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thefanficmonster · 4 years

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Unconditionally. Completely. Infinitely.

Corpse Husband x Pregnant!Reader

Warnings: Swearing

Genre: Fluff

Summary: Five months in and Y/N is not having such a nice time with the tenant that’s living inside her. She loves the company and wouldn’t exchange it for the whole world, but all the disadvantages are getting more annoying with each passing day. No worries, she’s not tackling it alone. Her amazing boyfriend, soon to be fiancé has her back.

Requested by Anon. Thank you so much for you request! As I mentioned in the reply, this is my first time writing a pregnancy fic so if I got anything incorrectly I sincerely apologize. I did some research but I can’t be sure I got everything right. If there’s something you’re not happy with, feel free to let me know. I’d be more than happy to fix the fic to your liking. Hope you enjoy ❤❤❤

“How are you doing, babe?“ This is his third time checking up on me in the last forty minutes and it’s downright hilarious. Since I can’t drink, for obvious reasons, I shoot my group chat a quick text to take a shot every time Corpse drops by to make sure I haven’t chewed off my own arm in frustration.

I’ve been chilling with a bun in the oven for about five and a half months now and it feels like I’m climbing a mountain that never stops getting steeper. I’ve progressively gotten more passive aggressive and cranky as though I myself am a baby. I think I’d be more aggressive and less passive if I could stand on my two legs without the room spinning right round. If I do manage to stand up, my feet won’t let me remain in that position for too long. I’ve heard foot massages help but to me that sounds like hell - I don’t like massages and especially not foot massages. I’d appreciate it if no hands came in contact with them, thank you.

“Yeah, I’m good. Don’t worry about me, I’m not that helpless.“ I give him a reassuring thumbs up. “Go do something fun, babe. Heck, do it twice - one time on my behalf. I don’t want you stuck with me like this.“

I’ve been trying my hardest to be my regular cheery self around Corpse. He’s been nothing but sweet, supportive and loving since day one and he doesn’t deserve to see me during my low points where my frustration is through the roof. Sure, this was kind of an oopsie for the both of us, but I’ll never forget how happy he was when I told him.

“So, you say it’s mine, huh?“ He jokes like this every now and then, never failing to get a giggle out of me.

“I don’t leave the house, silly! Of course it’s yours.“ Is my usual response. And it’s true. I really don’t leave the house. I didn’t leave it before and I can’t leave it even if I wanted to now. The pregnancy is hitting me hard and I spend almost all my days in bed.

It’s not a pleasing sight and I try to spare Corpse as much as I can. I try not to ask for too much from him, or from anyone really. I know I can do most of the things, if not everything, on my own, so why bother my loved ones to have to deal with my messy self.

“I’m not stuck, Y/N. I want to be here.“ He sits down next to me, “Plus, playing video games without you isn’t fun.“

I automatically cuddle up to him when he gets settled on the bed, resting my head on his chest, “Aw I miss play with you. But right now all of my little bit of energy is concentrated on not falling over whenever I stand up.” I start absentmindedly tracing abstract patterns on his chest, “Who knew that in order to develop a human you lose the ability to function as human yourself? I feel like a whale washed up on land. Big, tired and sad.”

He snorts, restraining his laughter just in case it might piss me off. He’s such a sweetheart, but he should know it would take a lot for him to piss me off. Even in this state. “How can I help? I’d do anything, you just tell me what. Maybe a mass-...” I lift my head to give him the well known finish-that-sentence-I-dare-you glare. “Maybe not...”

Suddenly, I feel pressure on both my temples. It’s not yet pain, but I know it will get there soon. I cringe as I force myself to remove my hand from Corpse’s chest, reaching towards the nightstand where there’s always Advil and at least two small bottles of water. I swallow one pill and chase it with a long gulp of water, making a mental note to take another if the pain doesn’t go away in 30-40 minutes.

“You know how you can help me?“ I say, carefully adjusting my position so the both of us are comfortable, “Distract me. Talk to me. Tell me how you see the future with this misfit that’s already giving me headaches.“

He chuckles, the noise vibrating throughout his chest. I can hear the speed on his heartbeat change - it has quickened. I can only write that off as excitement when he speaks: “I don’t think the headaches will go away. I have a frightening feeling they’re just gonna get worse. A lot more sleeplessness, but a lot less vomiting. A lot more standing up and walking around. A lot more smiles and laughter. More of our friends at out house. Who am I kidding? Rae alone will invade the entire house just to spend time with the baby. You and I be damned.”

I find myself visualizing every detail he describes, all the pictures so vivid and so realistic. A smile spreads on my face as I let myself get transported into Corpse’s version of the future. To be honest, his version is almost the exact same as mine, “If she’s so occupied with the baby, maybe we’ll be able to dip out for a date night every now and then. We may be parents, but we’re not even in our mid-twenties yet.” I sigh, closing my eyes for a second, “I now regret not leaving the house more often while I could, you know?”

“Oddly enough, I do too. I feel like I haven’t taken you on enough proper dates. We didn’t seen enough of the world while we had zero responsibilities, it almost feels like it’s too late now.“

I frown, sitting up to be at eye level with him. I gently rest my hand on his cheek, making sure he doesn’t try to avoid eye contact. “Listen here: Fuck the date nights and fuck the responsibilities. I wouldn’t mind being stuck in a single room if you’re there with me.” I think for a second. Deciding not to make the conversation too serious, I add, “That is if we have food and water. Wouldn’t want you to turn into a cannibal on me.”

He smiles, “I’d never and you know it.” I’m aware his response refers to both halves of my statement, putting my mind at ease.

Having sent my message across and having it well received, I sink back down in my previous position. His hand travels to my hair, his fingers combing through it carefully and sweetly, giving me that feeling of being in a bubble of love and safety. His touch has the ability to calm me down, comfort me, encourage me. He is my guiding light through the fog that represents the confusion from all the pain and exhaustion I’ve been suffering through recently. I know those bad sensations will pass, but the power he has over me is forever.

Him and I are forever. Well, Him and I and a new addition in the next four months.

“I love you so much, Y/N.“ He whispers, cutting through the comfortable silence.

“I love you too, Corpse.“ I whisper back.

“I hope our baby is like you. I hope it’ll be smart like you. Talk like you, act like you, look like you.“ He trails of, his voice wavering.

“I hope it’ll sound like you.“ I say mischievously, hiding my smirk in the fabric of his shirt

He laughs, “Sure, unless it’s a girl.”

“Are you kidding me?“ I giggle, “Especially if it’s a girl.“

His laughter rings in my ears, reminding me there’s always gonna be something to hold onto when you’re in pain. Be it his laughter, his touch, the look in his eyes. I’ll always have him there to relieve my pain. To take my mind off all my troubles. To love me.

And for me to love him right back.

Unconditionally. Completely. Infinitely.

@susceptible-but-siriusexual @simonsbluee @save-the-sky @hacker-ghost @itsminniekat @bi-andready-tocry @imtiredaffff @jazzkaurtheglorious @hereforbeebo @fandomgirl17 @chrysanthykios @maehemscorpyus @loraleiix @letsloveimagines @annshit @i-cant-choose-a-username-help @enigmaticmaze @divine-artemis

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wingedblooms · 3 years

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the heart of a dreamer

My favorite theory continues to be that Elain is the Suriel 2.0. Their powers seem to be similar and, honestly, they just give off the same vibe. I started to explore this in the Blodeuwedd post and have found additional connections, so I thought it would be fun to share them. Let’s go back to the very beginning, shall we?

When she is living in the Spring Court, Feyre learns of a faerie that will respond to any question when trapped. This faerie is called the Suriel (a title, not a name). The Suriel is lured by the prospect of a new article of clothing, usually a cloak or robe, and food. It is trapped by running water and a grove of trees. Feyre repeats these instructions she receives from Lucien to herself when she lures the Suriel for the first time.

Feyre describes the Suriel in detail, particularly its milky white eyes that remind her of death. Despite its frightening appearance, the Suriel is not wicked (like Lucien warned) and chooses to help Feyre.

In ACOMAF, Feyre lures the Suriel again and we discover that it may have allowed itself to be lured in order to help her. Silence accompanies its creeping presence as usual.

When using its power, the Suriel will sometimes angle its head and listen before responding to Feyre.

Elain helps Feyre locate the Suriel one last time, using whatever tracking power she possesses. The Suriel allows itself to be found and sacrifices its life to help her. In its final words, it requests that Feyre leaves the world a better place than she found it.

Now, let’s take a look at how these moments may parallel Elain. In the first scene of ACOTAR, Feyre mentions that Elain needs a new cloak and her sister echoes this observation when Feyre returns home. Elain claims she’ll shiver to death in her current raggedy cloak.

Elain’s light and loveliness is often remarked upon, so when Feyre sees her again for the first time after she is Made, she is shocked by what she finds. She describes her state in detail and uses language that reminds us of the corpse-like Suriel.

Like the Suriel, Elain is lured and put at great risk three chapters after its death. As if we needed another reminder of the Suriel, Sarah also has Rhys find Elain’s warm and rich cloak in a copse of trees at the edge of camp.

Her powers, and the way she behaves when she uses those powers, are eerily similar to the Suriel. She has superior sight and hearing—even her sisters are unnerved by the things she can hear. And when she uses her power to respond to specific questions, she sometimes cocks her head and listens.

Her final lines in the trilogy should also make us remember the Suriel’s request: after so much death and destruction, Elain’s first plan is to restore life and beauty to the world around her, quite literally making the world a better place.

These connections bring up more questions than answers for me.

What is the Suriel, exactly? Is it born with its powers or chosen to bear them?

Could Elain have been chosen to be a new kind of Suriel by the Cauldron because she, too, is a dreamer at heart, and that is what it saw when it gifted her similar powers?

What do these connections mean for Elain’s journey as we continue in this spin-off series?

Sarah left us some clues in ACOSF for the last question in particular. First, we are reminded that Elain was lured by the Cauldron’s siren song in ACOWAR and was rescued by Azriel and Feyre. Nesta is naturally concerned about her sister’s safety as they learn about the existence of the Trove, which are Cauldron-made items, and warns Elain to stay away from the search for them. Azriel reassures Nesta that he has eyes on Elain and they cannot be blinded. They will not make the same mistake twice.

Based on what we know of the Suriel, however, it was lured not once but thrice. The last two times, as far as we know, were because it wanted to help. It allowed itself to be caught in service of its dreams—to make the world a better place. So, it will not be a surprise if Elain, who is creeping around like the Suriel, is lured again. Her powers are unique and would be greatly coveted by those who seek the Trove in order to rule. And it won’t be Graysen that is used against her this time, but perhaps our very own Shadowsinger who confidently claimed his eyes could not be blinded. Why else would Sarah include these reminders and introduce a new type of faerie—a lightsinger—that lures for sport, much like our trickster Cauldron? After all, both of these creatures were mentioned in the same breath by Lucien when he described the difference between high fae and lesser fae:

“Anyway,” Lucien went on, “the High Fae don’t have specific powers the way the lesser faeries do. I don’t have a natural-born affinity, if that’s what you’re asking. I don’t clean everything in sight or lure mortals to a watery death or grant you answers to whatever questions you might have if you trap me. We just exist—to rule.”

This early connection might very well mean that Sarah has been building toward this plot for years. Will these distinct faerie powers manifest in two separate characters, who share a striking number of similarities, or did the Cauldron bless Elain with both? Is that what is meant by trembling fawn and fanged beast? You can read more about that in this post.

#elain archeron #pro elain #Elain is the Suriel 2.0 #tremblingfawnandfangedbeast #acotar theories #the suriel #lightsinger theory

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millennial-star-gazer · 3 years

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A Fire Dragon, His Princess and The Not-So-Terrible Party Aftermath: Chapter:5

A Fire Dragon, His Princess and The Not-So-Terrible Party Aftermath

Nalu week 2020 Prompts: Voice, Flirt, Charm & Smile(All implied)

Genres: Romance, Humor, New Adult Fanfiction

Pairing: Nalu/Endlu (Natsu x Lucy & E.n.d. Natsu x Lucy)

Rating: M for language, steamy and mature/adult sexual content (all consensual) in these and future chapters. Reader Discretion is advised.(You've been warned!)

Summary: God knows it was all fun and games at an outdoor guild party until a drinking contest results in a not-so-great time for a certain celestial wizard much to the dismay of a protective dragon slayer and company. Even worse is Lucy's hangover with some kind of mild flu and busted ankle to boot . At least a doting Natsu is more-than-willing to provide his mate plenty of TLC. One of my entries for Nalu week 2020 and part of the Nalu-centric anthology series The Dragon Demon and His Celestial Princess anthology series (slight au/ canon divergent).

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Chapter: 5: Of All The Over-Protective Loved Ones And Nonsensical Health Remedies

A/N: Hey folks, it's your girl back with another installment of AFHCPATNSTPA! Apologies for the delay! My beta and I have been somewhat busy on and off for different reasons which will be explained further in the bottom author's note. Anyways, Chapter 5 is finally posted for your reading pleasure with plenty of Nalu fluff, Gray and Natsu rival-related hijinks and humor to go around! Many thanks and a special shoutout to the awesome @mannyegb for helping me edit and further develop this chapter yet again! Seriously, words can't express how grateful I am for this dude's contributions or how invaluable they are ! Make sure to hit him up on Tumblr and Discord. Now without further ado, here's the chapter-enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Fairytail which instead belongs to the one and only Hiro-sensei instead!

(Scroll down for Designated links and actual story content below the keep reading button/cut)

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Read More Of This Fic On Here and Other Plaftorms. Note: You may need to copy and paste the designated link into another window’tab on your browser if reading on Tumbr’s desktop site.

1. This Fic

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Previous Chapter: (Click Here:) (or here: https://millennial-star-gazer.tumblr.com/post/640056559154642944/a-fire-dragon-his-princess-and-the)

Chapter: 5

Next: (Coming Soon)

B. FF(Fanfiction.Net) (Click Here:) (or here:https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13623735/1/A-Fire-Dragon-His-Princess-and-The-Not-So-Terrible-Party-Aftermath)

C.A03 (Click Here:) (or here:https://archiveofourown.org/works/24802591/chapters/59983813)

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Legend

Italics: Fantasy, flashback & literary/ song quotes

Bold: First Person Thoughts

Bolded Italics: empathized word

Bolded Italics: outside of main story): A/N

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"Friends are the family you choose".

(NIN/Ithilinin: Elven Rogue)

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"Seriously Natsu? Again?! "

Lucy's exasperated voice echoed through the stairwell of the couple's duplex after returning home from a trip to the local physician's appointment and some errands. Can't believe we're having this conversation again. Little did the other nearby tenants and neighbors know that this wasn't the first time that the two disagreed over his sometimes -overprotective nature instincts or the level of " safety precautions" for the sake of his mate's well being.

