garrett scoffs at the idea. “Dude. It’s Sophie. I play video games with her sometimes. You could’ve called her a slur, and she’d be fine.”

Jonah makes a concerned face, “Okay, well… I don’t think I wanna do that…”

Garrett just sits there, looking in front of him at Sophie working the cash register. He feels sorry for his friend, but starts to regret his involvement as soon as he hears a light bulb go off in Jonah’s head.

“Wait. If you and Sophie are such good friends… Can you help me out? Please?” Jonah begs.

Garrett just sighs, muttering to himself as he rolls his chair back to the customer service desk. “This is what I get for getting involved…”

*****

Later that Thursday, just as I was about to leave the register and clock out, I look up as I hear Garrett’s voice over the loudspeaker, with a weird lack of enthusiasm, even for him.

“Sophie Phuong to customer service… Sophie Phuong to customer service…”

I stop in confusion, not sure why Garrett would have needed me. I just shrug it off, abandoning my workstation as I head towards customer service at the front. Sure enough, as expected, sitting at the desk with an odd look on his face is Garrett. But standing by the customer service desk is Jonah, with a sad look on his face like a kicked puppy. I took a deep breath as soon as I saw him, bracing myself for one long conversation.

“Jonah…” I begin awkwardly.

But before I can continue, he cuts me off. Shocker.

“Sophie,” Jonah greets me, smiling hopefully, “Hey…”

I cross my arms expectantly, waiting for him to embarrass himself yet again. I knew at this point that Jonah was a pretty nice guy who just happened to be very awkward, but still, I needed him to at least give me something to work with here.

“I’m, uh…” Jonah fidgeted uncomfortably, “I’m really sorry, Sophie, about—”

Garrett and I both watching curiously.

I just stared, “About…?”

Jonah just looked at me guiltily, knowing he fucked up. “…Everything?”

I raised an eyebrow at his uncertainty.

“Everything. Yeah. Every single thing I have said to you, in the past twenty-four hours, has been… awful,” he apologized wholeheartedly, “Yesterday, I was rude, and… gross, and icky, and… I wish I could take back all the things I said to you,” he sighed.

Garrett looked to me for my input, wondering how I would react to this. I gave Garrett a ‘it’s whatever’ kind of shrug, not really having too big of a reaction to any of this. At this point, all of this was pretty pointless to me, and therefore required none of my energy at this point.

“Jonah…” I begin uncomfortably, “It’s fine. Really. You didn’t offend me, it’s not a big deal at all… Let’s just move past it. Okay?”

Jonah seemed ecstatic at this, thrilled that he was no longer in the doghouse.

“Oh! Uh, wow! Yeah! Great,” he laughed, still processing the entire thing. “Thank you! I’m… glad I didn’t ruin your day…”

I just give him a polite smile. “It’s cool. We’re good.”

An intimately touched smile spreads across my face, as he seemed way too happy about this.

“Thank you, Sophie,” he told me kindly, “That’s… really sweet of you,” he said softly.

I just nod, awkwardly glancing back and forth between him and Garrett.

“So… am I dismissed?”

Jonah looks around awkwardly as Garrett just offers me an indifferent smile, empathizing with me.

“Uh, yeah,” Jonah said quickly, “Yeah of course, I don’t mean to… keep you…”

I give them both a tiny smile and wave as I disappear, heading back to the break room for my stuff.

*****

After work, I headed out to the parking lot of the store, waiting for Ryan to drop Gigi off. He got here around 5:45, which I was pissed about, having had to wait an entire forty-five minutes for him to finally show up. I immediately ran to Ryan’s car the second I saw him pull up, feeling extremely impatient. Of course, I didn’t notice Jonah and Garrett coming out of the store.

“Ryan!” I practically shouted at my baby daddy.

He looked over at me nonchalantly, showing up in his stupid beanie and hoodie, not seeming to be aware of the fact that that I had a reason to be angry at him, let alone the fact that I was angry.

“Hey, Soph!” he greets me casually.

I scowl at him, doing my best to keep my composure in front of Gigi, who runs over to me in excitement. I bend down to look at her first, dealing with her before Ryan.

“Hey, baby, do you wanna wait in the car while I talk to Daddy?”

Gigi nods, fine with that idea. “Okay.”

I watched her as she ran off to my car, making sure everything was okay. I looked back, seeing Garrett sitting in his wheelchair by the front of the store, looking at me as Jonah awkwardly stood by him. He gave me a questioning thumbs-up, trying to gauge whether or not I was okay, given my impending spat with Ryan. I just gave him a thumbs-up, seeing him nod as I went back to being pissed at Ryan the second she’s out of earshot.

“Are you fucking kidding me?!” I hiss at him.

“What the fuck did I do?!” he exclaims defensively.

I scoff in disbelief. “‘What did you do’?! You forced me to wait a half a fucking hour, when you promised me you’d be here at 5, when I actually got off!”

He gave me an extremely annoying groan, not bothered by the reality of how he had inconvenienced me, again. What I didn’t notice, however, was that we were being watched by both my coworkers, and some of the customers in the parking lot.

“Dude, calm down, it’s not that big of a fucking deal!” he yelled at me.

“It’s not a ‘big deal’?!” I cried. “I’ve been waiting here for you for a half an hour!”

Garrett and Jonah wait by the front of the store, not necessarily wanting to be there.

“Alright,” Garrett sighs, watching the argument break out as he starts to wheel himself toward his car. “I’m out—”

Jonah automatically tries to stop him. “Wait, shouldn’t we just make sure she’s okay?”

Garrett sighs as he stops. “It’s okay, man, it’s just Ryan.”

Jonah looks over at him curiously. “You know her ex?”

Garrett nods. “Yeah, he’s a cool guy. He’s not a dick, this isn’t some ‘battered wife’ situation, alright? They’re just arguing. Stay out of it. You can get off your high horse, and take off your shining armor. Sophie’ll be just fine.”

“But, what if this is the one time she’s not fine?” Jonah questions.

Garrett just sighs, knowing he can’t win this one as he just gives in, keeping his chair parked as he watches his friend argue with her baby daddy.

“How the fuck is that my fault?!” he demanded, waving his arms lazily, “You could’ve gone home!”

I nearly scream at him, in complete awe of how both stupid and inconsiderate he can be at times.

“You’re right, asshole, I could’ve gone home,” I agreed furiously, “And maybe gone back to school and gotten my bachelor’s degree in the amount of fucking time I’ve been waiting in this fucking parking lot for you, but no, I had to wait here, because you kept saying you’d be here soon!”

“Oh my God, stop being so fucking dramatic!” Ryan Pollina yelled, “You always get pissed at me over the littlest fucking things! I’m just a little late! I’m sorry!”