Bloody Hell ...

"I'm not a porcelain doll, y' know!" The wizard grumbled, arms crossing over her chest. "I mean, really!"

"Mhmmm." Nastu merely hummed in response with a lazy smirk illuminating those sage eyes much to her chagrin.

"Are you even listening to me right now?"

"Course I am , beautiful" came his reply without missing a beat. "But damn." Difficult to miss the hint of a flirtatious purr in the fire wizard's voice or how his eyes swept over his mates form in apprecation that sent her pulse jumping into a frenzy . "Do you know what seeing ya' all flustered like this does to me? I mean you're even more adorable, gorgeous, and irresistible than you already are right now. Kissable too."

"Well, th-thank you" Lucy mumbled, heat rising and pooling in her cheeks. God knows how she couldn't but be a little subconscious over the effect of his natural charms despite being irritated. "But I don't think no's really a good time for flirting."

"Aw who says?" Natsu challenged with a throaty chuckle. Agree to disagree, princess ." Notto mention the gleam of mirth dancing in his eyes or the languidly smooth empathis on one of her beloved nicknames that he knew turned her knees to jellow .

Cocky bastard..

And damn were those supple hands currently settled on the curve of the summoner 's waist distracting in all the best possible ways.

"This couldn't be a more perfect time for flirting…"

One of the dragon slayer's hands was reaching to drag the blonde's locks through his fingertips. and Holy Hell did that blush deepen all thanks to that shit-eating of his and the way he continued to play with her hair .

Fuck ... there he goes again.

"Don't you think,Luce?" He finished, twirling, and tucking a stray tendril behind her ear as if to puncture his point further.

Damn it...

God damn did all those calculated ministrations kickstart the flustered girls heart into overdrive .

Again. So hard to focus right now. He 's that good…

As if that soft gasp tha wasn't t slipped out of her mouth wan't already enough. And pretty clear that noise undetected by Natsu if the way his sage eyes were glittering like coals was any indication.

"Someone' s flustered" His words came out as infuriatingly goading and yet velvety at the same time. " But I know you're into this as much as I am…. and you're falling prey to my charms." Natsu let his thumb lightly graze along the contour of her cheek. "Oh yeah. I can tell. Your heart's racing and everything." Now the fire dragon slayer wizard's forehead was mere inches from Lucy's. All that was needed for for her heart rate to skyrocket for the third time just as he so brazenly pointed out.

"Nastu..." the blonde started only for the words to die in her throat when her breath hitched from Natsu 's lips brushing against hers.

Shit...

"Are...you…trying…to…distract...me?" Was what she finally managed to force out, desperate longing seeping into her breathy tone.

"Me? Never." Natsu denied, the soft vibrations of his smoky timbre against her lips sending a tingle rippling across all those nerves. "Just having a little fun, is all."

"You are?"

"And I succeeded!"

Wait...what!?

Nastu was pulling back ever so slightly from Lucy without so much as a warning. God did that unwelcome disruption not fly so well with the mage who moaned in protest.

That pompous little...

"So that entailed luring your your mate in?" She eventually objected with a sour glare at her pompous -ass-of boyfriend." And then leaving her hanging? Pretty sure that classifies as some kind of entrapment! Just how much of a shameless flirt can you be?!"

"Opps.. guess you're not a happy camper right now," Natsu snickered, flashing her an awfully impish grin as if he were caught red-handed like a delinquent high school student drinking in class. "I mean I'm definitely a 'shameless flirt 'when it comes to you but I'm not going to leave you out to dry like some emotionally or romantically dead-beat loser. Knew exactly what I was doing and can't get over how cute my girl is when she's all flustered. No need to worry though." He gave a sly-yet-rougish wink that nearly left the summoner 'a heart stuttering.

Not that I'm going to tell him that.

"I promise to deliver on that promise of plenty of kisses and affection that we both crave so much. You'll see!"

"I... you ... y-you're such an ass!" Lucy stammered, entire face flushing an deeper shade of crimson. "Did you even hear what I said about... God damn it!"

"You mean about you not being made out porcelain?" Natsu was quick to supply, automatically clueing in. "Yes Luce, I did." His voice was all business now but more patient than cross. "And you're definitely right but that busted ankle of yours might as well be with how fragile it is right now. That's what having a sprained ankle means. A finger pointed down at Lucy 's sandal -clad foot with a tensure bandage .

"And why I need to carry ya'. Either way, you wanna get upstairs, right?"

"Well gee thank you for stating the obvious and what everyone already knows about sprained ankles." Lucy huffed, rolling her eyes. "And of course, I wanna get up upstairs but why is carrying me all the way up and down even necessary? You already gave me a piggyback to the clinic for God's sake! Not to mention pushing me around on a god damn platform cart while we were shopping for medicine and other supplies at the pharmacy without letting me set foot on the ground even once!

"Both were necessary to keep you from falling again." Natsu reasoned, still not budging on the matter; even when in the process of methodically removing the key holder's shoes. "Plus, I love having ya' in my arms and that cart had lots of room for you to comfortably stretch out on. Pretty practical if you ask me."

"More like total overkill!" Lucy tossed back, vein ticking above her eye. "Anyway, I might not be as fast, but can still definitely make my way up and down the stairs with a walking assist! Can't you just let me try at least?!"

"No can do, sweetheart," Natsu rebutted with a shake of his head. Good lord it was astounding how this extremely persistent man was able to unwittingly shoot down all of her ambitions for any kind of semi-independent mobility. and yet be so damn patient and even-tempered at the same time. "Can't risk you missing a step and taking another tumble down these stairs."

"Ugh...Oh My God- you're unbelievable!" Lucy couldn't help but yell; throwing her hands up in ggravation. which was met with an infuriating laugh of amusement from a certain pyro .

"The most unbelievable of them all.! Now quit complainin' relax and enjoy the ride up to our apartment!"

"Natsuuuu!"

Such a debate became a common occurrence in the Dragneel-Heartfilia household over the week with neither Natsu or visiting friends— Celestial spirits included- letting Lucy out of their sight or use stairs by herself. The extremely disgruntled mage would often gripe about her "stupid over-protective boyfriend and friends" even though ;despite secretly melting from being in the dragonslayer's arms all the time along with the rest of his "TLC." Not so much with Ezra, however, who'd often insist on personally escorting Lucy up and down the stairs herself ;when it wasn't by Natsu, Happy or anyone else.

My God is that woman overly cautious! It's beyond irritating!

Other than that, one minor pet peeve, Lucy supposed she couldn't really complain too much. Not when she was blessed with spending quality time with the love of her life and phomoneal comrades/friends who were all more than willing to keep her company. Well, okay save for that one time involving a nonsensical squabble about ailment remedies between Natsu and Gray one day.

"I'm telling you— these will help Lucy feel better!" Natsu insisted, dumping a paper bag of what could be described as god-awful-Scotch-covered-eye-sores-with-strings-attached on the counter. "See?" A hand patted the side of the misshapen bundle of items.

Uh...

Lucy meanwhile, couldn't help but steal a furtive glance of disbelief from her coral-haired soulmate; who was currently sniffing the unsightly abominations with an particularly intense focus for some inexplicable reason.

"The hell are ya' doing , charcoal-brains?!" Gray demanded, voice coming out in a mixture of incomprehension and disdain. "And what even are those things?"

"Inspecting these babies for germs," Natsu replied with an eye roll as if the answer was the most obvious in the world. "Duh! What else would I be doing'? Can't have em' infecting Lucy. And they're a supposed to be a special kind of talisman for health and good luck. Even an ice overrated snowcone like you should know that. Basically Scotch-taped covered piles of leaves and Vic patches wrapped in tissue paper. If I hang these around the apartment, then they should do wonders for Luce's health."

"You know by gradually sucking the virus toxins from her body until she's better," he tacked on with an 'exuberant grin. "Or so I heard from Nab, Maco, and Wakaba. Dudes bought entire boxes full for 20 jewel a piece from a pop-up vendor of some merchant in the market. The lady swears by them and everything. Either way, aren't they awesome?! Right, Luce? His head turned towards Lucy. "Bet you'll be better in no time!"

"I ...uh... " The blonde sputtered, still too bewildered for words." I don't…."

"Oh Good God," Erza muttered, smacking a palm against her forehead. "Of all the—-Natsu, I highly doubt those would be effective in treating Lucy's illness."

"Huh? Why wouldn't they be?"

"Well..."

"Oh jeez...How can anyone be this dense?"

Gray was shooting out of his seat at the table with an exasperated noise. "Step aside fire boy, I'll find Lucy something. Her fridge should have some suitable ingredients." A hand pulled opened the door of the fridge before rummaging around inside much to Lucy's confusion Course why a random assortment of food in the form of onions and ginger Along with some lemons were being cleared out was anyone's guess.

"Onions, lemons and ginger" The ice wizard announced, sounding tremendously pleased with himself. "Should be just what the doctor ordered for Lucy. I'm gonna chop these up and boil em' with some cinnamon in a tea for her."

Wha? Is he for real?!

"Wait….I'm sorry you want me to drink what now?"

Lucy 's brain short circuited with an owlish blink at the same time that some revolted noises could be heard from the rest of Team Natsu. More specifically Salamander 's gagging and Erza nearly vomiting in her mouth.

"Well at least Lucy gets it" Gray voiced aloud to no one in particular with a nonchalant shrug of his shoulders. "Now to find a knife and boil some water for the tea."

"Yo, you out of your mind, ice-dick?" Natsu demanded, more than a tad incredulous. "It's pretty obvious she doesn't want what you're selling and can't say I blame her." His eyes narrowed in revulsion with a flash of exposed canines poking through his lips. "That kind of 'tea 'sounds disgusting."

Just for Natsu's striking emerald eyes to immediately soften when landing on Lucy.

"Don't worry Luce," He soothed, his voice lifting to a sympathetic coo. "I'll protect ya' from that big meanie and his stupid ".

" Uh Yeah, please do," Lucy beseeched, words trembling slightly. Honest to God that the astral almost shuddered at the prospect of such a horrendous-tasting tea invading her tastebuds. "I don't even want a sip of that stuff."

"And Why would any sane person expect you to? Not me or Ezra. Can't say the same about droopy eyes here." Natsu tossed a pointed glare at Gray which was readily met with a raised middle finger. "You really that hell bent on brewing whatever nasty crap you call tea, buddy? Then be our guest and drink it yourself. But keep it away from Lucy and out of the kitchen. We don't need that shit stinking up the place."

"Tch— shows what you know" came Gray's disparaging scoff by way of a reply. "Pretty sure you wouldn't know a proper health remedy was if it hit you in the face."

Uh-oh ...

Gray's words really seemed to touch a nerve judging by Natsu's offended growl.

"The hell is that supposed to mean, stripper?" He sniped, vein throbbing in his forehead " What? Are ya really looking' to piss me off or somethin'?"

"Yeah, just maybe I am!" Gray countered with salty heat and matching his rival glare for glare. "You want to cry about it? And you heard what I said. God ... no wonder Lucy's still sick what with your clueless ass and all failing to take care of her.."

"You take that back asshole!" Natsu seethed, foaming rabidly at the mouth. Or rather smoke circumventing from his nose and mouth what with him being a fire dragon demon and "literal hothead "and all.

"Make Me—ow!"

The rest of whatever Gray was trying to say was cut off by a flying "talisman" that just struck him point blank in the face.

"Hey!" He snapped, grudgingly rubbing his temple with a hand." The hell was that for, ya damned fire hazard?!"

"What do ya think, dumbass ?" Natsu flung back without missing a beat. "You got some nerve….insultin 'a dragon's pride like that!"

"Yeah? So what?"

"Seriously?! You pretty much implied I don't know how to take care of my own mate!"

"Yes and?"

Uh-oh...

"And it was a total dick move, dingus! That's what! Where's your sense of common decency!?"

"Wasted on incompetent dipshits like you, apparently!"

"What was that, frosty?!"

"You heard me "

"That's it you, walking freezer burn! Them's fighting words!"

"Oh yeah? Bring it flame-bitch!"

"Take this!"

Oh god ….

The next thing anyone knew were that that the bickering rivals were launchimg projectiles—aka "Talismans" at each other much to her dismay.

No...

"No fighting in our kitchen!" Lucy squeaked; cadence raised to a higher pitch. " You could really break something! So stop!" The afflicted girl couldn't help but watch with alarmed eyes when her desperate pleas seemed to fall on deaf ears. Something always gets completely wrecked or destroyed when these two butt heads over anything!

Seriously, who could forget all the destruction those two left in their wake or millions of jewel racked in subsequent, property damage during their last scuffle? Like say the accidental beheading and subsequent toppling of that statue which also happened in Hargeon's beloved town founder for instance? Not to mention the scorched garden of the mayor's prized purple and white orchids. Not Lucy, that's for sure.

I really don't want them breaking anything….

Erza meanwhile. was practically frothing at the mouth from all that pent-up rage in a very-if-not-entirely-proverbial sense of the word.

"Good God—those two!" The re-equip mage ranted, vein pulsing right above her brow. "Always butting heads over one asinine matter or another! The hell is wrong with them anyways? Either way, enough is enough! I really should... no probably best not... Oh screw it!"

Erza was on the other wizards in a flash, banging their heads together with an audible crack. And good lord who could miss the stunned noises of pain that simultaneously cirumented their throats.

"OW!" Natsu and Gray whimpered in unison. "That really hurt ,Erza!"

"Yeah!?" Erza barked . "Well maybe you two dolts should've thought of that before you started acting juvenile and making a mess! I mean take you for instance, Gray! Disrespecting a dragonslayer's pride was a garbage move just as Natsu pointed out! Haven't both Master and UR taught you more sense than that? Oh, and let's not forget you doubting Natsu 's ability to effectively tend to care for Lucy despite doing more than a standup job so far for the most part! No wonder he's offended!"

"Hey, it's not my fault if the dude can't take a joke," Gray grumbled, defensive resentment leaking into his tone. "Or that he has a ridiculously overinflated and fragile ego."

"Neither helpful or okay, Gray!"

"Yeah, so there dickwad!" Natsu cut in with his tongue shooting out for good measure. "See?"

"Oh yeah... you really..."

"Oh no you don't!" Erza whirled on Natsu who shrank under the heat of her glare with another whimper. "And yes, I'm talking about you Natsu Ignatius Dragneel! Don't think for a minute that you're getting out of this scott- free!""

Oh shit ... Erza just used Natsu's full name…. She must mean business.

"What? Me, really?" Nastu spluttered, hands still raised in defense as if fend the intimating scarlet woman off. "What did I even do anyway?"

"Hmm, what did you do?" Erza questioned, rolling her eyes. Oh, and her words were just laced/ dripping/ trickling/ with just the right amount of pointed sarcasm. "Care to take a wild guess? How about those godawful abominations you call talismans for one? Look at them! Anyone can tell these are a sham! I mean really, Natsu! The hell were you thinking?! Normally, you're much better at sussing out onpossible scams and cons. How could you let yourself be duped out of your hard -earned money like that?"

"Aw- come on!" Natsu bleated "Didn't mean to, honest! All I wanted was to help Luce recover more quickly and honestly thought these things would help. That's all! I won't buy any more—swear to God! Just please don't bust my balls, Erza! I need those!

"Calm down. I'm not going to do that. It's easy to tell your intentions were pure regardless which is most important."

"Really? Thank you, you kind, merciful, woman!"

"Yes, yes,.. that's all fine and good," Erza chuckled in amusement with a light shake of her head as a response .

"Now about those talismans. They are a problem. " Erza's voice fell into a more sober tone with a hand cupping her chin in thought. "Word on the street is that Fiore is being targeted by a fraudulent band of thieves and con artists. Popping up in various towns and cities with those "vendors", posing as legitimate shop keepers and merchants —that sort of thing. and from what I've heard , these people are trying pass off bogus goods as authentic souvenirs."

"So, ya think there's some kind of link between those and what I bought?" Natsu quickly caught on matter-of-factly. "As in all that crappy stuff you mentioned ?"

"Yes, precisely that. I'm sure we can all agree that how poor unassuming customers are being ripped off by those criminals just isn't right. Something must be done."

"Okay—like what?"

"Helping folks of Magnolia getting their money back for one —yours included. And there's also the matter of filing a report with the magic reinforcement unit and other authorities . They'd want to be informed of the culprits' criminal activity ASAP. In fact, why don't the two of us go now?"

"What? Ya' mean that you actually want us to leave right now?!"

Natsu visibly balked at Erza's suggestion as if being ordered to watch Ichyia perform a strip tease in nothing but a pair of - sparkly -Leather, assless chaps.

"I.. don't…"

"Yes, I figured that would be the most efficient course of option" Erza reasoned, lifting a questioning brow at his response. "Why? Is there a problem?"

"Uh yeah..., a big one!" Natsu protested with a vigorous nod. " Going now would mean leaving Luce's side" His whole tone shifted into a whine. "Especially when she's still not feeling 100% or if it means being without her in my arms for too long. And right now, looking after Lucy and being able to spend time with her is what's most important. Not to mention what I want the most! Please… just let me take good care of my mate and queen and hold her! That too much ask?"

"No, and your feelings are understandable. That in mind, it would still be unethical to turn a blind eye to petty crimes at the expense of innocent civilians."

"Yeah, of course. But it's just…."

Sheesh… Natsu's being a bit of a drama king right now. I mean I love the guy and its always great having him around for the most part despite the fact that he sometimes gets on nerves. Completely normal for all couples even ones like us but that's besides the point. Anyways, he's being super sweet and everything but there's no need for him to blow a gasket when they would only be gone for a couple hours at most. Plus Erza's right about putting a stop to those jerks and getting those other people compensated. and it's not like I won't be okay without them or by myself a for little bit...

"Hey guys," Lucy finally spoke up after a few minutes, drawing their focus of everyone's eyes back on her. "Not that your efforts and spending time with me aren't appreciated, but pretty sure I'll be fine on my own for a little while if you want to report those people and get your money back." No real heat to her words though.

"Hmm... don't think that's a good idea, "sweetheart." Came Natsu's reply, his timbre pitched soft; though she didn't miss the pleading note in his words. "You're still not in the best shape right now. Like Mavis knows I don't really feel comfortable leaving you alone to fend for yourself right now, y' know? I mean what if ya' end up barfin' with your head over a toilet bowl or falling again?"

Not really that much of an nasty shock to say the least especially seeing how the couple were practically inseparable ever since that hazardous incident at the party.

"Don't be too surprised if Natsu's refuses to leave your side." Levy's kind voice from a recent lacrima video call echoed inside Lucy's head "or even let out of his sight-or sense range for that matter. You remember learning about how dragon slayers, demon's and hybrids are essentially hardwired to be extremely protective and territorial of their bonded, right? Well those already -fierce instincts are get an even bigger boost during certain times... like say when they're in heat . Not to mention when their soulmates are sick, injured or both in your case. In any case, Natsu's no exception especially with how you're one of the people he's been most protective of even before you two were officially an item node as we all know. Anyways, be prepared for him wanting to remain extra close to you and special attention. Think plenty of affection and physical contact like snuggling, kisses, doting on you —things like that which is always a bonus. And pretty sure he is going to hoard you. I mean the dude going isn't gonna take kindly to anyone he feels is trying to steal/snatch you away from him. Gajeels the same way. It's not so bad though."

Levy was right. Not that I'm complaining...

"We really should get going Natsu," Erza chimed in after a few minutes. The sooner these matters are sorted out the better. Either way, it shouldn't take us too long-a few hours tops."

"Yeah, I know..." Natsu replied , an unmistakable flicker of reluctance in his eyes. "But…I still don't want to leave Lucy right now…." Sage fully connected with honey-brown as a hand was reaching to gently caress Lucy's cheek. And Mavis knows she couldn't help but naturally lean into the warmth of his touch or the content smile forming on her lips.

"Pretty sure I made my reasons clear anyway."

"Yes, but…"

"Hey bro," Gray piped in —not unkindly this time."I can easily hold the fort down and keep Lucy company while you guys are out."

"Wow…Really?"

Natsu instantly seemed to perk up.

"Yeah, I'd be more than happy to. Plus, we can summon one of her spirits and Happy to help for a fun but chill time. That way, you can trust that your girl is in capable hands and won't be bored."

"Good point!" Natsu rhapsodized, bumping his fist with Gray's. "Thanks, bro!"

"Yes, I agree" Ezra concurred, an approving smile crossing her lips. "That's very gracious and cordial of you. Way to be a great friend."

"That's what I'm here for and my pleasure, Natsu."

"Guess you're not so bad after all"

"Course' not. I am pretty awesome, after all."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Sometimes... So, what about it, Luce?" Natsu went on to inquire, far more chipper now. " You gonna to be okay with Gray and some of the others taking over for a bit while Erza and me are out ?"

"Yeah Lucy, what he said," Gray followed up with a cordial smile of his own. . "You and me can kick it and chill for a little while. Maybe even break into the candy stash and watch movies with everyone."

"Sure!" Lucy chirped, heart leaping in excitement from the prospect of a low-key but fun kickback with splendid company. "And Natsu and Erza can, join when they get back from their errands, right?"

"Yup! Now here," Natsu instructed, pushing a glass of water on the table towards her." "Drink some more of your water. Anyways, Erza and I can bring back some goodies from the local bakery after too,. You good with that ,Erza?" He tossed a hopeful glance the armour- clad wizard's way.

"Sure—sounds good to me!" Erza jumped on board, eyes lighting up with delight. A trip to the bakery would be most excellent. All those delicious confections, yummy treats like gourmet cupcakes and strawberry shortcake. Ooooooh." The scarlet woman's hands clapped together in giddy enthusiasm.. "I can practically taste it now —so divine!"

"Yeah but think about lava- brains though" Gray quipped without missing a beat. "What are the odds he'll devour whatever he doesn't give or share with Lucy?"

"Ohhhh valid point" Erza echoed, lips pulling up into / a smirk. I wouldn't put it past him to cleanin out half of the bakery's front counter. Now why don't we get a friendly little wager started? Is 20 jewel acceptable?"

"Sure. I'm game."

"Ooh... why not make it ...30?" Lucy joined in with a light giggle. "I mean what's to say he won't clean out most of the shops and the other desert shops in town?"

"Hey! Not cool!" Natsu objected, though such sour words were belied by the glimmer of mirth in his shamrock eyes. "Makin' bets about whether or not I'll stockpile deserts and shit! I mean talk about takin' cheap shots at your leader! I am Salamander of Fairytail, damn it! Alpha drake of the dragon nest, and a Mighty and fierce dragonslayer -demon hybrid! I deserve your respect and praise!"

"Oh?" Erza spurred him on, clearly entertained by the salamander's theatrics. " Is that a fact?"

"Damn right it is!"

"And you, Luce!" Natsu bemoaned with extra melodramatic flair. "Even my own precious soulmate is betting against me and egging' the other two on?" Impossible not to notice how Natsu's hand clapped over the heart in a display of feigned offence. "How you' wound me, woman!"

"Opps," Lucy uttered, a teasing lilt to her words. "My bad. Are they really that wrong though?"

"Ooh, you got me there!" Natsu jibed s, lips breaking into a cheek into a cheeky grin agrin that set Lucy 's heart all pit-patter. "Touché and shit."

"Just as I suspected."

"Yeah, I figured!" Natsu laughed, mussing her hair with one hand. "Anyway, how about Erza and me pick up some dumplings on the way home? Maybe a Party pack with plenty for everyone to share? We can get some other things for dinner too— Our treat!"

"Ooh yes please!" Lucy crowed, mouth practically watering from the zesty-flavored-packed dumplings from one of many Magnolia's local fusion joints. "Can some be fried? And be filled with beef? Maybe tandoori chicken and cheese too? And could I have 3 or 4?"

"Yeah, sure." Natsu agreed, goodnaturedly as always. "Whatever you want. You really must be cravin that stuff today, huh?" And God she couldn't help how her heart stuttered at the way her grin morphed into a another kind of smile entirely; More subtle, tremendously fond, even. "Normally I'm the one askin' for all this different kind of food. Good to know that you have great taste and that I'm rubbing off on you more and more each day though."

" Uh, yeah… thanks. Though you don't think it's a bit much?" Lucy questioned, now glancing up at her boyfriend with a smidge of tentativeness. She couldn't help but second-guess her request especially seeing how it was partially driven by voracious craving for carbs. "Cuz I'm wondering if that many dumplings is a tad too many now."

Maybe something healthier would be better...

"What? Are you kidding?" Natsu refuted, bursting into stunned laughter . "Of course it isn't. Why would it be?"

"Well, when you put it that way" Lucy resounded in agreement, the corner of her lips twitching into a sheepish grin over how silly I'm being. "Guess I was overthinking it just a little."

"See?" The dragonslayer pointed out, punctuated by a light tap on the tip of the blonde's nose with his finger. "Now you're getting it! And hey, look at it this way! Whatever my princess and queen wants, she gets."

"Well, who am I argue to with that? Anyways, you guys heading out now?"

"Yeah," Natsu sighed, a touch of reluctance seeping back into his gravelly timbre. "Guess we oughtaa . Really don't like the idea of leaving your side though there are some things to take care of. And besides the sooner we leave, the sooner I can get back to you."

How the summoner's heart gave a little thump at those touching words that reached her ears!

"What you're saying is definitely true" Lucy breathed, finding herself adrift in those arresting eyes of his. Onyx with flecks of jade that always seemed to shine in just the right angle of sunlight on bright days. And did she mention the sensation of Natsu's fingertips brushing her cheek, the tucking a stray lock of blonde hair behind her ear? How it all sent sparks racing through her nerves! "And I can't wait for you to get home so that I can be in your arms again too."

"Mhmm yeah" Natsu hummed in agreement., stroking along the side of her temple now. "I'm definitely looking forward to all that too. Also cuddling with ya' on the couch of course. Should be great! Anyway, make sure to take it easy and stay hydrated, okay? And don't forget Erza and I are one just one call away if you need anything."

"Okay, Thanks Natsu."

"Anytime," he rumbled with that same affectionate smile that always melted her heart . "See you soon, Luce." Lips pressed a light kiss atop the celestial mage's crown with a hand palming the side of her head. God such a rush cozy seeping through her bones and warming her soul to the core.

I truly love him and that'll never change..

"Yeah, likewise.. Hurry back, okay?."

" You know I will."

"That I do".

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A/N: All right that's Chapter: 5 ,folks! Apologies for the delay again! As stated previously, both my beta and I have been busy for different reasons related to differing schedules, life circumstances, responsibilities, appointments, hobbies and a somewhat more active social life among other things (with increasing vaccination rates unless everything goes south again). Not that this has necessarily prevented me from writing or working on my wips but there's also been days where I haven't been feeling well, a case of writers block or there simply just not being enough hours in a day to accomplish everything I want for whichever reason lol. In any case, this chapter is posted now and I'm trying to get back into working on writing projects more often. So that's that at least.

Anyways, hope you enjoyed the chapter! Once again, please don't hesitate to drop a comment/review and share. Check out the rest of my writing and stay tuned for new projects along with updates to my other WIPS too! ((Corresponding links are above in this post, bio and navigation bar if reading this on tumblr. Also in my FF and A03 profiles.) All right. that's all I have to say for now. Thanks to all my friends, mutals, followers and readings for their ongoing show of support over the years. You all rock! Take care until next time! Bye!

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terrific-togekiss · 4 years

Text

Okay, so when I first saw Danny Phantom, I came up with the idea of friends for Dani Phantom.

Not only because the poor girl could really use some other friends than Valerie and Danny, but it struck me as an eventual thing to happen to her.

As she travels the world and forges more about her identity, she's bound to open up more and meet new people.

In addition, I was surprised this isn't more of a trope in the Phandom. Like, is this really that hard? Dani's treatment by the Phandom is very... hit or miss in my opinion.

Mostly because fans are more interested in having her stay an extension of Danny. Seriously, what's the appeal of her being Danny's daughter? He's a fourteen year old, with hormone induced morals: end of story.

Rant out of the way, I present to you...

Kalvin Williams and Caitlin Suzuki.

How did she meet them? Let's get into that.

Shortly after the events of "D-Stabilized", Dani is off exploring the earth like in canon.

She's already seen and visited a handful of places such as New York and Arizona. Keeping to Western countries for now, as that's both in her comfort zone and if she needs to call Danny for help or not. Not too proud on the latter, as while she does appreciate Danny, he's a reminder of what she's not. Keeps that last point to herself by the way.

And she tries to avoid danger, unless necessary or if she's bored and wants a challenge. Not only for her own safety, but because she knows of how the world feels about ghosts and ghost hunters.

What surprises her, is when she comes across a small town that is preparing a celebration of the dead, as opposed to the opposite.

Young Dani Phantom is a small town in Mexico, preparing for the Día De Los Muertos holiday in a few weeks.

Fascinated by humans that honor dead people, than hunt them, she decides to stay.

She even possesses a hotel manager to get a free room, out of childlike wonder for this event. Some of you may find that too harsh, but she is Vlad's adopted daughter, whether she admits to that or not. She would inherit some traits of his.

This is where Kalvin Elijah Pablo Adan Martín-Williams comes in. Don't worry, he only goes by Kalvin.

While enjoying the festivities, Dani notices him performing a couple of magic tricks for younger kids. The Afro-Latino teen seems completely human, except for the fact Dani's ghost sense gave off the closer she was to him.