“No, you’re not a little late, first of all,” I shouted, “Five minutes is a little late. Ten minutes is a little late. Fifteen minutes is acceptably late. You, sir, are almost an hour late! And you do this all the time! You tell me one time, you lie and make me wait, and then you show up an hour fucking late!”

Jonah looks at Garrett, seeming worried as Garrett still just shakes his head at the whole situation.

“This is getting a little heated…” Jonah observed.

“Not ‘heated’,” Garrett replied, “Just ghetto. Can’t you just let them work it out?”

Jonah doesn’t listen, remaining vigilant as he keeps his eye on Ryan.

“Oh, sorry, I just wanted to spend time with my fucking daughter!” Ryan spat at me.

I laugh, trying my best not to smack him upside the head. “You think I’m mad because you wanted to keep Gigi for an extra hour?! You’re her father! I don’t care if you wanna spend time with her, just don’t make me wait up if you’re not gonna show up! If you had texted me an hour ago saying you were gonna bring her at 6, or whatever, I would’ve been fine with that! But, no! You kept telling me, for that past forty minutes, that you were ‘on your way’, when I could’ve just waited for your ass at home!”

“Fuck you!” he shot back.

Jonah looks back at Garrett, growing increasingly concerned. “Should we do something?”

Garrett looks up at him incredulously. “What is there to do? They’re just bickering.”

Jonah looks back at the pair uncomfortably. “It seems like more than just arguing…”

“Oh, ‘fuck me’?!” I exclaimed at Ryan. “Are you fucking kidding me?! You come late and leave me waiting all the time, and it’s fuck me?!”

“Yeah! Fuck you!” he pointed at me angrily, “You’re always picking apart every single thing I fucking do!”

“Because you’re constantly fucking doing insane shit!” I gasp. “Like, why the fuck do you lie, and tell me you’re on the way, for an hour instead of just letting me fucking go home?!”

“I don’t understand why this is such a big problem!” he complained. “This was just one time—”

“No!” I laugh, “You’re not listening! It wasn’t one fucking time, Ryan, it’s all the time! It’s a pattern, it’s the principle of the thing, dude!” I reasoned.

“Fuck you, Sophie, I’m not listening to this shit!”

“I don’t like this…” Jonah grimaced.

“Dude, you never fucking listen to anything I say!” I reminded him.

“Because you’re always fucking bitching at me about this or that!” he argued.

I scoffed angrily. “‘Bitching’?! You think me expecting some fucking common decency from you is bitching?!”

“Yeah!” he nodded. “You’re constantly fucking bitching at me, about everything!”

Jonah stared. “I think I’m gonna say something…”

Garrett just shook his head, knowing nothing good could come of this. But before Jonah could even figure out what exactly his plan was, he was thrown off by someone else running out behind him. Jonah and I were both surprised to find Marcus running out to my defense. At first, I was somewhat touched by the gesture, until I saw him say fuck it and punch Ryan in the face.

“Oh, fuck!” Garrett slowly turns to Jonah, who’s still in shock. “You were saying?”

Jonah just shakes his head, grimacing. He wanted no part in that.

“Shit!” I exclaimed.

I heard Garrett yell. “Damn!”

“Oh, my God…” Jonah murmured, running over in shock.

Jonah just stood there, in complete shock as Garrett rolled up next to him, watching the aftermath. Ryan struggled to stand up, his nose bloody and possibly broken, but before he could catch his breath, Marcus started absolutely whaling on him as I just watched, unable to do anything about any of it. Ryan tried hitting him back, but it wasn’t looking good. Garrett quickly rolled back, wanting to get as far away from the situation as possible.

“Guys!” Jonah yelled, not really sure how to break up the fight, being far too polite about it, “Guys…!”

“Marcus!” I yelled, panicking as more and more bystanders gathered around, “Marcus! Stop it! Fuck!”

I watched, mortified, as Marcus eventually got off of Ryan, a stupid grin on his face as he walked up to me, while someone checked on Ryan. Marcus walked over to me, seemingly weirdly proud of himself for what he’d done.

“Oh, shit,” Jonah breathed, traumatized as he and Garrett stood around.

“Marcus!” I exclaimed, a distressed expression on my face.

“It’s okay,” he promised me, hands running up my arms, “I got you, babe.”

Before I could stop him, Marcus leaned in to kiss me, seeming overjoyed as he wrapped his arms around me. In my perplexed state, I accepted the kiss for about a single second before I pulled away, not knowing how to deal with this.

“Oh, shit,” Jonah stared at us, before I groaned with embarrassment.

I gave Marcus a dissatisfied look. He just stood there, expectantly, raising his eyebrows excitedly as he waited for another kiss.

-

Chapter Three

[hoseokslefteyebrow]

In which you meet for the first time.

Arranged marriage au.

In which the first years find out you're engaged, and to whom.

An arranged marriage.

You're stunned. But annoyed all the same. 

You're surprised too, even though you know that it's odd and useless to feel that way.

As a member of the L/N clan, you of course would've been forced to be married off sooner or later.

Thankfully, the actual marriage won't happen until years later, when you're grown up, an actual adult.

You're only 13 now.

You can't help the scowl on your face as you enter the room your supposed future 'fiance' is in.

Your eyes are quick to connect with a beautiful pair of purple eyes.

You have to admit, he's cute. If you would have seen him across your school, you might've been interested in him. 

You'd never dare to make a move on him though, not if you had been in the same school or would have seen him elsewhere. And especially not with these circumstances

Currently, the grudge you hold against him due to this arranged marriage is clouding your judgment. You dislike him even when he hasn't spoken a word to you just yet.

Your eyes stray to the symbols on the side of his mouth. Ah right, his family's technique was cursed speech. Powerful, admittedly. You have a vague idea of how it works, but you can't help but wonder if it affects casual speech too.

" L/N Y/N." 

Your introduction is basic.

The boy across from you blushes.

He looks sweet. You shake the thought off.

" Inumaki Toge."

You nod. An awkward silence overtakes the two of you for a few moments.

You don't know what to say.

Your mother had all but shoved you in this room, without further directions or whatsoever.

You awkwardly sit down on the couch in the sitting room, your hands tapping your thighs nervously for a moment.

" Kelp."

You blink as he sits down on a chair across from you, a small coffee table between the two of you.

" What?" 

What was that supposed to mean?

He frowns, searching his pockets before pulling out his phone and typing away.

Great. So he's ignoring you now.

" So, uhm, what's your opinion on our situation-"

You pause as he turns the phone to you.

' Sorry, due to my cursed speech technique I can only talk in Onigiri ingredients to avoid accidentally cursing those around me.'