Wanting to observe him further and hopefully not escalate things, she introduces herself and tries to get to know him.

Kalvin is, rather fun to say the least, in Dani's eyes. He's very hyperactive and smart intellectually, but surprisingly would rather stick out than just be like everyone else. With a penchant (and perhaps love) for the supernatural and magic, that Dani assumes is ghost powers and he's just pretending to be human.

Nope. He just enjoys what he does and mostly for personal gain, or to prove he's better than others.

Dani doesn't realize this herself and assumes that his friendly and outgoing persona, was because he knew she was a ghost as well. The moment she transforms, well as you'd expect the opposite happens.

He doesn't stop fanboying and keeps calling her "La Llonora's lost child", much to Dani's confusion. Before she can explain herself and ask why he's not transforming, a ghost shows up.

This ghost, dressed in a luchador mask and changes into a wispy body, starting to wreck havoc and steal gold. The ghost is called El Infierno, as stated by Kalvin. Dani intervenes, but struggles to find a way to stop the ghost as she lacks a thermos of her own. Only to listen to Kalvin's advice and goad El Infierno into a wrestle match. If they win, he leaves. If they lose, he stays.

They're victorious the moment Dani possesses Kalvin and he's a man of his word, that leaves to the Ghost Zone. Thus a close friendship is born, as the two of them enjoy the festivities and use their combined skills to entertain people more and make money, that Dani plans to use to travel more.

Kalvin is only visiting Mexico with his parents for Day of the Dead and promises that if she's in the neighborhood, the two of them can hang out more. He develops a crush on her, with Dani being oblivious to it out of her own insecurities.

Kalvin's crush on her mostly comes from how cool she seems to him and how she's not afraid to voice how she feels. And looks very pretty.

How does Kalvin have magic powers? That remains unknown except for an offhanded comment about a dead twin... ;)

Moving on, Dani finds herself at an airport in Ireland, that's going to leave in the next 6 hours.

While looking around for something to pass the time, Dani notices a small ghost cat wave at her before phasing through a wall. Assuming the ghost cat is up to no good, she follows after it, ending up in the middle of an airport mall.

While there she notices a tall redhead girl shopping for dresses that proceeds to pet the ghost cat and lightly scold her for rushing off. This confuses Dani and while she's staring, she fails to notice said girl noticed her. This is Caitlin O'Conner Suzuki and her pet ghost cat Neko.

Caitlin is at the airport with her family, about to visit relatives in Tokyo. She left on her own to go for a bit of shopping and insists that she takes Dani to "expand" her wardrobe. Dani is in very little position to object and plays along. The two of them get along and the Japanese-Irish teen acts like the cool older sister Dani never had, but always wanted. Introducing her to latest fashion trends, getting her a phone and taking time to get to know her. Even if there's many holes in Dani's stories.

Too bad she may or may not collect ghosts for her own gain.

Eventually, the airport is running amuck with ghosts and Dani insists Caitlin gets to cover.

As she fights them off, Caitlin shows up with a ghost hunting gadget of her own: The Ecto Shine.

A katana with more of a focus on weakening ghosts, until they are safe to capture or beat until they can't fight back.

The two of them save the airport and the ever girly Caitlin insists on Dani coming with her. She agrees and tags along of course.

So yeah, these are my Danny Phantom OCs. I wanted them to be to Dani, what Sam and Tucker are to Danny. And be reverse versions of them to an extent.

Kalvin is more of a chemist that loves magic tricks with a bit of a superiority complex, in contrast to how Tucker has a bit of an inferiority complex with a love for technology.

Sam is "not like other girls" and looks down on other girls for being girly, while Caitlin is generally accepting of others with an unashamedly girly side to her. Though she can be a tad immature, she's not dumb by any means.

I'll most likely write little snippets of the three of them hanging out and I'd love to hear what you guys think of them.

#danny phantom #dp #dani phantom #dani fenton #dani x oc #dani phantom x oc #oc tag #my ocs #oc tag: kalvin williams #oc tag: caitlin suzuki #sam manson #tucker foley #long post #terrific togekiss

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phoenixfire-thewizardgoddess · 3 years

Text

if you have a question about aussie slang, for a fic or whatevs, please just ask i don't know all of it, but we do have some fun words and sayings that are day to day statements

esp. the more rural you go

not everyone has the full accent though, because you do get a lot of pressure at work to come across... professional or whatever.

the only one i've never been sure of being an Actual Phrase, or if it Became A Phrase after popularisation on a tv show, is "Stone the Flaming Crows" bc a dude from Neighbours used to say it frequently.

examples of day to day stuff i can think of right now

mad as a frog in a sock (angry about something, went off, off the shits)

mad as a cut snake (usually means 'they're nuts', but can also mean they exploded with anger, usually contextual)

she'll be right (it's fine - can be a flippant statement, can be reassurance, etc)

drongo / galah - (idiot, not very smart, wanker, etc)

dunny = toilet

thunderbox/outhouse / long-drop - usually outdoor toilet

dry as a nun's nasty / dry as a dead dingo's donger (I am thirsty, or It Is Hot AF/we need rain so bad)

chuck a u-ey (do a u-turn)

Oi! (Hey I want your attention/i was surprised, general exclamation, stop that, you are in a lot of fucking trouble mate - depends on the tone of voice and volume) like "OI!" says aunty ruth has just found her dentures in jello and she knows you did it, etc

Bugger off (go away, or sometimes a statement of disbelief)

Yeah nah /Nah yeah (can mean yes, no or maybe depending on what was said directly before the statement)

you cant pull the wool over my eyes - you can't lie to me like that / i can see you are not telling the truth

shut your gob / put a sock in it / put a cork in it - (shut up / shut the FUCK up / close your mouth or i will shut it for you) depends on tone

Ya wally (you idiot)

Roo = kangaroo

o = can be affixed to anything to shorten it at the servo - gone to the service station, arvo - afternoon, smoko - morning tea, bottlo - where the grog is

goon/goonsack - wine in a box

grog - alcohol

stubbie - beer, ususally

boardies - board shorts

rashie - swimming shirt,

slip, slop, slap - ancient proverb for avoiding sunburn. singing pelican.

thongs - footwear

sheila = female / woman, don't hear this a lot at the moment tbh except in certain contexts or from specific people

'Getting rowdy' = things are heating up, people are riled up, a fight is about to/has just broken out, etc.

DJ's like a mad cunt = one very specific meme about a bad PM we had like 10 years ago. i can't tell you how many PM's ago, it's been game of thrones here lmao

Beyond the black stump / Out whoop-whoop / references to timbuktu (quite a distance away)

strewth!/crickey!/bloody hell - (exclamation of surprise, expletive replacement, etc)

flat out like a lizard drinking (tired / drunk / exhausted / sleeping)

pull a harry holt - (I've heard a dozens variations of this one, it means Go Missing / Disappear, often used as a joke. PM Holt went swimming one day and disappeared)

have a stickybeak (to poke your nose in/investigate/look around)

chuck a wobbly/throw a tanty/chuck a tanty/throw a wobbly (throw a tantrum, i have legit never seen anyone successfully deescalate a situation by telling someone not to chuck a wobbly or throw a tanty, go figure lmao)

bogan - (very specific kind of low-income, generally white, people. sort of like rednecks, but with more stereotypical aussie features like a mullet, singlet tops, sunnies, stubbies, etc. tend to fall under the liberal party ideology - who are our republicans... )

ankle-biters / rugrats / little takkers / gremlins / nippers - (kids, usually the littler ones)

tiff - argument, small fight (had a tiff, had a row)

pav = pavlova

piss/whizz/take a piss = going to pee

vegemite - delicious

Kiwi = New Zealander

Banana benders - the disrespectful bs that apparently other states call anyone living in Queensland, the wankers

station - farming areas that have sheep or livestock usually, have farmhands etc.

dole bludger(s) - (anyone on Centrelink, whether they want to be or not, with no other employment. but like, a lot of people on centrelink have a job that does not cover enough and need additional financial supports to meet a minimum wage, or are students or apprentices, etc. there are people who go on centrelink on and off to avoid engaging in the jobseeking stuff, they are the real dole bludgers, but a lot of richer people tend to call anyone on 'welfare' bludgers)

don't you come the raw prawn with me - (do not lie to me / don't try that shit with me, mate / I wasn't born yesterday /etc)

dak/dack - to dack someone is to come up behind them and yank their pants down (or skirts). Often taking out your boxers, too.)

budgie smugglers - (speedoes, male swimwear)

togs/toggs or cozzie (swimwear, any kind. cozzie = costume)

mozzie - (mosquito)

better than a kick up the backside /better than a kick in the arse - (pretty self explanatory, one of those phrases parents use to get slightly hurt kids to start laughing and/or coworkers to commisserate about new work rules, etc)

I wouldn't piss on (name) if they were on fire - (self-explanatory, you hate them, or they're a useless tit or an insufferable person /a suckup etc, and you would gladly hand them a match)

one for the road = getting a drink for the road, usually. can also make a joke of it like, "one last piss for the road" = I'm going to the bathroom before I leave

here's your handbag, what's your hurry - probs not an aussie phrase but a common joke in my family

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So like, there's some words and items from Australian Indigenous culture that often get used wrong in stereotypical characters, like saying 'gone walkabout', using 'cooee', making digeridoo jokes, and making some really uncomfy 'savages' statements can be very disrespectful. You might want to go looking into Australia's fucked up policies and historical (and only recent) situations before starting any arguments about this stuff... in many ways it mirrors the cruelty of american colonisers to native american peoples, etc.

Avoid some phrases. Your character gone to cool their head? He's gone off on to soak his head, or he's on his bike (gone away) but he'll be back... You can use 'Oi, dickhead!'

Please don't mock the names of towns or places, they are often the names from the traditional custodians and inhabitants.

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Random things:

We drive on the left side of the road, driver's side reversed.

More of our cars are automatic than manual. Utes aren't atypical, but bigger vehicles are out in rural areas because more than a few of the rural roads are poorly maintained or dirt, with potholes that yoyo your soul into your body.

If you have a character on a long drive on a non-highway, or rural road: +if you are on a one-lane road and someone is comingthe other way, you both move half-on, half-off; for big vehicles or trucks, you can choose to pull off completely and stop. Just for safety, esp. in rain, fog, mist or late at night. +at one-lane bridges, you have a give way sign on one side. if you want your characters to have a moment of 'pause to look at each other while driving' or 'a quiet moment of reflection', have them wait for another car or truck to pass from the other side. These can be a few metres long, to like, a really long bridge. +They may pass markers that say 'flood level marker' with numbers of 2, 3 or 5 metres. Could be useful to remark on if your fic needs a reason for them to have a crisis. +Bushfire warning signs (from Low to Catastrophic) are frequent +Animal Crossing signs are very frequent, and often have a wildlife rescue number on them +Water restriction signs are in most small towns, they range from levels 1 to 6. This can change what the characters are allowed to do with water in little towns, etc. +You may occasionally find a small servo and one or two houses. +pubs don't open/won't serve alcohol until after 10am. the joke has always been, 'beer on your cornflakes' but you will never be able to actually get that unless you preplanned the night before in your hotel room. +Around dawn and dusk, a lot of animals like hares, kangaroos, wallabies, sometimes echidnas and koalas and little numbat things, and snakes and bushmice will be close to the road. Sometimes dashing across. They do not react logically to cars approaching, and will leap out at random. Hares do this zigzag nonsense. If you need the character to hit the brakes frantically, or swerve, this is a good reason. If you are ever driving here and see an animal on the side of the road, flip lights to low beam, slow down and watch to see how they react. If you can. If there's a truck blaring down on you, you may not be able to.

+Emus are in more rural areas. Echidnas sometimes appear on fringes of towns though.

+Kookaburras are a lovely creature, I have rescued a few and they are nice... but their laugh is very grating when it goes off super early in the morning. They eat snakes (good) and baby birds (not so good).

+Lots of snakes round here. LOTS. Carpet Snakes are pretty common, red-belly black snakes, eastern brown (big danger!!!), whip snakes have declined in my region, keelback snakes, this one black and white banded one we found deceased, etc. Snakes can climb, snakes can SWIM. Putting something that stinks around a campsite MAY help, but not always.

+Never go swimming in a dam you don't own, and that hasn't been checked, and if no one knows where you are. How deep is it? What's on the bottom? How stirred is the water? etc.

+Kangaroos CAN drown you. They have perfected this attack, and will do it to humans, dogs and other pursuers alike. They can also eviscerate you with their hind paws or shatter your ribs with a kick. The 'boxing' they do is exceptionally violent. This seems to surprise people, but like, giraffes can kill each other by slamming their heads into each other, you think a 7 ft swole motherfucking cryptid can't do harm? They can be lovely tho, if they trust you. But DO NOT GO PETTING WILDLIFE.

+Dropbears, austrilanicus vericanthus bitus, are real. We do make jokes about them, but they are a Problem. The pee on yourself thing won't ward them off, that's more about working out which tourists are the most gullible (and if they run with it, the moistest) lmao. Akubras and other thicker-layered headwear,

+We have wild dogs and feral pigs. Do not fuck with the feral pigs, some are HUGE, and no... they're not just pigs who escaped farms, these are MASSIVE motherfuckers who will Get You if they See You. Rustling in the night outside the tent? Good Luck.

+Koalas should not be picked up directly. They have claws, and a lot of them have chamydia. I mean if a character saves one in a fic that's fine I guess, but like... someone's getting antibiotics after that lmao. They are bigger than you think, dumber than you think, and sometimes they have to be chased across a highway with a windscreen cover bc they're not very bright and keep failing to climb metal fences, lmaoooo

+Towns of about 20-30k will have more shops (some franchise, some local owned), servos, fast food places and usually at least two to three shopping centres. Usually small level entertainments like a cinema, or local groups. +Towns with 10-20k, may have one or two major shopping centres, servos (tracks and RVs catered to), possibly a maccas, and the majority of stores will be local-owned. May have a cinema, but not one that has the newest releases. Local council may have more festivals, or 'that one thing they're known for'. +0-10k towns have a small local store, prices usually a bit higher. A servo, often with capacity for trucks. Local festivals. Characters can cop a bit of side-eye in these places, esp. if they don't fit the traditional ideas or are loud/violently american. +Grey nomads are a thing. Old people with fancy caravans who drive So Slow, and move all around aus. Several refused to stop during covid and it was like, WHO DO YOU THNK WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP ALIVE BY STOPPING YOU MOVING THROUGH MULTIPLE TOWNS???

+Some rural areas have legit red dirt, its always super cool to look at. Some places have light brown to dark brown, some have more chalky colours or yellowish dirt. Depends.

+Reminder: Australia has very specific gun laws, if your character/s have weapons then they may need to be sneaky or store them specifically in the vehicle. Although if you're talking about like, mad max type rules, then who cares. But if you have them get into a gun fight in a town, the police will come, etc.