" Oh." 

You exclaim softly, understanding him better now.

He turns the phone back to himself, typing away again.

" I don't know how to feel about our situation yet. I always knew I have a chance of ending up in an arranged marriage due to my hereditary technique. I understand if you feel different though. I hoped we could see how things go. We can always fight it if either of us dislike it. I won't force you into marriage with me.'

Your eyes widen at his consideration. This was not what you had expected at all.

The only other person you've met who has a hereditary technique is Naoya Zen'In, and you hate that guy with a passion.

You blush softly at Toge's words, smiling as you nod in agreement.

" I have to admit that I thought more negatively about the situation. But you seem nice. Maybe we should see how things go."

Toge blushes slightly as well, smiling softly as he nods.

It was an uncomfortable, odd situation for the both of you. You're only thirteen, and yet both of your parents have already decided that your lives are to be spent with one another.

He takes his phone back, and for a moment, the two of you are silent again.

" Uhm... What's your favorite onigiri ingredient?"

He smiles at you.

" Tuna Mayo."

Before you even realize it, the two of you are talking, (well, mostly you. He's mostly typing, or answering in Onigiri ingredients when it's a yes or no question), getting to know one another.

At the end of the day, you are nowhere near certain about eventually being married to him, yet you have to admit that you enjoyed spending time with him.

And that you looked forward to the next time you're seeing each other again.

[ A/N: Decided to do a small drabble collection of their marriage in little scenarios. Just for the heck of it. Requests about this specific trope are welcome (no guarantee that I'll accept though) ]

[themultifandomgal]

Tommy Shelby- Expecting

Keeping mine and Tommys relationship a secret wasn't something I wanted to do. I wanted us to be official, but Tommy had other ideas. Instead we would sneak into each others bed at night. All hell broke loose though when I found out I was with child. At first Tommy didn't believe me that it was his, then he told me that he didn't want to settle down and have a family. Offered to find a good doctor to do an abortion. I refused and now I'm known at the Watery Lane Whore. Anger however bubbles inside of me when Tommy announces his relationship with Grace and that they were expecting.

I walk through the door of the Garrison and the first thing I see is her smiling and laughing with Tommy and his family. I roll my eyes and turn around wanting to leave when John calls me over

"YN! Come join us, we're celebrating"

"No thank you John" I glance over to Tommy who's got his arm around Grace "not in the mood"

"Hey wait" John runs over to me "how's the baby?" he asks with genuine concern

"Fine"

"Fuck YN whatever you and Tommy are fighting about now just put it to bed for one fucking nought to celebrate"

"Only if you knew what we are fighting about. Look I'm gonna go. Enjoy" as I leave I hear John say

"If I ever find the fucker who did this to her..." little does he know his own brother is the fucker that he won't do shit to. As I walk the streets to get home I'm called a number of names because I'm pregnant out of marriage, but would anyone dare say the same thing to Grace? No because she's with Tommy. The bitch that tried to get Tommy killed is now having his baby and engaged. It's like he's been brainwashed. Ignoring the comments I get home, deciding to go to bed early.

Over the next few weeks I stay as far away from the Shelby's, that is until I hear a knock on my front door. Groaning I get off the sofa, putting my book down on the coffee table and walk to the front door. I open it up not expecting to see Tommy stood there looking disheveled, but here he is

"Can I come in?" he asks sheepishly which is very unusual for Tommy. I cross my arms and frown looking at him

"I don't know. Why are you here"

"She lied. The whole time Grace was lying to me" still frowning YN doesn't say anything but continues so look at Tommy "YN please let me explain" In YNs mind she goes back at to about what she should do. Let Tommy in and talk, or close the door on him and never speak to him again.

Ending 1- YN and Tommy end up together

Wanting her child to know their father, YN sighs letting Tommy into her house. He walks in and takes off his shoes knowing YN hates mud being brought into the house. Not uttering a word, YN walks into the kitchen to make herself a cup of tea. Tommy walks in behind her also not saying anything

“So. Gonna explain?” YN finally says crossing her arms and turning to look at Tommy

“YN I fucked up”

“Tell me about it” YN mutters

“Grace wasn’t pregnant. Never was. She was helping the copper, get close to me the kill me”

“And why should I believe you?”

“You have no reason to. I get that. But I’m sorry. I really liked.. like you YN and I let that bitch cloud my judgment. When you told me you were pregnant I freaked out. I spoke to Grace about it and she told me shit about you. Said you weren’t actually pregnant with my child, said she saw you with another man. That’s why I didn’t believe you. I was hurt”

“You you don’t think I was? I could have dealt with you not wanting a family, I could have even dealt with you just not wanting to be with me. Yes it would have hurt, but not as much as finding out you were happy to settle with Grace”

“Your right. I’m a fucking dick for that and I’m sorry” this catches YN off by surprise. Tommy never apologises. Yet here he is apologising to her “YN I promise you I will do everything I’m my power to make it up to you” thinking about it YN decides to give him a chance.

Over the next few years YN forgives Tommy, they end up getting married and having more children together.

Ending 2- YN leaves Tommy alone and moves away

“I’m sorry Tommy. I can’t. You hurt me more than I ever thought could be possible. I could have dealt with you not wanting a family, I could have even dealt with you just not wanting to be with me. Yes it would have hurt, but not as much as finding out you were happy to settle down with Grace”

“YN she was never pregnant please let me explain”

“No Tommy. I’m moving away tomorrow. I will tell our child that their father was a good man, but couldn’t look after us. When they’re 18 they can choose whether they come to see you. Until then, this is goodbye” YN closes the door in front of Tommy and heads up to her bedroom for the final time here in Watery Lane.

[discordiansamba]

some more assorted thoughts about the earth prince zuko au:

his time with the avatar's group is dai's first time traveling the earth kingdom proper. it's eye opening in some ways. he's always known about the war, but it's one thing to see for himself how bad it's gotten in places.

it's relatively common knowledge in the earth kingdom that prince dai's mother was a mistress of the previous earth king. knowledge that she was fire nation is much less common, so the gold-eyed prince always catches people off guard.

inevitably, there are actually a couple of dai li agents who treat dai with genuine affection. they've become quite fond of the fake earth prince but most also agree that they've done him a favor by taking him away from the fire nation.

while in the foggy bottom swamp, dai sees a curious vision of a young boy in fire nation clothing...

hi gow. hope you like being kicked out of the earth kingdom army because dai absolutely has the authority to see that happen. you clearly don't even give a damn about fighting the fire nation, you're just using your authority to be a glorified bully.

dai promises gansu and sela that he'll have a request put in to look for their son, but that he can't really promise anything beyond that.

dai includes in his reports about general iroh's apparent change of heart towards the war and the fire nation. long feng files this information away.

i think dai should be able to use lightning. as a treat. iroh's the one who ends up teaching him while he's recovering from their fight with azula, because fate still brings the three of them together. most of dai's firebending knowledge has come from scrolls in the dai li's archives. he's never been taught by an actual teacher before.

he should be wary of general iroh. he's not only fire nation royalty, but he also laid siege on the city in which dai was born. but there's something... familiar about him in a way that he can't put his finger on.

(he does not tell long feng about getting firebending instruction from iroh.)

when the gaang learns that dai has been working for the dai li the entire time, and that he's been reporting back to long feng about them and their activities the entire time, it hurts. they've really come to think of him as a friend, and they think dai thinks of them that way too. that's the worst part actually. how can he think of them that way and still go behind their back like that?

long feng conceals the fact that the dai li have appa in their possession from dai. it's obvious he's been getting a little too close to the avatar and his friends, and that might cloud his judgment. perhaps it is time to keep the young prince at home again.

when forced to make a choice between his friends and the dai li, dai will ultimately choose his friends. this means backing their story about long feng concealing the war from kuei- and his own role in that.

in the aftermath, kuei and dai make a tentative peace between each other- as do dai and the rest of the gaang. they're still a little angry with him, but after hearing his backstory, they understand a little better why he had such a deep connection to the dai li in the first place.

(they don't know it's all lies.)

dai accompanies sokka to chameleon bay on behalf of his half-brother. he's not there when azula arrives, disguised as a kyoshi warrior, or when she plots with the dai li and long feng.

(in the end, it's one of the dai li that view dai with genuine affection that warns the group of azula's coup.)

kuei: now that the earth kingdom has fallen, i have decided to live as one of my people and see my kingdom with my own eyes.

dai: ...that's a terrible idea. why are we letting him do this?

[yanderes-galore]

Okay now I understand, how about that Sherlock Holmes! Cassidy concept

-🍀 Anon

Oh! I immediately thought of a good idea for this :) I decided to generalize it and just make him a detective for this story. Although he's in his Sherlock Holmes! Skin for this. This ended up being somewhat modern day too....

Yandere! Detective! Cassidy Concept

Pairing: Romantic

Possible Trigger Warnings: Gender-Neutral Darling, Obsession, Manipulation, Possessive behavior, Murder, Blood, Stalking, Overprotective behavior, Threat of kidnapping, Forced relationship.

Imagine Cassidy being a detective, hunting down a string of recent murders happening where you live.

You had come to the station in tears.

A notorious serial killer is running rampant in the streets at night.

You came to report a recent body being found... one that happened to be a family member of yours.

You were nearly inconsolable at the station, sobbing into your hands and fearing for your life.

That was until you met Cassidy himself, a few officers escorting him to you.

You hear them speak to him for a moment before you're eventually left alone with the detective.

Cassidy's voice is smooth as he talks to you, sitting down beside you with care in his eyes.

He introduces himself to you, patiently sitting through your tears.

The detective in front of you has an oddly calming aura to him.

He gives you an encouraging grin before he continues to speak.

"Now, darlin', care to tell me the details of what you saw?"

Your talk with Cassidy goes surprisingly well.

He gives a reassuring smile as you list off what you saw, even giving you time to sob.

For a detective he's surprisingly charming.

By the end of his questions, Cassidy toys with his plaid coat before deciding to close things.

"You did well... I'll be sure to catch the culprit in no time, sweetheart. Are you feeling safe at home?"

For the moment you did and left the station.

The entire time Cassidy watches you go, a strange curiosity in his eyes.

Throughout the investigation you end up befriending Cassidy, who ends up acting as a comforting figure in your life.

He becomes a shoulder for you to cry on, often visiting to discuss what he's found so far.

You don't mind as you trust him... his presence makes you feel safe knowing he's out hunting down the murderer who tormented your family.

He knew of your fear and felt like you needed someone to comfort you.

You never really understood why Cassidy seemed so insistent on being around you...

But maybe he's like this for other victims too?

It seems strange... yet your grief clouds your judgment.

As the case continues and more murders occur around the area, you begin to feel unsafe.

You find yourself speaking to Detective Cassidy one evening, tired eyes looking at him meekly.

You haven't been sleeping well due to the stress.

You don't feel safe alone, like you're being watched.

You're plagued with bloody nightmares of the night your family member was murdered, a hooded face taunting you.

You admit you feel like you're being watched, which seems to pique the detective's interest.

"You feel you're being watched, darlin'?"

Cassidy's voice is soft, a hand reaching out to gently rub your back.

"Do you need someone to protect you?"

You nod, asking for an officer to be sent to watch your home.

Cassidy, however, has a better idea.

"How about I go with you? That way I can catch this murderer in case they come after you?"

Trusting Cassidy's comforting charm, you agree to let him stay at your home.

This happens a few nights, actually.

The detective usually dwells in your guest room, exploring your home for any potential exits or weaknesses.

Before you go to bed, Cassidy always offers his company.

He sits on your couch with playful comments, always offering smiles.

He's always armed with a singular handgun in case the murderer tries to break into you home.

Even when you head to bed... Cassidy stays up to watch the area.

For a few days such a setup works.

You become quite close to the detective and feel safer when he's there.

You can even ignore the strange anxious feeling you get as long as he's around.

But it isn't long before Cassidy's called off for another murder... leaving you alone in your home.

You call a friend or family member to make you feel less alone while Cassidy continues his hunt.

While you still feel anxious... you have them to keep you company.

You give them the guest room to rest in while you are still in your old room.

For the first time in a long while... you feel oddly at peace.

The moon trickles through your window... and you feel like you can finally rest...

It might just be your sleep deprived body giving up, yet you take the bait...

....

Only to wake up to a struggle, a scream...

A gunshot.

You jump up in your bed, your home eerily quiet.

As you hold your breath, you hear shuffling and heavy boots hitting wood.

It sounds like someone curses under their breath before you hear more walking around.

You reach for your phone to call Cassidy, to plead for him to help you...

The murderer is here and you need help.

You input the number, hoping for it to ring...

Only for it to go off somewhere... close?

You're stunned, swearing you heard a phone ring...

Then your bedroom door bursts open.

A tall man stands in front of you, blood coating his clothes...

You scream, just barely able to tell the bloody clothes are plaid...

But before you can put the pieces together...

A deep voice chuckles.

"Clever one, aren't you? Calling my number... Did you realize I'm the only one who could protect you?"

Cassidy stands in front of you, cornering you like a wolf in sheep's clothing.

Cassidy's a detective, yes...