Dunno, just ask if you have a question... just trying to think of random things to paint a picture if you have a character over here for a roadtrip or mission or whatever.

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detroitbydark · 4 years

Text

Part Two

Character: Commander Fox x Reader

Warnings: none

Summary: Fox gets a surprise or two from his Little Mouse

A/N: So like any fic I write, I have no clue where this is going. But half the fun is the journey. Right?

Part One can be found here on my Masterlist

It is only his own shoddy luck and his Little Mouse’s uncanny understanding of E and E, that allow her to evade him and evacuate from any interaction for the rest of the week.

A sudden surge in Anti-republic activity had the Guard running ragged to keep up. Fox refused to allow the Coruscant Security Force to regain any footing that he’d so rightfully taken from them. They were not bred and trained to do what his men could and their poor handling of one too many cases connected to the senate and its officials made it very clear that he and his men could perform at a far superior level to then any day of the week. The Supreme Chancellor seemed to agree which only made him more sure of their undertaking.

That said, by the end of the week his Shock Troopers we’re running on stims and a prayer, pulled thin by the multiple officials requiring additional security, but they were still running. Fox himself had only managed a few hours in the office between Tuesday and Saturday in between investigations. While Mouse had been present each time- as he’d expected- she managed to find reasons to wiggle out of his sight the first second she could. He’d begun to second guess his initial assessment of her interest. Luckily, he was hitting the post stim wall and everything not immediately involved with sustaining life was pushed to the far back of his mind to worry about later. It was 0800 Saturday and he was running on 3hrs of sleep in the last 36. His rack was crying out his name.

On Kamino he’d never been privy to the notion of privacy but the Supreme Chancellor has commended he and his men for their loyalty and dedication to the Republic as such he’d felt them entitled to a somewhat higher standard of living then other clones. Fox had felt unsure of the change at first but the Chancellor had insisted the guardsmen entrusted with his life and the safety of the Senate be allowed private rooms within the greater barracks facilities as reward for their service. While his room wasn’t large by any stretch of the imagination it was his and his alone offering a bed twice the size of anything he’d ever slept in and his own private fresher with hot water that never seemed to quit.

He’d already decided against the shower upon walking through the door as he worked to peel out of his armor and unceremoniously discarded his under armor shirt before collapsing in a heap atop his blankets. Sleep pulled at his consciousness and he was nearly lost to it when he heard the knock at his door, somehow managing to growl out an ‘enter’ order will still face down into the down comforter.

Like a dream his Little Mouse is standing there hesitating in the halo of light that bathes the entry. She’s not in her usual stark GAR issued uniform but form fitting civvies, pants and inky black jacket fitted over a tank top. Why was she concerning herself with him on her day off?

She takes a step through the open door allowing it to slide shut with a soft hiss behind her.

Fox pushes himself up right. He takes a moment to scrub at the sleep in his eyes before his focus narrows in on her.

Her eyes are wide and looking everywhere but at him. That’s fine. It gives him time to allow his own eyes an lazy perusal of her soft curves, so often hidden to him.

“It’s Saturday, Mouse.” He notes as she finds a place on the wall to stare at. “What do you need?” His voice is sharper than he’d usually use with her but he has little control over that right now, and for kriff sake, why wasn’t she looking at him?

“Sir, I’m sorry but I have these for you to sign and I wanted to get them done” she rattles through quickly. “and I’m s-so sorry to bother you and I-“

“Mouse! Enough!” He barks and she freezes “and for the love of the Senate, look at me when we’re talking.”

“But Commander your-“ she makes a gesture toward his chest. Fox realizes she’s pointing to his state of undress and slowly rises. He notes the way her eyes rake over him when she thinks he’s not looking. He offers a raised brow pointedly.

Y/N chews at her lip in that very distracting way she did when she was nervous. He groans, unable to stop the soft sound.

“Kriff, just hand be the pad and tell me what I’m signing”

She moves hesitantly and can’t help but roll his eyes as his jaw is stretched into a yawn. He can’t imagine being any less intimidating than he is now, out of armor and minutes from sleep.

“It’s your field reports and rotation schedule for next week. They’re due by 2200 tonight and you weren’t in the office yesterday and I don’t want you to get in trouble...” One arm crosses over her chest and grips her arm as he takes the pad and signs. “I’m so sorry for bothering you sir.”

He can feel the way her eyes trace the tattoos that cover his right arm from wrist to shoulder and cross over his chest. “You’re not a bother. You just have inopportune timing.” She nods absently, “Y/N?”

“Sir?” She shakes her head in confusion.

“I said something to you. Or were you too busy enjoying my artwork to listen.” Her eyes have dipped to his arms again.

“Mmhm...I mean… yes- no! Commander Fox, I’d never stare. That was very rude of me.”

Fox can’t help but chuckle. “If I had a few more hours of sleep” he flexes his arms and watches her eyes follow the movement of his muscles bunch, “we could explore each and every centimeter of ink on my body but, unfortunately, for the both of us that’s not the case.” Y/N swallows hard as he hands back the datapad. “Now, unless you’ve decided to crawl into bed with me and pretend to be my favorite stuffed Ewok…” he lets the teasing question hang in the air and is surprised by the swipe of pretty pink tongue across her lips-though less surprised at the stirring he feels low in his belly.

Later, he’ll think she nearly took him up on the offer. That, or it was simply the delusion of an exhausted man.

“Thank you Commander Fox, I’ll get these filed immediately.” She turns to leave and he clears his throat. She halts mid stride, hand already reaching for the door panel.

“79’s tonight”

“Fox?” He likes the way she drops his title and the breathless way she says his name.

“We’ll be at 79’s tonight if you want to join.”

“I- I may take you up on the offer.”

When she’s gone Fox wastes not a second collapsing back into the bed and crashing into sleep. When he wakes he doesn’t remember the dream of soft kisses and his Little Mouse curled up underneath him.

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The end of another successful week always warrants a celebration. The back booth at 79’s is composed of a contingent of the Coruscant Guard. It wasn’t the most welcoming waterhole in the parsec but they managed and the end of the week brought drink specials that their small quarterly stipends couldn’t turn down. Commander Fox liked to think It did well to show the other troopers that they were just as human as they were or, as Thorn had once pointed out, to remind them that eyes were always on them. Either way the mass of other clones gave them a wide berth. Though the whispered curses, in both Basic and Mando’a, were hard to miss. Eyes from members of the 501st and 332nd- among others- were easily felt and readily ignored.

Rule, Hound and Thire, still in the red and white plastoid armor were taking bets on which would be the first to get the comms of the new waitress, a pretty Twi’lek with pale blue skin and a stunning smile, while Ryk and Wren were at the bar ordering the next round of drinks. Their Grey's blended into the sea of other clones but who knew who they were, he always kept an eye on the kits.

Fox watches quietly, eyes flitting from his guardsmen brothers and other clones meandering about. He was off the job so the amount of fucks he truly gave about the behavior of the 501st and the rest of the cadre of troops letting loose was negligible. If their command couldn't handle them that was their problem. He just wanted to drink in peace.

The ice in his glasses rattles wetly as he nurses two fingers of whiskey, Cheedoan with mature smoky notes and a peppery finish. He's on his third of the night. He doubted his invitation, thrown out on a whim, would be accepted but it doesn't stop him from occasionally glancing toward the door. He rolls his tongue along the inside of his lip and let's another sip of whiskey wash along his taste buds. He enjoys the burn though it’s becoming weaker with each passing drink. The sensation warms- like rays of sunshine over bare skin- from the inside dulling the demons that had been eating at him for over a month now.

“You want in on this, Sir?”

Fox shoots Rule a questioning look. The Sargent seems more than happy to ignore his commander’s lack of focus on the task at hand.

“You think you can get the Twil’s comm?” Rule clarifies, his mismatched eyes sparkling with mischief in the low light.

Fox lets his gaze drift to the woman in question as she moves about the room. Her steps are fluid and she manages to move through the crowd without knocking into any of the inebriated clones or allowing her tray and the drinks atop it to be disturbed in the least. She’s a professional that knows her crowd. She’s got a tempting amount of flesh on display and her lekku- long and elegant- are swept back ever her shoulders. Her hips are pleasantly curved and have a nice dip to them as she moves. He glances at his brothers from the corner of his eye. Hound wets his lips as he watches, never one for playing his cards close to his chest.

“Nah” Fox says after a moment with a shake of his head, “wouldn’t be fair to you” The trio of clones laugh and Thire elbows the younger Hound in the side, head dipping toward Fox as the Commander lets his eyes sweep back toward the main entrance.

“The Commander has a smaller quarry in mind.” He tips the bottle up in a three fingered grip as he empties the dregs of it. Hound turns a questioning look on the Commander and Fox sighs internally. This again. He doesn’t let on that he’s heard but Thire is not one to let sleeping dogs- or foxes- lie. His look is challenging. “Got a little mouse in his sights.”

Fox shakes his head as the Guardsmen begin to snicker. He’s glad Mouse hasn’t shown. He’d hate for her to be surrounded by children.

“Really, Sir?” Hound asks.

Thire answers, “I bet she’s an absolute spinner, get one that’s wound that tight to finally cut loose…?” He lets the thought hang in the air and the others hum quietly.

Fox feels his lip twitch. Thire wasn’t wrong but he wasn’t about to let it be known that he had the same thoughts. He also didn’t appreciate the cavalier way he spoke about things he knew Sithshit about. It was more than a base level attraction he had for Y/N. He couldn't put his finger on it, a feeling he hadn't felt before, but he enjoyed the way she looked after him. It was like she cared what happened to him. It made him want to do the same for her.

He’d been halfway to finding out what his Little Mouse really thought of him when they’d been so rudely interrupted earlier in the week and far too exhausted to string together any kind of seduction when she’d turned up in his private quarters this morning.

He could play the long game though and it was only a matter of time until he was given another chance. He was a patient man when the situation called for it and he would get to the bottom of whatever it was that drew his eyes to her.

He raises the glass to his lips and finishes the nearly full drink in one swallow, licking his lips as the glass comes down hard against the table, the ice tinkling merrily as he does.

Fox shakes his head once and gives the boys a calculating smile. “I’m not going to validate any of that with a response.”

“Sir,” It’s Rule’s turn to speak up, “I think your silence tells us everything we need.”

Fox offers a shrug as he slips from the booth, laying down some credits in his wake.

“Maybe so” he offers. He feels the buzz of alcohol in his veins. He needed to cut back before it became a problem but that wouldn't be tonight. “I'm going to see what's taking the kits so long at the bar.”

The Twi’lek waitress passes close as he heads toward the long garishly lit bar. Her perfume is sweet, almost cloyingly so. Fox glances over his shoulder as he begins to make his way into the thrum of clones and civilians and shouts back to his vode “my credits are on Hound”.

A roar of laughter follows him as he moves through the crowd. He leans against the bar top as other clones offer him a wide berth. He catches the bar tenders eye and waits his turn to be served.

"Are you going to b-buy me a drink, Commander?" The soft voice catches him off guard as he feels a gentle tug at his greys. He can't help the smile that falls to his lips as he turns.

"Didn't think you'd-" Fox's voice trails off as he takes in the woman in front of him. There is certainly nothing mousy about the dress she's wearing. She's got the black coat she was wearing this morning draped over her arm as she flashes him a nervous smile. He can't help but lean back and give her a long sweeping look. She's added a few inches with strappy heels she's wearing. From there he's treated to a long expanse of bare legs that seem to go on forever. The hem of her dress skims high on her thigh. It's red. Almost a perfect match for his own paint job and he bites back asking if it was a coincidence. She makes a nervous sound and he quickly remembers his manners. "You look stunning, Y/N"

"Thank you Comman- Fox. It's not too much is it?" Any other woman would sound like she was fishing for compliments but with Y/N he knew that it was a genuine question.

Fox let's his eyes trace over her face and guided by alcohol his hand smooths over her hair. it's sleek and longer than he ever thought it would be moving in gentle waves over her shoulders. She's a vision that he knows he hasn't done a damn thing to deserve. "You're lovely. Can I?" he gestures behind him as the bartender heads over.

"What you're having?"

He wastes no time in repeating his order from earlier x2. He can't help but chuckle when she takes her first sip and her face screws into a sour expression.

"i'm sure it'll grow on me" She jokes.

"If it doesn't, I owe you something else." he promises as he loops an arm around her waist. She stiffens momentarily and Fox wonders if he's crossed the line they've been straddling. She relaxes into his touch and he decides he doesn't care if he has crossed that line. The looks his boys give him as they return only serves to bring a smug smile to his face.

"Mouse!" Thire and Rule greet in tandem. Y/N presses into his side and he shoots the boys a look that says tone it down, in no uncertain terms. Hound and Ryk scoot to the side as Fox ushers her into the booth, moving in next to her as she does.

Ryk, ever the sweet youngster offers a gentle smile to their guest, "The Commander didn't tell us you were coming. You look really pretty."

His Little Mouse blushes and dips her chin, "I didn't think I was going to but" she shrugs, "here I am"

Fox feels her knee bump against his and his free hand dips down to rest over it. She looks up at him through dark lashes and relaxes into his side. Taking another sip of her drink she manages not to make a face.

"You don't have to drink that." he reminds as Thire catches his eye.

"It's growing on me." she hums.

"I hope I do the same."

She laughs, it's the first he's ever heard from her and it's light and effervescent, addictive. "Who says you haven't already?"

"Mouse?" It's Wren, Rule's batchmate, newly returned with a round of shots. "I didn't know you were here? I could have gotten you one too." He points to the neon green test tube. Hound makes a face of disgust.

"You know I hate Sith Spit." he groans and turns to Y/N, "You can have mine."

Y/N gives the trooper a sweet smile and accepts to shot he offers. When all members have them Thire let's out a raucous cheer of K'oyacyi.

The gathered Coruscant Guard answers back. "K'oyacyi!" Y/N joins in quietly a slight second behind the rest and takes her shot before setting the vial down while the others slam their own. Fox laughs and deep rumbling thing that has her smiling up at him shyly. "didn't know you knew Mando'a?"

"I was just following along."

"Careful cyar'ika" he warns playfully, "you never know what your agreeing too" She gives him a curious look and he shakes his head. "you said cheers."

"And cyar'ika?"

"Ancient Mando'a for nosey little mouse" He offers with a straight face. She swats playfully at his arm. It's entirely ineffectual and he smiles like an idiot. It was good to see her loosening up the longer she spent around them. He pushes back the grey GAR issued cap on his head. He hadn't felt this easy going in ages.

"Mouse" Rule speaks up from the otherwise of the booth, "do you dance?"

Fox looks down at her curiously as she shrugs, "Not in a long time."

"Wanna dust off the dancing shoes for me?"

Multiple sets of eyes travel to Fox who puts his hands up, "It's not my decision. If the mouse wants to dance she can dance."