Yet it appears he's a detective that has been chasing his own crime, like a dog chasing his tail for fun....

"I was supposed to kill you, darlin'..."

Cassidy's voice sighs, almost like he didn't like the thought.

"I even remembered your house's layout... but I can't do that to you, darlin'."

Cassidy then comes closer, making you try to slip past him.

Cassidy, however, snatches you with his robotic arm and holds you up.

"Doll, I'm serious! I won't harm you... Not after I've gotten so attached."

You're then tossed back in front of him, landing on your rear with a pained hiss.

Cassidy merely laughs, leaning down to cup your cheek.

You see more of the blood on his clothes now...

You already know who it belongs to.

"As long as you don't say a word about what I do... You can continue life as you always have..."

Cassidy then forces your chin up, his grip tight... threatening.

"But if you squeal... If you tell those officers what I am... I'll take you away and your remaining family will never see you again. Got that, sweetheart?"

You force yourself to nod, making Cassidy grin before he leans in and kisses your cheek.

"Good... You're all mine now, darlin'. No one's going to save you... not with me around."

Cassidy then pulls you closer, eyes dark and serious as though his words are a promise.

"If anyone tries, I'll kill 'em. I'm the only one who's going to protect you... alright, darlin'?"

You reluctantly nod again with a sob...

Silently accenting the fact you were a lamb to the slaughter no matter what you did to prevent this.

[deliajackson]

Hello Delia!! I saw your post about Percy and Helen of Sparta and it interested me so deeply. Could you tell me more about this? I'll love any of your answers.

Oh, as I said on the tags, I guess I will have to double check, it is not something so serious. Just obsessing over something. But alright, let's go, shall we?

Both Helen and Percy were children of major gods. Helen was a daughter of Zeus, while Percy is a son of Poseidon. Their status and parentage didn't save them from being right at the core of the conflict.

~editing this here~

Helen was said to have a divine beauty. A beauty similar of divine beings.

Percy was mistaken as God by Hazel because of his aura.

~finishing the edit~

Helen was said to have been "The Most Beautiful Woman" in the world, while Percy was said to have been "The Most Powerfull Demigod of His Generation" or something like that. Forgive me if I am mistaken fandom and canon with this title.

Now, both were technically puppets in the gods hand. Everyone knows how Eris crashed the wedding between Peleus and Thetis and threw the fruit which was inscribed "to the fairest" and Zeus had to choose either to give it to Hera, Aphrodite or Athena.

To not cause turmoil for him, he told Paris, the exiled prince of Troy (ilion), to make the choice and he choose Aphrodite who offered him the love of the most beautiful mortal woman - Helen.

Helen was married to Menelaus, the King of Sparta at the time. And Menelaus went to war because of her, literally the beginning of the Trojan War.

One thing that I kept in mind, is that there was a Prophecy that Paris would soon bring destruction to Troy.

In some interpretations, Helen was willingly with Paris, but in my - personal - interpretation, since Aphrodite had a hand on that, her mind was blurred, so it wasn't actually willingly. This is up to debate, and you can actually do it in the comments sections.

Actually Helen even says that Aphrodite clouded her judgment (i don't remember the source for that, I will have to double check too)

Now making a clear parallel with Percy and Annabeth and The Prophecy of the Seven. (I dont like Percabeth, ok, but I will try my best to remain neutral here)

Percy was in love and in a relationship with Annabeth and both were the "leaders" of Camp Half Blood during the war, you could say that. And Percy was abducted by Hera and his mind was wiped. Helen's feelings towards her stay in Troy are complex, and they differed in each myth. And Percy too, has mixed feelings about New Rome.

Annabeth went in turmoil after him, which ended with her going right after New Rome with the greek. And Octavian was eager to start a war with the them. Just like it happend millenia ago.

One point that makes it even more ironic, is that according to the Aeneid, one of the surviving Trojans - Aeneas - was the legendary founder of Rome. So in my mind, and ik it is incorrect, was basically the beggining of the Trojan War all over again. It just had a very different ending and development.

Percy was taken against his will to another city. Directly linked with Troy, at least in history, while the greeks were looking after him.

What made Hera act was the next great prophecy and Gaia, which could lead to the end of the World.

Again; the parallel with the prophecies and the Goddess' interference.

Helen was also a very talented women, who was cunning and inteligent. We can see Percy share these similarities on how he dealt with the Council in New Rome. She might even have spoke different languages depending on the version. (If someone knows more about greek myths than I do, what is really easy, BTW, you can correct me in anything). Percy knows English, Latin, Ancient Greek. Not fluently. But I still count that.

Now. Ik my toughts are a bit messy, and I am so sorry for that. I was studying something for my test in Uni but was so boring, and your ask much more interesting. That I just had to answer in a hurry.

While writing that I realized that Jason and Piper also have some similarities with this side of the epic cycle, but, Hã... Something to think later.

Eitherway, hope you like my messy toughts.

[pico-farad]

aaaaaaa omg you've finished vrains?? what did you think of s3? any fav moments? :D

I've got a lot of thoughts and I'm working on a huge Vrains post (actually, two huge Vrains posts)! S3 is interesting to me, it's understandably a mess, but it also has some of Vrains's best writing.

My favorite episode(s) of Vrains are the Ai vs. Pandor duel.

"Yeah we could duel in virtual reality.... but we could also duel on top of a moving plane"

yesss... YES......!! Now THIS is Yugioh. 

The line writing is surprisingly good, and Ai's VA does a fantastic job with it. The grief and resentment that sit just beneath the jokes serves to make the whole thing more bittersweet. I have some concerns with how sharply they veer Ai's character, but this duel sold me on it.

What gets me about this duel is that these are two people who like each other. You can see it in how they talk to each other, how Ai can't help but be honest, coming close to confessing everything to her.

Pandor: Have you given up on co-existing with humans? Ai: Seems so. I've already hurt humans, so I don't think they'll forgive me. And I have no intention of turning back. Pandor: You're going to exterminate humans? Ai: I don't intend to, but it may end up that way. I don't know, myself. Pandor: Is it impossible for humans and AI to co-exist? Ai: I don't know that either. It was impossible for me. But I won't say it's impossible for you, or for future AI that have free will. As long as there is free will, I can't deny that possibility, that everyone's lives can be one. All I'm saying is that I couldn't co-exist. Pandor: Ai... I sense an incredible sadness from you. Ai: Ugh, stop with that... I don't want anyone to know that. Except for one person.

Unlike all of Ai's other duels, he doesn't have any resentment or mixed feelings towards Pandor; he sees her as kin. That's why their interaction feels so tragic, because Ai is the last of his kind (Roboppi isn't quite self-aware yet) so he gets this opportunity to talk with someone who's like him, someone who is not complicit in the deaths of the Ignis, but they're on opposite sides, and he has to kill her. Which probably feels like how he had to kill his friends.

And Pandor is the only character who sees Ai without betrayal or defensiveness clouding their judgment -- and she sees through him completely. It's amazing. This damn therapy-empathy bot just won't stop seeing into his soul and telling him to stop hurting and killing himself -- while they're both trying to kill each other. FANTASTIC. THAT'S WHAT I LOVE TO SEE.

He wants her to be free from being controlled by humans just as much as she wants his salvation. But they have to fight each other, and die, while the humans all get to live.

And on then on top of being deeply tragic, this is also the funniest episode in Vrains. Because tragedy makes comedy funnier, and comedy makes tragedy sadder.

BRO JUST WANTS TO SEE TOPOLOGINA NAYBEE.

I definitely think that if season 3 was allowed to be its full length, we would have gotten more from Pandor, maybe even see her join Ai's side. After all, it's a classic Chekov's gun to have Revolver of all people create a sentient AI and be like "it's fine, I programmed her not to betray humans." Bruh, of course she's going to betray humans. It's as classic as the story of Pandora's Box itself.

Anyway, if you want to know my top Vrains duels, they are:

Ai vs. Pandor

Spectre vs. Lightning

Yusaku vs. Revolver (s1 finale)

And my favorite characters are 1. Ai, 2. Roboppi, 3. Aoi.

To be honest, at the end of season 2 I was feeling pretty bummed about characters I liked at first becoming less interesting as time went on. I was fully prepared with the joke about my favorite Vrains character being Hatsune Miku, mostly on the virtue of "you can't write 10000 words about a character and say you don't like her." But these two cat-coded AIs snuck in at the last moment to charm me.

[pompomqt]

Journey to the West Chapter 55

Tripitaka on the worst date of his life:

In this chapter of Journey to the West with @journeythroughjourneytothewest we get to witness Tripitaka's first date. So let's get into it shall we?

So Tripitaka has been snagged by a mystery women, so Sun Wukong leaps into the sky and looks in all four directions to see where they went. And sure enough he spots a whirlwind heading to the northwest. Now that they know which direction the demon is heading, Monkey calls to the others, and they zip off using their cloud soaring powers to give chase. This has the added benefit of causing the empress to completely drop the whole marriage plan, because these monks are clearly super Buddhist's.

Anyways they chase the cyclone until they find the typical demon mountain and cave. Pigsy immediately wants to kick the door in, but Monkey wants to do some reconnaissance first to make sure they have the right demon cave. So Monkey turns into a bee to scope out the cave. Inside he see's a nice flower garden, some female attendants, and the demon, who is currently trying to offer a teary-eyed Tripitaka some human flesh stuffed buns. The Demon assures Tripitaka that this place isn't as stuffy as the palace, and will be perfect for his Buddhist lifestyle. And she'll be there as his wife until the day they die. She tells him to relax and try a bun.

Tripitaka is well aware that this situation is a lot more dangerous then the one with the queen, and can't risk offending the demon. So he tells the demon he's vegetarian, and has one of the red bean paste buns. The demon tries hitting on Tripitaka some more, but thankfully Monkey chooses this moment to interrupt and attacks the demon. The demon has her attendants take Tripitaka away, while she pulls out a trident to fight Wukong with. The two fight their ways out of the cave, which allows Pigsy to join in, however, this doesn't give them much of an advantage as the demon simply summons two more tridents. She then tells Monkey that he lacks good judgment, because she knows who he is, but he doesn't know her, and she's someone even the Buddha fears.

And on that foreboding note, the demon lashes out at Sun Wukong's head, with a weapon he can't see. This blow causes him extreme pain and causes him to flee the battle, with Pigsy right behind him. While Monkey is wailing in pain, Pigsy and Sandy try and figure out what exactly is wrong with him. After all Sun Wukong is not someone who gets hurt easily, and his head in particular is extra sturdy. Since they don't really know what weapon the demon has, and since Monkey is currently out of the game, they decide to wait until morning to challenge the demon again. And just hope that Tripitaka doesn't end up losing his virtue during the night.

Speaking of which, it's time to check back up on how Tripitaka is doing. Who is currently horrified as the demon continuously tries to seduce him. And as always when a women tries hitting on him, he kind of just shuts down, until the demon gets huffy and has her servants tie him up and take him out of her sight.

Anyways morning comes and Monkey is feeling better, the pain is gone and now it's just a little itchy. So now it's time for round two. First though they have to check if a rescue is even worth staging, by making sure Tripitaka didn't give up his virtue and decided to stay with his new demon wife. So Monkey once again turns into a bee to scope out the cave, and finds Tripitaka hog-tied in the corner. So Monkey lands on him and asks how his night went. Tripitaka explains that although the demon pestered him all night, he resisted her advances until she got tired of dealing with him and had him tied up.

Unfortunately the demon wakes up and hears them talking, which actually startles Monkey enough to retreat out of the cave and go back to Pigsy to tell him about what happened. Now that Pigsy is caught up on the fact that Tripitaka is still a true monk, it's time to stage that rescue. So Pigsy goes to the door and is allowed to break it down this time, which causes the maids to report to their boss about it. So the Demon tells her maids to take the tied up Tripitaka to the back room, while she goes out to fight them.

So the three of them fight for a while, until the demon pulls out the same mystery weapon from before and hits Pigsy on the lips, which causes Pigsy to flee, with Monkey close behind. They return to Sandy who is busy grazing the horse- who as a reminder is actually a dragon and really should be capable of taking care of himself while Sandy helps them, but I digress. Anyways while Pigsy is complaining about the pain, Monkey mocks him a little before spotting a suspicious old person, surrounded by holy light. Recognizing the old lady as Guanyin, Monkey and the others give their respects.

Guanyin reverts to her true form, while Monkey apologizes for not greeting her properly, but they are kind of in the middle of something at the moment. So Guanyin explains that the monster they are fighting is a scorpion spirit, the tridents are her claws, while the mystery weapon that keeps taking them out of commission is her stinger. Once upon a time, she was listening the the Buddha lecture, and when he tried to shoo her away, she stung his hand. Which even Buddha found painful, which probably soothes Monkey and Pigsy's ego's at least. Anyways even Guanyin doesn't want to mess with her, but luckily she has a friend that can help. They need to ask Star Lord Orionis for help with this particular monster. After that bit of helpful exposition Guanyin vanishes in a beam of golden light.

So Monkey makes his way to heaven, and arrives at the gods palace. Monkey finds the god and explains the situation, and says that Guanyin recommended him for this particular job. The god agrees to go with Monkey, and they don't even have time for a tea break before they are heading back to earth together.