He's said something right because a smile flashes across her face and she nudges at him to move out of the way. Fox relents and Rule takes her hand, helping her to her feet. His eyes follow the pair to the dance floor.

Thire slides closer, "already ready to lose her?"

Fox shrugs, "she's not mine yet and if you think Rule is going to be the one to snatch her away than your crazy." Thire laughs and goes back to his drink. Fox sips at his drink as he watches Rule's hands fall to her hips. Mouse moves them in enticing circles that make him wish he'd asked her to dance first. The music thrums and the lights flash and his Little Mouse laughs and giggles as Rule spins her around then pulls her in tight to dip her. Every member of the Guard in attendance quiets as they watch her dress ride up her thighs.

"Maker help me..." Wren squeaks.

"Tell me about it" Hound adds.

Fox is silent as he watches her hair frame her face like a silent mane. Something inside him, a possessive quiet voice purrs mine.

His vision is disturbed a second later as a soldier, clad in blue and white plastoid, blocks his view.

"vod’kyramund"

Brother killer.

The words hit him like a blaster bolt to the gut.

His shoulders have already gone tense before he’s even slipped from the booth.

“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that” the words are growled out- a low and dangerous sound that should have warned the clone trooper to check himself.

The trooper lurches into his space knocking against the table, his squad mates quickly moving to hold him back but he shakes them off, “hear or don’t hear what you want but it doesn’t make it less true.”

Fox looks at the pair of men behind the instigator and notes his own team of backup slipping from the booth.

A half circle has formed up around them and Fox can hear the murmur beginning to rise as more blue and white pops into view. The tension is thick, even a plasma blade would have trouble cutting through it.

The song ends and he catches Rule pull Y/N close as she attempts to move back to the table.

Fox makes sure the dreg from the 501st throws the first punch. It'll hurt like hell tomorrow but it'll make the paperwork so much simpler.

The night disintegrates into chaos from there.

#commander Fox #tCW #commander fox x reader #commander fox/reader #the clone wars

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mylordshesacactus · 4 years

Text

The Legend Of No I’m Still Not Done With This Nonsense

The last post kind of went balls to the wall on the Black Lotus rescue which is fair and valid because he’s a very good boy but I HAVE actually had other thoughts.

I recommend opening this post in a new tab because the dashboard eats nested bullet points now. Fun and functional webbed site.

Anyway so, some thoughts on our Avatar’s continued adventures.

I said in the last post that Book One ends with her and her new waterbender friend fleeing the Northern Water Tribe because she’s not ready yet to like, Come Out As The Avatar without any time to prepare or even knowing whether her family might be killed or hurt because of that decision.

Regardless, that’s not just...a thing you can do, when you don’t actually have Appa or a girlfriend who owns an airship company in your back pocket.

Hero and her new history nerd healer buddy really just have to gtfo of the spirit oasis without being connected to the intrusion, which isn’t easy but they’re not like, being hunted afterward.

There’s probably a fun bit of filler where her eyes or Red’s markings or both keep inconveniently glowing while they’re trying to get somewhere unsuspicious. This IS Avatar after all, we gotta get in some humor as well.

I actually think it’s very likely that they don’t get away with it; I don’t want this to be an ATLA-style ‘the hero is running from [the fire nation/conspirators/etc/” for the most part. I think they’re ID’d by waterbending masters and afterward Our Hero is overwhelmed and Healer Buddy is like “hey, do you want to....leave?”

Side note: Our Hero’s nerdy water tribe buddy who trained specifically as a healer? He will never use his waterbending in combat. He’s a specialist. It’s very possible that he’ll use some technique that’s technically “combat,” like an ice wall, to defend the group--but he will never use it as an offensive weapon.

This is never made into a ‘thing’. It’s just never questioned. There’s no big Ethical Statement, he never has to tell Our Hero that he refuses to use his bending as a weapon, it’s just....not something he does, and not something he’s ever asked to do.

Anyway. For whatever reason, they are trying to ever-so-casually skedaddle out of the Northern Water Tribe. Our Hero briefly, uncomfortably expresses guilt--isn’t she, you know, supposed to....is she gonna doom the world if she doesn’t “master waterbending” or whatever? Healer Buddy points out that water is fire’s natural opposite--and she doesn’t have to master it before she’s ready. Whereas air and fire are natural companions. If she wants to master something, it’d make more sense to learn airbending and strengthen her earthbending before she tries to tackle water.

He does offer to try to teach her some healing as they travel though, and she agrees because it sounds like a valuable ability.

Healer Buddy uses some of his savings to get them passage--legally, this time--on a ship headed to the Earth Kingdom.

Our Hero, briefly, freezes.

She KNOWS they can’t go back to the Fire Nation. She knew they weren’t planning to. But--her baby sister is back there.

Healer Buddy can tell she wants to be alone and goes to talk with the captain of the ship to see if there’s any fees associated with [name] the rhino. While he’s gone, an Air Nomad woman approaches Our Hero where she’s having a minor anxiety attack at the railing. She’s a young mother, maybe ten years older than Our Hero, has a few kids running around.

“I...left my baby sister in the Fire Nation. And my partner. I had to, they understood, but I promised I’d come back for them when I could, and...I just don’t like the feeling that I’m getting further and further away from them.”

They bond. Air Mom (who is not a bender, though one of her kids might be) can tell there’s a lot going on for this kid and they talk. Normally they’d be taking the family bison back from the NWT, but they realized the bison’s sick or pregnant and a long flight wouldn’t be good for her, so here they are.

In a good portion of this season there’ll be a running background plot that I haven’t entirely worked out. It starts out looking VERY ominous; maybe that Air Mom, or someone else, sold them out. A shadowy room, an unseen figure, and someone who may or may not have seen something they shouldn’t saying something to the effect of “I know something that may be of GREAT interest to you” etc.

Regardless, what actually happens is that a whole network of people--for maximum emotional devastation, a whole string of contacts who’ve been helped by Our Hero in the past, a string possibly including the Firelord whose son has by now been revealed as a sham--coordinate to safely evacuate her family to the Western Air Temple to meet her there.

Air Mom would have sent her oldest son off to start this chain of events early in the season--subtly, so as not to attract Hero’s attention.

The point is, when Our Hero arrives in the air temple, the audience knows that something happened to her family but we don’t. It’s very possible that the last we saw of them, the actual Firelord had just shown up at the girlfriend’s door in the middle of the night. If so--the two of them run out to greet Hero when she shows up, it’s beautiful, and then the Firelord bows to her and we get the reveal that he’d been trying desperately to find and protect the real Avatar after his treacherous son fled, to protect her, etc. It’s great.

Our Hero, who revealed herself to Air Mom eventually (since “the known Avatar was a fake” isn’t a secret anymore it wasn’t life-threatening but like, old habits) has been trying to learn airbending. Air Mom acknowledges that she’s not a bender, but she can tell her what all Air Nomads know about their element, if it helps.

A recurring theme--every time Our Hero tries to airbend, she firebends instead. It’s not aggression. It’s fear. The fact that she’s afraid--terrified for the safety of her family, who she can’t contact while they’re in the Fire Nation for fear of getting them killed--prevents her from releasing enough tension to airbend.

It’s the same reason she can’t waterbend even though Healer Buddy’s trying to teach her--you can’t really CONTROL water, only direct its own natural ebb and flow. And giving up any control, her whole life, means she and everyone she loves will die.

Air Mom finally, gently tells her, while watching Baby Sister play with her own kids at the Air Temple, that she had her childhood stolen. Maybe it won’t help you airbend...but, it wouldn’t hurt you to learn how to have fun again.

Hero goes down to join a game of airball. For the first SEVERAL minutes she’s just playing like a nonbender, ie, badly--but good-natured about it, relaxing as she makes a fool out of herself. Visibly growing lighter inside. Eventually laughing--and eventually, without thinking about it, airbending.

The last thing I’m certain of: She has never, in all of this, accessed the Avatar State.

Think about it--it’s the same reason she can’t waterbend. She was a firebender who was pretending not to be. If she lost her temper, if she lost control, if she got in over her head and allowed herself to tap into some additional power...

That was not an option.

So she has never accessed the Avatar State, and she’s never managed to waterbend more than maybe enhancing a few waves.

Someone gets hurt.

I don’t actually think it’s the sister, it’s definitely not the girlfriend. It’s probably one of the air nomad kids. I’m not sure under what circumstances--if the reunion with her family is the midseason special, this would be the season finale.

Therefore, probably this is the confrontation with the Firelord’s son, because I don’t want that to be the FINAL final challenge for our young Avatar. He’s clearly still after her with his little group of conspirators, etc, and there were casualties in the crossfire despite everyone’s best efforts.

Healer Buddy, the only one with a chance, does his best--but it’s not going to work, the kid’s dying. Waterbending can only accelerate the healing the body can perform naturally, and....Hero, there’s no natural healing from this. There’s nothing. No Waterbender in the world could heal this, and I’m not even a Master.

No Waterbender in the world could heal this--but the Avatar might have a chance.

She doesn’t know how to waterbend, you can’t get these people’s hopes up--I’m not a healer, I’m not a real Avatar!

Yes, you are.

The first time she channels the Avatar State--a spiritual binding with Avatars past, intended for moments of intense danger--it’s not out of anger, or a desire for destruction. A moment of absolute desperation--but not for herself.

It’s a moment of peace. For the first time, the very first time--she’s recognizing value and power in herself as well as others.

There’s probably an achingly soft rendition of the Avatar Theme playing over this moment ngl.

Giving me feelings bro.

#atla thing

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maenvs3000 · 4 years

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Taking the Time to Interpret

Writing this final blog is definitely a bittersweet experience. I have had a lovely time going in different directions with my writing and interacting with my classmates in a new and exciting format. On the other hand, however, I feel as though I’m leaving having discovered a whole new side to nature interpretation: what it is, why we do it, and different approaches to take. In this final post, I hope to express how my own experiences have shaped my ethics when it comes to interpretation.

When looking upon my own role as a nature interpreter, it is difficult to aspire to be like anything other than my interpreters growing up. I was taught by people like my parents, and aunt and uncle, my camp councillors and workshop leaders at nature-based programs. These interpreters taught me a wide array of skills using different, equally effective techniques. I think that the personal beliefs and responsibilities of every interpreter dictates the learning approaches and lessons that they will instil in others. Personally, my ethics come from a place of knowledge application. In order for me to effectively interpret I think that it is my responsibility to use all the tools that I have available to create a safe, fun and informative environment for everyone that is interested in learning.

The OG nature interpreters. Myself and my sister learned a lot from my Aunt and Uncle who I definitely give a lot of credit for teaching me much of what I know about nature and interpretation. Photo credit to Linsey Brian.

Having been exposed to a number of interpretation opportunities, as well as having grown up on a farm, I have a very strong belief in the effectiveness and the vital importance of interpreting nature, especially for children. Not only does exposure to nature give children a passion for preserving natural spaces, but it can improve their mental wellbeing as well. Studies have shown that playing outdoors promotes creativity and builds confidence while improving problem solving skills, all of which led to a healthier and happier child. A Harvard University biologists, named Edward O. Wilson, also theorized in his book Biophilia that innately, humans are draw to nature and the outdoors. Instinctively people want to be in and learn about nature. This research, combined with my own experience with interpretation and what I have learned through this class, have helped to shape the approaches, responsibilities and beliefs that I carry as an interpreter.

Growing up, I was a part of 4H Ontario – an organization that uses the knowledge of volunteers to teach youth the skills to effect positive change on the world. 4H is traditionally agriculture based but has since moved to include club topics of any description – if you can find enough children interested in a subject, you can have a 4H club on it! I have had the opportunity to be a part of the field crop club, sheep club, horse club, pizza making club, the cake decorating club, canning club, etc! 4H is widely focused on the development of leadership skills, and in line with this, I was able to participate in a number of teambuilding, leadership training camps, where we were taught variety of skills by a set of inspiring interpreters. While we may not have been taught exclusively nature-based content, the experience I gained from these opportunities has helped me to envision my own style of nature interpretation. From these strong interpreters in my life, I feel as though some of the most vital skills to build when interpreting are:

· Leadership

· Responsibility

· Teamwork

· Problem solving

The group photo from Provincial Leadership Camp 2017. It was here that I made some incredible, lifelong friends. Photo credit to Bruce Sargent of Farm Boy Productions.

To me, the most effective approach to interpretation- especially for children- has been through hands on activities. The 4H motto is ‘Learn to Do by Doing’ and this truly is what I believe children and youth need to fully gain interest and experience in natural surroundings. During 4H meetings we not only learned about how to make pizza, or decorate a cake, or train a sheep, we got to also do these things. This is one of the ways that I became passionate and involved in nature – by having fun and getting to physically partake in activities. This also comes down to knowing your audience, if you are interpreting for others that have knowledge in the field, they may benefit from a more in depth look into different ideas; if you are interpreting for children with little to no natural experience, I think that integrating facts and knowledge into visual and tactile learning activities that encourages teamwork and leadership are what creates a safe, fun and encouraging environment.

As stated by Dave Smaldone’s A Crash Course in Interpretation all interpreters should understand three main ideas:

1) It is a process

This goes for both the interpreter, and the audience – you aren’t going to get all points off effectively the first time, and similarly, the audience won’t know everything they need to after only one session.

2) It serves to connect the visitor to something (the resource) on both an emotional and intellectual level, and

3) It should be more than mere information

It should involve more than just reciting facts, dates, lists, etc.

Understanding all of these factors can help to set a base for what good, effective interpretation. In addition, personally, I think the most important aspect of interpretation is that it should be fun! This goes for both the audience and the interpreter. One should strive to excite their audience – if this doesn’t happen than there is a danger of putting people off of nature – the opposite of what is trying to be achieved! Being out in nature should be a positive experience for all participants and it is important to remember that pushing boundaries is vital for growth, but students of nature should have a sense of comfort and easy with this.

Photo by Patrick Hendry on Unsplash

I feel as though being an interpreter in 2021 means taking on an extra, vital responsibility of educating about climate change. This is a relatively urgent matter considering the state and trajectory of the planet. To me, this adds to the responsibilities that an interpreter has. It is not simply enough to help one develop a sense of place, or to enrich experiences, in today’s world youth need to be equipped to rally for the safety of the planet when they are older; in the end, this is the future of their plant and they need to be left the skills and resources as well as the passion for preserving nature and its species.

- Maggie

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evindimeta · 4 years

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Are You Experiencing Some of the Common Symptoms of Ascension?

(Long Post)

Some of you may find this helpful, please only take what helps and do not worry or fret if something in this list does not resonate with you. You can take what resonates and leave what doesn’t. That is okay.

Those who need to hear this will be drawn to it, for that is the way of our great Universe.