Once there, Monkey points out the mountain and makes the necessary introductions. Pigsy however is still in to much pain to greet the star properly, but luckily the god has a cure for that. He also gets rid of the remaining effects on Monkey while he's at it. Now that those two are back in shape and ready for action, the star tells them to provoke battle with the demon again and lead her back here.

So Pigsy once again breaks the demon's new door, which the maids of course immediately report to the demon, who was busy trying to feed Tripitaka. Hearing this, the demon rushes out again to fight Pigsy and Monkey, who are able to successfully lure her outside so the star can do his thing. His 'Thing' apparently is to transform into his real form- a giant rooster, and crow twice, once to reveal her true form, and another to paralyze her. Once she's paralyzed, Pigsy uses his rake to crush her like the bug she is.

After that they give their thanks to the star god and see him off. After that they gather their belongings and re-enter the cave to collect their master. Only to find the maids kneeling and explaining that they aren't demons. Turns out they are from the kingdom of women and were also kidnapped. After they tell them where Tripitaka is being held, and Monkey double checks that they are indeed humans, Monkey goes and rescues Tripitaka. Monkey explains the adventure to Tripitaka, and they have a meal together before taking the captured women home so that they may continue on their Journey to the West.

Current Sun Wukong Stats: Names/Titles: Monkey, The Stone Monkey, The Handsome Monkey King, Sun Wukong (Monkey awakened to the void), Bimawen (Banhorseplague), The Great Sage Equal To Heaven and Pilgrim Sun. Immortality: 5 + 94,000 years Weapon: The Compliant Golden Hooped Rod Abilities: 72 Transformations, Cloud-Somersault, Ability to transform his individual hairs, super strength, Ability to Summon Wind, Water restriction charm, and the ability to change into a huge war form, ability to duplicate his staff, ability to immobilize others, the ability to put others to sleep, and the Fiery eyes and Diamond Pupils, intimidating horses, churning large bodies of water, sleeplessness, seizing the wind, enhanced smell, discerning good and evil within a thousand miles, Spirit Summoning, lock picking, object transformation, distance reduction, vanishing in a flash of light, super healing, transforming others, and Invisibility Demon Kill Count: 9+ Unknown Number of Minions Human Kill Count: 1009 God's Defeated: 23 + Unknown number Defeats: 7 Crime List: Robbery, Murder, Mass Murder, Arson, Theft, Coercion, Threatening a Government Official, Resisting Arrest, Assault, Forgery, Employee Theft, False Imprisonment, Impersonating a Government Official, Treason, attempted murder, failure to control or report a dangerous fire, desecrating a corpse, breaking and entering, trespassing, violating Tree Law, looting corpses, trading counterfeit goods, criminal threat, animal abuse, Assisting or Instigating Escape, Damage to Religious Property, contaminating a substance for human consumption and Identity Fraud. Cry Count: 8 + 3 fake cries Mountains Trapped Under: 4

Current Tang Sanzang stats: Names/Titles: River Float, Xuanzang, Tang Sanzang, Tripitaka and the Tang Monk Abilities: Curing Blindness, making branches point a certain direction (allegedly), reciting sutras, pretty privilege, memorization, Heart Sutra and Meditation. Cry Count: 29 Tight Fillet Spell Uses: 31 Paralyzed by fear: 6 Bandit Problems: 2 Kidnapped by demons: 9 Falling Off Horses: 8

Current Bai Long Ma Stats: Names/Titles: Bai Long Ma (White Dragon Horse), Prince of the Western Ocean, and third prince jade dragon of the dragon king Aorun Abilities: Transforming into a human, a water snake, and a horse, eating a horse in one bite, flight, Magic of Water Restriction, Singing, and Sword Dancing. Cry Count: 1 Crime List: Arson, and Grave Disobedience. Contributions to the plot: 2 Kidnapped by demons: 1

Current Zhu Wuneng Stats: Names/Titles: The Marshal of the Heavenly Reeds, Zhu Wuneng (Pig who is aware of ability), Zhu Ganglie, Pigsy, Idiot and Eight Rules. Weapon: Rake Abilities: 36 Transformations, parting water, fighting underwater, cloud soaring, size enhancement and CPR Demon Kill Count/Kill steals: 3 Kidnapped by Demons: 4 Human Kill Count: 1 Failed Flirtation/romances Attempts: 4 Cry Count: 2 Crime List: Sexual Harassment, Murder, Kidnapping, arson, defamation, Damage to Religious Property, contaminating a substance for human consumption, Identity Fraud, Theft and Forcible entry

Current Sha Wujing Stats: Names/Titles: The Curtain-Raising General, Sha Wujing (Sand Aware of Purity), Sandy and Sha Monk Weapon: Monster Taming Staff Abilities: Fighting underwater, Cloud soaring, and fetching water from a well. Demon Kill Count: Unknown number of minions. Kidnapped by Demons: 3 Human Kill Count: 1 Crime List: Breaking a Crystal Cup, murder, desecration of a human corpse, Damage to Religious Property and contaminating a substance for human consumption

Previous - Masterpost - Next

[icedragonlizard]

Kracko's opinions on all the Dream Friends

Note: This is all purely my headcanons.

Kracko famously hates Kirby and wants him dead. What does he think about all of the dream friends? Does he hate them all, too?

Here are his opinions on them:

Bandana Waddle Dee: Bandee being one of Kirby's best friends is enough for Kracko to hate him a lot. Yes, Kracko is legitimately petty enough to hate people for simply being really close to Kirby. It also doesn't help that Bandee joined Kirby in beating Kracko up before, and has even talked madly at him for being so mean to the pink puff.

King Dedede: Kracko and Dedede used to be friends. Used to. They were friends back when Dedede wasn't friends with Kirby yet. But once he became friends with Kirby, he and Kracko stopped being friends. Kracko felt betrayed by Dedede at that point. Nowadays, there's nothing but anger and resentment all around in this dynamic. One time, Dedede criticized Kracko for being so stubborn and hateful about Kirby. That boosted Kracko's bitterness towards Dedede more.

Meta Knight: Before Meta Knight was friends with Kirby, Kracko didn't mind him. But once he did become friends with Kirby, the cloud's opinion of him worsened. It worsened even more when Meta Knight challenged Kracko to a fight multiple times and handily kicked his ass every time. Kracko is pissed off about Meta Knight. He also gets annoyed when Meta and his crew take the Halberd on a flight.

Rick & Kine & Coo: Kracko's thoughts on these guys can be summed up by "go fuck yourselves". He's mad at them for assisting Kirby in beating him up during the events of Dream Land 2. It doesn't end there, as they've also become judgmental to him for being so spiteful and mean-spirited to Kirby. These guys heavily get on Kracko's nerves. And by the way, he also has very similar opinions for Nago, ChuChu and Pitch.

Marx: Let me tell you that Kracko DESPISES Marx. To be honest, this might actually be his second most hated person after Kirby. The reason why is because Marx constantly makes fun of Kracko's hatred for Kirby. He also pulls aggravating pranks on him. Kracko has snapped and ruthlessly struck Marx with lightning more than once. But because Marx literally survived impacting onto Nova, he never dies to Kracko's lightning. And it doesn't stop Marx from trolling him.

Gooey: Kracko doesn't like Gooey for being a close buddy of Kirby's, but this is someone he really can't get himself to have an actual hatred for. Partly because Gooey never agitates him in any way. Unlike most of Kirby's other friends who fight Kracko, criticize him or make fun of him, Gooey doesn't do any of that. Kracko ignores him, really.

Adeleine: Very mixed feelings here. On one hand, Kracko likes that Adeleine is a Cloudy Park resident as that's his favorite place on Popstar, and he appreciates the fact that she seemingly admires him enough to have a painting of him that she can summon into sentience on a whim. But he HATES that she's buddies with Kirby. That causes him to resent her. However, the fact that she seems to like him makes him come to his senses a little bit, and so he doesn't attack her.

Ribbon: Kracko does not like Ribbon at all. This is because Ribbon really looks up to Kirby and has yelled at Kracko for being so mean to him. She even became bold enough to try to challenge Kracko to a fight to "make him back off from Kirby", although other people quickly stopped this. Still, Kracko thinks she's a little pain in the ass.

Dark Meta Knight: As Kracko can exist in any dimension and was present for the events of Amazing Mirror, he was temporarily allies with DMK during that. But that ended afterwards. Then at one point, because DMK is an aggressive son of a gun that loves to fight, he once picked a fight with Kracko and it got worse from there. Kracko resents DMK for that, although these two seldom interact overall.

Daroach: Kracko has a lot of hatred for Daroach and his entire squad of squeaks because of Mecha-Kracko, which he hates Doc the most out of them for being the one to create that, and he just hates the rest of the squeaks out of association. Unlike Adeleine who has a sentient painting for Kracko because she actually thinks he's cool, the squeaks made Mecha-Kracko seemingly just because they can. It pisses Kracko off as he thinks they were trying to replace him with it.

Magolor: Kracko hates Magolor nearly as much as Marx. This is because, much like Marx, Magolor also makes fun of Kracko's hatred for Kirby and pulls pranks on him for it. Kracko has angrily struck Magolor with lightning more than once, but it has never killed him. It also drove Kracko insane when Magolor rammed him with the Lor Starcutter one time. What a totally insufferable person, Kracko thinks.

Taranza: They were allies during Triple Deluxe when Taranza got Kracko to fight Kirby. However, post-TDX when Taranza moved over to Kirby's side, Kracko felt betrayed. He grew to loathe Taranza as a result. One time, he got pissed off about the spider wizard enough to even try to attack Royal Road's castle (Taranza's home) out of spite, but then Taranza threatened to get Kirby to beat him up. Damn it!

Susie: Kracko hates Susie a lot for both her bad and good deeds. He hates her for the HWC invasion on Popstar, but he hates her even more for then turning around and becoming friends with Kirby afterwards. That's the worst of both worlds for Kracko. He was once pissed off about her enough to the point he tried to attack the HWC's main headquarters out of spite, but failed miserably as the HWC's army easily beat him and fended him off. Susie scoffed at him for it.

The Three Mage Sisters: By the time of Star Allies, Kracko's hatred for Kirby was so great that he allied with the cult as he attacked the dream friends in Gabbel Moon. Then post-HiAD when the mage sisters befriended Kirby, he felt betrayed. He hates them. He's especially petty at Zan Partizanne as he wants to "best" her in electrical strength and to beat her up for Kirby's friend. This is a one-sided feud, as Zan is annoyed by Kracko rather than hating him back.

Wow. What a big hater this cloud is. I think he should seek help LOL.

[incesthemes]

there are moments in both croatoan and houses of the holy i want to compare, because i think the show is doing something kind of fascinating and fairly subtle.

the allegorical conflict in croatoan centers around whether dean will kill duane or not (and, by extension, whether dean will be willing to kill sam). in the end, dean lets him live, which is an act of devotion and deference to sam. duane ends up not being infected with the virus, and so dean made the right decision. this is the general framing of the conflict—dean unlocks the good end by deferring to sam's judgment.

the ideological conflict in houses of the holy centers around the concept of fate, taken through a christian lens: is god real? does god have a plan? sam is faithful and dean is faithless, and their beliefs butt heads throughout the episode. in the end dean was right and the "angel" was just a ghost, and sam acquiesces to dean's beliefs and accepts god isn't real. this too is the general framing of the conflict—sam arrives at truth by listening and believing in dean.

but both of these episodes end ambiguously.

as it turns out, duane was possessed by a demon, which means that dean's instinctual distrust was right on the money, and killing (or attempting to kill) duane would actually have been the right choice—dean correctly assessed the danger and took steps to stop it, and it was sam who got in the way and persuaded him to stand down, which allowed the demon to escape.

and also as it turns out, a bigass rebar killed that would-be killer sam was sent after, and it was such an outrageous death that it throws dean off balance and makes him reconsider whether fate and god are actually real—which, as we come to discover later, is true, and sam and dean are cosmically destined to assume the roles of cain and abel in the coming apocalypse. sam was actually the correct one here, and the beliefs he was operating under were given ample support literally throughout the episode; it was dean who clouded sam's judgment and directed him away from the actual truth of the divine plan for them.

i don't think there's a grand revelation in comparing these two episodes this way, but i do enjoy how the show keeps them spinning on an axis, and how the seemingly correct decision is actually much more nuanced than it seems on the surface. when dean is right he's still wrong; when sam is wrong he's still right—and vice versa. black and white answers simply can't exist in this world because there is nothing wholly good and nothing wholly bad. dean had to let duane live because to do otherwise would be to succumb to his fate, even if letting duane live symbolizes that dean will allow sam to succumb to his. sam had to defer to dean's ideology because to do otherwise would be to spiral further down the path to his destiny, even if that destiny is real and it's coming for them both anyway and they can do nothing to stop it. they're the best decisions they can make in those situations, but they're still not unambiguously perfect.

it's just another layer to the complexity of these seasons and the plot they've been born into. right is wrong and wrong is right, and family trumps fate but family will lead to ruin. and the gods are absent fathers pulling strings they don't even know are there.