~ Blessings to All ~

I was just looking at quite a few pages of COVID long haulers support groups...where a COVID-positive was indicated and they have not fully recovered their well being. 85% of the descriptions of their symptoms (which are found as negative health concerns) are labelled as COVID...some are being told it’s Lyme, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue among other unknown causes. As I reviewed the endless lists and common symptoms I found that they are very similar to ascension symptoms.

However most do not realize that they are going through a physical change in their DNA structure. Those who are aware and have gone through the many waves of change understand and roll with the fatigue and other symptoms in gratitude and not fear, trusting and seeing the positive change in who they are as this occurs. It is a leaving or shedding what has been known... to reveal the true self within.

I felt it would be supportive for you, and for your friends and loved ones to review to find a “positive outlook” on a changing body and world. May this fill you with hope, for all are emerging through this great transformation.

PLEASE NOTE: This article is based on work presented by Samuel Greenberg's original list and is not authored by Dr. Nickerson. Before you read this, realize that you are okay and that what you are experiencing is "The SHIFT". This is a normal process when the universal vibrational energy forces you to rise above your normal 3D level of existence here on Earth. It’s all okay. When in doubt, please see your doctor to confirm to alleviate fear.

Ascension Symptoms:

1. Feeling as though you are in a pressure cooker or in intense energy; feeling stress. Remember, you are adjusting to a higher vibration and you will eventually adjust. Old patterns, behaviors and beliefs are also being pushed to the surface. There is a lot going on inside of you.

2. A feeling of disorientation; not knowing where you are; a loss of a sense of place. You are not in 3D anymore, as you have moved or in the process of moving into the higher realms.

3. Unusual aches and pains throughout different parts of your body. You are purifying and releasing blocked energy vibrating at 3D, while you are vibrating in a higher dimension.

4. Waking at night between 2 and 4 a.m. Much is going on in your dream state. You can’t be there for long lengths of time and need a break. This is also the ‘cleansing and releasing’ hour.

5. Memory loss. A great abundance of short term memory loss and only vague remembrances of your past. You are in more than one dimension at a time, and going back and forth as part of the transition, you are experiencing a ‘disconnect’. Also, your past is part of the Old, and the Old is forever gone. Being in the Now is the way of the New World.

6. ‘Seeing’ and ‘hearing’ things. You are experiencing different dimensions as you transition, all according to how sensitive you are and how you are wired.

7. Loss of identity. You try to access the Old you, but it is no longer there. You may not know who you are looking at in the mirror. You have cleared much of your old patterns and are now embodying much more light and a simpler, more purified divine you. All is in order, You are okay.

8. Feeling ‘out of body’. You may feel as though someone is talking, but it is not you. This is our natural defense mechanism of survival when we are under acute stress or feeling traumatized or out of control. Your body is going through a lot and you may not want to be in it. My ascension guide told me that this was a way of easing the transition process, and that I did not need to experience what my body was going through. This only lasted a short time. It passes.

9. Periods of deep sleeping. You are resting from all the acclimating and are integrating, as well as building up for the next phase.

10. Heightened sensitivities to your surroundings. Crowds, noise, foods, TV, other human voices and various other stimulations are barely tolerable. You also overwhelm very easily and become easily overstimulated. You are tuning up. Know that this will eventually pass.

11. You don’t feel like doing anything. You are in a rest period, ‘rebooting’. Your body knows what it needs. In addition, when you begin reaching the higher realms, ‘doing’ and ‘making things happen’ becomes obsolete as the New energies support the feminine of basking, receiving, creating, self-care and nurturing. Ask the Universe to ‘bring’ you what you want while you are enjoying yourself and having fun.

12. An intolerance for lower vibrational things of the 3D, reflected in conversations, attitudes, societal structures, healing modalities, etc. They literally make you feel ‘sick’ inside. You are in a higher vibration and your energies are no longer in alignment. You are being ‘pushed, to move forward; to ‘be’ and create the New.

13. A loss of desire for food. Your body is adjusting to a new, higher state of being. Also, part of you does not want to be here anymore in the Old.

14. A sudden disappearance of friends, activities, habits, jobs and residences. You are evolving beyond what you used to be, and these people and surroundings no longer match your vibration. The New will soon arrive and feel so-o-o-o much better.

15. You absolutely cannot do certain things anymore. When you try to do your usual routine and activities, it feels downright awful. You are evolving beyond what you used to be, and these people and surroundings no longer match your vibration. The New will soon arrive and feel so-o-o-o much better.

16. Days of extreme fatigue. Your body is losing density and going through intense restructuring.

17. A need to eat often along with what feels like attacks of low blood sugar. Weight gain, especially in the abdominal area. A craving for protein. You are requiring an enormous amount of fuel for this ascension process. Weight gain with an inability to loose it no matter what you do is one of the most typical experiences. Trust that your body knows what it is doing.

18. Experiencing emotional ups and downs; weeping. Our emotions are our outlet for release, and we are releasing a lot.

19. A wanting to go Home, as if everything is over and you don’t belong here anymore. We are returning to Source. Everything is over, but many of us are staying to experience and create the New World. Also, our old plans for coming have been completed.

20. Feeling you are going insane, or must be developing a mental illness of some sort. You are rapidly experiencing several dimensions and greatly opening. Much is available to you now. You are just not used to it. Your awareness has been heightened and your barriers are gone. This will pass and you will eventually feel very at Home like you have never felt before, as Home is now here.

21. Anxiety and panic. Your ego is losing much of itself and is afraid. Your system is also on overload. Things are happening to you that you may not understand. You are also losing behavior patterns of a lower vibration that you developed for survival in 3D. This may make you feel vulnerable and powerless. These patterns and behaviors you are losing are not needed in the higher realms. This will pass and you will eventually feel so much love, safety and unity. Just wait.

22. Depression. The outer world may not be in alignment with the New, higher vibrational you. It doesn’t feel so good out there. You are also releasing lower, darker energies and you are ‘seeing’ through them. Hang in there.

23. Vivid, wild and sometimes violent dreams. You are releasing many, many lifetimes of lower vibrational energy. Many are now reporting that they are experiencing beautiful dreams. Your dream state will eventually improve and you will enjoy it again. Some experience this releasing while awake. My mother commented one day that she believed I was having nightmares in the daytime.

24. Night sweats and hot flashes. Your body is ‘heating’ up as it burns off residue.

25. Your plans suddenly change in mid-stream and go in a completely different direction. Your soul is balancing out your energy. It usually feels great in this new direction, as your soul knows more than you do. It is breaking your ‘rut’ choices and vibration.

26. You have created a situation that seems like your worst nightmare, with many ‘worst nightmare’ aspects to it. Your soul is guiding you into ‘stretching’ into aspects of yourself where you were lacking, or into ‘toning down’ aspects where you had an overabundance. Your energy is just balancing itself.

Remember.....Finding your way to peace through this situation is the test you have set up for yourself. This is your journey, and your soul would not have set it up if you weren’t ready. You are the one who finds your way out and you will.

Looking back, you will have gratitude for the experience and realize that you are a different person.

I hope this helps.

#ascension #awakening #enlightenment #5d #3d #spiritualguidance #spiritual gangster #spiritual development #spirituality #dna #dna activation #covid #covid-19 #coronavirus #new age #it's a new world

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joie-university-rp · 4 years

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Good evening, Thunderclaps!

We’ve been alerted that there is a surprisingly high number of you all who are planning to take advantage of the 18+ Karaoke, Dance, and Drag Night at The Flame this Sunday, 1/24.

We are of course always happy to see when our students leave the Joie Bubble and spend time exploring the city of Cleveland that is their home for at least the next four years, so we encourage you all to have fun! However, we couldn’t in good conscious send you all off into the big city without some safety reminders:

The legal drinking age is 21. This is a federal and national law in place for everyone’s safety.

For those of you under 21, this is a great opportunity to experience all the ways you can have fun without alcohol!

For those of you who are 21 or older, please remember that alcohol should be consumed in moderation!

Please limit yourself to one to two drinks tonight and consider using the marker method to monitor your intake.

Recreational use of other drugs is illegal in Cleveland and the state of Ohio–this include marijuana!

Remember: you don’t have to use drugs to have fun!

The buddy system is your friend!

While out tonight, please take care of each other. Stay in groups, check in on each other, and make sure to never pick a drink (alcoholic or otherwise!) back up once it has been set down. Safety first!

Lastly, don’t forget that Joie has a shuttle system that transfers students to and from downtown location completely for free at night. Keep this number handy: 216-XXX-XXXX and please leave your keys at home!

Have a wonderful (and safe!) time, My Thunderclaps. And don’t forget there are still classes bright and early on Monday morning!

Avec la grande joie,

~Vice Provost O

(In-depth OOC instructions for the event are found under the cut)

Per a new addition to our list of triggers, although it’s not necessary for implied alcohol or general drunkenness, let’s make sure that we’re careful to tag explicit mentions of drinking/buying alcoholic drinks with the tw: alcohol mention. The difference is slightly nuanced, and I will go into further specifics in Discord.

Every new starter tagged with ‘joieflame’ will be assumed face to face interactions at the bar, even if it’s regular dash style. No paras are required, but free to do if so desired.

(Have no fear, you can still keep your regular plots going on too. The bar may be the main focus for the next few days, but the wheels can keep on turning!)

Everything at the bar will be imagined to take place on 1/24/2021 IC! OOC however, this event will run from 10pm tonight to midnight on Sunday, 1/24 so everyone can get the most out of these fun times.

As hinted at in the IC post, there will be a karaoke contest as well as a couples’ dance contest and an amateur drag contest. If your character would like to participate in any of these, please utilize videos to show that. We will also have a channel in the discord where everyone can post their videos so none of them get lost.

Feel free to take advantage of creating social media style posts as well!

Please be sure to tag your posts with ‘joieflame’ and as always, don’t hesitate to message the admins with your questions!

And finally, be sure to slam that ‘like’ button once you’ve read this!

#joieflame #joieevent #in verse post

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michelles-garden-of-evil · 4 years

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Episode 44 Review: The Second Séance

{ YouTube: 1 | 2 | 3 }

{ Full Synopses/Recaps: Debby Graham | Bryan Gruszka }

Hello and welcome back to my Garden of Evil, in time for the final episode of Strange Paradise by its co-creator and original headwriter Ian Martin. This marks yet another milestone in the history of this fun and sometimes perplexing soap opera: a little bittersweet, although I know that, unlike viewers in 1969, I can return to early Maljardin whenever I want.

In some ways, Ian Martin’s departure will benefit the show. Like a traditional soap, his SP scripts were generally slow-paced and heavy on recap, with variations of certain lines (e.g. “we must find the conjure doll and the silver pin”) repeated episode after episode. When Robert Costello replaced Selig Alkon as producer, he mandated several changes to the show. His stated reason: to help SP’s other co-creator Jerry Layton achieve his goal of improving the Gothic soap’s ratings:

"New York and Los Angeles stations took it off the air because ratings were poor. And because they are the key stations for money purposes, Robert Costello, who did Dark Shadows for four years, was called in," one of the actors said this week. "Costello took one look at several episodes and said he wasn't going to have anything to do with it the way it was. So the series was changed considerably.”

[...]

In the studio this week, Costello (who produced The Nurses, the Patty Duke Show and Armstrong Circle Theatre) said Strange Paradise was abandoning old voodoo, hallmarks of the first 13 weeks, for heavy occult (witches covens, ESP, apparitions and the like). "The concept, though good, was not completely workable for a day-in and day-out series," admitted its creator and executive producer Jerry Layton.[1]

Naturally, so many changes required a segue from the show’s original format that wasn’t too abrupt, hence the break from Martin’s original plans for the story and the creation of the current weird transitional plotline about the Rabbit of Evil. There are twenty-one episodes of Maljardin left after this one, followed by a shift of setting to Desmond Hall. Like Maljardin, Desmond Hall has its good parts and bad parts, fun characters and not-so-fun ones, but I’ll cover those when I get to them.

Do you remember my Episode 40 review, where I speculated at the end about how the original second séance might have gone? Well, this one is similar in some ways to the séance described in the Lost Episode summaries, but the way it plays out is bizarre. And by “bizarre,” I mean, “What the hell is Vangie thinking, holding it now?”

The (visible) participants of the first séance, from Episode 36 (clockwise from top left): Dr. Alison Carr, Quito, Vangie Abbott, Raxl, Reverend Matt Dawson, and Jean Paul Desmond.

In Episode 36, the choice of who participated and who didn’t participate in the séance followed a certain logic. Four of the six chosen participants had a direct connection to Erica Desmond: her sister Alison, her husband Jean Paul, and her servants Raxl and Quito. The latter two were doubly qualified to participate, both being members of the Conjure Faith, with Raxl helping Vangie determine who could attend and who was forbidden in the previous episode. They excluded Elizabeth, Tim, and Dan for being “disruptive influences” and Holly out of concern for her safety, but allowed Matt because of his strong faith as a man of the cloth. (Remember that, at that point, they still trusted him.) In addition, they left a seventh chair open for Erica’s spirit, making the total number of (invited) participants seven. This, according to Vangie, is one of the ideal numbers for a séance, the other being five. It’s logical, it follows the rules that the author establishes via Vangie, and therefore it makes sense that the second séance would be set up in much the same way.

In my post on Episode 40, I used this logic along with clues from several Lost Episode summaries (including the one for this episode) to try to reconstruct the events of the original second séance, which was slated to take place in that episode before script rewrites. The summaries indicated that Matt would return for the second séance and that Elizabeth would join him, although Vangie’s reasoning for including her in this one is unknown. I excluded Holly from my list because I felt it would be out of character for Vangie to knowingly endanger her life and speculated that Alison may have refused to take part out of justified anger at Jean Paul for making Vangie endanger all of their lives. I also excluded Tim and Dan, because I felt that neither had any reason to participate unless substituting for someone else. In addition, I assumed that Jean Paul would have originally participated in all the séances, being the one who initiated them in the first place, as well as Raxl and Quito for their loyalty to both their dead mistress and to Vangie. I concluded that the most likely participants for the second séance would have been Vangie, Matt, Elizabeth, Raxl, Quito, and Jean Paul: six living/undead participants like the first, but with Alison swapped with Elizabeth.

But what do you do on short notice, while Jean Paul is freaking out in his room, Alison trying to help him calm down, and Raxl and Quito are...sleeping, I suppose? (The episode gives no explanation for their absence, unlike with Jean Paul and Alison.) You hold an emergency séance in the same exact location as before, at a glass-top table identical to the first, with whomever is available. That includes Matt, Holly, and the disruptive influences of Elizabeth and Dan. Vangie claims there’s no time to wait, so emergency séance it is, even if it means breaking all the previously established rules.

Holly lampshading how the second séance comes out of frigging nowhere.

“Jean Paul cannot wait,” says the Conjure Woman. “The need is urgent, the need to find out from whence this locket came. I must choose those of you who will help Jean Paul Desmond contact his wife Erica.”

Holly tries to nope out of it, but Vangie--surprisingly, given her previous concern for her safety--refuses to let her. “You, if the spirits choose,” she insists, “the spirits” here most likely meaning some combination of Robert Costello, Jerry Layton, and Steve Krantz. (Let’s remember that the Serpent previously told her not to invite certain people, Holly included.) It’s a cop-out line, in effect, where the show acknowledges that it’s breaking the previously established rules to obey the new producer’s wish to speed up the action.

The reason why this séance is so urgent? The bloodied locket of Erica’s that Raxl found around the black rabbit’s neck in the previous episode, combined with Vangie’s speculation that the rabbit may be Erica reincarnated. The fact that the locket had blood on it makes Dan even more suspicious of Jean Paul, especially after Matt reminds him that eclampsia (which Jean Paul claims took Erica’s life) is a bloodless death. He begins another tirade about how he thinks that Jean Paul killed both Erica and Dr. Menkin and how he’s going to sail off the island, which Vangie interrupts:

That’s Vangie’s way of saying “shut up.”

Vangie tells the four characters in the room--Holly, Elizabeth, Dan, and Matt--to sit at the table and begin the séance, because a presence has arrived. The first three do, but Dan remains standing and tries to persuade Matt to not take part in the occult ritual.

“You, GO!” Vangie screams at Dan. “PLEASE, GO!” He leaves and, without having anyone join hands, Vangie calls out to her father, the Conjure Man, to ask whose spirit is there. And then she enters a trance and starts screaming, “LET ME OUT!” while breathing heavily. Frightened, Holly runs to her room, while Vangie continues screaming, only to leave her trance a moment later and ask, “Where’s Holly?”

“She couldn’t stand it,” says Elizabeth. “I don’t think that I can, either, or any of us.”

“It was two spirits,” Vangie continues. “One so angry, so confined in some place, in some form.” She rubs her neck as though rubbing scabs left by the chain of an uncomfortable locket. “It’s so dry, so dry!” Elizabeth leaves to get her a drink to quench her thirst.

The way Vangie rubs her neck reminds me of Erica’s bloodied locket.

Their first attempt a disaster, they go their separate ways. Vangie speaks to the portrait of Jacques Eloi des Mondes, demanding an answer to how the rabbit and locket appeared. In her monologue, she reveals that he “[has] always been an enemy” and that he “would laugh at [her] clouded sight”; also that the spirit she felt was “not so much evil as angry, horribly angry and confined!”

Elizabeth offers Vangie some wine. Rather suspicious.

Elizabeth returns with some wine for Vangie’s throat (wouldn’t that only dehydrate her more?) and is about to set it on the séance table when Vangie stops her. “The spirits may not cross it,” she explains, so Elizabeth moves the glass and decanter over to the table where they usually sit.

Vangie picks up the locket and starts thinking out loud about it, when Elizabeth says that she wishes that Jean Paul would just let them open it. This enrages Vangie, who says, “I made a mistake when I asked yo to join the séance. I need all the help I can get, but yours will disrupt!”

“I will not be ordered around!” Elizabeth shouts.

Hearing Vangie scream about how she brings anger, Elizabeth leaves for Holly’s room, where she confides in her about how she doesn’t trust Jean Paul anymore. I think that this is Martin’s subtle way of letting the audience know that her romantic pursuit of Jean Paul/Jacques is over and the new producer and writers have no intentions on continuing it.

Elizabeth’s dress has some interesting pleats/pintucks in the front.

Holly asks her if she believes that the rabbit is Erica’s reincarnation. She thinks it’s ridiculous, but acknowledges that they must humor him while they are stuck on the island because his delusions affect everyone trapped there. “Holly, we need each other,” she says, “if only to exchange notes.” She persuades Holly to return to the séance to keep tabs on what happens.

Elizabeth has come to her senses.

Meanwhile in the Great Hall, Vangie lampshades Jean Paul’s and Alison’s absences again and predicts Dan’s death and Jean Paul’s continued possession. (At least that’s what I think she means by “Jean Paul’s mind and body will hang in the balance by an act of the Devil.”) Still determined to disbelieve in his religion’s personification of evil, Matt accuses either her, Raxl, or someone else on the island of masquerading as the Devil. She starts to try talking him into staying and being part of the séance using his belief in the afterlife, when Dan arrives and announces loudly and in the direction of Jean Paul’s bedroom(!) that he’s going to use one of the boats in the boathouse to escape and tell the police about his suspicions.

That’s when Holly arrives for the séance do-over. This time, it’s four visible characters--Holly, Dan, Matt, and Vangie--plus the spirit, thus making a total of five. Like the first séance, she tells them only to focus on Erica, but this time Dan’s anger disrupts the contact and Vangie flips out on him!

The bad subtitle here, while not especially original, is too perfect.

He storms out and the séance continues. Vangie calls on her father for help, saying, “There is a message...a warning...I cannot bring it through! The path must be clear! What is the warning, Conjure Man?”

And then, all of a sudden, the spirit comes through:

Vangie: (possessed) “Let me out! OUT! Let me out!”

“OUT, OUT, OUT, OOOOUUUUTTT! Is he here yet, Jean Paul? JEAN PAAAAAUUUUULLLL!” [Notice that they’re not touching hands as Vangie insisted that the participants of the first séance do.]

Holly: (possessed) “Out, out, out. Let me out.”

“Out, out, out, OUT, OUT, OUT, AAAAAAAHHHHH!”

Matt directs Dan to the decanter with a tilt of his head and Dan makes Holly drink the wine that Elizabeth poured for Vangie earlier. But, rather than calm her, the wine makes her collapse to the floor in agony:

Holly faints from the poison in the wine.

“If the missing cyanide was in this, I’m afraid Holly is dead!” says Dan after sniffing the inside of the glass. But is it cyanide, and is Holly Marshall dead? I suppose you’ll have to stay tuned for Episode 45 (the episode or the review).

I don’t want you to think that, because I criticized some things about this episode, I must dislike it. Quite the contrary. While some things about this episode do reek of subverting expectations just for the sake of subversion (they didn’t have to film a séance episode on Colin Fox’s day off), the final scene is wonderfully chilling and Angela Roland gets to use her acting chops more in this episode than in any of the previous ones. Also, the missing cyanide subplot finally becomes relevant again at the end with Holly’s collapse after drinking the wine.

Coming up next: A two-part post looking at the best and worst things about Ian Martin’s episodes of Strange Paradise, followed by the Episode 45 review. I’ve been working hard on these and look forward to posting them within the next week.

{ <- Previous: Episode 43 || Next: Episode 45 -> }

Notes

[1] Sid Adilman, “TV’s Colin Fox and his Strange Paradise,” Toronto Telegram, November 29, 1969. I omitted part of this passage to avoid spoilers, but the omitted portion is also noteworthy in that it indicates that they had already begun filming Desmond Hall by November 1969.

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squinoas · 4 years

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Final Fantasy VII: Remake is both a blessing and a curse, to newcomers and series veterans alike - a (kinda) in-depth review of Final Fantasy VII: Remake.

Final Fantasy VII: Remake is both a blessing and a curse, to newcomers and series veterans alike.

As the latter, and someone who has played and enjoyed (and watched, in the case of Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children), most of the compilation that followed the original, I feel confident in saying this game is a worthy remake of the standout hit that put Final Fantasy on the radar of the Western audience. The blessing is an imaginative and fleshed out retelling of a fraction of an original thirty-hour story – stretching it out and giving backstory to returning characters, while introducing some fresh (and welcome) faces along the way. The Midgar section in the beginning of the original Final Fantasy VII clocks in at around 3-4 hours of a player’s overall journey.

Not this time.

But is that also the aforementioned curse of this game? That those players who have enjoyed the original many, many times know of what it still to come? Throughout my play through of the game this felt like it was going to be its main detractor, when actually the ending completely throws this into the air.

Only time will tell if this is a good decision that will pay off, or if it will backfire. Nevetheless, I’m optimistic that the best is yet to come.

How long will we have to wait for more? That’s anyone’s guess at this point, especially with the Coronavirus situation. Safety comes first, and any delays to the second and third parts of this episodic epic (and I hope it continues to be epic) will be understandable – and hopefully, much like this first part, well worth the wait.

GAMEPLAY (COMBAT, MATERIA, WEAPONS)

Much furore has been made about the series ditching a turn-based system – one still employed by Dragon Quest (another Square-Enix property, and the most recent instalment, Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age, one of, if not my favourite, recent JRPGs).

Final Fantasy now employs an action-based model, more akin to another property, Kingdom Hearts.

Sometimes erratic and frenzied in 2016’s Final Fantasy XV, I’m happy to say that Square-Enix appeared to fine tune most of the aspects I disliked about that game’s playstyle and the result is Final Fantasy VII: Remake’s fun gameplay.

Keeping the ATB gauge involved was a good move, and gave the game a familiarity. The oscillating difficulties mean that there is a playstyle for everyone to find. I managed the entire game on normal mode (even my first time fighting the Whispers), until the Sephiroth boss battle. I have my own narrative issues with us fighting Sephiroth in the first part of this game anyway, but the difficulty spike in this battle on Normal mode felt unreal. I’d managed the slog that was the Hell House boss battle, and the annoyance of the escape from Shinra section, including that boss battle, but this was another level, and the only boss I had to change to easy mode for (which meant redoing the Whispers fight on that mode too).

On the other hand, there were bosses where, understanding their attack patterns and developing a strategy meant that winning the fight felt genuinely rewarding, as opposed to just time and energy-draining. An example of this was the Ghoul fought in the Train Graveyard – a new inclusion, and a whole strand of story that I enjoyed immensely. That battle really made use of switching between party members – Cloud and Tifa taking the lead in physical attacks and Aerith using her magic whenever necessary.

Materia has been updated, but not massively. Rather than a huge overhaul of the system, it still works largely how it did before. It’s been adapted for an action-JRPG but still comes down to strategy. However, an option to change materia mid-fight might have been prudent, considering the variety of enemy weaknesses. I found myself having to restart more than one fight because a batch of enemy scrolled through at least three different weaknesses and I was never adequately prepared for them at first. But at least restarting these fights was easy and hassle-free.

I liked the additions of new materia; such as Synergy which is another way to control what your other party members do in a fight, and the Magnify materia which works like the All materia of the original game. It made finding new materia fun and fresh, and meant I was constantly changing up my strategies to see what worked best.

The weapons system has been changed significantly, however. The upgrade screen looks stylistically like the crystarium from Final Fantasy XIII and the Historia Crux from Final Fantasy XIII-2. Therefore, it looks interesting, but is actually kind of boring when it comes to upgrading weapons. I ended up letting the computer upgrade my weapons with the balanced option, and this was a cool feature for people like me who found the task of upgrading tedious; especially when having to click out of each character’s weapons to only click into another one.

But the abilities that came with the weapons and having to develop a proficiency for these abilities was a nice addition. The only time I felt hindered by this was when Barret had to learn an ability on a close combat weapon. I like the fidelity to the original, but at the same time it was a handicap. Of course this is probably my own problem as I could have chosen not to use those weapons, something I may not do in a second playthrough.

Nonetheless, I felt like it encouraged me to play as every party member, and some were just downright cool. Special mention has to go out to Aerith’s Ray of Judgement, and Barret’s Maximum Fury which are so OP it isn’t even funny.

STORY (CHARACTERS, PLOT, ADDITIONS)

The original Final Fantasy VII is well known for the infamous ship wars. Clerith vs Cloti has been the ongoing debate for the past twenty years, and I don’t think this game is going to convince anyone that their side is right or wrong. It’s still left open to interpretation, at least in my opinion, and perhaps this was the best way to keep everyone satisfied. However, the game adds the additional element of having Aerith confirm that she did indeed love Zack Fair, the main protagonist and her love interest in Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core. As a ‘Zerith’ and ‘Cloti’ shipper myself, this game gave me plenty of moments to love for both couples. As someone who does have a liking for Clerith and Aerti, it kept me more than fed.

I have to give kudos to those involved with the game that they stayed true to the very canon interpretation that Aerith and Tifa are friends, and always were. True, they both expressed some small mote of jealously in the original game (and, at times, in this one too), but it quickly becomes obvious that they are both strong-willed young women who admire each other greatly. There are great examples of their burgeoning friendship but my favourites have to be kicking the lecherous asses of Don Corneo’s lackeys, and discussing a shopping trip for stuff for the bar.

All in all, the characters are kept true to their original incarnations. If anything, they – as with everything else in this game – are given to breath and work through things organically. They are fleshed out, and given further backstories, motivations and plot. I think this was best done with the doomed member of AVALANCHE, Jessie. She’s given a last name which, to begin with, makes her feel less like an ancillary plot device and more a character in her own right. To add to this, we meet her mother and father; which absolutely tugged at my heartstrings, what with her father’s tragic accident leaving him in a comatose state. We find out Jessie wanted to be an actress and was working at the Gold Saucer (this also works as a nice nod to places we know exist in-universe but will not visit until a later instalment).

Marle, Leslie, Madam M, Andrea Rhodes – every Chocobo Sam – are all fantastic additions, and I hope we see them again. In particular I would love to see Leslie reunited with his lost love in a future game.

Now, in terms of the story, I have played the original inside and out for many years, and always thought I would be against changes made to the story. Throughout most of the game most of these additions are simply changes that just make things more interesting for someone like me who’s played the original before. Towards the end, however, things take a drastic turn, and turn everything we’ve known on its head. As I said before, I have no idea where this is going to go in the next part, and there were some aspects that left me scratching my head.

The main of these being Zack. As far as anyone who has played the original or Crisis Core will know, Zack died in a last stand against the Shinra corps sent after him and Cloud after their break out from Nibelheim. However, the ending raises some interesting questions. At first I thought us defeating the Whispers had rewritten Zack’s fate, but maybe that’s not the case. Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see where they take it (one change I did not like was Zack’s voice actor. I know all the English VAs were changed – which I wasn’t a big fan of in the first place – but the new voice actor does not sound good compared to Rick Gomez).

Overall, our characters end the game in more or less the same position as the end of the Midgar section of the original, but after the events of the battles with the Whispers it appears that certain events that would have been due to happen (the original ending with Red XIII, Aerith’s death, etc) may not happen at all – or at least, not in the way we think.

#GUESS WHO FINISHED THE GAME THIS MORNING SUCKAS #this girl #this post contains spoilers so do not go any further if you haven't finished the game #it's not really that in-depth but i was trying something new #it got kinda long tho #and a lot of this was written before i finished the game #if you guys want to know my opinion on anything i've missed out just send me a message #and yes this means the hiatus is OVER #gifs are incoming #everything will be tagged #ffviir spoilers #for at least the next few months #text post

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